An important mode of empirical security research involves analyzing the behavior, capabilities, and motives of adversaries. By definition, such measurements cannot be conducted in controlled settings and require "engagement" directly with adversaries, their infrastructure or their ecosystem. However, the operational complexities required to successfully carry out such measurements are significant and rarely documented; blacklisting, payment instruments, fraud controls and contact management all represent real challenges in such studies. In this paper, we document our experiences conducting such measurements over five years (covering a range of distinct studies) and distill effective operational practices for others who might conduct similar experiments in the future.


Miracles and other extraordinary events are often conceived as implausible in an age where fact challenges belief. In this article we calculate the power required to part the Red Sea and the force needed to sustain this miracle for the length of time necessary for the Israelites to cross: a feat Moses is believed to have accomplished in the Bible. Our calculated values for the power and force are 5.73 x 10^13 W and 8.63 x 10^12 N respectively.


The first light-driven method for the alpha-trifluoromethoxylation of ketones is reported. Enol carbonates, in particular Boc derivatives, react with N-trifluoromethoxy-4-cyano-pyridinium triflimide (2a) using the photoredox-catalyst 4-CzIPN (5 mol-%) under irradiation at 456 nm affording the corresponding α-trifluoromethoxy ketones in up to 50% isolated yield and virtually complete chemoselectivity. As shown by 35 examples, representing a great variety of substrates, the reaction is general and proceeds rapidly under batch (1h) and flow conditions (2 min). Mechanistic investigations reveal that a radical-chain propagation is operative, as efficiently orchestrated by the activity of the organic photoredox catalyst. Diverse products manipulations, including ketone reduction and reductive amination, demonstrate the synthetic potential of the disclosed method to accessing elusive trifluoromethoxylated potentially bioactive ingredients.


This paper is concerned with the quantitative effect of design parameters on the stamping process of automobile crossbeam. The considered parameters in this paper are the friction coefficient, the die fillet radius and the blank holding force, which greatly affect the metal flow during stamping. Based on the finite element numerical simulation, the stamping shaped process of the automobile crossbeam is numerical simulated with the explicit finite element method with various parameters by dint of Dynaform software. According to the simulation results, the forming limit diagram(FLD) and the wall thickness distribution of cloud on the stamping processes are technologically analyzed, the reasons and control methods of wrinkling are also pointed out, and then the optimal parameter combination of the automobile crossbeam is obtained by orthogonal experiments. It is noted that the parametric study of design parameters such as µ , BHF and RD are very important in the process design of the complicated member.


Endemic mycoses are systemic fungal infections. Histoplasmosis is endemic in all temperate areas of the world; coccidioidomycosis and paracoccidioidomycosis are only present in the American continent. These pathogens are not present in Spain, but in the last years there has been an increase of reported cases due to migration and temporary movements. We obtained from the Spanish hospitals records clinical and demographic data of all hospitalized cases between 1997 and 2014. There were 286 cases of histoplasmosis, 94 of Coccidioidomycosis and 25 of paracoccidioidomycosis. Overall, histoplasmosis was strongly related to HIV infection, as well as with greater morbidity and mortality. For the other mycoses, we did not find any immunosuppressive condition in most of the cases. Although we were not able to obtain data about clinical presentation of all the cases, the most frequently found was pulmonary involvement. We also found a temporal correlation between the Spanish population born in endemic countries and the number of hospitalized cases along this period. This study reflects the importance of imported diseases in non-endemic countries due to migratory movements.


A large number of stroke-surviving individuals exhibit deficits related to upper limb movement, thereby making post stroke rehabilitation a critical part of patients' health care system. The patients are typically treated with conventional occupational therapy at the hospital after stroke. However, due to economic pressures and limited health care resources often the patients receive less therapy than required causing them to be deprived of the potential therapeutic benefits. Thus implementing a cost-effective home based technology-assisted rehabilitation system which is capable of providing intensive, adaptive and individualized rehabilitation service is critical. Virtual reality (VR) based rehabilitation system seems to address this challenge effectively. VR technology for rehabilitation allows us to create an interactive environment with precise control over intensity of practice that influence one's motor control in an individualized manner. In this study we developed an interactive VR-based platform which challenges the coordination skill of individuals with upper limb impairment. Additionally, we used patient's physiological indices to understand their stress level while they interact with the VR-based rehabilitation environment. The system developed in this work is a first step to understand its potential to provide individualized home-based rehabilitative service with minimal dependency on physiotherapist. In our initial study designed as a proof-of-concept application, one stroke-surviving patient participated in the interactive VR-based task. The preliminary results obtained from this initial study indicate the potential of mapping one's stress level to his physiological indices. Thus these results indicate the potential applicability of such a system for various stroke-rehabilitation applications.


The Caerphilly Collaborative Heart Disease Study is based on a large cohort of men (2,398) aged 49-66 years at the time of study. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen, thrombin, and ADP was measured in fasting blood samples and was related to prevalent angina, past myocardial infarction, and electrocardiographic evidence of ischemic heart disease. A number of subjects had taken aspirin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or other drugs affecting platelet aggregation 7 days before blood sample collection; after the exclusion of these subjects, data were available for 1,811 men. No relations were demonstrated with angina, but significant relations were shown between past myocardial infarctions and electrocardiographic evidence of ischemia and ADP-induced aggregation (both primary and secondary) and between electrocardiographic evidence of ischemia and thrombin-induced aggregation. The strongest relation indicated more than a twofold increase in the odds of a past myocardial infarction in subjects of the highest fifth of ADP-induced primary platelet aggregation compared with the lowest fifth. No significant relations were detected with collagen-induced aggregation. Accounting for a number of possible confounding factors had a relatively small impact on the relations between platelet aggregation and ischemic heart disease. Other evidence, including the well-established effect of aspirin on reducing the incidence of ischemic heart disease, indicates that the relations we describe are unlikely to be simply an effect of IHD on platelets.


Existing research suggests that White individuals are more likely to categorise biracial faces as Black in conditions of resource scarcity. It has been theorised that this effect is due to in-group boundaries becoming more exclusive in scarce conditions. An alternative explanation refers to implicit socioeconomic association between Black individuals and lower level of resources. These two approaches entail different predictions for Black participants performing the categorisation task. If scarcity prompts greater in-group exclusivity, Black participants should, ceteris paribus, categorise more biracial faces as White. If, however, scarcity invokes socio-economic status associations, Black participants should categories biracial faces in the same way as White participants. Experiment 1, explored the effects of priming on White and Black groups. It provided support for the implicit socio-economic association theory. Furthermore, experiment 2 on Asian sample, provided additional support as Asian participants showed the same pattern of response. The paper discusses implications of these findings.


In this cross-sectional study, 8,481 women aged 15-49 who had at least one pregnancy outcome were considered. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of Filipino women having had a pregnancy loss, and to test the association between domestic violence and pregnancy loss. To control for the confounding effect of the number of pregnancies, the sample was divided into seven groups classified by the number of pregnancies. The risk factors considered were demographic characters (age and partner's age, marital status, and place of residence), socioeconomic status (education and partner's education, having a paid helper at home, having a say in how income was spent), domestic violence (physical abuse and forced sex), sexual behavior of partner, whether the pregnancy was wanted, and disease history (tuberculosis, diabetes, hypertension, malaria, hepatitis, kidney disease, heart disease, anemia, goiter and other medical problems). The major risk factors were found to be physical abuse, region, faithfulness of partners, hypertension, hepatitis, kidney disease, anemia, and the other medical problems, respectively. The risk of pregnancy loss for the women suffering domestic violence was 1.59 (95% CI 1.28-1.97) times higher than for the women who did not. Women aged 15-19 years had a much higher risk of pregnancy loss than the other age groups (OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.22-1.82). There were similar risk for women aged 20-24 years (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.94-1.25) and 35-39 years (OR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.92-1.19). No association emerged with marital status, socioeconomic status, forced sex, the number of partners, unwanted pregnancy, tuberculosis, diabetes, malaria, heart disease, and goiter. Although women's age, partner's age, residence, women's education, partner's education, and paid helper at home were significantly associated with pregnancy loss, they were likely to be confounders rather than risk factors.


The rate of depression in college students is rising, which is known to increase suicide risk, lower academic performance and double the likelihood of dropping out of school. Existing work on finding relationships between passively sensed behavior and depression, as well as detecting depression, mainly derives relevant unimodal features from a single sensor. However, co-occurrence of values in multiple sensors may provide better features, because such features can describe behavior in context. We present a new method to extract contextually filtered features from passively collected, time-series mobile data via association rule mining. After calculating traditional unimodal features from the data, we extract rules that relate unimodal features to each other using association rule mining. We extract rules from each class separately (e.g., depression vs. non-depression). We introduce a new metric to select a subset of rules that distinguish between the two classes. From these rules, which capture the relationship between multiple unimodal features, we automatically extract contextually filtered features. These features are then fed into a traditional machine learning pipeline to detect the class of interest (in our case, depression), defined by whether a student has a high BDI-II score at the end of the semester. The behavior rules generated by our methods are highly interpretable representations of differences between classes. Our best model uses contextually-filtered features to significantly outperform a standard model that uses only unimodal features, by an average of 9.7% across a variety of metrics. We further verified the generalizability of our approach on a second dataset, and achieved very similar results.


The main purpose of the paper is to represent the revitalization plan for a major part of Moncao. The aim of the plan was to transform the area into a new coherent system, having in mind that Moncao owes much of its income to tourism-related activities. Moncao, founded in the 13th century, is located in the Northwest border of Portugal, close to Spain, across the Minho. The "terroir" of the region made it possible to produce the Alvarinho, a wine exported overseas. The proximity with the border gave Moncao opportunities for trade, but exposed it, in military terms. One of the main urban features is a 17th century fortification that enclosed the town until 1915, when the construction of a railway line dictated the demolition of its southern section. The railway made easier the exportation of wine, and brought new tourists. However, the closing of the line in 1990 left behind a site that is now deprived of urban purpose. The plan had to deal with the area of the abandoned line, the railway station, the broken fortress (a National Heritage), and the interweaving of these with the historical town core and the 1980s quarters. Also, the plan had to improve the area where, every year, the local population stages a fight between St. George and the Dragon, representing the dangers of dwelling here. The paper presents the results of the process, just before the plan is implemented on the site, demonstrating how the constraints of time, money and bureaucracy play a crucial role. It emphasizes the participation of the municipality, the national heritage authority and of the national institute of architects. The paper presents a series of conclusions that may help social scientists, policy makers and other practitioners in the process of planning similar situations.


Each year the American Medical Association (AMA) surveys all programs in graduate medical education (GME) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Because of the importance of GME in the national workforce policy debate, this year's survey report has been expanded to provide more detailed GME data. The authors describe the historical basis of the current GME workforce dilemma and the multiple forces that now tend to neutralize efforts to adapt to a changing marketplace. For example, as resident physicians find it increasingly difficult to locate suitable employment, one would expect a reduction in hospital-based programs and in the number of their resident physician appointments. Yet, while US medical graduates (USMGs) did not pursue certain programs in this year's National Resident Matching Program, AMA data show that during the past 2 years the reduced number of residents in hospital-based programs was almost exactly offset by the increased number in new and expanded programs. Also, more USMGs are leaving residency training to enter practice after 3 years of basic training in primary care (internal medicine, pediatrics, and family practice). At the same time, an increasing number of international medical graduates are remaining in subspecialty programs. Other examples are cited to show the ebb and flow of GME activities that behave like "shifting sands."


In the era of Web 2.0, the user is more and more dominant in deciding which information to consume. Each news is created, multiplied, overlapped, connected to each other and it generates more information by itself. Journalism comes out revisited: it is a revolution without any precedent, whose strength consists of the ability to tell all the events in real time. Here comes the need to update its principles and tools. Even the most classic rule of the 5 W comes out innovated, thanks to a sixth W that imposes itself and seems to overpower the others. We are talking about "While", the symbol of the contemporary age. In the digital scenario, everything is simultaneous: accessing contents, sharing them and subsequent processing by journalists. The contact with the public is radically changed as well as the use of sources and the classical timing of journalism. It seems there is no longer any break between the fact and its narration: everything is continuous and velocity has become the very content of information.


This article is trying to grasp three informants' experiences of recognition in different intersubjective societies at school, and how they affect their lives and their identities at school during adolescence. The intersubjective societies are reduced to two relationships at school that the informants spontaneous talked about themselves; teacher-student relationships (TSR) and friendship and fellow student relationships (FSR). The interviews were conducted using an indirect approach and produced as part of an Erasmus+ project (MaCE). The data were analyzed through a thematic analysis, and were clustered around six themes in TSR (1-4) and FSR (5,6): (1) the ability to mentalize - and to adapt to student individual needs, (2) to create an intersubjective community, (3) maintain academically status, (4) to believe in oneself (5) friendship and status and (6) misrecognition and bullying. The narratives show how recognition matters in these two relationships and can help influence the youth's opportunities to attend, master and complete secondary school. Lack of recognition and bullying can also affect their identity development and even mental health.


An all-atom molecular dynamics simulation shows concentration-dependent like-charge ion pairing of the guanidinium ion in an aqueous solution of guanidinium chloride. We have observed two types of like-charge ion pairing for guanidinium ions, namely, stacked ion pairs and solvent-separated ion pairs. Interestingly, both of these like-charge ion-pair formations are dependent on the concentration of guanidinium chloride in water. The probability of stacked like-charge ion-pair formation decreases, whereas, the probability of solvent-separated like-charge pairing increases as the concentration of guanidinium chloride increases, which is shown from radial distribution functions and is confirmed from the energy calculations. Besides like-charge ion-pair formation, we also investigated guanidinium chloride induced changes in water structure. Hydrogen-bond analysis indicates that guanidinium chloride does not alter the strict-hydrogen-bonding patterns of water, whereas, it breaks the bend-hydrogen bond and the non-hydrogen-bonding patterns. Tetrahedral order, nearest neighbor orientation, and distance distribution of water molecules around a probe water molecule show the extent of water structure distortion.


The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the current state of
technology transfer in Poland by examining various stages of the process and
indicators associated with different actors involved. In order to examine the role of
technology in polish enterprises, it takes into account different forms of intellectual
property, both created and acquired in Poland. Data taken into consideration
include domestic and external sources, focused on the years 2013 - 2017. The main
sources of the statistics are the Polish Patent Office and the Central Statistics
Office.

Phenomena observed in the data are supported and elaborated by domestic research
articles concerned with technology transfer and open innovation. The most striking
feature of such juxtaposition is the fact, that some of the indicators presented in the
article are surprisingly low, considering overall economic situation.

All of the above represents the context of the Open Innovation Network project,
which is also presented in the paper. Interpretation of the presented results is
included in the discussion section. Some of the indicators confirm the status of
polish economy as moderately innovative, however trends in performance of a
small group of technical universities show a promising development in the field of
technology transfer.


The aim of this study was to investigate how group membership in an online game affects online and offline social interaction. Our main questions were: 1. Do people in online groups socialize more online and offline than people not in groups? 2. Do people in online groups have a different attitude towards bad behavior online? We surveyed Asheron's Call users and logged online game observations to compare the subjective reports with objective measures. The results indicate that group members interact with other players online and offline more than non-group members, and that group members have a different attitude towards bad behavior online than non-group members.


A simplified model was developed to represent radionuclide migration from a deep geological nuclear waste repository system to the biosphere. The modelled repository system is based on the concept of multiple nested transport barriers. The model can be used to assess migration and migration properties of single nuclides (no decay chains) through the repository system. Radionuclide transport processes included to the model are diffusion and sorption in the repository near-field and advection, matrix diffusion and sorption in the geosphere. A simplified approach to handle solubility limited release of the nuclide from the waste canister is included into the model. The model treats transport barriers as well-mixed volumes. It is also assumed that radionuclide outflow from a barrier can be calculated by neglecting radionuclide concentration in the target barrier. Radionuclide transport through the simplified system can be calculated by applying formal analogy of the model to the mathematical model of the radioactive decay chain. Simplifying the barriers as well-mixed volumes suggests that they can be characterised by simple performance measures. Radionuclide outflow from the barrier can be represented by an equivalent flow rate, which is an apparent volumetric flow rate that combined with the radionuclide concentration in the barrier gives the outflow rate of the nuclide. Temporal behaviour of the release rate can be described by two time constants: i) compartment half-life of the nuclide concentration calculated by dividing capacity of the barrier (the total pore volume multiplied by the retardation factor) with the equivalent flow rate and ii) delay time for start of the outflow from barrier after beginning of the inflow to barrier. Performance of the simplified approach to produce actual release rates for different nuclides was tested by modelling C-14, I-129 and Pu-239 using data from the RNT-2008 radionuclide migration analysis. Accuracy of the simplified approach is challenged if the nuclide's half-life is not long compared to the time required for the development of perfectly mixed solute concentration field in the barrier. The nuclide and barrier combinations that are prone to this behaviour can be identified by comparing the estimated compartment delay time with the nuclide's radioactive half-life. The simplified model performed well for the C-14 and I-129, as expected based on the measures above. Early transients of the concentration field in the buffer and in the geosphere are important for the transport of Pu-239 in the calculated case. The simplified model gave results for Pu-239 that were roughly of the same order of magnitude than the corresponding numerical results.


: The primary structure of crotamine, a basic toxin isolated from the venom of the South American rattle-snake Crotalus durissus terrificus has been determined. The polypeptide chain is composed of 42 residues of amino acids. Crotamine shows a molecular weight of 4900 and contains 6 half cystine, 9 lysine, 2 arginine, 2 histidine and 2 tryptophan residues.


This paper introduces a structured procedure to optimize the internal structure (relative sizes, spacing) and external shape (aspect ratios) of a single alkaline membrane fuel cell so that net power is maximized. The optimization of flow geometry is conducted for the smallest (elemental) level of a fuel cell stack, i.e., the single alkaline membrane fuel cell, which is modeled as a unidirectional flow system. The polarization curve, total and net power, and efficiency are obtained as functions of temperature, pressure, electrolyte solution concentration (KOH), geometry and operating parameters. The optimization is subjected to fixed total volume. There are two levels of optimization: (i) the internal structure, which basically accounts for the relative thicknesses of two reaction and diffusion layers and the membrane space, and (ii) the external shape, which accounts for the external aspect ratios of a square section plate that contains all single alkaline membrane fuel cell components. The available volume is distributed optimally through the system so that the net power is maximized. Temperature and pressure gradients play important roles, especially as the fuel and oxidant flow paths increase. The optimized internal structure and external shape are a result of an optimal balance between electrical power output and pumping power required to supply fuel and oxidant to the fuel cell through the gas channels. In the process, a third level of optimization was found with respect to the KOH concentration in the electrolyte solution that leads to a 3-way maximized net power output. The numerical results show that the maxima found are sharp, since a variation of up to 600% in net power was observed within the tested range of AMFC external aspect ratios, what emphasizes the importance of finding the optimal AMFC parameters, no matter how complex the actual design might be. It is also shown that the three times maximized net power increases monotonically with total volume raised to the power 0.7 (~3/4), similarly to metabolic rate and mass in animal design. Due to the fact that precision and low computational time are combined, it is expected that the model could be used as an important tool for AMFC design, control and optimization at the fuel cell stack level.


Abstract Background The omental flap has a rich history of use over the last century, and specifically as a free flap in the last four decades. It has a wide variety of applications in reconstructive surgery and has shown itself to be a reliable donor tissue. We seek to review the properties that make the omental free flap a valuable tool in reconstruction, as well as its many surgical applications in all anatomic regions of the body. Methods We conducted a narrative review of the literature on Medline and Google Scholar. We reviewed basic science articles discussing the intrinsic properties of omental tissue, along with clinical papers describing its applications. Results The omental free flap is anatomically suitable for harvest and wound coverage and has molecular properties that promote healing and improve function at recipient sites. It has demonstrated utility in a wide variety of reconstructive procedures spanning the head and neck, extremities, and viscera and for several purposes, including wound coverage, lymphedema treatment, and vascularization. It is also occasionally employed in the thoracic cavity and chest wall, though more often as a pedicled flap. More novel uses include its use for cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Conclusions The omental free flap is a valuable option for reconstructive efforts in nearly all anatomic regions. This is a result of its inherent anatomy and vascularity, and its angiogenic, immunogenic, and lymphatic properties.


Traditionally, hardware for additive color displays, including projection devices, has been built from a set of only three primaries: a red, a green, and a blue. Recently, some manufacturers of projector displays have designed their hardware to project a fourth primary, a white. This fourth primary has been helpful in increasing the luminous output possible from these displays. Because interdevice color communication infrastructure is based on red, green, and blue channels (RGB), the four-primary devices accept RGB digits and internally convert to red, green, blue, and white channels (RGBW). From a color management viewpoint, the four-color projectors look like RGB devices, but the typical color characterization models fail owing to the complexity introduced by the hidden RGB to RGBW conversion. Several four-primary digital light processing projectors were investigated and a new characterization model is proposed that approximately accounts for the relationship between RGB digital counts and resultant projected colorimetry.


Seven new coordination polymers, [Co(3-bpcd)(1,3-BDC)(H(2)O)(3)]·H(2)O (1), [Co(3-bpcd)(1,2-BDC)(H(2)O)]·H(2)O (2), [Co(3)(3-bpcd)(1,2,4-BTC)(2)(H(2)O)(4)]·4H(2)O (3), [Co(3-bpcd)(NPH)]·2H(2)O (4), [Cu(3-bpcd)(1,3-BDC)] (5), [Cu(3-bpcd)(1,2-BDC)] (6), [Cu(3-bpcd)(1,3,5-HBTC)(H(2)O)](2)·2H(2)O (7) (3-bpcd = N,N'-bis(pyridin-3-yl)cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxamide, 1,3-H(2)BDC = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-H(2)BDC = 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-H(3)BTC = 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, H(2)NPH = 3-nitrophthalic acid and 1,3,5-H(3)BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid) have been hydrothermally synthesized by assembling transition-metal cobalt-copper salts with semi-rigid bis-pyridyl-bis-amide ligand 3-bpcd and different aromatic polycarboxylic acids. Complex 1 exhibits a one-dimensional (1D) sinusoidal-like chain, which is further assembled into a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular framework through hydrogen-bonding interactions. Complex possesses a 3D framework with 4-connected 6(6) topology, which contains a two-dimensional (2D) distorted asymmetric hexagonal grid. When 1,2,4-BTC is used in complex , a 3D framework with (6(3)·8(2)·10)(2)(6(5)·8)(2)(8) topology is constructed. Complex 2 possesses a 3D framework with 4-connected 6(6) topology, which contains a two-dimensional (2D) distorted asymmetric hexagonal grid. When 1,2,4-BTC is used in complex 3, a 3D framework with (6(3)·8(2)·10)(2)(6(5)·8)(2)(8) topology is constructed. Complex 4 possesses a 3D framework with 4-connected 6(6) topology, which is similar to that of 2 except for containing a 2D symmetric hexagonal grid. When Co(II) ion is replaced by Cu(II) ion, the 3D framework of complex 5 with (4·6(2))(4·6(6)·8(3)) topology based on 3-bpcd and 1,3-BDC ligands is obtained. Complex 6 shows a 2D cross network consisting of a superposed Cu-3-bpcd 1D chain and 1,2-BDC, which is further expanded into a 3D supramolecular framework by hydrogen-bonding interactions. In complex 7, 1,3,5-HBTC is employed as the auxiliary ligand, and a 3D supramolecular framework based on the undulated 2D layers is formed through π-π stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Both the metal ions and polycarboxylates play important roles in the construction of the title complexes. In addition, the electrochemical behaviors and the fluorescence properties of the seven complexes have been investigated.


Patients with diabetes mellitus are now able to monitor their own blood glucose frequently and easily with the availability of simple to use portable devices that provide rapid answer regarding blood glucose levels. Many models of these self-blood glucose monitors are available, with new meters rapidly replacing the old versions. This paper will review the current devices available for self-monitoring of blood glucose and the new innovations recently introduced. It will also discuss the need for quality control and the influence of self-monitoring on glycaemic control.


This work explains a method for optoelectronic integration of an heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) and a waveguide electroabsorption modulator (EAM). For this the epitactical layers of the individual devices based on III/V-semiconductors are merged into each other. The method has the advantage to reuse layers and results in a layer stack, which is easier to process technologically. Additionally to the manufacturing of the individual devices HBT and EAM, this integration enables a multifunctional device, which works in the optical and electronic regime simultaneously (HBT-EAM). This corresponds to an EAM with integrated amplifier. Presented are epitaxy, technological processing and measurement results.


We study multinomial logit bandit with limited adaptivity, where the algorithms change their exploration actions as infrequently as possible when achieving almost optimal minimax regret. We propose two measures of adaptivity: the assortment switching cost and the more fine-grained item switching cost. We present an anytime algorithm (AT-DUCB) with $O(N \log T)$ assortment switches, almost matching the lower bound $\Omega(\frac{N \log T}{ \log \log T})$. In the fixed-horizon setting, our algorithm FH-DUCB incurs $O(N \log \log T)$ assortment switches, matching the asymptotic lower bound. We also present the ESUCB algorithm with item switching cost $O(N \log^2 T)$.


Abstract. Retailing started to go through an enormous change since internet offered an alternative platform for retailers to sell their products — e-commerce. Not only is the retailing changing but also customers' set of values has started to change. Due to increasing awareness of environmental burden of fashion industry, customers are more concerned about ecological and ethical issues. That, alongside with general shift in attitudes, has made second-hand shopping increasingly popular.

The purpose of this master's thesis is to gain broader understanding of customer value propositions in second-hand clothing e-commerce context. The thesis takes into consideration customer's perspective through customers' motivations to buy second-hand clothes and company's perspective through customer value propositions. Regardless that second-hand shopping is rather widely studied topic, only a little research on second-hand clothing e-commerce and on customers' motivations to buy second-hand clothes online can be found. As both second-hand shopping and e-commerce are growing fast and gaining popularity, the topic is extremely timely.

The study was conducted using quantitative research methods and it was an assignment from Finnish second-hand clothing e-commerce company Rekki. The data was collected using self-completed web questionnaire mainly among Rekki's customers. The number of the total respondents was 561 from which 517 had bought clothes from second-hand online store. The data was first analysed using Exploratory Factor Analysis followed by Cluster Analysis.

Based on the Exploratory Factor Analysis the variables measuring customers' motivations to buy clothes from second-hand e-commerce loaded to five factors: Economic, Stimulation and treasure hunting, Nostalgic pleasure, Originality and self-expression, and Critical motivations. The factors were used as a basis of K-means Cluster Analysis. Based on the Cluster analysis five clusters were found and named descriptively: Economic treasure hunters, Economic shoppers, Other motivations, Critical shoppers, and Self-expressive nostalgia seekers. The clusters vary mostly in terms of shopping motivations but also in terms of several background variables.

The implications of this thesis show that effective customer value propositions consist of customer understanding and right kind of value propositions depending on the target group. The customer understanding in second-hand clothing e-commerce context can be formed by understanding customers' motivations to buy second-hand clothes. From managerial perspective, this thesis offers valuable information for second-hand e-commerce businesses about the importance of customer understanding from value perspective and how customer value can be effectively communicated through value propositions. In addition, this thesis broadens understanding of customers' motivations to buy second-hand clothes online.


Many algorithms have been developed for the remote estimation of vegetation fraction in terms of combinations of spectral bands, derivatives of reflectance spectra, neural networks, inversion of radiative transfer models, and several multispectral statistical approaches. The most widespread type of algorithm used is the mathematical combination of visible and near-infrared reflectance, in the form of spectral vegetation indices. The general objective of this study is to evaluate different vegetation indices for the remote estimation of the fractional vegetation cover in two crop types, maize and soybean, with contrasting canopy architectures and leaf structures. The noise equivalent of vegetation indices was used as an indicator of sensitivity and accuracy of vegetation fraction estimation. Among the indices tested, the enhanced vegetation index (EVI2), wide dynamic range vegetation index (WDRVI), green- and red-edge normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were found to be accurate in estimating vegetation fraction. These results were obtained using reflectance data acquired with close-range sensors (i.e. spectroradiometers mounted 6 m above the top of canopy). WDRVI was able to estimate vegetation fraction in both crops with no re-parameterization with RMSE below 6% and mean normalized bias below 2%.


An asymptotic expansion for inverse moments of positive binomial and Poisson distributions is derived. The expansion coefficients of the asymptotic series are given by the positive central moments of the distribution. Compared to previous results, a single expansion formula covers all (also non-integer) inverse moments. In addition, the approach can be generalized to other positive distributions.


Aim

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the food label literacy component of an electronic-Nutrition Literacy Tool (e-NutLiT) designed to assess nutrition literacy in adult Australians, and explore the influence of demographic factors.

Methods

Obese participants (OP) from an Australian obesity clinic and a criterion group of dietetic students (DS) from two Australian dietetic programs were recruited to complete the e-NutLit; OP also completed the 'Newest Vital Sign' (NVS), a health literacy screening tool. Construct validity was assessed by comparing scores from the two groups. Associations between demographic factors and e-NutLit scores were also explored.

Results

Sixty-one participants (OP: n = 32; DS: n = 29) completed the study. The total e-NutLit scores for OP was significantly lower than that of DS (71.9 ± 17.9%; 94.5 ± 5.6%, respectively: P = 0.01). Items requiring calculation of nutrient intake from the nutrition information panel (NIP) and interpreting endorsement logos were the worst performing sections on the e-NutLit in both OP (35.9%; 71.9%) and DS (86.2%; 75.8%). Adequate health literacy, indicated by an NVS ≥ 4, was strongly associated with higher scores on the e-NutLit in OP (P = 0.01). Level of education (≤year 10) and lack of engagement in food shopping were significantly associated with poorer competency on the e-NutLit (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Comparison of scores indicated that construct validity was established on most items for participants with lower literacy. The e-NutLit identified specific weaknesses, such as nutrient calculations and interpretation of endorsement logos. This pilot study will help inform further development of the e-NutLit.


The genus Ceropegia L. is a highly diversified genus of the family Apocynaceae whose most of the species are facing threats. The species Ceropegia wallichii Wight is categorized under Data Deficient (DD) which is found between 2500 to 2900 m altitudes since till date according to available literature while this article first time mentioned its elevation in 1735 m altitude. Hence, in this scenario, its new elevation should be changed from 1700 to 2900 m. Owing to its poor abundance of sheets in Indian herbaria, this species also needs to be protected.


IntroductionBiologic medicines have revolutionized the treatment of many serious and chronic illnesses and they present important challenges for approval and post-market surveillance of drug safety. Pharmacovigilance is an important strategy for monitoring adverse drug events in the post-market. Drug registration is an essential element of medicine regulation.
Objectives and ApproachBrazilian Health Regulatory Agency, ANVISA, is responsible for drug registration and surveillance. In this work we describe the process of linkage of databases covering registration, post-approval changes, and pharmacovigilance of biological medicines in Brazil.
2.429,556 registration dossiers included in the comprehensive national drug registration database, DATAVISA, and 93,391 reports of adverse drug events in the pharmacovigilance database, NOTIVISA, were analyzed for completeness and non biologic dossiers were filtered out. Deterministic linkage technique was used to connect DATAVISA and NOTIVISA data.
ResultsOf the DATAVISA dossiers, 188,830 were registrations and 2,240,726 records were post-approval changes. After filtering out the non-biologic dossiers, 48,144 post-approval changes dossiers for biologic drugs were obtained. Aggregation of 48,144 post-approval biologic products dossiers resulted in 663 product-manufacturer pairs. For pharmacovigilance data, aggregation produced 5,874 pairs. Registration and post-approval changes merging from aggregated pairs resulted in 577 pairs. Trios with pharmacovigilance data resulted in 147 matches. These 147 pairs respond for 5.468 identified adverse drug events reports. Adverse drug events reports of biological medicines account for around 5,0 \% of NOTIVISA.
Conclusion/ImplicationsRegulatory actions should be implemented to stimulate adverse events reports of biological products. A single database with registration, post-approval changes and pharmacovigilance data was produced. Data linkage permitted analysis of biological medicines in the post-market and can provide important information to evaluate risk in drug development.


Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in body in which body fails to produce insulin or represent resistance against insulin and therefore, insulin cannot have its normal application in body. One of the plants to cure this disease is walnut (Juglans regia). Walnut oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and is fundamentally important from nutritional and medicinal viewpoints. The present study was thus designed to determine the effect of β-sitosterol-fortified walnut oil on blood factors and hepatic enzymes in diabetic rats. For this aim, diabetes was induced to male rats (200 g) using STZ injection. Overall, five treatments were considered: normal saline gavage, not-enriched walnut oil gavage, gavage of walnut oil enriched with low, average, and high concentrations of β-sitosterol. Glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density cholesterol (HDL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and albumin were measured. In addition, hepatic tissue was analysed by H&E (haematoxylin and eosin) staining, trichrome staining, and TUNEL assay. The results obtained from the study revealed that gavage of β- sitosterol-enriched walnut oil improved blood parameters and hepatic tissue in diabetic rats.


Aulacus eocenicus n. sp. is described from the Lowermost Eocene amber of the Paris basin. It is apparently similar to the Australian modern (sub)-genus Micraulacinus KIEFFER 1910. We propose a commented list of the fossil species that have been attributed to the Aulacidae. In particular, the attributions to Aulacidae of the Lower Cretaceous subfamilies Baissinae (incl. 'Manlayinae') and Kotujellinae remain weakly supported. A complete phylogenetic revision of the family is urgently needed.


Requiring students to complete their course assignments in partnership and in collaboration with students from other institutions is not commonplace teaching pedagogy. Even less so when they transcend disciplines and international borders. This Paper presents a brief account of an ongoing collaborative effort between Ryerson University, Coventry University and Loughborough University to inculcate cross border communication and teamwork skills to their Built Environment undergraduate students by way of having them work collaboratively on joint project assignments. It describes its scope and organisation and summarises some circumstantial and anecdotal observations of participating students' inclination and disposition to working inter-institutionally. In an industry where cross disciplinary interactions and exchanges are the norm and where contracting parties to the project can frequently be across international divides, it is imperative that its professionals be trained in cross border teamwork skills.


Introduction: From 2010-2011, several murders of beggars were reported from Colombo and suburb. The motive of such killings was not obvious and some parties suspected an attack targeting beggars by an organized group. Objective: To analyse the medico-legal aspects of the series of killing. Methods: Data of beggars who had been killed, serially, under similar circumstances in Colombo and suburbs were collected from January 2010 to December 2011. Results: There were 14 murders (12 males) in 9 towns. The bodies were left on the location of killing without being moved. The causes of death had been blunt force trauma to head. No suspects were arrested. Sole eye witness confirmed the presence of 'rituals' and 'cooling-off period' in suspect. In November 2011, a beggar was arrested while attempting to kill another beggar when the latter was a sleep. The suspect was produced for medico-legal examination and later referred to a Psychiatrist. He was diagnosed to have anti-social traits. On a subsequent day, he admitted that he had murdered altogether 14 beggars. He had shown all the crime scenes to the investigators. He was sent for inward psychiatric treatment and is awaiting trial. Conclusions: Usually serial killers are males with past criminal records who kill strangers, perform 'rituals', leave 'signature', display the dead bodies and remove souvenirs. All above characteristics except the last two were evident in this case. Fourteen independent, planned murders with potential "cooling-off periods" indicate that the suspect could be the highest 'potential serial killer' in Sri Lanka. The importance of the establishment of a National Criminal Investigating Centre is suggested to investigate such unsolved crimes. Galle Medical Journal, Vol 18: No. 2, September 2013;Page 17-21 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/gmj.v18i2.6196


We prove a parametric generalization of the classical PoincaréPerron theorem on stabilizing recurrence relations, where we assume that the varying coefficients of a recurrence depend on auxiliary parameters and converge uniformly in these parameters to their limiting values. As an application, we study convergence of the ratios of families of functions satisfying finite recurrence relations with varying functional coefficients. For example, we explicitly describe the asymptotic ratio for two classes of biorthogonal polynomials introduced by Ismail and Masson.


Species are generally regarded as a fundamental unit of biodiversity. By contrast, higher taxa such as genera and families, while widely used as biodiversity metrics and for classification and communication, are generally not believed to be shaped by shared evolutionary processes in the same way as species. We use simulations to show that processes which are important for emergence of evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) at the species level, namely geographical isolation and ecological divergence, can generate evolutionary independence above the species level and thereby lead to emergence of discrete phylogenetic clusters (higher ESUs). Extending phylogenetic approaches for delimiting evolutionarily significant species to broader phylogenetic scales, we find evidence for the existence of higher ESUs in mammals. In carnivores, euungulates and lagomorphs the hierarchical level of units detected correspond, on average, to the level of family or genus in traditional taxonomy. The units in euungulates are associated with divergent patterns of body mass, consistent with occupation of distinct ecological zones. Our findings demonstrate a new framework for studying biodiversity that unifies approaches at species and higher levels, thus potentially restoring higher taxa to their historical status as natural entities.


We define a new type of vertex coloring which generalizes vertex coloring in graphs, hypergraphs, and simplicial complexes. This coloring also generalizes oriented coloring, acyclic coloring, and star coloring. There is an associated symmetric function in noncommuting variables for which we give a deletion-contraction formula. In the case of graphs this symmetric function in noncommuting variables agrees with the chromatic symmetric function in noncommuting variables of Gebhard and Sagan. Our vertex coloring is a special case of the scheduling problems defined by Breuer and Klivans. We show how the deletion-contraction law can be applied to scheduling problems. Also, we show that the chromatic symmetric function determines the degree sequence of uniform hypertrees, but there exists pairs of  3 -uniform hypertrees which are not isomorphic yet have the same chromatic symmetric function.


Studies of the submerged Pleistocene conglomerate cored and dredged in the English Channel show that it resulted from the cementation of stony beaches under a loess blanket. Although the loess cover was later washed out by younger transgressions, the northern limit of the conglomerate corresponds to the original offshore extension of the loess deposits. Compilation of offshore and onshore altitudes of the limits of these deposits shows that loess was deposited by low-level wind fields never thicker than 200 m. Mapping surveys show that the present limits of loess are probably close to their original boundaries. The past proximity of the British Ice Sheet, the accumulation of dusty sediments coating north-facing cliffs of Brittany originating in the outwash of the British–Irish Ice Sheet and in the palaeo-rivers of the English Channel, as well as the southeastward orientation of the palaeo-winds deduced from particle size analysis and heavy minerals distribution, suggest that large volumes of loess were transported by strong katabatic winds blowing from the northern ice-covered regions towards Brittany and Normandy. The existence of katabatic winds is also consistent with the drift of ice rafts that transported Icelandic basalts now grounded in Brittany and possibly with the orientation of Homo neandertalensis shelters.


To investigate the association between cannabis smoking and lung cancer risk, data on 2,159 lung cancer cases and 2,985 controls were pooled from 6 case‐control studies in the US, Canada, UK, and New Zealand within the International Lung Cancer Consortium. Study‐specific associations between cannabis smoking and lung cancer were estimated using unconditional logistic regression adjusting for sociodemographic factors, tobacco smoking status and pack‐years; odds‐ratio estimates were pooled using random effects models. Subgroup analyses were done for sex, histology and tobacco smoking status. The shapes of dose‐response associations were examined using restricted cubic spline regression. The overall pooled OR for habitual versus nonhabitual or never users was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.66–1.38). Compared to nonhabitual or never users, the summary OR was 0.88 (95%CI: 0.63–1.24) for individuals who smoked 1 or more joint‐equivalents of cannabis per day and 0.94 (95%CI: 0.67–1.32) for those consumed at least 10 joint‐years. For adenocarcinoma cases the ORs were 1.73 (95%CI: 0.75–4.00) and 1.74 (95%CI: 0.85–3.55), respectively. However, no association was found for the squamous cell carcinoma based on small numbers. Weak associations between cannabis smoking and lung cancer were observed in never tobacco smokers. Spline modeling indicated a weak positive monotonic association between cumulative cannabis use and lung cancer, but precision was low at high exposure levels. Results from our pooled analyses provide little evidence for an increased risk of lung cancer among habitual or long‐term cannabis smokers, although the possibility of potential adverse effect for heavy consumption cannot be excluded.


The genus Scaphander (Gastropoda, Cephalaspidea) is a group of predominantly deep-sea, soft-bottom snails with extant species distributed worldwide from the Arctic to the Antarctic. There are approximately 45 species described worldwide, of which about 18 are considered to be valid. The systematics of Scaphander has traditionally been shell-based, but shell characters often show high intraspecific variability, and this led to a high number of nominal names available of unclear taxonomic status. The main objectives of this article are to revise the systematics of the Atlantic species of Scaphander, and to produce an identification key and a molecular phylogeny to aid with species delimitation. The validity of species was assessed following an integrative approach combining the study of type material and original descriptions, shells, morpho-anatomical characters, and molecular phylogenetics. Anatomical structures were documented by drawings, macro-photography, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two mitochondrial (COI and 16S rRNA) and one nuclear (28S rRNA) genes were sequenced, and Bayesian molecular phylogenetic hypotheses were produced. Representatives of the Cephalaspidean genera Bulla and Haminoea were included to test the monophyly of Scaphander. Eight species of Scaphander were recognized in the Atlantic Ocean. Three species are restricted to the western Atlantic (Scaphander clavus, Scaphander darius, and Scaphander watsoni), one is distributed only in the eastern Atlantic (Scaphander lignarius), one is endemic to the Azores (Scaphander gracilis; this species is only known from shells), and three have amphi-Atlantic distributions (Scaphander bathymophilus, Scaphander nobilis, and Scaphander punctostriatus). Shell characters and the morphology of the male reproductive system were found to be the best diagnostic characters for species recognition. The molecular phylogeny confirms the monophyly of Scaphander, and is largely congruent with species delimitation based on morpho-anatomical characters. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London


Three coordination polymers (CPs) incorporating both 4,4′,4′′,4′′′-tetrakiscarboxyphenylsilane (H4tcps) and 3,5-bis(1′,2′,4′-triazol-1′-yl)pyridine (btap), namely [Co2(tcps)(btap)(H2O)3] (1), [Co3(Htcps)2(btap)(H2O)6] (2) and [Cd3(Htcps)2(btap)(H2O)6] (3), were synthesized by a solvothermal method. Compound 1 features a 3D (3,4,5)-connected framework with the (6·75·84)(64·82)(72·9) topology. Compounds 2 and 3 are isostructural, which display an unusual 1D + 3D → 3D polythreaded supramolecular architecture with the 1D chain inserted into the channels of the two-fold interpenetrating 3D motif. Hydrogen bonds among the 3D anionic motif and the 1D cationic motif further stabilize the compounds. The structure of compounds 2 and 3 is a 3D 3-connected framework with the point symbol (103)4. The luminescence properties of compound 3 in their solid state and as dispersed in various solvents were investigated. Luminescence studies have revealed that compound 3 exhibits high sensitivity and stable anti-interference towards Fe3+ and Cu2+ cations in aqueous solution.


The present research extends the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate how communication-related variables influence condom use intention and behavior among African American women. According to the TPB, attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy are associated with behavioral intent, which predicts behavior. For women, it was argued that condom negotiation self-efficacy was more important than condom use self-efficacy in predicting consistent condom use. Moreover, an important environmental factor that affects condom use for African American women is fear or worry when negotiating condom use because the sex partners might leave, threaten, or abuse them. Fears associated with negotiating condom use were predicted to be negatively associated with attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy. African American women (N = 560; M age = 20.58) completed assessments of TPB variables at baseline and condom use 3 months later. Condom negotiation self-efficacy was a significant indicator of behavioral intent, while condom use self-efficacy was not. Fear of condom negotiation was negatively associated with all TPB components, which was in turn significantly associated with behavioral intent and condom use. Implications for the TPB, safer sex literature, and sexually transmitted infection prevention intervention design are discussed.


This paper explores experiences of becoming a "curriculum maker of community" as part of the University of Alberta's Building Peaceful Communities Summer Institute, held annually over a two-week period each July. Prompted by the experience in 2018, the author explores the ways in which curriculum can be co-composed as a community of learners, moving beyond prescripted curriculum. Throughout the account, the author narrates autobiographical life experiences that serve to illustrate ways of knowing and ways of coming to communities of knowing.


Background: Hypochondriasis is associated with marked impairments in physical and psychological functioning, work performance and increased health care utilization. The prevalence among medical outpatients is estimated to be between 4,2 % and 6,3 %. Notwithstanding there is deficient research in this area. Until recently no specific treatment has been clearly demonstrated to be effective. Objective: The aim was to investigate experiences of what it is like to live with hypochondriasis, but also to examine different treatment options. Methods: In order to illustrate the experiences a latent content analyses was made on a documentary named "Hypokondrikerna" and to examine the treatment options a systematic review was made. Result: The content analysis revealed three categories and nine sub-categories concerning the experiences. The three categories were "health anxiety", "individual coping strategies" and "emotional consequences". The systematic review revealed medical treatment which consisted of three different antidepressants as well as seven different kinds of psychological treatments and other interventions, which all reduced hypocondriacal symptoms. Discussion: The findings show that hypochondriasis causes a chronic suffering and indicates that potential treatments are available. Hypochondriasis causes an unproductive health care utilization. A more effective management could reduce the costs and ease the suffering. Therefore we suggest that this disease should be observed and treated. The nurse has an important function to maintain a positive relationship with the patient and create a therapeutic dialogue.


INDELs and CNVs are structural variations that may play roles in cancer susceptibility and patient outcomes. Our objectives were a) to computationally detect and examine the genome‐wide INDEL/CNV profiles in a cohort of colorectal cancer patients, and b) to examine the associations of frequent INDELs/CNVs with relapse‐free survival time. We also identified unique variants in 13 Familial Colorectal Cancer Type X (FCCX) cases. The study cohort consisted of 495 colorectal cancer patients. QuantiSNP and PennCNV algorithms were utilized to predict the INDELs/CNVs using genome‐wide signal intensity data. Duplex PCR was used to validate predictions for 10 variants. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to test the associations of 106 common variants with relapse‐free survival time. Score test and the multivariable Cox proportional hazards models with time‐varying coefficients were applied to identify the variants with time‐varying effects on the relapse‐free survival time. A total of 3486 distinct INDELs/CNVs were identified in the patient cohort. The majority of these variants were rare (83%) and deletion variants (81%). The results of the computational predictions and duplex PCR results were highly concordant (93–100%). We identified four promising variants significantly associated with relapse‐free survival time (P < 0.05) in the multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models after adjustment for clinical factors. More importantly, two additional variants were identified to have time‐varying effects on the risk of relapse. Finally, 58 rare variants were identified unique to the FCCX cases; none of them were detected in more than one patient. This is one of the first genome‐wide analyses that identified the germline INDEL/CNV profiles in colorectal cancer patients. Our analyses identified novel variants and genes that can biologically affect the risk of relapse in colorectal cancer patients. Additionally, for the first time, we identified germline variants that can potentially be early‐relapse markers in colorectal cancer.


Background: Women with unilateral breast cancer (UBC) are at risk of developing a subsequent contralateral breast cancer (CBC). Common variants are associated with breast cancer risk. Whether these influence CBC risk is unknown. Methods: Participants were breast cancer cases from the population-based Women's Environmental Cancer and Radiation Epidemiology (WECARE) Study. Sixty-seven established breast cancer risk loci were genotyped directly or by imputation in 1459 case subjects with CBC and 2126 UBC control subjects. An unweighted polygenic risk score (PRS) was created by summing the number of risk alleles for each directly genotyped single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), or for imputed loci, the imputed dosage. A weighted PRS was calculated similarly, but where each SNP's contribution was weighted by the published per-allele log odds ratio. Unweighted and weighted polygenic risk scores and CBC risk were modeled using conditional logistic regression. Cumulative CBC risk was estimated and benchmarked using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results population incidence rates. Results: Both unweighted and weighted PRS were statistically significantly associated with CBC risk. The adjusted risk ratio of CBC in women in the upper quartile of unweighted PRS compared with the lowest quartile was 1.63 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.33 to 2.00). The estimated 10-year cumulative risk for women in the upper quartile of the unweighted PRS was 7.4% (95% CI = 6.0% to 9.1%). For women in the upper quartile of the weighted PRS, the risk ratio for CBC was 1.75 (95% CI = 1.41 to 2.18) compared with women in the lowest quartile. There was no statistically significant heterogeneity by age, treatment (radiation therapy dose, tamoxifen, chemotherapy), estrogen receptor status of the first primary, histology of the first primary, length of at-risk period for CBC, or breast cancer family history. Conclusions: Common genomic variants associated with the development of first primary breast cancer are also associated with the development of CBC; the risk is strongest among those who carry more risk alleles.


Any mathematical pattern can be used to create artwork. By exploring connections between patterns and the phenomena in which they occur, we can find not only surprising connections but also inspiration for creative works. We explore a simple binary fractal pattern and connect it to many areas of mathematics and the arts, including pictures, music, literature and poetry. Links to music, lesson plans and materials are provided for artists and teachers to explore this rich pattern further.


Introduction: Morphine has been the cornerstone of pain management in palliative care patients. The easy accessibility and availability of opioids at most tertiary care centers of Nepal have made possible, the once thought impossible fundamental right of palliative patients. The availability of morphine has not only eased the pain of palliative patients but health care providers equally. The mainstay of pain management has had its success but several subjective complaints of dry mouth, sedation, feeling of incomplete wellbeing and decreased immune function is often heard of. The present study aims at evaluating the effects of morphine on complete blood count profile in palliative care patients.

Methods: Complete blood count of 114 palliative patients was estimated using an automatic hematology analyzer after 24-48 hours and 14 days of morphine administration. The data was recorded using a preformed proforma and analyzed using SPSS (20).

Results: A statistically significant increase in total white blood cell count, neutrophil and platelet count was observed following morphine administration but there was a decrease in lymphocyte count (p0.05).

Conclusion: Morphine is found to influence the total white blood cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes and NLR in palliative patients. However, withholding morphine in palliative patients is never an option. Furthermore, larger randomized controlled trials are necessary to analyze the predictive value of NLR and PLR in palliative patients.


Although research exploring Attention Restoration Theory has been extensive, certain procedures for its study seem to be taken as implicit, but require investigation for a deeper understanding and application of both the theory and its underlying processes. This study aimed to answer the questions: "What is the result of engaging directed attention when viewing otherwise restorative environments?" and "Does this intentional engagement have any effect on already fatiguing non-restorative environments?" Participants were asked to complete a task designed to fatigue their directed attentional capacity and then view images of restorative or nonrestorative environments, wherein they either were asked to direct their attention to these environments, or were allowed to view them freely. Those viewing restorative environments but asked to direct their attention had significantly lower and even inhibited recovery from Directed Attention Fatigue than participants viewing these environments freely. Additional analyses explored this effect between environments and on a number of subjective measures. Discussion focuses on the role of tasks in the restorative process and the seemingly inherent neutrality or facility of different environments in regards to restoration.


Craniofacial bone regeneration is a coupled process of angiogenesis and osteogenesis, which, associated with infection, still remains a challenge in bone defects after trauma or tumor resection. 3D tissue engineering scaffolds with multifunctional-therapeutic properties can offer many advantages for the angiogenesis and osteogenesis of infected bone defects. Hence, in the present study, a microchannel networks-enriched 3D hybrid scaffold composed of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM), gelatin (Gel), quaterinized chitosan (QCS) and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) (dGQH) was fabricated by an extrusion 3D bioprinting technology. And enlightened by the characteristics of natural bone microstructure and the demands of vascularized bone regeneration, the exosomes (Exos) isolated from human adipose derived stem cells as angiogenic and osteogenic factors were then co-loaded into the desired dGQH20 hybrid scaffold based on an electrostatic interaction. The results of the hybrid scaffolds performance characterization showed that these hybrid scaffolds exhibited an interconnected pore structure and appropriate degradability (>61% after 8 weeks of treatment), and the dGQH20 hybrid scaffold displayed the highest porosity (83.93 ± 7.38%) and mechanical properties (tensile modulus: 62.68 ± 10.29 MPa, compressive modulus: 16.22 ± 3.61 MPa) among the dGQH hybrid scaffolds. Moreover, the dGQH20 hybrid scaffold presented good antibacterial activities (against 94.90 ± 2.44% of Escherichia coli and 95.41 ± 2.65% of Staphylococcus aureus, respectively) as well as excellent hemocompatibility and biocompatibility. Furthermore, the results of applying the Exos to the dGQH20 hybrid scaffold showed that the Exo promoted the cell attachment and proliferation on the scaffold, and also showed a significant increase in osteogenesis and vascularity regeneration in the dGQH@Exo scaffolds in vitro and in vivo. Overall, this novel dECM/Gel/QCS/nHAp hybrid scaffold laden with Exo has a considerable potential application in reservation of craniofacial bone defects.


Fieldwork to study the vocal behaviour of Orange River Francolin Scleroptilia levaillantoides was conducted on a farm in the Heidelberg district, Gauteng province, South Africa, during August 2009 to March 2011. Orange River Francolins possess a basic repertoire of seven calls and one mechanical sound. From 83 francolins tested with playback calls only 33 (39.7%) responded with call backs over the course of the study period. This low response rate in the population is ascribed to habituation because most of the coveys were tested repeatedly on a weekly basis. From a management point of view, call backs can be used to locate coveys in the grass that could then be approached, flushed and counted. Alternatively, it is possible to locate coveys with interactive sound equipment and then multiply the number of call-back localities with an average covey size (about two to three francolins) to determine the size of the population. A 'ke-ri ke-chi' playback call enticed three different calls from Orange River Francolins that can be used for management purposes, including the 'ke-ri ke-chi', cacophony and female calls. These three calls can be used to locate Orange River Francolins, determine dispersion, habitat preferences, breeding cycle and to identify subadults, males and females.


Abstract: The expert blind spot hypothesis provides an explanation as to why experts with superior content knowledge find it difficult to communicate this knowledge to novices. Previous studies have shown that as predicted by the expert blind spot hypothesis, participants with more advanced mathematics education are more likely to believe in the necessity of symbolic reasoning and mastery of equations as a prerequisite for algorithmic or mathematical problem solving. This pattern has been shown across several subject areas including mathematics, science, and language arts. While there has been a good deal of work done identifying this issue, findings have been slow to transfer to teachers in the field. This project integrates findings regarding the expert blind spot into an online training module that will educate in-service teachers about the expert blind spot and provide strategies to overcome its pitfalls.


Reuse in systems engineering is a frequent but poorly understood phenomenon. Nevertheless, it has a significant impact on system development and on estimating the appropriate amount of systems engineering effort with models like the Constructive Systems Engineering Cost Model (COSYSMO). Practical experience showed that the initial version of COSYSMO, based on a "build from the scratch" philosophy, needed to be refined in order to incorporate reuse considerations that fit today's industry environment. The notion of reuse recognizes the effect of legacy system definition in engineering a system and introduces multiple reuse categories for classifying the four COSYSMO size drivers—requirements, interfaces, algorithms, and operational scenarios. It fundamentally modifies the driver counting rules and updates its definition of system size. It provides an enabling framework for estimating a system under incremental and spiral development. In this paper, we present: 1) the definition of the COSYSMO reuse extension and the approach employed to define this extension; 2) the updated COSYSMO size driver definitions to be consistent with the reuse model; 3) the method applied to defining the reuse weights used in the modified parametric relationship; 4) a practical implementation example that instantiates the reuse model by an industry organization and the empirical data that provided practical validation of the extended COSYSMO model; and 5) recommendations for organizational implementation and deployment of this extension.


Lilie Chouliaraki: The Moralisation of the Spectator. On the September 11th live footage

In this paper, I discuss extracts of the September 11th live footage on television from the vantage point of discourse, that is of how the reported event "comes to mean", how it becomes intelligible through television's meaning-making operations. Specifically, I study the mediation of the September 11th as a mediation of "distant suffering", drawing upon the work of Luc Boltanski (1999) on "morality, media and politics". My aim is to identify the ways in which the September 11th television spectacle engages the affective potential of the spectator and evokes a specific disposition to act upon the suffering – that is, to act politically. My perspective on the September 11th thus concerns the televisual mediation of distant suffering and its moralising effects on the spectator. First, I introduce the problematic of representing distant suffering in terms of, what Boltanski calls, a "politics of pity" – a politics that aims to resolve the Spacetime dimensions of mediation in order to establish a sense of "proximity" to the events and, so, engage the spectator emotionally and ethically. Second, I contrast three different modes (or "topics") of representing suffering, by reference to three live footage extracts from the Danish national television channel (DR): street shots of Manhattan, just after the Twin Towers' collapse; the summary of the day events, with shots from the second plane collision and President Bush's first public statement; a long shot of the Manhattan skyline burning.
I describe each "topic" in terms of its Spacetime dimensions, its distinctive semiotic elements, and the affective mode and moral horizon it opens up for the spectator. In concluding, I briefly touch upon implications for the "moralisation" of the spectator, involved in the September 11th "topics" of suffering.


Limited resources, e.g., time and money, force both people and firms make choices between different alternatives. We present an economic framework that can be used to model and analyse this decision process in the context of mobile services. The main parts of the model are valuation of different services, pricing, quality of service, network resources, and various cost factors. The extensiveness of the model makes it possible to analyse the interrelations between different aspects; for instance, how pricing affects the usage of the services, the required network resources, overall customer satisfaction, and service provider's revenue. The first three chapters of the paper introduces the basis of our model while the forth and fifth chapters presents how the model can applied to solve real business issues of mobile operators.


The changing remit of treaty making, such that treaties can be just as capable of negatively impacting on domestic constitutional values as ordinary legislation, results in it warranting appropriate mechanisms of domestic constitutional review. Treaties should not be exempt from what is a staple component of modern constitutionalism. There is a powerful case for constitutional systems to adopt, whether as a matter of express design or practice, both ex ante and ex post constitutional review of treaties. The concern that ex post review of treaties would threaten compliance with treaty obligations is misplaced given that it can be designed and practiced fully compatibly with international law obligations. The adoption of such a combined system of review would contribute to ensuring that treaty making does not escape the salutary reach of domestic constitutionalism, which is all the more indispensable in the absence of meaningful international law constraints on the process and substantive content of treaty making. And by ensuring greater respect for constitutional standards in the treaty-making process, including fundamental rights that are central to international law itself, this can even bolster the legitimacy of international law.


This work is aimed at exploring and finding some strategic approaches in recovering asset stemmed from criminal acts. These approaches will be focused on normative approach and institutional approach, which based on the anti-money laundry regime. This regime is assumed as the most effective method in recovering all assets from crimes. This is because it introduces to follow the money principle, which emphasises the importance to secure asset or treasury. In this point, it ignores the motivation, the reason, the way (modus operandi) of the crime, but it more emphasises the security of assets in order to avoid a further damage of the assets. The core idea of this work will be started from the importance of understanding and implementing the money laundry regime, which covers the visualization of its regulation ary architecture and the mechanism of the process of asset recovery. It is related in the light of the high complexity of the recent crime, which involves various parties, either individual or institutions, legal entity, such as corporation, or philanthropic institutions with various modus of crime, such as illegal logging, fishing, mining, drug, terrorism, corruption, gambling and so forth by crossing state's boundaries. As a tool, this money laundry is more relevant and effective as it employs the burden proof principle, and then it has a broader scope in exploring, finding and recovering the assets. At the normative level, this work will strengthen and refine the existing regulation or norms related to unclear and inequitable elaboration and explanation on the Recovery Asset (Law No. 8/2010, Art. 67). Whereas, at the institutional level, this work will elaborate and formulate the potential establishment of special institution that exploring, storing, conserving, protecting, securing, appraising and managing the optimization of the assets for public welfare.


The photochemical degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) has been studied in the presence of a nonionic surfactant. A faster decay of 2,4,6-TCP could be achieved by the addition of surfactant depending on the pH levels. By examining the TCP decay at different solution pH and surfactant concentrations, the variations in photodecay rates were dominated by the existence of surfactant micelles. In water or when surfactant dosage was below the critical micellar concentration, the photodecay of 2,4,6-TCP was found to be faster at high pH levels, mainly due to the higher absorption of TCP and additional hydrogen source (from surfactant monomer). On the contrary, in the presence of micelles, faster decay of 2,4,6-TCP was obtained at lower pH levels. This was possibly due to the domination of both photochemical homolysis and electron transfer processes in acidic condition, but the latter was inhibited at alkaline condition. In addition, the cage effect of surfactant micelles may possibly hinder the OH - -catalyzed photohydrolysis in the solution, so the TCP decay in micellar solution was reduced at high pH levels.


The environmental crises, caused by the increased energy consumption and the increasing trend of pollutants emissions resulted from energy carrier's combustion in the world, is recognized as one of the most important challenges faced by governments in the 21st century. The CO2 taxation is considered as one of the CO2 emission reduction policies in one hand and increases government income on the other hand. Implementation of this policy has distributive effects that can help policymakers measure it. The present study aimed to investigate the distributive effects of CO2 taxation on urban and rural households' incomes, using the environmental input-output approach. Main data bases in this study are: 2011 input-output table of Static Centre of Iran that is aggregated to 12 sectors due to statistical constraints on sectoral energy consumption. The second data base is consumption of petroleum products of economic was obtained from energy balanced sheet 2011. Rural and urban expenditure and incomes' households are collected from 2011 Static Centre of Iran, This results show that the distributional effect of the carbon tax on rural household is progressive but for urban households not.


Rocky seashores are low granitic hills distributed along the southeastern Brazilian coast with xeric-like vegetation due to the shallow soil. Knowledge on amphibian communities and their reproductive patterns is especially reduced on this kind of environment. Herein, we present a framework of two years monitoring an amphibian community at a rocky seashore environment located at the protected area of Parque Estadual da Serra da Tiririca, municipality of Niterói, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We conducted diurnal and nocturnal searches for frogs in tank bromeliads, rocky surface and shrubby vegetation. Annual pattern of breeding activity of anurans was also estimated. Individuals of the most abundant tank-bromeliad, Alcantarea glaziouana were collected and measured according to several variables to understanding the selection of bromeliads by frogs. We checked the influence of the environmental conditions on amphibian abundance, association between the bromeliads measures, and the water storage in the tank. We recorded the species: Scinax aff. x-signatus; S. cuspidatus; S. littoreus; Thoropa miliaris and Gastrotheca sp. Bromeliads were the preferential habitat used by anurans. The nocturnal habit was predominant for all species and during diurnal searches, the specimens were found sheltered in bromeliads axils. The number of calling males as well as amphibian abundance was associated with the rainiest and warmest period of the year. The species S. littoreus was observed in breeding activity in the majority of sample period. Adult calling males of T. miliaris were observed especially in the rainy season. Rainfall and temperature combined are positively correlated to the total number of captured amphibians. However, individually, rainfall was not significantly correlated, while temperature was positively correlated with the amphibian abundance. Water storage capacity by bromeliads was correlated to characteristics and size of the plant. In the rainy season, the height of the plant and the diameter on top view were correlated with the occurrence of amphibians, while during the driest period there was no correlation among variables and the bromeliad usage by amphibians. Recorded species were strongly associated to the Atlantic Forest domain. Nevertheless, the occupation of rocky seashores by anurans may be more associated with the specialized reproductive modes presented by species, since there is no permanent water available in ponds or streams.


The decomposition characteristics of CF4 with Argon or oxygen in 2.45GHz microwave has been investigated by using a Langmuir probe with variation of the microwave power and chamber pressure. For CF4/Ar and CF4/O2/Ar discharges, the ion density and the electron density decrease with increasing microwave power. The electron temperature was decreased by reducing the mean free path of electrons with increasing microwave power. Also with increasing pressure, the electron temperature increase, and ion and electron density decrease by increase of inelastic collision frequency and of collision with the walls in the chamber. The electron temperature is 13.6 ~ 5.9 [eV], the electron density is 4.4×1010 ~ 2.2×1010 [cm-3] and ion density is 5.2×1011 ~ 4×1010 [cm-3]. According as add oxygen, ion and electron density increased relatively comparing to CF4/Ar discharge. The electron temperature is 8.5 ~ 6.2 [eV], the electron and ion density is 5.1×1010 ~ 2.1×1010 [cm-3] and 3.7×1011 ~ 7.3×1010 [cm-3], respectively.


Pneumatic tire friction on ice is an under-researched area of tire mechanics. This study covers the design and analysis of a series of pneumatic tire tests on a flat-level ice road surface. The terramechanics rig of the Advanced Vehicle Dynamics Lab (AVDL) is a single-wheel test rig that allows for the experimental analysis of the forces and moments on a tire, providing directly the data for the drawbar pull of said tire, thus supporting the calculation of friction based on this data. This indoor testing apparatus allows for some degree of replication by helping to maintain test conditions and by imposing a desired tire slip; the normal load, camber angle, toe angle, and other testing configurations can also be pre-set, as required. Methods of and issues related to controlling the production of ice and maintaining the conditions of numerous factors for each trial run were also documented. The AVDL terramechanics rig allowed for the collection of data from tests that varied the tire tread, tire inflation pressure, normal load on the wheel, and the slip ratio of the moving tire. This empirical data was then analyzed through the statistical analysis program JMP 8 in order to determine which factors (or combination of factors) significantly influence pneumatic tire friction on ice. The analysis verified that the slip ratio had a significant effect on the observed coefficient of friction, which decreased as the slip ratio increased. The combinations of the slip ratio and inflation pressure and the slip ratio and tire setup also had a significant effect on the observed coefficient of friction. The tests appear to have validated the theory that the drawbar pull and the traction was higher for the tire with tread.


Amazing how quickly a decade passes when one is having fun. To me, that's exactly what being Editor-in-Chief of Developmental Dynamics has been, a decade of ''playing'' with my scientific colleagues and friends and having fun. But it has not been only about having fun. Together, we have worked hard and have done good work. As a result, the scientific stature of Developmental Dynamics has risen over the past 10 years, firmly anchored on the solid foundation established by Paul Goetinck, the founding Editorin-Chief, and his team of editors. Developmental Dynamics is clearly poised for continuing success in rapidly changing times in publishing and science. I leave the position of Editorin-Chief knowing that my successor, Parker B. Antin, will take the journal to new heights. He has my full support and sincere wishes for every success in his editorship. My thanks at this time of transition go to many: First, our authors and readers. You are our scientific customers and we owe our continuing existence and success to you. Second, our thousands of reviewers; hundreds of Members of the Editorial Board; our past and present Editorial Assistants, Courtney Montgomery, Michelle Turner, and Mary Margaret Weist; our Science Writer, Julie Kiefer; our Reviews Editor, John F. Fallon; and our past and present Associate Editors: Parker B. Antin, Phillipa Francis-West, Hiroshi Hamada, Min Han, Ken Irvine, Catherine E. Krull, Suzanne L. Mansour, Takashi Mikawa, Angela Nieto, David M. Ornitz, Maria A. Ros, Hazel Sive, Lillianna Solnica-Krezel, Phillippe Soriano, Didier Stainier, Monica Vetter, and H. Joseph Yost. Your scientific standards and integrity have always impressed me, and your dedication to the field is unparalleled. Third, our publishing partner, Wiley-Blackwell. Our working relationship over the past decade has resembled more of a family interaction than a business commitment. I am pleased to have shared goals, as well as some blood and tears, with true publishing professionals. Unfortunately, there are too many of you to name who have helped us along our path, but a few deserve special mention for their long-term involvement and continuing excellent service: Patrick Snajder, our Production Editor, who has consistently done first-rate production work for the journal throughout my tenure as Editor-in Chief; Larry Grodsky, Senior Marketing Manager, who brings creativity and eagerness to the job of marketing; and Swapna Padhye, Associate Publisher, and essentially my publishing boss (although I will admit that, only now that I am stepping down), whose wisdom kept me out of trouble on numerous occasions and whose insight and willingness to experiment helped us seize important new opportunities. Fourth, the Officers and Board of Directors of the AAA and the AAA staff, and especially Andrea Pendleton, the Executive Director during my tenure as editor. You have had the courage and faith to empower the Editors-in-Chiefs of the AAA journals to set the scientific standards and directions of the journals. Importantly, you have helped the editors move the journals forward by providing critical additional support when needed. I know that you will afford the same trust, respect, and assistance to my successor. Finally, although already thanked, I must end with additional thanks to John F. Fallon, who has been a friend and faithful counselor. I could not have done it without you John: you have my utmost respect as a scientist and my greatest appreciation as a friend.


Alkylzinc complexes, (Ttz(R,Me))ZnR' (R = tBu, Ph; R' = Me, Et), show interesting reactivity with acids, bases and water. With acids (e.g. fluorinated alcohols, phenols, thiophenol, acetylacetone, acetic acid, HCl and triflic acid) zinc complexes of the conjugate base (CB), (Ttz(R,Me))ZnCB, are generated. Thus the B-N bonds in Ttz ligands are acid stable. (Ttz(R,Me))ZnCB complexes were characterized by (1)H, (13)C-NMR, IR, MS, elemental analysis, and, in most cases, single crystal X-ray diffraction. The four coordinate crystal structures included (Ttz(R,Me))Zn(CB) [where R = Ph, CB (conjugate base) = OCH(2)CF(3) (2), OPh (6), SPh (8), p-OC(6)H(4)(NO(2)) (10); R = tBu, CB = OCH(CF(3))(2) (3), OPh (5), SPh (7)*, p-OC(6)H(4)(NO(2)) (9) (* indicates a rearranged Ttz ligand)]. The use of bidentate ligands resulted in structures [(Ttz(Ph,Me))Zn(CB) (CB = acac (12), OAc (14))] in which the coordination geometries are five, and intermediate between four and five, respectively. Interestingly, three forms of (Ttz(Ph,Me))Zn(p-OC(6)H(4)(NO(2))) (10) were analyzed crystallographically including a Zn coordinated water molecule in 10(H(2)O), a coordination polymer in 10(CP), and a p-nitrophenol molecule hydrogen bonded to a triazole ring in 10(Nit). Ttz ligands are flexible since they are capable of providing κ(3) or κ(2) metal binding and intermolecular interactions with either a metal center or H through the four position nitrogen (e.g. in 10(CP) and HTtz(tBu,Me)·H(2)O, respectively). Preliminary kinetic studies on the protonolysis of LZnEt (L = Ttz(tBu,Me), Tp(tBu,Me)) with p-nitrophenol in toluene at 95 °C show that these reactions are zero order in acid and first order in the LZnEt.


Nonprofit organizations play a role in the creation of a society that is civil, and it is an important one that neither the state nor for-profit organizations undertake. This raises the question of governance and accountability, which is often addressed by looking to agency-based models from the private sector. The acknowledged problem is that the agency's notion of owners does not translate well to nonprofits. Adapting the concept of leasehold (wherein the managers and organization operate with broad autonomy, using resources supplied by supporters in exchange for the promise that specific societal value will be created, and are accountable for doing so) allows for a more flexible and responsive arrangement. It also suggests a mechanism whereby many independent nonprofits taking multiple approaches help civil society evolve.


This thesis investigates pressure stimulated voltages (PSVs) in manmade and geological materials using
a field capable and commercially viable electric potential sensor (EPS) technology. Sensing
technologies are of great importance for the structural health monitoring (SHM) of manmade and
geological structures and are critical for improving the health and safety of humans and infrastructure.
A wide variety of sensing technologies are needed to assess damage over structures. Work by others
involves measuring pressure stimulated electrical emissions (PSEs) (i.e. the study of pressure stimulated
voltage, electric field and current) that are related to acoustic emissions (AEs) in rock and cement mortar,
and also mechanical properties. Although these studies yield promising results, the measurement tools
(laboratory electrometers and electromagnetic emissions (EME) antennas) are not suitable for field use.
This is predominantly because of the need of Faraday shielding to reduce noise, plus the impracticalities
and high costs associated with using laboratory instruments for SHM. However, the EPS developed at
the University of Sussex is capable of measuring PSVs in rocks and is field capable.
In this thesis, PSVs in rocks and man-made materials were measured using two EPS variants. An
existing capacitively coupled sensor was used to measure high frequency (25.5 mHz to 750 kHz)
transient PSVs associated with cracking. In addition, a novel directly coupled smart EPS was developed
for monitoring low frequency (DC to 250 Hz) PSVs associated with applied stress. A signal conditioning
and data reduction procedure was developed for PSV emissions analogous to methods used for AE. A
new robust method for measuring PSV was established in which cylindrical material specimens were
instrumented with strain gauges, piezo transducers and EPSs to measure strain, AE and PSV respectively
and a force transducer was used to measure the applied load.
The results showed that PSVs were detected in a wide range of piezo and non-piezo rocks and for the
first time in concrete, in the range of millivolts (0.32 mV – 1180 mV). Faraday shielding the experiments
was not necessary as with other PSE monitoring technologies.
For oven dried materials there was some degree of correlation between PSV high frequency transient
signals and AE (i.e. cracking). Rocks had cross-correlation coefficients ranging from 0.13 to 0.86, and
the cross-correlation coefficient for concrete (0.24) was lower than most rock lithologies. Environmental
conditions and the stage of uniaxial deformation of materials influence PSV-AE cross-correlations.
Water or saline saturation of materials generally reduced the PSV-AE cross correlation coefficients.
During the cyclic loading of various rock lithology, a work hardening effect was observed in the PSV
emissions analogous to the well-known Kaiser and Felicity effect of AE. A likely reason for the PSV-AE
correlations is that PSVs are generated by the movement and separation of fresh charged fracture
surfaces. EPS could be a cost effective and more advanced technology for detecting cracking in
structures and in combination with piezo transducers, could be used to identify material deformation
stages.
There was a linear relationship between applied stress and DC/low frequency PSV in piezo rocks
(r2 = 0.84) but not non-piezo rocks (r2 = 0.0063). The piezoelectric effect of quartz is the most likely
generation mechanism behind the PSV-stress relationship. The novel, directly coupled, smart EPS is a
successful design as it has the necessary high input impedance and low noise characteristics for
measuring PSVs noninvasively at low frequencies. EPS could be the first non-invasive technology for
in-situ stress measurement in quartz bearing rocks; current methods involve disturbing the rock mass
and are expensive to implement.
In conclusion, the results show that the EPS-PSV measurement technique is viable for the SHM of rocks
and concrete. Although, factors such as material composition, environmental condition and type of
material deformation influence PSV characteristics and would need to be accounted for in real world
applications.
Future directions for the research would involve the development of a "real time" PSV event detection
system for long term monitoring of structures for SHM applications. Additionally, large scale testing of
different material samples in different environmental conditions and the testing of larger structures using
arrays of EPS would be necessary before commercialisation.
Future commercialisation could result in a restively coupled broadband monolithic semiconductor EPS
being developed for SHM to monitor PSVs associated with applied stress and cracking events
simultaneously. This would produce a more cost effective and advanced tool than existing technologies,
such as piezo transducers for monitoring AE and in-situ stress monitoring techniques.


The established interpretations of four biblical narratives--Lot's daughters, Tamar, Ruth and Bathsheba--often reduce the women to stock characters who inform our ideas about biblical Israel (Rendsburg; Frymer-Kensky) or the line of David (Menn). When read for their gender information, however, one finds women who employ individual strategies of deception and trickery, motivated by self-interest, to successfully maneuver within the system to their benefit. Such initiative is valorous: they save themselves through their own pluck and ingenuity. The title of this dissertation evokes an argument that heroic biblical women carry their essential weapons upon and within themselves.This study begins by considering the historiographical background to the Hebrew Bible. Next, the four narratives are placed in context by presenting some of the major textual theories behind Genesis through Kings, the books where these stories appear. The women are incorporated into the Bible's larger civic themes by subsuming them under the heading of "Israel," thus deflating the characters' gender and initiative. The action which marks these stories--women motivated by self-interest coupled with deception and an incidence of Wendy Doniger's "bedtrick," an instance of sexual trickery that challenges the text's power and gender dynamics--puts these characters in league with female heroes from folk tale and legend. Folklore methodologies are then applied in order to highlight their robust action. A structuralist frame adapted from Vladimir Propp and Mary Ann Jezewski is applied to several biblical stories, testing their common motifs and actions with traits established by other non-biblical female heroic narratives. Strong heroic themes are found in all four narratives. A collective approach to the four narratives then uncovers the allusions, parallelisms and language which links them together and offers a trait list for the female biblical heroic. This work concludes by critiquing previous discussions of women in the Bible as well as conjecturing on the stories' origins and their role as religious models. The dissertation argues for the efficacy of women as an analytic category as suggested by Ortner and Heilbrun and suggests how this new identification of heroic women in the Bible affects further interpretation of the Bible.