We present a new program tool for interactive 3D visualization of some fundamental algorithms for representation and manipulation of Bézier curves. The program tool has an option for demonstration of one of their most important applications - in graphic design for creating letters by means of cubic Bézier curves. We use Java applet and JOGL as our main visualization techniques. This choice ensures the platform independency of the created applet and contributes to the realistic 3D visualization. The applet provides basic knowledge on the Bézier curves and is appropriate for illustrative and educational purposes. Experimental results are included.


An examination was conducted of 45 healthy individuals 23 to 28 years of age who received nitroglycerine sublingually in a dose of 0.5 mg (15 persons) and by intravenous drip for one hour in doses of 3, 10, and 20 mg (groups of ten persons). It was shown that the drug had no essential effect on the rate of cardiac contractions and the diastolic arterial pressure. The systolic arterial pressure decreased with the increase of the nitroglycerine dose. The trend and the severity of changes in central hemodynamics were, in most cases, inversely dependent on the volume of cardiac ejection and did not depend on the dose and route of administration of the drug. With a cardiac index of 3 to 5.5 1/min/m2, this index in 71% of individuals reduced by 26% on the average. With an initial cardiac index of 2 to 2.9 1/min/m2, in 63% of individuals this index increased by 27% on the average. The authors distinguish three types of the reaction of hemodynamics to the administration of nitroglycerine: hypo-, hyper-, and eucardiac.


Methaemoglobin results from the oxidation of ferrous to ferric iron in the centre of the haem moiety of haemoglobin. The production of dose‐dependent methaemoglobinaemia by 8‐aminoquinoline antimalarial drugs appears to be associated with, but is not directly linked to, therapeutic efficacy against latent Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale malarias (radical cure). Iatrogenic methaemoglobinaemia may be a useful pharmacodynamic measure in 8‐aminoquinoline drug and dose optimization.


This paper examines the economic effects of investment in developing and introducing Almond Late Flowering Cultivars (ALFC) in a period of 52 years from 1968 to 2020, developed in Sahand Horticultural Research Station (SHRS), using the economic surplus model and field survey data. ALFC make almond supply curve move less to the left when there is a chilling case, thus affect the economic surplus of producers and consumers. Results showed that because of ALFC, economic surplus of producers and consumers had been increased about 0.4 and 0.6 million US Dollars, respectively that the share of consumers from benefits was 58 percent. The social net present value of ALFC regarding to the cost of research and extension was about 0.1 million US Dollars. It was identified that the internal rate of return in developing and introducing of ALFC had been about 11%. The findings expressed that if the research investment in ALFC could keep the position of almond supply curve unchanged unless the weather conditions, then the economic surplus of producers and consumers would decreased 3 and 4.2 million US Dollars less annually, respectively and internal rate of return in almond research would be 33 %. Comparing the results showed that the introduction of late flowering cultivars could reduce the loss only 4 % per hectare. The results illustrated that investment in R&E of almond could make supply curve shift less in chilling situation because of decrease in cultivation cost, but it is necessary to enhance almond yield too. The findings identify that the efficiency of current system of R&E for almond is low. So it is a necessity to find ways for make better the R&E performance in Iran.


Although there is a broad assumption that using an adaptive management framework in conservation leads to improved conservation efficiency, effectiveness, and impact, there is little robust and consolidated evidence supporting this hypothesis. The Conservation Standards Effectiveness & Impact Learning Initiative aimed to investigate what evidence exists to verify that increased adoption of "good" conservation practice leads to more successful conservation projects. We developed a theory of change documenting the intermediate results we were expecting to be achieved following the successful adoption of an adaptive management framework. Data collected in an evidence library was linked to key results along the theory of change to assess the quality and quantity of evidence that exists, and generic indicators, possible methods and tools associated with results along the theory of change were identified. Through this initiative, we have an increased understanding of the positive outcomes that may result following the adoption of an adaptive management framework. Although the availability of empirical evidence is limited, we recognize the value of anecdotal data and continue to support the sharing of personal observations and testimonies to build the evidence base. However, considering the most-commonly identified barriers, such as the time and financial investment, associated with transitioning to a framework like the Conservation Standards, there is an urgency to collect robust, empirical evidence to prove that the use of an adaptive management framework is likely to lead to increased conservation impact.


The research investigates individual human resource capacity building for local governance within the context of decentralised human resource management in Thailand by profoundly examining its current implementation of recruitment, selection, training and development and performance management after the decentralisation policy was enacted. The human resource capacity building process in this research includes five stages of core capabilities building: committing and engaging, performing and accomplishing, building relationships and attracting resources, learning and adapting and managing trade-offs and dilemmas. The research firstly focuses on examining the consequences of decentralised human resource practices implementation in Thai local governance. Secondly, it aims to explore the ways in which human resource practices are supportive to individual human resource capacity building. Finally it proposes the prospective implications of effective capacity building through human resource practices for potential policy formulation. This research is based on three related theories: capacity building, human resource management and decentralisation. The research was conducted by using qualitative methodologies. The case study of Thailand was selected because of the uniqueness of its paradoxical decentralised-Unitarian state. Municipal officials were chosen as the unit of analysis. The first findings have illustrated that the decentralisation initiative has certainly affected the HRM at the local level of Thailand. However, this scheme has launched some degree of re-centralisation and partially confirms the pseudo-decentralisation in Thai public administration. Secondly, the research also found that HR practices can be supportive and compatible as a capacity building strategies. However, these HR practices must be designed, conducted and evaluated for the purposes of the local government only. The aim of capacitating individual staff must be taken into account as a part of policy to develop the human side of the organisation. Therefore, there have been both challenges and opportunities for human resource capacity building through HR practices. To conclude, this research has contributed to fill the theoretical gap by examining the capacity building processes through HR practices and it provides the practical suggestion that local context is decisive. The capacity building issue has never been investigated through human resource practices, especially recruitment and selection, training and development and performance management. Moreover, in practice, the research has focused on the development of the local government unit in a country of paradoxically decentralised-Unitarian state like Thailand.


Ultra short pulse lasers are increasingly employed for fiber grating inscription. They allow for the realization of very resilient gratings in non photo sensitive fibers, in particular rare earth doped fibers. With this approach fiber gratings can be inscribed largely independent of the fiber geometry: Large cross-section fiber Bragg gratings can be realized, which cover the whole core of a fiber and its surrounding cladding as well as highly localized FBG which only affect a small part of the core. This thesis explores the resulting possibilities for tailoring the spectral response of few and multi-mode fiber gratings as well as coupling to cladding modes.


An alternative procedure is described for the synthesis of 2-substituted perimidines involving the reaction of 1,8-diaminonapthalene with iminoester hydrochlorides of substituted phenylacetic acids under microwave irradiation. This leads to good yields in short reaction times. The results were compared with those that used conventional heating. This new method may be preferable for the synthesis of perimidines.


We present a study of the impact of a bright quasar on the redshifted 21cm signal during the Epoch of Reionization (EoR). Using three different cosmological radiative transfer simulations, we investigate if quasars are capable of substantially changing the size and morphology of the H II regions they are born in. We choose stellar and quasar luminosities in a way that is favourable to seeing such an effect. We find that even the most luminous of our quasar models is not able to increase the size of its native H II region substantially beyond those of large H II regions produced by clustered stellar sources alone. However, the quasar H II region is found to be more spherical. We next investigate the prospects of detecting such H II regions in the redshifted 21cm data from the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) by means of a matched filter technique. We find that H II regions with radii ~ 25 comoving Mpc or larger should have a sufficiently high detection probability for 1200 hours of integration time. Although the matched filter can in principle distinguish between more and less spherical regions, we find that when including realistic system noise this distinction can no longer be made. The strong foregrounds are found not to pose a problem for the matched filter technique. We also demonstrate that when the quasar position is known, the redshifted 21cm data can still be used to set upper limits on the ionizing photon rate of the quasar. If both the quasar position and its luminosity are known, the redshifted 21 cm data can set new constrains on quasar lifetimes.


Background: Low back pain is one of the global health issues which prevalence is high among productive ages. It oftentimes corresponds with one's physical activity during work . The purpose of this study was to determine theprevalence and characteristics of low back pain among productive age population in Jatinangor, West Java, Indonesia. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted during the period of August to October 2014 in the three villages in Jatinangor, West Java, Indonesia. In order to determine the demographic data and history of low back pain in the last three months, about 1075 productive age populations were selected through validated questionnaire as the secondary data. These data consisting of 310 subjects were then described according to the pain characteristics and physical activity during work. Results: During three months of examination, s the prevalence of low back pain was 38.4%, with the average age 50–59 years old. Furthermore, about 22.3% subjects were indicated chronic low back pain. The most prevalent qseverity of the pain was dull pain (29.4%), followed with pins and needles pain (23.1%), As the intensity of the pain increased, there was a tendency of increasing interference in daily activities. Static posture was also the most frequent physical activity during work (53.2%). Conclusions: The prevalence of low back pain is more than one third (38.4%) among productive age populations in Jatinangor, West Java, Indonesia.[AMJ.2016;3(3):468–75] DOI: 10.15850/amj.v3n3.863


Biodegradable elastomers have a number of potential applications in the biomedical area, especially in the emerging field of soft-tissue engineering where the mechanical properties of the polymer scaffold should match those of the tissue to be grown. An increasing number of synthesis strategies have been employed in order to prepare such elastomers. In this review, these synthesis strategies and the properties of these elastomers are outlined. The factors that influence the characteristics of these elastomers including mechanical properties, degradation rate, and mechanical property change during degradation, are discussed in terms of the design of the elastomer and their advantages and disadvantages for the biomedical applications considered.


Secondary users (SUs) can flexibly access licensed channels to improve the spectrum utilization in cognitive radio networks (CRNs). In mobile cognitive radio ad hoc networks (MCRAHNs) where nodes can move, SUs are intermittently connected because of node mobility, as well as the uncertain channel availability. Providing multicast services in MCRAHNs is urgently needed with the compelling demand on service qualities and varieties, and the proliferation of cognitive technology. The benefits of network coding over multicast in traditional wireless networks or CRNs have been well demonstrated in existing works. However, the existing studies merely address the two crucial issues (i.e., uncertain channel availability and node mobility) together and, thereby, cannot be applied to network coding-based multicast in MCRAHNs. In this paper, we study the problem of network coding-based multicast in MCRAHNs considering both channel uncertainty and node mobility. We utilize discrete-time Markov chains to model the channel availability and node mobility in MCRAHNs, and we then formulate a spectrum-aware network coded multicast problem as an optimization problem, which minimizes the total transmission cost, subject to the timely successful delivery constraint and link transmission constraint. Since the formulated problem is hard to tackle according to mixed integer programing, we further design a distributed spectrum-aware cost-based (SACB) scheme based on the metric of forwarding benefit. With extensive simulations based on both synthetic and realistic traces, we show that, compared with existing schemes, SACB can achieve almost the minimum transmission cost while maintaining high multicast success probability.


RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE
Higher urine net acid excretion (NAE) is associated with slower chronic kidney disease progression, particularly in patients with diabetes mellitus. To better understand potential mechanisms and assess modifiable components, we explored independent predictors of NAE in the CRIC (Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort) Study.

STUDY DESIGN
Cross-sectional.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS
A randomly selected subcohort of adults with chronic kidney disease enrolled in the CRIC Study with NAE measurements.

PREDICTORS
A comprehensive set of variables across prespecified domains including demographics, comorbid conditions, medications, laboratory values, diet, physical activity, and body composition.

OUTCOME
24-hour urine NAE.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH
NAE was defined as the sum of urine ammonium and calculated titratable acidity in a subset of CRIC participants. 22 individuals were excluded for urine pH < 4 (n = 1) or ≥7.4 (n = 19) or extreme outliers of NAE values (n = 2). From an analytic sample of 978, we identified the association of individual variables with NAE in the selected domains using linear regression. We estimated the percent variance explained by each domain using the adjusted R2 from a domain-specific model.

RESULTS
Mean NAE was 33.2 ± 17.4 (SD) mEq/d. Multiple variables were associated with NAE in models adjusted for age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), race/ethnicity, and body surface area, including insulin resistance, dietary potential renal acid load, and a variety of metabolically active medications (eg, metformin, allopurinol, and nonstatin lipid agents). Body size, as indicated by body surface area, body mass index, or fat-free mass; race/ethnicity; and eGFR also were independently associated with NAE. By domains, more variance was explained by demographics, body composition, and laboratory values, which included eGFR and serum bicarbonate level.

LIMITATIONS
Cross-sectional; use of stored biological samples.

CONCLUSIONS
NAE relates to several clinical domains including body composition, kidney function, and diet, but also to metabolic factors such as insulin resistance and the use of metabolically active medications.


Introduction to Cryptography with Java Applets covers the mathematical basis of cryptography and cryptanalysis, like linear diophantine equations, linear congruences, systems of linear congruences, quadratic congruences, and exponential congruences. The chapters present theorems and proofs, and many mathematical examples. Cryptography with Java Applets also covers programming ciphers and cryptanalytic attacks on ciphers. In addition many other types of cryptographic applications, like digest functions, shadows, database encryption, message signing, establishing keys, large integer arithmetic, pseudo-random bit generation, and authentication are included. The author has developed various Java crypto classes to perform these functions, and many programming exercises are assigned to the reader. The reader should be someone with a basic working knowledge of Java, but knowledge of number theory or cryptography is not necessary.


Stratified residential property management, one of the sub-sectors of the real estate industry in Malaysia, has been facing the pressures as the awareness amongst buildings occupiers of effective management has increased. In line with recent literature on the increasing awareness of residents and the critically needs of effective property management, efforts are required to identify and clarify the critical activities and its attributes in managing the stratified residential properties that could effects the property management service delivery. This study used the partial least squares (PLS) and structural equation modeling (SEM) and followed by Importance-Performance Matrix Analysis (IPMA) to examine the 11 activities and their attributes. There were 11 activities and each of them consists of attributes that played as measurement variables that were believed could affect the property management. The IPMA results indicated that maintenance and financial is the key activities that critically affect the stratified residential property management service delivery. Interestingly, it is also found that tenancy & marketing negatively affect the property management service as tenancy and marketing services are not major services for the residential property. It is believed that an identification of the critical attributes for stratified residential property management will lead to more effective and efficient in service delivery


The origins of metamorphism (∼600 °C and 3–4 kbar) in the western Mount Isa inlier, Australia, remain controversial for a number of reasons. (1) No synmetamorphic intrusive bodies can be recognized; (2) high temperatures appear to be sustained for periods >100 m.y.; and (3) metamorphism follows an extended phase of thermal subsidence. We show that the burial of granite batholiths enriched in radiogenic elements beneath the thick insulating sedimentary succession of the Mount Isa Group (deposited in response to repeated rift-sag cycles) was capable of generating steep upper crustal thermal gradients immediately prior to the Isan orogeny. These gradients are appropriate to peak metamorphic conditions, such that the ensuing Isan orogeny required no significant additional heat input. This result is significant in that it may provide a mechanism for understanding the origins of high-temperature metamorphism in other terranes where the involvement of transient heating is not obvious.


P-selectin and fibrin(ogen) have pivotal roles in the hematogenous dissemination of tumor cells. CD44 variant isoforms, CD44v, have been identified as the major functional P-selectin ligands and fibrin receptors on metastatic colon carcinoma cells. The molecular recognition of CD44v by fibrin mediates firm adhesion at low shear, whereas CD44v–P-selectin binding supports transient rolling interactions at elevated shear stresses and low site densities of P-selectin. We used single-molecule force spectroscopy to provide a molecular interpretation for these two distinct adhesion events. The CD44v–P-selectin bond has a longer unstressed equilibrium lifetime, a lower reactive compliance and a higher tensile strength relative to the CD44v–fibrin bond. These intrinsic differences confer the ability to the CD44v–P-selectin pair to mediate binding at higher shear stresses. Increasing the duration of receptor–ligand contact (2–200 milliseconds) did not affect the micromechanical properties of the CD44v–P-selectin bond, but it increased the tensile strength and the depth of the free energy barrier of the CD44v–fibrin bond and decreased its reactive compliance. This bond strengthening at longer interaction times might explain why CD44v binding to immobilized fibrin occurs at low shear. Single-molecule characterization of receptor–ligand binding can predict the shear-dependent adhesive interactions between cells and substrates observed both in vitro and in vivo.


We present and analyze the variability of three Seyfert galaxies on intra-day timescales. We have analyzed in a uniform manner the 38 longest (>30 ks) observations made for NGC 4051, MCG-06–30–15 and NGC 4151 by XMM-Newton between 2000 and 2015. The nuclei were quite active during essentially all of these observations and the overall X-ray fluxes (0.3–10 keV) varied by an order of magnitude. Most of the observations do appear to show characteristic timescales, estimated through their auto-correlation functions, ranging between ∼2.9 ks and ∼45.3 ks. The hard (2–10 keV) and soft (0.3–2.0 keV) bands are very well correlated but consideration of their hardness ratios shows that the sources typically soften during flares. We also provide new estimates of the central black hole masses for these three AGNs that support the hypothesis that Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxies have relatively small central black holes.


The newly proposed Z-Source inverter has been proven in the literature to exhibit both steady-state voltage buck and boost capabilities using a unique LC impedance network coupled between the power source and converter circuit. This paper now presents transient modeling and analysis of a voltage-type Z-source inverter. These aspects are found to be challenging and they need to be carefully investigated before attempting to design advanced control algorithms for controlling the Z-source inverter. Through detailed analysis, the paper identifies several phenomena on the dc and ac-sides of the inverter, which would result in the inverter having a non-minimum-phase transient response. The dc-side phenomenon is associated with the Z-source impedance network, which is shown through small-signal and signal-flow-graph analyses to be having a right-half-plane zero in its control-to-output transfer function. Also, the ac-side phenomenon is shown through space vector analysis to depend on the time intervals of inverter states used for reconstructing the desired inverter output voltage. Based on the ac vectorial analysis, a method for improving the inverter transient response is also presented. Last, simulation results obtained using a switching-functional model and experimental results obtained using a laboratory prototype are presented for validating the described theoretical concepts


Research on writing processes in foreign language learning and the impact of providing certain kinds of feedback has been overlooked in the Mexican university system. However, it ought to be taken into consideration since writing is the most common form of communication at the tertiary level.
This dissertation demonstrates how university-level EFL (acronym for English Foreign Language) students can be aided significantly in their writing process through the use of a marking code, particularly in relation to the problem of run-on sentences. This issue will be fully described in chapter 1.
The study explores samples of students' writing which were produced during a particular blended learning course. The same pieces of writing samples include a marking code adapted and implemented by myself in order to have the pupils reflect on their mistakes so that further improvements could be made.
In addition, interviews were conducted with students who had effectively improved their scripts by using the marking code. The interviews are included in order to explore students' feelings in regards to the code, their success in improving their writing and specifically the use of run-on sentences.
The data yielded in this study demonstrate that a marking code can help students in a positive way as long as guidance is input from the teacher. This may motivate students towards an independent learning style which is currently emphasized in the EFL field.
El uso de un codigo de correccion puede brindar una ayuda importante a estudiantes universitarios de ingles como lengua extranjera en su proceso de aprender a redactar de manera coherente y legible, particularmente en cuestiones de puntuacion y delimitacion de oraciones.


Background: Prevention of surgical site infections at an early stage of implantation is an important goal for the long-term success of implants in dentistry. The aim of the study was to evaluate the mechanical properties of niobiumpolyethylene glycol (Nb2O5-PEG 3500) biocomposite film formed by radio frequency (RF) magnetron plasma sputtering after immersion in antimicrobial glycol peptide (vancomycin). Materials and methods: RF magnetron technique was used to obtain a uniform and thin coating on commercially pure titanium substrates with certain sputtering parameters. Niobium oxide (Nb2O5) and niobium oxide\polyethylene glycol composite (Nb2O5\PEG) coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) for evaluation of structure and coating thickness measurement. The femur of 10 white New Zealand rabbits was selected as implantation site, each femur received two screws, the proximal screw was coated with Nb2O5\PEG composite film after immersion in the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) and the distal one was coated with Nb2O5. The mechanical assessment was performed to record new bone formation between the implant and original bone, after 2nd and 6th week healing periods. Results: Antimicrobial biocomposite coated implants showed a statistically significant increase in new bone formation in comparison to niobium oxide coated implants represented by an obvious increase in removal torque mean values at the 2nd week and 6th week after implantation. Conclusion: Coating commercially pure titanium implant with the antimicrobial biocomposite coating enhances the osseointegration at the bone-implant interface over the two periods of time.


The case of a 15 year old patient with Turcot's syndrome is described. The patient had a mass that protruded from the rectum, which was diagnosed as tubulovillous adenoma; simultaneously she was diagnosed with anaplastic as- trocytoma Grade 3, a brain mass. Her family medical history shows that some family members have submitted in colon cancer. All these data suggest that patient had type 2 Turcot syndrome, a rare disorder in hospital consultation. The diagnosis and treatment of the patient required multidisciplinary action, the rarity of this disorder hinders the proper diagnosis of it, and so anatomicpathology studies of cases where the simultaneous formation of tumor pro- cesses, in colon and SNC, should be an indication for specialist.


This thesis examines the London furniture trade in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, a period which witnessed dramatic transformations in the designs, styles and construction of English furniture. While this topic has been addressed in detail in terms of object-based analyses, it has never been examined in depth from a social, economic and cultural perspective.
Although the relationship between many London livery companies and the trades they represented had greatly diminished by the middle years of the seventeenth century, the fact that the majority of Joiners' Company members were furniture tradesmen (as has been determined by this thesis) means that its archives provide valuable empirical evidence of the people who populated the industry. This documentation in combination with other primary sources, such as parish and tax records, sheds light on the socio- economic profile of London's furniture tradesmen, their specialised occupations, the way their industry was organised and regulated, and how it was affected by the turbulent political and social upheavals of the seventeenth century, as well as the Fire that ravaged London in 1666.

The thesis begins with a discussion of the evolution of decorative design in England in the early modern period and the effects of burgeoning consumerism. It also defines the parameters and aims of this study. The second chapter introduces the tradesmen who supplied materials to the industry, the specialised artisans and craftsmen who produced new forms and styles of furniture, and the ways in which the chain of production was structured. The following two chapters discuss the relationship between the Joiners' Company and the furniture trade. The third chapter assesses the extent to which the guild regulated the industry, protected and promoted the livelihoods of its tradesmen, and monitored the quality and standard of manufacture and training through apprenticeship. Chapter Four examines the role of apprenticeship in the furniture industry, analysing in detail patterns of recruitment and the social and geographical origins of apprentices. The fifth chapter identifies the geographical location of the trade in the City of London (focusing on the 1690s and 1721), and its spread into the fashionable West End between 1660 and 1720. The final chapter examines manufacturing networks through the case studies of two cabinetmakers and a cane

chair maker. Finally, the conclusion draws together the themes discussed throughout and queries whether the standard practice of attributing particular pieces of furniture to specific makers or workshops, usually on stylistic grounds, needs to be reconsidered.


Fifty eight patients with spontaneous lobar hemorrhage of a 264 patients series with intracerebral hemorrhage seen during a six years period are reviewed. Twenty nine had arterial hypertension, 9 had other etiologies, and in the remaining 20 cases no apparent etiology was detected. Headache was a prominent symptom and occurred in 56%. Seizures occurred in 12%. Coma was infrequent. Clinical findings on admission depended on the location of the hematoma. Lobar hemorrhage occurred most commonly in the parietal region. Mortality rate was 8.6%. Size of hematoma (larger than 4 cm) on CT and altered consciousness on admission correlated with poor outcome.


Computer data derived from theoretical treatments of the orientation of ellipsoidal particles in alternating fields is compared with experimental data from microscopic studies on Euglena gracilis, and elongated free-living flagellate. Computed data based upon a theoretical treatment by SAITO, SCHWAN and SCHWARZ showed good agreement with experimental results, predicting the relationship between cellular orientation, the frequency of the impressed field, and the conductivity of the suspending medium.


The authors report on education for public health personnel in Cuba: it is a broadly diversified training, given in different teaching centers in the country. The system established ensures that public health training is coordinated with the work of the health services. There are mandatory rules and methods that must be followed by all the decentralized centers and courses. The Health Development Institute is one of the health system units that trains public health personnel at the post-graduate level. Courses are given in health administration and biostatistics leading to specialized M.A. and B.A. degrees. Each stage of the courses ends with a "practical service", done in units of the health system whose staff participate as teachers. The practical work is preceded by preparation of a work proposal, which turns the practice into what is in fact applied scientific research designed to solve a specific problem of the services. This makes for close coordination between the services, teaching and research, which is of great benefit for development of the health system.


In 1999, Maniotis described a novel process by which tumors develop a highly patterned microcirculation that was independent of angiogenesis: in aggressive primary and metastatic melanomas, tumor cells generate non-endothelial cell-lined microcirculatory channels composed of extracellular matrix and lined externally by tumor cells. They named the process "vasculogenic mimicry" (VM). Folberg used PAS staining to show VM network, and identified 7 morphologic patterns of PAS-positive channels uveal melanomas which were confirmed as tubular type and patterned matrix type. Maniotis suggested PAS-positive patterns of VM in uveal melanoma are indeed a form of tumor microcirculation which is different from angiogenesis, and it is not a stromal host response at the interface between the tumor and the surrounding host stroma. VM has also been observed in carcinomas of the breast, prostate, ovary and lung, glioblastoma, synoviosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and phaeochromocytoma, and in the process of placenta formation from cytotrophoblasts. The molecular "signature" of aggressive melanoma cells is illustrative of an undifferentiated cell with a gene expression profile that is similar to that of embryonic-like cells. VE-cadherin, EphA2, laminin5 gamma2, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), LYVE1, TF and NOTCH are important components of molecular switch of vasculogenic mimicry. The heterogeneity of tumor vasculature and the molecular regulation mechanisms present an opportunity for tumor therapy.


Objectives: In this study, we determined whether attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is accompanied by benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS) and evaluated the incidence of BJHS in patients with ADHD. Patients and methods: This study was performed in the Ufuk University Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Psychiatry between November 2007 and February 2008. A total of 54 patients (45 males, 9 females; mean age 9.7±2.2 years; range 7 to 12 years) with ADHD and 36 healthy controls (19 males, 17 females; mean age 9.8±2.3 years; range 7 to 12 years) were included in the study. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the individuals and the joint pain severity in the last month were recorded. Pain severity was assessed with the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) and the Likert Pain Scale. The joint hypermobility was evaluated by using Beighton scores. Results: Benign joint hypermobility syndrome was found in 31.5% of the patients with ADHD and 13.9% of the individuals in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in FPS-R or Likert Pain Scale scores (p>0.05). A statistically significant increase was observed in the Beighton total score in ADHD patients compared with the control group (p=0.004). Conclusion: The results of this study support that joint hypermobility may be associated with ADHD, and this condition should be taken into consideration in assessing the complaints of patients with ADHD-related musculoskeletal symptoms.


Virtual Business Models: Entrepreneurial Risks and Rewards focuses on companies with technology development, offering inspiration, guidance, and hands-on advice on how to utilize the potential of a virtual company format. The book provides an overview of key aspects of the company's activities, putting them into a comprehensive structure. In addition, both the rewards and risks of using the virtual company format are explored. The virtual company format is here defined as a company with a small dedicated core staff. The company's development is performed by strategic alliances with external resource providers. In this way, the utilization of financial resources can be optimized with cost-effective product development. The book explores this concept and why it is attractive in a start-up phase for both companies who want to remain virtual and those that eventually want to develop into integrated traditional companies.Provides an overview, and understanding of, a virtual company's key activitiesPresents tactics that encourage communication between stakeholders associated with the virtual companyAllows users to master all details, while managing key strategic issuesCovers technology development and its required special skills and competencies


Role models and imitation are important in entrepreneurship. In an October 2013 paper, "Getting the Bug: Is (Growth) Entrepreneurship Contagious," we looked at the role of imitation in spurring entrepreneurship. In a related effort, this paper looks at entrepreneurial role models through the lens of which entrepreneurs are most readily identifiable by U.S. residents. Role models are important in many professional activities. They are a part of learning and progressing in fields like law, medicine, and engineering. Role models legitimate an activity — across genders, ages, races, and socioeconomic groups — and provide practical, tested examples of best practices. Role models play a significant role in business in general, and in entrepreneurship specifically. They are particularly crucial given the under-representation of women and non-Caucasians among entrepreneurs overall, and among growth entrepreneurs in particular.It is unclear, however, who typical Americans identify as entrepreneurial role models. Are they contemporaries? Do they identify anyone at all? It would be useful to understand who they recognize and how that varies by geography, gender, race, and income. This study surveyed 1,000 U.S. residents over age 18 about their knowledge of various entrepreneurs. Specifically, the survey asked respondents which people from a list of five candidates were entrepreneurs.The survey was conducted August 18-22, 2013, using Google Consumer Survey.


The hydraulic properties of fourteen soil cores of 300 millimetres in length and 15 millimetres in diameter; extracted from the Ballentrae property in New Zealand, were measured to determine the effects of two earthworm species (A. longa and A. caliginosa) on soil structure and internal drainage. A Computer Assisted Tomography (CAT) Scanner was used to obtain internal images of the soil structure. An attempt is made here to investigate the relationship between physical measurements of hydraulic conductivity and macropore distribution and connectivity derived from the scanned images. Physical measurements of water flow were made at positive and negative supply potentials to progressively exclude different-sized macropores from the flow process. In this way, an assessment can be made of the contributing effect that various pore sizes have to rapid moisture transfers within the soil profile. The resulting information will aid in the understanding of how macropore networks can be created and manipulated using earthworms to improve the internal drainage of soils and reduce erosional effects of surface runoff.


Abstract. A new Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP) experiment "G4 specified stratospheric aerosols" (short name: G4SSA) is proposed to investigate the impact of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering on atmosphere, chemistry, dynamics, climate, and the environment. In contrast to the earlier G4 GeoMIP experiment, which requires an emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the model, a prescribed aerosol forcing file is provided to the community, to be consistently applied to future model experiments between 2020 and 2100. This stratospheric aerosol distribution, with a total burden of about 2 Tg S has been derived using the ECHAM5-HAM microphysical model, based on a continuous annual tropical emission of 8 Tg SO2 yr−1. A ramp-up of geoengineering in 2020 and a ramp-down in 2070 over a period of 2 years are included in the distribution, while a background aerosol burden should be used for the last 3 decades of the experiment. The performance of this experiment using climate and chemistry models in a multi-model comparison framework will allow us to better understand the impact of geoengineering and its abrupt termination after 50 years in a changing environment. The zonal and monthly mean stratospheric aerosol input data set is available at https://www2.acd.ucar.edu/gcm/geomip-g4-specified-stratospheric-aerosol-data-set .


The molecular structure of the Polyacrylonitrile(PAN) precursor is known to critically affect the microstructure, and consequently properties, of the final carbon fibers (CFs). Despite the importance of PAN-based carbon fibers, molecular modeling has not been attempted on these precursors and the only structural information available is from models proposed based on XRD experiments. We use molecular modeling to predict the molecular structure of spun PAN fiber precursors and their properties. Our goal is to predict low energy, fully relaxed structures and compare the resulting structures with experiments. The first step in the procedure is to generate a family of helical, rod-like isotactic and atactic isolated chain structures by building chains with a fixed torsional angle ranging from 5 to 175. The second step is to pack the individual chains into a simulation cell following a closed-packed hexagonal arrangement and fully relax the cells using isobaric and isotherm molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We find that chains built using torsional angles between 120 and 145 result in the lowest energy structures in the condensed phase. Furthermore, the simulated structure factors showed excellent agreement with experimental data in both peak positions and relative intensities.


Autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) require avionics systems that enable them to maintain a stable attitude and to follow a desired flight path. This paper considers the design and development of such an avionics system that provides navigational and terrain information to the flight computer of a rotorcraft UAV. The process includes the design and testing of flight hardware and software that interprets sensor data. The paper provides an overview of a specific implementation of the approach: the GTMax testbed developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology UAV research facility. Its available payload and performance allows for a variety of onboard sensors, supports reconfiguration, and has the capability to demonstrate aggressive maneuvers under complex and changing mission scenarios.


Actin-related proteins (ARPs) are key players in cytoskeleton activities and nuclear functions. Two complexes, ARP2/3 and ARP1/11, also known as dynactin, are implicated in actin dynamics and in microtubule-based trafficking, respectively. ARP4 to ARP9 are components of many chromatin-modulating complexes. Conventional actins and ARPs codefine a large family of homologous proteins, the actin superfamily, with a tertiary structure known as the actin fold. Because ARPs and actin share high sequence conservation, clear family definition requires distinct features to easily and systematically identify each subfamily. In this study we performed an in depth sequence and comparative genomic analysis of ARP subfamilies. A high-quality multiple alignment of approximately 700 complete protein sequences homologous to actin, including 148 ARP sequences, allowed us to extend the ARP classification to new organisms. Sequence alignments revealed conserved residues, motifs, and inserted sequence signatures to define each ARP subfamily. These discriminative characteristics allowed us to develop ARPAnno (http://bips.u-strasbg.fr/ARPAnno), a new web server dedicated to the annotation of ARP sequences. Analyses of sequence conservation among actins and ARPs highlight part of the actin fold and suggest interactions between ARPs and actin-binding proteins. Finally, analysis of ARP distribution across eukaryotic phyla emphasizes the central importance of nuclear ARPs, particularly the multifunctional ARP4.


The second audit of Guyana's progress under the Norway-Guyana REDD+ agreement was completed in December 2012. It found that seven out of ten verification indicators were not or only partially met. Nevertheless, the Norwegian government allocated additional funds of 45 million USD to Guyana due to "continued improvements". Focali has written about the debated bilateral agreement between Norway and Guyana earlier (Focali Brief 2010:01 & 2011:01) and is now revisiting the process.


Synopsis

Carris Reels, a reel-manufacturing company headquartered in Vermont, had long-standing goals of being employee owned and governed. They also had a strong organizational (ownership) culture. The Corporate Steering Committee (CSC), a committee composed of representatives from management and non-management employees, and the board of directors had a decision to make about adding two new members to the board. With these new members, the board of directors would be made up of both members of management and non-management employees. Was Carris forfeiting wiser outside counsel in favor of company insiders? What about for the future of the company?

Research methodology

The data for this case were collected from discussions and informal interviews with Carris Reels employees, and archival data from the company intranet which includes an archival of company newsletters, meeting minutes and announcements. Information on the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), board of directors, the CSC, and ESOP trustees from these sources were also used.

Relevant courses and levels

This case is suitable for strategic management, and social responsibility and social enterprise-focused courses for upper-level undergraduates and MBA students.

Theoretical bases

The sources, development, and outcomes of a strong organizational culture are important to this case. Schein (1989) and others (Harris and Ogbanna, 1999) address the role of a company's founder in development of the company's culture. Research addressing ownership and participation in the context of an ownership culture indicates positive outcomes to employees and to their companies (Logue and Yates, 2005; Ownership Associates, 1998).


The GIT parasites are the main constrain for the decrease productivity of the cattle and buffaloes. The current study was conducted to evaluate the detection and distribution of gastrointestinal nematodes in cows and buffaloes and their fecal egg count per gram for parasitic burden in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In the current study, a total of 330 samples were examined. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes was 42.12%. The rate of infection in cows was noted to be higher 44.45% than in buffaloes 39.33%. The gastrointestinal nematode infections were lower in female than male animal i.e. 40.76% and 47.14%, respectively. The result regarding gender was noted to be similar for both cows and buffaloes. The young animals were recorded to be more susceptible to gastrointestinal infection with nematode parasites 46.15% as compared to adults 39.50%. Moreover, the prevalence of gastrointestinal Nematodes was higher in months of July-august followed by May-June, September-October and March-April. The prevalence in grazing animals was higher 58.99% than stall feeding 41.01%. Among the nematode species Trichostrongylus species were more common followed by Haemonchus , Ostertagia , Bunostomum , Toxocara , Strongyloid , Nematodiurus , Trichuris and Coopeia , i.e. 14.84%, 10.90%, 9.39%, 8.18%, 7.27%, 6.66%, 4.24%, 3.93% and 3.03%, respectively. The overall egg per gram was 2.01. The analysis of egg per gram showed high value for buffaloes 2.10 than cows 1.89. The young animals were found with more parasitic burden of 2.26 eggs per gram than 1.77 eggs per gram in adults. The grazing animals were also noted to be at great risk of being infected with a high load of parasites as compared to stall fed i


We demonstrate the potential of spatial light modulators for the spectral control of a broadband source in digital holographic microscopy. Used in a 'pulse-shaping' geometry, the spatial light modulator provides a versatile control over the bandwidth and wavelength of the light source. The control of these properties enables adaptation to various experimental conditions. As a first application, we show that the source bandwidth can be adapted to the off-axis geometry to provide quantitative phase imaging over the whole field of view. As a second application, we generate sequences of appropriate wavelengths for a hierarchical optical phase unwrapping algorithm, which enables the measurement of the topography of high-aspect ratio structures without phase ambiguity. Examples are given with step heights up to 50 µm.


This article addresses the ways in which scholars of history who worked in France in the 16 th century attempted to describe and consider early medieval history and how in the course of this process they made slight adaptations to the image of the early medieval Frankish history that corresponded to the needs of the educated community and the emerging French monarchy. Thus, the article compares how the scholars Claude Fauchet, Bernards de Girarnd Sieur Du Haillan and others looked at the process of construction of the Frankish kingdom and how they addressed the relationship between the Mediterranean core of the Late Roman Empire and the diocese of Gaul which had long attracted the attention of the Franks, who became Roman soldiers and foederati. It is suggested that the bifurcation in historical knowledge took place in the 1570s in the works of Claude Fauchet and Bernard Du Haillan, one of which may still be ascribed to the earlier group of humanists who operated within the framework created by Leonardo Bruni and Flavio Biondo, whereas Bernard Du Haillan, on the other hand, sought to overcome the ideas and terms used by them and conceived of Frankish history in different terms. He emphasized the discontinuity between the Roman Empire and the Frankish Gaul, but at the same time sought to avoid the use of the discourse of national self-identification that permeated the works of earlier humanists.


Meiotic recombination shows broad variations across species and along chromosomes, and is often suppressed at and around genomic regions determining sexual compatibility such as mating type loci in fungi. Here we show that the absence of Spo11-DSBs and meiotic recombination on Lakl0C-left, the chromosome arm containing the sex locus of the Lachancea kluyveri budding yeast, results from the absence of recruitment of the two chromosome axis proteins Red1 and Hop1, essential for proper Spo11-DSBs formation. Furthermore, cytological observation of spread pachytene meiotic chromosomes reveals that Lakl0C-left does not undergo synapsis. However, we show that the behavior of Lakl0C-left is independent of its particularly early replication timing and is not accompanied by any peculiar chromosome structure as detectable by Hi-C in this yet poorly studied yeast. Finally, we observed an accumulation of heterozygous mutations on Lakl0C-left and a sexual dimorphism of the haploid meiotic offspring, supporting a direct effect of this absence of meiotic recombination on L. kluyveri genome evolution and fitness. Because suppression of meiotic recombination on sex chromosomes is widely observed across eukaryotes, the novel mechanism for recombination suppression described here may apply to other species, with the potential to impact sex chromosome evolution.


The regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation by the fibronectin matrix was tested by treating human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs) with a recombinant fragment of fibronectin (protein III1-C) that has previously been shown to modulate fibronectin matrix assembly. III1-C inhibited HUASMC proliferation by 75% to 90%. The inhibition of growth was time dependent; III1-C had no effect on DNA synthesis after 0 to 5 hours of treatment but did have an effect at 24 hours and beyond. III1-C did not stimulate apoptosis in these cells, indicating that the inhibition of proliferation was not due to an induction of programmed cell death. The effects of III1-C on cell growth were only specific for normal diploid smooth muscle cells. III1-C had no effect on the proliferation of IMR-90 fibroblasts, endothelial cells, NIH 3T3 cells, or the rat aortic smooth muscle cell line A7r5. However, III1-C did inhibit proliferation by primary rat aortic smooth muscle cells. An analysis of HUASMC fibronectin receptor (integrin alpha5beta1) distribution revealed that III1-C did not inhibit alpha5beta1 localization to focal contacts. Moreover, III1-C had no effect on the relative expression levels of seven different integrin subunits on HUASMCs. However, III1-C did inhibit fibronectin matrix assembly by rat aortic smooth muscle cells, HUASMCs, A7r5 cells, IMR-90 cells, and endothelial cells. An analysis of fibronectin synthesis indicated that the inhibition of fibronectin matrix assembly by III1-C was not due solely to a decrease in fibronectin synthesis. Finally, treatment of HUASMCs with anti-fibronectin monoclonal antibody L8 (which is known to inhibit fibronectin matrix assembly) also decreased the rate of HUASMC DNA synthesis. These results demonstrate that III1-C inhibits VSMC proliferation and suggest that this effect may be mediated by the inhibition of fibronectin matrix assembly.


The study examines the impact of local Enterprise Zones (EZs) on commercial and industrial property values. Currently, 43 states have established EZ programs to target development incentives to economically distressed areas. While there is a substantial body of literature analyzing the effectiveness of EZ programs, the research has yielded varied findings. The varied results of EZ programs could potentially arise as EZ property values are bid up by businesses seeking to expand or locate operations in the EZs. This would reduce amounts that these businesses would otherwise spend on capital assets or labor. A hedonic price model is estimated to determine the effect of EZ status and nearby EZ activity on property values. The empirical results imply that EZ status may, in some instances, have a positive impact on EZ property values. However, the empirical results also suggest that these potential price effects may diminish as EZs are designated in other nearby locations.


Purpose:Single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT) provides a map of the spatial distribution of lung perfusion. Thus, SPECT guidance can be used to deliberately divert dose away from higher functioning lung, thereby potentially reducing lung toxicity. This work presents an algorithmic methodology for achieving this aim, and tests it in intensity modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)treatment planning of five randomly selected lungcancer patients. Method and Materials:IMRTtreatment plans were generated with and without SPECT guidance and compared. Both sets of plans were made to adhere to the same dose‐volume constraints. The SPECT‐guided process works by segmenting healthy lung into four regions on the basis of SPECT intensity, and sequentially allowing dose to the target via regions of increasing SPECT intensity. This process results in reduction of dose to functional lung, reflected in the dose‐function histogram (DFH). DFHs quantify the percentage of total function above dose levels. The plans were compared using DFHs and F20 / F30 values (Fx is the functional lung receiving dose above x Gy; 20/30 Gy are significant thresholds for radiation pneumonitis). Results: In all cases, the SPECT‐guided plan produced a more favorable DFH compared to the non‐SPECT guided plan. Additionally, the F20 and F30 values were reduced for all patients by an average of 13.6% ± 5.2% and 10.5% ± 5.8%, respectively. In all patients, for the SPECT‐guided plans, DFHs of the two highest functioning SPECT regions were reduced while DFHs of the two lower functioning regions were increased, illustrating the dose "give‐take" between SPECT regions that is inherent to the redistribution process. Conclusion: SPECT‐guided IMRT shows potential for reducing the dose delivered to highly functional lung regions. This dose reduction could reduce the number of high grade pneumonitis cases that develop after radiation treatment and improve patient quality of life.


Sir, Merrison and and Samden describe an interesting and rare case of postpartum Horner's syndrome in a young lady presenting two weeks after delivery. The authors describe prolonged labour with forceps assisted delivery of a healthy 10 lb baby. The authors have postulated straining during labour with unusual neck movements and high spinal anaesthesia as possible mechanisms for this rare phenomenon that possibly resulted in dissection and acute thrombosis of the extracranial internal carotid artery. We were surprised to read the mode of assisted delivery and were at loss to know what could possibly be the indication for 'high' forceps application, which is rarely practised in modern obstetrics. Horner's syndrome is now a well-recognised complication of spinal anaesthesia or analgesia during labour. However, it is usually an immediate occurrence. Two-week latency in this case makes it difficult to associate the spinal anaesthesia with such a delayed onset of Horner's syndrome, especially in the absence of any associated delayed neurological deficits. The authors have also discussed possibility of neck movements during the delivery as another possible mechanism of the Horner's. Considering that a significant proportion of women do assume unusual neck posture at some stage during the second stage of labour, one would have expected Horner's syndrome to occur much more commonly if it was mainly related to intrapartum neck movements. Even in patients with severe cervical spine injuries, Horner's syndrome is rare in the absence of spinal cord involvement. From the history provided, the patient in the case described was young and was not susceptible to carotid dissection in any way and should not have normally developed any neurological deficit with voluntary neck movements during labour. Although both the mechanisms postulated by the authors are valid, they do not convincingly establish a cause and effect relationship in this case. On the contrary, it is possible that she may have developed thrombosis of her internal carotid artery spontaneously. Although intracranial venous system is more prone to thrombosis in puerperium—mainly due to its slow blood flow and low pressure, the arterial system is by no means completely exempt from such a phenomenon. Difficult delivery, prolonged labour with possible dehydration, spinal anaesthesia with further hypotension and slowing of the blood flow in combination with the natural hypercoagulability of the blood normally seen in puerperium may have resulted in spontaneous internal carotid thrombosis, obliteration of vasa nervosa and subsequent Horner's syndrome. Complete resolution of symptoms with anticoagulation within three months supports this theory that there was no anatomical disruption of the sympathetic fibres, which would have been the case if it was due to trauma caused by neck movements.


This article examines the representation of AIDS in a story by Susan Sontag within the social context of conversations held by a group of people about their sick friend and an atmosphere of sexual liberation characteristic of the postmodern era. "The Way We Live Now" (1986) interrogates the condition of postmodernity and engages postmodern artistic techniques to effectively communicate a socio-cultural theme about life in the wake of AIDS epidemic in the West late in the twentieth century. Lack of depth, consumerism, pluralism, self-referentiality, the hyperreal, and incredulity toward master narratives are the main indicators of this postmodern culture. Exploring the "postmodern" context of the story, this article links its form to its content and concludes that despite the unavoidability of metaphorical thinking about illness (the cultural model), a more practical way of dealing with patients (the bodily model) is better for the sick and those around them. The absence of the sick man in Sontag's story is an indication of the negative role of social voices in ostracizing patients, exacerbating their suffering, and mediating their fragmented life, a fact enhanced by the unmentioned disease in the story, the unidentified patient, and the lack of real support friends can provide. The loss of the materiality of the body is the story's comment on the negative role of the discursive mediation of the diseased body in the context of postmodern culture.


Throughout the second half of the twentieth century a varied collection of pressure mechanisms were deployed from nuclear technology exporting countries — mainly from the US – to obstruct the development of a group of semi-peripheral countries' autonomous nuclear capabilities. Argentina was part of this group. This article focuses on how "fear" of nuclear proliferation was used by US foreign policy as one of the most effective political artifacts to construct and protect an oligopolistic nuclear market. Spread by the press and by some prestigious social science sectors from the US and some European countries, a persistent and dense discourse production was devoted over several decades to the bizarre practice of "calculating" the alleged hidden intentions of those semi-peripheral countries which aspired to dominate as many technologies of the nuclear fuel cycle as possible. Abstract


We explore the impact of the age structure of human capital on average regional productivity by applying a spatial econometric analysis based on an augmented Lucas-type production function. We also apply a new definition of regional human capital focusing on its availability. The estimates provide evidence that there are age specific human capital effects in Germany and that a temporary increase in regional productivity could occur during the demographic transition. Furthermore, it becomes clear that the availability based definition of human capital provides additional insight and so, could enrich future studies on regional human capital.


Purpose Basilar artery occlusion is a devastating event without treatment. With the advent of mechanical and endovascular therapy, one would expect an improvement in outcomes. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed patient records on 17 patients who presented with acute basilar artery thromboembolism and underwent an interventional procedure. The admission clinical findings, CT and CT angiogram, angiographic images and follow-up CT/MRI were reviewed. Clinical follow-up was also recorded. Statistical methods to analyze the findings were performed using JMP software. Results 12% of patients had a good outcome and 18% were lost to follow-up. NIH stroke scale at admission had a direct correlation with outcome (modified Rankin scale). Recanalization did not directly correlate with outcome. Postprocedure hemorrhage was higher with larger doses of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and adding a mechanical device (MERCI) did not significantly improve outcome compared with tPA. Older age, higher admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were indicators of an adverse outcome. Complete basilar occlusion was associated with a worse outcome than a partial occlusion but the difference did not approach statistical significance. Conclusions In this single center experience analysis, we were unable to identify any statistically significant angiographic predictors of outcome. Specifically, recanalization of the basilar artery did not correlate with good outcome. NIHSS at admission was an independent predictor of outcome. Basilar occlusion remains a complex and debilitating condition that is not satisfactorily treated by any current methods, including interventional techniques.


This essay analyzes crime policies enacted on behalf of, and often named for, particular victims of crime. This article argues that this naming reinforces a persistent and troubling image of the crime victim as young, white, female, and middle class. This image of victimization has so dominated and distorted discourse about crime in the United States that it is almost impossible to recognize and even harder to discuss how punishing these policies are not only for those accused and convicted of crime, but for most crime victims as well. As this essay argues, these crime victim policies often harm the very people they are supposed to protect.


Factors such as the rapid development of the Web and the onset of the open source software movement have led to renewed IT development activities within higher education. However the deployment of e-learning and related networked applications is often reliant on the support of an institution's IT services department. There is a danger that development work, including development funded by national and international funding programmes, can be hindered by institutional IT services departments. However IT services may feel that developers fail to understand the security, performance and support issues which deployment of applications is likely to entail. This paper provides case studies which illustrate successful efforts at bridging this divide. The paper concludes by arguing for greater common understanding and by describing an emerging framework which can help facilitate the deployment process.


In 1969 the office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City released statistics which provided blunt quantitative confirmation to a matter of growing concern to both the lay and professional communities. Two hundred twenty-four deaths from heroin were attributed to persons between the ages of 12 and 18, representing 25 percent of the total number of deaths in that city due to heroin. This startling statistic represented a fantastic increase from the preceding year and was greater than 5 percent for the first time in the fifty-year period that this information was compiled.


This study investigates the power generation system and control of an isolated wave device in which heave oscillation of a float drives a flywheel which in turn rotates the shaft of an induction generator. This represents a single unit within a "Manchester Bobber" wave power device; a concept which comprises a closely spaced array of heaving floats. The hydrodynamics have been tested at several scales, 1:100 th and 1:70 th scale in university test facilities and at 1:10 th scale in a large outdoor test tank to evaluate a non-linear model of device response. However, limited research has been undertaken on the power generation system or on control in order to maximise energy extraction from irregular wave-fields. In particular it is important to understand how the torquespeed curve of the generator influences performance and loading. To this end, a model has been developed using EMTDC (ElectroMagnetic Transient including DC) to simulate the coupled electro-mechanical system of a single drive-train when subject to irregular wave-forcing. This is a development of a model of the float hydrodynamics and mechanical system (by Stansby et al.) in which the generator was modelled as a constant torque machine. Sensitivity of device performance to the induction generator torque speed curve is investigated. It is shown that considerable increase of power capture can be obtained by appropriate selection of the generator characteristics but that this is sometimes offset by increased mechanical loads. Specifically, high rates of change of torque may occur. However, these may be reduced by using a proportional-integral controller whilst maintaining similar performance. A brief study of annual output is conducted for a range of sites to assess the variation of performance with deployment location. Finally, an outline of planned experimental validation of these findings is given.


Cardiopulmonary disease is the leading cause of mortality in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). Elevated tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRJV) and reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) %predicted are associated with early mortality in SCD; however their relationship and combined effect on survival is unknown. We investigated the relationship between TRJV and FEV1 %predicted, and their combined effect on mortality, in a retrospective cohort of 189 adults with SCD who underwent both pulmonary function testing and echocardiography. Nineteen (9.9%) of 189 patients died over a median follow‐up of 1.4 years; cardiopulmonary disease was the major cause of death in 52.6%. FEV1%predicted was negatively associated with TRJV (Spearman rho, −0.34, P < 0.001). Individuals with FEV1%predicted ≤70% were more likely to have an elevated TRJV ≥2.5 m/second, compared to those with FEV1%predicted >70% [45.8% versus 17.1%; odds ratio (OR) 4.1 (95% Confidence interval ([CI] 2.1–8.0); P = 0.001]. In a multivariable cox regression model, the combination of TRJV ≥2.5 m/second and FEV1%predicted ≤70% predicted earlier mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 4.97 (95% CI 1.30‐18.91; P = 0.019)] after adjusting for age, sex, and nephropathy. Both FEV1 %predicted ≤70% and TRJV ≥2.5 m/second were independently associated with nephropathy [OR 4.48 (95% CI 1.51–13.31); P = 0.004] and [OR 3.27 (95% CI 1.19–9.00); P = 0.017], respectively. In conclusion, pulmonary and cardiac impairment are associated with, and contribute to mortality in SCD. Therapies aimed at improving reduced FEV1%predicted and elevated TRJV could improve survival in patients with SCD. Am. J. Hematol. 92:125–130, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY * THE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TAX RELIEF RECONCILIATION Act made significant changes to pension and retirement planning. Maximum contributions to 401(k) plans jumped to $11,000 for 2002 and will increase $1,000 per year until 2006. Similar increases apply to 403(b) and 457 plans as well as SAR-SEPs. IRA contributions--both regular and Roth--increased to $3,000 and will rise to $5,000 by 2008. * RETIREMENT PLANS ACROSS THE BOARD NOW ARE MORE portable. Investors can roll over most types of employer-sponsored plans into another plan or an IRA or roll over an IRA into an employer-sponsored qualified plan--if the plan permits such a move. Reliever extensions also now will be available under certain circumstances. * COMPANIES NOW CAN CONTRIBUTE UP TO 25% of payroll to profit sharing, up from 15%. Retirement benefits for highly compensated employees in defined benefit plans increase to $160,000 payable as early as age 62, and will be indexed for inflation. 401(k) providers now are required to vest matching contributions faster, using one of two methods. * CONGRESS MODIFIED THE TOP-HEAVY RULES THAT WEE onerous for many small companies. The act modifies the definition of key employee, narrowing the number of workers who will fall under it. Unless an executive owns 5% of the business, he or she now has to make at least $130,000 to be considered a key employee. * BEGINNING THIS YEAR, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE 50 YEARS or older can make an additional $1,000 contribution to their 401(k), 403(b), SAR-SEP or 457 plan. This amount increases to $5,000 by 2006. These same workers will be able to contribute $500 extra to an IRA in 2002 as well, with another $500 increase in 2005. CPAs who help clients with pension planning, take notice: Sweeping changes in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) have transformed this discipline. Fortunately, most of the changes are beneficial. For instance, 401(k) participants now can contribute more money and plan participants can move money more freely between plans. Future benefits and contributions will be calculated more liberally. In addition, to encourage small businesses to offer retirement plans, increased benefits now are available to the company's principals and officers. Nonetheless, despite the overall positive nature of the changes, the act still poses some pitfalls for the unwary. Many business and individual clients may need to adopt different strategies to get the most benefit from the new regulations and avoid the traps. (Of course, any pension planning CPAs do is complicated by the fact that, at least in theory, all of EGTRRA's provisions will sunset in 2011. But in the meantime, due diligence requires amending and rewording client plans.) This article outlines some of EGTRRA's key pension reforms. Although much of the law is easy to understand, with clear dictates for best practice, the author has included "CPA alerts" when extra care is required. GOOD NEWS FOR THE RANK AND FILE EGTRRA's provisions give employees across the board more opportunities to save. Here are some of the important changes that can help to add more cash to the retirement pot. Increased elective pension deferrals. Employees now can salt away more cash. Pretax contributions to 401(k) plans, previously limited to $10,500 annually, increased to $11,000 for 2002 and will increase $1,000 per year until 2006, when they reach $15,000--an increase of more than 40%. For the next five years until (or if) the act sunsets, the contribution ceiling will be indexed for inflation in $500 increments. Similar increases apply to 403(b) plans offered to teachers and employees of nonprofits; 457 plans, found mostly in state and local governments; and SAR-SEPs, a salary-reduction type of Simplified Employee Pension. IRA increases. Both regular and Roth IRAs now also have larger contribution limits. …


Rare diseases (RDs) as a whole affect a huge number of individuals although each specific condition comprises a low number of individuals. As a consequence, funds allocated to expand research to all conditions are often limited. Several initiatives have emerged to invest more resources for research in RDs, but patients express unmet needs regarding educational initiatives, awareness support, and psychosocial resources. We developed an educational training program in the format of weekly sessions covering basic medical scientific knowledge and psychosocial aspects of RDs. The aim of this initiative was to assess its overall impact regarding knowledge, psychological issues, and participant satisfaction. Items were evaluated through surveys before and after the sessions. Here, we report the experience and impact of two editions of this initiative with a total of 37 participants. Our results show improvements in knowledge and better management of the psychological impact. Moreover, participants were able to exchange experiences and concerns, most of which were shared even though the RDs were different. Overall, the program was evaluated by the participants as a highly beneficial experience and all of them were interested in attending advanced editions.


Vincent Wilczynski is the Deputy Dean of the Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science and the James S. Tyler Director of the Yale Center for Engineering Innovation & Design. As the Deputy Dean, he helps plan and implement all academic initiatives at the School. In addition, he manages the School's teaching and research resources and facilities. As the James S. Tyler Director of the Center for Engineering Innovation & Design he leads the School's efforts to promote collaboration, creativity, design and manufacturing activities at Yale's academic makerspace. His professional interests in Mechanical Engineering are in the areas of data acquisition/analysis and mechanical design. He is the Co-Chair of the Executive Advisory Board of the FIRST Foundation and is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering. Previously, he was the Dean of Engineering at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and has had fellowships at the MIT Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, the Harvard School of Public Health and with the American Council on Education. He has also served as the Vice President of Public Awareness for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and was the 2001 Baccalaureate College Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation, the only national award that recognizes outstanding college teaching.


Purpose
This study aims to explore how the public perceives the effectiveness of surveillance technology, and how people's views on privacy and their views on effectiveness are related. Likewise, it looks at the relation between perceptions of effectiveness and opinions on the acceptable cost of surveillance technology.

Design/methodology/approach
For this study, surveys of Dutch students and their parents were conducted over three consecutive years.

Findings
A key finding of this paper is that the public does not engage in a trade-off neither with regard to privacy-effectiveness (exchanging more effectiveness for less privacy and vice versa) nor with effectiveness-cost, but rather expects all three elements to be achieved simultaneously. This paper also found that the correlation between perceived effectiveness and perceived privacy was stronger for parents than for students.

Research limitations/implications
Participants for this study were exclusively in The Netherlands. Survey questions on the effectiveness of surveillance technology focused on one type of technology, and on private mobile device use in two scenarios.

Social implications
The public's perceptions of the effectiveness of surveillance technology potentially influence its acceptance of the technology, which, in turn, can affect the legitimacy and use of the technology.

Originality/value
Within the much-discussed privacy-security debate lies a less-heard debate – that of the effectiveness of the surveillance technology in question. The public is one actor in this debate. This study examines the public's perceptions of this less-heard debate.


Modern trends in the global energy market linked to the Sustainable Development Goals often lead to the adoption of political decisions with little basis in fact. Stepping up the development of renewable energy sources is an economically questionable but necessary step in terms of its social and ecological effects. However, subsequent development of hydrogen infrastructure is, at the very least, a dangerous initiative. In connection with mentioned above, an attempt to examine hydrogen by conducting an integral assessment of its characteristics has been made in this article. As a result of the research conducted, the following conclusions concerning the potential of the widespread implementation of hydrogen in the power generation sector have been made: as a chemical element, it harms steel structures, which significantly impedes the selection of suitable materials; its physical and volume characteristics decrease the general efficiency of the energy system compared to similar hydrocarbon solutions; the hydrogen economy does not have the necessary foundation in terms of both physical infrastructure and market regulation mechanisms; the emergence of widely available hydrogen poses a danger for society due to its high combustibility. Following the results of the study, it was concluded that the existing pilot hydrogen projects are positive yet not scalable solutions for the power generation sector due to the lack of available technologies to construct large-scale and geographically distributed infrastructure and adequate international system of industry regulation. Thus, under current conditions, the risks of implementing such projects considerably exceed their potential ecological benefits.


OBJECTIVES
We developed a novel lipid formulation of nystatin suitable for parenteral administration, nystatin-intralipid (NYT-IL), with antifungal activity and reduced toxicity in mice. We investigated the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and immunomodulatory effect of NYT-IL in mice.

METHODS
Nystatin levels in serum and organs were determined using HPLC after NYT-IL or nystatin administration in mice. The levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) produced by splenocytes from mice injected with NYT-IL or nystatin were evaluated by an ELISA assay.

RESULTS
Injection of NYT-IL resulted in similar levels and similar kinetics of nystatin in serum, higher concentrations in the liver and lower concentrations in the kidneys, in comparison with nystatin injection. Injection of mice with NYT-IL yielded higher levels of IL-10 than that of nystatin, whereas the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ induced by NYT-IL were lower than those elicited by nystatin.

CONCLUSIONS
Since polyene treatment is associated with nephrotoxicity, lower levels of nystatin in the kidneys following NYT-IL injection suggest the possibility of reduced toxicity. As the acute infusion-related adverse effects associated with polyene treatment are considered to be induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines, a higher level of anti-inflammatory and lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines elicited by NYT-IL administration suggest the possibility of amelioration of such effects. In summary, the altered pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and immune response due to the use of this intralipid formulation of nystatin merit further research towards the development of a therapeutic agent against invasive mycoses.


Our overall goal is to develop machine learning approaches based on genomics and other relevant accessible information for use in predicting how a patient will respond to a given proposed drug or treatment. Given the complexity of this problem, we begin by developing, testing, and analyzing learning methods using data from simulated systems, which allows us access to a known ground truth. We examine the benefits of using prior system knowledge and investigate how learning accuracy depends on various system parameters as well as the amount of training data available. The simulations are based on Boolean networks – directed graphs with 0/1 node states and logical node update rules – which are the simplest computational systems that can mimic the dynamic behavior of cellular systems. Boolean networks can be generated and simulated at scale, have complex yet cyclical dynamics, and as such provide a useful framework for developing machine learning algorithms for modular and hierarchical networks such as biological systems in general and cancer in particular. We demonstrate that utilizing prior knowledge (in the form of network connectivity information), without detailed state equations, greatly increases the power of machine learning algorithms to predict network steady state node values ("phenotypes") and perturbation responses ("drug effects").


Context. During a comparative study of atmospheric phenomena that occur during the pulsation cycles of 10 RRab stars I unexpectedly found helium lines in emission and/or absorption in all 10 stars during rising light. The progression of events in the time-evolution of the helium spectrum differs in detail from star to star, but 9 of the 10 stars share a number of general characteristics, illustrated approximately by the behavior of RV Oct described in this Note. Aims. My long-term aim is to provide a comprehensive empirical description of atmospheric phenomena that take place during the pulsation cycles of RRab stars. The short-term goal of this paper is to inform readers that measurements of helium lines place new constraints on shock-wave models for RRab stars. Methods. Results presented here are based on measurements and analysis of observations made with the echelle spectrograph of the du Pont 2.5-m telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. Results. A general pattern of behavior emerges albeit with significant star-to-star variation. He I λ5376 (D3) appears first as a pure emission feature, unlike the Balmer lines for which the emission profile is always overlain initially by strong redward-displaced absorption. The phase of maximum D3 emission coincides approximately with that of Hα, but the duration of conspicuous D3 emission (in excess of the local continuum) is less than 15 mn, approximately half the duration of similarly defined Hα emission. The emission phase is followed by the appearance, first, of redward-displaced absorption, and shortly thereafter by a second violet-displaced absorption component that strengthens with advancing phase. Both absorption components gradually weaken and disappear after radial-velocity minimum, which lags luminosity maximum by no more than 0.01P as discussed in Sect. 3. However, bona fide He I λ5876 emission flux in excess of the local continuum flux reappears near maximum light for some stars in the sample and persists for about 45 mn. The radial velocities of the initial and final He I λ5876 emission features differ little from the time-average value of the metallic-line radial velocities for RV Octantis. However, the absorption features appear to distort the location of the emission centroid, when they are strong.


Since mid-2000 a number of important changes to policy, legislation, government guidance and practice directions have been introduced in child-protection practice. These changes have the intention of placing children and families at the heart of decision-making with regard to judgements about their future. Central to these changes is the commitment to reducing delay in the conduct and resolution of cases so that outcomes for children are optimised, and costs and resources are effectively managed. Proposed legislation to impose a six-month time limit for the completion of care cases emphasises the drive to frontload work with children and families pre-proceedings. This paper explores the issues surrounding the boundary of decision-making between the courts and the local authority following the publication of the Family justice review. It considers the implications of making a greater number of highly consequential decisions within administrative rather than judicial settings, and explores the rights of children and parents within such decision-making processes. Whilst the intention of policy changes may be laudable, it is argued, in line with Munro that a number of obstacles may result in less desirable outcomes for children.


This paper presents two Athenian vases from Syracuse and Camarina depicting two different representations of Helen's return to Menelaos.
The first vase is a black-figure panel-amphora type B from Piazza Vittoria necropolis in Syracuse, attributed to the Princeton Painter (540 ca. BC). Side A shows Helen in the anakalypsis-gesture in front of Menelaos who is turning back to look at her and holds his sword prominently in front of the woman.
The second vase is a group of 3 fragments of a red-figured krater from the necropolis of Passo Marinaro in Camarina, attributed to the Kleophon Painter (450-425 BC). All that remains is part of three figures and a dropped sword that can be interpreted as Helen, Aphrodites and Menealos, contextualizing them within the emotional and erotic version of the fifth-century scenes.
The study of Helen's return has long held a relevant position in the field of the interaction between literary and visual representations of the myth. This report gives an overview of the current state of researches in the various subareas mainly related to the vases scenes, and it takes into account some of the major problems that need to be addressed.


Design and manufacturing simulations of critical components such as bullets are considered crucial, particularly, when it is associated with the expense and time constraint of the engineering projects. During the manufacturing, the projectile jacket is the component that faces the greatest strain or stress. In order to find an optimal manufacturing operation for the .50 caliber projectile, an experiment is performed using the Box-Wilson Central Composite Design (CCD) using a combination of two controlled factors, i.e., friction coefficients and hardening exponents, with three-levels of each. The sensitivity of the plastic strain to the hardening exponent and friction coefficients is analyzed. The response surface plot fits well to the second-order polynomial function and is able to provide relative the same plots when the model is extended up to the fourth-order. Furthermore, it is found that the greatest plasticity likely to occur in the jacket walls as the ironing process is performed. Based on the residual strain and stresses analysis, it is evident that the selected material used in the production of projectile is viable. Finally, the ductile fracture analysis confirms that the jacket design is considered safe for the selected manufacturing processes.Copyright © 2011 by ASME


This thesis presents a taxonomy of expert elevator and amusement device inspector knowledge that was developed using task and cognitive task analysis. While literature concerning research into quality control inspection exists, very little research has been performed into safety inspection. A qualitative study captured the knowledge used by elevator and amusement device inspection. The existence of expert performance in the elevator and amusement device inspection domains was identified and a taxonomy of expert inspector knowledge was created. This taxonomy was based on a model of knowledge that distinguishes between three types of knowledge - declarative, procedural, and strategic. Further development of this taxonomy, along with an effort to perform expert inspector knowledge capture, is expected to lead to improved inspector training and performance, and an increase in consistency between the inspections performed by all inspectors.


Glacier National Park served as a test site for ecosystem analyses that involved a suite of integrated models embedded within a geographic information system. The goal of the exercise was to provide managers with maps that could illustrate probable shifts in vegetation, net primary production (NPP), and hydrologic responses associated with two selected climatic scenarios. The climatic scenarios were (a) a recent 12-yr record of weather data, and (b) a reconstituted set that sequentially introduced in repeated 3-yr intervals wetter–cooler, drier–warmer, and typical conditions. To extrapolate the implications of changes in ecosystem processes and resulting growth and distribution of vegetation and snowpack, the model incorporated geographic data. With underlying digital elevation maps, soil depth and texture, extrapolated climate, and current information on vegetation types and satellite-derived estimates of leaf area indices, simulations were extended to envision how the park might look after 120 yr. The predictions of change included underlying processes affecting the availability of water and nitrogen. Considerable field data were acquired to compare with model predictions under current climatic conditions. In general, the integrated landscape models of ecosystem processes had good agreement with measured NPP, snowpack, and streamflow, but the exercise revealed the difficulty and necessity of averaging point measurements across landscapes to achieve comparable results with modeled values. Under the extremely variable climate scenario significant changes in vegetation composition and growth as well as hydrologic responses were predicted across the park. In particular, a general rise in both the upper and lower limits of treeline was predicted. These shifts would probably occur along with a variety of disturbances (fire, insect, and disease outbreaks) as predictions of physiological stress (water, nutrients, light) altered competitive relations and hydrologic responses. The use of integrated landscape models applied in this exercise should provide managers with insights into the underlying processes important in maintaining community structure, and at the same time, locate where changes on the landscape are most likely to occur.


The article discussed two of the core neuropsychological deficits of impulsivity and their neuropathology as manifested in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The first deficit involves deficient reward processing insensitivity which is caused by dysfunctional subcortical structures which are functionally connected to frontal brain areas. The second deficit involves deficient behavioral inhibition and is caused by dysfunctional prefrontal cortical structures and their connections with other brain regions.


Motivation Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) are graphs that specify the interactions between transcription factors (TFs) and their target genes. Understanding these interactions is crucial for studying the mechanisms in cell differentiation, growth and development. Computational methods are needed to infer these networks from measured data. Although the availability of single cell RNA-Sequencing (scRNA-Seq) data provides unprecedented scale and resolution of gene-expression data, the inference of GRNs remains a challenge, mainly due to the complexity of the regulatory relationships and the noise in the data. Results We propose GRNUlar, a novel deep learning architecture based on the unrolled algorithms idea for GRN inference from scRNA-Seq data. Like some existing methods which use prior information of which genes are TFs, GRNUlar also incorporates this TF information using a sparse multi-task deep learning architecture. We also demonstrate the application of a recently developed unrolled architecture GLAD to recover undirected GRNs in the absence of TF information. These unrolled architectures require supervision to train, for which we leverage the existing synthetic data simulators which generate scRNA-Seq data guided by a GRN. We show that unrolled algorithms outperform the state-of-the-art methods on synthetic data as well as real datasets in both the settings of TF information being absent or available. Availability Github link to GRNUlar - https://github.com/Harshs27/GRNUlar Contact firstname.lastname@example.com


Book Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference abstract in proceedings – Annual report year: 2018 › Research › peer-review


Urban green spaces provide socially valuable ecosystem services. Through an historical analysis of the development of the National Urban Park (NUP) of Stockholm, we illustrate how the co- evolutionary process of humans and nature has resulted in the high level of biological diversity and associated recreational services found in the park. The ecological values of the area are generated in the cultural landscape. External pressures resulting in urban sprawl in the Stockholm metropolitan region increasingly challenge the capacity of the NUP to continue to generate valuable ecosystem services. Setting aside protected areas, without accounting for the role of human stewardship of the cultural landscape, will most likely fail. In a social inventory of the area, we identify 69 local user and interest groups currently involved in the NUP area. Of these, 25 are local stewardship associations that have a direct role in managing habitats within the park that sustain such services as recreational landscapes, seed dispersal, and pollination. We propose that incentives should be created to widen the current biodiversity management paradigm, and actively engage local stewardship associations in adaptive co-management processes of the park and surrounding green spaces.


First, we show that the determinant of a given matrix can be expanded by its principal minors together with a set of arbitrary parameters. The enumeration of Hamiltonian cycles and paths in a graph is then carried out by an algebraic method. Three types of nonalgebraic representation are formulated. The first type is given in terms of the determinant and permanent of a parametrized adjacent matrix. The second type is presented by a determinantal function of multivariables, each variable having domain {0, 1} . Formulas of the third type are expressed by spanning trees of subgraphs. When applying the formulas to a complete multipartite graph, one can easily find the results. Introduction Let A a (a.) be the adjacency matrix of graph G. The corresponding Kirchhoff matrix K = (kt) is obtained from A by replacing in -A each diagonal entry by the degree of its corresponding vertex; i.e., the ith diagonal entry is identified with the degree of the ith vertex. It is well known that (1) detK(/|i) = number of spanning trees of G, i=l,...,n where K(/|/') is the ith principal submatrix of K. Let Cifj, be the set of graphs obtained from G by attaching edge (v¡Vj) to each spanning tree of G. Denote by Ci = [J . Cj(j). It is obvious that the collection of Hamiltonian cycles is a subset of C¡. Note that the cardinality of Ci is Ac(/detK(/|/). Let X = {xx, ... , xn} . Define multiplication for the elements of X by (2) x¡Xj = XjX¡, x¡ se.0, i, j = 1, ... , n. Let k¡¡ = kuXj and k¡¡ = £;«<< k¡-. Then the number of Hamiltonian cycles Received by the editors October 23, 1989. 1980 Mathematics Subject Classification (1985 Revision). Primary 05C38; Secondary 05A15, 15A15, 15A18. This work was partially supported by Marquette University Sabbatical Plan (Spring, 1987). ©1991 American Mathematical Society 0002-9939/91 $1.00+ $.25 per page