A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the microtexture/ microstructure in several experimental boron nitride fibers was investigated by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy according to their mechanical properties. Young's modulus was controlled by grain orientation. The disordered microstructure of low modulus fibers consisted of amorphous regions and nanometer-sized crystallites arranged in a wide range of orientation. In contrast, high modulus samples showed a coarse-grained microtexture in which crystallites were ordered in a mesohexagonal arrangement along the fiber-axis. Cracks were easily propagated as crystallinity increased, leading to decreased failure strain. The strength-microstructure relationship was obscured by the fiber porosity and defects.


Polymer dielectrics subjected to intense radiation fluxes exhibit a radiation-induced conductivity (RIC). Polyimide is a good dielectric with excellent mechanical and thermal properties featuring high radiation resistance currently widely used in the spacecraft industry. Its RIC has been extensively studied in several laboratories. The purpose of the present study is to make a direct measurement of the RIC for both pulsed and continuous irradiation using a current sensing technique, which is contrary to the indirect method employing a surface-potential decay technique that is now preferred by spacecraft charging engineers. Our experiments are done in a small-signal regime excluding any recombination and dose effects. In combination with existing computer codes, we managed to develop further the conventional multiple trapping formalism and the RIC theory based on it. The main idea is to supplement an exponential trap distribution responsible for a dominant dispersive carrier transport in polymers with a small concentration of inherent deep traps which may or may not have an energy distribution. In line with this reasoning, we propose a tentative set of RIC model parameters for polyimide that accounts for the observed experimental data. The findings and their implications are discussed in a broad context of previous studies.


Reliably starting the engine during extremely cold ambient temperatures is one of the largest calibration and emissions challenges in engine development. Although cold-start conditions comprise only a small portion of an engine's typical drive cycle, large amounts of hydrocarbon and particulate emissions are generated during this time, and the calibration of cold-start operation takes several months to complete. During the cold start period, results of previous cycle combustion event strongly influences the subsequent cycle due to variations in engine speed, residual fraction, residual wall film mass, in-cylinder charge and wall temperatures, and air flow distribution between cylinders. Including all these parameters in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation is critical in understanding the cold start process in transient and cumulative manner. Measured cold start data of a production of four-cylinder spark-ignition (SI) direct-injection engine were collected for this study with an ambient temperature of −30 °C. Three-dimensional (3D) transient engine flow, spray, and combustion simulation over first three consecutive engine cycles is carried out to provide a better understanding of the cold-start process. Measured engine speed and one-dimensional (1D) conjugate heat transfer (CHT) model is used to capture realistic in-cylinder flow dynamics and transient wall temperatures for more accurate fuel–air mixing predictions. The CFD predicted cumulative heat release trend for the first three cycles matches the data from measured pressure analysis. The same observation can be made for the vaporized fuel mass as well. These observations are explained in the report.


Achieving broadband total light absorption of unpolarized light within a subwavelength ultrathin film is critical for optoelectronic applications such as photovoltaics, photodetectors, thermal emitters and optical modulators. Here we experimentally demonstrate a low-cost and scalable multilayer graphene ultra-broadband total light absorber of record-high 90% of unpolarized light absorption at near infrared wavelengths with a bandwidth of more than 300 nm. The thin metamaterial consists of alternating monolayer graphene and dielectric material prepared by a low-cost wet chemical layer-by-layer method. A simple grating is fabricated using flexible femtosecond laser writing that simultaneously removes the graphene in the ablated regions and converts the remaining graphene oxide to graphene via photo-reduction. Our results open a novel, flexible and viable approach to practical applications of nanostructured photonic devices based on 2D materials, which require strong absorption.


Most conventional materials display expansion upon heating, so there is considerable interest in identifying materials that display the opposite behavior, negative thermal expansion (NTE). In the current study, seven mesoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) of varying topology and composition, which exhibit outstanding porosity, were investigated using molecular simulation for temperature-induced contraction. We find exceptional NTE for the most porous MOFs and a correlation between the coefficient of NTE and porosity. The large molecular subunits of the MOFs were further studied to find they intrinsically display NTE, corresponding to terahertz vibrational modes. As a result, NTE has a considerable effect on the mechanical properties of these MOFs and is an important consideration for understanding the mechanical stability of new extremely porous materials.


Nasal microsomal P450 form a (NMa), a major cytochrome P450 isozyme in rabbit olfactory and respiratory nasal mucosa with high activity toward a variety of odorants and environmental toxicants, was previously purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from rabbit nasal microsomes. In the present study, a cDNA library constructed from poly(A)+ RNA from rabbit respiratory nasal mucosa was screened with antibodies to P450 NMa, and five immunopositive clones were isolated and characterized. Sequence analysis indicated that the clones encode two highly similar P450s that contain 494 amino acid residues, with the first 20 corresponding to P450 NMa, and differ from each other in only 8 residues scattered throughout the polypeptide chains. On the basis of structural homology the two proteins are designated as CYP2A10 and CYP2A11 and are the first members of the P450 2A subfamily to be identified in nasal tissue. Genomic blot analysis indicated that 2A10 and 2A11 are apparently not allelic variants. Both genes are expressed in liver and lung as well as in nasal tissues, as judged by RNA blot analysis, but the relative levels of the two mRNAs differ. Both enzymes were partially purified after expression of the cDNAs in Escherichia coli and shown to catalyze the oxygenation of a variety of substrates, including ethanol and procarcinogens such as N-nitrosodiethylamine and phenacetin. P450 2A10 is generally more active than P450 2A11 and strikingly so in the conversion of testosterone to androstenedione.


Oxford Archaeology North was commissioned by West Coast Energy Ltd to undertake an archaeological desk-based assessment and rapid visual inspection of the proposed development area for a wind farm at Carsington, near Matlock, Derbyshire (NGR 424824, 354269).
The assessment, undertaken in January 2006, covered a radius of 1km from the centre of the proposed development site and included visits to the Derbyshire Sites and Monuments Record, the County Record Office and the Local Studies Library, all in Matlock. Four sites with statutory designation were identified: Carsington Pasture
round barrow (Site 01), St Margarets Church (Site 06), Hopton Incline Windmill (Site 15), and the Carsington and Hopton Conservation Area (Site 31), within which were a
further 14 Listed Buildings.
The majority of the proposed development site consists of unenclosed and undeveloped pasture which is thought to hold considerable archaeological potential.
Exploitation of the extensive mineral veins in the area has resulted in a concentration of disused mine-shafts across the site (Site 03); most of these are thought to date from
the seventeenth century onwards although documentary evidence suggests that mining has been undertaken on the site from at least the medieval period, and evidence for
early workings may survive. Predating this industrial landscape, a series of linear banks and low, earthfast walls may represent a Romano-British field system (Site 02).
If proven, these may be associated with the settlement found on the site of Carsington Reservoir, thought to be the site of Lutudarum, the administrative centre of the Romano-British lead mining industry.


The thiourea group has been exploited to link two or four carbohydrate units at the upper rim of tetrapropoxycalix[4]arene derivatives in the cone conformation. Two synthetic methodologies were used, the first one consisting of the condensation of di- and tetraminocalix[4]arenes with the isothiocyanate of monosaccharides in dry CH2Cl2 at room temperature and the second one exploiting the condensation of an aminolactoside with a calixarene isothiocyanate. The first method allows the glycoconjugates to be obtained in 75-80% overall yields. The disfunctionalized derivatives exist in a closed flattened cone conformation in CDCl3 and CD3OD due to the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds involving the thiourea groups which are broken in DMSO-d6 to give an open flattened cone conformation. The thiourea groups act not only as linkers but also as binding units for anionic substrates as evidenced by solution 1H NMR and ESI-MS experiments. Turbidimetric analysis indicates that the tetraglucoside and tetragalactoside clusters give specific interactions with Concanavalin A (Con A) and peanut lectin (PNA), respectively. Both features show that the neoglycoconjugates could also be used as site specific molecular delivery systems.


Indigenous students in rural Alaska hold high educational aspirations and yet few students realize their educational goals (Hamilton & Seyfrit, 1993; Kleinfeld & McDiarmid, 1986; McDiarmid & Kleinfeld, 1981). Our purpose in this study was tounderstand why so many Alaska Native students from small, isolated communities "drift" after high school, neither entering the postsecondary programs they aspire to, nor engaging in paid work. The contribution of this study is to clarify the reasons for the "educational aspirations-achievement gap," in other words, why so many Alaska Native rural students have high educational expectations, and yet remain directionless in adult life. This is an issue on which virtually no research has been done. This paper also suggests ways that rural schools and postsecondary institutions can assist Alaska Native students in obtaining the postsecondary education to which they aspire.


We present the results of two temporally extended experimental implementations of the Monty Hall dilemma in order to examine the dynamics of belief. In the first experiment, we used the standard three-door version of the dilemma, but biased the probability of the winning door positionally. Participants capitalized on the increased probabilities but did not discover the optimal switch strategy. In the second experiment, we increased the number of doors, in each case removing all but two doors. As the number of doors increased, participants converged on the optimal switch strategy, as well as increasing their confidence in their strategy. This suggests that the information relevant to the MHD is not win frequencies but how the different elements of the dilemma are related.


OBJECTIVE
The pathogenesis of primary hypertension (HT) is still not completely clear, although autoimmunity has been implicated in recent years. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is an enzyme involved in a number of important metabolic processes. CA I and II autoantibodies have been linked to various autoimmune diseases. However, CA I and II autoantibody levels in primary HT have not been previously investigated. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate levels of CA I and II autoantibodies in primary HT.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Fifty-six patients newly diagnosed with primary HT and 33 healthy individuals were included in the study. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed following office controls. Blood specimens were collected under appropriate conditions for CA I and II autoantibody level investigation and biochemical tests. Urine sodium and protein excretion were measured after 24 h. Demographic and biochemical parameters and CA I and II autoantibody levels were then compared between the patient and healthy groups.

RESULTS
CA II autoantibody and uric acid levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive group than in the control group (p=0.005, and p<0.001, respectively). CA II autoantibody (exp ß: 79.06 CI: 4.44-1407.02) (p=0.003) and uric acid elevation (exp ß: 2.10 CI: 1.31- 3.34) (p=0.002) were identified as independent predictors of HT development at logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS
CA II autoantibody levels were higher in hypertensive patients, and this elevation is an independent predictor of HT development.


Water storage is one of the most important components of emergency preparedness. Potable water is needed for ensuring the survival and well-being of disaster victims. Consumers may store water in previously used beverage or other food-grade containers for emergency use; however, this practice poses potential safety risks. Water stored in various containers for emergency purposes in residences within the state of Utah was tested for various contaminants. Of 240 samples, seven contained coliforms and 14 samples had free chlorine levels over the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 4 parts per million limit. There was a negative correlation between chlorine levels and age of water. The probability that a container had free chlorine present decreased by 4% for each month of storage, suggesting the importance of preventing subsequent contamination of water during storage and use. Water in clear polyethylene terephthalate plastic soda bottles (n=16), even when stored for >18 months, did not exceed 0.3 parts per billion (ppb) antimony, a level significantly lower than the EPA limit of 6.0 ppb antimony. These results support the practice of utilizing previously used containers, when properly cleaned and chlorinated, for emergency water storage.


[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When it comes to reducing expenses, banks are open to a variety of cost-cutting options, including outsourcing. Banks have outsourced for years, of course, but what's changed is their willingness to outsource new functions and explore new outsourcing models. That willingness does not extend to talking about outsourcing, however. Most bankers contacted for this story were reluctant to speak. For community banks, especially, outsourcing is perceived as taking jobs from the community, even though that's not always true. Hybrids can avoid backlash Well before their current round of reputational challenges, the largest U.S. banks faced negative publicity about "offshoring" jobs. Since the 1990s, they (and other businesses) outsourced generic, horizontal processes such as payroll and finance and accounting as well as banking-specific processes such as loan servicing and credit card processing to offshore destinations to take advantage of lower-cost labor. In addition to using third-parties, many of these tier 1 banks incubated offshore processing centers, or captives. What's different today is that rather than offering only offshore outsourcing, large Indian third-party providers such as Genpact, Infosys, Wipro, and TCS are offering a combination of offshore and onshore options. In addition to Bangalore and Manila, providers are opening centers in Phoenix and Cincinnati, even though these U.S. locations increase their cost base. Vendors have little choice, as some banks want to keep more jobs at home partly in response to a weak job market and renewed public outcry against moving jobs off shore. Broadridge Financial Services, Inc., operates four centers to serve bank clients: two in India and two on the U.S. East Coast, says Joe Barra, president of International Securities Processing and Global Outsourcing Solutions. He's seeing an uptick in business as banks realize that outsourcing commoditized functions that don't touch the customer enables them to focus more on customer-facing functions. Outsourcing drivers have shifted Cost is just one factor that leads banks to outsourcing, says Craig Focardi, senior research director in TowerGroup's Retail Banking and Cards group. If a bank is involved in a merger or acquisition, it may decide to outsource non-core competencies to allow management to focus on integration, for instance. Also, as salaries rise in traditionally low-wage locations like India, labor arbitrage isn't what it once was. Although banks can still save on labor costs by outsourcing IT functions offshore, now they are also considering the expertise offshore programmers can bring as part of the outsourcing value proposition. David Albertazzi, senior analyst with Aite Group, says banks are looking for process improvements by using outside experts, even if they're halfway around the world. Outsourcing also shifts fixed costs into variable costs, as it's much easier to scale back outsourced staff than internal staff. Lending ripe for outsourcing In lending, notes Focardi, the best opportunities for reducing costs are in traditional high-cost functions such as home equity and mortgage, and functions with scalable transaction volumes such as loan servicing. Loan servicing, with fewer customer touch points and more transactions than loan origination, makes up nearly 80% of the lending outsourcing market, says Saurabh Gupta, vice-president of research for Everest Group. In addition, consumer loans (including mortgages) account for almost 50% of the lending outsourcing market and credit cards for about 30%. Commercial lending, which is highly customized for each customer, accounts for the remaining 20%. Banks should revisit outsourcing core lending processes, says Focardi. In a research note, "US Consumer Lending Efficiency and Business Process Outsourcing: Redefining Strategic Cost Reduction," he writes: "Many vendors have gained experience and domain knowledge and with their improved Web-based software, imaging, workflow, and reporting tools, can complete many tasks with the same or better process quality and customer service than the bank. …


John Clark was inventor of the Eureka machine to generate hexameter Latin verse. He labored for 13 years from 1832 to implement the device that could compose at random over 26 million different lines of well-formed verse. This article proposes that Clark should be regarded as an early cognitive scientist. Clark described his machine as an illustration of a theory of "kaleidoscopic evolution" whereby the Latin verse is "conceived in the mind of the machine" then mechanically produced and displayed. We describe the background to automated generation of verse, the design and mechanics of Eureka, its reception in London in 1845 and its place in the history of language generation by machine. The article interprets Clark's theory of kaleidoscopic evolution in terms of modern cognitive science. It suggests that Clark has not been given the recognition he deserves as a pioneer of computational creativity.


Objective: To compare the clinical and functional outcome at 2 and 5 years in patients with inflammatory polyarthritis treated with either methotrexate (MTX) or sulfasalazine (SSZ) as the first disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). Methods: Patients recruited to a primary-care-based inception cohort of patients with inflammatory polyarthritis were eligible for this analysis if they were started on either SSZ (n = 331) or MTX (n = 108) as their first DMARD within 3 months. Outcomes assessed included the Disease Activity Score (DAS)28, Health Assessment Questionnaire, radiological erosions (Larsen Score) and cumulative mortality with the proportions still on the original treatment. To overcome potential bias in allocation to these two treatments, a propensity score was calculated based on baseline disease status variables. Results are expressed as the mean difference between MTX and SSZ, both unadjusted and adjusted for propensity score. Results: The baseline differences between the two groups disappeared after adjusting for propensity score. At 2 and 5 years there were few differences in the clinical outcomes, either unadjusted or after adjustment for propensity. By contrast, at 5 years the proportion that was erosive was lower in the MTX group: odds ratio 0.3 (95% confidence interval 0.1 to 0.8), with a 31% lower Larsen Score after adjustment. At both time points, those treated with MTX were at least twice as likely to remain on that drug as those treated with SSZ. Conclusion: Long-term clinical outcome is similar in patients prescribed MTX and SSZ, although it would seem that MTX has greater potential to suppress erosions, which supports it being the first DMARD of choice.


The anthelmintic efficacy of cambendazole dosed orally at 20 mg/kg live mass was determined against naturally acquired cestode infestations in lambs. The anthelmintic was completely effective against both Moniezia spp. and Avitellina centripunctata. Difficulties in ascertaining the presence of infestations with the latter species in the living animal are discussed.


Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in both men and women worldwide and has a poor prognosis. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents approximately 80% of all lung cancers. Surgery is the only curative treatment of NSCLC but only 15-20% of tumours can be radically resected with a survival of about 40% at 5 years. Considering these disappointing results NSCLC is one of the most frequent subjects of clinical research worldwide. Italy is playing an important role in the clinical research of NSCLC performing phase I, II and III trials, prevalently by cooperative groups, and achieving important results that contributed to define the standard treatment for NSCLC patients. In particular, Italy is leader in the clinical research of the treatment of advanced NSCLC elderly patients. Today, large controlled clinical trials are ongoing. In this paper we analyse and discuss the main trials performed by Italian groups in the fields of NSCLC.


Antenatal glucocorticoids are administered to women at risk of preterm delivery to prevent neonatal respiratory morbidity. The effects of exogenous glucocorticoids on the development of lactation are unknown. This study investigated the effects of a single dose of antenatal glucocorticoids on secretory activation in sheep before and after parturition. Pregnant ewes (N=36) were randomised to receive either medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) at 118 days of pregnancy and betamethasone at 125 days (BETA group), MPA at 118 days and saline at 125 days (MPA group) or saline at 118 and 125 days (SALINE group). The concentration of lactose, progesterone, cortisol and prolactin in maternal plasma was measured during pregnancy. After term parturition, the concentration of lactose in milk and maternal plasma was measured daily for 5 days. Lambs were weighed at birth and at 5 days of age; milk volume was measured on day 5. The concentration of lactose in maternal plasma increased significantly after betamethasone administration, corresponding to a fall in plasma progesterone. No changes in lactose were observed in MPA or SALINE ewes. Transient decreases in cortisol and increases in prolactin were observed in the BETA group, but not in either the MPA or SALINE group. After parturition, BETA ewes experienced reduced milk yield and lamb weight gain, and delayed increases in milk lactose levels compared with MPA and saline controls. This study demonstrated that, in sheep, antenatal glucocorticoid administration disrupted secretory activation, causing precocious mammary secretion before parturition and compromising postpartum milk production and lamb growth.


Time-dependent degradation (aging) has become more severe in modern CMOS technologies. Therefore, it is highly critical to capture the variation effects and design reliable circuits against aging. Simulation of time-dependent variations is quite complicated since the degradation is a function of time, where the step count of simulation directly affects the accuracy and the efficiency of the analysis. Commercial simulator tools use a constant step count during reliability simulations, in which choosing a large step count degrades the efficiency whereas keeping it small may result in accuracy problems. To overcome this bottleneck, a couple of different approaches have been proposed in the literature. Nevertheless, they suffer from the initial workload during step count determination and some other accuracy problems. In this study, a two-level step count determination approach is presented, in which the step count induced estimation error can be promptly determined via an effective simulation strategy at the first level. At the second level, the error is fitted into a saturated power law model; thus, the efficient step count can be determined without any simulation effort. To demonstrate the developed tool, two case study circuits have been designed using 130 nm technology parameters. According to the simulation results, the proposed approach decreases the initial workload by up to 67%. The proposed approach provides a remarkable save in computation time and can be used for all analog circuits without loss of generality. Moreover, a reliability-aware analog circuit synthesis tool is implemented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach. The developed tool provides a 37% improvement in the computation time compared to the only tool in the literature.


According to the The Irish LongituDinal study on Ageing (TILDA) Intellectual Disabilities Study (IDS)Wave  report 2014 osteoporosis and falls related injuries are a significant health concern for people with an intellectual disability (ID).  The research reported on those over 50 years of age with 70% having reduced bone density and 33% of falling each year. Audit of one service provider demonstrated comparable numbers.  Despite these numbers there was no education resource to inform health and social care staff, families, carers and people with an ID of these facts and on measures required for their prevention and management. In 2014 Forever Autumn Community of Practice (FACOP) (www.foreverautumn.co)  collaborated with ID service providers St Michaels House, Ballymun and Daughters of Charities Disability Support Services in North Dublin to build on the work already commenced and develop an education resource on bone health and falls awareness. A multidisciplinary approach was taken with evidence of teamwork across nursing, medical, dietetics, physiotherapy, and service users to inform the content. The aim of the education resource is: to provide information on bone health and falls awareness with a specific focus on exercise and nutrition for people with an ID. to raise awareness of reduced bone mineral density and risk of falling in this population. to improve outcomes for future safety and well being. The targeted audience is all service providers, health and social care staff workers in ID services, people with an ID, family members and carers, volunteers and support workers The resource was developed over a 12 month period through engagement with members of the target population www.happybones.ie Through engagement with an Educational Technologist to design and develop the content, the suite of resources is available on an open online platform and has been accessed to date over 4500 times. It has been implemented as an education resource on bone health and falls awareness by a number of service providers. Service users and their families were actively involved in the development of the educational resources. The FACOP maintains and regularly updates and adds to the material on the website and currently has seven service providers from ID services as members. The material is developed in a format that makes it easily transferable - on line through website, eBook store, and YouTube – including 3 short videos in which service users feature Paula's Story, Having a DXA scan, Best Foot Forward - Chrissies Story or in printable material – Happy Bones book and easy read leaflets which can be used interchangeably or independently  Happy Bones has been adopted in ID service providers within the FACOP and has generated a lot of interest both nationally and internationally. The programme has resulted in an increased awareness of the importance of good bone health, falls awareness and falls prevention strategies among all age groups. This has been evidenced in an increase in the number of people with an ID being referred for investigation for osteoporosis. This initiative is an example of collaboration and integration working in practice. Service users' engagement was paramount in the development phase of the education resource. Through their new knowledge, the service users initiated the promotion of the resources at a sports event and health fair within their organisations. This facilitated sharing of their learned experiences with their peers in order to promote a healthy active lifestyle to achieve strong bones. It demonstrates how this collaboration across service providers to support each other can be achieved. This project highlights the value and merits of a Community of Practice in supporting health and social care staff in their daily work with individuals with ID.


Effects of annealing treatments of aluminum substrate for ordered nanopore arrays formed by self-organized anodization have been investigated. To observe the relationship between microstructures of aluminum substrate and nanopore regularity formed after anodization of the aluminum substrate, aluminum specimens were annealed at 300, 400, and 500 °C. The anodic alumina layer was prepared by two-step anodizing process in oxalic acid at 40 V. The ordered arrays of nanopore on anodic alumina were shown to be strongly dependent on the annealing conditions, and nanopore regularity on alumina template increased with increasing annealing temperature and time.


In recent years, much research has been done on stem cell therapy for the injured heart. While the effects of stem cell therapy are promising, there is still much room for improvement as only a low percentage of transplanted cells actually engraft in the injured heart. This low transplantation efficiency is commonly attributed to the extremely poor survival and functional integration of the transplanted cells, and signifies the need for novel strategies that increase the effectiveness of cell-based therapies, thereby potentiating cardiac repair. In the past few years it has become apparent that microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of stem cell function and tightly regulate various pathophysiological processes in the heart. In this thesis, the potential role of miRNAs in various processes which are necessary to improve cell therapy and enhance cardiac regeneration is investigated. The focus lies on the use of adult human cardiomyocyte progenitor cells (hCMPCs) as they are one of the most promising options for treating the injured heart. They can differentiate into all cell types of the heart and, after transplantation in the infarcted heart, prevent further deterioration of heart function. Chapter 2 compares the miRNA expression profile of proliferating hCMPCs with hCMPCs differentiated into cardiomyocytes, and shows that miR-1 and miR-499 greatly enhance the cardiomyogenic differentiation of hCMPCs by targeting Sox6, a transcription factor involved in muscle development. In Chapter 3, it is demonstrated that miR-1 is also involved in the angiogenic differentiation of hCMPCs, and targets Spred1, a negative regulator of growth factor-induced ERK/MAP kinase activation. These first two chapters indicate that miRNAs can be used to direct and improve the differentiation of hCMPCs into the three cardiovascular lineages. In Chapter 4, miR-155 is shown to inhibit necrotic cell death in hCMPCs, which is mediated by targeting RIP1, a protein required for programmed necrotic cell death. The same miRNA is investigated in Chapter 5, where it is demonstrated that miR-155 inhibits hCMPC migration by targeting MMP16, an enzyme involved in the breakdown of extracellular matrix. These two chapters show that miRNAs can be used to increase hCMPC survival and regulate their migratory capacity, providing the possibility of improving cell survival and cell retention upon cell injection. Chapter 6 provides a detailed overview and small history of the various applications of small RNA technology in vivo, including the current methods for in vivo modulation of miRNA function. In Chapter 7, it is shown, by using a specific miRNA inhibitor, that inhibition of miR-214 enhances angiogenesis. MiR-214 negatively regulates angiogenesis by targeting QKI, a protein critical for vascular development, and thereby negatively regulates the expression and secretion of several pro-angiogenic growth factors. This study indicates that miRNA modulation may be used to enhance vascularization, an essential regenerative process necessary to achieve effective cell engraftment and survival. Taken together, this thesis shows that miRNAs are able to regulate various cellular processes that are of great importance to the success of cell-based therapy, and therefore, miRNAs provide novel therapeutic targets to promote cardiac regeneration.


Background
Endometrial cancer is the  sixth most frequent type of cancer among women worldwide. Type  I adenocarcinomas account for 80-85% of endometrial cancer cases and sometimes require more aggressive treatment than the remaining part of this group. Therefore, molecular markers to stratify adenocarcinomas are needed.

Materials and methods
In this study, we analysed Notch and Wnt signalling in human endometrial cancer cases to evaluate these pathway elements as potential biomarkers for type  I endometrial cancer. Endometrial samples were obtained from 47 women undergoing surgery for stage I-IV endometrial cancer in the National Cancer Institute (Vilnius, Lithuania) in 2015-2016. The expression at the mRNA level of signalling molecules genes (NOTCH1, NOTCH2, NOTCH3, NOTCH4, JAG1, JAG2, DLL1, HES1, AXIN2 and CTNNB1) was analysed by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Relative expression of NOTCH1, NOTCH4, HES1 and β-catenin proteins in endometrioid adenocarcinoma was evaluated by the Western blot method.

Results
The  expression level of Notch receptors, ligands, and the target gene, as well as CTNNB1 and AXIN2, was reduced in stage I endometrioid adenocarcinoma if compared to the adjacent non-tumour tissue. The expression of all receptors, ligands, and target molecules was reduced in adenocarcinomas of later stages. The statistically significant correlations between transcript amounts of Notch receptors and ligands were found. There was a statistically significant difference in the  gene expression of Notch signalling pathway components between different tumour differentiation grade samples. A positive correlation between mRNA and protein the expression level of NOTCH1, NOTCH4, HES1 was determined in stage I samples.

Conclusions
Analysis of 47 human endometrial cancer samples revealeda reduction in the transcript levels of Notch and Wnt signalling molecule compared to the adjacent non-tumour tissue. These results suggest tumour suppressor function of Notch and Wnt signalling in human endometrial cancer. More detailed research on these signalling pathways should reveal their importance as potential biomarkers.


Is wider access to stockholding opportunities related to reduced wealth inequality, given that it creates challenges for small and less sophisticated investors? Counterfactual analysis is used to study the influence of changes in the US stockholder pool and economic environment, on the distribution of stock and net household wealth during a period of dramatic increase in stock market participation. We uncover substantial shifts in stockholder pool composition, favoring smaller holdings during the 1990s upswing but larger holdings around the burst of the Internet bubble. We find no evidence that widening access to stocks was associated with reduced net wealth inequality.


THE EFFECTS OF QUADRICEPS-STRENGTHENING EXERCISE ON QUADRICEPS MUSCLE BIOMECHANICS DURING LOCOMOTION IN ADULTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS. by Joshua M. Leonardis April 2013 Director of Thesis: Paul DeVita PhD Major Department: Kinesiology Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease characterized by knee joint deterioration and pain while also being associated with altered knee joint mechanics and quadriceps strength deficits. Research investigating the effects of quadriceps-strengthening exercise on knee OA has shown improvements in symptoms function and strength but minimal changes to joint mechanics. It is speculated that improved quadriceps muscle biomechanics are the mechanism responsible for this improvement in symptoms though this concept is untested. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of quadriceps strengthening exercise on quadriceps muscle biomechanics during level walking stair ascent and stair descent in adults with knee osteoarthritis. Three-dimensional kinematic ground reaction force isokinetic strength and WOMAC data were collected on 10 adults with uni- or bi-lateral knee OA. During the 12-week period between the testing procedures 6 adults participated in strengthening exercise while the other 4 adults went untrained. Quadriceps biomechanics were quantified using kinetic data collected during level walking stair ascent and stair descent tasks in combination with a mathematical knee model. A 2x2 repeated measures ANOVA (p<0.05) was used to analyze each symptomatic strength joint kinetic and muscle biomechanics parameter. Only the training group experienced significant improvements in pain function and strength (All p<0.02). At follow-up this group climbed and descended stairs at faster velocities (Both p<0.03) exhibited greater knee extensor torque and power during level walking (Both p<0.03) experienced increased quadriceps force and work during level walking and stair ascent (All p<0.05) and exhibited increased knee compressive force during all three conditions (All p<0.03). The results of this study reinforce the notion that quadriceps-strengthening exercise reduces pain and improves function in adults with knee OA. The data refute the study hypothesis by suggesting that quadriceps muscle biomechanics are in fact altered following a strengthening protocol. Study results also refute claims that reduced joint loads are the cause of pain relief by showing significant increases in knee compressive force alongside significant improvements in pain and physical function. Because of the limited number of participants used more work is needed.


Introduction: Deferrals lead to loss of precious whole blood donors (WBD) and blood units available for transfusion purposes. Knowledge of rate and causes of donor deferral can guide the recruitment strategy for WBD. Aim: To find the incidence and causes of deferral in Indian WBD and apply relevant findings to modify recruitment strategy for blood donors. Materials and Methods: Data for WBD presenting for donation in a blood center and outdoor camps over one and half year were analyzed retrospectively. National guidelines were used for selection and deferral of WBD. Result: 736 (11.6%) WBD were deferred out of 6357 presenting for donation during the study period. Most (69.8%) of the donors were deferred on physical examination and hemoglobin (Hb) testing. Most common reasons for deferral were low Hb (55.8%), abnormal blood pressure (11.1%), medication (6.9%) and underweight donors (2.9%). Significantly more volunteers were deferred than relative donors (13.97% vs 5.80%; P<0.000). Females were found to have higher deferral rate than males (53.5% vs 6.9%; P=0.000) and higher odds ratio for deferral (15.4). Donors older than 40 years of age had significantly higher chance of being deferred (P<0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: It is important to determine the rate and causes of WBD deferral to guide the recruitment and retention efforts at local, regional, and national level.


Objective. The majority of practicing pharmacists and student pharmacists are women. However, instruments to assess perceptions of gender equity within pharmacy academia are not available. The objective of this research was to describe the psychometric analysis of a questionnaire developed to assess gender equity by a Gender Equity Task Force and to report reliability and validity evidence. Methods. A questionnaire with 21 items addressing the teaching, research, service, advancement, mentoring, recruitment, and gender of college leaders was created. The survey was distributed via email in December 2020 to all social and administrative science section members of two professional associations. Rasch analysis was performed to evaluate the reliability and validity evidence for the questionnaire. Results. After reverse coding, all items met parameters for unidimensionality necessary for Rasch analysis. Once adjacent categories were merged to create a 3-point scale, the scale and items met parameters for appropriate functionality. Items were ordered hierarchically in order of difficulty. The modified instrument and scale can be treated as interval level data for future use. Conclusion. This analysis provides reliability and validity evidence supporting use of the gender equity questionnaire in the social and administrative academic pharmacy population if recommended edits such as the 3-point scale are used. Future research on gender equity can benefit from use of a psychometrically sound questionnaire for data collection.


Conflict and cooperation would seem to be ideas that are diametrically opposed to each other. But, in fact, classic work by Piaget on how children and adults learn shows that when learners engage with peers in critical discussion of ideas concerning which they have different understandings, that contributes very effectively to learners developing deep understanding of the concepts involved. At the same time, getting students in undergraduate engineering courses to engage with other students in thoughtful discussion of important concepts is very challenging. It can be especially difficult to get female students and students from other underrepresented groups to participate effectively in such discussions. In our work, we exploit the affordances of mobile and web technologies to address these challenges. Our approach not only helps address these challenges, it has a number of other important advantages over face-to-face discussions. We present the theoretical underpinnings of the approach, some details of our prototype implementation, preliminary results from the use of the prototype in a junior/senior level class on Software Engineering, and the design for the next version of the


: A manic depressive illness is diagnosed in many women of childbearing age; thus they are candidates for lithium therapy. Since lithium has the most clearly documented teratogenic effect of all the psychotropic drugs, special care must be taken by the physician and patient when considering its use during this period of life. A review of the literature is presented and suggested guidelines are given for the use of lithium in this at-risk population.


For patients with inoperable salivary gland malignancy, radiation therapy has significant limitations but has been the mainstay of treatment. With standard photon radiation (X-rays), the 10-year loco-regional control (LRC) and overall survival rates are only ∼25%. Neutron radiation has potential biological advantages over photon radiation because it causes increased DNA damage, and studies of patients with inoperable salivary gland malignancy have shown improved 6-year LRC and overall survival of ∼60%. However, neutron radiation may also increase the risk of late toxicities, especially central nervous system toxicities after treatment of tumors involving the base of the skull. Proton radiation has potential physical advantages due to minimal exit dose through normal tissues, and a recent study has demonstrated 90% 5-year LRC after combined proton/photon radiation for adenoid cystic carcinoma involving the base of the skull. Stereotactic radiosurgery has also been used in combination with neutrons or standard photons as a technique to boost the skull base. The use of concurrent chemotherapy as a radiosensitizer has been considered based on extrapolation of data on squamous cell carcinomas, but further data are needed on inoperable salivary gland malignancies. Newer targeted therapies are also under investigation, and clinical trial enrollment is encouraged.


This article aims to determine the position of the foundation after theanactment of legislation foundation Number 28 of 2004 concerningamandments to the LawNumber 16 of 2001 on the Foundation. By using normative methods can be concluded the foundation is a legal entity that has the sole purpose is social, religious, and humanitarian who founded by observing the formal requirements specified in the legislation foundation. Changes of a Law Act Number 28 of 2004 on the Foundation gives a true understanding of the public about the foundation, to ensure legal certainty and the rule of law and restore the function of the foundation as legal institutions in order to archieve certain goals of social, religious, and humanitarian based on the principle of transparency and accountability. The establishment of foundation begins with the separation of founder assets to be incorporated as the authorized capital foundation. Separation founder assets into foundations can not be given meaning as investment, because the founding foundation philosophy is non-profit. In practic there are deviations in the management of the conflict between the board and the abuse of the institution foundation.


The authors reflect on the actual workings of their "Convertible Arbitrage" strategies. In their discussion, both the similarities of their investment concerns and their approaches to asset and risk management are explored. Despite these common concerns and investment approaches, each manager also details some of the unique aspects of their particular approaches.


Purpose Postoperative ileus (POI) is an impairment of coordinated gastrointestinal (GI) motility that develops as a consequence of abdominal surgery and is a major factor contributing to patient morbidity and prolonged hospitalization. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 (5-HT4) receptor agonists, which stimulate excitatory pathways, on a POI model. Materials and Methods The experimental model of POI in guinea pigs was created by laparotomy, gentle manipulation of the cecum for 60 seconds, and closure by suture, all under anesthesia. Different degrees of restoration of GI transit were measured by the migration of charcoal. Colonic transit was indirectly assessed via measurement of fecal pellet output every hour for 5 hours after administration of various doses of mosapride, tegaserod, prucalopride, and 5-HT. Results Charcoal transit assay showed that various 5-HT4 receptor agonists can accelerate delayed upper GI transit in a dose-dependent manner. However, fecal pellet output assay suggested that only prucalopride had a significant effect in accelerating colonic motility in POI. Conclusion Although mosapride, tegaserod, and prucalopride produce beneficial effects to hasten upper GI transit in the POI model, prucalopride administered orally restores lower GI transit as well as upper GI transit after operation in a conscious guinea pig. This drug may serve as a useful candidate for examination in a clinical trial for POI.


The trapping-mediated dissociative chemisorption of ethane on the closest packed Ir(111) surface has been investigated, and the activation energy and preexponential factor of the surface reaction rate coefficient have been measured. These results are compared to those of ethane activation on Pt(111) and on the missing row reconstructed Ir(110)-(1x2) and Pt(110)-(1x2) surfaces, allowing a quantitative determination of the effect surface structure has on the catalytic activation of C—H bonds. In the order Pt(111), Pt(110)-(1x2), Ir(111), and Ir(110)-(1x2), the activation energies for the dissociative chemisorption of ethane are 16.6, 10.5, 10.3, and 5.5 kilocalories per mole, demonstrating that the electronic and geometric effects are of approximately equal importance for ethane activation on these catalysts.


The Indonesian curriculum for 2013 places a strong emphasis on character education. This is because some feel that the morals and character of the nation have been eroding. It can be argued that this tendency began during the Dutch colonial period, when pupils were subjected to moral judgment. During this time, Ki Hadjar Dewantara's ideas served as a springboard for restoring a spirit of education in Indonesia that was just and respected adab, regardless of one's origin. The goal of this research was to compare Ki Hadjar Dewantara's ideas with the character education curriculum of 2013. This study employed a qualitative methodology with a comparative study strategy. The findings showed that character education in the 2013 curriculum, as well as Ki Hadjar Dewantara's ideas, can be starting points for restoring Indonesia's educational spirit to a higher level of quality. Students who are both ethically and academically brilliant, who have a high level of scientific knowledge and respect ethical and moral principles should be praised.
Keywords: character education, Ki Hadjar Dewantara, curriculum 2013


What are Descartes's views on the body and how do they change? In this article, I try to make clearer the nature of the shift towards an increased focus on the body as 'my' body in Descartes's Passions of the Soul. The interest in the nature of passions, considered from the point of view of the 'natural scientist', is indicative of a new approach to the study of the human. Moving beyond the infamous mind-body union, grounded in his dualist metaphysics, Descartes begins developing a philosophical anthropology centred on the notion of power and better suited to practical philosophy.


This paper deals with the control problems involved in insects' and robots' visually guided piloting. Explicit control schemes are presented which may explain how insects navigate by relying on optic flow cues, without requiring any distance or speed measurements. The concept of the optic flow regulator, a feedback control system based on OF sensors, is presented. We tested our control schemes in simulation, and implemented them on-board two types of miniature aerial robots, a helicopter and a hovercraft. Their electronic OF sensors were inspired by the results of our microelectrode studies on motion sensitive neurons in the housefly's compound eye. The control schemes described do without any conventional avionic sensors like rangefinders or speedometers, and therefore show great potential for safe autonomous control of aerial, underwater and space vehicles in unchartered environments.


Multinationals experiences significant legitimacy challenges in less developed countries between 1945 and 1970. Formerly imperial companies were particularly affected, and the article follows the fate of five British firms in Ghana and Nigeria, of which three were freestanding companies and two were globally diversified multinationals. Their corporate responses to legitimacy challenges fall into three distinct periods: first, they failed to maintain their legitimacy, then they pragmatically sought to repair the damage to their reputation. Eventually, they successfully maintained their regained legitimacy by implementing appropriate policies for the political and economic context of newly independent states in Africa. Some firms do better than others: the freestanding companies were acquired by other multinationals because they failed to adopt the polycentric management approaches (local autonomy and local staff for subsidiaries) that made the more diversified multinationals successful.


As the principles of bacteriology became known and the epidemiology of tuberculosis understood in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the design of outdoor spaces at American sanatoriums changed to facilitate the treatment of tuberculosis. Using plans, photographs, and woodcuts, the evolution of five aspects of landscape design and planning at American sanatoriums is examined: location; siting and orientation of buildings; building layout and density; organization of paths and roads; and garden and farm arrangements. Innovations in the landscaping of facilities for tuberculosis patients are still in use in American hospital design today. These include fresh air porches, grounds which provide paths of increasing cardiovascular stimulation, and gardens to simulate a homelike setting.


In this letter, a novel compact ring dual-mode with adjustable second-passband for dual-band applications are presented. A ring resonator with two different geometric dimensions are derived and designed to have identical fundamental and the first higher-order resonant frequencies, and to establish appropriate couplings in the structure. Moreover, the proposed filter has smaller size as compared with the basic topology of stopband filters and stepped-impedance-resonator (SIR) filters. The measured filter performance is in good agreement with the simulated response.


In this paper we report the results of a survey of student plagiarism carried out at the University of Western Sydney (UWS). This survey examined rates of plagiarism, understanding of plagiarism, perceived seriousness of plagiarism, and factors thought to be related to plagiarism such as the pressure students place on themselves to achieve high grades. Students who achieved higher grades plagiarised less than students who had lower grades. Perceived seriousness of plagiarism, students' competitiveness, and students' self-imposed pressure to achieve high grades were correlated negatively with incidence of plagiarism. Perceived seriousness of plagiarism mediated the relationship between self-imposed pressure to achieve good grades and rates of plagiarism. The data from the present survey (conducted in 2009) were compared with data from comparable students who completed the same survey at UWS five years earlier (2004). The comparison between the 2009 and 2004 data suggested a reduction in prevalence of plagiarism and an increase in both understanding and perceived seriousness of plagiarism between 2004 and 2009. We suggest that plagiarism may be reduced by means of educational programs that promote the perception of plagiarism as a serious academic integrity issue.


According to the data available at the World Data Center for Microorganism-WDCM from the Word Federation for Culture Collection-WFCC, Chile has four registered culture collections that preserve 2777 microbial strains. At the global point of view, the culture collections in Chile are in different level of operation regarding its own infrastructure and compliancy with quality standards for preservation of strains and for services provide. The absence of funding to support the preservation of the Chilean microbial assets is a key issue for the development of the Chilean bioeconomy. Considering this, the Chilean culture collections started working together to establish the Chilean Network of Microbial Culture Collections (RCCCM, acronym in Spanish). In this note, the establishment and operation of the RCCCM is presented and discussed.


This paper examines immigration trends and economic impacts of immigration on the Midwest over the 1990s, especially for rural and agricultural labor markets and places them in context relative to changes in California, Florida, and Texas and the whole United States. The 1990s was a period of rapid change, and it seem likely that new immigrants will not be assimilated quickly because a majority of them have low education, do not speak English well, or know the local culture. The paper concludes that the U.S. should consider a new immigration policy that gives greater weight to skill and financial capital.


of the MMP family, and is known to be present in coronary atherosclerotic. Several studies have demonstrated that MMP-3 5A/6A polymorphism modify each transcriptional activity in allele specific manner. We hypothesized that this polymorphism may play a role as risk factor for development of coronary stenosis. The aim of our study was to estimate MMP-3 (5A/6A) gene polymorphism on interindividual variability in risk for coronary stenosis in an Iranian population.DNA was extracted from white blood cells and genotypes were obtained from coronary stenosis cases (n=95) and controls (n=100) by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. Significant differences between cases and controls were observed for MMP3 genotype frequencies (X 2 =199.305, p< 0.001); the 6A allele was less frequently seen in the control group, compared to the disease group (85.79 vs. 78%, 6A/6A+5A/6A vs. 5A/5A, P≤0.001). These data imply the involvement of-1612 5A/6A polymorphism in coronary stenosis, and suggest that probably the 6A/6A MMP-3 genotype is a genetic susceptibility factor for coronary stenosis.


Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices can have an adverse effect on the performance of high-speed mixed-signal and RF circuits. This paper presents quantitative methodologies to analyze the performance degradation of these circuits due to ESD protection. A detailed S-parameter-based analysis of these high-frequency systems illustrates the utility of the distributed ESD protection scheme and the impact of the parasitics associated with the protection devices. It is shown that a four-stage distributed ESD protection can be beneficial for frequencies up to 10 GHz. In addition, two generalized design optimization methodologies incorporating coplanar waveguides are developed for the distributed structure to achieve a better impedance match over a broad frequency range (0-10 GHz). By using this optimized design, an ESD device with a parasitic capacitance of 200 fF attenuates the RF signal power by only 0.27 dB at 10 GHz. Furthermore, termination schemes are proposed to allow this analysis to be applicable to high-speed digital and mixed-signal systems.


to these women. Of course, the idea is frequently abhorrent to the patient initially and she requirescareful counselling. No-one can make the decision for her, but it is incumbent on us to explain the risks and the limitations of screening. If she does elect to have mastectomies she will never know whether they were necessary nor will any daughters she may have know whether they are at similar risk. One fact we do know, however, is that death from breast cancer at an early age is always tragic for the family even more so if it could have been anticipated and prevented. Simon Woods, FRACS Surgeon Ian Haines, FRACP Medical Oncologist PO Box 327. Caulfield East. VIC 3145 1 Day PJ. ORourke MGE The draqnosis of breast cancer a clinical and mammographic comparison. Med J Aust 1990: 152 635-639 2 Walker OJ, t.anqtands AG. The misuse 01mammography In the management of breast cancer Med J Aus! 1986: 145 185187 3 Anderson DE Genetic study of breast cancer: Identification of a high fisk group Cancer 1974: 34 1090-1097 4 Adam! H. Hansen J, Jung 8, Himsten A Characteristics of famIlial breast cancer In Sweden: absence of relation to age and unilateral versus bIlateral disease. Cancer 1981 48 1688-1695 5 SaltIn RW. Rubin GL. Webster LA. et at. Family history and me fisk of breast cancer. JAMA 1985. 253 1908-1913 6 Anderson DE. Badzroch MD Risk of familial breast cancer Cancer 1985. 56 383-387


Background Volunteering in the UK has recently been embraced under the banner of the 'Big Society' but its history has long been aligned to the development of the hospice movement. As the philosophy of palliative care has spread throughout the world, volunteer roles have evolved differently, influenced by local needs, local structures and the available resources. Although it is widely believed that volunteering makes important contributions to patients, their families, hospice organisations, individual volunteers and the wider society, attempts to quantify its impact or outcomes have been limited. This study aimed to develop a conceptual model through which volunteering in palliative care could be understood. Methods Narrative synthesis was used to develop a conceptual model of volunteering in palliative care based on a systematic review of the literature regarding volunteering in palliative care. Results A systematic search of the literature identified 5613 papers, of which 126 met the inclusion criteria. The review revealed three inter-related themes: (1) the impact of volunteering; (2) motivations of those volunteering; (3) the locus of control in volunteering in palliative care. Meta-ethnographic analysis produced a theoretical model in which satisfaction in volunteering is conceived as a continual process of negotiation between seeking to improve outcomes for the patient, family or organisation as well as to improve personal fulfilment and self-esteem of the individual volunteer. These aspects of volunteering may be in alignment or in opposition. Conclusion This review identifies the range of influences that may act on an individual volunteering within an organisation, and suggests that the traditional processes of engaging and managing volunteers require reappraisal. Greater focus should be placed on understanding the benefits of volunteering both for the organisation and the individual and the measurement of both the process and outcomes associated with volunteering.


We used Y chromosome microsatellites to infer the phylogeography of the house mouse (Mus musculus; predominantly the domesticus subspecies) across western Europe, and compared this with mitochondrial (mt)DNA phylogeography for the same samples. Overall, the distributions of mtDNA and Y haplotype lineages within M. m. domesticus were discordant, probably as a result of behavioural differences between males and females. In island contexts, there is evidence for a greater number of Y chromosome introductions compared to mtDNA introductions, indicating that island populations are more resistant to incoming females than males. This contrasts with a subspecies hybrid zone, which acts as a nonpermeable barrier to the Y chromosome but is relatively porous to mtDNA. Interestingly, within Norway, where Mus musculus Y chromosomes are prevalent in the resident domesticus populations, the musculus Y is apparently of a single, recent origin, with a distribution that is likely the result of a positive selection allowing the subspecies barrier to be crossed. Overall, we confirm the utility of Y chromosome microsatellites for inferring global ancestry and phylogeography in the house mouse. © 2015 Crown copyright. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, 2015, 115, 348–361.


Definitions of Managed Objects for Bridges Status of this Memo This memo is an extension to the SNMP MIB. This RFC specifies an IAB standards track protocol for the Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "IAB Official Protocol Standards" for the standardization state and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.


A comprehensive review of a novel promising framework for the understanding of non-crystalline metallic materials, i.e., interstitialcy theory of condensed matter states (ITCM), is presented. The background of the ITCM and its basic results for equilibrium/supercooled liquids and glasses are given. It is emphasized that the ITCM provides a new consistent, clear, and testable approach, which uncovers the generic relationship between the properties of the maternal crystal, equilibrium/supercooled liquid and glass obtained by melt quenching.


Introduction A quality control system is crucial for ensuring the reliability of tests used to diagnose communicable diseases. Since 2005, Brazil has used rapid tests (RTs) for diagnosing HIV, which are regulated by a ministerial directive. RTs present challenging features because assays are often conducted by people without laboratory training, there may be no samples for repeating the test, and there is little availability of proficiency testing. Methodology In 2012, Brazil began implementing a methodology for external quality control evaluation called DTS (dried tube specimen) due to its low cost, ease of execution in places lacking laboratory infrastructure, and ability to transport in ambient temperature by post, facilitating access to services that conduct RTs in a tropical country of vast geographic area. The DTS methodology is based on drying those serum or plasma samples with known reactivity to HIV, shipping them to institutions for rehydration, conducting of the tests, and interpretation of the results. Implementation began with production and validation of AEQ-DTS panels: fractionating, identification, and preparation of the panels with four samples each. Results The selected service centres are part of the Counseling and Testing Centers Network, which provides assistance to vulnerable populations and comprises 518 centres of which 319 offer RTs for HIV. In 2012, 299 panels were shipped to these centres, 230 of which had received training in DTS methodology: 207 reported results in the Quali-TR computerised system. Of these, 190 sent the data correctly. The index of agreement of results with the characterization of the samples of the AEQ-DTS panel was 100% for these 190 institutions. Conclusion The results obtained and ease of shipping demonstrate that DTS methodology is appropriate for external quality control assessments, and it will be expanded to include other centres that use RTs for diagnosing HIV.


Fertility hormone levels are constantly changing, but it is crucial for a woman to be able to monitor her fertility levels if she is interested in conceiving. Women and physicians often have a difficult time determining ovulation windows due to fluctuating menstrual cycles and inaccurate interpretations of hormone levels. Current methods of fertility monitoring include physical or vaginal exams, laparoscopy, ultrasound scans, as well as evaluation of hormone levels. A rapid, at-home fertility monitoring tool can help alleviate the apprehensiveness associated with routine screenings and give women the privacy desired when trying to conceive. Herein, we discuss the development of an electrochemical biosensor for quantification of three fertility hormones: beta-estradiol, progesterone, and FSH. Each biomarker's MRE was immobilized onto a gold disk electrode through the use of self-assembled monolayer linking chemistry. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), the biomarker concentration was correlated to impedance magnitude. An optimal binding frequency was identified for each biomarker, permitting simplistic hardware requirements and investigation into multimarker detection. Analytes were tested in both purified solutions and 1%-90% whole blood. Each biomarker exhibited a unique imaginary impedance peak and optimal binding frequency. The determination was made by assessing the response parameters including the linear fit correlation across the physiological hormone ranges. The existence of unique optimal frequencies permits for simultaneous detection of multiple hormones in a single test. Additionally, the identified frequency was robust across purified and complex solutions. Response characteristics were negatively impacted by the introduction of blood-based contaminants. However, the introduction of Nafion membranes, similar to ones used in commercial glucose sensors, is both feasible and beneficial.


Temporal arteritis or giant cell arteritis(GCA), is a frequently seen systemic inflammatory vasculitis, affecting elderly people. Early treatment is very important to reduce the risk of future vision loss. In this report, we presented arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION) in a late-diagnosed temporal arteritis. Interestingly, despite late diagnosis prompt improvement was seen and total blindness, the most worrisome complication of temporal arteritis, was prevented with urgent treatment. In this case report, we presented urgent treatment of the patient with AAION who is blind in one eye due to complicated cataract surgery. We reported the importance of prompt treatment and approach to patients who has already diagnosed with temporal arteritis.


If one accounts for correlations between scales, then non-local, k-dependent halo bias is part and parcel of the excursion set approach, and hence of halo model predictions for galaxy bias. We present an analysis that distinguishes between a number of different effects, each of which contributes to scale-dependent bias in real space. We show how to isolate these effects and remove the scale dependence, order by order, by cross-correlating the halo field with suitably transformed versions of the mass field. These transformations may be thought of as simple one-point, two-scale measurements that allow one to estimate quantities which are usually constrained using n-point statistics. As part of our analysis, we present a simple analytic approximation for the first-crossing distribution of walks with correlated steps which are constrained to pass through a specified point, and demonstrate its accuracy. Although we concentrate on non-linear, non-local bias with respect to a Gaussian random field, we show how to generalize our analysis to more general fields.


Following a long mercenary tradition, Switzerland had to build in the 19th century its own military tradition. In Cantons that have provided many officers and soldiers in the European Foreign Service, the French military influence remained strong. This article aims to analyze the development of sabre fencing in the canton of Fribourg (and its French influence) through the manuals of a former mercenary (Joseph Bonivini), a fencing master in the federal troops (Joseph Tinguely), and an officer who became later a gymnastics teacher (Léon Galley). These fencing manuals all address the recourse to fencing as physical training and gymnastic exercise, and not just as a combat system in a warlike context.


Abstract In this paper, a biomimetic design method is applied to a specific problem in design for remanufacture. First summarized is remanufacture as an option to disposal at product end of life, and how products may be designed for ease of remanufacture. Next identified is a contradiction between a design-for-remanufacture strategy and design-for-assembly preferences. Specifically, making failure-prone features into separate parts facilitates remanufacture but results in additional parts to assemble. An example involving snap fits as a method of fastening and joining is used to illustrate the contradiction. To obtain ideas on how to address this contradiction, a biomimetic search method was used to find biological phenomena that are analogous to remanufacture. One such phenomenon is described and used to develop a concept that satisfies both design-for-remanufacture and design-for-assembly preferences.


This work is devoted to optical emission spectroscopy of plasma of underwater electric discharge, which is used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The main aim of this work is to investigate the possibility and validity of using plasma optical emission spectroscopy to determine its main physical characteristics, such as excitation temperature, electron density, the degree of ionization, etc. The specially developed pulse power source was used to initiate a discharge between silver granules immersed into the deionized water. Typical values of voltage vary from 40 to 200 V, the current is up to 150 A, and pulse frequency is in the range of 0.2–2 kHz. Applied to electrodes, the voltage caused a current flow along the chain of closely arranged granules in the stochastic switching mode. Special attention is paid to methods of spectrum treatment of underwater discharge plasma between silver granules. The method of Boltzmann plots and the method of relative intensities on the basis of both atomic and ionic silver spectral lines are used in order to determine the excitation temperature. The spectral lines, which were investigated and treated in detail, were used. Exposed to the Stark mechanism of spectral line broadening, the spectral profile of Hα spectral line is used to determine the electron density. The degree of ionization of the studied plasma was calculated using the obtained values of the electron density and temperature.


To evaluate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices) and Mesorhizobium Ciceri bacteria at three soil moisture levels [28% (field capacity, FC), 15% (-5 bar suction) and 9% (-10 bar tension) by weight] on morphological properties of root and aerial parts of chickpea, a greenhouse factorial experiment, arranged as a complete randomized design, was conducted in a sterilized soil. Results showed that moisture treatment had significance effect on number of pods, number of seeds, fresh and dry weight of root and aerial parts, plant height and root length and volume. Application of Mesorhizobium was effective on number of nodes, number of pods, number of seeds, fresh and dry weight of root and aerial parts, plant height, root length and volume. Glomus mosseae had significant effect on plant height. Interaction of moisture and AM fungi was significant on fresh and dry weight of root and aerial parts. Interaction effect of Mesorhizobium and soil moisture was only significant on number of nodes. In general, the highest fresh and dry weight of aerial parts (44.6 and 10.53 grams, respectively) was obtained by inoculation of chickpea by rhizobium bacteria and Glomus mosseae at FC moisture level, and AM fungi Glomus mosseae was more efficient compared to Glomus intraradices in both drought stress and without stress conditions.


Mesenchymal stem or stromal cells (MSCs) are precursor cells that play important roles in tumorigenesis. MSCs are recruited to tumors from local and distant sources to form part of the tumor microenvironment. MSCs influence tumor progression by interacting with cancer cells, endothelial cells, immune cells, and cancer stem cells, in a context-dependent network. This review aims to synthesize this emerging yet controversial field to identify key questions regarding the mechanisms of MSC mobilization and survival in blood; homing to tumors, metastases, and premetastatic sites; spatiotemporal organization and differentiation; and interaction with immune cells and cancer stem cells. Understanding the fundamental biology underlying mesenchymal stem cell and tumor interactions has the potential to inform our knowledge of cancer initiation and progression as well as lead to novel therapeutics for cancer. Furthermore, knowledge of endogenous mechanisms can be used to "program" exogenous MSCs for targeted chemotherapeutic delivery to tumors and metastases. Emerging studies will provide crucial insight into the mechanisms of tumor interactions with the whole organism including MSCs.


Heavy metal and organochlorine (OC) concentrations including organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), were determined in arctic ground squirrels ( Spermophilus parryi ) from three sites in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska in 1991-93. Heavy metals were present in most squirrel livers collected, with concentrations of trace elements (As, Cd, Hg, Ni, and Pb) averaging below 1 micro g/g wet weight. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p,p'-DDE, gamma hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH), trans-nonachlor, and PCBs 138, 153, and 170 were the most frequently detected OCs in fat and liver. Average concentrations of individual OC analytes were below 20 ng/g wet weight in liver and below 15 ng/g wet weight in fat. Rank correlations indicate that concentrations of heavy metals and of OCs accumulate in concert with one another (As, Cd, Cu, and Zn; PCBs 138, 170, and 180). Although heavy metal and OC concentrations are low relative to other areas and other arctic species, the occurrence of these compounds illustrates the global pervasiveness of persistent organic compounds and the potential for bioaccumulation in the terrestrial arctic food web. Key words: heavy metals, organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, Spermophilus parryi , northern Alaska


Apicomplexan parasites use Ca2+-regulated exocytosis to secrete essential virulence factors from specialized organelles called micronemes. Ca2+-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are required for microneme exocytosis; however, the molecular events that regulate trafficking and fusion of micronemes with the plasma membrane remain unresolved. Here, we combine sub-minute resolution phosphoproteomics and bio-orthogonal labeling of kinase substrates in Toxoplasma gondii to identify 163 proteins phosphorylated in a CDPK1-dependent manner. In addition to known regulators of secretion, we identify uncharacterized targets with predicted functions across signaling, gene expression, trafficking, metabolism, and ion homeostasis. One of the CDPK1 targets is a putative HOOK activating adaptor. In other eukaryotes, HOOK homologs form the FHF complex with FTS and FHIP to activate dynein-mediated trafficking of endosomes along microtubules. We show the FHF complex is partially conserved in T. gondii, consisting of HOOK, an FTS homolog, and two parasite-specific proteins (TGGT1_306920 and TGGT1_316650). CDPK1 kinase activity and HOOK are required for the rapid apical trafficking of micronemes as parasites initiate motility. Moreover, parasites lacking HOOK or FTS display impaired microneme protein secretion, leading to a block in the invasion of host cells. Taken together, our work provides a comprehensive catalog of CDPK1 targets and reveals how vesicular trafficking has been tuned to support a parasitic lifestyle.


Abstract Phenomenon Classroom studies of peer-led teaching and mentoring report benefits for students both as teachers and learners. Such benefits include both improved content mastery and personal and professional development. While benefits of peer-led teaching in the clinical setting have been well characterized among other health professions, less is known within undergraduate medical education. In this study, we explored medical students' perceptions and experiences relevant to peer teaching and mentoring in outpatient clinical clerkships. Approach Third-year medical students enrolled in two different longitudinal primary care clerkships, Education Centered Medical Home (ECMH) or Individual Preceptorship (IP), participated in semi-structured interviews in 2018. Students were asked to describe their peer teaching experiences during the clerkship and to reflect on their experiences serving as role models or mentors. We analyzed transcripts utilizing a two-cycle team-based inductive approach. Findings Thirty-three students completed interviews. We derived three main themes: (1) diversity of peer teaching and mentoring opportunities, (2) transitioning one's role from learner to teacher, and (3) personal and professional development. While participants from both clerkships participated in peer teaching and mentoring experiences, ECMH students described more opportunities to interact with students across all years of medical school training, noting that "getting that guidance and in turn being able to teach is a valuable experience." ECMH students further perceived the responsibility of creating a comfortable learning environment for others. Students from both clerkships reflected on 'learning through teaching,' that teaching served as a reaffirmation of the knowledge they gained, and that teaching experience contributed to their personal and professional growth. Insights Students perceived their participation in peer teaching and mentoring experiences in the clinical setting as contributing positively to personal and professional development. Students from both clerkships reflected on their teaching and mentoring opportunities as a facilitator of growth in their own teaching skills; ECMH students further described a heightened sense of self-confidence and fulfillment. These findings highlight the importance of creating learning environments that foster peer teaching and mentoring, as such opportunities may lead to further growth as a learner and as a physician.


Main purpose of data mining is to find useful data set from raw data. Various data mining techniques are present. One of them is Frequent Pattern Mining technique which was used for find frequent patterns from databases. For usefulness of such frequent patterns, many constraints had been proposed by many researchers like utility parameters (price, profit, quantity etc.)as well as weight of an itemset etc. Mining high utility patterns from transaction database mainly focuses on the utility value of an itemset. Many algorithm have been proposed for finding user's goal previously, but they contains some limitations for large datasets when number of candidates itemsets are large. And when we talk about number of itemset when large number of candidates itemsets are present as raw data, it degraded the performance of the algorithm in the terms of memory requirement and execution time. The most significant problem of utility mining is that these patterns do not satisfy anti-monotonicity property and hence mining high utility patterns using traditional association rule mining algorithm becomes difficult. Additionally when long transaction are considered the situation become worse. In this paper, we present a survey and comparison among various association rule mining algorithms which deals with high utility patterns mining are considered.


The main subject of this paper is the aberrations of optical systems in which the various media may have axial distributions of index. The general formulas for the transfer contributions to the third-order aberrations take a particularly simple form for an axial distribution. A numerical illustration of the use of the various formulas is given. In particular, the depth of a given index distribution has little effect on the transfer contributions, whereas the inhomogeneous surface contributions may be quite sensitive to depth.


This paper investigates into the added value of color information for edge extraction and straight edge segment matching between stereo views. For edge extraction in color images different methods proposed in the literature are evaluated and compared, paying special attention to significance and completeness of the obtained edge-map. To find related edge segment pairs in different views, we apply an odd-man-out scheme: starting with all geometrically possible pairs we first rule out pairs, for which the chromatic information provided by the regions flanking the edge segments is incompatible. To further restrict the number of pairs we compute a chromatic similarity measure based on cross-correlation in the color bands. Both steps result in a significant reduction of candidate pairs, yet no correct pairs get lost. A main application of our technique is for automatic 3D building reconstruction from high resolution aerial images.


The scenario we see today in the labor market in Italy is composed of a progressive proliferation of non-standard contracts. This involves first and foremost a problem of citizenship and welfare, due to the lower or almost nonexistent possibility of access to social rights associated with these types of contracts. Faced with this situation, over the last ten years, Italy has seen the emergence of a complex social movement to counter precariousness. This movement at first concentrated its efforts in the rewriting of the symbolic vocabulary and imagination at work, in an attempt to consolidate the precarious as a collective subjectivity beyond its traditional representations. In recent years, however, this process of "self-representation" in terms of a collective narrative is matched by a process of "self-advocacy": an effective self-organization of temporary workers to handle the conflict in the workplace. In a scenario of no confidence in political parties and trade unions in addressing the issue of precariousness, these movements refuse the delegation of the conflict, promoting instead a modality of action based on the organizational form of the network, sharing knowledge and direct representation. This paper explores two particular movement experiences in the Italian context.


A case company in the construction industry, in this report referred to as Contractor Inc., is one
of Sweden's largest main contractors. Contractor Inc. is, like other construction companies in
Sweden, lacking both blue-collar workers and white-collar workers. To deal with the demand
for additional workers, Contractor Inc.'s current strategy is to purchase manpower from
subcontractors and staffing agencies. However, there are disadvantages with external personnel.
For example, Contractor Inc. does not have full control over that the external workers follow
security routines and the company-specific code of conduct. Likewise, Contractor Inc. does not
have control over the delivered quality of the work carried out by external workers, so there
might be additional costs to redo some work. Also, the price for the external workforce can
consist of additional costs that have not been calculated in the budget of projects.
The issue regarding strategic purchasing of manpower at Contractor Inc. is investigated in this
case study by conducting a literature review and interviews with internal employees at
Contractor Inc. The findings show that the construction labour market is increasingly
characterised of foreign workers from, for example, Eastern Europe. These blue-collar workers
are often skilled in specialised areas within construction, and many of them are motivated to
come to Sweden to work. Therefore, it is suggested to benefit from the available foreign
workers, through an implementation of an internal workforce pool. The internal workforce pool
is suggested to be an internal function at Contractor Inc., providing workers for all business
units.
The findings from this study show that an internal workforce pool can consist of both bluecollar
workers and white-collar workers, specialised in certain construction areas. An internal
workforce pool at Contractor Inc. would result in greater flexibility when planning manpower,
increased control over that the workers follow the security routines and code of conduct,
enlarged control over the delivered quality on the projects, and there would be no hidden costs
regarding the price of the workers. The workforce pool is suggested to start as a pilot project
with concrete workers, and the proposed location is Poland. If the pilot project is successful, it
is suggested that other blue-collar workers and white-collar workers can be obtained from the
pool. Thus, this study will review the advantages and challenges with the commissioning of an
internal workforce pool for Contractor Inc.


The main objective of most organic geochemical studies performed on lake sediments is to identify the sources of sedimentary organic matter (OM). Indeed, molecular and isotopic studies allow to characterise major compositional trends between two organic poles: the one deriving from the lake production (algal and microbial OM), the other one deriving from the watershed production (contemporaneous aerial biomass and reworked OM from soil or geological formations). In order to furnish valid information on the palaeo-environmental variation and on the intensity of responsible sedimentary events (anthropogenic or climatic), it is necessary to quantify the different organic contributions and to calculate the sedimentary organic fluxes through the time.


The thesis describes short-term load forecasting by an expert system approach based on knowledge engineering. Conventionally, short-term load prediction is based on mathematical models which either extract the mathematical properties in the time series of load data, or present the static causal relationships between the load demand and its effective factors. The conventional methods can predict the electrical demand under normal situations, but not for special events. The thesis proposes a new approach to estimate the loads for special events, such as time change-overs, public holidays, which is mainly based on knowledge about the system load. Based on the ARIMA model, modifications have been made to predict weekend loads, which take the weather effects into consideration. The thesis also proposes a method to disaggregate the overall load into its components in order to study the relationships between the components and the causal variables. The time change-over (from Greenwich Mean Time to British Summer Time and vice versa) effects can be considered by separately estimating the lighting load and the rest load. The thesis investigates the holiday load characteristics and presents different estimation methods for different public holidays ranging from normal Monday Bank Holidays to Christmas Day holiday periods. Knowledge about the load is represented in production rules. The proposed estimation methods are written in POP-11 which can be interfaced with FORTRAN in which the ARIMA model is programmed for the prediction of the load under normal situations.


This presentation describes the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) --an RDF schema-- and a set of open source applications intended to support rich description of credentials througout the credentialing ecosystem. The metadata infrastructure enabled by the CTDL and the open-licensed software will continuously capture, connect, archive and share metadata about credentials, credentialing organizations, quality assurance organizations, competency frameworks, and additional metadata as needed to support an open applications marketplace. The presentation includes a review of the CTDL resources and development processes and will demonstrate how the CTDL schema is used for publishing RDF metadata to the Credential Engine Registry (CER), how an application profile of the CTDL is used by the CER to validate the quality of incoming metadata, and how the open application marketplace can evolve by demonstrating the Workit Search App prototype that consumes metadata from the CER. The presentation will include discussion of the planned development of CTDL-Lite as a markup extension to schema.org.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness in low birth weight (LBW) infants of the currently recommended immunization schedule for conjugated Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB) vaccine.

METHODS
We quantified antibody responses in 36 preterm infants with a mean birth weight of 1060 g and a mean gestational age of 28 weeks. Infants were immunized with 0.5 mL of HIB vaccine at 2 and 4 months' postnatal age. Specific HIB antibodies were quantified on cord blood, immediately before each immunization and 2 months after the last immunization.

RESULTS
Even though the geometric mean titers increased significantly during the study period, they were still markedly lower than values reported in term infants. After the second immunization, only 24 infants (67%) attained antibody concentrations of more than 0.25 micrograms/mL, defined as seropositivity. Also, only 53% of infants achieved antibody concentrations of more than 1.0 micrograms/mL compared with 92% as reported in term infants. Stepwise logistic regression identified gestational age of 27 weeks or less and the amount of intravenous immunoglobulin received as the significant variables influencing the antibody response after the first immunization. The incidence of side effects was negligible.

CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that LBW infants, and especially those born at 27 or less weeks' gestation, do not respond as effectively to the HIB vaccine. We speculate that reevaluation of the current immunization schedule may be required for very LBW infants.


In April 2017, the Hungarian government launched a national consultation entitled 'Let's stop Brussels' focusing on topical issues such as Brussels' prohibition of reductions in household utility charges; illegal immigration; foreign attempts to influence the domestic political scene; Brussels' attacks on tax reductions and job creation programmes in Hungary. The present study investigates whether there is any extent of manipulation applied in the questionnaire of the consultation sent to Hungarian eligible voters by using van Dijk's (2006) triangulated Critical Discourse Analytical (CDA) approach. Van Dijk's three-layered approach to the investigation of manipulation in discourse is an integrated theory that establishes links between three different dimensions of manipulation: society, cognition and discourse. A CDA framework allows a text to be evaluated as manipulative in terms of its context categories rather than merely in terms of its textual elements. Accordingly, the presence of manipulation in the discourse of the national consultation is explored by examining the balance in its participants and in the information shared; by considering its influence on social cognition; and by revealing the rhetorical techniques applied in the discourse of the set of questions. The results of the study show that various techniques of manipulation were applied in all the three layers of the discourse of the consultation.


In over 40 years in the workplace, I have witnessed creativity and communication stifled because of toxic leadership. Though my experience was in the military and my research was with the military, my goal is to better understand toxic leadership to inform potential mitigation techniques that are applicable to both business and military environments. Toxic leaders tend to draw conclusions hastily without thinking about viable alternative conclusions. They tend to weave a negative story out of the facts known to them and not appreciate that there is information or facts they do not know. My research suggests toxic leadership exists because senior leaders, those leaders above the toxic leader, allow it to exist, either unwittingly or knowingly. Furthermore, non-toxic leaders can create toxic environments by their inaction or inability to make timely decisions. That inaction allows problems to develop, then fester and ultimately, creates a toxic environment. Also, non-toxic leaders can create toxic environments by not dealing with incompetent subordinates, like the senior leader who allows a toxic leader to continue to act out toxic behaviors. Incompetent subordinates generate problems that can contribute to a toxic environment due to their technical shortcomings or low EQ (emotional quotient). The most effective mitigation is confronting and reporting toxic leader behaviors when they occur.


As we distinguish, the data communication in the wireless networks is more untrustworthy than it is in the wired network environment. Even though the virtual carrier sensing scheme can be used in the wireless unicast transmission, the multicast and broadcast still not exploit the acknowledgement instrument for reliable transmission. This is due to the acknowledgement packets of broadcast programme will cause much sophisticated communication traffic and overhead. Since reliable data broadcast is critical and obligatory in many applications in the wireless sensor networks, our study focuses on the ZigBee network which is a new industrial standard for sensor networks. Some previous related papers improved the broadcast reliability by introducing redundant transmission and increasing coverage ratio of every receiver node, but there still exists probability of packet loss and extra communication cost due to redundant broadcast. Wireless sensor networks are functioning in several applications, including military, medical, environmental and domestic. In all these applications, energy usage is the determining factor in the performance of wire- less sensor networks. As a result, methods of zigbee based data routing and transferring to the base station are very important because the sensor nodes run on battery power and the energy available for sensors is limited. This Paper reviews all the aspects and constraints related to data routing within zigbee wireless sensor network.


The present article analyses the use of clothing in the Jesuit sixteenth-century mission in Japan by applying dress theory. It investigates Jesuit garments and other perceptible elements of dress by understanding them as nonverbal communication. Texts by missionaries such as Francis Xavier (1506–52), Francisco Cabral (1533–1609), Luís Fróis (1532–1597), and Alessandro Valignano (1539–1606) are scrutinised to establish the content of the messages they meant to convey through Jesuit dress. The range of modifications that dress imposed on the bodies of the missionaries is examined to determine the limits within which the missionaries operated and how these boundaries came to be. Through an historical overview, the missionaries' strategies are examined to show how such messages were fine-tuned through the manipulation of dress, and to what extent they represented responses to the specific context of Japan. Anti-Christian polemical texts supply information on the Japanese's reception of these messages. The article explores Jesuit assumptions about the dress policies' impact on their souls through the senses and on their work of evangelization as well.