Chapter 1: In this chapter the scope of the present investigation is delineated briefly along with the aim of the work.
Chapter 2: The synthesis of ethoxido bridged divanadium(IV/IV) complexes [(VOL1-3)2(μ˗OEt)][Et3NH] (1‒3) of three azo dyes, 2˗(2′˗carboxy˗5′˗X-phenylazo)˗4˗methylphenol (where X = H (H2L1); X = NO2 (H2L2)) and 2˗(2′˗carboxy˗5′˗Br˗phenylazo)˗2˗naphthol (H2L3), differing in the substituents of the phenyl ring, in order to discern their influence, if any, on their redox potentials, biological activities and magnetochemistry, has been discussed. All the synthesized ligands and the vanadium(IV) complexes were successfully characterized by various physico-chemical techniques, viz. elemental analysis, IR, UV˗vis and NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS and cyclic voltammetry. Molecular structures of [(VOL1,3)2(μ˗OEt)][Et3NH] (1 and 3) have been determined by X‒ray crystallography. Antiferromagnetic coupling interaction was observed between the vanadium d1˗d1 centers of the complexes and this phenomenon was also established theoretically. The complexes were further screened for their in vitro cytotoxicity against HeLa and HT˗29 cancer cell lines.
Chapter 3: Three new monooxidovanadium(IV) [VIVOL1–32] (1–3) and two alkoxido bridged vanadium(IV) trimeric [VIV3O3(μ˗OMe)3(μ3˗OMe)L4,52] (4 and 5), complexes have been reported, which were obtained upon reaction of 2˗{(2˗X)˗diazo)}˗4˗methylphenol (where X = benzo[1,3]dioxol˗5˗yl (HL1), phenyl (HL2) and 4˗methoxyphenyl (HL3)), 1˗(2˗(thiazol˗2˗yl)diazenyl)naphthalene˗2˗ol (HL4) and 2˗(2˗(thiazol˗2˗yl)diazenyl)˗4˗methylphenol (HL5)) with VOSO4.5H2O. The synthesized complexes were successfully characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV˗vis spectroscopy, ESI˗MS and their redox properties studied by cyclic voltammetry. Molecular structure of 4 has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The complexes were probed for their in vitro insulin˗mimetic activity against insulin responsive L6 myoblast cells. The complexes (1−5) have also been screened for their cytotoxicity in human breast adenocarcinoma cell line, MCF-7. The insulin˗mimetic activity of complexes 1−5 was also probed on rat L6 myoblast cells. To further confirm whether these compounds act via insulin signaling pathway, the immunoblot analysis for IRS˗1 was also carried out.
Chapter 4: The reaction of 2˗(arylazo)phenols (HL) with [Ru(PPh3)3Cl2] in an ethanolic medium under basic conditions afforded two organometallic Ru(II) complexes, [RuL(PPh3)2(CO)] (1) and [RuL(PPh3)2(CH3CN)] (2). A similar reaction of HL with [Ir(PPh3)3Cl] resulted in the formation of the organometallic Ir(III) complex, [IrL(PPh3)2(H)] (3). The 2˗(arylazo)phenolate ligand is coordinated to the metal center in each complex (1‒3) as a tridentate C, N, O-donor via metal assisted C‒H activation of the ligand. The plausible solvent assisted mechanistic pathway for the unprecedented CO coordination to the Ru(II) center in the case of 1 has been explained. The synthesized complexes have been characterized by various spectroscopic techniques (viz., IR, UV˗vis and NMR spectroscopy), ESI-MS and their electrochemical behavior studied by cyclic voltammetry. Molecular structures of 1‒3 have been determined by X-ray crystallography.
Chapter 5: Seven hexacoordinated cis-dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes, [MoO2L17] (17) derived from various substituted tetradentate diamino bis(phenolato) "salan" ligands, N,Nʹ˗dimethyl˗N,Nʹ˗bis˗(2˗hydroxy˗3˗X˗5˗Y˗6˗Z˗benzyl)˗1,2˗diaminoethane (H2L1, X = Br, Y = Me, Z = H; H2L2, X = Me, Y = Cl, Z = H; H2L3, X = iPr, Y = Cl, Z = Me) and N,Nʹ˗bis˗(2˗hydroxy˗3˗X˗5˗Y˗6˗Z˗benzyl)˗1,2˗diaminopropane (H2L4, X = Y = tBu, Z = H; H2L5, X = Y = Me, Z = H; H2L6, X = iPr, Y = Cl, Z = Me; H2L7 , X = Y = Br, Z = H) containing ON donor atoms, have been isolated and structurally characterized. The formation of cis-dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes was confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, UV˗vis and NMR spectroscopy, ESI˗MS and cyclic voltammetry measurements. X-ray crystallography showed the O2N2 donor set to define an octahedral geometry in each case. [MoO2L17] (1‒7) showed moderate DNA binding propensity with binding constants ranging from 104−105 M-1. The experimental results showed that the complexes 1‒7 effectively interact with CT-DNA by both minor and major groove binding mode, while complex 2 additionally interacts by partial intercalative mode of binding. The dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes (1‒3) showed moderate photo-induced cleavage of pUC19 supercoiled plasmid DNA. All the complexes (1–7) were tested for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against HT-29 and HeLa cancer cell lines. Some of the complexes proved to be as active as the clinical referred drugs, and the greater potency of 6 and 7 may be dependent on the substituents in the salan ligand environment coordinated to the metal.
Chapter 6: The synthesis and characterization (elemental analysis, UV˗vis spectroscopy, ESI-MS and cyclic voltammetry) of Cu(II) complexes ([CuL1,2] (1 and 2) and [CuL3′,4′]2 (3 and 4)) using salan ligands, N,Nʹ-dimethyl-N,Nʹ-bis-(2-hydroxy-3-X-5-Y-6-Z-benzyl)˗1,2-diaminoethane (H2L1, X = iPr, Y = Cl, Z = Me; H2L2, X = OCH3, Y = allyl, Z = H) and N,Nʹ-bis-(2-hydroxy-3-X–5-Y-6-Z-benzyl)-1,2-diaminopropane (H2L3, X = iPr, Y= Cl, Z = Me; H2L4, X = Y = CH3, Z = H), have been discussed. Molecular structures of 1 and 3 have been determined by X‒ray crystallography. An unprecedented ligand transformation occurs in the case of 3 and 4, leading to the formation of phenolato bridged Cu(II) dimeric complexes, [CuL3′,4′]2. The organic transformation in the ligand has been mechanistically elucidated to be Cu(II) catalysed. This unusual chemistry of 3 and 4 has been compared with NiII, FeIII and MoVI complexes (5‒7) with similar ligand environment. The anomaly in ligand structure was however not observed in the case of other transition metal complexes (5‒7). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of the Cu(II) complexes (1‒3) has also been investigated; the activity follows the order 3 > 1 > 2. Due to the deliquescent nature of 4, its SOD activity could not be evaluated.
Chapter 7: In this chapter a brief resume of the work embodied in the thesis and concluding remarks are stated. The scope for future research work has also been discussed.


Intertidal seawalls are increasingly being built in urban estuaries, fragmenting and replacing natural intertidal shores. Many species of animals and plants live on seawalls. Previous work in Sydney Harbour has shown that common species live on seawalls and rocky shores, but vary in their relative abundances according to height on the shore and location. The potential value of seawalls to provide viable intertidal habitat will depend on their ability to support the full diversity of intertidal species, including those that are relatively rare. This study examines the diversity of animals and plants at 2 heights on rocky shore and seawalls, at 4 locations in Sydney Harbour, using presence/absence measures in an intensive sampling schedule in each habitat. The total number and types of taxa found were very variable within and among locations, but clear patterns arose when the data were combined (800 quadrats in each habitat). With few exceptions, algae and sessile animals were similarly distributed across habitats, but approximately 50% of the mobile animals were not found on seawalls. In addition, rocky shores had a greater proportion of rare taxa (only found in 1 or very few quadrats). Of the shared taxa, patterns of occurrence were similar on the 2 structures. Potential reasons for these patterns are discussed and ways to improve seawalls as a habitat for mobile animals are proposed.


OBJECTIVES
This study was designed to evaluate and compare the bioavailability of two osmotically active formulations of 60 mg nifedipine, Gen-Nifedipine extended release Test tablets (Genpharm ULC, Etobicoke, ON, Canada) and Adalat XL Reference tablets (Bayer Healthcare AG, Leverkusen, Germany) after single dose fasted and fed administration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was performed following a 4-period crossover design with both investigational products obtained from marketed batches. The complete pharmacokinetic evaluation was carried out in 26 healthy male subjects with a median age of 29.5 years (range 18 - 44 years), mean weight of 79.7 kg (range 66.0 - 97.5 kg), and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.1 kg/m(2) (range 22.1 - 26.9 kg/m(2)). Tablets were administered with tap water either under fasting conditions or immediately following a high-fat, high-calorie breakfast. Blood samples were taken predose and at pre-defined time points until 48 h post dosing. Samples were protected from light during handling and frozen until analysis. A validated LC-MS/MS method was used for the quantification of nifedipine in plasma samples. All kinetic parameters were determined model-independently for each treatment directly from measured concentrations. Monitoring of subject safety was accomplished by routine monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate and probing for adverse events.

RESULTS
In-vitro dissolution curves show later onset and considerably lower quantity of nifedipine release from Test compared to Reference tablets. Under fasting conditions total and maximum exposure, represented by geometric mean AUC(0-tlast)- and C(max)-values, respectively were 466.7 h*ng/ml (AUC(0-tlast)) and 21.9 ng/ml (C(max)) for Test and 507.8 h*ng/ml (AUC(0-tlast)) and 22.0 ng/ml (C(max)) for Reference tablets. However, the Test product exhibited a notably longer lag-time and less rapid onset of absorption than the Reference tablets. Moreover, the plateau phase is maintained for about 14 hours on Test but for almost 20 hours on Reference. Point estimates (PE) and associated 90% confidence intervals (CI) were determined as 91.8% and 79.9 - 105.5% for AUC(0-tlast), as well as 99.8% and 88.6 - 112.4% for C(max). Larger differences were found for AUC(0-9h) (PE: 54.8%; CI: 45.8 - 65.5%) determined as parameter for early exposure. Under fed conditions, although the mean plasma concentration time curves look similar in shape, concentrations of Test compared to Reference tablets are considerably lower at all time points until 36 hours after dosing. Again the lag time in onset of drug absorption is notably longer for the Test product. Both, total and maximum exposure, represented by geometric mean values for AUC(0-tlast) and C(max), were considerably lower (differences also statistically significant) after administration of Test with 481.8 h*ng/ml for AUC(0-tlast) and 25.3 ng/ml for C(max) in comparison to Reference tablets with 595.9 h*ng/ml for AUC(0-tlast) and 31.9 ng/ml for C(max). Test/Reference point estimates (PE) and associated 90% confidence intervals (CI) were determined as 80.7% and 73.7 - 88.5% for AUC(0-tlast), as well as 79.6% and 70.3 - 90.0% for C(max). Differences were also even more expressed for AUC(0-9h) (PE: 54.9%; CI: 47.4 - 63.5%) determined as parameter for early exposure.

CONCLUSION
The results indicate that although both products are osmotic release systems they are not bioequivalent according to the accepted standards. This difference between both osmotic delivery systems might be substantiated by the fact that the core of the Test product is designed as a monolayer system (containing both, the active ingredient and the osmotic component) while Reference tablets consist of two separate layers. The observed pharmacokinetic differences may have an impact on blood pressure control in patients and thus, should be kept in mind when switching during treatment.


Reinforced concrete (RC) columns often need to be strengthened or rehabilitated to allow them to carry the loads applied to them. In previous studies, RC columns have been strengthened by jacketing, without considering the occurrence of cracking. In this study, the behavior of RC columns strengthened externally by jacketing after cracking is analyzed. The accuracy of the existing models was verified by analyzing the performance of fifteen RC columns with different cross-sections to determine the effect of new variables, such as the column size, amount of steel reinforcement, and whether the column was cracked or not, on the effectiveness of strengthening. The analysis demonstrated that this strengthening technique could effectively improve both the ductility and strength of RC column cross-sections. The results indicate that the model suggested by the ACI-318 code can predict the ultimate load capacity of RC columns without strengthening, or strengthened by RC jacketing before or after cracking, with higher accuracy and material efficiency. The RC columns without strengthening met the safety limit of the ACI-318 model. However, for strengthened columns, a reduction coefficient must be used to enable the columns to meet the safety limit, with values of 94% and 76% for columns strengthened before and after cracking, respectively. Furthermore, strengthening after cracking affects the ultimate load capacity of the column, with 15.7%, 14.1%, and 13.5% lower loads for square, rectangular, and circular columns than those strengthened before cracking, respectively.


Background The timely and safe investigation, intervention and management of pleural effusions remains discrepant with varying practices. Following the National Patient Safety Agency 2008 report highlighting 12 deaths from intercostal chest drain, the BTS recommended using ultrasound guidance when inserting chest drains. However, conventionally diagnostic and therapeutic thoracentesis have routinely been performed with either no image guidance or an "X mark the spot" in the radiology department and then transferred back to the ward for the actual procedure. All of these give rise to concern and possibly impact upon quality of care and patient safety. Methods A retrospective analysis of ~4 years experience of providing a Respiratory team delivered ultrasound pleural service; both "inpatient" and "ambulatory". Results In the 12 months prior to the establishment the pleural service, the radiology department did a total of 96 ultrasounds, of which 46 were "X" marks the spot. Since May 2010, 581 pleural ultrasounds have been performed; with only 5 dry taps and 3 clinically insignificant iatrogenic pneumothoraces. 41% were therapeutic thoracentesis, 26% diagnostic, 18% ultrasound only with no intervention, and 14% pre chest drain insertion or thoracoscopy. "X" marks the spot are now obsolete. Conclusions Pleural ultrasound has gradually but surely become an essential component of the Respiratory specialist's remit. An inpatient pleural service enables prompt assessment and diagnosis, relief of symptoms and onward management as appropriate. With an ambulatory pleural service, patients with either known malignant pleural effusion or first presentation can be managed as elective daycase procedures without attending A&E or being admitted. Once symptoms are relieved patients are able to go home knowing how to access the Service if the fluid recurs without a crisis admission via A&E. Moreover, unnecessary invasive pleural interventions can be avoided and definitive management expedited. Abstract P220 Figure 1. Though requiring appropriate work planning and resources it does result in substantial qualitative and quantitative improvements in patient care. No doubt, not all pleural effusions need be aspirated under ultrasound guidance, however, this is not an exact science and not infrequently, with the aid of pleural ultrasound, an invasive pleural intervention may be avoided altogether.


A new dwarf species of the centipede genus Ityphilus Cook, 1899, named I. donatellae sp. nov. (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Ballophilidae) is hereby proposed on the basis of specimens from the vicinity of Manaus, Central Amazonia (Brazil), previously identified as Ityphilus calinus Chamberlin, 1957 (hereby designated holotype female, paratype male and paratype female). Supplementary morphological data and new illustrations are provided after this type material. The new species, characterized by having the internal edge of the forcipular tarsungulum serrate, is herein included in a key that will enable the identification of the 10 other Neotropical members of the genus Ityphilus sharing the same trait. New distribution records and supplementary descriptive notes for Ityphilus crabilli Pereira, Minelli & Barbieri, 1994, and Ityphilus demoraisi Pereira, Minelli & Barbieri, 1995 (including the first description of the male of the latter), are also given. Undiluted 2-Phenoxyethanol (CAS No. 122-99-6) has been used as an effective clearing agent/mounting medium for the preparation of temporary mounts of all body parts of the examined specimens.


A 3D model is presented that addresses an evolution of flexible dislocation lines at high temperatures. The model is based on the linear theory of elasticity. A smooth dislocation line is approximated by a piecewise curve composed of short straight dislocation segments. Each dislocation segment is acted upon by a Peach-Koehler force due to a local stress field. All segment-segment interactions as well as an externally applied stress are considered. A segment mobility is proportional to the Peach-Koehler force, temperature-dependent factors control climb and glide motion of the segments. The potential of the model is demonstrated in simulations of simple high temperature processes including interactions of dislocations with secondary particles.


Background The COVID-19 crisis has drastically changed care delivery with teleconsultation platforms experiencing substantial spikes in demand, helping patients and care providers avoid infections and maintain health care services. Beyond the current pandemic, teleconsultation is considered a significant opportunity to address persistent health system challenges, including accessibility, continuity, and cost of care, while ensuring quality. Objective This study aims at identifying the determinants of patients' intention to continue using a teleconsultation platform. It extends prior research on information technology use continuance intention and teleconsultation services. Methods Data was collected in November 2018 and May 2019 with Canadian patients who had access to a teleconsultation platform. Measures included patients' intention to continue their use; teleconsultation usefulness; teleconsultation quality; patients' trust toward the digital platform, its provider. and health care professionals; and confirmation of patients' expectations toward teleconsultation. We used structural equation modeling employing the partial least squares component-based technique to test our research model and hypotheses. Results We analyzed a sample of 178 participants who had used teleconsultation services. Our findings revealed that confirmation of expectations had the greatest influence on continuance intention (total effects=0.722; P<.001), followed by usefulness (total effects=0.587; P<.001) and quality (total effects=0.511; P<.001). Usefulness (β=.60; P<.001) and quality (β=.34; P=.01) had direct effects on the dependent variable. The confirmation of expectations had direct effects both on usefulness (β=.56; P<.001) and quality (β=.75; P<.001) in addition to having an indirect effect on usefulness (indirect effects=0.282; P<.001). Last, quality directly influenced usefulness (β=.34; P=.002) and trust (β=.88; P<.001). Trust does not play a role in the context under study. Conclusions Teleconsultation is central to care going forward, and it represents a significant lever for an improved, digital delivery of health care in the future. We believe that our findings will help drive long-term teleconsultation adoption and use, including in the aftermath of the current COVID-19 crisis, so that general care improvement and greater preparedness for exceptional situations can be achieved.


Non Destructive Testing (NDT) is a key element of modern civil engineering. It is especially important in civil and structural engineering helping both in quality control of produced elements and technical assessments of existing structures. Existing NDT methods are being continuously improved and new methods are developed or adopted from different engineering fields. Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) method which is commonly used for geodetic applications has a great potential to be successfully harnessed in civil and structural engineering. TLS can be used for remote sensing of saturation of building materials. A research programme was prepared in order to prove this concept. Specimens representing most popular European building materials were scanned using TLS. Tested specimens were in different saturation states including capillary rising saturation. The saturation assessment was based on differences of values of intensity. The concept proved to be feasible and technically realistic.


This paper is a survey on some recent aspects and developments in stochastic control.
We discuss the two main historical approaches, Bellman's optimality principle and Pontryagin's maximum principle, and their modern
exposition with viscosity solutions and backward stochastic differential equations. Some original proofs are presented in a unifying
context including degenerate singular control problems.
We emphasize key results on characterization of optimal control for diffusion processes, with a view towards applications.
Some examples in finance are detailed with their explicit solutions. We also discuss numerical issues and open questions.


Increasing HIV infections among gay men, other men that have sex with men (MSM) and transgender communities coupled with the low impact of traditional HIV prevention and capacity building approaches in enabling access to health services are a serious problem in India. This paper reports on how an HIV capacity building charity, Solidarity and Action Against the HIV Infection in India (SAATHII), used digital media and the Internet to transform HIV prevention across India. Beginning from Kolkata, India, I describe the design and launch of the SAATHII website and an online resource centre. The project illustrates how through digital media and the Internet, SAATHII was able to widen access, advocacy and information dissemination among multiple audiences to complement traditional community mobilisation HIV prevention approaches. To conclude I reflect on SAATHI's work with digital media and the Internet from a brief overview of postcolonial and queer perspectives on Indian masculinity and sexuality. I provide my reflections as an emerging South Asian digital queer scholar based on my experiences in Kolkata to disrupt dominant approaches to HIV prevention in India so as to better meet the challenges of developing AIDS-resilient communities.


Analytical tools that characterize nonlinear systems are essential and need to be developed for initial rapid optimizations and understanding of the system performance. Modeling of the input signal is a crucial part of this task. In this paper, a multitone representation for an arbitrary double-side banded (symmetric spectrum around carrier frequency) stochastically not well-defined signal and its application to a feedforward circuit, which involve two nonlinear amplifiers, couplers, phase, and delay units are presented. Amplitude and phase aspects of the model are particularly highlighted and verified with RF simulations performed by real power-amplifier models and components.


Silicon nitride based composite has been prepared, using a direct mixture process as alternative route. Silicon carbide whiskers were mixed directly to silicon nitride based powders containing yttrium and neodymium oxide as sintering aids. Uniaxial hot pressing was used to prepare sintered samples. Crystalline phases were identified using x-ray diffractometry. Intergranular phases were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Some mechanical properties (microhardness and fracture toughness) were also evaluated. The obtained high values of fracture toughness were correlated to the activation of toughening mechanisms, such as crack bridging and crack deflection.


The present work reveals the effect of the addition of commercial MoS2 (10 wt%) particles on mechanical and two-body abrasive wear behavior of epoxy with/without glass fiber mat reinforcement. The composites were fabricated using casting and simple hand lay-up techniques followed by compression molding. The mechanical properties such as density, hardness, tensile, and flexural properties were determined as per ASTM standards. The abrasive wear testing was carried out using pin-on-disc wear tester for different loads and abrading distances at constant speed of 1 m/s. A significant reduction in wear loss and specific wear rate was noticed after the incorporation of MoS2 filler allowing less wear of matrix during abrasion which in turn facilitated lower fiber damage. However the incorporation of MoS2 particles had a detrimental effect on most of the mechanical properties of the composites. The worn surface features were investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to investigate the wear mechanisms.


Abstract Mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens Complex, including Culex pipiens, Cx. quinquefasciatus, and Cx. molestus, are important pest species and vectors of human and animal diseases throughout the world's tropical, temperate, and Holarctic regions. Diseases transmitted by member of the Pipiens Complex include: St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus in North America, West Nile virus on several other continents, Rift Valley fever in Africa, lymphatic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti in the tropics, and Dirofilaria immitis globally. Here and in the following 14 papers, 3 abstracts and a summary paper are the proceedings of a symposium that gathered many of the world's experts on the Pipiens Complex to explore the current state of knowledge of the taxa. Information presented at the symposium will improve our knowledge of important members of the complex and enhance our ability to conduct efficient surveillance and efficacious control strategies. A background on previous discussions on the Pipiens Complex, and a brief description of current symposium contributors and their topics are discussed.


Since 13rd century, Italian domestic autochthonous donkey population has been characterised by Mediterranean grey mousy cruciate ancestral phenotype, currently typical of Amiata donkey (AD) genetic type. This phenotype persisted up to the 16th century when a marked introduction of Hispanic and French big sized and dark bay or darkish coloured sires occurred. In the context of a safeguard programme of Latial Equide resources, the aim of this research was to evaluate the genetic diversity and similarity between the AD breed and an autochthonous donkey population native from Lazio, the Viterbese donkey (VD), using molecular markers. A total of 135 animals (50 AD and 85 VD) were genetically characterised by using 16 short tandem repeat markers. A high genetic differentiation between populations (FST=0.158; P<.01) and a low between-breeds genetic similarity (0.233±0.085) were observed. Correspondence analysis, the result of STRUCTURE software analysis and analysis of molecular variance would seem to indicate genetically different entities as well. It would be desirable to increase the number of comparison with other breeds to better understand the origin of VD. Moreover, results obtained in this study suggest that the loss of genetic variation observed in VD could mainly derive from unnoticed sub-population structuring (Wahlund effect), rather than to other factors such as inbreeding, null alleles or selection influence.


Cross-examination is a very powerful weapon in court trials. Its success is measured by the final effect on the problem of proof. It can elicit favourable facts to one's case and also show that the witness is not worthy of credence or that his evidence is unacceptable. However pointless and endless cross-examination may prejudice the court against the case. A single question may make an opening for a flood of evidence. One unnecessary question may destroy a series of valuable answers and the whole case. There are occasions when silence is golden. A number of pertinent examples are cited to illustrate the values and pitfalls of cross-examination.


In the manufacture of iron in the blast furnace one of the most important variables in the composition of the iron produced is the silicon content. Silicon must be kept as low as possible in the manufacture of basic iron in order to reduce the slag bulk in the open hearth furnace. It must also be kept to fairly low limits in making iron for the basic Bessemer process, but in the acid Bessemer process the reverse is true, since here silicon largely determines the heat produced in blowing the iron. Silicon control is also important in the manufacture of foundry iron as it has a major influence on the structure of the cast product. The main reactions controlling the composition of pig iron in the blast furnace take place in the hearth, where drops of molten iron fall through the slag layer into the bath below, and in so doing react with it. A study of the equilibria between slags and metals of the type obtained in the blast furnace is therefore necessary if the factors controlling pig iron composition are to be fully understood. Sufficient thermodynamic data are now available for the compounds taking part in these reactions to enable equilibrium constants for the various reactions to be calculated. These equilibrium constants indicate qualitatively the effect which different variables will have on the equilibria, but a quantitative treatment is only possible if the activities of all the reactants in the slag and metal solutions are known. In the case of some simple systems activities can be estimated or calculated on the basis of thermochemical data, but in the great majority of cases they must be measured experimentally. Usually this is done by bringing the phase being examined into equilibrium with a phase or phases of known thermodynamic properties. The present work is concerned mainly with the measurement of silica activities in lime-silica and lime-alumina-silica slags. In Part I the method adopted was to measure the carbon monoxide pressure in equilibrium with the slag, silicon carbide and carbon. In Part II the calculation of silica activities from data available on laboratory slag-metal equilibrium measurements has been investigated.


We prove results on ergodicity, i.e. on the property that the space is a direct sum of the kernel of an operator and the closure of its range, for closed linear operators A such that the norms of alpha(alpha - A)(-1) are uniformly bounded for all alpha > 0. We consider operators on Banach spaces which have the property that the space is complemented in its second dual space by a projection P. Results on ergodicity are obtained assuming that the product of the norms of I - 2P and I - Q is less than 2 where Q is a projection depending on the operator A. For the space of James we show that the norm of I - 2P is less than 2 where P is the canonical projection of the predual of the space. If (T(t))(t >= 0) is a bounded strongly continuous and eventually norm continuous semigroup on a Banach space, we show that if the generator of the semigroup is ergodic, then, for some positive number delta, the operators T(t) - I, 0 < t < delta, are also ergodic.


The acaricidal activity of Chrozophora oblongifolia (Delile) Spreng. (Euphorbiaceae) extracts collected from Dakhla Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt was examined against larvae and adult females of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). Acaricidal activity-guided isolation of methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, butanol fractions resulted in separation and identification of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (1), 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (2), scopoletin (3), amentoflavone (4), apigenin 7-O-β-D- glucopyranoside (5) and apigenin 7-O-β-D-[2",6"-bis(4-hydroxy-E-cinnamoyl)] glucopyranoside (6). The isolated compounds were identified by MS and NMR spectral analyses. The susceptibility of the larvae and adult females of T. urticae Koch to the tested isolated compounds revealed that apigenin 7-O-β-D-[2",6"- bis(4-hydroxy-E-cinnamoyl)] glucopyranoside (6) and  apigenin 7-O-s-D- glucopyranoside (5) isolated from butanol fraction (most effective fraction) exhibited a high degree of acaricidal activity using leaf-dipping technique against larvae after 7- days of exposure, respectively.

 Key words: Acaricidal activity, phytochemistry, Tetranychus urticae Koch, Chrozophora oblongifolia, Euphorbiaceae.


Recent financial turmoil has made project and infrastructure financing in emerging markets more difficult. One helpful approach in getting deals done is the combination of insurance and project financing techniques to access capital markets. The insurance industry has years of experience addressing project risks that includes writing coverage for completion risk, operating risk, political risk, off-take risk, and residual value. When brought into the front end of the development process, insurers can help structure deals that have a higher probability of closing.


Warrior Transition Units (WTU) were created to successfully transition soldiers who are considered wounded, ill, or injured through comprehensive medical and adaptive reconditioning care, including sport and recreational activities. Entry-level sports engagement in WTU may transition from noncompetitive to competitive which may impact the soldier's physical and emotional well-being status. The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in physical activity affect between two groups of wounded military personnel ( N = 22) with WTU experience. Group 1 (NonCompWTU, n =11) engaged in on and off campus noncompetitive activities (e.g., rock wall climbing, community golf driving range) and Group 2 (CompWTU, n =11) competed in a wheelchair basketball tournament. Physical activity affect was measured using the physical activity affect scale ([PAAS], Lox et al., 2000) pre and post activities. The PAAS is a 12-item tool that measures 4 subscales (Positive Affect [PA], Negative Affect [NA], Tranquility [TR], and Fatigue [FA]). Independent and paired t -tests were used to determine differences across groups and pre-post activities ( p <.05). Cohen's D effect size (ES) was also reported. Results reported no statistical differences in PA, NA, TR, and FA across groups at the beginning of the activities; however, PA was significantly different across groups following the activities. The noncompetitive activities significantly increased PA and TR, while reducing NA from pre to post within Group 1. However, a significant increase between pre and post activities existed for FA within each group. While further study is needed to investigate the impact of the noncompetitive and competitive physical activity participation on affect of wounded military personnel, APA professionals should consider this challenge to improve the well-being of this population. Subscribe to Palaestra


: Mogadon as a parenteral solution was employed for treating status epilepticus (15 cases), intermitent epileptic seizures (10 cases), Lennox syndrome (14 cases), myoclonic seizures (5 cases) and absences (6 cases). The dosage layed between 3,3 mg and 10 mg according to each individual case. Status epilepticus and intermitent seizures disappeared following the injection and so did the irritative EEG alterations. Remission was observed in 10 Lennox cases while the remaining 4 improved. Mogadon abolished myoclonic seizures, in some cases beyond 6 hours. In simple absence improvement was also evident, although more shortlived than in myoclonic seizures. Sleepiness was side-effect, occurring in some cases.


Abstract. In a traditional Geographical Information System (GIS), one usually characterizes spatial entities by their individual placename (or toponym) and a set of defined attributes. These entities and their attributes are structured in table frames with functional relations, plus coordinates of their geometric primitives for location in a quantified space. In such a case, one considers the geographical names of these entities as unique identifiers under the standardized 'generic-specific' binomial, in one-to-one relationships with features of interest on the ground. This technical perspective convenes quite well to administrators of land-based public mandates needing univocal references to particular places for planning as well as daily applications (e.g., municipal, postal, emergency). But, from a linguistic point of view, the exact location and dimensions of places are among other attributes of the toponym itself, since the study of placenames looks mainly to its meaning, etymology, and evolution in particular language(s) through the epochs of naming practices, forming kind of toponymic "strata". So, that is investigatory, documented, critical, often anecdotal, sometimes even searching for identity, but devotes few considerations to the geographical place per se, its landscape nor its limits. On the other hand, the geographical perspective to placenames comes more concerned by a real or identifiable place within its vicinity and the dynamics of situations occurring in that location at multiple scales in the same period, whatever the names covering part or all the area. Thus, looking for a place based information system to structure perceived or unofficial places of specified interest require the design and development of tools and functionalities able to support analysis of such information for particular purposes (personal, commercial, military, transit, indigenous, participatory, tourism, etc.). In such a context, definition of their substantial components requires other technical means than their descriptive attributes and geometric primitives. Over the rational spatial databases as a base map, the user of a platial information system would design place-entities on an autonomous fashion, more subjective and colloquial, while referring to landmarks for identity or distinction with respect to different people, being inhabitant, local worker or just visitor. The place-entity comes to the mind like a shapeless mass with a core and some peripheries, where it shows an oriented front or façade, or a force line as a trend, and more fuzzy and moveable limits on the other sides. For instance, downtown and the central business district may not correspond to each other as platial synonyms. For this purpose, the necessary data structures remain to be developed. To do so, Voronoi tessellation, with its flexible spatial proximity definition and its topological (instead of geometrical) properties, represents an interesting alternative model for further researches. For short, a Voronoi diagram partitions the space into regions such that any location is associated with its nearest Voronoi generators (centroids representing places). This allows an adaptive discretization of the space, and provides a simple and intuitive basis for the definition of adjacency relations between the generation points. Depending on the distribution of generating points, Voronoi cells can approximate place extensions close to human perception of those places with flexibility and still keep the fundamental qualitative relations between places, thanks to topological properties of this model. Irregularity of such Voronoi model also has a significant advantage that allow to better approximate places and their variable distribution in the geographical space. Here in this paper, we also consider scale as an important factor for the representation and analysis of the places approximated with Voronoi cells. Indeed, in higher level, a place may be constituted either by the aggregation of several places in fine scales or by their parts. Hierarchical Voronoi diagram can also be considered to model such relations between places and their vertical relations, for instance where a same particular placename identifies different features or entities that overlap, evolve, or have various limits or meanings. In such a model, moving between different scales or data "levels" is done without being worried about exact aggregation of lower geometries in a high-level place representation. In order to structure Voronoi hierarchies for a set of points representing centroids of places, one must start by constructing Voronoi cells for the finest level and then creating pointers that relate higher level places to the lower ones. Based on its unique properties, Voronoi tessellation, among strong solutions for platial information systems, can provide a firm base for representing the complexity of places, either as entities (or features) and toponyms that identify or refer to them. Paralleling relational GIS data frames, it would allow to adapt to unusual or fuzzy places, to represent their geographical evolution, to preserve their name and spatial extension, and to take good notes of local or ancient variants and even of exonyms applied to such places from abroad. Thus, it presents an opportunity to map the sense, if not the spirit, of place.


Targeted searches of approximately 150 km of cliff lines for two rare sandstone shrubs, Melaleuca triumphalis Craven and Stenostegia congesta A.R.Bean, thought to be restricted to the Victoria River gorge system within Gregory National Park, increased the number of known populations from 3 and 6 to 31 and 37, respectively. Both species occur predominantly in rocky and often fire-protected niches on sandstone cliffs and scree slopes, and are frequently associated with permanent drip-lines and seepage areas. Although their broad habitat requirements are similar, the two species do occur in slightly different niches. The data presented here suggest that M. triumphalis is reasonably fire tolerant, whereas S. congesta appears to be more fire sensitive. Weeds and introduced animals are not thought to pose a threat to these rare species. Models developed using remotely sensed and landscape-scale data (digital elevation models, radiometrics, geology and distance to rivers and streams) suggest that these species may also occur outside Gregory National Park in other areas of the Northern Territory such as on Bullo River and Bradshaw stations and in Keep River National Park. It is suggested that both species be regarded as Vulnerable under the IUCN guidelines.


The purpose of this project is to examine the ways in which classical and modern theories of play may be applied to an analysis of the developmental value of computer software in the early childhood years. Modern and classical theories of play have identified many ways in which play may advance the cognitive, social and emotional development of children. However, in the last two decades there has been concern that play is being replaced by other activities such as computer games, ranging from commercial arcade games to different kinds of educational software. Whilst there has been an ongoing debate about the advantages and disadvantages of children's computer use, increased computer access for children in today's homes and childcare centres has become a reality. In view of this situation it is important that early childhood educators are able to judge the quality of computer games. When assessing the quality of particular items of computer software for young children, researchers refer to its developmental appropriateness. Within this frame of reference, software designers aim to present educational content in a playful way to make it more attractive and accessible to its young audience. However, there is a relative lack of focus on the value of computer use as play per se. If computer games are to become a significant part of children's lives we need to look at their developmental value from the same perspective that is taken when considering the significance of play in child development.


Purpose: Recently a new treatment device capable of gimbal‐based tumor tracking (Vero, BrainLAB AG, Feldkirchen, Germany) was installed at our institution. The purpose of this study is to compare dose‐volume and radiobiological parameters associated with treatment efficacy and normal tissue toxicity for lung SBRT using a conventional linac with and without tumor tracking. Methods: A digital torso phantom having the capability to simulate respiratory and cardiac motion was used for this work. Spherical targets having a diameter of 20mm were centrally located within the right lung. 12 non‐coplanar, non‐opposing conformal beams were designed for linac planning with and without tumor tracking to deliver 60Gy in 3 fractions, prescribed to cover 95% of the target. 4D dose calculations were performed using the Monte Carlo algorithm in iPlan™ using a voxel tracking technique for the moving target and surrounding tissue. Diaphragm motion was varied from 10–30 mm in the superior‐inferior direction to simulate different motion amplitudes while limiting chest wall motion to 10mm in the anterior‐posterior direction. Dose‐volume analysis was performed using parameters previously shown to correlate with normal tissue toxicity for lung SBRT. Results: All indices used to assess normal tissue toxicity were reduced for the tumor tracking model compared with non‐tracking delivery. Mean lung dose, equivalent ipsilateral lung dose delivered in 2Gy fractions, and V13 were reduced by 17%, 21%, and 22% and 27%, 30%, and 36% for small and large diaphragm motion, respectively. The maximum heart dose was reduced by 7% for small diaphragm motion and by 9% for larger diaphragm motion. Conclusion: This work validates the ability of tumor tracking techniques to increase the dose to moving targets while reducing dose to surrounding normal tissues. It is expected that SBRT dose escalation using tumor tracking techniques will improve local control while reducing rates of normal tissue toxicity.


Compton made a detailed study of the Bald Rock batholith, California, and suggested that the tonalites and granodiorites of the rim of the batholith originated through contamination. He believed that trondhjemite magma, represented by rocks in the core of the batholith, assimilated meta-basaltic country rocks. This paper reports a detailed study of 22 rocks from the batholith, including all the main rock types. Values for Qu, Or, Ab, and An calculated from the modes show that the rocks fall along a trend slightly below the cotectic boundary between quartz and feldspars and directed toward this surface. Compositions calculated from the modes indicate that formation of the tonalites by contamination is possible but requires improbably high proportions of metabasalt xenoliths in the rim of the pluton. Habits of zircons separated from the rocks show a distribution pattern which emphasizes contrasts between trondhjemitic core and granodiorite-tonalite rim of the batholith but does not support the idea of formation of the mantle rocks by contamination. Dimensional zircon data indicate that zircons of the core are unimodal, whereas those of the mantle of the batholith are bimodal. Comparisons with the Bald Mountain batholith, Oregon, demonstrate many similarities, as well as some striking contrasts. Compositional trends of tonalite to granodiorite are different for the two plutons. Zircons are the same throughout the Bald Mountain batholith. The writers conclude that both plutons were emplaced by forceful injection. At Bald Mountain, Oregon, a uniform magma was injected, but at Bald Rock, California, a migma-magma was emplaced. The trondhjemitie core of the Bald Rock batholith was mainly liquid at emplacement, but the tonalite-granodiorite rim consisted of mobile, viscous solid phases with interstitial melt. The liquid line of descent at Bald Mountain, Oregon, was from tonalite to granodiorite and at Bald Rock, California, only from trondhjemite to leucotrondhjemite.


SUMMARY: Minimum numbers of viable organisms of the yeast species occurring in the digestive tract of 57 pigs were determined in samples from six sites in each animal (stomach, three sites in the small intestine, caecum, rectum). In 27 animals (47·4%) Candidaslooffii was found in one or more sites in numbers ranging from less than 300 to 9,000,000 viable organisms/g. wet sample. The trend was an increase in numbers towards the anus, with highest counts in the rectum and next highest counts in the caecum. The food eaten influenced the numbers of C. slooffii; food rich in starch apparently increased, while food rich in cellulose and proteins decreased, these numbers. The pig appears to constitute a suitable host for the obligate intestinal saprophyte C. slooffii. Other yeast species found at one or more sites in numbers above 100/g. wet sample (in brackets the number of positive animals) were: Candida krusei (8); Saccharomyces cerevisiae (6); Pichia membranaefaciens (6); C. albicans (3); S. tellustris (C. bovina) (2); S. chevalieri (2); S. oleaceus (2); S. carlsbergensis (2); C. parapsilosis (2); C. tropicalis (2); S. italicus var. melibiosi (1); S. steineri (1); C. utilis (1); Torulopsis glabrata (1); not identified (1). Analysis of the counts of the three most frequent species showed an increase in the anal direction. It is concluded that C. krusei, P. membranaefaciens and S. cerevisiae are facultative intestinal saprophytes of swine.


This paper considers estimation and inference for varying-coefficient models with nonstationary regressors. We propose a nonparametric estimation method using penalized splines, which achieves the same optimal convergence rate as kernel-based methods, but enjoys computation advantages. Utilizing the mixed model representation of penalized splines, we develop a likelihood ratio test statistic for checking the stability of the regression coefficients. We derive both the exact and the asymptotic null distributions of this test statistic. We also demonstrate its optimality by examining its local power performance. These theoretical findings are well supported by simulation studies.


Accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF) is a recently described memory impairment associated with epilepsy. Patients with ALF appear to learn and initially retain new information normally, but forget it at an accelerated rate over subsequent days. ALF can have a profound impact on the lives of the people who suffer from it, but it is also of theoretical interest. In particular, the study of this disorder may provide insight into the mechanisms of memory consolidation. ALF is especially prevalent in transient epileptic amnesia (TEA), an epileptic syndrome in which the seizure focus is thought to be the medial temporal lobes (MTL). The MTL house the hippocampus and a number of other structures critical for declarative memory function. The aims of this doctoral thesis were to investigate which aspects of memory function are disrupted in patients with TEA-associated ALF, and to shed light on the neural basis of the memory impairment. Slow wave sleep (i.e. deep sleep) is known to exacerbate epileptic activity. It is also thought to play a key role in the consolidation of declarative memory. The most commonly posited explanation of ALF is the disruption of sleep- dependent memory consolidation. However, it remains possible that ALF is caused by a subtle problem with encoding that usually goes undetected until delayed memory tests. The results of this thesis demonstrate that sleep can actually benefit memory retention in TEA ALF patients just as much as it does in healthy people, and that it is not necessary for the retention interval to contain sleep in order for ALF to be seen. However, the relationship between slow wave sleep and memory was found to be abnormal in these patients. The amount of slow wave sleep, and the power in the slow oscillation frequency range, during the post-learning night correlated negatively with the benefit of that night of sleep for memory retention. Furthermore, resting-state brain activity patterns thought to reflect post-encoding memory reprocessing were found to correlate negatively with subsequent memory performance in these patients. Another chapter of this thesis provides evidence that TEA ALF patients encode memories abnormally; these patients showed reduced activity in the left hippocampus while viewing stimuli that they went on to forget. Furthermore, this encoding-related brain activity correlated with their long-term forgetting. The final experimental chapter reports a correlation in these patients between grey matter in the left hippocampus and long-term forgetting, which cannot entirely account for the encoding-related brain activity results. The hippocampus and its surrounding structures are thought to be critical to our ability to discriminate between similar stimuli and events. An intriguing hypothesis consistent with the pattern of results in this thesis is that ALF is caused by a functional impairment of the MTL that results in a diminished capacity to distinguish between similar experiences, ultimately causing memory problems; abnormally formed memories may interact with new material and memory consolidation processes in an aberrant manner, leading to retrieval deficits.


The selection of lead-free tin based surface finishes resulting from government regulation of lead has reintroduced, into the spotlight, the reliability concern due to the possible formation of electrically conductive tin whiskers. This paper reviews risk mitigation studies including use of tin alloys, conformal coating, electroplating techniques, surface treatment, annealing, and use of under-layer material. This paper also discusses approaches to manage the risk due to tin whiskers.


: Radiation parameters associated with the open pit mining of a small (10,000 tonnes), but high grade (2%) uranium deposit at Nabarlek, N.T., have been investigated in detail. External radiation levels, radon emanation rates and radon daughter levels were measured systematically during the development of the mine, and are correlated with ore grade, properties of the host rock and atmospheric conditions. Significant radon daughter concentrations were observed only under stable atmospheric conditions, usually during the might and were invariably associated with thermal inversions. The mean cumulative exposure to radon daughters was estimated from the measured levels to be 0.065 Working Level Months for employees working in the pit for the entire four and a half months of mining. The mean cumulative external gamma ray exposure for the same employee group was measured using thermoluminescent dosimeters to be 2.3 mSv (230 mrem). For most other employees, however, exposures were much lower. Data on long lived radionuclides in dust and on particle size distribution are also presented.


Cyber Physical Energy Systems (CPES) development requires the combination of distributed intelligence to fulfill the future complex tasks and reach the increase the energy demands. Electrical Industrial Systems (EIS) are in continuous evolving integrating new technologies allowing to a better performance and increase the efficiency. This paper applies the consensus protocol for Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) to control the speed of multiple induction motors. In this paper, the behaviour of the system under different disturbances and scenarios has been simulated, thus, confirming the suitability and simplicity of this method for coordinating the control actions.


Abstract Katharina Pistor's argument in The Code of Capital about the constitutive role of legal practice for the creation and distribution of wealth requires contextualization; her claims about the stand-alone role of law in determining the political economy of global capitalism are exaggerated. My first intervention concerns the concept of capital. Capital evidently is not just a legal code, but also constitutes a financial accounting entity that emerges from processes of investment, which are embedded in (economic, social, political) structures that are facilitative of unequal distributions of rewards and risks. Legal coding should be considered as part of such 'capitalization' and as becoming more critical in the contemporary economy, in which capitalization increasingly happens through financial engineering and through capturing rents from 'intangible capital'. Secondly, we can only understand the distributional implications of legal coding if we recognize a) the importance of rent-seeking in secularly stagnating economies and b) the particular class configurations in what Milanovic, B. (2019). Capitalism, alone. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press calls 'liberal meritocratic capitalism'. The consolidation of a capital-rich and hard-working upper class in such a capitalist formation (the extreme case being United States) not just indicates a close alliance or overlap between holders of wealth and the professions (fund managers, legal advisers etc.) that serve them. It also indicates that social class structures – the paths of socialization they reproduce; their in-built social sorting mechanisms; their close association with ideologies of legitimate privilege – play a key role in reproducing economic distributional outcomes.


The report reviews the toxicity data on inherent natural toxicants in lupin seeds, especially quinolizidin alkaloids. Lupin seeds are increasingly used in the Nordic countries, partially substituting wheat flour in certain foods. An estimation of the risk by consuming foods containing lupin seeds in the Nordic countries and recommendations to better ensure the safe use of these seeds in foods are given.


Weak supervision, e.g., in the form of partial labels or image tags, is currently attracting significant attention in CNN segmentation as it can mitigate the lack of full and laborious pixel/voxel annotations, a common problem in medical imaging. Embedding high-order (global) inequality constraints on the network output, for instance, on the size of the target region, can leverage unlabeled data, guiding training with domain-specific knowledge. Inequality constraints are very flexible because they do not assume exact prior knowledge. However, constrained Lagrangian optimization has been largely avoided in deep networks, mainly for computational tractability reasons. To the best of our knowledge, the method of Pathak et al. [17] is the only prior work that addresses constrained deep CNNs in weakly supervised segmentation. It uses the constraints to synthesize fully-labeled training masks (proposals) from weak labels, mimicking full supervision and facilitating dual optimization. We propose to introduce a differentiable term, which enforces inequality constraints directly in the loss function, avoiding expensive Lagrangian dual iterates and proposal generation. From constrained-optimization perspective, our simple approach is not optimal as there is no guarantee that the constraints are satisfied. However, surprisingly, it yields substantially better results than the proposal-based constrained CNNs in [17], while reducing the computational demand for training. In the context of cardiac image segmentation, we reached a segmentation performance close to full supervision while using a fraction of the ground-truth labels (0.1% of the pixels of the ground-truth masks) and image-level tags. Our framework can be easily extended to other inequality constraints, e.g., shape moments [5] or region statistics [8]. Therefore, it has the potential to close the gap between weakly and fully supervised learning in semantic medical image segmentation. Our code is publicly available.


In closed-loop multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) systems, using a transmit power allocation scheme can increase capacity. However, the use of a space division multiplexing (SDM) scheme, which does not separate the MIMO channel into orthogonal channels, causes nonlinearity between the transmit power and the corresponding signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) of each data stream at the output of the detector (e.g. utilizing a MMSE detector with parallel interference canceller at the receiver). This makes it difficult to obtain the optimal power allocation value for each data stream. This paper proposes a novel power allocation scheme with an iterative algorithm for MIMO systems to solve the above problem. Furthermore, we incorporate transmit antenna selection into our proposed power allocation scheme in order to attain further capacity enhancement. Several computer simulation results are provided to show the effectiveness of our proposed techniques.


Microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are short, noncoding RNAs that act as post-transcription regulators and are able to modulate the expression of hundreds of target genes. In the past few years, they gained a very important role in oncology. Indeed, many of them can be now considered tumour suppressor genes or oncogenes. In cancer, they appeared to have a dysregulated expression due to genetic aberrations, altered methylation or irregular processing that finally lead to an altered modulation of their target genes.

Each cancer type displayed specific alterations of specific miRNAs, and their exceptional stability confer to miRNAs a strong potential as cancer therapeutics. Finally, miRNAs are stable and detectable as circulating molecules in blood of cancer patients. For this reason they are going to become useful biomarkers in cancer diagnostics.

Key Concepts:

In the last few years, miRNAs have produced a micro-revolution in cancer research because of their action as oncogenes or tumour suppressor genes.

miRNA expression profiling may be used for cancer classification and for the identification of cancer subtypes.

A promising role of miRNA in prognosis stratification has been proposed.

Several studies indicated miRNAs as predictors of drug response.

miRNA polymorphisms may modify innate genetic susceptibility to cancer: SNPs in miRNAs and their gene targets may alter cancer susceptibility.

miRNAs as cancer biomarkers detected in plasma or serum of patients seem to be very promising in terms of efficacy and specificity.

miRNA may represent important therapeutic targets and can be effectively targeted in vivo.

Keywords:

microRNA;
cancer;
oncogene;
tumour suppressor gene;
therapy;
prognosis;
biomarker


Seismic hazard modeling is a multidisciplinary science that aims to forecast earthquake occurrence and its resultant ground shaking. Such models consist of a probabilistic framework that quantifies uncertainty across a complex system; typically, this includes at least two model components developed from Earth science: seismic source and ground motion models. Although there is no scientific prescription for the forecast length, the most common probabilistic seismic hazard analyses consider forecasting windows of 30 to 50 years, which are typically an engineering demand for building code purposes. These types of analyses are the topic of this review paper. Although the core methods and assumptions of seismic hazard modeling have largely remained unchanged for more than 50 years, we review the most recent initiatives, which face the difficult task of meeting both the increasingly sophisticated demands of society and keeping pace with advances in scientific understanding. A need for more accurate and spatially precise hazard forecasting must be balanced with increased quantification of uncertainty and new challenges such as moving from time‐independent hazard to forecasts that are time dependent and specific to the time period of interest. Meeting these challenges requires the development of science‐driven models, which integrate all information available, the adoption of proper mathematical frameworks to quantify the different types of uncertainties in the hazard model, and the development of a proper testing phase of the model to quantify its consistency and skill. We review the state of the art of the National Seismic Hazard Modeling and how the most innovative approaches try to address future challenges.


OBJECTIVES
Radiologically small-sized adenocarcinomas are special entities of lung cancer, as their radiological and pathological invasiveness determines the surgical procedures applied; however, the clinicopathological features of small-sized lung adenocarcinoma adjoining cystic airspaces (Ca-ADJ) have yet to be fully clarified. The aim of this study was to elucidate the clinicopathological characteristics, including the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, in patients with Ca-ADJ ≤3.0 cm.

METHODS
A total of 283 patients with resected adenocarcinoma, whose radiological tumour size was ≤3.0 cm without lymph node or distant metastases on preoperative high-resolution computed tomography, were analysed for their clinicopathological and radiological features. Furthermore, the PD-L1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using an anti-human PD-L1 rabbit monoclonal antibody (clone SP142).

RESULTS
Among the 283 patients, 31 (11.0%) patients were reported to have Ca-ADJ. The Fisher's exact test demonstrated that Ca-ADJ was significantly associated with male gender (P < 0.001), a history of smoking (P < 0.001), a high consolidation/tumour ratio (P = 0.026), advanced pathological stage (P < 0.001), the presence of pleural (P < 0.001) and vessel invasion (P < 0.001), histological invasive subtypes (P < 0.001) and wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor (P = 0.001). The patients with Ca-ADJ had a significantly higher maximum standardized uptake value than those without Ca-ADJ (8.4 vs 4.1, P < 0.001). Furthermore, Ca-ADJ was significantly associated with the PD-L1 expression (P < 0.001). Log-rank test showed that patients with Ca-ADJ had a significantly shorter disease-free survival than those without Ca-ADJ (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that patients with radiologically small-sized Ca-ADJ might exhibit radiologically and pathologically invasive features.


The ground-state lattice constants, bulk modulus and six independent elastic constants of β-Si3N4 have been calculated through the framework of density functional theory within the plane-wave pseudopotential method. The quasi-harmonic Debye model, by means of total energy versus volume calculations obtained with the plane-wave pseudo-potential method, is applied to the study of the thermal, elastic and vibrational effects. In the temperature interval 0--1800K, the calculated results agree reasonably with numerous experimental and theoretical data. Other thermal outcomes gained from this method provide overall predictions accurately for the temperature and pressure dependence of different quantities such as the thermal expansion, heat capacity and Debye temperature. The variations of Debye temperature ӨD with temperature are analysed, which show the temperature has hardly any effect on ӨD. Therefore, the present study indicates that first-principles combined with quasi-harmonic Debye model is an effective way to stimulate the behaviors of solids at simultaneously high temperature and pressure.


ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of a Socratic feedback programme to improve awareness of deficits in patients with acquired brain injury (ABI). Setting: Rehabilitation centre. Participants: Four patients with ABI with awareness problems. Design: A series of single-case experimental design studies with random intervention starting points (A–B + maintenance design). Main measures: Rate of trainer-feedback and self-control behaviour on everyday tasks, patient competency rating scale (PCRS), self-regulating skills interview (SRSI), hospital anxiety and depression scale. Results: All patients needed less trainer feedback, the change was significant in 3 out of 4. One patient increased in overt self-corrective behaviour. SRSI performance increased in all patients (medium to strong effect size), and PCRS performance increased in two patients (medium and strong effect size). Mood and anxiety levels were elevated in one patient at the beginning of the training and decreased to normal levels at the end of the training. The feasibility of the programme was scored 9 out of 10. Conclusions: The Socratic feedback method is a promising intervention for improving awareness of deficits in patients with ABI. Controlled studies with larger populations are needed to draw more solid conclusions about the effect of this method.


Ion cyclotron radio frequency (ICRF) heating can produce fast ion populations with energies reaching up to several megaelectronvolts. Here, we present unique measurements of fast ion distributions from an experiment with 3rd harmonic ICRF heating on deuterium beams using neutron emission spectroscopy (NES). From the experiment, very high DD neutron rates were observed, using only modest external heating powers. This was attributed to acceleration of deuterium beam ions to energies up to about 2–3 MeV, where the DD reactivity is on a par with that of the DT reaction. The high neutron rates allowed for observations of changes in the fast deuterium energy distribution on a time scale of 50 ms. Clear correlations were seen between fast deuterium ions in different energy ranges and magnetohydrodynamic activities, such as monster sawteeth and toroidal Alfven eigen modes (TAE). Specifically, NES data showed that the number of deuterons in the region between 1 and 1.5 MeV were decaying significantly during strong TAE activity, while ions with lower energies around 500 keV were not affected. This was attributed to resonances with the TAE modes.


Introduction Theoretical Framework Declining enrollment in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources fueled discussions about changing the name of the college as a means of reversing the trend. In spring 2005, a comprehensive study was launched to assess the perceptions of key college populations. This study relates to one of those four populationsresident, college-bound high school seniors. A survey developed by Kansas State University was a starting point for the development of a mailed survey to evaluate the college's image, the influence of the college's name, the level of awareness of programofferings and career opportunities, and to identify actionable changes. A sample (4,500) stratified by county classification yielded 479 responses (10.6%). High school seniors were generally unaware about the college and the opportunities it offered to students, andwere unsure if theywould recommend the college to prospective students. Rural students were more likely to consider attending a community college and then transferring than were micropolitan or metropolitan students. Changes in university and college marketing strategies were recommended, and it was concluded that insufficient evidence existed to warrant changing thenameof the college at this time. Replication of the study in three to five years was recommended. By 2004, it had become increasingly clear that the trend of declining enrollments in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) at the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) needed to be reversed. After a number of faculty discussions on the matter occurred and a seminar on the changing demographics of the state was presented to CASNR faculty, a subcommittee of CASNR Faculty Advisory Council representatives was formed to follow-up on these issues, with special emphasis given to the impact of the college's name and image in recruitment of students. Soon thereafter, fundsweremade available to survey students and college stakeholders. Arrangements were made to have staff from the Food Processing Center at UNL with market assessment expertise lead the development of survey instruments and conduct the surveys. The faculty subcommittee was charged with overseeing the survey process and presenting the results and recommendations toCASNR faculty. In the resulting study, this team surveyed sample populations within four basic categories: collegebound Nebraska high school students, current UNL students, current UNL faculty, and CASNR stakeholders. This paper presents results from the survey of college-bound Nebraska high school students. While all the populations provided useful feedback, the survey of college-bound Nebraska high school students was of greatest interest since it provided the most direct information on impacts for recruiting students intoCASNR. In the fiercely competitive market of higher education, the importance of institutional image and identity cannot beunderestimated (Treadwell, 2003). As institutions of higher education attempt to attract students into their academic folds, having 'names that sell' can give some colleges and universities an edge over others (Finder, 2005). Nowhere in academia is the importance of institutional image as vital as it is in colleges of agriculture (Diament, 2005). As the number of agriculture students has systematically dwindled nationwide, colleges of agriculture have been engaged in a veritable fight for survival (Diament, 2005). In a survey by Fields, Hoiberg, and Othman (2003) targeting Academic Associate Deans in Colleges of Agriculture, almost half (47%) stated their college name revealed the make-up of their undergraduate programs. While it is critical to understand the impression agriculture may have on internal audiences, it is more important to recognize how outside viewers interpret undergraduate programs that originate from colleges of agriculture. This interpretation, whether real or imagined, of a college name and the programs it offers becomes a paramount consideration for undergraduate recruit-


The tanaid, Apseudopsis latreilli (Milne- Edwards, 1828) is a common crustacean species on the soft bottoms of the Mediterranean ecosystems and occurs in both clean and polluted environments. This study was aimed to determine the sensitive state of tanaid, A. latreilli to the environmental variables observed on the soft bottoms of the Dardanelles. A. latreillei abundance at the sites was analysed in comparision with the organic matter content in sediment and the environmental variables in the study area. A total of 1406 specimens of A. latreillii was recorded during the study. The highest dominance value (Di=30.37%) was for Kepez Harbour where the amount of organic matter was 25.50±12.09% in the sediment. The highest value of dominance according to the sampling seasons was 56.75% for Autumn 2008 (organic matter=21.7±7.99%). The highest sand rate (99.59%) in the sediment was found at the Eceabat sampling point. The highest positive correlation (r=0.349, P<0.05) was observed between gravel content (%) measured at the sites and total abundance (ind.0.09 m).


We use a general equilibrium model of the world economy, and a regional economic growth model, to assess the economic implications of vulnerability from extreme meteorological events, induced by the climate change. In particular, we first consider the impact of climate change on ENSO and NAO oceanic oscillations and, subsequently, the implied variation on regional expected damages. We found that expected damages from extreme events are increasing in the United States, Europe and Russia, and Russia, and decreasing in energy exporting countries. Two economic implications are taken into account: (1) short-term impacts, due to changes in the demand structure, generated by higher/lower precautionary saving, and (2) variations in regional economic growth paths. We found that indirect short-term effects (variations in savings due to higher or lower likelihood of natural disasters) can have an impact on regional economics, whose order of magnitude is comparable to the one of direct damages. On the other hand, we highlight that higher vulnerability from extreme events translates into higher volatility in the economic growth path, and vice versa.


Hundreds of coral paleoclimate records have been developed over the past several decades, significantly extending the instrumental record and improving our understanding of tropical climate variability and change in otherwise data‐poor regions. Coral "proxy" records measure the change in skeletal geochemistry or growth as a function of ocean conditions at the time of calcification. Over the past decade (since 2010), new syntheses have identified coherent patterns of warming and variability that are unique within the paleo record (albeit not yet unprecedented). In turn, ocean warming and acidification have had a detrimental impact on coral growth, with reduced extension and increased stress banding. Methodological advances have constrained uncertainties and improved our understanding of the processes by which climate information is archived in coral skeletons. Models that describe these processes have been developed to facilitate proxy‐model comparisons, identify sources of uncertainties, and provide a benchmark upon which forced changes may be detected within a highly variable climate system. Finally, several innovative new proxies have expanded the climate and environmental information that may be obtained from corals, including: seawater pH, aragonite saturation, anthropogenic nitrogen, runoff, and trade winds. Further extending established and novel proxies should remain a priority, along with seawater monitoring and density measurements with which to screen and calibrate these records. As this critical climate archive is increasingly threatened by warming and ocean acidification, the community must work closely together to collect this invaluable climate data in an ecologically and culturally sensitive manner, before it is too late.


In Sweden, tutoring in the mother tongue is a form of special educational support to enable pupils with non-Swedish language
 backgrounds to follow Swedish medium instruction and succeed at school. For pupils who risk failing to meet minimal curricular
 requirements, it is an educational right. This study investigates tutor-mediated interaction with Somali newly arrived pupils and
 subject teachers in oral examinations at the ninth year and asks how translanguaging may be relevant to speech performances in
 this multilingual setting. Both tutors and pupils translanguage advantageously to accomplish pedagogical objectives.
 Translanguaging proves subject to the personal aspirations of speakers, the organization of interaction as well as wider
 pedagogical goals. Following Bakhtin, discrepancy between tutor translingual interpretation and the other participants' interpreted
 utterances is accounted for as the responsive engagement of a second consciousness that supplements other voices creatively.
 Central aspects of translanguaging are challenged through a dialogic lens. The implications of treating translanguaging in mother
 tongue tutoring as dialogic action include positioning translanguaging in an interactionist framework, the
 importance of a discourse of constraint as well as affordance, a dynamic epistemology and the need for teachers and tutors to be
 aware of the inherent meaning-making processes in translingual interpretation for pupil assessment.


Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are ecological generalists that use a variety of land- scape and habitat types. Although space and habitat use are well understood for rac- coons throughout the southeastern United States, relationships between space use and landscape characteristics are not. We examined relationships between space use and landscape characteristics for 95 radio-marked raccoons monitored during 1996-1997 on two adjacent forested landscapes that differed in forest management strategies. We noted relationships between space use and patch richness, proportion and size of ripari- an habitats on the landscape, and size of patches providing soft mast resources. Rac- coons within an intensively-managed forest maintained spaces with reduced patch rich- ness and less of the landscape in riparian habitats, likely attributable to forest management strategies that optimize wood fiber production. However, raccoons within this system consistently maintained spaces with larger patch sizes of riparian habitats and habitats containing soft mast (early successional plant communities). Our findings suggest that raccoons living on landscapes with intensive forest management select larger patch sizes of quality habitats relative to raccoons living on forested landscapes with less intensive management regimes. Because raccoons in intensively-managed forests may maintain smaller spaces than raccoons in other forested systems and appear to be influenced by landscape patterns, managers should recognize influences of forest management practices on raccoon behavior.


This paper introduces the basic concepts of hydro-hegemony which are employed in the analysis of the contributors of this special issue. It emphasises the roles of hegemony, power and political–economy processes in shaping international transboundary water relations. Central to the analysis is Lukes' concept of the three dimensions of power and Gramscian notions of hegemony (see S. Lukes, Power: A Radical View , 2005). Hegemony depends on the skilful use of hard and soft forms of power, between formally equal parties such as nation states. Hydro-hegemony is hegemony active in international transboundary water settings, the analytical framework for which is laid out in detail by Zeitoun and Warner in Water Policy vol 8 (2006, 435–460). The challenges of conceptualising the complex nexus of international water relations are also addressed. A recurring theme is that both power and political economy processes are especially effective when they operate invisibly. The approach furthermore sets the frame for exploration of improvement of the options of hegemon riparians and non-hegemon riparians alike for more principled transboundary water governance.


Despite the well-established tumor suppressive role of TGFβ proteins, depletion of key TGFβ signaling components in the mouse ovary does not induce a growth advantage. To define the role of TGFβ signaling in ovarian tumorigenesis, we created a mouse model expressing a constitutively active TGFβ receptor 1 (TGFBR1) in ovarian somatic cells using conditional gain-of-function approach. Remarkably, these mice developed ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors with complete penetrance, leading to reproductive failure and mortality. The tumors expressed multiple granulosa cell markers and caused elevated serum inhibin and estradiol levels, reminiscent of granulosa cell tumors. Consistent with the tumorigenic effect, overactivation of TGFBR1 altered tumor microenvironment by promoting angiogenesis and enhanced ovarian cell proliferation, accompanied by impaired cell differentiation and dysregulated expression of critical genes in ovarian function. By further exploiting complementary genetic models, we substantiated our finding that constitutively active TGFBR1 is a potent oncogenic switch in mouse granulosa cells. In summary, overactivation of TGFBR1 drives gonadal tumor development. The TGFBR1 constitutively active mouse model phenocopies a number of morphological, hormonal, and molecular features of human granulosa cell tumors and are potentially valuable for preclinical testing of targeted therapies to treat granulosa cell tumors, a class of poorly defined ovarian malignancies.


A single unit of a good is to be sold by auction to one of two buyers. The good has either a high value or a low value, with known prior probabilities. The designer of the auction knows the prior over values but is uncertain about the correct model of the buyers' beliefs. The designer evaluates a given auction design by the lowest expected revenue that would be generated across all models of buyers' information that are consistent with the common prior and across all Bayesian equilibria. An optimal auction for such a seller is constructed, as is a worst-case model of buyers' information. The theory generates upper bounds on the seller's optimal payo for general manyplayer and common-value models.


Context. Tracing the evolution of debris discs is essential for our understanding of the architecture of planetary system. Even though
the evolution of their inner discs has been recently studied with the Spitzer Space Telescope at mid- to far-infrared wavelengths, the
outer discs are best characterised by sensitive millimetre observations.
Aims. The goal of our study is to understand the evolution timescale of circumstellar debris discs, and the physical mechanisms
responsible for such evolution around solar-type stars. In addition, we make a detailed characterisation of the detected debris discs.
Methods. Two deep surveys of circumstellar discs around solar-type stars at different ages were carried out at 350 μm with the CSO
and at 1.2 mm with the IRAM 30-m telescope. The dust disc masses were computed from the millimetre emission, where the discs
are optically thin. Theoretically, the mass of the disc is expected to decrease with time. To test this hypothesis, we performed the
generalised Kendall's tau correlation and three different two-sample tests. A characterisation of the detected debris discs has been
obtained by computing the collision and Poynting-Robertson timescales and by modelling the spectral energy distribution.
Results. The Kendall's tau correlation yields a probability of 76% that the mass of debris discs and their age are correlated. Similarly,
the three two-sample tests give a probability between 70 and 83% that younger and older debris systems belong to different parent
populations in terms of dust mass. We detected submillimetre/millimetre emission from six debris discs, enabling a detailed SED
modelling.
Conclusions. Our results on the correlation and evolution of dust mass as a function of age are conditioned by the sensitivity limit of
our survey. Deeper millimetre observations are needed to confirm the evolution of debris material around solar-like stars. In the case
of the detected discs, the comparison between collision and Poynting-Robertson timescales supports the hypothesis that these discs
are dominated by collisions. All detected debris disc systems show the inner part evacuated from small micron-sized grains.


The relativistic magnetron has been studied as a high power microwave source since the 1970's. Its most salient properties are its simplicity and its frequency agility. Recently, researchers at the University of New Mexico proposed that a transparent cathode can significantly improve the output characteristics of magnetrons. Since then, a comprehensive study using particle-in-cell simulations has elaborated the many benefits of using this cathode. This talk will enumerate the various benefits of operating a relativistic magnetron using a transparent cathode. In addition, the initial results of experiments at the University of New Mexico on an A6 magnetron driven by a short-pulse Sinus-6 accelerator will be presented. Planned experiments on an A6 magnetron using a longer pulse (50 ns) accelerator at UNM will also be described. Details will also be provided regarding the redesign of the longer pulse accelerator.


Quality Tools and Methods for The 21st Century. Perspectives of the International Academy for Quality. A collection of writings about quality as a management discipline, business management, and product management. Edited by Tito Conti, Yoshio Kondo, and Gregory H. Watson. Also includes valuable quality ideas and concepts from Hans Dieter Seghezzi, Barrie G. Dale, Norman Burgress, Jens J. Dahlgaard, Su Mi Park Dahlgaard, Herbert Schnauber, Joachim Zulch, Asbjorn Aune, Sijo Shiba, David Walden, Yoji Akao, Thong Ngee Goh, and Shoichi Shimizu.The topics in this book are divided into three parts. The first part describes quality as a management discipline that must be practiced with the same degree of attention to detail as is required for finance systems, information systems, and people systems. The focus of the second part is on topics where integration of quality and business management practices will create a more stable overall management system. The third part of this book describes contributions of quality methods to the innovative design of products and services. It is in this area that organizations can continue their development by using new management practices, methods and concepts as enablers of change to help them achieve their desire for long-term competitive strength. As quality transitions into the mainstream of management, the emphasis of quality professionals must focus on the areas of innovation and design to ensure the future quality of business. This challenge of innovation will define the next focus areas for management in the coming decades.


Fatigue cracking of flexible pavement is one of the most important elements that should be considered due to the damage occurs in asphalt layer under the effect of wheel load repetitions. This research demonstrated theoretical study on top-down fatigue crackingusing the finite element method. A three- dimensional finite elastic structural element is used to modal pavement using (ABAQUS ver. 6.12.1) program. The results obtained from this studydemonstrated that maximum value of tensile strain developed at the surface of asphalt layer for flexible pavement due to the horizontal traction generated from wheel load application at contact area. Also, the horizontal tensile strain ( ) at surface of asphalt layer is increasing rapidly with load repetitions with values greater than that generated at bottom by (94%) at failure. This prescribed the basic or inherent features of top crack initiation and down propagates within asphalt layer in flexible pavement. The top horizontal tensile strains obtained from the finite element model is higher than the empirical relations by (20%); since the finite element analysis of flexible pavement considered the surface horizontal tensile strains due to contact traction force at tire pavement interface. Finally, according to the results of this study the horizontal tensile strains at the top of asphalt surface significantly increase the damage intensity of fatigue failure for flexible pavement.


Background and Objective: Machine learning has been widely accepted and applied in different fields to analyze data, but it is still novel in the field of neonatal diseases, especially neonatal apnea prediction. Apnea is a breathing problem associated with pathological changes in heart rate and oxygen saturation and is a common occurrence in neonates especially those who are born preterm. This study is focused on prediction of apnea episodes during the first week of child's birth using machine learning algorithms. Materials and Methods: The data consists of 229 examples of neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Kasturba hospital, Manipal, Karnataka, India. This data is preprocessed and used to develop classification model using machine learning techniques such as decision tree (C5.0),
Support Vector Machine (SVM) and ensemble approach, which includes random forest for prediction of apnea episodes. Results: The study compares models (decision tree, SVM and ensemble approach such as random forest) for accuracy. Among the results obtained, an accuracy of 0.88 and kappa of 0.72 using random forest algorithm for mtry three is found to be the most accurate model.
Conclusion: The research work provides an automated machine learning based solution that helps clinicians predict apnea in neonates during the first week of their life. Inclusion of contextual information and preprocessing technique along with heterogeneous ensemble
approach may further improve the models performance.


Skeletal muscle glucose uptake can be regulated in response to different stimuli, with insulin and contraction being central. While the processes underlying insulin-induced glucose uptake have been extensively characterized, the processes underlying contraction-induced glucose uptake remain elusive. In this issue of Diabetes , Sylow et al. (1) provide another piece to this puzzle. They report that Rac1 is essential for contraction-induced GLUT4 translocation.

Contraction induces glucose uptake in skeletal muscle both independently (2) and synergistically (3) with insulin. Several different mechanisms have been proposed, which appear to be activated in parallel following muscle contraction (Fig. 1). Key pathways include activation of the AMP-sensitive protein kinase (AMPK) through changes in the AMP:ATP ratio in response to increasing energy demands (4). Increased Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I (CaMKI) influx during muscle depolarization results in activation of calcium signaling cascades via CaMKI (5) and protein kinase C (PKC) (6). Downstream candidates include the Rab-GTPase-activating protein TBC1D1 (7), and evidence supports a role of increased free radical content in contraction-mediated glucose uptake …


This paper describes a framework for analyzing the micro-level impacts of macroeconomic adjustment policies on health, nutrition and education. The development of the framework has drawn heavily on the existing body of economic theory and the insights obtained from the previous empirical work. Utilizing this framework enables the study to examine the existing data to determine their usefulness in assessing micro-level impacts and to establish the additional work that needs to be done to obtain the necessary information for impact assessment.


**As heard on Book of the Week, Radio 4**. 'This book is about change.' We are all storytellers - we make stories to make sense of our lives. But it is not enough to tell tales. There must be someone to listen. In his work as a practising psychoanalyst, Stephen Grosz has spent the last twenty-five years uncovering the hidden feelings behind our most baffling behaviour. The Examined Life distils over 50,000 hours of conversation into pure psychological insight, without the jargon. This extraordinary book is about one ordinary process: talking, listening and understanding. Its aphoristic and elegant stories teach us a new kind of attentiveness. They also unveil a delicate self-portrait of the analyst at work, and show how lessons learned in the consulting room can reveal as much to him as to the patient. These are stories about our everyday lives: they are about the people we love and the lies that we tell; the changes we bear, and the grief. Ultimately, they show us not only how we lose ourselves but how we might find ourselves too. Praise for The Examined Life: '...it will leave you wiser about humanity than you were when you picked it up.' - Andrew Solomon, author of Far From the Tree. 'A fascinating collection of quiet stories about very real human predicaments: the listening cure at its best.' - Patrick McGrath, author of Asylum. 'I couldn't put this down - I read about other people, but learned about myself...No preaching, no cliches--just wisdom.' - Victoria Hislop, author of The Thread'. 'There is a rare integrity in the writing: no showing off, just honest attention to each trusted relationship.' - Ruth Padel, author of 52 Ways of Looking at a Poem. 'This gripping book offers psychological solutions to some extremely complex human puzzles and is full of wisdom and insight.'- Sophie Hannah, author of Little Face.


Non-equilibrium models of community structure focus on the role of disturbance, recovery, and succession. We examined the disturbance effect of Isostichopus badionotus (Selenka, 1867) deposit feeding on the physical habitat and benthic bacterial communities. Phys- ical sedi ment characteristics were compared between ingesta and egesta, and bacterial commu- nity structure was compared among ingesta, egesta, fore-, mid-, and hind-gut samples using epifluorescence microscopy and DGGE analysis of 16S rDNA. When compared with ambient sedi - ments, fresh egesta were significantly higher in organic content and algal pigments, suggesting that these animals fed selectively. In contrast, total and metabolically active bacterial densities were significantly reduced by 33 and 60%, respectively, as sediment passed through the gut, pro- ducing disturbance patches of reduced abundance. We also compared different modes of bacterial recovery by experimentally isolating egesta from underlying sediment or overlying waters. Numerical recovery occurred between 1 and 6 h, depending on which mode of recovery (migra- tion, recruitment, or regrowth) was precluded. In contrast to previous studies performed in inter- tidal settings, all forms of recolonization were significant, in the following order of importance: migration ! recruitment > regrowth. Species richness did not change significantly through time under any recolonization regime nor was species turnover evident; thus, bacterial communities in this subtidal habitat appear to be founder-controlled. Yet the mode of recovery did influence com- munity structure, as reflected by a significant treatment effect. The pool of potential recruits can be restricted by the mode of recolonization; thus, patchiness in community structure and high species diversity can result even in a competitive lottery situation.


The effects of temperature (50-200 °C) and contact time (5-30 min) on the pressurized hot water extraction of deodorized thyme were explored for antioxidant activity, polyphenol profiles, and total antioxidants. Six not previously reported polyphenolic compounds were identified in thyme. An inverse correlation was found between the antioxidant activity and total antioxidants with the amount and diversity of polyphenols. The highest total extract yield and antioxidant activity were obtained at 200 °C, although maximum polyphenol extraction yields of hydroxycinnamic acids, flavones, flavonols/flavanones, and total polyphenols were detected at 100 °C and 5 min. Higher temperatures and longer exposure times reduced extract polyphenol diversity. Dihydroxyphenyllactic acid was the only phenolic compound for which extraction yield increased with temperature, probably as a product of the thermal degradation of rosmarinic acid. Consequently, for extracting phenolics from thyme, 100 °C and 5 min would be appropriate operating conditions, whereas antioxidant-active nonphenolic compounds were favored at higher temperatures and exposure times.