This report attempts to ascertain the current state of, and outstanding issues relating to, nursing diagnosis, as taught in nursing education in Japan, and to obtain basic resources that will allow the improvement of said nursing diagnosis training. A self-completed, anonymous survey was carried out in regard to teaching staff responsible for classes in "nursing process" or "nursing diagnosis" at 183 university institutions involved in nursing education nationwide. Responses were received from 82 people, which clarified the following three points. 1) Of the 63 universities teaching nursing process as an independent subject, approximately 62% included nursing diagnosis. 2) A diverse range of educational materials were used in nursing diagnosis training, including NANDA-I nursing diagnosis. 3) In implementing nursing process using nursing diagnosis, issues raised included the following: the limitations of education "on paper", using theoretical patients, insufficient skills among teaching staff, the difficulty of realizing practical training in a clinical setting, and the tendency to try to make a simple diagnosis fit the circumstances. In the future, this study suggests that it may be important to create a set of guidelines guaranteeing a minimum level of educational content in relation to nursing diagnosis, which must be learned before graduation.


In 2007, the General Statistics Office (GSO) launched a joint research program with the French Institute of Research for Development (IRD), to measure and analyzes the informal sector in Vietnam. Two kinds of surveys were conducted in 2007: a national Labour Force Survey (LFS), which, in a first for Vietnam, classified labour by institutional sector, separating out the informal sector; two specific surveys, in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), which were grafted onto the LFS2007 to find out more about the characteristics of Household Businesses (HBs) in general and especially the informal sector. These surveys have been extensively analyzed, and the full results edited in a book. Two years later, this successful experience has been re-conducted, with the additional objectives to consolidate the methodology and to assess the impact of the global crisis on the labour market in general and the informal economy in particular. This paper presents the main findings (both methodological and analytical) of these two rounds of surveys as regards the informal sector in Hanoi and HCMC. In the context of the global crisis, it looks at the dynamics of the informal sector between 2007 and 2009. Taking advantage of this unique survey protocol, the first part investigates the macro dynamics comparing the two representative cross sections, while the second focuses on the micro dynamics drawn from the panel component. Transitions between formal and informal sector are explored. The third part aims at analyzing the perception of HBs' heads to assess the impact of the crisis. Then, the last section explores the changes as regards the problems faced by HBs, their interaction with the state and their outlook. In the conclusion, the author determines some of the implications of the findings in terms of economic policies. This report can be usefully complemented by two companion papers: the first one presents the adjustment of the labour market and the informal economy nationwide, based on the LFS2007 & 2009; the second one is a policy brief on the impact of the crisis on the informal sector in Hanoi and HCMC.


Background: Following a situation appraisal in 2001, a six year mental health reform programme (Egymen) 2002-7 was initiated by an Egyptian-Finnish bilateral aid project at the request of a former Egyptian minister of health, and the work was incorporated directly into the Ministry of Health and Population from 2007 onwards. This paper describes the aims, methodology and implementation of the mental health reforms and mental health policy in Egypt 2002-2009. Methods: A multi-faceted and comprehensive programme which combined situation appraisal to inform planning; establishment of a health sector system for coordination, supervision and training of each level (national, governorate, district and primary care); development workshops; production of toolkits, development of guidelines and standards; encouragement of intersectoral liaison at each level; integration of mental health into health management systems; and dedicated efforts to improve forensic services, rehabilitation services, and child psychiatry services. Results: The project has achieved detailed situation appraisal, epidemiological needs assessment, inclusion of mental health into the health sector reform plans, and into the National Package of Essential Health Interventions, mental health masterplan (policy guidelines) to accompany the general health policy, updated Egyptian mental health legislation, Code of Practice, adaptation of the WHO primary care guidelines, primary care training, construction of a quality system of roles and responsibilities, availability of medicines at primary care level, public education about mental health, and a research programme to inform future developments. Intersectoral liaison with education, social welfare, police and prisons at national level is underway, but has not yet been established for governorate and district levels, nor mental health training for police, prison staff and teachers. Conclusions: The bilateral collaboration programme initiated a reform programme which has been sustained beyond the end of the funding. The project has demonstrated the importance of using a multi-faceted and comprehensive programme to promote sustainable system change, key elements of which include a focus on the use of rapid appropriate treatment at primary care level, strengthening the referral system, interministerial and intersectoral liaison, rehabilitation, and media work to mobilize community engagement.


Recent work in speaker recognition has demonstrated the advantage of modeling stylistic features in addition to traditional cepstral features, but to date there has been little study of the relative contributions of these different feature types to a state-of-the-art system. In this paper we provide such an analysis, based on SRI's submission to the NIST 2005 speaker recognition evaluation. The system consists of 7 subsystems (3 cepstral 4 stylistic). By running independent N-way subsystem combinations for increasing values of N, we fines that (1) a monotonic pattern in the choice of the best N systems allows for the inference of subsystem importance; (2) the ordering of subsystems alternates between cepstral and stylistic; (3) syllable-based prosodic features are the strongest stylistic features, and (4) overall subsystem ordering depends crucially on the amount of training data (1 versus 8 conversation sides). Improvements over the baseline cepstral system, when all systems are combined, range from 47% to 67%, with larger improvements for the 8-side condition. These results provide direct evidence of the complementary contributions of cepstral and stylistic features to speaker discrimination


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is the detection and quantification of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in patients diagnosed with colon cancer and to establish whether they are related to the main clinicopathologic variables for this type of carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHOD
Twenty-five colon cancer patients and 30 healthy volunteers were analysed. The quantification was performed using the CellSpotter Analyzer (Veridex LLC), that allows immunomagnetic isolation and immunospecific labelling of the cells for their enumeration.

RESULTS
72% of the colon cancer patients showed CTC and the mean number of cells found was 5 CTC/7.5 ml of peripheral blood. 52% of the samples contained 2 or more cells. Considering 2 cells as the cut-off point, a significant relationship with lactate dehydrogenase was found.

CONCLUSIONS
This new technology which allows isolation and quantification of CTC in peripheral blood has proven to be valid for the detection of epithelial cells in colon cancer patients in every tumor stage. The results shown in this work confirm that cytokeratin 8, 18 and 19 are detected in CTC in this tumor type and will allow us to develop a protocol for the study of the relationship of quantification of theses cells and the clinical parameters involved in colon cancer.


The Leguminosae family is one of the most representative botanical families of the Caatinga, with 80 endemic species, highlighting the catingueira (Poincianella pyramidalis). The objective of this research work was to study the maturation process of P. pyramidalis seeds based on the physiological maturity. Five harvest of fruits and seeds were carried out, with 15 days interval each, in a period from July to September 2010. The harvests began 75 days after anthesis (d.a.a.) and lasted until 135 d.a.a. Fruits and seeds were subjected to the following assessments: size, moisture content, and dry mass of fruits and seeds; and germination and vigor of seeds (first count of germination, germination speed index, length and dry mass of seedling). Under the environmental conditions of municipality of Soledade, State of Paraiba, Northeast Brazil, the point of physiological maturity of P. pyramidalis seeds occurs at 125 d.a.a., when the maximum accumulation of dry mass is 1.993 g and moisture content is 21%. The ideal point of harvest is between 130 d.a.a and 135 d.a.a., before natural dehiscence, when the moisture content of seeds is between 13.0% and 5.0%.


Author(s): Boone, Kyle Robert | Advisor(s): Perlmutter, Saul | Abstract: In the late 1990s, precise distance measurements with Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) were used to show that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. One possibility is that this accelerated expansion is due to an additional form of energy referred to as "dark energy" which contributes roughly 70% of the total energy in the present day universe. The properties of dark energy are not currently well-constrained, and a wide range of different cosmological probes are currently being designed to explore the fundamental nature of the accelerated expansion of the universe. SNe Ia have remained one of the strongest cosmological probes, and upcoming experiments such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) are expected to discover over 100,000 SNe Ia that can be used for cosmology. The uncertainties on cosmological parameters derived from these large samples of SNe Ia will be entirely dominated by the systematic uncertainties of distance measurements to SNe Ia. In this dissertation, we discuss several different methods of improving the systematic uncertainties in distance measurements to SNe Ia.This dissertation is split into three main chapters each discussing how to improve a different aspect of distance measurements to SNe Ia. In Chapter 2, we examine how instrumental calibration can affect these distance measurements, and discuss a new anomalous behaviour of CCD readout electronics related to the binary encoding of pixel values that affects most astronomical instruments currently in use. For the Nearby Supernova Factory, this anomaly introduces a dispersion in the measured B-band/U-band magnitudes of 0.11 mag/0.51 mag for the faintest 20% of measurements.Another major source of systematic uncertainty in distance measurements to SNe Ia is intrinsic variation of the SNe Ia. In Chapter 3, we develop a new method of parametrizing SNe Ia using manifold learning to generate a non-linear decomposition of the intrinsic diversity of their spectra near maximum light. We identify regions of the parameter space of SNe Ia where previous standardization methods such as SALT2 have biases of up to 0.3 mag, and show how correlations between host galaxy properties and distance estimates are greatly reduced when standardizing SNe Ia using our new parametrization.Finally, in Chapter 4, we discuss how upcoming surveys such as LSST will need to rely on photometric classification to identify the majority of the transients that they discover, which means that samples of SNe Ia used for cosmology will be contaminated with other types of transients. We developed a set of techniques for photometric classification to address the fact that spectroscopic subsamples used for training classifiers are typically highly biased compared to the full samples of transients and variables that will be discovered. Using these techniques, we built a photometric classifier that won the PLAsTiCC photometric classification challenge out of 1,094 competing teams.


Abstract This article calls for a reassessment of the methodology in determining the place of contractual performance under Article 7(1) of the Brussels I Regulation Recast. The first part of the article deals with Article 7(1)(a). It argues that in light of the adoption of autonomous linking factors under Article 7(1)(b), more types of contracts presently not covered within the ambits of Article 7(1)(b) should centralise jurisdiction at the places of performance of their characteristic obligations. The second part of the article considers the way Article 7(1) operates when there are multiple places of performance under the contract. The test devised by the Court of Justice of the European Union in this regard is not only difficult to apply, but the application of the test also often does not guarantee a close connection between the claim and the court taking jurisdiction. This article argues that when a claim is made in respect of a contractual obligation to be performed in more than one Member State, Article 4 should be applied instead of Article 7(1).


Swimming pool is one of the public places which is liked by all and a place where people can easily catch up with many disease. The joint use of swimming pool and poor hygiene can cause negative effects for health of the students from Faculty of Sport Sciences who regularly use the swimming pool of Sejahtera Club Chain, State University of Medan. Therefore, the quality of the pool water have to be monitored; chemical parameters such as residual chlorine (0.2-0.5 mg / L) and microbiological parameters such as the presence of Candida albicans (0/100ml water) in the pool water. The purpose of this research is to analyze the residual chlorine and Candida albicans in the pool water as well as the student's health complaints after swimming in the pool. The type of research is a descriptive survey. The population in this study are students of the Faculty of Sport Sciences majors PJKR 2013 ledger as many as 173 students, with Taro Yamane formula obtained samples of 64 students. The research object, pool water, was taken at 5 points. The results shows that 85% pool sanitation is eligible, 15% is ineligible. Residual chlorine content of the test results obtained 0.024 mg / L to 0.033 mg / L is ineligible and positive Candida albicans was found in the pool water. Most health complaints associated is red eyes (81.3%) and scaly skin (56.25%). The research c onclusion is ineligible residual chlorine and Candida albicans and occurs health complaints for swimmers. It is suggested to the manager of the swimming pool to do chlorine residual monitoring regularly . Keywords: Residual Chlorine, Candida albicans, Sanitation, Health Complaints


A few infinite polyhedra divide space into congruent pieces. Any dual should have the same symmetries as the original polyhedron, so in these cases should also provide a congruent division of space. These conditions do not define a unique dual, and the polyhedra that satisfy them can be related to each other by continuous deformations, that generate finite space-filling polyhedra in the limit.


We surveyed the bird species richness and abundance at 12 sites in gardens and four sites in natural woodlands at Prince Albert, Western Cape, South Africa, over a two-month period, from 14 September to 15 November 1999. Bird numbers were estimated using point counts. Of a total of 75 bird species recorded, 34 species occurred in both garden and natural sites, 23 species only in gardens and 18 species only in natural woodland. The sites in natural habitats had the greatest similarity between species. The commonest species nesting in gardens during this study was the Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus), followed by the Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis), and Greater Striped Swallow (Hirundo cucullata). Bar-throated Apalis (Apalis thoracica), Namaqua Warbler (Phragmacia substriata), Fiscal Flycatcher (Sigelus silens) and Common Fiscal (Lanius collaris) nests were only observed at the natural sites. Southern Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybea) and Cape White-eye (Zosterops capensis) nested in both natural and garden sites. Tree hole-nesting species were rare in both gardens and natural woodland, but this reflects the paucity of suitable sites rather than the rarity of the species per se. With the exception of two sites that lacked nectarivores, all foraging guilds were represented at all sites. There was a marked difference in numbers of insectivorous, granivorous and omnivorous species between the natural woodland sites and the garden sites. The gardens showed a gradient in species richness from the gardens with structurally simple vegetation (bare ground) through to the richest species assemblages in the structurally most diverse habitats (trees). However, this gradient was less clear than expected. Structurally fairly simple vegetation (but abundant 'flowers') had species numbers almost as high as the woodland sites, and higher than the garden tree sites.


Experimental data shows that permanent magnet stepper motors can spontaneously reverse their direction of rotation when controlled in full step, open-loop mode. The paper shows that the reversal of speed can be explained, and that the reverse speed is equal to three times the forward speed. A linear approximation of the motor dynamics predicts that reverse running will arise when the undershoot of the single-step response exceeds 50% (or when the damping factor is less than 0.11). The observations of the paper suggest a revision of the conventional explanation that resonance problems occur because of high positive velocity at the stepping time. Instead, the data and the analysis of the paper suggest that resonance problems, including stalling and speed reversal, occur due to the growth of the undershoot in the response to repeated steps.


Recent regional initiatives have been addressed from a Vinerian perspective of trade creation and trade diversion. This is true of both policy‐oriented economists, who tend to be critical of the initiatives, and theorists, who have added dynamic and gametheoretic elements to the Vinerian structure. This paper describes the stylized facts of much recent regional integration and develops an alternative model. The analysis suggests that regional integration, far from threatening multilateral liberalism, may in fact be a direct consequence of the success of past multilateralism and an added guarantee for its survival.


Carbonitriding is a metallurgical surface modification technique that is widely used in the automotive industry to increase surface hardness and wear resistance. Given the problems associated with carbonitriding, such as dimensional distortion, oxidation and non-uniform surface hardness, nitrocarburizing has been proposed as an alternative heat treatment method to improve the surface characteristics. The major advantages of ferritic nitrocarburizing are the minimal dimensional changes and distortion due to the low process temperature at which no phase transformations occur. This increases productivity and product quality, and decreases costs. The focus of this study was to determine the effects of carbonitriding and ferritic nitrocarburizing processes on the dimensional changes and residual stresses in a steel used for automotive applications. Navy C-ring specimens and prototype stamped parts made from SAE 1010 plain carbon steel were used in the testing. Gas, vacuum and ion ferritic nitrocarburizing processes with different heat treatment parameters were investigated. X-ray diffraction techniques were used for the residual stresses evaluation and surface phase analysis of the specimens.


Reversible surface morphology can be used for significantly changing many surface properties such as roughness, friction, reflection, surface tension, etc. However, it is not easy to realize atop metals at micron scale around ambient temperature. In this paper, we demonstrate that TiNi and TiNi based (e.g., TiNiCu) shape-memorythin films, which are sputter-deposited atop a silicon wafer, may have different types of thermally-induced reversible surface morphologies. Apart from the well-known surface relief phenomenon, irregular surface trenches may appear in the fully crystallized thin films, but disappear upon heating. On the other hand, in partially crystallized thin films, the crystalline structures (islands) appear in chrysanthemum-shape at high temperature; while at room temperature, the surface morphology within the islands changes to standard martensite striations. Both phenomena are fully repeatable upon thermal cycling. The mechanisms behind these phenomena are investigated.


The perturb and observe (P&O) best operation conditions are investigated in order to identify the edge efficiency performances of this most popular maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique for photovoltaic (PV) applications. It is shown that P&O may guarantee top-level efficiency, provided that a proper predictive (by means of a parabolic interpolation of the last three operating points) and adaptive (based on the measure of the actual power) hill climbing strategy is adopted. The approach proposed is aimed at realizing, in addition to absolute best tracking performances, high robustness and promptness both in sunny and cloudy weather conditions. The power gain with respect to standard P&O technique is proved by means of simulation results and experimental measurements performed on a low power system. Besides the performance improvements, it is shown that the proposed approach allows possible reduction of hardware costs of analog-to-digital (A/D) converters used in the MPPT control circuitry.


In spite of significant advances made in the technology to image the intracranial contents and to measure the metabolic activity of discrete brain sites, the factor(s) responsible for the death of ischemic neurons remains unresolved. Several potential culprits have been tried: (1) "energy failure", or depletion of high-energy phosphates, occurs very quickly after ischemia, but energy metabolites recover even in tissues where functional return does not occur; (2) "tissue lactacidosis" enhances ischemic cell necrosis, but this factor is not the indispensable cause of neuronal necrosis because acidosis is minimal or nonexistent under conditions of hypoglycemia and seizures; (3) "impairment of the microcirculation" may be a contributing factor, but such microcirculatory impairment cannot be the initiating event as it is known that irreversible neuronal injury precedes the development of microcirculatory abnormalities; (4) the effects of "excitatory neurotransmitters", especially glutamate, may explain the "delayed neuronal death" or the protracted necrosis of neurons in the CA1 sector of the hippocampus; (5) ionic pump alterations: studies of experimental myocardial ischemia tend to support a contributory role of Ca2+ in the aggravation of cell necrosis; however, lack of an experimental model in which steady-state conditions can be maintained has left unresolved the potential participation of calcium ions in ischemic cell necrosis; (6) the same statement, concerning the lack of an experimental model, can be made about the role of free-radical species; oxygen free radicals and superoxides are abundant in the reperfusion stage of ischemic injury, but it is unclear how significant their contribution might be as initiators of ischemic necrosis; and (7) the "ischemic penumbra" is a zone or portion of brain tissue that is sufficiently hypoperfused as to be functionless, but where the cells are likely to recover once normal perfusion is reestablished. Further understanding of the "penumbra" may prove crucial in future studies of brain ischemia.


Vision-based robotic control (also known as visual servoing) is promising for surgical tool tip tracking and automated visualization of photoacoustic targets during interventional procedures. However, reliable segmenta- tion in photoacoustic-based visual servoing was previously achieved with a light source that exceeds laser safety limits, due to the limited availability of laser safety limits for only skin or eyes and the associated difficulty with visualizing signals at the low laser energies within these safety limits for millimeter-sized light sources. Short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) imaging is an advanced beamforming method that has shown offline promise toward enhancing the visualization of signals acquired with low laser energies. This paper summarizes the first known GPU-based, real-time implementation of SLSC for photoacoustic imaging and displays example images showing the application of this real-time algorithm to improve signal visualization and segmentation for visual servoing tasks. Results with ex vivo bovine tissue demonstrate that real-time SLSC imaging recovers signals obtained with low laser energies (i.e., ≤ 268 μJ) with mean ± standard deviation signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of 11.2 ± 2.4 (compared to 3.5 ± 0.8 with conventional delay-and-sum beamforming). Therefore, real-time SLSC imaging enables low laser energies for visual servoing within existing safety limits, which is promising for multiple surgical interventions.


Religious freedom is a fundamental right in the United States. This right has been and will continue to be litigated in the courts PCCC Subscription Databases


Supercritical fluid extraction is the most effective and efficient way to extract valuable constituent botanicals. Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) is the process of separating one component (the extractant) from another (the matrix) using supercritical fluids that is CO2 as the extracting solvent. CO2 is the king of extraction solvents for botanicals. Extraction conditions for supercritical CO2 are above the critical temperature of 31°C and critical pressure of 74 bar. Supercritical fluids are highly compressed gases, which have combined properties of gases and liquids in an intriguing manner. Supercritical fluids can lead to reactions, which are difficult or even impossible to achieve in conventional solvents. It is a fast process completed in 10 to 60 minutes. A supercritical fluid can be separated from analyte by simply releasing pressure, leaving almost no trace and yields a pure residue.


This book is written with the sole purpose of offering a simple, efficient, fair & hence Future Ready system of Digital Taxation.

"This book critically analyses the issue of 'Digital Taxation', by tracing the history of the debate. Thereafter, setting out the basic issues in simple terms and presenting clear and unequivocal views on the various issues involved.

It is a book written in simple language, trying to bring out and explain concepts with clarity even to those who are not tax professionals.

It is an especially heartening works for developing nations including India, as it substantially clarifies and endorses the view taken by them and presents a simple and logical explanation for such endorsement.

Most importantly, the book suggests a viable model of taxation of digital transactions that can move further towards ensuring a more just and equitable world order in international taxation."

- Akhilesh Ranjan (Member, CBDT)


This chapter provides an overview of recent advances in the field of laser-based synthesis of biopolymer thin films for biomedical applications. The introduction addresses the im‐ portance of biopolymer thin films with respect to several applications like tissue engi‐ neering, cell instructive environments, and drug delivery systems. The next section is devoted to applications of the fabrication of organic and hybrid organic–inorganic coat‐ ings. Matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) and Combinatorial-MAPLE are introduced and compared with other conventional methods of thin films assembling on solid substrates. Advantages and limitations of the methods are pointed out by focusing on the delicate transfer of bio-macromolecules, preservation of properties and on the prospect of combinatorial libraries' synthesis in a single-step process. The following sec‐ tion provides a brief description of fundamental processes involved in the molecular transfer of delicate materials by MAPLE. Then, the chapter focuses on the laser synthesis of two polysaccharide thin films, namely Dextran doped with iron oxide nanoparticles and Levan, followed by an overview on the MAPLE synthesis of other biopolymers. The chapter ends with summary and perspectives of this fast-expanding research field, and a rich bibliographic database.


The internationalisation of retail businesses has become a global phenomenon as retailers around the world expand their operations beyond national borders. This phenomenon has attracted some academic attention. In Africa, South Africa appears to be more advanced in this regard, with Shoprite at the forefront of the Africanisation of South African retailers. A review of Shoprite's expansion into the continent results in two propositions and some challenges that affect this process. The wider significance of the propositions is further examined by a study of other South African retailers expanding into Africa. The review finds that although there are opportunities for retailers in African countries, there are also significant challenges that can negate the opportunities. Most importantly, the chosen mode of entry into African countries plays a significant role in the overall internationalisation process and should be a primary concern of management teams considering making such a move, and it is established that the mode of entry comprises at least five areas of critical decision making.


Interview has become a popular method of data collection in qualitative research. This article examines the different interview methods for collecting data (e.g., structured interviews, group interviews, unstructured, etc.), as well as the various methods for analyzing interview data (e.g., interpretivism, social anthropology, collaborative social research). It also evaluates the interview types and analysis methods in qualitative research and the new technology for conducting interviews such as e-mail, telephone, skype, webcam, Facebook chat etc to ascertain how they limit interviewees from giving full picture of moral and ethical Issues.


Vitamin B6 deficiency as measured by plasma concentrations of pyridoxal 5` phosphate (P5P), the active form of vitamin B6, has been reported in several organ transplant recipients. The highest incidence of vitamin B6 deficiency has been observed in small bowel transplant recipients. The current study evaluated the potential mechanisms (increased degradation of P5P due to higher levels of alkaline phosphatases; or decreased formation of P5P due to decreased expression and activity of pyridoxal kinase) that may contribute to such observations. Higher plasma concentrations of alkaline phosphatases, decreased plasma albumin concentrations and higher amount of excretion of 4-pyridoxic acid in the urine of small bowel transplant patients supported the role of increased degradation of P5P. Of the various medications used by transplant patients that were tested using computation approach, pantoprazole, trimethoprim, acyclovir, valganciclovir and mycophenolic acid appeared to be most likely to inhibit pyridoxal kinase. Tacrolimus, the primary immunosuppressive drug used in most transplant recipients had limited impact on pyridoxal kinase expression and activity. A pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, decreased the expression and activity of pyridoxal kinase in primary cultures of human hepatocytes. The higher plasma concentrations of TNF-α observed in small bowel transplant patients is consistent with a decreased activity of pyridoxal kinase in the liver of these patients, and supported decreased formation of P5P also as a contributor to the observed vitamin B6 deficiency. Additional studies in an animal model where an organ that was not directly involved in the absorption, formation or degradation of vitamin B6 (a composite allograft tissue transplantation), showed a significant reduction in the expression of pyridoxal kinase in the liver. This suggested that the process of organ transplantation (immune activation and inflammation) itself led to vitamin B6 deficiency. Our studies indicate that vitamin B6 deficiency is expected in all transplant recipients; however, the magnitude of deficiency is likely to be affected by the immunogenicity of the transplanted organ and the immune status of the patient. Given the potential effect of vitamin B6 deficiency (neurotoxicity), and the low cost of vitamin B6, it is prudent to consider supplementation of all transplant patients with vitamin B6.


Human migration in the past plays a key role for the spread of cultures across the Indian Ocean. The Maldives occupy an interesting position at the cross-route of ocean trading and exploratory expeditions. Natural phenomena like rapid changes in sea level and tsunami events may pose an extra stress on coastal habitation providing the ultimate push for a migration overseas. Records from Sri Lanka and the Maldives are analyzed in this paper. Recently, a new threat and stress factor for low-lying coastal areas has emerged in the global warming scenario predicting a general flooding due to a rapidly rising sea level. In this scenario, the Maldives would have become flooded in 50 to 100 years.


Purpose – The aim of this paper is to explore differences in managerial values in Turkey by relating them to the changing business context. Design/methodology/approach – The research delineates individual value differences between upper‐level managers and a group of MBA students who were approached through a questionnaire and in‐depth interviews. Findings – The basic findings support the view that workplace socialisation may affect individual values and practices. Research limitations/implications – The limitation of this paper is its exploratory nature based on the small sample size of research. Practical implications – In the context of internationalization and rising competition within the economic space, change should be high on the agenda of the Turkish private sector in adapting to the shifts in business environment. This should incorporate professional training as well as strategic HR projects aiming to transform the existing structures biased toward paternalism. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the existing management literature by identifying critical value dilemmas facing Turkish businesses in today's turbulent and internationalized business environment.


While existing research recognizes the central importance of social identities in motivating participation in social movements, much less is known about the creation of such groups. In this paper we take a social identity perspective and consider the ways that both "nice" (prosocial) and "nasty" (hostile) social movements can be mobilized through the dynamic construction of social identities. We argue that group interaction plays a key role as the medium through which social movements actively construct and negotiate the content of the group membership. This intra-group interaction can result in consensual norms for social action. We argue that by harnessing the power of this identity formation process, one can practically utilize collectives as instruments for positive social change. Conversely, awareness of these processes can also be used to subvert the formation of hostile movements. We thus use our theoretical platform as a basis for suggested interventions.


The Uppsala Cryoplaning Technique has been used for over 30 years to study normal spinal anatomy and pathologies such as trauma, degenerative conditions, tumors, and metastases (SDC Figure 1, http://links.lww.com/BRS/B105). A heavy-duty sledge cryomicrotome creates authentic anatomical images of slices from the surface of in situ fresh-frozen specimens at submillimeter intervals. This presentation is intended to improve understanding of anatomical structures of the spine among spine surgeons.


Media are supposed to pay special attention to the traditional journalistic ethical norms in the cases of media coverage of bullying in schools (Olweus, 1998; Mason, 2008), insofar as these combine childhood, violence and, in some unfortunate cases, suicide (Herrera et al., 2015). Even if mass media have traditionally avoided these kind of coverage, giving rise to an informative silence that answers to its concern about a possible "imitation effect" (Philips, 1974), it is a fact that the topic has gained attention in the media sphere, probably due a growing public and social interest towards the bullying problem. Because of the scarce researches on media coverage of bullying in schools related to suicide (Muller, 2011), this paper examines the ethical codes and the media treatment of three significant cases in Spain. The results shed light on the consequences of releasing this kind of informative content and on the options to improve this kind of treatment avoiding risk factors.


Background Many users search the Internet for answers to health questions. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a particularly common search topic. Because many CAM therapies do not require a clinician's prescription, false or misleading CAM information may be more dangerous than information about traditional therapies. Many quality criteria have been suggested to filter out potentially harmful online health information. However, assessing the accuracy of CAM information is uniquely challenging since CAM is generally not supported by conventional literature. Objective The purpose of this study is to determine whether domain-independent technical quality criteria can identify potentially harmful online CAM content. Methods We analyzed 150 Web sites retrieved from a search for the three most popular herbs: ginseng, ginkgo and St. John's wort and their purported uses on the ten most commonly used search engines. The presence of technical quality criteria as well as potentially harmful statements (commissions) and vital information that should have been mentioned (omissions) was recorded. Results Thirty-eight sites (25%) contained statements that could lead to direct physical harm if acted upon. One hundred forty five sites (97%) had omitted information. We found no relationship between technical quality criteria and potentially harmful information. Conclusions Current technical quality criteria do not identify potentially harmful CAM information online. Consumers should be warned to use other means of validation or to trust only known sites. Quality criteria that consider the uniqueness of CAM must be developed and validated.


By modifying the Chen and Wu ansatz, we have investigated some Friedmann models in which Λ varies as ρ. In order to test the consistency of the models with observations, we study the angular size-redshift relation for 256 ultracompact radio sources selected by Jackson and Dodgson. The angular sizes of these sources were determined by using very long-baseline interferometry in order to avoid any evolutionary effects. The models fit the data very well and require an accelerating universe with a positive cosmological constant. Open, flat and closed models are almost equally probable, though the open model provides a comparatively better fit to the data. The models are found to have intermediate density and imply the existence of dark matter, though not as much as in the canonical Einstein-de Sitter model.


This paper discusses four different ultrasonic guided wave standards. Three of them are China's national standards or industry standards: GB/T 31211-2014 "Nondestructive Testing Ultrasound Guided Wave Detection", GB/T 28704-2012"Non-destructive testing—Test method for ultrasonic guided wave testing based on magnetostrictive effects", and DL/T 1452-2015 "Thermal Power Pipeline Ultrasound Guided Wave Detection". The another one is ASTM E2929:"Standard Practice for Guided Wave Testing of Above Ground Steel Piping with Magnetostrictive Transfusion". Through six aspects in this article, including testing application scope, preliminary requirements, standard specimen and comparative specimen, distant amplitude curve and time gain curve, the existing difference between China and America is obvious and diversity. It is necessary to explore the underlying reasons for the connection of Chinese code and international code in the field of Non-destructive testing. During the standardization, anyone of the standard should be actually compared on the presentation of chart, and the verification and comparison of results, and lists the similarities and differences of each part based on GB31211.
 This paper provides reference for China to integrate with foreign standards in the field of ultrasonic guided wave detection of pressure vessel and pipelines.


During the measurement of a BOTDR system, it is significant to keep the extinction ratio of probe pulse uniform if constant sensing performance is desired. However the bias point of an electro-optic modulator (EOM) may slowly changes due to many external factors. Thus the variable bias point of the EOM must be stabilized. In this paper, a novel and simplified stabilization technique based on digital signal processor and step-by-step tracking algorithm is proposed. Contrast experiments with and without the stabilization are performed. The experimental results show that our method can lock the EOM's bias point quite well and improve the sensing system's performance obviously.


Steel frame construction is divided into subsidiary materials with column, beam, girder and bracing. After these are processed in factory for using installing in construction field. These prefabricated furniture is very important in accordance with design drawing about processing and prefabricating. In the case of design process using information transmission in blueprint, omission of material number, processing measure and finishing material, or discordance of each structure drawing and selecting incongruent structural material generated an error in the process of design. These error caused delaying time and increasing cost and increasing safety accident in the steel-structure work operating process. therefore, design process should consider problem of operating process.


This article chronicles the recent history of the debate in the United States over digital paywalls, a model often hailed as newspapers' savior. We show how this debate has evolved from emphasizing industry-wide adoption to focusing on individual experiments. While highlighting potential legal, economic, and democratic concerns with paywalls, we examine the empirical record of three prominent newspaper paywall models: the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Dallas Morning News, and the New York Times. While each has enjoyed varying levels of success, our analysis suggests that paywalls are unable to offset steep losses in advertising revenue. We conclude by briefly discussing non-commercial alternatives.


In this paper, a new navigation method for intelligent colonoscope robot is presented. The proposed navigation method is developed to facilitate colonoscope into a human colon. The navigation method is based on the sensory fusion utilizing the quantitative parameters from the captured images and the tactile sensors. In vision navigation method, dark region which is described as the direction of human colon can be segmented from colonoscope image after auto-thresholding algorithm. Auto-thresholding algorithm is based on Ostu's method and the method is optimized by analyzing the endoscope image. The tactile sensors used here is a bridge circuit of force sensitive resistors built on silicon base by MEMS technology. Four sensors are mounted symmetrically around the colonoscope's head, so they can measure the pressure force in almost all directions. The proposed navigation method was tested with animal colons and the experimental observations are discussed.


The objective of this project was to evaluate the yield response of different winter wheat varieties to different fungicide management treatments during the 2020–2021 growing season in Kansas. Fourteen varieties were evaluated under four fungicide treatments (no fungicide, application either at jointing, heading, or at both stages) in four locations across Kansas in a split-plot design. Disease incidence was assessed approximately 20 d after each fungicide application. Septoria blotch and tan spot were the most prevalent early-season diseases at the studied fields, while stripe rust, leaf rust, and tan spot prevailed later in the season. While varieties responded differently to fungicide management and there was a range in yield response across locations, there was an overall yield increase of 4.2 bushels per acre resulting from the jointing fungicide application; 10.3 bu/a from the heading fungicide; and 9.9 bu/a from the combination of both applications. Although there were some similarities, the ranking of the highest yielding varieties was not uniform across locations. While different reactions occurred regarding the response of the varieties to fungicide management, overall susceptible varieties had a greater response to fungicide management compared to varieties with intermediate or high levels of genetic resistance. Our preliminary data suggest that the application of fungicide to winter wheat in Kansas might be advantageous, but the degree of this benefit will depend upon the environment, variety, and level of disease incidence.


Sebaceous gland carcinoma is an aggressive, uncommon, cutaneous malignancy. This tumour can arise anywhere in the body; approximately 75% of these tumours arise in the periocular region. The diagnosis and management of these malignancies often tend to get delayed because they are frequently mistaken for more common benign entities. Surgery has been and remains the primary treatment modality for sebaceous gland carcinomas. The resultant surgical defects following tumour excision generally tend to be full thickness and reconstructions of such defects pose significant challenges. These defects are conventionally reconstructed by the traditional bridging (eyelid sharing) procedures, that is, the Cutler-Beard flap and its modifications. The 'Switch flap' is an alternative eyelid sharing procedure; however, it is not very widely practiced. We recently used this procedure to reconstruct a large full-thickness upper eyelid defect with a satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcome.


A case of blunt injury to the extrahepatic bile ducts is reported. The injury was more likely caused by ischemia than by forces acting directly on the ducts. When disruption occurs at the time of injury, its recognition may be delayed considerably, because the leaked bile is encapsulated or remains sterile and is therefore well tolerated. When there is ischemia without disruption, as in the case presented, perforation due to necrosis may also take some time (days to weeks) to occur. In the interval, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and jaundice may develop. Bile-stained ascitic fluid is present.


Introduction The use of probiotics in paediatric practice is very common. However scheme and course of action is different from the paediatrician to paediatrician, however, and on a case-by-case basis. It is usually given with oral antibiotics. Objective Establish monitoring the use of antibiotics with different types of probiotics. Methods A control study of children using antibiotics for 1000 cases without probiotics and 1000 cases with a probiotic. It was used as a reference antibiotic cefixime and probiotics four different types in equal numbers. The study period is two years from the beginning of 2015 until the end of 2016 in the primary pre-school clinic in Sarajevo. Results It showed the significant success of antibiotic therapy of cefixime with probiotics compared to antibiotic therapy without probiotics. The percentage of complications of diarrhoea was 7.9% (79) without probiotics while with probiotics the percentage of 2.7% (27). No differences between the discontinuous administration of probiotics (at the beginning and end of the treatment) of a continuous time for taking any antibiotic therapy. Conclusion It is very useful taking probiotics with antibiotics in children but it can be recommended. Continual use has no advantages over discontinual use of probiotics with antibiotics.


This thesis examines the nature and dynamics of U.S.-Iran relations during the Cold War under the leadership of U.S. President Richard Nixon, his adviser Henry Kissinger, and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran. This revisionist account critically examines the popular view of Mohammad Reza Shah as a mere instrument of American strategies of containment during the Cold War. Relying on recently declassified American documents, British government papers, and the diaries, memoirs and oral histories of Iranian actors, this thesis restores agency to the shah as an autonomous Cold War actor and suggests that Iran evolved from a client to a partner of the United States under the Nixon Doctrine. This partnership was forged during Nixon's first term in office between 1969 and 1972, as the United States embraced a policy of Iranian primacy in the Persian Gulf region. Thanks to a long-standing friendship with the president, the shah was able to exercise extraordinary influence in the Nixon White House. This partnership reached its peak during Nixon's second term as the United States supported Iran's regional primacy against the challenge from Iraq. The shah drew Nixon and Kissinger into Iran's secret war against Iraq in Kurdistan in 1972, by portraying Iran's long-standing regional conflict with Iraq as a Cold War confrontation with the Soviet-backed Ba'th regime in Baghdad. When the shah unilaterally decided to abandon the Kurds in a deal with Iraq's Saddam Hussein in 1975, Kissinger had little choice but to acquiesce, despite the personal embarrassment and domestic recriminations that followed. The U.S.-Iran partnership declined following Watergate and Nixon's resignation in 1974. In spite of the best efforts of the shah and Kissinger, between 1974 and 1976 the United States and Iran were unable to reach an agreement on U.S. nuclear exports to Iran. President Gerald Ford tried to impose a discriminatory nuclear agreement on Iran that was rejected by the shah because it violated Iran's national sovereignty. Under Ford, the United States reverted to treating Iran as a client rather a partner of the United States.


We present a method to calibrate and validate observational models that interrelate remotely sensed energy fluxes to geophysical variables of land and water surfaces. Coincident sets of remote sensing observation of visible and microwave radiations and geophysical data are assembled and subdivided into calibration (Cal) and validation (Val) data sets. Each Cal/Val pair is used to derive the coefficients (from the Cal set) and the accuracy (from the Val set) of the observation model. Combining the results from all Cal/Val pairs provides probability distributions of the model coefficients and model errors. The method is generic and demonstrated using comprehensive matchup sets from two very different disciplines: soil moisture and water quality. The results demonstrate that the method provides robust model coefficients and quantitative measure of the model uncertainty. This approach can be adopted for the calibration/validation of satellite products of land and water surfaces, and the resulting uncertainty can be used as input to data assimilation schemes.


Effects of isepamicin sulfate (HAPA-B), a new aminoglycoside antibiotic, on the neuromuscular transmission were studied in rats and compared with those of amikacin (AMK) or other aminoglycoside antibiotics. The HAPA-B, as well as other aminoglycoside antibiotics, depressed the twitch response of diaphragm to phrenic nerve stimulation in vitro. The depression effects of different drugs were compared and graded in the order of strengths of blocking action as: netilmicin (NTL) greater than gentamicin (GM) greater than streptomycin (SM) greater than kanamycin (KM) greater than AMK greater than HAPA-B. The IC50 (concentration which inhibited the response by 50%) of HAPA-B was 3.6 X 10(-3) g/ml. The neuromuscular blockade produced by HAPA-B was reversed by CaCl2, KCl or caffeine but not by neostigmine. D-Tubocurarine or MgCl2 augmented the neuromuscular effects of HAPA-B. Intramuscular (400 mg/kg) and intravenous (100 mg/kg) injections of HAPA-B did not affect the twitch response of gastrocnemius muscle to sciatic nerve stimulation in situ. Intravenous injection of 200 mg/kg caused death in some rats and depression of the twitch response in others. Intravenous AMK produced no significant effect on the twitch response at 50 mg/kg and caused death at 100 mg/kg. GM and SM caused death or significant degree of depression of the twitch response at intravenous doses of 50 mg/kg. In experiments of intravenous drug infusion for 60 minutes, the twitch response was depressed by HAPA-B at 400 mg/kg/hr and by AMK at 200 and 400 mg/kg/hr. In conclusion, HAPA-B has a neuromuscular blocking action presumably at the nerve terminal. However, its action was the weakest among the aminoglycoside antibiotics tested.


Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is a selective pathway for the entry of transmembrane proteins into the cell through the generation of a short-lived vesicular intermediate. Cells and tissues depend on this process for obtaining nutrients, modulation of signaling and cell migration. The clathrin-coated structure intermediate is assembled on the plasma membrane from a cohort of 20-30 distinct proteins that aid in cargo selection, scaffolding, membrane bending and scission of the vesicle. Exactly how these complex assemblies are nucleated at the plasma membrane remains unclear although the lipid phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) plays an important role by anchoring many of the endocytic components. The work in this thesis helps to clarify the nucleation phase by describing the molecular details of the interaction between a PtdIns(4,5)P2-generating lipid kinase PIPKIgamma and the heterotetrameric clathrin adaptor AP-2. By engaging a subdomain on the AP-2 beta2 subunit appendage, the kinase is strategically positioned at assembly sites to generate PtdIns(4,5)P2 and drive coat assembly forward. Clathrin binds to the same subdomain on the beta2 appendage but with a higher apparent affinity. I therefore invoke a model in which PtdIns(4,5)P2 production for nucleation is negatively regulated by PIPKIgamma displacement from AP-2 by clathrin at later stages of assembly. I also demonstrate that a cargo-sorting alternate adaptor that binds to the other subsite on the AP-2 beta2 appendage is not subject to displacement by clathrin during clathrin-coated vesicle budding, ensuring non-competitive cargo incorporation into the vesicle. Finally, the PtdIns(4,5)P2-binding EFC domain proteins FCHO1 and FCHO2 have been proposed to act as dedicated nucleators of clathrin-coated structures on the plasma membrane. I demonstrate in multiple cell lines that these proteins are not invariantly required for placement of clathrin-coated assemblies on the plasma membrane despite being early arriving components themselves. FCHO1/2 are involved in the regulation of the size and number of these assemblies in some cellular contexts. My data support the model of PtdIns(4,5)P2 regulated, not protein regulated, nucleation of clathrin-coated structures; however multiple parallel pathways may contribute to initiation of endocytic buds.


The authors presented a new technique of using a narrow distally pedicled fascio-vascular flap from the medial aspect of the lower leg to cover soft tissue defects in the lower third of the leg, ankle and foot regions. 7 cases of traumatic scar have been treated with reversed narrow pedicled fascio-vascular flap since January 1987. The maximum covered area by the flap was 16cm x 15cm and the rotational angle ranged from 90 to 180 degrees. The flap survived in 6 cases resulting in satisfactory results. The only failure was a loss of 1cm over the tip of the flap because of the presence of a scar, left by a II degree burn, that ran across the flap. The advantages of this flap are as follows: the quality of the flap is good; there is a narrow fascio-vascular pedicle; this flap was easily rotated as an island flap; a high survival rate; simplicity of technique; no main artery is sacrificed, and the function of the leg is not affected. The authors believe this is an ideal method for resurfacing soft tissue defects in the lower third of the leg, ankle and foot regions with exposure of deeper structures.


The effects of the close arterial infusion of histamine upon the microcirculation of facial and nasal tissues were examined in dogs. Blood flow through arteriovenous anastomoses (AVA flow), capillaries (CAP flow) and collaterals (COL flow) were determined by electromagnetic flowmetry and the tracer-microsphere technique following an infusion of histamine at doses ranging from 0.5 to 50 nmol/min. Low doses of histamine (0.5-5.0 nmol/min) resulted in an increase in blood flow through the ipsilateral internal maxillary artery (IMA), which could be mainly attributed to a significant elevation of the CAP flow. A concomitant marked increase in AVA flow was observed only after the administration of higher doses (20-50 nmol/min). Significant changes in systemic blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output occurred only after the infusion of histamine at doses of 20 and 50 nmol/min. Significant increases in the CAP flow of tissues with relatively low perfusion were observed after the infusion of histamine at lower doses. The CAP flow of structures which play an essential role in conditioning the inspired air and exhibit high perfusion rates under control conditions exhibited significant increases only after the administration of higher doses. The present experiments provide direct evidence for a dose-dependent vasodilatory effect of histamine on different microcirculatory compartments of cutaneous and mucosal vascular beds supplied by the IMA in the dog. The results indicate that at low blood histamine levels, an increase in CAP flow predominates, and at higher doses, both elevated CAP flow and elevated AVA flow contribute to the vasodilatory response to histamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


A computational study with density functional theory (DFT) is carried out on the reaction between methyl sulfinyl chloride (MSC) and methanol in the presence of trimethylamine, a process which is a general model for two different methods used in practice for the obtention of chiral sulfoxides through dynamic kinetic resolution. Two mechanistic options are considered: in one of them, chloride is initially displaced by the base (ion pair mechanism), whereas in the other, chloride stays bound to sulfur until its final displacement by methoxy (neutral mechanism). In both cases, the approach of the alcohol to sulfur is coupled with a hydrogen transfer from methanol to the oxo group of MSC in a single concerted transition state. The presence of a trimethylamine molecule facilitates substantially the reaction by reducing the nucleophilic substitution barrier by more than 10 kcal/mol through the formation of a N-H bond with the hydrogen atom being transferred. The neutral mechanism presents a free energy barrier lower than the ion pair alternative and is thus preferred.


Purpose To provide structural and functional evidence of inner retinal loss in diabetes prior to vascular changes and interpret the structure-function relationship in the context of an established neural model. Methods Data from one eye of 505 participants (134 with diabetes and no clinically evident vascular alterations of the retina) were included in this analysis. The data were collected as part of a large population-based study. Functional tests included best-corrected visual acuity, Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity, mesopic microperimetry, and frequency doubling technology perimetry (FDT). Macular optical coherence tomography volume scans were collected for all participants. To interpret the structure-function relationship in the context of a neural model, ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness was converted to local ganglion cell (GC) counts. Results The GCL and inner plexiform layer were significantly thinner in participants with diabetes (P < 0.05), with no significant differences in the macular retinal nerve fiber layer or the outer retina. All functional tests except microperimetry showed a significant loss in diabetic patients (P < 0.05). Both FDT and microperimetry showed a significant relationship with the GC count (P < 0.05), consistent with predictions from a neural model for partial summation conditions. However, the FDT captured additional significant damage (P = 0.03) unexplained by the structural loss. Conclusions Functional and structural measurements support early neuronal loss in diabetes. The structure-function relationship follows the predictions from an established neural model. Functional tests could be improved to operate in total summation conditions in the macula, becoming more sensitive to early loss.


BACKGROUND: Bulleyaconitine A (BLA) is an analgesic and antiinflammatory drug isolated from Aconitum plants. BLA has several potential targets, including voltage-gated Na+ channels. We tested whether BLA elicited long-lasting cutaneous analgesia, when co-injected with lidocaine and epinephrine, as a model for prolonged infiltration anesthesia. METHODS: The local anesthetic properties of BLA were assessed by the patch-clamp technique in HEK293t cells expressing Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 neuronal Na+ channels, both crucial for nociception. Drug solutions (0.6 mL) were injected subcutaneously via rat shaved dorsal skin. Inhibition of the cutaneous trunci muscle reflex was evaluated by pinpricks. Skin cross-sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or with antibodies against PGP9.5. RESULTS: BLA at 10 &mgr;M interacted minimally with resting or inactivated Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 Na+ channels when infrequently stimulated to +50 mV for 3 ms. However, when stimulated at 2 Hz for 1000 pulses, their peak Na+ currents were >90% reduced by BLA. This use-dependent inhibition was not significantly reversed after 15-min washing. Complete nociceptive blockade after injection of lidocaine (0.5%)/epinephrine (1:200,000) lasted for approximately 1 h in rats; full recovery occurred after approximately 6 h. Co-injection of 0.125 mM BLA with lidocaine/epinephrine increased the duration of complete nociceptive blockade to 24 h. Full recovery occurred after approximately 6 days. Skin histology including peripheral nerve fibers appeared unaffected by BLA. CONCLUSIONS: BLA inhibits Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 Na+ currents in a use-dependent manner. Co-injection of BLA at ≤0.125 mM with lidocaine and epinephrine elicits complete cutaneous analgesia that lasts for up to 24 h without adverse effects.


Structures have been refined for twelve crystals of fourmarierite from various localities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and one synthetic crystal. Single-crystal diffraction data were collected using Mo Ka X-radiation and a CCD-based detector mounted on a Bruker three-circle diffractometer. All crystals have orthorhombic symmetry, space group Bb21m. The natural crystals have similar unit-cell parameters: a 14.00‐14.03, b 16.40‐16.48, c 14.32‐14.38 A. The parameters for the synthetic crystal, which contains less Pb than the natural crystals, are a 13.938(2), b 16.638(3), c 14.672(2) A. The structures refined to agreement indices (R1) in the range of 3.6 to 6.2%. The structure of fourmarierite contains uranyl pentagonal bipyramids that share edges and corners to form sheets oriented parallel to (001). There are two distinct Pb 2+ cations and eight H2O groups located in the interlayer. On the basis of the structure refinements, the site occupancy of Pb(1) in the natural crystals is typically deficient, ranging from 71 to 100%, whereas the site occupancy of Pb(2) is ~100% in the crystals studied. In the synthetic crystal the Pb( 1) and Pb(2) occupancies are 13% and 87%, respectively. Increase of the Pb content is correlated with a minor increase in the a unitcell parameter, as well as large decreases in the b and c unit-cell parameters, and the unit-cell volume. The substitution O 2‐ $ (OH) ‐ at two anion sites [O(12) and O(15)] in the sheet of uranyl polyhedra provides the charge-balance mechanism associated with interlayer cation variation. The structural formula for fourmarierite may be written as Pb 1‐x[(UO2)4O3‐2x(OH)4+2x](H2O)4, Z = 8, with the constituents of the sheet of uranyl polyhedra enclosed in square braces.


Biocompatible hollow porous materials, due to their high void volume and shell porosity, are favorable platforms for efficient drug delivery. In this study, carboxylic group functionalized hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres (HMSNs-COOH) were successfully synthesized in a simple and one-pot co-condensation method using polystyrene nanospheres as a hard template, and carboxyethylsilanetriol as a source of carboxyl groups and reaction catalyzer. The synthesized HMSNs-COOH were studied by characterizing their morphology, nanostructure, specific surface area, particle size distribution and chemical composition using FESEM, HRTEM, SAXRD, N2-sorption, DLS, FTIR and TGA techniques. The large specific surface area measured (973 m2 g−1) for the prepared HMSNs-COOH was found to increase the loading capacity of cisplatin to ∼48%, as an anti-neoplastic agent. Furthermore, release tests performed at three different pH values of 7.4, 6.5 and 5.5 showed a sustained and pH dependent release of the drug from the prepared HMSNs-COOH. The cytotoxicity of the formulated drug was also examined in c26 colon carcinoma cell lines using the MTT assay. We demonstrate that the drug loaded HMSNs-COOH samples have a lower toxicity than the free drug, due to controlled and sustained drug release.


Transmission losses for the propagation of an acoustic wave field due to a point source in shallow water to some point along the water–sediment interface are obtained from a fast‐field algorithm (SAFARI) and an exact Green's function benchmark [R. Lim, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 92, 1593–1611 (1992)]. The shallow water environment is modeled as a horizontally stratified medium where the layer of water is bounded above by a semi‐infinite layer of air and below by a sediment consisting of a thin transition layer and a semi‐infinite subbottom. The sediment layers can be viscous fluids and viscoelastic solids as well as poroelastic materials in the Green's function benchmark. The calculated transmission losses, that are to be discussed, correspond to a water depth of 12 m and a horizontal range that extends to 1 km. A critical comparison of SAFARI against the exact benchmark suggests that extra care be exercised in the application of fast‐field algorithms to shallow water problems, even at long ranges.


Family farms are faced with an ever-rising competitiveness on the market. In order to meet the requirements on the market family farms are obliged to use current resources, raise labor productivity and adapt the production program to the needs of the consumers. Small farms are unlikely to succeed on the market considering the lack of both human and material resources. Their only chance is production intensification, competitive crop production and establishment of associations. The aim of the study was to develop models for different family farm types taking into account the constraints in order to enable an income which would meet the needs of household members. A comparison of the models would enable the determination of competitiveness of some production lines and of the farms involved. This is of principal interest to regions where there are numerous producers disposing of small agricultural land areas and focused on the production of one or two products (raspberry or any other berry fruit, plums and tobacco).


This paper studies the effect of fiscal rules on debt affordability in a large set of developed and emerging market economies, using a panel data model which allows the inclusion of weakly exogenous regressors, and which deals appropriately with cross-sectional dependence. The results show a positive and significant effect of fiscal rule implementation on public debt affordability which is robust to various model specifications. The effect is stronger for emerging market economies which benefit from the implementation of any fiscal rule. In contrast, developed countries benefit only from high-quality fiscal rules. The findings have important policy implications for fiscal management, especially in emerging market economies.


Abstract Natural Gas Distribution or City Gas Distribution (CGD) in India is at a nascent stage. Before the establishment of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), the sector was unstructured and direction-less at times. With the formation of PNGRB, the safety practices of CGD business were looked into and guidelines were framed. However, the initial legal disputes within PNGRB retarded the growth. The first three bidding rounds in the sector brought out many issues and challenges. The CGD entities along with PNGRB tried to resolve the issues but some of them still remain unsolved in the fourth, fifth and sixth bidding rounds. The allocation priority of gas in this sector over power and fertilizer definitely boosted the sector considerably. In this paper, an attempt has been made to analyze the CGD sector, dissect the problems faced by the government, CGD entities, vendors, third party service providers, consumers and market. The analysis is narrated under various macro headings and subpoints are described in order to show the effect of the same on the sector. The challenges revolve around issues affecting project Internal Rate of Return (IRR), project investment rate of return, market exclusivity, gas allocation, gas availability issues, logistic and manpower issues. The influence of the sector on customer base, tariff recovery mechanism, innovations, finance and health, safety and environment (HSE) is also discussed in this paper. Keywords: natural gas, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), City Gas Distribution (CGD), issues Cite this Article Sircar A, Sahajpal S, Yadav K. Challenges & Issues in Natural Gas Distribution Industry. Journal of Petroleum Engineering and Technology . 2017; 7(2): Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE


For insects that develop on few hosts and/or have immobile immature stages, optimal oviposition theory suggests that females should seek high‐quality hosts that maximize larval development and reduce competition from conspecifics. However, there is a growing amount of evidence that suggests female choice may often be at odds with their offspring's development. Listronotus maculicollis (Kirby) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a serious pest of golf course turfgrass in eastern North America. The weevil develops on few hosts and demonstrates improved fitness traits when developing on Poa annua L. (Poaceae). However, previous population studies observed either weak or no correlations between the spatial dispersion of larval populations and P. annua in the field. In this study, populations on three golf course fairways were monitored over a 4‐year period (2009–2012) to determine whether the lack of spatial associations between preferred hosts and immatures was a result of spatial scale or the density and distribution of conspecifics. Spatial Analysis by Distance IndicEs (SADIE) was used to characterize the spatial dispersion of populations of individual stages (larvae and pupae), P. annua, and turfgrass damage. Life stages were aggregated in each observation, independent of population density or the spatial dispersion of hosts. The distribution of consecutive and non‐consecutive immature stages was found to be correlated in all years, suggesting that females do not avoid patches already occupied by conspecific eggs. Surprisingly, significant spatial associations were not found between larvae and P. annua when the host plant was relatively abundant. Hence, multiple mechanisms may drive L. maculicollis oviposition site‐selection behavior, and a flexible strategy may allow the weevil to persist in areas where P. annua is not the dominant species. Future studies are required to determine what other factors (e.g., natural enemy‐free space, egg or time limitations) influence oviposition behavior.


This study was a cross-sectional study run among 2417 of the general population from different areas of Saudi Arabia, aiming to determine the prevalence as well as the risk factors of hypothyroidism, and its relationship with diabetes mellitus. A multistage random sampling technique has been followed. For data collection, we used a pre-designed online-disseminated questionnaire. Our study found that 18.7% of the study population had hypothyroidism, most of whom (86.3%) were females. Sense of lethargy and laziness was found in 72.9%, dryness of the skin in 71.0%, and mood changes in 69.4% of cases. Among cases with hypothyroidism, 15.3% had diabetes, 2.4% type I and 12.9% type II. The association between hypothyroidism and diabetes was significant (P=0.003). There was also a significant association between hypothyroidism and age, sex, family history of hypothyroidism, obesity, and the presence of autoimmune diseases (P<0.05). As regards treatment, 61.9% of hypothyroidism cases took medical treatment, and only 49.4% improved.


This paper reports on a novel impedance-based cytometer, which can detect and characterize sub-micrometer particles and cells passing through a microfluidic channel. The cytometer incorporates a resonator, which is constructed by means of a discrete inductor in series with the measurement electrodes in the microfluidic channel. The use of a resonator increases the sensitivity of the system in comparison to state-of-the-art devices. We demonstrate the functionality and sensitivity of the cytometer by discriminating E. coli and B. subtilis from beads of similar sizes by means of the resonance-enhanced phase shift of the current through the microfluidic channel. The phase shift can be correlated to size and dielectric properties of the measured objects.


Intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) is a prominent feature of kidney cancer. It is not known whether it has utility in finding associations between protein expression and clinical parameters. We used ITH that is detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) to aid the association analysis between the loss of SWI/SNF components and clinical parameters.160 ccRCC tumors (40 per tumor stage) were used to generate tissue microarray (TMA). Four foci from different regions of each tumor were selected. IHC was performed against PBRM1, ARID1A, SETD2, SMARCA4, and SMARCA2. Statistical analyses were performed to correlate biomarker losses with patho-clinical parameters. Categorical variables were compared between groups using Fisher's exact tests. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to correlate biomarker changes and patient survivals. Multivariable analyses were performed by constructing decision trees using the classification and regression trees (CART) methodology. IHC detected widespread ITH in ccRCC tumors. The statistical analysis of the "Truncal loss" (root loss) found additional correlations between biomarker losses and tumor stages than the traditional "Loss in tumor (total)". Losses of SMARCA4 or SMARCA2 significantly improved prognosis for overall survival (OS). Losses of PBRM1, ARID1A or SETD2 had the opposite effect. Thus "Truncal Loss" analysis revealed hidden links between protein losses and patient survival in ccRCC.


Tree logging significantly impacts environmental conditions, increases soil and air temperature, and changes the microclimate and soil hydrology. This contributes to the changes in bryophyte and vascular plant cover and species composition. Site preparation positively affects the growth of planted trees in young stands but also causes forest understorey disturbance. During site preparation in young stands by spot mounding and disc trenching methods, new microtopographies, e.g. soil tumps and hollows are made in young stands. Site preparation generally increases vascular plant diversity, but there is a lack of information about the vegetation differences between microtopography depending on different site preparation methods and soil types. The aim of this study was to investigate how the microtopography formed during site preparation by spot mounding or disc trenching affects bryophyte and vascular plant communities in hemiboreal young stands two to three years after tree logging. Spot mounding altered vegetation composition more than disc trenching. Bryophyte species cover decreased in prepared soil, but Ellenberg's moisture value increased; therefore, site preparation before planting contributes to the conservation of typical forest bryophyte species in young stands. Hollows lead to better typical forest habitat species preservation, but soil tumps diversify environmental conditions by providing new patches for the development of grassland habitat species that are not typical in this ecosystem, but temporally provide new ecosystem services.
Keywords: bryophytes, spot mounding, disc trenching, vascular plants, plant growth forms, Ellenberg's indicator values


At the centre of the Roman empire stood the emperor and the court surrounding him. The systematic investigation of this court in its own right, however, has been a relatively late development in the field of Roman history, and previous studies have focused on narrowly defined aspects or on particular periods of Roman history. This book makes a major contribution to understanding the history of the Roman imperial court. The first volume presents nineteen original essays covering all the major dimensions of the court from the age of Augustus to the threshold of Late Antiquity. The second volume is a collection of the ancient sources that are central to studying that court. The collection includes: translations of literary sources, inscriptions, and papyri; plans and computer visualizations of archaeological remains; and photographs of archaeologic sites and artworks depicting the emperor and his court.


Elevated concentrations of dissolved-solids (salinity) including calcium, sodium, sulfate, and chloride, among others, in the Colorado River cause substantial problems for its water users. Previous efforts to reduce dissolved solids in upper Colorado River basin (UCRB) streams often focused on reducing suspended-sediment transport to streams, but few studies have investigated the relationship between suspended sediment and salinity, or evaluated which watershed characteristics might be associated with this relationship. Are there catchment properties that may help in identifying areas where control of suspended sediment will also reduce salinity transport to streams? A random forests classification analysis was performed on topographic, climate, land cover, geology, rock chemistry, soil, and hydrologic information in 163 UCRB catchments. Two random forests models were developed in this study: one for exploring stream and catchment characteristics associated with stream sites where dissolved solids increase with increasing suspended-sediment concentration, and the other for predicting where these sites are located in unmonitored reaches. Results of variable importance from the exploratory random forests models indicate that no simple source, geochemical process, or transport mechanism can easily explain the relationship between dissolved solids and suspended sediment concentrations at UCRB monitoring sites. Among the most important watershed characteristics in both models were measures of soil hydraulic conductivity, soil erodibility, minimum catchment elevation, catchment area, and the silt component of soil in the catchment. Predictions at key locations in the basin were combined with observations from selected monitoring sites, and presented in map-form to give a complete understanding of where catchment sediment control practices would also benefit control of dissolved solids in streams.


Multi-objective optimization (MOO) problems with computationally expensive constraints are commonly seen in real-world engineering design. However, metamodel-based design optimization (MBDO) approaches for MOO are often not suitable for high-dimensional problems and often do not support expensive constraints. In this work, the situational adaptive Kreisselmeier and Steinhauser (SAKS) method was combined with a new multi-objective trust region optimizer (MTRO) strategy to form the SAKS-MTRO method for MOO problems with expensive black-box constraint functions. The SAKS method is an approach that hybridizes the modeling and aggregation of expensive constraints and adds an adaptive strategy to control the level of hybridization. The MTRO strategy uses a combination of objective decomposition and K-means clustering to handle MOO problems. SAKS-MTRO was benchmarked against four popular multi-objective optimizers and demonstrated superior performance on average. SAKS-MTRO was also applied to optimize the design of a semiconductor substrate and the design of an industrial recessed impeller.


The pharyngeal organs, namely the thyroid, thymus, parathyroids, and ultimobranchial bodies, derive from the pharyngeal endoderm during embryonic development. The pharyngeal region is a segmented structure comprised of a series of reiterated structures: the pharyngeal arches on the exterior surface, the pharyngeal pouches on the interior, and a mesenchymal core. It is well known that Hox genes control spatial identity along the anterior-posterior axis of the developing vertebrate embryo, and nowhere is this is more evident than in the pharyngeal region. Each of the distinct segmented regions has a unique pattern of Hox expression, which conveys crucial positional information to the cells and tissues within it. In the context of pharyngeal organ development, molecular data suggest that HOXA3 is responsible for specifying organ identity within the third pharyngeal pouch, and in its absence, thymus and parathyroid organogenesis fails to proceed normally. Recent studies comprising a series of Hoxa3 mutations identified specific spatial and temporal roles for HOXA3 in pharyngeal organ development, including both cell-autonomous and non-autonomous functions, revealing a system that is more complex than originally thought. Here, we will review the current understanding of the role of Hox genes in the early embryonic development of the pharyngeal organs in the mouse, with a particular focus on the function of HOXA3 in thymus and parathyroid organogenesis.


Assessed the occurrence of three types of stressful life events among African- American and Hispanic children living in urban neighborhoods, and examined the concurrent and prospective relations between stressful life events and adjustment. Younger children and children living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods experienced more stressful life events. Stressful life events were significantly related to higher concurrent levels of aggression and predicted increases in aggression P year later. Life transitions and exposure to violence predicted concurrent aggression, but circumscribed events served as the strongest predictor of aggression 1 year later. Total number of stressful events and exposure to violence significantly interacted with neighborhood disadvantage, such that effects were only apparent under conditions of high neighborhood disadvantage.


Previous research suggests that without on going support teachers do not successfully implement instructional strategies learned during inservice training. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Research Lead Teacher model in providing support to general education teachers who were learning and implementing a strategy instruction process in their classrooms. Participants included 18, K-5 general education teachers. The Benchmark School's 15-step process of strategy instruction was delivered under two conditions. The first was a traditional $$ day inservice and the 2nd was the $$ day traditional inservice plus the RLT model which included an ongoing teacher study group, coaching, observation, and data based feedback. The design was a time series experiment with an intervention and a control group. The findings of this study suggest that a comprehensive school based staff development model such as the RLT model will assist general education teachers in fully implementing a strategy instruction process learned in a traditional inservice.


The focus group is an increasingly popular qualitative research method in health research to gain insight into complex problems. Concerns have been expressed about how best to stimulate free and open discussion; especially on controversial issues and/or when the group comprises people with different power and status. A potential pitfall of the focus group technique is group-think: the impact of censoring and conforming as described by such social psychologists as Irving Janis. The article describes an evaluation of a method to reduce groupthink and stimulate creativity and controversy in focus groups that analyzed consultation between an Australian federal government department and its communities. The article recommends to researchers using focus groups the selective use of devil's advocates to reflect different perspectives to groups, to ask questions in a different way, to introduce new questions, and to avoid groups arriving at premature solutions.


The analysis of maximum entropy algorithms is provided for image reconstruction from projections. The performance of block- and row-type multiplicative algebraic reconstruction techniques, Bregman's method of convex programming for entropy maximization under linear equality constraints, and MENT is compared with those of the Algebraic Reconstruction Techniques and the convolution backprojection. The quality of the successive reconstructed iterates versus the computational complexity of the algorithms is given. Furthermore, it is shown that a priori knowledge of the shape of the image to be reconstructed is easily included with these algorithms by solving a more general optimization problem.<<ETX>>


Increasingly, manufacturing firms are turning to services as a new way of creating and capturing value. Despite its potential benefits, many new product-service providers struggle to deploy service activities effectively, not least because they fail to reflect the presence of service activities in their performance management systems. This article reports the results of an in-depth case study, which examines how manufacturers can steer the transition towards services. It shows that manufacturing firms need to emphasize two separate but related dimensions of the market performance of service activities: "service adoption," reflecting the proportion of customers who purchase the manufacturer's services; and "service coverage," signaling the range of service elements or the comprehensiveness of the service contract that customers opt for. These two indicators, reflecting service market performance, should be supplemented with a "complementarity index" designed to disclose whether the relationship between products and services is reinforcing or substitutive. When combined, these indicators allow manufacturing firms to deploy a service-based business model in an integrated and sustainable manner.


This paper deals with the ways in which discourse concerning planet earth is being transcended. Specifically, attention is drawn to the increasingly overlapping relationship between the work of philosophers and anthropologists, one the one hand, and astrophysicists on the other. Woven into the discussion are the issues of the neglect of global consciousness and culture in comparison with the more usual concern with global connectivity. In this respect it is argued that globalization, as it is normally understood, can be regarded as self-destroying when it is considered under the rubric of glocalization. The paper concludes with discussion of the possibility of some form of global governance in the light of the present chaotic state of global affairs. It is argued that some relatively clear-cut image of the world as a whole is a precondition of any systematic attempt to resolve this problem. The attempt to provide such an image rests upon the author's previous discussions of the global field.


Background: The fertility rate in Burundi has remained consistently high since the 1980s, while the prevalence of contraceptive use in the country (22%) has been among the lowest in Africa. Reasons for low contraception uptake in Burundi have not been adequately clarified. This study aimed to identify factors associated with contraceptive use among pregnant women who had at least 3 healthy children and sought antenatal care services at an urban tertiary hospital in Burundi. Methods: Data were collected from antenatal clients with 3 or more children at Kamenge University Hospital. Data analysis included univariate and multivariate methods as well as multiple logistic regression analysis using SPSS, version 16.0. Results: We enrolled 255 women with a mean age of 32±4.5 years. The majority (n=232, 91.0%) of participants were urban residents with low incomes, and most (n=227, 89.0%) were educated to the primary school level or lower. The mean parity was 4.2±1.4, and most women had either 3 (n=120, 47.1%), 4 (n=66, 25.9%), or 5 (n=43, 16.9%) children; 26 (10%) participants had at least 6 children. Most (n=166, 65.1%) participants were part of couples who desired to have a final number of 4 to 6 children. About half (n=129, 50.6%) of the participants were able to name 1 or 2 benefits of contraception, and 105 (41.2%) participants mentioned 3 or 4 benefits of contraception. The most commonly reported benefit of contraceptive use was that it allows for improved maternal and child health. Low rates of contraceptive use were reported by participants with partners who worked as farmers, those citing fewer benefits of contraception, and those who relied on neighbours as their main source of information about contraception. Conclusion: Knowledge of the benefits of contraception was among the strongest determinants of contraceptive use in this population. Farmers and traders were less likely to use contraceptives than participants who were engaged in other types of work. Medical personnel were the most relied upon source of information about contraception, and the strongest predictor of contraceptive use was the personal opinion that contraception is acceptable.


As real-world images come in varying sizes, the machine learning model is part of a larger system that includes an upstream image scaling algorithm. In this paper, we investigate the interplay between vulnerabilities of the image scaling procedure and machine learning models in the decision-based black-box setting. We propose a novel sampling strategy to make a black-box attack exploit vulnerabilities in scaling algorithms, scaling defenses, and the final machine learning model in an end-to-end manner. Based on this scaling-aware attack, we reveal that most existing scaling defenses are ineffective under threat from downstream models. Moreover, we empirically observe that standard black-box attacks can significantly improve their performance by exploiting the vulnerable scaling procedure. We further demonstrate this problem on a commercial Image Analysis API with decision-based black-box attacks.


We studied a balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and secretory IgA in the oral liquid in lymphoma patients with chronic generalized periodontal diseases (CGPD). A marked increase in the level of IL-1 beta and a decrease in the level of INF-gamma were seen in lymphoma patients compared to patients without somatic pathology. This necessitates addition of local immunocorrection to rehabilitation programs for lymphoma patients to activate a monocytic-macrophagal phase of the immune response with subsequent activation of specific immune response.


The objective of this study is to analyse the relationship between current climatic conditions and the growth of Norway spruce, and to simulate the effect of changes in temperature and precipitation resulting from increased carbon dioxide concentration on the potential site productivity and carbon sequestration by Norway spruce in the Western Beskids, southern Poland. The research material was data from 43 meteorological stations and posts, and data from 387 permanent sample plots from the Norway spruce stands. On the basis of historical climate data using the WGENK model (Kuchar 2005) a series of meteorological data was generated with a time horizon of 100 years. The calculation procedure was based on two scenarios – CO2 concentrations of 130% and 200% by 2050. In the case of scenario assuming the doubling of CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, the growth in mean annual temperature projected under this scenario of about 2.7oC and the reduction in the rainfall during the growing season by about 70 mm would result in a significant deterioration in conditions for spruce growth up to 1000 m asl. A slightly better prospect for the growth of spruce in the Western Beskids would take place in the GISS_E_WC scenario (Durlo 2011), which assumes a 30% increase in CO2 concentrations. As a result of the increase in mean annual air temperature by about 0.7oC while maintaining the current level of mean annual precipitation and a slight reduction in rainfall during the growing season, a slight deterioration in habitat conditions to a height of about 800 m asl, optimal growth conditions for spruce would occur in the zone between 850 and 1000 m asl. These analyses of spruce site conditions in the Western Beskids may be the basis for decisions concerning the future role of this species in the species composition of stands, depending on their location.


Foolishness or rhetoric? Cornelis van Leeuwen and the 'Ridiculous Geometrists'

In 1663–1664 the inhabitants of Amsterdam were – probably much to their amusement – confronted with a pamphlet war between teachers of mathematics. This exchange of verbal and mathematical violence was instigated by Cornelis van Leeuwen, a young mathematics master ('rekenmeester') who had just taken over the school of his former teacher at the Zeedijk. In his pamphlet he ridiculed some of his colleagues who, according to Van Leeuwen, were loudly proclaiming their mathematical skills while their publications merely showed trivialities or ideas they had stolen from others. The fact that Van Leeuwen resorted to such abusive language and mockery is generally seen as foolishness and an act of desperation on the part of someone who did not have the mathematical skills to keep up with his fellow 'rekenmeesters'. In this article, however, it is argued that when analysing the content of Van Leeuwen's name-calling, a rhetorical strategy can be discovered that aimed at undermining the expertise and the honour of his opponents. Van Leeuwen argued that since they presented textbooks or exercises of others as their own, his opponents clearly did not comprehend the material themselves, thereby making them unsuitable to be teachers of mathematics. He furthermore claimed that by stealing from the works of other mathematicians, these 'ridiculous geometrists' had acted dishonourably and should be seen as unreliable, an accusation with potentially serious consequences given the importance of honour and reliability in early-modern Dutch society. Even though Van Leeuwen's attempt to discredit and dishonour some of his competitors on the Amsterdam mathematical market completely backfired, it is nevertheless instructive to see the rhetorical strategy of his pamphlet, which shows us how interwoven mathematical practices were with the general culture of that time.


Much scholarship has noted that there are significant differences in the political behavior of women and men. Women, for example, are found to be more likely to identify as and vote for Democrats, less likely to hold conservative issue positions, and more likely to vote for incumbents. One of the more disturbing gender gaps occurs in political knowledge: Specifically, women are typically found to be less knowledgeable about politics and government than their male counterparts. We propose that much of the gap can be explained by theories of risk aversion, which imply that women are less likely to guess on questions for which they are uncertain. Using item response models, we demonstrate that failure to consider these gender-based differences leads to scales that significantly underestimate the political knowledge of women. Consistent with other work in this area, we find that accounting for the higher propensity of men to guess decreases the gender gap in knowledge by around 36%.