There is here a problem of framing, of bordering and delimitation, whose analysis must be very finely detailed if it wishes to ascertain the effects of fiction. - Jacques Derrida, "Le facteur de la verite" If we are to approach a text, it must have an edge. - Jacques Derrida, "Living On: Border Lines" The interaction of creativity with interpretation concerned Robert Browning throughout a career in which he made the dramatic monologue converge sound, silence and audition, as well as image and vision. Reading such a poem is like being drawn into it, having to side with its personae, while feeling extraneous or beside the point; more than sympathy or judgment, these alternatives lead readers to self-reflection, to seeing themselves shifting between the center and the border of some artistic design. Nevertheless, as many readings of "My Last Duchess" show, "this most dramatically paragonal of all ekphrastic poems" (Heffernan 144) undermines such a simple scheme of moving or fixing readers. This dramatic monologue, arguably Browning's premier work, adds a pictorial, fourth dimension to the usual pattern of speaker and silent auditor in a momentous, reader-monitored situation. Eyeing the poem's nested utterances, we do not actually see fictitious Fra Pandolf's imaginary portrait of the "last Duchess" (line 1), whose peerless "looks" (24) from inside an iconic "wonder" (3) will supposedly imprint the envoy. Yet the painted work, surrounded by discourse and history, is invaluable as a touchstone - a paragon - for appraising readers, who "turn" (9, 13), or change, to Browning or his personae. Our cognition of "My Last Duchess" is parergonal (i.e., framed and framing), like the Duke of Ferrara's intention to finish his wife as a person and as an objet d'art. But also like him, we find art turns on - pivoting, resisting, and starting - interpretive possession, which is what we own that enthralls or inhabits us. The printed poem is a stable verbal icon, but it becomes metamorphic if we gain the duke's grace, the envoy's hearing, the duchess's fixed glance, and Fra Pandolf's gifted words to draw it out. Browning learned from his earlier Pauline, Paracelsus, and Sordello to make his poetry less introverted, more collaborative. Although "My Last Duchess" is complete before us, our work supplements Browning's. By removing himself as the center of attention, the poet allows us to replace him when reading is keen and trim. That is, strong readers possess a character that puts our work at the cutting edge of language, which nevertheless resists all displays of finishing. Reading, although susceptible to elimination, marks off those openings and surfaces where a poem passes for us or is about us. We achieve this complicity with the poet by seeing through the eyes of characters who shape the dramatic circumstances, while we also register, experience, and cross their limits. One result of dissolving lines between paragon and parergon, or cynosure and scope, is that we glimpse "truth / Beyond mere imagery on the wall" (The Ring and the Book 12:858-59). The drama within "My Last Duchess" turns out(ward) to shatter the poem as a mere typographical replica of the "last Duchess" "That's . . . painted on the wall" (1, emphasis added). The duke minds Fra Pandolf's work, however good it may be, less for its potent image than for its (un)canny pretext; Browning's outstanding poem, too, is iconographic, another speaking picture which we heed, while it sizes us up as critical guests. At the start of their respective careers, a Renaissance aristocrat (whose best art may be showing his art) and a Victorian poet are discovering "That Art remains the one way possible / Of speaking truth, to mouths like [theirs], at least" (The Ring and the Book 12:839-40). Art "speaking truth" evokes critical dialogue, our wandering looks and unstoppable smiles. Our exposing "My Last Duchess" to interpretive light and its characters to the dust of history transfigures the duke's action when he "puts by / The curtain" (9-10) covering a work of art. …


Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) are popular for graph machine learning and have shown great results on wide node classification tasks. Yet, they are less popular for practical deployments in the industry owing to their scalability challenges incurred by data dependency. Namely, GNN inference depends on neighbor nodes multiple hops away from the target, and fetching them burdens latency-constrained applications. Existing inference acceleration methods like pruning and quantization can speed up GNNs by reducing Multiplication-and-ACcumulation (MAC) operations, but the improvements are limited given the data dependency is not resolved. Conversely, multi-layer perceptrons (MLPs) have no graph dependency and infer much faster than GNNs, even though they are less accurate than GNNs for node classification in general. Motivated by these complementary strengths and weaknesses, we bring GNNs and MLPs together via knowledge distillation (KD). Our work shows that the performance of MLPs can be improved by large margins with GNN KD. We call the distilled MLPs Graph-less Neural Networks (GLNNs) as they have no inference graph dependency. We show that GLNNs with competitive accuracy infer faster than GNNs by 146X-273X and faster than other acceleration methods by 14X-27X. Under a production setting involving both transductive and inductive predictions across 7 datasets, GLNN accuracies improve over stand-alone MLPs by 12.36% on average and match GNNs on 6/7 datasets. Comprehensive analysis shows when and why GLNNs can achieve competitive accuracies to GNNs and suggests GLNN as a handy choice for latency-constrained applications.


A systematic approach to constructing intercrystallite boundaries (IBs) in graphene is developed based on the structural units (SUs) model of grain boundaries (GBs). The approach operates with SUs composed of carbon octagons, heptagons, pentagons and squares, which correspond to six-member carbon rings of an ideal hexagonal graphene lattice altered by wedge disclinations of different strength. A linear periodic arrangement of SUs containing disclination dipoles and quadrupoles is used to construct IBs in graphene. The energies of symmetric IBs are calculated in molecular dynamics simulations and are used for evaluation of the feasibility of experimental fabrication of the IBs in graphene.


Background: Approximately 16 million adolescent girls aged 15–19 years and 2 million adolescents under the age of 15 years give birth annually in the world. In Africa, where premarital sex is not accepted, especially for young women, unintended pregnancies mostly happen outside marriage. Recent data indicate that 18% of adolescent girls aged 15–19 years in eastern/southern region of Africa and 21% in western/central region of Africa had initiated childbearing. Teenage pregnancy and parenting remain important public health issues that deserve continued attention. The specific factors and beliefs that lead to contraceptive nonuse remain obscure, and up-to-date, evidence-based data on personal and environmental determinants of teenage pregnancy and case–control studies also are lacking in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the determinants of teenage pregnancy to help policymakers, program managers, and health-care authorities with better decision-making in planning and problem-solving in Ethiopia. Methods: A case–control study was conducted using data set obtained from 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey conducted throughout the country from January 18, 2016, to June 27, 2016. All teenagers who had a pregnancy history were enrolled as cases (381) and 1524 teenagers who were not pregnant were taken as controls.. Necessary variables were extracted from the DHS data set after literatures were revised. Then, variables with P ≤ 0.25 were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression. Results: Educational level, wealth index, knowledge of ovulatory cycle after period ended, knowledge of family planning method, contraceptive use, and reasons for not using contraceptives were higher among the cases and were statistically significant. Conclusion: Knowledge of family planning and ovulatory cycle, primary school educational level, richest wealth category, and contraception use were the determinants of teenage pregnancy. Hence, educational level, knowledge gap, and economy should be emphasized to eradicate teenage pregnancy from Ethiopia.


Physical activity (PA) is an important non-therapeutic tool in primary prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). To improve activity-based health management, patients need to quantify activity-related energy expenditure and the other components of total daily energy expenditure. This review explores differences between the components of total energy expenditure in patients with DM and healthy people and presents various tools for assessing the energy expenditure in subjects with DM. From this review, it appears that patients with uncontrolled DM have a higher basal energy expenditure (BEE) than healthy people which must be considered in the establishment of new BEE estimate equations. Moreover, studies showed a lower activity energy expenditure in patients with DM than in healthy ones. This difference may be partially explained by patient with DMs poor compliance with exercise recommendations and their greater participation in lower intensity activities. These specificities of PA need to be taken into account in the development of adapted tools to assess activity energy expenditure and daily energy expenditure in people with DM. Few estimation tools are tested in subjects with DM and this results in a lack of accuracy especially for their particular patterns of activity. Thus, future studies should examine sensors coupling different technologies or method that is specifically designed to accurately assess energy expenditure in patients with diabetes in daily life.


The thermal degradation behavior of high char yield phenolic resin (PF1.2) synthesized by us was investigated, in comparison with that of commercial resin (PF1.5), using TGA and 13C-NMR techniques. It was found that the degradation process of PF1.2 behaved very similar to that of PF1.5 during heat treatment up to 700 °C under N2 atmosphere, but resulted in a somewhat different extent of some specific reactions. That was, although the reactions occurring up to 700 °C were dominated by crosslinking and/or polyaromatization, fewer methyl bonds from breaking of methylene bridges were formed in PF1.2 than in PF1.5. As a consequence, a higher char yield of 73.8% of PF1.2 than that of PF1.5 (57.5%) up to 700 °C under N2 atmosphere was attached, with better thermal properties.


The work about to be described is a continuation of an investigation begun by one of us at Princeton, New Jersey, on the scattering of electrons by gas atoms. The conditions there were so chosen that only single collisions were taken into account, and it was possible to investigate not only the energy loss on collision, as in the Franck and Hertz experiments, but also the direction of the path of the electron after collision. By employing a magnetic analysis of the velocity of the electron after impact it was found possible to obtain information as to the probability of excitation of various stationary states of the atom considered, on collision with electrons of much higher velocities than could previously be used. The curves relating scattered intensity with angle of scattering were found to have sharp maxima, which were strongly suggestive of diffraction maxima, as might be expected if the motion of electrons is governed by the wave mechanics. But whereas the wave mechanics has been eminently successful in explaining the scattering results of Davisson and Germer with single metal crystals, and of Thomson and Rupp with thin metal foils the results of Dymond have been inexplicable on this basis. It may be said at once that we have been unable to find any trace of the sharp maxima found by him in I, which were apparently due to a secondary cause. Indeed, as has recently been pointed out by Elsasser, no interference effects can be expected, when the electron loses energy on collision, the case in which Dymond found maxima, for the frequencies of the electron before and after interaction with the atom are different and there can consequently be no coherence of the scattered waves.


Abstract Nineteen embryonic stages of the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758), were described between day 6 and hatching (52 days). Eggs were collected at random from fresh nests approximately 10–12 hours post oviposition. The eggs were placed in a precision incubator adjusted to a narrow temperature range (30±0.05°C). Fundamental development occurred between stages 1–4 with the appearance of the optic cup, otic vesicle, heart, pharyngeal clefts, tail bud and rapid differentiation of the brain. In stages 5–9, there was a significant increase in body size and further differentiation of the brain regions. The carapace and plastron began to appear with plates and scutes. The lens of each eye was large with a pigmented iris; eyelids were present. The paddle-shaped limbs appeared with further development of digits. Pigmentation gradually began to spread over the entire body. In stages 10–19, there was a gradual increase in the size and form of different areas in the head region. The pigmentation was more intense, particularly in the head, neck, carapace and limbs. There was a steady increase in skin thickness with wrinkling and folding, especially in the head, neck and limbs. The limbs exhibited rapid differentiation leading to the formation of flippers with claws. The carapace and plastron, with their plates and scutes, were rapidly taking their final form. The yolk sac began to recede into the abdominal cavity. At hatching, the embryo still maintained an umbilical swelling which disappeared 48 hours later. The pipping stage lasted over 30 hours, with the embryo leaving the egg afterwards. The staging patterns from this investigation will be used as a model to be compared with the staging pattern under natural incubation for the Green Turtle at Ras Al-Hadd.


Problem statement: 5S practice is one of the techniques to improve quality environment, health and safety at the workplace. Evaluation of 5S practice can be done through implementation of 5S audit at each division in the company. Approach: Through 5S audit, it enables each company to identify the potential level of quality improvement and at the same time can analyze their ability and weakness of each division in the company. Therefore, in order to assess the implementation of 5S practice, two manufacturing companies were involved in this study. Results: The study started with understanding background of the company, recognizing divisions to be assessed in the company and come out with the complete 5S checklist for each division for auditing process. Based on the result, both companies basically perform an excellent 5S practice, but there are a few weaknesses that still need to be considered such as arrangement of the documents, tool and equipment. Conclusion/Recommendations: Moreover, both companies agreed that the 5S practice is seen as an effective technique that can improve housekeeping, environmental performance, health and safety standards in their workplace. However, effort and participation from top management is a key factor that determines the success of the 5S practice.


The nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding the common biosynthetic precursor of substance P, neurokinin A and neuropeptide K (beta-preprotachykinin) predicts that, in the human, the precursor contains a C-terminal flanking peptide of 19 amino acid residues [beta-preprotachykinin(111-129)-peptide]. Using an antiserum raised against synthetic human beta-preprotachykinin(117-126)-peptide in radioimmunoassay, we have demonstrated that an extract of a human neuroendocrine tumor of the adrenal medulla contained approximately equimolar concentrations of C-terminal preprotachykinin immunoreactivity (C-PPT-IR), substance P and neurokinin A. The C-terminal preprotachykinin flanking peptide was purified to homogeneity and its primary structure was determined. The amino acid sequence of the peptide, Ala-Leu-Asn-Ser-Val-Ala-Tyr-Glu-Arg-Ser-Ala-Met-Gln-Asn-Tyr-Glu, indicates identity with beta-preprotachykinin(111-126)-peptide. The data suggest that the C-terminal flanking peptide, like the tachykinins, is packed into secretory storage vesicles but the Arg127-Arg128-Arg129 residues in human beta-preprotachykinin are removed from the peptide by the action of endogenous processing enzyme(s).


Summary Obsessive-compulsive patients with a history of poor impulse control were identified and compared with non-impulsive obsessive-compulsive patients. Although both groups reported comparable obsessive-compulsive symptoms, the impulsive group rated significantly higher on disturbances during childhood, which included learning problems, low frustration tolerance, poor interpersonal relationships and attention-seeking behaviour. The impulsive group also scored highly on the neuroticism scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and reported a higher incidence of somatic symptoms. It appears that poor impulse control was related to disturbances which had already manifested themselves during childhood, while the obsessive-compulsive disorder was superimposed at a later time.


In free space optical (FSO) communication systems, atmospheric turbulence is the major cause of bit error rate (BER) performance degradation. The error performance of the system can be significantly improved with the help of spatial diversity by employing multiple transmit or receive apertures. However, correlation of channels under turbulence in the case of small separation between transmit apertures can substantially reduce the benefits of spatial diversity. Still, a thorough analysis of the system performance in terms of diversity order and coding gain for the FSO multiple-input single-output (MISO) system under turbulence influenced correlated channels has not been studied when the repetition coding is used to achieve improved BER performance. In this paper, we provide unique results of the BER performance analysis of the considered correlated FSO-MISO system over Gamma–Gamma distributed turbulence channel. Using the joint moment generating function of received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a novel generalized approximate BER expression is derived, followed by convergence test of the power series based BER expression using the Cauchy's ratio test. Then, an asymptotic analysis at high SNR is performed to obtain a novel closed-form expression for BER of FSO-MISO system. We also derive expressions for coding gain, diversity gain, and coding gain loss due to correlation in channels. Although the effect of correlation in channels on the BER performance of the system is analyzed under different scenarios, while it is observed that it does not affect the diversity order; it significantly degrades the coding gain of the considered system.


documented during anesthesia in patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists. The success of GLP-1 receptor agonists in treating obesity has led to additional research. As recently documented in Nature News, another generation of obesity medications is in development (Nature 2023;619:19). A problem with the existing GLP-1 receptor agonists is that they are peptides that must be given by injection. Orforglipron is a nonpeptide GLP-1 receptor agonist that can be given as a daily oral tablet. Randomized controlled trials demonstrate efficacy similar to semaglutide (N Engl J Med June 2023; Lancet 2023:S0140-6736). The peptide retatrutide is a "triple agonist," binding the GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors. A phase 2 study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated 24% weight loss at one year – an astonishing result (N Engl J Med June 2023). Obesity is a global health concern, estimated to affect more than 40% of the U.S. population including more than 17% of children and adolescents (J Obes 2022;2022:7652408; Mol Diagn Ther 2020;24:653-63). Obesity is a cause of major health care disparities, disproportionately affecting minorities and lower socioeconomic groups (Curr Diab Rep 2015;15:95). Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and mental health conditions (Sensors (Basel)2020;20:2734; Comput Biol Med 2021;136:104754). It is also a risk factor for surgical complications and increased hospital stays (BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 2016;4:e000200). In the United States, obesity has been estimated to account for $147 billion in additional health care expenses and lost productivity (Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2010;3:285-95). The high cost of GLP-1 receptor agonists must be weighed against the health care and economic costs of obesity. GLP-1 receptor agonists are currently primarily used in patients whose diabetes cannot be managed with generic medications. However, from what we know now, the efficacy of these drugs, documented in both the peer-reviewed literature and publicized on social media, will increasingly draw attention to their benefits. Given the personal and societal costs of obesity, we will increasingly see these drugs in our patients. So, yes, Jimmy Kimmel, Ozempic might be right for you. n diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, distention, burping, GERD, and flatulence. These are experienced by nearly half of the subjects in some trials. In several of the semaglutide trials, approximately 5% of the study subjects in the active arm discontinued therapy because the GI effects could not be tolerated. Fortunately (for everyone involved), these adverse events attenuated or completely disappeared within a month or two. It should be mentioned that recent news stories have uncovered cases of severe gastroparesis that may have resulted from or been exacerbated by Ozempic, but no scientific conclusions have been reached as of this publication date ( asamonitor.pub/3rBFdJx). On June 29, the ASA Task Force on Preoperative Fasting released consensusbased guidance on the preoperative management of patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, which included recommendations to hold dosing up to a week before surgery ( asamonitor.pub/3O9to4O) GLP-1 receptor agonists share a black box warning about thyroid C-cell tumors because they cause thyroid tumors in rats. A case control study of 2,562 patients with thyroid cancer and 45,184 matched controls found a hazard ratio of 1.6 for thyroid cancer in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists (Diabetes Care 2023;46:84-390). Because GLP-1 receptor agonists delay gastric emptying, there is the possibility of aspiration risk in patients taking semaglutides (Anaesthesia July 2023). Regurgitation of large gastric volumes following anesthesia induction in a fasted patient on semaglutide has been recently documented (Can J Anaesth March 2023). Because these drugs are often given as weekly injections, reducing the risk of aspiration may require withholding them for a week or more prior to elective surgery (asamonitor.pub/3O9to4O). The indirect mechanism of action for GLP-1 inhibitors would theoretically make hypoglycemia less likely than for drugs that directly decrease blood glucose levels. The risk of hypoglycemia in patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists – including semaglutide – is very low in clinical trials, approaching zero in randomized controlled trials for obesity where both active and control groups are not taking additional medications to reduce blood glucose (Advances in Therapy 2021;38:1470-82). As of this writing, hypoglycemia has not been incretins for the treatment of diabetes. The incretin of greatest interest has been the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a peptide comprising 30 or 31 amino acids secreted when food is consumed (asamonitor. pub/3pOx8AX). Not surprisingly, GLP-1 binds to the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, appropriately located on beta cells in the pancreas (regulating insulin) and the brain regions that control appetite. Drugs that target this receptor, mimicking the action of GLP-1, are called GLP-1 receptor agonists. GLP-1 receptor agonists increase insulin production, decrease glucagon production, and reduce appetite. Semaglutide is one of several approved GLP-1 receptor agonists, a list that includes exenatide, liraglutide, albiglutide, dulaglutide, lixisenatide, and tirzepatide (Mounjaro®). The latter is also an agonist of the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (mercifully abbreviated as "GIP") that lowers blood sugar after eating. In prospective randomized clinical trials, tirzepatide has been more effective than semaglutide in the treatment of diabetes and obesity (N Engl J Med 2021;385:503-15; Diabetes Obes Metab 2023; 1-8; Int J Obes 2023; 47:677–85; Diabetes Ther 2023;14:92536). Tirzepatide may be cost-effective compared to semaglutide (Diabetes Obes Metab 2023;25:1292-1300). Currently, tirzepatide is only indicated for diabetes (asamonitor.pub/3OnEQvj). However, Lilly has received FDA fast track designation for approval of tirzepatide for obesity (asamonitor.pub/3pOEy7g), so we can anticipate Mounjaro blowing up social media in the very near future. GLP-1 receptor agonists share common side effects. The most common are gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, Hosting the 95 th Academy Awards, Jimmy Kimmel opened his monologue by saying, "Everybody looks so great! When I look around this room, I can't help but wonder, 'Is Ozempic right for me?'" Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) is blowing up social media because it works (Diabetes Obes Metab 2017; 19:1242-51; Lancet 2018;392:637-64; N Engl J Med 2021;384:989-1002; N Engl J Med 2021;384:1066-7; N Engl J Med 2022; 387:2245-57; Nat Med 2022;28:2083-91; Obesity 2023;31:703-15; JAMA 2021; 325:1414-25). Patients on semaglutide typically lose 15% of their weight after a year of weekly injections. The weight loss is accompanied by reduced blood glucose and reduced HbA1c (uniformly demonstrated in all trials), improved cardiac function (N Engl J Med 2016;375:183444), improved renal function (N Engl J Med 2016;375:1834-44), improved liver function (N Engl J Med 2021;384:111324), reduced indicators of metabolic syndrome (N Engl J Med 2021;384:111324), and reduced all-cause mortality (Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2021;9:65362). Secondary analyses of the published clinical trial data even suggest therapeutic efficacy in Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease (Pharm Res 2022;39:1233-48; Alzheimers Dement. 2022;8:e12268)! It seems to be too good to be true! However, the impressive list of references in leading medical and scientific journals documenting efficacy speaks to the sustained and highly reproducible benefits of semaglutide in treating obesity. The possibility of benefit in neurodegenerative diseases has not been demonstrated in a prospective randomized controlled trial with a primary endpoint of cognitive decline, but such studies are ongoing ( asamonitor.pub/3Dmbas2). Incretins are gastrointestinal peptide hormones induced by eating (asamonitor. pub/44wOOQA). Incretins promote insulin secretion and inhibit the secretion of glucagon. Scientists have long studied


Human fetal bone fragments implanted in the immunodeficient C.B-17 scid/scid (SCID) mouse were shown to sustain active human hematopoiesis in vivo. Human progenitor cell activity was maintained for as long as 20 weeks after implantation and was associated with multilineage differentiation in the engrafted bone. Thus, the bone implants provided stem cells as well as the microenvironment requisite for their long- term maintenance and multilineage differentiation. Administration of human erythropoietin (Epo) stimulated human erythropoiesis in human bone implants. This animal model may facilitate direct analysis of a wide variety of physiologic and pathologic conditions of human bone marrow (BM) in vivo.


Wandering Peoples is a chronicle of cultural resiliency, colonial relations, and trespassed frontiers in the borderlands of a changing Spanish empire. Focusing on the native subjects of Sonora in Northwestern Mexico, Cynthia Radding explores the social process of peasant class formation and the cultural persistence of Indian communities during the long transitional period between Spanish colonialism and Mexican national rule. Throughout this anthropological history, Radding presents multilayered meanings of culture, community, and ecology, and discusses both the colonial policies to which peasant communities were subjected and the responses they developed to adapt and resist them.

Radding describes this colonial mission not merely as an instance of Iberian expansion but as a site of cultural and political confrontation. This alternative vision of colonialism emphasizes the economic links between mission communities and Spanish mercantilist policies, the biological consequences of the Spanish policy of forced congregacion , and the cultural and ecological displacements set in motion by the practices of discipline and surveillance established by the religious orders. Addressing wider issues pertaining to ethnic identities and to ecological and cultural borders, Radding's analysis also underscores the parallel production of colonial and subaltern texts during the course of a 150-year struggle for power and survival.


A study was designed to document the responsiveness of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrcnal axis to the stress of circumcision during the first 6 hours of life. There was a rise in both scrum cortisol and cortisone levels in all infants studied. The rise in cortisol was greater than the rise in cortisone in all infants.


Abstract The Internet provides a challenge to existing media structures and cultural values, particularly in the distribution of recorded music. Peer‐to‐peer (P2P) file‐sharing sites like Napster and KaZaA have facilitated the widespread downloading of unlicensed music and the creation of a new kind of shared culture. In response, the established music industry is simultaneously attempting to undermine the impact of these exchanges (describing them as theft) and to take advantage of the possibilities of the Internet in reducing distribution costs and offering the possibility of a more direct relationship between labels and consumers. By drawing on both historical and contemporary analyses of the music industry, this article critiques the argument that digital downloads are necessarily hurting legal' record sales and then problematises dominant definitions of piracy. The article then evaluates the evolving strategies of the major record companies as they try to come to terms with P2P culture and concludes that, while they may have the resources and the legal clout to withstand the challenge, they lack the cultural capital embodied in these new decentralised systems of cultural distribution and consumption.


Aim of the study was to investigate peculiarities of effects of rosuvastatin on the state of oxidative stress and endogenous inflammation in patients with extensive atherosclerosis. Patients with extensive atherosclerosis included into the study (n=46, mean age 56.5 +/- 2.2 years) were distributed to 2 equivalent according to clinico-instrumental data groups. To patients of group 1 (n=24) standard therapy was prescribed (antiaggregants, ACE inhibitors, b-adrenoblockers, and nitrates when indicated), patients of group 2 (n=22) in addition to standard therapy took rosuvastatin (10 mg/day). Investigations included measurement of parameters of serum lipid profile, content of thiol groups of blood serum proteins, activity of enzyme glutathione peroxidase, in vivo oxidation of whole blood serum and HDL, concentration of 3-nitrotirosine, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, activity of type 2IIA secretory phospholipase A2. It was found that level of 3-nitrotirosine and activity of secretory phospholipase A2 together with high sensitivity C-reactive protein appear to be effective markers of systemic oxidative stress and endogenous inflammation in patients with extensive atherosclerosis. Treatment with rosuvastatin in moderate doses significantly suppressed activity of endogenous inflammation and oxidative stress by way of activation of antioxidant system of plasma, decrease of oxidation of fractions of lipoproteins, suppression of " nitrotirosine " stress, as well as partial inhibition of efficacy of action of secretory phospholipase A2, lowering of content of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6.


Potency of Thermoelectric Generator for Hybrid Vehicle. Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) has been known as electricity generation for many years. If the temperature difference occurred between two difference semi conductor materials, the current will flow in the material and produced difference voltage. This principle is known as Seebeck effect that is the opposite of Peltier effect Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC). This research was conducted to test the potential of electric source from twelve peltier modules. Then, these thermoelectric generators were applied in hybrid car by using waste heat from the combustion engine. The experiment has been conducted with variations of peltier module arrangements (series and parallels) and heater as heat source for the thermoelectric generator, with variations of heater voltage input (110V and 220V) applied. The experimental result showed that twelve of peltier modules arranged in series and heater voltage of 220V generated power output of 8.11 Watts with average temperature difference of 42.82°C. This result shows that TEG has a bright prospect as alternative electric source.


A focused study on the C-band polarimetric scattering and physical characteristics of frost-flower-covered sea ice was conducted at the Sea-Ice Environmental Research Facility over a three day period. Sea ice was grown in an outdoor pool outfitted with automated sensors to monitor environmental conditions. C-band polarimetric scattering measurements were conducted continuously at a range of incidence angles, and surface roughness statistics were obtained at discrete times using a laser scanner system LiDAR. Four stages of development were identified that exhibited notably different physical and scattering characteristics: 1) initial formation; 2) surface brine expulsion; 3) frost flower growth; and 4) decimation. An optimal polarization and incidence angle is not readily apparent for the purposes of identifying the frost flower development Stages I-III; however, the lower incidence angles (25° and 35°) appear to be most sensitive to the surface brine expulsion. Only the dual-polarization measurements at low incidence angles (e.g., 25°) could be used to identify the onset of the decimation stage. Backscatter increased rapidly during the initial formation, with a local maximum corresponding to ~ 80% areal coverage of frost flowers, followed by a local minimum when the surface was covered by a brine-rich surface layer, connoting that surface brine expulsion may be identified using polarimetric scatterometry.


People who suffer from chronic pain are at greater risk of developing psychological disorders like a depression. Therefore it is important to search for factors that contribute to an adaptive dealing with the pain. In this study it is examined (1) if people were able to experience positive mental health despite their chronic pain and (2) if the two-continua model of mental health also applies to people who suffer from chronic pain.
For this study 940 participants were selected of which 471 were suffering from chronic pain. The MHC-SF was used to measure positive mental health and the BSI was used to measure psychopathology. The participants filled out the questionnaires at four measurement occasions in the course of nine months. The reciprocal impact of positive mental health and psychopathology was investigated by applying a cross-lagged panel design.
The results showed that for participants who suffered from chronic pain there was a higher level of psychopathology but not a lower level of positive mental health compared to participants who didn't suffer from chronic pain. Besides this it appeared that positive mental health and psychopathology were reasonably stable over time and that there was a low correlation between the two (r = -.31). Finally the results showed that the changes in positive mental health had predictive value for psychopathology later in time and that the changes in psychopathology had predictive value for positive mental health later in time. This indicates that treatments of chronic pain could focus on enhancing positive mental health to reduce psychopathological symptoms and to reduce the risk of developing such symptoms. Further implications and limitations of this study are discussed.


Research on auditorium's seat density of the theater is one of the most important aspects in theater research. The right seat density not only insures the comfort and evacuation of the audiences, but also improves the economic benefit, performance effect and acoustics quality. The seat density has the trend to reduce continually, but the disadvantage should be studied carefully. To choose the right width, row spacing and the pattern of the chairs, is one of the most important factors of the theater design and operation.


The coupled two dimensional (2D) Cellular Automaton (CA) Finite Element (FE) model has been extended based on the recent work by Guillemot et al. [1]. Extensions concern i microsegregation at the scale of the CA cells ii macrosegregation at the scale of the FE mesh based on a remeshing technique. The model is applied to segregation taking place upon single grain nucleation and growth from the centre of a spherical domain. The simulation retrieves the prediction of Heringer et al. [2]. Application to solidification of a spherical Al-4wt%Cu droplet demonstrates its capability to deal with mass exchange by diffusion outside the grain envelope defined by the mushy zone together with back diffusion in the solid [3].


Who am I? Reflections in a Broken Mirror video, was a creative exploration into identity using the mirror as a tool for self-reflection. Through the creative process of deconstructing (breaking the mirror and removing the shards), and reconstructing (putting the shards back together again), the mirror became a tangible reflection of an existential crisis. Through this creative exploration I realized that the badge of honor "˜survivor' was not enough, a conclusion consistent with other research into childhood abuse. This terminology does not recognize or incorporate other aspects of one's life and sense of self. While survivor identity has a place in the process of healing by celebrating personal strengths and community with others who have had similar traumatic experiences, it is a stigmatized identity that is constricting and closely associated with abuse. It is important to acknowledge the multiple roles we play and the rich diversity of life experiences, and to use traumatic life experiences as a potential catalyst for new insights and transformation. Keywords: existential crisis, self-reflection, identity, art therapy, abuse, mirror


In this article, the authors investigate whether employing individual commodity futures provides a superior optimized risk–return strategy relative to an equity portfolio, given the recent rise in correlations between commodity and equity markets. They first construct Markowitz mean–variance optimized portfolios of commodity and financial futures contracts within sample and then evaluate their subsequent out-of-sample performance using various time periods, targeted risk levels, and rebalancing frequencies. These portfolios generally outperform benchmark equity indexes, both in terms of return and risk levels. The portfolios also exhibit lower tail risk (reduced potential extreme losses) relative to the equity indexes. These findings support the use of commodity futures for both diversification and portfolio optimization purposes and illustrate appropriate application metrics. Moreover, the results are superior to using the commodity index approach emphasized by most previous studies.


Before the widespread use of vitamin E in any dosage regimen can be recommended for the prevention of CAD, more information on its efficacy and adverse effects must be obtained. Unfortunately, the results of ongoing studies will not be available for several years. Until then, pharmacists can play a major role in monitoring vitamin E supplementation and educating both patients and other healthcare professionals about its potential role in decreasing the risk of coronary artery disease.


OBJECTIVE
To review retrospectively, the resultsof Whipple's procedure from 1986 to December 2009 at the Aga Khan University Hospital.

METHODS
Patient's case notes were reviewed to extract information related to demographics, clinical and laboratory data, operative procedure and post operative period. Surgical mortality was defined as death within 30 days of procedure.

RESULTS
Hundred and twenty one patients underwent a successful pancreaticoduodenectomy during this period. There were 78 males and 43 females. Most presented with clinical features of obstructive jaundice. Perioperative evaluation in the majority included an abdominal ultrasound and contrast enhanced CT scan. A preoperative ERCP was performed in 64 (53%) patients and a stent was placed in 32 (26%). Stent related sepsis was noted in 8 patients (25%). Eighty four (69%) patients underwent a standard resection, 31% had a pylorus preserving procedure. The commonest pathology was adeno-carcinoma located in the pancreatic head or periampullary area. Post operative morbidity was noted in 54% of patients, the commonest being chest infection (20%) followed by delayed gastric emptying and pancreatic anastomotic leak. There were 12 perioperative deaths giving a surgical mortality of 10%.

CONCLUSION
To our understanding this is the largest series of consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomies reported in Pakistan. Our morbidity and mortality rates compare favourably with international centers of similar yearly case volume. There is a need to establish regional centers to effectively manage complex disease conditions and improve the standard of care offered to our patients.


Abstract In Sweden, cultural competence if often singled out as both a strategy and solution for managing differences attributed to migrants, but few studies have critically investigated the idea of cultural competence. This article is an empirical contribution, based on an ethnographic study, and analyses talk and actions in the everyday practice in special residential homes for boys and young men. It examines when, how and in relation to what and whom cultural competence is made relevant, with special focus on how notions about cultural competence positions the staff in the studied institutions; organisationally, in relation to different work tasks and in narratives about the care and treatment provided. The analysis shows that cultural competence is almost exclusively attributed to staff who have a migrant background, and that the position as cultural competent is ambiguous. On the one hand a position as expert, on the other hand surrounded by a suspicion not to be professional. Staff who are ascribed cultural competence are made into representatives of cultural difference and locked into culturalised and ethnified positions. Thus, cultural competence rather emerges as a tool to master and control the boys who are placed in the studied institutions than as a tool to affect a change process in support of multiculturalism.


Introduction: Tremendous advance in mechanization and fastness of travel have been accompanied by steep increase in number and severity of fractures and those of tibial plateau are no exception. Knee being one of the major weight bearing joints of the body, fractures around it will be of paramount importance. Materials and Methods: A 4 year prospective study was conducted, to know the functional outcome in operatively treated tibial plateau fractures in adults were included from BLDE University, Vijayapura. The total number 60 patients. Results: Out of 60 cases treated with surgical procedure, 39 cases gave excellent result, 12 cases came out with good result, fair in 3 case and 3 case had poor result, mainly due to the severity of the injury and infections. It was found that high velocity injuries (type IV VI) have poor outcome than low velocity injuries (type I-III) 4. All fractures united within expected time. Not a single case of nonunion was noted in our series. Average time for union was 14 weeks (range 10-22 weeks). The three cases had wound infection two had stiffness of the knee joint and one case had malunion. Conclusion: We conclude that the functional outcome is good in operatively treated tibial plateau fractures in adults. The surgical management of tibial plateau fractures is challenging and gives excellent anatomical reduction & rigid fixation to restore articular congruity, fascilitate early knee motion by reducing posttraumatic osteoarthritis and thus achieving optimal knee function.


Noise inherently exists in medical and biological images as any imaging device, by a finite exposure time, is subject to stochastic noise from the random arrival events of photons. The purpose of image restoration is to bring back as much as possible the original image from its degraded state. This paper presents a spatial multiple-point statistical approach for restoration of medical image degradation.


Purpose

Triggered by the advancement of information and communications technology, open access repositories (a variant of digital libraries) is one of the important changes impacting library services. In the context of openness to a wider community to access free resources, Wawasan Open University Library initiated a research project to build open access repositories on open educational resources. Open educational resources (OER) is an area of a multifaceted open movement in education. The purpose of this paper is to show how two web portal repositories on OER materials were developed adopting a Japanese open source software, called WEKO.

Design/methodology/approach

The design approach is based on a pull to push strategy whereby metadata of scholarly open access materials kept within the institution and network communities' digital databases were harvested using the Open Archives Initiatives Protocol for Metadata Harvesting method into another open knowledge platform for discovery by other users.

Findings

Positive results emanating from the university open access repositories development showed how it strengthen the role of the librarian as manager of institutional assets and successfully making the content freely available from this open knowledge platform for reuse in learning and teaching.

Research limitations/implications

Developing further programmes to encourage, influence faculty members and prospective stakeholders to use and contribute content to the valuable repositories is indeed a challenging task.

Originality/value

This paper provides insight for academic libraries on how open access repositories development and metadata analysis can enhance new professional challenges for information professionals in the field of data management, data quality and intricacies of supporting data repositories and build new open models of collaboration across institutions and libraries. This paper also describes future collaboration work with institutions in sharing their open access resources.


Delirium has an abrupt onset and represents an emergency. The symptoms of delirium include reduced consciousness, cognitive failure and altered psychomotor activity. In this paper, we present delirium in palliative care based on a literature review and clinical experience. Delirium is the second most common psychiatric condition in cancer patients in general. The exact prevalence in palliative care is unknown. Several factors can precipitate a delirium. The most common factors are probably opioids, dehydration and metabolic disturbances. The assessment must be balanced towards the patient's life expectancy and aims at establishing the diagnosis and identifying precipitating factors. The diagnosis of delirium is easy for those familiar with the diagnostic criteria. The abrupt change in the patients' mental status is the key to correct diagnosis. The assessment can include instruments used in semi-structured interviews. Delirium can probably be prevented. The type and amount of treatment depends upon the patient's life expectancy. Causal treatment is a goal unless the delirium is part of the dying process. Symptom control is generally achieved by haloperidol and regulation of stimuli.


ABSTRACT: Left ventricular dysfunction has been observed in human infants with pulmonary hypertension. The purpose of this study was to establish whether mechanically increased right ventricular afterload alters left ventricular performance by altering its contractility, configuration, or both. Six neonatal 3- to 7-d-old lambs were acutely instrumented with micromanometer-tipped catheters and two pairs of ultrasonic crystals to measure left ventricular pressure and anterior-posterior and septal-free wall dimensions. The product of these two dimensions, denoted left ventricular area, was used as an index of left ventricular volume. Two levels of mechanically increased right ventricular afterload were induced with a closed pericardium under three levels of left ventricular preload produced by whole-blood transfusions. Four brief increases in left ventricular afterload were induced by constricting the aorta under each right ventricular afterload and preload condition. Using multiple linear regression, we found that the slope of the end-systolic pressure-area relationship, an index of contractility, was unchanged [0.90 ± 0.11 mm Hg/mm2 (SEM)], and stroke area (65.8 ± 7 mm2) and cardiac output (the product of stroke area and heart rate) (13 400 ± 1 660 mm2/min) were maintained. However, the area intercept of the pressure-area line at zero pressure (499 ± 13 mm2) shifted significantly to the left in the presence of both levels of increased right ventricular afterload (by −39.2 ± 13 and −76.2 ±15 mm2, respectively). Mechanically increased right ventricular afterload alters left ventricular configuration and causes a shift in the operating volume (area) range of the ventricle with no change in contractility in 3- to 7-d-old lambs.


Abstract Context: In the present study, cisplatin (CP) induced eye toxicity and the beneficial effect of hesperidin (HP) was investigated. Methods: Twenty-eight rats were equally divided into four groups; the first group was kept as control. In the second and third group, CP and HP were given at the doses of 7 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg/d, respectively. In the fourth group, CP and HP were given together at the same doses. Tissue samples were collected on day 14 of CP treatment. Results: The results demonstrated that CP caused a significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels and decrease of glutathione levels and antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) in eye tissues compared to other groups, HP prevented these effects of CP. Besides, CP led to histopathological damage in the retina and cornea. On the other hand, HP treatment prevented histopathological effects of CP. Conclusion: CP had severe dose-limiting toxic effects and HP treatment can be beneficial against the toxic ocular effects of CP. Thus, it appears that co-administration of HP with CP may be a useful approach to attenuate the negative effects of CP on the eye.


Diabetic cardiomyopathy is characterized by reduced cardiac contractility due to direct changes in heart muscle function independent of vascular disease. An important contributor to contractile dysfunction in the diabetic state is an impaired sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function, leading to disturbed intracellular calcium handling. We investigated whether overexpression of the SR calcium pump (SERCA2a) in transgenic mice could reduce the impact of diabetes on the development of cardiomyopathy. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (200 mg/kg), and left ventricular (LV) function was analyzed in isolated hearts 3 weeks later. In diabetic hearts systolic LV pressure was decreased by 15% and maximum speed of relaxation (-dP/dt) by 34%. Functional changes were also assessed in isolated papillary muscles. Active force was reduced by 61% and maximum speed of relaxation by 65% in the diabetic state. The contractile impairment was accompanied by a 30% decrease in SERCA2a protein in diabetic mice. We investigated whether increased SERCA2a expression in transgenic SERCA2a-overexpressing mice could compensate for the diabetes-induced decrease in cardiac function. Under normal conditions, SERCA2a overexpressors show improved contractile performance relative to wild-type (WT) mice (-dP/dt: 3,169 vs. 2,559 mmHg/s, respectively). Measurement of LV function in hearts from diabetic SERCA2a mice revealed systolic and diastolic functions that were similar to WT control mice and markedly improved relative to diabetic WT mice (-dP/dt: 2,534 vs. 1,690 mmHg/s in diabetic SERCA2a vs. diabetic WT mice, respectively). Similarly, the contractile behavior of isolated papillary muscles from diabetic SERCA2a mice was not different from that of control mice. SERCA2a protein expression was higher (60%) in diabetic SERCA2a mice than WT diabetic mice. These results indicate that overexpression of SERCA2a can protect diabetic hearts from severe contractile dysfunction, presumably by improving the calcium sequestration of the SR.


In spite of the diversity of subjects subsumed under the generic term speech, all areas of this discipline are based on oral communication with its essential elements--voice, action, thought, and language. Speech may be viewed as a community of persons with a common tradition participating in a common dialog, described in part by the memberships and activities of its learned societies. Speech as a separate discipline evolves from (1) the informal rhetorical theories of the Egyptians (2900 B.C.), (2) the systematic treatises of Aristotle, Cicero, Quintilian, and Augustine, (3) the 18th century concern for communication in a parliamentary society, (4) the 19th century interest in language and style, and (5) the 20th century need for a clear, precise system of communication based upon research using such modes of inquiry as description, experimentation, and historical or rhetorical analysis and synthesis. Since the act or process of communication (an essential function of mankind) is the domain of the discipline of speech, and is a necessary element in most intellectual and scientific disciplines, the practitioners of speech must construct relevant programs which provide links between theoretical principles and effective practices. (JM)


Pt/C, Pt-Ir/C, Pt-SnO2/C, and Pt-Ir-SnO2/C anode electrocatalysts were prepared by an improved Bonnemann method. The crystal structure, surface morphology, particle size, and surface electronic structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD and TEM revealed that Pt nanoparticles had a face-centered cubic structure, and that dispersions were relatively homogeneous with particle sizes of 2-4 nm. Electrocatalytic activities were characterized using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and amperometric (j-t) curve techniques. Catalytic performance improved with increasing temperature, and catalytic activity of Pt-Ir-SnO2/C was optimal under these conditions. Arrhenius formula calculations showed that the synergy between Ir and Sn reduced the activation energy of Pt-Ir-SnO2/C catalysts for the oxidation of ethanol. (Article)


Background: cGMP MANP (M-atrial natriuretic peptide) is a best-in-class activator of the pGC-A (particulate guanylyl cyclase A) receptor. Furosemide increases the effectiveness of antihypertensive agents, but activates renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. We aimed to investigate for the first time cardiorenal and neurohumoral actions of MANP in a genetic model of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats. We also assessed how MANP would potentiate the blood pressure (BP)–lowering actions of furosemide while reducing the production of aldosterone. Methods: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (N=60) were randomized in vehicle, MANP, furosemide, or MANP+furosemide groups. Furosemide (1, 5, 10 mg/kg) was given as a single bolus which in MANP+furosemide groups was followed by a 60-minute infusion of MANP. Results: BP was reduced in MANP300 (300 pmol/[kg·min]) and MANP600 (600 pmol/[kg·min]) groups (P<0.05) and was accompanied by significant increase in plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate. Furosemide alone reduced BP but less compared with MANP with no change in plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate. MANP+furosemide resulted in the greatest BP reduction and significant increase in plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate in Fs5+MANP300, Fs10+MANP300, and Fs10+MANP600. Plasma aldosterone increased in furosemide groups, which was significantly attenuated in MANP+furosemide groups. Natriuresis and diuresis increased in all treated groups (P<0.05) with no significant differences between furosemide and furosemide+MANP. In vitro, MANP increased cyclic guanosine monophosphate level in human vascular cells. Conclusions: We provide novel evidence that MANP potentiates the BP-lowering actions of furosemide, suppresses the activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and preserves renal function. These data are highly relevant to clinical needs in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure.


Severe head injury is a common problem, usually due to road traffic accidents, accounting for an estimated 400 hospital admissions each year in Scotland. This paper describes the mechanisms, effects and management of  uch injury. Since early caveman courted the object of his desire by clubbing her, traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been a common problem. Nowadays the male of the species is more likely to be the victim receiving the trauma during sexual display at the wheel of a car or in conflict with a rival. Such acts of youthful bravado, often assisted by alcohol, can have life-long consequences not only for the individual but for his family. Rehabilitation of people after TBI is one of the most exciting challenges in modem medicine. Few conditions provide such a varietyand complexity of disabilities to address in close collaboration with a team of skilled colleagues from a range of professions.


Anthelmintic activity of Cymbopogon martinii, Cymbopogon schoenanthus and Mentha piperita essential oils evaluated in four different in vitro tests Keywords: Cymbopogon Mentha piperita Essential oil In vitro test Sheep Haemonchus a b s t r a c t Anthelmintic resistance is a worldwide concern in small ruminant industry and new plant-derived compounds are being studied for their potential use against gastrointestinal nematodes. Mentha piperita, Cymbopogon martinii and Cymbopogon schoenanthus essential oils were evaluated against developmental stages of trichostrongylids from sheep naturally infected (95% Haemonchus contortus and 5% Trichostrogylus spp.) through the egg hatch assay (EHA), larval development assay (LDA), larval feeding inhibition assay (LFIA), and the larval exsheathment assay (LEA). The major constituent of the essential oils, quantified by gas chromatography for M. piperita oil was menthol (42.5%), while for C. martinii and C. schoenanthus the main component was geraniol (81.4% and 62.5%, respectively). In all in vitro tests C. schoenanthus essential oil had the best activity against ovine trichostrongylids followed by C. martini, while M. piperita presented the least activity. Cym-bopogon schoenanthus essential oil had LC 50 value of 0.045 mg/ml in EHA, 0.063 mg/ml in LDA, 0.009 mg/ml in LFIA, and 24.66 mg/ml in LEA. The anthelmintic activity of essential oils followed the same pattern in all in vitro tests, suggesting C. schoenanthus essential oil could be an interesting candidate for nematode control, although in vivo studies are necessary to validate the anthelmintic properties of this oil.


Efficiently approximating local curvature information of the loss function is a key tool for optimization and compression of deep neural networks. Yet, most existing methods to approximate second-order information have high computational or storage costs, which can limit their practicality. In this work, we investigate matrix-free, linear-time approaches for estimating Inverse-Hessian Vector Products (IHVPs) for the case when the Hessian can be approximated as a sum of rank-one matrices, as in the classic approximation of the Hessian by the empirical Fisher matrix. We propose two new algorithms as part of a framework called M-FAC: the first algorithm is tailored towards network compression and can compute the IHVP for dimension $d$, if the Hessian is given as a sum of $m$ rank-one matrices, using $O(dm^2)$ precomputation, $O(dm)$ cost for computing the IHVP, and query cost $O(m)$ for any single element of the inverse Hessian. The second algorithm targets an optimization setting, where we wish to compute the product between the inverse Hessian, estimated over a sliding window of optimization steps, and a given gradient direction, as required for preconditioned SGD. We give an algorithm with cost $O(dm + m^2)$ for computing the IHVP and $O(dm + m^3)$ for adding or removing any gradient from the sliding window. These two algorithms yield state-of-the-art results for network pruning and optimization with lower computational overhead relative to existing second-order methods. Implementations are available at [9] and [17].


Interfacial stress distribution of bonded quarter planes subjected a concentrated force was re-investigated based on Bogy's solution [1]. It's found that the characteristic length of the singularity of interface end (δ), varies with the index of stress singularity at interface end from millimeter to nanometer. This is a unique characteristic of stress singularity at interface end. How the characteristic length of the singularity of interface end (δ) influences the initial de-bonding of the interface end is a new question worth to pay attention. It's found in the photoelasticity experiments that usually the debonding initiated at the interface end with singularity, but as the index of stress singularity, as well as the characteristic length of singularity of interface end, decrease to some extent, the initial debonding moves to an inner point near the interface end. This phenomenon clearly shows the index of stress singularity has obvious influence on the debonding of interface end.


As emphasis on early hospital discharge increases, home tube feeding is becoming a popular method of efficiently delivering nutritional support. This paper describes the team approach to home enteral feeding practices at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta. Three groups of patients are referred to the program: those who require tube feedings permanently as the sole means of nutrition; those who require supplementation from tube feedings; and those who temporarily require tube feeding. The dietitian selects an enteral formula suitble for the patient. Although continuous enteral feedings are generally better tolerated by patients, intermittent feedings may be more psychologically acceptable. Continuous feedings are initiated at 50 ml per hour and increased to approximately 150 ml per hour, depending upon patient tolerance and nutritional goals. Complications can result from mechanical problems (e.g. equipment failure) and metabolic/physiologic problems (e.g. constipation). A total of 35 patients have been taught the technique of home tube feeding. The program has been well accepted by patients and physicians.


The three-dimensional structure of the lambda repressor C-terminal domain (CTD) has been determined at atomic resolution. In the crystal, the CTD forms a 2-fold symmetric tetramer that mediates cooperative binding of two repressor dimers to pairs of operator sites. Based upon this structure, a model was proposed for the structure of an octameric repressor that forms both in the presence and absence of DNA. Here, we have determined the structure of the lambda repressor CTD in three new crystal forms, under a wide variety of conditions. All crystals have essentially the same tetramer, confirming the results of the earlier study. One crystal form has two tetramers bound to form an octamer, which has the same overall architecture as the previously proposed model. An unexpected feature of the octamer in the crystal structure is a unique interaction at the tetramer-tetramer interface, formed by residues Gln209, Tyr210 and Pro211, which contact symmetry-equivalent residues from other subunits of the octamer. Interestingly, these residues are also located at the dimer-dimer interface, where the specific interactions are different. The structures thus indicate specific amino acid residues that, at least in principle, when altered could result in repressors that form tetramers but not octamers.


The purpose of this paper is to study the unparalleled economic growth of China focusing especially on the availability of cheap labour, rising GDP per capita and potential labour shortages faced in key sectors.
Additionally, the paper will look into the reasons why China should reduce its reliance on producing low margin goods for the Western organisations and develop its own sustainable brands whereby higher levels of margin and thus profit are retained within China. The method selected for the study is qualitative as this is most suitable method given the nature of the topic. Secondary data is used for this purpose and includes resources such as published research papers, journals, online databases, and high-quality reports. The systematic methodology was adopted for this study and secondary data was used. The results show that China will keep dominating the world exports market due to its expansionary policies. Moreover, high growth will keep its balance of payment in surplus and will increase further due to increase in foreign direct investments. Additionally, China should work more on developing economic growth by sustainability through building its own international premium and trusted brands and reduce its tendency to satisfy its domestic markets through copying Western brands.


[1] We present an overview and analysis of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) sampled in California by a NOAA WP-3D aircraft during the 2010 CalNex project. Four distinct geographical regions are characterized, including the Los Angeles basin, the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, and the eastern Pacific Ocean west of southern California. Median size distributions in the Central Valley were unimodal (Dg ∼ 25 nm) with a larger fraction of organic species and smaller fraction of nitrate species in the Sacramento Valley aerosol than in the San Joaquin Valley aerosol. Size distributions in the Los Angeles basin and marine outflow were bimodal (geometric mean diameter, Dg ∼ 30, 90–100 nm) with similar organic fractions and some replacement of nitrate with sulfate in the marine outflow. Both fine particle and CCN concentrations were found to decrease rapidly above the planetary boundary layer (∼2 km altitude), with CCN concentrations in the boundary layer ranging from ∼102–104 cm−3 STP, while fine particle concentrations (0.004–1 μm diameters) ranged from ∼103–105 cm−3STP. The CCN-active number fraction varied between 0–100% in the Los Angeles Basin and Marine Outflow, but was substantially lower (0–40%) in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. Values of the hygroscopicity parameter,κ, inferred from the CCN measurements varied from 0.1–0.25, with the highest values in the marine outflow and the lowest values in the Sacramento Valley. The κvalues agreed well with the predictions based on size-resolved aerosol composition, but were overpredicted by almost twofold when size-averaged composition was used. CCN closure was assessed for simplified compositional and mixing state assumptions, and it was found that assuming the aerosol to be internally mixed overpredicted CCN concentrations by 30–75% for all air mass types except within the Sacramento Valley, where good closure (overprediction < 10%) was achieved by assuming insoluble organics. Assuming an externally-mixed aerosol fraction or incorporating size-resolved composition data improved closure in the other three regions, consistent with the bimodal nature of the aerosol size distribution.


SUMMARY. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a diclofenac diethylammonium gel 10 mg/g (DD) on acute phase of ligature induced periodontitis model in rats. Experimental Periodontitis Disease (EPD) was induced in 30 Wistar rats subjected to ligature placement on left molars. Animals were treated with (DD), immediately after (EPD) induction. Saline-based gel (SG) was utilized as negative control and DD gel 10 mg/g was the tested substance. Animals were randomly assigned into the groups. The periodontium and the surrounding gingiva were examined at histopathology, as well as the neutrophil influx into the gingiva was assayed using myeloperoxidase activity levels by ELISA method. DD treatment reduced tissue lesion at histopathology coupled to decreased myeloperoxidase activity production in gingival tissue when compared to the saline gel control group (p < 0.05). The DD gel was able to provide a significant myeloperoxidase decreasing in gingiva tissue confirming to be effective in reducing gingival inflammation in this model.


An experimental study has been conducted to examine free convection in a window with an enclosed aluminum Venetian blind. The unique feature of this experiment was that the blind slats were heated electrically to simulate absorbed solar radiation. Centre-glass convective heat transfer measurements and temperature field visualization were obtained using a laser Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Measurements were made for three plate (glazing) spacings, three blind slat angles, three blind heat fluxes, and two plate temperature differences. It was found that a recently proposed simplified model, called the Reduced Slat Length (RSL) model, closely predicted the experimental results when the flow appeared to be laminar and steady. Under these conditions, the temperature field and lateral heat transfer was dominated by conduction. Under some conditions, evidence of highly unsteady/turbulent flow was observed. As expected, the RSL model performed poorly under these conditions.


Abstract. Autistic Disorder  can happen due to neurological expressions as the effects of environmental poisons in children who had genetical deficiency history. Current study found  that increasing of mercury (Hg) concentration in hairs had significant correlation towards increasing of  autisme level of severity. Hair analysis may identify the history of mercury's exposure in human. This analytical correlational descriptive study aimed to identify mercury (Hg) concentration in children with autistic disorder at YAKARI Autism Foundation in Medan and at State Disability School in Binjai. This study also aimed to analyze the correlation between the Hg concentration and the symptoms' level of severity. Hair samples were taken from 17 children with autistic disorder and 17 normal children (at similar age and sex). Mercury concentrations were analyzed by using ICP-OES. CARS were used to examine the autism symptoms' level of severity. Majority of autistic disorder subjects (70.6%)  had severe autism symptoms. Mean of Hg concentrations in autism subjects was 1,82 ppm  ± 0,52 and in normal subjects was 0,91 ppm ± 0,68. Furthermore, mean of Hg concentrations in autistic disorder subjects was significantly higher than in normal subjects (p < 0,05). However, there was no significant difference on Hg concentrations between mild-fair and fair-severe autistic  subjects' categories. The findings of this study explain that the severity of autism  symptoms in the autistic disorder subjects do not influenced by Hg concentrations within their body. Therefore, unidentified factors in this study might be contribute to the severity of autism symptoms. Future studies related epigenetics need to be conducted in order to explore another factors contribute to the severity of autism symptoms. Keywords: autistic disorder, CARS, mercury (Hg), hair analysis


Water related extreme events like drought and floods have become recurrent in Kanyemba.
Low rainfall totals, combined with intra-season dry-spells, are responsible for low yields.
Heavy rain within a short period and reservoirs operation also affect households through loss
of land planted due to floods. In this environment, households which rely on agriculture have
to adjust their activities to cope with such events. This study investigated the perceptions of
households on the pattern of rainfall, droughts and floods over 23 years, the impacts of floods
and droughts on households and how households cope with these events. The research was
conducted in Kanyemba which is in Lower Middle Zambezi Valley's Manyame catchment in
Zambezi river basin. The area is a rural ward in Mbire district in Zimbabwe's Natural Region
5, which is semi-arid and receives on average 450-650mm of rainfall per annum. The
research was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative research techniques. A case
study approach was taken. Data collection was done using semi-structured interviews, focus
group discussions and structured questionnaires which were administered to 144 households.
To substantiate this data, an analysis of rainfall variability and Cahora Bassa water level over
23 years was performed. The study found that perceptions of households are that total amount
of rainfall received in the area has gone down, while the frequency of dry-spells and flood
events has increased in the last two decades. Rainfall variability analysis revealed that the
amount of rainfall between 1988 and 2011 has not changed but the frequency of dry-spells
and floods has increased. Floods occurrence was linked to heavy local rain and backflow
from Cahora Bassa dam. The study found that from 1988 to 2011 Kanyemba experienced
flooding six times. About 70% of crop season have been affected by the dry-spells of 20
days. Dry-spells and floods, which occur during the crop-growing period reduced crop
production by about 65%. The study found that households have adopted a number of
strategies to address droughts and flood impacts. Vegetable farming and crop production in
the floodplain, wage earning locally, planting late and livestock disposals were common
coping strategies. Some households also resorted to out-migration on a daily basis to Zambia
or Mozambique. The study concludes that coping mechanisms used by households were not
sufficient to cope with floods and droughts impacts. The study recommends the
implementation of adaptation measures such as the use of drought-resistant crops varieties,
irrigation and off-farm employment opportunities to enable households to deal with floods
and droughts.,WATERnet


In this guidance you will find the voices of a range of disabled parents describing how good practice in schools has helped them to be involved in their children's education. The guidance is based on the findings of a research project. It is intended for people working in schools, especially heads and teachers seeking to improve parental participation and inclusion. Education policy makers and Inspectorates may find it helpful for informing their reviews of policy and practice. It may also be of interest to disabled parents and the disability voluntary sector. The document contains information about current UK policies on parental involvement and describes the research project which investigated the perceptions of disabled parents. It looks at five different aspects of parental involvement, giving examples of good practice and highlighting suggestions as these emerged from the research project. Key points are summarised in the conclusion, while the appendices include useful resources and contacts.


Contents: Two paradigms of orality: the office and the mass, LA!szlA^3 Dobszay Salamanca to Sydney: a newly-discovered manuscript of the Lamentations of Jeremiah, Jane Morlet Hardie Gregorian responsories based on texts from the Book of Judith, Ruth Steiner Modes and modality: a unifying concept for Western chant?, John Caldwell ReA'me, Cluny, Dijon, Barbara Haggh and Michel Huglo The first dictionary of music: the Vocabularium musicum of ms Monte Cassino 318, Alma Santosuosso The twilight of troping, Theodore Karp To trope or not to trope? Or, how was that English Gloria performed?, William John Summers Why Marian motets on non-Marian tenors? An answer, Rebecca A. Baltzer Consecrating the house: the Carmelites and the office of the dedication of a church, James John Boyce, O. Carm. A historical context for Guido d'Arezzo's use of distinctio, Dolores Pesce The musical text of the introit Resurrexi, David Hughes Chants for four masses in the Editio princeps of the Pontificale romanum (1485), James Borders The double office at St Peter's Basilica on Dominica de Gaudete, Joseph Dyer Philip the Chancellor and the conductus prosula: 'motetish' works from the School of Notre-Dame, Thomas B. Payne Vox - littera - cantus: aspects of voice and vocality in medieval song, Philip Weller Ambrosian processions of the saints, Terence Bailey Patterns and paleography: revisions, variants, errors, and methods, Andrew Hughes Notker in Aquitaine, Alejandro Enrique Planchart The Historia Sancti Magni by Hermannus Contractus (1013-1054), David Hiley Publications of Bryan Gillingham Bibliography Indexes.


Recent advances in geospatial technology resulted in GPS and GIS-based approaches becoming more common in visitor use management studies. Many of these studies focus on describing the spatial and temporal patterns and trends of use. While these descriptive data are useful, recent reviews of the recreation literature using GPS and GIS techniques suggest that spatial technologies should be linked to aspatial approaches – such as visitor surveys – to better understand the experiences and behaviors of visitors. However, these calls in the literature have not provided directions for how such an integration could be achieved in a way that is useful to both scientists and managers. This paper presents a multi-faceted methodological approach employed in a study of visitor use and experience at String and Leigh Lakes in Grand Teton National Park, WY. We used an intentional, integrated approach, where aspatial data was linked to three different types of spatial data to better understand the social and ecological environments of SLL and their influence on visitor experiences. Visitors completed questionnaires before and after their experience at SLL that were combined with GPS-based tracking data. We related both the survey results and GPS tracking data to a GIS analysis of mapped, biophysical user-created resource impacts. We also paired spatial-aspatial data in an experimental design to evaluate the effectiveness of visitor messaging. The deliberate combination of aspatial and spatial data allowed us to investigate site-specific management concerns and theory-based questions. We found that paired spatial-aspatial data provided a more nuanced understanding of the relationships between the social, experiential, and biophysical factors measured in our study. Overall, this paper provides a method for thoughtfully integrating GPS and GIS-based techniques with questionnaires in a way that contributes to both the science and management of visitor use in parks and protected areas.


The purpose of this study was to quantitate the operative risk and costs encountered in the surgical treatment of institutionalized patients. Operative complications and duration of hospitalization for 200 institutionalized patients were compared with those in a control group of patients matched for age, sex, and type of operation drawn from the general hospital population. Postoperative complications occurred in 53 (26.5%) of the patients in the study group compared with 15 (7.5%) of the patients in the control group. Elective laparotomy was followed by a complication in 48% of institutionalized patients compared with 11.6% of matched controls. Emergency celiotomy carried a 75% complication rate in the study group. Atelectasis and pneumonia accounted for 50% of the postoperative complications and occurred with greatest frequency following intra-abdominal procedures. The median hospital stay for all institutionalized patients was 3 days more than for matched controls. A strategy for postoperative treatment is presented, with particular emphasis on prevention of pulmonary complications.


This article asks how Internet use, citizen satisfaction with e-government, and citizen trust in government are interrelated. We first review the literature on trust and explore how radical information technologies may work to alter the production or maintenance of trust. We then develop hypotheses about how citizens' experience with e-government, satisfaction with e-government and government Web sites, and trust in government are interrelated. Moreover, the model for e-government and Web site satisfaction incorporates citizen perspectives on electronic transaction, transparency, and interactivity. Using data obtained from the Council on Excellence in Government, we then develop and test a twostage multiple-equation model that simultaneously predicts experience, satisfaction, and trust. Findings indicate that government Web site use is positively associated with e-government satisfaction and Web site satisfaction and that e-government satisfaction is positively associated with trust in government. We also find that while citizens are generally satisfied with the electronic provision of information (transparency), there is some dissatisfaction with the transaction and interactivity of Web sites. We conclude that electronic government strategies—transaction, transparency, and interactivity—are important factors that directly affect e-government satisfaction and indirectly affect trust. Individuals who use government Web sites are not only critical consumers but also demanding citizens.


This paper establishes a model of public debt as a strategic instrument in preventing secession. Using a dynamic game with perfect information, it shows that debt can be used to pre-empt a country's separation if the seceding region's potential gain from independence is strictly decreasing in debt. If so, the national government can prevent this region from leaving the union by setting higher levels of debt so that it reaches a certain threshold level. When the debt level is sufficiently high, this region will find it more beneficial to stay with the union rather than to become an independent state. This paper also finds that the majority region may use debt as a strategic instrument to preserve the union if it is better off in a country with debt than as a separate state with savings.  JEL classification: H77, H63, H30


Problem. It has been argued that many of the theories attempting to explain African-American culture derive from a Eurocentric framework, and thus paint a negative and pathological picture of the African-American family and community. What is needed is research examining African-American family life which holds Afrocentric culture and beliefs as its foundation. Consequently, this study is an attempt to investigate the relationship between Afrocentric cultural consciousness (Afrocentric worldview) and marital satisfaction of spouses of African descent. Method. This study used a correlational and ex post facto research design involving surveys to assess the relationship between the dependent variable (marital satisfaction) and the independent variable (Afrocentric cultural consciousness, or components thereof) in married couples of African descent. The research involved subjects answering 57 questions on two self-report questionnaires (15 on marital satisfaction and 42 onAfrocentric cultural consciousness) as well as some demographic information. The two instruments used were:the Marital Adjustment Test (MAT) and the African Self-Consciousness Scale (ASC). Results. No significant correlation was found between the two main variables; however, socioeconomic status, educational attainment, denominational affiliation, and the number of children a couple has all have an influence on marital satisfaction and/or Afrocentric cultural consciousness and or the relationship between these.Afrocentric cultural consciousness was more affected by these variables than marital satisfaction. Conclusions. Although no main effect was found in this study the results do suggest what may really be important to marital satisfaction is not the particular worldview that one holds as much as whether or not that particular worldview matches one's spouse's belief system.


A series of ketone-substrate analogues has been synthesized for the two classes of collagenases from Clostridium histolyticum and shown to be competitive inhibitors. These compounds have sequences that match those of specific peptide substrates for these enzymes. The best inhibitor is the ketone analogue of cinnamoyl-Leu-Gly-Pro-Pro, which has a KI value of 18 nM for epsilon-collagenase, a class II enzyme. This is the tightest binding inhibitor reported for any collagenase to date. Plots of log KI for the inhibitors vs log KM/kcat for the matched substrates for both collagenases are linear with slopes near unity, indicating that the ketones are transition-state analogues. This strongly implies that the ketone carbon atoms of these inhibitors are tetrahedral when bound to the enzymes.


How should we approach the study of the various special courts that have proliferated in Indonesia since the fall of the New Order? In particular, can we see the new special industrial relations courts as successfully having judicialized labor rights? Building on a thorough examination of their historical antecedents, legal origins and structure, this article focuses on a careful review of cases brought before the Surabaya industrial relations court during the first four years of its operation. Finding other patterns, besides just judicialization, it takes some early steps toward assessing labor rights protection and litigation in Indonesia today.


As has been well established, the Diabetes Care journal's most visible signature event is the Diabetes Care Symposium held each year during the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions. Held this past year on 10 June 2017 in San Diego, California, at the 77th Scientific Sessions, this event has become one of the most attended sessions during the Scientific Sessions. Each year, in order to continue to have the symposium generate interest, we revise the format and content of this event. For this past year, our 6th annual symposium, I felt it was time to provide a comprehensive overview of our efforts in diabetes care to determine, first and foremost, how we arrived at our current state of management. I also felt the narrative needed to include the current status of management, especially with a focus toward cardiovascular disease, and finally, we wanted to ask what the future holds. Toward this goal, I asked four of the most noted experts in the world to provide their opinion on this topic. The symposium started with a very thoughtful presentation by Dr. Jay Skyler entitled "A Look Back as to How We Got Here." That was followed by two lectures on current concepts by Dr. Bernard Zinman entitled "Current Treatment Paradigms Today—How Well Are We Doing?" and by Dr. Matthew Riddle entitled "Evolving Concepts and Future Directions for Cardiovascular Outcomes Trials." The final lecture for the symposium was delivered by Dr. Ele Ferrannini and was entitled "What Does the Future Hold?" As always, a well-attended and well-received symposium is now the norm for our signature event and our efforts were rewarded by the enthusiasm of the attendees. This narrative summarizes the lectures held at the symposium. —William T. Cefalu Chief Scientific, Medical & Mission Officer, American Diabetes Association


Time‐domain nuclear magnetic resonance techniques are frequently used in polymer, pharmaceutical, and food industries as they offer rapid experimentation and generally do not require any considerable preliminary sample preparation. Detection of solid and liquid fractions in a sample is possible with the free induction decay (FID). However, for the classical FID sequence that consists of a single pulse followed by relaxation decay acquisition, the dead time of the probe (ring out of resonance circuitry) occurs and varies between 5 and 15 μs for standard 10‐mm tubes. In such a case, there arises a risk that the signal from the solid fraction cannot be detected correctly. To obtain quantitative measurement on crystalline and more mobile amorphous fractions, alternative sequences to the classical FID in the solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance were developed. Solid echo and magic sandwich echo sequences perform the relaxation decay refocusing somehow excluding the dead time problem and allow detection of the signal from the solid fraction. In this study, knowledge of amorphous/crystal fraction, which is obtained through solid echo and magic sandwich echo, has been explored on powder sugar samples for the purpose of developing a groundwork for a reliable quality control method. Different sugars were examined for the utilization of the sequences. What is important to add and make this study unique is that the method proposed did not involve multiparameter fitting of the "bead" pattern FID signal that normally suffers from ambiguity; just the integration of the fast Fourier transform of the solid echo was needed to calculate the second moment, (M2).


Data were obtained for six belugas or white whales ( Delphinapterus leucas ) instrumented with satellite-linked dive recorders in September-November 1995 in waters near eastern Devon Island, Canada. The mean of the daily maximum depths of dives was 483-665 m for the 31-51 days when maximum depth measurements were taken. The deepest dive recorded was 872 m. Both the dive rate (number of dives per hour to depths > 8 m) and the time at surface (time spent within the uppermost 5 m of the water column) declined from mid-September through mid-October. The four females had significantly elevated dive rates during the nights (2300-0500), whereas the males showed no effects of time of day on the dive rates. Few dives lasted more than 18 min, and most lasted either less than 1 min or for 9-18 min. A trend from short dives to longer dives was noted from mid-September through October, along with a decline in the number of dives to 8-20 m and a corresponding increase in the number of dives to 200-452 m during the same period. The small whales made more dives and had longer times at the surface than the large whales, but they did not dive as deeply or for as long periods as did the large whales. Vertical speeds ranged from .05 ms to .19 ms for depths of 52-800 m. These speeds are significantly faster than vertical speeds recorded from narwhals ( Monodon monoceros ). Normal.dotm 0 0 1 12 70 University of Calgary 1 1 85 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false Key words: beluga, Delphinapterus leucas , diving, Devon Island, satellite telemetry


Currently, cell biology is based on glucose as the main source of energy. Cellular bioenergetic pathways have become unnecessarily complex in their eagerness to explain that how the cell is able to generate and use energy from the oxidation of glucose, where mitochondria play an important role through oxidative phosphorylation. During a descriptive study about the three leading causes of blindness in the world, the ability of melanin to transform light energy into chemical energy through the dissociation of water molecule was unraveled. Initially, during 2 or 3 years; we tried to link together our findings with the widely accepted metabolic pathways already described in metabolic pathway databases, which have been developed to collect and organize the current knowledge on metabolism scattered across a multitude of scientific articles. However, firstly, the literature on metabolism is extensive but rarely conclusive evidence is available, and secondly, one would expect these databases to contain largely the same information, but the contrary is true. For the apparently well studied metabolic process Krebs cycle, which was described as early as 1937 and is found in nearly every biology and chemistry curriculum, there is a considerable disagreement between at least five databases. Of the nearly 7000 reactions contained jointly by these five databases, only 199 are described in the same way in all the five databases. Thus to try to integrate chemical energy from melanin with the supposedly well-known bioenergetic pathways is easier said than done; and the lack of consensus about metabolic network constitutes an insurmountable barrier. After years of unsuccessful results, we finally realized that the chemical energy released through the dissociation of water molecule by melanin represents over 90% of cell energy requirements. These findings reveal a new aspect of cell biology, as glucose and ATP have biological functions related mainly to biomass and not so much with energy. Our finding about the unexpected intrinsic property of melanin to transform photon energy into chemical energy through the dissociation of water molecule, a role performed supposedly only by chlorophyll in plants, seriously questions the sacrosanct role of glucose and thereby mitochondria as the primary source of energy and power for the cells.


The surface displacement field along a topographical profile of an elastic half-space subjected to the incidence of elastic waves can be computed using different numerical methods. The method of fundamental solutions (MFS) is one of such tech- niques in which the diffracted field is constructed by means of a representation in terms of the Green's functions for discrete forces located outside the domain of inter- est. From the enforcement of boundary conditions, such forces can be computed; thus, the ground motion can be calculated. One important advantage of MFS over boundary integral techniques is that singularities are avoided. The computation of ground- motion rotations implies the application of the rotational operator to the displacement field. This can be done using either numerical derivatives or analytical expressions to compute the rotational Green's tensor. We validate the method using exact analytical solutions in terms of both displacement and rotation, which are known for simple geometries. To demonstrate the accuracy for generic geometries, we compare results against those obtained using the spectral-element method. We compute surface rota- tions for incoming plane waves (P, SV, and Rayleigh) near a topographical profile. We point out the effects of topography on rotational ground motion in both frequency and time domains. Online Material: Analysis of the dependence of rotational motion on incident plane-wave frequency.


The Dublin Institute of Technology is one of the largest multi-level higher education providers in Ireland, catering for over 22000 students annually. Under the 1999 Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, DIT became an awarding body in its own right. Programme provision covers apprenticeships, short continuous professional development courses, taught undergraduate and postgraduate, research MPhil and PhDs. The Institute's traditional mission has always been focused on teaching and learning in the field of advanced technical vocational education and training (TVET), and one of its current agendas is to foster and encourage changes in teaching practice and methodology in order to enhance a student centred learning approach. We have carried out a research project involving staff and students in the Carpentry and Joinery trade apprenticeship. In undertaking this project we examined established learning theory and analysed the current teaching practice with a view to changing and improving the current assessment format in the written theory examination. We also want to highlight the larger problems associated with the assessment of apprentices and to try to come up with a viable alternative method of assessment. We wish the alternative method to be a fair reflection of the student's ability, not only to encourage students to learn, but to assist them in the workplace and promote continued learning. Our aim was to examine some alternative assessment methods and improve the learning experience for the student. We felt that a broader, deeper assessment type was required to promote learning and higher order thinking skills. We conducted a research project and examined assessment alternatives to see if they could bring about this change. We are aware that in any assessment system there will be flaws, which is why we are looking at alternatives for when a curriculum and assessment change takes place. The current curriculum is written by an external authority, for which we are providers. Through our research we hope to be able to highlight our concerns to the relevant authority and help bring about a change in Apprentice Education system that will open the current pedagogy from its current closed state.


Nitric Oxide (NO) donors such as L-arginine are a candidate to restores endothelial function. NO itself may change endothelial permeability which is an important factor to control vascular homeostasis. So, the effect of L-arginine on aorta and coronary arteries permeability was the objective of this study. 20 male rats were randomly divided into two groups of oral administrated L-arginine (4 g/l) and control. After five weeks of experiment, the serum level of nitrite by Griess reagent method and direct blood pressure were measured. The aorta and coronary arteries permeability were determined by extravasation of injected Evan Blue dye. The results indicate that after the 5 weeks of experiment, L-arginine increases mean arterial pressure (group I: 157±6, group II: 108.2±10.1 mmHg; p<0.05) and the serum level of nitrite(group I: 35.69±6.88, group II: 23.21±2.72 μmol/l; p<0.05) significantly. No statistical differences were observed in endothelial permeability of aorta (group I: 66.6±5.4, group II: 85.23±10.64 μg/g.tissue) and coronary arteries (group I: 28.2±3.17, group II: 22.83±1.39 μg/g. tissue) between the groups. Low dose L-arginine may increases the level of nitrite; last metabolite of NO in plasma, but its effect on aorta and coronary arteries permeability is not certain.