The redistribution of electrical currents in resistor networks after single-bond failures is analyzed in terms of current-redistribution factors that are shown to depend only on the topology of the network and on the values of the bond resistances. We investigate the properties of these current-redistribution factors for regular network topologies (e.g., d-dimensional hypercubic lattices) as well as for small-world networks. In particular, we find that the statistics of the current redistribution factors exhibits a fat-tail behavior, which reflects the long-range nature of the current redistribution as determined by Kirchhoff's circuit laws.


Tris-beta-diketonate lanthanide(III) complexes (Ln = Eu, Er, Yb, Tb), of general formula [Ln(acac)3 L(m)], with chelating ligands such as 4,7-disubstituted-1,10-phenanthrolines and 4,4'-disubstituted-2,2'-bipyridines, have been synthesized and fully characterized. The inductive effects of the para-substituents on the aromatic N-donor ligands have been investigated both in the solid and in the solution states. Single-crystal X-ray structures have been determined for the diethyl 1,10-phenanthroline-4,7-dicarboxylate europium and 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bipyridine erbium derivatives, revealing a distorted square antiprismatic geometry around the lanthanide atom in both cases. The influence exerted by the p,p'-substituents with respect to the nitrogen coordinating atoms on the Ln-N bond distances is discussed comparing the geometrical parameters with those found for the crystal structures containing the fragments [Ln(III)(phen)] and [Ln(III)(bipy)] obtained from the Cambridge Structural Database. The influence exerted by the electron-attracting groups on the coordination ability of the ligands, that in some cases becomes lack of coordination of the lanthanide ions, has been also detected in solution where the loss of the ligand has been followed by UV-vis spectroscopy. Moreover, the use of relatively long alkoxy chains as substituents on the 1,10-phenanthroline ligand led to the formation of a promesogenic lanthanide complex, whose thermal behavior is encouraging for the synthesis of new lanthanide liquid-crystalline species.


Following spatial mesh principle, the gear cutting meshing equation was established in the paper through analyzing the relation between the machining principle of the double circular arc profile spiral bevel gear and the movement of the machine tool. The parameters of cutter head and the machine tool's movement were then obtained through the equation. VERICUT was applied to build the three-dimensional virtual simulation machining model by which the gear geometry parameters, cutter parameters and machining tool movement parameters were calculated for a given gear to be processed and virtual simulation machining proceeded to prove the validity of the model.


Automatic screen rotation improves viewing experience and usability of mobile devices, but current gravity-based approaches do not support postures such as lying on one side, and manual rotation switches require explicit user input. iRotateGrasp automatically rotates screens of mobile devices to match users' viewing orientations based on how users are grasping the devices. Our prototype used a total of 44 capacitive sensors along the four sides and the back of an iPod Touch, and uses support vector machine (SVM) to recognize grasps at 25Hz. We collected 6-users' usage under 108 different combinations of posture, orientation, touchscreen operation, and left/right/both hands. Our offline analysis showed that our grasp-based approach is promising, with 80.9% accuracy when training and testing on different users, and up to 96.7% if users are willing to train the system.


ABSTRACT This essay revisits the significance of the trope of the unspeakable in representations of trauma in order to put pressure on traditional readings of the unspeakable in literary trauma theory. Taking Joseph Conrad's short story, 'Amy Foster', as an illustrative example, I demonstrate how, in certain circumstances, trauma is not rendered unspeakable because reflection on it is impossible, but rather trauma is caused by the failure and/or frustration of speech itself. Furthermore, I draw upon Derrida's Monolingualism of the Other; or, The Prosthesis of Origin, to parse out the implications of silence, language and the inaudible in texts, such as 'Amy Foster', that fail to conform to the usual expectations of the unspeakable in trauma literature. Narratives such as this challenge our standard paradigms in literary trauma theory. Building on Rancière's critique of sublime aesthetics, in The Future of the Image, I argue that we need to broaden the categories by which we read the relationship between trauma and the unspeakable in literature, and in doing so be prepared to find trauma in unexpected places.


This article reports on a mixed-methods study of Chinese university students' knowledge of and attitudes toward plagiarism in English academic writing. A sample of 270 undergraduates from two Chinese universities rated three short English passages under different conditions, provided open-ended responses to justify their ratings, and completed a written questionnaire. The rating tasks were designed to determine their ability to recognize two forms of intertextuality (i.e., unacknowledged copying and paraphrasing) generally regarded as plagiarism in Anglo-American academia. The questionnaire was administered to collect self-appraisals of competence in source use and to assess declarative knowledge of intertextual practices that match typical Anglo-American definitions of blatant and subtle plagiarism. Qualitative and quantitative analyses revealed that a minority of the students recognized the two forms of plagiarism and generally took a punitive attitude toward the detected cases of plagiarism. Further quantitative analyses found that discipline, self-reported competence in referencing, and knowledge of subtle plagiarism were consistently significant predictors of successful plagiarism detection. These findings raise questions about some culturally based interpretations of plagiarism and point to the need to take a nuanced approach to plagiarism in L2 writing.


Postoperative ileus, a temporary inhibition of gastrointestinal function, is a universal complication after major abdominal surgery. Treatment for ileus is supportive, and has changed little since Wangensteen's 1932 report. Nasogastric suction could delay or replace operative management of bowel obstruction, thereby reducing mortality. Gastric decompression, together with intravenous (IV) hydration and electrolyte replacement, remains the only proven therapy for ileus.


The high toxicity of mercury species (elemental and compound) has prompted a demand for accurate, real-time inventory and control of their emissions. Our method of choice for mercury compound vapor is Photofragment Fluorescence spectroscopy. Target compound concentrations can be related to the fluorescence intensity from an excited fragment. Fragment identities and distributions, as revealed in the fluorescence spectrum provide information on the composition of the parent species. In the first experimental phase, a static cell (no flow) containing mercury compound (e.g. HgCl2 vapor was probed with a deep ultraviolet (UV) laser to generate characteristic spectra. An atmospheric pressure flow cell was used in the second stage. Limits-of-detection have been estimated. Detection schemes have included both photomultiplier tube (with interference filter) and charge- coupled-device camera (with monochromator). To reduce fluorescence quenching, we have expanded an argon gas stream containing Hg vapor through a micro-jet into a vacuum. The jet is crossed with a laser beam at 253.7 nm to excite atomic fluorescence, which is distinguished from the background by time gating.


We apply basic statistical reasoning to signal reconstruction by machine learning -- learning to map corrupted observations to clean signals -- with a simple and powerful conclusion: under certain common circumstances, it is possible to learn to restore signals without ever observing clean ones, at performance close or equal to training using clean exemplars. We show applications in photographic noise removal, denoising of synthetic Monte Carlo images, and reconstruction of MRI scans from undersampled inputs, all based on only observing corrupted data.


We present a systematic framework for the calculation of soft functions that are defined in terms of N ≥ 2 light-like Wilson lines. The formalism represents an extension of a method that we developed earlier for the calculation of dijet soft functions to the general N-jet case. We discuss the technical aspects of this generalisation, focussing on SCET-1 soft functions that obey the non-Abelian exponentiation theorem in this contribution. As a first application of our method, we consider the N-jettiness observable and present numerical results for the 1-jettiness and 2-jettiness hadron-collider soft functions to next-to-next-to-leading order in the perturbative expansion.


In this study, the effect of boron compounds on lubrication oils was investigated using a pin-on-disc type test apparatus. For this purpose, base oils containing two types of boron compounds were studied at different concentrations. The results were evaluated from the point of formation of a tribofilm in boundary or mixed lubrication conditions. The obtained results showed that the addition of boron compounds decreased the coefficient of friction from 10 to 50% under different test conditions. The optimum concentration ratio was determined as 4 wt% for boric acid (H3BO3) and 4 wt% for hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Fuel consumption experiments were also carried out for both optimum concentration ratios using a 170-kW diesel engine. Results indicate a decrease of 3.6 and 2.7% in fuel consumption with boric acid and boron nitride additives, respectively.


The License Plate Recognition (LPR) field has made impressive advances in the last decade due to novel deep learning approaches combined with the increased availability of training data. However, it still has some open issues, especially when the data come from low-resolution (LR) and low-quality images/ videos, as in surveillance systems. This work focuses on license plate (LP) reconstruction in LR and low-quality images. We present a Single-Image Super-Resolution (SISR) approach that extends the attention/transformer module concept by exploiting the PixelShuftle layers capabilities and that has an improved loss function based on LPR predictions. For training the proposed architecture, we use synthetic images generated by applying heavy Gaussian noise in terms of Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) to the original high-resolution (HR) images. In our experiments, the proposed method outperformed the baselines both quantitatively and qualitatively. The datasets we created for this work are publicly available to the research community at https://github.com/valfride/lpr-rsr/.


Objectives: The objective of this technique is to maximize the capacity and imperceptibility of the secret data with minimal modification to the cover image. Methods: In this paper, a new image steganography method is proposed that hides secret data in a selected carrier image. The proposed steganography method primarily extracts the last three bit of the selected pixel and then performs the XOR operation with 3rd, 1st and 3rd, 2nd bit. On the basis of result of XOR operation every bit of secret data is embedded one by one on LSB of the selected pixel value. Findings: This method comes under +1 or -1 change in pixel value of a Stego image. Due to +1 or -1 modification, the method shows minimum degradation in the Stego image. As each pixel can carry data bit, the chance of message hidden is 100%. Experimental results indicate that our method achieves good image quality and fairly large data hiding capacity. For experimental results, four standard images were taken and analyzed on the basis of different parameters such as PSNR, MSE, Mean and Standard Deviation, Number of pixels used and Number of pixels changed etc. The experimental results show that our method gives good imperceptibility as degradation is only +1 and -1 in a pixel. The proposed method was better when compared to LSB and chaotic method. Novelty/Improvement: The chance of message hidden is 100%. The proposed method improves the results to achieve good capacity and imperceptibility.


Psychological theories predicated on the assumption of human selfishness and theories based on principles of equity may lead to conflicting predictions about when a person will like his partner. Of special interest are a person's reactions to receiving uncommonly high rewards. The present study addressed this issue by examing the development of same-sex liking in 40 female college students. It was hypothesized that subjects with lowered self-esteem, having a great need for interpersonal rewards, would react favorably to the receipt of such rewards, even if underserved. Subjects with raised self-esteem, on the other hand, having had their need for rewards met, should respond unfavorably to the receipt of high rewards, desiring a more equitable distribution of reward. These effects should be strong only when continuing dyadic interaction is expected (i.e., as issues of stability and reciprocity become salient). The predictions were confirmed.


Aims: To examine the wound configuration after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: All PKP patients who were examined for routine follow-up, between November and December 2006, after having all their sutures removed were included. Patients underwent clinical examination, refraction, corneal topography, aberrometry and Visante anterior segment OCT. Results: 204 graft–host sections from 27 eyes (25 patients, mean age 51.6 (SD 17.7) years) were analysed. Although all the graft–host junctions had continuous smooth epithelial surfaces, 124 of them (60.8%) had internal graft–host malappositions such as gapes (15.7%), steps (30%) or protrusions (15.2%). Keratoconus patients had significantly more graft steps (p<0.05) while those transplanted for endothelial dysfunctions had more protrusions (p<0.01). Graft oversizing significantly increased the size of malappositions. Internal gapes or steps significantly reduced the graft–host touch. Intraocular pressure (IOP), final refraction and final keratometric cylinder were all significantly correlated with the presence and size of the malapposition, while steeper keratometry and tilt aberrations correlated with diminished graft–host touch. Conclusions: After PKP, internal graft–host malapposition is relatively common and associated with increased ametropia, astigmatism, IOP and optical tilt aberrations.


We propose a sub-symbolic connectionist model in which a compositional system self-organizes by learning a provided set of goal-directed actions. This approach is compatible with an idea taken from usage-based accounts of the developmental learning of language. The model explains a possible continuous process underlying the transitions from rote knowledge to systematized knowledge by drawing an analogy to the formation process of a regular geometric arrangement of points. An experiment was performed using a simulated mobile robot reaching or turning toward a colored target. By using an identical learning model, three different types of combinatorial generalization are observed depending on the provided examples. Based on the experimental results, a dynamical systems interpretation of conventional usage-based models is discussed.


Attempts to stimulate wine drinking in Britain in the early 1860s succeeded in tripling wine imports, but this increase proved short lived, and per caput consumption was no greater in 1914 than it had been in 1815. Supply volatility, together with difficulties in establishing impersonal exchange mechanisms in place of those based on the personal reputation of economic agents, made it difficult to create a mass market. Not only did consumers receive insufficient information to identify quality prior to purchase, but the high price of some wines also encouraged cheap imitations, some of which were prejudicial to the health of the drinker.


Abstract Objective: The present study investigated the extent to which father–daughter relationships predicted risk-taking in a sample of female college students. Specifically, this study examined whether female adolescents' models of father psychological presence predicted substance use and sexual risk-taking, over and above impulsivity, depression, and other risky behaviors. Methods: A sample of 203 female college students were administered several scales assessing father psychological presence, sexual risk-taking, substance use, impulsivity, and depression. Results: Father psychological presence did predict sexual risk-taking and illicit drug use (but not alcohol use) after controlling for impulsivity, other risky behavior, and mood. Further, when grouped into low and high levels of psychological presence, those in the low group were more likely to engage in a variety of risky behaviors than those who perceived high psychological presence. Conclusion: Consistent with evolutionary perspectives, paternal psychological presence may function as protection against risky behavior.


The ability to make time-resolved, direct wall shear stress measurements in harsh environments is an important measurement capability for improving understanding of complex fluid flow phenomena. This work presents the design, packaging, and characterization of a third-generation silicon-on-Pyrex moire optical wall shear stress sensor designed for use in environments up to 450◦C. Optical transduction of the floating element microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor is accomplished by interrogation of the geometric moire fringe via a four-channel fiber optic array. Device performance is improved over previous generations by patterning discrete sections of the moire fringe and the use of a silicon nitride anti-reflective coating. Calibration of the sensor system yields a dynamic shear stress sensitivity of 12.6 mrad/Pa at 1.128 kHz, sensor resonance of 4.1 kHz, pressure rejection ratio of 87 dB, minimum detectable shear stress of 0.53 mPa at 1.128 kHz for a 1 Hz bin, and an experimentally verified dynamic range of 79 dB.


Objective To determine the frequency and pattern of cerebellar haemorrhage (CBH) on routine cranial ultrasound (cUS) imaging in infants of ≤32 weeks gestation, and to investigate how extremely preterm infants with CBH differ from those with severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH). Methods 672 infants of ≤32 weeks gestation were prospectively examined for CBH on serial cUS imaging. In a separate case–control analysis, the clinical features, ultrasound findings and outcome of preterm infants with CBH were compared to those of infants with isolated severe IVH (grade III–IV). Results Nine cases of CBH were identified among 53 infants with severe IVH. The incidence of CBH in infants of ≤32 weeks gestation was 1.3%. Five infants had bilateral CBH involving both hemispheres, three had unilateral left sided CBH and one had a right hemispheric lesion. Infants with CBH were male, significantly more preterm (24.4 vs 27.0 weeks) and of lower birth weight (692 g vs 979 g). Vaginal births predominated in the CBH group (89% vs 50%). The median time to identification of haemorrhage for both groups was 3 days. Mortality in the CBH group was 100% (9/9) compared to 43% (19/44) in the severe IVH group. Conclusions Extensive CBH in preterm infants is rare and devastating. It appears to be confined to very preterm, extremely low birthweight infants and may have a male predominance. The co-existence of severe IVH and extensive CBH on routine cot-side cUS in the early neonatal period is an ominous finding.


Recently, polarization fatigue in ferroelectric polymers has attracted much attention due to their potentials in nonvolatile memory devices, although the mechanism behind is still an open question. In this letter, we report the strong dependence of polarization fatigue on poling voltages, which indicates that the application of a poling electric field slightly below the coercive field can greatly degrade the fatigue endurance. This phenomenon may be directly related to the fatigue mechanism, and its origin is discussed based on the understanding of the injection and redistribution of space charges in ferroelectric films.


The American Literature Association's 19th annual conference in San Francisco, from May 22 to 25, 2008, included a Melville Society panel on "Moby-Dick: Genesis, Influence, and Intention," with presentations by John Barton, Jonathan Cook, and Benjamin Griffin. The initial call for proposals invited papers on the composition of Moby-Dick, the impact of Melville's reading and sources, the influence of his personal relationships, his development of subversive rhetorical strategies, his conflicting aims for artistic greatness and financial success, and the extent to which Melville's intentions for Moby-Dick were enabled or thwarted by material and ideological conventions of 19th-century print production. Final selection of proposals yielded Barton's attribution and study of a new source for "The Town-Ho's


Many infrared optical systems in wide-ranging applications such as surveillance and security frequently require large fields of view. Often this necessitates a focal plane array (FPA) with a large number of pixels, which, in general, is very expensive. In this paper, we propose a method for increasing the field of view without increasing the pixel resolution of the FPA by superimposing the multiple subimages within a scene and disambiguating the observed data to reconstruct the original scene. This technique, in effect, allows each subimage of the scene to share a single FPA, thereby increasing the field of view without compromising resolution. To disambiguate the subimages, we develop wavelet regularized reconstruction methods which encourage sparsity in the solution. We present results from numerical experiments that demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.


Places of worship are a rich source for creative mathematics. The wealth of symbolism such places contain forms a way of bridging the gap many school students experience between mathematics and other ways in which we reflect on, and make sense of, our experience. The starting point of this paper is the way in which people of all cultures invest symbols with meaning. This meaning might be cultural or religious; it might also be mathematical. The meaning given to a symbol may well depend on simple mathematical properties of the shape chosen as a symbol. Examples of mathematical shapes which are frequently found in places of worship, and have acquired meaning because of their specific mathematical properties, are symmetric patterns and circles, and these are explored further. I have used these ideas in several workshops with school students, and the workshop which this paper accompanies will be an opportunity for participants to explore some of the ideas given here for classroom work. Such activities can be used to support both the regular curriculum and as cross-curricular enrichment activities.


Quantitative predictions of fission product yields are relevant for the reliable operation of different modern nuclear applications. This concerns the realistic characterizations of the radio-toxicity of the fuel elements after the envisaged extended irradiation, as well as sub-critical assemblies, where the number of delayed neutrons from minor actinides is determined by the characteristic emission yields of the corresponding so-called pre-cursor isotopes. However, to be able to make more reliable quantitative predictions of fission characteristics requires the better understanding of the fission process itself. For this purpose a better knowledge about the distinct structure of the nuclear energy landscape around the fission barrier is indispensable. In particular, the question should be answered, whether the fission barrier is either double- or triple-humped or even multi-humped as been proposed within the multi-modal neck rupture model. Despite quite some effort based on different experimental techniques and theoretical approaches, this question remains still unanswered. There is still no consistent picture of the fission barrier available and hence, different sets of barrier parameters are in use, unable to describe the different observed phenomena in a coherent way. With the systematic investigation of shape isomer population, its decay modes as well as the branching ratio, precise information can be obtained to resolve the puzzling situation. The experimental approach will be discussed and results from first experiments presented.


Ba c k g roun d  &  Aims  of  the  Study: Ozone  is  a  summer  pollutant  which  can  cause respiratory complications, eye burning sensation and failure of immune defense against infectious diseases. Ahvaz city (southwestern Iran) is one of the seven polluted Iranian metropolises. In this study we  examined the health impacts of ozone pollution in Ahvaz city during years 2010 and 2011. Materials &  Methods: The health effects of  ozone pollution in Ahvaz estimated by determining mortality and morbidity, and incidence of diseases attributed to the ozone, i.e. , cardiopulmonary mortalities and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using Air Quality Model. Ozone data were taken from Ahvaz Department of Environment (ADoE). Conversion  between  volumetric  and  gravimetric  units  (correction  of  temperature  and pressure), coding, processing (averaging) and filtering were implemented. Results: Sum of accumulative cases of mortalities attributed to ozone was 358 cases in 2010 and 276 cases in 2011. Cardiovascular and respiratory mortality attributed to ozone were 118 and 31 persons, respectively; which revealed a considerable reduction compared to those values in 2010. Number of cases for hospital admissions due to COPD was 35 in 2011, while it was 45 cases in 2010. The concentration of ozone in 2011 was lower than that of 2010 and this is why both mortalities and morbidities of 2011 attributed to ozone pollutant had decreased when compared to those values of 2010. Conclusions: Mortality and morbidity attributed to ozone concentrations in 2011 were lower than those of 2010. The most important reason was less concentration in ground level ozone of 2011 than that of 2010 in Ahvaz city air.


Phase of the interference fringe pattern is known to convey important information in optical metrology. Typically, phase measurement using temporal techniques involves incorporating a piezoelectric device (PZT) in one arm of the interferometer for shifting the relative phase between the two interference beams. Although the precision in the measurement of phase achieved by this technique is one hundredth of the wavelength, the error arising due to the phase shifter itself is one of the potential bottlenecks in the successful measurement of the parameter of interest. The measurement process is also very sensitive to other systematic and random sources of errors that we may encounter during the experiment. To address these concerns, several algorithms have been proposed, but they have met with limited success as they allow only a limited number of error sources influencing the measurements to be minimized. The problem is exacerbated further when it comes to accommodating multiple PZTs in an optical configuration, such as, in holographic moire. Incorporation of two PZTs is essential for the simultaneous estimation of multiple phase information in holographic moire, such as, those corresponding to out-of-plane and in-plane displacement components. Recent introduction of high resolution methods in holographic moire for the estimation of multiple phase information has been found to exhibit constraints while operating outside the linear region of the response of the piezoelectric device to the applied voltage. This research thesis thus addresses a significant issue of measuring phase efficiently in the presence of nonlinear response of the PZT to the applied voltage and at the same time contributes to compensating several other systematic sources of errors. For this we have designed methods based on signal processing approaches which have reputation of robust performers in the presence of random noise. The thesis presents simulation and experimental verification of the proposed methods to show their feasibility in practical situations. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first times that an attempt has been made to provide a robust signal processing approach for the estimation of multiple phase information in a topic of extreme significance such as that of optical metrology.


Kufs disease, an adult-onset neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, is challenging to diagnose and genetically heterogeneous. Mutations in CLN6 were recently identified in recessive Kufs disease presenting as progressive myoclonus epilepsy (Type A), whereas the molecular basis of cases presenting with dementia and motor features (Type B) is unknown. We performed genome-wide linkage mapping of two families with recessive Type B Kufs disease and identified a single region on chromosome 11 to which both families showed linkage. Exome sequencing of five samples from the two families identified homozygous and compound heterozygous missense mutations in CTSF within this linkage region. We subsequently sequenced CTSF in 22 unrelated individuals with suspected recessive Kufs disease, and identified an additional patient with compound heterozygous mutations. CTSF encodes cathepsin F, a lysosomal cysteine protease, dysfunction of which is a highly plausible candidate mechanism for a storage disorder like ceroid lipofuscinosis. In silico modeling suggested the missense mutations would alter protein structure and function. Moreover, re-examination of a previously published mouse knockout of Ctsf shows that it recapitulates the light and electron-microscopic pathological features of Kufs disease. Although CTSF mutations account for a minority of cases of type B Kufs, CTSF screening should be considered in cases with early-onset dementia and may avoid the need for invasive biopsies.


In this work, we propose a flexible architecture of microwave resonators with tuneable couplings to perform quantum simulations of molecular chemistry problems. The architecture builds on the experience of the D-Wave design, working with nearly harmonic circuits instead of with qubits. This architecture, or modifications of it, can be used to emulate molecular processes such as vibronic transitions. Furthermore, we discuss several aspects of these emulations, such as dynamical ranges of the physical parameters, quenching times necessary for diabaticity and finally the possibility of implementing anharmonic corrections to the force fields by exploiting certain nonlinear features of superconducting devices.


ABSTRACT We describe a new species of bat in the genus Myotis (Vespertilionidae, Myotinae) from the coastal mountains of Venezuela. The new species (Myotis handleyi, sp. nov.) can be distinguished from other South American congeners by the following set of traits: dorsal fur long, silky, and bicolored with burnished tips; skull long; rostrum long and broad; frontals moderately to steeply sloping; sagittal crest absent or very low; plagiopatagium broadly attached to the foot at the level of the base of the toes; fringe of hairs along the trailing edge of uropatagium absent; and fur on uropatagium not reaching knees. We review Colombian and Venezuelan samples of Myotis, covering all of the currently recognized species known from these countries. Based on our analyses, we provide a sketch of the taxonomic diversity of the genus in Colombia and Venezuela, along with a key to their identification. Among other conclusions, we elevate M. nigricans caucensis to the species level; confirm that populations of M. nigricans from the opposite sides of the Andes represent the same taxon; retain J.A. Allen's names M. esmeraldae, M. bondae, and M. maripensis in the synonymy of M. nigricans; and document clinal variation in size along an altitudinal gradient for M. nigricans, with larger specimens from higher elevations. This research, based on museum and field collections, is one of a series of studies by the senior author re-evaluating species limits among Neotropical Myotis.


The most usual procedure when facing decisions in complex settings consists in consulting experts, aggregating the information they provide, and deciding on the basis of this aggregated information. We argue that such a procedure entails a substantial loss, insofar as it precludes the possibility to take into account simultaneously the decision maker's attitude towards conflict among experts and her attitude towards imprecision of information. We propose to consider directly how a decision maker behaves when using information coming from several sources. We give an axiomatic foundation for a decision criterion that allows to distinguish on a behavioral basis the decision maker's attitude towards imprecision and towards conflict.


Abstract This study examines the social constructions of gender as the encapsulation of reiterated human conducts within varying sites of performance. Contrary to the notion that gender roles are fixed by socio-cultural forces, this paper focuses on the fluidity of human dispositions in differing circumstances. Adopting Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity, the researcher analyses Tess Onwueme's Then She Said It. This protest play attests to the variability of gender performance. The characters in the drama, especially the protagonists and antagonists, exhibit considerable alterations in gender performance in different situations. Thus, the study argues that the rigid classification of gender roles along sex lines (on both biological and gendered sexuality) in protest drama in Nigeria is incongruous with the characters' dispositions in the plays. Indeed, characters adopt cross-gendered performances as a strategy of protesting against overbearing conditions.


Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe. By Stuart Carroll. (New York: Oxford University Press. 2009- Pp. xvi, 345. $34.95. ISBN 978-0-199-22907-9.) Few families have been as vilified as the Guises, but in this book Carroll sees them more as the martyrs in the title than murderers. His focus is squarely on the two generations active from 1 550 to 1 588; he has little on the founding generation in France- Claude and Jean, who established the pattern of the eldest brother serving as the duke of Guise and the second serving as a cardinal. A cadet branch of the House of Lorraine, the Guises claimed descent from Charlemagne and had extensive interests in the Holy Roman Empire. When Claude's eldest child, Marie, married James V of Scotland and gave birth to Mary, Queen of Scots, the Guises broadened their interests to Scotland and England, since Mary stood high in the English line of succession. Carroll emphasizes their vast ambitions through the chapter "Dreams of Empire," which deals largely with their efforts to place Mary on the English throne but also their labors to increase their holdings in France and the empire. The Guises were so successful, Carroll asserts, because of their amazing family solidarity. The many siblings and cousins in the two generations under study worked exceptionally well together. Again and again, Carroll notes family meetings held to determine their way on issues.The presence of matriarchs Antoinette de Bourbon and Anne d'Este was equally important to family unity. Antoinette, Claude's widow, with her "austerely pious" (p. 5) dedication to traditional Catholicism and mores, set the tone for the family for more than thirty years. It was the Guises' commitment to Catholicism that was most responsible for the vilification that they received, but Carroll demonstrates that the Guises were flexible in religion. Many clients were Protestants, as were several spouses; Anne d'Este, wife of Duke Francois, was raised Protestant. Cardinal Charles de Lorraine is presented as believing that "the true allies of the Gallican reformers were the Lutherans rather than the Pope" (p. 157). Only after his hope for compromise with the Protestants was dashed at the Colloquy of Poissy and the Council of Trent did he accept conservative Catholicism. Francois de Guise is notorious for the Massacre of Wassy (1562), but Carroll gives a nuanced discussion of the event, showing Antoinette's role with her complaints to her son about the Protestants in the village, and absolves Francois of premeditation, stressing his shock at hearing bells at an inappropriate time. …


Abstract Objective We aimed to reduce our monthly antibiotic usage rate (AUR, days of treatment per 1,000 patient-days) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from a baseline of 330 (July 2015–April 2016) to 200 by December 2018. Study Design We identified three key drivers as follows: (1) engaging NICU charge nurses, (2) challenging the culture of culture-negative sepsis, and (3) reducing central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). Our main outcome was AUR. The percentage of culture-negative sepsis that was treated with antibiotics for >48 hours and CLABSI was our process measure. We used hospital cost/duration of hospitalization and mortality as our balancing measures. Results After testing several plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles, we saw a modest reduction in AUR from 330 in the year 2016 to 297 in the year 2017. However, we did not find a special-cause variation in AUR via statistical process control (SPC) analysis (u'-chart). Thereafter, we focused our efforts to reduce CLABSI in January 2018. As a result, our mean AUR fell to 217 by December 2018. Our continued efforts resulted in a sustained reduction in AUR beyond the goal period. Importantly, cost of hospitalization and mortality did not increase during the improvement period. Conclusion Our sequential quality improvement (QI) efforts led to a reduction in AUR. We implemented processes to establish a robust antibiotic stewardship program that included antibiotic time-outs led by NICU charge nurses and a focus on preventing CLABSI that were sustained beyond the QI period. Key Points This is a quality improvement project to reduce antibiotic usage in NICU. Charge nurses should take charge to reduce infections in NICU. Central line infections should be reduced to decrease antibiotic usage.


Immune electron microscopic examination of hepatitis delta delta-antigen (HDAg) was carried out on liver biopsies from seven patients with chronic type B hepatitis and delta-infection. HDAg was mainly found in the nucleus, but in some scattered hepatocytes it was found in the cytoplasm also, either in association with ribosomes or in the hyaloplasm. The association of HDAg with ribosomes may be the result of translation from delta-messenger RNA on the same ribosomes. In the nucleus, delta-antigen was present in the chromatin area as irregular granular structures, and there was staining of aggregates of 20 to 30-nm particulate structures, similar to those first described in non-A, non-B hepatitis. However, similar particulate structures were also present in HDAg negative nuclei. The delta-particles which have been described in blood could not be identified in hepatocytes.


Photonic crystals are stuctures in which the refractive index varies periodically on the wavelength scale in one, two or three dimensions. Due to interference effects, these structures can forbid light propagation over a large spectral range called "the photonic bandgap". Integrated optics is one of the potential applications of photonic crystals in which the information can be treated as a light signal that propagates through photonic crystal-based devices, such as filters, lasers, waveguides, bends and multiplexers. The photonic crystals structures studied for integrated optics applications consist of periodic arrays of holes etched through classical semiconducteur-based planar waveguides. For any practical application, the optical properties of the fabricated components have to be tuned by external means. In this thesis, we explore a possible approach to photonic crystal tuning : the infiltration of photoactive organic materials in the holes of these photonic structures. First we considered liquid crystals, which exhibit anisotropic optical properties like birefringence due to their long-range orientational order. This latter molecular organization can be modified by external factors, i.e. temperature and electric field. Nematic liquid crystals were infiltrated in the holes of the photonic crystals to tune their properties by changing the temperature and applying an electric field. Moreover, the organization of liquid crystals in the nanometric holes were studied by optical techniques. The demand for all-optical tunable devices in integrated optical circuits led us to consider the possibility of optically tuning the response of photonic crystal structures. For this purpose, we used photo-induced phase transitions of a liquid crystal blend doped with azobenzene photochromic molecules. Since the phase transitions in these mixtures depend on the concentration of the photochromic compound and on the temperature, we studied in detail the phase diagram of the blend. The last part of this thesis focused on one of the most innovative aspects in the domain of photonic crystal tuning : selective infiltration to locally modify the optical properties of the photonic structures. We used the photopolymerization of acrylate monomers by ultraviolet laser irradiation. Finally, with three clear examples, this thesis shows that organic photoactive materials are well-adapted to be combined with photonic crystals. We demonstrated that the obtained hybrid structures are very promising for integrated optics applications.


Background Observational studies are critical in assessing medication safety and effectiveness in the real world. Non-random assignment can provide insight to how and when medications are prescribed. Since the US introduction of TNF inhibitors (TNFi) in 1998, several newer biologics with varying mechanisms of action are available to patients and physicians. Most physicians prescribe TNFi prior to another biologic, however this trend may be changing. Objectives To compare the characteristics and outcomes (serious infections and malignancies) of patients who receive abatacept (ABA) vs TNFi as a first biologic. Methods Participating patients with RA in the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB) provided treatment and other characteristics (sociodemographics and comorbidities) through self-reported biannual questionnaires. Only responses from 2005–2014 were used for greater comparability. Initiators of biologics were stratified by type (ABA vs. TNFi) and by number of previously exposed biologics. All patient-reported outcomes were verified by medical record review except non-melanoma skin cancer. Patients who had an outcome in the 180 days before treatment initiation were excluded from the analysis for that outcome. Marginal structural models were used to estimate the effect of treatment on the outcome by an appropriate control for the effects of time-dependent confounders using stabilized weights. Variables included sex, employment, marital status, smoking, education, income, select comorbidities, and medications prescribed. These results are reported as adjusted hazard ratios (HR). We repeated the analysis comparing ABA with all other biologics. Results A total of 3,088 RA patients initiated a first biologic during the study. Of these, 348 received ABA without any prior biologics, having a mean (median) time in the study of 2.6 (1.9) years with a total of 900 patient-years of follow-up. For patients who initiated a TNFi, 3.4 (2.4) years was the mean (median) time in the study with a follow-up of 9296 patient-years. The ABA patients were older, smoked more, and used more prednisone and less MTX compared to those starting their first non-ABA biologic. They also tended to have worse disease activity measured by HAQ and PAS. The crude and adjusted HR of hospitalized infections were: 0.7 (0.2–2.3) and 0.5 (0.2–1.6) and for all malignancies: 1.5 (0.84–2.8) and 1.1 (0.7–2.0), respectively. The results were similar when compared to all biologics (N=2,900). The table shows baseline characteristics comparing Abatacept and TNFi initiators. Conclusions In this RA cohort receiving a first biologic therapy, there appears to be a trend of channeling with ABA. Patients starting ABA tended to be older and have worse disease outcomes. Despite the baseline differences, there was no difference in hospitalized infections and cancers between the groups. This was still true when the comparison was made between ABA and other biologic initiators. Disclosure of Interest None declared


A theoretical and experimental investigation of flow in the throat region of annular supersonic nozzles has been conducted. The theoretical analysis consists of the formulation and development of an approximate, series expansion solution to the inviscid, irrotational governing equations. The resulting solution provides a direct means of analyzing the throat flowfields in a variety of two-dimensional nozzle configurations including axisymmetric, planar, and annular nozzles. Flowfield static pressure measurements have been obtained for four nozzle configurations, including a conventional axisymmetric nozzle and three annular ones. Half-section cylindrical models were constructed and mounted on a splitter plate whose surface corresponds to a plane of symmetry for the axisymmetric geometries under consideration. Measurements from a grid of pressure taps arranged on the splitter plate allowed the determination of the static pressure fields in the nozzle throats. For all four cases tested, it is found that the agreement between the theoretical and experimental results is quite good through a significant region of the throat. Only near the bounding walls in the throat inlet region is there a noticeable discrepancy for some of the cases.


The interplay between intrinsic (development, physiology, behavior) and extrinsic (landscape features, climate) factors determines the outcome of admixture processes in hybrid zones, in a continuum from complete genetic merger to full reproductive isolation. Here we assess the role of environmental correlates in shaping admixture patterns in the long hybrid zone formed by the toads Bufo bufo and B. spinosus in western Europe. We used species-specific diagnostic SNP markers to genotype 6584 individuals from 514 localities to describe the contact zone and tested for association with topographic, bioclimatic and land use variables. Variables related to temperature and precipitation contributed to accurately predict the distribution of pure populations of each species, but the models did not perform well in areas where genetically admixed populations occur. A sliding window approach proved useful to identify different sets of variables that are important in different sections of this long and heterogeneous hybrid zone, and offers good potential to predict the fate of moving contact zones in global change scenarios.


There are few milestones in speleobiology, and Proteus anguinus, commonly named the olm, proteus or "human fish", is undoubtedly part of its (hi)story. The animal was first mentioned in 1689 by Johann Weikhard von Valvasor (Janez Vajkard Valvasor) in his The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola (Slava Vojvodine Kranjske). The scientific name Proteus anguinus was given by Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in 1768. The animal gained the interest of the scientific community later in the 19th century, culminating in 1859 in Charles Darwin's famous monograph On the Origin of Species as an example of evolutionary reduction of body structures through disuse. The study of this remarkable animal intensified in the 20th century. Its longevity, its general peculiarity and the mystery governing the underground world of the Dinaric karst triggered more systematic research. Much interesting data was obtained from study of proteus in captivity in various laboratories worldwide, including Slovenia, France, England, Belgium, Hungary, Germany and Italy. In the 21st century, the year 2019 represents another important milestone in the research of proteus. The draft genome of Proteus anguinus was first publicly presented on 25 November 2019 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The event coincided with 330 years since proteus was introduced to the scientific community by Valvasor, 160 years since its popularization by Darwin, and the 100th anniversary of Ljubljana University. This is undoubtedly an achievement with many superlatives, starting from excellent collaboration among different international laboratories and the very short period – one year – used to finish the sequencing of the huge proteus genome, which is 15-times larger in size than the human genome. On this occasion we spoke with the two most important players in the story, prof. Nina Gunde-Cimerman and prof. Rok Kostanjšek, from the University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty. Prof. Nina Gunde-Cimerman directs research of extremophiles adapted to extreme conditions, in particular fungi, at the Biotechnical Faculty. Prof. Rok Kostanjšek leads a research team that continues the investigation of proteus begun by his predecessors, prof. Lili Istenič and prof. Boris Bulog.


William Blake (1757‒1827) is one of the most original and influential figures of the Romantic Age, known for his work as an artist, poet and printmaker. Grounding his ideas both in close reading and in the latest scholarship, Saree Makdisi offers an exciting and imaginative approach to reading Blake. By exploring some of the most important themes in Blake's work and connecting them to particular plates from Songs of Innocence and of Experience, Makdisi highlights Blake's creative power and the important interplay between images and words. There is a consistent emphasis on the relationship between the material nature of Blake's illuminated books, including the method he used to produce them, and the interpretive readings of the texts themselves. Makdisi argues that the material and formal openness of Blake's work can be seen as the very basis for learning to read in the spirit of Blake.


Abstract Objective To systematically review literature examining the association between vegetable home availability and vegetable intake in youth. Design Articles were identified through December 2012 using a search of PubMed, PsychINFO and OVID/Medline databases, using the following keywords in varying combinations: home, environment, availability, vegetable, intake, consumption, children. Quantitative studies examining home vegetable availability and vegetable intake in children and adolescents were included. Fifteen studies were included that met inclusion criteria. Setting Studies were conducted in the USA (n 8), Australia (n 1), Greece (n 1), Iceland (n 1), Denmark (n 1), the UK (n 1), the Netherlands (n 1) and a combination of nine European countries (n 1). Subjects Various populations of children and adolescents were examined. Results Seven of the studies (47 %) found a positive association between vegetable availability and intake, with the others reporting null findings. There were no clear patterns of association by study design, age of subjects included, comprehensiveness of measures, or inclusion of covariates in analyses. Child report of home availability was associated with child vegetable intake (n 6, all found a positive association), while parent report of home availability was only minimally associated (n 9, one found a positive association; P=0·001 from post hoc Fisher's exact test comparing parent v. child report). Conclusions Parent perception of availability may be closer to truth, given the parental role in food shopping and preparation. Therefore, to impact child vegetable intake, absolute availability may not be as important as child perception of vegetables in the home. Child perception of availability may be altered by level of familiarity with vegetables.


Paraphrases are important linguistic resources for a wide variety of NLP applications. Many techniques for automatic paraphrase mining from general corpora have been proposed. While these techniques are successful at discovering generic paraphrases, they often fail to identify domain-specific paraphrases (e.g., staff, concierge in the hospitality domain). This is because current techniques are often based on statistical methods, while domain-specific corpora are too small to fit statistical methods. In this paper, we present an unsupervised graph-based technique to mine paraphrases from a small set of sentences that roughly share the same topic or intent. Our system, Essentia, relies on word-alignment techniques to create a word-alignment graph that merges and organizes tokens from input sentences. The resulting graph is then used to generate candidate paraphrases. We demonstrate that our system obtains high quality paraphrases, as evaluated by crowd workers. We further show that the majority of the identified paraphrases are domain-specific and thus complement existing paraphrase databases.


Viscous flow with moving free surface is an important phenomenon in nature which has broad applications in engineering. For these flows, temporal and spatial position of this moving free surface in unsteady or non‐uniform conditions is very complicated. In this chapter, free surface simulation methods based on computational grid are presented. Volume of fluid (VOF) is a powerful and the most prevailing method for modeling two immiscible incompressible fluid‐fluid interfaces. Herein, the governing equations of fluid flow including Navier‐Stokes coupled with VOF equation are discussed and the most prominent VOF schemes hierarchically presented to the readers. Meanwhile, Compressive Interface Capturing Scheme for Arbitrary Meshes (CIC‐ SAM), Higher Resolution Artificial Compressive (HiRAC), High Resolution Interface Capturing (HRIC), Switching Technique for Advection and Capturing of Surfaces (STACS), and some other newly proposed methods are introduced, and the accuracy and time calculation of each method are evaluated. Moreover, surface tension modeling and its discretization as one of the most demanding phenomena in the nature are brought to the readers. Finally, two schemes of parametric study of interfaces are discussed.


The innovative and revolutionary scholarship of the eminent Austrian legal theorist and professor of Roman law, Eugen Ehrlich (1862-1922), is of a very high caliber. His work has not only held its place well in view of what legal theory, especially sociological legal theory, has to offer, but is also still a powerful challenge to positions in legal theory that are no longer defensible. The sociology of law has followed in a direct line of succession from Ehrlich's observations and ideas as a new and special discipline linking jurisprudence with sociology.


Meier-Gorlin syndrome is a condition primarily characterized by short stature. It is considered a form of primordial dwarfism because the growth problems begin before birth (intrauterine growth retardation). After birth, affected individuals continue to grow at a slow rate. Other characteristic features of this condition are underdeveloped or missing kneecaps (patellae), small ears, and, often, an abnormally small head (microcephaly). Despite a small head size, most people with Meier-Gorlin syndrome have normal intellect.


ABSTRACT 1. The objective of this study was to investigate the variations in amino acid (AA) digestibility of lupin and pea grains in caecectomised laying hens. The relationship between AA digestibility and chemical constituents of the grains was determined. 2. Twelve variants of lupins and peas were each added to a basal diet at a concentration of 300 g/kg, at the expense of maize starch. The lupin and pea variants were separately investigated in two subsequent trials. Each trial consisted of two 7 × 7 Latin squares, each comprising the basal diet and six diets with lupins or peas. 3. Fourteen caecectomised laying hens (LSL-classic) were individually housed in metabolism cages and 120 g/d of experimental diets were provided for eight days. During the last four days, excreta were collected quantitatively and feed intake was recorded. A regression approach was used to determine the AA digestibility of the lupin and pea variants. 4. Amino acid digestibility of the lupins and peas was high, although significant differences in AA digestibility among the lupins and peas were detected. The digestibility of lysine was in the range of 0.87–0.91 and 0.87–0.93 for lupins and peas, respectively. The digestibility of methionine in lupins and peas varied between 0.80–0.88 and 0.72–0.90. Variations in AA digestibility in peas were more pronounced than in lupins. 5. Significant correlations between chemical constituents of lupins, such as alkaloids, and AA digestibility were detected in some cases, without a consistent pattern. In peas, tannin concentration and the insoluble protein fraction were negatively correlated with digestibility of some AAs, but only when one colour flower variant was considered. Trypsin inhibitor activity in peas was negatively correlated with AA digestibility, particularly for the white flower variants.


Bluetooth is a short -range wireless technology that enables Connection less communication between devices. Bluetooth Technology redefines the very way we experienceConnectivity . The connectivity between the Bluetooth – enabled a device is based on device authentication . The connectivity Does not take into account the authentication of the user . The lack of any means of user authentication coupled with the reliance on device authentication leaves Bluetooth particularly vulnerable to spoofing attacks and the misuse of authenticated devices giving the unauthorized users access of the network using the Bluetooth enabled device . We propose here a solution to the above problem . The solution uses biometric traits of a user for giving access to the ad hoc network of the Bluetooth enabled devices . The paper discusses the framework for user authentication using the biometric technology , when a Bluetooth – enabled device is trying to get connected to a Bluetooth enabled network.


The procedures for estimating numbers of organisms in water lead potentially to large inaccuracies. Routine microbiological sampling is an important component of monitoring source waters for drinking supplies and recreational waters. The results should be interpreted with awareness that each result is liable to two sorts of error, even when correct procedures are followed. Firstly, there is sampling error due to variation over time in microbial density at the place of sampling and, secondly, statistical inaccuracies introduced by laboratory methods. Some of the errors can be measured or estimated, especially those in the second category.

Pre-dilution of a sample, which is unavoidable with heavily contaminated waters, can affect results by chance. For example, if 10 organisms are found after a 100-fold dilution then the estimated count for the original sample would be 1000 with 95% confidence intervals of 482 - 1834. If a presumptive count is followed up with confirmatory procedures which involve sampling then another imprecision is introduced. For example, if a presumptive colony count of 25 is checked by confirmatory tests on only 5 colonies then, if 4 of the 5 confirm, the 95% confidence for the final count would be 8 - 24. Although statistical confidence intervals from the combination of such laboratory procedures could be calculated they have little practical value and could cause confusion. An investigator who receives a report in the format of an organism count which is qualified by a 95% confidence interval might wrongly attribute that range to the source water.

Variation at the water source is usually much greater than the errors introduced by proper laboratory procedures. This sample 'error' can be estimated only by replicate sampling. All sources of error should be considered when the quality of the water is assessed. Decisions about whether the water meets a particular Standard might be better made, from a statistical point of view, by assessing multiple samples rather than concentrating on single counts from very small volumes of water.


Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are part of the family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that evolved to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). A variety of PAMPs have been identified, from various microbial components to viral molecules. E.coli (Escherichia coli) has been widely used as a prototype Gram-negative bacteria with the capacity to stimulate TLRs, in particular to elicit TLR4-dependent immune responses. This receptor mainly recognizes an essential component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria: lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In vitro stimulation of immune cells for cytokine production can be achieved with the use of commercially-available purified TLR agonists, including LPS. Here we show how to prepare an alternative stimulator of TLR4 in a very fast an inexpensive way, paraformaldehyde-fixed preparations of E. coli. This reagent is a powerful tool for the in vitro activation of TLR4 that can be quantified and therefore used in defined amounts. Moreover, it is a safe reagent (the E.coli cells are fixed) and it is easy to prepare in large quantities and to store. Other microorganisms such as yeasts can also be fixed in this way.


Al-2%Mn alloy matrix composites reinforced with Al2O3 particulates was fabricated by stir-casting, and the hardness and friction and wear behaviour of the composites were analyzed using Brinell hardness tester and ring-on-block tribometer under both dry and lubricated sliding in which the .SO4•Cl- Na•Ca• Mg corrosive alkalescent aqueous solution accompanied with SiO2 and Al2O3 grinding particles was used as lubricant. The wear mechanism and the effect of Al2O3 particulates on the friction and wear behaviour of the composites were discussed. The results showed that the friction coefficients of the samples under dry condition are generally lower than those under lubricated one. In comparison with the base aluminium and the Al-2%Mn alloy, the hardness of the composites increases~70%, the friction coefficients are lower in most cases especially at higher applied loads under lubricated condition, and the wear mass losses are much less at any applied loads whether under dry or lubricated condition. The composites possesses a good wear-resistance and antifriction due to its higher hardness.


A computer-implemented mathematical model has been developed to assist planners in the spatial deployment and dispatching of ambulances. The model incorporates uncertainties in the arrival times, locations, and service requirements of patients, building on the branch of operations research known as queuing theory. Several system-performance measures are generated by the model, including mean neighborhood-specific response times, mean utilization of each ambulance, and statistical profiles of ambulance response patterns. This model has been implemented by the Department of Health and Hospitals of the City of Boston.


Small icebergs (edge lengths <1 km) are difficult to detect and track. In a recently published study, it was demonstrated that small targets (ships, islets,…) emerging from the sea can be detected by the analysis of high-rate altimeter waveforms. The analysis of Jason altimeter data revealed that small icebergs also have a detectable signature in the thermal noise part of the altimeter waveforms for open water. These signatures are very similar to that of transponders and are almost deterministic. An automated method based on the detection of parabolic shapes in the thermal part of the waveforms by analysis of the convolution product with a filter has been developed and applied to 1 year of Jason high-rate waveform data. In addition, the minimum height and backscatter of the iceberg can also be estimated by this method. More than 8000 icebergs were identified between December 2004 and November 2005 in the open water around Antarctica. The annual distribution of icebergs presents a well-defined tripole structure, with maxima near the Antarctic Peninsula, the West Ice Shelf, and the Ross Sea. This distribution is in good agreement with the main trends in Antarctic iceberg motion presented in the scientific literature. The high concentration of icebergs propagating from the Antarctic Peninsula seems to confirm the importance of this region in the discharge of Antarctic ice into the ocean. The results clearly show that altimeter data are a powerful tool in the study of the distribution of small icebergs largely inaccessible by other satellite means. The principle of detection of icebergs by altimeter is quite simple and could be easily applied to the existing archive of all the past and present altimeters (ERS, Topex/Poseidon, Jason, and Envisat) to create a database covering more than 13 years that could improve our knowledge of climate change in Antarctica.


The finish is an essential element since it is a major action within offensive elements that help the team get points, so it is necessary to analyze each of the phases of this foundation. As such need is to analyze the different angles of movement, speed and center of mass to establish kinematic reference values of the gain shape values that can serve as a reference when the technique of the players so potentiate the driving habit means is analyzed optimizing sports training at all levels. The authors of this study aimed to biomechanically analyze the phases of the auction volleyball in prejuvenile and young players of Pichincha sports concentration. They studied 19 volleyball players from the Pichincha sports concentration under non-probability purposive sampling, with 11 athletes from the prejuvenile team and 8 youth team athletes. Kinovea to measure software (experimental version) was used and the U test was used Mann-Whitney SPSS d e13 digital camera megapixels, measuring tape and HP computer with Intel Core i5 processor. In the approach phase, there was no significant difference in regard to the column angle (p = 0.457). In whipped phase, no significant difference in column angle (p = 0.283). In the preparation phase for beating on the angle of the elbow, there is no significant difference (p = 0.83). In the striking phase at the angle of the elbow if there is significant difference (p = 0.002). In the decay phase in the column angle no significant difference (p = 0.83). This was established with the Mann-Whitney U test. Column angles do not significantly influence the auction technique. However, the influence of angles of the elbow was observed, for better elbow flexion and hand placement can generate a greater impact on the ball and therefore greater difficulty in opposing defense.


Internal auditing (IA) effectiveness is still viewed, to large extent, as a 'black box' in academic research. In this paper, relevant empirical studies based on self-assessments of internal auditors and on other stakeholders' perspectives are reviewed through an 'effectiveness lens'. Major patterns are identified in the existing literature, and the paper complements the work of Gramling et al. (2004), who examined the literature related to IA quality, largely from the viewpoint of external auditors. This paper reviews the empirical literature on IA effectiveness that has been published since the latest revision of the IA definition in 1999, using the perspectives of new institutional theory and institutional entrepreneurship (DiMaggio and Powell, 1983; DiMaggio, 1988) as a framework, thereby recognizing the tension between institutional forces and the role of agency. In cases where isomorphic forces are in conflict with other organizational demands, chief auditing executives (CAE) agency can be a solution that enables local adaptation (institutional entrepreneurship). The ability to exploit fully the potential of agency is an opportunity for the CAE to tailor and advance the role of IA in its specific organizational context.


This study evaluates long-term structural adjustments in fresh grapefruit packing under aggregate market pressures, including those from retail concentration. While individual firms enter and exit, Markov-model results are indicative of an industry near equilibrium with little expectation of change in the distribution of firm sizes given existing patterns of sector adjustment. Estimation of Lorenz curves and corresponding Gini coefficients fully support Markov analysis findings. Lags in the packing sector adjustment process in the face of sweeping forces of change in fresh produce markets are likely to put this sector at a relative disadvantage within the supply chain.


This paper discusses the production of meaning concerning relationships between families and schools in Chile. We analyse 25 articles corresponding to the Chilean scientific production of 9 authors since the beginning of the 2000s. The analysis uses the Funds of Knowledge approach as an interpretive framework and is guided by the following questions: who are the agents involved? why do they relate to each other? what is their purpose?, and how is this relationship expressed? Findings highlight how the concept of family is configured and how it is used. Regarding the first, we see an imbalance between the precision with which the school is defined and imprecision regarding the family. Concerning the second, we highlight an instrumental logic in the relationship. The studies refer to the family in general terms, assuming consensus in its definition. It is concluded that research as a social task has a performative effect, contributing to the naturalization of the family under the principle of functionality/dysfunctionality. The results invite us to raise suspicions about the notion of family crystallized in research and to open up to the subjective experience of the subjects and to avoid normative and traditional definitions.


Paul A. Samuelson is perhaps best known to students of economics as the author of the best-selling introductory textbook. But he has also a long track-record of innovative scholarship at the cutting edge of the discipline and is one of the most prolific contemporary economists the profession has known. In recognition of his many contributions to raise the level of scientific analysis in economic theory, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Science, the first to a North American. In addition, he has been a leading figure in the trend towards a more rigorous mathematical exposition of economic theory. The present volumes give students of economics and economic thought immediate access to Paul A. Samuelson's contributions and show how his work has been received and modified by others.


This paper focused on examining the historical struggles of popular civil society organizations in the movement for democratization in Nigeria. This in many ways is a prelude to its contemporary phase, which coincides with the era of the third wave of democracy. The central argument of this paper which is in congruence with historical studies is that past struggles that are linked to democratization are historical phenomena rooted in colonial/postcolonial unpopular policies of the Nigerian state. In doing this, the paper also attempted albeit in brief a theoretical examination of the literature on civil societyfocusing on the liberal and Marxian schools of thought and the relevance of civil society to democratization discourses. The paper contends that the Marxian perspective more generally reflects the approach and interpretation of civil society in Nigeria's history of democratization. Overall, the study underlined not only the significance of history in shaping knowledge and enhancing understanding of contemporary struggles/movement of popular forces in Nigeria's political development but also the consistency and resilience of civil society in constructing that history especially that of democratization.


In summarizing a message, it is necessary to access knowledge about linguistic relations, subject matter knowledge about the domain of discourse, and knowledge about the user's goals for the summary. This paper investigates the feasibility of integrating these knowledge sources by using computational linguistic and expert system techniques to generate one-line summaries from the narrative content of a class of Navy messages. For deriving a knowledge representation of the narrative content, we have adapted an approach developed by Sager et al. at New York University. This approach, called information formatting, uses an explicit grammar of English and a classification of the semantic relationships within the domain to derive a tabular representation of the information in a message narrative. A production system, written in OPS5, then interprets the information in the table and automatically generates a summary line. The use of a production rule system provides insight into the mechanisms of summarization. A comparison of computer-generated summaries with those obtained manually showed good agreement, indicating that it is possible to automatically process message narrative and generate appropriate, and ultimately useful, summaries.


Jump frequencies of Cd tracer atoms were measured in three lanthanide gallides having the L12 structure: DyGa3, ErGa3 and LuGa3. 111In/Cd impurity probe atoms were observed to occupy the non-cubic Ga-sites through the nuclear quadrupole interaction using the method of perturbed angular correlation of gamma rays (PAC). Measurements at elevated temperatures exhibited nuclear relaxation (damping) of quadrupolar perturbation functions attributed to diffusional jumps of the probes among orientationally inequivalent Ga-sites. Accurate values of jump frequencies were determined from fits of the measured perturbation functions using a model of stochastically fluctuating electric-field gradients, as in previous work [e.g., Matthew O. Zacate, Aurélie Favrot and Gary S. Collins: Physical Review Letters Vol. 92 (2004) p. 225901]. Arrhenius plots of jump frequencies for the three systems exhibited jump-frequency activation enthalpies in the range 0.86-1.05 eV and prefactors of about 2 THz. The activation enthalpy for ErGa3, 0.86(2) eV is compared with those for ErAl3, 1.40(4) eV, and ErIn3, 1.34(5) eV.


1. The 1-year graft survival rate for 2,615 broadly sensitized patients of first cadaver-donor transplants between 1985 and 1990 was 72%, 7% lower than 15,615 nonsensitized patients and 6% lower than 4,824 moderately sensitized patients. For retransplants, 1,752 broadly sensitized patients had 61% 1-year graft survival rates, 12% lower than 1,299 nonsensitized patients and 8% lower than 1,104 moderately sensitized patients. 2. Rejection of a previous transplant, pretransplant blood transfusions, sex, and a history of pregnancies were the dominant causes of sensitization. 3. The percentage of nontransfused recipients of first cadaver transplants has increased yearly from 10% in 1985 to more than 40% in 1990 in both the UCLA and UNOS Registries. Over the same period, the percentage of broadly sensitized recipients has declined from 15% to 8%. 4. The beneficial effect of pretransplant transfusions (a 4% improvement at 1 year) was limited in first transplants to males and nonsensitized females. No difference in survival rates of sensitized patients comparing transfused and nontransfused was observed. Patients retransplanted without ever being transfused had very poor outcomes. 5. Delayed graft function (DGF) occurred in approximately 20% of nonsensitized, 28% of moderately (1-50% peak PRA), and 37% of broadly sensitized first transplant recipients. Among retransplanted patients, 28% of nonsensitized, 37% of moderately, and 48% of broadly sensitized patients had DGF. 6. HLA-A,B, and DR matching overcame the deleterious effect of sensitization on graft survival. Sensitization had no effect on the outcome of transplants from HLA-identical siblings, but survival decreased by 7-10% in sensitized recipients of mismatched transplants from relatives. Sensitized first cadaver transplant recipients matched for HLA-A,B, or HLA-DR antigens had 1-year survival rates comparable to those of mismatched nonsensitized recipients. 7. First transplant recipients who were nonsensitized using their current serum but had been broadly sensitized in an historical sample had 73% 1-year graft survival, the same as that of patients who were broadly sensitized in their current serum and 6% less than patients who were never sensitized (p less than 0.001). 8. Assuming a random distribution of sensitized patients at UNOS transplant centers using different methods to measure preformed antibody, the antihuman globulin (AHG) method was more sensitive than the NIH or 1-Wash tests. With AHG, 31% of first and 58% of retransplanted patients were broadly sensitized, whereas with the NIH and 1-Wash methods, the corresponding figures were 18-21% and 41-44%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Small-angle scattering measurements utilizing anomalous dispersion effect just below the Zr and Ni K edge have been made for welded Zr-based amorphous materials. The measurements were carried out at a bending magnet beam-line 40B of SPring8. A small and parallel X-ray beam generated at the third generation synchrotron is suitable for nanostructure mapping of heterogeneous materials, whose structure varies with less than a millimeter scale. The remelted and heat-affected zones were examined for electron-beam welded Zr-Ni-Cu-Al alloys. Merits and the characteristics, as well as its present limitations of scanning small-angle scattering with a use of anomalous dispersion effect is discussed as a tool to examine microstructure in the spatially inhomogeneous materials in macroscopic scale as well as microscopic scale.


It is significant to discover a global optimization in the problems dealing with large dimensional scales to increase the quality of decision-making in the mining operation. It has been broadly confirmed that the long-term production scheduling (LTPS) problem performs a main role in mining projects to develop the performance regarding the obtainability of constraints, while maximizing the whole profits of the project in a specific period. There is a requirement for improving the scheduling methodologies to get a good solution since the production scheduling problems are non-deterministic polynomial-time hard. The current paper introduces the hybrid models so as to solve the LTPS problem under the condition of grade uncertainty with the contribution of Lagrangian relaxation (LR), particle swarm optimization (PSO), firefly algorithm (FA), and bat algorithm (BA). In fact, the LTPS problem is solved under the condition of grade uncertainty. It is proposed to use the LR technique on the LTPS problem and develop its performance, speeding up the convergence. Furthermore, PSO, FA, and BA are projected to bring up-to-date the Lagrangian multipliers. The consequences of the case study specifies that the LR method is more influential than the traditional linearization method to clarify the large-scale problem and make an acceptable solution. The results obtained point out that a better presentation is gained by LR–FA in comparison with LR-PSO, LR-BA, LR-Genetic Algorithm (GA), and traditional methods in terms of the summation net present value. Moreover, the CPU time by the LR-FA method is approximately 16.2% upper than the other methods.


Abstract The routine detection of large and medium copy number variants (CNVs) is well established. Hemizygotic deletions or duplications in the large Duchenne muscular dystrophy DMD gene responsible for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies are routinely identified using multiple ligation probe amplification and array-based comparative genomic hybridization. These methods only map deleted or duplicated exons, without providing the exact location of breakpoints. Commonly used methods for the detection of CNV breakpoints include long-range PCR and primer walking, their success being limited by the deletion size, GC content and presence of DNA repeats. Here, we present a strategy for detecting the breakpoints of medium and large CNVs regardless of their size. The hemizygous deletion of exons 45-50 in the DMD gene and the large autosomal heterozygous PARK2 deletion were used to demonstrate the workflow that relies on real-time quantitative PCR to narrow down the deletion region and Sanger sequencing for breakpoint confirmation. The strategy is fast, reliable and cost-efficient, making it amenable to widespread use in genetic laboratories.


Genome-wide association studies have identified 8q24 region variants as risk factors for prostate cancer. In the Agricultural Health Study, a prospective study of licensed pesticide applicators, we observed increased prostate cancer risk with specific pesticide use among those with a family history of prostate cancer. Thus, we evaluated the interaction among pesticide use, 8q24 variants, and prostate cancer risk. The authors estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for interactions among 211 8q24 variants, 49 pesticides, and prostate cancer risk in 776 cases and 1,444 controls. The ORs for a previously identified variant, rs4242382, and prostate cancer increased significantly (P<0.05) with exposure to the organophosphate insecticide fonofos, after correction for multiple testing, with per allele ORnonexposed of 1.17 (95% CI, 0.93-1.48), per allele OR(low) of 1.30 (95% CI, 0.75-2.27), and per allele ORhigh of 4.46 (95% CI, 2.17-9.17; P-interaction=0.002, adjusted P-interaction=0.02). A similar effect modification was observed for three other organophosphate insecticides (coumaphos, terbufos, and phorate) and one pyrethroid insecticide (permethrin). Among ever users of fonofos, subjects with three or four risk alleles at rs7837328 and rs4242382 had approximately three times the risk of prostate cancer (OR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.41-7.00) compared with subjects who had zero risk alleles and never used fonofos. We observed a significant interaction among variants on chromosome 8q24, pesticide use, and risk of prostate cancer. Insecticides, particularly organophosphates, were the strongest modifiers of risk, although the biological mechanism is unclear. This is the first report of effect modification between 8q24 and an environmental exposure on prostate cancer risk.


from electronic medical charts. ADC values were measured and averaged in the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes. Neurodevelopmental assessments were done by Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS-II). Results: Half of the fbMRI hyper-intense T2 signal cases were associated with congenital CMV infection. The other half of the cases were mainly idiopathic. Thus, the study group was divided to CMV positive and negative sub-groups. Both groups had hyper-intense signal in the temporal lobe. The CMV positive group had involvement of the parietal lobe. Only the CMV positive group had increased ADC values in the temporal and parietal lobes. There was no association between the neurodevelopment outcome and the etiologies or to ADC values. Conclusions: T2 hyper-intense signal in fbMRI associated with positive for CMV infection has increased ADC values in the temporal and parietal lobes, suggestive of brain edema in these areas. However, the association between this finding and neurodevelopment outcome requires further evaluation.


OBJECTIVE
Recent studies on the management of human fetal gastroschisis have produced two major findings: (1) there is an inflammatory response in the amniotic fluid of these fetuses, and (2) amniotic fluid exchange designed to disrupt the inflammatory loop seems to have a favorable impact on the immediate and late outcome of these early operated neonates. To test this hypothesis, we used serial amniotic fluid exchanges in a model of gastroschisis developed in the ewe.

METHODS
Gastroschisis was created at midgestation in 21 lamb fetuses by an in utero technique. Saline was amnioinfused in some fetuses every 10 days to term. Fetuses were sacrificed on day 145 by cesarean section. Extra-abdominal bowels with fibrous peel were processed for histologic examination. Comparisons were done between fetuses without gastroschisis (controls), fetuses with gastroschisis and amnioinfusion, and fetuses with gastroschisis without amnioinfusion.

RESULTS
Of 21 fetuses operated, 8 died in utero or were stillborn; 5 were not amnioinfused, and 8 underwent amnioinfusion. Thickness of bowel muscularis (micrometer) was 92.6 +/- 20.2 for controls, 126.2 +/- 21 for the amnioinfused fetuses, and 182.8 +/- 58.3 for the nonamnioinfused fetuses (p = 0.001). The same significant results were obtained for thickness of serous fibrosis (p = 0.02) and plasma cell infiltration (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS
We have created a model of gastroschisis suitable for experimentation in the fetal sheep. Our amnioinfusion data in this model indicate a clear improvement of the deleterious process. This finding correlates well with recent data on amnioinfusion as a therapeutic approach to human gastroschisis.


Children's friendships are important for well‐being and school adjustment, but few studies have examined multiple indices of friendships together in middle childhood. The current study surveyed 7‐ to 11‐year‐olds (n = 314) about their friendships, best friendships, friendship quality and indices of self‐worth, identification with peers, and identification with school. Peer relationships were positively related to self‐worth, but not identification with peers or school. Best friendship quality moderated the relationship between number of reciprocated friendship nominations and self‐worth. Children with a reciprocated best friend had higher friendship quality and peer identification than others. Where best friendship was reciprocated, the relationship with identification with peers was mediated via positive friendship quality. The results suggest that friendship reciprocity is particularly relevant for children's self‐worth and identification with peers. The findings are discussed in relation to the importance of fostering the development of reciprocated friendships. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Friendships are related to well‐being, school relations, and how young people feel about their peers at school. Friendship quality may be important in moderating the relationship between peer relations and adjustment. What does this study add? Various aspects of friendships are studied simultaneously with younger children than much previous research. Reciprocated best friendships were better quality than partial or non‐reciprocated best friendships. Friendship reciprocity was most relevant for children's self‐worth and peer identification.


The recent tendency of businesses toward voluntary disclosure has improved the quality of financial reporting. High-quality financial reporting helps users of financial information trust the business, and thus creates value for the business. Also, during the last decade there has been a profound revolution in information technology as a result of the Internet, and obviously accounting has been directly affected by this change. The present study divides voluntary disclosure into two groups of financial and non-financial information and investigates the effects of fundamentals on voluntary disclosure by businesses. The population is composed of 65 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange from 2005 to 2012. The hypothesis testing results show that firm size, business complexity, earnings volatility, and firm value had a significant and positive impact on voluntary disclosure, whereas financial leverage had a significant and negative impact on voluntary disclosure, while no relationship was observed between voluntary disclosure and financial performance.


The initial phase is the first phase of the project life cycle and it plays an important
role since it deals with vast amount of information and documentation, which
becomes the evidence of the project. The initial phase has a great impact on the
effectiveness of the project progress and the success of the project outcome.
Inefficient and ineffective management of these three areas results in a high risk of
project time delays and project over costs. Therefore it is the benefit to all
stakeholders for the management of the initial phase to be as efficient and effective as
possible.
This study looks into how the initial phase of the project process can be optimised
through information, communication and requirement management. Furthermore this
study investigates if there could be a defined structure to be applied in every project in
order to achieve effectiveness. This study also looks into what challenges are faced in
the Swedish construction market related to information, communication and
requirement management. Furthermore, the matter is approached with a broad
perspective and should be seen as a foundation and guidance for future detail studies.
In addition, all relevant life cycle phases are overviewed with the belief that efficiency
in the initial phase is achieved when it is consistent throughout the project life cycle.
The result of this study is based on 6 detailed interviews conducted with
representative employees in a consultancy company. These employees are in various
positions related to construction. By discussing the results with the comprehensive
theoretical framework of this study, this study finds that the management of
information, communication and requirements are dependent on various factors. The
most dominant two factors are the client and the project manager. This study shows
that the optimisation of the initial phase is possible by developing frameworks for the
different conditions that the client and the project manager create. The idea of a
defined structure to be used in every project is discussed and supported by various
authors. The challenges faced in the Swedish construction market are identified and it
is recommended to take these into consideration to gain quick and beneficial results in
the company. It also recommended to study project delivery systems (design build
and design bid build) and to develop management structures accordingly. Furthermore
using the wide approach that this study presents of the matter to develop structures for
optimisation is recommended.


Human colour perception is mediated by multiple factors. These include: the external environment, physiological structures within the eye, and the neuronal pathways that originate in the eye. The aim of this thesis was to further investigate the impact of three main factors on both the perception and cortical representation of colour. These factors were: the external, changing seasonal environment, genetically determined differences in the number of photoreceptor types, and spatial filters inherent to cortical and pre-cortical luminance and chromatic pathways.

Novel findings and methods were demonstrated in this thesis:
1) For the first time, it was found that natural seasonal changes in the chromatic environment (in York, UK) affect the perception of unique yellow; this finding supports the existence of a slow normalisation mechanism, which is governed by changes in the average chromatic environment.
2) Genetically atypical individuals, who have fewer photoreceptor types (dichromats), demonstrated no differences in achromatic contrast discrimination thresholds compared to colour-normal trichromats. Therefore, for this particular measure, dichromats do not appear to benefit from increased neuronal resources from 'unused' chromatic pathway populations. A multi-channel LED system was developed to allow the isolation of photoreceptor responses in individuals with an additional photoreceptor type (tetrachromats). Modelling of this system indicated that precision in the cone spectra used to generate the stimulus, relative to the observer's actual cone sensitivities (i.e. peak wavelength sensitivities), is crucial for successful isolation of the cones.
3) fMRI-based population receptive field (pRF) mapping was used to measure pRF sizes in the pre-cortical channels. Between the pathways, no differences in pRF sizes were found, however, differences in fMRI measures of spatial frequency sensitivity were observed. These data indicate that spatial frequency tuning in early visual cortex may be decoupled from population receptive field sizes.


Vossian Antonomasia (VA) is a well-known stylistic device based on attributing a certain property to a person by relating them to another person who is famous for this property. Although the morphological and semantic characteristics of this phenomenon have long been the subject of linguistic research, little is known about its distribution. In this paper, we describe end-to-end approaches for detecting and extracting VA expressions from large news corpora in order to study VA more broadly. We present two types of approaches: binary sentence classifiers that detect whether or not a sentence contains a VA expression, and sequence tagging of all parts of a VA on the word level, enabling their extraction. All models are based on neural networks and outperform previous approaches, best results are obtained with a fine-tuned BERT model. Furthermore, we study the impact of training data size and class imbalance by adding negative (and possibly noisy) instances to the training data. We also evaluate the models' performance on out-of-corpus and real-world data and analyze the ability of the sequence tagging model to generalize in terms of new entity types and syntactic patterns.


Abstract Polydopamine/Ag (PDA/Ag) nanoparticles were synthesized for methylene blue (MB) removal from aqueous solution as a model dye. These particles were prepared in a modified literature procedure in which polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles were first prepared via the oxidative polymerization of dopamine (DA) under alkaline conditions in the presence of oxygen. Subsequently, nanoparticulate PDA/Ag was accessed from direct reduction of silver precursor [Ag(NH3)2]+ ions by catechol amino groups in the PDA structure to form Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) fixed on the PDA surface. Confirmation of the formation of the PDA and PDA/Ag nanoparticles, plus characterization of their surface morphologies was achieved. In the MB adsorption studies, the various factors affecting the dye adsorption and thermodynamic parameters were investigated in detail. This adsorption process can be described well by the Langmuir model. In order to gain a deeper molecular insight into this process, we investigated some possible local model structures of PDA/Ag nanoparticles and MB interaction with these structures using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results indicated that the adsorption energies (E ads) of MB on the PDA/Ag nanoparticles were higher than the E ads of MB on PDA nanoparticles, which was consistent with the experimental results. Our results provide a significant new finding for the role of Ag nanoparticles in the MB adsorption process on PDA/Ag nanoparticles. Readily accessible nanoparticulate PDA/Ag was shown to be a highly effective adsorbent for MB from aqueous solution and thus has significant potential for applications in wastewater dye removal.


It is sometimes said that the Federal Reserve should not engage in "credit allocation." But what does credit allocation actually mean? And how do current Fed policies affect the allocation of credit? In this post, we describe two separate ideas often associated with credit allocation. The first idea is that the Fed should not take credit risk, which taxpayers would ultimately have to bear. The second idea is that the Fed's actions should not influence the flow of credit to particular sectors. We consider whether the Fed's holdings of agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) could affect the allocation of credit. In a companion post, we discuss how the economic effects of the Fed's MBS holdings compare with the economic effects of more traditional holdings.


JKTech was announced as one of three finalists in the Information and Communications Technology category at the 2012 Premier of Queensland's Export Awards held on November 8. Highlighted was JKTech's growth in delivering high quality software and consulting services to the global minerals sector, with particular focus on high growth in emerging markets, such as China and Russia, and continued growth in more traditional markets, such as South America. This recognition celebrates JKTech's ongoing success in globally delivering innovative technology solutions based on research outcomes from the centres of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland. This is 6 th time JKTech has been recognised as Finalist or Winner at these awards, after being named Winner in the Small to Medium Manufacturing and Mining category in 2006.


FLIP (FLICE‐inhibitory protein) is a major inhibitor of death receptor‐mediated activation of caspase 8 (FLICE, Fas‐associated death domain‐like interleukin‐1 ‐converting enzyme). We have previously found that FLIP is not only a key regulator of death receptor‐mediated apoptosis, but also inhibits chemotherapy‐induced apoptosis in several cancers. Furthermore, we found that silencing FLIP expression using siRNA approaches was in itself sufficient to induce apoptosis in several different cancer models. These results suggest that FLIP is a promising therapeutic target in several cancers. In this study, we describe the pre‐clinical characterisation of a novel FLIP‐targeted antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide (AS PTO). Of 5 potential sequences identified, one AS PTO potently down‐regulated FLIP. Down‐regulation of FLIP by this AS PTO resulted in caspase 8 activation and apoptosis induction in non‐small cell lung (NSCLC), colorectal and prostate cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the FLIP AS PTO sensitized cancer cells to apoptosis induced by the clinically relevant death ligand TRAIL (TNF‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand). Moreover, the FLIP AS PTO also sensitized NSCLC cells to apoptosis induced by the chemotherapeutic agents cisplatin and taxol. Importantly, compared to a control non‐targeted PTO, the FLIP‐targeted AS PTO demonstrated in vivo antitumor activity against NSCLC xenografts and enhanced the antitumor effects of cisplatin. In summary, we have identified a novel FLIP‐targeted AS PTO that has in vitro and in vivo activity and which may therefore have potential for clinical development. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):C12.