This study investigates several hypotheses relating to the policy positions adopted by coalition governments in parliamentary democracies. Previous research, based on the comparative manifestos project's coding of party manifestos and coalition government declarations, has found that the linkage between the left-right positions of coalition governments and the positions of the parties that compose them is surprisingly weak. This investigation uses the same data to reveal a much closer correspondence between the two in West European systems. This linkage initially appeared to be weak because it is partially masked by additional influences on government policy emanating from the formateur party, the finance minister's party, the external support parties sustaining the government (if any), and the parliamentary center of gravity. In addition, government policy is affected by the position of the preceding government and shows a marked tendency to drift rightward with the passage of time since the last election.


A people in need of quick modernization and mainstreaming, or a powerful defense against the advancing march of capitalist growth---these are the two most prominent and stereotypical images of Adivasis in contemporary India, and both do grave injustice to the ground realities. The category Scheduled Tribes, which is purely an administrative category, and does not reflect the immense diversity among the 500 different communities of tribals in India, comprising 8.6 per cent of Indias population, has acquired over a period of time, a distinct political and discursive salience. This collection of essays, divided in three parts, brings together a range of predominantly sociological and anthropological but broadly social science writing that reflects on and illuminates the jungle of dilemmas and conflicts that the scheduled tribes face as they navigate their way through everyday life. It highlights the enormity of social, cultural, linguistic, and politico-economic diversity among the so-called Scheduled Tribes in India, and aims to provide an intellectual platform for an engagement between the scheduled tribes and their India, as also to map the state of current sociological/anthropological writing and debate on the scheduled tribes.


Article history: Received December 10, 2014 Received in revised format: March 2, 2015 Accepted March 2, 2015 Available online March 2 2015 The Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) theory, which serves as a key to the determination of several models of exchange rates, suggests a long-term relationship between exchange rates and relative prices. It states that the price levels in all the countries are the same when measured in terms of a single currency. The purpose of this study is to model the behavior of the exchange rates of five partner countries of Tunisia, namely, (Germany, the United States, France, Italy, the UK, Morocco and Libya) relative to its fundamentals over the period 1990-1999. Beyond the traditional linear cointegration, we use the approaches based on fractional cointegration. We are trying to discriminate between the adjustment dynamics with long memory (but linear) and a dynamics of a short memory (nonlinear). Given the important role of the exchange rates in the successful experience of open economies, we are interested, in this work, in analyzing the dynamics of the exchange rates in the long run. The econometric results obtained through the GPH tests, make us consider the PPP as an event in the long run if significant short-term deviations from the PPP cannot exist. Therefore, the analysis of the fractional cointegration makes the deviations, regarding equilibrium, follow a slightly integrated process and therefore capture a much wider group of research parity or mean-reverting behavior. Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 5 © 201


Online retailing has evolved in recent decades and now represents a significant and integral element of the retail market. The 'internet effect' has been manifested in diverse ways across different markets, with international responses to the growth of online shopping and the real estate consequences for the UK and US markets examined by Worzala et al (2002). With the benefit of hindsight, this paper seeks to revisit the conclusions drawn by Worzala and other researchers (Dixon & Marston, 2002; Ellis-Chadwick et al, 2002) at the beginning of the Twenty-First Century, assessing their relevance and application to the online retail markets which have emerged in the last decade in Australia & the UK. The research addresses the lacuna of research regarding the real estate outcomes for the retail market as a consequence of developments in online shopping (2004-2014). The retail industry in Australia (2010-11) accounted for 4.5% of GDP, employing 10.9% of the working population (ABS, 2012). Retailing is similarly highly significant in the UK and employs approximately 3 million people, more than 10% of the workforce (BRC, 2012). In 2012 the retail sector contributed £151bn (16%) to the UK's economic output (ONS, 2014). Although retailing plays a key role in the developed economies of Australia and the UK, when it comes to the evolution of online retailing they are structurally very different industries. In terms of internet retailing, the UK has the greatest proportion of sales globally, with 11.5% of retail sales in November 2014 made online (ONS, 2014). By November 2014 in Australia, online sales for the preceding year were equivalent to 6.8% of the total spent in traditional retailers (NAB, 2014). Cushman & Wakefield rank the UK as the most developed online market globally, followed by the USA, Germany and France. Australia is ranked 14th (Cushman & Wakefield, 2013). This paper considers the evolution of internet retailing in the UK & Australia markets, considering the characteristics of the retail markets themselves, the central differences in the evolution of online shopping within them, strategic shifts in retailing patterns towards multi-channel interfaces, and the resulting consequences for the retail real estate market so far. It is a qualitative assessment of the 'internet effect' in prime Australian and UK markets, combining secondary data with interview responses from leading retailers.


Over the last few years, most major search engines have integrated link-based ranking techniques in order to provide more accurate search results. One widely known approach is the Pagerank technique, which forms the basis of the Google ranking scheme, and which assigns a global importance measure to each page based on the importance of other pages pointing to it. The main advantage of the Pagerank measure is that it is independent of the query posed by a user; this means that it can be precomputed and then used to optimize the layout of the inverted index structure accordingly. However, computing the Pagerank measure requires implementing an iterative process on a massive graph corresponding to billions of web pages and hyperlinks.In this paper, we study I/O-efficient techniques to perform this iterative computation. We derive two algorithms for Pagerank based on techniques proposed for out-of-core graph algorithms, and compare them to two existing algorithms proposed by Haveliwala. We also consider the implementation of a recently proposed topic-sensitive version of Pagerank. Our experimental results show that for very large data sets, significant improvements over previous results can be achieved on machines with moderate amounts of memory. On the other hand, at most minor improvements are possible on data sets that are only moderately larger than memory, which is the case in many practical scenarios.


From the end of April 1991 until the end of 1991, 2209 isolates of Campylobacter spp. have been collected in Plymouth PHL of which 91 (4.1%) were resistant to ciprofloxacin. None of the 91 patients involved had taken a quinolone, but 30/91 (33%) had travelled abroad (16 to the Iberian peninsula) in the three months preceding isolation of the ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter spp. In the case-control study 12/15 (80%) of the cases had recently consumed poultry as had 20/24 (83%) of controls with enteritis due to ciprofloxacin-susceptible Campylobacter spp. A small study of poultry purchased from the supermarket revealed that only 1/37 campylobacters isolated from 64 UK bred chickens was resistant to ciprofloxacin, whereas 7/26 campylobacters isolated from 50 imported chickens were ciprofloxacin-resistant. Of the 75 clinical isolates of ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter spp. subjected to detailed analysis, 68 were Campylobacter jejuni, six were Campylobacter lari, and one was Campylobacter coli. All isolates from man and poultry were resistant to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, sparfloxacin and tosufloxacin, and there was an association between fluoroquinolone-resistance and increased MICs of tetracycline. The range of susceptibility to erythromycin and kanamycin were typical of the species. gyrA from C. jejuni P6 (a case with history of travel to Spain) and C. jejuni P16 (isolate from imported chicken) contained point mutations corresponding to an amino acid substitution of isoleucine for threonine at codon 86. It has been suggested that veterinary use of quinolones, notably enrofloxacin, is providing a selective pressure for emergence of resistance to ciprofloxacin amongst human isolates. Now that enrofloxacin has been licensed for use in broiler flocks in the UK, it will be interesting to monitor the prevalence of resistance of campylobacters to quinolones in UK-produced poultry and in UK-acquired human infection.


PURPOSE
PV701, a replication-competent strain of Newcastle disease virus, causes regression of tumor xenografts after intravenous administration. This phase I study was designed to define the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and safety of single and multiple intravenous doses of PV701 as a single agent in patients with cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Seventy-nine patients with advanced solid cancers that were unresponsive to standard therapy were enrolled. Four PV701 intravenous dosing regimens were evaluated: (1) single dose: one dose every 28 days; (2) repeat dose: three doses in 1 week every 28 days; (3) desensitizing: one lower dose followed by two higher doses in 1 week every 28 days; and (4) two week: one lower dose followed by five higher doses over 2 weeks every 21 days.

RESULTS
A 100-fold dose intensification was achieved over 195 cycles. A first-dose MTD of 12 x 10(9) plaque-forming units (PFU)/m(2) was established for outpatient dosing. After an initial dose of 12 x 10(9) PFU/m(2), patients tolerated an MTD for subsequent doses of 120 x 10(9) PFU/m(2). The most common adverse events were flu-like symptoms that occurred principally after the first dose and were decreased in number and severity with each subsequent dose. Tumor site-specific adverse events and acute dosing reactions were also observed but not cumulative toxicity. Objective responses occurred at higher dose levels, and progression-free survival ranged from 4 to 31 months. Tumor tissue from one patient was obtained after 11 months of therapy and showed evidence of PV701 particles budding from the tumor cell membrane by electron microscopy and a pronounced lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate by histologic examination.

CONCLUSION
PV701 warrants further study as a novel therapeutic agent for cancer patients.


The remarkable thermal properties of graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been the subject of intensive investigations for the thermal management of integrated circuits. However, the small contact area of CNTs and the large anisotropic heat conduction of graphene have hindered their applications as effective thermal interface materials (TIMs). Here, a covalently bonded graphene–CNT (G‐CNT) hybrid is presented that multiplies the axial heat transfer capability of individual CNTs through their parallel arrangement, while at the same time it provides a large contact area for efficient heat extraction. Through computer simulations, it is demonstrated that the G‐CNT outperforms few‐layer graphene by more than 2 orders of magnitude for the c‐axis heat transfer, while its thermal resistance is 3 orders of magnitude lower than the state‐of‐the‐art TIMs. We show that heat can be removed from the G‐CNT by immersing it in a liquid. The heat transfer characteristics of G‐CNT suggest that it has the potential to revolutionize the design of high‐performance TIMs.


This research is to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the grinding process. A kind of robust grinding wheel reciprocating arrangement is schemed out, which realizes the precise point-grinding machining. The grinding wheel reciprocating movement is driven by a linear motor to replace the traditional crank or hydraulic pressure drive device. Based on the time series method, the modal experimental analysis technique has been adopted in this paper. By acquiring acceleration signals of multiple positions of the grinding wheel slide, the dynamic characteristics are analyzed and the modal parameters of the structure are identified by virtual analysis program. The boundary condition of the finite element model is adjusted for optimizing its dynamic characteristic. The equivalent substructure is created and modified in order to improve the surface grinding quality. This study has got satisfying results. The grinding wheel movement realizes the self-regulation control and reduces the surface waviness and roughness during high speed point-grinding operation.


The ability of a robot vision system to capture informative images is greatly affected by the condition of lighting in the scene. This paper reveals the importance of active lighting control for robotic manipulation and proposes novel strategies for good visual interpretation of objects in the workspace. Good illumination means that it helps to get images with large signal-to-noise ratio, wide range of linearity, high image contrast, and true color rendering of the object's natural properties. It should also avoid occurrences of highlight and extreme intensity unbalance. If only passive illumination is used, the robot often gets poor images where no appropriate algorithms can be used to extract useful information. A fuzzy controller is further developed to maintain the lighting level suitable for robotic manipulation and guidance in dynamic environments. As carried out in this paper, with both examples of numerical simulations and practical experiments, it promises satisfactory results with the proposed idea of active lighting control.


Chinese students are one of the largest groups of international students studying in New Zealand. The wellbeing of Chinese students in the New Zealand educational context has aroused interest from educators from both China and New Zealand. This research explores the satisfaction of Chinese students from a cultural perspective. It adopts an interpretive phenomenological approach to investigate Chinese students' definitions of satisfaction and the role of Chinese culture values, particularly, renqing, guanxi, mianzi in influencing their experience of satisfaction while they living and studying in New Zealand. Data were collected through six in-depth interviews with Chinese postgraduate students at one university. Based their experience studying and living in New Zealand, most of the participants reported very individualized understandings of the term "satisfaction", They also, described their experiences of adjustments in living and learning, their mismatched expectations and how their life attitudes had affected their experience in New Zealand. While the students do not explicitly acknowledge Chinese values, their influence can be seen in the way the students experience satisfaction with their study in New Zealand. This has implications for institutions in New Zealand as these insights have a potential to inform practices to support these students.


Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the views of directors of public-listed Australian companies regarding the role of the independent director and the significance of that role in relationship to the composition of the board of company directors. Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative study using a grounded research approach was used and 30 directors of Australian public-listed companies were interviewed. Findings - The analysis indicates that participating directors were convinced that a majority of non-executive directors (NEDs) provided a safeguard for a balance of power in the board/management relationship. The difference between NEDs, who are also independent directors, and NEDs who are not independent, was highlighted as an important distinction. The capacity for board members to think independently was seen to be enhanced, but not necessarily ensured, with majority membership of NEDs. However, a majority of independent minds expressing multiple points of view was perceived to reduce the board room hazard of "group think." Research limitations/implications - The study was conducted within the context of the preferred model for board composition in Australian public-listed companies which requires a majority of NEDs. Originality/value - Conflicting evidence surrounding the claim that a majority of independent members in the board structure contributes to "best pratice governance" makes the paper relevant to governance issues being debated in the global arena.


The flavoprotein isobutylamine N-hydroxylase (IBAH) catalyzes the oxidation of isobutylamine to isobutylhydroxylamine, a key step in the biosynthesis of the azoxy antibiotic valanimycin. By using oligonucleotide primers designed from peptide sequence information derived from native IBAH, a fragment of the gene (vlmH) encoding IBAH was amplified by PCR from a genomic library of the valanimycin-producing organism, Streptomyces viridifaciens MG456-hF10. The gene fragment was then employed as a probe to clone the entire vlmH gene from an S. viridifaciens genomic library. Overexpression of the vlmH gene in Escherichia coli gave a soluble protein that was purified to homogeneity. The purified protein exhibited the catalytic activity expected for IBAH. The deduced amino acid sequence of IBAH exhibited the greatest similarity to the Sox/DszC protein from Rhodococcus sp. strain IGT38, a flavoprotein involved in the oxidation of dibenzothiophene to the corresponding sulfone. Significant similarities were also found between the amino acid sequence of IBAH and those of the acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenases.


For high-dimensional hypothesis problems, new approaches have emerged since the publication. The most promising of them uses Bayesian approach. In this chapter, we review some of the past approaches applicable to only law-dimensional hypotheses testing and contrast it with the modern approaches of high-dimensional hypotheses testing. We review some of the new results based on Bayesian decision theory and show how Bayesian approach can be used to accommodate directional hypotheses testing and skewness in the alternatives. A real example of gene expression data is used to demonstrate a Bayesian decision theoretic approach to directional hypotheses testing with skewed alternatives.


The paper highlights general approach to creating cognitive adaptive robots with imitative thinking and adaptive behavior as an assistant to humans in various fields of activity. Communicative-associative symbolic-language thinking logic allows the creation of cognitive adaptive robots for different spheres of life. Specialization of cognitive adaptive robots is carried out on the basis of knowledge bases, bases of abilities and implementers of behavior. Adaptive behavior is guided by imitative thinking on a human task and is carried out by models of environment and behavior. Specialization of the robot is set by the subject knowledge base and base of abilities, and equipment (sensors, sensors, manipulators, motor systems and other devices). For collaborative robotics, you need a soft, sensitive, and naturally highly intelligent solution. The focus here is on pneumatic light robots, which are inherently designed to work together and can present a costeffective alternative to humans in the future. The cognitive robot, by increasing visual, sound, substantive, spatial and temporal sensitivity, is able to acquire new skills and accumulate experience of behavior with the necessary technical means. New skills are taught by a retraining system in virtual space, and then the robot develops them in a specific environment. Thus, the professional experience of the cognitive robot in various specific environments is gradually accumulated and its sensitivity is increased. Cognitive adaptive retractable robots with imitative thinking, adaptive behavior, and increased sensitivity have the prospect of widespread practical application.


We analyze the impact of emerging-market sovereign bonds on emerging-market corporate bonds by examining their spanning enhancement, price discovery, and issuance effects. We find that the effect of spanning enhancement is positive and large; over one-fifth of the information in corporate yield spreads is traced to innovations in sovereign bonds; and most of these effects are due to discovery and spanning of systematic risks. Further, issuance of sovereign bonds, controlling for endogeneity of market-timing decisions, lowers corporate yield and bid-ask spreads. Our results indicate that sovereign securities act as benchmarks and suggest they promote a vibrant corporate bond market.


PARIS-- On 1 November, Joseph McCormick resigned as chief of a new epidemiology and biostatistics unit he had been hired to create at the Pasteur Institute after a tenure committee decided to postpone a decision on granting him permanent status. McCormick9s rapid rise and fall appears to be part of a broader debate over the role of epidemiology at the Pasteur, which traditionally has put a heavy emphasis on basic research. It also reflects the political infighting at the Pasteur in the run-up to elections next year for a new director-general to succeed Maxime Schwartz.


One hundred-seventeen primiparous sows were used to determine the effects of extruded sorghum grain and soybeans in lactation diets on sow and litter performance. The sows were fed a sorghum-soybeanbased diet with the sorghum and soybeans extruded either singly or together. Treatments were: 1) ground sorghum-soybean meal (SBM)-soy oil-based control; 2) extruded sorghum-SBM-soy oil; 3) ground sorghum-extruded soybeans; and 4) sorghum and extruded soybeans blended then extruded together (extruded blend). All diets were formulated to .80% lysine, .90% Ca, .80% P, and 1.47 Mcal ME/lb. Sows fed diets with extruded ingredients tended to wean more pigs with greater survivability and greater litter weight gains compared to sows fed the ground sorghum-SBM-based control diet. No differences occurred in sow weight or sow backfat loss. Sows fed extruded soybeans had decreased sow weight loss (14.6 vs 29.7 lb) compared with those fed extruded sorghum. Overall, improvements in litter weight gain were 6, 7, and 10% for extruded sorghum, extruded soybeans, and the extruded blend, respectively, when compared to the ground sorghumSBM-soy oil-based control. In conclusion, our data indicate that extrusion of ingredients for lactation diets improves sow and litter performance, and the greatest improvements were obtained by extrusion of blended soybeans and sorghum grain.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 18,1993


The goal of this study was to assert that gun ownership in the United States is partially explained by the transmission of a "gun culture" from one generation to the next. Using longitudinal data from the highlyregarded National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we also make a contribution to the dated nature of the literature on the predictors of adult firearms ownership. This paper examines a model of adult gun ownership that includes measures of adolescent firearms access, the presence of adult males in the household, rural residency, age, race, and gender. Generally, adolescents who are African American, male, and living in rural areas were more likely to live in homes with firearms at Waves One and Two. Adolescents living in rural areas also demonstrated the likelihood of owning firearms as adults at Wave Three. As expected, access to firearms at Wave One increased the likelihood of access at Wave Two. Living with an adult male at Wave One had no effect on adolescent access to guns at Wave Two or Wave Three adult ownership. Adolescent access to guns at Waves One and Two increased the likelihood that they would own firearms as adults. Adolescent access to guns at Waves One and Two increased the likelihood that they would own firearms as adults at Wave Three. Findings suggest that cultural experiences surrounding gun ownership as adolescents increases the likelihood that firearms are owned as adults. ________________________________________________________________________


These 2 swellings on the scalp of a 13-year-old boy had appeared about 8 months earlier and had slowly enlarged. The mother had massaged the lesions when they were small in an attempt to heal them. There was no history of local trauma (eg, from hair-cutting tools) and no pain or discharge from the lesions.


Introduction: Obesity is the main modifiable risk factor for the development of chronic diseases in Mexico. Several randomized controlled trials have shown that intensive lifestyle programs are efficacious for the management of obesity. These programs include frequent sessions (14 or more contacts in the first 6 months) focused on diet and physical activity and use a behavior change protocol. However, most Mexican primary care clinics and public hospitals apply traditional treatments for obesity management with limited results on weight loss. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) "Group Lifestyle Balance" for weight loss among adults with overweight and obesity from baseline to 6 months and from baseline to 12 months in primary care clinics and public hospitals from Sonora, Mexico. Material and Methods: This is a translational, multi-center, non-controlled, 6 and 12-month follow-up clinical study with a pre-test and post-test design. Healthcare providers from two primary care clinics, two hospitals and one university clinic will be trained with the DPP protocol to implement on their patients with overweight and obesity. Body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, depression, quality of life and stress scales will be measured in participants receiving the program at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Biochemical parameters will be measured at baseline and 12 months. The primary outcome is the change in body weight at 6 and 12 months. Discussion: This study will provide scientific evidence of the effectiveness of the DPP protocol as a model for obesity management in real world clinical practice among the adult Mexican population.


ABSTRACT What role do organizational preconditions play in the constitution of expertise? This is the guiding question for this paper, which studies how expertise is shaped in the Intergovernmental Science–Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). By organizing the world's experts on biodiversity, IPBES sets out to produce policy-relevant knowledge. However, in contrast to many other international expert bodies such as the IPCC, IPBES assesses not only scientific knowledge, but also other forms of knowledge, including indigenous and local knowledge. In light of IPBES's ambition to become an epistemic authority by synthesizing heterogeneous knowledge forms, it is of great interest to investigate how this expertise is constructed. What does 'expertise' mean for IPBES, and how are experts selected? Based on documents studies, this study explores the organizational structure through which IPBES assesses and selects experts. The analysis finds that the construction of expertise involves scientific as well as political dimensions. In the conclusions, problems are raised that are related to the outcome of this process and may threaten the epistemic authority of IPBES.


Ocular hypertension (OHT) is the only known modifiable risk factor of glaucoma development. Intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering therapy reduces the risk of glaucoma development. The 5-year risk of glaucoma conversion is <10% for untreated OHT patients. Cost-effectiveness analyses suggested that it is not cost-effective to treat all patients with OHT. Treatment should be targeted towards the higher-risk group—namely, patients with older age, a higher level of IOP, a thinner central corneal thickness (CCT), a larger vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR) and a smaller pattern standard deviation (PSD) value on visual field (VF) test. These risk factors were established by the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) and the European Glaucoma Prevention Study (EGPS). However, there is significant variability in the measurement of the currently known risk factors, especially if the assessment is taken from a longitudinal perspective. This can lead to overtreatment or under-treatment: the former exposing the patient to unnecessary side effects of IOP-lowering eye drops and the latter putting the patient at risk of developing glaucoma. The advancement of new VF algorithm and ocular imaging can lead to the identification of new approaches to risk stratification and, thus, more specific treatment for OHT patients.


Nanomaterials have been widely investigated as high performance catalysts due to their extremely enhanced surface-to-volume ratio compared with bulk materials. Among the nanomaterials, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted much interest and been studied as a good candidate for electrocatalysts due to the capability of tuning their catalytically active sites. One of the primary methods for the synthesis of TMDs is chemical vapour deposition (CVD), which enables the growth of high quality, large-area TMDs with uniform, atomically thin features and layer number controllability. In addition, the high degrees of freedom of CVD methods can provide effective routes for realizing various morphologies and structures of the synthesized TMD films with versatile catalytic functionalities. This review is intended to deliver a focused overview of CVD growth routes of functional TMDs with catalytic functionality that enables the enhancement of their HER performances. Two growth strategies for the generation of catalytically active sites in functional TMDs are introduced. The first strategy is the activation of the TMD basal plane by creating additional defects, such as S vacancies, in the post-growth stage. The second is the effective production of catalytic edges by engineering the morphologies and structures of CVD-grown TMDs in the mid-growth stage. The resulting HER performances for each CVD growth route are also discussed. This review will provide insights for the design of synthetic schemes and catalytic systems of CVD-grown functional TMDs for high performance HER applications.


Abstract The fast pace of cropland loss in China is causing alarm over food security and China's ability to remain self-reliant in crop production. Mudflats after organic amendment can be an important alternative cropland in China. Land application of sewage sludge has become a popular organic amendment to croplands in many countries. Nevertheless, the land application of sludge to mudflats has received little attention. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to investigate the impact of sewage sludge amendment (SSA) at 0, 30, 75, 150 and 300 t ha−1 rates on soil physicochemical properties, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) growth and heavy metal accumulation in mudflat soil. The results showed that the application of sewage sludge increased organic matter (OM) content by 3.5-fold while reducing salinity by 76.3% at the 300 t ha−1 rate as compared to unamended soil. The SSA reduced pH, electric conductivity (EC) and bulk density in mudflat soil, increased porosity, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and contents of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium ions (K+), sodium ions (Na+), calcium ions (Ca2+) and magnesium ions (Mg2+) in comparison to unamended soil. There were 98.0, 146.6, 291.4 and 429.2% increases in fresh weight and 92.5, 132.4, 258.6 and 418.9% increases in dry weight of perennial ryegrass at 30, 75, 150, and 300 t ha−1, respectively, relative to unamended soil. The SSA increased metal concentrations of aboveground and root parts of perennial ryegrass (p < 0.05). The metal concentrations in perennial ryegrass were Zn > Cr > Mn > Cu > Cd > Ni, and the metal concentrations in roots were significantly higher than aboveground parts. The metal accumulation in perennial ryegrass correlated positively with sludge application rates and available metal concentrations in mudflat soil. Land application of sewage sludge was proved to be an effective soil amendment that improved soil fertility and promoted perennial ryegrass growth in mudflat soil. However, heavy metal accumulation in plants may cause food safety concern.


The paper presents a project-based teaching pedagogy for an honors level freshman course on energy and the environment. In addition to class lectures and discussions, students select from among a menu of energy-related topics for their project. The projects cover various aspects of the in-class discussions on energy fundamentals, renewable energy, fossil fuels, environmental impact, and energy policy. Each student prepares a 30 minute presentation on their topic to be given in class. The key criteria are for the lecture and data presented to be substantially different from the in-class lectures, up-to-date, and extend beyond the US (i.e., internationalized or globalized). Students are expected to be the experts on the topic after completing and presenting their project. Sample student topics include: wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, biomass, ocean and tidal energy, coal, petroleum, natural gas, oil shale and tar sands, electric power, fuel cells, environmental impact of energy, energy supply and demand, materials for energy applications, and the 2005 US Energy Act. The class, over a two year period 2005-2006, has shown a remarkable level of growth, excitement and interest of students. The presentations followed by questions and answers have shown enhanced teaching and learning of students. Student evaluations have indicated the project to be one of the key aspects of the course students liked most. It was concluded that project-based pedagogy significantly enhances teaching and learning.


We present experimental and theoretical results on the voltage-dependent escape dynamics of DNA hairpins of different orientations threaded into an alpha -hemolysin channel. Using a coarse-grained formulation, we map the motion of the polymer in the pore to that of a biased single-particle random walk along the translocation coordinate. By fitting the escape probability distributions obtained from theory to experimental data, we extract the voltage-dependent diffusion constants and bias-induced velocities. Using our two-parameter theory, we obtain excellent agreement with experimentally measured escape time distributions. Further, we find that the ratio of mean escape times for hairpins of different orientations is strongly voltage dependent, with the ratio of 3' - to 5' -threaded DNA decreasing from approximately 1.7 to approximately 1 with increasing assisting voltages V(a) . We also find that our model describes 5' -threaded DNA escape extremely well, while providing inadequate fits for 3' escape. Finally, we find that the escape times for both orientations are equal for high assisting voltages, suggesting that the interactions of DNA with the alpha -hemolysin channel are both orientation and voltage dependent.


Previous research suggests that character realism influences children's responses to stories. This study explored 3- to 7-year-old children's ratings of thought, feeling, self-knowledge and intention for humans, real animals and anthropomorphised animal characters. Ratings were similar for real and anthropomorphised animals and significantly lower than those for humans. These findings may relate to the observed poorer outcomes following stories depicting anthropomorphic animals, relative to human characters. Individual differences in internal state attribution and corresponding responses to anthropomorphised narratives might be usefully explored with this scale.


Livestock is the dominant cog of economy of Pakistan and also livelihood supporter fulfiller for the subsistent farmers of country. The country has a great potential and prosperous with dairy animals' breeds. Unfortunately, farmers are so far away to cash in the actual potential of animals. Non-adoption of improved practices is the major productivity retarding factor. In this regard, present study was conducted in the different areas of Punjab, Pakistan. Data were collected from the 107 livestock farmers. The sample was a blend of landless, illiterate and young, middle aged and small farmers who were immensely dependent on livestock. Data analysis indicated that cattle were the more likely animal among farmers. Farmers were interested in different management practices regarding feeding, breeding and disease management. However, farmers were adopting the only practice which needs no investment and technicality. Farmers were lacking in technical knowledge=2.81) were other constraints compelling farmers to adopt traditional practices. Correlation analysis indicated highly significant association of age, education, land size and annual income with adoption of scientific dairy practices. On the basis of results, it is suggested that the role of livestock extension should be diversified under strict evaluation. Micro credit schemes with cooperation of government may also boost the adoption. It is also inferred that international organization may also start some projects keeping in mind the ultimate potential of Pakistan dairy sector.


Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) is a major ingredient of ginseng, a traditional medicine that has been used for thousands of years. Previous studies have reported that GRb1 had anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. The current study aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of GRb1 in a rat model of cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) established by intratibial injection of Walker 256 cells. Intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of GRb1 (5 and 10 mg/kg, but not 1 mg/kg) partially and transiently reversed the mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in CIBP rats at 14 days following surgery when the pain behavior is established. Furthermore, repeated administration of GRb1 demonstrated persistent analgesic effect. Additionally, the protein expression and immunoreactivity of iba1, which is the maker of microglia, was significantly suppressed in CIBP rats treated with GRb1 (i.p., 10 mg/kg) from day 12 for three consecutive days compared with CIBP rats treated with a vehicle. Furthermore, upregulation of spinal interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were also significantly inhibited by the treatment of GRb1 (i.p., 10 mg/kg) from day 12 for three consecutive days. Together, these results indicated that GRb1 may attenuate CIBP via inhibiting the activation of microglia and glial-derived proinflammatory cytokines.


Extreme variability in millet stands over very short distances (2 to 20 m) poses a major constraint to grain production in Niger and other Sahelian countries. This study was undertaken to examine the chemical properties of associated productive and unproductive soils. Soil samples (0 to 15 cm) were taken at 26 sites along a 15-m transect between a productive and an unproductive region in a field of the Labucheri soil series (sandy, siliceous, isohyperthermic Psammentic Paleustalf). Chemical properties of soil profiles at three locations along the transect were also examined. Unproductive soils were associated with low (<4.5) pH, high Al + H saturation of the cation exchange sites, and decreased amounts of exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg when compared with productive sites. These chemical properties may result in Al or Mn toxicity or deficiencies of K, Ca, Mg, and P and appear to account for the variability that exists in millet stands. All soils become acidic at depths <30 cm. We propose a scheme for the genesis of these highly variable, acidic soils in this semiarid region.


Epidemiology is defined as the medicine of populations rather than, individuals. The thesis deals with the pattern of mortality from cerebrovascular disease in Scotland, England and Wales; the investigation of some possibilities in screening for symptoms of cerebrovascular disease; and a study of blood pressure on the Hebridean Island of Tiree. Chapter I. A Short History of Epidemiology. Chapter II. The Mature of Mortality Data, for Cerebrovascular Disease. As approximately fifty per cent of deaths from cerebrovascular disease take place at home and grouped data show that hospital clinicians have difficulty in distinguishing between cerebral haemorrhage and infarction, death certificate data for these categories of disease are likely to be unreliable. While this finding is supported from the literature, factors which enhance the validity of death certificates for cerebrovascular-disease are discussed and evidence produced indicating ways in which such data may be considered of greater consequence. Chapter III. The Pattern of Nortality from Cerebrovascular Disease and Arteriosclerotic and Degenerative Heart Disease in Scotland, England and Wales (1947-1966). The crude and direct standardised mortality rates for males and females by five year age groups for cerebrovascular disease (I.S.C. 330-334 and 330, 331, 332) and arteriosclerotic and degenerative heart disease (I.S.C. 420-422) axe tabulated for the period 1947-1966 and the data of greatest interest presented in graphical form. Attention is drawn to the apparent recent lack of increase in mortality for cerebral infarction which is in marked contrast to the rise in rates for myocardial infarction especially in the population aged 50-64 years. The relationship of the two conditions is brought into question. Chapter V, The Introduction of a Questionary on Screening for Symptoms of Transient Cerebral Ischaemia. The cardio-respiratory screening unit and its method of operation is described. A simple questionary on loss of power in the upper and lower limbs and on loss of speech and consciousness is evolved, tested and considered suitable for interviewer - administration under the conditions of a screening survey. Chapter VI. An Account of the Administration of the Questionary on Symptoms of Transient Cerebral Ischaemia in Three Samples of the Scottish Population - Clackmannan, Glasgow and Tiree. Individuals v/ho have experienced one or more of the symptoms sought by the questionary have greater experience of symptoms of angina, infarction and claudication and also more signs of electrocardiographic abnormalities as well as greater experience of cigarette smoking than those who have not admitted to such symptoms. If the high prevalence of these symptoms is substantiated this may partially account for the lack of increase in rates for cerebral infarction and the rise in rates for myocardial infarction mentioned in Chapter III. This project is presently being followed-up by a case/control study and a record linkage procedure. Chapter VI. Blood Pressure in a Scottish Island Community. A study of mean blood pressure levels in age-and-sex-matched samples of the population of the Hebridean Island of Tiree appears to support the local belief that blood pressure is higher on the island than on the mainland. This conclusion may be related to the observation of a greater mean' width of the heart measured radiologically in the island population compared with the mainland population. Chapter VIII. The Paradox of Tiree. The Islanders of Tiree appear to have a greater experience of clinical signs of vascular disease while admitting to fewer symptoms than their mainland contemporaries. While mean blood pressure levels are generally higher for those with symptoms and signs of vascular disease than for those without, they occur at higher mean levels of blood pressure in the island population compared to the mainland. Those without symptoms or signs can have higher blood pressure on the island than those with symptoms on the mainland. The hypothesis that island life may protect the individual from the effects of raised blood pressure is explored but not proven. Chapter IX Summary.


Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus capable of infecting humans through mosquito bites as well as through sexual contact between humans. ZIKV mitigation has traditionally focused on the reduction of the presence and abundance of mosquitoes. As the mosquitoes adapt to pesticides,  the use of personal preventive measures  will have to play a crucial role in controlling the spread of ZIKV. To evaluate different kinds of preventions, we consider a new mathematical model for ZIKV dynamics that incorporates four control measures, including two separate prevention measures, one for mosquito bite prevention and one for sexual transmission prevention. We study the model both analytically and numerically.  We show  that the mosquito bite control measure is more important for disease elimination and mitigation than the sexual transmission prevention.


The design of 3D user interfaces (3DUIs) for immersive head-mounted display (HMD) environments is an inherently difficult task. The fact that usually haptic feedback is absent and that visual body feedback is missing, hinders an efficient direct interaction with virtual objects. Moreover, the perceptual conflicts, such as double vision and space misperception, as well as the well-known vergence-accommodation mismatch further complicate the interaction, in particular with virtual objects floating in the virtual environment (VE). However, the potential benefits of direct and natural interaction offered by immersive virtual environments (IVEs) encourage the research in the field to create more efficient selection methods. Utilizing a Fitts' Law experiment, we analyzed the 3D direct selection of objects in the virtual 3D space as they might occur for 3D menus or floating objects in space. We examined the direct interaction space in front of the user and divided it into a set of interaction regions for which we compared different levels of selection difficulty. Our results indicate that the selection errors are highest along the view axis, less along the motion axis and marginal along the orthogonal plane. Based on these results we suggest some guidelines for the design of direct selection techniques in IVEs.


PURPOSE
Paratriathletes may display impairments in autonomic (sudomotor and/or vasomotor function) or behavioural (drinking and/or pacing of effort) thermoregulation. As such, this study aimed to describe the thermoregulatory profile of athletes competing in the heat.

METHODS
Core temperature (Tc) was recorded at 30 s intervals in 28 mixed-impairment paratriathletes during competition in a hot environment (33°C, 35-41% relative humidity, 25-27°C water temperature), via an ingestible temperature sensor (BodyCap e-Celsius). Furthermore, in a subset of 9 athletes, skin temperature (Tsk) was measured. Athletes' wetsuit use was noted whilst heat illness symptoms were self-reported post-race.

RESULTS
Twenty-two athletes displayed a Tc ≥39.5°C with 8 athletes ≥40.0°C. There were increases across the average Tc for swim, bike and run sections (p≤0.016). There was no change in Tsk during the race (p≥0.086). Visually impaired athletes displayed a significantly greater Tc during the run section than athletes in a wheelchair (p≤0.021). Athletes wearing a wetsuit (57% athletes) had a greater Tc when swimming (p≤0.032) whilst those reporting heat illness symptoms (57% athletes) displayed a greater Tc at various timepoints (p≤0.046).

CONCLUSIONS
Paratriathletes face significant thermal strain during competition in the heat, as evidenced by high Tc, relative to previous research in able-bodied athletes, and a high incidence of self-reported heat illness symptomatology. Differences in the Tc profile exist depending on athletes' race category and wetsuit use.


Hip Hop activism, a joining of a musical genre with political action, is a highly ambiguous term that encompasses a range of initiatives, from those that are genuinely attempting to affect public policy to largely self-promotional efforts that are more about getting media exposure for celebrities than addressing the cause they are allegedly representing.For too long, Bynoe maintains, Black leaders have only been "Charismatic Leaders," and have largely functioned as "spokespersons" delivering complaints and exhortations to the White power structure. Bynoe is passionate about the need for a new generation of Black leadership and civic and political organizations to instead actively engage in a policy-centered relationship with the White power structure, not only in field of government but also in economics and media. This understanding, Bynoe argues, should be premised on the principle that political power comes from influence and influence comes from the ability to delivery (or deny) money, votes or both to a political candidate, legislator or political party; in the words of MC Lyte, all the rest is "chitter chatter."


During Trajan Decius's reign (249–251) in a number of provincial mints – Alexandria, Caesarea Maritima, Magnesia ad Sipylum and Nicomedia – coins were issued featuring the theme of the barbarian (an enemy or a captive) in reverse iconography. In this article, I discuss these coins, considering them in the context of the iconographic tradition and the activity of the particular mints during Decius's reign, and also in relation to the ideology of victory and the dynastic ideology. They are interesting especially because the theme of the barbarian was not utilised in the parallel imperial coinage. Nevertheless, its presence in provincial coinage is also of a marginal nature. Moreover, the end of Decius's reign also coincided with a time-related hiatus in the use of the theme in provincial coinage.


This article explores mothers' narratives of 'prepping' behaviours. Prepping involves the management of stockpiled household items in anticipation of marketplace disruption. In this article, we use anticipated food shortages following the UK's exit from the EU ('Brexit') as our context. Drawing on interview data, we highlight how mothers embed prepping into their ongoing pursuit of intensive motherhood, bound in the highly gendered practice of feeding the family. While adhering to elements of intensive motherhood ideology (their actions are labour intensive/child centred), participants reveal a hidden element to their practice. We introduce the notion of 'survivalist intensive motherhood' to understand their actions. Survivalist intensive motherhood departs from earlier intensive motherhood studies due to the largely invisible nature of preparations and the trade-offs made to feed the family during resource scarcity.


This article adds to art versus commerce debate by introducing the thoughts of eight professional jazz musicians. Our article suggests that other studies of marketing in music are flawed either methodologically (e.g. Kubacki and Croft, 2004) or, more crucially, conceptually (e.g. Holbrook, 2005). We feel that too many discussions have misconceived of the debate by positing art and commerce at opposite ends of a spectrum, allowing for some degree of (theoretical or actual) concord in between. As such musicians are classified as artists, who "sell out" to commerce, or else mere commercial players who have no business calling themselves artists. We argue that the debate of art versus commerce is misconceived: it is not a spectrum but rather a parallax, a space between opposites that cannot be bridged and remains forever apart. The parallax shift is therefore one of perspective, which enables two opposites to co-exist without meeting in the middle. This paper therefore offers fresh insight into current problems identified in arts marketing theory by outlining the thoughts of leading artists themselves. In addition, the paper argues that marketing is an extremely important tool to ensure a sustainable UK jazz scene.


This paper deals with the ball-plate manipulation problem considered as a typical but complicated model of a driftless nonholonomic system. Due to a strong nonlinearity of the ball-plate system, a state equation of the kinematic model cannot be transformed into a chained form, which is known to be effective in constructing a feedback control law for some driftless nonholonomic systems. To address this problem, we utilize a time-state control form, a kind of canonical form which covers a broader class of systems than the chained form. This form is first applied to two separate subproblems, position control, in which the planar position of the ball is controlled but not the orientation, and orientation control, in which the orientation is controlled without changing the positional relation between the ball and the plates. It turns out that there exists a linearly uncontrollable subspace in the transformed subsystem, which turns into controllable by a change of coordinates. This implies that the system has the structure of a system with two generators. We propose a control strategy using iterative changes of coordinates, ensuring convergence in the neighborhood of the origin. Finally, we unify the subproblems into simultaneous control of position and orientation, i.e., the whole configuration of the system. The important idea in the simultaneous control is the coordinate transformation, which enables us to avoid a singular point. Results of simulations show that the proposed method achieve robustness to a measurement noise and perturbation of radius of the ball.


We studied the dependency of left ventricular relaxation on the timing of an abrupt increase in systolic load. In 10 canine isolated heart-lung preparations, a load step of 15 mmHg was imposed at specific intervals throughout systole, and the time of loading was defined as the interval from the R wave to the completion of the load step (R-load interval). Preload was held constant. The right atrium was paced at a cycle length of 450 ms. The decay of left ventricular pressure during isovolumic relaxation was described by a single exponential time constant (Texp). Load effects on isovolumic relaxation were expressed as a percent change in Texp as compared with Texp of the beat preceding the load intervention. Loads imposed early in systole consistently prolonged Texp [mean delta Texp = +17.01 +/- 1.64% (SE) for R-load intervals less than or equal to 120 ms]. Load changes late in systole consistently abbreviated Texp [mean delta Texp = -9.49 +/- 0.86% (SE) for R-load intervals greater than or equal to 130 ms]. The transition from augmentation to diminution of Texp always occurred when the R-load interval was 120-130 ms. The mean time interval of electromechanical systole for the test beats was not significantly different (P greater than or equal to 0.05) from that of the control beats [R-load intervals less than or equal to 120: test = 247.0 +/- 27.8 (SD) ms; control = 246.6 +/- 26.8 (SD) ms] [R-load intervals greater than or equal to 130: test = 243.3 +/- 29.1 (SD) ms; control = 243.8 +/- 28.4 (SD) ms].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Apatite-mullite glass-ceramics have been developed based on SiO2-Al2O3-P2O5-CaOCaF2 glasses. The glasses crystallise to form fluorapatite (FAP) and mullite with an appropriate heat treatment. The crystallisation mechanism has been thought to occur via a prior amorphous phase separation. The aim of this study was to carry out real time neutron diffraction of apatite-mullite glass-ceramics in order to develop an understanding of the crystal growth and crystal dissolution phenomena in the temperature regime between 550 and 1200oC. The results show that during the initial stages of fluorapatite crystallisation pronounced line broadening was observed indicating crystallisation on a nanoscale. Mullite starts to crystallise once there is insufficient charge balancing cations in the glass to maintain aluminium in a four fold coordination state. As a result of this work it is suggested that the mechanism of crystal growth of FAP is thought to involve the dissolution of smaller FAP crystals during the crystal growth temperature followed by re-crystallisation of FAP on the remaining larger crystallites during cooling.


Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the commonest forms of early-onset dementia, accounting for up to 20% of all dementia patients. Recently, it has been shown that mutations in progranulin gene (PGRN) cause many familial cases of FTD. Members of a family affected by FTD spectrum disorders were ascertained in Poland and Canada. Clinical, radiological, molecular, genetic, and pathological studies were performed. A sequencing analysis of PGRN exons 1-13 was performed in the proband. Genotyping of the identified PGRN mutation and pathological analysis was carried out in the proband's brother. The onset of symptoms of FTD in the proband included bradykinesia, apathy, and somnolence followed by changes in personality, cognitive deficits, and psychotic features. The proband's clinical diagnosis was FTD and parkinsonism (FTDP). DNA sequence analysis of PGRN revealed a novel, heterozygous mutation in exon 11 (g.2988_2989delCA, P439_R440fsX6). The mutation introduced a premature stop codon at position 444. The proband's brother with the same mutation had a different course first presenting as progressive non-fluent aphasia, and later evolving symptoms of behavioral variant of FTD. He also developed parkinsonism late in the disease course evolving into corticobasal syndrome. Pathological analysis in the brother revealed Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration-Ubiquitin (FTLD-U)/TDP-43 positive pathology. The novel PGRN mutation is a disease-causing mutation and is associated with substantial intra-familial clinical heterogeneity. Although presenting features were different, rapid and substantial deterioration in the disease course was observed in both family members.


Because of the rigid salary structure in the public teacher labor market, principals may have the incentive to align classes favorably for high-quality teachers as a form of nonmonetary compensation. This article tests whether higher-quality teachers, holding other characteristics constant, tend to be matched with more favorable assignments. The findings show that elementary teachers with higher licensure exam scores and greater observed classroom success tend to be matched to students with higher prior math ability, fewer students with learning disabilities, fewer students eligible for subsidized lunch, and more female students. Several tests indicate that matching patterns are not entirely driven by parental pressure or the technology of learning, providing evidence that principals use class assignments as a way to compensate teachers.


INTRODUCTION
Huntington s disease is one of the, at least, nine neurological disorders caused by a CAG triplet expansion coding for a poly glutamine sequence in the corresponding protein. Huntington s disease affects 3 7 in 100.000 individuals in Western Europe descendent population and the symptomatology comprises motor (including chorea and rigidity), cognitive (subcortical dementia), and psychological (including irritability and depression) manifestations until death.

DEVELOPMENT
Neuropathology is extremely restricted, with atrophy occurring in the striatum and, to a lesser extent, in the cerebral cortex. Microscopically, the neuropathology is characterized by neuronal loss, reactive gliosis, and intraneuronal protein aggregates. Since the initial description of this disease by George Huntington in 1872, substantial advance has been achieved in the understanding of this pathology. The pathogenic gene and mutation were identified in 1993. This allowed the generation of multiple in vitro, cellular, and animal models of Huntington s disease. These studies have originated multiple hypotheses regarding the mechanism by which huntingtin with an expanded poly glutamine tract exerts its toxicity.

CONCLUSION
We try to summarize the current knowledge about this disease from the clinical manifestations to the molecular basis, in an attempt to offer a global view of this pathology.


Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a robust transmission technique in Raleigh and Rician fading environments. In this paper, Turbo coding (TC) is considered with OFDM for a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite channel. Bit error rate (BER) performance of Turbo coded OFDM (TC-OFDM) for different modulation schemes are considered. Results are compared with Trellis Code Modulated OFDM (TCMOFDM) and Convolutional coded OFDM (CC-OFDM). Results show that Turbo coded OFDM gives the best performance compared to the TCM-OFDM and CCOFDM for all modulation schemes considered.


Previous reports on the personality of contact lens wearers and spectacle wearers have been often vague and inconclusive. The present study was designed to determine if there are indeed significant differences in personality traits between contact lens wearers and spectacle wearers. The subjects of the present study were two groups of 90 optometry students at Pacific University. One group of subjects was primary contact lens wearers while the other group was primary spectacle wearers. The personality traits of each subject were assessed using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a self-administered psychometric questionnaire. The results indicated that there were no significant differences in personality traits between the two groups. However, there were some trends which might nave shown significant if a larger number of subjects was used. Although the present study did not find significant differences between contact lens wearers and spectacle wearers, the results could assist practitioners during case presentation of eye wear options.


Abstract 3D-MHD numerical simulations of bipolar, hypersonic, weakly magnetized jets and synthetic synchrotron observations are presented to study the structure and evolution of magnetic fields in FR II radio sources. The magnetic field setup in the jet is initially random. The power of the jets as well as the observational viewing angle are investigated. We find that synthetic polarization maps agree with observations and show that magnetic fields inside the sources are shaped by the jets' backflow. Polarimetry statistics correlates with time, the viewing angle and the jet-to-ambient density contrast. The magnetic structure inside thin elongated sources is more uniform than for ones with fatter cocoons. Jets increase the magnetic energy in cocoons, in proportion to the jet velocity. Both, filaments in synthetic emission maps and 3D magnetic power spectra suggest that turbulence develops in evolved sources.


There is an immense need to obtain nanometric surface finish on optical glass owing to the advantage of improved performance of the components. But owing to brittleness and hardness, optical glass is one of the materials that is difficult to ultra-precision turning. According to the hypothesis of ductile mode machining, regardless of their hardness and brittleness, will undergo a transition from brittle to ductile machining region below a critical undeformed chip thickness. Below this threshold, it is suggested that the energy required for plastic formation. Thus, plastic deformation is the predominant mechanism of material removal in machining these materials in this mode. An experimental study is conducted diamond cutting for machining BK7 glass. The investigation presents the feasibility of achieving nanometric surface and the understanding the mechanism of cutting glass, proving the cutting edge radius effect.


As many geo-located Web services will be deployed in the future, mobile clients will be interested in locating a specific application server based on requirements such as proximity, service cost per location area, bandwidth, and server utilization rates. This paper presents a middleware system called GLWSA (Geo-Located Web Services Architecture) that aims to satisfy these requirements in addition to providing a thematic factorization of common location functions in order to locate mobile clients. The GLWSA supports a set of GLWSMs (Geo-Located Web Services Manager) distributed over the mobile network. It defines protocols to discover and inform a Supplier Application Server (SAS) to migrate the service execution (from a specific client) to the nearest SAS based on the client's location. This architecture is suitable to assist mobile clients to discover the geo-located Web services and to maintain the service execution closest to their location.


astinal lesions adjacent to the oesophagus. Methods: Between December 2015 and May 2018 in our institute, patients who underwent EUS-B-FNA to diagnose mediastinal lesions adjacent to the oesophagus were enrolled (n = 31). EUS-B-FNA was performed when bronchoscopic diagnosis was impossible or difficult to obtain sufficient samples. Results: EUS-B-FNA was performed on 40 lesions in 31 patients. Among the target lesions, 21 were mediastinal lymph nodes including nodal stations 2 L, and 4 L. The remaining 10 were mediastinal lesions adjacent to the oesophagus. EUS-B-FNAs were completed without complications in all the patients. The diagnostic yield of EUS-B-FNA in diagnosing mediastinal lesions adjacent to the oesophagus was 100%. Conclusion: EUS-B-FNA is a practical, feasible and well-tolerated method to obtain abundant tumorous tissue samples for diagnosis, especially when the target lesions are inaccessible by other modalities because of their locations or because of the patient's poor physical condition.


This study investigates the effect of oil and non-oil exports on economic growth in Bahrain over the period 1977-2015. The cointegration analysis shows that economic growth was positively and significantly related to exports. However, oil effects have the biggest effect on real GDP. Also, results show that oil exports have a positive impact on economic growth both in the short run and in the long run. Therefore, further encouragement of non-oil sectors and higher diversification of exports would lead to positive effects on the economy.


Selective inhibition of the polymerization leads to sub-diffraction feature sizes in direct writing lithography-a principle based on the idea of stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy. However, the detailed understanding of the inhibition process is a key point to further enhance the resolution of the system. The authors present experiments focused on the time dynamics of the inhibition process, clarifying possible photophysical pathways.


This research deals with the multi-level capacitated lot-sizing problem originating from the production system of a large typical oil refinery. A deterministic mixed integer programming model based on the minimization of setup, production, transportation and inventory costs is formulated to determine the production, inventory and transportation quantities in each time period under complicated material-balance and capacity constraints. A numerical example is subsequently provided to illustrate the broad applicability of the proposed model.


OBJECTIVE To discover the prevalence of serological markers of the Hepatitis B virus in the out-patient population of the city of Vigo. DESIGN A year-long retrospective study (from January to December, 1990) of a total of 4,581 serums belonging to patients. These came to our laboratory from patients who attended the out-patient clinics of the Hospital Xeral in Vigo. The HBs Ag, anti-HBc and anti-HBc IgM (this last if the total anti-HBc showed positive) were then determined. SITE. Primary Care and Digestive Clinics of the Hospital Xeral of Vigo's Health Area. PATIENTS OUR OTHERS PARTICIPANTS: All pregnant women were excluded from the study. The rest were men and women between 18 and 69 who provided a total sample of 4,581 serums. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS These findings were as follows: 954 serums had some positive marker, which presumes a prevalence of 20.8% with a Confidence Interval of +/- 0.79 (p < 0.05). Pattern 1 had 39 cases, which was 0.8% of the total number of serums studied. Pattern 2 had 141 cases (3.1%). Pattern 3 had 5 cases (0.1%). Pattern 4 had 769 cases (16.8%). CONCLUSIONS Pattern 4 was the most common (80.6%), followed by Pattern 2 (14.8%) and Pattern 1 (4.1%). The rarest was Pattern 3 with 0.5%. The percentage of positive markers was greater in men than in women: this was a statistically significant difference. Overall prevalence was 20.8%. In order to reduce the number of people infected by this important disease--one which carries extremely serious socio-economic repercussions--it would be in principle advisable to vaccinate all those in high-risk groups.


The glutamine synthetase (GS) expression system is commonly used to ensure stable transgene integration and amplification in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) host lines. Transfected cell populations are typically grown in the presence of the GS inhibitor, methionine sulfoximine (MSX), to further select for increased transgene copy number. However, high levels of GS activity produce excess glutamine. We hypothesized that attenuating the GS promoter while keeping the strong IgG promoter on the GS‐IgG expression vector would result in a more efficient cellular metabolic phenotype. Herein, we characterized CHO cell lines expressing GS from either an attenuated promoter or an SV40 promoter and selected with/without MSX. CHO cells with the attenuated GS promoter had higher IgG specific productivity and lower glutamine production compared to cells with SV40‐driven GS expression. Selection with MSX increased both specific productivity and glutamine production, regardless of GS promoter strength. 13C metabolic flux analysis (MFA) was performed to further assess metabolic differences between these cell lines. Interestingly, central carbon metabolism was unaltered by the attenuated GS promoter while the fate of glutamate and glutamine varied depending on promoter strength and selection conditions. This study highlights the ability to optimize the GS expression system to improve IgG production and reduce wasteful glutamine overflow, without significantly altering central metabolism. Additionally, a detailed supplementary analysis of two "lactate runaway" reactors provides insight into the poorly understood phenomenon of excess lactate production by some CHO cell cultures.


Abstract Speech delay, intellectual disability, and behavioral disturbances are the main clinical manifestations of Potocki–Lupski syndrome. Other features include infantile hypotonia, the absence of major dysmorphism, sleep disorders, and congenital anomalies, particularly of the cardiovascular system. A male patient with Potocki–Lupski syndrome is reported herein. He showed speech and borderline cognitive delay, behavioral troubles with no signs suggestive of autism, in the absence of major dysmorphism. A de novo 17p12-p11.2 duplication spanning 3.6 Mb was detected, with boundaries from 15,284,052 to 18,647,233 (hg19 assembly). At the age of 5 years, the child showed a noticeable improvement of speech skills and a moderate scholastic performance was reached. Upon analysis of the clinical manifestations of the present patient and those reported in existing literature, we found that the syndrome may present in various degrees of clinical expressivity. Affected patients may manifest symptoms ranging from mild behavioral disturbances to severe degrees of autism.


In recent years, the development mode of China's animation industry changed from "offshoring" to "innovation". China's domestic animation has since achieved rapid advancement in the creation of original characters, animation production and sales, development of cartoon-related products, cultivation of the animation market and industrial upgrading. This article investigates the upgrading progress of China's animation industry. To transform the country's economic growth model and strengthen ideological control, the Chinese government promoted culture industrialisation, including animation. There has been a shift in the function of animation from edutainment to a balanced mix of edutainment and commercial success. On the one hand, the Chinese government regards animation as an important part of the knowledge-intensive cultural and creative industries, and lends its support for a breakthrough in transforming the economic growth model. On the other hand, the government insists on domestic animation to fulfil its indoctrination function to promote mainstream culture, as well as on implementing a slew of policies to reinforce domestic culture dominance in the society such as the "differentiated" broadcasting policy, incentive policy on production, flexible review and management policy, and market development and regulatory policy aimed at building the industrial chain. All of these policies form the substance of the transformation and upgrading of China's domestic animation industry.


The basal complex of Fuerteventura, inner Canary Islands, includes a thick sequence (c. 1.5 km) of early Cretaceous terrigenous and calcareous clastic sediments and black shales. Previously interpreted as shallow-water deposits, these rocks are reinterpreted as part of a deep-sea fan on the rifted West African continental margin. Sediments were derived from ancient crystalline massifs inland, and from a probable collapsed carbonate platform located offshore. Stable passive margin conditions ended in the Albian with onset of calcareous pelagic sedimentation coupled with major localised uplift. After a hiatus, alkalic submarine volcanic rocks were extruded, followed by folding, then a substantial sheeted-dyke complex was intruded from late Eocene to mid-Miocene. After renewed uplift and peneplanation of the Basal Complex, Neogene plateau lavas were extruded. Structural analysis of Fuerteventura rocks and regional comparisons, including IPOD data, show that from early Cretaceous to mid-Tertiary the island experienced successive phases of crustal uplift, compression and extension, possibly related to orogenic events in the High Atlas.


Author(s): Hasanbeigi, Ali; Khanna, Nina; Price, Lynn | Abstract: China's cement and steel industry accounts for approximately half of the world's total cement and steel production. These two industries are two of the most energy-intensive and highest carbon dioxide (CO2)-emitting industries and two of the key industrial contributors to air pollution in China. For example, the cement industry is the largest source of particulate matter (PM) emissions in China, accounting for 40 percent of its industrial PM emissions and 27 percent of its total national PM emissions. The Chinese steel industry contributed to approximately 20 percent of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and 27 percent of PM emissions for all key manufacturing industries in China in 2013. In this study, we analyzed and projected the total PM and SO2 emissions from the Chinese cement and steel industry from 2010–2050 under three different scenarios: a Base Case scenario, an Advanced scenario, and an Advanced EOP (end-of-pipe) scenario. We used bottom-up emissions control technologies data and assumptions to project the emissions. In addition, we conducted an economic analysis to estimate the cost for PM emissions reductions in the Chinese cement industry using EOP control technologies, energy efficiency measures, and product change measures. The results of the emissions projection showed that there is not a substantial difference in PM emissions between the Base Case and Advanced scenarios, for both the cement and steel industries. This is mainly because PM emissions in the cement industry caused mainly by production process and not the fuel use. Since our forecast for the cement production in the Base Case and Advanced scenarios are not too different from each other, this results in only a slight difference in PM emissions forecast for these two scenarios. Also, we assumed a similar share and penetration rate of control technologies from 2010 up to 2050 for these two scenarios for the cement and steel industry. However, the Advanced EOP scenario showed significantly lower PM emissions for the cement industry, reaching to 1.7 million tons of PM in 2050, which is less than half of that in the other two scenarios. The Advanced EOP scenario also has the lowest SO2 emissions for the cement industry in China, reaching to 212,000 tons of SO2 in 2050, which is equal to 40 percent of the SO2 emissions in the Advanced scenario and 30 percent of the emissions in the Base Case scenario. The SO2 emission is mainly caused by fuel (coal) burning in cement kiln or steel processes. For the steel industry, the SO2 emissions of the Advanced EOP scenario are significantly lower than the other scenarios, with emissions declining to 323,000 tons in 2050, which is equal to 21 percent and 17 percent of the emissions of Advanced and Base Case scenarios in 2050, respectively. Results of the economic analysis show that for the Chinese cement industry, end-of-pipe PM control technologies have the lowest abatement cost per ton of PM reduced, followed by product change measures and energy efficiency measures, respectively. In summary, in order to meet Chinese national and regional air quality standards, best practice end-of-pipe emissions control technologies must be installed in both cement and steel industry and it must be supplemented by implementation of energy efficiency technologies and reduction of cement and steel production through structural change in industry.


In a given frequency band, the achievable match between a capacitive microwave or millimeter-wave device and a resistive source is limited by the capacitance of the device and its series inductance. The fundamental limit on the match bandwidth is examined for three circuits: 1) parallel RC, 2) parallel RC with series L, and 3) parallel RCL with series L. The broadband matching theories of Bode (1945) and Fano (1950) are used, the latter modified to avoid the standard low-pass to band-pass mapping in case 2) because the terminals of the capacitance are not generally accessible for connection of the requisite parallel inductor. The results are fundamental to the design of broadband mixers, multipliers, switches, and detectors using Schottky diodes or SIS junctions. Practical limitations imposed by the minimum realizable di- mensions of millimeter-wave integrated circuits fabricated by standard photolithography are discussed in the context of SIS mixers with series arrays of junctions, and an example of a coplanar SIS mixer design is given. For a series array of N devices with a given total resistance, it is shown that there is an upper limit to N, below which the theoretical match bandwidth depends only on the RC product of the devices and not on the series inductance of the array.


Mobile phones have evolved over the years from a plain device that allowed voice communication to the present day smart phones that are capable of variety of tasks. Much touted smart phone lacks some of the rudimentary business as well as other functions that are available in a traditional laptop/desktop. This article proposes a new system called Next Generation Mobile Desktop (NGMD) that provides desktop equivalent functions on a functional mobile phone. Proposed NGMD leverage some of the emerging technologies to offer enhanced services to the user. This article discusses some of the existing as well as new mobile technologies and then proposes the architecture for the NGMD. This article also discusses some of the services offered by NGMD and provides illustrative examples of them. We believe NGMD capable phones would dominate the corporate market and free up the user from carrying multiple devices while on the road.


Background: The Service Provision Assessment (SPA) survey is a nationwide facility-based survey that measures the ability of health facilities to provide quality preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services for key maternal and child health and HIV/AIDS programs. Objective: The study was designed to assess some aspects of expressed maternal health services provided at ten primary health-care (PHC) centers in Babylon province, Iraq, using interviews with health service providers and clients and observations of provider–client consultations to obtain information on the capacity of facilities to provide quality services, and the existence of functioning systems to support quality services. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in ten Babylon PHC centers from March to August 2018. The study included 165 pregnant women. The questionnaire included sociodemographic factors (age, residence, employment, parity, and education) and data related to Service Provision Assessment questionnaire which include a facility inventory, client exit interviews, and antenatal care (ANC) observation and consultation. Results: The mean age of pregnant women attending ANC was 25.29 ± 5.48, 66.1% came from urban areas, the majority were not employed (83%), their educational level was secondary (38.8%), and 57% were multipara. The findings showed that the majority (89.1%) of patients think that health facility services were good. A sizeable majority (83.0%) of women were satisfied regarding health services including availability of medicines at the facility (91.5%), cleanliness of the facility (100%), privacy (93.9%), charging or payment of fees for services received (0.6%), and discussion of problems related to the pregnancy (93.3%). Conclusion: This study showed a high level of satisfaction with the quality of maternal health services among antenatal attendees and highlighted the need to support interventions that increase the uptake of formal maternal health-care services.


Measurement of blood flow velocity using Doppler ultrasound has become an important noninvasive tool not only in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease but also in physiological measurement. Physiological blood flow velocities in common carotid artery (CCA) is altered markedly with advancing age. It is unknown that regular aerobic exercise training can alter and improve blood flow velocity waveforms in either healthy young or healthy older individuals. Blood flow velocities were measured in 89 putatively healthy volunteers with age range of 20-76 years: 65 subjects were sedentary and 24 subjects were regular exercise-trained. Blood flow velocity spectra were measured at resting using our newly developed portable telemetry Doppler ultrasound velocimeter (TDUV) with real-time monitoring. Blood flow velocity waveforms were obtained from the spectral blood flow velocities of instantaneous peak-velocities. As a result, blood flow in peak systolic SI, end-diastolic d, and peak diastolic velocities D decreased with aging by the following yearly rate: 7.18 mm/s/year, 2.64 mm/s/year, and 1.24 mm/s/year, respectively. Thus the indices of d/S1, S1/S2, and D/I had a significant change with age. However, resting heart rate (HR) and second systolic velocities S2 were not significantly changed with aging. Blood flow velocities in SI were higher in the exercise-trained, whereas S2, D, and d velocities had no difference between trained and sedentary adults. However, the index of D/I had a marked higher in exercise-trained adults. As anticipated to exercise effect, the resting heart rate (HR) were significantly lower in exercise-trained. There were no differential effects in three age-groups (P= NS, by multivariate analysis). In conclusion, an age-associated decrease blood flow velocities in CCA was altered and improved in the healthy middle-aged and older individuals who regularly performed aerobic exercise. The blood flow patterns in three age-groups design had no markedly change with age in regular aerobic exercise-trained adults. The adaptations of blood flow velocities to regular exercise were not different with aging.


This review, using a best evidence synthesis, examined the evidence on management strategies for work-relevant upper limb disorders and established the extent to which the biopsychosocial model can be applied. Articles were found through systematic searching of electronic databases together with citation tracking. Information from included articles was extracted into evidence tables. Themes were identified and the information synthesised into high level evidence statements, which were distilled into key messages. The main results are presented in thematic sections covering classification/diagnosis, epidemiology, associations/risks, and management/treatment, focusing on return to work and taking account of distinctions between non-specific complaints and specific diagnoses.

Neither medical treatment nor ergonomic workplace interventions alone offer an optimal solution; rather, multimodal interventions show considerable promise, particularly for vocational outcomes. Early return to work, or work retention, is an important goal for most cases and may be facilitated, where necessary, by transitional work arrangements. The emergent evidence indicates that successful management strategies require all the players to be onside and acting in a coordinated fashion; this requires engaging employers and workers to participate.

The biopsychosocial model applies: biological considerations should not be ignored, but it is psychosocial factors that are important for vocational and disability outcomes. Implementation of interventions that address the full range of psychosocial issues will require a cultural shift in the way the relationship between upper limb complaints and work is conceived and handled. A number of evidence-based messages emerged, which can contribute to the needed cultural shift.


Objectives: To clarify the clinical and pathophysiological characteristics of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) in Asia. Methods: A retrospective, actual situation survey of AIP diagnosed by Asian criteria was conducted in 10 centers of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, and India. Results: A total of 327 AIP cases (258 male and 69 female subjects; average age, 60.0 years) were enrolled. Obstructive jaundice was the most frequent initial symptom (46%-74%), followed by weight loss (4%-51%) and abdominal pain (19%-44%). Diffuse swelling of the pancreas was frequent in Japan (64%) and Korea (81%), but segmental swelling of the pancreas was more frequent in Taiwan (70%) and China (72%) (P < 0.01). Serum immunoglobulin G4 levels were elevated in 58%-100% of cases in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Pathologically, almost all AIPs in Asia were lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis. Sclerosing cholangitis was the most frequent extrapancreatic lesion (60%-81%). Steroid therapy was a major and effective therapeutic strategy in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. However, the rate of resection or bypass operation was higher in Taiwan (40%) and China (72%) (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Features of AIP are fundamentally similar in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China. Knowledge of emerging AIP should be more widespread in Asia to avoid unnecessary operation.


This paper describes a new approach to the model base indexing stage of visual object recognition. Fast model base indexing of 3D objects is achieved by accessing a database of encoded 2D views of the objects using a fast 2D matching algorithm. The algorithm is specifically intended as a plausible solution for the problem of indexing into very large model bases that general purpose vision systems and robots will have to deal with in the future. Other properties that make the indexing algorithm attractive are that it can take advantage of most geometric and non-geometric properties of features without modification, and that it addresses the incremental model acquisition problem for 3D objects.


This article provides an account of anti-Chinese violence in Aceh between 1 October 1965 and 17 August 1966. Drawing upon original oral history evidence and previously unknown documentary sources, this article builds upon current scholarly understandings that two phases of violence involving members of the ethnic Chinese community can be identified in Aceh during this period, to explain how a third explicitly ethnic-based phase of violence directed against members of the ethnic Chinese community in Aceh can also be identified. Based on this research and a reflection on the precedent set by the Cambodian genocide as to how the current legal definition of genocide can be applied, this article argues that the assessment that the Indonesian killings should not be understood as genocide is premature.


Hydro-hegemons can provide both positive and negative forms of leadership, the former leading to cooperative outcomes and the latter to conflict in transboundary river basins. What constrains hydro-hegemons and under what conditions do they cooperate? This paper examines China9s and India9s hydro-hegemonic behavior, using case studies of the Mekong and the Ganges, respectively. As a positive hydro-hegemon, China cooperates multilaterally with other Mekong riparians, while India takes a limited sovereignty view by sharing water with Bangladesh and Nepal in the Ganges. China and India behave as dominant hydro-hegemons when they engage in resource capture strategies, such as water diversion projects and unilateral dam-building activities. The regional context and domestic politics of hydro-hegemons constrain their behavior, and determine the forms of positive and negative leadership they provide. When strong multilateral mechanisms already exist in the regional context, hydro-hegemons are more likely to cooperate multilaterally. This explains why China cooperates multilaterally in the Mekong while India rejects multilateralism in the Ganges. Domestic considerations also explain why China cooperates multilaterally in the Mekong but avoids water-sharing discussions. In India9s case, electoral politics account for the eventual signing of the Ganges and Mahakali treaties after decades of negotiations.


The challenge of allelic diversity for assembling haplotypes is exemplified in polyploid genomes containing homoeologous chromosomes of identical ancestry, and significant homologous variation within their ancestral subgenomes. Cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) and its wild progenitors are outbred octoploids (2n = 8x = 56) in which up to eight homologous and homoeologous alleles are preserved. This introduces significant risk of haplotype collapse, switching, and chimeric fusions during assembly. Using third generation HiFi sequences from PacBio, we assembled the genome of the day-neutral octoploid F. × ananassa hybrid 'Royal Royce' from the University of California. Our goal was to produce subgenome-and haplotype-resolved assemblies of all 56 chromosomes, accurately reconstructing the parental haploid chromosome complements. Previous work has demonstrated that partitioning sequences by parental phase supports direct assembly of haplotypes in heterozygous diploid species. We leveraged the accuracy of HiFi sequence data with pedigree-informed sequencing to partition long read sequences by phase, and reduce the downstream risk of subgenomic chimeras during assembly. We were able to utilize an octoploid strawberry recombination breakpoint map containing 3.6 M variants to identify and break chimeric junctions, and perform scaffolding of the phase-1 and phase-2 octoploid assemblies. The N50 contiguity of the phase-1 and phase-2 assemblies prior to scaffolding and gap-filling was 11 Mb. The final haploid assembly represented seven of 28 chromosomes in a single contiguous sequence, and averaged fewer than three gaps per pseudomolecule. Additionally, we re-annotated the octoploid genome to produce a custom F. × ananassa repeat library and improved set of gene models based on IsoSeq transcript data and an expansive RNA-seq expression atlas. Here we present 'FaRR1', a gold-standard reference genome of F. × ananassa cultivar 'Royal Royce' to assist future genomic research and molecular breeding of allo-octoploid strawberry.


Why did Napoleon succeed in 1805 but fail in 1812? Could the European half of World War II have been ended in 1944? These are only two of the many questions that form the subject-matter of this meticulously researched, lively book. Drawing on a very wide range of sources, van Creveld examines the specifics of war: namely, those formidable problems of movement and supply, transportation and administration, so often mentioned - but rarely explored - by the vast majority of books on military history. In doing so he casts his net far and wide, from Gustavus Adolphus to Rommel, from Marlborough to Patton, subjecting the operations of each to a thorough analysis from an unusual point of view. In this edition with a new introduction, van Creveld revisits his now-classic text, and comments in a new afterword on the role of logistics in high-tech, modern warfare.


We apply first-principles simulations to evaluate several properties related to the resistance and reliability of rhodium and iridium interconnects. We find that both Rh and Ir have significantly higher activation energies of diffusion than state-of-the-art Cu interconnects, suggesting greatly improved resistance to electromigration failure. Since the practical integration of metal interconnects requires an adhesion liner, we calculate the metal-to-metal adhesion, surface scattering characteristics, and via resistance of four potential liner materials: TiN, TiO, TaN, and TaO. We find that TiO gives the strong metal-to-metal adhesion for both Rh and Ir, minimizing the risk of delamination. None of the four liner materials considered are found to have a significant impact on surface scattering of Rh or Ir, while the N-containing liners give lower via resistance than the O-containing liners. This work helps build a better understanding of fundamental material properties related to the practical integration of potential next-generation interconnect metals used for advanced semiconductor technology.


We develop a computationally efficient approach for evaluating the information-theoretic term within belief space planning (BSP), where during belief propagation the state vector can be constant or augmented. We consider both unfocused and focused problem settings, whereas uncertainty reduction of the entire system or only of chosen variables is of interest, respectively. State-of-the-art approaches typically propagate the belief state, for each candidate action, through calculation of the posterior information (or covariance) matrix and subsequently compute its determinant (required for entropy). In contrast, our approach reduces runtime complexity by avoiding these calculations. We formulate the problem in terms of factor graphs and show that belief propagation is not needed, requiring instead a one-time calculation that depends on (the increasing with time) state dimensionality, and per-candidate calculations that are independent of the latter. To that end, we develop an augmented version of the matrix determinant lemma, and show that computations can be re-used when evaluating impact of different candidate actions. These two key ingredients and the factor graph representation of the problem result in a computationally efficient (augmented) BSP approach that accounts for different sources of uncertainty and can be used with various sensing modalities. We examine the unfocused and focused instances of our approach, and compare it with the state of the art, in simulation and using real-world data, considering problems such as autonomous navigation in unknown environments, measurement selection and sensor deployment. We show that our approach significantly reduces running time without any compromise in performance.


Because most cases of secondary dengue virus infection are associated with an increased level of plateletassociated IgG, a high dose of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may have an effect on the development of severe thrombocytopenia in this disease. A randomized, controlled study was conducted with two treatment groups consisting of a treatment (IVIG) group (n 15) and a non-treatment (non-IVIG) group (n 16) to determine whether a high dose of IVIG is effective in hastening the recovery from thrombocytopenia in patients with secondary dengue virus infection. No significant difference was found in the baseline demographic data between the two groups. No adverse effect of IVIG was observed, but no effect in hastening the recovery of platelet counts was found in patients with secondary dengue infections. The lack of efficacy of IVIG suggests that platelet clearance by macrophages through Fc receptors is not a primary mechanism in this disease.


SIR,-Those who have had an opportunity of seeing for themselves the wretched insanitary surroundings which characterized a large part of Tsarist Russia will realize how ridiculous is the contention of Dr. Wasson that present conditions compare unfavourably with the past. She refers in support of this, for example, to the scarcity of soap, apparently not realizing that the scarcity is due to the fact that Russia is now using ten times as much soap as at any time in her history, and that before the revolution there were vast districts in which soap was completely unknown. When we have reduced our maternal mortality rate to that of Moscow-which was 2 per 1,000 in 66,000 births last year-it will be time enough to sneer at Soviet efforts. In reply to Dr. Clemow's statement, relating to 1897, that " of the medical institutions of Russia it may truly be said that they are worthy of the great country which has given them birth, of the great people by which they are supported, and of the great profession which has brought them to their present admirable state of developinent," it is sufficient to po'int out that the death rate in European Russia for that year was 31.4 per 1,000, the highest in Europe. In 1909, the latest pre-war year for which figures are available, the death rate was 28.9, a rate which was exceeded only by Serbia, with 29.3. The statistics are from official returns supplied to the RegistrarGeneral.-I am, etc.,


"There are two kinds of dissertations, finished and unfinished." - Anonymous. In this guide we hope dissertation writers will find helpful resources and tips to get your dissertation done. Resources for dissertation supervisors, dissertation committee me