One of the most celebrated procedural developments in 2010 was the promulgation of an amendment to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26. Beginning in 1993, Rule 26 had generally provided that as part of mandatory prediscovery disclosure, the proponent of an expert witness had to submit a report outlining the expert's proposed testimony in detail. As the years passed, the courts came to construe the provision very broadly. In particular, many courts interpreted the provision as requiring the proponent's expert to disclose all prior drafts of the expert's final report as well as virtually every communication between the proponent and the expert about the report's subject-matter. This interpretation pressured counsel to hire two experts - one to testify and one to consult (without the fear of having to disclose all communications between the consultant and the attorney). This practice made the pretrial preparation of experts both awkward and very costly.In 2010, an amendment to Rule 26 purported to take effect. With specified exceptions, the amendment now shields prior drafts of the required expert report and the expert's communications with counsel about the report from discovery. The Advisory Committee explained that the purpose of the amendment is to extend the protection of the work product doctrine to these drafts and communications. The amendment has been widely applauded as a sensible reform.The rub, though, is that the amendment may be invalid. Although the Supreme Court promulgated the amendment, the amendment was never submitted to Congress for approval. 28 U.S.C. section 2074(b) states that "[a]ny rule creating, abolishing, or modifying an evidentiary privilege shall have no force or effect unless approved by Act of Congress." Thus, although the 2010 amendment may be eminently sensible, the amendment is invalid if the work product doctrine is "an evidentiary privilege" within the intendment of section 2074(b).At first blush, there is a plausible case that the doctrine constitutes a privilege and that, consequently, the 2010 amendment is invalid. In its seminal work product decision, Hickman v. Taylor, 329 U.S. 495 (1947), the Court noted that the English courts refer to the doctrine as a "privilege." In his lead opinion in United States v. Nobles, 422 U.S. 225 (1975), Justice Powell repeatedly described the doctrine as a "privilege." Moreover, in 2008, Congress adopted Federal Rule of Evidence 502 prescribing some common waiver standards for the work product doctrine and the attorney-client privilege. In other words, Congress chose to insert work product waiver rules in the article of the Federal Rules of Evidence devoted to privileges.Nevertheless, the thesis of the enclosed article is that the work product production is a procedural immunity rather than an evidentiary privilege. While Part I of the article lists many of the common denominators between the privilege and work product, Part II identifies some of the most important doctrinal differences. More deeply, Part III contrasts the policy rationales for the privilege and the work product protection. Part III concludes that true communications privileges such as attorney-client are secondary rights granted persons as a means of securing their primary right to personal autonomy. The purpose of such privileges is to assist persons to make more intelligent, independent life preference choices. Part III then argues that in contrast, holders such as attorneys and clients enjoy work product protection in a representative capacity as functionaries in the adversary procedural system. Part III analogizes the work product doctrine to the immunities that functionaries in the litigation system enjoy from tort immunity under 42 U.S.C. section 1983. Given this rationale for the work product doctrine, the article concludes that the work product doctrine is not a privilege and that, hence, the 2010 amendment to Rule 26 is valid. More broadly, this conception of the work product doctrine can explicate the numerous differences between the doctrine and true communications privileges.


Introduction: Tuberculosis is a disease of poverty affecting mostly young adults in their most productive years. WHO has suggested that the expected effect of improved diagnostic and treatment services may be negated by an increase in the prevalence of risk factors for the progression of latent TB to active disease in segments of the population. The risk factors broadly described may be biomedical, environmental or socioeconomic. The impact of these other determinants on TB epidemiology in India has yet to be fully understood . Methodology: Study was undertaken on all patients in the age group of 18 years and above with history of cough for more than 2 weeks attending DOTS Microscopy centre of HIMS with or without other symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis attending DOTS Microscopy centre for a period of six months i.e. from 1st July to 31st December 2010 were included in study group. Total patients attended the centre were 538. Results: Majority of participants were farmers 159(43.9%) belonging to lower socio-economic status . Out of 362 study subjects maximum i.e. 162 (44.8%) had past history of pulmonary tuberculosis and only 18 (5.0%) subjects had family history of tuberculosis . While majority (45%) had past history of tuberculosis of which 37.1% had sputum positivity. Smoking was found to be most common type of addiction among 207 (57.2%) followed by alcohol i.e. 129 (35.6%) . Conclusion: Epidemiological factors like literacy status, socioeconomic status, previous history of tuberculosis, smoking & BMI play important role in causation of Tuberculosis.


The cell wall is a dynamic structure that provides important mechanical and physiological functions for the plant. Previous studies in our group have demonstrated that a reduction in the cellulose content in maize primary cell walls leads to a modified cell wall architecture and composition, causing changes in the amount and structure of other components. Therefore, the overall aim of the present study was to have a deep insight into the knowledge of the compensation mechanisms associated to the structural plasticity of the cell wall, paying special attention to the role of the phenolic compounds. In order to achieve this goal, maize suspension-cultured cells with a reduction in the cellulose content by habituation to dichlobenil (DCB), a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor, were used.
Cellulose impairment involved changes in the metabolism and structure of hemicelluloses. By using a radiochemical approach, it was demonstrated that cell wall bound hemicelluloses and sloughed polymers were more homogeneously sized and had a lower weight-average relative molecular mass in DCB-habituated cells when compared to non-habituated ones. Despite their lower molecular mass, hemicelluloses underwent massive cross-linking mediated by hydroxycinnamates, mainly ferulic and p-coumaric acids, as a part of their strategy to compensate the lack of cellulose. As previous results pointed out, it is expected for DCB-habituated cells to find a modified phenolic metabolism. The comparative study between the hydroxycinnamates esterified into protoplasmic and cell wall polysaccharides through the cell culture cycle revealed that DCB-habituated cell walls showed an enrichment in ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and dehydrodiferulates indicating an extra dimerization in muro. Furthermore, the 8-O-4'-diferulic acid emerged as a diagnostic feature of DCB habituation process. These results support the idea that cell wall hydroxycinnamates play a key role in the remodelling of cellulose deficient cell walls.
In order to explain the molecular basis for a cell wall enriched in hydroxycinnamates that underwent a more extensive crosslinking, a study on peroxidases (POX) and genes related with cell wall feruloylation/coumaroylation was carried out. A comparative study of POX activity and isoforms associated with cell wall remodelling was addressed. POX activity was higher in DCB-habituated cells than in control ones in all cell wall compartments assayed. Moreover, the comparison of the isoPOX profile obtained from the ionically bound cell wall proteins and spent medium proteins revealed a distinctive higher activity for certain POX isoforms in DCB-habituated cells. It is hypothesized that some of these isoPOXs could be involved in the cross-linking of arabinoxylans in DCB-habituated cells. In order to gain a further insight into the genes that could be involved in the feruloylation/coumaroylation of the cell wall, a preliminary survey into the maize BAHD genes was undertaken. Thirteen maize homologues to BAHD genes previously found in rice and Arabidopsis were identified by bioinformatics approaches. All the protein sequences shared the transferase domain HXXXDG characteristic of BAHD proteins involved in the acylation of arabinoxylans. From the BAHD genes analysed, ZmBAHD1, ZmBAHD2 and ZmBAHD12 were overexpressed in DCB-habituated cells. Interestingly, ZmBAHD1 and ZmBAHD12 showed a high coexpression level with genes related to the synthesis and remodelling of the cell wall. These results point to ZmBAHD1 and ZmBAHD12 as good candidates as putative feruloyl and/or coumaroyl transferases in maize cell walls.
Finally, as maize cultured cells exposed to DCB have been reported to induce the synthesis of ectopic lignin, an investigation was conducted in order to verify if a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor with a different mode of action, such as cobtorin, also induce ectopic lignification. The negative phloroglucinol staining of cells after cobtorin treatment indicated that this compound was not inducing ectopic lignification in our experimental system. In contrast, DCB-treated cells showed positive staining for phloroglucinol, a high cell wall autofluorescence and ammonium induced fluorescence related to the accumulation of phenolics. All these three findings showed the presence of a lignin-like polymer in DCB-treated cells. Furthermore, the overexpression of ZmBAHD5, ZmBAHD6, ZmBAHD9 and ZmBAHD12 together with an enhancement of peroxidase activity in DCB-treated cells were found. Therefore, the induction of ectopic lignification promoted by a restriction in the synthesis of cellulose seems to be a spatiotemporal process in which changes in the expression of selected BAHD genes and in the activity of POX enzymes, together with structural modifications, contribute to reinforce the weakened cell wall entanglement.
The results obtained in this Thesis project afford new data that shed light into the key contribution of phenolics in the remodelling of cell walls with a low cellulose content. Moreover, additional information on the biochemical and genetic control of this process are provided.


Chlorinated Solvents has been widely used in industries with degreased work tasks. It became popular in the beginning of the 19th century when the industry was developing fast. The most popular chlorinated solvent has been trichloroethylene (TRI). Because of the common use of the agent, soil and groundwater contamination with TRI has been one of the most occurred contaminations around industrial sites. TRI has some special abilities that make it a difficult contamination compound. It is hard to imagine its distribution pathways and it is a carcinogenic compound with many other hazardous properties. Because of its abilities the environmental and health department of Vasteras wanted to have a compilation over the companies in Vasteras that have been using TRI and that is the subject of this study. This compilation was based on a so called TRI list that had been assembled by the county administration of Varmland who had get facts from the Swedish producer of TRI Uddeholm AB. This list tells some of the costumers that Uddeholm AB have had through the years. Additionally to this list this study was based on a initial inventory made by the county administration of Vastmanland. The study was made through an archive investigation at the environmental and health department in Vasteras. The investigation showed that most of the companies that had used TRI were known by the environmental, health and safety management. The companies have gone through an environmental investigation and therefore the TRI use was known. There were a few company properties that had a confirmed TRI contamination. This had been confirmed by soil samples that had been taken and analysed. There were some companies that had used TRI according to the TRI list but the information about the company was too thin to find the location of the company. The result of this study shows that there are many properties that have had a company with TRI use during the 1900th century. This study will help the future environmental work at these properties if there is a change in a property use for example.


Although both antioxidant capacity and oxidative conversion (hazard) are important in food and bioanalytical chemistry, there is considerable confusion in the literature between the results of these two types of assays. After the generation of ROS in the medium via Fe(III)-H₂O₂ reaction, attenuation of total oxidative conversion (TOC; as measured by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DMPD) assays) was tested for possible correlation with the total antioxidant capacity (TAC; as measured by cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (ABTS/TEAC) assays) of the introduced antioxidant sample. The inverse relationship between oxidative conversion and antioxidant capacity was processed to establish a curvilinear relationship between the absolute values of TAC increments and TOC decrements as a function of added antioxidant concentration. This simple relationship may form a bridge between the two diverse disciplines of medical biochemistry and food analytical chemistry mainly using TOC and TAC results, respectively.


Enabling food production to keep pace with population growth in the face of global climate change is a significant challenge. Drought is predicted to occur more frequently under climate change, which is likely to reduce rainfed crop yields and thereby put at risk the agriculture communities in rainfed regions. Rice is a major crop that is cultivated by rainfed farmers and is therefore, vulnerable to increased variability in rainfall. The main aim of my thesis is to understand the climatic risks to rainfed rice cultivation, focusing on rainfed regions in India. I analysed historical data on monsoon and rice yield and found that more locations showed a drying trend than a wetting trend, and that within-season distribution of rainfall were a more important driver of yield than the total rainfall, or timing of monsoon. I used a climate envelope modelling approach to show that the distribution of rainfed rice can be modelled using climate variables, and that variables measuring water availability were more important predictors of rice distribution than temperature. Using climate projections from multiple general circulation models and representative concentration pathways, I concluded that by 2050, between 14% - 40% of current rainfed areas might become climatically less suitable for cultivating rice. Using rice yield trials data, I examined the yield performance of locally and widely-grown rice cultivars under water- and heat-stress. I found that cultivars showed greater yield decline under heat-stress than under water-stress. In addition, I found greater decline in yield under heat-stress in cultivars that were more drought-tolerant, suggesting potential trade-offs in continued improvement of drought-tolerant rice. I conclude that rainfed regions are at risk from climate change, and that rice yields are particularly vulnerable to short-term variability in monsoon rainfall. Trade-offs between water- and heat-stress tolerances suggest that the development of new rice cultivars needs to consider multiple plant traits and drivers of yield, in addition to drought-tolerance. Therefore, improving irrigation infrastructure for timely availability of water, and access by farmers to the most resilient crop varieties will reduce future climate risks for farmers.


The unsafe uses of pesticides cause problems for human health in both developed and developing countries. Improperly used or stored of these chemical agents can harm humans. Cancer, birth defects, and damage to the nervous system, depression, respiratory symptoms, skin disease and the functioning of the endocrine system are key risks of pesticides (1-3). The current study was designed and done with the aim of determine factors associated with pesticide use behaviors among farmworkers based on Health Belief Model (HBM). In a cross-sectional study conducted in 2014, 400 eligible Iranian farmworkers that were from Golestan Province (northwest of Iran) were selected using multi stage sampling method. Data were collected using reliable and valid questionnaire through interview. Data were analyzed via SPSS18 Software (Chicago, IL, USA) and Pearson correlation test, Independent t test, ANOVA and Linear regression. All the farmworkers gave their informed written consents before inclusion in the study. The average age of the participants was 39.38±12.71 yr. The average level of behavior, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived barriers and health motivation was in moderate level and the average level of perceived benefits and selfefficacy was in desirable level. There was positive significant correlation between behavior and all of HBM constructs (P<0.0001) except perceived barriers (P=0.213). Selfefficacy (B=0.378 P<0.0001) and health motivation (B=0.277 P<0.0001) were the most important predictors of pesticide use behaviors. Behavior of the participants is not in a desirable level. Self-efficacy and health motivation had an important role on behavior. Other studies showed application of some of HBM constructs in this regard (4, 5). We recommended appropriate intervention especially health education based on health belief model with special emphasis on Selfefficacy and health motivation.


This study examined how part-time employment is perceived as an aspect of organizational change and how it challenges the management of the selected private secondary schools in the region of Dar-es-Salaam. It was necessitated by the need to determine the responses of school organizations to change as schools adopt change at a varied pace. The study draws upon the background to part-time employment in Tanzania and makes use of the transformations in the 1990' s as a source to change. The study draws the experience of theories of investment in human capital as well as related literature. It was found that theories of human capital suggest a necessary strategy of investing in education for skilled human capital. The study sought to add an input to the theory by showing that the human capital theorists should have shown the role of a teacher who makes the process of education (Teaching-learning) a practical one.
The study answered three research questions related to challenges of part-time employment as a new phenomenon in the employment industry in Tanzania, the perception of this as an aspect of change and how organizations, schools in particular, have adjusted themselves to adopt or resist.
Quantitative approach was utilized for data collection from nine purposely selected schools, 54 randomly selected full-time teachers, 36 purposely selected part-time teachers and purposefully selected heads of schools in the urban location. The qualitative approach was also used to collect data from heads of schools and documentaries.The study found that there were no significant challenges posed by part-time teachers to the management of private schools. However, absence of labour laws was found not to prevent schools from employing teachers on part-time basis. Findings suggested that part-time employment is increasingly becoming famous among various organizations and that the cost effective organizations find it relatively cheaper. On the other hand findings suggested that part time workers may not always be effective so, organizations should use them with care


ABSTRACT Utilization of light-emitting diodes and compact fluorescent lamps instead of the traditional incandescent ones in residential applications are strongly recommended by the Australian Building Codes and is very attractive for households because of their higher energy and luminous efficiency. However, they are mostly non-linear loads, injecting harmonic currents and drawing reactive power, because of the ballast and power electronic circuits. The accumulated impact of thousands of them can be very adverse on maintaining power quality and losses in a grid. Due to an increase in the emergence of such lamps from different brands and in various ratings, a detailed study of these lamps is required to identify the potential adverse effects. Through this research, the currently available residential lamps on the Australian market are evaluated from utility and consumer-oriented perspectives. First, they are juxtaposed from cost and illumination and lifespan perspectives, as significant criteria for the consumers when purchasing lamps. Then, using detailed laboratory measurements, they are compared from power quality criteria such as current harmonics and total harmonic distortion, as well as other aspects such as their fundamental and non-fundamental components of apparent power consumption, stabilisation time, deviation of actual power consumption from rated power and power factor, which are important for the utilities. The compliance of lamps with the relevant standards is evaluated where applicable.


This book examines the art and ritual of flagellant confraternities in Italy from the fourteenth to the seventeenth centuries. Meeting regularly to beat themselves with whips, members of these confraternities concentrated on the suffering of Christ in the most extreme and committed way, and the images around them provided visual prompts of the Passion and the model suffering body. This study presents new findings related to a variety of artworks including altarpieces, banners, wall paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and paintings for the condemned, many from outside the Florence-Rome-Venice triangle.


This paper studies a two-layer decoding method that mitigates inter-cell interference in multi-cell Massive MIMO systems. In layer one, each base station (BS) estimates the channels to intra-cell users and uses the estimates for local decoding on each BS, followed by a second decoding layer where the BSs cooperate to mitigate inter-cell interference. An uplink achievable spectral efficiency (SE) expression is computed for arbitrary two-layer decoding schemes, while a closed-form expression is obtained for correlated Rayleigh fading channels, maximum-ratio combining (MRC), and large-scale fading decoding (LSFD) in the second layer. We formulate a non-convex sum SE maximization problem with both the data power and LSFD vectors as optimization variables and develop an algorithm based on the weighted MMSE (minimum mean square error) approach to obtain a stationary point with low computational complexity.


We recently devised a new technique for endonasal surgery, which simplifies maxillary antrotomy and ethmoidectomy, and dilates the middle nasal meatus widely enough to allow easier postoperative observation. Surgery is initiated by an incision similar to the one used for submucosal resection of the inferior turbinate. The bony inferior turbinate is resected, and the nasolacrimal duct is freed from the bone. Subsequently, the maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses are excenterated, with swinging of the membranaceous inferior turbinate and the nasolacrimal duct. Postoperative observation confirmed satisfactory results.


In this paper, we have presented a new fast Fourier transform representation based cryptographic (encryption) system for the multimedia data security. The key features of the proposed system are: 1. Mapping/representation of the fast Fourier transforms' structure based on discrete orthogonal transforms, such as Walsh-Hadamard, Haar, and complex Walsh-Hadamard, etc. 2. The efficient implementations of the encryption within the core of the fast Fourier transform (flexibility in the shuffling of the sensitive information). In addition to these key features, the computational complexity of the system is comparable with commonly used methods. One of the important differences between the existing transform based encryption systems, and the proposed is that the encryption has been done in the core of the transform, which ultimately provides the highest level of security to the sensitive data. The proposed system consequently has the dual key security feature, which consists of the encryption and the transform dependent keys.


An important part of industrial robot manipulators is to achieve desired position and orientation of end effector or tool so as to complete the pre-specified task. To achieve the above stated goal one should have the sound knowledge of inverse kinematic problem. The problem of getting inverse kinematic solution has been on the outline of various researchers and is deliberated as thorough researched and mature problem. There are many fields of applications of robot manipulators to execute the given tasks such as material handling, pick-n-place, planetary and undersea explorations, space manipulation, and hazardous field etc. Moreover, medical field robotics catches applications in rehabilitation and surgery that involve kinematic, dynamic and control operations. Therefore, industrial robot manipulators are required to have proper knowledge of its joint variables as well as understanding of kinematic parameters. The motion of the end effector or manipulator is controlled by their joint actuator and this produces the required motion in each joints. Therefore, the controller should always
supply an accurate value of joint variables analogous to the end effector position. Even though industrial robots are in the advanced stage, some of the basic problems in
kinematics are still unsolved and constitute an active focus for research. Among these unsolved problems, the direct kinematics problem for parallel mechanism and inverse kinematics for serial chains constitute a decent share of research domain. The forward kinematics of robot manipulator is simpler problem and it has unique or closed form solution. The forward kinematics can be given by the conversion of joint space to Cartesian space of the manipulator. On the other hand inverse kinematics can be determined by the conversion of Cartesian space to joint space. The inverse kinematic of the robot manipulator does not provide the closed form solution. Hence, industrial manipulator can achieve a desired task or end effector position in more than one
configuration. Therefore, to achieve exact solution of the joint variables has been the main concern to the researchers. A brief introduction of industrial robot manipulators, evolution and classification is
presented. The basic configurations of robot manipulator are demonstrated and their benefits and drawbacks are deliberated along with the applications. The difficulties to solve forward and inverse kinematics of robot manipulator are discussed and solution of inverse kinematic is introduced through conventional methods. In order to accomplish the desired objective of the work and attain the solution of inverse kinematic problem an efficient study of the existing tools and techniques has been done. A review of literature survey and various tools used to solve inverse kinematic problem on different aspects is discussed. The various approaches of inverse kinematic solution is categorized in four sections namely structural analysis of mechanism, conventional approaches, intelligence or soft computing approaches and optimization based
approaches. A portion of important and more significant literatures are thoroughly discussed and brief investigation is made on conclusions and gaps with respect to the inverse kinematic solution of industrial robot manipulators. Based on the survey of
tools and techniques used for the kinematic analysis the broad objective of the present research work is presented as; to carry out the kinematic analyses of different
configurations of industrial robot manipulators. The mathematical modelling of selected robot manipulator using existing tools and techniques has to be made for the comparative study of proposed method. On the other hand, development of new algorithm and their mathematical modelling for the solution of inverse kinematic
problem has to be made for the analysis of quality and efficiency of the obtained solutions. Therefore, the study of appropriate tools and techniques used for the solution of inverse kinematic problems and comparison with proposed method is considered. Moreover, recommendation of the appropriate method for the solution of inverse kinematic problem is presented in the work.
Apart from the forward kinematic analysis, the inverse kinematic analysis is quite complex, due to its non-linear formulations and having multiple solutions. There is no unique solution for the inverse kinematics thus necessitating application of appropriate predictive models from the soft computing domain. Artificial neural network (ANN) can be gainfully used to yield the desired results. Therefore, in the present work several
models of artificial neural network (ANN) are used for the solution of the inverse kinematic problem. This model of ANN does not rely on higher mathematical formulations and are adept to solve NP-hard, non-linear and higher degree of polynomial equations. Although intelligent approaches are not new in this field but
some selected models of ANN and their hybridization has been presented for the comparative evaluation of inverse kinematic. The hybridization scheme of ANN and an
investigation has been made on accuracies of adopted algorithms. On the other hand, any Optimization algorithms which are capable of solving various
multimodal functions can be implemented to solve the inverse kinematic problem. To overcome the problem of conventional tool and intelligent based method the optimization based approach can be implemented. In general, the optimization based approaches are more stable and often converge to the global solution. The major problem of ANN based approaches are its slow convergence and often stuck in local optimum point. Therefore, in present work different optimization based approaches are considered. The formulation of the objective function and associated constrained are
discussed thoroughly. The comparison of all adopted algorithms on the basis of number of solutions, mathematical operations and computational time has been presented. The thesis concludes the summary with contributions and scope of the future research work.


Evolutionary algorithms have previously been applied to the design of morphology and control of robots. The design space for such tasks can be very complex, which can prevent evolution from efficiently discovering fit solutions. In this article we introduce an evolutionary-developmental (evo-devo) experiment with real-world robots. It allows robots to grow their leg size to simulate ontogenetic morphological changes, and this is the first time that such an experiment has been performed in the physical world. To test diverse robot morphologies, robot legs of variable shapes were generated during the evolutionary process and autonomously built using additive fabrication. We present two cases with evo-devo experiments and one with evolution, and we hypothesize that the addition of a developmental stage can be used within robotics to improve performance. Moreover, our results show that a nonlinear system-environment interaction exists, which explains the nontrivial locomotion patterns observed. In the future, robots will be present in our daily lives, and this work introduces for the first time physical robots that evolve and grow while interacting with the environment.


Four annual tree-rings (2 of juvenile wood and 2 of mature wood) were sampled from fast-growth plantations of Gmelina arborea in two climatic conditions (dry and wet tropical) in Costa Rica. Each annual tree-ring was divided in equal parts in a radial direction. For each part, X-ray density as well as vessel percentage, length and width fiber, cell wall thickness and lumen diameter were measured. Wood density and profile patterns of cell dimension demonstrated inconsistency between juvenile and mature wood and climatic conditions. The Pearson correlation matrix showed that intra-ring wood density was positively correlated with the cell wall thickness and negatively correlated with vessel percentage, fiber length, lumen diameter and width. The forward stepwise regressions determined that: (i) intra-ring wood density variation could be predicted from 76 to 96% for anatomical variation; (ii) cell wall thickness was the most important anatomical feature to produce intra-ring wood density variation and (iii) the vessel percentage, fiber length, lumen diameter and width were the second most statically significant characteristics to intra-ring wood density, however, with low participation of the determination coefficient of stepwise regressions.


Leibniz holds that nothing in nature strictly corresponds to any geometric curve or surface. Yet on Leibniz's view, physicists are usually able to ignore any such lack of correspondence and to investigate nature using geometric representations. The primary goal of this essay is to elucidate Leibniz's explanation of how physicists are able to investigate nature geometrically, focussing on two of his claims: (i) there can be things in nature which approximate geometric objects to within any given margin of error; (ii) the truths of geometry state laws by which the phenomena of nature are governed. A corollary of Leibniz's explanation is that physical bodies do have boundaries with which geometric surfaces can be compared to very high levels of precision. I argue that the existence of these physical boundaries is mind-independent to such an extent as to pose a significant challenge to idealist interpretations of Leibniz.


This research examines the construction of language in the field of ecotourism through a number of disciplines and discourses. Following Graham Dann's (1996) lead in investigating tourism texts through a socio-linguistic study of language, I focus on the niche of ecotourism to look specifically at the way nature is represented within its texts. An increasing body of interdisciplinary research is developing with a bias towards describing environmental discourses through political, managerial, sociological and business lenses (see Cohen, 1978;Haenn, 1994; Hall & Kinnaird, 1994; Hollinshead, 2000a; Jones, 1987). This bias creates a gap in the literature on ecocritical, discourse analysis and sociolinguistic reviews of ecotourism language (Dann, 2012). This research is important because it demonstrates how the methods used by discourse and its operations, such as marketing and promotion, are deployed to transform ecological space into a commodity. Political and cultural discourses position nature as a theme within them to perform a host of utilitarian functions. Creative writing, travel writing, copywriting and poetics all contribute to the methods through which ecotourism is promoted, constructed, understood, consumed and desired. Fundamental to understanding the importance of language in creating the experience and identity of ecotourism is the role of the Internet: its keywords, search engine techniques, consumer feedback capacities and websites. Websites allow destination managers to create a direct relationship with an international audience of potential guests.

By reviewing literature from different disciplines and producing a new set of comprehensive data, I contribute to the literature on ecotourism by demonstrating how it produces and is produced by culture in ways that influence the design and promotion of marketing material by the tourism industry. Ecotourism emerges as a scene conflicted by its construction through multiple disciplines and discourses; creating an ambiguity with political and ideological consequences. I examine the key themes, discourses and ideologies present in ecotourism and how these interact with the conservation, industry, socio-political and policy agendas implicit in its texts. I investigate how tourists and destination managers engage with ecotourism as a business, literary, tourism and cultural activity to enrich knowledge about ecotourism's story, business and rhetoric and how it is constructed to appeal to tourists; who are in turn assumed to hold certain sets of ideologies.


The community forestry approach plays an important role in poverty reduction. It empowers local communities by giving them tenure to sustainably manage forest resources and cope with various socio-economic and environmental problems. In Cambodia, the community forestry approach is an offshoot of a cohesive collaboration among the Forestry Administration, nongovernment organization (NGO)- partners, and village forestry units themselves, which led to the establishment of 485 community forestry project sites in 21 provinces as of mid-2016.


In this paper, the batch processing of Φ35mm WC-Co cemented carbide balls used in one-way value is studied by rotated dual-plates (RDP) lapping machine. On the basis of this innovated equipment, the processing parameters, including abrasive grain, rotating velocity and load, are changed legitimately in experiment. The experimental results show that the abrasive grain is used from big to small, while the rotating velocity and load are gradually reduced in order to improve the uniformity of lapping trace distribution on the ball surface in batch processing. Finally the rational course and parameters are defined, these WC-Co cemented carbide balls satisfy the products' final demand which means the sphericity error (Rnd) is less than 1μm and the roughness of surface (Ra) is better than 50nm. Because of the feasibility, the precision of final WC-Co cemented carbide balls improves and can be applied in one-way value used in oil exactor.


In situ visual surveys using a hierarchical sampling design were carried out at 36 sub- littoral rocky locations along the central-east Atlantic Canarian Archipelago to find relationships among (1) benthic primary producers, (2) the demographic structure of the herbivorous sea urchin Diadema antillarum Phillipi and (3) the trophic structure of coastal fish communities. Our correlation approach displayed a relationship between the lack of large macroinvertebrate-eating predatory fish and the increase in density of sea urchins, in addition to a decrease in fish richness. In contrast, increases in fast-growing plankton-feeding fish species were detected. The size structure of D. antil- larum is dominated by small-to-intermediate sized sea urchins in environments with a high density of individuals, whereas low sea urchin density locations are characterized by the dominance of large sized individuals. The physical complexity of the substrate seems to play an important role in deter- mining the local patchiness of D. antillarum. Finally, a non-linear decrease in the percentage of fleshy macroalgal cover with increasing density of D. antillarum was observed. We therefore propose D. antillarum as a key herbivorous species, which plays an important role in determining the structure of shallow, hard-substratum, infralittoral benthic communities throughout the Canary Islands.


At first glance, the notion of social interactive television seems to be a tautology. Television watching has always been a social activity. People watch television together in their living rooms, and outside their homes they talk about last night's football match; and even call each other to recommend an interesting program. Unfortunately, until recently, research on social interactive television has been scarce. One limiting factor for the development of innovative services for the home is the interactive technology behind user interaction, which was limited to the remote control. Fortunately, a number of studies concentrate on extending interactive methods, for example by using contextual information. This article reviews the state of the art in these two directions: the social aspects of television and user interaction. We conclude with a research agenda for further research, which might transform current interactive television services into shared experiences.

http://www.ionio.gr/~choko/publications/Social television and user interaction.pdf


Welcome to Chief Whitecap School LibGuide! Here you will find resources curated by your Teacher Librarian to help you in your pursuit of learning.


Motion estimation (ME) is a computation-intensive operation in video coding system. In MPEG-2 to H.264 transcoding, motion vector (MV) from MPEG-2 reused as search center in H.264 encoder is a simple but effective technique to simplify ME procedure. However directly introducing MPEG-2 MV will bring irregular overlapping between search windows of successive macroblocks (MB) which invalidates the data reuse scheme in hardware design of ME module. In this paper, the authors propose a search window reuse scheme for transcoding in HDTV application. By utilizing the similarity between neighboring MVs, overlapping of search windows between successive MBs can be regularized. Experiment results show that our method achieve average 93.1% search window reuse rate in HDTV sequence with almost no video quality degradation. And the bandwidth can be reduced to 92.5 Mbytes/s based on theoretical calculation which is only 40.6% of that without this scheme.


The applied electrical fields required to initiate surface flashover of different types of dielectric material immersed in insulating oil have been investigated, by applying impulses of increasing peak voltage until surface flashover occurred. The behavior of the materials in repeatedly over-volted gaps was also analyzed in terms of breakdown mode (some bulk sample breakdown behaviour was witnessed in this regime), time to breakdown, and breakdown voltage. Cylindrical samples of polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and Rexolite, were held between two electrodes immersed in insulating oil, and subjected to average applied electrical fields up to 870 kV/cm. Tests were performed in both uniform- and nonuniform- fields, and with different sample topologies. In applied field measurements, polypropylene required the highest levels of average applied field to initiate flashover in all electrode configurations tested, settling at ~600 kV/cm in uniform fields, and ~325 kV/cm in non-uniform fields. In over-volted point-plane gaps, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene exhibited the longest pre-breakdown delay times. The results will provide comparative data for system designers for the appropriate choice of dielectric materials to act as insulators for high-voltage, pulsed-power machines.


Plants play one of the most important roles in providing nutrition and therapeutics to human beings and animals. Several research studies were published in different areas of the world focusing on the food content and medicinal value of plants. In rural areas, herbal products are the main source of medications for all types of diseases. The current study summarizes the uses of traditional medicinal plants by the tribal people of various parts of the state of West Bengal, India. The review highlights the use of 105 medicinally important plant species with their taxonomical features, ethno botanical uses, and pharmacological properties.


Ryuji Wakikawa Kazushi Sugyou Keisuke Uehara Mobile IPv6 and NEMO BS are IETF standard mobility protocols for IPv6. It is said that freely available implementations play a big role in the deployment of new protocols. To accelerate the deployment of IPv6 mobility, we implemented the different mobility protocol stacks for the BSD operating systems. During the development, we made two different implementations based on this different design policies. The first one was an in-kernel implementation and the other a user space implementation. The former design makes it easy to use kernel information necessary for mobility operation, but it is difficult to implement and to extend features than the latter. The latter design needs to have extra mechanisms to retrieve or inject kernel information from user space, but in most cases developing user space programs is easier than developing in the kernel. In this paper, we discuss the design policies and implementation details of these two stacks.


IntroductionThe fall of Muammar al-Qadhafi in October 2011 marked the end of the Libyan uprising, led to the close of NATO's intervention "Operation Unified Protector" (OUP), and ushered in a delicate political transformation which failed to come to a quick and decisive end with the first round of elections held in early July 2012. To assess some major pitfalls of the current transitional process, this article will propose an analysis of two main challenges the new Libyan authorities will face, the proper handling of which will determine the nature and stability of the future state. The first challenge is the political transition from an autocratic regime via revolutionary credentials to democratic legitimacy. The second involves the construction and governance of an entirely reshaped security sector, both in the military and civilian realms, transcending their previous roles in the Jamahiriyya either as Praetorian Guard or as state-sponsored bullies.1Libyan politics are not immune to the major novelty introduced by the Arab Spring. Political representation transformed into a reflection of forces on the ground: what used to be called in derogatory terms the "Arab Street" - as opposed to the will of the dictator, or alleged Western interests - morphed into public opinion, which was now suddenly relevant in elections. Yet the first free national elections in Libya produced a mixed picture without clear majorities, partially due to the complicated electoral system, which was split into party lists and individual candidates. Furthermore, as could also be witnessed in local elections that took place in Misrata and Benghazi, political Islam as such seems not to be favored by the Libyan people. This means the search for charismatic, authoritative political leadership during the transition phase will most likely continue. However, achieving stability cannot be attained by a successful political transition alone. Rivalries between numerous and relatively autonomous kata 'ib (militias) could degenerate into open confrontation.2 If those rebel commanders, who have suddenly transformed into politicians, lose in the elections where they sought to acquire democratic credentials (and in the process to transcend their previous revolutionary achievements as militia leaders), such a scenario becomes more likely.The National Transitional Council (NTC) and its interim government have prioritized security sector and judicial reform from the very beginning in order to provide for a smooth transition in post-conflict Libya. However, in the current climate justice seems mainly to be understood to consist in indicting former regime officials (such as Qadhafi's son Saif al-Islam or the former Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi), rather than in terms of conducting reforms of the justice system. Simultaneously, assassinations are not uncommon. Jumma al-Jawzi, the judge who ordered the arrest of Abdelfattah Younes (commander of the National Liberation Army since his early defection, assassinated in July 2011) was killed in June this year.3 Several candidates running in the recent elections or former Qadhafl-era office bearers have been victims of politically motivated murder or assassination attempts as well.Despite the NTC s rhetoric about national reconciliation, security sector reform (SSR) is making slow progress in an environment that is prone to the settling of old intertribal disputes. These tribal rivalries, which had been used by Qadhafi as a reliable mechanism to consolidate his power, are now free-floating in the absence of a central authority. Practically, mediation efforts for the implementation of fragile cease-fires tend to be undertaken by shuyukh (tribal leaders), elders and notables from influential families. The army claimed on several occasions to have dispatched contingents to intervene in tribal clashes, such as confrontations in southwestern Sebha or southeastern Kufra. The reality looks quite different. …


We reduced noise in images using a higher-order, correlation-based method. In this approach, wavelet coefficients were classified as either mostly noise or mostly signal based on third-order statistics. Because the higher than second-order moments of the Gaussian probability function are zero, the third-order correlation coefficient may not have a statistical contribution from Gaussian noise. Using a detection algorithm derived from third-order statistics, we determined if a wavelet coefficient was noisy by looking at its third-order correlation coefficient. Using imagery of space shuttle tiles, our results showed that the minimum mean-squared error obtained using third-order statistics was often less than that using second-order statistics.


Prognostic predictors have not been defined for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Subtypes of both disorders have been proposed on the basis of early clinical features. We performed a retrospective chart review to investigate the natural history of pathologically confirmed cases of PSP and MSA. Survival data and several clinically relevant milestones, namely: frequent falling, cognitive disability, unintelligible speech, severe dysphagia, dependence on wheelchair for mobility, the use of urinary catheters and placement in residential care were determined. On the basis of early symptoms, we subdivided cases with PSP into 'Richardson's syndrome' (RS) and 'PSP-parkinsonism' (PSP-P). Cases of MSA were subdivided according to the presence or absence of early autonomic failure. Sixty-nine (62.7%) of the 110 PSP cases were classified as RS and 29 (26.4%) as PSP-P. Of the 83 cases of MSA, 42 (53.2%) had autonomic failure within 2 years of disease onset. Patients with PSP had an older age of onset (P < 0.001), but similar disease duration to those with MSA. Patients with PSP reached their first clinical milestone earlier than patients with MSA (P < 0.001). Regular falls (P < 0.001), unintelligible speech (P = 0.04) and cognitive impairment (P = 0.03) also occurred earlier in PSP than in MSA. In PSP an RS phenotype, male gender, older age of onset and a short interval from disease onset to reaching the first clinical milestone were all independent predictors of shorter disease duration to death. Patients with RS also reached clinical milestones after a shorter interval from disease onset, compared to patients with PSP-P. In MSA early autonomic failure, female gender, older age of onset, a short interval from disease onset to reaching the first clinical milestone and not being admitted to residential care were independent factors predicting shorter disease duration until death. The time to the first clinical milestone is a useful prognostic predictor for survival. We confirm that RS had a less favourable course than PSP-P, and that early autonomic failure in MSA is associated with shorter survival.


Dihydroneopterin aldolase (DHNA) catalyzes the conversion of 7,8-dihydroneopterin to 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin and glycolaldehyde. An inhibitor of the enzyme, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin, free in solution and bound in its complex with the enzyme has been studied by Raman difference spectroscopy. By using isotopically labeled 7,8-dihydrobiopterin and normal mode analyses based on ab initio quantum mechanic methods, we have positively identified some of the Raman bands in the enzyme-bound inhibitor, particularly the important N5=C6 stretch mode. The spectrum of the enzyme-bound inhibitor shows that the pK a of N5 is not significantly increased in the complex. This result suggests that N5 of 7,8-dihydroneopterin is not protonated before the bond cleavage of 7,8-dihydroneopterin during the DHNA-catalyzed reaction as has been suggested. Our results also show that the N5=C6 stretch mode of 7,8-dihydrobiopterin shifts 19 cm− 1 upon binding to DHNA. Various possibilities on how the enzyme can bring about such large frequency change of the N5=C6 stretch mode are discussed.


We examine the development of instability studies in the oil industry and in soil physics, the former being far more advanced has tended to mold the latter. This had some unfortunate consequences as oil studies tended to rely heavily on Hele-Shaw cells, which provide a poor model for soils. In soil physics creation of column flow in soils has serious implications for infiltration and the transport of pollutants. It is to John Philip's credit that he recognized fairly early the practical importance of instability in soils.


The author argues that in the present discussion over the meaning of Vatican II, considered from the historical vantage point of 40 years, the council needs to be resituated as an event of the mid-20th century. Its break with the past, embodied in ruptures and reversals of long-standing Catholic mentalités, must be seen as a response to two world wars, the Holocaust, the Atomic Age, atheist communism, postwar existentialism, and the Cold War. Current debates about whether "anything happened" at Vatican II should consider that the new age inaugurated by the council was not merely possible; it was morally necessary.


Part I. The theme of Pauline tradition is mentioned by Barrett and Schenke, and further, Roloff and Plamacher indicate traditional material behind the image of Paul in Acts, part of which is analyzed by burchard and Loning (ch.l). The date of Acts is placed at the end of the first century and the author confronted Jewish Christianity crossed with Gnosticism (ch.2), Historical criticism, form criticism and redaction criticism are methodological principles for our investigation. Any source theories are problematical. However, the author utilized traditional material in depiction of Paul in Acts, namely, the Pauline traditions, which are parallel to the Pauline Epistles, the Pauline legends, which are parallel to the miracle stories in the synoptic tradition, and the local community traditions (ch.5).Part II. Paul's background in Acts (Jewish, Hellenistic and Roman) is based on the Pauline traditions. Judaizing and anti-Jewish tendencies are seen in it (ch.4), Paul's pre-conversion period is also based on the Pauline traditions, but coloured with Judaizing tendencies (ch.3). Paul's conversion and call are due to traditional material, out modified with literary devices. Anti-gnostic tendencies can be traced behind it (ch.6). The earliest years after conversion and call are based on tradition; however, it is dominated by anti-Jewish tendencies (ch.7). The first missionary journey is not totally a "model" journey, but two parts of it are based on the Pauline traditions respectively together with the Pauline legends. But the author arranged them in order to make a circular journey. Judaizing tendencies and ambivalent anti-Jewish tendencies are seen in it (ch.8). In the second missionary journey, in contrast to the first one, the local community traditions are employed together with the Pauline traditions and the Pauline legends. Judaizing tendencies are seen in it (ch.9). The Pauline traditions, the Pauline legends and the local community traditions are utilized in the depiction of the third missionary journey. Apologetic tendencies against syncretism and paganism are seen in it (ch.lO). The image of Paul in Acts is not only based on traditional material but also transformed by the author in order to defend the legitimacy of the Gentile mission under anti-Pauline attacks. Acts is governed by rhetorical Peripatetic historiography (ch.11).


The European Community (the correct legal term in trade matters, hereafter EC) is still a recent and ongoing process. Fifty years is a short time span for such an endeavour (Annex I lists the 17 Treaties that have formed its legal basis).3 It is strictly an economic process because a straight forward political unification of Europe was out of reach, then, now, and for the decades to come. This ambiguous relation between economics and politics explains why the EC commercial policy often received the status of a foreign policy instrument. This was the case in the EC relation with former colonies (during the 1960s), developing countries (the 1970s), the Central European countries formerly in the Soviet sphere (the 1990s), and neighbours or emerging economies (the 2000s).


The Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) is an engine which combines some of the characteristics of the Diesel and Otto engines. As a result an engine with a high efficiency and low emissions is constructed. Unfortunately, there is not a direct way to control its start of combustion (SOC). One way to phase the SOC is using valve timings. There are two main methods, the Overlap, which consists in trapping more or less residual gas, and the IVC method, which acts affecting the effective compression ratio. Iterative Feedback Tuning (IFT) is a control method that appeared in 1994, which has presented good performances in the tuning of PID and more complex controllers. The tuning is done by using data of closed loop experiments with the controller that is being tuned in the loop. Therefore, knowledge of the system and disturbances is not required. That is one of the principal advantages of this method. At the department of Machine Design at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) there is a single cylinder HCCI engine. It is based on a SCANIA truck engine and it includes an Active Valve Train System. In this equipment a control system based on non-linear compensation is used. Furthermore, a model of the real engine is available. In this project a procedure which allows the application of IFT in the HCCI has been developed. The method was tested, first, on a model and, secondly, in the test bed of the HCCI engine explained above. Controllers were tuned for three different operating points of the engine. The overlap method was used in two of them and the IVC method in the third one. However, more experience is required to determine how much improvement can be gained with the method. It was also noted that speed transients were very difficult to control due to long time delays.


Information pertaining to the African Diaspora in America from colonization to the evolution of African American culture and the era of various movements for social justice, performing arts, and black activism.


Human XT-I (xylosyltransferase I; EC 184.108.40.206) initiates the biosynthesis of the glycosaminoglycan linkage region and is a diagnostic marker of an enhanced proteoglycan biosynthesis. In the present study, we have investigated mutant enzymes of human XT-I and assessed the impact of the N-terminal region on the enzymatic activity. Soluble mutant enzymes of human XT-I with deletions at the N-terminal domain were expressed in insect cells and analysed for catalytic activity. As many as 260 amino acids could be truncated at the N-terminal region of the enzyme without affecting its catalytic activity. However, truncation of 266, 272 and 273 amino acids resulted in a 70, 90 and >98% loss in catalytic activity. Interestingly, deletion of the single 12 amino acid motif G261KEAISALSRAK272 leads to a loss-of-function XT-I mutant. This is in agreement with our findings analysing the importance of the Cys residues where we have shown that C276A mutation resulted in a nearly inactive XT-I enzyme. Moreover, we investigated the location of the heparin-binding site of human XT-I using the truncated mutants. Heparin binding was observed to be slightly altered in mutants lacking 289 or 568 amino acids, but deletion of the potential heparin-binding motif P721KKVFKI727 did not lead to a loss of heparin binding capacity. The effect of heparin or UDP on the XT-I activity of all mutants was not significantly different from that of the wild-type. Our study demonstrates that over 80% of the nucleotide sequence of the XT-I-cDNA is necessary for expressing a recombinant enzyme with full catalytic activity.


Combinatorial atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition (cAPCVD) was used to synthesise a film with gradating nitrogen dopant and phase from anatase to anatase–rutile mixtures on a single film. This is the first time such a mixed graduating system has been reported. The film was characterised via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, wavelength dispersive X-ray (WDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) mapping. Film thicknesses were determined by Swanepoel method manipulations of UV-visible reflectance spectra and side-on scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrical resistivities were derived from conductivities measured on a two-point probe and the photocatalytic activity assessed using a novel high-throughput digital image colour analysis method. This allowed for the systematic investigation on the effect of phase composition and nitrogen content on the films' functional properties; indicating the effect of substitutional nitrogen doping and/or increased rutile content on the photocatalytic activity under UVA light and the benefit of substitutional nitrogen doping on the films electrical conductivity. Novel WDX, Raman and photocatalysis mapping tools are presented for derivation of a films Ti : N atomic ratio, anatase : rutile ratio and photocatalytic activity, respectively. Films synthesised by the cAPCVD route analysed in conjunction with mapping analysis tools provide a shortcut to identifying numerous phases and compositions and their functional property relationships on a single film, offering a rapid method for analysis of phase space.


The UK is currently in the midst of a large outbreak of pertussis, with the highest morbidity and mortality occurring in young unimmunised infants. This review considers the potential strategies to optimise control of pertussis in infants, including vaccination of (1) adolescents, (2) close household contacts of newborn infants (cocooning), (3) newborn infants and (4) pregnant women. The paper discusses the evidence base for each of these strategies and considers the rationale for the recent introduction of a temporary vaccination programme for pregnant women in the UK in response to the ongoing outbreak.


Urban reserves are important reservoirs of biodiversity and contribute to urban public amenity in the city landscape. Despite their value there are many adverse impacts on reserves and there is often a lack of funds or interest that can be utilized to assist in their management. In order to develop a management and restoration plan for part of Bushforever site 456 (in the Perth suburb of Langford) a vegetation survey and soil seedbank analysis was conducted. A total of 134 of the 185 species recorded on the site were identified in the survey of which 71% were native. Callitris pyramidalis was the most abundant woody species with the most abundant exotic species being Cynodon dactylon, Ehrharta calycina, and Briza maxima. Four different plant communities were identified on site via the use of ordination software. These four communities were: grassland dominated by exotic species, a Banksia Woodland and two different shrubland communities. These communities were found to be influenced primarily by soil hardness, salinity and pH. The thickness of A horizon sand over a clay subsoil is also likely to be important in community distribution as it controls the degree of winter waterlogging (and severity of summer drought) in low-lying parts of the reserve. The seedbank study found, in a degraded part of the Banksia Woodland vegetation, that there is a number of viable seed of some native species within the soil. However this does not closely reflect the present community and would need to be supplemented with extra seed or green stock if it was utilized as part of a restoration process. Littering, trampling of vegetation and invasive species are major factors causing degradation of the communities with the Bankisa Woodland and the grassland the worst affected.

These results indicate the need to develop a management plan that concentrates on controlling and eradicating exotics. There is also a need to work with the local community to develop an education program in order to develop positive interactions with the bushland ecology while maintaining the recreational and aesthetic values of the site.


Background Recent studies have shown that gastric-derived Lactobacillus can inhibit the colonization of H. pylori and attenuate gastric in�ammation in conventional animals, but the resistant of Lactobacillus to gastric environment is still unknown. Here, we aimed to screen the candidate Lactobacillus that could adapt to the harsh gastric environment and inhibit the colonization of H. pylori. Results In vitro, the growth rate of seven Lactobacillus strains in different pH and bile salt concentration were tested, the size of inhibition zone and adhesion rate of H. pylori when Lactobacillus exist were measured. In gnotobiotic mice models, we examined the amount of colonization of L. crispatus and H. pylori by qRT-PCR and evaluated the in�ammation in the gastric tissue by the content of MPO and H&E stain. In vitro experiments showed L. crispatus had a better growth rate than other six Lactobacilluses in pH 2.5 to 4.5; under the 0.2% bile salt concentration, other bacteria did not grow except for L. crispatus; L. crispatus yielded 24.2 mm of mean inhibitory zone diameters; the adhesion rate of H. pylori only reached 41.3% in H. pylori-L. crispatus group(HLG). In vivo, the amount of colonization of H. pylori in HLG is �fteen times less than that in H. pylori group (HG) (p < 0.05); the MPO value of HG was 1.4 times that of HLG; the gastric tissue in�ammation of HLG was obviously lighter than HG. L. crispatus may be an adjunctive therapy for treating H. pylori-associated disease in clinic. Conclusions L. crispatus has resistance to low acid and high bile salts environment and it inhibits the growth of H. pylori and the subsequent in fl ammation H. pylori caused in gnotobiotic Kunming mice model, which suggest the potential of developing L. crispatus as clinical agents.


1. This document is HS1308, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date September 2017. Revised March 2020. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. For more detailed information on citrus rootstocks, please refer to SP 42, Rootstocks for Florida Citrus, and HS1260, Florida Citrus Rootstock Selection Guide (which was developed through a collaborative effort of citrus researchers from UF/IFAS and USDA). The interactive guide assisting in the selection of rootstocks best suited for the individual needs of a citrus operation can be found at https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/citrus_rootstock/.


Abstract. This paper proposes a three-parameter mathematical model to describe the particle size distribution in a water sample. The proposed model offers some conceptual advantages over two other models reported on previously, and also provides a better fit to the particle counting data obtained from 321 water samples taken over three years at a large South African drinking water supplier. Using the data from raw water samples taken from a moderately turbid, large surface impoundment, as well as samples from the same water after treatment, typical ranges of the model parameters are presented for both raw and treated water. Once calibrated, the model allows the calculation and comparison of total particle number and volumes over any randomly selected size interval of interest.


Applications of audio playback and communication often require the possibility to shape the signal spectra. This can easily be implemented in conjunction with audio coding techniques which are based on a spectral decomposition. Here, this can be accomplished by simply multiplying the decoded spectral components with different gain factors. However, since the transforms or filter banks used in coding produce a critically sampled representation, this can lead to undesirable non-compensated aliasing components in the resulting output signal. The gain factor dependent aliasing compensation technique presented in this paper reduces these effects in a very efficient way. The remaining aliasing components are almost as low as for the approximation of a non-critically sampled complex filter bank, while the new technique is of lower computational complexity and introduces less delay.


Background: Air pollution-attributable disease burdens reported at global, country, state, or county levels mask potential smaller-scale geographic heterogeneity driven by variation in pollution levels and disease rates. Capturing within-city variation in air pollution health impacts is now possible with high-resolution pollutant concentrations. Objectives: We quantified neighborhood-level variation in air pollution health risks, comparing results from highly spatially resolved pollutant and disease rate data sets available for the Bay Area, California. Methods: We estimated mortality and morbidity attributable to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), black carbon (BC), and fine particulate matter [PM ≤2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5)] using epidemiologically derived health impact functions. We compared geographic distributions of pollution-attributable risk estimates using concentrations from a) mobile monitoring of NO2 and BC; and b) models predicting annual NO2, BC and PM2.5 concentrations from land-use variables and satellite observations. We also compared results using county vs. census block group (CBG) disease rates. Results: Estimated pollution-attributable deaths per 100,000 people at the 100-m grid-cell level ranged across the Bay Area by a factor of 38, 4, and 5 for NO2 [mean=30 (95% CI: 9, 50)], BC [mean=2 (95% CI: 1, 2)], and PM2.5, [mean=49 (95% CI: 33, 64)]. Applying concentrations from mobile monitoring and land-use regression (LUR) models in Oakland neighborhoods yielded similar spatial patterns of estimated grid-cell–level NO2-attributable mortality rates. Mobile monitoring concentrations captured more heterogeneity [mobile monitoring mean=64 (95% CI: 19, 107) deaths per 100,000 people; LUR mean=101 (95% CI: 30, 167)]. Using CBG-level disease rates instead of county-level disease rates resulted in 15% larger attributable mortality rates for both NO2 and PM2.5, with more spatial heterogeneity at the grid-cell–level [NO2 CBG mean=41 deaths per 100,000 people (95% CI: 12, 68); NO2 county mean=38 (95% CI: 11, 64); PM2.5 CBG mean=59 (95% CI: 40, 77); and PM2.5 county mean=55 (95% CI: 37, 71)]. Discussion: Air pollutant-attributable health burdens varied substantially between neighborhoods, driven by spatial variation in pollutant concentrations and disease rates. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7679


Background Public awareness is crucial for successful deployment of tidal energy, a renewable energy source that can provide clean electricity to remote islands. However, considering public attitudes on tidal energy are not well known, especially in developing countries, a barrier exists in implementing public engagement strategies. This study aims to contribute by identifying strategies for information provision—the initial step in public engagement—and estimate how these can be engaged to enhance support for tidal energy among the local public in a remote area of a developing country, in this case, Flores Timur Regency, Indonesia, considering their socio-cultural background. Methods In this paper, we employ statistical analyses using multinomial probit modelling to identify the key variables that shape information flow. The aptness of the variables is then verified using post-estimation techniques for their use as input parameters for the simulation of the information flow in the field study area. Agent-based simulation (ABS) is employed to replicate the actual conditions in Flores Timur Regency, Indonesia, and simulate the flow of information through the local community. Results According to the multinomial probit estimations, the people belonging to the top hierarchical group show a higher probability to support tidal energy compared to the members belonging to the lower groups. Understandably, around twice as many information flow cycles are needed to disseminate information to the members of the lowest hierarchical group, compared to the members of the top hierarchical group. The results also show that increasing the amount of available information has a positive impact on information dissemination. Conclusions This study demonstrated that information provision is highly effective with propagation of information that specifically highlights the individual benefits, rather than the community benefits of tidal energy. Additionally, savings in terms of costs, time, and efforts can be realized if the most influential members of the local community are targeted initially before including all other stakeholders. The study also indicated that locals absorb more information and increase their support for tidal energy when additional data is made available. Finally, as long-term strategy, information provision becomes most effective when the local population gains higher educational capabilities.


The physical oceanographic conditions in the Barents Sea depend mainly on the variability in the Atlantic inflow from the Norwegian Sea and the inflow of Arctic water from the Kara Sea and the Arctic Ocean. The transport out of the Barents Sea consists of transformed Atlantic water to the Arctic Ocean and also partly to the Norwegian Sea.To describe the water balance, good estimates of the volume transports between the different seas are needed. By means of available literature, some current measurements and ocean modelling, the present paper describes the water fluxes through the Barents Sea. Russian scientists have calculated the geostrophical transport of the Atlantic current, and found a clear seasonal variation with maximum flow during wintertime. Current measurements, carried out in an array in the north-eastern Barents Sea, confirm the seasonality. The outflow varies from 1 to 3 Sv with maximum during the cold season. The results from a wind-driven numerical model of the Atlantic inflow also show a clear inter-annual variability. Both the seasonal and inter-annual variability seem to be linked to the atmospheric pressure, and the results clearly indicate the highest flow of water when the atmospheric pressure is low.Based on available literature from all the different in/outflow areas, we try to make a balanced budget for the Barents Sea through-flow. The results indicate an average ingoing and outgoing transport of approximately 4 Sv, of which the throughflow of Atlantic water contributes the half.


We have tested the hypothesis that changes in the levels and cellular location of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes might be associated with the development of insulin resistance in skeletal muscles from the high-fat-fed rat. Lipid measurements showed that triglyceride and diacylglycerol, an activator of PKC, were elevated four- and twofold, respectively. PKC activity assays indicated that the proportion of membrane-associated calcium-independent PKC was also increased. As determined by immunoblotting, total (particulate plus cytosolic) PKC alpha, epsilon, and zeta levels were not different between control and fat-fed rats. However, the ratio of particulate to cytosolic PKC epsilon in red muscles from fat-fed rats was increased nearly sixfold, suggesting chronic activation. In contrast, the amount of cytosolic PKC theta was downregulated to 45% of control, while the ratio of particulate to cytosolic levels increased, suggesting a combination of chronic activation and downregulation. Interestingly, while insulin infusion in glucose-clamped rats increased the proportion of PKC theta in the particulate fraction of red muscle, this was potentiated by fat-feeding, suggesting that the translocation is a consequence of altered lipid flux rather than a proximal event in insulin signaling. PKC epsilon and theta measurements from individual rats correlated with triglyceride content of red gastrocnemius muscle; they did not correlate with plasma glucose, which was not elevated in fat-fed rats, suggesting that they were not simply a consequence of hyperglycemia. Our results suggest that these specific alterations in PKC epsilon and PKC theta might contribute to the link between increased lipid availability and muscle insulin resistance previously described using high-fat-fed rats.


Background Rheumatoid arthritis is characterised by an inflammatory response in synovial joints, showing a predominant influx of neutrophils. These cells have a relative short life span and many of them undergo apoptosis. If they are not cleared, they undergo secondary necrosis and release their cell content which promotes inflammation. One receptor involved in the uptake of apoptotic cells, called efferocytosis, is the Mer tyrosine kinase receptor. In addition, Mer is involved in an anti-inflammatory natural feedback mechanism. One of the ligands for Mer is Protein S (Pros1). The local role of Mer during arthritis, however, has not been elucidated. Materials and methods One day after the booster injection of collagen-induced arthritis in mice, a commercially available antibody against Mer was injected intravenously or an adenovirus overexpressing Pros1 was injected intra-articularly into the knee joints. Mice were euthanized at day 30 or 36, respectively. The KRN serum transfer model was induced by two injections of arthritic K/BxN serum on day 0 and 2 in either Mer-deficient mice or in wild type mice that overexpress Pros1 in their knee joints. Mice were euthanized at day 7 or day 14, respectively. From all mice, serum was taken for cytokine profiling and knee joints were isolated for histology and immunohistochemistry. Results Overexpression of the Mer ligand Pros1 resulted in reduced production of inflammatory mediators by the synovial cells of arthritic mice in addition to diminished joint pathology. Conversely, inhibiting Mer-mediated efferocytosis by either antibodies or Mertk ablation resulted in aggravation of arthritis, exhibited by increased inflammation and tissue destruction. Additionally, these mice had an increased percentage of active Caspase-3 positive cells in their joints, a marker for apoptotic cells, and higher serum levels of IL-16C, a cytokine released by secondary necrotic neutrophils. On the contrary, Pros1 overexpression led to reduced numbers of apoptotic and secondary necrotic neutrophils. Conclusions To conclude, activation of Mer plays a unique, protective role in controlling the severity and resolution of inflammation in experimental arthritis. Our data suggest that promoting Mer-mediated uptake of apoptotic cells in the arthritic joint might be therapeutically beneficial.


Although reintroduction programmes are often implemented for recovering animal populations, projects seldom monitor the long‐term survival of released animals. In addition, although many releases may occur in the same area, little is known about how the survival of successive release batches is affected by the presence of conspecifics and density dependence. Here, we use multi‐state capture–recapture modelling (combining information from recaptures and recoveries) to analyse the survival of two batches of Hermann's tortoise Testudo hermanni hermanni released in a 10‐year interval and monitored for 18 years at the Ebro Delta (western Mediterranean). We also tested whether the released animals experienced lower survival (i.e. a release cost) before becoming familiar with the new environment. Although we used a hard‐release method, neither group experienced a short‐term release cost. Annual survival of both groups differed and was not negatively affected by density‐dependent factors. Annual survivorship of the first group of released tortoises was constant and very high (0.945, se=0.011), and similar to that estimated from several natural populations. The presence of a terrestrial predator in 1 year (before the release of the second group) significantly decreased the survival of tortoises (0.819, se=0.073). Strikingly, survival of the second batch was significantly lower than that of the first group after the first years of release (0.775, se=0.049). Although survivorship for the first group suggested that habitat quality was high, the second group seemed not to acclimate well to the new environment, possibly due to the presence of resident tortoises. From a management perspective, reintroduction programmes of the Hermann's tortoise are a successful strategy for its recovery. Nevertheless, it seems advisable to avoid: (1) the release of tortoises at the core of well‐established populations and (2) areas with a high density of predators, which can jeopardize the reintroduction success, especially when the number of released individuals is small.


We present a probabilistic sediment cascade model to simulate sediment transfer in a mountain basin (Illgraben, Switzerland) where sediment is produced by hillslope landslides and rockfalls and exported out of the basin by debris flows and floods. The model conceptualizes the fluvial system as a spatially lumped cascade of connected reservoirs representing hillslope and channel storages where sediment goes through cycles of storage and remobilization by surface runoff. The model includes all relevant hydrological processes that lead to runoff formation in an Alpine basin, such as precipitation, snow accumulation, snowmelt, evapotranspiration, and soil water storage. Although the processes of sediment transfer and debris flow generation are described in a simplified manner, the model produces complex sediment discharge behavior which is driven by the availability of sediment and antecedent wetness conditions (system memory) as well as the triggering potential (climatic forcing). The observed probability distribution of debris flow volumes and their seasonality in 2000–2009 are reproduced. The stochasticity of hillslope sediment input is important for reproducing realistic sediment storage variability, although many details of the hillslope landslide triggering procedures are filtered out by the sediment transfer system. The model allows us to explicitly quantify the division into transport and supply‐limited sediment discharge events. We show that debris flows may be generated for a wide range of rainfall intensities because of variable antecedent basin wetness and snowmelt contribution to runoff, which helps to understand the limitations of methods based on a single rainfall threshold for debris flow initiation in Alpine basins.


Until recently, there has not been any practical way to assess airway inflammation non-invasively in paediatrics. Surrogate markers of airway inflammation are potentially of great importance in the diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory airways disease in children. A large number of substances in blood, urine and exhaled air or induced sputum are currently under study to evaluate their possible usefulness as markers of airway inflammation. To be useful, a marker should be valid, preferably non-invasive, quick, reproducible, repeatable and cheap. In addition, markers should be studied in relation to their specific purpose because different markers may be useful for different types of airway inflammation. Few, if any, markers will fulfill all these requirements. Most research has focused on applications of markers in asthma, some data refer to cystic fibrosis, infections and ciliary dyskinesia. Of all surrogate markers, exhaled nitric oxide has been studied the most and seems to offer information that should be evaluated for its relevance to clinical practice. Before introducing markers of inflammation into daily practice, analysis of benefits and costs are needed. There is little doubt that 'inflammometry' will be a major step forward and will be useful in differentiating airways diseases and improving treatment.


Crumpled reduced graphene oxide–amine–titanium dioxide nanocomposites (CGOATI) were synthesized by an one-step aerosol technique to enable simultaneous carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption and photoreduction. Graphene oxide (GO), chemically modified by ethylenediamine (EDA), was crumpled using an aerosol process, encapsulating TiO2 nanoparticles to form core–shell nanostructures. The three-dimensional (3D) structure largely prevented the crumpled graphene nanosheets from restacking by minimizing π–π interactions, thus enhancing the stability of the catalyst by retaining its higher surface area. A combination of a 20% mass percentage of TiO2/GO, a 15 : 1 mass ratio of EDA/GO in precursor solution, and a 200 °C synthesis temperature led to the highest CO yield (65 μmol g−1 h−1, with an apparent quantum efficiency of 0.0094%), which was two-fold higher than that of crumpled reduced GO–TiO2 (CGOTI) and four-fold higher than that of TiO2 alone. The enhancement of CO2 photoreduction was attributed to higher CO2 adsorption on the amine-functionalized reduced-GO (r-GO) surface and the strong electron trapping capability of r-GO. The insertion of EDA on r-GO nanosheets, the adsorption of CO2 by amine groups, and the photoreduction of the adsorbed CO2 were confirmed by FTIR and XPS spectra analysis. The r-GO nanosheets themselves were simultaneously photoreduced during CO2 photoreduction. Raman spectroscopy and conductivity measurements showed that photoreduced r-GO had a higher electronic conductivity than thermally reduced r-GO, and led to more effective CO2 photoreduction. This study offers new insights into the design and fabrication of graphene-based photocatalysts for CO2 photoreduction.


Over the past decades the clinical spectrum of paediatric coeliac disease has profoundly changed, from a classical presentation with distended abdomen, diarrhoea and failure to thrive to more atypical symptoms. These days, children commonly present with symptoms such as recurrent abdominal pain, fatigue, iron deficiency anaemia and constipation. Age at diagnosis has also increased over the past few years. In the past 20 years the incidence of the disease in the Netherlands has increased from 12.3 to 21.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, reaching a stable level in the past 5 years. In approximately 10% of children, serological test results are negative on first examination but become positive after repeated testing in the years that follow, emphasising the need for alertness when first tests are negative and symptoms persist. We underscore the guidelines' advice to apply a low threshold in testing for coeliac disease in children with atypical symptoms.


The South Atlantic Regional Research Project (SARRP, http://www.gcrc.uga.edu/sarrp.htm) is a regional, multi-agency project to develop a coordinated coastal and ocean research plan for the southeastern United States (from NC to FL). The South Atlantic effort was funded by National Sea Grant-NOAA and was conducted in concert with similar projects in other Sea Grant regions across the US and Insular Pacific. The project's primary goals are to identify priority coastal and ocean research needs for the region and to foster productive cooperation among regional partners. The SARRP plan was released in April 2010 after a three-year process that involved federal, regional, state and academic partners from throughout the region. The plan identifies 27 research priorities, which were aligned with the four themes that are also being used by the South Atlantic Governor's Alliance: Healthy Ecosystems, Working Waterfronts, Clean Coastal and Ocean Waters, and Disaster-Resilient Communities. We are currently collecting information describing ongoing or planned activities that are relevant to each priority, as well as identifying areas specifically aligned with the missions of particular agencies and organizations. This paper will describe the process by which the plan was developed, highlighting the key research priorities identified in the research plan and presenting an update on synergy with other regional initiatives.


Information on immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced vasculitides is limited, and predictors for this condition have not been identified. Therefore, we have examined the frequency of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced vasculitides by analyzing the data recorded in the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database. Data from April 2004 to March 2020 were extracted, and vasculitides as an immune-related adverse event was defined according to the 2012 revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides. Adverse event signals were recognized as significant when the reporting odds ratio estimates and lower limits of the corresponding 95% confidence intervals exceeded 1. The use of nivolumab showed a significant signal for vasculitides. Furthermore, significant signals of polymyalgia rheumatica were found when the patients were treated with nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and ipilimumab. In addition, the frequencies of nivolumab- and pembrolizumab-induced polymyalgia rheumatica were higher in patients aged ≥70 years and female patients, respectively. Polymyalgia rheumatica was reported in 38 patients treated with nivolumab; 31 (82%) of these were either in recovery or in remission. Further, polymyalgia rheumatica was reported in 17 patients treated with pembrolizumab; 13 (76%) of these were in recovery or remission, while three (18%) were not. Polymyalgia rheumatica was reported in 12 patients treated with ipilimumab; seven (58%) of these were in recovery or remission. Our study highlights that careful monitoring for the symptom of PMR (e.g., bilateral pain in shoulder and pelvic girdles) is required when the patients are aged >70 years and have been treated with nivolumab and when the patients are women and have been treated with pembrolizumab.


This article describes the work of the legislation subcommittee of the steering committee responsible for the implementation of the Graham Report, Ontario's current blueprint for community mental health. It describes barriers to psychiatric survivor participation in the subcommittee's 1990 provincial consultation, including professional/bureaucratic characterization of survivor actions during the event as "bad manners." I argue that this naming is an act of power. Conflicts arose because the two groups operate from different behavioural codes in which the pivotal issue, acted out indirectly in all kinds of interactions, was whether and how deeply to include personal experience and emotions as forms of knowledge. The cultural dimensions of "consumer participation" must be more broadly recognized and more consciously considered if this policy is to remain viable, particularly in a time of major economic restructuring.


Abstract In the current study, 65 Vibrio spp. were isolated from the Monastir lagoon water, were characterized phenotypically and genotypically. In addition, we looked for the presence of three Vibrio parahaemolyticus virulence genes (tlh, trh and tdh) and ten Vibrio cholerae virulence genes (ctxA, vpi, zot, ace, toxR, toxT, tosS, toxRS, tcpA and cpP). We also investigated the antibiotic susceptibilities and the adherence ability of the identified strains to abiotic material and to biotic surfaces. The cytotoxicity activity against HeLa and Vero cell lines were also carried out for all tested strains. All Vibrio isolates were identified to the species level and produced several hydrolytic exoenzymes. The results also revealed that all strains were expressing high rates of resistance to tested antibiotics. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values showed that tetracycline and chloramphenicol were the most effective antibiotics against the tested bacteria. Vibrio alginolyticus and V. cholerae species were the most adhesive strains to both biotic and abiotic surfaces. Besides, V. alginolyticus isolates has the high levels of recombination of genes encoding V. cholerae and V. parahaemolyticus virulence factors. In vitro cytotoxic activities of several Vibrio extracellular product were also observed among HeLa and Vero cells.


Many peripheral solid tumors such as sarcomas and carcinomas express tumor-specific antigens that can serve as targets for immune effector T cells. Nevertheless, overall immune surveillance against such tumors seems relatively inefficient. We studied immune surveillance against a s.c. sarcoma expressing a characterized viral tumor antigen. Surprisingly, the tumor cells were capable of inducing a protective cytotoxic T cell response if transferred as a single-cell suspension. However, if they were transplanted as small tumor pieces, tumors readily grew. Tumor growth correlated strictly with (i) failure of tumor cells to reach the draining lymph nodes and (ii) absence of primed cytotoxic T cells. Cytotoxic T cells were not tolerant or deleted because a tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell response was readily induced in lymphoid tissue by immunization with virus or with tumor cells even in the presence of large tumors. Established tumors were rejected by vaccine-induced effector T cells if effector T cells were maintained by prolonged or repetitive vaccination, but not by single-dose vaccination. Thus, in addition to several other tumor-promoting parameters, some antigenic peripheral sarcomas-and probably carcinomas-may grow not because they anergize or tolerize tumor-specific T cells, but because such tumors are immunologically dealt with as if they were in a so-called immunologically privileged site and are ignored for too long.


In its evaluation of the performing arts scene in the first decade of the twenty-first century, the Catalan daily newspaper 'La Vangiardia' opted for the headline 'El teatro de los directores' (directors' theatre). While its list of the top fifteen theatre pieces includes a range of international directors who have revolutionised stage practice since the early 1990s - including Romeo Castellucci, Kristin Lupa, Declan Donnellan, Robert Lapage, Frank Castorf and Thomas Ostermeier - it is worth noting the appearance of four Spanish directors on this list: Sergi Belle, Calixto Bieito, Mario Gas and Alex Rigola. In addition, La Fura dels Baus and Els Comediants were named in Roger Alier's note on the ten most important operatic stagings of the decade. The conclusions were decisive. The director, once seen to be on the peripheries of Spanish theatre-making, is now, arguably, its most powerful agent, branding the theatrical product with a signature aesthetic. Mise-en-scene can no longer be judged the mere illustration or interpretation of a play text but rather the means towards creating a theatrical experience that may dispense with dramatic text in its engagement with varied cultural forms and/or pressing political and social issues. As the international trajectories of the figures and companies names above indicate, the director has become a commodity in the exchange of cultural entrepreneur and creative artist, he - directorial practice in Spain (to a greater extent than the United Kingdom, USA or France) remains dominated by male figures - has taken on board pedagogic and ambassadorial roles and championed the state's support of the arts through contentious political and social times. The director emerged during the mid-nineteenth century as Spain was shifting towards a textually centred theatre (driven by commercial packaging of plays through both performance and lucrative print-runs, as Jose Luis Gonzalez Subias details in Chapter 11, pp. 232-43). While the presentation of a play text may have governed the practice of early directors, mise-en-scene has now evolved into a form of authorship, a mode of creation and interpretation rather than the mere harnessing of stage resources towards the 'service' of a text.


A plane drawing of a graph is cylindrical if there exist two concentric circles that contain all the vertices of the graph, and no edge intersects (other than at its endpoints) any of these circles. The cylindrical crossing number of a graph \(G\) is the minimum number of crossings in a cylindrical drawing of \(G\). In his influential survey on the variants of the definition of the crossing number of a graph, Schaefer lists the complexity of computing the cylindrical crossing number of a graph as an open question. In this paper, we prove that the problem of deciding whether a given graph admits a cylindrical embedding is NP-complete, and as a consequence we show that the \(t\)-cylindrical crossing number problem is also NP-complete. Moreover, we show an analogous result for the natural generalization of the cylindrical crossing number,  namely the \(t\)-crossing number.


: The article highlights objectives and tasks of the emergency cardiological service at the prehospital stage. Recommendations are given on improvement of diagnosis and organization of medial service delivery to patients with myocardial infarction. An association has been demonstrated between the clinical picture of myocardial infarction and duration of hospitalization. The possibility is considered of diagnosis of myocardial infarction in atypical clinical picture at the stage of emergency medical care to be provided for the patients under consideration.


Due to climate change, the world average surface temperature has increased 0.3-0.6oC over the past 100 years. The northern belt of Pakistan holds the largest storage of freshwater (ice and snow) after the polar region, and provides water to the downstream population for agriculture plus domestic and hydropower resources. This study focuses on a possible explanation for the seemingly declining behavior of Darkut Glacier using evidence from ground observation and climate station data in Yasin and Gupis valleys in northern Pakistan. We analyzed data obtained from two stations includes the Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan (WAPDA, 1995-2010) and the Pakistan Meteorology Department (PMD, 1986-2015). Results of both climate station data depicted an increase in total precipitation and a decrease in winter and spring seasons. The study also highlighted an increase in mean minimum and maximum temperatures, particularly in winter and spring. Similarly, the trend of solar radiation also has decreased. Therefore, enhanced snout fluctuation and the melting rate of Darkut occurred during the study period. All of these changes have had a negative impact on the snout of the glacier, which has retreated 6 m during 2013 and 2016, and a lake has formed behind the terminal moraine.