We investigate numerically the recently proposed technique of pulse self-compression by filamentation in noble gases. We show that propagation of a 30 fs infrared pulse containing a few mJ of energy leads to a few-cycle pulse in xenon, krypton, argon, and neon. We describe the different mechanisms and stages of self-compression in the different gases and show that neon, with the highest ionization potential, allows compression to the shortest durations and highest peak intensities. We discuss the process by which an unavoidable frequency modulation of the self-compressed filament simultaneously allows the generation of isolated attosecond as pulses via high-order harmonic generation and limits the conversion efficiency of the as pulses.


Residential mortgage markets in certain developing nations have grown in sophistication and complexity to the point where they now resemble the U.S. model: Instead of a single financial institution originating, servicing and holding all the risk of a mortgage loan, loan markets in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, for example, have begun to "unbundle" these functions. This is yielding benefits for lenders and home borrowers as well as mortgage security investors, as risks are appropriately passed on to end borrowers and new loan products are generated, among other benefits. Yet this evolution is in some cases also creating challenges for these national mortgage markets, including interest-rate, inflation, and foreign-currency risks, as well as legal hurdles for investors. This article surveys the unbundling of emerging-market mortgage markets and establishes a legal and investment framework for creating sound, home-loan and secondary mortgage-security markets.


Desmocollins are cadherin-like glycoproteins involved in cell adhesion and plaque formation in desmosome junctions. Three distinct isoforms, the products of different genes, have been found in bovine tissues. We have reported previously that one of these, DSC3, is expressed only in basal and lower suprabasal layers of stratified epithelia. Using RT-PCR we have now obtained the complete cDNA coding sequence of mature bovine DSC3. It has alternatively spliced 'a' and 'b' forms found in other desmocollins but is unique in having a 43 instead of a 46 base pair exon. We have characterised a monoclonal antibody, 07-4G, which is specific for the Dsc3 protein, recognising an epitope in the extracellular domain. Immunofluorescent staining with 07-4G confirms that this isoform is found only in stratified epithelia, being strongly expressed in the basal cell layers of these tissues. The intensity of expression fades gradually in the suprabasal layers and disappears completely below the upper limit of desmosome expression. These results suggest that Dsc3 plays an important role in cell epithelial differentiation.


The smart control of the biogas-hydrogen engine is needed to improve the overall energy efficiency of the hybrid renewable energy system. The paper focuses on studying the optimal control parameters of the engine aiming to achieve the compromise between performance and pollutant emissions of the biogas-hydrogen engine. In neat biogas fueling mode, the optimal equivalence ratio changes from 1.05 to 1.01 as the CH4 composition in biogas increases from 60% to 80%. By adding 20% hydrogen into biogas, the optimal equivalence ratio practically reaches the stoichiometric value, despite the variation of CH4 concentration. At the same operating condition and hydrogen content, an increase of 10% CH4 in biogas leads to a decrease of 2°CA in the optimal advanced ignition angle. However, at a given engine speed and biogas composition, the optimal advanced ignition angle decreased by 3°CA when adding 10% hydrogen into biogas. The optimal ignition angle is independent of the load regime. Under optimal operating conditions, the addition of 20% hydrogen content into biogas is found to improve the indicated engine cycle work by 6%, to reduce CO and HC emissions by 5-10 times; however, it increases NOx emission by 10-15% compared to neat biogas fueling mode.


Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes play a critical role in the metabolic activation of a wide variety of environmental carcinogens. Recently, a novel human P450 enzyme, CYP2S1, has been identified. It is inducible by dioxin and other classical aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands. However, little is known regarding the substrates and the functional role of CYP2S1. Since CYP2S1 is predominantly expressed in human lung and trachea, it is reasonable to speculate that CYP2S1 may play an important role in metabolizing the environmental chemicals to which human respiratory tissues are exposed. In the present study, we examined the activity of human CYP2S1 in the metabolism of nicotine and in the activation of three potent carcinogens in cigarette smoke, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP). The full-length CYP2S1 cDNA was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction from a human lung cDNA library and was expressed in both Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and Sf9 insect cells. In contrast to the positive controls, i.e., CHO cells expressing human CYP2A13 (for NNK activation) or human CYP1A1 (for BaP activation), there was no increase in NNK- or BaP-induced toxicity in the CHO cells expressing CYP2S1. The heterologously expressed CYP2S1 proteins showed no detectable activity in metabolizing nicotine and PhIP. These results clearly demonstrate that CYP2S1 does not catalyze the metabolism of nicotine and the metabolic activation of these lung carcinogens.


This article challenges two traditional interpretations of the genesis of Mercosur. First, the literature is evenly divided among those who trace back the beginning of the process to the military administrations of Brazil and Argentina, and those who entirely credit their newly democratic administrations. By contrast, this paper argues that integration was initially discussed in a situation of regime asymmetry, Argentina having already returned to democracy and Brazil being still in the final stage of transition. Second, the creation of the common market is generally associated with the 1988 Treaty of Integration signed by Presidents Alfonsín and Sarney of Argentina and Brazil, respectively, while Presidents Menem and Collor are deemed to have simply reduced the period for its implementation from ten to five years. By contrast, this article suggests that in 1988 the project of a common market was still just an aspiration and that in fact that treaty only established a free trade area, its actual progression into a common market being undertaken by the latter two leaders. The first argument tempers the democratic mysticism surrounding integration, the second suggests a partial rehabilitation of the now discredited neoliberal presidents.


This paper gives an overview of socio-cultural, religious and political background of Pakistani society and examines the current status of women utilising data from Pakistan Fertility and Family planning Survey 1996-97. The low status of women is one of the many factors in Pakistani society, which interfere with the achievement of development goals. The success of family planning intervention also mainly depends upon the cooperation and involvement of women. The traditional social structures and norms that limit women's roles may limit their ability to contribute in efforts to control population growth. Some indicators, such as education of women, employment of women, women's participation in domestic and child related decisions, women's mobility, communication about family planning, religion and family planning, have been examined from Pakistan Fertility and Family Planning Survey (1996-97) [For detail of PFFPS, see Hakim et al. (1998)]. Data reveal that there is a little improvement in the social indicators of status of women in Pakistan, however, it is still very low which inhibit their participation in education and in the labour force as well as encouraging their high fertility. Maintenance of traditional Islamic and cultural restrictions on women may also conflict with the achievement of development goals in family planning. Hence an examination is required of Islamic teachings and customary laws affecting the status of women in Pakistani society and the family which ultimately restrict women from adopting family planning measures.


Background Mutated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may be resultant to inflammation or pathogenic of itself in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)/psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Mitochondria are a rich source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are harmful to mtDNA. Tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) increases mitochondrial ROS production and may thus induce mtDNA mutagenesis which the authors sought to investigate both in vivo and ex vivo. Methods 39 RA and 11 PsA patients with active disease contributed synovial tissue at arthroscopy with a subgroup (n=12) contributing tissue pre/post anti-TNFα therapy. Normal synovial biopsies were obtained from 10 people undergoing interventional arthroscopy. Clinical, biochemical, microscopic and macroscopic measures of disease activity were discovered. To mimic the in vivo environment, human synoviocytes (K4's) were stimulated with TNFα (10 ng/ml) in the presence of adalimumab (ADA-5 μg/ml) or isotype matched IgG control (5 μg/ml). A mitochondrial random capture assay was used to quantify alterations in the mitochondrial genome in synovial biopsies. Intracellular ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial mass (MM) were quantified using fluorescent molecular probes. OCT embedded whole tissue samples were analysed by immunohistochemistry for T lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration. TNFα, interleukin 6 (IL-6), interferon γ (IFNγ), IL-1β and IL-8 were measured in synovial fluid by MSD multiplex assays or specific ELISA. Results A significant increase in the frequency of mtDNA mutation was demonstrated in synovial tissue from patients with RA/PsA compared to control tissue (p<0.05). mtDNA mutation positively correlated with macroscopic synovitis (p<0.01, r=0.52) and vascularity (p<0.01, r=0.54) and with microscopic infiltration of T lymphocytes and macrophages to the synovial sublining layer (p<0.05, r=0.46, r=0.5). mtDNA mutation positively correlated with synovial fluid levels of TNFα (p<0.01, r=0.74), IL-1β and IFNγ (p<0.05, r=0.65, r=0.72). The frequency of mtDNA mutation in synovial tissue reduced after anti-TNFα therapy in line with a good Disease Activity Score using 28 joint counts response (p<0.05). Furthermore, in vitro stimulation with TNFα induced ROS production and mtDNA mutation by K4's compared to IgG controls. This effect was negated when K4's were costimulated with TNFα and ADA (p<0.05). There was a concomitant rise in MM and MMP in TNFα treated K4's (p<0.05) which again was negated by costimulation. Conclusion Mutation of mtDNA is a pathologic feature of RA/PsA and is associated with macroscopic, microscopic and soluble markers of active disease. Anti-TNFα treatment reverses this phenomenon in vivo and in vitro which coincides with similar alterations in oxidative damage (ROS, MMP and MM). Together these results suggest mtDNA mutation and oxidative damage driven by TNFα are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis.


Nowadays, with the widespread use of the internet, digital images are increasing in use rate. Digital images are attractive for creating a suitable environment for those who want to communicate securely. It is not easy to notice when substituting data into the least significant bit of these images, and the ability to embed excess data makes it attractive to make the use of steganography in secure communication. The aim of this paper is to provide secure communication via a new image steganography using LSB method with secret key and logistic map for generating random numbers. Also it is to compare to other approaches in the literature in term of image quality. As a result, it is seen that the PSNR is 55.91 at the maximum payload capacity namely 29127 bytes and is better than many other steganography algorithms in the literature.


In this paper we analyze whether central bank communication can facilitate the understanding of key economic concepts. Using survey data for consumers and professionals, we calculate how many of them have expectations consistent with the Fisher Equation, the Taylor rule and the Phillips curve and test, by accounting for three different communication channels, whether central banks can influence those. A substantial share of participants has expectations consistent with the Fisher equation, followed by the Taylor rule and the Phillips curve. We show that having theory-consistent expectations is beneficial, as it improves the forecast accuracy. Furthermore, consistency is time varying. Exploring this time variation, we provide evidence that central bank communication as well as news on monetary policy can facilitate the understanding of those concepts and thereby improve the efficacy of monetary policy.


Course "Upholstery" is lectured for Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. Regarding to permanent increase of interested workpeople for study at university, e-learning course was created. Paper deals not about own course but reactions of students on it. Paper considers upon propriety of e-learning teaching for various groups of students with respect to their professional classification, study programme, age and mode of study. Students of university study "Upholstery" in full-time and part-time study mode nowadays. Teacher is external employee of the university from different town and e-learning is used not only for communication with students, for transfer of technical information but also for insertion and evaluation of seminar works of students. Paper contains conclusions from research of satisfaction of newly established e-learning course in "Upholstery". Research was done in the two years during course utilization. The main goal of the research is improvement in the e-learning web pages of the course. Whole research was based on knowledge application which students adopt while using e-learning for their work and also for living. Research investigated anonymously how students apply recommended literature sources, how they work with text references, how they use or not use training tests in e-learning. It was investigated also style of learning of students with using computers of printed study materials. Recommendations are summed in the conclusion, how properly complete and improve existing course for next years. Some conclusions are suitable generally for all teachers and at the same time for authors of future e-learning courses.


Abstract An approach to multiregion supercritical transient analysis based on the integral kinetic model (IKM) and Monte Carlo method is further developed with new features. The IKM describes the region-dependent fission rate during the transient in a system of arbitrary geometry using a secondary fission probability density function, which takes the explicit neutron transport time between successive fissions across the regions into account. The new features of the improved approach include treatment of the multiregion transient using repeated multidimensional linear interpolation between pre-obtained kinetic functions (i.e., secondary probability density function), a new method for calculating the kinetic functions using the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP2.0, and utilization of kinetic functions directly in the IKM without the fitting function that introduces a fitting error. The improved approach is verified by applying it to the supercritical transient in simple Godiva systems of different region combinations without feedback. In addition, we attempt to validate the improved approach by applying it to the supercritical transient in a simplified Godiva system with thermal expansion feedback and compare the obtained and experimental results. The verification results indicate the improved approach works well with different combinations of regions while the validation results show promising agreement with the experimental results. This study is part of an ongoing research activity on the development of Multi-region Integral Kinetic (MIK) code for general space- and time-dependent kinetic analyses.


Biot's dynamic consolidation equations and Hankel transform were used to derive the integral solutions of stress and displacement for axisymmetric harmonic excitations in the two-phase saturated soil with subjacent rock-stratum. The influence of the coefficient of permeability and loading frequency on the soil displacement at the ground surface were studied. The results showed that higher loading frequency led to more dynamic characteristics; and that the effect of the soil permeability was more obvious at higher frequencies.


In this paper, the effective nanocompoties (EFNCs) as drug carriers are prepared by grafting reaction of cationic chitosan (CS) and anionic tripolyphosphate (TPP) to encapsulate cancer therapeutic agents such as berberine (BB), KCY-24B…etc. These EFNCs were featured by ultra violet–visible-near infrared spectrophotometer (UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer), fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR), zetasizer, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). So we can obtain here the synthetic method, characterization, and functionality of these effective nanoparticles.


The implementation of a near-infrared tip-tilt sensor in the Keck I adaptive optics (AO) system is the first of its kind, and represents a substantial step forward in AO technology. Enhanced-TRICK (Tilt Removal with IR Compensation at Keck) is a project built off this implementation which will further improve performance and versatility. Currently the system is capable of using a single star for measuring image motion, but in the off-axis case this may cause elongation in the science image due to tilt anisoplanatism. The near-infrared tip-tilt sensor (NIRTTS) has been designed with the capability of using up to three stars from around the field to correct for elongation. In order for the science object correction to be optimized, the measurements from each star must be weighted based on magnitude and separation from the science object. When weighted optimally the tip-tilt error at the science object will be a minimum. The process for assigning weights is described, and results of performance modeling of the actual systems having multiple tip-tilt stars are presented.


Background: The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is the ligament most commonly injured during ankle sprains. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to assess the sensitivity of Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging for ATFL with open surgery, Brostrom-Gould surgical interventional considered the gold standard. Methods: A retrospective chart review using Operating Room (OR) and MR reports from April 2008-November 2009 led to a review of 137 charts, with 15 cases meeting the inclusion criteria. Results: The sensitivity for ATFL tears irrespective of extent of the tear was 93%. For full thickness ATFL tears, 10 were found to be positive on MR but 13 on OR with a sensitivity of 77%. Of the three missed cases, 2 were described as sprain injuries and the other normal using MRI. Conclusion: The recommendations for MR assessment of ankle injury include use of dedicated sequences and understanding the "pseudoband" concept. The two full thickness and two partial thickness tears on OR described as sprain injuries on MRI had a band of inflammatory granulation tissue. This tissue accounted for the appearance of the thick continuous band at MRI, the pseudoband. This study reaffirms the usefulness of MR in determining ATFL tears, aiding surgical decision making.


We describe here three sauropod teeth from the Lower Cretaceous (lower Barremian) of La Cantalera (Josa, Teruel, Spain). The teeth are spoon-shaped with a lingual cingulum-like structure. The general morphology is closer to Camarasauridae, but the presence of cingular structure indicates a different group, more derived that this family, The problematic genus Euhelopus from the Upper Jurassic or Lower Cretaceous of China and some isolated teeth from the Lower Cretaceous of China, Russia and Mongolia are the only sauropods with similar teeth. We suggest the presence of a sauropod group in the Asian and European Early Cretaceous. This group is included in the family Euhelopodidae and the Titanosauriformes clade. This European - Asian Early Cretaceous geographic connection has been previously observed with mammals and ornithopod dinosaurs.


Medieval Rome analyses the history of the city of Rome between 900 and 1150, a period of major change in the city. This volume doesn't merely seek to tell the story of the city from the traditional Church standpoint; instead, it engages in studies of the city's processions, material culture, legal transformations, and sense of the past, seeking to unravel the complexities of Roman cultural identity, including its urban economy, social history as seen across the different strata of society, and the articulation between the city's regions. This new approach serves to underpin a major reinterpretation of Rome's political history in the era of the 'reform papacy', one of the greatest crises in Rome's history, which had a resonance across the entire continent. Medieval Rome is the most systematic analysis ever made of two and a half centuries of Rome's history, one which saw centuries of stability undermined by external crisis and the long period of reconstruction which followed.


In this perspective article we discuss computational advances in the last decades, both in algorithms as well as in technologies, that enabled the development, widespread use, and maturity of simulation methods for molecular and materials systems. Such advances led to the generation of large amounts of data, which required the creation of several computational databases. Within this scenario, with the democratization of data access, the field now encounters several opportunities for data-driven approaches towards chemical and materials problems. Especially, machine learning methods for predictions of novel materials or properties are being increasingly used with great success. However, black-box usage fails in many instances; several technical details require expert knowledge in order to the predictions to be useful, such as with descriptors and algorithm selection. These approaches represent a direction for further developments, notably allowing advances for both developed and emerging countries with modest computational infrastructures.


Abstract Recognition of widespread carbonate volcanism in central Spain has led to another case in France, of similar age (23-0 Ma) but with entirely new features. More than 100 new carbonate volcanoes are indicated already, adding a wholly unexpected dimension to this form of activity. Eruptions form layers, mostly of glassy nephelinite fragments in a dolomitic matrix, but some layers are largely dolomite. Major new findings are phenocrysts of dolomite, magnesite and calcite in silicate glass, and spectacular dolomite-nephelinite melt immiscibility, neither recorded previously. Most volcanic carbonatites are Ca rich, and dolomite is rare. The Limagne dolomites share links with those in Spain and Zambia, with chromite a hallmark in all three. Limagne is exceptional in being the first case where dolomite has erupted with co-genetic silicate melt. Mantle debris and magnesite indicate a source within ~100-150 km. Chromite in the dolomite globules, and in the enclosing silicate glass, is similar to that in high-temperature kimberlites, indicating immiscibility in the deep mantle. Recognition of two large, previously undetected provinces of carbonate volcanism in Europe, where there has been active research for >200 y, must lead to the inference that similar cases may await discovery on other continents.


"German Romantic criticism represents a fundamentally dialectical type of thinking, " says Ernst Behler in his Foreword. "With Romantic criticism we are on the threshold of that phase of modernity of which we are still the inheritors." Among the brilliant discussions included in this volume are selections from Friedrich Schleiermacher, On the Different Methods of Translation, Jean Paul, School for Aesthetics, Novalis, Aphorisms and Fragments, Friedrich Schlegel, Dialogue on Poetry, Wilhelm von Humboldt, On the Imagination, Heinrich von Kleist, On the Marionette Theater, and a little-known essay of Friedrich Holderlin, On the Process of the Poetic Mind.


Interest in private equity investments has grown tremendously in the past decade. This article examines the value of private equity in a diversified portfolio within an expected utility framework. Relative levels of risk aversion are set for low, moderate, and high risk-averse investors. It is demonstrated that the higher the risk aversion of an investor, the greater the investor's portfolio allocation should be to private equity. Additionally, as the level of private equity investment increases, so does the Sharpe ratio of the investor's portfolio. It is demonstrated that the marginal utility of private equity investing is positive at all levels of risk aversion.


This chapter discusses the advantages and challenges of teaching HEL in reverse chronology. Starting with the most recent stages of the language and moving towards the past results in a gradual increase of difficulty throughout a HEL course. Furthermore, irregularities of ModE can be exploited more systematically. On the other hand, external history lends itself less readily to reverse sequencing, which is reflected in the fact that teaching materials for HEL in reverse chronology are scarce. The solution proposed is to teach HEL on the basis of original texts, which serve both as evidence of earlier Englishes and as sources of the historical background. The method outlined is modelled on a CLIL approach taken over from foreign language teaching and provides a more holistic approach to HEL.


We propose a mathematical framework for unifying and gereralizing the principal data models, i.e., the relational, hierarchical and network models. Until recently most theoretical work on databases has focused on the relational model, mainly due to its elegance and mathematical simplicity compared to the other models. Some of this work has pointed out various disadvantages of the relational model, among them its lack of semantics and the fact that it forces the data to have a flat structure that the real data does not always have.
The Logical Data Model (LDM) combines the advantages of the relational, network and hierarchical approaches. It models database schemas as directed graphs, in which the leaves correspond to the attributes, and the internal nodes to connections between the data. Instances of LDM schemas consist of r-values, which constitute the data space, and l-values, which constitute the address space. We are thus able to deal with instances of cyclic structures, but still get a first-order theory.
We define a logic on LDM schemas in which integrity constraints can be specified, and use it to define a logical, i.e., non-procedural, query language that is analogous to Codd's relational calculus. We also describe an algebraic, i.e., procedural, query language and prove that the two languages are equivalent. These languages have a novel feature: not only can they access a non-flat data structure, e.g., a hierarchy, but the answers they produce do not have to be flat either. Thus, the language really does have the ability to restructure data and not only to retrieve it, and can therefore be used both as a query language and for defining views.


This work sets out to establish principles for the design and evaluation of a computer-based vocabulary-learning strategy for foreign language learners. The strategy is intended to assist non-beginner learners who are working on their own, to acquire new words in such a way that they will be available when needed in subsequent communicative situations. The nature of vocabulary-learning is examined from linguistic, psychological and educational perspectives, and a strategy for autonomous learning is derived which emphasizes the processes of: selection of new items from text, mental lexicon- building through the association of items on the basis of their lexical-structural features, and practising productive recall of items by activating the same associations as were used to build the mental network. This strategy is considered from the point of view of the support it would need from a computer-based interaction, and the field of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) for vocabulary is reviewed for examples of system design which meet the strategic and interactional requirements. Specifications are produced, based on general principles for the design of computer-assisted learning, and on current technological capability to integrate large text-databases and on-line lexical tools such as dictionaries etc., within an interface which facilitates learner control and exploration. Questions of evaluation are considered, in the light of the computer's ability to record interaction data, and a psycholinguistic model of word production is proposed as a basis for assessing the learner's performance in terms of processes as well as quantitative 'end product'. A general model of deep and surface approaches to learning is then adduced to provide a way of interpreting learner subjective data, and an independent means of evaluating the quality of the learning outcome. A system implementing the strategy is tested with learners of Spanish and English, and the quantitative and qualitative data on learning process and outcome is analyzed in depth. The system is shown to support the learning objectives for learners who adopt a deep approach, or whose approach complements the assumptions of the design in some way, and the general design principles are therefore considered as validated. Some aspects of the strategy related to lexicon-building, however, are shown to be inadequately supported, as is the capability of the system to help learners remediate surface approaches. The main conclusion of the study is that, whilst learner exploration of powerful lexical information resources is essential for autonomous vocabulary-learning, on-line tutorial help of the kind that will encourage deep rather than surface approaches, is needed to optimise the quality of the learning outcome.


In this paper, we present a two-wave study that examined the relationships between three independent variables (professional identification, psychological contract violation, and fairness) and three dependent variables (general satisfaction, satisfaction with the information technology (IT) profession, and affective commitment to the IT profession). The constructs analyzed pertain to the IT workforce and represent areas where the literature has provided conflicting results with regard to the nature of the relationships. Due to the lack of consistency related to causality among these variables, we used 10 separate canonical correlation models to analyze the responses from two surveys distributed across three years. Results consistently revealed a significant relationship between perceived psychological contract violation and fairness with the dependent constructs related to satisfaction (general, and with the IT profession). Both gender and tenure in the IT profession played a role in the identification process for this group of individuals. We present and discuss additional findings along with limitations and directions for future research.


Geometrical variation is one of the sources of quality issues in a product. Spot welding is an operation that impacts the final geometrical variation of a sheet metal assembly considerably. Evaluating the outcome of the assembly, considering the existing geometrical variation between the components, can be achieved using the method of influence coefficients (MICs), based on the finite element method (FEM). The sequence with which the spot welding operation is performed influences the final geometrical deformations of the assembly. Finding the optimal sequence that results in the minimum geometrical deformation is a combinatorial problem that is experimentally and computationally expensive. Traditionally, spot welding sequence optimization strategies have been to simulate the geometrical variation of the spot-welded assembly after the assembly has been positioned in an inspection fixture. In this approach, the calculation of deformation after springback is one of the most time-consuming steps. In this paper, a method is proposed where the springback calculation in the inspection fixture is bypassed during the sequence evaluation. The results show a significant correlation between the proposed method of weld relative displacements evaluation in the assembly fixture and the assembly deformation in the inspection fixture. Evaluating the relative weld displacement makes each assembly simulation less time-consuming, and thereby, sequence optimization time can be reduced by up to 30%, compared to the traditional approach.


Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) are highly valued for their health-promoting potential, yet they are extremely perishable. Controlled atmosphere (CA) strategies reduce blueberry respiratory metabolism, slowing down senescence. However, the sudden change of atmosphere could elicit a physical abiotic stress in the fruit, negatively affecting quality. We propose an innovative approach based on controlled graduation to slowly reach optimum gas storage conditions as an alternative to standard CA. For two consecutive seasons, "Duke" blueberries were subjected to four different storage conditions: control (air); standard CA (sudden exposure to 5 kPa O2 and 10 kPa CO2 across the experiment); GCA3 and GCA7 (gradually reaching 5 kPa O2 and 10 kPa CO2 in 3 and 7 days, respectively). Fruit were stored for 28 days at 0 ± 0.5°C. Real-time respirometry provided an in-depth insight to the respiratory response of blueberries to their gas environment. Blueberries subjected to the graduated application of CA (GCA) treatments had a lower steady-state respiration rate compared to control and standard CA fruit. This indicated a reduction in metabolic activity that positively impacted quality and storage life extension. For example, GCA3 and GCA7 blueberries had a 25% longer storage life when compared to control, based on reduced decay incidence. In addition, GCA fruit were 27% firmer than control and CA fruit after 28 days of cold storage. GCA3 had a positive effect on maintaining individual sugars concentrations throughout the experiment, and both GCA treatments maintained ascorbic acid content close to initial values compared to a decrease of 44% in the control fruit at the end of the experiment. This work provides a paradigm shift in how CA could be applied and a better understanding of blueberry physiology and postharvest behavior.


Tandem carbonyl ylide formation-1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of α-diazo N-acetyl-tetrahydro-βcarbolin-1-one derivatives occur efficiently in the presence of a dirhodium catalyst to afford bimolecular cycloadducts in high yield. The Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction also takes place intramolecularly to give products derived from trapping of the carbonyl ylide dipole with a tethered alkene. The power of the intramolecular cascade sequence is that it rapidly assembles a pentacyclic ring system containing three new stereocenters and two adjacent quaternary centers stereospecifically in a single step and in high yield.


In the domain of dynamically evolving distributed systems composed of autonomous and (self-) adaptive components, the task of systematically managing the design complexity of their communication and composition is a pressing issue. This stems from the dynamic nature of such systems, where components and their bindings may appear and disappear without anticipation. To address this challenge, we propose employing separation of concerns via a mechanism of dynamic implicit bindings with implicit communication. This way, we strive for dynamically formed, implicitly interacting groups - ensembles - of autonomous components. In this context, we introduce the DEECo component model, where such bindings, as well as the associated communication, are managed in an automated way, enabling transparent handling of the dynamic changes in the system.


When the number of projections does not satisfy the Shannon/Nyquist sampling requirement, streaking artifacts are inevitable in x-ray computed tomography (CT) images reconstructed using filtered backprojection algorithms. In this letter, the spatial-temporal correlations in dynamic CT imaging have been exploited to sparsify dynamic CT image sequences and the newly proposed compressed sensing (CS) reconstruction method is applied to reconstruct the target image sequences. A prior image reconstructed from the union of interleaved dynamical data sets is utilized to constrain the CS image reconstruction for the individual time frames. This method is referred to as prior image constrained compressed sensing (PICCS). In vivo experimental animal studies were conducted to validate the PICCS algorithm, and the results indicate that PICCS enables accurate reconstruction of dynamic CT images using about 20 view angles, which corresponds to an under-sampling factor of 32. This undersampling factor implies a potential radiation dose reduction by a factor of 32 in myocardial CT perfusion imaging.


Background: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is a clinical condition with an unclear etiology that occurs because of the rupture of pleural bulla or blebs. Several studies indicating the impact of weather conditions on PSP are present. However, the results are varying. The correlation between blood groups and PSP is yet unknown. In this study, we investigated the impact of altering weather conditions atmospheric pressure (AP), temperature, moisture, and wind velocity (WV) and blood groups on PSP. Materials and Methods: Eighty-six patients PSP diagnoses who were under follow-up and treated in our clinic between 2007 and 2015 were included in our study. Patients' data were retrospectively collected from hospital database patient files. The Regional Directorate of Meteorology provided data on weather conditions. Results: The collected data was examined. According to the results, AP and WV had no significant impact on PSP. Regarding the air temperature, values were statistically significantly high (p = 0.019). When comparing with other blood groups, the blood group with the highest resistance to temperature was type-0. This result was statistically significant (p = 0.029). Conclusions: In this study, we determined that temperatures above 15°C had an unexpected effect on the site of the PSP. Surprisingly, PSP risk was lower in patients with blood type-0 at high temperatures. We suggest that multicenter studies with a more extensive sample size should be conducted to fully understand the impact of air condition and blood type on PSP.


High cell operation temperature causes a significant reduction in cell efficiency. Besides, this high temperature reduces the cell lifespan and physical damages could happen due to thermal stresses. An advanced and efficient cooling scheme is obligatory to operate a high concentration solar module under its recommended operating conditions. The main objective of this work is to design and optimize a microchannel heat sink in terms of channel geometry for high concentration photovoltaic module works under high solar concentration for more efficient and uniform cooling. A complete three-dimensional model for the high concentrator photovoltaic module coupled with the microchannel heat sink is developed. A densely packed high concentration solar module consists of AZURSPACE product triple-junction solar cells (electrical efficiency is 43.2% at a cell temperature of 25 °C) is considered as a heat source in this work. The multi-objective optimization method is adopted to obtain the optimum channel dimensions. Both channel width and height are defined as variable parameters. The optimum design is obtained then its thermal performance is investigated under different working conditions. The results confirmed the ability of the optimized cooling device to offer efficient thermal management and uniform cooling for a densely packed high concentration solar module.


In this study, Spanish Sparrows were recorded in numerous locations and specimens were collected from Samsun, Corum, and Denizli provinces in Turkey. The breeding subpopulations preferred various nesting sites, including wooded areas and White Stork nests. These sparrows were primarily observed in flocks of variable size and were rarely solitary. The largest flock recorded was found in juniper and pine woods in Denizli. We collected data on 23 allozyme loci to compare the genetic variation among the 3 Spanish Sparrow subpopulations. The low FST (0.1363) and high Nm (1.5842) values calculated from these data indicated that gene flow among the 3 subpopulations was high and that these subpopulations did not show substantial genetic isolation. The genetic distance (D) between Corum and Denizli was particularly low (0.001), and these subpopulations showed the highest level of genetic similarity found in the study. Conversely, a high genetic distance (0.028) was found between Denizli and Samsun. The genetic structure of these subpopulations also demonstrated a low level of heterozygosity in the total population.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether high liver enzyme activities were negatively associated with outcome in sick neonatal foals as compared with foals that did not have high liver enzyme activities.

DESIGN
Retrospective case-control study.

ANIMALS
147 foals < 30 days old with high γ-glutamyltransferase activity, high sorbitol dehydrogenase activity, or both (case foals) and 263 foals < 30 days old with γ-glutamyltransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities within reference limits (control foals).

PROCEDURES
Medical records were reviewed for information on signalment, physical examination findings, and results of hematologic and serum biochemical analyses performed at the time of admission to a veterinary medical teaching hospital.

RESULTS
Case foals were significantly more likely to die or be euthanized, compared with control foals (odds ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.28 to 3.85). Case foals were significantly more likely than control foals to have sepsis, and septic foals were significantly less likely to survive than were nonseptic foals. For case foals, other factors associated with a greater likelihood of nonsurvival were higher anion gap and higher logarithm of aspartate aminotransferase activity. When sepsis status was controlled for, the presence of high liver enzyme activities was not significantly associated with outcome.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Results suggested that high liver enzyme activities were common in sick neonatal foals, especially foals with sepsis. Foals with high liver enzyme activities were more likely to be septic, and septic foals were less likely to survive than were foals without sepsis. However, high liver enzyme activities alone were not a useful negative prognostic indicator.


The pepsinogen C (PGC) gene encodes a major differentiation biomarker for gastric mucosa and has two single nucleotide polymorphisms, rs9471643 G>C and rs6458238 G>A, within its 5′ upstream region that are involved in gastric carcinogenesis. However, in what genetic models the two polymorphisms modulate disease risk and how they relate to gastric carcinogenesis needs further study. We fitted the most appropriate genetic models to the PGC polymorphisms and validated their robustness; then with knowledge of the genetic model, we investigated the influence of functional variant alleles or genotypes on gene expression in vitro and in vivo. We confirmed that rs9471643 CG genotype was stably associated with reduced gastric cancer risk in complete overdominant model. This favorable CG genotype was also associated with reduced atrophic gastritis risk in subjects carrying rs6458238 AG/AA genotype. The G>C transition at rs9471643 enhanced promoter activity and transcription factor binding ability, and the CG genotype was consistently associated with elevated levels of PGC mRNA, in situ protein and serum protein in complete overdominant model based‐analyses. Additionally, rs6458238 AG/AA genotype was associated with reduced atrophic gastritis risk in dominant model. Its favorable A allele was related to higher promoter activity and lower transcription factor binding ability, and the AG/AA genotype showed association with elevated levels of serum PGC protein in dominant model based‐analyses. Our results suggest that rs9471643 CG and rs6458238 AG/AA genotypes have important roles in up‐regulating PGC expression, which may partially explain why individuals with these favorable genotypes have decreased risks of getting gastric cancer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Today?s power systems are based on a centralised system and distribution networks that are considered as passive terminations of transmission networks. The high penetration of Distributed Generation (DG) at the distribution network level has created many challenges for this structure. New tools and simulation approaches are required to address the subject and to quantify the dynamic characteristics of the system. A distribution network or part of it with DG, Active Distribution Network Cell (ADNC), can no longer be considered as passive. An equivalent dynamic model of ADNC is therefore extremely important, as it enables power system operators to quickly estimate the impact of disturbances on the power system?s dynamic behaviour. A dynamic equivalent model works by reducing both the complexity of the distribution network and the computation time required to run a full dynamic simulation. It offers a simple and low-order representation of the system without compromising distribution network dynamic characteristics and behaviour as seen by the external grid. This research aims to develop a dynamic equivalent model for ADNC. It focuses on the development of an equivalent model by exploiting system identification theory, i.e. the grey-box approach. The first part of the thesis gives a comprehensive overview and background of the dynamic equivalent techniques for power systems. The research was inspired by previous work on system identification theory. It further demonstrates the theoretical concept of system identification, system load modelling and the modelling of major types of DG. An equivalent model is developed, guided by the assumed structure of the system. The problem of equivalent model development is then formulated under a system identification framework, and the parameter estimation methodology is proposed. The validation results of the effectiveness and accuracy of the developed model are presented. This includes the estimation of the parameter model using a clustering algorithm to improve the computational performance and the analysis of transformer impedance effects on the ADNC responses. The evaluation of probability density function, eigenvalue analysis and parameter sensitivity analysis for the model parameters are also presented. Typical model parameters for different network topologies and configurations are identified. Finally, the developed equivalent model is used for a large power system application. The accuracy and robustness of the developed equivalent model are demonstrated under small and large disturbance studies for various types of fault and different fault locations.


Alt-Ergo is an SMT solver jointly developed by Universite Paris-Sud and the OCamlPro company. The first version was released in 2006. Since then, its architecture has been continuously adapted for proving formulas generated by software development frameworks. As type systems with polymorphism arise naturally is such platforms, the design of Alt-Ergo has been guided (and constrained) by a native-and non SMT-LIB compliant-input language for a polymorphic first-order logic. In this paper, we present the last version of Alt-Ergo, its architecture and main features. The main recent work is a support for a conservative polymorphic extension of the SMT-LIB 2 standard. We measure Alt-Ergo's performances with this new frontend on a set of benchmarks coming from the deductive program verification systems Frama-C, SPARK 2014, Why3 and Atelier-B, as well as from the SMT-LIB benchmarks library.


We present the state-of-art activity of n_TOF Collaboration Working Group dedicated to study how to solve the puzzle about the existence of the so called new particle X17, spotted for the first time few years ago by a team at ATOMKI in Hungary and since then never confirmed by other independent experimental collaborations but also never refuted. An "ad hoc" detection set-up is under realization for this goal, in order to reach an angular resolution of the two emerging trajectories from the X17 decay and an energy resolution for the invariant mass reconstruction enough to cast light in a definitive way about this puzzle. To design the present detection setup we work in close contact with the Pisa Nuclear Theory team, that has deeply studied the implication of X17 existence and extracted by the ATOMKI results its eventual nature, kinematics and general properties.


Objective: The project was aimed at synthesizing and characterizing amino acid conjugate of Nalidixic acid (NA) that is expected to enhance solubility without affecting permeability and is capable of delivering NA to colon without significant reversion of prodrug in gastrointestinal conditions. Methods: Thus, nalidixic acid-L-tryptophan conjugate (NA-TRYPh) was prepared by conventional coupling method and the prodrug was characterized by FTIR, HPLC, NMR, FAB mass and elemental analysis. The conjugate was then subjected to selected pharmaceutical preformulation studies like aqueous solubility analysis and pH partition studies. Results: These studies established 1.24 folds higher solubility of the NA-TRYPh over NA in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 without compromising its partitioning ability. The in vitro stability studies suggested its potential of safe transit to colon where the moiety is capable of reverting to 90.52% NA after 48 hrs of the experiment. In vivo evaluation of NA-TRYPh in an experimentally induced colitis established its efficacy an anti-inflammatory prodrug moiety that was supported by histological studies. In addition to its ability to control colonic ulcers NA-TRYPh demonstrated insignificant (P >0.05) gastric ulcerogenic potential. Colonic MPO activity for NA-TRYPh in mU/100 mg tissue was found to be 44.97 which were much less than plain NA (75.5). Conclusion: Conclusively, the conjugate when suitably formulated can be considered as therapeutically efficacious drug delivery system with fewer pharmaceutical limitations


The author discusses the suitability of various glass types for different applications, and in particular for absolute capacitive pressure sensors. Some process induced effects which can affect the yield and performance of such devices are investigated and solutions suggested for improving these properties. Effects considered include electrolysis and process induced compositional changes. These can manifest themselves as bowed or warped assemblies, degraded bonds and metallized layers, and poor sensitivity and temperature stability of the resulting devices. Some solutions to these problems are discussed.


Nonlinear magnetic forces are always used to enlarge resonant bandwidth of vibration energy harvesting systems with piezoelectric cantilever beams. However, how to determine properly the distance between two magnets is one of the key engineering problems. In this paper, the Melnikov theory is introduced to overcome it. Firstly, the Melnikov state-space model of the nonlinear piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting (PVEH) system is built. Based on it, chaotic dynamics mechanisms of achieving broadband PVEH by nonlinearity are exposed by potential function of the unperturbed nonlinear PVEH system. Then the corresponding Melnikov function of the nonlinear PVEH system is defined, based on which two Melnikov necessary conditions of determining the distance are obtained. Finally, numerical simulations are done to testify the theoretic results. The results demonstrate that the distance is closely related to the excitation amplitude and frequency once geometric and material parameters are fixed. Under a single-frequency excitation, the nonlinear PVEH system can generate a periodic vibration around a stable point, a large-amplitude vibration around two stable points, or a chaotic vibration. The proposed method is very valuable for optimally designing and utilizing nonlinear broadband PVEH devices in engineering applications.


On the basis of continuous tests and batch tests, conversion regular patterns of acetate, propionate and butyrate in activated sludge at different heights of the UASB reactor were conducted. Results indicated that the conversion capacity of the microbial is decided by the substrate characteristic when sole VFA is used as the only substrate. But when mixed substrates are used,the conversion regulations would have changed accordingly. Relationships of different substrates vary according to their locations. In the whole reactor, propionate's conversion is restrained by acetate and butyrate of high concentration. On the top and at the bottom of the reactor, conversion of acetate, but butyrate, is restrained by propionate. And in the midst, acetate's conversion is accelerated by propionate while that of butyrate is restrained. It is proved, based on the analysis of specific conversion rate, that the space distribution of the microbe is the main factor that affects substrates' conversion. The ethanol-type fermentation of the acidogenic-phase is the optimal acid-type fermentation for the two-phase anaerobic process.


The energy sector is a vital part of country´s economy. Continuous increase in energy consumption, the limited resources in the sector, price volatility and the necessity of environment protection determined people to look for alternative sources of energy. An important fraction of the energy is consumed in the transport sector, thus it is not surprising that important investments and researches have been focused on finding substitute fuels in order to diminish the dependency of fossil fuels and reduce the quantity of CO2. The aim of this thesis is to analyze how the consumer behavior regarding the biogas cars per capita, being determined by income per capita, the share of educated population, the existence of plant production at local level, the density of gas stations and the population, differs across Sweden's municipalities.


Background : Cereal complementary foods are characterized by low nutrient density and high bulk, contributing to high prevalence of under-nutrition among children. Fermentation has been demonstrated to improve nutrient density. Separately fermented products utilize cereals in combination with legumes to improve quality. Separate fermentation prior to formulation is both time and cost constraining. Objective : The objective of this study was to assess the effects of co-fermentation on functional and pasting properties of maize-soybean complementary flours. Methods : Optimum fermentation period (48 h) and blend (70:30 maize : soybean) were selected through preliminary sensory evaluation. Separately-fermented and co-fermented blends along with a non-fermented control were assessed for pasting and functional properties. Results : Co-fermentation led to significantly (p<0.05) higher protein dispersibility index (8.77%), emulsification capacity (6.70ml/g) and reconstitution index (9.40ml/g) compared to separate fermentation (2.52%, 2.77ml/g and 8.17ml/g, respectively). Separate fermentation led to significantly(p < 0.05)reduced peak (59.0cP), trough (54.0cP) and final (124.0cP) viscosities compared to co-fermentation (71.0cP, 64.0cP and 128.0cP respectively). Co-fermentation led to significantly(p < 0.05) reduced gelatinization temperature (82 o C) and swelling capacity (2.9g/g) compared to separate fermentation (86.0 o C and 3.7g/g, respectively). Fermented maize flour had 797.5cP final viscosity compared to non-fermented maize flour (1059.5cP), indicating that more flour would be needed to reach desired consistency, thereby achieving higher nutrient density. Conclusion : Co-fermentation of maize and soybean can be employed as a time-saving processing method for cereal-legume complementary flours, as most quality attributes were not adversely affected. Keywords : Co-fermentation, nutrient density, cereal-legume blends, viscosity


The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of food additives as aspartame (ASP) and monosodium glutamate (MSG) either individually or in combination on body indices and antioxidant parameters, of adult male albino rats. Only ASP treated group showed significant increase in body weight gain and kidney index compared to control. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in the liver were significantly increased in rats of the most treated groups of the tested food additives. Malonaldehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) contents in the liver showed significant reduction in MSG, ASP+MSG and ASP treated groups compared to the control, respectively. The lone administration of ASP and MSG induced marked decrease in the kidney MDA content, compared to the control group. The kidney GSH content was significantly decreased only in ASP+MSG treated group compared to control. The kidney CAT activity was significantly increased in case of rats given mixture of ASP and MSG, while it was not affected in the rest of groups. Positive significant correlation coefficient (r=0.908) between kidney CAT and MDA was observed only for ASP treated group. Brain SOD, CAT and MDA and kidney SOD levels were not varied statistically from the control due to food additives consumption. On contrary, the brain SOD activity was significantly inhibited from the control after treatment with MSG. Therefore, the consumption of the tested food additives induced harmful changes in the antioxidant status of the rat. So, its consumption should be restricted.


The present situation of paperless examination system is introduced, this paper aims at the character of poor commonality for most of paperless examination system, a paperless examination system based on WEB has been designed, the management mode and examination mode of this system will be separated by the network frame of B/S. The design of database system uses the universal management mode of the database of curriculum and the database of examination information to realize its commonality. The adaptive learning technology of difficulty coefficient of examination questions is presented in order to making the system have high efficiency of assembling test paper in this paper. What's more, different display orders of examination questions for those neighboring students through a new algorithm already are realized, this measure can prevent examination cheats effectively, and fairness of each examination can be guaranteed. At the same time, this system have also resolved these problems such as that replacing machine and the second login because of other reasons and so on, these will ensure the security of examination. The technologies of automatic paper rating technology and automatic outputting report of examination results to Excel sheet etc. are used in order to realize functional requirements of the examination system such as automation, security and high efficiency of this system.


Catalytic asymmetric allylation of ketones under proton-transfer conditions is a challenging issue due to the limited pronucleophiles and the electrophilic inertness of ketones. Herein, a copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric allylation of ketones with 2-aza-1,4-dienes (N-allyl-1,1-diphenylmethanimines) is disclosed, which affords a series of functionalized homoallyl tertiary alcohols in high to excellent enantioselectivity. Interestingly, N-allyl-1,1-diphenylmethanimines work as synthetic equivalents of propanals. Upon the acidic workup, a formal asymmetric β-addition of propanals to ketones is achieved. An investigation on KIE effect indicates that the deprotonation of N-allyl-1,1-diphenylmethanimines is the rate-determining step, which generates nucleophilic allyl copper(I) species. Finally, the synthetic utility of the present method is demonstrated by the asymmetric syntheses of (R)-boivinianin A and (R)-gossonorol.


The fluctuating nature of output from wind farms in relation to wind speed conditions at each wind turbine causes a severe burden on conventional generators, and such wind power variations have a considerable impact on grid frequency and voltage stability. In addition, such fluctuations in output create economic problems, as most of system operators apply financial penalties on wind farms owners when generation levels deviate from forecasted schedules by certain ratios. This thesis focuses on the negative impacts of moderate and high levels of wind power contribution to grid generation capacities on the frequency response. Particularly, integrated wind farms replace certain ratios from conventional generation capacity. Retired conventional capacity is decided according to estimated annual energy production of installed wind farms.


In this paper, the aim was to determine the nonlinear dynamic response of historical masonry armory buildings using a validated finite element model. Eight ambient vibration tests were conducted on the building, using three different measurement test setups to extract the dynamic characteristics using the Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition method. A finite element model was constructed in ANSYS and the dynamic characteristics were obtained numerically. It can be seen that there is a good correlation between the mode shapes, but there are differences in natural frequencies with maximum values of 10.1%, 7.4% and 13.4% for first the three modes. To determine the nonlinear dynamic response, the validated finite element model was analyzed using the Kocaeli earthquake motion. The Drucker–Prager criterion and Willam–Warnke surface were considered for the nonlinear material models. At the end of the analyses, maximum displacements, principal stresses and strains are given in detail using contour diagrams. It is evident that the displacements show an increasing trend from the base to the top point of the building. Stresses occurred on the corners, openings and transition segments. In addition, crack distribution diagrams were drawn up to illustrate the stress accumulation points.


How wealth is created is the subject matter of Economics. On the other hand, values, morals and ethics are often relegated to the domain of religion. The question this paper addresses is whether religion and its teachings on ethics and morality can influence the economic mechanisms through which needs are satisfied? Can the current single-minded pursuit of economic growth and materialism be reformed to serve social and environmental needs? To address these issues, this paper contrasts the current development paradigm with alternative paradigms. Many alternate development models are now beginning to recognize the importance of morality and the inner virtues of mankind. Among these alternative paradigms, the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) promulgated by the King Bhumibol of Thailand based on Buddhist principle of Middle Path bears special promise. It conceives a development process that can satisfy the overall needs of this as well as future generations contributing to prosperity, stability and overall happiness.


This thesis concerns the development of three works (Herrmann, Honest Methods and MCCCPG), and their presentation. The analysis begins by examining Robert Morris's reading of Minimalist sculpture. Here, it is found that a phenomenological focus on parts can lead to consideration of not only the whole of an object, but also its environmental conditions. Building on work undertaken prior to Wesleyan, Pierre Schaeffer's sound object is investigated as a potential analogue in music-related discourse. Schaeffer's original theory, as critiqued by Brian Kane, exposes material and historical issues that have particular resonance for a temporal art-form reliant on mediation. In Susan Sontag's argument against interpretive practices in the visual arts, a similar concern with parts and whole is identified. Emerging from her emphasis on formalism over understandings of content, juxtaposition is viewed as a creative technique that has the potential to reveal interpenetrations between different musics, and how these performed. The thesis ends by examining the function of juxtaposition as form of interpretation in the compositions. Ultimately, the works are seen to echo Morris in foregrounding a variety of environmental concerns through a focus on phenomenologically-heard sound. Jonathan Sterne's understanding of sonically-defined public and private space demonstrates the relevance of such an approach given the continued influence of repeating and transmission technologies on how we compose, perform and listen.


This paper assesses an upper bound for the tidal stream power resource of the Pentland Firth. A depth-averaged numerical model of the tidal dynamics in the region is set-up and validated against field measurements. Actuator disc theory is used to model the effect of turbines on the flow, and to estimate the power available for generation after accounting for losses owing to mixing downstream of the turbines. It is found that three rows of turbines extending across the entire width of the Pentland Firth and blocking a large fraction of the channel can theoretically generate 1.9 GW, averaged over the spring–neap cycle. However, generation of significantly more power than this is unlikely to be feasible as the available power per additional swept area of turbine is too small to be viable. Our results differ from those obtained using simplified tidal channel models of the type used commonly in the literature. We also use our numerical model to investigate the available power from rows of turbines placed across various subchannels within the Pentland Firth, together with practical considerations such as the variation in power over the spring–neap tidal cycle and the changes to natural tidal flows which result from power extraction.


In his new book, 'Privacy At Risk,' Professor Christopher Slobogin offers a new approach to the Fourth Amendment designed to impose more restrictions on government surveillance practices. He contends that the Fourth Amendment should be organized around a proportionality principle: Every investigative technique should require some cause, and public opinion as to the intrusiveness of the technique should determine how much cause is required. Professor Slobogin applies this principle to transactional surveillance and closed circuit television and generates a complex set of proposed Fourth Amendment rules to govern their use by government actors. In this book review, Professor Orin Kerr argues that even a Supreme Court sympathetic to Slobogin's policy preferences should be wary of his proposal. Slobogin's method suffers from two major flaws. First, the proportionality principle does not accurately weigh the interests it claims to weigh. Public perceptions of intrusiveness do not measure privacy interests, and the government's level of proof does not measure government interests. Further, the method stacks the deck in favor of limiting government action by ignoring the context in which techniques are used. Second, a future Supreme Court could reach Slobogin's results in much simpler ways. Slobogin's approach is surprisingly complicated, as it requires courts to master the intricacies of public opinion surveys to determine public perceptions of intrusiveness. Easier paths exist if a future Supreme Court majority wishes to regulate transactional and public surveillance under the Fourth Amendment.


Primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type (PCDLBCL-LT) represents approximately 20% of cutaneous B lymphomas with an intermediate prognosis. Spontaneous regression is uncommon; there are only 2 published cases. An 83-year-old woman presented 2 orange erythematous nodules on the back of her right leg with an elastic consistency, infiltrated, painful to the touch, and of an 8-month evolution. A histological examination revealed a dense cellular dermo-hypodermic infiltrate sparing the papillary dermis, composed of large cells with immunoblast and centroblast morphology and frequent mitosis. Immunohistochemical studies showed positivity for CD20, CD79, Bcl2, Bcl6, MUM1, Fox-P1, and IgM with Ki67 >95%. Rearrangement of heavy IgH chains was monoclonal. The extension study was negative, establishing a diagnosis of PCDLBCL-LT, T2aN0M0. Three months after biopsy, the patient's lesions regressed spontaneously. New biopsies were taken that revealed a mild diffused dermo-hypodermic cellular infiltrate compounded by small-sized T lymphocytes, with predominance of CD8. Despite its self-limited character, treatment with radiotherapy was done, remaining asymptomatic after 1 year follow-up. There are 2 published cases of PCDLBCL-LT with spontaneous regression. The cause of this unusual autoinvolutional phenomenon is unknown; it may be an immune response against tumor cells through a traumatic or infectious mechanism.


Background and Aims Excessive intake of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are formed in foods cooked at high temperatures for long periods of time, has negative health effects, such as inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. Nε-(Carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) is one of the major dietary AGEs. Given their generally recognized as safe status and probiotic functionalities, lactic acid bacteria may be ideal supplements for blocking intestinal absorption of food toxicants. However, the protective effects of lactic acid bacteria against dietary AGEs have not been fully elucidated. Materials and Methods We investigated the effect of treatment with Lactococcus lactis KF140 (LL-KF140), which was isolated from kimchi, on the levels and toxicokinetics of CML. The CML reduction efficacies of the Lactococcus lactis KF140 (LL-KF140), which was isolated from kimchi, were conducted by in vitro test for reducing CML concentration of the casein-lactose reaction product (CLRP) and in vivo test for reducing serum CML level of LL-KF140 administered rats at 2.0 × 108 CFU/kg for14 days. In addition, 12 volunteers consuming LL-KF140 at 2.0 × 109 CFU/1.5 g for 26 days were determined blood CML concentration and compared with that before intake a Parmesan cheese. Results Administration of LL-KF140 reduced serum CML levels and hepatic CML absorption in rats that were fed a CML-enriched product. In a human trial, the intake of LL-KF140 prevented increases in the serum levels of CML and alanine aminotransferase after consumption of a CML-rich cheese. LL-KF140 was determined to presence in feces through metagenome analysis. Furthermore, β-galactosidase, one of the L. lactis-produced enzymes, inhibited the absorption of CML and reduced the levels of this AGE, which suggests an indirect inhibitory effect of LL-KF140. This study is the first to demonstrate that an L. lactis strain and its related enzyme contribute to the reduction of dietary absorption of CML.


Three cases of prostatic abscess diagnosed in our service in the past year are reported. The current treatment of this disease entity and the changes observed relative to the pathogenic flora of prostatic abscess in certain groups at risk today are discussed. All three cases underwent percutaneous transperineal debridement of the purulent collection. An 8 Fr silicone catheter was left indwelling in the residual cavity of the abscess to permit lavage with povidone-iodine solution during the first 3 or 4 days post-operatively. At one week, the abscess had completely resolved in all of the cases as evidenced by the ultrasound control. E. coli was isolated in two patients with diabetes and Staph. aureus was isolated in an HIV-positive intravenous drug addict who also had renal abscess from Candida albicans.


The belt boundary thrust within the Cretaceous–Neogene accretionary complex of the Shimanto Belt, southwestern Japan, extends for more than ~ 1 000 km along the Japanese islands. A common understanding of the origin of the thrust is that it is an out of sequence thrust as a result of continuous accretion since the late Cretaceous and there is a kinematic reason for its maintaining a critically tapered wedge. The timing of the accretion gap and thrusting, however, coincides with the collision of the Paleocene–early Eocene Izanagi–Pacific spreading ridges with the trench along the western Pacific margin, which has been recently re‐hypothesized as younger than the previous assumption with respect to the Kula‐Pacific ridge subduction during the late Cretaceous. The ridge subduction hypothesis provides a consistent explanation for the cessation of magmatic activity along the continental margin and the presence of an unconformity in the forearc basin. This is not only the case in southwestern Japan, but also along the more northern Asian margin in Hokkaido, Sakhalin, and Sikhote‐Alin. This Paleocene–early Eocene ridge subduction hypothesis is also consistent with recently acquired tomographic images beneath the Asian continent. The timing of the Izanagi–Pacific ridge subduction along the western Pacific margin allows for a revision of the classic hypothesis of a great reorganization of the Pacific Plate motion between ~ 47 Ma and 42 Ma, illustrated by the bend in the Hawaii–Emperor chain, because of the change in subduction torque balance and the Oligocene–Miocene back arc spreading after the ridge subduction in the western Pacific margin.


INTRODUCTION Kauri forests once covered much of the early land mass of New Zealand. Now only a remnant of the great forests remain-a mere 5% of the pre-European kauri forest has been spared from the axe and burning (Ahmed and Ogden, 1987). Kauri is a large, long-lived tree which normally grows for more than 600 years with individuals exceeding 2 m d.b.h. (diameter at breast height) and often 1000 years of age (Ahmed and Ogden, 1987). Sale (1978) in his book, which reviews the history ofthe kauri in New Zealand, states that forest authorities consider this to be the tree capable ofyielding the greatest volume of millable timber in the world. Sale goes on to explain the significance of this tree in the early maori history and European colonisation, including its uses and the wastage that has occurred. Fires were particularly common in logged kauri forests, many being deliberately lit by gum diggers (Ecroyd, 1982). Fortunately some great kauri giants have remained and are protected in reserves and parks. Many are seen as historic and notable trees and have been individually named (Sale, 1978; Burstall and Sale, 1984; Salmon, 1990). The kauri is therefore seen as having great historic and amenity value in New Zealand. Recently there has been a new interest in it as a forestry tree. Early papers have recorded how the kauri is readily produced from seed (Morrison, 1955; Dakin and McClure, 1975; Barton, 1978) and also by vegetative propagation (Dakin and Mearns, 1975). Recent work by Graeme Platt and Jenny Aitken-Christie (Anon, 1993), funded jointly by the Forest Research Institute and Tasman Forestry, has involved the collection of seed and propagating material from outstanding forest trees. Selected clones have been raised using tissue culture, grafting, and cuttings. Plants grown from seed are reported to be very variable. The kauri is, therefore, seen as having potential in plantation forestry. It is a tree of great beauty and historically its uses have spanned from sailing ship masts to paving slabs, and more recently to furniture where the durable, short-grained, handsome, easily worked and lengthened nature of the kauri wood is used to an advantage (Sale, 1978).


In most cases, energy use in the production of a given desirable output results in the generation of undesirable output also as a by-product. Thus, the aim of this paper is to estimate energy use efficiency in Indian cement industry considering energy related undesirable emission. Depending on the presence and absence of undesirable output and environmental regulation, three measures of efficiency have been estimated at the state level from 2000-01 to 2004-05 by applying Data Envelopment Analysis. The first measure of energy efficiency considers both desirable and undesirable output simultaneously and assumes weak disposability of undesirable output, i.e. presence of environmental regulation aimed at reducing pollution levels, while the second measure considers only desirable output. The third measure also considers both desirable and undesirable output but it assumes strong disposability of undesirable output, i.e. absence of environmental regulation. Energy efficiency is defined as the ability of the producer to reduce the energy input to the largest extent possible, conditional on the given level of output, non-energy inputs and undesirable output. A comparison of energy efficiency estimates from the first two measures reveals that energy efficiency estimates are biased if only desirable output is considered. Results from the third measure demonstrate that environmental regulation has a reinforcing effect on energy use efficiency.


ABSTRACT Research at the interface between terrestrial, riverine, estuarine and marine environments is frequently constrained by significant disciplinary and geographical boundaries. This article outlines an international initiative, DANUBIUS-RI, which aims to address these problems by facilitating biogeochemical monitoring and interdisciplinary research on river–sea systems. The scope of the project spans the environmental, social and economic sciences and was accepted into the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures roadmap in 2016. When operational, DANUBIUS-RI will offer researchers access to interdisciplinary expertise, facilities and European river–sea systems, providing a comprehensive platform for multidisciplinary research and training.


Background: Poor hygiene behaviours create a serious public health threat to school children. One of the major problems faced by school children are infections. The primary causes of infections are associated with poor water supply, poor sanitation and poor hygiene behaviors which can lead to decreased academic performance and increased likelihood of dropout; this, in turn, prevents children from attaining the numerous economic and health benefits associated with educational attainment. Thus, the study aims to assess hygiene behaviors and influencing factors among primary school children in Delanta District, North East Ethiopia, 2020.Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 primary school students of Delanta District, from February 1to29, 2020. The participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected using pre-tested interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics using frequency, proportion, summary measures were done. Binary and multivariate logistic regressions were also done to identify independent variables associated with hygiene behaviors among primary school children. P value less than 0.05 and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval non-inclusive of one was considered as statistically significant. Results: A total of 407 respondents were included with a response rate of 100%. The prevalence of positive hygiene behavior was 59.7 %( 95% CI 54.6%, 64.1%). Out of the total respondents 205 (50.4%) had knowledge on water handling practices whereas 236 (58%) of the respondents had knowledge on latrine utilization but 258 (63.4%) of respondents did not know the proper hand washing practices. In the multivariable logistic regressions analysis, taking training on hygiene and sanitation (AOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.3, 3.6), having awareness on hand washing practices (AOR: 1.92, 95% CI (5.5, 15.7) and having knowledgeable on latrine utilization (AOR: 1.96, 95% CI 1.02, 2.67) demonstrated a statistically significant association with the hygiene behavior. Conclusion: The overall findings revealed that the students had adequate knowledge on water handling and latrine utilization but poor knowledge on hand washing practices and a greater number of school children did not aware on water handling and hand washing practices. Therefore, focused strategies should be designed on promoting knowledge of school children on toilet use and hand washing practices.


In California, acceptance sampling is used to monitor the quality of processing tomatoes delivered by growers to processors. A proposal to change the current quality assurance policy was recently put forth to reduce the growersÂ'' incentive to use pesticides. In this article we examine the effect of alternative quality assurance policies on profit-maximizing growerÂ's' demand for pesticides. The results indicate that the demand for pesticides is sensitive to changes in the quality assurance policy and that the proposed policy would reduce the optimal level of pesticide use on processing tomatoes. Disregarding the impacts of quality assurance policy may be the reason that the demand for pesticides has been underestimated so often in the past.


For the first time since the introduction of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canada is an armed conflict with an insurgency that has actively recruited Canadians and directed them to use or promote violence against Canada. In the result, the Canadian government may ask its soldiers to target and kill fellow Canadians, or to assist allies in doing so. This situation raises a host of novel legal issues, including the question of "targeted killing" confronted by the United Kingdom in 2015 when it directed military force against several Britons believed to plotting a terrorist attack. That incident sparked a report from the British Parliament highlighting legal dilemmas. This article does the same for Canada by focusing on the legal implications surrounding a targeted killing by the Canadian government of a Canadian citizen. It examines how a Canadian policy of targeted killing would oblige Canada to make choices on many weighty legal matters. First, it discusses the Canadian public law rules that apply when the Canadian Armed Forces deploy in armed conflicts overseas. It then analyzes the international laws governing military force, scrutinized from the perspective of use of force (jus ad bellum) and the law of armed conflict (jus in bello). It also examines an alternative body of international law: that governing peacetime uses of lethal force. The article concludes by weaving together these areas of law into a single set of legal questions that would necessarily need to be addressed prior to a targeted killing of a Canadian.


In the mid-1950s, with planning and funding from the United States, Mexico embarked on an ambitious campaign to eradicate malaria, which was widespread and persistent. This new history explores the politics of that campaign. Marcos Cueto describes the international basis of the program, its national organization in Mexico, its local implementation by health practitioners and workers, and its reception among the population. Drawing on archives in the United States, Mexico, and Switzerland, he highlights the militant Cold War rhetoric of the founders and analyzes the mixed motives of participants at all levels. Following the story through the dwindling campaign in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Cueto raises questions relevant to today's international health campaigns against malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis.


Abstract This paper reports the results of a study of student perceptions of learning via audioconferencing in university‐level courses delivered at a distance. Field observations, interviews, and a focus group were used to triangulate and deepen knowledge obtained from an initial mail survey. The results of the investigation revealed that the audioteleconferences were being used under two quite different instructional designs, which were associated with significant differences in students' perceptions of the opportunity to engage in critical thinking skills, creation of a community of inquiry, and the value of various components of the distance education system. The study documents students' perceptions and outlines ways in which these sessions can be designed to induce maximum learning opportunities.


Author(s): Rovzar, Corey Marie | Advisor(s): Gillespie, Thomas W | Abstract: Tropical dry forests in Hawaii are among the most endangered forest types in the world with half of all plant species listed as federally threatened or endangered. Although there have been some efforts to protect remaining dry forest fragments, conservation of this ecosystem has proven difficult due to a poor understanding of the current distribution of native species, environmental factors influencing their distributions, potential sites for species reintroductions, and of how the dry forest has changed over the past 30 years. This dissertation addresses the question: How can field-based methods, habitat suitability modeling (HSM), geographic information systems (GIS), and remote sensing improve conservation and restoration efforts in Hawaii's dry forest? To answer this question, habitat suitability modeling is used to assess factors influencing species distributions and identify potential sites for endangered species restoration. Secondly, a field-based case study is conducted to evaluate the environmental variables affecting restoration success of an endangered plant. Finally, GIS and remote sensing are used to assess changes in dry forest dynamics over the past decade across the Hawaiian Islands. Results from habitat suitability modeling suggest that topography and soil variables may be a key driver in the distribution of endangered dry forest species and that current protected areas may not capture the best habitat for reintroductions. Furthermore, results from the restoration study suggest that sites with low soil moisture and high exposure to sunlight may be the most suitable reintroduction sites for endangered dry forest species like, Hibiscus brackenridgei. The methodology and findings from this dissertation will provide a framework for conservation management of endangered dry forest fragments in Hawaii as well as other oceanic islands


British Columbia is characterized by a relatively hierarchical urban system. This study aims to identify areas of potential for the development of Polycentric Urban Regions (PURs) to provide a counterweight to the dominant urban core and to develop higher functions in peripheral areas to increase their long-term viability. Three methods are employed to assess the spatial-functional and political-institutional dimensions of organizing capacity for the development of PURs: spatial analysis to determine proximity between population centres by driving time and distance; Pareto analysis to measure the existing degree of polycentricity in regional districts; and a survey of regional planners to assess their knowledge, current planning activities and attitudes towards polycentricity. Eleven areas with potential for PUR development were identified, which each have unique spatial and political challenges and opportunities. In general, many areas have good spatial conditions, but differences in the role of the regional district as a planning coordinator will make a common approach to PUR development challenging. In future studies of these regions, it is recommended to focus on the outcomes of PUR development and the benefits that could be realized in each region according to more specific local conditions.


Indonesian agricultural sector gives response to the change in the international and domestic trade environments. On international side, trade liberalization under WTO and AFTA arrangements have been prominent issue influencing the sector. The ultimate goals of the implementation of the trade liberalization are increasing quantity of the world trade, making the economy more efficient, and improving the welfare distribution among countries.


Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) witnesses increasing popularity in the built environment. LCA stimulates among others an efficient use of natural resources and a reduction of carbon emissions through quantification of material and energy inputs and emissions in the building life cycle. Thereby, LCA aspires to contribute to SDG12 on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. Despite high ambitions, the actual influence of LCA in construction projects is often modest. The mere application of LCA methodology in a building project is insufficient to produce a more environmentally friendly building. To better understand the practical conditions under which an LCA may induce change in a building project, we propose to analyse the use of LCA from a processual perspective. This paper presents a case study of a building product development project in which a processual perspective is applied on LCA. Using a longitudinal ethnographic methodology, key actors are followed through environmentally relevant episodes as the building project matures. A progressive LCA quantifies the potential environmental impact of the project as it progresses through different stages of the building process. Based on the learnings from this study, recommendations are presented to support the effective use of LCA in sustainable building practices, and contribute to SDG12 on sustainable consumption and production patterns.


Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia develops when patients given heparin as treatment for thrombosis have an immunologic reaction to the agent. Patients may have an underlying thrombotic disorder--for example, venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism--that requires intervention. Alternative antithrombotic therapies that have been tried include defibrinogenating agents, LMWH and heparinoids, thrombin-specific inhibitors, antiplatelet agents, oral anticoagulants, and vena cava interruption.


The immediate effects of COVID-19 on the global flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) were devastating, resulting in a large drop. Flows to the Visegrad countries were also affected but less than the world average. The fall in FDI was the result of underlying trends that started before the pandemic but accentuated by the latter, creating a "perfect storm". These secular trends include the digitalisation of production and the birth of Industry 4.0, resulting in more asset-light international production and reorganisations of company networks, the sustainability imperative, making the impact of FDI more relevant than its quantity, and a slowdown in the liberalisation of the policy framework for FDI both in individual countries and at the multilateral level. The recovery of FDI from the shock of 2020 is expected to be long and it will be impossible to return to the pre-pandemic structural and geographical patterns. Building resilience and diversification of production at the expense of the search for the lowest-cost locations will be the top priorities of investors, forcing the host countries to revise their investment promotion strategies focused on cost reduction. In the Visegrad countries, the model based on low labour costs will sooner or later reach its limits.


Background and the purpose of the study: The rhizomes of Drynaria quercifolia have antibacterial properties and are used traditionally for the treatment of cough, tuberculosis and typhoid fever. In the present study an attempt was made to isolate microbiologically active constituents from the rhizome of D. quercifolia and to determine their antibacterial and toxicological effects. Methods: Bioassay-guided investigations was employed for isolation of the active constitute of the rhizome of Drynaria quercifolia J. Smith. Disc diffusion technique and serial tube dilution technique were used to determine in vitro antibacterial activity and MIC, respectively. Sub-acute toxicities (body weight, hematological, biochemical and histopathological) were studied in albino mice upon 14 days treatment. Result and major conclusion: Bioassay-guided investigations led to isolation of 3,4dihydroxybenzoic acid whose in vitro antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and sub-acute toxicities were studied. The 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid showed significant antibacterial activity against four Gram-positive and six Gram-negative bacteria. The MIC values of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid against these bacteria ranged from 8 to 64 µg/mL. In sub-acute toxicities studies 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid showed no significant effect in comparison to that of control group. In addition, acetyl lupeol was isolated from rhizome of this plant whose in vitro antibacterial activity was insignificant. Isolation of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and acetyl lupeol are the first report from this plant.


***BONUS 1*** Sign up to our free monthly newsletter and receive five top app recommendations for your Kindle Fire each month. ***BONUS 2*** Buy a paperback copy of this book and receive the Kindle version absolutely free via Kindle Matchbook At Last, the Only Manual You Need to Discover and Use Your New 7" Kindle Fire HD Like a Pro This is it! From the Number 1 Best Selling authors in Computers and Technology. This is the Amazon Kindle Fire manual that should have been in the box. Everything you need to know about using your Kindle Fire HD tablet explained simply and clearly. No matter what your skill level, this Amazon e-Book will take you from newbie to expert in just 2 hours. User Guide AND Tips, Tricks and Secrets - It's all here. This comprehensive user guide has it all - from simple step by step instructions for the beginner, to expert tips and tricks for the advanced user. This Kindle Fire Amazon e-Book is for everyone. About the Authors Tom and Jenna Edwards are the Amazon Tech authors behind the Number 1 Bestselling e-book 250+ Best Kindle Fire HD Apps for the New Kindle Fire Owner.


Part-of-speech (POS) information is one of the fundamental components in the natural language processing pipeline, which helps in extracting higher-level information such as named entities, discourse, and syntactic structure of a sentence. For some languages, such as English, Dutch, and Chinese, it is considered as a solved problem due to the higher accuracy (97%) of the predicted system. Significant efforts have been made for such languages in terms of making the data publicly accessible and also organizing evaluation campaigns. Compared to that there are very fewer efforts for Bangla (ethnonym: Bangla; exonym: Bengali). In this paper, we present a knowledge poor approach for POS tagging, which we evaluated using publicly accessible dataset from LDC. The motivation of our approach is that we did not want to rely on any existing resources such as lexicon or named entity recognizer for designing the system as they are not publicly available and difficult to develop. We have not used any handcrafted features, rather we employed distributed representations of word and characters. We designed the system using Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks followed by Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) for designing the model with an inclusion of pre-trained word embedded model. We obtained promising results with an accuracy of 86.0%.


Village doctors in rural China are increasingly faced with fewer resources and limited knowledge when it comes to dealing with a wide array of communicable and chronic medical problems. The Chinese government has implemented wide-ranging policy changes to address problems of health care access and quality of care, namely the New Cooperative Medical Scheme and the National Essential Medicines Scheme that prevents providers from profiting from pharmaceutical sales. This paper explores the impacts of these 2009 policy reforms on rural clinics in two areas. First, through quantitative analysis, the impact of the 2009 reforms on clinic revenue is examined. Clinic revenue is an important indicator of whether village and township clinic doctors may seek other means of increasing income that may create skewed prescribing and treatment practices. Second, this paper provides a qualitative analysis of village and township health center doctors' personal opinions of these health policy reforms.

This project is significant for public health because the role of village doctors in China is to provide the first level of health care for the more than 600 million rural inhabitants that comprise half of China's population. The rural poor are overburdened with both non-communicable and communicable diseases throughout China, a disease pattern that is exacerbated by out-migration to cities of the working-age population, leaving behind the elderly and children in rural areas with little source of income. Furthermore, China's aging population significantly contributes to the rise in non-communicable diseases. The confluence of a complex disease burden, considerable policy shifts, as well as growing patient demands all affect rural village doctors and their ability to provide quality care for their constituents. Ultimately, this research will provide health care workers, government officials, non-governmental organizations, as well as scholars and researchers, a better understanding of the impacts of major policy reforms on both providers and patients.


A point repeatedly stressed by transaction cost economics is that the more specific the asset, the more likely is vertical integration to be optimal. In spite of the profusion of empirical papers supporting this prediction, recent surveys and casual observation suggest that higher levels of asset specificity need not always lead to vertical integration. The purpose of this paper is to uncover some of the factors driving firms to (sometimes) choose to remain separated, rather than integrate, in the presence of high specificity. Its main economic message is that in a world where outside options matter and investments are multidimensional, high levels of asset specificity can foster nonintegration: a low level of specificity provides the most misdirected incentives when transacting in a market (because the outside option of external trade becomes so tempting), thus making a stronger case for nonintegration when specificity is high.