Emergency Abdominal Surgery extensively reviews the management of all types of abdominal catastrophes. The book, unfortunately sparsely illustrated, nevertheless is an invaluable handbook for the student and surgical house staff. The early chapters dealing with preoperative and postoperative care present practical recommendations. This early portion of the book also includes abdominal emergencies in the newborn, apparently a favorite subject of the author, a consultant in pediatric surgery at the University of Aberdeen. The text discusses the usual abdominal emergencies, such as appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, perforated ulcer, hematemesis, and melana, as well as unusual subjects of specialized interest (gynecologic, urologic, and others). The author approaches these conditions from the standpoint of etiology, incidence, diagnosis, and management. Numerous references from the world surgical bibliography are sometimes as recent as within one year of the book's publication. Dr. Jones, in presenting various techniques of management, offers his personal preference but at all times


Endonuclease V from bacteriophage T4 is a well characterized enzyme that initiates the repair of ultraviolet light induced pyrimidine dimers. Scission of the phosphodiester backbone between the pyrimidines within a dimer, or 3' to an abasic (AP) site, occurs by a beta-elimination mechanism. In addition, high concentrations of endonuclease V have been reported to catalyze the cleavage of the C5'-O-P bond in a reaction referred to as delta-elimination. To better understand the enzymology of endonuclease V, the delta-elimination reaction of the enzyme has been investigated using an oligonucleotide containing a site-specific cis-syn cyclobutane thymine dimer. The slower kinetics of the delta-elimination reaction compared to beta-elimination and the ability of unlabeled dimer-containing DNA to compete more efficiently for delta-elimination than beta-elimination indicate that delta-elimination most likely occurs during a separate enzyme encounter with the incised DNA. Previous studies have shown that both the alpha-amino group of the N-terminus and the acidic residue Glu-23 are necessary for the N-glycosylase and AP lyase activities of endonuclease V. Experiments with T2P, E23Q, and E23D mutants, which are defective in pyrimidine dimer-specific nicking, demonstrated that delta-elimination requires Glu-23, but not the primary amine at the N-terminus. In fact, the T2P mutant was much more efficient at promoting delta-elimination than the wild-type enzyme. Besides lending further proof that delta-elimination requires a second encounter between enzyme and DNA, this result may reflect an enhanced binding of the T2P mutant to dimer-containing DNA.


Price knowledge is a key antecedent of many consumer judgments and decisions. This paper examines consumers' ability to form accurate beliefs about the minimum, the maximum, and the overall variability of prices for multiple product categories. Eight experiments provide evidence for a novel phenomenon we call dispersion spillover: Consumers tend to overestimate price dispersion in a category after encountering another category in which prices are more dispersed (versus equally or less dispersed). Our experiments show that this dispersion spillover is consequential: It influences the likelihood that consumers will search for (and find) better prices and offers, and how much consumers bid in auctions. Finally, we disentangle two cognitive processes that might underlie dispersion spillover. Our results suggest that judgments of dispersion are not only based on specific prices stored in memory, and that dispersion spillover does not simply reflect the inappropriate activation of prices from other categories. Instead, it appears that consumers also form "intuitive statistics" of dispersion: Summary representations that encode the dispersion of prices in the environment, but that are insufficiently category-specific. (174 words).


This review article discusses the opportunities and possibilities of antipurinergic therapy (APT) with suramin on mice models with ASD and fragile X syndrome. Suramin is an APT mediator that triggers the mechanism linked to mitochondria, influences immunity, and has the ability to stabilize locomotor function and coordination, social behavior, normalize brain synapse structure, cell-tocell signaling, and recover mitochondrial metabolism in mice with autistic-like behaviors and genetics. Suramin may provide new therapeutic strategies for ASD subtypes. Many clinical studies have explored the scope
of APT with suramin to assist with the genetic, metabolic, and environmental risk factors of ASD. The pharmacological components of suramin allow binding against purinergic receptors without release, serving as an antagonist of extracellular APT, and other nucleotides. In recent studies, APT and suramin have been investigated to help correct behavior, genetic irregularities, and metabolism stemmed from neurodevelopmental disorders. This review article looks at APT with suramin under the following conditions in animal models:
• Gene-environment interaction
• APT with poly(I:C) mouse model
• Fragile X mental retardation syndrome 1 (Fmr1)
knockout mouse model This review article investigates studies by Naviaux et al.and the influence of suramin and APT in relation to ASD and fragile X syndrome. It was concluded that APT with suramin assists in correcting genetic abnormalities and environmental predispositions that may impact social
behavior related to ASD.


Introduction:
 Lifestyle factors such as weight, diet and smoking are associated with stroke incidence and recurrence. Targeted interventions on these risk factors can be successful in reducing stroke and TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) rates. The objective of this study was to assess the number of patients presenting to a hospital with an ischemic stroke (ISC) or TIA who received lifestyle interventions in a large, multi-hospital health system.

 Methods:
 Data from 25 hospitals in a multi-state healthcare system stroke registry from 2002 to May 2015 were used. Patients with a diagnosis of ISC or TIA were included. Patients on comfort care, transferred to an outside facility from the emergency department, discharged to hospice or expired were excluded. Lifestyle intervention outcome measures included the percentage of patients who received information on weight and activity management, anti-hypertensive diet, cholesterol reducing diet and anti-smoking treatment. Outcomes were evaluated by risk groups including patients with Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥25, those prescribed anti-hypertensive or cholesterol lowering medications in-hospital and smokers.

 Results:
 A total of 39,200 patients met inclusion criteria. Analytic sample sizes ranged from 6, 576 to 39,200. Over sixty-four percent had BMI≥25 (n=16,527), 75.5% (n=23,364) were prescribed anti-hypertensive medication, 78.4% (n=29,609) were prescribed cholesterol lowering medication and 16.8% (n=6,576) were smokers. Among those with BMI ≥ 25, only 42.6% (n=6,560) received weight management intervention. Among those that were prescribed anti-hypertensive medication, 50.6% (n=8,463) received information on antihypertensive diet. Among those that were prescribed cholesterol lowering medication, 57.1% (n=10,648) received cholesterol lowering diet information. For those that smoked, 90.1% (n=5,923) received anti-smoking treatment.

 Conclusions:
 This large patient cohort demonstrates there are improvement opportunities for in-hospital stroke prevention efforts. While hospitals do a good job appropriately providing smoking treatment to stroke patients, lifestyle interventions such as weight management and diet should also be addressed for those at-risk.


The current digital transformation (additionally accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic) is causing profound changes across a number of industries. Part of this revolution is the spread of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), which enables the automation of business processes by replacing human work with advanced software robots. One of the goals of the conducted research was to develop a classification of approaches to RPA positioning in enterprises. The author also identified differences in RPA positioning between individual industries. Based on conducted literature research, the author has proposed a proprietary classification for approaches to RPA positioning: conservative, efficiency improving, and strategic. This was subject to verification based on the results of empirical research using multidimensional correspondence analysis. The survey was conducted by the author in 2020 using the CAWI method: Credible (reliable) results were obtained from 238 Polish enterprises. The multidimensional correspondence analysis, conducted on the basis of the results of the empirical research confirmed that the approaches to RPA positioning in enterprises proposed by the author did occur in business practice. The outcome of the RPA classification became the basis for qualitative research (in the form of semi-structured interviews with expert practitioners) aimed at answering the question as to whether enterprises that strategically position RPA and treat it as a tool for digital transformation increase their organizational resilience. Up until now, however, no study has been found that focuses on how RPA increases organizational resilience or what its consequences are both at the research and application levels. This article fills the research gap in this area.


Several copolymers of linear polystyrene were prepared for evaluation as soluble polymeric supports for organic synthesis. These polymers were utilized for the synthesis of ?2-isoxazoline compounds. The target compounds were synthesized via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between polymer bound alkenes and nitrile oxides generated in situ from their corresponding aldoximes. The cleaved ?2-isoxazoline compounds were tested for biological activity against Mycobacterium fortuitum. To compare the success of these linear polystyrene copolymers, some of the ?2-isoxazoline compounds synthesized on soluble polymeric supports were also prepared via traditional crosslinked polymer supports. The polymer-bound ?2-isoxazolines were also tested for antimicrobial activity. In addition attempts were made to prepare polymers containing the ?2-isoxazolines but anchored by non-hydrolysable bonds. Although the copolymers of polystyrene gave good loading capacity in mmol/g, and being soluble in chlorinated solvents it was possible to monitor the reactions by 1H NMR spectroscopy, the cleavage of the polymer bound products proved to be quite troublesome. Product purification was not as straightforward as it was anticipated. Isolation of the cleaved target compounds proved to be time consuming and laborious when compared to the traditional organic synthesis and solid phase organic synthesis (SPOS). Polymer-bound ?2-isoxazolines close to the polymer backbone exhibited some biological activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Polymers with substitution at the para-position of the aryl substituent at position 3 of isoxazoline ring showed antimicrobial activity.


The main objective of this paper was to study the economics of poultry eggproduction in the opensystem in Khartoum State. Specific objectives were to study the socio-economic features of poultry egg producers, investigate the main factors contributing to the production cost and compare between production costs, total returns and gross margins in different farm types and sizes. A questionnaire was prepared in order to obtain information on quantities and costs beside socio-economic questions such as level of education. The farms were stratified into strata according to the size of the flock to increase the homogeneity of sampling units. The data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis to analyze socio-economic characteristics of egg poultry producers. Also, quantitative technique tools were used to measure the profitability of the farms. The study revealed that 58% from egg poultry producers whose main job are poultry breeding, and 60% of poultry producers have experience of more than five years. The feed cost was the main cost item in the egg farm in open-system that, it represented 90.2, 89.7 and 92.7% of total production cost in small, medium and large farm sizes of egg production, respectively, and about 75.8% in (4 5 months old) pullet farm. Also, the study revealed that the other factors of production such as price of day-old chicks, price of (4 5 months) hens, mortality cost, vaccines and drugs and labor cost represented the most total cost of production. The total cost of production and cost per dozen were lowest in large farm sizes than other farm sizes and type. Highest gross profit was obtained in large farm sizes, while the lowest ones were observed in pullet farms. However, all farms have CPP greater than unity. The study concluded that: feed cost was the main cost item in different farm types and sizes. High percentage of mortality cost and price of day-old chicks and (4 5 months) hens were also high. Also, it concluded that, the large size farm was more efficient than other sizes and type of the farms.


Background The LENA (Labeling of Enalapril from Neonates up to Adolescents) project has been initiated to improve the healthcare of children with heart failure by an enalapril orodispersible mini-tablet. The LENA consortium combines academic clinical research centers, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and a patient/parent advocacy organization. The objective of the project requires to comply with respective GxP regulations like Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Clinical (Laboratory) Practice (GCP/"GCLP"1) and Good Vigilance Practice (GVP). The project team is comprised of sub-teams experienced in paediatric clinical practice, medicines development, clinical research and project management, but not all team members work in an appropriate quality framework. Aim: To establish a well-documented, efficient quality system applying a new approach for ensuring quality in all trial aspects by combining existing organization-related quality system elements of the project partners with newly developed SOPs and overarching, integrating trial-specific elements to ensure a reliable quality environment for the LENA Phase I clinical trial. Methods Based on the network-structure of the project organization, a strategy based on a team approach with joint responsibilities for the quality conduct of the project was pursuit, forming a QM Team consisting of the project leader, the leaders for pharmaceutical and clinical development and an external quality expert. The team compiled a quality manual and an organizational chart displaying the sub-teams and their responsibilities. Another responsibility of the team is the integration of existing SOPs and Work Instructions as well as the creation of procedures at the project level and furthermore the verification of appropriate qualification of all staff involved in the project through CVs, job descriptions and training records. Results For the Phase I study, a thorough analysis of all existing relevant SOPs and Work Instructions, forms and other quality elements was performed, uncovered trial-related processes were identified and a work plan was established to fill the gaps with the smallest possible number of newly developed organization-related SOPs/Work Instructions and by preparing trial-specific process manuals. Demonstration of the trial team members was ensured by completing documentation concerning CVs, job description and training records. Among the sub-teams, the GCLP environment of the bioanalytical laboratory was started from scratch and could adequately support the LENA Phase I study by "GCLP" quality work and sample logistics. Conclusion The consortiums approach enabled the preparation of a comprehensive, reliable GxP compliant quality system within a short timeframe and with the limited resources of a publicly funded project. 1 "GCLP" is used as acronym for a quality system established in compliance with "Reflection paper for laboratories that perform the analysis or evaluation of clinical trial samples" (EMA/INS/GCP/532137/2010; 28 February 2012) The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement n°602295 (LENA).


Addition of titanium dioxide (TiO2) (nano)particles into photocatalytic paints represents a promising alternative aiming to mineralize gaseous pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into innocuous species (H2O and CO2). Despite important industrial and economic benefits, some concerns were raised regarding the risks associated with nano-objects and their human and environmental impacts. To mitigate potential risks associated with the use of these nano-objects, we report a safer by design strategy to develop a photocatalytic paint containing TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) taking into consideration the safety aspects over its life cycle. Specific innovative types of TiO2 NPs were synthesized. These nanoparticles were then incorporated into an organic matrix-based paint. These paints were applied on standard substrates and underwent artificial weathering in an accelerated weathering chamber with controlled parameters. Photocatalytic efficiency towards airborne VOCs was measured for all the paints. Mechanical solicitation through abrasion and incineration tests were performed to assess the potential emission of airborne particles that could lead to human or environmental exposure. In parallel, toxicology studies were conducted to assess the hazards associated with the pristine particles and paint residues. Using this safer by design strategy, we succeeded in decreasing the negative impact of TiO2 on the paint matrix while keeping a good photocatalytic efficiency and reducing the NP release. Taken together, these results show that we succeeded in generating safer by design paints, thanks to the use of these specifically developed TiO2 NPs, which exhibit similar photocatalytic properties and enhanced physical properties as compared to paints containing the reference TiO2 NPs, while reducing their potential hazards.


In Henry James's Roderick Hudson (1875), the connection between art and life is made manifest by the relationship between the sculptor Roderick Hudson and his repressed, psychically split patron, Rowland Mallet. In this essay I explore the heretofore unnoticed connections between the dynamics of same-sex desire and the aesthetic concerns of James's novel. I argue that the novel's aesthetic is mirrored in its representation of homosocial bonds and Catholicism. For Rowland Mallet aestheticized Catholicism and the homoeroticized patron-artist relationship are means of palliating his psychological and sexual fragmentation. Patronage allows the idle Rowland to become a creator at a remove and to consummate his aesthetic desires. Moreover, patronage confers a socially and contractually sanctioned "right to sight," whereby Rowland can satisfy his scopophilic tendencies by watching his ward and his works. The patron-artist relationship in the novel can therefore be read as a same-sex enactment of the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea, a motif that James had rehearsed in stories preceding Roderick Hudson.


The aim of article is to qualify the selected aspects in the offer management in point of view of industry companies with different size which run a business in Slovak Republic. First part of the article represents a methodology of the empirical study. Second part concerns with a problem of the relationship client-supplier in the Slovak industrial market, i. e. as supplier's company can target a client on the basis of his needs, achieve him and to be his support in his activities. In this context the company trade policy realised meets a variety scale of decisions of marketing managers in micro-sized, small-sized, middle and big-sized companies. The research results partially clear the mechanism of managing the offer in the Slovak industrial companies. In conclusion, there are represented some claims which could be an object of further research.
The results from the actual study show: internal characteristics of company, the creation of market segments, company information sources, application of trade model. The study, which was realised in the Slovak industrial companies, verified that the companies apply the different approaches to the offer management. The study arised from size types of companies because of that that groups of companies determined on the basis of the number of employees make possible to better qualify the relationship client-supplier as a subset sustainable development focused on the creation of the value-oriented offer.


The p25 triple gene block protein of Potato virus X (PVX) is multifunctional, participating in viral movement and acting as a suppressor of RNA silencing. The cell-to-cell movement of PVX is known to depend on the suppression function of p25. GFP-fused p25 accumulates in rod-like (RL) structures with intense fluorescence in cells. By monitoring the location of fluorescence at different times, we have now shown that the RL structure is composed of filaments. P25 mutants without the conditional ability to recover movement function could not form RL structures while the mutants that had the ability did form the structure, suggesting that the ability of p25 to form RL structures is necessary for its function in cell-to-cell movement, but not for its suppressor function. Moreover, chemical inhibition of microfilaments in cells destroyed the formation of the complete RL structure. Additionally, TGBp2 and TGBp3 were recruited into the RL structure, suggesting a relationship between the TGBps in virus movement.


Since 1991 the Namibia Palaeontology Expedition has excavated four Miocene sites in the Sperrgebiet, three of which (Arrisdrift, Fiskus and Auchas Mine) are new. Only the material from Arrisdrift and a single bone from Langental are specifically determinable. All but one of the 81 rhinocerotid fossils from Arrisdrift constitute a homogeneous sample pertaining to a very large species of cursorial rhino. The exception is an isolated magnum which suggests a small to medium-sized short legged form, perhaps Chilotheridium pattersoni. A magnum from Langental probably represents Brachypotherium heinzelini. The large form from Arrisdrift seems to be the largest of the Miocene African Rhinos; the size and proportions of the metapodials and the other limb bones suggest an analogy with Diceros gr. pachygnathus-neumayri of the Upper Miocene of the Near East; the type of construction of the upper cheek teeth, namely die fourth premolar, is of Dicerotine type and presents, as do the dimensions, close resemblances with Diceros douariensis of the Upper Miocene of North Africa and Italy; the mandible shows analogies with the Dicerotines, especially the apparently short symphysis. This Rhino is Diceros australis nov. sp., so far the oldest known species of the subfamily.


The thesis examines films, television programmes and associated newspaper articles from the period 1959-1989 to discover how the future has been talked about in popular discourses. It considers both fiction and nonfiction in the areas of defence, nuclear issues, ecological catastrophes, space and artificial beings. It is particularly concerned to contrast scientific discourse with science fiction to discover how the distinction between them is maintained when the temporal setting is the future and whatever is asserted or depicted is characterised by not yet having happened.

The thesis begins by investigating the discursive struggle over the naming of the US military policy both Star Wars and SDI. It uses the concept of professional language and Michel Foucault's arguments about regimes of truth to explain the status of the more scientific term, while the popularity and success of the film are advanced as reasons for the appeal of the popular title. The following chapters attempt to discover whether this example is charcteristic or an oddity.

The examination of the presentation of potential eco-catastrophes, particularly in TV science programmes finds minimal variation and piecemeal presentation being used in an attempt to separate scientific discourse from SF and emphasise certainty. In looking at nuclear discourse the competing claims of the defence establishment and those people making nuclear war dramas for TV to speak with authority about the future are investigated to try to understand why there is such a paucity of depictions of the nuclear future.

It is discovered that talking about the future in space shifted with economic discourse became more dominant than scientific, but that this did not apply to those fictions, like Star Trek, which were constrained by precursors from the 1960s. These are the major instances of an optimistic future. In considering the case of artificial beings, changes are found within the fictions as certain categories of being become scientifically more feasible. An analogy with colonial discourse and the concept 'hybridity' proves particularly useful.

The thesis concludes by finding hybrids of fiction and non-fiction, scientific and science fictional discourses most characteristic of popular discourses about the future.


This study examines the concept of electronic government (e-government) inclusiveness and evaluates the inclusiveness of local e-government websites. Inclusiveness sets e-government apart from other types of websites (e.g. commercial or organizational sites) that only serve exclusive market segments. An evaluation for inclusiveness of 101 local government websites from Mississippi (an underdeveloped area by many health and social metrics) revealed (1) a high frequency of issues that prevent inclusive service (on average each site had 291.83 issues), (2) high variability in terms of number of issues (range = [2, 3171]), and (3) widespread absence of websites (87 of the 188 municipalities and county seats did not have discoverable websites). These results suggest there is a need for more inclusiveness, but the allocation of resources to accomplish this may not be feasible. To address this, two strategic options are presented to information technology (IT) policy-makers who seek to leverage e-government for development: an idealistic approach with traditional IT investment for future returns and a pragmatic one that resembles an entrepreneurial IT start-up venture. The study contributes in three ways: we identify the concept and criteria of e-government inclusiveness; develop an automated, software-based, and replicable evaluation method that can be used by local governments to improve a website's inclusiveness; and present strategic options for using e-government to promote social and economic development.


While the model of deliberative democracy gives a crucial role to dialogue, empirical evidence has not yet established if discussion helps to reach a better understanding of political issues and, above all, if individuals are prepared to change their views and preferences. This article presents an experiment carried out within the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the LUISS University of Rome. Students were asked to discuss in the classroom the course issues, and to cast a vote on selected issues before and after the deliberation. Although our sample is not representative, we have managed to gather evidences from the same population on a rather large number of issues. Students changed their view in 25.5 per cent of cases, they agreed that discussion increased their understanding of the various issues, while students with strong ex-ante views are more reluctant to change their opinions as a consequence of discussion. The experiment also shows the presence of impermeable and permeable subjects, the former which are more refractory to the discussion in changing their opinion, while the latter are more likely to change their preferences following deliberation. Thanks to their volatility, this second group can provide different majorities and so to be crucial in any electoral dynamics.
* Italian National Research Council,


We present a simple, yet powerful method for calculating nonlinear pulse propagation and pulse interaction in active semiconductor waveguides. The model is based on the density matrix equations, which under realistic operation conditions are shown to lead to an accurate description of the material gain, that includes the dynamics of carrier heating and spectral-hole burning (SHB). A very general and compact description of the amplifier dynamics in terms of an integral equation is derived. The model is used to analyze saturation effects in short pulse amplification and nondegenerate four-wave mixing. An analytical expression for the four-wave mixing response is derived, which extends previous results to the case of short and intense pulses. Saturation of the four-wave mixing signal is shown to be strongly pulsewidth dependent due to ultrafast gain dynamics, and self-phase modulation is shown to give excessive broadening of the conjugate pulse. Finally, the impacts on the noise characteristics are calculated and shown to explain recent experimental results.


Using a state-culture conceptual framework, this 50-state study of the United States identifies factors affecting state-level variance in Medicaid expenditures in 2004. Path analysis is applied to depict a structural model measured by political and socioeconomic predictors of state-level Medicaid expenditures. Findings show Democratic political party control, and a state's financial capacity predicts higher Medicaid expenditures. Medicaid need demographics have a significant, but negative, effect on Medicaid expenditures. Maintaining political neutrality may constrain our ability to advocate for vulnerable populations. Establishing a uniform standard for indigent health care through a federally financed and administered universal health insurance structure is discussed.


Motivational Interviewing (MI) and behavioral interventions are effective treatments for smoking cessation, and MI is increasingly being integrated into behavioral interventions in smoking cessation programs—especially with smokers who are not ready to quit. Moreover, these programs often utilize bachelor's-level counselors with minimal training in MI or counseling in general, which may lead to concerns about fidelity of MI. The current study examined whether 15 bachelor's-level counselors adhered to MI principles and techniques while delivering three smoking cessation interventions: MI, BI, and MI plus BI. Smoker participants were 344 individuals recruited through primary care clinics and enrolled in a larger clinical trial of counseling and nicotine replacement therapies for smokers who were not ready to quit. For each smoker participant, one randomly selected counseling session was coded using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Scale (Moyers et al., 2010), a coding system that assesses for global ratings of MI quality (e.g., evocativeness) and specific MI-related counseling behaviors (e.g., complex reflections). Compared to MI only, MI plus BI was associated with lower levels of empathy, but was not associated with lower levels of evocation, collaboration, or support of autonomy, other core characteristics of MI. MI plus BI was also associated with a smaller proportion of complex-to-simple reflections, and a smaller percentage of open-ended (compared to closed-ended) questions, compared to MI only. Lastly, greater empathy and MI fidelity were associated with smoker participants being more likely to report during follow-up that they intend to quit in the future. Limitations and future directions are discussed.


We utilised methods of chaos theory that were originally used in a 1990's study to analyse the behaviour of various Hungarian socio-economic macro indicators, both historically and their expected behaviour in the future. In this study, we present the method adapted to PC and the behaviour of the selected macro indicators. We characterize the pathways our society and economy has experienced and where they are heading to into the future by the means of these indicators. Comparing the present results of analysis with the results twenty years ago (when today's present was the future) we came to the conclusion that most of the indicators became less chaotic, thus the socio-economic courses were getting more stable over the past two decades. We conclude that the opportunity to change them is slowly diminishing, it will be more and more difficult to renew the Hungarian socio-economic indicators, and to turn the processes to more desirable courses. Recommendations for change interventions are then provided.


Multiple hydatid cysts of the brain are uncommon and may be either primary or secondary We report a 12-year-old child with multiple hydatid cysts of the brain occuring 1 year after surgical rupture of a primary large and infected cerebral hydatid cyst. Surgical removal of hydatid cysts was successfully performed. Albendazole (10 mg/kg twice daily for 12 weeks) was administered to the patient in the postoperative stage.


Diagnosis of Histoplasma capsulatum infection in cats traditionally relies upon identification of organisms in circulating monocytes or in tissue specimens from affected organs. In this retrospective study, results of a urine antigen assay were compared with standard diagnostic methods in cats with clinical signs suggestive of histoplasmosis. Antigenuria was detected in 17/18 cats with a histopathologic or cytopathologic diagnosis of histoplasmosis. This preliminary evaluation of the Histoplasma urine antigen test suggests it may be a useful aid in diagnosing this disease in cats.


Background: The year 2015 was set as the target to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including those that are directly linked with nutrition in Nigeria. However, the chances of meeting this target appear very slim as 2015 is here. Efforts geared towards meeting these targets have recorded little success due to myriads of challenges of which weak political ownership takes a vantage position; coupled with lack of specificity in coordination of nutrition programmes. This has contributed to low level of nutrition development because all the government ministries/agencies where nutrition programmes have been domiciled have their specific goals and nutrition is usually considered as add-on Programme. Objective: To examine tested approaches to achieving nutrition-related MDGs in Nigeria. Method: Review of literature and relevant national documents using a desk-review guide, which was developed in line with the goal of this presentation. Results: International agencies including the World Bank are becoming more involved in nutrition programmes and are passionate of the pivotal role of nutrition in the scheme of national development. However, learning from the success story of nutrition programmes in some sub-Sahara African countries, it is certain that proper coordination of nutrition programmes by an agency solely created by the national government is the missing link in the equation for enhanced nutrition development. Conclusion: Establishment of a full-fledged National Nutrition Council under the Office of the President will be an impetus required to kick-start effective coordination and mainstreaming of nutrition into all developmental agenda. This is in line with the global practice of scaling-up nutrition programmes at the national level.


As large language models such as BERT are becoming increasingly popular in Digital Humanities (DH), the question has arisen as to how such models can be made suitable for application to specific textual domains, including that of 'historical text'. Large language models like BERT can be pretrained from scratch on a specific textual domain and achieve strong performance on a series of downstream tasks. However, this is a costly endeavour, both in terms of the computational resources as well as the substantial amounts of training data it requires. An appealing alternative, then, is to employ existing 'general purpose' models (pre-trained on present-day language) and subsequently adapt them to a specific domain by further pre-training. Focusing on the domain of historical text in English, this paper demonstrates that pre-training on domain-specific (i.e. historical) data from scratch yields a generally stronger background model than adapting a present-day language model. We show this on the basis of a variety of downstream tasks, ranging from established tasks such as Part-of-Speech tagging, Named Entity Recognition and Word Sense Disambiguation, to ad-hoc tasks like Sentence Periodization, which are specifically designed to test historically relevant processing.


Educational aims To understand how endobronchial valves can improve symptoms in patients with emphysema and to convey current opinion regarding optimal patient selection. Summary Surgical lung volume reduction can, under certain circumstances, improve forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), indices of resting hyperinflation and quality of life [1] in patients with emphysema. However, a significant proportion of patients (between one-quarter and one-third) fail to derive significant benefit from the procedure. This in itself might not matter were it not that, in large series, the mortality rate has been at least 4–5% [1–3]. While this risk might be acceptable if success were guaranteed, it is less appealing otherwise. Another issue is that, in order to reduce mortality and morbidity, most groups impose safety criteria so that patients who are too disabled are not eligible for lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). These factors suggest a need for a treatment which is more likely to be effective and is less dangerous and/or reversible. Two principal approaches have been described. In one, an extrapulmonary pathway is created, which allows increased expiratory flow from the lung. In the other, which will be discussed in this article, an endobronchial blocker or valve is positioned with the aim of achieving distal collapse; the tissue engineering approach, using instilled glues, is a variant of this technique.


The reactive oxygen species take role in pathogenesis of many diseases including hypoxia, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, nephropathy, hypertension, ischemia–reperfusion damage, and heart defects. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether crocin administration could protect kidney injury from oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups each containing 10 animals as follows: group 1, control group; group 2, diabetes mellitus (DM) group; and group 3, DM + crocin group. At the end of the study, trunk blood was collected to determine the plasma levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr). The kidney tissue was removed, and biochemical and histological changes were examined. Diabetes caused a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities and a decrease in glutathione (GSH) contents ( p < 0.01) when compared with control group in the rat kidneys. Crocin given to DM rats significantly decreased MDA ( p < 0.01) and XO ( p < 0.05) activities and elevated GSH ( p < 0.05) contents when compared with DM group. Plasma levels of BUN and Cr were significantly higher in the DM group when compared with the control group ( p < 0.01). Pretreatment of the DM animals with crocin decreased the high level of serum Cr and BUN. Control group was normal in histological appearance, but congestion, severe inflammation, tubular desquamation, tubular necrosis, and hydropic degeneration in tubular cells were observed in the DM group. Histopathological changes markedly reduced, and appearance of kidney was nearly similar to control group in DM + crocin group. Our results show that crocin could be beneficial in reducing diabetes-induced renal injury.


Due to the pandemic situation of the Covid-19 virus, our daily life has changed a lot [1]. Many changes have also taken place in the fields of medicine and dentistry. The most prominent field is the field of digital medicine, and the field of digital therapeutics (DTx) has developed rapidly along with the technology of other fields [2,3]. In the case of digital therapeutics, it is evaluated that it can be remarkably applied in the field that requires behavioral control or the field that requires the approach of mental health medicine. In addition, studies are being carried out notably in high blood pressure, diabetes, heart-related diseases, addiction, dementia, and ADHD that require management as an chronic disease. However, in the field of dentistry, there are not many fields where digital therapeutics are applied prominently, but application to temporomandibular disorder can be devised [4], and the reason for this can be discussed in this article.


This report describes the technique and initial experience using cone beam CT (CBCT) for localization of treatment targets in patients undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Patients selected for SBRT underwent 3-D or 4-D CT scans in a customized immobilization cradle. GTV, CTV, ITV, and PTV were defined. Intensity-modulated radiation beams, multiple 3-D conformal beams, or dynamic conformal arcs were delivered using a Varian 21EX with 120-leaf MLC. CBCT images were obtained prior to each fraction, and registered to the planning CT by using soft tissue and bony structures to assure accurate isocenter localization. Patients were repositioned for treatment based on the CBCT images. Radiographic images (kV, MV, or CBCT) were taken before and after beam delivery to further assess set-up accuracy. Ten patients with lung, liver, and spine lesions received 29 fractions of treatment using this technique. The prescription doses ranged 1250 ~ 6000 cGy in 1 ~ 5 fractions. Compared to traditional 2-D matching using bony structures, CBCT corrects target deviation from 1 mm to 15 mm, with an average of 5 mm. Comparison of pre-treatment to post-treatment radiographic images demonstrated an average 2 mm deviation (ranging from 0–4 mm). Improved immobilization may enhance positioning accuracy. Typical total "in-room" times for the patients are approximately 1 hour. CBCT-guided SBRT is feasible and enhances setup accuracy using 3-D anatomical information.


A compact wavelength-shifting fibre (WSF) gamma camera for 140 keV gamma rays has been developed and an evaluation of its performance is presented and discussed. A spatial resolution of 4 mm FWHM was achieved which is comparable to that of modern Anger cameras. Simulation results predict a spatial resolution better than 3 mm if the WSF signals are 3 times higher than those obtained experimentally ways of achieving this goal are discussed.


An atmosphere-sea ice-ocean interaction study was conducted at the Saroma-ko Lagoon, Hokkaido, Japan from 27 February to 9 March 2021. Air-sea ice CO2 flux measurements were conducted by eddy covariance and chamber methods together with meteorological observations. Sea ice cores were collected to understand the interaction between the atmosphere and under-ice water with respect to fluxes of heat and biogeochemical components. Physical and biogeochemical parameters such as temperature, salinity, ice structure, environmental DNA, and concentrations of gases, nutrients, and trace metals were measured. Under-ice water properties were monitored to quantify heat budgets and interactions with sea ice biogeochemical properties. Incubation experiments with ice algae were conducted. Equipment such as airsea ice CO2/CH4 flux chambers, an eddy covariance system, a trace metal analyzer, and a pump and sampler for environmental DNA were tested and compared to prepare for future Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. In addition, movies and pictures were taken under the auspices of the educational program of Hokkaido University (LASBOS) to enhance educational programs in ocean science. The field campaign activities provided useful information for inter-comparison research and future studies of sea ice in polar oceans.


The effect of three times daily oral ondansetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting was investigated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre studies. The first study compared ondansetron 1, 8 and 16 mg to placebo, and the second study compared 8 mg ondansetron to placebo. Both studies included ASA Class I-III female patients about to undergo major abdominal gynaecological surgery or vaginal hysterectomy. In the first study, the 8 and 16 mg ondansetron groups had a significantly lower incidence of nausea and vomiting in the 0-24 h period following recovery from anaesthesia than the placebo group. Ondansetron 8 mg three times daily was also significantly better than placebo in the second study. Side-effects mainly consisted of constipation, headache, and asymptomatic elevation of liver enzymes. The incidence of side-effects was similar in ondansetron- and placebo-treated patients. There appeared to be no clinically important benefit of the 16 mg three times daily ondansetron regimen over the 8 mg three times daily dose, therefore 8 mg three times daily is recommended as the optimal oral dose in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.


Purpose: An increasing attention has turned to the burden of secondary malignant neoplasms (SMNs) in long-term cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence, and survival outcomes of SMNs in primary hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). Materials and Methods: Patients with primary diagnosis with HSCC and reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program between 1973 and 2016 were eligible for this study. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the cumulative incidence of SMNs and survival rates. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of SMNs after primary HSCC were also assessed. Results: A total of 8518 patients diagnosed with HSCC as their first malignancy were included (median follow-up: 142 months). 984 patients developed SMNs with a median time from primary diagnosis to an SMN diagnosis was 3.8 years. The cumulative incidences of any SMNs were 30% at 10 years, and 54% at 20 years. The top three common secondary tumors were lung, esophageal and oral cavity cancer, with cumulative incidence rates of 22%, 12% and 9% at 20 years, irrespectively. The SIR for SMNs in survivors of HSCC compared with the general population was 2.86 and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate after SMNS was 16%. Esophageal carcinoma as a SMN showed the highest SIR of 23.81 and presented with the lowest 5-year OS rate of 7%. Conclusions: Survivors of HSCC are at increased risks of developing SMNs compared with the baseline population. Patients developed oesophageal carcinoma as SMNs showed the highest SIR and shortest survival


Currently new digital tools used in architecture are often at the service of a conception of architecture as a consumer society's cultural good. Within this neoliberal cultural frame, architects' social function is no longer seen as the production of urban facts with sense of duty, but as a part within the symbolic logic that rules the social production of cultural values as it was defined by Veblen and developed by Baudrillard. As a result, the potential given by the new digital tools used in representation has shifted from an instrument used to verify a built project to two different main models: At the one hand the development of pure virtual architectures that are exclusively configured within their symbolic value as artistic "images" easily reproducible. On the other hand the development of all those projects which -even maintaining their attention to architecture as a built fact- base their symbolic value on the author's image and on virtual aesthetics and logics that prevail over architecture's materiality. Architects' sense of duty has definitely reached a turning point .


Buffalo green monkey kidney cells were adapted to grow as shaker cultures. Replication of environmental and clinical isolates of poliovirus, coxsackievirus, and echovirus in these cultures was analyzed by plaque assay and compared with replication in Buffalo green monkey kidney cell monolayers and HEp-2 cell shaker cultures. Dose-response tests with various concentrations of Mahoney type 1 poliovirus indicated that Buffalo green monkey kidney cell shaker cultures could detect as little as 1 PFU in an inoculum of 0.2 ml. These data suggest that Buffalo green monkey kidney cell shaker cultures can be effectively used for the detection of small quantities of enteroviruses from environmental sources.


The presence of small amounts of sodium has been shown to improve the electronic performance of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells, but the origins of this effect have not yet been fully resolved. In this work, we have addressed the questions involving the role of sodium in CuInSe2 (CIS) using density-functional-theory-based calculations. We find no direct way how the creation of Na-related point defects in bulk CIS would enhance p-type conductivity. Instead, we demonstrate that Na reduces copper mass transport due to the capture of copper vacancies by NaCu defects. This finding provides an explanation for experimental measurements where the presence of Na has been observed to decrease copper diffusion. The suggested mechanism can also impede VCu-related cluster formation and lead to measurable effects on defect distribution within the material.


The crystal and molecular structure of catena-(bis(μoxalic acid)-μ-hydrogen oxalate-di-aqua-sodium(I)) was detected by X-Ray analysis. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1, with a(Å) 6.2378(12); b(Å) 7,1115(14); c(Å) 10.489(2); α(°) 94.65(3); β(°) 100.12(3); γ(°) 97.78(3). The sodium cation in the title compound is eight coordinated and forms a square antiprism. It is surrounded by two molecules of oxalic acid, one hydrogen oxalate anion and one water molecule. Both oxalic acid and hydrogen oxalate anion act as polydentate bridging ligands. Centrosymmetric sodium cations are bounded by hydrogen oxalate anions through a system of H bonds involving the molecules of oxalic acid. In the lattice, the 3D structure stabilized by H bonds is formed. Supporting information: X-Ray (CIF file)


In this work, cellulose microcrystal has been isolated from Apocynum venetum (AV) through acid hydrolysis. In addition, the properties of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC-N) extracted from AV are compared with those of commercially available microcrystalline cellulose (MCC-C). The characterizations of MCCs are studied by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermo gravimetric analyzer, and Zeta potential. As compared to MCC-C, MCC-N unveil more crystallinity percentage, fewer impurities, and comparable thermal stability without modifying the chemical composition of the sample. Besides, SEM images demonstrate rough surface and slight aggregation of extracted MCC from AV. Extracted MCC from AV can be possibly utilized as a reinforcement in green composites or hydrophilic micro composites as well as a source for AV fibre derived nanocellulose. Moreover, MCC-N can also be used in food, cosmetics, and medical industries.


Abstract Permanent protecting groups are essential for oligosaccharide synthesis. However, the removal of the traditionally used protecting groups is not trivial and demands considerable expertise. Using photolabile protecting groups as permanent protection for glycan can overcome many limitations associated with the traditional oligosaccharide synthesis approach. It is demonstrated here that up to eight photolabile protecting groups can be readily removed from a single glycan using a benchtop LED setup that is very easy to operate. This report suggests that further development of the strategy will offer an attractive alternative for oligosaccharide synthesis.


GaN-based ultraviolet-light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs) with 375 nm emission were grown on different-sized patterned sapphire substrates (PSSs) with ex situ 15-nm-thick sputtered AlN nucleation layers by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). It was observed through in situ optical reflectance monitoring that the transition time from a three-dimensional (3D) island to a two-dimensional (2D) coalescence was prolonged when GaN was grown on a larger PSS, owing to a much longer lateral growth time of GaN. The full widths at half-maximum (FWHMs) of symmetric GaN(002) and asymmetric GaN(102) X-ray diffraction (XRD) rocking curves decreased as the PSS size increased. By cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis, it was found that the threading dislocation (TD) density in UV LEDs decreased with increasing pattern size and fill factor of the PSS, thereby resulting in a marked improvement in internal quantum efficiency (IQE). Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations quantitatively demonstrated a progressive decrease in light extraction efficiency (LEE) as the PSS size increased. However, owing to the significantly reduced TD density in InGaN/AlInGaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) and thus improved IQE, the light output power of the UV LED grown on a large PSS with a fill factor of 0.71 was 131.8% higher than that of the UV LED grown on a small PSS with a fill factor of 0.4, albeit the UV LED grown on a large PSS exhibited a much lower LEE.


Japanese ICT investment trailed the developed world for many decades, contributing to low productivity growth. A potential root cause is the influence of Japanese culture over the strategic use of and investment in ICT (SUIICT). Empirical research on cultural aspects of SUIICT in Japan is lacking. This study will examine national culture and its association with SUIICT in organisations in Japan compared to Australia. A quantitative survey of ICT decision makers in Japanese and Australian organisations will be fielded based on questions synthesized from McFarlan, McKenney and Pyburn (The Strategic Grid), and Hofstede and Minkov (Cultural Dimensions Model). A contribution to theory will be the development and testing of an empirical model and practical instrument for determining the association between national culture and SUIICT. A practical contribution will be an increase in understanding of both markets allowing for more effective market segmentation and development of ICT offerings for both countries.


Despite the requirement for librarians to hold an MLS or equivalent, many librarians have not sought opportunities to publicize their credentials. In the college and university environment, this is surprising given the importance placed on credentials and advanced degrees. A brief survey of academic library websites reveals that few are using the web to publicize librarian credentials, and as a result, are missing opportunities to promote their expertise and advanced qualifications to their community.


A newly developed ceramic filler may help alleviate limitations of composite solid-state electrolytes. The filler not only mitigates interface barriers between the composite components


The protonation of the phosphinito-bridged Pt(I) complex [(PHCy(2))Pt(μ-PCy(2)){κ(2)P,O-μ-P(O)Cy(2)}Pt(PHCy(2))](Pt-Pt) (1) by aqueous HBF(4) or hydrofluoric acid leads selectively to the hydrido-bridged solvento species syn-[(PHCy(2))(H(2)O)Pt(μ-PCy(2))(μ-H)Pt(PHCy(2)){κP-P(OH)Cy(2)}](Y)(2)(Pt-Pt) ([2-H(2)O]Y(2)) {Y = BF(4), F(HF)(n)} when an excess of acid was used. On standing in halogenated solvents, complex [2-H(2)O](BF(4))(2) undergoes a slow but complete isomerization to [(PHCy(2))(2)Pt(μ-PCy(2))(μ-H)Pt{κP-P(OH)Cy(2)}(H(2)O)](BF(4))(2)(Pt-Pt) ([4-H(2)O][BF(4)](2)) having the P(OH)Cy(2) ligand trans to the hydride. The water molecule coordinated to platinum in [2-H(2)O][BF(4)](2) is readily replaced by halides, nitriles, and triphenylphosphane, and the acetonitrile complex [2-CH(3)CN][BF(4)](2) was characterized by XRD analysis. Solvento species other than aqua complexes, such as [2-acetone-d(6)](2+) or [2-CD(2)Cl(2)](2+) were obtained in solution by the reaction of excess etherate HBF(4) with 1 in the relevant solvent. The complex [2-H(2)O](Y)(2) [Y = F(HF)(n)] spontaneously isomerizes into the terminal hydrido complexes [(PHCy(2))Pt(μ-PCy(2)){κ(2)P,O-μ-P(O)Cy(2)}Pt(H)(PHCy(2))](Y)(Pt-Pt) ([6](Y)). In the presence of HF, complex [6](Y) transforms into the bis-phosphanido-bridged Pt(II) dinuclear complex [(PHCy(2))(H)Pt(μ-PCy(2))(2)Pt{κP-P(OH)Cy(2)}](Y)(Pt-Pt) ([7](Y)). When the reaction of 1 with HF was carried out with diluted hydrofluoric acid by allowing the HF to slowly diffuse into the dichloromethane solution, the main product was the linear 60e tetranuclear complex [(PHCy(2)){κP-P(O)Cy(2)}Pt(1)(μ-PCy(2))(μ-H)Pt(2)(μ-PCy(2))](2)(Pt(1)-Pt(2)) (8). Insoluble compound 8 is readily protonated by HBF(4) in dichloromethane, forming the more soluble species [(PHCy(2)){κP-P(OH)Cy(2)}Pt(1)(μ-PCy(2))(μ-H)Pt(2)(μ-PCy(2))](2)(BF(4))(2)(Pt(1)-Pt(2)) {[9][BF(4)](2)}. XRD analysis of [9][BF(4)](2)·2CH(2)Cl(2) shows that [9](2+) is comprised of four coplanar Pt atoms held together by four phosphanido and two hydrido bridges. Both XRD and NMR analyses indicate alternate intermetal distances with peripheral Pt-Pt bonds and a longer central Pt···Pt separation. DFT calculations allow tracing of the mechanistic pathways for the protonation of 1 by HBF(4) and HF and evaluation of their energetic aspects. Our results indicate that in both cases the protonation occurs through an initial proton transfer from the acid to the phosphinito oxygen, which then shuttles the incoming proton to the Pt-Pt bond. The different evolution of the reaction with HF, leading also to [6](Y) or 8, has been explained in terms of the peculiar behavior of the F(HF)(n)(-) anions and their strong basicity for n = 0 or 1.


The flexible carboxylate linker, H3L = 5-(2-carboxybenzyloxy)isophthalic acid, and a group of N-donor co-linkers such as 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene (dpe), 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethane (1,2-dpe), 1,2-di(pyridin-4-yl)diazene (dpd), and 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)propane (1,3-dpp), give rise to five new coordination polymers (CPs) with Zn(II) ions. These are {[Zn2(L)(μ-OH)(dpe)(H2O)]}n (1), {[Zn(L)(1,2-dpe)1.5]·H2O}n (2), {[Zn(HL)(dpd)1.5]2·2(H2O)}n (3), {[Zn(HL)(1,3-dpp)]}n (4), and {[Zn5(L)4(H2O)2]·8(H2O) (1,2-dpe)}n (5). CP 1 forms a densely packed 3D framework with a rare topological type, ose; 7/3/o5; sqc59. Both CP 2 and 3 form [2+2] metallacyclic units which form a 1D chain that links other chains by strong O–H⋯N type H-bonding to result in a 3D supramolecular network. CP 4 forms a 2D sheet structure stacking over each other by C–H⋯π and π⋯π interactions, to give rise to a 3D H-bonded supramolecular structure with topological type, sql/Shubnikov. CP 5 has two types of SBUs with a 3D anionic network where channels are filled up with the cationic 1,2-dpe ligands and water molecules which shows rare topological type, 6,10T9. The photoluminescence sensing of nitroaromatic compounds, especially 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP), by 1–5 indicates that these CPs could be potential candidates for developing luminescent sensors for selective sensing of these species.


Carbohydrate-based block copolymers, such as maltoheptaose-block-polyisoprene (MHPI), were successfully employed as polyelectrolytes in a light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) to realize organic multi-state electrical memory. The observation of distinctive multi-state memristive behavior could be attributed to the controlled ion motion in MHPI and the electron capture capabilities introduced by its constituent hydroxyl groups. The newly developed sandwich-structured memory device is based on a LEC platform as the light-emitting electrochemical cell memory (LECM). Furthermore, the fabricated LECM exhibited excellent ternary-state memory behavior with high ON2/ON1/OFF current ratios of 106/105/1 as well as excellent stabilities for each respective state. The study not only illustrates the use of carbohydrate-based materials as promising electrolytes for LECM applications, but also provides a new horizon in the development of organic multi-state electrical memory devices.


An analysis of a silicon structure fabricated in a 2- mu m CMOS process and based on a vertical Hall device is presented. The device consists of five current contacts and four Hall contacts. It has a linear response to a magnetic field on both channels. In the absence of the magnetic field, the currents of all four outside contacts are equal because of the device symmetry. Upon application of a magnetic field parallel to the chip surface and consisting of two components, B/sub x/ and B/sub y/, the currents of the outside contacts will change due to the action of the Lorentz force (deflection of carriers). The device is capable of simultaneous measurement of two components of magnetic field in the plane of the chip. The sensor exhibits a linear response to the magnetic field along both channels, yet does not show cross-sensitivity between the two channels.<<ETX>>


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In a growth accounting context one usually constructs a quality adjusted index of labor services by aggregating over predefined groups of workers, using the groups' relative wage bills as weights. In this article we suggest a method based on decomposing individual predicted wages into a skill-related part and a part unrelated to skill, where the former consists of both observed and unobserved components. The predicted wages, associated with individual skill attributes, are sorted and classified into deciles. The median predicted skill-related wage in each decile is used to construct an alternative skill-adjusted index of labor services. We find that Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth decreases significantly when using the latter method. This means that when using the alternative method one explains more of the growth in labor productivity than what a more traditional labor quality adjustment procedure does. JEL classification: C23, D24, J24, J31


Much work has been performed on defining metrics for evaluating clutter in infrared imagery. The metrics on specific images with targets present has been fairly successful at predicting target acquisition performance for human observers. To be most useful, it would be advisable to have generalized metrics, which don't depend on having the infrared images available or the exact position of the target known. Ideally, one would like to designate the geographical area and the type of target and still be able to estimate the effect of the clutter. In this work, we consider such a possibility. Based on satellite imagery, we calculate the physical characteristics, e.g. the plant coverage, for certain geographical areas. We then relate these characteristics to the infrared metrics that have been calculated for certain selected spots. From these results, we can generalize the relationship between the satellite data and the infrared clutter and determine the clutter content for areas for which full infrared imagery does not exist. Examples will be brought from several areas in Israel with contrasting climate and foliage.


Background: Mentally retarded children impose an extra stress on their parents especially on mothers. Coping skills can be used by parents to relieve stress and to improve adaptation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of teaching on social adaptation in mothers of educable mentally-retarded children based on Roy adaptation theory.

Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 40 mothers of educable mentally retarded children referred to the exceptional school in Aran and Bidgol during 2010-11. Intervention was consisted of four two-hour sessions, supplemented by a 30-minute conversation between the interviewer and the candidate occurred within 2 weeks. Coping skills program was based on the dimensions of Roy theory. Questionnaire on adaptation was completed before and 6 weeks after the completion of intervention by the participants.

Results: The mean scores for social adaptation in mothers of mentally retarded children in physiological, self-concept, dependence/independence, role-playing dimensions and total social adaptation before and after the training showed a significant difference (P<0.001).

Conclusion: According to the results of the study, teaching based on the Roy theory has a positive effect on social adaptation in mothers of mentally retarded children.
Keywords: Mental retardation, Mothers, Social adaptation, Roy adaptation theory,


Membrane potentials (MP) of different cell types of submaxillary glands were studied on rats with intact innervation and after preliminary sympathectomy at varying stages of experimental staphylococcal sialadenitis (2 and 24 h). Two hours and especially 24 hours after priming the rats with intact innervation manifested an abrupt fall in the MP in acinar and ductal cells. Two hours after administration of staphylococcus toxin the MP of salivary gland cells in sympathectomized rats did not differ from normal. Following 24 hours there were far less changes in the MP as compared to those in poisoned rats with intact innervation of the salivary glands.


Using published measurements of dielectronic recombination (DR) resonance strengths and energies for C V to C IV and O VIII to O VII, we have calculated the DR rate coefficient for these ions. Our derived rates are in good agreement with multiconfiguration, intermediate-coupling and multiconfiguration, fully relativistic calculations, as well as with most LS-coupling calculations. Our results are not in agreement with the recommended DR rates commonly used for modeling cosmic plasmas. We have used theoretical radiative recombination (RR) rates in conjunction with our derived DR rates to produce a total recombination rate for comparison with unified RR + DR calculations in LS coupling. Our results are not in agreement with undamped, unified calculations for C V but are in reasonable agreement with damped, unified calculations for O VIII. For C V, the Burgess general formula (GF) yields a rate that is in very poor agreement with our derived rate. The Burgess & Tworkowski modification of the GF yields a rate that is also in poor agreement. The Merts et al. modification of the GF yields a rate that is in fair agreement. For O VIII, the GF yields a rate that is in fair agreement with our derived rate. The Burgess & Tworkowski modification of the GF yields a rate that is in good agreement, and the Merts et al. modification yields a rate that is in very poor agreement. These results suggest that for ΔN = 1 DR, it is not possible to know a priori which formula will yield a rate closer to the true DR rate. We describe the technique used to obtain DR rate coefficients from laboratory measurements of DR resonance strengths and energies. For use in plasma modeling, we also present easy-to-use fitting formulae for the experimentally derived DR rates.


P. Whiteside writes: Holmes & Jarvis have inferred that the obsequent scarplets on Ben Attow have formed as a result of movement of the jointed rock mass, yet they present no evidence that movement has occurred. In fact they go so far as to say that there are no signs of recent movement on the slope. It would undoubtedly be difficult to find such evidence since these Moine Psammites are likely to present a fairly monotonous sequence in which displaced lithologies would not be apparent. However, one may reasonably expect the scarplets to show some slickensiding, the orientation and sense of which could perhaps preclude its having been formed during some other, earlier joint movement. In the absence of any actual evidence of movement it is necessary to discuss alternative explanations and in particular to give reasons for assuming that the scarplets have not just simply formed by erosion. Such erosion could, for instance, have occurred during glaciation by plucking of rock blocks by ice. If the evidence for toppling movement is simply based on the present morphology of the hillside then I would suggest that the erosion explanation is perhaps more likely.


Ocarina, created in 2008 for the iPhone, is one of the first musical artifacts in the age of pervasive, app-based mobile computing. It presents a flute-like physical interaction using microphone input, multi-touch, and accelerometers—and a social dimension that allows users to listen in to each other around the world. This article chronicles Smule's Ocarina as a mobile musical experiment for the masses, examining in depth its design, aesthetics, physical interaction, and social interaction, as well as documenting its inextricable relationship with the rise of mobile computing as catalyzed by mobile devices such as the iPhone.


The elevated oxygen fugacity recorded by subduction-related lavas and peridotites, relative to their mid-ocean ridge counterparts, fundamentally influences the petrogenesis of arc magmas. However, the timing, process, and spatial extent of oxidizing mass transfer at subduction zones remain unknown. Forearc peridotites, which are sometimes exposed on the trench wall of the overriding plate, record chemical fingerprints of the melting and melt–rock interaction processes that occur during and following subduction initiation, and thus provide insight into the spatial and temporal evolution of this oxidized signature. In this study, we present new major element, trace element, and oxygen fugacity data for a suite of forearc peridotites recovered from the Tonga Trench, in addition to a new assessment of literature data for previously studied forearc peridotites. For Tonga samples and literature data for forearc, ridge, and subduction-zone peridotites, we calculate oxygen fugacity (fO2) using an updated method. In contrast to previous studies, we find that spinel Cr#, a proxy for extent of melt extraction, does not correlate with oxygen fugacity, such that many forearc peridotites with high spinel Cr# do not record oxygen fugacity higher than the mid-ocean ridge peridotite array. Combining these observations with trace element modeling, we conclude that forearc peridotites are less pervasively influenced by oxidation owing to subduction processes than previously reported. The oxygen fugacity recorded by Tonga forearc peridotites is heterogeneous between dredges and homogeneous within dredges. To explore these variations, we grouped the dredges into two categories. Group I peridotites have high spinel Cr#, extremely depleted trace element compositions and oxygen fugacity values consistent with the mid-ocean ridge peridotite array. We interpret these to be the residues of large degrees of fractional melting, with little influence from arc-like melts or fluids, formed during the first stages of subduction initiation. Group II peridotites have lower spinel Cr#, enriched light rare earth elements, and oxygen fugacity elevated by ≥1 log unit above the mid-ocean peridotite array. We interpret these peridotites to be the residues of flux melting, initiated once corner flow is established in the young subduction zone. We conclude that the forearc mantle is not pervasively oxidized relative to mid-ocean ridge mantle, and that the asthenospheric mantle in the proto-subduction zone region is not oxidized prior to subduction initiation. As the oxidized signature in Group II peridotites accompanies geochemical evidence of interaction with subduction-related fluids and melts, this suggests that the sub-arc mantle is oxidized concurrently with addition of subduction fluids to the mantle wedge.


This study examines trading activities before and after the transfer of the FTSE 100 index futures contract from open outcry to electronic trading. Daily order imbalance exhibits strong serial persistence in the electronic limit order market, but not in open-outcry trading. Both excess buying and selling reduce liquidity. In the electronic venue, prior market movements barely affect investors' buying or selling decisions. Excess buy orders do not generate any price impact, but sell orders do. Positive imbalances are more strongly autocorrelated than negative imbalances. No trading elements, such as order imbalance, volume, or open interest, are associated with volatility. Moreover, excess buying decreases volatility. Such evidence suggests that the development and growth of electronic trading has changed the dynamics of trading activities in many important ways. Copyright (c) 2008 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.


Bacterial infections during the first month after liver transplantation remain a serious problem despite perioperative administration of systemic broad-spectrum antibiotics. These infections usually have been caused by aerobic gram-negative bacilli from the alimentary tract, and the most promising approach during the past decade is to eliminate or suppress these organisms by SBD. Several centers that have used SBD for prophylaxis have reported favorable results, but only one of the studies has been prospective and randomized. Based on the limited information now available, it seems that the efficacy of SBD is dependent on eliminating or suppressing aerobic gram-negative bacilli by the time of transplant surgery. This is an especially important point because successful SBD requires at least several days of treatment, and there are practical problems initiating and maintaining SBD in advance of unscheduled cadaver liver transplantation. Key areas for investigation are to establish by appropriately designed studies the efficacy of SBD and to examine the importance of achieving SBD prior to transplantation surgery.


Following interaction with simulated body fluid, apatite and calcite were identified on the surface of bioactive glasses. The phase composition of the glass surface layer after elution is affected by the experimental conditions. At a high ratio of sample surface area (S) to the volume of the leaching solution (V), calcite was identified in the surface layer, whereas a low ratio (a large volume of the solution) had led to the formation of apatite. From the point of view of crystallography, the apatite was not well developed, and its detection limit by the X-ray diffraction method was less than 5%. The calcite was well developed. Phosphorus-free glasses exhibited a higher tendency to calcite formation than the phosphorus containing ones. Suitable experimental conditions with respect to the S/V ratio have to be chosen in the in vitro testing to ensure availability of phosphorus in the solution throughout the exposure, as otherwise calcite would eventually precipitate on a thin layer of apatite


Poor or non-compliance with therapy is a common problem, in patients with asthma, but one which has been poorly and infrequently studied both in clinical trials and in general practice. A common reason proposed for poor compliance is that if the patient fails to understand their disease process and the mode of action of therapy, then there is little motivation to follow the prescribed regimen. There has been a wealth of asthma educational programmes developed over the last 10 yrs. Booklets, audio cassettes and, more recently, videos, explaining asthma, have all become available, but there is still some doubt as to whether such knowledge alters patient behaviour and improves compliance with therapy. Modifying behaviour and improving asthma control may be achieved with specific instruction, such as a self-management plan where the patient has greater control of his or her own condition.


The characteristics of energy storage and dissipation in TiNi shape memory alloys were investigated experimentally based on the superelastic properties under various thermomechanical loading conditions. The results obtained can be summarized as follows. (1) The recoverable strain energy increases in proportion to the rise in temperature, but the dissipated work per unit volume depends slightly on temperature. In the case of low strain rates, the recoverable strain energy and dissipated work do not depend on both the strain rate and the temperature-controlled condition. (2) In the case of high strain rates, while the recoverable strain energy decreases and the dissipated work increases in proportion to the rise in strain rate under the temperature-controlled condition, the recoverable strain energy increases and the dissipated work decreases under the temperatureuncontrolled condition.


This study examines key characteristics and external factors that influence health promotion and disease (HPD) programs serving Latina and Latino (L/L) youth. It also explores challenges associated with program development, sustainability, and the relative capacity to respond to historical and emergent problems experienced by this population. California is experiencing an increase in risk behaviors among L/L youth at a time when there are significant pressures to limit public sector funding for health and social programs. L/L youth are increasing more rapidly than any other ethnic youth cohort; by the year 2000 they will comprise 39% of all California youth. This rapid population growth is accompanied by an increase in poverty and deterioration in L/L quality of life. By 1991, Latinas under 20 were twice as likely as non-Latina Whites to commence childbearing, and Latinas comprised 56.6% of all unmarried mothers under 20 in California; a 10% increase since 1998. A California studying 1994 indicated that L/L youth have the highest overall licit and illicit drug use rates, and these rates had increased from a previous survey conducted in 1991. Recent California juvenile arrest statistics also showed Latinos constitute the highest proposition of felony, misdemeanor, and status offenses. Second generation L/L adolescents are especially at high risk for early pregnancies, drug use, and committing juvenile offenses. This study was motivated by the apparent urgency represented by these trends, and the need to enhance the capacity of our urban and rural communities to foster healthy lifestyles among L/L youth; thereby increasing the likelihood that they will become substantive contributors to the commonweal. It was also motivated by an awareness of chronic problems faced by public institutions and community-based programs that serve these youth. These problems range from a lack of continuity in funding patterns and program objectives to an inability to involve community residents, develop substantive inter-sectoral linkages, and carry out necessary institutional reforms. Recommendations include the allocation of targeted funds and provisions of technical assistance to enhance the cultural content, expand leadership development components, and strengthen the collaborative capacity of existing programs; enhancement of linkages to private sector resources; and the enhancement of statewide capacity to develop and monitor youth HPD programs and conduct relevant policy research.


A novel architecture of Support Vector Machine classifiers utilizing binary decision tree (SVM- DTA) for solving multiclass problems is proposed in this paper. A clustering algorithm was used to determine the hierarchy of binary decision subtasks performed by the SVM binary classifiers. The applied clustering model utilizes Mahalanobis distance measures at the kernel space for better consistency with the used SVM kernel. The proposed SVM based Binary Decision Tree architecture takes advantage of both the efficient computation of the decision tree architecture and the high classification accuracy of SVMs. The performance of the proposed SVM-DTA was estimated on a problem of recognition of handwritten digits and letters. The experiments were conducted with samples from Pendigit and Statlog databases of segmented digits and letters. The results of the experiments indicate that the proposed method is faster to be trained than the other methods. Also, due to its Log complexity, the proposed SVM-DTA is much faster than the widely used multi-class SVM methods like "one-against-one" and "one-against-all", maintaining comparable accuracy. The experiments also showed that this method becomes more favorable as the number of classes in the recognition problem increases.


This article, devoted to the issue of non-agricultural economic activity in rural areas, reports upon the latest statistical data, as well as material obtained by way of field study. Successive sections acquaint the reader with the contemporary functional structure of rural areas, the areas in which non-agricultural businesses are concentrated, the development of new functions in the countryside and factors favouring this development. The summary notes that Poland's period of transformation brought a dynamic development of activity of the above kind, albeit one that has not yet been able to make up for the earlier closedown of state-owned or cooperative enterprises. The greatest development of non-agricultural economic activity has been observed in city hinterland areas and has first and foremost involved the service sector and trade. In turn, the peripheral areas left more or less to their own devices have experienced slower development of business outside agriculture, in association with such unfavourable phenomena manifested therein as depopulation, unemployment, lack of investment, etc. These all contribute to deepening of the poverty existing in the aforementioned areas.


ABSTRACT:In his late plays Eugene O'Neill attends to forms of inheritance he received from growing up in a family of Irish origin. In 1946 he wrote that Irish heritage is the "thing that explains more than anything about me," and the odd syntax is telling. A Touch of the Poet has been interpreted as O'Neill's take on his Irish émigré father James O'Neill, an actor in the romantic tradition whose overcoming of class limitations required the devices of dramatic fiction and theatrical aggrandizement, but it also reveals the influence of a novel the young O'Neill seems to have enjoyed along with his father. Confessions of Con Cregan, the Irish Gil Blas is an 1849 picaresque novel by Charles Lever, who centered his light-hearted novels on Irish characters. It contains features of characterization and plot that match elements in O'Neill's play, suggesting direct influence. The self-reflective project of O'Neill's late work reads differently in light of this intertextuality, which leads to the idea that he might have conceived his Irish identification not as a return home but ironically in terms of displacement into the transnational—an appropriate distancing given that he wrote these intimate plays far from home in the isolation of California. The pseudo-confessional aspect of Lever's novel suggests "other" ways of reading O'Neill's sly sincerity.


OBJECTIVE Little is known about the relationship between changing psychosocial work conditions and type 2 diabetes. We determined whether changing work stressors and coping resources affect the risk of type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this prospective cohort (2003–2014) of 3,740 workers without diabetes (OHSPIW [Occupational Health Study of Petroleum Industry Workers]), participants completed an evaluation of work-related stress and coping resources and type 2 diabetes diagnosis at baseline and 12 years follow-up (two waves). The changes in work stressors and coping resources were measured with the Occupation Stress Inventory–Revised and the Instrument for Stress-Related Job Analysis (Version 6.0). Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed on the basis of an oral glucose tolerance test supplemented by physician report. RESULTS Increased task stressors (relative risk [RR] 1.57 [95% CI 1.03–2.63]) and decreased coping resources (RR 1.68 [95% CI 1.02–2.83]) were associated with risk of type 2 diabetes. The main risk factors were increased role overload, increased role insufficiency, increased physical environment stressors, decreased self-care, and decreased rational coping. Increased coping resources also had a buffering effect on increased task stressors and type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Changes in work stressors and coping resources have an influence on the risk for type 2 diabetes, highlighting the importance of preventive measures against adverse psychosocial work conditions and reduced coping resources for diabetes prevention in the workplace.


Background The cancer-testis antigen MAGE-A4 is an attractive target for T-cell-based immunotherapy, especially for indications with unmet clinical need like non-small cell lung or triple-negative breast cancer. Methods An unbiased CD137-based sorting approach was first used to identify an immunogenic MAGE-A4-derived epitope (GVYDGREHTV) that was properly processed and presented on human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 molecules encoded by the HLA-A*02:01 allele. To isolate high-avidity T cells via subsequent multimer sorting, an in vitro priming approach using HLA-A2-negative donors was conducted to bypass central tolerance to this self-antigen. Pre-clinical parameters of safety and activity were assessed in a comprehensive set of in vitro and in vivo studies. Results A MAGE-A4-reactive, HLA-A2-restricted T-cell receptor (TCR) was isolated from primed T cells of an HLA-A2-negative donor. The respective TCR-T-cell (TCR-T) product bbT485 was demonstrated pre-clinically to have a favorable safety profile and superior in vivo potency compared with TCR-Ts expressing a TCR derived from a tolerized T-cell repertoire to self-antigens. This natural high-avidity TCR was found to be CD8 co-receptor independent, allowing effector functions to be elicited in transgenic CD4+ T helper cells. These CD4+ TCR-Ts supported an anti-tumor response by direct killing of MAGE-A4-positive tumor cells and upregulated hallmarks associated with helper function, such as CD154 expression and release of key cytokines on tumor-specific stimulation. Conclusion The extensive pre-clinical assessment of safety and in vivo potency of bbT485 provide the basis for its use in TCR-T immunotherapy studies. The ability of this non-mutated high-avidity, co-receptor-independent TCR to activate CD8+ and CD4+ T cells could potentially provide enhanced cellular responses in the clinical setting through the induction of functionally diverse T-cell subsets that goes beyond what is currently tested in the clinic.


Author(s): Monarrez, Tomas | Advisor(s): Card, David | Abstract: Deep ethnic and socioeconomic gaps in the access and quality of education are pervasive in the United States. Many of these inequalities are at least partly determined by a historical legacy of exclusionary public institutions, the vestiges of which continues to be felt today. In particular, three key contemporaneous education policy issues -- public school segregation on the basis of race, the emergence of a potentially predatory for-profit college sector, and unequal college access for minorities -- are all directly connected to public institutions. In this thesis, I present empirical studies on the role and effect that institutions have in determining these gaps, with varying focus on mechanisms and causal effects across these different policy topics. In Chapter 1, I study school attendance boundary policy, the most common student allocation mechanism in U.S. public schools, and its relationship to school racial segregation. I ask: given existing patterns of residential segregation, what do existing school attendance boundaries reveal about local government's preferences over school integration? Using a novel database on the attendance boundary maps of hundreds of school districts, I define a desegregation policy index based on simple counterfactual attendance boundary maps. Exploiting this index, I find wide heterogeneity in the extent to which districts choose to desegregate their school systems by gerrymandering boundaries. I develop a theory of school attendance boundary choice, based on a trade-off between racial integration and aggregate daily commuting distance to school. I propose a methodology to estimate the extent of this trade-off, using geographic census data on the spatial distribution of race. Estimating a model of desegregation policy level as a function of marginal commuting costs, I find evidence of district demand for racial integration. In addition, I find that court desegregation orders and greater levels of racial tolerance among local whites act as positive shifters of desegregation demand. These findings have far reaching policy implications, the most important being that the tools developed here allow researchers to better monitor local governments' policies. I close this chapter with a case study evaluating of the stability of desegregation policy with respect to endogenous residential sorting, finding high residential compliance rates and little real estate valuation effects stemming from sudden changes in attendance boundary policy. Chapter 2, joint work with Christopher Walters, studies how different structures in post-secondary education markets affect local student populations. For-profit college chains (FPCs) have rapidly expanded over the last two decades, opening almost 1,000 campuses across the U.S. First, we examine the determinants of FPC entry, finding that counties with worsening local unemployment and poverty rates are more likely to see the opening of an FPC campus. Then, exploiting variation in the timing of FPC entry, we estimate the impact of FPC entry on enrollment and degree completions. Using an event-study framework, our estimates show that FPC entry leads to increases in county-wide college enrollment and degree completions, with effects concentrated in short-term certificate programs. Additionally, we find little indication of negative enrollment effects at traditional public and non-profit private institutions, including community colleges. We interpret these findings as indication that for-profit chain colleges tend to enter markets facing excess demand for higher education, and that the extent to which they directly compete with traditional colleges is limited at best.In Chapter 3, I zoom-in to a narrower topic, focusing on the issue of college access for undocumented high school students. Specifically, I estimate the impact of state level tuition equity reform on the educational outcomes of undocumented immigrant students in Texas. This type of reform, granting in-state tuition to qualifying undocumented students, can be interpreted as a partial relaxation of the institutional constraints associated with lack of legal immigration status. Exploiting administrative data from education agencies in Texas, I formulate a generalized differences-in-differences framework to produce within-school, across-cohort estimates of the impact of the 'Texas Dream Act' on a range of educational outcomes from college demand to college-bound investments during high school. Estimates show a significant closing of the college demand gap between immigrant and control group high school graduates. However, estimates regarding college-bound investments contain mixed results. I attribute this to a complex policy environment in public high schools during the analysis period. The results suggest that affordable college access policies can have a significant impact on the attainment of the immigrant population at the college entrance stage, but that, given other policies in place, college tuition incentives down the educational ladder may not be sufficiently salient to generate spillover effects.


The effectiveness of ignition sparks was determined by measuring the volume (or mass) of hydrogen and of oxygen which combines at low pressures. The sparks were generated by a magneto and an ignition spark coil. It was found that with constant energy the amount of reaction increases as the capacitance component of the spark increases. The use of a series spark gap may decrease or increase the amount of reaction, the effect depending upon the amount and distribution of capacitance in the circuit. So far as the work has progressed, it has been found that sparks reported by other investigations as being most efficient for igniting lean mixtures cause the largest amount of reaction. Differences between the amount of reaction with a magneto spark and an ignition spark coil were noted. The method appears to offer a means of determining the most efficient spark generator for internal-combustion engines as well as determining a relation between the character of spark, energy, and effectiveness in igniting inflammable mixtures.


To understand the roles of marine viruses in marine microbial food webs. ~t is important to determine rates and mechanisms of virus degradation and subsequent uptake of degraded virus material and other cell lysis products by heterotrophic marine bacteria. We radiolabeled and concentrated viruses and viral lysis products from either pure cultures (3H) or natural communities (3H and 33P) and added them to seawater samples of differing trophic status from coastal (mesotrophic) and offshore (oligotrophc) California waters and French Mediterranean waters (oligotrophic). Rates of degradation were determined by the loss of high molecular weight radiolabel over time and the fate of the degraded material (microbial uptake or accumulation in low molecular weight pools) was followed by size fractionation and/or acid extraction. Preliminary experiments with 3H-labeled, single-stranded RNA phage MS2 and marine phage H11/1 demonstrated that MS2 degraded significantly faster in coastal Santa Monica Bay seawater (2.5 t 0.6% h-'), than the marine phage, H11/1 (0.99 k 0.1% h-'). For labeled virus material from natural populations, rates of degradation were slower in oligotrophic waters (ranges from 1.0 to 3.3% h-') than in mesotrophic waters (ranges from 4.9 to 6.0% h-'), corresponding to turnover rates of 1 to 4 d for this material. Degradation rates of labeled virus material are likely underestimates, because during preparation, degradation and uptake are continually occurnng, resulting in accumulation of the less reactive products. The proportion of radiolabeled material taken up by microbes was greatest in oligotrophic waters, especially in the phosphate-limited Villefranche Bay, France, where most of the "PO,-labeled material was taken up in less than 7 h. In contrast, the majority of degraded 'H-labeled material was not accumulated into biomass, and in 3 of 4 samples, accumulation was hardly detectable The results suggest that viruses and lysis products are labile and turn over relatively rapidly, but often may not be efficiently inco~porated into bacterial biomass.


We investigate the IEEE 1901 MAC protocol, the dominant protocol for high data rate power-line communications. 1901 employs a CSMA/CA mechanism similar to - but much more complex than - the backoff mechanism of 802.11. Because of this extra complexity, and although this mechanism is the only widely used MAC layer for power-line networks, there are few analytical results on its performance. We propose a model for the 1901 MAC that comes in the form of a single fixed-point equation for the collision probability. We prove that this equation admits a unique solution, and we evaluate the accuracy of our model by using simulations.


The structure of farms in Azerbaijan was extremely changed after the privatisation of land. The so long dominating state-owned big farms were replaced by small family farms. This development had sustainable effects on the production and also on the possibilities of financing farming. The presented article aims to survey in an empirical analysis mountain grazing systems in the region of Gandja-Gasach with a particular focus on analysis of lack of liquidity and financial possibilities of these farms. The farms are typical family farms, which hire additional labour in form of herdsman. for their mountain grazing systems. They do own only little agricultural crop land and use the possibility to rent land in from the state. They use the land to practice the for them typical sheep and dairy production. About 50 family farms were selected by chance and the respective family members were interviewed using standardised questionnaires to secure a representative analysis. The main objective of this work was to determine the financial and liquidity situation of these agricultural farms by using primary data. Liquidity problems do exist particularly in the period of the purchase of feed and in the period of animal migration from winter to summer pasture as the analysis showed. Foreign capital is needed, since the own means of financing are short. The empirical analysis showed, that the access to formal credits is bad for the surveyed farms High interest rates and additional costs for the application and documentation of credits are seen as major reasons for this situation. Banks and credit institutes do not provide higher credit amounts to the farms since securities and trust in the farm people is missing or they do ask for serious higher interest rates. Therefore informal creditors do play a dominant role for providing credits to the farms. Informal creditors are relatives and friends, who do provide capital mostly for short periods and without interest. Credit users do thank the creditors by giving of natural means. Transition costs of these financing forms are very little, which will shown in the article. The articles works out the importance of the informal credit sector for the family farms and gives hints on the need to further improve and strengthen the formal credit sector.