This study examines the usefulness of the "CAGE", (which is an acronym for "cut down", "annoyed", "guilty" and "eye-opener"), a 4-question screening test to identify excessive drinkers among Malaysian inpatients. The CAGE questionnaire after translation and back translation was administered to all inpatients in the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. The author interviewed 'blindly' all who score positive on the CAGE score and 10% of all negatives using the DSM III interview schedule for alcohol abuse dependence. The results show that the CAGE performs best at a cut-off point of 2 and above, with a sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 62%, positive predictive values of 38% and Kappa (K) of 0.37 with a DSM III R diagnosis for alcohol abuse/dependence. The poor agreement with a DSM III diagnosis indicates that the CAGE is not useful in the Malaysian population. Reasons suggested for this are: cultural factors in the Malaysian population resulting in the overrating of the question of 'guilt' by Muslims and translations into the local languages which are only the closest approximations.


Many power transmission systems are under pressure from increasing load demand as well as changes in power flows due to the evolution of the power market and the integration of renewable energy generations. At the same time, limited finance for installing new cables and the difficulties in reinforcement of existing circuits in urban areas incentivize transmission operators around the world to find ways to maximize the flexibility and usage of their existing transmission network. As a result, it is crucial to adopt new current rating methods which are able to optimize asset utilization, minimize risk and reduce the constraint costs incurred by transmission system operators. Historically, most cable thermal ratings are continuous ratings, with fixed seasonal values for a certain cable circuit. They are based on worst-case assumptions and are not able to consider the real-time environmental conditions. The ignorance of the real-time change in environmental conditions, which control the rate of heat dissipation from the cable, makes continuous ratings generally conservative. However, the rating values can also be optimistic for some extreme situations such as thermal runaway in the soil around the cables, which might cause overheating. Several dynamic rating systems have been applied to the existing underground cable in practice by using online monitoring data. Some worst case assumptions used in conventional cable rating standards have been removed. Such systems have been reported to deliver increases of 5-20% in cable current capacity. However, most existing dynamic rating systems can only determine a short-term rating at the current time step. It would be valuable for transmission operators to know the short-term rating in advance to assist in day-ahead planning. To solve this problem, a predicted rating system, which is capable of providing network operators with accurate short term current ratings at the day ahead stage, has been developed in this work. This novel cable rating concept integrates a day-ahead load forecasting system into the dynamic rating system to provide the time-limited short-term rating calculated forward from any point within the next 24 hours. Some shortcomings of existing rating methods for different kind of insulated cable installations have been detected and overcome. More suitable models have been built, compromising between accuracy and solution speed to fit them into the predicted rating system. A day-ahead load forecasting system has been built by using the Support Vector Regression (SVR) method. Dynamic thermal models are used to translate the load prediction into thermal prediction 24 hours ahead. Thus, the time-limited short-term ratings can then be calculated 24hrs ahead, based on the predicted load data and cable temperature data. In addition, an error estimation system has been integrated to estimate the predicted conductor temperature error quickly, thus increases the reliability of the predicted rating system. Utilizing this predicted rating system has the double benefit of reducing variations in dynamic ratings (which makes them difficult to plan with), while reducing the risk of thermally overloading the cable, thus prematurely ageing the dielectric. For a large scale transmission network, the dynamic rating and predicted rating systems for all the cable circuits might require huge amounts of computation and very long solution times, which make their application impractical and infeasible. The idea of using a machine learning method, such as Support Vector Regression, has been shown to dramatically reduce the solution time for dynamic rating calculations.


ABSTRACT Dietary fat ingestion triggers bile secretion into the gastrointestinal tract. Bile acid malabsorption affects >1% of the population, causing loose stool and other gastrointestinal symptoms. The diagnosis is frequently missed. Treatments are often considered ineffective. We evaluated low-fat diets for managing gastrointestinal symptoms in these patients. All patients reporting type 6 or 7 stool were offered a selenium-75 homocholic acid taurine (SeHCAT) scan. Prospective data in patients with 7-day scan retention <20% were analysed. Patients requiring a bile acid sequestrant were given this before receiving dietary advice. Patients completed a 7-day food diary before dietetic consultations. Personalised dietary interventions, providing 20% of daily energy from fat, were prescribed. Symptoms were assessed using a modified gastrointestinal symptom rating scale questionnaire before and 4–12 weeks after dietary intervention. A total of 114 patients (49 male, median age 64 years, median body mass index 27 kg/m2) were evaluated. 44% of these patients were taking colesevelam. After dietary intervention, there was statistically significant improvement in abdominal pain and nocturnal defecation (0.2% alpha, p=0.001). Improvement in bowel frequency, urgency, flatulence, belching, borborygmi and stool consistency were seen, but did not reach statistical significance (p⩽0.004–0.031). Dietary intervention is an effective treatment option for patients with symptomatic bile acid malabsorption and should be routinely considered.


Purpose: Utilization of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in different fields of dentistry is on the rise; on the other hand, panoramic radiology as a screening technique is extensively used in dental procedures. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of linear (horizontal-vertical) and angular measurements in CBCT images and panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, either mesiodistal width and the height, as well as angular measurement in anterior, canine, premolar and molar of the mandible and maxilla were measured. Each area was outlined by gutta-percha as opaque markers. The first and the second observers measured the linear and angular measurements twice with 2 weeks interval. Digital caliper, with the accuracy of 0.01 mm was used. A baseplate for reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint and a polyvinyl plastic pipe to reconstruct the spine were utilized. After the standard panoramic and CBCT radiography were obtained, observers used system-measuring menu to measure the distances between markers from the images. Based on sample size, all the above steps were repeated 10 times. Statistical analysis included an evaluation of the agreement between observers and the frequency of testing for each observer based on coefficient of concordance, as well as using paired t-test for comparing physical and radiographic quantities of different dimensions. P < 0.05 was established as a level of significant. Results: Comparison of the panoramic radiography with the CBCT in the anterior, canine, and molar of the maxilla and mandible showed a significant difference between two methods (P < 0.05). angular measurement in the premolar region of the maxilla and vertical measurement in the mandibular molar region also showed a significant difference between two methods (P > 0.05). The accuracy of panoramic radiography in comparison with CBCT in eighty samples regardless of the jaw and the area is approximately the same in angular measurement (P > 0.05). In contrast, in both horizontal and vertical positions, CBCT shows more meaningful result than panoramic radiography (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Comparison of CBCT and panoramic imaging revealed that CBCT in all three dimensions is more accurate than panoramic. The difference between these two techniques is maximized in the horizontal measurement and minimized in the angular measurement.


The phosphorus (P) concentration c1 in the surface layer of the Baltic proper in winter depends on the land-based P source LPS, and the ocean P source OPS, which are known. It also depends on the internal P source IPS from anoxic bottoms and the sum of internal and external P sinks TPsink, which are estimated in this paper. IPS is parameterized as fs·Aanox, where fs is the specific annual mass flux of P from anoxic sediments and Aanox is the area of anoxic bottoms, and TPsink is parameterized as c1·TRVF, where TRVF is the total removal volume flux. We use a time-dependent P budget model, and 47 years of observational data, and the method of least squares to determine the best estimates of the unknown parameters fs and TRVF. The result is TRVF = 3,000 km3 year−1 and fs = 1.22 tons P km−2 year−1. With these parameter values, the model gives a quite good description of the observed evolution of c1. The observed runaway evolution of c1, with increasing c1 since the 1980s although the land-based supply LPS has been halved, is well-described by the model. It is concluded that the internal P source IPS provides a positive feedback mechanism that has boosted and perpetuated the eutrophication of the Baltic proper and that IPS is the major driver of the Baltic Sea eutrophication since the late 1990s. It is suggested that measures to eliminate IPS should be included in the management strategy to reduce the eutrophication of the Baltic proper.


Weakness data processing using analog processors are less efficient because if there is an error in the design of a system using an analog processor, the hardware of the system should be redesigned. Processing of analog signals using digital processor has several advantages such as efficient and easy to modify the system are made, without requiring hardware redesign as well as in the design of analog systems. Errors in the design of digital circuits in the processor only requires modification program, without having to change the hardware. Modifications can be done anywhere, without demanding we must be in the laboratory. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is a computational algorithm that is used for digital data processing such as in the field of image, music, and satellite. Winograd FFT 16 point multiplier, multiplier consists of 6 pieces in the form of fractions. Design of FFT multiplier in Xilinx ISE 10.1i could do with changing fractions menajdi integers and then converted into a number by logic 1 and 0. Changing fractions into an integer will give different computational results compared with the original computation using a multiplier of FFT. The shift results enormous computing will result in lost / loss information can be conveyed from the processed data. To that end, researchers tried to simulate and analyze the computational error rate of 16 point Winograd FFT processor using Xilinx ISE 10.1i. The results showed average percentage error computational simulations using FFT 16 point Xilinx Ise 10.1i compare with Matlab is 6.67% (first trial) and 4:48% (second trial). This error occurs because the processor does not allow the FPGA digital display numbers in a real number. Key word: FFT, Xilinx 10.1i


This paper describes a multilevel algorithm for solving the multi-group, anisotropic scattering Boltzmann equation formulated with a first-order system least-squares methodology. A Pn − h finite element discretization is used. The resulting angle discretization of this Pn approach does not exhibit the so-called "ray effects," but this discretization leads to a large coupled system of partial differential equations for the spatial coefficients, and, on scaling the system to achieve better approximation, the system coupling depends strongly on the material parameters. Away from the thick, low absorptive regime, a relatively robust multigrid algorithm for solving these spatial systems will be described. For the thick, low absorptive regime, where an incompressible elasticity-like equation appears, an additive/multiplicative Schwarz smoother gives substantial multigrid improvement over standard nodal smoothers. Rather than using higher-order or Raviart-Thomas finite element spaces, which lead to complicated implementation, only low-order, conforming finite elements are used. Numerical examples illustrating almost h−independent convergence rates and lockingfree discretization accuracy will be given.


Combining multiple classifiers is an effective technique for improving classification accuracy by reducing the variance through manipulating the training data distributions. In many large-scale data analysis problems involving heterogeneous databases with attribute instability, however, standard boosting methods do not improve local classifiers (e.g. k-nearest neighbors) due to their low sensitivity to data perturbation. Here, we propose an adaptive attribute boosting technique to coalesce multiple local classifiers each using different relevant attribute information. To reduce the computational costs of k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) classifiers, a novel fast k-NN algorithm is designed. We show that the proposed combining technique is also beneficial when boosting global classifiers like neural networks and decision trees. In addition, a modification of the boosting method is developed for heterogeneous spatial databases with unstable driving attributes by drawing spatial blocks of data at each boosting round. Finally, when heterogeneous data sets contain several homogeneous data distributions, we propose a new technique of boosting specialized classifiers, where instead of a single global classifier for each boosting round, there are specialized classifiers responsible for each homogeneous region. The number of regions is identified through a clustering algorithm performed at each boosting iteration. New boosting methods applied to synthetic spatial data and real life spatial data show improvements in prediction accuracy for both local and global classifiers when unstable driving attributes and heterogeneity are present in the data. In addition, boosting specialized experts significantly reduces the number of iterations needed for achieving the maximal prediction accuracy.


Optical strain measurement for the mechanical characterization of polymers, and in particular of polyolefins, is becoming a common practice to determine the parameters to be used in a finite element analysis of crash problems. This experimental technique allows measuring the strain locally on the specimen, so that it is particularly suitable when the deformation is localized, as in the case of polymers: therefore a more accurate description of the behaviour of the material is obtained. By so doing, it is possible to describe the material constitutive law in terms of the true, local strain and of the true stress. As these data are those needed by the most complete material models developed for impact calculation, it is clear that this technique is particularly suitable for coupling with the most advanced material models currently available in the F.E. codes, as for instance with Mat 187 (SAMP1) of LS-Dyna. The local measurement of the strain can also be used for evaluating the volume strain, whose evolution with the increasing strain shows that for PP-based material the deformation is not isochoric in most the cases. The observed increase in the material volume reflects the fact that voids generate and coalesce within the material, possibly resulting in fracture. The measure of the volume strain, computed as the trace of the strain tensor, is here used for determining the damage function utilized by the damage model implemented in SAMP-1. The effective stress is here estimated as the stress which would be measured if the deformation was isochoric, and it can be assessed on the basis of the measurement of the longitudinal local strain only. Corresponding to each value of longitudinal strain, the volume strain is then used to calculate the ratio between the effective and the true stress. Adopting this procedure, the damage function is thus determined without the needs of repeated loading-unloading tests used to derive the damage parameter from the unloading slope, which is furthermore difficult to be measured. As an application, the results of the numerical reproduction of a benchmark test, consisting in a drop test on a polypropylene box, are presented and discussed


SUMMARY Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular pathogen within the phylum Apicomplexa. This protozoan parasite is one of the most widespread, with a broad host range including many birds and mammals and a geographic range that is nearly worldwide. While infection of healthy adults is usually relatively mild, serious disease can result in utero or when the host is immunocompromised. This sophisticated eukaryote has many specialized features that make it well suited to its intracellular lifestyle. In this review, we describe the current knowledge of how the asexual tachyzoite stage of Toxoplasma attaches to, invades, replicates in, and exits the host cell. Since this process is closely analogous to the way in which viruses reproduce, we refer to it as the Toxoplasma "lytic cycle."


The incidence of peritonsillitis is not very well known. A retrospective study was performed at the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic (ENT) at the University Hospital of Örebro Sweden. We studied every case from 2002 to 2004 and related it to a well-defined catchment area of 179,200 inhabitants. We identified 283 events of peritonsillitis, of which 85 were defined as peritonsillar cellulitis (PTC). Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) was found in 198 events in patients between 7 and 82 y of age. 13 patients had 2 episodes of PTA during the study period. The overall incidence was 37/100,000/y. The highest incidence was found between 14 and 21 y of age, with 124/100,000/y. The male: female ratio was 1: 1. Affected females were younger than males (p=0.04), and the peak incidence was earlier for females. This may be due to differences in immunological response, owing to hormonal maturation. The annual incidence of PTA was higher in this study than found in previous studies, which is probably attributable to the fact that our study identified almost all cases in the population.


This study reviews the deliveries of macrosomic babies and their outcomes. A total of 330 macrosomic (birth weight > or =4 kg) cases were studied retrospectively from July 1999 to December 1999 in the Maternity Hospital of Kuala Lumpur. The variables studied included induction of labour, mode of delivery and the incidence of maternal and perinatal complications. Three hundred and thirty macrosomic infants were delivered during the period of study. Vaginal delivery was achived in 56% of the study cases. The percentage of vaginal delivery was higher among those who had induction of labour (63%) compared to the group without induction of labour (50%). Vaginal delivery was planned in 267 mothers and of these 69% achieved vaginal delivery. Twelve per cent of the macrosomic infants were delivered by elective caesarean section. Shoulder dystocia occurred in 4.9% of vaginal deliveries. Eighty-eight neonates were admitted to the special care nursery unit and 57% of these infants were delivered by elective caesarean section. Perineal trauma occurred in 26% of vaginal deliveries. Post-partum haemorrhage occurred in 32% of caesarean deliveries compared to 4% in vaginal deliveries. Two cases of stillbirths were documented but no maternal death occurred during the period of study. Vaginal delivery is the most frequent mode of delivery for a fetus weighing in excess of 4 kg and vaginal delivery should be attempted in the absence of contraindications, because vaginal delivery has less maternal morbidity compared to caesarean delivery. However, shoulder dystocia remains a significant complication of vaginal delivery for macrosomic fetuses.


Electromagnetic sensibility, the ability to perceive electric and electromagnetic exposure, and electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), developing health symptoms due to exposure to environmental electromagnetic fields, need to be distinguished. Increased electrosensibility is a necessary, however, not a sufficient condition for electromagnetic hypersensitivity. At an extended sample of the general population of 708 adults, including 349 men and 359 women aged between 17 and 60 years, electrosensibility was investigated and characterized by perception threshold and its standard deviation. By analyzing the probability distributions of the perception threshold of electric 50 Hz currents, evidence could be found for the existence of a subgroup of people with significantly increased electrosensibility (hypersensibility) who as a group could be differentiated from the general population. The presented data show that the variation of the electrosensibility among the general population is significantly larger than has yet been estimated by nonionizing radiation protection bodies, but much smaller than claimed by hypersensitivity self‐aid groups. These quantitative results should contribute to a less emotional discussion of this problem. The investigation method presented, is capable of exclusion diagnostics for persons suffering from the hypersensitivity syndrome. Bioelectromagnetics 24:387–394, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


In addition to the above mentioned article, the possibility of genetic and epigenetic signal transduction should be discussed in addition to the historic Pavlovian reflex. Epigenetics is the discipline that researches how gene expression can be influenced from outside the cell. Delayed wound healing, for example, may be caused by psychological stress such as marital conflict, despair, fear, stress, etc (1). So called placebo effects were also found when comparing the results of patients who had had surgery and those who had had sham surgery. The result: no difference was found for debridement versus arthroscopic lavage of the knee versus placebo (2). The fact that some of the "placebo" patients fared better than those who had undergone surgery cannot be conclusively explained. The assumption is that the numerous signal substances that are produced naturally in the body, which are epigenetically influenced by the conscious mind as well as by emotions, may exert a substantial influence on the physiology of the healing process. Placebos are effective in some 35% of cases. In a meta-analysis by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the intrinsic placebo effect for antidepressants is reported to be 80%; in 4 of 47 studies, placebos achieved a better effect than the true, pharmacologically active substance (3). Altogether, the average difference between placebo and medication drugs was not clinically significant. The insights gained into the placebo effect by epigenetic researchers should, as discussed in the article by Breidert and Hofbauer, be cautiously included in the therapeutic concept.


In the seismic assessment of framed R.C. structures reinforced by steel angles and battens (steel jacketing) the use of proper confinement models for concrete is still a main topic. Really, the capacity of reinforced concrete columns under concentric and eccentric loads strongly depends on confinement exerted by the external reinforcement. Further a proper attribution of concrete stress-strain laws allows obtaining reliable estimations of inelastic capacity of reinforced elements. Moreover the presence (or not) of connections of the angles with the end joints influences their capacity to support vertical loads. In the two cases the mechanical models have to account for buckling or frictional effects. In this frame this paper presents a selected review of literature confinement models for steel jacketed concrete elements, presenting a parametric study in which the main confinement parameters predictable by each of them are compared. The reliability of the models in object is finally tested comparing analytical predictions of the ultimate vertical capacity with experimental results coming from several literature compressive tests of reinforced column specimens.


The essay seeks to understand what is theologically at stake when challenging the power of money in shaping our common life. To do so it sets out four theses, with commentary, that are suggestive of how we might go about generating a critically constructive and theologically attuned vision of an earthly oikonomia within the contemporary context. The first thesis is that envisioning a contemporary economics of mutual and ecological flourishing necessitates teasing out how Christian doctrines of God and soteriology legitimate oppressive conceptions of debt, and, at the same time, can help dismantle capitalism as an all-encompassing social imaginary to which there is no alternative. The second thesis is that as part of reenvisioning contemporary soteriology we must reengage with scriptural, patristic, scholastic, and medieval rabbinic and Islamic conceptions of property, debt, and usury in order to generate robust theological frameworks through which to analyze finance capitalism and the forms of domination it produces. The third thesis is that a vision for a common life must move beyond notions of recognition and redistribution as the basis for a just public life. And the last thesis is that we need to recover a consociational vision of democratic citizenship and a commitment to economic democracy.


The synthesis and electrochemical redox properties of a series of symmetrical, highly conjugated bis(benzo-1,3-dithiole) and bis(benzothiazole) derivatives (8)–(24) are described. The heterocyclic end-groups are linked by a conjugated framework that incorporates the following groups: (a) phenyl, (b) naphthyl, (c) thienyl, (d) biphenyl, (e) anthracenyl, and (f) benzanthracenyl. Compounds (13) and (16)–(19) display two, single-electron redox waves in the cyclic voltammogram, while compounds (8)–(12), (14), (15), (20), (21), (23), and (24) display a single, two-electron redox wave. The redox potentials of these molecules can be correlated with the increased stability of the redox state of the system in which the central, bridging ring is aromatic.


The article deals with the «culturological approach» to the professional training of future managers of tourism in Precarpathia. As the Precarpathian region attracts thousands of tourists year-round the demand of training qualified specialists in the sphere of tourism and hospitality is constantly growing. Nowadays the question of a successful and perspectives career in tourism results in training a new standard professional, a specialist of many-sided knowledge,with the ability to fulfil tasks concerning thinking over, making and realizing management decisions. In order to develop tourist  Carpathian region, the Precarpathian National University named after V.Stefanyk educates future experts in such specialities as "Tourism" and "Hospitality Industry". Involving youth in social cultural values and ideals, education contributes to maintaining social order and by providing realization of new technologies, scientific rethinking of existing knowledge education promotes social changes, society development, i.e. education operates as an agent of moral regulation facilitating social integration. Different interpretations of the concept «culture» were studied. The conclusion that culture is a multiaspect and multifunctional notion was made. Cultorological approach in education provides effectiveness of the process of putting culture as a social phenomenon into action. The fact of culturological direction extending of the whole educational process in the university interrelating to its components (common-cultural, professional and functional) is of great importance. Cultorological approach introduction to the process of training of the future tourism experts that is aimed at the developing of civil society values and an independent creative personality is a premise of modernization of higher education in Ukraine.


Background: Melasma is the most common cause of facial melanosis and presents with a complex therapeutic problem. Intralesional platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has shown promising results in hyperpigmentation, whereas alpha-glucoside derivative of trihydroxy benzoic acid (THBG) is a newer molecule for the management of pigmentation. Aims and objective: To compare therapeutic effects of PRP and THBG in facial melasma, note any untoward side effects of therapy and evaluate dermoscope as a tool for therapeutic prognosis. Methods: A total of 60 patients were enrolled based on inclusion and exclusion criteria after due written informed consent. After clinical, dermoscopic, and Wood lamp examination with relevant blood investigations, group P was treated by three sittings of intralesional injection of PRP at monthly interval, whereas group B was subjected to local application of THBG twice a day. Intergroup as well as intragroup comparative analyses were performed by subjective scores and dermoscope. Results: The mean of difference between modified melasma area and severity index (mMASI) score at the end of the study (i.e., difference mMASI at 12 and 0 weeks) was 2.21 for group P and 0.18 for group B and on comparison, the P-value was <0.0001 which is considered statistically significant. The average %mMASI improvement in group P was 35.05%, whereas in group B, it was 3.18%. On analysis of other parameters, physician global assessment, patient global assessment, and melasma quality of life scale patients of group P showed higher and significant improvements in comparison with group B. Changes in dermoscopic parameters could be appreciated in patients with significant improvement only. Conclusion: There is mild–moderate improvement in melasma (average 35.05%) with PRP with no untoward side effects, whereas THBG did not show any promising result in the treatment of melasma in FT grade IV/V.


The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is a highly mobile cetacean found in waters across the Northern hemisphere. It occurs in coastal water and inhabits water basins that vary broadly in salinity, temperature, and food availability. These diverse habitats could drive differentiation among populations. Here we report the first harbour porpoise genome, assembled de novo from a Swedish Kattegat individual. The genome is one of the most complete cetacean genomes currently available, with a total size of 2.7 Gb and 50% of the total length found in just 34 scaffolds. Using the largest 122 scaffolds, we were able to validate a high level of homology to the chromosome-level genome assembly of the closest related species for which such resource was available, the domestic cattle (Bos taurus). The draft annotation comprises 22,154 predicted gene models, which we further annotated through matches to the NCBI nucleotide database, GO categorization, and motif prediction. To infer the adaptive abilities of this species, as well as their population history, we performed a Bayesian skyline analysis, and produced results that are concordant with the demographic history of this species, including expansion and fragmentation events. Overall, this genome assembly, together with the draft annotation, represents a crucial addition to the limited genetic markers currently available for the study of porpoises and Phocoenidae conservation, phylogeny, and evolution.


With the commercialization of the Web, you can find the information you need, but you may also find an applet or CGI bin ready to charge you for it. In what was originally a cooperative environment where discovering and copying information were free, interactions (and the agents involved) are now acquiring an economic basis. We consider how the introduction of agents and, more specifically, agents whose interactions have an economic basis can actually lead to a new dimension for developing systems for computer supported cooperative work. Until recently, the gap between agent technology and the technology available for CSCW appeared to preclude much interaction between the two communities. However, agent based mechanisms have become sophisticated enough to be used by collaborative systems to perform task allocation, scheduling, triggering, and other low-level functions. The methods for entering into collaborative agreements now seem promising.


The purpose of this study was to test a new teaching pedagogy that may provide EFL 10 grade students in Jordan with more opportunities to learn grammar away from traditional communicative tasks. Thus imaginative approach strategies leading to a master's degree were assumed as effective in promoting students' achievement in grammar. A teaching-material based on Action Pack 10, a pre-post multiple choice grammar test and an observation checklist for recording students' progress were constructed. Two tenth grade sections with 30 students at each took part in the study. One group was assigned randomly as an experimental group and the other as a control one. The study reported the effectiveness of the imaginative approach on students' achievement in grammar at the significance level where α ≤ 0.05 in favor of the experimental group. The study, also, reported an increase of awareness as a result of using the imaginative approach.


BACKGROUND & AIMS
The increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is due to the epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes, both of which are associated with insulin resistance.

METHODS
To clarify the causal relationship between insulin resistance and the development of NASH, steatohepatitis was induced in obese diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) and nondiabetic control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats by feeding them a methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diet. Insulin sensitivity of the rats was altered by adding a high-fat (HF) diet or the peroxisomal-proliferator activated receptor-gamma agonist pioglitazone to the MCD diet.

RESULTS
The MCD diet-induced steatohepatitis was accelerated in OLETF rats after 8 weeks. Steatosis preceded inflammation, which led to fibrosis and the development of steatohepatitis. The hepatic gene expression for transforming growth factor-beta, alpha1 procollagen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was up-regulated in OLETF rats compared with LETO rats. The MCD + HF diet further enhanced insulin resistance and led to rapid development of pre-cirrhosis in OLETF rats by increasing the triglyceride pool, activating stellate cells, and up-regulating gene expression for sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and fatty acid synthase in the liver. In contrast, pioglitazone attenuated the MCD diet-induced steatohepatitis in OLETF rats but not in LETO rats by reversing the underlying pathogenesis involved in this model through improvement of insulin resistance. These results confirm a link between insulin resistance and the development/progression of steatohepatitis, at least partly via up-regulation of genes for lipogenesis, inflammation, and fibrogenesis, in animal models.

CONCLUSIONS
Insulin resistance and/or diabetes may accelerate the entire pathologic spectrum of NASH.


Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is causally associated with multiple cancers of epithelial and lymphoid origin. Generally, EBV establishes a lifelong quiescent homeostasis (latency) exerting its immune modulating and oncogenic properties only under certain conditions. Lytic replicative EBV infection is restricted to differentiated oropharyngeal epithelia and plasma B-cells. In EBV-associated tumor cells viral gene expression is limited to defined latency programs, without overt virus "lytic" replication. Artificial triggering of EBV lytic replication with chemical agents (drugs) forms the basis of cytolytic virus activation (CLVA) therapy currently under clinical investigation for treating EBV-positive malignancies. Reactivation from latency requires expression of viral transactivator proteins BZLF1 (Zta) and BRLF1 (Rta). In tumor cells, the BZLF1 promoter (Zp) is highly methylated and generally inactive. However, Zp can be triggered into a self-enhancing activation loop in response to chemical or biological agents, including cytostatic drugs and epigenetic modifiers. This process is orchestrated by Zp-binding cellular transcription factors, such as myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2), specificity protein 1 (SP1), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB) proteins. Understanding the mechanism of lytic induction by chemical inducers is essential for developing effective therapies. This review provide a short overview of EBV biology and will focus on branded and novel agents (drugs) used for EBV lytic induction and discuss molecular mechanisms by which the EBV lytic switch is triggered and controlled.


The Kargil conflict is categorised as a "staircase nuclear conflict." According to the literature, in such conflicts, the incentives for the first use of nuclear weapons are present. The Kargil conflict, along with the Cuban Missile Crisis between the US and the USSR and the 1969 Sino-Soviet border clash, are taken as the only incidents when two nuclear states fought each other since the advent of nuclear weapons. Contrary to the generally held belief, this paper argues that Kargil was not a nuclear conflict. This paper will raise some questions about the categorisation of Kargil as a nuclear conflict. Prime amongst them: what was the level of readiness and operationalisation of Pakistan's nuclear weapons at the time of the Kargil operation? The paper argues that Kargil occurred too soon after the nuclearisation of India and Pakistan and that because it occurred one-year post-Indo-Pakistan nuclear tests should not elevate it to be a nuclear conflict. The paper further argues that there is a need for more rigorous analysis to work out criteria for how, when and why a conflict should be categorised and analysed as a nuclear conflict.


Abstract Early life stress exposures are associated with adverse health outcomes and heightened anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Stress-sensitive brain regions like the hippocampus and amygdala are particularly impacted by early life adversities and are also implicated in the development of anxiety disorders. However, to date, no studies have specifically examined the neural correlates of polyvictimization (exposure to multiple categories of victimization) or the contribution of stress-sensitive neural nodes to polyvictimization's impact on mental health. To elucidate these relationships, the current study analyzed associations between polyvictimization, hippocampal and amygdalar activation during an acute stress task and trait anxiety in a sample of 80 children and adolescents aged 9–16 years (33 female participants). Results showed that polyvictimization was associated with higher trait anxiety as well as greater stress-related right hippocampus activation, and this greater hippocampal activity predicted heightened trait anxiety. Robust mediation analyses revealed that stress-related right hippocampus activation partially mediated the relationship between polyvictimization and trait anxiety. Our results expand upon the existing polyvictimization literature by suggesting a possible neurobiological pathway through which polyvictimization is connected to the etiology of mental illness.


INTRODUCTION
Furosemide is a potent loop diuretic that is widely used in the management of heart failure. Several reports have suggested that continuous intravenous administration of loop diuretics may be superior to intermittent administration. In addition the effect of low-dose dopamine to improve renal perfusion might be of benefit to this patient cohort.

METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated 116 consecutive cardiac care unit patients, who were admitted with acute decompensated heart failure and were divided into two equal groups according to diuretic protocol. Group A patients received furosemide by continuous infusion combined with low-dose dopamine infusion. Group B patients received bolus therapy of intravenous furosemide. The effect on renal function and readmission rate was recorded.

RESULTS
Among 116 patients (60% males, average age 71, range 46-96 years) 41% had ischemic cardiomyopathy, NYHA functional Class was 3.5 ± 0.5 and average EF was 21% ± 7%. On admission, patients in Group A had creatinine (Cr) 2.3 ± 0.2 mg/dL, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 49.2 ± 25 mg/100 ml and median b-type natriuretic peptid (BNP) 1340 pg/mL, compared to group B patients with Cr 1.7 ± 1.2 mg/dL, BUN 32 ± 22 mg/100 ml and median BNP 1106 pg/mL. The average furosemide dose in group A was 7.9 ± 3.5 mg/hr compared to 7.6 ± 2.7 mg/hr for group B (p=NS). At the end of the study, patients in group A had lower Cr 1.8 ± 0.9 (p=0.0001), lower BUN 43.6 ± 22.9 (p=NS), an increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate 57.4 ± 27.4, a shorter hospital stay (p=0.015) and lower readmission rates at 30 days (p=0.0003).

CONCLUSIONS
Continuous infusion of furosemide in addition to low-dose dopamine is safe, effective and less nephrotoxic than intermittent boluses in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure and portends a shorter hospital stay and lower readmission rates at 30 days.


The paper considers the physical principles of developing the fullerene-oxygen-iodine laser (FOIL) with optical (sunlight in particular) pumping. Kinetic scheme of such a laser is considered. It is shown that the utmost efficiency of FOIL may exceed 40% of the energy, absorbed by fullerenes. Presented are the experimental results of singlet oxygen generation in liquid media (solutions and suspensions) and in solid-state structures, containing either fullerenes or fullerene-like nanoparticles (FNP). In experiment was shown the possibility of the singlet oxygen transfer to the gaseous phase by means of organizing of the solution (suspension) the boiling as well as of the gasodynamic wave of desorption from the solid-state structures, containing fullerenes or FNP. We present the preliminary experimental results of pulsed generation in optically pumped FOIL with the use of primary photodissociation of iodide for preparation of the atomic iodine in the generation zone. In the experiments on FOIL generation was implemented the principle of spectral separation of optical pumping.


Abstract Internal clocks, or circadian rhythms, are nearly ubiquitous across taxa (e.g., animals, plants, fungi, and cyanobacteria), and it is widely believed that a biological clock benefits organisms by enabling them to schedule behavioral and physiological changes in anticipation of predictable changes in environmental conditions. Theory and evidence suggest it is important that the internal clock resonate closely with the 24-h daily cycle. Recently, however, Cyclosa turbinata (Walckenaer, 1841) (Araneidae) was revealed to have a circadian clock with a period of about 19 h, which was presumed to be anomalous. Here, we report on the behavioral rhythms of a nocturnal orbweaver, Metazygia wittfeldae (McCook, 1894), from the same family. Under laboratory conditions of a 12:12 h light:dark cycle, we found that locomotor activity initiates shortly after dark, reaching a peak early in the dark phase, continuing at a lower level throughout the remaining dark phase, and then diminishing shortly after lights-on. Locomotor activity continued to cycle under constant dark conditions with a mean free-running period of 22.7 h. We also found a second component in the free-running activity (mean 11.5 h) which correlated very tightly with the free-running period. Thus, M. wittfeldae has what can be considered a typical circadian clock resonating with the 24-h day. Notably, however, there were two outliers close to the 19-h period observed in C. turbinata, suggesting that there may be sufficient variation in clock period among araneid spiders upon which selection could act leading to the short-period clocks in C. turbinata.


Our participation in groups imparts to us far more than mere practical solutions to problems of living. By jointly working out solutions to their circumstances, people develop shared understandings that serve as the basic framework by which they interpret reality. They also develop perspectives on life that color what they see and help determine the meaning they give to what happens to them. In this book on deviance in American Society, the significance of group membership is seen as paramount to understanding the phenomena. Although some authors in this collection present perspectives from "within" the deviant group while the perspectives of others originate from "without," for all of them, group membership underlies the perspective. Chapters emphasize the importance of group support in departures from dominant norms, the profound effects that deviant life-styles have on those who lead them, the dissatisfaction of mainstreamers with deviants and their quandry about what to do with them, and the basic issue of the proper relationship between conformists and deviants. In addition, there is the fascinating theme of what properly constitutes deviance, a reflection of changes in the sociological orientation. This lively collection provides an understanding of some forms of deviance, insight into problems of social control, social policy, and other reactions to deviance, as well as sympathetic understanding of some of the ideological and measurement dilemmas facing researchers in their constructive efforts to analyze deviance. "James M. Henslin" is professor of sociology at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Among the books he has authored or edited are "Down to Earth Sociology, Marriage and Family in a Changing Society, Social Problems" (with Donald Light), "The Sociology of Sex" (with Edward Sagarin) and "Introducing Sociology"


The notion of 'raising aspirations' to widen participation in higher education and increase attainment has dominated policy discourse globally for the past decade. Projects and campaigns that aim to increase participation and attainment in education therefore typically focus on student aspirations. This is certainly the case in the Tasmanian context, with the recent establishment of the Peter Underwood Centre and various other 'aspirations projects' in the state. Based on findings from a highly qualitative study in the Cradle Coast region that explored the life goals of adolescent females, this paper proposes that 'aspirations matter' as they are key motivators behind educational and career decision-making, which impacts on life chances. But the paper argues it is the capacity to fulfil them that matters equally. Personal stories and a range of artefacts were collected from the adolescent participants during life history interviews. The primary focus of the paper is to demonstrate that innovative methodologies generate more voice, which in this study allowed for a deeper understanding of life goals, influencing factors and why 'capacity' matters. Through this data collection technique, the study found that the young females had multiple aspirations, including those for higher education and these were shaped by their experiences. However, uncertainties existed around if they had the cultural or economic capital to fulfil them. The paper extends on current work in this area by demonstrating that 'capacity' is important and that there is a place for creative methods in research with rural adolescent females.


Much scholarly attention has been devoted to the role of political parties in Congress. One of the major theories of party legislative organization is cartel theory. Cartel theory assumes that each legislative party possesses a party record or reputation, which influences the election prospects for all members of the party. It provides an electoral incentive to encourage cooperation among party members in a single chamber of Congress. Congressional scholars have paid little attention to the party record. In the following chapters, I bring together the desultory scholarly research on the party record and examine the impact of the party record on aggregate challenger entry, aggregate retirements, and seat change for the United States House of Representatives from 1970-2008. Two party record components, integrity and ideology, are taken from previous research on the party record. I develop and test a third measure, aggregate party-level negative integrity, based on television evening news coverage of each party's scandals in the House. Using ordinary least squares regression, I find that two components of the party record, competence and integrity, influence aggregate challenger entry but not aggregate quality challenger entry. The party record does not impact aggregate retirements. However, in a logistic regression model of individual retirements of House members accused of scandal, I find that party leaders are successful at pressuring certain party members to resign or retire from the House. Moreover, in a negative binomial regression model of evening news stories attributable to each member's scandal, when party leaders are successful at forcing a member to quit, he or she generates less negative publicity for the party Finally, using OLS regression, I find that the party record does not impact seat change in the House except in open seat races. In open seat iv races, the ideological component of the party record positively impacts seat change. I conclude by describing the impact of these results on theories of legislative organization. I then describe the impact of these results on democratic theory as it relates to collective responsible via responsible parties.


Abstract The research focus is set in the investigation of positive and negative aspects of use of social networks using a 'bifocal approach' to social networks analysis. Our bifocal approach uses qualitative approach reviewing published literature primarely blogs, forums, web sites, etc and interchangeably compares and conveys the results with focus groups. The objective of the research study is to show that social networks can runs both ways, it can be helpful while at the same time can be very dangerous and impact in asocialization and other harmfull ways. Social networks have become an inseparable part of not only students but also the lives of people in general. Students spend a lot of time utilizing social networks and are considered to be the largest social network users. Students communicating with social networks, especially virtual communities, enabled real-time access, communication synchronization, posting and sharing photos, videos, original and creative work are the main activities and interests of students. As a result of the fast acquisition of social networks, people today live in the world of technology and can quickly gain competences in their daily lives, these changes in technology also affect the lives of students. The Internet has also changed day-to-day and student activities both in University life and in social life. The research study tries to investigate and present a realistic picture of the current situation on the impact of social networks on students. The research methodology is qualitative and reviewed is the published research in the field as well as blogs, forums and other web sites where real life experiences and opinions are expressed from real users. Also 2 student focus groups have been used, novice and expert group. The research study tries to contribute with the recommendations how students can use these networking technologies positively in their daily lives and where educational opportunities are still unknown, we can help schools to be more important, connected, and fully understandable to students, and at the same time to alert to the dangers of social networks. Therefore, the main purpose of this research study is to investigate the effects of using social networks and their social or antisocial impact to society. Based on the study, the conclusion is that in order to protect the student we should increase the awareness for the risk that are coming from inappropriate use of social networks. Insights and recommendations are provided.


Systematicity commonly means that having certain cognitive capacities entails having certain other cognitive capacities. Learning is a cognitive capacity central to cognitive science, but systematic learning of cognitive capacities—second-order systematicity—has received little investigation. We proposed associative learning as an instance of second-order systematicity that poses a paradox for classical theory, because this form of systematicity involves the kinds of associative constructions that were explicitly rejected by the classical explanation. In fact, both first and second-order forms of systematicity can be derived from the formal, category-theoretic concept of universal morphisms to address this problem. In this paper, we derived a model of systematic associative learning based on (co)recursion, which is another kind of universal construction. This result increases the extent to which category theory provides a foundation for cognitive architecture.


This work presents what is known or can be conjectured about the history and identity of the people inhabiting Burma before the period covered by the author's Old Burma - Early Pag n . Luce bases his conclusions on references in written sources such as the Chinese histories and the Burmese chronicles and in inscriptions, and upon his own researches into the unwritten languages of the tribal people of the area, conducted over a period of forty years until his death in 1979. Luce's 'daring' and 'revolutionary' views on the origins and early history of Burma and its peoples have not always been accepted without reservation by other scholars, but are invariably stimulating and cannot be ignored by anyone interested in the early history of Burma. Less controversial, and indeed in many ways unique, is his contribution to the comparative linguistic history of the area. The publication of such an important collection of his language material is bound to make a major and lasting contribution to this growing field of interest.


John Finnis began his book Natural Law and Natural Rights (1980) by explaining why legal philosophers need a sensitive understanding of the nature and uses of words. His argument can be extended. Lawyers need the same forms of understanding in order to use the language of the law. Finnis's basic methodological principles in jurisprudence, I will argue, offer elements of an account of the relation between the law and the language used by authorities to make law and to state the law. Some important problems in the theory of legal interpretation can be resolved with the techniques that Finnis uses to address a methodological problem in jurisprudence. Those techniques are useful in jurisprudence because they are general principles of the meaning of words.


Motor current signature analysis has been investigated widely for diagnosing faults of induction motors. However, most of these studies are based on open loop drives. This paper examines the performance of diagnosing motor stator faults under both open and closed loop operation modes. It examines the effectiveness of conventional diagnosis features in both motor current and voltage signals using spectrum analysis. Evaluation results show that the stator fault causes an increase in the sideband amplitude of motor current signature only when the motor is under the open loop control. However, the increase in sidebands can be observed in both the current and voltage signals under the sensorless control mode, showing that it is more promising in diagnosing the stator faults under the sensorless control operation.


This article presents a new understanding of the problem of cosmopolitan motivation in war, comparing it to the motivational critique of social justice cosmopolitanism. The problem of cosmopolitanism's "motivational gap" is best interpreted as a political one, not a meta-ethical or ethical one. That is, the salient issue is not whether an individual soldier is able to be motivated by cosmopolitan concerns, nor is it whether being motivated by cosmopolitanism would be too demanding. Rather, given considerations of legitimacy in the use of political power, a democratic army has to be able to motivate its soldiers to take on the necessary risks without relying on coercion alone. Patriotic identification offers a way to achieve this in wars of national defense, but less so in armed humanitarian interventions (AHIs). Two potential implications are that either AHIs should be privatized or that national armies should be transformed to become more cosmopolitan.


[1] We present measurements of the phase function and degree of linear polarization for unpolarized incident light as a function of the scattering angle for El Chichon and Pinatubo volcanic ashes at 633 nm. The results are combined and compared with those for Pinatubo at 442 nm and Lokon volcanic ash at 442 and 633 nm [Volten et al., 2001]. The three samples of volcanic ashes consist of micron sized, irregularly shaped particles in random orientation. The results are presented in the form of figures and tables for all three samples. Similarities and differences between the results for the three samples are discussed. The measured phase functions and angular distributions of the polarization can be used to evaluate models used to calculate scattering properties of volcanic ash particles, to constrain scattering properties of volcanic ashes used in radiative transfer calculations, and to retrieve characteristics of (clouds of) volcanic ash particles in the atmosphere from remote sensing data.


PURPOSE
To characterize and localize retinal voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) and to understand its possible contribution to mitochondrial function and dysfunction.

METHODS
VDAC was characterized by a method involving purification from isolated mitochondria and reconstitution into a planar lipid bilayer (PLB). The permeability transition pore (PTP) was monitored by Ca(2+) accumulation in isolated mitochondria and swelling of mitochondria. Localization was studied by immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization.

RESULTS
Retinal VDACs exhibited the electrophysiological fingerprint of the VDAC superfamily. It had a maximal chord conductance of 3.7 +/- 0.1 nanosiemens (nS) in 1 M NaCl, and a voltage-dependent conductance that was highest at transmembrane potential close to zero. It was modulated by glutamate, which decreased the channel's open probability, and by La(3+) and ruthenium amine binuclear complex (Ru360), which closed the channel. Energized and freshly prepared retinal mitochondria accumulated Ca(2+) that is inhibited by La(3+) ruthenium red and Ru360. Subsequent to Ca(2+) accumulation, mitochondria released the accumulated Ca(2+), probably through activation of the PTP. Ru360 inhibited Ca(2+) release and mitochondrial swelling. VDAC was present in mitochondria of all retinal cell types: photoreceptor, bipolar, horizontal, amacrine, and ganglion cells. Most cells primarily expressed VDAC-1, but they also expressed VDAC-2 and -3.

CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that VDAC is involved in PTP activity and/or regulation and thus is an important player in retinal degeneration associated with PTP-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction.


The General Assembly Resolution by which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted noted that 'the United Nations cannot remain indifferent to the fate of minorities' (Resolution 217C(III)). However, the complexities of the subject precluded agreement at that time on a text ensuring the rights of minorities are protected and thus the matter was referred to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ECOSOC was instructed to request its Commission on Human Rights and the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities 'to make a thorough study of the problem of minorities'.(Id) This article seeks to provide a synopsis of the fate of minorities, set against their historical context, after all, as Nowak notes '[p]rotection of minorities represents one of the most important predecessors to modern, international human rights protection.' (1993: 480). It is remarkable that while international human rights have attained global acclaim and universal acceptance, 'the fate of minorities' has, arguably, yet to be satisfactorily resolved.


The digital library dynamically developed in past 15 years and in current time the role of digital library AND digital information is dynamically growing. The Information Communication Technology (ICT) makes effect on e-learning and digital learning after development of digital resources and digital information, now    everything is easily available in online digital form and users very easily connects with online information through internet. India have great position in the use of digital information comparatively other countries of the world, last 3 to 6 years our digital information development takes a lead in all the sectors of  education as well as library sections and have changed the growth of life. In modern era it's essential to filter the right information from the online digital information. Modern digital libraries are providing digital information to research scholar in different forms for the better quality education and research. In modern digital era many leading publishers digitalizing the information and providing to users in form of online resources and digital databases and this type of information is very helpful and research scholars and academicians are  using as research tools 24x7 hours in the libraries.

Keywords: Digital library online resources communication consortium collection dissemination education research.


Unions are key repeat players before the Supreme Court. Their involvement extends beyond what one might expect (labor) and extends to key cases involving federalism, discrimination, affirmative action, the First Amendment, and workplace health and safety, among others. Though scholars have written about how other union activity, like collective bargaining, impacts non-union workers, the role and impact of union participation in non-labor litigation has largely been ignored in the public debate over unions in America and in the academic literature about what unions do. This Article focuses on unions' Supreme Court litigation that arises outside of the context of traditional labor law; in order to show how union-made law affects interests beyond those of the labor movement, its members, and unionized employers. It reveals how union-made law has had significant effects on the structure of American government and society. This Article first describes the many areas in which union Supreme Court litigation has had important social effects extending far beyond core labor interests, and explains why, as a practical matter, unions are well situated to bring or fund these cases. Next, the Article explores three characteristics that have the potential to shape unions' litigation positions: First, unions are more likely than other social movement litigators to litigate defensively, as well as offensively; second, unions operate based on majority rule; and third, unions may use litigation to support bargaining positions. The Article shows how these dynamics have played out in past cases, sometimes with surprising results. Finally, the article concludes with some observations regarding declining union density in this country.


The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among workers in the meat processing industry is found to be high and workrelated neck and upper limb disorders are common problems among slaughterhouse workers. Motor variability may play a role in the etiology of musculoskeletal disorders. In parallel, age and work experience are known to influence motor strategies. This study introduces nonlinear approach for assessing motor variability in ergonomics for the first time. In combination with linear methods the effect of work experience and discomfort in terms of standard deviation coefficient of variation (variability), approximate entropy, sample entropy (regularity), and correlation dimension (dimensionality) were estimated. Workers with high experience were characterized by having smaller amount of variability compared to low experienced subjects. Discomfort in the neck-shoulder region resulted in lower amount of variability and higher complexity for the head-shoulder displacement, while the amount of variability increased and the regularity and complexity decreased for the elbow-hip displacement. The result could probably be linked to compensatory mechanisms in response to neckshoulder discomfort.


Abstract : I have designed and implemented a system for the multilevel verification of synchronous MOS VLSI circuits. The system, called Silica Pithecus, accepts the schematic of an MOS circuit and a specification of the circuit's intended digital behavior. Silica Pithecus determines if the circuit meets its specification. If the circuit fails to meet its specification Silica Pithecus returns to the designer the reason for the failure. Unlike earlier verifiers which modelled primitives(e.g., transistors) as unidirectional digital devices, Silica Pithecus models primitives more realistically. Transistors are modelled as bidirectional devices of varying resistances, adn nodes are modelled as capacitors. Silica Pithecus operates hierarchically, interactively, and incrementally. Major contributions of this research include a formal understanding of the relationship between different behavioral descriptions (e.g., signal, boolean, and arithmetic descriptions) of the same device, and a formalization of the relationship between the structure, behavior, and a context of a device. Given these formal structures, my methods find sufficient conditions on the inputs of circuits which guarantee the correct operation of the circuit in the desired descriptive domain. These methods are algorithmic and complete. They also handle complex phenomena such as races and charge sharing. Informal notions such as races and hazards are shown to be derivable from the correctness conditions used by my methods.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between blood concentration of lactic acid (LA) and tissue oxygenation in severely burned patients with shock.

METHODS
Thirty-four severely burned patients admitted during early postburn stage were included in this study and were randomly divided into A (n = 18) and B (n = 16) groups. The patients in A group were resuscitated with modified anti-shock programme by which the patients' urine output was maintained roughly around 100ml per hour, while the patients in B group were treated by our traditional resuscitation formula by which the patients urine was kept at 40 ml per hour. The blood concentration of LA and usual indices (urine output, blood pressure, heart rate, and mental status) were simultaneously monitored before and 1, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 hours after resuscitation in patients of both groups.

RESULTS
(1) The average blood LA level in patients of A group was (3.2 +/- 0.4) mmol/L within 24 hours of resuscitation, while the monitored indices remained within normal range. Nevertheless the LA level in B group was (7.4 +/- 1.6) mmol/L (P < 0.01, compared with that of A group), and hyperlactacidemia lasted for more than 72 hours while other indices were normal. (2) The mortality in B group was high (31.2%), whilst that in A-group was only 5.5% (P < 0.01). (3) There was negative correlation between blood LA and urine output and positive correlation between blood LA and heart rate.

CONCLUSION
(1) Blood LA concentration might be taken as an immediate, sensitive, simple and useful index of tissue oxygenation of the whole body during burn shock stage. (2) It was suggested by our results that fluid resuscitation should be extended to 72 PBHs (postburn hours) with urine output over 100 ml/h, so as to ensure the quality and effects of the resuscitation of burn shock.


Structural, petrological, and geochronological studies of the middle to late Proterozoic Grenville orogen in Ontario, Canada, indicate that a major extensional fault developed synchronously with late thrusting. This fault zone was initiated during peak metamorphism and extended into the crust to depths of at least 25 kilometers. The temporal and spatial relations among faulting, metamorphism, and regional compression indicate that synorogenic collapse initiated because the crust exceeded the maximum physiographic height and thickness that could be supported by its rheology. Comparison of Grenville with recent Himalayan orogenic activity suggests that during Proterozoic times physiographic height, crustal thickness, and crustal strength were similar to modern conditions in orogenic belts.


Specimens of Octopus pallidus and O. australis were trained to discriminate vertical from horizontal rectangles, vertical from horizontal gratings, and vertical and horizontal gratings from uniform grey. In the discriminations that involved gratings a conditional simultaneous discrimination procedure was used, in which the two stimuli to be discriminated were presented stationary at the two ends of the tank, and a moving white disc was shown in front of each of them. Attacks on a disc were then rewarded or punished depending on the background against which it was shown. Animals rapidly reached performance levels of better than 80% correct responses on all discriminations. With one specimen of O. pallidus and three of O. australis when progressively finer gratings were used the discrimination broke down with stripe widths between 4.4′ and 9.7′, showing that for both species the minimum separable visual acuity is less than 9.7′. The behaviour of the two species is very similar to that of O. vulgaris , except that they accept less food per day, so fewer trials could be given.


The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has scrutinized the provision of rehabilitation services in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for some time. Little research guidance exists on appropriate dosage or rehabilitation intensity (RI) among SNF patients or patients in other postacute care (PAC) settings. CMS developed a PAC assessment, the Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation (CARE) Tool, in response to questions about what issues drive placement in various PAC settings under Medicare. The ability to adequately assess functional outcomes and correlate them to the RI provided by using the CARE Tool is promising. However, further research, policy advocacy, and practice analysis must be undertaken to promote and protect adequate access to occupational therapy and physical therapy in SNFs and other PAC settings. Individual practitioners must participate in data gathering to ensure that the data for analysis are fully informed by the occupational therapy perspective.


Characterization of the phosphohydrolytic activities of recombinant reovirus lambda1 protein demonstrates that, in addition to the previously reported nucleoside triphosphate phosphohydrolase and helicase activities, the protein also possesses RNA 5'-triphosphatase activity. This activity was absolutely dependent on the presence of a divalent cation, Mg2+ or Mn2+, and specifically removes the 5'-gamma-phosphate at the end of triphosphate-terminated RNAs. Kinetic competition analysis showed that nucleoside triphosphate phosphohydrolase and RNA 5'-triphosphatase reactions are carried out at a common active site. These results strongly support the idea that, in addition to its role as an RNA helicase during transcription of the viral genome, lambda1 also participates during formation of the cap structure at the 5' end of newly synthesized reovirus mRNAs. The lambda1 protein represents only the third RNA triphosphatase whose primary structure is known and the first described in a double-stranded RNA virus.


A novel vinylpyridine-based phthalonitrile monomer, namely 2,6-bis[4-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)styryl]pyridine (BCSP), was synthesized from 2,6-bis(4-hydroxystyryl)pyridine (BHSP) via a nucleophilic displacement of a cyano-substituent with 4-nitrophthalonitrile (NPN). The phthalonitrile resin was cured with 4-(aminophenoxy)phthalonitrile (APPH), and its curing behaviour was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), exhibiting a low melting point of 92 °C and an outstanding processing window of about 146 °C. The chemical structures of the BCSP monomer and polymers were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Different post curing temperatures and times resulted in polymers with different crosslinking levels and subsequently influenced the performance of the resins. The prepared BCSP polymer showed a high storage modulus (2.9 GPa–1.8 GPa) between 30 and 400 °C, a high glass transition temperature (Tg > 400 °C), and excellent thermal and thermo-oxidative stabilities with weight retention of 95% at 524.2 °C along with low water uptake.


The paper starts by presenting a new concept of differentiation similarity transformations for commensurate pseudo-states-space representations. It is proven that a pseudo state-space representation with a commensurate differentiation order and a dimension of the transition matrix n can be similar to a pseudo-state-space representation with a commensurate order υ and a dimension of the transition matrix kn, where k is an integral number. A direct consequence of the aforementioned concept in fractional subspace-based identification methods for MIMO systems is that an overestimated pseudo-state-space representation has multiple minimums at commensurate differentiation orders over the integral number k. This result is especially visible when deterministic input/output signals are considered and less visible in the stochastic case due to overestimation.


Introduction There is enormous variability in the referral rates for IBS from GPs and this relates to patient and physician factors.1 IBS patients tend to wait longer for appointments and hence a standardised algorithm which includes faecal calprotectin (FC) might aid in the rapid assessment of IBS in secondary care. FC has been shown to consistently differentiate IBS from IBD because it has excellent negative predictive value in excluding organic pathology.2 Methods To assess the efficacy of diagnostic algorithm (using FC) for assessment of IBS in a pilot study using patients already referred to hospital GI clinics. Patients were included if the GP suspected IBS (age group 18–50),without alarm symptoms (weight loss, rectal bleeding etc) at time of referral. Initial assessment was in a nurse-led clinic using a standardised algorithm consisting of questionnaire and baseline investigations (FC, FBC, ESR, CRP, albumin, IgA and TTG). FC level < 100 mcg/g was considered normal.3 4 week review was undertaken by a doctor and those with abnormal results were transferred to the GI clinic. 1-year assessment was undertaken on all study patients, reviewing final diagnosis and hospital visits. Clinical diagnosis by nurse and doctor before results of FC and blood tests were compared. Co-primary end-points were the positive predictive value (PPV) of the algorithm in diagnosing IBS and the added benefit of FC in excluding organic pathology. Results 54 patients were recruited and 51 attended the 4-week follow up. 49/54 (90%) had complete 1-year follow-up data. Reason for GP referral was 'uncertain diagnosis' in 37/54 (69%) and 'confirmation of IBS' in 17/54 (31%) patients. There was 95% concordance between nurse and doctor in the clinical diagnosis of IBS (blinded to blood results and FC) based on Rome criteria. 44/54 (81%) were diagnosed as IBS at 4-week review and none had evidence of organic pathology at 1 year. Non-IBS diagnosis 5/54 (9%) included 3 IBD and 2 Coeliacs. Median FC levels in the IBS and non-IBS groups were 19.5 and 1105 respectively (p=0.0001). Two patients in the IBS group were re-referred within 1-year (final diagnosis IBS). PPV of the algorithm in diagnosing IBS was 100% without FC, but FC clearly identified the IBD patients and a normal level (96% −ve predictive value) provided valuable reassurance. Conclusion This diagnostic algorithm is useful for a nurse-led clinic for assessment of suspected IBS referred to hospital, and FC measurements improve the diagnostic confidence of nurses and doctors, and removes the need for endoscopic investigation in patients under 50.


The purpose of this study is to examine the gene expression level of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) in the liver of healthy and diabetic mice, its localization in the tissue, and structural changes in the liver. In this study, 36 Swiss albino mice were divided into 3 groups: experimental (diabetic) (n = 15), sham (n = 15), and control (n = 6). Streptozotocin (100 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered to mice in the experimental group. While the gene expression level of GPx1 was determined using the RT-PCR method, its localization in the liver was determined using an immunohistochemical method. The GPx1 enzyme activity of the experimental group was lower compared to the sham and control groups (P < 0.05). There was no difference between the experimental and sham groups in terms of the gene expression of GPx1; however, a statistically insignificant decrease was observed in the experimental group compared to the sham group. GPx1 had similar immunolocalization in all groups, but GPx1 immunoreactivity was lower in the experimental group compared to the other groups. Enlargement of hepatocytes and their nuclei as well as the presence of intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in the experimental group. In conclusion, diabetes mellitus causes a decrease in the level of GPx1 activity, which is known to be one of the antioxidant enzymes.


Volcanic material erupting on the earth surface provides the one direct means to study the physical conditions, chemical composition, and mineralogy of magmas in magma chambers. Most magmas from the Galapagos spreading center have not cooled or crystallized perceptibly on the way to the surface, and these magmas can be used to determine the composition, temperature, density, viscosity, and crystal content of magmas in magma chambers below the Galapagos spreading center. The constraints placed on these ridge crest magmas indicate that they will not erupt if they cool to less than 1150 °C, if their viscosity is more than 820 P, or if their density is greater than 2.8 g/cm 3 . The magma chambers are zoned: high-temperature (∼1200 °C), low-density, crystal-free magma is at the top, and low-temperature (∼1170 °C), high-density, crystal-rich magma is at the bottom. These conclusions can be extended to all ocean ridges that erupt basalts with low crystal content and unzoned olivine phenocrysts.


Verification of calculated lung dose in an anthropomorphic phantom is performed using two dosimetry media. Dosimetry is complicated by factors such as variations in density at slice interfaces and appropriate position on CT scanning slice to accommodate these factors. Dose in lung for a 6 MV and 10 MV anterior-posterior field was calculated with a collapsed cone convolution method using an ADAC Pinnacle, 3D planning system. Up to 5% variations between doses calculated at the centre and near the edge of the 2 cm phantom slice positioned at the beam central axis were seen, due to the composition of each phantom slice. Validation of dose was performed with LiF thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and X-Omat V radiographic film. Both dosimetry media produced dose results which agreed closely with calculated results nearest their physical positioning in the phantom. The collapsed cone convolution method accurately calculates dose within inhomogeneous lung regions at 6 MV and 10 MV x-ray energy.


Vehicle scheduling is the process of assigning vehicles to a set of predetermined trips with fixed starting and ending times, while minimizing capital and operating costs. This paper considers the polynomially solvable case in which there is a single depot and one type of vehicle. Several assignment types of formulations are discussed and a new quasi-assignment algorithm is provided. This algorithm is based on an auction algorithm for the linear assignment problem. Furthermore, several ways for dealing with a large number of feasible connections between trips, a bottleneck for vehicle scheduling, are discussed. An important contribution of this paper is a computational study that compares our algorithms with the most successful algorithms for the vehicle scheduling problem, using both randomly generated and real life data. This can serve as a guide for both scientists and practioners. The new quasi-assignment algorithm is shown to be considerably faster for most of the test problems. This improvement in computation time is also very important when this particular vehicle scheduling problem appears as a subproblem in more complex vehicle and crew scheduling problems.


It is now generally accepted that adenosine is capable of regulating a wide range of physiological functions. Nowhere is the diversity of this action better illustrated than in the kidney. When adenosine binds to plasma membrane receptors on a variety of cell types in the kidney, it stimulates functional responses that span the entire spectrum of renal physiology, including alterations in hemodynamics, hormone and neurotransmitter release, and tubular reabsorption. These responses to adenosine appear to represent a means by which the organ and its constituent cell types can regulate their metabolic demand such that it is maintained at an appropriate level for the prevailing metabolic supply. Extracellular adenosine, produced from the hydrolysis of adenosine 5'-monophosphate and stimulated by increased substrate availability and enzyme induction, acts on at least two types of cell surface receptors to stimulate or inhibit the production of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate and also acts in some renal cells to stimulate the production of inositol phosphates and elevation of cytosolic calcium concentration. To understand when and why this complicated system becomes activated, how it interacts with other known extracellular effector systems, and ultimately how to manipulate the system to therapeutic advantage by selective agonists or antagonists, requires a detailed knowledge of renal adenosine receptors and their signaling mechanisms. The following discussion attempts to highlight our knowledge in this area, to present a modified hypothesis for adenosine as a feedback regulator of renal function, and to identify some important questions regarding the specific cellular mechanisms of adenosine in renal cell types.


Chris Mullin has been a Labour MP for twenty years. In that time he has not been afraid to criticise his party. But despite his refusal to toe the party line - on issues like 90 days detention and Africa, for example - he has held several prominent posts. To the apoplexy of the whips, he was for a time the only person appointed to government who voted against the Iraq War. He also chaired the Home Affairs Select Committee and was a member of the Parliamentary Committee, giving him direct access to the court of Tony Blair. Mullin is irreverent, wry and candid. His keen sense of the ridiculous allows him to give a far clearer insight into the workings of Government than other, more overtly successful and self-important politicians. He offers humorous and incisive takes on all aspects of political life: from the build-up to Iraq, to the scandalous sums of tax-payers' money spent on ministerial cars he didn't want to use. His diary is a joy to read: brilliantly-observed, it will entertain and amuse far beyond the political classes.


This paper studies the role of moral hazard and liquidity in driving household bankruptcy. First, I estimate that increases in potential debt forgiveness have a positive, but small, effect on filing using a regression kink design. Second, exploiting quasi-experimental variation in mortgage payment reductions, I estimate that filing is five times more responsive to cash-on-hand than relief generosity. Using a sufficient statistic, I show the estimates imply large consumption-smoothing benefits of bankruptcy for the marginal filer. Finally, I conclude 83% of the filing response to dischargeable debt comes from liquidity effects rather than a moral hazard response to financial incentives.


Abstract Current heritage best practice aims to avoid strategies that focus solely on single, often arbitrary periods or narratives in a site's history in favor of those that recognize all of the site's layers of significance. This situation was born from similar concerns to those that made archaeology critically self reflect and adopt positions that attempted to overcome inherent preconceptions and biases. However, the treatment of forms of vandalism at heritage sites, such as graffiti, often stands in juxtaposition to the sites' other layers of significance and reveals that heritage management is yet to address all of its own biases. This article discusses the cultural significance of graffiti vandalism at heritage sites. It argues that new ways of theorizing about heritage and its destruction are required and that heritage management should adopt perspectives akin to archaeology's post-processualism in order to ensure that the significance of contemporary graffiti vandalism is not lost by strategies that view it primarily as conservation sacrilege. To do this, the article considers the origin, definition, and types of heritage vandalism before focusing on graffiti in relation to three case studies and then examining the relevant perspectives that archaeological and heritage theory can offer. The article aims to provide a further departure point from which to discuss the significance of vandalism at heritage places and in particular graffiti and its treatment.


The article deals with the educational situation when students of the school of general education start studying English as a foreign language additionally, i.e. non-formally. Though English is a compulsory subject in their school curriculum, they subject themselves to two types of difficulties: the doubled learning load, learning time and number of assignments as well as unusual, peculiar and unaccustomed teaching/learning process or environment. The peculiarity of non-formal learning process is characterised by some specific features such as: peculiar environment; active participation; the method of learning from experience; open and informal communication; creation of non-competitive environment; application of a number of principles such as the principle of relevance, democracy, accessibility, individualization and the principle of free will. The problem of the research is what positive and negative aspects of non-formal studying of English as a foreign language are according to the experience of school students. The aim is to find out the advantages and disadvantages of non-formal learning of English as the form of additional studying. The methods applied in the research: the analysis of theoretical sources; the interview (semi-structured) and content analysis. The participants of the research: five school students who learn English non-formally after school. The analysis of the results gained during the qualitative research proved the following: the advantages of non-formal English language learning comprises the following aspects according to the answers of the interview participants: (1) attractiveness of the activity, (2) safe learning environment, (3) individual teaching, (4) increased self-esteem, (5) effectiveness of the activity, (6) benefits of non-formal learning. The disadvantages of the non-formal English language learning comprise the following aspects: (1) lack of time (double workload, lots of homework, long sessions); (2) psychological tension; (3) unusual surroundings; (4) problems with non-formal time-table; (5) expensive activity (expensive teaching and expensive learning); (6) failure to satisfy individual demands. The amount of interview data referring to the advantages and disadvantages of non-formal learning of English revealed the fact that the interviewees were more at ease speaking about benefits than losses of this way of studying; consequently, they posses more positive than negative experience in learning English after school non-formally.


Oxidatively modified lipoproteins have been implicated in atherogenesis, but the mechanisms that promote oxidation in vivo have not been identified. Myeloperoxidase, a heme protein secreted by activated macrophages, generates reactive intermediates that oxidize lipoproteins in vitro. To explore the potential role of myeloperoxidase in the development of atherosclerosis, we determined whether the enzyme was present in surgically excised human vascular tissue. In detergent extracts of atherosclerotic arteries subjected to Western blotting, a rabbit polyclonal antibody monospecific for myeloperoxidase detected a 56-kD protein, the predicted molecular mass of the heavy subunit. Both the immunoreactive protein and authentic myeloperoxidase bound to a lectin-affinity column; after elution with methyl mannoside their apparent molecular masses were indistinguishable by nondenaturing size-exclusion chromatography. Peroxidase activity in detergent extracts of atherosclerotic lesions likewise bound to a lectin column and eluted with methyl mannoside. Moreover, eluted peroxidase generated the cytotoxic oxidant hypochlorous acid (HOCl), indicating that enzymatically active myeloperoxidase was present in lesions. Patterns of immunostaining of arterial tissue with antihuman myeloperoxidase antibodies were similar to those produced by an antimacrophage antibody, and were especially prominent in the shoulder region of transitional lesions. Intense foci of myeloperoxidase immunostaining also appeared adjacent to cholesterol clefts in lipid-rich regions of advanced atherosclerotic lesions. These findings identify myeloperoxidase as a component of human vascular lesions. Because this heme protein can generate reactive species that damage lipids and proteins, myeloperoxidase may contribute to atherogenesis by catalyzing oxidative reactions in the vascular wall.


Revision is an important process for learning in higher education. At present, many universities provide online course materials including guidelines to support ubiquitous revision. Most of the traditional course websites, however, simply provide online materials for students to download. The main aim of this thesis is, therefore, to enhance these materials on a course website to facilitate student self-revision.

We firstly present a brief review of some aspects of exam revision. Subsequently, we conduct a questionnaire survey to identify patterns of students' revision, difficulties during revision, and potential approaches to address those difficulties. From the survey, many students have concerns about the amount of learning materials to be reviewed in a short period of time. We thus designed a novel software framework ("SRECMATs") that aims to reduce students' workload by enabling them to have direct access to learning materials, gaining quick overviews and related material recommendations.

In the second part of the thesis, we develop, launch, and evaluate the first prototype of the SRECMATs software framework. The prototype system was introduced to students on a level 1 Data Structures and Algorithms module in the summer term of 2014/2015. Many of them were willing to use the system and engaged with it constantly during their revision. The usability evaluation of each feature is positive, and students reported that all provided features are simple to use and some are effective for them.

The first prototype used TF-IDF as a term weighting scheme to calculate cosine similarity between learning materials. To improve retrieval accuracy, we have proposed a new technique to adjust the weight of the TF-IDF scheme with term important (TI) and term location (TL) components. The results illustrated that using the TI component with the TF-IDF scheme yields the best result for all datasets while the TL technique can improve accuracy on some datasets.

Finally, our results contribute to an understanding of students' revision difficulties and how to improve the existing online course materials to maximise the benefits for students.


There is no such thing as documentary--whether the term designates a category of material, a genre, an approach, or a set of techniques. This assertion--as old and as fundamental as the antagonism between names and reality--needs incessantly to be restated despite the very visible existence of a documentary tradition. In film, such a tradition, far from undergoing a crisis today, is likely to fortify itself through its very recurrence of declines and rebirths. The narratives that attempt to unify/purify its practices by positing evolution and continuity from one period to the next are numerous indeed, relying heavily on traditional historicist concepts of periodization. ~,


: This study examines the experiences of 152 parents of young children with special needs of when and how they were first told of their child's condition and their preferences for being told alone or together with their spouse. The point at which parents were first told differed according to the nature of the child's handicap. The medical profession and allied health services bear the brunt of informing parents. There were no significant variations in parents' experiences of who was told or their preferences for being told together or alone when the five independent variables of child's handicap, residence, child's age family size, and socio-economic status were taken into account.


An epistemologist tells you that knowledge is more than justified true belief. You trust them and thus come to believe this on the basis of their testimony. Did you thereby come to know that this view is correct? Intuitively, there is something intellectually wrong with forming philosophical beliefs on the basis of testimony, and yet it's hard to see why philosophy should be significantly epistemically different from other areas of inquiry in a way that would fully prohibit belief by testimony. This, I argue, is the puzzle of philosophical testimony. In this paper, I explore the puzzle of philosophical testimony and its ramifications. In particular, I examine the case for pessimism about philosophical testimony—the thesis that philosophical belief on the basis of testimony is impossible or is in some way illegitimate—and I argue that it lacks adequate support. I then consider whether the source of the apparent intellectual wrongness of testimonial‐based philosophical belief is grounded in non‐epistemic norms and goals of philosophical practice itself and argue that such norms are implausible, don't conflict with testimonial‐based philosophical belief, or else are mere disciplinary norms, lacking substantial normative force that would make it wrong to form testimonial‐based philosophical belief.


OBJECTIVES: To quantify the radiation dose received during thoracic spine computed tomography (CT) versus plain radiographs as well as the theoretical risk of breast cancer induction in a pediatric trauma population. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of 179 female pediatric trauma patients who received CT or plain radiographs for clearance of the thoracic spine was performed. Subjects were secondarily grouped as children (0–<12 years) or adolescents (≥12–17.9 years). Radiation doses were calculated by using the ImPACT Patient Dosimetry Calculator. Excess absolute risk (EAR) of induction of breast cancer was determined by multiplying the radiation dose by breast cancer induction rates taken from the National Academy's Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation Committee's seventh report. RESULTS: The average radiation dose to the breast from a thoracic spine CT was 41.1 (SD 11.4) mSv and 1.8 (SD 0.9) mSv for plain radiographs. The EAR for plain radiographs was 2.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.48–2.85) excess cases of breast cancer per 10 000 studies for female children and 1.4 (95% CI 1.14–1.55) for female adolescents. The breast cancer EAR for thoracic spine CT was significantly higher –79.6 (95% CI 58.6–100.5) and 45.8 (95% CI 42.0–49.6) excess cases per 10 000 scans for female children and adolescents, respectively. There was a substantially higher risk of breast cancer induction for children receiving thoracic spine CT compared with adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: CT clearance of the thoracic spine in the pediatric trauma patient results in a high dose of radiation and an age-dependent increase in theoretical breast cancer induction.


The quality of satellite images has always been of particular importance in remote sensing. Signals received from satellite sensors include some signals other than those of target signal that may be classified totally as the atmospheric effect and the sensor induced noise. Separating non-target signals and attempting in removing them from images is essential. One method for measuring and removing non-target signals is that of atmospheric correction by Dark Object Subtraction (DOS). This method is based on the sensor's output for the targets that should have almost zero reflectance in a given band. Next, the obtained value will be deducted from the remaining pixels values; regardless of the type of the sensors. Each Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) has its own noise behavior; therefore, the amount deducted values from each pixel can be different for each CCD unit and type. Among the various noises of the CCD and their related electronic circuits, dark current noise, non-uniform pixels noise and read noise were selected to be studied in this paper. The data were obtained from multispectral sensor images of IKONOS. This sensor can provide images in two forms of Panchromatic (PAN) and Multispectral (MS). The results of this study showed that the amount of dark object pixels and the total amount of CCD noises in each band are different. Separation of the noises introduced in this paper from the amount of dark object pixel values can result in an upgraded method for image atmosphere corrections.