Since the early 1970s, it has been clear that there is neither a single, universal method of foreign language teaching/learning nor a single, unified set of techniques that could guarantee all learners' successful accomplishment of the complex task of language learning. Learners are different and, therefore, even the most thoroughly planned and well designed syllabuses or learning agendas cannot prove fully effective if we ignore the crucial issue of individual learner differences. Apart from the age factor, which determines human cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development, there are many other individual variables which seem to influence the learning process and its outcomes. These comprise the learner's cognitive/learning styles and personality traits as well as his/her repertoire of strategies for language learning and use. In this series of three articles, the author presents an overview of research studies which show correlations between selected cognitive as well as affective factors and the learner's individual choice and use of learning strategies. She also discusses implications for foreign language teaching/learning, focusing on the idea of learner strategy training.


Scholars across the disciplines find much dysfunction in public apologies because they assume that these statements pursue the reconciliatory end of forgiveness. In contrast, this essay argues that public apologies do not enable forgiveness, but rather operate as ritualistic public punishment and humiliation in order to enforce certain ethical standards for public speech. These punishments are achieved by coercing offenders to offer apologies that embody metanoia, a rhetorical and religious concept that denotes a sudden change of heart or personal conversion. Through a rhetorical analysis of the performance of metanoia in public apologies from Don Imus, Michael Richards, and Mel Gibson, this essay demonstrates the punitive function of apologetic discourse and examines its ethical implications.


Hydrogen breath tests are a well-established method to help diagnose functional intestinal disorders such as carbohydrate malabsorption or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. In this work we apply unsupervised machine learning techniques to analyze hydrogen breath test datasets. We propose a method that uses 26 internal cluster validation measures to determine a suitable number of clusters. In an induced external validation step we use a predefined categorization proposed by a medical expert. The results indicate that the majority of the considered internal validation indexes was not able to produce a reasonable clustering. Considering a predefined categorization performed by a medical expert, a novel shape-based method obtained the highest external validation measure in terms of adjusted rand index. The predefined clusterings constitute the basis of a supervised machine learning step that is part of our ongoing research.


Network effects and standardisation are central to business success for many of today's high-technology companies. The ability of a firm to establish its technology as a dominant design or so-called de-facto standard is a critical determinant of its long-term competitive position. Which strategy a company should choose in a de-facto standardisation process, e.g. introducing a new technology as a proprietary standard or as a more or less open standard, depends on a variety of situative factors. This paper seeks to analyse the effectiveness of different strategic actions in standardisation processes. Utilising economic theories on network effects, the paper develops a framework for analysing strategic behaviours of companies in de-facto standardisation processes with a special focus on openness strategies. Several case studies illustrate different aspects of the framework.


Given the primary role of teachers in affecting student achievement, U.S. policy makers and reformers have increasingly focused on monitoring and evaluating teacher effectiveness by emphasizing the links to student learning outcomes. Large-scale international assessments are frequently used as base examples to justify reform. But, relatively little is known about what other countries actually do. We wonder: How do other countries evaluate teachers? We have set out on a broad research effort, looking at whether top-performing countries use educational practices and reform initiatives in vogue in the U.S. We've compared Finland, Korea, Japan, Ontario in Canada, and Singapore, exploring in each system the role of high-stakes testing, policies used to motivate schools and teachers to improve student learning, and the organization of accountability for learning. We use Ontario because Canadian education policy is substantially decentralized to the provinces. In each area, we looked at the role of teachers and systems of teacher evaluation. Perhaps not surprisingly, we have learned: 1. Teacher evaluation is used for both accountability and instructional improvement in most school systems. However, teacher evaluation systems are organized differently depending on the model of accountability. 2. There is a growing trend to use student test results and metrics to inform accountability for schools, principals, and teachers, instructional improvement in classrooms and schools, and reform at the system level. 3. In particular, standardized testing of students, a primary and growing component of teacher evaluation in the U.S., is generally administered and used differently in other countries. How is teacher evaluation linked with accountability and instructional improvement? Looking across systems, we see four primary approaches to accountability: professional, organizational, market, and parental/community. Each approach has strong implications for teacher evaluation and its use in instructional improvement. Professional accountability results from practitioner identification with the profession and a corresponding internalized obligation to uphold, even advance, its standards. Professional accountability is enhanced by social recognition and prestige (Scribner, Cockrell, K., Cockrell, D., & Valentine, 1999). In a professional accountability mode, teacher evaluation is closely linked with professional norms and peer assessments. Finland's teacher evaluation system is based almost entirely on professional accountability, in which teachers are accountable to each other, the school, the children, and their parents. In the early 1990s, Finland abolished the school inspection system that was in place to evaluate teachers and provide external feedback. Now, teacher evaluation is more group-based, reflective, and participatory, with the aim of creating professional learning communities among teachers and administrators (Sahlberg, 2011). Evaluation is ultimately a consultative and formative process. Principals often use their own knowledge and experience as teachers to assist teachers and help them recognize areas of strengths and improve areas of weakness. Organizational accountability exists, but its primary purpose is to coordinate and lead the professional activities of teachers rather than command and control. Poor performance in relation to professional norms violates the trust that is said to characterize the system. Another example of professional accountability is Japan's practice of lesson study, in which teachers, new and seasoned, take turns presenting lessons that are practiced and critiqued in a group setting. This system, while certainly not the only mechanism of accountability in Japanese schools, reinforces teachers' accountability to each other according to norms of good teaching. Organizational accountability refers to the structures, norms, incentives, and sanctions of the formal institution. …


The inositol signaling pathways in the cytoplasm are well characterized. In a Perspective,
 Chi and Crabtree
 now explain how similar inositol pathways operate in the nucleus to switch gene expression on and off. One of the key players is the kinase Ipk2p, which might stabilize components of a transcription complex (
 Odom
 et al.).


Background: Chitosan (Chi) is a natural material which has been widely used in neural applications due to possessing better biocompatibility. In this research study, a novel of nanocomposites film based on Chi with hyaluronic acid (HA), combined with varying amounts of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), was created resulting in pure Chi, Chi-HA, Chi-HA-AuNPs (25 ppm), and Chi-HA-AuNPs (50 ppm). Methods: This study focused on evaluating their effects on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) viability, colony formation, and biocompatibility. The surface morphology and chemical position were characterized through UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), SEM, and contact-angle assessment. Results: When seeding MSCs on Chi-HA-AuNPs (50 ppm), the results showed high cell viability, biocompatibility, and the highest colony formation ability. Meanwhile, the evidence showed that Chi-HA-Au nanofilm was able to inhibit nestin and β-tubulin expression of MSCs, as well as inhibit the ability of neurogenic differentiation. Furthermore, the results of matrix metalloproteinase 2/9 (MMP2/9) expression in MSCs were also significantly higher in the Chi-HA-AuNP (50 ppm) group, guiding with angiogenesis and wound healing abilities. In addition, in our rat model, both capsule thickness and collagen deposition were the lowest in Chi-HA-AuNPs (50 ppm). Conclusion: Thus, in view of the in vitro and in vivo results, Chi-HA-AuNPs (50 ppm) could not only maintain the greatest stemness properties and regulate the neurogenic differentiation ability of MSCs, but was able to also induce the least immune response. Herein, Chi-HA-Au 50 ppm nanofilm holds promise as a suitable material for nerve regeneration engineering.


Abstract Nanomaterials are applied with great success in biomedical applications as templates for the development of new generation devices, which can be used to solve current health problems. These new nanoscale systems are designed with multifunctions to perform specific and selective tasks. One of the most important applications of this new nanotechnology; focuses on developing new systems for the controlled release of drugs, mainly due to their capability to improve the temporal and spatial presentation of drugs in the body and their ability to protect them from physiological degradation or elimination. Hydrogels, porous silicon (PSi), and PSi-composites have been widely adopted in this field due to their biological, morphological, and physicochemical properties; which can be tuned to obtain sensitive responses to physiological stimuli. Despite the fact that some recent academic papers have shown the benefits of these nanomaterials in a wide range of biological applications, more in vivo studies are needed to take these hybrid systems towards clinical trials. In this mini-review some of the hydrogels, PSi, and PSi-composites latest applications and prospects in this field of science are presented.


We present a new method for near-source ground-motion calculations due to earthquake rupture on potentially geometrically complex faults. Following the recently introduced Discontinuous Galerkin approach with local time stepping on tetrahedral meshes, we use piecewise polynomial approximations of the unknown variables inside each element and achieve the same approximation order in time and space due to the new ader time integration scheme that uses Arbitrary high-order DERivatives. We show how an external source term and its heterogeneous properties in space and time, given by a fine discretization of an extended rupture surface, can be included in much coarser tetrahedral meshes due to the subcell resolution of the high-order polynomial representation. Hereby, the rupture surface is represented very generally as a point cloud of the center locations of individual subfaults at which each polynomial test function is evaluated exactly inside an element and the space– time integration of the source term is accurately computed at each timestep. Besides the incorporation of complex source kinematics we also present the effects of model boundaries that can degrade the accuracy of seismograms due to weak artificial reflections. We propose an extended computational domain of a coarsely meshed buffer region and show that our scheme using the local timestepping completely avoids such boundary problems with only slightly increasing the computational cost. We validate the new approach against different test cases, comparing our results with analytic, quasianalytic, and a series of reference solutions. Our work shows that adding the functionality of accurately treating finite source-rupture models into the general framework of the ader-Discontinuous Galerkin approach is an important contribution to modeling realistic earthquake scenarios, allowing the efficient inclusion of heterogeneous source kinematics and complex rupture-surface geometries in near-source ground-motion simulations.


The efficient generation of photorealistic images is one of the main subjects in the field of computer graphics. In contrast to simple image generation which is directly supported by standard 3D graphics hardware, photorealistic image synthesis strongly adheres to the physics describing the flow of light in a given environment. By simulating the energy flow in a 3D scene global effects like shadows and inter-reflections can be rendered accurately. The hierarchical radiosity method is one way of computing the global illumination in a scene. Due to its limitation to purely diffuse surfaces solutions computed by this method are view independent and can be examined in real-time walkthroughs. Additionally, the physically based algorithm makes it well suited for lighting design and architectural visualization. The focus of this thesis is the application of object-oriented methods to the radiosity problem. By consequently keeping and using object information throughout all stages of the algorithms several contributions to the field of radiosity rendering could be made. By introducing a new meshing scheme, it is shown how curved objects can be treated efficiently by hierarchical radiosity algorithms. Using the same paradigm the radiosity computation can be distributed in a network of computers. A parallel implementation is presented that minimizes communication costs while obtaining an efficient speedup. Radiosity solutions for very large scenes became possible by the use of clustering algorithms. Groups of objects are combined to clusters to simulate the energy exchange on a higher abstraction level. It is shown how the clustering technique can be improved without loss in image quality by applying the same data-structure for both, the visibility computations and the efficient radiosity simulation.


Substances extracted from Cannabis varieties are of increasing interest, especially cannabidiol as a non-psychoactive
drug with various pharmacological effects. Formulation of cannabidiol is, however, challenging due to its low water
solubility. In this study, different types of lipid carriers were investigated as formulation options for cannabidiol to enable
parenteral or oral application.

The study included self-dispersing lipid formulations, nanoemulsions and liposomes. With regard to parenteral
application, a higher load of cannabidiol was obtained in nanoemulsions than in liposomes. Lipid nanoemulsions are thus
a very promising formulation option for parenteral formulations with a high drug load. Also in formulations intended for
oral use a notably higher amount of cannabidiol could be incorporated in oil-containing self-dispersing formulations than
in liposomes.


This longitudinal study tracks how 5to 7-year-olds perform with early number skills. The aim of this study is to diagnose at-risk mathematics students by distinguishing the skills that, if not mastered by the end of Kindergarten, lead to greater difficulty in mathematics in 1 st grade. This study's methodology is mixed as it follows an exploratory and inductive path in light of its use of a hypothesis, an interpretive path in light of its interest in the individual student, and a positivist path in light of its focus on developing rules from analyzed data. An oral diagnostic test based on a comprehensive collection of early number skills was used to test students as Kindergarteners and again as 1 st graders. The test results created benchmarks, revealing how the majority of the students performed with early number skills. The test results also revealed that each early number skill is highly, moderately, or minimally predictive in terms of student placement by the end of 1 st grade. When comparing the individual skill scores of each Kindergarten student to his/her total test results of 1 st grade, the predictive power of each skill emerged. Performing poorly with skills that are minimally predictive did not seem to have an impact on how the Kindergarten student finished in 1 st grade; performing poorly with moderately predictive skills had a greater impact on 1 st grade placement; performing poorly with highly predictive skills in Kindergarten increased the likelihood that the student would finish in the lower attaining group in 1 st grade. A third result of the test showed that certain skills serve as preconditions for other skills; success with certain skills usually meant success with other skills. These connections between skills point to a learning model called in this study "simultaneous pathways," indicating that there are connections between certain skills, and that students can be learning on several pathways simultaneously. The impact of the predictive power of early number skills is that diagnosis becomes more effective. Early diagnosis means early remediation which may prevent at-risk students from falling further behind their peers. The benchmarks developed by this research will help teachers assess their students because they will know the general skill level of Kindergarteners and 1 st graders. This oral diagnostic test informs curriculum development. If test results show that students are missing the skills that are highly predictive, teachers can address those gaps in order to insure mastery.


The goals of occupational health information and surveillance systems are outlined together with the components required to achieve these objectives. The various input sources (different divisions within the concerned organization) are identified and major types of output reports of the system are described. These general outlines could assist in standardizing future developments of such systems or potential customers in evaluating commercially available occupational health information systems. Potential advantages to employers and employees from incorporating these comprehensive surveillance systems are indicated. The beneficiary effects of utilizing information accumulated in a standardized, comprehensive, and longitudinal format from large groups of workers for prevention, health maintenance, or epidemiological evaluations are stressed and some specific examples given.


The tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of dynamic and complex networks composed of matrix substrates, extracellular matrix (ECM), non-malignant cells, and tumor cells. The TME is in constant evolution during the disease progression, most notably through gradual stiffening of the stroma. Within the tumor, increased ECM stiffness drives tumor growth and metastatic events. However, classic in vitro strategies to study the TME in cancer lack the complexity to fully replicate the TME. The quest to understand how the mechanical, geometrical, and biochemical environment of cells impacts their behavior and fate has been a major force driving the recent development of new technologies in cell biology research. Despite rapid advances in this field, many challenges remain in order to bridge the gap between the classical culture dish and the biological reality of actual tissue. Microfabrication coupled with microfluidic approaches aim to engineer the actual complexity of the TME. Moreover, TME bioengineering allows artificial modulations with single or multiple cues to study different phenomena occurring in vivo. Some innovative cutting-edge tools and new microfluidic approaches could have an important impact on the fields of biology and medicine by bringing deeper understanding of the TME, cell behavior, and drug effects.


The influence of gas diffusion layer (GDL) design parameters on the performance of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) was evaluated using a test apparatus in which the clamp pressure on the cell could be accurately controlled. The PEFC performance varies significantly depending on the humidity of the supplied gas. Under moderate humidity, the PEFC performance is enhanced when using an untreated GDL with high air permeability. Under high humidity, improved performance is achieved using a GDL with PTFE hydrophobic treatment. A microporous layer (MPL) coated GDL significantly reduces flooding on the electrode, resulting in a decrease in the concentration overpotential. This enhances the PEFC performance at high current densities. A substrate with high air permeability for the MPL coated GDL enhances the ability of the MPL to prevent flooding. Under low humidity, the MPL is also effective to prevent drying-up of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), resulting in enhanced performance. A substrate with low air permeability for the MPL coated GDL is effective for the prevention of drying-up.


Performance measures are described which realistically reflect both noise-reduction and maneuver-following capability of a radar track-while-scan (TWS) system. Illustrations are given which compare various smoothing equations on the basis of this performance measure. Finally, a set of position-and-velocity tracking equations is synthesized by a calculus-of-variations technique. The synthesized set is optimum for both position and velocity tracking within the given performance sense, in the class of all fixed parameter, linear tracking equations. The resulting optimally synthesized set characterizes the commonly termed " \alpha-\beta " tracker, with the important proviso that \beta=\alpha^{2}/(2 - \alpha) .


Author(s): Neupane, M; Alidoust, N; Xu, S-Y; Kondo, T; Kim, D-J; Liu, Chang; Belopolski, I; Chang, T-R; Jeng, H-T; Durakiewicz, T; Balicas, L; Lin, H; Bansil, A; Shin, S; Fisk, Z; Hasan, MZ | Abstract: The Kondo insulator SmB6 has long been known to exhibit low temperature (T l 10K) transport anomaly and has recently attracted attention as a new topological insulator candidate. By combining low-temperature and high energy-momentum resolution of the laser-based ARPES technique, for the first time, we probe the surface electronic structure of the anomalous conductivity regime. We observe that the bulk bands exhibit a Kondo gap of 14 meV and identify in-gap low-lying states within a 4 meV window of the Fermi level on the (001)-surface of this material. The low-lying states are found to form electron-like Fermi surface pockets that enclose the X and the Gamma points of the surface Brillouin zone. These states disappear as temperature is raised above 15K in correspondence with the complete disappearance of the 2D conductivity channels in SmB6. While the topological nature of the in-gap metallic states cannot be ascertained without spin (spin-texture) measurements our bulk and surface measurements carried out in the transport-anomaly-temperature regime (T l 10K) are consistent with the first-principle predicted Fermi surface behavior of a topological Kondo insulator phase in this material.


The Semi-Arid Wheat Screening Nursery (SAWSN) is a single replicate trial that contains diverse spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) germplasm adapted to low rainfall, drought prone, semi-arid environments typically receiving less than 500 mm of water available during the cropping cycle. CIMMYT's breeding approach attempts to combine high yield potential with drought resistance for ME4. The combination of water-use efficiency and water responsive traits plus yield potential is important in drought environments where rainfall is frequently erratic across years. When rains are significantly above average in certain years, the crop must respond appropriately (water responsive) with higher yields, while expressing resistance to the wider suite of diseases that appear under more favorable conditions. Constrains including leaf, stem and yellow rusts, and Septoria spp., Fusarium spp., Pyrenophora tritici-repentis tan spot, nematodes and root rots must be considered. It is distributed to 120 locations, and contains 150-250 entries.


Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus of the Alphavirus genus. CHIKV is an arbovirus, whose spread is mediated by Aedes species mosquitos and is associated with debilitating joint pain and febrile symptoms in infected humans. A lack of vaccine or specific antivirals, combined with increasing global spread, has facilitated the re-emergence of CHIKV in recent years. Our research focuses on the CHIKV encoded non-structural protein-1 (nsP1), which has methyltransferase activity and is essential for virus genome replication. Through a combination of structural, biochemical and reverse genetic approaches, we aim to investigate the relationship between the molecular structure and both canonical and non-canonical functions of nsP1, at different stages of CHIKV replication. We demonstrated that substitution of an in-frame methionine (M24), towards the N-terminal of nsP1, severely inhibits CHIKV replication in a host cell-dependent manner. Specifically, we demonstrated that an M24>A substitution had no significant effect on sub-genomic replicon replication but blocks production of infectious CHIKV virions – suggesting a role in later stages of virus replication, such as packaging or egress, rather than genome replication or translation. Utilising such a reverse genetic approach, analysis of a panel of M24 substitutions has improved our understanding on non-canonical yet essential functions of nsP1 during CHIKV replication. In order to further elucidate both the structural and biochemical basis for the observed mutant phenotypes, we developed a system for bacterial expression and purification of recombinant CHIKV nsP1 and have established crystallography trails, prior to analysis of the molecular structure by X-ray crystallography.


Recently, a single-crystal field-effect hole mobility of about 1.0 cm2/(V s) has been measured for the tetraphenylbis(indolo[1,2-a])quinoline (TPBIQ) crystal. TPBIQ can be considered as almost the dimer of 5,7-diphenylindolo[1,2-a]quinoline (DPIQ), but the experimental hole mobilities differ markedly. Here, based on density functional theory and semiempirical calculations, the charge-transport parameters of TPBIQ crystal are studied and compared to those of the "parent" DPIQ crystal. The results indicate that hole and electron transport in the TPBIQ crystal is significant only along the π-stacking direction, while in DPIQ substantial electronic couplings are also found along other directions. The larger electronic couplings and much smaller reorganization energy calculated for the TPBIQ crystal point to a higher hole mobility in TPBIQ, which is consistent with the experimental observations. Molecular dynamics simulations are also carried out to evaluate the nonlocal electron−phonon couplings. The results ...


Bungee jumping is so-called kind of action sport and exists in Europe since the end of the seventies. The first fans of this leisure activities were inspired by the GOL-ritual which was practised by the inhabitants of a South Seas island. This text concerns itself with the question of whether prae and perinatale experiences are in any way a shaping influence on their later behavior, that the driving force for such thrills can be the basic motive of a repeat of displaced birth perceptions. Different birth metaphors and fantasies enumerated in their descriptions of Bungee or GOL jumps emerge. Finally we describe the possible link between the fall of man rituals and birth perception.


Background TNF was the first cytokine to be validated as a molecular target of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and still remains at the first-line of therapeutic interventions with biologics. Even though widely used anti-TNF agents, such as infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab and certolizumab pegol all target the same protein, they nonetheless exhibit differences, likely due to their biological origin (humanised or fully human) and biochemical properties (antibody or receptor). In this work, we sought to characterise this variability, at the molecular level, through the creation of robust gene and functional signatures from reproducible gene expression profiles of drug intervention in the huTNFTg model of RA (Tg197). Materials and methods Global gene expression of aqueous extracts from synovial joints of untreated and treated Tg197 mice were compared with wild-type controls in 10 biological replicates for each condition. Profiles were analysed with ANOVA, coupled with Dunnett's multiple comparison test using wild-type as control, giving rise to robust lists of differentially expressed genes. Results Preliminary analysis of untreated samples resulted in the definition of a broad subset of >850 differentially expressed genes, which we used to define a disease signature at both gene and functional levels. Functions linked to this gene subset included both known (TNF and NF-kB signalling, Inflammatory response, RA and Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and less obvious pathways (Fatty Acid Metabolism, Oxidative Phosporylation, Autophagy). Functional dissection also revealed interesting links to various types of cardiomypathy phenotypes, a common comorbidity of RA patients. We found that etanercept, adalimumab and certolizumab pegol shared extensive similarities in the way they restore expression of disease signature genes, while infliximab diversified exhibiting increased efficiency in the modulation of over-expressed genes. The latter appears to predominantly modify genes of inflammatory and cytokine-related functions while the former show particular efficacy for genes associated with various types of cardiomypathy phenotypes. Conclusions Combined, our analyses reveal modest, yet detailed and significant discrepancies between gene expression of different anti-TNF agents and may provide a valuable framework for the benchmarking of novel biosimilars or the repositioning of existing substances at a preclinical stage.


One of the recurrent shortcomings of water policy in France is the control of diffuse agricultural pollution. Numerous lacunae and incoherencies in the French Rural, Public Health, and Environmental Codes have hindered the effective implementation of efficient protection measures. In this paper, we underline the extent to which these incoherencies have hampered the emergence of cooperative agreements (CAs) between farmers and drinking water service providers. The theoretical framework of institutional resource regimes (IRRs) provides a key to understanding the failure of public policy to impose restrictions on agricultural land use rights and to encourage voluntary arrangements concerning agricultural practices. The IRR framework was applied before 2005 to 12 cases of public attempts to negotiate a reduction in polluting practices. Our study enabled us to characterise the lack of extent and coherence of the water sector's IRR in France. Since 2005, regulatory changes have extended the scope of this IRR with a view to making water, agriculture and health policies more coherent. We discuss the complexity of the new approach, and question its capacity to mobilise the actors concerned around the territorial reorganisation of agriculture aimed at reducing diffuse pollution. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Calcium phosphates coatings were deposited onto titanium discs via en electrodeposition method. Discs were blasted with calcium phosphate particles and etched in a mixture of sulfuric and fluoric acids. Temperatures from 25 to 80°C and current densities from 8 to 120 mA/ cm2 were used. Deposition times tested were between 10 and 120 min. The electrolyte consisted of a super saturated solution stirred at 250 rpm. The amount of magnesium (Mg2+) and carbonate (HCO3-) ions was varied from 0 to 1 mM. Coatings increased in thickness by increasing deposition time. The different amounts of Mg2+ and HCO3- affected the homogeneity and morphology of the coatings. Main factors affecting the deposition were temperature of electrolyte and current density.


In this paper we continue studying a theoretically exact filtered backprojection inversion formula for cone beam spiral CT proposed earlier by the author. Our results show that if the phantom f is constant along the axial direction, the formula is equivalent to the 2D Radon transform inversion. Also, the inversion formula remains exact as spiral pitch goes to zero and in the limit becomes again the 2D Radon transform inversion formula. Finally, we show that according to the formula the processed cone beam projections should be backprojected using both the inverse distance squared law and the inverse distance law.


Due to the increasing global competitiveness, companies have to continuously expand their offer of innovative products and services. Upper Austria is the most competitive region of Austria and one of the most innovative regions in Europe. Despite its success and prosperity, the local SMEs have not yet managed to exploit their full innovation potential. This paper analyses the literature background on the topic of innovation in SMEs in the spheres of management and organization, resources, collaboration, KPIs, and innovation processes, as a part of the Interreg SIP-SME (Service innovation processes for small and medium-sized enterprises) project. Subsequently, the results from the in-depth interviews with Upper Austrian innovation experts are presented and compared to the literature findings. The authors found that the experts confirmed the necessity of formalization of processes, the importance of human resources and know-how, specific organizational and managerial prerequisites, as well as the problematic areas in the measurement of innovation potential and activities. Differences were found in the aspects of company attributes and their effect on innovation success as well as the reasons of employee unwillingness and reluctance to engage in innovation activities. Problematic areas of implementing innovation in local SMEs were identified.


The Copley Medal is awarded to Sir William Hodge, F. R. S. There is little doubt that Sir William Hodge is one of the outstanding British mathematicians of our time. His reputation rests firmly on his fundamental contributions to algebraic geometry and in particular on his theory of harmonic integrals. It is no exaggeration to say that Hodge's work in the 1930s completely changed the character and direction of higher-dimensional geometry. By a brilliant application of ideas and techniques from differential geometry, topology and analysis he revitalized algebraic geometry and brought it into a central position in mathematics. Although the importance of the theory of harmonic integrals was recognized at an early stage, its influence on the development of mathematics can only now be seen in true perspective. A survey of present-day research shows clearly that Hodge's work was one of the milestones in twentieth-century mathematics. In particular the famous 'Hodge conjectures' concerning algebraic cycles are now recognized to be deep and challenging. They have almost reached the status of such classical unsolved problems as the Riemann hypothesis, the Poincare conjecture or Fermat's last theorem. Hodge has also been very active on the national and international scene. For many years he played a leading role in British mathematics, and was prominent in organizing the International Mathematical Union after 1945. He served as Vice-President of the I.M.U., and as Physical Secretary of the Royal Society from 1957 to 1965. He is a worthy recipient of the Copley Medal and an eminently suitable successor to Hardy and Littlewood, the last pure mathematicians to be so honoured.


The paper focuses on computational aspects of portfolio optimization (PO) problems. The objectives of such problems may include: expectedreturn, standard deviation and variation coefficient of the portfolioreturn rate. PO problems can be formulated as mathematical programming problems in crisp, stochastic or fuzzy environments. To compute optimal solutions of such singleand multi-objective programming problems, the paper proposes the use of a computational optimization method such as RST2ANU method, which can be applied for nonconvex programming problems. Especially, an updated version of the interactive fuzzy utility method, named UIFUM, is proposed to deal with portfolio multi-objective optimization problems.


Cadmium (Cd) is toxic even in the very trace amounts and shows adverse effects on the human being and his environment. Current studies were performed to evaluate the Cd concentration in soil of Lahore (Pakistan) and the results were compared with those reported from other cities of Pakistan. The metal concentration evaluated by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (GFAAS). Cd concen- tration was found to be 1.39-20.82 µg/L, 1.38-93.60 µg/L, 2.42-94.60 µg/L, 2.25-93.98 µg/L and  1.15-8.14 µg/L in GT road, Misri shah, river Ravi, fertilized land of Raiwind side and unfertilized land of Raiwind side, respectively. The higher Cd concentration (2.42-94.60 µg/L) at "River Ravi" as compared to the other investigated areas (1.15-93.98 µg/L) is owed to the dumping of untreated waste from all  industrial, sewage, domestic and agricultural zones in "River Ravi". The fertilized land was found to possess higher amount of Cd as compared to the unfertilized land. The awareness in farmers and the  periodic monitoring of soil are important to eradicate the sources of Cd poisoning.


The perception of Gold in an Indian Investor is different from that of a foreign investor. If there is any one investment that runs through all throughout the year for an Indian, it is definitely gold. This paper examines the pattern of Gold investment during the pandemic – Covid 19 by individual investors. The paper is based on the primary data analyzed through the questionnaire prepared for the purpose of studying the shift in priorities of individual Investors during the pandemic and with the new normal. This paper highlights the brighter side of investing in gold at different periods with different income groups is observed. It examines the relative performance of the gold investment in the portfolio carried by the investor during the lockdown period. The factors affecting the investment of every individual with varied income is analyzed and tested with descriptive Statistics. The study proceeds to acquire the resultant estimation of whether there is a significant change in the investment of Gold or has gold sustained the wave of this economic crisis during the Covid period.


The Tat protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is a potent transcriptional trans activator of the viral long terminal repeat promoter element. Tat function requires the direct interaction of Tat with a cis-acting viral RNA target sequence termed the trans-activation response (TAR) element and has also been proposed to require at least one cellular cofactor. We have used a genetic approach to attempt to experimentally define the role of the cellular cofactor in Tat function and TAR binding. Our data suggest that neither Tat nor the cellular cofactor binds to TAR alone in vivo and indicate, instead, that the interaction of Tat with its cellular cofactor is a prerequisite for TAR binding. The known species tropism of lentivirus Tat proteins appears to arise from the fact that not only Tat but also the cellular cofactor can markedly influence the RNA sequence specificity of the resultant protein complex. These data also suggest that the Tat cofactor is likely a cellular transcription factor that has been highly conserved during vertebrate evolution. We hypothesize that the primary function of Tat is to redirect this cellular factor to a novel viral RNA target site and to thereby induce activation of viral gene expression.


A socio-constructivist approach to writing pedagogy recognises the importance of participant relationships in argumentation in disciplinary writing, although awareness of the rhetorical resources available to achieve this dialogic partnership between writer and reader can be difficult to teach. The highly metadiscursive nature of feedback commentary, however, offers the potential to scaffold such learning as part of a dialogic feedback cycle. Taking as its starting point, the concept of feedback as genre, this study investigated metadiscourse use in feedback data from the researcher's own teaching practice. A corpus of 627 formative comments, comprising 16,660 words and providing feedback on argumentation in first-year undergraduate texts, was analysed with reference to Ädel's (2017, 2018) recent findings and observations, which called for a re-defining of the function and definition of metadiscourse. Findings from the current study include a similarly high frequency of metadiscourse use in feedback to that found in Ädel's work and corroborate the validity of her suggested multidimensional model of metadiscourse. Additionally, examples from the corpus show the complexity and fluidity of the writer and reader roles. Frequencies of types of metadiscourse markers varied depending on purpose, reflecting either the response of "teacher as reader and dialogue partner" or the pedagogical response of "teacher as knowledge resource". Responses worked "intratextually" and "intertextually" by extensively referencing both "current text" and earlier stages of the wider feedback discourse chain when identifying and providing rationale and resolution for problems in the development of argument in the text.


PURPOSE
To determine the accuracy of patient recall of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in men who have undergone radical prostatectomy for early-stage prostate cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients enrolled onto a longitudinal, observational cohort study of HRQOL after radical prostatectomy for early-stage prostate cancer were asked to assess their baseline HRQOL before surgery. They were later asked to recall their baseline HRQOL at intervals of 7 to 37 months after surgery. The two views of baseline HRQOL (actual and recall) were compared. HRQOL was measured with established instruments (the RAND 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey and a validated short form of the University of California Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index) that addressed impairment in the physical, mental, urinary, bowel, and sexual domains.

RESULTS
Overall, recall was poor. Patients tended to remember their baseline HRQOL as being better than it actually was. This effect was particularly striking for urinary and sexual function. Greater education and younger age diminished this effect in some domains. The effect did not vary with time since surgery.

CONCLUSION
Men undergoing radical prostatectomy for early-stage prostate cancer do not accurately recall their pretreatment HRQOL when asked several months or years later. This recall bias is constant throughout a period of 6 months to 3 years after surgery. By collecting data before treatment and observing subjects longitudinally, investigators can ensure that HRQOL changes are analyzed in the context of any impairment that may have been present at baseline. If a longitudinal study is not feasible, then great caution must be used if patients are asked to recall their pretreatment HRQOL.


Diffusion of nanosized liquid Pb inclusions attached to dislocations in thin aluminum foils was investigated in a wide temperature range using in-situ transmission electron microscopy. Trajectories of motion of the inclusions along the dislocations were used to determine their diffusion coefficients. The temperature and size dependences of diffusion coefficients of the inclusions were obtained. They indicate that (i) studied inclusions hold {111} facets on their surface in the studied temperature range; (ii) the mobility of the inclusions is controlled by step nucleation at the {111} facets.


This paper examines the question of auditory detection of the movements of silent objects in noisy environments. The approach to studying and exploring this phenomenon is primarily based on the framework of the ecology of perception defined by James Gibson (Gibson, 1979) in the sense that it focuses on the direct auditory perception of events, or "structured energy that specifies properties of the environment" (Michaels & Carello, 1981 P. 157). The goal of this study is triple: -Theoretical; for various reasons, this kind of acoustic situations has not been extensively studied by traditional acoustics and psychoacoustics, therefore, this project demonstrates and supports the pertinence of the Ecology of Perception for the description and explanation of such complex phenomena. -Practical; like echolocation, perception of acoustic shadows can be improved by practice, this project intends to contribute to the acknowledgment of this way of listening and to help individuals placed in noisy environments without the support of vision acquiring a detailed detection of the movements occurring in these environments. -Artistic; this project explores a new artistic expression based on the creation and exploration of complex multisensory environments. Acoustic Shadows, a multimedia interactive composition is being developed on the premises of the ecological approach to perception. The last dimension of this project is meant to be a contribution to the sonic representation of space in films and in computer generated virtual environments by producing simulations of acoustic shadows.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Physiotherapy "standard care" for the acute post lung transplant recipient has not yet been documented. We aimed to analyse how soon patients commence exercise and how much time is dedicated to this during physiotherapy sessions acutely post lung transplantation.

METHODS
Prospective observational study of bilateral sequential and single lung transplant recipients for any indication, ≥18 years. Participants were observed during 6 physiotherapy sessions: 3 initial and 3 prior to acute inpatient discharge. Duration and content of each session was recorded, consisting of physical exercise and non-exercise tasks.

RESULTS
Thirty participants, 20 male, median age 58.5 (interquartile range 54.5-65.0) were observed over 173 sessions. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was the most common transplant indication (n = 12, 40%). Bilateral lung transplant was performed in 90% (n = 27) of participants. First time to mobilise was 2 (2-3) days. Participants received 14 (12.8-23.8) sessions over 18 (17-31) days. The mean duration of physiotherapy in the initial phase was 107.8 (standard deviation 21.8) min, with 22.9 (7.5) min spent exercising. In the final phase, exercise time increased to 28.1 (11.4) min out of 84.1 (24.6) min. Assessment was the most common non-exercise component, at 26.6 (7.9) and 22.1 (12.5) min across the three initial and final sessions.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY PRACTICE
Lung transplant recipients spent 21-34% of observed sessions performing physical exercise beginning 48 hr following surgery. Remaining physiotherapist time was spent on assessment, respiratory interventions, education, and patient-specific duties. The use of physiotherapy assistants, structured, progressive exercise programs, and continued workplace innovation may enable a higher percentage of physiotherapist supervised physical exercise in the future.


This dissertation contributes to current discussions in public health policy regarding the scale and the management of the excess alcohol consumption problem and the evaluation of possible policy interventions. The dissertation provides a comprehensive assessment of relevant literature and an analysis of the societal costs of alcohol misuse and the avoidable and unavoidable costs of alcohol-related liver cirrhosis for County Durham and Darlington and for England.
The costs of alcohol misuse for County Durham and Darlington and for England are estimated at £207.52 million and £17.79 billion respectively. In County Durham and Darlington, the estimated discounted costs of alcohol-attributable liver cirrhosis, over a ten year period are £5.07 million for males and £2.19 million for females, however, potentially 65% and 71% of these costs can be
avoided, for males and females respectively. In England the estimated total discounted costs of alcohol-attributable liver cirrhosis, over a 10 year period are £455.46 million for males and £232.51 million for females, however, it is estimated that, potentially, 64% and 69% of these costs can be avoided, for males and females respectively.
Discussions in this dissertation indicate that alcohol-related harm will increase. It is, therefore, ever more important to ensure the most economically efficient policy interventions are implemented. To do this, policy must be based on the best available evidence and data, to which this dissertation contributes significantly. It is recommended that the findings in this dissertation be applied to evaluations of alcohol-related interventions to facilitate prioritisation, appraisal and ongoing improvement within the public sector.


A Josephson transmission line closed to form a ring was used to measure the time jitter produced by a single shunted Josephson junction. A toggle flip-flop cell was connected to a sampling oscilloscope, and was used to detect the flux quantum arrival time. Time jitter was determined from the variation of this time. The jitter was measured as a function of the number of cycles the flux quantum made in the ring. The reduced jitter produced by a single junction of 0.2 ps/spl radic/n (n-number of junctions passed by the quantum) was measured using Hypres 1 kA/cm/sup 2/ chip fabrication technology. It was found that jitter varies the distance between the quanta with the same rate of 0.2 ps/spl radic/n.


This study estimates the effects on poverty resulting from maize price changes associated with the operations of the maize marketing board in Kenya. We consider both supply and demand responses and the accompanying adjustments in rural labor markets in estimating a second order approximation to equilibrium income changes. We then use stochastic dominance techniques to generate poverty rankings between the distribution of income with the effects of the government marketing operations and the distribution of counterfactual incomes. This approach effectively addresses concerns regarding the sensitivity of poverty estimates to the type of poverty measure used. Results indicate that the price-elevating effects of government maize marketing operations have exacerbated rural poverty in all regions of the country except the region from which the largest part of surplus maize originates.


Abstract. A model has been developed in order to estimate insurance-related losses caused by coastal flooding in France. The deterministic part of the model aims at identifying the potentially flood-impacted sectors and the subsequent insured losses a few days after the occurrence of a storm surge event on any part of the French coast. This deterministic component is a combination of three models: a hazard model, a vulnerability model, and a damage model. The first model uses the PREVIMER system to estimate the water level resulting from the simultaneous occurrence of a high tide and a surge caused by a meteorological event along the coast. A storage-cell flood model propagates these water levels over the land and thus determines the probable inundated areas. The vulnerability model, for its part, is derived from the insurance schedules and claims database, combining information such as risk type, class of business, and insured values. The outcome of the vulnerability and hazard models are then combined with the damage model to estimate the event damage and potential insured losses. This system shows satisfactory results in the estimation of the magnitude of the known losses related to the flood caused by the Xynthia storm. However, it also appears very sensitive to the water height estimated during the flood period, conditioned by the junction between seawater levels and coastal topography, the accuracy for which is still limited by the amount of information in the system.


The genetic make-up of fish stocks is an important factor in aquaculture production. Choice-based conjoint analysis is used to determine importance of genetic improvements to grow-out producers and an estimated willingness-to-pay for selected attributes. Results from a national survey of aquaculture producers, reveal growth rate as the most important attribute.


Nowadays, many universities started to focus on building an entrepreneurial spirit on their students. This happens as a positive response to the many changes and economic demands for Indonesia, especially Indonesia's active participation in Asean Economy Society. However, what's interesting is whether or not their approach has been effective and accurate enough, and whether or not it's built into the student's learning process in order to build their entrepreneurial spirit so that they'll decide to become an entrepreneur. The learning process design that takes into account the personal and environmental factor can produce the character and skill of an entrepreneur. This research wants to observe whether or not need for achievement, self efficancy dan instrumental readinesscan really affect theentrepreneurial intentionof a student. Hopefully, by knowing how influential it is, the entrepreneurship learning of Universitas Ciputra can be developed in a sustainable way to develop their entrepreneurial intention. This research is done with a quantitative approach by using questionnaires as the research instrument and IBM students from Universitas Ciputra as the research sample. The data gathering methods uses purposive sampling with the criteria that the student has studied in Universitas Ciputra for at least one semester. The result is that need for achievement, self efficancy dan instrumental readinesstogether have an influence on the entrepreneurial intentionof a student. It is important for a student to have a learning pattern that is oriented to awards, as well as self efficancy development and ease to information network to become an entrepreneur.


Objectives: Until now, arthroscopic surgery has been the gold standard for the diagnosis of intra-articular pathology. When a patient presents with ongoing pain and/or disability despite non-operative care, MRI is commonly used as a diagnostic modality. To date, there is not a minimally-invasive option that can provide detailed information about the intra-articular pathology of a joint. VisionScope Imaging (VSI) is an office-based diagnostic modality that provides comprehensive real-time images and video of a joint with higher accuracy and reliability compared to static MR images. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy, accuracy and safety of VSI compared to MRI and surgical diagnostic arthroscopy. Methods: A prospective, blinded, multi-centered study was performed of all patients who had a routine surgical arthroscopy at one of the six participating clinical sites between July 2012 and May 2013. Patients were consented by the physician investigator at each site. Study inclusion criteria consisted of: suspected meniscal tears or articular cartilage damage. Patients were excluded from the study if they had (1) acute traumatic hemarthoses, (2) concomitant ligament injury, (3) active systemic infection, (4) allergy to silicone or any medication used during the procedure,. All patients had a MRI and a comprehensive physical exam prior to their surgical arthroscopy. Each patient underwent a MRI, VSI exam and surgical diagnostic arthroscopy. The attending physician completed standard forms comparing the VSI exam findings to the diagnostic arthroscopy findings on each patient. Two blinded experts unaffiliated with the study reviewed the VSI and MRI images. The arthroscopy served as the "control" comparison between the VSI and MRI findings. Results: There were 110 patients included in this study. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of VSI was equivalent to surgical diagnostic arthroscopy and more accurate than MRI (Table 1). When comparing VSI to Arthroscopy, all of the Kappa statistics were above 0.766, and went as high as 0.902. For MRI compared to Arthroscopy, Kappa values ranged from a high of 0.535 to 0.130. Comparing VSI to MRI showed very similar results as Arthroscopy to MRI, with a highest Kappa of 0.546 and a lowest Kappa of 0.112. Our Kappa statistics would indicate substantial or near perfect agreement. Therefore, looking across all locations, there is a clear pattern that VSI and Arthroscopy are consistently in very close agreement, while MRI did not agree with either modality. Conclusion: VSI is statistically equivalent to diagnostic surgical arthroscopy with regard to the diagnosis of intra-articular knee joint pathology. When compared to MRI, a VSI exam can provide a more detailed and accurate diagnostic assessment of intra-articular knee pathology. Based on these study results, VSI is more accurate than MRI and statistically equivalent to diagnostic arthroscopy in detecting meniscal and chondral defects in the knee, therefore, providing an option for an in-office exam that can accurately diagnose intra articular pathologies in real-time without the use of anesthesia or fluid.


BACKGROUND
"Outdoor school" is a method, which moves the teaching out into the open. There has been little research into the relationship between outdoor school, physical activity and improved fitness.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
We have compared the level of activity (measured as heart rate) in a class of sixth-grade pupils during an ordinary school day and a day outdoors. The pupils' heart rates were measured during the entire school day.

RESULTS
The average heart rate for the pupils was 104 beats/minute during an ordinary school day and 136 beats/minute during a day outdoors. The average percentage of time with a heart rate >or= 160 beats/minute was 5 % for an ordinary school day and 18 % for a day outdoors (p < 0.001).

INTERPRETATION
Outdoor school can result in a significant increase in physical activity compared to the level on ordinary school days. Thus, the organisation of outdoor school days may have a positive effect on pupils' aerobic capacity, which is an important factor in physical fitness.


More than one out of ten people of Mexican descent has diabetes, which is twice the rate of the general population. People of Latino descent score less on health eating questionnaires and report less physical activity per week than people of non-Hispanic descent. Poor nutrition and exercise habits can contribute to elevated blood glucose and undesirable lipid profiles, leading to increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The Mexican Consulate of St. Paul offers a course for recent Latino immigrants to encourage healthy diet and lifestyle behaviors to lower the risk of developing diabetes. Purpose: To assess if nutrition education and pedometer use improve weight, body composition, blood glucose, and lipid profile in recent Latino immigrants to lower risk for type 2 diabetes. Methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University and informed consents were signed in Spanish. Fourteen Latino immigrants (n = three males, eleven females) agreed to participate and nine completed the study (n= one male, eight females). Participants were recruited from a class called, "I CAN prevent diabetes." A survey designed to measure diabetes knowledge, nutrition habits, and activity levels was given to class participants on the first and the last day of the class. Study participants received pedometers to track their activity levels and participated in nutrition education once a week for six weeks. Fasting blood glucose level, lipid profile, and weight were measured for each individual before and after the study to determine the effect of pedometer use and nutrition education. Paired t-tests and a one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results: Nutrition education and pedometer use resulted in significant improvements in fasting blood glucose levels (p = 0.03). Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol improved marginally, but not significantly (p = 0.192 and 0.065, respectively). HDL cholesterol decreased over the course of the study (p = 0.001). Activity levels increased gradually the first three weeks then declined the fourth and final week. Weight decreased marginally but not significantly (p = 0.60). In the post study survey regarding diet, 66% participants reported decreasing their serving size, 55% reported increasing vegetable intake, 66% reported eating fewer tortillas, 55% reported drinking more water, and 44% reported eating less sweets and desserts. Conclusions: Nutrition education and pedometer use is effective at improving dietary and activity habits in the selected Latino population. Contact with participants was limited and behavior change takes time. Positive results were shown, but a longer period and a greater number of participants would be necessary to obtain statistically significant results and sustained habits.


We propose a design and optimization for directional coupling in terahertz hybrid-cladding hollow waveguide. It is composed of two square hollow waveguides which touch each other and are surrounded by a metallic layer. By employing the finite element method, the coupling performance and loss property are numerically investigated. Numerical results indicate that this directional coupler with hybrid-cladding can realize ultra-narrow-band coupling; it provides a low confinement loss performance: the confinement loss can reach as low as 6.27 × 10−5 cm−1. Moreover, the further analyses of configuration and performance show that confinement loss and frequency range shift for the low-confinement-loss frequency regime can be realized and optimized by appropriately tuning the thickness values of the metallic and dielectric layer. In addition, through the further analysis of coupling performance, the possibilities of realizing ultra-narrow-band couplings in different frequency ranges are demonstrated. It is a powerful candidate for high precision optical fiber sensing, and communication in terahertz splitting fields.


The electrochemical oxidation of 1.0 M CH3OH in 0.1 M H2SO4 over different types of platinum-ruthenium (PtRu) materials was investigated. Focus was on the determination of formaldehyde (H2CO) produced as a function of Ru content in arc-melted bulk alloys and nanometer-scale catalyst materials. A sensitive fluorescence assay for formaldehyde, which had a detection limit down to 100 nM H2CO, was employed. The reaction potentials, reported in volts versus the reversible hydrogen electrode reference (VRHE), were in the range of 0.5 VRHE to 0.8 VRHE. The lower potentials approach voltages that have technological relevance to fuel cells. Electrolysis was performed on 50 ƒÝL samples for a period of 180 s. Based on the coulometry, the reactant depletion in the cell is below 1%.

In experiments with bulk PtRu alloys, three samples with respective Ru mole fraction (XRu) of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.9 were employed. Reactions were also carried out on bulk polycrystalline Pt for reference. Compared to Pt, the H2CO yields were lower for the oxidation of methanol over PtRu. Among the PtRu alloys, the H2CO yields decreased with increasing XRu, except at the lowest potential studied (0.5 VRHE), where the formaldehyde yield was lowest for the sample with XRu = 0.3. The finding is consistent with XRu = 0.3 being the most active PtRu composition for methanol electrochemical oxidation at ambient temperature. The results are attributed to lower reactivity of methanol on the electrode with XRu = 0.9 at 0.5 VRHE due to due to blocking of initial dissociative chemisorption steps by inhibiting oxides present at Ru sites.

Compared to bulk electrodes, methanol oxidation over nanometer-scale catalyst resulted in H2CO yields below 10 % under the conditions studied. The following catalyst materials were used on gold electrode: Pt-Black, C/Pt, 10 wt % on Vulcan XC-72R carbon, PtRu black with XRu = 0.5, PtRu catalyst prepared via a sonochemical (SC) method with XRu = 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5. High current densities were achieved during sample electrolysis. The results indicate the nanometer-scale catalyst converts methanol to more complete oxidation products. The findings are consistent with earlier studies and are attributed to readsorption and complete oxidation of H2CO within multiple catalyst layers, leading to lower H2CO yields. Similar to results for smooth, bulk electrodes, the H2CO yield was significantly higher for methanol oxidation over the lowest Ru content nanometer-scale catalyst (XRu= 0.1) and approached the response for Pt black.

This project also advanced the design of the small volume electrolysis cell employed for the thesis research by incorporating a machinable MACOR glass ceramic disk window, which resists oxygen permeation. The cell response was characterized by observing the reversible, diffusion controlled waves for hexamine ruthenium trichloride (Ru (NH3)6Cl3) in cyclic voltammetry measurements.


In the caption of the cover photograph for 25 May 1973, the word "below" is misplaced; it should be deleted from the first sentence, and the second sentence should read: "(Below) Same view taken through a cylindrical lens . . ." Two errors occurred in the report by Freeman and Thibos in the same issue, p. 876: in column 2, line 4, "Freeman and co-workers" should be changed to "Freeman et al." in column 3, line 44, "the visual resolution" should be changed to "visual resolution"—Ed.


We consider unidirectional wave propagation in a nonlocally and nonlinearly elastic medium whose constitutive equation is given by a convolution integral with a suitable kernel function. We first give a brief review of asymptotic wave models describing the unidirectional propagation of small-but-finite amplitude long waves. When the kernel function is the well-known exponential kernel, the asymptotic description is provided by the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation, the Benjamin-Bona-Mahony (BBM) equation, or the Camassa-Holm (CH) equation. When the Fourier transform of the kernel function has fractional powers, it turns out that fractional forms of these equations describe unidirectional propagation of the waves. We then compare the exact solutions of the KdV equation and the BBM equation with the numerical solutions of the nonlocal model. We observe that the solution of the nonlocal model is well approximated by associated solutions of the KdV equation and the BBM equation over the time interval considered.


Abstract Fernandez-Gamboa, I, Yanci, J, Granados, C, and Camara, J. Comparison of anthropometry and lower limb power qualities according to different levels and ranking position of competitive surfers. J Strength Cond Res 31(8): 2231–2237, 2017—The aim of this study was to compare competitive surfers' lower limb power output depending on their competitive level, and to evaluate the association between competition rankings. Twenty competitive surfers were divided according to the competitive level as follows: international (INT) or national (NAT), and competitive ranking (RANK1–50 or RANK51–100). Vertical jump and maximal peak power of the lower limbs were measured. No differences were found between INT and NAT surfers in the anthropometric variables, in the vertical jump, or in lower extremity power; although the NAT group had higher levels on the elasticity index, squat jumps (SJs), and counter movement jumps (CMJs) compared with the INT group. The RANK1–50 group had a lower biceps skinfold (p < 0.01), lower skinfolds in the legs (Front thigh: p ⩽ 0.05; medial calf: p < 0.01), lower sum of skinfolds (p ⩽ 0.05), higher SJ (p < 0.01), CMJ (p < 0.01), and 15 seconds vertical CMJ (p ⩽ 0.05); also, maximal peak power of the right leg (MPPR) and left leg (MPPL) were higher in the RANK1–50 group. Moderate to large significant correlations were obtained between the surfers' ranking position and some skinfolds, the sum of skinfolds, and vertical jump. Results demonstrate that surfers' physical performance seems to be an accurate indicator of ranking positioning, also revealing that vertical jump capacity and anthropometric variables play an important role in their competitive performance, which may be important when considering their power training.


A new application of coherent manipulation of EIT (electromagnetically induced transparency) medium is suggested. A two-dimensional photonic cystal with a triangle lattice of elliptic air cylinders, which are filled with the EIT atomic vapor, in the KAs backgroud material is designed. By manipulating the refractive index of the EIT vapor via the external control field, one can obtain the controllable bandgap structure that is sensitive to the variations of external conditions (e.g. the intensity of the control field). It is shown that a large complete bandgap of about 0.0503 ω e in the region of high normalized frequency could be achieved by choosing the specific parameters such as the spontaneous decay rate, dephasing rate, Rabi frequency of control light, atomic number density as well as elliptic geometric parameters.


The right to inheritance is one of the basic human rights. This right in Kosovo is regulated by the Law on Inheritance. This law represents a modern law harmonized with the highest international standards in this field. It regulates substantially, all the matters related to inheritance. The Law on Inheritance in Kosovo through its solutions ensures full equality of women with men to inheritance. Regardless of this, practical realities of life prove a completely different situation. Consequently, women participation to inheritance is estimated to be very limited. The reasons for this situation are numerous and of different natures. In fact, these reasons significantly are the reflection of still strong influence of the Albanian customary law in people's consciousness. This is the law that constantly treated women as a second hand subject. In this scientific paper is made a modest attempt to brief a short historical of women participation to inheritance issue in Kosovo, to continue with the legal aspect treatment and practical situation of women participation to inheritance manifestation in Kosovo during the period of time 2008-2012.


This Article explores the normative foundations of the rules governing mutual mistake, impossibility, impracticability, and frustration and studies their doctrinal implications. These familiar doctrines, which make contracts voidable or excusable whenever they are grounded on a shared basic assumption that failed, puzzle commentators and courts. We claim that the key to properly understanding their role and interpret their doctrinal elements lies in appreciating the core principles of a genuinely liberal – that is: autonomy-enhancing – contract law. The rules that delineate the scope of these doctrines are guided by liberal contract's commitment to ensure that promisors' future selves are not unacceptably encumbered. The rules that regulate these doctrines, in turn, follow liberal contract's principles of proactive facilitation and relational justice. Together, these rules exemplify both the power of the liberal foundation of modern contract law and the subtlety of its doctrinal workings.


Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase is an enzyme that functions in the signaling pathways downstream from multiple cell surface receptors. The p85 regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase binds to phosphotyrosine residues of various phosphoproteins including the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor, the insulin receptor, and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). Using NIH-3T3 cells overexpressing the human insulin receptor, we demonstrate that the p85 regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase binds to phosphorylated PDGF receptor in cells incubated in the absence of insulin. When insulin is added, p85 is released from phosphorylated PDGF receptors and binds to phosphorylated insulin receptors and insulin receptor substrate-1. Moreover, insulin-induced dissociation of PDGF receptors from binding sites on PI 3-kinase requires a functional insulin receptor and is not prevented by vanadate treatment. In contrast, insulin activation does not displace PDGF receptors from binding sites on Ras GTPase-activating protein. This competition for binding to PI 3-kinase provides a mechanism for cross-talk among signaling pathways initiated by distinct peptide hormones and growth factors such as insulin and PDGF.


An attempt to evaluate an estimation accuracy of small angular fluctuations of linear precision movements is made. Two methods are compared, - statistical, when the value of these angular errors is defined by the results of several realisations of their average values approximating parametrical functions, and an active method, when these errors are estimated under indications of laser interferome-ter. The techniques of realisation of both methods are de-scribed, the stand of researches is described and results of researches are given.More exact is the active method for less stable tra-jectory of linear movement and small measured displace-ment. The statistical method is more exact under condition of stable trajectory of linear motion and the large measured distances. In the conditions of the resulted researches the distance margin is 1.5 m. Besides, from the economic point of view the statistical method is preferable.


Regardless of age, people are living their lives through social networks with Facebook leading the way: how much can one know about someone else's life using Facebook pages, that is, one's daily activities, thoughts and ideas, through the activity of sharing content and status updates? The main objective of this exploratory study is to find mass mingling trends among a sample of Portuguese adult Facebook users (N=18) and further, to find how much can one know about one's life using this social network, to conclude that despite stereotypes of online creating isolation, people are living large parts of their lives online through social networks using also mobile Internet access to socialize or simply stay in touch.


The industrial revolution 4.0 has encouraged a digital technology companies called startup. PT Insan Agritama Teknologi (Inagri) is one of startup in Bandung City that is engaged in agriculture as a supplier of food ingredients. Inventory of goods in Inagri is currently fulfilled from five partner farmers. At present, Inagri has collaborated with several Horeca (hotel, restaurant, café) and modern retailers to distribute agricultural products. However, for approximately 2.5 years, Inagri has not yet found a standard procedure for inventory control. Sometimes Inagri could not fulfill the demand because there was an out of stock of goods. Therefore required to control supplies. The purpose of this study was to identify the process of controlling inventory in Inagri and analyzed the classification of inventory in Inagri based on ABC analysis. This study used the ABC analysis method. The results showed that the classification of goods inventory in Inagri based on ABC analysis, group A amounted 16 commodities, this amount represented 21% of total items (76 commodities). Group B amounted 17 commodities or 22% of total commodity and group C had 43 items or 57% of total commodities sold by Inagri. ABC analysis is one of the solutions for making goods stock procurement decisions in future period.


Riparian plant communities are shaped by gradients of disturbance intensity and frequency and resource availability. Reservoir operation can alter the composition and abundance of riparian vegetation by changing the flood regime and by trapping fine sediments and associated nutrients within the reservoir system. We examined differences in herbaceous species richness, abundance and composition in Populus‐Salix stands along an unregulated and regulated reach of a river in semi‐arid Arizona, contrasted flood inundation frequency and edaphic conditions (soil moisture, nutrients and texture) between the reaches, and interpreted the vegetation differences in light of observed differences in environmental conditions. Flooding frequency was similar between reaches, but the proportion of fine textured soils in the unregulated reach was nearly double that of the regulated reach and soil nutrient levels were up to three times higher in the unregulated reach. Herbaceous cover and richness were consistently lower in the regulated reach, with between‐reach differences greatest during dry seasons. These patterns suggest that an edaphic‐based change in resource availability is the principal pathway by which river damming is altering herbaceous vegetation in this system. Our results demonstrate that sediment transport within riparian corridors is important for maintenance of herbaceous communities and that restoration of flow regimes alone may be insufficient to restore herbaceous flora on some regulated reaches. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


MORE Microsoft Office For Windows 95 For Dummies is a handy, easy-to-understand reference that helps you discover the more advanced and powerful features of Microsoft Office for Windows 95. You'll get all the information you need, whether you're a beginner or a more experienced Office user, including explanations for customizing Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Schedule+ and Access. Inside, find even MORE friendly advice about Microsoft Office for Windows 95: Customize every program in Microsoft Office for Windows 95 by creating your own toolbar shortcuts and pull-down menus Make your programs run automatically with macros and Visual Basic Use the Internet Assistants to display presentations, data, documents, and tables on the World Wide Web Share your files with others effortlessly Make a table of contents and index easily with Microsoft Word Test and verify your Excel calculations for accuracy Create dazzling PowerPoint presentations that you can share with others Automate your favorite tasks and commands -- fast and easy! Use Schedule+ to effectively manage your time and plan long-range goals Discover online resources you can use to find even MORE information about Microsoft Office for Windows 95


Habitable Trinity is a new concept for a habitable environment proposed by Dohm and Maruyama (2015). This concept indicates that the coexistence of an atmosphere, an ocean, and a landmass, accompanied by a continuous circulation of material among these three components driven by the Sun, is one of the minimum requirements for life to emerge and evolve. Because a life body consists of carbon (mainly from the atmosphere), oxygen (mainly from an ocean), hydrogen (mainly from an ocean), nitrogen (mainly from the atmosphere), and various nutrients (supplied from a landmass), the presence of water alone is not a sufficient condition. The Habitable Trinity concept can also be applied to other planets such as Mars, Europa, and Titan, and even exoplanets, as a useful index in the quest for life-containing planetary bodies.


Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) reinforced alumina composites with different MWNT contents (5 and 10 vol %) were fabricated by spark plasma sintering. The room temperature dc electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical properties were investigated. Results showed that the electrical conductivity has improved around twelve orders of magnitude by addition of 5 vol% of MWNT. The fracture toughness changed from 3.2 to 4.4 MPa m1/2 with 39% improvement over monolithic Al2O3. The thermal conductivity decreased with increase of MWNT contents. The low values of thermal conductivity suggest that interfacial thermal barrier play an important role in determining these properties. MWNT can be used to improve concurrently electrical, mechanical properties of Al2O3 but with lower values of thermal properties.


Water network play an important role in the natural and human environment, green network is basis for achieving ecology; town is main focus of environment which is hot research issue. Systematic layout of the water network, green and urban space is core contents for ecology planning in water networks. The article research ecology through water networks and green, therefore, distribution problem such as water, green land and construction land could be solved properly; we can achieve comprehensive development on the premise of ecological function, thus, human and natural's networks and ecological combination can be achieved at the same time.


In quiescent H-mode (QH-mode) regime, edge harmonic oscillations (EHOs) are believed to provide necessary radial transport to prevent occurrence of large edge localized modes. A systematic modeling study is performed here on the low-n EHOs in a DIII-D QH-mode plasma (Chen et al 2016 Nucl. Fusion 56 076011), by utilizing the MARS-Q code (Liu et al 2013 Phys. Plasmas 20 042503). Both the n = 1 and n = 2 instabilities are found to be strongly localized near the plasma edge, exhibiting the edge-peeling characteristics. The DIII-D resistive wall is found to have minor effects on these instabilities. The plasma resistivity is found to strongly modify the mode growth rate. Assuming the Spitzer model for the plasma resistivity, the computed mode growth rate scales as S −1/3 with S being the Lundquist number. Toroidal flow of the plasma slightly stabilizes these edge localized kink-peeling modes. Drift kinetic effects all have a destabilization effect on these modes. Non-perturbative magneto-hydrodynamic-kinetic hybrid computations find that the drift kinetic effects associated with thermal particle species push the peak location of the eigenmode radially inward but still in the pedestal region. The modeled plasma temperature and density fluctuations in the plasma edge region, as well as the poloidal magnetic field perturbations along both the low and high field sides of the plasma surface, are in good agreement with experimental measurements. Finally, the quasi-linear initial value simulations find a strong non-linear interplay between the kink-peeling instability and the toroidal flow near the plasma edge. The combined effect of the damping of the flow amplitude and change of the edge flow shear is found to be the stabilizing factor for the kink-peeling mode, leading to the mode saturation and thus EHOs.


SETTING
The Groupe Haitien d'Etude du Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infections Opportunistes (the GHESKIO AIDS and TB Center) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

OBJECTIVE
To measure the effectiveness of the standard TB retreatment regimen (2HRZES/1HRZE/5HRE) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected adults.

DESIGN
Cohort study.

RESULTS
Of 1318 HIV-infected patients with access to antiretroviral therapy following World Health Organization guidelines, 56 were diagnosed with recurrent pulmonary TB and retreated with the standard retreatment regimen: 10 patients (18%) died during retreatment, 3 (5%) defaulted, and 2 (4%) failed treatment. Forty-one patients (73%) achieved retreatment 'success' (cure, treatment completed). Of these, 8 (20%) died during follow-up, 5 (12%) were lost, and 5 (12%) had a second recurrence of TB. Only 26 (46%) of the 56 patients remained alive, in care, and TB-free after a median of 36 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION
HIV-infected patients treated for recurrent TB with the standard retreatment regimen have high mortality and poor long-term outcomes.


The barrier discharge in the coplanar arrangement operating in a single-filament mode was studied spectroscopically. The evolution of the discharge luminosity was measured by the technique of cross-correlation spectroscopy. The 1D-spatially and temporally resolved luminosities of the first negative (at 391.5 nm) and the second positive (at 337.1 nm) system of molecular nitrogen were recorded using the above-mentioned technique. A cathode-directed ionizing wave (IW) was clearly seen on the plot for radiation intensity at 337.1 nm. In addition to this, also observed was a wave of the enhanced electric field propagating over the anode. In this paper, the propagation of these waves is described and their velocities are determined. The discharge evolution is divided into three phases—the Townsend phase, the phase of the IWs propagation and the extinction phase. Since the above-mentioned luminosity distributions could be interpreted approximately as the electric field (for 391.5 nm) and the electron density (for 337.1 nm) distribution, the qualitative description of the discharge is made accordingly. All these parameters are compared with similar measurements of the volume discharge. Apart from this, an attempt to determine the reduced electric field is made according to the kinetic model.


Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has only recently been applied in a variety of spinal procedures. Between November 1, 1995 and May 31, 1996, we used a new approach, the so-called "extended manipulating channel method", to treat 23 patients with anterior spinal abnormalities. The size of the thoracoscopic portals was made larger than usual, and placed more posteriorly so as to allow thoracoscopy and conventional spinal instruments to enter the chest cavity freely and to be manipulated similarly to techniques used in standard open surgical procedures. The total blood loss ranged from 100 to 3000 ml (average 1050 ml) and the total duration of surgery was 1 to 7.2 hours (average 3.7 hours). There was no injury to the internal organs, great vessels or the spinal cord intraoperatively. On the basis of these results, we believe that a combination of the use of thoracoscopy and conventional spinal instruments, as presented in this report, can be an ideal method for performing VATS spinal procedures. This type of approach makes endoscopic spinal surgery simpler to perform. Most complications in our patients were minor. This procedure is contraindicated for patients with severe pleurodesis or intolerance to intraoperative one-lung ventilation.


The fundamental challenge facing social engineers is to project authority. State building is a process that establishes political order over time. As a top-down strategy, it emerges as an antidote to state collapse. The success of a state is in its capacity not only to provide national security while controlling the means of violence, but also to supply other public goods funded through direct taxes on citizens, who are supposed to make their rulers accountable. The absence of such state capacity perhaps explains the unending political crisis that plagues many post-colonial states, because they tend to control populations rather than territories. Although some efforts have been made toward state building, the state remains fragile in many post-colonial states. Territorial control is limited, and private taxation continues. Local tensions based on ethnic affinities rather than national allegiance remains intense. The analysis of Congo-Kinshasa illustrates these assertions by contrasting three successive periods: the Congo Free State (1885–1908), the Belgian Congo (1908–1959), and the post-colonial period (1960–2019). Of these three periods, only the second entity was able to professionalize the military for state-building purposes. The emphasis on this top down approach in state building overlooks other configurations that postcolonial state builders should contemplate. Societies have historically compensated for the failure or absence of statehood through a number of mechanisms that include, among others, councils of elders and secret societies that may not be difficult to reconcile with the demands of the modern state. The search for this bottom-up approach to state building perhaps explains so many internal conflicts in most post-colonial states as marginalized groups intend to insert themselves into the political system that has excluded them from power.


The colourful simplicial depth conjecture states that any point in the convex hull of each of d+1 sets, or colours, of d+1 points in general position in R^d is contained in at least d^2+1 simplices with one vertex from each set. We verify the conjecture in dimension 4 and strengthen the known lower bounds in higher dimensions. These results are obtained using a combinatorial generalization of colourful point configurations called octahedral systems. We present properties of octahedral systems generalizing earlier results on colourful point configurations and exhibit an octahedral system which can not arise from a colourful point configuration. The number of octahedral systems is also given.


Skipjack tuna is an important species targeting by pole and line fishery in Bone Bay. The distribution and abundance of this species tended to aggregate to the preferred biophysical environments. To describe the short term relationship between skipjack tuna and oceanographic conditions and to visualize the predicted high catch areas, remotely sensed satellite based-oceanographic sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a together fisheries data were used. Results indicated that the highest skipjack CPUEs were mainly found in coastal areas of Palopo and Kolaka both in 2007 and in 2009 during the period of study. The high tuna concentrations corresponded well with chlorophyll-a of 0.15-0.40 mg mg -3 and SST of 29.0-31.5 °C. The preferred ranges provide a good indicator for initially detecting potential skipjack fishing grounds. This study suggested that thermal and chlorophyll fronts as well as upwelling may important mechanisms in explaining the temporal and spatial dynamics of skipjack tuna distribution and abundance in Bone Bay.


America is thought to be an exceptional political system, and, in many of its particulars, it certainly differs from the institutional arrangements found in most of the world's democracies. Its separation-of-powers regime is thought to have spawned, in recent decades, the phenomenon of divided government in which partisan control of political institutions is divided between the major parties. By implication, it is suggested that this robust regularity in which Democrats control the legislature and Republicans the executive is a consequence of its institutional arrangements and, therefore, distinguishes America from its parliamentary counterparts elsewhere. In this article, the authors suggest that parliamentary regimes, too, experience divided government. Specifically, minority governments, in which the executive is controlled by parties that, between them, control less than a legislative majority, is the closest analogue to divided government in America. In each case, the executive needs to seek support in the legislature beyond its own partisan base. Thus, divided government per se does not distinguish parliamentary and separation-of-powers regimes. What does, however, are the constitutional roots of this phenomenon: divided governments are negotiated in parliamentary regimes whereas they are mandated electorally in separation-of-powers regimes.


Here and there in our routine work, we have encountered cases of hernia in which the roentgen-ray examinations have been very interesting, and at times life saving. Some of these experiences have occurred with ordinary inguinal and postoperative ventral hernia and others with umbilical hernia; but the most striking have been found with diaphragmatic and intra-abdominal herniations. Relatively few of the cases have been studied definitely on account of the hernia; indeed, in many, especially in the small diaphragmatic and retroperitoneal hernias, there has been little in the clinical history or physical examination to suggest the existence of such an abnormality. It is also true that when these cases were worked out, it became evident that there was a definite relation between the hernia and the symptoms, which at first seemed so slightly related. The fact that these types of hernia are very rare should not discourage their study with


Since 2009, the peritoneal dialysis (PD) registry has been carried out as part of the annual nationwide survey conducted by the Statistical Survey Committee of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy with the cooperation of the Japanese Society for Peritoneal Dialysis. In this study, the current status of PD patients is reported on the basis of the results of the survey conducted at the end of 2013. The subjects were PD patients who lived in Japan and participated in the 2013 survey. Descriptive analysis was performed for various items including the current status of the combined use of PD and another dialysis method such as hemodialysis (HD) or hemodiafiltration (HDF), the method of exchanging dialysate, the use of an automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) machine, and the incidences of peritonitis and catheter exit‐site infection. From the results of the facility survey in 2013, the number of PD patients was 9392, a decrease of 122 from that in 2012. Among the entire dialysis patient population, 3.0% were PD patients, a decrease of 0.1%. Among the studied patients, 292 had a peritoneal catheter and underwent peritoneal lavage, 174 were started on PD in 2013 but introduced to other blood purification methods in 2013, and 1920 underwent both PD and another dialysis method such as HD or HDF. The percentage of patients who underwent PD and another dialysis method increased with the number of years on PD: <1 year, 3.5%; 1 to < 2 years, 8.4%; 2 to < 4 years, 15.3%; 4 to < 6 years, 27.1%; 6 to < 8 years, 39.3%; 8 to < 10 years, 47.1%; and ≥ 10 years, 57.5%. The percentage of PD patients for whom the dialysate was completely manually exchanged was 31.6%, whereas the percentages of PD patients who used a bag‐exchange device based on ultraviolet‐light irradiation and that based on thermal sterile joint systems were 52.1 and 14.9%, respectively. The mean incidence of peritonitis was 0.22 per patient per year (once per 54.5 patients per month). The mean incidence of catheter exit‐site infection was 0.34 per patient per year (once per 35.3 patients per month).


IMPORTANCE
With an increasing incidence of oropharyngeal carcinoma and prevalence of transoral surgical techniques, postoperative bleeding, with its associated risk factors, deserves evaluation.

OBJECTIVE
To classify and review postoropharyngectomy hemorrhage rates and associated risk factors.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
Single-institution, multicenter retrospective medical chart review analyzing surgical procedures in 906 patients treated with transoral surgery for oropharyngeal carcinoma at a tertiary care, academic referral center from 1994 to 2012. Tumor stage, previous treatment, resection method, and transcervical external carotid branch ligation were analyzed in relationship to postoperative hemorrhage rate, and severity. A novel classification system was created, grading bleeding episodes as minor, intermediate, major, or severe based on management method and related sequelae.

RESULTS
Postoperative bleeding occurred in 5.4% of patients (49 of 906) with 67.3% of these (33 of 49) requiring operative intervention. Severe bleeding episodes were very rare (1.1% of patients). Transcervical external carotid system vessel ligation was performed with the primary resection in 15.6% of patients with no overall difference in bleeding rate or severity of bleeding in patients who underwent ligation vs those who did not (P = .21 and P = .66, respectively). Vessel ligation was performed more frequently in patients with a higher T stage (P = .002). In previously treated patients, severity of bleeding was decreased if vessels were ligated (P > .05). Higher T-stage tumors had a higher bleeding rate (P = .02). Bleeding rates were similar between those treated with laser (5.6%) and robotic (5.9%) oropharyngectomy (P = .80); however, patients with significantly higher T-stage tumors were treated with laser vs robot techniques (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Transoral resection of oropharyngeal carcinoma is safe, and severe life-threatening hemorrhage is rare. Although transcervical vessel ligation did not result in an overall decrease in bleeding rate, there is a trend toward reduced postoropharyngectomy bleeding severity with ligation. We recommend ligation for higher T-stage tumors, primary tonsil tumors, and patients undergoing revision surgery.


Purpose of reviewA novel form of anaphylaxis has been described that is due to IgE antibody (Ab) directed against a mammalian oligosaccharide epitope, galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal). Ongoing work regarding the cause and distribution of this IgE response is reviewed. Recent findingsOur recent work has identified a novel IgE Ab response that has been associated with two distinct forms of anaphylaxis: immediate-onset anaphylaxis during first exposure to intravenous cetuximab and delayed-onset anaphylaxis 3–6 h after ingestion of mammalian food products (e.g. beef and pork). Further studies strongly suggested that tick bites were a cause, if not the only significant cause, of IgE Ab responses to alpha-gal in the United States and internationally. SummaryLarge numbers of patients with IgE Ab to alpha-gal continue to be identified in the USA and globally. Clinicians should be aware of this IgE response as the reactions often appear to be idiopathic because of the significant delay between eating mammalian meat and the appearance of symptoms.