Advances in general linguistics, central to which has been the address to language as a means of communicating knowledge and intentions, rather than from a purely formal syntactic or semantic angle, have meant that many literary scholars (particularly in the field of rhetoric) today share a set of common assumptions and interests with linguists, opening up rich possibilities for cross-disciplinary studies. My thesis emerges from the recognition that classical Athenian symbouleutic speeches, like other uses of language, aim at successful communication (or, persuasion), and that this function can be observed through its linguistic patterns. Though the communicative function of oratory was understood by ancient rhetoricians, they (and modern scholar under their influence) tend to see the components of classical political speeches in a rather simplified and rigid manner, which does reflect the complexity of the speeches as a product of sophisticated socio-political communication. My thesis aims, firstly, to redirect the discussion about communication in classical symbouleutic oratory, using the perspective of systemic functional grammars, and secondly, to reflect on the gap between traditional rhetorical theories and the textual evidence from surviving speeches. Starting from a detailed analysis of existing examples of the genre, my thesis postulates a 'functional structure' for classical symbouleutic speeches and describes the communicative purposes and semantic attributes of each of the components. I then utilise the data I have accumulated during the detailed annotation process, and analyse the formal patterns of the speeches with regard to two aspects of communication— alignment (focusing on stance-taking and characterisation: personal references, illocution, affect) and evidentiality (focusing on modes of generating external authority: impersonal expressions, actualisation, reported speech). I attempt to approach the multi-layered functioning of communication in the Athenian assembly by examining how various linguistic patterns co-occur and interact with each other in speech sections that have similar purposes.


Self-heating in high-voltage 4H-SiC PiN diodes has been studied experimentally and theoretically in dc and 8-ms single pulse modes. To simulate the self-heating, an electro-thermal model was used to calculate non-isothermal current-voltage characteristics at dc and current-time dependences at pulsed measurements. The dynamic instability of N-type was observed: the current decreases in spite of increasing of bias applied to the structure. At dc, irreversible diode degradation was found to occur at a current density of about 1700 A/cm2. Under a single current surge 8-ms pulse, the loss of thermal stability has been found at a current density of approximately 9000 A/cm2. Comparison of experimental data and simulations showed that the local temperature in the diode base at the end of the 8-ms, 9000-A/cm2 pulse reaches 2000 – 2300 K.


The Lower Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group constitutes the principal reservoir target in the East Irish Sea Basin. Interpretation of sedimentary facies allows recognition of major low sinuosity braided fluvial channel, minor ephemeral fluvial channel, aeolian dune and sandsheet, unconfined fluvial sheetflood and playa lake deposits that are discussed in terms of facies associations. Reservoir quality is highly variable, with porosity and permeability data revealing significant differences between fluvial, sheetflood and aeolian facies associations. The latter, in particular, preserve very high reservoir quality reflecting an open grain fabric and paucity of blocky cements. Variations in porosity between the facies associations relate primarily to the distribution of quartz cement which is significantly more abundant in fluvial channel sandstones than other facies. Authigenic illite, while severely limiting permeabilities in some reservoir zones, is not facies specific and does not contribute to the observed variations. It is suggested that the disparity in the abundance of quartz cement between facies associations relates to two distinct grain types that correlate broadly with fluvial and aeolian associations, respectively, and probably derive from different provenances. The evolution of the basin, in controlling the distribution of the major facies, influenced the distribution of the two grain populations and, thus, also the reservoir quality of the sandstones.


A quantitative analysis of copper in steel scraps was investigated by using laser induced plasma spectrometry. A Nd:YAG laser at a wavelength of 532 nm was employed to generate the plasma under reduced argon atmospheres. Several experimental parameters, such as an argon pressure, a gate width and a delay time of the spectrometer were optimized to obtain a calibration curve having higher sensitivity and better linearity. Several line pairs of copper and iron were also investigated as a candidate of the analytical line for measuring the intensity ratio converted into the atomic ratio of copper to iron in steel scraps. The Cu I 324.754-nm line was more suitable for the analytical line than the Cu I 327.396-nm line due to its higher intensity. Line pairs of Cu I 324.754 nm to several iron lines, Fe I 381.583 nm, Fe I 382.043 nm, and Fe II 276.750 nm, were measured to compare criteria of their calibration curves, such as a slope, an intercept and a regression coefficient. As a result, it was recommended that a calibration curve for the intensity ratio of Cu I 324.754 nm/Fe II 276.750 nm could be employed in the actual application because it had a regression coefficient of almost unity over a concentration range up to 1.0 mass% Cu in standard reference samples of iron-copper binary alloy. The limit of detection, based on three times the standard deviation of the emission intensity at 324.75 nm in a pure iron sample, was estimated to be the Cu/Fe atomic ratio of 0.00059.


Authority is one of the key markers by which journalists assess the usefulness of a particular source, regardless of the field the source represents. Journalistic culture and practices influence judgements about this authority – whether it is useful or credible, and how to accommodate it in news texts. This paper compares journalistic conceptions of the most prevalent non-Christian religion in Glasgow – Islam – with those of the most numerically significant faith communities, the Church of Scotland (a Presbyterian Protestant denomination) and the Roman Catholic Church. These two Christian denominations account for three-fifths of religious affiliation in Glasgow, and their sometimes fraught sectarian relationship has (pre)occupied much of the reporting on religion in Scotland. Whilst statistically much smaller than either of these, Islam tends to draw a disproportionately high degree of news coverage in the UK as a whole (Moore et al. 2008). Much of the scholarly work attending to Muslims in Britain suggests the news media are egregiously wrong in this coverage, whether through misunderstandings, bad faith, or underlying trends of Islamophobia or Orientalism. Drawing on tentative data from ongoing ethnographic research, I will suggest that journalists have a better understanding of authority in Muslim communities than they are given credit for. Yet this understanding does not necessarily lead to "better" or "more responsible" coverage of the religion in whatever normative sense scholars might use the terms. I will detail how some journalists participating in my research describe the authority structures of the religions in question, briefly comparing these with other informed depictions of the same. I will then demonstrate how journalists operationalise these structures, considering the Catholic Church to be relatively "strong" because of its hierarchical structure, the Church of Scotland to be relatively "weak" because of its bureaucratic and dialogical nature, and the diffuse Muslim population to be ambiguous, manifesting both strength and weakness while seeming to lack an identifiable structure at all. There is no "Muslim pope," and despite its name, the Glasgow Central Mosque is not central in a representative way for Glasgow Muslims. Journalists recognise the absence of a definitive, authoritative Muslim voice and are therefore uncertain how to portray comments from Muslims within their news texts. Understanding how journalists conceive of these religious communities and their practical expectations of spokespeople will give us a context in which to analyse reporting on religion in Scotland's mass media.


The internal representation of stimuli is imperfect and subject to bias. Noise introduced at initial encoding and during maintenance degrades the precision of representation. Stimulus estimation is also biased away from recently encountered stimuli, a phenomenon known as adaptation. Within a Bayesian framework, greater biases are predicted to result from poor precision. We tested for this effect in individual difference measures. 202 subjects contributed data through an on-line experiment (https://cfn.upenn.edu/iadapt). During separate face and color blocks, subjects performed three different tasks: an immediate stimulus-match (15 trials), a 5 seconds delayed match (30 trials), and 5 seconds of adaptation followed by a delayed match (30 trials). The stimulus spaces were circular and subjects entered their responses using a color/face wheel. Bias and precision of responses were extracted by fitting a mixture of von Mises distributions to account for random guesses. Two blocks of each measure were obtained, allowing for tests of measure reliability. We found that reliable differences between individuals in precision were as great as those between tasks or materials. The adaptation manipulation induced the expected bias in responses (colors: 7.8°; faces: 5.0°), and the magnitude of this bias reliably and substantially varied between subjects. Across subjects, there was a negative correlation between mean precision and bias (color: ρ = −0.26; faces: ρ = −0.13). This relationship was replicated in a new experiment with 192 subjects (color: ρ = −0.22; faces: ρ = −0.19). This result is consistent with a Bayesian observer model, in which individual differences in the precision of perceptual representation influences the magnitude of adaptation bias.


The 2008 economic and financial crisis has deeply affected the global economy, causing the collapse of the building
market and particularly the propriety housing; besides, the new demographic organisation has defined its type of user,
which we are going to take into account.
Information and Communication Technologies ICT are basic to define the innovative government of a country,
influencing both buildings, the urban landscape and bettering the relationship among users.
The several meanings releted to Smart City embody all the possibilities to create a new environment.
With Open Government we mean a new philosophy of life that is at the same time a practice of dealing with data that
can be shared by users freely because they have lost any sensitive information.
Untill a recent past, these data where stored in the archives of the Public Administration, now the user can get and reuse
them freely in a new perspective and with a different aim.
The topic of this reaserch project is to identify a scientific methodolgy to choose, arrange and use these Open Data. This
will help to better manage a geographical and urban area according to specific requests, for example the creation and
the spreading of co-housing, a model of accomodation, particularly suitable in some contexts.
Phdcohousing.idra.it is a web site that shows the appliance of this process, referring also to users and their new needs
of housing. Actually this practice could be quite useful also for the Public Administrations, agencies, architects and
builders that will save time and money and will meet the needs of the users more effectively.


This paper presents an investigation into technologies of wireless intelligent sensor networks for refrigerated delivery vehicle. The investigation has reviewed the latest wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth and Zigbee, and artificial intelligent technologies such as neural network, fuzzy logic and neuro-fuzzy. A proposed solution of future sensor networks for cold chain area has been addressed.


Objective: to identify evidence in the literature on the possible risk factors for the risk of unstable blood glucose diagnosis in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to compare them with the risk factors described by NANDA International. Method: an integrative literature review guided by the question: what are the risk factors for unstable blood glucose level in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus? Primary studies were included whose outcomes were variations in glycemic levels, published in English, Portuguese or Spanish, in PubMed or CINAHL between 2010 and 2015. Results: altered levels of glycated hemoglobin, body mass index>;31 kg/m2, previous history of hypoglycemia, cognitive deficit/dementia, autonomic cardiovascular neuropathy, comorbidities and weight loss corresponded to risk factors described in NANDA International. Other risk factors identified were: advanced age, black skin color, longer length of diabetes diagnosis, daytime sleepiness, macroalbuminuria, genetic polymorphisms, insulin therapy, use of oral antidiabetics, and use of metoclopramide, inadequate physical activity and low fasting glycemia. Conclusions: risk factors for the diagnosis, risk for unstable blood glucose level, for persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus were identified, and 42% of them corresponded to those of NANDA International. These findings may contribute to the practice of clinical nurses in preventing the deleterious effects of glycemic variation.


In Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks, the amount of multimedia traffic generated by the source nodes and relayed throughout the network towards the sink nodes is relatively vary large. As a result, the overall network performance and operational lifetime rely heavily on the efficiency and the complexity of the compression techniques used. However, known compression techniques have either high efficiency or low complexity but not both, which causes an imbalance in the distribution of the available network resources and hence shortens the network lifetime. In this work, a testbed to experimentally evaluate the performance and energy consumption of image compression and transmission was developed. Based on the testbed, the JPEG and JPEG2000 image compression algorithms were simultaneously embedded and evaluated with the purpose of jointly utilizing the features of both algorithms in order to facilitate a balanced tradeoff between the application performance requirements and the current network status. The analysis of the results verified that, in practical implementations of Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks, using more than one compression technique by the same source node is feasible and has the potential of utilizing the capabilities of each technique based on the given situation.


Minecraft, the popular video game, shows promise as a planning engagement tool: it allows players to experience and manipulate a three-dimensional environment, it is easy to learn and understand, it is engaging and immersive, it is adaptable, and it has already begun to be used for geodesign and planning engagement. However, this game has not yet been studied to determine how it could best be used for this purpose. Using an analysis of key informant interviews, this study seeks to address this deficit and reflect on the ways in which this game could help planners achieve various engagement goals. Key findings in this study address Minecraft's usefulness as a visualization tool, its role in building trust, the place of play in planning, and the challenges associated with conducting an accessible, interactive online engagement using Minecraft.


Scania, a landscape in today's Sweden, has its history in both a Swedish and a Danish context. It has therefore been possible for the Scanian people to maintain different positions in relation to history. I wish to focus on the role of archaeology in connection with the concept of regional identity. Starting from archaeological excavations of the so-called trelleborgar and ringborgar in Scania and Denmark I will show the role of Scania in connection with archaeology. I also highlight how the debate is formed and what connections are made in relation to the establishment of a regional identity in our time.


We previously reported that Ia+ monolayers of LEW rat corneal endothelial (CE) cells were unable to stimulate proliferation of MHC compatible T cell lines or IL-2 release from hybridomas, and inhibited [3H]-thymidine incorporation when added to conventional lymphocyte proliferation assays. Our purpose was to further analyze the mechanism of the inhibitory activity of CE cells on T lymphocyte activation. Mitogen-induced proliferative responses of splenocytes were found to be as susceptible to inhibition by CE cells as previously reported for antigen-specific activation of T cell lines. Antigen presenting cell (APC) antigen pulsing experiments showed that CE cells did not inhibit antigen processing. Flow cytometry and microscopic observation of the co-cultures revealed that T cells became activated in the presence of antigen, APC and CE cells, exhibiting morphologic changes of blast cell formation, although they did not divide unless given exogenous IL-2. However, if T cells were preactivated in the absence of CE cells, they were no longer susceptible to inhibition if subsequently transferred into CE cell-conditioned medium or onto CE cells. Evidence for an inhibitory factor in CE cell culture supernatant was revealed by two approaches: 1) addition of conditioned medium from CE cell cultures led to inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation assays, and 2) split-well assays also demonstrated the existence of a cell-free immunosuppressive factor produced by the CE cells. However, the inhibition mediated by supernatant alone was less potent than that by direct T cell contact with CE cells, implying that cell-cell interaction contributed to the inhibition. Indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, did not reverse CE cell-mediated inhibition. Neutralizing antibodies to TGF-beta 1 and 2 did not reverse the inhibition by CE cells. In summary, T cells received activation signals from APC in the presence of CE cells, but proliferation was inhibited unless exogenous lymphokine was added.


In recent years, the focus in second-language teaching programmes has been on task-based activities which are characterised by "a real-world relationship" (Skehan, 1998: 268) or ones that are aimed at empowering learners to use the target language with a view to accomplishing specific tasks outside the classroom situation. Where meaning is regarded as primary in task-based instruction, some researchers have argued that fossilisation of incorrect structures by learners may occur (Higgs & Clifford, 1982; cf. Richards & Lockhart, 1994: 107). More recent studies argue that linguistic support must not be omitted from language teaching programmes within a task-based, communicative approach (Swain, 1996; Doughty & Varela, 1998). The main aim of this research article is to consider how language practitioners can sensitise learners to aspects of linguistic form and provide feedback on form within task-based instruction. This article reports on the findings of a critical-reflective, Conversation Analytic (CA) study of two task-based, role-play activities undertaken at the University of the Free State in 1996. The analysis of the patterns of discourse reflected in the first activity revealed that learners were not offered form-focused input and feedback. Form-focused instruction was thus included in the second activity. In modifying the activity, the s argued that the language practitioner could heighten learners' awareness of grammatical structures in context by structuring the activity around authentic samples of learner-learner interaction generated during the role play. Once the modified activity had been implemented in the classroom, the s analysed the discourse patterns in the activity in order to verify or disprove their claim. Although the second activity included form-focused input and feedback, it did not give learners sufficient autonomy to explore the possible directions in which their self-generated discourse could have gone. Specifically, the activity did not exploit the potential within learners' interlanguages. For this reason, other kinds of form-focused input strategies are considered.
Keywords: Authenticity; Task-based oral activity; Form-focused input
(J Language Teaching: 2003 37(1): 74-91)


In this paper we present a framework for logic programming agents to take part in games in such a way that stable models of the system, the ones agreed upon by all the members, correspond with the different equilibria of the game. The proposed transformations from games to ordered choice logic program produce a multi-agent system where each agent embodies the reasoning of a player and where the system itself represents the structure of the game. This allows us to monitor the knowledge and beliefs of the agents, i.e. the flow of information between agents/players.


Abstract Objective: To determine the net economic impact of switching from low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM) to iso-osmolar contrast media (IOCM; iodixanol) in patients undergoing inpatient coronary or peripheral angioplasty in the United States (US). Methods: A budget impact model (BIM) was developed from a hospital perspective. Nationally representative procedural and contrast media prevalence rates, along with MARCE (major adverse renal cardiovascular event) incidence and episode-related cost data were derived from Premier Hospital Data (October 2014 to September 2015). A previously estimated relative risk reduction in MARCE associated with IOCM usage (9.3%) was applied. The higher cost of IOCM was included when calculating the net impact estimates at the aggregate, hospital type, and per hospital levels. One-way (±25%) and probabilistic sensitivity analyses identified the model's most important inputs. Results: Based on weighted analysis, 513,882 US inpatient angioplasties and 35,610 MARCE cases were estimated annually. Switching to an "IOCM only" strategy from a "LOCM only" strategy increases contrast media cost, but prevents 2,900 MARCE events. The annual budget impact was an estimated saving of $30.71 million, aggregated across all US hospitals, $6,316 per hospital, or $60 per procedure. Net savings were maintained across all univariate sensitivity analyses. While MARCE/event-free cost differential was the most important factor driving total net savings for hospitals in the Northeast and West, procedural volume was important in the Midwest and rural locations. Conclusions: Switching to an "IOCM only" strategy from a "LOCM only" approach yields substantial net global savings to hospitals, both at the national level and within hospital sub-groups. Hospital administrators should maintain awareness of the factors that are likely to be more influential for their hospital and recognize that purchasing on the basis of lower contrast media cost may result in higher overall costs for patients undergoing inpatient angioplasty.


Abstract This paper derives from a study of community food aid in a multi-ethnic, multi-faith city in the North of England. The paper begins to make sense of the diversity of types of food insecurity assistance, examines the potential exclusion of certain groups from receipt of food aid, and explores the relationship between food aid providers and the state. Faith-based food aid is common in the case study area, particularly among food bank provision to the most 'destitute' clients. While food aid is adopting service responsibilities previously borne by the state, this does not imply an extension of the 'shadow state'. Rather, it appears reflective of a pre-welfare state system of food distribution, supported by religious institutions and individual/business philanthropy, but adapted to be consistent with elements of the 'Big Society' narrative. Most faith-based providers are Christian. There is little Muslim provision of (or utilisation of) food aid, despite the local demographic context. This raises concerns as to the unintentional exclusion of ethnic and religious groups, which we discuss in the concluding sections.


This working paper has two objectives: one is methodological and the other is empirical. First it explores the issues at stake in accessing feelings in the past. How do historians 'get at' emotion and what feeling-evidence is available to us? Here I am particularly interested in identifying sources that allow access to the feelings of 'ordinary' people and to the messiness of everyday emotional life. I will focus in particular upon the material generated by the British social investigative organization – Mass Observation – in the middle years of the twentieth century. In the second part of the paper I will demonstrate how a small sample of this Mass Observation material – discursive responses to open ended questionnaires sent to a panel of volunteer writers in May and August 1945 – can be used to enhance our understanding of the British transition from war to peace. Specifically I will use Mass Observation material to illuminate the work that emotion did, and was called upon to do. I will argue that emotion-management was a powerful frame for individual as well as public reconstruction narratives; that individual feeling and experience was valorised within this context; and that an emerging 'right to feel' was an important aspect of a broader post-1945 rights discourse.


Fusarium crown and root rot (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, FORL) and Fusarium wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, FOL) are the most important diseases on tomatoes. In the present study, the antimicrobial activity of 7 essential oil (cumin, thymus, lavandula, eucalyptus, rosemary, nigella, dill), 2 vinegars (apple and vine) and 2 chemical elicitors (BABA, JA) to FORL and FOL. Essential oils from cumin, thymus, nigella and dill showed the highest antagonistic effect against the pathogens. The inhibitory effects of vinegars and elicitors were not determined against FORL and FOL. BABA had no significant effect on mycelial growth with increasing concentration. However, the hyphal development was decreased with increasing concentration at 1000 ppm concentration. Mycelial growth of FORL and FOL was decreased by increasing JA at 100ppm concentration as well, but it was not inhibited completely.


In this essay I will examine the question to what extent the Philippine production Feng Shui (Roño, 2004) is a horror film according to the well-established (Western) definitions of the genre. This seems to be a pertinent question as many Filipino horror films are based on ghost stories and folklore from the archipelago, that are often a lived reality and believed in by many people in the Philippines. The fact that Feng Shui as well as other horror films from Southeast Asia are produced for an audience that actually believes in ghosts seems to me to be very relevant for the analysis of these films. I will argue that Feng Shui shares a good number of traits with other Asian ghost films, but that it also features "the return of the repressed" that according to the late film critic Robin Wood is one of the defining features of Western horror movies.


In this brilliant and provocative work, Daniel Pipes offers a fascinating analysis of conspiracy theories in the West and the terrible impact they have had. He shows how, beginning with the Crusades, Europe developed two strands of conspiracism. One took the form of secret societies from the Knights Templar through the Freemasons to the Council on Foreign Relations. A second insisted that "international Jewry" runs the world. Pipes delineates the fear that one or the other of these agents engineered the French and Russian revolutions, two world wars, and all other key events of modern history. He shows the staggering consequences of conspiracy theories in the era when Hitler and Stalin reached power and then, in the aftermath of 1945, the migration of this way of thinking from the halls of power in the West to the political and geographic margins. To anyone who has ever heard a friend or relative say, "Don't believe what you read in the papers, " Conspiracy offers a spellbinding survey - and a wakeup call.


The molecular structure and role of two splice-isoforms of Unc-5 (Hp-Unc-5v1 and v2) in Unc-5/netrin interaction during serotonergic axonal projection were elucidated in this study. Hp-Unc-5v1 was found to be comprised of two immunoglobulin-like domains, two thrombospondin domains in the extracellular region, and ZU-5, DB, and Death domains in the cytoplasmic region, whereas Hp-Unc-5v2 lacked one thrombospondin domain, the transmembrane domain, and all cytoplasmic domains. Hp-Unc-5v1 was transcribed in unfertilized eggs, which continued until the 3-day post-fertilization (-dpf) 2-arm pluteus stage, but was suspended at the mesenchyme blastula stage (mB1), whereas Hp-Unc-5v2 was not transcribed in unfertilized eggs, but was from after fertilization to the same developmental stage of mB1 as Hp-Unc-5v1. Relative accumulation of transcripts of both splice-isoforms peaked at the prism stage and declined thereafter, and they were localized at the vegetal pole region of early gastrulae, around the blastopore in mid- to late gastrulae, at fore- and mid-gut regions and on the basal side of dorsal ectoderm in 28-hour post-fertilization prism larvae, and within axons at and after the 2-dpf pluteus stage. Hp-Unc-5v2:GFP was detected in the entire serotonergic cell body and extracellularly on the basal surface of oral ectoderm in 2-dpf plutei and exclusively within axons in 4-dpf plutei. Overexpression of Hp-Unc-5v2 resulted in decreased axonal projection in plutei. Knockdown of Hp-Unc-5v1 by morpholino antisense oligonucleotide resulted in severe deficiency of axonal projection. Interference of Unc-5/netrin interaction using an exogenous synthetic SQDFGKTW peptide from the VI domain in Hp-netrin inhibited axonal projection and larval swimming.


As political questions behind Pakistan's emergence distilled themselves into aesthetic questions of how to represent a country without a past, the debate erupted through the spatial practices determining the form and architectural character of the nation's two capitols. President Ayub Khan's two ambitious urban projects—Islamabad, the new capital city of Pakistan and Ayub-Nagar (renamed Sher-e-Bangla Nagar), and a second capitol complex in East Pakistan—brought together local and foreign stakeholders with differing interpretations of the idea of "Pakistan." A significant part of each project's documentation lies far from its site—with the University of Pennsylvania, in the personal papers of Louis Kahn, the US-based architect whose firm designed each. This collection—a vital resource to consider the expanded meaning of architecture, not as an end product, but as a process—emerges as a crucial body of evidence for the evolution of multiple narratives of the political idea of Pakistan. The design process, as documented in sketches, architectural drawings, reports, and correspondence, reflects the frictions created from unfulfilled expectations and the subsequent disillusionment of vested interest groups, shedding new light on constructions of the past and future in postindependence Pakistan.


The presented paper deals with the analysis of selected stress management strategies considering to gender and position in organization in which individual employees work. The aim of the paper is to compare the ways of managing and processing the stressful situations, as well as their variability with regard to the group of respondents, their inclusion in the organization (manager or executive employee) and the size of organization (small and medium organization). The research was conducted by using two methodologies, namely Brief COPE from Carver (1997) and SVF 78 by Janke and Erdmann (2003). The research sample consisted of 130 respondents aged 19 to 63 (mean age 40.38 with a standard deviation of 6.73), namely 53.8% of males and 47.2% of women. The research sample consisted of executive employees (49.2%) and managers (50.8%) working in a small and medium-sized organization. The research results were analyzed by t-test for two independent samples, namely the individual stress management strategies were compared. We found statistically significant differences in the level of control of the situation, self-blaming, POZ 1 and NEG among executive employees and managers. At the level of perseverance, self-blaming, religiosity and spirituality, and NEG we found statistically significant gender differences. Comparison of employees working in a small and medium-sized organization has demonstrated the existence of statistically significant differences in levels of underestimation, negation, ventilation and self-blaming. The most common strategy of stress management was the strategy of self-blaming, given the analyzed socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents.


This paper presents the implementation of high throughput and low power FIR filtering IP cores. Multiple datapaths are utilized for high throughput and low power is achieved through coefficient segmentation, block processing and combined segmentation and block processing algorithms. The paper presents the complete architectural implementation of these algorithms for high performance applications. The paper describes the design methodology, evaluation environment, and provides results which show up to 33% reduction in power consumption with less than 10% increase in area depending on the number of datapaths.


The forkhead box O1A (FOXO1) is an early-induced target of the protein kinase A pathway during the decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). In this study we identified the cistrome and transcriptome of FOXO1 and its role as a transcriptional regulator of the progesterone receptor (PR). Direct targets of FOXO1 were identified by integrating RNA sequencing with chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated that FOXO1 regulates a subset of genes in decidualization such as those involved in cancer, p53 signaling, focal adhesions, and Wnt signaling. An overlap of the FOXO1 and PR chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing intervals revealed the co-occupancy of FOXO1 in more than 75% of PR binding intervals. Among these intervals were highly enriched motifs for the interferon regulatory factor member 4 (IRF4). IRF4 was determined to be a genomic target of both FOXO1 and PR and also to be differentially regulated in HESCs treated with small interfering RNA targeting FOXO1 or PR prior to decidualization stimulus. Ablation of FOXO1 was found to abolish binding of PR to the shared binding interval downstream of the IRF4 gene. Finally, small interfering RNA-mediated ablation of IRF4 was shown to compromise morphological transformation of decidualized HESCs and to attenuate the expression of the decidual markers IGFBP1, PRL, and WNT4. These results provide the first evidence that FOXO1 is functionally required for the binding of PR to genomic targets. Most notably, FOXO1 and PR are required for the regulation of IRF4, a novel transcriptional regulator of decidualization in HESCs.


A view of the calendar formatted in the style of Outlook print outs, for meetings and events in the month April 2016


State Space Models (SSM) is a MATLAB toolbox for time series analysis by state space methods. The software features fully interactive construction and combination of models, with support for univariate and multivariate models, complex time-varying (dy- namic) models, non-Gaussian models, and various standard models such as ARIMA and structural time-series models. The software includes standard functions for Kalman fil- tering and smoothing, simulation smoothing, likelihood evaluation, parameter estimation, signal extraction and forecasting, with incorporation of exact initialization for filters and smoothers, and support for missing observations and multiple time series input with com- mon analysis structure. The software also includes implementations of TRAMO model selection and Hillmer-Tiao decomposition for ARIMA models. The software will provide a general toolbox for time series analysis on the MATLAB platform, allowing users to take advantage of its readily available graph plotting and general matrix computation capabilities.


Design, analysis and optimization of a thermoelectric refrigerator was carried out in this work the systems use thermoelectric "peltier" refrigerators (thermoelectric modules) to produce cooling or heating. The design calculation are find the performance curve of the thermoelectric module with the purpose of is find by simulation. Simulation results were compared with the practical data. The system simulation shows that exist a cheapest heat sink used for the thermoelectric refrigerator. the thermoelectric refrigerator with an air-cooled heat sink with thermal resistance 0.2515°C/W. Comparison was done between Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) and Antimony telluride(Sb2Te3) for the thermoelectric module. It was found that the bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) due to its low thermal conductivity and high See back coefficient at room temperature has higher figure of merit (Z) and thus performed better as compared to Antimony telluride. The design be capable of be ready either on basis of the highest value of the cooling capacity, or on the basis of the most excellent heat sink technology existing.


White and brown adipose tissues are highly vascularized organs, capable of plasticity based on metabolic demands and energy expenditure, which if maladaptive can lead to insulin resistance. Critical gaps remain in our understanding of how angiogenesis impacts adipose tissue dysfunction and overall metabolism. MicroRNAs (miRs) are implicated in the regulation of the angiogenic response to pathophysiological stimuli. Function of miRNAs regulating the angiogenic response in diet-induced insulin resistance remains poorly understood. Using a miRNA-Seq approach, we identified that miR-409-3p expression was significantly increased in endothelial cells (ECs) of brown adipose tissue (BAT) of diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and in human diabetic plasma samples compared to nondiabetic patients. Overexpression of miR-409-3p markedly inhibited EC growth and migration, whereas miR-409-3p inhibition had the opposite effects. miR-409-3p targets the 3'UTR of Zinc Finger E-box binding Homeobox 1 (ZEB1). Overexpression of miR-409-3p decreased ZEB1 expression in ECs and in human subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT). SiRNA knock down of ZEB1 expression in ECs phenocopied the effects of miR-409-3p overexpression and significantly decreased cell proliferation and migration. In addition, 3T3-L1 cells co-cultured with supe harvested from ECs deficient in miR-409-3p had increased expression of brown fat markers (UCP1, Cidea, PGC1-α) by RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses. Systemic intravenous delivery of LNA-anti-miR-409-3p inhibitor to DIO mice significantly increased angiogenesis by CD31 staining, accompanied by higher UCP-1 in BAT and sWAT by RT-qPCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses, while improving glucose tolerance and overall metabolism. miR-409-3p plays a key regulatory role between impaired angiogenesis in diet-induced obesity and adipose tissue dysfunction, an effect that could be exploited for therapeutic intervention in obesity-induced insulin resistance. Disclosure D.R. Becker-Greene: None. H. Li: None. W. Wu: None. D. Ozdemir: None. I. Hollan: None. M.W. Feinberg: None. B. Icli: None. Funding American Diabetes Association (1-16-JDF-046 to B.I.)


Departing from the encyclopedic nature of most Principles texts, which encourages students to simply memorize concepts and see economics as a collection of unrelated terms, formulas, graphs, and theories, this text provides students with a picture of economics as a unified discipline; a set of interrelated tools and ideas that can be used to look at the world in a different way. This book's concise, less is more approach has been carefully crafted in terms of both content and supporting pedagogy to keep students focused on learning and applying the central ideas used in economic analysis. It uniquely employs a simple methodology throughout to emulate how economists look at problems, and teaches students how to use this same analytical process in developing their own economic analysis skills. Hall/Lieberman's careful focus on core theoretical ideas as well as systematically applying the theoretical tools to interesting real-world questions conveys the message that economics is an integrated, powerful body of knowledge that can be used to address important issues.


English Studies examining attitudes towards obese people have mainly focused on conscious or explicit attitudes which may be biased by social desirability. Therefore, the present study examined both explicit and implicit, that are considered to be unconscious, attitudes towards obese individuals. A sample of 46 undergraduate psychology students participated in the study. The results showed that there is a negative bias towards obese individuals with 73% participants demonstrating strong, moderate or slight implicit bias of which 33% showed strong bias. There was a small, but significant correlation between implicit and explicit measures of attitudes. As hypothesized social desirability was associated with explicit attitudes but counter to hypothesis social desirability was also associated with implicit attitudes. Lastly, women and younger participants had more negative explicit attitudes but no difference was found on implicit attitudes. The findings demonstrate that there is a negative bias towards obese individuals as assessed with both implicit and explicit attitude measures. As these negative biases can severely affect quality of life among obese individuals educational interventions are needed to address and correct these anti-fat biases.


OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of lifetime alcohol abuse and/or dependence (alcoholism) in patients with bipolar disorder has been reported to be higher than in all other axis I psychiatric diagnoses. This study examined gender-specific relationships between alcoholism and bipolar illness, which have previously received little systematic study.

METHOD
The prevalence of lifetime alcoholism in 267 outpatients enrolled in the Stanley Foundation Bipolar Network was evaluated by using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Alcoholism and its relationship to retrospectively assessed measures of the course of bipolar illness were evaluated by patient-rated and clinician-administered questionnaires.

RESULTS
As in the general population, more men (49%, 57 of 116) than women with bipolar disorder (29%, 44 of 151) met the criteria for lifetime alcoholism. However, the risk of having alcoholism was greater for women with bipolar disorder (odds ratio=7.35) than for men with bipolar disorder (odds ratio=2.77), compared with the general population. Alcoholism was associated with a history of polysubstance use in women with bipolar disorder and with a family history of alcoholism in men with bipolar disorder.

CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that there are gender differences in the prevalence, risk, and clinical correlates of alcoholism in bipolar illness. Although this study is limited by the retrospective assessment of illness variables, the magnitude of these gender-specific differences is substantial and warrants further prospective study.


Many children have multiple ethnic and cultural identities, possessing mixed heritage with parents, grandparents and great grandparents from different groups or communities (Brown, Gatrad and Sheikh, 2008). Most cultures and communities have ways of marking major life events. The culture or faith in which children and young people are brought up and the way they are taught at home and at school will influence how they perceive what happens at the time of death and beyond. In order that professionals are able to work effectively with children and young people with life-limiting illnesses they will need to develop skills and confidence so that client's individual needs are met. This will include an awareness of what children and young people have been taught by their families and communities about death and dying (Brown, 2007). A child's or young person's age, cognitive ability and anxiety level will all influence their understanding of what happens at the time of death and beyond and this also determines how they communicate their ideas (Brown, 2010). The paper describes the findings of a small-scale qualitative study involving 15 children and young people diagnosed with life-limiting illness. It is argued that children and young people are experts about their own lives and deserve to be given a voice so that they are able to inform the cultural or religious care they receive. The presentation is supported by case studies and examples of children's and young people's written and spoken narrative, art and poetry.


The relations between mud volcanism and active tectonic strain were investigated at the Nirano mud volcano field (NMVF), near the active Pede-Apennine thrust front of the Northern Apennines thrust-and-fold belt (Italy). Active fluid release occurs through numerous vents within an elliptical depression developed over the crest of a thrust-related anticline. This depression is interpreted as a caldera collapse–like structure that may have developed in response to the deflation of a shallow mud chamber triggered by eruption and sediment fluid evacuation events. Like many volcanic calderas, the NMVF caldera is elongated nearly parallel to the direction of least horizontal compressive stress S h , and is thus deduced to reflect the regional tectonic stress axes. It is concluded that mud volcano calderas exhibit mechanical similarities to the igneous analogs, and that the methods used in this first test could be applied to other calderas imaged by seismic data and in the field.


Since electronic services (e-services) are different from their traditional counterparts in many aspects, conventional service quality models remain insufficient to capture the perceived e-service quality concept. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a structural perceived e-service quality model. According to the predetermined aim, the research data were collected from 571 individual eservice customers through a face-to-face questionnaire and Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique was used to test the validity of research model. Perceived e-service quality was found to be effected by service site design quality, system quality, outcome quality and customer relationship quality at the end of current research.


We present an analytical study of unsteady temperature energy equation for gravity of a fluid with non – Newtonian behaviour through a porous medium. For the case of radial axisymmetric flow, the governing partial differential equation is transformed into an ordinary differential equation through similarity variables. It is further assumed that the viscosity is temperature dependent. We investigate the effects of velocity on the temperature field. Theorems on existences and uniqueness of solution are formulated based on some criteria and the proofs of the theorem are established. Keywords : Unsteady temperature equation, Non – Newtonian power-law fluid porous media and gravity flows.


The aim of this research is to identify the effectivness of Local Isolate Bacteria from Boyolali (ILB) to decompose organic materials from wasted vegetable and slurry. The result of decomposition werecompared to EM4 for control. The laboratoryresult indicates that Local isolate bacteria from Boyolali were more effective than EM4 to increase N (Nitrogen) contant. The ability of Local isolate bacteria from Boyolali was better than EM4 in degrading organic materials of slurry, particularly, towardsP (Phosphate). The best concentrationof ILBdecomposition is 30 %. Liquid fertilizer produced from Slurrywithdecomposition ILB 30% that applied towards cabbage  increased the weight of cabbage fruit and the length of circumference by 0.5525 gram and 12.67 cm respectively. From the experimental results thatit can be concluded that ILB hasbetter capability in decomposing organic material than EM4. ILB has a good potentialas decomposter toproduces liquid organic fertilizer. Key word: Local isolate, decomposter, EM4, Slurry, cabbage


The chest radiograph of a 56-year-old man with pain over the entire region of back, chest and vertebral column revealed chunky swelling over the 7th right rib. Other radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging further showed an infiltrative process in the 12th thoracic and the 2nd as well as 4th lumbar vertebrae. Skeletal scintigraphy was highly suggestive of bone metastases. Results of laboratory tests were within normal limits. Partial rib resection was performed after failure to find the site of a primary tumour. The diagnosis of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia was made histologically. There was no evidence of malignancy and a rare additional endocrinopathy (McCune-Albright syndrome) was excluded.


The design of a wireless temperature, humidity collecting device, the device through the integration of temperature and humidity sensors SHT11 granary and other places on the temperature and humidity for the collection, and then the data will be collected in accordance with a certain degree of agreement sent through the wireless module, the receiving party to receive unpack the data to calculate the temperature, humidity and the value displayed on the LCD screen. AT89C2051 launch system for the core parts, including temperature, humidity collection, and wireless transmitters. AT89S52 for receiving a portion of the core of the wireless receiver, combined with liquid crystal display, through appropriate software and hardware to deal with anti-jamming design of practical, small-scale collection of wireless temperature and humidity system.


Author(s): Chen, Chia-Li | Advisor(s): Cocker III, David R. | Abstract: This thesis enhances our understanding of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from select anthropogenic sources including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PAHs mixed with m-xylene and an atmospheric surrogate, and unburned whole gasoline vapors. Major SOA chemical characteristics and physical properties were explored along with SOA formation within the UCR CE-CERT environmental chamber. SOA formation was significant for all three PAHs precursors during photooxidation under high NOx, low NOx and extremely low NOx conditions with 1-methylnaphthalene forming the most SOA followed by 2-methylnaphthalene and naphthalene. SOA yields greater than 1.0 were observed for extremely low NOx (H2O2) conditions. The atmospheric reactivity influenced by H2O2, NOx levels, initial VOCs/NO ratios, and all impacted the SOA formation from the PAH precursors. Fractal SOA particles were observed for 1-methylnaphthalene or 2-methylnaphthalene high NOx photooxidation, indicating that SOA in these experiments were solid particles. SOA growth rates (aerosol mass concentration (ΔM0) versus hydrocarbon reacted (ΔHC)) from different PAHs-m-xylene mixtures are correlated with initial m-xylene/NO, PAHs/NO, [OH]/[HO2] ratio, [NO]/[HO2] ratio and [HO2]/[RO2] ratio. Addition of m-xylene to PAHs experiments suppressed SOA formation from the PAH precursor. The chemical composition characteristics such as f44 versus f43 , H/C ratio, O/C ratio, and the oxidation state of the carbon (OSc) show that PAHs-m-xylene SOA continuously ages and the SOA exhibits characteristics of both individual precursors. Finally, the SOA formation from photooxidation of whole gasoline vapor under varying NOx conditions was found to range from 1.7% to 5.2%. Further, addition of ethanol suppressed the SOA formation. This work shows that the traditional two-product SOA formation model was unable to explain the total SOA formation from the complex gasoline mixture using the actual formation observed for individual aromatic SOA precursors.


The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) contribute to multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumor chemotherapy. The essential phenomenon of oncogenic activation of NF-κB in cancer-initiating cells showing MDR resulting from increased IL-6 expression is still unclear. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been the objective of intensive study. The aim of this study was to investigate the selective and potential efficacy of BRM270 against stem-like cancer-initiating cells (SLCICs) via the molecular mechanisms of its anticancer effects. Co-regulation of NF-κB and Cdk6 might be new arena to mitigate tumorigenesis. In the present study phyto-drug based approach provides a new avenue in understanding the amelioration and regulatory mechanisms in CSCs. In the present study, an in vivo tumor metastasis model of osteosarcoma was established by injecting Cal72 and SaOS-2 SLCICs into the right lower flank of nude mice. Later the development of tumor was analyzed by LICOR Biosciences (Pearl image analyzer). Significant suppression of activation of NF-κB and LPS-induced gene expression and apoptosis by BRM270 was confirmed by FACS, western blotting and qPCR. Further, both p65 and Cdk6 were significantly (P<0.05) overexpressed in BRM270 non-treated Cal72 SLCICs compared to treated group. BRM270 directly dephosphorylated RelA and selectively inhibited NF-κB transcriptional activity, resulting in decreased expression of interleukin-6, a cytokine implicated in cancer metastasis. BRM270-mediated cell shrinkage, pyknosis, karyorrhexis and programmed cell death (PCD) were observed by Hoechst 33342 staining while flow cytometry analysis showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in cell population from G0-G1 phases. These findings suggest that activation of the oncogenic Cdk6-NF-κB pathway, resulting from increased IL-6 expression, plays a central role in CD133 expressing SLCICs augmented MDR and neoplasia. This study proposes targeting of NF-κB, and Cdk6 with IL-6 as potential targets for PCD and treatment of chemotherapeutic resistance of CSCs to design novel therapies for their elimination.


Males of transgenic families where the large T protein of polyoma virus is expressed in the seminiferous epithelium of the testis (Sertoli and germ cells) develop bilateral testicular tumors when they become old (15 to 18 months). The histological features of these tumors revealed a neoplastic proliferation of Sertoli cell origin. Occasional isolated germ cells arrested at premeiotic stages were seen in the tumor. They did not participate in tumoral proliferation and their malignant character could not at first be established. Tumor cells injected in athymic (nu/nu) mice generated secondary tumors. In this case, a proliferative component of non-Sertoli origin was clearly evident. Its ultrastructural characteristics and the expression of genes that are transcribed in vivo in male germ cells (c-kit, LDH-X, and Hox a-4) suggest the progression of an initial, apparently pure Sertoli cell tumor into a mixed proliferation.


In global real-time multiprocessor scheduling, a recent analysis technique for Task-level Fixed-Priority (TFP) scheduling has been shown to outperform many of the analyses for Job-level Fixed-Priority (JFP) scheduling on average. Since JFP is a generalization of TFP scheduling, and the TFP analysis technique itself has been adapted from an earlier JFP analysis, this result is counter-intuitive and in our opinion highlights the lack of good JFP scheduling techniques. Towards generalizing the superior TFP analysis to JFP scheduling, we propose the Smallest Pseudo-Deadline First (SPDF) JFP scheduling algorithm. SPDF uses a simple task-level parameter called pseudo-deadline to prioritize jobs, and hence can behave as a TFP or JFP scheduler depending on the values of the pseudodeadlines. This natural transition from TFP to JFP scheduling has enabled us to incorporate the superior TFP analysis technique in an SPDF schedulability test. We also present a pseudo-deadline assignment algorithm for SPDF scheduling that extends the well-known Optimal Priority Assignment (OPA) algorithm for TFP scheduling. We show that our algorithm is optimal for the derived schedulability test, and also present a heuristic to overcome the computational complexity issue of the optimal algorithm. Our simulation results show that the SPDF algorithm with the new analysis significantly outperforms state-of-the-art TFP and JFP analysis.


Activities of alcohol, aldehyde dehydrogenases (ADH, A1DH, respectively) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were estimated in blood serum of patients with Stages I-III alcoholism (54 men) on admission to the hospital, within 1 hr after ethanol testing (in a dose of 0.4 g/kg of body mass) and during the treatment course. Distinct activation of ADH and GGT and decrease in activity of A1DH were found in the patients as compared with healthy volunteers. Alcohol test did not alter noticeably the enzymatic activity studied. The activity of ADH and GGT was normalized in patients with Stages I-II alcoholism during the treatment course. A1DH exhibited the highest diagnostic efficacy, whose sensitivity and specificity were 92% and 84%, respectively; those for ADH 74% and 86% and for GGT 44% and 90%, respectively. Simultaneous estimation of the activity of the three enzymes improved the sensitivity and efficacy of diagnostic technique and enabled the test to be used as an additional criterion in the diagnosis of alcoholism and in the evaluation of the patients' state and therapeutical efficacy.


The dissertation investigated factors contributing to the internationalisation of small and medium sized manufacturing enterprises in Malaysia. As a newly industrialized country, the Malaysian economy predominantly depends on the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. However, this research seeks to redress this by reporting the key drivers influencing the internationalisation process of SMEs such as firm specific,key personnel and environmental factors as well as to determine the role of market turbulence and competitive advantage on internationalization of manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia. To empirically test the developed framework, primary data was gathered using the survey questionnaire method. The survey instrument was distributed to all manufacturing SMEs involved in exporting which are located in the Klang Valley of Malaysia (FMM, 2012) which are 770 firms. In order to examine the causal structure of the research framework, Structured Equation Modelling (SEM) technique was utilised in this research. A total of 257 questionnaires were usable and analysed. This study has obtained a better understanding on factors that influence internationalisation of manufacturing SMEs by provided an empirical evidence for effect of firm resource, entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation on internationalisation as firm specific factors. Furthermore, it has determined the effect of human capital as key personnel factor as well as government regulation as an environmental factor on internationalisation of manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia. Furthermore, the study has added to the body of knowledge by introducing competitive advantage as a mediating variable between firm resources, entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation,human capital and government regulation with internationalization of manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia. Last but not least, in this study market turbulence found to moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and internationalization of manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia in high market turbulence situation. Based on the influential variables obtained from the analysis, an integrated model was developed which predicted 68% of variance in internationalization of SMEs in Malaysia.


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 11,967 new cases of HPV-associated cervical cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. More black and Hispanic women get cervical cancer than women of other races or ethnicities, possibly because of decreased access to Pap testing or follow-up treatment. Based on solid evidence, cervical cancer screening and protection against HPV infection by vaccination against HPV types 16/18, use of barrier contraceptives, and sexual abstinence decreases cervical cancer incidence. Also avoidance of active and passive cigarette smoking, high parity, and long term use of contraceptives decreases the risk of cervical cancer. In this article, we aim to review the preventative and screening methods for cervical cancer. Discussion of the latest Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines chart given by CDC that compares recommendations from the American Cancer Society, Preventive Services Task Force, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is done. With the FDA approval of the first HPV test for primary cervical cancer screening on April 25th, 2014, clinicians now have 3 different first line screening options, the Pap test, co-testing with Pap and HPV tests, and HPV testing as a stand-alone test. Specifically, the Roche Cobas® HPV Test was approved for primary screening for cervical cancer as a stand-alone test. Clinical trials that evaluate cancer-screening methods are taking place in many parts of the country. Ongoing trials on the development of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7- specific Human Immunologic Assays in Non-HLA2 Type Human Being, Molecular markers in Cervical Cancer Screening, and multispectral digital colposcopy are going on. These improvements in screening strategies along with therapeutic and preventive methods contribute significantly to the control and prevention of cervical cancer.


Abstract In January 2009 a new management regime of individual vessel quotas (IVQs) was put in force in the world's largest fishery, the Peruvian anchovy fishery. Until 2009, the fishery was managed by a regulated open-access system with clear symptoms of the race for fish. We argue that the new regime has stopped the race for fish, reduced the number of vessels participating in the fishery, and prolonged the fishing season. Furthermore, the IVQs appear to have improved profitability in the fishery and increased value-added production in the Peruvian anchovy value chains. This provides support that developing countries with presumed weaker institutions can reap benefits of such management systems. However, there appears to have been setbacks in 2010, as the number of participating vessels has once again increased. This indicates that the institutions that regulate and monitor the fishery must be further strengthened. JEL Classification Code: Q22, Q27


Background: To determine if neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be used to diagnose appendicitis and distinguish complicated from uncomplicated appendicitis. The secondary aim was to determine if the appendix cut-off size on ultrasound matches that of existing literature. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all cases that underwent appendectomy in Father Muller medical college and hospital from 2014 to 2019. The NLR, histopathology, and ultrasound reports for all patients were reviewed. Recommended cut-off values for NLR and appendicular size on ultrasound were determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Ethical approval was obtained for this study. Results: We included 1623 patients in this study. The patients' median age was 24 years, with appendicitis being more common in males than females. NLR>2.4 was statistically associated with appendicitis with sensitivity of 70.1% and specificity of 43.2%. NLR>4.3 was statistically associated with complicated appendicitis with sensitivity of 72.25% and specificity of 54.09%. An appendicular diameter >6.1 mm was suggestive of appendicitis on abdominal ultrasound based on our analysis. Conclusions: NLR is a simple adjunct that can be used to diagnose appendicitis and identify complicated appendicitis.


Summary Background. Some brain tumors may grow immediately beneath the cortical surface without distorting its appearance. Intraoperative image guidance promotes safe resection. We have developed MRI-based corticotopography (MRI-bct), to localize lesions during surgery, using simple, non-dedicated equipment, to match a three-dimensional reconstruction with the corresponding appearance of the brain cortex. Methods. Forty-six patients underwent resection of subcortical brain lesions, aided by MRI-bct. The lesions had a maximum diameter less than 3 cm, were subcortical but no deeper than the floor of the nearest cerebral sulcus. Each patient had a volumetric MRI scan with and without contrast administration. Data sets were transferred to a laptop personal computer and processed using a rendering software. At operation, the three-dimensional model of the brain, including a surface overlay of the lesion, was matched to the exposed brain surface. After its exact relationship with the overlying sulcal pattern was defined, the lesion was localized and resected. In selected patients, the procedure was coupled with functional brain mapping. Results. Data processing took from 10 to 15 min and could be done whenever convenient before operation. Surface matching between the surgical field and the reformatted MRI always required less than 5 min and was done near the operating table. In all patients, the lesion was identified at the first attempt, through a small corticotomy, regardless of the brain shift after dural opening. Conclusions. MRI-bct is a practical, time-saving neuronavigational aid ideal for localizing superficial lesions underlying the cerebral cortex because it unmistakably characterizes the adjacent sulcal anatomy.


Humans routinely deceive themselves when communicating to others, but no one knows whether other animals do the same. We ask whether dishonest signaling between crayfish meets a condition required for self-deception: dishonest individuals and honest individuals escalate aggression according to their signals of strength rather than actual strength. Using game theory, we predicted how an animal's knowledge of its strength should affect its decision to escalate aggression. At the evolutionary equilibrium, an animal that knows its strength should escalate aggression according to its strength, relative to the expected strength of its opponent. By contrast, an animal that knows only its size should escalate aggression according to its size, relative to the size of its opponent. We tested these predictions by staging encounters between male crayfish (Cherax dispar) of known sizes and strengths. Consistent with a model of self-deception, crayfish escalated aggression based on the sizes of their claws relative to those of their opponents, despite the fact that size poorly predicts strength. Males who were weak for their size escalated disputes less often, but their aggression far exceeded the level predicted by a model of self-awareness, suggesting these crayfish were largely ignorant of their deception. Animals that fail to recognize their own dishonest signals may win disputes with stronger opponents without engaging in costly combat. Our game-theoretical approach can be used to identify potential cases of self-deception in nonhuman animals, enabling comparative studies of this behavior.


To obtain further progress and a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms involved in recrystallisation, new and more accurate techniques such as in-situ observations are necessary. This innovative method has been used to monitor the recrystallisation process in a FEGSEM equipped with hot stage. Observations are done in backscatter mode with particular attention to orientation contrast. EBSD maps of the observed areas can be acquired before and after recrystallisation. Details of the movement of the interfaces between the recrystallised region and the parent structure are recorded and analysed. The results show that the grain boundaries observed do not move smoothly but with a jerky motion. The recrystallising front sweeps through small areas, corresponding to single sub-grains or small groups of them, very rapidly and then stops at other sub-grain boundaries for varying time before progressing to the following area.


The purpose of the research is to explore the results of pupils' creative activity in a competition in textile craft in Latvia and to find trends in the creation of textile craft products. The applied method is the analysis of creative work items made by pupils from Forms 6–7 (N1 = 106) and Forms 8–9 (N2 = 132): photos, designs and textile craft products. Among the hand and foot garments, the most popular products in both age groups were fingerless gloves. The knitting technique was used most frequently, and most of the items were wearable. Creativity predominantly manifested in the combinations of colours, techniques and materials, followed by creative technology solutions and creative product shapes. The results regarding creativity were higher for the creation of textile craft products than for creating designs.


The purpose of this project was to study the feasibility of a regional approach to rail transit training in the New York metropolitan area and to recommend a means for implementing such a cooperative training effort. The study had two parts. The first part was to study the existing training at the five agencies, to document the training needs of each agency, and to determine mutual training needs that could be addressed on a regional basis. The five agencies are the New Jersey Trransit Rail Division, the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation, Metro North Commuter Rail, Long Island Railroad, and the New York City Transit Authority. The second part was to determine possible means of sharing training, drawing on the literature and from innovative approaches by other organizations.


The energy flow of equal inclination interference fringes in Michelson interference measurement is theoretically calculated, and its variation with the optical path difference is also analyzed. When the ratio order of interference radius to focal length of the lens is as low as 10-2 or lower, the energy flow variation with the optical path difference is sinusoidal with period λ/2. Simulation is made via Matlab to verify the theoretical calculation and good agreement has been obtained between theoretical analysis and simulation. The parameters to be measured can be achieved via the record of the change in stripe energy flow, which is superior to the conventional method recording variation in stripe light intensity in good stability and strong anti-jam.


Abstract We develop a formal model of bargaining between two states where one can invest in a program to develop nuclear weapons and the other imperfectly observes its efforts and progress over time. In the absence of a nonproliferation deal, the observing state watches the former's program, waiting until proliferation seems imminent to attack. Chance elements—when the program will make progress and when the other state will discover this—determine outcomes. Surprise proliferation, crises over the suspected progress of a nuclear program, and possibly "mistaken" preventive wars arise endogenously from these chance elements. Consistent with the model's predictions and contrary to previous studies, the empirical evidence shows that the progress of a nuclear program and intelligence estimates of it explain the character and outcomes of most interactions between a proliferant and a potential preventive attacker. Counterintuitively, policies intended to reduce proliferation by delaying nuclear programs or improving monitoring capabilities may instead encourage it.


In this work the creep behavior and microstructure changes in aluminum single crystal during equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) were investigated in order to understand the relationships between microstructure and creep behavior. The investigated crystal was oriented with {111} parallel to the shear plane and <110> was parallel to the direction of shear. During ECAP by route A at room temperature single-crystalline sample was subsequently transformed into the polycrystalline material. Microstructure of samples processed by 1 and 4 ECAP passes was characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with the electron backscatter diffraction unit (EBSD). Microstructure analyses showed inhomogeneity of microstructure after ECAP and the increase in the fraction of ua p eWbVW SOaWU c[PS]T C OaaSaFSaWZS SS bSabaObbS[ SObcS]T 373K and at applied stress of 50 MPa were performed on the Al single crystal after one and four ECAP passes. It was found that the creep behavior is influenced by cooperative grain boundary sliding along mesoscopic shear bands.


Adrenomedullin and the natriuretic peptides exert vasodilator, natriuretic, and aldosterone-inhibitory actions, making augmentation of both systems potential therapeutic strategies in heart failure. Adrenomedullin and an endopeptidase inhibitor (SCH32615) were administered separately and in combination in 8 sheep with heart failure. Compared with the control condition, SCH32615 (5 mg bolus+1 mg/kg per hour infusion for 3 hours) reduced arterial pressure, left atrial pressure, and peripheral resistance and increased cardiac output, urinary volume, sodium, creatinine, and cAMP excretion. Plasma atrial and brain natriuretic peptide and cGMP concentrations were increased, whereas aldosterone tended to fall. Adrenomedullin (50 ng/kg per minute infusion for 3 hours) induced directionally similar but significantly greater changes in all hemodynamic variables compared with SCH32615. Urinary cAMP, sodium, and creatinine excretion rose, whereas urinary volume was maintained. Circulating adrenomedullin, cAMP, renin, and angiotensin II levels were increased, aldosterone was reduced, and natriuretic peptide levels were unchanged. Coadministration of adrenomedullin and SCH32615 produced hemodynamic effects greater than those achieved during adrenomedullin administration alone. Despite the larger falls in blood pressure, renal function (urinary volume, sodium excretion, and creatinine clearance) was improved to a level similar to that during SCH32615 administration. Elevations in plasma adrenomedullin and cAMP were greater than those during adrenomedullin administration alone, whereas increments in natriuretic peptides were similar to those during SCH32615 alone. Plasma renin and angiotensin II were increased and aldosterone levels were reduced. In conclusion, cotreatment with adrenomedullin and an endopeptidase inhibitor has beneficial hemodynamic and renal effects in heart failure beyond those of either agent separately.


Abstract This paper opens by summarising the case for student-directed learning in online higher education as a means of bringing about the development and use of higher-level cognitive and interpersonal abilities such as critical and creative thinking. The writers refine their conceptualisations of student-direction, different to, but flowing from student-centred learning, by scrutinising a progressive series of face-to-face examples offering some autonomy in learning. Nine features are identified as essential in a student-directed programme. They review Garrison's recent account of learning-centred Communities of Inquiry (CoI), identifying aspects of the teacher/instructor's role that would need to be altered for student-directed online communities. Guidelines are suggested for creating a student-directed CoI including programme design addressing the development, and use, of generic abilities. Finally, the writers provide an example programme structure incorporating preparation of learners for the responsibilities expected of them and the changing role of the tutor in an online student-directed CoI.


Soft robotics is projected to have a significant impact on healthcare, industry, and the military to deliver assistance in rehabilitation, daily living activities, repetitive motion tasks, and human performance augmentation. Many attempts have been made for application-specific robotic joints, robots, and exoskeletons using various actuator types, materials, and designs. The progress of creating soft robotic systems can be accelerated if a set of actuators with defined characteristics were developed, similar to conventional robotic actuators, which can be assembled to create desired systems including exoskeletons and end effectors. This work presents the design methodology of such a modular actuator, created with a novel corrugated diaphragm that can apply linear displacement, angular displacement, and force. This modular actuator approach allows for creating various robotic joints by arranging them into different configurations. The modular corrugated diaphragm actuator concept was validated through numerical simulation, fabrication, and testing. Linear displacement, angular displacement, and force characteristics were shown for a single module and in multi-module assemblies. Actuator assemblies that are configured in a serial and parallel manner were investigated to demonstrate the applicability and versatility of the concept of the modular corrugated diaphragm actuator for creating single and multi-DOF joints.


Human Computer interaction is typically constrained to the use of sight, hear, and touch. This paper describes an attempt to get over these limitations. We introduce the smell in the interaction with the aim of obtaining information from scents, i.e. giving meaning to odours and understand how people would appreciate such extensions. We discuss the design and implementation of our prototype system. The system is able to represent/manage an immersive environment, where the user interacts by means of visual, hearing and olfactory informations. We have implemented an odour emitter controlled by a presence sensor device. When the system perceives the presence of a user it activates audio/visual contents to encourage engaging in interaction. Then a specific scent is diffused in the air to augment the perceive reality of the experience. We discuss technical difficulties and initial empirical observations.


Background. Interleukin (IL)-15 is a chemotactic factor to T cells. It induces proliferation and promotes survival of activated T cells. IL-15 receptor blockade in mouse cardiac and islet allotransplant models has led to long-term engraftment and a regulatory T-cell environment. This study investigated the efficacy of IL-15 receptor blockade using Mut-IL-15/Fc in an outbred non-human primate model of renal allotransplantation. Methods. Male cynomolgus macaque donor-recipient pairs were selected based on ABO typing, major histocompatibility complex class I typing, and carboxy-fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester-based mixed lymphocyte responses. Once animals were assigned to one of six treatment groups, they underwent renal transplantation and bilateral native nephrectomy. Serum creatinine level was monitored twice weekly and as indicated, and protocol biopsies were performed. Rejection was defined as a increase in serum creatinine to 1.5 mg/dL or higher and was confirmed histologically. Complete blood counts and flow cytometric analyses were performed periodically posttransplant; pharmacokinetic parameters of Mut-IL-15/Fc were assessed. Results. Compared with control animals, Mut-IL-15/Fc-treated animals did not demonstrate increased graft survival despite adequate serum levels of Mut-IL-15/Fc. Flow cytometric analysis of white blood cell subgroups demonstrated a decrease in CD8+ T-cell and natural killer cell numbers, although this did not reach statistical significance. Interestingly, two animals receiving Mut-IL-15/Fc developed infectious complications, but no infection was seen in control animals. Renal pathology varied widely. Conclusions. Peritransplant IL-15 receptor blockade does not prolong allograft survival in non-human primate renal transplantation; however, it reduces the number of CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells in the peripheral blood.


PURPOSE
In the last few years, the search for new biologic markers in high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas has provided important results. In particular, soluble CD30 (sCD30) levels were elevated in most patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS
From September 1988 to October 1993, treatment was completed in 70 previously untreated patients with ALCL, of whom 38 had the common type (ALCL-CT) and 32 had the Hodgkin's-like subtype (ALCL-HL). Serum sCD30 levels were measured at the time of diagnosis and after induction polychemotherapy in all patients; in addition, the initial sCD30 levels were compared with those obtained from 50 stage-matched patients with HD.

RESULTS
Pretreatment levels of sCD30 were highly elevated in the stage-matched group of HD patients compared with healthy controls; median sCD30 levels in patients with ALCL-CT and ALCL-HL were 18 and seven times higher, respectively, than in patients with HD. The sCD30 level normalized on achievement of complete response (CR). The risk of lower relapse-free survival was associated with bulky disease, advanced stage, and high pretreatment sCD30 levels; the risk of lower overall survival was associated with advanced stage and pretreatment levels of sCD30 in both univariate and multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that sCD30 is a specific prognostic indicator of the risk for lower complete response rate and relapse-free expectancy for patients with ALCL.


This study demonstrates that regional mechanical property anomalies can be identified in tensile specimens using high-resolution, multi-point tracking and suitable analysis software. Identification of such regions is important for test validation and for accurate interpretation of force-displacement data. Biaxial tensile tests on bovine peritoneum showed that regional strains can vary by a factor of 3 within a single specimen, and analyses that ignore such variations are shown to produce stress-strain graphs that are substantially in error.Copyright © 2009 by ASME


Abstract argumentation frameworks nowadays provide the most popular formalization of argumentation on a conceptual level. Numerous semantics for this paradigm have been proposed, whereby cf2 semantics has shown to nicely solve particular problems concernend with odd-length cycles in such frameworks. In order to compare different semantics not only on a theoretical basis, it is necessary to provide systems which implement them within a uniform platform. Answer-Set Programming (ASP) turned out to be a promising direction for this aim, since it not only allows for a concise representation of concepts inherent to argumentation semantics, but also offers sophisticated off-the-shelves solvers which can be used as core computation engines. In fact, many argumentation semantics have meanwhile been encoded within the ASP paradigm, but not all relevant semantics, among them cf2 semantics, have yet been considered. The contributions of this work are thus twofold. Due to the particular nature of cf2 semantics, we first provide an alternative characterization which, roughly speaking, avoids the recursive computation of sub-frameworks. Then, we provide the concrete ASP-encodings, which are incorporated within the ASPARTIX system, a platform which already implements a wide range of semantics for abstract argumentation.


Abstract A considerable bulk of literature on service quality in leisure and recreation is set in, and driven by, conceptual frameworks based on commercial transactions. Little research reported in English deals with service quality in popular, public leisure settings such as botanic gardens or museums. This paper presents findings from a study of visitors' perceptions of service quality at four regional botanic gardens in Australia, a replication study of a similar exploration of service quality in botanic gardens of six Australian capital cities. Perceptions of service quality, demographic profiles, and measures of behavioural intentions post‐visit were collected from more than 1000 adult visitors in 2008. Factor analysis of 17 visitor‐defined attributes of service quality identified three underlying dimensions of service quality. Subsequent hierarchical linear regression identified considerable explanatory effects of these factors for visitor service quality of visitors' overall satisfaction with their visit, their level of recommendation of the garden, and their likelihood to revisit the garden. There appeared to be significant and meaningful predictive power of visitors' intended behaviour based on their ratings of particular visitor service quality attributes. Results of the study included a call for replication studies and engagement with related attempts to understand the meaning of service quality for visitors to regional public institutions where recreation and leisure experiences are clear outcomes for visitors. For researchers, implications include the need to consider further refinement to the concept and measurement of service quality for public and non‐profit organisations providing popular leisure experiences and visitor benefits.


Bryostatin 1 (Bryo) has been shown to induce biphasic dose-response curves for down-regulating protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) as well as for protecting PKCδ from down-regulation induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). To identify regions within PKCδ that confer these responses to Bryo, we utilized reciprocal PKCα and PKCδ chimeras (PKCα/δ and PKCδ/α) constructed by exchanging the regulatory and catalytic domains of these PKCs. These chimeras and wild-type PKCα/α and PKCδ/δ constructed in the same way were stably expressed in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Twenty-four h of treatment with Bryo induced a biphasic dose-response curve for down-regulating both wild-type PKCδ/δ and the PKCα/δ chimera. In contrast, Bryo led to a nearly complete down-regulation of both PKCα/α and PKCδ/α and also produced a faster mobility form of these species on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The nature of both the regulatory and, to a lesser extent, the catalytic domains affected the potency of Bryo to down-regulate the chimeric PKC proteins as well as to protect PKCα/δ and PKCδ/δ from down-regulation. Bryo at high concentrations also inhibited the down-regulation of PKCδ/δ and PKCα/δ induced by 1 μm PMA when co-applied. The portion of PKC protected by Bryo from down-regulation by either Bryo or PMA was localized in the particulate fraction of the cells. We conclude that the catalytic domain of PKCδ confers protection from down-regulation induced by Bryo or Bryo plus PMA, suggesting that this domain contains the isotype-specific determinants involved in the unique effect of Bryo on PKCδ.


For the implementation of a user oriented assistance system, or an advanced humancomputer interface, the computerized part needs to be supplied with a wide range of information concerning the current user. The adaption and personalization of the user experience is based
not only on the recognition of control commands, which can be solved through current voice controlled interfaces, which are capable of interpreting the syntax of its user, but also on the non-syntactical information conveyed through voice affect or body language. Therefore, current research aims to advance the capabilities of computer assisted systems to recognize emotions and also more general states of a user. This is done to provide for the anticipative
and cooperative behavior needed for assisting applications, which then can adapt to the specific needs the user can have concerning their personal state and level of mental involvement. To facilitate this, one needs to provide current classifiers working on highly relevant features suitable for the discrimination of user states. Used features can change considerably between different classiffication tasks which hinders a general set of features. At the same time such systems often
need to be mobile applications, which restricts the amount of computational power available, and additionally real-time compatible, which limits the complexity of the used classifier and its applicable feature set, since resource-restricted hardware is used in such application. Our aim is to provide an alternative approach to get similar results to more complex methods, by using simpler architectures with a relatively small dataset. The inspiration were comparable studies concerning the minimization of the used feature set as discussed in this paper.


This article examines how we connect the myriad of events and feelings we
experience - to render our lives meaningful. We imbue are experiences with
meaning through relating time tenses, such as the past to the present, and
attempt render 'life' comprehensible, ordered and continuous. The lines of life
that are formed, using a variety of life connections, are not necessarily
according to a strict chronology. They may twist and turn within our
conceptions of time and be reinterpreted as we record, retrieve, rehearse and
relive the past, present and future. The article argues that the ideas of
motivation and fantasy need to be addressed more fully within narrative and
other biographical analysis by apply notions of traces and forms and, further,
that the 'biographical' itself is being radically transformed. The article consists
of a number of exploratory notes and speculations rather than following a
conventional format.
Yet the celebrity is usually nothing greater than a more-publicized version of us.
In imitating him (sic), in trying to dress like him, talk like him, look like him,
think like him, we are simply imitating ourselves … (Boorstin, 1963: 83)
Nor can one say with confidence that any popular hero, however ludicrous - say,
the hippie - will not be the progenitor of a new way of life (Klapp, 1969: 255)


Since anisomorphism, the absence of an exact correspondence between words in two different languages, often impedes the process of second language (L2) acquisition, L2 teachers need to recognize effective methods for dealing with it. In an experiment involving a total of 109 students, we tested several methods of teaching English language military vocabulary particulars which lack direct Polish language equivalents. The results suggest that L1 translation is less effective in dealing with lexical gaps than monolingual explanations, presentation of the terminology in context, and illustrating its meaning with examples. However, the results also indicate that the use of L1 for contrastive analysis may help students cope with anisomorphism. Key words English for specific purposes, military terminology, vocabulary teaching, pomenska neprekrivnost, anisomorphism.


Lebanese civil society organizations that work to promote the principles and values of human rights led the efforts to publicly expose the issue of violence against women (hereafter VAW) in the mid-90s of the last century. Since 2008, a coalition of these organizations has been working on a draft law that protects women from family violence, organizing media and advocacy campaigns, and lobbying with legislative bodies and policy makers to promote the passing of the bill. These campaigns with respect to the draft law are a culmination of a number of activities aimed at assisting battered women by lending an ear to their suffering; providing them with legal, medical, psychological, and professional support; and offering shelter to those in danger.


Trace metal biogeochemistry is projected to be affected by ocean acidification. The understanding of the effects is of particular interest, as trace metals such as Fe and Cu are known for their significant biological roles. Dissolved Fe and Cu in seawater occur predominantly in the form of metal organic complexes. This thesis has investigated the influence that ocean acidification may have on the chemical forms (speciation) of dissolved Fe and Cu in seawater, focusing on their organic complexation, in order to provide a first insight into the possible future changes in their cycling and bioavailability. Competitive Ligand Exchange Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry (CLE-ACSV) was used as an analytical technique throughout this PhD work to determine Fe and Cu organic binding ligand characteristics. Organic Fe complexation was determined at current seawater pH in the high latitude North Atlantic (HLNA), which is an area of climate interest due to the importance of iron limitation on phytoplankton productivity and hence the carbon cycle. Main findings indicate that iron biogeochemistry in surface and subsurface waters of the HLNA is controlled by a combination of phytoplankton iron uptake and microbial iron binding ligand production, whilst in deep waters ligand saturation was evident, suggesting that additional Fe would be removed by scavenging or precipitation. The effect of ocean acidification on organic complexation of Fe and Cu was determined in the northwest European shelf seas, during the first UK Ocean Acidification consortium programme research cruise. Results suggested that a decrease in surface ocean pH will potentially result in a reduction of the free and inorganic metal fraction (Fe'), and also in an increase in the organically complexed iron fraction. Direct impacts on Fe bioavailability, however, are difficult to quantify, as the overall iron solubility, and hence its bioavailability, is controlled by the interrelationship between inorganic solubility, organic complexation, redox chemistry, and phytoplankton-trace metal feedback mechanisms. No significant effects were observed of a decrease in pH on the organically complexed Cu (II) fraction, or on the overall free and inorganically bound fraction (Cu'). Consequently, it is not clear so far whether Cu ligand production will be affected by ocean acidification, or the possible effects on its toxicity. In addition, surface water trace metal distribution in the northwest European shelf seas was assessed. Dissolved metal concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn appeared to be significantly influenced by riverine inputs in the study area; whereas surface seawater pH was not evident as a controlling factor. The diversity of the chemical and biological processes controlling Fe and Cu biogeochemistry, and the way in which they will be altered by ocean acidification, is likely to be complex.


Epidemic Nausea and Vomiting SIR,-Your leading article on this subject (March 7, p. 552) draws attention to a condition increasingly common, which in its acute form constitutes a public health problem, and in its subacute and chronic variants furnishes an appreciable amount of work to the general practitioner. In this practice the condition was first encountered as a mild outbreak in September, 1950. Clinically it was confused with Sonne dysentery by virtue of the combination of respiratory and intestinal symptoms. Stool cultures and blood agglutinations, however, were consistently negative. Since September, 1950, the disease has steadily entrenched itself in the community, with always one or two cases present and periodic mild outbreaks. When the outbreak is at its height (although it is never explosive) and several cases are being seen daily with acute sickness and diarrhoea, the subacute and chronic varieties begin to show themselves. The subacute variety, peculiar to children, manifests itself as a febrile flatulent constipation with acute nausea, thirst, nasal catarrh, and brassy cough and a reversal of the ordinary' sleep habit, so that the child is somnolent by day but sleeps only fitfully by night with a tendency to muscular twitchings and nightmares. On occasion the temperature may go up to 104° F. (40° C.), and there may be conjunctivitis and a blotchy rash on the face which may be mistaken for measles. In the recovery phase there is a tendency to tedious remissions. The chronic variety, seen in adults, is characterized by a most pronounced weariness and nervous depression, flatulent indigestion, constipation, and headache. Other common symptoms include vertigo, diurnal torpor and nocturnal insomnia, increased cold sensitivity, perversions of taste and smell, thirst, polyuria, and bloodshot eyes. The signs in this chronic type are few-some upper respiratory catarrh, abdominal tympanites, a normal or rather slow pulse, and 'a very offensive stool. Vertigo, when present, may be so severe as to overshadow other symptoms. These cases may be the foundation of reports of epidemic vertigo. When the vertigo is accompanied by severe frontal or occipital headache and nausea it may be confused with Mdnibre's syndrome. In the absence of treatment the chronic case drags on for three to four weeks, the course being punctuated by periods of wellbeing. This symptomatic seesaw is a prominent feature. Treatment with succinylsulphathiazole or phthalylsulphathiazole reduces the duration to seven to ten days, while chloramphenicol may resolve the condition in one to three days. When dealing with large numbers this in itself creates a therapeutic dilemma, in view of the difference in cost. Throughout the three-year period in which this problem has been studied three outbreaks of Sonne dysentery were also noted in this practice, in each of which positive stool cultures were readily obtained.-I am, etc.,


The complete stories of a 20th century master of fiction Affairs, obsessions, ardors, fantasy, myth, legends, dreams, fear, pity, and violence this magnificent collection of stories illuminates all corners of the human experience. Including four previously uncollected stories, this new complete edition reveals Graham Greene in a range of contrasting moods, sometimes cynical and witty, sometimes searching and philosophical. Each of these forty-nine stories confirms V. S. Pritchett s declaration that Greene is a master of storytelling. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction by Pico Iyer. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators."