This study utilized critical race theory (CRT) as an epistemological framework and theoretical tool for understanding African American male student‐athletes' perceptions of racism and the potential impact racism might have on their educational experiences and overall development. This qualitative case study included a single focus group and in‐depth interviews with four African American male football players in a big‐time college sport program at a predominantly White institution (PWI) in the Midwestern United States. These males felt that racism manifested itself in terms of African Americans (1) being denied access to leadership and major decision‐making opportunities in college and professional sport, and (2) being treated differently than their White counterparts. These findings point to the need for further studies that are inclusive of the voices of this particular group and other groups of African American student‐athletes. Further, these results have implications for administrators, coaches, academic support personnel, and other educators at American universities and colleges with big‐time college sport programs.


Within last years multi-synchronous collaborative editing systems became widely used. Multi-synchronous collaboration maintains multiple, simultaneous streams of activity which continually diverge and synchronized. These streams of activity are represented by means of logs of operations, i.e. user modifications. A malicious user might tamper his log of operations. At the moment of synchronization with other streams, the tampered log might generate wrong results. In this paper, we propose a solution relying on hash-chain based authenticators for authenticating logs that ensure the authenticity, the integrity of logs, and the user accountability. We present algorithms to construct authenticators and verify logs. We prove their correctness and provide theoretical and practical evaluations.


Enone prodrugs of dopaminergic catecholamines represent a new type of prodrug in the research area of dopamine agonists. Here, we demonstrate the first benzo[g]quinoline-derived enone that induces potent dopamine agonist effects similar to aminotetralin-derived enones. Significant effects of (-)-4 were observed in microdialysis studies after administration of 1 nmol kg(-1) sc and 3 nmol kg(-1) po. With a potency comparable to that of the most potent apomorphines, (-)-4 could potentially compete with L-DOPA and apomorphine in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.


RBF neural network suits to control electromotors, which have uncertainty and highly nonlinear systems. However, in practice, RBF neural network also have some obvious defects. For example, the strong dependence on the initial parameter and the poor quality of clustering algorithm. For the above defects, this paper is going to build an optimized RBF neural network through the combination of ant colony optimization algorithms, chaos ergodicity optimization theory and traditional K-means algorithm. On this basis, the optimized RBF neural network will be applied to PID control and then the dynamic performance of the electromotor will be simulationally tested by the designed PID controller. The simulation results show that in the control of electromotor, the optimized RBF neutral network has the characteristic of high control accuracy and strong traceability and also it has the ability to guarantee electromotor control system with steady and dynamic performance.


To optimize injection molding process, the gating system, cooling systems and related injection molding process parameters are chosen as the experimental analysis factors, the quality of the injection as the experimental index in this paper. First, design the test program with orthogonal experimental and simulate with Moldflow MPI 6.0. Second, after plastic molding, in order to determine the integrated target, the comprehensive evaluation method of fuzzy mathematic is used to evaluate warpage values, shrinkage and residual stress. Finally, get the optimization scheme and the best match of gating system and cooling systems though the range and variance analysis of integrated target. The experimental results shown this optimization method can achieved the best parameters for practical produce. So, the optimization injection molding method, MPI and experimental design based, has important practical significance.


Based on the literal sense, Animation is animating. The attempt to move
something that can not move themselves. Animation is also a series of images in the
show through a few frames are alternately arranged in sequence so as to produce a
moving picture. Since ancient times, humans have tried to ¬ animated motion pictures
of animals they are, as found by the archaeologist in the Lascaux cave Northern
Spain, had lived two hundred thousand years more.
Ordinary people are now often forgotten when asked about the national
history. Moreover, as many foreign cultures into our country, our culture and national
history became part forgotten. Community and the children in this day and age even
more familiar with the history of other countries through out the animation-animation
widely circulated on television. If the children in question as whether the heroes they
know. They are certainly more familiar with Japanese animation and American hero
rather than a national hero.
With a visual style that is more easily understood and coherent with colourfull
colors turned out to make them more interested to know a fictional character in the
series or animated movies that aired on television. Then the perceived role of the
animation turned out to have a big hand in the development of children. And the
lesson of history is also very important, especially the children today are less
interested to know much less about the heroes of the struggle. So this is felt through
the medium of animation can provide something different by designing a 2D
animated film with an interesting story and in accordance with the children about the
story of the struggle Diponegoro. The concept used is "Diponegoro Is My Hero".
Here at Diponegoro tell me as a super hero is a hero. In order to attract children's
interest in knowing more about Prince Diponegoro later.


In today's world of telecommunications there is an increasing problem with reaching people one wishes to speak to. People have several telephones and this makes the situation complex for the caller. Many phone calls are left unanswered. The Call Forwarding Agent is in this report presented as a solution to this reachability problem. The idea is to have an agent setting call forwards of all the users' phones or numbers, towards the terminal where he is available. Later, when someone calls any of the users' phones, the call will be terminated at the terminal where the user can receive it. The Call Forwarding Agent is compared to a number of similar services. The personal number service offers the same functionality as the Call Forwarding Agent, but the Call Forwarding Agent does not force the subscriber to change phone number and it also admits a simple call screening. We have implemented a prototype of the Call Forwarding Agent that can set call forwards of regular Public Service Telephony Network terminals and the Internet telephones in Ellemtel's IP-phone system.


The expressiveness of many visualization methods for 3D vector fields is often limited by occlusion, i.e., interesting flow patterns hide each other or are hidden by laminar flow. Automatic detection of patterns in 3D vector fields has gained attention recently, since it allows to highlight user-defined patterns and separate the wheat from the chaff. We propose an algorithm which is able to detect 3D flow patterns of arbitrary extent in a robust manner. We encode the local flow behavior in scale space using a sequence of hierarchical base descriptors, which are pre-computed and hashed into a number of hash tables. This ensures a fast fetching of similar occurrences in the flow and requires only a constant number of table lookups. In contrast to many previous approaches, our method supports patterns of arbitrary shape and extent. We achieve this by assembling these patterns using several smaller spheres. The results are independent of translation, rotation, and scaling. Our experiments show that our approach encompasses the state of the art with respect to both the computational costs and the accuracy.


It is known that a trained restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM) on the binary Monte Carlo Ising spin configurations, generates a series of iterative reconstructed spin configurations which spontaneously flow and stabilize to the critical point of physical system. Here we construct a variety of neural network (NN) flows using the RBM and (variational) autoencoders, to study the q-state Potts and clock models on the square lattice for q = 2, 3, 4. The NN are trained on Monte Carlo spin configurations at various temperatures. We find that the trained NN flow does develop a stable point that coincides with critical point of the q-state spin models. The behavior of the NN flow is nontrivial and generative, since the training is unsupervised and without any prior knowledge about the critical point and the Hamiltonian of the underlying spin model. Moreover, we find that the convergence of the flow is independent of the types of NNs and spin models, hinting a universal behavior. Our results strengthen the potential applicability of the notion of the NN flow in studying various states of matter and offer additional evidence on the connection with the renormalization group flow.


In this paper, we propose a novel framework based on deep neural networks for face sketch synthesis from a photo. Imitating the process of how artists draw sketches, our framework synthesizes face sketches in a cascaded manner. A content image is first generated that outlines the shape of the face and the key facial features. Textures and shadings are then added to enrich the details of the sketch. We utilize a fully convolutional neural network (FCNN) to create the content image, and propose a style transfer approach to introduce textures and shadings based on a newly proposed pyramid column feature. We demonstrate that our style transfer approach based on the pyramid column feature can not only preserve more sketch details than the common style transfer method, but also surpasses traditional patch based methods. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations suggest that our framework outperforms other state-of-the-arts methods, and can also generalize well to different test images.


We examine the relationship between competition and innovation in an industry where production is polluting and R&D aims to reduce emissions ("green" innovation). We present an n-firm oligopoly where firms compete in quantities and decide their investment in "green" R&D. When environmental taxation is exogenous, aggregate R&D investment always increases with the number of firms in the industry. Next we analyse the case where the emission tax is set endogenously by a regulator (committed or time-consistent) with the aim to maximise social welfare. We show that an inverted-U relationship exists between aggregate R&D and industry size under reasonable conditions, and is driven by the presence of R&D spillovers.


It is shown that the anomalous elasticity of membranes affects the profile and thermodynamics of a bubble in van der Waals heterostructures. Our theory generalizes the nonlinear plate theory as well as the membrane theory of the pressurised blister test to incorporate the power-law scale dependence of the bending rigidity and Young's modulus of a two-dimensional crystalline membrane. This scale dependence, caused by long-range interaction of relevant thermal fluctuations (flexural phonons), is responsible for the nonlinear Hooke law observed recently in graphene. It is shown that this anomalous elasticity affects the dependence of the maximal height of the bubble as a function of its radius and temperature. We determine the characteristic temperature above which the anomalous elasticity is important. It is suggested that, for graphene-based van der Waals heterostructures, the predicted anomalous regime is experimentally accessible at room temperature.


The growing use of computer networks, security has become a main challenging task for computer users. It is basically suffering from Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. DoS attack is an attack that sending large number of network traffic towards the Victim server of the organization that bring down the performance of network resources. Existing techniques like firewall, access control and encryption mechanism is vulnerable to provide sufficient protection against Virus, warms, Trojan Horse and DoS attacks,etc.,. So we need new mechanism to monitoring computer systems and network traffic to identify any policy violation of the exact user behavior. This paper proposes a new hybrid based IDS model for DoS attacks and evaluate its performance based on Particle Swarm Optimization combine with Support Vector machine (PSO-SVM) to increase detection accuracy and reducing false alarms. Here, feature selection is one of the important processes to increase the classification accuracy of this model. So, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is used for selecting necessary feature from the PMU 2015 dataset that will improve the performance of the proposed model. The proposed work was implemented in Mat lab7. 2. The result shows that the proposed hybrid IDS has high detection accuracy (99. 25%) and (0. 75%) of false alarms.


The object of the present study is the process of gas transport in nano-sized materials, i.e. systems having structural elements of the order of nanometers. The aim of this work is to advance the understanding of the gas transport mechanism in such materials, for which traditional models are not often suitable, by providing a correct interpretation of the relationship between diffusive phenomena and structural features. This result would allow the development new materials with permeation properties tailored on the specific application, especially in packaging systems. The methods used to achieve this goal were a detailed experimental characterization and different simulation methods.
The experimental campaign regarded the determination of oxygen permeability and diffusivity in different sets of organic-inorganic hybrid coatings prepared via sol-gel technique. The polymeric samples coated with these hybrid layers experienced a remarkable enhancement of the barrier properties, which was explained by the strong interconnection at the nano-scale between the organic moiety and silica domains. An analogous characterization was performed on microfibrillated cellulose films, which presented remarkable barrier effect toward oxygen when it is dry, while in the presence of water the performance significantly drops. The very low value of water diffusivity at low activities is also an interesting characteristic which deals with its structural properties.
Two different approaches of simulation were then considered: the diffusion of oxygen through polymer-layered silicates was modeled on a continuum scale with a CFD software, while the properties of n-alkanthiolate self assembled monolayers on gold were analyzed from a molecular point of view by means of a molecular dynamics algorithm.
Modeling transport properties in layered nanocomposites, resulting from the ordered dispersion of impermeable flakes in a 2-D matrix, allowed the calculation of the enhancement of barrier effect in relation with platelets structural parameters leading to derive a new expression. On this basis, randomly distributed systems were simulated and the results were analyzed to evaluate the different contributions to the overall effect. The study of more realistic three-dimensional geometries revealed a prefect correspondence with the 2-D approximation.
A completely different approach was applied to simulate the effect of temperature on the oxygen transport through self assembled monolayers; the structural information obtained from equilibrium MD simulations showed that raising the temperature, makes the monolayer less ordered and consequently less crystalline. This disorder produces a decrease in the barrier free energy and it lowers the overall resistance to oxygen diffusion, making the monolayer more permeable to small molecules.


Naturally produced chloroform is occasionally detected in soil and groundwater of non-urban areas in concentrations that can exceed the regulatory levels. In this study, we present the distribution of naturally produced chloroform in a temperate coniferous forest from top soil to upper groundwater. Chloroform is most likely produced by the activity of fungi, and the production varies therefore with the domains of certain unidentified fungi. We show that the differences in concentration within 10 metres can approach two orders of magnitude in the top soil. The difference in chloroform concentrations in upper groundwater within the same distance is almost one order of magnitude. The concentration of chloroform in the top soil varies significantly with season, while season affect deeper levels much less.


To the Editor. —It was with great interest that I read the recent article by Olin et al,1with regard to therapeutic options in patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors who suffer from deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary emboli (PE). A retrospective study by Choucair et al2supports the contention that anticoagulation in patients with primary brain tumors is reasonably safe, with 22 glioma patients with computed tomographic (CT) evidence of enhancing tumor undergoing systemic anticoagulation without intracranial hemorrhage. Olin et al1present an additional 16 patients with primary brain tumors anticoagulated without clinically significant intracranial hemorrhage. Unfortunately, the data for patients with metastatic disease remain essentially anecdotal, with only nine patients with cerebral metastasis receiving anticoagulants in their study. Reviewing all the patients with cerebral metastasis at our institution from 1982 through 1986 (69 total patients) revealed two patients anticoagulated in the face of untreated


Ntoba mbodi is a stable and long-life alkaline-fermented food and the domestic-scale production depends upon microorganisms from the local environment. Previous studies on bacteria in Ntoba mbodi have reported the presence of Bacillus related species and other bacterial taxa. But the abundance of these bacteria in Ntoba mbodi still needs to be determined to assess their ecological importance in this particular environment. In the present study, we used an extinction dilution approach for isolation and taxonomic affiliation of the dominant isolates obtained from the highest positive dilution of Ntoba mbodi. We also tested the hypothesis that there is a convergence in the bacterial community profile in Ntoba mbodi, irrespective of the origins of the food, by assessing the set of dominant bacteria that was found in all the samples studied. The density of the bacteria ranged from 1.67×1010 to 2.8×1010 CFU g-1. Eleven distinct morphotypes were isolated at the highest positive dilution of Ntoba mbodi and identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing followed by phylogenetic analyses. Eight isolates were classified as Bacillus related species. A set of five strains was shared between all samples of Ntoba mbodi which were closest to Bacillus altitudinis, Bacillus sp. C-32, Staphylococcus sciuri and Bacterium NLAE-ʫ-H375. Of the eleven predominant isolates, eight showed cellulase activity and five showed xylanase and β-glucosidase activity.

 Key words: Bacillus, cassava leaves, alkaline-fermentation, Ntoba mbodi, indigenous fermented foods.


Contemporary adult and vocational learning theories acknowledge the social and collective nature of learning. Throughout this body of literature numerous terms conceptualise and articulate the fact of individuals' learning as engagement in joint activity with others, with contextual systems and artefacts and with socio-historic knowledge. These terms include; communities of practice, co-participation, networks and knotworks, collaboration, experience, interaction, relational interdependence, co-configuration and negotiation. This paper focuses on the term 'negotiation' and its capacities to conceptualise a social theory of personal learning. The paper proposes that 'negotiation' is under theorised in the dominantly socio-cultural constructivist literature on work-based learning that uses the concept to illuminate something of the relationship between the individual and the social and the interactive processes that characterise workers' situated participative practices. Further, the paper proposes that overcoming some of this under theorisation can be achieved by understanding negotiation as constituting four primary interactive forms of joint activity that workers are engaged in through the enactment of their work. Those forms are referred to as realised, discovered, concealed and protracted negotiations. The case is advanced by drawing on the findings of a qualitative research project that examined the personal work practices of twelve individual workers from four different workplaces. This research indicates that workers can be viewed as negotiating their participation in work and that negotiation can be used as a metaphor to conceptualise personal learning practices as social processes of engagement in activity when the four forms of negotiation are used to analyse and categorise workers personal practices.


Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant epithelial neoplasm and anatomical subtype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with an average 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. To improve the survival rate of OSCC, the discovery of novel anti-cancer drugs is urgently needed. In the present study, we performed metanalysis of 5 gene expression datasets (GSE23558, GSE25099, GSE30784, GSE37991 and TCGA-OSCC) that resulted in 1851 statistically significant DEGs in OSCC. The DEGs were involved in key biological pathways that drive the progression of OSCC. A comprehensive protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed from the DEGs and the top protein clusters (modules) were extracted in Cytoscape. The DEGs from the top modules were searched for antineoplastic agents using L1000CDS2 server. The search resulted in a total of 37 perturbing agents from which 12 well-characterized antineoplastic agents were selected. The selected 12 antineoplastic agents namely Teniposide, Palbociclib, Etoposide, Fedratinib, Tivozanib, Afatinib, Vemurafenib, Mitoxantrone, Idamycin, Canertinib, Dovitinib and Selumetinib. These drugs showed interactions with the over expressed hub genes that regulate cellular proliferation and growth in OSCC progression. These identified antineoplastic agents are candidates for their potential role in treating OSCC.


The formation of tetrahydrofurans from 2-hydroxyalkyl-oxirane or aziridine is reported. The 5-endo-tet cyclization/ring opening of aziridine proceeded smoothly to give tetrahydrofurans (THFs) under mild conditions. In contrast, the corresponding process of oxirane was unsuccessful and a sequence of SN2 substitution/cyclization was required to form THFs. The application of the process to prepare ent-(-)-pachastrissamine is described.


Hydro Tasmania has been engaged by the Rottnest Island Authority to design and implement an advanced hybrid off-grid system on Rottnest Island, Western Australia. This project was funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The system achieves a higher level of annual renewable energy contribution through the innovative integration of wind and solar generation with the demand-side management of reverse osmosis desalination and a dynamic load bank. The project aims to increase renewable contribution from 30% to 45% per annum, via the addition of: a new hybrid control system incorporating demand management of the reverse osmosis desalination system as a form of 'energy storage'; 600 kWp DC solar for additional renewable power generation; and a 500kW dynamic resistor for increased security of supply at high instantaneous penetration levels. This paper provides a summary of the process of utilising water desalination as a method of 'energy storage' to increase renewable energy contribution and assist in addressing and leveraging the opportunity that exists from the existing water / energy nexus. It outlines solutions deployed to meet the practical challenges of implementing a high renewable contribution hybrid project in the absence of significant enabling technologies such as flywheels and batteries. Also highlighted is the importance of operator involvement and performance tools to maximise diesel savings.


As autonomous vehicles (AVs) need to interact with other road users, it is of importance to comprehensively understand the dynamic traffic environment, especially the future possible trajectories of surrounding vehicles. This paper presents an algorithm for long-horizon trajectory prediction of surrounding vehicles using a dual long short term memory (LSTM) network, which is capable of effectively improving prediction accuracy in strongly interactive driving environments. In contrast to traditional approaches which require trajectory matching and manual feature selection, this method can automatically learn high-level spatial-temporal features of driver behaviors from naturalistic driving data through sequence learning. By employing two blocks of LSTMs, the proposed method feeds the sequential trajectory to the first LSTM for driver intention recognition as an intermediate indicator, which is immediately followed by a second LSTM for future trajectory prediction. Test results from real-world highway driving data show that the proposed method can, in comparison to state-of-art methods, output more accurate and reasonable estimate of different future trajectories over $5s$ time horizon with root mean square error (RMSE) for longitudinal and lateral prediction less than 5.77m and 0.49m, respectively.


We have mounted 5 different biocatalysts on a sensor platform to examine the performance of this electrochemical sensing system for the detection of different biomolecules/metabolites and environmental important molecules, with such we also compared how this sensing system fares with literature results of similar measurements. The biocatalysts are LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), GDH (glutamate dehydrogenase), human IgG (human immunoglobulin G), Hb (hemoglobin), and PSA (prostate-specific antigen). The sensor platform constitutes of a layer of biocomposite mounted on different electrodes made out of Au, Ag, Pt, and glass carbon; the biocomposite is fabricated with polymers and sol-gel Au nanoparticles with or without an extra layer of biomolecules. The targeting species for measurements include NH 4 + , NO 3 - , CN - , H 2 O 2, and the biomolecules specific to the biomolecules/antigens as mentioned above coated on the surface of the biocomposites. In this report, we will provide a systematic update of analyses of this sensing system, including the unique identification potentials and sensitivities. This novel sensing system can be a valuable tool in biomedical diagnosis and environmental forensics; in particular the sensor platform, any biomedical diagnosis can be conducted with extremely high sensitivity as long as the biomolecules and their antigens are known.


Agriculture accounts for 92% of the freshwater footprint of humanity; almost one third relates to animal products. In a recent global study, Mekonnen and Hoekstra (2012) [31] show that animal products have a large water footprint (WF) relative to crop products. We use the outcomes of that study to show general trends in the WFs of poultry, pork and beef. We observe three main factors driving the WF of meat: feed conversion efficiencies (feed amount per unit of meat obtained), feed composition and feed origin. Efficiency improves from grazing to mixed to industrial systems, because animals in industrial systems get more concentrated feed, move less, are bred to grow faster and slaughtered younger. This factor contributes to a general decrease in WFs from grazing to mixed to industrial systems. The second factor is feed composition, particularly the ratio of concentrates to roughages, which increases from grazing to mixed to industrial systems. Concentrates have larger WFs than roughages, so that this factor contributes to a WF increase, especially blue and grey WFs, from grazing and mixed to industrial systems. The third factor, the feed origin, is important because water use related to feed crop growing varies across and within regions. The overall resultant WF of meat depends on the relative importance of the three main determining factors. In general, beef has a larger total WF than pork, which in turn has a larger WF than poultry, but the average global blue and grey WFs are similar across the three meat products. When we consider ier B.V. .nl (P.W. Gerbens-Leenes), firstname.lastname@example.com (M.M. Mekonnen), Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. P.W. Gerbens-Leenes et al. / Water Resources and Industry 1–2 (2013) 25–36 26 grazing systems, the blue and grey water footprints of poultry and pork are greater than those for beef. & 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.Open access under


A single crystal Si thin film on a glass substrate has been obtained successfully by hydrophilic fusion bonding and the smart-cut technology. Tensile strength testing shows that the bonded interface has strong adhesion and the bonding strength is about 8.7 MPa. Crystallinity and microstructure of the samples have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrical properties have also been investigated by Hall measurements and four-point probe. The mobility of the transferred Si layer on glass is about 122 cm2/V.s. The results show that the single-crystal silicon layer transferred onto glass by direct bonding keeps good quality for the applications of integrated circuits, transducers, and flat panel display.


Abstract This study investigates how family involvement affects engagement of private small- and medium-sized family firms in corporate social responsibility. We draw on reputation and self-interest arguments to hypothesize and test the effects of degree of family ownership, intra-family ownership dispersion, and family generation in control on firm engagement in corporate social responsibility. Using survey data collected from a sample of 136 Italian small- and medium-sized family firms, we find support for our hypotheses and underlying contention that family involvement matters, as CSR engagement decreases if a higher percentage of shares is owned by the family, ownership is dispersed among a higher number of family members, as well as later-generations control the business. We conclude by discussing the study's implications for theory and practice, limitations, and future research directions.


Human rights and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are usually considered through a social, cultural, or ethical lens, but equality and inclusion of LGBT people are also economic development issues. This report develops a model to estimate the economic cost of stigma; negative attitudes toward LGBT people—and the exclusion of LGBT people in social institutions such as education, employment, families, and health care. The model is applied to a case study of India. Three major findings emerge from this report. First, there is clear evidence of stigma and exclusion exists for LGBT people in India. Data on public opinion from 2006 shows that 41 percent of Indians would not want a homosexual neighbor, and 64 percent believe that homosexuality is never justified. Negative attitudes have diminished over time, however. Second, the effects of stigma and exclusion are potentially costly to economies. A conceptual model links exclusion of LGBT people and economic development through (1) lower productivity and lower output as a result of employment discrimination and constraints on labor supply; (2) inefficient investment in human capital because of lower returns to education and discrimination in educational settings; (3) lost output as a result of health disparities that are linked to exclusion; and (4) social and health services required to address the effects of exclusion that might be better spent elsewhere. Third and lastly, in India, existing research does not allow for a precise estimate of the cost of LGBT exclusion, but the cost could be substantial. The loss of labor productivity and output because of employment discrimination and the loss of life years due to early death or disability will reduce the economic output of the Indian economy. With better research on the lived experiences of LGBT people, researchers could use existing analytical tools to estimate the total cost of LGBT exclusion.


The coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros) is a severe pest of coconut and other palms that has invaded the South Pacific in the last decade. The beetle can cause great economic losses, not only to agriculture but also due to indirect impacts on tropical aesthetics and tourism. In the last decade, new invasive populations of the beetle have been detected on Guam and Oahu, Hawaii. Despite the beetle's extensive invasion history and economic impacts, little is known about its invasion dynamics. We used 1,480 base pairs of cytochrome oxidase subunit I mitochondrial and 814 base pairs of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase, aspartate transcarbamoylase, dihydroorotase nuclear DNA to conduct a population genetics analysis on eight beetle populations from Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China in the beetle's native range and Palau, American Samoa, Guam, and Hawaii in the beetle's invasive range, in an attempt to resolve invasion pathways. Genetic diversity was insufficient to generate strong evidence for O. rhinoceros movement patterns. Mitochondrial DNA provided a clear but poorly supported population structure. Although nuclear DNA proved to be more diverse, population structure lacked clear signal. This lack of diversity is congruent with a rapid, recent invasion. There appears to be no genetic exchange between populations once they establish, implying that they are rare, human-mediated dispersal events.


Breast cancer has been suggested to have two distinct driving mechanisms: the hormone receptor and the growth factor receptor pathways. We hypothesized that each driving system produces a different expression pattern of estrogen-regulated genes, such as progesterone receptor, in proliferating cells. Progesterone receptor and Ki67 expressions were assessed by dual-fluorescence immunohistochemistry in estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer tissues. Two distinct proliferating cell populations were observed: progesterone-receptor-positive and progesterone-receptor-negative. In the training cohort, tissues with progesterone-receptor-positive proliferating cells were associated with lower grade and better disease-free survival (p = 0.0055 and 0.0026, respectively). These associations were confirmed in the validation cohort from the neoadjuvant endocrine trial JFMC34 (p = 0.033 and 0.0003, respectively). In the validation cohort, patients with progesterone-receptor-positive proliferating cells responded better to endocrine therapy and had a lower Oncotype DX Recurrence Score. In the multivariate analysis, progesterone receptor status of proliferating cells, but not progesterone receptor or Ki67 alone, was an independent predictor of disease-free survival in both cohorts (p = 0.0043 and 0.0026). In conclusion, the progesterone receptor status of proliferating cancer cells was associated with histological grade and Recurrence Score, and a potent prognostic factor in estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancers. Results suggest that different driving systems generate different expression patterns of progesterone receptor in proliferating cancer cells. Further studies are warranted to validate the findings.


In areas of wildland-urban interface (WUI), especially residential developments, it is very
common to see liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks, particularly with a higher ratio of
propane, in surface installations serving homes. The most common tanks are between 1 and 5
m3 of capacity, but smaller ones of less than 1 m3 are more frequent. In case of accident,
installations may be subject to fires and explosions, especially in those circumstances where
legal and normative requirements allow very close exposure to flames from vegetable fuel
near LPG tanks.
In this project, it is intended to do a comprehensive diagnosis of the problem, addressing
the compilation of information on real risk scenarios in historical fires. First, a preliminary
presentation of the properties and characteristics of liquefied petroleum gas will be exposed.
Its physical and chemical properties, production methodology, pressure and temperature
diagrams and important considerations will be defined when using this type of substances in a
storage tank of a certain volume.
Next, a review of the situation of the existence of LPG tanks in the urban forest interfaces
will be exposed. In this case, the main accidents caused by problems with the storage of LPG
will be analyzed taking into account the relevance of BLEVE events in this type of incidents. To
do this, the main scenarios that could take place in the event of a fire will be presented.
Next, the existing legislation on the storage of LPG in these environments in some
Mediterranean countries will be studied. In order to develop a comprehensive analysis, the
main safety measures and distances will be considered, as well as the awareness of the
possibility of vegetation material in the vicinity of LPG storage tanks, which is the main
problem that will arise in a possible BLEVE scenario in case of fire. To finalize and facilitate
understanding, a comparative table will be included with the aim of visualizing the main
advantages and legislative deficiencies between the different countries.
Following, the state of the art in terms of modelling LPG accidents at the WUI will be
reviewed. Trying to simulate and predict this type of scenarios, it will see the models normally
chosen to obtain the tolerable values selected and the answers obtained in each case.
Finally, several fire scenarios will be simulated by means of a CFD tool (FDS, Fire Dynamics
Simulator). In these simulations, the wind velocity and the distance of the combustible vegetal
mass to the tank will be controlled in a WUI fire in which there is a tank of fixed dimensions.
The temperature and the heat flow in each of the scenarios will be obtained, and the
differences among the location of the sensors and the characteristics of the scenario will be
analyzed.
As a conclusion, it has been observed that there is a great amount of variables that are
not contemplated by the regulatory organisms and that the existing legislation does not
guarantee the safety of the population in this type of environment. From the simulations
results, variables as temperature should be studied for further characterizations.


Ten years ago, the TRIPs Agreement set a distinct tone in international law by requiring members to prioritize international trade obligations as a means to achieve national goals. Within the next five years, the AIDS crisis highlighted that compromising pressing national responsibilities - like a looming public health crisis - to fulfill international obligations may, in fact, detrimentally affect international trade. Meanwhile, access to medication continues to be an unresolved issue even as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of TRIPs and the end of the transitional period. This Article suggests that the success of TRIPs depends on its ability to address national responsibilities that impedes members from fulfilling international obligations. In this context, the Article analyzes policy options embraced by countries like India, which prioritized national responsibilities in its quest to appear on the global trade map.


Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with chronic abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits in the absence of any organic cause is identi_ed as the most common known gastrointestinal disorder. IBS affects both sexes and can occur at any age. Diagnosis of this disease in younger patients and women is more likely. In the pathophysiology of IBS, hereditary, environmental, visceral, psychological factors, emotional stress and to a lesser degree, brain factors and hormones, have been discussed. Cortricotropin releasing factor (CRF) has a strong relationship with stress. This factor plays a role in the production of several steroid hormones, including testosterone. During stress, CRF and its receptors' activities increase. This may play a role in some digestive system disorders such as IBS. Materials and Methods: This study was undertaken from December 2009 to June 2010 on 32 men diagnosed with IBS from a GI clinic, Iran as cases and 23 healthy men who were employees of Ali-Ebn-Abitaleb Hospital, as the control group. Serum testosterone levels were measured by ELISA. Demographic data and laboratory results were analyzed by SPSS version 15. The t-test compared serum testosterone levels of the two groups. Results: Testosterone levels of the IBS cases were 5.73 ± 3.5 ng/dl and the control group was 1.84 ± 0.67 ng/dl in this study, which was statistically signi_cant ( P Conclusion: Testosterone may play a role in the pathogenesis of IBS. More extensive studies should be done to discover the pathogenesis of IBS and role of this hormone.


The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae divides asymmetrically, giving rise to a mother cell and a smaller daughter cell. Individual mother cells produce a finite number of daughter cells before senescing, undergoing characteristic changes as they age such as a slower cell cycle and sterility. The average life span is fixed for a given strain, implying that yeast aging has a strong genetic component. Genes that determine yeast longevity have highlighted the importance of such processes as cAMP metabolism, epigenetic silencing, and genome stability. The recent finding that yeast aging is caused, in part, by the accumulation of circular rDNA molecules has unified many seemingly disparate observations.


BACKGROUND
British society is multicultural and multilingual, thus for many children English is not their main or only language. Speech and language therapists are required to assess accurately the speech and language skills of bilingual children if they are suspected of having a disorder. Cultural and linguistic diversity means that a more complex assessment procedure is needed and research suggests that bilingual children are at risk of misdiagnosis. Clinicians have identified a lack of suitable assessment instruments for use with this client group.

AIMS
This paper highlights the challenges of assessing bilingual children and reviews available speech and language assessment procedures and approaches for use with this client group. It evaluates different approaches for assessing bilingual children to identify approaches that may be more appropriate for carrying out assessments effectively.

METHODS & PROCEDURES
This review discusses and evaluates the efficacy of norm-referenced standardized measures, criterion-referenced measures, language-processing measures, dynamic assessment and a sociocultural approach.

OUTCOMES & RESULTS
When all named procedures and approaches are compared, the sociocultural approach appears to hold the most promise for accurate assessment of bilingual children. Research suggests that language-processing measures are not effective indicators for identifying speech and language disorders in bilingual children, but further research is warranted. The sociocultural approach encompasses some of the other approaches discussed, including norm-referenced measures, criterion-referenced measures and dynamic assessment.

CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS
The sociocultural approach enables the clinician to interpret results in the light of the child's linguistic and cultural background. In addition, combining approaches mitigates the weaknesses inherent in each approach.


Mitochondrial respiratory oxidation is coupled with ATP synthesis. This coupling process can be broken by uncoupling protein (UCP), an integral membrane protein at mitochondrial inner membrane. Here, active rat UCP1 (rUCP1) was expressed in E. coli. Expression of rUCP1 can lower host's growth rate. Immuno-electron microscopy proved expressed rUCP1 was mainly located on membrane. Purified rUCP1 was reconstituted into liposome and exhibited proton translocation activity. These results revealed eukaryotic UCP1 could be expressed in active form by prokaryotes and enable us to obtain enough amount of rUCP1 for structural study.


©2003 British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery doi:10.1302/0301-620X.85B4.13411 $2.00 e compared patient satisfaction with surgeon satisfaction after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in a group of 193 patients (200 THAs, mean follow-up six years) using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and two objective and two subjective scoring systems. We also determined the survival rate with different endpoints. For the 121 hips available for clinical follow-up, we did not find a significant difference in satisfaction between patient and surgeon. In a subgroup with low patient satisfaction, the surgeon was more satisfied than the patient (p = 0.04). The correlation between the patient satisfaction VAS and the different subjective and objective scoring systems suggests that pain during activity is the most important factor for the patient. The survivorship at six years decreased from 96.6% to 83.7% if dissatisfaction (VAS >20) was added to revision as an endpoint in the survival analysis. The patient satisfaction VAS provides additional information to evaluate the outcome of THA. We recommend the use of both subjective and objective scoring systems to evaluate the outcome of THA.


The constraint force algorithm, as originally described by Fijany et al. (1995), calculates the forward dynamics of a system comprising N rigid bodies connected together in an unbranched chain with joints from a restricted class of joint types. It was designed for parallel calculation of the dynamics, and achieves O(log N) time complexity on O(N) processors. This paper presents a new formulation of the constraint force algorithm that corrects a major limitation in the original, and sheds new light on the relationship between this algorithm and other dynamics algorithms. The new version is applicable to systems with any type of joint, floating bases, and short branches off the main chain. It is obtained using a new technique for analysing constrained rigid-body systems by means of a change of basis in a dual system of vector spaces. This new technique is also described.


A discussion facilitated by Jason Magabo Perez, Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies at California State University (CSU), San Marcos. Featuring commentary and analysis of the statements of solidarity curated by Natchee Blu Barnd included in this issue.


We show an exponential gap between communication complexity and external information complexity, by analyzing a communication task suggested as a candidate by Braverman. Previously, only a separation of communication complexity and internal information complexity was known. More precisely, we obtain an explicit example of a search problem with external information complexity ≤ O(k), with respect to any input distribution, and distributional communication complexity ≥ 2k, with respect to some input distribution. In particular, this shows that a communication protocol cannot always be compressed to its external information. By a result of Braverman, our gap is the largest possible. Moreover, since the upper bound of O(k) on the external information complexity of the problem is obtained with respect to any input distribution, our result implies an exponential gap between communication complexity and information complexity (both internal and external) in the non-distributional setting of Braverman. In this setting, no gap was previously known, even for internal information complexity.


Cationic dye (methylene blue) and anionic dye (methyl orange) degradation in the coagulation process was demonstrated. The key material was a natural coagulant–laterite soil dominated by a silica component, while aluminum-ferric ions acted as an auxiliary agent in the degradation process. Charge neutralization, electrical double layer compression and sweeping flocculation were the mechanisms in the decolorization reaction. These results provided a new insight into effective dye degradation using a new class of natural coagulant–natural resources (laterite soil). The complex molecular structure of methylene blue and methyl orange was degraded into smaller hydrocarbon forms, accompanied by the formation of silsesquioxane. The silsesquioxane was the final product of degradation with promising flocculation and low volume sludge. Lastly, a comparison of the aluminum-based coagulant and a laterite soil natural coagulant shows a clear vision of the performance for both types of coagulant.


The objectives of this study were to examine associations between trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and learning experiences, on the one hand, and children's somatization symptoms, on the other hand. A sample of 190 nonclinical children completed the trait anxiety scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index, and the Children's Somatization Inventory, and were interviewed about learning experiences in relation to physical symptoms. Correlational and regression analyses indicated that trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and parents' anxiety-encouraging behaviours in relation to somatic symptoms were significantly positively associated with somatization. These results indicate that there might be common vulnerability factors in childhood anxiety and somatization symptoms.


Changes in tensile properties of A206 Al-Cu-Mg casting alloys containing trace amount of rare earth(RE) elements up to 0.2% were investigated and discussed in relation to the microstructural evolution. The A206 alloy with 0.1%RE shows higher values of ultimate tensile strength(UTS) and yield strength(YS) than A206 alloy at room and elevated temperatures up to 300oC, whereas no remarkable change is found in elongation with respect to RE addition. In view of X-ray diffractometry(XRD) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM), the improvement of tensile strength in the A206 alloy with 0.1%RE would be caused by higher number density of Al2Cu(q¢) strengthening precipitates.


Streptococcal and staphylococcal infections result in significant human morbidity and mortality. This study used a transgenic murine model expressing human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and human CD4 in which, without additional toxic sensitization, human-like responses to the bacterial superantigen (SAg) streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SpeA) could be simulated, as determined by studying multiple biologic effects of the SAgs in vivo. Expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ8 rendered the mice susceptible to SpeA-induced lethal shock that was accompanied by massive cytokine production and marked elevation of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase levels. Of importance, this model enabled examination of the efficacy of an engineered non-SAg vaccine candidate against SpeA in the context of HLA. This report is thought to be the first of a lethal shock triggered in mice by bacterial SAgs without prior sensitization and examination of a vaccine against streptococcal SAg in the context of human MHC receptors.


The field of implementation research (IR) is growing. However, there are no recognised IR core competencies in low/middle-income countries (LMICs), nor consistent curriculum across IR training programs globally. The goal of this effort is to develop a framework of IR core competencies for training programs in LMICs. The framework was developed using a mixed-methods approach consisting of two online surveys with IR training coordinators (n = 16) and academics (n = 89) affiliated with seven LMIC institutions, and a modified-Delphi process to evaluate the domains, competencies and proficiency levels included in the framework. The final framework comprised of 11 domains, 59 competencies and 52 sub-competencies, and emphasised competencies for modifying contexts, strengthening health systems, addressing ethical concerns, engaging stakeholders and communication especially for LMIC settings, in addition to competencies on IR theories, methods and designs. The framework highlights the interconnectedness of domains and competencies for IR and practice, and training in IR following the outlined competencies is not a linear process but circular and iterative, and starting points for training may vary widely by the project, institution and challenge being addressed. The framework established the need for a theory-based approach to identifying proficiency levels for IR competencies (ie, to determine proficiency levels for IR based on generalisable educational theories for competency-based education), and the relevance of various IR competencies for LMICs compared with high-income settings. This framework is useful for identifying and evaluating competencies and trainings, and providing direction and support for professional development in IR.


Related parties can readily manipulate transactions in ways that unfairly reduce their tax burdens relative to unrelated taxpayers. In the income tax arena, Congress has instituted numerous legislative measures to safeguard the tax base from related-taxpayer manipulations; yet, the same developed system of related-party safeguards does not extend to protect the transfer tax base. This analysis points out that this disparity has had a corrosive effect on the integrity of the transfer tax system. Indeed, insofar as the treatment of related parties is concerned, Congress should employ the same level of scrutiny and circumspection in the realm of transfer taxes as it does in the income tax. Reform of the transfer tax system is accordingly in order.


ABSTRACT: A patient with Congenital ichthyosis and progressive anomalies showed disturbances in the specific humoral and cellular defense as well as the presemce of atypical lymphoid cells in skin and lymph node. The latter resembled the atypical T cells found in mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. The possibility of the presence of either a cutaneous T cell lymphoma or unregulated T cell stimulation leading to concurrent immunodeficiency in this patient is discussed.


This work proposes a method of information integration based Cloud Computing. Users can ask for services through application layer, using the open source Hadoop and implementing medical image data storage and analysis. The functional level of this system is on the basis of service. In our experiments, using the MapReduce framework, efficiently implement the DCM format medical data convert to JPEG format picture. We are working on the function to directly read the medical data which is stored in PACS.


This paper describes and explores the design space of a mixed voltage swing methodology for lowering the energy per switching operation of digital circuits in standard submicron complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication processes. Employing mixed voltage swings expands the degrees of freedom available in the power-delay optimization space of static CMOS circuits. In order to study this design space and evaluate the power-delay tradeoffs, analytical polynomial formulations for power and delay of mixed swing circuits are derived and HSPICE simulation results are presented to demonstrate their accuracy. Efficient voltage scaling and transistor sizing techniques based on our analytical formulations are proposed for optimizing energy/operation subject to target delay constraints; up to 2.2/spl times/ improvement in energy/operation is demonstrated for an ISCAS'85 benchmark circuit using these techniques. Experimental results from HSPICE simulations and measurements from an And-Or-Invert (AO1222) test chip fabricated in the Hewlett-Packard 0.5 /spl mu/m process are presented to demonstrate up to 2,92/spl times/ energy/operation savings for optimized mixed swing circuits compared to static CMOS.


The aim of this investigation was to study crypt fission, a process which may be instrumental in regulating crypt number in the intestine. Young Holtzman rats were killed at various times after parturition and samples of the small intestine and colon were removed and processed. A microdissection technique was used to separate crypts from other structures. Crypts were scored as normal or fissioning. the percentage of crypts in fission (PCF) reached peak values of 25% and 52% in the small bowel and colon, respectively, at 21 days post‐parturition. From this time onward, the PCF dropped until the adult value of approximately 7% was reached in each site. During this same period, the number of crypts increased from 1.9 × 106 to 3.3 × 106 in the small bowel and 2.2 × 105 to 6.5 × 105 in the colon. Thus an inverse relationship between the percentage of crypts in fission and crypt number was found. Distribution of fissure heights in fissioning crypts did not change as the animal aged. the majority of the fissures were found in the lower 1/4 of the fissioning crypts. This suggests that as soon as the fissure extends beyond the stem cell zone, division into two crypts soon occurs.


Prior studies on perceptions of structural disadvantage and injustice, efficacy, and collective action have suffered from two major limitations: (1) they have used single country samples, usually of economically advanced countries, and (2) generally theorized and investigated perceptions of structural injustice and efficacy separately. Drawing on value-expectancy theory, we provide an integrated theory to predict direct and conditional effects of efficacy and perceptions of structural disadvantage and injustice on collective action within countries. To address the limitations of previous research, we use cross-national data of 29 countries, including economically advanced and less advanced nations, to test how well these hypotheses explain within-country variation in collective action. We find that internal efficacy is significantly and positively associated with low and moderate-cost collective action, whereas organizational embeddedness, a proxy for political efficacy, is significantly and positively associated with low-, moderate-, and high-cost collective action. Perceptions of legitimate and unjust structural disadvantage are also positively associated with all types of collective action. Importantly, the positive effects of both types of efficacy on high-cost collective action are conditional on perceptions of structural injustice. That is, participation in high-cost collective action is more likely for those who are both efficacious and perceive structural disadvantage as unjust.


The paper describes the development and policy environment of organic farming in the European Union, where organic farming has grown rapidly due to a variety of factors. Policy measures concerning area-based financial support for conversion to and continuation of organic farming, officially-recognized standards and support for market and regional development, advice and research are considered. This indicates that individual measures can also work against each other. In some countries, good experiences have been made with integrated action plans, an approach that is also being discussed at the European level and which could achieve a good basis for the development of organic farming in future.


Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the replicability and efficacy of several key success factors (KSFs) as identified in reward-based crowdfunding (RBC) literature through a South African based case study. The dramatic rise and omnipresence of platform-driven enterprises and citizen participation have altered the social and business landscape over the past decade. Crowdfunding in its modern-day form is a fundamental embodiment of these two movements showing significant growth worldwide. Despite this growth, the theoretical development of crowdfunding emanates from a limited nexus of research, causing a lack of diversity in utilised data and applied methodologies. This study was conducted in response to these perceived shortcomings. Design/methodology/approach: The research applied an inductive interpretivist research approach through data obtained from semi-structured interviews with 18 participants in a real-life RBC campaign in South Africa. Qualitative research techniques were utilised to analyse this data, including the researcher's field notes from the case. Findings/results: This study's findings suggested that current literature on crowdfunding can benefit from additional contributions emerging from studies utilising alternative data sources and diversified methodologies. Moreover, several findings from this study expand on existing theories relating to participant incentives, campaign characteristics and management practices are associated with KSFs. This emerged because of the context-specific nature of this study utilising the participants' viewpoints in favour of historical quantitative data. Practical implications: The findings provide reward-based crowdfunding practitioners deeper insight to key success factors which could influence campaign outcomes. Originality/value: These findings contribute new theoretical knowledge about KSFs and its ability to incentivise participation in RBC and present practical recommendations to future RBC designers.


Abstract The Buzzard oil field in the Outer Moray Firth, Central North Sea was discovered in 2001 and rapidly appraised during 2001–2002. Pre-production development drilling began in 2005 and the field was brought on stream in January 2007 by operator Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd. The Buzzard reservoir consists of Upper Jurassic deep marine turbidites within the Kimmeridge Clay Formation. Sands were derived from the shelf to the west and the resulting mass flow deposits were contained within a fault-bounded basin, whose margins were prone to mass wastage. The deposits pinchout to the west and thicken eastwards into the basin and hydrocarbon source kitchen. Following appraisal drilling, the high net-to-gross reservoir was interpreted as well connected. Interbedded shale layers were thought unlikely to control flow through the reservoir. However, a biostratigraphic review indicated that a consistent biostratigraphic event, indicative of reworking, could be identified field-wide. This shale layer is interpreted as a large-scale, muddy slump, extensive enough to form a significant vertical barrier to flow. Subsequent production data, modelling and chemostratigraphy studies suggest greater subdivision and vertical baffling within the main reservoir. Interpretation of these data has led to a move away from early models of Buzzard as a tank-like reservoir to a model dominated by compensationally stacked lobes, where hydraulic flow is influenced by sand body geometry and extensive shales. A comprehensive understanding of the Buzzard Field has only been possible through full integration of core, log and dynamic data, benefiting from a high density of well control, an extensive data acquisition programme and early reservoir monitoring. Ongoing reservoir management, involving continuous update of both the geological and dynamic models in response to new data, has enabled an evolving understanding of the Buzzard reservoirs, and placed the operator in an excellent position to proactively address future development challenges.


OBJECTIVES: To compare the ultrasonographic findings of entheses in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with those of healthy control individuals and to assess the ability of ultrasound (US) to identify aspects related to the disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 50 patients with AS and 30 healthy controls was performed. Clinical assessment included the use of a visual analog scale for pain, assessment of swelling of the enthesis, global assessments for patients and physician, use of a disease activity index, mobility and dysfunctional indices, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and clinical enthesitis index. US was performed for the following entheses by two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists: brachial triceps, distal quadriceps, proximal and distal patellar tendons, calcaneal tendon, and plantar fascia; the total and subitems of the Madrid Sonographic Enthesitis Index were used for evaluations. RESULTS: Comparison between groups showed a statistically significant difference with worse scores in AS patients, with bone erosion of the calcaneal enthesis and bone erosion and thickening of the plantar fascia. The odds ratio for thickening of the plantar fascia in the AS group was 3.47, according to logistic regression analysis. The AS group also had worse scores regarding the presence of calcification in the quadriceps enthesis, with a fivefold increased risk. CONCLUSION: US analysis showed that only entheses of the foot and quadriceps were able to differentiate AS patients from healthy individuals.


Non-monotonic reasoning is reasoning that will deny conclusions in the light of new evidence. This kind of reasoning is important for many common-sense phenomena. In particular it is useful in reasoning about change.
Circumscription is a common methodology for capturing non-monotonic inferences. I characterize its expressive power, and show how it can be extended to be more tolerant of new defaults and so that it can capture defaults that current versions of circumscription cannot express.
Examples from reasoning about action are used as the primary motivating tool.


Many publicity campaigns target young drivers. Close targeting of a group can reduce a campaign's impact. There is a trade-off between ?? the fewer people impacted, and ?? a greater impact on each group member. Despite their higher risk, young drivers are a minority of fatality involved drives. Demographic changes imply a further decline in this proportion. Target groups should be set so as to optimise resource use, which means a close interaction between those who define a road safety problem (based on crash data and research data) and those who design countermeasures.


In this study, polyamide 6 (PA6) / polypropylene (PP) blends were fabricated by high shear process technology as novel polymer process. Moreover, PA6/PP/glass fiber (GF) composite and PA6/PP/carbon fiber (CF) composite were prepared using novel polymer blends, and it was molded by hot press. Internal structure and morphology of PA6/PP blends were observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results of SEM and TEM observation were confirmed that PP domain in PA6 was micro- and nano-meter order were dispersed. In addition, nano-dispersion for the PP domain diameter was proceeded to a greater degree while stabilized by the addition of PP-g-MAH. Tensile and Izod impact tests revealed their mechanical properties of obtained polymer blends and its composites. Results showed the PA6/PP blends had higher breaking strain and impact resistance than that of neat PA6. However, PA6/PP blends were fabricated under a certain condition of excessive high-shear rotation. These blends showed considerably lower breaking strain and yield strength. PA6/PP/GF and PA6/PP/CF composites also showed higher bending modulus and bending strength than that of neat PA6.


A visual target was mloved left and right in exact synchrony with vertical movements of the head. A few minutes' exposure to this novel head-movement feedback led to a change in the visual discrimlination of head movement from object movement. The critical factor in the adaptation is the novel correlation of eye and head movement elicited during the period of exposure.


A cutting-edge reappraisal of Wilkins and his achievement, featuring ten studies covering all aspects of Wilkins's career as an influential natural philosopher, theologian, and statesman.


The evaluation of interdisciplinary research is complicated by ambiguity about what interdisciplinarity is and what it should be. The question is topical, as evaluation plays an important role in how science is being shaped and changed today. The chapter performs a meta-analysis of the concept of interdisciplinarity in research evaluation, and gives an epistemic account of what would be involved in such evaluations. First, we discuss the various ways interdisciplinarity can add value to the disciplinary organization of academia and their respective implications for research evaluation. Second, we provide tools for mapping and measuring these value-added properties and illustrate what kind of evidence they can convey to research evaluations. The combined examination of values and indicators allows us to gain a more differentiated understanding of what exactly to look at when evaluating interdisciplinary research – and more generally, how to design research evaluations from an interdisciplinary point of view.


The taxonomy of the finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides), while better-studied than that of many species of small cetaceans, still suffers from some uncertainties and a general lack of data from most of the range. In this study, skull morphometric and meristic data were collected from 218 specimens from throughout the range of the species. Bivariate and multivariate Principal Components Analyses (PCA) were used to examine the sample for geographic variation. Results indicated that there is a great deal of geographic variation in the size and shape of skulls of porpoises from different areas. The two primary types of finless porpoise found in tropical and temperate waters showed some separation in both the PCA and rostrum shape analyses (but with some overlap in all features analyzed). However, there was not strong support from skull morphology for their distinctness at the species level. The temperate form, asiaeorientalis-type, is found in coastal and riverine waters of Japan, Korea, and northern China. It is relatively large (total length up to 227 cm and adult CBL 209-251 mm), with a narrow dorsal ridge « 1.3 cm), a relatively narrow rostrum, and adult coloration ranging from black to light gray. The tropical form, phocaenoides-type, occurs in the Indian Ocean (including the Persian Gulf) and South China Sea. Some populations of the latter are small (perhaps not exceeding 160 cm total length), and adult CBL ranges from 181-245 mm. It has a wide dorsal ridge (> 3.4 cm), relatively wide rostrum, and dark-gray adult coloration. Two geographic populations were recognized within the asiaeorientalis-type, and three within the phocaenoides-type. Further work, especially analyses of skulls from unstudied portions of the range, systematic studies on dorsal ridge width, and molecular genetics, are needed to clarify taxonomic relationships and to identify stocks for management.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to design a numerical model to calculate the individual evacuation time among secondary students based on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP), human characteristics and travel distances.

Design/methodology/approach
Validated KAP questionnaires were distributed among 290 respondents. The KAP level was obtained based on the assigned scores. During a fire drill, the individual evacuation time was calculated by using personal digital watch while the travel distances were recorded and measured. A linear numerical model was derived by using multiple linear regression to identify the significant variables and the coefficients.

Findings
The CVI, CVR and Cronbach's α value (0.75, 0.59 and 0.7, respectively) which are greater than minimum accepted level proved the reliability and consistency of the instrument. The evacuation time prediction by the developed numerical model showed strong correlation with the actual time (R=0.95). The regression analysis found that 89 per cent proportion of variance in the evacuation time are determined by the predictors. Based on the linear equation, it found that the decrease in weight, knowledge level and walking speed while increase in BMI, flat and stair travel distances could increase evacuation time. From the six significant variables, weight, walking speed, flat and stair distances showed significant correlation in the model with p<0.001, while BMI and knowledge showed p<0.05. The integration with mobility factors expand the formula which applicable within dynamic fire scenario.

Research limitations/implications
The involvement of examination students in the study is restricted by the Ministry of Education Malaysia to avoid interruption of learning session which limited the data representation.

Originality/value
Instead of using the traditional direct measurement of the evacuation time, the developed numerical model is an alternative convenient approach which could be used as one of the pre-assessment tool to identify the level of safety among students. The low cost and shorter time application of this model become one of the greatest advantages compared to other available approaches. The calculated individual evacuation time could be used directly to develop a better fire safety policy.


Carbon dioxide capture using Amine functionalized carbonaceous materials from biorefinery waste streams Emmanuel Atta-Obeng One of the greatest challenges in the world today is to replace exhaustible fossil fuel resources with renewable alternatives that will satisfy the increasing worldwide energy and chemical demands in a sustainable way. Using renewable precursors has a low impact on environmental health since it reduces pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and limits global warming and problems associated with waste management. Lignocellulosic biomass is the most available feedstock for developing sustainable chemicals and energy. A major challenge to the efficiency of the forest biorefinery industry is lack of suitable technologies for the conversion of its waste or byproducts (lignin and hemicelluloses) into value-added products. In this research, lignin was hydrothermally treated at different temperatures, and the resulting carbonaceous materials (CMs) were functionalized with amine groups to capture carbon dioxide (CO2). Experimental measurements and characterization techniques were used to evaluate optimum temperature for the hydrothermal treatment of lignin. The yield of CMs decreased with increasing temperature. Thermal degradation analysis showed that at 350°C, a more carbonaceous material was formed, which showed more coal-like features. This was further supported by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Scanning electron micrographs of the CMs also showed both open and closed vesicles after hydrothermal carbonization. The chemical transformations occurring during hydrothermal carbonization of lignin was investigated. Overall, major structural changes in the HP-LTM lignin only occurred after 300°C. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that bands due to lignin functionalities disappeared at 350°C. Deconvolution and peak analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed the evolution of a more condensed structure characterized by aromatic C when temperature reached 350°C. Lignin remained relatively unchanged up until 350°C where significant aromatization occurs. Based on the above characterizations, a mechanism for HTC was suggested. Activated samples were functionalized with polyethylenimine (PEI) at different loadings to evaluate their synergistic effect in capturing CO2. Activation improved to surface area from 2.8 m2/g to 1341 m2/g. The highest CO2 uptake (2 mmolg-1) was attained by samples loaded with 5% PEI after which sorption capacity decreased with increasing PEI loadings. This was ascribed to blockage of the micropores in the activated samples during PEI impregnation. Also, activated samples showed faster adsorption kinetics compared with PEI functionalized activated samples. Lastly, the hydrothermal treatment (HTT) or carbonization (HTC) of three commercial types of lignin to carbonaceous materials was also investigated. SEM analysis showed that hydrothermally derived carbonaceous materials from Mascoma lignin contained spherical particles with diameters ranging from 50 to 250 nm whereas that from ammonium and sodium ligno-sulfonate lignins contained similar particles but were highly agglomerated. The better characteristics of the postHTC Mascoma carbon vis-a`-vis post-HTC ammonium and sodium carbons are also evident in the results obtained from XRD, TGA and FTIR analysis. It is possible to produce carbonaceous materials from low-value commercial lignins via HTC and their properties are influenced by the type of lignin.


The Adaptive Neuro‐Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is proposed to simulate and analyze the mapping between the physical properties of tactile textures and people's affective responses. People were asked to rate the tactile feeling of 37 tactile textures against six pairs of adjectives on a semantic differential questionnaire. The friction coefficient, average roughness, compliance, and a thermal parameter of each tactile texture were measured. ANFIS models were built to predict the affective responses to tactile textures. The resulting ANFIS models demonstrated a good match between predicted and actual responses, and always yielded better performance when compared to linear and exponential regression models. The effects of physical properties of textures on affective responses were also analyzed by simulating the synthetic data with ANFIS. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Intelligent methods in technology of web-based e-government help citizens in many areas of theirs life. The construction and subsequent use of such systems is in the status of low-level accumulation of experiential knowledge which is contrary to the requesttopic time and many documents that establish the strategy of development in this area, like EU i2010 strategy. Model for Web-based multi-attribute decision support with the appropriate algorithm is the subject of discussing of this paper.


Alternative pre-mRNA splicing is often controlled by cell signals, for example, those activating the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) or the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV). We have shown that CaMKIV regulates alternative splicing through short CA repeats and hnRNP L. Here we use a splicing reporter that shows PKA/CaMKIV promotion of exon inclusion to select from exons containing random 13-nt sequences for RNA elements responsive to the kinases in cultured cells. This selection not only identified both PKA- and CaMKIV-responsive elements that are similar to the CaMKIV-responsive RNA element 1 (CaRRE1) or CA repeats, but also A-rich elements not previously known to respond to these kinases. Consistently, hnRNP L is identified as a factor binding the CA-rich elements. Analyses of the motifs in the highly responsive elements indicate that they are indeed critical for the kinase effect and are enriched in alternative exons. Interestingly, a CAAAAAA motif is sufficient for the PKA/CaMKIV-regulated splicing of the exon 16 of the CaMK kinase β1 (CaMKK2) transcripts, implying a role of this motif in signaling cross-talk or feedback regulation between these kinases through alternative splicing. Therefore, these experiments identified a group of RNA elements responsive to PKA and CaMKIV from in vivo selection. This also provides an approach for selecting RNA elements similarly responsive to other cell signals controlling alternative splicing.


Although many authors emphasise the differences and potential confl icts between productdesign and marketing, there appears to be a disagreement in how to handle suchdifferences and confl icts within organisations. This paper presents a novel and generalmodel that focuses on how different practices relating to design (self-oriented or commerciallyoriented) and marketing (product-oriented or market-oriented/customer-led) maybe combined, and discusses the coordination of marketing and design when combiningthese practices. By introducing such a general model, this paper contributes with a newperspective on tensions and synergies that exist between design and marketing.


This guide includes resources licensed by Countway Library, links to apps from HMS IT and recommended titles that are freely available. Drug information mobile apps


: There is a tremendous development in networking technologies with on demand quality of services in cloud environment Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, shared resources such as software, hardware and infrastructure are provided to computers and other devices as a metered service through a network. cloud computing provides computation, software, storage resources and data access, in which cloud users are without knowing to the location and other details of the computing infrastructure. In cloud research study reveals that there is a problem in security management and privacy services. To overcome this privacy problem there is a new technique known as multifactor authentication, and trusted third party auditing. For avoiding security issues there is a technique as erasure correcting coded data. That is error detection and correction (identification of misbehaving server). In this paper we propose a novel forward error correcting code algorithm as Raptor Code in which linear encode and decode can be done. This raptor code drastically reduces the communication and storage overhead as compared to the traditional replication-based file distribution techniques.


Background and aims: Patient Decision Aids are specially designed information resources that help people make decisions about difficult healthcare options. The aim of this review was to examine the impact of decision aids in patients with prostate cancer screening. Methods: Embase, PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and reference list of the included studies were searched without year and language restriction through July 2016. Two independent reviewers checked studies for quality and eligibility and finally extracted the data. We used comprehensive meta-analysis software version 2 (CMA 2.0) for analysing the data. Results: Seven randomized controlled trials and well-designed quasi-experimental studies with total number of 5195 were included in the meta-analysis. The quality of included studies was faired. The overall mean quality score for the 7 included studies was 3.2 out of 5 (SD=0.87). Decision aids show better impact on decrease interest in prostate-specific antigen testing and screening behaviour among patients seeking routine care (M-H RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.76), proportion of people who were passive in decision making (M-H RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.96) and proportion of people who remained undecided post-intervention (M-H RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.84). Conclusion: According to the results, decision Aids resulted in significant benefit over usual care in patients with prostate cancer screening.


1. Octopuses after removal of the lip kill and eat crabs apparently normally. They learn to attack a strange figure moving in the visual field. 2. The pair of nerves that originates from cells at the back of the superior buccal lobe is shown to be responsible for the discharge of secretion from the posterior salivary glands. If this pair of nerves is interrupted the octopus does not poison a crab after catching it. It still eats, however, and learns to attack a strange figure. 3. If both interbuccal connectives have been severed the octopus does not remove the flesh properly from crabs. It does not learn to attack a strange figure. 4. Any operation on the central nervous system that interrupts the pathway from the interbuccal connectives to the lateral superior frontal and optic lobes prevents learning to attack a figure that has been seen. 5. If such cuts pass through the middle of the superior buccal lobe the animal does not poison crabs or completely remove the flesh from their exoskeletons. 6. If the cut is through the back of the superior buccal lobe the octopus does not poison crabs but may tear them open and then clean and eat them. 7. With cuts still farther back the animal poisons, cleans and eats crabs, but still does not learn to attack.


The bioavailability and central side effects of five carbamazepine tablets with different rates of absorption were investigated in nine healthy volunteers in a randomized cross-over study using single doses of 400 mg. There were seven-fold differences in the peak times (Tmax), 1.5-fold differences in the peak serum concentrations (Cmax) but no significant differences in the total bioavailability (AUC0-96 h) of these tablets. On the tablets with the slowest absorption the serum concentrations were still, 24 h after the ingestion, more than 90% of the Cmax. Central side effects (dizziness, ataxia) were significantly (p less than 0.01) more common when a brand of tablets with a rapid absorption was used. These tablets were characterized by a rapid dissolution in vitro in 0.1 N HCl. The total bioavailability of carbamazepine does not decrease despite moderate prolongation of the absorption phase. The pure AUC-data alone are inadequate to characterize the clinical equivalency of carbamazepine products. Formulations with a slow absorption may be preferable: central side effects are less common and serum concentrations more constant.


Existing research provides no systematic insights into if and how mediation impedes battle-related deaths. Therefore, this article presents a temporally disaggregated analysis and assesses the effect of mediation on monthly fatal violence. The article predicts that adversaries evaluate opponents' trustworthiness from both fighting and negotiation behavior. It argues that reducing fighting intensity during negotiations is a sign of cooperation, which can be negotiated by mediators to build trust. Over the course of mediation, the content of negotiations provides information about how genuinely a conflict party is interested in conflict resolution. Only if mediation achieves negotiation of core incompatibilities will conflict parties be willing to reduce fighting intensity. Under these conditions, information revealed in a mediation process can build trust and substantively reduce violence. An empirical analysis of all African conflicts between 1993 and 2007 supports this prediction and shows that on average mediation is followed by substantive and lasting reductions in fatal violence, if mediation discusses the conflict's main incompatibility. In contrast, mediation on other topics is associated with a small, fleeting reduction in violence. Data of battle-related fatalities in Syria during negotiations as well as qualitative evidence further support the theoretical mechanism and the model prediction. The study concludes that mediation can reduce conflict intensity substantively, if it achieves exchange between conflict parties on the main conflict issues.


What this research intends to find will be beneficial for various groups. Knowing how the Constitution Trail is impacting the adjacent property values is important for the city-planning department, because for future expansions and potential new trail projects, they will be able to make better use of land spaces to work with property owners as well as gaining necessary supports from the public. For property owners and renters, they will have a more clear understanding of how their properties are affected by the trails.


Following the 2015 refugee crisis in Europe, numerous civil society initiatives were started to help resettle families and individuals who were fleeing conflicts in the Middle East. In France, where refugee reception has tended to be administered by the State and state-sponsored NGOs, new forms of collective sponsorship of refugees are being encouraged by the government, particularly in small towns and rural areas, where infrastructures for reception and housing are non-existent. This presentation will focus of local citizen networks and their efforts to resettle refugees. Drawing on fieldwork findings from several rural municipalities, it discusses how this work at the local level, which often is focused on humanitarian support, can come at odds with expectations for integration and public policies and procedures regarding migrants and refugees at the State level.


BACKGROUND
Knowledge of autoimmune hemolytic anemia is rapidly increasing, especially on pathogenesis, associated disorders and aspects of transfusion immunology. New treatment options have emerged.

MATERIAL AND METHOD
This review is based on selected publications, a non-systematic search in PubMed and the authors' own research.

RESULTS
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a heterogeneous group of diseases. The warm-antibody type is frequently associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or autoimmune systemic disease. Corticosteroids are still the first-line therapy and splenectomy is second-line, while rituximab has become an option in refractory disease. Blood transfusions require specific precautions such as restrictive use, extensive phenotyping of antigens and testing for alloantibodies and biological compatibility. Primary chronic cold agglutinin disease, a subgroup of cold-antibody autoimmune hemolytic anemia, is a clonal lymphoproliferative bone marrow disease. This subgroup is usually refractory to corticosteroids and patients with few clinical symptoms and slight anemia may not require drug therapy. However, in a majority, effective drugs are needed. The best documented therapy is infusions with rituximab, but new options are being tested. Immune hemolytic anemia associated with drugs occurs less frequently now than before.

INTERPRETATION
Subgroups and associated or underlying disease should be identified in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The therapeutic implications of subclassification are important. Patients who have cold agglutinin disease and need therapy should be included in prospective trials.


During the 1960s and 1970s, Texas was rocked by a series of political transitions. Despite its century-long heritage of solidly Democratic politics, the state became a Republican stronghold virtually overnight, and by 1980 it was known as 'Reagan Country'. Ultimately, Republicans dominated the Texas political landscape, holding all twenty-seven of its elected offices and carrying former governor George W. Bush to his second term as president with more than 61 percent of the Texas vote. Sean P. Cunningham examines the remarkable history of Republican Texas in Cowboy Conservatism: Texas and the Rise of the Modern Right. Utilizing extensive research drawn from the archives of four presidential libraries, gubernatorial papers, local campaign offices, and oral histories, Cunningham presents a compelling narrative of the most notable regional genesis of modern conservatism. Spanning the decades from Kennedy's assassination to Reagan's presidency, Cunningham reveals a vivid portrait of modern conservatism in one of the nation's largest and most politically powerful states. The newest title in the "New Directions in Southern History" series, "Cowboy Conservatism" demonstrates Texas' distinctive and vital contributions to the transformation of postwar American politics.


Data shows residential energy consumption constituting a significant portion of the overall energy end use in the European Union (EU), ranging between 15% and 30%. Furthermore, the EU's dependency on foreign fossil fuel-based energy imports has been steadily increasing since 1993, constituting approximately 60% of its primary energy. This paper provides an analytical review of diverse residential building/energy policies in targeted EU countries, to shed insight on the impact of such policies and measures on the energy use and efficiency trends. Accordingly, the adoption of robust residential green and energy efficient building policies in the EU has increased in the past decade. Moreover, the data from the EU energy efficiency and consumption databases attributes 44% of total energy savings since 2000 to energy upgrades and improvements within the residential sector. Consequently, many EU countries and organizations are continuously evaluating residential building energy consumption patterns to increase the sector's overall energy performance. To that end, the energy efficiency gains in EU households were measured at 1% in 2000 compared to 27.8% in 2016, a 2600% increase. Accordingly, 36 policies have been implemented successfully since 1991 across the EU targeting improvements in residential energy efficiency and reductions in the energy use. Moreover, the adoption of National Energy Efficiency Actions Plans (NEEACP) across the EU has been a major driver of energy savings and energy efficiency. Most energy efficiency plans have followed a holistic multi-dimensional approach targeting the following areas, legislative actions, financial incentives, fiscal tax exemptions, and public education and awareness programs and campaigns. These measures and policy instruments have cumulatively generated significant energy savings and measurable improvements in the energy performance across the EU since their inception. As a result, the EU residential energy consumption trends show a consistent decrease over the past decade. The purpose of this analysis is to explore, examine, and compare the various green building and energy-related policies in the EU, highlighting some of the more robust and progressive aspects of such policies. Lastly, the paper analyzes the multiple policies and guidelines across targeted EU nations.


Dental trauma is one of the most common childhood incidents that leads to the damage or loss of deciduous and permanent teeth. One of the most challenging types of dental trauma is horizontal root fracture (HRF). In this case report, a central maxillary incisor with horizontal root fracture had been treated by the conservative approach of splinting the tooth and follow-up. In the initial evaluation, the tooth had a normal appearance and did not respond to either the cold test or electric pulp tester. After 4 weeks, the tooth was sensitive to the cold test; however, showed discolouration. After 4 months, discolouration disappeared and the tooth had a positive response to pulp sensibility tests. The tooth remained asymptomatic with a positive response to pulp sensitivity tests up to 15 months following the treatment.


The Internet has revolutionized the communication paradigm. This has led towards immense amount of unstructured data (i.e. textual data), which is a major source to get useful knowledge about people in several application domains. TM (Text Mining) extracts high quality information to discover knowledge by drawing patterns and relationships in textual data. This field has taken great attention of the research community. As a result, several attempts have been made to propose, introduce and refine techniques applied for uncovering knowledge from text data. This study aims at: (1) presenting existing TM techniques in the scientific literature, (2) reporting challenges/issues and gaps that still need attention, and (3) proposing a framework to bring shape to textual data. A prototype has been developed to demonstrate the effectiveness and potential worth of proposed approach to display how unstructured data (i.e. news articles in this study) has been brought to a shape representing interesting knowledge. The proposed framework implements basic NLP (Natural Language Processing) functions in combination of AYLIEN API (Application Programming Interface) functions. The results reveal the fact that how events, celebrities and popular news-items have been covered in the electronic media, and it also represents subjectivity of topical news events. The news coverage trends highlight the significance of daily news events, which may assist in getting insight about the media groups.


Abstract In 1715, Louis XIV received Mohammad Reza Beg, an ambassador from distant Persia in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. The aging monarch greeted the ambassador in a suit encrusted with diamonds, a costume worthy of an Oriental potentate. The Beg and his entourage were no less splendid and the similarity between the Frenchmen and the Persian must have struck some viewers. King and ambassador played roles in a common drama—the ambassadorial visit—and they had more in common than one might expect. Thanks to the memoirs in manuscript of the introducteur des ambassadeurs, Baron de Breteuil, we know that the French worked hard to cooperate with the Beg despite cultural differences. After all, Breteuil and the Beg shared the goal of projecting the grandeur of their respective monarchies. This common ambition resulted in clashes of precedence between the French and Persian representatives, similar to those that occurred between European powers. This article suggests that "Orientalism" and cultural conflict did not necessarily shape the French response to the Persians. Rather, common diplomatic interests that transcended cultural differences underlay the encounter between West and East.