OBJECTIVE
The use of continuous paravertebral (PV) catheters for management of acute postsurgical pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has not been investigated previously as a randomized controlled trial. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of an ultrasound-guided continuous PV catheter catheter infusion for postoperative pain control with single-shot intercostal blocks (ICB).

DESIGN
A prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING
An academic university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS
Patients (≥18 years of age) who underwent a VATS procedure.

INTERVENTIONS
Patients were randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 received single-shot ICB. Group 2 received an ultrasound-guided PV catheter with a continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
There were 25 patients in group 1 and 23 patients in group 2. The maximum pain score was significantly lower in the group that received the PV catheter compared with those who received ICB during 24 to 48 hours (3.65 v 6.44, p<0.001). Seventeen patients (74%) who received PV catheters reported satisfaction with a pain control regimen compared to the 11 (44%) who received ICB (p = 0.036). In addition, during 24 to 48 hours after surgery the mean opioid use decreased significantly in the PV catheter group (14.39 v 30.50 mg morphine equivalents, p = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound-guided continuous PV catheter infusions provided prolonged pain control and superior patient satisfaction compared with single-shot ICB after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.


There were differences in the representation of humans and animals between the regions of Thessaly and the central Balkans during the earlier Neolithic. These differences imply the constitution of distinct worlds. Representation is anthropocentric in Thessaly and it focuses on particular actions of the human body. In the central Balkans, there is more animal imagery, although here too humans predominate. The lack of specific traits suggests an ontological principle of generic identity.


Strong import demand is largely credited with soybean's relatively high current price, especially in the face of a US soybean yield that currently is a record by 3.4 bushels per acre. China remains the largest source of growth in world soybean imports measured in bushels, but its projected growth rate for the 2016 crop year is smaller than the growth rate for the rest of the world. If this projection holds, it will be the first time China has not had a higher growth rate since it became a continuous soybean importer in the mid1990s. For additional discussion of the current US soybean market see the farmdoc daily articles of October 17, 2016 and October 24, 2016. For more discussion of the world soybean market see the farmdoc daily article of March 13, 2015.


ABSTRACT The aim of the work is to describe the state-of-the-art on the reuse of grey water at building level taking into account (i) the grey water characteristics and amounts produced, (ii) the recycling guidelines, (iii) the treatment systems and reuse technologies, also considering the removal of micro-pollutants as xenobiotic organic compounds, and (iv) an overview of case studies for developed countries. The mini-review highlights how the existing technologies allow the safe reuse of grey water. Attention must be given to the removal of micro-pollutants especially when the discharge takes place in surface water. With reference to 12 case studies of buildings which adopt non-conventional technologies with the aim to optimise energy consumptions, results showed how the use of non-conventional technologies for water is very limited. However, adopting an integrated approach to water-energy, it is possible to use more effectively the water for energy purposes as in the cases of cooling/heating systems.


Depression, anxiety disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia, all indications for antidepressant use, are common disorders in women of childbearing age. Nevertheless, antidepressant use during the gestational period remains a controversial topic. Given that 50 % of pregnancies are unplanned, the safety of antidepressants during the first trimester of pregnancy, a critical period for foetal development, has become a major public health concern. Until now, most studies suggest that physicians may often under-prescribe or discontinue antidepressants at the time of conception and during pregnancy. This may be a consequence of the concern over the safety of these agents in pregnant women and the risks they may pose to the foetus. In fact, recent studies and warnings from Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration have reinforced this uncertainty regarding the adverse effects of antidepressant use on the foetus. On the other hand, discontinuation of antidepressant use during pregnancy was also recently associated with maternal relapse of depression and withdrawal symptoms, which is not optimal for the mother and her foetus. Consequently, women who wish to become pregnant and who suffer from psychiatric disorders are faced with the difficult task of deciding whether to continue or discontinue their antidepressant during pregnancy. At this time, it appears important to take into account all evidence-based data to evaluate the risks/benefits of using antidepressants during the gestational period in order to help mothers make the best choice for themselves, and their infants.


The reaction of the tripodal tris-amido U(III) complex [U{(SiMe2NPh)3–tacn}] (tacn = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane), 1, with 0.0625 and 0.25 equiv. of elemental sulfur affords the sulfide-bridged U(IV) complex [{U((SiMe2NPh)3–tacn)}2(μ-S)], 2, and the terminal persulfide U(V) complex [U{(SiMe2NPh)3–tacn}(η2-S2)], 4, respectively, in good yield. Two different electronic structures, U(V) persulfide and U(IV) supersulfide, were computed for complex 4 at the DFT level. The results show that complex 4 is best described as a U(V) persulfide species with a significant sulfur contribution. X-ray, magnetism and electrochemistry data support this description. Complex 4 is the first example of a terminal U(V) persulfide and of a two-electron reduction of S8 by a U(III) complex. Complex 4 behaves as a S-atom transfer agent when reacted with PPh3, affording the persulfide-bridged diuranium(IV) complex [{U((SiMe2NPh)3–tacn)}2(μ-η2:η2-S2)], 5, and SPPh3.


Immersive VR technologies offer versatile training tools by recreating real-world situations in a virtual and safe environment and allowing users to have a first-person experience. The design of such training systems requires defining the most critical components to simulate, and to what extent they can be simulated successfully. One open research question for designing such systems is how to represent the user in the virtual environment, and which is the added value of this representation for training purposes. In this work, we focus on how the user's hand representation in an immersive virtual environment can impact the training of tool-based motor skills.To investigate this question, we have designed a VR trainer for a simple tool-based pick and place task. A user experiment was conducted to evaluate how the movements of the users' real hand representation influence their performance and subjective experience in the virtual environment. For that purpose, the participants performed the task on the VR simulator with two conditions: the presence or absence of their animated virtual hands representation. The results of this study show that, although users prefer to have a visual representation of their hands, they achieved similar and correlated performance in the VR system regardless of the hand representation condition. These results suggest that the presence of the user's hand representation is not necessary when performing a tool-based motor skill task in a VR trainer. These findings have practical implications for the design of VR simulators for training motor skills tasks since adding users' hand representation may require cumbersome and expensive additional devices.


The past decade has seen a major change in the treatment options and strategies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the other immune-mediated arthritic diseases. The disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are now used in early stages of the disease in order to preserve joint architecture. There are two groups of DMARDs, the small molecules, like methotrexate, and the biological DMARDs, which are frequently referred to as "magic bullets" since they target specific cytokines and immune cells associated with arthritic conditions. They are monoclonal antibodies or fusion proteins designed to bind and inactivate immune targets.Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid disorders and is the target of four biological DMARDs, etanercept, infliximab, golimumab and adalimumab. The other biological DMARDs include abatacept, rituximab and tocilizumab and these prevent T-cell costimulation, cause the depletion of mature CD20 positive B cells or prevent the activation of the interleukin-6 receptor molecule, respectively. Ustekinumab, a monoclonal antibody against IL12/IL23 is effective in psoriatic arthritis.Biological agents are indicated when patients do not respond adequately to the traditional DMARDs. Numerous clinical trials have shown that the biological agents reduce joint inflammation and erosive damage, especially when used in combination with methotrexate.Apart from their prohibitive cost, the biological agents are not without potentially serious adverse effects with infections being the main concern. The TNF-α inhibitors increase the risk for tuberculosis and other opportunistic infections, whereas the non-TNF-α immune inhibitors increase the risk for opportunistic viral, fungal and bacterial infections. This review provides an overview of the biological agents currently available in South Africa.


Background Effective paediatric basic life support improves survival and outcomes. Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training involves 4-yearly courses plus annual updates. Skills degrade by 3–6 months. No method has been described to motivate frequent and persistent CPR practice. To achieve this, we explored the use of competition and a leaderboard, as a gamification technique, on a CPR training feedback device, to increase CPR usage and performance. Objective To assess whether self-motivated CPR training with integrated CPR feedback improves quality of infant CPR over time, in comparison to no refresher CPR training. Design Randomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess the effect of self-motivated manikin-based learning on infant CPR skills over time. Setting A UK tertiary children's hospital. Participants 171 healthcare professionals randomly assigned to self-motivated CPR training (n=90) or no refresher CPR training (n=81) and followed for 26 weeks. Intervention The intervention comprised 24 h a day access to a CPR training feedback device and anonymous leaderboard. The CPR training feedback device calculated a compression score based on rate, depth, hand position and release and a ventilation score derived from rate and volume. Main outcome measure The outcome measure was Infant CPR technical skill performance score as defined by the mean of the cardiac compressions and ventilations scores, provided by the CPR training feedback device software. The primary analysis considered change in score from baseline to 6 months. Results Overall, the control group showed little change in their scores (median 0, IQR −7.00–5.00) from baseline to 6 months, while the intervention group had a slight median increase of 0.50, IQR 0.00–33.50. The two groups were highly significantly different in their changes (p<0.001). Conclusions A significant effect on CPR performance was demonstrated by access to self-motivated refresher CPR training, a competitive leaderboard and a CPR training feedback device.


This paper describes a technique that uses conductive fibers as part of a wearable sensor for continuous monitoring of joint movements. Conductive fibers are incorporated into flexible fabrics that fit tightly around a joint, and resistance changes in the fibers caused by skin extension can be measured, and related to joint motion. An overview of the sensor design, including functional requirements and design parameters, are presented, as well as preliminary results from a prototype sensor design. A single-axis joint model is also presented to illustrate the implementation of an extended Kalman filter to estimate joint angle. The Kalman filter also estimates parameters associated with misalignment errors that may be created every time the subject takes off and puts on the wearable sensor, allowing a sensor to be calibrated only once, with no need for re-calibration for all future uses.


AC and DCMicrogrids (MGs) are key elements for integrating renewable and distributed energy resources as well as distributed energy-storage systems. In the last several years, efforts toward the standardization of these MGs have been made. In this sense, this paper presents the hierarchical control derived from ISA-95 and electrical dispatching standards to endow smartness and flexibility to MGs. The hierarchical control proposed consists of three levels: 1) The primary control is based on the droop method, including an output-impedance virtual loop; 2) the secondary control allows the restoration of the deviations produced by the primary control; and 3) the tertiary control manages the power flow between the MG and the external electrical distribution system. Results from a hierarchical-controlled MG are provided to show the feasibility of the proposed approach.


The Hindu Goddess Laksmi is the consort of the great God Vishnu. This book looks at the relationship between Laskmi and Vishnu in South Indian tradition. In some other sub-traditions, P. Pratap Kumar shows, the Goddess is seen as a mediator between devotees and God. Others put her on a par with her male counterpart. In yet other traditions she is worshiped as an independent deity in her own right. South Indian Vaisnavism views the Goddess in all of these ways, with the result that theological debates have flourished. Clarifying these debates and the assumptions behind them, Kumar contributes not only to our understanding of this particular tradition, but also to an understanding of gender issues in the study of religion.


Introduction A large patient conference attended by >150 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was hosted by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust in July 2014. The aims were to educate, support and gain patients' perspectives into their condition. A 45-minute session on "engaging with research" described current research and thinking into IBS, and then offered participants the opportunity to complete a survey and focus group discussion on the topic. This session was repeated three times during the conference. Method Each of the 3 sessions followed a prescribed format. A survey sheet asked participants to complete 5 multiple choice questions on health research in IBS. The cohort were then split into two focus groups led separately by a professor and specialist in health research design (JM) or a research fellow who treats and recruits patients with IBS into clinical studies (KE). Survey data was analysed quantitatively after the conference. Qualitative data was shared between researchers after each session and emerging themes explored further in the subsequent focus groups for validation. Results 78 people attended and participated over 3 sessions. Response rates varied between survey items. Patients felt that research priorities should be; investigating the causes of IBS (54%), new drug treatments (20%), and developing diagnostic tests (18%). As research participants, 85% felt it was acceptable to keep a bowel diary for ≥4 weeks and 63% felt ≥5 visits in a 6 month period during a clinical trial were acceptable. Motivations to participate in clinical trials were due to; a new treatment for IBS (65%), altruism (37%) and other factors (11%). 68% were willing to participate in studies where they might receive a placebo or sham treatment as part of the study design. Themes emerging from the focus groups emphasised the need to research the causes of IBS, particularly as a diagnosis was felt to validate their experiences and brought a sense of gaining control. The treatment of pain was felt to be "a first priority", as was a wish for a side-effect free "magic pill", but expectations of these were realistic. Most agreed that their IBS symptoms were highly variable and so longer diary exercises were acceptable and required. Conclusion Methodologists and clinicians involved in the design of clinical trials of investigational medicinal products for IBS should consider our patients' ideas and their acceptability. In particular: lengthening symptom diaries, monitoring pain as a priority symptom, and frequent monthly study visits. Recruitment is not hindered by placebo or sham treatment arm designs and most patients are motivated to participate by receiving a new treatment over altruism or honorariums. Disclosure of interest None Declared.


BACKGROUND
The insulin ordering process is an opportunity to provide clinicians with hypoglycemia risk predictions, but few hypoglycemia models centered around the insulin ordering process exist.

METHODS
We used data on adult patients, admitted in 2019 to non-ICU floors of a large teaching hospital, who had orders for subcutaneous insulin. Our outcome was hypoglycemia, defined as a blood glucose (BG) <70 mg/dL within 24 hours after ordering insulin. We trained and evaluated models to predict hypoglycemia at the time of placing an insulin order, using logistic regression, random forest, and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). We compared performance using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) and precision-recall curves. We determined recall at our goal precision of 0.30.

RESULTS
Of 21 052 included insulin orders, 1839 (9%) were followed by a hypoglycemic event within 24 hours. Logistic regression, random forest, and XGBoost models had AUCs of 0.81, 0.80, and 0.79, and recall of 0.44, 0.49, and 0.32, respectively. The most significant predictor was the lowest BG value in the 24 hours preceding the order. Predictors related to the insulin order being placed at the time of the prediction were useful to the model but less important than the patient's history of BG values over time.

CONCLUSIONS
Hypoglycemia within the next 24 hours can be predicted at the time an insulin order is placed, providing an opportunity to integrate decision support into the medication ordering process to make insulin therapy safer.


Decentralized finance can be an option of last resort for refugees escaping political and societal collapse. This option can safely store a person's wealth in a way that accumulates interest while preventing governments and banks from seizing it. In addition, there are other applications available for stabilizing financial holdings, trading, borrowing, speculating, and hedging. Using these applications, attorneys could advise desperate clients on using decentralized financial strategies to circumvent the authority of dysfunctional governments and insolvent banks.

These applications are not without their perils, needing smart regulation that allows for attorneys to make good-faith efforts to help clients, while preventing criminal money-laundering and tax-evasion schemes. With carefully crafted regulation, a new field of law could open up to U.S.-based attorneys. This field of law has the potential to provide hours of lucrative legal work helping clients maintain their savings.


It is known that coupled bending and torsional effect is a distinct characteristic of curved girders. According to mechanical characteristics of box girders with corrugated steel webs and theory of box girders, warping normal stress of box girders with corrugated steel webs caused by Torsion Loading is studied. On the basis of second theory of Wu, restrained torsion differential equation of box-girders with corrugated steel webs is proposed. Corrugated webs are assumed as orthotropic plates. Constraint torsional normal stress and shear stress are deduced using Initial parameters method. The results demonstrate that the method is more accurate compared with conventional ones, and it is connected with existing bridge calculation theory. The method is then a practical one in this respect.


Plant roots and associated mycorrhizae exert a large influence on soil carbon (C) cycling. Yet, little was known whether and how roots and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) extraradical mycelia differentially contribute to soil organic C (SOC) accumulation in alpine forests under increasing nitrogen (N) deposition. Using ingrowth cores, the relative contributions of the root pathway (RP; i.e., roots and rhizosphere processes) and mycelium pathway (MP; i.e., extraradical mycelia and hyphosphere processes) to SOC accumulation were distinguished and quantified in an ECM‐dominated forest receiving chronic N addition (25 kg N ha−1 year−1). Under the non‐N addition, the RP facilitated SOC accumulation, although the MP reduced SOC accumulation. Nitrogen addition enhanced the positive effect of RP on SOC accumulation from +18.02 to +20.55 mg C g−1 but counteracted the negative effect of MP on SOC accumulation from −5.62 to −0.57 mg C g−1, compared with the non‐N addition. Compared with the non‐N addition, the N‐induced SOC accumulation was 1.62–2.21 and 3.23–4.74 mg C g−1, in the RP and the MP, respectively. The greater contribution of MP to SOC accumulation was mainly attributed to the higher microbial C pump (MCP) efficacy (the proportion of increased microbial residual C to the increased SOC under N addition) in the MP (72.5%) relative to the RP (57%). The higher MCP efficacy in the MP was mainly associated with the higher fungal metabolic activity (i.e., the greater fungal biomass and N‐acetyl glucosidase activity) and greater binding efficiency of fungal residual C to mineral surfaces than those of RP. Collectively, our findings highlight the indispensable role of mycelia and hyphosphere processes in the formation and accumulation of stable SOC in the context of increasing N deposition.


A recent paper in this journal raised questions as to the reliability, sensitivity and validity of amenable mortality as an indicator of health system effectiveness. In this commentary, we revisit the evidence that was put forward, and suggest that there are several good reasons for assessing health system effectiveness on the basis of amenable mortality. moreover, provided multiple years of data are used to increase the precision of measurement of amenable mortality rates in very small regions, this indicator of health system effectiveness can be considered a valuable tool for research and performance measurement.


The learning of hierarchical representations for image classification has experienced an impressive series of successes due in part to the availability of large-scale labeled data for training. On the other hand, the trained classifiers have traditionally been evaluated on small and fixed sets of test images, which are deemed to be extremely sparsely distributed in the space of all natural images. It is thus questionable whether recent performance improvements on the excessively re-used test sets generalize to real-world natural images with much richer content variations. Inspired by efficient stimulus selection for testing perceptual models in psychophysical and physiological studies, we present an alternative framework for comparing image classifiers, which we name the MAximum Discrepancy (MAD) competition. Rather than comparing image classifiers using fixed test images, we adaptively sample a small test set from an arbitrarily large corpus of unlabeled images so as to maximize the discrepancies between the classifiers, measured by the distance over WordNet hierarchy. Human labeling on the resulting model-dependent image sets reveals the relative performance of the competing classifiers, and provides useful insights on potential ways to improve them. We report the MAD competition results of eleven ImageNet classifiers while noting that the framework is readily extensible and cost-effective to add future classifiers into the competition. Codes can be found at this https URL.


Serum thyroglobulin is an essential marker during the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Demonstration of the total absence of thyroglobulin is not possible by immunoanalytic methods if thyroglobulin antibody is present in serum samples that occur in almost 20% of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Therefore, current guidelines recommend estimation of thyroglobulin levels only if quantitative level of thyroglobulin antibody is known. However, normal thyroglobulin antibody level fails to exclude interference with the antibody, because antibody concentration within the normal range may interfere with the thyroglobulin assay. In this respect recommendations are not consistent because they distinguish only occasionally cases with normal and those with non-detectable serum thyroglobulin level. In addition, the possible impact of normal thyroglobulin antibody level on the thyroglobulin assay has not been entirely explored. Authors review literature data and current guidelines on the analytical and preanalytical limitations of the thyroglobulin and thyroglobulin antibody measurements. On the basis of their own studies, authors make recommendation for improvement of the diagnostic accuracy of the thyroglobulin measurement.


The electronic properties of TiO2-terminated BaTiO3 (001) surface subjected to biaxial strain have been studied using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The Ti ions are always inward shifted either at compressive or tension strains, while the inward shift of the Ba ions occurs only for high compressive strain, implying an enhanced electric dipole moment in the case of high compressive strain. In particular, an insulator–metal transition is predicted at a compressive biaxial strain of 0.0475. These changes present a very interesting possibility for engineering the electronic properties of ferroelectric BaTiO3 (001) surface.


Urban traffic involves frequent acceleration and deceleration. During deceleration, the energy previously used to accelerate the vehicle is mainly wasted on heat generated by the friction brakes. If this energy that is wasted in traditional IC engines could be saved, the fuel economy would improve. Today there are several solutions to meet the demand for better fuel economy and one of them is the pneumatic hybrids. The idea with pneumatic hybridization is to reduce the fuel consumption by taking advantage of the, otherwise lost, brake energy. In the work presented in this study a heavy duty Scania D12 engine has been converted to work as a pneumatic hybrid. During pneumatic hybrid operation the engine can be used as a 2‐stroke compressor for generation of compressed air during vehicle deceleration (compressor mode) and during vehicle acceleration the engine can be operated as an air‐motor driven by the previously stored pressurized air (air‐motor mode). The compressed air is stored in a pressure tank connected to one of the inlet ports. One of the engine inlet valves has been modified to work as a tank valve in order to control the pressurized air flow to and from the pressure tank. In order to switch between different modes of engine operation there is a need for a fully variable valve actuation (FVVA) system. The engine used in this study is equipped with pneumatic valve actuators that use compressed air in order to drive the valves and the motion of the valves are controlled by a combination of electronics and hydraulics. Since the pneumatic VVA system, used in the work presented in this thesis, was still under development, the need to evaluate the system before any extensive use was more than necessary. The evaluation of the pneumatic VVA system verified its potential and a stable function was noticed together with great flexibility to manipulate both valve timing and valve lift to fit the desired purpose. Initial testing concerning the different pneumatic hybrid engine modes of operation was conducted. Both compressor mode (CM) and air‐motor mode (AM) were executed successfully. Optimization of CM and AM with regards to valve timing and valve geometry has been done with great improvements in regenerative efficiency which is defined as the ratio between the energy extracted during AM and the energy consumed during CM. (Less)


This is the table of contents and introductory chapter of a forthcoming book published by the University of Chicago Press, about the future of the federal writ of habeas corpus. The book provides a compact, accessible, yet comprehensive history and analysis of habeas corpus in all of its diverse applications, an analysis that is based on the latest empirical research of habeas litigation in federal courts, and includes specific recommendations for reform. By examining how habeas has been applied to review pretrial detention, civil commitment, immigration and military detention, capital and non-capital state convictions and sentences, federal criminal judgments, and administrative decisions by prison and parole officials, the book exposes striking patterns that are not easily seen when the writ is viewed only in a single context or at a single moment in time. Two principles emerge to guide future modifications of the habeas remedy: Habeas must remain a flexible remedy so that it will be available, whenever it is needed, to provide judicial review during times of crisis; and habeas must be exercised prudently as a tool of last resort, used only so long as is absolutely necessary, until alternative review mechanisms take shape. This introductory chapter contrasts the remarkable story of the writ's liberation of a Guantanamo detainee with the unremarkable saga of habeas litigation by a typical state prisoner, and previews some of the book's specific proposals for reform.


According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report released in July of 2002, the national supply of full time equivalent nurses was estimated at 1.89 million in the year 2000, while the demand was estimated at two million. This reflects a nursing shortage of 110,000 or 6 percent. By the year 2015 the demand will accelerate and almost quadruple to 20 percent.


We discuss the different physical processes contributing to the infrared continuum of AGN, assuming that both photoionization from the active center and shocks ionize and heat the gas and dust contained in an ensemble of clouds surrounding the nucleus. In our model, radiation transfer of primary and secondary radiation throughout a cloud is calculated consistently with collisional processes due to the shock. We consider that the observed continuum corresponds to reprocessed radiation from both dust and gas in the clouds. Collisional processes are important in the presence of shocks. The grains are sputtered crossing the shock front. The models are constrained by sputtering as well as by the far-infrared data. The model is applied to the continuum of Seyfert galaxies from which best estimate of the nuclear, stellar subtracted, emission is available. The results show that radiation-dominated high velocity clouds are more numerous in Seyfert 1-1.5 whereas shock-dominated low velocity clouds are dominant in Seyfert type 2. This result is in full agreement with the unified model for AGN, by which high velocity clouds, placed deeper into the central region and therefore reached by a more intense radiation, should play a more significant role in the spectra of broad line objects. We could therefore conclude that in type 2 objects, radiation is partly suppressed by a central dusty medium with a high dust-to-gas ratio. Once the model approach is tested, a grid of models is used to provide a phenomenological analysis of the observed infrared spectral energy distribution. This empirical method is a useful tool to rapidly access the physical conditions of the AGN emitting clouds. For this, analytical forms are derived for the two processes contributing to the infrared emission: dust emission and thermal bremsstrahlung produced by the NLR clouds. Their relative contribution provides a measurement of the dust-to-gas ratio.


Eukaryotic genome are transcribed extensively, but a majority of transcripts remain functionally uncharacterized. This is most ascribed to lacking of a potent RNA-centric technology that is capable of accurately quantitating putative genomic binding sites for endogenous RNAs. We describe here a detailed protocol for Chromatin Isolation by RNA-Cas13a Complex sequencing (ChIRC13a-seq), based on recently discovered CRISPR-Cas13a from Leptotrichia wadei (LwaCas13a), for profiling of RNA associated chromatin binding cites. ChIRC13a-seq employs biotinylated, enzymatically-dead Cas13a (dCas13a) that is still capable of binding target RNA and guide RNAs (gRNAs) specific for the RNA target of interest to enrich RNA and its chromatin binding sites. This assay can be performed in standard molecular biology laboratories with 2 d taken for ChIRC13a-seq library preparation.


Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of a comprehensive imaging protocol including echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in the diagnosis and differentiation of hypertensive heart disease and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Background Hypertension is present in up to 90% of patients with HFpEF and is a major aetiological component. Despite current recommendations and diagnostic criteria for HFpEF, no non-invasive imaging technique has as yet shown the ability to identify any structural differences between patients with hypertensive heart disease and HFpEF. Methods We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study of 112 well-characterised patients (62 with HFpEF, 22 with hypertension and 28 healthy controls). All patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise and biomarker testing and an imaging protocol including echocardiography with speckle tracking analysis and CMR including T1 mapping pre- and post-contrast. Results Echocardiographic global longitudinal strain (GLS) and extracellular volume (ECV) measured by CMR were the only variables able to independently stratify between the three groups of patients. ECV was the best technique for differentiation between hypertensive heart disease and HFPEF (AUC 0.88; GLS AUC 0.78, p<0.001 for both). Using ECV, an optimal cut-off of 31.2% gave 100% sensitivity and 75% specificity. ECV was significantly higher and GLS was significantly reduced in subjects with reduced exercise capacity (lower peak VO2 and higher VE/VCO2). Conclusions Both GLS and ECV are able to independently discriminate between hypertensive heart disease and HFpEF and identify patients with prognostically significant functional limitation. ECV is the best diagnostic discriminatory marker of HFpEF and could be used as a surrogate end-point for therapeutic studies.


Marbles from the Upper Calcsilicate Unit of the Reynolds Range Group, central Australia, experienced regional Proterozoic greenschist-facies metamorphism, but preserve relicts of an earlier, higher temperature assemblage. The earlier assemblage is typified by intermediate scapolite that predates regional metamorphic fabrics, and it is pseudomorphed by assemblages that were stable during regional greenschist facies metamorphism. The scapolite was formed at temperatures in excess of 540–575 °C, far higher than the regional metamorphic temperatures (400–450 ºC). Marbles and associated pelites display variable, but lower δI8O values than are typical of greenschist facies metasediments. Scapolitization and lowering of isotope ratios probably resulted from pre-regional metamorphic contact metamorphism around early granites.


Abstract : Experimental research was conducted on the effectiveness of Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) to improve the high-cycle fatigue life of Selective Laser Melted Ti-6Al-4v (SLM Ti-64). A thorough understanding of the fatigue life performance for additively manufactured parts is necessary before such parts are utilized in an operational capacity in Department of Defense (DoD) systems. Such applications include the rapid, on-demand fabrication of replacement parts during contingency operations or the production of light-weight topology-optimized components. This research assesses the fatigue life of SLM Ti-64 test specimens built directly to net dimensions without any subsequent surface machining. The configuration is designed as representative of end-use parts where further surface machining is unavailable or undesirable. Past research suggests utilization of HIP as a densification process to reduce the negative impact on fatigue life from internal porosity within SLM Ti-64. The impact of HIP on the rough surface of SLM Ti-64 to remove stress concentrations on the surface is not addressed in literature. The experimental data from this research demonstrates HIP improves high-cycle fatigue-life of un-machined test specimens by 61.4% at a maximum stress level of 500 MPa and 102% at a maximum stress level of 300 MPa.


Interferon (IFN)-γ was analysed immunologically in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampled in the acute phase from 27 patients (15–66 years) with viral meningitis and from 18 patients (0.5–90 years) with bacterial meningitis. Increased CSF concentrations were observed in 19/27 viral and in 13/18 bacterial cases. CSF-IFN-γ did not distinguish between viral and bacterial meningitis. Five of 8 patients with meningitis due to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) had CSF-IFN-γ levels above the highest found in enteroviral meningitis. Thus, a markedly increased CSF-IFN-γ value in patients with suspected viral meningitis ought to indicate HSV-2 etiology. The patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis (6 adults and 1 child) had significantly higher levels than the 7 children with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis. This may indicate that S. pnemoniae induces more IFN-γ secretion than H. influenzae, and/or that during meningitis, adults are more apt to react with IFN-γ production, than are children.


A bilateral anomaly of the rectus muscles and a unilateral variation of the levator palpebrae muscle were found in the right and left orbits of an 84‐year‐old man. The anomaly was in the form of a supernumerary rectus muscle lying on a sagittal orientation between the optic nerve and lateral rectus muscle (in the right orbit) and adjacent to the inferior rectus muscle (in the left orbit). In each orbit the anomalous muscle originated occipitally from the common tendinous ring and frontally—near the eyeball—joined the terminal part of the inferior rectus. On its superior margin the anomalous muscle had, in the right orbit, a broad (4 mm), and in the left orbit a slender (2 mm) muscular bridge to the superior rectus muscle. Because of their connection to the superior rectus and their innervation by N.III the accessory orbital muscles are not deemed to be vestiges of the retractor bulbi muscle which, with the exception of the primates, is a typical occurrence in vertebrates and is always innervated by N.VI. Our anomalous orbital muscle must be explained as a supernumerary rectus muscle. A further variation occurred in the right orbit: an isolated medial part or belly of the levator palpebrae muscle (the so‐called M. gracillimus). In primates this variation is known as a remnant of the membrana nictitans (third eyelid of the amniotes). Ignorance of anomalies in the orbital muscles may lead to confusion and error in diagnostic identification and surgical exposure. Clin. Anat. 11:271–277, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


2This study sought to determine how students of public secondary schools in Nairobi perceive entrepreneurship as a career and whether they would want to pursue a career in entrepreneurship upon completion of school. The study bore in mind that both exogenous and endogenous factors have the potential to influence the students' perception of entrepreneurship and thus contribute in determining their entrepreneurial intentions. As such learning Busine ss Studies in secondary school and having parents/ guardians in self employment was viewed as having prior exposure to entrepreneurship. Data for this study was obtained by use of a questionnaire administered to randomly selected students from sel ected schools that were representative of public secondary schools in Nairo bi. They were 135 respondents who comprised of both male and female students and students ranging from Form one (1) to Form four (4). The research revealed that although majority of students had a positive perception of entrepreneurship as a career option, there were various factors that were perceived as hindrances or challenges. Key of these was the fear of failure, lack of sufficient knowledge to start and run own business and the inadequate funds to start business. The study also revealed that there was n o significant difference in the perception of entrepreneurship between students who had had prior exposure through Business Studies subject at school and those who ha d not studied the subject. It was also observed that students who had parents/ guardians in self employment were not highly motivated to go into entrepreneurship so as to cont inue in family business.


Background. Although the incidence of early acute rejection could have been diminished in the past, the long-term renal allograft survival could not benefit from the introduction of more effective immunosuppressive regimens mainly aiming at cellular rejection mechanisms. The cause of chronic rejection is still discussed controversially. Here, we demonstrate to what extent human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies (HLAab) posttransplant contribute to late graft outcome. Methods. A total of 1014 deceased kidney transplant recipients transplanted at the Charité hospital were monitored in a cross-sectional manner for the development of HLAab using Luminex Single Antigen beads. Patients with stable kidney function at a median of 5-years posttransplant were tested once for HLAab and monitored for 5.5 years after testing. Results. Thirty percent of recipients showed HLAab. Donor-specific antibodies (DSA) were found in 31% of antibody positive patients. The presence of DSA was associated with a significantly lower graft survival of 49% vs. 83% in the HLAab negative group (P≤0.0001). Non-DSAs also had an adverse effect on graft survival (70% vs. 83%; P=0.0001). In a prospective analysis of 195 patients with repeatedly no detectable HLAab, the survival probability was 94% as opposed to 79% survival among patients who developed HLAab de novo after the first testing (P=0.05). Conclusions. We confirmed that HLAab produced even late after transplantation are detrimental to graft outcome. DSA were proven to have a strong adverse impact on graft survival. The results indicate that a posttransplant HLAab monitoring routine could be appropriate to improve long-term results.


Batch Normalization (BN) as an important component assists Deep Neural Networks in achieving promising performance for extensive learning tasks by scaling distribution of feature representations within mini-batches. However, the application of BN suffers from performance degradation under the scenario of Unsupervised Domain Adaptation (UDA), since the estimated statistics fail to concurrently describe two different domains. In this paper, we develop a novel normalization technique, named Collaborative Normalization (CoN), for eliminating domain discrepancy and accelerating the model training of neural networks for UDA. Unlike typical strategies only exploiting domain-specific statistics during normalization, our CoN excavates cross-domain knowledge and simultaneously scales features from various domains by mimicking the merits of collaborative representation. Our CoN can be easily plugged into popular neural network backbones for cross-domain learning. On the one hand, theoretical analysis guarantees that models with CoN promote discriminability of feature representations and accelerate convergence rate; on the other hand, empirical study verifies that replacing BN with CoN in popular network backbones effectively improves classification accuracy in most learning tasks across three cross-domain visual benchmarks.


The purpose of this article is to provide a review of mobility devices available for the rehabilitation of individuals with (spinal cord injury) SCI. The technologies that improve mobility and potentially enhance community participation that will be discussed include those devices that are used to improve ambulation, wheeled mobility, and functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems. This review should provide a guide to biomedical engineers to understand the tools developed, the design characteristics, and the functionality of such technologies that strive to improve functional mobility of individuals with SCI. This review is not intended to suggest the optimal device(s) geared for a given individual with SCI. Conversely, since it is important to match the person with the technology, the purpose of this review is to offer a series of mobility options that may be available to a person with SCI.


Previous studies have reported the production of malformed virus-like-particles (VLP) in recombinant host systems. Here we computationally investigate the case of a large triple-layered rotavirus VLP (RLP). In vitro assembly, disassembly and reassembly data provides strong evidence of microscopic reversibility of RLP assembly. Light scattering experimental data also evidences a slow and reversible assembly untypical of kinetic traps, thus further strengthening the fidelity of a thermodynamically controlled assembly. In silico analysis further reveals that under favourable conditions particles distribution is dominated by structural subunits and completely built icosahedra, while other intermediates are present only at residual concentrations. Except for harshly unfavourable conditions, assembly yield is maximised when proteins are provided in the same VLP protein mass composition. The assembly yield decreases abruptly due to thermodynamic equilibrium when the VLP protein mass composition is not obeyed. The latter effect is more pronounced the higher the Gibbs free energy of subunit association is and the more complex the particle is. Overall this study shows that the correct formation of complex multi-layered VLPs is restricted to a narrow range of association energies and protein concentrations, thus the choice of the host system is critical for successful assembly. Likewise, the dynamic control of intracellular protein expression rates becomes very important to minimize wasted proteins.


Abstract Publishers' statements are often the only timely circulation data available to media planners and buyers. Many advertising purchasers depend on individual magazines guaranteed circulation (often called a rate base) to ensure that their advertisement purchase hits certain minimal levels of audience delivery. This study examines these issues in two time periods: 2001–2002 and 2003–2005. Unfortunately, we find that 25% to 30% of individual magazine issues fail to achieve their guaranteed audience. Even more surprising, audit reports find significantly larger numbers of issues miss their rate base compared to what is claimed in publishers' reports. The first data set found that 75 percent of issues exceed the rate base and that magazines are more likely to exceed their rate base by a large margin than they are to fall short of their rate base by a large margin. However, the amount of "bonus circulation" over the rate base fell in the second time period with fewer issues falling short of their rate base by large amounts and more issues missing their rate base by a large amount. Across almost all measures, the problem of missing rate bases and discrepancies between publishers' statements and audit reports got significantly worse during 2003–2005.


Emerging evidence has revealed that obesity and diets high in saturated fat are linked with pathophysiological changes in the dopaminergic reward system that disrupt satiety signals governing homeostatic food intake. Diets high in saturated fat are also implicated in the development of a metabolic syndrome-like phenotype characterized by obesogenic weight gain, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation. While there is evidence that anti-inflammatory unsaturated fats promote healthier metabolic profiles and brain health, little is known about the effects of diets high in unsaturated fat on dopamine neurotransmission which plays a role in feeding and satiety circuits. We sought to determine whether a diet high in unsaturated fat, in contrast to saturated fat, would prevent the development of a metabolic disorders and preserve normal dopamine function. To examine this, male C57BL/6 mice were fed, ad libitum, a low-fat (LF) control diet or a nutrient-matched diet high in either saturated fat (SFD) or unsaturated flaxseed oil (FSO) for six weeks. We measured food intake and body weight throughout the dietary intervention and after six weeks we assessed metabolic dysfunction with glucose tolerance tests and locomotor behaviors in an open field test. We subsequently measured sub-second dopamine release and uptake from dopamine neurons using ex-vivo Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Dopamine kinetics in response to the dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist quinpirole was also measured to assess dopamine receptor function. In order to assess the relationship between dietary fat, inflammation, and dopamine neurotransmission, the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6) was also measured in the NAc. Mice fed a SFD consumed significantly more food and gained significantly more weight compared to their LF-fed counterparts. In addition, unlike the LF group, the SFD group displayed anxiogenic locomotor behaviors in open field tests. Interestingly, the FSO group consumed the same amount of food as the SFD group; however, the FSO diet attenuated weight gain and preserved normal blood glucose regulation and locomotor behaviors. Significantly, the SFD group also exhibited dampened phasic dopamine release, impaired dopamine uptake and increased sensitivity to quinpirole, all of which was prevented with the FSO diet. There was also a negative association between dopamine uptake and IL-6 in the SFD group suggesting IL-6 selectively corresponded with reduced dopamine uptake in mice fed saturated versus unsaturated fat. Collectively, we demonstrate that different types of dietary fat have substantially different effects on metabolic phenotype and dopamine terminal regulation. In contrast to a diet high in saturated fat, a diet high in unsaturated fat preserved both normal metabolic and behavioral parameters as well as dopamine signaling in the NAc.


Systems "spindle – bearings" will inevitably have some errors and discrepancies in the dimensions and form of elements. These inaccuracies cause spindle's run out. The run out is a complex periodic process which may include three types of frequency components: with frequencies exceeding the spindle's rotary frequency, with frequency equal to the spindle's rotary frequency and with frequencies lower that the spindle's rotary frequency. Each individual frequency component may be caused by eccentricity or out-of-roundness of the inner race, out-of-roundness of the outer race, spread of ball diameters, and inaccuracy of their form. Self-adjustable pad-type bearings are sensitive to technological, service and construction perturbations. This is characteristic of vortex trajectories of the spindles. Character of these trajectories depends on the thickness of lubricant film over the pad supports and on the geometrical precision of the spindle journal and pads (segments). Geometrical precision under a high unbalance of the grinding wheel is crucial for functional quality, size and form of the orbit. Geometrical precision of trajectories and its state are subject to change depending on a number of parameters especially on the rigidity of the lubricant film and dynamic system.


The process of designing and testing auditory displays often includes evaluations only by experts, and where non-experts are involved, training is commonly required. This paper presents a method of evaluating sound designs that does not require listener training, thus promoting more ecological practices in auditory display design. Complex sound designs can be broken down into discrete sound events, which can then be rated using a set of sound attributes that are meaningful to both designers and listeners. The two examples discussed in this paper include an auditory display for a commercial vehicle, and a set of sound effects for a video game. Both are tested using a repertory grid approach. The paper shows that the method can highlight similarities and differences between designer and user listening experiences thus informing design decisions and subsequently reception.


Based on fieldwork in Yderbyskolen ‒ a Danish school with a majority of Muslim pupils ‒ this article looks into the ideals and practices characteristic of the way the Danish 'folkeskole' handles religion in school, and analyses their implications for youth of Muslim background. It argues that the ideals and practices are shaped by a moderate secularism, as well as ideals of civilised relations characteristic of the Danish school and society. These ideals prompt the teachers to consider children's religion, as well as make religion and religious differences unimportant in school. While the teachers in Yderbyskolen have apparently succeeded in this effort, the ideals seem to entail certain understandings of acceptable religiousity and an idea of religious differences – especially between Islam and Christianity ‒ as potentially conflictual. This creates taboos and avoidance practices around religion and affects the role of both Christianity and Islam in school. It is argued that the way young people handle their Muslim identity and religiousity in school is shaped by these school norms of religiousity and their interaction with norms of behaviour established in the youth groups.


Surmmary
The substance responsible for lysis of erythrocytes by cultures of Bacillus subtilis, designated subtilysin, was purified. It contained a peptide of leucine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and valine and probably a lipid. Subtilysin was activated by Mg2+, Mn2+ and Ca2+. The rate of haemolysis was abruptly increased by chilling the reaction mixture. Haemolysis was inhibited by normal sera; the most inhibitory serum fractions contained α- and β-globulins. Haemolysis was inhibited by low concentrations of phosphatidyl-choline, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid and sphingomyelin. Subtilysin possessed antibiotic properties and lysed protoplasts and spheroplasts derived from several bacterial species; subtilysin was identical with surfactin, a peptidelipid from B. subtilis cultures that inhibits fibrin clot formation. Kakinuma and co-workers found surfactin to be a heptapeptide having an N-terminal glutamic acid in amide linkage with the carboxyl group of 3-hydroxy-13-methyl-tetradecanoic acid. Surfactin (subtilysin) possesses some properties in common with two other cytolytic agents of bacterial origin, namely, staphylococcal δ-toxin and streptolysin S.


Purpose: The results of a study comparing the accuracy of medication histories obtained by pharmacy technicians against those obtained by nurses in an emergency department setting are described.
Methods: Patient census reports were reviewed to generate a list of patients who met the study criteria. A single pharmacist investigator interviewed a randomly selected subset of patients meeting the criteria. The pharmacist reviewed the medication history recorded in the electronic medical record and compared the record with information obtained from the patient or patient representative. Where discrepancies existed, the patient's pharmacy and/or prescribing physician were queried for clarification. The discrepancies assessed include missing doses, missing frequencies, incorrect doses, incorrect frequencies, medications listed that the patient does not currently take, and medications the patient takes that were omitted from the record. The primary outcome is the number of discrepancies between nurse- and technician-obtained medication histories. Statistical significance was assessed via two-tailed t-tests. The secondary outcomes assessed include timeliness, cost of staff time involved, and physician satisfaction.
Results: The total number of errors was greater among nurseobtained histories vs. technician-obtained (111 vs. 77, p=NS). Likewise the number of errors involving prescription medications was greater with nurse- vs. technician-obtained histories (83 vs. 39, p=NS). Conversely, errors involving over-the-counter products were fewer when nurses obtained the histories vs. technicians (28 vs. 38, p=NS).
Conclusion: While statistical superiority was not achieved, the present study determined that technician-obtained medication histories are at least as accurate as those obtained by nurses, and take less time to complete. There is also a higher level of perceived satisfaction among providers with the technician model, particularly with regard to timeliness.


Polarised neutron diffraction experiments conducted at 4.2 K on Cs(3)CoCl(5) crystals have been analysed by using a four-dimensional model Hilbert space made of ab initio n-electron wave functions of the CoCl(4)(2-) molecular ion. Two spin-orbit mixing coefficients and several configuration interaction coefficients have been optimized by fitting calculated magnetic structure factors to experimental ones, to obtain the best ensemble density operator that is representable in the model space. A goodness of fit, χ(2), less then 1 has been obtained for the first time for the two experimental data sets available. In the present article, the optimized density operators are used to calculate the magnetic field densities that are the genuine observables probed in neutron diffraction experiments. Density maps of such observables are presented for the first time and numerical details are provided. The respective contributions of spin density and orbital current to the magnetic field density are analyzed.


Introduction Retreatment is performed in teeth with unsuccessful root canal therapy or persistent apical lesion. The most important factor for achieving successful retreatment is thorough cleaning and reshaping. NiTi files and rotary instruments are widely used for the removal of obturatants. This study compared the ability of Mtwo and D-RaCe retreatment systems to remove residual gutta-percha and sealer within the root canal after retreatment. Materials and Methods This in vitro experiment was performed on sixty extracted human teeth. The samples were cut at the CEJ level, manually prepared, filled with gutta-percha and AH26 and finally stored at 37ºC for two weeks. Samples were then randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 was retreated with Mtwo and Group 2 with D-RaCe. Both groups were then divided into two subgroups retreated either with or without solvent. Teeth were then vertically sectioned for evaluation of residual filling materials on the canal walls. A microscopic assessment at 16× magnification was performed. T-test statistical analysis was used to compare the data. Results Comparison between the Mtwo and D-RaCe rotary systems revealed no significant differences in residual gutta-percha or sealer on canal walls (P=0.2). The study revealed a negative effect of solvent on removal of gutta-percha and sealer in both the Mtwo and D-RaCe systems. Conclusion Mtwo and D-RaCe retreatment files removed residual gutta-percha and sealer similarly; there was no significant difference between them.


The drug release profiles were optimized using different grades of polyethylene glycols (PEGs). Phase diagrams of ternary mixtures of ethylcellulose, PEG and TEC were obtained and used for optimization of drug release. The phase diagrams showed that addition of higher molecular weight of PEGs increased the phase separation and caused precipitation of ethylcellulose from the ternary mixtures. The effect of different grades and concentrations of PEGs in novel oral intragastric controlled release gel formulations were also investigated. In conclusion, the in situ forming oral controlled release formulations were successfully developed and the formulations were able to control the release of hydrochlorothiazide up to 24


On 13 December 2001, our very dear colleague, Valerie Bester, passed away after a courageous but traumatic battle with cancer. Thirteen December was also her birthday and, as such, Valerie completed a full cycle of life as measured in the temporal terms of human beings on this earth, symbolic to many of the unique person that she was. Valerie will be remembered for her long professional alliance with the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the devotion and loyalty with which she maintained this relationship.


Single-unit recordings conducted during perceptual decision-making tasks have yielded tremendous insights into the neural coding of sensory stimuli. In such experiments, detection or discrimination behavior (the psychometric data) is observed in parallel with spike trains in sensory neurons (the neurometric data). Frequently, candidate neural codes for information read-out are pitted against each other by transforming the neurometric data in some way and asking which code's performance most closely approximates the psychometric performance. The code that matches the psychometric performance best is retained as a viable candidate and the others are rejected. In following this strategy, psychometric data is often considered to provide an unbiased measure of perceptual sensitivity. It is rarely acknowledged that psychometric data result from a complex interplay of sensory and non-sensory processes and that neglect of these processes may result in misestimating psychophysical sensitivity. This again may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the adequacy of candidate neural codes. In this review, we first discuss requirements on the neural data for a subsequent neurometric-psychometric comparison. We then focus on different psychophysical tasks for the assessment of detection and discrimination performance and the cognitive processes that may underlie their execution. We discuss further factors that may compromise psychometric performance and how they can be detected or avoided. We believe that these considerations point to shortcomings in our understanding of the processes underlying perceptual decisions, and therefore offer potential for future research.


In recent decades, an ethical and responsible tourism has become increasingly important in the context of a general orientation to promote sustainable development models in the world. The recognition of the negative impacts of mass tourism has led to a profound reflection on tourism and its contribution to the development of a territory. The debate has highlighted the importance of promoting a sustainable and responsible tourism development that brings economic, social and environmental benefits to the local community and its members. The importance of promoting an ethic of tourism for the progress of society has been equally emphasized. Values must not be forgotten in leisure time as they contribute to the civil growth of territories and people. Today, even the tourists are more informed and aware, often interested in traveling responsibly and having significant experiences that satisfy social needs. Studies have also highlighted a widespread need for authenticity and a greater sensitivity of consumers to the ethical aspects of a travel. Organizing ethical and responsible tourism activities means to embrace these principles and to consider these tourists' expectations. This paper emphasizes and explores the role of tourism in promoting values that favor the development of territories and visitors (such as those of legality, justice and honesty), as well as its aptitude to foster an economic and social redemption of the local community. To this end, we present two case studies concerning innovative forms of ethical and responsible tourism recently established in Southern Italy in a more favorable institutional and cultural context. These are initiatives characterized by a strong ethical profile, being related to the fight against organized crime in Sicily. The analysis shows how the emergence of ethical tourist practices that exploit opportunities and the potential of a disadvantaged area generate various positive effects (economic, social, cultural and symbolic) on the territory, on the local community and tourists, also thanks to a full enhancement of the educational function of the travelling. The cases highlight that: i) human values have a central role both in the development of the entrepreneurial idea and in the contribution to the personal growth of visitors; ii) tourism can be a tool for promoting social and economic justice in a local community with specific problems.


The urban arterial system, a link between freeways and local streets, provides for the efficient collection, distribution, and transition of traffic among freeways, collector streets, local roadways, and property. This Guide discusses traffic engineering techniques and alternative modes of transportation as applicable treatments of common problems in arterial systems. This report is primarily interested in short-range strategies and the planning, implementation requirements, issues, consequences, and financial implications of each. These strategies are embodied in Transportation System Management (TSM), a concept of integrating transportation elements into a coordinated and efficient package to satisfy a range of operational issues with emphasis on low or moderate cost. In this Guide, two approaches to transportation management are considered: supply management and demand management. Under supply management, six components were investigated, including automobile facilities, high occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities, light rail transit (LRT), non-motorized facilities, terminal facilities, and urban goods movement. Under demand managemtne, four components were investigated, including land use management, parking management, access management, and variable hours management.


In the much-celebrated book Deep Medicine, Eric Topol argues that the development of artificial intelligence for health care will lead to a dramatic shift in the culture and practice of medicine. In the next several decades, he suggests, AI will become sophisticated enough that many of the everyday tasks of physicians could be delegated to it. Topol is perhaps the most articulate advocate of the benefits of AI in medicine, but he is hardly alone in spruiking its potential to allow physicians to dedicate more of their time and attention to providing empathetic care for their patients in the future. Unfortunately, several factors suggest a radically different picture for the future of health care. Far from facilitating a return to a time of closer doctor-patient relationships, the use of medical AI seems likely to further erode therapeutic relationships and threaten professional and patient satisfaction.


In the last decades ontology has been successfully developed in many directions and has fostered various approaches for depicting the contemporary ontological landscapes. An important task is to outline recent thought on the conceptual interfaces between science and philosophy. The present volume opens up a view onto the plurality of different ontological schemes. The papers collected here discuss the interfaces between ontology and empirical research that are created by the notions of a whole, a thought, a number, a quality, an ability, a kind, notions of causation, dynamicity, and social objects, the application of relevant logical tools for the reconsideration of ontological paradigms, as well as the investigation of the consequences in cognitive sciences on the development of ontology.


In order to realize the rapid construction and dynamic reconfiguration of human-computer interface, a rapid developing model based on component assembly was proposed recurring to an assistant design tool developed self-owned, as well as the assembly models of domain component and interface components. In the rapid construction model, the scheduling component cooperated with configure file to achieve the established functions. In the meantime, the interface switching were realized by event handler, rule handler, interface forming handler and addressing handler through cooperating with configure file that was acquired by assistant design tool. Finally, the example of system realization showed that the rapid construction method was feasible.


In this study, changes in plasma virus load, peripheral blood CD4 T cell counts and the T cell repertoire were assessed in eight chronically HIV-infected individuals suspending antiretroviral therapy. Despite rapid increases in virus load and substantial CD4 T cell losses during treatment interruption, no marked changes in the T cell receptor beta chain repertoire were observed. The magnitude of associated T cell repertoire perturbation thus contrasts with that observed during primary HIV infection.


The rights related to pregnancy, maternity and parenthood in the workplace have significantly evolved in recent decades. Such evolution has been triggered by important social changes, such as the increasing involvement of men in caring activities as well as the development of new forms of families in which children are being raised. Yet, these changes are not always adequately addressed by the existing legal framework. The article examines the Pregnant Workers Directive (92/85/EEC) and its interpretation and application in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, and concludes that it is in urgent need of reform. The conclusions are based on the evaluation of the related case law of the European Court of Human Rights, in the light of the pending accession of the EU to the European Convention on Human Rights.


Purpose: Hereditary head and neck paraganglioma (HNPGL) syndromes are associated with mutations in the SDHD(PGL1), SDHC(PGL3), and SDHB(PGL4) genes encoding succinate dehydrogenase subunits. We recently described mutations in a previously uncharacterized human gene, now called SDHAF2, and showed that this was the long-sought "imprinted" PGL2 gene. Here, we present a new branch of the Dutch SDHAF2 (PLG2-SDH5) family. Experimental Design: The SDHAF2 family has been collected over a 30-year period. The family described here was linked to PGL2 and at-risk family members were invited to participate in this study. Patients were investigated and treated dependent on tumor size and localization. All family members have now been analyzed for the SDHAF2 mutation status. Results: Among the 57 family members, 23 were linkage positive including 7 risk-free carriers (maternal imprinting). Of the 16 at-risk individuals, 11 had a total of 24 tumors with primarily carotid (71%) and vagal locations (17%). Multifocality of tumors was prominent (91%). Malignancy was not detected. The average age at onset was 33 years, and many patients (42%) were asymptomatic prior to screening. SDHAF2 mutation analysis confirmed the findings of the previously performed linkage analysis without detection of discrepancies. Conclusions: We established the SDHAF2 mutation status of PGL2 family members. Phenotypic characterization of this family confirms the currently exclusive association of SDHAF2 mutations with HNPGL. This SDHAF2 family branch shows a young age at onset and very high levels of multifocality. A high percentage of patients were asymptomatic at time of detection. Clin Cancer Res; 17(2); 247–54. ©2011 AACR.


Video comprises several modalities and as the richest of all type of media, it is a very important tool and powerful medium of communication. It is used extensively for presenting information and expressing and communicating ideas. Huge amount of video material is generated everyday covering a wide variety of subjects. Without efficient and flexible tools, the usability of this material is quite restricted. In recent years there has been much research addressing the problem of automatic video analysis and retrieval. In this thesis, the problem of automatic video annotation is considered. We develop a multistage decision making system tailored to the domain of sport videos. The first stage is concerned with reaching a compact yet efficient representation of raw video material. One popular approach to this problem is a representation in terms of low-level features. A major limitation is that the stored indexing features are too low-level; they relate directly to the properties of the data. In this stage we opted for a representation in terms of cues. Cues are the result of processing that associates the feature measurements with real-world objects or events. An additional advantage of this approach is that the cues from different types of features are presented in a homogeneous way. The second stage of the system is concerned with the classification of video shots. The set of classes considered relate to some characteristic views that occur frequently in sport videos. The decision making mechanism in this stage is a boosted decision tree which generates hypotheses concerning the semantics of the sports video content given the cues annotation. In contrast to many shot classifiers reported in the literature, the proposed one decomposes the global complex classification problem into a number of simpler tasks. It has the flexibility of choosing different subsets of features (cues in our case) to solve those tasks, thus eliminating unnecessary computations. The final stage of the system is designed to attack the misclassification committed in earlier stages by exploiting temporal context. Misclassification can be due to error in the cue extraction, in the shot classifier or the consequence of a genuine ambiguity as the same visual content may be attributed to different sport categories, depending on the context. The functionality of this stage is realised by a Hidden Markov Model system which bridges the gap between the semantic content categorisation defined by the user and the actual visual content categories. This stage also addresses the grouping of shots into scenes. Experimental results on a database comprising video material from six different events demonstrate that the proposed system is working well.


The aim of this research was to establish a new style of AV performance that facilitated me in knowingly steering audience engagement. My interest in steering engagement stems from the intent I have with my performances; an intent to encourage audiences into considered thought about the topics I bring to my shows. As practice-based research, a series of performances formed its basis, with each adapted toward establishing a new style.

I introduced audience conversations to my performances, doing so in real-time by harnessing the audience's second-screens. In this way, their smartphones facilitated spontaneous collaboration between the audience and I; in turn this gave me a way to steer them toward thinking about the themes behind my performances. By then bringing this style of performance to the context of live debate, a new paradigm emerged; one that challenges the audience to participate in shaping the emergent audio-visual event.

I had to develop the capacity to monitor audience engagement, first online with the `video-cued commentary' and then in real-time via two different `audience-commentary systems'. This may be of interest to anyone engaging in forms of audience analysis or viewer studies. How I developed second-screen systems may be of interest to designers of phone-network-based social-media commentary platforms. My effort toward simplifying how I generated audio-visual content and how I controlled it on-stage may make this research of interest to other digital-media performers and installation-designers.


Experimental data on cycles to failure are reported for a SCS-6/TIMETAL 21S [0/90] s composite under isothermal fatigue at 650 and 815°C over a range of frequencies from 0.01 to 200 Hz as well as under in-phase and out-of-phase thermomechanical fatigue from 150 to 650°C. Several models are evaluated for correlating fatigue lives based on computed micromechanical stresses using a life fraction concept that considers both cycle-dependent and time-dependent terms. Fractography is used to illustrate the range of failure modes in this material system as well as to both guide and validate the modeling concepts. Over the range of conditions covered in this investigation, purely time-dependent, purely cycle-dependent, fiber-dominated, and matrix-dominated modes of failure, as well as combinations of these, are observed.


This thesis presents the results of some experimental and theoretical
investigations into the behaviour of fast neutrons in a pulsed thorium assembly.

The experiments constitute the first detailed examination of the space-time
characteristics of fast neutrons in a heavy metal system. The space and time
dependent fission rates of 237Np, 235U and 239 Pu are measured following
the injection of a short burst of fast neutrons of mean energy - 2.7 MeV into
the centre of a thorium assembly of size 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.4 m3 .

Analysis of the measured spatial distributions
have been directed towards the extraction of the space independent .
time dependent reaction rates .associated with the three-dimensional
Fourier spatial modes. The time dependent reaction rates corresponding
to the fundamental Fourier spatial mode and the associated
values of the instantaneous decay constant have been compared with
calculations from a multigroup diffusion theory code which uses
the asymptotic reactor theory to describe leakage. The. thorium
cross sections employed are the ABBN 26 group set and two 50 group
sets from the WINFRITH data file and the ENDF/B-II data file.

The calculated 237Np fission rates using the
three data sets differ substantially from each other and decay
faster than measurements for the first 30 ns or so after the
initial neutron pulse. At later times measurements lie within
the calculated curves.

The calculated 235U fisslon'rates using the
three data sets are in close agreement with each other. All
three sets, however, predict too fast a decay rate for the first
70 ns or so after the initial neutron pulse compared with
measurements, the disagreement being well outside the experimental
errors. At later times the predicted values of the instantaneous
decay constant are close to the measured values. Similar trends are
observed for the 239Pu fission rates.

The discrepancies between measurements and
calculations are discussed and possible explanations are presented.
The time dependent 237Np and 235U fission rates measured at
several positions in the thorium assembly are also
compared with calculations from a simple Monte Carlo code.
Again the calculated reaction rates decay faster than the measured
reaction rates.

Some studies of the sensitivity of the measured
parameters to physically reasonable changes in the thorium cross
sections at various energies based on the multigroup diffusion theory
calculations are presented. The measured parameters are shown to be
insensitive to changes in the fission and radiative capture cross
sections but are very sensitive to the elastic and inelastic cross
sections.


Double-deck elevators are a very efficient mode of transport, especially in high rise buildings. This is due to the fact that they reduce the number of stops in a round trip (leading to a smaller value of the round trip time hence a higher handling capacity) and take up less space of the core of the building leading to high space usage efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive treatment of the double-deck elevator traffic calculations. It derives an exact set of equations to find the value of the round trip time under incoming traffic conditions, for the cases of equal and unequal floor populations. Moreover, equations have also been derived for two performance coefficients. The first coefficient is called the passenger transfer efficiency coefficient and is representative of the time taken by passenger to alight from the double-deck elevator. The second coefficient is called the coincidental stopping coefficient and is representative of the stopping efficiency. All the results from the equations have been verified using the Monte Carlo simulation method. The method of stepwise verification has been used in order to verify the equations. Under stepwise verification, the equations are derived in stages and each stage is verified against the results from the Monte Carlo Simulation method. The paper ends by suggesting methods of dealing with two of the irregular conditions. Namely two cases are discussed: the case where the number of floors above the main entrance is odd; and the case where the floor heights are unequal and the rated speed is not attained in one double floor journey. Practical application : This paper presents a full set of equations that allow the elevator system designer to fully assess the expected performance of the double-deck elevator system under incoming traffic conditions. These equations (manually or within a software program) can be used to carry out a full design (thus selecting the number, speed, and capacity of the double-deck elevators).


This dissertation presents an approach for the inclusion of technologies from the field of robotics into security and surveillance of outdoor critical infrastructures. Nowadays, the systems used for these tasks are mainly reactive, meaning that they rely on alarms based on static sensors that require constant monitoring and a response from human operators. Therefore, the use of robotic systems can improve the capabilities of detecting and reacting to disruptions while reducing the risk for human operators. The global objective of this work is to develop a system capable of performing a high level task in the context of security systems: the detection, tracking and interception of an intruder moving around, in an outdoors critical infrastructure. Moreover, the work should be focused not only on developing algorithms and strategies but also on testing them with real robots in realistic scenarios. During the Thesis, a modular system has been developed to carry out the global mission, thus, the process has been divided into several modules, namely: pedestrian detection, tracking, trajectory prediction, planning for interception and autonomous navigation. This modular design allowed developing and testing the modules independently from each other. Moreover, it also allowed us to use them in combination with external algorithms or to apply them to different applications. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the integration of the modules and real experimentation, software and communications architectures have been developed. The pedestrians detection module is based on the fusion of information from two different sources: a 2D laser scanner and a camera. This module introduces two main novelties: the first one is the inclusion of an adaptive technique for projection of the region-of-interest, which addresses the problem of vertically localizing a projection from the laser into an image plane. The second one consists on introducing of a probability calibration step, applied before performing the fusion of information provided by both sensors, this allows reducing redundancy and correlation between two information sources. The next module included in this work is the pedestrian tracking. It keeps updated a list of detected pedestrians, including their position and velocities. In order to do that, the algorithm processes the observations and determines whether or not each observation corresponds to a previously detected pedestrian. The main novelty on this algorithm is the introduction of a discriminative tracking procedure, where the uncertainty of the detection is taken into account. This means that, highly certain detections are used to confirm the presence of a human in the scene, meanwhile uncertain ones are used to keep track of its position over large areas. The trajectory prediction module uses a comparison of the observed trajectory against possible routes in combination with a simple modelling of the movements, to obtain a long-term prediction of the future trajectory of the pedestrian. Its main contribution is that it does not require any previous observation of pedestrian trajectories to obtain the prediction. Moreover, it can be adapted to any scenario since it only requires a cost-map of the infrastructure environment. Also, the integration of a motion model allows estimating a long term time-stamped prediction, which is required by the interception task. The path planning for interception module constructs a tree of possible trajectories and evaluates each one of them in terms of their probability of intercepting the intruder according to its predicted trajectory. Subsequently, it extracts a route that likely intercepts a pedestrian, while avoiding both static and dynamic obstacles. The contribution in this case consisted on the modification and adaptation for this task, of an algorithm previously used for navigation in dynamic environments under uncertainty. A very important characteristic of the proposed system is the feasibility of being continuously updated as it is being executed. This means that any change in the movements of the pedestrian will be processed on-line and therefore, they will result in a modification of the trajectory of the pursuer robot. This makes it possible to obtain a system capable of performing a high level task, such as tracking and intercepting an intruder. No previous references have been found in literature presenting a real system performing that tasks in outdoor environments. The system has been intensively tested and characterized by using simulation scenarios, and it has also being tested on three real world scenarios, with different sizes and obstacle distributions. Thus allowing to demonstrate the correct integration of all sub-modules of the thesis, as well as the capabilities of the detection, tracking and interception system as a whole.


Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences Statistical Modeling and Beam Parameterization of the Redshifted Global 21 Centimeter Signal by Katherine June PELLICORE This thesis explores two aspects of measurements of the global 21 cm signal through analytical simulations. We first attempt to understand how well the global 21 cm signal could be extracted from measurements of the sky. We accomplish this by employing a Fisher matrix analysis to estimate the uncertainties of cosmological parameters for simple measurement models that assume a perfectly calibrated instrument. We find that the assumed parameters of the signal can be constrained to high precision under realistic scenarios of noise and foreground contaminants. We also study the bias in the cosmological parameters due to modeling errors using a Fisher matrix approach. We find that for all cases studied, which correspond to simple frequency independent and frequency dependent model errors smaller than the global 21 cm signal, the bias is not significant. We then examine the spectral structure an instrument beam introduces in measurements of the global 21 cm signal. We simulate realistic beams that vary smoothly over frequency and space, and compute a beam-sky convolution to show how these beams interact with models of the sky. We find that beams that evolve linearly over the frequency range, as well as all bifurcating beams, introduce a spectral structure that is small enough to avoid obstructing measurements of the global 21 cm signal.


Abstract. The evolution of the droplet size distribution (DSD) during fog life cycle remains poorly understood and progress is required to reduce the uncertainty of fog forecasts. To gain insights into the physical processes driving the microphysical properties, intensive field campaigns were conducted during the winters of 2010–2013 at the Instrumented Site for Atmospheric Remote Sensing Research (SIRTA) in a semi-urban environment southwest of Paris city center to monitor the simultaneous variations in droplet microphysical properties and their potential interactions at the different evolutionary stages of the fog events. Liquid water content (LWC), fog droplet number concentration (Nd) and effective diameter (Def f) show large variations among the 42 fog events observed during the campaign and for individual events. Our results indicate that the variability of these parameters results from the interaction between microphysical, dynamical and radiative processes. During the formation and development phases, activation of aerosols into fog droplets and condensational growth were the dominant processes. When vertical development of radiation fogs occurred under the influence of increasing wind speed and subsequent turbulent motion, additional condensational growth of fog droplets was observed. DSDs with one mode (around 11 μm) and two modes (around 11 and 22 μm) were observed during the field campaign. During the development phase of fogs with two droplet size modes, a mass transfer occurred from the smaller droplets into the larger ones through collision-coalescence or Ostwald ripening processes. During the mature phase, evaporation due to surface warming induced by infrared radiation emitted by fog was the dominant process. Additional droplet removal through sedimentation is observed during this phase for fog with two droplet size modes. Because of differences in the physical processes involved, the relationship between LWC and Nd is largely driven by the droplet size distribution. Although a positive relationship is found in most of the events due to continuous activation of aerosol into fog droplets, LWC vary at constant Nd in fog with large Def f  (> 17 μm) due to additional collision-coalescence and Ostwald ripening processes. This work illustrates the need to accurately estimate the supersaturation for simulating the continuous activation of aerosols into droplets during the fog life cycle and to include advanced parameterizations of relevant microphysical processes such as collision-coalescence and Ostwald ripening processes, among others, in numerical models.


This paper tests the importance of precautionary and mercantilist motives in accounting for the hoarding of international reserves by developing countries, and provides a model that quantifies the welfare gains from optimal management of international reserves. While the variables associated with the mercantilist motive are statistically significant, their economic importance in accounting for reserve hoarding is close to zero and is dwarfed by other variables. Overall, the empirical results are in line with the precautionary demand. The effects of financial crises have been localized, increasing reserve hoarding in the aftermath of crises mostly in countries located in the affected region, but not in other regions. We also investigate the micro foundation of precautionary demand, extending Diamond and Dybvig (1983)'s model to an open, emerging market economy where banks finance long-term projects with short-term deposits. We identify circumstances that lead to large precautionary demand for international reserves, providing selfinsurance against the adverse output effects of sudden stop and capital flight shocks. This would be the case if premature liquidation of long-term projects is costly, and the economy is de-facto integrated with the global financial system, hence sudden stops and capital flight may reduce deposits sharply. We show that the welfare gain from the optimal management of international reserves is of a first-order magnitude, reducing the welfare cost of liquidity shocks from a firstorder to a second-order magnitude.


The effect of diffraction by the negative grid, the problem of the formation of a shadow of the negative grid on the viewing screen, and the manufacture of grids are treated briefly. A brief note on mechanical design is included. Five references are cited.


Following its opening to trade and foreign investment in the mid-1980s, Mexico's eco? nomic growth has been modest at best, particularly in comparison with that of China. Comparing these countries and reviewing the literature, we conclude that the relation between openness and growth is not a simple one. Using standard trade theory, we find that Mexico has gained from trade, and by some measures, more so than China. We sketch out a theory in which developing countries can grow faster than the United States by reforming. As a country becomes richer, this sort of catch-up becomes more difficult. Absent continuing reforms, Chinese growth is likely to slow down sharply, perhaps leaving China at a level less than Mexico's real GDP per working-age person.


Purpose
This study aims to empirically examine the relationship between the leader characteristic of humility and the informal learning of team members. It also evaluates the role of leader authenticity in mediating that relationship.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected on 518 salespeople reporting to 66 managers in a time-lagged study of a financial services firm. Generalized structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data and test a multi-hierarchical mediation model.

Findings
Leader humility has a significant positive direct and indirect effect on individual informal learning in team contexts, and leader authenticity partially mediates this relationship.

Research limitations/implications
This study advances research on how leaders can help transform learning from a risky endeavor to a daily practice. It shows the impact of the leadership characteristic of humility and explains how humble behaviors provide a model for individual learning in team contexts. It also reveals that leader authenticity is a key mechanism through which leader humility comes to influence employees' informal learning within work teams.

Originality/value
This study provides empirical support for the importance of leader humility in engendering the trust required for employees to engage in everyday workplace learning. It integrates social information processing theory with social learning theory to show that humble leaders provide critical information about the value, cost and methods of individual informal learning in team contexts. Leader humility increases employees' beliefs that they can and do learn from working in teams because employees perceive the humble leader's behaviors as representing the leader's true intentions.


Fish eagles (genus Haliaeetus) potentially have contributed the bones of their prey to many late Cenozoic concentrations of vertebrate microfossils. To evaluate possible biases in the taxa and skeletal elements preserved in assemblages accumulated by fish eagles, which could affect paleoecological and evolutionary interpretations derived from Cenozoic microfaunal localities, a sample of 1883 bones accumulated by modern African fish eagles (H. vocifer) was collected from a roost near Lake Turkana, Kenya. Characteristics of the bone assemblage include (1) taxonomic composition dominated by fish; (2) diverse but small-sized and ecologically restricted animals including inshore fish, aquatic birds, very small nocturnal mammals (which may have been contributed by other raptors), and small reptiles (possible predators on the roost); (3) poor survivorship for specific categories of skeletal elements; (4) considerable bone breakage for all but the smallest animals; and (5) a distinctive pattern of postcranial fragmentation for bird and mammal elements. The fish eagle element profile has some similarities to those of other diurnal raptors, but its cumulative signature can be distinguished from those of other bone accumulators and includes characteristics that would also be manifest in fossil assemblages. Examination of fossil microfaunas from the Plio-Pleistocene localities of Kanapoi (Kenya), Inolelo (Tanzania), and Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania) shows that the patterns of element preservation for Kanapoi and Inolelo do not match those of the Lake Turkana fish eagle roost. Nonetheless, some aspects of the Olduvai Gorge FLKN assemblage show taxonomic and skeletal similarites. In light of the selective choices of prey by fish eagles, the fauna recovered from Olduvai Gorge FLKN might not accurately reflect faunal diversity or patterns of abundance at this locality during the Pleistocene. Because fish eagles of the genus Haliaeetus are found on three continents, have a fossil record extending to the Miocene, and deposit bones in a habitat conducive to preservation, the taxa preserved at many other late Cenozoic microfaunal sites also might be biased. Therefore, taphonomic profiles of late Cenozoic microfaunal assemblages should be compared against the taphonomic profiles typical of fish eagle roosts before faunal characterizations of sites are applied in analyses of paleoecological evolution.


This book has been carefully compiled to make it as useful for researchers as it is for general readers with an interest in the environment. Anyone who comes across the names of chemicals and wants to know more about their environmental significance will find Dictionary of Environmentally Important Chemicals an invaluable source of quick reference. 600 substances are covered in alphabetically arranged entries; these include some 70 pesticides. Entries vary in detail depending on individual aspects, but in general they include: composition/structure; physical properties; sources; environmentally relevant reactions and pathways; detection; and toxic effects and regulatory limits -- many entries includes short case histories.