1 To define the sub‐cellular mechanisms of modulation of cardiac excitation‐contraction (E‐C) coupling by the β‐adrenergic pathway, we carried out confocal Ca2+ imaging in conjunction with recordings of inward Ca2+ current in fluo‐3‐loaded patch‐clamped rat ventricular myocytes. 2 Isoproterenol (isoprenaline; ISO) increased the amplitude of the inward Ca2+ current and the globally measured intracellular Ca2+ transients. The gain of calcium‐induced calcium release (CICR) was increased at all membrane potentials but especially at positive membrane potentials (> +30 mV). ISO dramatically broadened the bell‐shaped voltage dependence of intracellular Ca2+ transients by shifting the descending portion of the curve to very high membrane potentials. 3 The number of local release events (solitary sparks and conglomerates of overlapping sparks) induced by depolarizing steps to +30 mV was increased significantly by ISO. This potentiation of events was due to increased trigger calcium current (ICa) as well the enhanced ability of ICa to induce release. The amplitude and duration of solitary sparks were increased in the presence of ISO. In addition, ISO dramatically increased the proportion and the size ('mass') of clustered events. 4 Exclusion of Na+ from the intra‐ and extracellular solutions prevented ISO from enhancing the ability of ICa to trigger sparks. 5 We conclude that β‐adrenergic stimulation enhances the gain of the CICR cascade by increasing the fidelity of dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR)‐ryanodine receptor (RyR) coupling and by promoting cross‐activation of RyRs in neighbouring release sites. Reverse Na+‐Ca2+ exchange (NCX) appears to play a role in the β‐adrenergic enhancement of CICR by effectively contributing to the Ca2+ trigger.


The Female Athlete Triad is a common clinical entity amongst female athletes. The physician caring for such athletes needs to keep the symptoms of the triad in mind and recognize their potential severity. Still more needs to be done in the areas of prevention, early detection, and early treatment. Education efforts should be focused on junior high and early high school girls because the rapid bone formation during puberty will be necessary to carry them for the rest of their lives. It is also important to note that the female athlete triad should not be used as a reason to disqualify otherwise healthy female athletes from athletic participation. Athletic participation and exercise are good and healthy, if done appropriately. Women have made great strides in the athletic realm, and it would be inappropriate to imply that they should not participate because of the risk or presence of the Female Athlete Triad.


Inter-process communication (ipc) has to be fast and effective, otherwise programmers will not use remote procedure calls (RPC), multithreading and multitasking adequately. Thus ipc performance is vital for modern operating systems, especially μ-kernel based ones. Surprisingly, most μ-kernels exhibit poor ipc performance, typically requiring 100 μs for a short message transfer on a modern processor, running with 50 MHz clock rate.In contrast, we achieve 5 μs; a twentyfold improvement.This paper describes the methods and principles used, starting from the architectural design and going down to the coding level. There is no single trick to obtaining this high performance; rather, a synergetic approach in design and implementation on all levels is needed. The methods and their synergy are illustrated by applying them to a concrete example, the L3 μ-kernel (an industrial-quality operating system in daily use at several hundred sites). The main ideas are to guide the complete kernel design by the ipc requirements, and to make heavy use of the concept of virtual address space inside the μ-kernel itself.As the L3 experiment shows, significant performance gains are possible: compared with Mach, they range from a factor of 22 (8-byte messages) to 3 (4-Kbyte messages). Although hardware specific details influence both the design and implementation, these techniques are applicable to the whole class of conventional general purpose von Neumann processors supporting virtual addresses. Furthermore, the effort required is reasonably small, for example the dedicated parts of the μ-kernel can be concentrated in a single medium sized module.


A Raman spectrometer based on forming an interferogram on a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector is evaluated further with respect to signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), stability, response correction, and resolution. The multichannel Fourier transform technique differs fundamentally from dispersive spectrometers and FT-Raman systems based on Michelson interferometers. Changes in entrance optics permitted multitrack operation and an improvement in collection efficiency. Both hardware and a more facile software procedure were examined for correction of noise caused by nonuniformity of the CCD response. The instrumental linewidth (ILW) for the multichannel Fourier transform (MCFT) system examined here was 14 cm−1 (full width at half-maximum), close to the 13.5 cm−1 predicted theoretically. An optical heterodyne method was used to downshift the observed Raman features and further reduce the ILW to 8 cm−1. The unheterodyned MCFT spectrometer has a lower SNR than do dispersive systems for most samples, but has the advantages of frequency precision and large throughput. Several applications of MCFT are discussed, including examination of photolabile samples, multiple sample monitoring with fiber optics, and identification of MCFT spectra with a dispersive library.


We leverage a temporary block of the Chinese microblogging platform Sina Weibo due to political events, to estimate the causal effect of online word-of-mouth content on product demand in the context of TV show viewership. Based on this source of exogenous variation, we estimate an elasticity of TV show ratings (market share in terms of viewership) with respect to the number of relevant comments (comments were disabled during the block) of 0.016. In terms of the behavioral mechanism, we find more post-show microblogging activity increases demand, whereas comments posted prior to the show airing do not affect viewership. These patterns are inconsistent with informative or persuasive advertising effects and suggest a complementarity between TV consumption and anticipated post-show microblogging activity.


Learning is key to developing systems tailored to abroad range of data analysis and information, extraction tasks. We outline the mathematical foundations of learning theory and describe a key algorithm of it.


Experiments are carried out on a femtosecond laser micromachining system with the wavelength 775nm. The ablated patterns on Si (100) and Si (111) surfaces affected by femtosecond pulse laser parameters are presented. The periodic structure termed ripples on silicon surface is investigated. Two kinds of ripples on the ablated surface are observed by SEM. The whole ablation region indicates the ablated field of all amount of laser energy. The ablation region forms two circular areas. The cross section image of the ablated region is showed which is cut by FIB in the orthogonal direction of the line of the center ripples. The depth of ripples is measured. Adjusted the laser fluence as about 0.3~0.33J/cm2 and the pulse number as changeable from 1 to 50, the forming process of the ripples is observed and studied by AFM. Another experiment is done that the wave-plates are inserted into the space between the objective and sample, the result of the direction of ripples changed with the wave-plates of 1/2 or 1/4 is reviewed.


A study was made of deposition of diformazan TNBT and TCNBT in the presence of succinate and without it in stable L-forms of Str. pyogenes group A, St. aureus and L. monocytogenes. Diformazan proved to deposit on the cytoplasmic membrane, in the lamellar mesosomes and myelin-like structures and also on individual intracellulor membranes not forming special membrane organoids. Diformazan was localized on the membranes mostly asymmetrically, on the cytoplasmic membrane-on its internal side, and on the ring-like intracellulor membranes- externally. Localization of diformazan on the ring-like membranes is atributed to the fact that ring-like membranous structures in the L-forms formed as a result of invagination of the cytoplasmic membrane in the same way as bacterial mesosomes. Since L-form cells could not be released of endogenous substrates by the methods elaborated for bacteria, cytological data did not permit to ascertain dehydrogenases, responsible for asymmetrical localization of diformazan on the L-form membranes. On the basis of these data one can judge only the sum total activity of dehydrogenases in different membranes.


The expressiveness of dependent type theory can be extended by identifying types modulo some additional computation rules. But, for preserving the decidability of type-checking or the logical consistency of the system, one must make sure that those user-defined rewriting rules preserve typing. In this paper, we give a new method to check that property using Knuth-Bendix completion.


This paper presents a new methodology for rapidly generating complexity maps for various configurations taking into account the influence of some conflict avoidance algorithm at a pair-wise intersection level. The complexity maps are based on analytical expressions, validated through simulations, of the probability of conflict and the spatial distribution of aircraft. This ¿closed-loop¿ analysis explicitly considers the role of the conflict resolution algorithm, here the offset method. It gives therefore a more realistic image of the current and future health of the considered airspace as a function of the encounter and aircraft flows characteristics. Some results of the usual ¿open-loop¿ approach are also validated, while highlighting their limitations.


»Die nordeuropäische Art des Gefangenenfreikaufs: Eine unbekannte Dimension des frühmodernen Wohlfahrtsstaates«. This article is concerned with distinctly "confessional" characteristics in the organization of buying back captured sailors out of Northern Africa. The history and ways of slave redemption of Hamburg, Lubeck, the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway and the Netherlands are presented, analyzed and compared. As a result it is possible to distinguish the comparatively prominent role that centralized, bureaucratized and governmentally administered institutions played in the ransoming business of the Lutheran world.


BACKGROUND
Allergen-specific IgE serology is used for the determination of sensitization status in dogs with atopic dermatitis; the influence of the female reproductive cycle on the results of such methods has not been studied in dogs.

OBJECTIVES
To compare the total and allergen-specific IgE of healthy bitches during anestrous, estrous and pregnancy.

ANIMALS
Eight privately owned, healthy bitches.

METHODS
Total and allergen-specific IgE levels were determined in eight bitches at three different time-points of their reproductive cycle: anestrous, estrous and pregnancy.

RESULTS
Total IgE was significantly decreased (median: 74%) in female dogs during pregnancy when compared to anestrous. In 14 of 216 (6%), allergen-specific IgE test results were variably positive and negative at different stages of the reproductive cycle. This variation, however, was not related to changes in total serum IgE levels.

CONCLUSIONS
Total IgE serum levels are reduced during pregnancy in female dogs. However, results of one allergen-specific IgE test did not appear to be markedly altered by the reproductive cycle in healthy bitches.


A C-shaped patches loaded with dipole antenna designed for multiband antenna is proposed. The antenna can be reconfigured as single band at 1.2275 GHz for GPS applications and dual-band frequencies at UHF band (850 MHz–930 MHz) and ISM band (2.41 GHz–2.54 GHz) required in RFID applications. The performance of the antenna involves changing the switches to ON or OFF mode by controlling switches. By adjusting the dimension of C-shaped patch, a dual-band frequency of 0.89 GHz and 2.46 GHz is performed. The antenna's gains are 2 dBi and 3.2 dBi for lower and upper bands respectively. The length slot and length of C-shaped patch can be varied to adjust the desired upper frequency as well as the bandwidth. Moreover, the lower frequency can be tuned by varying the dipole arms for both elements. Nevertheless, the dipole antenna operated as single band when the switches are OFF at frequency resonance is 1.2275 GHz with 2.06 dBi of gain. The total efficiency for single and dual band is greater than 90 %. The design methodology and antenna measurement results are both presented and discussed in this paper. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eee.21.6.13760


High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies have become indispensable tools assisting plant virus diagnostics and research thanks to their ability to detect any plant virus in a sample without prior knowledge. As HTS technologies are heavily relying on bioinformatics analysis of the huge amount of generated sequences, it is of utmost importance that researchers can rely on efficient and reliable bioinformatic tools and can understand the principles, advantages, and disadvantages of the tools used. Here, we present a critical overview of the steps involved in HTS as employed for plant virus detection and virome characterization. We start from sample preparation and nucleic acid extraction as appropriate to the chosen HTS strategy, which is followed by basic data analysis requirements, an extensive overview of the in-depth data processing options, and taxonomic classification of viral sequences detected. By presenting the bioinformatic tools and a detailed overview of the consecutive steps that can be used to implement a well-structured HTS data analysis in an easy and accessible way, this paper is targeted at both beginners and expert scientists engaging in HTS plant virome projects.


Objective(s): The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii as an intracellular protozoan is widely prevalent in humans and animals. Infection generally occurs through consuming food contaminated with oocysts and tissue cysts from undercooked meat. The parasite is carried in sexual fluids like semen but there is little information about the effect of T. gondii on the male reproductive system. In this study, we examined the effect of T. gondii tachyzoites on apoptosis induction in type B spermatogonia (GC-1) cells. Materials and Methods: Fresh tachyzoites taken of infected BALB/c mice, GC-1 spg cells were infected with increasing concentrations of tachyzoites of T. gondii, then apoptotic cells were identified and quantified by flow cytometry. The genes associated with apoptosis were evaluated by RT2 Profiler PCR Array. Results: PCR array analysis of 84 apoptosis-related genes demonstrated that 12 genes were up-regulated at least 4-fold and that one gene was down-regulated at least 2-fold in the T. gondii infection group compared with levels in the control group. The number of genes whose expression had increased during the period of infection with T. gondii was significantly higher than those whose expressions had decreased (18 versus 1) and Tnfrsf11b had the highest rate of gene expression. Conclusion: T. gondii induce in vitro apoptosis of GC-1 spg cells. This effect shows a trend of concentration-dependent increase so that with an increase in the ratio of parasite burden to spermatogonial cells, in addition to an increase in the number of genes whose expression has changed, the fold of these changes has increased as well.


The overall aim of this thesis was to describe parents' expectations, experiences and reactions to a routine ultrasound examination during the second trimester of pregnancy and to develop, test and use a questionnaire. The aim was also to conceptualize the parents' experiences and ways of handling the situation when the diagnosis was a non-viable fetus. The data for this thesis was collected between 2001 and 2007. The work started qualitatively and inductively with interviews using the Grounded Theory method for data collection and analysis of 22 women's and 22 men's expectations experiences and reactions to routine ultrasound examination with normal findings. The results were used during the instrument development of the PEER-U questionnaire. The procedure included a pilot study where 126 parents answered both parts of the questionnaire. Factor analysis and statistical tests for validity and reliability were performed. The PEER-U questionnaire was then used for deductive testing of the results of the qualitative study with a one year cohort in which 2183 parents (1258 women and 925 men) answered both parts of a two-part (before and after ultrasound) questionnaire. The questionnaire included the PEER-U scale with an ultrasound specific state of mind index and the scales state and trait anxiety (STAI) and sense of coherence (SOC) as well as demographics. A follow-up Grounded Theory interview study was performed with 15 parents from the cohort who had been given a diagnosis of a non-viable fetus. The results from the qualitative parts showed that the parents expected to get a confirmation of a normal and apparently healthy child during the ultrasound. For parents with normal results, the ultrasound was experienced as very positive and they started to feel like a family. Afterwards these parents were left with a feeling of relief. Parents who received the diagnosis of a non-viable fetus experienced a collision between hopes and facts. They felt deceived by a false sense of security as the condition was unexpectedly discovered during a routine examination. These parents required clear information and focused on what would happen next. The need for a general and individual care plan was evident as was the need for a follow-up initiated by the care-givers. The development of the PEER-U questionnaire resulted in 30 items to measure parents' expectations and 23 items to measure their experiences and reactions. Internal consistency, calculated by Cronbach's coefficient alpha, was 0.77 for the "before ultrasound" part of the PEER-U questionnaire and 0.75 for the "after ultrasound" part. The results from the cohort study showed that both parents' degree of worried state of mind decreased after the ultrasound but their sense of coherence remained stable. In a gender comparison the women's state anxiety decreased significantly while the men showed no significant change. Before the examination the women showed a significantly higher degree of worried state of mind in relation to ultrasound than the men while afterwards the situation was reversed. The findings show that parents easily accept fetal diagnosis that gives them a visual evidence of the fetus. This should be remembered when new forms of fetal diagnosis are introduced in the future. Their state of mind in relation to ultrasound can be measured with the ultrasound specific state of mind index. Further research might improve the questionnaire and make it better adapted for use when the parents have experienced adverse findings during a routine ultrasound examination. (Less)


Cloud computing is the latest effort in delivering computing resources as a service. It represents a shift away from computing as a product that is purchased, to computing as a service that is delivered to consumers over the internet from large-scale data centres – or ―clouds‖. Whilst cloud computing is gaining growing popularity in the IT industry, academia appeared to be lagging behind the rapid developments in this field. This paper is the first systematic review of peer-reviewed academic research published in this field, and aims to provide an overview of the swiftly developing advances in the technical foundations of cloud computing and their research efforts. Structured along the technical aspects on the cloud agenda, we discuss lessons from related technologies; advances in the introduction of protocols, interfaces, and standards; techniques for modelling and building clouds; and new use-cases arising through cloud


A phenomenological approach is used to derive the light yield in inorganic scintillators as a function of the incident energy, and rates of linear, bimolecular and Auger processes occurring in the electron track initiated by an x-ray or a γ-ray photon. The dependence of the absolute and relative light yields on the rates bimolecular and Auger nonlinear quenching processes is calculated at varying incident energies. It is clearly demonstrated that the nonproportionality is caused by the nonlinear excitation quenching processes occurring within the track under the influence of high excitation density. It can therefore be reduced/eliminated by either eliminating the nonlinear interaction among the excited electrons, holes and excitons or the high density situation can be relieved by diffusion of carriers from the track at a faster rate than the rate of activation of nonlinear processes. An insight of studying these situations and their material parameter dependence will be presented. Inventing new inorganic scintillating materials with high carrier mobility can lead to a class of proportional inorganic scintillators.


The encounter of Greek culture and Christian faith was the most significant phenomenon at the beginning of the Christian era. The main aspects of apologetics – defense, polemics, propaganda – were not strange for either Hellenic or Judaic traditions. Indeed, some common themes can be singled out, of which three are the most important: anti-polytheistic and anti-idolatrous polemics – in respond to the accusation of atheism; rendition and praise of Christian moral and critique of pagan customs and traditions – in respond to incest and hatred towards mankind; in respond to the accusation of novelty – call for examples from antiquity. The responses of the apologists or the first Christian intellectuals to these accusations determine the structure, genre peculiarities, language, vocabulary, style and intonation of apologetic texts. The dialogue develops Christian theology and at the same time forms a new literary genre. It is logical to consider as classical apologetic texts (classics of the genre) those works (and authors) where the following structural model is preserved: Addressees (to sovereigns, pagan society, the Jews); Criticism of paganism (anti-polytheistic and anti-idolatrous polemics;) Jewish faith; Transference of the Christian faith.


IN view of the uncertainty as to the values of different observers' work on the above test, the following abstracts from a report made by us and sent to the Air Board on April 19, 1917, may be of interest and assist in forming a standard method of testing. We will omit all matters not germane to the subject of this note. Our tests were made on 110 healthy individuals, mostly cadets (80), all of the individuals tested being men passed fit for all duties : General service. In order to keep all examinations alike we used 7 oz. (100 c.c.) of water at 60° P. The time for the water to flow out of the irrigator was 60 sec. The test showed a wide range, but an average was obtained, giving the onset of the first visible movement of the eye, based on 41 instances, averaged 50 sec ; the total duration of the nystagmus, 37 sec.; and out of the whole 110 instances the time from the commencement of irrigation to that of cessation of the nystagmus was 96 sec, a difference of 9 sec. in the two series of observations. We considered that there seemed to be no constant duration of the nystagmus and no constant time of onset, and that in health these times varied in different individuals. A further fact was that in 13 instances no nystagmus was obtained under the given conditions, but usually in these cases vertigo was severe on attempted movement. This shows, we think, that 60° F. is not cold enough, and 55° F. would be better. We also had a fair amount of evidence to prove that in the neurasthenic conditions, induced by a long period of scouting and fighting, etc., that a prolongation of the normal duration of the induced nystagmus was present, one case showing a period of 75 sec. nystagmus after being sent home, which sank to 25 sec. after two months genuine rest.


This paper investigates the vibration behavior of micro-resonators based on the strain gradient theory, a non-classical continuum theory capable of capturing the size effect appearing in micro-scale structures. The micro-resonator is modeled as a clamped-clamped micro-beam with an attached mass subjected to an axial force. The governing equations of motion and both classical and non-classical sets of boundary conditions are developed based on the strain gradient theory. The normalized natural frequency of the micro-resonator is evaluated and the influences of various parameters are assessed. In addition, the current results are compared to those of the classical and modified couple stress continuum theories.


Benthic polychaetes in the largest intertidal mudflat of Hong Kong were analysed for potentially stressed environmental conditions from pollution. Over a two-year period, a total of 14 species were recorded with the species diversity (H′(log2)) ranged from 0.54 to 2.4. The community was dominated by two large polychaetes (Neanthes glandicincta and Potamilla acuminata) and a number of small pollution tolerant species (Tharyx, Capitella capitata and Prionospio cirrifera). It was also characterized by both temporal and spatial variations in terms of abundance and species composition with the lowest species number observed at onshore Station B in August and the highest at offshore Station D in February. Two distinct polychaete communities were formed along the intertidal towards subtidal mudflat, particularly the assemblage at onshore Station B showing a significant difference from those at the other three stations (P < 0.05, N = 32). Results of the abundance–biomass comparison (ABC) indicated a typical impacted community at the whole study area, especially at Station B which was close to the Shenzhen River mouth and mangrove forest. The total organic carbon had a significant positive effect on the abundance of Capitella capitata (P = 0.037, N = 8) while sedimentary compositions were statistically related to the abundance of Potamilla acuminata, Tharyx and total abundance of polychaetes (P < 0.05, N = 8). In conclusion, both the polluted Shenzhen River and nearby mangrove may be responsible for the decline in species richness and diversity as well as changes in community structure. Polychaetes can be used as the appropriate indicators in habitat ecological condition assessment instead of the whole benthic community.


As more and more real Wireless Sensor Network's (WSN)
applications are tested and deployed over the last decade, the research community of WSN realizes that several issues need to be revisited from practical angles, such as reliability and availability. Basically, wireless sensor networks suffer from resource limitations, high failure rates and faults caused by the defective nature of wireless communication and the wireless sensor characteristics. This can lead to situations, where nodes are often interrupted during data transmission and blind spots occur in the network by isolating some of the devices. In this paper, we address the reliability issue by designing and developing an enhanced fault-tolerance mechanism of Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing protocol for WSN called the ENhanced FAult-Tolerant AODV (ENFAT-AODV) routing protocol. The proposed ENFAT-AODV routing protocol improves the reliability and robustness of the network by creating a backup path for every node on a main path of data delivery. When the node gets failure to transmit a data packet through the main path, it immediately utilizes its backup route to become a new main path for the transmission of next coming data packets without any interruption. This protocol reduces the number of dropped data packets and maintains the continuity of data packet transmission in presence of network faults. The simulation results prove that the proposed ENFAT-AODV routing protocol enhances the original AODV in term of the reliability, availability and fault-tolerant ability of the network.


Cells respond to stress by upregulating the synthesis of cytoprotective heat shock proteins (HSPs) and antioxidant enzymes. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of cold (CWI) or hot water immersion (HWI) stress on three different acute pancreatitis models (cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK), sodium taurocholate (TC), and L-arginine (Arg)). We examined the levels of pancreatic HSP60, HSP72, and antioxidants after the water immersion stress. Male Wistar rats were injected with CCK, TC, or Arg at the peak level of pancreatic HSP synthesis, as determined by Western blot analysis. HWI significantly elevated HSP72 expression and CWI significantly increased HSP60 expression in the pancreas. Water immersion stress decreased the levels of pancreatic antioxidants. CWI and-HWI pretreatment ameliorated most of the examined laboratory and morphological parameters of CCK-induced pancreatitis. CWI pretreatment decreased pancreatic edema and the serum amylase level; however, the morphological damage was more severe in TC-induced acute pancreatitis. Overall, CWI and HWI pretreatment only decreased the serum cytokine concentrations in Arg-induced pancreatitis. CWI and HWI resulted in differential induction of pancreatic HSP60 and HSP72 and the depletion of antioxidants. The findings suggest the possible roles of HSP60 and (or) HSP72 (but not that of the antioxidant enzymes) in the protection against CCK- and TC-induced acute pancreatitis. Unexpectedly, CWI pretreatment was detrimental to the morphological parameters of TC-induced pancreatitis. It was demonstrated that CWI and HWI pretreatment only influenced cytokine synthesis in Arg-induced pancreatitis.


We have treated six patients with chronic pain following nerve injury using a cryosurgical probe. All had a significant return of hand function and improvement of pain during a mean follow-up of 13.5 months. Open visualisation of the injured nervous tissue is essential for patients undergoing this technique. Four patients regained normal sensation in the dermatome of the previously injured nerve.


From an environmental standpoint, there are a few crucial aspects of training a neural network that have a major impact on the quantity of carbon that it emits. These factors include: the location of the server used for training and the energy grid that it uses, the length of the training procedure, and even the make and model of hardware on which the training takes place. In order to approximate these emissions, we present our Machine Learning Emissions Calculator, a tool for our community to better understand the environmental impact of training ML models. We accompany this tool with an explanation of the factors cited above, as well as concrete actions that individual practitioners and organizations can take to mitigate their carbon emissions.


INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of AM281, a cannabinoid receptor antagonist, on systemic haemodynamics, internal carotid artery blood flow and mortality during septic shock in rats.

METHODS
The study included three sets of experiments: measurements of changes in systemic haemodynamics and left internal carotid artery flow (30 animals divided into three groups of 10); measurements of biochemical variables (n=30); assessment of mortality (n=30). Male Wistar rats (7 weeks old) were randomly divided into three groups: group 1, control; group 2, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) i.v., Escherichia coli endotoxin 10.0 mg kg(-1) i.v., bolus; group 3, LPS 10.0 mg kg(-1) i.v.+AM281 1 mg kg(-1) i.v. Systemic haemodynamics, carotid artery flow changes and biochemical variables were assessed at pretreatment and 1, 2 and 3 h after the treatment was performed.

RESULTS
Administration of AM281 could prevent the haemodynamic changes induced by sepsis. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 1-beta increased in the LPS i.v. and LPS i.v.+AM281 groups at 1, 2 and 3 h after treatment; significant differences were observed in these levels in the two groups at these times. Internal carotid artery blood flow remained fairly constant in the control and LPS i.v.+AM281 groups compared with baseline values. In the LPS i.v. group, it decreased at 2 and 3 h after the treatment compared with baseline values [at 2 h: control 12.7 (SD 0.9) ml min(-1), LPS i.v. 8.7 (1.4) ml min(-1) (P<0.05), LPS i.v.+AM281 11.5 (0.9) ml min(-1); at 3 h: control 12.7 (0.4) ml min(-1), LPS i.v. 7.7 (1.3) ml min(-1) (P<0.05), LPS i.v.+AM281 11.6 (1.0) ml min(-1)]. Significant differences in mortality within 6 and 12 h were found between the LPS i.v. and LPS i.v.+AM281 groups [6 h mortality: LPS i.v. 5/10 (50%), LPS i.v.+AM281 2/10 (20%), P<0.05; 12 h mortality: LPS i.v. group 10/10 (100%), LPS i.v.+AM281 5/10 (50%), P<0.05].

CONCLUSIONS
Administration of AM281 prevented changes in systemic haemodynamic and internal carotid artery blood flow and could improve mortality in experimentally induced septic shock in rats. These findings may have significant therapeutic implications in the treatment of septic shock.


Primary health care forms an integral part both of the country's health care system and the overall social and economic development of the community. It is the first level of contact of individuals, the family and the community with the National Health Service, bringing healthcare as close as possible to where people live and work and constitutes the first elements of a continuing health care process ( 1 ). The increasing move away from hospital-centred services towards disease prevention and health promotion in the community is both evident and welcome. Successful community care services depend upon a review' of how health and social services are organised and managed, which should include a reorientation of many traditions in nursing and medicine. In addition to disease-prevention and health-promotion, patients with acute or chronic illnesses also receive care, treatment and rehabilitation in the community, being referred for specialist service as necessary.


BACKGROUND Agriculture is a hazardous, stressful occupation that can adversely affect farmers' health. Identifying stressors among farmers may help health professionals improve health outcomes by developing targeted intervention strategies and services. METHODS Over a 4-month period, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 128 farmers in an economically disadvantaged, 29-county region of Eastern North Carolina. We used a modified version of the Farm Ranch Stress Inventory to measure farmers' self-reported reactions to potential stressors. RESULTS The majority of farmers surveyed were aged 40-59 years, had farmed for more than 20 years, and worked more than 40 hours per week on the farm. Large proportions of respondents identified the following factors as "very stressful": concern about the weather (60.2%), concern over the future of the farm (29.7%), outsiders not understanding the nature of farming (25.2%), problems with machinery (23.4%), market prices for crops/livestock (45.3%), taxes (38.3%), health care costs (32.5%), and not having enough time to spend with family in recreation (13.3%). Experiencing 8 or more factors as "very stressful" was found to be positively associated with working more than 40 hours per week on the farm (P = .008) and with being a farm manager or a farm worker who does not operate equipment (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS Information about perceived stressors among farmers may help health professionals develop targeted interventions for reducing stress. More research is needed to better evaluate health outcomes, to reduce farm-related injuries, and to improve psychosocial well-being.


Tetragonisca fiebrigi , is a bee of the subfamily Meliponidae traditionally known as Yateí. Its honey differs from the honey produced by Apis mellifera because it is less viscous, more acidic, has sweetness and particular aromas. It is important to know the behavior of yatei honey in different storage conditions, in order to preserve the characteristics of the honey and ensure the product as harmless. The objective was to determine the influence of temperature, packaging type and storage time of Yateí honey on antimicrobial properties, microbial (Total Mesophilic Aerobic and Mold and Yeast Count) and physicochemical parameters (pH, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), acidity, moisture content and diastase), with methodology of national and international standards. The antimicrobial effect was variable against strains of the genus Staphylococcus aureus . The most significant microbiological quality levels were Mold and Yeast counts (> 10 2 CFU / g). The physicochemical parameters with the most significant values were acidity (t o I: 42.5 meq acid/kg honey), moisture content (t o I: 26%) and HMF (t o I: 3.8mg/kg honey). Storage at refrigeration temperature maintained standard values close to Apis mellifera honey during 180 days; whereas at room temperature it was better to maintain antimicrobial power. No significant difference was found between plastic storage containers vs. glass.


Exons IIIb and IIIc of the FGFR2 gene are alternatively spliced in a mutually exclusive manner in different cell types. A switch from expression of FGFR2IIIb to FGFR2IIIc accompanies the transition of nonmalignant rat prostate tumor epithelial cells (DTE) to cells comprising malignant AT3 tumors. Here we used transfection of minigenes with and without alterations in reading frame and with and without introns to examine how translation affects observed FGFR2 splice products. We observed that nonsense mutations in other than the last exon led to a dramatic reduction in mRNA that is abrogated by removal of downstream introns in both DTE and AT3 cells. The mRNA, devoid of both IIIb and IIIc exons (C1-C2), is a major splice product from minigenes lacking an intron downstream of the second common exon C2. From these observations, we suggest that repression of exon IIIc and activation of exon IIIb inclusion in DTE cells lead to the generation of both C1-IIIb-C2 and C1-C2 products. However, the C1-C2 product from the native gene is degraded due to a frameshift and a premature termination codon caused by splicing C1 and C2 together. Derepression of exon IIIc and repression of exon IIIb lead to the generation of both C1-IIIc-C2 and C1-C2 products in AT3 cells, but the C1-C2 product is degraded. The C1-IIIb-IIIc-C2 mRNA containing a premature termination codon in exon IIIc was present, but at apparently trace levels in both cell types. The nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway and cell type-dependent rates of inclusion of exons IIIb and IIIc result in the mutually exclusive expression of FGFR2IIIb and IIIc.


The protein environment can have significant effects on the enzyme catalysis even though the reaction occurs locally at the reaction center. In this paper, we describe an efficient scheme that includes a classical molecular dynamics (MD) free-energy perturbation (FEP) correction to the reaction energy diagram, as a complement to the protein effect obtained from static ONIOM (QM:MM) calculations. The method is applied to eight different reaction steps, from the O2-bound reactant to formation of a high-valent ferryl-oxo intermediate, in the nonheme iron enzyme isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS), for which the QM:MM energy diagram has previously been computed [ Lundberg , M. et al. J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2009 , 5 , 220 - 234 ]. This large span of the reaction coordinate is covered by dividing each reaction step into microsteps using a virtual reaction coordinate, thus only requiring ONIOM information about the stationary points themselves. Protein effects are important for C-H bond activation and heterolytic O-O bond cleavage because both these two steps involve charge transfer, and compared to a static QM:MM energies, the dynamics of the protein environment changes the barrier for O-O bond cleavage by several kcal/mol. The origin of the dynamical contribution is analyzed in two terms, the geometrical effect caused by the change in average protein geometry (compared to the optimized geometry) in the room temperature MD simulation with the solvent, and the statistical (entropic) effect resulting from fluctuations in the interactions between the active site and the protein environment. These two effects give significant contributions in different steps of the reaction.


s TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR URBAN POLICING* by Aili Evelyn Larson, M.S. The thesis defined a model of effective management combining the philosophies and methodologies of participative management in the business sector with the operational constraints of public service organizations, particularly urban police agencies. The techniques of participative management of three law enforcement agencies were analyzed in terms of process and content. It was determined that these organizations did, to varying degrees, utilize the methods of business management ranging from implementation of a more efficient resource allocation program to a full-service team policing program that closely approximated the requirements of the business model. The extent to which participative management efforts can be implemented in a police agency, however, is directly related to the amount of interdepartment, intradepartment, and interpersonal communication, commitment, continuity, autonomy, and flexibility that is built into the operating structure and functions of the organization, as well as the limitations imposed by resource and time constraints. A SURVEY OF PROBATION PRACTICES IN THE UNITED STATES——1976 by Dennis James McGorman, M.S. The purpose of this study was to survey and collate the probation statutes of the various jurisdictions within the United States to determine certain practices relative to personnel and clients. Each of the various jurisdiction's probation statutes effective in 1976 were studied. Specific data regarding organization, compensation, probation officer qualifications, defendant's eligibility, conditions suggested by the codes and probationary term were catalogued and analyzed. Letters were written to state and federal jurisdictions requesting further information. Journals were reviewed regarding probation practice, federal and state cases were reviewed and analyzed to determine how Appellate Courts interpreted the probation statutes. While probation is functional in each jurisdiction, administration of the various agencies differs considerably as do the expectations of probation officers and clients. THE ASSESSMENT CENTER APPROACH IN THE SELECTION OF POLICE MANAGERS + by George P. Tielsch, Ph. D. The purpose of this study is to assess the processes currently being used by police agencies to select personnel for management positions in their organizations. Specifically, a study of the assessment center approach as opposed to the more traditional methods of selection was undertaken. An assessment center is a comprehensive and indepth situation-based method for improving a manager's accuracy in evaluating the capabilities of existing or potential staff. By situation-based, it is meant a reality oriented demonstranon of required job-related skills which, in turn, must be a validated and observable process for generating behavior and exposing skills to trained observers. This study is intended to be descriptive in nature. The study contains a brief historical review of police management and promotion practices to place current selection practices in their proper perspective in relation to the assessment center method. A detailed chapter on assessment center content provides a complete description of the process. Rating methods are discussed to indicate what variables are measured in the assessment center. A review of current psychological testing procedures used in assessment centers is included in the study. A chapter on statistical findings reports on an opinion survey that was administered to approximately fifty police officers of various ranks to determine participant attitudes toward the process. Conclusions: First, the assessment center method is apparently more valid than any other available known means of identifying and analyzing a candidate's management potential. _ Second, the assessment center method has been extremely well received by the participants. An opinion survey revealed that a very high percentage of participants preferred the assessment center approach over the more traditional methods of promotional examinations. Recommendations: Since assessment centers in the police field are relatively new, there is an obvious need to conduct longitudinal studies to test the validity of the assessment center method in the field of law enforcement. It also appears that the development of additional &dquo;real-world&dquo; exercises should be of significant value in the field of law enforcement


God's Just Vengeance: Crime, Violence and the Rhetoric of Salvation. By Timothy Gorringe. Cambridge Studies in Ideology and Religion 9, Cambridge University Press, 1996. xiv + 280 pp. $59.95 (cloth), $17.95 (paper). This Series aims to `give all objective, balanced, programmatic coverage to issues which-while of wide potential interest--have been largely neglected by analytical investigation, apart frorn the appearance of sporadic individual studies.' Given this remit, it seems surprising that the Series should include a volume on atonement and the place of violence in the `rhetoric of salvation . This, after all, is relatively well-trodden ground. However, Timothy Gorringe's approach to the subject is slightly different from the norm. His thesis is that `attitudes to crime and punishment in the West are, beyond argument, rooted deep in the Christian Scriptures' (p. 223). His aim is to demonstrate that developments in atonement theory-particularly notions of expiation, propitiation, satisfaction and retributivist justice-both reflect and influence wider social attitudes to criminal law and the justice system. God's Just Vengeance is divided into three clearly defined parts. In the first, the foundations of the argument are laid via a discussion of the biblical sources for atonement theory In the second, there is a critique of past thinking on atonement, t)oth that which might be defined as 'objective' (e.g. Anselm. Calvin) and that which might be dubbed 'subjective' (e.g. Abelard, R. C. Moberly). In the third, we are introduced to the contemporary debate, albeit somewhat impressionistically. Having offered a critique of how atonement theory has interacted with penal thinking in the past, Gorringe concludes more positively by offering suggestions as to the contribution Christian thinking on the atonement could and should make to this ongoing impassioned debate. Underlying the whole argument is the belief that `part of the power of Christianity as a missionary religion is that its central symbol, the cross, targets both guilt and violence, and offers a remedy to both through the "bearing" of guilt and the refusal to meet violence with counter-violence` (p. 11). Yet, as Gorringe readily acknowledges, much atonement theory has interpreted the cross precisely as the meeting of violence (sin) with counter-violence (the necessary death of the Son of God as propitiation or satisfaction). l ence, there is a need to acknowledge the existence of a 'shadowside' to Christianity, a rhetoric of violence that expresses itself in Christian interpretations of the events of the cross, in Christian attitudes to the Other, and in various forms of 'Christian masochism'. Ironically, 'a story which was a unique protest against judicial cruelty came to be a validation of it. The community which was supposed not to be conformed to the world now underwrote its repressive practice' (p. 81). For Gorringe, it is therefore necessary to return to the biblical and theological texts on which so much has been built and reread them. He argues that while the New Testament can be read to support theories of satisfaction and retributivist justice, it does not have to be read in that way. He therefore makes a case for alternative readings of Scripture, particularly of St. Paul and the Epistle to the Hebrews, and calls for a theology of the atonement rooted in the Synoptic Gospels. Gods Just Vengeance offers a provocative and impassioned 'take' on atonement theory There is much in it with which to agree and disagreealways the sign of a successful argument! …


This paper describes trends and issues of university faculty development (FD) in Japan. In order to assure quality of university education, the Japanese government made FD a required activity in all higher education institutions in 2008. The most frequent FD activities include student questionnaire to evaluate university courses, observations of lectures among faculty members with a discussion session, and seminars and workshops on various active learning methodologies. As we go into universalization of higher education, more systematic effort has been needed to accommodate less qualified university students, while maintaining a high standard as the diploma policy for graduation. Learning technology must be integrated into university education, as well as open resources that the network technology have made available for students, in order to improve and maintain the quality of our university education. An ICT utilization model will be proposed to differentiate roles of e-learning and e-portfolio systems to create a university with application emphasis over basic knowledge transmission.


Background:  The significance of the paper is twofold. Firstly, it adds to the small but growing body of literature focusing on the decomposition of South Africa's export growth. Secondly, it identifies the determinants of the intensive and extensive margins of South Africa's exports – a topic that (as far as the authors are concerned) has not been explored before. Aim:  This paper aims to investigate a wide range of market access determinants that affect South Africa's export growth along the intensive and extensive margins. Setting:  Export diversification has been identified as one of the critical pillars of South Africa's much-hoped-for economic revival. Although recent years have seen the country's export product mix evolving, there is still insufficient diversification into new markets with high value-added products. This is putting a damper on export performance as a whole and, in turn, hindering South Africa's economic growth. Methods:  A Heckman selection gravity model is applied using highly disaggregated data. The first stage of the process revealed the factors affecting the probability of South Africa exporting to a particular destination (extensive margin). The second stage, which modelled trade flows, revealed the variables that affect export volumes (intensive margin). Results:  The results showed that South Africa's export product mix is relatively varied, but the number of export markets is limited. In terms of the extensive margin (or the probability of exporting), economic variables such as the importing country's GDP and population have a positive impact on firms' decision to export. Other factors affecting the extensive margin are distance to the market (negative impact), cultural or language fit (positive impact), presence of a South African embassy abroad (positive impact), existing free trade agreement with Southern African Development Community (positive impact) and trade regulations and costs (negative impact). In terms of the intensive margin (or the factors influencing the volume of exports), there are strong parallels with the extensive margin, with the exception being that the time involved in exporting has more of an impact than documentary requirements. Conclusion:  Among the factors contributing to South Africa's exports having largely developed in the intensive margin are a general lack of market-related information, infrastructural weaknesses (both of a physical and technological nature) and a difficult regulatory environment – all of which add to the cost and time involved in exporting. Policymakers have long spoken about the need for the country to diversify its export basket, but now talk about needs to give way to action. The government and its economic partners need to arrive at a common vision of an export sector that will be able to expand into new products and markets, be an active participant in global value chains and deliver sustainable jobs.


Research chemists involved in synthesis in industry and academia. In industry, this includes chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies. Also governmental agencies (e.g. patent office) Science of Synthesis: Houben-Weyl Methods of Molecular Transformations is the entirely new edition of the acclaimed reference series Houben-Weyl, the standard synthetic chemistry resource since 1909. This new edition is published in English and will comprise 48 volumes published between the years 2000 and 2008. Science of Synthesis is a quality reference work developed by a highly esteemed editorial board to provide a comprehensive and critical selection of reliable organic and organometallic synthetic methods. This unique resource is designed to be the first point of reference when searching for a synthesis strategy.


The introduction of Crowd-Sourced Equity Funding ('CSEF') into the Australian corporate fundraising landscape sought to give effect to the democratisation and direct participation goals of the Financial Technology ('FinTech') movement. CSEF offers a useful avenue for micro- and small-to-medium enterprises ('MSMEs') to access funds from the 'crowd'. However, this article argues that the current regulatory framework fails to give effect to the core principles underpinning CSEF as part of the FinTech movement. This creates a particularly vulnerable cohort of shareholders who are not given a 'voice' in the corporation, nor do they have the typical 'exit' options associated with public share ownership. The article proposes that corporate governance reforms should aim to enhance the distinctive attraction of CSEF as a corporate fundraising mechanism: the collaborative pursuit of non- financial motivations for investment, and the adoption of engagement mechanisms that advance efforts towards the democratisation of finance and collaboration as a means of social interaction.


This articles reflects on the process of creating digital media in collaboration with Native communities, using the example of Cheyenne Odyssey, a game from Mission US, to argue that such media can illuminate the perspectives of Indigenous peoples for a wide audience while also creating digital repositories for both visual and narrative forms of knowledge. This game takes on the difficult challenge of portraying very sensitive moments of US history to middle school-age children. The game walks the player through the Battle of Little Big Horn, the forced removal of the Northern Cheyenne people, their harrowing journey home again, and even the massacre of Dull Knife's band at Fort Robinson. The creators of the game brought Cheyenne perspectives to the process by consulting Northern Cheyenne elders, historians, and even school children, as well as archival materials, and scholars of Cheyenne history, including the author. This multifaceted collaboration resulted in a game that presented Cheyenne history in a way that reflected Cheyenne values while providing non-Cheyenne people with an accessible narrative that, nevertheless, disrupts the familiar history of westward expansion in the United States. At the same time, the game makes new a history familiar to every Cheyenne by presenting it in a fresh medium that captivates young people. The public nature of this online game empowers Cheyenne people to take pride in their own historical narratives.


This paper analyses the role of short sellers in the context of stakeholder theory and poses the question: should short sellers be considered as stakeholders? The paper examines the conditions under which short sellers operate and how short selling can be a profitable activity. Next the paper considers the view of short sellers from the perspective of the finance literature and this perspective is contrasted with concerns which are frequently expressed in the news media about the activities of short sellers. The constraints on short selling are discussed, together with the phenomenon of optimism in analysts' forecasts which is believed to support 'high' share prices. The usefulness of the preceding analysis is then discussed in the context of stakeholder theory and the paper discusses some potential policy implications in terms of corporate governance and financial reporting.

The paper concludes that short sellers can legitimately be regarded as stakeholders and, indeed, encouraging short sellers to operate more effectively in the market as well as providing fuller disclosure of their activities could provide a useful anti-dote to some of the excessive and unjustified share price rise which have been seen in recent years in failing companies.


Background Misfolding and pathological aggregation of neuronal proteins has been proposed to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are frequent neurodegenerative diseases of the aging population. While progressive accumulation of amyloid β protein (Aβ) oligomers has been identified as one of the central toxic events in AD, accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) resulting in the formation of oligomers and protofibrils has been linked to PD and Lewy body Disease (LBD). We have recently shown that Aβ promotes α-syn aggregation and toxic conversion in vivo, suggesting that abnormal interactions between misfolded proteins might contribute to disease pathogenesis. However the molecular characteristics and consequences of these interactions are not completely clear. Methodology/Principal Findings In order to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in potential Aβ/α-syn interactions, immunoblot, molecular modeling, and in vitro studies with α-syn and Aβ were performed. We showed in vivo in the brains of patients with AD/PD and in transgenic mice, Aβ and α-synuclein co-immunoprecipitate and form complexes. Molecular modeling and simulations showed that Aβ binds α-syn monomers, homodimers, and trimers, forming hybrid ring-like pentamers. Interactions occurred between the N-terminus of Aβ and the N-terminus and C-terminus of α-syn. Interacting α-syn and Aβ dimers that dock on the membrane incorporated additional α-syn molecules, leading to the formation of more stable pentamers and hexamers that adopt a ring-like structure. Consistent with the simulations, under in vitro cell-free conditions, Aβ interacted with α-syn, forming hybrid pore-like oligomers. Moreover, cells expressing α-syn and treated with Aβ displayed increased current amplitudes and calcium influx consistent with the formation of cation channels. Conclusion/Significance These results support the contention that Aβ directly interacts with α-syn and stabilized the formation of hybrid nanopores that alter neuronal activity and might contribute to the mechanisms of neurodegeneration in AD and PD. The broader implications of such hybrid interactions might be important to the pathogenesis of other disorders of protein misfolding.


Dear Readers, The 5th Colombian Conference of Engineering Physics (V CNIF) (www.ingenieriafisica.co) was hosted on 26–30 September 2016 at Medellin, Colombia organized by EAFIT University, National University of Colombia and Colombian Society of Engineering Physics. This was the Fifth version of biennial meetings that began in 2010. The five-day scientific program of the V CNIF consisted of 14 Magisterial Conferences, and 8 Courses with the participation of undergraduate and graduate students, professors, researchers and entrepreneurs from Colombia, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, among others. The aim of the organizing committee is that the V CNIF would provide enough opportunities for direct scientific contacts, interesting discussions and interactive exchange of ideas between the participants for future networks. We have had 350 participants with more than 300 oral and poster presentations in Breaking Research of Advanced Materials Science and Technologies, Nanomaterials, Optical, Electronic and Magnetic Materials, Multifunctional Composites and Other Advanced Materials, Graphite and Graphene, Automation and Equipment Manufacturing Technologies, Advanced Materials for Engineering Applications, Energy, Biomaterials and Healthcare from experts, academicians, senior scientists, industry executives and project leaders from 10+ countries. It is intended to provide a platform for professionals around the world to exchange state-of-the-art research and development and identify research needs and opportunities in this emerging field. As in previous versions of this event, the participants were involved in the competition for the best poster. Certificates and cash prizes were awarded to a number of participants for the best posters selected by the Program Committee. On behalf of the organizing and scientific committees, we are glad to thank again all the people involved in this event, who made VCNIF a great success. Please make a note that the 6th International Conference of Engineering Physics (VI CNIF) 2018 will take place from 24th to 28th September in the Caribbean region coast of Colombia, hosted by University of Atlántico and North University in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia. With kind regards The Editor Jaime Andrés Pérez-Taborda President of Colombian Society of Engineering Physics firstname.lastname@example.com


Khulu' is the greatness of Islamic law in the fight for women's rights, so that if a wife is very tortured and there is no longer a sense of love and affection towards her husband, she can divorce her husband, even though divorce is hated by Allah. Khulu' also is divorce accompanied by a number of property as iwadh given by the wife to the husband in order to redeem themselves loose from marriage. Islamic law has given way to a wife who wants a divorce by filing khulu' as Islamic law gives way to the husband to divorce his wife by talak. Khulu' hated by the shari'ah as well as divorce. All sense and sense of well being refused khulu', and only Allah that allow it to avert danger when it is unable to enforce Islamic laws. And the wisdom of khulu' is to avoid danger, namely the time of the quarrel that turmoil in a conjugal relationship until they could no longer united in the bonds of the household, then khulu' allowed.


The ensuing events subsequent to cerebral ischaemia are complex and multi-faceted, making it difficult to extract causal relationships between the various pathways that are altered during ischaemia. In this study, we analyse a comprehensive DNA microarray dataset of acute experimental ischaemic stroke, in an effort to elucidate key regulatory elements that participate in the triggering of the pathways that lead to tissue damage. The data suggest that genes responsible for immediate early genes, apoptosis, neurotransmitter receptors (principally glutamate), and inflammation are differentially expressed at various time points subsequent to experimental ischaemia. Using unsupervised clustering (self-organising maps) and gene regulatory networks, we were able to establish a framework within which we could place the resultant gene expression changes into. Although not yet complete, the results from this study indicate that even a complicated pathology such as ischaemia can be analysed in a biologically meaningful way using DNA microarray technology


Despite improved outcomes in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, virtually all patients relapse and ultimately develop drug-resistant disease. Aberrant RAS/MAPK signaling is activated in the majority of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients, but its biological consequences are not fully understood. Self-renewal, as defined by the long-term maintenance of clonogenic growth, is essential for disease relapse, and we examined the role of RAS/MAPK activation on multiple myeloma self-renewal by targeting IQ motif–containing GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1), an intracellular scaffold protein required for mutant RAS signaling. We found that loss of IQGAP1 expression decreased MAPK signaling, cell-cycle progression, and tumor colony formation. Similarly, a peptide mimicking the WW domain of IQGAP1 that interacts with ERK inhibited the clonogenic growth and self-renewal of multiple myeloma cell lines and primary clinical specimens in vitro as well as tumor-initiating cell frequency in immunodeficient mice. During multiple myeloma progression, self-renewal may be enhanced by aberrant RAS/MAPK signaling and inhibited by targeting IQGAP1. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(11); 2733–9. ©2016 AACR.


Interpretation GOLDINGAY, J., Models for Scripture (Carlisle: Paternoster Press; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994), pp. xi + 420. Paper, £13.99; $19.99. ISBN 0-85364-638-4 (Paternoster); 0-8028-0146-3 (Eerdmans). The 'models for Scripture' chosen are: witnessing tradition, authoritative canon, mspired word and experienced revelation. This schema, plus the agenda and tone of the book mark it as addressed to evangelical. But the content is not what this audi-


Abstract Telemedicine services may improve the quality of life of individuals while also reducing the costs of service provisioning. They represent an important but as yet understudied type of complex services that integrates many stakeholders acting in service value networks. These complex services typically comprise a combination of information technology (IT) services and highly person-oriented, non-IT services, and are characterized by long service delivery periods. In such an environment, it is particularly difficult to generate successful and sustainable business models, which are necessary for the widespread provision of telemedicine services. Following a design research approach, we develop and evaluate the CompBizMod framework, a morphological box allowing for: (1) the analysis, description, and classification of telemedicine business models, (2) the identification of white spots for future business opportunities, (3) and the identification of patterns for successful business models. We contribute to the literature by presenting a specific business model framework and identifying three business model patterns in the telemedicine industry. We exhibit how business models for complex services can be decomposed into their constituent elements and present an easy and replicable approach for identifying business model patterns in a given industry.


The SOAP Study of Open Access Publishing project has analyzed the current supply and demand situation in the open access journal landscape. Starting from the Directory of Open Access Journals, several sources of data were considered, including journal websites and direct inquiries within the publishing industry to comprehensively map the present supply of online peer-reviewed OA journals. The demand for open access publishing is summarised, as assessed through a large-scale survey of researchers' opinions and attitudes. Some forty thousand answers were collected across disciplines and around the world, reflecting major support for the idea of open access, while highlighting drivers of and barriers to open access publishing.


University environments are fertile grounds for risky sexual behaviors. This study investigated students' risky sexual practices at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa. Data were collected using quantitative and qualitative methods. A total of 1,405 questionnaires were administered, and 80 in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows 16.0. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The sample included 1,405 students, the majority (93%) of whom were never married and 97% were sexually experienced. Among males reporting male partnerships those who used alcohol were significantly more likely to report risky sexual practices. Among females reporting male partnerships, those 30 years and older were significantly less likely to report engaging in risky sexual behavior with male partners. Alcohol use was connected with inconsistent condom use and not using condom last sex among females. While low rates of condom use were a problem among older students aged 30 years and older, and risky sexual practices were more common among younger students. Risky sexual behaviors pose a big challenge for the successful HIV prevention interventions on university campuses.


Diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a challenging process in immunocompromised patients. Galactomannan (GM) antigen detection in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid is a method to detect IPA with improved sensitivity over conventional studies. We sought to determine the diagnostic yield of BAL GM assay in a diverse population of immunocompromised patients. A retrospective review of 150 fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) with BAL for newly diagnosed pulmonary infiltrate in immunocompromised patients was performed. Patient information, procedural details and laboratory studies were collected. BAL and serum samples were evaluated for GM using enzyme‐linked immunoassay. Of 150 separate FOB with BAL, BAL GM was obtained in 143 samples. There were 31 positive BAL GM assays. In those 31 positive tests, 13 were confirmed as IPA, giving a positive predictive value of 41.9%. There was one false negative BAL GM. Of the 18 false positive BAL GM, 4 were receiving piperacillin–tazobactam and 11 were receiving an alternative beta‐lactam antibiotic. BAL GM assay shows excellent sensitivity for diagnosing IPA. There was a significant number of false positive BAL GM assays and several of those patients were receiving beta‐lactam antibiotics at the time of bronchoscopy.


We refine and extend an earlier minimum description length (MDL) denoising criterion for wavelet-based denoising. We start by showing that the denoising problem can be reformulated as a clustering problem, where the goal is to obtain separate clusters for informative and noninformative wavelet coefficients, respectively. This suggests two refinements, adding a code-length for the model index, and extending the model in order to account for subband-dependent coefficient distributions. A third refinement is the derivation of soft thresholding inspired by predictive universal coding with weighted mixtures. We propose a practical method incorporating all three refinements, which is shown to achieve good performance and robustness in denoising both artificial and natural signals.


PURPOSE
Reducing primary cesarean births is a national priority in the United States. Recommendations include delaying admission of low-risk pregnant women to the hospital until they are in active labor, considered to be 6 cm cervical dilatation. How this recommendation affects decision-making during triage requires further exploration. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinician's perspective on the triage process and deferral of hospital admission for low-risk pregnant women who were not yet in active labor.

METHODS
A qualitative descriptive approach was used via semistructured interviews with physicians, midwives, and nurses. Data analysis used an inductive approach and identified codes, a theme and subthemes.

RESULTS
Twenty-five clinicians participated. A triad of decision-making occurred between three main stakeholders: the low-risk pregnant woman, the triage nurse, and the physician or midwife. One theme and four subthemes related to this triad were identified. The theme Admission of Low-Risk Pregnant Women Depends on Many Factors provides context to the maternity care triage process. There are many factors clinicians consider prior to admitting women, including situational and clinical factors. Subthemes related to the woman are her expectation and knowledge about birth and her ability to cope with labor. Subthemes associated with the provider and triage nurse are care variation and concern for maternal and fetal safety.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
From the clinician's perspective, triage is a complex, dynamic process, even for low-risk pregnant women. There is an interplay of different factors affecting clinical decision-making, thus the decision-making triad provides a possible framework for shared decision-making.


The clinico-morphological study of pathogenetic features and stages of shcok was carried out in 95 women with disturbed tubal pregnancy which made 38% of 250 patients with ectopic pregnancy. The casual relationship was revealed between the development of shock reactions and the volume of hemorrhage into the abdominal cavity. The role of the intensity and duration of internal hemorrhage, patient's age and previous inflammatory alterations of the oviduct was also shown.


Background As the most severe form of tuberculosis (TB), TB meningitis (TBM) is still associated with high mortality even in developed countries. In certain areas of the United States (U.S.), more than 50% of the TBM patients die with TB or have neurological sequelae and complications despite the availability of advanced health care. This population-based analysis aimed to determine the risk factors and trends associated with TBM morbidity and mortality using state-wide surveillance data. Methods De-identified surveillance data of all confirmed TB patients from the state of Texas between 01/2010 and 12/2017 reported to the National TB Surveillance System was analyzed. Spatial distribution of TBM cases was presented by Stata's Geographic Information Systems mapping. Univariate and multiple generalized linear modeling were used to identify risk factors associated with meningitis morbidity and mortality. Non-parametric testing was used to analyze morbidity and mortality trends. Results Among 10,103 TB patients reported in Texas between 2010 and 2017, 192 (1.9%) had TBM. During this 8-year period, the TBM proportion fluctuated between 1.5% and 2.7% with peaks in 2011 (2.7%) and 2016 (2.1%) and an overall non-significant trend (z = -1.32, p = 0.19). TBM had a higher mortality at diagnosis (8.9%), during treatment (14.1%) and overall (22.9%) compared to non-TBM (1.9%, 5.3%, and 7.2%, respectively, p<0.001). While mortality during treatment was unchanged over time in non-TBM patients (z = 0.5, p = 0.62), it consistently increased in TBM patients after 2013 (z = 3.09, p = 0.002). TBM patients had nearly five times the risk for overall death in multivariate analysis [aRR 4.91 (95% CI 3.71, 6.51), p<0.001]. TBM patients were younger, and more likely to present with miliary TB or HIV (+). Age ≥45 years, resident of a long-term care facility, IDU, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, abnormal chest radiography, positive AFB smear or culture and HIV (+) were independently associated with higher mortality. Conclusion TBM remains challenging in Texas with significantly high mortality. Risk factors determined by multivariate modeling will inform health professionals and lay a foundation for the development of more effective strategies for TBM prevention and management.


1. A crab is held at the centre of an illuminated stationary striped drum or any visual field with strong contrasts. After a time all lights are turned off and the drum is moved in the dark. The light is restored when the drum is stationary in its new position. The animal responds by a movement of the eyes. 2. Stimuli of 0.5° over a dark period of 2 min. or 1° over 15 min. give a response. The response depends on the angle of the drum movement, and is slower in performance and less in total amount for longer periods of darkness. 3. On re-illumination the movement of the eye relative to the stationary drum is such that the visual field moves across the eye in the opposite direction to the eye9s movement, but nevertheless the perception of small drum oscillations is not impaired. 4. When the visual feedback loop is opened by clamping the seeing eye and painting over the moving one, eye movements can be greater than drum movements, as in movement perception. Comparison of calculated with experimental closed-loop conditions shows that in the memory experiment there is no attenuation or amplification in the visual feedback loop. 5. Perception of very slow movements and stabilization of eye position could, but do not necessarily, depend on this accurate but short-lived directional memory.


Summary Cortical microtubules are considered to regulate the direction of cellulose microfibril deposition. Despite their significant role in determining cell morphology, cortical microtubules completely disappear from the cell cortex during M phase and become reorganized at G 1 phase. The mechanism by which these microtubules become properly formed again is, however, still unclear. We have proposed that the origin of cortical microtubules is on the daughter nuclear surface, but further cortical microtubule reorganization occurs at the cell cortex. Hence it is probable that the locations of microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) are actively changing. However, the actual MTOC sites of cortical microtubules were not clearly determined. In this paper, we have examined the distribution of γ-tubulin, one of the key molecules of MTOCs in various organisms, during cortical microtubule reorganization using both immunofluorescence and a GFP reporter system. Using a monoclonal antibody (clone G9) that recognizes highly conserved residues in γ-tubulin, γ-tubulin was found to be constitutively expressed and to be clearly localized to microtubule structures, such as the preprophase bands, spindles, and phragmoplasts, specific to each cell cycle stage. This distribution pattern was confirmed by the GFP reporter system. During cortical microtubule reorganization at the M to G 1 transition phase, γ-tubulin first accumulated at the daughter nuclear surfaces, and then seemed to spread onto the cell cortex along with microtubules elongating from the daughter nuclei. Based on the results, it was confirmed that daughter nuclear surfaces acted as origins of cortical microtubules, and that further reorganization occurred on the cell cortex.


Background Joint damage is an important outcome in trials of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), usually assessed by Total Sharp Score (TSS). It is currently unknown how it translates numerically into disability by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Objective To determine the units of HAQ score corresponding to one TSS unit. Methods A short-term observational trial of glucocorticoids in RA (the 'BEst LIfe with Rheumatoid Arthritis' (BELIRA) trial) was evaluated, using randomised controlled clinical trial (RCT) data for confirmation. For each trial arm HAQ, TSS and the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) were assessed. Based on the hypothesis that short-term HAQ changes will mostly be due to changes of disease activity, activity HAQ (ACT-HAQ) at end point (EP) was determined and remaining disability defined as damage related (DAM-HAQ). Using TSS at EP, the HAQ units corresponding to a TSS unit were estimated. Results In BELIRA, one TSS unit corresponded to a mean of 0.017 HAQ units; to account for other causes of irreversible disability, the 25th percentile was used: 0.011 HAQ units/TSS unit. In RCT trial arms, the HAQ/TSS were similar (0.013 and 0.015 in established and early RA, respectively; 25th percentile: 0.010). The correlation between DAM-HAQEP and TSS was r=0.829. Over 5 years, damage would amount to an increase of irreversible HAQ of 0.33 on placebo, 0.13 on disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and 0.03 on TNF inhibitors+methotrexate (MTX). Conclusion An approach to estimate the numerical relationship between HAQ and damage as 0.01 HAQ points/TSS unit is presented, although the linear relationship may not be generally valid. This allows the assessment of functional correlates of radiographic changes in trials.


The aim of this study was to provide a theoretical basis for a high-energy carbon ion irradiation process for inducing mutations for selective breeding in Isatis indigotica Fort. The experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of different doses of high-energy 12C6+ ions (10-140 Gy) on physiological changes in I. indigotica seedlings. Dry seeds of I. indigotica were irradiated using different doses of 270 MeV energy 12C6+ ion beam, and the response of the subsequent seedlings was monitored using well-established indexes of physiological characteristics. Results showed that optimum results were achieved with a high-dose 12C6+ ion beam at 35 Gy where the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were enhanced. However, excessive irradiation reduced the activities of SOD and CAT. As the dose increased, the activity of peroxidase increased initially and then decreased compared with controls that were not irradiated (0 Gy). The content of malondialdehyde first decreased and then increased with the treatment. Total soluble protein content initially increased and then decreased with increasing doses of radiation; the proline content improved sharply compared to the control. The results of this study suggest that that a low dose of 12C6+ ion beam could enhance the activities of protective enzymes and the levels of proline and soluble protein, and that a dose range of 35–60 Gy is likely to be optimum for inducing useful mutations in I. indigotica for a stable selective breeding program.


A high redundancy actuator (HRA) is composed of a high number of actuation elements, increasing both the travel and the force over the power of an individual element. This provides inherent fault tolerance, because when an element fails, the capabilities of the actuator may be reduced, but it does not become dysfunctional. This paper analyses the likelihood of different reductions in capabilities, based on the reliability of the actuation elements used. The result is a probability distribution that quantifies the capability of the high redundancy actuator. Together with the required capabilities, this determines the fault tolerance of the actuator.


PURPOSE
The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the long-term survival rates and the frequency of complications associated with single implants and their associated restorations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was performed in patients who received dental implants between 1997 and 2007. The cohort included patients who had a single implant restored with a cemented or screwed restoration that had been in function for more than 2 years. The cumulative implant survival rates and peri-implant conditions (marginal bone loss, pocket depth, and plaque, gingival, and bleeding indices), as well as prosthodontic maintenance requirements, were evaluated. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and regression models were used.

RESULTS
Seventy-three implants were placed in 44 patients (32 women, 12 men; mean age, 48 years). All implants were available for follow-up after 2 to 13 years (mean follow-up, 60 months). The overall cumulative 5-year survival rates for implants were 95.9%, and most of the prostheses (98.6%) remained functional throughout the observation period. The overall frequency of complications was 29.6% (4.3% inflammatory, 22.5% prosthetic, 2.8% operative). The average peri-implant marginal bone loss was 1.8 mm. Peri-implant soft tissue conditions such as plaque and bleeding indices and pocket depths were also satisfactory. However, the presence of inflammation was significantly associated with pocket depth and gingival keratinized mucosa. The need to retighten loose abutment screws (21%) was the most frequent prosthodontic maintenance performed. However, all loose abutment screws occurred in prostheses retained with titanium screws, and 92.9% of the prostheses had a UCLA-type abutment.

CONCLUSION
The implants and the associated prosthetic constructions used in this study showed excellent survival rates. However, there was a high frequency of prosthetic complications associated with titanium screws and UCLA cast abutments. Other prosthetic components may have yielded different results.


Introduction Applied sexual health surveys investigate associations between psychosocial and demographic factors, sexual risk behaviour, uptake of interventions and sexual morbidity. This work improves clinical and public health understandings of sexual morbidity but may not be easily translated into practice. We seek to identify key features of research surveys that would make them more relevant to the development and use of risk assessment and targeting tools. Methods To support the development of clinically-embedded risk assessment tools we undertook a systematic review of population surveys reporting on sexual risk and morbidity. We identified aspects of sexual health research questionnaire items and their reporting which could be adapted to better serve public health and clinical services to identify patients for targeted intervention. Results Four key deficiencies were identified: 1.The degree to which sexual risk behaviours such as multiple partnerships and inconsistent contraception use predict adverse outcomes remains under-investigated; 2.Surveys frequently use composite measures with complex scoring systems; 3. Analyses often fail to report on non-response to individual items and the prevalence of exposures; 4. Sexual risk behaviours and morbidity are often reported without measures of absolute risk. Conclusion There is a strategic need to exploit survey research better in order to embed investigation of risk factors in clinical risk prediction tools. Survey analyses should investigate which sexual risk behaviours warrant different sexual health interventions, and use measures of absolute risk. Researchers should favour questionnaire items that are concise and easy to score, and should report on item non-response and prevalence of exposures. These steps would facilitate the development of brief, acceptable and adequately predictive tools.


Early Sinhala Literature is based on the Pali literature. Most of the time thewriters have translated Pali sources into Sinhala. (i.e. Pali Bodhiwamsa>SinhalaBodhiwamsa) At that time, the Sinhala writers have employed the make out in Sinhalesein place of the word Translation. The researchers have shown the early Sinhala texts(i.e. Amawathura/Saddharmarathnawaliya) as the adaptation of the original PaliSources. The main objective of this study is to find out the nature of the methods ofadaptation, and to which extent Sinhala language has diverged from Pali in case ofsyntax. The syntactic study deals with the word order, case in noun, voice in verb, theagreement of the subject and the predicate, etc. As far as Sinhala is concerned, theabove categories had evolved considerably already by the 9th century. As a result,syntactic features had diverged from middle Indian languages including Pali. Thisdivergence is clear from the Dhampiya Atuwa Getapadaya and the inscriptions in theearlier period. The way syntactic features developed into a profound level by the twelfthcentury is evident from the texts of Gurulugomi, (i.e. Dharmapradeepikawa,Amawathura) and in contemporary slab inscriptions The objective of this study is to observe the similarities and differences of thesetwo languages and to examine the Sinhala syntactic characteristics as they differ fromPali syntactic characteristics. The methodology used in this study forms a revision of previous research on thegiven topic and a comparison of Sinhala and Pali syntactic features as is apparent in thedata. The study will apply knowledge in grammatical analysis and translation methods. The results of this research are as follows: there are more similarities and somedifferences; some special syntactic characteristics have laid these two languages. So thatearly Sinhala language is based on the Pali language. Key words: Sinhala language, Pali language, Syntactic analysis


Constructing deep foundations is both an art and a science and their as-built acceptance should be based on evidence of quality confirmed by testing. Early prevention of problems is the most effective means to avoid costly and time consuming construction delays. Recent developments in equipment and methods aid in real-time monitoring of various pile installations. For driven piles, monitoring of diesel hammers has been done for years using the Saximeter. The measured kinetic energy of any hammer type can now be transmitted by telemetry to the Saximeter unit and stored electronically in an installation log for downloading or computer printout. Traditionally, the Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) is used by an experienced engineer who collects and interprets measurements on the construction site, and later issues a report after returning to the office. The engineer's travel and availability often dictates the testing schedule and impacts the construction activity. Utilizing wireless cell phones, dynamic pile testing can now be done remotely at the contractor's convenience with substantial cost savings and even more substantial time savings. In the office, the PDA engineer receives and simultaneously views the measured data in real-time, immediately analyzes the data, and summarizes the monitoring results, often issuing the test report within hours of the test. Thus, the foundation installation and quality assurance testing proceed without interruption or delay. Devices are available for auger cast-in-place pile installations to guide the contractor in real-time to installing a good pile with documented quality so that it can be accepted without doubts or time delays. The paper describes these new monitoring devices and illustrative experiences from actual project sites. Recommendations for use and future developments are made. Likins, Piscsalko, Rausche, Hussein 2 Real-Time Monitoring Solutions for Deep Foundation Testing


We present a censorship resistant peer-to-peer network for accessing n data items in a network ofn nodes. Each search for a data item in the network takes O(logn) time and requires at most O(log2n) messages. Our network is censorship resistant in the sense that even after adversarial removal of an arbitrarily large constant fraction of the nodes in the network, all but an arbitrarily small fraction of the remaining nodes can obtain all but an arbitrarily small fraction of the original data items. The network can be created in a fully distributed fashion. It requires only O(logn) memory in each node. We also give a variant of our scheme that has the property that it is highly spam resistant: an adversary can take over complete control of a constant fraction of the nodes in the network and yet will still be unable to generate spam. ACM Classification: F.2.2 AMS Classification: 68W15


Chemical and physical data are often reported independently in materials property databases. However, when specific applications of these data are considered, it is easily recognized that such specifications have limited utility unless the interdependence of the chemical and physical information is also reported. In this paper, the chemical and physical specification of silicon carbide, with an anticipated application to corrosion, is used as a prototypic case study of the database design requirements. With respect to corrosion, the chemical data are needed in the context of the structural information; i.e., the chemical compositions of the bulk material, the surface layers, the grain boundary regions, and regional interfaces must be distinguished. Standards for the database structure will be discussed in the context of the efficiency of the storage and retrieval system, the interdependence of chemical and physical characteristics, and the effective use of the information in subsequent applications.


The serum copper/zinc ratio was measured in 44 patients bearing primary large bowel malignancies. Measurements were repeated following removal of the primary tumour and again at the time of development of clinical evidence of cancer recurrence in order to evaluate the clinical value of the ratio to accurately reflect the presence or absence of malignancy. Estimation of serum copper levels do reflect the presence of malignancy, but the copper/zinc ratio is of no added value. As other acute phase proteins have been shown to be superior to serum copper as markers for monitoring of cancer patients, it is concluded that in patients with large bowel cancer, monitoring with serum copper/zinc is of no clinical value.


Fine-grained activity understanding in videos has attracted considerable recent attention with a shift from action classification to detailed actor and action understanding that provides compelling results for perceptual needs of cutting-edge autonomous systems. However, current methods for detailed understanding of actor and action have significant limitations: they require large amounts of finely labeled data, and they fail to capture any internal relationship among actors and actions. To address these issues, in this paper, we propose a novel, robust multi-task ranking model for weakly supervised actor-action segmentation where only video-level tags are given for training samples. Our model is able to share useful information among different actors and actions while learning a ranking matrix to select representative supervoxels for actors and actions respectively. Final segmentation results are generated by a conditional random field that considers various ranking scores for different video parts. Extensive experimental results on the Actor-Action Dataset (A2D) demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms the state-of-the-art weakly supervised methods and performs as well as the top-performing fully supervised method.


The elusive nature of irony and sarcasm, being the pragmatic concepts they are, is seized from the point of view of lexis and grammar. The thesis takes a corpus linguistic and textual analytic orientation. The idea is that, contrary to most previous research bringing out pragmatic aspects as essential in detecting irony and sarcasm, specific lexico-grammatical patterns may be just as good indicators of these phenomena. To test this hypothesis, a soap opera corpus is called in that is representative of spoken data; however, in a written format without intonational marking. The premise is that irony and sarcasm can be identified based on lexico-grammatical patterns. Whereas, irony boasts numerous theories and approaches both theoretical and experimental, sarcasm in its own right is a far more neglected area. The methodology involves the annotation of a tweet dataset for evaluative expressions (as defined by Thompson & Hunston, 2000) of which the most frequent ones are subjected to search in the soap opera corpus. This preprocessing phase involves fifteen keywords, of which five are verbs and ten are adjectives. Once a sample of five hundred examples is obtained for each keyword, they are filtered for ironic/sarcastic examples based on the notions of contrast (Colson & O'Brien, 2000b), reversal of evaluation (Partington, 2007), and conflict (Camp, 2012), which are adequate in cases where tone or facial gestures are not available. In the subsequent step, potentially irony and sarcasmprone patterns are identified and more examples are generated based on these patterns. These are manually analyzed in terms of lexical and grammatical aspects often invoking corpus linguistic notions, such as semantic preference and semantic prosody. The results support the few studies that ventured to claim that irony and sarcasm research could benefit from considering the lexical properties involved. Certain patterns in themselves can point toward irony and sarcasm in the text as they have been conventionalized to a sufficient extent, while others need the aid of the context. While all keywords are equally prone to both irony and sarcasm, certain fixed patterns show preference to either one of them. Irony and sarcasm are distinguished along the lines of evaluation reversal advocated by Partington (2007). Whereas irony fits the proposed good/bad dichotomy, sarcasm cannot be described in such a diametric and clear-cut way. Sarcasm, namely, involves two meanings which might not be diametric opposites. Further on, the ill-intention and hostility attributed to sarcasm, which is missing in irony, prompted the introduction of a new term of art, sarcastic prosody to encapsulate all those cues found in the sarcastic remark and in its co-text that convey this ill-intention and hostility either through lexico-grammatical cues or a "virtual intonation" accompanying the pattern. Prosody here is meant as a derivative of its "original" sense in semantic prosody (Sinclair, 2003). The data analysis suggests that each word (and pattern) is best examined on its own merits; and that irony and sarcasm do show interesting differences in their manifestations depending on the word (and pattern) under consideration. The main contributions of the thesis are the employment of lexico-grammatical patterns in the analysis as well as the treatment of irony and sarcasm as discrete concepts.


"Weak" doctors who cannot say no to their patients are driving Canada's prescription opioid epidemic, the Canadian Medical Association's annual general council heard this week, as new research showed that the mortality risk from chronic high doses may have been badly underestimated.

OxyContin (oxycodone), the drug most closely associated with the rapid spread of opioid prescribing across North America, has been replaced with a tamperproof formula called OxyNEO. But in Canada, where provincial drug formularies have mostly refused to cover the new drug, oxycodone prescriptions have fallen only to be replaced by other, often more powerful opioids, such as fentanyl and hydromorphone.

Opioid prescribing continues to rise overall, as do related deaths. Fatal overdoses in Ontario, Canada's largest province by population, are almost as common as in the United States …


We present a feasible cryptographically t-private protocol for electronic auctions. Our construction is based on Yao's garbled circuits and pseudorandom number generators (PRNG). Our protocol involves a field of (t+1)^2 parties for the generation of the garbled circuit and permits an arbitrary large number of bidders. The computational requirements are low: Only t+1 parties of the field have to use the PRNG, the remaining parties execute simple primitives (XOR, permuting and sharing). Independently from each other, the bidders have to stay active for one round of communication. Furthermore, each bidder has to compute t+1 XOR-operations, only. We present an implementation and evaluate its performance. The observed running time of our protocol is linear in the size of the auction circuit and the number of bidders and, as expected, grows quadratically in the parameter t.