Firm growth is a recurring topic in the field of management and entrepreneurship research. Over the last two decades, determinants of firm growth have been studied to explain variations in growth rates from a broad array of disciplines. Nevertheless, it is observed that accumulated knowledge of firm growth is still limited. The field of study is fragmented because different disciplines produce diverse sets of determinants; however, none of them can be used as a common set of growth predictors. This paper aims to provide an exhaustive analysis on the determinants of firm growth using both conceptual and statistical approaches. Applying factor analysis on a Dutch firm-level data set that includes many known determinants of firm growth from existing literature, we create determinants that are in line with their conceptual constructs (conceptual approach). We also empirically validate the conceptual constructs of these known determinants using a statistical approach where independent variables are grouped into common factors solely on statistical grounds. Finally, using an inclusive model consisting of known determinants from various categories, we are able to identify the most important determinants of firm growth: the individual's growth motivation and specific (technical) skills, firm age, past financial performance of the firm and the firm's entrepreneurial-growth orientation. We suggest that these determinants can serve as a common set of determinants to develop a more systematic analysis on the determinants of firm growth in future research.


Language-guided image inpainting aims to fill the defective regions of an image under the guidance of text while keeping the non-defective regions unchanged. However, directly encoding the defective images is prone to have an adverse effect on the non-defective regions, giving rise to distorted structures on non-defective parts. To better adapt the text guidance to the inpainting task, this paper proposes NÜWA-LIP, which involves defect-free VQGAN (DF-VQGAN) and a multi-perspective sequence-to-sequence module (MP-S2S). To be specific, DF-VQGAN introduces relative estimation to carefully control the receptive spreading, as well as symmetrical connections to protect structure details unchanged. For harmoniously embedding text guidance into the locally defective regions, MP-S2S is employed by aggregating the complementary perspectives from low-level pixels, high-level tokens as well as the text description. Experiments show that our DF-VQGAN effectively aids the inpainting process while avoiding unexpected changes in non-defective regions. Results on three open-domain benchmarks demonstrate the superior performance of our method against state-of-the-arts. Our code, datasets, and model will be made publicly available11https://github.com/kodenii/NUWA-LIP.


We sought to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of performing tissue-based immune characterization of the tumor microenvironment using CT-compatible needle biopsy material. Three independent biopsies were obtained intraoperatively from one metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer lesion of 7 consecutive patients undergoing surgical cytoreduction using a 16-gauge core biopsy needle. Core specimens were snap-frozen and subjected to immunohistochemistry (IHC) against human CD3, CD4, CD8, and FoxP3. A portion of the cores was used to isolate RNA for 1) real-time quantitative (q)PCR for CD3, CD4, CD8, FoxP3, IL-10 and TGF-beta, 2) multiplexed PCR-based T cell receptor (TCR) CDR3 Vβ region spectratyping, and 3) gene expression profiling. Pearson's correlations were examined for immunohistochemistry and PCR gene expression, as well as for gene expression array data obtained from different tumor biopsies. Needle biopsy yielded sufficient tissue for all assays in all patients. IHC was highly reproducible and informative. Significant correlations were seen between the frequency of CD3+, CD8+ and FoxP3+ T cells by IHC with CD3ε, CD8A, and FoxP3 gene expression, respectively, by qPCR (r=0.61, 0.86, and 0.89; all p<0.05). CDR3 spectratyping was feasible and highly reproducible in each tumor, and indicated a restricted repertoire for specific TCR Vβ chains in tumor-infiltrating T cells. Microarray gene expression revealed strong correlation between different biopsies collected from the same tumor. Our results demonstrate a feasible and reproducible method of immune monitoring using CT-compatible needle biopsies from tumor tissue, thereby paving the way for sophisticated translational studies during tumor biological therapy.


Analyzes the role of small- to medium-sized manufacturing firms in innovation and the economy, arguing for active government assistance. Small- to medium-sized firms (SMEs), defined as firms with less than 500 employees, play a crucial role in the economy, though this analysis supports Schumpeter's (1939) argument that the role of SMEs varies from industry to industry, and within an industry as it develops. Multiple general and technology policy reasons are given for support of SMEs, including that SMEs lead to a more favorable balance of economic power, mutually beneficial small/large firm relations, and a significant source of employment. Additionally, research supporting a model developed by Abernathy and Utterbach (1975) shows that in certain industry sectors, small firms contribute to a disproportionately high percentage of radical innovations. Similarly, calculations of the National Science Foundation's industrial R&D statistics (1976) show that small firms have performed better in terms of innovation measured against dollar expenditure than have large firms. The importance and effectiveness of entrepreneurship in small firms is discussed, as well as strategies for large firms to adopt small-firm entrepreneurial methods. After analyzing the differing economic roles of SMEs in the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States, it is determined that SMEs play the most vital role in the United States where they are seen as the cornerstone of a free market economy -- though differences from sector to sector are to be accounted for. Thus, SMEs merit government support, which they have been receiving in many forms, including entrepreneurial education, tax concessions, technical and information services, a network of industrial research organizations, etc. Concludes that SMEs are essential to the innovative progress of the economy, especially playing highly significant roles at the early, fluid stages of development in new technological industries. (CJC)


Christians among the Virtues: Theological Conversations with Ancient and Modern Ethics. By Stanley Hauerwas and Charles Pinches. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1997. xvii + 224 pp. $29.95 (cloth); $16.95 (paper). We need more books like this: Pugnacious and articulate, it knows its own positions and is not afraid to state them. It likes a good fight; indeed the book is structured as a series of disputatious conversations. And it picks its fights well: Each interlocutor merits the attention it receives. The book's disputatiousness has both formal and material attractions. Formally, the disputatiousness compels it towards an admirable specificity through engaging in detailed discussions with diverse interlocutors; Martha Nussbaum, John Casey (author of Pagan Virtue), and even Alasdair MacIntyre and the current obsession with "virtue ethics" come in for insightful critique here. Materially, these engagements usefully illuminate matters central to Christian faith, such as the virtues' interrelatedness (especially the place of courage and patience alongside [or within?] Christian caritas), and how Christian convictions should inform our endurance of suffering. As a set of engagements, the book raises crucial theological issues in a helpful way, even if one wishes to dispute the position put forward. Indeed, one learns at least as much by disagreeing with the book as by agreeing with it. For example, in defending its "sanctificationist" approach to ethics, the book argues that Christian faith allows the possibility of genuine moral development. This assumes that repair and development do not differ enough to undermine the practicality of virtue ethics for Christian faith. This seems usefully disputable; one might argue that a basic difference separating broadly "naturalist" ethics from Christian ethics is the Christian admission of original sin, which pictures humans as not simply born underdeveloped, but born positively perverted. This would seem to complexify the task of ethics-conceived of as reflection on "moral development"-in interesting ways. As "Christian realists" argue, Christian faith admits the possibility of genuine moral goodness but insists, against all teleology (whether Aristotelian naturalism or modern progressivism), that sin infects us too thoroughly for any such hope to be a straightforward ethical guide. Perhaps eschatology has a more complicated role to play in Christian ethics than this book admits; here it seems to function mostly as a kind of ultimate consequentialist trump card, legitimating a willed indifference to consequences by appeal to the idea that God will settle all things at the end of time. …


In many places in the world, women struggle to be heard and, when it comes to having a voice in the highest authority in the land, the difficulties in some countries can be almost insurmountable. Women in Fiji are confronting the problem of women's representation in Parliament. With only a small number of women (7. 04 percent) in the House of Representatives, what changes could the citizens of Fiji make to remedy this lack of female representation? One answer that could be considered is for Fijian lawmakers to make amendments to the alternative vote electoral system, a variation on preferential voting. The alternative vote falls into the same simple plurality category as first-past-the-post, a system notoriously unfriendly to women candidates.


Sponsored by the International and Intercultural Communication Division of the Speech Communication Association, the goal of the International and Intercultural Communication Annual is to promote better understanding of the international and intercultural communication processes. The current volume considers the relationships between language, communication and culture. Sections deal with the critical issues related to language acquisition, context and cognition; present an array of perspectives in analyzing the role of language in comparative cross-cultural and communication settings; and examine the role of first and second language uSAGE in intergroup communication contexts. Working in the disciplines of psychology, linguistics, sociolinguistics, intergroup relations and communication, contributors present new conceptual schemes in the study of language, communication and culture, and apply theoretical frameworks using such methods as ethnography of speaking analysis, rhetorical analysis, conversational analysis and case study analysis. Finally, specific directions for future research are discussed.


Our research explores how humans can understand and develop viewing behaviors with mutual paralleled first person view sharing in which a person can see others' first person video perspectives as well as their own perspective in realtime. We developed a paralleled first person view sharing system which consists of multiple video see-through head mounted displays and an embedded eye tracking system. With this system, four persons can see four shared first person videos of each other. We then conducted workshop based research with two activities, drawing pictures and playing a simple chasing game with our view sharing system. Our results show that 1) people can complement each other's memory and decisions and 2) people can develop their viewing behaviors to understand their own physical embodiment and spatial relationship with others in complex situations. Our findings about patterns of viewing behavior and design implications will contribute to building design experience in paralleled view sharing applications.


Every day in the United States the airline industry boards over 1.7 million passengers for a total of 600 million passengers per year. As these passengers enter the cabin of their aircraft few are aware of the artificial environment that will protect them from the hazards of flight. Passengers are exposed to reduced atmospheric pressure, reduced available oxygen, noise, vibration, and are subject to below zero temperatures that are only a quarter inch away-the thickness of the aircraft's skin. Over the past decade there have been both technical and lay articles written on the perception of poor cabin air quality. Studies have, in part, supported some of those concerns, but, in general, the air quality exceeds that found in most enclosed spaces on terra firma. Since the events of September 11th, passengers have not only been exposed to the physical stress of flight, but also to social and emotional stress preceding departure. There has been a significant increase in air rage on board aircraft, which poses a threat to flight safety and a fear of harm to passengers and crew. The phrase "economy class syndrome" has received popular press attention and refers to the possibility of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the tight confines of an aircraft cabin. Studies have been conducted that demonstrate DVT can occur in flight just as it occurs in other modes of transportation or with prolonged sitting. In part, because of the stress related to commercial flight it is not a mode of transportation for everyone. Certain cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neuropsychiatric conditions are best left on the ground. Although medical problems and death are rare in flight, they do occur, and one major airline reported 1.52 medical diversions per billion revenue passenger miles flown. To provide medical support at 36,000 ft (11,000 m) most airlines now carry on-board medical kits as well as automatic external defibrillators. A recent survey conducted by a major airline revealed that there was at least one physician on 85% of all its flights. Both passenger and cargo aircraft have proven to be vectors of disease in that they transport humans, mosquitoes, and other insects and animals who, in turn, transmit disease. Transmission to other passengers has occurred with tuberculosis and influenza. Vectors for yellow fever, malaria, and dengue have been identified on aircraft. Although there are numerous health issues associated with air travel they pale in comparison to the enormous benefits to the traveler, to commerce, to international affairs, and to the public's health.


The goal of this study was to explore whether subjects who successfully completed a web-based computerized, eye movement and reading efficiency training program would retain their improved visual efficiency skills over time. Subjects for this investigation were drawn from the intervention groups of an earlier study by Bragg et al., assessing the effectiveness of the Taylor Associates PANE computerized eye movement efficiency and reading enhancement program. Subjects in the Bragg et. al. intervention groups trained either 2 times per week or 4 times per week for 1 0-weeks using the P AJVE and Reading PlusTM program. Based upon Visagraph II results, both the 2 times per week and 4 times per week training groups demonstrated significantly improved eye movement efficiency immediately following intervention. For this follow up investigation, a subset of twenty non reading-disabled subjects were recruited from the Bragg et. al. study for repeated Visagraph II measurement over time without the benefit of additional training. Our longitudinal study found that improvements in reading eye movement efficiency achieved immediately post-intervention were retained both after 10-weeks and 68-weeks post-intervention. Compared to pre-intervention, post-intervention mean fixations, regressions, reading rate, and relative efficiency scores were significantly better at both 1 0-weeks and 68-weeks, than before training. Although there was a skills regression trend at 68-weeks (slightly greater for 4 times per week training subjects), this decline did not achieve significance relative to pre-training, or even relative to the 10-weeks post-intervention results. Based upon the results of this longitudinal investigation, it appears that eye movement efficiency improvement secondary to P A/VE training is retained for at least one year following training. This study together with the Bragg et. al. , study support the notion that the homebased computerized P A/VE training developed by Taylor and Associates can serve as a valuable tool for improving reading eye movements with non-reading disabled adults and that improvement are maintained for at least one year.


Deictic time words (e.g., "tomorrow," "yesterday") refer to time periods relative to the present moment. While children produce these words by age 2-3, they use them incorrectly for several more years. Here, as a case study in abstract word learning, we explored what children know about these words during this delay. Specifically, we probed children's knowledge of three aspects of meaning: deictic (past/future) status, sequential ordering (e.g., "tomorrow" is after "yesterday"), and remoteness from now. We asked 3to 8year-olds to place these words on a timeline extending from the past (left) to the future (right). Even 4-year-olds could meaningfully represent the words' deictic status and order, and by 6, the majority displayed adult-like performance. Adult-like knowledge of remoteness, however, emerged independently, after age 7. Thus, even while children use these terms incorrectly, they are gradually constructing a structured semantic domain, including information about the deictic, sequential, and metric relations among terms.


Along with the rapid development of genetic engineering technology and antibody engineering technology, humanized monoclonal antibody has been rapidly developed and gradually replaces the rat sourced monoclonal antibody. In this paper, we establish two new logarithmically completely monotonic functions involving the gamma function according to two preferred interaction geometries, necessary and sufficient conditions are presented for one of them to be logarithmically completely monotonic. As a consequence, a sharp inequality involving the gamma function is deduced to solve the problems of genetically engineered antibody.


Simulating the soft tissue deformation based on bone-related planning is one of the most difficult issues in generating realistic motion of soft tissues. The difficulty of this problem arises from unclear boundary conditions. In facial soft tissue deformation, the boundary conditions of the finite element modeling are related to the bone movements. In order to better map the bone movements to the soft tissue model, a fast and robust computational strategy for boundary conditions is presented in this paper. First, a collision detection algorithm is employed to query contact position after repositioning of bones. Then, an improved 3D discrete distance field algorithm is proposed to perform imposed displacement computation of contact vertices. Finally, boundary conditions are calculated in terms of the imposed displacements. This approach can automatically handle boundary conditions of the complex geometrical modeling without prior assumption or knowledge about the position of contacts. The effectiveness of our method is demonstrated on complex soft tissue deformation.


Dielectric elastomers (DEs) could be considered as a new type of transducers. They can convert electrical and mechanical energies in a bi-directional manner. In this work, the electromechanical behavior of a DE diaphragmatic generator was investigated. Circular diaphragms were fabricated using a prestretched DE film sandwiched between laminates of compliant electrodes. A special chamber was used to apply pressure. Pressure-Volume characteristics of diaphragms were measured to calculate elastic energy density. DC voltages were applied to the electrodes and the generated voltages were measured. It was concluded that efficiency of generators was strongly dependent on the amount of biased voltage, pre-straining level and applied pressures.


The risks posed by a range of acoustic scientific instruments were assessed by the construction of matrices of scale and likelihood. We recognized six levels of impact ranging from none or short term, minimal behavioural response (Level 1) to multiple injuries and fatalities and/or compromised populations (Level 6) and six levels of likelihood ranging from "Expected in almost all instances" (Level 1) to "cannot see how it could happen" (Level 6). Typical scientific instruments ranging from acoustic releases to large air gun arrays were assessed. To provide a perspective for the risks of scientific operations, other activities were also ranked. These included large chemical explosions, submarine detection sonars implicated in some mass strandings of cetaceans and normal Antarctic shipping activities. The conclusion reached was that most scientific instruments pose a similar or lower risk than normal shipping operations. High source-level equipment poses some risk to individual animals' hearing and so should be mitigated. Likewise, survey planning should be designed to avoid trapping animals in narrow, constricted sea ways. Long term, cumulative impacts are still difficult to detect in areas with greater anthropogenic noise than the Antarctic but we concluded that any possible long term impacts should be mitigated by maintaining the low levels of activity using high source-level equipment through data sharing and survey planning.


Syndesmosis sprains in the National Football League (NFL) can be a persistent source of disability, especially compared with lateral ankle injuries. This study evaluated syndesmosis and lateral ankle sprains in NFL players to allow for better identification and management of these injuries. Syndesmosis and lateral ankle sprains from a single NFL team database were reviewed over a 15-year period, and 32 NFL team physicians completed a questionnaire detailing their management approach. A comparative analysis was performed analyzing several variables, including diagnosis, treatment methods, and time lost from sports participation. Thirty-six syndesmosis and 53 lateral ankle sprains occurred in the cohort of NFL players. The injury mechanism typically resulted from direct impact in the syndesmosis and torsion in the lateral ankle sprain group (P=.034). All players were managed nonoperatively. The mean time lost from participation was 15.4 days in the syndesmosis and 6.5 days in the lateral ankle sprain groups (P⩽.001). National Football League team physicians varied treatment for syndesmosis sprains depending on the category of diastasis but recommended nonoperative management for lateral ankle sprains. Syndesmosis sprains in the NFL can be a source of significant disability compared with lateral ankle sprains. Successful return to play with nonoperative management is frequently achieved for syndesmosis and lateral ankle sprains depending on injury severity. With modern treatment algorithms for syndesmosis sprains, more aggressive nonoperative treatment is advocated. Although the current study shows that syndesmosis injuries require longer rehabilitation periods when compared with lateral ankle sprains, the time lost from participation may not be as prolonged as previously reported.


Sir Alec Clegg (1909 - 1986) was the Chief Education Officer for the West Riding of Yorkshire 1949-1974. Throughout his time in post the underpinning ideologies of individuals as agents of change, reform of educational environments and the value of the arts to the curriculum for every child were key cornerstones. As an educational pioneer Sir Alec Clegg's legacy is vast. Underpinning his leadership is his work as a thorough and exceptional educational administrator which allowed his character to be manifest, shared and learnt from.

Using personal papers of Sir Alec Clegg coupled with storied life narratives from individuals who worked with him. The research explores what can be learnt from his leadership to bring art and design education and pedagogical development to the forefront within the new political landscape. In exploring Clegg's leadership through the eyes of others, much is revealed in relation to personal contribution, leadership and navigation of purpose.

At a time of rapidly changing educational landscapes much can be learned from the individual contributions and impactful of Clegg. The paper synthesizes the positive attributes and impact of successful leadership within the context of the creative sector.


In its 2012 decision in the companion cases of Miller v. Alabama and Jackson v. Hobbs, the Supreme Court declared that it was unconstitutional to sentence children to mandatory life without parole because such sentences preclude an individualized consideration of a defendant's age and other mitigating factors. What Miller did not address, however, and what has confounded lower courts over the last two years, is whether the ruling applies to the more than 2,100 inmates whose convictions were already final when Miller was decided. In all but one case, the question has come down to an exercise in line drawing. If, under the Court's elusive Teague retroactivity doctrine, Miller articulated a "substantive" rule of constitutional law, it is retroactive; if the rule is merely "procedural," it is not. The Supreme Court is all but certain to decide the issue in the near future. I make two primary arguments in this Article. The first adds to the growing body of commentary concluding that, while Miller has "procedural" attributes, they are components of a constitutional mandate that is fundamentally "substantive." The second argument applies broadly to all new constitutional rules which, like the Miller rule, are grounded in the Eighth Amendment's proportionality guarantee. As even those who favor of limitations on retroactivity have acknowledged, there is a normative point at which interests in "finality" simply must yield to competing notions of justice and equality. I argue that finality interests may be at their weakest when the Court announces a new proportionality rule, because the practical burdens of review and theoretical concerns about undermining the consequentialist goals of punishment are simply not as pronounced with sentences of incarceration as they are with convictions. The risks of offending basic notions of justice may be at their most pronounced with new proportionality rules, however, because to deny relief to those whose sentences have been deemed "excessive" (or at a high risk of excessiveness) is to undermine the very principles of proportionality and fundamental fairness in which such rules are grounded. Proportionality rules should therefore be afforded something close to a presumption of retroactivity.


Discussing Supreme Court decisions regarding obscenity, Richard F. Hixson highlights the views of Justices William J. Brennan and John Paul Stevens, borrows from the pioneer decisions of Judge Learned Hand, and consults the work of contemporary First Amendment scholars; finally, though, he relies not on public debate or political machinations but on the justices own published opinions, which are, as he says, "the most tantalizing documents of all."Hixson proceeds chronologically through eleven chapters, with each chapter featuring a specific aspect of the constitutional problem and the approach or solution espoused by a particular justice. Through his case-by-case analysis of the many Supreme Court obscenity rulings, Hixson relates each decision to the temper of the times.In this investigation of the Supreme Court s dealings with obscenity, Hixson asks and answers in detail a series of pertinent questions. Do Congressional politics and public opinion prejudice the Court s ability to interpret the Constitution fairly? Must adults be treated the same as children? What are the limits, if any, of "content restriction" on obscene materials? How much "expressive activity" is, or should be, protected by the First Amendment? Does pornography discriminate against women? How protective of the individual can the Supreme Court be and, at the same time, allow as many voices as possible to be heard?"Pornography and the Justices "differs from other studies of pornography in its unique focus and its fresh conclusion, which is a composite of views garnered from the Supreme Court justices. As long as there is ample protection of minors and nonconsenting adults, Hixson argues, obscenity should be up to the individual. Separating himself from others who have discussed the issue, Hixson contends that the freedom to speak is as important as the freedom to be heard: it is essential to be able to speak whether or not anyone is listening.For Hixson, the clear trajectory of Supreme Court opinions implies that the freedom to purchase obscene pornographic matter should be restricted only by time, place, and manner considerations. If a person wants pornography, he or she should be able to get it, albeit perhaps from a higher shelf, in a secluded room, or at a theater clearly marked for adults."""


In this study is approached the design problem of a control law for an asymmetric nine-level multilevel cascade inverter when it is implemented as active filter for harmonic current mitigation purposes. Two are the main features of the proposed controller, namely, its structure is defined considering at a fundamental level the precise establishment, in terms of mathematical expressions, of the steady-state converter behaviour required to achieve the control objective and its stabilisation properties, that render this desired steady-state behaviour attractive (asymptotically stable), are obtained by exploiting the energy-dissipation (passivity) properties of the circuit. These features lead to a simple controller structure that is easy to tune. The stability, high performance and robustness properties of the presented control scheme are experimentally evaluated.


The ultrastructural features of the encephalic dura mater-arachnoid borderline (interface) layer (zone) of rats, rabbits, cats and humans were studied. The rat's interface zone included the electron-lucent epithelium-like arranged fibroblasts of the inner dural layer, the rich in filaments cells of the dural neurothelium, a 20 nm wide intercellular cleft filled with electron-dense material and the dark mitochondria-rich cells of the outer arachnoidal layer; in rabbits and cats, this laminar distinction was less prominent, while in man, it was almost absent.


This study examined the benefits of the tourism industry to Becheeve people of Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River state, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected through questionnaire survey, interviews, field inventory and participatory rural appraisal methods. The data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, percentages, averages, graphs, charts, frequencies and maps. An inferential statistics (Students t-test) was adopted to test the hypothesis of the study. The result of the analysis revealed that there is no significant difference in employment of indigenes and non-indigenes in the resort hotels (P>0.05, df=11, t=0.27). It is observed that, despite the high rate of tourism activities in the study area, the people are yet to enjoy the full benefits of tourism in terms of sustainable development and an adequate improvement in their standard of living. Based on these findings, it is recommended that adequate steps and measures be adopted to improve the standard of living of the people through the provision of training, capacity building, credit facilities, more tourism servicing establishments and provision of basic social amenities in the adjoining villages of the tourism business centre (TBC).


OBJECTIVES
Rigid telescopy is widely used in otorhinolaryngology for endolaryngeal visualization. Laryngeal telescopes are made with several angles, including 70 degrees and 90 degrees. In this study, the performances of 70 degrees and 90 degrees telescopes are compared and evaluated on the basis of ability to visualize specific regions of the larynx.

METHODS
Each subject (N = 121) received evaluation with both 70 degrees and 90 degrees telescopes. The investigator used the telescopes to attempt to visualize 4 key regions: (1) the subglottic area, (2) the pyriform fossae, (3) the anterior commissure, and (4) the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis. The telescopes were connected to a video camera and videotape recordings were made. The percentage of attempted visualizations that were successful was calculated for both the 70 degrees and the 90 degrees telescopes.

RESULTS
The 70 degrees telescope provided successful visualization of the subglottic area in 111 patients (91.7%), of the pyriform fossae in 115 (95.0%), of the anterior commissure in 112 (92.6%), and of the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis in 114 (94.2%). The 90 degrees telescope provided successful visualization of the subglottic area in 103 patients (85.1%), of the pyriform fossae in 112 (92.6%), of the anterior commissure in 100 (82.6%), and of the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis in 102 (84.3%). Differences in rates of visualization were significant for the posterior surface of the epiglottis, the anterior commissure, and the subglottic area.

CONCLUSIONS
The 70 degrees telescope provided a significantly higher rate of successful visualization for 3 of the 4 regions studied. This result contributes information that may help the clinical examiner select an instrument of choice.


Importance Dementia care management (DCM) can increase the quality of care for people with dementia. Methodologically rigorous clinical trials on DCM are lacking. Objective To test the effectiveness and safety of DCM in the treatment and care of people with dementia living at home and caregiver burden (when available). Design, Setting, and Participants This pragmatic, general practitioner–based, cluster-randomized intervention trial compared the intervention with care as usual at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. Simple 1:1 randomization of general practices in Germany was used. Analyses were intent to treat and per protocol. In total, 6838 patients were screened for dementia (eligibility: 70 years and older and living at home) from January 1, 2012, to March 31, 2016. Overall, 1167 (17.1%) were diagnosed as having dementia, and 634 (9.3%) provided written informed consent to participate. Interventions Dementia care management was provided for 6 months at the homes of patients with dementia. Dementia care management is a model of collaborative care, defined as a complex intervention aiming to provide optimal treatment and care for patients with dementia and support caregivers using a computer-assisted assessment determining a personalized array of intervention modules and subsequent success monitoring. Dementia care management was targeted at the individual patient level and was conducted by 6 study nurses with dementia care–specific qualifications. Main Outcomes and Measures Quality of life, caregiver burden, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, pharmacotherapy with antidementia drugs, and use of potentially inappropriate medication. Results The mean age of 634 patients was 80 years. A total of 407 patients received the intended treatment and were available for primary outcome measurement. Of these patients, 248 (60.9%) were women, and 204 (50.1%) lived alone. Dementia care management significantly decreased behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (b = −7.45; 95% CI, −11.08 to −3.81; P < .001) and caregiver burden (b = −0.50; 95% CI, −1.09 to 0.08; P = .045) compared with care as usual. Patients with dementia receiving DCM had an increased chance of receiving antidementia drug treatment (DCM, 114 of 291 [39.2%] vs care as usual, 31 of 116 [26.7%]) after 12 months (odds ratio, 1.97; 95% CI, 0.99 to 3.94; P = .03). Dementia care management significantly increased quality of life (b = 0.08; 95% CI, 0 to 0.17; P = .03) for patients not living alone but did not increase quality of life overall. There was no effect on potentially inappropriate medication (odds ratio, 1.86; 95% CI, 0.62 to 3.62; P = .97). Conclusions and Relevance Dementia care management provided by specifically trained nurses is an effective collaborative care model that improves relevant patient- and caregiver-related outcomes in dementia. Implementing DCM in different health care systems should become an active area of research. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01401582


Up to now, in most of the research work done on the effect of hydrogen on a Schottky barrier, the hydrogen was introduced into the semiconductor before metal deposition. This letter reports that hydrogen can be effectively introduced into the Schottky barriers (SBs) of Au/n-GaAs and Ti/n-GaAs by plasma hydrogen treatment (PHT) after metal deposition on [100] oriented n-GaAs substrates. The Schottky barrier height (SBH) of a SB containing hydrogen shows the zero/reverse bias annealing (ZBA/RBA) effect. ZBA makes the SBH decrease and RBA makes it increase. The variations in the SBHs are reversible. In order to obtain obvious ZBA/RBA effects, selection of the temperature for plasma hydrogen treatment is important, and it is indicated that 100-degrees-C for Au/n-GaAs and 150-degrees-C for Ti/n-GaAs are suitable temperatures. It is concluded from the analysis of experimental results that only the hydrogen located at or near the metal-semiconductor interface, rather than the hydrogen in the bulk of either the semiconductor or the metal, is responsible for the ZBA/RBA effect on SBH.


Explored here is the feasibility of a new attitude control approach for satellites in high altitude elliptic orbits, in order to compensate for the effect of longitudinal periodic drift relative to the ground station. A simple attitude control technique using tethers has been proposed for achieving the fixed apparent satellite orientation with respect to the ground segment of the space mission. Combining the proposed feedback tether length control law with the analytically developed open-loop control policy results in a significant improvement of the controller performance. To illustrate implementation of the proposed concept, the particular case of 24 h elliptic orbits has been considered. A high degree of satellite pointing along the drifting line-of-sight made possible even with modest tether lengths makes the concept particularly attractive.


The Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has approved a merger under the Irish Competition Act 2002 (as amended) following the parties' submission of a failing division argument. The transaction saw Baxter Healthcare Limited (Baxter) seeking to acquire sole control of Fannin Compounding (Fannin), its sole effective competitor in the Irish market for the manufacture and supply of aseptically prepared compounded medicines. Fannin was controlled by DCC plc, an international sales, marketing, distribution and business support services group. The CCPC's Determination represents the first application of the so-called "failing firm" defence, as set out in section 9 of the CCPC's Guidelines for Merger Analysis, since the CCPC's approval appears to have ultimately hinged on its view that Fannin's assets were likely to exit the market if the proposed acquisition by Baxter was prohibited.


The impact of the global financial crisis on cities is the subject of an important body of research. One aspect which has received surprisingly little attention is the urban dimension of government interventions in the financial sector, particularly given the integration of finance and real estate is widely understood as a key driver of the crisis. This article examines one such intervention, the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), a 'bad bank' established by the Irish government to acquire and manage 'toxic' real estate loans from the banking sector. Although envisaged as an intervention in the financial sector, the relationship between finance and real estate is such that the agency has a significant impact on urban development and, at the same time, that the management of urban space plays a key role in resolving the financial crisis and restoring the flow of credit in the economy. The article develops the concept of 'asset price urbanism' to capture the way in which urban space and its relationship to finance is managed to bolster the relationship between real estate and credit, and theorizes this as a significant aspect of contemporary accumulation. The article thus makes an empirically grounded conceptual contribution to literature on the urban dimension of financialization.


The development of a Nd : YAG space laser communication system is discussed with respect to history, potential applications, and present status. The basic design of an Air Force Space Communications Flight Test operable at a data rate of 1000 Mbit/s is described at both the system and component level. An engineering feasibility model of this system has been completed, and the results of tests data are reported. Communications at 1000 Mbit/s with a receiver sensitivity of 20 photoelectrons/bit was demonstrated for a bit error rate of 10-6, interterminal tracking with angle erros less than 1 µrad, and station to station acquisition in less than 6 s. A simulated range of 40 000 km was used.


A Review of:
Kennedy, M.R., & Brancolini, K.R. (2018). Academic librarian research: An update to a survey of attitudes, involvement, and perceived capabilities. College and Research Libraries, 79(6), 822-851. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.79.6.822
Abstract
Objective – To examine academic librarians' current attitudes and preparedness to conduct research in order to update the knowledge gained from the authors' 2010 survey, and to determine if changes were needed in their Institute for Research Design in Librarianship continuing education curriculum.
Design – Web based survey.
Setting – Institutions that employ academic and/or research librarians.
Subjects – 793 academic and research librarians.
Methods – The researchers posted a call for participation in their 2015 Librarian Research survey on listservs where academic and research librarians are members. The survey expanded upon the authors' 2010 survey by adding questions to more fully explore three areas: research self-efficacy; Master's thesis and statistics courses, and; research mentoring and institutional support. 793 librarians responded to the survey, and 669 of these respondents completed it. All data from incomplete surveys was included in the analysis. Survey results were compared with the results from the 2010 survey as well as with the responses from a survey conducted in 2000 by Powel, Baker, and Mika, which addressed many of the same topics under investigation.
Main Results – The authors analyzed the survey results based on four areas: the current research practice of responding academic librarians; a self-evaluation of their confidence in performing the steps in the research process; methods training courses in which they have participated, and; demographics and institutional data related to support of library research.
Regarding current research practices, 84% of respondents said it is assumed that they will read research-based literature as part of their job as academic librarians; 80% are allowed time at work for this purpose; 6% did not know if it was assumed that they will read research-based literature as part of their job; and 9% were unsure if they were allowed to use work time to read the literature. 78% scan tables of contents for research-based journals, while 58% regularly read the full content of these articles (this is a significant drop from the 78% who reported that they regularly read full text articles in the 2010 survey).
Time was the primary reason cited for not regularly reading research-based literature. 77% of respondents have conducted research since completing their Library Science degree (although 2% did not have a Master's degree).
Respondents rated their confidence on a scale of one to five, with one being "Not at all confident" and five being "Very confident." Overall, there were 38 components related to the steps in the research process, which were grouped into 8 questions on the survey.  For these questions, an average rating of 3.41 was calculated. From statistical analysis, the authors determined that there is a significant correlation between conducting research and librarian confidence in the process.
The survey contained seven questions related to methods training. The authors were specifically interested in the correlation between librarians having conducted research since completing their degree and librarians' belief that their degree adequately prepared them to do so. Statistical analysis revealed that the relationship between these factors was not significant; this result was consistent with the results from the authors' 2010 survey as well as from the findings of Powell, Baker, and Mika. The authors were also curious as to whether librarians who had written a thesis as part of their Library Science degree were more likely to have conducted research since earning their degree. This relationship between these variables was not significant, however the relationship between writing a thesis for another graduate degree and conducting research was significant.
Conclusion – The number of survey responses indicates that research is still a current, important issue for academic and research librarians. The authors will use the information from the surveys to revise their educational curriculum, specifically in the areas of current research practice, librarian confidence, and methods training.


We make use of party press releases and Wikipedia page view data to study issue dynamics and its determinants of a relatively young right-wing populist party. By applying structural topic models, we analyse 2262 press releases of the 'Alternative for Germany' (AfD) from 2013 until 2019. The findings reveal, first, that European integration, EU economic policy, and migration are prevalent topics, but that a change occurs over time so that the focus on economic policy decreases as the focus on migration policy increases. In addition, we show – by using novel data that provides information on the number of daily hits of entries in the German Wikipedia – that the AfD took the attention into account that people attached to European integration and migration issues when preparing their press releases. The results support the findings of existing studies and imply that the content of press releases can be used for measuring changes in the policy profile of parties during a legislative period when normally no manifestos are published, and that the interest in Wikipedia articles can serve as a proxy for the dynamics of issue salience among the population. Furthermore, the findings indicate that a combination of these two data sources is a fruitful approach for studying the determinants of short-term issue dynamics.


Introduction Pepino (SolanummuricatumAit.), a Solanaceous vegetable fruit has been recently introduced to Iran markets. Organic farming is currently the fastest growing agricultural sector worldwide. Although several investigations are available on chemical fertilization of pepino, the knowledge of organic fertilization ismostly lacking. Therefore, at the beginning of introducing pepino plant to Iranian farmers it worth to evaluate the impact of organic fertilization on the productivity, profitability, acceptability and sustainability of farming systemsto this plant. High chemical fertilization of pepinoincreases the vegetative growth over the generative and fruit production. The aim of this investigation was to introduce the possibility of organic production of pepino.
Materials and Methods.A two-year experiment was carried out to assess the possibility of organic production of pepino using organic fertilizers. Humistar® organic fertilizer (containing 8.6% humic acid) at 50 L/ha and sheep or cow manure teas at 1:10 and 1:5 ratios were used for production of pepino cv. Kanseola to evaluate their effects on the physiology of reproductive stage and some fruit quality characteristics. The experiments were arranged as factorial in a randomized complete block design comprised of 3 replications, each of which 10 plants. Mother plants were obtained from Mashhad Ferdowsi University and incubated in a greenhouse (mean temperature of 25 °C and 60-70% relative humidity) for 1 month to proliferate. Cuttings with 2-3 leaves at the top, 3-5 healthy buds and 20 cm length were rooted for 14 days in a rooting media, ( 1:1:2 of field soil, composted leaf and perlite), respectively. Plants were transplanted into the field in 100 × 75 cm spacing after the danger of frost was over. Treatments consisted of two levels of 1:5 and 1:10 (w:w) cow or sheep manure teas in combination with two levels of Humistar® organic fertilizer as 0 and 50L/ha levels. Control plants received no manure teas and organic fertilizer. Treatments were applied as drenching2 weeks after transplantation in a weekly manner for 10 weeks. Plant characteristics including number of days from transplanting to first flowering, flower number in truss, fruit set percentage, number of days from transplanting to the first harvestable fruit were recorded. Fruit quality indices including fruit fresh weight, fruit dry matter percentage, total soluble solids (TSS), fruit total phenolic contents and ascorbic acid content were measured at harvest time.
Results and Discussions The seasonal effect on all traits was not significant. All studied traits were affected by combination of manure teas andhumic acid except fruit total soluble solid. Cow manure tea at 1:5 v/v caused plants to fail growth in both years. The sole application of manure tea did not significantly affect the number of flowers per truss but humic acid alone or in combination with manure tea showed similar increasing trend in flower number. Application of sheep manure tea at 1:10 v/v caused the greatest total soluble solid content in fruits (up to 6.9 °Brix) as was 45% greater than control and cow manure tea treatment. The effect of humic acid on the number of days from planting to the first flower formationwas not significant. Sheep manure tea at 1:10 (v/v) level when combined with humic acid lead to the least required days preceding the first flower formation (9 days earlier flowering). The same treatment leads to the highest fruit dry matter percent (as about 8.1%) which was 10 times greater than control plants. The sole application of humic acid led to the greatest fruit set percentage as of 60% (2 fold above control). The same treatment caused 17 days earlier crop (53 days for fruit ripening versus 70 days in control plants. The greatest total phenolic content (56.1 mg gallic acid per 100 g fresh fruit over 50% greater than control plants) was obtained with sole humic acid application. This treatment leads to the greatest fruit ascorbic acid content asabout 15.62 mg/100g fw (over 57% greater than control plants).
ConclusionTo obtain the preferred fruit quality for industry or fresh use, different combinations of humic acid, cow and sheep manure teas should be considered. Briefly, sole application of humic acid would affect fruitset percentage, earliness, fruit total phenolic content and vitamin C. Manure tea affect fruit total soluble solid content, while in combination with humic acid would affect flowering and fruit dry matter content.


The modulation transfer function (MTF) must be measured against the requirements of the specific digital imaging application under consideration in order to evaluate the performance of detector equipment and to further develop the detector by performing quality-assurance (QA) procedures. The purpose of this study was to measure the MTF in digital megavoltage images (DMVs) for radiation therapy (RT) by using an edge block. We used 6 megavolts (MVs) of energy for the pre-sampling MTF, along with a photo-stimulating phosphor-based computed radiography (CR) system and a hexalon lead screen that contained a terbium-doped gadolinium oxysulfide granular phosphor (Gd2O2S:Tb). The DMV MTF was measured at both low and high resolutions according to changes in the dose in monitor units (MUs) by using four different detector combinations: CR-IP (image plate: photo-stimulable phosphor screen), CR-IP-Lead (image plate + lead screen), CR-IP-Regular (fast front screen + image plate + fast front screen) and CR-IP-Fast (fast back screen + image plate + fast front screen). At a low resolution, the MTF 50% and the MTF 10% when using the CR-IP detector increased by about 30% and 46%, in proportion to the increase in the dose from 1 to 20 MU, respectively. At a high resolution, the CR-IP and the CR-IP-Lead detectors showed increases in the MTF of about 8% or 10% when the dose increased from 1 to 20 MU. The present study, therefore, evaluates how edge methods can be helpful in taking MTF measurements during QA tests of a megavoltage imaging (MVI) system.


An investigation into the computation of hydrodynamic loads on a suspended cylinder in regular waves is presented. The primary goal was to perform a three-way validation of the loads between experimental measurements and simulations from two computational methods. Experimental measurements of the longitudinal in-line force on a cylinder suspended at a fixed position were available from the Offshore Code Comparison Collaboration, Continued, with Correlation (OC5) project, Phase Ia. These measurements were compared to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations based on the solution of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, as implemented in STAR-CCM+. The study encompassed a sensitivity analysis of the loads computed in STAR-CCM+ based on wave modeling, boundary conditions, turbulence modeling, and spatial and temporal discretization. The analysis was supplemented by results generated with the offshore wind turbine engineering software OpenFAST, based on a hybrid combination of second-order potential flow and viscous drag from Morison's equation. The focus of the investigation was on the assessment of the accuracy of the computation of first- and higher-order hydrodynamic loads. Substantial differences were observed in the numerical prediction of the second and third harmonic force contribution. Local flow field analysis with CFD was applied to study the physics of wave run-up and diffraction dynamics to identify the causes.


Data driven architectures have significant potential in the design of high performance ASICs. By exploiting the inherent parallelism in the application, these architectures can maximize pipelining. The key consideration involved with the design of a data driven ASIC is ensuring that throughput is maximized while a relatively low area is maintained. Optimal throughput can be realized by ensuring that all operands arrive simultaneously at their corresponding operator node. If this condition is achieved, the underlying data flow graph is said to be balanced. If the initial data flow graph is unbalanced, buffers must be inserted to prevent the clogging of the pipeline along the shorter paths. A novel algorithm for the assignment of buffers in a data flow graph is proposed. The method can also be applied to achieve wave-pipelining in digital systems under certain restrictions. The algorithm uses a new application of the retiming technique; the number of buffers here is shown to be equal to the minimum number of buffers achieved by integer programming techniques. We also discuss an extension of this algorithm which can further reduce the number of buffers by altering the DFG without affecting functionality or performance. The time complexities of the proposed algorithms are O(V/spl times/E) and O(V/sup 2//spl times/logV), respectively, a considerable improvement over the existing strategies. Also proposed is a novel buffer distribution algorithm that exploits a unique feature of data driven operation. This procedure maximizes throughput by inserting substantially fewer buffers than other techniques. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithms outperform the existing methods.


ABSTRACT We present the results of the geomorphological mapping of a region of the Dhofar (Sultanate of Oman) including two contrasting physiographic units sharing a common drainage system into the Arabian Sea: the Jebel Qara limestone massif and the coastal plain of Salalah. Neogene to Quaternary tectonic activity controlled the formation of an extensive system of faults and caused the uplift of the Jebel Qara, forming structural escarpments. The massif underwent karstification and subsequent linear erosion. Today the Jebel is cut by a dendritic net of dry valleys, occasionally dammed by calcareous tufa dams. The transition between the southern escarpment of the Jebel and the plain below displays flat alluvial fans, bordered by a strip of beachrock, coastal dunes, and coastal lagoons, located in correspondence to estuaries. Dramatic soil erosion is evident, linked to intense human-triggered zoogeomorphological processes started in the Mid-Late Holocene after the introduction of pastoral land-use.


Abstract– The collection of approximately 3300 meteorites from the Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) area, Antarctica, is dominated by more than 2000 chondrites classified as either L5 or LL5. Based on concentrations of the cosmogenic radionuclides 10Be, 26Al, 36Cl, and 41Ca in the metal and stone fraction of 16 QUE L5 or LL5 chondrites, we conclude that 13 meteorites belong to a single meteorite shower, QUE 90201, with a large preatmospheric size and a terrestrial age of 125 kyr. Members of this shower have properties typical of L (e.g., pyroxene composition) and LL chondrites (e.g., metal abundance and composition), as well as properties intermediate between the L and LL groups (e.g., olivine composition), and is thus best described as an L/LL5 chondrite. Based on comparison with model calculations, the measured radionuclide concentrations in the metal and stone fractions of QUE 90201 indicate irradiation in an object with a preatmospheric radius of approximately 150 cm, representing one of the largest chondrites known so far. Based on the abundance of small L5 and LL5 chondrites at QUE and their distinct mass distribution, we conclude that the QUE 90201 shower includes up to 2000 fragments with a total recovered mass of 60–70 kg, <1% of the preatmospheric mass of approximately 50,000 kg. The mass distribution of the QUE 90201 shower suggests that the meteoroid experienced catastrophic atmospheric fragmentation(s), either because it was a fragile object or it had a high entry velocity.


Circumstances may preclude the use of standard stimuli, namely tail clamp or surgical incision, to determine minimum alveolar concentration. In rats anesthesized with isoflurane, an alternative stimulus, electrical currents (10, 15, 20, or 40 V; biphasic pulses of 6.5 ms duration; 50 Hz), gave results comparable to those obtained with the tail clamp and the results did not change with repeated measurements if care was taken to avoid desensitization by exhaustion of a particular set of electrodes. The 40 V stimulation gave slightly higher values (4%; P < 0.006) than tail clamp, but the difference was too small to be of experimental significance. More importantly, the higher voltages produced desensitization after fewer attempts at stimulation. In addition to these results with isoflurane, we found that 15 V stimulation and tail clamp produced comparable minimum alveolar concentration values for halothane and for desflurane.


Following Latin America's incorporation into the Spanish empire, myths rooted in cultural syncretism arose, which later became instruments for the conquest, oppression and transculturation of the indigenous peoples. This article focuses on the work of writers who, through the re-examining of said myths, sought to capture the essence of 'Americanity' without losing their universal sense. These myths are explored through the tone they acquired in Baroque literature, with a later focus on the sociocultural 'myth' associated with drug trafficking. Our findings are based on myth as an original principle may be opened a poetic interpretation.


With publication at ILPC 2009 of Creative Labour: Working in the Creative Industries, Smith and McKinlay signalled the growing interest of labour process analysis (LPA) 'the production of creative or artistic products, and the labour processes, employment relations and organisation of work that surround the different production processes (2009, 4). Much of this intervention is directed towards a critique of the burgeoning literature on creative and cultural industries that marginalises or misunderstands work and employment relations, focusing on unmanaged creative spaces, collaborative communities, inter-personal networks and mobile, free agents (Florida 2002, Grabher 2002, Pink 2001). But the critical terrain is already occupied by other intellectual projects. At the forefront are the increasingly influential tentacles of autonomist Marxism, for whom creative industries are emblematic both of the new categories of immaterial and affective labour in post-Fordist capitalism. Such perspectives also emphasise the experience for creative workers of 'precarity: negotiating short –term, insecure, poorly paid, precarious work in conditions of structural uncertainty' (Gill and Pratt 2008). In a recent article, O'Doherty and Willmott (2009) draw on both mainstream and autonomist literatures to attack so-called neo-orthodox LPA for a failure to produce anything other than 'monochrome' pictures of creative work. In the new wired worlds of enterprise and organisation, they argue, the 'the familiar divisions and classifications of LPA. have not yet congealed' (943). In this paper, I seek to build on the contributions in the Creative Labour volume, articulating a critique of the above perspectives and an empirically-grounded account of the work experiences and context of a particular group of creative workers in the visual effects industry. This draws on a wider project examining industry dynamics. Such an emphasis is not accidental. Mainstream and autonomist perspectives tend to dissolve the firm, its value chains and labour processes into insubstantial images of networks or the 'social factory'. Yet, as Christopherson argues, 'It is difficult to understand either the nature of a creative worker's "flexibility" or the degree to which self-expression or economic motives are important in their work lives , without some understanding of the strategies undertaken by the firms to whom they sell their products or services' (2009, 74-5). A core strength of LPA, hopefully reflected in this paper, is a capacity to connect the transformation of work relations with the broader capitalist political economy.


The element-free Galerkin (EFG) method is used in this paper to find the numerical solution to a regularized long-wave (RLW) equation. The Galerkin weak form is adopted to obtain the discrete equations, and the essential boundary conditions are imposed by the penalty method. The effectiveness of the EFG method of solving the RLW equation is investigated by two numerical examples in this paper.


Whilst absorptive capacity has been identified as an important contributor to the effective implementation of IT systems, previous studies have failed to explicitly consider the contribution of individual and organizational knowledge processes. Nine case studies of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation were undertaken. The case studies were all undertaken in SMEs in a developing country since this is an important but under research area for the application of the concept of absorptive capacity. A particular implication of the findings is that firms lacking knowledge of IT implementation cannot simply seek this from external sources but must develop internal organizational knowledge processes if their implementations of IT systems are to be effective. This finding is particularly pertinent to the developing country and SME context of this study, where low levels of experience within the firm and the loss of experienced staff are found to impact on the development of absorptive capacity.


Presence of infill walls in the frames alters the behaviour of the building under lateral loads. However, it is common industry practice to ignore the stiffness of infill wall for analysis of framed building. Engineers believe that analysis without considering infill stiffness leads to a conservative design. But this may not be always true, especially for vertically irregular buildings with discontinuous infill walls. Hence, the modelling of infill walls in the seismic analysis of framed buildings is imperative. Indian Standard IS 1893: 2002 allows analysis of open ground storey buildings without considering infill stiffness but with a multiplication factor 2.5 in compensation for the stiffness discontinuity. As per the code the columns and beams of the open ground storey are to be designed for 2.5 times the storey shears and moments calculated under seismic loads of bare frames (i.e., without considering the infill stiffness). However, as experienced by the engineers at design offices, the multiplication factor of 2.5 is not realistic for low rise buildings. This calls for an assessment and review of the code recommended multiplication factor for low rise open ground storey buildings. Therefore, the objective of this thesis is defined as to check the applicability of the multiplication factor of 2.5 and to study the effect of infill strength and stiffness in the seismic analysis of low rise open ground storey building.
Infill walls can be modelled in commercial software using two-dimensional area element with appropriate material properties for linear elastic analysis. But this type of modelling may not work for non-linear analysis since the non-linear material properties for a two-dimensional orthotropic element is not very well understood. Seismic evaluation of an existing reinforced concrete (RC) framed building would invariably require a non-linear analysis. Published literature in this area recommends a linear diagonal strut approach to model infill wall for both linear (Equivalent Static Analysis and Response Spectrum Analysis) and nonlinear analyses (Pushover Analysis and Time History Analysis).
An existing RC framed building (G+3) with open ground storey located in Seismic Zone-V is considered for this study. This building is analyzed for two different cases: (a) considering both infill mass and infill stiffness and (b) considering infill mass but without considering infill stiffness. Two separate models were generated using commercial software SAP2000. Infill weights were modelled through applying static dead load and corresponding masses considered from this dead load for dynamic analyses. Infill stiffness was modelled using a diagonal strut approach. Two different support conditions, namely fixed end support condition and pinned end support condition, are considered to check the effect of support conditions in the multiplication factors. Linear and non-linear analyses were carried out for the models and the results were compared.
The analysis results show that a factor of 2.5 is too high to be multiplied to the beam and column forces of the ground storey of low-rise open ground storey buildings. This study conclude that the problem of open ground storey buildings cannot be identified properly through elastic analysis as the stiffness of open ground storey building and a similar bare-frame building are almost same. Nonlinear analysis reveals that open ground storey building fails through a ground storey mechanism at a comparatively low base shear and displacement and the mode of failure is found to be brittle. Linear and nonlinear analyses show that support condition influences the response considerably and can be an important parameter to decide the force amplification factor.


Canadian provinces have had laws for 10 years to guide developing and use of advance directives (living wills). Although laws reflect public preferences, living will completion rates have been identified as low. A public survey in Alberta Canada was done for information on current living will completion or intention rates. The University of Alberta's Population Research Laboratory was asked to add questions to their annual telephone survey. This survey is carefully conducted for correct population proportions and results highly (95%) representative of all persons aged 18+. In May-July 2010, 1203 were surveyed and 43.6% reported having a current living will and 42.1% reported thinking about or planning one; 14.3% said they did not need or want one. Significant differences across population sub-groups were found, with higher completion rates among persons who had been involved in a decision to stop or not start life support, had cared for a dying person, had a close family member or friend who died, had been involved in a decision to put a pet or another animal down, described themselves as religious, were over age 64 and were married or divorced/widowed. Albertans have a relatively high rate of completion and intention of completion, with factors having lead to this state of interest. With the number of deaths expected to double in the future, and with public experience of death and dying increasing, living will completion rates could increase. This information should be taken into consideration for future developments in advanced care planning and end-of-life care.


In many problems involving multivariate time series, Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are often employed to model complex behavior over time. HMMs can, however, require large number of states, that can lead to overfitting issues especially when limited data is available. In this work, we propose a family of models called Asymmetric Hidden Markov Models (HMM-As), that generalize the emission distributions to arbitrary Bayesian-network distributions. The new model allows for state-specific graphical structures defined over the space of observable features, what renders more compact state spaces and hence a better handling of the complexity-overfitting trade-off. We first define asymmetric HMMs, followed by the definition of a learning procedure inspired on the structural expectation-maximization framework allowing for decomposing learning per state. Then, we relate representation aspects of HMM-As to standard and independent HMMs. The last contribution of the paper is a set of experiments that elucidate the behavior of asymmetric HMMs on practical scenarios, including simulations and industry-based scenarios. The empirical results indicate that HMMs are limited when learning structured distributions, what is prevented by the more parsimonious representation of HMM-As. Furthermore, HMM-As showed to be promising in uncovering multiple graphical structures and providing better model fit in a case study from the domain of large-scale printers, thus providing additional problem insight.


Classifying citations according to their purpose and importance is a challenging task that has gained considerable interest in recent years. This interest has been primarily driven by the need to create more transparent, efficient, merit-based reward systems in academia; a system that goes beyond simple bibliometric measures and considers the semantics of citations. Such systems that quantify and classify the influence of citations can act as edges that link knowledge nodes to a graph and enable efficient knowledge discovery. While a number of researchers have experimented with a variety of models, these experiments are typically limited to single-domain applications and the resulting models are hardly comparable. Recently, two Citation Context Classification (3C) shared tasks (at WOSP2020 and SDP2021) created the first benchmark enabling direct comparison of citation classification approaches, revealing the crucial impact of supplementary data on the performance of models. Reflecting from the findings of these shared tasks, we are releasing a new multi-disciplinary dataset, ACT2, an extended SDP 3C shared task dataset. This modified corpus has annotations for both citation function and importance classes newly enriched with supplementary contextual and non-contextual feature sets the selection of which follows from the lists of features used by the more successful teams in these shared tasks. Additionally, we include contextual features for cited papers (e.g. Abstract of the cited paper), which most existing datasets lack, but which have a lot of potential to improve results. We describe the methodology used for feature extraction and the challenges involved in the process. The feature enriched ACT2 dataset is available at https://github.com/oacore/ACT2.


With the sudden decline of fertility it was particularly interesting to examine the situation in Kerala, regarding parental sex preference in formulating family planning policies for the rest of India with high fertility and son preference. The 1980 Kerala Fertility Survey included nearly 3000 households with about 2700 ever married women in reproductive age. Maternity history and fertility regulation data were collected. Data from 2500 currently married women were used, cross-classified by the number of male and female living children and contraceptive use status. A multiplicative model was used to study various interaction effects and to construct standardized rates of contraceptive use. Measures adjusted for both male and female composition and differential use of contraceptives among male-female combinations were obtained by the model to avoid arbitrariness in choosing rates and to preclude objections raised in previous research on Arnold's index. The model was generalized to facilitate simultaneous effects of the number of male and female children and family size on contraceptive use. Initial analysis showed that the effect of sex preference on contraceptive acceptance was rather negligible. However, there was a significant male-female interaction effect on contraceptive use. Contraception was high when the family size was large, with children of the same sex. With the effect of family size removed, the contraceptive use rate seemed to be in the inverse direction of the number of male or female children. This was possibly the result of two factors: 1) high contraception rate with large families of the same sex, and 2) low use of contraception among large families with a high number of children of both sexes. The Kerala situation partly supports McClelland's theory that couples already having proportionally more daughters may terminate fertility earlier. In Kerala such termination also occurs when couples have proportionally more sons, and family size also plays an important role in fertility cessation.


The transition of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from G2 phase into the M (mitosis) phase of the cell cycle is a tightly controlled process. As an arterial SMC prepares for a G2/M transition, the cell has primed the Cdc2/cyclinB1 complex for activation by the phosphorylation of threonine-161 residue on Cdc2. This phosphorylation is necessary but not sufficient for the VSMC to enter into the M phase. In order to enter into mitosis, a phosphatase, Cdc25C, must first dephosphorylate two other critical residues: tyrosine-15 and threonine-14. If Cdc25C phosphatase activity is blocked, VSMC entry into mitosis is delayed. However, how the activity of Cdc25C is regulated has not been fully illustrated.In an earlier published study we have demonstrated that exposure of the VSMC line, PAC-1, to Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), activated PKN (a RhoA-dependent kinase). Here we show that exposure to TGF-β1 delays the G2/M transition by 2 hrs in G1/S synchronized and released PAC-1 culture. This delay is abolished by the RhoA kinase inhibitors, HA1077 or Y-27632. More importantly, RNAi knockdown of PKN expression prevents the G2/M transition delay induced by TGF-β1. Changes in PKN activity temporally correlates to the G2/M transition timing. Moreover, Cdc25C is phosphorylated by the TGF-β1-activated PKN. PKN and Cdc25C coimmunoprecipitate with each other. Finally, PKN and Cdc25C co-localize to the nuclear region only during the critical period of time prior to entry into the M phase. Our data demonstrate that Cdc25C activity is negatively regulated by TGF-β1-stimulated PKN. Once activated through TGF-β1 signaling, PKN binds to and phosphorylates Cdc25C. The physical interaction and phosphorylation result in an inactivation of Cdc25C and delay the VSMC entry into the M stage of the cell cycle.


This research work describes a novel green approach for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles at ambient/low temperature, where Ajwain (Carom – Trachyspermum ammi) seed extract functions as the zinc salt reducing agent. Different synthesis conditions provide control of particle size and size-distribution of particle formation. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm that ZnO nanoparticles synthesized with carom seed extract is a potential candidate for future experimentation and implementation in the biomedical field. The experimentally synthesized ZnO nanostructures were characterized using the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Powder Xray diffraction (PXRD) pattern measured with Cu Kα radiation. Moreover the photoluminescence (PL) measurements excited by the 380 nm line from the He–Cd laser were done at room temperature. The UV-Vis spectrum shows high absorption in the ultra-violet region at about 383.5 nm which makes the material to be suitable for UV filters. The average direct energy bandgap is determined as 3.490 eV. The scanning electron microscope study reveals that the morphology of the crystal is in the hexagonal shape. The average crystallite size is determined as 34.27 nm. The analysis of EDAX has shown the presence of zinc and oxygen. The FTIR study has shown the presence of Zn-O bond, C-O bond, C-H bond and metal oxygen bond.


PurposePurpose of the study is to further expand insights into how weather impacts attendance at sporting events. With the NFL having only eight home games a year per team, it is more of an event than other North American sports. We explore this in terms of how sensitive fans are to weather, by not only looking at traditional factors, but also other weather variables available through Accuweather. In addition, the authors explore team success, outcome uncertainty and other factors as determinants of demand.Design/methodology/approachThe method includes Tobit model of attendance in terms of percent of capacity in the National Football League. Model includes factors such as outcome uncertainty, team success, etc. but mainly focuses on weather. Weather factors studied include traditional variables such as temperature and precipitation, and also includes cloud cover, barometric pressure, wind speed and humidity. Different model specifications are included to explore results. Key findings allow for differences between games played outdoors versus indoors.FindingsIn terms of control variables, team success, new stadiums and stadium age play a significant role in attendance in terms of percentage of capacity. Outcome uncertainty does not appear to be important, and fans desire the opposite when the home team is an underdog. The main results concern the weather. When only traditional weather variables are included, precipitation plays a key role. With further expansion of the weather variables, it appears that cloud cover offers some additional information beyond precipitation. In addition, barometric pressure plays a minor, but statistically significant role as it relates to attendance in terms of capacity.Research limitations/implicationsIncluding deeper and richer weather data helps to further explain attendance at sporting events. With the NFL, this may be limited by it being such as event due to the scarcity of games in a season. In addition, the weather variables are not truly independent, although they are not as correlated as may be anticipated on the surface. Use of different types of weather variables in models of attendance may help to deepen our understanding of factors influencing consumer decisions. These factors may play larger roles in sports with wider variance in attendance during the season.Practical implicationsThe practical implications are that other weather-related variables besides temperature and precipitation may offer insight into consumer decisions related to attendance at sporting events. Cloud cover gives insights into anticipated poor weather in addition to it directly leading to less of a sunny day to be outdoors at an event. Barometric pressure has been shown to influence headaches and joint pain and may also influence consumer decisions to venture out to sporting events.Social implicationsAs data becomes more widely available in general, it's possible to add additional insights into factors influencing various forms of decision-making. In this study, we show that more information on weather can shed insights into consumer decisions as it relates to attending events such as sports. These decisions likely differ based upon whether the event is held outdoors or indoors. With more entertainment choices as substitutes, it is important to identify key factors which influence consumer decisions to help better structure events in the future.Originality/valueWeather variables beyond temperature and precipitation are included in a Tobit model for NFL attendance using percentage of capacity as the dependent variable. These weather variables are cloud cover, wind speed, humidity, and barometric pressure. Cloud cover and barometric pressure were found to have some significant effects on percentage of capacity. When included, precipitation itself is no longer found to be significant, but precipitation interacted with games played in domes retains statistical significance as there are key differences between games held outdoors versus indoors.


Studies by Brinson, Beebower, and Horn of 1986 and a recent study by Ryan Labs all prove that asset allocation accounts for over 95% of the total return for a typical pension plan sponsor or any client allowed to invest in an array of asset classes. However, asset allocation tends to be a passive function reviewed annually or even triennially. Asset management is the active asset decision yet historically affords little value, if any, over the index benchmark (especially after fees). Since index data drive the asset allocation decision, a series of index funds (ETFs) would be a natural extension. ETFs provide a dynamic asset allocation tool to either rebalance the asset allocation process or to be the total asset class decision process. Currently there are over 100 ETF index fund choices with more on the way.


We compared an index of reproductive success based on breeding behavior to actual nest fates of grasshopper sparrows ( Ammodramus savannarum ) and eastern meadowlarks ( Sturnella magna ) on 12 plots (4-ha). Concordance of results between the two methods was 58% for grasshopper sparrows and 42% for eastern meadowlarks on a plot-by-plot basis. The indirect method yielded higher estimates of reproductive activity than nest monitoring for the balance of the plots,. There was little evidence that brown-headed cowbird ( Molothrus ater ) parasitism influenced the estimates of reproductive success using the indirect method. We concluded that nests and about-to-fledge nestlings were missed during searches on some plots. It may be appropriate to use an indirect method to more efficiently survey territories and/or plots for species with hard-to-find nests or when monitoring large areas. Use of a reproductive index may be appropriate and more time-efficient than nest searching and monitoring for comparing management effects such as burning, grazing, haying, military training, and other localized disturbances that are likely to affect reproductive success of grasshopper sparrows and eastern meadowlarks. However, nest monitoring may be necessary for more precise estimates of productivity necessary for long-term monitoring. Nest monitoring results are also likely to allow for direct comparisons to results from other studies because the index method requires intimate knowledge of the species being evaluated - a factor that could lead to reduced precision because the experience level of technicians relying only on behavioral cues from study-to-study is likely to vary considerably.


Purpose: Since the introduction of the German states double bookkeeping the awareness of local governments increased, that the municipal inventory of real estates should be managed actively. The active management of real estates requires a deep knowledge of the property itself, its area, costs and return. However, in small and middle size municipalities there exist rarely any such strategies. The active management of a whole life cycle of state owned real estates is often perceived as a side activity of the construction division in many municipalities. Various property-related tasks, especially during the utilisation phase, are perceived reactive instead of active or even proactive.Additionally investment in human resources and financial means is essential, but for which usually funds are not available. Though, looking at the saving potential of an estimated 10 – 20% per year if a professional strategic real estate management is applied, it should be questionned, why the public real estate management is still given comparably little attention.This article addresses following questions: What is the situation on strategic management of municipal real estate today? What kind of strategies, structures and systems do they have? How are they going to decide?Design/methodology/approach: To work out foundations and develop a theoretical background an intense literature study is conducted. Participating municipalities for the case studies are already selected and confirmed. In those case studies interviews will be conducted with a standardized questionnaire.


This article analyzes whether state constitutional provisions can be used to compel a state to eliminate de facto segregation in public schools. It first explains how the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to find that de facto segregation violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment has forced the federal judiciary to withdraw from school desegregation. It then analyzes the arguments made by social scientists and African Americans against school desegregation. It also examines Sheff v. O'Neill, a 1996 decision in which the Connecticut Supreme Court held that de facto segregation violates the state constitution. Finally, it discusses important implications for litigation in other states. More than 45 years after the U.S. Supreme Court held in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954; Brown I) that state-sponsored public school segregation violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, African Americans are experiencing an increase in public school segregation (Orfield, Bachmeier, James, & Eitle, 1997; Orfield & Eaton, 1996). The Supreme Court has helped to resegregate the public schools by permitting the federal judiciary to implement desegregation decrees to eliminate de jure segregation but not de facto segregation (Orfield et al., 1997; Orfield & Eaton, 1996). De jure segregation of the public schools arises from the intentional actions of governmental entities (Keyes v. School District No. 1, Denver, Colorado, 1973; Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, 1971). De facto segregation is caused by other factors such as private choices (Freeman v. Pitts, 1992; Keyes v. School District No. 1, Denver, Colorado, 1973). The Supreme Court has used this distinction to forbid district courts from including suburban districts in city school desegregation decrees and to permit district courts to withdraw from overseeing school districts that had committed de jure segregation. Although social scientists and many African Americans have questioned the efficacy of school desegregation remedies, this policy is the best means to protect the interests of African American students and to develop an integrated society ("The Desegregation Dilemma," 1996; Orfield & Eaton, 1996). As the federal judiciary withdraws from public school desegregation, civil rights organizations are beginning to use state constitutional provisions to desegregate public schools that are experiencing de facto segregation. A recent Connecticut case, Sheff v. O'Neill (1996), demonstrates that this strategy can be successful. In Sheff, the state supreme court held that the de facto segregation of the Hartford metropolitan school system deprived students of a substantially equal educational opportunity. The court distinguished its equal protection clause from that of the U.S. Constitution by noting that the state provision specifically forbids desegregation. Thus, the state constitution forbade de facto as well as de jure segregation. The court then required the legislature to take measures to dismantle such isolation. The state legislature responded by passing legislation calling for magnet schools, charter schools, and voluntary choice (1997 Connecticut Public Act No. 290, 1997). The Sheff case raises important issues for litigation in other states. First, plaintiffs in other states may not be able to base their challenges to de facto segregation on their state equal protection clause provisions. Besides Connecticut, only two other states have equal protection clauses that specifically forbid desegregation. Thus, other state courts may use Supreme Court case law as persuasive authority to conclude that their state equal protection clauses permit de facto segregation. School finance litigation provides a template for developing an alternative argument to challenge de facto segregation. Plaintiffs originally argued that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U. …


Central nervous system oxygen toxicity, which occurs during diving and hyperbaric oxygen treatment, can lead to very dangerous situations, and it is of great importance to explore its mechanisms. We have speculated that cerebral blood flow plays a pivotal role in its occurrence. Except for acting as an anticonvulsant in clinical applications, acetazolamide is also a vasodilator used in both clinical and laboratory settings. In this study, when acetazolamide from 5 to 500 ug/kg body weight was administered by intracerebroventricular injection, the latency of central nervous system oxygen toxicity detected by electroencephalogram recording in rats subjected to hyperbaric oxygen at 6 atmospheres absolute was prolonged significantly. On the contrary, when the dose of intracerebroventricular injection achieved 5,000 ug/kg body weight, acetazolamide shortened the latency significantly. Intraperitoneal injection of acetazolamide more than 7.5 mg/kg body weight also shortened the latency significantly. Results also showed both intracerebroventricular injection of acetazolamide at a dose of 5,000 ug/kg body weight and intraperitoneal injection at dose of 7.5 mg/kg body weight inhibited the activity of carbonic anhydrase and increased the cerebral blood flow significantly, which helped aggravate oxidation damage and resulted in increased MDA and impaired glutathione peroxidase in brain tissue. But intracerebroventricular injection of acetazolamide at 5 ug/kg body weight had no effect on MDA and glutathione peroxidase, though it inhibited the activity of carbonic anhydrase. These observations indicated acetazolamide covers bidirectional influences on central nervous system oxygen toxicity. Within local brain tissue, especially neurons, it could exert its anticonvulsive effect on the central nervous system at low doses. On the other hand, under high doses, it would display its convulsive-hastening effect through increasing cerebral blood flow to aggravate the oxidation state of brain tissues and exacerbate central nervous system oxygen toxicity when subjected to hyperbaric oxygen. Blood flow of brain plays a pivotal role in central nervous system oxygen toxicity.


Recovery from ischaemic stroke is determined in the acute phase by the lesion impact of ischaemia and subsequently, by functional and structural network changes in the spared brain tissue. Neurorehabilitation supports the restitution of function using repetitive, learning-based and, more recently, technology-based training strategies.


An approach based on the Bayes rule for minimum cost for feature selection and classification of remote-sensing images is proposed. This approach allows one to achieve land-cover maps in which the total cost involved by errors, instead of the total classification error, is minimized. Experiments carried out on a multisource data set of the Island of Elba (Italy) point out the effectiveness of the proposed minimum cost approach.


Pupils labelled with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) have the most complex needs in our education system and may be the most excluded population. Research into the experience of working with these pupils is scarce. Using a positive psychology framework can help us to understand the positives of working with pupils experiencing PMLD, as well as to elicit information about teachers' strengths and resources. It can help educational psychologists (EPs) to work more effectively with pupils, families, and teachers. A semi-structured interview using a positive psychology framework was undertaken with seven teachers of pupils with PMLD to explore these areas. A thematic analysis of the data reported the teachers' expression of many positives arising from the unique characteristics of their pupils. The personal character strengths that teachers identified in themselves were related to their need to explore different ways of working with their pupils, and for working effectively as a team. Despite the teachers' limited experience of working with educational psychologists they were able to provide suggestions for their desired future practice with EPs. The positive psychology framework enabled a rich variety of positives to be explored in relation to pupils labelled with PMLD. The characteristics that may be viewed as deficits in traditional models of disability were viewed as opportunities for positive experiences for the teachers. The implications of the research for EP practice and the impact of the implementation of a positive psychology framework are discussed.


Aggregate is one of the most important and strength determining ingredients of concrete as it serves as reinforcement and occupies three quarter of the total volume of concrete. Moreover, for good compact concrete, aggregate with minimum void is always desirable. This paper represents a study on obtaining the effective dense gradation by combining naturally available aggregate in Bangladesh. In this purpose a program has been developed based on analytical approach to find out the desired mix proportion of different aggregate samples to reach the target of getting an compact, economic and environment friendly concrete. Finally after preparing the concrete in the laboratory with different mix design ratio and combined gradation of prepared single sized aggregate is found to have 20% more strength than that of the concrete made with the same design mix and combination of aggregate gradation presently available in the industry.


In the present study, 21 Candida albicans strains were investigated using the commercial kit API 20C AUX system and the numerical analysis of whole-cell protein profiles. The results of the commercial kit confirmed that the all the strains belonged to C. albicans species. However, the research indicated that SDS-PAGE of polypeptides of whole-cell extracts can provide more valuable taxonomic information than conventional yeast test kits at the subspecies level. Despite the fact that C. albicans subtypes isolated from different anatomical sites had similar protein profiles, there were some distinctive protein bands. Numerical analysis of whole-cell protein profiles of all strains revealed 2 major clusters at similarity degrees of between 46.26 and 100%. Moreover, the results of numerical analysis confirmed that each cluster had characteristic and distinctive protein profiles. The research showed that, the morphological examination of yeast isolates remains essential to obtaining a correct identification, both the commercial yeast kit system and the numerical analysis of whole-cell protein patterns can be useful for the more reliable identification of C. albicans strains.


Conflict-Based Search (CBS) is a state of the art algorithm for multi-agent pathfinding (MAPF). CBS has been studied in many domains, however, most research has focused on classic domains with point agents that move with unit time steps and unit costs. In this work, we are interested in MAPF solutions for classic domains and complex domains, that is, domains which include shaped agents, actions with non-unit costs, non-uniform action durations and/or non-holonomic or kinodynamic movement constraints. Prior work on sub-optimal formulations of CBS has focused on heuristics. Instead, our work introduces new types of constraints. We show that certain constraint formulations have properties that can cause CBS to run orders of magnitude faster, but may cause the algorithm to be incomplete and yield sub-optimal results. We introduce new conditional constraints which allow CBS to exploit constraint properties which cause it to run faster and still retain algorithmic completeness. We additionally formulate a new constraint accumulation technique called constraint overloading which utilizes conditional constraints in order to achieve further performance gains.


Dear TOJDE Readers, Welcome to Volume 18, Number 3 of TOJDE, There are 14 articles and 2 book reviews in July 2017 issue. 27 authors write these articles from 11 different countries. These countries are Ghana, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey, UK, Ukraine and USA.