The development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presumably occurs in multiple steps and is influenced by numerous factors. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is strongly associated with the development of HCC in people chronically infected with the virus, but the mechanism of viral involvement remains unclear. One possibility is that the gross chromosomal alterations frequently observed in HCC DNA at the site of HBV integration may alter the expression of important nearby cellular genes. We previously reported the cloning and characterization of a HBV insert from a Chinese HCC. The viral insert mapped to chromosome 17p11.2-12, and cellular sequences were duplicated at the site of viral integration. In the present study a DNA probe derived from cellular DNA sequences adjacent to the previously characterized HBV insert was used to analyze a set of 19 matched normal liver and HBV-positive hepatoma samples obtained from the same region of China, near Shanghai. Tumor-specific DNA changes were detected in two additional HCCs, suggesting that the small region of chromosome 17p defined by the flanking cell DNA probe is commonly altered in hepatomas. Restriction fragment length polymorphism studies demonstrated that the loss of one copy of portions of chromosome 17 occurred in 10 (53%) of the 19 patients. The loss of one allele of the p53 gene (located on chromosome 17p13) occurred in at least 6 (60%) of the 10 patients who were heterozygous at the p53 locus. As the p53 gene is known to possess tumor suppressor activity, the functional loss of this gene may be a significant step in the development of a subset of HCCs. High levels of allele loss also were detected for chromosomes 8q (4 of 9; 44%) and 16p (5 of 6; 83%) and may indicate the presence of additional cellular genes whose functional loss is important in the development of HCCs.


This paper is concerned with an emerging class of mass community participatory application that provides both pervasive support for multimedia sensor data capture and the ability for users to share and query data on a massive scale. We consider mass scale 'sensing' initiatives, whose participation is driven in part by national media campaigns and in part by a burgeoning social conscience about our individual and collective environmental impact on the planet. This application class shares similarities with other socially motivated projects [1][2][3] but the requirement for mass scale pervasive participation exposes new implications for the design of supporting protocols and architectures. This paper identifies the workload parameters that are key to the development of this application class. Second it defines, clarifies and scopes the parameters with reference to related research. Finally, the paper focuses on a specific community type to explore the relationship between community behavior and application workload.


One-dimensional (1D) hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanorods have been successfully prepared using a chemical precipitation method. The sample was characterized by using a variety of techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The results showed that the nanorods obtained were monocrystalline, with an average diameter of about 60nm and a length of up to 800nm. In the preparation of α-Fe2O3, the length of α-Fe2O3 seemed to increase with the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG), and the diameter seemed to decrease with the addition of Zn2+. Nanorods of α-Fe2O3 with a smaller diameter and superior slenderness ratio were prepared by adding both PEG and Zn2+. A possible growth mechanism effect of PEG and Zn2+ upon the morphology of α-Fe2O3 was as follows: α-FeOOH grew in a one-dimensioned orientation upon the surface of a polyethylene glycol template. In the meantime, the Fe3+ position in the α-FeOOH crystal was substituted by Zn2+; resulting in point defects in α-FeOOH crystal due to the radius discrepancy between Zn2+ and Fe3+. The growth-step energy was then reduced as a result of the point defects in the α-FeOOH crystal. The results of magnetic measurements of the hematite nanorods revealed a weak ferromagnetic property which might be related to the shape anisotropy.


We propose a novel approach to deriving partial atomic charges from population analysis. The new model, called Charge Model 5 (CM5), yields class IV partial atomic charges by mapping from those obtained by Hirshfeld population analysis of density functional electronic charge distributions. The CM5 model utilizes a single set of parameters derived by fitting to reference values of the gas-phase dipole moments of 614 molecular structures. An additional test set (not included in the CM5 parametrization) contained 107 singly charged ions with nonzero dipole moments, calculated from the accurate electronic charge density, with respect to the center of nuclear charges. The CM5 model is applicable to any charged or uncharged molecule composed of any element of the periodic table in the gas phase or in solution. The CM5 model predicts dipole moments for the tested molecules that are more accurate on average than those from the original Hirshfeld method or from many other popular schemes including atomic polar tensor and Löwdin, Mulliken, and natural population analyses. In addition, the CM5 charge model is essentially independent of a basis set. It can be used with larger basis sets, and thereby this model significantly improves on our previous charge models CMx (x = 1-4 or 4M) and other methods that are prone to basis set sensitivity. CM5 partial atomic charges are less conformationally dependent than those derived from electrostatic potentials. The CM5 model does not suffer from ill conditioning for buried atoms in larger molecules, as electrostatic fitting schemes sometimes do. The CM5 model can be used with any level of electronic structure theory (Hartree-Fock, post-Hartree-Fock, and other wave function correlated methods or density functional theory) as long as an accurate electronic charge distribution and a Hirshfeld analysis can be computed for that level of theory.


The accelerating impact of climate change on giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitats have become an international research topic. Recently, many studies have also focused on medium-sized mountain ranges or entire giant panda habitats to predict how habitats will change as the climate warms, but few say in detail what to do or where to focus efforts. To fill this gap, this paper presents a new method to take comprehensive, fine-scale evaluations incorporating climate change, human disturbance, and current conservation networks and translate them into practical countermeasures in order to help decision-makers set priority regions for conservation. This study looked at the core area of the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Natural Heritage site, namely Ya'an Prefecture, as a case study. The research employs the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling algorithm to analyze how climate change will affect the habitats by 2050 under two scenarios: only considering the influence of climate change, and thinking about the coupled influence of climate change and human disturbance together. The results showed the following: (1) only considering climate change, the overall habitat that can be used by giant pandas in this region will increase, which differs from most of the previous results showing a decrease; (2) the new suitable habitat will shift westward, northward and eastward in this region; (3) conversely, the suitable habitat will be significantly reduced (about 58.56%) and fragmentized when taking into account human disturbance factors; (4) at present, the three small nature reserves are far from each other and cannot cover the present habitat well nor protect the potentially suitable habitats. Based on the comprehensive analysis of habitat shifts and our two field investigations, we suggest two regions that can be expanded into the conservation network to contain more potentially suitable habitats in the future. Furthermore, we used a geographical information system to incorporate high-resolution remote-sensing images from the GF-1 satellite, land-cover maps, and a digital elevation model (DEM) to verify the possibility of our two suggested regions.


can Marriage and Family Relations (American Social Science Series). Pp. xiii, 497. Price, $4.50. New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1928. The most important section of this book is Part II (A Statistical Study of American Marriage), written by Professor Ogburn. It is by far the most ambitious and significant analysis of American marriage which has ever been undertaken. (Chapter IX was previously published in Social Forces, September, 1927, under the title &dquo;Eleven Questions Concerning Ameri-


The "permanently temporary" Palestinian refugee community, present in Lebanon since 1948 with no solution in sight, has the highest rate of abject poverty within all five areas of operation of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians in the Near East (UNRWA), and it still occupies the same limited geographic space it did 72 years ago. This harsh reality stems from the refugees' statelessness but is also worsened by the local conditions imposed by the Lebanese legislation and (non)settlement policy aimed at preventing refugees from becoming permanent. Within this situation, we look at practices of agency enacted by camp dwellers to provide lacking life necessities and improve living conditions in the camps. This paper will identify and analyze coping mechanisms and homemaking practices undertaken by Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, operating within the framework set by Brun and Fábos (2015), which conceptualized home and homemaking for people in protracted displacement through identifying a refugee's "home, Home and HOME." Building on Donna Haraway's concept of situated knowledge, this paper uses data collected from participant observations, interviews, ethnographic and autoethnographic recordings analyzed through the lens of my own positioned rationality as a Palestinian refugee from Lebanon. Further, the paper will explore how Palestinian refugees establish camp spaces as a "home-Home-HOME," despite their uncertain futures, through vertical expansion of buildings, stories and family bonding, in addition to trading and micro-markets. The paper will also deduce how refugees' informal coping mechanisms offer a way of strengthening community bonds, making home in those, otherwise, uncomfortable "waiting zones," and finally, envisioning new ideas for restructuring the camp beyond the rule of formal institutions.


Proteoglycan aggregates (A1) were prepared from the anulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus and cartilage-endplate tissues of postnatal (0-6-month-old)-and young-adult (20-30-year-old)-human intervertebral discs. The A1 fractions from young-adult disc contained a greater proportion of non-aggregating proteoglycans than did postnatal tissues. After dissociative CsCl-density-gradient fractionation of the A1, more than 90% of the uronic acid was found in the postnatal A1D1, whereas only 60-80% of the hexuronate was present in the A1D1 isolated from young-adult disc tissues. These results indicated that more lower-buoyant-density proteoglycans occur in the young-adult disc. Link-protein-rich fractions (A1D3) were subjected to SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and immunolocation analyses using monoclonal antibodies specific for epitopes on link protein or proteoglycan. Under non-reducing conditions, the major link protein present in postnatal disc tissues was link protein 1. By contrast, all three link proteins (1, 2 and 3) were detected in young-adult tissues, with the smaller link protein 3 predominating. Analyses of the A1D3 fractions under reducing conditions also indicated the presence of link-protein-degradation peptides (Mr approx. 26,000) from young-adult disc tissues, but not from postnatal tissues. Sequential Sepharose CL-6B and Sephacryl S-300 chromatography in 4 M-guanidinium chloride was employed to separate the link proteins of the A1D3 fraction from protein-rich proteoglycan. Immunolocation analyses indicated that postnatal samples contained no detectable contaminating proteoglycan fragments. However, young-adult link-protein preparations could not be separated from hyaluronic acid-binding region and other proteoglycan fragments by means of these chromatographic procedures. The studies indicate that, compared with hyaline articular cartilage, degraded link protein and proteoglycan accumulate at an early age in young-adult disc tissues. These partially degraded proteoglycan aggregate components may significantly alter the biomechanical properties of disc tissues.


Ochratoxins are a group of nephrotoxins produced by a variety of moulds and
were first described in 1965 [1]. Dietary exposure to ochratoxins represents a
serious health issue and has been associated with several human and animal
diseases including porcine nephropathy, Human Endemic Nephropathies and
urinary tract tumours in humans.
More than 20 years ago, ochratoxin A (OTA) - the most prominent member of
this toxin family - was shown to be carcinogenic in rodents and since then
extensive research has been performed in order to investigate whether OTA
acts by a DNA reactive mode of action. Only recently, this theory has been
conclusively disproven and a non-genotoxic mechanism is currently widely
accepted for renal toxicity and carcinogenicity of OTA.
The work presented in this thesis contributed to this field of science in various
ways. First of all, new renal in vitro models were established and existing
models were improved for the investigation of renal ochratoxin toxicity. Using
these models, the in vitro effects of various OTA exposure scenarios were
investigated and endpoints included amongst others general cytotoxicity, cell
cycle analysis, protein binding and toxin transport. In all of these studies,
distinct species- and sex-differences were observed which mirrored the
observed effects in vivo described in literature. Furthermore, the differential
toxicity of ochratoxin group members was investigated, the results of which
inferred a need for specific detection of OTA and OTB. Due to the lack of such a
detection tool, a new, highly specific and sensitive OTB-ELISA was successfully
developed based on an OTB-specific monoclonal antibody produced and
characterised in our laboratory. This tool allows screening of OTB in food and
feed products, which will further improve detection and risk assessment.
All of these studies contributed to the elucidation of the underlying mechanisms
of ochratoxin toxicity. Therefore, this thesis can be seen as a fundamental part
of a paradigm change on our understanding of how ochratoxins exert their
harmful long-term effects in humans and animals, thus elucidating the
ochratoxin enigma.


ABSTRACT Age-related DNA methylation is a potential mechanism contributing to breast cancer development. Studies of primarily Caucasian women have identified many CpG sites of age-related methylation in non-diseased breast tissue possibly driving cancer development over time. There is a paucity of studies involving Asian women whose ages at breast cancer onset are usually younger than Caucasians. We identified the 181 most consistent age-related methylation events in non-diseased breast tissue across published studies. Age-related methylation events were measured in adjacent normal and breast tumour tissue in an exclusively Asian population at the previously identified age-related methylation sites. Age-related methylation was found in 118 probes in adjacent normal breast tissue. Methylation of 99% of these sites was increased with age and predominantly located on CpG islands in promoter regions. To ascertain biological relevance to breast cancer, we focused on the 37 sites with overall higher methylation in tumour compared to adjacent normal samples. Some sites positively related to age, including AQP5 and CORO6, inversely correlated with gene expression. Several others have known involvement in suppression of carcinogenesis including GPC5 and SST, suggesting that perturbation of epigenetic regulation at these sites due to ageing may contribute to the progression of carcinogenesis. This study highlights an age-related methylation landscape in non-tumour tissue, consistent not just across studies, but also across different populations. We present candidate age-related methylation sites warranting further investigation as potential epigenetic drivers of breast cancer. They may serve as potential targets of site-specific demethylation intervention strategies for the prevention of age-related breast cancer.


In ClC chloride (Cl–) channels, unlike cation-selective ion channels, ion permeation is intimately coupled to fast gating. Recent research comparing the crystallographic structure of a bacterial ClC channel with functional studies of a Torpedo ClC channel suggests that gating depends on the negatively charged carboxyl group on a glutamate residue, which blocks the channel pore. In this model, the permeating Cl– competes with the carboxyl group for an anion-binding site in the channel pore. This model of Cl– competition with a glutamate gate helps explain the effect of intracellular Cl– on channel gating; the mechanism underlying the effects of extracellular Cl–, however, remains to be determined, as does the nature of the Cl– channel slow gate.


It is not known how different steroid‐free immunosuppressive combinations affect renal graft survival and long‐term kidney transplant function. Here we sought to compare the impact on graft survival and long‐term graft function of two tacrolimus (Tac)‐based, prednisone‐free maintenance immunosuppressive protocols: Tac/Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) vs. Tac/Sirolimus (SRL). Renal transplant patients given induction therapy with IL2‐RA and methylprednisolone on days 0, 1 and 2 post‐transplant were prospectively randomized to two maintenance immunosuppressive regimens with Tac/MMF (n = 45) or Tac/SRL (n = 37). During the 3‐year follow‐up the following data were collected: patient survival, renal allograft survival, incidence of acute rejection and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at different time‐points post‐transplant. Cumulative graft survival was significantly different in the two groups: one kidney loss in the Tac/MMF vs. six kidney losses in the Tac/SRL (log‐rank test p = 0.04). GFR at different time‐points post‐transplant was consistently and statistically better in the Tac/MMF than in the Tac/SRL group. The slope of GFR decline per month was flatter in the Tac/MMF than in the Tac/SRL group. This study showed that renal graft survival and graft function were significantly lower in the combination of Tac/SRL than Tac/MMF.


Here we reported the first secretomic study of sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ), a naturally drought tolerant cereal crop. In this study, we used a gel-based proteomic approach in combination with mass spectrometry to separate and identify proteins secreted into the culture medium of sorghum cell suspensions, a first step towards understanding their functions during plant growth and development. Proteins secreted into the culture medium of 10-day old sorghum cell suspension cultures termed culture filtrate (CF) proteins were separated by two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and visualised using Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) R-250 staining. Of the 25 visualised CBB stainable spots, 15 abundant, well resolved and reproducible spots amongst the three biological replicates used were selected for identification using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight/time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF MS). Of these spots, 14 were positively identified, representing four different protein classes: Peroxidases, germin proteins, oxalate oxidases and α-galactosidases. All the identified proteins are known secretory proteins, with predicted signal peptides, which target proteins for the secretory pathway. The identified proteins have known functions in signalling processes, defence mechanisms and cell wall metabolism which is consistent with their location outside the cell. Western blotting analysis of the CF protein extracts using an antibody against β-tubulin, a cytoplasmic protein, indicated that our CF protein preparations are free from any detectable amounts of this marker protein. Therefore, our sorghum cell culture system is ideal for use in the proteomic analysis of secreted proteins. The findings of this study are a step in the process of bridging the gap that currently exists in sorghum proteomics and also provides a foundation for future studies on understanding the roles played by secreted proteins during plant growth and development of the same crop. Keywords: Sorghum, cell suspension cultures, culture filtrate, secreted proteins, proteomics analysis, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, β-tubulin


Lithium metal battery (LMB) has the potential to be the next-generation battery system because of its high theoretical energy density. However, defects known as dendrites are formed by heterogeneous lithium (Li) plating, which hinders the development and utilization of LMBs. Non-destructive techniques to observe the dendrite morphology often use X-ray computed tomography (XCT) to provide cross-sectional views. To retrieve three-dimensional structures inside a battery, image segmentation becomes essential to quantitatively analyze XCT images. This work proposes a new semantic segmentation approach using a transformer-based neural network called TransforCNN that is capable of segmenting out dendrites from XCT data. In addition, we compare the performance of the proposed TransforCNN with three other algorithms, U-Net, Y-Net, and E-Net, consisting of an ensemble network model for XCT analysis. Our results show the advantages of using TransforCNN when evaluating over-segmentation metrics, such as mean intersection over union (mIoU) and mean Dice similarity coefficient (mDSC), as well as through several qualitatively comparative visualizations.


Solid Waste Management is one of most important pillars for achieving sustainability, along with wastewater and energy management. Solid waste management is a major issue not only at nation and government levels but also at any facility level. One of the important facilities to consider is the industrial zones.
As most of the industrial zones in Egypt, Quweisna industrial zone is one of the important industrial zone as it contents important industries such as, engineering, ceramic, textiles, food, and chemical and pharmaceutical industries. A detailed study about Quweisna industrial zone's waste generation, composition and characteristics, existing good and bad practices was conducted. The objective of the study was to provide a baseline data related to solid waste in the zone to suggest 4Rs strategy for achieving a clean and green industrial zone.
Quweisna Industrial Zone generates every year 170.446 ton, almost 138.15 ton of the total wastes that reaches the final stage of disposal, and only 32.39 ton are recovered, which mean that nearly 81% of the total waste generated in industrial zone is sent-off for disposal to local municipality. Trading of dry recyclables like plastic and glass bottles, metal cans and office paper happens at individual level by the facility owner in Cash-for-Trash event, or as a group by cleaning staffs collectively selling them, and also at the final stage when waste collection staffs partly sort recyclables at the transfer station before sending wastes to local municipal.
At the end, acceptable practices of waste management have been attempted (and some still in continuation) in Quweisna Industrial Zone, however, discontinuation and lack of participation from the zone administration is in concern. The waste audit (composition, characteristics) results show a great scope for many waste recovery and recycling opportunities in Quweisna Industrial Zone, to transform into a Green industrial zone.


Neuroeconomics is a new highly promising approach to understanding the neurobiology of decision making and how it affects cognitive social interactions between humans and societies/economies. This book is the first edited reference to examine the science behind neuroeconomics, including how it influences human behavior and societal decision making from a behavioral economics point of view. Presenting a truly interdisciplinary approach, Neuroeconomics presents research from neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics, and includes chapters by all the major figures in the field, including two Economics nobel laureates. Carefully edited for a cohesive presentation of the material, the book is also a great textbook to be used in the many newly emerging graduate courses on Neuroeconomics in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Economics graduate schools. This groundbreaking work is sure to become the standard reference source for this growing area of research.


In this study, the application of a new type of monolithic silica column to the analysis of amino acids in human plasma samples has been investigated. The monolithic silica column (3.0 × 150 mm, MonoTower C18) provided good separation of the amino acids derivatized with 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F). Although the separation ability of this column was not much improved in comparison with the previous monolithic silica columns, it was similar with that of a 3 μm particle packed column. The column with length 150 mm had the same separation property as a tandem connection of columns of lengths 50 mm and 100 mm. After 1000 injections of human plasma samples, the peak widths for the NBD-amino acids were increased by only 8%. Thus, the newly developed monolithic silica column can be potentially applied for faster analysis and/or more efficient separation of biological compounds.


Plant Growth Substances. Volume I. Chemistry and Physiology. Third Edition. Edited by LJ Audus. Pp. xxxiii+ 533. 79 Figures. Leonard Hill. London. 1972. £9·50. The major contribution of plant physiology to agriculture during the first half of the present century related to plant nutrition. However, the second half of the century seems likely to be remembered for the rapid accretion of knowledge concerning the hormonal control mechanisms of plants and for the application of this knowledge to crop production: for, although the discovery of plant hormones can be traced back to the observations of Charles and Francis Darwin in the 1880s, the practical usage of growth regulating substances is essentially a post-World War II phenomenon. The tremendous progress made in the past twenty years is well-illustrated by comparing the present volume (the first of two) with the first edition of Professor Audus' book, published in 1953, which dealt almost exclusively with auxins and their applications. This third edition deals with the chemistry and biochemistry-not only of natural and synthetic auxins, but also of gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid and ethylene-and has been completely rewritten and restructured. Fortunately, the elegant style has been retained and this edition, like the first, will surely rank among the classics of plant physiology: for Professor Audus is a master, not only of hormonal physiology, but also of the use of the English language, and has an unusual ability to present even the most complex topics in an interesting and readable style. In the chapter on synthetic auxins no less than 37 pages are devoted to a comprehensive review of the various schemes which have been proposed to explain observed differences in biological activity in terms of chemical structure. That this approach has proved generally unrewarding is perhaps not surprising in view of the consistent failure of workers in this field to consider the rate of enzymatic breakdown of the compound in the tissue as a major factor influencing concentration at the site of action. This is a point which is not brought out strongly enough in the text, even in the chapter devoted to "the control of hormone levels at the sites of their actions" .in which biodegradation of auxins other than IAA is scarcely mentioned. Yet it forms the basis of the technique of selective weed killing-the most important practical application of synthetic auxins. The chapters on ethylene, cell division factors, natural and synthetic growth inhibitors and gibberellins are very well presented, the latter marred only by the adoption of the now outdated system of ring numbering (p. 118). Of even more interest to many biologists will be the chapters dealing with growth substances in the soil, hormones controlling reproduction, and the final one on the mechanisms of hormone action, all of which contain a wealth of interesting information not readily available elsewhere. Another valuable feature of this book, especially to research workers in this field, is the 92-page bibliography containing references to approximately 1,700 research papers. However, the table of metric conversion factors seems rather unnecessary in a volume of this type. The only notable omission seems to be the absence of any account of the phenomenon of hormone-directed transport of carbohydrates and amino acids. Although little understood, this is clearly of great importance in the study of crop plants in which yield is largely determined by the way in which assimilates are partitioned between alternative "sinks". However, this is an aspect which may well be covered in the second volume, yet to be published, which will deal with the role of plant growth substances in the control of various aspects of growth and development. The literature of plant hormone research and its many applications is increasing at an exponential rate and, to many who are struggling to keep afloat in the ever increasing flood of technical papers, this new edition of Professor Audus' masterly and comprehensive work will be as welcome as the sight of a lifeboat to a drowning man.


This practice report discusses the evolution of a CS1 Course taught at the University of Liège, Belgium. Over the last seven years several teaching activities have been thought to complement traditional theoretical courses and exercise sessions in order to promote students' engagement. The result is aligned with (i) the principles of assessment for learning, which consists in leveraging the assessment to improve the students learning, and (ii) the concept of blended learning. This report describes the difficulties the students faced and what we implemented to assist our course evolution. We also present and discuss results showing that, despite a high drop-out rate, we managed to engage students to work on a regular basis and, in some cases, raise their performance levels.


Healthy ageing is accompanied by cognitive decline that affects episodic memory processes in particular. Studies showed that anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may counteract this cognitive deterioration by increasing excitability and inducing neuroplasticity in the targeted cortical region. While stimulation gains are more consistent in initial low performers, relying solely on behavioural measures to predict treatment benefits does not suffice for a reliable implementation of this method as a therapeutic option. Hence, an exploration of the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms regarding the differential stimulation effect is warranted. Glutamatergic metabolites (Glx) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are involved in learning and memory processes and can be influenced with tDCS; wherefore, they present themselves as potential biomarkers for tDCS-induced behavioural gains, which are affiliated with neuroplasticity processes. In the present randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, crossover study, 33 healthy young and 22 elderly participants received anodal tDCS to their left DLPFC during the encoding phase of a verbal episodic memory task. Using MEGA-PRESS edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), Glx and GABA levels were measured in the left DLPFC before and after the stimulation period. Further, we tested whether baseline performance and neurotransmitter levels predicted subsequent gains. No beneficial group effects of tDCS emerged in either verbal retrieval performances or neurotransmitter concentrations. Moreover, baseline performance levels did not predict stimulation-induced cognitive gains, nor did Glx or GABA levels. Nevertheless, exploratory analyses suggested a predictive value of the Glx : GABA ratio, with lower ratios at baseline indicating greater tDCS-related gains in delayed recall performance. This highlights the importance of further studies investigating neurophysiological mechanisms underlying previously observed stimulation-induced cognitive benefits and their respective interindividual heterogeneity.


Abstract
 Cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc and green algae in the Chlorophyceae are widespread in nature and may occur in symbiotic associations with lichen-forming ascomycetes or as free-living cyanobacteria. Recent findings for some groups of lichens suggest that special lichen-forming photobiont lineages may exist independent of the free-living lineages, but few comparisons on photobiont growth, pigment, and polysaccharide production have been made. The goal of this study was to isolate photobionts, confirm their identity, and characterize their growth, pigment and polysaccharide production relative to free-living lineages. Algal growth, pigment contents, and polysaccharide concentration was measured using standard methods. The identification of Nostoc species was determined using transfer RNA for Leucine (trnL) nucleotide sequences and green algae using the internal transcribed spacer 1 of ribosomal DNA (ITS rDNA) sequences. An additional heptanucleotide repeat was present in the trnL gene of the Nostoc strain that associates with Leptogium rivulare. The biomass of pigment and polysaccharide production was highest in the lichenized Diplosphaera chodatii but the specific growth rate was highest in the free-living green alga, Chlorella vulgaris. The specific growth of the free-living Nostoc was higher than the lichenized Nostoc but pigment production was similar and polysaccharide production was lower than some of the lichenized Nostoc isolates. It was further hypothesized that the rates of growth, polysaccharide and pigment production may be key factors in compatibility of lichen algae with the fungus.


During early lactation, milk fatty acid (FA) composition is influenced by diet, animal genetics, and the high availability of preformed FA from body-fat mobilization. Long-term prepartum dietary oilseed supplementation could, therefore, modify milk FA composition postpartum in the subsequent lactation through changes in adipose tissue (AT) FA profile. To test this hypothesis, measurements were made in 19 Holstein cows fed grass-based diets containing no additional lipid (control, CTL; n=4) or supplemented with extruded linseeds (EL; n=4), cold-pressed fat-rich rapeseed meal (FRM; n=6), or whole unprocessed rapeseeds (WR; n=5) over 2 consecutive lactations (yr 1 and 2) and 2 dry periods. Oilseed supplements were withdrawn from the diets 23 d before the calving of yr 3, following the end of the previous experimental periods in yr 1 to 2. Thereafter, all cows received a total mixed ration composed of grass silage, grass hay, and concentrates (forage:concentrate ratio of 70:30 on a dry-matter basis). Cows previously fed EL and WR had a lower milk fat content (6.32% for CTL and FRM vs. 5.46% for EL and WR) and yield (1.90kg/d for CTL and FRM vs. 1.61kg/d for EL and WR) during the first week of lactation. Treatment effects on milk fat content and yield did not persist into lactation wk 3 and 7. Whatever the week, EL and WR increased concentration of FA in milk synthesized de novo (i.e., carbon number ≤15; 17.1g/100g of FA for CTL and FRM vs. 22.2g/100g of FA for EL and WR) and decreased concentration and secretion of preformed FA (i.e., carbon number ≥17; 56.1g/100g of FA for CTL and FRM vs. 49.9g/100g of FA for EL and WR). Alterations in milk FA composition may be explained by the lower availability of mobilized FA for uptake by the mammary gland, as indicated by the lower plasma nonesterified FA concentrations for EL and WR compared with CTL and FRM. Prepartum EL feeding increased AT and milk concentration of 18:3n-3 (0.96 vs. 0.79g/100g of milk FA for EL and the other groups, respectively) and intermediates of ruminal 18:3n-3 biohydrogenation. In contrast, FRM increased AT and milk concentration of ruminal cis-9 18:1 biohydrogenation intermediates. However, EL and FRM supplements resulted in a similar profile of 18-carbon FA isomers in AT (yr 2) and milk (yr 3, 4-10 wk after removing oilseeds from the diet). In conclusion, results confirm that long-term feeding of oilseed supplements alter AT FA composition and may influence milk FA composition during periods of extensive body-fat mobilization such as early lactation.


Purpose We aimed to investigate the effect of FIFA 11+ (11+) and HarmoKnee injury preventive warm-up programs on conventional strength ratio (CSR), dynamic control ratio (DCR) and fast/slow speed ratio (FSR) in young male professional soccer players. These ratios are related to the risk of injury to the knee in soccer players. Methods Thirty-six players were divided into 3 groups; FIFA 11+, HarmoKnee and control (n = 12 per group). These exercises were performed 3 times per week for 2 months (24 sessions). The CSR, DCR and FSR were measured before and after the intervention. Results After training, the CSR and DCR of knee muscles in both groups were found to be lower than the published normal values (0.61, 0.72, and 0.78 during 60°.s−1, 180°.s−1 and 300°.s−1, respectively). The CSR (60°.s−1) increased by 8% and FSR in the quadriceps of the non-dominant leg by 8% in the 11+. Meanwhile, the DCR in the dominant and non-dominant legs were reduced by 40% and 30% respectively in the 11+. The CSR (60°.s−1) in the non-dominant leg showed significant differences between the 11+, HarmoKnee and control groups (p = 0.02). As for the DCR analysis between groups, there were significant differences in the non-dominant leg between both programs with the control group (p = 0.04). For FSR no significant changes were found between groups. Conclusions It can be concluded that the 11+ improved CSR and FSR, but the HarmoKnee program did not demonstrate improvement. We suggest adding more training elements to the HarmoKnee program that aimed to enhance hamstring strength (CSR, DCR and FSR). Professional soccer players have higher predisposition of getting knee injuries because hamstring to quadriceps ratio were found to be lower than the average values. It seems that the 11+ have potentials to improve CSR and FSR as well as prevent knee injuries in soccer players.


Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has been a substantial economic problem due to its antibiotic resistance, persistence inside host and recurrence of disease. It escapes from immunity because of its intra-cellular growth. Moreover, it forms biofilm on both living and in-animate surfaces that leads to recurrent infections and growth in food industry, respectively. Further, S. aureus undergoes the vertical and horizontal evolution that has genetically diversified the bacterial population. All the factors such as point mutations, plasmids, phages etc. have played their roles in diversifying this bacterium. Many bacterial physiological characteristics have been affected by genetic diversity. Biofilm forming ability is also considered as a variable characteristic of S. aureus that can help the bacteria to survive in different environments with different levels of biofilm production. In adapting the environment, S. aureus also forms different types of biofilm for its better survival. How genetic diversity is playing its role in this division of S. aureus is yet to be revealed. This chapter focuses on the factors related to genetic diversity and biofilm formation of S. aureus.


Previous research has indicated that organophosphorus agents which induce a delayed neuropathy also elevate the strength-duration threshold during the progression of the neuropathy. To establish further the correlation between strength-duration changes and delayed neuropathy, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the biochemical and electrophysiological effects of two additional agents: diisopropylflourophosphate (DFP) and phosphonothioc acid, methyl-[2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl]O-ethyl ester (VX). DFP-treated hens exhibited clinical signs of toxicity at the time of electrophysiologic recording and biochemical analysis. DFP treatment also resulted in significantly elevated thresholds of the strength-duration curves of both the sciatic and tibial nerves. The VX-treated animals exhibited no clinical signs, despite aggressive dosing, and there were no significant changes in the electrophysiologic characteristics (conduction velocity, relative refractory period, strength-duration threshold) of either peripheral nerve. Acetylcholinesterase activities of the brain and skeletal muscle were significantly reduced in the VX- and DFP-treated hens, whereas creatine phosphokinase activities in these tissues were unaffected. These results are consistent with the view that elevation of the strength-duration threshold in peripheral nerves is among the earliest indicators of organophosphorus-induced delayed neuropathy.


An autopsy lung tissue was studied from former patients with hypostatic pneumonia following stroke. Two groups of patients were identified among the decreased: those having died within 4-24 hours after stroke (group I); those having died by day 4-6 after stroke (group II). The control was lung tissue from those persons having been killed in road-motoring accidents. General morphologic methods of investigation were employed together with a special method of immunofluorescent investigation according to Coon [correction of Kuns], using monospecific antibodies labelled with fluorescence isothiocyanate directed against heavy polypeptides of human immunoglobulins. The findings collected showed a significant increase in permeability of the constituent components of the blood-air barrier for native autogenous immunoglobulins recordable before the leucocytes' outgo into the alveolar cavities. The protective alterations are heterogeneous, varying with a section of focal pneumonia, their degree being related to the time spans during which the pathological process evolves. Under above conditions the bronchial barrier is acknowledged to be more stable since its permeability is not much changeable regardless of the stage of the illness.


Today's society demand faster, easier, safer and more accurate spatial information than ever before. Over the past 15 years surveyors have seen the introduction of reflectorless technology and more recently, laser scanning. Reflectorless technology and laser scanning has become a useful tool in many surveying applications. This technology has opened the door to the majority of demands that the community and other surveyors request. Due to this evolving technology specific laser scanning instruments have been developed. These instruments can cost in excess of half a million dollars and require specific software. In recent times companies have introduced laser scanning capabilities into total stations to reduce costs and integrate technology, which has launched the new evolution in total stations with most now having reflectorless and scanning capabilities included within the instrument.
This project was undertaken to address surveyor's uncertainties regarding reflectorless technology and laser scanning capabilities within total stations. A number of tests were conducted by both the Leica 1205R and the Trimble S6 instruments to compare both accuracy and performance. The three tests performed varied from simple point comparisons to scanning of volumes and the measuring of building encroachments. The results found there to be very small errors when performing simple point comparisons over a small range. The total stations also performed very well in the volume scans as both instruments produced similar results. Lastly, some problems were found with the encroachment testing as software capabilities limited my outputs. Both reflectorless and the laser scanning capabilities performed very well allowing me to test and analyse their full potential


In this paper, by comparing the properties of polyester/cotton/silk three-component Sirofil composite yarn and traditional cotton yarn, polyester/cotton core-spun yarn, silk/cotton two-component Sirofil composite yarn, the structural characteristics of three-component Sirofil composite yarn and the relationship between its structure and property were explored. There was the inhibition effect of cotton fiber on polyester filament, so the frictional and cohesive force between cotton fiber and polyester filament could be enhanced. The tenacity of polyester filament and cotton fiber were very good and the wrapping effect of raw silk could enhance the cohesive force between cotton fibers, cotton fiber and polyester filament. Therefore, the strength of composite yarn was obviously increased and the abrasive resistance and anti-stripping wool property were also greatly enhanced. Secondly, hairiness between raw silk and fiber strand was very easily captured by raw silk and there was the wrapping effect of raw silk on fiber strand in the composite spinning, so some hairiness was covered by raw silk, which could decrease the length of hairiness or eliminate hairiness. Furthermore, much more uniform raw silk and polyester filaments were added, which could increase the yarn evenness of Sirofil composite yarn.


Abstract. During the last century, the distribution of the woodchuck (Marmota monax) has expanded westward in parts of the Great Plains. Expansive grasslands of the Great Plains were formerly a barrier to forest-dwelling species, but changes since European settlement have enabled some woodland species to colonize the region. By 2000, woodchucks generally reached across the central portion of Nebraska. We compiled new county records and estimated the continued westward expansion rate of this large, diurnal squirrel in Nebraska. We documented new records of M. monax along much of the former western distributional limits in central and southern parts of the state, including a large westward movement along the Platte River into central Keith County. Westward movements appear to follow wooded rivers and their tributaries throughout the state. We estimated that in the last 18 years, M. monax expanded westward along the Platte River from central to western Nebraska at a rate of 9–13 km/year. If not already present in northeastern Colorado, M. monax could reach the Colorado border in <5 years. We acquired many records of M. monax reported as nuisance/damage control to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. We suspect that as this species continues to advance westward in the state and other areas of the Great Plains, more residents will report this species as a nuisance. Although a novel species in much of this grassland region, M. monax will provide habitat for a number of other species with its elaborately constructed burrows.


Patients with residual symptoms of depression may continue to experience significant occupational and social impairment. The focus of this article is on the residual burden that so often remains after remission is achieved.


Abstract
The centrality of education in fonning citizens has in recent years become a
prominent concern among theorists and practitioners alike. However, the literature on
the subject often fails to acknowledge the complexity both of the diverse ends of
citizenship and of the educational means to achieve them. This study explores these
issues in three contrasting initiatives in Brazil: the Landless Movement, which
promotes a conception of citizenship based on the workers' collective struggle for
justice; the Plural School, which aims to democratise the school system based on an
ideal of social inclusion; and Voter of the Future, aiming to promote political
participation via established structures of liberal democracy. Empirical data on the
three initiatives was collected in the form of documents, classroom observations and
interviews with coordinators, teachers and students. The study analyses the
differences between the conceptual schemes of the three initiatives, the ways these
translate into pedagogical programmes, the facilitators and constraints on
implementation and the effects on students. A theory of 'curricular transposition' is
developed, in order to explore the processes through which normative ideals are
materialised in educational programmes, and to explain the problematic 'leaps'
between the ideal and the real, and between ends and means. Key elements for
citizenship learning identified in the case studies are the participation of pupils and
teachers in the design and implementation of the programmes, the use of dialogical
pedagogy, the existence of democratic management structures in schools, and of
opportunities for pupils to engage in political action in the wider society. The notion
of 'seamless enactment' is proposed to refer to this enhancement of political learning
through the full participation of teachers and students and harmonisation of ends and
means. Finally, wider implications for the role of education in developing political
agency are considered.


Background: There is scarce literature comparing the role of the intracoronary shunt during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study aimed to compare off-pump CABG using intracoronary shunt versus the coronary clamp during distal coronary artery anastomosis.
Methods: We conducted this randomized study between January and June 2018. We randomized 30 patients into two groups. Group A (n= 15) included patients who had coronary clamping during off-pump CABG, and Group B (n= 15) included patients who had intracoronary shunt during off-pump CABG. Study endpoints were anastomosis time and postoperative cardiac enzyme levels.
Results: The mean age of the shunt group was higher than the mean age of the clamp group (61.06 ± 7.26 vs. 56.72 ± 12.44, respectively, p=0.03). Our study showed no statistical difference between the two groups regarding sex (p˃0.99), hypertension (p˃0.99), and diabetes (p=0.14). The distal anastomosis time was longer in the shunt group than in the clamp group (39.80±4.55 vs. 32.27±6.06 minutes, respectively, p=0.001). The postoperative troponin I (0.61±0.11 vs. 0.26±0.089 ƞg/ml, p<0.001), and CK-MB levels (44.27±5.34 vs. 35.5±4.86 IU/L, p<0.001) were significantly higher in the clamp group.
Conclusion: The intracoronary shunt could be associated with lower cardiac enzyme release compared to the clamp technique. However, it was associated with a longer distal anastomosis time.


INTRODUCTION Although the framework of the episode of care offers much promise in examining the process of primary health care, the development of episode-oriented, automated data sources has proceeded slowly. Experience with the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) in the European Community has confirmed its usefulness in creating and analyzing episodes of care, but it has seen little use in the United States. We describe the development of a Primary Care Information System (PCIS), which employs ICPC to create episodes of care from routinely collected clinical data. METHODS The PCIS is a partially computerized medical information system running on a standard Macintosh microcomputer. The PCIS integrates ICPC, ICD-9-CM, and CPT-4 coding structures to provide episode-oriented data for clinical, administrative, research, and reimbursement needs. The performance of the PCIS was assessed based on five major issues: clinician cooperation, data-entry accuracy, validity of episode data, cost, and perceived value to users. RESULTS The data collection and entry process required minimal additional effort from clinicians and data-entry personnel, and data-entry accuracy exceeded published estimates for other primary care data sources. Data management costs of about $1 per encounter compare favorably to published estimates for other office-based clinical information systems. The major problem seen during pilot testing was inaccurate tracking of episode boundaries through changes in providers and consequent changes in labels for problems and diagnoses. This problem has been addressed in development of the second-generation PCIS. CONCLUSION The combination of an episode-oriented framework such as ICPC and a flexible medical information system provides a promising platform for the study of the content and process of primary health care.


In order to describe complexity and dynamics of supply chain network, the simulation model of a five-stage complex supply chain networks was built firstly in this paper. Second, based on the model, comparative simulation towards the inventory level and the bullwhip effect under economic order quantity (EOQ) strategy and the minimum and maximum (s, S) strategy were carried out. Simulation result shows that, enterprises in different stages with different ordering strategies will have significant effect on supply chain performance. Supply chain enterprises in various stages should adopt reasonable ordering strategy in lights of their own characteristics.


Aging populations have been positioned as a challenge to health and social service planning around the world, a situation even more pronounced in the case of persons with a diagnosis of dementia. While policy responses emphasize that care be provided for persons with dementia in home settings for as long as possible and that family carers be supported in the provision of this care, finding good ways to support families as they do the work of 'delaying institutionalization' has been challenging despite decades of intervention research intended to develop and evaluate interventions to support families. In this context of limited effectiveness it is useful to examine the assumptions informing research practices. Problematization is a method of literature analysis useful for clarifying and challenging assumptions informing a field of research in order to generate new approaches to research or new research questions. Our analysis suggests that although community-based intervention research has contributed significant knowledge about the kinds of things that might help families, there are limitations related to the dominant assumptions underlying the field. We highlight three areas for re-consideration: the overriding focus on caregiver–care recipient dyads, the under-determination of the object(s) of inquiry and the algorithmic nature of interventions themselves. Issues in these areas, we argue, arise from a commitment to homogeneity characteristic of biomedical models of disease that may need to be rethought in the face of consequential heterogeneity among research populations. That is, there is a mismatch between 'dementia' in the intervention research literature and 'dementia' in the life that is consequential for families living with these concerns.


In autonomous racing, vehicles operate close to the limits of handling and a sensor failure can have critical consequences. To limit the impact of such failures, this paper presents the redundant perception and state estimation approaches developed for an autonomous race car. Redundancy in perception is achieved by estimating the color and position of the track delimiting objects using two sensor modalities independently. Specifically, learning-based approaches are used to generate color and pose estimates, from LiDAR and camera data respectively. The redundant perception inputs are fused by a particle filter based SLAM algorithm that operates in real-time. Velocity is estimated using slip dynamics, with reliability being ensured through a probabilistic failure detection algorithm. The sub-modules are extensively evaluated in realworld racing conditions using the autonomous race car gotthard driverless, achieving lateral accelerations up to 1.7G and a top speed of 90km/h.


The ischemic heart failure constitutes one of the commonest reasons of death nowadays, mainly in the western hemisphere. According to scientific predictions the number of deaths will be aggravated in the foreseeable and distant future. Its management is a separate field of cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery which includes medication, cardiothoracic surgeries and the insertion and use of devices that
assist the heart function, culminating in the implantation of an artificial heart and transplantation. Among the mechanical means available for the support of the insufficient cardiac function, the first aid is provided by the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP). The IABP constitutes a practical, efficient and low-cost device which is widely used in coronary and cardiothoracic care units all over the world. It provides significant facilitation of the left ventricle that is failing due to ischemia or myocardial infarction. It is inserted intravascularly and it has absolute indications and contraindications. There are various complications that can occur, however its contribution to the assistance of the left ventricle outweighs any problem that might be caused. The aim of the present paper is to present, with the help of historic and literature data, the basic principles of use and function of the IABP and its possible side effects.


Objective: To determine the temporal trends in diagnosis and management of pediatric overweight/obesity by primary care providers at a single medical center. Patients: Children 2 to 18 years old undergoing a general medical examination during 3 calendar years (2003, 2006, and 2009). The number of visits for general medical examination were 6390 in 2003, 6646 in 2006, and 7408 in 2009. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the electronic medical records for weight related diagnostic and/or management terms and laboratory screening in children with body mass index at or greater than the 85th percentile (n = 1630 in 2003, 1495 in 2006, and 1730 in 2009). Results: There was a significant increase in the diagnosis of obesity among obese children seen in 2009 (53.3%) compared with 2006 (36%, P < .001) and 2003 (24.3%, P < .001). Weight-related counseling was documented in a higher proportion of obese children in 2009 (49.4%) compared with 2006 (34.8%) and 2003 (26.6%). There was a significant increase in counseling regarding screen time in 2009 compared with 2006. A significant increase in screening for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was also noted (30.5% in 2009 vs 21.9% in 2006, P = .018). Conclusions: There has been steady improvement in the rates of obesity diagnosis and obesity-related counseling by primary care providers. However, continued efforts to increase awareness of these issues are needed as nearly half of obese children remained undiagnosed and recommended laboratory screening for obesity-related comorbidities was performed in only a third of obese children.


In 2003, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released its unanimous reasons for judgment in R v Powley. Powley was—and remains—the high court's only consideration of Métis rights, as "[A]boriginal rights," protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. In addition to setting out the legal test for the establishment of Métis section 35 rights, Powley slayed a multitude of Métis rights denial dragons that had emerged over the generations, including two of the dragons most often relied on by governments: (1) that difficulties in identifying Métis rights-holders, and, (2) competing Métis representation claims made Crown inaction in relation to Métis rights justifiable. Instead of accepting these arguments, the SCC in Powley recognized a positive Crown duty to negotiate with the Métis. The author, who is a Métis lawyer that has been involved in much of the Métis rights litigation and negotiations that have occurred over the last seventeen years, argues that Powley and this duty have been effectively leveraged by rights-bearing Métis communities from Ontario westward to secure several significant negotiated agreements as well as keep most of the slayed Métis rights denial dragons at bay. This article goes on to review a disconcerting 2016 decision of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench on Métis consultation, which, if applied further, has the potential to re-invigorate these most duplicitous dragons. In Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation of Alberta Local #125 v Alberta, while the trial judge recognized that Métis harvesting rights had been accommodated in the Fort Chipewyan area, the court accepted the Alberta government's arguments that difficulty in identifying the "proper rights-holder" and the potential of competing Métis claims were justifications for Crown inaction and its position of consulting with no Métis whatsoever. The author argues that the court's flawed reasoning in Fort Chipewyan turns Powley and the Crown's positive duties owing to the Métis on their head as well as has the potential to see the two above-noted Métis rights denial dragons take flight again. This article is available in Osgoode Hall Law Journal: https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/ohlj/vol57/iss1/6


Sets out the law relating to corruption and misuse of public office in a clear and accessible manner
Examines the legal and practical issues relating to the investigation and prosecution of corruption, providing the practitioner with a complete guide to handling a corruption case.
Analyses the regulatory mechanisms for dealing with standards in public life.
Includes coverage of international efforts to combat corruption, allowing practitioners to use the information confidently when dealing with cases involving foreign officials.
The only dedicated work on this subject.
The law and practice relating to corruption and the misuse of public office is of considerable topical interest. The legislation in this area has developed over recent years, with the implementation of statutes such as the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. These key pieces of legislation extend UK jurisdiction to corruption offences committed abroad by UK nationals and incorporated bodies, and strengthen the mechanisms to recover assets and wealth obtained as a result of unlawful activity.
This book provides a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the law relating to corruption as it has been shaped over recent years.
Written by leading practitioners with extensive experience of handling both the civil and criminal aspects of corruption cases, the book provides a clear exposition of the current law. It examines the legal and practical issues relating to the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases and includes specialist coverage of issues such as whistleblowing, and the recovery and repatriation of assets.
Corruption cases often span jurisdictions. This book enables practitioners to handle any aspect of a corruption case by providing them with detailed analysis of the international efforts to combat corruption, and the legal developments taking place in key jurisdictions and regions covered by UN, EU, OECD, and Commonwealth initiatives.


In this work, voltammetric andelectrolysis experiments have been carried out on a conductive boron dopeddiamond (BDD) electrode in solution containing amoxicillin in itspharmaceutical formulation. The physical characterization of the BDD surface byscanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals a polycrystalline structure withgrain sizes ranging between 0.3 and 0.6 µm. With Raman spectroscopy, BDDsurface is composed of diamons (Csp3) type carbon (Csp3)and graphitic type carbon (Csp2). The electrochemical characterization of the BDD electrode in sulfuric acid electrolyte showed a wide potential window worthing 2.74 V. The oxidation of Amoxicillin showed an irreversible anodic wave on the voltammogram in the domain of water stability indicating a direct oxidation of amoxicillin at BDD surface. The treatment of Amoxicillin in the synthetic wastewaters under various constant current densities 20, 50, 100, 135 mA cm-2 on BDD showed that Amoxicillin is highly reducedunder 100 mA cm-2 reaching 92% of the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)removal after 5 h of electrolysis. Investigation performed in perchloric acidas supporting electrolyte led to 87% of COD removal after 5 h of electrolysis.Mineralization of amoxicillin occurs on BDD and the chemical oxygen demandremoval was higher in sulfuric acid than in perchloric acid owing to theinvolvement of the in-situ formed persulfate and perchlorate  to the degradation process mainly in the bulkof the solution. The instantaneous current efficiency (ICE) presents anexponential decay indicating that the process was limited by diffusion. Thespecific energy consumed after 5h of the amoxicillin electrolysis was 0.096 kWh COD-1and 0.035 kWh COD-1 in sulfuric acid and in perchloric acidrespectively.


In this study, real-time software defined radio implementation of the point to point multiple input multiple output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system using pre-fast Fourier transform (pre-FFT) beamforming technique in both the transmitter and the receiver is done for the first time in the literature. By taking benefit of the MIMO system's spatial multiplexing property, the performance of the implemented pre-FFT beamforming approach is demonstrated in terms of bit error rate and error vector magnitude measurements. As a result of the test results, the effect of the beamforming methods on the performance of communication systems are clearly observed.


Heat production in biological systems is an obligate consequence of the chemical thermodynamics of the living state. Various cellular and systemic mechanisms exist of the dissipation (or conservation) of this net heat production in a basically aqueous environment to various exchange surfaces. Besides fundamental conduction, and radiation, convective modes of heat transfer are particularly significant, the latter often establishing steady-state thermal gradients particularly at normal or experimental exchange surfaces. Considering the relatively high specific heat of water and the low level of heat generation, the magnitude of such gradients are small and this require methods with sensitivity < 0.1 degree(s)C, with reasonable time response, and ones adaptable to quantitative spatial mapping. To that end, we have developed a calibration procedure and protocols employing a variety of thermotropic liquid crystal (TLC) formats which can quantitatively map both cellular and tissue surface gradients in a reproducible manner. TLC's used in a quantitative mode have the extreme temperature resolution required for basic biological studies, as well as application where altered cellular metabolism and/or vascular flow patterns are manifested as thermal changes in the spatial thermogram. This paper provides preliminary data on the application of the above protocols for the assessment of the dynamic changes in the thermal gradient pattern on the left-ventricular surface of supported, experimental heart preparations. Accordingly, after initial capture of the calibrated TLC images onto videotape using a multichannel plate intensifier (together with A/D conversion of physiological signals), single frame digitization allows for exact quantitative correlations of changes in the thermogram with hemodynamic parameters throughout the cardiac cycles with a time resolution of approximately equals 33 msec. The type of information obtained has potential value in clinical cardiac diagnosis (ie. coronary artery disease, by-pass assessment, etc.) and other biological applications where altered flow and/or heat production leads to changing surface gradients (ie thrombosis, embolism, tumor cell heat production, etc.) which can now be accurately and quantitatively mapped by the use of TLC's.


Rapid increase in energy demand results in conventional sources of energy e.g. fossil fuels, becoming limited. This issue has been shown to cause an impact on both the energy cost and the environment. Likewise, industry's irrational energy use can decrease revenues and increase the environmental impacts. The economic and environmental issues are crucial for energy intensive industries like pulp and paper industries in North America and Europe. Moreover, lower costs for pulp and paper production accompanied with the fast growth rate of mainly Asian and South American forests calls for modifications in the older mills. Converting a conventional Kraft pulp mill into an Integrated Forest Biorefinery (IFBR) has been mentioned in the literature as a potential to compensate the older mills production and energy costs. The IFBR provides co-production of a wider range of products such as ethanol, carbon fibers, polymers and diesel fuel with pulp (Fernando, et al. 2006, Van Heiningen 2006, Huang, et al. 2010, Berntsson, et al. 2008).

In this thesis, a biorefinery concept focusing on hemicelluloses pre-extraction for co-production of pulp and ethanol was studied. In the pre-extraction process, hemicelluloses are extracted from hardwood chips prior to cooking and with further purifications are converted into ethanol. During the extraction, acetic acid is formed as byproduct. Several hemicelluloses pre-extraction processes have been studied in literature; the focus of this thesis is, however, on hot water and dilute acid extraction methods. Opportunities to implement the pre-extraction process in an average Scandinavian Kraft Pulp Mill have been analyzed. The studied mill is a model mill developed in the FRAM program: Bleached Market Kraft Pulp mill – Type mill. The objective of this Thesis is to investigate opportunities for increasing energy efficiency in the mill, and, evaluate the integration potential of the pre-extraction process into the mill.

The results of pinch analysis for the mill shows a pinch temperature of 107°C and a minimum hot utility demand of 164.3 MW while the current hot utility demand of the mill is 179 MW. This results in 14.7 MW potential for steam savings. All pinch violations were identified, they mainly consisted in heating streams below the pinch with live LP steam. A total of 14 MW of pinch violations were solved through 3 retrofits, i.e. 95% of the total potential for hot utility savings.

The energy efficiency measures were then evaluated for the extraction process and ethanol production. The IFBR showed the lowest heating demand among other possibilities.
Major conclusion from this thesis is that an IFBR based on hemicellulose extraction and co-production of pulp and ethanol has lower income than the conventional pulp mill manily due to a 20% overall pulp yield loss. Increasing the wood input to the process or improving the amount of pulp production, may raise the profitability of the IFBR.


Children are increasingly spending time in cohabiting parent families. Most studies that examine the implications of parental cohabitation focus on parental living arrangements at a single point in time. Using data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), we assess whether and how parental cohabitation during childhood influences adolescent girls' well-being. This work moves beyond prior studies by specifically considering the effects of the exposure to, transitions, and age at which children lived in cohabiting parent families. The results indicate living in cohabiting parent families is consequential for earlier sexual initiation, likelihood of having a teen birth, and high school graduation. Prior work suggests that the explanation for the negative effect of parental cohabitation is family instability. Yet, our empirical work shows that family instability does not explain the relationship between cohabitation and negative child outcomes. We conclude that the best way to understand the implications of parental cohabitation is to adopt a dynamic family experience model.


In this study, the main focus is laid on the design of an optoelectronic converter as a part of the quantum radar to enhance the entanglement between retained and returned modes at high temperatures. The electro-opto-mechanical converter has been widely studied, and the results showed that the operation at high temperature is so crucial to generate and preserve the entanglement between modes. The main problem arises because the mechanical part operating at a low frequency leads to a large number of thermally excited photons, and eventually, the entanglement between modes becomes lost. To solve the problem, we replace the mechanical part with the optoelectronic components. The optical cavity is coupled to the microwave cavity in the newly designed system through a Varactor diode excited by a photodetector. As the main goal, to improve the entanglement sustainability, the effect of the coupling factor of the microwave cavity to photodetector is investigated. The results show that the mentioned factor creates some degrees of freedom to enhance the entanglement at high temperatures compared to the electro-opto-mechanical converter. At some specific values of the coupling factor, the retained and returned fields remained completely entangled up to 5.5 K and partially entangled around 50 K.


: A 27-year-old woman noticed diplopia when gazing left and paresthesia of the left face and headache of the left side for 8 months. Abduction and supraduction of the left eye were moderately restricted. Hypoesthesia of the face innervated by the ophthalmic branch of the left trigeminal nerve was detected. Visual disturbance due to optic neuropathy developed 5 months later. MRI with gadolinium revealed a mass lesion extending from the left cavernous sinus to the orbital apex. Ocular neuromyotonia and corresponding diplopia were induced by sustained right gaze. Such episodes occurred almost every day on awaking in the morning. Prednisolone (60 mg/day) was given and the headache and visual disturbance ameliorated in two days. The diplopia disappeared in 4 days. The patient remains free from these symptoms after 6 months. This is the first report of ocular neuromyotonia associated with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome.


Grasslands which are a major part of the global ecosystem, covering 37% of the earth's terrestrial area, have a significant contribution to food security through providing most of the energy and proteins required by the ruminants used for meat and dairy production. Grasslands are considered to have the potential to play a fundamental role in climate change mitigation, particularly regarding carbon storage and seques - tration and for biodiversity preservation. This chapter provides an overview of the causes of the pasture degradation and some essential elements for sustainable man - agement, which aims to improve the quantity and quality of pasture, mitigation of climate change and biodiversity preservation. Another point of this chapter is the grasslands with high nature value that nowadays is a top priority in the European legislation as the European Commission has confirmed that HNV farming will remain a key priority in 2014–2020. We present the situation in Bulgaria because it is one of the first member state countries that have assessed HNV regions and put funding in place to support them.


The phenomenon of fractional self-imaging can be used to implement atom-optical components in the interior of a rectangular quantum billiard. Their temporal concatenation may lead to complex atom chips operating in the time-domain. As an elementary example, we discuss a billiard internal Mach-Zehnder interferometer that can be transformed into an all-optical switch or controllable beam splitter for atoms. The inherent coherence and reversibility of its dynamics also provides a simple means to realize a Welcher Weg/Quantum erasure experiment. The whole concept is shown to be robust with respect to realistic wall-softness effects and feasible within the present state of the art.


The rebound effect is the phenomenon underlying the disproportionality between energy efficiency improvements and observed energy savings. This paper presents a meta-analysis of 76 primary studies and 1138 estimates of the direct rebound effect in road transport to synthesise past work and inform ongoing discussions about the determinants and magnitude of the rebound effect. The magnitude of rebound effect estimates varies with the time horizon considered. On average, the direct rebound effect is around 12% in the short run and 32% in the long run. Indirect and macroeconomic effects would come on top of these estimates. Heterogeneity in rebound effect estimates can mainly be explained by variation in the time horizon considered, the elasticity measure used and the econometric approach employed in primary studies, and by macro-level economic factors, such as real income and gasoline prices. In addition to identifying the factors responsible for the variation in rebound effect estimates, the meta-regression model developed in this paper can serve as a relevant tool to assist policy analysis in contexts where rebound effect estimates are missing.


The Approximate Linear Programming (ALP) approach to value function approximation for MDPs is a parametric value function approximation method, in that it represents the value function as a linear combination of features which are chosen a priori. Choosing these features can be a difficult challenge in itself. One recent effort, Regularized Approximate Linear Programming (RALP), uses L1 regularization to address this issue by combining a large initial set of features with a regularization penalty that favors a smooth value function with few non-zero weights. Rather than using smoothness as a backhanded way of addressing the feature selection problem, this paper starts with smoothness and develops a non-parametric approach to ALP that is consistent with the smoothness assumption. We show that this new approach has some favorable practical and analytical properties in comparison to (R)ALP.


This paper employs socio-rhetorical interpretation in order to analyze Paul's argument in 1 Cor 7:1-5 regarding the role of connubial sex in Christian marriage. The paper shows that Paul engages in Christian wisdom discourse, introducing his argument in 1 Cor 7:1 with a maxim, probably drawn from a communication from the Corinthians themselves. He then creates an argument from the contrary to repudiate the maxim on the grounds of the requirements of Christian sexual morality in v. 2. The paper shows that Paul elaborates his argument in vv. 3-4 before constructing an argument allowing for a very specific and limited exception to his own rule regarding the necessity of connubial sex for Christians. Paul's argument is analyzed with the help of insights derived from ancient rhetoric as well as cultural information regarding sexual practices from Greco-Roman authors.


The oral cavity constitutes a site of low prevalence for metastasis of malignant tumors. Nevertheless, it has a high prevalence for metastasis of renal origin. Besides the kidneys, there are other primary sites with high prevalence of metastasis to the oral mucosa, such as the lungs, skin and breasts. Metastasis is common in patients with a background of treated renal tumors, thereby, it is proper to determine the possibility of oral metastasis as part of the protocol of attention. However, it constitutes a diagnostic challenge when it presents in patients with no renal antecedents. It is in this type of patients that the diagnosis of carcinoma is achieved by means of a metastasis. Survival rate in these patients is short because at the time of the metastasis diagnosis, the general compromise is high. The following report describes a case referred from the Rheumatology Unit with an intraoral tumor, that was finally diagnosed as a Metastasic Renal Cell Carcinoma with multiple metastasis.


Compensation for the damage caused by defective products was identified as a special tort only in the Lithuanian Civil Code of 2000. Until then, compensation for the damage caused by defective products or services had been provided for customers on common grounds. The entry of Lithuania into the European Union created the necessity to unify business conditions and the level of consumer protection. The article shows the conditions for the appearance of tort, its differences from the provisions determined by the Directives of the European Union, and the problems of implementation. The publication discusses the content of the changes. By employing the analytical and comparative methods, the author examines the provisions of the existing legislation and demonstrates its incompliance with the regulation provided by legal acts of the European Union, as well as the necessity to approximate those provisions. At the same time, the transformation in the business environment and the protection of consumer rights caused by the change is also revealed here. Incompliance with the provisions of the European Union Directives necessitated amendment of the provisions of the Lithuanian Civil Code regulating the definition of persons liable for the damage, the concept of damage, and the grounds for exempting the producer from civil liability. This was done by way of comparing the previously existing provisions with the rules established in the Lithuanian Civil Code and highlighting the differences. The article discusses whether those amendments were a necessity or an expression of the Lithuanian legislator's choice. The author analyses what determined one or another decision. The article also examines the differences in the grounds for the exemption of civil liability for the compensation for damage caused by defective products and defective services. The article will prove useful for the interpretation of rules on civil liability; it also provides a better understanding of the change in the legal business environment caused by the European Union membership, as well as other possibilities for the protection of consumer rights.


OBJECTIVES
Many cancer survivors report issues with cognitive function following diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this single-arm pilot study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of virtual delivery of a cognitive rehabilitation intervention for participants in virtual groups.

SAMPLE & SETTING
37 adult cancer survivors reporting impaired cognitive function following primary treatment were enrolled from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and affiliates, the University of Kansas Cancer Center, and the Masonic Cancer Alliance.

METHODS & VARIABLES
Two cohorts attended six weekly virtual sessions and completed pre- and postintervention patient-reported outcome questionnaires designed to measure perceived cognitive function, loneliness, and determinants of behavior change for exercise, sleep, and mindfulness.

RESULTS
Postintervention scores for perceived cognitive function, determinants of behavior change, and loneliness ratings significantly improved.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
Evidence continues to build in support of cognitive rehabilitation interventions for cancer survivors. Nurses play an important role in terms of patient identification, participation, and facilitation.


Resistive switching effects are in a superb position to tackle the challenges for the near future of nanoelectronics and neuromorphics. Material‐wise, the outstanding properties of strongly correlated metallic perovskite oxides, in particular, those displaying metal–insulator transition can be exploited for a new generation of devices based on a volume resistive switching (VRS) phenomenon beyond filamentary and interface ideas. This study reports a full description of this new and robust physical mechanism governing VRS memory effects in mixed‐valence mixed‐conductor metallic La1−xSrxMnO3−y perovskites by identifying the role and rate limiting steps of oxygen exchange through oxygen partial pressure experiments. It is demonstrated that oxygen migration can be smartly engineered by introducing a CeO2−x capping layer, which is further used to validate the VRS phenomenon by operating a nonvolatile and volumetric proof‐of‐concept gate‐controlled three‐terminal conductive bridge device.


Purpose:We recently presented evidence for tumor site and gender-specificity in the survival benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in Stage III colorectal cancer (CRC). In the current study, we examined whetherp53 alteration or the microsatellite instability (MSI) phenotype provide additional predictive information in CRC patients. Experimental Design: A retrospective series of 891 Stage III CRC patients with negative surgical margins was investigated. Thirty percent (270 of 891) received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with curative intent and comprising of 5-fluorouracil/levamisole. Adjuvant treatment and nontreatment patient groups were well matched for tumor site, grade,p53alterations, and MSI. Surgical tumor specimens were investigated forp53 overexpression using immunohistochemistry and for p53mutation and MSI using single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. The predictive value of these markers was evaluated by comparing the survival of adjuvant-treated and nonadjuvant treated patients. Results:A strong inverse correlation was observed between p53 alteration and MSI (P < 0.0001). In univariate analysis, the factors of sex, site, p53 alteration, and MSI were each strong predictors of a survival benefit from chemotherapy. Multivariate analysis revealed that chemotherapy provided maximal survival benefit for female patients (P 5 0.005) and for patients whose tumors contained normal p53 (P 5 0.041). Males whose tumors contained a p53alteration and were negative for MSI appeared not to benefit from chemotherapy. Conclusions:Our findings suggest that p53 alteration and MSI could be clinically useful molecular predictive markers for the identification of CRC patients who might benefit from 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.


BACKGROUND
The Hospital to Home Outcomes (H2O) trials examined the effectiveness of postdischarge nurse support on reuse after pediatric discharge. Unexpectedly, children randomly assigned to a nurse visit had higher rates of reuse than those in the control group. Participants in randomized control trials are heterogeneous. Thus, it is possible that the effect of the intervention differed across subgroups (ie, heterogeneity of treatment effect [HTE]). We sought to determine if different subgroups responded differently to the interventions.

METHODS
The H2O trial is a randomized controlled trial comparing standard hospital discharge processes with a nurse home visit within 96 hours of discharge. The second trial, H2O II, was similar, except the tested intervention was a postdischarge nurse phone call. For the purposes of the HTE analyses, we examined our primary trial outcome measure: a composite of unplanned 30-day acute health care reuse (unplanned readmission or emergency department or urgent care visit). We identified subgroups of interest before the trials related to (1) financial strain, (2) primary care access, (3) insurance, and (4) medical complexity. We used logistic regression modeling with an interaction term between subgroup and treatment group (intervention or control).

RESULTS
For the phone call trial (H2O II), financial strain significantly modified the effect of the intervention such that the subgroup of children with high financial strain who received the intervention experienced more reuse than their control counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS
In HTE analyses of 2 randomized controlled trials, only financial strain significantly modified the nurse phone call. A family's financial resources may affect the utility of postdischarge support.


River water quality is driven primarily by discharge and a catchment's natural and anthropogenic features. In this study, the underpinning role of discharge in driving water quality is examined for an Australian tropical savanna river. The seventh-order Daly River has a near-natural discharge regime and catchment that is highly weathered, and has low topographic relief, with most of its natural vegetation retained. Four discharge periods are defined according to surface and groundwater water source, and the magnitude and frequency of run-off events. On a seasonal scale, the river's water quality reflected the mix of water sources. These comprised extremes of high surface water-driven discharge, high suspended sediment concentrations and low water clarity during the wet season, and low groundwater-fed discharge during the dry season with high water clarity. The suspended sediment concentration of run-off events during the dry-to-wet transition and the wet season were directly and inversely related to event maximum discharge respectively, suggesting the exhaustion of sediment supply to the river during the wet season. Variability associated with the discharge–water quality relationships was attributed to water source, hysteresis and event magnitude and timing. Suspended sediment yields and concentrations were relatively low compared with more anthropogenically affected Australian savanna catchments.


A list of features that serves to characterize an FFT processor was developed during a working session of the IEEE Workshop on Fast Fourier Transform Processing. Based on this list, information was requested on all of the processors that were known to the Workshop Organizing Committee. A copy of the table shown in this paper was sent to 20 companies with the request that each company specify the data relating to their machine in the form they would like it to be printed. The table represents a compilation of the returns.


Traditional modes of preventing brain cell death in traumatic brain injury (TBI) focus on the enhancement of cerebral perfusion pressure and control of intracranial pressure. Brain tissue oxygenation (PbtO2) monitoring systems are currently available to provide early detection of diminished cerebral oxygenation, and ultimately, ischemia. Research has demonstrated that early detection in PbtO2 is a more delicate measurement of cerebral blood flow and oxygenation. Monitoring PbtO2, in conjunction with cerebral perfusion pressure and intracranial pressure, has been shown to be a better guide to the prevention and treatment of secondary cerebral ischemia. This article reviews TBI, a PbtO2 monitor system description and indications for use, and the importance of nursing practice guidelines and education. With proper guidelines and education, this new technology can be used effectively by bedside clinicians and educators in adult and pediatric intensive care units.


Cyclosporin and other immunosuppressive agents have been proposed as a preventive treatment against the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in relatives at increased risk for the disease, based on the understanding that its etiology is an ongoing process of autoimmune β-cell destruction. We used an epidemiological approach to evaluate several recent trials of cyclosporin in newly diagnosed IDDM patients to determine the degree of benefit that is to be expected. We assessed these and other studies to estimate the potential adverse effects of such treatment, were it to be used in the future, either in newly diagnosed subjects or healthy high-risk relatives. Standard sample-size calculations were used to quantify the number of study subjects necessary to allow adequate statistical power to test the positive and negative effects of a future treatment (α = 0.05, β = 0.20). The estimates were based on the data available from published studies of cyclosporin treatment. The importance of conducting an adequate trial of such a therapy, both from an ethical and a practical viewpoint, is discussed. Five small immunosuppression trials were evaluated. Remission rates in treated subjects exceeded those in control subjects by 15-59%. Variability in defining remission may account for the differences in rates across the studies. Estimates of the major beneficial and adverse effects of cyclosporin were derived from these trials and studies of patients who have undergone long-term immunosuppression. Indicators of kidney damage associated with cyclosporin treatment were reported in 5-47% of treated subjects. A threefold increase in the rate for all cancers and an eightfold increase in the rate for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were reported in immunosuppressed autoimmune patients. To detect a beneficial effect such as that described for cyclosporin, between 14 and 2598 subjects would be required in a clinical trial. Samplesize calculations demonstrated that between 1200 and 156,000 subjects would need to be enrolled in such a trial to detect a twofold increase over baseline levels of the adverse effects reported in the studies reviewed herein. Of critical importance are not the specific findings concerning the risks and benefits of cyclosporin but rather the use of an epidemiological approach for evaluating any future immunosuppressive treatments designed to prevent or cure IDDM.


Many developing countries wish to become the "gateway" to a region or part of a continent. One strategy involves encouraging logistics cluster development. These support global supply chains and enable the growth of the host country through the resulting trade as well as providing direct and indirect employment opportunities during the build and subsequent operation of the hub. Namibia has a desire to become the gateway to southern Africa and the SADC region. This paper builds on research on Caribbean cluster potential (Lambourdiere et al, 2012), and Namibian logistics (Jenkins et al, 2012) to identify the potential benefits, drawbacks and risks of such a strategy.


A thesis submitted in the partial fulfillment
of the requirement for the degree of
Master of Arts,
Department of Journalism and Media Studies,
College of Arts and Sciences
University of South Florida St. Petersburg.


During the pre-slaughter period, sheep may experience acute stress and extended periods of feed deprivation. Studies in slaughter cattle have shown a moderate impact on plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration in cattle but a larger acute stress immediately prior to slaughter, demonstrated by marked increases in plasma glucose and lactate. Sheep undergo similar pre-slaughter management to cattle in Australia, thus we hypothesise that lambs will have a similar metabolic profile at slaughter. Blood was collected at exsanguination from 1,536 lambs (mean age at slaughter 298±57 days) from the Sheep Co-Operative Research Council Information Nucleus Flock. The lambs were managed on two research stations (Katanning, Western Australia and Armidale, New South Wales) and were assigned to ten slaughter groups based on carcass weight targets for the desired market. Lambs were yarded the day prior to slaughter, held in curfew on-farm for 2 hours, weighed and then transported to commercial abattoirs where they were held in lairage for an average of 17 .9±1. 79 hours. Blood was collected at exsanguination and the plasma was analysed for non-esterified fatty acids, glucose and lactate. Plasma metabolite concentrations differed markedly between slaughter groups (P<0.05). Across all of these groups the mean plasma NEFA, glucose and lactate concentrations were 1.57±0.45 mmol/1, 4.05±0.56 mmol/1 and 2.94±1.74 mmol/1. Contrary to our hypothesis, NEFA concentrations were markedly higher at slaughter in lambs compared with cattle. Alternatively lactate and glucose concentrations were lower than concentrations in slaughter cattle. This suggests that different mechanisms may exist between sheep and cattle in terms of their metabolic response to feed deprivation and acute stress during the pre-slaughter period.


This guide is designed to provide you with resources about the Beatles and their musical styling (e.g., Skiffle, Rock-n-Roll) that will help you to prepare for class exams, papers, and/or projects.


In this paper, a nonlinear fluid flow model is used to analyze and control DiffServ Network. The controller design is based on the integrated dynamic congestion control strategy and a leader-follower control scheme. With respect to standard sliding mode control (SMC), the second-order sliding mode technique shows the same properties of robustness to uncertainties of model and considerable simplification of model used in the design. Apart from the robustness feature, the proposed second-order SMC laws have the advantage of being continuous, thus eliminating the chattering effect and being more acceptable in application. The performance of the control scheme is verified by the simulation results.


A spectral model was derived to predict the spectral reflectance factor of colors formed using a color proofing system simulating offset printing. A first-order model was based on the spectral Neugebauer equation modified by the Yule-Nielsen correction in which n was assumed to vary as a function of wavelength. The n z and effective dot areas were optimized using primary (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) halftone tints. Systematic errors were observed. The systematic error behaved in a similar fashion to the phenomenon of ink trapping. Because ink trapping,.ink spread, ink mixture and variance of mechanical dot gain were negligible for this proofing system, this is an optical effect to be referred to as optical trapping. An interaction model was derived that compensated for optical trapping. Adding the optical trapping effect to the first-order model significantly improved model prediction to an average ΔE * ab , of 2.2 with a maximum of 5.5. A simple black printer model was derived for an inversion of the forward model that aimed to provide a similar black amount with a conventional color-separation method and colorimetric match applying a concept of under-color removal (UCR) in original density space with tone reproduction curves of a gray scale. Using the Simplex method, the modified spectral Neugebauer model with the black printer model was inverted to build a backward model. Influences of the dot area transform function obtained from the backward model were compared with those from a conventional method for an evaluation of similarity. A desktop drum scanner was colorimetrically characterized using a spectral reconstruction model for a reflective photographic material to build a concatenated device profile in which digital counts of a scanned photographic reflection print were the input and those of the proofing system were the output. Performances of the concatenated device profile were evaluated for practical use. The average ΔE* ab error from the profile was 2.1 including colors outside of the proofing system's color gamut.