Background: The relationship between anorexia nervosa in males and homosexuality is debated. A higher rate of Eating Disorders (EDs) was found in homosexual than in heterosexual men population. Since anorexia nervosa in men relates with a specific personality profile, homosexual men may share personality features with men affected with anorexia nervosa which may represent risk factors for the ED's outburst. Nevertheless, they have never been compared with the same instrument. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was widely applied in the study of EDs.
Methods: This study compares personality traits, assessed with the TCI in a group of males with anorexia nervosa (n=21) with two control groups; heterosexual (n=51) and homosexual (n=23). A discriminant analysis was performed.
Results: Men with anorexia nervosa and homosexual controls display a higher harm avoidance and a lower self-directedness compared with heterosexual controls. Men with anorexia nervosa also display a lower reward dependence compared with homosexual controls and a lower cooperativeness compared with both control groups.
Conclusions: A relationship between the personality traits of men with anorexia nervosa and homosexual orientation may exist. Nevertheless, the low reward dependence and the low cooperativeness, which are the most specific characteristics of men with anorexia nervosa, are not linked to the homosexual orientation. Homosexual controls share with men with anorexia nervosa nonspecific personality traits that may indicate a common susceptibility to body's dissatisfaction, depression and stress.


Advanced e-applications require comprehensive knowledge about their users' preferences in order to provide accurate personalized services. In this paper, we propose to learn users' preferences to product brands from their implicit feedbacks such as their searching and browsing behaviors in user Web browsing log data. The user brand preference learning problem is challenge since (1) the users' implicit feedbacks are extremely sparse in various product domains; and (2) we can only observe positive feedbacks from users' behaviors. In this paper, we propose a latent factor model to collaboratively mine users' brand preferences across multiple domains simultaneously. By collective learning, the learning processes in all the domains are mutually enhanced and hence the problem of data scarcity in each single domain can be effectively addressed. On the other hand, we learn our model with an adaption of the Bayesian personalized ranking (BPR) optimization criterion which is a general learning framework for collaborative filtering from implicit feedbacks. Experiments with both synthetic and real world datasets show that our proposed model significantly outperforms the baselines.


ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: We investigate the relationship between impulsivity and impulse control disorders (ICDs) in pregnancy. We claim that women with unplanned pregnancies are more impulsive and have a higher frequency of ICDs. METHODS: We perform a study on the 152 pregnant women who applied to Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital Obstetrics outpatient clinic for routine follow-up. The participants are informed about the content of the study and their consents are taken. Socio-demographic characteristics of the participants are recorded. ICDs and impulsivity are assessed by Minnesota Impulse Control Disorders Interview Scale and Barrat Impulsivity Scale (BIS). RESULTS: ICD was present in 11.8% of the pregnant women (n = 18) before gestation and 9.2% (n = 14) during gestation. The motor and total impulsivity scores of those diagnosed with ICD during and before pregnancy were higher than those without ICD. The most common ICD during and before pregnancy was compulsive buying (3.3%). The relationship between pregnancy trimester and BIS score is insignificant. CONCLUSION: The motor and total impulsivity scores of those diagnosed with ICD before and during pregnancy were higher than scores of those not having ICD. It is well-known that ICDs cause not only pschiatric comorbidity but also illegal or high-risk behaviours, interpersonal, social, and economical problems. Thus, early recognition and treatment of ICDs in pregnancies will have a positive effect on both mothers' and babies' health.


Eight common rangeland weeds including Anaphalis contorta , Berberis erythroclada , Euphorbia wallichii , Potentilla lineate , Prunella vulgaris , Pteris aspericaulis , Senecio chrysanthemoides and Swertia pedicellata were recorded from the rangelands of Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale area in the present study, among which Senecio chrysanthemoides and Swertia pedicellata were the most obnoxious species responsible for the habitat degradation for wildlife, reduction in biodiversity, curtailment of forage resources and alternation of ecosystem and functions. The main reason for rapid weed invasion was the lack of awareness of the gravity of situation among the stakeholders hindering adoption of effective weed control measures. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njbs.v2i0.7486 Nepalese Journal of Biosciences 2 : 24-30 (2012)


: A journey entails endings and beginnings, loss and retrieval. It offers a chance of change and renewal, but also a risk of disorientation and displacement. Researchers-as-voyagers, travel from familiar inner and outer landscapes into unknown territories with new horizons. They progress through an itinerary of developing meanings, both epistemological and ontological. Researchers-as-voyagers are engaged in a process of becoming, and of discovering a voice. The 'voyage' tenders experimental possibilities for alternative understandings of who they are, who they could be and what they know. It opens up transitional spaces for the formation of a new sense of identity. However, certain educational practices underpinning contemporary doctoral studies programmes may impede the process of self-authorship that is fundamental to research.


Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. We previously demonstrated that IKKα kinase dead knock-in (IkkαK44A/K44A, KA) mice spontaneously develop lung SCCs, which is associated with IKKα reduction and increased inflammation. Currently, lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) has surpassed SCC. Although downregulation of IKKα has been reported in lung ADCs, the role of IKKα is not clarified yet. Here, we attempted to verify whether IKKα inactivation plays a role in development of lung adenocarcinomas (ADCs). K-rasG12D (Kras) mice are a well-established lung ADC model. Thus, we generated K-rasG12D;IkkαK44A/K44A (Kras;KA) and K-rasG12D;Ikkαf/f (Kras;FF) mice and activated oncogenic K-rasG12D with intratracheal injection of adenovirus carrying the cre recombinase gene in these mice. At 4∼4.5 months after treatment, both Kras;KA and Kras;FF mice showed enhanced bronchial hyperproliferation and increased number of lung tumors than Kras mice. The histology showed that lung tumors from both mice can be classified into ADCs, while no SCCs were found in Kras;KA and Kras;FF mice. Finally, Kras;FF mice had shorter life span due to labored breathing than Kras mice. Thus, IKKα plays an important role in lung ADCs as well as SCCs. It is well known that the oncogene activation such as Kras can induce a senescence program to suppress the progression of benign tumors. We found that IKKα loss diminished Kras-induced senescence, given the results from senescence-associated β-gal assay and Ki67 staining. We previously reported that inflammation is required for development of lung SCCs in KA mice. Macrophages were significantly accumulated in the lung of Kras;FF mice as well. In general, inflammation can cause oxidative stress. In line with this notion, the microarray analysis revealed that several antioxidant genes were markedly downregulated, while expression of some reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating genes was increased in the lung tissues from Kras;FF mice compared to Kras mice. In consistent, IKKα depletion was correlated with increased level of ROS in lung tumors, which resulted in further oxidative DNA damage. Interestingly, tumors from Kras mice also showed IKKα reduction compared to WT lungs. Taken together, these findings suggest that IKKα reduction can promote Kras-driven lung tumorigenesis through its interplay between inflammation and oxidative stress. Inflammation and oxidative stress can sustain and exacerbate each other, leading to a vicious cycle of tumor-prone microenvironment. It is evident that IKKα plays a crucial role in inflammation from massive investigations. The role of IKKα in oxidative stress, however, is not clarified yet. Thus, our investigation of the role of IKKα on lung ADC development in the context of modulating oxidative stress will provide better strategies to break the vicious cycle between inflammation, oxidative stress and lung tumorigenesis and noble therapeutic targets for treatment.

Citation Format: Na-Young Song, Jami Willette-Brown, Mahesh Dalta, Yinling Hu. IKKα at the crossroad between inflammation, oxidative stress and lung carcinogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 801. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-801


For Ratzinger, the truth of Revelation (as person) cannot be confined to empirical, positivistic statements. His interpretation of Revelation centres on a deeply mystical view of faith, which, through the Church, gives access to a real experiential knowledge of God in Christ. His view of history, tradition and categories of wisdom and purity of heart give eyes to see the work of the Spirit in symphonic-multiplicity and facilitate new insights through dialogue with the logos in new contexts. New insights into Revelation are given without an accommodation to relativism, the ideological grasping of modernity or the fashionable fluidity of a postmodern culture.


1. Evaluation of individual propensity to severe asthma using risk factors. 2. Regular follow-up at intervals of 3-4 months, regardless of the patient's stability in a given moment. 3. Measurements of pulmonary function at each visit and at home daily (PEF). 4. Monitoring evolution in relation to the need for specialist consultations and psychological care. 5. Factors influencing propensity to death should be treated specifically. 6. Designation of a person outside the family responsible for the patient's care. 7. Use of community resources. 8. Monitoring personal/family compliance with treatment programs. 9. Informing the patient and family about the patient's tendency to severe asthma. 10. Developing an emergency plan for facilitating communication when asthma becomes unstable. The plan should emphasize eliminating any delay in obtaining care during an attack. The plan should include: a) A list of preventive medications with dosing guidelines. The simplest possible regimens should be established. b) Criteria for using rescue medication and emergency care in each specific case. c) When the physician should be called in and what to do when the physician cannot be contacted. d) An exact description of the signs and symptoms that indicate that the patient should visit the emergency room without delay. Advance designation of the emergency service to be used. e) Suitable vacation planning. 11. Mechanisms guaranteeing fluid and effective communication between the unit and patients with severe asthma. a) Programs for physicians, nurses and receptionists who take calls to establish measures for recognizing, identifying risk factors, and preventing complications in patients with severe asthma. b) Compilation of a list of patients with severe asthma. c) Patients with severe asthma should be identified by a medical alert card. d) Calls from patients with severe asthma should be taken immediately.


Decades of research and observation have demonstrated that risk is economically costly in low-income agricultural economies, prompting protective self-insurance strategies that keep small farmers poor as they eschew remunerative, but risky opportunities. Making matters worse, self and community-based insurance strategies are at best only partially effective, leaving small farm households to costly ex post coping mechanisms that compromise the human capital of the next generation. These problems are further compounded because risk itself stunts the development of rural financial markets, making it that much harder for small farmers to capitalize and move forward with new technologies and market opportunities.


This thesis is structured as three essays on market microstructure of US equity options. The appearance of high-frequency trading changed the process of trading and the structure of financial markets. Additionally, literature on individual equity options is relatively low because of the problems with data availability. Hence, the three essays investigate the market microstructure of US equity options from three aspects through a high-frequency dataset including all options contracts written the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average from January 2012 to June 2014. The first essay fulfils research gaps by investigating the intraday commonality in options liquidity in a quote-driven market. It finds that the commonality in option liquidity is driven by the inventory risks and represents a higher level at the beginning of the trading day.
The second essay investigates the informational content of options order flow through a new proxy of predictive information. It finds that the options trades contain predictive information about the future price movements of underlying stocks. This predictive power is varied across information contents of calls and puts. In particular, the informational contents of calls have the longer predictive horizon in stock volatility and those of puts have greater predictive power on stock returns.
The third essay focuses on price clustering and size clustering which has been limited to investigations into options markets. It provides supportive evidence that prices and sizes are clustered in the options market. The relationships between price and size clustering have different between calls and puts. For calls, price clustering has a positive impact on size clustering. For puts, size clustering is negatively related to price clustering. Moreover, the moneyness and maturity can also influence price and size clustering because this essay finds out-of-the money contracts and near-to-maturity contracts show less price and size clustering.


Introduction: Lifelong learning requires sustained motivation for learning. Employing a motivational theory framework, we investigated the relationships of psychological need satisfaction, clinical teaching involvement, and lifelong learning of physicians at different career stages and in various medical specialties. We also examined the associations of physician lifelong learning with stress, burnout, teaching enjoyment, and life satisfaction, all of which are essential for physician well-being and, ultimately, for the provision of quality patient care. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Using survey methodology, quantitative data were collected from 202 practicing physicians in Canada. The questionnaire contained validated scales of physician lifelong learning and psychological need satisfaction, measures of clinical teaching (involvement and enjoyment), stress level, burnout frequency, and life satisfaction. Analysis of covariance and correlational analysis were performed. Results: On average, participants reported moderate to moderately high levels of lifelong learning, psychological need satisfaction, teaching enjoyment, and life satisfaction. Irrespective of career stage and specialty, physicians' psychological need satisfaction and involvement in clinical teaching were significant in relation to lifelong learning. That is, physicians who experienced greater psychological need satisfaction at work and those who were involved in clinical teaching had, on average, higher lifelong learning scores. Physician lifelong learning had significant associations with life satisfaction and teaching enjoyment but not with stress level and burnout frequency. Discussion: Fulfilling physicians' basic psychological needs at work and supporting them in their teaching roles is likely to enhance physician lifelong learning and, ultimately, quality of patient care.


Seagrasses are a crucial indicator species of coastal marine ecosystems that provide substratum, shelter, and food for epiphytic algae, invertebrates, and fishes. More accurate mapping of seagrasses is essential for their survival as a long-lasting natural resource. Before reflectance spectra could properly be used as remote sensing endmembers, factors that may obscure the detection of reflectance signals must be assessed. The objectives in this study are to determine the influence of (1) epiphytes, (2) water depth, and (3) seagrass genus on the detection of reflectance spectral signals. The results show that epiphytes significantly dampen bottom-type reflectance throughout most of the visible light spectrum, excluding 670–679 nm; the depth does influence reflectance, with the detection of deeper seagrasses being easier, and as the depth increases, only Heterozostera increase in the exact "red edge" wavelength at which there is a rapid change in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum. These findings helped improve the detection of seagrass endmembers during remote sensing, thereby helping protect the natural resource of seagrasses.


SUMMARY: Five pure cultures of diatoms, Thalassiosira sp., Navicula sp., Nitzschia sp., and two closely related Chaetoceros spp., were isolated from enrichment cultures made from ice and water samples from the ice-edge in the Bering Sea. Four cultures were studied in detail. The isolates did not grow above 18 °C; optimum growth was from 10 to 14 °C. The Nitzschia sp. and Chaetoceros spp. grew reproducibly at 0 ± 0.2 °C, albeit with long generation times of 6 to 7 d. Generation times at 10 °C were 0.8 to 1.9 d. The long generation times at 0 °C appeared intrinsic; growth rates were not increased by addition of ammonia, complex organic hydrolysates or light and dark cycles. The elemental analysis and culture density of the algae were reasonable. For example, the elemental analysis of Nitzschia sp. grown at 0 °C was C, 34.51%; H, 5.00%; N, 5.12%; ash, 30.3%, very similar to the values for cells grown at 10 °C. Cell yields of 0-5 mg dry weight ml-1 were routinely achieved. These appear to be among the first pure cultures of psychrophilic diatoms and possibly of microalgae in general.


Abstract The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of socio-cultural values on the process of knowledge sharing in a multicultural virtual (online) learning community. The study was conducted on a community of place consisting of a mix of students (n = 50) from different parts of the world using a virtual learning environment designed to support learning within and outside the classroom. Pertinent to this, the paper explores three significant areas: a). what societal and cultural values influence the process of knowledge sharing; b) which values are considered important by the community members; and c). do these socio-cultural values limit the utility of a virtual learning environment. The theoretical basis of this study is strongly related to Vygotsky's (1983) theory of 'mediated mind' and Thorne's (1999) theory on 'internet-mediation'. The authors conduct a theoretical discourse of the literature to develop a framework consistent upon the VLC model proposed by Schwier (2007) and the three-phased integrative model of virtual communities as societies developed by Romm et al. (1997). The authors use an integrative 'quanto-phenomenographic' approach by employing a mix of descriptive and phenomenographic research. The analysis revealed that the socio-cultural values influenced the knowledge sharing process at two-levels i.e. the user level and the environment level yielding altogether 12 socio-cultural values which including nationality, integrity, trust, gender etc. which might inhibit the utility of a virtual learning environment. Keywords: knowledge sharing, virtual learning community, socio-culturalism, culture, multiculturalism, virtual learning environment, phenomenography


Background: This study intends to determine the educational needs of family health staff employed in health care centers in Tabriz, the provincial capital of east Azerbaijan, Iran in 2015.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study 282 staff were enrolled, together with 22 managers, through census. The data collection tool was a researcher-designed questionnaire whose content validity were confirmed by 5 experts of health care and medical education centers. They self--evaluated their knowledge, skills and attitudes in 6 task processes including "integrated care for pregnant women", "women's general and reproductive health", "child health care and breastfeeding", "vaccination skills", "teenagers' and young adults' health", and "common diseases prevention and control". Cronbach alpha coefficients were over 0.85. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16 and descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and one-sample t tests were calculated to compare the mean of scores with midpoint criteria (=3).
Results: Generally family health staff self-evaluated their knowledge, skills and attitudes in all task processes in higher than midpoint criteria level, which was consistent with the opinions of the managers, however, educational needs required by personnel in some processes or sub- process including "common diseases prevention and control" ( knowledge on referring thalassemia couples for genetic testing, mental health counseling), "vaccination skills" ( intradermal vaccination skills), "teenagers' and young adults' health" (Self-care training and parents education), "women's general and reproductive health" (principles of family planning counseling) and less needs stated in "integrated care for pregnant mothers" (except for diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy, placenta previa and abruption) and "child health care" as compared to criteria (All P value <0.05). In contrast to self-assessment results, in interorganization evaluations at the same period, staff performance were not desirable in some processes and/or sub-processes.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated the educational needs of family health providers in 6 task processes and prioritized them according to their views. Regular and comprehensive educational needs assessments are required to revise staff training programs, in order to give quality services to general population.


In this study we advance the current research on corporate political strategy by examining how firms decide on their level of engagement in political action. This study proposes a contingency approach that identifies conditions in which firms prefer individual action to collective action in their pursuit of political strategy and introduces a framework that addresses this preference. Our results show that even in concentrated industries, a firm's preference of individual action over collective action varies when government contracts or research and development intensity are important considerations.


Meta-material inspired switched passive networks on flexible sheets can be placed in the unused area between antennas in Origami and Kirigami shape-changing arrays. These meta-gaps can manipulate the near-field environment in order to compensate for the increased spacing in these arrays. Their flexibility allows meta-gaps to easily fold and deploy in both deployable arrays and mechanically shape-changing phased arrays. This work explores the promise of meta-gaps through the measurement of a 5-by-5 element A-spaced array with 40 meta-gap sheets and 960 switches. The complexity of optimizing such a high-dimensional system is discussed and solutions are proposed. Measurement results demonstrate that in our implementation, meta-gaps increase the broadside main beam power by 0.9 dB, suppress the sidelobes by 4.6 dB, and enhance the field-of-view by 23° compared to a ground plane.


: Successful treatment of massive degloving lower extremity requires a flexible approach with adherence to basic surgical principles. There should be aggressive therapy with extensive debridement guided by direct observation and fluorescein vital dye staining. Wound closure, either primary or delayed, should be carried out using autogenous tissues when local and systemic tissue conditions permit.


Abstract Equalized amplitudes of Rayleigh waves from seven Shagan River events have been compared with the radiation patterns of theoretical models in order to determine their source mechanisms. The results indicate that tectonic release implies both strike-slip and dip-slip motion along faults striking in the northwest-southeast direction consistent with the regional tectonics. Six events fit thrust-slip models with strike azimuths fairly constricted around 144°. This value agrees well with the strike azimuth of major fault systems in the source region. One event fits a strike-slip model striking at 123°. Estimated relative source strengths ( F factors) are ranging from 0.4 to 4.0 but the estimates are sensitive to minor adjustments of the modeled fault motion.


Ubiquitous computing is an emerging paradigm for health care environments, in which devices must blend into the background unobtrusively, collaborating to provide value-added services for users. Insufficient information flow and coordination are some of the main concerns in a ubiquitous health care environment. Resources are, therefore, essential to the success of this technology and, as a result, both resource discovery and management play a vital role in sustainable ubiquitous deployment. In this paper, we present a novel resource discovery mechanism for ubiquitous computing environments using Resource Index nodes (RIns) and mobile agents. The context information needed to process a query is identified and mobile agents are deployed to explore the ubiquitous environment for requested resources. We present a health care scenario and evaluate our proposed resource discovery method.


Frank Dawson Adams, who died in Montreal on 26 December 1942 at the age of eighty-three years, was one of the best known and most deeply honoured scientists in Canada and the western hemisphere. He was an original investigator of high eminence who had blazed a path in some of the most obscure and difficult fields of Archaean geology, an educationist and practical administrator who had for many years and on many occasions played an active part in directing the development of Canadian university life, a philanthropist who devoted his energies to the welfare of his fellow citizens and unostentatiously served many good causes, and a genial philosopher and companion, welcomed in all circles, scientific and industrial, and ever ready to lend a helping hand to struggling institutions and individuals in the cause of science and the amelioration of social conditions. Frank D. Adams was born in Montreal on 17 September 1859. On his father's side he was a descendant of the famous Adams family who came originally from Barton St David (near Glastonbury), in 1638, and settled in Massachusetts in a district now covered by the town of Quincy. Several members of this family subsequently rose to high distinction in political life and two of them, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, were Presidents of the United States. Through his mother Frank D. Adams was descended from Colonel Dawson who served in the war under Lord Cornwallis and subsequently settled in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Some of the Dawsons were men of literary tastes and Dr Samuel Edward Dawson (an uncle of F. D. Adams) was the author of two volumes on the history and topography of the St Lawrence Basin and also of a commentary on Tennyson's Princess which received a high encomium from the poet himself.


Discrete event systems are presented as a powerful framework for a large number of robot control tasks. This paper presents a general description of the discrete event modeling and control synthesis for robot manipulation. Additionally, methods for the effective monitoring of the process based on the detection and identification of discrete events are given. The effectiveness and versatility of the approach are demonstrated through a wide variety of experiments. Applications are demonstrated in assembly, online training of robots, advanced perception capabilities, human-robot shared control and the understanding of human manipulation skills.


Hospice is recognized for providing excellent end-of-life care but may be underused by dialysis patients. Hospice use and related outcomes were measured among dialysis patients, and factors that were associated with hospice use were identified. The 2-yr US Renal Data System dialysis patients who died between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2002, and hospice claims from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services were examined to measure prevalence, factors, and costs that were associated with dialysis withdrawal and hospice use. Of the 115,239 deceased patients, 21.8% withdrew from dialysis and 13.5% used hospice. Of those who withdrew, 41.9% used hospice. Failure to thrive was the most common reason for dialysis withdrawal (42.9%). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, factors that were significantly associated with hospice referral among patients who withdrew from dialysis were age, race, reason for withdrawal, ability to walk or transfer at dialysis initiation, and state of residence. Among patients who withdrew from dialysis and used hospice, median cost of per-patient care during the last week of life was $1858, compared with $4878 for nonhospice patients (P < 0.001); hospitalization costs accounted for most of that difference. Only 22.9% of dialysis hospice patients died in the hospital, compared with 69.0% of nonhospice patients (P < 0.001). A minority of dialysis patients use hospice, even among patients who withdrew from dialysis, whose death usually is certain. Increased hospice use may enable more dialysis patients to die at home, with substantial cost savings. Research regarding additional benefits of hospice care for dialysis patients is needed.


The purpose of this research project was to provide a theoretical base for, and offer useful advice, to support organizations in achieving sustainable e-HRM. Consequently, the social and material interactions between e-HRM stakeholders, related to achieving sustainable e-HRM were explored.

In a single case study, performed at a Dutch service organization that recently adopted e-HRM iOS- embedded personnel management applications, we used multiple methods such as semi-structured in-depth interviews and document analysis, to better understand e-HRM stakeholders' interaction related to achieving sustainable e-HRM. Since e-HRM stakeholders continually interact, we believe that a better understanding of their interactions might contribute to sustainable e-HRM. E-HRM stakeholders were selected based on their direct interaction with e-HRM applications and their interaction with HRM, technology and the organization. A total of 14 interviews were held.

The results of this research point out that the adopted e-HRM applications are not fully sustainable yet. Our analysis shows that this is due to defective social and material interaction between e-HRM stakeholders, as their perceptions and needs, related to e-HRM were not sufficiently taken into account. Technical issues such as poor internet coverage, sluggishness of the systems, systems not syncing fast enough and the incompatibility of the different systems used have also led to resistance and frustration by targeted users.

To achieve sustainable e-HRM, we suggest that; First, organizations do well to strengthen vertical and horizontal communication-lines. Second, e-HRM stakeholders should be involved at an early stage, e.g. from the adoption stage of the implementation process onwards. Third, technical issues such as internet coverage and system compatibility should be improved.


Increased urinary methylmalonic acid (UMMA) concentrations might indicate vitamin B-l2 deficiency. Our study tested the hypothesis that elevated UMMA in breast-fed infants is associated with decreased maternal serum B-12 concentrations. UMMA concentrations were measured in 17 vegetarian mothers and their infants and in six infants of nonvegetarian mothers. Serum vitamin B-l2 concentrations were determined in all mothers. Range of UMMA for vegetarian infants (3-924 mcg/mg (2.6-790.9 �mol/mmol) creatinine) was much broader than that for omnivorous infants (2-25 mcg/mg (1.7-21.4 �mol/mmol) creatinine). Maternal UMMA and serum vitamin B-l2 were negatively correlated (r = -0.700, p = 0.003). Infant UMMA concentrations correlated positively with maternal UMMA concentrations (r = 0.686, p = 0.003) and inversely with maternal serum vitamin B-l2 concentrations (r = -0.68 1, p < 0.001). In three infants with high UMMA concentrations, vitamin B-12 treatment (oral B- 12, vitamin B-l2 injection, or a modification ofmaternal diet within the vegetarian philosophy) led to an abrupt decrease of UMMA. Am J Clin Nutr 1988;47:89-92.


Children with Down Syndrome (DS) experience cognitive delays with language being one of the most impaired domains. Exploring the effects of congenital heart defects (CHD), hospitalization, hearing impairment, and parental concern can provide a more precise view of factors affecting language development. Participants were 49 children with DS, 22 to 54 months of age. Expressive and receptive vocabulary size was obtained using a word count with the MacArthur Communication Development Inventory (MCDI). Medical information was obtained from the child's medical file. Results showed expressive vocabulary was marginally significantly different between children with DS and no CHD, a CHD that did not require surgery, and a CHD that did require surgery, such that children with a CHD requiring surgery had the smallest vocabulary. Children had significantly more health problems when they had a CHD that required surgery. Expressive and receptive vocabularies were significantly smaller for children with hearing impairment. INDEX WORDS: Down syndrome, Congenital heart defects, Language VOCABULARY SIZE IN CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME: THE EFFECT OF HEART DEFECTS, HOSPITALIZATION, HEARING IMPAIRMENT, AND PARENTAL CONCERNS


Reasons for the high adolescent birthrate in the U.S., medical, psychological, and social repercussions of teenage pregnancy, and facts and myths about sex education and contraception for young people are discussed. About 30% of U.S. women under 20 become pregnant outside marriage, and many more are pregnant when they marry. The reasons for the high pregnancy rates in young people include recent early menarch, which accounts for 94% fertility in 17.5-year-olds, better health, and ignorance about contraception and basic facts about reproduction. Pregnant adolescents risk toxemia, anemia, puerperal morbidity, prematurity, neonatal mortality, and congenital defects such as mental retardation in the baby. They face family alienation, loss of educational and employment opportunities, forced marriage, and high suicide rates in addition to the trials of puberty. Many girls believe that their fertile period is during menses, that pills are dangerous, that they are not fertile. Studies have shown that sex education can lower repeat pregnancies 67%. Recent research has negated the belief that many young women desire pregnancy unconsciously. Current information shows that supplying contraception will not encourage young people to begin having intercourse. Most sex education courses in the U.S. are given after the average teenagers become active sexually. It is believed that contraception should be provided universally for young people, and that parental authorization of contraception would probably mend family ties, certainly better than would unwanted pregnancy.


Background/aims: An epidemiological study carried out in 2006 indicated the existence of a high prevalence of blinding trachoma in the Kolofata Health District, Far North Region, Cameroon. As a result, the national blindness control program of Cameroon instituted a trachoma elimination programme using the SAFE strategy. Methods: A campaign to treat the entire district population with azithromycin 1.5% eye drops was undertaken in February, 2008. To measure the effectiveness of treatment on the prevalence of active trachoma, two epidemiological studies were conducted on a representative sample of children aged between 1 and 10 years. The first study was performed just prior to the treatment campaign and the second study was performed one year later. Results: The prevalence of active forms of trachoma (TF + TF/TI) dropped from 31.5% (95%CI 26.4-37.5) before treatment to 6.3% (95%CI 4.1-9.6) one year after treatment; a reduction of nearly 80%. There were no reports of serious or systemic side effects. Tolerance was excellent. No treatment was interrupted. Conclusion:


Extracellular population of oncovirus of continuous human myeloma RPM18226 cells contains type D virions in addition to morphological types of A and C particles. Nucleoids of type D oncoviruses are encapsulated. Peculiar contacts morphologically similar to slit-like links between eucaryots were found between adjacent extracellular RPM18226V virions. Viral type A cores are formed both in any part of the cell hyaloplasm and on its surface. Comparative study of the ultrastructure of RPM18226V and some other retroviruses showed RPM18226V to be structurally and morphogenetically identical with squirrel monkey virus and, accordingly, should be classified in the group of type D oncoviruses (Retroviridae family, Oncoviridae subfamily, genus Oncovirus D).


This paper investigates the influence of board size and board diversity on the performance of Community Development Financial Institutions' operating in the Southeast. The results indicate that at present many CDFI boards are larger than optimal. The results also show that CDFIs generally have well diversified boards and that these organizations' performance is unlikely to improve by further diversifying their boards. However, CDFIs performance may be improved by promoting smaller boards.


Context. To understand the formation of planetary systems, it is important to understand the initial conditions of planet formation, that is, the young gas-rich planet forming disks. Spatially resolved, high-contrast observations are of particular interest since substructures in disks that are linked to planet formation can be detected. In addition, we have the opportunity to reveal close companions or even planets in formation that are embedded in the disk.
Aims. In this study, we present the first results of the Disk Evolution Study Through Imaging of Nearby Young Stars (DESTINYS), an ESO/SPHERE large program that is aimed at studying disk evolution in scattered light, mainly focusing on a sample of low-mass stars (< 1 M⊙) in nearby (∼200 pc) star-forming regions. In this particular study, we present observations of the ET Cha (RECX 15) system, a nearby "old" classical T Tauri star (5−8 Myr, ∼100 pc), which is still strongly accreting.
Methods. We used SPHERE/IRDIS in the H-band polarimetric imaging mode to obtain high spatial resolution and high-contrast images of the ET Cha system to search for scattered light from the circumstellar disk as well as thermal emission from close companions. We additionally employed VLT/NACO total intensity archival data of the system taken in 2003.
Results. Here, we report the discovery, using SPHERE/IRDIS, of a low-mass (sub)stellar companion to the η Cha cluster member ET Cha. We estimate the mass of this new companion based on photometry. Depending on the system age, it is either a 5 Myr, 50 MJup brown dwarf or an 8 Myr, 0.10 M⊙ M-type, pre-main-sequence star. We explore possible orbital solutions and discuss the recent dynamic history of the system.
Conclusions. Independent of the precise companion mass, we find that the presence of the companion likely explains the small size of the disk around ET Cha. The small separation of the binary pair indicates that the disk around the primary component is likely clearing from the outside in, which explains the high accretion rate of the system.


Teacher training plays a major role in the overall development of Education in Kenya. This is because a teacher is a key facilitator of learning at all levels of education. One major objective of education is to produce an all round individual, an endeavor that is not possible to realize by just exposing the learner to subject based curriculum only. Sports play a major role of ensuring development of a holistic person. As such, it has been recognized as one of co-curricular activities geared at ensuring that the teacher trainee in Kenya is fully equipped with knowledge and skills in various sports that are part of Physical Education curriculum. Physical Education is a compulsory subject in primary and diploma teacher training colleges in Kenya. Often sports are seen as an avenue through which both cognitive and psychomotor skills are polished to ensure the teachertrainee is effective and competent to teach in primary or secondary school upon graduation, and to employ the skills during athletics and ball games competitions. College sports are also used as avenues through which virtues such as integrity, discipline, honesty, and cooperation are practiced and imparted. It is also a forum where both participants and spectators are educated and sensitized on national and global issues such as HIV and AIDS, drugs and substance abuse and environmental conservation among others. The inclusion of sports for learners with special needs in Kenya teachers colleges sports competitions puts these sports at tandem with the millennium development goals and global objective on Education for All (EFA). This paper reviews the development, organization and the role played by Kenya Teachers Colleges Sports Association(KTCSA) in promoting globally accepted virtues.


Individuals engage in daily behaviours that are often at issue with self-interest and rationality. This paper supports the thesis of inadequacy of the homo oeconomicus model, providing results of a field experiment conducted in the city of Naples (Italy) on the practice of "suspended coffee�? (caffè sospeso). The suspended coffee tradition was initially launched in Naples and consists in people purchasing two coffees, one to drink on the spot and one to be left "suspended�? for someone else to drink for free. A convenience sample of café clients completed a self-administered questionnaire. Their answers were examined in relation to the declared choice and consequent purchase of a suspended coffee. The analysis of the data focuses on the impact that socio-demographic characteristics and motivations, such as consumer choices and adherence to social norms, have on the choice of purchasing a suspended coffee. Within the framework of Structural Equation Modelling, results from a series of latent Path Analyses reveal that being aware of the existence of the suspended coffee tradition has a direct effect on its purchase whilst also mediating the effect of variables such as social norms, café, nationality, and age of the respondents. Our study confirms the human beings' capacity to act pro-socially and altruistically. Limitations and future directions are also discussed.


Since the fall of the Gaddafi regime in 2011, everything has seemed to conspire against the transition process in Libya. The idea of a stabilisation force has met political resistance in most European countries, because there is little appetite for long-term interventions that carry a high risk of casualties. This author argues that, among other initiatives, ground forces are nevertheless a necessary component of stabilisation in this fragile country. He makes four recommendations to guide the engagement of external actors.


This Paper examines optimal incentives and performance measurement in a setting where an agent has specific knowledge about the consequences of their actions for the principal. I study incentive contracts in which the agent's compensation can be based on both 'input' measures closely related to the agent's actions, and 'output' measures closely related to the principal's pay-off. I argue that when the agent has specific knowledge (i.e. private information that is difficult to communicate) about how their actions contribute to the principal's pay-off, output-based pay encourages the agent to use their knowledge while input-based pay does not. I show within a two-task agency model that (partially) output-based compensation is optimal even when the agent's actions on each task can be measured perfectly. Comparative statics results show how the optimal choice of performance measures and incentives depends on the agent's knowledge, environmental risk, technological uncertainty, and job complexity. The theory leads to several novel predictions, as well as new explanations for existing empirical findings.


Two plant surveys were conducted at Lahanos Cu--Zn Concentrator under different operating conditions to assess the performance of the plant. In particular, an alternative process flowsheet, which was based on metal balance and quantitative mineralogy, was evaluated. First, a block survey was performed in the existing circuit. Next, cell-by-cell sampling was performed in the Cu rougher bank after the circulation of the scavenger concentrate to the feed was stopped. This allowed for the determination of the flotation kinetics of the minerals in the fresh feed and the effect of the circulation on the stream. Mass balancing results revealed that 14.3% and 12% of the copper was lost by the rougher and scavenger tails, respectively. Mineralogical analysis of the first survey showed that the scavenger concentrate primarily consisted of coarse/locked particles. According to the results, even the amounts of minerals in the rougher concentrates were similar in both surveys; liberation has improved by approximately 35–69% in the second survey particularly for copper minerals. It is concluded that recirculating the stream to the feed would negatively affect plant performance. Therefore, finer grinding was tested in the plant to assess the effect of decreasing feed tonnage on the liberation. It was found that copper loss in the tails was significantly decreased. Finally, possible flowsheet modifications based on these results are discussed.


"What are the best things about BASHH (British Association for Sexual Health and HIV)?" was a question posed in the strategy consultation held in August 2011. Patient care and clinical governance was seen as an 'extremely high' priority for BASHH by almost everyone responding, and the 'best thing' chosen by 96% of the 258 members participating were the clinical guidelines (J Wilson, personal communication). These were given as the main reasons for using the BASHH website by 98% of those responding, and were said to be 'completely' or 'mostly' relevant to their clinical practice. The usage figures for the website substantiate this, with the guidelines receiving nearly 100 000 hits each year,1 a dramatic growth since the first national guideline (gonorrhoea) was published in 1996.

At …


Abstract The discovery of 11 Nautilus macromphalus shells in marine environments near New Caledonia constitutes the first opportunity for taphonomic analysis of empty shells of unburied, externally shelled cephalopods on the seafloor. Radiometric dating indicates specimen ages range from 14 to 42 years. These modern specimens provide a unique opportunity to examine the early, preburial taphonomy of this group of animals including shell condition, radiometric-age dating, epizoan encrustation, color degradation, and sediment infilling. The following conclusions are made: (1) given the limited sample available for study and assuming equal conditions where shells rested on the seafloor, the length of time the shell is unburied will not control the degree of epizoan encrustation or the external shell appearance; (2) shell boring is a major destructive process that probably impacts the potential of the shells to become fossilized; and (3) shells in the photic zone are impacted differently than those dredged from a deep water environment below the photic zone. A major part of this difference is probably the result of both boring and encrusting organisms, especially algae. By comparison, fossil cephalopods as a general group can be expected to vary considerably from the modern specimens because of evolutionary patterns of associated organisms, geographic distribution, and different environments with different paleoecological parameters through time. Caution in overreliance on the taphonomy of these modern shells should be exercised because of the limited sample of Nautilus specimens recovered. The need for additional taphonomic studies of modern externally shelled cephalopods with the recovery of more specimens from the marine environment is highly desirable.


DRAM is the dominant main memory technology used in modern computing systems. Computing systems implement a memory controller that interfaces with DRAM via DRAM commands. DRAM executes the given commands using internal components (e.g., access transistors, sense amplifiers) that are orchestrated by DRAM internal timings, which are fixed for each DRAM command. Unfortunately, the use of fixed internal timings limits the types of operations that DRAM can perform and hinders the implementation of new functionalities and custom mechanisms that improve DRAM reliability, performance and energy. To overcome these limitations, we propose enabling programmable DRAM internal timings for controlling in-DRAM components.To this end, we design CODIC, a new low-cost DRAM substrate that enables fine-grained control over four previously fixed internal DRAM timings that are key to many DRAM operations. We implement CODIC with only minimal changes to the DRAM chip and the DDRx interface. To demonstrate the potential of CODIC, we propose two new CODIC-based security mechanisms that outperform state-of-the-art mechanisms in several ways: (1) a new DRAM Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) that is more robust and has significantly higher throughput than state-of-the-art DRAM PUFs, and (2) the first cold boot attack prevention mechanism that does not introduce any performance or energy overheads at runtime.


An experimental study has been made of metal-silicon solar cells, with thin Ag, Au, Cu, Fe and In electrodes. No intentional interfacial layers were introduced and the silicon surfaces were chemically prepared in such a way as to minimise the residual oxide layer. The characteristics of the devices were taken at various illumination levels and the effect of barrier height, series resistance and n-value on the open-circuit voltage and the fill factor were studied. Comparison between theoretical predictions and the experimental results show that Voc/Jsc measurements that provide the n-values appropriate for the expression for the open-circuit voltage also provide a reliable method for experimental barrier-height determination under illumination and that the above 'true' n-value should also be used in fill-factor calculations.


To simultaneously capture syntax and global semantics from a text corpus, we propose a new larger-context recurrent neural network (RNN) based language model, which extracts recurrent hierarchical semantic structure via a dynamic deep topic model to guide natural language generation. Moving beyond a conventional RNN-based language model that ignores long-range word dependencies and sentence order, the proposed model captures not only intra-sentence word dependencies, but also temporal transitions between sentences and inter-sentence topic dependencies. For inference, we develop a hybrid of stochastic-gradient Markov chain Monte Carlo and recurrent autoencoding variational Bayes. Experimental results on a variety of real-world text corpora demonstrate that the proposed model not only outperforms larger-context RNN-based language models, but also learns interpretable recurrent multilayer topics and generates diverse sentences and paragraphs that are syntactically correct and semantically coherent.


IMPORTANCE
Nasal defects commonly are a result of removal of skin lesions, and reconstruction presents a cosmetic challenge to surgeons. Conventional thought and study results have held that cosmetic outcomes of local flap reconstructions may be superior to those of skin grafts. However, local flap reconstructions require more adjunctive procedures. We propose that in select cases, skin grafts can provide aesthetic outcomes equal to those of local flaps with fewer adjunctive procedures.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the cosmetic outcomes of skin grafts vs local flaps in the reconstruction of nasal defects.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This is a retrospective review of medical records for 103 patients who underwent nasal reconstruction with either skin graft (n=39) or local flap (n=64) between 2005 and 2013. All patients were treated by a single surgeon at an academic medical institution. Patients who had defects larger than 30 × 35 mm or a history of adjacent reconstruction that would detract from the cosmetic outcome of the procedure under analysis were excluded.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Cosmetic outcome was graded using a visual analog scale (VAS) score based on an ordinal 5-point Likert scale (1, excellent; 5, poor) by 4 independent raters blinded to reconstruction technique. Information was collected regarding patient demographics, defect size, pathology, type of reconstruction, and any postoperative procedures performed.

RESULTS
The mean VAS score for the skin graft group was 2.18, while the mean score for the flap group was 2.12 (P = .43). The 39 patients with graft reconstruction had a total of 11 triamcinolone acetonide injections and 8 dermabrasion sessions postoperatively. The 64 patients with local flap reconstruction had a total of 259 triamcinolone acetonide injections and 13 dermabrasion sessions postoperatively plus 39 additional staged surgical procedures.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Skin grafts are a valuable reconstructive option that provide aesthetic outcomes comparable to those of local flap procedures and with less need for additional postoperative interventions in properly selected nasal defects.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
3.


by Stephen Elliott, Academic Press 2001, 511 pp., ISBN 0-12-237085-6, $89.95. Reviewed by Sean Wellington, Southampton Institute, U.K. This useful book is written in an accessible textbook style and provides a thorough treatment of the theory and practice of active control system design. Chapter 1 introduces the physical principles of active control, in particular, analytical models of various physical systems. The emphasis throughout is on active sound and vibration control systems. Chapter 2 presents optimal and adaptive digital filters, starting from an introductory level, but moving quickly to cover optimal and adaptive FIR and IIR filters. LMS, RLS, and frequency domain adaptation schemes are analyzed and compared. In chapter 3, the design of single-channel feedforward controllers for deterministic and stochastic disturbances is introduced, whereas chapters 4 and 5 consider multichannel control of tonal and stochastic disturbances, respectively. Application examples include controlling propeller noise in fixedwing aircraft and controlling road noise in vehicles. Chapter 6 draws together many of the key issues in the design of feedback controllers, both analog and digital. The work is then extended to consideration of adaptive feedback controllers in chapter 7 and control of nonlinear systems in chapter 8. This progressive development is particularly helpful for those approaching the subject for the first time. The last two chapters provide further coverage of practical implementation issues. Chapter 9 considers the optimal positioning of transducers, in particular, sensors for feedback and feedforward control and actuators for active sound or vibration control. Finally, chapter 10 provides an introduction to controller hardware, including data conversion and finite wordlength effects. The book is very well structured and provides a rigorous analytical treatment of the subject matter. Each section is illustrated with appropriate practical applications. The book benefits from the use of a unified system of notation throughout. This, combined with the comprehensive glossary of symbols and notation, means that the material is very accessible to the reader seeking to make use of only one chapter or section. Stephen Elliott has drawn upon his extensive experience to present a comprehensive, yet accessible, treatment of the theory and practice of active control system design. The text will be of real benefit to researchers and practicing engineers, while some of the sections will also be of interest to advanced undergraduate students.


Acidification of lakes exposed to acid deposition is generally accompanied by a severe decrease in production (oligotrophication). In this study, we examined sediment from Lakes Gardsjon and Harsvatten, Sweden, to determine whether sediment phosphorus (P) retention increased during the years corresponding to lake acidification. Sediment from both lakes had increases in aluminum (Al) in the upper 10 cm, and dating of Lake Gardsjon sediment revealed that the Al increase occurred from 1950 to 2001 in this lake. The increase in Al input caused an increase inAl-bound P (Al–P) formation and overall sediment total phosphorus retention during the same period. Lake Gardsjon received an additional 12.9 g·m–2 of Al, above preacidification background levels, that bound 1.1 g·m–2 of P and removed it from the in-lake P cycle from 1950 to 2001. A substantial portion (up to 76%) of the total external P load eventually was converted to Al–P and buried in the sediment over this period. The increase in sediment P burial due to increased formation of Al–P in systems similar to Lake Gardsjon may have detrimental effects on nutrient cycling, and as a result, on productivity within the lake, leading to acido-oligotrophication.


Statistics on professional voice users with vocal health issues demonstrate the significance of the problem. However, such disorders are not currently recognized as an occupational disease in Italy. Conducting studies examining the vocal health of occupational voice users is an important step in identifying this as an important public health issue. The current study was conducted in six primary schools in Italy with 25 teachers, one of the most affected occupational categories. A clinical examination was conducted (consisting of hearing and voice screening, a VHI, etc.). On this basis, teachers were divided into three groups: healthy subjects, subject with logopaedic disorders, and subjects with objectively measured pathological symptoms. The distributions of voicing and silence periods for the teachers at work were collected using the Ambulatory Phonation Monitor (APM3200), a device for long-term monitoring of vocal parameters. The APM senses the vocal fold vibrations at the base of the neck by means of a small accelerometer. Correlations were calculated between the voice accumulation slope (obtained by multiplying the number of occurrences for each period by the corresponding duration) and the clinical status of the teachers. The differences in voice accumulation distributions among the three groups were analyzed.


The objective of the present study was to quantitate the effects of several anesthetics on hepatic circulation, oxygenation, and function after hepatic ischemic insult and during reperfusion. We examined the effects of different anesthetics on hepatic circulation, oxygenation, and function after hepatic ischemic insult in 28 miniature pigs weighing 20-27 kg. The preparation allowed a stepwise decrease followed by a complete cessation for 1 h of hepatic blood and oxygen supply. Immediately after the unclamping of both vessels supplying the liver and restoration of the hepatic circulation, systemic mean arterial pressure decreased to approximately 75% of preischemic values in animals anesthetized with pentobarbital and fentanyl and to 60% of preischemic values in pigs anesthetized with halothane, enflurane, or isoflurane. Total hepatic blood flow immediately returned to preischemic values without significant difference between the groups. Subsequently, hepatic oxygen delivery returned to 75%-95% of preischemic values. Hepatic oxygen uptake returned to 50%-60% of preischemic values in animals anesthetized with pentobarbital and with volatile anesthetics and up to 80% and then later to baseline values with fentanyl anesthesia. Lactate uptake by the liver returned to preischemic values only in animals given fentanyl or isoflurane but remained at approximately 50% of preischemic values during enflurane and 20%-40% during halothane and pentobarbital anesthesia. Thus, the study indicates that both isoflurane and fentanyl anesthesia provide more protection from ischemic insult than do halothane, enflurane, or pentobarbital anesthesia.


The CIPRES Science Gateway (CSG) provides browser-based access to computationally demanding phylogenetic codes run on large HPC resources. Since its release in December 2009, there has been a sustained, near-linear growth in the rate of CSG use, both in terms of number of users submitting jobs each month and number of jobs submitted. The average amount of computational time used per month by CSG increased more than 5-fold since its initial release. As of April 2012, more than 4,000 unique users have run parallel tree inference jobs on TeraGrid/XSEDE resources using the CSG. The steady growth in resource use suggests that the CSG is meeting an important need for computational resources in the Systematics/Evolutionary Biology community.
 To ensure that XSEDE resources accessed through the CSG are used effectively, policies for resource consumption were developed, and an advanced set of management tools was implemented. Studies of usage trends show that these new management tools helped in distributing XSEDE resources across a large user population that has low-to-moderate computational needs.
 In the first quarter of 2012, 30% of all active XSEDE users accessed computational resources through the CSG, while the analyses conducted by these users accounted for 0.7% of all allocable XSEDE computational resources. User survey results showed that the easy access to XSEDE/TeraGrid resources through the CSG had a critical and measurable scientific impact: at least 300 scholarly publications spanning all major groups within the Tree of Life have been enabled by the CSG since 2009. The same users reported that 82% of these publications would not have been possible without access to computational resources available through the CSG. The results indicate that the CSG is a critical and cost-effective enabler of science for phylogenetic researchers with limited resources.


An estimated 80,000-100,000 radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedures are performed in the United States each year.1 Approximately 1% of these are performed on pediatric patients at centers that contribute data to the Pediatric Radiofrequency Registry.2 Previous reports from this registry have demonstrated that RFA can safely and effectively be performed in pediatric patients.3,4 However, patients weighing less than 15 kg have been identified as being at greater risk for complications.3,4 Consequently, there has been great reluctance to perform RFA in small children such that children weighing less than 15 kg only represent approximately 6% of the pediatric RFA experience2 despite the fact that this age group carries the highest incidence of tachycardia, particularly supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).5 Factors other than the risk of complications contribute to the lower incidence of RFA in this group, including the natural history of the most common tachycardias (SVT), technical issues with RFA in small hearts, and the potential unknown long-term effects of RF applications in the maturing myocardium. Conversely, there are several reasons why ablation may be desirable in small children, including greater difficulties with medical management,6,7,8 the higher risk for hemodynamic compromise during tachycardia in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD), and the inability of these small children to effectively communicate their symptoms thereby making it more likely that their symptoms may go unnoticed until the children become more seriously ill. Before ultimately deciding that catheter ablation is indicated in small children, one must consider which tachycardias are likely to be ablated, the clinical presentation of these tachycardias, alternatives to ablation, the relative potential for success or complications, and modifications of the procedure that might reduce the risk of ablation in this group.


Subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) is a common problem in dairy cattle. High-concentrate rations lead to an accumulation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the rumen and a subsequent decrease in ruminal pH. As SARA impairs animal welfare and productivity, numerous in vivo studies are focusing on evaluation of prevention strategies. In vitro models can support this research and reduce animal numbers and experimental costs. We used different diets and buffer compositions to induce SARA in the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec) and investigated the recovery process. The experiment consisted of an equilibration period (7 days), a first control period, a SARA period and a second control period (5 days each). During the SARA period, SARA was induced by infusing SARA1 or SARA2 buffer with reduced bicarbonate (20 mmol/L and 25 mmol/L) and phosphate (both 10 mmol/L) contents compared to a modified McDougall's buffer (bicarbonate 97.9 mmol/L, phosphates 20 mmol/L). Additionally, we compared three feeding strategies, which differed in the concentrate-to-roughage ratio (30:70, 70:30, changing ratio: 30% concentrate in control periods and 70% concentrate in SARA period). During the SARA period, the pH decreased to a constant value below the SARA thresholds of pH 5.8 and 5.6, whereas lactate concentrations remained low. The total SCFA production rate declined 3 days after SARA induction, and the molar proportion of acetate decreased. The decrease in pH and SCFA production was more pronounced for SARA1 buffer. The high-concentrate diet reduced the molar proportion of acetate and increased NH3 -N concentrations. During the second control period, most parameters recovered. In conclusion, SARA conditions were successfully induced in the Rusitec. However, we observed a higher influence of buffer composition than of concentrate proportions on most biochemical parameters. Nearly all changes were reversible. This model can be applied to test acidosis prevention strategies prior to animal experiments.


Decisions about management of invasive species are difficult for all the reasons typically addressed by multiattribute decision analysis: uncertain outcomes, multiple and conflicting objectives, and many interested parties with differing views on both facts and values. This article illustrates how the tools of multiattribute analysis can improve management of invasive species, with an emphasis on making explicit the social values and preferences that must inform invasive species management. Risk assessment protocols developed previously for invasive species management typically suffer from two interacting flaws: (1) separating risk assessment from risk management, thus disrupting essential connections between the social values at stake in invasive species decisions and the scientific knowledge necessary to predict the likely impacts of management actions, and (2) relying on expert judgment about risk framed in qualitative and value‐laden terms, inadvertently mixing the expert's judgment about what is likely to happen with personal preferences. Using the values structuring and probability‐modeling elements of formal decision analysis can remedy these difficulties and make invasive species management responsive to both good science and public values. The management of feral pigs in Hawaiian ecosystems illustrates the need for such an integrated approach.


Neonatal maternal separation (NMS) is a form of stress that disrupts respiratory control development. Awake adult male rats previously subjected to NMS show a ventilatory response to hypercapnia (HCVR; Fi(CO(2)) = 0.05) 47% lower than controls; however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. To address this issue, we first tested the hypothesis that carotid bodies contribute to NMS-related attenuation of the HCVR by using carotid sinus nerve section or Fi(O(2)) manipulation to maintain Pa(O(2)) constant (iso-oxic) during hypercapnic hyperpnea. We then determined whether NMS-related augmentation of baroreflex sensitivity contributes to the reduced HCVR in NMS rats. Nitroprusside and phenylephrine injections were used to manipulate arterial blood pressure in both groups of rats. Pups subjected to NMS were separated from their mother 3 h/day from postnatal days 3 to 12. Control rats were undisturbed. At adulthood, rats were anesthetized [urethane (1g/kg) + isoflurane (0.5%)], and diaphragmatic electromyogram (dEMG) was measured under baseline and hypercapnic conditions (Pa(CO(2)): 10 Torr above baseline). The relative minute activity response to hypercapnia of anesthetized NMS rats was 34% lower than controls. Maintaining Pa(O(2)) constant during hypercapnia reversed this phenotype; the HCVR of NMS rats was 45% greater than controls. Although the decrease in breathing frequency during baroreflex activation was greater in NMS rats, the change observed within the range of pressure change observed during hypercapnia was minimal. We conclude that NMS-related changes in carotid body sensitivity to chemical stimuli and/or its central integration is a key mechanism in the attenuation of HCVR by NMS.


Despite three decades of research, gendered participation in music continues to be problematic. While many aspects of Western society maintain a patriarchal stance in the workplace, it is apparent that girls have made some significant changes in their musical choices. Males, it seems, are maintaining the same preferences for instruments as they did 100 years ago, avoiding 'gentler pursuits' like singing and playing the flute. This paper seeks to investigate the continued existence of stereotyping of musical participation and to discover some of the underlying reasons for this in the musical choices for boys through the literature. Furthermore, themes arising from existing research are investigated through fieldwork recently conducted in Australia.


The spectrophotometric variability of the classical magnetic chemically peculiar star a Cen in the ultraviolet spectral region from 1150 to 3100 A is investigated. This study is based on archival International Ultraviolet Explorer data obtained at various phases of the rotational cycle. The light variations in wavelengths shorter than λ1616 A are mainly in antiphase to the light variations in the longer-wavelength region. The brightness of the star in the spectral region λλ1616–1640 A is constant over the period of rotation, which means that a so-called 'null wavelength region' exists over these wavelengths. There is also a second 'null wavelength region' in the spectrum of a Cen. According to our investigation, the semi-amplitude of the light variations is practically zero over the period of rotation in the spectral region λλ1244–1343 A. The exception is the light variation in the depressions at λλ1265 and 1300 A, which are formed by resonance lines of silicon. However, the fluxes are constant at the cores of some features and in small depressions. An explanation for the light variations of a Cen is flux redistribution through bound–free and bound–bound silicon transitions combined with an inhomogeneous surface distribution of silicon on the stellar surface. The influence of other elements on the flux redistribution is discussed.


Although orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is one of Malaysian iconic species, however when compared to other great apes this species is not well studied. Several good articles regarding this species in captivity are relatively limited. Due to this reason, a behavioral study of this orangutan (P. pygmaeus) was conducted at Orang Utan Island, Bukit Merah, Perak. The main objectives of this study were to understand the ethology of orangutan in a semi-wild condition and the space utilization of the orangutans that would help in giving picture of the animal's arboreal and terrestrial nature. Preliminary observations were carried out for five days in January 2016 and intensive observations was carried out for a month in February 2016. The observation method used was focal sampling with continuous reading. The observations were done by focusing on one individual subject for every one hour from 09:00 a.m. to 13:00 p.m. and from 14:00 p.m. to 17:00 p.m. The behavioral profile of the orangutans in semi-wild environment showed that resting, feeding, and playing are the three major daily activities of the orangutans on the island. In accordance with the purpose of this study, the result of the behavioral activities of orangutan can be used for the management and well-being of the orangutan in the study site. Hopefully, with the provided information, this will help to increase our understanding of orangutans' behavior in a semi-wild environment.


Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) indicates a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder exhibiting distinct core characteristics of lifelong deficits in social communication and interaction along with restricted, repetitive behaviors. This developmental disorder impacts the achievement of developing milestones during childhood. Apart from the core features of autism, children with ASD display a range of behavioral disorders and physiological dysfunctions, creating a unique heterogeneity in their symptomatology. Conventional therapies are adopted to address such issues with specific treatments suited to the individual needs of children with ASD. As a therapeutic modality, yoga is also recognized as an alternative therapy that can help manage various symptoms of autism. A mind-body intervention yoga applies movement, breathing, and relaxation to nurture holistic well-being in children. This review describes the various studies on yoga as an effective intervention for children with ASD in managing the several aspects of autism. They were searched through Google Scholar and PubMed, and a total of 16 empirical studies were identified on yoga intervention on various behavioral and physiological aspects of autism in children. The current literature on the efficacy of yoga on children with ASD is limited. There is a need for further research for evidence-based studies to highlight yoga as a holistic modality in the management of ASD.


This paper purports to analyze a hospital's adoption of both product and process innovation as a quanta! choice. The impacts of this decision on physicians, while depending on institutions that differ between the US and continental Europe, are shown to feed back to the hospital, influencing the profitability of the innovation. Recent changes of hospital finance give rise to testable comparative predictions in both institutional settings


"Crisis Resolution" teams are a growing element of community mental health services in the England. The Department of Health intended to have 335 services established by the end of 2004 and had in fact achieved a total of 343 by mid 2005. This study focuses on two such crisis teams operating in the north east of England and aims to describe important features of their routine work. Using a fusion of observation and discourse analysis (the latter based on audio recordings made during team meetings and interviews with team members), areas such as multidisciplinary team working, expertise, user involvement and the understanding of mental health crisis itself are subjected to scrutiny, discussion and analysis. The study was funded as an ESRC CASE studentship. A variety of professional expertise comes into play in the formation of any multidisciplinary community mental health team. How these disciplines interact when delivering crisis resolution is a key focus of the study in hand. Both teams are made up of the same professional disciplines; medicine, nursing, and social work. In addition, support workers are present in both teams. This research examines the interaction of these disciplines and roles, the possibility and actuality of conflict between them and the various ways in which individuals work together to create a team. While Department of Health guidelines deliver a referral criteria with a definition of the constituents of a mental health crisis, this definition is general and cannot describe the numerous interpersonal processes involved in accepting a referral. Hence, the nature of mental health crisis itself is debatable. The study examines a variety of ways in which "crisis" is constructed and understood. Also, the practice of crisis resolution does not simply involve the work of mental health professionals; it also involves the input of the mental health service users themselves. "User involvement" is a phrase that commonly appears in contemporary Health Service literature. This study seeks to describe what this phrase actually means in the day to day delivery of the service.


A 23-year-old male presented with a 3-month history of left purulent rhinorrhea, progressive nasal obstruction, and intermittent epistaxis. A fiberoptic examination revealed a large vascular polypoid mass completely filling the left nasal cavity. CT and MRI scans showed a large hypervascular mass involving the left nasal airway, maxillary antrum, and the anterior ethmoid cells. There was no bony erosion or contiguous spread, and the remaining sinuses, orbit, and cranial fossa were uninvolved. The patient underwent complete removal of the mass via an external lateral rhinotomy approach. The soft mass was large and vascular. A microscopic analysis revealed an undifferentiated tumor consisting of a solid sheet of small, round blue cells. Mitotic figures were also present. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive for CD99. Molecular studies using a PCR confirmed the chromosomal translocation of FLI1 (exon 6). These findings were considered diagnostic for Ewing's sarcoma. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide (total: 7 cycles) was commenced. He also received radiation therapy for local control (total dose: 50.4 Gy). The patient is currently alive without any evidence of recurrence or metastasis.


Despite successful antiviral chemotherapy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is still a lifelong persistent virus, and no vaccine yet prevents HIV transmission. Topical microbicides offer an important alternative method to prevent sexual transmission of HIV-1. ABSTRACT No prophylactic vaccine has provided robust protection against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Vaccine-induced broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) have not been achieved in humans and most animals; however, cows vaccinated with HIV-1 envelope trimers produce bNAbs with unusually long third heavy complementarity-determining regions (CDRH3s). Alongside neutralization, Fc-mediated effector functions, including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and phagocytosis (ADP), may be critical for in vivo bNAb antiviral activity. Here, we aimed to augment the Fc-dependent effector functions of a chimeric human-bovine bNAb, NC-Cow1, which binds the CD4 binding site (CD4bs) and exhibits broader and more potent neutralization than most human CD4bs bNAbs by using an exceptionally long 60-amino acid (aa) CDRH3. The bovine variable region of NC-Cow1 was paired with a human IgG1 Fc region mutated to create the following three variants: G236R/L328R (GRLR) that abrogates Fc-gamma receptor (FcγR) binding, and two variants that enhance binding, namely, G236A/S239D/I332E (GASDIE) and G236A/S239D/A330L/I332E (GASDALIE). Both GASDIE and GASDALIE improved binding to human FcγRIIA and FcγRIIIA, enhanced human natural killer (NK) cell activation, and mediated higher levels of ADCC and ADP activity than the wild-type human IgG1 Fc. GASDALIE mediated higher phagocytic activity than GASDIE. As expected, GRLR eliminated binding to FcγRs and did not mediate ADCC or ADP. We demonstrated that mutations in the human Fc region of bovine chimeric antibodies with ultralong CDRH3s could enhance antibody effector functions while maintaining envelope binding and neutralization. This study will have significant implications in the development of multifunctional anti-HIV antibodies, which may be important to prevent HIV‐1 transmission in an antibody‐based topical microbicide. IMPORTANCE Despite successful antiviral chemotherapy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is still a lifelong persistent virus, and no vaccine yet prevents HIV transmission. Topical microbicides offer an important alternative method to prevent sexual transmission of HIV-1. With the production of highly potent anti-HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) and multifunctional antibodies, monoclonal antibodies are now important prophylactic agents. Recently discovered anti-HIV-1 bovine bNAbs (with higher potency and breadth than most human bNAbs) could be novel candidates as potent topical microbicides. Our study is significant as it demonstrates the compatibility of combining bovine-derived neutralization with human-derived antibody-effector functions. This study is a new approach to antibody engineering that strengthens the feasibility of using high-potency bovine variable region bNAbs with augmented Fc function and promotes them as a strong candidate for antibody-mediated therapies.


Synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy was used to study the initial growth of Er2O3 films on Si in O2 pressures of 7×10-6 Torr. An interface layer was observed at the initial growth of Er2O3 film on Si, which is supposed to be attributed to the effect of the Er atom catalytic oxidation effect. With the film growth process continued, oxygen deficient Er oxide will capture oxygen from the interface layer which is formed inevitably at the initial growth of Er2O3 film and thus reduce and even remove the interface layer if the condition of O2 pressure is a little insufficient at a high substrate temperature.


Customer-centricity – a concept, a trend or an absolute must-have in a modern consumer market? The answer may seem clear, and that no further profound reflections are required. However, it is impossible to specify unambiguously the criteria that should be met by an organization to be considered a customer-centric enterprise.
This doubt stimulated the analysis of the available sources in which numerous authors have taken up the topic of the customer and his strategic importance for supporting a wide range of businesses. I focus on five different business concepts that combine a qualitative approach to the customer. The article attempts to define the concept of customer-centricity, and I identify five different qualities that should be met by an organization so that it may call itself "customer-centric".


Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare family caregivers' and nurses' perceptions of the adult guardianship system applied to people with dementia. Methods: The participants were 85 family caregivers and 85 nurses in a university hospital and a dementia support center in S city. The perception of the adult guardianship system was surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared test, and Fisher's exact test with the SPSS/WIN 24.0. Results: Twenty-eight percent of nurses said they had heard of the adult guardianship system and fifty-one percent of family caregivers said they had heard of it(x2=9.80, p=.002). Perception of system details was also higher among family caregivers. However, both groups were less aware of the details. In the case of nurses, perceptions of the system differed according to factors related to education. Conclusion: Family caregivers were more likely to recognize the adult guardianship system than nurses. However, their awareness of the system details was low. Given that the application of the adult guardianship system will become more dynamic, it is necessary to actively promote and provide education about the system. Specifically, dispensing instruction for the system is necessary for nurses.


This article is the second part of a two parts paper which presents, compares and discusses the different crack growth simulation models which were introduced for fatigue crack growth assessment during the DaToN project. In the first part, different simulation approaches were applied to determine a calibration of the stress intensity factors as a function of the crack length for a two stiffeners panel with a central crack. Due to the residual stress field promoted by the different manufacturing processes, its influence was included in the numerical models to determine the stress intensity factors. In this second part, the stress intensity factors calibrations are applied in different crack growth models in order to determine the fatigue life under cyclic loads. Paris, Walker, Forman and NASGRO were used for this purpose. The incorporation of the load ratio variation and of the effect of the residual stresses is in general possible in all of them allowing to determine the influence of the residual stress field in the fatigue crack growth. The results were tested and compared with experimental results with the purpose of validation of the models. These numerical models demonstrate that (i) it is possible to predict the fatigue life in stiffened welded panels and (ii) the residual stress field originated by welding processes can be detrimental or beneficial depending on the location where the crack starts.


Sequences from the nef/LTR overlap region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) genome were amplified from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 40 HIV-2-infected individuals in The Gambia, West Africa. Additional sequences from the plasma of three blood donors were also derived. Analysis of HIV-2 U3 LTR transcription factor elements (PuB-1, p-ets, PuB-2, peri-kappa B, and NF-kappa B sites) indicated a relatively high level of conservation in vivo. The region immediately 3' of the nef termination codon, which exhibits clade-dependent specificity, was targeted by PCR to differentiate HIV-2 subtype A from subtype B infections, the two principal clinical HIV-2 subtypes. All clinical samples analyzed (n = 43) from The Gambia were identified as HIV-2 subtype A by a combination of LTR sequence analysis and subtype-specific amplification of subtypes A and B. Differential PCR amplification of the HIV-2 U3 LTR region represents a rapid means of differentiating subtype A from subtype B infections, the two dominant HIV-2 subtypes that are important in human disease.


age should be recognized, or also underlying metaphysical laws of being or laws of things. Here the r61e of the three traditional "laws of thought" is (or need be) only to serve as illustrations of laws of logic. I t would seem to the reviewer that the author confuses his main question with another one, namely whether the three traditional laws are in any sense, as some have alleged, prior to or more fundamental than other laws of logic. The passages quoted from Boole and Stebbing seem to be intended to give a negative answer to this latter question. The author expresses the opinion that "a primary desideratum of the present day is the finding of a metaphysical foundation for mathematical logic." ALONZO CHURCH


The article advances a case for greater consideration of the moral aspects of the experience of class, and the concerns that people have regarding their class position and how others view them. First it outlines an approach to understanding lay normativity, especially morality, in which moral sentiments are viewed as evaluative judgements on how behaviour affects well-being. Drawing upon concepts from moral philosophy and examples of moral boundary drawing and shame, it argues that lay morality is weakly differentiated and assumes a universalizing character. Secondly it considers the close relations between economic distribution and recognition, arguing that it is necessary to distinguish between conditional and unconditional recognition, and internal and external goods in order to understand the struggles of the social field. Class inequalities render equality of conditional recognition impossible, because they prevent equal access to practices and goods worthy of recognition.


A retrospective study was performed on 54 patients diagnosed as having adrenocortical carcinoma during 1974-1983. The initial symptoms were often diffuse: abdominal pain, weight loss, or fever, and more than 60% of the patients showed no evidence of overproduction of hormone. The median tumor diameter was 13 cm and almost half of the tumors had metastasized at diagnosis. A radical tumor resection could be performed in less than 50% of the patients, and at histopathological re-examination some tumors were not conclusively verified as malignant. Capsular invasion, nuclear pleomorphism and mitoses were found more commonly in patients who succumbed to the disease. Seven of 29 patients treated with chemotherapy showed an objective response and two of them are still alive and free of disease. The overall 5-year-survival rate was 19%, compared with 45% for patients with radically resected tumors. Patients with no biochemical signs of overproduction of adrenocortical hormone appeared to have a better prognosis than those with hormone excess. Together with increased use of ultrasound and computed tomography, a urinary steroid profile might hopefully contribute to earlier discovery of these often clinically silent tumors. However, it remains to be determined whether these diagnostic improvements, together with more aggressive surgery and adrenolytic chemotherapy, can improve the poor prognosis.


This article introduces Pierre Bourdieu's notions of field, interest, and symbolic power into the study of global environmental politics, for the purpose of positioning the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) within the international field of climate politics. Revisiting historical accounts of the IPCC's establishment, the article explores the IPCC's role in generating international interest in climate change and the field of forces and struggles that has emerged around the organization and its assessment activities as a result. The IPCC continues to hold a central position within the climate field because of its symbolic power to construct the meaning of climate change. This makes the organization, its assessment activities, and the knowledge it produces central objects of struggle within the climate field, and the forces that this contestation produces structure all aspects of the IPCC and its work. The article identifies how developing-country attitudes, climate skepticism, and bandwagoning impact the IPCC's place in climate politics and its assessments of the climate problem.


[PURPOSE] ARDS is a severe disease and the therapy is not completely established and the pathophysiology is still controversial. There is a report one third of clinically diagnosed ARDS in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) were pathologically not diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), but were pneumonia, hemorrhage and so on. In this context, we clinico-pathologically studied the autopsy cases with clinically diagnosed ARDS in our hospital. [CASES and METHODS] The 20 patients had originally chronic diseases and were treated in our hospital. In clinical courses, they showed ARDS and were moved to ICU and died and were autopsied. The lungs and other organs were pathologically investigated what is the pathophysiological findings of clinical ARDS. Elastica stain, Al-PAS stain and immunohistochemistry for type I and IV collagen, α smooth muscle actin and Ki-67 were used. The periods of clinical ARDS and the estimated stages of DAD were compared and clinico-pathologically analyzed. [RESULTS and DISCUSSION] A half of ARDS states were clinically diagnosed as pulmonary infection or tumor infiltration. However, 18 of 20 cases of clinically diagnosed ARDS were pathologically DAD. The period of ARDS and the stage of DAD were concordant in all 18 cases. One of non-DAD cases was lung edema due to acute endocarditis and the other was aspergillosis with CMV pneumonia. Some cases also showed pathologically acute pneumonia, though the lesions of pneumonia are localized in the proximal portion of organized DAD. These findings mean the lesions of pneumonia appear after DAD. [CONCLUSION] It is confirmed that DAD itself mainly causes ARDS in the patients associated with chronic underlying diseases under the treatment in a hospital.


The optical constants and reflectance and transmittance of evaporated rhodium films were determined in the visible. The evaporations were performed in an ion-titanium pumped system at pressures of less than 10−6 torr. Films of various thicknesses were deposited onto glass and fused-silica substrates at 40 and 300 °C. Their optical constants were determined with opaque coatings by an ellipsometric technique, and by reflectance measurements made at various angles of incidence, and with semitransparent films by reflectance, transmittance, and thickness measurements. The results obtained with these three techniques agreed well within the accuracy of measurements. At all wavelengths, both n and k and the reflectance increased with increasing substrate temperature. The transmittance of semitransparent rhodium films of various thicknesses was found to be not as constant throughout the visible region as previously reported. The rhodium mirror coatings were made to adhere to glass and fused silica, by use of a 20-A-thick inner layer of evaporated Nichrome. Pairs of dielectric surface films with alternately low and high indices of refraction were used to enhance the visible reflectance of rhodium mirrors. They consisted of SiO2 + TiO2 and SiO2 + CeO2. Rhodium mirrors with and without dielectric surface films showed no damage or change in reflectance after 1 h of boiling in salt water and 10 h of immersion in 10% NaOH and 10% HCl acid.


Background In view of the new IDSA clinical practice guidelines, we investigated C. difficile infection (CDI) rates and performance against the key standards in our infants and immunosuppressed paediatric patients. Methods Using electronic patient notes and microbiology systems, we collected data on every positive PCR result between June 2016 and March 2018 in our paediatric population. Information included risk factors, markers of severity and medical management. Results 48 samples were sent for C. difficile testing, from which 22 patients had positive results at an average age of 7.4 years. Only five samples were sent from patients under 2 year olds, of which four were PCR positive but toxin negative. Out of 22 positive patient samples, 9 were toxin positive. Risk factors for CDI included previous antibiotics or inpatient stay in the last 3 months, as well as recent PPI use. Only one patient had toxin positive CDI with severe disease. Overall the management of CDI in both toxin positive and negative patients was appropriate in terms of antibiotic choice and duration, and was tailored to specific patient circumstances. A high proportion of CDI patients were immunosuppressed or had recently undergone bone marrow transplants, but often showed no signs of severe infection (fever, raised inflammatory markers). Conclusion There should be a low threshold in testing patients who are immunosuppressed, as they are more likely to develop CDI. There were no toxin positive cases in patients under two years of age, which confirms that the test is not useful in this population.


Magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN) measurements were made on a sample of pipeline steel as functions of mag- netizing frequency and ac flux density in the sample. The ob- served MBN responses suggest a strong dependence on these magnetizing parameters. With increasing flux density in the sample, the MBN activity initially increases but finally begins to decrease at higher magnitudes of flux density. The MBN ac- tivity also increases with increasing magnetizing frequency. Pulse-height distribution analysis of the MBN waveforms sug- gests that the dependence of MBN activity on these magneti- zation parameters is more complex than appears from the rms voltage measurements.


Previous measurement studies have shown the existence of path exploration and slow convergence in the global Internet routing system, and a number of protocol enhancements have been proposed to remedy the problem. However, existing measurements were conducted only over a small number of testing prefixes. There has been no systematic study to quantify the pervasiveness of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) slow convergence in the operational Internet, nor any known effort to deploy any of the proposed solutions. In this paper, we present our measurement results that identify BGP slow convergence events across the entire global routing table. Our data shows that the severity of path exploration and slow convergence varies depending on where prefixes are originated and where the observations are made in the Internet routing hierarchy. In general, routers in tier-1 Internet service providers (ISPs) observe less path exploration, hence they experience shorter convergence delays than routers in edge ASs; prefixes originated from tier-1 ISPs also experience less path exploration than those originated from edge ASs. Furthermore, our data show that the convergence time of route fail-over events is similar to that of new route announcements and is significantly shorter than that of route failures. This observation is contrary to the widely held view from previous experiments but confirms our earlier analytical results. Our effort also led to the development of a path-preference inference method based on the path usage time, which can be used by future studies of BGP dynamics.