Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of pyelonephritis leading adverse effects as pre-term delivery and fetal loss. The study aims to determine the prevalence of asymptotic bacteriuria among HIV-positive pregnant women followed up in the "Centre de l'Appui Psycho-Médico-social (APMS)" of Ndjamena (Chad), and to identify the sensitive antibiotics against their urinary isolates. Seventy six followed up HIV-positive pregnant women who did not show any symptoms considered as urinary infection were involved after informed consents were obtained. Their socioeconomic conditions were determined using a semi-structured questionnaire. Having been taught the art of urine collection, a mid-stream urine specimen was taken and delivered onto agar Uriselect 4. Plated dishes were then incubated at 37°C overnight. After incubation, density of colonies was compared to a diagram to determine the number of cells per milliliter. Antibiotic sensitivity test were carried out using NCCLS discs diffusion method. The investigation revealed that 59.21% of subjects of the study population were in the age range of 25-34 years. The majority of them were married (69.74%), and 50% were multiparous. Regarding the occupation, 56.58% among participants were housewife. Asymptotic bacteriuria prevalence was 32.89% in the study population. E. coli had the highest value (56%) while Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae and Staphylococcus aureus had lowest value of (8%) each respectively. Cefoperazone, Cefsulodine and Cefixime were recorded as the most effective antimicrobial against the urinary isolates.


Diabetic patients are at an increased risk of developing heart failure. The aetiology of diabetic heart disease is likely to be multifactorial, ranging from altered myocardial metabolism, increased interstitial fibrosis, endothelial dysfunction, microvascular disease, and coronary atherosclerosis. These factors act synergistically with resultant myocardial systolic and diastolic dysfunction. The aim of the present review is to illustrate the role of multimodality cardiac imaging such as echocardiography, nuclear imaging, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging in providing insights into these pathological processes, and to quantify the extent of myocardial diastolic and systolic dysfunction.


Background In September 2015 the United Nations adopted the newly drafted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as the post-2015 development agenda. The SDGs replaced the Millennium Development Goals that expired at the end of 2015 and, for the first time, include an item explicitly addressing the need for "peaceful and inclusive societies", setting the goal to "significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere" (16.1). Description of the Problem The SDGs will significantly shape international development policies until 2030 and set targets to be met by major national and international agencies. Besides the overarching SDG 16.1, other goals specifically address different types and contexts of violence (4a, 4.7, 5.2, 5.3, 16.2) and a number of risk factors closely connected to violence. However, the possibility of significantly reducing death rates and building killing-free societies is still strongly questioned. Results The field of violence prevention has grown significantly over the past decade, signalled in 2002 with the publication of the World Report on Violence and Health that clearly identified violence as "a preventable disease". This paper explores some of the accumulative supportive evidence for violence prevention policies that provide a solid base for taking SDG 16.1 seriously and making the case for the necessary build up to escalate their application. Conclusions We currently have much of the needed knowledge to drastically reduce death rates everywhere and to start building killing-free societies, as sought by SDG 16.1. Failure to seize this opportunity may not only prove an strategic failure in the efforts to reduce violence, but may also jeopardise other development goals. SDGs are interdependent, and failure to address certain targets will obstruct advances in others. Disregarding violence prevention as an integral part of the solution could undermine the process and even lead to unwarranted harmful practices.


International organization as a field of study is where the action is. The analytical shifts leading up to the current preoccupation with international regimes have been both progressive and cumulative. And the field is pursuing its object of study in innovative ways that are bringing it closer to the theoretical core of more general international relations work. As we point out, however, the study of regimes as practiced today suffers from the fact that its epistemological approaches contradict its basic ontological posture. Accordingly, more interpretive strains, commensurate with the intersubjective basis of international regimes, should be included in the prevailing epistemological approaches. In addition, as a result of its enthusiasm for the concept of regimes, the field has tended to neglect the study of formal international organizations. Interpretive epistemologies can also help to link up the study of regimes with the study of formal international organizations by drawing attention to the roles these organizations play in creating transparency in the behavior and expectations of actors, serving as focal points for the international legitimation struggle, and providing a venue for the conduct of global epistemic politics.


This paper motivates, from historical, philosophical, and industrial points of view, the adoption of a novel scheme for developing complex measuring systems as perceptive agencies. The general concept of agency, a cooperative multiagent system defined within distributed artificial intelligence and robotics, is discussed together with its particular application to the field of intelligent instruments. An embryonic example of perceptive agency applied to the field of environmental monitoring is reported.


The effect of long-term diabetes mellitus on bone and mineral metabolism was studied in BB rats. Diabetic rats were treated with 1 U of long-acting insulin every other day for 12 wk and compared with nondiabetic littermates. Urinary calcium excretion was increased > 10-fold, but serum total and diffusible calcium remained normal. Serum concentrations of both 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and vitamin D–binding protein were significantly decreased in diabetic rats. The intestinal calbindin-D 9K concentration was decreased by nearly 50%, and active duodenal calcium absorption was totally abolished. Trabecular bone volume measured in the tibial metaphysis was decreased by 44%, and the osteoblast and osteoid surfaces were <10% of values observed in control rats, whereas the osteoclast surface was unchanged by diabetes. The daily bone formation (bone mineral apposition rate) measured by labeling twice with calcein was decreased by 86% in diabetic rats. The serum concentration of osteocalcin, a biochemical marker of osteoblast function, was similarly decreased (mean ± SE 23 ± 3 and 62 ± 4 μg/L in diabetic [n = 15] and nondiabetic [n = 15] rats, respectively). Serum osteocalcin was significantly correlated with the serum concentration of insulinlike growth factor I (r = 0.89, P < 0.001). Bone strength measured as the energy needed to fracture the femur was markedly decreased (5.3 ±1.4 and 8.4 ± 1.3 N · m · degree in diabetic and nondiabetic rats, respectively; P < 0.01). These histological, chemical, and biomechanical data clearly indicate that long-standing diabetes in BB rats results in severe low-turnover osteoporosis probably related to decreased osteoblast recruitment and/or function.


Particle emissions from ship engines and their atmospheric transformation in the marine boundary layer (MBL) were investigated in engine test bed studies and in airborne measurements of expanding ship plumes. During the test rig studies, detailed aerosol microphysical and chemical properties were measured in the exhaust gas of a serial MAN B&W seven-cylinder four-stroke marine diesel engine under various load conditions. The emission studies were complemented by airborne aerosol transformation studies in the plume of a large container ship in the English Channel using the DLR aircraft Falcon 20 E-5. Observations from emission studies and plume studies combined with a Gaussian plume dispersion model yield a consistent picture of particle transformation processes from emission to atmospheric processing during plume expansion. Particulate matter emission indices obtained from plume measurements are 8.8±1.0×10 15 (kg fuel) −1 by number for non-volatile particles and 174±43 mg (kg fuel) −1 by mass for Black Carbon (BC). Values determined for test rig conditions between 85 and 110% engine load are of similar magnitude. For the total particle number including volatile compounds no emission index can be derived since the volatile aerosol fraction is subject to rapid transformation processes in the plume. Ship exhaust particles occur in the size range D p D p ≤0.02 μm. From the decay of ship exhaust particle number concentrations in an expanding plume, a maximum plume life time of approx. 24 h is estimated for a well-mixed marine boundary layer.


In this work, for a wireless sensor network (WSN) of n randomly placed sensors with node density \lambda \in [1,n], we study the tradeoffs between the aggregation throughput and gathering efficiency. The gathering efficiency refers to the ratio of the number of the sensors whose data have been gathered to the total number of sensors. Specifically, we design two efficient aggregation schemes, called single-hop-length (SHL) scheme and multiple-hop-length (MHL) scheme. By novelly integrating these two schemes, we theoretically prove that our protocol achieves the optimal tradeoffs, and derive the optimal aggregation throughput depending on a given threshold value (lower bound) on gathering efficiency. Particularly, we show that under the MHL scheme, for a practically important set of symmetric functions called divisible perfectly compressible (DPC) functions, including the mean, max, and various kinds of indicator functions, etc., the data from \Theta (n) sensors can be aggregated to the sink at the throughput of a constant order \Theta (1), implying that, our MHL scheme is indeed scalable.


Analytical Philosophy Volume 6, Number 6 Editor in Chief Kevin C. Klement, University of Massachusetts Editorial Board Annalisa Coliva, UC Irvine Greg Frost-Arnold, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Henry Jackman, York University Sandra Lapointe, McMaster University Consuelo Preti, The College of New Jersey Marcus Rossberg, University of Connecticut Anthony Skelton, Western University Mark Textor, King's College London Audrey Yap, University of Victoria Richard Zach, University of Calgary Review Editors Sean Morris, Metropolitan State University of Denver Sanford Shieh, Wesleyan University Design Daniel Harris, Hunter College


In patients with CHD the hematological and serum chemical profiles showed significantly elevated (P less than 0.05) serum cholesterols, highly significantly increased hematocrits (P less than 0.025 to P less than 0.001) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) (red cell aggregation) along with several blood constituents causal of erythrocyte aggregation were significantly elevated (P less than 0.05 to P less than 0.025). Thus, major defects were elevated serum cholesterol, increased blood viscosity and reduced tissue perfusion which present evidence implicates as interactive factors in the pathogenesis of CHD. Methoxylated PBP derivatives exhibited a highly significant antiadhesive action (P less than 0.001) on erythrocytes and certain PBP hydroxylated glycosides showed a significant accelerating (P less than 0.05) action on erythrocyte aggregation which causes sequestration and reduced erythrocyte concentration. Thus, the PBP derivatives exert an apparent regulatory action on erythrocyte aggregation and concentration, two major factors affecting blood viscosity and flow. The PBP compounds occur in plants and are found in certain foods which suggests dietary control of the blood high viscosity syndrome.


Malaysian Ministers periodically since 1998 announced their intentions to introduce comprehensive data protection legislation. In 2010 the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA) was enacted, but not brought into force. A new Personal Data Protection Department was created to oversee the implementation of the Act in 2011. It was not until 15 November 2013 that the Act was brought into force and Abu Hassan Ismail (previously Director-General of the Department) was appointed as Personal Data Protection Commissioner. A number of Regulations came into force on the same day. Data users had three months to 15 February 2014 to comply with Act and Regulations. It is the first data privacy Act in the ASEAN region to be fully in force. This article analyses the main features of the new Act.While the PDPA has many deficiencies, this data privacy legislation will be a significant step forward for Malaysians. In the hands of a Commissioner committed to privacy protection, and a government which does not impede this, much will be achievable. However, the range of enforcement methods is insufficient: there are no provisions by which complainants may seek compensation or most other remedies.If the Act is well managed and gains credibility, Malaysian politics may deliver further improvements to it in future, particularly in expansion of scope to cover the public sector, and provision of some avenue for compensatory damages. For Malaysians to be able to focus on real issues in data protection, because of the existence of this Act, will inevitably increase the demand for better protection.


The study used qualitative research methods to examine cultural beliefs, specifically those that are spiritual, as well as gender-related norms to explicate HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among deaf persons residing in rural and peri-urban areas of Kwa Zulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Existing findings, though limited, suggest that there are insufficient understandings among deaf South Africans about HIV/AIDS. While the deaf population exceeds 4 million, they are among the least educated, most illiterate, and least employed, and experience higher rates of poverty. These are all factors that may contribute to a greater incidence of HIV infection; however, there is a dearth of research that investigates risk behaviors for HIV/AIDS or contributes to the development of preventative measures for South Africa's deaf community. Research findings associated with hearing South Africans suggests that behavior is guided by several factors: cultural beliefs, level of poverty, and gender differences. This study using focus groups identified similar factors that may influence the beha\dor of the South African deaf community. Focus group discussions with deaf individuals {n = 8) are used to examine issues related to culture, traditional spiritual practices, gender norms, and poverty that increase the risks of HIV/AIDS. Data was analyzed using ethnographic methods and organized in a format that identified themes associated with each of the variables. Throughout the data analysis process emphasis was placed on comparing themes between the groups and identifying repeating patterns. Based on the findings, recommendations are made for the development of educational and prevention campaigns that target the deaf community.


Crisis as a source of opportunity and change? How does that happen? This case describes the difficult situation the new dean of the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, faced after Hurricane Katrina hit the city in the late summer of 2005. With a state of emergency declared statewide, in a city with only a shell of its former infrastructure intact, in a university that suffered water damage, and in a community of students and faculty scattered and separated throughout several different cities and states, how was Dean DeNisi supposed to leadlet alone implement his vision? The A case challenges students to think about how DeNisi should proceed in the immediate months to ensure both the return of current students and the survival of the business school. What would all this mean to attracting future Freeman students? The B case describes how DeNisi seized the opportunity while in a time of great crisis. The material offers a rich discussion that should evolve into the recognition that leaders who are able to frame crises as potential opportunities to make their organizations stronger will likely manage in a way that will make them more resilient and better off after the crises.


The harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena , is a widespread cetacean species in the Northeast Atlantic, with a year-round distribution around the UK. The south-west experiences the highest bycatch rates in the UK and is the main threat to P. phocoena populations. Yet here there is limited information on their abundance, distribution, and habitat preferences. This study aims to understand harbour porpoise species-habitat relationship in the UK south-west, which may be used to inform conservation management and sustain valuable populations. From boat-based visual surveys conducted over summers 2017-2019 from Plymouth to St Marys in the Scilly Isles, habitat modelling using generalised additive models (GAMs) were used to analyse harbour porpoise occurrence in relation to variables including seabed depth, slope, and tidal state. A total of 197 harbour porpoises were spotted over 111 hours and 35 minutes survey time. The best model explained 15.7% of the deviance with variables sea state, month, depth, slope, and time of day as significant predictors. A low sea state, in the month of August, and at 35-60m depth all resulted in increased sighting rate, as well as regions of higher slope and at 10-12am. These results suggest seasonal movement patterns, reliance on static bathymetric features, and diurnal changes in surfacing behaviour. This study has successfully identified important predictors of P. phocoena distribution within a previously understudied area, to aid towards the species conservation particularly in terms of management and reduction of bycatch.


The possibility to generate dopaminergic (DA) neurons from pluripotent stem cells represents an unlimited source of material for tissue engineering and cell therapy for neurodegenerative disease. We set up a protocol based on the generation of size-calibrated neurospheres for a rapid production (3 weeks) of a high amount of DA neurons (>60%) oriented toward a midbrain-like phenotype, characterized by the expression of FOXA2, LMX1A, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), NURR1, and EN1. By using γ-secretase inhibitors and varying culture time of neurospheres, we controlled maturation and cellular composition of a three-dimensional (3D) engineered nervous tissue (ENT). ENT contained neurons and glial cells expressing various markers of maturity, such as synaptophysin, neuronal nuclei-specific protein (NeuN), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and were electrophysiologically active. We found that 3-week-old neurospheres were optimal to generate 3D tissue containing DA neurons with typical A9 morphology. ENT generated from 4-week-old neurospheres launched glial cell type since astrocytes and myelin could be detected massively at the expense of TH-immunoreactive neurons. All γ-secretase inhibitors were not equivalent; compound E was more efficient than DAPT in generating DA neurons. This DA tissue provides a tool for drug screening, and toxicology. It should also become a useful biomaterial for studies on Parkinson's disease.


Abstract. Sea level observations made in the Venice Lagoon between 1751 and 1792 have been recovered, consisting of two time series of daily data on high and low waters in Venice and Chioggia. From comparisons with modern observations, the quality of the 18th century data appears to be good enough to allow a useful analysis. A composite time series of daily mean sea level is obtained by merging the 18th century data and 1872–2004 observations in Venice Punta della Salute. The absence of reliable information on vertical references prevents the connection of the two 18th century time series with each other and with modern observations. However, daily sea level anomalies relative to the mean sea level enable us to recognize storm surge events that appear to occur more frequently in the second half of the 18th century than in the late 19th and 20th centuries, particularly during the 1751–1769 period. The record-breaking storm surge of 4 November 1966 turns out to be a remarkable event even in comparison to the events extracted from the 18th century time series. Further work is required to fill the gap between the old and modern observations.


Occurrence of the transversion mutation A.T to C.G is specifically enhanced in Escherichia coli mutT mutants. With the aid of the cloned mutT gene, the MutT protein, which has a molecular mass of 15 kilodaltons, was overproduced and purified to near homogeneity. The protein catalyzes hydrolysis of dGTP to dGMP. dGDP and GTP were also hydrolyzed by the protein, but at a lower rate than seen with dGTP. No other deoxynucleoside triphosphates were hydrolyzed. Using poly(dA).(dT)20 as a template-primer, we investigated the misincorporation of dGMP, dCMP, and dAMP by the alpha subunit and the core of E. coli DNA polymerase III. When the polymerization reaction was performed with the alpha subunit, both dCMP and dGMP were misincorporated. The core, composed of alpha, epsilon, and theta subunits, misincorporated only dGMP. This would imply that the proofreading function of the epsilon subunit of DNA polymerase III may correct the dC.dA mispair but not the dG.dA mispair. Misincorporation of dAMP was not observed in reactions with the alpha subunit or core. The misincorporation of dGMP, but not dCMP, was almost completely suppressed by adding purified MutT protein to the reaction mixture. Under these conditions, only a portion of dGTP present in the reaction mixture was degraded. It is therefore likely that the MutT protein may prevent dGMP misincorporation by degrading a specific form of dGTP, probably the syn form, which can pair with deoxyadenosine.


1. Commercial forests represent an important but often neglected biological resource. This study related the understorey plant species composition of a coniferous plantation forest managed by clearfelling to environmental factors (stand structure, soil pH and previous land use) and ecological patterns (abundance-occupancy relationships, species dispersal and life history). 2. Plant species richness and composition were recorded in 326 managed stands of different ages, soil types and land-use histories in a 185-km2 lowland forest planted onto heath and arable land. 3. Stands replanted in the last 10 years had the greatest species richness, typically containing in the order of 18 plant species. Stands on soils of high pH had greater plant species richness, as did those on previously arable land. 4. Less than a quarter (23%) of all species persisted in the above-ground vegetation throughout the growth cycle. The majority recolonized forest stands during the cycle, by physical dispersal or from the seed bank, largely after canopy opening in mature stands (26%) or after felling (47%). Annual species and species with plumed seeds were most abundant in early growth stages, while shrubs with berries were more abundant in mature stands. 5. We found a strong positive interspecific relationship between frequency of stand occupancy and mean abundance within occupied stands. For species not persisting above-ground throughout the forestry cycle (i.e. patch colonizers), the slope of the abundance-occupancy relationship was steeper for those with a long-distance dispersal mechanism than for those lacking such a mechanism. 6. Synthesis and applications. Rotational clearfelling of plantations may be an appropriate form of forest and conservation management in forests planted on former open areas such as heaths, where the conservation interest is not in old-growth species but in earlier successional species. Maximizing representation of young growth stages will help maximize plant diversity in such cases. These prescriptions contradict guidance for sustainable forestry; however, it is appropriate to vary guidelines according to land-use history and species composition. Our findings confirm the importance of dispersal to species persistence within landscapes comprising successional patch networks.


New axisymmetric (2D) models for dust-driven winds of C-stars are presented which include hydrodynamics with radiation pressure on dust, equilibrium chemistry and time-dependent dust formation with coupled grey Monte Carlo radiative transfer. Considering the most simple case without stellar pulsation (hydrostatic inner boundary condition) these models reveal a more complex picture of the dust formation and wind acceleration as compared to earlier published spherically symmetric (1D) models. The so-called exterior κ-mechanism causes radial oscillations with short phases of active dust formation between longer phases without appreciable dust formation, just like in the 1D models. However, in 2D geometry, the oscillations can be out-of-phase at different places above the stellar atmosphere which result in the formation of dust arcs or smaller caps that only occupy a certain fraction of the total solid angle. These dust structures are accelerated outward by radiation pressure, expanding radially and tangentially like mushroom clouds, while dust-poor matter is falling back towards the star at other places. A highly dynamical and turbulent dust formation zone is created in this way, which again leads to inhomogeneous dust production. Further away from the star, flow instabilities (e. g. Rayleigh-Taylor) have time to fragment the outward moving arcs and shells to produce numerous small-scale cloud-like sub-structures.


Twentieth-century science and technology in Brazil were marked by the building of new institutions of higher education, research, and research funding as well as by the professionalization of scientific practice in the country. Most of these changes were state driven and state funded, while some support came from foreign philanthropic foundations and states and, on a smaller scale, from the private sector. The mid-20th-century was when most activity took place, for instance the founding of the University of São Paulo, as a reaction of the state of São Paulo to national political changes in 1930, and the establishment of funding agencies such as Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), as initiatives of the federal government. Throughout the century the institutionalization of science moved from a strictly pragmatic model toward the acknowledgement of science as the professional activity required for the production of new knowledge. In Brazil the development of science has been marked by a succession of ups and downs closely following economic cycles and political times, albeit not perfectly synchronously. Therefore, a major brain drain began in 1960 during a democratic regime, and the 1964 military dictatorship restrained civil rights while supporting science from 1970 on.
 Chronological limits in this history are not turning points. On the one hand, as the 21st century began Brazilian academia suffered further ups and downs closely related to political and funding crises, which have worsened since President Jair Bolsonaro assumed office in 2019. On the other hand, the huge impact of the 20th-century changes in Brazilian academia should not detract from the production of science and technology in previous centuries.


To which extent may history help us understand current financial outcomes? FinancialHistory typically tests for financial theories using historical data, or studies past financialoutcomes to understand the present through analogy. This dissertation focuses on an alternative approach to the use of history in finance, which I label History & Finance. This approach exploits facts and institutions of the past, and the persistence of the economic and social phenomena they determine, to directly explain current financial outcomes. In the first chapter of the dissertation, I define the scope of History & Finance based on its differences with Economic and Financial History. History & Finance has its roots in the Political Economy approach that exploits the long-run effects of historical shocks and institutions to understand current economic outcomes. I survey the research in History & Finance, organizing it across the subfields of Finance which have used this approach so far. I discuss the challenges that this method poses to researchers, and in particular the difficulty of making plausible causal statements in long-run settings, and of determining the channels of transmission of the effects of historical phenomena on current financial outcomes. I then propose five directions that scholars may follow to enlarge the scope of this approach to research in finance.In the second chapter of the dissertation, I use the History & Finance approach to understand the current spatial distribution of innovation. I focus on the innovation of traditional industries, a margin of innovation which is largely neglected in the literature, although it includes the vast majority of the innovations produced every year in Europe and the United States. I exploit newly assembled data on innovation and education at the level of European regions, as well as a unique rm-level data set on the innovation of traditional industries, to show that the amount of formal education of blue-collar workers is an important determinant of the innovation produced in traditional industries. The relevance of the formal education of blue-collar workers for innovation is alternative to the learning-by-doing hypothesis and the directed technical change literature, none of which recognizes a role for formal education in the productivity of jobs on the line. Moreover, I document for the first time that the variation in the amount of basic education across European regions is highly persistent over the decades, despite the major institutional and economic shocks that have differentially affected European regions over time. Hence, I use the historical variation of basic education across regions to address the issue of the reverse causality between current innovation and current basic education. I also propose an historical natural experiment, the quasi-exogenous diffusion of the printing press across Europe after 1450 AD, as a source of variation for cross-regional basic education in the past. Higher basic education increases the amount of innovation produced by firms in traditional industries, whose workers are in largepart basically educated individuals. The effect is indeed stronger for firms that employ more blue-collar workers. I also document that higher basic education determines higher capital expenditures and lower financial constraints for those firms that innovate more.In the third chapter of the dissertation, which is coauthored with Marcel Prokopczuk and Michael Weber, I use the History & Finance approach to understand the limited stockmarket participation of households. Because the Jewish population has been associated with the provision of financial services in Europe for more than eight centuries, we test whether those German counties with a higher persecution of local Jewish communities over time tend to invest less in stocks. Indeed, in those counties where historical persecution was higher as far back as in the Middle Ages, present-day households invest less in stocks. The size of the effect is similar across cohorts, and it does not fade away over time. The evidence is consistent with a cultural norm of distrust in finance that has started in those areas where Jews were persecuted more in the past, and has transmitted across generations over the centuries. To obtain quasi-exogenous variation in the extent of Jewish persecution across German counties in the distant past, we exploit the forced migrations of the first German Jewish communities from the Rhine Valley to current Poland to instrument for the existence of Jewish communities in counties in the Middle Ages, and hence the likelihood that persecution against the communities was documented. This dissertation defines History & Finance as a rising approach to the study of financial phenomena, and it proposes several promising routes that researchers across subfields of finance may take to bring this approach from its infancy to a mature stage.


Aim: Our aim of this randomized & prospective clinical study was to investigate and compare the efficacy of palonosetron HCl and granisetron HCl to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting after gynaecological surgery. Method: Fifty female patients of ASA grade I and II in between 18-60 years of age posted for elective gynaecological surgery were randomly divided into two groups containing 25 patients each. Before induction of anaesthesia group P received bolus dose of palonosetron 75 mcg and group G received bolus dose of granisetron 2.5 mg intravenously slowly over a period of 30 seconds. Result: In the postoperative period (0-3 hrs), the incidence of complete response (no postoperative nausea & vomiting, no rescue medication) was 88% with palonosetron and 76% with granisetron (p value-0.46) .During 3-24 hrs postoperatively the incidence was 92% with palonosetron and 80% with granisetron (p value-0.417). During 24-48 hrs postoperatively the incidence was 92 % with palonosetron and 60 % with granisetron (p value0.018). During 48-72 hrs incidence was statistically insignificant (p value-0.1284). Insignificant incidence of side effects between the groups was found. Conclusion: Palonosetron is more potent and long acting than granisetron for the prevention of post operative nausea & vomiting after gynaecological surgery.


Neurosurgical Treatment of Movement Disorders is a state-of-the-art book designed to give the reader an overview of treatment strategies for movement disorders. Ablative and restorative surgical procedures and technical advances in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and surgical techniques for the treatment of hyperkinesias are presented in detail. Neurosurgical Treatment of Movement Disorders covers: Describes the classification, pathophysiology, pathology and clinical presentation of movement disorders Reviews the current medical treatment of movement disorders Defines the current indications for surgical treatment Appraises the technical aspects of surgical procedures used in the treatment of movement disorders Identifies the limitations and advantages of these techniques Develops a multidisciplinary approach to treatment (Distributed by Thieme for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons)


The mixed effects model for binary responses due to Conaway (1990, A Random Effects Model for Binary Data) is extended to accommodate ordinal responses in general and discrete time survival data with ordinal responses in particular. Given a multinomial likelihood, cumulative complementary log-log link function, and log-gamma random effects distribution, the resulting marginal likelihood has a closed form. As a result, a Newton-Raphson estimation procedure is feasible without resorting to numerical, approximation-based, or Monte Carlo integration techniques. The parameters in the model have a proportional hazards interpretation in terms of multivariate discrete time data with ordinal responses. Using data from a psychological example, the proposed method is compared with other mixed effects approaches as well as population-averaged models.


In the turning operation the relative dynamic motion between cutting tool and workpiece, or vibration, is a frequent problem, which affects the result of the machining, and, in particular, the surface finish. Tool life is also influenced by vibration. Severe acoustic noise in the working environment frequently occurs as a result of dynamic motion between the cutting tool and the workpiece. Dynamic motion between cutting tool and workpiece can be reduced substantially by active control of the machine-tool vibration based on the filtered-x LMS-algorithm. However, in the digital implementation of the filtered-x LMS-algorithm both the inputs and the internal algorithmic quantities are limited to a certain precision. The process of machining a workpiece is also likely to introduce large variations in the level of both input and output signals of the digital controller. The tool shank vibrations can generally be described as a superposition of narrow-band random processes at each modal frequency. Both the variation in signal level and the narrow-band character of the vibration are likely to be unfavorable a fix number realization of the filtered-x LMS-algorithm. The potential large dynamic range in the input signal may introduce coefficient bias and stalling of the convergence of the adaptive FIR filter. Furthermore, both the narrow-band character of the vibration and a large dynamic range in the input signal may result in overflow and thereby seriously degrade the performance of the control system. However, by the use of the leaky filtered-x LMS algorithm problems due to the limited numerical precision such as overflow will be reduced to a large extent.


This thesis has developed from an interest in site-specific work and subsequently it has grown into a discussion about place, guided walks and the people who occupy spaces. The aim of the research is to examine the role of the audience in guided tours conducted within areas that are under-celebrated and degenerated. Using a performance walk as the practice to form part of my research, I pose the question; can audiences who are the local resident inform the content of the guided walk to reinforce a sense of community cohesion and celebration? Furthermore, can an area possessing no formal tourism infrastructure become a site for a community walk?

I will examine the role both space and the audience can play within guided tours in performance, particularly in those occupied by the local resident. This thesis relies heavily on the documentation material and reflective analysis from my own walk. Using this performance walk to form my argument, I also examine other walks and theories and investigate the strategies and processes of such walks. The thesis has reconsidered the trajectory of performance and guided walks and offers a different approach into how the local inhabitant can inform the content of walks, which are situated within their hometown.


Local Economic development as approach to development is a prominent strategy to tackle unemployment and poverty in urban areas. Thus, the objective of the study was to assess and communicate the extent to which municipal Local Economic development initiatives contribute towards improving the livelihood of communities in Ambo Town for sustainable local economic development. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed in this study. Accordingly, data were collected from 152 participants through questionnaire, interview and observation; and analyzed using descriptive statistics, content analysis and description. The study revealed that local economic development has had a marginal impact on poverty alleviation due to a myriad of factors which reinforce and interact with each other thereby trapping entrepreneurs and residents in poverty. Local economic development approach, in most cases, to the development project planning and decision makings are in top-down which do not target all the segments of the poor in a meaningful way. Local economic development serves as an important strategy to boost local economies to address the high levels of poverty, unemployment and inequalities facing majority population. Participatory development process is crucial to properly translate the local economic development policy into meaningful practice so that there is a significant impact on alleviating poverty program.


This article discusses whether the demand that law academics show citations by a superior court is disadvantageous to women, using the citations of academic work by the High Court of Australia from 2015, 2016 and 2017. The preliminary data show that male academics were cited much more often than female academics (even for works written after 1999), and academics who were cited were associated primarily with 'elite' universities in Australia, England and the United States. The use of citation by superior courts may not really show 'impact' but may rather indicate that the common law displays historical and unconscious biases.


Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a challenging viral respiratory tract infection since 2019 and may contribute to higher mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: We analyzed the clinical data of 98 patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19 and who had a previous diagnosis of COPD. They are grouped regarding GOLD ABCD stages, reported as follows whether in pandemic wards or intensive care units (ICU). The clinical outcomes were noted as a live hospital discharge or inhospital mortality. Results: A total of 76 patients (77.6%) were in the pandemic wards, 22 (22.4%) were in the ICU. Around 81 (82.7%) patients survived, 17 (17.3%) were deceased. We grouped them as GOLD A and GOLD B and GLOD C, and GOLD D. Procalcitonin (PCT) level was higher and arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2 in mm Hg) to fractional inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) level was lower in the group of GOLD C and GOLD D than in GOLD A and GOLD B (p < 0.005). There was no statistically significant difference in inhospital mortality between these two groups (p = 0.098). While in the univariate model, hemoglobin (Hgb), urea, troponin, PCT, PaO2/FiO2, saturation%, and respiratory rate was observed to be significantly different; in the multivariate model, only a significant independent (p < 0.05) effect of PaO₂/FiO2 were observed in distinguishing patients who survived or deceased. Conclusion: Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) ABCD groups are staging COPD patients in favor of predicting hospitalization and mortality. However, when COPD patients are hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia, different clinical factors and indices should be considered due to the heterogeneity and complexity of COPD. Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Coronavirus disease 2019, Mortality. Indian Journal of Respiratory Care (2023): 10.5005/jp-journals-11010-1006


Two exploratory studies examined ratings of the severity of violence of several behaviors. In Study 1, a very consistent ordering of the behaviors by severity was obtained from two groups of participants. The stated justification for the behaviors was manipulated, and both mitigation and aggravation effects were observed. Study 2 found that essentially the same ordering of behaviors could be obtained in a provocation-rating task, and that both the severity ratings and the provocation ratings yielded four interpretable types of violence upon factor analysis: more severe physical (V1), less severe physical (V2), more severe nonphysical (V3), and less severe nonphysical (V4). Individual profiles of severity ratings across these four types yielded two interpretable groupings of participants upon cluster analysis: a violence-sensitive group and a violence-tolerant group. The violence-tolerant group had lower severity ratings for three of the four types of violence. These empirical distinctions help to illuminate what appear to be different meanings of the term violent for different behavior categories and for different individuals.


Pollution with the heavy metals of Kosovo's rivers has been and continues to be a serious concern not only for the population, but also for responsible institutions that deal with environmental protection in our country. Based on this fact and our doubts regarding the quality of the river waters of the Municipality of Gjilan, we were motivated to conduct a study of the quality of the Mirusha, Stanishor and Morava river waters. During our research, we have set eight monitoring points for determining the exact level of concentration of heavy metals in the river waters quoted above. The heavy metals analyzed in this study were: Pb, Hg, Mn, Cu, Fe, Ni, Cr, Cd, Zn and Ba. The analytical technique used to determine the concentration of heavy metals was ICP-OES. The obtained results show that Fe, Mn and Ba exceed the allowed level at several monitoring points of the Mirusha and Stanishor rivers and appears in the degree of pollution with these metals of Morava river waters. The presence of heavy metals in the waters of these rivers negatively affects habitat waters and indirectly human health. Therefore, the identification and then suggestions regarding elimination of polluting sources are the subject of this study.


From the late 1530s, when the translation of the Scriptures into English was authorised, there rapidly developed a new body of lay Bible-readers with new practices of reading and interpretation of the Bible. While the traditional biblical drama of the late middle ages was gradually suppressed or abandoned, a new generation of plays on scriptural subjects emerged, written by and addressed to these new readers. This paper explores the ways in which mid-sixteenth-century playwrights responded to the lively culture of Bible-reading in the early years of the Reformation. Increased focus on the literal, social and ethical implications of biblical stories guided playwrights towards a greatly expanded body of powerful narratives, which raised challenging human issues, allowing strong theatrical interpretation in relation to contemporary concerns. But the new theatrical strategies do not always sit quite comfortably with the special status accorded by Protestantism to the Bible as the word of God. These Reformation plays begin to suggest crucial tensions between drama and doctrine, inadvertently reinforcing the gradually increasing Protestant unease with the stage as a forum in which to address the Bible.


The northern part of the Elizabethtown and Port Henry quadrangles, which includes the largest surficial exposure of olivine metagabbro in the Adirondack Precambrian rocks, was mapped at a scale of 1:15,840. The area is dominated by meta-igneous rocks of four types, which probably intruded in the following sequence (from earliest to latest): granitic gneiss, anorthosite, garnet-pyroxene gneiss, and metagabbro. The metagabbroic complex is a multiple intrusion forming a basinlike structure, with the central part still covered by a roof complex of granitic gneisses. The limited scale of the in situ differentiation could not produce the observed range of compositions; therefore, differentiation prior to intrusion is postulated. The observed differentiation trend toward lower silica content can be explained by pyroxene fractionation. Intrusive relationships are evident from locally preserved chilled margins in gabbros and from the development of hybrid zones in the surrounding granitic gneisses; these zones are especially common in the roof complex. Granulite facies metamorphism produced garnet-bearing mineral assemblages, but igneous assemblages and textures are still well preserved.

The garnet-pyroxene gneiss is characterized by the metamorphic assemblage plagioclase + garnet + clinopyroxene and by the presence of blue plagioclase mega-crysts. The gneiss forms intrusive sill-like bodies, usually in contact with anorthosite. In some places, the contact is transitional, suggesting a possible comagmatic origin.


Abstract 40Ar/39Ar dating has facilitated a substantial reinterpretation of the volcanic evolution of Montserrat. Three volcanic centres with non-overlapping volcanic activity are identified: Silver Hills (c. 2600 to c. 1200 ka); Centre Hills (at least c. 950 to c. 550 ka); South Soufrière Hills-Soufrière Hills (at least c. 170 ka to present). The geochronological data show that old xenocrysts are common in the porphyritic andesite, implying that reliable ages are best obtained by dating the groundmass. Soufrière Hills evolved from early eruptions dominated by two-pyroxene andesite to eruptions of hypersthene-hornblende andesite at c. llOka. Between the two varieties of andesite there was an interlude of mafic volcanism at c. 130ka to form South Soufrière Hills. There is evidence of tectonic uplift of early products of the complex along with older submarine volcanic rocks. Consideration of stratigraphy and age data indicates that only a proportion of the dome-forming eruptions are recorded as domes in the geological record. Older products are removed from the subaerial edifice by sector-collapse events. The time-averaged eruption rate of the South Soufrière Hills-Soufrière Hills centre is estimated at 0.005 m3 s-1 (c. 0.15 km3 ka-1) (dense rock equivalent). The ongoing eruption is very similar in style to previous activity at Soufrière Hills, and future activity is likely to pose similar hazards. Soufrière Hills have been characterized by alternations of periods of enhanced activity and periods of dormancy, both lasting of the order of 104 years. During periods of elevated activity several major dome-forming eruptions are separated by quiescent interludes lasting less than c. 103 years. The ongoing eruption may mark the onset of a fourth period of enhanced volcanic activity at Soufrière Hills.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vocationally outpatient oriented rehabilitation on an intervention group, compared with a control group that did not take part in the intervention. The groups were compared for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) by the quantitative indicator RAND 36. Data were obtained by a self-report at baseline and at nine months follow-up. Differences between base-line and follow-up were analyzed within group and between the groups. The study population consisted of 751 municipal employees aged between 26 and 64 years; an intervention with 463 women and 115 men (n = 578), and a control group with 138 women and 35 men (n = 173). In this study we focused on those who had answered to all questions in RAND 36, thus 581 remained. Of these, 388 were in the intervention group (mean age 49.0 years) and 110 in the control group (mean age 48.4 years). Intervention was based on cognitive behavioral therapy. Participants in the 9-month outpatient intervention group showed statistically significant increase in all eight RAND 36 areas. Most improvement was seen in the psychosocial functioning index (p = 0.002). Although there were no statistically significant changes in RAND 36 components in the control group, difference in changes between groups were seen in energy and fatigue (p < 0.001), social functioning (p = 0.032) and general health perceptions 0.027 in favor of the intervention group. The results suggest that a cognitive behavioral intervention as an early rehabilitation program is effective in increasing employees' quality of life, as measured by RAND 36.


Describes an inexpensive yet "intelligent" prototype system using vision-guided robotics for depalletizing and emptying polyethylene sacks. It uses structured light, and ultrasonics to obtain depth information. A structure is presented that is designed and built to minimize costs and increase reliability of the whole system, while at the same time fully automating the depalletizing and emptying of polyethelene sacks. The system is built around a conventional PC that carries out the tasks of control, vision, gripping, and fault monitoring. Simple PID loops are used for the control of all the robot axes, while an inexpensive vision system is used for the determination of the orientation of the pallets. A pneumatic gripper is used for the lifting of the sacks. The most probable faults are monitored for and appropriate actions are taken in the event of fault occurrence. In this way, a form of intelligence is built into the system.


Little is known about micro-processes by which sensorimotor interaction gives rise to conceptual development. Per embodiment theory, these micro-processes are mediated by dynamical attentional structures. Accordingly this study investigated eye-gaze behaviors during engagement in solving tablet-based bimanual manipulation tasks designed to foster proportional reasoning. Seventy-six elementaryand vocational-school students (9-15 yo) participated in individual task-based clinical interviews. Data gathered included action-logging, eye-tracking, and videography. Analyses revealed the emergence of stable eye-path gaze patterns contemporaneous with first enactments of effective manipulation and prior to verbal articulations of manipulation strategies. Characteristic gaze patterns included consistent or recurring attention to screen locations that bore non-salient stimuli or no stimuli at all yet bore invariant geometric relations to dynamical salient features. Arguably, this research validates empirically hypothetical constructs from constructivism, particularly reflective abstraction. Eye-Tracking the Emergence of Attentional Anchors in a Mathematics Learning Tablet Activity Shakila Shayan Utrecht University, The Netherlands Dor Abrahamson University of California – Berkeley, USA Arthur Bakker Utrecht University, The Netherlands Carolien A. C. G. Duijzer Utrecht University, The Netherlands


Instability in farm production is causing serious shocks to supply and farm income and there is a growing concern about increased volatility in farm production, prices and farm income. The study has estimated instability in three major crops before (1981-93) and after (1993-04) the initiation of economic reforms at the state and district levels in Andhra Pradesh. It has revealed that in a large state like Andhra Pradesh, and which is the case for most states of India, the instability status as perceived through the state level data may be vastly different from that experienced at the disaggregate level. The study has concluded that the state level analysis does not reflect complete picture of shocks in agriculture production, and, further, shocks in production underestimates shocks in farm income. It has suggested the need for addressing risks in farm income by devising area-specific crop insurance or other suitable mechanisms.


The fracture problems of medium carbon steel under extra-low cycle axial fatigue loading were studied using artificial neural network in this paper. The training data were used in the formation of training set of artificial neural network. The artificial neural network model exhibited excellent comparison with the experimental results. It was concluded that predicted fracture design parameters by the trained neural network model seem more reasonable compared to approximate methods. Training artificial neural network model was introduced at first. And then the Training data for the development of the neural network model was obtained from the experiments. The input parameters, notch depth and tip radius of the notch, and the output, the cycle times of fracture were used during the network training. The neural network architecture is designed. The artificial neural network model was developed using back propagation architecture with three layers jump connections, where every layer was connected or linked to every previous layer. The number of hidden neurons was determined according to special formula. The performance of system is summarized at last. The result show that the training model has good performance, and the experimental data and predicted data from artificial neural network are in good coherence.


Resistance to blighting by Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi (Reade) Honey was evaluated under greenhouse conditions in multiple populations of the diploid species Vaccinium boreale Hall & Aalders, V. corymbosum L., V. darrowi Camp, V. elliottii Chapm., V. myrtilloides Michx., V. myrtillus L., V. pallidum Ait., and V. tenellum Ait., as well as in accessions of the polyploid species 4x V. hirsutum Buckley and 6x V. corymbosum f. amoenum Aiton. Significant species differences were found in mean blighting levels averaged over 2 years, with values ranging from 3.5% for V. boreale to 49.2% for 2x V. corymbosum, compared with 27.5% for the resistant 4x V. corymbosum check, 'Bluejay', and 64.3% for the susceptible 4x V. corymbosum check, 'Blueray'. Wild Vaccinium species may serve as new sources of resistance to blighting, if resistance can be transferred easily and horticultural type recovered.


Novel, uncharged mixed-ligand [Pt(1,10-phenanthroline)(Ln-κS)2] (n = 1, 2) complexes have been isolated, in which two usually chelating N,N-dibutyl-N′-1-naphthoyl-thioureato (L1)−, or N,N-diethyl-N′-benzoyl-thioureato (L2)− anions coordinate to Pt(phen)Cl2 in an unprecedented κS-thio/amido mode of coordination. These previously unidentified compounds, are undesirable by-products in the synthesis of the biologically active mixed-ligand [Pt(diimine)(L-κO,S)]+X− complex salts, in which the well-documented tendency of such HLn ligands to coordinate in a bidentate (L-κO,S) mode of coordination is exploited. In the case of the N,N-dibutyl-N′-1-naphthoyl-thioureato, the [Pt(phen)(L1-κS)2] complex is the dominant product obtained in highest yield. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of [Pt(phen)(L1-κS)2] indicates significant intramolecular π–cation type stacking interactions that appear to stabilize these hypo-dentate (L-κS)− modes of coordination. Significantly, 1D-NOE NMR spectroscopy shows that for the [Pt(phen)(L1-κS)2] complex, the intra-molecular π-stacking interactions between the naphthyl and Pt(phen) groups certainly persists in methanol solutions, at room temperature. By contrast, in the N,N-diethyl-N′-benzoyl-thioureato analogue of [Pt(phen)(L2-κS)2], inter-molecular head-to-head, stacking interactions between the Pt(phen) moieties of adjacent independent molecules dominate the in the solid-state structure of this complex. Significantly, use of a non-aromatic N,N-diethyl-N′-pivaloylthiourea (HL3) results in the formation of only low yields (<10%) of the corresponding [Pt(phen)(L3-κS)2] using identical preparative methods; moreover, [Pt(phen)(L3-κS)2] could not be isolated as it is unstable on workup.


The effects of synbiotic yogurt supplemented with inulin on the pathological manifestations and gut microbiota–bile acid axis were investigated using a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) mice model. Female C57BL/6J mice were injected subcutaneously with DHEA at a dose of 6 mg/100 g BW for 20 days to establish a PCOS mouse model. Then, the PCOS mice were treated with yogurt containing inulin (6% w/w) at 15 mL/kg BW for 24 days. Results showed that supplementation of synbiotic yogurt enriched with inulin to PCOS mice decreased the body weight gain, improved estrus cycles and ovary morphology, and reduced the levels of luteinizing hormone while increasing the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and interleukin-22 in serum. At the genus level, synbiotic yogurt increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia. PICRUSt analysis indicated that KEGG pathways including bile acid biosynthesis were changed after inulin-enriched synbiotic yogurt supplementation. Synbiotic yogurt enriched with inulin also modulated the bile acid profiles. In conclusion, inulin-enriched synbiotic yogurt alleviated reproductive dysfunction and modulated gut microbiota and bile acid profiles in PCOS mice.


Along with the thorough development and application for Web services, the security of it has taken people¿s attention more and more. While Web services security (WSS) can exchange safe SOAP message and enhance the security of Web services, it will also have certain influence to the performance of Web services. In order to satisfy the security of it , to reduce the performance influence of Web services and to solve both the requester and provider side cannot recognize the security token, in this paper, we aim at proposing a SOAP information registration and security token proxy model for Web services (SIRSTPM). We has carried on the formalizing and verifying of this model. The result of theoretical verification shows this model is secure and effective. This model is helpful for solving the problem between security and performance contradiction as well as the token cannot be recognized by both the requester and the provider.


The stress distribution and fatigue behavior of nominally identical kilohertz fatigue resonators with two different thicknesses, 10 and 25 μm, was compared in this study. The results highlight the non-uniform 3-D stress distribution of the micron-scale notched cantilever beams that depends on the thickness. The areas corresponding to the first principal stress being within 2% of the maximum value are much smaller than the overall notch area and are a function of device thickness. It is also shown that the non-negligible influence of small, nanometer-scale geometrical variations in the dimensions of nominally identical devices on the maximum stress values can be accounted for by measuring the device's resonant frequency (f0). The observed scatter in the fatigue results of these microresonators is in part associated with the challenge in accurately calculating the local stress amplitudes. Despite that large scatter, the fatigue behavior of the 10 and 25 μm thick devices is similar. Particularly, the overall relative decrease rates in f0 are well related to fatigue life (Nf) and can be used to predict Nf within a factor of 5, for Nf ranging from 104 to 1010 cycles.


In an attempt to meet the public's needs for information on air quality a variety of indexes have been developed and they continue to evolve. To show the complexity and the diversity of such indices, a variety of current air quality indices are described here and compared in regard to their performance and ability to deliver quality information. A number of characteristics seem desirable for an index: consistency, simplicity, versatility and flexibility. In terms of their ongoing development, an AQI also needs to be useful for forecasting, and the method of calculation needs to be sufficiently flexible to allow for pollutants to be added or subtracted as changes to their health impact are revealed. However, much progress is still to be made, mainly through more careful consideration of the combined impact of multiple pollutants, consideration of low level exposure, and with more timely transfer of usable information to the public.


Calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) is a comparatively new cementitious material that is mainly established in China where it is produced in a large scale. CSA cement is not covered by European standards. However, it provides different beneficial properties such as rapid hardening and high early strength development. Furthermore, the usage of CSA cement can save energy during production process in comparison to established cementitious materials. Therefore it is also more environmental friendly. Insufficient knowledge of this material behaviour restricts the possibilities and makes further research necessary. The research project applied a laboratory test program to elaborate the characterization of the materials. The obtained knowledge from these tests was then applied to further tests to determine application relevant key properties of CSA based pastes and mortars.The properties of pure CSA cement had been compared with the properties of CSA blends. The additions were PC, HAC, FA and GGBS with quantities of 10, 20 and 30%. The water to cement ratio was varying between 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6. General tests like fineness, XRD and XRF were used to define the present non-standardized material. Investigation of fresh pastes included measurement of setting time and calorimetry. Hardened mortar specimens of different ages were examined for compressive strength. The results showed that CSA itself hardens very rapidly and gives an early strength development. Possible ways of utilization of CSA based mortars and concretes were also emphasized in the paper.


Background: Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is derived from the neutrophil and lymphocyte count obtained from routine complete blood count with the differential test (CBC/diff). The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between NLR with prognostic factors in colorectal cancer.
Material and Methods: A total of 70 patients with colorectal cancer were studied according to the research objectives. Independent T-test and Mann-Whitney U Mann-Whitney test were used to compare the NLR with qualitative variables such as pathology type. Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient was used for correlating the quantitative variables. The significance level was considered as P<0.05.
Results: Most of the enrolled patients were in the age group of 60-69 years (31.5%). The mean and standard deviation of NLR was 2.1 ± 0.1. Only 4.3% of the subjects had NLR greater than 5. The association between NLR with N-stage (P=0.005) and inflammatory factor (CRP) was statistically significant (P = 0.016). The correlation between NLR and these variables showed that Grade (P=0.091), PNI (P=0.093), LDH (P=0.20), diabetes (P=0.264), M-stage (P=0.282), ESR (P=0.386), LVSI (P=0.473), T-stage (P=0.527), CEA (P=0.582), and BMI (P=0.681) with NLR was not meaningful.
Conclusion: NLR can be associated with prognosis and risk of disease progression, especially in lymph nodes. Since NLR does not require additional testing and request and is quite easy and cost-effective, it is recommended considering this ratio during the initial assessment and the classification of the risk and stage of the disease.


Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease lead to large kidney cysts that share pathogenetic features. The polycystin-1 (PC1) and pVHL proteins may therefore participate in the same key signaling pathways. Jade-1 is a pro-apoptotic and growth suppressive ubiquitin ligase for beta-catenin and transcriptional coactivator associated with histone acetyltransferase activity that is stabilized by pVHL in a manner that correlates with risk of VHL renal disease. Thus, a relationship between Jade-1 and PC1 was sought. Full-length PC1 bound, stabilized and colocalized with Jade-1 and inhibited Jade-1 ubiquitination. In contrast, the cytoplasmic tail or the naturally occurring C-terminal fragment of PC1 (PC1-CTF) promoted Jade-1 ubiquitination and degradation, suggesting a dominant-negative mechanism. ADPKD-associated PC1 mutants failed to regulate Jade-1, indicating a potential disease link. Jade-1 ubiquitination was mediated by Siah-1, an E3 ligase that binds PC1. By controlling Jade-1 abundance, PC1 and the PC1-CTF differentially regulate Jade-1-mediated transcriptional activity. A key target of PC1, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, is also up-regulated by Jade-1. Through Jade-1, PC1 and PC1 cleaved forms may exert fine control of beta-catenin and canonical Wnt signaling, a critical pathway in cystic renal disease. Thus, Jade-1 is a transcription factor and ubiquitin ligase whose activity is regulated by PC1 in a manner that is physiologic and may correlate with disease. Jade-1 may be an important therapeutic target in renal cystogenesis.


Abstract Vascular plants use carotenoids and chlorophylls a and b to harvest solar energy in the visible region (400–700 nm), but they make little use of the far‐red (FR) light. Instead, some cyanobacteria have developed the ability to use FR light by redesigning their photosynthetic apparatus and synthesizing red‐shifted chlorophylls. Implementing this strategy in plants is considered promising to increase crop yield. To prepare for this, a characterization of the FR light‐induced changes in plants is necessary. Here, we explore the behaviour of Arabidopsis thaliana upon exposure to FR light by following the changes in morphology, physiology and composition of the photosynthetic complexes. We found that after FR‐light treatment, the ratio between the photosystems and their antenna size drastically readjust in an attempt to rebalance the energy input to support electron transfer. Despite a large increase in PSBS accumulation, these adjustments result in strong photoinhibition when FR‐adapted plants are exposed to light again. Crucially, FR light‐induced changes in the photosynthetic membrane are not the result of senescence, but are a response to the excitation imbalance between the photosystems. This indicates that an increase in the FR absorption by the photosystems should be sufficient for boosting photosynthetic activity in FR light.


Nanomagnetism is the origin of many unique properties in magnetic nanomaterials that can be used as building blocks in information technology, spintronics, and biomedicine. Progresses in nanomagnetic principles, distinct magnetic nanostructures, and the biomedical applications of nanomagnetism are summarized.


Relief phase contrast is a new modification of conventional phase contrast which leads to visible improvements of image quality in light microscopy. In particular, the following parameters can be improved: contrast, focal depth, sharpness, three dimensionality, planeness, and halo artifacts. These effects can be achieved when the ring-shaped masks in the condenser are replaced by crescent- or punctate-shaped masks. Several solutions are described which are suitable to create this modification. The achievable improvements of image quality are relevant for all quality levels of objectives. The new technique can be used for phase contrast objectives from different manufacturers, so that the usual limitations of compatibility are eliminated.


Abstract This article describes how Circular Economy (CE) and Cradle to Cradle (C2C) can be used in university teaching to address these frameworks' strengths and weaknesses in practice. The advantages of these frameworks for radical change are outlined, including their emphasis on upcycling rather than recycling (downcycling). This article discusses how students apply their understanding of transformative production frameworks to three case studies of products or materials. The student projects evaluating existing products in terms of their circularity value outline a number of practical as well as theoretical challenges. The case studies demonstrate that some products still have a long way to go to fully cycle materials within a closed system. Aside from illustrating the dangers of subversion of circular frameworks to the 'business-as-usual' scenarios, the assignments are instructive in showing how CE/C2C can be successfully taught. This article recommends pedagogical strategies involving both theory of sustainable production and sustainability and practical research into company's operations in order to develop the students' ability to meaningfully engage with CE/C2C models.


The Drosophila gene twins encodes the regulatory B subunit of type 2A protein phosphatase. Here we report that its partial loss-of-function mutations caused abnormal morphogenesis in the adult peripheral nervous system. In wild-type flies, the mechanoreceptor, one major class of sensory organs, is composed of four specialized cells (one neuron and three accessory cells) that are derived from a single precursor cell. The hypomorphic twins mutations did not block division of this precursor, but most likely altered cell fate in this lineage to produce only accessory cells that form sensory structures. Stepwise reductions of twins protein enhanced this transformation. In these mutants, another regulatory subunit, A, and the catalytic subunit, C, of the phosphatase were expressed at normal levels. Therefore, the modulation of the phosphatase activity by the B subunit appears to be crucial for specification of neural cell identity.


Patterns of frequency, biodiversity and seasonality of fungi-like organisms and true zoosporic fungi in relationship with some abiotic factors of two water bodies exposed to various effluents at Assiut Governorate (Upper Egypt) were investigated. Thirty-four species related to ten genera were isolated from the El-Zinnar irrigation canal and the El-Ibrahimia canal, which receive treated sewage water and the industrial effluents of a factory for oils and detergents, respectively, using the baiting technique during four seasons (from winter 2017 to autumn 2018). The highest fungal diversity was recorded during winter, followed by autumn and spring, whereas summer was the lowest in species diversity. Achlya, Dictyuchus, Allomyces and Pythium were the prevalent genera, whereas Brevilegnia and Pythiopsis were the least frequent ones. Some fungal taxa were present throughout the year while others were highly restricted, occurring in only one season. The species composition and community structure of the heterotrophic straminipiles and true zoosporic fungi varied in spatial distribution and exhibited seasonal variations, probably influenced by particular abiotic water characteristics, sampling site and season. Sites which directly receive either treated sewage water or industrial effluents were the poorest in straminipiles and true zoosporic fungi, and can be regarded as stressful environments where some abiotic parameters were excessive. Seasonality and biodiversity of the surveyed organisms are mainly dependent on water temperature, conductivity, most of the determined cations and anions, but pH did not exhibit any considerable impact. It is assumed that the existence of some fungal taxa at polluted sites may have a potential source of fungi beneficial for bioremediation and xenobiotic transformation.


The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (MFCMA) declares a national standard that '[t]o the extent practicable, an individual stock of fish shall be managed as a unit throughout its range, and interrelated stocks of fish shall be managed as a unit or in close coordination.' MFCMA subsection 301(a) (3). Stocks of fish may range through several ocean jurisdictional boundaries. For instance jurisdictional boundaries exist at state internal waters, state ocean waters, the territorial sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). A states' internal waters are inside the baseline delineating the territorial sea. MFCMA subsection 306(c) (4) (B). Currently, a states' ocean waters correspond to the old three nautical mile territorial sea. For fisheries management purposes, the U.S. EEZ extends 197 nautical miles from the seaward boundary of each coastal state at three nautical miles. MFCMA subsection 3(6). Otherwise the U.S. EEZ extends 188 nautical miles from the seaward edge of the twelve nautical mile U.S. territorial sea. The Presidential proclamation extending the territorial sea from three to twelve nautical miles creates a new zone nine nautical miles wide extending three to twelve nautical miles from the territorial sea's baseline. This creates an opportunity for a new era of federal/state and interstate coordination in managing the marine fishery resources. Despite the proclamation's claim to maintain the status quo regarding domestic laws, the proclamation could have significant domestic legal implications.


Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are powerful tools that are used in various engi‐ neering fields. Their characteristics enable them to solve prediction, regression, and classification problems. Nevertheless, the ANN is usually thought of as a black box, in which it is difficult to determine the effect of each explicative variable (input) on the dependent variables (outputs) in any problem. To investigate such effects, sensitivity analysis is usually applied on the optimal pre‐trained ANN. Existing sensitivity analysis techniques suffer from drawbacks. Their basis on a single optimal pre‐trained ANN model produces instability in parameter sensitivity analysis because of the uncertainty in neural network modeling. To overcome this deficiency, two successful sensitivity analysis paradigms, the neural network committee (NNC)‐based sensitivity analysis and the neural network ensemble (NNE)‐based parameter sensitivity analysis, are illustrated in this chapter. An NNC is applied in a case study of geotechnical engineering involving strata movement. An NNE is implemented for sensitivity analysis of two classic problems in civil engineering: (i) the fracture failure of notched concrete beams and (ii) the lateral deformation of deep‐foundation pits. Results demonstrate good ability to analyze the sensitivity of the most influential parameters, illustrating the underlying mechanisms of such engineering systems.


Co-infection of plant hosts by two or more viruses is common in agricultural crops and natural plant communities. A variety of models have been used to investigate the dynamics of co-infection which track only the disease status of infected and co-infected plants, and which do not explicitly track the density of inoculative vectors. Much less attention has been paid to the role of vector transmission in co-infection, that is, acquisition and inoculation and their synergistic and antagonistic interactions. In this investigation, a general epidemiological model is formulated for one vector species and one plant species with potential co-infection in the host plant by two viruses. The basic reproduction number provides conditions for successful invasion of a single virus. We derive a new invasion threshold which provides conditions for successful invasion of a second virus. These two thresholds highlight some key epidemiological parameters important in vector transmission. To illustrate the flexibility of our model, we examine numerically two special cases of viral invasion. In the first case, one virus species depends on an autonomous virus for its successful transmission and in the second case, both viruses are unable to invade alone but can co-infect the host plant when prevalence is high.


Videogames have become the leading medium in our globalised cultural industries following the postmodern ludic turn and shift towards simulation as the central mode of meaning-making. Subject to public controversies and media panics, like all new media before them, questions of morality and ethics inevitably become pertinent in any attempt to define videogames, their effects on and place in our societies. This paper provides a survey of the dimensions of production-, player-, designer-, and game ethics applied to the medium of videogames, offering a multitude of jumping-off points for further debates. The roles of both players and designers in the realisation of various system dynamics and play experiences are critically considered, and a practical framework for the analysis of morality systems in (video-)games established. Finally, fours pertinent games, Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011), Dishonored (2012), Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014), and Firewatch (2016), are introduced as examples for a deconstructive approach to individual heroism, a systemic ethical perspective, a discussion of personal and collective responsibility, as well as the acknowledgment of the limits of human agency respectively. Resulting from these deliberations, an argument is finally made for a necessary increase in affective game design strategies and practices to realise the unparalleled potential of (video-)games as virtual learning spaces for ethical reflection and moral action.


The Dutch prevention policy document 2004-2007 expresses the need for more disease prevention interventions in the curative domain of health care. In hospitals the dietician is traditionally involved in preventive activities. The recent focus on prevention provides an opportunity to reflect on what facts and principles should guide priorities in hospital-based dietetic practices. This thesis consists of a collection of studies addressing patient selection based on future risks (prognosis), selection of interventions based on evidence for effectiveness (proof) and principles for priority setting based on a critical appraisal of the available scientific data and guidance of ethical values (priorities). The central question in this thesis is: What information, knowledge and values are needed to guarantee the quality of priority decisions in a hospital-based dietetic department? Chapter two presents two studies on undernutrition due to the gastrointestinal side-effects of intensive chemotherapy and total body irradiation in oncohaematological patients. The results may help dieticians to improve selection of patients who benefit either from parenteral nutrition support during admission (chapter 2.1) or from a more intensive counselling program during the recovery phase post-transplant (chapter 2.2) in order to prevent in-hospital complications as well as loss of (quality of) life time. The two studies in chapter three add to our knowledge on the effect sizes of specific dietary and lifestyle changes to prevent premature death in patients with coronary artery disease. The results show that effect sizes of dietary and lifestyle changes are relevant and comparable to the effects of routine prophylactic pharmacological treatments. Chapter four concerns patient selection policies of dietetic departments. Priority decisions should be guided by reflection on ethical values such as beneficence, autonomous choice and distributive justice and be based on the best available evidence. Professional accountability may be facilitated by explicit choices, transparent policy documents and openness for feedback. Exploring the implications, it is stated that at least three societal factors in western societies should be weighed in the priorities of hospital-based dieticians: the large burden of cardiovascular diseases, the substantial health disparities between socio-economic groups and the increasing frequency of unhealthy dietary behaviours. We conclude that priority decisions should be based on reliable information on the (future) needs of all relevant patient groups, knowledge about evidence-based benefits of dietary interventions and a clear vision on relevant ethical values. For those making the priority decisions, competencies related to appraisal of scientific data, ethical deliberation, coping with social diversity and quality management are essential.


Received Jul 8, 2021 Revised Jun 26, 2022 Accepted Jul 25, 2022 The Indonesian government launched a garlic self-sufficiency program by 2033 to reduce imports by monitoring garlic lands in several central garlic areas. Remote sensing using satellite imageries can assist the monitoring program by mapping the garlic lands. A previous study has classified Sentinel-1A satellite imageries to identify garlic lands in Sembalun Lombok Indonesia using the decision tree C5.0 algorithm with three scenarios data input and produced a model with an accuracy of 78.45% using scenarios with two attributes vertical-vertical (VV) and vertical-horizontal (VH) bands. Therefore, this study aims to improve the accuracy of the classification model from the previous study. This study applied two classification algorithms, decision tree C5.0 and convolutional neural network (CNN), with two new scenarios which used two new combinations of attributes). The results show that the use of new data scenarios as input for C5.0 can not increase the previous model's accuracy. While the use of the CNN algorithm shows that it can improve the previous study's accuracy by 7.91% because it produced a model with an accuracy of 86.36%. This study is expected to help garlic land identification in the Sembalun area to support government programs in monitoring garlic lands.


Identifying genes under recent selection Evolutionary analyses aim to identify recent genetic changes that are likely to have been subject to selection. Field et al. present a method to identify such changes, the singleton density score, which they applied to over 3000 human genomes. Over the past ∼100 generations (2000 to 3000 years), Europeans are likely to have experienced selection for genetic variants, including those that affect skin and hair pigmentation, as well as height. Science, this issue p. 760 The singleton density score identifies evidence of recent selection in Europeans. Detection of recent natural selection is a challenging problem in population genetics. Here we introduce the singleton density score (SDS), a method to infer very recent changes in allele frequencies from contemporary genome sequences. Applied to data from the UK10K Project, SDS reflects allele frequency changes in the ancestors of modern Britons during the past ~2000 to 3000 years. We see strong signals of selection at lactase and the major histocompatibility complex, and in favor of blond hair and blue eyes. For polygenic adaptation, we find that recent selection for increased height has driven allele frequency shifts across most of the genome. Moreover, we identify shifts associated with other complex traits, suggesting that polygenic adaptation has played a pervasive role in shaping genotypic and phenotypic variation in modern humans.


In this paper we present a heuristic approach for simulating advanced light material interactions in the context of interactive volume rendering. In contrast to previous work, we are able to incorporate complex material functions, which allow to simulate reflectance and scattering. We exploit a common representation of these material properties based on spherical harmonic basis functions, to combine the achieved reflectance and scattering effects with natural lighting conditions, i. e., incorporating colored area light sources. To achieve these goals, we introduce a modified SH projection technique, which is not just tailored at a single material category, but adapts to the present material. Thus, reflecting and scattering materials as assigned trough the transfer function can be captured in a unified approach. We will describe the required extensions to the standard volume rendering integral and present an approximation which allows to realize the material effects in order to achieve interactive frame rates. By exploiting a combination of CPU and GPU processing, we are able to modify material properties and can change the illumination conditions interactively. We will demonstrate the outcome of the proposed approach based on renderings of real-world data sets and report the achieved computation times.


A mesophilic, facultatively anaerobic, marine bacterium, designated strain FG1T, was isolated from a seagrass bed sediment sample collected from Nanwan Bay, Kenting National Park, Taiwan. Cells grown in broth cultures were motile, Gram-negative rods; motility was normally achieved by two sheathed flagella at one pole of the cell. Strain FG1T required Na+ for growth, and exhibited optimal growth at 30-35 degrees C, pH 6-7 and about 4% NaCl. It grew anaerobically by fermenting glucose and other carbohydrates with production of various organic acids, including acetate, lactate, formate, malate, oxaloacetate, propionate, pyruvate and succinate, and the gases CO2 and H2. The strain did not require either vitamins or other organic growth factors for growth. Its DNA G+C content was 45.9 mol%. It contained C12:0 as the most abundant cellular fatty acid. Characterization data, together with the results of a 16S rDNA-based phylogenetic analysis, indicate that strain FG1T represents a new species of the genus Vibrio. Thus, the name Vibrio aerogenes sp. nov. is proposed for this new bacterium. The type strain is FG1T (= ATCC 700797T = CCRC 17041T).


Abstract In an investigation of Camelina sativa (Linnaeus) Crantz (Brassicaceae) and five common insect pests of canola (Brassica napus Linnaeus) (Brassicaceae), little feeding damage to the plant was inflicted by crucifer-feeding specialist flea beetles (Phyllotreta Chevrolat species) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Delia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) root maggots, or diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)). In choice tests, diamondback moths laid fewer eggs on C. sativa than on B. napus leaves. Diamondback moth larvae consumed less C. sativa leaf tissue, and tended to have a longer developmental period on C. sativa. Larvae of the polyphagous bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)) had similar feeding levels on C. sativa and B. napus plants. However, there was a longer developmental period from larval to pupal stage and pupae weighed less when fed on C. sativa foliage, suggesting that C. sativa contains antibiosis factors against bertha armyworm. Two strains of aster yellows phytoplasma, 16SrI-A and 16SrI-B, were identified in C. sativa and in Macrosteles quadrilineatus (Forbes) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Differences in incidence of aster yellows and abundance of M. quadrilineatus were observed among lines of C. sativa. The findings confirm that C. sativa is unlikely to support high populations of these insect pests on the Canadian prairies.


: The main type of the cases under consideration is that in which extensive capillary naevus of the skin, especially of trigeminal distribution, is associated with contralateral spastic hemiplegia, developing in early life, probably sometimes connected with intracranial haemorrhage from the abnormal blood-vessels of a diffuse leptomeningeal angioma on the same side as the main vascular naevus of the face. Various points related to such cases are referred to.


Abstract. Accurate predictive modeling of the ocean's global carbon and oxygen cycles is challenging because of uncertainties in both biogeochemistry and ocean circulation.
Advances over the last decade have made parameter optimization feasible, allowing models to better match observed biogeochemical fields.
However, does fitting a biogeochemical model to observed tracers using a circulation with known biases robustly capture the inner workings of the biological pump?
Here we embed a mechanistic model of the ocean's coupled nutrient, carbon, and oxygen cycles into two circulations for the current climate.
To assess the effects of biases, one circulation (ACCESS-M) is derived from a climate model and the other from data assimilation of observations (OCIM2).
We find that parameter optimization compensates for circulation biases at the expense of altering how the biological pump operates.
Tracer observations constrain pump strength and regenerated inventories for both circulations, but ACCESS-M export production optimizes to twice
that of OCIM2 to compensate for ACCESS-M having lower sequestration efficiencies driven by less efficient particle transfer and shorter residence times.
Idealized simulations forcing complete Southern Ocean nutrient utilization show that the response of the optimized system is sensitive to the embedding circulation.
In ACCESS-M, Southern Ocean nutrient and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) trapping is partially short circuited by unrealistically deep mixed layers.
For both circulations, intense Southern Ocean production deoxygenates Southern-Ocean-sourced deep waters, muting the imprint of circulation biases on oxygen.
Our findings highlight that the biological pump's plumbing needs careful assessment to predict the biogeochemical response to ecological changes, even when optimally matching observations.


The posterior transsphincteric approach was used in the surgery of the rectum for 18 patients. They included 7 patients with rectal cancer, 7 villous adenoma malignant change 4, 1 carcinoid, and 3 benign stenosis, parasitic granulation and rectocele. The method of the operation and its main poits were described in detail; the indications of the operation were discussed. The anastomosis was influenced by the length, blood supply and cleaning of the proximal colon. Anastomotic leakage and pelvic infection were the main surgical complications.


Abstract The article is in line with the contemporary interests of companies from the aviation industry. It describes thermoplastic material and inspection techniques used in leading aviation companies. The subject matter of non-destructive testing currently used in aircraft inspections of composite structures is approximated and each of the methods used is briefly described. The characteristics of carbon preimpregnates in thermoplastic matrix are also presented, as well as types of thermoplastic materials and examples of their application in surface ship construction. The advantages, disadvantages and limitations for these materials are listed. The focus was put on the explanation of the ultrasonic method, which is the most commonly used method during the inspection of composite structures at the production and exploitation stage. Describing the ultrasonic method, the focus was put on echo pulse technique and the use of modern Phased Array heads. Incompatibilities most frequently occurring and detected in composite materials with thermosetting and thermoplastic matrix were listed and described. A thermoplastic flat composite panel made of carbon pre-impregnate in a high-temperature matrix (over 300°C), which was the subject of the study, was described. The results of non-destructive testing (ultrasonic method) of thermoplastic panel were presented and conclusions were drawn.


: Virgin female Agus rats were fed a diet containing hexahalogenated benzenes (700 nmol/g of food) for 70 days. The liver concentrations of these compounds were then determined and correlated with any depression in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity and increases in porphyrin levels (indicating the induction of porphyria). Hepatic concentrations of the compounds corresponded to the series F greater than Cl greater than Br. However, depression of decarboxylase activity and increase in porphyrin levels were Cl greater than Br greater than F, (hexachlorobenzene and hexabromobenzene increased porphyrins by 513- and 17-fold respectively) suggesting that at its site of action in the liver hexabromobenzene may be more porphyrogenic than the chlorine analogue. This may suggest a relationship between the strength of the carbon-halogen bond and the induction of porphyria.


Mostly gas is produced in the Piceance basin of western Colorado. The basin, containing about 4,000 square miles, is well defined by the Tertiary-Cretaceous outcrop contact beyond which are the surrounding elevated areas. The basin is in the early stages of development with a density of only one well for every 25 square miles. The lack of pipeline outlet prior to 1956 resulted in slow development but now three pipelines serve the area and drilling activity has been at an accelerated pace. Of the total wells drilled, approximately one half are capable of producing gas from the Tertiary and upper Cretaceous rocks. Due to the thickness of the section, 22,000 feet to the basement, only six wells have tested the pre-upper Cretaceous section. Most accumulations of gas are due to stratigraphic traps. The paucity of subsurface data is the cause for the present disagreement among geologists of the stratigraphy and geologic history. Tentative correlations from the outcrops on the periphery of the basin are carried across the basin, particularly of the Mesaverde and upper Mancos beds, with a discussion of how the depositional history complicates the problem. The development history which includes the identification of the multiple gas-producing zones indicates that this basin will become one of the important gas-producing areas of the Rocky Mountains. End_of_Article - Last_Page 415------------


This October 2015 interview with director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) Dr. Yasser Abu Jamei addresses how mental health professionals care for themselves and each other in an environment with little break from sustained conflict. Mental health workers in the Gaza Strip must cope with the resource shortage generated by the Israeli blockade and their own trauma while aiding others. The United Nations Children9s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) estimates that over one-third of Gaza9s children require direct and specialized psychosocial support as a result of Israel9s Operation Protective Edge (OPE), the fifty-day war on Gaza in the summer of 2014, and earlier assaults. GCMHP provides services free of charge at clinics, community centers, and by phone via a twenty-four-hour hotline, and since its founding, has served more than twenty thousand Gazans with capacity-building programs and trainings, community education, scientific research, and human rights advocacy. GCMHP provided mental health support to the community both during and after each of the three large-scale Israeli assaults on Gaza (in 2008, 2012, and 2014), helping the community to work through both collective and individual trauma. Over twenty-one hundred Palestinians, five hundred of them children, were killed during OPE and another eleven thousand injured. During OPE an airstrike killed twenty-eight members of Abu Jamei9s extended family, including nineteen children, as they broke their Ramadan fast. It was the largest loss of life within a single family at that point in the war. The structural damage was similarly catastrophic, leaving over one hundred thousand Gazans homeless. Long after the cease-fire, the psychological wounds sustained during consecutive assaults continue to disrupt everyday life.