Opioids are considered a "gold standard" in clinical practice for the treatment of postoperative pain. The spinal administration of an opioid drug does not guarantee selective action and segmental analgesia in the spine. Evidence from experimental studies in animals indicates that bioavailability in the spinal cord biophase is negatively correlated with liposolubility, and is higher for hydrophilic opioids, such as morphine, than lipophilic opioids, such as fentanyl, sufentanil and alfentanil. Epidural morphine sulphate has proven analgesic efficacy and superiority over systemically administered morphine for improving postoperative pain. However, pain relief after a single epidural injection of morphine could last less than 24 hours. Techniques used to administered and prolong opioid epidural analgesia, can be costly and inconvenient. Moreover, complications can arise from indwelling epidural catheterization, particularly in patients receiving anticoagulants. Clinical trials have shown that epidural morphine in the form of extended-release liposome injections (EREM) gives good analgesia for a period of 48 hours, with no need for epidural catheterisation. Intrathecal morphine produces intense analgesia for up to 24 hours with a single shot, and clinical recommendation is to choose the minimum effective dose and do not exceed 300 μg to prevent the delay respiratory depression.


The aim of our work was to assess the growth and mineral nutrition of salt stressed Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. and Acacia mangium Willd. seedlings inoculated with a combination of selected microsymbionts (bradyrhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi). Plants were grown in greenhouse conditions in non-sterile soil, irrigated with a saline nutrient solution (0, 50 and 100 mm NaCl). The inoculation combinations consisted of the Bradyrhizobium strain Aust 13c for A. mangium and Aust 11c for A. auriculiformis, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices, DAOM 181602) and an ectomycorrhizal fungus (Pisolithus albus, strain COI 007). The inoculation treatments were designed to identify the symbionts that might improve the salt tolerance of both Acacia species. The main effect of salinity was reduced tree growth in both acacias. However, it appeared that, compared with controls, both rhizobial and mycorrhizal inoculation improved the growth of the salt-stressed plants, while inoculation with the ectomycorrhizal fungus strain appeared to have a small effect on their growth and mineral nutrition levels. Endomycorrhizal inoculation combined with rhizobial inoculation usually gave good results. Analysis of foliar proline accumulation confirmed that dual inoculation gave the trees better tolerance to salt stress and suggested that the use of this dual inoculum might be beneficial for inoculation of both Acacia species in soils with moderate salt constraints.


DNA methylation-based biomarkers of aging (epigenetic clocks) promise to lead to new insights in the evolutionary biology of ageing. Relatively little is known about how the natural environment affects epigenetic aging effects in wild species. In this study, we took advantage of a unique long-term (>40 years) longitudinal monitoring of individual roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) living in two wild populations (Chizé and Trois Fontaines, France) facing different ecological contexts to investigate the relationship between chronological age and levels of DNA methylation (DNAm). We generated novel DNA methylation data from n=90 blood samples using a custom methylation array (HorvathMammalMethylChip40). We present three DNA methylation-based estimators of age (DNAm or epigenetic age), which were trained in males, females, and both sexes combined. We investigated how sex differences influenced the relationship between DNAm age and chronological age through the use of sex-specific epigenetic clocks. Our results highlight that both populations and sex influence the epigenetic age, with the bias toward a stronger male average age acceleration (i.e. differences between epigenetic age and chronological ages) particularly pronounced in the population facing harsh environmental conditions. Further, we identify the main sites of epigenetic alteration that have distinct aging patterns across the two sexes. These findings open the door to promising avenues of research at the crossroad of evolutionary biology and biogerontology.


Anisotropic and selective etching of silicon has been obtained using a planar-reactive sputter-etching system and CC1/sub 3/F gas. The Si to SiO/sub 2/ etch-rate ratio was 5:1. This etch process in CC1/sub 3/F was interpreted as mainly involving physical reaction as opposed to etching in SF/sub 6/. The influence of reactive sputter etching on junction leakage and threshold voltage shift, in comparison with a conventional wet-etch process, could not be observed in the electrical characteristics of polysilicon gate MOS devices. An all dry-etched MOS process, consisting of an anisotropic etching for Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/, polysilicon, SiO/sub 2/, and aluminum, was applied to, the fabrication of a 1-kbit static RAM with 1-/spl mu/m minimum geometry. It was confirmed that this anisotropic etching technology was useful for very fine-geometry patterning and could be applied to a 1-/spl mu/m MOSLSI manufacturing process.


Successful incubation affects the number of healthy chicks in all poultry species. This study examined the effect of eggshell thickness on the hatching rates of guinea fowl and pheasant eggs. In total, 964 guinea fowl and 1,728 pheasant eggs were used in the study. Eggshell thickness was measured directly with an ultrasound gauge. Thicknesses ranged between 0.27-0.47 mm in guinea fowl and 0.24-0.49 mm in pheasant eggs. Incubation periods were 28 days for guinea fowl and 25 days for pheasant eggs. At the end of the incubation period, unhatched eggs were broken to identify the causes of embryonic mortality. Eggs were classified as thin-, medium- and thick-shelled, and hatching rates were calculated as a function of eggshell thickness. Differences in hatching rates of guinea fowl and pheasant eggs with different shell thicknesses were not statistically significant (p>0.05).


Since the seventies, through the feminist theories, the phenomenon of Gender Studies has been coming up on the solid scientific and multidisciplinary base of Cultural Studies. Gender Studies analyze the features of development and the typical changes of social structures at any level. They are aiming at a possible emancipation of minorities, especially in the era of globalization. It becomes especially evident in the media that there is a new opening towards female topics in narrated stories. And Cinema, due to its eclectic nature and its artistic and social function, presents itself as the best example of analysis of this opening, highlighting the evolution from the initial establishment of patriarchal ideology, towards its gradual break-up and overcoming. Starting from a historical course of Gender theories inside the panorama of film studies it can be noticed that the female role, now released from patriarchal ideology, has changed within construction confirming women's presence and re-launching new narrative structures as well as a new language and approach


We used nucleotide sequences of the large subunit ribosomal genes (26S rDNA) to examine evolutionary relationships among species of the genus Pratylenchus (Order: Tylenchida, Family: Pratylenchidae), commonly known as root-lesion nematodes. Ten species of Pratylenchus were studied including, P. penetrans, P. crenatus, P. minyus, P. vulnus, P. thornei, P. musicola, P. coffeae, P. hexincisus, P. scribneri, and P. brachyurus. The species Hirschmanniella belli, Meloidogyne javanica, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Nacobbus aberrans, Radopholus similis, and Xiphinema index were used as outgroups. Based on parsimony analyses of approximately 307 aligned nucleotides of the D3 expansion region of the 26S rDNA, it is clear that species of Pratylenchus are a paraphyletic assemblage. The outgroup taxon H. belli shares a common ancestor with the clade that includes P. vulnus and P. crenatus while N. aberrans and R. similis share a common ancestor with 5 other species included in this study.


The Pulsar Arecibo L-Band Feed Array (PALFA) survey, the most sensitive blind search for radio pulsars yet conducted, is ongoing at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. The vast majority of the 180 pulsars discovered by PALFA have spin periods shorter than 2 s. Pulsar surveys may miss long-period radio pulsars owing to the summing of a finite number of harmonic components in conventional Fourier analyses (typically ∼16), or as a result of the strong effect of red noise at low modulation frequencies. We address this reduction in sensitivity by using a time-domain search technique: the fast-folding algorithm (FFA). We designed a program that implements an FFA-based search in the PALFA processing pipeline and tested the efficiency of the algorithm by performing tests under both ideal, white-noise conditions, as well as with real PALFA observational data. In the two scenarios, we show that the time-domain algorithm has the ability to outperform the FFT-based periodicity search implemented in the survey. We perform simulations to compare the previously reported PALFA sensitivity with that obtained using our new FFA implementation. These simulations show that for a pulsar having a pulse duty cycle of roughly 3%, the performance of our FFA pipeline exceeds that of our FFT pipeline for pulses with dispersion measure ≲ 40 pc cm−3 and for periods as short as ∼500 ms, and that the survey sensitivity is improved by at least a factor of two for periods ≳ 6 s. Early results from the implementation of the algorithm in PALFA, including discoveries, are also presented in this paper.


Purpose: DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PK) is a pleiotropic kinase involved in DNA repair and transcriptional regulation. DNA-PK is deregulated in selected cancer types and is strongly associated with poor outcome. The underlying mechanisms by which DNA-PK promotes aggressive tumor phenotypes are not well understood. Here, unbiased molecular investigation in clinically relevant tumor models reveals novel functions of DNA-PK in cancer. Experimental Design: DNA-PK function was modulated using both genetic and pharmacologic methods in a series of in vitro models, in vivo xenografts, and patient-derived explants (PDE), and the impact on the downstream signaling and cellular cancer phenotypes was discerned. Data obtained were used to develop novel strategies for combinatorial targeting of DNA-PK and hormone signaling pathways. Results: Key findings reveal that (i) DNA-PK regulates tumor cell proliferation; (ii) pharmacologic targeting of DNA-PK suppresses tumor growth both in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo; (iii) DNA-PK transcriptionally regulates the known DNA-PK–mediated functions as well as novel cancer-related pathways that promote tumor growth; (iv) dual targeting of DNA-PK/TOR kinase (TORK) transcriptionally upregulates androgen signaling, which can be mitigated using the androgen receptor (AR) antagonist enzalutamide; (v) cotargeting AR and DNA-PK/TORK leads to the expansion of antitumor effects, uncovering the modulation of novel, highly relevant protumorigenic cancer pathways; and (viii) cotargeting DNA-PK/TORK and AR has cooperative growth inhibitory effects in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: These findings uncovered novel DNA-PK transcriptional regulatory functions and led to the development of a combinatorial therapeutic strategy for patients with advanced prostate cancer, currently being tested in the clinical setting.


Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has gained momentum as a therapy for advanced Parkinson's disease. The stimulation effectively alleviates the patients' typical motor symptoms on a long term, but can give rise to cognitive and psychiatric adverse effects as well. Based on primate studies, the STN has been divided into three functionally different parts, which were distinguished by their afferent and efferent connections. The largest part is the motor area, followed by an associative and a limbic area. The serious adverse effects on cognition and behavior occurring after deep brain stimulation are assumed to be caused by electrical current spread to the associative and limbic areas of the STN. Therefore, selective stimulation of the motor part of the STN seems crucial, both to obtain the best possible therapeutic effect on the motor symptoms and to minimize the debilitating effects on cognition and behavior. However, current medical imaging techniques do not yet facilitate the required accurate identification of the STN itself, let alone its different functional areas. The final target for DBS is still often adjusted using intraoperative electrophysiology. Therefore, in this thesis we aimed to improve imaging for deep brain stimulation using noninvasive MRI protocols, in order to identify the STN and its motor part. We studied the advantages and drawbacks of already available noninvasive methods to target the STN. This review did not lead to a straightforward conclusion; identification of the STN motor part remained an open question. In follow-up on this question, we investigated the possibility to distinguish the different functional STN parts based on their connectivity information. Three types of information were carefully analyzed in this thesis. First, we looked into the clustering of local diffusion information within the STN region. We visually inspected the complex diffusion profiles, derived from postmortem rat brain data with high angular resolution, and augmented this manual segmentation method using k-means and graph cuts clustering. Because the weighing of different orders of diffusion information in the traditionally used L2 norm on the orientation distribution functions (ODFs) remained an open issue, we developed a specialized distance measure, the so-called Sobolev norm. This norm does not only take into account the amplitudes of the diffusion profiles, but also their extrema. We showed it to perform better than the L2 norm on synthetic phantom data and real brain (thalamus) data. The research done on this topic facilitates better classification by clustering of gray matter structures in the (deep) brain. Secondly, we were the first to analyze the STN's full structural connectivity, based on probabilistic fiber tracking in diffusion MRI data of healthy volunteers. The results correspond well to topical literature on STN projections. Furthermore, we assessed the structural connectivity per voxel of the STN seed region and discovered a gradient in connectivity to the premotor cortex within the STN. While going from the medial to the lateral part of the STN, the connectivity increases, confirming the expected lateral location of the STN motor part. Finally, the connectivity analysis produced evidence for the existence of a "hyperdirect" pathway between the motor cortex and the STN in humans, which is very useful for future research into stimulation targets. The results of these experiments indicate that it is possible to find the motor part of the STN as specific target for deep brain stimulation using structural connectivity information acquired in a noninvasive way. Third and last, we studied functional connectivity using resting state functional MRI data of healthy volunteers. The resulting significant clusters provided us with the first complete description of the STN's resting state functional connectivity, which corresponds with the expectations based on available literature. Moreover, we performed a reverse regression procedure with the average time series signals in motor and limbic areas as principal regressors. The results were analyzed for each STN voxel separately and also showed mediolateral gradients in functional connectivity within the STN. The lateral STN part exhibited more motor connectivity, while the medial part seemed to be more functionally connected to limbic brain areas, as described in neuronal tracer studies. These results show that functional connectivity analysis also is a viable noninvasive method to find the motor part of the STN. The work on noninvasive MRI methods for identification of the STN and its functional parts, as presented in this thesis, thus contributes to future specific stimulation of the motor part of the STN for deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson's disease. This may help to maximize the motor effects and minimize severe cognitive and psychiatric side effects.


Industry reports indicate that millennials are the most active video viewers of any U.S. age group, accounting for more than 18% of 204 million digital video viewers in the U.S. (eMarketer 2015). Furthermore, a study by Animoto shows that marketers who leverage video in their email marketing and social media campaigns increase the chances of connecting with consumers (Animoto 2015). The application of videos has also gained attention in higher education as today's students have the expectation to be entertained as well as educated (Steffes and Duverger 2012). Furthermore, "Digital Millennial Learners" or "NetGen" learners are regarded as visual and kinesthetic learners who prefer to experience the world through multimedia and not print (Close et al. 2005; Matulich et al. 2008). Past research has advocated the application of videos (e.g. YouTube) as instructional technology for the purpose of "edutainment". However, watching hedonic (humorous) You Tube videos in the classroom inhibit only passive consumption value and lack of interactivity and student involvement. They do not shape students capacity to solve realworld problems. As marketing educators are faced with the challenge of equipping students with various professional competencies and preparing them "to be productive employees who can communicate effectively, work well in teams and( ... ) demonstrate content knowledge" (Parsons and Lepkowska-White 2009, p. 154 ), the concepts of active and experiential learning have gained widespread attention (see Journal of Marketing Education special issue on experiential learning including Gremler et al. 2000). Furthermore, past literature has stressed the importance of developing students' reflective ability to enhance individual learning. However, Ackerman and Hu (2011) suggest, active and reflective earning approaches may not be suitable for all types of students.
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of learning styles on watching (passive value) vs. creating (active value) reflective videos, a novel approach of reflective journaling. We begin to analyze the impact of technology barriers on students' attitudes and behaviors to create and/or view reflective videos. Then, we investigate how different learning styles moderate the adoption process of creating and/or viewing reflective videos. The findings of our study will make several important contributions. First, our study contributes to marketing education as we extend the existing research on the use of video in the classroom. Second, we contribute to the body of education literature that has emphasized the importance of reflective journaling. The development of reflective video assignments such as QUTopia TV is as a novel approach how reflective learning can be implemented in the classroom. Our study also integrates reflection learning theory and learning style theory as we demonstrate that students' attitude towards viewing vs. creating reflective videos is moderated by the student's learning style.


In the recent paper [1], it was argued that the open topological B-model whose target space is a complex (2|4)-dimensional mini-supertwistor space with D3- and D1-branes added corresponds to a super Yang-Mills theory in three dimensions. Without the D1-branes, this topological B-model is equivalent to a dimensionally reduced holomorphic Chern-Simons theory. Identifying the latter with a holomorphic BF-type theory, we describe a twistor correspondence between this theory and a supersymmetric Bogomolny model on 3. The connecting link in this correspondence is a partially holomorphic Chern-Simons theory on a Cauchy-Riemann supermanifold which is a real one-dimensional fibration over the mini-supertwistor space. Along the way of proving this twistor correspondence, we review the necessary basic geometric notions and construct action functionals for the involved theories. Furthermore, we discuss the geometric aspect of a recently proposed deformation of the mini-supertwistor space, which gives rise to mass terms in the supersymmetric Bogomolny equations. Eventually, we present solution generating techniques based on the developed twistorial description together with some examples and comment briefly on a twistor correspondence for super Yang-Mills theory in three dimensions.


The unprecedented substitution of a nitro group with aryl or alkenyl groups of Grignard reagents affords 2-aryl or alkenylpyridine N-oxides in modest to high yields with high chemoselectivity. This protocol allows a simple and clean synthesis of various 2-substituted pyridine N-oxides and the corresponding pyridine derivatives. Furthermore, straightforward one-pot iterative functionality of pyridine N-oxides could also be achieved simply by successive applications of two Grignard reagents.


Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is associated with learning and memory alterations that could be, in part, a consequence of hippocampal damage. The CA3 hippocampal subfield is one of the regions affected by ethanol (EtOH), including exposure during the third trimester-equivalent (i.e., neonatal period in rats). However, the mechanism of action of EtOH is poorly understood. In CA3 pyramidal neurons from neonatal rats, dendritic BDNF release causes long-term potentiation of the frequency of GABAA receptor-mediated spontaneous postsynaptic currents (LTP-GABAA) and this mechanism is thought to play a role in GABAergic synapse maturation. Here, we show that short- and long-term exposure of neonatal male rats to low EtOH concentrations abolishes LTP-GABAA by inhibiting L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. These findings support the recommendation that even light drinking should be avoided during pregnancy.


This paper reviews the future directions of next generation passive optical networks. A discussion on standardized 10 Gb/s passive optical network (PON) systems is first presented. Next, new technologies that facilitate multiple access beyond 10 Gb/s time division multiple access (TDMA)-PONs will be reviewed, with particular focus on the motivation, key technologies, and deployment challenges. The wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) PON will be discussed and in combination with TDMA, the hybrid WDM/TDMA PON will be reviewed in the context of improving system reach, capacity, and user count. Next, discussions on complementary high-speed technologies that provide improved tolerance to system impairments, capacity, and spectral efficiency will be presented. These technologies include digital coherent detection, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), and optical code division multiple access (OCDMA).


Adults of the grasshopper Atractomorpha lata use a hind leg kick to project their frass a considerable distance from themselves. To clarify the defecation behavior quantitatively and collect basic information that aids in clarification of the adaptive significance of this behavior, we measured the flying distance of kicked frass and examined the factors affecting the flying distance in adult A. lata. Males and females kicked their frass an average of 252 and 487 mm away, respectively. This represented more than ten times the body length or 100 times the length of the frass pellet for either sex. Only sex affected the flying distance of frass. There were sexual differences in hind‐femur length (females longer than males), volume of frass pellet (females larger than males) and ratio of diameter to length of frass pellet (RFP; larger in males than in females). The flying distance appears to be affected by the femur length, volume of frass pellet and RFP when data of both males and females were combined for analysis. However, none of these effects were observed when testing the effects within each sex. These results suggest that the sex difference in the flying distance does not result from the sex difference in femur length, volume of frass pellet or RFP. Because A. lata kicked their frass far away in both sexes, the frass‐kicking behavior might give benefit common to both males and females.


CD44 is a cell adhesion glycoprotein that also governs cell signaling. Dysregulated CD44 expression characterizes most human cancers, including prostate cancer (PCa). PCa loses expression of CD44 standard (CD44s) that is present in benign epithelium, and overexpresses the novel splice variant (v) isoform, CD44v7-10. We studied CD44 in PCa for more than a decade, and in a series of papers, established its functional significance. Using retrovi-ral gene delivery to PC-3M PCa cells, we expressed luciferase-only, enforced CD44s re-expression as a fusion protein with luciferase at its C-terminus or as a protein separate from luciferase, or knocked down CD44v7-10 by RNAi. Invasion, migration, proliferation, soft agar colony formation, adhesion, Docetaxel sensitivity, and xenograft growth assays were carried out. Compared to luciferase-only PC-3M cells, all 3 treatments reduced invasion and migration. Growth and soft agar colony formation were reduced only by re-expression of CD44s as a separate or fusion protein but not CD44v7-10 RNAi. Hyaluronan and osteopontin binding were greatly strengthened by CD44s expression as a separate protein, but not a fusion protein. CD44v7-10 RNAi in PC-3M cells caused marked sensitization to Docetaxel; the 2 CD44s re-expression approaches caused minimal sensitization. In limited numbers of mouse subcutaneous xeno-grafts, all 3 alterations produced only nonsignificant trends toward slower growth compared with luciferase-only controls. In further work, we tested the effects of the anti-growth compound silibinin, a milk thistle derivative. Using a luciferase promoter construct to test for CD44 promoter activity, silibinin significantly and dose-dependently inhibited promoter activity at physiologic doses. Total CD44 RNA and CD44v7-10 RNA were significantly decreased; both were also decreased at the protein level. Phenyl-methylene hydantoins (PMH), guanidine alkaloids derived from Red Sea sponges, have the ability to increase cell-cell adhesion in prostate cancer cells and reduce invasion. Expression of CD44 total mRNA and CD44v7-10 were markedly decreased by PMH and its S-ethyl derivative. The oncogenic mi-croRNAs, miR-373 and miR-520c, which interact with CD44, were studied in prostate cancer cells and human tissues. We found that they bound the 3' untranslated region of the CD44 RNA, and suppressed CD44 in prostate cancer, by preventing the translation of CD44 RNA, rather than by degrading the RNA. Thus, stable re-expression of CD44s reduces PCa growth and invasion in vitro, and possibly in vivo, suggesting CD44's potential as gene therapy. Finally, CD44v7-10 may be a target for chemosensitization, and plays a role in nutraceutical abrogation of tumor development. In vivo effects of CD44 alteration still need to be investigated by use of orthotopic or renal capsule xenografts, which confer a different stromal microenvironment than that of the subcutaneous grafts.


The main objective of this paper is to develop a general framework for rural development in which marketing will play a major role. This framework could make the "learning by doing" process more efficient and effective. Specific goals of this paper are to provide the reader with: (1) a better overall understanding of the rural development and marketing development process, (2) an analysis of approaches used by rural development projects in their effort to improve rural marketing, and (3) a systematic approach to rural marketing development. The focus will be on the semi-subsistence and subsistence farmers, who provide a major share of total production and marketed surplus in most developing countries. The importance of the development of the small-holder sector should be seen not only in terms of increasing rural incomes but also as creating a domestic market for the goods and services supplies by the urban sector.


Abstract. During the last 15 years, substantial progress has been achieved in altimetry data processing, providing now data with enough accuracy to illustrate the potential of these observations for coastal applications. In parallel, new altimetry techniques improve the data quality by reducing the land contamination and by enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio. Satellite altimetry provides ever more robust and accurate measurements ever closer to the coast and resolve ever shorter ocean signals. An important issue is now to learn how to use altimetry data in conjunction with the other coastal observing techniques. Here, we demonstrate the ability of satellite altimetry to observe part of the Northern Current variability. We cross-compare and combine the currents provided by large data sets of ship-mounted ADCPs, gliders, HF radars and altimetry. We analyze how the different available observing techniques capture the current variability at different time-scales. We also study the coherence/divergence/complementarity of the informations derived from the different instruments considered. Two generation of altimetry missions are used: Jason 2 (nadir Ku-band radar) and SARAL/AltiKa (nadir Ka-band altimetry); their performances are compared. In terms of mean speed of the Northern Current, a very good spatial continuity and coherence is observed at regional scale, showing the complementarity between all the types of current measurements. In terms of current variability, there is still a good spatial coherence but the amplitude of the seasonal variations is underestimated by ~ 50 % in altimetry, compared to both gliders and ADCPs, because of a too low spatial resolution. For individual dates this number varies a lot as a function of the distance to the coast and width of the Northern Current. Compared to Jason 2, the SARAL/AltiKa data tend to give estimations of the NC characteristics that are closer to in situ data in a number of cases. Satellite altimetry obviously provides a synoptic view of the Northern Current circulation system and variability which helps to interpret the other current observations. Its regular sampling allows the observation of many features that may be missed by in situ measurements.


SiO2/4H-SiC interfaces are examined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), and spatially resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). HRTEM and HAADF-STEM images of SiO2/4H-SiC interfaces reveal that abrupt interfaces are formed irrespective of the fabrication conditions. Transition regions around the interfaces reported by Zheleva et al. were not observed. Using EELS, profiles of the C/Si and O/Si ratios across an interface were measured. Our measurements did not reveal a C-rich region on the SiC side of the interface, which was reported by Zheleva et al.


A new method of collecting and analysing volcanic gases is described. Analyses of gases collected from Mt Etna during the restricted activity of 1970 and during the eruption of 1971 are presented. It is concluded that the most meaningful way of comparing analyses is in the atomic form as this eliminates secondary equilibration effects. The gases of 1970 and 1971 are distinguished by graphical presentation of the analyses, the main difference being their sulphur content.


Workflows continue to play an important role in expressing and deploying scientific applications. In recent years, the number of scientific applications adoption to high-end computing has increased significantly. Moreover, a wide variety of computational sites have emerged with shared access to users such that a user often has access to multiple sites with a limited resource allocation at each site. Because of the scarcity and sparsity in the allocated resources, the user may not be able to complete an entire workflow at a single site. It is thus beneficial to run different tasks of a workflow on different sites. For such cases, judicious scheduling strategy is required in order to map tasks in the workflow to resources at multiple sites so that the workload is balanced among sites and the overhead is minimized in data transfer. The key challenges are that the execution time of a task varies across different sites and the data transfer rate varies based on the network capacity and load. In this paper, we propose a multi-site workflow scheduling technique that tackles the multi-site task distribution challenge by using data movement performance modeling. We applied this technique to schedule an earth observation science workflow over three sites. This approach, executed via the Swift parallel scripting paradigm, augments its default schedule and improves the time-to-schedule by up to 52%.


The N-terminal sequence stretch that defines subcellular targeting for most nuclear encoded chloroplast proteins is usually considered identical to the sequence that is cleaved upon import. Yet here this study shows that for eight out of ten tested Chlamydomonas chloroplast transit peptides, significant additional sequence stretches past the cleavage site are required to enable efficient chloroplast import of heterologous cargo proteins. Analysis of Chlamydomonas cTPs with known cleavage sites and replacements of native post-cleavage residues with alternative sequences points to a role for unstructured sequence at mature protein N-termini.


This thesis studies the generalization behavior of algorithms in Sample Compression Settings. It extends the study of the Sample Compression framework to derive data-dependent bounds that give tighter guarantees to the algorithms where data-independent bounds such as the VC bounds are not applicable. It also studies the interplay between sparsity and the separating margin, of the classifier and shows how new compression based data-dependent bounds can be obtained that can exploit these two quantities explicitly. These bounds not only provide tight generalization guarantees but by themselves present optimization problems for learning leading to novel learning algorithms.
This thesis studies the algorithms based on learning conjunctions or disjunctions of data-dependent Boolean features. With the Set Covering Machine (SCM) as its basis, the thesis shows how novel learning algorithms can be designed in compression settings that can perform a non-trivial margin-sparsity trade-off to yield better classifiers. Moreover, the thesis also shows how feature-selection can be integrated with the learning process in these settings yielding algorithms that not only perform successful feature selection but also have provable theoretical guarantees.
In particular, the thesis proposes two novel learning algorithms. The first algorithm is for the SCM with data-dependent half-spaces along with a tight compression bound that can successfully perform model selection. The second algorithm aims at learning conjunctions of features called data-dependent Rays to classify gene expression data from DNA microarrays. The thesis shows how a PAC-Bayes approach to learning Rays' conjunctions can perform a non-trivial margin-sparsity trade-off to achieve classifiers that not only have provable theoretical guarantees but also utilize a significantly small number of attributes unlike traditional feature selection algorithms.
This thesis also proposes two new formulations for the classical SCM algorithm with data-dependent balls aimed at performing margin-sparsity trade-off by utilizing Occam's Razor and PAC-Bayes principles respectively. The thesis shows how such approaches yield more general classifiers with tight risk bounds that can potentially guide the model selection process.


There is now much geological evidence that the Earth was fully glaciated during several periods in the geological past (about 700[Formula: see text]Myr ago) and attained a so-called Snowball Earth (SBE) state. Additional support for this idea has come from climate models of varying complexity that show transitions to SBE states and undergo hysteresis under changes in solar radiation. In this paper, we apply large-scale bifurcation analyses to a novel, fully-implicit Earth System Model of Intermediate Complexity (I-EMIC) to study SBE transitions. The I-EMIC contains a primitive equation ocean model, a model for atmospheric heat and moisture transport, a sea ice component and formulations for the adjustment of albedo over snow and ice. With the I-EMIC, high-dimensional branches of the SBE bifurcation diagram are obtained through parameter continuation. We are able to identify stable and unstable equilibria and uncover an intricate bifurcation structure associated with the ice-albedo feedback. Moreover, large-scale linear stability analyses are performed near major bifurcations, revealing the spatial nature of destabilizing perturbations.


The diseased artist is a common literary character. He is also a controversial one. While illness has been recognized, as one of the prime stimulants of creativity,(1) "the myth of the sick artist has also been dismissed as a fabrication created by the artist himself for his own benefit, as it were.(2) To some extent, such contradictory judgements can be traced to Freud and Nietzsche. Freud speculated that the artist's creative activity may be a possible cure for his illness.(3) Before him, Nietzsche went even further in his pronouncement that the artist's disease is a precondition for his ability to create. Nevertheless, Nietzsche not only considered the creative process itself a fundamentally healthy one, but defined its very goal as health.(4) The contradiction inherent in these claims highlights the problematic nature of the relationship between art and disease that is embodied in the figure of the sick artist. For even if health should be the ultimate and ideal aim of a creative process that originates in illness, that process, as well as the created work itself, may become contaminated by the illness that set creativity in motion in the first place. Even worse, the "sick" work of art may further contaminate those exposed to it. The problem of such contagion and its moral implications is a significant issue in Susan Sontag's Illness as Metaphor, which also touches upon the contradictions associated with the diseased artist. On the one hand, Sontag notes, illness has been perceived as a metaphor for sensitivity, spiritual refinement and creativity (36, 37, 39).(5) On the other hand, however, disease has been employed in literature as a metaphor for psychological disintegration and moral depravity (Sontag 18, 29). The complex relations between disease and art are conspicuous in many of Henry James's works. "The Middle Years," "The Death of the Lion" and "The Next Time"--which focus on the diseased artist himself--are just three of the artist tales that explore the significance of illness perceived as a metaphor for art. In each of the three stories, the artist is the victim of a disease that sets him apart from most ordinary human beings and a creative force that brings forth largely unrecognized works. Yet, for a short while, he seems to recover. His illness in remission, he reaches out toward human contact, and his work appears to be on the verge of acclaim. However, both recovery and success are short-lived. The latent or almost cured illness breaks out anew and becomes fatal. Indeed, eventually both the pursuit and the achievement of social and artistic approbation appear to accelerate the death of the artist and, thus, of his creative power as well. And whatever renown his works may have gained, only their titles remain in James's texts: the works themselves are conspicuously absent. Such is also the case in "The Author of `Beltraffio'" (1884). Preceding the majority of Henry James's works treating art and artists by several years,(6) this tale, nonetheless, reflects, just as they do, James's conception of the predicaments confronting the creative artist. These predicaments relate, for instance, to "artistic integrity" and the sacrifices involved in the artist's search for perfection, his fear of losing his creativity (Segal 206), his experience of the conflict between the demands of "art" and "life" and his relationship with critics and public, among whom, James writes with reference to "The Death of a Lion," "a person knowing and loving the thing itself, the work, is simply never to be found" (Notebooks 86). Indeed, as Ora Segal points out, to a certain extent, "The Author of `Beltraffio,'" like most of James's "tales of a literary life," can be read as dramatizing "his own problems and his own situation" (Segal 109). In addition to the similarities in theme, it is worth noting that in this comparatively early tale, Henry James employs technical devices quite like those we find in his other artist tales. …


The incidence of acetaminophen overdose, often resulting in hepatotoxicity or even death, steadily increases as its use (instead of aspirin) as an antipyretic and analgesic increases. Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity is though to be dependent on the dose ingested and the activity of the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. The actual hepatotoxic mechanism is believed to be the formation of a toxic tissue arylating metabolite(s). Current therapy attempts to inactivate this toxic metabolite(s) with acetylcysteine, as opposed to inhibiting its production. Because cimetidine can inhibit the cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxidase system, we believe it could decrease the production of the hepatotoxic acetaminophen metabolite(s) providing an effective antidote to be used in conjunction with acetylcysteine.


Serverless computing (SC) in an attractive win-win paradigm for cloud providers and customers, simultaneously providing greater flexibility and control over resource utilization for cloud providers while reducing costs through pay-per-use model and no capacity management for customers. While SC has been shown effective for event-triggered web applications, the use of deep learning (DL) applications on SC is limited due to latency-sensitive DL applications and stateless SC. In this paper, we focus on two key problems impacting deployment of distributed inference (DI) models on SC: resource allocation and cold start latency. To address the two problems, we propose a hybrid scheduler for identifying the optimal server resource allocation policy. The hybrid scheduler identifies container allocation based on candidate allocations from greedy strategy as well as deep reinforcement learning based allocation model.


THEATRE: Grimm Tales. By Carol Ann Duffy and Tim Supple. Queensland Theatre Company, Brisbane. November 16.

QUEENSLAND Theatre Company concludes its season with Grimm Tales, Carol Ann Duffy and Tim Supple's adaptation of classic cautionary tales as set down by the Brothers Grimm in the 19th century.

This programming decision is clearly designed to present fun family entertainment as Christmas approaches.

In Grimm Tales, well-known stories such as Hansel and Gretel, Snow White and Rumpelstiltskin pack a little more punch than in your standard picture book.

Duffy and Supple's play is by no means the sort of poetic, postmodern or politicised adaptation of the fairytale we see from writers such as Angela Carter, and it is not intended to be subversive or to question the social and gender assumptions that underpin the tales.

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Rather, a return to the grislier original incarnations of the tales - the wicked stepsisters who lop off parts of their feet to fit the slipper and win the prince, or the hare so confused by the hedgehog's stratagem to make him think he is losing the race, he runs himself to death - has a comic effect.

In this production, directed by Michael Futcher, heightened performances from some of Brisbane's best comic and physical actors, live music and an open, acknowledged relationship with the audience establish the atmosphere for the piece.

While the production is a little sombre and slow to start with the first tale, Hansel and Gretel, the knowingness and almost slapstick quality with which the cast plays out the gruesome, scatological or silly moments in the other tales are well pitched to carry the comedy. The action is supported by a fantastic set by Greg Clarke of wooden planked walls, stairs and walkways which, with the help of David Walter's lighting design, is transformed into forests, ballrooms and castles as the cast moves up, over and under it.

The overall highlight is probably the cast Futcher has brought together. Established QTC actors Eugene Gilfedder, Lucas Stibbard and Scott Witt, and emerging QTC actor Melanie Zanetti, join Liz Buchanan, Dan Crestani and Emma Pursey, all well known for their independent work in Brisbane but making their mainstage debut for the QTC.

Every one of them metamorphoses with ease from character to character, human to animal, and central player to support. There is nothing particularly new in Grimm Tales, and it doesn't try to do anything more (or, indeed, less) than entertain, but skilful direction and a strong cast ensure it succeeds on those terms.


To optimize separations in capillary electrophoresis, it is important to control the electroosmotic mobility of the running buffer and the factors that affect it. Through the application of a site-dissociation-site-binding model, we demonstrated that the electroosmotic mobility could be controlled qualitatively and quantitatively by the parameters related to the physical and chemical properties of the running buffer: pH, cation valence, ionic strength, viscosity, activity, and dissociation constant. Our study illustrated that the logarithm of the number of apparent silanol sites on a fused-silica surface has a linear relationship with the pH of a buffer solution. The extension of the chemical kinetics approach allowed us to obtain the thickness of the electrical double layer when multivalent inorganic cations are present with monovalent cations in a buffer solution, and we found that the thickness of the electrical double layer does not depend on the charge of anions. The general equation to predict the electroosmotic mobility suggested here also indicates the increase of electroosmotic mobility with temperature. The general equation was experimentally verified by three buffer scenarios: (i) buffers containing only monovalent cations; (ii) buffers containing multivalent inorganic cations; and (iii) buffers containing cations and neutral additives. The general equation can explain the experimental observations of (i) a maximum electroosmotic mobility for the first scenario as the pH was varied at constant ionic strength and (ii) the inversion and maximum value of the electroosmotic mobility for the second scenario when the concentration of divalent cations was varied at constant pH. A good agreement between theory and experiment was obtained for each scenario.


Purpose: Although language sample analysis is widely recommended for assessing children's expressive language, few school-based speech-language pathologists routinely use it, citing a lack of time, resources, and training (Pavelko, Owens, Ireland, & Hahs-Vaughn, 2016). The purpose of this clinical tutorial is (a) to describe options for language sample analysis using computer programs and (b) to demonstrate a process of using language sample analysis focused on the assessment of 2 preschool children as case studies.Method: We provide an overview of collecting and analyzing child language samples and describe 3 programs for language sample analysis: 2 dedicated software programs (Computerized Language Analysis [MacWhinney, 2000] and Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts [Miller & Iglesias, 2015]) and 1 protocol for using word processing software to analyze language samples (Sampling Utterances and Grammatical Analysis Revised; Pavelko & Owens, 2017). We also present analysis results from each program for play-based language samples from 2 preschool children and detailed analysis of the samples with potential treatment goals.Results: Each program offers different analyses, comparison databases, and sampling contexts. We present options for additional analysis, clinical interpretations, and potential treatment goals based on the 2 preschool cases.Conclusion: Clinicians can use computer programs for language sample analysis as part of a process to make naturalistic language assessment more feasible.Supplemental Material S1. Additional resources for language sample analysis. Supplemental Material S2. Results on matched utterance sets. Supplemental Material S3. Developmental Sentence Scoring (DSS) results.Pezold, M. J., Imgrund, C. M., & Storkel, H. L. (2019). Using computer programs for language sample analysis. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_LSHSS-18-0148


There has been significant contribution to the management literature on open innovation and partnership strategy, detailing their nature and impact in a wide range of business environments. However, "strategic positioning" of the business model based on their interactions with other business entities has not received enough academic attention despite its implications for the new generation of start-ups in emerging markets who do not have any prior business models to emulate. This research conceptualizes a framework that would help strategists position their firm in the market by carefully analyzing its interactions with other business and social entities in the business eco-system.


It previously had been proposed that the host-selective toxin of Helminthosporium maydis race T consists of a series of unusual linear (C35 to CQs)polyketols, of equal toxicity on a weight or molar (108-90') basis. Previous laboratory synthesis of T-toxin analogs was limited to shorter (Cis to Cm) versions which possessed the requisite specificity for susceptible corn (Zea mays) but were less toxic on a weight or molar (10'-1l0-') basis. In the present study, a C41 analog with four ,B-ketol units spaced by CH2 bridges as in native toxin has been synthesized. On a weight or molar basis, it is as effective as native toxin or its purified components in stimulating NADH oxidation of mitochondria from susceptible corn, thus providing firm evidence for the correctness of the proposed structures of T-toxin. Additional support derives from the observation that C2. and C23 analogs with 4CH2)4- and CH2),- bridges between ketol groups are not as effective in stimulating NADH oxidation as are C23 and C25 analogs with the (CH2)3- and -CH2)- bridges of native T-toxin.


Summary Aim: The hallmark of follicular lymphoma is the t(14;18) (q32;q21) chromosomal translocations that lead to deregulation of BCL2 expression in tumour cells. However, not all cases of follicular lymphoma express BCL2, nor is the t(14;18) translocation always present. Follicular lymphomas lacking the BCL2 rearrangement are less well studied with regards to their immunohistochemical and molecular features. This study aims to investigate the BCL2 protein expression pattern in t(14;18) negative follicular lymphomas. Methods: BCL2 protein expression pattern was analysed in 26cases oft(14;18)negativefollicular lymphoma[determined by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH)], using antibodies against two-different epitopes, i.e., the widely-used antibody BCL2/124 and an alternative antibody E17. Results: Twoofthet(14;18)negativecases showedevidence of BCL2 amplification and trisomy 18. A total of 13 cases (50%) lacked BCL2 expression. In 10 cases (38%) the expression was heterogeneous and in only three cases (12%) the BCL2 expression was strongly positive. These cases could thus be subdivided into three subgroups: Group I, normal BCL2 genes (i.e., no evidence of translocation or amplification), and BCL2 protein negative; Group II, normal BCL2 genes but BCL2 protein positive; and Group III, presence of other genetic alterations, i.e., BCL2 amplification and trisomy 18, and BCL2 protein positive. Conclusions: This study suggests that it may be possible on the basis of staining to predict that the t(14;18) translocation is absent if a case is either negative for BCL2 protein with different antibodies or has heterogeneous BCL2 expression, possibly acquired through a physiological process of differentiation.


Worldwide, rotaviruses are the single most important agents of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children. Globally, it is estimated that every year rotavirus gastroenteritis causes more than 125 million episodes of diarrhea and nearly 527,000 deaths, mainly in developing countries. The development of new effective and safe rotavirus vaccines was recognized as the most effective intervention strategy that could yield a significant impact on the burden of rotavirus disease. Rotarix™ is an oral live-attenuated human rotavirus vaccine containing a single G1P[8] strain. The first oral dose may be administered as early as 6 weeks of age, with a minimum interval of 4 weeks prior to second dose; the vaccination course should be completed by the age of 24 weeks according to the manufacturer. In the USA, the upper age limit for the second dose has recently been recommended at 32 weeks of age by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The development program for Rotarix including Phase I, II and III multicenter studies involving over 100,000 infants has been established in Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The vaccine proved to be well tolerated, immunogenic, efficacious, safe and not associated with intussusception. It provided 85–96% protection against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis caused by G1 and non-G1 serotypes in Latin American and European clinical trials; and of public health importance, Rotarix reduced hospitalizations of all-cause gastroenteritis by 40 and 75%, respectively. Efficacy against G2P[4] strains ranged from 41% in Latin America to 81% in Europe. In the former, Rotarix afforded sustained high protection (80.5%; 95% CI: 71.3–87.1) against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis during the first 2 years of life in a region with a changing pattern of wild-type rotavirus circulation. In a recently completed vaccine trial in South Africa and Malawi, Rotarix showed an overall efficacy of 61.2% (95% CI: 44.0–73.2) by 1 year of age. Although these rates are lower than those from developed and middle-income countries, they look promising given the lack of other effective interventions. With the expanding introduction of rotavirus vaccines into national immunization programs, postmarketing surveillance should be conducted to measure the impact of rotavirus vaccination, as well as continued monitoring of circulating rotavirus strains.


This report documents the program and the outcomes of Dagstuhl Seminar 14181 "Multi-agent systems and their role in future energy grids". A number of recent events (e.g. Fukushima, Japan, and the largest blackout in history, India) have once again increased global attention on climate change and resource depletion. The evaluation of the feasibility of current approaches for future energy generation, distribution, transportation, and consumption has become an important requirement for most countries. There is a general consensus on the need for a fundamental transformation of future energy grids. The development of an information and communication technology (ICT) support infrastructure was identified as the key challenge in the design of an end-to-end smart grid. A multiagent system, with agents located at the edges and nodes of the grid and representing the interests of end-users, distributors, and providers, enables intelligent decisions to be made at each node in the electric power distribution network (grid). The seminar fostered discussions among experts from all relevant disciplines is to develop the foundation for the necessary interdisciplinary solution from engineering, computer science, and business management. The outcome was an understanding and identification of the requirements on the information systems for future smart grids.


Commercially available γ-Al2O3 was calcined at temperatures between 500 and 1200 °C and tested for its performance in the oxidative ethylbenzene dehydrogenation (ODH) over a wide range of industrially-relevant conditions. The original γ-Al2O3, as well as η- and α-Al2O3, were tested. A calcination temperature around 1000/1050 °C turned out to be optimal for the ODH performance. Upon calcination the number of acid sites (from 637 to 436 μmol g−1) and surface area (from 272 to 119 m2 g−1) decrease, whereas the acid site density increases (from 1.4 to 2.4 sites per nm2). Less coke, being the active catalyst, is formed during ODH on the Al-1000 sample compared to γ-Al2O3 (30.8 wt% vs. 21.6 wt%), but the coke surface coverage increases. Compared with γ-Al2O3, the EB conversion increased from 36% to 42% and the ST selectivity increased from 83% to 87%. For an optimal ST selectivity the catalyst should contain enough coke to attain full conversion of the limiting reactant oxygen. The reactivity of the coke is changed due to the higher density and strength of the Lewis acid sites that are formed by the high temperature calcination. The Al-1000 sample and all other investigated catalysts lost ODH activity with time on stream. The loss of selectivity towards more COX formation is directly correlated with the amount of coke.


Milk-borne Epidemics SIR,-Regarding your reference to the recent outbreak of typhoid fever at Bournemouth (Journal, September 12th, p. 545) and your general observations on milk-borne disease, we feel it might also be opportune to mention the scarlet fever epidemic in Chelmsford during AugustSeptember, 1935. During this outbreak 666 cases were notified as of scarlet fever in the borough and rural districts of Chelmsford, and six deaths occurred. Moreover, it was estimated that the total number of persons affected exceeded 1,000, as the disease showed varying manifestations, and only those cases presenting the signs and symptoms of so-called scarlet fever were notified. The source of the infection was traced to a milker at the farm producing the bulk of the milk, and ample proof of this was obtained through swab cultures and serological typing. It seems strange in these days of enlightenment that raw milk, such an excellent medium and vehicle for the spread of disease, should still be regarded as safe for human con sumption. As was shown in the Chelmsford outbreak, an infectious milker in contact with the milk for only a comparatively few hours was the source of widespread disease throughout the area lasting many weeks. Besides the individual physical suffering, the cost to the community in loss -of wages and to the local authorities in dealing with the outbreak may well be imagined.-We are, etc., J. L. MILLER WOOD. Chelmsford, Sept. 16th. F. E. CAMPS.


Companies with good Reputations not only depend on financial results but also on their contribution in environment and social responsibility and sustained growth. This is what the researchers are trying to prove over the past 30 years but still there is no consensus on the validity of this statement, therefore it became one of the debatable areas whether the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can affect the organization financially or economically. Environmental information disclosure (EID) has become an important part in the process of the annual report, the social responsibility report and other information disclosure. This paper aims to assess the impact of several Corporate Characteristics on environmental information disclosure of the listed firms in a developing country. It selects the 50 most active firms in the Egyptian stock exchange and the analysis is done using the financial statements from the disclosure book for the period 2007-2011, prior the revolution, along with the firms' annual reports. The final count for the firms is 45, after excluding banks and insurance companies, for having different disclosure requirements and different corporate governance code. The tests for this research are done using the multiple regression model applied using the SPSS. Findings found that there is an insignificant relationship between two factors of firms' characteristics (Firm Size and Firm Financial Leverage) and EID, while Firm's age showed a negative significant relationship with EID and finally Firm's Profitability showed a positive significant relationship with EID.


BACKGROUND
 The popularity of dengue can be inferred from Google Trends that summarizes Google searches of related topics. Both the disease and its Google Trends have a similar source of causation in the dengue virus, leading us to hypothesize that dengue incidence and Google Trends results have a long-run equilibrium.

 OBJECTIVE
 This research aimed to investigate the properties of this long-run equilibrium in the hope of using the information derived from Google Trends for the early detection of upcoming dengue outbreaks.

 METHODS
 This research used the cointegration method to assess a long-run equilibrium between dengue incidence and Google Trends results. The long-run equilibrium was characterized by their linear combination that generated a stationary process. The Dickey-Fuller test was adopted to check the stationarity of the processes. An error correction model (ECM) was then adopted to measure deviations from the long-run equilibrium to examine the short-term and long-term effects. The resulting models were used to determine the Granger causality between the two processes. Additional information about the two processes was obtained by examining the impulse response function and variance decomposition.

 RESULTS
 The Dickey-Fuller test supported an implicit null hypothesis that the dengue incidence and Google Trends results are nonstationary processes (P=.01). A further test showed that the processes were cointegrated (P=.01), indicating that their particular linear combination is a stationary process. These results permitted us to construct ECMs. The model showed the direction of causality of the two processes, indicating that Google Trends results will Granger-cause dengue incidence (not in the reverse order).

 CONCLUSIONS
 Various hypothesis testing results in this research concluded that Google Trends results can be used as an initial indicator of upcoming dengue outbreaks.


In Chapter 2, bis- and tris- arylsulfonamides, were investigated as possible inhibitors of the p53-MDM2 protein-protein interaction (PPI). The lead compound, 19, inhibited the PPI, in a fluorescence polarisation (FP) based competitive binding assay with ICso 26.4 pM and the most potent analogue, 66, with ICso 3 μM. The active compounds in this series, possess a 5-chloro-4-nitro-2-sulfonamoyl substituted thiophene ring that is very susceptible to SNAr reactions at the 5-position. Analogues of 19 and 66 were prepared to investigate the SAR of these inhibitors. No improvements in activity or structural activity relationship (SAR) consistent with MDM2 binding were observed and no active analogues without the reactive functionality were found. These compound are no longer being investigated.
Chapter 3 describes a 3-D shape-based virtual screening campaign to find new lead compounds. Using queries based on the established Nutlin, benzodiazepine and spiro-oxindole inhibitors, the ZINC database was screened using the program ROCS to find compounds that have good shape similarity (measured by 3D Tanimoto) and similar functional group overlap to the query molecules. 155 compounds were purchased and tested 16 of which inhibited the MDM2-p53 PPI in the FP assay at IC50 ranging between 48.22 and 140.42 1tM. Three analogues, 156,168 and 180, induce low levels of p53 induction in cells using a Luciferese based reporter gene assay with most the potent compound, 180, showed 5.75 fold induction at 8.89 μM. A number of the hit compounds warrant further investigation.
Chapter 4 describes the investigation 1.5-benzodiazepiene-2-ones and 1,3-dihydrobenzimidazolin-2-ones as novel scaffolds on which to base potential p53 inhibitors. A small series of analogues of each class were prepared and their ability to disrupt the MDM2-p53 PPI determined using an FP assay. None of the 1.5-benzodiazepiene-2-ones showed any inhibition of the PPI at concentrations up to 500 μM. Some of the 1,3 dihydrobenzimidazolin-2-one based compounds showed low levels of inhibition with the most potent analogue, 214 having IC5o 196.18 PM. These inhibitors showed some SAR based on the size of substituents and the presence of a 6-chloro substituent that has been shown to considerably enhance the activity in other classes of inhibitor. Compounds of this type warrant further investigation using a more diverse compound library.


Detailed imaging, bulk geochemical analyses, and laser ablation ICP-MS analyses were conducted on mineralized samples from the platinum-group element (PGE)-bearing J-M reef, Stillwater Complex (Montana). The aims of the study were to determine which phases are the main hosts of the PGE, to examine the textural relationships of the PGE-bearing minerals, and the associated base metal sulfides, silicates, and secondary magnetites. The platinum-group minerals (PGM) observed in the studied samples consist of Pd+ or -Pt sulfides, Pt-Fe alloy (isoferroplatinum), Pd+ or -Pt tellurides, and Pd-Cu alloy (skaergaardite) with minor native Pd, [Ru(Ir, Os)S (sub 2) ] (laurite), and Au-Pd-Ag alloy (palladian electrum). These minerals account for all the Pt, half the Pd, Ru, and Ir, and a smaller proportion of the Os in whole rocks (the balance being found in the base metal sulfide). Most of these PGM are closely associated with base metal sulfides, either included in the base metal sulfide or located at the contact between the base metal sulfide and the silicate or oxide minerals. The textures of the PGM within and at the margins of the base metal sulfide suggest that they exsolved from the sulfides. We suggest that the PGE, Ni, Cu, and Te partitioned into a magmatic sulfide liquid that crystallized into base metal sulfide. The Pt-Fe alloys and some of the Pd sulfides exsolved from the base metal sulfide during desulfurization at fairly high temperatures. In contrast, the skaergaardite and some Pd sulfides are found in association with secondary magnetite and probably formed at relatively low temperatures (approximately 250 degrees -465 degrees C) during a second fluid migration event. The Pd/Pt ratio of the reef (approximately 3.3) is higher than most mafic magmas and the Pd/Pt ratio of the footwall is lower (0.3-0.7). It is possible that some of the Pd in the reef was leached from the underlying rocks and deposited in the reef as PGM associated with secondary magnetite.


Cross-median crashes are among the most hazardous collision types on freeways. The primary countermeasure to reduce such crashes is the installation of a median barrier, with a cable barrier being a widely used alternative. As of 2014, approximately 317 mi of cable median barriers had been installed on freeways throughout Michigan. To assess the safety impacts of this installation program, a comprehensive before-and-after crash analysis was conducted; this analysis included a manual crash report review to identify all median-related crashes. Safety performance functions were developed for roadway segments before and after cable barrier installation, as well as for similar control segments where no barrier had been installed. The empirical Bayes (EB) method was used to develop crash modification factors as a function of median width. To explore the effects of regression to the mean (RTM), the EB results were compared with those from a naïve before–after analysis. The results showed that cable barriers significantly reduced the frequency of fatal and severe injury crashes, although substantial increases in less severe crashes were also observed. The cable barrier was found to have greater impacts on crashes across nearly all severity levels when used on narrow medians (i.e., 26 to 50 ft) compared with wider medians (50 to 94 ft). In addition, reductions in fatal and serious injuries were less pronounced when compared with prior research (especially for wider medians), which was largely attributed to RTM effects. Ultimately, this study provides important guidance to deal with the expected safety impacts (and related costs) associated with cable median barrier installation.


Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe psychiatric illness with a consistent genetic influence, involving complex interactions between numerous genes and environmental factors. Immediate early genes (IEGs) are activated in the brain in response to environmental stimuli, such as stress. The potential to translate environmental stimuli into long-term changes in brain has led to increased interest in a potential role for these genes influencing risk for psychiatric disorders. Our recent finding using network-based approach has shown that the regulatory unit of early growth response gene 3 (EGR3) of IEGs family was robustly repressed in postmortem prefrontal cortex of BD patients. As a central transcription factor, EGR3 regulates an array of target genes that mediate critical neurobiological processes such as synaptic plasticity, memory and cognition. Considering that EGR3 expression is induced by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that has been consistently related to BD pathophysiology, we suggest a link between BDNF and EGR3 and their potential role in BD. A growing body of data from our group and others has shown that peripheral BDNF levels are reduced during mood episodes and also with illness progression. In this same vein, BDNF has been proposed as an important growth factor in the impaired cellular resilience related to BD. Taken together with the fact that EGR3 regulates the expression of the neurotrophin receptor p75NTR and may also indirectly induce BDNF expression, here we propose a feed-forward gene regulatory network involving EGR3 and BDNF and its potential role in BD.


Ideas, policies and models related to criminal justice often travel between places. How, then, should we make sense of this movement? We make the case for drawing on the policy mobilities literature, which originates in human geography. It is only recently that criminological studies have drawn on small parts of this literature. This article argues for a more expansive engagement with the policy mobilities literature, so that criminal justice researchers focus on concepts such as mobilities, mutation, assemblages, learning, educating and showcasing when studying the movement of criminal justice ideas, policies and models. To illustrate our argument, we will draw on a case study of the adaptation of the 'Swedish model' of governing sex work by policymakers in Northern Ireland.


The difficulties encountered by students in learning chemistry range from human factors to the intrinsic nature of chemistry. To enhance students' understanding of chemistry, there is a wide consensus within the community of chemistry educators on the importance of and need to integrate different levels of representations in chemistry teaching and learning resources. As learning resources, textbooks are ubiquitous and usually readily available to both students and teachers. Therefore, this study investigated how chemical phenomena are represented or depicted in secondary school chemistry textbooks. We adopted a rubric developed by Gkitziaet al.(Gkitzia V., Salta K. and Tzougraki C., (2011), Development and application of suitable criteria for the evaluation of chemical representations in school textbooks,Chem. Educ. Res. Pract.,12, 5–14) to analyze the textbooks for types of representations; relatedness of chemical representations to text; and the appropriateness of captions. The results indicated the dominance of symbolic representations, followed by sub-microscopic, then hybrid and multiple representations. In all three textbooks, there was no evidence of mixed representation. While many of the chemical representations were completely related to the texts, some were unlinked. The germaneness of suitable captions in textbooks is in the explicit, brief and concise explanation that captions give to an entire representation. While our results indicated that more than half of the representations had suitable captions, there was evidence of representations that were problematic and had no captions. The implication of these results for students' cognitive load, and the need for textbook-users to explore alternative resources that depict phenomena in 2D or 3D representations are discussed.


The fifth edition of this text on clinical parasitology has been printed some eight years after the fourth edition. The authorship has expanded, now including Dr Franklin A. Neva, chief of the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases and head of the Section of Clinical Parasitology at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. This book presents an excellent and informative basic approach to an understanding of parasitic diseases. After a general brief overview of parasitology, the book details the four large groups of parasites: (1) Protozoa, (2) Nemathelminthes (roundworms), (3) Cestoda (tapeworms), and (4) Trematoda (flukes). Each of these four sections are divided into three parts: (1) a brief introduction, (2) parasites of the intestinal tract, and (3) extraintestinal parasites. This is followed by a section on Arthropoda, and the final section deals with technical diagnostic methods and a brief overview of treatment admonitions. The basic format of the text is


In this paper we construct a theoretical model of spatial banking competition that considers the differential information among banks and potential borrowers in order to investigate how market structure affects the lending behavior of banks and their incentives to invest in screening technology. Consistent with the prevailing view in the relevant literature, our results reveal that competition reduces lending cost, which, in turn, encourages the entry of new customers in the loan market. Also, that the transportation cost that potential borrowers have to pay in order to reach the bank of their interest is decreased with the degree of competitiveness. Importantly, we demonstrate that market structure exerts a considerable positive effect on banks' incentives to screen their loan applicants since banks are found to invest more in screening as competition in the market becomes higher. This is to say, banks resort to screening that serves as a buffer mechanism against bad credit which entails higher risk and which is more likely under competitive conditions. Overall, our findings provide support to a rather close link between the degree of competition, bank lending activity, and the investment of banks in screening technology.


Nanotechnology-related products and materials are becoming increasingly prevalent in our society. In the U.S., much of the burden for regulating these products falls upon the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Thus far, the FDA has insisted that its present regulatory scheme is adequate to the task of analyzing nanotechnology products. Other administrative agencies, however, have recognized the special properties that can attach to nanosized materials. For example, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has created a special cross-reference classification: Class 977. By cross-referencing an application or a patent under Class 977, the USPTO provides strong evidence that the invention has novel, nanotechnology-related properties - yet that invention, once submitted to the FDA for approval, will be treated exactly the same as its large-scale counterpart. This note challenges the FDA's premise that nanotechnology-related products pose no special concern by providing evidence that nanomaterials may have very different physical and toxicological properties than their large-scale counterparts. Further, many of these materials are used in products where the FDA has the weakest regulatory authority, such as in cosmetics and generally recognized as safe food supplements. This regulatory gap can be filled in part by making use of the USPTO's classification scheme to identify those products likely to pose special safety challenges. Once a Class 977-labeled invention is submitted to the FDA, this note argues that the product should be classified as a new product for safety and legal purposes. This would give the FDA the ability to use its labeling powers to force public disclosure of products containing nanosized material, and to strongly encourage manufacturers to engage in additional safety research. Further, this note argues that the Class 977 label should create a presumption within the FDA that the product is likely to fall within more than one regulatory category. The FDA can then use its Office of Combination Products and relevant regulations to ensure that the products receive the safety evaluation they need.


The functional form used to represent expenditures or consumption as a function of income and household size (Engel relationship) dramatically affects estimates of elasticities of these variables. This impact also holds true when the elasticities are computed at the mean of the sample used. When per capita expenditures were expressed as a function of per capita income, the double-and semi-log functional forms provided the best statistical fit. When expenditures were expressed as a function of household size and income, the quadratic functional form provided the best statistical fit.


Host-based security tools such as anti-virus and intrusion detection systems are not adequately protected on today's computers. Malware is often designed to immediately disable any security tools upon installation, rendering them useless. While current research has focused on moving these vulnerable security tools into an isolated virtual machine, this approach cripples security tools by preventing them from doing active monitoring. This paper describes an architecture that takes a hybrid approach, giving security tools the ability to do active monitoring while still benefiting from the increased security of an isolated virtual machine. We discuss the architecture and a prototype implementation that can process hooks from a virtual machine running Windows XP on Xen. We conclude with a security analysis and show the performance of a single hook to be 28 musecs in the best case.


When modeling thermal imaging systems to predict their performance, there are three functional areas that must be specifically characterized: the object being imaged; the intervening atmosphere; and the sensor itself. This paper will discuss two computer simulations presently being used by the U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM) which integrate models of these three functional areas to calculate the performance of a variety of thermal imaging systems for a range of atmospheres, scenarios, targets, and sensors. Common to both approaches is: use of the Johnson bar criteria for detection, recognition and identification; the use (direct or indirect) of the AFGL LOWTRAN code to model the atmosphere; and, finally, some methodologies for modeling staring focal plane arrays (FPAs) as the sensor detection element. The three functional areas will be discussed first, followed by discussions of the two approaches; the Fire Control Sensor Simulator (FCSS), an engagement model; and, the MICOM Infrared Imaging System Performance Model (MIISPM), a more detailed model emphasizing the sensor itself. The MIISPM is based upon the Night Vision Laboratory Static Performance Model (NVLSPM), but has been enhanced in several important ways, discussed in the paper. While both approaches provide as output the same performance criteria (probability of detection, recognition and identification, as a function of range), each model has its own strengths for different aspects of the sensor performance problem: for the FCSS, targets and scenarios; for the MIISPM, details of the sensor. Both approaches will be presented and compared in terms of the results, run time efficiency, and required hardware. Both models presently run on IBM or IBM compatible personal computers.


Nocturnal geckos are active at body temperatures 10–35°C below the thermal optima for maximum rate of aerobic metabolism (V.O2max) of diurnal lizards. Therefore, given ancestral (diurnal) lizard physiology, nocturnality causes a substantial thermal handicap in locomotor performance. In prior studies, we hypothesized that a low minimum cost of locomotion (Cmin) in geckos was an adaptation that increased locomotor endurance capacity at low, nocturnal temperatures. However, Cmin is only part of an integrated system that, in conjunction with the maximum rate of oxygen consumption, sets the maximum speed that can be sustained aerobically (termed the maximum aerobic speed or MAS). We conducted the first phylogenetic analysis of MAS and V.O2max lizards and found that the greatest changes in MAS, Cmin and V.O2max (at activity temperatures) in the evolutionary history of lizards all coincided with the evolution of nocturnality in geckos. Geckos active at 15–25°C did not become optimized for nocturnal temperatures, or fully offset the thermal effects of nocturnality by evolving maximal rates of oxygen consumption comparable to diurnal lizards active at 35°C. Geckos did evolve MAS twice that of diurnal lizards running at low temperatures by evolving a remarkably low Cmin. Allometric analysis and phylogenetically independent contrasts of V.O2max , Cmin, and MAS indicate a 72% evolutionary decrease in V.O2max , (at activity temperatures) and a 50% evolutionary decrease in Cmin concordant with the evolution of nocturnality in geckos. Experimental measurements show that decreased Cmin in six species of gecko increased MAS by 50–120% compared to diurnal lizards at low temperatures. Thus, geckos sufficiently overcame the near paralyzing effects of nocturnal temperatures, but only offset about 50% of the decrease in MAS resulting from the low maximum rate of oxygen consumption. Although the nocturnal environment remains severely suboptimal, the evolution of a low cost of locomotion in the ancestor of geckos was highly adaptive for nocturnality. We also present a generalized approach to ecophysiological evolution that integrates phylogeny with the causal relationships among environment, physiology, and performance capacity. With respect to a clade, two hypotheses are central to our integrative approach: (1) a change of an environmental variable (e.g., temperature) causes a performance handicap; and (2) evolution of a physiological variable (e.g., minimum cost of locomotion [Cmin]) increases performance in the derived environment. To test the hypothesis that evolution of a physiological variable is adaptive in nature, we suggest determining if individuals in nature perform at levels exceeding the performance capacity of their hypothetical ancestors and if this additional performance capacity is due to the evolution of the physiological variable in question.


BACKGROUND
Fungal infections after liver transplantation have received considerable interests because of their association with substantial morbidity and mortality. This study investigated risk factors of fungal infection after liver transplantation.

MATERIAL/METHODS
Retrospective analysis was performed based on clinical data from 120 patients with fungal infection after liver transplantation from January 1, 2003 to May 30, 2012. χ2 test was used to analyze risk factors for fungal infections.

RESULTS
The fungal infection rate after liver transplantation is 13.5% (120/886) and the case fatality rate reaches 70.8%; most are infected by Candida albicans (67.5%), with infection located in the lung (73.3%). Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation scores of the infected group are higher than those of the control group 24 hours after the surgery (27.1±5.2 vs. 21.9±5.0). The percentage of primary liver cancer patients in the infected group was lower than in the control group (26.7% vs. 45.8%). Compared to the control group, the infected group had a higher percentage of patients with HBV, gestational diabetes mellitus, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Percentages of patients with long continuous parenteral nutrition time, poorly controlled high blood sugar, long-term mechanical ventilation, and antibiotics use were higher in the infected group than in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative original attack, postoperative critical condition, chronically high blood sugar, long-term use of antibiotics, and mechanical ventilation are probably vital risk factors for fungal infection after liver transplantation.


The nodules of yellow lupin plants (Lupinus Zuteus L.) increased logarithmically in wet weight, leghaemoglobin and rhizobial numbers. Bacteroids were isolated from such nodules and the changes in concentration of protein, RNA and DNA per organism were followed as a function of nodule age. Six weeks after emergence, DNA and RNA per organism had fallen to 40 yo and 13%, respectively, of the values found in the bacteria from 1-week-old nodules. No further changes in RNA and DNA were found after this time. The decreases are discussed with reference to previous reports of loss of nuclear material during bacteroid formation.


Glioblastoma (GBM), which grows uninhibited in the brain, almost never metastasizes outside of it. The rare occurrence ( 9 months) approximately 50% of rats challenged with F98 cells intracranially. The results in the F98 model were corroborated in the CNS1 astrocytoma model in Lewis rats. The fraction of cured rats in both models were the highest reported in published literature. We found that the spontaneous rejection of live glioma cells inoculated in peripheral sites was immune-mediated. This location-biased immune response was termed "Split Immunity"—a tumor that thrives in an immune-privileged site (e.g., the brain) may be inhibited by injecting live unmodified tumor cells in a site that is not privileged, generating protective immunity that spreads back to the privileged site.To evaluate the applicability of the "Split Immunity" approach in humans, we ran a first-in-human (FIH) study on two recurrent GBM patients. The patients were vaccinated subcutaneously, initially with autologous irradiated tumor cells, and then with autologous, non-attenuated, live tumor cells. The treatment caused no serious adverse events. The injected live tumor cells did not grow at the inoculation site, nor did they spread metastatically, as evaluated by choline 18F PET-CT. Standard biochemical and hematologic blood tests showed no treatment-related adverse effects. Both patients' quality of life (QoL) questionnaires demonstrated subjective improvements in self-evaluated "global health status." The treatment had demonstrated several signs indicative of efficacy. MRI evaluation using "treatment response assessment maps" (TRAM) demonstrated strong increases in the "treatment-response" component following live-cell vaccination, compatible with "pseudo-progression-like" responses in both patients. Using elaborate 8-color flow cytometric panels, we detected potent tumor-cell specific polyfunctional activation in 2.5% and 5% of peripheral cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) and T helper cells (Th), respectively, 3 days following live-cell vaccination. Flow cytometric immune mapping of all intratumoral immune cell subsets showed major changes from baseline that had occurred shortly after live-cell vaccinations. We observed major increases (8 to 200 fold) in both patients of all monitored intratumoral dendritic cell (DC) subsets (CD1c+ and CD141+ myeloid DC, CD123+ plasmacytoid DC). Patient-1 showed the highest frequency of intratumoral CD56brt natural killer (NK) cells from all previously fully mapped brain tumor patients. Patient-2's intratumoral CTL and Th were increase by 6- and 17-fold, respectively. Patient-2's CD141+ and CD1c+ myeloid DC had exhibited upregulated CD86 maturation marker following treatment. Overall, the immune infiltrate following treatment in Patient-2 exceeded the immune infiltrates found in 42 previously fully-mapped brain tumor patients. The flow cytometric results were corroborated by the patients' immunohistochemistry data. Patient-2, who had been treated by a tighter vaccination protocol than Patient-1, had survived 19 months after GBM recurrence, which is considerably longer than the median 6- to 8-month survival of recurrent GBM patients. Taken together, the accumulated FIH results are suggestive of safety and efficacy of the "Split Immunity" approach. Based on the these results, we have recently received an ethical approval for a phase IIa clinical trial on 8 recurrent- and 4 newly-diagnosed GBM patients. Citation Format: Ilan Volovitz, Nati Shapira, Rachel Grossman, Zvi Ram. Vaccination with autologous, nonattenuated, live glioblastoma cells induces potent peripheral and intratumoral anti-tumoral responses: A first-in-human study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A021.


Recent theoretical and experimental papers have shown how one can achieve Heisenberg-limited measurements by using entangled photons. Here we show how the photons in a noncollinear down-conversion process can be used for improving the sensitivity of magneto-optical rotation by a factor of 4 which takes us towards the Heisenberg limit. Our results apply to sources with arbitrary pumping. We also present several generalizations of earlier results for the collinear geometry. The sensitivity depends on whether the two-photon or four-photon coincidence detection is used.


Abstract We conducted an implementation research study to integrate a holistic package of physical health, mental health and psychosocial care for podoconiosis, lymphatic filariasis and leprosy into routine healthcare in Gusha cluster, Guagusa Shikudad district, northwest Ethiopia. The healthcare package included training patients in lower limb hygiene and skin care and provision of shoes, hygiene supplies and medication. The implementation activities included training events, workshops, awareness raising, self-help groups, supportive supervision, staff secondments and advisory board meetings. The cost of implementing the care package in Gusha cluster, with a population of 30 558 people, was 802 655 Ethiopian birr (ETB) (£48 159) and the cost of delivering care to 235 participants was 204 388 ETB (£12 263), or 870 ETB (£52) per person. There was a 35% decrease in the mean disability scores (measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0) and a 45% improvement in the dermatology-specific quality of life (measured using the Dermatology Life Quality Index) at the 3-month follow-up compared with baseline. There were reductions in the number of days with symptoms, days off usual activities/work and days with reduced activity due to illness, all of which were statistically significant. Our pilot suggests that integration of the care package into routine healthcare in Ethiopia may be effective in improving health-related quality of life and disability and reducing time out of economic activity due to illness.


The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented spotlight on health risks. This article discusses how such risks have been communicated to the public, arguing the approaches used may have inflated perceptions of risk amongst younger and disease-free individuals. This has led to undue anxiety and had a deleterious effect on other health behaviours, including sleep and exercise. We advise that more conventional public health messaging approaches would have been useful - deploying clear, non-jargon language, keeping advice consistent and presenting a combination of absolute health risks and comparisons with other everyday risks. This may have facilitated more accurate understanding of risk levels in different population segments. The evidence-base on effective ways to communicate to encourage health-seeking behaviour change – such as emphasizing the benefits of compliance to recommendations rather than the risks of non-compliance and highlighting the social impacts of Covid-19 preventative measures – must be more effectively leveraged in future to support risk mitigation efforts and implementation of vaccines during their forthcoming rollout.


The influence of wollastonite or plant fiber on the property of autoclaved cement concrete is studied by chemical composition analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy and energy spectrum analysis. The results showed that the two fibers were benefit to bending strength of autoclaved cement concrete. The suitable content of wollastonite was about 15% of cement mass, and the increased amplitude of flexural strength was more than 30% and the compressive strength slightly increased for autoclaved cement concrete admixed wollastonite. The optimal content of plant fiber was about 1.5% of cement mass, the increased amplitude of the flexural strength was more than 20%, and the compressive strength change of autoclaved cement concrete was not significant for autoclaved cement concrete admixed plant fiber.


In recent years there has been growing interest in reducing differences in health-related outcomes by race, gender, socioeconomic status, residential location, or other grouping through research, education, and collaboration. Upholding that vision in the course of developing, implementing, and sustaining national health policies is a priority of the current federal administration. Consideration of broad-based legislation that proposes to improve public health and ensure health equity is ongoing. Access to health care resources through universal health insurance coverage and related health promotion provisions are among the most controversial aspects of that legislation.


Anthropogenic activities in New England salt marshes have altered hydrologic flows in various ways, but unintended consequences from some of these habitat modifications have received little attention. Specifically, ditches have existed on salt marshes for decades, but the effects of these hydrologic alterations are only poorly understood. Ditch-plugging is a more recent methodology used for salt marsh habitat enhancement and mosquito control, but the long-term effects from this management practice are also unclear. I used natural tidal creeks and pools as controls to examine the effects resulting from ditching and plugging, respectively, on hydrology, soil characteristics, marsh surface elevation, plant characteristics, fish productivity, and trophic webs. Results indicated only slight differences in parameters sampled within habitat adjacent to ditches compared with creeks, and I infer minor ecological impact after 70+ years. Significant differences in hydrology, soil characteristics, marsh surface elevation, plant characteristics, fish productivity and trophic webs were observed in habitat adjacent to natural pools compared with ditch-plugs, and the many structural differences appear to result in ecological dissimilarities in function between the two habitats as well. The results of my study are important for natural resource managers to consider when planning salt marsh restoration and enhancement projects. The long-term legacy of ditch-plugs, especially as they pertain to changes in climate, may increase vulnerability of salt marshes to sea level rise and this conversion of ditches to ditch-plugs should not be undertaken without careful consideration.


Dentofacial Planner Plus (DFP) is a computerised cephalometric program that enables rapid and accurate analysis of a cephalogram to aid in treatment planning. In addition, a video image of a patient's profile can be linked to the digitised cephalogram. Manipulation of the tracing will produce corresponding changes in the video image. Simulations of orthodontic treatment or orthognathic surgery changes are therefore possible. This becomes a valuable aid in treatment planning, communication with the oral surgeon and patient education.


Grass Family (Poaceae). Bluebunch wheatgrass is a perennial native bunchgrass. Bluebunch wheatgrass is highly variable and grows to 1.5 to 4 feet (0.4 to 1.2 m) tall with seed spikes 3 to 8 inches (76 to 200 mm) long. The auricles are pointed and semi-clasping to nearly lacking. Leaves are lax, cauline, flat to in-rolled, 0.6 to 0.25 inches (4 to 6 mm) wide, and green to blue in color. The sheath is generally glabrous. Reproductive stems are erect, slender, and sometimes wiry with a wavy rachis. The lemma awns range from being short to prominent and divergent except on the beardless type where the awn is lacking (Hitchcock 1950).


The SIPRI Arms Industry Database was created in 1989. It contains financial and employment data on arms producing companies worldwide. Since 1990, SIPRI has published data on the arms sales and employment of the 100 largest of these arms-producing companies (the SIPRI Top 100) in the SIPRI Yearbook. This Fact Sheet lists the SIPRI Top 100 arms-producing and military services companies for 2012 and describes the trends in international arms sales that are revealed by the new data.


The goal of this study is to look at the relation and contribution value, while the impact of world oil price on the macroeconomic Indonesian form 1980 to 2010. This Study used Vector Auto Regression (VAR) method and tool of VAR used are Impulse Response Function (IRF) and Variance Decomposition. The results of study finds a positive relation and statistically significant impact of world oil price on inflation and real GDP Indonesian, but not significant and negative relation on real exchange rates. World oil price has contribution value on the inflation, real exchange rates, Indonesia real GDP after first period.