In order to study on the influence of chloride ion on pavement performance of base material with fly-ash-flushed-by-seawater and the feasibility of fly-ash-flushed-by-seawater material used to road construction, the analysis and evaluation on the influence of chloride salt content on pavement performance of material base course are obtained through the laboratory test on pavement performance of base course with adding different content of chloride salt. The study shows that the chloride salt content in fly-ash-flushed-by-seawater influences slightly on the early strength of base course and even plays a function of early strength agent; the chloride salt content in fly-ash-flushed-by-seawater has an inhibiting effect on the growth of strength when it is more than 1.3%; the dry shrinkage coefficient increases with the aggrandizement of chloride salt content and the anti-erosion performance of material is sensitive to the chloride salt content, but temperature shrinkage coefficient and anti-freeze performance are slightly influenced by it. Fly-ash-flushed-by-seawater used to base course construction is feasible because the pavement performance of fly-ash-flushed-by-seawater base material satisfies the request of Specifications for Design of Highway Asphalt Pavement JTG D50-2006.


ABSTRACT This Viewpoint considers the rise of lads' mags and wider lad culture between 1996–2006 as a historically illuminating period that marked a shift in societal perceptions of gender equality and contributed towards a hostile perception of feminism. Themes of pornification, hypersexualisation and postfeminsim are explored within the context of recent debates on the representation of gender and sexuality in British popular culture. The key issue emerging from this analysis is that there has been a rebranding of sexism through a postfeminist discourse, referred to in this paper as the 'postfeminist masquerade', which has resulted in a wider politicisation of feminism concerned with representations of the female body. This politicisation has eroded debates on gender representation into a reductive binary, the 'exploitative-liberating dichotomy', and has consequently delimited contemporary engagements with feminism. Lads' mags and wider lad culture are thus analysed as having perpetuated this binary and serve as a historical symbol of how the state of gender relations have been subjected to contestation amongst feminist activists, media commentators and academics since the turn of the twenty-first century.


The ability to control and manipulate the state of polarization of a laser beam is becoming an increasingly desirable feature in a number of industrial laser micro-processing applications. Being able to control polarization would enable the improvement of the efficiency and quality of processes such as the drilling of holes for fuel-injection nozzles, the processing of silicon wafers or the machining of medical stent devices. This thesis presents novel, liquid-crystal-based optical setups for controlling the polarization of ultrafast laser beams, and demonstrates how such optical setups can be used to improve laser micro-processing efficiency and quality. Two experimental strategies were followed: the first used dynamic control of the polarization direction of a linearly polarized beam; the second generated beams with complex polarization structures. Novel optical analysis methods were used to map the polarization structures in the focal region of these laser micro-processing setups, using Laser Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS) produced on stainless steel sample surfaces at low laser fluence (around 1.5J/cm²), close to the ablation threshold of steel (i.e. 0.16J/cm²). This helped to characterize and calibrate the optical setups used in this thesis. The first experimental method used a fast-response, analogue, liquid-crystal polarization rotation device to dynamically control the direction of linear polarization of a laser beam during micro-processing. Thanks to its flexibility, the polarization rotator could be set-up in various synchronized configurations, for example keeping the polarization direction constantly perpendicular to the beam scanning motion. Drilling and cutting tests were performed on thin (~0.4mm thick) stainless steel sheets using a 775nm femtosecond laser at 24J/cm². The experimental results showed a consistent improvement in the micro-processing quality when the polarization direction was synchronized with the beam scanning motion. The sidewall surface roughness and edge quality of the machined structures were improved significantly, with the dimensions of ripples and distortions divided by a factor of two. The overall processing efficiency was also increased compared to that produced by linear or circular polarizations. The second experimental method used a digital, Liquid-Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) to generate polarization structures with a cylindrical geometry, or Cylindrical Vector Beams (CVBs). A Jones matrix analysis was used to model the optical setup and predict the ability to produce CVBs in this way. The setup was implemented in a 775nm femtosecond laser micro-processing bench and the resulting polarization analyzed with a polarizing filter, demonstrating a polarization purity better than 84%. The amplitude and polarization properties in the focal region of the setup were studied using LIPSS produced on the surface of stainless steel samples at low fluence (1.5J/cm²), to check that the expected state of polarization had been achieved. An analytical model of the experimental setup was developed to explain the experimental results. The model predictions were in agreement with the experimental results and clarified how the polarization and phase structures affect the focal properties of the produced laser beams. Various types of CVBs were used with a high laser beam fluence (24J/cm²) for micro-machining 0.2-0.4mm thick stainless steel plates. A comparative analysis of micro-machining with radially, azimuthally, circularly and linearly polarized beams was carried out. It was shown that a radially polarized beam was more efficient at drilling and cutting high-aspect-ratio features when the plate thickness was above 0.2mm. The gain in processing speed was better than 5% compared with a circularly polarized beam and better than 10% compared with an azimuthally polarized beam, under the chosen processing parameters. However the processing speed was similar for all these polarization states (radial, azimuthal and circular) when machining 0.2mm thick plates. It was also shown that a radially polarized beam improved the processing quality, reducing the distortions affecting the edge quality of the machined structures.


In this paper, we will analyze the internet pricing scheme under multi service network by generalizing the model into 9 services. The scheme is determined from the base price, quality premium and number of links to aid the internet service provider to maximize the profit and to serve better service to the customers. The objective function is generated by setting up the base price and quality premium as a constant or variable. We use nonlinear optimization model and solve it by using LINGO 11.0 to obtain the optimal solution. The results show that for each case by generalizing the model, the ISP obtains better solution by fixing the base price and fixing and varying the quality premium. ISP has a choice to adopt the model when ISP fixes the base price and also fix or vary the quality premium with maximum profit adopted by ISP is when fixing the base price and varying the premium quality.


Microinjection of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected cell mRNA into Xenopus laevis oocytes resulted in the production of a new exonuclease activity. This enzyme strongly resembled the HSV alkaline exonuclease in many biochemical properties, and hybrid-arrested translation studies showed that it was virus coded, mapping at 0.080 to 0.185 genome map units. Exonuclease mRNA had a size and genome location equivalent to the mRNA encoding V185 in reticulocyte lysates, suggesting that V185 is the exonuclease. The enzyme synthesized in oocytes was found to act as an exonuclease in vivo. Two plasmids containing HSV DNA fragments directed the synthesis of exonuclease when microinjected into oocyte nuclei, and this finding enabled the coding and control sequences for this gene to be localized to 0.155 to 0.185 genome map units.


The new international economy is today the single most important factor shaping relations between employers, unions, and governments in the world's advanced industrial societies. While companies compete in global markets with firms around the world, workers remain fixed in each country and are influenced by local the customs and mores. This book explores how globalization affects the contemporary workplace and how workplace policies can make nations more internationally competitive. Unlike other country-by-country treatments of the subject, this analysis compares and contrasts the experiences of different nations around important developments, such as the labor market consequences of regional trading pacts, the international diffusion of new forms of work organization, and the strategies that nations are pursuing to keep their work systems competitive. The contributors come from a variety of disciplines but all bear expertise in international industrial relations.


In this paper, we employ stochastic geometry to analyze ground-to-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communications. We consider multiple UAVs to provide user-equipments (UEs) with uplink transmissions, where the distribution of UEs follows the Poisson Cluster process (PCP) and each UAV is dedicated to a specific cluster. In particular, we characterize the Laplace transform of the interference caused by multiple UEs in terms of the distribution of UEs as well as the transmission probability of each UE. We then derive analytical expressions of the successful transmission probability. We next conduct a comprehensive numerical analysis with consideration of different system parameters. The results show that four factors (i.e., the geographical surroundings, the transmission powers, the Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) thresholds, and the UAV height) have main influences on ground-to-UAV communications.


To the Editor: The Connecticut Mental Health Center is a state-owned and state-operated facility with both inpatient and outpatient services, run jointly by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Yale University. It serves individuals from the greater New Haven area who have severe and persistent mental illness, a substance use disorder, or both. Alarmed by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors report (1) documenting the shortened lifespan for patients with severe and persistent mental illness and encouraged by reports of other state facilities implementing smoke-free policies (2), the center's leadership undertook a rigorous and concerted effort to address smoking.

A staff survey was conducted to assess attitudes about smoking cessation programs in order to aid policy development. The anonymous survey was mailed to a random selection of one-third (N=227) of the 680 staff members in January 2007. Respondents were asked to note their level of agreement with four attitude statements using a 5-point Likert scale (1=Strongly Disagree, 5=Strongly Agree). The first three statements concerned assistance to quit: Inpatients [or outpatients or staff] who smoke should be offered assistance to quit. The fourth stated that the entire facility and grounds should be smoke free. Chi square and one-way analysis of variance tests were used to compare demographic characteristics of respondents in three smoking status groups. Ordinal regression analyses were conducted to examine whether smoking status was a significant predictor of responses to any of the four attitude statements. Age, race, sex, and job category were entered in all regression analyses as covariates.

Twenty-five of the 227 surveys were returned because the staff members were not currently employed by the center. A total of 175 of the remaining 202 potential responders completed the survey (response rate of 87%). Most survey respondents were women (N=124, 71%) and Caucasian (N=117, 67%), and the mean±SD age of respondents was 42.5±11.8 years. Most respondents had never smoked (N=107, 61%); 14% (N=25) defined themselves as current smokers and 25% (N=43) defined themselves as former smokers. The smoking status groups did not differ significantly by gender, race, or job category. Most respondents agreed that assistance to quit smoking should be offered to inpatients (N=154, 88%), outpatients (N=150, 86%), and staff members (N=142, 81%). Smoking status did not predict attitudes about whether smoking cessation assistance should be offered to patients and staff. Chi square analyses showed that respondents differed by smoking status in their agreement about whether the entire mental health center campus should become smoke free (p<.05). In addition, the overall regression model was significant ({chi-square}=14.9, df=6, p<.05). When the analysis controlled for age, gender, ethnicity, and job category, smoking status continued to predict attitudes about a smoke-free center. In general, compared with former smokers and current smokers, a larger proportion of those who had never smoked agreed that the mental health center should be smoke free.

Prior research has demonstrated that mental health and addictions staff who smoke are less likely to counsel their clients regarding smoking cessation (3,4). In our study we found that attitudes about the center becoming smoke free differed by smoking status. To achieve the goal of improving the health of the individuals we serve and the staff who participate in that effort, we developed educational and incentive programs as key components of a multifaceted initiative to assist both staff and patients who smoked. The entire campus, including inpatient and ambulatory services, became a smoke-free environment on April 7, 2008, without incident.


The three most common causes of macrocytosis--vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, liver disease, and reticulocytosis--usually can be differentiated on the basis of red cell indexes and morphologic findings. Bone marrow studies are not indicated. In reticulocytosis, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) rarely exceeds ll0 cu mu and a reticulocyte count quickly establishes the diagnosis. In liver disease, macrocytosis is also mild and uniform. The RBCs are round. In megaloblastic anemia, the MCV may exceed 150 cu mu. The RBCs vary considerably in size and shape. The macrocytes tend to be oval. Serum vitamin B12 determination remains the best test for unmasking vitamin B12 deficiency. It should be ordered in conjunction with serum and red cell folate determinations in the course of investigating a macrocytic anemia. When vitamin B12 deficiency has been established, a Schilling test or plasma uptake test is indicated to pinpoint the cause.


s | 43 PS126 DAPK1 interaction with NMDA receptor NR2B subunit underlies the rapid antidepressant effect Ling-Zhi Xu,1,2,# Su-Xia Li,2,# Ying Han 1,2,#, Ruo-Xi Zhang,1,2 Lin Lu 1,2,3 1Institute of Mental Health/Peking University Sixth Hospital and Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Beijing, China; 2National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China; 3Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences and PKU-IDG/ McGovern Institute for Brain Research; # Equal contribution to this


Micrographs of mouse liver gap junctions, isolated with detergents, and negatively stained with uranyl acetate, have been recorded by low- irradiation methods. Our Fourier-averaged micrographs of the hexagonal junction lattice show skewed, hexameric connexons with less stain at the threefold axis than at the six indentations between the lobes of the connexon image. These substructural features, not clearly observed previously, are acutely sensitive to irradiation. After an electron dose less than that normally used in microscopy, the image is converted to the familiar doughnut shape, with a darkly stained center and a smooth hexagonal outline, oriented with mirror symmetry in the lattice. Differences in appearance among 25 reconstructed images from our low- irradiation micrographs illustrate variation in staining of the connexon channel and the space between connexons. Consistently observed stain concentration at six symmetrically related sites approximately 34 A from the connexon center, 8 degrees to the right or left of the (1, 1) lattice vector may reveal an intrinsic asymmetric feature of the junction structure. The unexpected skewing of the six-lobed connexon image suggests that the pair of hexagonal membrane arrays that form the junction may not be structurally identical. Because the projected image of the connexon pair itself appears mirror symmetric, each pair may consist of two identical connexon hexamers related by local (noncrystallographic) twofold axes in the junctional plane at the middle of the gap. All connexons may be chemically identical, but their packing in the hexagonal arrays on the two sides of the junction appears to be nonequivalent.


The aim of the study was to investigate the context of labor insertion of youth workers and non-workers and their opinion about work definitions. There were 7425 participants, aged between 14 and 24 years old, both genders, of low economic level. The instrument was a questionnaire about risk and protective factors. The data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square and Student t test. Some results showed youth workers find more opportunities of informal work and receive remuneration lower then a minimum wage, considering that they work between 5 and 8 hours a day. In the total sample, the meanings of work as "useful production of something" and "money" were distinguished. These dimensions can reflect the search for a constructive and productive work for the individual and society, that provides survival conditions for them and their family. Youth lacks of a formal work, with benefits and perspective of professional ascension.


Acute subdural hematoma is a serious complication following traumatic brain injury. Large volume hematomas or those with underlying brain injury can cause mass effect, midline shift, and eventually herniation of the brain. Acute subdural hematomas in the young are associated with high-energy trauma and often have underlying contusions, while acute subdural hematomas in the elderly are associated with minor trauma and an absence of underlying contusions, even though the elderly are more likely to be on anticoagulants or anti-platelet therapy. In the young patients with high impact injuries the hematomas tend to be small and the underlying brain injury and swelling is responsible for the increased intracranial pressure and midline shift. In the elderly, the injuries are low impact (e.g fall from standing), the underlying brain is intact, and the volume of the hematoma itself produces symptoms. In addition the use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents in the elderly population has been thought to be a poor prognostic indicator and is considered to be responsible for larger hematomas and poor outcome. When managed conservatively, acute subdural hematomas can sometimes progress to chronic subdural hematoma formation, further enlargement, seizures, and progressive midline shift. Another potential difference in the young and the elderly is brain atrophy, which increases the potential space to accommodate a larger hematoma. It is not known if these two groups differ in other ways that might have implications for treatment or prognosis. In this paper, we investigate the clinical course of 80 patients admitted to our institution with acute subdural hematomas, to identify differences in patients above or below the age of 65 years. The natural progression/resolution of acute subdural hematomas was mapped by measuring volume expansion/regression over time. In this retrospective chart review, we investigated clinical baseline metrics and subsequent volumetric expansion outcomes between patients < 65 years old (N=44) and those > 65 years old (N=36). Volume was estimated by the ABC/2 method. We observed a statistically significant difference between groups in use of anticoagulants χ2 =40.305 with p < 0.001, corrective platelet administration χ2 =19.380 with p < 0.001, gender χ2 =14.573 with p < 0.001, and Glasgow Coma Scale with χ2 =23.125 (p=0.026). Overall outcomes were similar in the two groups. Younger patients on average had worse presenting GCS scores, but recovered comparable to older patients. No significant difference in rate of volume expansion, resolution time, or need for surgical treatment was seen between these two groups. We conclude that the initial volume, size, and severity of subdural hematoma determined by the Glasgow Coma Scale score is more likely to predict surgery or future expansion than age of the patient. Patients on oral anti-coagulants that are given appropriate medical reversal agents early do quite well and no impact on the eventual outcome could be demonstrated. Further work is needed to establish better predictors of future volume expansion, and progression to chronic subdural hematoma based on improved severity scales.


Valid animal models are essential for successful screening of novel therapeutic strategies against all types of diseases. Development or selection of an animal model that resembles the human disease process and symptoms is dependent on a robust knowledge of the natural history and pathogenesis of the disease. The use of animal models thus becomes to understand the underlying physiological and genetic basis of energy regulation, taste and smell perception and food choice behaviour. Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder which results from multiple etiologies like genetic, physiological, epigenetic and environmental factors. Animal models of obesity include direct measurement of food intake to long-term studies in animals exhibiting continuous overconsumption of food containing high calories and fat. It is of prime importance that we must choose the right models with high face, construct and predictive validity. Failing to select and use appropriate animal models impede successful discovery and development of safer and more potent therapeutics and prevent wastage of money and time. We have thus provided a short review on currently available animal models of obesity. We discuss different method of induction of obesity in laboratory animals as well as the transgenic animals used in anti obesity drug discovery.


From the literature on the subject of tularemia we realize that some questions remain undetermined in regard to the susceptibility of certain animals and birds to this disease. For example, it is evident that sufficient evidence has not been produced to place the common dog in the group of susceptible or naturally immune animals. Obviously it can be understood that the material required to study the susceptibility of dogs under natural conditions is not always readily accessible. Consequently investigators interested in this phase of the problem have limited their observations to experimental studies. From the few experimental studies we are given the impression that the dog is only mildly susceptible to tularemia, and other opinions indicate that this animal possesses a natural immunity. In this communication we are prepared to show that dogs can contract tularemia under favorable natural conditions and that a resultant high agglutination titer for Bacterium tularense


One hundred forty-nine case files of Meckel's diverticulum resected at our hospital between 1965 and 1995 were reviewed for the presence of heterotopic gastric mucosa. Of these, 140 cases were evaluated, and 25 demonstrated ectopic gastric mucosa. Six of these heterotopic tissue specimens contained no assessable surface mucosa; therefore only 19 were evaluated for gastric histopathologic changes. "Gastritis" was present in all reviewed cases, but the predominant pattern was that of reflux-type gastritis or gastropathy, which had not previously been documented at this location. This gastropathy was demonstrated in 58% of the cases and could also account for some of the symptoms that prompted removal of appendixes without inflammation. Chronic and chronic active gastritis were also demonstrated in a minority of cases, and those with moderate or severe activity were associated with peptic ulceration. No Helicobacter pylori-like organisms were detected with either modified Giemsa stain or hematoxylin-and-cosin (H&E) stain. Findings were inconclusive with regard to erosive gastritis related to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in Meckel's diverticulum. That the proportion of ectopic gastric mucosa found in several studies (including this one) is about half that suggested in textbooks indicates a need for a better workup of resected Meckel's diverticulum and a search for all types of gastric disease if gastric heterotopia is present. Emphasis must be placed on identification of reflux-type chemical gastritis and gastropathy, which are often documented as normal mucosa.


Since the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), several variants have caused a persistent pandemic. Consequently, it is crucial to develop new potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs with specificity. To minimize potential failures and preserve valuable clinical resources for the development of other useful drugs, researchers must enhance their understanding of the interactions between drugs and SARS-CoV-2. While numerous crystal structures of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (SCM) and its inhibitors have been reported, they provide only static snapshots and fail to capture the dynamic nature of SCM/inhibitor interactions. Herein, we conducted molecular dynamics simulations for five SCM complexes: ritonavir (SCM/RTV), lopinavir (SCM/LPV), the identified inhibitor N3 (SCM/N3), the approved inhibitor ensitrelvir (SCM/ESV), and the approved drug nirmatrelvir (SCM/NMV). Additionally, we explored the potential for covalent bond formation in the N3 and NMV inhibitors through QM/MM calculations using Umbrella sampling. The results show that the binding site is highly flexible to fit those five different inhibitors and each compound has its unique binding mode at the same binding site. Moreover, the binding affinities of positive and negative inhibitors to SCM exhibit significant differences. By gaining insights into the dynamics, we can potentially elucidate why lopinavir/ritonavir, initially considered promising, failed to effectively treat COVID-19. Furthermore, understanding the mechanistic aspects of N3 and NMV inhibition on SCM not only contributes to rational drug discovery against COVID-19 but also aids future studies on the catalytic mechanisms of main proteases in other novel coronaviruses.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.


Getting Started - Why Use a Syndicated Loan?. Basic Principles of Syndicated Lending: Financing Through the Risk Spectrum. Enhancing the Credit. Interaction with Other Creditors: Subordination and Intercreditor Arrangements. Adding Bells and Whistles: Letters of Credit and Other "Add Ons". Agreeing the Business Deal. How to Sell the Deal. When do the Lenders Refuse to Lend? Making the Loan: the Theory and Mechanics of Syndicated Lending Trading the Loans and Commitments. Protecting the Credit without Strangling the Business. When Can the Lenders Get Their Money Back and What If They Don't Want It? Syndicate Democracy in Good Times and Bad. Defaults and Restructurings: What Happens When it all Goes Wrong. Variations on a Theme: Key Issues in Different European Jurisdictions (France, Germany, Italy). How Things are Different outside Europe: United States and Asia. The Future.


Lung cancer has been one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide for years. With the emergence of deep learning, computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) models based on learning algorithms can accelerate the nodule screening process, providing valuable assis- tance to radiologists in their daily clinical workflows. However, developing such robust and accurate models often requires large-scale and diverse medical datasets with high-quality annotations. Generating synthetic data provides a pathway for augmenting datasets at a larger scale. Therefore, in this paper, we explore the use of Semantic Diffusion Mod- els (SDM) to generate high-fidelity pulmonary CT images from segmentation maps. We utilize annotation information from the LUNA16 dataset to create paired CT images and masks, and assess the quality of the generated images using the Frechet Inception Distance (FID), as well as on two common clinical downstream tasks: nodule detection and nodule localization. Achieving improvements of 3.96% for detection accuracy and 8.50% for AP50 in nodule localization task, respectively, demonstrates the feasibility of the approach.


Drawing from Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT), this study explored the interplay between personality traits (online disinhibition, moral disengagement, narcissism, and aggression) and cyberbullying perpetration motives (entertainment, revenge, harm, and dominance) through structural equation modeling. The participants were a convenience sample of 598 cyber bully-victims who were Turkish university students (229 females, 362 males, and seven unknown). The findings empirically supported UGT for conceptualization of cyberbullying perpetration. Almost half of the participants (49.7%) cyberbullied someone twice or more during the preceding 6 months, and males cyberbullied others significantly more than females. In terms of the structural interrelationships, (a) online disinhibition was the only personality trait related to cyberbullying others for entertainment; (b) moral disengagement and aggression were the two variables associated with the revenge motive of cyberbullying perpetration; (c) although online disinhibition was negatively related to cyberbullying others for harm, moral disengagement and aggression were positively linked to harm; and (d) moral disengagement and narcissism were the two personality trait variables associated with the dominance motive of cyberbullying perpetration. Results imply that UGT offers a new understanding about cyberbullying perpetration to researchers, theorists, and practitioners. Personality traits play an important role in cyberbullying perpetration motives and behaviors. Thus, personality traits should be considered in prevention and intervention efforts against cyberbullying. The earlier the personality characteristics of the young individuals are identified, the earlier they can be prevented from engaging in cyberbullying perpetration. Also, sports activities, social events, competitive contests, or leisure and recreational activities offered by university managements can help the university youth to keep away from cyberbullying perpetration and to satisfy motives in more appropriate ways.


The incorporation of comonomer molecules in the backbone of a homopolymer can influence the final properties of the material, decreasing its crystallinity and the melting and glass transition temperatures, and increasing its impact resistance and transparency. In the present work, ten ethylene/propylene copolymers have been synthesized using a supported metallocene catalytic system covering the whole composition range. Any desired composition was obtained by controlling the feed composition during the reaction. These synthesized copolymers have been characterized by different techniques in order to study the effect of the comonomer incorporation onto their final properties. When the comonomer content is low, the behaviour of the copolymer is similar to that of the corresponding homopolymer. Nevertheless, if the comonomer content increases, the copolymer becomes more amorphous (low crystallization temperature and soft XRD signals) and easily deformable, reaching a behaviour close to that corresponding to an elastomeric material. In order to corroborate these results the samples have been characterized by TREF and GPC-MALS. TREF analysis showed that copolymers containing less than 10% and more than 80% of ethylene are semicrystalline, with elution temperatures typical of this kind of polymers. Molecular weights are higher for homopolymers and they decrease as the comonomer concentration increases, whereas the polydispersity index keeps almost constant at the expected value for this kind of samples.


textabstractThis article reviews narratives and trends in biodiversity conservation
and protected area (PA) management and examines contestations within
and among them in the light of developments within the global political economy.
Its argument starts with the assumption that trends in biodiversity conservation
and PA management are, in large part, determined by global
political and economic developments. The global political economy determines
how both policy issues inherent to the conservation and development
debate need to continuously be re-operationalised in order to remain politically
acceptable. This argument is used to identify three recent trends in conservation,
which we have termed 'neoliberal conservation', 'bioregional
conservation' and 'hijacked conservation'. By illustrating these trends with
empirical data from eastern and southern Africa, we aim to enhance the understanding
and appreciation of macrosocial, economic and political dynamics—
both constraints and opportunities—that impinge on conservation and
development. In turn, this understanding could contribute to a better 'manoeuvrability'
for the management and success of more technical initiatives
that aim to improve conservation of biodiversity and PA management.


(for dissemination) The evaluation of the games The evaluation of the CHERMUG games was carried out in 3 phases which contributed in different ways to the game development and evaluation. Different cohorts of staff and students were involved in each phase and a detailed account of the list of pilot institutions is shown in Deliverable 21. Phase 1 was the preliminary testing of the initial game prototype and involved a small number of serious games experts, research methods experts and teacher trainers. Elements of the games were still changeable at this point. Phase 2 was the usability phase and involved nursing and social science staff who teach research methods and students taking research methods modules. Surface elements of the games and game mechanics were still changeable at this point. Phase 3 of the evaluation was a more rigorous evaluation designed to establish whether the use of the CHERMUG games engages students and helps them to learn about research methods and statistics.


The general approach for modelling of abundance dynamic of biological populations and communities is offered. The mechanisms of individual adaptation in changing environment are considered. The approach is detailed for population models without structure and with age structure. The property of solutions are investigated. As examples the author studies the concrete definitions of general models by analogy with models of Ricker and May. Theoretical analysis and calculations shows that survival of model population in extreme situation increases if adaptive behaviour is taking into account.


Abstract Centrosomal 190 kDa protein (CP190) is a promoter binding factor, mediates long-range interactions in the context of enhancer-promoter contacts and in chromosomal domain formation. All Drosophila insulator proteins bind CP190 suggesting a crucial role in insulator function. CP190 has major effects on chromatin, such as depletion of nucleosomes, high nucleosomal turnover and prevention of heterochromatin expansion. Here, we searched for enzymes, which might be involved in CP190 mediated chromatin changes. Eighty percent of the genomic binding sites of the histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 are colocalizing with CP190 binding. Depletion of CP190 reduces Gcn5 binding to chromatin. Binding dependency was further supported by Gcn5 mediated co-precipitation of CP190. Gcn5 is known to activate transcription by histone acetylation. We used the dCas9 system to target CP190 or Gcn5 to a Polycomb repressed and H3K27me3 marked gene locus. Both, CP190 as well as Gcn5, activate this locus, thus supporting the model that CP190 recruits Gcn5 and thereby activates chromatin.


Deception is a near-universal human behaviour, and decades of psychological research have generated hundreds of studies investigating behaviours related to deception (often referred to as 'cues to deception'), and accuracy in detecting deception. However, the low ecological validity of most of this research on deception is a limitation that has been recognised by many authorities in the field, who have argued that, to produce findings that are relevant to real world, high stakes deceptive behaviour, there is a need for more research using real life, high stakes lies. Consequently, the research presented investigated cues to deception using video footage of people making real life, public appeals for help with missing or murdered relatives. There were four major aims of the research; to develop and apply a methodology to identify cues to deception in a specific high stakes context, and to investigate whether these cues were useful in discriminating between honest and deceptive appeals in this context; to develop a multiple-cue approach to behaviours which discriminate between honesty and deception in the context of appeals, and which may be of applied use; to develop a theoretical rationale for cues that may be context-specific and may emerge only in high stakes contexts, and cannot readily be accommodated by existing theoretical approaches; and to investigate the effect of using ecologically valid stimulus materials on the accuracy of observers (both police and non-police) in detecting deception. To these ends, seven studies were conducted. Study 1 was a qualitative investigation of cues to deception in appeals used by people unusually accurate at detecting deception in the context of appeals. The aim of the study was to generate cues, including possibly new and context-specific cues, to be tested in future, quantitative research. Studies 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were then quantitative investigations of nonverbal cues, verbal cues, and subjective observer ratings identified in Study 1 and in previous research on high stakes deceptive behaviour, in the context of appeals. Finally Study 7 was an investigation of observer accuracy in detecting deception, truth bias, accuracy-confidence relationships, and the value of consensus judgements in the high stakes context of appeals, including samples of police and non-police participants. Several important findings emerged. In the final analyses, 23 cues discriminated between honest and deceptive appeals, the majority of which had not previously been identified, and may, at least to some degree, be context specific. These included two nonverbal cues, four verbal cues, and 17 subjective measures. Utilising a multiple-cue approach, case by case analyses combining information from the verbal and nonverbal cues correctly classified 78% of individual cases. Observer accuracy in discriminating between honest and deceptive appeals was above chance (M = 71%), and police observers (M = 72%) were more accurate than non-police observers (M = 68%). Though non-police observers demonstrated a truth bias, police observers showed some evidence of a deception bias. There was also a positive relationship between confidence and accuracy for all groups of observers. Importantly, observer consensus using simple global subjective judgments of veracity correctly predicted 92% of cases. To account for the findings regarding the previously unidentified cues, various theoretical approaches are considered, including two new developments, the social interactionist approach, and the individual behavioural profile approach. Various implications for research and practice are discussed, including the possible development of consensus judgments, and a checklist of cues, for use in police investigations in this type of context.


By the analysis of chemical mechanical polishing flow field about substrate, it is found that the closer to the center of the substrate film, the polishing rate is more uniform; at the edge it isn't; at the same time near the rotation axis of polishing pad, the polishing rate is little, while far away from the axis the rate is lager. It's needed to choose appropriate ration on the speed of polish pad and the speed of substrate, in order to obtain a substrate with better flatness. The change on the speed of polishing pad affects polishing rate larger than the change of substrate's. With PLM-2 precision polishing machine and S8030N slurry, when the rotation speed of polishing pad is 60rom, the substrate's is 40rpm, sapphire substrate with complete lattice has been obtained. While BOW of substrate is less than 8 microns, TTV of substrate is less than 5 microns, substrate surface roughness is less than 0.5nm.


Background: While Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often persists into adulthood, little is known about the needs and service use among adolescents and young adults with ADHD. The present study followed-up a cohort diagnosed with ADHD as children and assessed their: 1) needs, 2) correlates of contact with clinical services, and 3) experiences of transition from child to adult health services. Methods: Ninety one young people aged 14–24 were recruited from the UK subset of the International MultiCentre ADHD Genetics (IMAGE) Project. Affected young people and parents conducted face-to-face interviews and self-completion questionnaires including a modified version of the Client Services Receipt Inventory, The Barkley's ADHD rating scale, The Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised, and the Zarit Burden Interview. Changes in key need characteristics (e.g. ADHD symptoms and impairments) over a 3-year period were examined using fixed effect models. Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to explore how key characteristics (such as ADHD symptoms) were associated with contact with clinical services across the three years. Results: At baseline 62 % met diagnostic criteria for ADHD and presented with a range of ADHD related impairments, psychiatric comorbidities, and significant caregiver burden. While ADHD symptoms and related impairments lessened significantly over the three years, psychiatric comorbidities and caregiver burden remained stable. The strongest correlate of contact with clinical services was age (OR 0.65 95 % CI 0.49–0.84) with the odds of reported contact with clinical services decreasing by 35 % for each year increase in age at baseline and by 25 % for each year increase in age over time. Only 9 % of the sample had experienced a transfer to adult services, with the majority reporting unmet needs in healthcare transition. Conclusions: Despite continuing needs, few were in contact with adult health services or had received sufficient help with transition between child and adult health services. The main determinant of health service use for adolescents and young adults with ADHD is age – not needs. Service models should address the needs of ADHD individuals who are no longer children.


BACKGROUND
Increasing numbers of intensive care units (ICUs) are adopting the practice of nighttime intensivist staffing despite the lack of experimental evidence of its effectiveness.

METHODS
We conducted a 1-year randomized trial in an academic medical ICU of the effects of nighttime staffing with in-hospital intensivists (intervention) as compared with nighttime coverage by daytime intensivists who were available for consultation by telephone (control). We randomly assigned blocks of 7 consecutive nights to the intervention or the control strategy. The primary outcome was patients' length of stay in the ICU. Secondary outcomes were patients' length of stay in the hospital, ICU and in-hospital mortality, discharge disposition, and rates of readmission to the ICU. For length-of-stay outcomes, we performed time-to-event analyses, with data censored at the time of a patient's death or transfer to another ICU.

RESULTS
A total of 1598 patients were included in the analyses. The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score (in which scores range from 0 to 299, with higher scores indicating more severe illness) was 67 (interquartile range, 47 to 91), the median length of stay in the ICU was 52.7 hours (interquartile range, 29.0 to 113.4), and mortality in the ICU was 18%. Patients who were admitted on intervention days were exposed to nighttime intensivists on more nights than were patients admitted on control days (median, 100% of nights [interquartile range, 67 to 100] vs. median, 0% [interquartile range, 0 to 33]; P<0.001). Nonetheless, intensivist staffing on the night of admission did not have a significant effect on the length of stay in the ICU (rate ratio for the time to ICU discharge, 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88 to 1.09; P=0.72), ICU mortality (relative risk, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.90 to 1.28), or any other end point. Analyses restricted to patients who were admitted at night showed similar results, as did sensitivity analyses that used different definitions of exposure and outcome.

CONCLUSIONS
In an academic medical ICU in the United States, nighttime in-hospital intensivist staffing did not improve patient outcomes. (Funded by University of Pennsylvania Health System and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01434823.).


In this work we simulate the effect of the human eye's maladaptation to visual perception over time through a supra-threshold contrast perception model that comprises adaptation mechanisms. Specifically, we attempt to visualize maladapted vision on a display device. Given the scene luminance, the model computes a measure of perceived multi-scale contrast by taking into account spatially and temporally varying contrast sensitivity in a maladapted state, which is then processed by the inverse model and mapped to a desired display's luminance assuming perfect adaptation. Our system simulates the effect of maladaptation locally, and models the shifting of peak spatial frequency sensitivity in maladapted vision in addition to the uniform decrease in contrast sensitivity among all frequencies. Through our GPU implementation we demonstrate the visibility loss of scene details due to maladaptation over time at an interactive speed.


In this paper we propose a new approach to studying the financial markets. Instead of the traditional top- down approach where a Brownian Motion is assumed as the main driving force behind the market movement (and where dynamic strategies are built as a result), we rather take the opposite point of view (the bottom-up approach) by assuming that it is the interaction of systematic strategies that induces the dynamics of the market. We achieve this shift in perspective, by re-introducing the High Frequency Trading Ecosystem (HFTE) model. More specifically we specify an approach in which agents interact through a Neural Network structure designed to address the complexity demands of most common financial strategies but designed randomly at inception. This strategy ecosystem is then studied through a simplified genetic algorithm. Taking an approach in which simulation and hypothesis interact in order to improve the theory, we explore areas that are usually associated to fields orthogonal to Quantitative Finance such as Evolutionary Dynamics & predator-prey models. We introduce in that context concepts such as the Path of Interaction in order to study our Ecosystem of strategies through time. Finally a Particle Filter methodology is then proposed to track the market ecosystem through time.


In order to investigate the flow rate distribution and improve the flow rate uniformity of the quenchant in a quench tank, the ultrasonic Doppler velocimeter (UDV) was used to measure the flow rate of quenchant with agitation, and then a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was carried out to simulate the flow rate distribution without / with flow baffles. According to the CFD simulation results, the structures and positions of flow baffles in the draft-tube were optimized to obtain the uniform flow rate distribution in the quench zone, which were verified by experiments as well. The simulation and experimental results show that the UDV is suitable for measuring the flow rate of a large-size quench tank. This research provided a solid foundation for optimizing the structure design of flow baffles in production quench tanks.


We define a family of rules for dividing m indivisible goods among agents, parameterized by a scoring vector and a social welfare aggregation function. We assume that agents' preferences over sets of goods are additive, but that the input is ordinal: each agent simply ranks single goods. Similarly to (positional) scoring rules in voting, a scoring vector s = (s1,...,sm) consists of m nonincreasing nonnegative weights, where si is the score of a good assigned to an agent who ranks it in position i. The global score of an allocation for an agent is the sum of the scores of the goods assigned to her. The social welfare of an allocation is the aggregation of the scores of all agents, for some aggregation function * such as, typically, + or min. The rule associated with s and * maps a profile to (one of) the allocation(s) maximizing social welfare. After defining this family of rules, and focusing on some key examples, we investigate some of the social-choice-theoretic properties of this family of rules, such as various kinds of monotonicity, separability, envy-freeness, and Pareto efficiency.


Purpose: The article attempts to analyze and describe the relationship between the notions of creativity, creativity, innovation and relate them to the term entrepreneurship. Questions to be answered: Is creativity related to entrepreneurship understood as a founding initiative? Does the creative mindset allow you to find yourself in risky conditions more easily? Regardless of whether the reference point is entrepreneurship (as a founding activity) or intrapreneurship of employees appropriate use of creativity resources lead to economic growth, which is the justification for the research. Design/Methodology/Approach: Empirical research was conducted in the first quarter of 2021 among students of a private university with an economic profile (Poznań, Poland). Findings: In the surveyed group, as many as 48.8% of respondents planned to start their own enterprise. The results of the research carried out show, unfortunately, that creativity is not a competence appreciated in the studied group of students at the economic university in Poznań. Even among people declaring the intention to start their own enterprise, the usefulness of a creative attitude in their professional work is not noticed. Practical Implications: The presented research results did not confirm a significant relationship between a creative attitude and the ease of coping with the risk of running a business. Originality/Value: It is therefore worth introducing changes to the educational policy in the field of entrepreneurship aimed at enhancing creativity. This may significantly contribute to the development of innovative enterprises in the SME sector.


Cannabidiol has potential for use in skin disease therapy, so it is important to know the cutaneous biodistribution of cannabidiol after topical application of cannabidiol formulations. However, currently existing quantification methods for the investigation of cannabidiol skin distribution are not optimal. This study aimed to establish a method for the determination of cannabidiol in skin samples by UHPLC-MS/MS. A BEH C18 (50.0 × 2.1 mm, 2.5 μm) column was used; the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid (70:30, v/v), the flow rate was 0.2 μl·min-1 and the column temperature was 30°C. Positive-ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring detection was used to quantify cannabidiol (m/z 315.1 → 193.1) while diphenhydramine (m/z 256.3 → 167.08) served as the internal standard. Good linearity was shown in the range of 1-200 ng·ml-1 for cannabidiol with correlation coefficients of >0.999. The LLOQ was 1 ng·ml-1 . The intra-day and inter-day RSDs of cannabidiol were all <2%. A cryo-sectioning technique combined with the UHPLC-MS/MS method was used to successfully determine cannabidiol levels in a series of very thin skin layers.


This report describes the nature of job insecurity and addresses conceptual as well as methodological issues affecting the understanding of its antecedents and consequences. The literature review suggests that a great deal of theoretical and empirical work is needed to capture the nature of job insecurity, develop psychometrically sound measures of the different aspects, and arrive at valid conclusions regarding the effects of insecurity. Job insecurity is defined as a subjectively experienced stressor which may be divided into different dimensions. Experiences of job insecurity originate in both situational and a number of individual factors. Job insecurity perceptions have been consistently related to reactions such as negative work-related attitudes and behaviors, and job-induced stress symptoms. However, despite a few longitudinal studies on the consequences of job insecurity, most research results derive from cross-sectional studies, and a lot of work remains to expand knowledge on how job insecurity contributes to changes in various outcomes. There are also a number of plausible factors that may moderate the relationships between job insecurity and its potential outcomes. These issues need to be addressed in theoretical as well as empirical work is in order to improve the understanding of both what job insecurity is and what it may imply for the individual and the organization.


Abstract. The strong reduction of air traffic during the COVID-19
pandemic provides a unique test case for the relationship between air traffic
density, contrails, and their radiative forcing of climate change. Here, air
traffic and contrail cirrus changes are quantified for a European domain for
March to August 2020 and compared to the same period in 2019. Traffic data
show a 72 % reduction in flight distance compared with 2019. This paper
investigates the induced contrail changes in a model study. The contrail
model results depend on various methodological details as discussed in
parameter studies. In the reference case, the reduced traffic caused a
reduction in contrail length. The reduction is slightly stronger than
expected from the traffic change because the weather conditions in 2020 were
less favorable for contrail formation than in 2019. Contrail coverage over
Europe with an optical depth larger than 0.1 decreased from 4.6 % in 2019
to 1.4 % in 2020; the total cirrus cover amount changed by 28 % to 25 %. The
reduced contrail coverage caused 70 % less longwave and 73 % less
shortwave radiative forcing but, because of various nonlinearities, only 54 % less net forcing in this case. The methods include recently developed
models for performance parameters and soot emissions. The overall propulsion
efficiency of the aircraft is about 20 % smaller than estimated in
earlier studies, resulting in 3 % fewer contrails. Considerable
sensitivity to soot emissions is found, highlighting fuel and engine
importance. The contrail model includes a new approximate method to account
for water vapor exchange between contrails and background air and for
radiative forcing changes due to contrail–contrail overlap. The water vapor
exchange reduces available ice supersaturation in the atmosphere, which is
critical for contrail formation. Contrail–contrail overlap changes the
computed radiative forcing considerably. Comparisons to satellite
observations are described and discussed in a parallel publication.


Objectives:We sought to evaluate the effect of pairing a mixed-mode mail and telephone methodology with a prepaid $2.00 cash incentive on response rates in a survey of Medicaid enrollees stratified by race and ethnicity. Research Design:Sampling was conducted in 2 stages. The first stage consisted of a simple random sample (SRS) of Medicaid enrollees. In the second stage, American Indian, African American, Latino, Hmong, and Somali enrollees were randomly sampled. A total of 8412 enrollees were assigned randomly to receive a mail survey with no incentive or a $2.00 bill. Results:The response rate within the SRS after the mail portion was 54% in the incentive group and 45% in the nonincentive group. Response rates increased considerably with telephone follow-ups. The incentive SRS response rate increased to 69%, and the nonincentive response rate increased to 64%. Differences between incentive conditions are more pronounced after the first mailing (P < 0.01); almost all differences remained significant (P < 0.05) after the completion of the mail mode. The inclusion of the $2.00 incentive had similar effects on response rates and cost across the different racial and ethnic strata, except for Latino enrollees. Conclusions:A mixed-mode mail and telephone methodology is effective for increasing response rates in a Medicaid population overall and within different racial and ethnic groupings. The effectiveness of this strategy can be enhanced, in terms of response rate and cost, by including a $2.00 prepaid incentive.


Increasingly, sports and fitness brands are using a variety of social media platforms. Instagram has come to the fore in the area of fitness, asserting itself as the de facto channel for users to catalogue their athletic activities, and offering inspirational training advice to followers. Considering this increasingly-popular 'fitspiration' trend, we see a significant impact upon young female users self-esteem, specifically in relation to their perception of body imagery. Hence, this paper will develop understanding of fitness brands' social media activities by investigating the impact of Instagram upon the selfesteem of young women. Nascent literature has examined influence upon self-esteem among women throughout a variety of advertising mediums, however, none have explored the connection between self-esteem and social media. Accordingly, semistructured interviews with female sports enthusiasts are proposed to uncover opinions and perceptions relating to their use of Instagram. Initial findings reveal a strong correlation between participant perception of the 'fitspiration' social media accounts they subscribe to, as well as the impact upon their self-esteem. Ultimately, this paper makes two theoretical contributions relating to the effect of social media upon female self-esteem, as well as contributing to a wider debate of body image within a modern digital economy.


This paper performs an assessment of tourists' perception towards services associated with lodging (hotel factors), dining (restaurant factors), and transportation (transportation factors). The results of the empirical analysis suggested that these are the underlying dimensions held by the tourists: (1) Hotel factors - Staff service quality, room quality, business services,. security, value and food quality, and general amenities, (2) Restaurant factors - serving and food quality, accessibility, and general service and layout design, and (3) Transportation factors: system quality, accessibility, and staff service quality. By linking these factors with tourists' overall satisfaction level, those factors that significantly contribute to better traveling satisfaction have been identified. In addition, this paper provides information on level of service performance, and sheds light on areas that present great potential in retaining and attracting tourists.


Introduction: Endometrial aspiration cytology is a diagnostic modality for studying cyto-harmonal changes and for evaluating endometrial pathology ranging from inflammatory changes, hyperplasia and endometrial malignancies. Aims: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of endometrial aspiration technique and to compare the cyto-morphology of aspirated smears with histopathology. Materials and Method: Endometrial aspiration was performed using Karman's cannula in 100 cases who presented with abnormal uterine bleed, infertility and postmenopausal bleed. The endometrial specimens obtained by D& C were processed and evaluated histologically. The endometrial aspirated smears were correlated with histopathology findings for diagnostic accuracy. Results: The study cases included 48 patients in reproductive age group and 52 patients in the perimenopausal and postmenopausal age groups. The diagnostic accuracy on cytology was 90% when compared to histology. The smears were inadequate for reporting in eight cases. The sensitivity of endometrial cytology was 93% and specificity was 85.7%. Conclusions: Endometrial aspiration technique with Karman's cannula is convenient, simple, safe and less invasive procedure. The endometrial aspiration cytology proved to be effective diagnostic modality in the interpretation of normal and abnormal endometrium. The present study emphasizes the need for early screening to diagnose pre-invasive lesions and endometrial malignancies in peri-menopausal and post-menopausal patients.


Potential Search (PS) is an algorithm that is designed to solve bounded cost search problems. In this paper, we modify PS to work within the framework of bounded suboptimal search and introduce Dynamic Potential Search (DPS). DPS uses the idea of PS but modifies the bound to be the product of the minimal f-value in OPEN and the required suboptimal bound. We study DPS and its attributes. We then experimentally compare DPS to WA* and to EES on a variety of domains and study parameters that affect the behavior of these algorithms.In general we show that in domains with unit edge costs (e.g., many standard benchmarks) DPS significantly outperforms WA* and EES but there are exceptions.


The rapid economic growth has necessitated the need for pupils to have an insight in basic daily economics knowledge that are sufficient for practical application. This work is undertaken to ascertain the level of economics literacy among university students. The study firstly measures the levels of awareness of economics literacy and secondly compares the mean scores of economics literacy among students who studied economics and related courses with those who had not. The study also compares the levels of economics literacy among Malaysian students versus the international students. A quantitative research method was adopted and the Test of Economics Literacy (TEL) was used as a research instrument. Undergraduate students from different faculties at the in International Islamic university Malaysia (IIUM) who registered at semester two were the target population. A sample of 200 students consisting of students from economics department and from other course specializations were randomly selected. In the end, only 161 students had set for the Test with almost 60 percent of them were students from the economics faculty, while close to 63 percent of the sample who set for the test comprised of Malaysians. Three hypotheses were tested. It was found that the mean score among respondents in the TEL test with respect to gender, academic background and nationality was 12pts or equivalent to 60 percent; this level of TEL mean score revealed that undergraduates at the IIUM were lacking in the overall economics literacy. Mean score among students who studied economics was found to be relatively higher than those without economics background, but the difference is not statistically significance. Base on the result from the third hypothesis test, it suggests that there exists a significant difference in the mean score of economics literacy between the local and the international second semester's undergraduates at the IIUM. The overall findings, point to the conclusion that about one third of the second semester's undergraduates lacked of economics knowledge and that the exposure to the economics course had positive effect on the TEL mean score. Findings also indicate the consequence of the lack of emphasis on economics education at the Malaysian high school level. © IDOSI Publications, 2013.


In this work, we study the properties of central paths, defined with respect to a large class of penalty and barrier functions, for convex semidefinite programs. The type of programs studied here is characterized by the minimization of a smooth and convex objective function subject to a linear matrix inequality constraint. So, it is a particular case of convex programming with conic constraints. The studied class of functions consists of spectrally defined functions induced by penalty or barrier maps defined over the real nonnegative numbers. We prove the convergence of the (primal, dual and primal-dual) central path toward a (primal, dual, primal-dual, respectively) solution of our problem. Finally, we prove the global existence of Cauchy trajectories in our context and we recall its relation with primal central path when linear semidefinite programs are considered. Some illustrative examples are shown at the end of this paper.


abstract In 1964, Block 29/7 was awarded as part of the first licencing round to Shell and Esso (UK). The Curlew area comprises a series of terraces that step down from the Western Platform into the West Central Graben. Exploration drilling started in 1977 but it wasn't until 1990 that well 29/7-4 successfully tested a 100 ft column of undersaturated volatile oil in the Upper Jurassic Fulmar Formation sandstones. Further exploration drillng, aided by 3D seismic data (acquired in 1991), yielded additional discoveries: Curlew C (1993, oil) and Curlew D (1994, condensate-rich gas). In Curlew D new technologies were succesfully applied to described and evaluate the isolated hanging wall compartment. Oil was discovered in what is now called Curlew D South in February 2000. Hydrocarbon accumulations in the Curlew area occur in dip-closed faulted anticlinal structures. The producing Upper Jurassic Fulmar Formation is a heterogeneous mix of bioturbated shallow marine sandstones. barrier sandstones, and lagoonal/swamp deposits. The range in reservoir quality is reflected in the field porosity (5-27%) and permeability (0.001-800 mD). Reservoir compartments in the field (curlew B, D, and D South) are controlled by complex reservoir architecture, structure and fault geometry. Each reservoir compartment is characterized by a different fluid contact and a distinct fluid type. The reservoir heterogencity provieds potential for bypassed hydrocarbons in undrilled compartments, as was proven by the Curlew D South development. Curlew B, D, and D South have since been developed. Evacuation of hydrocarbons from the Curlew area is via the Maersk Curlew FPSO, to which the producing wells have been tied back. Gas is fed nto the Fulmar Gas Line and oil is taken onshore by shuttle tankers. The initially-in-place volume in Curlew B at standard conditions is 24 MMSTB of oil and 25 BSCF of solution gas. Curlew B was developed via horizontal well 29/7-10y and came on stream in November 1997 at a rate of about 23 000 STB/D. The initially-in-place volume in Curlew D is 340 BSCF of gas and 100 MMSTB of condensate. Curlew D was developed via two vertical wells, 29/7-8z and 29/7-9, and started production in February 1998 with production rates up to 115 MMSCF/D of gas and 34 000 STB/D. Gas production from the field is constrained. however, by the facilities. Curlew D South is developed by the vertical well 29/7-11 which came on stream in March 2000 after a North Sea record-time tie back of the original appraisal well.


The population of older adults is increasing across the globe; this growth is predicted to continue into the future. Most older adults prefer to live in their own home, but many live alone without immediate support. Living longer is often coupled with health and social problems and difficulty managing daily activities. Therefore, some level of care is required, but this is costly. Technological solutions may help to mitigate these problems by recognising subtle changes early and intervening before problems become unmanageable. Understanding a person's usual behaviour when carrying out Activities of Daily Living (ADL) makes it possible to detect and respond to anomalies. However, current commercial and research monitoring systems do not an analysis of ADL and are unable to detect subtle changes. To address this gap, we propose the STRETCH (Socio-Technical Resilience for Enhancing Targeted Community Healthcare) sensor platform that is comprised of non-invasive sensors and machine learning techniques to recognise changes and allow early interventions. The paper discusses design principles, modalities, system architecture, and sensor network ar-


The bacterial protein WhiD belongs to the Wbl family of iron-sulfur [Fe-S] proteins present only in the actinomycetes. In Streptomyces coelicolor, it is required for the late stages of sporulation, but precisely how it functions is unknown. Here, we report results from in vitro and in vivo experiments with WhiD from Streptomyces venezuelae (SvWhiD), which differs from S. coelicolor WhiD (ScWhiD) only at the C terminus. We observed that, like ScWhiD and other Wbl proteins, SvWhiD binds a [4Fe-4S] cluster that is moderately sensitive to O2 and highly sensitive to nitric oxide (NO). However, although all previous studies have reported that Wbl proteins are monomers, we found that SvWhiD exists in a monomer-dimer equilibrium associated with its unusual C-terminal extension. Several Wbl proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are known to interact with its principal sigma factor SigA. Using bacterial two-hybrid, gel filtration, and MS analyses, we demonstrate that SvWhiD interacts with domain 4 of the principal sigma factor of Streptomyces, σHrdB (σHrdB4). Using MS, we determined the dissociation constant (Kd) for the SvWhiD-σHrdB4 complex as ∼0.7 μm, consistent with a relatively tight binding interaction. We found that complex formation was cluster dependent and that a reaction with NO, which was complete at 8–10 NO molecules per cluster, resulted in dissociation into the separate proteins. The SvWhiD [4Fe-4S] cluster was significantly less sensitive to reaction with O2 and NO when SvWhiD was bound to σHrdB4, consistent with protection of the cluster in the complex.


In 1939 Schumpeter proposed a somewhat novel theory to explain the instability of macroeconomic variables. Schumpeter's theory however did not produce a research program, which means that many of the lacunas and limitations of his theory remain unresolved. In this paper, we develop some central themes of Schumpeter's theory, discard certain vestigial elements, and address some unanswered questions.


Background Array comparative genomic hybridisation (array CGH) is transforming clinical cytogenetics with its ability to interrogate the human genome at increasingly high resolution. Objective To determine whether array CGH testing in the prenatal population provides diagnostic information over conventional karyotyping. Search Strategy MEDLINE (1970 to December 2009), EMBASE (1980 to December 2009) and CINAHL (1982 to December 2009) were searched electronically. Selection criteria Studies were selected if array CGH was used on prenatal samples or where array CGH was used on postnatal samples following termination of pregnancy for structural abnormalities detected on an ultrasound scan. Of the 135 potential articles, 10 were included in this systematic review. Data Collection and Analysis Results from the chromosome analysis and array CGH analysis were extracted. The pooled rate of extra information detected by array CGH when the prenatal karyotype was normal and conversely the pooled rate of extra information from karyotyping when the array CGH was normal was calculated. Main Results Array CGH detected 3.6% (95% CI 1.5% to 8.5%) additional genomic abnormalities when conventional karyotyping was 'normal' regardless of referral indication. This increased to 5.2% (95% CI 1.9% to 13.9%) more than prenatal karyotyping when the referral indication was a structural malformation detected on ultrasound scan. Conclusion There appears to be an increased detection rate of chromosomal abnormalities when array CGH techniques are employed in the prenatal population over conventional karyotyping. However, some of these are copy number imbalances that are not clinically significant. This carries implications for prenatal counselling and maternal anxiety.


Spatial distributional patterns of benthic diatoms and their relation to current velocity were investigated in an unshaded cobble‐bottom reach of White Creek (Washington County, NY). On 27 August 1999, diatoms were sampled and current velocity and depth were measured on a regular square sampling grid with a grain size of 0.01 m2, interval of 0.5 m, and extent of 16 m2. The relative abundance of the 18 common diatom species enumerated in the 81 samples was subjected to detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). The first axis (DCA1) explained 51% of the variance in diatom data and separated the samples according to current regimes. The spatial autocorrelation of DCA1 sample scores in deposition and erosion regions of White Creek was determined by Moran's I statistic to indicate patch size. In White Creek the patch length of all diatom communities was more than 3.1 m, whereas the patch width was 1 m in the deposition region and 0.5 m in the erosion region. There were 5 dominant diatom taxa, Achnanthes minutissima Kütz. et vars, Fragilaria capucina Dezmazières et vars, F. crotonensis Kitt., Diatoma vulgaris Bory, and Synedra ulna (Nitz.) Ehr. et vars. The patch length of the dominant species varied from 1 to more than 4.1 m, whereas the patch width, if defined, was 0.5 m. Achnanthes minutissima and F. capucina, the two diatom species with the highest relative abundance, displayed spatially structured patches of low abundance and comparatively random patches of high abundance, suggesting broad scale abiotic control of species performance in low abundance regions and finer scale biotic control of high abundance areas. Another objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that higher current velocities, which generally impede immigration, would increase randomness and complexity (i.e. homogeneity of diatom distributional patterns). The spatial complexity in low versus high velocity transects was determined by calculating the respective fractal dimension (D) of DCA1 scores. D of DCA1 was higher in the higher current velocity transects, suggesting that spatial complexity and homogeneity of diatom communities increased in faster currents. Partial canonical correspondence analysis was conducted on diatom, environmental, and spatial data to assess how much of the variance in species distribution could be attributed to environmental (current velocity and depth) versus spatial factors. The variance of species data, explained by the environment (exclusively current velocity), was 38%; whereas space alone contributed only 10%, indicating that 1) current velocity was the major factor that controlled diatom distribution in streams and 2) there were other spatially dependent variables, most likely biotic, but their role in shaping diatom communities was minor.


This is an exploratory qualitative study carried out in a hospital-school in Porto Alegre. Its purpose is to identify children's perception concerning the care received during hospitalization. Eight children, from six to twelve years of age participated in this investigation, after each person responsible for the child signed a consent form. Data was collected in the in-patient unit through in-depth interviews. Five different themes emerged from the analysis of the interviews: identification of the caretakers; children's perception of care; expression of inner feelings, description of the care received and the caretakers and perception of time. The study shows that hospitalization generates stress for the child and its family. Health care which is more appropriate and efficient minimizes the impact of hospitalization and should include the following aspects: family's and child's commitment to self-care, maintenance of family bonds and of regular activities, previous explanation of procedures to be performed respect for the child's opinions and suggestions, nursing team's availability and attention to the child's needs.


Wireless sensor networks are considered as one of the 21st century's most
important technologies. Sensors in wireless sensor networks usually have limited and sometimes
non-rechargeable batteries, which they are supposed to be preserved for months or even years. That's
why the energy consumption in these networks is of a great importance.

One way to improve energy consumption in a wireless sensor network is to use clustering.
In clustered networks, one node is known as the cluster head and other nodes as normal members,
which normal nodes send the collected data to the cluster head, and the cluster head sends the information
to the base station either by a single step or by multiple steps.

Using clustering simplifies resource management and increases scalability, reliability, and
the network lifetime. Although the cluster formation involves a time- overhead and how to choose
the cluster head is another problem, but its advantages are more than its disadvantages.

The primary aim of this study is to offer a solution to reduce energy consumption in the sensor network.
In this study, during the selection of cluster heads, Honeybee Algorithm is used and also for
routing, Harmonic Search Algorithm is used. In this paper, the simulation is performed by using
MATLAB software and the proposed method is compared with the Low Energy Adaptive Clustering
Hierarchy (LEACH) and the multi-objective fuzzy clustering algorithm (MOFCA).

By simulations of this study, we conclude that this research has remarkably
increased the network lifetime with respect to EECS, LEACH, and MOFCA algorithms. In view of
the energy constraints of the wireless sensor network and the non-rechargeable batteries in most cases,
providing such solutions and using metaheuristic algorithms can result in a significant reduction
in energy consumption and, consequently, increase in the network lifetime.


For college students who major in Music, listening to audio recordings with analytical instructions and music scores is an important task. In this paper we proposes a Web-based music lecture authoring, annotating, and presentation framework, which is especially designed for Music instructors to easily record their lecturing comments (i.e., voice and tele-pointer) based on some prepared teaching materials (i.e., music score, audio or MIDI, and analysis figure for music), so as for students to replay the multimedia lecture after class on the Web. To present the music score and waveform audio in a synchronized manner, we design a MIDI-to-WAV alignment algorithm that can explore the temporal relations between MIDI and the corresponding performance recording. We built a system prototype to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of our idea.


With wide adoption of robotic aerial vehicles (RAVs), their accidents increasingly occur, calling for in-depth investigation of such accidents. Unfortunately, an inquiry to "why did my drone crash" often ends up with nowhere, if the root cause lies in the RAV's control program, due to the key challenges in evidence and methodology: (1) Current RAVs' flight log only records high-level vehicle control states and events, without recording control program execution; (2) The capability of "connecting the dots" – from controller anomaly to program variable corruption to program bug location – is lacking. To address these challenges, we develop MAYDAY, a crossdomain post-accident investigation framework by mapping control model to control program, enabling (1) in-flight logging of control program execution, and (2) traceback to the control-semantic bug that led to an accident, based on controland program-level logs. We have applied MAYDAY to ArduPilot, a popular open-source RAV control program that runs on a wide range of commodity RAVs. Our investigation of 10 RAV accidents caused by real ArduPilot bugs demonstrates that MAYDAY is able to pinpoint the root causes of these accidents within the program with high accuracy and minimum runtime and storage overhead. We also found 4 recently patched bugs still vulnerable and alerted the ArduPilot team.


Does information improve deliberation? Proponents of online deliberation argue that the availability of the Internet can solve two longstanding problems of citizen decisionmaking: that preexisting inequalities tend to be reproduced rather than minimized in deliberative forums and that citizen decisionmaking sacrifices the benefits of expertise. Because all deliberators online can access information during their discussion, deliberation should be more informed and more equal. We put those claims to the test by analyzing URL-link posting in an online deliberative forum composed of 25 deliberating groups. On the positive side of the ledger, we show that participants did take advantage of the informational capacities of the web. URL-link posting not only generated more interaction than did opinions posted without links but it also responded to what we call the scale and uptake problems of public deliberation. On the negative side of the ledger, far from equalizing deliberation, the availability of online information may have given additional advantages to already advantaged groups. This was true even in groups that were actively facilitated. The availability of online information may also have fostered discussions, in some instances, that were more opinionated than informed. Information in the Internet age is newly accessible, we conclude, but is also politicized in unfamiliar ways.


The importance of expanding Green's functions, particularly free-space Green's functions in terms of orthogonal wave functions is practically self-evident when frequency domain scattering problems are of interest. With the relatively recent and widespread interest in time-domain scattering problems, similar expansions of Green's functions are expected to be useful in the time-domain. In this paper, an expression, expanded in terms of orthogonal spherical vector wave functions, for the time-domain free-space dyadic Green's function is presented and scattering by a perfectly conducting sphere is studied as an application to check numerically the validity and to demonstrate the utility of this expression.


We have measured the resistivity, optical conductivity, and magnetic susceptibility of LaSb2 to search for clues as to the cause of the extraordinarily large linear magnetoresistance and to explore the properties of the superconducting state. We find no evidence in the optical conductivity for the formation of a charge density wave state above 20 K despite the highly layered crystal structure. In addition, only small changes to the optical reflectivity with magnetic field are observed indicating that the MR is due to scattering rate, not charge density, variations with field. Although a superconducting ground state was previously reported below a critical temperature of 0.4 K, we observe, at ambient pressure, a fragile superconducting transition with an onset at 2.5 K. In crystalline samples, we find a high degree of variability with a minority of samples displaying a full Meissner fraction below 0.2 K and fluctuations apparent up to 2.5 K. The application of pressure stabilizes the superconducting transition and reduces the anisotropy of the superconducting phase.


Understanding neural anatomy and physiology depends on first understanding the behaviour being mediated. Glover, in his review of earlier work suggesting various dichotomies in visual processing, shows how there is a tendency to oversimplification if this approach is ignored. His own new proposals demonstrate the advantages of allowing function to drive anatomical analysis. Nevertheless, the new planning–control dichotomy he proposes, though a valuable advance, is itself an oversimplification of what must be a multi-channel system.


This report is a critical and systematic review of the literature on professional education accreditation models, associated methods, and the effectiveness and impact of each model. The review was conducted to inform a review and update of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) standards of accreditation for veterinary degrees. The purpose of the study was to rapidly appraise the evidence for the effectiveness, impact, and feasibility of different accreditation approaches, in order to inform best practices for the accreditation of professional education programs. The study focused on accreditation for programs which produce practice-ready graduates, including for veterinary programs. The authors searched several databases for articles published from 2000 to 2020, using search terms identified during a scoping phase, and applied a rapid review methodology in line with contextual, time, and resource requirements. The full-text review included 32 articles, from which a clear transition in the literature was seen from input- and process-based models (pre- and early 2000s) to outcomes-based models (in the 2000s and early 2010s). Continuous quality improvement and targeted models (including risk-based and thematic) represent more recent approaches in accreditation practice. However the review identified limited empirical evidence for the relative effectiveness of different accreditation approaches in professional education, although evidence for the more recent accreditation approaches is emerging.


Background and purpose of the study: The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common clinical disorder caused by injury to the alveolar epithelial and endothelial barriers of lung. In ARDS patients, oxidative stress is increased and plasma antioxidant levels are reduced. Vitamin E has an important role in antioxidant defense mechanisms. In this study the effect of vitamin E on decrease of APACHE II score in ARDS patients was investigated. Materials and methods: Twenty patients [mean (SE): age = 51.2 ± 6.41 years] with ARDS were enrolled. After diagnosis based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, ten patients as treatment group received 600 IU vitamin E daily intramuscularly. Control group received normal saline as placebo. Plasma samples and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score were obtained before administration, 4hrs and 12hrs after each intervention and repeated three days for each patient. Results were analyzed by use of an SPSS software package with a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Significant changes were observed in APACHE II score from first to seventh measurement (p=0.0001) in treatment group, but vitamin E concentration altered significantly in only first to seventh measurement (p= 0.019). Conclusion: From the results of this study, it seems that the use of vitamin E as a lipidsoluble antioxidant along with other supportive measures is beneficial in decreasing APACHE II score in ARDS patients.


Several recently published data sets have shed new light on many of the fundamental kinematic aspects of mid-Cretaceous orogeny in the Cascades of northwestern Washington and southwestern British Columbia. Specifically, (a) it is now clear that contractional deformation associated with this orogeny affected rocks east of the crystalline core of the range to a greater degree than had previously been suspected, and (b) geobarometric data from the crystalline core of the range now permit a quantitative reconstruction of the crustal-thickening event responsible for core metamorphism to be attempted. I propose a new kinematic model for mid-Cretaceous orogeny that reconciles these data with previously collected data sets that focused on deformation in the northwest Cascades-San Juan Islands thrust system. The model derived from this analysis suggests that the Cascades underwent a minimum of between 400 and 500 km of east-west shortening between about 115 and 85 Ma, owing to the collision of the greater Insular terrane, which probably included rocks of the Chilliwack-Nooksack terrane, with the western edge of the greater Intermontane terrane, which included the Methow basin and Bridge River-Hozameen terrane. On the basis of their relative and absolute times of uplift, I assign the deepest part of the metamorphic core, the Skagit Gneiss, to the greater Insular terrane, and the structurally higher carapace of the core, the Settler-Nason metapelites and the Cogburn Creek-Mad River metabasalt/metachert, to the westernmost Intermontane terrane. The contact between the Skagit Gneiss and the overlying assemblages must represent a fault or suture across which at least 120 km of displacement took place. This fault is also the root zone from which many of the nappes in the northwestern Cascades and San Juan Islands were derived. I concur with previous workers who suggested that the collisional event was not precipitated by the closure of a several-thousand-kilometer-wide ocean but was rather due to a short-lived margin-normal convergence event that both followed and was followed by periods during which the continental margin was highly influenced by oblique subduction and strike-slip faulting.


In Zaatari camp, Jordan, thousands of Syrian refugees were sheltered in tents and caravans, which they steadily appropriated and turned into dwellings that responded to their social and cultural needs. In this book, Ayham Dalal takes a closer look at this remarkable transformation. He draws on the tension between 'the shelter' and 'the dwelling' to unravel how new spaces unfold in between them, where refugees become architects and the camp is dismantled and reassembled. From Shelters to Dwellings is the first study to uniquely combine ethnographic observations with new architectural research methods, to illustrate in detail how refugees inhabit shelters. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how camps and shelters are transformed by the powerful act of dwelling.


BACKGROUND
Diagnosis of dementia is challenging and requires both ruling out potentially treatable underlying causes and ruling in a diagnosis of dementia subtype to manage patients and suitably plan for the future.

OBJECTIVES
This analysis sought to determine the appropriate use of neuroimaging during the diagnostic work-up of dementia, including indications for neuroimaging and comparative accuracy of alternative technologies.

DATA SOURCES
A literature search was performed using Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid Embase, the Wiley Cochrane Library, and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination database, for studies published between 2000 and 2013.

REVIEW METHODS
Data on diagnostic accuracy and impact on clinical decision making were abstracted from included studies. Quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE.

RESULTS
The search yielded 5,374 citations and 15 studies were included. Approximately 10% of dementia cases are potentially treatable, though less than 1% reverse partially or fully. Neither prediction rules nor clinical indications reliably select the subset of patients who will likely benefit from neuroimaging. Clinical utility is highest in ambiguous cases or where dementia may be mixed, and lowest for clinically diagnosed Alzheimer disease or clinically excluded vascular dementia. There is a lack of evidence that MRI is superior to CT in detecting a vascular component to dementia. Accuracy of structural imaging is moderate to high for discriminating different types of dementia.

LIMITATIONS
There was significant heterogeneity in estimates of diagnostic accuracy, which often prohibited a statistical summary of findings. The quality of data reported by studies prohibited calculation of likelihood ratios in the present analysis. No studies from primary care were found; thus, generalizability beyond tertiary care settings may be limited.

CONCLUSIONS
A diagnosis of reversible dementia is rare. Imaging has the most clinical utility in cases where there is potentially mixed dementia or ambiguity as to the type of dementia despite prolonged follow-up (e.g., 2 years or more). Both CT and MRI are useful for detecting a vascular component of dementia.


FAMILIAL Mediterranean fever (FMF, familial recurring polyserositis) is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and inflammation of one or more of the serosal membranes. The serositis usually manifests itself as peritonitis, pleuritis, or both, with the former being much more common. 1 Recently a patient has been reported who had steatorrhea which increased during the episodes of peritonitis. 2 Despite the fact that the gastrointestinal tract is frequently affected in FMF, detailed studies of this system have not been presented. This report describes studies of some aspects of gastrointestinal function in such patients. Materials and Methods Each of the five patients studied had the characteristic history and physical signs of FMF. 1 They had experienced recurrent episodes of fever and peritonitis for 4 to 32 years. None had clinical or laboratory evidence of amyloidosis. The age, sex, duration of illness, and ethnic derivation of the


The automated real time control of an electrical network is achieved through the estimation of its state using phasor measurement units. Given an undirected graph representing the network, we study the problem of finding the minimum number of phasor measurement units to place on the edges such that the graph is fully observed. This problem is also known as the Power Edge Set problem, a variant of the Power Dominating Set problem. It is naturally modeled using an iteration‐indexed binary linear program, whose size turns out to be too large for practical purposes. We use a fixed‐point argument to remove the iteration indices and obtain a more compact bilevel formulation. We then reformulate the latter to a single‐level mixed‐integer linear program, which performs better than the natural formulation. Lastly, we provide an algorithm that solves the bilevel program directly and much faster than a commercial solver can solve the previous models. We also discuss robust variants and extensions of the problem. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 68(2), 104–120 2016


Galileo introduced
the scientific method, based on observation of natural phenomena, their interpretation
and validation on the base of verified results. Albert Einstein broke the
pattern of Galilean physics by postulating the invariance of the light speed
and arguing that the laws of physics are valid independently of the inertial reference
system used, introducing the concept of relativity and proposing a new physics
based on four dimensions instead of the three previously known, with the
addition of the variable time as the fourth dimension. In this article, we
wonder if it is possible to find a methodology, necessarily not conventional, allowing
to recognize additional new dimensions. The analysis of the quantization of
nature has led us to hypothesize the use of irrational numbers in a ratio as a detector
for any new dimension. A series of conjectures can bring us to imagine a
scenario following the Big Bang with the creation of orthogonal matter,
allowing us to find a seemingly plausible explanation to some unanswered
questions of the contemporaneous physics. Under these hypotheses, it is
possible to give two not conventional interpretations about gravity and light.
The article prefers the logic explanation of the phenomena to their quantification
through mathematics, reserving this last one only where it is necessary to
clear the concept.


The formulation of strategies and policies to adapt to climate change are becoming a norm in both developed and developing urban areas around the world. The city of Cartagena, Colombia has recently identified its vulnerabilities to tackle climate change events framed in the Plan 4C, in order to formulate guidelines, to improve its competitiveness and adaptation to climate change in a city that is emerging as an international touristic centre and a national economic hub. However, much has been documented about the social and environmental realities of the city which contrasts with its economic outlook and image. This article aims to analyze such reality by taking into account social, economic and ecological factors based on documented data of the city. The analysis demonstrates that several urban zones require urgent sustainable intervention based on the context and by that, this article attempts to argue that the use of an integral and inclusive approach plays a critical role in this specific complex social, economic and environmental context if the strategies and plans of the city to adapt to climate change are to be met. Keywords: Climate Change, Cartagena, Resilience, Social Exclusion, adaptation strategies, Inclusiveness, CBA