Course management systems such as Blackboard include two distinct modes of web-based discussion, -real-time and delayed-timed. Both communication formats are promoted as having both advantages and disadvantages with respect to student learning and satisfaction. Ninety-three university students discussed two case studies using two real-time Blackboard chat and two case studies using delayed-time Blackboard discussion. Mastery of case study content was determined via objective examination items and student preference for CMC mode was surveyed. An ABAB research design allowed for comparison of student achievement across communicative conditions (e.g., A = delayed-time discussion followed by an examination; B = real-time discussion followed by an examination). In every contrast of realtime and delayed-time CMC mode, student achievement on objective examination items was equivalent. Many students (43% of the sample) reported the perception that real-time CMC facilitated their learning more than delayed-time CMC. However, such students were at a learning disadvantage, as measured by objective examination test performance, when using that CMC mode. Consequently, results of the current investigation do not support the educational implementation of real-time CMC without corresponding implementation of delayed-time CMC and mechanisms to ensure that students do not rely entirely on real-time text-based communication to master course content.


A mutational analysis of the eukaryotic elongation factor EF-la indicates that this protein functions to limit the frequency of errors during genetic code translation. We found that both amino acid misincorporation and reading frame errors are controlled by EF-1 a. In order to examine the function of this protein, the TEF2 gene, which encodes EF-la in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was mutagenized in vitro with hydroxylamine. Sixteen independent TEF2 alleles were isolated by their ability to suppress frameshift mutations. DNA sequence analysis identified eight different sites in the EF- 1 a protein that elevate the frequency of mistranslation when mutated. These sites are located in two different regions of the protein. Amino acid substitutions located in or near the GTP-binding and hydrolysis domain of the protein cause suppression of frameshift and nonsense mutations. These mutations may effect mistranslation by altering the binding or hydrolysis of GTP. Amino acid substitutions located adjacent to a putative aminoacyl-tRNA binding region also suppress frameshift and nonsense mutations. These mutations may alter the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA by EF-la. The identification of frameshift and nonsense suppressor mutations in EF-la! indicates a role for this protein in limiting amino acid misincorporation and reading frame errors. We suggest that these types of errors are controlled by a common mechanism or closely related mechanisms.


This paper studies the efficient integration of gateway forwarding strategies in wireless ad hoc networks. The problem to solve is the forwarding to one or more gateways in an environment where there is no hierarchical addressing. We provide an overview of the challenges in this area and then compare the properties of two proposed forwarding strategies; traditional default routes and tunnels. We find that default route forwarding will not operate efficiently in a multi-hop environment and that it will, without modifications, operate incorrectly with multiple gateways. On the other hand, we find tunnel forwarding to be architecturally appealing with many properties that make it a suitable forwarding strategy with multiple gateways. We have implemented default route and tunnel forwarding in the AODV routing protocol. We verify in simulation that the incorrect forwarding of default routes has adverse effects on TCP and that the modifications we suggest improve performance, although they do not completely solve the problem. Our simulations also show that our tunnel implementation is efficient and works well with TCP, even with multiple gateways.


We have performed neutron powder diffraction (NPD) experiments on polycrystalline powders with nominal compositions (Ca0.5La0.5)(Ba1.25La0.75)Cu3O7- δ , (Ca0.6La0.4)(Ba1.15La0.85)Cu3O7-δ and (Ca0.8La0.2)(Ba0.95La1.05)Cu3O7-δ . The diffraction patterns, analysed by the Rietveld method, show that all samples consist mainly of a tetragonal Y-123 type phase. Unit cell parameters a and c shorten as the calcium content increases: a = 3.8660(2), 3.8634(3), and 3.8624(5) Å; c = 11.6325(11), 11.6143(14), and 11.5822(20) Å for x-values 0.5, 0.6, and 0.8, respectively. For the x = 0.6 and 0.8 samples the Rietveld refinement of calcium occupancies and EDX analysis suggest that the actual composition is closer to x ≈ 0.5. However, since the lattice parameters do change, it is also suggested that at these higher doping levels calcium does enter the Y- site to a larger extent than for the x = 0.5 composition. This is also in accordance with previously reported values for the Tc, which decreases slighty as x changes from 0.5 to 0.6 and has a pronounced change from 80 K to 73 K for x = 0.6 and 0.8, respectively.


OBJECTIVES
Hypothetical models of socioeconomic organization in pre-Columbian societies generated from the rich ethnohistoric record in the New World require testing against the archaeological and bioarchaeological record. Here, we test ethnohistorian Maria Rostworowski's horizontality model of socioeconomic specialization for the Central Andean coast by reconstructing dietary practices in the Late Intermediate Period (c. AD 900-1470) Ychsma polity to evaluate complexities in social behaviors prior to Inka imperial influence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of archaeological human bone collagen and apatite (δ13 Ccol[VPDB], δ15 Ncol[AIR] , δ13 Cap[VPDB] ) and locally available foods is used to reconstruct the diets of individuals from Armatambo (n = 67), associated ethnohistorically with fishing, and Rinconada Alta (n = 46), associated ethnohistorically with agriculture.

RESULTS
Overall, mean δ15 Ncol[AIR] is significantly greater at Armatambo, while mean δ13 Ccol[VPDB] and mean δ13 Cap[VPDB] are not significantly different between the two sites. Within large-scale trends, adult mean δ13 Cap[VPDB] is significantly greater at Armatambo. In addition, nearly one-third of Armatambo adults and adolescents show divergent δ15 Ncol[AIR] values.

DISCUSSION
These results indicate greater reliance on marine resources at Armatambo versus Rinconada Alta, supporting the ethnohistoric model of socioeconomic specialization for the Central Andean coast. Deviations from large-scale dietary trends suggest complexities not accounted for by the ethnohistoric model, including intra-community subsistence specialization and/or variation in resource access.


During wheelchair propulsion, in order to apply power to the pushrim effectively, shoulder and trunk stabilization is needed to control arm movements and the consequent transfer of power from the limbs through to the pushrim. Available trunk control may be one of the most important force-generating mechanisms during wheelchair propulsion, particularly when an individual is fatigued or propelling through a demanding situation. Consequentially it is a worthwhile pursuit to further understand and study the process of trunk muscle recruitment during propulsion and the effects of reduced trunk control on propulsion biomechanics. In the first of three studies contained in this dissertation is, trunk muscle recruitment patterns using surface electromyography (sEMG) electrodes during wheelchair propulsion under different speed conditions. The results of this first study provided insight into the functional role of specific trunk muscles during propulsion.In the second study, a biomechanical analysis was utilized to examine the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on trunk musculature during five minutes of wheelchair propulsion. The findings revealed that a trunk FES device could help an individual to generate more propulsion power and increase gross mechanical efficiency during wheelchair propulsion. Consequentially, a user with a trunk FES device may be able to more easily negotiate demanding propulsion tasks, ultimately improving quality of life. The third study investigated the influence of surface electrical stimulation of trunk musculature on shoulder muscle recruitment patterns during wheelchair propulsion. The results showed that trunk FES may help individuals to generate wheelchair propulsion power without placing additional demands on shoulder musculature. With trunk stimulation, the functional role of the shoulders may shift from stabilizers to a prime movers contributing more directly to propulsion.In the future, improvements can be made with advanced programming. A FES device could be better synchronized with the propulsion cycle to avoid continuous stimulation causing muscle fatigue. It would be ideal to provide stimulation during pre-push and early push phase of the propulsion cycle when trunk stability has been shown to be most critical. Individuals could potentially benefit from using FES more during challenging tasks of short duration, such as pushing up a ramp.


As with earlier social disparities in educational achievement, re-enrolment in college education can depend on parental social background. We link this finding with gender differences using data from the US National Longitudinal Study of Youth 79 and ask if the decision to re-enrol in college is influenced by parental social class in a gender-specific way. The results show that adding maternal class position to the operationalisation of social origin can be beneficial and result in a better model fit. Moreover, there are gender differences on the part of the child. Working-class men are constantly disadvantaged in their chances to re-enrol in education throughout their lives compared to men with more privileged family backgrounds, while working-class women are only disadvantaged among early re-entrants. This result is reversed in later years and women with working-class parents re-enrol more often.


Ninety eight patients who underwent cervical exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism are reviewed. The detection of this condition in increasing numbers of patients, particularly those with minimal or no symptoms is confirmed. Initial exploration was successful in 92 cases using visual localisation with immediate frozen section examination of any presumed parathyroid tissue. The high incidence of solitary adenomata (84%) and low rate of recurrent hypercalcaemia support a "conservative" surgical approach as opposed to routine sub-total parathyroidectomy. The most common complication of surgery was hypocalcaemia, which is preventable by avoiding routine exhaustive exploration for, and unnecessary biopsy of, normal glands.


Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used for wildlife research and monitoring, but little information exists on their potential effect on marine mammals. We assessed the effects of a UAV on the behavior of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in Australia. Focal follows of ten right whale mother‐calf pairs were conducted using a theodolite. Control data were recorded for 30 min, and then a DJI Inspire 1 Pro was flown above the whales for 10 min at 5 m altitude. Potential changes to horizontal behavior (swim speed and turning angle) and surfacing pattern (interbreath intervals) were investigated by comparing mother‐calf behavior before and during UAV approaches. Changes in respiration rate were used to quantify energetic effects. We also explored acoustic cue perceptibility of the UAV at 5, 10, and 30 m altitude, by measuring the received UAV underwater noise level on whales equipped with acoustic tags (DTAGs). The received noise levels were 86.0 ± 3.9 dB re 1 μPa, while the measured ambient noise was 80.7 ± 7.3 dB re 1 μPa in the same frequency band (100–1,500 Hz). No behavioral response to the UAV was observed. This provides support for UAVs as a noninvasive tool to study baleen whale behavior and ecophysiology.


Computer Numeric Control (CNC) revolutionized the machining technology and has been the cutting edge of digital manufacturing since 1950s. CNC machining model, simulation, verification, and optimization have been a vivid research topic of Smart Machining that automated the CNC programming (CAM) and cutting process, hence greatly increased machining productivity since 1990s. This paper traces back the history of CNC simulation, analysis the different CNC machining models, tested with application examples, and listed different CNC verification industry applications for the last 20 years. The new challenge comes from sustainable manufacturing. Towards smart and competitive sustainable machining, CNC model and simulation will be used to optimize the machining process, where the raw material could be saved through First Part Correct technology, the energy could be saved through cutting speed optimization, and used parts could be saved by remanufacturing.


In this paper we discuss and address multifold security challenges involved in the implementation of remote healthcare in smart homes. These security challenges are derived from real-world, industrially relevant scenarios. Validated security techniques and mechanisms providing certain security properties can be captured and implemented in security patterns, which can be applied in order to satisfy security requirements in the smart home healthcare scenarios. The presented results are parts of our ongoing research effort aiming at the development of an integrated security framework for remote healthcare and ambient intelligence systems.


Globally distributed software development has become an important topic for small and medium enterprises. However, the distinct requirements of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are still not fullyunderstood. To contribute to this growing discussion, I will present an ethnographical field study of a Swedish software company engaged in a distributed development practice with its American branch. By applying a theoretical view based on communication, coordination and control over time, space and socio/cultural difference, I show to what extent a distributed software development model affects SMEs. Whereproblems related to formal and informal communication, knowledge sharing, articulation work and programming methodologies are discussed. My findings suggest that organizational adjustments are needed for SMEs in order to take advantage of distributed software development (DSD), that specialized tools supporting coordination and articulation work is not so common in practice and that certain adjustment to agile methodologies could be made in order to better support DSD.


Theoretical studies of foreign policy show that the very subject of the discipline is highly undefined. This is the reason why we shall try, first and foremost, to provide an answer to three fundamental questions. Is there a natural difference between foreign policy and decision-making, or is foreign policy only a sum total of decisions? Is there a difference between a foreign policy which dictates the major general trends and the various policies which apply to restricted scenes of action ? What is the difference between the objectives which actors assign to various policies and their implementation in the international System, thus making their evaluation a problem ? We then deal with the state of studies entered upon by three schools of thought and set down the results registered by the behaviorist trend, the theoretical dilemma it had to face and the dead end it led to. The second trend, historical and political, has, for its part, dealt with comparative analysis of historical cases according to the method of localized and structured comparison. Finally, the third trend, historical, economical and structuralist, has resorted to the world System paradigm of I. Wallerstein. The problem of this paradigm is the transposition of the debate between the supporters of the Annales school (structural serial history, economical and social contingencies) and the historians of international relations (who favour history of events and the role of the state). This approach also focuses on the debate about the dichotomy international relations/transnational relations. In the ends, rigorous and interdisciplinary research studies is deemed necessary for the promotion of studies in foreign policy.


Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of expression. First Amendment to the United States Constitution Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression... s. 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Canada and the United States are not alike in every way, nor have the documents entrenching rights in our two countries arisen in the same context. It is only common sense to recognize that, just as similarities will justify borrowing from the American experience, differences may require that Canada's constitutional vision depart from that endorsed in the United States. C.J. Dickson in R. v. Keegstra Both the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and s. 2(b) the of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protect the freedom of expression. (1) Yet in both countries governments motivated by concern for the public welfare have attempted to suppress "hate speech," a category of expression commonly defined as consisting of offensive, abusive, and insulting language that targets individuals and groups on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, or gender. Hate speech is undeniably ugly, so much so that even persons normally leery of censorship might be tempted to agree that nothing of value is lost by its suppress ion. But constitutional guarantees cannot be evaded so easily. Hate speech is still speech, and thus would seem to fall under the protection of the First Amendment and s. 2(b) of the Charter. From the legal standpoint, the question is not whether laws for the suppression of hate speech are desirable as a matter of public policy; the question is, are they constitutional? In roughly parallel cases decided within two years of one another, the Supreme Court of the United States and the Supreme Court of Canada gave diametrically opposed answers to this question. In the American case, R.A.V. v. St. Paul (1992), the U.S. Supreme Court disallowed a municipal ordinance making it a crime to display symbols, including but not limited to a burning cross or Nazi swastika, that are known to arouse "anger, alarm or resentment" on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, or gender. (2) In the Canadian case, R. v. Keegstra (1990), the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the constitutionality of as. 319(2) of the federal Criminal Code penalizing the willful promotion of hatred against an "identifiable group," namely "any section of the public distinguished by colour, race, religion or ethnic origin." (3) And therein lies a puzzle. Why did the American and Canadian high courts disagree over the constitutional status of hate speech? Chief Justice Dickson, who wrote the majority opinion in Keegstra, attributed the divergence of Canadian and American law on this point to differing "constitutional visions." Presumably what he had in mind was a philosophical difference affecting how rights are understood by the courts and also the balance that legislatures and courts must strike between individual rights and other societal interests. In point of fact, however, Keegstra was decided by the narrowest of margins--the vote was four to three (4)--and the dissenting opinion by Justice McLachlin relied heavily on American precedent. I read Dickson's majority opinion as a conscious attempt to carve out a distinctive Canadian approach to free speech. Only time will tell whether the Keegstra decision proves to be foundational in this sense. The portents are uncertain. The same court's subsequent decision in R. v. Zundel (1992), which invalidated another anti-hate speech provision of the Criminal Code, was authored by Justice McLachlin and suggests at t he very least that the court's appetite for suppressing hate speech is limited. (5) Nonetheless, Dickson's allusion to differing constitutional visions should be taken seriously, and the majority opinion in Keegstra does rest on a different philosophy than the R. …


Online learning provides the opportunity to work on academic tasks at any time at the same time as doing other activities, such as using in web 2.0 tools. This study identifies factors that contribute to success in online learning from the students' perspective and their relationship with time patterns. A survey of learning outputs was used to find relationships between students' satisfaction, knowledge acquisition and knowledge transfer with time for working on academic tasks. In this study, 199 students from a university in Mexico completed the survey. Findings suggest that knowledge transfer has a significant association with the number of hours online per day, hours spent on social networks and the use made of e-learning during working hours. Learner satisfaction has a strong relationship with the time in years a learner has been using the Internet and the number of hours devoted to the course per week. The findings of this research will be helpful for faculty and instructional designers for implementing learning strategies.


Over the last several decades, there has been a tremendous increase in the demand of automobile vehicles for the purpose of public transport. The reason behind such increasing demand is attributed to the increase in world population. However, the fuel economy and exhaust emission depends to a great extent on how well the combustion process takes place, which depends on the fuel spray behavior. Cavitation directly influence on fuel spray behavior. The characteristics of a cavitation depend on the fuel properties, geometry of the injector and the flow conditions upstream (inside) and downstream of the injection nozzle. It is required to understand behavior of cavitation inside fuel nozzle. Effort has been made to understand this phenomena and effect on injector nozzle. Detailed review has been carried out to highlight work has been done by various researcher.


We introduce a novel inferential framework for marked point processes that enjoys both scalability and interpretability. The framework is based on variational inference and it aims to speed up inference for a flexible family of marked point processes where the joint distribution of times and marks can be specified in terms of the conditional distribution of times given the process filtration, and of the conditional distribution of marks given the process filtration and the current time. We assess the predictive ability of our proposed method over four real-world datasets where results show its competitive performance against other baselines. The attractiveness of our framework for the modelling of marked point processes is illustrated through a case study of association football data where scalability and interpretability are exploited for extracting useful informative patterns.


ABSTRACT In this paper, we are presenting a design to fabrication system, which allows to produce efficiently and highly automated customised knitted textile elements for architectural application on industrial computer-controlled knitting machines (Computer Numerical Control (CNC) knitting machines). These textile elements can, in this way, be individual in both geometry, detailing and material behaviour. This work extends recent work on CNC knitted tensile members and presents a set of innovations in design and manufacturing, which together allow to build structural systems, in which highly individualised membrane members allow a structure to take on multiple structural states. Underlying these innovations is a shift from the focus on geometry and homogeneity in material and behaviour, expressed in current state-of-the-art membrane structures and materials. Instead our research lays the foundation for a new class of membrane materials with varying bespoke local material properties. In this paper we present the underlying digital tools and processes for design, analysis and manufacturing of these hyper specified textile membranes. We showcase and evaluate the potentials of Computational Knit for novel structural membrane systems through the large-scale installation Isoropia designed and built for the Danish Pavilion in the 2018 Venice Architectural Biennale.


To preserve the validity of loop nest transformations and parallelization, data dependences need to be analyzed. Memory dependences come in two varieties: true dependences or false dependences. While true dependences must be satisfied in order to preserve the correct order of computations, false dependences are induced by the reuse of a single memory location to store multiple values. False dependences reduce the degrees of freedom for loop transformations. In particular, loop tiling is severely limited in the presence of these dependences. While array expansion removes all false dependences, the overhead on memory and the detrimental impact on register-level reuse can be catastrophic.
 We propose and evaluate a compilation technique to safely ignore a large number of false dependences in order to enable loop nest tiling in the polyhedral model. It is based on the precise characterization of interferences between live range intervals, and it does not incur any scalar or array expansion. Our algorithms have been implemented in the Pluto polyhedral compiler, and evaluated on the PolyBench suite.


Campbell et al.'s [2001] influential paper on idiosyncratic volatility has received a lot of research attention in recent years. The critical question for portfolio managers is: "How does idiosyncratic volatility affect stock selection and asset allocation signals?" This article examines that important question. Using well-accepted metrics of idiosyncratic volatility, the authors find that the effectiveness of both the momentum and the valuation signals critically depends on cross-sectional differences in idiosyncratic volatility. In particular, they find that the mean reversion signal works better for firms with low idiosyncratic volatility, whereas the momentum signal works better for those with high idiosyncratic volatility. This result is robust across different regimes of idiosyncratic volatility. Finally, the authors test whether a measure of idiosyncratic volatility has an impact on the Fed Model for asset allocation. They find that conditioning the signal in the Fed Model for cross-sectional differences in idiosyncratic volatility significantly improves the mean reversion effect that underlies the Fed Model. In summary, they note that it is important to condition stock selection and asset allocation models for cross-sectional differences in idiosyncratic volatility.


1509 Background: Docetaxel is a semi-synthetic taxane analog commonly used in the treatment of non-small cell lung, prostate, and breast cancer. Docetaxel is poorly water-soluble and must be formulated with co-solvents that can potentially contribute to treatment-related adverse events such as hypersensitivity reactions. Azaya Therapeutics, Inc. has developed a novel propriety nanotechnology-based platform called Protein Stabilized Liposomes (PSL TM ) that avoids these major formulation issues, producing a safer and more efficacious targeted drug delivery system. Pharmacokinetic (PK) and tumor growth inhibition studies were conducted in murine xenograft models using Azaya's PSL formulated docetaxel (ATI-1123) preparation. Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed with 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg of standard docetaxel (13% ethanol, 25% Tween 80 (v/v), 62% saline (0.9%) vehicle) or ATI-1123 (sterile water vehicle). Plasma samples for PK analysis were obtained at 11 time points ranging from time zero to 72 hrs. Total plasma docetaxel concentrations were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and PK parameters were calculated by non-compartmental methods using WinNonlin 4.1. Results: Plasma elimination of docetaxel following ATI-1123 and standard docetaxel was initially rapid, followed by a slower elimination rate out to 72 hours. Overall, the docetaxel AUC values for ATI-1123 were 4-fold or greater than the AUC observed following treatment with standard docetaxel for all doses. At 20 mg/kg, the ATI-1123 docetaxel AUC was 8.13 mg-h/mL versus 1.27 mg-h/mL for standard docetaxel. The Cmax values were 3-fold or higher for the ATI-1123 formulation versus the standard formulation over all 3 dose levels. As the dose level increased from 5 to 20 mg/kg, both AUC and Cmax increased dose proportionally. Overall, these differences in systemic exposure corresponded to a 4 to 5-fold faster clearance of standard docetaxel compared to the ATI-1123 liposomal formulation, independent of the dose level tested. Conclusions: Total systemic docetaxel exposures were substantially enhanced following PSL-formulated ATI-1123 docetaxel administration compared to standard docetaxel. Differences between the two formulations were consistent across the 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg doses explored in the study. These data strongly support further investigation of ATI-1123 to analyze alterations in drug distribution, tolerability, and anti-tumor efficacy.


Silicon Germanium (Si1-xGex) is considered the choice for analog/mixed-signal RF and optoelectronic systems due to its high speed, low noise and compatibility with standard CMOS processes. The goal of this thesis is to investigate photo-detection in SiGe and optical receiver circuits in the commercially available IBM 5HP SiGe BiCMOS process. The study of photodetectors based on SiGe is of interest because of its high absorption capability at wavelengths between 1.1-1.5um. In this thesis several designs of receiver circuits and front-end transimpedance amplifiers (TIA) were designed and fabricated in the IBM 5HP (0.5µm) SiGe technology exhibiting high transit (fT) and maximum oscillation frequency (fMAX). Spectre simulations for both the transimpedance amplifiers and the complete receiver circuits are conducted at the single supply voltage of 3.3V in the Cadence Analog Affirma design environment. The analog mixed signal design tools NeoCircuit/NeoCell from Neolinear Inc. and Analog Affirma from Cadence Inc. are used for the optimization of the complete receiver circuits consisting of a transimpedance amplifier, a cascaded multi-stage differential amplifier and a decision circuit.


Introduction Erectile Dysfunction (ED) affects 10% of men and those affected may present at Genitourinary Medicine clinics. It may indicate significant underlying pathology and is often the first presenting symptom of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Methods All new referrals to the sexual dysfunction clinic in 2006 were identified. Electronic medical records were reviewed to determine clinical outcomes 10 years after initial attendance. Results 138 patients identified; 9 were excluded due to unavailable records. Mean age at referral was 47 years. 68% (n=88) had predominantly organic ED (mean age 52 years) while 32% (n=41) were diagnosed with an underlying psychological cause (mean age 37). Of those with an organic cause, 20% (n=18) had known CVD and 17% (n=15) had diabetes. By 2016, 10% (n=13) of all patients had died. Of those alive, 30% (n=35) remained on treatment for ED. In the intervening years, a further 10 patients were diagnosed with CVD, 9 diabetes, 3 peripheral vascular disease, 3 Parkinson's disease and 2 with stroke. Of those initially referred with ED, after 10 years, 41% had proven CVD, 27% were diabetic and 10% developed other associated conditions. Discussion 10-year outcomes for patients presenting with ED are associated with significant levels of morbidity and mortality. The incidence of underlying vascular disease and chronic conditions in this cohort of patients is significant. Recognition of ED is important in GUM settings to enable early detection of significant underlying co-morbidities.


This paper presents a method for the simultaneous segmentation and regularization of a series of shapes from a corresponding sequence of images. Such series arise as time series of 2D images when considering video data, or as stacks of 2D images obtained by slicewise tomographic reconstruction. We first derive a model where the regularization of the shape signal is achieved by a total variation prior on the shape manifold. The method employs a modified Kendall shape space to facilitate explicit computations together with the concept of Sobolev gradients. For the proposed model, we derive an efficient and computationally accessible splitting scheme. Using a generalized forward-backward approach, our algorithm treats the total variation atoms of the splitting via proximal mappings, whereas the data terms are dealt with by gradient descent. The potential of the proposed method is demonstrated on various application examples dealing with 3D data. We explain how to extend the proposed combined approach to shape fields which, for instance, arise in the context of 3D+t imaging modalities, and show an application in this setup as well.


Asymmetries in plasma density and the presence of a guide field significantly alter the structure of the ion diffusion region (IDR) in symmetric, collisionless reconnection. These features have been shown by numerical simulations under moderate density asymmetries (~10), and theoretical analyses. However, very few studies have addressed these issues with in-situ observations, particularly at high magnetic latitudes. By the structure of the IDR we refer to features such as the non-colocation of the X-line and stagnation line, the distortion of the Hall magnetic and electric fields, outflow speed, outflow density etc. We have compiled a collection of Cluster crossings of the high-latitude magnetopause poleward of the cusp under northward interplanetary magnetic field in the years 2001−2008. We identified 18 events that fulfilled the criteria that was used as plausible evidence for an IDR crossing. A wide range of guide fields (6 to 74%) and very high density asymmetries (over three orders of magnitude) were present in this event list. The total DC electric field ranged from 10 mV/m-72 mV/m. We compared theoretical predictions for ion outflow speed and density against measured values for events with least magnetic shear and found good agreement. Peak values of both measured quantities agreed better than the average values. The separation between the X and S-lines were measured for two events. The separation was in the order of ~2 ion inertial lengths. We presented a detailed analysis of a current sheet crossing hallmarked by a density asymmetry of 2 orders of magnitude (~140) [Muzamil et al., 2014, JGR]. This event was measured by the Polar spacecraft, also at high latitudes poleward of the cusp. Data agreed well with simulation results, especially the observation of density cavities together with isolated electric fields in the normal direction at both separatrices. This has not been observed in previous observational studies. Effect of the guide field on both sides of the X-line was examined using two events with jet reversals and similar guide fields. A sunward-tailward asymmetry in the Hall magnetic field structure was observed due to the guide field in the two outflow regions. The Hall field was weakened and changed polarity in the vicinity of the X-line due to an electron velocity shear layer. Using three other crossings with high guide fields, we measured a 40-60% enhancement in the Hall magnetic field showing consistency with simulations. We then presented a case study of large episodic magnetic field depressions in the magnetosheath boundary layer region near the magnetic separatrix. We identified specific characteristics and compared them to possible generating mechanisms. The most plausible one was kinetic Alfvén waves. Thus, we have provided observational evidence for the structure of the IDR in poleward of the cusp under several different asymmetric conditions and guide fields.


This paper studies the origins and consequences of the Russian mafia (vory-v-zakone). I web scraped a unique dataset that contains detailed biographies of more than 5,000 mafia leaders operating in 15 countries of the (former) Soviet Union at some point between 1916 and 2017. Using this data, I first show that the Russian mafia originated in the Gulag – the Soviet system of forced labor camps which housed around 18 million prisoners in the 1920s - 1950s period. Second, I document that the distance to the nearest camp is a strong negative predictor of mafia presence in Russia's communities in the early post-Soviet period. Finally, using an instrumental variable approach which exploits the spatial distribution of the gulags, I examine the effects of mafia presence on local crime and elite violence in mid-1990s Russia. In particular, I show that the communities with mafia presence experienced a dramatic rise in crime driven by turf wars which erupted among rival clans around 1993 and persisted for much of the 1990. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals that mafia presence led to a spike in attacks against businessmen, fellow criminals, as well as law enforcement officers and judges, while politically-motivated violence remained unaffected.


My study explores the use of shame as an oratorical and rhetorical technique designed to lead the jurors during a court trial to sympathise with the speakers of the following orations of the fifth and fourth centuries B.C.: Lysias' On the Murder of Eratosthenes (1), Against Simon (3), Demosthenes' Against Conon (54) and Aeschines' Against Timarchus (1). The usage of shame in oratory has not been extensively studied due to the potential difficulty in reconstructing how the jurors may have reacted during a court trial. However, by using a linguistic approach to the analysis of the role of shame in Athenian oratory, it will be possible to determine how the use of shame could have affected the jurors' mind. This idea will be argued by the detection of a two-fold feeling of shame: passive and active. Passive shame will be seen in one's target who due to the outrages suffered at the hands of his perpetrator, experienced a feeling of shame and loss of honour. On the other hand, active shame will be perceived through those people who were considered immoral in the eyes of the Athenians since they intentionally dishonoured and humiliated their targets. Clear examples that can support this latter type of shame can be found in the matters that the speeches chosen for this project explore e.g. adultery in Lysias 1, shameful outrages which the speakers in Lysias 3 and Demosthenes 54 were subject to and in the corrupted lifestyle of Timarchus in Aeschines 1. From the analysis of Lysias 1, 3, Demosthenes 54 and Aeschines 1 it will also emerge that both typologies of shame are emphasised in the speeches through the usage of αἰσχρός, αἰσχύνη, αἰσχύνω, ὑβρίζω and ὕβρις.


: In recent decades, switched reluctance motors (SRMs) have been attracting increasing attention as a promising type of traction motors for electric vehicle propulsion, owing to their robust construction, elimination of permanent magnets. However, their phase inductance profile contains significant high-order harmonics, which generates input-current and torque ripples under SRM drive with the conventional square phase-current waveform. This study solves this problem by proposing a novel phase- current waveform in replacement of this square waveform. The proposed waveform is a predetermined waveform that can be stored as a look-up table in the inverter controller and can be magnified or attenuated to adjust the output torque, similarly as the conventional square waveform. Certainly, SRMs generally exhibit magnetic non-linearity due to magnetic saturation, which complicates the analysis. Therefore, the proposed waveform is analytically derived under the assumption that the magnetisation of the motor remains below the saturation level because vehicle propulsion tends to require a torque output far smaller than the maximum rating of the motor in normal vehicle travel. The proposed phase-current waveform is experimentally tested in comparison with the conventional square phase-current waveform. Consequently, the proposed waveform revealed smaller ripples in both the input-current and torque, supporting the effectiveness of the proposed phase-current waveform.


ABSTRACT Cognitive processes play an imperative role in children's mathematics learning. Difficulties in cognitive functioning are a core feature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children, who also tend to show lower levels of mathematics attainment than their typically developing peers. This review (registration number: CRD42020169708) sought to aggregate findings from studies assessing the relationship between cognition and mathematics in children with a clinical ADHD diagnosis aged 4–12 years. A total of 11,799 studies published between 1992 and August 2020 were screened for eligibility using various database (PsycINFO, PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, ERIC, Web of Science, and additional sources), from which four studies met inclusion criteria. A narrative synthesis was conducted on the correlations between mathematics and cognitive domains, including an evaluation of the risk of bias within the studies. Across four studies meeting inclusion criteria, memory, inhibitory control, and processing speed were assessed. The results showed a positive association between cognition and mathematics performance in this population. The strength of associations across these studies varied as a function of the cognitive domain in question, means by which mathematics performance was assessed, as well as whether confounding factors such as age and IQ were controlled for. Collectively, this review demonstrates a lack of research in this area and points to various methodological considerations for identifying the association between cognition and mathematics performance in ADHD.


Landslide is one of prominent geohazards that frequently affects Indonesia, especially in the rainy season. It destroys not only environment and property, but usually also causes deaths. Landslide monitoring is therefore very crucial and should be continuously done. One of the methods that can have a contribution in studying landslide phenomena is repeated GPS survey method. This paper presents and discusses the operational performances, constraints and results of GPS surveys conducted in a well known landslide prone area in West Java (Indonesia), namely Megamendung, the hilly region close to Bogor. Three GPS surveys involving 8 GPS points have been conducted, namely on April 2002, May 2003 and May 2004, respectively. The estimated landslide displacements in the area are relatively quite large in the level of a few dm to a few m. Displacements up to about 2-3 m were detected in the April 2002 to May 2003 period, and up to about 3-4 dm in the May 2003 to May 2004 period. In both periods, landslides in general show the northwest direction of displacements. Displacements vary both spatially and temporally. This study also suggested that in order to conclude the existence of real and significant displacements of GPS points, the GPS estimated displacements should be subjected to three types of testing namely: the congruency test on spatial displacements, testing on the agreement between the horizontal distance changes with the predicted direction of landslide displacement, and testing on the consistency of displacement directions on two consecutive periods.


This paper considers parallel batch-processing machine problems with compatible job family, dynamic job arrivals, and non-identical job sizes to minimize total weighted tardiness. Given that the problem of interest is non-deterministic polynomial-time (NP) hard , we propose a hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) that incorporates batching decision and batch scheduling. Moreover, HGA is compared with simulated annealing (SA) algorithms to assess the performance of the proposed algorithm. Computational results revealed that the proposed HGA outperformed in terms of the number of best solution found, and HGA is slightly better when comparing the average TWT value.


The objective of this study is to propose and develop an evaluation method on the process damages of sapphire wafers, regarding crystallographic aspects of the damages by use of tomographic imaging techniques with laser Raman microscopy (called as micro Raman tomographic imaging: mRTI). In this paper, tomographic images with the peak width and the shift of the peak position were observed with mRTI, on c-plane cut sapphire wafers along a-plane, with micro fractures induced by brittle-mode grinding. Fractures along m-plane from the surface to 2–7 microns-depth, and fractures along r-plane from the bottom end of the m-plane fracture to 14 microns-depth, subsequently induced elastic strain field around the fractures, could be visualized without destructions of the wafers.


Background & objectives: Introducing a nucleic acid test program is aimed to diagnose and reduces the risk of viral infection or transmission. DNA assay for HBV can detect infection in the windows period, chronic occult infection and can discriminate between active and inactive HBV infection. This cross-sectional study designed to diagnose, analyze HBV infection and to differentiate active from inactive infection based on viral DNA detection. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 256 patients previously diagnosed on the clinical ground as hepatitis B seropositive in Erbil Central Lab. The viral nucleic acid quantitative assessment was done for the collected samples using RT-PCR. Q-square was performed for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 256 collected blood samples 93 (36.3%) showed HBV-DNA positive titers above 50 IU/ml. Among positive subjects, 67 (72.04%) was categorized as inactive carriers (˂ 2000-20.000 IU/ml HBV-DNA titers). Conclusions: The data produced from this study confirmed the importance of the RT-PCR technique in sensitivity and reliability as a superior diagnostics tool specifically in differentiating active from inactive HBV carriers.


The corporate world was undergoing a phase of digital transformation over recent past years which led to adopt the work from home practice in different industry contexts and this practice had been accelerated due to the COVID-19 outbreak. To obtain the optimum outcome from employees, it is the major responsibility of the organizations to ensure that they are satisfied enough with the new work settings since employee job satisfaction is one of the significant elements of an effective workforce. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to examine the impact of work from home on employee job satisfaction in Information Communication Industry (ICT) industry in Sri Lanka. Using the survey strategy, responses were collected through questionnaires from 384 employees from the ICT industry in Sri Lanka. The findings of this study concluded that there is a positive impact of work from home on employee job satisfaction in the ICT industry in Sri Lanka as work from home gives more freedom, autonomy, and work-life balance. Further, it identified that the ICT organizations in Sri Lanka use a high level of work home practice and their employees' job satisfaction level is also relatively high. The theoretical contribution of this study is that it extends the employee job satisfaction literature by empirically testing and validating the work from home in a new context. Also, the findings of this research are useful for all the practitioners to increase employee job satisfaction by developing flexible and unique work from home practices. Accordingly, work from home could be used as a strong motivational strategy in the ICT industry as well as in other contexts.


The low affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RII, CD23) is involved in many aspects of T and B cell regulation. In the current study, serum levels of sCD23 were measured in monozygotic (MZ) twins discordant for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to examine whether an increased level of sCD23 in RA is, at least in part, genetically determined. Paired analysis showed significantly elevated sCD23 levels in affected twins when compared with their unaffected co-twins (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in sCD23 in the unaffected twins compared with normal controls. Higher levels of sCD23 were found in males compared to females in both affected and unaffected twins. Soluble CD23 showed a significant increase with age in RA affected twins (p = 0.013), but no association with disease duration (p = 0.87). There was no significant variation in sCD23 level with HLA-DR phenotype. We conclude that elevations in serum sCD23 in patients with RA are primarily disease related.


Abstract The Brune stress drop, σ B , is generally calculated from two spectral observables: Ω 0 , the zero-frequency level of the far-field displacement amplitude spectrum, and v c , the corner frequency of that spectrum. σ B takes the form σ B = h Ω 0 v c 3 , (a) where h contains kinematic factors. In some recent studies, other estimates of the stress drop, such as the dynamic stress drop and the apparent stress, are found to be more stable and/or reliable than σ B . We find that these apparent shortcomings of σ B can be remedied if we replace the dependence of σ B on v c as a directly determined spectral observable with a dependence on a parameter which can be determined more reliably and which appears linearly (instead of as the third power) in the expression for σ B . This observable is J , the integral of the square of the ground velocity, which, by Parseval9s theorem, is the second moment of the power spectrum. For spectra from broadband seismographs, the determination of J is totally objective; it is an integral for which the integrand approaches zero at both limits. For Brune9s model, v c 3 = qJ /Ω 0 2 with q = 1/(2π 3 ), and equation (a) becomes σ b = h q J Ω 0 ( b ) If the P -wave contribution to the radiated energy as well as the angular dependence of J are neglected, the right-hand side of equation (b) is a constant multiple of the apparent stress. Hence, studies which show that apparent stress determinations provide more robust estimates of the stress drop than σ B determined through equation (a) support evaluating σ B through equation (b).


ABSTRACT Background: Health organisations such as the United Nations continue to place an expectation on school physical education (PE) programmes and wider school strategies to ensure students develop physical literacy and receive the well-established benefits of meeting physical activity guidelines. Barriers to meet this expectation such as lack of trained PE teachers, lack of time and greater emphasis on academic achievement are ongoing challenges to schools. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the multi-component Physical Education Physical Literacy (PEPL) intervention, designed to improve students' fundamental movement skill, perceived physical abilities and level of physical activity. Method: A qualified PE teacher implemented the PEPL intervention across seven schools, and another seven schools formed a control group as part of a randomised cluster-based trial. Grade 5 students (N = 318, age 10.4 years ± SD 0.4) completed assessments of physical activity, fundamental movement skill, attitudes towards PE, and self-perceptions of physical abilities before and after a 33-week intervention. Intervention effects were examined using general linear mixed models. Post-intervention focus groups with students were used to develop insights into experiences and outcomes. Results: With no significant gender interactions, the PEPL approach led to enhanced object control skills (β = 1.62; SE = 0.61; p = 0.008), with little evidence of any other fundamental movement skill improvements in excess of those in the control group. There was also modest evidence for an effect on accelerometer measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during school time (β = 4.50; SE = 2.39; p = 0.058), but this was not accompanied by any significant intervention effect over the entire week. Questionnaires indicated students in the PEPL programme became less satisfied with their own sporting ability (β = −0.20; SE = 0.08; p = 0.013) but qualitative data analyses suggested that they enjoyed the PEPL approach experience, becoming more motivated and confident in their physical abilities. Conclusions: Evidence of enhanced object control skill, increased confidence and motivation to be physically active, and moderate evidence of more MVPA during school time, indicate that the introduction of the PEPL approach contributed to the development of student physical literacy. A decrease in perceived sporting competence warrants greater attention on student's self-perceptions in future iterations of the intervention. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry identifier: ACTRN12615000066583.


Oxidative stress causes an imbalance between systemic manifestation of reactive free radicals and biological systems' ability to detoxify reactive intermediates, thus causing damage to all components of cells. Natural polyphenols with promising antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities can counter oxidative damage in cells. The present study focuses on the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer activity of the MeOH extract of fresh soh-phie ( Myrica esculenta Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don) fruits and their relation to phytoconstituents  in vitro . The levels of phenolic, flavonoid and flavonol compounds were found to be 26.21±0.1 GAE µg/mg dry extract, 38.00±0.5 RE μg/mg dry extract and 122.75±0.1 RE μg/mg dry extract, respectively. MeOH extract showed DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl hydrate) and ABTS (1,2,2′-azinobis-[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid]) radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner with maximum inhibition of 91.91±0.2 % and 82.57±2.9 %, respectively. GC/MS screening revealed the presence of 4H-Pyran-4-one, pentadecanoic acid, 2-furancarboxaldehyde, phytol and hexadecanoic acid which may be responsible for its antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. LC-MS data also reveals presence of ferulic and gallic acid, which may have a significant role towards its anticancer activity. The data suggest that the MeOH extract of Soh-phie fruits has potential to be used as a source of natural antioxidants and preservative in the food industry.


Diabetes and cancer chemotherapies are often associated with painful neuropathy. The mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain remain poorly understood, and the current therapies have limited efficacy and are associated with dose-limiting side effects. We recently described the pharmacological characterization of cholest-4-en-3-one, oxime (TRO19622), a cholesterol-like compound, that significantly reduced axonal degeneration and accelerated recovery of motor nerve conduction in a model of peripheral neuropathy induced by crushing the sciatic nerve. These results triggered investigation of efficacy in other preclinical models of peripheral neuropathy. Here, we report evidence that daily oral administration of TRO19622, while similarly improving motor nerve conduction impaired in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, also reversed neuropathic pain behavior as early as the first administration. Further exploration of these acute antinociceptive effects demonstrated that TRO19622 was also able to reverse tactile allodynia in vincristine-treated rats, a model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. It is interesting to note that TRO19622 did not have analgesic activity in animal models of pain produced by formalin injection, noxious thermal or mechanical stimulation, or chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve, indicating that painful diabetic or chemotherapy-induced neuropathies share a common mechanism that is distinct from acute, inflammationdriven, or lesion-induced neuropathic pain. These results support the potential use of TRO19622 to treat painful diabetic and chemotherapy-induced neuropathies.


Analyzing and designing reliable and fast wireless networks requires an understanding of the theory supporting these systems and the engineering complexities of their implementation. This volume describes the underlying principles and major applications of high-speed wireless technologies, with emphasis on ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless systems, 3G long term evolution, and 4G mobile networks. Key topics such as cross-layer optimization are discussed in detail and various forms of UWB are covered. Recent research developments are described before identifying the scope and direction for future research. Covering the latest technologies in the area, this book will be a valuable resource for graduate students of electrical and computer engineering as well as practitioners in the wireless communications industry.


A qualitative, semi-detailed plant ecological study o f the area between 25° 54' and 26° 22' E and 26° 00' and 26° 20' S, situated around the town o f Lichtenburg in the south-western Transvaal, Sou.h Africa, is reported. Mean annual temperature o f the study area is 17 °C and annual rainfall is about 600 mm. A basic difference is recognised between the Bankenveld Land System and the CT Grassland Land System. The former is underlain by dolomite with lithosolic soils, Bankenveld vegetation and cattle ranching as the chief iar.d-use, whereas the latter is underlain by granite, Ventersdorp lavas, Dwyka tillite and surface limestone with Snorrocks, Mangano and Lichtenburg series soils, Cymbopogon-Themeda Veld vegetation and extensive cultivation of maize as the chief land-use. One hundred and ten 16 m2 quadrats were placed within each Land System by means of a stratified-random strategy. Of the 247 species encountered, nearly 100 occurred in less than six quadrats. Themeda triandra, Aristida congesta, Elionurus argenteus, Anthospermum rigidum and Justicia anagaloides were common throughout. Two association analyses were carried out and 15 final groups were interpreted out of a total of 21  groups.


The life history of the cumacean Nippoleucon hinumensis was investigated in the Seto In- land Sea of Japan from August 1998 to February 2002. The population produced 1 generation per year and recruitment of offspring occurred in April. The post-marsupial period consisted of 8 instars in males and 9 (plus generally 2 repeated instars) in females. Post-marsupial development up to the 4th instar (2nd juvenile stage) was characterized by periodic molting at intervals of 10 d, slow growth rate, and suppression of sexual dimorphism. Thereafter, the juveniles entered a long-term summer dia- pause from mid-May to early December, during which the ambient seawater temperature ranged from 15 to 28°C. Ninety-nine % of the population during the diapause were at the 2nd juvenile stage, and 1% were at the 1st juvenile stage. In December, the cumaceans resumed growth, characterized by a fortnightly molt cycle, until the females began to incubate the first brood in late February. Each molt- ing was highly synchronized among individuals and phased with the lunar cycles. After the end of the summer diapause, sexual dimorphism became apparent, with ovigerous females becoming about 1.2 times larger than adult males. After release of manca larvae in early April, most females incubated a second brood in late April, and then rapidly disappeared due to mortality probably caused by high water temperature. Clutch size was 57.9 ± 9.4 for the first brood and 42.4 ± 7.3 for the second.


Abstract Shallow wetlands, such as pans, are not well studied in South Africa, even though they perform many important functions, such as providing an important food source for migratory birds and habitat to highly specialized fauna. Aquatic invertebrate diversity, abundance, and water quality in pans were analysed seasonally from 3 provinces in South Africa with contrasting climates. Univariate and multivariate statistics were used to assess similarities in aquatic invertebrate communities and water chemistry among pans. Pans inundated for extended periods had greater aquatic invertebrate diversity, and several of these taxa were not adapted to the temporary environment common to pans. The subtropical region had greater aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity than semiarid regions due to more rainfall per annum in the subtropical region. Water temperature was a major driving factor for diversity, with greater diversity occurring in warmer seasons. High water hardness and salinity were found to drive decreased diversity and encourage the presence of hardy and more tolerant species. Understanding the importance of these aforementioned factors (i.e., pan longevity, temperature, water hardness, and salinity) influencing aquatic invertebrate biodiversity in pans provides a baseline for future studies and impact assessments on these important and understudied systems.


We document for the first time the early ontogeny of Centropomus poeyi based on captive raised material representing 0-19 days posthatch (dph). The achievement of early developmental landmarks (i.e., yolk-sac depletion, flexion, development of fins) and changes in pigmentation are described (1.4 mm NL-10.6 mm SL; 0-19 dph) and documented for a subset of individuals using high quality photographs. The ontogeny of the viscerocranium is also described (2.4 mm NL-10.6 mm SL; 6-19 dph). Development in C. poeyi occurs over a short period with attainment of the juvenile stage (i.e., full complement of fin rays present in each fin) occurring by 6.9 mm SL. The ontogeny of external pigmentation in C. poeyi is marked by two trends throughout growth: (1) a decrease in pigmentation dorsally; and (2) an increase in pigmentation ventrally along the midline. Development of the viscerocranium begins with the appearance of the maxilla and dentary in individuals of 2.4 mm NL, coinciding with the depletion of the yolk-sac. By 10.6 mm SL all bones of the viscerocranium are present and teeth are present on all teeth-bearing bones of the adult. Aspects of early development in C. poeyi are compared with the congeners C. undecimalis and C. parallelus.


Abstract The root system is an important part of a tree, but being inconspicuous it does not attract much attention. Therefore, root diseases are often invisible during much of the pathogens' life cycle. Nevertheless, they cause important losses due to mortality and reduced growth, but they are also components of forest ecosystems. For example, the complex of Armillaria root diseases, frequently associated with Armillaria ostoyae, attacks stressed trees and can kill seedlings or reduce the growth of trees during decades while hidden in roots. Inonotus tomentosus is common in spruce. From our observations, the pathogen usually infects trees older than 30 years; conifer seedlings planted on an infested site do not show any disease symptoms even after 10 years. Again, I. tomentosus needs stressed trees to develop in a stand. Heterobasidion annosum is an aggressive pathogen of pine. It colonizes fresh pine stumps after thinning in pine stands and can kill surrounding trees. Through lack of knowledge, foresters can create conditions conducive to the spread of root diseases: for example, precommercial thinning in the boreal forest has promoted Armillaria root diseases. Thinning in red pine plantations also creates an ecological niche favourable to H. annosum. Conversely, high-density spruce plantations will trigger Tomentosus root rot infestations. Proactive forest protection needs to integrate knowledge of silviculture, ecology, entomology and pathology. Understanding the ecology of these fungi is the first step.


Multi-user MIMO and Spectrum Aggregation (also referred to Carrier Aggregation) are two key enablers of next generation wireless systems. Although those techniques were already quite well investigated at theoretical level, their practical implementation is not immediate and raises numerous challenges. The SAMURAI project aims at investigating such challenges as well as at providing realistic performance results. This paper presents first outcomes of the project, with a specific focus of Carrier Aggregation (CA). Two aspects are discussed: CA at PHY/RF level with implementation challenges. Then, the system aspect of CA, providing new flexibility in terms of radio resource management is investigated. System simulations show capacity improvement when CA is enabled. SAMURAI outcomes in the MU-MIMO aspects are reported in a companion paper [9].


Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare tumour, for which a multimodal approach, including a combination of surgery and radiation, appears to provide the best disease-free and overall survival. Well-known for its tendency for local recurrence and distant spreading by both lymphatic and haematogenous routes, the most common sites of metastases are lungs and bones, followed by liver, spleen, scalp, breast, adrenals and ovary. One single case of metastasis to the trachea has been reported in the literature. The case is reported here of a patient who developed metastatic esthesioneuroblastoma to the trachea 18 months after primary surgery and radiation therapy. The patient was treated by two subsequent N-YAG laser endoscopic resections and chemotherapy.


The information about what one can see and what other people can see from different viewpoints is important. There are circumstances in which adults and children make systematic errors when predicting what is visible from their own or others' viewpoints. This happens for example when reasoning about mirrors. We explored differences among three developmental groups: young adults (N=60) typically developing children (N=30); and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, N=30). We used an illustration of a top-down view of a room with a mirror on a wall (Room Observer and Mirror Perspective test: ROMP). Participants selected (circled on paper) which objects behind the observer in the room were visible, reflected from the mirror and from a given position (viewpoint). For half of each group, the observer in the room was described as a teddy bear; for the other half, it was described as a child. Overall, there were many errors in all groups, which we separate in errors of ignoring the viewpoint (same response to all three locations) and inversion errors (choosing objects on the left instead of the right or vice versa). In addition to the overall task difficulty, the ASD group made relatively more mistakes of ignoring the viewpoint compared to the other groups and underestimated how many objects were visible in the teddy bear condition that is when the viewpoint was an inanimate object. We suggest that this is related to a delay in theory of mind (ToM) development.


New types of detectors based on the wide band gap material AlGaAs have been developed for soft X-ray spectroscopy applications. We report on the spectroscopic performance of simple p-i-n diodes and avalanche photodiodes (APDs). A number of diode types with different layer thicknesses have also been characterised. X-ray spectra from 55Fe and 109Cd radioactive sources show these diodes can be used for spectroscopy with promising energy resolution (1.0–1.25 keV) over a -30 to +90 °C temperature range. The temperature dependence of the avalanche multiplication process at soft X-ray energies in Al0.8Ga0.2As APDs was also investigated at temperatures from -20 to +80 °C. The temperature dependence of the pure electron initiated multiplication factor (Me) and the mixed carrier initiated avalanche multiplication factor (Mmix) were extracted from the X-ray spectra. The experimental results are compared with a spectroscopic Monte Carlo model for Al0.8Ga0.2As diodes from which the temperature dependence of the pure hole initiated multiplication factor (Mh) is determined. Monte Carlo simulations for the avalanche gain of absorbed X-ray photons have also been developed to study the relationship between avalanche gain and energy resolution for semiconductor X-ray avalanche photodiodes. The model showed that the distribution of gains, which directly affects the energy resolution, depends on the number of injected electron-hole pairs (and hence the photon energy), the relationship between the two ionization coefficients, and the overall mean gain. Our model showed that the conventional notion of APD gains degrading energy resolution significantly is incomplete. We compare the Monte Carlo simulations with experimental data from a number of different Al0.8Ga0.2As diodes.


Drawing on Professor Angelo's work in relation to the patriation of law in Niue and Tokelau as an exemplar of best possible practice, Associate Professor Corrin argues in this article that the time has come for other small island jurisdictions to complete their own promised patriation projects. In her article Dr. Corrin reviews the issues facing former British dependencies in assessing whether English law applies in their jurisdiction. Dr. Corrin concludes that the situation is problematic and that the interests of the rule of law would be better fulfilled by the introduction or the completion of patriation programmes. She reviews case law from a wide range of former dependencies which demonstrate the complexities of applying the reception rule and that of the confusion that can result.


Although in recent years the number of new students has been growing constantly, socio-economic differences remain an issue in the transition from school to college: those eligible for higher education whose parents do not have a college degree are less likely to take up higher education than their peers from academic parental homes. This means that they may not be fully utilizing their educational potential. A study by DIW Berlin examines how personality traits for both groups play a role in creating the intention to go to college. The present study is based on data from the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) study and shows that personality traits do indeed affect the intention to study of adolescents aged 17. The probability of taking up tertiary education increases among students taking their Abitur (school-leaving certificate that serves as a qualification for German university entrance) when they are more open to new experiences or are less anxious and insecure. This applies to young people with the same academic performance and in particular to students from non-academic parental homes.


Exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) is a common occurrence in clinical practice and incidents involving nuclear detonation or nuclear reactor accidents. IR triggers cellular events that result in oxidative stress and damage to macromolecules, rendering it harmful. While the central nervous system (CNS) was once believed to be resistant to radiation, emerging evidence suggests that even small doses of IR can adversely impact the brain. Exposure to an unsafe dose of radiation can cause increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), neuronal apoptosis, reduced neurogenesis, impaired synaptic plasticity, and cognitive dysfunction. In recent years, the potential benefits of dietary agents and phytochemicals for mental health and radiation-induced damage have been widely investigated. Despite this, few studies have explored the protective effects of plants against radiation-induced brain damage. Here, we present a review collating evidence on the beneficial effects of dietary plants on radiation-induced brain damage based on behavioral studies. Notably, Amaranthus paniculatus, Grewia asiatica, Lycium barbarum, and phytochemicals such as vitamin E, corilagin, curcumin, resveratrol, and ursolic acid have demonstrated potential in mitigating radiation-induced damage to the CNS. Furthermore, preliminary studies have indicated that alpha-tocopherol and the micronutrient selenium have neuroprotective effects in cancer survivors previously treated with radiation to the brain. This review focuses exclusively on behavioral outcomes to assess the impact of ionizing radiation on the CNS and the effectiveness of dietary plants and phytochemicals as neuroprotective agents against radiation-induced neuronal damage.


INTRODUCTION
The standard method for diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is a duodenal aspirate that produces a coliform count greater than 10(5) colonic forming units/ml. Because this is an invasive procedure, the lactulose breath hydrogen test is considered as a non-invasive alternative. Better experimental support is required, however, for the routine use of lactulose in diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE
Experimental evidence is provided to support the use of lactulose in the breath hydrogen test. Validation of the test is accomplished by comparison to the duodenal aspirate culture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A rational basis for the use of lactulose was established by a comparison of the kinetics of lactulose and lactose on intestinal lactase. For validation, the hydrogen test was applied to 47 children suffering from gastrointestinal disorders, and the results compared with aspirate culture counts. The validity of the hydrogen test was assessed by a contingency table and the degree of agreement established by the kappa index.

RESULTS
The kinetics data showed that lactase is 240 times less efficient in presence of lactulose than it is in presence of lactose. The sensitivity of the breath hydrogen test was 85.7% (82.0-89.4%), its specificity 90.9% (89.3-92.5%), the predictive positive value 80.0% (76.5-83.5%) and the predictive negative value 93.8% (92.1-95.4%); the kappa index=0.785 (0.54-0.95) showed excellent agreement between the two diagnostic tests.

CONCLUSION
The results provided experimental support for the use of lactulose in the breath hydrogen test, and it was validated as screening test in the diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.


Use of the combined technique has also been reported from Dr. Sherlock's department,3 and has been widely employed since. Nowadays any unit which undertakes the management of patients with portal hypertension carries out these methods of investigation as a routine. Finally, I am interested to note that according to you, Sir, there are 683 volumes of the Annals of Surgery. Do they all contain nearly 2,000 pages of text ?-I am, etc.,


This paper outlines our use of participatory action research (PAR), meta-evaluation, information and communication technologies (ICTs) and online collaboration tools to collaboratively plan, manage and evaluate the research project: Assessing Communication for Social Change: A New Agenda in Impact Assessment (ACSC). The main aim of this project is to develop, test and rigorously evaluate a participatory approach to assessing the impacts of communication for social change and development programs conducted by our project partner Equal Access in Nepal. This project is being undertaken by a research team from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and the University of Adelaide from 2007-2010 in collaboration with Equal Access - International, a non government organisation (NGO) based in San Francisco, and Equal Access – Nepal, based in Kathmandu.


Over the last fifteen years there has been much excitement in the idea that targeting phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 with small molecule inhibitors could lead to the discovery of novel, steroid-sparing compounds with utility in treating a multitude of diseases associated with chronic inflammation. However, dose-limiting side effects, of which nausea and vomiting are the most common are worrisome, have hampered their clinical development. Indeed, a fundamental obstacle that still is to be overcome by the pharmaceutical industry is to make compounds that dissociate beneficial from the adverse events. Unfortunately, both of these activities of PDE4 inhibitors represents an extension of their pharmacology and improving the therapeutic ratio has proved to be a major challenge. Several strategies have been considered, with some degree of success, but compounds with an optimal pharmacophore still have not been reported. An alternative approach to targeting PDE4 is to inhibit other cAMP PDE families that are also expressed in immune and pro-inflammatory cells in the hope that the beneficial activity can be retained at the expense of side effects. One such candidate is PDE7A. In this article we review the literature on PDE7A and explore the possibility that selective small molecule inhibitors of this enzyme family could provide a novel approach to alleviate the inflammation that is associated with many inflammatory diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.


Nowadays, child affairs is a matter of both national and international interests. This issue is regarded a vital topic for various scientific fields across ages, and for all the communities without exception. However, the nature of child caring may vary due to the verities in science perspectives. So, considering child's affairs from different perspectives is helpful to have a complementary image about this matter. The purpose behind selecting this topic is to keep a balance between the victim on the one hand, and the guardian and the offender on the other hand, (i.e.) to avoid any kind of excessiveness either in the protection of the child and its rights not in the punishment of the offender. This is achieved through considering various legal materials in the Iraqi legislation and in the comparative legislations that are concerned with the child's issue and the extent to which the child makes use of these rights. The scope of this study involves the crimes that are considered as aggressions against the child's right to life, and the crimes that are dangerous to their physical and psychological safety. So, this study comprehensively considers the intentional murder of child, child murder to avoid disgrace, child kidnapping, child abandonment, physical abuse for the sake of punishment or not, child circumcision, verbal violence, and abstaining from leaving a child with a person who has the right of custody. This study ends with the most significant concluding points that have been derived throughout this study, which are: Unlike the Iraqi legislation, the Egyptian legislation defines the child in the Article 2 of the Child Law No. 12 of 1996 amended by the Law No. 126 of 2008 that the child is a person who does not exceed 18 years of age. Some legislation does not provide special criminal protection for child intentional murder, as in the Iraqi and the Egyptian legislation. However, some others have provided special criminal protection for a child, as in French and Syrian legislations. Child kidnapping is regarded as one of the most dangerous crimes that affects the child and the family as well, as it may expose the child's life to danger or to death. The most significant recommendations from the researcher are: The Iraqi legislation is recommended to take the necessary measures to establish a particular legislation for the child by including all the legal provisions that are associated with this weak creature, and make use of the Egyptian legislator's experience as a pioneer in this respect. Both the Iraqi legislation and the Egyptian legislation are recommended to enact special laws to protect a child from the crimes of intentional murder, as the crime of child murder is currently subjected to the same provisions consider for adult murder. Keywords—Child abuse, juvenile, legislation, punishment and aggravation.


A guide to resources for MPH students and those in related fields at the Hunter College School of Urban Public Health.


Pipelines are an essential part of the oil and gas offshore industry, for transporting unprocessed oil and gas from the seabed to the oil platform and to the mainland. The unprocessed oil and gas leaves a corrosive environment, which sets a demand for pipes with a corrosion resistant interior. Clad pipes meet this demand with a corrosion resistant, stainless steel interior and an outer carbon steel layer. There is of today no repair contingency for clad pipes. A knowledge basis needs to be established and the risk of hydrogen induced stress cracking (HISC) must be found. This thesis work has been divided into two parts; One part working on experimentally testing of the triple point in welded clad pipes. Focused on fracture resistance curves, fracture toughness and crack path, with and without hydrogen present. The second part was focused on modelling a FE-model that was able to simulate crack propagation in clad pipe interface samples, experimentally tested by Jemblie [1]. Both with and without hydrogen present during testing. Fracture mechanical testing of welded clad pipe C(T) samples have been successfully conducted, in air and under cathodic protection (CP). The samples with Ni-interlayer showed almost no reduction in fracture toughness from tests in air to tests under CP, with an average fracture toughness reduction of 0.13%. The small fracture toughness reduction may be explained by the crack path going into the Ni-interlayer which is not much susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement (HE). The samples without Ni-interlayer experienced a high decrease in fracture toughness tested under CP, with an average reduction in fracture toughness equal to 92%. The crack path in the samples without Ni-interlayer was examined in a light optical microscope (LOM). The test done in air showed a crack path shifting between the base material and the clad. The crack propagated mainly in the clad in the sample tested under CP. Not enough samples were tested to establish the fracture resistance curves for the samples without Ni-interlayer. A 2D FE-model with cohesive zone elements was successfully modelled. The FE-model was able to simulate crack propagation along the crack ligament, in a C(T) specimen, both with linear elastic and elastic-plastic materials. The FE-model was however not able to simulate the crack propagation observed in experimentally testing by Jemblie [1]. This was not possible due to numerical problems occurring after a few cohesive elements had failed, when using sufficiently high cohesive element parameter values. For further work should more tests in both air and under CP be done on welded samples, with and without a Ni-interlayer. To establish the fracture resistance curves for both sample types. The microstructure on the samples without Ni-interlayer needs to be checked, to be sure that the samples are representative for welded clad pipes. The fractography must be studied and the cross section on multiply samples must be examined, on the samples without Ni-interlayer. To establish a more solid basis to explain the crack path and the hydrogen susceptibility on welded clad pipes. A deep root-cause investigation should be done on the FE-simulation, to explain and come up with a possible solution on the numerical crack propagation problem.


In an earlier paper I argued that the Conservatives have undergone a change in their attitude towards the UK. Formerly they saw the UK as a union state but they have increasingly viewed it as a unitary state. The terms - unitary and union state - are drawn from Stein Rokkan and Derek Urwin's work with state building.' The change is reflected in a hardening of the Conservative's opposition to Scottish legislative devolution. In this article I will argue that the opposite has happened within the Labour Party, although in moving towards a union state conception of the UK, there is much evidence that Labour has not entirely abandoned a unitary conception. The change in broad outlook is significant for it underpins a hardening of Labour's support for devolution. Previously, Labour have advocated devolution whilst still having a unitary conception ofthe UK, and encountered many problems. Advocating devolution in the context ofa union state conception of the UK solves these problems and opens up opportunities for the development of a semi-federal Labour Party and Britain. The article recognizes, nevertheless, that there are implications for Labour in adopting a union state interpretation of the UK which the party has yet to accept.


The activity of the antioxidant enzymes copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (mGPDH) activity, uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) content, catecholamine degrading enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) concentration were studied in rat interscapular brown adipose tIssue (IBAT). Rats were treated with either thyroxine (T4) or tri-iodothyronine (T3) for five days and then exposed to cold (4 degrees C, 24 h) or housed at room temperature (22 degrees C). Under basal conditions, T3 treatment significantly increased UCP1 content and MnSOD activity whereas CuZnSOD, CAT and MAO activities were significantly decreased. Thyroxine treatment significantly decreased IBAT CAT activity while MDA levels markedly increased. Cold exposure induced a significant augmentation of UCP1 content and MnSOD and mGPDH activities only in animals that were rendered hyperthyroid by T4 treatment. In T3-treated animals acutely exposed to cold stress, MDA concentration, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, was significantly higher compared with that of T3-treated animals housed at room temperature. However, in T4-treated animals, MDA concentrations were markedly lower. These results show that T4 and T3 differently affect IBAT parameters studied not only under basal but also under cold-stimulated conditions.


In this paper we describe the advantages that NFC technology offers for the development of smart universities ambient for the compliance of European universities with the EHEA guidelines. We propose a set of university scenarios where NFC could apply and how NFC could bring the university to the society, building smart university environments located anywhere and offering university services at any time. Besides, we describe some of the current NFC applications developed at the University of Córdoba.


With the prevalence of the Internet and mobile devices, news organizations must adapt themselves to the trend of digitalization. Social media engagement editors emerge as a new role crucial for the survival of news organizations. Engagement editors are tasked to internally facilitate the functions of marketing, content production, and data analysis. They also assume the role of "boundary spanner" for a news organization, managing online community and dealing with online audiences and their frequent toxic and aggressive behaviors. That is, engagement editors are easier than other workers to be affected by emotional stress, and thus reduce job performance. According to conservation of resource theory (COR), leadership and job autonomy both have impacts on personal resources. This research attempts to investigate whether a particular style of leadership (i.e., passive leadership) would negatively affect the engagement editors' performance (i.e., interaction with online fans). Furthermore, how the negativity would be ameliorated by job autonomy and employee resilience. The management of engagement editors has not yet been a focus of academic studies; researchers rarely approach engagement editors from the perspective of COR. This study attempts to remedy these theoretical and practical shortcomings. We surveyed 200 news media engagement editors and used the smart PLS 3 to analyze the data. This research provides useful implication for the management of engagement editors.


The human visual system is particularly sensitive to abrupt onset of new objects that appear in the visual field. Onsets have been shown to capture attention even when other transients simultaneously occur. This has led some authors to argue for the special role that object onset plays in attentional capture. However, evidence from the change detection paradigm appears contradictory to such findings. Studies of change blindness demonstrate that the onset of new objects can often go unnoticed. Assessing the relative detectability of onsets compared with other visual transients in a change detection procedure may help resolve this contradiction. We report the results of four experiments investigating the efficacy with which onsets capture attention compared with offsets. In Experiment 1, we employed a standard flicker procedure and assessed whether participants were more likely to detect the change following a frame containing an onset or following a frame containing an offset. In Experiment 2, we employed the one-shot method and investigated whether participants detected more onsets or offsets. Experiment 3 used the same method but assessed whether onsets would be detected more rapidly than offsets. In Experiment 4, we investigated whether the effect obtained in Experiments 1-3 using simple shapes would replicate when images of real-world objects were used. Results showed that onsets were less susceptible to change blindness than were offsets. We argue that the preservation of information is greater in onsets than in offsets.


The computer market in Brazil is dominated by domestic private companies that compete with large multinational companies. This study aims, based on the case of Positivo Informatics, to discuss how national companies can compete in complex markets accumulating technological and non-technological competences. The theory on technological paradigms allows dividing the world computer industry into two groups: the companies that master the paradigm core, responsible for pushing forward the technological frontier; and the companies whose competences are focused on complementary elements of the paradigm. The analysis of Positivo Informatics shows that the elements providing it with competitiveness do not depend on its technological competences. The elements that keep the industry competitive are derived from the expansion of consumption among lower classes and company specialization in this population. We conclude that, in Brazil, the computer industry keeps being competitive without developing technological competences.


A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Physics Presented In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (Space Physics)


Malawi is facing a severe HIV/AIDS Pandemic. With an estimated prevalence rate of 14.2%, it ranks eight in the world. About 900,000 Malawians were infected by 2003 and there were110,000 new infections and 87,000 deaths due to HIV/AIDS in 2003. The disease has poten tially devastating impacts. For example, 'taking children out of school' is mentioned as one of the coping mechanisms (Garbus 2003) but evidence is mixed. Doctor (2004) found no statistically significant difference between enrollment of orphans and non-orphans and mentioned an effective extended family structure as explanation. However, HIV/AIDS, poverty, macroeconomic policies, and food shortages are reported to render informal safety networks of the extended family systems irrelevant (Garbus 2003). Some evidence seems to point in this direction (Nankhuni 2005). This research shows that adolescents who are orphaned and those who do not live with their parents are less likely to attend school, spend less hours on school work but more hours on domestic and paid work. Children in households that have adults with chronic illnesses that are associated with HIV/AIDS symptoms are also more likely to be absent from school and spend more hours on d omestic and paid work. These results suggest that HIV/AIDS contributes to low investments in children in Malawi. The results also suggest that the extended family system is weakening due to pressure from increased number of orphans and the low economic status of most Malawians since even parents that are living foster out their children and these children do worse than orphaned children.


This paper proposes an accelerated proximal stochastic variance reduced gradient (ASVRG) method, in which we design a simple and effective momentum acceleration trick. Unlike most existing accelerated stochastic variance reduction methods such as Katyusha, ASVRG has only one additional variable and one momentum parameter. Thus, ASVRG is much simpler than those methods, and has much lower per-iteration complexity. We prove that ASVRG achieves the best known oracle complexities for both strongly convex and non-strongly convex objectives. In addition, we extend ASVRG to mini-batch and non-smooth settings. We also empirically verify our theoretical results and show that the performance of ASVRG is comparable with, and sometimes even better than that of the state-of-the-art stochastic methods.


Oxide membranes are one kind of porous materials with many nano-sized pores. In our work, the two-step anodization method was used to fabricate Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. The surface, cross-section micrographs and chemical composition were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). From the FESEM micrographs, it can be easily seen that the self-ordered hexagonal pore channels were parallel and perpendicular to the surface of membrane when AAO membrane was prepared in oxalic acid at 0.2mol/L for 4h. In addition, the biggest pore diameter was 78nm, and the thickness ranged from a few microns to tens of microns in the suitable preparation parameters.


This case study describes and investigates the instructional practices of Grades 1 to 5 teachers and the levels of geometry thinking of the learners, according to the Van Hiele model, with a view to determining whether there is a match between the instructional practice and the learners' level of thinking. The instructional practices of the teachers were observed and analysed, and their learners' levels of geometry thinking were accessed through a Van Hiele test. The results suggest that there is not a simple relationship between the phases of learning, as described by Crowley in 1987, and geometric development in terms of the Van Hiele levels. It is, however, possible to explain the geometric development to a limited extent in terms of the Van Hiele levels of the observed teaching activities. Although the presence of activities on an appropriate level does not guarantee growth in terms of the Van Hiele model, the absence thereof results in stagnation. The instructional practices in primary schools in all Grades should span geometry experiences on all the levels, because the previsualisation level and Van Hiele Level 1 thinking are still evident up to Grade 5.


At the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, a dramatic restructuring of global value chains (GVCs) was witnessed along with the transformation of industrial clusters in developing countries such as China. However, little research has been conducted on exploring the interaction between the evolution of GVCs and local clusters in the dynamic global-local interaction. By attempting to forge links between GVC restructuring and the adaptation of local clusters from the perspective of evolutionary economic geography, this paper explores the emerging adaptation of the furniture cluster in Houjie town, Dongguan, China in the crisis and post-crisis recovery. The study is conducted on the basis of on-site field investigations, particularly in-depth firm-level interviews during the period April 2012 to January 2014. Taking furniture industry as a case, it examines the positive and negative effects of weak and strong lock-ins of the prevailing export-oriented cluster, reflected by the negative impact of export tax rebate policies and the positive effect of the International Famous Furniture Fair on furniture firms' attempt to tap into China's domestic market. The paper urges more empirical analysis to better understand the dynamic interaction between the global shift of production and markets, as well as the adaptation of local clusters in a shifting global economy.