An image-based control strategy for visual servoing is presented. The proposed control design addresses visual servoing of 'eye-in-hand' type systems and treats the camera motion as rigid-body dynamics that are positioned relative to an observed visual target. The proposed design is applicable to a class of under-actuated dynamic systems that include idealized models of mobile robotic vehicles such as helicopters, aeroplanes, etc. The proposed design is motivated by a theoretical analysis of the dynamic equations of motion of an underactuated rigid body and exploits passivity-like properties of these dynamics to derive a Lyapunov control algorithm using robust backstepping techniques.


Photoelectrochemical (PEC) degradation of Procion Red MX-5B was investigated in aqueous Na2SO4 solution. Higher electrolyte concentration resulted in higher current between the electrodes due to increased conductivities of the solutions. UV irradiation could obviously raise the current, and the differences became larger in accordance with the increase of the applied potentials. The pH declined in the first 30 minutes and became constant for the prolonged reaction time during both PEC degradation and photocatalytic oxidation. The applied potential could only slightly improve dye decolorization. Although a potential of 8 V was applied to 0.3 mol/l Na2SO4 solution, TOC removal efficiency of PEC degradation was almost as the same as that of photocatalytic oxidation.


Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a common human pathogen best known as the causative agent of 'cold sores' around the mouth. It initially infects cells at the periphery, however it often spreads to the sensory neurones where it establishes life-long latent infection and from which it can be reactivated periodically to cause recurrent episodes of disease. The immediate early (IE) protein Vmw110 of HSV-1 stimulates the onset of lytic infection as well as increases the efficiency of reactivation from latency. As such, it has been proposed that Vmw110 plays an important role in the balance between lytic and latent states of infection. The mechanisms by which Vmw110 functions are poorly defined. However, earlier work in which Vmw110 was shown to migrate to discrete nuclear structures called NDIO, suggested that it exerts much of its effects through interactions with cellular proteins (Everett & Maul, 1994, Gelman & Silverstein, 1985, Maul et al, 1993). Investigations searching for such interactions resulted in the identification of a novel member of the ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) family named HAUSP (herpes- associated-ubiquitin specific protease) which both strongly and specifically interacted with Vmwl 10 (Everett et al., 1997, Meredith et al, 1995, Meredith et al, 1994). Studies described herein were initiated to improve the understanding of the role of HAUSP, both within the cell and for HSV-1 infection. In particular, experiments using a model USP enzyme assay confirmed that HAUSP was an enzymatically active member of the USP family. Furthermore, the presence of specific cysteine and histidine residues were shown to be essential for this activity. Investigations into the effect of transient expression of HAUSP in eukaryotic cells were also carried out. These studies suggested firstly that levels of intracellular HAUSP may be tightly controlled and secondly that increases in HAUSP expression might be toxic for cells. They also implied localisation of HAUSP to the NDIO domains was limited by protein-protein interactions. Work was also initiated to search for cellular proteins that interact with HAUSP. This resulted in the identification of strong and specific interactions between: the N-terminal region of HAUSP with cellular proteins of approximately 100kD and 105kD; and sequences in the C-terminal half of HAUSP with a cellular protein of approximately 40kD. Immunoprecipitation analysis supported the interaction of wild type HAUSP with cellular proteins of approximately 40kD and 105kD. It was also revealed that of these cellular proteins only the approximately 40kD cellular protein (which interacted with the C-terminus of HAUSP) was a substrate for proteasome-dependent degradation. More direct investigations were also carried out to improve our understanding of the mechanics and functioning of the Vmw110/HAUSP interaction. In particular, a variety of GST 'pull-down' assays were designed and tested to define the region of HAUSP required for this interaction. Results of this work implied that regions of HAUSP spanning between residues 529-576 and 744-861, were necessary for binding to Vmw110. Immunoprecipitation analysis experiments supported the requirement of the 529-576 region. Interestingly, this region is directly downstream of one of the two active site domains of HAUSP. The effect of the presence of Vmw110 on the normal cellular activities of HAUSP was also tested. Surprisingly, Vmw110 did not appear to reduce the catalytic activity of HAUSP, or hinder HAUSP from interacting with the approximately 40kD cellular protein previously described. Therefore, the specific functions of HAUSP in uninfected cells and during HSV-1 infection are yet to be fully characterised. However, the results presented in this thesis provide a solid foundation upon which future work leading to a deeper understanding of HAUSP functioning may be based.


Ab s t r Ac t Background: Intraspinal facet cyst or juxta-facet cyst is a term that includes synovial and ganglion cysts in the spine. Facetal synovial cysts are fluid-containing synovial outpouchings arising from degenerated facet joints resulting from chronic hypermobility of the joints. These cysts can cause low back pain, radicular leg pain, and in rare cases cauda equina syndrome. Case description: In this report, we would like to present the occurrence of incomplete cauda equine syndrome resulting from a facet synovial cyst in a 65-year-old woman who presented with weakness in both lower limbs, difficulty in walking, and saddle anesthesia. The symptoms resolved following a posterior decompression, cyst excision, and instrumented fusion surgery. Conclusion: This report highlights the occurrence of acute cauda equina syndrome in a 65-year-old woman resulting from an L4–L5 facet synovial cyst. Prompt diagnosis and immediate surgical intervention in the form of decompression and fusion surgery lead to a favorable outcome. Clinical message: Acute cauda equina syndrome in a patient with a lumbar facet cyst is a relatively uncommon presentation. It requires early diagnosis and immediate surgical intervention in the form of decompression to prevent neurological deterioration and to have a favorable outcome.


Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to review autism identification across different ethnic groups. Diagnosis of autism may be missed or delayed in certain ethnic groups, leading to such groups being underserved relative to their needs. This can result in members of such groups being effectively denied essential avenues of support that can substantially improve the quality of life of autistic persons as well as those whom care for them.

Design/methodology/approach
A literature search for articles reporting autism identification across ethnic groups was undertaken. Data are compared, with a special focus on possible explanations for any inter-group variation.

Findings
Autism identification appears to be generally lower in minority ethnic groups relative to the majority population. Individuals presenting with autism from minority groups appear to have more severe forms of the condition.

Originality/value
There are a multitude of potential explanations for inter-ethnicity variation in autism identification, including health care-related factors, broader environmental influences, cultural factors and possible biological differences. Implications for clinical practice and public health include a need to look at means of ensuring equitable access to relevant autism diagnostic and support services across ethnic groups. Further work is required to better understand the belief systems that operate within specific ethnic groups, how this may potentially impact upon autism identification and measures to address the concerns of such groups.


(average 30.54 weeks). In 6 cases (25%), septostomy occurred iatrogenically. In 4 cases (16.7%) bleeding occurred during the laser. In 21 cases (87.5%) there was at least one live fetus until delivery; And in 45.8% (11) of the pregnancies there were two fetuses alive until delivery. In 4 cases (16.7%) there was FFST recurrence and in 1 case (4.2%) we observed development of the anemia-polycythemia sequence. Conclusions: Development of new centres specialised in fetoscopy is very important. Our results approximate the data described in the literature.


SUMMARY: Growth and cellulose production by Acetobacter acetigenum strain EA-I was limited by nitrogen concentrations below 0·01% (w/v) in glucose denned medium. Ammonium sulphate and asparagine + glutamic acid (50% of each) were equivalent as nitrogen sources when compared on a nitrogen weight basis over the range 0·001--0·1%-N; at higher concentrations ammonium sulphate decreased growth and cellulose synthesis, while asparagine + glutamic acid became stimulatory. When used as adjuncts in glucose defined medium, acetate, citrate and succinate at suitable concentrations increased growth and cellulose synthesis, by as much as 20--30-fold under the most favourable conditions. Ethanol stimulated growth but did not increase cellulose synthesis. The addition of calcium or magnesium carbonate to defined medium inhibited growth. The influence of glucose concentration in defined medium on growth and cellulose synthesis was relatively slight in the absence of succinate; in the presence of 0·084 M-succinate the cultures showed a much greater response to glucose concentration, with a maximum cellulose yield that was 7·6 times greater than the maximum in the absence of succinate, and was associated with a 1·9-fold increase in growth. In hydrolysed molasses medium the addition of succinate decreased growth and cellulose synthesis; slightly increased cellulose yields were obtained when ethanol and calcium carbonate were added.


Abstract This study investigated the effects of Ramadan on activity patterns, body composition and muscle function. 11 moderately active Muslim males were screened 1 month and 1 week before, in the last week of, and 1 month after Ramadan. Activity patterns were assessed during 72 h using a tri-axial accelerometer, body composition was evaluated via bio-electrical impedance and muscle function during maximal isometric contractions with EMG recordings. Data showed a modification of the activity pattern during Ramadan with a higher level of activity from 02:00 to 05:00 h (29±26, 364±323 and 27±22 steps.h − 1 before, during and after Ramadan, respectively, P<0.05). However, total daily energy expenditure was similar during all testing periods (506±156, 542±219 and 545±207 Kcal.day − 1, respectively), partly explaining the lack of influence of Ramadan on body mass (70.9±11, 70.0±9 and 70.8±9 Kg, respectively) and composition (all P>0.05). Maximal force, associated electrical activity and neuromuscular efficiency (torque/EMG ratio) were maintained during Ramadan (torque: 254.6±30 N.m − 1, Neuromuscular efficiency: 1.0±0.4 a.u.) to levels observed before (244.3±26 N.m, 1.1±0.5 a.u.) and after the holy month (252.5±31 N.m, 1.1±0.5 a.u.). In summary, our data suggest that the influence of Ramadan should be considered as a modification in the distribution of activity times during the day.


The invention discloses a formula and process aiming at the phosphoric-acid-free electrolytic polishing of a siliceous aluminum alloy. The process aims at the surface treatment of an aluminum alloy with the silicon content over 2% and comprises the steps of putting a cleaned siliceous aluminum alloy workpiece into an electrolysis tank containing an electrolyte, carrying out electrolytic polishing by adopting constant current or constant voltage (the average current density of a constant current method is 3-10A/dm , and the voltage of a constant voltage method is 10-50V), electrifying for 3-15 minutes, then, washing with water, and drying through blowing, thereby obtaining a surface with high glossiness. The formula and the process have the advantages that the problem that an aluminum alloy with high silicon content cannot obtain a bright surface by chemical polishing is solved, the surface with high glossiness can be obtained by the electrolyte of the process and the traditional electropolishing process flows, and the surface decoration effect of a cast aluminum alloy is improved; and meanwhile, the polishing current density adopted by the process is lower than that of electrolytic polishing, so that the energy consumption is low, and the using value is higher.


The paper considers conceptual, methodical and practical aspects of the target financial analysis at the micro level, i.e., the company level, as a new instrument of anticrisis financial management for a company to overcome its financial difficulties and enhance its financial position within a time-period of practically any length. The methodology of the research, the results being presented in the paper, is based on the concept of the financial ratio analysis, the concept of the company cash flows, and the concept of the Balanced Scorecard (in terms of its financial score). It is depicted that the procedure of the target financial forecasting comprises an appropriate information-accounting support, a target financial forecasting of the company financial position, a target forecasting of the company's cash flows, a development of the specific events (managements' decisions) aimed at overcoming the company's financial difficulties and enhancing its financial position. The author has stated that in the present-day environment the target financial forecasting is an effective instrument of the financial forecasting that enables to set up the base for overcoming the company's financial difficulties and strengthening its financial position. The major fields of the target financial forecasting application are an anticrisis bankrupt company management, a management of the company at the verge of its bankruptcy, as well as a company's investment appeal enhancement (in terms of its financial aspect). Keywords: target forecasting, financial ratios, cash flows, financial difficulties, company JEL codes: G39, M41, G32, G34, C02


During the fifth regnal year of Merenptah (either 1208 BC or 1219 BC), king Merey of the Rebu/Lebu attacked Egypt, together with his archers and many northern warriors. These northerners were not affiliated with any of the existing minor or major kingdoms of the eastern Mediterranean, since they are only identified by obscure ethnonyms. Five inscriptions of Merenptah refer to these particular events, but they offer scarce historical information; a sixth one, inscribed on a wall of the Amun temple in Karnak, is the most elaborate one. Although the Karnak inscription has often been cited, most scholars usually focus on the parts referring to the 'Sea Peoples', which are often examined in isolation and out of their context. The aim of this paper is to re-examine the available evidence.


In the era in which the robots have started to live and work everywhere and in close contact with humans, they should accurately know their own location at any time to be able to move and perform safely. In particular, large and crowded indoor environments are challenging scenarios for robots' accurate and robust localization. The theory and the results presented in this dissertation intend to address the crucial issue of wheeled robots indoor localization by proposing some novel solutions in three complementary ways, i.e. improving robots self-localization through data fusion, adopting collaborative localization (e.g. using the position information from other robots) and finally optimizing the placement of landmarks in the environment once the detection range of the chosen sensors is known. As far as the first subject is concerned, a robot should be able to localize itself in a given reference frame. This problem is studied in detail to achieve a proper and affordable technique for self-localization, regardless of specific environmental features. The proposed solution relies on the integration of relative and absolute position measurements. The former are based on odometry and on an inertial measurement unit. The absolute position and heading data instead are measured sporadically anytime some landmark spread in the environment is detected. Due to the event-based nature of such measurement data, the robot can work autonomously most of time, even if accuracy degrades. Of course, in order to keep positioning uncertainty bounded, it is important that absolute and relative position data are fused properly. For this reason, four different techniques are analyzed and compared in the dissertation. Once the local kinematic state of each robot is estimated, a group of them moving in the same environment and able to detect and communicate with one another can also collaborate to share their position information to refine self-localization results. In the dissertation, it will be shown that this approach can provide some benefits, although performances strongly depend on the metrological features of the adopted sensors as well as on the communication range. Finally, as far as the problem optimal landmark placement is concerned, this is addressed by suggesting a novel and easy-to-use geometrical criterion to maximize the distance between the landmarks deployed over a triangular lattice grid, while ensuring that the absolute position measurement sensors can always detect at least one landmark.


The neutral proteinase gene of Bacillus cereus was cloned. Its restriction map and the direction of transcription was determined. It was shown that the neutral proteinase gene could be expressed in Bacillus cells. The thermostability of the product coded by the neutral proteinase gene and its natural analogue was explored. The obtained data indicate that the neutral proteinase of Bacillus cereus is closely related to the enzyme of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens by these parameters. It was found that the neutral proteinase of Bacillus cereus has a high sensitivity to autolysis and that leads to the decrease in the enzymes concentration in the cultural medium at the late stages of cell growth. But the possibility of stabilization the neutral proteinase by Ca2+ ions has been demonstrated.


Alfalfa silage (Al) and corn silage (Cs) samples were collected from two large-scale farms in China; one of these farms used stack silos and the other used bunker silos for silage production. Three samples were collected from the upper and lower layers of each silo. Thus, six samples were examined for each of Al-stack, Al-bunker, Cs-stack, and Cs-bunker. Bacterial community was determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Lactic acid was the main fermentation product in Al-stack, Cs-stack and Cs-bunker, whereas acetic acid and butyric acid were predominant in Al-bunker. Pediococcus pentosaceus and Clostridium sp. were common to four silage types. Lactobacillus acetotolerans and Lactobacillus pontis were detected specifically in Cs, whereas the lactic acid bacteria identified in Al were regarded as those usually found in silage. Differences between stack and bunker silos were apparent in Al with regard to fermentation products and DGGE band patterns. Differences between the upper and lower layers were observed in the fermentation products in Cs regardless of silo type, whereas variations in the DGGE band patterns of Cs-stack were detected.


Effectively tackling problems of sustainable development such as climate change, poverty, and biodiversity loss requires a different perspective on the role of science in society. Building on the understanding that knowledge production processes shall go hand in hand with governance processes, sustainability science and ecological economics promote transdisciplinarity and participatory procedures as a key requirement for scientific work on nature-society interactions. Involving non-academic actors such as local lay persons, civil society representatives, businesses, and decision makers in the research process promises the discovery of practical solutions to related problems and empowerment of communities. While this novel research approach has been increasingly applied in Western societies, its adoption by scientific actors in the context of Central and Eastern Europe, however, remains relatively low. Employing Bulgaria as a case study, this investigation examined the inter-actions between academia and practice through a series of expert interviews and a review of policy documents, thus offering insights into the specific conditions of implementing science for sustainable development. It emerges that knowledge transfer and experience exchange in the field are needed. Promoting social learning in this domain requires clarification of the roles of actors and institutions for sustainable development. Finally, recommendations for science related policies and scientific work are given.


Hard economic times and social conditions are driving a reordering of environmental protection priorities that threatens to sacrifice the most vulnerable groups. Environmental regulatory agencies acknowledge that vulnerable populations face the greatest risk of harm from environmental insult and that these groups are not adequately protected. Although a risk-based prioritization of resources benefits the greatest number of people, such allocation would disadvantage minority communities, which contain disproportionate numbers of sensitive subgroups. Our regulatory bodies must therefore develop new strategies to adequately protect sensitive subgroups identified in minority communities. Part II of this Article looks at some of the considerations that influence the health protection priorities and resource allocations that environmental regulatory agencies make. Part III examines the importance of variation in susceptibility to environmental insult and how minorities, women, and the young are particularly affected. Part IV discusses the economic rationale and available mechanisms for protecting vulnerable subgroups.


Parallel Spectral Numerical Methods starts by taking a quick look at fi nite precision arithmetic. It then discusses how to solve ordinary differential equations (ODE) and partial differential equations (PDE) using separation of variables. Next, it introduces numerical time-stepping schemes that can be used to solve ODEs and PDEs. This is followed by an introduction to pseudo spectral methods through an overview of the discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm that is used to quickly calculate the DFT. Finally it will combine all of these to solve a couple of different PDEs first in a serial setting and then in a parallel setting. ¶ The programs will use Matlab and Fortran. A Python implementation of some of the Matlab programs is also provided.


Background and aims Ras activation as well as MAP kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation is known in the synovial tissues from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RasGRP4 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for small GTPase Ras and is expressed predominantly in the mast cells, monocytes and neutrophils. We previously identified ectopic expression of RasGRP4 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) of a subset of RA patients, inducing proliferation of FLS (Kono M et al. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015). Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs), prevent farnesylation of Ras, are known to prevent human tumour cell proliferation but the effect for proliferation of FLS is still unknown. The aim of this study is to clarify the molecular mechanisms of how RasGRP4 induces proliferation of FLS and evaluate the effect of FTI on the proliferation of FLS. Methods FLS or HEK293 cells were transfected with expression vector that encodes hRasGRP4. Phosphorylation of Raf, MEK, Erk, JNK and p38MAPK was evaluated in transfected cells using Western blotting. FLS were treated with tipifarnib, one of FTIs and cell proliferation was evaluated using BrdU Assay. Results In HEK293 cells forced to express RasGRP4, Raf-MEK-Erk pathway as well as p38MAPK was readily phosphorylated at their steady state. FLS decreased RasGRP4 expression during multiple passages. RasGRP4 transfection into such cells recovered MAPK phosphorylations, especially of Erk and p38 MAPK. FLS treated with tipifarnib down-regulated their proliferation. Conclusions RasGRP4 expression in FLS from RA patients contributes to the activation of Erk and p38MAPK signalling pathway. The inhibition of FLS proliferation by FTI was suggested as an alternative treatment in RA.


Flies are capable of rapidly detecting and integrating visual motion information in behaviorly-relevant ways. The first stage of visual motion processing in flies is a retinotopic array of functional units known as elementary motion detectors (EMDs). Several decades ago, Reichardt and colleagues developed a correlation-based model of motion detection that described the behavior of these neural circuits. We have implemented a variant of this model in a 2.0-µm analog CMOS VLSI process. The result is a low-power, continuous-time analog circuit with integrated photoreceptors that responds to motion in real time. The responses of the circuit to drifting sinusoidal gratings qualitatively resemble the temporal frequency response, spatial frequency response, and direction selectivity of motion-sensitive neurons observed in insects. In addition to its possible engineering applications, the circuit could potentially be used as a building block for constructing hardware models of higher-level insect motion integration.


The descriptive cum correlational research aims to suggest a framework for modification in business process to restore and rebuild, pandemic hard hit, tourism, and hospitality sector. The research premises on the rationale that under the persistent and looming pandemic threat, continued closures, and lockdowns of the tourism destinations with rising unemployment is not the answer to live with. Drawing from the exploratory research, a resilience-based framework model, to restore and rebuild Pakistan tourism and hospitality sector amid pandemic, an instrument was self-developed and validated before its operationalization. After checking the reliability and validity of the instrument through Cronbach's Alpha and exploratory factors analysis, the instrument was administered through mix of physical and online distribution. The sample of 312 respondents, representing variety of stakeholders from tourism and hospitality businesses across favorite destinations, responded through a mix of online and physical survey. The research found an adaptable resilience-based framework model for the restoration and recovery of tourism and hospitality businesses amid pandemics. The model called for placement of health safety features, provision of service quality, technological interventions, and socially responsible imaging of hotels. However, the desired outcomes can only be reached through well-knitted joint response from all the stakeholders including government, community, tourists, and the destination managers. The research argued that the restoration and rebuilding of tourism and hospitality business, is likely to renovate into sustainable tourism capable of kick-starting employment generation, poverty alleviation, society's well-being, and economic growth without compromising people health.
Keywords: Tourism and hospitality business, COVID Pandemic, business restoration, transformation of business processes, business resilience.


Background Emergency departments have serious concerns about drug safety. Inappropriate medicines are common. Medicines charts may often remain incomplete. Physicians and nurses may not have enough time to review medicines charts regularly. Purpose To evaluate the inappropriate medicines in the emergency ward based on the pharmacist's medicines chart review. To review the physicians' acceptance rate of pharmacist recommendations regarding a change in the medicines regimen on the emergency ward. Materials and methods Medicines charts of all emergency ward patients were reviewed by a pharmacist prospectively for five months from April to August 2011. The pharmacist made oral or written recommendations to physicians regarding a change in medicines regimen. Recommendations were made on drug interactions, inappropriate drug dosages, inappropriate duration of drug treatments, wrong medicines, missing medicines and duplications. Results 855 admissions were reviewed. 94 recommendations regarding 67 admissions were made for 38 drug interactions (40.4%), 26 inappropriate drug dosages (27.7%), 10 inappropriate duration of drug treatments (10,6%), 8 wrong medicines (8.5%), 6 missing medicines (6.4%) and 6 duplications (6.4%). The overall physicians' acceptance rate for all pharmacist recommendations was 62% (n:58). Of the accepted recommendations 20 of 38 (52.6%) drug interactions, 14 of 26 (54%) inappropriate drug dosages, 8 of 10 (80%) inappropriate duration of drug treatments, 6 of 8 (75%) wrong medicines, 4 of 6 (66.7%) missing medicines and all duplications were accepted by physicians. The most common inappropriate medicines detected by the pharmacist were NSAIDs, SSRIs, benzodiazepines and warfarin. Conclusions A pharmacist was able to detect important inappropriate medicines by reviewing medicines charts of emergency ward patients. Many pharmacist recommendations leading to a change in medicines regimen were accepted by the physicians.


This paper describes a dynamic simulation model that has been developed to provide a comprehensive assessment of integrated weed management programmes for the control of annual barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli complex) in Philippine rice farming systems. The main outputs of the model include weed seed and plant densities and seasonal and annualised profit over the simulated planning horizon. Model output emphasises the substantial economic benefits associated with effective long-term weed management strategies. In addition, a mixture of chemical and non-chemical treatments provides good weed control in rice crops, and maximises long-term profit for systems where the main weed is annual barnyardgrass. However, the performance of this strategy is influenced by crop establishment method and weed density level. These results illustrate the value of the model for guiding the efficient control of annual barnyardgrass in rice crops in the Philippines.


This new edition builds on the strengths that made Sociology AS for AQA the most popular student book on the subject at this level. Tailored to the AQA specification, this edition has been fully updated by the best-selling author team to provide even better support for AS Sociology students, from starting the subject to preparing for exam success. Chapter 1: Introduction to Sociology Chapter 2: Culture and Identity Chapter 3: Families and households Chapter 4: Wealth, poverty and welfare Chapter 5: Sociological methods Chapter 6: Education Chapter 7: Health Chapter 8: Preparing for the AS exam


It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 34th ACM SIGMOD-SIGACT-SIGAI Symposium on Principles of Database Systems (PODS 2015), held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on May 31 -- June 4, 2015, in conjunction with the 2015 ACM SIGMOD International Conference on Management of Data. Since the first edition of the symposium in 1982, the PODS papers are distinguished by a rigorous approach to widely diverse problems in data management, often bringing to bear techniques from a variety of different areas, including computational logic, finite model theory, computational complexity, algorithm design and analysis, programming languages, and artificial intelligence. The PODS Symposia study data management challenges in a variety of application contexts, including more recently probabilistic data, streaming data, graph data, information retrieval, ontology and semantic web, and data-driven processes and systems. PODS has a tradition of being the premier international conference on the theoretical and foundational aspects of mdata management, and the interested reader is referred to the PODS web pages at http://www.sigmod.org/thepods- pages/ for information on the history of this conference series.

This year's symposium continues this tradition, but in addition the PODS Executive Committee decided to broaden the scope of PODS, and to explicitly invite for submission papers providing original, substantial contributions in one or more of the following categories: a) deep theoretical exploration of topical areas central to data management; b) new formal frameworks that aim at providing the basis for deeper theoretical investigation of important emerging issues in data management; and c) validation of theoretical approaches from the lens of practical applicability in data management. This volume contains the proceedings of PODS 2015, which include an abstract for the keynote address by Michael I. Johnson (University of California, Berkeley), papers based on two invited tutorials by Todd J. Green (LogicBlox, USA) and Graham Cormode (University of Warwick, UK), and 25 contributions that were selected by the Program Committee for presentation at the symposium.

This year, PODS experimented for the first time with two submission cycles, where the first cycle allowed also for papers to be revised and resubmitted. For the first cycle, 29 papers were submitted, 4 of which were directly selected for inclusion in the proceedings, and 7 were invited for a resubmission after a revision. The quality of most of the revised papers increased substantially with respect to the first submission, and 6 of those in the end were selected for the proceedings. For the second cycle, 51 papers were submitted, 15 of which were selected, resulting in 25 papers selected overall from a total number of 80 submissions. Most of the 25 accepted papers are extended abstracts. While all submissions have been reviewed by at least four Program Committee members, they have not been formally referred. It is expected that much of the research described in these papers will be published in a more polished and detailed form in scientific journals.

With respect to the three categories mentioned above, of the 80 submissions (resp., 25 accepted papers), 47 (resp., 19) were classified by the authors in category (a), 28 (resp., 5) in category (b), and only 6 (resp., 3) in category (c). The categories are non-exclusive, and classification was not mandatory; indeed, several papers were classified in more than one category, and for 13 (resp., 3) submissions, no category was specified.

An important task for the Program Committee has been the selection of the PODS 2015 Best Paper Award. The committee selected the paper "Parallel-Correctness and Transferability for Conjunctive Queries" by Tom J. Ameloot, Gaetano Geck, Bas Ketsman, Frank Neven and Thomas Schwentick

On behalf of the committee, we would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the authors. Since 2008, PODS assigns the ACM PODS Alberto O. Mendelzon Test-of-Time Award to a paper or a small number of papers published in the PODS proceedings ten years prior that had the most impact over the intervening decade. This year's committee, consisting of Dan Suciu (chair), Foto Afrati, and Frank Neven, selected the following two papers. Our warmest congratulations to their authors! "XPath Satisfiability in the Presence of DTDs" by Michael Benedikt, Wenfei Fan, and Floris Geerts "Views and Queries: Determinacy and Rewriting" by Luc Segoufin and Victor Vianu.


Maya Schenwar, Locked Down, Locked Out (San Francisco: Barrett-Koehler Publishers, 2014), 228 pages, $18.95, softcover. Prison justice issues are garnering more public exposure today than ever before. In June 2012, the United States Senate held its first hearing on solitary confinement, the second in February 2014. This past fall, the New York Times ran a series of prominent exposes on conditions on Rikers Island that resulted in substantive shifts in staffing and conditions. Even the immense success of the TV show Orange Is the New Black suggests that what happens to people locked up is no longer a fringe issue, but part of our public consciousness.… Yet there are so many contradictions bound up in the way we talk about prisons. Solitary confinement is torture for children, but not for terrorists; the death penalty is unjust, but locking people up for life is not; "inmates" are terrifying beings, except the ones who look or speak like us. Therefore, for many progressives, the question is not whether prisons "work"—but how to make them more humane for those who "deserve" time on the inside. Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.


Objective. Empirical antifungal therapy (Emp AF) is a standard of care for high-risk neutropenic patients with persistent or recurrent fever under broad-spectrum antibiotics. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of four competitive strategies to reduce the burden of invasive fungal infection (IFI): the Emp AF, a preemptive antifungal strategy (PE AF) where AF is restricted to patients with clinical symptoms and/or mycological criteria of IFI, a prophylaxis with standard azole therapy (Fluconazole proph), and a prophylaxis with posaconazole (Posaconazole proph). Methods. A decision analytic model was developed to estimate costs and outcomes of the four strategies among patients with acute myeloid leukaemia at high risk of developing an IFI due to chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. The probabilities of receiving AF therapy, and experiencing IFI, either aspergillus or candidemia, were stratified according to induction and consolidation/autologous transplant phase of therapy. 1 , 2 In the two prophylaxis strategies, patients could receive AF therapy, although at a lower rate than in the Emp AF. Length of stay and hospitalization costs depended on: IFI or no IFI; transfer into intensive care unit or not; dying or not (French national hospitalization database including 9,182 stays in 2005). AF drug costs were estimated as the product of the recorded drug consumption, 1 , 2 and 2005 published mean average wholesale price from AP-HP central pharmacy, with exception of ambisome, voriconazole, caspofungine, and posaconazole where administrated national prices were taken. Second-order probabilistic Monte Carlo sensitivity was conducted to assess the effects of parameter uncertainty on the study findings. Results. In the induction phase of therapy, Emp AF (93.3% survival; 95.4% no IFI; €34,505 hospitalization costs) dominated (i.e., higher effectiveness, and lower hospitalization costs) PE AF and Fluconazole Proph strategies. Posaconazole Proph provided higher efficiency (93.5% survival; 97.3% no IFI) at higher hospitalization costs (€34,793) as compared to Emp AF. Results were sensitive to the relative risk of aspergillus invasive infection of posaconazole vs fluconazole (RR=0.11) 2 , and AF drug costs. In the consolidation/autologous transplant phases where the incidence of IFI is lower, 1 all strategies provided similar effectiveness on survival and IFI prevention. Hospitalization costs and overall AF drug costs increased substantially from PE AF strategy (€24,761; €632) to Fluconazole Proph (€26,592; €1,457), Emp AF (€26,856; €1,419), and Posaconazole Proph (€28,094; €3,074). Conclusions. One AF strategy does not fit all high-risk neutropenic situations. In the induction phase of therapy, Emp AF and Posaconazole Proph provide the best outcomes with higher effectiveness and lower hospitalisation costs than PE AF and Fluconazole AF. In the consolidation/autologous phases of therapy, PE AF minimizes costs for similar outcomes in all AF strategies.


The study aim was to identify key factors associated with the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) treated with neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin or human insulin analog glargine (IGLA).

 We conducted two cross-sectional studies in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. One with 401 patients treated with IGLA, and the other with 179 T1DM patients treated with NPH. HRQOL was measured by Euroqol (EQ-5D-3L).

 Most participants were male (51%), aged between 18 and 40 years (47%), non-black (58%) and from the highest economic strata (A1-B2) (74%). Participants perceived their health as good/very good (51%), had one to three medical consultations in the previous year (51%), were not hospitalized in the previous year (74%), did not report angina (96%), diabetic neuropathy (90%), hearing loss (94%) or kidney disease (89%). Non-severe hypoglycaemia episodes in the last 30 days were reported by 17% of participants.

 Higher HRQOL was associated with younger age (18–40 years), good/very good health self-perception, having had up to three medical consultations in the last year, not being hospitalized in the last year, having none to three comorbidities, not reporting angina, diabetic neuropathy, hearing loss or kidney disease and having had episodes of non-severe hypoglycaemia. In addition, the findings of our study demonstrated inequalities in access to treatment, which will be the subject of future research projects.


Cancer is becoming a very socially important disease. Only in Italy, one thousand of new tumor cases are diagnosed each day according to International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) data. Moreover, thousands of lives, that are cut short by cancer, have to be added to the previous numbers. The focal issue is that traditional medicine is actually not able to provide rapid diagnosis, with concrete and effective therapies. With the advent of nanotechnologies, an emerging branch in nanomedecine developed: theranostics. The promise of this new discipline, that exploits functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) to provide both for rapid diagnosis and/or therapies, seems to be the answer for the problem that is represented by cancer. Among all the possible anti-cancer therapies based on NPs, the one studied in this Master's thesis is the Sonodynamic Therapy (SDT). According to this treatment, NPs are administered into a patient and ultrasounds at high intensity (HIFU) are provided to enhance the cavitation in the diseased tissues, in order to induce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with consequently increase of the oxidative stress only in the diseased cells. The cavitation activity studies have been carried out using a HIFU ultrasound transducer and ZnO nanocrystals with two different surface functionalization. The first one is obtained through chemically anchoring an amino-propyl group, in order to stabilize the NPs in aqueous media with a proper chemical and colloidal stability. Instead, the second one is obtained through the self-assembly of a phospholipidic bi-layer, showing the promising purpose of mimic the double phospholipid membrane of human cells, for promoting the cell internalization for further SDT, but also helping in stabilizing the inorganic nanocrystals in biological media. In the first part of this work, some experiments have been done in order to study the contribution in cavitation activity of the above mentioned nanoparticles. More precisely, the experiments have allowed to determine the minimum input voltage provided to the HIFU that guarantee the cavitation rise and activity. These measurements have been carried out using two main instruments, an ultrasound imaging system and a hydrophone for the detection of the cavitation noise power. Then, the studies on the ROS generation have been carried out using an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectrometer. These second set of experiments have been performed for the amino-propyl functionalized NPs and confirmed that a treatment with HIFU assisted with ZnO-NH2 NPs is able to induce cavitation at a lower threshold in water-based solution with consequently generation of ROS four times greater than the lonely water control. In contrast, for what concern the lipid-shielded nanocrystals, it was found that the cavitation threshold coincides with the one of water but a differential in the cavitation activity is observed. As a working mechanism, it is hypothesized that the lipidic-bilayer displaces the gas bubbles adsorbed at the nanocrystals surfaces, while these bubbles remain in contrast available when amino-propyl functionalized Nanocrystals are used under HIFU treatment. The obtained results can thus give an important contribution in the understanding of the cavitation mechanism supported by the presence of metal oxide nano


This paper describes a hardware/software framework and approach for fast integration and testing of complex real-time multimedia analysis algorithms. It enables the rapid assessment of combinations of multimedia analysis algorithms, in order to determine their usefulness in future consumer storage products. The framework described here consists of a set of networked personal computers, running a variety of multimedia analysis algorithms and a multi-media database. The database stores both multimedia content and metadata – as generated by multimedia content analysis algorithms – and maintains links between the two. The full hardware/software solution functions as a test-bed for new, advanced content analysis algorithms; new algorithms are easily plugged-in into any of the networked PCs, while outdated algorithms are simply removed. Once a selected consumer system configuration has passed important user-tests, a more dedicated embedded consumer product implementation is derived in a straightforward way from the framework..


THE NEED FOR TARGETED AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION The 2008 Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Action Plan was developed in response to national water quality impairments that were largely caused by agricultural land uses within and around the US Corn Belt (Alexander et al. 2008; Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force 2008). The plan prompted states to create nutrient reduction strategies to achieve a 45% reduction in total nitrogen (N) and total phosphorus (P) loads into the Mississippi River, and thereby alleviate the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico (Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force 2008). Similar to other state strategies, the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS) promotes the widespread and voluntary adoption of best management practices (BMPs) to achieve nutrient reduction goals. The INRS establishes goals of 41% and 29% reductions in total N and total P, respectively, from nonpoint sources from a 1980 to 1996 baseline (Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship et al. 2017). These goals are largely dependent on regional conservation funding and infrastructure to inform and incentivize BMP adoption at individual farm scales (Zimmerman et al. 2019a).


Introduction: Spinal anesthesia (SA) is one of the most frequently applied anesthesia procedures today. However, SA failure rate varies between 1 and 17%. The age of the patient, the position at which the procedure is performed, or the characteristics of the technical operation can affect success. In this study, we aimed to compare the most frequent SA failures according to the types of surgery and causes of failure. The results of SA procedures performed in a university hospital were compare to those published in the current literature. Materials and Methods: After obtaining ethics committee approval for our study, the hospital archives were examined retrospectively for 1 year with respect to SA procedures. SA application and failure rates were examined. Three or more SA attempts, failed dural puncture, or unsuccessful injection, and anesthesia applications that did not provide sufficient sensory block for surgery despite successful drug treatment were defined as failure. Results: Of all anesthesia procedures, SA was applied at a rate of 23.5%. Our SA failure rate was calculated as 16.6%. Considering a single surgical procedure, obstetric anesthesia was the most common surgery with failed SA (28.7%). The most common cause of failure was insufficient analgesia (32.9%). Discussion: SA failure rates were observed to be in a variable distribution range in the literature, and in some studies, SA failure was defined as a block that did not occur despite a full dose and successful injection, and this rate was found to be 3.9%. The high rate in our study group may be explained by differences in the definition of SA: blocks performed with several trials and any block that could not be applied were also recorded as SA failure. The reasons for failing to apply this procedure is an issue that is worth examining also in terms of patient satisfaction and safety, which is an important issue. Conclusion: Although the definition of unsuccessful SA is confusing, SA failure rates are worth examining and improving for each hospital.


THE FINAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION on terrorist attacks upon the United States (the 9/11 commission) focused on the history of US counterterrorism policy in the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. The sense that one gets from much of the new literature on US efforts against terrorism is that what went on before 1998 was passive and reflected a belief that terrorism was more a criminal matter than an intelligence challenge. Curiously, even Vice President Dick Cheney, who dealt with terrorism in three different administrations, furthered this particular impression in comments made during the 2004 election. But in fact, the truth is that the US got to be very good at counterterrorism in the 1980s and early 1990s, and the more interesting question is why it didn't do better against al Qaeda.The story of US efforts against international terrorism begins with the radicalization of Yasser Arafat's Fatah guerrilla movement following the Six Day War of 1967. When Palestinians attempted to hijack four planes simultaneously in September 1970-a feat not achieved until al Qaeda did it in September 2001-the Nixon administration responded with the first US federal antiterrorism measures. Air marshals were posted to some international flights and metal detectors appeared at the nation's airports. In January 1973, following a harrowing domestic hijacking involving a Southern air flight that, among other places, was rerouted to Toronto, the Nixon administration mandated 100 percent screening of passengers and carry-on bags. In the Ford administration, one saw the first work on preventing nuclear terrorism. Until the 1970s, the transportation of plutonium and enriched uranium acquired armed protection for the first time and the Atomic Energy Commission established NESTs-nuclear emergency search teams, comprising 200 specialists in nuclear detection, recovery, and protection. All of these measures, however, involved passive security.It is not until the Reagan administration that the US adopted the strategy of counterterrorism. There were no effective CIA covert operations launched against Middle Eastern terrorist groups in the 1970s, this despite the fact that the PLO's Black September group killed the US ambassador and another embassy official in the Sudan in 1973 and terrorists killed the US ambassador and one other diplomat in Lebanon in 1976. US policy was to use diplomacy to encourage Palestinians to seek a political solution to their grievances. The CIA offered a back channel for discussions between Arafat and both the Nixon and Ford administration. And although stated US policy was to give no concessions to terrorists, in practice Washington always negotiated and often asked Israel to release PLO prisoners to satisfy terrorist requests. There was an interagency working group on counterterrorism which met regularly from October 1972 on, but it operated at a low level. In resolutely hierarchical Washington, deputy assistant secretaries and below are not that important and that is where this group operates. Indeed, the Ford administration tried to insulate the president from these low-level CT types because terrorism was viewed as a losing issue for a president. There was nothing that could be done about it, so it was best not to associate him too much with it.All of this would only change in Reagan's second term, which brought the United States government's first brush with aggressive counterterrorism. It is a period easily forgotten, but one which produced remarkably positive achievements. Those achievements were remembered by Richard Clarke and the other top participants in the hunt for bin Laden just before September 11th and remain a useful standard by which to judge current efforts against al Qaeda .On 27 December 1985, terrorists from the Abu Nidal organization (AND) fired machine guns at the El Al ticket counters at the Vienna and Rome airports. Sixteen people were killed and more than 110 injured. …


While there is evidence that Chinese migration to Africa has increased in recent years, there is a generalpaucity of data on the total number of Chinese migrants living in African countries and their sociodemographiccharacteristics. The reasons for this situation include challenges associated with capturingimmigrants in Africa censuses, lack of robust sampling frames to draw representative samples fromimmigrant populations, high level of irregular migration, and weak migrants tracking systems. Relying onqualitative data and quantitative survey, based on an innovative sampling technique, this paper examines themigration of Chinese migrants to Ghana. The findings challenge simplistic narratives that present the Chinesemigrants as a homogenous group. Despite the general perception that Chinese migrants in Ghana areundocumented and lack higher education qualifications, our findings reveal that most Chinese migrants arehighly educated persons with legal documentation. While the existing literature focuses on economic pushand pull factors of migration to Ghana, the paper demonstrates the importance of social networks, economicpotentials and peaceful environment in driving migration to Ghana. Based on these findings, we stronglyrecommend the need for an informed narrative on Chinese migration to Africa by governments, media, andacademics to deal with the misconceptions and generalizations.


 Abstract — Surface Mount Technology (SMT) is widely used in the area of the electronic assembly in which the electronic components are mounted to the surface of the printed circuit board (PCB). Most of the defects in the SMT process are mainly related to the quality of solder paste printing. These defects lead to considerable manufacturing costs in the electronics assembly industry. Therefore, the solder paste inspection (SPI) machine for controlling and monitoring the amount of solder paste printing has become an important part of the production process. So far, the setting of the SPI threshold is based on statistical analysis and experts' experiences to determine the appropriate threshold settings. Because the production data are not normal distribution and there are various variations in the production processes, defects related to solder paste printing still occur. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes an online machine learning algorithm, called the automatic threshold adjustment (ATA) algorithm, and closed-loop architecture in the SMT process to determine the best threshold settings. Simulation experiments prove that our proposed threshold settings improve the accuracy from 99.85% to 100%.


We show how probabilistic numerics can be used to convert an initial value problem into a Gauss--Markov process parametrised by the dynamics of the initial value problem. Consequently, the often difficult problem of parameter estimation in ordinary differential equations is reduced to hyperparameter estimation in Gauss--Markov regression, which tends to be considerably easier. The method's relation and benefits in comparison to classical numerical integration and gradient matching approaches is elucidated. In particular, the method can, in contrast to gradient matching, handle partial observations, and has certain routes for escaping local optima not available to classical numerical integration. Experimental results demonstrate that the method is on par or moderately better than competing approaches.


Spatial and temporal variation in prey abundance have been shown to impact the time of breeding and breeding success of birds. Understanding the ecological requirements of preferred prey can help develop management measures to improve food supply for target species. For the colonial Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni, mole crickets Gryllotalpa spp. are one of the most important prey items during the mate-feeding period. Lesser Kestrel colonies with higher mole cricket consumption had earlier egg-laying dates, suggesting that differences between individuals in the time of breeding could be caused by differences in the diet. Moreover, the mean number of mole crickets in pellets was significantly correlated with clutch size (in one of the studied years) and egg volume. Thus, the impact of environmental variables and land use on mole crickets is likely to be relevant to Lesser Kestrel conservation. Weekly consumption of mole crickets was higher following an increase in either precipitation or minimum temperature values. Furthermore, mole cricket consumption was higher in colonies surrounded by higher quality soils and in wetter areas and years. Predicted probability of mole cricket occurrence in surveyed watercourse margins suggested a positive relationship between soil penetrability and mole cricket occurrence. Among variables that might be the target of management, the presence of riparian vegetation positively influenced the occurrence of mole crickets, whilst tillage and sowing of streambeds were revealed as the most important threats. We suggest that the maintenance of native vegetation in the margins of watercourses could improve soil resilience to erosion, increase water retention, soil penetrability and fertility, and provide a food supply and shelter for mole crickets. Overall, the implementation of such recommendations is likely to benefit other farmland species known to consume mole crickets, including several endangered species.


● Background: Recent studies have suggested that early predialysis nephrological care is associated with lower mortality; however, this hypothesis has not been tested in a population-based study. We evaluated the impact of early nephrology referral and pre– end-stage renal disease (ESRD) care on mortality risk in a national cohort of new patients starting dialysis therapy in 1996 and 1997. Methods: Data were obtained on a subset of patients (n 2,264; 56%) from the Dialysis Morbidity and Mortality Study Wave 2 who then were followed up for up to 2 years. Survival comparisons were made using log-rank test, then by Cox regression adjusting for demographics, comorbid medical conditions, and surrogate markers of pre-ESRDcare. Results: Adjusted mortality risks (relative risks [RRs]) were higher for late- (within 4 months of dialysis initiation) compared with early-referred patients at the end of 1 and 2 years of follow-up (RR, 1.68; confidence interval [CI], 1.31 to 2.15; RR, 1.23; CI, 1.02 to 1.47, respectively). Mortality risks were similarly high for the late-referred nondiabetic (RR, 2.10; CI, 1.49 to 2.94) and hemodialysis subgroups (RR, 1.72; CI, 1.25 to 2.38). Conversely, mortality risks were lower for patients who saw a nephrologist at least twice in the year before dialysis therapy initiation (RR, 0.80; CI, 0.62 to 1.03; P 0.08] compared with those who did not. Conclusion: Late nephrology referral is associated with greater death risk in new patients with ESRD, and more frequent pre-ESRDcare confers increased survival benefit. These findings stress the need for earlier referral of patients to nephrologists and improved pre-ESRDcare for all patients approaching ESRDin the United States to improve survival. Am J Kidney Dis 41:310-318. © 2003 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.


Bilingual education programs had been delivered in some Northern Territory schools for over three decades until the development of a policy in 2008 requiring all schools to teach in English for the first four hours of each school day. In justifying the policy, the Northern Territory Government claimed bilingual education programs had a negative effect on attendance and enrolment. These claims have since been challenged and human rights breaches implicit within the policy identified. Two years after the effective abolition of bilingual education, attendance and enrolment data from four Warlpiri schools show no improvement in attendance rates and in some cases attendance rates and levels of student engagement that have reduced significantly. This data provides serious challenges to Northern Territory Government claims that bilingual education programs have a negative impact on enrolment and attendance and suggests a re-evaluation of policy relating to bilingual education is required.


A novel bacterium with cells that were pinkish-cream-coloured, aerobic, rod-shaped, 0.62-1.00 µm wide and 2.3-3.3 µm long, designated as strain MEBiC09517T, was isolated from Buksung-Po, a small port in Incheon, Republic of Korea. Strain MEBiC09517T had low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to validly reported strains; among them, Rubrivirgaprofundi SAORIC-476T displayed highest sequence similarity (89.9 %). Nevertheless, the novel strain shared a phylogenetic line with members of the genus Rhodothermus, not the genus Rubrivirga. Optimum growth conditions of strain MEBiC09517T were at 50-55 °C, pH 7 and in 2.0-4.0 % salt concentration. Strain MEBiC09517T was found to be an obligate marine bacterium that requires KCl, MgCl2 and CaCl2 as well as NaCl for growth. A phosphatidylethanolamine, a diphosphatidylglycerol, three glycolipids and four unidentified lipids were the strain's predominant polar lipid components. The fatty acid of the cell wall mainly consisted of carbons with 16 or 18 chain lengths such as C16 : 0, C18 : 0, C18 : 1 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c). The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The DNA G+C content is 68.65 mol%. Strain MEBiC09517T differs from genera of the order Rhodothermales in terms of fatty acid composition, growth conditions, and range of carbon source utilization. Based on phylogenetic analysis using the strain's 16S rRNA gene sequence and results of physiological tests, strain MEBiC09517T (KCCM=43267T, JCM=32374T) is proposed as Roseithermus sacchariphilus gen. nov., sp. nov. Additionally, the novel family Salisaetaceae fam. nov. based on phylogenetic analysis and physiological characteristics is suggested.


In the wake of the burgeoning population, socio-economic and environmental issues facing coastal areas, LULC change detection has become an essential tool for environmental monitoring towards achieving sustainable development. In this study, an object-based image analysis approach using post-classification comparison technique was applied for assessing the LULC of the coastal city of Lagos from 1986 to 2016. The study describes how satellite imagery from different sources (Landsat and SENTINEL 2A) can be successfully integrated for Land use Land cover change detection. The results show that between 1986 and 2016, there were net increases in bare areas, built-up areas, and shrublands and a general decline in forestlands, waterbodies and wetlands. Over 60,000ha cover (approx. 190% increase) was converted into built-up areas while 83,541ha (835.4km2) of forestland were lost, suggesting high rates of urbanization and corresponding deforestation. About 60% loss of wetlands was also observed in the same time period. The decrease in water bodies and a steady increase in bare and built-up areas are possibly due to the prevalent land reclamation activities in the study area. Higher rates of deforestation and increase in bare areas were observed from 2001 to 2016 in comparison to 1986 to 2001. The observed trends are likely to continue, and for future management actions, predictive studies are suggested to provide more empirical evidence.


Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are diseases of the intestinal tract caused by the Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi bacteria. Typhoid is rare in developed countries where environmental hygiene is poor, as in many developing countries, typhoid is a major public health problem. The greatest risk exists to travellers visiting countries where the disease is common. In Queensland, several cases of paratyphoid fever are notified each year, most occurring in returned overseas travellers.


Ab s t r Ac t Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oil pulling therapy using virgin coconut oil (VCO) in reducing S. mutans counts, plaque, and gingival indices, and to compare it with the gold standard chlorhexidine. Materials and methods: Twenty subjects (study) using VCO and 20 subjects using chlorhexidine (control) visiting the outpatient department of periodontics in the institute were chosen for the study. The gingival and plaque indices (baseline) in both groups were recorded following which unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected by spit method and sent for microbial count. They were then provided either of the VCO/mouthwash to swish once daily. Three weeks post-intervention, the recording of indices was repeated for both groups along with the microbial count. Results: The mean values of gingival and plaque indices preand post-intervention showed a statistically significant reduction in the control population compared with the study group, while there was no statistically significant reduction in the bacterial count seen. The difference in the scores of plaque index preand post-intervention was more in control group while the difference in the gingival index was similar in both groups, but statistically insignificant. Conclusion: Virgin coconut oil may not be as effective as chlorhexidine in reducing plaque while it may be as effective as chlorhexidine in reducing gingival index. Clinical significance: In comparison with newer chemical oral hygiene aids, coconut oil could still be used as a traditional adjuvant to reduce gingivitis in addition to routine brushing.


As the dagger kris is bound with many beliefs, myths, rituals and customs that are typical of Nusantara (Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines), it belongs to the symbols of the region. The kris is present on the majority of bigger islands of the Malay Archipelago and has many regional versions. It has a double-edged blade, straight or wavy, and dissymmetrical in the upper part. On both flats of the blade there is a bright, decorative pattern called the pamor (it contains some nickel), which is produced in a process similar to damascening. The hilt is figural or geometrical or sometimes of plant form and is often decorated with a relief. The hilts and sheaths are made of lacquered wood, and now and then of other materials (e.g. ivory or bone). Additionally, there are covers and rings of precious metals or alloys that are often set with precious stones or glass. It was believed that magical forces (ascribed to the kris) are sealed within in it during the ceremony of consecration by the smith empu. Also, the process of making the kris is treated as a sacred act. Believing in the magical powers of the kris originates from animism, i.e. from the epoch former to the Indic influence (from about the 4th century AD), which brought Buddhism and Hinduism to Indonesia. Elements of the animistic belief has remained there despite the coming of Islam to Java by the 16th century. The kris used to be transferred from father to son and it has belonged to the pusaka (Javanese: "heritage") along with other weaponry, instruments of the traditional orchestra gamelan (gongs included), jewelry, textiles, old sculptures and porcelain. Apart from its role as a weapon (this role disappeared first), the kris has been a symbol of social status, an element of a man's ceremonial costume, a talisman, and a ritual subject. It has existed in its fully developed form at least since the 14th century, and in the 2nd half of that century it spread to nearly all the Malaya Archipelago. It was supposed that the kris came from Java, or - according to other versions - China, Southeast Asia or India. There were theories that it had developed from a ray's sting or from a spearhead. Nowadays one accepts the G.C. Woolley theory from 1947 that the kris traces its origin back to the small kris-talisman called sajen or Majapahit kris. Next, according to the new theory by A. Maisey (from the 1990ies), it was a big war-kris called buda that gave rise to the contemporary kris. Nevertheless, there is an idea that the kris may have originated as a fusion of both types, because it unites their features within itself.


The technique of hydraulic fracturing is an essential way for reservoir stimulation. Prediction of hydraulic fracture geometry has been a difficult challenge in petroleum engineering. A 3D non-linear model is established for simulating hydraulic fracturing processes based on the ABAQUS code. The fluid-solid coupling equations consist of rock stress equilibrium, porous fluid mass conservation, Darcy's law and effective stress principle. The differential equations are discretized in finite element form and solved. The cohesive elements based on damage mechanics are adopted to model the fracture initiation and propagation.
A typical hydraulic fracturing process of a horizontal well in Daqing Oilfield, China is simulated with this model. Variation of proppant concentration during the fracturing procedure is taken into account by the user-subroutine we developed. The bottomhole pressure evolution obtained from the simulation is consistent with the field-measured data. Thus the model is verified.
For vertical fracture, the effect of formation porosity and clay content on fracture height containment is investigated and discussed. The rock properties are connected to porosity and clay content by a set of formulae. The results show that larger porosity and clay content could confine the fracture height. As the porosity of the pay layer increases, the permeability increases while the elastic modulus decreases. Since the fracturing fluid leaks off into the reservoir more easily for larger porosity formations, the fracture height decreases and the bottomhole pressure drops. With the increase of the clay content of barrier layers, the elastic modulus decreases and the tensile strength of rock material increases. And the fracture height will decrease as the material is more difficult to be damaged for larger clay content formations. Our work can provide a new understanding of fracture height containment and could benefit the design and practice of hydraulic fracture treatment.


Abstract Starting in 2019, the TESS mission will monitor the northern ecliptic pole for 1 year. Data will be collected at 30-minute and 2-minute cadences, and only a limited amount of slots will be reserved for targets requiring a 20- second cadence. Only the 20-second cadence is sufficient to sample p-mode oscillations in sdB stars. From the seismic measurements obtained with the Kepler spacecraft we have gained a wealth of new insights in structural and rotational aspects of mainly g-mode variable sdB stars. Unfortunately only one traditional p-mode sdB variable was found in the main Kepler field. The TESS mission offers the opportunity to obtain more long-time-base coverage of p-mode sdB variables, especially at the ecliptic poles where the time-base will be longest. Thus far, there were only two known (p-mode) sdBVs around the northern ecliptic pole (β > 78): LS Dra and V366 Dra. In this paper we describe our efforts to find more.We compiled a new sample of 76 sdB candidates around the northern ecliptic pole, based on GALEX and optical colours, and we used low-resolution Balmer-line spectroscopy for classification. We identified 39 new sdB stars, of which 29 have characteristics (Teff > 28000 K or a composite spectrum) that may put them in the p-mode instability strip.With our 39 new sdB stars, we augmented the number of known sdB stars in the the northern ecliptic pole area (β> 73) by 46%. Besides these sdB stars, among our spectral classifications are various sdO stars, He-sdB stars, blue horizontal-branch stars, white dwarfs, cataclysmic variables and main sequence B stars. We obtained time-resolved photometry of most of the p-mode sdB candidates, and found one new sdBV, J19384+5824, with a moderately high pulsation amplitude of ≥ 9 mmag.


Introduction. BCL-2 family members are crucial determinants for survival of normal and malignant B cells. Venetoclax, the BCL-2 targeting drug, is now successfully applied in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). CLL cells cycle between the lymph node (LN) and peripheral blood (PB), and in those compartments display major changes in expression of BCL-XL, MCL-1 and BFL-1, which are reportedly not targeted by Venetoclax. Indeed, prolonged in vitro CD40 engagement also induces expression of these BCL-2 family members and renders CLL cells resistant to Venetoclax (Thijssen et al Haematologica 2015). The BTK inhibitor Ibrutinib drives CLL cells out of the LN and deprives them of survival and proliferative signals. After prolonged therapy, Ibrutinib resistance develops in certain patients, who then show fast disease progression. It is currently unknown how LN expulsion or development of resistance affects expression of BCL-2 members. In order to design effective, long-term therapies including rational combinations, it is crucial to understand the contribution of distinct BCL-2 family members to resistance against these single drugs. Recent LN emigrants (CD5hi/CXCR4lo) can be distinguished from 9old9 returning cells (CD5lo/CXCR4hi; Calissano et al Mol med 2011), which allows for differential analysis of the two compartments using only PB samples. In addition, new BH3 mimetics targeting BCL-XL and MCL-1, and cysteine-reactive stapled BH3 peptides specific for BFL-1 (Huhn et al Cell Chem Biol 2016), constitute new tools for functional profiling of individual pro-survival BCL-2 members. Aims . We measured changes in prosurvival BCL-2 members in LN emigrants versus returning cells in PB samples of responding and relapsed patients on Ibrutinib treatment, and during Venetoclax ramp-up treatment. We also determined the contribution of individual BCL-2 members in determining CD40-induced resistance to Venetoclax by BH3 mimetic profiling (Peperzak, et al. CDD 2017), and by stapled peptides targeting BFL-1. Experimental procedures. Surface CD19/CD5/CXCR4 staining was combined with intracellular FACS staining for BCL-2, BCL-XL and MCL-1. Combinations of BH3 mimetics (ABT-199, WEHI-539, A1331852, A1210477, S63845), and a stapled BIM BH3 helix bearing an acrylamide warhead allowing selective covalent engagement of BFL-1, were applied in vitro to dissect Venetoclax resistance. Furthermore, RNA and siRNA nucleofection for individual BCL-2 members into CLL cells was applied. Results. In pretreatment blood samples, recent LN emigrants have higher BCL-XL and MCL-1 expression than returning cells. This clear distinction collapses in response to Ibrutinib ( currently N=15), indicating that although peripheral blood cell counts rise, blocking access to the LN effectively lowers expression of protective BCLXL and MCL-1 in vivo . However, in patients that develop Ibrutinib resistance (N=9), the MCL-1 or BCL-XL pre-treatment profile reappears. For such patients the next therapy might be Venetoclax, and we are investigating retrospectively to what extent Ibrutinib resistance and the rebound in BCL-XL or MCL-1 levels affects sensitivity for Venetoclax in vitro . Venetoclax treatment associates with rapid reduction of CLL cells from PB and LN (N=8), but in contrast to Ibrutinib no changes in BCL-2 members in LN emigrants versus immigrants were observed. In fact, their levels can even increase in patients that show residual cells at T = 1-1.5 months (N=2). To dissect the role of BCL-XL, MCL-1 and BFL-1 in CD40-induced maximal resistance to Venetoclax, we combined BH3 mimetics with a stapled peptide targeting BFL-1. We found that Venetoclax resistance in CD40-treated CLL cells can be reverted to almost pre-stimulation susceptibility by combined antagonism of BCL-XL and BFL-1. This pharmacologic approach was complemented with siRNA suppression or RNA overexpression for individual BCL-2 members. Combined, our data indicate that BCL-XL and also BFL-1 contribute strongly to Venetoclax resistance, while MCL-1 unexpectedly seems less dominant. Conclusions . 1) BCL-2 members can be used not only as drug targets but also as markers for response and relapse. 2) Strategies that combine Venetoclax with Ibrutinib to prevent access to the protective LN environment, or tailored combinations with other BH3 mimetics, hold promise for successful long-term treatment of CLL. Disclosures Tam: Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen Cilag: Honoraria, Research Funding. Forconi: AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Infinity: Consultancy, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Research Funding; Janssen-Cilag: Speakers Bureau. Walensky: Aileron Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Brown: Janssen Oncology: Honoraria; Redx: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Sun BioPharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Infinity Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Kater: Celgene: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding. Eldering: Gilead: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding.


Some chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents ¾ 1,1,1-trichloroethane, tricloroethylene and perchloroethylene ¾ have a common biotransformation product, trichloroacetic acid, which can be used as their biological exposure index. The spectrophotometric and gas chromatographic methods for the determination of trichloroacetic acid were studied and used as well as in its determination in the urine of workers exposed to 1,1,1-trichloroethane . Both methods showed good precision and no statistically significant difference was found although the gas cromatographic method presented a lower detection limit.


A learning style that lends itself for realization with an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) is case-based training. ITS contain expert knowledge and pedagogical knowledge, both of which facilitate training with a narrative storyline. Seemingly, a lot of case-based ITS don't take approaches of cognitive science into account. An approach is described that suggests the transferability of insights of cognitive science research in clinical medicine to a case-based ITS. Two cognitive processes, i.e. the process of diagnostic reasoning and the process of general knowledge application, are observed in everyday clinical practice. The training of both processes should be supported in case-based ITS.


The histopathologic diagnosis of orbital and ocular adnexal lymphoproliferative lesions is difficult, resulting controversy in classification, determining benignity or malignancy of them and treatment modality selection. We designed the following study to evaluate clinical, histopathologic and if necessary immunochemical features of them in decreasing indeterminate cases. The study includes 51 subjects of biopsy-proven orbital lymphoid lesions and inflammatory pseudotumors from pathologic practices of Farabi and Imain Khomeini Hospitals, from April 1994 to March 2000. We reviewed H&E stained slides. Then we examined clonality of indeterminate cases with evaluation of clonal immunoglobulin light chains (ĸ or λ) expression to find neoplastic cells. CD markers were used for excluding other closed morphologic differential diagnosis. In conclusion we determined 40 cases of lymphoproliferative lesions, divided to the following there groups: malignant lymphoma with sixty-five percent frequency were the most common type of them, reactive lymphoid hyperplasia with twenty percent was the second one and atypical lymphoid hyperplasia with fifteen percent was the third one. The most common site of involvement was orbit (57.5%). Males were affected slightly higher than females. Median age at diagnosis was 62 years. The most common type of lymphoma group was low-grade small lymphocytic lymphoma. It is necessary to note that 11 out of total 51 subjects were excluded under other pathologic diagnosis. On the other hand 4 cases of already diagnosed pseudo-tumors were reclassified into three lymphoid lesion categories above.


Functional barriers are multilayer structures deemed to prevent migration of some chemicals released by food-contact materials into food. In the area of plastics packaging, different migration behaviours of mono- and multilayer structures are assessed in terms of lag time and of their influence of the solubility of the migrants in food simulants. Whereas barriers to oxygen or to aromas must prevent the diffusion of these compounds under conditions of use, a functional barrier must also be efficient under processing conditions, to prevent diffusion of substances when the polymer layers are in contact at high (processing) temperatures. Diffusion in melted polymers at high temperatures is much slower for glassy polymers, than in polymers that are rubbery at ambient temperature. To evaluate the behaviour of functional barriers under conditions of use, a set of reference diffusion coefficients in the 40-60°C range were determined for 14 polymers. Conditions for accelerated migration tests are proposed based on worst-case activation energy in the 40-60°C range. For simulation of migration, numerical models are available. The rules derived from the models can be used both by industry (to optimize a material in terms of migration) or by risk assessors. Differences in migration behaviour between mono- and multilayer materials are discussed.


Abstract An ASTM International subcommittee on Respiratory Protection, F23.65 is currently developing a consensus standard for assessing respirator fit capability (RFC) criteria of half-facepiece air-purifying particulate respirators. The objective of this study was to evaluate if the test methods being developed for half-facepiece respirators can reasonably be applied to nonpowered full-facepiece–air-purifying respirators (FF–APR). Benchmark RFC test data were collected for three families of FF–APRs (a one-size-only family, a two-size family, and a three-size family). All respirators were equipped with P100 class particulate filters. Respirators were outfitted with a sampling probe to collect an in-mask particle concentration sample in the breathing zone of the wearer. Each of the six respirator facepieces was tested on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 25-subject Bivariate Panel. The RFC test assessed face seal leakage using a PortaCount fit test. Subjects followed the corresponding Occupational Safety and Health Administration-accepted fit test protocol. Two donnings per subject/respirator model combination were performed. The panel passing rate (PPR) (number or percentage of subjects in the panel achieving acceptable fit on at least one of two donnings) was determined for each respirator family at specified fit factor passing levels of 500, 1,000, and 2,000. As a reasonable expectation based on a previous analysis of alpha and beta fit test errors for various panel sizes, the selected PPR benchmark for our study was >75%. At the fit factor passing level of 500 obtained on at least one of two donnings, the PPRs for three-, two-, and one-size families were 100, 79, and 88%, respectively. As the fit factor passing criterion increased from 500 to 1,000 or 2,000, PPRs followed a decreasing trend. Each of the three tested families of FF–APRs are capable of fitting ≥75% of the intended user population at the 500 fit factor passing level obtained on at least one of two donnings. The methods presented here can be used as a reference for standards development organizations considering developing RFC test requirements.


Background: Risk factors for low back pain (LBP) among the deployed forces are still under shadow, while the consequences of LBP are already clarified. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the LBP risk factors associated with deployment-related exposures. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted as a questionnaire-based cohort study, in which 3862 Iranian soldiers participated. Results: Of the 1360 respondents, 350 (26%) reported LBP. The potential of nonresponse bias for the population of respondents was adjusted and the relationships between explanatory variables and LBP were analyzed using models of ordinal logistic regression. After the adjustment of all other variables, older age (P = 0.016), support from leaders (odds ratio (OR) = 1.69, P = 0.019), psychological stress (OR = 1.71, P = 0.009), working in depots or storehouses (OR = 2.60, P = 0.041), and awkward working positions (OR = 1.98, P = 0.001) were found to be associated with LBP. Maneuver and traffic accidents, sport or exposure to work, and lifestyle were not associated with LBP in this study, which was the result of the actual deployment only. Conclusions: In this study older age, lack of support from leaders, psychological stress, awkward working positions, and working in depots or storehouses were significantly associated with LBP after the adjustment of all other variables. Preventive measures should include predeployment preparation of leaders to cope with LBP and other musculoskeletal troubles among their subordinates and involve trained medical staff and specialized physiotherapists, advising soldiers of different military occupational specialties on how to optimize ergonomics at work.


Within polygynous breeding systems, intra-sexual selection between males generally leads to the formation of a dominance hierarchy. There has been debate over which factors favour the establishment of social dominance. Where some studies argue that body mass is the singular determinant of social rank, others show that rather than the males' mass, it is their length. However most of these studies have been of males from terrestrial systems. In terrestrially breeding polygynous species, dominant males secure not only mating access to females, but also to areas of high value food resources. For semi-aquatic mammals, such as the southern elephant seal, social dominance does not confer access to food resources as the males fast while ashore in the breeding colonies. The males' foraging choices made at sea, prior to the breeding haul outs, reflects a male´s diet prior to dominance establishment. We ask whether a male's diet, body mass and/or length conferred an advantage in attaining social dominance.
To reconstruct the diet of males of different social ranks we used bulk δ15N and δ13C values of serum collected from sexually mature male southern elephant seals (n=44) during the breeding season at King George Island, within the South Shetland archipelago. To identify which factors (diet-inferred from δ15N and δ13C values, body mass, and/or standard length) influenced male social rank, we conducted a series of mixed models and took a model selection approach. Socially dominant beachmasters had a larger body mass and significantly enriched δ15N values compared to less dominant males. The significant 15N enrichment (>3.4‰) of the dominant males, suggests that they fed on higher trophic prey. There was no difference in δ13C values of the males of different ranks suggesting that both dominant and subordinate males fed in similar regions. An interaction between diet (δ15N) and body size (both mass and length) explained the greatest variation between males' social rank. This interaction between body mass and diet (δ15N) potentially infers a feedback, such that males of a larger body mass can make deeper/longer dives, gaining access to larger prey and so confers a higher energetic efficiency.


Preface. Down Loadable Forms. Part 1. Introduction. Chapter 1. Project Management Is The New Critical Leadership Skill. Introduction. Project Management Is the Essential Skill Set for Twenty-first Century Leaders. Project Management as a Strategic Strength. The Art and Science of Project Leadership. The Practical Foundation for Successful Projects: How This Book Will Help You. Project Management Relies on Other Disciplines. End Point. Stellar Performer: Orthospot. Chapter 2. Foundation Principles Of Project Management. Introduction. Projects Require Project Management. The Evolution of a Discipline. The Definition of Success. The Cost-Schedule-Quality Equilibrium. The Ultimate Challenge: No Damage. Project Management Functions. Project Life Cycle. Organizing for Projects. Project Managers Are Leaders. End Point. Stellar Performer: Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center. PMP Exam Prep Questions. Part 2. Defining The Project. Chapter 3. Know Your Key Stakeholders And Win Their Cooperation. Introduction. Stakeholders Are the Heart of a Successful Project. Stakeholder Roles: Project Manager. Stakeholder Roles: Project Team. Stakeholder Roles: Management. Stakeholder Roles: The Customer. Stakeholder Roles: Representatives of External Constraints. Stakeholder Roles: Advocates, Opponents, and Innocent Bystanders. Make Stakeholder Identification a Repeatable Process. Lead the Stakeholders. End Point. PMP Exam Prep Questions. Chapter 4. Write The Rules: Five Key Documents To Manage Expectations And Define Success. Introduction. Project Rules Are the Foundation. Publish a Project Charter. Write a Statement of Work. Statement of Work: Minimum Content. Responsibility Matrix. Creating a Communication Plan. The Project Proposal Launches the Project. End Point. PMP Exam Prep Questions. Part 3. The Planning Process. Chapter 5. Risk Management: Minimize The Threats To Your Project. Introduction. The Risk Management Advantage. All Project Management Is Risk Management. The Risk Management Framework. Step One: Identify the Risks. Step Two: Analyze and Prioritize the Risks. Step Three: Develop Response Plans. Step Four: Establish Contingency and Reserve. Step Five: Continuous Risk Management. End Point. Stellar Performer: The Software Engineering Institute. PMP Exam Prep Questions. Chapter 6. Work Breakdown Structure: Break Your Project Into Manageable Units Of Work. Introduction. Defining the Work Breakdown Structure. Building a Work Breakdown Structure. Criteria for a Successful Work Breakdown Structure. Work Package Size. Planning for Quality. Breaking Down Large Programs. WBS Guidelines Vary. Contractors or Vendors Can Provide a WBS. End Point. PMP Exam Prep Questions. Chapter 7. Realistic Scheduling. Introduction. Planning Overview. Planning Step Two: Identify Task Relationships. Planning Step Three: Estimate Work Packages. Planning Step Four: Calculate an Initial Schedule. Planning Step Five: Assign and Level Resources. End Point. PMP Exam Prep Questions. Chapter 8. The Art And Science Of Accurate Estimating. Introduction. Estimating Fundamentals. Estimating Techniques. Building the Detailed Budget Estimate. Generating the Cash Flow Schedule. End Point. Stellar Performer: Tynet, Inc. Stellar Performer: Adobe Systems. PMP Exam Prep Questions. Chapter 9. Balancing The Trade-Off Among Cast, Schedule, And Quality. Introduction. Three Levels of Balancing a Project. Balancing at the Project Level. Balancing at the Business Case Level. Balancing at the Enterprise Level. End Point. Stellar Performer: SAFECO Field. Stellar Performer: Boeing 767-400ER. PMP Exam Prep Questions. Part 4. Controlling The Project. Chapter 10. Building A High-Performance Project Team. Introduction. A Framework for Building High-Performance Teams. Leadership Responsibilities. Building a Positive Team Environment. Ground Rules. Team Identity. Team Listening Skills. Meeting Management. Summary of Building a Positive Team Environment. Collaborative Problem Solving. Problem Analysis. Decision Modes. Conflict Management. Continuous Learning. Summary of Collaborative Problem Solving. Job Satisfaction. End Point. Stellar Performer: Habitat for Humanity. PMP Exam Prep Questions. Chapter 11. Clear Communication Among Project Stakeholders. Introduction. Project Communication. Communicating within the Project Team. Communicating with Management and Customers. Control Documents. The Change Management Process. Configuration Management. Change Management Guidelines Are Essential for Managing Expectations. Closeout Reporting. End Point. PMP Exam Prep Questions. Chapter 12. Measuring Progress. Introduction. Measuring Schedule Performance. Measuring Cost Performance. Earned Value Reporting. Cost and Schedule Baselines. End Point. PMP Exam Prep Questions. Chapter 13. Solving Common Project Problems. Introduction. Responsibility Beyond Your Authority. Disaster Recovery. Reducing the Time to Market. When the Customer Delays the Project. The Impossible Dream. Fighting Fires. Managing Volunteers. Achieving the Five Point Success Factors. End Point. Part 5. Advancing Your Practice Of Project Management. Chapter 14. Enterprise Project Management: Coordinate All Projects And Project Resources In Your Organization. Introduction. Defining Enterprise Project Management. Three Tiers of Management within EPM. The Four Components of EPM. Establish Consistent EPM Processes. Technology Enables EPM Processes. The People Who Deliver Projects. Support Project Management: The Project Office. End Point. Chapter 15. Project Portfolio Management: Align Project Resources With Business Strategy. Introduction. Project Portfolio Management as a System. Building the Initial Portfolio. The Portfolio Changes with the Enterprise. End Point. Chapter 16. Requirements Engineering: The Key To Building The Right Product. Introduction. Requirements Engineering and Project Management Are Intimately Connected. Requirement Types Illustrate the Evolving Product Vision. Requirements Engineering Scope and Processes. Requirements Development Activities. Requirements Mangement Activities. Requirements Documentation Techniques. Requirements Engineering Demands Discipline. End Point. Chapter 17. Applying Lean Principles To Projects. Introduction. Lean Principles for Product Manager. Lean Techniques Tailored to Project Management. End Point . Chapter 18. Pmp Exam Preparation. Introduction. What Are the Requirements to Earn the PMP? Top 10 Study Tips for the PMP Exam. End Point. Chapter 19. Microsoft Project: Guidelines For Effective Use. Introduction. Project Management Software Supports the Discipline. Looking Under the Hood: The Design of Project. Set Up the Project First. Follow the Planning Model in This Book. Task Types: Fix the Duration, Work, or Resource Level. Assigning Resources to a Project. Resource Leveling Your Schedule. End Point. Appendix. The Detailed Planning Model. Notes. Index.


Abstract. This essay has the objective of performing a spatial analysis and of identifying spatial pattern configurations of scorpion accidents, in order to assist in the implementation of projects and interventions for the prevention and control of areas infested by venomous animals. Between the data surveys and statistical data bank organizations we can quote the Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde - DATASUS (Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System), agency of the Secretaria de Gestão Estratégica e Participativa do Ministério da Saúde (Office of Strategic and Participatory Management at the Ministry of Health), in the years of 2019 and 2020, for the Brazilian territory. The modeling and data collection were developed, and organized into a geographic database, exploratory data analysis, spatial analysis, as well as the production of thematic maps, with identified spatial patterns. As a result a systematized set of thematic maps was obtained which presents the distribution of scorpion-caused accidents. Finally, a geographic analysis was conducted in order to analyze the data and results found, as well as the information conveyed in terms of demographic factors. It was found then a certain concentration of cases, which can generate a relationship between tropical climates and with the distribution of urbanized areas.


The impact of intermediate input price increases on food prices is analyzed assuming the producers can pass through increased production costs to final consumers. Five scenarios of input price increases are empirically examined. Findings indicate that the meat processing sector has a strong dependence on intermediate inputs (livestock), and an increase in livestock prices would have a greater impact on processed meat prices than would any other intermediate input price increases. Price increases in the service sector would result in overall price increases in food prices comparable to increases in intermediate agricultural commodities. Further, price increases in nondurable goods have more influence on food price increases than durable goods.