Abstract Studies of conflicts involving the use of surrogates focus largely on states, viewing the relationship between sponsors and proxies primarily as one in which states utilize nonstate actors as proxies. They have devoted far less attention to sponsor-proxy arrangements in which nonstate actors play super-ordinate roles as sponsors in their own right. Why and how do nonstate actors sponsor proxies? Unlike state sponsors, which value proxies primarily for their military utility, nonstate sponsors select and utilize proxies mainly for their perceived political value. Simply put, states tend to sponsor military surrogates, whereas nonstate actors sponsor political ancillaries. Both endogenous actor-based traits and exogenous structural constraints account for these different approaches. An analysis of three case studies of nonstate sponsors that differ in terms of ideology and capacity—al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the People's Protection Units in Syria, and Hezbollah in Lebanon—confirms this argument, but also suggests that the ability and desire to control proxies varies with the sponsor's capacity. High-capacity nonstate sponsors such as Hezbollah behave similarly to state sponsors, but remain exceptional. Most nonstate sponsors are less dominant, rendering the relationships to their proxies more transactional and pragmatic, and ultimately less enduring than those of state sponsors and their clients.


Background The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and corresponding vaccination programs have been in Canada for over six years, yet there is no information on their effectiveness in reducing anogenital warts. Objectives To assess the effect of the HPV vaccine (vaccine impact) and Ontario's Grade 8 HPV vaccination program (program impact) on anogenital warts using the Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD; a quasi-experimental, instrumental variable-based technique used to assess the causal effects of policy interventions). Methods By linking Ontario's 36 immunization databases with provincial health records, we will identify a population-based cohort of all girls in Grade 8 in 2003/04-2008/09. Girls will be followed from September 1 of Grade 8 until August 31 of Grade 11. Exposure will be categorized based on HPV vaccine program eligibility (2003/04-2006/07 vs. 2007/08-2008/09) and actual vaccine receipt (0-2 vs. 3 doses). Outcomes will be identified based on a new diagnosis of and treatment for anogenital warts. For the RDD analysis, a continuous instrument will be created using birth month and year, where December 1993 (end of ineligible birth cohort) and January 1994 (start of eligible birth cohort) define the program eligibility cut-off. To estimate the program impact, local linear regression will be employed at the cut-off; here, exposure will be based on program eligibility (intention-to-treat). To estimate vaccine impact, we will use two-stage local linear regression, which will account for actual vaccination status. Several strategies will be used to test and minimize potential confounding bias – e.g., comparison of baseline characteristics, use of triangular kernel, optimal bandwidth selection. Results Based on preliminary data (21 immunization databases), we identified a cohort of 155,999 ineligible and 75,508 eligible girls (N=231,507). Eligibility cohorts were similar across factors like age, urban/rural status, and vaccination history, suggesting they are balanced on factors other than program exposure. A graph of the probability of vaccination by instrument confirmed two additional RDD assumptions – there was discontinuity in exposure at the cut-off (4.6% vs. 45.8%) and no discontinuities at locations other than the cut-off. Conclusions Preliminary results confirm the RDD is appropriate for use in this context. Complete, provincial-level results will be available by June 2013.


Japanese domestic politics grew more volatile and complex in 2017, as LDP electoral reversals were followed by opposition fragmentation and then conservative consolidation. Foreign policy was dominated by the security challenge of North Korea, but also involved deepened relations with the US and Europe, as well as unanticipated improvement with China and South Korea. Macroeconomic trends were positive, but structural reform proceeded only slowly. Japanese society remained slow to change.


Silver and gold nanoparticles were prepared by using nanosecond pulsed laser ablation. Ablation of pure metal targets (Ag and Au) for nanoparticle colloidal production was studied in de-ionized water. The optical properties were studied with Ultraviolet- Visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer. The spectra reveal sharp peaks due to surface plasmon absorption peaks at 405 nm and 523 nm for Ag and Au respectively. The size and shape of nanoparticles was investigated by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Spherical shapes with average diameters of 10 nm and 6 nm for silver and gold nanoparticles were found respectively.


The article generalizes the experience with diagnosis of disturbances of the lymph flow in 133 patients with edema after extremity traumas. On the basis of clinico-lymphographic examinations a classification of posttraumatic edemas is proposed facilitating the selection of the method for treatment of such patients.


Multi-joint link is a class of typical structure in aircraft assembly. And the quantification of assembly error is very important to tolerance allocation and assembly quality prediction. A novel error analysis model of multi-joint assembly is established based on linkage mechanism theory. First, a virtual linkage mechanism will be created according to specific structural character and tolerance of joint linkage. And then, the input-output equation of linkage mechanism can be derived by vector method. Subsequently, the coaxiality and coplanarity error analysis models are developed respectively for three-joint and four-joint assembly. Finally, a case study on the elevator & horizontal empennage docking demonstrates the proposed method.


Abstract. The Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation (EarthCARE) satellite mission is a joint effort by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The EarthCARE mission features the first spaceborne 94 GHz cloud-profiling radar (CPR) with Doppler capability. The raw CPR observations and auxiliary information are used as input to three Level-2 (L2) algorithms: (1) C-APC: Antenna Pointing Characterization; (2) C-FMR: CPR feature mask and reflectivity; (3) C-CD: Corrected CPR Doppler Measurements. These algorithms apply quality control and corrections to the CPR primary measurements and derive important geophysical variables, such as hydrometeor locations, and best estimates of particle sedimentation fall velocities. The C-APC algorithm uses natural targets to introduce any corrections needed to the CPR raw Doppler velocities due to the CPR antenna pointing. The C-FMR product provides the feature mask based on only-reflectivity CPR measurements and quality-controlled radar-reflectivity profiles corrected for gaseous attenuation at 94 GHz. In addition, C-FMR provides best estimates of the path-integrated attenuation (PIA) and flags identifying the presence of multiple scattering in the CPR observations. Finally, the C-CD product provides the quality-controlled, bias-corrected mean Doppler velocity estimates (Doppler measurements corrected for antenna mispointing, non-uniform beam filling and velocity folding). In addition, the best estimate of the particle sedimentation velocity is estimated using a novel technique.


Light microscopic autoradiography was used to study the pattern of glycoprotein labeling following intravitreal injection of 3H-fucose in the developing mouse retina. Autoradiograms from three postnatal age groups (7-day, 12-day, and adult) were examined. Distinct labeling patterns were observed in all three age groups which followed the general scheme of incorporation into cell bodies followed by localization in the synaptic layers. Thus, 1 to 2 hr after injection, the label was present in all layers but concentrated within the cell bodies of amacrine, ganglion, and horizontal cells in P7 and P12 animals and amacrine and ganglion cells in the adult animals. In all age groups, the synaptic layers showed increased incorporation compared to nuclear layers and a greater retention of glycoproteins. The major differences noted during development were that the turnover rate of 3H-fucose was faster in 7-day animals than in the P12 or adult animals.


In this thesis I investigate what kind of mental imagery ekphrastic and pictorial poetry can evoke, how time is represented in this kind of poetry, and how readers experience the temporality it represents. Ekphrasis (a verbal representation of a static, visual, iconic representation) and pictorialism (a phenomenon that occurs when the reality of the fictive world, either psychological or physical, in the text is represented as image) are intermedial concepts: in various ways and to various degrees, ekphrastic and pictorial texts refer to and represent static, visual, iconic media such as painting, photography and sculpture. In the first part of the thesis I discuss intermedial theory and earlier research on ekphrastic and pictorial poetry, and present my contribution to the field. Having investigated the concepts of ekphrasis and pictorialism, I apply cognitive research on mental imagery on ekphrastic and pictorial poetry to examine what kind of mental images the texts are able to generate, depending on their content and structure as well as on how the human brain functions. Mental images have a lot in common with real viewing: the brain treats mental and real images similarly. What are the implications of that for the study of verbally evoked images? Last, I investigate how ekphrastic and pictorial texts can represent time passing as well as time standing still. I present a model to map the relationships between ekphrasis and temporality; how does an ekphrastic poem represent a source image representing either stasis or temporal flux? In this section the relation between sound and temporality is discussed as well. Throughout the thesis, the theoretical notions are supported by literary examples and analyses. Among the examples are poems by Tomas Transtromer, Wizlava Szymborska, William Carlos Williams, Ella Hillback and many more.


We performed two experiments to assess the methodological variability of microbial community-level physiological profiles (CLPP, using the BiOLOG assay) in soil from a California annual grassland ecosystem. In a study to assess the impact of sample preparation, we found that bacteria adhered to soil surfaces are numerically dominant and have CLPPs indistinguishable from that of intact soil. Studies that allow soil particles to settle prior to dilution or plating may not accurately reflect the substrate utilization pattern of whole soil. In a hierarchical ANOVA, we found that nearly all of the methodological variability in the CLPP assay comes from soil replicates rather than plate replicates. Many laboratories replicate at the level of the CLPP plate. Our results indicate that to best represent a given soil sample, it is important to replicate soil subsamples, rather than CLPP plates.


Pollination and reproductive ecology of arid zone species in Australia are neglected topics. This is particularly true of rare species, some of which are threatened by mining operations. The bee community at Windarling Range in southern Western Australia and the pollination ecology of four rare Tetratheca taxa with distributions restricted to Banded Iron Formation inselbergs in the arid south-west were examined in winter and spring to understand if pollination rate was affecting the reproductive ecology of the plants. The bee fauna on the Windarling Range was sampled using coloured pan traps at three landscape positions of ridge (where Tetratheca paynterae subsp. paynterae occurs), slope and flats and the insect visitors to T. paynterae subsp. paynterae were quantified by direct observation. The bee fauna varied over the two years with average richness higher in 2010 than 2011 and was higher on the ridge compared with the slope and flats below the inselberg. The Tetratheca species are buzz pollinated and T. paynterae subsp. paynterae is only visited by a subsection of the bee fauna, mainly Lasioglossum species, which were shown to be relatively faithful to the species in terms of the pollen they carried. Flowering mainly occurs after the winter wet season, but may occur at other times when there has been substantial rain. This may not coincide with bee activity. In the winter flowers may be poorly serviced if maximum daytime temperatures are below 20°C. However, in spring when temperatures are higher the majority of flowers were pollinated and there was no significant difference in proportion of pollinated flowers between the four taxa examined. As T. paynterae is outcrossing the propensity for bees to attend few flowers on a visit to each plant, often on the outer part of the plant canopy, will likely ensure a high success rate for seed formation. High seed set in such an arid environment with few suitable sites for seedling establishment is essential so some propagules can find safe sites for establishment to maintain population numbers.


Femoral shaft fractures are common in children and are increasingly being treated with elastic intramedullary nail. We outline an instrument we have used successfully to make an entry point for placement of elastic nail.  Keywords: Elastic nailing, Fracture shaft femur, Technique


Objective: We recently reported that the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2þ-ATPase (SERCA) 2b is the SERCA form preferentially expressed in rat thyroid. Moreover, SERCA2b expression dramatically decreases in virally transformed, highly tumorigenic, PC Cl3 thyroid cells. These results suggest that, in the thyroid, SERCA2b, in addition to its housekeeping role, is linked to differentiation and is a regulated gene. We therefore sought to study the effect of TSH, the main regulator of thyroid function, on SERCA2b expression and activity. Methods: PC Cl3 cells were hormone starved in low-serum medium and stimulated for long (48 h) or short (1, 2 and 4 h) times. SERCA2b expression and activity were evaluated by Northern and Western blots, Ca2þ-ATPase activity and Ca2þ store content. Results: In PC Cl3 cells, SERCA2b mRNA and protein were induced twofold by a 48-h long treatment with TSH. Long-term elevation (48 h) of intracellular cAMP levels, by forskolin or 8-Br-cAMP, had similar effects on SERCA2b mRNA and protein. We also measured Ca2þ-ATPase activity and Ca2þ store content. Both long (48 h) and short (0.5–1 h) treatments with TSH, forskolin or 8-Br-cAMP induced a marked increase of SERCA2b activity. This effect was completely abolished by H89, a specific inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA). TSH and 8-Br-cAMP increased Ca2þ store content after both long (48 h) and short (1–2 h) treatments. Conclusions: These data suggested that TSH/cAMP acts as an important regulator of both SERCA2b expression and activity in the thyroid system, through PKA activation. European Journal of Endocrinology 150 851–861


ABSTRACT Intercropping is practised globally because of its advantages in terms of productivity and resource use efficiency. However, our knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying belowground interspecific interactions in intercropping systems is still very limited. Pot experiments involving both intercropped millet and peanut were conducted to quantify the differentially expressed proteins in each component crop under conditions of complete, partial and no interspecific interactions based on tandem mass tag (TMT) labelling. The results showed that the yields of both crops in the intercropping system increased in response to complete root interactions due to increases in nutrient acquisition as well as increases in root length and surface area. There were 73 differentially expressed proteins in the millet roots and 41 in the peanut roots, most of which were involved in C metabolism, N metabolism, transport and signal transduction. Additional bioinformatic analyses revealed that root interactions improved N and P assimilation via relatively high amounts of proteins such as urease and inorganic phosphate transporter in the millet roots and malate dehydrogenase increased P assimilation related proteins in the peanut roots. These results would contribute to a comprehensive understanding at molecular level in cereal/legume intercropping systems in response to interspecific root interactions.


[Purpose] This study determined the effects a new modality of core stabilization exercises based on diaphragmatic breathing on pulmonary function, abdominal fitness, and movement efficiency. [Subjects] Thirty-two physically active, healthy males were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 16). [Methods] The experimental group combined diaphragmatic breathing exercises with global stretching postures, and the control group performed common abdominal exercises (e.g., crunch, plank, sit-up), both for 15 minutes twice weekly for 6 weeks. Pulmonary function (measured by forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and peak expiratory flow) and abdominal fitness (measured with the American College of Sports Medicine curl-up [cadence] test and the Functional Movement ScreenTM) were evaluated before and after the intervention. [Results] Significant changes in curl-up (cadence) test scores, Functional Movement Screen scores, and all pulmonary parameters were recorded in the experimental group at the posttraining assessment, whereas in the control group, no significant differences over baseline were observed in any parameters. [Conclusion] Compared with traditional abdominal exercises, core stabilization exercises based on breathing and global stretching postures are more effective in improving pulmonary function and abdominal fitness.


Herein we report a new type of artificial cells capable of long-term protein expression and regulation. We constructed the artificial cells by grafting anti-His-tag aptamer into the polymer backbone of the hydrogel particles, and then immobilizing the His-tagged proteinaceous factors of the transcription and translation system into the hydrogel particles. Long-term protein expression for at least 16 days was achieved by continuously flowing feeding buffer through the artificial cells. The effect of various metal ions on the protein expression in the artificial cells was investigated. Utilizing the lac operator-repressor system, we could regulate the expression level of eGFP in the artificial cells by controlling the β-D-1-thiogalatopyranoside (IPTG) concentration in the feeding buffer. The artificial cells based on the aptamer grafted hydrogel provide a useful platform for gene circuit engineering, metabolic engineering, drug delivery, and biosensors.


This paper reports the reflective journey we undertook as the leaders of a collaborative action research project involving education practitioners and our navigation through a complex web of cooperation, conflict resolution, bargaining and defection. Drawing on these experiences, we seek to make explicit the cocktail of tensions and disordering of research contexts and practices that have remained largely disregarded both in the literature and in everyday self-accounting. By interweaving the plot-lines of 'game,' 'ritual' and 'real' we seek to gain an insight into the rational/irrational behaviour of the various players involved in this ethno-drama, including ourselves. Finally, we posit the claim that educational action research conceived as a 'critical and (self-critical) collaborative inquiry' (Zuber-Skerritt, 1996, p.85) has surrendered its democratic values to an all pervading performativity culture and conclude that collaborative action research conducted in the politicised educational contexts of today cannot be true to its ideal.


The Hammer of Witches: A Complete Translation of the Malleus Maleficarum. By Christopher S. Mackay. (New York: Cambridge University Press. 2009. Pp. x, 657. $29.95 paperback. ISBN 978-0-521-74787-5.) Between i486 and 1669 the famous witch-hunting manual, Malleus Maleficarum, underwent twenty-eight editions, all in Latin. It was for two centuries one of the best known treatises on the nature of witchcraft, recommending harsh investigations and punishment. After 1900 this text had an even wider circulation owing to a spate of (often inadequate) translations into German, English, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Czech, Polish, Croatian, Dutch, and even Vietnamese. On the Internet it is available in Latin, in various translations, and as an audio recording. Parts of it have even been set to music. Unfortunately, many of these versions appealed to prurient or sensationalist interests; lacked the necessary scholarly apparatus required for understanding a complex late medieval exercise in canon law, theology, and demonology; and were often inaccurate. This was notably true of the English version produced by Montague Summers, the gothic fantasist (London, 1928). Recognizing these difficulties, scholars especially in Germany and the Englishspeaking world have published reprints of the original Latin edition (Goppingen, 1991; New York, 1992), an improved but abridged English translation by R G. Maxwell-Stuart (Manchester, UK, 2007), a much improved translation into German by W Tschacher, Wolfgang Behringer, and Gunter Jerouschek (Munich, 2000), and an elaborate (and expensive) two-volume edition of an edited Latin text with introduction, notes, and an English translation by the classicist Christopher S. Mackay (Cambridge, UK, 2006). The massive volume under review is a reasonably priced paperback edition of Mackay's English translation with an abridged but still substantial introduction, improved running heads, and detailed notes. In addition to providing a much more reliable translation into English, Mackay has provided a useful outline, glossary, and detailed notes on the theological and legal sources cited. He has done heroic service in identifying the many ancient and medieval sources quoted or cited in the text, especially St. Thomas Aquinas, but also the Dominicans Johannes Nider; Nicolas Eymeric; and St. Antoninus, archbishop of Florence. There are, however, a few issues to mention. First, it is noteworthy that Mackay's name appears on the title page as translator but with no original author. On the vexed issue of authorship, scholars are currently divided, but Behringer and Jerouschek have provided a strong argument that the Malleus was very much the product of one author, Heinrich Kramer (Henricus Institoris, O.P.) with no contribution from Jacob Sprenger. Perhaps their most important pieces of evidence are Kramer's claim to have written the book, the anecdotes in the Malleus that emanated from the south German and Austrian territories where Kramer was active as an inquisitor, and Sprenger's denial of authorship (as Servatius Fanckel, his successor as prior of the Cologne Dominican convent, declared one year after Sprenger's death in 1495). Bearing these facts in mind, it seems odd that Mackay declares that Kramer and Sprenger wrote the Malleus, and that arguments to the contrary are "nugatory" (p. 5). For Mackay, it seems decisive that Kramer claimed in a sworn statement that he had written the book in collaboration with Sprenger and that "only an imbecile" (p. …


After setting a mixed formulation for the propagation of linearized water waves problem, we define its spectral element approximation. Then, in order to take into account unbounded domains, we construct absorbing perfectly matched layer for the problem. We approximate these perfectly matched layer by mixed spectral elements and show their stability using the 'frozen coefficient' technique. Finally, numerical results will prove the efficiency of the perfectly matched layer compared to classical absorbing boundary conditions.


Physical Uncloneable Functions (PUFs) can be used as a cost-e ective means to store cryptographic key material in an uncloneable way. In coating PUFs, keys are generated from capacitance measurements of a coating containing many randomly distributed particles with di erent dielectric constants. We introduce a physical model of coating PUFs by simplifying the capacitance sensors to a parallel plate geometry. We estimate the amount of information that can be extracted from the coating. We show that the inherent entropy is proportional to p n(log n), where n is the number of particles that t between the capacitor plates in a straight line. However, measurement noise may severely reduce the amount of information that can actually be extracted in practice. In the noisy regime the number of extractable bits is in fact a decreasing function of n. We derive an optimal value for n as a function of the noise amplitude, the PUF geometry and the dielectric constants.


Concussion is a growing issue within sport, including within soccer. Despite the developing medical understanding of concussion, there is still an array of sociocultural discourses and misconceptions around it. In the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final, Liverpool Football Club goalkeeper Loris Karius suffered a head collision in the 48th minute. Postmatch, he was subsequently diagnosed as being concussed. As a result of his concussion, Karius' performance was arguably impeded, with suggestions that this may have resulted in him making some key errors in the game. Through an analysis of media framing in 52 news articles in the days following the incident, four dominant frames were identified: deflection away from concussion, misunderstanding concussion, education on concussion, and recommendations. Frames that focussed on the lack of awareness and preventative measures that are present in soccer served to highlight the lack of significance afforded to concussion at this particular point in time. In particular, we highlight differences in concussion discourses between those working inside and outside the soccer industry. Overall, these findings contribute to the growing body of sociological work examining concussion in sport.


Impacts of climate change on Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) and the growing population pose a major threat to water and food security in India. Adapting to such changes needs reliable projections of ISMR by general circulation models. Here we find that, majority of new generation climate models from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase5 (CMIP5) fail to simulate the post‐1950 decreasing trend of ISMR. The weakening of monsoon is associated with the warming of Southern Indian Ocean and strengthening of cyclonic formation in the tropical western Pacific Ocean. We also find that these large‐scale changes are not captured by CMIP5 models, with few exceptions, which is the reason of this failure. Proper representation of these highlighted geophysical processes in next generation models may improve the reliability of ISMR projections. Our results also alert the water resource planners to evaluate the CMIP5 models before using them for adaptation strategies.


Abstract To investigate whether the unique assemblage of habitats in zoos could affect mosquito oviposition behavior and to provide zoos with suggestions for mosquito control, larvae were sampled and associated habitat variables were measured in 2 zoos in South Carolina, USA. Fifty-nine sites were sampled from March 2008 to January 2009. A total of 1,630 larvae representing 16 species was collected and identified. The dominant species was Aedes albopictus (46.0%), followed by Ae. triseriatus (23.6%), Culex restuans (12.4%), and Cx. pipiens complex (9.7%). Principal components and multiple logistic regression analyses showed that across both zoos the distribution of Ae. albopictus larvae was predicted by ambient and site temperature, precipitation, dissolved oxygen, and container habitats. The distribution of Ae. triseriatus larvae was predicted by natural containers and shade height ≤2 m. Overall larval mosquito presence (regardless of species) was predicted by ambient and site temperature, precipitation, dissolved oxygen, presence of natural habitats, and absence of aquatic vegetation. Additionally, C8 values of pairwise species associations indicated significant habitat-based relationships between Ae. albopictus and Ae. triseriatus, and Cx. pipiens complex and Cx. restuans. In general, species–habitat associations conformed to previously published studies. Recommendations to zoo personnel include elimination of artificial container habitats, reduction of shade sources ≤2 m over aquatic habitats, use of approved mosquito larvicides, and training in recognizing and mitigating larval mosquito habitats.


The creation of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Education in 1961 proved to be one of the major events of Quebec's political and social revolution. The publication of its Report, commonly referred to as the Parent Report after the chairman, Mgr. Alphonse Parent, launched an educational reform which in its essential features continues to the present time.

 Mgr. Parent, who died in October of 1970, was of the opinion that the implementation of the Report's recommendations would require a period of from ten to fifteen years. It would seem to be an appropriate time, then, for an inventory of the results as seen by the Commissioners themselves and by some key personnel in provincial educational policy-making. Essentially, we have attempted, through a series of interviews, to ascertain their views on the validity of the Parent Report's proposals and the progress made toward achieving its goals.

 Five of the Commissioners were available for interviews, and to extend our perspective further, we have also interviewed four educational leaders in the Province who were not members of the Commission.


The waveshape of the local-oscillator voltage component that exists across the nonlinear junction of a Shottky-barrier diode is a fundamental determinant of mixer performance. This waveshape significantly differs from that of the total local-oscillator voltage impressed across the diode terminals since it is influenced by parasitic, particularly spreading resistance and contact inductance, which exist in series with the junction. The junction-voltage waveshapes resulting from a 9.375-GHz sinusoidal local-oscillator generator voltage are computed for three common equivalent-circuit models of the diode. In the first model the diode is represented by a nonlinear conductance in series with a fixed spreading resistance. The second model includes the nonlinear capacitance associated with the junction, and the third additionally includes the contact inductance. In each case, the junction-voltage waveshape is significantly nonsinusoidal. It is shown that the contact inductance can induce a peak inverse junction voltage that greatly exceeds the peak voltage impressed across the diode terminals. This parasitic reactance thus can have an important bearing on the burnout properties of the mixer diode.


Dimension 2 is expected to be the lower critical dimension for Anderson localization in a time-reversal-invariant disordered quantum system. Using an atomic quasiperiodic kicked rotor-equivalent to a two-dimensional Anderson-like model-we experimentally study Anderson localization in dimension 2 and we observe localized wave function dynamics. We also show that the localization length depends exponentially on the disorder strength and anisotropy and is in quantitative agreement with the predictions of the self-consistent theory for the 2D Anderson localization.


The force-position decoupling technology based on Magnetorheological Fluid Torque Servo (MRT) can effectively solve the force-position coupling problem existed commonly in polishing processes. In the new polishing system, polishing force is not generated directly by the displacement of polishing tool, but provided by the MRT. Polishing path planning is another key point of the force-position decoupling technology. In this paper, a polishing path planning method was proposed, and the effect of polishing tool path on polishing parameters was analyzed. The law obtained will guide the uniform material removal of aspheric surfaces.


The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) compact inflorescence (cif) genotype causes altered adult vegetative development and a reduction in elongation of inflorescence internodes resulting in formation of floral clusters. The cif trait requires both a recessive mutation, cif1, and the activity of a naturally occurring dominant allele of an unlinked gene, CIF2D. We show here that the pseudoverticillata mutation is allelic with cif1 and that the product of the CIF1 gene is ACA10, a member of the large family of P-type Ca2+-ATPases found in higher plants. T-DNA insertion mutations in ACA10, but not in the two other Arabidopsis plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase-encoding genes, ACA8 and ACA9, cause a cif phenotype when combined with the dominant CIF2D modifier allele. Therefore, ACA10 has a unique function in regulating adult phase growth and inflorescence development. The wild-type ACA8 and ACA10 mRNAs are present at similar levels, and the two promoter-β-glucuronidase fusion transgenes show very similar expression patterns. Moreover, transformation of the cif mutant with an extra copy of the ACA8 gene, which causes overexpression of the ACA8 transcript, can complement the cif phenotype. This suggests that these two Ca2+ pump genes have distinct but related activities and that their differential functions can be altered by relatively small changes in their patterns or levels of expression. The correspondence between cif1 and mutations in ACA10 establishes a genetic link between calcium transport, vegetative phase change, and inflorescence architecture.


Computer-based Decision Support Systems (DSS) are intended to aid decision makers in collecting information from a variety of sources, in order to identify and solve problems and make decisions. Theoretical possibilities exist of building a DSS in any knowledge domain; notable work has taken place in business, medicine, defense, manufacturing, transportation, forestry, and law. The work described in this paper deals with the design of a DSS based on a mathematical model for an ice- cream manufacturing operation. Ice-cream manufacturing is a useful example because it is a multi- modal system that contains sufficient complexity in the processes to be generalized to many other kinds of operations.


The common threat among MCM operations and concept is the need for a clear and concise battle space picture enabling the on-scene commander to maneuver naval forces from the sea into the littorals. The timely collection of data (REA) and accurate positioning of subsea targets must be possible anywhere in the world, in a potentially rapid approaching and hostile environment, in coastal regions where access is often limited. EXPLORA 05 is a live REA demonstration organised by the French Navy in Morgat bay (close to Brest, France) using subsea remote instrumentation. The iXSea GAPS (Global Acoustic Positioning System) has been used for tracking of several vehicles. In this paper we present it and demonstrate its attractive features for MCM/REA applications including fast deployable, high accuracy, plug and play and easy to use multiple targets positioning system. We also discuss several future new concepts and solutions for subsea positioning iXSea in currently developing, and how they contribute to solve positioning issues on the subsea battlefield.


The development of an efficient targeted gene delivery system into cells is an important strategy for the advancement of gene therapy. The targeted gene delivery system is especially important in non-viral gene transfer which shows the relative low transfection efficiency. And it also opens the possibility of selective delivery of therapeutic plasmids to specific tissues. Chitosan has been considered to be a good candidate for gene delivery system, since it is already known as a biocompatible, biodegradable, and low toxic material with high cationic potential. However, low specificity and low transfection efficiency of chitosan need to be overcome prior to clinical trial. In this study, we focused on the chemical modification of chitosan for enhancement of cell specificity and transfection efficiency.


Research was conducted in order to determine the effect of tomato lycopene addition and reduction of included nitrites on the chemical composition, residual nitrite quantity, muscle pigment oxidation processes, colour characteristics and overall sensory evaluation of cooked perishable sausages. Experimental samples with three lycopene concentrations and different nitrite quantities, and a reference sample with standard and reduced sodium nitrite content were prepared. It was found that the increase in the included lycopene quantity was accompanied by an increase in the values of the red а* and yellow b* component of the experimental sample colour. The best colour characteristic and colour stability of the cut surface was observed with the samples made -1 -1 -1 -1 using 100 mg.kg and 50 mg.kg of sodium nitrite and 40 mg.kg of lycopene. The sausages made only with the addition of lycopene and 100 mg.kg sodium -1 -1 -1 nitrite and 80 mg.kg lycopene had lower sensory evaluation compared to the samples with standard (100 mg. kg ) or reduced (50 mg.kg ) nitrite and lycopene quantity.


Models of trade and factor flows based on differences in factor endowments give clear predictions as to how globalization affects inequality and development. Models in which productivity differences between countries drive trade and factor flows gave more ambiguous predictions. Unfortunately, productivity differences seem necessary to understand many, though not all, Big Picture globalization, inequality, and development outcomes. The factor endowment predictions help give us insight into how the North Atlantic economy achieved decreasing inequality between countries in the last five decades. They also give us insight into the Great Migration of Europeans from the land-scarce Old World to the landabundant New World in the late 19th and early 20th century, accompanied by the predicted movements in land rental/wage ratios. However, productivity differences appear to be an important facet of many globalization, inequality, and development episodes. In the Old Globalization era, they seem to be crucial to understand the lack of convergence between North Atlantic economies, the Great Divergence between rich and poor countries in that same era, and the bias of capital flows towards rich countries. In the New Globalization era, productivity differences are important to capture the very different performance of poor country regions in recent decades, the flow of all factors of production towards the rich countries, the low returns to physical and human capital in many poor countries, and the "perverse" behavior of within-country inequality in reaction to trade and capital flows.


Background Clinical practice guidelines are an important component of efforts to improve quality of care and rationalise the introduction of new medical technologies. As evidence-based medicine and comparative effectiveness research become more prominent, the rigour and transparency of guideline development is becoming increasingly important. Context Since 1988, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has published ophthalmic practice guidelines known as Preferred Practice Patterns (PPPs). Over time, the Academy has introduced increasingly rigorous processes for grading the evidence underpinning the PPPs. Description of Best Practice Prior to 2000, the PPPs were effectively consensus-based, with no formal processes for identifying or synthesising evidence, and no system for grading evidence quality. In 2000, a three-level system was introduced to denote the quality of the evidence supporting PPP recommendations, with Level I denoting strongly evidence-based statements and Level III denoting statements unsupported by evidence. In 2001, the level definitions were revised to denote the quality of specific study designs, and explicit guidance for synthesising bodies of evidence was developed. A third revision in 2006 tightened the criteria for Levels I and II, and created a Level IV to differentiate poor-quality studies from expert opinion. In 2011, the levels were revamped to be consistent with SIGN and GRADE methods. Lessons The Academy has worked for years to make its evidence grading systems more rigorous. This has included using a level-based system to clearly link PPP recommendations to evidence quality, revising the level definitions for greater clarity, and providing explicit direction on evidence synthesis.


HerbertMarcuse has been called the philosopher of the New Left. If this title is warranted—and I believe it is—then we have in the New Left not only a rejection of American society, but a rejection of the traditions of Western civilization. What is remarkable, however, is that the New Left can disrupt colleges and universities, the guardians of civilization, and frequently be assured of apologists within those very colleges and universities. Herbert Marcuse is not one of their apologists so much as one of their teachers. What lures many of these innocents and not-so-innocents to his teaching is its utopianism. This utopianism appears to provide an attractive alternative to American society. It is seemingly based on a solid and comprehensive critique of contemporaryliberalism and the conservative vestiges of nineteenth-century liberalism. It condemns not only economic but intellectual and moral laissez-faire. And yet, as we shall see, this new utopianism is itself rooted in the underlying principle of modern liberalism, a principle which Marcuse develops to its ultimate logical conclusion and, in so doing, poses a threat to the very existence of civilized society.


Calponin, a thin-filament protein of smooth muscle, has been implicated in the regulation of smooth-muscle contraction, since in vitro the isolated protein inhibits the actin-activated myosin MgATPase. This inhibitory effect, and the ability of calponin to bind to actin, is lost after its phosphorylation by protein kinase C or Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II [Winder & Walsh (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 10148-10155]. If this phosphorylation reaction is of physiological significance, there must be a protein phosphatase in smooth muscle capable of dephosphorylating calponin and restoring its inhibitory effect on the actomyosin MgATPase. We demonstrate here the presence, in chicken gizzard smooth muscle, of a single major phosphatase activity directed towards calponin. This phosphatase was purified from the soluble fraction of chicken gizzard by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and sequential chromatography on Sephacryl S-300, DEAE-Sephacel, omega-amino-octyl-agarose and thiophosphorylated myosin 20 kDa light-chain-Sepharose columns. The purified phosphatase contained three polypeptide chains of 60, 55 and 38 kDa which were shown to be identical with the subunits of SMP-I, a smooth-muscle phosphatase capable of dephosphorylating the isolated 20 kDa light chain of myosin but not intact myosin [Pato & Adelstein (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 7047-7054]. Consistent with its identity with SMP-I, calponin phosphatase was classified as a type-2A protein phosphatase. Of several potential phosphoprotein substrates examined, calponin proved to be kinetically the best, suggesting that calponin may be a physiological substrate for this phosphatase. Finally, dephosphorylation of calponin which had been phosphorylated by protein kinase C restored completely its ability to inhibit the actin-activated MgATPase of smooth-muscle myosin. These observations support the hypothesis that calponin plays a role in regulating the contractile state of smooth muscle and that this function in turn is controlled by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation.


Two kinds of new methods are developed to obtain effective representations of hierarchies automatically: theoretical and heuristic methods. The methods determine the positions of vertices in two steps. First the order of the vertices in each level is determined to reduce the number of crossings of edges. Then horizontal positions of the vertices are determined to improve further the readability of drawings. The theoretical methods are useful in recognizing the nature of the problem, and the heuristic methods make it possible to enlarge the size of hierarchies with which we can deal. Performance tests of the heuristic methods and several applications are presented.


Abstract The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is currently considered the best overall index of kidney function. The possibility that laboratories might routinely report an estimated GFR has become practically feasible with the development of a formula, the "four-variable" Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study (MDRD) equation that uses age, sex, race, and serum creatinine parameters. However, a limitation of this equation for general implementation in healthcare is related to the use of differently calibrated creatinine measurement procedures among laboratories. The only way to achieve universal implementation of the GFR prediction equation, with the associated clinical benefits for patients, is, therefore, to promote worldwide standardization of methods to determine creatinine, together with the introduction of a revised GFR-estimating equation appropriate for use with standardized creatinine methods. Clin Chem Lab Med 2006;44:1287–92.


During the Nixon administration, a key phrase identified with Arthur Schlesinger emerged: namely, the "imperial presidency." The whole postwar trend was perceived as moving in this direction. But with the Ford and Carter administrations, strong countertrends were set in motion: trends which enhanced the power of the judiciary in the case of the impeachment of Nixon, and legislative authority in the cases of the Ford and Carter administrations. As a result, it is now time for a fundamental reevaluation of the nature of the presidency, which is precisely what this volume represents.


Abstract Genetic improvement of crop drought tolerance has become an urgent need for increasing agricultural yields and food production, to feed a growing human population in the context of global climate change. To get insights into the most relevant mechanisms underlying drought resistance in beans, we have analysed the responses to water deficit of three Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) and one P. coccineus (runner bean) cultivars, focusing on the accumulation of specific osmolytes, a conserved response to abiotic stress in plants. Changes in osmolyte levels were correlated with the relative tolerance to water stress of the studied cultivars. Drought tolerance in Phaseolus largely depends on the accumulation of myo-inositol; glycine betaine may also contribute to tolerance in P. coccineus (but not in P. vulgaris). Proline, another common osmolyte, is a reliable marker of the level of stress affecting bean plants, but is not directly involved in tolerance mechanisms, as its drought-dependent accumulation is lowest in the most tolerant cultivar. We suggest that, by measuring the levels of proline and myo-inositol in water-stressed plants, a large number of cultivars could be easily and rapidly screened to select promising candidates to be used in breeding programmes for improving drought tolerance in beans.


Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Factors predisposing to NE can be antenatal, perinatal, or a combination of both. Antenatal maternal factors, familial factors, genetic predisposition, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, infections, placental abnormalities, thrombophilia, coagulation defects, and metabolic disorders all have been implicated in the pathogenesis of NE. At present, therapeutic hypothermia is the only treatment available, regardless of etiology. Recognizing the etiology of NE involved can also guide investigations such as metabolic and sepsis workups to ensure optimal management. Understanding the etiology of NE may allow the development of targeted adjunctive therapies related to the underlying mechanism and develop preventative strategies.


Past studies of the use of soil fertility management strategies by farmers usually model input use decisions based on the neoclassical utility/profit maximization principle in which farmers use soil fertility management inputs primarily to increase revenues and profits. However, there is, to date, no study that explains exactly how this decision-making process occurs and the role which personal values play in driving the choice of soil fertility management inputs. This article systematically maps the relationship between choice of soil fertility management strategy (attributes), its outcomes (consequences) and the personal values that motivate the choice. It specifically uses the means-end chain approach to construct hierarchical value maps that relate the attributes to consequences, and ultimately to the personal values. The study finds that the use of soil fertility management strategies by peri-urban fresh vegetable growers is driven by five personal values, namely happiness, comfortable life, independence, good/healthy life and achievement of life goals. It also finds that while farmers seek to increase profit (hence incomes), profit maximization is not the end driver of the use of soil fertility management inputs. It concludes that a lot more goes into farmers' decision-making process relating to the use of soil fertility management practices than can be explained by the neoclassical profit/utility maximization principle. The study discusses the policy implications of these findings.


This work is part of a broader research line that aims to develop and implement a nondestructive methodology for the chemical characterization of archaeological metals based on a protocol that combines energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF) with a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation algorithm. In this paper, the ED-XRF-MC protocol has been applied to estimate the chemical composition of a selected group of 26 copper-based artifacts and fragments recovered at Perdigões, one of the larger Chalcolithic sites of southwest Iberia. All the analyzed artifacts have a multilayered structure composed of the alloy substrate and of a superficial layer common in each metal buried for hundreds of years and consisting of the patina mixed with soil. Due to the difficulty in determining the quantitative composition of these alloys in the presence of this complex patina/encrustation layer, the spectrometric protocol applied in this paper allows to simulate and to determine the composition of the bulk alloy without any prior removal of the overlying corrosion patina layer and soil-derived crust, even in the presence of rough and irregular surfaces, thus preserving the physical integrity of the artifacts. The overall results obtained with the ED-XRF-MC protocol indicates that the artifacts from Perdigões are almost pure coppers with a low amount of arsenic (<3.0 wt%) and reduced concentration of elements such as Pb, Bi, and Sb, in agreement with the third millennium metallurgy known in southwestern Iberia. Also based on previously theoretical–experimental studies, the data presented in this paper show how the applied analytical methodology can be a fast and completely nondestructive analytical tool reliable for routine and large-scale chemical analysis of archaeological metals, thus representing a major advance to be broadly applied within the field of cultural heritage studies.


While high throughput and combinatorial techniques have played an instrumental role in materials development and implementation, numerous problems in materials science and engineering are too complex and necessitate a prohibitive number of experiments, even when considering high throughput and combinatorial approaches, for a comprehensive approach to materials design. Here, we propose a unique combination of high throughput experiments focused on binary formulations that, in combination with advanced modeling, has the potential to facilitate true materials design and optimization in ternary and more complex systems for which experiments are never required. Extensive research on the development of photopolymerizable monomer formulations has produced a vast array of potential monomer/comonomer, initiator and additive combinations. This array dramatically expands the range of material properties that are achievable; however, the vast number of potential formulations has eliminated any possibility of comprehensive materials design or optimization. This limitation is addressed by maximizing the benefits and unique capabilities of high throughput experimentation coupled with predictive models for material behavior and properties. The high throughput experimentation-model combination is useful to collect a limited amount of data from as few as 11 experiments on binary combinations of 10 analyzed monomers, and then use this limited data set to predict and optimize formulation properties in ternary resins that would have necessitated at least 1000 high throughput experiments and several orders of magnitude greater numbers of traditional experiments. A data analysis approach is demonstrated, and the model development and implementation for one model application in which a range of material properties are prescribed, and an optimal formulation that meets those properties is predicted and evaluated. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010


Scatter correction is important for absolute quantification in SPECT. Among the approaches taken to achieve scatter correction, some methods using transmission information for scatter estimation require the scatter models based on the physical characteristics of the scattered photons. The influence of the SPECT collimator on the characteristics of the scattered photon, however, has not been well studied yet. Here, the authors investigate the relationship between scatter and collimator design for the use of the transmission-dependent convolution subtraction (TDCS) method. Monte Carlo simulations with various collimator acceptance angles and experiments with four collimators of two SPECT cameras were performed to obtain the scatter fraction (SF) and the line-spread function (LSF) of Tc-99m. The experiments with I-123 also used six collimators of three SPECT systems to obtain the SF and the LSF. In the simulations, the SF of Tc-99m did not change with the collimator acceptance angles. The LSFs measured for Tc-99m showed an excellent agreement between collimators. In the experiments for I-123, the SF was practically the same for the six collimators, although a small difference could be observed due to the septal penetration. Also, the shape of the LSF was very similar between the collimators, and the counts in the background region of reconstructed images did not differ when using different sets of TDCS parameters. These results reveal that scatter is independent of SPECT collimator design for Tc-99m even I-123, and that the TDCS could be applicable to scatter correction of I-123 using a unique collimator-independent set of parameters.


In this letter, ultrathin gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3 ) high-k gate dielectrics with complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible fully silicided nickel-silicide metal gate electrodes are reported for the first time. MOS capacitors with a Gd2O3 thickness of 3.1 nm yield a capacitance equivalent oxide thickness of CET=0.86 nm. The extracted dielectric constant is k=13-14. Leakage currents and equivalent oxide thicknesses of this novel gate stack meet the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors targets for the near term schedule and beyond


Temperature sensitive nanoparticles (E20F) were generated from a construct of three chains of ElastinLike Polypeptides (ELP) linked to a negatively charged foldon domain. This ELP system was mixed at different ratios with a single linear chain of ELP (H40L) which was deprived of the foldon domain. The mixed system is soluble at room temperature and at a transition temperature will form swollen micelles with the hydrophobic linear chains hidden inside. This system was studied using Depolarized Dynamic Light Scattering (DDLS) and Static Light Scattering (SLS) to model the size, shape, and internal structure of the mixed micelles. The mixed micelle in equal parts of E20F and H40L show a constant apparent hydrodynamic radius of 40-45 nm at the concentration window from 25:25 to 60:60 μM (1:1 ratio). At a fixed 50 μM concentration of the E20F with varying H40L concentrations from 5 to 80 μM, a linear growth in the hydrodynamic radius is seen from about 11 to about 62 nm, along with a 1000-fold increase in VH signal. A possible simple model explaining the growth of the mixed micelles is considered. Lastly, the VH signal can indicate elongation in the geometry of the particle or could possibly be a result from anisotropic properties from the core of the micelle. Static Light Scattering was used to study the molecular weight, and the radius of gyration of the micelle to help identify the structure and morphology of mixed micelles and the tangible cause of the VH signal.


Research in the field of innovation has revealed that sustainability aspects play an increasingly important role in the development of new products and services. At the same time, stakeholder engagement in open innovation is an emerging area of study. This is mainly achieved by the creation and development of specific organizational capabilities. The purpose of this thesis is to combine research fields of organizational capabilities, stakeholder engagement and sustainabilityoriented innovation. Thereby, the aim is to present a framework of organizational capabilities for stakeholder engagement in sustainability-oriented innovation processes. The literature review provides insights from existing contributions in the fields of organizational capabilities, stakeholder engagement and sustainability-oriented innovation. The synthesis of the literature review suggests that there is a research gap between the individual fields, which this thesis aims to bridge. The theoretical framework is structured in a way that adequately addresses the posed research questions and combines inputs from previous literature as well as findings from empirical data. This data is collected from primary and secondary sources and analyzed in a multiple case-study design. First, an extensive within-case analysis is conducted. Second, the findings are presented in a cross-case comparison. Individual cases are described in the empirical findings. This section further contains information about sustainability-oriented innovation processes and involved stakeholders. Moreover, specific organizational capabilities for stakeholder engagement are presented. These include external dialogue, internal coordination, learning process and pilot testing. Entrepreneurial sprit, organizational culture and stakeholder incentivization are capabilities that emerge from the case data, but are not extensively backed by existing literature. In the discussion part a modified version of the theoretical framework is presented, considering inputs from the analysis of empirical data. The data sources do not provide information about prioritization of individual stakeholders. Moreover, there is no specific evidence if capabilities exist already at the beginning of the process or are developed along the way. These are the main limitations of this study. Future research should thus address these challenges and provide additional insights into this emerging field of research. The results of the study provide management with insights into sustainability-oriented innovation processes. Furthermore, various ways of stakeholder engagement are presented. Most importantly, managers gain knowledge about specific organizational capabilities that promote stakeholder engagement in sustainability-oriented innovation processes. The main contribution for academia is the combination of these separate research fields into a comprehensive theoretical framework. This framework is applied and tested in a multiple case-study design to increase the relevance and value of the results.


Employers and employees continue to be highly vulnerable to negative consequences that may result from e-mail privacy intrusions. Given their potentially differing perceptions, there is a need to understand the privacy issues associated with e-mail use. This article first reviews the U.S. legal system to reveal the lack of e-mail privacy protection. A framework is presented to identify the potential consequences under varying circumstances in the workplace, exemplified by classic e-mail privacy cases. The conclusion drawn is that employee e-mail within U.S. organizations is never private, contrary to employee behavior. This contrast indicates a need for change in e-mail user behavior and management policies. In response, suggestions for developing user practices and proper management of e-mail are provided.


Abstract In vitro cell-based assays are widely applied to evaluate anti-cancer drug efficacy. However, the conventional approaches are mostly based on two-dimensional (2D) culture systems, making it difficult to recapitulate the in vivo tumor scenario because of spatial limitations. Here, we develop an in vitro three-dimensional (3D) prostate tumor model based on a hyaluronic acid (HA)-alginate hybrid hydrogel to bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo anticancer drug evaluations. In situ encapsulation of PCa cells was achieved by mixing HA and alginate aqueous solutions in the presence of cells and then crosslinking with calcium ions. Unlike in 2D culture, cells were found to aggregate into spheroids in a 3D matrix. The expression of epithelial to mesenchyme transition (EMT) biomarkers was found to be largely enhanced, indicating an increased invasion and metastasis potential in the hydrogel matrix. A significant up-regulation of proangiogenic growth factors (IL-8, VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was observed in 3D-cultured PCa cells. The results of anti-cancer drug evaluation suggested a higher drug tolerance within the 3D tumor model compared to conventional 2D-cultured cells. Finally, we found that the drug effect within the in vitro 3D cancer model based on HA-alginate matrix exhibited better predictability for in vivo drug efficacy.


Introduction: This study evaluates the effects of 8 weeks of resistance exercises on the expression of neurotrophins and Trk receptors in Alzheimer model male Wistar rats. Methods: For this purpose, 32 mature male Wistar rats with a mean weight of 230–280 g were chosen and divided into Alzheimer and Sham groups. The rats in the sham group received normal saline, while the ones in the Alzheimer group received streptomycin via intraventricular injection. These rats were then divided into the following four subgroups: 1) resting sham, 2) exercising sham, 3) resting Alzheimer, and 4) exercising Alzheimer. The two exercising rat subgroups exercised three times a week for 8 weeks. A weight was attached to their tails, and they had to carry it on a 26-step ladder in each cycle. Resting groups were handled every day to minimize the effects of stress. At the end of the eighth week and 24 hours after the last exercise session (to avoid the effects of the last exercise session), the rats were put under deep anesthesia and beheaded. Hippocampus tissues were precisely extracted, and samples were sent to the laboratory for molecular and cellular tests. To investigate gene expression, quantitative RTPCR was used. Results: The tests for comparing the mean values of BDNF, NT3, NGF, TrkA, and TrkB in two rat groups showed that with error levels of less than 5%, there is a significant difference in the amounts of BDNF, NT3, NGF, TrkA, and TrkB between exercising rats and resting ones. These amounts were much higher in the exercising Alzheimer rats group. Conclusion: Eight weeks of resistance exercises increased the expression of BDNF, NT3, and NGF genes and TrkA and TrkB receptors in Alzheimer model Wistar rats.


The SITSOM performances are commissioned by David Walsh and MONA each year, to promote the beginning of the Hobart summer Festival, and as a free event for MONA patrons. The concert performance required 6 months of rehearsal, writing/arranging preparation, and employs MONA catering and marketing staff alongside Conservatorium/UTAS production, administrative and music staff. As a single creative 'event', SITSOM is music performance, music composition and arranging, and direction/conducting; it is also a curated exhibition and live broadcast and recording. The impact of this performance is international and significant. It takes the data and research findings (specifically the Legg Taxonomy) and applies this knowledge system (Transculturalisation/Re contextualising) to every aspect of the performance and broadcast. Peer assessment and contribution to the research is effected/conducted in real time through constant and consistent musician, tech crew, production staff and audience feedback, both during the extended rehearsal period and during the performance itself. US producer/Grammy winner Myron Butler engages with the live broadcast, and provides a complete critique of the effectiveness of the compositions, the re-arrangements and his own perception of audience engagement and other indicators of authenticity and effect. The SGC webpage indicates a significant increase in hits during the performance (in excess of 300,000 across the 3 hour festival and performance period), many of which are accompanied by overwhelmingly positive comments, and these responses are recorded/archived. In the broadest of terms, the critical issue in this ongoing research project is focussed on the effective translation of a culturally and spiritually-informed music and its performance practices into a new cultural and ideological context. The technique/s for realising this are continuously informed and shaped by the research and critical reflection, but are evidenced in the performance (performers and audience) itself.


An amphiphilic hydrogel network was synthesized from a cross-linked poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) backbone copolymerized with the monomers 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (PMA) and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) using tetraethylene glycol diacrylate (TEGDA) as cross-linker and using the radical initiator system comprising N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine and ammonium peroxydisulfate. The degree of hydration of hydrogel slabs was investigated as functions of varying monomer compositions and cross-link density and as a function of pH and ionic strength of the bathing medium. As much as a 45% increase in hydration was observed for hydrogels containing 15 mol % DMAEMA upon reducing the pH of the bathing medium from 8.0 to 2.0. This confirms the pH-modulated swelling of amine-containing hydrogels. Increasing the concentration of TEGDA cross-linker from 3 to 12 mol % in a 10 mol % DMAEMA-containing hydrogel resulted in only a 10% reduction in the degree of hydration of the gel. There was, however, a 40-50% reduction in the degree of hydration of a 15 mol % DMAEMA hydrogel upon increasing the molar composition of PMA from 0 up to 20 mol %. The presence of PMA confers hydrophobic character that reduces hydration and introduces additional cross-links that reduce network mesh size. The water content of the hydrogel was consistently higher in buffers of lower ionic strength. The reversible pH-dependent swelling observed in these studies, along with the control of cross-link density afforded by the PMA component, endows these biocompatible materials with potential for use in pH-controlled drug delivery of more hydrophobic drugs and present new compositions for in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility studies.


Ostwald ripening is a well‐known physicochemical phenomenon in which smaller particles, characterized by high surface energy, dissolve and feed the bigger ones that are thermodynamically more stable. The effect is commonly observed in solid and liquid solutions, as well as in systems consisting of supported metal clusters or liquid droplets. Here, evidence is provided for the occurrence of Ostwald ripening in an oxide‐on‐metal system which, in this case, consists of ultrathin iron monoxide (FeO) islands grown on Ru(0001) single‐crystal support. The results reveal that the thermally‐driven sintering of islands allows altering their fine structural characteristics, including size, perimeter length, defect density and stoichiometry, which are crucial, for example, from the point of view of heterogeneous catalysis.


BACKGROUND
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a disease that causes progressive or relapsing and remitting weakness and numbness. It is probably caused by an autoimmune process. Immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs would be expected to be beneficial. This review was first published in 2003 and has been updated most recently in 2016.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive agents other than corticosteroids, immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange in CIDP.

SEARCH METHODS
On 24 May 2016, we searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2016, Issue 4) in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and LILACS for completed trials, and clinical trial registers for ongoing trials. We contacted the authors of the trials identified and other disease experts seeking other published and unpublished trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA
We sought randomised and quasi-randomised trials of all immunosuppressive agents, such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, ciclosporin, mycophenolate mofetil, and rituximab, and all immunomodulatory agents, such as interferon (IFN) alfa and IFN beta, in participants fulfilling standard diagnostic criteria for CIDP. We included all comparisons of these agents with placebo, another treatment, or no treatment.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We wanted to measure the change in disability after one year as our primary outcome. Our secondary outcomes were change in disability after four or more weeks (from randomisation); change in impairment after at least one year; change in maximum motor nerve conduction velocity and compound muscle action potential amplitude after one year; and for participants who were receiving corticosteroids or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), the amount of this medication given during at least one year after randomisation. Participants with one or more serious adverse events during the first year was also a secondary outcome.

MAIN RESULTS
Four trials fulfilled the selection criteria: one of azathioprine (27 participants), two of IFN beta-1a (77 participants in total) and one of methotrexate (60 participants). The risk of bias was considered low in the trials of IFN beta-1a and methotrexate but high in the trial of azathioprine. None of the trials showed significant benefit in any of the outcomes selected by their authors. The results of the outcomes which approximated most closely to the primary outcome for this review were as follows.In the azathioprine trial there was a median improvement in the Neuropathy Impairment Scale (scale range 0 to 280) after nine months of 29 points (range 49 points worse to 84 points better) in the azathioprine and prednisone treated participants compared with 30 points worse (range 20 points worse to 104 points better) in the prednisone alone group. There were no reports of adverse events.In a cross-over trial of IFN beta-1a with 20 participants, the treatment periods were 12 weeks. The median improvement in the Guy's Neurological Disability Scale (range 1 to 10) was 0.5 grades (interquartile range (IQR) 1.8 grades better to zero grade change) in the IFN beta-1a treatment period and 0.5 grades (IQR 1.8 grades better to 1.0 grade worse) in the placebo treatment period. There were no serious adverse events in either treatment period.In a parallel group trial of IFN beta-1a with 67 participants, none of the outcomes for this review was available. The trial design involved withdrawal from ongoing IVIg treatment. The primary outcome used by the trial authors was total IVIg dose administered from week 16 to week 32 in the placebo group compared with the IFN beta-1a groups. This was slightly but not significantly lower in the combined IFN beta-1a groups (1.20 g/kg) compared with the placebo group (1.34 g/kg, P = 0.75). There were four participants in the IFN beta-1a group and none in the placebo group with one or more serious adverse events, risk ratio (RR) 4.50 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25 to 80.05).The methotrexate trial had a similar design involving withdrawal from ongoing corticosteroid or IVIg treatment. At the end of the trial (approximately 40 weeks) there was no significant difference in the change in the Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale, a disability scale (scale range 0 to 12), the median change being 0 (IQR -1 to 0) in the methotrexate group and 0 (IQR -0.75 to 0) in the placebo group. These changes in disability might have been confounded by the reduction in corticosteroid or IVIg dose required by the protocol. There were three participants in the methotrexate group and one in the placebo with one or more serious adverse events, RR 3.56 (95% CI 0.39 to 32.23).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Low-quality evidence from randomised trials does not show significant benefit from azathioprine or interferon beta-1a and moderate-quality evidence from one randomised trial does not show significant benefit from a relatively low dose of methotrexate for the treatment of CIDP. None of the trials was large enough to rule out small or moderate benefit. The evidence from observational studies is insufficient to avoid the need for randomised controlled trials to discover whether these drugs are beneficial. Future trials should have improved designs, more sensitive outcome measures relevant to people with CIDP, and longer treatment durations.


From the economic and technical point of view, the reduction of development periods and required resources represent a considerable benefit. For the reduction of numerical effort and processed data in numerical stress analysis, the present paper is focused onto the investigation of an efficient method for the a priori detection of a structural component's highly stressed areas. Based on the theory of stress mode superposition and the frequency domain solution of the decoupled equations of motion, an analytically consistent approach for a priori mode superposition is presented. In this context, the influence of multiaxial loading and mode normalisation is investigated. Validation is performed on a simplified industrial model of a twist-beam rear axle.


BACKGROUND
Measuring instruments should have their scientific and clinical value evaluated in different populations. The handgrip strength test is widely used, however little has been investigated about its reliability when used in elderly with dementia and the right stage wich its use should be avoided.

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the test-retest reliability of the handgrip strength test in elderly with different ratings of dementia.

METHOD
The cognitive function of 76 elderly subjects with dementia was measured, and the caregivers were interviewed to allow classification by the Clinical dementia rating (CDR). For these assessments the Mini-Metal State Examination and the Pfeffer, Lawton, and Katz scales were used. Twenty subjects were classified as borderline (83.4±5.8 years), 19 as mild (82.4±6.8 years), 19 as moderate (85.8±5.6 years) and 18 as severe dementia (84.0±5.1 years). Handgrip strength was assessed with a JAMAR hydraulic dynamometer and after one week it was reevaluated. Reliability was analyzed by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). The significance level was set at α=0.05.

RESULTS
Test-retest reliability was excellent for groups with borderline (ICC=0.975; p=0.001), mild (ICC=0.968; p=0.002), and moderate (ICC=0.964; p=0.001) dementia. The analysis of the group with a severe CDR showed no statistical significance and a low ICC (ICC=0.415; p=0.376).

CONCLUSION
The handgrip strength test has excellent reliability when used in elderly with borderline, mild, and moderate dementia, which enables its use in research. However, its use is not recommended in elderly classified with severe dementia due to the measure's low reliability and subsequent irrelevance in clinical practice.


BACKGROUND
Bright light therapy is the recommended treatment for winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD). However, the studies with the best placebo controls have not been able to demonstrate that light treatment has a benefit beyond its placebo effect.

METHODS
Ninety-six patients with SAD completed the study. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments for 4 weeks, each 1.5 hours per day: morning light (average start time about 6 AM), evening light (average start about 9 PM), or morning placebo (average start about 6 AM). The bright light (approximately 6000 lux) was produced by light boxes, and the placebos were sham negative-ion generators. Depression ratings using the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, SAD version (SIGH-SAD) were performed weekly.

RESULTS
There were no differences among the 3 groups in expectation ratings or mean depression scores after 4 weeks of treatment. However, strict response criteria revealed statistically significant differences; after 3 weeks of treatment morning light produced more of the complete or almost complete remissions than placebo. By 1 criterion (24-item SIGH-SAD score <50% of baseline and < or =8), 61% of the patients responded to morning light, 50% to evening light, and 32% to placebo after 4 weeks of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS
Bright light therapy had a specific antidepressant effect beyond its placebo effect, but it took at least 3 weeks for a significant effect to develop. The benefit of light over placebo was in producing more of the full remissions.


Background & objectives: Despite advances in diagnostics and therapeutics, tuberculosis (TB) is widely prevalent and contributes to a significant burden of illness in both developing and developed nations. The present study was aimed to assess the role of coronin in TB patients and healthy controls. Coronin is a leucocyte-specific protein that is actively recruited in mycobacterial phagolysosomes, where it inhibits lysosomal delivery of Mycobacterium by activating a calcium-dependent phosphatase-calcineurin. Methods: In the study, 100 newly diagnosed cases of TB (pulmonary and extra-pulmonary) and healthy controls were prospectively enrolled over one year and the levels of coronin-1a in these patients and controls were measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results: A total of 100 TB patients and 100 healthy individuals as controls were assessed. There were 59 patients with extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) and 41 of pulmonary TB (PTB). In 47 per cent of patients, corroborative histopathological evidence of TB was also available. Significantly higher values of coronin-1a were observed in TB patients (19.94±2.61) than in healthy controls (16.09±1.91) (P<0.001). Interpretation & conclusions: Coronin 1a appears to play an important role in the TB disease pathophysiology and agents developed against coronin may have a role in the treatment of TB. Further studies are required to assess if coronin-1a levels are elevated in non-tubercular infective a etiologies and whether these can be a potential drug target in patients with TB.


Panel studies are an under-used resource in social work research. A mapping exercise was undertaken to establish the current coverage of social work and social care-related topics in UK panel studies. A search was conducted of the Survey Question Bank and the World Wide Web, which resulted in ten panel studies being retained for initial exploration. The aim of this initial exploration was simply to establish the number and proportion of social work service users in these studies, and the kinds of data available, in order to inform future research. The authors conclude that there is potential for some secondary analysis in seven of the ten panel studies and this analysis should be encouraged insofar as it could shed some interesting light on comparative outcomes and the demographic context of social work service users. However, the limited data related to social work in existing UK panel studies would suggest the need for a dedicated panel study of social work service users that provides detailed data on social work processes and outcomes.


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Objective: To assess time trends in intestinal resection and re-resection in Crohn's disease (CD) patients. Summary of Background Data: CD treatment has changed considerably over the past decades. The effect of these advances on the necessity of intestinal resections and the risk of re-resection is unclear. Methods: In this nationwide cohort study, adult CD patients with ileocolonic, small bowel, colon, or rectum resections between 1991 and 2015 were included. Data were retrieved from the Dutch nationwide network and registry of histopathology and cytopathology (PALGA). Time trends were analyzed with a broken stick model and Cox proportional hazard model with smoothing splines. Results: The identified cohort comprised 8172 CD patients (3293/4879 male/female) in whom 10,315 intestinal resections were performed. The annual intestinal resection rate decreased nonlinearly from 22.7/100,000 CD patients (1991) to 2.5/100,000 (2015). A significantly steeper decrease was observed before 1999 (slope −1.56) as compared to subsequent years (slope −0.41) (P < 0.001). Analogous trends were observed for ileocolonic, small bowel, and colon resections. Overall cumulative risk of re-resection was 10.9% at 5 years, 18.6% at 10 years, and 28.3% at 20 years after intestinal resection. The hazard for intestinal re-resection showed a nonlinear decreasing trend, with hazard ratio 0.39 (95% confidence interval 0.36–0.44) in 2000 and hazard ratio 0.25 (95% confidence interval 0.18–0.34) in 2015 as compared to 1991. Conclusion: Over the past 25 years, intestinal resection rate has decreased significantly for ileocolonic, small bowel, and colonic CD. In addition, current postoperative CD patients are at 75% lower risk of intestinal re-resection.


The paper problematizes the issue of the positionality of an anthropologist and the resonance of her or his work. It is argued that this is especially challenging when an anthropologist is a "native", and it is his or her own minority community that reads the research results and reacts to them. The paper offers analyses of these issues using the example of the author's own long-time study of the community she comes from and the resonance her work has gained there. The paper also presents the results of reflexive work about the political relevance and ethical obligations of the author's work in the situation of the cultural hegemony of national culture over the minority she has been studying and comes from.


Psychiatric epidemiology is considered one of the main scientific foundations of psychiatry. This article reviews methodological issues and major studies in psychiatric epidemiology. Methods such as measures of frequency and association are discussed. Selection, observation, and confounding, the main sources of bias in epidemiological studies, are described. Types of study designs, such as cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control, are detailed. A historical perspective of major population-based and clinical studies is presented. Major findings of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study and the National Comorbidity Survey are also included. Finally, future directions in the field are discussed.


In view of their key roles in many soil and plant-related processes, we hypothesized that soil microorganisms could play a larger role in determining wheat baking quality than nitrogen fertilization. A field experiment was conducted under bread wheat production conditions, where different fertilization treatments, ranging from 0-120 kg/ha NH4NO3, were applied. Soil samples were taken in May, June and July. Functional genes in the nitrogen cycle were quantified and amplicons of the 16S rRNA gene and the ITS region were sequenced. Wheat yields were measured, and the grain baking quality was analysed for each plot. Fertilisation did not significantly influence the yields and the grain quality. Many bacterial and fungal Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) showed significant positive or negative correlations with yield and grain baking quality parameters. Among the functional gene quantified, the archaeal amoA showed strong negative correlations with the wheat yields and many grain and flour quality parameters. Regression models were able to explain up to 81% of the variability in grain quality based on the microbial data from the May sampling. A better understanding of the microbiology of wheat fields could lead to an optimized management of the N fertilization to maximize yields and grain quality.


Introduction: Stroke, is an important and well known cause of disability and physical impairment among adults all-over the world. The most commonly accepted treatment to rehabilitate patients with stroke is physiotherapy. The present review is an attempt to explain the impact of increased exercise therapy time (physical or occupational), compared to the normal duration of therapies in patients with stroke. Methods: We systematically searched electronic databases including Medline, Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane to review published literaturein this area. Electronic searches have shown limited studies, which investigates the effects or no effects of increased duration of physiotherapy in patients following an attack of stroke. Articles, which reported on healthy participants i.e. people without stroke, were excluded. Also excluded were primary prevention studies, economic evaluations, and simple case reports. Results: A total of 175articles were identified using the keywords in the above mentioned databases. However, following the designedinclusion and exclusion criteria for this review only 11articles were included in this review. Conclusion: The result of this review supports the substantiate effectiveness of increased duration of exercise therapy among patients with stroke, as it has a favourable effect on activities of daily living. However, further research is needed in this area due to limited availability of high quality published evidence. J MEDICINE July 2015; 16 (2) : 105-111


20-30% of ICD patients suffer from inappropriate ICD therapy due to misclassification of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) as ventricular tachycardia. Inappropriate ICD therapies are not only painful for patients, but also proarrhythmogenic and can reduce device longevity due to battery depletion. Therapy of inappropriate ICD episodes is a puzzle of optimized ICD programming, antiarrhythmic therapy and radiofrequency (RF) ablation. Single-chamber ICD detection algorithms are effective in reducing inappropriate ICD therapy particularly due to sinus tachycardia or atrial fibrillation. Dual-chamber ICD detection algorithms were developed to improve specificity of SVT discrimination. However, large prospective, controlled trials showing superiority of dualchamber over single-chamber devices are lacking. It appears that patients with slow ventricular tachycardias, being at high risk for inappropriate ICD therapy, might benefit from dual-chamber ICD therapy. Concerning pharmacological therapy of inappropriate ICD episodes, the OPTIC study recently showed superiority of class III antiarrhythmics (sotalol and amiodarone) over beta-blockers. RF ablation of cavotricuspid isthmus is of proven benefit in ICD patients with inappropriate episodes due to typical flutter and should also be considered in atrial tachycardia. If patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation despite optimized antiarrhythmic medication will benefit from trigger elimination or substrate modification by RF ablation has still to be proven. In patients with inappropriate ICD episodes and drug-refractory chronic permanent atrial fibrillation, AV node ablation can effectively eliminate inappropriate ICD therapy, however, at the price of potential ventricular asynchrony and progression of heart failure due to right ventricular pacing. Thus, upgrading to biventricular ICD therapy should be considered in these patients.


The structural point of view which dominated decision makers and decision designers in urban management has been causing a lot of problems. Different cities got closer to the rivers and even a part of the stream have buried in the culverts in cities such as Tehran to maximize the use of the land on the riverbank and the bed. Ideas about the natural elements in the cities have been changed over the time. The emerging of concepts such as green infrastructure and low-impact development rise to the daylighting projects. Daylighting process reagents project that all or a part of the stream, creek or drainage system excavate from underground and open to fresh air and then take steps such as remediation, rehabilitation and restoration can be done for it. The delighted stream can raise property values and investment opportunities, creating public open spaces and reduce maintains costs for buried channels. Dominated structural considering for flood control cause problems for Tehran's streams and rivers, such as diverting to rigid channel and narrowing channel, over polluting by wastewater entrance, burying beneath covered channel and culverts, concerted bed, diverting from the main direction, etc. Rehabilitating and restoring Tehran's streams and rivers can reduce problems caused by flood and improve environmental quality too. Based on this regard, there is no legal gap and will not have the financial burden of the municipality in the long-term period so it seems daylighting streams in Tehran can be done as soon as possible.


Abstract The idea that private ownership implies that owners are free to do with their things whatever they want is shown to be mistaken. It is argued that private, public and common ownership are all based on the right to alienate a thing, regardless of the number of owners. Social or legal norms can make the ownership of a thing conditional on the participation in government or on group membership. In the former case, the norms establish public ownership, in the latter case common ownership. If things are owned and these norms do not apply, they are privately owned. Local social circumstances determine to some extent what form of ownership generates the highest benefits to owners, social and legal norms provide incentives which encourage or discourage the choice of the efficient form of ownership.


Although traditional hallucinogenic drugs such as marijuana and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are not typically associated with seizures, newer synthetic hallucinogenic drugs can provoke seizures. Here, we report the unexpected consequences of taking a street-bought hallucinogenic drug thought to be LSD. Our patient presented with hallucinations and agitation progressing to status epilepticus with a urine toxicology screen positive only for cannabinoids and opioids. Using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry, an additional drug was found: an amphetamine-derived phenylethylamine called 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine. We bring this to the attention of the neurologic community as there are a growing number of hallucinogenic street drugs that are negative on standard urine toxicology and cause effects that are unexpected for both the patient and the neurologist, including seizures.


The most lethal mass-extinction of the history of life occurred at the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB), about 252 million years ago. It resulted in the decimation of about 90% of marine taxa and led to the replacement of typical Palaeozoic by typical modern marine communities. During the aftermath of the mass-extinction, the biotic recovery is traditionally characterized as delayed, due to protracted hostile environmental conditions (climate warming, global anoxia…).
Establishing the time frame of the mechanisms of the biotic recovery profoundly relies on biostratigraphical data. Pelagic organisms like conodonts and ammonoids quickly recovered after the mass-extinction, reaching diversity level comparable to that of before the crisis in less than a million year. Conodonts were cosmopolitan and had unmatched evolutionary rates, making them major biostratigraphical fossils from the early Palaeozoic to the end of the Triassic. They are of particular importance across the Permian-Triassic boundary and are the cornerstone of all Changhsingian -Griesbachian (latest Permian to earliest Triassic) biostratigraphical scales.
This thesis provides biochronological framework to the interval encompassing the end-Permian mass-extinction and to the basal Triassic (namely, the Griesbachian and the early Dienerian). Our model particularly focused on South China (equatorial realm) and Kashmir (tropical realm) and is reproducible within the Tethyan realm. This dissertation is supplemented on one side by an exploratory study on the taxonomy of the genus Neogondolella based on empirical analyses and on the other side by a review of the biotic recovery during the Griesbachian time interval.
The first goal of this thesis is to explore and re-assess the taxonomy of conodonts across the latest Permian and the earliest Triassic. We describe a new shallow-water section in the Nanpanjiang Basin (South China) with an exceptional conodont record of basal Triassic age.
These results are combined with synchronous conodont records of five other sections in South China (Equatorial realm) with various depositional environments. We conducted unitary association analyses, based on maximal associations of species rather than on single first occurrences and generated a quantitative biochronological model. The new robust zones extend across the PTB and are laterally reproducible within the Nanpanjiang Basin.
This publication was the target of a Comment (Appendix C) by Jiang et al. (2016). We reacted to the Comment with a Reply explaining the advantages of the unitary association methods over the traditional interval zones method.
In a next step, we extended our investigations to the Tropical realm and the base of the Dienerian. We conducted a high resolution sampling and reassessed the conodont biochronology and isotopic records of the Member E of Guryul Ravine section. We precisely constrain the Griesbachian-Dienerian boundary at Guryul Ravine and show that it is marked by a perturbation in the carbon cycle and a turnover of the conodont faunas. Both events are probably linked to a major climate change during this interval.
The diversity and the abundance of the conodonts of the Guryul ravine section brought the opportunity to test the possibility to quantify the morphological variability of conodonts thanks to empirical classifications. We conducted cluster analyses on the population of conodonts from Guryul Ravine supplemented with holotypes of conodonts typical from the studied time interval. We show that even non-statistical groups can still distribute the holotypes and produce homogeneous clusters.
Finally, we studied an exceptional fossil assemblage of Griesbachian age from the Batain Plain of Oman. The faunas retrieved from the Asselah boulder include pelagic and benthic communities which thrived in a well-oxygenated environment in carbonate-saturated water that did not undergo the harsh environmental conditions that prevailed on the continental shelves. We provide a review of the Griesbachian and suggest that the impact of the end-Permian mass-extinction has been overestimated.


The 2002 Farm Bill instituted a first-ever countercyclical milk price support program known as Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program. Analyzing variables (cattle numbers, milk price, etc.) using regression analysis, this study found that MILC was statistically significant, but often had negative impacts, on milk supply response in individual states.


Purpose
This study aims to determine the effects of nutrition knowledge on the use of nutrition facts labels in emerging adults by defining the nutrition education status.

Design/methodology/approach
For this cross-sectional study, 919 young adults, aged 18–24 years, were recruited. Participants trained by dietetic professional at least 2 h per week during the period of at least one education period were considered as having nutrition education. Food label use, specific circumstances and different food products were recorded. The participants were also asked about their attitudes regarding food label use with a questionnaire including 15 products.

Findings
Nutrition facts label is mainly used when buying a product for the first time, a product of an unknown brand or comparing different companies' similar products, regardless of nutrition education status. Participants with nutrition education had a higher nutrition facts label use and they use the score for specific food products including breakfast cereal (p = 0.003), snacks (p < 0.001), beverages (p = 0.004), ready to eat soups (p = 0.004) and diet products for special occasions (p < 0.001). Mean total score of attitudes regarding food label use for participants who had nutrition education was found as 58.9 ± 6.1 and who did not have nutrition education was found as 51.7 ± 9.2 (p < 0.01).

Originality/value
Nutrition education, which is related to the nutrition facts label use, would be especially useful in helping people for the selection of healthier foods. As habits acquired from childhood will last for a lifetime, more effective nutrition education programs and nutrition label reading education programs should be designed. The findings need to be considered for promoting nutrition facts label use by developing nutrition education.