This teaching case focuses on a privately owned Swiss company that produces and sells high-energy chews favored by European athletes. External investors recently expressed interest in the company. Management hired an international public accounting firm and is currently preparing its first set of audited International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) financial statements. The auditors question management's fair value estimations for the land and production equipment, as well as the accuracy of capitalized greenhouse costs included in operating assets. The case emphasizes the need to consult IFRS, form judgments and estimates when determining financial statement content, and draft appropriate note disclosures. Students are also exposed to the complexities of accounting for agricultural assets, a category not often included in financial accounting courses. After working through this case, students should be able to measure fair value and determine the reliability of valuation inputs, appropriately capitalize assets, and draft necessary disclosures.


The analysis of corticosterone (CORT), the main glucocorticoid in reptiles, via blood or faeces provides an index of hormone concentrations over a relatively short time period. Unlike these conventional matrices, snake shed skin is supposed to incorporate circulating CORT over the period of skin growth, thus reflecting long-term retrospective levels of the hormone. The present study aimed to assess the feasibility to extract CORT from shed skin of Komodo dragon and biochemically validate the quantification of the hormone by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Additionally, possible sources of variation in shed skin CORT that could reflect biological variation were examined (sex, age, body region and season of ecdysis). Results of the biochemical validation showed that CORT can be reliably measured in shed skin of Komodo dragon by EIA through the presented methodology. Males presented statistically higher levels of CORT than females, and when accounting for males' seasonal differences, concentrations decreased significantly from spring to summer. Juveniles showed higher CORT values than adults, however, results should be interpreted with caution since the model revealed that date of ecdysis was significantly influencing CORT levels. Besides that, concentrations of CORT were not influenced by body region. Overall, the present study demonstrates a potential biological source of variation in shed skin CORT concentrations due to sex, age and season of skin ecdysis. Combined with other indicators, detection of CORT concentrations in shed skin could allow a systematic control of Komodo dragon's physiology, offering a useful tool for zoo management and providing key data for the species conservation.


Venezuela began a process of decentralization in the late 1980s as part of a major period of institutional reform designed to restore legitimacy to the discredited political system of the time. The first efforts towards this end did not complete the process of decentralizing political power, since they did not open more spaces or channels for citizen participation in public affairs. With the adoption of a new National Constitution in 1999, however, new channels for citizen participation were opened through the creation, amongst other mechanisms, of the State Councils of Public Policy Planning, the Local Councils of Public Planning and later, the Community Councils.
The primary objectives of this thesis were to analyze the degree to which this decentralization process has improved local governance in Venezuela. More specifically, the investigation focused on exploring the effectiveness of the measures introduced to enhance civil society participation in public affairs. The analysis draws upon and attempts to integrate insights from a range of academic literatures including those dealing with: the debates surrounding good governance , organizational and institutional theory, decentralization and civil society participation in public affairs. Rich empirical research into the degree to which the decentralization process has promoted citizen involvement in decision making involved the exploration of a wide range of secondary materials and the conducting of interviews with key actors and participants within the programmes under investigation.
Key findings include the observation that the creation and operation of the Local Councils of Public Planning and Community Councils have led to the evolution of a participatory process that has been marred by a lack of legal continuity, institutional disorganization and a lack of awareness of the existence of the mechanisms (and some suspicion regarding their intentions amongst the general population). Outcomes have also been heavily influenced by the political polarization that exists in contemporary Venezuela. The community councils in particular have been the subject of considerable debate within the country with opinion sharply divided along political lines as to whether they represent a radical new vision of decentralization or another way to further centralize power within the hands of President Hugo Chavez.


Controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF and embryo transfer and outcome parameters were compared retrospectively in 31 women with clomiphene-resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Of these women, 15 had previously undergone laparoscopic ovarian diathermy before IVF (group A, total 22 cycles) and 16 had not had surgical treatment (group B, total 24 cycles). No statistically significant differences were observed in the number of oocytes retrieved, although the number of embryos available for transfer was significantly higher in group B (7.1 3.8 versus 4.6 2.7, P < 0.01). The clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer appeared to be higher in group B (63.2 versus 41.2%), as did the miscarriage rate (66.7 versus 28.6%), giving an apparent improved ongoing pregnancy rate per embryo transfer in group A (29.4 versus 10.5%), but this was not statistically significantly different. The incidence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was apparently higher in group B (4.2 versus 0%), but this difference was not statistically significant. No cases of severe OHSS were seen in group A. Ovarian diathermy does not appear to have a deleterious effect on controlled ovarian stimulation, and the outcome of IVF–embryo transfer may be beneficial in decreasing the risk of severe OHSS and improving the ongoing clinical pregnancy rate.


This paper proposes an electrolytic capacitor-less bi-directional EV charger for V2G and V2H operation. The dc-dc converter stage of the proposed EV charger is a non-regulating series resonant converter (SRC) which can be designed with minimum voltage and current rating and always achieves ZCS turn ON and OFF. The unified inner loop of the proposed control block provides seamless mode transfer for the bi-directional EV charger. Experimental results from a 3.3kW prototype are provided to validate the control method of the proposed bidirectional EV charger.


Genome structural variation, broadly defined as alterations longer than 50 bp, are important sources for genetic variation among humans, including those that cause complex diseases such as autism, developmental delay, and schizophrenia. Although there has been considerable progress in characterizing structural variation since the beginnings of the 1000 Genomes Project, one form of structural variation called segmental duplications (SDs) remained largely understudied in large cohorts. This is mostly because SDs cannot be accurately discovered using the alignment files generated with standard read mapping tools. Instead, they can only be found when multiple map locations are considered. There is still a single algorithm available for SD discovery, which includes various tools and scripts that are not portable and are difficult to use. Additionally, this algorithm relies on a priori information for regions where no structural variations are discovered in large number of genomes. Therefore, there is a need for fully automated, portable, and user-friendly tools to make SD characterization a part of genome analyses. Here we introduce such an algorithm and efficient implementation, called mrCaNaVaR, that aims to fill this gap in genome analysis toolbox.


For the sake of clarity and precision, intelligent signal processing will be defined as the process of mapping a signal x into a binary vector y, so that y enables the detection, classification, or interpretation of an event present in x. We denote by f the input-output map of such an intelligent signal processing filter. In a number of applications it is possible to implement the nonlinear filter map f by an artificial neural network(ANN). In the present paper we consider the case in which the signal x is an analog signal (waveform) belonging to L2(1), where I is an appropriate interval of the real line R1, and propose the realization of f by an artificial neural network in which the synaptic weight actions of the first layer are implemented by a filter bank. We call such a network a dynamical functional artificial neural network (D-FA") to distinguish it from a conventional functional artificial neural network (FANN), where a synaptic weight action is implemented by a scalar product in L2(1), between the incoming waveform x and a functional weight. Thus, compared with conventional FANNs, D-FANNs permit simple and meaningful causal realizations of intelligent analog signal processors. A novel element is the introduction of a D-FANN gain equation, in a way analogous to that in Kalman Filtering. Applications of DFANNs to real and simulated data are now in progress and these results will be presented at the symposium (ISCAS-98).


Smalltalk-80 is very well suited for prototyping of applications, but it is less well suited for delivering applications because applications can neither run in isolation from the Smalltalk environment nor be combined with other programs written in other languages. By translating Smalltalk into C while preserving the semantics of Smalltalk, it is possible to deliver a standalone version of Smalltalk applications, and to develop an application partly in Smalltalk and partly in C. We have implemented SPiCE (Smalltalk-Programs-into-C Environment), which is a system for translating Smalltalk into C. Our approach to the translation is, first, to create the runtime replacement classes which implement the same functionality of the Smalltalk classes that are inherently part of the Smalltalk execution model, and secondly, to provide real-time compacting garbage collection which works without language supports. This paper presents our techniques for the translation and the runtime, and some measures of the performance of the translated C code.<<ETX>>


BACKGROUND
Human immunodeficiency virus associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is the most common cause of end stage kidney disease (ESKD) in Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) serotype patients and it mostly affects patients of African descent. It rapidly progresses to ESKD if untreated. The goal of treatment is directed toward reducing HIV-1 replication and/or slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease. The following pharmacological agents have been used for the treatment of HIVAN: antiretrovirals, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), steroids and recently cyclosporin. Despite this, the effect of each intervention is yet to be evaluated.

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the benefits and harms of adjunctive therapies in the management of HIVAN and its effects on symptom severity and all-cause mortality.

SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Cochrane Renal Group's specialised register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, AIDSearch, reference lists of articles and conference proceedings without language restrictions. We searched the international clinical trials registry platform search portal and also contacted individual researchers, research organisations and pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the drugs used for interventions.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of any therapy used in the treatment of HIVAN.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We independently screened the search outputs for relevant studies and to retrieve full articles when necessary. We applied the inclusion criteria to identify four relevant ongoing studies, one is ongoing while the remaining two have completed recruitment and are yet to be published. The fourth study was suspended for an unknown reason.

MAIN RESULTS
No completed RCTs or quasi-RCTs were identified to be included in the study.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is no RCT-based evidence upon which to base guidelines for the treatment of HIVAN. However, steroids and ACEI appear to improve the kidney function of patients in the observational studies that were identified. This review highlights the need for good quality RCTs to address the effects of interventions for treating this group.


ABSTRACT In this study, 3 Mobile-Assisted Language Learning interfaces are proposed considering the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, Cognitive Load Theory, and the Active/Reflective learning styles. A quasi-experimental design was adopted to compare the effects of 3 smartphone interfaces, namely partial English captions (EG1), full English captions (EG2), and partial English captions with Chinese subtitles (CG), on the cognitive load, learning motivation, and learning anxiety and enjoyment of 119 11th-grade students with different learning styles. It was found that EG2 had significantly higher learning motivation than EG1 and CG. On the other hand, significant interaction between the 3 smartphone interfaces and learning styles was found for the students' cognitive loads. Further analysis showed that, in EG1, the active-style students' cognitive load was significantly lower than that of the reflective-style students. In addition, it was found that the active-style students' learning enjoyment was significantly higher than that of the reflective-style students, while no significant difference was found between the learning anxiety ratings of the students with different learning styles in the 3 groups. Therefore, it is suggested that the role of learning styles needs to be further considered when designing caption interfaces for smartphone applications in the future.


This thesis reports a series of techniques the author has developed to model various waveguiding structures, including the conventional planar and channel waveguides working by, and the advanced structures working beyond the TIR mechanism. Hence, this thesis contains both the methods and their applications to model and study the standard guided-wave and the advanced leaky-wave structures. The methods include mode solvers based on finite difference method (FDM) and finite element method (FEM), furnished with transparent boundary conditions (TBCs) for both guided and leaky modes. Based on the developed techniques, structures as simple as planar waveguides up to as complicated as photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) can be modeled rigorously.


[Extract] This section addresses the overall conceptual frameworks that have informed Western thinking about warfare and explores how these frameworks have
impacted on anthropological and archaeological research into war and violence. One of the central questions, of course, concerns the origin of war: has it always existed, if not in reality then as a potential of human nature, or is it a product of the development of human society? It is clear that in order to ask and answer such a question we must first agree on what to regard as warfare. Even though
there is widespread agreement that warfare can and should be distinguished from phenomena such as homicide and feuding, authors, also in this section, disagree about the nature of the political units that can wage wars. David
Warburton argues that only states make wars and he thus places himself in a long tradition of Western thought that sees statehood and warfare as intrinsically connected.
One should be aware, however, that this tradition of thought arises in a period of Western history when states were the common form of organising polities - and thus wars. The disciplines of archaeology and anthropology, also
products of Western history, extend the empirical horizon to societies without centralising authorities and this makes it necessary to consider whether the violent interactions in which these societies engage should also be called war.
In this introduction, Otterbein's definition is used as a guideline; war is a planned and organised armed dispute between political units (Otterbein 1985: 3). In this definition these units do not necessarily have the character of states (cp. also Ferguson 1984: 5), thus extending the phenomenon of warfare to a large range of societies. The idea that warfare has evolved in relation to the transformation of human societies has strongly influenced anthropological and archaeological research, but before I develop this central assumption further I
want to highlight another central idea that has impacted on Western thinking (and acting) up to the present day: that of the morally justified war.


Many activities in Cognitive Science involve complex computer models and simulations of both theoretical and real entities. Artificial Intelligence and the study of artificial neural nets in particular, are seen as major contributors in the quest for understanding the human mind. Computational models serve as objects of experimentation, and results from these virtual experiments are tacitly included in the framework of empirical science. Cognitive functions, like learning to speak, or discovering syntactical structures in language, have been modeled and these models are the basis for many claims about human cognitive capacities. Artificial neural nets (ANNs) have had some successes in the field of Artificial Intelligence, but the results from experiments with simple ANNs may have little value in explaining cognitive functions. The problem seems to be in relating cognitive concepts that belong in the `top-down' approach to models grounded in the `bottom-up' connectionist methodology. Merging the two fundamentally different paradigms within a single model can obfuscate what is really modeled. When the tools (simple artificial neural networks) to solve the problems (explaining aspects of higher cognitive functions) are mismatched, models with little value in terms of explaining functions of the human mind are produced. The ability to learn functions from data-points makes ANNs very attractive analytical tools. These tools can be developed into valuable models, if the data is adequate and a meaningful interpretation of the data is possible. The problem is, that with appropriate data and labels that fit the desired level of description, almost any function can be modeled. It is my argument that small networks offer a universal framework for modeling any conceivable cognitive theory, so that neurological possibility can be demonstrated easily with relatively simple models. However, a model demonstrating the possibility of implementation of a cognitive function using a distributed methodology, does not necessarily add support to any claims or assumptions that the cognitive function in question, is neurologically plausible.


In order to study the effect of plastic working on fatigue strength of notched specimen, pulsating fatigue tests had been performed on notched deformed stainless steel specimens including on notched non-deformed specimens in order to evaluate the influence of mean stress on fatigue strength. The test results showed that the fatigue limits of plastic worked specimens are higher than that of non-worked one. This difference value would be caused by residual stress, work hardening and fiber texture due to plastic working. When degree of plastic deformation equal zero ("t=0), the fatigue limit ratio (σw /σB) of SUS430 is the higher than that of SUS304. On the other hand, the fatigue limit of worked specimen for SUS304 increases as the plastic deformation value increases to 0.5 mm and then it does not significantly increase from 0.5 mm to 1 mm. It is necessary to investigate an optimal deformation value.


We present an analysis of the different aspects involved with the sampling and reconstruction of Fresnel field distribution. Fresnel fields, describing a propagating optical wave, are digitally recorded in many optical applications. The recording process involves discretization of the continuous Fresnel field using a sampling sensor. Typical nonideal sensors induce degradation of the optical information due to finite spatial sampling rate, finite aperture size, and finite detector element size (finite fill factor). In this work, we investigate the condition and limitation of the reconstruction of Fresnel fields sampled with nonideal sampling sensors. We also analyze the propagation of measurement and reconstruction noise through the reconstruction process. In our analysis, we distinguish between continuous (optical) and numerical (computational) reconstructions. We focus on the different reconstruction conditions and limitations, depending on whether the reconstruction is performed in a continuous space or numerically.


1. The functions of animal artefacts and their importance in ethological study are discussed. The prominent role of nest building in the breeding biology of birds is then reviewed, emphasising its influence on avian reproductive biology. The central aim of the study, namely to establish the cost of nest building is introduced and the reasons for choosing the rook as a model species are stated. The natural history of the rook is briefly described and the approach to studying the cost of nest building in this species outlined. The Cheap and Expensive hypotheses which form the basic model for the study approach are defined and the chapter concludes with a plan of the thesis. 2. The design features of rook nests and building materials used were studied in order to examine the extent of variability in the size and proportions of the whole structure. In addition, comparative data on twig material from nests and the rookery floor were analysed, i) to establish the principal source of nesting material and ii) to test for the preference of certain types of twigs for use in nest building. The conclusion is that rook nests are all built to the same design of a platform of twigs with a central, lined cup. However, it is shown that nests exhibit considerable variation in their size and weight: reasons for this are proposed. There is shown to be a significant preference for twigs in the size category 40. 1-50 cms. , as well for larch and highly branched twigs. The reasons why these may be preferred building materials are discussed. 3. Fluctuations in the number of nests within five colonies were recorded over the annual cycle. Nest numbers increased dramatically between early March and early April at all sites and then declined in every month after May. It was noted that the proportion of nests lost from within the colony varied between sites. There is no evidence, based on changes in nest state, to suggest that nests are refurbished outside the building and breeding seasons. These conclusions support the Cheap hypothesis. Data from the major study site at Milton Farm, show a differential rate of nest loss within the three major nest-containing tree species. Furthermore, disproportionately high numbers of nests were recorded in some species and disproportionately low numbers in others. On this basis, it is suggested that there may be a preference for nesting in certain types of tree. 4. The autumn resurgence of sexual behaviour was studied to quantify the extent of refurbishment. Repairs to the nest structure outside the breeding season would be regarded as being supportive of the expensive view of nest building. No evidence was found to suggest that nests were repaired or built anew in the autumn period, and the data therefore substantiated the predictions of the cheap perspective. The two alternative hypotheses for autumn sexuality, namely as a period of courtship or nest site prospecting were investigated, though it did not prove possible to resolve between these adaptive explanations. Recommendations are made for further study on rook behaviour during this period to confirm the functions of these behaviours and establish their role in the species' breeding biology the following spring. 5. Studies conducted at Milton Farm in the spring were aimed at establishing the effect of variation in building behaviour on reproductive performance. Predictions from the Cheap/Expensive model were made with regard to nest reuse, mode of material assimilation and choice of nest site, to examine their effect on reproduction. After the 1988 breeding season, the lack of any evidence supporting nest refurbishment outside the spring season and the absence of an observed effect of building upon reproduction were two major conclusions in support of the cheap view of building. However, the conspicuous and frequent theft of nesting material and the increasing attendance at the nest site in relation to laying date were two anomalies to a total adoption of the cheap view. This prompted an experiment to remove a large proportion of twigs from the woodland floor in the vicinity of the rookery prior to the 1989 building season. The intention was to increase competition for nesting material and consequently, the cost of building. An increased incidence of stealing, a lower peak in nest numbers within the colony and a significantly lower fledging rate were recorded in the experimental year compared to the previous year. In the light of such findings, the effect of the perturbation experiment in increasing the cost of nest building to the rook is discussed. 6. The empirical evidence from this study is reviewed with the general conclusion supporting a low cost to nest building. The suitability of the rook as a model system is reviewed before making suggestions for further research on this species.


Millions of girls have entered school in Afghanistan, since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. It is one of the few good news stories of the last nine years. However, the deteriorating security situation and the international community's focus on stabilization and counter-insurgency rather than on long-term development means this good news story is in danger of turning bad. A new approach from both the Afghan government and donors is urgently required to hold onto the gains that have been made.
This report is based on field research carried out in the summer of 2010 in 17 provinces out of a total of 34 in Afghanistan. It was conducted by Oxfam and 15 partner organisations, including 13 Afghan NGOs plus CARE and Swedish Committee of Afghanistan (SCA).
Oxfam is calling on the Afghan government and donors to develop a new approach to girls' education to hold onto gains made, and to increase access to education for girls across Afghanistan. With NATO nations preparing for withdrawal by 2014, we also want to ensure that major donors sustain their support for development, especially in the education sector, over the long term.
In particular, we want the international community to focus on improving secondary and higher levels of education. They need to support the Afghan government to increase the number of female-friendly, well-equipped schools for girls, especially in rural or remote areas; and to increase the number and quality of female teachers, especially in rural or remote areas.
We also think it is important to support the Ministry of Education to improve the monitoring and accountability of schools. And the international community must ensure that girls' access to education is not sacrificed in any political settlement (with insurgent groups) and girls' access to education continues to improve.


Pineal gland phylogenic antiquity, its involvement in the stress reaction and many-sided activity of its compounds permit to consider the gland to be the organ taking an active part in the body protection against injury, which is essential for everyone since its appearance on the planet. The available data prove that almost all the reactions developing in the organism from the moment of trauma up to the complete wound reparation are under the pineal control. Being always an urgent one the problem of traumatism increased nowadays because of pineal dysfunction. It makes the premises to apply pineal secret products in traumatic disease as a kind of replace therapy that is suggested to be not less successful than glucocorticoid administration in shock.


Abstract 3731 Purpose: ONO-WG-307 is a small molecule inhibitor that covalently binds to Btk. Signals from B cell receptors (BCR) play a central role in signal transduction pathways regulating survival, activation, proliferation, and differentiation of B-lineage lymphoid cells. BCR signaling is implicated in the survival of malignant B cells and recent studies indicate that targeting Btk, an essential component of the BCR pathway, may be effective in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma. The activated B-cell-like (ABC) subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) correlates with poor prognosis and new therapies, preferably chemo-sparing therapies, or as add-on to existing treatment regimens are required to help treat patients with ABC-DLBCL. Therefore, Btk constitutes an interesting therapeutic target, thus the activity of ONO-WG-307 was evaluated in an ABC-DLBCL xenograft model. Methods: Tumor cells (TMD-8) were implanted subcutaneously into female SCID mice. Tumors were allowed to grow to a volume of 100–200 mm 3 before the mice were randomized into groups based on tumor size. ONO-WG-307 was administered orally at doses up to 10 mg/kg bid. Tumors were measured two or three times weekly after initiation of treatment, and tumor volumes were determined using the formula volume (=width 2 xlength)/2. Animals were euthanized when the tumors reached a maximum volume of 2,000 mm 3 or after a maximum period of 2 months. In parallel, an exploratory pharmacodynamic marker of Btk inhibition (Phosphorylated-Btk [P-Btk]) was also investigated in vivo. Results: Treatment with ONO-WG-307 resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth in a TMD-8 xenograft model. Furthermore, parallel analysis of a pharmacodynamic marker, P-Btk, supported that Btk was inhibited and the level of P-Btk inhibition was correlated with the decreased tumor volumes observed in the TMD-8 model. Conclusion: ONO-WG-307 is a highly potent and selective oral Btk inhibitor with evidence of efficacy in the ABC-DLBCL xenograft model, with Btk inhibition further supported using a PD marker. Given the need to treat and overcome disease resistance especially in ABC-DLBCL, the use of a Btk inhibitor is a novel, mechanistic approach to treating B cell malignancies. Additional work is underway, combining ONO-WG-307 with chemotherapy and other targeted agents. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


In 1994, convicted murderer Stephen Mobley's death penalty case attracted intense international debate when his attorneys attempted to have Mobley tested for genetic deficiencies based on his family history of disorders. According to the attorneys, indications that Mobley shared a genetic propensity for serious misconduct could help explain some of his troubling tendencies and why he should not be executed. Ultimately, the trial and appellate courts rejected that reasoning. In 2005, Mobley was executed. Yet Mobley's death once again stirs the genetics and crime debate with a key question: How have courts and litigators treated genetics evidence in criminal cases during the years following Mobley's first trial? Much of the controversy concerning Mobley v. State was based on the presumption that such evidence would skyrocket in use and abuse. This article seeks to determine if such forecasts have been realized. Contrary to predictions at the time of Mobley's appeal, it appears that little has occurred in the area of genetics and crime warranting the concern that Mobley generated. Of course, the criminal justice system should remain alert to potential hazards of genetics evidence. Yet unsupported fears could also curtail some defendants' constitutionally legitimate attempts to submit aggravating factors in their death penalty cases, in particular, genetics evidence that could validate the existence of more traditionally accepted mitigating conditions, such as mental illness. Presumably, judges and juries would be less likely to think that a defendant is feigning states such as schizophrenia or alcoholism if such disorders commonly occurred across generations of the defendant's family. Part I of this article briefly reviews the facts and legal arguments in Mobley. Part II addresses the primary issues that concerned the court in Mobley, noting that many of the original reasons for the controversy over the potential use of genetics evidence remain the same as they did in 1994. Part III discusses the twenty-seven key genetics and crime cases occurring between 1994 and 2004, since Mobley spurred the topical dispute. These cases, which are surprisingly small in number, share several important characteristics: they overwhelmingly constitute murder convictions in which defendants attempted to use genetics evidence as a mitigating factor in a death penalty case (as Mobley did), and the evidence is introduced mostly to verify a condition (such as a type of mental illness) that is commonly acceptable for mitigation. Part IV contends that, contrary to some commentators' warnings during the first Mobley trial, the last decade has not revealed a legally irresponsible application of genetics factors in criminal cases. Rather, courts continue to regard genetics variables skeptically, and society still embraces the same political and moral concerns over the role of such information. At the same time, courts have failed to provide sound and conceptually consistent reasons for denying defendants' offers of genetics evidence. This article concludes that unwarranted constraints on the admissibility of genetics evidence in death penalty cases can undercut some defendants' efforts to fight their executions. By imposing unreasonable limitations on genetics arguments, the criminal justice system may be undermining the very principles and progressive thinking the cap on genetics evidence was originally intended to achieve.


Background The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of cyclosporin (CsA)-encapsulated liposomes with the commercially available CsA emulsion (Restasis®) for the treatment of dry eye syndrome in rabbits. Methods Liposomes containing CsA were prepared by the supercritical fluid (SCF) method consisted of phosphatidylcholine from soybean (SCF-S100) and egg lecithins (SCF-EPCS). An in vitro permeation study was carried out using artificial cellulose membrane in Franz diffusion cells. Dry eye syndrome was induced in male albino rabbits and further subdivided into untreated, Restasis®-treated, EPCS, and S100-treated groups. Tear formation in the dry-eye-induced rabbits was evaluated using the Schirmer tear test. All formulations were also evaluated by ocular irritation tests using the Draize eye and winking methods with the determination of CsA concentration in rabbit tears. Results After the treatment, the Schirmer tear test value significantly improved in EPCS-treated (P=0.005) and S100-treated (P=0.018) groups compared to the Restasis®-treated group. The AUC0–24 h for rabbit's tear film after the administration of SCF-S100 was 32.75±9.21 μg·h/mg which was significantly higher than that of 24.59±8.69 μg·h/mg reported with Restasis®. Liposomal CsA formulations used in this study showed lower irritation in rabbit eyes compared with Restasis®. Conclusion These results demonstrate that the novel SCF-mediated liposomal CsA promises a significant improvement in overcoming the challenges associated with the treatment of dry eyes.


Overexpression of the oncoprotein MDM2, a negative feedback regulator of p53, is often observed in breast cancer tissue and cell lines, particularly in those which express estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha). In this study, we report a novel function of MDM2, i.e., as a positive regulator of ERalpha. This function does not involve p53. MDM2 overexpressing clones derived from the breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 cells, showed a remarkable growth advantage only in estradiol supplemented conditions, and this profile coincided with increased transcriptional activity of ERalpha in these cells. Though p53 has been reported to be an inhibitor of ERalpha function, p53 protein in MDM2 overexpressing clones was more abundant than in the parental cells. When ERalpha was exogenously expressed in p53-null cells, its activity was enhanced by coexpression of MDM2. Mammalian two-hybrid assays and GST pull-down assays indicated that MDM2 could interact with ERalpha. These results indicate that MDM2 is a direct activator of ERalpha function, and suggest such a role for MDM2 in ERalpha-positive breast cancer.


ABSTRACT Three clayey materials named MY3, KK and KG originating from the Foumban region (west Cameroon) were analysed to determine their granulometry, plasticity, major-element chemistry and mineralogy. Dilatometric and ceramic behaviour were also investigated. Clays were shaped by uniaxial pressing in a steel mould. Shaped samples were heated at 1300, 1400 and 1500°C. The end products were characterized in terms of their density, porosity and compressive strength. Raw materials differ in terms of their mineralogical composition, grain-size distribution, Al2O3 content and the nature and abundance of impurities inducing specific thermal behaviour during dilatometric analysis and sintering tests. The final material properties may be related to the main features of the raw materials used.


The study was carried out to find out whether Brain-Based Learning Strategies had any effect senior secondary school students' attitude to learning in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. A pre-test post-test Quasi Experimental Research design was used with a sample size of 142 Senior Secondary School Students (S.S.S 1) drawn from two Senior Secondary Schools in the Abuja Municipal Area Council. Two intact classes were used; one class drawn from each of the schools, the classes were assigned to Groups using a Lucky Dip. With 70 students constituted in the Experimental Group and 72 in the Control Group. The Student Attitude Scale (SAS) was used to collect data for the study. All hypotheses were tested at a significant level of 0.05 using t-test. Findings revealed a significant difference in Students Attitude to learning with a mean difference of 0.59 in favor of the Experimental Group. However, no significant difference was observed in Students Attitude to learning in the Experimental Group based on gender. It was recommended that teachers should adopt the Brain-based learning strategies in teaching Economics in Senior Secondary Schools. In addition, since the teaching pedagogy is Gender-fair, it should be implemented in all schools irrespective of learners' gender.


Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an immune-mediated skin pathology caused mainly by Leishmania (L.) major, Leishmania tropica, Leishmania braziliensis, L. mexicana, and L. amazonensis. The burden of CL in terms of morbidity and social stigmas are concentrated on certain developing countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. People with asymptomatic CL represent a large proportion of the infected individuals in the endemic areas who exhibit no lesion and can control the infection by as yet not fully understood mechanisms. Currently, there is no approved prophylactic control measure for CL. Discovery of biomarkers of CL infection and immunity can inform the development of more precise diagnostics tools as well as curative or preventive strategies to control CL. Herein, we provide a brief overview of the state-of-the-art for the biomarkers of CL with a special emphasis on the asymptomatic CL biomarkers. Among the identified CL biomarkers so far, direct biomarkers which indicate the actual presence of the infection as well as indirect biomarkers which reflect the host's reaction to the infection, such as alterations in delayed type hypersensitivity, T-cell subpopulations and cytokines, adenosine deaminase, and antibodies against the sand fly saliva proteins are discussed in detail. The future avenues such as the use of systems analysis to identify and characterize novel CL biomarkers are also discussed.


The purpose of the present thesis was to examine hypotheses involving relationships between severity of problem, social support, and willingness to seek counseling. These hypotheses were as follows: Hypothesis 1: Social support is negatively related to willingness to seek counseling. Hypothesis 2: Severity of problem is positively related to willingness to seek counseling. Hypothesis 3: There will be a stronger positive relationship between severity of problem and willingness to seek counseling at low levels of social support (as compared to high levels of social support). The method of the research involved having 98 college students complete a packet of questionnaires that included a measure of social support and questions about a help-seeking scenario. Severity of problem was manipulated by having some subjects (randomly determined) respond to questions about a scenario involving a high-severity problem and the remaining subjects respond to questions about a low-severity problem. Two indices of willingness to seek counseling were derived from the responses to the questions about the scenarios, an absolute index and a relative (to other helpers) index. The first hypothesis of the thesis received moderate support. Several types of social support as well as overall actual and perceived support were negatively related to relative willingness to receive counseling; however, only one of the measured types of social support were observed to be related to absolute willingness to seek counseling. The second hypothesis received consistent support from the findings in that severity of problem was positively related to both relative and absolute willingness to seek counseling. In examining the third hypothesis, it was observed that as severity of problem increased, students with higher levels of several types of social support and overall actual support were more willing to seek counseling, as indicated by the measure of absolute willingness; this same relationship was not observed for students with lower levels of social support. This difference in findings for students with high vs. low levels of social support was in a direction opposite to that predicted by the third hypothesis.


"Paperless Ticketing" refers to a transaction where the purchaser uses her credit card to get into an event instead of having a ticket, pdf, or mobile phone scanable file. As implemented by TicketMaster, the secondary or resale market of tickets originally sold by TicketMaster must go through TicketMaster's own resale site, TicketExchange (or its wholly owned sister site, TicketsNow). Preventing other platforms like StubHub, RazorGator, and the like from being used severely limits the resale market. In an empirical study of over 1,600 tickets, some sold as "Paperless Ticketing" tickets and others sold as conventional tickets, the price in the secondary market for the "Paperless Ticketing" tickets was nearly $100 higher than comparable conventional tickets sold. In addition, the quantity of "Paperless Ticketing" tickets available and sold in the secondary market relative to comparable conventional tickets was about 10 percent. In other words, the supply of "Paperless Ticketing" tickets available for sale in the secondary market was much lower and the prices were much higher. This is consistent with the theoretical findings, and standard economics findings, of downstream attempted monopolization by an upstream supplier.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The role of the dural venous sinus system in cerebrovascular pathology and the understanding of normal developmental patterns and sizes of the dural venous sinus system continue to expand. The purpose of this study was to review MR venograms to elucidate developmental patterns and diameters of the major dural venous sinuses from 0 to 20 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All available MR venograms of patients 0–20  years of age who presented to our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patient age at the time of image acquisition was noted, and measurements were taken of the diameters of the major dural venous sinuses. The presence of embryonic sinuses including the persistent falcine sinus and the occipital sinus was noted. Dominance patterns of the transverse sinus system were determined. Mean diameters of each sinus were plotted as a function of age. The prevalence of persistent prenatal sinuses and transverse sinus–dominance patterns was compared across ages. RESULTS: A total of 429 MR venograms from 429 patients were reviewed. All dural venous sinuses demonstrated a maximal growth rate from 0 to 7 years of age and reached maximal diameters around 5–10 years of age. The prevalence of falcine sinuses and occipital sinuses trended downward across increasing age categories (P = .09 and, <.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Dural venous sinuses demonstrate maximal growth between 0 and 7 years of age and reach adult size around 5–10 years of age. Involution of the prenatal sinuses continues to take place after birth into childhood but is largely absent in early adulthood.


ABSTRACT Background: Subjective age (SA) is an indicator of aging that has been empirically associated with health impediments and hindered longevity. Studies show that adverse life events may result in relatively older SA, but have not addressed the differential contribution of life events across the lifespan and the course of posttraumatic psychopathology on the SA of aging survivors of extreme trauma. Objective: Filling this gap, the current study explored the differential contribution of (1) adverse experiences in various life-stages and (2) trajectories of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the prediction of SA in a sample of former prisoners-of-war as they enter old age. Method: A cohort of Israeli former prisoners-of-war of the 1973 Yom Kippur War (N = 103) was assessed at four points throughout four decades after the war. A linear hierarchical regression was utilized to assess the contribution of negative life events during childhood, participation in other wars, combat exposure, suffering in captivity, life events since the war and the trajectories of PTSD for predicting SA 42-years post-repatriation. Results: Lifespan adversity explained 50% of the variance in SA, with trajectories of PTSD making the largest contribution, followed by life events since the war. Negative life events in childhood added to the explained variance only when PTSD trajectories were accounted for. Exposure to combat, participation in additional wars and the severity of specific experiences during captivity did not reach significance, though the latter marginally contributed to the explained variance (p = .069). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of considering the prolongation of posttraumatic psychopathology together with life adversities and their differential implications when addressing SA after extreme trauma. The findings suggest that early life adversity may be a latent factor that increases vulnerability to posttraumatic premature aging processes. HIGHLIGHTS • Higher subjective age is a known indicator of premature aging.• Lifespan adversity explained 50% of the variance in subjective age of former prisoners-of-war.• Trajectories of PTSD made the largest contribution to subjective age, followed by posttrauma life events.• Early life adversity created a latent vulnerability to posttraumatic premature aging processes.• Objective indicators of captivity severity (i.e. combat exposure, weight loss) did not significantly contribute to subjective age in older adulthood.


Abstract Anti-intellectualism is a discrete social phenomenon which eschews spatial or temporal boundaries. While it defies a restrictive definition, it is commonly understood as a populist disdain of individuals who speak of certain universal values and engage in the pursuit of knowledge from reason; conversely, an anti-intellectual is a person who is not a 'dealer in ideas' and is not committed to the 'life of the mind'. This article focuses on anti-intellectualism as a defining characteristic of the Israeli ethos which predates the establishment of the Jewish state. The article begins with a terminological discussion and a brief historical survey of the prevalence of anti-intellectualism in contemporary societies. It then traces the roots of Israeli anti-intellectualism and examines their manifestations in the case of Abba Eban, Israel's most quintessential diplomat, an orientalist scholar, a Cambridge don, a polyglot and a public intellectual. The article concludes by pointing to the uneasy fit between the political and intellectual spheres in Israeli politics and the challenges posed by the former to the latter.


Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a progressive spine disease and the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in adults worldwide. Patients with DCM may present with common signs and symptoms of neurological dysfunction, such as paresthesia, abnormal gait, decreased hand dexterity, hyperreflexia, increased tone, and sensory dysfunction. Clinicians across several specialties encounter patients with DCM, including primary care physicians, rehabilitation specialists, therapists, rheumatologists, neurologists, and spinal surgeons. Currently, there are no guidelines that outline how to best manage patients with mild (defined as a modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) score of 15-17), moderate (mJOA 1⁄4 12-14), or severe (mJOA 11) myelopathy, or nonmyelopathic patients with evidence of cord compression. This guideline provides evidencebased recommendations to specify appropriate treatment strategies for these populations. The intent of our recommendations is to (1) help identify patients at high risk of neurological deterioration, (2) define the role of nonoperative and operative management in each patient population, and (3) determine which patients are most likely to benefit from surgical intervention. The ultimate goal of these guidelines is to improve outcomes and reduce morbidity in patients with DCM by promoting standardization of care and encouraging clinicians to make evidence-informed decisions.


In the present work both FTIR and Flame AAS were jointly used to investigate the uptake of pollutants by the aquatic plant water hyacinth. The plant was immersed alive in synthetic standard solutions containing acetic acid up to 0.40 M for 19.0 h. Then it was immersed in 0.10 M acetic acid for different periods of time up to 210.0 h. Later on, both the acetic acid treated beside non treated ones was immersed separately in 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg l concentrates derived from Cd and Pb up to 240.0 h. The obtained results demonstrate the capability of the plant to remove both organic and inorganic pollutants. It is recommended that the plant be used to remediate Pb and Cd as well as other organic pollutants containing COOH. The results also indicate that the selectivity for Pb is higher than that of Cd. Additionally, pentahydrated divalent metal acetate model is presented to describe the coordination of the divalent metal ion with the acetic acid.


BG03 Epidermolysis bullosa-associated verruciform xanthomas: case series and review of the literature Ebunoluwa Oluwole, Jemima Mellerio, John McGrath, Danielle Greenblatt, Eduardo Calonje, Anoud Zidan, Eglantine Lebas and Suzy Leech Birmingham City Hospital, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK; St John's Institute of Dermatology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Department of Dermatopathology, St John's Institute of Dermatology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; and Royal Victoria Infirmary, The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK Verruciform xanthomas (VXs) are rare, benign, mucocutaneous lesions characterized by well-demarcated, yellow or orange–red plaques with a pebbled or granular surface. Their aetiology is not clear, but repetitive trauma and chronic inflammation have been suggested. VXs have been reported in a small number of cases of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), where it may cause diagnostic confusion with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We present four additional cases of epidermolysis bullosa-associated cutaneous VXs and describe different therapeutic modalities and response to treatment. The ages of our patients ranged between 19 and 41 years (two males and two females). They presented with papillomatous, orange–red plaques on the back (three patients) and knee (one patient). The lesions developed spontaneously in areas of poor healing and scarred skin, and varied in size with the largest measuring 15 9 10 cm. Histology confirmed VX with the characteristic features of hyperkeratosis, verrucous epithelial hyperplasia, acantholysis and aggregates of foamy histiocytes accompanied by neutrophil infiltrates in the dermis. The four patients were treated with serial cryotherapy, imiquimod 5% cream, clobetasol propionate 0 05% ointment, serial curettage and cautery and mometasone furoate 0 1% ointment. We are monitoring the response to treatment. Chronic inflammation and repeated trauma have been implicated as possible causes of VXs. Repeated skin blistering, wounds and scarring are hallmark features of RDEB, an inherited skin fragility disorder caused by biallelic mutations in the type VII collagen gene COL7A1. VXs have been described in eight previous cases of RDEB but not in other forms of inherited epidermolysis bullosa. VXs arising in this context is clinically relevant as individuals with RDEB, especially the severe form, are at greatly increased risk of developing multiple aggressive primary SCCs that clinically resemble VXs. A variety of modalities have been used to treat RDEB-associated VXs, including surgical excision, topical corticosteroids, topical 5% imiquimod and cryotherapy. The size of lesions arising in RDEB, as in our cases, may limit the feasibility of excision, but cryotherapy and topical steroids appear to be safe and well tolerated. BG04 Exploring the cellular and genetic composition of human basal cell carcinoma at single-cell and spatial resolutions Clarisse Ganier, Nasrat Harun, Xinyi Du-Harpur, Fiona Watt and Magnus Lynch King's College London, Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Guy's Hospital, London, UK Cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is the most common malignancy in humans and represents a paradigm for the understanding of epithelial–mesenchymal interactions in malignancy. It is locally invasive and can require extensive and disfiguring surgery. It has long been speculated that the stromal microenvironment adjacent to BCC differs to that elsewhere in the dermis and is required for growth of the tumour. Here, we analysed the gene expression at the singlecell resolution of eight patients with BCC corresponding to 60 000 cells vs. 20 healthy skin donors corresponding to 120 000 cells. We identified particular dermal cell types such as fibroblasts and pericytes to be more abundant in BCC than in heathy skin. Thus, we analysed these data in combination with spatial transcriptomics using the Visium platform, in order to give additional spatial patterns of cell localization and their gene expression within the tumour microenvironment context at 50 lm resolution. Subsequently, in situ sequencing using a custom panel of 200 probes on the Cartana platform allowed us to define cellular-resolution maps of cell states within these tumours. We found that while the overall identity of cell populations present within the tumour closely mirrors that of normal tissue, there are quantitative differences in the composition of keratinocyte and immune populations and the spatial arrangement of cells differs greatly. These observations were confirmed by RNA FISH and immunostaining. In particular, we observed a characteristic spatial arrangement of fibroblast populations at the interface of the epithelial and mesenchymal elements of the tumour. We hypothesized that this represents a distinct cancer-associated fibroblast cell state and that this is essential for growth and invasion of the tumour. Our findings provide key insights into the cellular landscape of BCC and suggest that the interface between epithelial and mesenchymal elements of the tumour may offer novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of BCC.


Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, has been called the Stonehenge of North America. Its spectacular pueblos, or great houses, are world famous and have attracted the attention of archaeologists for more than a century. Beautifully illustrated with color and black-and-white photographs, Chaco Canyon draws on the very latest research on Chaco and its environs to tell the remarkable story of the people of the canyon, from foraging bands and humble farmers to the elaborate society that flourished between the tenth and twelfth centuries A.D. Brian Fagan is a master story teller, and he weaves the latest discoveries into a compelling narrative of people living in a harsh, unpredictable environment. Indeed, this is not a story about artifacts and dusty digs, but a riveting narrative of people in the distant past, going about their daily business, living and dying, loving, raising children, living in plenty and in hunger, pondering the cosmos, and facing the unpredictable challenges of the environment. Drawing on rare access to the records of the Chaco Synthesis Project, Fagan reveals a society where agriculture and religion went hand-in-hand, where the ritual power of Chaco's leaders drew pilgrims from distant communities bearing gifts. He describes the lavish burials in the heart of Pueblo Bonito, which offer clues about the identity of Chaco's shadowy leaders. And he explores the enduring mystery of Chaco's sudden decline in the face of savage drought and shows how its legacy survives into modern times. Here then is the first authoritative account of the Chaco people written for a general audience, lending a fascinating human face to one of America's most famous archaeological sites.


In recent years, people have come to recognize that a healthy lifestyle can promote wellness and prevent illness and diseases, allowing them to enjoy long, high quality lives. People strive to maintain homeostasis and achieve their potential by meeting their individual physiological, safety, cultural and spiritual needs. The body's homeostatic balance is affected by diet. Consumption of massive amounts of sugar, salt, caffeine or fried foods can affect homeostatic balance.
Wellness is a state of health in which basic needs are being met and homeostasis maintained. Health problem can be any actual or potential concern or condition which must be resolved and prevented in order to maintain wellness. Unresolved problems will lead to the inability to meet basic needs and maintain homeostasis, eventually resulting in illness. Wellness technology can create healthy energetic environments that can optimize dynamic human system homeostasis targeting physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balances.
In an organization, wellness programs can be incorporated to improve the health and well-being of employees (and their families), in order to enhance organizational performance and reduce cost. Wellness programs typically address specific behaviours and health risk factors, such as poor nutrition, hypertension, coronary heart disease, obesity and smoking. These factors commonly lead to serious and expensive health problems and have negative impact on workplace productivity. While the return on investment (ROI) varies for each employer, studies in the United States have shown that for every USD1 an employer spends on wellness programs, employers can expect a USD3 to USD6 return on their investment. Wellness programs not only improve an individual's short-term and long-term health, but they also help curb absenteeism, improve productivity, and aid quicker return to work for employees on disability leave.


In vivo studies have shown that regulatory CD4 (cid:1) T cells regulate conventional CD4 (cid:1) T cell responses to self- and environmental Ags. However, it remains unclear whether regulatory CD4 (cid:1) T cells control CD8 (cid:1) T cell responses to self, directly, or indirectly by decreasing available CD4 (cid:1) T cell help. We have developed an experimental mouse model in which suppressive and helper T cells cannot mediate their functions. The mouse chimeras generated were not viable and rapidly developed multiple organ autoimmunity. These features were correlated with strong CD8 (cid:1) T cell activation and accumulation in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs. In vivo Ab treatment and secondary transfer experiments demonstrated that regulatory CD4 (cid:1) T cells play an important direct role in the prevention of peripheral CD8 (cid:1) T cell-mediated autoimmunity. The Journal of Immunology, 2008, 180: 7294–7304.


For the prediction of hot gas side heat transfer in rocket thrust chambers, Astrium Space Transportation (ST) uses the second generation multiphase Navier-Stokes solver Rocflam-II. To account for real-gas and condensation effects, pressure-dependent and even multiphase fluid data are included in the chemistry tables used by the code. Thus, the changing fluid properties near the two-phase region as well as transformation from gaseous to liquid and even solid state are reflected properly. Heat flux measurements for a dedicated subscale test campaign with strongly cooled walls show a clearly increasing heat load as soon as the combustion gases condense at the wall, due to the released latent heat of condensation. Corresponding coupled Rocflam-II/CFX simulations show a good quantitative agreement in heat flux for load cases with and without condensation, showing the ability of the code to correctly simulate flows in the real-gas and even inside the two-phase region.


In marketing planning, advertisers seek to maximize the number of customers by allocating given budgets to each media channel effectively. The budget allocation problem with a bipartite influence model captures this scenario; however, the model is problematic because it assumes there is only one advertiser in the market. In reality, there are many advertisers which are in conflict of advertisement; thus we must extend the model for such a case.

By extending the budget allocation problem with a bipartite influence model, we propose a gametheoretic model problem that considers many advertisers. By simulating our model, we can analyze the behavior of a media channel market, e.g., we can estimate which media channels are allocated by an advertiser, and which customers are influenced by an advertiser.

Our model has many attractive features. First, our model is a potential game; therefore, it has a pure Nash equilibrium. Second, any Nash equilibrium of our game has 2-optimal social utility, i.e., the price of anarchy is 2. Finally, the proposed model can be simulated very efficiently; thus it can be used to analyze large markets.


Automotive production is one of the Australia's largest and most significant manufacturing industries, but is comparatively small by global standards. The industry was developed through protectionist policies, being heavily reliant upon tariffs for many decades to shield it from import competition. The nature of this support was not conducive to efficiency, instead contributing to deep-seated structural problems, which prevented the industry from being a viable competitor with overseas manufacturers when trade barriers were eventually dismantled. In recent decades, Australian policy makers sought to secure the future of automotive manufacturing by reorienting activities towards global supply chains, particularly those in the Asia-Pacific region. Some of the automotive manufacturers, such as Toyota, have been able to integrate into these supply chains through a 'high road' approach to upgrading, largely reliant upon the implementation of global production systems, and enabled these manufacturers to remain competitive. By contrast, Australian producers, including Mitsubishi, that have taken a 'low road' approach to upgrading have not been able to keep pace with their competitors in terms of production output, sales, and wages and employment conditions. These companies have seen their market share diminish in recent years, leading to widespread job losses, and the prospect of an uncertain future. While the global headquarters of Australian-based automotive manufacturers largely dictate their strategies, governments will continue to have an important role to play in the future directions taken by the industry.


Abstract At the beginning of the last decade, Petascale supercomputers (i.e., computers capable of more than 1 petaFLOP) emerged. Now, at the dawn of exascale supercomputing, we provide a review of recent landmark simulations of portions of reactor components with turbulence-resolving techniques that this computational power has made possible. In fact, these simulations have provided invaluable insight into flow dynamics, which is difficult or often impossible to obtain with experiments alone. We focus on simulations performed with the spectral element method, as this method has emerged as a powerful tool to deliver massively parallel calculations at high fidelity by using large eddy simulation or direct numerical simulation. We also limit this paper to constant-property incompressible flow of a Newtonian fluid in the absence of other body or external forces, although the method is by no means limited to this class of flows. We briefly review the fundamentals of the method and the reasons it is compelling for the simulation of nuclear engineering flows. We review in detail a series of Petascale simulations, including the simulations of helical coil steam generators, fuel assemblies, and pebble beds. Even with Petascale computing, however, limitations for nuclear modeling and simulation tools remain. In particular, the size and scope of turbulence-resolving simulations are still limited by computing power and resolution requirements, which scale with the Reynolds number. In the final part of this paper, we discuss the future of the field, including recent advancements in emerging architectures such as GPU-based supercomputers, which are expected to power the next generation of high-performance computers.


The methods such as motion capture and data glove have been used for gesture recognition. However, there are inevitably some physical and/or environmental restrictions on these methods. We propose the method that can make the 3-dimensional computer graphics animation from real gesture by transforming feature vector of posture on thermal image into 3-dimensional model. This work shows that our method might be able to release gesture recognition from physical and/or environmental restrictions.


Summary The Brent Group in the Brent Field contains over 1000 × 106 bbl of recoverable oil in a simple gently dipping half-graben structure. It is 243 m (800 ft) thick and represents a sequence amplified by synsedimentary fault-block subsidence close to the axis of the Viking Graben. On a regional scale the depositional model is of a major shoreface and coastal sequence, the Rannoch and Etive Formations, underlying the partly time-equivalent shallow lagoonal to emergent delta-plain deposits of the Ness Formation. However, more localized and detailed sedimentary modelling is required to predict reservoir geometries and production behaviour, particularly in the Ness Formation. The Ness Formation is the largest reservoir-bearing unit in the Brent Field, being up to 160 m (525 ft) thick. Five main facies associations form reservoir-quality rock: varied channel sandstones, fluvial sheet sandstones, major mouth bars, lagoonal shoals (which are usually associated with, and capped by, thin beaches) and lagoonal sheet sandstones. These associations make up 50%–60% of the sand-rich sequence and are embedded in the non-reservoir facies associations: lagoonal mudstones, emergent flood-plain mudstones and allochthonous and autochthonous coals. The coals are often field wide in extent. Within the amplified Ness Formation the most important environments were the lagoonal deltas which were wave and fluvial dominated with minor tidal influence. As a result of this importance the sand bodies produced by these deltas are subjected to a more detailed description in this paper. Wave energies were sufficient to redistribute large amounts of sediment and indicate significant fetch in the brackish lagoons diluted by major freshwater input. Sand-body geometries are very variable, reflecting both localized controls on sediment distribution, particularly immediately above the compacting shoreface pile, and more regional effects including coarse-sediment supply, basinal processes and fault-block subsidence. The dominant controls on sedimentation resulted in regular drowning events on the delta plains and had a significant impact by producing a strongly layered reservoir.


Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has placed an enormous strain on the health-care systems. In this systematic review, we briefly review the cardiovascular manifestation of COVID and how a cardiology service can be geared to tackle the COVID pandemic. These guidelines are based on how our hospital is being run based on guidelines which have come out from time to time from the Indian Council of Medical Research, WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other health authorities. COVID-19 is more severe in patients with cardiovascular disease and hypertension and may be associated with myocarditis like illness and shock. Patients with preexisting comorbidities have to be handled with extra care, and the manifestation of COVID-19 has to be distinguished from cardiovascular problems. Running a cardiology service requires ensuring preventing cross infection between patients, preventing patients from infecting health-care personal, and this requires precautions at all levels including the outpatient, ward, echocardiography, angiography, and during surgery. All these aspects are discussed. Different wards and different procedures carry a different level of risk requiring different levels of protection which are outlined. There have to be triage areas to screen patients while the COVID reports are coming in, keeping in mind that the patients can be COVID positive even if the reports are negative. Each hospital has to have guidelines in place to handle different cardiac emergencies.


The rise in popularity of photochemically initiated RAFT polymerization (photoRAFT) along with the broad spectrum of proposed, and possible, initiation mechanisms results in the need for careful characterization of the photophysical properties of some common RAFT agents. Direct irradiation of the RAFT agent as a means to generate radicals, also known as the photoiniferter mechanism, is one commonly proposed mechanism. The current study shows that the dithioesters and trithiocarbonates have lowest singlet, and triplet excited state energy levels that are close to, or lower then C-S bond dissociation energies. Excitation of these agents into their S1 band results in negligible radical production, while excitation into S2 or higher results in the decomposition of dithioesters and trithiocarbonates resulting in radical formation, but with low quantum yields. Likewise, there is significant literature precedence for an electron transfer initiation mechanism, PET-RAFT. It is shown that the dithioesters and trithiocarbonates all show 2 peak reduction potentials at ca. -1.0 V (vs. SCE). However, transient absorption spectroscopy studies of the electron transfer from a mediator shows that theses reactions occur rapidly only when the mediator potential is more negative than -1.2 V (vs. SCE).


Purpose To examine clinical and angiographic outcomes in a cohort of consecutive patients with posterior circulation intracranial aneurysms treated with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) at a referral center. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with posterior circulation intracranial aneurysms treated with the PED in our center between January 23rd, 2012 and January 24th, 2017. Baseline patient and aneurysm characteristics, intra-operative, peri-operative and delayed complications were recorded. Aneurysm volumes in initial and follow-up angiographic studies were calculated using AngioCalc. Clinical outcomes were categorized using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results 17 patients underwent 18 PED procedures to treat 19 posterior circulation intracranial aneurysms during the study period. 12 patients were women (71%) and 5 men (29%). Mean age was 60 years (range 13-80 years). 16 patients were premedicated with aspirin/clopidogrel with VerifyNow testing (94%), and 1 with aspirin/ticagrelor without VerifyNow testing (6%). 8 aneurysms were incidental (42%), 5 symptomatic (26%, 2 from mass effect), 4 recurrent (21%) and 3 ruptured (16%). 6 aneurysms were fusiform (32%), 3 dissecting (16%) and 2 blister (11%). 7 aneurysms were located in the basilar trunk (37%), 4 in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (21%), 2 in the superior cerebellar artery (10.5%), 2 in the posterior cerebral artery (10.5%), 2 in the vertebral artery (10.5%), 1 in the basilar tip (5%) and 1 in a basilar perforator artery (5%). Mean aneurysm size was 8.8mm (1.7-34mm), mean neck was 6.7mm (0.6-32.6mm), mean dome-to-neck ratio was 1.3 (0.2-2.9). 12 aneurysms were wide-neck (≥4mm, 63%). Mean number of PEDs deployed per aneurysm was 1.3. Adjunctive coiling was performed in 4 aneurysms (21%). There were 2 intra-operative (11%), 3 peri-operative (17%) and 1 delayed (5.6%) complications, none led to a disabling neurological deficit (mRS≥3). There was no treatment-related mortality. There were no post-operative aneurysm ruptures. Overall mortality was 5.9%. Angiographic follow-up was available in 15 aneurysms (79%, 3 follow-ups currently pending), with a mean time to last angiographic follow-up of 23.7 months (median 11 months, range 3.3-61.3 months). At last follow-up, 11 aneurysms were completely occluded (73%), 3 aneurysms had incomplete occlusion (20%, mean 59.2% volume reduction), and 1 aneurysm had volume increase (7%, 166% increase). The enlarging aneurysm was re-treated with parent artery sacrifice (7%). Conclusion The PED is a safe and effective treatment for wide-neck posterior circulation intracranial aneurysms, with high long-term complete aneurysm occlusion rates, low re-treatment rates, and a low rate of major treatment-related complications. Disclosures: J. Delgado Almandoz: 2; C; Medtronic Neurovascular, Accriva Diagnostics. Y. Kayan: 2; C; Medtronic Neurovascular. J. Scholz: None. K. Uittenbogaard: None. A. Milner: None. J. Fease: None. A. Wallace: None. K. Nelson: None. M. Mulder: None.


BACKGROUND
Current guidelines recommend the use of electrocardiography (ECG) in the evaluation of transient ischemic attack (TIA), but the data supporting its value in acute management are sparse.

OBJECTIVE
To determine whether ECG findings are useful as independent predictors of short-term cardiac or neurologic complications after TIA.

METHODS
We included patients who presented to 1 of 16 emergency departments of a health maintenance organization in northern California and received a diagnosis of TIA from March 1, 1997, through February 28, 1998, for a 90-day follow-up. A cardiac event was defined as a hospitalization or a death due to myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmia, heart failure, or unstable angina.

RESULTS
Among the 1327 patients with TIA for whom ECG findings were available for diagnostic coding, cardiac events occurred in 2.9%, strokes in 10.9%, recurrent TIAs in 13.7%, and deaths in 2.6% during 90-day follow-up. The ECG findings disclosed a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in 28 (2.3%) of the 1200 patients with no history of this condition. The 90-day risk for a cardiac event was greater in those who had any abnormal ECG findings (4.2% vs 0.6%; P<.001). This association remained significant after adjustment for medical history and examination findings (odds ratio, 6.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-29.5; P =.009). Left ventricular hypertrophy, atrial fibrillation, and atrioventricular conduction abnormalities were each independently associated with more than doubling of the risk. The ECG abnormalities were not associated with risk for stroke or death.

CONCLUSIONS
Short-term cardiac morbidity is substantial after TIA. Electrocardiographic findings disclose new atrial fibrillation in a significant portion of patients with TIA and can identify a group of patients at a substantially higher risk for short-term cardiac events.


Mobile techniques make information transform more efficiently. Many learning strategies will become more effectively under the supporting of significant and real time information. Three kinds of information awareness mechanisms using mobile devices are proposed to assist students to promote learning performance of students. Mechanisms for improving learning status awareness, schedule awareness, and mentor awareness are developed to recommend students what should learn, what should do and who could be of help for a problem by transferring information through cell phone short message to students. Experiments have been performed and the results show that most students satisfy with system's recommendation and these awareness mechanisms have positive affect to students.


Weight loss resulting from decreased caloric intake raises levels of the orexigenic hormone, ghrelin. Because ingested nutrients suppress ghrelin, increased ghrelin levels in hypophagic weight loss may result from decreased inhibitory input by ingested food, rather than from lost weight. We assessed whether ghrelin levels increase in response to exercise-induced weight loss without decreased caloric intake. We randomized 173 sedentary, overweight, postmenopausal women to an aerobic exercise intervention or stretching control group. At baseline, 3 months, and 12 months, we measured body weight and composition, food intake, cardiopulmonary fitness (maximal oxygen consumption), leptin, insulin, and ghrelin. Complete data were available for 168 women (97%) at 12 months. Exercisers lost 1.4 +/- 0.4 kg (P < 0.05 compared with baseline; P = 0.01 compared with stretchers) and manifested a significant, progressive increase in ghrelin levels, whereas neither measure changed among stretchers. Ghrelin increased 18% in exercisers who lost more than 3 kg (P < 0.001). There was no change in caloric intake in either group and no effect on ghrelin of exercise per se independent of its impact on body weight. In summary, ghrelin levels increase with weight loss achieved without reduced food intake, consistent with a role for ghrelin in the adaptive response constraining weight loss and, thus, in long-term body weight regulation.


OBJECT
In this study, the authors' goal was to compare head circumference in hydrocephalic children during the first 4 years of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt treatment with data on healthy children and to investigate predictors of skull growth in children with a VP shunt.

METHODS
Children from western Sweden treated for hydrocephalus with an initial VP shunt insertion performed between 2001 and 2006 who were younger than 12 months of age at the time of surgery were included. Children with major brain malformations, craniofacial syndromes, large cysts, and tumors were excluded. Head circumference, weight, and height at 9 defined ages up to 4 years were obtained and compared with data from a reference population of 3650 healthy children using the standard deviation score (SDS). Predictors (length, weight, etiology of hydrocephalus, valve type, number of revisions, valve setting, number of adjustments, and time of first surgery) for head circumference SDS and changes in head circumference SDS from shunt insertion at 1 year to last measurement were analyzed using bivariate and multiple linear regression analysis.

RESULTS
Fifty children were included. The mean SDSs for head circumference in shunt-treated compared with healthy children were 1.95 ± 2.50 at shunt insertion (p < 0.001, n = 44), 0.38 ± 1.97 at 1 year (p = 0.27, n = 33), -0.96 ± 2.05 at 2 years (p = 0.046, n = 21), -1.39 ± 2.25 at 3 years (p = 0.026, n = 16), and 0.63 ± 3.34 at 4 years (p = 0.73, n = 4). Significant predictors for low head circumference SDS at 1 year of age were low weight (p = 0.002) and short height (p = 0.022) and at last measurement low weight (p < 0.0001), short height (p = 0.002), and 1-4 shunt revisions (p = 0.034). A significant predictor for change in head circumference SDS from shunt insertion to 1 year of age was the number of shunt valve revisions (p = 0.04) and at last measurement an etiology of intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.0058).

CONCLUSIONS
Shunt-treated children have smaller head circumferences at 2 and 3 years of age than healthy children. Low weight, short height, etiology of intraventricular hemorrhage, and frequent shunt valve revisions are predictors for decreased head circumference. Prospective, randomized studies comparing skull growth using fixed and adjustable pressure-regulated shunt valves and flow-regulated valves are needed.


Long range dependent (LRD) stationary time series have historically served to model real time series with apparent changes in local mean level. A natural tool to study changes in local mean level is the unbalanced Haar wavelet transformation (UHT). In this work, UHT is used to study changes in local mean level in LRD models and several real and simulated time series exhibiting LRD. In particular, simulations for LRD models suggest that changes in local mean level occur at times essentially governed by a homogeneous Poisson arrival process, and only the local mean levels themselves inherit the LRD property of the original time series. These properties are compared with the analogous ones in several real and simulated time series. The results are mixed though generally in favor of LRD models. The approach based on UHT is also compared to several alternatives such as defining changes in local mean level through kernel smoothing. The interest throughout is mainly in very long time series such as those collected in the studies of data traffic over Internet.


In this paper, a new SCTP congestion control mechanism is introduced in multi-homing mode. Congestion in each route can be avoided or can be controlled, based on an Active Queue Management (AQM) method. Also, routers compute probability of congestion for the sources on the paths and then notify them. Therefore, the sources can adjust their sending rates on each path effectively and if necessary, can switch to an alternate path to prevent congestion. Simulations have been conducted with Opnet linked with MATLAB. The simulation shows that the new method can decrease packet loss, increase the amount of transmissions and stabilize queue length, as compared with standard SCTP.


This book presents a first comprehensive effort to explore the mechanics and fundamentals of global ICT standardization. It offers a comprehensive study of legal rules governing ICT standardization; systematically analyses governance and institutional features of some most prominent Standards Development Organizations; and presents qualitative empirical evidence on implementation of these rules in practice. By evaluating legal and procedural rules in light of current practices and tendencies in the industry, the book explores various options available for disciplining ICT standardization from the viewpoint of the applicable legislation, judiciary, and internal governance rules of Standards Development Organizations and offers practical solutions on how to increase the legitimacy of ICT standards. Adding to the previous theoretical approach to the field of standardization from historical, legal and political science perspective, this book applies theoretical considerations to unexplored scenarios, offering a holistic picture of ICT standardization and providing a novel contribution to the field.


In the smooth constrained optimization setting, this work introduces the Domain Complementary Approximate Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (DCAKKT) condition, inspired by a sequential optimality condition recently devised for nonsmooth constrained optimization problems. It is shown that the augmented Lagrangian method can generate limit points satisfying DCAKKT, and it is proved that such a condition is not related to previously established sequential optimality conditions. An essential characteristic of the DCAKKT is to capture the asymptotic potential in-creasing of the Lagrange multipliers using a single parameter. Besides that, DCAKKT points satisfy the Strong Approximate Gradient Projection condition. Due to the intrinsic features of DCAKKT, which combine strength and generality, this novel and genuine sequential optimality condition may shed some light upon the practical performance of algorithms that are yet to be devised.


Van Veen (1936b) found the ostracod species Krausella minuta Triebel, in deposits of the uppermost Maastrichtian from the Valley of the Jeker, South Limburg, The Netherlands. Investigation has shown that Triebel never published any data on this species, so the name Krausella minuta has to be rejected, being a nomen nudum. In the boreholes of Kallo (27 E 148) and Knokke (11 E 138), in the northwestern part of Belgium, a related, yet undescribed species occurs, for which the name Cardobairdia triebeli sp. nov. is proposed. This taxon was found in deposits of mainly Lower Campanian age. Another new species, Cardobairdia rectimarginata, is described from the Campanian in the Knokke Borehole. The specimens of Cardobairdia minuta from the Cenomanian from southern England belong to a new species, defined here as C. cenomanensis.


Introduction Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and migraine are often comorbid. Hippocampal structural abnormalities have been observed in individuals with both SCD and migraine. Given the known structural and functional heterogeneity along the long axis (anterior to posterior) of the hippocampus, we aimed to identify altered patterns of structural covariance within hippocampal subdivisions associated with SCD and migraine comorbidities. Methods A seed-based structural covariance network analysis was applied to examine large-scale anatomical network changes of the anterior and posterior hippocampus in individuals with SCD, migraine and healthy controls. Conjunction analyses were used to identify shared network-level alterations in the hippocampal subdivisions in individuals with both SCD and migraine. Results Altered structural covariance integrity of the anterior and posterior hippocampus was observed in the temporal, frontal, occipital, cingulate, precentral, and postcentral areas in individuals with SCD and migraine compared with healthy controls. Conjunction analysis revealed that, in both SCD and migraine, altered structural covariance integrity was shared between the anterior hippocampus and inferior temporal gyri and between the posterior hippocampus and precentral gyrus. Additionally, the structural covariance integrity of the posterior hippocampus-cerebellum axis was associated with the duration of SCD. Conclusion This study highlighted the specific role of hippocampal subdivisions and specific structural covariance alterations within these subdivisions in the pathophysiology of SCD and migraine. These network-level changes in structural covariance may serve as potential imaging signatures for individuals who have both SCD and migraine.


Studies on the affinity chromatography of proteinases as the most efficient approach to their separation are reviewed. The paper contains discussion of the methods used to prepare affinity sorbents by attaching gramicidin and bacitracin to various supports. The two cyclopeptides contain amino acid residues, meeting specificity requirements of proteinases of various classes, these materials thus being affinity sorbents of general type. Rules governing the interaction of proteinases with these sorbents are discussed, along with numerous examples of their chromatography on sorbents of general type as well as on more specific sorbents adapted to the separation of particular types of proteinases. Sorbents containing benzylsuccinic, benzylmalonic and phenylboronic acid residues are considered in details.


24 cases of orbital tumors misdiagnosed as optic neuritis or optic atrophy were located at the orbital apex or on the optic nerve, comprising meningioma 9 cases, cavernous hemangioma 5 cases, neurilemmoma 5 cases, neogrowths form the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses 3 cases, leiomyoma 1 case and hemangiopericytoma 1 case. The authors analyzed the causes of CT examination in early differential diagnosis.


Defining the central identity of the information systems (IS) field is a subject of ongoing concern and debate among IS researchers. Published empirical studies to date have focused on restricted sets of IS-related journal publications spread across relatively short time periods. This paper offers a broader review of the central identity of the IS field, using three dimensions proposed by Albert and Whetten [1985]: central character (i.e., what topics do IS scholars research?); temporal continuity (i.e., to what extent has the identity of the IS field remained static over time?); and distinctiveness (i.e., how unique is research published in IS vs. non-IS research journals?). The first two dimensions are examined using a dataset containing 6,466 journal citations drawn from seven leading IS journals over a 32-year period, and the third is evaluated by comparing results from these seven journals with research published in 15 leading non-IS business journals over the same time period. Results suggest that articles published in leading IS journals do share a strong central character that is distinct from research published in non-IS journals, and yet an identity that has continually shifted over time. This study contributes to the literature by providing an empirically supported review of who we are, how we are different, and some thoughts about where we may be going as a discipline.


The pathogenetic mechanisms for liver damage in acute hepatitis C are not clear, but a host immune cellular response may be involved. In chronic hepatitis C, there is strong evidence that host cellular immune response is involved in the control of viral replication and contributes to hepatocellular damage. As hepatitis C virus infection persists, continuous liver damage and regeneration, together with enhanced fibrogenesis, may eventually lead to cirrhosis in a proportion of patients. Transplant patients on high-dose immunosuppression may have high-level intrahepatic hepatitis C viral expression, and, in this setting, the virus may induce direct cytopathic liver damage.


The line-space hierarchy is a very powerful approach for the efficient update of radiosity solutions according to geometry changes. However, it suffers from its enormous memory consumption when storing shafts for the entire scene. We propose a method for reducing the memory requirements of the line-space hierarchy by the dynamic management of shaft storage. We store shaft information only locally for those parts of the scene that are currently affected by the geometry change. When the dynamic object enters new regions, new shaft data has to be computed, but on the other hand we can get rid of outdated data 'behind' the dynamic object. Simple movement prediction schemes are applied, so that we can provide shaft data to the radiosity update process in time when needed. We show how storage management and pre-calculation of shafts can be efficiently performed in parallel to the radiosity update process itself.


Cognitive neuroscience as a multidisciplinary field, seeks to understand human behavior at the intersection of social, cognitive, and neural spheres of science. Neuroscience can help organizations become more effective by support productivity and employee satisfaction. With this paper, it is aimed to contribute to literature with the potential promise of cognitive side of organizational behavior as synergic young field. The main aim of this paper is to discuss neuroscience techniques and ongoing studies with ethical perception that already existed in the organizational behavior field. This new field has emerged to investigate the cognitive neuroscience of organizational behavior and so, organizational scholars have begun to take note of the potential implications of neuroscience at workplace research, the popularity of new field is attested by recent conferences, special issues of journals. But the theoretical codes of this new science derive from an uneasy embracing of two different field of social behavior: sociobiology and evolutionary psychology on the one hand, and social psychology on the other.


: Hi there, health care workers. Did I tell you about the project I am planning as part of my management course? I would not be exaggerating if I said it is going to be the most exciting innovation yet on my new nursing unit. And it really is a new idea - there is no American influence involved.


This paper presents an experimental investigation of the machining characteristics of sintered NdFeB permanent magnet using a combination process of electro-discharge machining (EDM) with ultrasonic machining (USM). Concentration of abrasive in the dielectric fluid is changed to explore its effect on the material removal rate (MRR). MRR of EDM /USM, conventional EDM are compared, machined surface characteristics are also compared between them. It is concluded that the combination EDM/USM process can increase the MRR and decrease the thickness of the recast layer. In the combination process, an appropriate abrasive concentration can improve its machining efficiency.


The year 2011 has witnessed a lot of high profiles data breaches despite the availability of IS security and governance controls, frameworks, standards and models for organisations to choose from; and the technical advances made in intrusion prevention and detection. Taking this issue into account the objective of this paper is to identify and analyse the weaknesses in the IS security defences of organisations from a holistic perspective, and propose a dynamic IS security governance process model for the implementation of appropriate controls and mechanisms for optimised IS security. Optimization is achieved through the strategic overlap of security and governance frameworks implemented in a prioritized phased manner for efficiency and effectiveness in cost, time and effort. The paper starts with the analysis of data breaches to identify the weaknesses in the organisational information system. This is followed by the analysis of recommended requirements and dimensions of effective IS security architecture, IS governance, concepts and models to identify relevant frameworks used in IS security and governance. Thereafter, the best practices for implementing the model is evaluated and finally the frameworks and IS entities are integrated into an optimized Information Systems Security and Governance (ISSG) process model.


Particulate matter (PM) varies significantly in space and time. Effective PM risk analysis requires adequate knowledge of the spatial and temporal distribution of PM. In order to understand TSP/PM10 variability within the microclimate of Tarkwa and their potential impact. The Spatio-temporal distribution of Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) and PM10 in Tarkwa was studied. Five years TSP and PM10 monthly concentration data from fifteen (15) monitoring stations were collected and analysed for Spatio-temporal characteristics within the suburbs around three mining companies in Tarkwa. Autocorrelation between neighbouring suburbs, attainment rate, particle size distribution and risk levels were evaluated. The results revealed that all the monitoring stations except two (stations NV and TN) recorded TSP and PM10 concentrations below the national guideline for all years of study. Geo-spatially, highest TSP and PM10 risk level were recorded East of Tarkwa. Inhalable particles constitute about 44.09-72.90% of TSP. Attainment values between 44.09%-100% and 30%-100% were recorded for TSP and PM10, respectively. Estimated AQI values ranged between good and unhealthy for sensitive groups. Future studies directed at the chemical composition of PM was recommended to enhance further understanding of the risk levels.


In this paper, we have introduced the notion of operations on a generalized topological space $(X,\mu)$ to investigate the notion of $\gamma_{_\mu}$-compact subsets of a generalized topological space and to study some of its properties. It is also shown that, under some conditions, $\gamma_{_\mu}$-compactness of a space is equivalent to some other weak forms of compactness. Characterizations of such sets are given. We have then introduced the concept of $\gamma_{_\mu}$-$T_{_2}$ spaces to study some properties of $\gamma_{_\mu}$-compact spaces. This operation enables us to unify different results due to S. Kasahara.