This paper proposes an efficient many-to-many group key management protocol in distributed group communication. In this protocol, group members are managed in the hierarchical manner logically. Two kinds of keys are used, asymmetric and symmetric keys. The leaf nodes in the key tree are the asymmetric keys of the corresponding group members and all the intermediate node keys are symmetric keys assigned to each intermediate node. For asymmetric key, Diffie-Hellman key agreement is introduced. To calculate intermediate node keys, members use codes assigned to each intermediate node key tree. Group members calculate intermediate node keys rather than distributed by a sponsor member. The features of this approach are that, no keys are exchanged between existing members at join, and only one key, the group key, is delivered to remaining members at leave.


We study financial efficiency in the nonprofit sector and document that organizations that rely mainly on commercial revenues are more efficient in managing their overhead and administrative expenses compared with nonprofits that rely mainly on donations. We also record a positive relationship between the extent of a nonprofit's reliance on donations and its efficiency in generating them. Our findings suggest economies of scale in the nonprofit sector and also a positive (negative) relationship between receiving government grants (membership income) and overall efficiency. We discuss what our findings imply for social enterprises and traditional nonprofits.


The pathogenic variability of the fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum represents an obstacle for the creation of resistant common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties. Gene pyramiding is an alternative strategy for the development of varieties with durable resistance. RAPD markers have been proposed as a means to facilitate pyramiding of resistance genes without the need for multiple inoculations of the pathogens. The main aims of this work were to define the inheritance pattern of resistance present in common bean cultivar AB 136 in segregating populations derived from crosses with cultivar Ruda (susceptible to most C. lindemuthianum races) and to identify RAPD markers linked to anthracnose resistance. The two progenitors, populations F1 and F2, F2:3 families and backcross-derived plants were inoculated with race 89 of C. lindemuthianum under environmentally controlled greenhouse conditions. The results indicate that a single dominant gene, Co-6, controls common bean resistance to this race, giving a segregation ratio between resistant and susceptible plants of 3:1 in the F2, 1:0 in the backcrosses to AB 136 and 1:1 in the backcross to Ruda. The segregation ratio of F2:3 families derived from F2 resistant plants was 1:2 (homozygous to heterozygous resistant). Molecular marker analyses in the F2 population identified a DNA band of approximately 940 base pairs (OPAZ20940), linked in coupling phase at 7.1 cM of the Co-6 gene. This marker is being used in our backcross breeding program to develop Ruda-derived common bean cultivars resistant to anthracnose and adapted to central Brazil.


The National Cancer Institute defines cancer as a group of related diseases characterized by unimpeded cell division with metastatic abilities. Cells frequently mutate and potentially become cancerous, but generally these cells are cleared by the immune system. The disease state of cancer arises when the mutated cells evade the immune clearance, which indicates medical intervention is required. Current therapies most commonly utilize chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of the two, however, alternative therapies are being developed such as immunotherapies and oncolytic viruses (OVs). OVs cause a viral infection, clearing cancerous cells through viral replication mechanisms, such as viral cytolysis, while simultaneously priming the adaptive immune system to better recognize and clear infected cancer cells. OVs are also capable of facilitating changes to the tumor microenvironment (TME), optimizing the immune response. Certain characteristics are required of OVs, such as a large population immunologically naïve to the infection, inability to cause serious disease in humans, and preferential replication in cancerous cells. Tanapoxvirus (TPV) is currently being investigated as an effective OV. Most of the world is immunologically naïve to the virus, which is isolated to the Tana River Valley in Kenya. The infection is defined as self-limiting, and resolves approximately six weeks postinfection independent of treatment. Preferential replication in cancerous cells is not innate to TPV; however, it can be induced by ablation of the thymidine kinase gene. The therapeutic benefits of TPV have been observed in in vivo nude mouse models utilizing colorectal cancer, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), as well as melanoma. The TPV/∆66R/fliC viral recombinant was effective in regression of induced colorectal cancer in a nude mouse model. The 66R ablation Tanapox: A potential oncolytic virus for the treatment of cancer 2 is the thymidine kinase gene, which increases preferential replication within cancerous cells, and the fliC insertion will stimulate the innate immune response through interactions with Toll-like receptor 5. In TNBC both the TPV/∆66R/CCL-2 and the TPV/∆66R/m-IL2 recombinants showed significant regression in induced TNBC tumors on the nude mouse model. These mechanisms function by recruiting macrophages at the site of infection and priming the T cells for increased cancer cell recognition respectively. Finally the TPV/∆15L recombinant was able to show regression in melanoma tumors in the nude mouse model by preventing the production of interferon-1 (INF-1). An in vitro cell assay was conducted and indicated that INF-1 asserts a greater antiproliferative effect than the type one INFs, so by preventing the production of this cytokine an increase efficiency of viral replication will be observed. Finally, the TPV infection is influenced by the TME through interactions with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Interactions with MMP-9 prevents viral replication from occurring by an unknown mechanism, and preventing this interaction will increase the therapeutic effects TPV can assert. Future studies will observe the effects of TPV in an immunocompetent mouse model, as well as the potential of TPV as a treatment for pancreatic cancer. This research indicated that TPV has immense potential as an OV for treatment of multiple different types of cancers, and it's therapeutic effects should continue to be investigated. Tanapox: A potential oncolytic virus for the treatment of cancer 3 Tanapox: A potential oncolytic virus for the treatment of cancer


Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules with important roles in angiogenesis and inflammation. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms, and the role that specific PECAM-1 isoforms play in these processes, remain elusive. We recently showed attenuation of retinal vascular development and neovascularization in PECAM-1-deficient (PECAM-1-/-) mice. To gain further insight into the role of PECAM-1 in these processes, we isolated primary retinal endothelial cells (EC) from wild-type (PECAM-1+/+) and PECAM-1-/- mice. Lack of PECAM-1 had a significant impact on endothelial cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, resulting in attenuation of cell migration and capillary morphogenesis. Mechanistically these changes were associated with a significant decrease in expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in PECAM-1-/- retinal EC. PECAM-1-/- retinal EC also exhibited a lower rate of apoptosis under basal and challenged conditions, consistent with their increased growth rate. Furthermore, reexpression of PECAM-1 was sufficient to restore migration and capillary morphogenesis of null cells in an isoform-specific manner. Thus PECAM-1 expression modulates proangiogenic properties of EC, and these activities are significantly influenced by alternative splicing of its cytoplasmic domain.


Using daily stock return data of all listed firms in Chinese stock market from 1998 to 2018, we disaggregate the volatility of common stocks at the market, industry and firm levels. We find market volatility, on average, is the highest while firm volatility tends to lead to market and industry volatility series. None long-term trend time series behaviour exists for all three volatility series and firm volatility is best described by an autoregressive process with regime shifts associated with the structural market reforms or volatile market movements. We further proceed to identify the source of volatility at the industry level and find the idiosyncratic volatility in the largest manufacturing industry not only accounts for the largest proportion in the aggregate firm volatility but also is the lead indicator for the idiosyncratic volatility of other industries. Finally, unlike Brandt et. al. [Review of Financial Studies 23(2): 863-899 (2010)], we find the idiosyncratic volatility in Chinese stock market is associated with high stock trading activities by institutional investors, the result of which is also robust when using other measures of idiosyncratic volatility.


We present the electronic, magnetic and structural properties of the magnetic transition metal oxides PbMO3 (M = Fe, Co, Ni) in cubic perovskite structure. The calculations are based on the density functional theory (DFT) within plane-wave pseudopotential method and local spin density approximation (LSDA) of the exchange-correlation functional. On-site Coulomb interaction is also included in calculations (LSDA+U). The systems are considered in ferromagnetic (FM) and G-type antiferromagnetic (G-AFM) order. FM structures are energetically more favored than G-AFM and than non-magnetic states for all the systems studied. The spin-polarized electronic band structures show that all the structures have metallic property in FM order without Hubbard-U interaction (Ueff = 0). However, the inclusion of on-site Coulomb interaction (Ueff = 7 eV) opens a semiconducting gap for majority spin channel of PbFeO3 and of PbNiO3 resulting in a half-metallic character. PbCoO3 system remains as metallic with LSDA+U scheme. Bonding features of all structures are largely determined by the hybridizations between O–p and d-states of transition metal atoms. The partial magnetic moment of Fe atom in PbFeO3 is enhanced by inclusion of Hubbard-U interaction (2.55 μB ⇒ 3.78 μB). Total magnetic moments of half-metallic PbFeO3 and of PbNiO3 compounds are very close to integer values.


Temporal aliasing errors induced by high-frequency tidal and non-tidal mass variability in the Earth system are among the three most important error sources that limit the accuracy of present-day surface mass estimates from satellite gravimetry. By means of end-to-end simulations, we demonstrate that the Kalman Smoother approach developed by Kurtenbach et al. effectively captures non-tidal submonthly variability, and thereby reduces temporal aliasing errors way beyond the level of simply subtracting the standard dealiasing model AOD1B. Validation against in situ ocean bottom pressure observations confirms that the Kalman Smoother solutions published together with the ITSG-Grace2016 monthly gravity fields contain high-frequency signal over the oceans not predicted by AOD1B. The daily gravity fields therefore reduce aliasing artefacts in the monthly gravity fields, and at the same time provide observational evidence on submonthly bottom pressure variability presently not reflected in state-of-the-art numerical ocean circulation models. It is thus recommended to include a Kalman Smoother approach into any standard GRACE processing scheme. For a hypothetical double-pair configuration currently under consideration as a future mass change mission, we find that the benefit of the Kalman Smoother is much smaller thanks to the increased number of observations taken at different inclinations, which lead to generally reduced aliasing errors and much more isotropic spatial error correlations. We also reassess the idea of pre-eliminating low-resolution daily gravity fields and find large distortions in the monthly mean gravity solution at spatial wavelengths around the cut-off-degree of the daily fields. We thus recommend further study for any satellite gravity mission concept that critically relies on such pre-elimination schemes for reaching its science objectives.


Attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969/1982) posits the existence of internal working models as a foundational feature of human bonds. Radical embodied approaches instead suggest that cognition requires no computation or representation, favoring a cognition situated in a body in an environmental context with affordances for action (Chemero, 2009; Barrett, 2011; Wilson and Golonka, 2013; Casasanto and Lupyan, 2015). We explore whether embodied approaches to social soothing, interpersonal warmth, separation distress, and support seeking could replace representational constructs such as internal working models with a view of relationship cognition anchored in the resources afforded to the individual by their brain, body, and environment in interaction. We review the neurobiological bases for social attachments and relationships and attempt to delineate how these systems overlap or don't with more basic physiological systems in ways that support or contradict a radical embodied explanation. We suggest that many effects might be the result of the fact that relationship cognition depends on and emerges out of the action of neural systems that regulate several clearly physically grounded systems. For example, the neuropeptide oxytocin appears to be central to attachment and pair-bond behavior (Carter and Keverne, 2002) and is implicated in social thermoregulation more broadly, being necessary for maintaining a warm body temperature (for a review, see IJzerman et al., 2015b). Finally, we discuss the most challenging issues around taking a radically embodied perspective on social relationships. We find the most crucial challenge in individual differences in support seeking and responses to social contact, which have long been thought to be a function of representational structures in the mind (e.g., Baldwin, 1995). Together we entertain the thought to explain such individual differences without mediating representations or computations, but in the end propose a hybrid model of radical embodiment and internal representations.


We derive an effective Hamiltonian system describing the low energy dynamics of circular magnetic skyrmions and antiskyrmions. Using scaling and symmetry arguments we model (anti-)skyrmion dynamics through a finite set of coupled, canonically conjugated, collective coordinates. The resulting theoretical description is independent of both micromagnetic details as well as any specificity in the ansatz of the skyrmion profile. Based on the Hamiltonian structure we derive a general description for breathing dynamics of (anti-)skyrmions in the limit of radius much larger than the domain wall width. The effective energy landscape reveals two qualitatively different types of breathing behavior. For small energy perturbations we reproduce the well-known small breathing mode excitations, where the magnetic moments of the skyrmion oscillate around their equilibrium solution. At higher energies we find a breathing behavior where the in-plane angle of the skyrmion continuously precesses, transforming N\'eel to Bloch skyrmions and vice versa. For a damped system we observe the transition from the continuously rotating and breathing skyrmion into the oscillatory one. We analyze the characteristic frequencies of both breathing types, as well as their amplitudes and distinct energy dissipation rates. For rotational (oscillatory) breathing modes we predict on average a linear (exponential) decay in energy. We argue that this stark difference in dissipative behavior should be observable in the frequency spectrum of excited (anti-)skyrmions.


Wakefulness during general anaesthesia was assessed by the isolated forearm technique in two groups of patients for Caesarean section. The anaesthetic was based on the use of oxygen 66%, nitrous oxide 33% and halothane 0.4% during the induction delivery interval. There was a highly significant reduction in wakefulness in the Group who received nitrous oxide at 66% for the first 3 min only. The wakefulness was amnesic in all cases.


Experimental investigations have shown that the enhancement in heat transfer coefficients for air flow in a channel roughened with angled ribs is on the average higher than that roughened with 90° ribs of the same geometry. Secondary flows generated by the angled ribs are believed to be responsible for these higher heat transfer coefficients. These secondary flows also create a spanwise variation in heat transfer coefficient on the roughened wall with high levels of heat transfer coefficient at one end of the rib and low levels at the other end. In an effort to basically double the area of high heat transfer coefficients, the angled rib is broken at the center to form a V-shape rib and tests are conducted to investigate the resulting heat transfer coefficients and friction factors. Three different square rib geometries, corresponding to blockage ratios of 0.083, 0.125 and 0.167, with a fixed pitch-to-height ratio of 10, mounted on two opposite walls of a square channel in a staggered configuration are tested in a stationary channel for 5000 < Re < 30000. Heat transfer coefficients, friction factors and thermal performances are compared with those of 90°, 45° and discrete angled ribs. The V-shape ribs are tested for both pointing upstream and downstream of the main flow. Test results show that:a) 90° ribs represent the lowest thermal performance, based on the same pumping power, and is essentially the same for the 2:1 change in blockage ratio, b) low blockage ratio (e/Dh =0.083) V-shape ribs pointing downstream produced the highest heat transfer enhancement and friction factors. Amongst all other geometries with blockage ratios of 0.125 and 0.167, 45° ribs showed the highest heat transfer enhancements with friction factors less than those of V-shape ribs, c) thermal performance of 45° ribs and the lowest blockage discrete ribs are among the highest of the geometries tested in this investigation, and, d) discrete angled ribs, although inferior to 45° and V-shape ribs, produce much higher heat transfer coefficients and lower friction factors compared to 90° ribs.Copyright © 1994 by ASME


Background & Study Aim: Judo is an Olympic sport with an intermittent nature due to the large variety of technical-tactical actions and constant interruptions during competition. Technical-tactical analysis of judo matches may be performed using different indicators. This study aimed is the relationship between generic and judo-specific tests and technical-tactical performance in male judo athletes and to identify the physical variables that may explain the technical-tactical performance. Materials & Method: Twenty-two judo athletes were evaluated in two stages. First, physical tests − countermovement jump (CMJ), handgrip strength, Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT), Judogi Grip Endurance Strength Test isometric (JGSTISO) and dynamic (JGSTDIN) − were performed. Second, matches were recorded during competitions for technicaltactical analysis. Pearson's linear correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used with the level of significance set at 5%. Results: The main results showed correlation of the effectiveness index with the number of throws in the second series of SJFT (r = 0.44, p = 0.03) and JGSTISO (r = 0.43, p = 0.04). The number of attacks was correlated to JGSTISO (r = 0.45, p = 0.03) and the effective time was correlated with all kinetic indicators in the CMJ (r = 0.52 to 0.58, p≤0.01). The predictive power and explanation of variance were low for all variables (26-31%). Conclusions: The athletes with higher isometric endurance grip strength (JGSTISO) performed a higher number of attacks and showed higher effectiveness in competition. Also, the athletes with higher (SJFT) showed higher effectiveness during the matches, and the judokas with higher muscle power (CMJ performance) showed higher effective time in the combat bouts. Despite this, only a small part of the technical-tactical performance was explained by the physical tests.


Phosphine (hydrogen phosphide, PH3) is the fumigant most widely used to protect stored products from pest infestation. Despite the importance of this chemical, little is known about its mode of action. We have created three phosphine-resistant lines (pre-1, pre-7, pre-33) in the model organism C. elegans, with LC50 values 2, 5, and 9 times greater than the fully susceptible parental strain. Molecular oxygen was shown to be an extremely effective synergist with phosphine as, under hyperoxic conditions, 100% mortality was observed in wild-type nematodes exposed to 0.1 mg/l phosphine, a nonlethal concentration in air. All three mutants were resistant to the synergistic effects of oxygen in proportion to their resistance to phosphine with one mutant, pre-33, showing complete resistance to this synergism. We take the proportionality of cross-resistance between phosphine and the synergistic effect of oxygen to imply that all three mutants circumvent a mechanism of phosphine toxicity that is directly coupled to oxygen metabolism. Compared with the wild-type strain, all three mutants have an extended average life expectancy of from 12.5 to 25.3%. This is consistent with the proposed involvement of oxidative stress in both phosphine toxicity and ageing. Because the wild-type and mutant nematodes develop at the same rate, the longevity is unlikely to be caused by a clk-type reduction in oxidative metabolism, a potential alternative mechanism of phosphine resistance.


Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a vasoactive neuropeptide that plays a putative role in the pathophysiology of migraine headaches and may be a candidate for biomarker status. CGRP is released from neuronal fibers upon activation and induces sterile neurogenic inflammation and arterial vasodilation in the vasculature that receives trigeminal efferent innervation. The presence of CGRP in the peripheral vasculature has spurred investigations to detect and quantify this neuropeptide in human plasma using proteomic assays, such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, its half-life of 6.9 min and the variability in technical details of assay protocols, which are often not fully described, have yielded inconsistent CGRP ELISA data in the literature. Here, a modified ELISA protocol for the purification and quantification of CGRP in human plasma is presented. The procedural steps involve sample collection and preparation, extraction using a polar sorbent as a means of purification, additional steps to block non-specific binding, and quantification via ELISA. Further, the protocol has been validated with spike and recovery and linearity of dilution experiments. This validated protocol can theoretically be used to quantify CGRP concentrations in the plasma of individuals not only with migraine, but also with other diseases in which CGRP may play a role.


Background: Polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotising vasculitis of the medium sized and small muscular arteries. The inflammatory and subsequent reparative processes may alter the arterial mechanical properties. The effect of vasculitic damage on arterial distensibility has never been explored however. Aim: To determine the normal values and the effect of childhood vasculitis on arterial distensibility in children and teenagers. Methods: Distensibility of the brachioradial arterial segment was studied using pulse wave velocity (PWV ∝1/√distensibility), in 13 children with polyarteritis nodosa at a median age of 11.8 (range 4.9–16) years. As a control group, 155 healthy schoolchildren (6–18 years, 81 boys) were studied. PWV was assessed using a photoplethysmographic technique; blood pressure was measured by an automatic sphygmomanometer (Dinamap). Data from patients were expressed as z scores adjusted for age and compared to a population mean of 0 by a single sample t test. Determinants of PWV in normal children were assessed by univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. Results: Age, height, weight, and systolic blood pressure correlated individually with the brachioradial PWV. Multivariate analysis identified age as the only independent determinant. Ten of the patients were in clinical remission, while three had evidence of disease activity at the time of study. The PWV in the patient group as a whole was significantly greater than those in healthy children (mean z score +0.99). Raised C reactive protein concentration (>2 mg/dl) in the three patients with active disease was associated with a higher PWV when compared to those in remission (z score +2.78 v +0.45). The diastolic blood pressure of the patients was higher than those of the controls (z score +1.04) while the systolic pressure was similar (z score −0.36). Conclusions: PWV in the brachioradial arterial segment increases gradually during childhood independent of body weight, height, mass, and blood pressure. Increased PWV, and hence decreased distensibility, in this peripheral arterial segment occurs in polyarteritis nodosa and is amplified during acute inflammatory exacerbation.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CSP in patients with HNC presenting with CBS can provide immediate hemostasis to prevent exsanguination. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of CSP to control acute life-threatening hemorrhage in patients with HNC presenting with CBS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 10 patients (7 men, 3 women; mean age, 59 years) with HNC presenting with acute life-threatening hemorrhage from CBS that was treated with CSP. We studied patient demographics, presentations, procedures, initial and delayed complications, and technical and clinical outcomes on follow-up. RESULTS: All patients achieved immediate hemostasis following CSP. Periprocedural complications consisted of groin hematomas (n = 2), acute limb ischemia requiring thrombectomy, and an asymptomatic temporal lobe hemorrhage. Imaging and clinical follow-up were available for a mean of 17.7 months (range, 1–60 months). Two patients remained asymptomatic with a patent stent and no evidence of rebleeding at 17 and 21 months, respectively. Recurrent hemorrhages requiring retreatment were encountered in 3 patients secondary to stent infections (30%) at mean duration of 8 months. Neurologic morbidity resulted from stent thrombosis and stroke at 8 months in a single patient. Mortality was unrelated to CSP but was a result of palliative hospice care (n = 3) at a mean of 2 months or natural disease progression (n = 1) with documented patency of the stent at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Acute life-threatening hemorrhage from CBS related to advanced HNC can be safely and effectively treated with CSP. However, potential delayed ischemic or infectious complications are common in the exposed or infected neck.


Pathogenic mutations in DPAGT1 are manifested as two possible phenotypes: congenital disorder of glycosylation DPAGT1-CDG (also known as CDG-Ij), and limb-girdle congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) with tubular aggregates. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-dolichyl-phosphate N-acetylglucosamine phosphotransferase (GPT), the protein encoded by DPAGT1, is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein involved in an initial step in the N-glycosylation pathway. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of six variants in DPAGT1 detected in patients with DPAGT1-CDG, and the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress, as part of the search for therapeutic strategies to use against DPAGT1-CDG. The effect of the six mutations, i.e., c.358C>A (p.Leu120Met), c.791T>G (p.Val264Gly), c.901C>T (p.Arg301Cys), c.902G>A (p.Arg301His), c.1154T>G (p.Leu385Arg), and of the novel mutation c.329T>C (p.Phe110Ser), were examined via the analysis of DPAGT1 transcriptional profiles and GTP levels in patient-derived fibroblasts. In addition, the transient expression of different mutations was analysed in COS-7 cells. The results obtained, together with those of bioinformatic studies, revealed these mutations to affect the splicing process, the stability of GTP, or the ability of this protein to correctly localise in the ER membrane. The unfolded protein response (UPR; the response to ER stress) was found not to be active in patient-derived fibroblasts, unlike that seen in cells from patients with PMM2-CDG or DPM1-CDG. Even so, the fibroblasts of patients with DPAGT1-CDG seemed to be more sensitive to the stressor tunicamycin. The present work improves our knowledge of DPAGT1-CDG and provides bases for developing tailored splicing and folding therapies.


Abstract Quality of botanical products and raw materials is important to manufacturers, regulators, researchers, and consumers. Many modern botanical quality-assurance schemes set specifications for select phytochemicals and measure against those specifications as one determinant of quality. While numerous publications describe procedures for determining compounds of interest in plant species, few methods have been systematically evaluated for accuracy, precision, or reliability, and often the analysis of finished products is not within the scope of the method. Hydrastis canadensis. L., commonly referred to as Goldenseal, is an economically important North American medicinal plant that has been subject to adulteration in commerce. The phytochemicals of interest in the plant are the alkaloids hydrastine, berberine, and canadine. Of interest is also palmatine, an alkaloid found in potential adulterant species but not in goldenseal. In this study, goldenseal materials in raw, capsule, and tablet form, including an Echinacea/ Goldenseal combination product, were extracted with acidified water and acetonitrile and their hydrastine, berberine, canadine, and palmitine content determined by HPLC. The analytical method was optimized and evaluated in a single-laboratory validation study. Calibration curves for hydrastine and berberine were linear from 10 to 150 μ g/mL. The limits of detection for palmatine and canadine were determined to be 0.5 μ g/mL, which translates to detection of levels of 0.004% w/w in test samples. Chromatographic resolution was achieved for all analytes in an isocratic 12.5-min chromatographic run employing a binary mobile phase. Triplicate determinations performed on 10 test materials by two analysts on 3 days resulted in relative standard deviations ranging from 0.9% to 3.4%.


The advent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has reminded health care providers worldwide that disease and ill health recognize no borders, that we are vulnerable and that we must maintain constant vigilance in health all over the world. It has also stimulated some of the best international cooperation in medicine and nursing that I can remember, the lessons from which I hope we will apply in other areas. In our different countries, we celebrate the different cultural, political and economic systems, but I am not certain we should celebrate the difference in standards of health that exist in the world today. I believe that nursing has a duty to all humanity regardless of borders, legal systems and economic and political differences. However, I believe that there are danger signs in the international nursing environment at the moment.


Background: cardiac surgery is an effective treatment for patients with advanced coronary heart disease; it carries a risk for serious non-cardiac complications, such as pulmonary impairments. Pulmonary complications are common following heart surgeries and replacement of diseased valves is often associated with more significant morbidity, prolonged hospital stay and mortality. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of deep breathing exercises with Incentive Spirometry (IS) and preventing pulmonary complications following cardiothoracic Surgery. Methods: In a random clinical trial, 50 adult male and female patients, who had undergone cardiothoracic surgery, were randomly assigned into two equal groups. The first group allowed to mobilization and Active exercises of the upper limbs and thorax, breathing exercises with incentive spirometry and instructions in coughing techniques. Patients were mobilized as early as possible by the nursing staff and physiotherapists. The second group takes hospital routine care only. Results: Parameters of pulmonary function as regards VC and FVC differ significantly between study group post the deep breathing exercise with incentive spirometry and significant improvement was detected in study group after the program. There was no significant differences post deep breathing exercise with incentive spirometry of the study and control groups regards pulmonary complications. Conclusion: deep breathing exercises with incentive spirometry is more effective in preventing postoperative complications following cardio-thorax surgery. Moreover, significant improvement was detected in pulmonary function test in study group after use of incentive spirometry .


Cancer staging is the process by which physicians evaluate the spread of cancer. This is important, once in a good cancer staging system, the stage of disease helps to determine prognosis and assists in selecting therapies. A combination of physical examination, blood tests, and medical imaging is used to determine the clinical stage; if tissue is obtained via biopsy or surgery, examination of the tissue under a microscope can provide pathologic staging. On the other hand, good patient education may help to reduce health service costs and improve the quality of life of people with chronic or terminal conditions. In this paper it is endorsed a theoretical based model to support the provision of computer based information on cancer patients, and the computational techniques used to implement it. One's goal is to develop an interactive agent based computational system which may provide physicians with the right information, on time, that is adapted to the situation and process-based aspects of the patients's illness and treatment.


Least-squares support vector machines (LS-SVM) and partial least squares (PLS) have received considerable attention in the chemometrics for multicomponent analysis. A comparison was made between LS-SVM and PLS methods by applying them to simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of cypermethrin, permethrin and tetramethrin. The UV absorbance spectra of the methanolic solutions of the analytes were measured in the concentration ranges, 0.1-12.9, 0.1-24.9 and 0.1-13.8 µg mL-1 for cypermethrin, permethrin and tetramethrin, respectively. The simultaneous determination of cypermetrin, permetrin and tetrametrin by UV spectrophotometry is a difficult problem in analytical chemistry, due to spectra interferences. The resolution of mixture of cypermetrin, permetrin and tetrametrin by chemometrics methods was performed. The root means square error of prediction (RMSEP) for cypermetrin, permetrin and tetrametrin by PLS and LS-SVM models were 0.1629, 0.2828, 0.1984 and 0.0766, 0.0907, 0.0467, respectively. The capability of the method for the analysis of synthesis and real matrix samples were evaluated by the determination of cypermethrin, permethrin and tetramethrin with satisfactory results. The resultant data explained that LS-SVM produced better results than PLS.


The Data Encryption Standard is known as a block cipher technique which means a cryptographic key and an algorithm is applied with a block of data simultaneously rather than one bit at a time. To encrypt a plain textmessage, DES groups it into 64-bit blocks. Each block is enciphered using the secret key into a 64-bit cipher text by means of permutation and substitution.The process involves 16 rounds and can run in four different modes, encrypting blocks individually or making each cipher block dependent on all the previous blocks.


BACKGROUND
Topotecan, a topoisomerase I inhibitor that has demonstrated anticancer activity toward leukemias and solid tumors in clinical trials, is eliminated via hepatic and renal routes. However, dosing guidelines for the administration of topotecan to patients with impaired hepatic function have not yet been established.

PURPOSE
We compared the maximum tolerated doses (MTDs), the toxic effects, and the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of topotecan in patients who had refractory, malignant, solid tumors and who either had or lacked hepatic injury. The potential role of three substrate markers of liver function (indocyanin green [ICG]-- a marker of hepatic blood flow; lorazepam--a substrate marker of hepatic glucuronidation; and antipyrine--a substrate marker for cytochrome P450 activity) in optimizing topotecan doses for patients with liver injury was also evaluated.

METHODS
Twenty-one cancer patients, 14 of whom had hepatic injury due to metastatic disease, biliary obstruction, or cirrhosis, were treated with intravenously delivered courses of topotecan consisting of 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mg/m2 of drug per day for 5 days. Most patients received more than one course of treatment, with new courses initiated at 3-week intervals. Patient responses (evaluated by tumor measurements) and treatment-induced toxic effects were assessed. Prior to the initiation of topotecan treatment, patients were given intravenous injections of ICG, lorazepam, and antipyrine to determine the plasma pharmacokinetics of these compounds. The pharmacokinetics of topotecan (both the lactone and the carboxylate forms) were determined by analysis of plasma and urine samples collected on the first day of the first course of drug treatment. Scatter plots of area under the plasma concentration versus time curves in relation to percent decreases in either absolute neutrophil count or platelet count were used to explore the pharmacodynamics of topotecan. The Student's t test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare pharmacokinetic parameters between patients with and without abnormal hepatic function. Correlations were assessed using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs). Reported P values are based on two-tailed tests of significance.

RESULTS
Patients with hepatic injury tolerated topotecan doses up to 1.5 mg/m2, i.e., the MTD of this drug established in previous studies. The nature and severity of treatment-induced toxic effects and the pharmacokinetics of topotecan were similar in patients with and without liver injury. No differences were observed in the urinary excretion of topotecan between the two patient groups. Clearances of total topotecan and its lactone species correlated only with clearance of ICG (rs = .64, P = .004; and rs = .68, P = .0017, respectively). The pharmacodynamic effects of topotecan were not altered by liver dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
Cancer patients with hepatic injury can be treated with topotecan at a starting dose of 1.5 mg/m2, given daily for 5 days and administered every 3 weeks. Topotecan dose modifications do not appear to be required for patients with hepatic dysfunction and normal renal function.


Author(s): Miller, Steven James | Advisor(s): Costello, Christopher J | Abstract: Economic incentives for users of natural resources depend on both environmental conditions and policies in place to govern use of those resources. Similarly, polluting firms are financially impacted by the regulatory context in which they operate and the manner in which natural systems exposed to their pollution are affected. Shifts in environmental conditions or policy thus may alter the economic incentives and behavior of resource users and polluting firms. To the extent that such shifts impose higher costs, economic theory suggests that economic agents will seek ways to mitigate their exposure to such costs, either through preventative behavior or adaptation. As a result, the economic effects of change will depend upon the responses of affected individuals or firms. Here, I examine the effects of three types of change on the behavior of natural resource users and polluting firms. The first chapter employs dynamic game theory to examine the effect of a potential environmental regime shift on coalition formation in a shared fishery, finding that the threat of such shifts can support enhanced cooperation as a means to avoid the shift. The second chapter focuses attention on a policy shift in a multi-species fishery, studying how resource users respond to the introduction of tradable permits for bycatch species. That study uses a combination of theory and panel econometric approaches to identify multi-margin responses to the regulatory change, and in so doing, estimates the marginal costs of conservation for overfished species. In the final chapter, I continue to examine regulatory change, but shift systems to examine how environmental policy may stimulate innovation. In particular, I explore how tradable emissions permits can create incentives for unregulated firms to innovate, illustrating the consequences of such spillovers for policy analysis using both theory and an empirical application to the European Union Emissions Trading System.


Bis-coumarins have caused great interests in the recent years. These compounds exhibit diverse biological activities which are ascribed to their ability to exert noncovalent interactions with the various active sites in organisms. Some of them such as dicoumarolum and dicoumarol were approved for therapeutic purposes in clinical practice. Encouraged by the above facts, numerous biscoumarin derivatives have been synthesized and screened for their biological activities, and many of them showed promising potency. This review is focused on the biological potential of bis-coumarin derivatives with particular mention of those exhibiting antibacterial, anticoagulant, antiinflammatory, antiviral, anti-parasite and antitumor activities, and their structure-activity relationships are also discussed.


We consider the problem of optimizing the achievable EPR-pair distribution rate between multiple source-destination pairs in a quantum Internet, where the repeaters may perform a probabilistic Bell-state measurement and we may impose a minimum end-to-end fidelity as a requirement. We construct an efficient linear programming (LP) formulation that computes the maximum total achievable entanglement distribution rate, satisfying the end-to-end fidelity constraint in polynomial time (in the number of nodes in the network). Our LP formulation gives the optimal rate for a class of entanglement generation protocols where the repeaters have very short-lived quantum memories. We also propose an efficient algorithm that takes the output of the LP solver as an input and runs in polynomial time (in the number of nodes) to produce the set of paths to be used to achieve the entanglement distribution rate. Moreover, we point out a practical entanglement generation protocol that can achieve those rates.


Censorship! The word itself sparks debate, especially when the context is the public school. Since the publication of the second edition of this landmark book in 1993, wired classrooms, legal challenges, and societal shifts have changed the landscape for the free exchange of ideas. Completely revised and updated, this new edition remains the most comprehensive guide for protecting the freedom to read in schools: For school librarians and media specialists, teachers, and administrators, Reichman covers the different media (including books, school newspapers, and the Internet), the important court cases (including recent litigations involving Harry Potter, the Internet, and Huck Finn), the issues in dispute (including violence, religion, and profanity), and how the laws on the books can be incorporated into selection policies. An entire chapter is devoted to troubleshooting and answering the question of "What do we do if...?" Look no further for the best and most specific information on providing access and facing challenges to intellectual freedom. You'll find answers if you are asking questions like these: * What is the distinction between making selection decisions and censoring? * What are the legal constraints on schools offering electronic information sources and the Internet? * What rights and responsibilities does a school administration have when faced with censorship challenges? * What are the legal precedents that have been set in recent cases relating to popular fiction (e.g., Stephen King, R. L. Stine, J. K. Rowling)? Written by a long-time expert on the protections of the First Amendment and U.S. Constitution, the new Censorship and Selection will provide you with all of the need-to-knows for crafting a selection policy in the digital age.


Inversion of estuaries in the dry tropics (i.e. salinity increases upstream) against the backdrop of a globally changing climate is forcing migratory clupeid fish species to adapt quickly to modifications in their spawning habitats to ensure reproductive success. Hatching success and survival probabilities of marine fish eggs and early life stages are prone to impairment under high temperature and elevated salinity conditions. Essential fatty acids affect osmoregulation in marine fish early life stages, and deficiencies can therefore be expected to cause elevated offspring mortality under hyperosmotic conditions, ultimately modifying a stock's reproductive potential. Here we show that oocytes spawned by bonga shad Ethmalosa fimbriata inside a hypersaline estuary exhibited significantly higher 20:4 (n-6) proportions (1.6 ± 0.7% of total fatty acids) than oocytes spawned under marine conditions (0.6 ± 0.2%). Further, oocyte proportions in 20:4 (n-6), 20:5 (n-3), and 22:6 (n-3) were positively correlated with water temperature, water salinity, and female reproductive investment (relative batch fecundity, gonado-somatic index, oocyte dry weight). Oocytes spawned during high temperature/high salinity conditions inside the estuary are therefore likely to develop normally under the prevailing conditions. Reproductive potential was determined to be highest in females spawning inside the estuary at the end of the wet season, when temperatures are high and salinities are less stressful due to freshwater input. Results lead to the conclusion that migratory clupeid fishes can maintain their reproductive potential in hypersaline estuaries and lagoons, which potentially allows for sustainable stock sizes.


Antigens of Eubacterium species including E. alactolyticum, E. brachy, E. nodatum, E. saburreum, E. timidum, E. yurii subsp. yurii and E. yurii subsp. margaretiae, which have been isolated frequently from periodontal pockets and associated with periodontal diseases, were extracted by ultrasonication from whole bacterial cells. Antigens were also prepared from E. aerofaciens, E. lentum and E. rectale, which have been found in intestinal tracts and infected abscesses in human oral cavities. The antigens of the oral Eubacterium species were compared with antigens from E. limosum, the type species of the genus Eubacterium, by using SDS-PAGE and Western immunoblot assays. SDS-PAGE gels stained with Coomassie brilliant blue indicated that no major peptide bands were common among the Eubacterium species examined. The protein profile patterns were distinctly different from each other. Western immunoblotting reactions with rabbit antisera showed that the Eubacterium species could be clearly distinguished serologically, and that the species-specific antigens were peptide components of ultrasonic extracts from the whole bacterial cells. The present study demonstrates that these Eubacterium species show great heterogeneity in their peptide components and immunological reactions, which may be useful for identification of the Eubacterium species from human oral specimens.


Electrokinetic phenomena in liquid foams is at a junction between two areas. On one side is the investigation of liquid foam drainage, and on the other side is electrokinetics of surface driven flow on solid-liquid interfaces. However, the electrokinetic phenomena in liquid foam films significantly lack understanding. Therefore, the novelty of the thesis is to address the mentioned gap in three stages. The outcome has potential applications in a novel separation approaches of biological molecules such as proteins and DNA.

In the first stage, the electrokinetic flow of a sufficiently thick (180 µm) free liquid film was investigated using cationic and anionic surfactants by confocal micron-resolution particle image velocimetry (µ-PIV). The reverse of the surface charge resulted in a shift in charge of the electrical double layer at the free liquid film interface, which caused the direction of the electroosmotic velocity to reverse. In each surfactant type used, the fluid velocity profiles were measured at different depths of the free liquid film (different z-planes). It was found how the fluid velocity varied with depth. Numerical simulations of the electroosmotic flow in the same system were also performed using Finite Element Method to understand the flow dynamics. A reasonably good agreement was found between the numerical simulations and the experimental results validating the model.

In the second stage, instead of flow visualisation particles, rhodamine B (RB) and fluorescein isocyanate (FICT) dye were added to the free liquid film. Under the initial conditions of pH 7.2, RB is a neutral dye, and FICT has a -2 charge. Under an imposed electric field pH variations were detected and an interesting flow profile was observed. The CFD model developed earlier (stage one) was modified to include the local pH variation. The behaviour of the simulated pH had a good agreement with the behaviour of the FICT. Further confirmation of local pH variation was undertaken using extra new experiments which also showed a good agreed with the simulation.

In the third stage, a liquid foam electrokinetic separation chamber was designed to extend the study to include practical applications. The first challenge was to achieve a stable foam under external electric field. A polymer-surfactant mixture can solve the stability problem. However, the mixture of polymers required an alkaline pH (>9) condition for the polymer mixture to be soluble in the aqueous system. Lectin and tetramethylrhodamine goat anti-rabbit (IgG) protein mixture with different molecular mass to charge ratio (50 kDa and 150 kDa) were injected near the anode. The system was monitored in three location: (a) in a vicinity of the injection region, (b) between the two electrodes and (c) in a vicinity of the cathode. In the region (a), a decay of the luminescence intensity of the fluorescein of the two proteins was noted with varying rate. In region (b), an increase followed by a decrease in fluorescein intensity of the proteins was observed again at a varying rate. In region (c), an increase of the dye concentration was observed and again at a different rate. The observed difference was caused by difference of the electrophoretic velocity of the two proteins. The setup proved that proteins could be separated based on their electrophoretic mobility inside a liquid foam.

The findings from the thesis show the ability to manipulate fluid flow within a free liquid film, and inside a liquid foam system by an external DC electric field, is not only interesting academically but has potential application in a novel separation approach of biological molecules and beyond. The result show, with the correct surfactant formulation, it possible to make a stable foam under an electric field which can be set up for separation of proteins using foam electrokinetics.


"The comic was envisioned as an educational text, yet recycles stereotypes about the Arctic before fully transforming it into a modern, northern city. Although "Ookpik" takes place in an exotic setting, it more often educates its readers about southern Canadian life in the 1960s. Nevertheless, Beaton's comic offers a glimpse into Canadian cultural identity: it begins with an owl living in the undeveloped Arctic wilderness who, once personified, settles in a town populated by other animal-citizens, and Ookpik responds to similar challenges and problems as his readers."


Thin plate structures are more widely used in many engineering applications as one of the structural members. Generally, buckling strength of thin shell structures is the ultimate load carrying capacity of these structures. The presence of cracks in a thin shell structure can considerably affect its load carrying capacity. Hence, in this work, static buckling strength of a thin square plate with a centre or edge crack under axial compression has been studied using general purpose Finite Element Analysis software ANSYS. Sensitivity of static buckling load of a plate with a centre or a edge crack for crack length variation and its vertical and horizontal orientations have been investigated. Eigen buckling analysis is used to determine the static buckling strength of perfect and cracked thin plates. First, bifurcation buckling loads of a perfect thin plate with its mode shapes from FE eigen buckling analysis are compared with analytical solution for validating the FE models. From the analysis of the cracked thin plates, it is found that vertical cracks are more dominant than horizontal cracks in reducing buckling strength of the thin plates. Further, it is also found that as the crack length increases, buckling strength decreases. © 2009 IAU, Arak Branch. All rights reserved.


Abstract Reported is an iridium catalyst for ortho‐selective C−H borylation of challenging secondary aromatic amide substrates, and the regioselectivity is controlled by hydrogen‐bond interactions. The BAIPy‐Ir catalyst forms three hydrogen bonds with the substrate during the crucial activation step, and allows ortho‐C−H borylation with high selectivity. The catalyst displays unprecedented ortho selectivities for a wide variety of substrates that differ in electronic and steric properties, and the catalyst tolerates various functional groups. The regioselective C−H borylation catalyst is readily accessible and converts substrates on gram scale with high selectivity and conversion.


This article explores the role of the Securities and Exchange Commission in the corporate governance process. Traditionally, most have viewed substance as a matter for the states and disclosure for the Commission. This "neat" dichotomy has been long accepted but little examined. The Commission was always meant to play a role in the governance process. Congress assigned to the SEC the authority to regulate disclosure in part to prevent various abusive practices by management, including the payment of excessive compensation and self perpetuation. Disclosure largely eliminated secrecy but did end self interest. Instead, pressure built on states to loosen substantive standards. Disclosure, therefore, contributed to the continued decline in substantive standards under state law. With the link between substantive standards and accurate disclosure increasingly apparent, the Commission began to intervene into the governance process more directly, employing disclosure as a mechanism designed to alter the behavior of officers and directors. The approach, however, didn't work particularly well. Disclosure couldn't entirely compensate for the declining substantive standards under state law. These dynamics have changed significantly with the adoption of Sarbanes-Oxley. The Commission has now become more overtly involved in the governance process. The impact of these changes have yet to be fully realized but they contain the potential for a profound shift in the traditional approach to corporate governance.


A cross-sectional survey was carried out between October 2016 and May 2017 to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM), associated bacterial pathogens and risk factors under smallholdersmall holder dairy farms in North East Tanzania. The study involved 195 cross breed dairy cows from 130 dairy farms. Data were collected based on questionnaire interview, direct observation, screening using California Mastitis Test (CMT) and culture of bacteria. The overall prevalence of SCM based on California Mastitis Test (CMT) was 70.8 and 66.4% and bacteria isolation recorded at 56.4 and 38.4% at cow and quarter levels, respectively. Prevalence defined by CMT was significantly (p<0.0001) associated with wet-dirty bedding material (OR=11.61) and poor udder (OR =6.67). Increased culture-positivity at quarter level was significantly associated with CMT-positive cows (OR= 20.59), teat injuries (OR=23.56), wooden floor (OR=2.02) and poor udder hygiene (OR =2.16). Stripping method of hand milking and first and second parity were significantly associated with lower prevalence of CMT-positive cows and culture positive quarters (p<0.05). Major bacteria species isolated included Staphylococcus aureus (55.4%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (10.8%), Escherichia coli (7.9%) and Streptococcus agalactiae (5.9%). This study demonstrated SCM is a major health constraint of dairy cattle in North Eastern Tanzania.

 Key words: Prevalence, Subclinical -mastitis, California Mastitis Test, bacteria, risk factors.


There are several possible situations in which perpetrators might want to disguise their voices in order to avoid identification and to deflect the search for them to another person or group of individuals. One possible manner that can be used for voice disguise is the adoption of another accent. This paper examines the mimicking of the British-English Swedish accent, that is mimicking of the Swedish spoken by native British English speakers, by native Swedish speakers. It was found that the speakers selected similar and prominent features of the British-English Swedish accent in their first spontaneous recordings, and that the mimicked accent was impacted upon at word and suprasegmental level after having listened to a native speaker.


This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the possibilities of producing spin-polarized electrons with a sequence of two ultra-short time-delayed laser pulses. The first pulse, which is right circularly polarized, excites resonantly the fine structure np level of potassium atoms leading to a spin-flip and thus polarizing the atom. The second pulse ionizes the system thereby resulting in spin-polarized electron release. We examine and compare several situations corresponding to different polarizations of the ionizing pulse (σ+,σ- and π). For each case we derive analytical expressions for the angular and global electron spin-polarization rates as well as for the differential cross sections. The obtained rates can be very high (up to 100%) and can be controlled accurately on the femtosecond time scale by varying the time delay between the pulses.


This paper analyzes the interaction between farmer training in pest management and effects on acute pesticide poisoning and populations of beneficial insects in Nicaragua. Using farm level data from Nicaraguan bean growers, including graduates of Farmer Field Schools (FFS), other integrated pest management (IPM) outreach methods, and farmers without exposure to IPM, we found that small farmers are influenced by pesticide-related acute illness experiences when adopting IPM practices and making decisions about pesticide use. However, exposure to IPM extension programs failed to reduce the use of highly toxic pesticides and increased the number of self-reported acute illness symptoms during the most recent bean crop season. IPM training did result in growth of beneficial insect populations.


Although Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has been going through extensive European Unionisation over the last 10 years the country is still facing serious democratic deficit. In particular, the post-Dayton public sphere has been dominated by ethno-nationalist political elites who are doing everything they can to exclude nonnationalists and members of minority groups from the decision-making process. This is a nagging paradox since one of the main objectives behind the integration of the European countries into the European Community was to reduce disintegrative and dangerous influences of nationalists to establish peaceful, prosperous, and secure community. This article examines how the process of the post-Dayton ethno-nationalization has resulted in widespread discrimination against the so-called Others as they are defined in the Constitution. In the post-war BiH democratic participation has turned into a competition between the three ethnic communities, Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats, rather than between individual nationalities having equal rights of vote. This is why Bosnian people are still living under a political system which is closer to ethno-democracy or ethnocracy rather than a democratic regime. Under such discriminatory regime BiH cannot enter the European Union which is a model of open and democratic society. Keywords: Dayton Agreement, ethno-nationalism, Europeanisation, European Union, individual rights, minority groups


We investigated the assumption that populations of epibenthic macroinvertebrates readily establish in created coastal wetlands by quantifying the spatial and temporal patterns of Cerithidea californica (California horn snail) density in a newly created wetland and an adjacent natural area in Mugu Lagoon, southern California, United States, for 3.5 years. The natural and created sites differed in vascular plant cover and sediment grain size, organic content, salinity, and moisture content. Densities of C. californica in the created site changed little during the study period, and were often lower than those in the natural site. The influences of habitat suitability and dispersal limitation on C. californica colonization of the created site varied among snail age classes. Sediment moisture and organic content explained some of the variability in subadult (47%) and adult (55%) density and relative abundance, but none of the variability in juvenile abundance. Adult snail density was also strongly influenced by distance from the natural/created site transition zone. Juvenile and subadult snail densities were not related to distance from the natural site, possibly due to greater dispersal ability. Between‐site differences in C. californica densities and size structure suggested that adult snails were affected by both habitat characteristics and dispersal ability, subadults were influenced to a lesser degree by habitat characteristics, and juveniles were not related to either factor. Accordingly, the influence of habitat characteristics and dispersal ability on created site colonization may change with snail age. Successful restoration of benthic invertebrate communities requires consideration of both habitat characteristics and dispersal ability of the target species, even in created sites in close proximity to natural areas.


The effective management of an event involving the exposure of a large number of people to radioactive material requires a mechanism for fast triage of exposed people. BOOSTER is a project founded by the European Union under the Seventh Framework Programme, addressing this requirement. It is a capability project designed to provide an integrated system which could easily be deployed and used. For this purpose, the BOOSTER consortium, relying on the expertise of seven members, researches and develops new approaches to allow an effective and fast management of most kind of nuclear threats. BOOSTER System was designed to help first responders mitigate the crisis by providing the necessary information to quickly assess the radiological situation, to support triage staff in performing an efficient and fast categorization of the potentially affected victims, and to give medical staff crucial information for further treatment at medium or long term post-accident.


N NMR spectroscopy is a useful tool for amine reactivity characterization since it can provide information about the availability of the lone pair of electrons on nitrogen through the measured chemical shift values, which depend on molecular structure and medium effects. Although the amino nitrogen is the focal nucleus of the carbon dioxide-amine reaction, N NMR measurements have so far received little attention in the field of amine-based chemical absorption of carbon dioxide. In this study, from one hand, through N NMR chemical shifts measurements, the effect of solvent on the electron density of the nitrogen of 2-methyl-2-amino-1-propanol (AMP) in solvent blends was investigated; from the other hand, N NMR chemical shifts of aqueous primary non-hindered and hindered alkyl amines were related to the corresponding carbamate forming and carbamate stability equilibrium constants as well as carbamate forming kinetic constants, showing linear relationships. Such correlations could be useful for predictive estimation of carbamate-related equilibrium and kinetic constants. © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of GHGT.


Intrauterine devices (IUDs) represent one of the most important methods used for contraception. The methods vary in terms of efficiency, acceptability, costs, and potential complications. Early methods have been improved, and ultrasound (US) evaluation has become an important tool to diagnose the clear majority of IUDs complications. This chapter presents a comprehensive and up-to-date status regarding the use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) for birth control and family planning. The topics discussed in the manuscript will involve the current knowledge on the history, types, mechanisms, health benefits, and risks. More, the present paper presents the medical techniques for inserting and removing a IUD, and the role of US to confirm proper IUD placement. Also, this chapter offers practical guidance in managing problems of continuing users and discusses the clinical circumstances that require reconsideration of the contraception methods.


High-dose chemotherapy (HD-CT) in combination with autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) has long become the gold standard treatment for chemosensitive recurrences and refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). By taking into account the low efficiency of rescue therapy (postrecurrence five-year survival rate is not more than 10-20%), it is clear that the results of treatment should be improved in the induction of the first remission. The study performed in the rituximab time showed the higher efficiency of first-line therapy using auto-SCT. Therapeutic effectiveness was also noted to depend on the intensity of pretransplantation regimens. Indications for HD-CT with auto-SCT must be substantiated because of the higher toxicity together with therapy intensification. Conventional clinical criteria for this are insufficient. Thus, it is necessary to search for new molecular genetic prognostic factors that will be able to portray tumor biology.


Abstract The Leiden 85-plus study in the oldest old has observed (a) no relationship between thyroid function and symptoms of depression, cognitive impairment or disabilities in daily life, and (b) increased mortality in subjects with TSH 4.8 mU/l. Subclinical hyperthyroidism probably warrants more proactive treatment as other studies have also shown increased mortality to accompany a low TSH, although no randomised trials have been done to prove that early intervention prevents atrial fibrillation or prolongs life. The benefits of treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism at a very advanced age are uncertain, but treatment might well be beneficial in middle-aged subjects as some studies report an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In all cases, however, it is recommended that underlying thyroid disease be demonstrated before treatment is started.


The most complete guide to B. Traven's literary legacy. The question "who is B. Traven?" has been answered, at least to the extent that it can be by top Traven biographers. Now Traven scholars are turning more to the literary evaluation of his work. B. Traven will be a useful framework for that work as well as an essential tool for collectors, book dealers, and librarians.


Einstein, in his General Theory of Relativity, predicted that fluctuations in gravitational effects propagate as waves at the speed of light through space-time. Currently there has only been indirect evidence for the existence of these elusive gravitational waves. Scientists working on a number of large-scale research projects around the world are concentrating their efforts on detecting gravitational waves directly. Not only will their detection provide a test of some of the predictions of Einstein's theory but also much information about the astrophysical processes and sources that produce them. Gravitational waves are quadrupole in nature and produce a tidal strain in space. However their interaction with matter is very weak, making them difficult to detect. Gravitational waves emitted by violent astrophysical events are predicted to produce strains at the Earth of the order of ~10-21 to ~10-22 at frequencies accessible to ground- based detectors (i.e. a few tens of Hz to a few kHz). All detection schemes involve trying to sense these strains in space. One such detection scheme is based on the laser interferometer. Researchers at the University of Glasgow are working with collaborators from Germany on a project called GEO 600. GEO 600 is an interferometer with arms of 600 m in which light from a Nd:YAG laser is reflected between mirrors suspended as pendulums in a vacuum system. Scientists from the Max-Planck-Institut fur Quantenoptik at Hannover and Garching, the University of Cardiff and the Albert Einstein Institut at Potsdam also work on this project, together with collaborators from the Laser-Zentrum, Hannover. The design criteria of the GEO 600 detector defines that the thermal noise associated with internal modes of the fused silica test masses will limit the low frequency sensitivity of the detector. Taking a value of the intrinsic loss factor of pinternal (o) = 2 x 10-7 for fused silica, we can show that the thermal noise due to this loss results in a motion of one test mass of pinternal(o) = 7 x 10-20m/√Hz at 50 Hz. The loss factors associated with the modes of the suspension, including the presence of any additional external loss mechanisms, can increase this minimum level of thermal noise and consequently decrease the detector sensitivity. In order to prevent the achievable level of thermal noise being degraded by contributions from these other sources of thermal noise a design specification is set. Our aim is to achieve a level of thermal noise displacement of no greater than ppend(o) = 2 X 10-20m/√Hz at 50 Hz at each test mass from the source of thermal noise associated with the 1 Hz pendulum mode. This corresponds to an acceptable loss factor of ppendtotal(o)= 3.7 x 10-8 at 50 Hz for a GEO 600 sized test mass. The work contained in this thesis covers various methods of reducing the levels of loss in the test mass suspensions and thereby minimising the impact of thermal noise on the overall detector sensitivity. Suitable techniques have been developed towards the final design of a test mass suspension for GEO 600. To achieve a low level of loss factor associated with the pendulum mode requires a suspension wire or fibre material which is itself of low intrinsic loss. The projected material loss at 50 Hz for samples of carbon steel wire is ~40x higher than that set by the GEO 600 thermal noise specification. Fused quartz is known to be a material of low loss and so tests were performed on samples of ribbon fibres. Measurements on fused quartz ribbons, corrected for thermoelastic damping, yielded values for the intrinsic loss factor of fused quartz of pmatintrinsic(o) = (0.5 - 1) x 10-6 in the frequency range 6 Hz to 160 Hz. This is potentially a factor of 10 better than the maximum acceptable material loss factor for the suspension fibres as set by the GEO 600 design specification. It was found that the internal loss mechanism exhibited by 'standard grade' fused quartz appeared to be consistent with that of structural damping. These measurements were especially interesting because they were made over a frequency range that lies partially within the detection band of GEO 600. The loss factor associated with the pendulum mode of various masses suspended from two fused quartz fibres was measured. When the fibres were attached to the points of suspension by mechanical clamps, the level of loss factor observed was found to be equal to that determined by known losses of the system (i.e. the sum of the losses associated with the material of the suspension fibres and a contribution due to recoil damping - which results from the pendulum being suspended from a lossy support structure). All excess loss mechanisms were therefore eliminated. An all-welded suspension was also constructed. The loss factor was again found to be set by the known losses in the system. By subtracting the recoil loss from the measured loss, we could use the value of the remaining loss to predict the loss factor achievable by a full sized GEO 600 suspension. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).


Lemmatization is the process of determining teh canonical form of a word, called lemma, from its inflectional variants. We have developed a language independent system, LemmaGen, consisting of a set of tools for automatically learning of lemmatizers from lexicons of pre-lemmatized words. The system consists of three modules that can be used independently or sequentially. The input to the first module is a lexicon of lemmatized words from which it learns Ripple Down Rules that best describe word lemmatization. The next module takes these rules, which are in the form of RDR trees, and produces an efficient structure for fast lemmatizatio - the actual lemmatizer. In the last step we use the lemmatizer to transform the original input text into a set of lemmatized words. LemmaGen was applied to 14 different Multext and Multext-East lexicons and produced efficient lemmatizers for the corresponding languages. Its evaluation on the 14 lexicins shows that LemmaGen considerably outperforms the lemmatizers generated by the previously developed RDR leraning algorithm, both in terms of accuracy and efficiency. We used lemmatization also as a step in the analysisof a corpus of press-agency news and show improved result inerpretation, achieved by using LemmaGen in news preprocessing.


An earthquake swarm was observed in the Blue Mountain Lake area of the southern Adirondacks from early May 1971 until the writing of this paper (late April, 1972). This swarm provided an unusual opportunity for a detailed field study of earthquakes and a determination of principal stress direction for a region within a lithospheric plate. Thousands of events were recorded, the largest of which had a magnitude of 3.6 and was felt as far as 80 km from the epicenter. A number of earthquakes were heard as well as felt—the smaller were heard, but not felt.

Thrusting mechanisms were determined from two composite fault-plane solutions. The solution for earthquakes above 2-km depth indicates faulting on a plane striking N12°W and dipping 25°E. The fault plane for the deeper events (between 2 and 3.5 km) strikes N31°E and dips 59°E.

The earthquake foci define a surface that dips gently to the east to a depth of 2 km and then steepens, in agreement with the composite fault-plane solutions. There is an indication that the shallower earthquakes may not represent renewed motion on a pre-existing fault, but may mark the generation of a new fault by a regional east-west compressive stress. The deeper events which occurred late in the sequence may represent the extension of the shallow fault and its deflection to an existing weakness. The axis of maximum compressional principal stress for the shallow composite fault-plane solution trends approximately east-west and is nearly horizontal. Geological and geophysical evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that the greatest principal stress in a zone extending from northern New York State to southern Illinois is compressive, large and horizontal, and trends nearly east-west.


Changes in biological productivity in the Southern Ocean have the potential to have a significant effect on world climate. Here we use a combination of satellite, model and model reanalysis data to examine climate variability in the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean (110-160°E, 40-70°S) to identify the controls on chlorophyll-a (a proxy for phytoplankton biomass) and primary productivity and evaluate trends in these controls over the period 1997.2007. In summer, in the 65-70°S zone, sea-ice concentration together with the Southern Annular Mode explains 51% of the variance in chlorophyll-a, while mean wind stress and sea-surface temperature explains 55% of the variance in the 60-65°S zone. Further north, key controls are photosynthetically active radiation, sea-surface temperature, mixed layer depth and stratification. Trends in hydrodynamic variables are found to often be opposite in sign and up to an order of magnitude larger than those previously identified in the same sector for 1958-2005. Allowing for the effect of shorter time series on the magnitude of the trends, many recent trends seem to be outside the range of previous variability. These results are consistent with a shift in the ocean state in the past 10-15 yr, in response to a shift in climate.


Objective
To explore the role of citizenship status as a predictor of general satisfaction with healthcare services in Qatar, including potential interaction with utilization and health insurance coverage type.

Design
A cross-sectional survey conducted in 2012.

Setting
A household survey in the State of Qatar in the Arab Gulf.

Participants
A nationally representative sample of 2750 citizens and noncitizens aged 18 years and older.

Main Outcome
General satisfaction status with Qatar's healthcare system.

Measures
Citizenship status, healthcare utilization, health insurance type.

Results
Citizens were significantly less likely to be satisfied with Qatar's healthcare system than noncitizens (odds ratio (OR) = 0.30, P < 0.001). The association between private health insurance and overall satisfaction was not significantly different between citizens and noncitizens (P = 0.19). However, the association between utilization of healthcare services and overall satisfaction was moderated by citizenship (P < 0.001). Among citizens, non-users were less likely to be satisfied than recent users (OR = 1.88, P < 0.05), while the opposite pattern was observed among noncitizens (OR = 0.51, P < 0.05). These patterns persisted even after controlling for potential confounders.

Conclusions
The study revealed significant population differences in satisfaction between recent users and non-users within citizenship groups. These differences may stem from different expectations with respect to healthcare services. Understanding these expectations may have important policy implications for cross-cultural contexts.


A Brazilian dictionary states that "ulcer", from the Latin word ulcuserise, is a superficial lesion on skin or mucous membrane characterized by an inflammatory process and loss of tissue. Ulcers are a relatively frequent problem that may be worsen by infection or long-time duration. In these cases, they can represent a serious public health issue, since the increased case number contributes to the burden on the public health service. In recent decades, wound treatment has advanced in technological and scientific aspects regarding both development of new products and techniques. Ongoing research in this area is providing new products for wound treatment. Among newly tested substances that have presented successful results is fibrin glue, a snake venom derivative that promotes reduction of infection and edema as well as bleeding control and pain decrease. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate fibrin glue effects on ulcers of venous origin in 24 patients that were divided into two groups. The first one (G1) consisted of 11 patients treated without the adhesive while the second group (G2) was composed of 13 persons who were under therapy with the adhesive. The results of this study revealed that patients treated with fibrin glue evolved to a satisfactory healing when compared to the other group. Therefore, fibrin glue is an appropriate alternative for treating leg ulcers with several advantages: easy application, less pain, early hospital discharge, not transmiting diseases, lower cost than the adhesive currently available in Brazil and, finally, it is a Brazilian technology.


Advanced Summary The following discussion seeks to determine inductively the structural character of the lithosphere at depths beyond the reach of observation. The mechanical state of the outer shell of the lithosphere is discussed on the basis of Adams' experiments with rocks under confining pressures, which demonstrate that pressure increases the internal friction and consequently the absolute strength of solid rocks. The conclusion reached is that the rate of increase of absolute strength is very great in the first few miles below the surface; that below 10 miles the gain decreases rapidly, but there is, nevertheless, a continued increase in strength with increasing depth under normal conditions of pressure' and temperature in the lithosphere. Pressure alone can not promote mobility. High temperature in excess of the normal is essential to mobility or fusion. The absolute strength of rock does not, however, increase as rapidly as the load with increasing depth. The relative . . .


In this study, results of source identification and apportionment for ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a previous work were used to estimate ozone-forming potentials (OFPs) of effective sources for developing proper strategies for reduction of tropospheric ozone pollution. The source identification and apportionment of ambient VOC pollution within Yildiz Technical University's Davutpasa Campus (Istanbul, Turkey) was done by positive matrix factorization (PMF). The results suggested five effective source groups with the emissions related with paint use and solvent use having the highest contributions (36.8 and 28.2%). The results from PMF were used along with maximum incremental reactivities to estimate potentials of individual sources for ozone formation. It was found that biogenic emissions (3.78) and traffic related emissions (gasoline and diesel vehicle exhaust) (3.83 and 3.15, respectively) have the highest potential for ozone formation in terms of grams O3/g VOC emitted. The results were used to suggest proper source-based reduction strategies for OFP.


Post-partum depression (PPD) is a severe psychiatric disorder affecting ∼15% of young mothers. Early life stressful conditions in periconceptual, fetal and early infant periods or exposure to maternal psychiatric disorders, have been linked to adverse childhood outcomes interfering with physiological, cognitive and emotional development. The molecular mechanisms of PPD are not yet fully understood. Unraveling the molecular underpinnings of PPD will allow timely detection and establishment of effective therapeutic approaches. To investigate the underlying molecular correlates of PPD in peripheral material, we compared the serum metabolomes of an in detail characterized group of mothers suffering from PPD and a control group of mothers, all from Heraklion, Crete in Greece. Serum samples were analyzed by a mass spectrometry platform for targeted metabolomics, based on selected reaction monitoring (SRM), which measures the levels of up to 300 metabolites. In the PPD group, we observed increased levels of glutathione-disulfide, adenylosuccinate, and ATP, which associate with oxidative stress, nucleotide biosynthesis and energy production pathways. We also followed up the metabolomic findings in a validation cohort of PPD mothers and controls. To the very best of our knowledge, this is the first metabolomic serum analysis in PPD. Our data show that molecular changes related to PPD are detectable in peripheral material, thus paving the way for additional studies in order to shed light on the molecular correlates of PPD.


From the level of the sign to culture, the practice of semiotic analysis concerns the construction and description of models. Within commercial semiotics, a few of these models (notably Greimas's semiotic square and Raymond Williams's concept of residual, dominant, and emergent), have proven particularly useful due to their ability to summarise cultural phenomena in a form readily digested and applied by marketing professionals to their brands. Packaging design is a frequent subject of commercial semiotic enquiry and draws on a wide array of semiotic phenomena ranging from visuals, to textures, and the lived experience of interacting with the package. How can we approach a comprehensive understanding of the potential of packaging design to communicate meaning? In what ways can we say that a package can 'mean', and how as semioticians can we help analyze and create novel packaging solutions that further brand meaning? Roman Jakobson's general model of linguistic communication proposes a diverse array of cross cultural communicative functions for language, but is not currently a key model in the commercial semiotician's toolkit. This paper proposes that this linguistic model has the potential to be translated into the multisensory realm of general semiotics and applied to packaging design. It will particularly consider how Jakobson's six communicative functions (emotive, referential, poetic, conative, metalingual, and phatic) are relevant to the numerous non-linguistic sign systems (colour, texture, shape, typography, imagery, material etc.) employed in packaging. In so doing, this paper proposes a system for understanding the meaning potential of packaging design as not only an aesthetic vehicle but also a strategic tool for the cross-cultural development and communication of brand identity.


Legionella pneumophila is on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Candidate Contaminant list (CCL) as an important pathogen. It is commonly encountered in recycled water and is typically associated with amoeba, notably Naegleria fowleri (also on the CCL) and Acanthamoeba sp. No legionellosis outbreak has been linked to recycled water and it is important for the industry to proactively keep things that way. A review was conducted examine the occurrence of Legionella and its protozoa symbionts in recycled water with the aim of developing a risk management strategy. The review considered the intricate ecological relationships between Legionella and protozoa, methods for detecting both symbionts, and the efficacy of various disinfectants.


Purpose To search for complications of orbital floor fracture repair that occur late postoperatively, to reveal their natural course and to attempt to associate the complications with variables that are possibly involved in their genesis. Methods A retrospective comparative case series of all orbital floor fracture repair cases (158 eyes) from 1983 to 1998 was done. Synthetic prostheses were tailored to the orbital floor in clinically significant fractures. Bone grafts were chosen for large defects, comminuted fractures or if other reconstruction (eg, sinus) was required. Variables studied included age, sex, trauma to surgery time lag, surgeon, fracture type, length of surgery, antibiotics, prosthesis material, hospital stay and follow-up. These variables were tested for association with the following complications: altered vision, diplopia, dysesthesia, ectropion, pain, infection, enophthalmos and extrusion. Occurrence and resolution data were collected. Results One of four complications (often more than one per eye) resolved without surgery. Reintervention resolved one of three complications. Of all patients, 39.2% remain with long term unresolved complications. Altered vision is more probable with older patients and with longer surgeries. Diplopia was least likely to occur with orbitozygomatic or panfacial fractures and more probable with bone grafts. Ectropion and epiphora increased with a fracture's severity. Pain was mostly attributable to bone grafts. Enophthalmos was mainly due to large or comminuted fractures. Infection and extrusion were rare. Sex, surgeon and trauma to surgery time lag had no bearing on the incidence of complications. Conclusions Delaying surgery did not seem to influence complications. Lessening ocular manipulation during longer surgeries may reduce vision changes. The only truly modifiable variable was the material used for orbital floor repair. Alloplastic prostheses should be used, but if large or comminuted fractures are involved, bone grafting is an interesting first choice.


We study anticipatory scheduling decisions for the transport of freight in a synchromodal network. In a synchromodal network, the choice of mode, the choice of transport path, and the timing of operations is not fixed up front, but decided upon various moments using the latest information about the status of the transport modes and about freight demand. This increased flexibility brings opportunities for consolidation and options for efficient transport, throughout the network and throughout time. However, to achieve such gains, transport decisions must consider their consequences in the entire network and anticipate on their effect in future decisions. We use four different perspectives for studying the decisions in a synchromodal network, based on traditional scheduling methods for multi-modal transport considered in the literature. For each perspective, we develop mathematical models and heuristic algorithms that support anticipatory scheduling decisions in synchromodal transport. Furthermore, for each perspective, we evaluate the output of our models and algorithms using simulation-based experiments, and provide insights into their efficiency gains over traditional scheduling methods, using different network characteristics. As an addition to the development of scheduling methods, we study how to increase the awareness about the trade-offs considered by our methods and how to facilitate the adoption of our algorithms through a serious game. Finally, we present a closing reflection about our anticipatory scheduling methods for freights in synchromodal transport, and provide an outlook for further research with respect to extensions of the models, improvements of the heuristics, and implementation aspects.


Forecasts for crude petroleum consumption are presented which take into account attempts by the Federal Energy Office to regulate residential and commercial thermostats. On the basis of an economic demand model, it is found that lowering all thermostats by 6�F would lower the projected residential and commercial petroleum demand in 1973 by 12 percent. This amount is compared to forecasts made by the Federal Energy Office and to the eflect of a price increase of $0.10 per gallon for heating oil.


This article examines the spillover effects of the collapse and bailout of Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM) on the stocks of a large sample of exposed and unexposed banks and brokerage houses to search for evidence of financial contagion. The basic finding is that the LTCM crisis led to widespread losses for financial institutions, including even regional and local banks and those with no known exposure to hedge funds. However, after controlling for characteristics that influence firms' vulnerability to an exogenous economic shock, the authors find that the unexposed banks and brokerage houses remain virtually unscathed by the crisis. Hence, the results suggest that the market response to the financial turmoil at LTCM was rational, and the crisis only affected firms with exposure to hedge fund activities.


The advantages of combining offshore wind and wave energy into a single farm include reduced hours of zero power output and reduced interhour variability. Both advantages facilitate grid integration of variable renewables. The power output profile of a combined farm with wind and wave is substantially different from a 100% offshore wind energy farm or a 100% wave energy farm. The different power output profile of combined farms with a higher frequency of hourly power output near the annual capacity factor potentially allows for a reduction in the required capacity of the offshore transmission system. The transmission capacity reduction is balanced by the curtailment of energy during the few hours a year that a combined farm generates at full power. An optimization of the transmission capacity for various generation mixes of wind and wave was investigated, and results show that the optimal transmission capacity for a 1000-MW combined farm is approximately 80 MW, or 8%, less than either a 100% wind or 100% wave energy farm.


With the conversion to Christianity in the Theodosian age, the Roman aristocracy
projected their class ideology and self-representation into the conception of religious sanctity
and the vision of the Afterlife. On a literary level, this gives rise to an eschatological imagery in
which the holy souls are the nobility and the 'notables' (proceres) of the eternal res publica,
they constitute the 'heavenly senate' (caelestis curia) seated around the throne of God, and the
martyrs of Christ are given the title of 'consuls'. This paper aims to describe the development
of such images in the Christian Latin poetry of the 4th-6th centuries AD.


Abstract This study investigates the hybrid informational governance arrangements involved in the provision of ICT-enabled Weather Information Services (WIS) for farming in Ghana. Farmers and organizations providing WIS were interviewed. Findings show that multiple technologies are used by combinations of government, business, and civil society organizations to provide various WIS for farming. The ICT has facilitated the creation of different hybrid informational governance arrangements, categorized as multiplicity, intertwinement, and coalescence, which permits flows of WIS across scales, from international non-state organizations to farming communities, often by-passing national and district-level government organizations. Government organizations remain key players in the provision of WIS.


This article examines the potential for transparency programs to improve corporations' human rights performance. The primary focus is on "general" transparency programs, such as the inclusion of human rights issues in sustainability reports. Regulators increasingly rely on such programs, such as through the EU Directive on the Disclosure of Non-financial Information, which many commentators view as a model for legislation in other countries and for a business and human rights treaty. This article identifies several problems with this approach. The human rights metrics used in current sustainability reporting standards, and in practice, often lack validity or are based upon data that is most easily collected, rather than most important. Moreover, the empirical evidence on sustainability reporting shows continued problems of selective disclosure, impression management, incomparable disclosures, and the use of disclosure as an end in itself (as opposed to a process that leads to organizational change). To move forward, regulators should shift focus to a model grounded in regulatory pluralism. Under this approach, regulators would combine a selection of targeted transparency mechanisms to create a more complete regulatory system that corrects for one disclosure mechanism's weaknesses by including other mechanisms that have complementary strengths.


In this paper, we review the state-of-the-art and common practice of energy and climate modeling vis-a-vis the rebound literature. In particular, we study how energy system and economy wide models include and quantify rebound effects - the gap between actual and expected saving or the behavioral adjustment in response to an energy efficiency improvement, in terms of energy or greenhouse gas emissions. First, we explain the interaction between drivers of energy efficiency improvements, energy-efficiency policies and the rebound effect to provide a framework for a general theoretical revision along the aggregation level (from micro- to macro-economic levels). Using this classification, we analyze rebound effect representations in empirical models by four dimensions: actors (industry or the production side, and private households or the consumption side), the aggregation level, income level (developed or developing countries), and time (short and long-run). Furthermore, we focus on rebound effects in models of costless energy efficiency improvement that hold other attributes constant (zerocost breakthrough), and energy-efficiency policies that may be bundled with other product attributes that affect energy use (policy-induced efficiency improvement) [Gillingham et al., 2016]. We find that a clear representation of one or simultaneous drivers of energy efficiency improvements is crucial to target the goals of energy savings, greenhouse gas mitigation, and welfare gains. Under this broader view, the rebound effect is one additional phenomenon to take into consideration. This perspective provokes and provides additional policy implications. Reporting rebound effects as a stand-alone percentage is not sufficiently informative for policy considerations and the distinction of the aggregation level is important to asses the scalability of energy efficiency policies. Finally, we give some ideas and motivations for future research.


The effects of context reinstatement as means of enhancing 5- and 6-year-old children's event memory in repeated interviews after a 6-month delay were examined. Children were interviewed immediately after the event (baseline interview) and twice at a 6-month delay, with 24 hours between interviews. The first 6-month interview was conducted in a perfect-context reinstatement (n = 15), imperfect-context reinstatement (n = 16), or no-context reinstatement (n = 15) condition. The second 6-month interview was conducted 24 hours later with no-context reinstatement for all children. Context reinstatement attenuated the effects of delay on recall. The accuracy of the details reported was greater in the perfect-context compared to the imperfect-context and no-context conditions. Details repeated between the immediate-baseline interview and in the first 6-month interview were more accurate than details repeated between the first and second 6-month interview. There was no increase in recall (hypermnesia) across the first and second 6-month interviews in any condition. Practical implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en