The goals of this investigation were to assess the accuracy of 18F-fluorodihydrorotenone (18F-FDHR) as a new deposited myocardial flow tracer and to compare the results to those for 201Tl. Methods: The kinetics of these flow tracers in 22 isolated, erythrocyteand albumin-perfused rabbit hearts were evaluated over a flow range encountered in patients. The 2 flow tracers plus a vascular reference tracer (131I-albumin) were introduced as a bolus through a port just above the aortic cannula. Myocardial extraction, retention, washout, and uptake parameters were computed from the venous outflow curves with the multiple-indicator dilution technique and spectral analysis. Results: The mean SD initial extraction fractions for 18F-FDHR (0.85 0.07) and 201Tl (0.87 0.05) were not significantly different, although the initial extraction fraction for 18F-FDHR declined with flow (P 0.0001), whereas the initial extraction fraction for 201Tl did not. The washout of 201Tl was faster (P 0.001) and more affected by flow (P 0.05) than was the washout of 18F-FDHR. Except for the initial extraction fraction, 18F-FDHR retention was higher (P 0.001) and less affected by flow (P 0.05) than was 201Tl retention. Reflecting its superior retention, the net uptake of 18F-FDHR was better correlated with flow than was that of 201Tl at both 1 and 15 min after tracer introduction (P 0.0001 for both comparisons). Conclusion: The superior correlation of 18F-FDHR uptake with flow indicates that it is a better flow tracer than 201Tl in the isolated rabbit heart. Compared with the other currently available positron-emitting flow tracers (82Rb, 13N-ammonia, and 15O-water), 18F-FDHR has the potential of providing excellent image resolution without the need for an on-site cyclotron.


The direct vinylogous aldol reaction of α-substituted α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with isatins is described. The chemistry provides easy access to valuable 3-substituted 3-hydroxyoxindole derivatives with high stereocontrol and perfect γ-site selectivity. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that, depending on the nature of the α-branched enal substituents, two divergent reaction mechanisms can be operating, leading to different products and stereochemical outcomes.


: The hardness of seven proprietary, light-cured, posterior composite resins was evaluated by three different hardness testers: the Knoop hardness tester, the Barcol indenter and the Rockwell 15T hardness meter. Specimens were measured after light-curing and 24-hour immersion in 37 degrees C water. Barcol hardness numbers ranged from 79.2 to 85.0. The Rockwell 15T hardness data had a range from 73.3 to 80.3 and the Knoop hardness numbers varied from 39.9 to 79.0. Relatively small variations were determined between results of Barcol hardness numbers and Rockwell 15T hardness data. Great variation was revealed in the results from Knoop hardness numbers. According to the dimensions of the indentations, the results of Barcol and Rockwell hardness represent the bulky part of tested composites rather than superficial hardness. Knoop hardness testing is found to be relatively feasible and a suitable measurement for the determination of superficial hardness of highly filled composite resins.


Within north-eastern Australia's grain-production region there are few reports outlining nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertiliser effects on grain P concentration and P removal in grain. Two long-term N×P fertiliser experiments with different cultivation durations were conducted, one at 'Colonsay' on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland (commencing 1985 after 40 years of cultivation), and the other at 'Myling' on the north-west plains of New South Wales (commencing 1996 after 9 years of cultivation). Applications of N and P fertiliser independently influenced both grain P concentration and P removal for a range of summer and winter cereal and legume crops. Generally, if N fertiliser application increased grain yield, the grain P concentration decreased as grain yield increased; however, if grain yield did not respond to N fertiliser, grain P concentration was unaffected. P fertiliser applications typically increased grain P concentration. Wheat and barley grain P concentrations were generally higher in this subtropical region than reported values from temperate regions in Australia. Grain sorghum values were similar to those from subtropical areas overseas, but were greater than reported values from more tropical production zones. Mungbean and chickpea grain P concentrations were consistent with other reported values. Experimental results indicated grain P concentrations for estimating grain P removal in the northern grains region of 3400mg/kg for sorghum, 3500mg/kg for wheat and barley, and 4000-4500mg/kg for mungbean. At both sites, grain P removal was greater with summer and winter cereals than with legume crops. Larger grain yields with N fertiliser application had the largest influence on grain P removal at the Colonsay site, with an additional 23.3kgP/ha removed from plots with 80kgN/ha applied compared with nil N over 5 analysed crops from 1998 to 2003. Grain P removal was 20.9, 17.1, and 19.7kgP/ha in the 3 sorghum crops at this site in this period. Thus, application of P at 10kgP/ha.crop for this 5-crop study period did not replace P removed. In the predominantly winter-cropped Myling experiment with a shorter duration of cultivation and smaller N fertiliser response, cumulative removal was more influenced by P fertiliser, with 10kg fertiliser P/ha.crop generally sufficient to provide replacement P. These results support findings of negative P balances recently reported for grain production in this region and suggest a need for further investigation into the implications of a continuing negative P balance on the sustainability of grain production.


Personality scales based on the five-factor model, especially the big-five scale of personality trait adjectives (Wada, 1996), are commonly used in Japan. In this study a short form of the Big-Five Scale was constructed. To avoid changes in the capacity dimension caused by the decrease in the number of items, item selection was conducted after item response theory (IRT) scales were constructed for all the items. In study 1 data was collected from 2099 participants. A generalized partial credit model was applied to the IRT model, and items were selected using the slope and location parameters for each item. Cronbach's alpha showed that the short form, as well as the five sub-scales, had sufficient reliability as a personality test. In study 2, we determined correlations with the NEO-FFI and tested the concurrent validity of the short form. The results indicate that the short form of big-five scale demonstrates sufficient reliability and validity despite the reduced number of items.


The Palace of the Dey at Algiers is located inside the Citadel of Algiers which was built in the 16th century (1516) by 'Arrudj (Barbarous). The citadel is located at the higher part of the city and was the first military building at that time. The citadel was the janissary barracks and initially contained a powder keg, a walk, Janissaries residence places and their mosque. Starting from the 18th century appear new constructive strata. In 1716 some part of this military edifice was destroyed by an earthquake. In 1783 the Spanish bombarded Algiers and a bomb fell into the first storey of the palace. The architectural transformations took place in 1817 when the Dey 'Ali Khūdja lived at the janissary's barracks. Thereafter and during 12 years several buildings were added to this whole defensive structure as the second and the third floors of the palace, the Dey's mosque, the bath, the Bey's palace and the winter garden. During the French colonization, the palace undergoes other transformations as the destruction of most of the rampart of the city contiguous to the palace which caused its instability and which until today accentuates its vulnerability. The lack of maintains, the abandonment and the bad restoration which took place during the 20th century increased this vulnerability. This work based on a visual screening will present the various aspects of vulnerability due to static weaknesses of the angles and absence of wind-bracing of this palace.


Hypometabolism is an important energy saving, highly regulated physiological response for some mammals; however, its mechanisms of control have yet to be fully described. It induces a reduction in metabolic rate, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. Although the degree and rate of body temperature decrease is subject to ambient temperatures, mammals still maintain control over the whole process. A major goal of hypometabolism appears to be maintaining energetic stores within the body as external food sources become sparse. Uncovering the mechanisms by which these mammals control this process is of interest as organ and tissue damage following hypometabolism, is rarely, if ever present. 5'adenosine monophosphate (5'AMP) has been demonstrated in this lab and others to induce a hypometabolic state in mice. Other molecules, such as TAN-67, a highly specific δ-opioid receptor agonist is able to induce hypometabolism and protect the brain from hypoxic conditions. A putative connection between these signaling molecules is possible at 5'AMPactivated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK has an intimate role in metabolic processes throughout the body including roles in signaling and managing metabolic organelles. Understanding this mechanism could lead to potential therapeutic intervention in humans in areas following major surgery and organ transplantation. The aim of the present study is to test the hypothesis that murine hypometabolism induced by TAN-67 and 5'AMP respectively is characteristic of a signaling pathway homology. Male CD-1 mice were treated with one of the agonists: TAN-67 (4 mg/kg) or 5'AMP (400 mg/kg), followed by one of the antagonists, Naloxone (20 mg/kg) or Aminophylline (20 mg/kg), with saline serving as a control (n=3/group). During the trials measurements of flow of oxygen, flow of carbon dioxide and respiratory exchange ratio were followed for indirect calorimetry. Results indicate that 5'AMP, but not TAN-67 at the present dose was successful in inducing hypometabolism. Changes in dosage could be necessary to induce hypometabolism by TAN-67.


: In this paper, a new algorithm in order to increase the satisfaction of terminal constraints in the predictive control problem is presented. In this algorithm, by extracting mathematical relations, the terminal constraints are transferred from the final moment to the current moments. In each iteration, this transformation takes place in the optimization problem. At each moment of optimization, a new expression is obtained in terms of control inputs in each of the finite prediction control horizons. The equation of this transfer constraint is derived based on the variable discrete equations with the time of the controlled process and its execution at any moment fulfills the final constraints of the problem. This new algorithm, after extracting its mathematical relationships, is used to track the path of a robot with terminal constraints, and its performance is demonstrated using robot dynamics simulations. Also, the stability analysis of the proposed controller is performed by writing an appropriate cost function and applying Lyapunov theorem.


Food insecurity, defined as a lack of stable access to sufficient and nutritious food, is a global public health priority due to its relationships with diminished mental and physical human health. Indigenous communities experience disproportionality high rates of food insecurity as a byproduct of settler-colonial activities, which included forced relocation to rural reservation lands and degradation of traditional subsistence patterns. Many Indigenous communities have worked to revitalize their local food systems by pursuing food sovereignty, regularly expressed as the right and responsibility of people to have access to healthy and culturally appropriate foods, while defining their own food systems. Food sovereignty is a promising approach for improving health. However, limited literature is available that identifies the diverse practices of food sovereignty or strategies communities can implement to strengthen their food sovereignty efforts. This article reviews the scientific literature and highlights key indicators that may support community capacity building for food sovereignty and health. The seven indicators are: (1) access to resources, (2) production, (3) trade, (4) food consumption, (5) policy, (6) community involvement, and (7) culture. A total of 25 sub-indicators are outlined to allow communities to understand how an indicator is operationalized as well as explore their own community's progress within each indicator. It is not expected that every indicator and their subcategories will apply fully to any given Indigenous community, and the application of these indicators must be adapted for each community's local context, however the indicators may provide support for building and assessing efforts to create more sustainable Indigenous food systems.


This article describes a framework for monitoring and controlling ATM networks based on the use of management cells. By management cells we refer to a broad class of special cells that circulate around the network to perform a variety of useful functions for monitoring and optimizing the operation of the network. The proposed framework includes current 'ATM-layer OAM (operations and maintenance) methods as well as new mechanisms for more sophisticated long-term network management. This article explores various existing and new uses of management cells for performance monitoring, traffic control, fault management, and network administration.


In the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), loop and eddy currents can cause large errors in 4D shot and receiver locations between baseline and repeat streamer surveys, which invariably lead to poor data quality. In a recent 4D acquisition, a dual-vessel 3D acquisition method addressed the repeatability problem and showed reliable time-lapse measurements over Holstein Field. The time-lapse seismic data show time shifts up to 6 ms over depleting sands and amplitude changes over swept and compacted sands. This 4D information has improved understanding of the field and can support optimal placement of injection and production wells.


This book takes an entirely new look at the history of Edo (Tokyo), defining its approach as spatial 'poetics' (shigaku). Edo has been assessed physically - land reclamation, supply, etc – and in terms of popular culture - via printed materials, as novels and pictures; there are also oral traditions of 'stories'. This is a departure in taking five distinctive topoi, and investigating them via inter-disciplinary methods, by chapter. The first addresses the centre of state, Nihon-bashi; images, historical documents are adduced, with the metaphysical meaning of bridges, to construct a novel interpretation. Chapter 2 assesses generation of sacred spaces. This new town needed points of worship; one ancient temple did exist, with a wonderworking image, which was integrated into shogunal religions. Chapter 3 looks at how new-rising Edo modelled itself on antique cities, such as Chinese capitals, to elevate itself; Edo never was a capital (Kyoto was), but as shogunal seat it required buildings of grace, and also magical protection, through geomancy. The immediate model was mediaeval castle towns, but Edo also drew on Kyoto itself, often in hidden or covert ways, replicating site of toponyms, to add to its aura. Chapter 4 considers creation of 'famous sites'. Again, as a new city, Edo lacked points of poetic and historical value (meisho), indeed, in the classical period, what became Edo stood for all that was raw and uncouth. This had to be changed, and it was, through diligent search, and some invention; the presence of Mt Fuji was important. Chapter 5 looks at the celebrated 'floating world' of pleasure, and particularly at how people (men) travelled there; boats took them, through the night, on a route composed so as to distance them from 'fixed' daily life, and prepare them for the alterity of pleasure that law ahead.


Large‐scale landslides occur on the flanks of many volcanic oceanic islands worldwide. None have taken place in historical time, but their geohazard potential, especially their ability to generate tsunamis, is large. The Cape Verde Islands are a group of 10 large and several smaller volcanic islands off the coast of West Africa between 15 and 17°N. A single flank landslide has previously been described from the island of Fogo, but systematic analysis of the Cape Verde group has until now been lacking. This paper describes and interprets a multibeam bathymetry data set covering the slopes of the western Cape Verde Islands, including those of the islands with the most recent volcanic activity, Fogo in the southwest, and Santo Antao in the northwest. All of the larger islands show evidence of large flank landslides, although only Fogo and the southwest part of Santo Antao have failed in the last 400 ka. Tope de Coroa, the volcano at the southwest end of Santo Antao, has been inactive for the past 170 ka and is judged to have a low landslide potential unless volcanic activity resumes. In contrast, there would seem to be a high probability of a future east directed landslide on Fogo, from the area of the highly active Pico do Fogo volcano, although it is impossible to predict a timescale for such an event. A tsunami generated by such a landslide could have a catastrophic effect on the adjacent island of Santiago and possibly even farther afield on the West African coast.


Background: The aim of the study was to determine the specificity of somatic build among girls practicing artistic gymnastics at the basic stage of training. Material/Methods: The study involved 12 8.9-year-old girls practicing artistic gymnastics at BKSG "Zawisza". The girls had 3.4 years of professional training experience and were affected by a six-week training (3-4 hours a day). They had the level of youth class. Anthropometric measurements of selected somatic characteristics have been taken. The results were subject to anthropology-specific classifications and statistical analysis. With the use of an expert method, the rating of technical preparation among gymnasts was made. The evaluation was performed by a team consisting of five experts licensed referees. Results: The values of selected features and morphological indicators showed to be related to the gymnasts' technical level. Interdependence (p ≥ 0.05) was revealed in the body height, shoulders width and the shoulders indicator (a directly proportional character of correlation) and by the hips width (an inversely proportional correlation). The size of the critical correlation coefficient close to statistical significance was observed also for the body weight and for the thigh and lower leg perimeters. The results showed that during the early stages of training, requirements of the discipline favoured girls with bigger parameters of height, and weight which does not coincide with the somatic model occurring among adult gymnasts. Conclusions: In artistic gymnastics at early stages of education the requirements and specificity of the discipline (concerning the body height and the body weight) were not contiguous to the somatic model of mature artistic gymnasts. This aspect should be taken into account when conducting level-based assessments and projecting the development of young adepts of artistic gymnastics as well as developing classification programs in the youngest sport classes (choosing exercise elements which would be associated as little as possible with a somatic factor deviating from the model of the discipline) or enabling their performance on modified gymnastic equipment specially adapted to the children's capabilities.


The goal of the present research was to study the types of nutritional behavior disturbances in overweight patients with the pathology biliary tract. 132 patients with chronic noncalculous cholecystitis aged from 18 to 35 were examined. The comprehensive clinical examination was conducted and types of eating behavior disturbances with the help DEBQ test (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire) were examined. It was discovered that disturbances of eating behavior are observed in 82,9 percent of normal weight patients, in 100 percent of overweight and in 93,3 percent of patients with obesity. Restraint and emotional eating are more often observed in obesity. External eating is more often observed in overweight and normal weight persons than that emotional eating. Rational eating is rarely observed in all groups of examined persons.


This study applies rent adjustment models for ten major European office markets. We capture long-run equilibrium relationships of demand and supply variables and their short-term corrections in a two equation error correction model. We test whether the local nature of office markets makes a model based on national economics inaccurate if local and national markets do not move in tandem. For this we employ a unique dataset, which includes both disaggregated and national variables to model changes in real prime rents for a group of premier and second tier office market cities across Europe for the period 1990-2006. We explicitly compare results that are derived from models that include different levels of geographic aggregation. Results of the two stage error correction model indicate that international office rents adjust to short-run changes in office related economic activity, lagged rent changes, and to the deviation of rents from their long-run values. At the same time our results offer no proof that error correction mechanism models for office rents improve significantly by specifying economic growth figures beyond the national aggregated level for the cities included in our analysis.


Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of caffeine on balance function by determining the extent to which caffeine consumption affects postural sway and balance control in healthy individuals. Methods: Thirty healthy participants aged 20–35 years without any vestibular disorder were enrolled in this study. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, and those in Group 1 were given two cups of regular coffee (300–350 mg) while those in Group 2 were given two cups of decaffeinated coffee. The sensory organization test, the head shake sensory organization test, the limits of stability test, and the adaptation test were performed on all participants before and after coffee intake using computerized dynamic posturography. Results: The sensory organization test composite scores (p=0.001) and the head shake condition 5 (C5) equilibrium scores (p=0.001) of the participants in Group 1 showed a statistically significant increase after coffee intake while the composite scores (p=0.001) and the head shake condition (C5) equilibrium scores (p=0.001) of those in Group 2 showed a statistically significant decrease. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the equilibrium scores in the pitch plane (p=0.001), the yaw plane (p=0.001), and the roll plane (p=0.001) of C5 after coffee intake. Conclusion: Consumption of an appropriate dose of caffeine may enhance body position, postural stability, and voluntary motor control ability. The combined use of the sensory organization test, the head shake sensory organization test, the adaptation test, and the limits of stability test in evaluating the balance mechanism in individuals with normal vestibular findings provides detailed information about postural sway.


: The radiological findings in 21 children aged between four and 14 years, suffering from severe renal trauma, are described. Various radiological signs are described and their value and frequency are discussed. Plain films provide only non-specific evidence. Contrast extravasation during an excretions urogram is the only reliable sign of rupture. Immediate angiography in order to exclude vascular damage is indicated if there is no contrast excretion by the damaged kidney. Angiography at a later date should be carried out if there is persistent haematuria, in cases of doubt regarding the excretion urogram, or when it is impossible to decide on the basis of the excretion urogram whether operative or conservative treatment is indicated. Regular observation is necessary, both after operative and conservative treatment, in order to recognise complications at an early stage.


Surface-enhanced Raman spectra are simulated using a combined classical electrodynamics/real-time time-dependent density functional theory approach and compared to experiments. Emphasis is put on discerning between chemical and electromagnetic enhancement. Therefore, three different calculation scenarios are investigated using para-nitrothiophenol as a test molecule. In the first one, corresponding to electromagnetic enhancement, we simulate the molecule alone with ab initio computations incorporating the electromagnetic field emitted by a nanoparticle. Chemical enhancement is modeled in the second scenario, where we include not only the molecule into the quantum chemistry calculations but also metal atoms of the nanoparticle. Here, any modification of the electromagnetic field due to the nanoparticle is not considered. In the third scenario, the former two setups are combined and demanding simulations of the hybrid system containing the molecule and the metal atoms exposed to a strongly modified electromagnetic field due to the plasmonic properties of the metallic nanoparticles are considered. Results are compared to our experimentally measured spectra. Based on our analysis, we show here on rigorous grounds that the electromagnetic effect leads to increased absolute Raman scattering cross sections but no change of the relative intensities. In contrast, the chemical effect leads to changes in relative peak height and also to newly emerging bands in the spectrum. These findings will have major implications in any study that concerns the interaction of molecules with metallic nanostructures. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


OPRE 6250 Global Supply Chain Management (2 semester hours) Executive Education Course. This course addresses the design and management of global supply chain including international sourcing, integration of suppliers and distribution channels. Prerequisite: OPRE 62 01 or OPRE 6302 or consent of instructor. (2-0) Y OPRE 6271 Project Overview, Strategic and Process Management (2 semester hours) Introduces the project lifecycle, typical project management processes, leadership and teaming in project management, the relevance of business process analysis, strategic alignment of projects, and financial considerations in project selection. (2-0) R OPRE 6301 (SYSM 6303) Quantitative Introduction to Risk and Uncertainty in Business (3 semester hours) Introduction to statistical and probabilistic methods and theory applicable to situations faced by managers. Topics include: data presentation and summarization, regression analysis, fundamental probability theory and random variables, introductory decision analysis, estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and One Way ANOVA (Some sections of this class may require a laptop computer). (3-0) S OPRE 6302 Operations Management (3 semester hours) Operations Management integrates all of the activities and processes that are necessary to provide products and services. This course overviews methods and models that help managers make better operating decisions over time. How these methods will allow firms to operate both manufacturing and service facilities in order to compete in a global environment will also be discussed. Prerequisite: OPRE 6301 (3-0) S OPRE 6303 Quantitative Foundations of Business (3 semester hours) This course discusses the applications of some basic mathematical concepts necessary for the business environment. Students are introduced to selected topics, including those in college algebra, matrix algebra, calculus, and optimization, and their usage in the context of managerial decision-making. MS Excel is used to illustrate and understand the core concepts. (3-0) S OPRE 6311 Game Theory (3 semester hours) Two person zero-sum and nonzero-sum games; Nash equilibrium; use of LP and Complementarity, N-person games; core, nucleolus, stable sets, etc. Applications to market equilibrium problems. (3-0) R OPRE 6325 (HMGT 6325) Healthcare Operations Management (3 semester hours) Explores how effectively managing and continuously improving the end-to-end heal care supply chain provides a competitive advantage. Topics include supply chain fundamentals, key players in the health care supply chain and their challenges, how the health care supply chain works, impact of technology on supply chain performance, and lean six sigma methodology. Simulations and case studies will reinforce the learning. (3-0) T OPRE 6332 Spreadsheet Modeling and Analytics (3 semester hours) This course explains the concepts of effective spreadsheet design and model building utilizing the electronic spreadsheet as the principal device. The course helps students to take an analytic view and acquire knowledge about specific decision making techniques for business, such as optimization and simulation, building spreadsheet models to identify choices, formalize tradeoffs, specify constraints, perform sensitivity analyses, and analyze the impact of uncertainty. The course also examines the applications in finance, economics, marketing, and operations. (3-0) S OPRE 6335 (SYSM 6304) Risk and Decision Analysis (3 semester hours) This course provides an overview of the main concepts and methods of risk assessment, risk management, and decision analysis. The methods used in industry, such as probabilistic risk assessment, six


Abstract. This paper addresses the large differences that are found between damage estimates of different flood damage models. It explains how implicit assumptions in flood damage functions and maximum damages can have large effects on flood damage estimates. This explanation is then used to quantify the uncertainty in the damage estimates with a Monte Carlo analysis. The Monte Carlo analysis uses a damage function library with 272 functions from seven different flood damage models. The paper shows that the resulting uncertainties in estimated damages are in the order of magnitude of a factor of 2 to 5. The uncertainty is typically larger for flood events with small water depths and for smaller flood events. The implications of the uncertainty in damage estimates for flood risk management are illustrated by a case study in which the economic optimal investment strategy for a dike segment in the Netherlands is determined. The case study shows that the uncertainty in flood damage estimates can lead to significant over- or under-investments.


In this paper, we propose a `Meta-cognitive Radial Basis Function Network (McRBFN)' and its `Projection Based Learning (PBL)' algorithm for classification problems. McRBFN emulates human-like meta-cognitive learning principles. As each sample is presented to the network, McRBFN uses the estimated class label, the maximum hinge error and class-wise significance to address the self-regulating principles of what-to-learn, when-to-learn and how-to-learn in a meta-cognitive framework. McRBFN addresses the what-to-learn by choosing samples to participate in the learning process, also deleting samples with information similar to that already learnt by the network. A few samples that satisfy neither of these criteria are pushed to the rear end of the training data stack to be used in future, thereby satisfying the when-to-learn. The how-to-learn component of meta-cognition is addressed by using the participating samples to either add a neuron or update the output weights. Initially, McRBFN begins with zero hidden neurons and adds required number of neurons to approximate the decision surface. When a neuron is added, its parameters are initialized based on the sample overlapping conditions. The output weights are updated using a PBL algorithm such that the network finds the minimum point of an energy function defined by the hinge-loss error. The use of human meta-cognitive principles ensures efficient learning. Moreover, as samples with similar information are deleted, overtraining is avoided. The PBL algorithm helps to reduce the computational effort used in training. The performance of the PBL-McRBFN classifier is evaluated using a set of benchmark classification problems from the UCI machine learning repository. The performance evaluation study on these problems clearly indicates the superior performance of PBL-McRBFN classifier over results reported in the literature.


In this paper an analytical study is presented of the two-dimensional response of an elastic laminated composite plate to an impact load applied to its surface. The surface load is arbitrarily distributed along the extentof the plate surface and varies sharply in time to model the impact loading. Each layer of the laminated plate is of arbitrary (constant) thickness with specified density and orthotropic material properties, with the material axes coincident with the plate axes. The physical behavior of the plate is exactly represented along the extent of plate in the form of a Fourier series, and its behavior in the thickness direction is modeled by a sufficiently large number of generalized coordinates to capture quantitatively the propagation and dispersion of stress waves due to the surface impact, with emphasis directed to calculating stresses on laminate interfaces. This method of analysis results in a sequence of algebraic eigenvalue problems, the solutions of which are used to decouple the equations of motion into a large number of simple differential equations in time. This procedure is quite straightforward and computationally effective and may be used to study the impact problem for an arbitrarily laminated plate. An isotropic plate with a specified surface impact loading is presented to indicate both the accuracy of the results obtained and the time domain for which they are valid. A two-layer boron-epoxy plate is examined in detail to indicate the quantity and quality of information which may be generated by this method for composite material structures in impact environments. The results for this problem also reveal potentially harmful effects which develop during impact. Sufficient information is presented to permit an experimental verification of the results obtained, for regions of time where the magnitudes of the impact stresses are most critical to material integrity.


Flutter and divergence instabilities are theoretically and experimentally analyzed in elastic structures with internal and external
damping. Despite of the fact that only the former (and not the latter) was believed to be a destabilizing effect, it is theoretically demonstrated
that the external damping plays a role similar to internal damping, so that both yield a pronounced destabilization paradox (in the Ziegler sense).
This finding and other features of the Beck and Pflueger columns are substantiated by an experimental campaign in which the follower forces
are obtained via dry friction with a newly designed experimental apparatus.


A monograph which takes the form of a training manual. It begins with Induction: getting to know each other, finding out what each trainee wants to know and establishing skills levels, expectations, and the usefulness of working in a group. Six independent units follow: Job‐hunting Skills; Options; How to Apply for Jobs; Interview Techniques: Enterprise; and Voluntary Work. These last two emphasise that there are alternatives to employment. Each section first presents the unit \em\ a framework for working sessions with ideas for content and group techniques for delivery. This is supported by Instructor′s Notes for use as handouts and worksheets with the unit; as part of a self‐help manual; or for the guidance of instructors and material for working sessions. The Notes include quizzes, worksheets, assessment forms and examples of CV and application form formats.


In Turkey, forest management plans are produced by terrestrial surveying techniques for 10 or 20 year periods, which can be considered quite long to maintain the sustainability of forests. For a successful forest management plan, it is necessary to collect accurate information about the stand parameters and store them in dynamic and robust databases. The position, number, height and closure of trees are among the most important stand parameters required for a forest management plan. Determining the position of each single tree is challenging in such an area consisting of too many interlocking trees. Hence, in this study, an object-based tree detection methodology has been developed in MATLAB programming language to determine the position of each tree top in a highly closed area. The developed algorithm uses the Canopy Height Model (CHM), which is computed from the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and Digital Surface Model (DSM) generated by using the point cloud extracted from the images taken from a UAS (Unmanned Aerial System). The heights of trees have been determined by using the CHM. The closure of the trees has been determined with the written MATLAB script. The results show that the developed tree detection methodology detected more than 70% of the trees successfully. It can also be concluded that the stand parameters may be determined by using the UAS-based point clouds depending on the characteristics of the study area. In addition, determination of the stand parameters by using point clouds reduces the time needed to produce forest management plans.


A direct methanol fuel cell can convert chemical energy in the form of a liquid fuel into electrical energy to power devices, while simultaneously operating at low temperatures and producing virtually no greenhouse gases. Since the direct methanol fuel cell performance characteristics are inherently nonlinear and complex, it can be postulated that artificial neural networks represent a marked improvement in performance prediction capabilities. Artificial neural networks have long been used as a tool in predictive modeling. In this work, an artificial neural network is employed to predict the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell under various operating conditions. This work on the experimental analysis of a uniquely designed fuel cell and the computational modeling of a unique algorithm has not been found in prior literature outside of the authors and their affiliations. The fuel cell input variables for the performance analysis consist not only of the methanol concentration, fuel cell temperature, and current density, but also the number of cells and anode flow rate. The addition of the two typically unconventional variables allows for a more distinctive model when compared to prior neural network models. The key performance indicator of our neural network model is the cell voltage, which is an average voltage across the stack and ranges from 0 to 0:8V. Experimental studies were carried out using DMFC stacks custom-fabricated, with a membrane electrode assembly consisting of an additional unique liquid barrier layer to minimize water loss through the cathode side to the atmosphere. To determine the best fit of the model to the experimental cell voltage data, the model is trained using two different second order training algorithms: OWO-Newton and Levenberg-Marquardt (LM). The OWO-Newton algorithm has a topology that is slightly different from the topology of the LM algorithm by the employment of bypass weights. It can be concluded that the application of artificial neural networks can rapidly construct a predictive model of the cell voltage for a wide range of operating conditions with an accuracy of 10−3 to 10−4. The results were comparable with existing literature. The added dimensionality of the number of cells provided insight into scalability where the coefficient of the determination of the results for the two multi-cell stacks using LM algorithm were up to 0:9998. The model was also evaluated with empirical data of a single-cell stack.Copyright © 2015 by ASME


Aim Studies investigating the association between HLA-DQB1 alleles and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have reported conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether DQB1 alleles confer susceptibility to RA. Design A comprehensive literature search up to May 2016 was conducted to identify case-control studies on the association of HLA-DQB1 alleles with RA. Pooled ORs with 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of association. Setting The literature indicates that HLA-DQB1 is associated with susceptibility to RA. Main outcome measures Frequencies of HLA-DQB1 alleles and phenotype in RA patients and healthy controls. Results Fifteen studies with 1250 cases and 1621 controls were included in this meta-analysis. DQB1 alleles were associated with RA susceptibility. The frequencies of DQB1*06 were lower in RA (p-value for comparability=0.007, OR 0.726,95% CI 0.576 to 0.916; p=0.004, OR 0.611,95% CI 0.438 to 0.852). The frequencies of DQB1*02 were lower in RA (p=0.044, OR 0.731,95% CI 0.597 to 0.895). A higher frequency of DQB1*04 was observed in RA (p=0.023, OR 1.604,95% CI 1.067 to 2.410). Conclusions This meta-analysis demonstrates that DQB1*02 and DQB1*06 may be negatively associated with RA. Conversely, DQB1*04 may confer susceptibility to RA.


Based on the characteristics of magneto-rheological fluid, a new type of transmission device has been developed in this paper, in which output torque can be controlled accurately by adjusting electric current. It can be applied to replace magnetic particle clutch widely used at present to achieve tension control in some small-sized winders. A structure design of prototype has been proposed. By using the Bingham plastic constitutive model, the output torque of the device has been derived. Electromagnetic finite element analysis has been employed to simulate the magnetic circuit of this magneto-rheological fluid tension control device. It is shown that this magneto-rheological fluid tension control transmission has its significant advantages comparing with traditional magnetic particle clutch. The new one can produce higher controllable torques, and may be applied widely in the future.


: To study the predictive value of silent ischemia, a total of 132 patients with first transmural myocardial infarction were examined, 69 had anterior and 63 had inferior myocardial infarction. On days 8-12 of onset of the disease, all the patients underwent loading two-dimensional echocardiography along with transesophageal pacing, as well as polyposition coronary angiography. According to the echocardiographic findings, 3 groups of patients were identified: 1) 34 (25.8%) with painful ischemia; 2) 37 (28.0%) with silent ischemia; 3) 61 (46.2%) with a negative test. Ischemic alterations were more frequently seen in inferior (73%) than in anterior (36.2%) myocardial infarction. The patients with painful ischemia showed a lower threshold of ischemia occurrence, more severe and prolonged ST segment depression, and greater extent of an asynergic area than did the patients with silent ischemia. A 1-5-year (mean 2.4) follow-up revealed that in terms of the risk for postinfarction angina, recurrent myocardial infarction and fatal outcomes, patients with silent ischemia represent an intermediate group between those with painful ischemia and those who have a negative load test.


In the last five years, New York City has experienced the nation's most dramatic reduction in crime. While the New York Police Department is receiving extensive publicity and praise as the key agent for the sharp decline, many experts downplay the NYPD's role, arguing instead that prevailing social, economic, and demographic conditions are the primary reasons for the unprecedented drop in crime rates. This timely book informs the debate by detailing how innovative strategies adopted in 1994 by then-police commissioner William Bratton had the immediate and sustained effect of lowering incidents of crime in every city precinct. Eli B. Silverman begins his study with a historical review of the evolution of police reform movements in New York City, showing that the achievements and failures of earlier external and internal initiatives formed the foundation for today's re-engineered NYPD. Drawing on privileged access to police documents and meetings, he then examines how the dynamic interaction of specific strategic, organizational, and managerial changes redefined the approach to policing, transforming the department from a reactive to a proactive force. In particular, Silverman focuses on Compstat, a sophisticated computer program that compiles crime statistics, as the crucial mechanism for linking the development of new policies with effective tactics to control crime. The up-to-date and accurate information provided by Compstat drives twice-weekly crime strategy meetings that ensure essential planning, coordination, evaluation, and accountability. NYPD Battles Crime is a fascinating story of organizational change, innovation, and continuity.


In this article, the author demonstrates how a broader view of what shapes affinity is ideologically and practically linked to creating democratic learning communities. Specifically, the author explores how a teacher employed complex instruction (an equity pedagogy) with her ethnically and racially diverse students in the "lowest track" Algebra I course. Sociometric network analyses used to model peer relationships revealed an affinity among three students that could not be explained by shared attributes or history (e.g., race or gender). Through field note analyses, the author argues these students' affinity was forged through shared mathematical activity--what she terms a workship. This workship reflected equitable relationships born of diverse youth learning to work together by working together. The author discusses implications of the workship for teachers and researchers, as well as the constraints that stratified mathematics programs can place on classroom-based efforts to advance equity.


In the Spring of 1978, the State Organization for Antiquities and Heritage excavated a small shrine, called by the excavators Shrine XII, for its layout and plan are similar to eleven shrines uncovered, at different times, at Hatra since 1951. The shrine, situated to the south of the Great Temple, is oriented towards the east, like most of the temples and shrines at Hatra. It consisted (Fig. 1) of a broad sacred room flanked by votive rooms, and a cella. The layout of the shrine resembles that of Shrine VI and the second building phase of Shrine VIII. The main entrance is approached by six limestone steps, and a second entrance is through the southern room. This shrine is roofed by three parallel vaults and two arches supported by two pillar-like buttresses, on one side, and by the eastern wall of the broad room on the other. The floors of the shrine are paved with greenish-coloured marble slabs, and there is a small round basin in the middle of the broad room. In front of the shrine is a spacious courtyard, from which the roof of the shrine is approached by a staircase which is built on the outside in the north-eastern corner.


The ball screw drive system is obtained widespread application in the modern machine. Along with the improving of feeding velocity and working precision, its dynamic analysis becomes more and more important. Considering the bearing stiffness and the contact deformation between the worktable and the screw, the drive screw is seen as a bar under elastic supports at both ends and with an internal moving elastic support. Using boundary conditions and matching conditions, the longitudinal vibration frequency equation of the screw is derived and the mode shape of the screw is solved. The vibration frequency is analyzed when the worktable moves from the left to the right end of the screw. The effect of the system parameters on the natural frequency and the mode shape are studied to supply a base for designing the drive system.


We consider the problem of designing signal constellations for the multiple transmit-multiple receive antenna Rayleigh-fading communication channel, when neither the transmitter nor the receiver know the fading. In particular, by employing the asymptotic union bound (AUB) on the probability of error, we give a new formulation of the problem of signal design for the noncoherent fading channel. Since unitary signals are optimal for this channel (in the limit of large signal-to-noise ratios SNRs), the problem can be posed in terms of packings on the Grassmanian manifold. A key difference in our approach from that of other authors is that we use a notion of distance on this manifold that is suggested by the union bound. As a consequence of our use of this distance measure, we obtain signal designs that are guaranteed to achieve the full diversity order of the channel, a result that does not hold when the chordal distance is used. We introduce a new method of recursively designing signals, termed successive updates, to approximately optimize this performance measure. We then examine the use of our signals with several convolutional codes over the fading channel. An upper bound on the bit error probability of the maximum-likelihood decoder is presented together with an asymptotic analysis of that bound.


� Abstract—For higher order multiplications, a huge number of adders or compressors are to be used to perform the partial product addition. We have reduced the number of adders by introducing special kind of adders that are capable to add five/six/seven bits per decade. These adders are called compressors. Binary counter property has been merged with the compressor property to develop high order compressors. Uses of these compressors permit the reduction of the vertical critical paths. A 16×16 bit multiplier has been developed using these compressors. These compressors make the multipliers faster as compared to the conventional design that have been used 4-2 compressors and 3-2 compressors. Keywords—Binary multiplier, Compressors, Counter, Column adder, Low power.


Abstract The effects of the snowdrop lectin, Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), delivered through an artificial diet, on growth, development, and life history parameters of the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), were evaluated in the laboratory. Incorporation of GNA at three treatment levels, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% of total dietary protein, in the larval diet significantly decreased larval survivorship and percentage of adults emerging relative to a control diet lacking GNA, whereas differences were not observed among the three treatment levels. Both larvae and pupae in the control were 8–25% larger than those in the GNA treatments, but differences were not observed between larvae in the GNA treatments. Furthermore, presence of GNA did not affect larval and pupal developmental periods, longevities, and fecundities compared with the control. Mexican rice borer life history parameters, such as net reproductive rate and intrinsic rate of increase, were substantially reduced by the presence of GNA in the diet, but differences were not evident among the three GNA treatment levels.


A optimization method of human-body ADL(activity of daily living) real-time monitoring system design method based on wireless sensor network is proposed, which is able to detect elderly people body posture and biological signal at rehabilitation centers and nursing homes and doctor or their family can know patients' body state through mobile phone or PC. The number of nodes in each base station increase can cause network congestion. A optimization data transmission algorithm based on Bayesian network is presented, and sensors under the Bayesian network distribution model and algorithm are built. Finally, experiments results indicate that system's real-time performance is improved and parameters of Bayesian network training method is effective.


The elemental and isotopic compositions of meteorites are expected to reflect several key processes that occurred in the early solar system, including the migration of gas and dust throughout the protoplanetary disk, the formation of chondrules, and the accretion of the first planetary bodies. However, the specific origins of the various compositions measured among these rocks are currently poorly constrained, limiting our understanding of these processes. Here, we use previously measured elemental and isotopic compositions of chondrites and iron meteorites to identify that carbonaceous (CC) meteorites are mixtures of noncarbonaceous (NC) material, calcium–aluminum-rich inclusion (CAI) material, and CI (Ivuna-like) material, in varying proportions. These trends indicate that chondrules in CO (Ornans-like), CM (Mighei-like), CV (Vigarano-like), and TL (Tagish Lake) chondrites share near-identical average proportions of CI material, arguing that they were generated through the remelting of preexisting NC chondrules all in the same disk environment. Because this proportion likely evolved over space and time throughout the disk, this similarity argues that these chondrules originate from a restricted spatial region and time interval, favoring their generation through a localized event. Moreover, the compositions of CR (Renazzo-like) chondrites indicate that their constituents formed through mechanisms different from those in CO, CM, CV, and TL chondrites. The recovered proportions of CI material in CC iron meteorites and chondrites together also argue for evolution in either the predominant direction of dust and gas motion in the first ∼10 au of the disk or the radial distance of planetesimal accretion throughout the CC reservoir.


»Staat – Stadt – Bürger. Rationale Gebietsreform gegen emotionalen Bürgerwillen in Westdeutschland?«. The 1960s and early 1970s were characterized by planning optimism and major reforms associated with notions of efficiency on the one hand, and a change in political culture on the other. When government bodies in the Federal Republic of Germany initiated in a top-down way a comprehensive territorial reform and intervened into the everyday life of many people this provoked resistance from citizens. Using the example of the municipal territorial reform as carried out in the Federal Republic, the article addresses tensions as well as a governance processes between the representatives of the state, the municipalities and citizens alongside with a fundamental change in political culture during the 1960s and 1970s. The article shows how the local municipalities reacted to territorial and functional reforms elaborated by the federal and state governments and the ministerial bureaucracy of West Germany with a special focus on North Rhine-Westphalia. It sheds light not only on new players in the political arena, municipalities and local citizens' initiatives that were increasingly trying to take an active role in decision-making, but also a general change in political culture. Claims for political and social participation and political transparency, a "vital civic spirit" which opposed state planning optimist approaches ‒ demands that those responsible for the reform had to react on. The article examines the redefinitions of the relationship between state and municipality, and citizens in the course of reform processes and related political debates, and analyses how far decisions-making


The brown‐headed cowbird is an obligate brood parasite known to exploit a large number of host species and use a variety of habitats. Much attention has been directed towards uncovering the fundamental factors that affect cowbird abundance; however, no study has evaluated these factors in the context of a biogeographic‐scale analysis that takes into account spatial autocorrelation. Our primary objective was to compare the relative influence of geography, land cover and host species on the local abundance of cowbirds.


There are many non-mutually exclusive mechanisms for exotic invasions but few studies have concurrently tested more than one hypothesis for the same species. Here, we tested the evolution of increased competitive ability (EICA) hypothesis in two common garden experiments in which Chromolaena odorata plants originating from native and nonnative ranges were grown in competition with natives from each range, and the novel weapons hypothesis in laboratory experiments with leachates from C. odorata. Compared with conspecifics originating from the native range, C. odorata plants from the nonnative range were stronger competitors at high nutrient concentrations in the nonnative range in China and experienced far more herbivore damage in the native range in Mexico. In both China and Mexico, C. odorata was more suppressed by species native to Mexico than by species native to China. Species native to China were much more inhibited by leaf extracts from C. odorata than species from Mexico, and this difference in allelopathic effects may provide a possible explanation for the biogeographic differences in competitive ability. Our results indicate that EICA, innate competitive advantages, and novel biochemical weapons may act in concert to promote invasion by C. odorata, and emphasize the importance of exploring multiple, non-mutually exclusive mechanisms for invasions.


Statistical parametric speech synthesis (SPSS) using deep neural networks (DNNs) has shown its potential to produce naturally-sounding synthesized speech. However, there are limitations in the current implementation of DNN-based acoustic modeling for speech synthesis, such as the unimodal nature of its objective function and its lack of ability to predict variances. To address these limitations, this paper investigates the use of a mixture density output layer. It can estimate full probability density functions over real-valued output features conditioned on the corresponding input features. Experimental results in objective and subjective evaluations show that the use of the mixture density output layer improves the prediction accuracy of acoustic features and the naturalness of the synthesized speech.


The anharmonic behaviour of the long wavelength acoustic modes in In-Tl alloys in the vicinity of the elastic, f. c. c. to f. c. t. phase transition has been determined from the composition, temperature, hydrostatic and uniaxial pressure dependences of ultrasound wave velocities in single crystals containing between 10 at. % and 30 at. %TI. The hydrostatic pressure derivatives show that the soft acoustic mode of f. c. c. alloys softens while that of the f. c. t. alloys stiffens with pressure. An empirical equation of state has been constructed for the f. c. c. alloys. A large negative mode Grüneisen parameter found for the soft transverse acoustic phonon (wave vector <110>, polarization <11̄0>) for f. c. c. alloys near the transition reflects the marked vibrational anharmonicity of the soft mode. The pressure effects on ultrasound wave velocity have been used to determine sets of independent, room temperature third order elastic constants for several alloy compositions. The third order invariants in the elastic strain energy have been evaluated to assess quantitatively the applicability of Landau theory, in conjunction with the soft mode concept, to an elastic phase transition. The relative magnitudes of the third order invariants conform to the nearly second order character of the phase transition. However, the first order character has been established by a marked hysteresis in ultrasonic wave velocities as crystals are cycled by temperature or pressure through the transition. There is a third order invariant in the order parameter: Landau theory predicts correctly the first order nature of the transition.


A 6-year-old Simmental cow infected with Theileria buffeli had a clinical disease characterized by theilerial parasitemia, macrocytic normochromic anemia with acanthocytosis and spherocytosis, lymphoid hyperplasia (lymphocytosis, edematous lymphadenomegaly), dysproteinemia, evidence of liver disease, and a low serum antibody titer against T. buffeli. The cow was in a herd in which all cattle originated in Missouri; 22/75 (29%) of cattle had a theilerial parasitemia and 26/75 (35%) had titers to T. buffeli of ≥1:160. Classification of the Missouri bovine organism as T. buffeli was based on DNA sequencing and comparison to sequences for T. buffeli and Theileria sp. type A obtained from GenBank. Intraerythrocytic veils and piroplasms were seen during transmission electron microscopy. The organism was successfully transmitted to two splenectomized calves, which developed mild anemias while parasitemic. Blood from the second calf was used as the source of T. buffeli antigen for an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Theilerial isolates from a Missouri white-tailed deer were also sequenced and resembled Theileria sp. types F and G and were not consistent with the bovine organism.


This qualitative case study explored the information literacy acquisition of 23 students enrolled in a learning community consisting of an advanced ESL writing class and a one unit class introducing students to research at a suburban community college library in California. As there are no other known learning communities that link an ESL course to a library course, this site afforded a unique opportunity to understand the ways in which ESL students learn to conduct library research. Students encountered difficulties while finding, evaluating, and using information for their ESL assignments. These problems were substantial, but more noteworthy were the strategies that the students, their ESL instructor and their instructional librarian crafted in response.The learning community structure enabled a number of important strategies. Strategies by the instructors included integration of the two courses' curricula; contextualized learning activities; cross-over teaching by the instructors; explicit instruction followed by guided workshop sessions. Some student strategies were persistence in asking questions, dictionary use, re-reading, and a resourceful disposition. Joint strategies included dialogue to clarify research strategies and to understand difficult text, student-crafted research techniques that were observed by instructors and shared with class; and an affirmation of the students' emerging research practices.This study adds to our understanding of one particular area of academic discourse acquisition in a second language--how ESL students learn to interact with information in the context of community college. This study's findings refute the idea that ESL students must wait to become researchers until their English is college-ready. ESL students in this study discovered new language forms, new texts, new ideas, and new research practices simultaneously, in large part because of the relationships that developed over time among the students, instructor and librarian.


This article reports and illustrates challenges encountered by those who were born and raised in an insular Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and opted to transition to the modern world. Based on content analysis of the narratives shared by means of in-depth interviews with 19 men and women from the NY metropolitan area, social, intellectual, legal, logistic, and financial challenges were identified. Reported strategies for coping with these challenges included reaching compromises and reasoning, relocating to a different geographical area, often to states with a small Jewish population, pretending, developing a "thick skin," catching up and reinventing. These findings are discussed using a stress and copying conceptual framework. Implications for practice and directions for future research are suggested.


Stellation forms complex polyhedra from more basic polyhedra. The best way to study and appreciate these beautiful forms is to examine a three-dimensional model. I will discuss the geometry of the models that can be made from the pages of my new book, Cut and Assemble Icosahedra: Twelve Models in White and Color [1]. The models in this book are designed to allow one to construct complex polyhedra using the fewest steps possible. They allow both the mathematician and the lay reader to study the structure of these polyhedra in three dimensions. Figure 1: The Twelve Models from Cut and Assemble Icosahedra


This article argues that a political reading of mobility is instrumental for understanding the role of democracy within globalised structures of power. Relegated to a socio-economic background that prompts new engagements with democracy, mobility has been neglected as a condition of possibility and as a form of political democratic practice. Drawing on Georg Simmel's sociology of money, we show that practices of mobility become democratic moments in relation to structures of power that are constituted across the territorial circumscription of national states. Understood as a particular form of sociality, mobility can work upon structures of power through universal rights and the politics of the `mob'. In this sense, practices of mobility are also democratic inscriptions of equality.


In recent years, major changes have occurred in Italian working conditions and employment patterns due to several concurrent factors: increasing occupation in the tertiary sector, implementation of new technologies, labour market globalization, higher variability of working time arrangements, decrease of traditional physical-chemical risks, ageing of general/working population, access to work of people with disabilities, growing immigration of extra-community workers. Thus, psychosocial risk factors are becoming crucial issues of the present work organization, dealing with job content (complexity, meaning, uncertainties), mental work load, time pressure, variable working hours; career perspectives, role conflicts and ambiguity, education and training, personal relations, social support, work/family conflicts; age and cultural discrimination. The Occupational Health Physician has to deal with these multidimensional and multifaceted aspects of work stress by different and concurrent approaches, at both group and individual levels, with epidemiological and clinical perspectives, enacting preventive and therapeutic strategies. Both "external" work load and individual "responses" have to be properly considered and risk has to be assessed with "relative" rather than "absolute" criteria, addressed not only at fitness to work, but also to corrective actions. Hence, the OHP has to act in closer collaboration with work psychologists, sociologists, human resources managers and work organisation experts.


Papersp 1191

The trial of the Parkinson's Disease Research Group reported by Ben-Shlomo et al in this issue (p 1191), which updates the results of a previously curtailed randomised controlled trial,1 raises several methodological issues. The current results relate to an initial three arm trial in which 782 patients with early stage Parkinson's disease were randomised to treatment with either levodopa alone (arm 1), levodopa and selegiline in combination (arm 2), or bromocriptine (arm 3). The first trial report, based on follow up to December 1991, showed no significant differences at the 5% level between arms 1 and 2 in disability levels, but both arms showed significant improvements over baseline.2 At this stage there were too few deaths to assess differences in mortality. The second report was based on follow up to December 1993, resulting in an average 5.6 years follow up.3 As with the earlier report, there continued to be no significant differences between arms 1 and 2 in terms of disability levels. However, based on 44 deaths in 249 patients in arm 1 and 76 in 271 patients in arm 2, a significant difference in all cause mortality was …


We consider the question: is every compact set in a Banach space X contained in the closed unit range of a compact (or even approximable) operator on X? We give large classes of spaces where the question has an affirmative answer, but observe that it has a negative answer, in general, for approximable operators. We further construct a Banach space failing the bounded compact approximation property, though all of its duals have the metric compact approximation property.


Aims: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of new rabbit monoclonal antibody SP3 with those of mouse monoclonal and rabbit polyclonal antibodies using HER2 amplification defined by chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH) as the gold standard. Methods: Serial sections from tissue microarrays (TMAs) containing 84 breast carcinomas were submitted to CISH (Zymed HER2 Spot-Light kit) and immunohistochemistry, using NeoMarkers SP3 (rabbit monoclonal), DAKO A0485 and DAKO HercepTest (polyclonal), Novocastra NCL-CB11, Cell Marque CM-CB11, and Genentech 4D5 (mouse monoclonal). Results: The best antibody concordance was between SP3 and HercepTest (κ = 0.74). SP3, A0485 and HercepTest detected all HER2 amplified tumours, but were less specific than mouse monoclonal antibodies. 3/38 (7.9%) and 8/38 (21.0%) non-amplified tumours were scored as 3+ using SP3 and A0485, respectively. 3/46 (6.5%) amplified tumours were negative for NCL-CB11. SP3, HercepTest and A0485 showed no gene amplification on 55%, 62.5% and 92.3% of the 2+ scored tumours, but most of the 2+ scored tumours using monoclonal antibodies were amplified by CISH (80–92.3%). Conclusions: SP3 is more sensitive than mouse monoclonal antibodies for Her2 assessment. However, HercepTest, CB11 and 4D5 show higher specificity than SP3 for the identification of HER2 gene amplification. Mouse monoclonal antibodies show less Her2 2+ tumours; most are amplified by CISH.


The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of background music in a retail setting on Generation Y students' shopping behaviors by using the Mehrabian-Russell environmental psychology model. the study examined the impact of genre, volume, and song familiarity on purchase intention, as well as whether these musical factors would produce a change in mood. the influence of involvement with shopping on in-store music was also examined. a total of 251 students completed pre- and post-shopping surveys at the University of North Texas' Follett Bookstore. Participants were all between 18 and 35 years of age (Generation Y). the surveys aimed to capture the participants' entry and exit mood as well as information such as level of shopping involvement and intentions, musical awareness, overall shopping experience, and basic demographics. a positive mood change was found between entry and exit among those who were somewhat familiar and not at all familiar with the music, and entry mood affected overall shopping experience. There was a positive correlation between exit mood and the overall experience, and a negative correlation between exit mood and the amount of money spent.


BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is characterized immunologically by an imbalanced T-cell response. Mechanisms of immune regulation in cAD have not yet been completely elucidated.

OBJECTIVES
To investigate peripheral blood T regulatory (Treg) cells and their associated cytokines (TGF-β and IL-10) in an experimental model of cAD.

ANIMALS
Eight beagle dogs that were initially naïve and subsequently sensitized to house dust mites (HDM).

METHODS AND MATERIALS
T regulatory cell phenotyping was performed by flow-cytometric analysis on peripheral blood; serum cytokine levels were measured by ELISA, before sensitization and after challenge with HDM allergens. Additionally, clinical scores and allergen-specific IgE were determined.

RESULTS
After challenge of sensitized dogs to HDM allergen, a significant increase of Treg cells and simultaneous decrease in the serum TGF-β were observed. However, in most dogs, serum IL-10 values were below the detection limit. Treg cell proportions before sensitization were significantly negatively correlated with the HDM-specific IgE levels and clinical scores after induction of AD signs.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
The results confirm that Treg responses are involved in the pathogenesis of an experimental model cAD. Further investigations are required to clarify the precise immune modulating function of canine Treg cells and their interplay with other immune cell types.


In present day, power has become the fundamental need for human life. The availability and its conjunction is regarded as the index of national standard of living in the present day of civilization. Energy is an important input in all sectors of any countries economy. The objective of this project is to design a setup that leads to generating electricity .the energy which is going waste when human climb the stairs. This human energy is utilized and converted into electrical energy. This generated energy is cost effective and nonhazardous for human. Power can be generated through stepping on the stairs, the generated power will be stored and can be used for domestic purpose. To obtain the above purpose, The experimental setup is designed which contains the structure, dome, rack, spur gear, bearings, flywheel, shaft, springs, chain drive and dynamo. The working principle is based on law of energy i.e mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy. When force is applied on footstep rack and spring get compressed therefore the pinion is rotated. This rotates the chain drive arrangement. The flywheel is coupled with chain drive to regulate the fluctuation and finally the dynamo is connected with the shaft. Thus reciprocating energy is converted into rotating energy and mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy. The energy generated is risk free and pollution free. The way of energy generation is eco friendly and nonhazardous to human. The output of energy increases as weight increases. The weight range is from 10 to 15kg. The LED bulb blows is of 9 watt and the rang of voltage obtained is from 8 to 35 v as per the changes in weight. The electricity is produced in low budget when mass production and installation is done. The required area is low, no obstructions in traffic, easy maintenance and construction.


BACKGROUND
In 2009, the Victorian Parliament Legislative Assembly of Australia commissioned a Parliamentary Inquiry into the opportunities for schools to become a focus for promoting healthy community living. Submissions to the Inquiry varied widely in their positions about school health promotion. The aim of this review is to analyze the submissions to identify core themes in the debates about school health promotion and how stakeholders saw schools becoming a focus for promoting healthy communities.

METHODS
Submissions (N = 159) were downloaded from the Inquiry website. Open coding was used to code the data. The codes were then refined into conceptual categories to create themes. The Inquiry's terms of reference were used as an organizing framework.

RESULTS
Emergent themes included barriers and enablers to school health promotion including the need for stronger leadership from the Departments of Health (DoH) and Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD).

CONCLUSION
Rather than supporting the idea that schools could have a wider role in communities, submissions pointed to the acute need for increased resource allocation to support health promotion in schools, and for coordinated approaches with stronger leadership from the health and education sectors. Without these structures, schools can only address health in an ad hoc manner with limited resources, capacity, and outcomes.


Hospitality industry has seen an expansion especially in the small accommodation business sectors recently. We augment the extant attempts to provide meaningful system for the promotion of entrepreneurial culture in an organisation to stimulate performance. Empirically, testing the validity closeness of association between entrepreneurial orientation dimensions (innovation, proactiveness, risk competitive aggressiveness and autonomy) and its relationship with business performance was done. A total of 170 respondents, randomly sampled from small hotels filled pre-designed questionnaire. Data integrity checks were conducted after which a fitted logistic regression was used to evaluate the hypothesis. Results confirm the extant literature that innovation positively correlates with business performance in the same way as proactivity is emphatically connected with business performance. Risk is absolutely associated with business performance while competitive aggressiveness and autonomy is positively associated with business performance. The implications for the hotel sector in Ghana are presented in appropriate sections of the study. Keywords : Entrepreneurship, Orientation, Performance, Small Hotel Industry


Background : In Nigeria and almost all countries in Africa, the use of herbal medicines and herbal products had received general recognition by the people owing to their affordable prices as well historical believes associated with the efficacy of these herbs as compared to conventional drugs in the management and treatment of diseases. Objectives : This study was carried in order to evaluate sperm and haematological parameters boosting potential of leaf methanol extract of Breynia nivosa in male Swiss albino rats. Materials and Methods : Methanol leaf extract of the plant was administered to thirty male Swiss albino rats grouped into six groups of six rats per group orally for four weeks. The rats in group I served as negative control (administered with 10 mL normal saline), group II served as positive control (administered with a standard drug Spermovite 50 mg/kg), while groups III-VI were given 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg body weight (b.w) of leaf extract respectively. Effect of the leaf extract on sexual organ's weight and blood parameters were determined as well as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) serum levels, and semen characteristics. Results : Oral administration of methanol extract at doses of 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg increased the body and sexual organ weights. There was significant increase in serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in the treated groups (III-VI) compared to the control groups(I-II) at p≤0.05. The haematological parameters increased in dose-dependent fashion especially the white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC) and lymphocytes in the experimentally studied rats. Conclusions : Our study showed that B. nivosa crude leaf extract boosts quality of sperm production as well as increases blood parameters in albino rats. Thus, the plant can be useful in the management of male infertility and sexual disorders. Keywords : Breynia nivosa , Sperm boosting, Haematological parameters, Male albino rats


A feeding trial was conducted near Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, to demonstrate fry to fingerling growth of pacu using the ASA 80:20 pond production model and ASA soymeal-based feeds. Juvenile fish were stocked in three, 4.0-mu (0.27-ha) ponds at a density of 7,000 pacu and 1,000 silver carp per mu (105,000 pacu and 15,000 silver carp per hectare). Pacu grew from 1.6 g to an average weight of 22 g per fish in 59 days of feeding, with an average FCR of 0.50:1.


This paper contributes to the IS misfits and workarounds literature by demonstrating how "work system–technology" misfits and workarounds can be mutually related. In the context of electronic health record (EHR) systems, this study examines when misfits experienced between an EHR system and health professionals' work practices lead to workarounds with negative consequences in terms of aggravating misfits. Our qualitative study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals in The Netherlands that had implemented an off‐the‐shelf EHR system. We analysed the "misfit experience → response → consequence" sequences that emerged from interviews complemented with observations and documents. Experienced misfits between the EHR and other work system components induced highly varied responses, among which workarounds. While workarounds can be beneficial, we found occasions where workarounds resulted in aggravated misfits. We conceptualise three underlying misfit‐aggravating EHR‐use patterns emerging from (1) a non‐routine practice's perceived exceptionality, (2) collective separatism in incompatible routine practices, and (3) individual deviancy in routine work practices. These patterns differ in terms of the work practices' routineness, professionals' misfit experiences, and in how this combination provokes an individual or collective workaround that is non‐compliant with both the designed technology use and the organisational intent. To understand how these patterns emerge, we discuss the interplay among work practice routineness, misfit characteristics, and non‐compliant workaround behaviours.


Background: Over the last few decades the average age of women at childbearing has risen owing to the increasing numbers of couples beginning their families later in life. This increase in the numbers of older mothers or women who 'delay' pregnancy has recently been highlighted as a cause for concern by those in the medical profession who warn that fertility declines with advancing maternal age whilst health risks to mother and baby increase, particularly once the woman reaches age 35. Older mothers or 'elderly primiparae' are generally medically defined as women who fall pregnant for the first time over the age of 34 (Mosby, 2006).
The present study sits within a wider PhD project, which argues that this concept of the 'older mother' is socially constructed – a product of our history and culture.

Method: For the present study, twenty-nine articles from six British newspapers were analysed using a social constructionist thematic analysis.

Results: As a result of the analysis, four contemporary discourses surrounding the 'older mother' were identified.

Discussion: According to Day et al (2004) an analysis of the media is said to provide researchers with an excellent opportunity to study the prevailing and common sense assumptions about the world which it reflects. Therefore, this analysis, through looking at the language used in the newspapers to discuss older mothers, provides an opportunity to observe and deconstruct some of the hegemonic ideas surrounding what it means to be an older mother today.

Conclusion: The findings of this preliminary study contribute to the wider project by pinpointing some of the components which add to the social construction of the older mother and, in doing so, reveals the complexity of the issues surrounding delayed motherhood.


Objective: Impulsivity, observed in patients with various psychiatric disorders, is a heterogeneous construct with different behavioral manifestations. Through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), this study tests hypotheses about relationships between dimensions of impulsivity measured using personality questionnaires and behavioral tests. Method: The study included 200 healthy people, 40 patients with borderline personality disorder, and 26 patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who underwent a comprehensive impulsivity test battery including the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, a Go-NoGo task, a stop-signal task, and a delay discounting task. Results: A CFA model comprising three self-reported and three behavioral latent variables reached a good fit. Both patient groups scored higher in the self-reported dimensions and impulsive choice; only the ADHD patients displayed impaired waiting and stopping impulsivity. Conclusions: Using the developed CFA model, it is possible to describe relations between impulsivity dimensions and show different impulsivity patterns in patient populations.


OBJECTIVE
Researchers have demonstrated the prediction of academic functioning by children's prosocial behavior (PB). The goal of our study was to examine the contribution of adolescents' PB for middle and senior high school grades after controlling for stability of achievement and for intelligence, Big Five traits, and sociodemographic variables (i.e., sex and socioeconomic status).

METHOD
Study 1 examined on 165 adolescents (48.5% boys) the prediction by peer-reported PB in 7th grade of academic achievement at the end of junior high school, after controlling for the above variables. Study 2 examined the prediction by 927 (52% girls) 8th graders' PB of academic achievement 5 years later, at the end of senior high school, taking into account the stability of grades, personality traits, and socio-structural variables.

RESULTS
Overall, hierarchical regression analysis indicated in both studies PB and Openness significantly predicted better grades in the short term and over time despite the high stability of grades across 5 years. Extraversion negatively predicted academic achievement across 1 year in junior high school.

CONCLUSION
Findings supported the view of PB as a strength and a key resource for adolescents' academic attainment.


Copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) are essential trace minerals for the reproduction, growth, and immunity of mammalian herbivore populations. We examined the relationships between Cu, Fe, and Zn in soils, common plants, and hepatic stores of two wild herbivores to assess the effects of weather, sex, and population density on the transfer of trace minerals from soils to mammals during the growing season. Soils, grasses, woody browse, hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were sampled across 19 sites. Concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Zn in grasses and browse species were not correlated with concentrations of those minerals in soils sampled from the same areas. Leaves of woody browse were higher in Cu, lower in Fe, and similar in Zn when compared with grasses. Available concentrations of soils were positively related to liver Cu and Zn in hispid cotton rats, which was consistent with the short lives and high productivity of these small mammals that rely on grass seed heads. Interactions between soil concentrations and weather also affected liver Cu and Fe in deer, which reflected the greater complexity of trophic transfers in large, long-lived, browsing herbivores. Population density was correlated with liver concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Zn in hispid cotton rats, and concentrations of Cu and Fe in deer. Liver Cu was < 5 mg/kg wet weight in at least 5% of animals at two of eight sites for hispid cotton rats and < 3.8 mg/kg wet weight in at least 5% of animals at three of 12 sites for deer, which could indicate regional limitation of Cu for populations of mammalian herbivores. Our data indicate that supplies of trace minerals may contribute to density dependence of herbivore populations. Local population density may therefore influence the prevalence of deficiency states and disease outbreak that exacerbate population cycles in wild mammals.


: Construction and demolition waste is produced every day around the world posing a great disposal problem. Thus, the idea of using wastes in different forms appears to be an effective approach to waste disposal. The various materials that can be reclaimed from construction and demolition waste include recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), crushed brick (CB), reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), waste excavation rock (WR), fine recycled glass (FRG). The assessment of the recycled concrete aggregates is identified by performing various tests, which indicate physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the materials. The physical properties test results indicated that the recycled aggregates showed good performance in comparison with the natural ones. The results of the test assessing mechanical performance of concrete with recycled aggregates also indicated better performance when required measures are taken, such as (i) The aggregates to be used are obtained from recycled materials the sizes of the fine aggregates can be controlled as per the requirement during demolition process and by sieving. (ii) The water absorption capacity of the recycled fine aggregates is higher than the natural fine aggregates and this water absorption capacity can be reduced by wetting and drying the aggregates. (iii) The performance of recycled coarse aggregates can be enhanced by removal and separation of the old hardened mortar which adhered to the aggregates obtained post-demolition. (iv) The performance can also be enhanced by the usage of suitable commercially-available plasticiser to reduce the higher water absorption ratio of the recycled aggregates to attain the required strength.


The objective of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of chest radiography in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) in a contemporary cohort of consecutive patients presenting with acute dyspnoea to the emergency department.

Among 452 BASEL (B-type natriuretic peptide for acute shortness of breath evaluation) study patients,1 202 were eligible for the present analysis. We included only patients who had a chest radiograph recorded in the emergency department before or immediately after intravenous loop diuretics or vasodilators were given and when the film was read by the radiologist in charge of the emergency department. We excluded patients who presented to the emergency department with an external chest radiograph already recorded, patients who did not have chest radiography in the emergency department, and patients with no formal radiological reading available. Overall, baseline characteristics were similar in the 202 patients in the current study and the original BASEL study cohort.

The radiologist in charge of the emergency department evaluated chest radiographs obtained in the emergency department as part of the regular routine. At the time of the reading, the radiologist was unaware that this reading would be specifically analysed with regard to CHF. On the basis of the official reading of the radiograph, the presence of predefined findings was …


Purpose: This study's aim is to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and to evaluate the result of those tumors. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 22 patients who had been diagnosed with primary colorectal GISTs and who had undergone a surgical resection between October 1996 and July 2008. Results: Colorectal GISTs accounted for 0.28% of all colorectal malignancies and 7.7% of all GISTs. Rectal GISTs (19, 86.4%) were more common than colonic GISTs (3, 13.6%). According to the National Institute of Health's (NIH) grading system, there were 1 (4.5%) very low, 5 (22.7%) low, 4 (18.2%) intermediate, and 12 (54.6%) high-risk tumors. The disease recurred in 7 patients (1 with intermediate risk and 6 with high risk). Recurrence sites were the liver (42.9%), the peritoneum (71.5%), and the lymph nodes (14.3%). Adjuvant imatinib therapy and/or radiation therapy were done for patients with microscopically positive margins of resection and high risk, of which one experienced a recurrence at 95 months after surgery. The five-year recurrence rates were 0% in the very-low-grade and low-grade groups, 33.3% in the intermediate-grade group, and 37.5% in the high-grade group. The five-year overall survival rates were 100% in the very-low-grade and low-grade groups, 66.7% in the intermediate-grade group, and 62.5% in the high-grade group. Conclusion: Poor prognosis of colorectal GISTs was closely related to the tumor's histologic grade and size. Integrating surgery, molecular therapy, and radiation therapy might improve outcomes, but further study with more cases is needed.


The impact of R&D to service business is increasing rapidly by the movement to service economies. The shift to focus on the services businesses, which is happening in manufacturing industries, affects their internal business processes, which include research organizations. In this paper, we study service research activities in a manufacturing enterprise, focusing on the advanced service research initiative, which was initiated as On Demand Innovation Services (ODIS) in 2003, as an exploratory research experiment in IBM. We propose services research model for value co-creation based on the ODIS experiment. We found that new knowledge is created through services activities, which are not created in a laboratory, traditional research activities. In addition, these are keys to the successful service projects. We focused on specific knowledge created during services research model for value co-creation, however, there are another kinds of knowledge also created. To understand and form the research base of service businesses and innovations, we should explore more on service innovation projects and understand critical factors, such as new knowledge created in a project, how they are created, and how the knowledge make the service research base more fruitful.


The Strategy of the Genes. A Discussion of Some Aspects of Theoretical Biology. By C. H. Waddington, Sc.D., F.R.S. Appendix by H. Kacser, Ph.D. (Pp. 262+ix; illustrated. 28s.) London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd. 1957. Within the lifetime of a middle-aged man the word "' genetics " has been invented, and the subject has passed from the simple steps of early Mendelism into the limelight of modern biology. Professor Waddington (who himself has contributed much to this transformation of genetics) has produced a book which is the quintessence of modem biology; for it deals with classical problems about living things (How do organisms adapt themselves to the environment ? How does the environment influence the evolution of organisms ?) in the new way. These are problems which naturalists have studied for centuries. The old way to study them was to consider primarily the end-products of development. The new way is to consider primarily the process of development itself and the biochemical processes which initiate development. Genes are the templates on which organic development begins. Their strategy is to produce a single coherent organism, and not a jumble of unintegrated processes. It is one of the great miracles of biology that the assortment of hereditary units which a man inherits from his parents do co-operate to produce a man and not a monster. Professor Waddington's book describes how this miracle may happen. It is not easy reading for the amateur; some of it is not easy even for the professional. But it is well worth the effort to read, and Dr. Kacser's appendix on the physical chemistry of gene action is a significant and important contribution to our understanding of the quantitative aspects of gene strategy. E. AsHBY.


Pentastomida are parasites of tetrapods (especially reptiles) and have had long contentious relationships. Traditionally seen as a separate phylum with arthropod affinities, recent ultrastructural and molecular evidence unites them to branchiuran crustaceans (fish lice). However, the discovery of Cambrian pentastomids has been interpreted to refute the view that pentastomids are closely related to advanced crustaceans (of presumably recent origins). Bayesian phylogenetic and relaxed-clock analyses of molecular data (18S and 28S ribosomal RNA, elongation factor 1α and 2, RNA polymerase II subunit) help reconcile these apparently contradictory views: a pentastomid-branchiuran grouping is recovered, but this clade is the sister group to other Tetraconata, whereas all other crustaceans form a monophyletic group that is sister to hexapods. Crustacean monophyly is widely supported by morphology, but has rarely been retrieved in other molecular studies. Estimated molecular dates for pentastomid origins range from ∼490 to ∼520 million years ago, consistent with Cambrian fossils. The basal position of branchiurans within tetraconatans means pentastomids can be simultaneously related to branchiurans, and also have a deep fossil record. All Cambrian pentastomids are tiny, resembling the larvae of living pentastomids that infect intermediate hosts including fish; as definitive hosts (tetrapods) of modern pentastomids were absent in the Cambrian, it is possible that the small Cambrian forms were adults rather than larvae, and their entire life cycle was confined to small fish-like vertebrates that were then present.


Summary form only given. The authors point out that a tracked robot (intrabay) system that uses adaptive hardware to reliably load conventional shovel-type cantilevers as well as the Atmoscan-type has been implemented into production. In addition, a networked VAX software package has been deployed that controls and gathers data from the furnace controller via its SECS-II interface, making the operation of the furnace and its automation completely seamless to the production end-user. The technical aspects of this automated furnace loading system are summarized. Functional design and operation of the system are presented, with particular emphasis on the proprietary tooling and software used to detect and compensate for variances in Atmoscan- and shovel-type cantilevers. The system's impact on particle reduction compared to nonautomated furnaces is also discussed. Cost savings resulting from increased efficiencies in Atmoscan tube maintenance, process consistency, automated data collection, and product/operator safety are considered.<<ETX>>


The attributable fraction and the average attributable fractions, which are commonly used to assess the relative effect of several exposures to the prevalence of a disease, do not represent the proportion of cases caused by each exposure. Furthermore, the sum of attributable fractions over all exposures generally exceeds not only the attributable fraction for all exposures taken together, but also 100%. Other measures are discussed here, including the directly attributable fraction and the confounding fraction, that may be more suitable in defining the fraction directly attributable to an exposure.