The ever rising of population growth around the world necessitates the food demand greatly. The available land produces constant quantity of product per given area despite to the liner increment of food demand. Conversely, some of the produced food may not be reached to the end consumer due to food inaccessibility, food loss and food wastage which may still able to feed million of peoples who are living under nourishment. The horticultural crops are a perishable product due to its highest moisture content which deteriorate by high temperature. However, this temperature effect can be managed to its lowest optimum storable of individual products by cold chain management system at all levels of movements. The Cold chain logistics management is a systematic logistics project which the temperature sensitive products are always provided in low temperature environment in every aspect of production, storage, transportation, marketing and consumption to ensure quality of goods. Cold chain constitutes four aspects of frozen processing, frozen storage, refrigerated transport and distribution and frozen sales. The proper cold chain management system reduces a significant quantity loses of horticultural fresh products which occurred between harvesting and consumption period. At storage house and during transporting, the temperature adjustment according to the crop optimum lower temperature is a crucial activity of cool chain management. At the final, temperature management of produce at retailer shop is a component of cool chain management system to supply quality product to end consumer. The temperature management activities can be regulated by conventional thermometer, electronic data logger, and smart wireless autonomous micro system and time temperature indicator to  control the temperature breakage that occurred in cool chain management system at any point and time that makes cool chain management as efficient to pro long the shelf life of the products. Keywords: Food Waste; food loss; Temperature; Storage; Transportation;whole seller; Retailer; Deterioration


The review is based on the description of zeolite structure, uses, synthesis, and catalytic aldol reaction in aldol condensation. An internal aldolcondensation reaction has been achieved over ZSM-5 zeolite with high silica-alumina ratio at 350oC. It therefore follows that zeolite canfunction as a catalyst in aldol type condensation reactions and that weak acid sites as well as a small number of active sites favor the aldolcondensation reaction of carbonyl compounds. However, the mixed condensation product was found to be favored at temperatures above 300oCand the self-condensation of ethanal to crotonaldehyde was favored at temperatures below 300oC. It has also been suggested that both Bronstedand Lewis acids are involved in aldol reactions with Lewis acid sites the most probable catalytic sites. The zeolite group of minerals has founduse in many chemical and allied industries. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v3i1.12291 Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 3(1): 1-8


There are many nematode species that, following formal description, are seldom mentioned again in the scientific literature. Lobocriconema thornei and L. incrassatum are two such species, described from North American forests, respectively 37 and 49 years ago. In the course of a 3-year nematode biodiversity survey of North American ecoregions, specimens resembling Lobocriconema species appeared in soil samples from both grassland and forested sites. Using a combination of molecular and morphological analyses, together with a set of species delimitation approaches, we have expanded the known range of these species, added to the species descriptions, and discovered a related group of species that form a monophyletic group with the two described species. In this study, 148 specimens potentially belonging to the genus Lobocriconema were isolated from soil, individually measured, digitally imaged, and DNA barcoded using a 721 bp region of cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI). One-third of the specimens were also analyzed using amplified DNA from the 3' region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (18SrDNA) and the adjacent first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1). Eighteen mitochondrial haplotype groups, falling into four major clades, were identified by well-supported nodes in Bayesian and maximum likelihood trees and recognized as distinct lineages by species delimitation metrics. Discriminant function analysis of a set of morphological characters indicated that the major clades in the dataset possessed a strong morphological signal that decreased in comparisons of haplotype groups within clades. Evidence of biogeographic and phylogeographic patterns was apparent in the dataset. COI haplotype diversity was high in the southern Appalachian Mountains and Gulf Coast states and lessened in northern temperate forests. Lobocriconema distribution suggests the existence of phylogeographic patterns associated with recolonization of formerly glaciated regions by eastern deciduous forest, but definitive glacial refugia for this group of plant parasitic nematodes have yet to be identified. Unlike agricultural pest species of plant-parasitic nematodes, there is little evidence of long-distance dispersal in Lobocriconema as revealed by haplotype distribution. Most haplotype groups were characterized by low levels of intragroup genetic variation and large genetic distances between haplotype groups. The localization of nematode haplotypes together with their characteristic plant communities could provide insight into the historical formation of these belowground biotic communities.


The present work is an attempt to model, analyze, and control the flow at the base of an abruptly expanded circular duct by using design of experiments (DOE) and response surface methodology (RSM). Tiny-jets in the form of orifice were positioned at an interval of 900, 6.5 mm from the primary axis of the main jet of the nozzle. Experiments were conducted to measure two responses namely, base pressure without the use of micro jets or active control (WoC) and base pressure with the use of micro jets or active control (WC). Mach number (M), nozzle pressure ratio (NPR), area ratio (AR) and length to diameter ratio (L/D) were considered as the input variables (parameters), which control the outputs (i.e. base pressure). Non-linear regression models based on central composite design (CCD) and Box-Behnken design (BBD) have been developed in order to facilitate the input-output relationships. Moreover, the significance of main, square and interaction terms of the developed models have been tested by performing analysis of variance (ANOVA). The ANOVA and significance test results and their respective correlation coefficient values indicate that both the CCD and BBD regression models are statistically adequate for both the base pressure responses of without control and with control respectively. The performances of the nonlinear models have been validated for accuracy prediction by use of 15 test cases. The performance of BBD model is found to be better in forecasting base pressure for both cases of without control and with control when compared to the CCD model.


We describe a female proband with primordial dwarfism, skeletal dysplasia, facial dysmorphism, extreme dyslipidaemic insulin resistance and fatty liver associated with a novel homozygous frameshift mutation in POC1A, predicted to affect two of the three protein products of the gene. POC1A encodes a protein associated with centrioles throughout the cell cycle and implicated in both mitotic spindle and primary ciliary function. Three homozygous mutations affecting all isoforms of POC1A have recently been implicated in a similar syndrome of primordial dwarfism, although no detailed metabolic phenotypes were described. Primary cells from the proband we describe exhibited increased centrosome amplification and multipolar spindle formation during mitosis, but showed normal DNA content, arguing against mitotic skipping, cleavage failure or cell fusion. Despite evidence of increased DNA damage in cells with supernumerary centrosomes, no aneuploidy was detected. Extensive centrosome clustering both at mitotic spindles and in primary cilia mitigated the consequences of centrosome amplification, and primary ciliary formation was normal. Although further metabolic studies of patients with POC1A mutations are warranted, we suggest that POC1A may be added to ALMS1 and PCNT as examples of centrosomal or pericentriolar proteins whose dysfunction leads to extreme dyslipidaemic insulin resistance. Further investigation of links between these molecular defects and adipose tissue dysfunction is likely to yield insights into mechanisms of adipose tissue maintenance and regeneration that are critical to metabolic health.


Introduction: Appendectomy is one of the most common surgical intervention. Partial appendectomy may allow for potential late complications. Presentation of Case: We present the case of a patient with an enterocutaneous fistula, that occured four years postapendectomy. Following surgery it was discovered an appendico-cutaneous fistula through the presence of a blunt long, dehiscent cutaneous appendix. The completion of the appendectomy led to healing. Discussion and Conclusion: An appendix stump too long may cause the emergence of a appendico-cutaneous fistula.


Dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are caused by the four serotypes of dengue virus, type 1 to 4 belonging to the flavivirus family. Dengue viruses are transmitted principally by Aedes aegypti that breeds in water containers. This diseases are endemic and cause periodic or annual outbreaks in Indonesia. The occurrence of DHF outbreaks is linked to a number of factor including the density of mosquito vectors. Another entomological aspect such as vector resistance and trans-ovarian transmission phenomenon will be discused in this manuscript. This entomological survey was base on previous and concurrent with dengue vector resistance studies in endemic area in Central Java Province. The aim of this study were to explore the entomology data such as larval-free index, Containers Index, House Index, and Breteau Index. The entomological data was collected using resting mosquito colection technique in the morning and larval survey according to WHO guideline. The study was conducted in 8 endemic areas in Central Java i.e : Jepara District, Blora District, Semarang City, Surakarta City, Tegal City, Magelang City, PurwokertoCity and Salatiga City. The study revealed that the larval-free index in eighth areas ranged between 24,13% to 88,52%, lower than the national standard of 95%. The result of Container Index, House Index and Breteau Index ranged from 11,84 % to 75,16% ; 11,48 % to 75,86 % and 14,73% to 100 % respectively. The population of Ae. aegypti collected from 8 endemic area in Central Java eleven municipalities, regencies/cities in Central Java Province were resistant to Malathion 0,8 %, Bendiocarb 0,1 %, Lambdasihalotrin 0,05 % and Permethrin 0,75 %, including Deltamethrin 0,05 % and Etofenprox 0,5 %. However, in several location of this study were found the population of Ae. aegypti remain susceptible to Cypermethrin 0,05 % and Bendiocarb 0,1 %. The population of Ae. aegypti from Salatiga and endemic area from Central Java have shown the trans-ovarian transmission of dengue virus. The trans-ovarian transmission phenomenon was occured in several DHF endemic areas in Central Java Province.


Ancient literature of tamil, unique literature. The department has a great place in the literary tradition of the department which is famous for its literature that speaks of the pride of tamil. This mythical literary tradition has also had a great influence on later literary development. It can be seen that this influence has been created in the great myth as well. The first thing that is spoken of in the intrinsic tradition is the primordial, thematic, the adjective. First, the nucleus, the adjective archetype, and the adjective are created to suit grammatical development. Sixty-three nayans cover all races and lands. The first embryo of the five lands, the first of kurinji to paalai, is preserved in this book by sheikh peruman.


This paper investigates the outage performance of multiuser multi-relay cooperative networks in which a source node communicates with one out of L destinations through the help of one out of N decode-and-forward (DF) relays. A low-complexity relay-destination selection scheme is proposed, which first selects the best destination node based on the channel quality of the direct links and then selects the best relay that yields the best path from the source to the selected destination. In our analysis, the source node may be equipped with either a single antenna or M multiple antennas. A closed-form expression for the outage probability is derived and validated by means of Monte Carlo simulations. An asymptotic analysis is carried out and reveals that, for the single-antenna source case, the diversity order reduces to L+N, whereas for the multiple-antenna source case, the diversity order equals to ML + N. Assuming two network topologies, a comparison between our scheme and the optimal joint relay-destination selection scheme is provided and it reveals that the proposed selection scheme achieves a very close outage performance to that of the joint selection scheme while reduces considerably the system complexity (in terms of channel estimations, implementation issues, and simulation time). The effects of the number of relay and destination nodes on the system performance as well as its influence on the best relay position are examined through representative numerical plots. It is noticed a tradeoff concerns to the system performance and spectral efficiency when multiple antennas are employed. More specifically, in one hand, by increasing the number of antennas at the source node, a better outage behavior is obtained. On the other hand, the system loses in terms of spectral efficiency.


Reflection without Rules offers a comprehensive, pointed exploration of the methodological tradition in economics and the breakdown of the received view within the philosophy of science. Professor Hands investigates economists' use of naturalistic and sociological paradigms to model economic phenomena and assesses the roles of pragmatism, discourse, and situatedness in discussions of economic practice before turning to a systematic exploration of more recent developments in economic methodology. The treatment emphasizes the changes taking place in science theory and its relationship to the movement away from a rules-based view of economic methodology. The work will be of interest to all economists concerned with methodological issues as well as philosophers and others studying the relationships between economics and contemporary science theory.


In some applications for adhoc networks optimal dissemination is a key issue (e.g. service discovery, network management). In this paper,  we are creating  and exploiting continuous (sub) structures to achieve an efficient (as far as low network resource usage is concerned) dissemination by building a two-layer protocol. Firstly, single-hop clusters, among continuous- connected  devices, are created.  Secondly,  on  top  of  those clusters, inter-cluster relays (ICR) are determined. This leads to an overall continuous-connected structure. The results show that the proposed continuous linked structure flooding (CLSF) protocol efficiently disseminates data among continuous nodes. Interestingly with growing density both the number of forwarding nodes and the bandwidth used remain comparatively low. Therefore we plan to use CLSF as a basis for a continuous service discovery. Keywords: Adhoc, ICR, Clusters, OLSR, NLWCA


The modification of the matrix method of construction of wavefield on the free surface of an anisotropic medium is presented. The earthquake source represented by a randomly oriented force or a seismic moment tensor is placed on an arbitrary boundary of a layered anisotropic medium. The theory of the matrix propagator in a homogeneous anisotropic medium by introducing a "wave propagator" is presented. It is shown that for anisotropic layered medium the matrix propagator can be represented by a "wave propagator" in each layer. The matrix propagator P(z,z0=0) acts on the free surface of the layered medium and generates stress-displacement vector at depth z. The displacement field on the free surface of an anisotropic medium is obtained from the received system of equations considering the radiation condition and that the free surface is stressless. The approbation of the modification of the matrix method for anisotropic media with TI symmetry is done. A comparative analysis of our results with the synthetic seismic records obtained by other methods and published in foreign papers is executed.


The paper describes Ethersim, a simulation tool to model and study the performance of integrated service networks that provide multimedia (audio, video, data) information access to mobile users carrying portable wireless terminals and hosts. The design process of such networks requires a proper understanding of how network and multimedia application performance is affected by (i) the choice of algorithms and protocols at various network layers, (ii) the wireless link characteristics, (iii) the presence of mobile hosts, and (iv) the host mobility patterns. Ethersim has been built using a discrete event based simulator core and incorporates models of user applications and transport, network and MAC layer protocols. It provides the capability to specify network topology and host mobility patterns. The software architecture of Ethersim employs five special entities: an air module, a map, a mover, mobile hosts, and basestations. The air module models the physical air-interface effects (e.g., RF power decay, frequency collisions etc.). The mover is a central entity that moves the mobile hosts on the map. Ethersim allows for both random and goal-directed movements of mobile hosts, and also allows synchronized goal-directed movements to model conference room type mobility patterns. We also present case-studies of using Ethersim to model and study the interaction of transport layer, connection rerouting protocol, and radio characteristics in a mobile and wireless ATM network at Bell Laboratories.


Abstract In this paper, we bring to the attention of the linguistic community recent research on heritage languages. Shifting linguistic attention from the model of a monolingual speaker to the model of a multilingual speaker is important for the advancement of our understanding of the language faculty. Native speaker competence is typically the result of normal first language acquisition in an environment where the native language is dominant in various contexts, and learners have extensive and continuous exposure to it and opportunities to use it. Heritage speakers present a different case: they are bilingual speakers of an ethnic or immigrant minority language, whose first language often does not reach native-like attainment in adulthood. We propose a set of connections between heritage language studies and theory construction, underscoring the potential that this population offers for linguistic research. We examine several important grammatical phenomena from the standpoint of their representation in heritage languages, including case, aspect, and other interface phenomena. We discuss how the questions raised by data from heritage speakers could fruitfully shed light on current debates about how language works and how it is acquired under different conditions. We end with a consideration of the potential competing factors that shape a heritage language system in adulthood.


The countries of Central America, afflicted for many years by civil strife and economic stagnation, are entering a new era of peace, democracy, and economic development. Now, more than ever, it is necessary for reforms in the legal system to successfully support these changes. This volume examines two fields of law in which reforms are especially crucial: the improvement of the judicial systems and other mechanisms for resolving noncriminal disputes, and modernization of the laws governing both tangible and "intellectual" property. Among the specific topics addressed in the volume are the debate over "oralidad;" the problem of interlocutory appeals; nonjudicial procedures for resolving disputes (negotiation, mediation, conciliation, and arbitration); land and trademark registration systems; land reform in Nicaragua; the management of genetic resources; online legal databases; and legal education.


Semi-solid processed 10% Cr cast irons were produced by slope casting method in a sand mold. Experiments were carried out to clarify the effect of cooling slope on microstructure and hardness. To compare the effects of cooling slope, castings were also made by conventional casting method in a sand mold. The semi-solid processed and the conventionally cast 10 wt%Cr cast iron were studied by optical microscopy and their microstructures and hardness values were compared. In the semi solid processed condition, the primary proeutectic austenite was round in shape while the conventionally cast condition, primary proeutectic austenite was in dendritic in shape. The results show that semi solid processed 10% Cr alloys possess better hardness than conventionally cast 10% Cr alloys due to change in microstructure.


This thesis aims to provide a structural model of female labor supply, tailored to accommodate labor decisions of married and cohabiting mothers with children in the preschool age. The presented model follows tradition of discrete choice time-use models, with the individual agents deciding on allocation of their available time within a set of alternative activities. Our analysis benefits from several novel estimation approaches, with the main innovation being an inclusion of formal childcare into the time-use choice set. This is made possible through the HILDA dataset, a rich micro-level survey of Australian population, which contains detailed information on individual childcare utilization and corresponding prices. Our model also explicitly controls for unobserved heterogeneity, using EM algorithm to identify latent classes of agents within our population sample. The resulting policy simulations show that the women with preschool children are highly sensitive to changes in wages and costs of childcare, adjusting their optimal time-use allocations to account for the given policy reform. Further simulations prove that the labor conditions of employed mothers are likely to be improved in a fiscal system which is based solely on the individual income taxation, in comparison to the current Australian system which combines both individual and joint-income fiscal measures. JEL Classification F36, F55, H20, H21, H26


Configurable system-on-chip (SoC) solutions based on state-of-the art FPGA have successfully demonstrated flexibility and reliability for scientific space applications like the Venus Express mission. Future high end payload applications (e.g. Solar Orbiter) demand high-performance on-board processing because of the discrepancy between extreme high data volume and low downlink channel capacity. Furthermore, in-flight reconfiguration ability enhances the system with re-programmable hardware and thus a maintenance potential. To achieve these advanced design goals a reconfigurable system-on-chip (RSoC) architecture is proposed supported by a flexible communication architecture. The flexibility for on-chip communication is covered by a dedicated network-on-chip (NoC) approach. The configurable system-on-chip solution is introduced and the advantages are outlined. Additionally we present our newly developed NoC approach, system-on-chip wire (SoCWire) and outline its performance and the applicability for in-flight reconfigurable systems.


In peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing networks, each peer maintains its own repository, publishing files, downloading files from others, and making its own files available for download. We present P2Pedia, a distributed wiki system applying these principles to collaborative editing of documents: contributors may maintain their own version of each document, while accessing and reusing the contributions of others. This collaboration model, by allowing for multiple versions of a document, generates a different type of versioning hierarchy, and changes the semantics of wikilinks. We show how the versioning hierarchy of documents and the wikilinks create a graph of documents, that can be searched using an existing file-sharing infrastructure, and we propose some trust indicators to help users choose between available search results. Finally, we present the design and implementation of P2Pedia, and propose some scenarios where our proposed collaboration model is most appropriate.


Richard Florida's theory of the 'creative class', new regionalism's emphasis on regional networks for innovation, and the business literature on the so-called 'new' or 'networked' economy, all point to the important link between creative thinking and economic success for regions. Out of this intellectual climate have come the current exhortations to rural and regional communities to think 'outside the box' and be 'innovative' and 'creative' in coming up with solutions to their economic, social, and environmental problems. Such advice, generally given from the outside, often carries with it the implication that these communities must change to be more like other places: more diverse, more cosmopolitan, and more entrepreneurial (often implying: more profit-driven). This paper demonstrates how current theories of regional development encourage harvesting the grassroots creativity of local communities in order to pursue particular kinds of regional development goals. Examples from rural and Indigenous communities in Australia and Latin America demonstrate a distinct pattern of tapping into culture, identity and creative expression to draw market resources into particular communities and regions. While the strategy can be successful to a point, it also overlooks and devalues the deeper roles that creativity can play: helping communities reflect on their experience and define and pursue their own regional development goals, rather than the goals that others set for them.


Hyperactivity is a childhood behavioral disorder which may be due to emotional problems, developmental lags, high-normal energy levels or a combination of these factors. It may also occur as part of the syndrome of minimal brain dysfunction. Appropriate treatment depends on successful determination of the etiology. While drugs can be of appreciable benefit, treatment must also include professional support and education for the child and his family.


BACKGROUND
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with a high clinical and socioeconomic burden. Treatments to alleviate the symptoms of PAD and decrease the risks of amputation and death are a high societal priority. A number of growth factors have shown a potential to stimulate angiogenesis. Growth factors delivered directly (as recombinant proteins), or indirectly (e.g. by viral vectors or DNA plasmids encoding these factors), have emerged as a promising strategy to treat patients with PAD.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of growth factors that promote angiogenesis for treating people with PAD of the lower extremities.

SEARCH METHODS
The Cochrane Vascular Information Specialist searched the Specialised Register (June 2016) and CENTRAL (2016, Issue 5). We searched trial registries for details of ongoing or unpublished studies. We also checked the reference lists of relevant publications and, if necessary, tried to contact the trialists for details of the studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials comparing growth factors (delivered directly or indirectly) with no intervention, placebo or any other intervention not based on the growth factor's action in patients with PAD of the lower extremities. The primary outcomes were limb amputation, death and adverse events. The secondary outcomes comprised walking ability, haemodynamic measures, ulceration and rest pain.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently selected trials and assessed the risk of bias. We used outcomes of the studies at low risk of bias for the main analysis and of all studies in the sensitivity analyses. We calculated odds ratios (OR) for dichotomous outcomes and mean differences for continuous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We evaluated statistical heterogeneity using the I2 statistic and Cochrane's Q test. We conducted meta-analysis for the overall effect and for each growth factor as a subgroup analysis using OR in a fixed-effect model. We evaluated the robustness of the results in a sensitivity analysis using risk ratio (RR) and/or a random-effects model. We also assessed the quality of the evidence for each outcome.

MAIN RESULTS
We included 20 trials in the review and used 14 studies (on approximately 1400 participants) with published results in the analyses. Six published studies compared fibroblast growth factors (FGF), four studies hepatocyte growth factors (HGF) and another four studies vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), versus placebo or no therapy. Six of these studies exclusively or mainly investigated participants with intermittent claudication and eight studies exclusively participants with critical limb ischaemia. Follow-up generally ranged from three months to one year. Two small studies provided some data at 2 years and one of them also at 10 years.The direction and size of effects for growth factors on major limb amputations (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.38; 10 studies, N = 1075) and death (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.41; 12 studies, N = 1371) at up to two years are uncertain. The quality of the evidence is low due to risk of bias and imprecision (at one year, moderate-quality evidence due to imprecision). However, growth factors may decrease the rate of any limb amputations (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.99; 6 studies, N = 415). The quality of the evidence is low due to risk of bias and selective reporting.The direction and size of effects for growth factors on serious adverse events (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.50; 13 studies, N = 1411) and on any adverse events (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.64; 4 studies, N = 709) at up to two years are also uncertain. The quality of the evidence is low due to risk of bias and imprecision (for serious adverse events at one year, moderate-quality evidence due to imprecision).Growth factors may improve haemodynamic measures (low-quality evidence), ulceration (very low-quality evidence) and rest pain (very low-quality evidence) up to one year, but they have little or no effect on walking ability (low-quality evidence). We did not identify any relevant differences in effects between growth factors (FGF, HGF and VEGF).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The results of this review do not support the use of therapy with the growth factors FGF, HGF or VEGF in people with PAD of the lower extremities to prevent death or major limb amputation or to improve walking ability. However, the use of these growth factors may improve haemodynamic measures and decrease the rate of any limb amputations (probably due to preventing minor amputations) with an uncertain effect on adverse events; an improvement of ulceration and rest pain is very uncertain. New trials at low risk of bias are needed to generate evidence with more certainty.


Although manycore processors have plenty of cores, not all of them may run simultaneously at full speed and even some of them might need to be power-gated in order to keep the chip within safe temperature limits. Hence, a resource management technique, that allocates cores to application aiming at maximizing the system performance, will not be able to achieve its goal without taking into account the on-chip temperature and its impact on the availability of the chip's resources. However, considering a temperature constraint by the resource management will further increase its complexity, especially in manycores, and thus implementing it in a centralized scheme might lead to a computation bottleneck and a single point of failure. To avoid such scenarios, it is inevitable to distribute the computation required by the resource management technique throughout the chip. In this article, we propose a distributed resource management technique that considers temperature as an essential factor in allocating cores to applications and determining the power states of these cores and their voltage/frequency levels, while taking into account the performance models of the applications in order to maximize the overall system performance under a temperature constraint. Our proposed technique employs, for the first time, combinatorial auctions within an agent system to achieve the targeted goal in a distributed manner. The experimental evaluations show that our proposed technique achieves significant performance improvements with an average of 41% compared to several distributed resource management techniques.


Parallel scheduling is a new approach for load balancing. In parallel scheduling, all processors cooperate to schedule work. Parallel scheduling is able to accurately balance the load by using global load information at compile-time or runtime. It provides high-quality load balancing. This paper presents an overview of the parallel scheduling technique. Scheduling algorithms for tree, hypercube, and mesh networks are presented. These algorithms can fully balance the load and maximize locality at runtime. Communication costs are significantly reduced compared to other existing algorithms.


The tasks of overcoming the profound economic crisis, of unconditionally implementing stabilization measures, and of making a stage-by-stage transition to market relations require new structures of state and economic management aimed at the formation of a market-type economy. In view of the present situation in the country, it is vitally important to expand the sphere of action of market structures but at the same time not to anticipate events and break existing links without creating the necessary prerequisites in the national economy. In a word, the formation and functioning of the market must be managed by ensuring the effective realization of adopted laws and a consistent transition from the direct control over all links of the economy to the regulation of its development on the basis of the use of economic, financial, and contractual levers.


Active folding can generally be documented from structural geology, geomorphology or subsurface imaging techniques. From the age and elevation of a folded terrace, one can primarily infer incremental uplift or incremental tilting since terrace abandonment, a period of time generally covering several seismic cycles. Structural geology and subsurface geometry are more appropriate to estimate deformation over the longer term, typically a few 100 kyr at least. The identification and dating of growth strata is then key to estimate the chronology of the deformation. The pattern of uplift, and its time evolution, is the first accessible information one can retrieve. For most applications, horizontal shortening needs to be estimated as well. This step requires some structural models of the fold development. For example, in the case of mature fault-bend fold with no growth strata, converting the uplift pattern derived from a folded terrace into horizontal shortening is straightforward: uplift at any point along the section is equal to the product of the sinus of local dip angle and of the shortening across the fold. In many cases this simple approach cannot be applied. Dip angles may not parallel the fault at depths either because the beds may postdate fold initiation (growth strata) or because the fold might not be mature enough, or because of non conservation of bed thickness during deformation . We will show how the methodology can be adapted and expanded in partitucal to identify and overcome these difficulties. We will focus on a case study of an active fold along the northern front of the Tien Shan. The time evolution of shortening across that particular fold can be estimated accurately from combining geomorphic measurements, structural measurements and a magnetostratigraphic section.


Abstract In the turtle retina, dopamine has been observed in a small population of amacrine cells. Whereas the effect of dopamine has been intensively studied, knowledge about the release of this transmitter and the neuronal control of its release are still poorly understood. We therefore decided to study the release of endogenous dopamine. Isolated retinas were superfused with Ringer's solutions and stimulated with increased potassium, light, or drugs which interfere with neurotransmitter systems. Dopamine was analyzed by using aluminum-oxide extraction and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. Increased potassium (25 mM) caused a five-fold increase in the basal release. When calcium was replaced by cobalt, no increase was induced by 25 mM potassium. Flickering light increased the basal release of endogenous dopamine by a factor of three. The effect of flickering light was greater in the presence of additional steady background illumination. Kainate (10 μM), an agonist for excitatory amino acids, doubled the basal dopamine release. Bicuculline (10 μM), a γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) antagonist, increased the release to about six times the basal level. Naloxone (10 μM), an opiate antagonist, increased the release to eight times the basal level. These findings suggest that dopamine is released from amacrine cells in the turtle retina in a calcium-dependent manner, which is most likely a vesicular release. Dopamine release is induced by flickering light vs. darkness and vs. steady background illumination. A moderate background illumination alone does not significantly increase basal dopamine release. Drug treatment during the release experiments suggests that dopaminergic neurons receive an excitatory input either directly or indirectly from glutamatergic bipolar and/or amacrine cells and inhibitory inputs either directly or indirectly from GABAergic amacrine cells and from enkephalinergic amacrine cells or efferent fibers.


The endodontic therapy is considered successful when it achieves certain criteria that include the absence of periapical radiolucency, root filling extending to 2 mm within the radiographic apex, root filling with no voids, and a satisfactory coronal restoration1.However, root canal failure could occur in a percentage of 15 - 22%, and the non-surgical root canal retreatment stays the treatment of choice as a conservative way to control the post-treatment disease2.In non-surgical root canal retreatment removing all of the old root filling material is essential to improve the chances of success because this material could make a mechanical barrier that potentially retains the bacteria responsible for the case failure and also hinders the contact of irrigating solutions and intracanal dressings to the root canal walls3.Sealers are used to obturate the root canal irregularities and to fill the voids between the root canal filling and the canal walls4. Many new sealers have been introduced in the market; most commonly used are the resin-based and the bioceramic based sealer, the retreatability of these sealers is still not fully known5.In more complicated cases of canal irregularities and atypical root canal system, the clinician faces a further challenge in the effective removal of the root canal filling. Internal root resorptions are a pathological condition caused by the inflammatory reaction of the pulp cells leaving a resorptive cavity, the limitations of conventional non-surgical retreatment protocols require a more effective approach to fully remove the root canal fillings6.Irrigant agitation through Ultrasonic (Passive Ultrasonic Irrigation –PUI) considered efficient when compared to the conventional syringe irrigation because of the acoustic transmission that can break the bacterial biofilm and other materials and debris in the root canal system7 other instruments have been introduced to the market for the same purpose, XP-endo Finisher (FKG Dentaire, Switzerland) stands out because of its special titanium alloy (Martensite-Austenite Elctropolish-Flex) that can react to a different temperature when the instrument reaches the body temperature it transforms from the straight martensite phase to a curved austenite phase the instrument tip could expand up to 6 mm when subjected to pressure, it has been demonstrated that this instrument could improve the removal of Ca(OH)2 from oval canals and reduce the bacterial count in the root canal system8, XP-Endo Shaper (FKG Dentaire) has the same titanium alloy as XP-endo Finisher and according to the manufacturer, this alloy has the ability to adapt to the morphology of the root canal and could expand to reach all canal walls.


Forensic Psychiatry A Handbook of Divorce and Custody: Forensic, Developmental, and Clinical Perspectives Linda Gunsberg, Paul Hymowitz, editors. Hillsdale (NJ): The Analytic Press; 2005. 409 p. US$79.95. Reviewer rating: Excellent The seeds of this enthralling, if sobering, work were planted at a conference focusing on children and the law that was sponsored by the New York Freudian Society in November 1997. These seeds have germinated into a text imbued with a visceral concern for children. This primary interest in serving the perceived best interests of children, as critically filtered through the prisms of the respective contributors, reverberates unmistakably through the pages of this refreshingly candid and absorbingly intense book. A key aspiration is to promote more comfortable professional comity between mental health professionals and their colleagues in law. As explained in the Preface, mental health professionals need to know more about the law, including law directly affecting child custody and divorce. Concomitantly, legal professionals need to be better informed about mental health-centric issues, including psychology as it appertains to child development and parenting. In fact, a strong sense and recognition of the immense professional value of good collaboration between legal and mental health professionals is firmly embedded in the text. In terms of legal aspects, the perspicacious study of divorce and custody undertaken by the handbook's contributors, is notably confined to the nettlesome terrain of US law. Because the professional affiliations of the various contributors are uniformly American, this engagingly thoughtful primer lacks a multinational flavour. Moreover, even though the professional expertise of the various contributors extends to law as well as to clinical and forensic psychology, psychiatry, and social work, their collective expertise is skewed heavily toward mental health. The intellectual length and breadth of possible future editions might be augmented by a relatively broader representation, with more contributors drawn from the domain of law. The foregoing caveats notwithstanding, it cannot be gainsaid that the book's contributors have cautiously and expertly probed the thorny terrain of US family law, with academic theory, research findings, and practical professional experiences all being important tools, and that the impressive result of their diligent spadework has been the unearthing of rich deposits of forensic-psychologic wealth. They have succeeded in illuminating many of the vexations affecting researchers and clinicians in these interfused fields. …


In this paper, we analyse infrastructure needs of the European natural gas market in response to decarbonisation of the European energy system. To this end, we use numerical modelling and apply the Global Gas Model. We investigate three pathways of future natural gas consumption: i) a decreasing natural gas consumption, following the scenarios of the EU Energy Roadmap 2050; ii) a moderate increase of natural gas consumption, along the lines of the IEA's New Policies Scenario; and iii) a temporary increase of natural gas use as a "bridge" technology, followed by a strong decrease after 2030. Our results show that current import infrastructure and intra-European transit capacity are sufficient to accommodate future import needs in all scenarios. This is despite a pronounced reduction of domestic production and a strong increase in import dependency. However, due to strong demand in Asia, Europe must increasingly rely on exports from Africa and the Caspian region, leading to new infrastructure capacity from these regions. When natural gas serves as a "bridge" technology, short-term utilisation rates of LNG import capacity temporarily increase instead of instigating large scale pipeline expansions


Efforts toward the development of early detection assays for cancers have traditionally depended on single biomarker molecules. Current technologies have been disappointing and have not resulted in diagnostic tests suitable for clinical practice. Using a high-throughput cloning method, a panel of epitopes/antigens that react with autoantibodies to tumor proteins in the serum of patients with ovarian cancer have been isolated. Discovery of biomarker panels was directed in an unbiased fashion by cloning a large panel of epitopes or tumor antigens, rather than individual biomarkers without a previous notion of their function. The binding properties of these serum antitumor antibodies on microarrays and advanced bioinformatics tools led to a panel of diagnostic antigens. The sequences that were identified using this new technology will lead to the discovery of novel disease-related proteins that have diagnostic value for the presymptomatic detection of cancer. It has been demonstrated that this approach can detect these autoantibodies in the sera of Stage I ovarian cancer patients. There are numerous advantages of employing serum antibodies as the analytes, not the least of which is the ability to rapidly adapt these assays to standard clinical platforms. This technology of global epitope/antigen profiling is referred to as 'epitomics'.


MARKERLESS ANALYSIS OF UPPER EXTREMITY KINEMATICS DURING STANDARDIZED PEDIATRIC ASSESSMENT Jacob R. Rammer, B.S. Marquette University, 2014 Children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy experience reduced motor performance in the affected upper extremity and are typically evaluated based on degree of functional impairment using activity-based assessments such as the Shriners Hospitals for Children Upper Extremity Evaluation (SHUEE), a validated clinical measure, to describe performance prior to and following rehabilitative or surgical interventions. Evaluations rely on subjective therapist scoring techniques and lack sensitivity to detect change. Objective clinical motion analysis systems are an available but time-consuming and cost-intensive alternative, requiring uncomfortable application of markers to the patient. There is currently no available markerless, low-cost system that quantitatively assesses upper extremity kinematics to improve sensitivity of evaluation during standardized task performance. A motion analysis system was developed, using Microsoft Kinect hardware to track motion during broad arm and subtle hand and finger movements. Algorithms detected and recorded skeletal position and calculated angular kinematics. Lab-developed articulating hand model and elbow fixation devices were used to evaluate accuracy, intra-trial, and inter-trial reliability of the Kinect platform. Results of technical evaluation indicate reasonably accurate detection and differentiation between hand and arm positions. Twelve typically-developing adolescent subjects were tested to characterize and evaluate performance scores obtained from the SHUEE and Kinect motion analysis system. Feasibility of the platform was determined in terms of kinematics and as an enhancement of quantitative kinematic reporting to the SHUEE, and a population mean of typically developing subject kinematics obtained for future development of performance scoring algorithms. The system was observed to be easily operable and clinically effective in subject testing. The Kinect motion analysis platform developed to quantify upper extremity motion during standardized tasks is a low-cost, portable, accurate, and reliable system in kinematic reporting, and has demonstrated quality of results in both technical evaluation of the system and a study of its applicability to standardized task-based evaluation, but has hardware and software limitations which will be resolved in future improvements of the system. The SHUEE benefits from improved quantitative data, and the Kinect system provides enhanced sensitivity in clinical upper extremity analysis for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.


The aim of this study was to develop radiomic models using PET/CT radiomic features with different machine learning approaches for finding best predictive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS) mutation status. Patient's images including PET and CT [diagnostic (CTD) and low dose CT (CTA)] were pre-processed using wavelet (WAV), Laplacian of Gaussian (LOG) and 64 bin discretization (BIN) (alone or in combinations) and several features from images were extracted. The prediction performance of model was checked using the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). Results showed a wide range of radiomic model AUC performances up to 0.75 in prediction of EGFR and KRAS mutation status. Combination of K-Best and variance threshold feature selector with logistic regression (LREG) classifier in diagnostic CT scan led to the best performance in EGFR (CTD-BIN+B-KB+LREG, AUC: 0.75±0.10) and KRAS (CTD-BIN-LOG-WAV+B-VT+LREG, AUC: 0.75±0.07) respectively. Additionally, incorporating PET, kept AUC values at ~0.74. When considering conventional features only, highest predictive performance was achieved by PET SUVpeak (AUC: 0.69) for EGFR and by PET MTV (AUC: 0.55) for KRAS. In comparison with conventional PET parameters such as standard uptake value, radiomic models were found as more predictive. Our findings demonstrated that non-invasive and reliable radiomics analysis can be successfully used to predict EGFR and KRAS mutation status in NSCLC patients.


Much research has been devoted to the problem of estimating treatment effects from observational data; however, most methods assume that the observed variables only contain confounders, i.e., variables that affect both the treatment and the outcome. Unfortunately, this assumption is frequently violated in real-world applications, since some variables only affect the treatment but not the outcome, and vice versa. Moreover, in many cases only the proxy variables of the underlying confounding factors can be observed. In this work, we first show the importance of differentiating confounding factors from instrumental and risk factors for both average and conditional average treatment effect estimation, and then we propose a variational inference approach to simultaneously infer latent factors from the observed variables, disentangle the factors into three disjoint sets corresponding to the instrumental, confounding, and risk factors, and use the disentangled factors for treatment effect estimation. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method on a wide range of synthetic, benchmark, and real-world datasets.


In 2012 and 2013, as part of relief-to-recovery programming, Child Relief International partnered with Haiti Philanthropy to install automatic tablet-based chlorinators in 79 gravity-fed water distribution systems in Southeast Department, Haiti. We carried out a mixed methods evaluation to assess sustained effectiveness of chlorinators approximately two years after installation, including 18 site assessments of chlorinators and distribution systems, 180 surveys of households served by those systems and 17 key informant interviews. We tested for free chlorine residual and Escherichia coli in samples collected from sources, reservoirs, water access points, and treated and untreated household stored water. We found: 83% of chlorinators were in operational condition, although water pressure was sufficient to operate chlorinators at only 56% of sites; 0% of chlorinator sites had tablet stock; and, while 86% of households reported using water from distribution systems with a chlorinator, 0% of household drinking water was safe to drink because of chlorinators. Reasons why the chlorinator project did not achieve intended sustained effectiveness included: lack of accountability for infrastructure maintenance; lack of tablet access; and lack of effective community management systems. We recommend future implementers of centralized water treatment systems in relief-to-recovery contexts consider these three components necessary for sustainability.


The reverse engineering into CASE technology (RECAST) method takes the source code for an existing common business-oriented language (COBOL) system and derives a no-loss representation of the system documented in a structured systems analysis and design method (SSADM) format. This representation of the system is derived through the use of a series of transformations. The environment within which RECAST has been developed is described, the stages and steps of the RECAST method are outlined, and the use of software support tools is discussed. An overview is given of a case study that has been carried out for a live system.<<ETX>>


Our aim is to assess the incidence of second cancer in long‐time surviving primary mediastinal B‐cell lymphoma (PMBCL) patients treated with combined radiochemoimmunotherapy (standard methotrexate with leucovorin rescue, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and bleomycin with rituximab and mediastinal radiation therapy at a dose of 30 to 36 Gy). For this purpose, 92 points were evaluated. After a median overall survival of 137 months (range 76‐212), we recorded second cancer in 3 of 80 long‐surviving patients (3.75%) with cumulative incidence of 3.47% at 15 years and 11% at 17 years, with a 17‐year second cancer‐free survival of 82%. We observed 2 papillary thyroid cancers with a standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 7.97 and an absolute excess risk (AER) of 17. 84 and 1 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with an SIR of 66.53 and an AER of 10.05. No breast cancer occurred. Although we should take into account the limits of the proposed statistical analysis, combined modality treatment was related to a significant SIR and AER for thyroid cancer and acute myeloid leukemia.


We compared two dietary survey methods using the 1991 nationwide China Health and Nutrition Survey. Data were collected over three consecutive days by 24-hour dietary recall and a household inventory for 3,563 households with 13,606 individuals. We studied the absolute difference between the two methods and the relative differences expressed as dietary in take per capita per day. There was only a 74-kcal difference between the methods for average daily calorie intake; the relative difference was 1%. Ratios were larger for average daily protein (5%) and fat (3%) intakes. Analysis of covariance was used to compare the means of the intakes of nutrients when adjusting for other confounding variables. The largest difference was in households with guests eating at home, where fat intake was significantly higher. Particularly important was an adjustment for household cooking oil consumption used to modify the recall results. Removing this adjustment greatly expanded differences in the two methods.


Mode-localization is a promising method to realize high sensitivity sensors, especially in the field of MEMS. Since these sensors monitor amplitude change of weakly coupled resonators, it is important to grasp condition that induces multi-valued amplitude-frequency curve. In this paper, we provide an efficient tool to characterize the nonlinear behavior of the weakly coupled resonators. To analyze the nonlinearity, we solve a two-degrees-of-freedom (2-DoF) coupled equation of motion with nonlinear spring terms. Two approximations are employed to solve the equation; Krylov–Bogoliubov averaging method and approximation based on eigenmode amplitude-ratio at the resonances. As a result, we obtain two decoupled Duffing-like amplitude-frequency equations. We show that nonlinearity of the system is described by factors contained in the equations. The factors can be explicitly written in terms of basic parameters of the system, including coupling spring constant and nonlinear terms. Thus, instead of relying on numerical calculations, we can find parameter condition that brings about multi-valued amplitude-frequency curve. This method can also be utilized to find a condition that eliminates the nonlinearity. As an example, we apply this method to a weakly coupled resonator which uses parallel plate electrode as a coupling spring. We demonstrate the effectiveness and validity of this method by comparing the result with FEM simulations. The methodology and results presented here are general one and can be applied to various systems described by nonlinear coupled resonators.


Abnormal opacities detected at chest radiography must be localized as parenchymal or extraparenchymal to facilitate differential diagnosis. Extraparenchymal opacities may arise from the chest wall soft tissues, osseous structures, or pleura. Regarding the latter, pleural effusion and fibrothorax are commonly recognized patterns of pleural disease encountered at thoracic imaging. Less commonly, nodules or masses arising from the pleura may be seen, and usually this imaging pattern reflects the presence of pleural malignancy. However, there are rare conditions that may affect the pleura and simulate malignant pleural disease, particularly thoracic splenosis. Splenosis represents autotransplantation of functional splenic tissue into ectopic sites, most frequently within the abdomen, and rarely the thorax. Splenosis usually results from episodes of thoracoabdominal trauma or following splenectomy, and may reach the left thorax, implanting on the left-sided pleura, when diaphragmatic injury is also present. Thoracic splenosis is most often detected asymptomatically by imaging performed for incidental reasons. The condition typically presents with left-sided pleural nodules or masses, which may enhance profoundly following intravenous contrast administration at thoracic CT, thereby simulating malignant pleural disease. If imaging manifestations or historical evidence of previous thoracic trauma are found, the diagnosis may be suspected, but often such is lacking as the enticing event has long been forgotten by the patient. Therefore, a high index of suspicion for thoracic splenosis must be maintained when left-sided pleural lesions suggesting pleural malignancy are encountered. The diagnosis of thoracic splenosis may be confirmed noninvasively with nuclear medicine techniques.


We study the equilibrium determinants of firm-level heterogeneity in a model in which firms can affect the variance of their productivity draws at the entry stage and explore the implications in closed and open economy. By allowing firms to choose the size of their investment in innovation projects of unknown quality, the model yields a Pareto distribution for productivity with a shape parameter that depends on industry-level characteristics. A novel result is that export opportunities, by increasing the payoffs in the tail, induce firms to invest in bigger projects with more spread-out outcomes. Moreover, when more productive firms also pay higher wages, trade amplifies wage dispersion by making all firms more unequal. These results are consistent with new evidence on how firm-level heterogeneity and wage dispersion vary in a panel of U.S. industries. Finally, we use patent data across U.S. states and over time to provide evidence in support of a specific mechanism of the model, namely, that export opportunities increase firm heterogeneity by fostering innovation.


Purpose: Clinical vignettes are cost-effective tool for clinical managers. They offer opportunities to discover nuances in the clinical decision-making process. This clinical vignette-based study demonstrates actual variation in practice and advocates standardization in health care delivery. Methods: Two public hospitals were randomly selected from general public hospitals located in Istanbul. The vignettes used in this study include particular open-ended questions to elucidate the perspectives of surgeons and internal medicine physicians. Results: Analysis showed that vignette-based surveys produce effective measures of quality of care. Statistically significant differences were found between care provided by internists and surgeons. Findings were consistent across all hypothetical vignette scenarios and were independent of case complexity. Conclusions: Use of vignettes provides cost-effective decision-making opportunities for clinical managers. Furthermore, clinical vignettes are simple and economical tools in measuring physicians' productivity and quality.


ABSTRACT Ocean Drilling Project (ODP) Hole 625B from 890 m water on the West Florida carbonate ramp-slope provides a continuous 235 m long record of cyclic sedimentation responding to global climatic change and regional tectonics over the past 5.4 Ma. Relatively rapid sedimentation rates (> 5 cm/1000 yr) and a 30 cm sampling interval (6-10,000 yr) permit a high-resolution investigation of Milankovitch-influenced carbonate sedimentation on a continental margin. Total carbonate, percent coarse (> 63 µm), and oxygen isotope data exhibit good correlation with established mid- and late-Pleistocene composite records, indicating that the climate signal recorded on the West Florida slope closely parallels the global climate signal obtained from deep-sea sediments. A high amplitude, low frequency (100K yr) eccentricity signal of the past 800K yr is unique within the 5.4 Ma record of total carbonate and percent coarse. Prior to this, the data are characterized by lower amplitude variations and less regular periodicities. The interval from 0.8 to 2.8 Ma consists of low amplitude fluctuations with periodicities widely distributed in the obliquity band (30-60K yr). From 2.8 to 5.4 Ma, the data show larger amplitude, aperiodic variations. Sedimentation from the present to 2.8 Ma was controlled primarily by sea-level fluctuations associated with changing global ice volumes. During periods of lowered sea level, fine-grained terrigenous sediments from the Mississippi and other rivers diluted the End_Page 1070----------------------- indigenous pelagic carbonate sediments of the West Florida slope. The interval from 0.8 to 2.8 Ma differs from the late Quaternary in that smaller sea-level oscillations and less extensive North American ice sheets resulted in smaller-amplitude sediment cycles. Sediments older than 2.8 Ma record aperiodic fluctuations caused perhaps by Loop Current circulation responding to the final closing of the Isthmus of Panama between 3.5 and 4.0 Ma. Intensified circulation may have transported and redeposited terrigenous sediments from the Mississippi delta-fan to the West Florida carbonate ramp, creating high-amplitude, but aperiodic, sediment cycles. This study demonstrates that Milankovitch orbital variations can create well developed, primary pelagic sedimentary cycles on continental margins and that such cycles are not restricted to the very deep sea. The data from ODP 625B, in conjunction with other contemporaneous cores from contrasting settings, provide the opportunity to obtain a quantitative understanding of the interactions between external orbital forcing, climate, and continental margin sedimentation.


Stormwater bioretention basins are subjected to spontaneous intermittent wetting and drying, unlike water treatment filter systems that are subjected to continuous feed. Drinking water filters when constructed new or after back-wash, are subjected to a phase of stabilization. Experiments show that bioretention basins are similarly impacted by intermittent wetting and drying. The common parameter monitored in the stabilisation of filters is the concentration of total solids in the outflow. Filter media in bioretention basins however, consists of a mix of particulate organic matter and fine sand. Organic carbon and solids are therefore needed to be monitored.

Four Perspex bioretention filter columns of 94 mm (ID) were packed with a filter layer (800 mm), transition layer and a gravel layer and operated with synthetic stormwater in the laboratory. The filter layer contained 8% organic material by weight. A free board of 350 mm provided detention storage and head to facilitate infiltration. Synthetic stormwater was prepared by adding NH4NO3 (ammonium nitrate) and C2H5NO2 (glycine) and a mixture of kaolinite and montmorillonite clay, to tapwater. The columns were fed with synthetic stormwater with different Antecedent Dry Days (ADD) (0 – 25 day) and constant inflow concentration (2 ppm: nitrate-nitrogen, 1.5 ppm: ammonium-nitrogen, 2.5 ppm: organic-nitrogen 100 ppm: total suspended solids and 7 ppm: organic carbon) at a feed rate of 100mL.min (85.7cm/h). Samples were collected from the outflow at different time intervals between 2 – 150 min from the start of outflow and were tested for Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC).

Both TSS and TOC concentrations in the outflow were observed to be much higher than the concentration of both the parameters in the inflow during the stabilisation period indicating a phase of wash-off (first flush) which lasted for approximately 30 min for both parameters at the beginning of each storm event. The wash-off of TSS and TOC were found to be highly variable depending on the age of the filter and the number of antecedent dry days. The duration of stabilisation phase in the experiments is significant compared with many of the stormwater events. A computational analysis on total mass of each pollutant further affirmed the significance of the first flush of an event on removal of these pollutants. Therefore, the kinetics of the first flush in the stabilisation phase needs to be considered in the performance analysis of the systems.


Material Supplemental http://genome.cshlp.org/content/suppl/2013/10/23/gr.159467.113.DC1.html P<P Published online October 29, 2013 in advance of the print journal. License Commons Creative . http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ described at a Creative Commons License (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported), as ). After six months, it is available under http://genome.cshlp.org/site/misc/terms.xhtml first six months after the full-issue publication date (see This article is distributed exclusively by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press for the


In the presence of water ammonia solution the calcium bicarbonate converts into insoluble calcium carbonate. Linearly independent chemical reactions of calcium carbonate formation with application of ammoniac solution were defined by the Gram matrix. As a result of the thermodynamic analysis the probability of calcium ions extraction from water solutions was established. To define thermodynamic constants the program "Calculation of chemical reactions equilibrium on a wide interval of temperatures by an enthalpy method" was applied. Based upon given equilibrium constants and the law of mass action a equilibrium concentration of calcium ions was calculated. Furthermore, experimental data on calcium carbonate removal from standard test solution were obtained. The maximum level of calcium ions extraction in a solid phase was 92.11%. The difference of equilibrium and operating concentrations defines a moving force of calcium carbonate formation that allows to calculate mass-transfer coefficient. The kinetics of CaCO3 formation in an ammoniac medium was studied. Analysis of kinetics of this process was carried out by means of Kazeeva-Yerofeev's equation with Sakovich's correction and the derived experimental data. The reaction order and activation energy of the chemical reaction were defined. These values show the process takes place in transition field.


This article reflects on the phenomenon of a growing dissatisfaction and restlessness with traditional forms of worship as well as on some conceptions of the notion of liturgical renewal. It proposes that a fundamental liturgical reframing is indeed needed, grounded on the theological locus of the Christ-event. A brief description is given of the liturgical importance of this event, followed by some liturgical implications, inter alia, the need for a responsible liturgical reframing of anthropology and our understanding and expectation of the encounter with God.


The six articles about infection in immunocompromised hosts in this issue of theArchivesunderscore a major challenge in modern medicine. The use of systemic corticosteroids, chemotherapeutic agents, and x-ray therapy have been refined to the point where successful organ transplantation and remission of leukemia and other malignancies are commonplace. Serious infection in these patients remains a major risk of immunosuppressive therapy. In addition to compromise of the immune system induced by therapeutic maneuvers, disease processes, such as malignancy and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, render other patients at risk for infection. With the exception of patients with pemphigus and pemphigoid, who are receiving highdose systemic corticosteroid therapy, dermatologists are not usually primary physicians for immunosuppressed patients. Often, however, they are called in for consultation about patients with compromised immune systems. A high index of suspicion for an infectious process should be maintained when a physician examines a patient who is


We present a novel method which provides an observer of the autonomic cardiac outflow using heartbeat intervals (RR) and QT intervals. The model of the observer is inferred from qualitative physiological knowledge. It consists in a problem of blind source separation of noisy mixtures which is resolved by a simple and robust algorithm. The robustness of the algorithm has been assessed by numerical simulations in adverse noisy environments. In clinical applications, we have validated the observer on subjects exposed to experimental conditions known to elicit sympathetic or parasympathetic response.


This paper presents the numerical and experimental investigations of a wavy fin-tube heat exchanger aimed at correctly accounting for all factors influencing the thermal performance of the exchanger. The shape factor for the complex heat conduction path in the wavy fin is determined by using computational analysis and validated experimentally by utilizing electrical analogy to obtain the electric resistance across the fin. This is used to back-calculate the conduction shape factor. In the experimental study, the potential difference, V and current, I, was measured using a high precision data acquisition unit. The results were used to calculate the shape resistance which was compared with that obtained from the numerical model. Grid independence tests were performed on the model and several analytically derived standard shape factor formulae were also used for comparison with the model outputs. The deviation of the numerical results from the analytical formulae for the cases studied was less than +1.2%. The agreement between the experiments and the numerical model was within +3.5%. The results demonstrated the adequacy of the numerical approach to modeling the wavy fintube heat transfer. Effects such as differences in fin shape, fin length and waviness of the fin design on the shape factor were determined and discussed.


The functional anatomies of avian finger joints have never been compared with those of the basal avian Archaeopteryx lithographica or maniraptoran theropod dinosaurs. These startling oversights are due to unfamiliarity of the joints outside of highly specialised studies of bird-wing biomechanics. Here fleshed to skeletonised repeated-measures analyses of finger-joint ranges of motion (ROMs) in a basal palaeognath, the Ostrich Struthio camelus, were utilised as a model to begin filling in these knowledge gaps. Results verified that all of the flight-adapted, avian-specific finger joints are retained in the flightless, yet large and well-differentiated fingers of the Ostrich. Moreover, Ostrich finger joints still possess flight-restricted ROMs within the semi-pronated plane of the manus. The osteological markers of these highly conserved flight-adapted characters in Ostrich show that prior descriptions have unknowingly demonstrated that the main avian finger-joint complex began evolving at the base of Pennaraptora (Oviraptorosauria + Paraves). This detailed functional analysis provides non-embryological support for the hypothesis that maniraptoran theropods shared digital homologies with birds, and supports recent pronation studies indicating that pennaraptoran theropods had evolved avian distal wing joints stiffened for aerial locomotion.


A new formulation of quantum mechanics is proposed based on a new principle that can be considered a generalization of the Born rule. The principle is composed of a mathematical expression and an associated interpretation, and establishes a correlation between the positions of a particle at two different times. Under reasonable conditions for the wave function, this correlation implies that the particles follow quasi-classical trajectories. It is also shown that the Born rule is equivalent to a particular case of the new principle. These features allow the principle to provide a unified explanation of the results of the statistical experiments and of the quasi-classical macroscopic evolution.
There is a strong analogy between the new quantum principle and a probabilistic principle which is necessary to derive empirical predictions from the mathematical formalism of probability theory. This principle is referred to by some authors as Cournot's principle, while other authors use the equivalent notion of typicality. In this paper probability theory and quantum mechanics are formulated in such a way as to explicitly include the two principles and to emphasize the very similar conceptual structure of the two theories.


Understanding genetic diversity among human populations can help uncover their histories. In 2015 the 'People of the British Isles' (PoBI) study of autosome-wide diversity revealed subtle but significantly different genetic clusters, including a clear distinction between the neighbouring counties of Cornwall and Devon; it proposed that Bodmin Moor and the River Tamar had formed a barrier between the two. This thesis uses a combination of historical, onomastic, and genetic approaches to investigate differentiation in this region in more detail.A survey of the historical literature examines whether Cornwall has been isolated from the rest of England and the Continent. Evidence from archaeology, historical documents, and place-names shows that both Roman and Anglo-Saxon influence on Cornwall was less than that on Devon, supporting the idea of Cornish distinctiveness at least over the last two millennia. However, the historical record also shows abundant evidence for Cornwall's connectedness with the nearby nations of Ireland, Wales, and Brittany.Based on census and parish records, research was undertaken to analyse the specificity and persistence over time of surnames of the people of the Bodmin Moor region between 1702 and 1881. This showed a lack of regionally-specific names, and clear evidence of input from Devon and the rest of England.Analysis of the male-specific Y chromosome examined whether the autosomal Cornwall-Devon distinction seen in the PoBI study was also reflected in paternal lineages. Surname-ascertained samples were recruited from Bodmin Moor and supplemented with PoBI samples. DNAs were analysed with short tandem repeats and single nucleotide polymorphisms. Population genetic analysis supported Cornish distinctiveness, with Bodmin Moor more closely related to Devon. Differences are compatible with lower Anglo-Saxon influence on west Cornwall. Co-analysis with other datasets clusters Cornwall most closely with Wales and Ireland and supports affiliation with Brittany, while Bodmin Moor and Devon more closely resemble other English populations.


Timetabling is a complex and often difficult task. Considering the large number of students, availability of lecturers and rooms, scheduling a feasible schedule without mistakes is not an easy task. Some universities are still using the manual paper based scheduling. A computer based timetabling system can greatly help the creation and management of university timetabling. This paper analyzed the problem of Oral Final Study Examination in Swiss German University, and proposed a computer based solution using a heuristic method for an automated scheduling system.


First paragraphs: Many people who work at the grassroots building community-based food systems aim to create local food networks that build health, wealth, connection, and capacity (Meter, 2010). This vision implies that stronger cultural connections, including vibrant ethnic identity and heritage, must be among the outcomes of food policy. Yet our policy discourse frequently suggests that economic efficiency constitutes the primary measure of success. This is clearly a narrow view. As long as one's viewpoint is limited to ways of squeezing production costs to the lowest possible levels, or raising prices as high as the market will bear, the basic humanity of food will dissipate and the transformative potential of local foods will be lost. From a systems perspective, measuring success solely using any one indicator, such as efficiency, amidst a complex and rapidly changing system will distort one's understanding of that system, leading to skewed outcomes....


Electrical grid technical losses affects the electricity tariff and the planning of new lines. Nonetheless, their assessment by means of time-series or real-time simulations is computationally burdensome for large grids. In order to achieve simplified equivalent circuits, reduction techniques have been developed. The only one that is applicable for unbalanced grids is the multiphase reduction, but it does not preserve the losses. This paper proposes an algorithm that allows indirect evaluation of total losses, thus extending the multiphase reduction technique. In the validation process, IEEE 34-bus and a Brazilian real feeder are evaluated. A daily time-series simulation, with hourly loadshapes, is performed in OpenDSS. Using this novel method, the losses errors obtained are lower than 2%. The proposed algorithm, therefore, may be applied to speed up the definition of electricity tariff and the planning process of unbalanced grids.


The Coase Theorem maintains that in the absence of transaction costs, in Francesco Parisi's words, "regardless of the initial allocation of property rights and choice of remedial protection, the market will determine ultimate allocations of legal entitlements, based on their relative value to different parties." The paper explores the consequences for Coase's Theorem when a party without the initial allocation of a property right can manipulate the transaction costs of the party with the initial allocation in asserting that right. A party wishing to obtain the ultimate entitlement may find it preferable not to purchase the entitlement but to increase the transaction costs faced by the party with the initial entitlement in asserting that entitlement. The paper uses the example of the sale of consumer financial information in connection with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act as a vehicle for showing that in some cases the power to manipulate transaction costs will not interfere with parties bargaining to reach the highest-valued use of property, but that in other cases it will. Indeed, in some circumstances, someone contracting with a party with the power to inflate transaction costs will be better off without the initial allocation of rights. The paper also provides other examples of inflated consumer transaction costs. Finally, it discusses how federal regulators have attempted to address the problem of inflated consumer transaction costs under Gramm-Leach-Bliley and suggests another solution to the problem.


Heterogeneity in Sjögren's syndrome (SS), increasingly called Sjögren's disease, suggests the presence of disease subtypes, which poses a major challenge for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of this autoimmune disorder. Previous work distinguished patient subgroups based on clinical symptoms, but it is not clear to what extent symptoms reflect underlying pathobiology. The purpose of this study was to discover clinical meaningful subtypes of SS based on genome-wide DNA methylation data. We performed a cluster analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation data from labial salivary gland (LSG) tissue collected from 64 SS cases and 67 non-cases. Specifically, hierarchical clustering was performed on low dimensional embeddings of DNA methylation data extracted from a variational autoencoder to uncover unknown heterogeneity. Clustering revealed clinically severe and mild subgroups of SS. Differential methylation analysis revealed that hypomethylation at the MHC and hypermethylation at other genome regions characterize the epigenetic differences between these SS subgroups. Epigenetic profiling of LSGs in SS yields new insights into mechanisms underlying disease heterogeneity. The methylation patterns at differentially methylated CpGs are different in SS subgroups and support the role of epigenetic contributions to the heterogeneity in SS. Biomarker data derived from epigenetic profiling could be explored in future iterations of the classification criteria for defining SS subgroups.


Oligo-Miocene clay outcrops on the European side (west and northwest part) of Istanbul were analysed. Formerly, a landfill and sanitary landfill were built on the clay. Mineral liners of the current and extending parts of the Istanbul landfill consist of these clays, since they include a considerable amount of smectite, illite, and kaolinite. With this feature, these clays are also an important candidate for the buffer material of repositories for nuclear wastes of newly planned nuclear power plants. In this context, one Miocene and two Oligocene clay samples were subjected to leachate under low stress using an odometer device during a period of 30 days, 180 days, and 360 days to understand the chemical and mineralogical transformations and subsequent changes in the clay structure. The results of this work and our ongoing other research revealed that Istanbul clays are mostly illite/smectite mixed-layer minerals. Illites considerably increased while the illite/smectite mixed-layer minerals decreased in the first 15-30 days. The kinetics of the three clays was studied to understand the reasons for the illite increase. Increase of the activation energy over time may be attributed to the successive intercalation of illite lattice layers as alteration of mixed-layer illite-smectite clays. Mineral dissolution, however, is still the primary mechanism for illitization when the low activation energy is considered. With these findings, the utilization of Istanbul clays is questionable for clay barriers of landfills or sealing material of hazardous wastes.


The making of statistical inferences in distributional form is conceptionally complicated because the epistemic 'probabilities' assigned are mixtures of fact and fiction. In this respect they are essentially different from 'physical' or 'frequency-theoretic' probabilities. The distributional form is so attractive and useful, however, that it should be pursued. Our approach is In line with Walds theory of statistical decision functions and with Lehmann's books about hypothesis testing and point estimation: loss functions are defined, risk functions are studied, unbiasedness and equivariance restrictions are made, etc. A central theme is that the loss function should be 'proper'. This fundamental concept has been explored by meteorologists, psychometrists, Bayesian statisticians, and others. The paper should be regarded as an attempt to reconcile various schools of statisticians. By accepting what we regard 88 good and useful in the various approaches we are trying to develop a nondogmatic approach.


From praise for the 1965 edition:

Allan Gilbert is unquestionably the most accurate and reliable translator of Machiavelli into English; the publication of this edition is an altogether happy occasion. Students of the history of political thought owe a particular debt of gratitude to Allan Gilbert."—Dante Germino, The Journal of Politics

"A most remarkable achievement."—Felix Gilbert, Renaissance Quarterly


- Experimental results of thermoforming of two kinds of polylactide containers of similar capacity but differing in shape were used to determine the basic parameters of this process. The films made of both pure polylactide or polylactide nanocomposites, the latter including a montmorillonite nanofiller (5 wt. %) and poly(ethylene glycol) (10 wt. %) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (10 wt. %), were applied to forming these containers. These three kinds of films were 250 or 400 μm thick. It was found that the containers could be thermoformed in the temperature range of 75-90 °C and that the film thickness affected the dispersion of the container wall thicknesses. Thus, it has been confirmed that a thorough experimental study is necessary before the manufacturing of a specific type of container thermoformed from pure polylactide or its nanocomposites could be implemented. The study should be aimed mainly at a reduction in the dispersion of the container wall thickness.


We carried out a geochronological and geochemical study of zircons from seven pegmatite intrusions collected from the central part (Zimatlan-Ayoquezco-Ejutla villages) of the Oaxacan Complex, southern Mexico. U-Pb ages and trace element chemistry were obtained by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The objective of this work is to determine the time of pegmatite emplacement and its high grade metamorphism, if present, by U-Pb dating and identify its possible source and crystallization environment, using trace element concentrations in zircons. The geochronological study allowed to distinguish three main groups of pegmatites: post-tectonic, syntectonic, and pre-tectonic with respect to the granulite facies metamorphism event, which have ages in the ranges of 963 ± 7 to 977 ± 5 Ma, 980 ± 5 to 981 ± 7 Ma, and 1190 ± 7 to 1201 ± 5 Ma, respectively. The REE geochemistry in pegmatite zircons shows that the mechanism of pegmatite formation was in some cases magmatic, in others metamorphic or in between. It has been suggested before that all pegmatites of this region are "granitic" and are the result of a classical evolution of a felsic melt formed in situ during the anatexis of the Oaxacan Complex rocks. The interpretation of our chemical data indicates that the composition of the initial melt, from which each class of pegmatite was formed, can be ultramafic, alkaline or carbonatitic, and only one sample shows a granitic-like initial composition. This means that the pegmatites of the Oaxacan Complex are of diverse origin and only those of quartzfeldspar mineralogy are actually granitic in origin.


Objective: 10% of all hip fractures are occult on plain radiography, requiring further investigation to ascertain the diagnosis. MRI is presently the gold standard investigation, but frequently has disadvantages of time delay, resulting in increased hospital stay and mortality. Our aim was to establish whether multidetector CT (MDCT) is an appropriate first-line investigation of occult femoral neck (NOF) fractures. Methods: From 2013, we elected to use MDCT as the first-line investigation in patients believed to have an NOF fracture with negative plain films. These were reported musculoskeletal radiologists. We retrospectively analysed the data of consecutive patients presenting to the University Hospital of Wales, over 30 months with a clinical suspicion of a hip fracture. Results: 1443 patients were admitted during the study period. 209 (14.5%) patients had negative plain films requiring further investigation to exclude an NOF fracture, of which 199 patients had a CT. 93 patients had no fracture and 20 patients had isolated greater trochanter fractures. None of these patients progressed to develop an intracapsular femoral neck fracture at 4-month follow-up, although one patient sustained an extracapsular fracture following a high-energy fall whilst admitted. 26 femoral neck fractures were diagnosed on CT, whilst the remaining 60 patients were diagnosed with other pelvic ring fractures. Conclusion: When interpreted by experienced radiologists, MDCT has both sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Advances in knowledge: We recommend the use of MDCT as a safe and appropriate first-line investigation for NOF fractures.


ABSTRACT This paper analyses the impact of academic achievement on future salaries by looking into the grade point average (GPA)-earnings relationship for graduates of a leading Russian university. The study is based on pooled cross-sectional graduate survey data for 2014–2015. The issue of how student academic achievement impacts future labour market rewards is analysed through academic, demographic and labour market factors. We found that there is a significant positive impact of GPA on salaries of BA graduates (9–12% wage premium for an additional GPA point) and an insignificant or negative impact for MA programmes graduates. The study depicts that this negative effect can be partially explained by employment sector-specific variables. Among the main factors which positively affect earnings of graduates is work experience. Graduates who combined study and work achieve a 30% wage premium. However, there is no evidence that combining study and work affects student academic achievement, even for those who combined studies with full-time job. Despite the higher GPA of female students, male graduates' earnings are 18% higher. Gender wage differences can be explained by gender distribution by the sector of employment: the over-representation of women in the low-paid education and science sectors and their under-representation in entrepreneurship and corporate sector.


This paper contends that the conventional ethical and legal ways of analysing the wrong involved in the misuse of human body parts are inadequate, and should be replaced with an analysis based on human dignity. It examines the various ways in which dignity has been understood, outlines many of the criticisms made of those ways (agreeing with many of the criticisms), and proposes a new way of seeing dignity which is exegetically consonant with the way in which dignity has been historically understood, and yet avoids the pitfalls which have led to dignity being dismissed by many as hopelessly amorphous or incurably theological. The account of dignity proposed is broadly Aristotelian. It defines dignity in terms of human thriving, and presupposes that it is possible, at least in principle, to determine empirically what makes humans thrive. It contends that humans are quintessentially relational animals, and that it is not possible (and certainly not ethically desirable) to define humans as atomistic entities. One important corollary of this is that when using dignity/thriving as a criterion for determining the ethical acceptability of a proposed action or inaction, one should ask not merely how the dignity interests of the patient (for instance) would be affected, but how the dignity interests of all stakeholders would be affected. The business of ethics is then the business of auditing all those interests, and determining the course of action which would maximise the amount of thriving in the world.


ABSTRACT A gene homologous to rpoS was cloned from a fatal human pathogen, Vibrio vulnificus. The functional role of rpoS in V. vulnificus was accessed by using an rpoS knockout mutant strain. This mutant was impaired in terms of the ability to survive under oxidative stress, nutrient starvation, UV irradiation, or acidic conditions. The increased susceptibility of the V. vulnificus mutant in the exponential phase to H2O2 was attributed to the reduced activity of hydroperoxidase I (HPI). Although σS synthesis was induced and HPI activity reached the maximal level in the stationary phase, the mutant in the stationary phase showed the same susceptibility to H2O2 as the wild-type strain in the stationary phase. In addition, HPII activity, which is known to be controlled by σS in Escherichia coli, was not detectable in V. vulnificus strains under the conditions tested. The mutant in the exponential phase complemented with multiple copies of either the rpoS or katG gene of V. vulnificus recovered both resistance to H2O2 and HPI activity compared with the control strain. Expression of the katG gene encoding HPI in V. vulnificus was monitored by using a katG::luxAB transcriptional fusion. The expression of this gene was significantly reduced by deletion of σS in both the early exponential and late stationary phases. Thus, σS is necessary for increased synthesis and activity of HPI, and σS is required for exponentially growing V. vulnificus to develop the ability to survive in the presence of H2O2.


ABSTRACT Objective To estimate the prevalence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and to analyze factors associated with lower serum vitamin levels in Brazilian adults. Methods A cross-sectional, population-based study consisted of 626 adult individuals of both sexes living in the urban area of Viçosa, Minas Gerais. The dependent variable used was the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the independent variables were sociodemographic, anthropometric and body composition variables. The associations among the variables were verified using simple and multiple linear regression models, considering alpha lower than 0.05 for the input in the final model. Results The prevalence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency was 14.4% and the prevalence was 42.0%. Excess abdominal fat was higher in subjects with 25-hydroxyvitamin D sufficiency. The serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 30.34±9.85ng/ml. Body adiposity was higher in men with vitamin insufficiency. Negative associations were observed between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and age, educational level, body adiposity (p=0.028) and abdominal adiposity (p=0.023). Conclusion Our results showed that excess body and abdominal adiposity are strong predictors of alterations in the serum vitamin D levels, thus public policies for prevention and treatment in this population are essential.


Events in the 1990s in the Balkans, Central Africa, and elsewhere not only energized the scholarship of ethnic conflict and nationalism, but also brought the word "nationalist" into the mainstream media. The media defined the bad guys in these conflicts as "nationalists," which ultimately proved to be less than helpful. After all, to many people, Slobodan Milosevic was not the most extreme Serb nationalist, if he was even a true believer at all. Indeed, he posed as a moderate nationalist when running in elections, juxtaposing himself with Serbs who seemed to be more passionate defenders of the Serb nation. The problem with this kind of discussion is that it suggests that each nation has a simple political spectrum with one end defined as least nationalist and the other as most nationalist. Each nationalism is actually more complex than that, consisting of a variety of ideas about what the nation is and should be, who the enemies are, and what should be done. It is not simply an issue of less or more, but to which strands one adheres, how one views the various elements, and how they fit together. This is important because it belies the usual equation of more nationalism = more war. The reality is that being a diehard nationalist may actually also make one less inclined towards aggressive foreign policies.


A total of 210 nursery pigs (PIC L327 × L42), with an initial weight of 11.9 lb and 21 d of age, were used in a 28-d growth study. The objective was to evaluate the effects of increasing oregano oil in diets for nursery pigs. Oregano oil is an extract derived from the Greek herb, Origanum vulgare, and has been speculated to have antimicrobial-like activity. Previous research at Kansas State University showed no improvement in growth performance in nursery pigs fed oregano oil (0.10% in the Phase 1 diet, and 0.05% in Phase 2). The present study evaluated growth performance of pigs fed diets containing either 0.05%, 0.10%, or 0.20% oregano oil for the entire 28-d study. There was no improvement in ADG, ADFI, F/G, or d-28 weights of pigs fed diets containing oregano oil, compared with performance of pigs fed the control diets. Also, there was no effect (P>0.15) of increasing the amount of oregano oil in the diet. But pigs fed neomycin-oxytetracycline had improved ADG, ADFI, and F/G (P<0.03), compared with those of pigs fed the control and oregano oil treatments, from d 0 to 14. Overall, (d 0 to 28), pigs fed neomycinoxytetracycline had better ADG and ADFI (P<0.006) than the pigs fed the control diet had, and better ADG, ADFI, F/G, and final body weight (P<0.04) than pigs fed the oregano oil treatment had. (


Children's prosocial behavior and personal distress are likely affected by children's temperament as well as parenting quality. In this study, we examined bidirectional relations from age 30 to 42 months between children's (N = 218) prosocial or self-focused (presumably distressed) reactions to a relative stranger's distress and both supportive emotion-related maternal reactions to children's emotions and children's shyness/inhibition. When controlling for 30-month prosocial behavior and personal distress behavior, maternal supportive (emotion-focused and problem-focused) reactions were positively related to prosocial behavior and marginally negatively related to children's personal distress behaviors and shyness/inhibition at 42 months. Thirty-month personal distress behavior predicted greater shyness/inhibition at 42 months, and 30-month shyness/inhibition was negatively related to prosocial behavior at 30 months.