Background Previous studies suggest that lower BMI is a risk factor for intraoperative core hypothermia. Adipose tissue has a high insulation effect and is one of the major explanatory factors of core hypothermia. Accordingly, determining the respective influence of visceral and subcutaneous fat on changes in core temperature during laparoscopic surgery is of considerable interest. Methods We performed a prospective study of 104 consecutive donors who underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy. Temperature data were collected from anesthesia records. Visceral and subcutaneous fat were calculated by computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound. For ultrasound measurements, preperitoneal fat thickness was used as an index of visceral fat. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed at 30, 60, and 120 minutes after the surgical incision to identify the predictive factors of body temperature change. The potential explanatory valuables were age, sex, BMI, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat. Results BMI (β = 0.010, 95%CI: 0.001–0.019, p = 0.033) and waist-to-hip ratio (β = 0.424, 95%CI: 0.065–0.782, p = 0.021) were associated with increased core temperature at 30 minutes after the surgical incision. Ultrasound measured-preperitoneal fat was significantly associated with increased core temperature at 30 and 60 minutes after the surgical incision (β = 0.012, 95%CI: 0.003–0.021, p = 0.009 and β = 0.013, 95%CI: 0.002–0.024, p = 0.026). CT-measured visceral fat was also associated with increased core temperature at 30 minutes after the surgical incision (β = 0.005, 95%CI: 0.000–0.010, p = 0.046). Conversely, subcutaneous fat was not associated with intraoperative core temperature. Male sex and younger age were associated with lower intraoperative core temperature. Conclusions Visceral fat protects against core temperature decrease during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.


During the last decade, a subject which has captivated the attention of marketing and strategy researchers is the concept of market orientation. This thesis examines empirically, the relationship between market orientation and business performance in the context of the machine tool industry based in the UK. A more comprehensive market orientation scale was redeveloped by conducting comparative analysis of three previously developed market orientation scales with a view to make it an industry specific measure. The unit of analysis used in the study is at individual firm level. In the analysis, it was discovered that there are four significan latent dimensions underlying market orientation. These dimensions were labelled as customer focus, competitors focus, customer satisfaction focus and marketing focus. Next, the influence of each dimension on performance was assessed. Findings suggest that customer focus and customer satisfaction focus have a stronger impact on performance than the other dimensions. It was also revealed that competitor orientation has a U-shape relationship with performance in the short term but a positive linear relationship in the long term. The findings caution against overemphasising competitive influences to the neglect of distinct capabilities of firms. In order to find out if the strength of relationship between market orientation-performance is moderated by environmental factors, it was learnt that the hypothesised relationship is stronger when market turbulence and technology turbulence is low; and competitive intensity is high. Managers could use the multidimensional conceptualisation to develop particular kinds of orientation required for better performance. Avenues for future research are also discussed


OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive with polypropylene suture on the healing of colonic anastomosis in Wistar rats.

METHODS
Thirty two animals, divided in four groups of eight, were established concerning suture with Polypropylene or Cyanoacrylate application, and the day chose for euthanasia: third or seventh day following operation. In the control group, the anastomosis was done in a single layer with 5.0 polypropylene suture. In the adhesive group, the anastomosis was performed by using 2-octyl cyanoacrylate. Operative time, integrity and gross anastomotic healing, bursting pressure, intestinal obstruction, adhesions formation, histological healing and inflammatory process were recorded.

RESULTS
Adhesion formation was more extensive in the cyanoacrylate group on the seventh postoperative day comparing with suture group (p=0.007). Mechanical strength of the anastomosis assessed on the seventh postoperative day was lower in 2-octyl cyanoacrylate group (p=0.002). Partial intestinal obstruction rate were more frequent in anastomosis using 2-octyl cyanoacrylate compared to those with polypropylene suture on the seventh postoperative day (p=0.029). Operative time were longer in groups with adhesive (p=0.004). The wound healing process, and inflammatory process did not differ statistically between groups (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION
The application of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, under experimental conditions seems to be detrimental at the seventh day of the healing, causing intense adhesion formation, colonic obstruction; and impairment healing with less mechanical strength resistance.


Background & Study Aim: An important aspect of ap bal ap dolio tchagui kick in tae kwon do is that it is usually performed in reaction to a signal or event. That is, given a specific stimulus (i.e. the movement of the opponent), the tae kwon do athlete must react as quickly and accurately as possible to the stimulus. Reacting to a stimulus requires preparation and it is essential to determine this preparation of an elite athlete to perform a task. Therefore, to investigate this movement a reaction time paradigm is appropriate wherein the athlete accomplishes the kick in response to a stimulus. The study investigates the processing, reaction and motor response of male and female athletes in an ecological task. The purpose of this study was to verify the authenticity of the two hypotheses: (1) that the pre-motor time, response time and motor time would be the same for males and females; (2) that the magnitudes of the muscle activation would be different between males and females. Materials & Method: The main method is an analysis and comparative study of empirical data. We collected data on 13 Brazilian national calibre tae kwon do athletes (6 male and 7 female) when performing a simple reaction time kicking manoeuvre. The experimental equipment included EMG electrodes placed on six muscles and an electrogoniometer placed on the knee of the kicking limb. Results: We found that pre-motor and response times were faster for females than males for several muscles but the faster movement time for males was sufficient to equate the total time between males and females. These results suggest that quantification of biomechanical parameters from skilled athletes allows coaches to understand the movement which will ultimately improve the technique to establish training goals. Conclusions: It is suggested that the knee extensors muscles are mainly responsible for a kicking movement. Our data showed that trunk stabilizers were activated prior to the main knee extensors muscles. In tae kwon do, athletes have to be very precise and fast in order to surprise their opponent, avoiding defence and counterattack. Monitoring pre-motor muscle activation during training sessions, potentially gives support for specific training and/or aiming movement optimization.


This study investigated the presence of norovirus (NoV) GI and GII in environmental samples from the northern region of Brazil. Water samples were collected monthly (November 2008/October 2010) from different sources and sewage and concentrated by the adsorption-elution method. The NoV investigation used molecular methods followed by sequencing reactions. The general positivity for NoV was 33.9% (57/168). Considering the results obtained only in the semi-nested RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) and only in the TaqMan® real-time PCR, the rates were 26.8% (45/168) and 27.4% (46/168), respectively, being for NoV GI 22.2% (10/45) and 19.6% (9/46); for GII 17.8% (8/45) and 15.2% (7/46); and for GI + GII 60% (27/45) and 65.2% (30/46), respectively. Different GI (GI.1, GI.4, GI.7 and GI.8) and GII (GII.4, GII.6, GII.9, GII.12 and GII.14) genotypes were detected. These results demonstrated the NoV was disseminated in the waters of Belém city due to a lack of sanitation that allowed the discharge of contaminated effluents into these aquatic ecosystems.


A method for adaptation of the IBM speech recognition system in the situation where the system is already trained for the new speaker and one tries to further adapt and improve the system while it is actually being used by the new speaker in the recognition mode is described. A special kind of adaptation is investigated where the emphasis is not on the adaptation of the statistical parameters of the Markov models but on the adaptation of the structure of these models. This structure is defined by the baseforms describing the composition of word models from phone models in the system. Therefore, baseform adaptation corresponds directly to the adaptation of the new system to the personal speaker characteristics of the new user. Several different baseform adaptation schemes are investigated and it is demonstrated that for a speaker who has already trained the system and achieves a 95.2% recognition performance, the performance can be further improved to 96.3%.<<ETX>>


This paper describes on-going research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology to develop new paradigms for interactive segmentation of medical 3D volume data. In our segmentation system we are using a haptic device as a 3D mouse with force-feedback. The paper introduces the basic components of our framework and the ideas behind our multi-modal approach. On the one hand we are trying to increase the sense of immersion of the user by allowing him to interact in a natural way with the presented data, on the other hand we are using force-feedback as an additional channel to mediate information. The segmentation of linear structures in the human body serves as a case study for our system. We successfully used our approach to extract the skeleton of a radiological colon data set, which then served as the basis for a full segmentation of the object of interest.


BACKGROUND
In nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), the kidney is unable to produce concentrated urine because of the insensitivity of the distal nephron to antidiuretic hormone (arginine vasopressin). In settings in which fluid intake cannot be maintained, this may result in severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. The risk for conversion of reversible to irreversible NDI seems to be a potential complication. This review summarizes the reversible causes of acquired NDI to facilitate earlier recognition and more effective treatment by clinicians.

METHODS
Two reviewers independently searched MEDLINE, Experta Medica (EMBASE), and ISI bibliographic databases. Human studies that described NDI caused by drugs, substances, or metabolic disturbances were included. To evaluate the causal role of the risk factor, data were abstracted according to Koch's postulates.

RESULTS
One hundred fifty-five studies published between 1957 and March 2004 described 30 risk factors. Of 155 studies, 58 studies provided a "definite" diagnosis of NDI; 83 studies, a "probable" diagnosis; and 14 studies, a "possible" diagnosis. Nine factors were considered "definite" causes of NDI; 15 factors, "probable" causes; and 6 factors, "possible" causes. The most reported risk factors were lithium (84 studies), antibiotics (16 studies), antifungals (11 studies), antineoplastic agents (9 studies), antivirals (8 studies), and metabolic disturbances (8 studies). Duration of NDI reversal, as well as conversion to irreversible symptoms, seemed to depend on the duration of exposure.

CONCLUSION
Most risk factors for reversible NDI were medications, and their identification and removal resulted in resolution of the condition. Long-term treatment with lithium seemed to result in irreversible NDI.


The discovery of amino acids in meteorites and the detection of glycine in samples returned from a comet to Earth suggest that the interstellar chemistry is capable of producing such complex organic molecules. Our goal is to investigate the degree of chemical complexity that can be reached in the ISM. We performed an unbiased, spectral line survey toward Sgr B2(N) and (M) with the IRAM 30m telescope in the 3mm window. The spectra were analyzed with a simple radiative transfer model that assumes LTE but takes optical depth effects into account. About 3675 and 945 spectral lines with a peak signal-to-noise ratio higher than 4 are detected toward N and M, i.e. about 102 and 26 lines per GHz, respectively. This represents an increase by about a factor of 2 over previous surveys of Sgr B2. About 70% and 47% of the lines detected toward N and M are identified and assigned to 56 and 46 distinct molecules as well as to 66 and 54 less abundant isotopologues of these molecules, respectively. We also report the detection of transitions from 59 and 24 catalog entries corresponding to vibrationally or torsionally excited states of some of these molecules, respectively. Excitation temperatures and column densities were derived for each species but should be used with caution. Among the detected molecules, aminoacetonitrile, n-propyl cyanide, and ethyl formate were reported for the first time in space based on this survey, as were 5 rare isotopologues of vinyl cyanide, cyanoacetylene, and hydrogen cyanide. We also report the detection of transitions from within 12 new vib. or tors. excited states of known molecules. Although the large number of unidentified lines may still allow future identification of new molecules, we expect most of these lines to belong to vib. or tors. excited states or to rare isotopologues of known molecules for which spectroscopic predictions are currently missing. (abridged)


A large number of studies on salinity in hydroponic systems have been carried out, but few of them have evaluated the interaction between salinity and nutrient solution temperatures. Two experiments were carried out in a randomized block design from January to February (Experiment I) and June to July 2018 (Experiment II). Experiment I consisted of treatments with five combinations, as follows: unheated (control) and heated nutrient solution (NS) at a temperature of 32°C using fresh water with an electrical conductivity (ECw) of 0.3 dS m −1 , and unheated and heated NS at temperatures of 30 and 32°C using brackish water with an ECw of 6.5 dS m −1 in the main plots, with two coriander cultivars (Tabocas and Verdão) in the subplots, which were grown in the same hydroponic channel. The cultivar Verdão was grown in Experiment II in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, consisting of two NS temperatures (unheated and heated at 30°C) and two ECw levels (0.3 and 6.5 dS m −1 ). Coriander cultivation is feasible with heated NS despite decreases in shoot fresh matter production compared to the control of approximately 37% for Experiment I (cultivar Verdão at a temperature of 32°C and using fresh water) and 17% for Experiment II (temperature of 30°C and using fresh and brackish waters) at 25 days after transplanting.


The performance of zinc borate (ZB)-treated oriented structural straw board (OSSB) against mold fungi, decay fungi, and termites was examined in standard laboratory evaluations. OSSB was fabricated with split wheat straw strands and diphenylmethane diisocyante (pMDI) resin. The ZB was added during panel manufacture to achieve preservative levels (wt.%) of 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 3.0%. It was observed that after a four-week exposure to mold fungi all samples had some mold coverage, but the coverage on the ZB-treated samples was significantly lighter compared to the untreated OSSB. Decay test showed that the weight losses of ZB-treated OSSB blocks at 1.0% and 1.5% levels were significantly reduced compared to the untreated OSSB and solid wood controls, indicating superior performance of ZB-treated OSSB against decay fungi. The termite mortality indicated that none of the termites were alive at the conclusion of the test for ZB-treated OSSB. The results from these specific laboratory studies demonstrated that ZB retentions of 1.5% and greater provide performance against decay fungi and termites for OSSB panels. In addition, untreated OSSB has high susceptibility to mold due to the chemical features of wheat straw and incomplete removal of kernels.


Examples of multiplication by neurons or neural circuits are scarce, although many computational models use this basic operation. The owl's auditory system computes interaural time (ITD) and level (ILD) differences to create a two-dimensional map of auditory space. Space-specific neurons are selective for combinations of ITD and ILD, which define, respectively, the horizontal and vertical dimensions of their receptive fields. A multiplication of separate postsynaptic potentials tuned to ITD and ILD, rather than an addition, can account for the subthreshold responses of these neurons to ITD-ILD pairs. Other nonlinear processes improve the spatial tuning of the spike output and reduce the fit to the multiplicative model.


The plant hormone auxin is a conserved regulator of development which has been implicated in the generation of morphological novelty. PIN-FORMED1 (PIN) auxin efflux carriers are central to auxin function by regulating its distribution. PIN family members have divergent structures and cellular localizations, but the origin and evolutionary significance of this variation is unresolved. To characterize PIN family evolution, we have undertaken phylogenetic and structural analyses with a massive increase in taxon sampling over previous studies. Our phylogeny shows that following the divergence of the bryophyte and lycophyte lineages, two deep duplication events gave rise to three distinct lineages of PIN proteins in euphyllophytes. Subsequent independent radiations within each of these lineages were taxonomically asymmetric, giving rise to at least 21 clades of PIN proteins, of which 15 are revealed here for the first time. Although most PIN protein clades share a conserved canonical structure with a modular central loop domain, a small number of noncanonical clades dispersed across the phylogeny have highly divergent protein structure. We propose that PIN proteins underwent sub- and neofunctionalization with substantial modification to protein structure throughout plant evolution. Our results have important implications for plant evolution as they suggest that structurally divergent PIN proteins that arose in paralogous radiations contributed to the convergent evolution of organ systems in different land plant lineages.


OBJECTIVE
To develop a scientifically current and evidence-based protocol for the use of fluoride varnish for the prevention of dental caries among high-risk children and adolescents.

METHODS
Previous systematic reviews on this topic were used as the basis for the current review. Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL and several other relevant bibliographic databases were searched for English-language articles, with human subjects, published from 2000 to 2007.

RESULTS
A total of 105 articles were identified by the literature search; relevance was determined by examining the title, abstract and body of the article. Seven original research studies met the inclusion criteria. These articles were read and scored independently by 2 reviewers, and evidence was extracted for systematic review.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations were developed on the basis of the evidence: 1. For high-risk populations (e.g., people with low socioeconomic status, new immigrants and refugees, First Nations and Inuit children and adolescents), fluoride varnish should be applied twice a year, unless the individual has no risk of caries, as indicated by past and current caries history. This schedule of application would permit sealants to be checked biannually to ensure retention. 2. Single-dose packages of fluoride varnish should be used for children; the varnish in such packages should be stirred vigorously before application, to ensure that any precipitated fluoride is redissolved. 3. There is good evidence of the complementary efficacy of preventive strategies such as sealants and varnish, as well as toothbrushing and nutritional counselling; oral health care programs should therefore include as many complementary strategies as possible.


Patients suffering from the genetic disorder xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) display an extreme sensitivity of their skin to sun (UV) exposure and predisposition to skin cancer due to deficiencies in the excision DNA repair pathway. Here we describe the establishment and characteriza tion of the first tumor cell line derived from an XP patient (belonging to complementation group C). The melanoma cell line designated XP44RO(Mel) has retained its tumorigenic and XP phenotype (UV sensitivity, reduced unscheduled DNA synthesis) and showed karyotypic abnormalities characteristic of melanomas. Transfection of XP44RO(Mel) DNA to NIH3T3 cells and oligonucleotide hybridization revealed that the N-ras oncogene was activated by an A-T to T-A or CG transversion at the third position of codon 61. This mutation occurs at a dipyrimidine site. It is likely initiated by a UV-induced pyrimidine dimer and is of a type rarely observed in mammalian shuttle vector systems and endogenous genes after UV irradiation.


Copyright law has a framing problem. The problem is pervasive, unresolved, and often unnoticed, and it significantly impacts the nature and scope of copyright protection. Copyrighted works are complex: books consist of chapters, newspapers consist of articles, and so on. Courts often need to decide whether to frame the work as one comprehensive whole, an approach we call "zooming out," or to frame it as a combination of many small parts, an approach we call "zooming in." This framing move occurs across many copyright doctrines: in fair use, infringement analysis, statutory damages calculations, separability determination, and more.This Article focuses on decisions heavily affected by a court's framing choice. The results are troubling. The study of those decisions suggests that in the majority of cases, courts frame the work without noticing their framing move. When courts do explicitly reason their framing choices, they use factors that are normatively questionable and increasingly less effective in today's digital world. Consequently, copyrighted works are framed in an inconsistent way both across copyright law doctrines and within each doctrine. In fact, there is almost no area of copyright law in which courts consistently frame copyrighted works.These variations in framing choices have costs. While these costs need to be acknowledged and addressed, we reject one intuitively appealing approach to addressing them. Copyright law, we show, should not provide a unified framing test, or unified definition of the "work," across all its doctrines. Different areas of copyright law face different policy considerations. Sometimes the framing of the work itself may need to change, so that the policy balance behind copyright law can remain constant.


This article explores links made between teenage mothers and isolation: in particular, the notion of 'relational exclusion' (Kidger, 2004). Political conceptualisations of social exclusion often ignore this aspect and instead focus on the economic dynamics of exclusion. As a consequence, policies aimed at addressing the exclusion of teenage parents often focus on education and employment as solutions. This article argues that friendships are overlooked as a source of potential support. It therefore builds on work that has observed teenage mothers' isolation and loneliness to examine how a teenage pregnancy affects a young woman's friendship networks. It then goes on to expand understanding of how new friendships are formed and the types of support they provide. The article concludes by proposing that social policy has a role in facilitating friendship support through investment, integrating group support with one-to-one methods and tackling stigma.


Abstract Many analysts worry that improvements in Chinese missile, sensor, guidance, and other technologies will enable China to deny the U.S. military access to parts of the Western Pacific that the United States has long controlled. Although these "antiaccess, area denial" (A2/AD) capabilities are real, they are a geographically limited long-term threat. As both the United States and China deploy A2/AD capabilities, a new era will emerge in which the U.S. military no longer enjoys today's command of the global commons, but is still able to deny China military hegemony in the Western Pacific. In this new era, the United States will possess a sphere of influence around allied landmasses; China will maintain a sphere of influence over its own mainland; and a contested battlespace will cover much of the South and East China Seas wherein neither power enjoys wartime freedom of surface or air movement. This in turn suggests that the Chinese A2/AD threat to U.S. allies is real but more limited than often supposed. With astute U.S. choices, most U.S. allies in this new system will be imperfectly, but substantially, secure.


Most statistical procedures presuppose a normal distribution, with variance independent of mean insect population. However, in field counts of a majority of insect species, variance varies as a power function of the population (Taylor 1961). Such data have to be transformed before analysis to eliminate the dependence of the variance on the mean population.


This book contains a very detailed de-ption of the investigations of the haenmoglobinopathies, in which the authors are acknowledged authorities and have themselves developed many of the techniques used. There is no doubt that thisis a valuable reference book for those doing work in the field. The general haematologist will find it useful for the appraisal of techniques, which would be appropriate in his laboratory. I am sure that many who see patients with these diseases commonly will wish to have the book on the shelf while others will find it useful to look at a library copy occasionally. Unfortunately, most of us will be forced into the latter category by the price: SFr. 140 (£35).


The Needleman-Wunsch process is a classic tool in bioinformatics, being a dynamic programming algorithm that performs a pairwise alignment of two input biological sequences, either protein or nucleic acid. A distance matrix between the tokens used in the sequences is also required as input. The distance matrix is used to generate a positional pairwise similarity matrix between the input sequences, which is in turn used to generate a dynamic programming matrix. The best path through the dynamic programming matrix is navigated using a traceback procedure that maximises similarity, inserting gaps as necessary. Needleman-Wunsch can align both nucleic acids or proteins, which use alphabets of size 4 and 20 tokens respectively. It can also be applied to any other kind of sequence where distance matrices can be specified. Here, we apply it to chains of Pousseur's Scambi electronic music fragments, of which there are 32, and which Pousseur categorised by their sonic properties, thus permitting the consecutive construction of distance, similarity and dynamic programming matrices. Traceback through the dynamic programming matrix thus produces contrapuntal duet compositions in which two Scambi chains are played in the maximally euphonious manner, providing also an illustration of the principles of biological sequence alignment in sound.


The insect baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) is useful for producing biologically active recombinant proteins. However, the overexpressions of foreign proteins using this system often results in misfolded proteins and the formation of protein aggregates. To overcome this limitation, we developed a versatile baculovirus expression and secretion system using Bombyx mori protein disulfide isomerase (bPDI) as a fusion partner. bPDI gene fusion was found to improve the secretions and antibacterial activities of recombinant nuecin proteins. Thus, we conclude that bPDI gene fusion is a useful addition to BEVS for the large-scale production of bioactive recombinant proteins.


Mist streams comprised of H2O2/H2O droplets are a recent innovation for disinfecting medical equipment, but the availability of a sensor that could monitor the concentration of H2O2 applied during the treatment would be desirable. Here we describe a means to obtain a rapid estimation of H2O2 concentration in this environment. The proposed sensor is based on a platinum resistance thermometer coated with a layer of MnO2 catalyst. It may be calibrated to operate either during the mist delivery step of a disinfection cycle, or during the evacuation (drying) phase. Cooling of the sensor surface due to evaporation of H2O and effervescence of decomposing H2O2 operates against heat generated by the decomposition reaction to produce a well-defined minimum in the temperature. The time and temperature at which this minimum occurs are well correlated, with the H2O2 content of the solution used to produce the mist droplets.


The investigation of man-made objects lying on or embedded in the sea floor can be carried out with acoustic imaging techniques and subsequent data processing. In this paper, we describe a processing chain that starts with a 3-D acoustic image of the object to be examined and ends with an augmented reality model, which requires minimal user involvement. Essentially, the chain includes blocks devoted to statistical 3-D segmentation, semi-automatic surface fitting, extraction of measurements, and augmented reality modeling. In particular, the 3-D segmentation method presented here is based on a volume-growing approach, which is essentially a 3-D extension of the traditional 2-D region growing. The volume-growing operation is guided by a statistical approach based on the optimal decision theory. The surface-fitting block is based on predefined geometric models, i.e., one of them is tentatively selected by the user after a preliminary study of the segmented object and is automatically or partially manually adapted to the segmented data by exploiting an inertial tensor. The proposed chain was successfully applied to the analysis of some 3-D acoustic images obtained from both simulated and real signals acquired by different sonar systems and containing objects that were completely or partially buried. The segmentation results provided an effective help in the identification of the object's shape, i.e., facilitating the subsequent surface-fitting step and the extraction of related measurements.


Summary In very many of the Predevonian rocks of Bohemia we find marked lithological resemblances to the corresponding horizons in Britain. The Precambrian series is divisible into two distinct groups, similar to the Dimetian and Pebidian groups of Britain, and lying unconformably to one another and to the overlying Cambrian rocks. The beginning of the Cambrian period is marked, as in Britain, by a coarse conglomerate, which is probably of later formation than that of our own island, although it is probably homotaxeous with it. Moreover, there are strong resemblances between the various bands of the Bohemian and British Cambrian beds, especially marked in the deeper water deposits. The palæontological similarities are in many cases not so striking as the lithological. In the Silurian period, the resemblances, both lithological and palæontological, between Bohemia and Britain were less striking than in the Cambrian. The limestones so abundant in the Bohemian series seem to be lenticular masses having no wide extension; the most regular limestone is that of E 2, and this is about the horizon of, and comparable with, the Wenlock Limestone. But although the beds of this period as a whole are not so strictly comparable in the two countries as those of the Cambrian, we nevertheless find most remarkable coincidences between the zones of the lowest band, i. e. the Graptolite- bearing shales. The igneous rocks do not present many unusual features; but the occurrence of mica-traps in the Cambrian beds is very noteworthy, limited as they are, so Objection may be raised to my using Prof. Sedgwick's nomenclature for the rocks of a region which M. Barrandehas so conclusively shown to possess three well-marked faunas. But the foregoing observations seem to show that. the break between the upper and middle faunas is much more marked than that between the middle and lower. In the first place, the deposition of the Cambrian beds does not seem to have begLm over the whole area until thG close of the Primordial era, the rocks containing the Primordial fauna, as well as the underlying conglomeratic series, being only locally developed, whilst it is not until the overlying beds of d 1 a that any thing like continuous deposition appears to have set in. Again, if I am right in referring d 1 α & β to the Lingula Flags and Tremadoc Slates respectively, the unconformity between the Primordial zone and second fauna of Bohemia does not occur at the same horizon as that between the Primordial zone and overlying beds of Britain, for the equivalents of d 1 α & β are included in the Primordial beds of Britain, or Cambrian of Sir C. Lyell, Dr. Hicks, and Mr. Lapworth. The break between the second and third faunas of Bohemia, on the other hand, occurs at the same horizon as in Britain, viz. between the top of the Bala beds and the Graptolitic fauna of Birkhill age. Lastly, the beds of d 1 α & β have as yet yielded by no means a satisfactory fauna, so that we do not here get one fauna in beds immediately succeeding another, as is the case with the beds at the top of the second and base of the third faunas of M. Barrande. But the connecting link between these two latter periods was supposed to have been discovered in the colonies of M. Barrande. I feel justified in saying that I have brought forward sufficient evidence to warrant a reconsideration of the data on which the theory of colonies was founded, and to give some grounds for the supposition that they are only portions of the band e 1 faulted down among the grits and shales at the summit of the Cambrian series.


Specific antibodies against cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP), raised in rabbit, were detected by sucrose gradient centrifugation and gel filtration using tritium-labeled CRBP, prepared by reductive methylation. By means of radioimmunoassay, pure CRBP from liver and testis as well as CRBP present in a crude extract of liver were compared. All preparations showed identical immunoreactivity, suggesting CRBP is not tissue-specific. In contrast, two other vitamin A-binding proteins, cellular retinoic acid-binding protein, and serum retinol-binding protein, showed no cross-reaction in the radioimmunoassay.


The purpose of this study was to contribute to research and theory in the area of sport fan communities. Existing analyses of sport fans have used a variety of constructs and theoretical approaches to assess fan experience, including social identity theory (Underwood et a l , 2001), emotionality (Trujillo and Krizek, 1994), escapism (Segrave, 2000), and body culture and hypercommodification (Giulianotti, 2002). However, even though some of this literature has mentioned the importance of "group experience" and "community" in fans' lives, there is a lack of research on communal aspects of fan interactions, particularly outside of the "spectator experience". The theoretical perspective for the thesis was developed from recent research on group consumption (Schouten & McAlexander, 1995; Muniz and O'Guinn, 2001; McAlexander et al., 2002) and from work on subcultures and social groups (Hebdige, 1979; Brake 1980; Willis, 1990; Maffesoli, 1996). A n ethnographic study was designed that used participant observation, one-to-one interviews and focus groups to record and analyze the "lived experiences" (Prus et al., 1994) of members of the Vancouver Canucks Booster Club during the 2003-2004 N H L season. The findings from the study confirm the value of using group consumption theories, especially the brand community framework, to better understand the relationships that exist within sport fan groups. The sport fan group in this study displayed the three core commonalities of a brand community that were identified in prior research on high involvement consumer brands by Muniz and O'Guinn (2001): consciousness of kind, rituals and tradition, and moral responsibility. In addition, it was found that the root factors which enable the development of these commonalities (e.g., existence of opposition, sharing of brand stories, protection of and assistance to others in the community) were also apparent in the Booster Club. Consistent with the observations of McAlexander et al. (2002), this study also found that the customer-centric model of relationships that exist within brand communities extended beyond the "customer customer brand" triad of relationships (described by Muniz and O'Guinn, 2001) and included the "customer sports franchise employee" relationship and the "customer product" relationship. The study also identified a "customer media" relationship that had not yet been described in other brand community work. The thesis introduces a fancentric model that illustrates the relationship fans have with the elements of a brand community including the brand, product, marketers, media and other fans. The findings demonstrate the potential for using conceptual frameworks from social group theories, especially "common culture", subcultures and neo-tribalism, in combination with the brand community framework. While some researchers have distinguished brand communities from other social group constructs such as subcultures and neo-tribes (Muniz and O'Guinn, 2001), other researchers have been more inclusive (Schouten & McAlexander, 1995; McAlexander et al., 2002). The findings from this study suggest that fans within a Booster Club not only tend to demonstrate the shared cultural perspectives of the fan-based community, but may also have neo-tribal and subcultural relationships within the community. A n analysis that overlooks these elements will miss some of the internal dynamics of subgroups that operate within the broader communal framework. By incorporating these social group theories in a more Socially Inclusive Brand Community (SIBC) model, a more complete and in-depth understanding of the sport fan community becomes possible. The thesis concludes with a brief discussion of the marketing implications of the findings and of the ethical issues that surround this type of research.


The background for this thesis is found in the patterns of gender inequality in civil society organizations. Existing research provide little comprehensive knowledge of the conditions for women and men in civil society organizations. To help fill this gap in knowledge the purpose of this thesis is to explore the conditions for women and men as volunteers in a male dominated civil society organization with a gender perspective and make any eventual inequalities visible. The thesis explores the conditions women and men face in their volunteering, what gender differences can be found and how the male dominance can be understood. The study is based on data from a self-administrated survey conducted among volunteers in a Swedish male dominated civil society organization. Questions concerned their volunteer work and their experience of the situation as female and male volunteers in the organization. Empirical patterns were identified and gender theories were used as a basis for the interpretation of the results. The findings from this case illustrate that women and men do not face equal conditions in their volunteer work. Most volunteers were happy with their work as volunteers. However, male volunteers typically held positions of more power, influence and higher status than women. Female volunteers were in a token position and in many ways had to prove themselves as well as adapt to conditions formed to suit men, by men, as representatives of the norm. The male dominance could be related to perceptions of the ideal volunteer; a competent man loyal to the organization and without inconvenient responsibilities elsewhere. Another aspect which could be related to the male dominance was patterns of social interactions that favour male volunteers, in this case homosocial relations, which are created in the interaction between the ambiguities of unstructured processes and gendered expectations.


Solar energy is the most abundant form of energy in many terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments. Often in extraterrestrial environments sunlight is the only readily available form of energy. Thus the ability to efficiently harness solar energy is one of the ultimate goals in the design of space power systems. The essential component that converts solar energy into electrical energy in a solar energy based power system is the photovoltaic cell. Traditionally, photovoltaic cells are based on a single crystal silicon absorber. While silicon is a well understood technology and yields high efficiency, there are inherent disadvantages to using single crystal materials. The requirements of weight, large planar surfaces, and high manufacturing costs make large silicon cells prohibitively expensive for use in certain applications. Because of silicon s disadvantages, there is considerable ongoing research into alternative photovoltaic technologies. In particular, thin film photovoltaic technologies exhibit a promising future in space power systems. While they are less mature than silicon, the better radiation hardness, reduced weight, ease of manufacturing, low material cost, and the ability to use virtually any exposed surface as a substrate makes thin film technologies very attractive for space applications. The research group lead by Dr. Hepp has spent several years researching copper indium disulfide as an absorber material for use in thin film photovoltaic cells. While the group has succeeded in developing a single source precursor for CuInS2 as well as a unique method of aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition, the resulting cells have not achieved adequate efficiencies. While efficiencies of 11 % have been demonstrated with CuInS2 based cells, the cells produced by this group have shown efficiencies of approximately 1 %. Thus, current research efforts are turning towards the analysis of the individual layers of these cells, as well as the junctions between them, to determine the cause of the poor yields. As a student of electrical engineering with some material science background, my role in this research is to develop techniques for analyzing the electrical characteristics of the CuInS2 cells. My first task was to design a shadow mask to be used to place molybdenum contacts under a layer of CuInS;! in order to analyze the contact resistance between the materials. In addition, I have also analyzed evaporated aluminum top contacts and have tested various methods of increasing their thicknesses in order to decrease series resistance. More recently I have worked with other members of the research group in reviving a vertical cold-wall reactor for experimentation with CuInS2 quantum dots. As part of that project, I have improved the design for a variable frequency and pulse width square wave generator to be used in driving the precursor injection process. My task throughout the remainder of my tenure is to continue to analyze and develop tools for the analysis of electrical properties of the CuInS2 cells with the ultimate goal of discovering ways to improve the efficiency of our photovoltaic cells. Traditionally, photovoltaic cells are based on a single crystal silicon absorber. While The research group lead by Dr. Hepp has spent several years researching copper indium


Bacteroides spp. conjugative transposon Tn5030 is 150 kb which includes a 43 kb characterized region containing a number of defined genes and an open reading frame (ORF). The 43 kb region is organized with the ORF1 immediately upstream from the ermF gene, coding for an rRNA methylase, then an unknown 20 kb region downstream followed by the tetQ gene (coding for a ribosomal protection protein) then the rteA and rteB genes. The role of ORF1 is unclear; rteA is a putative sensor and rteB a regulator. Thirty-seven (62%) of 60 isolates, representing one Gram-positive anaerobic and 13 Gram-negative anaerobic species, co-transferred the ermF and tetQ genes to an unrelated Enterococcus faecalis recipient. We used the polymerase chain reaction to show the linkage between ORF1, ermF, tetQ, rteA and rteB. Our data suggest that the ORF1 gene product may participate in the transfer of the ermF gene with or without the ORF1‐rteB region and has homology to bacterial transposases. Isolates that co-transferred the ermF and tetQ genes carried and transferred the rteB gene, suggesting that the rteB gene product may be important in transfer of the 43 kb ORF1‐rteB region to E. faecalis. The rteB gene product is not required when ermF is transferred independently of tetQ.


The decision by individuals and households to undertake recycling and to adopt green technology is driven by a large array of factors. Understanding the role of these factors is in turn important for developing appropriate green policies and in enacting sustainable and efficient education and information campaigns. The main aim of this chapter is to outline the factors impacting on pro-environmental behavior of a sample of Australian households. Using data drawn from a survey undertaken across the State of Queensland, the chapter will consider how a factors such as socio-economic background, beliefs around climate change, previous exposure to environmental hazards, and beliefs about individual and government abilities to determine outcomes help explain patterns of pro-environmental behavior in various settings.


The paper summarizes what is currently known about the history of old age in Britain in relation to the economy, in particular to labour supply; and the areas in which this history could most usefully be developed in order to contribute to current and future policy discussions. It describes the aging of the British population over this century, the reasons and major effects: the aging of the workforce, increasing numbers over retirement age, especially since the nineteen fifties, changing patterns of demand for housing, education, health, social security and other social services and likely future changes in view of the historically detectable changes in experiences and expectations between generations. It cautions however that not all over retirement age should be regarded as dependents; their contribution to the economy in terms of part-time work and unpaid services, often within the family, should be assessed; nor when dependent are their social and economic costs necessarily born by the state, but to a considerable extent by family and friends.


Late-19th century World's Fairs constitute an important chapter in the history of educational accountability. International expositions allowed for educational systems and practices to be "audited" by lay and expert audiences. In this article we examine how World's Fair exhibitors sought to make visible educational practices and institutions for external validation. Focusing especially on the American education exhibits mounted at Vienna (1873), Philadelphia (1876), Chicago (1893), and Paris (1900), we use historical documents connected with the preparation of exhibits as well as reports written during and after the Fairs to bring to light the curatorial principles and exhibitionary practices governing education exhibits. This examination helps us to understand educational accountability mechanisms and procedures not simply as technical undertakings, but as social systems with an important set of effects. The scopic systems at play and in contestation for accurately and fairly presenting education systems  for outside scrutiny did much to shape the national/international contexts within which school systems operate as well as in what directions educators and policymakers sought to direct/redirect schooling.


In recent centuries the Swedish Tiled Stove has varied in its design with an aesthetic evolutionary history that has not only followed the architectural and artistic ideals but also the taste in stove design. The heat source has varied depending on the regional traditions and where it was located within the country, but the inside of the construction was of a similar five channel system. The purpose of this paper is to study and compare the design of tile matrices made by Emil Petterson with other Swedish stoves. The following questions will be addressed:What characterized the production of a small scale tile stove workroom during the years 1900-50? Which main styles can be described as Emil Pettersson's ideal while producing his matrices? And finally, is it possible to study the tile stove matrices as objects of historical and cultural significance, and what difficult methodological issues might occur in the doing of it? To answer these questions I will present the results of the documentation of Pettersson's tile matrices with detailed historical categorizations and schedules. The conclusion shows that Pettersson as a stove builder and -producer was characterized by eclectic ideals and a design shape based on more liberal interpretations of contemporary trends. The studying of tile stove matrices showed that, despite its difficulties regarding the inverted shapes, it is a barer of great historical and cultural value and that it plays a key part in the historical context of tile stove ovens.


In a warming world, the risk of overheating is significant in temperate climate areas such as Glasgow, UK where adaptation to overheating is low. An easy-to-use thermal comfort evaluation is therefore a necessary first step towards developing effective coping mechanisms. In this study, we explore the effectiveness of Predicted Mean Vote, Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied and Physiologically Equivalent Temperature, together with air temperature in mimicking actual thermal sensation votes of street users obtained in 2011 in Glasgow City Centre. The Predicted Mean Vote/Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied indices developed for controlled indoors show a surprising similarity to actual thermal sensation votes derived from outdoor surveys, than the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature developed specifically for the outdoors. The method of calculation of mean radiant temperature is the key to improved performance of Physiologically Equivalent Temperature, with fish-eye lens photographs improving its performance. The results also show air temperature alone has nearly equal predictive power of the actual thermal sensation. A preliminary comfort range for Glasgow is also derived and its limitations are explored. Practical application : The strong relation between thermal sensation votes and air temperature (Ta) enables future thermal comfort studies to predict the thermal comfort using easy-to-access Ta only. A current thermal comfort study in Glasgow aiming at developing a link between urban morphology and Ta is already using this strong relation to predict outdoor thermal comfort in the city centre. This helps to establish a correlation between these three factors.


Emerging shrimp disease threats are caused by various etiological agents and are responsible for devastating losses in farmed shrimp around the South Asia and South East Asia. In addition to directly imposing negative economic and ecological effects, these emerging disease outbreaks are also notoriously difficult to prevent and control due to lack of information on the disease itself. The emergence of recent reports in various shrimp diseases are also major concern in shrimp industries and has highlighted some of the difficulties surrounding the diagnosis and control of the diseases. Hence, this paper is intended to provide a review of the literature that focuses on emerging shrimp diseases around South East Asian countries.


This paper adopts a conventional premise that financial information such as contained in audited financial statements and interim financial statements play a significant role in capital markets. However, for utility in capital markets, the paper further suggests that forward looking in addition to historical information seem to be more appropriate, not only in developed countries but also in emerging capital markets of less developed countries like Tanzania. A deliberate emphasis needs to be placed on provision of variance data to enable securities brokers, investment advisors and investors make a "discriminate" analysis between good and bad performance companies. In a world of advance information technology (IT), use of electronic data processing naturally provides a competitive niche in the instantaneous business decision making process in stock markets. African Journal of Finance and Management Vol.7(2) 1999: 154-168


Epidermal inclusion cysts are uncommon in the breast, but the consequences can be severe when these cysts occur in the breast parenchyma. Here, we report two such cases. The patient in case 1 was an 37-year-old woman with a 3-cm palpable mass in the right breast. Mammography revealed a round and smoothly outlined mass, which indicated a benign tumor, and sonography showed an irregularly shaped and heterogeneous hypoechoic mass, fibroadenoma was suspected on the basis of clinical and image findings, but excisional biopsy revealed an epidermal inclusion cyst. The patient in case 2 was a 50-year-old woman with a 2.5-cm lesion in the left breast. Mammography revealed a round, dense, smoothly outlined mass, and sonography showed a well-defined, central hyperechoic mass. . Breast cancer was suspected on the basis of the sonographic findings and the age of the patient, but the resected specimen revealed an epidermal inclusion cyst. Although epidermal inclusion cysts are benign, occasionally they may play a role in the origin of squamous carcinoma of the breast. . Mammographic and sonographic features of an epidermal cyst may mimic a malignant lesion. Malignant change appears to occur more frequently in epidermal inclusion cysts in the mammary gland, compared to common epidermal inclusion cysts, and this may be associated with origination of mammary epidermal inclusion cysts from squamous metaplasia of the mammary duct epithelium. Epidermmoid inclusion cyst of the breast is potentially serious, although such cysts are rare, and differentiation from a malignant or benign breast tumor is required. Excision is probably the most appropriate treatment, and can eliminate the possible risk of malignant transformation.


This research is intended to thoroughly examine physical fitness of SMA students in Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta. The results of this research may be used as input and consideration for the teachers of physical education in evaluating learning outcomes. The results of this research may also be used by education policy makers in developing curriculum which is in accordance to students' needs. For the students, the results of this research can be used as self reflection on their physical fitness as well as consideration to live more actively. This is a survey research using the test technique. The population of this study involved male and female students of SMA Negeri (State Senior High School) in Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta. The samples taken from the population were 170 students consisting 65 male students and 105 female ones. The technique used to take samples was multistage random sampling technique. The variable in this research was cardio-respiratory endurance. A test was use to measure cardio-respiratory endurance. The test was a 2.4-km-running test from Cooper test. Data analysis was done through descriptive analysis using percentage. The results of this research indicates 109 (64.1%) of the SMA students in Kulonprogo was in the low level of physical fitness. The results of this research study imply that SMAs in Kulonprogo should have the physical exercise programme three times a week. The easiest way to do so is to add 2 more schedules of morning exercise for 30 minutes before starting the lessons. Some suggestions in this research report are: 1) Next research studies could involve more variables which are related to the health profile and students' fitness, e.g. fat, muscle strength, blood pressure, and pulse, 2) Other research can be conducted through other instruments, for example Multistage Fitness Test, and 3) In other chances, this kind of research may use broader samples.


Background: The multi-target stool DNA test (mt-sDNA) is an FDA approved, high sensitivity, colorectal cancer screening test. We evaluated mt-sDNA in non-screening-compliant Medicare patients and assessed compliance and diagnostic colonoscopy usage and correlated positive mt-sDNA results with colonoscopy findings. Methods: We performed a retrospective medical records review (October 2014 - September 2015) to identify mt-sDNA use in average-risk Medicare eligible patients treated by USMD Physician Services (Dallas, Tx) who were not previously compliant with colon cancer screening. We offered mt-sDNA to patients who were either >10 years since last colonoscopy and/or >1 yr. since last fecal occult blood test. Follow-up colonoscopy was advised for all patients with a positive result. Colonoscopy and pathology results were reviewed with patient classification based on the most significant pathology finding (index lesion). Size, location and total number of polyps and adenomas were tabulated. Results: Over 12 months, 77 providers ordered 393 mt-sDNA studies with 347 completed (88.3% compliance). Patient mean age was 69.8 (50-85) and patients were 64% female. Mt-sDNA was negative in 85.3% (296/347) and positive in 14.7% (51/347). Follow-up colonoscopy was performed in 46 positive patients (90.2% colonoscopy compliance) with 3 patients refusing colonoscopy and two patients lost to follow up. Index findings included: colon cancer (4/46, 8.7%), advanced adenomas (21/46, 45.6%), non-advanced adenoma (9/46, 19.6%), and negative results (12/46,23.0%). The positive predictive value for advanced colorectal lesions was 54.3% and for any colorectal neoplasia was 73.9%. Conclusions: The availability of mt-sDNA provided significant medical benefit to our previously screening non-compliant Medicare population. Patients with clinically critical advanced colorectal neoplasia were identified in this cohort due to high compliance with both mt-sDNA screening and follow-up diagnostic colonoscopy. Citation Format: Mark Prince, Lynn Lester, Rupal Chinawala, Barry M. Berger. Multi-target sDNA increases colorectal cancer screening among previously non-compliant patients: The USMD physician services experience. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-296.


: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a major cause of foodborne illnesses worldwide resulting from the consumption of raw seafood. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) influence the health of human intestine by enhancing immune system function and acting as antibacterial agents. In this study, 7 LAB (PM12, PM14, PM63, PM212, PM222, BCRC14735, and BCRC17010) were found to adhere to the intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells as well as to inhibit the growth of V. parahaemolyticus . The viability of Caco-2 cells infected with V. parahaemolyticus was tested by the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Our results indicated that PM12, PM14, PM63, PM212, BCRC14735 and BCRC17010 inhibited V. parahaemolyticus BCRC10806 and BCRC12865. While, PM222 could exhibit the maximum comparative adherence ability to Caco-2 cells. The LDH assay results revealed that 5 LAB (PM12, PM14, PM63, PM212, and PM222) significantly decreased the cytotoxicity induced by the V. parahaemolyticus BCRC10806 and BCRC12865 after 2 h of incubation. In the competition assay, the prevention group demonstrated inhibitory effects against two V. parahaemolyticus . Besides, we noted that these 7 LAB inhibited the invasion of V. parahaemolyticus into the Caco-2 cells.


In this study we examined the relation between Talentmanagement and the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in terms of employees" organizational commitment and intentions to quit. It is interesting to understand the relations between Talentmanagement and performance and whether investments within the attitude of employees are profitable for SME. Talentmanagement refers to the experience of employees with a set of ten HRM practices. These ten HRM practices are largely based on the research of Liu et. al. (2007). Moreover these HRM practices are as much as possible elaborate in concrete activities which companies employ to control employees to the organization strategy, and where they can develop their talents optimal. We investigate if the originally Talentmanagement-questionnaire will be a valid instrument to measure the employees experience with Talentmanagement within SME. Till now this originally Talentmanagement-questionnaire was only used for qualitative research within educational organizations. The respons in this study was 110 employees within 20 SMEs in Northern Netherlands. The results show us that investing in Talentmanagement has a strong positive relation with organizational commitment and a strong negative relation with the intentions to quit. Further Talentmanagement shows, as a set of ten HRM practices, that it contributes more to the explanation of organizational commitment and intentions to quit, than any individual HRM practice does. Finally the psychometric features of the Talentmanagement-questionnaire are good.


The Gyroid is a type of triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) that has interconnected, perfectly curved topologies and excellent thermomechanical properties. Due to its topological feature to enhance heat transfer and self-support structure, this study presents numerical investigations of the flow, heat transfer, and pressure loss in various Gyroid architectures in a wedge-shaped channel, representing a trailing edge cooling for gas turbine blades. The Gyroid structures are partly arranged near the outlet of the wedged channel or are fully filled within the wedged channel. The local and overall flow and heat transfer mechanisms with different Gyroid configurations are compared to the baseline pin fins within the Reynolds number range of 10,000–30,000. The results show that for the case with partly infilled Gyroid structures, the overall heat transfer enhancement is higher by 39–102%, and the related pressure loss is higher by 93–154% than the baseline pin fins. For the case with fully infilled Gyroid structures, the total heat transfer is superiorly higher by 157–188%, and the related pressure loss is higher by 248–555% than the baseline pin fins. For all the Gyroid configurations, obviously improved cooling uniformity is achieved on the whole trailing edge wall. The significant heat transfer enhancement in the trailing edge channel with Gyroid structures is mainly due to a much increased wetted area, the generated helical and impingement flow through the curved interconnected channels and improved flow distribution within the wedged channel.


Introduction Treatments for cancer can cause a multitude of debilitating gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. Patients are often told these are untreatable. Systematic investigation and management of GI symptoms improves outcomes after radiotherapy. No studies have investigated symptom management in chemotherapy. This prospective study aimed to identify the frequency and range of troublesome GI symptoms during and after cancer chemotherapy and identify treatable causes. Method GI oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy were eligible. Participants were assessed before chemotherapy and then monthly during and after treatment for one year using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale questionnaire and the Bristol Stool Chart. If new troublesome GI symptoms arose, systematic GI investigations were offered following an algorithm. Results A total of 241 participants enrolled, 85 subsequently withdrew/died. 58% were men. Median age 63 years (range 30–88). 33% of participants had an oesophageal/gastric tumour, 27% colon, 16% rectal, 10% pancreatic, 6% hepatobiliary and 7% other GI sites. At its peak, approximately 20% of participants had moderate or severe change in taste, reduced appetite, early satiety or rectal flatulence, 8% faecal incontinence and 6% steatorrhoea. Overall, 35% reported type 6/7 stool (diarrhoea) and 9% type 1 stool (constipation). Algorithmic investigations identified one new coeliac, 28% had previously unrecognised abnormal thyroid function, 29% abnormal Vitamin B12 levels and 10% exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. 269 breath tests were offered, 224 (83%) were declined. Of the 45 conducted 36% were positive with 84% suggesting small bowel bacterial overgrowth, 9% lactose intolerance, 5% fructose and 2% sucrose malabsorption. There were 279 recommended endoscopic procedures, 249 (89%) were declined. Of the 30 endoscopies conducted, 60% were abnormal with inflammatory changes most commonly being diagnosed. SeHCAT scans (testing for bile acid malabsorption) were offered 146 times and declined 119 times. Of the 27 conducted, 13 (48%) were abnormal. Conclusion GI symptoms are common and troublesome during chemotherapy for cancer. Simple questionnaires can identify patients requiring investigations. The assumption that GI chemotherapy-induced symptoms are untreatable is frequently incorrect. Investigational algorithms designed for use by non-gastroenterologists are effective, but patients often refuse tests. Active management of GI symptoms may improve outcomes. Further research is urgently required. This study was funded by The Philip Gould Fund and the Biomedical Research Centre at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Disclosure of Interest L. Caley: None Declared, V. Pittordou: None Declared, C. Adams: None Declared, A. Lalji: None Declared, K. Mohammed: None Declared, A. Muls: None Declared, L. Wedlake: None Declared, H. J. Andreyev Conflict with: GE, manufacturers of SeHCAT provided free product for this study


In this paper, we present a new tracking control method for holographic digital data storage systems. Holographic data storage systems that use disk media need a different tracking method from those that use optical and hard disk drives. Here, we present the design and implementation of the controller. Due to the intermittent characteristics of the tracking error signal (TES), the tracking controller is designed to regulate the tracking error only while valid TES is generated. Since the valid TES appears intermittently, we use a feedforward controller while the TES is not valid. Furthermore, the feedback control and the feedforward control are mode-switched depending on the RF sum signal level. We also show the stability of the closed-loop system employing the mode-switching controller. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed tracking control algorithm. For a ±100 ¿m repeatable run out at 1 Hz, we were able to reduce the TES to 3.13 ¿m (1¿) with mode-switching control.


Conventional cavitation assessment methodology in industrial and scientific applications generally depends on cavitation models utilizing homogeneous mixture assumption. These models have been extensively assessed, modified and expanded to account for deficiencies of their predecessors. Unfortunately, none of the proposed models can be classified as the universal solution for all engineering applications, with usage mainly directed by experience or general availability of the models. In this study we propose a workflow through which the empirical constants governing the phase change of the Kunz mixture cavitation model can be calibrated for a given application or a series of problems, with machine learning as a tool for parameter estimation. The proposed approach was validated on a three-dimensional propeller test case with results in excellent agreement for the case in question. Results for thrust and torque were within 2% with cavity extents differing by up to 20%. This is a significant improvement when compared to previously proposed parameters. Despite the lack of generalization due to the limited nature of the dataset on which the model was trained, the proposed parameters entail acceptable results for similar cases as well. The overall methodology is applicable to other problems as well and should lead to more accurate cavitation predictions.


The rapid development of its cruise market has made China the shining star all over the world. The average annual growth rate of over 30 % in the Chinese market is achieved by the charter-based sales system. However, in recent years, there has been a repeated occurrence of market crises, which gives rise to low-price competition. The charter sales model has thus been cast into serious doubt. In this study, through the combined methods of literature review and interviews, we carried out an in-depth investigation with a view to revealing the formation mechanism and the characteristics of the sales model, as well as its impact on the market. The study found that the supply-demand imbalance, policy constraints, the lack of related regulatory systems, the imperfect sales system, the sensitive market and weak risk tolerance together with other factors all combined to lead to the frequent occurrence of the market crises. With respect to the cruise sales in China, the research puts forward the corresponding countermeasures and suggestions from the perspectives of cruise companies, travel agencies, administrators and policy-makers.


The development of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced cement-based composites (UHP-FRCCs) was motivated by the need for a new and versatile material with high energy absorption capacity. With its excellent cracking resistance and consequent long life, UHP-FRCC is suitable for use in seismic design applications. The present study proposes a material design concept based on a multi-scale fiber-reinforcement system. In this approach, long, thick macrofibers are blended with short, thin mesofibers and microfibers. Such a combination of macrofibers, mesofibers, and microfibers is expected to enhance the mechanical properties of the composite under tension. However, the ductility of cement-based composites reinforced solely by microfibers is largely unknown. Therefore, in this study, the authors assessed whether microfiber improves the ductility of UHP-FRCC in two series of experiments. Wollastonite, which is a needle-shape mineral, is employed as a microfiber, and two different types of steel fibers are used as mesoand macrofibers. First, the enhanced toughness was evaluated in three-point bending tests on notched mortar beams. Second, the influence of wollastonite microfiber on the mechanical properties of the blended multi-scale fiber-reinforcement system was evaluated in uniaxial tension tests. Blends of macrofibers, mesofibers, and wollastonite microfibers exhibited strong reinforcement characteristics. The results indicate that the ductility of composites reinforced with wollastonite microfibers is highly dependent on the microfiber contents and type of fiber used and that blending of micro-, meso-, and macrofibers produces a highly ductile UHP-FRCC. Thus the material design concept based on the multi-scale fiber-reinforcement system proposed in this paper was shown to be effective in increasing the ductility of UHP-FRCC, even under uniaxial tension.


In this thesis, a longitudinal study was performed in a large cohort of patients with a first symptomatic stroke who had no neurological, psychiatric, and/or cognitive history prior to the stroke. The patient cohort was examined in a very early phase (mean interval eight days post-stroke) with a neuropsychological evaluation covering 7 major cognitive domains. The examination was feasible in 168 of 190 included patients (88%). At hospital admission, demographic data, lesion characteristics, clinical factors at admission, and pre-existent vascular risk factors were also recorded. The follow-up examination was administered after six to ten months, in which we examined cognitive outcome, functional outcome, emotional outcome, and quality of life. A demographically matched healthy control group (N=75) was also examined with the same time interval between baseline and follow-up assessment to obtain a reference sample for the neuropsychological examination.
The first part of this thesis (Chapters 2-5) reports a series of studies on the phenomenology, course, and prognostic implications of cognitive disorders in the early phase of stroke. The most important finding in this section is that cognitive disorders at baseline are powerful predictors of long-term dependence in daily life, long-term cognitive impairment, and a reduced quality of life, beyond that of well-known medical predictors. Particularly disorders in executive functioning and visual perception/ construction predict poor outcome in the long term. We recommend neuropsychological assessment as a standard evaluation on the stroke unit, and plead for a detailed characterisation of the cognitive disorder(s) rather than classifying all impairment under one general header.
The second part of this thesis (Chapters 6-7) studies the prevalence and clinical determinants of depressive symptoms (DS) after stroke. No evidence was obtained for a direct relation between DS and lesion location, neither in the acute phase nor in the long term. Conversely, a close association between long-term DS and (i) acute cognitive impairment and (ii) vascular risk factors could be demonstrated. It is concluded that DS are a psychological reaction to the devastating consequences of stroke. In addition, vascular risk factors may play a role in exacerbating DS in the long term.
In the third part (Chapter 8), we examined whether thrombolytic treatment has a favourable effect on cognitive and functional outcome after six months post-stroke. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for stroke severity, age, education, and sex based on 117 first-ever stroke patients demonstrated that thrombolytic treatment is associated with a favourable basic and instrumental ADL outcome, but not with a beneficial cognitive outcome after six months.
Apart from the clinical merits, the neuropsychological examination in the first weeks allowed for the early identification of two patients with uncommon cognitive disorders (Chapter 9-10). In Chapter 9, the neuropsychological correlates of spontaneous confabulation are studied. This case study suggests that mental flexibility rather than executive functioning in general is related to spontaneous confabulation in amnesic patients. In chapter 10, fMRI was used to examine the neuro-anatomical correlates of visual hallucinations in a hemianopic patient. Bilateral activation was observed in the calcarine fissure and medially in the left and right occipital cortex adjacent to the infarcted areas, in line with fMRI findings from hallucinating patients with Charles Bonnet and Lewy body dementia.
In the final part (Chapter 11), a general discussion is presented comprising an integration of the main findings of this thesis, in addition to a discussion on our methodology and some future recommendations.


The regions over January-November 2019 demonstrated stunted social and economic development. Except renewal in the residential construction sector following the recession the fastest rate of development was posted in the largest Moscow agglomeration. Amid the weak wage growth seen in the vast majority of the regions the low level of unemployment retains. The budgetary situation is favorable, however the revenues growth of the budgets of many regions in large measure is secured by the growth of transfers. The need to implement President's Executive Orders was reflected in the outstripping growth of budgetary expenditure on national economy and provision of public amenities.


This study was designed to identify cellular responses associated with free cholesterol (FC) accumulation in model macrophage foam cells. Mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) or J774 macrophages were loaded with cholesteryl esters using acetylated LDL and FC/phospholipid dispersions and were subsequently exposed to an acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor. This treatment produced a rapid accumulation of cellular FC. The FC that accumulated due to ACAT inhibition was more readily available for efflux to 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (which removes cholesterol from the plasma membrane) than FC in untreated control cells. After a 3-hour exposure to an ACAT inhibitor, a significant increase in phospholipid synthesis was seen, followed by the leakage of LDH after 12 hours of treatment. We also observed, by electron and fluorescence microscopy, morphological indications of both apoptosis and necrosis in cells treated with an ACAT inhibitor. In addition, inhibition of ACAT for 48 hours resulted in the formation of FC crystals in MPMs but not in J774 cells. If compound 3beta-[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]androst-5-en-17-one (U18666A), which modulates intracellular trafficking of cholesterol, was added together with the ACAT inhibitor, each of the metabolic changes elicited by the accumulation of excess FC was either diminished or eliminated. The protective affect of U18666A was not due to a decrease in cellular FC concentrations, because cells treated with an ACAT inhibitor accumulated similar amounts of FC in the presence or absence of U18666A. Thus, treatment with U18666A results in the sequestering of FC in a pool that prevents it from causing various responses to FC deposition in macrophages. The metabolic changes that were produced when these model foam cells were treated with the ACAT inhibitor parallel the pathological events that have been shown to occur in the developing atherosclerotic plaque.


The Smoke Aerosol Measurement Experiment (SAME) has been conducted twice by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and provided real-time aerosol data in a spacecraft micro-gravity environment. Flight experiment results have been recently analyzed with respect to comparable ground-based experiments. The ground tests included an electrical mobility analyzer as a reference instrument for measuring particle size distributions of the smoke produced from overheating five common spacecraft materials. Repeatable sample surface temperatures were obtained with the SAME ground-based hardware, and measurements were taken with the aerosol instruments returned from the International Space Station comprising two commercial smoke detectors, three aerosol instruments, which measure moments of the particle size distribution, and a thermal precipitator for collecting smoke particles for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moment averages from the particle number concentration (zeroth moment), the diameter concentration (first moment), and the mass concentration (third moment) allowed calculation of the count mean diameter and the diameter of average mass of smoke particles. Additional size distribution information, including geometric mean diameter and geometric standard deviations, can be calculated if the particle size distribution is assumed to be lognormal. Both unaged and aged smoke particle size distributions from ground experiments were analyzed to determine the validity of the lognormal assumption. Comparisons are made between flight experiment particle size distribution statistics generated by moment calculations and microscopy particle size distributions (using projected area equivalent diameter) from TEM grids, which have been returned to the Earth. Copyright 2015 American Association for Aerosol Research


Image change analysis will potentiate fundus feature quantitation in natural history and intervention studies for major blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Geometric and radiometric normalization of fundus images acquired at two points in time are required for accurate change detection, but existing methods are unsatisfactory for change analysis. We have developed and explored algorithms for correction of image misalignment (geometric) and inter- and intra-image brightness variation (radiometric) in order to facilitate highly accurate change detection. Thirty-five millimeter color fundus photographs were digitized at 500 to 1000 dpi. Custom-developed registration algorithms correcting for translation only; translation and rotation; translation, rotation, and scale; and polynomial based image-warping algorithms allowed for exploration of registration accuracy required for change detection. Registration accuracy beyond that offered by rigid body transformation is required for accurate change detection. Radiometric correction required shade-correction and normalization of inter-image statistical parameters. Precise geometric and radiometric normalization allows for highly accurate change detection. To our knowledge, these results are the first demonstration of the combination of geometric and radiometric normalization offering sufficient accuracy to allow for accurate fundus image change detection potentiating longitudinal study of retinal disease.


High-dimensional binary classification tasks, e.g. the classification of microarray samples into normal and cancer tissues, usually involve a tuning parameter adjusting the complexity of the applied method to the examined data set. By reporting the performance of the best tuning parameter value only, over-optimistic prediction errors are published. The contribution of this paper is two-fold. Firstly, we develop a new method for tuning bias
correction which can be motivated by decision theoretic considerations. The method is based on the decomposition of the unconditional error rate involving the tuning procedure. Our corrected error estimator can be written as
a weighted mean of the errors obtained using the different tuning parameter values. It can be interpreted as a smooth version of nested cross-validation (NCV) which is the standard approach for avoiding tuning bias. In contrast
to NCV, the weighting scheme of our method guarantees intuitive bounds for the corrected error. Secondly, we suggest to use bias correction methods also to address the bias resulting from the optimal choice of the classification method among several competitors. This method selection bias is particularly relevant to prediction problems in high-dimensional data. In the
absence of standards, it is common practice to try several methods successively, which can lead to an optimistic bias similar to the tuning bias. We demonstrate the performance of our method to address both types of bias based on microarray data sets and compare it to existing methods. This study confirms that our approach yields estimates competitive to NCV at a much lower computational price.


for the cultivation of crops—in other words, a site of productivity or financial return—Bellacasa asks us to engage with soil as a living, interdependent community and with forms of soil ecology that feature alternative human-soil relations and what she calls a "care time." In her attention to practices that have been marginalized by "successful" forms of technoscientific innovation, Bellacasa takes resource from not only ecological but also feminist approaches. Our proposition is that we can add to this postcolonial approaches, which, although not explicitly articulated by Bellacasa, resonate with much of what she offers. We claim that it is only by combining these three approaches that we can, as she puts it, catch "glimpses of alternative, liveable relationalities"—relationalities that can "hopefully [contribute] to other possible worlds in the making."


Background Zero-time Exercise (ZTEx), a simple strength- and stamina-enhancing physical activity (PA) requiring no extra equipment, can potentially increase PA and fitness. This pilot trial examined the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a smartphone ZTEx intervention to promote PA and fitness in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods A parallel-group assessor-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted on Chinese patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) in three cardiology clinics. The experimental group received a 15-min brief individual face-to-face session and a 12-week ZTEx instant messaging with 28 picture e-messages and a smartphone ZTEx application (ZTExApp). The control group received the same duration of individual session and number and format of e-messages, but the content was healthy eating and breathing exercise. The feasibility was assessed based on: attrition rate, usage, response rate and perception of the intervention. The outcome evaluation included primary outcome (PA), fitness, exercise self-efficacy and intention, perceived happiness and health, and quality of life. A linear mixed model was used with intention-to-treat analysis adjusting for sex, age and baseline values. A semi-structured interview was conducted to collect feedback from the experiment group. Results One hundred thirty-nine patients (mean age 59.8 ± 6.6; 71.2% male) were randomized to the experimental group (n = 70) or control group (n = 69), and 80% (56/70) and 82% (57/69) of patients completed the 12-week follow-up assessment, respectively. The attrition rate was 18.7%. The experimental group reported that ZTEx was feasible to integrate PA into their daily life and appreciated the picture e-messages, and 95% of them sent feedback to us, but only 19.6% (13/70) of the participants entered their PA information into the e-diary of the ZTExApp. The experimental group had a significantly greater increase in time spent walking [mean difference (95% CI): 155.3 (10.1, 300.4), P = 0.04, Cohen's d = 0.34] than the control group. Conclusions This pilot study showed using a brief ZTEx face-to-face session with picture e-messages empowered patients with CHD to integrate PA into daily life. Future definitive trials with a longer follow-up and a more user-friendly ZTExApp interface are necessary to determine the effectiveness of the smartphone ZTEx intervention in enhancing PA and related outcomes. Trial Registration The research protocol was registered at the Hong Kong University Clinical Trials Registry (HKUCTR) on 22 Jul 2016 (Study identifier: HKUCTR-2165) and was also retrospectively registered at the National Institutes of Health (identifier number: NCT03464331) on 14 March 2018.


Just when parts of the European integration project seem to be in significant amounts of trouble, Chinese leaders are beginning to open their eyes to the need for more in-depth cooperation with both the Union itself and with individual European countries. After years of relative neglect, when China's main priorities have been the United States, the eastern Asian region, and the main developing economies (roughly in that order), Europe is now coming into fashion for discussion in Beijing, both as opportunity and threat. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that the global financial crisis of 2008 and the recession that followed have shown how dependent the Chinese economy is on European markets. The second reason is that some Chinese analysts have begun believing that Europe, in spite of its internal instability, may serve as a genuine balancer in international affairs during a period of US decline, helping smooth the transition to a more multipolar world. There are both possibilities and challenges in these perceptions, but there is little doubt that for some time at least China's interest in Europe will be at an all-time high.


Recently, a variational principle [1, 2] has been exploited as a means to couple rigorously Computational Continuum-Micromechanics [3, 4] and the Embedded Strong Discontinuity approach [5], in
a seamless fashion. The method enables minimal remeshing at the global-scale upon macroscopic
fracture, while directional diffuse microcracking can evolve at the material-scale. Macrocrack nucleation occurs upon substantial development of directional microcracking. In this regard, macrocrack detection is underpinned by the philosophy of microcracks coalescing onto sharp macrocracks
[6]. Element-wise treatment of macrocrack evolution, opposed to traditional global treatment [7],
is turned possible by means of finding the optimal energetic state including micro and macro components simultaneously, which allows to condensate quasi-statically additional macrocrack dofs.
Such methodology has been successfully tested for multiscale fracture propagation analysis in cementitious composites. Attention is given to the variationally-consistent nature of the numerical
framework, which enforces weakly traction continuity along embedded macrocracks within the Micromechanical continua, and provides a least-energy solution. Such rigorous variational appraisal
has proved to be pivotal for developing these new theories on multiscale fracture mechanics.


This paper investigates the production structure of the New Zealand business sector using the recently released 1996 input output tables. The analysis is undertaken at the most disaggregated level for which data are available, 126 industries. Indices of backward and forward linkages, measures of industry interconnectedness and a value added production multiplier are calculated. The ranking of industries by degree of connectedness depends on whether direct transactions or both direct and indirect transactions are considered. In 1996, wholesale and retail trade, air transport, services to transport and storage, central government administration, meat processing, and dairy product manufacturing had the strongest backward and forward links with other industries.


The high rates of economic activity and environmental degradation in Asia demand the implementation of creative and cost-effective environmental policy instruments that provide polluters with more flexibility to find least-cost solutions to pollution reduction. Despite their many theoretical advantages, the use of market-based instruments (MBIs) is a relatively recent phenomenon in Asia, partly due to policymakers being unfamiliar with MBIs and countries lacking the institutional capacity to implement and enforce them. This paper reviews the Asian experience with MBIs intended to reduce air pollution emissions and synthetizes lessons to be drawn and areas for improvement.


In this paper, we investigate long and short-term impact of changes in oil prices and the exchange rate on prices of seven groups of agricultural products in Russia (buckwheat, grain crops, potatoes, oat, wheat, rye, barley). In this paper, Granger causality approach is applied to test long-run interlinkages with monthly data from January 1999 to October 2015. For testing the response of agricultural prices to sudden shocks in oil prices and exchange rate in the short run, we use impulse-response techniques. The results of impulse response analysis show that agricultural prices are not particularly sensitive to changes in oil prices and the exchange rate of Russian ruble in the short term, except for imported commodities. In the long run, Granger causal relationship between agricultural prices and oil prices is missing, and with exchange rate is observed only in case of imported agricultural goods.


We report on a measurement of the Λ + c to D 0 production ratio in PbPb collisions at √ s NN = 5.02 TeV with the LHCb detector in the forward rapidity region 2 < y < 4 . 5. The Λ + c ( D 0 ) hadrons are reconstructed via the decay channel Λ + c → pK + π − ( D 0 → K − π + ) for 2 < p T < 8 GeV/ c and in the centrality range of about 65–90%. The results show no significant dependence on p T , y or the mean number of participating nucleons. They are also consistent with similar measurements obtained by the LHCb collaboration in pPb and Pbp collisions at √ s NN = 5.02 TeV. The data agree well with predictions from PYTHIA in pp collisions at √ s = 5 TeV but are in tension with predictions of the Statistical Hadronization model. rapidity. The error bars represent the statistical uncertainties, the boxes around the points the uncorrelated systematic uncertainties. Results are compared to the same measurement in p Pb and Pb p collisions at √ s NN = 5.02 TeV by the LHCb experiment [33].


Extensile exposure is one of the crucial skills for managing the challenges presented by revision total knee arthroplasty. Full exposure is necessary to perform the intricate bone and ligament work, and short incisions combined with a timid approach to the quadriceps mechanism will result in inadequate reconstruction of the knee. Repair and reconstruction of the facial, subcutaneous, and cutaneous tissues to achieve closure are separate and equally important skills.


This workshop will showcase innovative work that was led by Helen Sanderson Associates, which culminated in developing 'Living Well: Thinking and Planning for the End of Your Life'. This work brought together Hull City Council Adult Social Care, Humber and Yorkshire Coast Cancer Network, City Healthcare Partnership, Macmillan, Hull Churches Home from Hospital, Dove House Hospice, patients and carers to consider how person centred thinking tools could be used within a patients journey to increase the quality of their experience of palliative and end of life care. One example of its practical implementation is Edna. Edna is an older person who has dementia. By training and supporting staff in using the tools in their conversations with Edna and her family, staff have gained a better insight into who she is as an individual, her preferences, beliefs and care needs. We have mapped Edna's clinical journey and identified where these tools will provide information to inform health and social care professionals to understand what is important to Edna and what best support looks like. This work is an innovative mechanism for working across health, social care and the third sector. The work adds to what is already known, by providing a method for gathering person centred information that can be used in Advance Care Planning to ensure the care provided is the best possible quality for that individual and their carer. Overall, this workshop will provide a clear example of how person-centred care can be achieved in current service provision.


The IEEE 802.16 standard (commonly known as WiMax) has emerged as one of the strongest contenders for broadband wireless access technology. At the same time, with the steady growth of real-time services such as voice over IP and video on demand, supporting delay sensitive streaming data overWiMax is becoming crucial. In this article we use commonly used techniques such as forward error correction (FEC) and automatic repeat request (ARQ) to support streaming services over WiMax without violating what has already been standardized. In particular, we look at the flexible features provided by media access control (MAC) layer of WiMax and exploit them for providing better streaming performance. We use the channel state information to dynamically construct the MAC packet data units. The sizes of these units are thusly determined such that the packet dropping probability is minimized without compromising the goodput. The simulation results presented show the performance enhancements of the proposed ARQ-enabled adaptive algorithm for streaming data.


Sexual selection theory classically posits consistent and directional mate-preferences for male traits that provide benefits to females. However, flexible mate-choice tactics may persist within a species when males display multiple desirable features that confer different benefits to females under variable environmental conditions. Ecological factors such as population density, resource demand, and sex ratio can influence the value that female animals place on certain male characteristics across mating environments. In this study, I used human mate-preference data from `lonely hearts' advertisements in the newspapers of 23 cities in the USA to assess geographic differences in female preferences for male traits (e.g. physical attributes, resource-holding potential, emotional characteristics, personal interests) in relation to these ecological parameters. I found that females placed more emphasis on the resource-accruing ability of prospective mates in densely populated cities and cities having greater resource demands (higher cost of living). In contrast, women from densely populated or resource-demanding cities placed less emphasis on the emotional aspects or personal interests of males. Preferences for physical features were not environmentally linked, but instead were a function of the degree to which females advertised their own physical attractiveness. Collectively, these results suggest that certain mate-choice criteria employed by women are sensitive to variation in local environmental conditions and that variable levels of resource or mate availability may favor different mating tactics across human populations.