We thank Dr. Kawada for his interest in our study, in which we used Medicare data to develop a predictive model designed to identify Parkinson disease (PD) in the prodromal period.1 As Medicare does not include self-reported information on smoking, we estimated the probability of ever smoking from the claims data. The objective method we applied was identical for cases and controls, and thus we expected that our PD–smoking odds ratio would be attenuated due to nondifferential exposure measurement error. While the PD model we presented was carefully developed for the prediction of PD, the dataset is also suitable for developing models for testing some hypotheses. We agree that a study with data on diet and human leukocyte antigen genotype—in addition to Medicare data on related conditions and incident PD—would allow for exploration of interesting hypotheses.


Twenty‐seven new specimens recovered from lower levels of the Sarmiento Formation (Casamayoran SALMA, middle Eocene) in the 'Cañadón Hondo' area, Chubut (Argentina), bring new information on the Palaeogene long‐necked chelid Hydromedusa casamayorensis. The discovery of cranial and postcranial remains allows a complete description of the only known extinct species of the genus Hydromedusa recognizing diagnostic characters that revalidate the taxonomic status of this species. Hydromedusa casamayorensis is incorporated into a cladistic framework of chelid turtles. The unconstrained and constrained phylogenetic analyses recovered H. casamayorensis as a sister taxon of Hydromedusa maximiliani plus H. tectifera. A Danian age is proposed at least for the origin of the Hydromedusa clade, while a Late Cretaceous age is suggested for the split from the Yaminuechelys clade. Great differences in size are documented for H. casamayorensis based on the various specimens recovered from this study. The osteohistological study in H. casamayorensis and H. tectifera shows similarities in the internal cortex and cancellous bone of both taxa, but some differences are observed in the external cortex of H. casamayorensis (e.g. a parallel fibred bone on the more external surface of this cortex).


A physical model of a stacked-screen Stirling engine regenerator with a porosity of 90% was constructed to be representative of modern free-piston engines. Such a model allows conducting detailed fluid mechanics and thermal measurements and simulating representative entry flow geometry to a regenerator. Present focus is on the flow and thermal fields at the interface between the regenerator matrix and a cooler tubular heat exchanger. Velocity measurements within the plenum between the regenerator and the cooler were taken and similarities with previous measurements of oscillatory flow in a pipe were noted. Fine-wire thermocouples were employed to take unsteady temperature measurements, resolved in space and time within the plenum. Such measurements show thermal dispersion of the jets within the plenum in one half of the cycle and sink flow to the discrete cooler tubes in the other half of the cycle. When the program is completed, measurements of thermal spreading will have been taken and the results will indicate the fraction of the matrix material that is participating fully in thermal exchange with the fluid. The present paper introduces the program and presents progress to date. Some focus is given to the secondary flows within the matrix, including flows near the canister wall that are influenced by sealing between the matrix and the canister. All cases are run under conditions characterized by a Valensi number of 14.3 and a maximum Reynolds number of 20700 (the length scale is the cooler tube diameter and the velocity scale is the cycle maximum bulk mean velocity in the cooler tubes).


The number of labour market outsiders in Europe has dramatically increased, especially among the youth, potentially influencing social and political participation. Using logistic regressions and comparable survey data – the British Household Panel (BHPS) and the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) – we connect insights drawn from Varieties of Capitalism and dualization literature with an investigation of individual level outcomes in Britain and Germany. First, we disentangle the impact of skills on outsiderness among the overall population and the youth. Second, we analyse the influence of skills and outsiderness on peo-ple's social and political participation. We suggest that skills matter in protecting individuals from labour market outsiderness, but they do so in different ways across liberal and coordinated market economies and age groups. While the possession of specific skills reduces the likelihood of being a labour market outsider among young people, it has the opposite effect on political participation. In contrast, education fosters participation but does not reduce the risk of becoming an outsider in the same age cohort. Moreover, although there is no difference between insiders and outsiders when it comes to political par-ticipation, being an outsider may reduce social participation. Finally, young people are more likely to be excluded from social and political participation in Britain than in Germany as a consequence of different welfare and socio-economic systems


Recently, The researches of vehiclepsilas stability, controllability and comfortability are demanded because of increased usage of vehicle and mass transportation. The trend of vehicle is that the conventional vehicle accessories of mechanical link scheme are going to electronic module scheme connected by signal. The vehiclepsilas heavy mechanical steering linkages will be replaced to servo motors and signal cables. For example, the four wheel steering(4WS) vehicle driven by electric power has made by WIA corporation. That 4WS type vehicle has various advantages of driving. The vehicle can go leftward or rightward without turning and can turn in standing state. But past researches were proceeded based on mechanical system. To convert heavy mechanical accessories to electronic modules, the proper modeled signals and research data based on electronic system are needed. In this paper, the Ackerman geometry in mechanical system is applied to electronic independent four wheels steering system. And an analysis conducted about the real model 4WS vehicle was manufactured for using in factory to transport heavy loads by unmanned. Afterward, the effect of the converted presence of the Ackerman geometry in steering performance is simulated and examined.


It has long been established that birth weight is a major determinant of infant morbidity and mortality in the first year of life. This is because it is an important predictor and an indicator of newborn morbidity and mortality, and has been accepted as the most reliable index of health status of the community. In this study, Birth Weight has been estimated from anthropometric measurements of hand and foot. Linear regression equations were formed from each of the measured variables. These simple equations can be used to estimate Birth Weight of new born babies, in order to identify those with low birth weight and referred to the appropriate health centre. A sample of 551 neonates (295 males and 256 females) were randomly selected and measured for each of the parameter (hand length, hand breadth, foot length and foot breadth). It was shown that the four measured parameters correlate with Birth Weight at different degrees (Pearson's correlation analysis was used in calculating the level of significance), and the p - value was significant at 0.01 level (2-tailed). Among the measured variables, foot length had the highest correlation value of 0.657, followed by hand breadth with correlation value of 0.601.Hand length had correlation value of 0.513 and then foot breadth was having the least correlation value of 0.507. This study highlighted a strong correlation between birth weight and the measured variables, and multiple regression equations were formed for each of the measured variables which can be used to estimate birth weight. Keywords : Hausa, Birth Weight, Hand Length, Hand Breadth, Foot Length, Foot Breadth.


Abstract. Glacial lakes are potentially dangerous sources of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and represent a serious natural hazard in Himalayan countries. Despite the development of various indices aimed at determining the outburst probability, an objective evaluation of the thousands of Himalayan glacial lakes has yet to be completed. In this study we propose a single index, based on the depression angle from the lakeshore, which allows the lakes to be assessed using remotely sensed digital elevation models (DEMs). We test our approach on five lakes in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet using images taken by the declassified Hexagon KH-9 satellite before these lakes experienced an outburst flood. All five lakes had a steep lakefront area (SLA), on which a depression angle was steeper than our proposed threshold of 10° before the GLOF event, but the SLA was no longer evident after the events. We further calculated the potential flood volume (PFV); i.e., the maximum volume of floodwater that could be released if the lake surface was lowered sufficiently to eradicate the SLA. This approach guarantees repeatability to assess the possibility of GLOF hazards because it requires no particular expertise to carry out, though the PFV does not quantify the GLOF risk. We calculated PFVs for more than 2000 Himalayan glacial lakes using visible band images and DEMs of ASTER data. The PFV distribution follows a power-law function. We found that 794 lakes did not have an SLA, and consequently had a PFV of zero, while we also identified 49 lakes with PFVs of over 10 million m3, which is a comparable volume to that of recorded major GLOFs. This PFV approach allows us to preliminarily identify and prioritize those Himalayan glacial lakes that require further detailed investigation on GLOF hazards and risk.


We consider here the one-machine serial batching problem under weighted average completion. This problem is known to be NP-hard and to date no approximation algorithm exists. Batching has wide application in manufacturing, decision management, and scheduling in information technology. In this paper, we give the first approximation algorithm for the problem. The algorithm has an approximation ratio of 2 and is a priority algorithm, which batches jobs in decreasing order of priority. We also give a lower bound of (2+ √6) /4 ≈ 1.1124 on the approximation ratio of any priority algorithm and conjecture that there is a priority algorithm which matches this bound. Adaptive algorithm experiments are used to support the conjecture. An easier problem is the list version of the problem where the order of the jobs is given. We give a new linear time algorithm for the list batching problem.


The eigenvector method for estimating the positions of the receivers of an ocean-towed array is based on the eigendecomposition of the array signal correlation matrix to find the phase delays between the array receivers. Previous work has shown that for reasonable SNR, the bias and variance of the phase estimates is relatively independent of the number of receivers in the array. This suggests that the computational cost of the eigenvector method could be substantially improved by partitioning the array receivers into groups of smaller sub-arrays and then applying the eigenvector method to each sub-array. This paper introduces the interleaved partitioned eigenvector method, and shows that it significantly reduces the computational cost without adversely affecting the quality of the position estimates. Numerical examples substantiate the theoretical work of this paper and also demonstrate the improvement in beamforming when employing the shape estimation algorithm.


Many testing programs use automated scoring to grade essays. One issue in automated essay scoring that has not been examined adequately is population invariance and its causes. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of sampling in model calibration on population invariance of automated scores. This study analyzed scores produced by the e-rater® scoring engine using a GRE® assessment data set. Results suggested that equal allocation stratification by language sampling approach performed optimally in maximizing population invariance using either human/e-rater agreement or their correlation pattern differences with external variables as evaluation criteria. Guidelines were given to assist practitioners in choosing a sampling design for model calibration. Potential causes for lack of population invariance, study limitations, and future research are discussed.


Purpose – to explore the factors for productive relationship between managers and employees. The article examines the role of the interrelationship of managers and employees in order to improve organisational performance.
Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative study was conducted to collect empirical data. Research method - questionnaire. The questionnaire contains statements formulated on the basis of the theoretical analysis. Respondents were asked to answer the statements by choosing one of the 6 options: totally disagree, disagree, mostly disagree than agree, mostly agree than disagree, agree and fully agree. The summarized study results are shown in diagrams in a percentage.
Findings – it was determined that during the period of transformations of public sector organisations, in order to improve the performance results, the heads of social service institutions should pay more attention to such factors as: attention to quality policy, promotion of personnel motivation, employee qualification improvement, employee involvement in decision-making, informing clients about the performance of the institution, tasks based on consensus between the managers and employees to improve the performance of the institution.
Research limitations/implications – as respondents' answers were analyzed as a whole, it was not clear how much the opinion of managers and employees were close or different. Because of this limitation, we can only evaluate the research insights as general trends, and we cannot claim that most employees or most managers agree with the statement at the same level as after both managers' and employees' opinions were combined and analyzed.
Practical implications – the results of this study may be useful for the heads of social service institutions to improve their organisational performance.
 Originality/Value – the study examined the role of the relationship between managers and employees in improving the organisation's activities in the field of social services. The article is based on a new approach to the manager's ability to achieve important results for the company: the theoretical analysis shows that without employees' provision and devotion, the manager would not be able to achieve high results even if he or she has the necessary competences, knowledge and skills. The study is original in that it was empirically verified and confirmed that this theoretical approach is indeed relevant to social service institutions.
Keywords: management, leadership, employee commitment, organisational performance improvement.
Research type: original research; viewpoint.
JEL classification: I 31; I 39; J 24.


Aim: Using 8-frames/cardiac cycle with gated SPECT underestimates end-diastolic volumes (EDV) and ejection fractions (LVEF), and overestimates end-systolic volumes (ESV). However, using 16-frames/cardiac cycle significantly decreases the signal-to-noise-ratio. We analyzed 16-frames and rebinned 8-frame gated SPECT data using common 4D-MSPECT and QGS algorithms. Patients, methods: 120 patients were examined using gated SPECT on a Siemens Multispect 3 (triple-head gamma camera) 60 minutes after intravenous administration at rest of about 450 MBq (two-day protocol) or about 750 MBq (one-day protocol) 99mTc-tetrofosmin. Reoriented short axis slices (16-frames) were summed framewise (1+2,3+4, etc.) yielding 8-frame data sets. EDV, ESV and LVEF were calculated for both data sets using 4D-MSPECT and QGS. Results: QGS succeeded with 119, 4D-MSPECT with 117 patients. For the remaining 116 patients, higher EDV (+0.8ml/+3.8ml) and LVEF (+1.5%/+2.6%; absolute) and lower ESV (–1.7ml/–0.9ml) (4D-MSPECT/QGS) were found for 16-frame runs. Bland-Altman limits were smaller for QGS than 4D-MSPECT [EDV 32/12ml, ESV 21/10ml, LVEF 17/7% (4D-MSPECT/QGS)]. Conclusion: Both algorithms showed the expected effects. Contour finding using QGS failed with only one data set, whereas contour finding using 4D-MSPECT failed with three data sets. Since the effects observed between the 8– and the 16-frame studies are relatively small and quite predictable, 8-frame studies can be employed in clinical routine with hardly any loss at all, plus contour finding appears less susceptible to error.


Antineoplastic drugs used in the treatment of cancers present with variable renal tolerance profiles. Among drugs with a potential for renal toxicity, platinum salts, metho- trexate, and gemcitabine are well-known. The mechanisms of their renal toxicity and the means of its prevention are presented in this article. Anti-angiogenic drugs, recently marketed or still under clinical development, may also interact with the kidneys. In general, optimising the renal tolerance of anticancer drugs requires an appropriate evaluation of patients'renal function, before and during treatment, at each course. Serum creatinine alone is not a reliable index of renal function. Its evaluation must be performed with the use of Cockcroft-Gault or aMDRD formulae. In patients with abnormal renal function, dosage adjustment is often required to improve the renal tolerance, and also to limit the risk of extra-renal toxicities (such as haematological toxicities) induced by a drug overdosage, in those patients with reduced drug-elimination. ▲


It has become obvious that the Orange Book (TCSEC), is incomplete; integrity and availability are only touched upon. The Orange Book focuses much of its emphasis on disclosure (confidentiality) of data and little to unauthorized modification (integrity) of data. The Canadian Systems Security Centre has begun efforts to create a 'Made in Canada' Orange Book. The Canadian trusted computer product evaluation criteria, is an attempt to address those areas which were not (or were insufficiently) addressed in the US TCSEC. The Canadian criteria is not a definitive answer but an evolutionary step towards incorporation of the requirements of a computer-using community.<<ETX>>


The proteinaceous skeletons of deep-sea Antipatharian 'black' corals are a new proxy archive that has shown promise for providing high resolution marine records in a wide range of waters. Although stable isotopes have been used successfully for palaeoceanographic reconstruction, there have been few studies of trace metals in these skeletons. In this thesis we study a suite of trace elements in black coral skeletons to assess their utility in paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
Fifty black corals were sampled from the NIWA Invertebrate Collection, broadly distributed around New Zealand from ~25˚S to 47 ˚S and 165˚E to 155˚E. Small powder samples were taken from the outer layers of the coral skeleton, dissolved in nitric acid and analysed by ICP-MS using a new methodology developed as part of this thesis. We critically evaluate this new method, quantifying the limits on accuracy and intrinsic reproducibility, and comparing this to the range of concentrations found in coral specimens.
A necessary step in evaluating the potential for trace elements to provide palaeoenvironmental information is to understand how trace elements become incorporated into the corals' skeletons. Questions include whether uptake is passive or active (i.e. biologically mediated); and whether trace elements derive from the coral's food (originating in the surface ocean) or from the ambient water in which the coral is growing.
In this thesis we explore these questions by studying spatial patterns of coral trace elements to determine if they show similarity to surface or intermediate-depth ocean trace element distributions. We investigate the influence of several variables on coral trace elements including proximity to the NZ mainland, the depth at which the corals grew, regional oceanography, and primary productivity. We examine the enrichment of skeletal trace elements compared with both coral tissue and particulate organic material (POM). Finally, we examine subsets of the coral samples that control for several environmental variables in an attempt to isolate the effect of coral size and taxonomy on trace element concentrations. Replicate samples from the same specimens and from different specimens at the same site (or within a 25Km radius) were used to assess differences in trace element content within and between coral specimens, respectively.
Our results indicate that black corals strongly enrich many trace elements (TE) in their skeletons and tissues (Br>Zn>Cd>Mo>V>U>Fe>Cu>Ni>I) at levels up to 10⁸ times higher than seawater concentrations. A large intrinsic variability in TE content was found between and within all black coral specimens. This variability largely obscures any relationship that may indicate a water column origin and mechanism of uptake. Coral taxonomy at a genus level strongly influences most TE concentrations, contributing up to 80% of the variation in some elements. Although largely inconclusive, the data hints at a combination of active and passive uptake pathways from ambient or surface seawater sources for some elements which might warrant further investigation.
In order to advance this field of study further, we suggest that a better understanding is needed of the taxonomic control over trace element incorporation, including biomineralisation and biological utilisation of trace elements by black corals. We also note that there is a lack of data on trace element biogeochemical cycles in the waters around NZ, which would be important in order to better constrain the behaviour of the TEs in black corals and to better evaluate their paleoenvironmental utility.


The primary theme of this study is the cost-effectiveness of fuel treatments at multiple scales of investment. We focused on the nexus of fuel management and suppression response planning, designing spatial fuel treatment strategies to incorporate landscape features that provide control opportunities that are relevant to fire operations. Our analysis explored the frequency and magnitude of fire-treatment encounters, which are critical determinants of treatment efficacy. Additionally, we examined avoided area burned, avoided suppression costs, and avoided damages, and combined all three under the umbrella of leverage to explore multiple dimensions with which to characterize return on investment. We chose the Sierra National Forest, California, USA, as our study site, due to previous work providing relevant data and analytical products, and because it has the potential for large, long-duration fires and corresponding potential for high suppression expenditures. Modeling results generally confirmed that fire-treatment encounters are rare, such that median suppression cost savings are zero, but in extreme years, savings can more than offset upfront investments. Further, reductions in risk can expand areas where moderated suppression response would be appropriate, and these areas can be mapped in relation to fire control opportunities.


STUDY OBJECTIVES
Neighborhood disadvantage is associated with poor sleep, which may contribute to and exacerbate racial and socioeconomic health disparities. Most prior work has been cross-sectional and thus it has not been possible to estimate causal effects.

METHODS
We leveraged a natural experiment opportunity in two low-income, predominantly African American Pittsburgh, PA neighborhoods, following a randomly selected cohort of households (n = 676) between 2013 and 2016. One of the neighborhoods received substantial public and private investments (housing, commercial) over the study period, while the other socio-demographically similar neighborhood received far fewer investments. Primary analyses used a difference-in-difference analysis based on neighborhood, to examine changes in actigraphy-assessed sleep duration, efficiency, and wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO), and self-reported sleep quality. Secondary analyses examined whether residents' proximity to investments, regardless of neighborhood, was associated with changes in sleep outcomes.

RESULTS
Resident sleep worsened over time in both neighborhoods with no significant differences among residents between the two neighborhoods. Secondary analyses, including covariate adjustment and propensity score weighting to improve comparability, indicated that regardless of neighborhood, those who lived in closer proximity to investments (<0.1 mile) were significantly less likely to experience decreases in sleep duration, efficiency and quality, or increases in WASO, compared to those who lived farther away.

CONCLUSIONS
While we did not observe sleep differences among residents between neighborhoods, living closer to a neighborhood investment was associated with better sleep outcomes. Findings have relevance for public health and policy efforts focused on investing in historically disinvested neighborhoods.


ABSTRACT Background The advantages of minimally invasive surgery for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF) are well documented and include decreased blood loss, shorter length of hospital stay, and reduced perioperative costs. Clinical evidence for the use of expandable interbody spacers in conjunction with MIS TLIF, however, is scarce. This study sought to examine the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients undergoing MIS TLIF with an expandable spacer. Methods Forty patients from 4 institutions who underwent MIS TLIF with an expandable spacer were included in this study and followed for 24 months. Investigator assessment of the surgical technique was reported. Patient self-reported outcomes included Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Short Form 36 (SF-36) physical and mental component scores. Disc height, foraminal height, segmental and lumbar lordosis, and fusion were also assessed. Results Investigators reported that intraoperative insertion, impaction, number of passes through the neural structures, and fit were better with an expandable spacer than a static spacer. Significant improvements in VAS, ODI, and SF-36 were reported as early as 6 weeks postoperatively and maintained through 24 months. Mean intervertebral and foraminal heights improved significantly from the preoperative time interval to as early as 6 weeks postoperatively and maintained through 24 months. There were no cases of spacer migration, subsidence, or collapse. Conclusions The use of an expandable interbody spacer in combination with MIS TLIF resulted in positive investigator assessments, immediate and progressive symptom relief, significant radiographic improvements, and no spacer-related complications.


In this paper, we demonstrated a gas source localization (GSL) using a mini quadrotor as a mini flying sniffer robot. The algorithm employed is based on a bioinspired algorithm from insect behavioral searching and it is constrained to perform only in 2D dimension open space area. In this study, we deliver some information such as system development, and algorithm flowchart to highlight how this study can achieve the target goal. The performance of insect behavioral based for searching the source location shows an interesting result. Where we can achieve a satisfactory result to find the source position using a bioinspired algorithm. The experimental results are provided to evaluate the performance of the searching algorithm.


The paper presents whole rock chemical composition and Sr–Nd isotope data from selected metabasic rocks from the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian sequences of the Northern Gemeric Unit. The analysed metabasic rocks belong to the subalkaline magmatic series with Nb/Y ratios ranging from 0.03 to 0.21. They fit into the low-Ti tholeiitic series, characterized by TiO2 contents of less than 2.5 wt. % and Ti/Y ratios below 500. Petrological and chemical signatures show the separation of the Group I (Pennsylvanian) from the Group II (Mississippian) metabasalts, which is supported by biostratigraphical data of the surrounding metasediments. The Group I metabasalts display higher contents of Zr, Th, Rb and U, Pb, Zn, Ni compared to the metabasalts of Group II and conversely lower contents of Nb, Ta and V. The chondrite normalized rare earth elements curves show a uniform pattern, with rare earth element enrichment and no or weak positive or negative Eu anomalies (0.88–1.23 vs. 0.89–1.17). The (Tb/Yb)N ratios from 1.36–1.62 in the Group I or 0.92–1.55 in Group II are symptomatic of spinel-bearing peridotite mantle source. Based on trace and rare earth element distribution patterns, the Group I metabasites correspond to the N-MORB/E-MORB field and the Group II metabasites shift significantly towards the BABB and CAB fields. The Sr/Nd isotope systematics confirmed depleted mantle isotopic signatures, with minor influences from crustal sources and affected by fluid-related subduction metasomatism. All the studied samples have positive εNd(0) ranging from 7.92 to 8.68 for Group I and from 4.59 to 10.52 for Group II metabasalts. The Sr/Sr(0) values vary between 0.7053–0.7081 and between 0.7052–0.7076, respectively, and 0.7109 for basaltic andesite.


This paper applies design of experiments (DOE) methodology to the design of Compliant Vertical Access Risers (CVAR). This relatively new riser configuration is characterized by its differentiated geometry, achieved by the use of syntactic buoyancy at the lower section of the riser and additional weight at its upper section. The characteristic compliance of the CVAR system is obtained by providing an excessive length of pipe and a horizontal offset between the riser top and end connections. Thus, this system provides vertical access to dispersed subsea wells and its compliance can also compensate for vessel motion. CVAR, being vertical access to the wells, brings the advantage of using dry trees, and also allows the completion and workover operations to be performed from the FPU, offering significantly economic and operational benefits to deepwater oil field development. To guarantee such benefits, some operational and structural constraints must be satisfied. The design of the CVAR system is dependent upon several parameters. This study can provide a better understanding about the behavior of the CVAR in terms of its design parameters by the use of the DOE methodology. DOE is a statistical technique that provides an objective measure of how design parameters are correlated and the effective contribution of each at the riser performance. Consideration of the main effects as well as interaction effects coupled with sensitivity analysis is essential for insightful interpretation of model results and effective decision-making. Thus, this study contributes with the design of Compliant Vertical Access Risers as well as with a methodology that can lead to efficient riser design, being a first step in the optimization design process.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


January 1992 Abstract: Parallel database machine architectures have evolved from the use of exotic hardware to a software parallel dataflow architecture based on c onventional shared-nothing hardware. These new designs provide impressive speedup and scaleup when proc essing relational database queries. This paper reviews the techniques used by such systems, a nd surveys current commercial and research systems.


This manual is intended for maize breeders who would like to start developing quality protein maize (QPM) cultivars. It is a compilation and consolidation of several breeding protocols successfully used at CIMMYT over two decades of QPM development and breeding. A brief background and the basic theory of QPM genetics are explained, leading up to detailed methods and procedures of QPM development.


We present a hierarchical basis for H(curl)-conforming finite element spaces on tetrahedral meshes. A certain amount of orthogonality between basis functions of different orders is obtained through the requirement that the Nedelec interpolation of higher order basis functions vanishes in lower order finite element spaces. We also present two versions of a multiplicative Schwarz preconditioner, which are used together with the conjugate gradient method to efficiently solve the linear system that results from the finite element discretization of the vector wave equation. Similar preconditioners have previously been proven to be very efficient in schemes with second order elements, but here we focus on the extension to schemes with elements of third and fourth order. Numerical experiments are used to show the good performance of the presented schemes. In these experiments we also find that many other bases, which previously have been presented in the literature, give very similar performance when third order elements are used. However, when fourth order elements are used, this new basis leads to clearly better performance.


The purpose of this applied research study is to determine the fidelity of a discrete event simulation tool called the Evacuation Simulation Prediction Tool (ESP) in predicting transit times during a high volume surge in traffic flow. The ESP tool was developed for the purpose of predicting and optimizing large-scale evacuations of counties or regions as an aide in emergency and disaster preparedness planning. The goal of the ESP model is to ascertain the balance of traffic flow capacity by managing the human factor events that impinge upon orderly highway travel without immobilizing the travel route. The objective of this discrete-event simulation is the application of optimization techniques to create models with a variety of outcome reliabilities. For this study, evacuation of a large number of vehicles was estimated by the traffic surge that results annually from the Daytona International Speedway (approximately 100,000) immediately following the NASCARTM Nextel Cup Daytona 500. These results were used to determine the effectiveness of the ESP predictions before it could be used to recommend ways to optimize traffic surges during emergencies. The results of this study indicated that the ESP tool accurately predicted the outcome of the Daytona 500 traffic surge under the study conditions. After the predictability of the ESP tool in predicting traffic flow during the race-day surge was validated, optimization techniques were applied to further study the usefulness of the model for other large traffic problems. The parameters were incorporated into the ESP tool to determine the accuracy of the outcome. The results of this study may be useful in considering modifications to traffic flow during real world emergencies such as hurricanes or other potential disasters.


Background Power Doppler ultrasonography is widely used to examine neovascularization in midportion Achilles tendinopathy. The reliability of the grading of the degree of neovascularization has not been examined previously. Hypothesis Power Doppler ultrasonography can be performed with a high interobserver reliability to determine the neovascularization score in patients with midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Study Design Case control study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 4. Methods Thirty-three symptomatic and 17 asymptomatic Achilles tendons from 25 consecutive patients were included for ultrasound examination. Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Achilles score was used to assess the severity of the Achilles tendinopathy. Each tendon was scored twice by different radiologists using the modified Öhberg score for neovascularization. Results The intraclass correlation coefficient for interobserver reliability was 0.85. Neovascularization was observed in 70% (23/33) of the symptomatic tendons and in 29% (5/17) of the asymptomatic tendons. The Spearman correlation coefficient between the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Achilles score and the degree of neovascularization was −0.16 (P =. 10). Conclusion An excellent interobserver reliability was found for determining the degree of neovascularization on power Doppler ultrasonography examination. Neovessels were present in a majority of symptomatic tendons. The severity of symptoms was not correlated with the neovascularization score. Clinical Relevance Power Doppler ultrasonography is widely used to evaluate tendinopathy without knowledge of the difference in observations between several testers. Interobserver reliability of the evaluation of the degree of neovascularization in chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy is excellent.


The ratio behind the prohibition for spouses to donate to each other. Monopolising matrimonial property law in the dotal system. The present inquiry is based on the premise that the riddle of the highly contested rationale of the prohibition of donations between spouses can only be solved by taking into account the legal basis of this prohibition. The classical jurists treated the prohibition within the ius dotium, shorthand for 'matrimonial property regime', a legal matter heavily transformed by the lex Iulia et Papia which followed the goal of inciting the upper class to get married which would guarantee the desired offspring and control over the Emperor's subjects. Considering the palingenetic context of the treatises on the prohibition, the lex Iulia et Papia is to be considered the legal basis of the prohibition which, therefore, has the purpose of channelling all economical transactions between the spouses into the ius dotium which in turn serves the goals of the lex Iulia et Papia. To sum it up: The prohibition was another legal ordinance in Augustus' arsenal serving his fight for moral renewal, that is to say limitation of civil liberties, and the consolidation of his power.


A generation rate of sludge in Korea had increased dramatically about for a decade. A requirement for high efficiency dewatering system being possible to produce the low water content cake have suggested due to the appearance of commercial and social problems about handling of dewatered cake. The conventional dewatering system with mechanical compression device was not suitable to produce the low water content cake and didn`t cope with lots of requirements. Therefore, this paper was to develop the high efficient filter press with the compressive and heating forces through the heating plate to be built between membrane fillet plates. It is possible to produce the low water content cake and improve the dewatering rate, so this equipment positively coped with several types of problems related to the sludge dewatering. The plate heated by heat transfer materials such as steam, hot water and thermo-oil made the sludge make the residual moisture within the cake to discharge easily and to improve the dewatering efficiency of equipment. The pilot scale experiment with 500kg of cake production showed that the dewatering efficiency determined by the final water content and dewatering velocity was improved more than the conventional dewatering equipment.


Despite the aggressive pursuit of diagnostic and
treatment modalities for lung cancer, the treatment outcomes are still not
satisfactory, and even patients with surgically resectable non-small cell lung
cancer (NSCLC) are often at considerable risk of suffering recurrence and/or
death from lung cancer. Regarding the treatment of patients with locally
advanced, resectable NSCLC, several retrospective and prospective studies have
shown the significance of multimodality treatments with preoperative chemoradiotherapy
and surgical treatment. However, no definitive treatment strategies for locally
advanced NSCLC patients have yet been established. One of the reasons for the
lack of established treatment strategies for patients with locally advanced
NSCLC is considered to be the heterogeneity of the population, i.e., cT4N0, cT3-4N1 and cT1a-3N2 tumors
are included in stage IIIA disease, and superior sulcus tumors (SSTs) are also
included in this classification. With regard to SST, two representative
prospective phase II trials indicated the efficacy of surgical treatment
following concurrent radiation and chemotherapy. In a study conducted by the
Southwest Oncology Group, 110 patients with superior sulcus NSCLC were treated
with two cycles of cisplatin and etoposide concurrently with 45 gray (Gy) of
radiation, followed by surgical treatment and two additional cycles of
chemotherapy postoperatively. The response rate (RR) to the preoperative
chemoradiotherapy was 86%, and 83 patients (76%) were able to undergo complete
resection. A pathological complete response (CR) was observed in 61 patients
(56%), and the five-year survival of all patients and those undergoing complete
resection was 44% and 54%,
respectively. A phase II study conducted by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group
examined the safety and efficacy of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy
using mitomycin, vinblastin and cisplatin followed by surgical treatment.
Seventy-six patients with SST
were enrolled in this study, and all received chemotherapy using two cycles of
MVP concurrently with 45 Gy of radiation, followed by surgery. Neoadjuvant
chemoradiotherapy resulted in a 61% RR, and pathological complete resection was
successfully achieved in 51 patients (68%). A pathological CR was observed in
12 patients (16%), and the disease-free and overall survival rates at five
years were 45% and 56%, respectively. Both studies showed the efficacy and
tolerability of the multimodality treatment for SST, thus suggesting that
multimodality treatment with preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery
may therefore be an effective treatment for resectable SST. We herein review
the results of retrospective and prospective studies while assessing the treatment
outcomes of NSCLC patients with SST.


Animal welfare has become a priority for modern zoos and aquariums. However, amphibians have not yet been the focus of much welfare research, perhaps in part because they do not tend to display many quantifiable active behaviors. This study focused on nine zoo-housed American toads (Anaxyrus americanus), a species that displays long periods of sedentary behavior, to explore whether more subtle cues could serve as welfare indicators. A novel American toad posture index was developed that characterized toad posture based on the angle of their forelimbs, visibility of ventral regions, and body weight distribution. As an indicator of arousal, approximate breathing rates were assessed based on the rate of expansion of the toads' throats. Subsequent analyses revealed that lower body postures were associated with slower rates of throat expansion and raised postures with faster rates of throat expansion, suggesting that posture may be a promising way to quickly and non-invasively assess toad arousal. This work lays important groundwork for assessing welfare of an understudied species, and we are optimistic that, with additional validation, these approaches can be applied in future amphibian welfare research.


The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is widely used for production of fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals andmaterials. Through metabolic engineering of this yeast a number of novel new industrial processes have beendeveloped over the last 10 years. Besides its wide industrial use, S. cerevisiae serves as an eukaryal modelorganism, and many systems biology tools have therefore been developed for this organism. Despite ourextensive knowledge of yeast metabolism and its regulation we are still facing challenges when we want tointegrate this information into mathematical models. In this presentation examples of studies on global regulationof yeast metabolism will be provided. This will include analysis of how yeast rewire its metabolism at the globallevel when exposed to various types of stress and how global regulators like Snf1 and Sir2 controls yeastmetabolism


Conventional power distribution system is radial in nature, characterized by a single source feeding a network of down-stream feeders. Protection scheme for distribution system, primarily consisting of fuses and reclosers and in some cases, relays, has traditionally been designed assuming the system to be radial. After connecting distributed generation (DG), part of the system may no longer be radial, which means the coordination might not hold. The effect of DG on coordination will depend on size, type and placement of DG. This paper explores the effect of high DG penetration on protective device coordination and suggests an adaptive protection scheme as a solution to the problems identified. Results of implementation of this scheme on a simulated actual distribution feeder are reported.


Background : Hypertension and its related conditions have been recognized to be on the increase in developing countries. The roots of essential hypertension may extend back into childhood. Increased blood pressure in childhood correlates with hypertension in adults which emphasizes the need to track blood pressure in children. Genetic influence and familial blood pressure patterns are recognized in adolescents. Objective : The aim of the study was to determine the blood pressure pattern among adolescents whose fathers are hypertensive while comparing the blood pressure of adolescents with normotensive fathers. Methods : The survey employed a descriptive cross-sectional analytical study: The study subjects were adolescent offsprings of hypertensive fathers and controls were adolescents of normotensive (fathers) attending the medical outpatient and family medicine Clinics of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos. Data was collected using the seventh report of the joint national committee on prevention, detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure [JNC V11 REPORT]. Results : The prevalence of hypertension was 3.3% for SBP and 1.9% for DBP among adolescents whose fathers are hypertensive while among adolescents with normotensive (fathers) , only diastolic hypertension with a prevalence of 1.3% was found (P value < 0.05). The prevalence of pre-hypertension was 37.9% for SBP and 20.1% for DBP among adolescents whose fathers are hypertensive while among adolescents with normotensive parents, 11.0% for SBP and 2.7% for DBP was found (P. value < 0.05). Among the study group, there was progressive increase in mean DBP from 72.8mmHg at Age 10-13years to 76.7mmHg at age 14-16years and then 78.3mmHg at age 17-19years. While among the control, there was no appreciable increase in diastolic blood pressure with age. Among the study group, there was a more steep rise in systolic blood pressure when compared with controls. The mean SBP was 112.9mmHg at age 10-13years in the study group increased to  119.9mmHg at 14 -16years and finally to 123.4mmHg at age 17-19year. Whereas, there was a lesser increase among controls. Conclusion : The study demonstrated that adolescent offsprings of hypertensive  fathers show increasing blood pressure levels with age .


Many living tissues possess excellent mechanical properties and water retention which enable them to self-heal at room temperature even below the freezing temperature of water. To mimic the unique features of living tissue, a poly(acrylic acid-co-maleic acid) composite hydrogel with enhanced mechanical properties and remarkable water retention was fabricated under accessible conditions. The hydrogel is functionalized by amino group modified boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS-NH2)/glycerol and exhibits self-healing abilities at low temperature. The self-healing process occurs through the re-establishing of hydrogen bonds and metal coordination interactions at the damaged surfaces. Its anti-freezing abilities enable the hydrogel to self-heal at -15 °C, and the self-healing efficiency based on tensile strength reaches up to ∼70%. Moreover, glycerol also endows the hydrogel with long-lasting water retention, which remains a water content of ∼99 wt% for more than 30 days. Meanwhile, the simultaneous introduction of BNNS-NH2 and glycerol significantly improved the mechanical properties of the hydrogel, which displays great stretchability (∼474%), tensile strength (∼151.3 kPa), stiffness (Young's modulus of ∼62.75 kPa) and toughness (∼355.13 kJ m-3). It is anticipated that these novel hydrogels will develop many fields and be exploited for new applications in extensive external environments.


Equipment was limited, and essentials such as scalpel blades and rubber gloves were often missing and had to be borrowed from the R.A.F. It is reliably reported that a certain surgeon on one occasion had to use scissors to make his skin incision for an abdominal operation. There was no anaesthetic machine. For head-and-neck surgery a Heath-Robinson arrangement of borrowed equipment was used. A catheter was attached to rubber tubing and this in turn to a funnel. On to a piece of gauze wrapped over the funnel the ether was dripped. There was no alternative. There were no adequate -esuscitative measures available except from R.A.F. sources. If we needed saline, plasma, or blood we had to supply them and tbe transfusion set. The local saline was so pyrogenic that it was unusable. Oxygen cylinders were supplied, but as there were no workable masks they were of limited value. Sterilization of all dressings was carried out by the R.A.F. Ancillary medical services were elementary. A workable x-ray unit was only fitted some weeks before we left. Pathological services were limited to the most simple investigations, and more complicated procedures were carried out by the R.A.F. Practically all the public-health aspect of the work was done by the R.A.F. laboratory. The control of endogenous diseases, considering the primitive sewage system and appalling housing conditions, appeared to be of little avail. Amoebiasis, for example, was widespread and tuberculosis common. Owing to the very limited accommodation available only a small number of cases of the latter disease likely to respond to conservative treatment were hospitalized. Advanced cases spread the disease.


Cold rolling wastewater is very difficult for treatment with high oil content, complex composition, toxicity and other characteristics. In the conventional treatment process, the most widely used methods are ultrafiltration(UF), gas-energy-management(GEM) and membrane bioreactor(MBR). In this study, we used the biological fluidized bed to treat the cold rolling wastewater, which made the bioaugmentation apply to anaerobic biofilter and biological fluidized bed (BF-BFB) combined process, and the optimal process parameters were determined. The contents of COD and NH4+-N were 3276.8mg/L and 67.65mg/L in inflow water, and after treatment, they were reduced to 108.8mg/L and 6.36mg/L, respectively. The removal rates of COD and NH4+-N were 96.68% and 91.01%.


Financial regulators, rating agencies and many commentators have blamed weak Risk Culture for many of the large losses and financial company failures of the past decade. But their exposition regarding a strong Risk Culture only goes as far as describing a few of the risk management practices of an organization and falls far short of describing the beliefs and motivations that are at the heart of any culture. This discussion will present thinking about how the fundamental beliefs of Neo Classical Economics clash with the recommended risk practices and how the beliefs that underpin Enterprise Risk Management are fundamentally consistent with the recommended risk management practices but differ significantly from Neo Classical Economics beliefs.


Mitoxantrone is one of the few drugs approved for the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the prolonged use of this potent immunosuppressive agent is limited by the appearance of severe side effects. Apart from its general cytotoxic effect, the mode of action of mitoxantrone on the immune system is poorly understood. Thus, to develop safe therapeutic approaches for patients with progressive MS, it is essential to elucidate how mitoxantrone exerts it benefits. Accordingly, we initiated a prospective single-arm open-label study with 19 secondary progressive MS patients. We investigated long-term effects of mitoxantrone on patient peripheral immune subsets using flow cytometry. While we corroborate that mitoxantrone persistently suppresses B cells in vivo, we show for the first time that treatment led to an enrichment of neutrophils and immunomodulatory CD8low T cells. Moreover, sustained mitoxantrone applications promoted not only persistent NK cell enrichment but also NK cell maturation. Importantly, this mitoxantrone-induced NK cell maturation was seen only in patients that showed a clinical response to treatment. Our data emphasize the complex immunomodulatory role of mitoxantrone, which may account for its benefit in MS. In particular, these results highlight the contribution of NK cells to mitoxantrone efficacy in progressive MS.


Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects not only the physiological integrity of an individual but their psychological as well. The psychosocial aspects of HIV infection are varied and may be manifested in different behaviors and emotions specific to the stage of infection. These psychosocial aspects of HIV infection are explored using its chronology as a conceptual framework. An overview of issues pertinent to the asymptomatic, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related complex and AIDS client is given with suggestions for clinical management.


This study was prompted, in part, by the realization that there does exist an urgent need to strengthen the intermediate educational agency if it is to continue as a progressive force in the education of children in Kansas. The comprehensiveness of' the study was limited by sociological, topographical, and environmental factors directly related to the office of county superintendent of schools and by existing, educational statutory provisions. The specific problem of this study is to ascertain, with as few modifications as possible at a later date, how the office of county superintendent in a county-unit system could be made adaptable to Kansas.


ABSTRACT Gravel particles of different lithology, and similar particles transported over different distances show variations in shape and surface texture which may be detected and analyzed quantitatively by the modified Fourier procedure. This sensitive method of analysis of planar sections of particles is combined in this study with observations of the surface morphology of selected pebbles on the scanning electron microscope. Proglacial gravels composed of quartzite pebbles from the Onoway Channel northwest of Edmonton and gravels composed of quartzite and limestone pebbles from the Calgary area were investigated; both suites of pebbles were derived from the Cordillera. In the Fourier method the combined effects of shape and surface texture are defined as total roughness. Numerical values of roughness, shape and texture coefficients and mean harmonic amplitude spectra plotted graphically show the differences in contribution of shape and surface texture to total roughness of gravels. The Calgary quartzite pebbles have the least elongated but at the same time the most textured average profile, limestone pebbles of the same erosional history transported over the same distance are the most elongated; Edmonton quartzites are the least textured particles studied. Preliminary results on size-roughness relationship indicate that in general all gravels show a decrease in total roughness with decrease in particle size. However, there are marked differences in shape and texture for particular size groups.


Ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction (UAAE) was used to extract oil from Clanis bilineata (CB), a traditional edible insect that can be reared on a large scale in China, and the physicochemical property and antioxidant capacity of the UAAE-derived oil (UAAEO) were investigated for the first time. UAAE conditions of CB oil was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and the highest oil yield (19.47%) was obtained under optimal conditions for ultrasonic power, extraction temperature, extraction time, and ultrasonic interval time at 400 W, 40°C, 50 min, and 2 s, respectively. Compared with Soxhlet extraction-derived oil (SEO), UAAEO had lower acid (AV), peroxide (PV) and p-anisidine values (PAV) as well as higher polyunsaturated fatty acids contents and thermal stability. Furthermore, UAAEO showed stronger antioxidant activities than those of SEO, according to DPPH radical scavenging and β-carotene bleaching tests. Therefore, UAAE is a promising process for the large-scale production of CB oil and CB has a developing potential as functional oil resource.


The Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT) works by imaging the very short flash of Cherenkov radiation generated by the cascade of relativistic charged particles produced when a TeV gamma ray strikes the atmosphere. This energetic air shower is initiated at an altitude of 10-30 km depending on the energy and the arrival direction of the primary gamma ray. Whether the best image of the shower is obtained by focusing the telescope at infinity and measuring the Cherenkov photon angles or focusing on the central region of the shower is a not obvious question. This is particularly true for large size IACT for which the depth of the field is much smaller. We address this issue in particular with the fifth telescope (CT5) of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.); a 28 m dish large size telescope recently entered in operation and sensitive to an energy threshold of tens of GeVs. CT5 is equipped with a focus system, its working principle and the expected effect of focusing depth on the telescope sensitivity at low energies (50-200 GeV) is discussed.


Fungal specimens were collected in Trabzon Province in 2010 and 2012. Taxonomical studies were performed in our laboratory and in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. According to the results, Entoloma noordeloosi Hauskn., Inocybe lutescens Velen., and Tricholoma saponaceum var. squamosum (Cooke) Rea are recorded for the first time for the Turkish Mycota. The new records are illustrated, briefly described, and discussed.


To further improve the fuel economy of series hybrid electric tracked vehicles, a reinforcement learning (RL)-based real-time energy management strategy is developed in this paper. In order to utilize the statistical characteristics of online driving schedule effectively, a recursive algorithm for the transition probability matrix (TPM) of power-request is derived. The reinforcement learning (RL) is applied to calculate and update the control policy at regular time, adapting to the varying driving conditions. A facing-forward powertrain model is built in detail, including the engine-generator model, battery model and vehicle dynamical model. The robustness and adaptability of real-time energy management strategy are validated through the comparison with the stationary control strategy based on initial transition probability matrix (TPM) generated from a long naturalistic driving cycle in the simulation. Results indicate that proposed method has better fuel economy than stationary one and is more effective in real-time control.


ABSTRACT Large hopper-shaped halite cubes (up to 10 cm on a side) grow displacively within Holocene sediments near the southern end of the Dead Sea, under conditions of high temperatures, ionic concentrations and rapid rates of crystallization. Two theories of formation are presented: downward diffusion of ions versus upward diffusion, and "evaporative pumping." Both alternatives are considered possible, and the correct choice probably depends upon the location of the sediments at the time of precipitation--whether subaqueous or subaerial--a choice indeterminate at present, because of human disturbance to the sediments prior to collection. Displacively formed halite crystals, similar in morphology to the Dead Sea cubes, are common in evaporite-bearing carbonate rocks of many regions, such as the Salina Fm. (U. Silurian), Michigan Basin; the Kirkham Mudstone (U. Triassic), Cumbria, England; and the U. Miocene Gessoso-Solfifera Fm. of Sicily. These are believed to have formed under conditions analogous to those in the present Dead Sea. These observations taken together with those of other authors may now be used for the facies interpretation of ancient halite deposits.


The aim of this paper is to identify, on the basis of an analysis of the causes, the course and effects of strikes in Serbia over the last three decades, the mechanisms by which society and trade unions have moved from self-management mythology to the defense of whatever wages and "decent, dignified work" as the maximum goal. The drama of the decay of labor and trade unions, as well as the crisis of society, is presented in three chronologically related acts. The first one describes the process of decay concealed behind the call for patriotism, a kind of socialist-patriotic deception. The second one is the democratic introduction of capitalism through "predatory privatization". The current, third act, illustrates how neoliberal populism seeks to pacify any resistance of employees and autonomous unions by creating their surrogates through political clientelism and party employment.


Earlier studies of our group based on synthetic volumetric ultrasound data showed that automatic intensity-based spatio-temporal elastic registration of currently available three-dimensional (3D) volumetric ultrasound data sets should allow to measure the full myocardial motion, deformation and strain in three dimensions. This is a clear advantage over currently available ultrasound methods, which are often limited to measurements in one or two dimensions. In the present study, the in-vivo feasibility of this method was tested on clinical data taken from three healthy volunteers and one patient with an apical aneurism.


The zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) model is an extension of the standard Poisson distribution. It is often used to describe a near zero-defect process with occasional occurrences of non-conforming products. In the past, research on the control charts for ZIP process has concentrated on univariate ZIP process where there is only one type of defect. However, it is common in some high quality processes that there are several types of defects to be considered and the count variables are correlated. It is not appropriate to monitor the process using independent univariate ZIP based control charts. In this paper, a control charting procedure using a combination of two cumulative sum charts is proposed for monitoring shifts in a bivariate ZIP (BZIP) process, which is a special case of the multivariate ZIP model. We use simulations to obtain the upper control limit of the control charts based on a specified in-control average number of observations to signal. We also use simulations to evaluate the control charting procedure in three situations: shifts only in the p-set parameters; shifts only in the λ-set parameters; and shifts in all the parameters. The simulation results show that the proposed control charts are effective in detecting shifts in the parameters of a BZIP process. Finally, we present an application of our proposed method in the light emitting diode packaging industry.


John A. Ryle has been described as a late Victorian intellectual, because he viewed medicine as an art as well as a science. In reality, his writings were intended to reform medical education. He aimed to capture the medical curriculum and restructure the methodological and epistemological basis of medicine. Changing Disciplines is a compilation of some of Ryle's most thought-provoking lectures about the need to recreate medicine as a humanistic science. Changing Disciplines was intended to be a manifesto for a new medical creed that promoted clinical science as a field rather than a laboratory study, brought social science into the explanation of disease, and returned the "whole patient" to the center of medical practice. In 1942, the author resigned his chair at Cambridge to become the new director of a new Institute of Social Medicine established at the University of Oxford. In doing so he sacrificed on of the most senior academic positions in British medicine to embark on an educational adventure. His goal was to re-create medicine as a humanistic science, governed by what he called "social conscience as well as scientific intent." Ryle's critique of clinical medicine and its relationship to the biomedical sciences led to the creation of a new science, which he called "social pathology" and was institutionalized into a new academic discipline called "social medicine." Social pathology, or social medicine, shifts the boundaries of etiology out of the laboratory of the microscope into the laboratory of the community; out of the hands of the biochemist into the hands of the social scientist. Social medicine is concerned with man's relation to his environment. In contrast to public health of that era, social medicine focused more on chronic rather than infectious diseases and investigated the preventability of both. In a new introduction, Dorothy Porter discusses Ryle's academic and professional lives and how he came to develop the idea of social medicine. She shows how Ryle's studies and efforts have influenced the transformation of modern medicine and public health. Changing Disciplines is a valuable resource for historians, sociologists, and practioners and researchers of medicine.


Hashing is fundamental to many algorithms and data structures widely used in practice. For theoretical analysis of hashing, there have been two main approaches. First, one can assume that the hash function is truly random, mapping each data item independently and uniformly to the range. This idealized model is unrealistic because a truly random hash function requires an exponential number of bits to describe. Alternatively, one can provide rigorous bounds on performance when explicit families of hash functions are used, such as 2-universal or O(1)-wise independent families. For such families, performance guarantees are often noticeably weaker than for ideal hashing.
 In practice, however, it is commonly observed that simple hash functions, including 2-universal hash functions, perform as predicted by the idealized analysis for truly random hash functions. In this paper, we try to explain this phenomenon. We demonstrate that the strong performance of universal hash functions in practice can arise naturally from a combination of the randomness of the hash function and the data. Specifially, following the large body of literature on random sources and randomness extraction, we model the data as coming from a "block source," whereby each new data item has some "entropy" given the previous ones. As long as the (Renyi) entropy per data item is sufficiently large, it turns out that the performance when choosing a hash function from a 2-universal family is essentially the same as for a truly random hash function. We describe results for several sample applications, including linear probing, balanced allocations, and Bloom filters.


This study explores the influence that a mother has upon her daughter's educational
decision-making processes that occur between the age of 14 and the age upon
leaving education and, also, her educational and career aspirations. It focuses on
subject choice at GCSE, decisions to progress to further/higher education, when to
leave education, choice of future career and the mother-daughter relationship. The
research findings were based on qualitative research carried out in the form of semistructured,
tape-recorded, interviews with 60 mother-daughter pairings (daughters
being aged 14-23). The findings show that mothers have contributed to a change in
the educational aspirations and achievements of their daughters. Mothers
emphasise the acquisition of skills, academic qualifications and they believe in the
value of education. Their aspirations for their daughters are passed on via the
mother-daughter relationship and resulting messages have a very strong influence
upon the daughters with regard to education and, also, help to shape the daughters'
educational experiences and career aspirations. Daughters acknowledge the
importance of education and qualifications and know that they are essential for
success in the labour market. They desire careers and are happy to embark upon
several years of study to acquire relevant qualifications to be able to enter their
desired occupation. However, although daughters desire rewarding and well-paid
careers they are prepared to shelve these careers, for at least a minimum of five
years, in order to perform childcare duties and responsibilities at home. Although
they hear their mothers' messages about the value of education and the benefits it
entails and thus make declarations about careers, daughters' long-term intentions
are to revert to the same lifestyle that their mothers had in order to remain at home
with young children. Gender continues to influence girls' behaviour and it is this that
appears to have the greatest impact on a daughter's long-term career aspirations


Introduction: Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms is an aquatic plant that reproduces rapidly in polluted water. Due to the high adsorption capacity of heavy metals, the plant is used as a phytoremediation agent; its biomass can also be used biofuel production. Objective: To compile information on state-of-the-art water treatment processes and biofuel production with E. crassipes to design an integrated biohydrogen and bioethanol production process with the plant's biomass. Materials and methods: The available literature on E. crassipes was reviewed to analyze the designs and propose an integrated phytoremediation and bioenergy system. Results and discussion: The proposed design can be adjusted to industrial scale conditions. This design includes a phytoremediation system, a bioreactor to generate hydrolysis, a bioreactor to generate bioethanol and, finally, a bioreactor to generate hydrogen. Conclusions: By consulting the state of the art of the proposed designs, it is possible to create and construct, on a large scale, a system for producing bioethanol and biohydrogen from E. crassipes biomass (loaded or not with heavy metals). In this way, the plant biomass is not wasted as it is today.


This article joins recent ethnographies of written documents which shed light on embedded practices and codes in and through which writing is produced and consumed. The article explores the linguistic ideology of writing through examining inscriptions made in a visitor book in a war commemoration museum in Jerusalem, Israel. These settings supply a dual ideological framework, fusing the modern ideologies of authenticity and national commemoration. Under attention are the physical affordances and circumstances of the visitor book and how they contribute to an "authentic" mode of commemoration-cum-participation via inscribing, where language ideology and national ideology reinforce each other. The analysis suggests that the category "writing" is reductionist, and that under embodied sensibilities it should better be viewed as an array of textual, para-textual, and non-textual visual signs that are fused into the production of materialized hybrid inscriptions. Further, the situatedness and corporeality of inscribing practices carries far reaching semiotic implications, including the transformation of the ontic state of "texts" into that of symbols, calling for the rematerialization of inscribing. [handwriting, language ideologies, museum, commemoration, visitor book]


ABSTRACT Technology and media are delivering content that is transforming society. Providers must compete for consumer attention to sell their digital information goods effectively. This is challenging, since there is a high level of uncertainty associated with the consumption of such goods. Service providers often use free programming to share product information. We examine the effectiveness of content sampling strategy used for on-demand series dramas, a unique class of entertainment goods. The data were extracted from a large set of household video-on-demand (VoD) viewing records and combined with external data sources. We extended a propensity score matching (PSM) approach to handle censored data, which permitted us to explore the main causal relationships. Relevant theories in the marketing and information systems disciplines informed our research on consumer involvement and informedness for decision making under uncertainty, the consumption of information goods, and seller strategies for digital content. The results show that content sampling stimulates higher demand for series dramas, but in a more nuanced way than was expected. Samples of the series reveal quality information to consumers and allow them to assess preference fit directly. As a result, they become more informed about their purchase decisions. Also, households seem to be willing to pay more to be better informed, and informed households tend to purchase more. This suggests that content providers should invest in strategies that help consumers to understand the preference fit of information goods.


BACKGROUND
Tension pneumothorax is a reported risk with pneumoperitoneum in the presence of diaphragmatic injuries. A goat model with and without diaphragmatic injury was used to determine if varying levels of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) result in tension pneumothorax.

METHODS
Twenty-four goats were divided equally into four groups: (1) 5 mm Hg IAP control, (2) 15 mm Hg IAP control, (3) 5 mm Hg IAP with diaphragmatic injury, (4) 15 mm Hg IAP with diaphragmatic injury. Chest x-ray films were made and heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure (CVP), arterial blood gases, and airway pressure (AP) were measured at 10-minute intervals up to 30 minutes. Significant changes were determined by using the one-way analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney test with alpha set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS
In group 4, 100% (all six goats) developed radiographic evidence of tension pneumothorax by 10 minutes. Mean changes from baseline at 20 minutes for the following parameters were all significantly different from controls: HR (p < 0.05), CVP (p < 0.0001), PaO2 (p < 0.001), and AP (p < 0.004). Mortality was 67% (four of six) at 25 minutes. In group 3, 100% (all six goats) of the animals developed radiographic evidence of a simple pneumothorax without mediastinal shift. In this group, there were significant changes in PaO2 (p < 0.003), AP (p < 0.04), and HR (p < 0.05). Mortality was 16% (one of six) at 25 minutes.

CONCLUSION
In this goat model of diaphragmatic injury, tension pneumothorax is a significant threat when pneumoperitoneum is maintained at 15 mm Hg IAP. Pneumoperitoneum at 5 mm Hg IAP leads to simple pneumothorax with deleterious effects on oxygenation. Changes in AP, CVP, HR, and PaO2 provide early clues to the development of the problem.


Pyrophosphate (PPi), a byproduct of macromolecule biosynthesis is maintained at low levels by soluble inorganic pyrophosphatases (sPPase) found in all eukaryotes. In plants, H+-pumping pyrophosphatases (H+-PPase) convert the substantial energy present in PPi into an electrochemical gradient. We show here, that both cold- and heat stress sensitivity of fugu5 mutants lacking the major H+-PPase isoform AVP1 is correlated with reduced SUMOylation. In addition, we show that increased PPi concentrations interfere with SUMOylation in yeast and we provide evidence that SUMO activating E1-enzymes are inhibited by micromolar concentrations of PPi in a non-competitive manner. Taken together, our results do not only provide a mechanistic explanation for the beneficial effects of AVP1 overexpression in plants but they also highlight PPi as an important integrator of metabolism and stress tolerance.


Objectives: to analyze the contributions of regionalization in North-Barretos and SouthBarretos regions, focusing on political, structural and organizational changes. Methods: mixed sequential explanatory methods using records analysis from the Comissão Intergestores Regional (CIR) (Regional Inter-managers Commission (CIR), interviews with questionnaire and guides along with 42 key agents (managers and providers of services) conducted in August 2015. The descriptive statistical results were presented with mean scores for each of the question in the questionnaire. The analysis of the thematic content was performed by using the Atlas-ti software and categories of the mixed themes were generated representing the following dimensions: policy, structure and organization. Results: the study identified that the Estrutura Regional da Secretaria Estadual de Saúde (Regional Structure of the State Health Department) is the most important institution in health policy decisions. Several contributions can be identified in the process of regionalization, mainly in the organizational aspect of the health system. The records demonstrated the frequent presence of themes related to networks, regulation and financing and the definition of flow of patients. Conclusions: regionalization in the North-Barretos and South-Barretos regions have contributed for a better organization in health actions and services. The intergovernmental forums do not work with coordination and they are not a collaborative place to negotiate health issues in these regions in São Paulo State


The purpose of this study was to examine how immigrant Chinese mothers of young children from Mainland China conceptualize parenting styles, based on their beliefs and values, and the impact of this in a new cultural context. A phenomenological approach was used with a convenience sample of five participants from Ontario, Canada. Three significant themes emerged: 1) behaviour modelling, 2) education, and 3) discipline. Results suggest culture plays a significant role in the value placed on education and discipline. Contrary to past research, Chinese-Canadian parenting styles were found to be flexible and to incorporate a high degree of warmth, care and positive guidance through behaviour modelling. Keywords: cross-cultural parenting, Chinese mothers, immigrants, behaviour modelling, authoritative parenting, authoritarian parenting, autonomous parental orientation, connectedness parental orientation, education and discipline.


Abstract. Collecting data on aquatic biodiversity is very challenging because of the difficulty to access underwater ecosystems. Over the years, field surveys have become easier and cheaper with the development of low cost electronics. Commercial and recreational vessels, including sailboats, can now substantially complement expensive scientific surveys and arrays of observation buoys deployed across the world oceans (Pesant et al., 2015, Karsenti et al., 2011). Meanwhile, a large variety of marine animals such as birds, mammals, and fish have become data collection platforms for both biological and environmental parameters through the advent of archival tags. It becomes obvious that data collection in coastal and high seas will become more popular and that citizen will play a growing role in acquiring information on ocean dynamics (physical, chemical and biological parameters). However, currently, very few attempts have been made to use Human beings as observation platforms. In this paper we describe large datasets (more than 200,000 pictures) that have been recently collected along the coast of Mauritius by using popular and cheap platforms such as kite surf and Stand Up Paddle. We describe the characteristics of the data collected and showcase how they can be geolocated and used to complement remote sensing and mapping in order to drastically extend the current scope of "old school" fieldwork. We point out some of the main limitations encountered which need to be addressed to foster this citizen science approach such as data storage and transmission, deep learning to automate image recognition. The methods are all based on open source softwares.


The author establishes that there is no reason to think that the isoimmunization must be limited to the Rh factor, especially in pregnancy cases, because such a condition brings the ideal means for its presence.

A brief historical review is presented, establishing some evidence for the antigenic capacity of the A and B blood factors, such as the experimental production of serum in animals, the increase of agglutinin titre following an incompatible transfusion or intramuscular blood injection and heterospecific pregnancies. Some fetal antigens are analyzed, as well as the possible pathogenic process of sensitization. Some factors of the antigen-antibody conflict in the fetal organism are studied. The pregnancies are also analyzed from the viewpoint of the fetal maternal incompatibility explaining the low frequency of the observed cases, due to nonpermeable placentas, the anergy of the mother, and the fetal characteristic of being secretor or nonsecretor, considering that the clinical form of the fetal alteration depends upon the presence or absence of A and B substances in fetal tissues. The writer gives as a basis to consider a true isoimmunization the presence in the blood stream of erythroblasts with nuclear alterations, and a positive "developing test."

A clinical case of twins in which the sick twin was of incompatible blood type in respect to the mother is presented.


Using the ACNielsen HomeScan Panel over the period 1998 to 2001 as the source of data, we entertain various demand systems, namely, the LA/AIDS, the AIDS, and the QUAIDS to investigate the demand for eight non-alcoholic beverages. Own-price, cross-price, and expenditure elasticities are obtained by year and by demand system for milk, bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, powdered soft drinks, coffee, tea, fruit juices and drinks, and isotonics. Emphasis is placed on the magnitude of price sensitivity of households toward non-alcoholic beverages as well as on substitution and complementary patterns. This work provides a more current and more thorough analysis associated with the non-alcoholic beverage industry than previously reported in the literature.


[1] The third-generation real-time single-particle mass spectrometer (RSMS-3) was deployed from March to December 2002 in Baltimore, Maryland, as part of the Baltimore Particulate Matter Supersite. The site was located to the east of the downtown area and northwest of many local industrial emission sites. RSMS-3 actively sampled and analyzed over 380,000 individual particles within the 48–770 nm size range. The resulting positive and negative ion spectra for each particle were classified using a neural network algorithm, adaptive resonance theory ART 2-a. A subset of these data, particles analyzed between 1 April and 30 November 2003, is presented here. Over 99% of these particles could be described by 10 major composition types. Ambient number concentrations were determined for each type and correlated with particle size, wind direction, and time of day/year. On the basis of this information, local and regional sources of different composition classes are postulated. Almost 40% of all particles in the Baltimore aerosol are internally mixed, consisting primarily of organic carbon, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate. Most of these particles are likely derived from regional sources. The remaining particles appear to be derived mainly from local sources and processes and include elemental carbon (almost 30%), ammonium nitrate (over 10%), and various metals (over 20%). The particle composition types found in Baltimore aerosol are compared to previous measurements in Houston and Atlanta.


This thesis reports an investigation on time-dependent loss of post-tensioned
masonry box and tee sections representing diaphragm and fin walls, respectively. The
prestress loss due to creep and shrinkage of masonry, and relaxation of steel bars
were quantified separately and the main influencing factors considered were geometry
and masonry type. For each type of masonry three diaphragm and three fin walls
were built to determine prestress loss (decreasing load), creep (constant load) and
shrinkage (zero load). The walls were constructed from undocked clay, calcium
silicate and concrete block units with grade (ii) mortar with cementlime:sand in the proportions
of 1:½:4½ and water/cement ratio of 1.27. Creep and shrinkage were also measured on
unbonded masonry units and mortar prisms for predicting the deformations in the
masonry walls by using a previously developed composite model. The mal;onry units
and mortar prisms were partly sealed to simulate the corresponding volume/surface
ratio of the bonded masonry units and mortar joints in the masonry walls.
The calcium silicate walls exhibited the highest prestress loss, creep and
shrinkage compared with the clay and concrete block diaphragm and fin walls. The
current methods of prediction of prestress loss for masonry are only suitable for
specific types of masonry for which they were developed. On the other hand, the
methods developed for prestressed concrete gave reasonable predictions for all the
masonry types investigated, with one particular method being very accurate. For all test results it was confirmed that long-term deformations were influenced by
geometry, fin walls exhibiting greater deformations than diaphragm walls. The
composite model did not predict shrinkage very well in calcium silicate and concretc
block walls because some moisture in the mortar was absorbed by the masonry units.
As a result the partly sealed unbonded mortar prisms had higher water content than
the mortar bed joint in the walls, and thus a higher shrinkage in the partly sealed
mortar prisms occured. Consequently, when the creep and shrinkage of the partly
sealed mortar prisms was applied to the model, the masonry deformation was
overestimated.
A modified water absorption test was carried out which confirmed that for
units laid dry the mortar bed joint had a reduced shrinkage compared to the unbonded
mortar prisms. From the results, creep and shrinkage adjustment factors were
correlated with unit water absorption, and when adjusted creep and shrinkage were
incorporated with the composite model, satisfactory predictions of masonry
deformations were achieved.


We model concept testing in new product development as a search for the most profitable solution to a design problem. When allocating resources, developers must balance the cost of testing multiple designs against the potential profits that may result. We propose extreme-value theory as a mathematical abstraction of the concept-testing process. We investigate the trade-off between the benefits and costs of parallel concept testing and derive closed-form solutions for the case of profits that follow extreme-value distributions. We analyze the roles of the scale and tail-shape parameters of the profit distribution as well as the cost of testing in determining the optimal number of tests and total budget for the concept phase of NPD. Using an example, we illustrate how to estimate and interpret the scale and tail-shape parameters. We find that the impact of declining concept-testing costs on expected profits, the number of concepts tested, and total spending depend on the scale/cost ratio and tail-shape parameter of the profit distribution.


The Accelerated Failure Time model presents a way to easily describe survival regression data. It is assumed, that each observed unit ages internally faster or slower, depending on the covariate values. To use the model properly, we want to check if observed data fit the model assumptions. In present work we introduce a goodness-of-fit statistics based on modern martingale theory. On simulated data we try to estimate empirical properties of the test for various situations.


Long-term outcomes and hence the role of adjuvant therapy in patients with small (≤1 cm), node-negative breast cancer remain unclear. This study's objective was to evaluate whether human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2 status is an independent, poor prognostic marker in patients with these tumors and to identify a subgroup of patients with these small tumors who might benefit from adjuvant systemic therapy. All patients with a diagnosis of a node-negative breast tumor measuring ≤1 cm and available HER-2 test results between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005, at the three Mayo Clinic sites were identified. Clinicopathologic data were compared in three groups: HER-2(-), HER-2(+), and triple-negative (TN) tumors. Of the 421 tumors identified, 364 (86.5%) were HER-2(-), 28 (6.7%) were HER-2(+), and 29 (6.9%) were TN. The median follow-up time was 1,015 days (range, 1-2,549 days). Groups were balanced in terms of patient age and tumor histology. Eleven patients with HER-2(-) tumors (3.0%), seven with HER-2(+) tumors (25.0%), and eight with TN tumors (27.6%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. Follow-up data were available for 357, 28, and 28 patients in the three groups, respectively. Death rates in the three groups were 6.4% (23 of 357) (one recurrence-related death), 0% (0 of 28), and 7.1% (2 of 28) (one recurrence-related death), respectively. During follow-up, the tumor recurred in nine patients: four were HER-2(-) tumors (1.1%), two were HER-2(+) tumors (7.1%), and three were TN tumors (10.7%). Patients with small, node-negative breast tumors have an excellent prognosis, but HER-2(+) and TN tumors appear to have a higher recurrence rate, warranting consideration for broad use and optimization of systemic adjuvant treatments.


: Despite their potential for environmental impact reduction, Electric Vehicles (EVs) are still characterized by some peculiarities that make their acceptance by users a critical topic. Within the H2020 RESOLVE (Range of Electric SOlutions for L-category Vehicles) project, the specifications for the early concept design of a new L-category EV was based on a study of vehicle requirements. According to the European Regulation, a wide range of different vehicles are included in the "L–category", each one being described in detail by the Reg.168/2013/EC "on the approval and market surveillance of two–or three–wheel vehicles and quadricycles. Starting from the lesson learned from literature, a survey was prepared in order to identify the needs and the attitudes of a range of potentail users, aiming at understanding their opinion and their propensity to use EVs. The Survey was proposed to open public using media such as social networks, communication channels; relevant actors on the sector were contacted for the promotion of the initiative. The questionnaire included different sections related to person description, mobility needs definition, vehicle expectation and current knowledge on the EVs. As a first target, such approach was aimed to correlate the characteristics of the participants with the mobility needs they described. As a second target, their expectations in terms of performances and overall characteristcs were identified. Finally, the analysis of the perception of EVs confirmed that most users are correctly informed about EVs potential, but are still considering range as a limitation.


For the longest time, roughly from the 16th century, with the establishment of capitalism around the world, people have been working towards ways of ensuring their survival by accumulating assets and money. Capitalism is a system predominated by private ownership and the constant quest for profit and the accumulation of wealth. Despite being conceived as an economic system model, it influences political, social, cultural, ethical and many other spheres, encompassing our affecting our entire nation. With the onset of globalization over the past 50 years, the capitalist system has become the predominant system throughout the world and effects all beings in one way or another. In an effort to generate wealth, many factors influence decisions made within the world of finances, and ignorance of the theme is no longer an option. Financial education is an important discipline in providing citizens the opportunity to exercise their rights and duties within the financial world, allowing for more accurate decision-making. Financial citizenship entails an individual's ability to make the right choices, exercising their rights and fulfilling the associated duties. It is a concept taken from the term citizenship.


In this work, we investigate the behavior of the microcanonical and canonical averages of the two-dimensional Ising model during the Wang-Landau simulation. The simulations were carried out using conventional Wang-Landau sampling and the 1/t scheme. Our findings reveal that the microcanonical average should not be accumulated during the initial modification factors f, and they outline a criterion to find this limit, which we define as f(micro). We show that updating the density of states only after every L(2) spin-flip trials leads to a much better precision. We present a mechanism to determine for the given model up to what final modification factor f(final) the simulations should be carried out. Altogether these small adjustments lead to an improved procedure for simulations with much more reliable results. We compare our results with 1/t simulations. We also present an application of the procedure to a self-avoiding homopolymer.


ABSTRACT Exploiting data from Ghanaian schools' eighth grade students collected in 2011, we estimate the causal effects of school bullying on academic achievement and gender-based mitigating approaches by using propensity score matching (PSM) and doubly robust (DR) estimator approach. We find that students victimized by bullying score at least 0.22 standard deviation lower than their peers in a standardized mathematics examination. Meanwhile, we document that the effect of bullying is significantly attenuated in the presence of female teachers in the classroom. These results hold through a set of robustness checks including placebo regressions and matching quality test. We explain the results through gender difference in teaching paradigm and conclude that a feminine management approach in class is required to reduce the effect of bullying.


The log-normal distribution is a popular model in biostatistics and other fields of statistics. Bayesian inference on the mean and median of the dis- tribution is problematic because, for many popular choices of the prior for the variance (on the log-scale) parameter, the posterior distribution has no finite mo- ments, leading to Bayes estimators with infinite expected loss for the most common choices of the loss function. We propose a generalized inverse Gaussian prior for the variance parameter, that leads to a log-generalized hyperbolic posterior, for which it is easy to calculate quantiles and moments, provided that they exist. We derive the constraints on the prior parameters that yield finite posterior moments of or- der r. We investigate the choice of prior parameters leading to Bayes estimators with optimal frequentist mean square error. For the estimation of the lognormal mean we show, using simulation, that the Bayes estimator under quadratic loss compares favorably in terms of frequentist mean square error to known estimators.


This paper shows how the results of CORAS risk analysis can be reused and combined. It introduces new models, diagram types and procedures as an extension of the CORAS method. Taking risk analysis artifacts generated for the individual base components as input, probability values for unwanted incidents of complex systems can be calculated if the relations between these artifacts are modeled correctly. Initially developed for the S Network, a trustworthy repository, this extension is predestined for analyzing large scale systems consisting of heterogeneous components, which no single analyst team could handle.


New Zealand has set a target of net zero emissions by 2050, and this study looks into the role that economic growth, renewable energy use, technological innovation, and forests could play in getting them there. The Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) technique was used to analyze time series data from 1990 to 2021. According to the results of the DOLS estimation, a one-percentage-point increase in economic growth is associated with a 0.24% increase in CO2 emissions. Furthermore, increasing the use of renewable energy by 1% is related with a reduction in CO2 emissions of 0.81 percent over the long run, as indicated by the coefficient of renewable energy use being negative and statistically significant. The calculated long-run coefficient of technical innovation is negative and statistically significant, suggesting that a 1% increase in technological innovation results in a 0.02% reduction in CO2 emissions. The long-run coefficient of forest area is notably negative and significant, which means that increasing forest area by 1% reduces CO2 emissions by 4.78%. The empirical results show that as New Zealand's economy grows, so do its CO2 emissions, but that the country may get closer to its goal of carbon neutrality through the growing use of renewable energy, technological innovation, and sustainable forest management. Alternative estimators, such as fully modified least squares (FMOLS) and canonical cointegrating regression (CCR), do not significantly affect the estimated results. In order for New Zealand to reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2050, this article offers policy ideas centered on a low-carbon economy, the promotion of the use of renewable energy sources, the financing of technical progress, and sustainable forest management.


Currently, no method exists to core large volumes of inland freshwater wetland soils that maintains stratigraphic integrity, minimizes unnecessary disturbance, and cores up to a depth of 50 cm. Our objective was to create a large-volume soil coring device that could be applied with consistency to a variety of wetland substrates. The result is a hand-operated soil corer that resembles the aluminum irrigation pipe corer that DeLaune et al. (1978) used to core soft marshy substrates. Instead of aluminum pipe, we used regular steel stovepipe and a variety of tools for insertion. After the sample is extracted from the sediment, the handle can be quickly removed for ease of transportation and storage of a core. The stovepipe can be cut open to expose the soil sample so that it can easily be sectioned for incremental analysis. The corer was used to take 130 samples in 18 different sites, spanning many different wetland substrate types. Our method has many applications, including radiochronologic dating, seed bank analysis, bulk density measurement, and soil contaminants analysis.