Industrially processed doped-tungsten wires in the as-drawn condition have essentially a <110>-fibre texture with attractive mechanical properties. The main objectives of the present work are to investigate (I) if any textural changes occur as the wire diameter decreases and (II) if such changes influence the mechanical behaviour of the wire. A wire of about ∅1.5mm is drawn to about ∅0.15mm following a standard industrial route and samples were collected from five intermediate drawing passes. Bulk texture measurements using X-radiations were then carried on the transverse sections of the wires and texture characteristics such as volume fraction of textural components and sharpness index were quantified with respect to the wire diameter. It was observed that the texture in the as-drawn wires remains chiefly the same <110>-fibre as the wire diameter decreases. However, the sharpness of texture reaches a maximum at a certain diameter and decreases with further decrease in the wire diameter. An explanation is offered based on the concept of deformation zone geometry. An attempt was also made to determine if texture weakening has any effect on the mechanical properties of the wire at room temperature.


Abstract While Thomas Hobbes´ theory of absolutism is in general considered to be one of the most influential theories of political philosophy, it at the same time seems to be widely misunderstood. Hobbes´ most famous work on absolutism Leviathan, is frequently falsely accused of promoting the ideas of despotism, tyranny and similar. The purpose of this essay is not only, to prove otherwise by showing that although some passages can be found in his works, that can be interpreted as pointing to the direction of the above mentioned ideas (this is nonetheless not what Hobbes´ theory really is about), but to show, that there are more arguments of greater weight supporting his thesis than there are arguments to suggest otherwise. This is done by comparing Hobbes´ thesis and arguments for and against it with the theories of his fellow social contract theorists (John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau) and their advantages and disadvantages. The essay then is not pleased with just proving there to be more arguments for Hobbes´ absolutism than against it, but goes so far, as to suggest that it could be favored over Locke´s and Rousseau´s theories by meeting a number of conditions.


Rationale: Anatomical characteristics, such as subcutaneous position and minimal muscle cover, contribute to the complexity of fractures of the distal third of the tibia and fibula. Severe damage to soft tissue and instability ensure high risk of delayed bone union and wound complications such as nonunion, infection, and necrosis. Patient concerns: This case report discusses management in a 54-year-old woman who sustained fractures of the distal third of the left tibia and fibula, with damage to overlying soft tissue (swelling and blisters). Plating is accepted as the first choice for this type of fracture as it ensures accurate reduction and rigid fixation, but it increases the risk of complications. Diagnosis: Closed fracture of the distal third of the left tibia and fibula (AO: 43-A3). Interventions: After the swelling was alleviated, the patient underwent closed reduction and fixation with an Acumed fibular nail and minimally invasive plating osteosynthesis (MIPO), ensuring a smaller incision and minimal soft-tissue dissection. Outcomes: At the 1-year follow-up, the patient had recovered well and had regained satisfactory function in the treated limb. The Kofoed score of the left ankle was 95. Lessons: Based on the experience from this case, the operation can be undertaken safely when the swelling has been alleviated. The minimal invasive technique represents the best approach. Considering the merits and good outcome in this case, we recommend the Acumed fibular nail and MIPO technique for treatment of distal tibial and fibular fractures.


Background: The expected genetic variance is an important criterion for the selection of crossing partners which will produce superior combinations of genotypes in their progeny. The advent of molecular markers has opened up new vistas for obtaining precise predictors for the genetic variance of a cross, but fast prediction methods that allow plant breeders to select crossing partners based on already available data from their breeding programs without complicated calculations or simulation of breeding populations are still lacking. The main objective of the present study was to demonstrate the practical applicability of an analytical approach for the selection of superior cross combinations with experimental data from a barley breeding program. We used genome-wide marker effects to predict the yield means and genetic variances of 14 DH families resulting from crosses of four donor lines with five registered elite varieties with the genotypic information of the parental lines. For the validation of the predicted parameters, the analytical approach was extended by the masking variance as a major component of phenotypic variance. The predicted parameters were used to fit normal distribution curves of the phenotypic values and to conduct an Anderson-Darling goodness-of-fit test for the observed phenotypic data of the 14 DH families from the field trial. Results: There was no evidence that the observed phenotypic values deviated from the predicted phenotypic normal distributions in 13 out of 14 crosses. The correlations between the observed and the predicted means and the observed and predicted variances were r = 0.95 and r = 0.34, respectively. After removing two crosses with downward outliers in the phenotypic data, the correlation between the observed and predicted variances increased to r = 0.76. A ranking of the 14 crosses based on the sum of predicted mean and genetic variance identified the 50% best crosses from the field trial correctly. Conclusions: We conclude that the prediction accuracy of the presented approach is sufficiently high to identify superior crosses even with limited phenotypic data. We therefore expect that the analytical approach based on genome-wide marker effects is applicable in a wide range of breeding programs.


OBJECTIVES
To investigate the effect of patient information booklets on overall use of health services, on particular types of use, and on possible interactions between use, deprivation category of the area in which respondents live, and age. To investigate the possibility of a differential effect on health service use between two information booklets.

DESIGN
Randomised controlled trial of two patient information booklets (covering the management and treatment of minor illness).

SETTING
20 general practices in Lothian, Scotland.

PARTICIPANTS
Random sample of patients from the community health index (n=4878) and of those contacting out of hours services (n=4530) in the previous 12 months in each of the study general practices.

INTERVENTION
Booklets were posted to participants in intervention groups (3288 were sent What Should I Do?; 3127 were sent Health Care Manual). Patients randomised to control group (2993) did not receive a booklet.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Use of health services audited from patients' general practice notes in 12 months after receipt of booklet.

RESULTS
Receipt of either booklet had no significant effect on health service use compared with a control group. However, nine out of ten matched practices allocated to receive Health Care Manual had reduced consultation rates compared with matched practices allocated to What Should I Do?

CONCLUSION
Widespread distribution of information booklets about the management of minor illness is unlikely to reduce demand for health services.


In 2013, in the Comarca Lagunera, Mexico (25°29'18.29''N y 103°37'17.66'' E) an economic, environmental and cultural analysis of a dry bath (ecological or compos) was conducted, due to the fact of a serious problem with the water for human consumption. At global and local levels "one out of six people in the world does not have access to drinking water" (UN, 2008). This situation is more severe in the Comarca Lagunera because its annual average precipitation is 252.5, while the annual evaporation is 1,757 mm, and subsoil water extraction is4, 400 mm. Moreover, in urban areas a family with five members using traditional bath needs around 20,000 liters of water, which is contaminated, causing diseases and expenses. In the region, saving water may be improved by: i. Capturing, storing and treating rainwater, ii. Recycling gray and black water, iii. Using ecological bathrooms, iv. Other. Here, we show the results of using ecological bathrooms. The current cost benefits showed RB/C=0.783 and NPV=$2,729.79, making it unviable economically, 2. Culturally, they are unviable because these factors are a strong obstacle in their use and even more important than economic and ecological factors. 3. Ecologically, the impact is attractive because it saves approximately 22, 000 liters of water per year. Moreover, they generate around 500 kg of manure and almost 500 liters of liquid fertilizer. The most important aspect is that level of contamination is zero. The dry bathrooms are ecologically viable and it is highly recommended to promote them even though they are not economically viable.


Ecosystem processes are influenced by weather and climatic perturbations at multiple temporal scales with a large range of amplitudes and phases. Technological advances of automated biometeorological measurements provide the opportunity to apply spectral methods on continuous time series to identify differences in amplitudes and phases and relationships with weather variation. Here we used wavelet coherence analysis to study the temporal covariance between soil CO2 production and soil temperature, soil moisture, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Continuous (hourly average) data were acquired over 2 years among three vegetation types in a semiarid mixed temperate forest. We showed that soil temperature and soil moisture influence soil CO2 production differently at multiple periods (e.g. hours, days, weeks, months, years), especially after rain pulse events. Our results provide information about the periodicity of soil CO2 production among vegetation types, and provide insights about processes controlling CO2 production through the study of phase relationships between two time series (e.g. soil CO2 production and PAR). We tested the performance of empirical models of soil CO2 production using the continuous wavelet transform. These models, built around soil temperature and moisture, failed at multiple periods across the measured dates, suggesting that empirical models should include other factors that regulate soil CO2 production at different temporal scales. Our results add a new dimension for the analysis of continuous time series of biometeorological measurements and model testing, which will prove useful for analysis of increasing sensor data obtained by environmental networks.


We present an analytical physical model for above-threshold leakage in semiconductor lasers. The model can be applied to estimate whether heterobarrier lowering and accompanying overbarrier leakage are within reach of having serious deleterious effects on laser performance. The model uses two-dimensional fully self-consistent numerical equations that arise from comprehensive systems of partial coupled differential equations. The effect of temperature and doping on laser efficiency is analyzed for two lasers, one designed for operation at 1.3 /spl mu/m and the other at 1.55 /spl mu/m. Both devices are assumed to be built in the InGaAsP-InP material system. We show that, even in a 1.55-/spl mu/m laser, overbarrier leakage can cause severe performance degradation at typical operating temperatures and doping levels, and we argue that overbarrier leakage deserves to be treated as a potential threat to laser performance at telecommunication wavelengths.


Humanitarian search and rescue operations can be found in most large-scale emergency operations. Search and rescue technology to-date still rely on old technologies such as search dogs, camera mounted probes, and technology that has been in service for decades. Intelligent robots equipped with advanced sensors are attracting more and more attentions from researchers and rescuers.This paper presents the design and application of a distributed wireless sensor network prototyping system for tracking mobile search and rescue robots. The robotic system can navigate autonomously into rubbles and to search for living human body heat using its thermal array sensor. The wireless sensor network helps to track the location of the robot by analyzing signal strength. Design and development of the network and the physical robot prototype are described in this paper.


An electrically small metamaterial-inspired antenna is presented and discussed. The antenna requires a small foot print of λ/5 × λ/10 where λ is the wavelength corresponding to the resonant frequency, when printed on a substrate of dielectric constant 4.4 and thickness 1.6mm. The antenna offers a 2:1 VSWR from 750MHz-1.4GHz which covers CDMA, GSM and ISM bands. A top loaded monopole with a meandered element ground plane constitutes the antenna structure.


Aim: To estimate the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in preterm labour patients when compared to term labour patients.
Materials and Method: It was a hospital based prospective case-control study conducted over a period of two years. Study population was selected as per our study criteria. Speculum examination was done for both control and cases and evaluated for any abnormal vaginal discharge and vaginal pH. Smear from posterior fornix was taken using sterile cotton swabs for wet mount and KOH test (Whiff test). Diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was made if three of the four signs of Amsel criteria were found. The data were analysed using SPSS software 20 and results were derived.
Results: Among the patients bacterial vaginosis was present in 24 of the preterm labour (26.7%) patients and 5 of the term labour (5.6%) patients (Table 1). It was statistically significant (p < 0.001) by Chi-square test. Considering the relative risk(RR), women with bacterial vaginosis has increased risk of preterm labour when compared to patients without bacterial vaginosis(Odds ratio -6.182;RR-4.800).
Conclusion: Our study concluded that bacterial vaginosis is one of the most important causes of preterm labour. Routine screening and treatment of bacterial vaginosis for women at high risk for preterm labour will help in reduction of preterm birth related perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: Bacterial vaginosis, Amsel criteria, Preterm labour, Preterm birth, Perinatal morbidity


Abstract. The 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura Earthquake (South Island, New Zealand) caused widespread complex ground deformation including significant coastal uplift of rocky shorelines. This coastal deformation is used here to develop a new methodology, in which intertidal marine biota have been calibrated against tide-gauge records to quantitatively constrain pre-deformation biota living depths relative to sea level. This living depth is then applied to biologically measured tectonic uplift at three other locations along the Kaikōura coast. We also test how tectonic uplift measured using this calibrated marine biota compares to vertical deformation measured, at the same localities, using instrumental methods [Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and strong motion data], and non-calibrated biological methods. Data show that where biological data is collected by RTK-GNSS in sheltered locations, this new tide-gauge calibration method estimates tectonic uplift with an accuracy of ± ≤ 0.07 m in the vicinity of the tide-gauge, and an overall mean accuracy of ± 0.10 m or 10 % compared to differential LiDAR methods for all locations. Sites exposed to high wave wash, or data collected by tape-measure, are more likely to show higher uplift results. Tectonic uplift estimates derived using predictive tidal charts produce overall higher uplift estimates in comparison to tide-gauge calibrated and instrumental methods, with mean uplift results 0.21 m or 20 % higher than LiDAR results. This low-tech methodology can, however, produce uplift results that are broadly consistent with instrumental methodologies and might be applied with confidence in remote locations where satellite data or local tide-gauge measurements are not available.


Every problem ends with rise of a leader who is bestowed with the ability of looking through the problem, dissociating with the emotions involved and most importantly influencing others and making it happen. The effectiveness of leadership and measures and metrics of it generate unending enthusiasm for academia, the result of which is various theoretical frameworks that embellish the management literature.Transactionalandtransformationalleadershipstyles-developedbyBurns(1978)andBass(1985)andthe constructive/developmental theory of Kegan which explains the critical personality differences in leaders that lead to different styles are milestones in leadership theories. These theories throw light on the state of consciousness and maturity level of the leader and reflection of the same in his behaviour. The tenets of Ancient Indian Wisdom elucidate the critical qualities that characterize a marvel of leader. The person with these qualities is recognized as 'Sthitha Prajna'(steadied intellect). The present study is a survey conducted on people in leadership positions about their functioning and with the help of explorative factor analysis it is attempted to identify the 'Sthitha Prajna'attributes in them. Later, these attributes are weighed against their beliefs in teaching of Bhagavad Gita.


This review of our literature describes the effects of many neuroleptic drugs on the sympathetic and hyperthermic reactions due to orexin A, a neuropeptide affecting body temperature and food intake by an increase in sympathetic activity. Haloperidol reduces, while clozapine and olanzapine block the hyperthermia induced by orexin A. Risperidone enhances the elevation of body temperature due to orexin A. Quetiapine delays these hyperthermic effects. The implications on human therapeutic strategies are discussed, including the involvement of orexinergic pathway in the induction of obesity, induced by these neuroleptic substances. We summarize our published data in a unique report so to emphasize the influences of these neuroleptic drugs on the control of body temperature, exerted by orexinergic system. This large vision could be also useful to address therapeutic choices. Patients with serious mental illness are at higher risk of developing metabolic abnormalities (e.g., weight gain, increased blood pressure, and glucose or lipid levels) in comparison to general population. Since the risk increases following initiation of narcoleptic therapy, it must assess carefully risks and benefits when choosing a particular antipsychotic drug.


Infrastructure in the Eastern Neighbours and Central Asia (ENCA) lags behind other regions in terms of the quality of service provision and this is a potentially important constraint on the achievement of higher economic growth. The purpose of this paper is to examine the recent developments in infrastructure finance drawing together data from national sources, international institutions and project databases. With a total investment in infrastructure over the last decade of over 2.5% of GDP in ENCA as a whole, the paper describes the sources and uses of these funds including the continuing importance finance from the public sector and the recent growth of project finance.


Abstract In the U.S. there are steady efforts by governmental and philanthropic organizations to increase the representation of students of colour in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). After years of mixed results, researchers and educators have started to question one size fits all notions of broadening participation. An increasing number of projects are challenging universalist assumptions by enrolling the expertise of culturally situated communities of practice in STEM lessons and the educational technologies that support them. While this research shows promising results for improving young people's interest and performance in STEM, there has been little research on how these lessons and technologies might also benefit the communities whose expertise were originally enrolled. This paper details the design of educational technologies that bridge STEM and African American cosmetology. We report on a mixed-methods research project, conducted with a group of predominantly African American cosmetologists. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected to study their attitudes toward STEM before and after working with the technologies. Our results suggest positive changes in the cosmetologists' attitudes. We end with a critical discussion about respecting the knowledge systems of underrepresented communities of practice in educational technology research and development.


As the number and percentage of people without health insurance continues to climb, the goal of expanding such coverage is even more pressing. Traditional strategies have had only limited success. And with little movement at the federal level, states have chosen to enact their own bold initiatives. Four New England states - Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont - have recently passed or implemented programs to expand health insurance coverage, some with the goal of achieving near-universal coverage. By combining different strategies from across the political spectrum, the new initiatives represent a unique amalgam approach to expanding health care coverage. This paper examines existing strategies that have taken a more incremental approach to expanding coverage and also explores the new initiatives in New England, comparing and contrasting their designs and strategies. Over the past decade or so, states have had varying degrees of success in pursuing a number of traditional strategies, often in combination, to achieve incremental reductions in the rate of uninsured. Policies targeting the low-income population, such as Medicaid and SCHIP expansions, have been modestly successful in expanding coverage at a fairly low cost. Yet efforts to address the high-risk population and policies to expand coverage in the individual and small group markets have had limited success. In contrast to previous efforts to expand coverage, the new insurance initiatives in New England emphasize "shared responsibility," placing the onus for coverage on government, employers, and individuals alike. Several of the plans provide public subsidies to ensure affordability for low-income residents. Two states also impose financial penalties on employers that do not offer health insurance coverage. To encourage individual participation, most of the plans offer fairly comprehensive coverage, with relatively limited cost sharing. Massachusetts has gone further, mandating that individuals purchase coverage, either from the state, through their employer, or in the private market. Yet, the New England states face various pitfalls as they expand coverage. For example, in setting subsidies for individual premiums, policymakers must balance the need to make coverage affordable with the desire to minimize the potential for disruption in the group insurance market. Another challenge is to maintain minimum benefits standards while negotiating premium discounts with insurers, a task that may prove difficult in the future if the new programs are unable to attract a sufficiently large share of the market. Finally, many of the new programs rely on cooperation between states and insurers, which can be difficult to sustain over time, especially in states with few players in the private market.


ABSTRACT While international and national policies, strategies and legislation have been designed to address the problems of forced displacement, they also form a vital role in the discursive construction, governance and regulation of those who have been displaced. This paper critically interrogates the 'UK Safeguarding Strategy: Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking and Refugee Children' to highlight the ways in which unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) are implicitly constructed as a policy problem. Drawing on Foucault, and using a novel analytic method (WPR) for studying problematisation within policy, this paper moves beyond the policy definition of an unaccompanied asylum seeking child to unearth characterisations that the policy ascribes to this group of children, and in particular the conceptual boundaries established for the way society thinks about UASC. These conceptual boundaries are divisive in nature, including suspicion around routes of arrival to the UK; constructions of risk; and questions about the responsibility of providing care and of being in need of care. The significance of the paper lies in its aim to use the examination of the discursive practices of the UK's Safeguarding Strategy as a starting point to open a broader discussion around how UASC are constructed and governed, nationally and internationally.


The magnetic properties of ThCr_2Si_2-type single crystals ACo_2Se_2 (A = K, Rb and Cs) have been investigated by magnetic susceptibility and isothermal magnetization measurements at various temperatures. The ferromagnetic phase transition temperatures are estimated as $\approx$ 74 K and 76 K and 62 K for A = K, Rb and Cs (in case of high magnetic field), respectively. The susceptibility data in the paramagnetic state obey the modified Curie-Weiss law quite well and the derived effective magnetic moments of the Co atom are about 2.21, 2.04 and 2.04 \mu_B/Co and the corresponding spontaneous moments derived at the ground state are 0.72, 0.59 and 0.52 \mu_B/Co as well as the generalized Rhodes-Wohlfarth ratios as 3.07, 3.42 and 3.96 for A= K, Rb and Cs, respectively. The magnetic moment aligns within ab-plane and a metamagnetism-like behavior occurs at a field of 3.5 T in CsCo_2Se_2 with H//ab-plane. The magnetic properties in this system were discussed within the frameworks of the self-consistent renormalization (SCR) and Takahashi's theory of spin fluctuations.


Wafer bonding with intermediate polymer adhesives is an important fabrication technique for advanced microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems, such as three-dimensional integrated circuits, advanced packaging, and microfluidics. In adhesive wafer bonding, the polymer adhesive bears the forces involved to hold the surfaces together. The main advantages of adhesive wafer bonding include the insensitivity to surface topography, the low bonding temperatures, the compatibility with standard integrated circuit wafer processing, and the ability to join different types of wafers. Compared to alternative wafer bonding techniques, adhesive wafer bonding is simple, robust, and low cost. This article reviews the state-of-the-art polymer adhesive wafer bonding technologies, materials, and applications.


The goal of this research is to examine relationship challenges and outcomes to experiences of both internal and between-person relationship tensions in novelty and predictability. Consistent with the dialectical model, I predicted that internal and between-partner tensions would be associated: a) more with the challenge of boredom than conflict, b) more with trying novel activities than familiar ones, and c) with reduced relationship quality. These hypotheses were assessed in two studies. In Study 1, a correlational design was employed where participants in long-term close relationships completed questionnaires related to personal relationship tensions, challenges, activity engagement, and relationship quality. In Study 2, I extended my analysis by using an experimental design to examine the effects of perceived tensions between partners in participants own relationships on challenges, activities, and relationship quality. Additionally, in Study 2, I examined the effect of goal orientation (approach, avoidance) in shaping these associations.


The COMET experiment searches for the muon-to-electron($\mu$-$e$) conversion with a sensitivity below $10^{-16}$ which is 10,000 times better than the present upper limit.
This process is strictly forbidden in the standard model because of the lepton flavor conservation law.
In contrast, its branching ratio can be sizable around $10^{-15}$ in many models of physics beyond the standard model (BSM).
Therefore the discovery of the $\mu$-$e$ conversion should be unambiguous evidence of BSM.
Since sufficient amount of muons can be collected owing to the world most powerful pulsed proton beam at J-PARC, the background suppression is the most important to achieve the target sensitivity.
In COMET, the measurement will be done between 500-1000ns after coming the beam bunch to highly suppress the beam related prompt background.
Even in this case, signals can be detected because of muon's long life time ($\tau_{\mu}\sim800$ns) in a muonic-atom in case of using aluminum.
In this scheme, the ``extinction factor'', ($\equiv$(#of residual protons between two bunches)/(#of protons in a bunch)), must be less than $10^{-9}$.
To ensure such an extremely low extinction factor during the data taking, an innovative diamond detector will be adopted since it has high radiation tolerance to an intensive proton beam, and a fast time response to identify a single proton after the prompt beam.
Recently, a prototype detector was developed based on a single-crystal diamond with a metal-insulator-metal type structure to perform the direct proton measurement inside the abort beam-line of J-PARC main ring.
The installation was completed in this Spring and the direct beam measurement was conducted with the high intensity pulsed proton beam and the low intensity continuous beam.
In this paper, results of above measurements are reported together with prospects.


Introduction India accounts for more than one-fifth of the total global tuberculosis (TB) incidence. In response, the Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP) of India has supported the decentralisation of service delivery with encouragement of active community participation. Operation ASHA is an international NGO that offers TB services to slum populations – a group that have proven difficult historically to engage. It employs a unique treatment approach involving community-based providers and biometric data registration to support adherence. We report treatment outcome for patients with presumed drug-susceptible tuberculosis managed by Op ASHA within Delhi's slum districts. Methods Retrospective, observational cohort study focusing on patients within 14 southern Delhi slum districts started on treatment according to RNTCP guidelines between 1.4.2012 and 31.3.2013. Demographic and clinical information were systematically recorded. Patients still on treatment by the end of October 2013 were excluded from analysis. Successful outcomes were defined as bacteriologically confirmed cure or treatment completion. Adverse outcomes were: treatment default, conversion to MDR-TB treatment, treatment failure or death. Results 1217 patients were started on treatment. 29% were aged <20; and 42% were female. 52% had pulmonary TB; of these 55% were sputum smear positive (58% grade II or III out of III). 218 (18%) subjects re-treated for TB were excluded from further outcome analysis. The remaining 999 patients had similar clinical characteristics to the whole study population. Successful outcome after 6 months of treatment was recorded in 85% of subjects (77% pulmonary, 91% extrapulmonary cases). Adverse outcomes were recorded in 16% of those with pulmonary TB. This was considerably less common in extrapulmonary TB, where it was recorded in only 6%. Death was reported in 3% of pulmonary and 1% of extrapulmonary patients. Conclusions The model of care achieves the WHO target for treatment completion of 85% in a population considered very high risk of failure under traditional TB programmes. Future work needs to focus on the factors that result in adverse outcomes, in particular for the key patient population with infectious pulmonary TB.


Antioxidative activity and protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage of potato protein hydrolysate (potato peptides, Po-P) were studied in vitro and in vivo. The Po-P obtained by proteolysis with Amano P and pancreatin inhibited linoleic acid oxidation either by 83%, at its coexistent 0.005% in a ferric thiocyanate assay system or by 32% at its coexistent 0.0002% in a beta-carotene decolorization assay system. Meanwhile Po-P were orally administered to male Wistar rats at doses of 12.5-100 mg/kg of body weight (BW) 30 min prior to ethanol injection. Consequently the ethanol-induced gastric damage was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner in the Po-P administered rat. The highest effect was observed in the group dosed with 100 mg Po-P/kg BW; the inhibition ratio was 69.6%. The extent of antioxidation or protection against ethanol-induced gastritis was quite similar to those of the respective peptides from casein, corn protein and ovalbumin, suggesting that the potato protein hydrolysate could serve as a useful food ingredient in practical eating habits.


Recent microarray profiling studies on breast cancer have identified distinct subtypes that are associated with different clinical outcomes. Promoter hypermethylation of several known or putative tumor suppressor genes occurs frequently during the pathogenesis of breast cancer. We proposed that immunohistopathologic subtypes of breast cancer are likely to contain distinct promoter methylation patterns. A panel of 10 gene promoters was assessed by quantitative multiplex methylation-specific PCR in 114 invasive ductal carcinomas from Korea representing the three major subtypes [57 luminal, 24 human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), and 33 basal-like] based on immunohistochemical findings of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2, cytokeratin 5/6, and epidermal growth factor receptor.The median methylation levels of HIN1, RASSF1A, and TWIST, and the average methylation ratio were significantly lower in basal-like subtype compared to luminal or HER2 subtypes. In contrast, BRCA1 methylation level was significantly higher in basal-like subtype than in luminal subtype. The methylation status of a panel of four genes (APC1, CDH, BRCA1 and RAR-b) inluminal and HER2 subtypes were dissimilar, where HER2 tumors showed a significantly higher level of methylation compared to luminal tumors. These results suggest that gene methylation in breast cancer can potentially serve as epigenetic biomarkers and may contribute further to current breast cancer classification.


Abstract. To decrease the dependency on fossil fuels, more renewable energy sources need to be explored. Over the last years, the consumption of biomass has risen steadily and it has become a major source for re-growing energy. Besides the most common sources of biomass (forests, agriculture etc.) there are smaller supplies available in mostly unused areas like hedges, vegetation along streets, railways, rivers and field margins. However, these sources are not mapped and in order to obtain their potential for usage as a renewable energy, a method to quickly assess their spatial distribution and their volume is needed. We use a range of data sets including satellite imagery, GIS and elevation data to evaluate these parameters. With the upcoming Sentinel missions, our satellite data is chosen to match the spatial resolution of Sentinel-2 (10–20 m) as well as its spectral characteristics. To obtain sub-pixel information from the satellite data, we use a spectral unmixing approach. Additional GIS data is provided by the German Digital Landscape Model (ATKIS Base-DLM). To estimate the height (and derive the volume) of the vegetation, we use LIDAR data to produce a digital surface model. These data sets allow us to map the extent of previously unused biomass sources. This map can then be used as a starting point for further analyses about the feasibility of the biomass extraction and their usage as a renewable energy source.


This paper discusses the effects of broken cloud fields on solar illumination reaching the ground. Application of aerosol retrieval techniques in the vicinity of broken clouds leads to significant over prediction of aerosol optical depth because of the enhancement of visible illumination due to scattering of photons from clouds into clear patches. These illumination enhancement effects are simulated for a variety of broken cloud fields using the MCScene code, a high fidelity model for full optical spectrum (UV through LWIR) spectral image simulation. MCScene provides an accurate, robust, and efficient means to generate spectral scenes for algorithm validation. MCScene utilizes a Direct Simulation Monte Carlo approach for modeling 3D atmospheric radiative transfer (RT), including full treatment of molecular absorption and Rayleigh scattering, aerosol absorption and scattering, and multiple scattering and adjacency effects, as well as scattering from spatially inhomogeneous surfaces.


Models have been created under homogeneous condition with no exertion on show improvement for heterogeneous condition for bicyclists. In this manner, display improvements under heterogeneous condition are the need of great importance as the bicyclists working under the blended activity conditions are inclined street setbacks. Unsignalized crossing points are the contention hotspot in a street approach. Need of development are ignored in these crossing points making it extreme for the bicyclists to make developments with next to zero accessible space.This makes clashes with respect to bike and vehicle development making it an exceptionally disordered circumstance and hotspot for mischances. Be that as it may, as of late exceptional offices for bike client which incorporates bike paths have not been made accessible influencing the bicyclists to confront a few issues in the blended rush hour gridlock conditions. The city experts have absence of access to benefit expectation and defer estimation strategies required for the foundation of bicycle neighbourly offices. Henceforth, in this investigation approaches have been produced for the estimation of postponement and BLOS considering activity parameters and geometric parameters.
Datasets have been collected from 58 Indian unsignalised intersection approaches. Pearson correlation analysis was carried out to identify the significant variables of the delay models and Spearman's correlation for BLOS models. From the correlation analysis it was observed that road width (EMW), volume per lane (MV/L), delay (D) and commercial activity (CA) were the variables affecting the BLOS models. Critical gap (CG), capacity (C), percentage 2-wheelers (P2W) were the variables having significant impact on delay values. Models were developed using these variables that can be used for estimation ofservice quality and delay at urban unsignalized intersections. Step-wise regression method was used to develop the models. Prediction ability of the models have been analysed using several statistical parameters such as: correlation coefficient (R), maximum absolute error (MAE), absolute average error (AAE) and root mean square error (RMSE).


Digital literacy skills are essential for today's citizens. These skills are expected for everyday personal use, learning and effective performance at work. The UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (HE) and employers therefore require graduates to be able to demonstrate these skills. However, the cost of UK university education is rising substantially and cashand time-poor learners must decide what to prioritise. In this context they may favour subject-specific learning rather than skills development. How therefore can we engage learners in developing their digital literacy? The UK's Open University is a distance learning institution. Its Faculty of Health & Social Care (FH&SC) has evolved different approaches for digital literacy skills development using technology-enhanced learning, based on skills resources that are either generic (usable by any FH&SC module) or are context-dependent and module-specific. Our Evaluating Approaches to Developing Digital Literacy Skills (EADDLS) project is exploring learner experiences of digital literacy skills development to identify their needs and preferences, to inform how we can optimise learning designs to better engage and support learners. Furthermore, since skills activities are widely required across different programmes, there is keen interest in the pedagogical and resourcing implications of using generic activities, as opposed to module-specific activities that are more challenging to share and maintain. We therefore also explore the influence of design features such as generic or module-specific contexts. We gathered data from online questionnaires (n=298) and interviews (n=18) involving learners from three modules. Focusing on the qualitative interview data, we explore what learners value and why, including links between attitude, motivation, and preferred learning designs. We identify reasons for certain findings from our quantitative data, e.g. a preference for integrated, module-specific activities over separate, generic activities and suggest a framework for managing activity complexity based on familiarity with the skill and the context.


This thesis considers specific topics related to the dynamic modelling and management of risk, with a particular emphasis on the generation of asymmetric and fat tailed behavior observed in practise. Specifically, extensions to the dynamics of the popular GARCH model, to capture time variation in higher moments, are considered in the univariate and multivariate context, with a special focus on the Generalized Hyperbolic distribution. In Chapter 1, I consider the extension of univariate GARCH processes with higher moment dynamics based on the Autoregressive Conditional Density model of Hansen (1994), with conditional distribution the Generalized Hyperbolic. The value of such dynamics are analyzed in the context of risk management, and the question of ignoring them discussed. In Chapter 2, I review some popular multivariate GARCH models with a particular emphasis on the dynamic correlation model of Engle (2002), and alternative distributions such those from the Generalized Asymmetric Laplace of Kotz, Kozubowski, and Podgorski (2001). In Chapter 3, I propose a multivariate extension to the Autoregressive Conditional Density model via the independence framework of the Generalized Orthogonal GARCH models, providing the first feasible model for large dimensional multivariate modelling of time varying higher moments. A comprehensive out-of- sample risk and portfolio management application provides strong evidence of the improvement over non time varying higher moments. Finally, in Chapter 4, I consider the benefits of active investing when the benchmark index is not optimally weighted. I investigate advances in the definition and use of risk measures in portfolio allocation, and propose certain simple solutions to challenges arising in the optimization of these measures. Combining the models discussed in the previous chapters, within a fractional programming optimization framework and using a range of popular risk measures, a large scale out-of-sample portfolio application on the point in time constituents of the Dow Jones Industrial Average is presented and discussed, with clear implications for active investing and benchmark policy choice.


Porous scaffolds have been developed in many forms and materials, but few have reached the combination of adequate physical, biological and mechanical properties. In previous works hybrid foams bioactive glass polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were prepared by the sol-gel process for application as scaffold for bone tissue engineering. We observed that synthesis parameters such as PVA hydrolysis grade, PVA solution concentration, and PVA content in the hybrids affected both synthesis results and structural characteristics of the obtained foams. A marked change in foaming behavior occurs for PVA contents around 60%. In this work we analyze the effect of different compositions and synthesis parameters on the mechanical behavior of PVA-bioative glass foams. The compression tests showed that an increase of PVA fraction changes the mechanical behavior due to different mechanisms leading to cell collapse. For hybrids with lower PVA contents (20 to 30%) the cell collapse is due to brittle crushing. For intermediate polymer content (40-60%) the contribution of plastic yielding in the plateau region increases and it becomes the predominant mechanism of cell collapse for samples with higher polymer content (70-80%).


Background WalkIT Arizona was a 2×2 factorial trial examining the effects of goal type (adaptive versus static) and reinforcement type (immediate versus delayed) to increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among insufficiently active adults. The 12-month intervention combined mobile health (mHealth) technology with behavioral strategies to test scalable population-health approaches to increasing MVPA. Self-reported physical activity provided domain-specific information to help contextualize the intervention effects. Objective The aim of this study was to report on the secondary outcomes of self-reported walking for transportation and leisure over the course of the 12-month WalkIT intervention. Methods A total of 512 participants aged 19 to 60 years (n=330 [64.5%] women; n=425 [83%] Caucasian/white, n=96 [18.8%] Hispanic/Latinx) were randomized into interventions based on type of goals and reinforcements. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form assessed walking for transportation and leisure at baseline, and at 6 months and 12 months of the intervention. Negative binomial hurdle models were used to examine the effects of goal and reinforcement type on (1) odds of reporting any (versus no) walking/week and (2) total reported minutes of walking/week, adjusted for neighborhood walkability and socioeconomic status. Separate analyses were conducted for transportation and leisure walking, using complete cases and multiple imputation. Results All intervention groups reported increased walking at 12 months relative to baseline. Effects of the intervention differed by domain: a significant three-way goal by reinforcement by time interaction was observed for total minutes of leisure walking/week, whereas time was the only significant factor that contributed to transportation walking. A sensitivity analysis indicated minimal differences between complete case analysis and multiple imputation. Conclusions This study is the first to report differential effects of adaptive versus static goals for self-reported walking by domain. Results support the premise that individual-level PA interventions are domain- and context-specific and may be helpful in guiding further intervention refinement. Trial Registration Preregistered at clinicaltrials.gov: (NCT02717663) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02717663 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1016/j.cct.2019.05.001


This study examined the influence of self-presentation tactics of Facebook users on their response to persuasive political messages. The self-presentation tactics examined were supplication, ingratiation, self-promotion, success and basking. The responses to political persuasive messages among Facebook users were evaluated using measures like ignoring of posts, viewing posts, commenting on posts, clicking the like option as well as sharing of posts. A total of three null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Survey research design was used for the study. The questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. In the analysis of data for the study, the researcher used simple percentages, mean and standard deviation, weighted mean, correlation, Chi-Square tests as well as multiple regression. The result of the study showed that self-presentation significantly predicts response to persuasive political messages. It was also found that a significant relationship exists between message elements and the response of Facebook users. Also, it was found that the source of Facebook message plays a role in influencing the responses of Facebook users. Recommendations have been made based on the results of the study.


Mini-surgical approaches in 4 to 7 mm probing depths have been shown to facilitate improved deposit removal as compared to closed instrumentation. At the same time this treatment is less traumatic than more extensive flap reflection for root planing. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical effects of closed root planing (C/SCRP) to those of root planing augmented by papilla reflection and fiber optic illumination (PR/SCRP) over a 6-month period. Fourteen patients with moderate/advanced adult periodontitis received each therapy in 2 experimental periodontitis sites (PS = greater than or equal to 5 mm probing depth and greater than 5 mm attachment loss) and one non-periodontitis site (NPS = less than or equal to 3 mm probing depth and no recession). Presence of supragingival plaque, bleeding on probing, probing depths, and clinical attachment levels were measured before treatment and 6, 12, and 24 weeks posttreatment. Mean supragingival plaque levels were high and did not vary significantly over the course of the study, but bleeding on probing was significantly reduced in PS following both C/SCRP and PR/SCRP (P less than or equal to 0.0001). Mean probing depths were significantly reduced after 6 months (P less than or equal to 0.01) in NPS-PR/SCRP from 2.8 +/- 0.1 to 2.0 +/- 0.2 mm, in PS-C/SCRP from 5.5 +/- 0.2 to 4.5 +/- 0.4 mm, and in PS-PR/SCRP from 5.8 +/- 0.2 to 3.2 +/- 0.1 mm. In periodontitis sites, PR/SCRP demonstrated greater probing depth reductions than C/SCRP at all time periods (P less than or equal to 0.004). PS attachment levels also improved following C/SCRP and PR/SCRP at all postoperative times (P less than or equal to 0.01). PR/SCRP appears to provide better short-term mean probing depth reduction (2.6 mm) than C/SCRP (1.0 mm), presumably due to apical positioning of the papillae and periodontal repair following improved access for root planing.


Abstract Depositional facies are the net product of a complex set of processes that impact sediment supply and transport in geomorphic systems. Although the general facies motifs of many isolated platforms throughout the geologic record are well documented, the details of geomorphological and sedimentological patterns, and the physical oceanographical processes that can impact sedimentological differentiation, are less well constrained. On these platforms, accumulations of reef-associated debris in platform-top reef sand aprons can form expansive geomorphic elements, hosting prolific hydrocarbon reserves in geologic analogs. To better understand the nature and scale of reef-sand-apron accumulations, this project integrates remote-sensing, field, petrographical, and granulometrical characterization of surficial Holocene sediments with physical oceanographical observations and modeling of Aranuka Atoll, Republic of Kiribati, in the western equatorial Pacific. Results illustrate trends in hydrodynamics, geomorphology, and sedimentology from the platform margin to the platform interior. Current-meter data and modeling illustrate how the tides (2.5 m spring-tide amplitude) modulate wave energy (open-ocean annual average swell height of ∼ 2 m; distal swell can be larger) to produce dominant on-platform flow (speeds up to 90 cm/s) on the northern reef sand apron. The strongest currents there appear to be impacted by southward-propagating waves related to fronts that pass thousands of kilometers north of the atoll, not local, wind-generated waves. These hydrodynamical influences are interpreted to have led to the development of the expansive northern reef sand apron (> 2000 m wide); the southeastern apron, with currents that reverse with the tides, includes a distinct, narrower sand apron (∼ 1500 m wide). Concomitantly, the hydrodynamical patterns and platformward decrease in energy across the reef sand apron, coupled with changes in biota, are interpreted to control variability in sedimentary structures, bottom types, and sediment attributes. Sediment near the margin on the reef sand apron contains coral and red algal–rich coarse sand and gravel, passing to foraminifera-rich, medium to coarse sand toward the lagoon. The lagoon includes even finer sediment, chiefly fine and very fine sand, and patch reefs. Collectively, the results of this study illustrate that selective winnowing, differentiation of sediment size, type, and sorting, and nature and size of geomorphic elements ultimately are linked to the hydrodynamical patterns across the platform. The sedimentological (depositional porosity and permeability) and geomorphic (facies bodies) variability and the processes active on this reef sand apron provide a general conceptual model that may be applicable to predict trends in ancient reservoir analogs.


The distribution of putative nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-containing cells has been analysed using NADPH-d histochemistry in the CNS and peripheral tissues in more than 2D ecologically and systematically different molluscan genera representing 3 main classes of the phylum MOLLUSCA: Polyplacophora (Lepidopleurus, Lepidozona, Katharina), Gastropoda (Littorina, Lymnaea, Aplexa, Physa, Planorbarius, Planorbis, Helisoma, Biomphalaria, Helix, Limax, Cepaea, Bulla, Aplysia, Phyllaplysia, Philine, Pleurobranchea, Tritonia, Armina, Flabellina, Cadlina) and Cephalopoda (Octopus, Sepia, Rossia, Loligo). Several species were used for more detailed immunohistochemical, biochemical, biophysical and physiological studies to further assay of NOS activity and to analyse functional roles of nitric oxide (NO) in these animals. The main conclusions of our comparative analysis and literature survey can be summarised as following: (i) There is strong evidence for the presence of NO-dependent signalling pathways in different molluscan species. (ii) We hypothesise that a general tendency in the evolution of NADPH-d-reactive cells in Mollusca is a migration of nitrergic function from periphery to the CNS. Also, different isoforms of NOS appear to be present in any one species. (iii) One of the main functional targets of NO signalling is the feeding system. However, there are obvious differences between predators (many labelled central motoneurons) and herbivorous species (many labelled peripheral putative sensory cells) as well as between land/freshwater and marine animals. Nevertheless, in all species tested NO-activated feeding-like motor patterns in the buccal ganglia. Additional functional and cellular targets for NO in molluscs are also considered. We briefly review neuromodulatory mechanisms of NO action and we consider molluscs as useful model systems for investigations of the roles of NO.


Released: the first six ANC prisoners from Robben Island yesterday after spending three to 10 years are from left, Eddie Humalog, Nelson Topeka, Mohan Mmoledi, Vuyisile Mbundu, Bushy Maape and Norman Yengeni. Western Cape United Democratic Front (UDF) spokesman Trevor Manuel is in the white shirt. At the back is Mr Amos Lengisi, joint secretary of the UDF in the Western Cape.


People who have had recurrent suicide attempts (RSA) are known to be at higher risk of future attempts and eventual death by suicide. They are also identified as having unique psychosocial needs, however few treatment interventions have been developed for this particular population. The Skills for Safer Living: A Psychosocial-Psychoeducational Intervention for People with Recurrent Suicide Attempts (SfSL/PISA) is a psychotherapeutic group intervention created for and with people with RSA; seeking to engage with the possibility of living, enhance skills for living more safely and addressing their needs.
This research project aimed to address these issues by examining whether participants who have engaged with this intervention transition away from RSA, and explores their experiences of this transition and of living with RSA. The project comprises four interlinked studies, two quantitative outcome studies and two qualitative studies, with different participant samples, all of whom had graduated from SfSL/PISA.
These studies highlight that risk factors and deficit areas for RSA can be attenuated over time for those who completed the SfSL/PISA intervention; that the process of transitioning away from RSA comprises three phases wherein the person moves from a death orientation to a life orientation; and that living with RSA is marked by states that are ambiguous, fragile, and arduous. The findings suggest that psychotherapeutic intervention for RSA needs to address the specific needs of this group and to be sensitive to the particular stage of living with RSA to navigate through this experience.


Background: Second stage caesarean sections following failed instrumental delivery are in rising trend. Maternal and neonatal risks are significantly high following failed instrumental deliveries. Identification of contributing factors is important to modify the success rate of instrumental delivery. The objective of this study was to identify the potential contributing factors for failed instrumental delivery and to assess major maternal and neonatal morbidity associated with such deliveries. Methods: This retrospective observational study was carried out in the Obstetric Department, St. Richard's Hospital, United Kingdom from 01st December 2011 to 30th April 2012. Data collection was carried out using proforma. Contributing factors were predetermined. Results: Total number of births during particular period was 2825. There were 44 failed instrumental deliveries out of 275 trials. The overall rate of failed instrumental delivery was 16%. In 54.5% (24 of 44) of cases, consultant was not present physically at the time of delivery. Position of the head was not properly determined in 32% (14 of 44) of cases. Eighteen (41%) deliveries had been carried out by junior doctors ( Conclusion : Significant number of failed instrumental deliveries happened due to the lack of consultant involvement, involvement of junior medical staff, failure to determine position of head and more frequent use of ventouse rather than forceps. There were significant major neonatal and maternal morbidities. We recommend structured junior staff training on instrumental delivery with assessment of competencies. Consultant involvement and appropriate use of instruments are important to optimize success rate of instrumental delivery DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/gmj.v19i2.7908 Galle Medical Journal 2014 19(2): 9-11


The purpose of this study was to investigate sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus distribution in relation to underwater topography, temperature gradients and primary and secondary productivity. The influence of these factors over different spatial scales (80 to 640 nautical miles) was examined, and the ~rnportance of food resources in determining sperm whale distribution was assessed. The data were collected during a survey around the South Pacific. Principal component analyses were used to assess the relationship between the environmental measures recorded and to relate them to sperm whale density. The first principal component was considered as an index of secondary productivity, the second as an index of underwater topography, and the third as a contrast between deep and surface productivity. Sperm whale density was correlated with the f~rst and the second principal components over spatial scales equal to or greater than 320 n miles This result indicates that sperm whales are generally distnbuted within large areas which are characterized by high seco~idar)~ productivity and steep underwater topography. The size of these areas may reflect the distances over which the groups of whales move in search of food. The absence of correlation over smaller spatial scales suggests that factors other than the distribution of food resources also influence sperm whale distribution over these scales.


Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of global death. Diagnosis and treatment for CAD often involves angiography and/or angioplasty. However, the radial artery catheterization required during both procedures may result in acute artery dysfunction/damage, mainly due to endothelial disruption. Whilst exercise training typically enhances endothelial function, and is therefore generally recommended for CAD patients, animal studies indicated paradoxical exercise-induced vasoconstriction post-catheterization. It is not currently known if there is an acute period when exercise is detrimental due to catheter-induced damage. Chapter 4 has demonstrated that catheterization in CAD patients results in impaired flow-mediated dilation (FMD), but that arterial responses to handgrip exercise (HE) are preserved 1 week post-catheterization. This finding suggests that the impact of endothelial disruption may be stimulus specific, with redundant mechanisms likely to preserve exercise-mediated vasodilator responses in the face of catheterization-mediated damage. Chapter 6 showed that catheterization in young healthy males with a fully functional endothelium resulted in reduced FMD, including completely abolished FMD (≤0%) in approximately 1/5th of participants. This exaggerated response in healthy subjects, compared to CAD patients, raises the question of whether individuals with a priori endothelial dysfunction are more or less susceptible to catheterization-induced arterial risk. Given the association between endothelial dysfunction and CAD progression, Chapter 5 explored relationships between FMD and arterial responses to exercise with the protein content of eNOS, NAD(P)Hox subunit 2, NFκB, ET-1, nitrotyrosine, the senescence markers (p53, p21, p16) and eNOS Ser1177 phosphorylation in endothelial cells (EC)s obtained from the radial arteries of CAD patients. FMD was positively associated with eNOS Ser1177 phosphorylation, and protein content of p21 and p16, whereas no associations were found between FMD and markers of oxidative stress, vasoconstriction or inflammation. HE-induced dilation was not associated with any of the EC proteins, or FMD. A number of associations were observed between the expression of atherogenic risk-modulating proteins, providing novel insight into the molecular mechanisms related to vascular function in CAD. Lastly, Chapter 7 provided novel molecular insights into how elevated shear stress induced by exercise benefits endothelial function in humans. In particular, it has been shown that a ~5-fold increase in shear stress induced by 30 minutes of HE resulted in upregulation of eNOS Ser1177 phosphorylation, whereas no effect was reported in PECAM-1 Tyr713 activation in ECs obtained from radial artery of young healthy well-trained males. As such, this study suggests that PECAM-1 activation is not involved in the vascular response to prolonged elevations in shear stress. In conclusion, this thesis provided important information regarding the impact of catheterization on arterial function, showing preserved exercise-induced dilation in CAD patients following catheterization damage. This suggests early onset of exercise-based rehabilitation after catheterization procedures is safe, although this should be confirmed in other cohorts and in a larger sample. In addition, this thesis demonstrated novel insights into the molecular mechanisms related to arterial function in CAD, suggesting that progressive endothelial dysfunction in CAD may be more dependent on NO production than NO scavenging. Finally, this thesis provided novel data regarding the mechanism by which ECs sense elevated shear stress, suggesting no involvement of PECAM-1 in exercise-induced NO production.


Abstract Burkitt lymphoma is a rare, highly aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma with increasing incidence. Here we present a 26-year-old man with a history of a recent root canal who presented with 2 days of black, tarry stools, persistent tooth pain, and 2 weeks of fatigue, night sweats, and a 20-pound weight loss. He developed massive hematemesis while hospitalized and an esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed innumerable, doughnut-shaped masses with central umbilication throughout the stomach, which were also the source of bleeding. Targeted biopsies revealed Burkitt lymphoma. After prompt chemotherapy treatment, repeat endoscopy showed complete resolution of all gastric masses, and the mucosa appeared normal.


The European Union's (EU's) Taiwan policies have been dominated by trade and economic concerns due to the absence of a security profile and China's insistence on Taiwan belonging to China. This neglect of a political role of the EU in East Asia is often regarded as a central strategic weakness of the EU. With a new government in office in Taiwan since 2016, Cross-Strait relations have worsened; this challenges EU's ambitions to become a strategic actor in the region. Apart from security and economy, other political aspects of bilateral relations have remained almost unnoticed in the literature. This article addresses EU's Taiwan policies from a different perspective. Instead of a hierarchic foreign policy exploration with security issues predominating, here, a multidimensional mosaic of EU's Taiwan relations is analysed breadthways. From this standpoint, one can see that EU's profile in Taiwan has increased considerably in recent years. These broadened bilateral relations may also support the EU's wider political and strategic interests in the region altogether. The EU could help Taiwan's New Southbound Policy align with EU's Association of Southeast Asian Nations strategy, and thus support a rule-based strategy in the Far East.


The following article contributes to the emerging field of countering violent extremism (CVE) by proposing a framework to understand and categorise CVE programs, and applying this to Australia's CVE efforts from 2010 to 2014. The first section outlines the evolution of CVE as a policy tool. A framework to categorise CVE programs based on the public health model follows, using illustrative examples of CVE projects run in Western countries. This framework is then applied to CVE programs in Australia, providing a preliminary analysis of CVE policy and its impact. It finds that Australian CVE efforts have overwhelmingly focused on broadly targeted prevention programs that not only make success difficult to evaluate or demonstrate, but also raise the risk of stigmatising entire communities. Most significantly, this broad focus has meant that Australian CVE efforts have likely failed to reach those most in need of assistance.


The Doctoral Program in Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (CII) is designed for students aiming to get a deep expertise on chemical processes and on material processing either as the inherent research or in the process design and development activities. The program is the ideal extension of the Laurea Magistrale degrees in Chemical Engineering, Safety and Prevention Engineering, Materials Science, Material Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Chemistry, but it is also open to graduated in other scientific disciplines. The general topic for the doctoral program in Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is the application of the chemical and physical knowledge to all the activities related to the synthesis, design, production and transformation of chemical substances and materials (like advanced inorganic, polymers and biomaterials). These studies involve not only the synthesis processes but also the related plants, here analyzed starting from the laboratory tests and the pilot plant experiments up to the industrial size ones, always including the careful evaluation of the related energetic, safety and environmental issues. The final goal is to provide to the PhD student the tools and the skills: (1) to design and manage industrial processes at any size scales; (2) to develop new technical applications and (3) to create and to characterize new products and services. The CII program covers three years for an overall amounts of 180 credits. The responsibility of the organization and of the contents of the doctoral program is attributed to the Professor Committee (PC). At the beginning of the Doctoral program, a tutor and a thesis advisor is assigned to each student. The tutor has a supervisor function during the whole doctoral program, whereas the thesis advisor is responsible for the thesis work. The PC defines a specific curriculum for each student, on the basis of the tutor suggestions. The curriculum has to be designed in order to both cover deficiencies in the student scientific formation and to give a high-quality technical and scientific preparation. Since 2001 (XVII cycle) the CII program graduates more than 100 students, being the 80% now working in industry and the remaining in the university or government research centers. These data demonstrate the great link existing between the performed researches and the industry. In fact, more than 70% of the research topics were directly supported by industrial companies, like ENEL, LPE Epitaxial Technology, Bracco, Flamma, Mapei, Solvay Specialty Polymers. 1. Structure simulation of Nitrogenase enzyme for N2 conversion to NH3. 2. Simulation of a chemical vapor deposition reaction for silicon films deposition. 3. Hazardous gas dispersion simulation from an industrial accident.


The standard solar model (SSM) yield a 8B solar neutrino flux which is consistent within the theoretical and experimental uncertainties with that observed at SuperKamiokande. The combined results from the SuperKamiokande and the Chlorine solar neutrino experiments do not provide a solid evidence for neutrino properties beyond the minimal standard electroweak model. The results from the Gallium experiments and independently the combined results from Super-Kamiokande and the Chlorine experiment imply that the 7Be solar neutrino flux is strongly suppressed compared with that predicted by the SSM. This conclusion, however, is valid only if the neutrino absorption cross sections near threshold in Gallium and Chlorine do not differ significantly from their theoretical estimates. Such a departure has not been ruled out by the Chromium source experiments in Gallium. Even if the 7Be solar neutrino flux is suppressed compared with that predicted by the SSM, still it can be due to astrophysical effects not included in the simplistic SSM. Such effects include spatial and/or temporal variations in the temperature in the solar core induced by the convective layer through g-modes or by rotational mixing in the solar core, and dense plasma effects which may strongly enhance p-capture by 7Be relative to e-capture. The new generation of solar observations, which already look non stop deep into the sun, like Super-Kamiokande through neutrinos, and SOHO and GONG through acoustic waves, may be able to point at the correct solution; astrophysical solutions if they detect unexpected temporal and/or spatial behaviour, or particle physics solutions if Super-Kamiokande detects characteristic spectral distortion or temporal variations (e.g., the day-night effect) of the 8B solar neutrino flux . If Super-Kamiokande will discover neither spectral distortions nor time dependence of the 8 solar neutrino flux then, only future solar neutrino experiments such as SNO, BOREXINO and HELLAZ, will be able to find out whether the solar neutrino problem is due to neutrino properties beyond the minimal standard electroweak model or whether it is just a problem of the too simplistic standard solar


Addendum to a course of three public lectures delivered at Rice Institute, January 14, 15, and 16, 1947, by Wilbur W. White, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Dean of the Graduate School, Western Reserve University.


Utilizing Kloss's concept of Ausbausprache (language as a sociopolitical construct), this article adopts the view that many languages in the world owe their language status to non-linguistic factors such as their speakers' ethnic, cultural, and political affiliations, as well as language policy. It is thus possible that individuals who can readily understand each other in everyday conversation (such as two individuals living on either side of the Macedonian/Bulgarian border) can be deemed to speak different languages, while those who cannot understand each other at all (such as speakers of Shanghainese and Mandarin) can be widely perceived as speakers of the same language. This article is an account of how the South Slavic language formerly known as Serbo-Croatian came to be conceived of as a single, unified language due to a number of non-linguistic factors, and how it ceased to be considered a language once these non-linguistic factors were no longer present. Thus, apart from being a case study of how one particular European language was born and how it died without any significant change in linguistic reality on the ground, the present article serves to reinforce the theoretical notion of Ausbausprache as a crucial concept for defining what a language is.


Isolation and study of metal tolerant and hypersensitive strains of higher plant (and yeast) species has greatly increased our knowledge of the individual pathways that are involved in tolerance. Plants have both constitutive (present in most phenotypes) and adaptive (present only in tolerant phenotypes) mechanisms for coping with elevated metal concentrations. Where studies on the mechanisms of tolerance fall down is in their failure to integrate tolerance mechanisms within cell or whole-plant function by not relating adaptive mechanisms to constitutive mechanisms. This failure often distorts the relative importance of a proposed tolerance mechanism, and indeed has confused the search for adaptive mechanisms. The fundamental goal of both constitutive and adaptive mechanisms is to limit the perturbation of cell homeostasis after exposure to metals so that normal or near-normal physiological function may take place. Consideration of the response to metals at a cellular rather than a biochemical level will lead to a greater understanding of mechanisms to withstand elevated levels of metals in both contaminated and uncontaminated environments. Recent advances in the study of Al, As, Cd, and Cu tolerance and hypersensitivity are reported with respect to the cellular response to toxic metals. The role of genetics in unravelling tolerance mechanisms is also considered.


SUMMARY
Human single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips which are used in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) permit the genotyping of up to 4 million SNPs simultaneously. To date, about 1000 human SNPs have been identified as statistically significantly associated with a disease or another trait of interest. The identified SNP is not necessarily the causal variant, but it is rather in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with it. CandiSNPer is a software tool that determines the LD region around a significant SNP from a GWAS. It provides a list with functional annotation and LD values for the SNPs found in the LD region. This list contains not only the SNPs for which genotyping data are available, but all SNPs with rs-IDs, thus increasing the likelihood to include the causal variant. Furthermore, plots showing the LD values are generated. CandiSNPer facilitates the preselection of candidate SNPs for causal variants.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION
The CandiSNPer server is freely available at http://www2.hu-berlin.de/wikizbnutztier/software/CandiSNPer. The source code is available to academic users 'as is' upon request. The web site is implemented in Perl and R and runs on an Apache server. The Ensembl database is queried for SNP data via Perl APIs.


The increased focus of people on the quality of health care in recent years has led hospital owners to develop strategies and policies to improve medical services through the establishment of new hospitals. For hospitals to be competitive, the hospital's location and proximity to potential patients are considered crucial factors in establishing new hospitals. In this context, evaluating and selecting the most suitable hospital location to establish a new hospital from the multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) perspective is a priority for the entrepreneurs or government to gain a competitive advantage. Therefore, this study aims to present a systematic literature review of the hospital location selection problem considering the applied methods and application areas. The preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis statement (PRISMA) are used as a reference framework. Initially, known electronic databases (Web of science, IEEEXplore, Scopus, Science direct, and Google Scholar) were searched up to the early 2021. A number of 47 articles are selected and analyzed under this systematic framework based on inclusion-exclusion points. State-of-the-art developments in adopting MCDM methods and their fuzzy extensions are summarized. All the articles have been examined in a systematic taxonomy to find answers to six research questions (trend, country of origin, outlet journal, MCDM methods used, MCDM environment and criteria type, and decision criteria used). Results show that (1) AHP and GIS-based MCDM models are the most contributing approaches to the solution of this problem, (2) location selection criteria are mostly cost, demand, environment, population, government, competition in the market, and distance to some important places, (3) the fuzzy structure is also preferred in addition to the MCDM structure depending on the crisp data type, and (4) the location selection criteria are mostly considered subjective. We pay attention to promising directions that can dominate future research in this field from a methodological or applicability perspective. This study shows the current views and opportunities for researchers and practitioners and acts as a guide to encourage more creative studies in this field.


It is much more complex and difficult for edge detection of noise image compared to edge detection of normal image,the analysis and study of edge detection of noise image has universal significance and practical value. Wavelet transform possesses good time-frequency localization characteristic and multi-scale analytical ability, mathematical morphology is a new subject based on set theory, which is very suitable for analyzing and describing geometrical feature of signal. Combining the advantages of wavelet transform and mathematical morphology, the paper proposes an edge detection algorithm, which mainly focused on noise image. For edge detection based on mathematical morphology, constructs an anti-noise operator of edge detection by improving existing operators and employs different direction linear structure elements; edge detection based on mathematical morphology can reserve details of edge effectively, ensure the continuity and integrity of edge detected. Experimental results show the proposed algorithm can suppress the interference of different density and different types of noise more effectively in comparison with several classical edge detection algorithm, thus improving the detection accuracy and robustness for different images.


Incorporation of mammalian cells into nanofibers (cell electrospinning) and multilayered cell-nanofiber structures (cell layering) via electrospinning are promising techniques for tissue engineering applications. We investigate the viability of 3T3-L1 mouse fibroblasts after incorporation into poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers and multilayering with poly(caprolactone) nanofibers and analyze the possible factors that affect cell viability. We observe that cells do not survive cell electrospinning but survive cell layering. Assessing the factors involved in cell electrospinning, we find that dehydration and fiber stretching are the main causes of cell death. In cell layering, the choice of solvent is critical, as residual solvent in the electrospun fibers could be detrimental to the cells.


SUMMARY In order to analyse the impact of vaccination against cytomegalovirus (CMV) on congenital infection incidence using current vaccines tested in phase II clinical trials, we simulated different scenarios by mathematical modelling, departing from the current vaccine characteristics, varying age at vaccination, immunity waning, vaccine efficacy and mixing patterns. Our results indicated that the optimal age for a single vaccination interval is from 2 to 6 months if there is no immunity waning. Congenital infection may increase if vaccine-induced immunity wanes before 20 years. Congenital disease should increase further when the mixing pattern includes transmission among children with a short duration of protection vaccine. Thus, the best vaccination strategy is a combined schedule: before age 1 year plus a second dose at 10–11 years. For CMV vaccines with low efficacy, such as the current ones, universal vaccination against CMV should be considered for infants and teenagers.


The reaction of iron chlorides with an alkaline reagent is one of the most prominent methods for the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles. We studied the particle formation mechanism using triethanolamine as reactant and stabilizing agent. In situ fast-X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering provide information on the oxidation state and the structural information at the same time. In situ data were complemented by ex situ transmission electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering and Raman analysis of the formed nanoparticles. The formation of maghemite nanoparticles (γ-Fe2O3) from ferric and ferrous chloride was investigated. Prior to the formation of these nanoparticles, the formation and conversion of intermediate phases (akaganeite, iron(II, III) hydroxides) was observed which undergoes a morphological and structural collapse. The thus formed small magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) grow further and convert to maghemite with increasing reaction time.


These Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne EPFL, n° 631 (1986) Reference doi:10.5075/epfl-thesis-631Print copy in library catalog Record created on 2005-03-16, modified on 2016-08-08


In the wake of Pennsylvania's coal revolution, voters took to the polls in 1971 expressing a unified vow not to repeat the environmental mistakes of their industrious-minded forefathers. What resulted was the Environmental Rights Amendment to Pennsylvania's Constitution. It guaranteed the people's "right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment" and affirmed that "public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come." The Amendment was the most powerful affirmation of citizens' rights to environmental protection in the United States — perhaps even a bit too powerful for its time. Over the years, Pennsylvania courts gave little constitutional effect to the Amendment's plain meaning, treating it instead as a broad policy statement whose true activation as a constitutional right might require further action from the General Assembly. However, after lying in suspended animation for forty-three years, Pennsylvania's Environmental Rights Amendment recently received a spark of life from a plurality of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In a landmark decision, Robinson Township v. Commonwealth employed the Environmental Rights Amendment — for the first time since its inception — to strike down three provisions of a Pennsylvania statute as unconstitutional. Section II.A of this survey first details the three challenged provisions Act 13. Section II.B then outlines Pennsylvania's Environmental Rights Amendment, including the historical context of its passage and the past jurisprudence that diminished the Amendment's purpose. Section III then highlights the facts of Robinson Township, including its procedural history, the parties' arguments and its final treatment by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Section IV subsequently evaluates the impact of that landmark decision and suggests a potentially vast sea-change in the way future courts assess claims under the Environmental Rights Amendment, namely that the plurality's textual interpretation of the Amendment may revitalize its promise as a true constitutional right to environmental protection. In conclusion, section V argues that the plurality's interpretation and prescribed application of the Amendment is in accordance with the intent of the legislators and ratifying voters who were responsible for its enactment.


An intensive amplitude arrangement for reciprocal tribocontact of biomedical alloys, Ag-20.0Pd-14.5Cu-12.0Au, Au-5.0Pt-2.0Pd-9.2Ag-15.0Cu and Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr was conducted in order to check the details of friction and wear alterations around the transition from fretting to sliding. It is shown that the friction force exhibits stagnation for the Ag alloy and decrease for the Au alloy and the Ti alloy in certain domain of oscillating amplitude. Beyond the domain the friction force increases with the amplitude, and below the lower threshold and above the upper threshold triboevent is complete fretting and sliding respectively. Observation of friction-force waveform and SEM topography found, a hybrid mechanism of fretting and sliding is dominant in the amplitude domain, and the strong adhesion between the self-mated alloys is responsible to this exhibition.


Background and Objective: The Hyrtl anastomosis (HA) communicates between the two umbilical arteries at placental insertion, playing an important role in regulating placental blood flow, allowing perfusion of the entire placenta in situations of impaired blood flow in one UA, and equalizing pressure gradients in the UAs before insertion into the placenta. 3D/4DUS may make HA examination more feasible and open avenues for clinical research into its significance. As we presented, we examined 40 normal placentas and cords to observe anatomy, performed 2DUS of cords at placental insertion in 20 fetuses, and also applied 3D color Doppler, 3D power Doppler, 3D high definition power Doppler, 4D high definition power flow Doppler, and B-flow. B-flow was found to be most consistently successful in imaging the HA. We applied this modality to the evaluation of placental abruption diagnosed by Doppler flow mapping. The patient was a 24-year old primigravida, GA 27 + 5. Her past OB history was unremarkable with normal pregnancy to date, when she presented with vaginal bleeding. Apart from moderate bleeding PS, all clinical and U/S signs were normal; viable AGA fetus was observed, S/D in normal range. U/S examination of placental bed revealed an area of mixed echogenicity on the left side. To confirm the suspected diagnosis of partial abruption, B-flow was applied to identify the HA. Doppler mapping of flow unexpectedly revealed reversed flow in the oblique anastomosis. There appeared to be reduced flow toward the left side of the placenta. The case was managed expectantly with repeated U/S examination until 36 weeks. There were repeated events of bleeding. Gradually a hematoma of 8cm at the area of abruption appeared. The patient delivered a healthy baby at 36 weeks following SROM. Conclusion: Demonstration and Doppler measurement of flow in the HA may be a useful diagnostic tool in the setting of suspected placental abruption. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of HA Doppler associated with the diagnosis of placental abruption.


1. Measurements have been made of the extraneuronal potential changes produced by replacement of sodium ions with other organic and inorganic cations in the solution bathing isolated abdominal connectives. 2. On the basis of the observed extraneuronal potential changes it is possible to arrange monovalent cations in the following sequence of effectiveness: K + > Rb + > Cs + > TEA + > Na + > Li + > choline + > tris + . 3. It is concluded that the ionic dependence of the extraneuronal potentials is similar to that of a theoretical model system consisting of a perineurial diffusion barrier in series with a long, narrow channel representing the system of intercellular clefts connecting the inwardly facing surface of the perineurium with the extraaxonal fluid. 4. On the basis of this model the effect of high external concentrations of, for example, potassium ions would be to depolarize the outwardly facing perineurial cell membranes. The considerable departure of the observed potentials from the values predicted by the Nernst equation can be accounted for in terms of the short-circuiting effect, due to the finite ionic permeability of the tight junctions between perineurial cells. Qualitative predictions can also be made concerning the rates of movement of potassium and sodium ions in the extracellular system.


Kirchhoffite, CsBSi 2 O 6 , is a new species of silicate mineral from the Darai-Pioz alkaline massif in the upper reaches of the Darai-Pioz River, in the area of the joint Turkestansky, Zeravshansky and Alaisky ridges, Tajikistan. It occurs as equant grains 10 to 80 μm in diameter, associated with quartz, pectolite, baratovite, polylithionite, aegirine, fluorite, leucosphenite, pyrochlore, neptunite and reedmergnerite. Kirchhoffite is colorless, transparent with a white streak, and a vitreous luster; it does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light. No cleavage or parting was observed. The Mohs hardness is 6 to 6½, and it is brittle with a conchoidal fracture. The measured and calculated densities are 3.62(2) and 3.639 g/cm 3 , respectively. Kirchhoffite is uniaxial (+) with indices of refraction ω = 1.592(2), ɛ = 1.600(2). The mineral is tetragonal, space group I 4 1 / acd , a 13.019(2), c 12.900(3) A, V 2186.3(1) A 3 , Z = 16, a : c = 1 : 0.9909. The six strongest lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [ d in A( I )( hkl )] are 3.26(100) (040), 3.48(82)(132), 2.770(67)(332, 233), 2.294(41)(044), 2.109(34)(352, 253), 5.32(32)(121). Chemical analysis by electron and ion microprobes gave SiO 2 40.47, B 2 O 3 11.27, K 2 O 0.11, Cs 2 O 48.16, Rb 2 O 0.09, for a sum of 100.10 wt.%. The resulting empirical formula on the basis of six atoms of oxygen is (Cs 1.02 K 0.01 ) ∑1.03 B 0.96 Si 2.02 O 6 , ideally CsBSi 2 O 6 . The crystal structure of kirchhoffite was refined to an R 1 index of 3.1% based on 487 observed reflections collected on a four-circle diffractometer with Mo K α X-radiation. In the structure, there are two tetrahedrally coordinated sites: Si is occupied by silicon, Si –O> = 1.610 A, B is occupied by boron, B –O> = 1.465 A, and Cs is [12]-coordinated, = 3.301 A. Tetrahedra form a [BSi 2 O 6 ] framework, the topology of which is identical to that of tetragonal pollucite, CsAlSi 2 O 6 . The [12]-coordinated Cs atoms occupy the channels along [111] formed by six-membered rings of tetrahedra. Kirchhoffite, CsBSi 2 O 6 , is a B analogue of the tetragonal modification of pollucite.


ABSTRACT:Serious mental illnesses may lead to negative outcomes and immeasurable suffering. However, recent research has revealed that people can also experience posttraumatic growth following the onset of a serious mental illness. Posttraumatic growth has been defined as positive changes in multiple areas of people's lives following struggles with adversity. Aspects of posttraumatic growth include developing a greater appreciation for life, improved relationships with others, increased personal strength, new life possibilities, and spiritual or religious development. Research on posttraumatic growth may provide people with hope and lead to shifts in how we understand the aftermath of mental illness. However, while research about and attempts to facilitate posttraumatic growth may be important and promising, we must be cautious that when such work crosses boundaries into the field of serious mental illness, it is not misused. The objective of this perspective piece is to outline potential precautions for, and make recommendations about, how the boundaries between the concept of posttraumatic growth and serious mental illness should and should not be crossed. Specifically, we caution that in researching or facilitating posttraumatic growth, personal and political sources of suffering not be neglected, funding to mental health services not be cut, new expectations and categories for people not be created, and persons with mental illness not be fetishized or romanticized. By discussing these points, we hope that various stakeholders (e.g., researchers, clinicians, etc.) will engage or continue to engage with the construct of posttraumatic growth carefully and respectfully.


The deformation features are analyzed for titanium alloy and superalloy during isothermal/hot die forging process, and proper finite element models with appropriate parameter values are determined. On the platform of DEFORM software, the formation processes of vane-integrated disk and compressor disk, made of titanium alloy and superalloy respectively, are simulated and analyzed. Based on the simulation results, some important suggestions to the process design and parameter determination are brought forward, which have been taken into consideration or adoption in practice. As a result, the production yield is promoted, and a large amount of expenses of testing and die trial-manufacture are saved.


Feature preference in Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) image classifiers is integral to their decision making process, and while the topic has been well studied, it is still not understood at a fundamental level. We test a range of task relevant feature attributes (including shape, texture, and color) with varying degrees of signal and noise in highly controlled CNN image classification experiments using synthetic datasets to determine feature preferences. We find that CNNs will prefer features with stronger signal strength and lower noise irrespective of whether the feature is texture, shape, or color. This provides guidance for a predictive model for task relevant feature preferences, demonstrates pathways for bias in machine models that can be avoided with careful controls on experimental setup, and suggests that comparisons between how humans and machines prefer task relevant features in vision classification tasks should be revisited. Code to reproduce experiments in this paper can be found at \url{https://github.com/mwolff31/signal_preference}.


In enterprises, Research and Development (R&D) activities are carried out on the basis of projects. R&D projects are conducted by teams of employees from the different departments in an enterprise. Members of R&D teams have different competencies, and the most prominent features are that they are creative and learning-oriented. Despite the competencies of the employees, it is very difficult to manage such teams successfully. Keeping the motivation of team members high and managing the team in a success-oriented way require important managerial skills since such teams have many different sources of motivation. Therefore, team leaders need to identify the factors that will lead their R&D teams to success. Accordingly, this paper attempts to explain the role of commitment to learning on the relationship between evaluation-rewards and project success. The mediator analyses were conducted according to the methodology suggested by Baron and Kenny. As a result of the hypothesis tests, it has been found out that commitment to learning has a mediator effect on the relationship between evaluation and reward and project success. In R&D teams, team members' commitment to learning is critical to the impact of reward and evaluation on project success. Therefore, the leaders who will lead these teams need to consider the nature of an adhocratic organization while taking into account the factors that will influence team success.


Background : South Africa, as a signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity, has an obligation to identify, prioritise and manage invasive species and their introduction pathways. However, this requires knowledge of the introduction pathways, factors influencing establishment success, invasive potential, current distributions and ecological impacts. Objectives : To evaluate the Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit (FISK) to predict the invasion risk posed by fish species proposed for introduction into South Africa. Method : FISK assessments were compiled for species whose invasion status in South Africa was known. A Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to calibrate the FISK for South Africa. The calibrated FISK was used to evaluate the risk that three species recently proposed for importation for aquaculture could become invasive in South Africa. Results : A FISK score of 14 was identified as the threshold to delineate between species that could become invasive in South Africa and those that are unlikely to become invasive. Of the three species evaluated, Silurus glanis had a high risk of becoming invasive in South Africa, Lates calcarifer was likely to be invasive and Oncorhynchus tshawytscha was unlikely to be invasive in South Africa. Conclusion : FISK was demonstrated to be a useful risk assessment tool to evaluate the invasion risk posed by species proposed for use in aquaculture. For the large number of fish imported for the pet trade, a rapid screening assessment to flag potentially high risk species was recommended prior to a full FISK assessment for flagged species.


Nanosized α-aluminum oxides have been prepared by hydrolysis of aluminum alkoxides using a sol-gel procedure. The Na(AOT) as a surface active agent was added into the alumina precursor solution to investigate the influence on size and morphology of alumina particles. The product phase was mainly boehmite with mean particle size of 20~30 nm. The crystal phases and morphology of the alumina nanoparticles were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry and by transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The TEM observations revealed that α-Al2O3 with about 80 nm spherical and hexagonal shapes was formed after calcination at 1200oC. The TG/DSC analyses were also done to determine the phase changes of alumina precursors from room temperature to 1200oC.