The world's human population is increasing at an unprecedented rate with much of this growth taking place in towns and citiesof developing countries.Dar es Salaamin United Republic of Tanzania is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa with a population of more than 4.5 million people.The study was carried in the populous district Temeke, one of the three districts within Dar es Salaam City. The district is accommodating 30% of total populationof Dar es Salaam(estimated to reach 1.4 million people). Approximately, less than 15% of Temeke residents supplied with surface water from DAWASCO water supply system. The rest90% rely on groundwater as their main source of potable water supplied through public and private deep boreholes or shallow wells. The illegaland improper dumping of solid waste,leakage of effluentfrom industries, poor management of sewage from domestic and commercial activities aremajor common pollution sources identified in the area.The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of rapid expansion of the urban settlements on groundwater vulnerability in Temeke District. The study assessed the spatial and temporal changes of land use and land cover changes in the area, identifiedand assessed the groundwater quality status.The study further investigated and mappedgroundwater vulnerability areas to pollution using the DRASTIC Model.Land use andland coveranalysis of the study area through GIS and Remote Sensing application using Landsat imagery TM and ETM of 1989, 1998, 2009 and 2014 undersupervised classification was applied. Results showed largeexpansion of built up area by 62% due to urbanizationfrom 1989 to 2014. Population increasecausedexpansion of built up areaand reduction ofthe open land from 47% to 13% and woodlandcover from 33% to 18%. The high expansion of built-up area with rapid emerging of informal settlements and urban slums and use of onsite sanitation threatened the water quality in the area.In assessingthe groundwater quality status of Temeke District, the area was divided into four categories namely; industrial areas (Keko,ChangA³mbe and Kurasini), residential areas (MbagalaKuu, Mtoni andKurasini), agricultural areas (ChangA³mbe) and commercial areas (Tandika). Groundwater samples from boreholes and shallow wells inthe selected sampling sites in the study area were analysed for physico-chemical and microbiological parameters. The parameters were analysedusing standard methods. Faecal coliforms increased in concentrationfrom 0 CFU/100 ml at Keko,MbagallaKuu and Tandika in the dry season to 170 CFU/100 ml at ChangA³mbeduringwet season. The mean value measuredwas26 ±37CFU/100ml in the dry season and56 ± 64CFU/100ml during the wet season. The total coliform count measured in the dry season ranged from 5 CFU/100ml to 257 CFU/100ml while in the wet season it ranged from 10 CFU/100ml to 310 CFU/100ml). The mean total coliform count ranged from 67 ± 95 CFU/100ml in the dry season to 115 ± 110 CFU/100ml in the wet season. Statistical results from ANOVA indicated significant difference of faecal coliforms among sampling sites and between seasons at significant level p = 0.05 (f = 10.036, p = 0.001). A TukeyPost-hoc Test confirmed the significant differences between Tandika and ChangA³mbe (p = 0.001), Mtoni and ChangA³mbe (p = 0.003) Kurasini and ChangA³mbe (p = 0.021), Keko and ChangA³mbe (p = 0.001) and MbagallaKuu and ChangA³mbe (p = 0.005). Analysis of varianceshowed statistical significant differences of total coliforms count among sites and between season at significant level p < 0.05(f=20.447, p < 0.000. The TukeyPost hoc Test discovered the statisticalsignificant differences of the total coliforms means between Tandika and ChangA³mbe (p = 0.000), Mtoni and ChangA³mbe (p = 0.000) Kurasini and ChangA³mbe (p = 0.001), Keko and ChangA³mbe (p = 0.000) and MbagallaKuu and ChangA³mbe (p = 0.000) at significant level p < 0.05.Results revealedalso high concentration inturbidity, total dissolved solids,nitrate, iron, manganese,faecal coliforms and total coliforms exceeded the Tanzanian Standards and World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits for drinking water.The rapid population increasein the area coupled with high usage of on-site sanitary facilities(pit latrines and septic tanks) and poor waste management all contribute to elevated levels of some of the groundwater quality parameters.The DRASTIC method for mapping intrinsic aquifer vulnerability was applied to identify and delineate the groundwater vulnerable area to pollution based on hydrogeological parameters ofthe study area. Results from DRASTIC Model revealed that, about 49.39% of the total area in Temeke District found to lie between moderate to extreme high vulnerable of groundwater pollution. Thesewere allareas characterized with high population density with high use of onsite sanitary facilities mostly pit latrines, septic tanks, improper dumping of solid wasteand sewage from industries, commercial and residential areas. Also, hydrogeological parameters of the area like highporosity and permeability (influencing hydraulic conductivity) of the existing alluvial sandy aquifer, high rechargefrom surface pollution sources lowered the capacity of this aquifer to attenuate all the contaminants.The study recommends the need to have regular monitoring of groundwater in Temeke District and that intrinsic vulnerability maps should be incorporated into urban landuse planning and decision making to minimise the risk of groundwater contamination from pollution load.,WaterNet


PurposeThis study aims to investigate the associations between audit firm attributes (i.e. audit firm size, non-audit services, auditor industry specialization and auditor-client tenure) and specific indicators of audit quality. It also aims to test whether these relationships are moderated by a set of other factors like legal system and US versus non-US settings.Design/methodology/approachThe method of Hunter et al. (1982) is used as a meta-analysis technique to test the study hypotheses and achieve the study aims. A total of 71 published papers from 1992 to 2017 are included.FindingsThere are significant positive relationships between all audit firm attributes and audit quality. Additionally, the associations between all audit firm attributes and audit quality are moderated by proxies for audit quality. Furthermore, these associations are moderated by other variables, such as US and non-US studies, pre-SOX and post-SOX periods, the legal system, the strength of auditing and reporting standards and country classification (developed or developing country).Research limitations/implicationsThe number of studies is insufficient for some variables, and therefore, the results should be interpreted with caution. In addition, the analyzed studies include several proxies, and thus, the number of studies is inadequate for the incorporation of other factors in the meta-analysis (e.g. audit firm experience and audit firm reputation).Originality/valueThis study contributes to audit quality research by providing empirical evidence of the associations between a specific set of audit firm attributes and audit quality using the meta-analysis method. More importantly, the study provides evidence on factors that moderate these associations.


The literature on denatured alcohol drinking includes substantial reports on the toxicological aspects of the experimental studies and on acute poisoning of denatured alcohol. However, there is scant mention of the alcoholic's use of denatured alcohol as an alternate source to sustain his addictive habit. We have been repeatedly impressed by reports of consumption of denatured alcohol in histories given by chronic alcoholics. By definition, a drinker of denatured alcohol is a person who, over a period of time, drinks any preparation of rectified spirits which has been denatured for domestic, industrial, or medical use (see Table I). Common denaturants used are methyl alcohol, gasoline, benzene, chloroform, pyridine, and naphthalene, in combination or individually. (see Table I-Glossary). This study was lndertaken to explore the damage, mainly to the central nervous system, caused by the denaturants. Ten cases were studied for neuropsychiatric pathology resulting from drinking denatured alcohol. The duration of their drinking this substance varied from two months to eighteen months. From the clinical data, a personality profile is drawn of these individuals. There is a high incidence of toxicity to the central nervous system of an irreversible nature as well as to the respiratory system. Psychometric tests can be helpful in early detection (with prophylaxis) of damage caused to the higher cerebral process.


A collaborative approach was developed to support the professional development of teacher candidates, collaborating teachers (CTs) and teacher educators in learning to use technology for professional and pedagogical uses. Collaboration with K-5 teachers was undertaken to build the teachers' capacities to use technology in meaningful ways in their classroom and school, with the intent to develop technology-rich sites for teacher candidates' learning. A study of teacher candidates' (n=24) and CTs' (n=15) experiences during one school year indicated that both groups learned to use technology for a variety of pedagogical and professional uses, and teacher candidates had ample opportunities to work with technology. Moreover, teacher candidates shared their growing expertise with more experienced teachers by assisting their collaborating teachers with technology, a reversal of roles usually played in a mentoring situation. Nevertheless, the study also revealed that little collaboration and interactive dialogue about technology and its potential took place between 12 teacher candidates and CT pairs. Further steps are needed to create the culture of collaboration and reciprocity envisioned, where teacher candidates and CTs work together to use and appraise technology and to think critically about meaningful technology integration into the K-5 curriculum. ********** All technical progress has three kinds of effects: the desired, the foreseen, and the unforeseen. Ellul (1990, p. 61) Today's novice teachers face many challenges. They must learn to teach for understanding in ways that are consistent with high professional standards (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards [NBPTS], 1989; National Council of Teachers of English/International Reading Association [NCTE/IRA], 1996; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM], 1991). They are also expected to understand and use technology in flexible, adaptive, and powerful ways to support their own and their students' learning (International Society for Technology in Education [ISTE], 1999; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education [NCATE], 1997). For teacher educators, tackling these pedagogical challenges is complex because there can be great variation in teacher candidates' entering knowledge, skills, and dispositions in using technology (Laffey & Musser, 1998; Willis & Mehlinger, 1996). There is similar variation in technology knowledge and use between two groups responsible for supporting novice teachers' learning: teacher educators, and the classroom teachers who work with teacher candidates in schools (Fox, Thompson, & Chang, 1996; Niederhauser & Stoddart, 1994; Willis & Mehlinger, 1996). When teacher preparation program technology requirements were adopted several years ago, our faculty decided to infuse work toward those requirements into existing courses, instead of offering a separate course, so that information technology could be linked with the substance of the program (Gillingham & Topper, 1999). The challenge was to embed meaningful uses of technology within course offerings and school-based field work such that teacher candidates would learn to use technology in support of their own professional learning and in support of the learning of K-8 students. With support from the U. S. Department of Education's program for Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to use Technology (PT3), a collaborative approach was developed to support the professional development of teacher candidates, collaborating teachers (K-5) and teacher educators in learning to use technology for professional and pedagogical uses. These efforts, undertaken in a senior-year course on methods of teaching literacy and math in Michigan State University's Teacher Preparation Program, (1) were intended primarily to develop teacher candidates' knowledge, skill and disposition to use technology both within their professional course work and in the K-5 schools where they spent four hours per week in their collaborating teacher's (CT) classroom. …


The fibro-osseous pseudotumor of the digit (1, 2, 3) is a rare non-neoplastic condition of heterotopic ossification that affects the soft tissues of the fingers and which has the same significance as localized myositis ossificans (3), i.e. a reactive, benign myofibroblastic and osseous proliferation. It prevails in the young adult and in females, usually involving the fingers (3), especially the proximal phalanx of the index (3), sometimes the feet, rarely other sites, such as the frontal region (2). A proportion of patients reports a trauma, sometimes repetitive, in our case nail biting. The radiological examination shows, as in our case, the integrity of the phalangeal bone profile and a soft-tissue swelling with indistinct limits within which are located focal calcification without the typical appearance of the zonal myositis ossificans; the latter consists of a trasparent area in the center of the lesion, which indicates the formation of immature bone, surrounded peripherally by a dense zone of mature ossification. The histological examination, as in our case, shows bundles of spindle cells, with minimal or mild atypia, immersed in a myxoid stroma containing irregular osteoid trabeculae delimited by osteoblasts. The removal of the lesion is rarely followed by local recurrences. It is important to know the clinical, radiological and histological features of this condition, especially to distinguish it from malignat conditions as extraskeletal osteosarcoma, which affects mainly the elderly and presents cytological atypia and atypical mitosis (2).


Traditionally, independent dam or tidal fences in the sea should be built before the tidal energy electric power generating. In the near future, more and more cross sea bridges will be constructed between the mainland and the islands in the east of China, or between the islands. If the tidal fences are designed to be installed on these bridges, much investment will be saved than constructing tidal fences independently. But it will increase the loads of the bridges. Considering the bridges with or without tidal fences installed, three types of cross sea bridge models are built numerically. The stresses and deformations of the bridge structures are calculated. And the effects of the fences on the bridge structure are evaluated. The results may be useful for the designing of cross sea bridges and power generating device of tidal energy.


The importance of phosphatides in the biochemistry of the retina and in visual function provided a basis for therapeutic administration of these substances in cases of senile maculopathy and retinitis pigmentosa. In cases of dry senile maculopathy, good results were only obtained by administering (n-3)-docosahexaenacid to the retina as the active component of intramuscular injections of Etaretin. So far only one report of a convincing therapeutic success in a case of retinitis pigmentosa has been published.


This paper reports the development of optimal vascularization for supplying self-healing smart materials with liquid that fills and seals the cracks that may occur throughout their volume. The vascularization consists of two-dimensional grids of interconnected orthogonal channels with two hydraulic diameters (D1, D2). The smallest square loop is designed to match the size (d) of the smallest crack. The network is sealed with respect to the outside and is filled with pressurized liquid. In this work, the crack site is modelled as a small spherical volume of diameter d. When a crack is formed, fluid flows from neighbouring channels to the crack site. This volume-to-point flow is optimized using two formulations: (1) incompressible liquid from steady constant-strength sources located in every node of the grid and from sources located equidistantly on the perimeter of the vascularized body of length scale L and (2) slightly compressible liquid from an initially pressurized grid discharging in time-dependent fashion into one crack site. The flow in every channel is laminar and fully developed. The objectives are (a) to minimize the global resistance to the flow from the grid to the crack site and (b) to minimize the time of discharge from the pressurized grid to the crack site. It is shown that methods (a) and (b) yield similar results. There is an optimal ratio of channel diameters D2/D1 < 1, and it decreases as the grid fineness (L/d) increases. The global flow resistance of the grid with optimized ratio of diameters is approximately half of the resistance of the corresponding grid with one channel size (D1 = D2). The optimized ratio of diameters and the minimized global resistance depend on how the grid intersects the crack site: this effect is minor and stresses the robustness of the vascularized design.


The increasing use of advanced electronic packages like Flip Chips and CSP under harsh environmental conditions, extreme temperatures is often a reason for damage, fatigue and failure of entire components and systems. Consequently, their thermo-mechanical reliability is one of the most important preconditions for adopting these technologies in industrial applications. To prevent chips from being exposed to the external environment integrated circuits are usually encapsulated into packages. As a result, a microelectronic package is basically a compound of several materials with quite different Young's moduli and thermal expansion coefficients. Additionally, various kinds of inhomogeneity, residual stresses from several steps of the manufacturing process contribute to interface delaminations, chip cracking and fatigue of solder interconnects. This paper intends to describe the investigation of damage and interface delamination phenomena in micro components by numerical investigations by means of fracture mechanics concepts based on nonlinear FEA and experimental investigations. Consequently, the contribution shows the use of non-linear finite element simulations with respect to the nonlinear, temperature and rate dependent behavior of different materials used, the application of fracture mechanics concepts (energy release rate, integral fracture approaches, mode-mixity examinations) in combination with experimental investigations. For these purpose, bending specimens consisting of several materials interfaces widely used in FC ssemblies and CSP have been investigated in particular. In order to evaluate the different approaches used some results have been compared to micrographs from growing interface delaminations by using micro deformation measurements on the basis of a gray scale correlation method applied to micrographs, in particular. The methodology explained is a helpful basis for understanding and evaluating failure mechanisms especially of several polymer material interfaces as well as of solder joints in a more consistent manner. It should support further applications for raising the thermo-mechanical reliability of advanced electronic packages.


Now a day's India is one of the major markets in the world which is still achieved common growth in both print and digital media. It's start-up and stand-up movement campaigning program is based on the major action plan aimed for promoting sufficient bank finance towards a new start-up ventures to boost and generate entrepreneurship and also to promote start-ups with much more job creation facilities. Start-up India should be coincident with public libraries and will also provide the supporting infrastructures like; accessories, equipments, computer peripherals with good amenities and well accommodation for reading and learning facilities for users in both indoor and outdoor of school and colleges through both online and offline mode. All Public libraries could do the same in a start-up economy and play a major vital role with sufficient beneficiary assets for users to develop knowledge, education and will gain certain creativity power through start-up and stand-up India movement programs.


This essay elaborates about the dynamic relationship between consumers and products, taking in account well-being as an expected outcome, and the subjective manner in which individuals process information. Several concepts are taken in account: cognitive schemas, prior studies made on well-being and hedonic utility. The essay proposes a conceptual frame entitled adapted consumption schemas, to construe the projected expectation of satisfaction by the consumer, consistent with his beliefs and values system in a given moment.


Maintaining an appropriate balance between subsets of CD4+ Th and T regulatory cells (Tregs) is critical to maintain immune homeostasis and prevent autoimmunity. Through a common requirement for TGF-β, the development of peripherally induced Tregs is intimately linked to that of Th17 cells, with the resulting lineages depending on the presence of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6. Currently very little is known about the molecular signaling pathways that control the development of Tregs vs Th17 cells. Reduced activity of the PI3K pathway is required for TGF-β-mediated induction of Foxp3 expression and the suppressive activity of Tregs. To investigate how negative regulators of the PI3K pathway impact Treg development, we investigated whether SHIP, a lipid phosphatase that regulates PI3K activity, also plays a role in the development and function of Tregs. SHIP-deficient Tregs maintained suppressive capacity in vitro and in a T cell transfer model of colitis. Surprisingly, SHIP-deficient Th cells were significantly less able to cause colitis than were wild-type Th cells due to a profound deficiency in Th17 cell differentiation, both in vitro and in vivo. The inability of SHIP-deficient T cells to develop into Th17 cells was accompanied by decreased IL-6-stimulated phosphorylation of STAT3 and an increased capacity to differentiate into Treg cells under the influence of TGF-β and retinoic acid. These data indicate that SHIP is essential for normal Th17 cell development and that this lipid phosphatase plays a key role in the reciprocal regulation of Tregs and Th17 cells.


Transformation of mouse cells (Ltk−) and human cells (HeLa Bu) from a thymidine kinase (TK)-minus to a TK+ phenotype (herpes simplex virus [HSV]-transformed cells) has been induced by infection with ultraviolet-irradiated HSV type 2 (HSV-2), as well as by HSV type 1 (HSV-1). Medium containing methotrexate, thymidine, adenine, guanosine, and glycine was used to select for cells able to utilize exogenous thymidine. We have determined the kinetics of thermal inactivation of TK from cells lytically infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2 and from HSV-1- and HSV-2-transformed cells. Three hours of incubation at 41 C produces a 20-fold decrease in the TK activity of cell extracts from HSV-2-transformed cells and Ltk− cells lytically infected with HSV-2. The same conditions produce only a twofold decrease in the TK activities from HSV-1-transformed cells and cells lytically infected with HSV-1. This finding supports the hypothesis that an HSV structural gene coding for TK has been incorporated in the HSV-transformed cells.


A new apparatus was developed for measuring changes in E(h), pH, and cell numbers. With this apparatus, the relationships of these parameters were studied at initial E(h) levels of 200 and 40 mv (pH 7.0), by using Clostridium perfringens and Pseudomonas fluorescens. One of the strains of C. perfringens grew more luxuriantly at the higher E(h), in the presence of small quantities of oxygen, than at the lower one in the absence of oxygen. P. fluorescens could grow at a relatively low E(h) (40 mv, pH 7.0) in pure culture but not in the presence of C. perfringens under the same conditions.


This research is motivated by the low activities and student learning
outcomes in teaching reading comprehension is lesson. The purpose of this action
research to improve the activity and student learning outcomes in reading
comprehension through cooperative learning type teams-games-tounament (TGT)
in fifth grade class Elementary School 8 South Metro academic year 2011/2012.
This study is a Classroom Action Research (CAR). CAR consists of a series of
four activities carried out in the cycle, namely: (1) planning, (2) implementation,
(3) observation, and (4) reflection. The data were taken by using observation, test,
and documentation. The data analysis of this research is descriptive qualitative
and quantitative of the learning process of students from the first cycle to the
second cycle.The results of the reading comprehension is lesson in fifth grade
class students of Elementary School 8 South Metro through the TGT cooperative
learning from cycle to cycle is increase. Student activity in the first cycle obtained
65.90%, in the second cycle it obtained 78.40% or 12.50% increased. Student
learning outcomes in the first cycle is 68.33, the second cycle increased 5.21 to
73.54. Based on the findings, reading comprehension activities through
cooperative learning tipe TGT is able to improve student learning outcomes.
Researcher recommend to teachers to implement cooperative learning TGT as an
alternative learning method to teach Indonesian as well as other subjects.
Keywords: Activities, Learning Outcomes, Reading Comprehension, TeamsGames-Tournament
(TGT)


The generation of solar fuels through artificial photosynthesis could, in principle, solve our looming energy crisis. Photoelectrochemical devices use light-absorbers, such as semiconductors, to capture sunlight and generate excited states of charge carriers that are transported to catalysts for the production of renewable fuels. However, many photoactive materials are chemically unstable in contact with an aqueous electrolyte solution and therefore need protection through coating by a material that is chemically robust to prevent corrosion and conducting to allow transfer of charges to a solution-exposed catalytic site. Commonly used coating procedures and materials are often challenging to scale and therefore unlikely to be applicable on a scale to cover global energy demand. In this mini review, we present recent advances revolving around unconventional, yet technically simpler and less costly routes to protecting and activating photocorrodible electrodes for solar fuels application. We focus on two emerging approaches: (i) the use of single source precursor chemistry for the preparation of bi-functional protecting and catalytically active layers, and (ii) the use of low-temperature fusible eutectic alloys as protecting and conducting layers that can be easily activated for catalysis.


As an integral part of the Web Services Security (WS-Security), directory services are used to store and access X.509 certificates. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is the predominant directory access protocol for the Internet, and hence for the Web services. Values of LDAP attribute and assertion value syntaxes, though defined using ASN.1, are encoded in simple octet string formats which generally do not preserve the complete structure of the abstract values. As a result, LDAP matching rules for certificates need to be provided in a certificate-syntax specific way, while X.500 matching rules can be constructed from structured ASN.1 syntax definition. Moreover, LDAP has traditionally lacked the capability to make assertions against components of values of complex syntaxes such as X.509 certificates. The WS-Security needs to be able to locate a target X.509 certificate by matching against arbitrary certificate components in its security token references. Therefore, WS-Security requires the directory server to be prepared with all the possible matching functions for maximum flexibility. This is very cumbersome due to the lack of ASN.1 awareness in LDAP server implementations. This led to development of remedies such as the recently proposed Certificate Parsing Server (XPS). XPS extracts relevant components of the certificate and stores them in separate and searchable attributes. Due to the significant downside of these remedies, we decided to seek after an ASN.1 based Component Matching alternative in an attempt to make an LDAP directory server ASN.1 aware. With Component Matching and ASN.1 awareness, LDAP can provide WS-Security with various matching rules flexibly. In this paper, we describe our implementation of the Component Matching and ASN.1 awareness in OpenLDAP Software. This paper will also describe the use of the Component Matching technology in various security components of Web Services, especially in the context of WS-Security and XKMS. The experimental results show that flexible and secure certificate access can be accomplished without sacrificing performance and manageability.


Background This study was performed to test the association between Helicobacter pylori (HP) and periodontal disease (PD). Material/Methods This was a case-control study in a comprehensive hospital, including all patients with newly diagnosed PD between 2012 and 2014 as cases and all patients without PD as controls, thorough periodontal examinations. Those who tested positive for HP were examined by means of polymerase chain reaction. Single and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the data using SPSS 19.0 software. Results This case-control study included 212 Han Chinese non-smoking adults. The results indicated that HP-positive status significantly increased the risk of PD (2.63 times higher (odds ratio [OR]=2.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.48–4.67). After adjustment for age, sex, level of education, physical exercise, body mass index, and history of alcohol and diabetes mellitus, this association remained significantly (OR=2.82, 95% CI=1.55–5.13). Conclusions PD might be associated with HP infection in adults and HP infection may be a significant and independent risk factor for PD.


In Chapter One I motivate the search for an account of approximate truth as being the way to make sense of how our best scientific theories are simultaneously false but useful, and of how the same theory (even a true one) varies in its usefulness depending on context. I evaluate existing approaches and find that they fail - among other reasons - because they are unable to accommodate how two errors of similar logical seriousness nevertheless may have greatly different implications for approximate truth. The only way round this is some form of weighting scheme across logical statements that is motivated by extra-logical criteria. The little existing work along these lines suffers from insufficient generality, and I suggest instead a weighting scheme based on the notion of causal strength. In Chapter Two I develop the details of following such a prescription. It turns out to be crucial to highlight a hitherto underappreciated dichotomy between what I label the 'ontological' and 'empirical' senses of approximate truth. After outlining the practical advantages of my approach I discuss a number of technicalities, including several that confound all previous approaches. (I also outline an exact formal definition in an appendix.) Finally, I tackle the vexed issue of comparing two models with incommensurable ontologies. One of the results of the complicated discussion is that no sense can be made of science in general getting nearer the truth, only sense made of particular models getting nearer the truth of particular explananda. In Chapter Three I flesh out the notion - key for my scheme - of causal strength, giving a formal definition and sorting through the numerous necessary technicalities. I also explain how straightforward sense can be made of causal strengths even in cases of interactive effects and also even in cases where two causes are apparently incommensurable.


Background: Cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer remains a complex and invasive procedure with elevated risks of postoperative complications and readmission. We aimed to characterize the rate and predictors of 30-day readmission in patients undergoing ovarian cancer surgery.

Methods: Women undergoing ovarian cancer surgery between 2010 and 2015 were identified in the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD). Baseline demographics and clinical features of patients readmitted within 30 days were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant perioperative factors associated with readmission.

Results: Of 94,077 patients undergoing surgery for ovarian malignancy, 12,806 (13.6%) were readmitted within 30 days. The proportion of 30-day readmissions has significantly decreased from 15.2% in 2010 to 12.5% in 2015 (p<.001). Readmitted patients were more likely to have large bowel resection during initial surgery (18.9 vs. 11.5%, p<.001), and experience a postoperative complication, including bowel perforation and infection (11.2 vs. 7.7%, p<.001). The primary reasons for 30-day readmission included postoperative infection (10.6%) and gastrointestinal dysfunction or infection (9.0%). In multivariable analysis, Medicaid (OR 1.18 [95% Confidence Interval 1.04-1.35]), age < 50 years old (OR 1.35 [1.17-1.56]), large (OR 1.35 [1.20-1.51]) or small bowel (OR 1.34 [1.14-1.57]) resection, and discharge to a skilled nursing facility (SNF; OR 1.53 [1.34-1.75]) were significantly associated with 30-day readmission. For readmitted patients, index hospitalization cost was higher ($25,021 vs. $19,587, p<.001) and length of stay (LOS) was longer (8.7 vs 6.4 days, p<.001).

Discussion: Rates of 30-day readmission are declining, however, continued optimization of perioperative pathways for patients at highest risk of readmission, including those undergoing bowel resections and those discharged to a SNF, is warranted.


This doctoral thesis explores paradigms currently used in mental health services. The thesis comprises a literature review, a research paper and a critical appraisal. A final section is dedicated to the ethical procedures undertaken prior to undertaking the research. The literature review is a systematic review which synthesises 14 qualitative papers studying the experiences of accessing mental health services for individuals who have received a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. The overarching theme 'bpd is a double-edged sword' is labelled along with four sub-themes: 'undeserving of care', 'disempowerment', 'safety and containment' and 'approaching recovery'. Findings suggest the need for further inclusion of service users in the development of service provision and an approach that is formulation-based and grounded in attachment theory. The research paper explores psychiatrists' understanding and use of psychological formulation. A constructivist grounded theory framework led to an initial conceptualisation and model. Four conceptual categories were named as 'conceptualising formulation', 'singing off the same hymn sheet', 'barriers to formulation' and 'making a Frankenstein's monster'. In particular the findings suggest that psychiatrists view and use psychological formulation in a different way from that outlined by clinical psychologists and that there are multiple barriers to its use. Finally, the critical review presents challenges encountered during the research project and personal reflections on the process. Overall the thesis highlights the need for mental health services to embrace multiple paradigms and remain open to alternative discourses around mental illness in order to provide a holistic and integrated service provision. A formulation-based approach may provide such an arena, while allowing space for individualised care. Clinical psychologists are well placed to promote such an approach via service development and consultation with multidisciplinary staff.


This article assesses why the French and US banks Paribas and Speyers underwrote a series of loans to revolutionary Mexico in 1912 and 1913, when the state was in the process of collapsing. This is a case of a war debt that failed to prevent the borrowing government from suspending payments and subsequently falling. Based on unpublished primary documents, the article shows that the 1913 loan involved a conflict of interest. The credit delayed a default and sustained the price of Mexican securities while Paribas, its main underwriter, was liquidating its Mexican portfolio. Evidence also suggests the existence of asymmetry of information. Paribas accessed pessimistic but accurate first‐hand information on Mexico, while the public read over‐optimistic press reports. Paribas forced the government to sell the bonds on the primary market at a price that was low, controlling for publicly available data. It subsequently sold the bonds at a margin on the secondary market. An additional reason for the lending is the Nacional railway, a state‐owned company that used a share of the funds to pay its debt. More exposed to Mexico than Paribas, the small and internationalized Speyers held the bad bonds it had underwritten.


Pb2+ activated native chick-embryo liver mitochondrial delta-aminoaevulinate synthase (EC 18.104.22.168). This result contradicted with the inhibitory effect observed by earlier workers who used degraded enzyme preparations. Enzyme activation was biphasic. An initial activation phase was observed with Pb2+ concentrations up to 200 microM, and a secondary phase with concentrations from 200 microM to at least 2mM. Maximum primary activation was 2.5-fold at 200 microM-Pb2+, with a further 2-fold activation observed at 2mM-Pb2+. Primary activation was not affected by a 10-fold molar excess of dithioerythritol, but the secondary activation was abolished by dithioerythritol. Secondary-phase activation was lost upon increasing time of incubation of the enzyme with Pb2+. The implications of these findings are discussed with reference to lead poisoning and the mechanism of delta-aminolaevulinate synthase.


Background

This study was conducted to evaluate and update the current prevalence of and risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in a China.

Methods

A total of 5231 participants were randomly recruited for this study. CKD and DKD were defined according to the combination of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), presence of albuminuria and diabetes. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing lifestyle and relevant medical history, and blood and urinary specimens were taken. Serum creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and urinary albumin were assessed. The age- and gender-adjusted prevalences of CKD and DKD were calculated, and risk factors associated with the presence of reduced eGFR, albuminuria, DKD, severity of albuminuria and progression of reduce renal function were analyzed by binary and ordinal logistic regression.

Results

The overall adjusted prevalence of CKD was 16.8% (15.8 – 17.8%) and that of DKD was 3.5% (3.0 – 4.0%). Decreased renal function was detected in 132 participants [2.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.5 – 3.2%], whereas albuminuria was found in 858 participants (14.9%, 95% CI: 13.9 – 15.9%). In all participants with diabetes, the prevalence of reduced eGFR was 6.3% (95% CI = 3.9 – 8.6%) and that of albuminuria was 45.3% (95% CI = 40.4 – 50.1%). The overall prevalence of CKD in participants with diabetes was 48.0% (95% CI = 43.1 – 52.9%). The results of the binary and ordinal logistic regression indicated that factors independently associated with higher risk of reduced eGFR and albuminuria were older age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, overweight, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia.

Conclusions

Our study shows the current prevalences of CKD and DKD in residents of Central China. The high prevalence suggests an urgent need to implement interventions to relieve the high burden of CKD and DKD in China.


DEVS is a Modeling and Simulation formalism that has been used to study the dynamics of discrete event systems. Cell-DEVS is a DEVS-based formalism that defines the cell space as a group of DEVS models connected together. This work presents the design and implementation of a distributed simulation engine based on CD++; a modeling and simulation toolkit capable of executing DEVS and Cell-DEVS models. The proposed simulation engine follows the conservative approach for synchronization among the nodes, and takes advantage of web service technologies in order to execute complex models using the resources available in a grid environment. In addition, it allows for the integration with other systems using standard web service tools. The performance of the engine depends on the network connectivity among the nodes; which can be commodity Internet connections, or dedicated point-to-point links created using User Controlled Light Path (UCLP). UCLP is a web service-based network management tool used by grid applications to allocate bandwidth on demand.


Repeated investigation of dead young or carrying of corpses has been observed in several mammalian taxa, notably primates [e.g. yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus): Altmann, 1980; chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Goodall, 1986; Matsuzawa, 1997; Biro et al., 2010; ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta): Nakamichi, Koyama & Jolly, 1996; Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti): Li et al., 2012), dolphins (Tursiops spp.) (Tayler & Saayman, 1972; Harzen & Dos Santos, 1992) and elephants (Loxodonta africana) (Moss, 1976; Poole, 1996), and was recently also described in giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) (Bercovitch, 2012). Bercovitch (2012) observed a Thornicroft's giraffe (G. c. thornicrofti) briefly investigate the body of her dead, possibly stillborn, calf. Here, we present two additional cases where, following calf death, giraffe mothers and other herd members exhibited prolonged interest (over several days) in calf remains and/or the site of calf death. We consider the possible function of this behaviour. Giraffe mothers and their calves bond during the neonatal period when calves are kept in hiding (Langman, 1977; Pratt & Anderson, 1979). The mother–calf bond lasts for a minimum of 12–16 months (Langman, 1977; Leuthold, 1979), and it has been suggested that mothers and daughters may associate for several years or more (Pratt & Anderson, 1985; Estes, 1992). Giraffe calves have a high mortality rate, 58–73% in the first year (Foster & Dagg, 1972; Pellew, 1983), but the death of calves and the subsequent behavioural response of mothers are rarely observed. This report helps to fill this void with observations of both Masai (G. c. tippelskirchi) and Rothschild's (G. c. rothschildi) giraffes.


PURPOSE
To determine if compression of the left common iliac vein (LCIV) by the right common iliac artery is associated with left-sided deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This institutional review board-approved case-control study was performed in a cohort of 230 consecutive patients (94 men, 136 women; mean age, 57.5 years; range, 10-94 years) at one institution who had undergone contrast material-enhanced computed tomography of the pelvis prior to a diagnosis of unilateral DVT. Demographic data and information on risk factors were collected. Two board-certified radiologists determined iliac vein compression by using quantitative measures of percentage compression {[1 minus (LCIV diameter at point of maximal compression/distal right common iliac vein diameter)] times 100%}, as well as qualitative measures (none, mild, moderate, severe), with estimates of measurement variability. Logistic regression analysis was performed (independent variable, left vs right DVT; dependent variable, iliac vein compression). Cutpoints of relevant compression were evaluated by using splines. Means (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) and odds ratios (ORs) (and 95% CIs) of left DVT per 1% increase in percentage compression were calculated.

RESULTS
Patients with right DVT were more likely than those with left DVT to have a history of pulmonary embolism. Overall, in all study patients, mean percentage compression was 36.6%, 66 (29.7%) of 222 had greater than 50% compression, and 16 (7.2%) had greater than 70% compression. At most levels of compression, increasing compression was not associated with left DVT (adjusted ORs, 1.00, 0.99, 1.02) but above 70%, LCIV compression may be associated with left DVT (adjusted ORs, 3.03, 0.91, 10.15).

CONCLUSION
Increasing levels of percentage compression were not associated with left-sided DVT up to 70%; however, greater than 70% compression may be associated with left DVT.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL
http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.12111580/-/DC1.


There is now an overwhelming consensus in favor of the view that the monarchy attested for Demoteles on Samos was a tyranny. The key piece of evidence, however, is ambiguous. When interpreted one way, another solution is equally probable, and when interpreted another way, this other solution alone is possible.


Seventeen dry bean genotypes were tested in 18 field trials on small farms and experiment stations in the Dominican Republic in the 1981-1982 growing season, and 20 bean genotypes were tested in 10 trials in the 1982-1983 growing season to measure the reaction of promising dry bean genotypes and standard cultivars from the Dominican Republic to natural infection of foliar diseases, and to determine the frequency and intensity of foliar diseases when dry beans are generally grown in the Dominican Republic. Bacterial blight [ Xanthomonas campestris pr. phaseoli (Smith) Dye] was the most serious disease during the September plantings. Rust [ Uromyces phaseoli (Reben) Wint.] was the most prevalent disease when beans were planted in January, which is a drier month. There was little difference among the dry bean genotypes in reaction to bacterial blight. All of the genotypes developed at least a moderate level of infection of bacterial blight following the September plantings. However, several genotypes expressed high levels of resistance to rust. Among the standard red mottled cultivars, Pompadour developed the lowest level of rust infection. Angular leaf spot ( lsariopsis griseola Sacc.) and chaetoseptoria leaf spot ( Chaetoseptoria wellmanii Stevenson) also were observed in several experiments. One genotype, 5B-42-2-1, expressed a low level of infection to angular leaf spot having an average score of 1.5, whereas all genotypes were found to be susceptible to chaetoseptoria leaf spot.


To determine whether methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are present in commercial pig farms and food products from supermarkets in China, we characterized S. aureus isolates from 250 samples associated with swine and animal-related food products in Shandong Province. The isolates were characterized by susceptibility testing, toxin gene detection, pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing, and spa typing. MRSA were identified and typed by the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). The prevalence of S. aureus among all samples was 19.6% (49/250). MRSA and MSSA accounted for 16.7% (20/120) and 8.3% (10/120), respectively, of swine feces samples. Only MSSA was detected from swine carcass, pork, chicken, and raw milk, accounting for 15% (6/40), 10% (3/30), 20% (6/30), and 13.3% (4/30), respectively. The predominant MRSA clone was ST9-t899 SCCmecIVb/PFGE A (70.0%, 14/20). Among the MSSA isolates, ST9-t899/PFGE A was the most prevalent (27.6%), followed by ST15-t084 (17.2%), ST97-t2756 (10.3%), ST1-t127 (6.9%), and ST398-t899 (3.5%). Some lineages were found that are commonly detected in humans (e.g., ST1, ST5, ST7, ST59, ST88) or are human-specific (e.g., ST15). The toxin genes sec, seh, and enterotoxin gene cluster (egc) were significantly more prevalent among isolates of lineage ST9 (p<0.001) compared to other lineages, and the ST9 isolates were more resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and gentamicin. The same lineage was identified from different sample types, indicating circulation of the related strains within the area of study. In conclusion, swine and food products of animal origin carried S. aureus, and the predominant ST9 clone possesses a multidrug-resistance profile and a high prevalence of sec, seh, and egc enterotoxin genes.


The first design presents a novel location-based key management and en-route data authentication proposal. It divides the whole sensing area into a number of location cells. A group of location cells consist of a logical group. A pairwise key between two sensor nodes is established based on grid-based bivariate t-degree polynomials. Any valid reading report needs to collect enough message authentication code (MACs) from different neighbours. These pairwise keys used for generating the MAC are forwarded several hops down to the base station for future en-route data authentication.
The second design proposes a greedy location-based secure and energy-efficient data aggregation approach. It further utilizes data aggregation based on the previous design by setting up control groups, applying pattern codes, selecting and switching control head nodes dynamically and periodically. In addition, different from the first design, it only requires control head nodes to collect enough MACs in each reading report.
Extensive analysis, evaluations and experiments show us that both designs are secure, efficient and resilient.


This study endeavored to determine if persons were influenced by their art education early creative experiences and participation with other visual art activities in the selection of their chosen profession and noted when and where they received their training. After reviewing studies that identified creative occupations and economic influences of creative industries in North Carolina as well as additional states relations between skills that were taught in art education and specific occupations were noted. These relationships will be used to provide advocacy to visual art educators who want to communicate the importance of visual arts education to administrators policy makers and parents. Participants were employed in Cabarrus Cleveland and Gaston counties in North Carolina. Potential participants who were engaged in occupations identified in the North Carolina Department of Commerce definition of creative enterprises were randomly chosen to respond to a survey. The participants self-selected to respond to a questionnaire that was distributed by e-mail standard mail hand delivered or by telephone survey. The questions were designed to elicit data determining previous art education creative experiences and present and previous occupations. Following the collection of data information was organized by spreadsheet. The researcher engaged in descriptive and interpretive analysis.Â


Under variable amplitude load history the exact distribution of fatigue strength corresponding to a specified number of life cycles cannot be obtained exactly by test, fatigue strength distribution can be obtained from fatigue life distribution. According to statistical property analysis of Miner cumulative damage rule, probability distribution of fatigue life under variable amplitude load history is predicted based-on constant amplitude median Sa-Sm-N surface. In the end, a fatigue reliability model is established to calculate fatigue reliability according to stress distribution as well as fatigue life distribution function. The model is applicable to calculate fatigue reliability under stochastic load environments.


The higher engineering education of our country facing the challenge of Manufacturing Globalization, the urgent mission Is to cultivate the engineers who has international vision. Considering this, engineering universities reform of personnel training mode one after another, actively learn from the advanced experience of foreign countries, promoting practical teaching to the important position. Considering the objective of cultivation of our university which is to cultivate the high-quality applied talents, putting the CDIO engineering education philosophy as a guide, this article researches the problems such as practice teaching position and how to cultivate the Engineering consciousness, engineering practice and innovative ability of students in each teaching process of engineer training.


Abstract This study developed a multivariate model to predict free-living energy expenditure (EE) in independent military cohorts. Two hundred and eighty-eight individuals (20.6 ± 3.9 years, 67.9 ± 12.0 kg, 1.71 ± 0.10 m) from 10 cohorts wore accelerometers during observation periods of 7 or 10 days. Accelerometer counts (PAC) were recorded at 1-minute epochs. Total energy expenditure (TEE) and physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) were derived using the doubly labelled water technique. Data were reduced to n = 155 based on wear-time. Associations between PAC and EE were assessed using allometric modelling. Models were derived using multiple log-linear regression analysis and gender differences assessed using analysis of covariance. In all models PAC, height and body mass were related to TEE (P < 0.01). For models predicting TEE (r 2 = 0.65, SE = 462 kcal · d−1 (13.0%)), PAC explained 4% of the variance. For models predicting PAEE (r 2 = 0.41, SE = 490 kcal · d−1 (32.0%)), PAC accounted for 6% of the variance. Accelerometry increases the accuracy of EE estimation in military populations. However, the unique nature of military life means accurate prediction of individual free-living EE is highly dependent on anthropometric measurements.


Background: One in ten children have a parent diagnosed with a mental illness by specialised psychiatric services. Severe parental mental illness is a well-established risk factor for children's mental health problems, making the identification and support of these children a public health concern. This study investigated the mental health and family context of children of parents diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder in this clinical setting. Methods: Parental reports on 87 children aged 8–17 years were analysed. The children's mental health was compared with that of a Swedish population-based sample. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate associations between child mental health and child gender, child age, parent symptoms and social status, family functioning, and perceived parental control. Furthermore, a cumulative risk index explored the effect of multiple risk factors on child mental health. Results: The children reportedly had significantly more mental health problems than did the population-based sample and about one-third had scores above the clinical cut-off. A significant multiple linear regression explained 49% of the variance in child mental health, with lower perceived parental control and younger child age being associated with more child mental health problems. With more reported risk factors, children reportedly had more mental health problems. Conclusions: The results underline the importance of identifying a patient's children and assessing multiple relevant risk factors in the child's life. Furthermore, the results indicate that the needs of younger children and of patients in their parenting role are important to address.


This work presents a methodology for characterizing difficult instances of the Bin Packing problem using Data Mining. The objective is that the instance's characteristics help to provide some ideas for developing new strategies to find optimal solutions by improving the current solution algorithms or develop new ones. According to related work, in general, the instance characterization has been used to make a prediction of the algorithm that best solves an instance, or to improve one by associating the instance characteristics and performance of the algorithm that solves it. However, this work proposes the development of efficient solution algorithms guided by a previous identification of the characteristics that represent a greater impact on the difficulty of the instances. To validate our approach we used a set of 1,615 instances, 6 well-known algorithms of the Bin Packing Problem, and 27 initial metrics. After applying our approach, 5 metrics were found as relevant, this metrics helped to characterize 4 groups containing the instances that could not be solved by any of the algorithms used in this work. Based on the gained knowledge from the instance's characterization, a new reduction method that helps to reduce de search space of a metaheuristic algorithm was proposed. Experimental results show that applying the reduction method is able to find more optimal solutions than those reported in the specialized literature by the best metaheuristics.


Because of inefficient sources and detectors, the Terahertz band (0.1 - 10 THz) located in between electronics with tens of Gigahertz (GHz) and optics with tens of Terahertz (THz) remained hardly accessible for a long time. Rapid advances in research and development of technology for emission and detection in recent years finally enable the technical utilization of this frequency range and an increasing number of applications. This thesis focuses on the direct detection with field-effect transistors (FETs) to improve the access to the THz band with compact and fast room-temperature operating detectors. Meanwhile, there are various promising applications for real-time detection, such as communication, automotive distance radar, or spectroscopy. One main focus of this thesis is an application linked to high THz power facilities: The characterization of pulse shapes in accelerator-based experiments.

In a simple picture, a THz bias applied to a FET simultaneously modulates the charge carrier velocity as well as the charge carrier density underneath the gate electrode. As a result, a DC current is generated, that is proportional to the incident THz power. The state-of-the-art model from M. Dyakonov and M. Shur from the 1990's describes the 2 dimensional electron gas (2DEG) with hydrodynamic equations and predicts plasmonic rectification underneath the gate contact. This rectification mechanism is experimentally proven in the THz band well above the maximum frequency of oscillation fmax and cutoff frequency fT of the FET.

This thesis experimentally studies the detection mechanism of field-effect transistor-based rectifiers in the THz band and beyond in the mid infrared (MIR) up to 30 THz on the ten-picosecond scale. To achieve this exceptional frequency coverage, an antenna-less concept, the large-area FET (LA-FET), is chosen. The fast, picosecond-scale response from the FETs supports the hypothesis of an underlying Dyakonov-Shur-like rectification mechanism up to and including 30 THz regarding the responsivity distribution of the detector area, and regarding the polarization dependence. Further, the comparison with gate-less reference samples shows a suppression of more than two orders of magnitude at 2.0 THz and one order of magnitude at 11.8 THz for additional mechanisms that do not require a gate electrode. However, the gate bias dependence reduces towards higher frequencies, pointing towards a contribution of a yet unknown detection process. The fabricated detectors prove ultra-fast detection in the entire THz band with the exception of the GaAs Reststrahlen band. The upper limit of the internal rectification process evaluates to a Gaussian time constant of 7.1 ps. The slow, millisecond-response of the FETs shows increasing contributions from non-Dyakonov-Shur-like rectification mechanisms with increasing frequency, such as bolometric detection. The observed f⁻¹·⁴ roll-off is less strong than a RC roll-off with fixed resistance. This suggests an increasing radiation resistance of the LA-FET design for increasing frequency, that improves the incoupling of THz power to the FET. The large area allows to achieve a linearity range of 69 dB/√Hz, by distributing the THz power over the square-millimeter-scale active area. As compared to detectors available at the beginning of this thesis the responsivity is improved by two orders of magnitude, now allowing for the detection of picosecond-scale pulses at accelerator-based facilities without any pre-amplifier, and additionally the detection in most table-top systems.

Antenna-coupled FETs (A-FETs) are studied in a frequency range from 0.1 up to 11.8 THz. The measured responsivity agrees excellently with theoretical expectations derived from a simple equivalent circuit and the simulated radiation resistance. Devices processed with simple UV-contact lithography achieve a noise equivalent power (NEP) of 250 pW/√Hz at 0.6 THz, only one order of magnitude above foundry-processed state-of-the-art FET detectors in 65 nm technology.

Finally, both LA-FET and A-FET detectors demonstrate pulse shape characterization of picosecond-scale THz pulses from a free electron laser (FEL). The characterization of asymmetric FEL pulses arising from cavity detuning with FETs and a grating spectrometer allows the verification of a novel convolution ansatz for the FEL pulse shape, developed within this thesis. This ansatz circumvents deficits in the state-of-the-art piecewise ansatz such as unsteady differentiability and includes the smooth transition to a symmetric, Gaussian pulse. The ansatz further allows to include the Gaussian intermediate frequency (IF) limitations of the A-FET and LA-FET detector. The convolution ansatz circumvents the Heisenberg-Gabor limit, as it allows to measure exponential rise times significantly below the Gaussian IF limitations.


Slow and fast light are ubiquitous in optical amplifiers. In this Letter, we show for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that optical parametric amplification (OPA) in chirped quasi-phase-matching structures can act as a platform for group-velocity control in the femtosecond regime. The resonant cascaded nonlinear phase underlies the group-velocity control, which manifests an unusual effect that both slow and fast light can be achieved under the normal condition of signal amplification. As numerically demonstrated in the OPA based on the lithium niobate crystal, the signal and idler pulse can be significantly delayed in time comparable to the signal duration and can also keep high fidelity for durations down to 100 fs until the crystal dispersion becomes effective. The broad bandwidth, large group delay, and direct compatibility with integrated optics will make the proposed platform attractive to both fundamental research and applied science.


This article focuses on cumulative adversity and protective resources, both social and biological, that interrupt or deflect individuals from optimal life-course trajectories and contribute to widening gaps in health. Under the guiding framework of cumulative adversity and/or advantage, this narrative discusses the theoretical framework of cumulative adversity. presents identified sources of cumulative adversity and protective resources, and highlights the utilization of the life-course approach. Numerous social and biological adverse conditions are identified across multiple domains. Utilizing the life-course perspective in identifying early life determinants and the paucity of information regarding identified protective factors are discussed. Understanding health inequalities requires attention paid to heterogeneity in the impact of social statuses as well as sources of cumulative adversity and protective resources within diverging trajectories across the life course. Intervention implications are discussed, and suggestions for future research are made.


Polyunsaturated fatty acids are major structural components of plant chloroplast and endoplasmic reticulum membranes. Two fatty acid desaturases (designated FAD2 and FAD3) desaturate 75% of the fatty acids in the endoplasmic reticulum. The w -6 fatty acid desaturase (FAD2) may be responsible for cold acclimation response, since polyunsaturated phospholipids are important in helping maintain plant viability at lowered temperatures. To study regulation of FAD2 gene expression in cotton, a FAD2 gene was isolated from two genomic libraries using an Arabidopsis FAD2 hybridization probe and a cotton FAD2 5¢ -flanking region gene-specific probe, respectively. A cotton FAD2 gene was found to be in two overlapping genomic clones by physical mapping and DNA sequencing. The cloned DNA fragments are identical in size to cotton FAD2 genomic DNA fragments shown by genomic blot hybridization. The cotton FAD2 coding region has 1,155 bp with no introns and would encode a putative polypeptide of 384 amino acids. The cotton FAD2 enzyme has a high identity of 75% with other plant FAD2 enzymes. The enzyme has three histidine-rich motifs that are conserved in all plant membrane desaturases. These histidine boxes may be the iron-binding domains for reduction of oxygen during desaturation. To confirm that this FAD2 enzyme is functional, a plasmid construct containing the cotton FAD2 coding region was transformed into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The transformed yeast cells were able to catalyze the conversion of oleic acid (C18:1) into linoleic acid (C18:2). The FAD2 gene contains an intron of 2,967 bp in its 5¢ -flanking region, 11 bp upstream from the initiation codon. The intron could be essential for transcriptional regulation of FAD2 gene expression. Several putative promoter elements occur in the 5¢ -flanking region of this gene. A potential TATA basal promoter element occurs at 41 bp upstream from the cap site. Two presumptive helix-loop-helix (bHLH) motifs that may be seed-specific promoter elements are located at 109 bp and 135 bp upstream from the potential cap site.


This LibGuide outlines the processes and procedures of the Goldey-Beacom Colllege Institutional Review Board (IRB) program. IRB at GBC is managed by the office of Institutional Research & Training. (Required)


Light Scattering by Systems of Particles comprehensively develops the theory of the null-field method, while covering almost all aspects and current applications. The Null-field Method with Discrete Sources is an extension of the Null-field Method (also called T-Matrix Method) to compute light scattering by arbitrarily shaped dielectric particles. It also incorporates FORTRAN programs and exemplary simulation results that demonstrate all aspects of the latest developments of the method. The FORTRAN source programs included on the enclosed CD exemplify the wide range of application of the T-matrix method. Worked examples of the application of the FORTRAN programs show readers how to adapt or modify the programs for his specific application.


Abstract The aim of this article is to explore the differentiated attitudes towards power in Nordic regional networks. The analysis draws upon a unique comparative survey targeting regional network participants in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Three specific issues of power are studied: (1) the perceived influence of different actors in regional networks, (2) the perceived mandate of network members, and (3) the perceived impact of networks on regional development. When searching for the national political specifics that might determine participants' different attitudes, State administrative traditions and regional institutional set-ups are of particular interest. While regional governance in all countries is going through a period of transformative flux, the results show strong association with historical paths. The western countries' networks are characterised by less State influence, more influence by regional stakeholders, greater discretionary power of network members, and they are perceived to have more of an impact on regional development than their eastern counterparts. The results suggest that networks do not represent dichotomous alternatives to formal institutions of regional policy-making, but that they are linked to them in complex ways.


During recent decades, there has been dramatic Arctic sea ice retreat. This has reduced the top‐of‐atmosphere albedo, adding more solar energy to the climate system. There is substantial uncertainty regarding how much ice retreat and associated solar heating will occur in the future. This is relevant to future climate projections, including the timescale for reaching global warming stabilization targets. Here we use satellite observations to estimate the amount of solar energy that would be added in the worst‐case scenario of a complete disappearance of Arctic sea ice throughout the sunlit part of the year. Assuming constant cloudiness, we calculate a global radiative heating of 0.71 W/m2 relative to the 1979 baseline state. This is equivalent to the effect of one trillion tons of CO2 emissions. These results suggest that the additional heating due to complete Arctic sea ice loss would hasten global warming by an estimated 25 years.


We live in a world of limitless information. With technology advancing at an astonishingly fast pace, we are challenged to adapt to robotics and automated systems that threaten to replace us. Both at home and at work, an endless range of devices and Information Technology (IT) systems place demands upon our attention that human beings have never experienced before, but are our brains capable of processing it all? In this important new book, an in-depth view is taken of IT's under-studied dark side and its dire consequences on individuals, organizations, and society. With theoretical underpinnings from the fields of cognitive psychology, management, and information systems, the idea of brain overload is defined and explored, from its impact on our decision-making and memory to how we may cope with the resultant 'technostress'. Discussing the negative consequences of technology on work substitution, technologically induced work-family conflicts, and organizational design as well as the initiatives set up to combat these, the authors go on to propose measurement approaches for capturing the entangled aspects of IT-related overload. Concluding on an upbeat note, the book's final chapter explores emerging technologies that can illuminate our world when mindfully managed. Designed to better equip humans for dealing with new technologies, supported by case studies, and also exploring the idea of 'IT addiction', the book concludes by asking how IT processes may aid rather than hinder our cognitive functioning. This is essential reading for anyone interested in how we function in the digital age.


The Crandall ring-dike complex has a gabbro-diorite core intruded by a shoshonitic ring dike. Both have been cut by granular and porphyritic quartz monzonite dikes. The most abundant rock is medium-grained diorite. In contrast, the ring-dike shoshonite has large phenocrysts of plagioclase and augite in a microcrystalline ground-mass of biotite, sanidine, plagioclase, amphibole, magnetite-ilmenite, and variable amounts of glass. Texturally, the plagioclase and pyroxene appear out of equilibrium with the surrounding matrix in both the ring dike and the intrusive core rocks. The gabbro, diorite, and porphyritic quartz monzonite are characterized by plagioclases with bimodal core and rim compositions, indicating that one group is possibly xenocrystic. Trends on variation diagrams for both minor and trace elements cannot be traced from the diorite to the quartz monzonite. On variation diagrams, the shoshonite rocks have the widest scatter of data points, which can be explained by the addition of plagioclase and augite phenocrysts. Geochemical modeling is successful in demonstrating that the gabbro can be formed as a cumulate from the diorite by fractional crystallisation but is unsuccessful in relating the diorite and the quartz monzonite by this process. The strongly positive Eu anomaly in the gabbro supports the cumulate origin; the diorite and shoshonite have chemical and textural signatures which strongly indicate contamination by plagioclase and pyroxene accumulation. Even the porphyritic quartz monzonite has experienced plagioclase accumulation. The nature of the uncontaminated magma is uncertain. Chemically, the diorite is a plutonic equivalent of shoshonite, and support is given to the hypothesis that shoshonites are formed by contamination with plagioclase and pyroxene (Prostka, 1973).


Summary Outcomes management is most deeply rooted in clinical issues that interrelate concerns about quality with cost effectiveness of care. This is ground‐breaking activity from many perspectives. Researchers must work more closely with clinicians and decision makers than ever before. Hospital executives must contend with many new external data demands and determine how to operationalize outcomes management programs within their institutions. There are new roles for clinician executives who act as change agents within health care organizations, while data on outcomes of care can lead to increased bargaining power among purchasers of services. In this article we discuss the major implications this new focus on managing outcomes is having on researchers, hospital executives, clinicians, and the purchasers of health care services.


The two case studies presented explore the potential offered by in-depth qualitative analysis of students' online discussion to enhance our understanding of how students learn. Both cases are used to illustrate how the monitoring and moderation of online student group communication can open up a 'window into learning', providing us with new insights into complex problem-solving and thinking processes. The cases offer examples of students' 'thinking aloud' while problem-solving, showing how and why they arrived at particular outcomes and the underlying thought processes involved. It is argued that these insights into students' learning processes can in turn offer us the opportunity to adapt our own teaching practice in order to achieve a better pedagogical 'fit' with the learning needs of our students; for example, through a more precise or more timely intervention. It is also suggested that looking through this 'window' enables us to concentrate our assessment more closely on the process of task completion, rather than focusing solely on the end product. DOI: 10.1080/09687760600668578


Jeremy Leahman, president of Filtroil, Inc., and Albert Randolph, founder of the firm, had partnered with a supplier in China to ramp up the manufacture of their China-based filtration system and start a new zinc alloy venture. They opened a new factory in Dongwan that was a merger between Shenzhen Filtroil and their supplier, Liu Li—whose own factory was on the verge of bankruptcy. Liu would own 10% of the merged factory and Shenzhen Filtroil would own the rest and acquire all of the necessary equipment. The two businesses filter and zinc would operate under the same roof. One year later Leahman was on a plane headed for China to hash out problems with Liu, who had demanded a monthly raise for himself and his wife, a new company car, and an increase in profit sharing. He had also threatened to delay product shipment to the United States if his conditions were left unmet. Qian Kai Nam (Qian) and Shea Kai Young (Thomas), who ran Shenzhen Filtroil and were in on the zinc partnership, believed that Liu's behavior put the entire business relationship at risk. The case reveals options Leahman could take to manage the situation. The case is suitable for use in organizational behavior, human resource management, and strategy classes at the MBA and executive education levels. The material can be used to exemplify the challenges of changing a U.S.-based company into a global competitor.


Background/Objectives Renaming non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) suggests a shift of emphasis to the accompanying metabolic disturbance. Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) measured by FibroScan has been shown to be correlated with hepatic steatosis. We aim to validate its usefulness as a novel surrogate marker for evaluating metabolic derangement. Subjects/Methods Volunteers were recruited from medical staff at our hospital to undergo CAP measurements. Anthropometrics, CAP, and laboratory assessments for metabolic profiles and insulin resistance were collected. CAP < 238 dB/m denoted no hepatic steatosis, 238 ≤ CAP ≤ 259 dB/m denoted mild, 260 ≤ CAP ≤ 291 dB/m denoted moderate, and CAP > 291 dB/m denoted severe hepatic steatosis according to previous reports. Results Data of 824 participants were included for analysis. The age was 53.2 ± 15.4 years, body mass index (BMI) was 23.6 ± 3.1 kg/m2, 24.4% were male subjects, and 22.0% met the criteria for metabolic syndrome (MetS). Taking the group with CAP < 238 dB/m as control, subjects with mild, moderate, and severe hepatic steatosis had increased odds of MetS by 3.51-, 3.32-, and 5.12-fold, respectively, after adjusting for multiple confounders (p = 0.020). Metabolic profiles, insulin resistance, and presence of MetS were similar between normal-weight subjects with CAP ≥ 238 dB/m and overweight subjects with CAP < 238 dB/m. Even in subjects with no MetS components, those with CAP ≥ 238 dB/m had higher BMI, waist circumferences, uric acid, triglyceride, white blood cell count, and insulin resistance, whereas lower adiponectin and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Waist circumference [OR 1.11 (1.04, 1.18), p = 0.001] and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) [OR 2.39 (1.18, 4.83), p = 0.016] were predictive of hepatic steatosis according to CAP ≥ 238 dB/m. Conclusions CAP is a convenient, sensitive, and non-invasive indicator for metabolic derangement. Prospective studies are needed to further validate its usefulness as a surrogate marker for the transition of metabolic status over time.


In our earlier work we proposed a novel rule-based approach for locating a mobile terminal (MT) in mobile cellular wireless networks. The scheme, which we called rule-based paging scheme (RBPS), significantly outperformed the GSM-adopted blanket paging scheme. We have found that when compared with the popular shortest distance first (SDF) scheme, results are again encouraging. However, in this work, we have discussed the real time implementation of our proposed scheme and compared performance of the RBPS-adopted blanket paging scheme with the GSM-adopted blanket paging scheme, as is most popularly practiced in real life. The scheme is a generic one and has the potential for use in the next generation wireless networks, irrespective of any standards.


Based on the assumption that cloud providers can be trusted (to a certain extent) we define a trust, security and privacy preserving infrastructure that relies on trusted cloud providers to operate properly. Working in tandem with legal agreements, our open source software supports: trust and reputation management, sticky policies with fine grained access controls, privacy preserving delegation of authority, federated identity management, different levels of assurance and configurable audit trails. Armed with these tools, cloud service providers are then able to offer a reliable privacy preserving infrastructure-as-a-service to their clients.


The time course of methotrexate (MTX) and its poly-gamma-glutamyl metabolites (PGGs) was examined in the skin, liver and blood of rats and full-thickness skin, epidermis and blood of hairless mice to determine their contribution to the persistence of antifolate activity after a single dose of MTX. [3H]MTX was administered i.v. to rats and i.p. to mice in a dose similar, on a microgram per kilogram basis, to that administered to humans for the treatment of psoriasis. The animals were sacrificed at various times after the dose and skin and other tissues were analyzed for the presence of MTX and the PGGs. The percentage of total antifolates in the skin of rats that was attributable to the PGGs was less than 30% at all times examined (6 to 72 hr). However, more than half of the PGGs present contained three or more glutamic acid residues. The skin from the hairless mice was separated into dermis and epidermis to determine if MTX and its metabolites were present in the ostensible site of action in psoriasis, the epidermis (separation of epidermis from dermis is prohibited by hair in the rat). The PGGs accounted for less than 13% of total antifolates in full-thickness skin of mice at all times studied. The epidermis contained more antifolates, on a picomole per gram basis, at all times (4 to 24 hr) than did the full-thickness skin. In the epidermis, the percentage of total antifolates contributed by the PGGs rose to 35% by 24 hr, more than twice its value at earlier times.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


[1] The data of digisonde and the NRLMSISE-00 model on the occurrence of postsunset equatorial spread F (ESF) at Jicamarca during solar minimum and maximum years are used in a detailed statistical analysis. The onset conditions chosen in this study are the prereversal enhancement velocity (dhF80/dt), minimum virtual height of F-layer (h′F), gradient density scale length (L), and local linear growth rate (γ) of collisional Rayleigh-Taylor instability. The monthly variation in ESF occurrence during solar minimum generally agrees with that during maximum. This agreement indicates that the ESF occurrence does not depend on solar activity. For the onset conditions, the differences between solar minimum and maximum exists in the monthly variations in dhF80/dt, h′F, and L, but not in γ. This consistence in monthly γ variation between two solar epochs mainly account for the solar cycle independence of ESF occurrence. Furthermore, the variations in collision frequency and recombination rate are principally responsible to the consistence in γ.


Background: Stress response to surgery induces hyperglycemia to a limited extent. An additive hyperglycemic response, secondary to the metabolism of intravenous fluids, can thus prove detrimental to the well-being of the patient, if ignored. Aim and Objectives: Our study aimed to examine and compare the effects of 4% gelatin and dextran-40 on blood glucose levels during surgery under subarachnoid block and their potential to induce hyperglycemia. Materials and Methods: Sixty ASA grade I and II patients were randomized into two groups, 30 patients in each. Group 1 patients were preloaded with 4% gelatin (10 mL/kg) and Group 2 patients were preloaded with Dextran-40 in normal saline (10 mL/kg), over a period of 30 min. Just prior to preloading, baseline capillary blood glucose (CBG) level was noted this is followed by subsequent readings at 20 min interval until 100 min from baseline reading. All patients received normal saline (0.9%) as a maintenance fluid. Under strict aseptic precautions, subarachnoid block using 15 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine at L3–L4 or L4–L5 level was given after preloading. Results: Both groups are comparable in age, weight, sex, age-wise distribution, type and duration of surgery. The CBG levels in both the groups at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 min from the baseline were within physiological limits. In group 2, the maximum mean blood glucose level of 98.53 ± 14.57 mg/dL was found at 60 min from onset of preloading, which was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.017) when compared with corresponding blood glucose level (86.50 ± 10.44 mg/dL) in group 1. Conclusion: Preloading the patients prior to subarachnoid block with 4% gelatin or dextran 40 does not raise CBG levels significantly above the physiological limits.


A recent approach to drug delivery is to deliver the drug into systemic circulation at predetermined rate using skin as a site of application. Transdermal drug delivery is one of the most promising methods for drug application. Increasing numbers of drugs are being added to the list of therapeutic agents that can be delivered to the systemic circulation via skin. The success of Transdermal therapeutic system has created much interest in the pharmaceutical industry and has activated research activities related to it. Transdermal delivery has many advantages over conventional modes of drug administration, it avoids hepatic first pass metabolism, potentially decreases side effects and improves patient compliance. Drug delivery with Transdermal patch systems exhibit slow, controlled drug release and absorption. The plasma drug concentration does not vary significantly over time. Transdermal delivery system is a growing market that is expected to expand in the near future with the discovery of new drug treatment applications and technologies. The biomaterials research field has broadened in the last 3 decades including drug delivery systems, immunological kits and biosensors. Extensive efforts have been focused on placing a drug delivery system in a particular region of the body for maximizing drug availability and minimizing the dose dependent side effects. Apart from the development of oral controlled release formulations, Transdermal drug delivery systems using thin polymeric membranes have been widely studied. Treatment of chronic diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis by Transdermal route of drug administration might prove to have several advantages over other routes of drug administration. Plasticization of the membranes can be achieved by blending the polymer with another polymer, by crosslinking or by both crosslinking and blending. The advantages of such polymers are not only to create additional free space to accommodate the drug, butalso that these systems are biocompatible. Keyword: predetermined rate, Transdermal therapeutic system, biosensors.


Background: Approximately 35 new HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV) cases and at least 1000 serious infections are transmitted annually to health care workers. In China, HIV prevalence is increasing and nursing personnel are encountering these individuals more than in the past. Contaminated needle-stick injuries represent a significant occupational burden for nurses. Evidence suggests that nurses in China may not fully understand HIV/AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS) and HIV-related occupational safety. At this time, universal protection precautions are not strictly implemented in Chinese hospitals. Lack of training may place nurses at risk for occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of integrated interventions on nurses' knowledge improvement about reducing the risk of occupationally acquired HIV infection. Methods: We audited integrated interventions using 300 questionnaires collected from nurses at the Affiliated Hospital of Xiangnan University, a public polyclinic in Hunan Province. The intervention studied was multifaceted and included appropriate and targeted training content for hospital, department and individual levels. After three months of occupational safety integrated interventions, 234 participants who completed the program were assessed. Results: Of the subjects studied, 94.3% (283/300) were injured one or more times by medical sharp instruments or splashed by body fluids in the last year and 95.3% considered their risk of occupational exposure high or very high. After the intervention, awareness of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge improved significantly (χ2 = 86.34, p = 0.00), and correct answers increased from 67.9% to 82.34%. Correct answers regarding risk perception were significantly different between pre-test (54.4%) and post-test (66.6%) (χ2 = 73.2, p = 0.00). When coming into contact with patient body fluids and blood only 24.0% of subjects used gloves regularly. The pre-test knowledge scores on universal precautions were relatively high. Correct answers about universal precautions improved significantly from pre-test (83.71%) to post-test (89.58%; χ2 = 25.00, p = 0.00). After the intervention, nurses' attitude scores improved significantly from pre-test (3.80 ± 0.79) to post-test (4.06 ± 0.75; t = 3.74, p = 0.00). Conclusions: Integrated educational interventions enhance nurses' knowledge of risk reduction for occupationally acquired HIV infections and improve the observance of universal precautionary procedures. This enhancement allows nurses to assume a teaching role for prevention and management of HIV/AIDS.


Based on twelve push-out specimens with different holes filling different materials,the paper compared and analyzed the capacity and the corresponding slip value of the stud shear connector.Meanwhile, tests were also conducted on three composite steel-FDPCP(Full-Depth Precast Concrete Panel) beams with different holes shape and degree of shear connection to investigate the characteistics of load-displacement,load-deflection,load-strain of the total cross section and monolithic action of the entire cross section in the paper. The results show that, as to the two different kinds of holes shape ,the strength of the stud shear connectors of square push-out specimens was huger than that of circular specimens with the same condition; the strength of stud shear connectors in steel-concrete composite structure was decided by the strength of concrete surrounding the shear in the holes, with increasing concrete strength, the strength of stud shear connectors improved greatly; the composite steel-FDPCP beams failed in bending,plane section was maintained in composite beams throughout the testing process.the composite steel-FDPCP beams have some merits :good bearing capacity, good anti-bend capability, fast pile-driving pace and perfect work behaviors as a whole;the ultimate flexural capacity of the composite steel-FDPCP beams with a full shear connection is close to that of a partial shear connection. The outputs of this study are very useful for further understanding of the characteristics of the composite steel-FDPCP beams,it is also expected that the results presented in this paper should be valuable for the design of the composite steel-FDPCP beams.


A review of 2,647 studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) yielded 476 potential candidates for a meta-analysis of predictors of PTSD or of its symptoms. From these, 68 studies met criteria for inclusion in a meta-analysis of 7 predictors: (a) prior trauma, (b) prior psychological adjustment, (c) family history of psychopathology, (d) perceived life threat during the trauma, (e) posttrauma social support, (f) peritraumatic emotional responses, and (g) peritraumatic dissociation. All yielded significant effect sizes, with family history, prior trauma, and prior adjustment the smallest (weighted r = .17) and peritraumatic dissociation the largest (weighted r = .35). The results suggest that peritraumatic psychological processes, not prior characteristics, are the strongest predictors of PTSD.


Abstract We addressed the species taxonomy of five-toed jerboas (Allactaga, subgenus Paralactaga) in the Middle East by applying molecular markers (cytochrome b and a partial 16S rRNA). The study consisted of 17 specimens from eight localities in the Middle East, representing both species: Allactaga euphratica and Allactaga williamsi. The phylogenetic reconstructions yielded three highly divergent lineages, which failed to conform to the recent taxonomy of Paralactaga. The first lineage (williamsi lineage) encompassed all the samples of A. williamsi from Turkey and Iran and also the specimens of A. euphratica from Lebanon. The haplotypes of A. euphratica were arranged into two lineages, which showed strong geographic associations. One lineage contained samples from Harran in Turkey and from Iran, while all the samples from Syria clustered in another lineage. The pairwise Kimura two-parameter values suggested similar divergences between the three lineages and were within the range reported for a sister species of rodents. Our results point to a cryptic species in A. euphratica and also provide evidence of the expanded range of A. williamsi further south to Lebanon.


Since the development of smooth silicone breast implants in 1962, over two million women throughout the world have opted for breast augmentation surgery. While initially successful, smooth implants are prone to developing surrounding scar capsules that may harden and contract--resulting in discomfort, weakening of the shell with rupture, unsightliness, and patient dissatisfaction. This phenomenon has been shown to occur in as much as 70% of implanted patients over time. Our work on the texturing of implantable prosthesis material (published in 1968), and subsequent discoveries, has led us to the development of textured silicone breast implants. Because the host interface is altered by the texture, collagen fibrils select a formation that is multiplanar which results in thinner, more pliable capsules that are more resilient and less likely to contract. At 18 months (August, 1989), with 116 implants, all remain soft, after an additional 18 months follow-up, for a total of 36 months maximum and 18 months minimum. The long-term performance of these implants must await the availability of further clinical data.


Social media are increasingly influencing people's preferences and decisions. Modeling information diffusion on social media networks allows to understand the impact of viral information on individuals behaviors in economic, political and social fields. The aim of this paper is to propose a mathematical viral model to characterize the dynamic of information diffusion on social media platforms resulting from the spread of a viral information. To this end, the problem will be modelled by four differential equations that describe the interactions between "Uninfected Users", "Infected Users", "Inert Users" and "free viral information" based on the similarity between a virus dynamics and people interaction on social media networks. A saturated infection rate is incorporated into the model. First, the problem well-posedness is investigated in terms of existence, positivity and boundedness of solution. Moreover, the reproduction number R0 associated to our problem is calculated using the next generation method. Next, the equilibrium points are calculated and their existence is proved. Therefore, the stability analysis and uniform persistence of the model are investigated according to R0 threshold. Finally , some numerical simulations are carried out in order to illustrate the analytical results. It was revealed that our proposed model may be conductive to understand the viral information diffusion behavior on social media networks. The presented mathematical modeling approach is the first investigation of a virus dynamical model that is used to describe the viral information behavior.


Positioning systems are an established need in the current world. The ability to identify the position of a given object in a given context is a common service in our fast-paced, online and always-connected global community. For normal day-to-day usage outdoor systems have a matured and integrated usage, from destination guidance to social media applications status updates, all can use the current positioning systems to enhance its services. For inside systems the same does not happen, there is a clear gap in the applicability and usage of positioning systems for indoor locations. This book aims to address that gap, that opportunity, and discusses an ubiquitous Indoor Positioning system (IPS) solution by studying the technologies, systems, techniques and algorithms used in current locations systems. It proposes and implements a platform for indoor positioning that locates clients using available wireless networks and a mix of techniques, the Nearest Neighbors and Trilateration. Using previously mapped points in order to achieve the easiest implementation and extensibility in new environments, while offering a strongly orientated for services platform .


The Culture of Success gives you the process, the tools, and the inspiration to examine and vitalize your corporate beliefs so that they guide the decisions and behavior of every employee to produce sustained success. You will learn how to formulate and profitably harness the power of ethic beliefs - the standards of conduct and moral judgment that drive decisions about how we will relate to each other and, therefore, guide the work of the organization; and of merit beliefs - the guiding principles that drive decisions about the kind of business to be in as well as level of quality, market or technical position, size, empowerment. Woven together into a seamless set of basic beliefs, ethic beliefs and merit beliefs can infuse your entire organization with a success-generating paradigm - a powerful force for growth and positive change. To illustrate their points, the authors draw lessons from real-world case studies. The negative business impact of missteps or breakdowns in basic beliefs is examined. Inspiring examples of companies that thrive by infusing their beliefs and values into their work-a-day fabric are provided.


Microgrid system, as the carrier of control strategy, can provide verification platform for the research. This paper discusses the control strategy firstly. And then an integrated microgrid system with multi-microgrid structure, containing a variety of distributed generations, energy storage systems, diesel generator and adjustable loads, is introduced. The control strategy of the microgrid system which adopts master-slave control strategy is discussed in detail. The result shows that the mircogrid system using control strategy proposed in this paper can transfer flexibly between grid-connected and islanded mode. This system is able to work well with operation control and other related technologies.


In the paper we prove that the Lagrangian system

$ \ddot{q} = \alpha(\omega t) V'(q), \quad t \in \mathbb R, q \in \mathbb R^N,$ $\qquad\qquad
 (L_\omega)$
 has, for some classes of functions $\alpha$, a chaotic
 behavior---more precisely the system has multi-bump
 solutions---for all $\omega$ large. These classes of functions
 include some quasi-periodic and some limit-periodic ones, but not
 any periodic function. We prove the result using global variational methods.