Space-time coding has the advantage of simplicity on coding, easy to achieve full diversity transmission, and low complexity on decoding. Based on the estimated inequality of the expectation of a random variable function, block error rate of the orthogonal space time block decoding is analyzed, and a new upper bound on the symbol error rate is achieved. Precoding criterion on orthogonal space time coding has been proposed based on the new upper bound. The solving complexity of the precoding matrix is reduced effectively. Simulation results show that bit error rate of the precoded system is lower than that of the without precoding.


The p85alpha subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3k) forms a complex with a protein network associated with oncogenic fusion tyrosine kinases (FTKs) such as BCR/ABL, TEL/ABL, TEL/JAK2, TEL/PDGFbetaR, and NPM/ALK, resulting in constitutive activation of the p110 catalytic subunit of PI-3k. Introduction of point mutations in the N-terminal and C-terminal SH2 domain and SH3 domain of p85alpha, which disrupt their ability to bind phosphotyrosine and proline-rich motifs, respectively, abrogated their interaction with the BCR/ABL protein network. The p85alpha mutant protein (p85mut) bearing these mutations was unable to interact with BCR/ABL and other FTKs, while its binding to the p110alpha catalytic subunit of PI-3k was intact. In addition, binding of Shc, c-Cbl, and Gab2, but not Crk-L, to p85mut was abrogated. p85mut diminished BCR/ABL-dependent activation of PI-3k and Akt kinase, the downstream effector of PI-3k. This effect was associated with the inhibition of BCR/ABL-dependent growth of the hematopoietic cell line and murine bone marrow cells. Interestingly, the addition of interleukin-3 (IL-3) rescued BCR/ABL-transformed cells from the inhibitory effect of p85mut. SCID mice injected with BCR/ABL-positive hematopoietic cells expressing p85mut survived longer than the animals inoculated with BCR/ABL-transformed counterparts. In conclusion, we have identified the domains of p85alpha responsible for the interaction with the FTK protein network and transduction of leukemogenic signaling.


A study was made of the influence of various doses of water-soluble retinoic acid on the concentration of lipids and 3-beta-ol steroid dehydrogenase (SD) in the interstitial tissue (IT) and supporting cells (SC) of mouse testicles. Three groups of animals were injected with 1% retinoic acid i. p., with the doses injected being 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 ml respectively. After the termination of experiments the animals were sacrificed and the cryostat sections 9 micron thick were stained for lipids and 3-beta-ol in the testicles. It was found that water-soluble retinoic acid is capable of exerting an essential influence on the steroid-producing system of the testicles. At the same time retinoic acid injected in the doses 0.1 and 0.2 ml causes an elevation of the content of lipids and 3-beta-ol SD in the IT and SC of the testes producing Leydig's cells that furnish the internal secretion of the testicle. Injection of 0.3 ml retinoic acid brings about a decrease in the concentration of 3-beta-ol SD in the IT and SC as compared with the dose 0.2 ml. However, in the IT the activity of the enzyme remains higher than in control, whereas in the SC it falls below the control values. The lipid content in the IT and SC changes differently, namely it rises in Leydig's cells and diminishes in Sertoli's cells as compared with the effect of 0.3 ml acid. It may be suggested that injection of large doses of retinoic acid entails alterations primarily in the synthesis of sex steroids, whereas the storage of lipoid substances that serve as substrate remains at a high enough level.


Trends in longitudinal or cross-sectional studies over time are often captured through regression models. In their simplest manifestation, these regression models are formulated in R n . However, in the context of imaging studies, the objects of interest which are to be regressed are frequently best modeled as elements of a Riemannian manifold. Regression on such spaces can be accomplished through geodesic regression . This paper develops an approach to compute confi-dence intervals for geodesic regression models. The approach is general, but illustrated and specifically developed for the Grassmann manifold, which allows us, e.g., to regress shapes or linear dynamical systems. Extensions to other manifolds can be obtained in a similar manner. We demonstrate our approach for regression with 2D/3D shapes us-ing synthetic and real data.


ABSTRACT In the current study we aimed to determine which cognitive skills play a role when learning to program. We examined five cognitive skills (pattern recognition, algebra, logical reasoning, grammar learning and vocabulary learning) as predictors of course-related programming performance and their generalised programming performance in 282 students in an undergraduate introductory programming course. Initial skills in algebra, logical reasoning, and vocabulary learning predicted performance for generalised programming skill, while only logical reasoning skills predicted course-related programming performance. Structural equation modelling showed support for a model where the cognitive skills were grouped into a language factor and an algorithmic/mathematics factor. Of these two factors, only the algorithmic/mathematics factor was found to predict generalised and course-related programming skills. Our results suggested that algorithmic/mathematical skills are most relevant when predicting generalised programming success, but also showed a role for memory-related language skills.


The literature on development in economics and sociology has tended to focus on capital flows, investments and, more recently, institutions as key causal factors. International migration, when discussed, is relegated to the status of a symptom of underdevelopment and even a factor contributing to it. The more recent literature on migrant remittances has partially reversed this view by documenting the massive hard currency transfers made by expatriates to their home countries. This changed approach to migration and development does not go far enough because it does not take into account the organized efforts of immigrant communities themselves. Nor does it consider the major developmental synergies produced by the rising interactions between immigrant organizations and sending-country governments. Using data from a recently completed comparative study, we document these processes for two major counties of out-migration?Mexico and China. The study compiled inventories of migrant organizations from both countries in the United States, interviewed leaders of the major ones and complemented these data with interviews with officials and community leaders in each sending country. Maps of these transnational ties were constructed, exemplifying their increasing density and developmental impact at the local and national levels. Theoretical and policy implications of our findings are discussed.


This paper investigates Ronald Stevenson's unique treatment of large-scaled structure in his Passacaglia on D S C H. This piece's unusual eighty-minute length, use of traditional forms and unusual piano techniques, musical references to other cultures and a massive triple-fugue over a ground bass will be examined as they relate to its overall form. The elements of rhythm, melody/mode, harmony, counterpoint, piano techniques, and tonality are also used as means of highlighting many unifying elements of the piece which contribute to its overall cohesiveness. Tributes to other composers, among them Dimitry Shostakovich to whom the piece is dedicated, are discussed in addition to many references to world cultures and events which support Stevenson's views on what he terms world music. Rarely is a piece written that encompasses such a wide range of musical elements that possess the ability to engage an audience for an uninterrupted length of eighty-minutes. As of yet, an in-depth scholarly investigation of Stevenson's treatment of formal unity in this landmark piano work has not been done. This analysis reveals Stevenson's approach to composing in such a large form, as well as illustrating his mastery of variation, counterpoint and unending ingenuity for innovative piano techniques. The composer's background and philosophies are discussed as well as the major impact made on his compositional style by both Percy Grainger and Ferruccio Busoni.


Third generation mobile networks is expected to provide services to users, while guaranteeing acceptable QoS (Quality of Service).UMTS is a typical example of these new networks. Thus, this paper is focused on UMTS multimedia domain and its strategies of control of session and resources pre- reservation. In order to offer the various services, while respecting acceptable required level of QoS, it is necessary to guarantee minimum QCSE for each service. Resources managers which we designed are then oriented towards the use of pre-reservation with policies to manage consensus. This orientation is also considered by 3GPP which adopted COPS and SIP protocols for the procedures of session authorization and domain resources IM of UMTS network. In such context, the work developed in this paper is focused towards the setting up of a consensus protocol included inside management and check procedures for resource reservation for multimedia services in UMTS/IP network. The evaluation of the feasibility and of the consensus constitutes the main contribution of this work.


Autologous blood transfusion is a powerful means of improving performance and remains one of the most challenging methods to detect. Recent investigations have identified 3 candidate reticulocytes genes whose expression was significantly influenced by blood transfusion. Using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction as an alternative quantitative method, the present study supports that delta-aminolevulinate synthase 2 (ALAS2), carbonic anhydrase (CA1), and solute carrier family 4 member 1 (SLC4A1) genes are down-regulated post-transfusion. The expression of these genes exhibited stronger correlation with immature reticulocyte fraction than with reticulocytes percentage. Moreover, the repression of reticulocytes' gene expression was more pronounced than the diminution of immature reticulocyte fraction and reticulocyte percentage following blood transfusion. It suggests that the 3 candidate genes are reliable predictors of bone marrow's response to blood transfusion and that they represent potential biomarkers for the detection of this method prohibited in sports.


The purpose of this study is to model the relationship between absorptive capacity and intention to use in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) environment in Iran. This research is a correlation study where a field survey was employed for data collection. The unit of analysis is Iranian individuals who are ERP user in organizations using ERP systems. The questionnaires were sent to the selected organizations. Using a structural equation modeling analysis we tested the hypothesized relationship using AMOS version 16.0. The results indicate that all three absorptive capacity measures to be good predictors of intention to use. Absorptive capacity for applying was the strongest predictor followed by absorptive capacity for understanding and absorptive capacity for assimilating. When implementing complex information systems, managers must also look at the absorptive capacity of the users in order to successful implementation of the system and to ensure continued usage. Previous researchers have not looked at the role of absorptive capacity in system usage at the same rate as those related to technology acceptance research which only focuses on the ease of use and usefulness. Thus this research adds on to the existing literature where future researchers may want to expand on the factors that may influence absorptive capacity for further policy implications.


In support of the TCV experimental campaign aiming at studying H-mode plasmas with snowflake (SF) divertor, free boundary equilibrium and stability studies were performed with the SPIDER and KINX codes. Due to the high flexibility of plasma shaping capabilities of TCV, SF divertor conditions can be reached for various plasma geometries. However, at high plasma current some configurations require poloidal field (PF) coil currents close to the machine limit. This is particularly important when the equilibrium sensitivity to the edge pedestal profiles, which is higher than for standard X-point configurations, is taken into account. That is why the configuration optimization should also include the profile sensitivity study when planning the shot scenario.


Using consumer transaction data, this paper demonstrates that it is possible to construct accurate pictures of firm revenue, growth, geographic dispersion, and customer base characteristics. We develop two new measures which characterize firms' customer bases: the rate of churn in a firm's customer base and a metric of the pairwise similarity between firms' customer bases. We show that these measures provide important insights into the behavior of both real firm decisions and firm asset prices. Rates of customer churn affect the level and volatility of firm-level investment, markups, and profits. Churn also affects how quickly firms respond to shocks in the value of their growth options (i.e. Tobin's Q). Moreover, high churn firms tended to face steeper declines in consumer spending during the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Similarity between firms' customer bases highlights one under-explored type of predictability among stock returns – we demonstrate that significant alpha can be generated using a trading strategy that exploits our index of customer base similarity across firms.


This paper explores gender violence in schools in what is commonly known as the 'developing world' through a review of recent research written in English. Violence in the school setting has only recently emerged as a widespread and serious phenomenon in these countries, with the consequence that our knowledge and understanding of it is embryonic; much of it remains invisible or unrecognized. Informed by research from elsewhere, we use theories of gender/sexual relations to provide a more coherent understanding of the issues, to point to absences and open up spaces for further research with the potential to contribute to strategies through which it might be addressed. We start by clarifying the purposes and the broad position adopted in writing this paper. Then, we trace the conceptual connections between gender/sexual relations and gender violence in schools, acknowledging the importance of locating understanding of the phenomena within the context of the school's culture, its structures and processes. We organize the review using two overlapping categories: implicit gender violence, which relates to the everyday institutional structures and practices, and explicit gender violence, which relates to more overtly sexualized encounters. Both categories cover gender violence perpetrated by students on other students, by teachers on students, and by students on teachers. In the final section, the theoretical connections (and distinctions) generated by the research allow for a critical overview of the strategies that have been used to address the problem to date.


In this paper I offer an alternative identification assumption that allows one to test for changing patterns regarding the international propagation of shocks when endogenous variables, omitted variables, and heteroskedasticity are present in the data. Using this methodology, I demonstrate that the propagation mechanisms of 36 stock markets remained relatively stable throughout the last three major international crises which have been associated with 'contagion' (i.e., Mexico 1994, Hong Kong 1997, and Russia 1998). These findings cast considerable doubt upon theories that suggest that the propagation of shocks is crisis contingent, and driven by endogenous liquidity issues, multiple equilibria, and political contagion. Rather, these findings would seem to support theories that identify such matters as trade, learning, and aggregate shocks as the primary transmission mechanisms in this process.


A new method of load testing, called statnamic, is evaluated with respect to conventional methods of static load testing. Case histories are examined that provide a basis for comparison of static capacity as estimated from statnamic measurements with that of conventional load-deflection measurements. When evaluated using the simple procedure proposed by Middendorp, the statnamic method is shown to predict load-deflection response that is relatively close to that measured with conventional static load tests in most cases. Comparisons with conventional static load tests outlined in this paper suggest that excellent agreement can be obtained in sandy soils, but that the current evaluation procedure may tend to overpredict capacity by as much as 30% in stiff, overconsolidated clays.


Study on theory of generation processing arc cylinder-gears, machining cutter was designed by the blade fillet and the top tooth edge generating the tooth root fillet of arc cylinder-gears, to build the linear tooth-surface equation of cutter-gear and the position vector of blade fillet curvature center. The linear tooth surface equations and fillet tooth surface equation were derived based on coordinate transformation principle, meshing equation, meshing geometry principle and kinetic theory. The precise 3D model was established. It verifies the feasibility of generation processing the arc cylinder-gears and achieves smooth transition both working and fillet tooth surface of arc cylinder. It provides theoretical basis for tooth contact analysis, tooth bending stress and kinetic analysis, further offers accurate data to numerical control machining and systematically guides the experimental research and practical application.


3-Methylcrotonylglycinuria (3-MCG) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of leucine metabolism caused by the deficiency of 3-methylocrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (3-MCC deficiency). It is the most commonly detected organic aciduria in newborn screening conducted by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) [1, 2]. The clinical phenotype is heterogeneous, ranging from asymptomatic to acute metabolic decompensations [3, 4]. Although at least in severe cases and in acute life threatening episodes limiting natural protein intake (particularly leucine) together with high caloric intake during catabolic periods is required, the need for specific dietary management often seems questionable [2]. In contrast with the 3-MCC deficiency, in diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) a diet based on carbohydrate and protein-fat exchangers is beyond dispute. However, as DM1 is quite a common disease, it may occur in a single patient with a rare disease, such as 3-MCC deficiency.


Cells have robust antioxidant defense systems to protect them against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. However, in eukaryotes, hydrogen peroxide is also a signaling molecule, and the enzymes that reduce peroxides, the peroxiredoxins (Prxs), can be inactivated by overoxidation of the catalytic center to allow signaling. Budanov et al. show that the sestrins, a family of proteins whose expression is modulated by p53, are required for regeneration of active Prxs. Sestrins contain a predicted redox active domain that is homologous to AhpD, the enzyme that catalyzes reduction of bacterial Prx. However, whereas AhpD is a disulfide reductase, sestrins are cysteine sulfinyl reductases. A. V. Budanov, A. A. Sablina, E. Feinstein, E. V. Koonin, P. M. Chumakov, Regeneration of peroxiredoxins by p53-regulated sestrins, homologs of bacterial AhpD. Science 304, 596-600 (2004). [Abstract] [Full Text]


Making sense of TCR–pMHC topology Most T cells use a T cell receptor (TCR) that recognizes major histocompatibility complex molecules bound to peptides (pMHCs) derived from both self- and foreign antigens. Although there is great variability in the interface because of the diversity of both partners, this interaction displays a canonical docking topology for reasons that remain contested. Zareie et al. tested an assortment of both canonical and reversed-polarity TCRs that were all specific for the same cognate pMHC-I bearing a peptide derived from influenza A virus (IAV) (see the Perspective by Horkova and Stepanek). The authors determined that docking topology was the primary driver of in vivo T cell activation and recruitment when mice were infected with IAV. The canonical topology was required for the formation of a functional signaling complex, suggesting that T cell signaling constraints dictate how TCR and pMHC meet. Science, abe9124, this issue p. eabe9124; see also abj2937, p. 1038 The highly conserved nature of T cell antigen receptor recognition is required for the colocalization of key signaling molecules. INTRODUCTION T cell receptor (TCR) recognition of peptide–major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs) is one of the most diverse receptor–ligand interactions in biology. Nevertheless, these interactions exhibit a highly conserved, or canonical, TCR–pMHC docking polarity in both mice and humans. Whether this canonical docking polarity is driven by evolutionarily conserved, germline-encoded complementarity between the TCR and MHC or by signaling constraints imposed by coreceptors has been a question of enduring debate. Here, we demonstrate that although reversed-polarity TCR–pMHC recognition is prevalent within a naïve, viral epitope–specific T cell repertoire and may exhibit relatively high pMHCI affinity, such TCRs are unable to support TCR signaling in the presence of CD8 coreceptor because of mislocalization of Lck. These data support a paradigm in which the highly conserved TCR–pMHCI docking polarity is driven by structural constraints on TCR signaling. RATIONALE Evidence suggests that the canonical TCR–pMHC docking polarity is driven by evolutionary hardwiring of complementary germline-encoded motifs at the TCR and MHC interface. An alternate model suggests that TCR recognition of pMHC is driven during thymic selection by the need for the CD4 or CD8 coreceptors to bind MHC and deliver coreceptor-associated Lck to the CD3 signaling complex. We previously identified reversed-polarity TRBV17+ TCRs from the preimmune influenza A virus (IAV)–specific repertoire that bound pMHCI (H-2DbNP366) with a moderate affinity but were unable to support robust T cell recruitment. Here, using a range of canonical and reversed TCRs specific for the same cognate pMHCI, we tested the hypothesis that the TCR–pMHCI docking polarity precedes binding strength as a key determinant of T cell activation. We hypothesized that the underlying driver of the canonical docking polarity is the colocalization of signaling molecules central to the TCR signal transduction pathway. RESULTS In this study, we demonstrate that reversed TCRs are prevalent in a naïve virus–specific repertoire but are poorly represented in the immune response after virus challenge. We identified antigen-specific TCRαβ clonotypes that were either poorly recruited or clonally expanded and found an overriding association between immune prevalence and canonical TCR–pMHCI docking. This was irrespective of pMHCI affinity, catch or slip bond formation, or TCR clustering, demonstrating that a canonical docking polarity is required for T cell activation. This finding was verified after viral challenge of adoptively transferred retrogenic T cells expressing reversed or canonical docking TCRs of varying affinities. The inability of T cells expressing reversed-docking TCRs to be recruited into the antiviral immune response demonstrates that TCR–pMHCI docking topology supersedes TCR–pMHCI affinity as the primary determinant for effective in vivo immune recruitment. Using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)–Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) analyses, we show that canonical TCR–pMHCI docking is essential for the colocalization of CD8–Lck with CD3ζ, which is impaired when the TCR engages pMHCI with reversed polarity. The requirement for canonical TCR–pMHCI docking can be circumvented by the removal of the CD8 coreceptor or by dissociation of Lck from CD8, suggesting that sequestration of Lck by the CD8 coreceptor has a dual role: potentiating signaling arising from canonical TCR–pMHCI interactions and impeding reversed-polarity TCR–pMHCI signaling. CONCLUSION The inability of reversed-polarity TCRs to participate in the immune response occurs independently of TCR–pMHCI binding affinity and instead is a direct consequence of reversed TCR–pMHCI engagement. Most TCR–pMHC complexes that have been solved to date, upon which the canonical TCR–pMHCI docking paradigm has been established, were derived from expanded immune repertoires. Thus, we conclude that the highly conserved docking polarity is driven predominantly by the structural constraints imposed on TCR signaling and recruitment into an immune response. In addition to the well-recognized augmentation of signaling resulting from canonical TCR–pMHCI engagement, our findings suggest a role for coreceptor–Lck association in preventing signaling by noncanonical TCR–pMHC recognition. Such negative regulation would serve to limit the extent of functional TCR cross-reactivity and constrain the number of signaling-competent TCR-binding modalities. The canonical polarity of TCR–pMHC docking is essential for colocalization of CD3 and coreceptor-associated Lck and for productive TCR signaling. Schematic shows how canonical TCR–pMHC recognition colocalizes Lck and CD3, driving TCR-mediated signaling. By contrast, a reversed TCR–pMHC recognition polarity mislocalizes Lck and CD3, impeding signaling. T cell receptor (TCR) recognition of peptide–major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs) is characterized by a highly conserved docking polarity. Whether this polarity is driven by recognition or signaling constraints remains unclear. Using "reversed-docking" TCRβ-variable (TRBV) 17+ TCRs from the naïve mouse CD8+ T cell repertoire that recognizes the H-2Db–NP366 epitope, we demonstrate that their inability to support T cell activation and in vivo recruitment is a direct consequence of reversed docking polarity and not TCR–pMHCI binding or clustering characteristics. Canonical TCR–pMHCI docking optimally localizes CD8/Lck to the CD3 complex, which is prevented by reversed TCR–pMHCI polarity. The requirement for canonical docking was circumvented by dissociating Lck from CD8. Thus, the consensus TCR–pMHC docking topology is mandated by T cell signaling constraints.


CONTEXT
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) can be defined as a damage which is caused to microvasculature in the retina by prolonged hyperglycaemia. Various studies have been conducted in south India, to find out prevalence of DR. It remains a less explored domain among type 2 diabetic patients in western India.

OBJECTIVES
(1) To assess prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 DM in western Indian population. and (2) To find out effect of duration of diabetes on severity of DR in this population.

STUDY DESIGN
A hospital - based, cross - sectional study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
A total of 168 patients with type 2 DM underwent detailed opthalmoscopic examinations for DR. The ETDRS classification was followed to categorize retinopathy in different stages.

RESULTS
We observed that overall, prevalence of DR in type 2 patients of western India was 33.9%. Prevalences of non-proliferative DR and proliferative DR were 25.5% and 8.33% respectively. Statistically significant differences (p value<0.05) were observed between prevalences of DR in each group of patients which was classified, and duration of diabetes. Prevalence of CSME (clinically significant macular oedema) was 6.5%. Associated hypertension showed a statistically significant (p value<0.05%), higher prevalence of DR.

CONCLUSION
This study concluded that prevalence of DR in type 2 DM patients of western India was 33.9% and that it increased with duration of diabetes. Associated hypertension is a risk factor for development of DR. It was further noted that proliferative DR was prevalent only after having diabetes for 11 years.


We present CS J = 2→ 1,13CO J = 1→ 0, and C18O J = 1→ 0, observations with the 10 element Berkeley Illinois Maryland Association (BIMA) array toward the young cluster around the Be star MWC 1080. These observations reveal a biconical outflow cavity with size ~0.3 and 0.05 pc for the semimajor and semiminor axis and ~45° position angle. These transitions trace the dense gas, which is likely the swept-up gas of the outflow cavity, rather than the remaining natal gas or the outflow gas. The gas is clumpy; 32 clumps are identified. The identified clumps are approximately gravitationally bound and consistent with a standard isothermal sphere density, which suggests that they are likely collapsing protostellar cores. The gas kinematics suggests that velocity gradients exist that imply effects from the inclination of the cavity and MWC 1080. The kinematics of dense gas has also been affected by either outflows or stellar winds from MWC 1080, and lower mass clumps are possibly under stronger effects from MWC 1080 than higher mass clumps. In addition, low-mass cluster members tend to be formed in the denser and more turbulent cores, compared to isolated low-mass star-forming cores. This results from the contributions of nearby forming massive stars, such as outflows or stellar winds. Therefore, we conclude that in clusters like the MWC 1080 system, effects from massive stars dominate the star-forming environment in both the kinematics and dynamics of the natal cloud and the formation of low-mass cluster members. This study provides insights into the effects of MWC 1080 on its natal cloud, and suggests a different low-mass star-forming environment in clusters compared to isolated star formation.


Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a state of intolerance to glucose that initiates or is first diagnosed during gestation. About 1-14% of all pregnancies are complicated by GDM. The pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality in gestational diabetes is lower than in overt diabetes; however, if left untreated, it is significantly higher than in nondiabetic women. Treating GDM is important because appropriate treatment reduces side effects on the mother and newborn. GDM during pregnancy has a number of adverse short- and long-term consequences for both the mother and the fetus. Aim: To establish the relationship between gestational diabetes and complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Study Design: A prospective cohort study. Place and Duration: The study was conducted at the Karachi Aga Khan University Hospital in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 22 November, 2018 to 22 May 2019, six months after the approval of the study. Methods: 130 patients, 65 patients in the GDM group and 65 patients in the non-GDM group were enrolled in the study. Demographic data were presented as standard deviation and mean as well as simple descriptive statistics, while qualitative variables as percentage and frequency. Chi-square test was applied for comparison of the incidence of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Relative risk was calculated. Results: 130 total patients, including 65 patients in GDM group and 65 patients in non GDM group were included. Mean age in GDM and non GDM group was 29.27±2.79 years and 28.49±3.40 years. Outcome of pregnancy in GDM and non GDM group showed that 27 (41.5%) and 18 (27.7%) had pregnancy induced hypertension, 07 (10.8%) and 03 (4.6%) had pre-eclampsia, 29 (44.6%) and 07 (10.8%) had polyhydramnios, 04 (6.2%) and 02 (3.1%) had antepartum hemorrhage, 01 (1.5%) and 06 (9.2%) had premature rupture of membrane, 11 (16.9%) and 09 (13.8%) had preterm labour, 13 (20%) and 04 (6.2%) had urinary tract infection. Outcome of pregnancy in GDM and non GDM group showed 51 (78.5%) and 33 (50.8%) had induction of labour, 17 (26.2%) and 14 (21.5%) had low birth weight, 14 (51%) and 03 (4.6%) had macrosomia, 02 (3.1%) and 01 (1.5%) had birth injury and 10 (15.4%) and 11 (16.9%) had NICU admission. Conclusion: Gestational diabetes (GDM) is the utmost communal medicinal complication of pregnancy. It has negative consequences for the mother and the newborn baby. Maintaining glycemia in GDM decreases the morbidity of both baby and mother. Keywords: Gestational diabetes mellitus, delivery outcome, pregnancy outcome, maternal and fetal outcomes.


Objective: To determine the efficacy of using forced expiratory volume in six seconds (FEV6) as a surrogate for forced vital capacity (FVC) in the diagnostic screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by comparing FEV1/FVC ratios with FEV1/FEV6 ratios. Methods: In November of 2003, on World COPD Day, we conducted a campaign of diagnostic screening for COPD. The participants completed the clinical questionnaire of the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease, and those who responded affirmatively to at least three questions underwent spirometry. Results: A total of 134 individuals responded to three questions affirmatively and underwent spirometry. Of those, 59 were excluded: 45 for being non-smokers and 14 due to the fact that their tests did not meet the American Thoracic Society criteria for satisfactory spirometry. The number of tests in which the FEV1/FEV6 ratio was below 70% was similar to that found for the FEV1/FVC ratio. The sensitivity of FEV1/FEV6 in diagnosing airway obstruction (defined as FEV1/FVC below 70%) was 92%, and its specificity was 99%. The positive predictive value was 100%, and the negative predictive value was 98%. The Kendall correlation test revealed r = 0.99 (p < 0.0001). The t-test for paired samples revealed a negative correlation: t = –5.93 (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The FEV1/FEV6 proved efficient for use in the diagnostic screening for COPD. There is a strong correlation between FEV1/FVC and FEV1/FEV6.


Recently, chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency ("CCSVI") was suggested as a new pathogenetic hypothesis in multiple sclerosis (MS) by Zamboni and colleagues: impairment of the cerebrocervical venous outflow by venous stenoses or other vessel obstructions should lead to stasis in cerebral veins with transendothelial extravasation of erythrocytes and subsequent inflammatory reactions in brain tissue. Based on this hypothesis and their own sonographic and angiographic data, therapeutic interventions by means of angioplasty were proposed as treatment for MS by Zamboni et al.. The "CCSVI" hypothesis, termed "the big idea" by Zamboni and colleagues, has caused substantial interest in the scientific community as well as amongst patients, caregivers, and the mass media. However, an independent confirmation of the data published by Zamboni et al. is lacking, while the number of negative studies with various techniques that question the "CCSVI" hypothesis is steadily increasing. The aim of this review is to delineate the "CCSVI" hypothesis and to summarise the data published by Zamboni et al. and subsequent investigators which mostly refute this hypothesis. According to the current evidence, there is no scientific plausibility of the "CCSVI" hypothesis and no further data that support this pathogenetic concept. Thus, there is no justification for any angioplastic therapies in MS patients.


In the literature, there exist analytical expressions for the probability of a receiver decoding a transmitted source message that has been encoded using random linear network coding. In this letter, we look into the probability that the receiver will decode at least a fraction of the source message, and present an exact solution to this problem for both non-systematic and systematic network coding. Based on the derived expressions, we investigate the potential of these two implementations of network coding for information-theoretic secure communication and progressive recovery of data.


(1987). 12. J. L. Goodman et al., J. Clin. Invest. 103, 407 (1999). IFA binding assays were performed according to the methods described. Means and medians were calculated, and the statistical significance of differences in the distribution of bacterial binding to cells between groups was tested with a Wilcoxan sum-of-ranks (Mann-Whitney) test. The Fisher exact test was used when comparing the percentage of cells infected between groups. All binding and infection experiments were repeated twice by IFA and twice by FACS (16). 13. K. L. Moore et al., J. Cell Biol. 118, 445 (1992). 14. G. S. Kansas, Blood 88, 3259 (1996). 15. mAbs used in these studies (and their sources) include the anti-CD11b (B-1 integrin subunit) clones Leu 15 (Becton Dickinson Biosciences, San Jose, CA), OKM1 and OKM10 [American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Rockville, MD], and MO1; the antiCD15s clone CSLEX-1 (both obtained from Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA), the 3G8 clone directed against the Fc receptor, CD16; the ML5 anti-CD24 clone (both from Pharmingen, San Diego, CA); and the dft1 (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) and Ig10 (Pharmingen) anti-CD43 clones. Anti-CD162 (PSGL-1) mAbs used included KPL-1 (from the laboratory of G.S.K.), PL1 (Ancell, Bayport, MN), and PL2 (Beckman Coulter). Antibodies to selectin used were as follows: for P-selectin (CD62P), AC1.2 (mAb; Becton Dickinson) and polyclonal IgG (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA); for L-selectin (CD62L), clone SK11; and for E-selectin (CD62E), clone H18/7 (both from Becton Dickinson). 16. Fluorescent HGE was prepared from infected HL60 cultures incubated with the vital fluorescent dye CellTracker Green (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR) (C. Nelson, M. Herron, J. L. Goodman, unpublished data). HGE bacteria were liberated by passage through a 25-gauge needle and washed twice in phosphatebuffered saline (PBS). Fluorescent HGE from 1 to 2 million infected HL60 was incubated for 30 min with 250,000 target cells at 22°C in 25 ml of PBS. Binding was stopped, and the cells and bacteria were fixed by addition of 0.25 ml of 1% paraformaldehyde in PBS. Cell surface binding of labeled HGE was assessed by FACS analysis of the mean cellular fluorescence of 5000 cells and expressed as the percentage of a control with no antibodies added, with subtraction of nonspecific background determined with a baseline control in which binding had been stopped by fixation immediately upon addition of HGE to target cells. This method was shown to provide results that linearly correlate with binding as determined by direct visualization by IFA. 17. F. Li et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271, 6342 (1996). 18. K. R. Snapp et al., Blood 91, 154 (1998). 19. S. Natsuka, K. Gersten, K. Zenita, R. Kannagi, J. B. Lowe, J. Biol. Chem. 269, 16789 (1994). 20. E. Svedmyr and M. Jondal, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 72, 1622 (1975). 21. The derivation of the BJAB cells stably expressing FucT-VII is described [A. J. Wagers, L. M. Stoolman, R. Kannagi, R. Craig, G. S. Kansas, J. Immunol. 159, 1917 (1997)]. BJAB and BJAB/FucT-VII cells were each stably transfected with PSGL-1 cDNA by electroporation as described [K. R. Snapp et al., J. Cell. Biol. 142, 263 (1998)], and clones expressing comparable amounts of PSGL-1, FucT-VII, or both were generated by limiting dilution and identified by FACS analysis with the KPL-1 and HECA-452 mAbs. 22. K. E. Norgard et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268, 12764 (1993). O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase was obtained from Cedarlane (Homby, Ontario, Canada). 3 3 105 BJAB dual transfectant cells (stably expressing both PSGL-1 and Fuc-TVII/sLex) were preincubated in 100 ml of RPMI medium for 1 hour at 37°C either alone or with enzyme (0.06 to 0.24 mg/ml) added. The cells were then washed twice in fresh medium without enzyme, and IFA binding assays were performed as described (12). 23. A. S. Weyrich et al., J. Clin. Invest. 97, 1525 (1996). 24. K. I.-P. Jwa Hidari et al., J Biol. Chem. 272, 28750 (1997). 25. J. B. Bliska, J. E. Galan, S. Falkow, Cell 73, 903 (1993). 26. P. Cossart, P. Boquet, S. Normark, R. Rappuoli, Science 271, 315 (1996). 27. M. B. Klein, S. Hu, C. Chao, J. L. Goodman, J. Infect. Dis., in press. 28. R. Behl et al., Thromb. Haemostasis 83, 1148 (2000). 29. M. P. Bevilacqua and R. M. Nelson, J. Clin. Invest. 91, 379 (1993). 30. This work was supported by grants from the NIH (RO1AI40952, to J.L.G.), from the American Cancer Society (RPG-96-097 CSM to G.S.K.), and from the Illinois Chapter of the American Cancer Society (9947, to K.R.S.). G.S.K. is an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association. We thank J. Ernst, J. Farber, and B. Weston for helpful comments.


This research work is an empirical analysis of the effects of the outward
orientation policies on economic growth of four of the Asian NICs, namely Korea
Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. The first research matter dealt with the impacts of
the government policies in export, financial and government sectors on the economic
growth, and the second research matter addressed the determinants of the export
expansion in the studied countries. Basically the liberalization policies implemented
in the export, financial, and government sectors, argued to have favorable effects on
the efficiency of these sectors. The argument suggests that the marginal factor
productivity in these sectors should be higher due to the policies implemented in
these sectors. Thus, to investigate the efficiency of these sectors, the researcher
extended a framework developed by Feder (1983) using neoclassical production
function approach. The basic idea behind this framework is that, dividing the
economy into two sectors first the proposed efficient sector output and the second is
the rest of an economy output. Specifying the production function with assuming that the marginal factors productivity differential among an economy sectors allows
testing for the efficiency differential among sectors.
The researcher extended the two-sector model to include a third sector, that
extend the scope of the framework to be usable for investigating the axiomatic
macroeconomic rule that macroeconomic policies do not work in isolation, and met
the study objectives. The results of estimation of the three-sector model showed that,
export, financial and government sectors are efficient and the marginal factor
productivity in these sectors is enhanced over the time and with the stage of
development. The results also show that, export sector is not the only dominant sector
as it is found in the previous studies, but also financial and government sectors are
important in determining the long run economic growth of the studied countries. In
the second research issue, the researcher attempted to investigate whether the export
expansion is a demand or supply determinant. Utilizing export's demand and supply
systems, the researcher also incorporates the exchange rate volatility to the demand
equation. The results showed that both export demand and supply are important in
determining export expansion in the studied countries and over the study period.
However, exchange rate volatility had adversely effects on the export demand.
The study utilized the last advancements made in the econometrics of the time
series to ensure the robustness of the estimation of the models.


Background Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain disorders represent a group of highly prevalent and often disabling conditions. Investigating the structure of motor variability in response to pain may reveal novel motor impairment mechanisms that may lead to enhanced management of motor dysfunction associated with MSK pain disorders. This review aims to systematically synthesize the evidence on the influence of MSK pain disorders on muscle synergies. Methods Nine electronic databases were searched using Medical Subject Headings and keywords describing pain, electromyography and synergies. Relevant characteristics of included studies were extracted and assessed for generalizability and risk of bias. Due to the significant heterogeneity, a qualitative synthesis of the results was performed. Results The search resulted in a total of 1312 hits, of which seven articles were deemed eligible. There was unclear consistency that pain reduced the number of muscle synergies. There were low consistencies of evidence that the synergy vector (W weights) and activation coefficient (C weights) differed in painful compared to asymptomatic conditions. There was a high consistency that muscle synergies were dissimilar between painful and asymptomatic conditions. Conclusions MSK pain alters the structure of variability in muscle control, although its specific nature remains unclear. Greater consistency in muscle synergy analysis may be achieved with appropriate selection of muscles assessed and ensuring consistent achievement of motor task outcomes. Synergy analysis is a promising method to reveal novel understandings of altered motor control, which may facilitate the assessment and treatment of MSK pain disorders.


Longitudinal data from factorial experiments frequently arise in various fields of study, ranging from medicine and biology to public policy and sociology. In most practical sit-uations, the distribution of observed data is unknown and there may exist a number of atypical measurements and outliers. Hence, use of parametric and semiparametric procedures that impose restrictive distributional assumptions on observed longitudinal samples becomes questionable. This, in turn, has led to a substantial demand for statistical procedures that enable us to accurately and reliably analyze longitudinal measurements in factorial experiments with minimal conditions on available data, and robust nonparametric methodology offering such a possibility becomes of particular practical importance. In this article, we introduce a new R package nparLD which provides statisticians and researchers from other disciplines an easy and user-friendly access to the most up-to-date robust rank-based methods for the analysis of longitudinal data in factorial settings. We illustrate the implemented procedures by case studies from dentistry, biology, and medicine.


Peacemaking is especially challenging in situations of intractable conflict. Collective narratives in this context contribute to coping with challenges societies face, but also fuel conflict continuation. We introduce the Informative Process Model (IPM), proposing that informing individuals about the socio-psychological processes through which conflict-supporting narratives develop, and suggesting that they can change via comparison to similar conflicts resolved peacefully, can facilitate unfreezing and change in attitudes. Study 1 established associations between awareness of conflict costs and conflict-supporting narratives, belief in the possibility of resolving the conflict peacefully and support for pursuing peace among Israeli-Jews and Palestinians. Studies 2 and 3 found that exposure to IPM-based original videos (vs. control) led Israeli-Jews to deliberation of the information presented, predicting acceptance of the IPM-based message, which, in turn, predicted support for negotiations. Study 3 also found similar effects across IPM-based messages focusing on different conflict-supporting themes. We discuss the implications to attitude change in intractable conflicts.


This study examined leadership stereotypes and discrimination against women as perceived by Filipino managers. Successful managers were associated with more masculine rather than feminine traits although the distinction between males and females was less compared to previous studies. Although discrimination against women was not perceived to be a real problem by both males and female managers, there were four areas where gender differences were evident. Female managers perceived that women are penalized more for mistakes than men, are excluded by men from informal networks, and have a harder time finding a mentor than men. Male managers felt that men are given more responsibilities than women in the same position. We suggest that in a country where women enjoy a fairly high level of empowerment, there still are subtle forms of discrimination that may account for the glass ceiling effect.


A shift in the magnitude and timing of animal migrations is one of the most documented ecological effects of climate change. Although migrations are largely driven by spatial variation in resource gradients, few studies connect expected changes in primary production with geographic patterns in migratory behavior. Here, we link lake primary production to the occurrence of sea migrations in the partially anadromous salmonid Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus L.). We compiled presence/absence records of anadromous char populations spanning productivity and temperature gradients along the Norwegian coast. The probability of anadromy decreased with increasing migration distance, maximum slope of the migration route and lake productivity. There was a significant interaction between lake productivity and migration distance. The negative effect of longer migration distances was more severe in lakes with higher productivity, indicating reduced relative profitability of migration with increased feeding opportunities in freshwater. Lake productivity was mainly driven by terrestrial primary production in the catchment. We predicted future distributions of anadromous char given downscaled temperature and precipitation changes projected by two different emission scenarios and global climate models (GCMs). Projected increases in temperature and precipitation in 2071–2100 increased terrestrial primary production and, compared to the control scenario (1961–1990), decreased the range of anadromous populations. The prevalence of anadromy decreased by 53% in the HadAm3H GCM with the A2 emission scenario, 61% in HadAm3H with the B2 scenario and 22% in ECHAM4 with the B2 scenario. Cross‐ecosystem studies (e.g., terrestrial to freshwater) are critical for understanding ecological impacts of climate change. In this case, climate‐driven increases in terrestrial primary production are expected to increase primary production in lakes and ultimately reduce the prevalence of anadromy in Arctic char populations.


A mixed graph is a graph that can be obtained from a simple undirected graph by replacing some of the edges by arcs in precisely one of the two possible directions. The Hermitian adjacency matrix of a mixed graph $G$ of order $n$ is the $n \times n$ matrix $H(G)=(h_{ij})$, where $h_{ij}=-h_{ji}= \boldsymbol{\mathrm{i}}$ (with $\boldsymbol{\mathrm{i}} =\sqrt{-1})$ if there exists an arc from $v_i$ to $v_j$ (but no arc from $v_j$ to $v_i$), $h_{ij}=h_{ji}=1$ if there exists an edge (and no arcs) between $v_i$ and $v_j$, and $h_{ij}= 0$ otherwise (if $v_i$ and $v_j$ are neither joined by an edge nor by an arc). We study the spectra of the Hermitian adjacency matrix and the normalized Hermitian Laplacian matrix of general random mixed graphs, i.e., in which all arcs are chosen independently with different probabilities (and an edge is regarded as two oppositely oriented arcs joining the same pair of vertices). For our first main result, we derive a new probability inequality and apply it to obtain an upper bound on the eigenvalues of the Hermitian adjacency matrix. Our second main result shows that the eigenvalues of the normalized Hermitian Laplacian matrix can be approximated by the eigenvalues of a closely related weighted expectation matrix, with error bounds depending on the minimum expected degree of the underlying undirected graph.


Two sediment cores recovered in the central part of Daihai Lake in north-central China were analysed at 2-to 4-cm intervals for total inorganic and organic carbon (TIC and TOC) concentrations. The TIC concentration is inferred to reflect temperatures over the lake region and an increase in the TIC concentration implies an increase in the temperature. TOC concentration is considered to reflect the precipitation in the lake basin and higher TOC concentrations denote more precipitations. Thus AMS 14C time series of the TIC and TOC records of Daihai Lake sediments uncovers a detailed history of changes in temperature and precipitation in north-central China during the last c. 12 000 yr. The Holocene, an epoch of postglacial warmth, started c. 11 500 cal. yr BP, and can be subdivided into three stages: the early (c. 11 500-8100 cal. yr BP), middle (c. 8100-3300 cal. yr BP) and the late Holocene (c. 3300-0 cal. yr BP). The climate was warm and dry during the early Holocene, warm and wet during the middle Holocene, and in the late Holocene became cooler and drier but displayed a relatively warmer and wetter interval between c. 1700 and 1300 cal. yr BP. The Holocene Climatic Optimum, defined as a postglacial episode of both megathermal and megahumid climate, might have occurred in north-central China between c. 8100 and 3300 cal. yr BP, and the climate during this period was variable and punctuated by cool and/or dry events. We infer that changes in the temperature were directly controlled by changes in summer solar radiation in the Northern Hemisphere resulting from progressive changes in the Earth's orbital parameters. Whereas an increase in the monsoonal precipitation could be closely related to an increase in the sea surface temperature of the low-latitude Pacific Ocean, an increase in the temperature and size of the Western Pacific Warm Pool and a westward shifted and strengthened Kuroshio Current in the western Pacific.


In an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy, human capital development is
a major driver of a country's economic competitiveness. Thus the old tradition of
training which consist of three main blocks; academic, technical skill and industrial
training is not sufficient. In vocational education system, it usually equipped trainees
with too much specialised and too little general skills. Apparently vocational
education systems need to be reformed to ensure the trainees are more equipped with
generic skills that allow them to easily adopt changing job requirement. The purpose
of this study is mainly to develop a framework to foster innovation skill for
IKM/KKTM trainees. With such framework, it can ensure that trainess graduated
from IKM/KKTM will be ready for a more flexible workforce with advanced
technical skills coupled with well-developed generic skills, where is highly needed in
globalised, competitive, and knowledge-based society.
This cross sectional survey research is designed with three sets of
questionnaires and a session of interview. First set of questionnaire consists of 51
items which is Creative Climate Questionnaire in IKM/KKTM with Cronbach's
alpha 0.92, used to measure climate for creativity, and was carried out from 554
trainees and trainers of KKTM Ledang, KKTM Sri Gading and IKM Johor Bahru.
Second set of questionnaire named SoR Skills Development, with Cronbach's alpha
0.89, was set to confirm the theories about the advantages and the implication of
creative and innovation activity towards trainee's soft skills that have contribute to
their innovation skill. A total of 262 respondents from MARA Innovation
Competition 2012 participants. Third set of questionnaire named Implementation and
Improvement of Innovation consist of 56 items with Cronbach's alpha 0.969, used to
identify the opinion from the community regarding the implementation and their
suggestion for the improvement of creative and innovation development. A total of
163 trainers from KKTM Ledang, KKTM Sri Gading and KM Johor Bahru
contributed as respondents in the study. Qualitative data from an interview session with personnel from Competition and Innovation Unit in Technical and Vocational
Division of MARA was used as an additional source of information.
Researcher had identified seven major components of enablers for nurturing
creativity and innovation in IKM/KKTM. As presented in alphabetical order the
enablers are: climate (environment); curriculum, trainer, fund and infrastructure;
innovation activity; management; and policy. The framework was developed based
on these enablers and went though The validation process with six individual fiom
MARA to verify and affirm the outcome. The researcher also reafirmed the theories
that innovation activity iike MARA Innovation Competition did significantfy
improve trainee's soft skills, particularly in the elements of: communication;
motivation; conceptual; problem solving; critical thinking; leadership; discipline;
teamwork; learning; organization; and all these, leads to enhancement of
IKM/KKTM's trainees with innovation skills.


Data from a failed trial of a drug for Alzheimer's disease have generated a slim hope that it was not such a failure after all.

When the drug manufacturer Eli Lilly reported the results of its phase III trial of solanezumab in 2012, it looked like the end. The monoclonal antibody drug had failed to improve either cognitive or functional endpoints in patients with mild to moderate disease. Along with several other drugs that target amyloid β—the protein that forms clumps in the brains of Alzheimer's patients—solanezumab had been a disappointment.

This week, however, the company announced new results from a secondary analysis of the trial data that suggested a small, sustained effect in patients with mild disease. The original trial lasted 18 months and compared treatment against placebo, followed by a two year period in which patients on a placebo were transferred to the drug. This allowed a comparison between the early …


Background : Along the US-Mexico border persons who inject drugs (PWID) with a history of deportation from the US are at increased risk for HIV as compared to non-deported PWID. However, drivers and factors contributing to this elevated HIV risk among deported PWID are poorly understood. Aims : The aims of this dissertation were to: (1) to critically review evidence linking deportation and HIV risk in Mexico; (2) to identify the relationship between deportation and recent (i.e., past 6 months) police victimization experiences (e.g., physical violence, extortion) among PWID in Tijuana, Mexico; and (3) to describe the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among deported PWID in Tijuana, Mexico. Methods : In Chapter 2, a critical review of evidence linking HIV risk and deportation was conducted using existing peer- reviewed research with deported migrants in Mexico. Chapter 3 and 4 draws from questionnaires collected among PWID (n = 733) participating in a longitudinal prospective cohort study in Tijuana. Chapter 3 examines the baseline questionnaires of 733 PWID. Chapter 4 draws on data collected among a subset sample of PWID with a history of deportation (n = 132). Results : Chapter 2 found that deported migrants in Mexico commonly display a higher prevalence of HIV risk behaviors and HIV infection, especially among males and PWID. Various environmental influences that migrants experience post-deportation that may elevate their risk for acquiring HIV infection are discussed. Chapter 3 found that 56% of PWID had experienced police victimization in the past 6-months; differential experiences with police between deported and non-deported PWID were documented. Factors related to being a migrant and a drug user were independently associated with recent police victimization. Chapter 4 found that 45% of PWID reported current symptoms of depression, which was associated with having been initially detained in the US for a crime-related reason before being deported and perceiving needing help with current drug use. Conclusion : HIV vulnerability among migrants who inject drugs is closely linked to their social and physical experience with their receiving environments post-deportation. Structural interventions targeting various social and structural environmental factors are warranted to reduce risks associated with HIV infection


Nucleic acid based diagnostics are the standard means for diagnosis of infected plant material. However, these methods are expensive and time-consuming, but they are accurate. On the contrary, disease prediction methods based on Volatile organic compound (VOC) emission from plants are less accurate but, allow for screening of large volumes of samples. This work reports the methodology for development of an inexpensive electronic nose for implementation as early warning systems intended to prevent plant disease outbreaks using VOC pattern analysis. It is proven that plants emit VOCs in response to pathogenic attacks. In this project, efforts were made to register the pattern of VOCs released by the diseased plants. The disease taken for this purpose was Fusarium wilt disease of banana. The E-Nose was successfully fabricated using five MOS sensors connected to a microcontroller, which along with a microSD card module was able to store the acquired VOC data. The VOC data analysis was done in MS-Excel, using NeuroXL Predictor, a neural networking add-in. A small scale banana field containing 35 plants, divided into disease, test and control groups, was established. The disease and test sets were subjected to similar disease induction protocols and VOC data was collected over a period of 40 days. NeuroXL Predictor was trained to recognize odours corresponding to diseases by feeding the neural network with the disease set VOC data. Finally, the training model was validated by providing the test set VOC data to the neural network and the results were found to be accurate. Efforts were made to automate the VOC data acquisition from the plants, as it will be impractical to carry around, a device, through several hectares of plantation. Therefore, a simple autonomous rover was fabricated using DC motors connected to a microcontroller. A DC motor placed on top was used to move the E-nose towards the plants in left and right of the rover. The microcontroller was programmed to stop, move forward and turn the E-nose towards left or right as per the measurements of the field. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(2): 261-266


The hatching of cladoceran ephippia from a 15-cm long sediment core was investigated, and Ceriodaphnia quadrangula clones were isolated from different sediment layers. Bosmina microfossil data were also analyzed, and compared with the corresponding data from a Pb210 dated core, which allowed us to infer the age of the sediment layers. Using changes in Bosmina microfossil morphologies, we were, furthermore, able to infer the presence of different regimes of fish predation. C. quadrangula was found to hatch in layers with an inferred age of approximately a century. Newly hatched individuals had smaller eye-size in sediment layers corresponding to high predation by young-of-the-year perch. Newly hatched individuals also generally had a marked neck-spine. In contrast, morphological characters of C. quadrangula clones reared in the laboratory over several generations showed no variation in relation to predation regime, indicating the absence of fixed genotype level changes. Furthermore, the laboratory grown clones only rarely produced a neck-spine. The results suggest phenotypic variation in response to the regime under which ephippia were produced.


The effect of undernutrition on the ontogeny of muscarinic receptor density and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was studied in the motor cerebral cortex homogenates of female Wistar rats aged 12-19 days, 2-3 months and 5-8 months. Experimental animals were fed a protein-calorie deficient diet. The binding assays, using (3H)-N-methylscopolamine as a ligand, indicated a significant increase in muscarinic receptor density in the motor cortex of 5-8-month old control rats (36%) compared to neonatal controls. No increase was observed for undernourished rats at any of the ages studied. No significant difference was observed in AChE activity at any age of either group studied.


Although lipid disequilibrium has been documented for several types of cancer including colorectal cancer (CRC), it remains unknown whether lipid parameters are associated with the outcome of metastatic CRC (mCRC) patients. Here, we retrospectively examined the lipid profiles of 453 mCRC patients and investigated whether any of the lipid parameters correlated with the outcome of mCRC patients. Pretreatment serum lipids, including triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), were collected in 453 initially mCRC patients. The LDL-C to HDL-C ratio (LHR) was calculated and divided into the first, second, and third tertiles. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of lipids on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Nearly two-fifths of the patients (41.3%) exhibited elevations in LDL-C while most patients (88.3%) showed normal HDL-C levels. Decreased HDL-C (P=0.542) and increased LDL-C (P=0.023) were prognostic factors for poor OS, while triglyceride (P=0.542) and cholesterol (P=0.215) were not. Multivariate analysis revealed that LDL-C (P=0.031) was an independent prognostic factor. Triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C did not correlate with PFS. Among patients with elevations in LDL-C levels, patients in the third tertile of the LHR had a markedly shorter median OS compared to those in the first or second tertile (P=0.012). Thus, increased LDL-C level is an independent prognostic factor for poor prognosis in mCRC patients, and a high LHR predicts poor prognosis for initially mCRC patients with elevations in LDL-C.


When males of the silkmoth Antheraea pernyi were exposed to 12�C diuring adult development and then tested for flight activity at 25�C, the time of the onset of the activity was advanced to the early part of the night. This change in the time of activity was stable and persisted through the life of the moth. Females showed a corresponding shift in the time of sex pheromone release when they were treated in the same fashion.


Heterozygous protein C deficiency is associated with an increased risk for thrombosis. This association is restricted to a minority of protein C-deficient families, which have been defined as clinically dominant protein C-deficient. In contrast, in the clinically recessive protein C-deficient families, only the homozygous family members are (severely) affected. One possible explanation for this difference in thrombotic risk between families may be the presence of a second hereditary risk factor. A good candidate for this second risk factor is the recently identified resistance to activated protein C (APC). APC resistance, which is associated with a mutation in the FV gene (FV Leiden), is a common and strong risk factor for thrombosis. We show here that the prevalence of the FV Leiden mutation is high among symptomatic protein C-deficient probands (19%). In 6 clinically dominant protein C-deficient families, the segregation of the FV Leiden mutation and the protein C gene mutation was studied. A thrombotic episode had been experienced by 73% of the family members having both the protein C gene mutation and the FV Leiden mutation. In contrast, respectively, 31% and 13% of the family members having either the protein C gene mutation or the FV Leiden mutation had experienced a thrombotic episode. Moreover, the result of a two locus linkage analysis support the assumption that the FV gene and the protein C gene are the two trait loci responsible for the thrombophilia. These results indicate that carriers of both gene defects have an increased risk for thrombosis compared with related carriers of the single defect.


A novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed that permits the detection of 11 different human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes using two general primer sets. By computer-assisted sequence analysis, two pairs of general primers were selected from the conserved L1 open reading frame and tested in the PCR on a set of cloned HPV genotypes. Experimental analysis showed that up to three mismatches between primers and target DNA did not influence the efficiency of the assay. The use of these primers in the PCR enabled the detection of HPV genotypes HPV-1a, -6, -8, -11, -13, -16, -18, -30, -31, -32 and -33, and was also successfully applied to well characterized cervical carcinoma cell lines and clinical samples. For the HPV types tested sub-picogram amounts of cloned DNA could be detected after general primer-mediated PCR and subsequent hybridization. The specificity of the amplification products was confirmed by blot hybridization procedures and RsaI restriction enzyme digestion. The results indicate that this PCR method can be a powerful tool for identifying novel HPV genotypes in dysplasias and squamous cell carcinomas suspected of having an HPV aetiology.


In this paper, Relevance Vector Machine(RVM) based transient stability predictor for integrated power system has been proposed. Generator bus voltage measurements provided by phasor measurement units are used to train the proposed classifier. Various operating conditions are considered by simulating different types of faults like three phase to ground and line loss, on the given system. Fault clearing time is also varied from 5 cycles to 11 cycles, and loading conditions are varied from 5% to 10 % in some cases. The results obtained by RVM predictor have been compared with the results of Support Vector Machine (SVM) predictor. Proposed scheme is successfully tested on New England 39 bus system.


BACKGROUND
Older adults tend to have reduced growth hormone (GH) secretion and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels as well as changes in body composition which are partially reversed by GH injections. Arginine stimulates GH release, and lysine may amplify this response. We investigated whether oral arginine/lysine could be used to increase basal IGF-I and GH levels in non-obese old men (age 69 +/- 5 years; mean +/- SD) to values similar to those of untreated young men (age 26 +/- 4 years).

METHODS
Two groups of 8 healthy old men were treated with 3 g of arginine plus 3 g of lysine or with placebo capsules twice daily for 14 days. Before and on day 14 of each treatment GH levels were determined in blood samples taken at 20-minute intervals from 2000-0800 h, IGF-I was measured at 0800 h, and a 1 microgram/kg GHRH stimulation test was done.

RESULTS
At baseline, mean GH peak amplitude (p < .02) and serum IGF-I (p < .0001) were lower, whereas GHRH responses were similar, in old vs young men. Arginine/lysine did not significantly alter spontaneous or GHRH-stimulated GH levels, or serum IGF-I. Arginine absorption was age-independent. The correlation (p < .005) between measured increments in serum arginine and increases in serum GH after a single dose of arginine/lysine was similar in old and young groups.

CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that oral arginine/lysine is not a practical means of chronically enhancing GH secretion in old men.


ABSTRACT In the current field of doctoral education, there is a range of possible approaches presented to doctoral candidates. The Thesis by Publication (TBP) is an option increasingly offered by universities around the world and adopted by candidates in diverse fields. As the approach gains in popularity in response to the demands of modern academia, there is a need to better understand the limitations and possibilities associated with completing a TBP. This paper reports on a survey of 246 recently conferred doctoral candidates from Australian universities, who shared their personal experiences of successfully completing a TBP, with particular focus on the challenges and benefits. The challenges of ensuring thesis cohesion, time pressures, managing the publishing journey, and issues with supervisory and/or university support emerged as notable recurring themes. Positives included efficiency, accessibility and dissemination of findings, feedback, skills for research, career and reputation, emotion and motivation, and ease of examination. These findings have associated implications for candidates seeking to make informed choices about the approach that best suits their needs. They can also inform supervisors desirous of supporting students to harness the benefits and overcome the challenges of the TBP, and support institutions in the provision of informed and responsive guidelines and training opportunities for TBP.


Gas quenching steel slag (GQSS), which was prepared by gas quenching equipment under inert atmosphere, possessed some advantages for pollutants removal from wastewater. Static state experiment has been carried on to investigate Cr(III) removal from wastewater by GQSS. The results indicated that solid-liquid ratio, Cr(VI) original concentration, libration time and dissolved oxygen have significant influence on Cr(III) removal percentage. Take economic cost into account, the ratio between the mass of GQSS and the volume of Cr(III)-bearing solution should be controlled at 3:100. Because Cr(III) removal from wastewater by GQSS went through absorption and precipitation, the removal percentage of Cr(III) increased gradually with the reaction time. Moreover, Cr(III) removal percentage declined with the increasing of Cr(III) original concentration. Along with the declining of dissolved oxygen under sealed with lid, the redox potential in the solution decreased, and then the removal percentage of Cr(III) increased.


Purpose: This study was conducted as the first clinical trial by Japan Association of Childhood Leukemia Study to improve the outcome of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and explore a less toxic reinduction block. Patients and Methods: From 1997 to 2002, 563 patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia aged 1 to 15 years were enrolled. The patients were assigned into 4 risk groups (standard, intermediate, high, or extremely high risk) and treated with regimens intensified according to the risk. Two randomized trials were conducted to compare 2 regimens with and without a 3-week reinduction therapy in the standard-risk group, and to compare the efficacy of pirarubicin with daunorubicin in the intermediate-risk and high-risk groups. Prophylactic cranial irradiation was restricted in patients with high or extremely high risk. Results: The event-free survival (EFS) rate at 10 years for all patients was 77.0%. Those in the standard-risk to extremely high-risk groups were 79.3%, 72.5%, 71.7%, and 66.3%, respectively. The 15-week induction/consolidation not followed by reinduction produced 76.4% of the EFS at 10 years comparable with the regimen with reinduction therapy. Pirarubicin at 25 mg/m2 administered 11 times throughout the treatment produced the EFS comparable with daunorubicin at 30 mg/m2. Conclusion: The trial produced high survival rates in NCI-HR patients, although the outcomes in NCI-SR patients were not satisfactory possibly due to less intensive central nervous system–directed therapy.


Inductive Fault Analysis (IFA) is a systematic Procedure to predict all the faults that are likely to occur in MOS integrated circuit or subcircuit The three major steps of the IFA procedure are: (1) generation of Physical defects using statistical data from the fabrication process; (2) extraction of circuit-level faults caused by these defects; and (3) classification of faults types and ranking of faults based on their likelihood of occurrence Hence, given the layout of an IC, a fault model and a ranked fault list can be automatically generated which take into account the technology, layout, and process characteristics. The IFA procedure is illustrated by its applications to an example circuit. The results from this sample led to some very interesting observations regarding nonclassical faults.


Today's global services and applications are expected to be highly available, scale to an unprecedented number of clients, and offer reliable, low-latency operations. This can be achieved through geo-replication, particularly when data consistency is relaxed. There are, however, applications whose data must obey global invariants at all times. Strong consistency protocols easily address this issue, but require global coordination among replicas and inevitably degrade application throughput and latency.
 While coordination is an inherent requirement for maintaining global application invariants, there are instances where coordination on a per operation basis can be avoided. In particular, it has been shown that either moving coordination outside the critical path for executing operations, or having one coordination round for multiple operations, are both effective ways to maintain global invariants and avoid most of the penalties of coordination. However, current georeplication protocols still have not taken advantage of these observations.
 In this paper, we review the design space of current solutions for building geo-replicated applications and present our guiding vision towards a general technique for providing global application invariants under eventual consistency, as a much cheaper alternative to strong consistency.


Based on the motion principle of the double-half-revolution mechanism, a new type of quadruped-imitating robot is designed. It mainly consists of body suspension, wheel leg support and walking-leg. In order to simplify its walking-leg mechanism, each leg rod joint is directly driven by a steering gear. The virtual prototype model of the robot is established based on SolidWorks. The motion constraint relationship of legs and the three-dimensional collision properties between the stride rod and the ground are set. According to the kinematic coupling relationship of the legs, the driving speed of each joint is set. For two typical working conditions of the robot: walking on flat ground and climbing over vertical obstacle, the driving torques of the leg joints, such as the first swivel arm, the second swivel arm and the stride rod, are simulated respectively. The driving torque curves of leg joints are obtained under different working conditions. The results provide a reference basis for the steering engine lectotype design in the future.


SUMMARY During Late Ordovician (Caradoc) time, the English Lake District was the focus for one of the most intense episodes of magmatism seen during the geological history of the British Isles. There, two thick subaerial volcanic successions aggraded within opposing half-graben. In the northern half-graben, the Eycott Volcanic Group (EVG) comprises basaltic, andesitic and dacitic lavas and sills with subordinate pyroclastic rocks having geochemical affinities that are transitional between medium-K, continental-margin tholeiitic and calc-alkaline suites. In the southern half-graben, in the central Lake District, the Borrowdale Volcanic Group (BVG) comprises more than 6 km of basaltic to rhyolitic lavas, sills and pyroclastic rocks of medium- to high-K calc-alkaline continental margin type. Initial BVG eruptions were phreatomagmatic, but once conduits were opened, the volcanism became dominated by andesite lava effusion from clusters of low-profile volcanoes. The EVG compares to this early phase of BVG volcanism. A switch then occurred to paroxysmal eruptions, which produced many widespread sheets of densely welded silicic ignimbrite. This phase saw the development of major silicic, piecemeal calderas at Scafell and Haweswater. One of the later units, the Lincomb Tarns Formation, which is 150–800 m thick, is the most voluminous ignimbrite preserved within the Lake District. Other large-magnitude silicic eruptions are recorded within depocentres that lay along the current southern margin of the BVG outcrop. During intervals between the major silicic eruptions, andesitic tephra deposits were reworked and re-sedimented by mass-flow and fluvial processes, and were deposited within fluvio-lacustrine basins developed through regional extensional faulting and caldera collapse. Throughout, substantial volumes of magma were intruded contemporaneously into the volcanic piles. Towards the end of the volcanic episode, the granitic Lake District batholith was emplaced beneath the succession. Subsidence during cooling of this mass allowed renewed marine sedimentation across the region.


Most cultures have metaphors for time that involve movement, for example, 'time passes'. Although time is objectively measured, it is subjectively understood, as we can perceive time as stationary, whereby we move towards future events, or we can perceive ourselves as stationary, with time moving past us and events moving towards us. This paper reports a series of studies that first examines whether people think about time in a metaphor-consistent manner (Study 1) and then explores the relationship between 'time perspective', level of perceived personal agency, and time representations (Study 2), the relationship between emotional experiences and time representation (Study 3), and whether this relationship is bidirectional by manipulating either emotional experiences (Study 4) or time representation (Study 5). Results provide bidirectional evidence for an ego-moving representation of time, with happiness eliciting more agentic control, and evidence for a time-moving passivity associated with emotional experiences of anxiety and depression. This bidirectional relationship suggests that our representation of time is malleable, and therefore, current emotional experiences may change through modification of time representations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


In the architecture profession's ongoing quest for sustainability, it is often the most fundamental practices that require rethinking. Thermally Active Surfaces in Architecture, the groundbreaking new study by 2009 Rome Prize-winning architect Kiel Moe, argues that water, with its higher density, is far better at capturing and channeling energy than air. By separating the heating and cooling of a building from its ventilation, the building's structure itself becomes the primary thermal system. This transformation of energy and building practices triggers a cascading set of possibilities for a building's health, structure, and durability. The first and only book of its kind, Thermally Active Surfaces in Architecture details ten contemporary case studies, from some of today's most innovative architects.


OBJECTIVE
Evolutionary theories link the pathogenesis of psychosis with anomalous brain asymmetry. Research shows that aberrant lateralization is linked to schizophrenia with elevated rates of left-handedness and reversal of normal cerebral asymmetries. However, lateralization is underexamined in bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) and the available literature suggests the possibility of greater lateralization, which is diametrically opposite to what is observed in schizophrenia. For the first time, we report concurrent analyses of asymmetry in BPAD and schizophrenia using a line bisection task.

METHODS
We examined 164 subjects (31 patients with BPAD in remission, 30 patients with schizophrenia, and 103 healthy controls) using a two-hand line bisection task with established methodology. Raters with good inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.8) measured deviation from the center. Task performance was compared using analysis of covariance with age, sex, and education as covariates.

RESULTS
Study groups did not differ significantly on age, sex, and handedness (p > 0.06). Patients (both schizophrenia and BPAD) had significantly more errors in identifying the center than controls (p < 0.001). Patients with schizophrenia bisected fewer lines at center than controls and BPAD subjects (p < 0.001). Using their right hand, schizophrenia patients had significant rightward deviation and BPAD patients had leftward deviation (p = 0.001). A significant interaction between diagnosis and direction of deviation (p = 0.01) was noted, with significant rightward deviation in schizophrenia and a trend toward leftward deviation in BPAD.

CONCLUSIONS
Study findings suggest attenuation of normal pseudoneglect in schizophrenia and accentuation of normal pseudoneglect in BPAD, indicating lesser lateralization in schizophrenia and possibly greater lateralization in BPAD. From an evolutionary perspective, schizophrenia and BPAD might have antithetical origins.


The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between social self-efficacy and authenticity. The Perceived Social Self-efficacy Scale and the Authenticity Scale were administrated to a sample of 308 university students. The research data were analysed by correlation and linear regression analysis. Social self-efficacy is positively related to authentic living, and is negatively related to accepting external influence, and self-alienating. The linear regression analysis showed that social self-efficacy was a significant predictor of authenticity. The significance and limitations of the results are discussed.


Recently, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs announces a decree to accelerate a completion of the registration of land parcels of cadaster maps up to a scale of 1:1000. It is known that the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle based mapping system (UAV-Map) can produce orthophoto image with spatial resolution less than 10 cm, but it is not yet known whether UAV-Map implementation is able to identify boundary of land parcel in any condition. Therefore, this paper would analyze the planimetric accuracy that is conformed to the regulation of State Minister of Agrarian Affairs/Head of National Land Agency No.3, 1997 both for urban and rural areas. Two testing areas are established which located on urban area and rural area respectively. Flight missions are conducted using a fixed-wing aircraft equipped with a consumer grade camera and a navigational grade GPS-INS system. Orthophoto maps are produced by using Agisoft Photoscan software. Digitizing of parcel boundaries are followed both on an existing map and on the orthophoto maps. Deviations in areas are expressed in terms of the RMSE figures. Planimetric accuracies as indicated by the RMSE value are of 0,044 m for urban areas and 0,122 m for rural area. It is showed that all discrepancies of the parcels area are still below the recommended threshold values of the regulation. It is can be concluded that the orthophoto maps obtained by using a low cost UAV-Map system can be used to identify land parcels boundaries and to determine the parcel area.


Innovation is of increasing importance for raising the productivity, competitiveness and growth
potential of modern economies (BIS 2010). New products are a form of innovation and New
Product Development (NPD) is the term used to describe the innovation process of
commercialising a new product idea. Due to the nature of innovation small-medium sized
enterprises (SMEs) produce, typically 'novel' new-to-the world offerings that provide the
highest potential contribution to the economy and businesses themselves, there is an increasing
emphasis on NPD within SMEs. Despite this, there is a gap between existing knowledge of the
requirements of success and their application in practice. Furthermore, there is increasing
recognition within the literature that the process of innovation requires on-going maintenance,
disciplined audit and renewal (Leonard-Barton 1995). SMEs in particular are finding the
implementation of NPD success factors challenging(Humphreys, McAdam et al. 2005; Owens
2007) and there are limited in-depth studies on how this is achieved in practice.
The research provides an understanding of the challenges SMEs face in adopting NPD success
factors and develops an approach to overcome these challenges and support sustained success.
The research consists of two cycles of action research involving active engagement within two
independent SME contexts. The first cycle provided practical insights into challenges including
factors relating to: people, process, politics and technology within SMEs. As a result the research
focus was refined to consider learning as a mechanism to support the implementation and the
renewal of successful NPD practices. A new model is developed, namely Logical Learning, which
facilitates the development of: knowledge, skills and attitude within SMEs, for this purpose. The
second cycle of action research developed a unique NPD programme that implemented the
Logical Learning model within SMEs. Moreover, a comprehensive and rigorous framework for
learning evaluation is developed and formally validated the significance of the model. Evidence
has been generated that links the application of the model to learning within SMEs, learning to
changes in behaviour and NPD practices, and changes in behaviour to organisation results.
Logical Learning was initially applied through a regional programme in the West Midlands, UK,
which supported innovation within SMEs. Following success over an 18 month period, the
programme competed for and won a national contract to continue to deliver this support.
Therefore a nationwide roll-out is currently planned. The implementation of the model has
impacted on the commercial success of SMEs, so far resulting in 8 new product introductions to
market. These product innovations have generated actual sales of between £50,000 and £14
million within individual SMEs for the period 2011-2012, with businesses forecasting
significant increases of over 400% in the year ahead. Collectively these SMEs have generated 93
additional jobs within the West Midlands, which contribute to economic development within
the UK. Additionally the SMEs have developed NPD capabilities including the implementation of
more formalised approaches and effective resource management. Moreover, these SMEs report
further business development achievements including establishing partnerships with marketleading
organisations, international distribution agreements and further private investment to
support business growth. The research proves how learning is at the heart of these
achievements and provides a new perspective on how it is facilitated, to successfully improve:
knowledge, skills and attitudes and ensure SMEs are better equipped to sustain NPD success.


At the end of the XX century, in the countries with developed market economy is more and more present the assertion that beyond its fundamental function (production of food and fibbers), agriculture can create landscapes, manage to the non-renewable natural resources and environmental protection, and can also contribute to the socio-economic development of the rural areas. Within the European Union countries (EU), rural policy as a starting point has renewal of all links between agriculture and nature in order to secure sustainable development, protect the agro-environment and preserve the food quality and safety. Based on that, the concept of agriculture sustainability was developed (or bio-economy), integrated into the concept of sustainable development of the whole economy. Survival and development of modern agriculture have found at crossroad, faced with the essential requirements of economic and environmental efficiency achievement, in other words profitability of production with minimal risk of environment damage. The process of EU enlargement and perspectives for Serbia, which derive from that, refer to the fact that in future development of domestic farms, business economics will occupy one of the crucial positions. Accordingly, the manager of agricultural husbandry must use appropriate methods, techniques and models for economic sustainability of agriculture evaluation, in order to be sure that financial assets of the farm are correctly invested (that they will achieve the best results). According the importance of natural resources, significance of agriculture, as well as strategic priority of its effectiveness and sustainability for the development of the Upper Danube region (in other words Sombor city and Apatin and Bac municipalities), therefore in this paper evaluation of economic sustainability on the family husbandries within the aforementioned protected zone in the Republic of Serbia was presented. Considering microeconomic character of this work, the IDEA methodology (Indicateurs de Durabilite des Exploitations Agricoles) was used.


: Dependence was studied of emotional state of children, aged 8-9, on the terms of computer play: without additional instruction (with a strategy typical of the child), at time deficiency and at demonstration of techniques of play without limitation in time. Prior to and during the play the following parameters were recorded: heart rate (HR); frequency of basis tone (Fb.t.) and evaluation of frequency of the first formant (n(0] of the vowel "a" in the word "da" pronounced by the child during the play in response to acoustic signal; reaction time (RT) to acoustic signal; parameters of playing activity and also spontaneous verbal expressions of children. Increase of emotional stress during the play at time deficiency was accompanied by the most expressed changes of HR, RT, Fb.t., worsening of playing activity and the increase of the number of negative emotional reactions. When playing without additional instruction, the children showed the best results of playing activity, accompanied by the least expressed changes of HR and Fb.t. in comparison with the background at the greatest expressiveness of the n(0) change, and predominantly positive emotional reactions. The analysis of the correlation of the motivational and informational characteristics of the studied playing activity allowed to make a conclusion about preferential connection of HR and Fb.t. with the motivational and n(0) with informational components of the playing activity.


This paper describes an undergraduate accounting analytics course which was delivered based on an experiential learning approach. This accounting analytics course is timely as, with the proliferation of Big Data, several accounting professional bodies have highlighted the importance of developing analytical skills among accounting graduates. The experiential learning approach was adopted because there is a need to equip students with future work skills so as to tackle increasingly complex problems. The professors collaborate with external partners to design a course which combines theory with experiential learning through heavy use of projects involving real world problems. Students rated the course favourably. The students' feedback indicated that the experiential learning approach is beneficial for their overall learning outcomes such as enhancing their problem-solving, analytical, reasoning and communication skills. The course demonstrates a curriculum design that integrates industry experience with classroom learning. External partners were also supportive of the experiential learning approach.


Verification of the EBU-POM regional atmosphere-ocean coupled model (RAOCM) was carried out using satellite observations of SST and surface winds over the Adriatic Sea. The atmospheric component has a horizontal resolution of 0.125 degree (approximately 10 km) and 32 vertical levels, while the ocean component has a horizontal resolution of approximately 4 km with 21 sigma vertical levels. Verification of the forecasted SST was performed for 15 forecasts during 2006, each of them seven days long. These forecasts coincide with the operating cycle of the Adriatic Regional Model (AREG), which provided the initial fields and boundary conditions for the ocean component of EBU-POM. Two sources of data were used for the initial and boundary conditions of the atmosphere: primary data were obtained from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF), while data from National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) were used to test the sensitivity to boundary conditions. Forecast skill was expressed in terms of BIAS and root mean square error (RMSE). During most the of verification period, the model had a negative BIAS of approximately −0.3°, while RMSE varied between 1.1° and 1.2°. Interestingly, these errors did not increase over time, which means that the forecast skill did not decline during the integrations. The 10-m wind verification was conducted for one period of 17 days in February 2007, during a strong bora episode, for which satellite estimates of surface winds were available. During the same period, SST measurements were conducted twice a day, which enabled us to verify diurnal variations of SST simulated by the RAOCM model. Since ECMWF's deterministic forecasts do not cover such a long period, we decided to use the ECMWF analysis, i.e. we ran the model in hindcast mode. The winds simulated in this analysis were weaker than the satellite estimates, with a mean BIAS of −0.8 m/s.


The reported performance of a portfolio is consequential for both investors and managers. One component of the return calculation is the beginning and ending value of the portfolio. The standard in the industry is to calculate portfolio values from the market prices of the constituent securities. Assuming the portfolio can be liquidated at these prices, in the absence of tax considerations, the market value accurately represents the true value of the portfolio, and therefore, the resulting measure of performance is uncontroversial. But what if the portfolio is taxable? Neither the market value nor the liquidation value accurately represents the true worth of a taxable portfolio. However, accurate values are essential to calculating the performance of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and separately managed accounts. This is especially true for tax-exempt municipal bond portfolios—interest is tax-free, but capital gains are taxable. The author explores three alternatives to pretax value: liquidation value, hold value, and the larger of these two, defined as tax-smart value. The author recommends the tax-smart value to measure the performance of an actively managed portfolio. TOPICS: Portfolio construction, legal/regulatory/public policy, mutual funds/passive investing/indexing, fixed income and structured finance Key Findings ▪ Pretax portfolio value is inappropriate for measuring the true performance of a taxable portfolio. ▪ For actively managed portfolios, we recommend using tax-smart value, which is the greater of after-tax liquidation value and hold value. ▪ For buy-and-hold portfolios, hold value is recommended. ▪ The calculation of the hold value of a tax-exempt bond requires tax-neutral option-adjusted spread analytics.