There are few things that Jordanian television cameraman Emad Odaileh finds more relaxing than a long smoke at his favourite coffee house in downtown Amman. Bathed in the fragrance of fruit-scented tobacco and the gurgle of Oriental water pipes or narghile as they are known here, Odaileh and his friends chat about the day's events while inhaling the smoke.

It's hard to get away from tobacco smoke in Jordan, or anywhere in the Middle East. Nearly everybody seems to be lighting up.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use is the world's leading cause of preventable death. Smoking is responsible for 5.4 million deaths yearly, with 4 million of those deaths occurring in developing countries – countries that can least afford the health-care burden.

Under WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI), the 21 Member States of WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region, are stepping up tobacco-control efforts. The Initiative was launched in 1998 and WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which is now one of the most widely supported treaties in the history of the United Nations, entered into force in 2005.

The moves can't come soon enough, according to Dr Fatimah El-Awa, the regional adviser for the Tobacco Free Initiative at WHO's Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, which is based in Cairo.

"When we talk about tobacco, some people still look at us and laugh, saying, 'Well, people are starving and dying from poverty and you're talking about tobacco.' But they don't understand that tobacco contributes to poverty."

With stronger tobacco control policies, including smoking bans expanding in public areas like restaurants in more parts of the United States of America (USA) and Europe, cigarette manufacturers are dumping their toxic merchandise in other parts of the world such as the Eastern Mediterranean Region, making tobacco control measures even more imperative, says El-Awa. The region comprises 21 Member States, from Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia in north Africa, through the Gulf countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the rest of the Middle East to Afghanistan and Pakistan in south Asia. It also includes Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan in sub-Saharan Africa.

"European countries and the USA wouldn't have moved forward with the policy of tobacco-free public places, restaurants and bars without a comprehensive approach that involves all sectors of government," El-Awa says, pointing to the public-area smoking bans in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

El-Awa argues that until the countries of WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) adopt a comprehensive approach and government ministries work together, the region won't make similar progress to that in European countries. "It is beyond the authority or the capabilities of the ministries of health to work on tobacco control by themselves. They need partners such as the ministries of trade, finance and all other ministries that can help in strengthening tobacco control."

"Once this is reached in our Member States, tobacco control will jump to a different level. Unfortunately, this is not the case at this time – at least not in all EMR Member States."

Indeed, in the Eastern Mediterranean Region each country displays varying strengths and weaknesses in tobacco control.

For instance, two of the most populous countries – Egypt and Pakistan – are making greater strides in their tobacco control campaigns with the aid of a US$ 125 million fund set up by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2006.

The Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use targets 15 developing countries where the health burden from tobacco use is the highest.

Egypt and Pakistan were awarded US$ 3 million in grants under the initiative, according to El-Awa. Egypt is using the funds to strengthen tobacco health warnings and to set up a special implementation unit at its health ministry. It has also proposed turning the historic port city of Alexandria into a smoke-free zone.

Just over 25% of Egypt's population of 80 million smokes. Egypt is also the largest cigarette manufacturer in the Middle East, producing 0.7% of the world's total output, while its cigarette consumption is the highest in the Middle East and north Africa. Waterpipe consumption has also become a worry in the country. Legislation in Egypt restricts smoking in some public places, such as work and other enclosed areas, but taxes on cigarettes are low.

Some 25 to 30 million Pakistanis smoke and 1200 young people start smoking each day, according to Bloomberg Initiative figures. An estimated 100 000 Pakistanis die each year from tobacco-related illness. Given these numbers, the programme is expected to focus on reducing smoking demand. Model centres that encourage people to stop smoking are expected to be established in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, while support will be given to launch smoke-free cities and shopping areas.

Tobacco consumption in Pakistan is not limited to cigarettes, but also includes 'beedis' (hand-rolled cigarettes), water pipes and chewing tobacco.According to Pakistan's National Health Survey, 36% of men and 9% of women smoke.

But how are the other countries in the region faring? Jordan has prohibited tobacco sales to minors and became the first country in the region to plaster prominent health warnings on cigarette packets.

Dr Hiba Ayub, head of the Tobacco Control Department at Jordan's Ministry of Health, says that a public clinic set up three years ago to help smokers overcome their addiction expects to provide free nicotine replacement therapy, from January 2008.

"Some 330–350 smokers have participated in the programme yearly and 22% have succeeded in quitting," she says.

"You may think that isn't a high number, but globally the best rate so far for quitting is 28–30%. Our rate is good given the short amount of time this public clinic has been in operation."

Jordan is educating young people about the dangers of smoking. "What's important to stop smoking is to discourage people from starting to smoke when they're young," Ayub says. Jordan's Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Education Ministry and a local anti-smoking nongovernmental organization participate in school programmes.

"Most of our lectures are aimed at those aged 10 years and above, although we should start earlier," she admits.

Ayub says that while smoking hazards are discussed, they aren't the focus of the talks. Instead, the message emphasizes positive reinforcement, encouraging young people to play sports and spend their money on things other than cigarettes.

But her department runs on a shoestring budget with much of its funding coming from WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Only recently has the government begun to contribute funding, and the amount has not been disclosed.

Despite these efforts, a Ministry of Health survey found that smoking increased recently from 27–29% among Jordan's 5 million people over the period from 2005 to 2007. A 2006 study found that 13.6% of youth, aged 13–15, smoked cigarettes, while 22.7% opted for the narghile.

In this region, religion plays an important role in daily life and it, too, is being used to advocate an end to tobacco use.

Islam's holy cities of Mecca and Medina were pronounced tobacco free by Saudia Arabia in 2002, not just during the annual hajj pilgrimage, but all year long. The selling of tobacco products there is also prohibited. El-Awa says these restrictions are strictly enforced, although violations are unavoidable among some 4 million visitors every year.

Islamic religious leaders have also issued edicts or fatwa declaring smoking to be haram or prohibited.

El-Awa says that Muslim preachers take the opportunity during the fasting month of Ramadan to urge their congregations to give up smoking as do Christian priests at other times of the year, particularly those serving in the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt, the largest Christian community in the region.

But in war-ravaged countries, like Afghanistan and Somalia, little has been done to stem tobacco use, while Tunisia and Morocco seem to present the biggest challenges to WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region's campaign for countries to become Parties to the WHO FCTC. "They have very strong administrative departments which require many formalities for the ratification of the WHO FCTC to be completed," El-Awa says. "Still, we are hopeful that ratification will take place by May," she added.

Despite the conflict in Iraq, the government there has completed the process of ratifying the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and is awaiting official deposit at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Its neighbour the Islamic Republic of Iran took the novel step of prohibiting water pipe smoking in its cafes last year; something unheard of throughout most of the region.

But Ayub and other experts warn that the dangers posed by the narghile are even greater than those of cigarette smoking. "A mound of water pipe tobacco has the equivalent effect of smoking two to three packs of cigarettes." ■

A shisha smoker, Emad Odeaileh, in the popular Jahrah coffee shop in downtown Amman, Jordan

Public health poster for World No Tobacco Day in 2007 in WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region shows a scene from a coffee shop where people smoke Oriental water-pipes. The poster is part of a campaign to promote the establishment of 100% smoke-free ...


Membrane potentials (MP) of the early embiogenesis in Cyprinus carpio L. were studied. It is determined that during cleavage of the egg cell MP increases from 8.3 +/- +/- 2.1 mV (non-cleaving fertilized egg cell) to 47.5 +/- 4.1 mV (stage of the microcellular morula). The influence of sodium ions on MP gradually decreases. On the contrary, the influence of potassium ions grown considerably. Potassium ions play the main part in formation of embrionic cells MP in the carp.


This paper presents a high precision temperature measurement instrument based on quartz tuning-fork temperature sensor (QTTS) using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). The advantage of QTTS is a great sensitivity which makes possible to determine the temperature with the accuracy of 0.01 °C , but the QTTS based temperature measurement instrument often appears as erroneous temperature reading when using standard polynomial calibration techniques over a large temperature range. For high precision temperature measurement, a new method is presented to compensate non-linearity of QTTS based instrument using non-linearity compensation model using ANN by Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm to settle its non-linear problem. The hardware and software parts of the system are integrated in a PC-based instrument used for operation and calibration. ANN based modelling and correction technique has been evaluated experimentally, followed by experimental results obtained by applying the method to QTTS calibration.


In recent years, novel quantifications of measurement error in quantum mechanics have for the first time enabled precise formulations of Heisenberg's famous but often challenged measurement uncertainty relation. These relations take the form of a trade-off for the necessary errors in joint approximate measurements of position and momentum and other incompatible pairs of observables. Here we review some of these error measures, examine their properties and suitability, and compare their relative strengths as criteria for "good" approximations.


The effect of acetylsalicylic (250 mg/kg) and mephenamic (50 mg/kg) acids on the process of skin cytoarchitectonics restoration was studied in rats with acute local cryogenic traumas induced by acting with a stream of ethyl chloride upon epilated back skin area (1.5 cm2). The animals were killed under narcosis on the 12th day of post-treatment observation. Both acetylsalicylic and mephenamic acids were administered per os twice per day over various periods after cryogenic damage. The effect depended on the treatment duration. The normal skin cytoarchitectonics was restored by acetylsalicylic acid in half, and by mephenamic acid, in one-third of cases (for a "combined" administration scheme).


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the studies on decompression illness (DCI) in China in the past 10 years.

METHODS
We searched three Chinese databases and collected studies on DCI for further analysis. On the basis of findings, we proposed the issues on DCI in China.

RESULTS
There are more than 50,000 active divers in China, the majority of whom are fishing divers. Among them, the incidence of DCI is still at a high level because they have little or no knowledge of diving and diving medicine, the quality of diving equipment is poor, and divers generally do not follow the regulations of diving. There are few dive physicians in China, and the general clinicians have poor knowledge about, or pay little attention to, dive medicine. This might be the major cause of the poor quality of studies on DCI. There is no consensus in the classification of DCI and treatment tables for DCI treatment. These are factors affecting systemic review and further meta-analysis of available studies on DCI.

CONCLUSION
It is imperative to generalize knowledge in not only divers and diving-related practitioners but general practitioners as well.


Some years ago Czerny gave the name of "Exudative Diathesis" to a group of symptoms characterized by an exudation into the skin and mucous membranes. The skin of infants suffering from exudative diathesis shows some form of eczema, varying in grade from a very mild seborrhea to extensive infiltration, with excoriation. The so-called geographic tongue is seen in some cases. Catarrhal affections of the respiratory tract—coryza, pharyngitis, recurrent bronchitis, and asthma—make their appearance. A catarrh of the gastrointestinal tract is often present. General glandular enlargement with an enlarged spleen may be combined with one or more of the other manifestations. An eosinophilia is found in the blood examination of some of the cases. The exudative diathesis is generally encountered either in very obese or in very thin infants; some of the cases, however, are normal in weight and development. The eczema, bronchitis and asthma occurring in infants with other symptoms


Solanum khasianum Clarke. (Solanaceae), an important medicinal plant used to treat several diseases. Leaf, root, fruit and bark extracts of S. khasianum and the green synthesized silver nanoparticles were assayed for its antibacterial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, using agar well diffusion method. Among all the solvent extracts tested, methanolic extracts were found to possess elevated activity. The optimal antibacterial activity is exhibited by silver nanoparticles against Pseudomonas flourescens with a maximal zone of inhibition (22mm). In the present study, the efficacy of green synthesized silver nanoparticles over the different plant extracts of S. khasianum against different bacterial strains was reported. This investigation discloses the potentiality of using silver nanoparticles as an antibacterial agent.


The histone H2A variant H2AZ is an essential chromatin signaling factor. Herein, we report that H2AZ is mono-methylated at lysine 7 (H2AZK7) by the lysine methyltransferase SETD6. We observed that methylation of H2AZ increased noticeably upon cellular differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC). H2AZK7 and the repressive H3K27 mark were found near the transcriptional start sites of differentiation marker genes, but were removed upon retinoic acid-induced cellular differentiation. The depletion of Setd6 in mESC led to cellular differentiation, compromised self-renewal, and poor clonogenicity. These findings demonstrate that mESC require Setd6 for self-renewal and portray H2AZK7 as a marker of cellular differentiation.


Purpose: The purpose of this study is basically to examine the nexus between patronage of telecommunication network services and Corporate Social Responsibility activities executed by the three mobile telecommunication network providers with the highest subscribers in Ghana. Findings: The study reveals that there is no relationship between the patronage of mobile communication network services and Corporate Social Responsibility activities executed by the three leading mobile telecommunication service providers in Ghana. Patronage is purely premised on quality voice call service, wide network coverage, promotion packages, and fast and affordable internet services inter alia. Conclusion; it is suggested that the government should encourage the public to patronize the services and products of corporate bodies who initiate Corporate Social Responsibility projects in the societies so that those corporate bodies would be encouraged to engage in more social activities and projects to support the Government.


Background: The 131 I radioisotope is used for diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. In optimized Iodine therapy, a specific dose must be reached to the thyroid gland with minimum radiation to the cervical spine, cervical vertebrae, neck tissue, subcutaneous fat and skin. Dose measurement inside the alive organ is difficult; therefore the aim of this research was dose calculation in the organs by MCNPX code. Materials and Methods: First of all, the input file for MCNPX code has been prepared to calculate F6 and F8 tallies for ellipsoidal thyroid lobes with long axes is tow times of short axes which the 131I is distributed uniformly inside the lobes. Then the code has been run for F6 and F8 tallies for variation of lobe volume from 1 to 25 milliliters. From the output file of tally F6, the gamma absorbed dose in ellipsoidal thyroid, spinal neck, neck bone, neck tissue, subcutaneous fat layer and skin for the volume lobe variation from 1 ml to 25 ml have been derived and the graphs are drew. As well as, form the output of F8 tally the absorbed energy of beta in thyroid and soft tissue of neck is obtained and listed in the table and then absorbed dose of bate has been calculated. Results: The results of this research show that for constant activity in thyroid, the absorbed dose of gamma decreases about 88.3% in thyroid, 6.9% at soft tissue, 19.3% in adipose layer and 17.4% in skin, but it increases 32.1% in spinal of neck and 32.3% in neck bone when the lobe volume varied from 1 to 25 milliliters. For the same situation, the beta absorbed dose decreases 95.9% in thyroid and 64.2% in soft tissue. Conclusion: For the constant activity in thyroid by increasing the thyroid volume, absorbed dose of gamma in thyroid and soft tissue of neck, adipose layer under the skin and skin of neck decreased, but it increased at spinal of neck and neck bone. Also, by increasing of the lobe volume in constant activity, the beta absorbed dose reduced. Therefore, whatever the thyroid lobe is small the administered value of 131I increased to induce the suitable dose.


After More Than a Decade of Deregulation and Privatization in Canada, the time is ripe for an examination of the regulatory' institutions that were reshaped, rebuilt, or newly created in the process. Concurrent with these internal changes, new international agreements such NAFTA and global telecommunications have had a major impact on regulators and the communities being regulated. This book examines changes to key institutions and argues for a greater breadth of institutional analysis. It also examines particular regulatory bodies such as the Canadian Radio and Television Commission, the National Energy Board, and the Canadian Transport Agency. Furthermore, the analysis extends to civic regulation, the regulation of privacy, internal trade regulation, international trade and finance. The individual authors focus on federal regulation but include reference to federal-provincial developments. The book is structured around a, framework in which regulation is cast as an interplay among four regimes: sectoral, framework or horizontal, intra-state and Cabinet, and international. These regimes both converge and collide but also have basic internal attributes that cause them to function independently. The editors and authors also look at such themes as the lessons learned in the theory and political arts of Canadian regulation; the regulator?' capacity of the Canadian state; regulatory accountability; and the Canadian regulatory culture in a comparative context. The result is a book that brings a vitality to the ever more complex subject of government regulation in Canada.


This paper presents a feasibility study using Surface Electromyography (EMG) and bend resistive sensors for hand gesture recognition. Using only surface EMG signals, we classified gestures using a neural network, logistic regression, and a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model. The results ranged widely from 40-75% accuracy. To improve accuracy, we included bend resistive sensors that are attached to each of the five fingers of the hand. This approach is sometimes known as a "data glove" and is an alternative to using surface EMG only for gesture recognition. Using the data glove accompanied with an SVM model, we achieved 93.33% accuracy over a 10 hand gesture set. With these sensors, we are able to classify hand gestures, and not arm movements. Future work will be incorporating accelerometers and varied placement of EMG sensors into the model to widen the range of gesture recognition and increase accuracy.


In a world of daily emerging scientific inquisition and discovery, the prolific launch of machine learning across industries comes to little surprise for those familiar with the potential of ML. Neither so should the congruent expansion of ethics-focused research that emerged as a response to issues of bias and unfairness that stemmed from those very same applications. Fairness research, which focuses on techniques to combat algorithmic bias, is now more supported than ever before. A large portion of fairness research has gone to producing tools that machine learning practitioners can use to audit for bias while designing their algorithms. Nonetheless, there is a lack of application of these fairness solutions in practice. This systematic review provides an in-depth summary of the algorithmic bias issues that have been defined and the fairness solution space that has been proposed. Moreover, this review provides an in-depth breakdown of the caveats to the solution space that have arisen since their release and a taxonomy of needs that have been proposed by machine learning practitioners, fairness researchers, and institutional stakeholders. These needs have been organized and addressed to the parties most influential to their implementation, which includes fairness researchers, organizations that produce ML algorithms, and the machine learning practitioners themselves. These findings can be used in the future to bridge the gap between practitioners and fairness experts and inform the creation of usable fair ML toolkits.


Abstract : This research investigated the feasibility of applying software engineering technology to the Air Force wing command and control (C2) domain. As part of this research, domain analysis and object-oriented techniques were investigated and a specific approach was chosen to analyze the domain. Analysis of the domain resulted in an object-oriented domain model that captured the key objects, operations, and associations, and behavior of wing C2. The domain model was used to design and implement a prototype software tool that enables wing decision makers to assign resources to mission tasks and to make assessments about automation's impact on wing C2 operations.


This paper investigates a plug-in repetitive control scheme for bridgeless power factor correction (PFC) converters to mitigate input current distortions under continuous conduction mode and discontinuous conduction mode operating conditions. From the PFC converter model and the fact that a type-II compensator is used, a design methodology to maximize the bandwidth of the feedback controller is suggested. After that, the error transfer function including the feedback controller is derived, and the stability of the repetitive control scheme is evaluated using the error transfer function. The implementation of the digital repetitive controller is also discussed. The simulation and experimental results show that the input current THD is significantly improved by using the proposed control scheme for a 1-kW single-phase bridgeless PFC converter prototype.


This thesis describes the statistical methodology behind a variety of industrial screening experiments. The primary focus of the thesis is on supersaturated designs that have more parameters to be investigated than runs available. Such designs are particularly useful when experiments are expensive to perform. In addition, the statistical issues behind a real-life screening experiment are investigated, where there is a functional response and the factor levels cannot be set directly. A study to compare several existing design and analysis methods for two-level supersaturated designs was carried out. A variety of different scenarios in terms of numbers of runs, numbers of factors and numbers of active factors were investigated via simulated experiments. The Gauss-Dantzig selector was identified as an effective analysis method, whilst little difference was found in the practical performance of designs from the different criteria. As a result of the study, several guidelines are provided, to indicate when supersaturated designs are most likely to be effective as a screening tool. A new criterion for designing supersaturated experiments under measures of multicollinearity is presented. The criterion is particularly applicable to experiments where factor levels cannot be set independently, although its application to two-level designs is also demonstrated. An optimal allocation of factors to columns of an existing design is also considered. Supersaturated experiments are discussed in the context of robust product design, where the interactions between control factors and noise factors are explored. A new criterion specifically applicable to supersaturated robust product design experiments is described. The fact that the experimenter is interested in some parameters more than others is exploited and the cost savings from using a supersaturated experiment are illustrated. It is demonstrated that substantial gains in power to detect active effects can be achieved when using this new criterion. Finally, the design and analysis of a practical screening experiment is discussed. Complicating features of the experiment include the multivariate nature of the response and the fact that factor levels cannot be set directly. A two-stage linear mixed effect model is applied, with principal components analysis used for the first stage models. A novel method for finding follow-up runs to the screening experiment is described and implemented


Sclerotic chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can result in disability after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. We assessed the incidence and risk factors of sclerosis and its association with transplant outcomes among 977 consecutive patients treated with systemic immunosuppression for chronic GVHD. Sclerosis was defined when cutaneous sclerosis, fasciitis, or joint contracture was first documented in the medical record. Seventy (7%) patients presented with sclerosis at the time of initial systemic treatment for chronic GVHD, and the cumulative incidence of sclerosis increased to 20% at 3 years. Factors associated with an increased risk of sclerosis included the use of a mobilized blood cell graft and a conditioning regimen with > 450 cGy total body irradiation. Factors associated with a decreased risk of sclerosis included the use of an HLA-mismatched donor and a major ABO-mismatched donor. Development of sclerosis was associated with longer time to withdrawal of immunosuppressive treatment but not with risks of overall mortality, nonrelapse mortality, or recurrent malignancy. We found a substantial incidence of sclerosis in patients with chronic GVHD. Development of sclerosis can cause disability but does not affect mortality or recurrent malignancy in patients with chronic GVHD. ( Blood . 2013;121(25):5098-5103) a multivariate Cox regression model. A backward elimination procedure was used to exclude risk factors until the P value of the ratio test for all remaining risk factors was < .05. A similar procedure was used to evaluate risk factors for mortality.


We have relocated over 8600 earthquakes occurring between 1964 and 1999 at depths >25 km within ∼100 km of Anchorage, Alaska, using the double- difference technique. The relocated seismicity reveals important details of the subducting Pacific plate and Yakutat blocks including clustering of seismicity within the Pacific plate mantle, northeast- and northwest-striking near-vertical faults within the Pacific plate crust, and a region of intense deformation associated with the southwestern edge of the Yakutat block. Stress analyses from the direct inversion of first- motion data and from inversion of focal mechanisms for 713 events indicates a rotation of the maximum compressive stress direction from a trench parallel direction (northeast) in the southwestern portion of the study area to an east–west direction near the southwestern edge of the Yakutat block located just north of Anchorage. Regions of the Pacific plate mantle that produced M w >6.4 earthquakes in 1934 and 1954 continue to be seismically active.


26 S proteasomes fulfill final steps in the ubiquitin-dependent degradation pathway by recognizing and hydrolyzing ubiquitylated proteins. As the 26 S proteasome mainly localizes to the nucleus in yeast, we addressed the question how this 2-MDa multisubunit complex is imported into the nucleus. 26 S proteasomes consist of a 20 S proteolytically active core and 19 S regulatory particles, the latter composed of two subcomplexes, namely the base and lid complexes. We have shown that 20 S core particles are translocated into the nucleus as inactive precursor complexes via the classic karyopherin αβ import pathway. Here, we provide evidence that nuclear import of base and lid complexes also depends on karyopherin αβ. Potential classic nuclear localization sequences (NLSs) of base subunits were analyzed. Rpn2 and Rpt2, a non-ATPase subunit and an ATPase subunit of the base complex, harbor functional NLSs. The Rpt2 NLS deletion yielded wild type localization. However, the deletion of the Rpn2 NLS resulted in improper nuclear proteasome localization and impaired proteasome function. Our data support the model by which nuclear 26 S proteasomes are assembled from subcomplexes imported by karyopherin αβ


The irrigation with vinasse can improve soil fertility. However, this use should take into account the characteristics of each soil because the vinasse has unbalanced amounts of mineral and organic elements which might lead to leach the ions, especially nitrate and potassium.  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impacts of vinasse irrigation on effluent ionic concentrations in Brazilian Ferralsols from two areas in Central Brazil: a sugarcane field, and a natural undisturbed savannah area. Soil samples from the two sites were placed into PVC columns with 120 cm height × 25 cm diameter with sugarcane. Undiluted vinasse was applied once on the surface of the soil columns at doses equivalent to 0, 300, 600 and 1200 m3 ha-1. After 0, 60, 90 and 120 days of irrigation, samples of the effluent were collected and the concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM), Cl, Ca, Mg, Na, K, total Fe, NH4+, NO3-, SO42- as well as pH were determined. The ions concentration data were modeled in the chemical equilibrium model Visual Minteq v. 3.0. Results revealed vinasse's dose, days after irrigation and land use had a relevant effect on most nutrients effluent concentration. Contrasting pH values were observed for both soils and in the savannah soil was observed a decrease in pH at high vinasse doses. This paper thus revealed leaching of the DOM was strongly time dependent. High vinasse doses may lead to increase nutrient leaching and soil dispersion regardless the land use and time after irrigation.

 Key words: Ion speciation, sugarcane, visual minteq, leaching, ethanol.


The main purpose of this research is to identify the problems of traditional internship programs conducted at tertiary level educational institutions and propose a practical model of the internship entrepreneurship program. The qualitative research method has been used here to explore the existing problems of traditional  internship programs, and rationalize the necessity of entrepreneurship internship program of Southern University Bangladesh (SUB)as an alternative to the traditional internship program. In this regard, three focused group discussions were conducted with three main stakeholders, namely the faculty guide, the internship supervisors of the host company, and the student interns. The study discovered different weaknesses of traditional internship programs conducted in the university, including the limited scope of internship, noncooperation by the host companies, and the limitation of time. However, all the stakeholders are on the same page regarding the incapacity of traditional internship programs in developing the entrepreneurial spirit and aspiration among the interns. The study proposed the SUB model as an independent way to conduct an entrepreneurship-friendly internship program at tertiary level education, which may help the concerned to overcome the challenges of a traditional internship program. This research may contribute to the body of knowledge of higher education management and may support academia to develop an entrepreneurship development centered curriculum.


We revisit the classical question of the relationship between the diameter of a graph and its expansion properties. One direction is well understood: expander graphs exhibit essentially the lowest possible diameter. We focus on the reverse direction, showing that "sufficiently large" graphs of fixed diameter and degree must be "good" expanders. We prove this statement for various definitions of "sufficiently large" (multiplicative/additive factor from the largest possible size), for different forms of expansion (edge, vertex, and spectral expansion), and for both directed and undirected graphs. A recurring theme is that the lower the diameter of the graph and (more importantly) the larger its size, the better the expansion guarantees. Aside from inherent theoretical interest, our motivation stems from the domain of network design. Both low-diameter networks and expanders are prominent approaches to designing high-performance networks in parallel computing, HPC, datacenter networking, and beyond. Our results establish that these two approaches are, in fact, inextricably intertwined. We leave the reader with many intriguing questions for future research.


This study presents a new equivalent circuit modelling methodology for various-type spiral resonators in printed circuit board environment. The N-turn spiral resonator can be decomposed into an N Π-equivalent circuit model, and each Π-model is comprised of a series inductance, parallel capacitance, two shunt capacitors and the resistances of the conductor and dielectric. Both the inductance and capacitance of the equivalent circuit are calculated by the proposed formulas, which are based on the electromagnetic theory. It has been demonstrated that the proposed equivalent circuit model of the spiral resonator is well matched in S-parameters, Q-factor and inductance values as well as in self-resonance frequency values within 8% tolerance with measurement and full-wave electromagnetic field solver.


Despite a low unemployment rate, wage growth in the U.S. was negligible during the 2013–2015 period. Conventional linear models of the relationship between wages and unemployment, the so-called wage Phillips curve (WPC), and previous models of the WPC that rely on regime-switching driven only by changes in unemployment, provide a poor fit in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Meanwhile, standard linear theoretical general equilibrium models are based on an assumption that economic agents take into account nominal wages relative to prices when making labor decisions, suggesting that there is a role for inflation in determining the empirical dynamics of the WPC. We employ a nonlinear empirical model to study how the relationship between U.S. wage growth and unemployment changes over the business cycle. In particular, we estimate a threshold vector autoregression with multiple threshold variables and multiple threshold parameters for each threshold variable for the 1965–2015 period. We find that the WPC changes according to the dynamics of both unemployment and inflation. Specifically, it changes as the unemployment rate transitions above or below the two estimated thresholds, defined by 5.03% and 7.77%. Simultaneously, it also evolves depending on whether inflation is above or below 0.38% relative to trend. The results show a strong negative relationship between wage growth and unemployment during periods of expansion when inflation is above its long-run trend. The relationship weakens, although remains negative, during periods of expansions with low inflation and during mild recessions. Our results indicate that the negligible wage growth observed during 2013–2015 was driven not only by labor market slack, as suggested by previous studies, but also by the low inflation environment.


Whether people would choose to walk or ride a bike for their daily travel is affected by how desirable the environment is for walking and biking. To better inform urban planning and design practices, studies on measuring walkability and bikeability have emerged in western countries over the last decade. However, such efforts are still rare in developing countries, partially due to the scarcity of urban data. Utilizing open source data, this paper puts forward a methodology to comprehensively and objectively measure street walkability and bikeability in China. The methodology was applied to four Chinese cities: Tianjin, Chongqing, Kunming, and Shijiazhuang. Analyses showed the following results: (1) city centers tend to have higher walkability than periphery areas; (2) a preliminary bikeable street network exists in most cities (except mountainous cities), but the prevalence of bike lanes on streets is much lower than that of sidewalks; (3) the problem of illegal parking on both sidewalks and bike lanes is severe, especially in city centers; (4) biking safety and comfort is compromised due to a lack of physically separated bike lanes; and (5) the street wall continuity varies from place to place whereas the street network in traditional city centers is much denser than newly developed car-oriented areas. The end of the paper provides corresponding policy implications.


Recent studies have shown that Genistein can obviously suppress growth of gynecologic carcinoma. In this study we examined whether Genistein and Cisplatin, alone and in combination, exhibited a inhibitory effect on the growth of ovarian carcinoma. SKOV3 cells were treated with 20µM Genistein, 20µM Cisplatin and combination group (G+C) for 24 to 72 hours, antiproliferative effect was tested by MTT method. Apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. Then the transplanted xenografts were treated with Genistein and Cisplatin, the tumor volume and tumor weight were measured, HE staining were performed for morphologic observation. A time and dose-dependent growth inhibition was observed. When treated the cells with 20µM Genistein, 20µMCisplatin and combination group (G+C), compared with the control group, the growth of cells in different treatment group was inhibited, while the combination of Genistein and Cisplatin showed significant inhibition effect than single agent. When Genistein (0.4mg/kg, s.c.) treated the transplanted xenograft in vivo, the tumor volume and tumor weight decreased, T/C ratio (mean volume of treated group/mean volume of control group) also was reduced compared to untreated group, and extensive necrotic areas in the tumor treated with Genistein and Cisplatin appeared in HE section. A weight loss of nude mice after treatment with Genistein was not significant as compared with the control group. And when treated with Genistein (0.4mg/kg, s.c.) and Cisplatin (4mg/kg, i.v.), it showed a synergistic effect. Genistein and Cisplatin, alone and in combination, suppress cell growth. The combination of Genistein and Cisplatin, as compared to single treated group, caused a synergistic increase in antiproliferative effect on SKOV3 cells. The implication for treatment of ovarian cancer may be combination of Genistein and Cisplatin. Further studies are needed to supply more evidence.


The objective of this work was to determine some of the determinants of cost in teleconsultations as compared to face-to-face consultations. Time spent with patients and estimated costs were modeled using time series data from a university Health Science Center located in West Texas. This center provides education, patient care, community service and research to a 109 county area. Data, collected from 184 consecutive telemedical consultations, included patient, primary care provider and specialist characteristics; time spent with patients; and estimated charges. More time was spent with patients if: payment was through private insurance, more specialists were involved in the consult, or the specialist had practiced medicine longer. Consultations took less time if the specialist was a neonatologist, and less time if the specialist recently completed medical training. Estimated charges to patients were higher if: the consult was longer in duration, multiple specialists were involved, the patient was female, the consultation involved endocrinology or dermatology, or the patient came from a rural community. Charges were lower for consults involving a neonatologist. Estimated charges were determined primarily by time spent with the patient and the kind of specialist involved, with time being the more important of the two factors. Telemedicine consultations required less time for patients with private insurance or those seeing a neonatologist. Broad or complex cases requiring multiple specialists required more interaction time. The more time and more specialists involved, the more potentially costly the teleconsultation.


Electronic government is being increasingly recognized as a means for transforming public governance. Despite this increasing interest, information systems (IS) literature is mostly silent on what really contributes to the success of e-government Web sites. To fill this gap, this study examines the role of trust in e-government success using the updated DeLone and McLean IS success model as the theoretical framework. The model is tested via a survey of 214 Singapore e-government Web site users. The results show that trust in government, but not trust in technology, is positively related to trust in e-government Web sites. Further, trust in e-government Web sites is positively related to information quality, system quality, and service quality. The quality constructs have different effects on "intention to continue" using the Web site and "satisfaction" with the Web site. Post hoc analysis indicates that the nature of usage (active versus passive users) may help us better understand the interrelationships among success variables examined in this study. This result suggests that the DeLone and McLean model can be further extended by examining the nature of IS use. In addition, it is important to consider the role of trust as well as various Web site quality attributes in understanding e-government success.


To date, few organisms have been shown to possess variable ribosomal RNA, otherwise considered a classic example of uniformity by concerted evolution. The polymorphism for the 16S rRNA in Nosema ceranae analysed here is striking as Microsporidia are intracellular parasites which have suffered a strong reduction in their genomes and cellular organization. Moreover, N. ceranae infects the honeybee Apis mellifera, and has been associated with the colony‐loss phenomenon during the last decade. The variants of 16S rRNA include single nucleotide substitutions, one base insertion‐deletion, plus a tetranucleotide indel. We show that different gene variants are expressed. The polymorphic sites tend to be located in particular regions of the rRNA molecule, and the comparison to the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA secondary structure indicates that most variations probably do not preclude ribosomal activity. The fact that the polymorphisms in such a minimal organism as N. ceranae are maintained in samples collected worldwide suggest that the existence of differently expressed rRNA may play an adaptive role in the microsporidian.


Gelatinous carcinoma 1 of the breast is a comparatively rare state. In a combined group of 2,944 carcinomas of the breast cited by Gaabe, 2 49, or 1.66 per cent, were of the gelatinous type. Gelatinous carcinoma occurs in patients of about the same age as do the usual forms of carcinoma of the breast. Tumors undergoing gelatinous degeneration sometimes reach an enormous size and the mass of the tumor may consist largely of gelatinous material. On the other hand, the amount of gelatinous material may be so small that it may be readily overlooked. Similar degeneration is known to occur in tumors arising in other situations where mucin-forming cells abound, notably the large intestine, stomach and biliary tract. Gelatinous carcinoma of the breast exhibits characteristic gross and microscopic appearances. The gross features may be striking. Large or small areas of the tumor may be somewhat translucent in appearance and


It is well known in antitrust economics that competitors can rely on patent licensing with supracompetitive royalties as a surrogate for price fixing. This paper addresses a number of alternative situations in which patent royalty agreements may raise antitrust concerns, even if the royalty rate is ostensibly reasonable (implying the agreement is not transparently anticompetitive). First, a royalty may serve effectively as a vertical restraint, preventing the downstream firm from passing too much of the licensing value through to consumers, which may enhance joint profits. Second, licensing to a rival creates an "alignment effect" by giving the licensor a stake in its rival's success, thereby diminishing inter-party competition. This is the same problem that arises when a firm buys stock in a competitor. Consequently, even if the royalty rate is reasonable, the arrangement may reduce consumer welfare overall. Indeed, it creates essentially the same welfare tradeoff as horizontal merger: it engenders some procompetitive efficiencies, but it makes the market less competitive. Additionally, offsetting (i.e. reciprocal) license payments between competitors often warrant scrutiny even if each royalty appears individually reasonable. Even under cross-licensing, offsetting payments are generally unnecessary for the parties to reach a mutually-beneficial agreement, which is the relevant antitrust question. Instead, the practical effect of offsetting royalties is to replicate a collusive agreement to restrain consumer pass-through, ensuring the firms retain more of the licensing surplus. The results shed new light on the competitive impact of patent pools, which typically create widespread royalty offset and alignment between competing members, even if patents are complementary.


Galactomannan (GM) detection by the Platelia Aspergillus enzyme immunoassay is widely used for diagnosing invasive aspergillosis. A major problem with the detection of circulating GM is the occurrence of false-positive results due to the crossreactivity of the test with antigens other than Aspergillus GM. In the clinical setting, cross-reactivity with antibiotics, in particular piperacillin-tazobactam, and other opportunistic fungi represent the two major causes of false-positive results (3, 5). Gastrointestinal translocation of GM from food is also a presumed cause of false positivity for antigenemia (5). Recently, solutions containing gluconate, which is usually produced by fermentation of glucose in mold cultures, have been shown to be another cause of false-positive GM assay reactivity (4, 6). At our institution, GM assay is routinely used in the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematologic malignancies. In March 2007, in two consecutive experiments, all serum samples (32 samples total) showed very high indexes of reactivity (indexes of 4) with normal reactivity to negative, positive, and standard serum controls provided by the manufacturer. Considering that most of these results were not consistent with the clinical findings for the patients and that the patients had no specific clinical characteristic in common (they were adult and pediatric inpatients and outpatients with various underlying diseases and conditions), we hypothesized that Platelia Aspergillus positivity may have been due to a crossreaction related to an abnormal laboratory procedure. Initially, no particular handling practice during assay performance potentially leading to the contamination of samples was identified. Finally, we found out that while the tubes (1.5-ml Eppendorf microcentrifuge tubes) we use for serum sample storage in our laboratory are usually taken from a plastic box, in the two above-described experiments the laboratory technician erroneously used the same type of tubes but took them from a cardboard box (the control samples had previously been stored in tubes from the plastic box). The tubes, not plugged as provided by the manufacturer, had been placed in the cardboard box and the box in a laboratory cupboard several months before, and some cardboard particles were visible. We performed the GM assay with sterile distilled water using tubes taken from the cardboard box and with cardboard homogenate, and all gave high indexes of reactivity. Multiple cultures of tubes and cardboard were negative for fungi. Polysaccharides containing mannopyrosyl residues, such as mannans, glucomannans, and GMs, are commonly found as plant cell wall components (1). Considering that paper and paper products are made from plants, it seems reasonable to hypothesize that cardboard particles contain GM antigen cross-reacting with the Platelia Aspergillus assay. Similar crossreaction was also reported for cotton swabs (2). Therefore, we think that the false-positive GM results we observed in the above-described experiments were related to the prior contamination of the tubes by cardboard particles before their use for serum sample storage. Although enzyme immunoassay procedures usually do not require particular sterility precautions, considering that GMs are polysaccharides widely distributed in the environment, improper laboratory practices possibly allowing contamination and false-positive results should be known and carefully avoided.


The effect of meperidine on the spontaneous release of acetylcholine (mepp amplitude and frequency) and on the release evoked by nerve stimulation (epp amplitude and quantal content) was investigated in frog sciatic nerve-sartorius muscle in vitro. Meperidine (8.5 X 10(-5) or 1.6 X 10(-4)M) had no effect on mepp frequency recorded intracellularly in the absence of neuromuscular blockers, but reduced mepp amplitude. This depression was not antagonized by 3 X 10(-8) M naloxone and was explained by a nonspecific depressant action of meperidine on the endplate. When mepps and epps were recorded intracellularly in the presence of high Mg++, the mean amplitudes of both potentials were reduced equally by meperidine (either 1.6 or 4.2 X 10(-4)M) i.e. there was no change in the quantal content, and 3 X 10(-8)M naloxone failed to antagonize these amplitude depressions. When epps were recorded in the presence of d-tubocurarine, the percentage depression of epp amplitude by meperidine was significantly greater than found in the presence of Mg++ and was partially antagonized by naloxone indicating an opiate receptor mediated effect of meperidine. Thus it was concluded that Mg++ prevents this prejunctional opiate receptor mediated depressant effect of meperidine on the evoked release of acetylcholine.


Generally, this study concerned about the indoor air quality assessment in enclosed car park. It is related about the building management indoor air control in the commercial building in Plaza Perangsang, Plaza Alam Sentral and Complex PKNS. The aims of the study to assess the indoor air quality in enclosed car park and to determine the concentration of gas in the area. It has three objectives that need to be achieved. Firstly to understanding the important of indoor air quality in enclosed car park, secondly to analyze the effectiveness indoor air quality in enclosed car park, thirdly to measure the reading of indoor air quality enclosed car park and last one is to give recommendation to improve the indoor air quality in enclosed car park. The research methodology that has been implemented during the research is through the sampling of air quality. In this study the sample reading of gas CO and C02 will be collect to assess the level of concentration and it will be collect in unit ppm. The gas reading will be made of 10 minute interval for 1 hour duration in the afternoon and evening. Through the sampling data will be analyses whether the air qualities comply with the requirement and standard of Malaysia guidelines. All the data has been presented or show into the forms of table and graph. Finding shows that the Plaza Alam Sentral has the poor indoor air quality in enclosed car park maybe either the lack maintenance of service, poor ventilation system or design. While the Plaza Perangsang and Complex PKNS in a good condition of air quality. The readings of gas concentration exceed the air quality guidelines. It is supported by the questionnaire session where respondent agree the Plaza Alam Sentral have a poor indoor air quality. Recommendations are made to improve the indoor air quality in enclosed car park to provide the effectiveness of ventilation system.


The debate on the responsibility of the writer was, in France as in the USA, an attack against literary and artistic modernism. From Charles Maurras to Irving Babbit, the reaction against modernism presented itself as a defense of Classicism and of tradition against Romanticism. Far from being politically neutral, this attack identified Romanticism with revolution and the destruction of the social order. The opposition between responsibility and freedom structured the debate from the end of the 19th century until World War II. The war entailed a loss of autonomy of the literary field which fostered, like during World War I, the imposition of national moralism. In both countries, a debate arose on the question of the responsibility of the writer, but it took a different form. Whereas the opposition between art for art's sake and responsibility continued to structure it in the USA, the notion of responsibility was appropriated in France by the literary Resistance and redefined by Sartre at the Liberation doi 10.17072/2219-3111-2017-4-148-161


Modern relational database management systems provide hybrid XML storage, combining relational and native technologies. Hybrid storage offers many design alternatives for XML data. In this paper we explore how to aid the user in effective design of hybrid storage. In particular we investigate how the XML schema and statistical information about the data can support the storage design process. In our previous work, we presented our tool HShreX that uses statistical information about a data set to enable fast evaluation of alternative hybrid design solutions. In this paper, we extend this work by presenting more details about the tool and results of an extended evaluation. In particular, this paper gives a detailed presentation on how the tool aids in the storage design and evaluation process.


Recently, two ideas have been explored that lead to more accurate algorithms for time-series classification (TSC). First, it has been shown that the simplest way to gain improvement on TSC problems is to transform into an alternative data space where discriminatory features are more easily detected. Second, it was demonstrated that with a single data representation, improved accuracy can be achieved through simple ensemble schemes. We combine these two principles to test the hypothesis that forming a collective of ensembles of classifiers on different data transformations improves the accuracy of time-series classification. The collective contains classifiers constructed in the time, frequency, change, and shapelet transformation domains. For the time domain, we use a set of elastic distance measures. For the other domains, we use a range of standard classifiers. Through extensive experimentation on 72 datasets, including all of the 46 UCR datasets, we demonstrate that the simple collective formed by including all classifiers in one ensemble is significantly more accurate than any of its components and any other previously published TSC algorithm. We investigate alternative hierarchical collective structures and demonstrate the utility of the approach on a new problem involving classifying Caenorhabditis elegans mutant types.


To improve AO resistance of polyimide, a type of polyimide/silica (PI/SiO2) hybrid film was prepared by the sol-gel process. The coupling agent p-aminophenyltrimeth- oxysilane (APTMOS) was chosen to enhance the compatibility between the polyimide (PI) and silica (SiO2). AO resistance of the PI/SiO2 hybrid films were tested in the ground-based simulation AO facility. The erosion yield of the films was 4.7×10-26 cm3/atom, decreased by two orders of magnitude compared with the value of 3.0×10-24 cm3/atom of the polyimide film. Results from FTIR, XPS, AFM on AO treated polyimide/silica hybrid films indicate the formation of a passivating inorganic SiO2 layer. The layer significantly retards the penetration of oxygen atoms, preventing further degradation of the polymer in the bulk. The addition of SiO2 in polyimide does not significantly alter the optical properties of polyimide during AO exposure.


We simulated entrainment of carbonates (calcite, dolomite) in silicate impact melts by 1‐bar laser melting of silicate–carbonate composite targets, using sandstone, basalt, calcite marble, limestone, dolomite marble, and iron meteorite as starting materials. We demonstrate that carbonate assimilation by silicate melts of variable composition is extremely fast (seconds to minutes), resulting in contamination of silicate melts with carbonate‐derived CaO and MgO and release of CO2 at the silicate melt–carbonate interface. We identify several processes, i.e., (1) decomposition of carbonates releases CO2 and produces residual oxides (CaO, MgO); (2) incorporation of residual oxides from proximally dissociating carbonates into silicate melts; (3) rapid back‐reactions between residual CaO and CO2 produce idiomorphic calcite crystallites and porous carbonate quench products; (4) high‐temperature reactions between Ca‐contaminated silicate melts and carbonates yield typical skarn minerals and residual oxide melts; (5) mixing and mingling between Ca‐ or Ca,Mg‐contaminated and Ca‐ or Ca,Mg‐normal silicate melts; (6) precipitation of Ca‐ or Ca,Mg‐rich silicates from contaminated silicate melts upon quenching. Our experiments reproduce many textural and compositional features of typical impact melts originating from silicate–carbonate targets. They reinforce hypotheses that thermal decomposition of carbonates, rapid back‐reactions between decomposition products, and incorporation of residual oxides into silicate impact melts are prevailing processes during impact melting of mixed silicate–carbonate targets. However, by comparing our results with previous studies and thermodynamic considerations on the phase diagrams of calcite and quartz, we envisage that carbonate impact melts are readily produced during adiabatic decompression from high shock pressure, but subsequently decompose due to heat influx from coexisting silicate impact melts or hot breccia components. Under certain circumstances, postshock conditions may favor production and conservation of carbonate impact melts. We conclude that the response of mixed carbonate–silicate targets to impact might involve melting and decomposition of carbonates, the dominant response being governed by a complex variety of factors.


A single measure that can be used to assess the performance of bowlers in cricket is
defined. This study shows how it can be used to rank bowlers. The performance of
bowlers is generally measured by using three different criteria, i.e. the average
number of runs conceded per wicket taken (A), the economy rate (E), which is the
average number of runs conceded per over bowled, and the strike rate (S), which is
the average number of balls bowled per wicket taken. Each of these is important in
its own right. The average (A) is normally used to rate bowlers. This classification
is however not very accurate as it does for example not take into account how many
overs have been bowled. Two bowlers might have the same average but one may be
more economical than the other. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a single
measure that takes the full performance of a bowler into account. The combined
bowling rate CBR = 3/[1/A + 1/E + 1/S] is defined for this purpose and is used to
rate bowlers. A classification scheme . with ten classes according to which bowlers
can be classified is given. The best bowlers are those who fall in class one.


Benthic primary producers such as seaweeds and seagrasses are often inhabited by high densities of small arthropods, but little is known about the impact of these animals on their hosts, which could be positive if they keep them free of fouling epiphytes. We assessed the impact of small arthropods on algal epiphytes growing on coralline algal turf on a shallow, wave-exposed, rocky reef in warm temperate northeastern New Zealand. Plaster blocks impregnated with the insecticide carbaryl were used to reduce arthropod densities (by 96% relative to unmanipulated controls in the case of amphipods). By the end of the ~3.5 mo experiment total epiphyte cover was 88% when arthropods were excluded compared to 38% in unmanipulated controls, a 2.3-fold increase. Brown (Colpomenia spp.), green (Ulva spp.) and 'filamentous and microscopic' algal epiphyte taxa were responsible for the increase, while the cover of red foliose algal epiphytes decreased slightly. Hyalid amphipods (Protohyale spp.) were likely responsible for suppressing the epiphytes, as they were the most abundant arthropod mesograzer taxon and ate both Colpomenia spp. and Ulva spp. in a laboratory no-choice feeding assay. During the field experiment 2 large storms removed most of the epiphytes that had grown in the mesograzer exclusion treatment. Overall, our results indicate that the amphipods prevented overgrowth of the turf by epiphytes during calm periods. These results provide the first in situ cageless example of arthropod mesograzer-exerted control on the abundance and composition of primary producers on a subtidal rocky reef.


PURPOSE
TH-302 is an investigational hypoxia-activated prodrug that releases the DNA alkylator bromo-isophosphoramide mustard in hypoxic settings. This phase II study (NCT01144455) evaluated gemcitabine plus TH-302 in patients with previously untreated, locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2)), gemcitabine plus TH-302 240 mg/m(2) (G+T240), or gemcitabine plus TH-302 340 mg/m(2) (G+T340). Randomized crossover after progression on gemcitabine was allowed. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included overall survival (OS), tumor response, CA 19-9 response, and safety.

RESULTS
Two hundred fourteen patients (77% with metastatic disease) were enrolled between June 2010 and July 2011. PFS was significantly longer with gemcitabine plus TH-302 (pooled combination arms) compared with gemcitabine alone (median PFS, 5.6 v 3.6 months, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.87; P = .005; median PFS for metastatic disease, 5.1 v 3.4 months, respectively). Median PFS times for G+T240 and G+T340 were 5.6 and 6.0 months, respectively. Tumor response was 12%, 17%, and 26% in the gemcitabine, G+T240, and G+T340 arms, respectively (G+T340 v gemcitabine, P = .04). CA 19-9 decrease was greater with G+T340 versus gemcitabine (-5,398 v -549 U/mL, respectively; P = .008). Median OS times for gemcitabine, G+T240, and G+T340 were 6.9, 8.7, and 9.2 months, respectively (P = not significant). The most common adverse events (AEs) were fatigue, nausea, and peripheral edema (frequencies similar across arms). Skin and mucosal toxicities (2% grade 3) and myelosuppression (55% grade 3 or 4) were the most common TH-302-related AEs but were not associated with treatment discontinuation.

CONCLUSION
PFS, tumor response, and CA 19-9 response were significantly improved with G+TH-302. G+T340 is being investigated further in the phase III MAESTRO study (NCT01746979).


The University of Florida and USDA/ARS have active citrus scion breeding programs. Hybrids that pass many selection steps and approach release are evaluated for horticultural traits and postharvest characteristics. Seven advanced selections and three commercial cultivars were harvested multiple times from research sites in Lake Alfred and Leesburg, FL. A panel of 10 members was trained to evaluate citrus fruit and reached an agreement for 10 descriptors of fresh tangerines. Fruit were washed, sanitized, peeled, and halved longitudinally so that one-half of each fruit was evaluated by the taste panel, and the other half was analyzed for quality parameters (total soluble solids and titratable acidity). Segments of each half fruit were then separated, cut in half, and placed in a fruit bowl to assure that each panelist would evaluate a sample composed of multiple fruits. Half segments (about 10) were served in 4-oz plastic cups, together with reference standards for sensory evaluation. In general, panelists could perceive increased ripeness as distinct from increased sweetness, and decreased sourness paralleled with decreased bitterness. For most selections, juiciness decreased with maturity, except for 'Murcott' and its low seed mutant. There were no specific trends for tangerine, fruit and floral flavors due to harvest maturity; however, sulfury and pumpkin/spicy flavors increased with maturity for some selections, and may be an indicator for over-ripe fruit. 'Temple' remained stable over harvest times, with more orange than tangerine flavor.


This study based on researches conducted on the explanation of intelligence and giftedness and focused on identification of giftedness and education models in our country. Identification of gifted children and educational models deal within the scope of the medical and educational models, parent, teacher, peer assessments and tests performed as multi identification methods were discussed to determine the role of giftedness. As a result, the situation in our country was discussed with a critical perspective in terms of identification and education models.


This paper advances understanding of the relationship between tax policy and productivity, taking advantage of unique data from the Dominican Republic to document a significant negative impact of tax regulations on total factor productivity (TFP). It begins by estimating productivity using administrative records provided by the tax authorities. Then, it estimates the extent to which misallocation of resources might be limiting TFP using the Hsieh and Klenow (HK) methodology. Finally, it analyzes the tax regulation and provides suggestive evidence about how some provisions might be contributing to the misallocation of resources observed in the Dominican Republic. The paper finds that if misallocation of resources is eliminated from the economy, TFP will increase by a factor of 3.5. Several regulations generate discontinuities in the average rate of taxation, and tax reductions designed for small businesses are actually used by large and unproductive firms, which may be contributing to the overall misallocation observed in the Dominican Republic.


The Panama Papers showed that financial crimes such as money laundering, corruption or tax evasion are alive and kicking. They flourish thanks to secrecy that allows criminals to hide behind opaque companies and trusts. For example, some countries allow bearer shares or they do not require all types of entities to register in a commercial register for them to legally exist. Or, even if all entities have to register, not all types of shareholders and members have to be disclosed. This means that entities may operate in the economy (e.g. opening a bank account) even if their full ownership information is not available in a commercial register.
In most countries, however, most legal entities (e.g. companies, but not trusts) do have to register in a commercial register. Nevertheless, they generally only have to disclose their legal owners (e.g. a nominee or an offshore company), but not their beneficial owners (BOs), meaning the individual ultimately owning or controlling the entity. The process to incorporate an entity is usually done in person and on paper at the commercial register.
Two current - but opposing - trends are changing this.
The negative trend is that commercial registries are moving online, making it easier and faster to create companies remotely via the internet, where very little legal ownership information is required, if any. This increases secrecy levels around companies and facilitates financial crimes even further.
The positive - but still insufficient - trend is that some countries, especially in Europe, are starting to "upgrade" their commercial registries to require legal entities (and some trusts) to also register their BOs. However, this positive trend is not good enough because it is still simple to provide false or inaccurate BO information when registering the entity.
Civil society organisations are therefore calling for a more effective combination of both trends: in other words, to upgrade all commercial registries so that they do require BO information of companies and trusts, and to have this information digital and in open data format to make it easier to search for it and check its accuracy and truthfulness.
In order to reduce the options for those who would want to provide false or inaccurate BO information, this paper proposes that the same technology already available and deployed in the private sector (e.g. cross-checking, big data and artificial intelligence used by credit card companies to prevent fraudulent online purchases) should also be used in these digital commercial registries.
In addition, access to this BO information must be public and in open data format, in order to create a deterrent effect. Even once this technology is applied, if access to digitalised BO information is restricted to authorities, it is less likely to ensure the accuracy of the information since neither civil society nor journalists can use their resources to check the information. We have to consider the possibility that authorities may also be corrupt and choose to protect businesspeople or politicians and no one would ever find out about it, unless another leak like the Panama Papers takes place.
It makes good sense that public BO online registers should apply the technology mentioned above. Restricted online registers, and those that require disclosure of legal ownership only, if any ownership at all, should be prevented.


Single ZnO nanorods with diameters of 100nm were directly grown on GaN surface by using low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis. Individual nanorods were removed from the substrate and placed between the Au contact pads and the current voltage measurement was proceeded to characterize the electrical properties of the ZnO nanorods. By using thermionic field emission model of Padovani and Stratton , the resistivity, carrier concentration, electron mobility can be extracted with the values of 0.14 Ωcm, 9.2x1016/cm3,33.82cm2V-1s-1, respectively. The single ZnO nanorods also showed high sensitivity to the UV light (325nm). Under the UV illumination, the UV induced current increase nearly 10 times than the dark current. In addition, the nanorods also exhibited a slow UV response due to the effects of the oxygen ions on the surface of the nanorods.


This paper deals with a model providing a structured method for engineering curriculum design. The model is developed to show the major influencers on the curriculum design and the relations between the influencers. These influencers are identified as the engineering science, the business environment, the university environment, and the teachers and students. Each of them and their influence on the curriculum is described and the sources of information about the influencers are discussed. The CDIO syllabus has been defined as part of the basis for the Bachelor of Engineering programs at the Technical University of Denmark and this gives a strong direct impact of the university environment on the resulting curriculum in electrical engineering. The resulting Bachelor of Engineering curriculum is presented and it is discussed how it complies with the model for curriculum development. The main conclusion and recommendation is that a conscious use of the model presented in the paper can structure and improve the curriculum development in a way leading to a well founded and well structured curriculum.


When I was writing the BBC Radio 4 series The Age Old Dilemma I talked to the relatives of old people who had died in hospital. I also sat in on medical discussions of "care of the dying" and was intrigued by the disparity between the way patients perceived events and the way doctors described the same events when they discussed them with their peers.

That disparity emerged in an article the BMJ published last November telling the story of a 62 year old woman "bed bound with severe arthritis and in constant pain despite strong opioid treatment" ( BMJ 2009;339:b4667, doi:10.1136/bmj.b4667). After writing an advanced directive and a detailed suicide note that "clearly expressed [her] distress at her longstanding pain and severe restriction of function and independence" she swallowed a potent concoction of sedatives and sank into what she assumed would be oblivion.

I can only guess at her assumption, because, as is traditional in our journals, her story is written by the doctors. We read in detail the arguments they considered and …


Traffic routing is a central challenge in the context of urban areas, with a direct impact on personal mobility, traffic congestion, and air pollution. In the last decade, the possibilities for traffic flow control have improved together with the corresponding management systems. However, the lack of real-time traffic flow information with a city-wide coverage is a major limiting factor for an optimum operation. Smart City concepts seek to tackle these challenges in the future by combining sensing, communications, distributed information, and actuation. This paper presents an integrated approach that combines smart street lamps with traffic sensing technology. More specifically, infrastructure-based ultrasonic sensors, which are deployed together with a street light system, are used for multilane traffic participant detection and classification. Application of these sensors in time-varying reflective environments posed an unresolved problem for many ultrasonic sensing solutions in the past and therefore widely limited the dissemination of this technology. We present a solution using an algorithmic approach that combines statistical standardization with clustering techniques from the field of unsupervised learning. By using a multilevel communication concept, centralized and decentralized traffic information fusion is possible. The evaluation is based on results from automotive test track measurements and several European real-world installations.


We consider the hydrodynamics of creatures capable of sustaining themselves on the water surface by means other than flotation. Particular attention is given to classifying water walkers according to their principal means of weight support and lateral propulsion. The various propulsion mechanisms are rationalized through consideration of energetics, hydrodynamic forces applied, or momentum transferred by the driving stroke. We review previous research in this area and suggest directions for future work. Special attention is given to introductory discussions of problems not previously treated in the fluid mechanics literature, with hopes of attracting physicists, applied mathematicians, and engineers to this relatively unexplored area of fluid mechanics.


Abuite was found in hydrothermally altered rocks in the Hinomaru–Nago mine, Kiyo area, Abu, Abu County, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan (34°53′N 131°52′E). Abuite is often included in aluminum phosphate rich samples, embedded with quartz and augelite and/or trolleite, and is often accompanied by other phosphates especially apatite and crandallite. Abuite is transparent and colorless with white streak and vitreous luster. It is very difficult to find them in bare eyes, since the dominant phases in aluminum phosphate rich samples, augelite, trolleite, and quartz, are all also transparent and colorless. The empirical formula of abuite (based on 10 anions pfu, O = 8, F + OH = 2) is (Ca0.99Sr0.01)1.00Al1.96P2.03O8(F1.89OH0.11). H2O was calculated by stoichiometry. The simplified formula is CaAl2(PO4)2F2. Abuite is the calcium analogue of SrAl2(PO4)2F2, which was synthesized by hydrothermal methods (Le Meins and Courbion, 1998). The crystal structure is orthorhombic, with space group P212121. Unit cell parameters refined from the obtained X–ray diffraction pattern are a = 11.818(2), b = 11.993(3), c = 4.6872(8) Å and V = 664.3(2) Å3, with Z = 4.


Trucks constitute a large and growing segment of the traffic on Texas highways. In order to manage this growth, the Texas Department of Transportation needs to consider special or unique treatments for trucks such as truck lane restrictions, exclusive truck lanes, and exclusive truck facilities. This research addressed this topic for the state of Texas by developing tools for evaluating needs for special truck facilities, developing a truck route system, and developing recommendations for demonstration of a pilot system. Tasks required to accomplish these objectives began with a comprehensive literature review, to include the major corridor studies and an evaluation of special truck facilities implemented outside of Texas. The research then established criteria for each of the three levels of truck treatments, developed a plan to classify truck facilities, and developed an evaluation framework for these facilities. Based on these tasks, the research then investigated techniques for evaluating levels of service on truck facilities. The techniques were then applied to selected candidate corridors to demonstrate their utility. Finally, the research developed an action plan for implementation of the exclusive truck facilities.


Research indicates that the diagnostic label of Bipolar Disorder is being both over and under-used in mental health services. Disagreement between clinicians in how the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder is perceived and how the label is used can make it difficult to establish and uphold consistent care. This may lead to the experience of negative emotions for service users and poor engagement with intervention. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore whether clinicians do hold different perceptions of the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, with the view of providing insight into how this may impact service provision.,Q-methodology was used to investigate the subjective viewpoints of 19 clinicians from mental health community teams supporting individuals with a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. The completed Q-sorts were subject to analysis using Q-methodology analysis software.,Three main factors representing the viewpoints of participants were identified: seeing the person and their experience, promoting quality through standardised processes and understanding the function of diagnostic labels. All three factors agreed that more than one assessment appointment should be required before a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder was given and that the focus should be on the difficulties experienced rather than the diagnostic label.,These three viewpoints provide different perspectives of the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, which are likely to impact on service provision. Services may benefit from a better integration of the viewpoints, noting the important functions of each viewpoint and being guided by individuals' needs.


Born in 1917 in the American heartland of Topeka, Kansas, Elizabeth Searle Lamb has become one of the major voices in the world of English language haiku. As an advocate for a strong traditional basis while remaining open to experimentation, her writing has helped define its modern development. She has won more than 150 awards in the haiku field, and her work has been translated into Japanese, Chinese, Polish, French, and Spanish, among other languages. Haiku, more than almost any other form of poetry, is associated with a spiritual insight into the world. Originally, it draws profoundly from the Buddhist world view of change as an inevitable condition, and draws much of its beauty from a sense of the ephemeral. Lamb's frame of reference also includes Christian spirituality, drawing from her ecumenical Protestant background, and personal journeys.


The provision of commodities for feed, food and energy production is the main task of the agricultural sector but it is obvious that agriculture is also essential for the viability of most rural areas. Although the consequences of agriculture on the landscape are extensively described, the reverse is less documented. The objective is therefore to assess the efficiency of agricultural holdings in order to establish correlation between the purely economic factors and the landscape aspects. The study region "Mittleres Ennstal", is located in the north-east of Styria in Austria. We apply a matching approach to obtain reliable data, then, a data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is performed, followed by a second stage for interrelations analysis. Two databases supported by the European Commission were used: the IACS and the FADN. This chain process aims to provide sufficient data and allow performing an economic analysis in a proven framework. It enables us to establish ties between agricultural efficiency and the landscape and, to quantify the impact of the landscape on the competitiveness. The results show that the considered landscape features have no first order effect on the farms' economic efficiency. However, it does not mean that agriculture and landscape are not linked together.


AIM: To assess the value of intraoperative diagnostic examination of frozen sections of lymph nodes removed during radical prostatectomy. METHODS: Pelvic lymph nodes from patients with prostatic carcinoma were obtained (1) as frozen sections during radical prostatectomy, to exclude patients from non-curative surgery, and (2) as paraffin sections postoperatively from lymphadenectomy performed at radical prostatectomy, to stage the tumour and assess need for adjuvant treatment. Findings from the two approaches were used to assess the accuracy and cost of frozen section diagnosis, and to judge the results of omitting intraoperative diagnosis. RESULTS: In 82 patients frozen section revealed metastasis in six (7.3%), and metastases were found in a further four (4.9%) on paraffin sections (false negatives). Of the 195 patients undergoing staging lymphadenectomy (without frozen section), metastatic cancer was seen in nine cases (4.6%). The frozen section cost of metastatic cancer detection per patient was calculated as 7516 Pounds (550 Pounds x 82/6), with an associated false negative rate of 33%. CONCLUSIONS: Frozen section diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma in pelvic lymph nodes before radical prostatectomy has a high false negative rate and is costly. It may not be justified with the observed low incidence of lymph node metastasis.


During cell division, kinetochore microtubules (KMTs) provide a physical linkage between the chromosomes and the rest of the spindle. KMTs in mammalian cells are organized into bundles, so-called kinetochore-fibers (k-fibers), but the ultrastructure of these fibers is currently not well characterized. Here we show by large-scale electron tomography that each k-fiber in HeLa cells in metaphase is composed of approximately nine KMTs, only half of which reach the spindle pole. Our comprehensive reconstructions allowed us to analyze the three-dimensional (3D) morphology of k-fibers and their surrounding MTs in detail. We found that k-fibers exhibit remarkable variation in circumference and KMT density along their length, with the pole-proximal side showing a broadening. Extending our structural analysis then to other MTs in the spindle, we further observed that the association of KMTs with non-KMTs predominantly occurs in the spindle pole regions. Our 3D reconstructions have implications for KMT growth and k-fiber self-organization models as covered in a parallel publication applying complementary live-cell imaging in combination with biophysical modeling (Conway et al., 2022). Finally, we also introduce a new visualization tool allowing an interactive display of our 3D spindle data that will serve as a resource for further structural studies on mitosis in human cells.


Dear Editor, Visual acuity mostly depends on the smooth surface of the cornea, and pathologies such as irregular astigmatism, increased higher-order aberration, and corneal scars are known to decrease visual acuity. Scleral contact lenses (SCLs) can correct such abnormalities and therefore be used as a treatment option by not only optimizing optical correction in ectatic corneal disorders, but also hydrating cornea and neutralizing ocular surface in ocular surface diseases (OSDs) [1-3]. Unlike spectacles and conventional corneal rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, SCLs rest on the less sensitive sclera instead of the cornea, making suitable for the patient with various corneal deformities and showing successful clinical results. SCLs were manufactured using Boston XO, and the oxygen permeability was 100 × 10 (cm/sec) (mL O2/mL × mmHg). Flat keratometry was used for prescription, and the one with apical clearance of 250 to 300 μm and sufficient limbal clearance measured by DRI-OCT (Topcon Corp., Tokyo, Japan) was chosen 4 hours after lens insertion. Therefore, we report four cases where it was possible to confirm therapeutic effects in various corneal abnormalities using mini-SCL, with diameters of 14.7 mm (Onefit A; Biumtec, Seoul, Korea) for a long time. Written informed consents for publication of the research details and clinical images were obtained from the patients. A 37-year-old female patient with keratoconus presented with decreased visual acuity and discomfort despite using corneal RGP lens. On the first visit, the best-corrected visual acuity was 20 / 40 in the right eye and 20 / 32 in the left eye. Mini-SCL with base curve radius of 7.0 mm was prescribed and standard haptic design was chosen (Fig. 1A-1F). Visual acuity was measured to be 20 / 20 in both eyes after wearing the lenses for a median of 8 hours per day. Neither were any significant adverse events of the cornea manifested during more than 2 years of follow-up period. A 47-year-old female patient who had been diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome and treated with therapeutic contact lenses was referred for corneal ulcer with pain in her left eye starting 3 days ago. Even after 6 months of resolution of corneal ulcer, no visual improvement was made due to corneal opacity. Mini-SCL was prescribed, using the same method from case 1 (Fig. 1G-1L). Pain was significantly relieved and visual acuity improved from hand motion to 20 / 32, wearing the lens for a median of 6 hours a day for 3 years. A 35-year-old male patient with Stevens-Johnson syndrome presented with keratitis, despite wearing therapeutic contact lenses. His right and left visual acuity was 20 / 25 and 20 / 125, respectively. Mini-SCL was prescribed for his left eye, using the same method from case 1 (Fig. 1M-1R). Ocular pain was noticeably relieved, visual acuity improved to 20 / 25, and punctate and filamentary keratitis decreased remarkably, maintaining lens wearing time averaging to 9 hours a day for 3 years. A 26-year-old female patient who underwent laser assisted in situ keratomileusis in both eyes referred for corneal ectasia in her left eye. On the first visit, her left best-corrected visual acuity was 20 / 50, and topography showed irregular corneal surface. Mini-SCL was prescribed using the same method from case 1 (Fig. 1S-1X). Left visual acuity was measured to be 20 / 20 after wearing the lens for 10 hours per day on average for 2 years with no other complications. Recent rapid development in the manufacturing process of RGP lens has brought attention to research on contact lenses with larger diameter. Usages have been expanded for patients with various types of ocular disease. Especially, SCLs have an arch structure to minimize contact with cornea; as a result, tear reservoir is maintained, masking corneal surface irregularities, thereby improving symptoms and demonstrating therapeutic benefits in OSDs. Furthermore, SCLs provide easier centration compared to corKorean J Ophthalmol 2022;36(4):376-378 https://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2022.0033


Reduced-form models of default risk require estimates of the recovery rate, or equivalently, the loss given default. In many cases, this is simply set at a fixed recovery rate of 40%. But the 40% rate is often far from the realized recovery amount in practice, and empirical research shows that recoveries are negatively related to ex ante default probabilities and the rate varies over time. In this article, the authors incorporate a regression-based estimate of the current recovery rate from historical data, modeling it as a function of the default probability and, potentially, macroeconomic data such as growth of the S&P Index. They then build this relationship into a lattice structure and show how it can be applied to price convertible bonds.


The complete refuelling of the plasma density loss (pump-out) caused by mitigation of edge localised modes (ELMs) is demonstrated on the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak. The plasma is refuelled by injection of frozen deuterium pellets and ELMs are mitigated by external resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs). In this experiment relevant dimensionless parameters, such as relative pellet size, relative RMP amplitude and pedestal collisionality are kept at the ITER like values. Refuelling of density pump out of the size of Δn/n∼30% requires a factor of two increase of nominal fuelling rate. Energy confinement and pedestal temperatures are not restored to pre-RMP values by pellet refuelling.


Based on doubly detuned Raman transitions between (meta) stable atomic or molecular states and recently developed atom counting techniques, a detection scheme for sound waves in dilute Bose-Einstein condensates is proposed whose accuracy might reach down to the level of a few or even single phonons. This scheme could open up a new range of applications including the experimental observation of quantum radiation phenomena such as the Hawking effect in sonic black-hole analogues or the acoustic analogue of cosmological particle creation.


This paper proposes a novel solution to make asynchronous handshake interfaces tolerant to crosstalk-glitch propagation (GP). This study leverages our recently proposed crosstalk-glitch modeling technique for asynchronous systems, which models the crosstalk GP in asynchronous interfaces. In this paper, a novel set of solutions to quench the GP is proposed. This set of solutions is called crosstalk-glitch gating, as the quenching is obtained by using carefully generated control signals. A step-by-step method is recommended to apply crosstalk-glitch gating to conventional asynchronous handshake interfaces. Transistor-level electrical simulations demonstrate that our method effectively generates crosstalk-glitch gate-controlling signals. In comparison with contemporary signal-integrity management techniques, our gating methodology can be applied to fewer nodes and earlier in the design cycle.


The molecular mechanisms that control the binding of odorant to olfactory receptors and transduce this signal into membrane depolarization are reviewed. They are compared in vertebrates and insects for interspecific (allelochemicals) and intraspecific (pheromones) olfactory signals. Attempts to develop quantitative models of these multistage signalling networks are presented. Computational analysis of olfactory transduction is still in its infancy and appears as a promising area for future developments.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize pediatricians' attitudes and experiences regarding communicating about errors with the hospital and patients' families.

DESIGN
Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING
St Louis, Mo, and Seattle, Wash.

PARTICIPANTS
University-affiliated hospital and community pediatricians and pediatric residents.

MAIN EXPOSURE
Anonymous 68-item survey (paper or Web-based) administered between July 2003 and March 2004.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Physician attitudes and experiences about error communication.

RESULTS
Four hundred thirty-nine pediatric attending physicians and 118 residents participated (62% response rate). Most respondents had been involved in an error (39%, serious; 72%, minor; 61%, near miss; 7%, none). Respondents endorsed reporting errors to the hospital (97%, serious; 90%, minor; 82%, near miss), but only 39% thought that current error reporting systems were adequate. Most pediatricians had used a formal error reporting mechanism, such as an incident report (65%), but many also used informal reporting mechanisms, such as telling a supervisor (47%) or senior physician (38%), and discussed errors with colleagues (72%). Respondents endorsed disclosing errors to patients' families (99%, serious; 90%, minor; 39%, near miss), and many had done so (36%, serious; 52%, minor). Residents were more likely than attending physicians to believe that disclosing a serious error would be difficult (96% vs 86%; P = .004) and to want disclosure training (69% vs 56%; P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS
Pediatricians are willing to report errors to hospitals and disclose errors to patients' families but believe current reporting systems are inadequate and struggle with error disclosure. Improving error reporting systems and encouraging physicians to report near misses, as well as providing training in error disclosure, could help prevent future errors and increase patient trust.


This article explores the relationship between employment mobility, family fixity, and gentrification in the lives of 36 residents in and extended commuters to Montreal's southwest borough. Once described as the birthplace of industry in Canada, the neighbourhoods of Saint-Henri, Little Burgundy and Point Saint-Charles have undergone sweeping changes in recent decades. Inner-city areas are not necessarily where one expects to find mobile workers, but this is changing due to shifting gender roles, the rise of dual-income households and gentrification. Michael Savage's concept of ?elective belonging? proved particularly useful in understanding this connection. With its proximity to childcare, schools, stores and workplaces, the central city permits a more equitable division of labour within the household. Our place-based approach to mobile work enables us to capture a wide spectrum of experience, ranging from people with extended daily commutes to those whose work takes them away from home for days, weeks or months at a time. Our interviews reveal a connection between employment mobility and family gentrification, as upwardly mobile families find ways to localize other aspects of their lives. The simultaneity of mobility and immobility are often essential, especially in dual-income households. One parent's mobility often leads to the relative immobility of other family members.