Background and Aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which stiffness, pain, and inflammation of joints are common. It has been observed that some dietary factors can ameliorate or woren the disease. Vegetarian diets and dairy products have had useful effects, while allergic foods tend to aggravate the condition. The main objective of this study was to assess dietary intake of antioxidants and nutritional factors affecting the illness in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients and Methods: In this case-control study, 40 RA diagnosed female patients that had referred to the University clinic and 40 sex and age matched women from the patients relatives were selected as the case and control groups, respectively. Subjects' dietary pattern was evaluated through food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) on daily, weekly and rarely intake of the main antioxidant sources. Data were analyzed with t and chi-square tests using SPSS software version number 13. Results : Daily intake of tomato and fruits in controls was respectively 3 (P<0.02) and 1.7 (P<0.04) times more than that of patients. Number of healthy subjects who ate tuna fish and fruit juices on weekly basis was 4.3 (P<0.01) and 4.6 (P<0.02) times more than patients, respectively. Consumption of peanut in patients was 5 times more than that of healthy subjects. Eggplant and cucumber were reported to worsen the symptoms of disease in about 30 and 20 percent of patients, respectively. While consumption of fish and garlic was associated with amelioration of symptoms in about one-forth of patients. < 0.05). Conclusion : Intake of tomato, fresh fruits and fruit juices, as the main sources of dietary antioxidants, was lower while intake of peanut-as one of the main allergic foods-was higher in patients compared with the control group. Eggplant and cucumber aggravated, but fish and garlic lessened the severity of RA. Higher rate of obesity was prevalent in RA patients. Considering the above points, weight reduction and consumption of antioxidant rich foods is highly recommended.


Among the technologies developed for oil and gas production centrifugal pump sealing applications, active lift technology is one of the most promising. The reliability of any centrifugal pump in a critical application is strongly influenced by the performance of the mechanical seals. It is widely accepted based on extensive operating experience that mechanical seals are the most vulnerable components in the pump structure and their life is not easy to predict. Depending on the product being sealed and operating conditions, seals can last from a few weeks to 20 years. Active lift, also known as "upstream pumping," seals represent a new approach to the liquid sealing technology with the potential to offer a step change in seal reliability and resulting production gains. Developed from dry gas seal technology its major advantage over conventional contacting mechanical seals is that the face separation is stabilized and there is no rubbing between the seal faces. As rubbing is completely eliminated face deterioration is eliminated and face life is significantly extended together with a considerable reduction in the heat generated by the seal faces. Another important advantage of this new concept compared to traditional pressurized double seals is the elimination of a sophisticated pressurized barrier fluid system in favor of a much more simple system. It is obvious these days that "upstream pumping" sealing technology for higher pressure pumping applications is moving from small laboratory scale trials to wide industrial application. This paper takes the form of a general review of the product development and field experience accumulated during 18 months of operation with upstream pumping seals in a critical sea water injection pump application.


Aerosol pollution episodes have frequently occurred in China in recent years, and the airborne trace elements in particulate matter have been a cause for concern worldwide because of their impacts on human health. However, there is limited information on the hourly variations of airborne trace elements. This paper describes a detailed investigation conducted in March 2013 on the hourly variations and potential sources of airborne trace elements. Trace elements in particles with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 μm (PM_(10)) were monitored on-line in four representative regions with similar latitudes in southeastern China. Our results showed that the number of species of elements in PM_(10) detected at urban sites and an industrial park was greater than that at a rural site, due to the influences of human activities. The hourly variation patterns of trace elements indicated that their concentrations were stable during the day at the rural site, whereas a visible "double peak" of Pb and Cu was observed in the tourist city and a "single morning peak" of Pb and As was seen in the industrial city. These variations indicated the abundant traffic in the tourist city, and strong industrial emissions in the industrial city. However, the single morning peak and the slight double peak patterns of the trace elements were both found at the industrial park, indicating a combined source of industry and traffic. The results from the source identification also indicated that the sources of airborne elements were mainly industrial emissions at industrial sites, whereas the elements in the tourist city might primarily result from traffic. The correlations between PM_(10) concentrations and trace element concentrations were also studied. The results revealed that PM_(10) correlated better with elements originating from natural sources (e.g., K, Ca, Fe) than with those from anthropogenic sources (e.g., Pb, Zn, Cu). Our results provide a scientific basis for pollution control strategies at these sites.


This paper empirically analyses India's money demand function during the period 1996 to 2013 using quarterly data. Cointegration test suggests that money demand represented by M1 and Interest Rate have a unit root, whereas in the presence of structural break both of the variables are found to be stationary which implies that shocks are temporary in nature. It was found that there is no long term equilibrium relationship in the money demand function. Moreover, when the money demand function was estimated using dynamic OLS, it is concluded that GDP and short term interest rate has a positive impact on money demand (M1).


The lipids of Thermus aquaticus YT1, Thermus thermophilus HB8, Thermus sp. strains H and J (from Icelandic hot springs), and Thermus sp. strain NH (from domestic hot water) have been investigated. Each strain contained two major components, a glycolipid and a glycophospholipid, which have been isolated and analyzed. All of the strains contained as the principal component (41 to 57% of total lipid) a diacyldiglycosyl-(N-acyl)glycosaminylglucosylglycerol, but the five glycolipids differed in carbohydrate composition. The glycophospholipid appeared to be identical in each strain and contained an N-acylglucosamine residue. The principal fatty acids were C15 and C17 branched-chain compounds. This unique polar lipid composition should be of value in the classification of other thermophiles in the genus Thermus. The exceptionally high carbohydrate content of the lipids of these extreme thermophiles may be of significance in relation to the molecular basis of thermophily.


Abstract. Coastal trapped waves (CTWs) become scattered when they encounter irregular coastlines and bathymetry during propagation. Analytical and modeling studies have provided some information about the different types of shelf geometries that can induce scattering, but much of the CTW scattering process generally remains a large knowledge gap. Furthermore, CTW scattering has never before been directly identified with observations. High-frequency radar surface velocity data covering the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) continental shelf provides unprecedented observations of CTWs within a region with a highly complex coastline and bathymetry. A combination of velocity vector maps from real vector empirical orthogonal function (R-EOF) analysis and phase maps from complex empirical orthogonal function (C-EOF) analysis allow the identification of CTW scattering by assuming each EOF mode corresponds to a CTW mode. Abrupt jumps in phase in association with magnitude amplification/reduction or directional rotation of velocity vectors are indications of scattering. Using these guidelines, Georges Bank, Hudson Shelf Valley, Delaware Bay mouth, Chesapeake Bay mouth, and the North Carolina shelf are identified as high scattering regions within the MAB. Furthermore, stratification is confirmed to increase scattering into progressively higher order modes through a cascading process by comparing winter and summer cases, which supports previous theoretical and numerical model predictions. The simple methodology used here can be applied to observations of CTWs on other coastlines around the world to identify additional scattering regions and help close the knowledge gap.


The computational analysis of high dimensional surfaces is a fundamental problem across a wide range of scientific fields, for example in the study of models of clusters of atoms, glasses, self-assembling systems and biomolecules; machine learning; physics; and other fields. This work presents a variety of novel methods developed to aid the computational study of the structures, dynamics and thermodynamics of systems described by these surfaces, traditionally termed energy landscapes. When studying molecular systems, it is important to be able to quantify measures of similarity or difference between a pair of structures generated from an energy landscape. These measures are needed to make predictions of the properties of a given molecular structure from the known properties of similar others. Equivalently a pair of structures can be aligned into similar orientations to allow an interpolated pathway to be generated between them which can be used to identify the transition states between the pair which is a key limiting step in discrete path sampling. The efficiency of the transition state search is strongly dependent on the quality of the initial interpolation and so the alignment methods used. In this work two novel alignment algorithms are presented and benchmarked against existing algorithms for aligning pairs of structures for both periodic and isolated clusters of atoms. The algorithms respectively demonstrate superior performance for either periodic or isolated structures. The efficient evaluation of the global thermodynamic properties of an in silico system, or analogously, the evidence in Bayesian inference, is a challenge for many high-dimensional systems due to a phenomenon known as broken ergodicity. This problem occurs when the energy barriers between different regions of the energy landscape make it difficult to sample both uniformly. In this work a novel superposition based approach that is embarrassingly parallel, based on the athermal method nested sampling, is introduced and benchmarked against a model system exhibiting broken ergodicity. It is shown that the method reproduces the key features of the heat capacity.


The regurgitant flow (Qreg) through incompetent valves can be assessed by subtracting effective cardiac output (Qeff) from total left ventricular output (Qtot). Qeff was determined with the thermodilution method. A new correction factor for true injected quantity of indicator was developed and a procedure for rapid estimation of (see article) deltaT(t)dt was tested. Qtot was determined with the aid of quantitative left ventriculography. In 10 patients without incompetent valves no significant difference between Qeff and Qtot could be demonstrated. Qreg in 11 patients with mitral incompetence ranged from 0.5 till 4.7 1-min-1 m-2 and in 12 patients with aortic incompetence from 0.9 till 11.2 1-min-1 m-2. The relation of left ventricular enddiastolic volume (Ved in ml-m-2) and Qreg (in 1-min-m-2) is expressed by the regression equation: Ved = 21.7 Qreg + 59.2 (correlation coefficient 0.91), demonstrating a good relationship of regurgitant flow and volume load fo the left ventricle. Follow-up of these patients is important to detect guidelines for operation indications base on quantitative measurements of Ved and Qreg.


Purpose Sorafenib is recommended as the standard treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of Barcelona Clinic of Liver Cancer stage C (BCLC C). However, local treatment including radiation therapy (LRT) is also widely administered in practice. The aim of our study was to define the role of LRT among BCLC C patients. Patients and methods Of the patients with HCC enrolled the Korean Central Cancer Registry from 2008 to 2014, the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group randomly extracted 10,580 patient data from ~50 hospitals nationwide. Among them, 3,401 patients were categorized to have BCLC C HCC. Among them, patients with information on initial treatments, defined as the first and secondary treatment within 60 days after the first treatment, were selected and classified into three initial treatment groups: LRT, sorafenib, and no treatment. Results Among 3,401 BCLC C HCC patients, 1,486 were included in the study and the remaining patients were excluded as they did not meet the criteria (eg, underwent local treatments without radiotherapy [RT] or received chemotherapy other than sorafenib). Of these, 266 were assigned to LRT (17.9%), 316 to sorafenib (21.3%), and 904 to no treatment group (60.8%). Median survival time of the sorafenib group was shorter than that of the LRT group (3.8 vs 7.6 months, P<0.001). In multivariable analysis, sorafenib group showed significantly higher risk related to mortality compared to LRT group, not only among all patients (HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.23–1.84) but also between subgroup cohorts with portal invasions (1.55, 1.23–1.84), with lymph node metastases (2.42, 1.53–3.83), without distant metastases (1.43, 1.10–1.87), and with distant metastases (1.57, 1.13–2.19). Additionally, no treatment group showed the worst survival among the three treatment groups not only in all patients, but also in all subgroups of patients (P<0.001 in all). Conclusion LRT as an initial treatment showed survival benefit as compared to sorafenib in HCC patients of BCLC C.


Some 600 peace agreements aiming to bring an end to intra-state armed conflicts have been concluded since 1990. The proliferation of peace agreements in this period has been coupled with the internationalisation and normativisation of peace-making. Although there is no overarching international legal regime that governs intra-state peace-making, the practice, policy and scholarship of peace-making have increasingly asserted the relevance of international law to the negotiation of peace agreements and the emergence of new norms of peace-making. Against this backdrop, this dissertation identifies the main elements of the normativisation of intra-state peace-making and examines the extent to which such normativisation corresponds to positive international law by addressing two cross-cutting research questions: (i) Does existing international law stipulate a legal status for peace agreements or precise requirements for their negotiation process or content? (ii) Do the new norms of peace-making, which are proposed in international policy and scholarship, constitute lex lata, lex ferenda, or moral or political aspirations?

The dissertation addresses the research questions in three parts, focusing respectively on the legal status, negotiation process, and contents of peace agreements. The first part focuses on the legal status of peace agreements aiming to end intra-state armed conflicts, which are concluded between governments and armed opposition groups, with a view to explaining whether they constitute international agreements. The second part then identifies the existing international legal norms and the proposed norms of peace-making relevant to the negotiation process of a peace agreement. It examines whether they provide for a legal duty to negotiate peace in intra-state armed conflicts, to include certain actors such as civil society or women in peace negotiations, or to exclude certain actors such as (alleged) perpetrators of international crimes, from negotiations. Finally, the third part investigates whether there is a duty to address certain substantive issue-areas, for example transitional justice or human rights, in a peace agreement and whether there are legal norms stipulating how the issue-areas should be regulated. The dissertation argues that international law does not recognise peace agreements between governments and armed opposition groups as sources of international obligations. As to the negotiation process and contents of peace agreements, it finds that the emerging norms of peace-making remain lex ferenda or as moral or political aspirations and that positive international law places limited normative constraints on the negotiation of a peace agreement. Nor does international law, as it currently stands, provide precise requirements as to the inclusion or exclusion of certain actors in negotiations or certain issue-areas in resultant agreements. However, despite their non-legal character, there is an emerging consensus on some norms of peace-making, such as the inclusion of women in peace negotiations, in international peace-making policy. Moreover, international actors, particularly the United Nations, undertake significant facilitative roles in the negotiation and implementation of peace agreements.

As a comprehensive study of the role of international law in the negotiation of peace agreements, this dissertation aims to make a substantial contribution to this newly emerging field in international law. Its findings will benefit the doctrinal and policy debates on the desirability of further legalisation of peace-making and its constraining impact on the negotiation of peace agreements. Its conclusions as to the legal requirements for the negotiation of peace agreements and their legal status will provide legal clarity to negotiating parties, mediators, donors, domestic and international courts, and other domestic and international actors involved in or affected by peace negotiations across the world.


In test-first development, developers formulate and implement a detailed design iteratively, one test at a time. Test-driven development (also called test-driven design) combines TFD with refactoring, wherein developers make small changes (refactorings) to improve code design without changing the code's semantics. When developers decide to use TDD to implement a new feature, they must first ask whether the current design is the easiest possible design to enable the feature's addition. Implementing test-driven database design involves database refactoring, regression testing, and continuous integration. TDDD is an integrated part of the overall development process, not a standalone activity that data professionals perform in parallel with application TDD. Although from a technical view point, TDDD is relatively straightforward, we must overcome several challenges to its whole sale adoption throughout the IT community


Hybridizing biological cells with man-made sensors enable the detection of a wide range of weak physiological responses with high specificity. The anterior chamber of the eye (ACE) is an ideal transplantation site due to its ocular immune privilege and optical transparency, which enable superior non-invasive longitudinal analyses of cells and microtissues. Engraftment of biohybrid microstructures in the ACE might, however, be affected by the pupillary response and dynamics. Here, sutureless transplantation of biohybrid microstructures, 3D printed in IP-Visio photoresin, containing a precisely localized pancreatic islet to the ACE of mice is presented. The biohybrid microstructures allow mechanical fixation in the ACE, independent of iris dynamics. After transplantation, islets in the microstructures successfully sustain their functionality for over 20 weeks and become vascularized despite physical separation from the vessel source (iris) and immersion in a low-viscous liquid (aqueous humor) with continuous circulation and clearance. This approach opens new perspectives in biohybrid microtissue transplantation in the ACE, advancing monitoring of microtissue-host interactions, disease modeling, treatment outcomes, and vascularization in engineered tissues. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


IMPORTANCE
Many patients and physicians assume that the safety and effectiveness of newly approved therapeutic agents is well understood; however, the strength of the clinical trial evidence supporting approval decisions by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not been evaluated.

OBJECTIVES
To characterize pivotal efficacy trials (clinical trials that serve as the basis of FDA approval) for newly approved novel therapeutic agents.

DESIGN AND SETTING
Cross-sectional analysis using publicly available FDA documents for all novel therapeutic agents approved between 2005 and 2012.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Pivotal efficacy trials were classified according to the following design features: randomization, blinding, comparator, and trial end point. Surrogate outcomes were defined as any end point using a biomarker expected to predict clinical benefit. The number of patients, trial duration, and trial completion rates were also determined.

RESULTS
Between 2005 and 2012, the FDA approved 188 novel therapeutic agents for 206 indications on the basis of 448 pivotal efficacy trials. The median number of pivotal trials per indication was 2 (interquartile range, 1-2.5), although 74 indications (36.8%) were approved on the basis of a single pivotal trial. Nearly all trials were randomized (89.3% [95% CI, 86.4%-92.2%]), double-blinded (79.5% [95% CI, 75.7%-83.2%]), and used either an active or placebo comparator (87.1% [95% CI, 83.9%-90.2%]). The median number of patients enrolled per indication among all pivotal trials was 760 (interquartile range, 270-1550). At least 1 pivotal trial with a duration of 6 months or greater supported the approval of 68 indications (33.8% [95% CI, 27.2%-40.4%]). Pivotal trials using surrogate end points as their primary outcome formed the exclusive basis of approval for 91 indications (45.3% [95% CI, 38.3%-52.2%]), clinical outcomes for 67 (33.3% [95% CI, 26.8%-39.9%]), and clinical scales for 36 (17.9% [95% CI, 12.6%-23.3%]). Trial features differed by therapeutic and indication characteristics, such as therapeutic area, expected length of treatment, orphan status, and accelerated approval.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
The quality of clinical trial evidence used by the FDA as the basis for recent approvals of novel therapeutic agents varied widely across indications. This variation has important implications for patients and physicians as they make decisions about the use of newly approved therapeutic agents.


The goals of this study were (1) to evaluate the impacts of pesticides used for mosquito control on drinking water and (2) to investigate the removal of permethrin from water using activated carbon. A review of current literature on pesticide usage, toxicity, occurrence in the environment, and treatment techniques to remove pesticides from drinking water was conducted. The focus of the literature review was on pesticides used for mosquito control. Permethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide used extensively in the United States (US) for mosquito control and in agriculture, with approximately 2 million pounds applied each year. Permethrin was selected for investigation based on its widespread use in the US, its inclusion on the Contaminant Candidate List 3 (CCL3), its health hazards, and the lack of previous research on the removal of permethrin from drinking water. The removal of permethrin from water using powdered activated carbon (PAC) was investigated. Equilibrium adsorption experiments to assess removal of cis-, trans-, and total permethrin were conducted using two types of PAC (WPH 650 and WPH 1000) obtained from Calgon Carbon Corporation. Initial total permethrin concentrations ranged from 2.0 to 4.6 μg/L. PAC doses ranged from 0.0 to 10 mg/L. Results showed that PAC addition is an effective method for removing permethrin from water. Total permethrin concentrations were reduced by 38% with 0.05 mg/L of PAC WPH 650, and reduced to below the detection limit with 3 mg/L of PAC WPH 650. Total permethrin concentrations were reduced by 35% with 0.05 mg/L of PAC WPH 1000 and by 83% with 5 mg/L of PAC WPH 1000. Results for cisand transpermethrin were similar. The Freundlich isotherm model provided appropriate fits to the data with an R value of 0.91 for both WPH 650 and WPH 1000.


intravasation during HSG, one had inaccessible cervical cannulation and one bilaterally blocked tubes. Medical records were audited to identify cases, and women were telephoned in March 2018 to confirm subsequent pregnancy rates as well as age, gynecological history and recalled procedure tolerability. Results: 40 eligible women underwent Lipiodol flush during the study period, 36 (90%) were analysed (2 declined to participate at follow-up, 2 lost to follow-up). Pregnancy occurred in 34% (12/36) women within 6 months of the procedure: 67% (4/6) of fluoroscopic, and 30% (8/30) of US-guided. Of those pregnant, 67% (8/12) conceived spontaneously, and 4/12 (33%) via ART. Thus, 8/36 (22%) conceived spontaneously in the six months following Lipiodol flushing. Mean time to conception was 2.7 months (range 1 to 4 months). Complications were seen with 3/36 women recalling mild vasovagal reactions. There were no cases of infection or allergic reactions. Mean recalled pain score was 5.7 (range 0-10, SD 3.2). Conclusions: Lipiodol flush referrals are indicated in select women with unexplained subfertility. The procedure is likely to influence the induction of pregnancy in this group as pregnancy was observed in a substantial proportion of cases in this small observational study. It is tolerable with few complications and can be safely performed in the outpatient setting.


.. Acute poisoning in children is the third most common emergency with significant economical burden. This study was carried out to elucidate the clinical and demographic pattern and outcome of acute poisoning in children at local University Hospital of South Punjab. Study Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Pediatric Medicine Department of Nishtar Medical University, Multan. Period: January 1st – December 31st 2016. Materials and Methods: This one year hospital based study included 74 children up to 12 years admitted with acute poisoning. The data was extracted from clinical charts. Clinical, demographic and outcome data was extracted and analyzed. Mean and standard deviation are calculated for continuous variables and frequencies with percentages for categorical variables. The data is presented in tables and figures. Results: A total of 74 children with poisoning were admitted during study period (total admission–3107) giving annual incidence of 2.38 %. Males predominated (n=49, 66 %) the study population. Fifty four percent (n=40) of the children were in 13 – 59 months age group. Majority of the children were admitted due to accidental poison ingestion (n=65, 87.8%), through emergency (n=68, 92%) department, brought from urban areas (n=38, 51.4%), and within 1 hour of exposure (n=41, 55.4%). Most common poisons ingested were pesticides (n=29, 39%), kerosene oil (n=13, 17.57%) and Paraphenylene diamine (Kala pathar) (n=11, 14.86%). Most common system specific symptoms belonged to cardiovascular system (54 %) followed by nervous system (51 %) and respiratory system (42 %). Median hospital stay of the poisoning cases was 2 days (min. 1, max. 17). Poisoning associated mortality rate was 16.2 % (n=12). Kala pathar ingestion was the only significant factor associated with mortality (p-value 0.04). Conclusion: Accidental ingestion of non – pharmacological agents at home is most common in children < 5 years of age at our set – up. Mortality rate due to acute poisoning is high in children. Parents education for safe placement of poisoning agents, set – up of regional poison control centers and healthcare workers training on management of such cases will help curtailing this problem.


In nature manure is recycled by unique fungi (coprophilic fungi), which are capable of growth on substrates with high nitrogen contents. They bind a lot of the nutrients and in a delayed release they are making these nutrients available for plants, animals and insects, thereby closing nutrient cycles. This may provide opportunities for processing of manure. Within project KB-40-005-008; Closing the loop: improving circularity with manure-loving mushrooms), part of the Investment theme Connected circularity, we have been provided with the opportunity to work on a this topic. A literature study was performed on the options that coprophilic fungi offer. It focused on the taxonomic and ecological knowledge of coprophilous mushrooms present in the Netherlands and on the threats of fungal diversity on dung. Next to this the literature study focusses on the options that coprophilous fungi offer as a source of secondary metabolites or enzymes. Furthermore it briefly focusses on an overview of genomes available of coprophilous fungi. The literature study is finalized with a brief outlook towards possibilities of using coprophilous mushrooms in a circular agriculture system. In the second part of the project we able to build a collection of coprophilic basidiomycete strains comprising of 38 strains distributed over at least 23 species. Limited tests of their ability to grow on a small range of types of manure demonstrated growth of 23 strains on chicken manure (ranging from limited growth to abundant growth). A total of 19 strains showed growth on cow manure (again ranging from limited growth to abundant growth). Pig manure was least favorite in our experiments, with only 4 strains showing growth with different abundances. We believe that this project will provide a starting point for a study of applicability of coprophilic fungi in circular agriculture.


Abstract Functional constipation (FC) is common, yet the etiology is not clear. Accumulating evidence suggests an association between FC and abnormal gut microbiota. The relationship between the gut microbiota and the gut transit is likely bidirectional. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the impact of gut microbiota on the pathogenesis of FC. By modulating the colonic motility, secretion, and absorption, gut microbiota may contribute to the development of FC through microbial metabolic activities involving bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and methane. In support of the key roles of the gut microbiota in FC, treatment with probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and traditional Chinese medicine often result in compositional and functional changes in the gut microbiota. Further studies on the pathogenesis of FC and the therapeutic mechanism of microecological agents will provide a knowledge base for better management of FC.


Molten salt synthesis and solid state synthesis were used to make relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3,abbreviated PSN in most literature. Many studies have previously been conducted on this material to obtain so called B- cation ordering of the scandium and niobium atoms. The reason for the interest in this is the ordering effect on the dielectric properties. To obtain cation ordering, this material is typically annealed for longer times in a temperature interval which is quite high (approx. 940°C-1200°C). In this thesis we studied the molten salt synthesis of PSN using a 0.5NaCl-0.5KCl salt combination and its effect on ordering when varying different parameters. The goal was to synthesize cation ordered PSN at lower temperatures than before. However, we were able to synthesize phase pure PSN, but no cation ordering could be observed. The syntheses were carried out using two different routes, both with and without a ScNbO4 precursor, the first referred to as the Wolframite method. Although no B- cation ordering could be observed, there were other interesting observations. When using the precursor, the purities were consequently higher. At least one unknown secondary phase was present in almost all syntheses without the precursor. In addition, different temperatures, times, and heating- and cooling rates had a similar influence on the particle sizes. The particle sizes increased with increasing time and synthesis temperature, both with and without the precursor. Fast and slow heating rates resulted in smaller and bigger PSN particles respectively. The same tendency was observed for the measured crystallite sizes. From the results of both crystallite and particle sizes, the importance of particle sizes on reaction rates were revealed as the Wolframite method showed a slower reaction rate. This is thought to be related to the large ScNbO4 precursor particles acting as PSN nucleation sites. The calculated lattice constants were in the lower range of PSN literature values but not as low as for cation ordered PSN. It was also found that the PSN powder with the smallest calculated crystallite sizes also showed the smallest lattice constants, but no significant correlation was found between them. The ordering effect on the crystal lattice is visualized and used to explain both the smaller lattice constant of ordered PSN, and the ordering effect on the dielectric properties. To perform dielectric measurements, solid state synthesis was first used to make dense PSN pellets. Several test samples were made until the final PSN pellets reached 92.5% to 94.5% of theoretical density. The purity of the PSN pellets was established from XRD which were all phase pure after using a 4wt% PbO excess. The excess PbO showed its importance in both maintaining the PSN stoichiometry and as a sintering aid. All samples were additionally annealed at different temperatures and times in an attempt to increase the degree of ordering. However, XRD data showed no signs of cation ordering after annealing but, dielectric spectroscopy showed a clear lowering of the dielectric permittivity maxima (εm) and the permittivity maxima temperature (Tm). According to literature, this can be caused by both ordering and Pb vacancies in the crystal lattice. The frequency dependence was however larger after annealing, which is not expected for ordered PSN. The lowering of Tm and εm, and the increasing frequency dependence is therefore believed to be caused by PbO evaporation. Both experimental results and theory supporting this will be presented, and its effect on the dielectric properties is discussed.


This letter presents a comprehensive Step Voltage
Regulator (SVR) model suitable for the three-phase ZBUS power flow. The
model can be applied in all SVR configurations such as open delta, close delta,
wye. Its advantage is that the tap variations are simulated outside the YBUS
matrix, without compromising the convergence of the power flow. Therefore, a
refactorization of the YBUS matrix is not required after every tap
change reducing significantly the computation time of the power flow. The
proposed SVR model is validated in a 4-Bus network, while its performance is
tested in the IEEE 8500-Node test feeder.


Spinal epidural lipomatosis is the excessive deposition of unencapsulated fat in the epidural space. This is a rare disorder often associated with high levels of endogenous steroids or the administration of exogenous steroids. A precocious diagnosis is important because it influences the clinical evolution and the therapeutics option. The computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are very important to the diagnosis. Authors report a case of a mediastinal and epidural lipomatosis in a man receiving corticoid therapy, with symptoms consistent with acute respiratory failure and progressive paraparesis.


For an uncoded, K-transmit, N-receive antenna coherent narrow-band communication system employing a decorrelating decision feedback detector (D-DFD), the exact average (over channel realizations) joint error probability (JEP) as well as the average per-symbol error probabilities (SEPs) are derived without making any simplifying assumptions on error propagation. It is proved that the diversity orders of the JEP and the SEP (of every symbol) is limited by error propagation to N-K+1. Based on our exact error probability analysis, however, we suggest an optimization of JEP over nonnegative quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) constellation sizes (rates) and average powers across transmitters which yield significant improvements over the usual equal power and equal rate assignment. In fact, the JEP of such an optimized design has the much improved diversity order of N (which is also the diversity order obtained through the optimum maximum-likelihood (ML) detector). Moreover, it is seen that these simple optimized designs can achieve a significant fraction of the /spl epsi/-outage capacity even without outer codes. It is also known-but only through simulations-that when the symbols are detected in certain channel realization-dependent orders it is possible to improve substantially over fixed-order detection in the case of the equal rate and equal power assignment. We provide an analysis for a recently proposed channel-dependent ordering rule and show that it does not provide an improvement of the diversity order of the JEP beyond N-K+1. Another ordering rule that was proposed earlier to maximize the worst case post-detection signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) under the perfect feedback assumption is shown to be optimal under a more compelling criterion that does not involve that simplifying assumption. While efficiently computable, this ordering rule is seen to perform almost as well as the optimal channel-dependent ordering rule that minimizes the conditional JEP (and hence the JEP). Nevertheless, a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system with an optimized rate and power allocation and a fixed order of detection is not only less complex but also has a significantly lower JEP than that of the equal-power, equal-rate system, where transmitters are detected in a channel-dependent order, optimal or otherwise.


The objective of this article is to provide a guideline for the management of central venous catheter for critically ill patients. Electronic databases of CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, four Chinese databases (CBM, WANFANG DATA, CAJD, VIP Database) and Google Scholar were searched from inception to August 2017. The reviewers assessed each included study for the risk of bias under the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. The GRADE evidence profile tables were added to each important clinical outcome. The guideline will be updated in a 5-year interval by incorporating new evidence. The guideline panel provided 11 statements on the management of central venous catheter for critically ill patients. Overall, there were 4 strong recommendations, and 7 weak recommendations. They were as follows: (I) we commend the use of catheter impregnation to prevent catheter-related blood stream infection (1A); (II) we suggest the use of real-time ultrasound guidance for subclavian or femoral vein insertion (2B), and recommend that for internal jugular vein (1A); (III) we suggest the use of real-time color Doppler ultrasound guidance on central venous catheterization for adult and pediatric patients (2C); (IV) we suggest not to use heparin for the maintenance of CVC patency (2A); (V) we suggest the use contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the confirmation of central venous catheter placement (2B); (VI) we recommend the use of bedside ultrasound together with agitated or non-agitated normal saline to confirm CVC position (1C); (VII) we suggest to use subclavian site for CVC insertion (2C); (VIII) we suggest not to use heparin-bonded catheters or warfarin to prevent CVC-related deep vein thrombosis in children (2D); (IX) we recommend the implementation of central-line bundles to reduce the risk of CRBSI for adult, pediatric and neonatal ICUs (1B); (X) we suggest skin antisepsis with chlorhexidine throughout in-dwelling period for reducing CVC-related infections (2D); (XI) we recommend a differential time to positivity (DTP) of blood cultures from CVC and peripheral vein of 120 minutes to diagnose CRBSI (1B). Substantial agreement exists among experts for issuing strong recommendations for the management of central venous catheter. Although a significant number of aspects of care have relatively weak support, evidence-based recommendations regarding the management of central venous catheter are the foundation of improved outcomes for critically ill patients.


Abstract The People's Action Party (PAP) of Singapore is one of the world's longest ruling dominant parties, having won every general election since the country's independence in 1965. Why do Singaporeans consistently vote for the PAP, contrary to the expectations of democratization theories? We argue that valence considerations—specifically, perceptions of party credibility—are the main factor in the voting behavior of Singapore's electorate, and are critical to explaining the PAP's resilience. Furthermore, we argue that the primacy of valence politics arose in part by design, as the PAP has used its control of Singapore's high-capacity state to reshape society and thereby reshape voter preferences towards its comparative advantages. We use a multi-methods approach to substantiate this argument, including a comprehensive quantitative analysis of recent elections. Ultimately, our findings suggest that a focus on valence politics can increase the resilience of dominant parties, but that such a strategy also faces natural limits.


: Injectable treatments, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and insulin, are options for the pharmacologic treatment of type 2 diabetes. Numerous barriers lead to delay in initiating injectable treatment, which, in turn, may lead to inadequate glycemic control and increased risk of diabetes-related complications, underscoring the need to understand and address these barriers. Barriers to the initiation of injectable therapy, strategies to mitigate barriers, and information about needle attributes and their relation to needle pain are reviewed on the basis of published literature retrieval and our clinical experience. Barriers to the initiation of injectable therapy originate from both patients and practitioners. Anxiety about and fear of injection-associated pain has been estimated to affect approximately 30%–50% of patients before the initiation of diabetes education interventions. Advances in needle design have minimized the pain associated with injections, and recent data suggest that actual pain and bleeding associated with various needle gauges (21-gauge to 31-gauge) are mild. Other barriers include concerns about the ability to handle injectable therapy, concerns about treatment side effects, and impacts on quality of life. Practitioners can help to mitigate barriers to injectable treatment for type 2 diabetes by understanding patient perceptions, improving education, and setting realistic expectations about therapy. Strategies for minimizing injection-associated fear and anxiety include a combination of assessment, appropriate needle selection, patient education, behavioral interventions, and monitoring.


The Transition Network exemplifies the potential of social movements to create spaces of possibility for alternatives to emerge in the interstices of mainstream, neoliberal economies. Yet, little work has been carried out so far on the Transition Network or other grassroots innovations for sustainability in a way that reveals their actual patterns of diffusion. This graphic of the diffusion of the Transition Network visualises its spatial structure and compare diffusion patterns across Italy, France, Great Britain and Germany. The graphics show that the number of transition initiatives in the four countries has steadily increased over the past eight years, but the rate of increase has slowed down in all countries. The maps clearly show that in all four countries the diffusion of the Transition Network has not been spatially even. The graphic suggests that in each country transition initiatives are more likely to emerge in some geographical areas (hotspots) than in others (cold spots). While the existence of a spatial structure of the Transition Network may result from the combination of place-specific factors and diffusion mechanisms, these graphics illustrate the importance of better comprehending where grassroots innovations emerge.


The feasibility of sintering red mud as wet desulphurization sorbent was studied in this paper. The comparative study of desulphurization efficiency by using sintering red mud and traditional desulphurization sorbent-limestone had done in Liquid-column impingement Scrubber apparatus. The effects of gas velocity, liquid-gas ratio and pH value on desulphurization efficiency were studied. Results show that the desulphurization efficiency of sintering red mud is lower than that of limestone in the same slurry mass concentration, while the sintering red mud can be used as desulphurization sorbent when increase its slurry solid content in appropriate way. The gas and droplets can mix well in absorption section when the gas velocity is upper than 2.7m/s. The desulphurization efficiency higher than 80% can be obtained when L/G ratio higher than 15L/m3 and the pH values between 5.2- 7.


This experiment was conducted during the growing season 2009 and 2010 in AL-Falluja date palm research station province fellow general date board/Ministry of Agriculture. The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of the organic and Nitrogen Fertilizers treatments on vegetative growth characters (length of leaves, length pinnae, chlorophyll contents in leaves and nutrients contents (leaves nitrogen contents, carbohydrate, phosphorus, potassium and C/N ratio) on Khastawi date palm at six years age. Experiment was include four organic fertilizers levels (0 ,10 ,20, 30) kg/tree , and four nitrogen fertilizers levels (0, 200, 400, 600)gm/tree .The experimental results showed : organic fertilizers level (30) kg/tree was significantly on effect length of leaves, nitrogen , carbohydrate content and given highest superior in all parameter mentioned these rates were (205, 229) cm, (0.83, 0.91, 5.30, 5.60) % during both seasons respectively , Than the control treatment losses average these rates were (nitrogen fertilizers level (600)gm/tree gave highest length of leaves, nitrogen These rates were (221, 331) cm, 0.85, 0.96)% during both seasons respectively. The interaction between organic fertilizer and the nitrogen fertilizer showed significant effect on the average of length of leaves and the highest nitrogen, carbohydrate content .The organic fertilizers level (30) kg/tree and nitrogen fertilizers level (600)gm/tree given highest on the length of leaves, These rates were, (240.0 ,258.0) cm (0.95 ,1.08, 5.61, 5.85) % during both seasons respectively , and highest superior in all parameter mentioned. Than the organic fertilizers level (10) kg/tree and nitrogen fertilizers level (200)gm/tree given the losses average length of leaves ,nitrogen,and carbohydrate content. These rates were (197.0, 220.0) cm, (0.83, 0,93 ,5.38 ,5.62) % during both seasons respectively.


This paper presents and reviews the main existing open specifications for PPP/PPP-RTK services, including satellite navigation providers (QZSS, Galileo, BeiDou, GLONASS) and other industrial or scientific initiatives (RTCM, SAP-CORDA, 3GPP, IGS). To structure the comparison, we adapted PPP/PPP-RTK services to the well-known OSI model and defined them according to their properties in the OSI communication layers. We show how the proposed formats relate to the current standards, mainly RTCM SSR and CSSR, and what their differences and similarities are in terms of transmitted corrections and bandwidth. We compare the efficiency of the existing formats in two scenarios: a global PPP scenario with multi-GNSS corrections, and a regional PPP-RTK scenario, also multi-GNSS and including ionospheric corrections. We propose an interoperable format that can be an extension to CSSR and allows efficient transmission of corrections for both global-scale MEO-based PPP as well as nationwide IGSO/GEO-based PPP-RTK.


Aims To create an inclusive and accurate registry of all percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures performed in the UK for audit to assess quality of care, drive improvements in this care and to provide data for research. Interventions Feedback to PCI centres with 'live' online data analysis and structured monthly and quarterly reports of PCI activity, including process of care measures and assessment of risk-adjusted outcome. Annual national reports focused on the structure of the provision of PCI across the UK, the appropriateness and process of its delivery and outcomes. Setting All hospitals performing PCI in the UK. Years 1994 to present. Population Consecutive patients treated by PCI. Approximately 80 000 new procedures each year in recent years. Startpoints All attempts to perform a PCI procedure. This is defined as when any coronary device is used to approach, probe or cross one or more coronary lesions, with the intention of performing a coronary intervention. Baseline data 113 variables defining patient demographic features, indications for PCI, procedural details and outcomes up to time of hospital discharge. Data capture Data entry into local software systems by caregivers and data clerks, with subsequent encryption and internet transfer to central data servers. Data quality Local validation, range checks and consistency assessments during upload. No external validation. Feedback of data completeness to all units. Access to data Available for research by application to British Cardiovascular Intervention Society using a data sharing agreement which can be obtained at http://www.bcis.org.uk.


In a challenging market, companiesi¯ ability to act faster is considered a basic advantage. From a value chain aspect, when a company cannot change its internal production processes and the external supply streams according to the demand requirements, this may lead to sales reduction or stock left-overs. X-to-order concepts [where X=¦i(ssemble), ¦¬(ake)/¦¢(uilt) and ¦¥(ngineer)], are key types of supply chain planning, where the production process starts after the orders are placed. Those methods have caught the attention of both researchers and businesses because of the advantages they offer in business procedures and the customization of consumers needs. The aim of this paper is to present the framework of supply chain management of the X-to-order concepts in comparison to the make-to-stock model and depict the main differences between these two approaches.


Casas Grandes, or Paquime, is one of the most important settlements in the prehistoric North American Southwest. The largest and most complex community in the Puebloan world, it was characterized by its principal excavator, Charles Di Peso, as an outpost of the Toltec empire, which used it as a trade link between Mesoamerican and southwestern cultures. Michael E. Whalen and Paul E. Minnis have worked extensively in the Casas Grandes area and now offer new research arguing that it was not as similar to the highly developed complex societies of Mesoamerica as has been thought. In the first book of its kind in 25 years, the authors analyze settlement pattern data from more than 300 communities in the area surrounding Casas Grandes to show that its Medio period culture was a local development. Whalen and Minnis propose that Casas Grandes lacked extensive stratification, well-established decision-making hierarchies, and formalized positions of authority. They suggest instead that emerging elites used bribes, promises, and threats to build factions and extend their power. The communities at the periphery are shown to have had varying levels of social and economic interaction with Casas Grandes. This innovative study offers a new model for the rise and fall of Casas Grandes that departs considerably from the view most scholars have come to accept and will be of interest to all concerned with the comparative study of emergent complexity. It clearly shows that the idea of extensive regional centralization by Casas Grandes is no longer tenable and merits reconsideration by the archaeological community.


A collection of resources to assist chambers and businesses to safely return to the workplace, manage remote teams, and reimagine the way we work.


The method of generating the most practicable shape recovery force in smart composite materials which embedded shape-memory alloy (SMA) fiber under the resin matrix is electric heating. However, because the calorie for the heating of the resin matrix increases in the low temperature environment, it is necessary to control the electric heating corresponding to an ambient temperature to obtaining a steady shape recovery force. Then, the method of self-detecting the temperature without using a special temperature sensor by measuring the electrical resistance of the SMA fiber in the composite material was examined.


In many plant species, seed dormancy is broken by cold stratification, a pre-chilling treatment of fully imbibed seeds. Although the ecological importance of seed response to cold temperature is well appreciated, the mechanisms underlying the physiological changes during cold stratification is unknown. Here we show that the GATA zinc finger protein expressed in Arabidopsis seeds during cold stratification plays a critical role in germination. Characterization of an enhancer-trap population identified multiple lines that exhibited beta-glucuronidase (GUS) expression in the micropylar end of the seed (named Blue Micropylar End, BME lines). One of these lines, BME3, had a T-DNA insertion site in the 5' upstream region of a GATA-type zinc finger transcription factor gene (termed BME3-ZF). The BME3-ZF mRNA accumulated in seeds during cold stratification. Characterization of the BME3-ZF promoter indicated that this gene was activated specifically in the embryonic axis, which was still enclosed by the endosperm. The zinc finger gene knockout plants produced seeds exhibiting deeper dormancy, which showed reduced response to cold stratification. The ungerminated knockout seeds exhibited testa rupture, but failed to penetrate the endosperm layer. Application of gibberellic acid (GA3) rescued impaired germination of knockout seeds without cold stratification, indicating that the normal GA signal transduction pathway is present in the knockout mutants. Expression of GA20-oxidase and GA3-oxidase genes was greatly reduced in the knockout seeds, suggesting the potential involvement of the zinc finger protein in GA biosynthesis. These results suggest that the GATA zinc finger protein is a positive regulator of seed germination.


Nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis (NLCS) is a rare hamartomatous skin lesion histologically characterised by the presence of mature fat tissue within the dermis. Clinically, two types of NLCS can be distinguished: a multiple type of Hoffmann-Zurhelle and a solitary type. We report a retrospective study of 13 cases of NLCS seen in the Anatomopathological department of La Rabta hospital of Tunis during a period of 12 years (1992-2004). Two clinical forms were distinguished: the solitary form (11 cases) consisting of a unique papulo-nodular lesion and the multiple form (2 cases). Histologically, the tumor consisted in all cases on mature fat tissue.


The urban sustainability is a growing importance in the built environment research. Urban areas play a key role in planning for sustainable city development. Urbanization has implications for future energy systems and energy-related emissions. The new built environment requires systems that are cost-efficient and have more efficient utilization of energy with a low environmental impact. This can be analyzed and designed with efficient tools for current and future energy systems. The objectives of this dissertation are to examine and analyze the metabolic flows of urban areas, and to develop a methodology for optimization of energy systems and services for the urban district. The dissertation is comprised of two phases and eight appended publications.In the first phase of this dissertation, the research is emphasized on an in-depth understanding of the complex dynamics of energy utilization in large urban areas. An integrated approach applied in this phase includes the energetic urban metabolism, the long-term energy systems modeling using the Long-range Energy Alternative Planning (LEAP) system, and the Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach. The urban metabolism approach has been employed to analyze the urban energy flows at macro level. The LEAP model and MCDM approach have been used to develop and evaluate energy scenarios in both demand and supply sides.In the second phase, the research recognizes the lack of tools that applicable for district energy systems analysis. This phase concentrates on the important role of the district level in urban energy systems. Research methods include the Multi-Objective Optimization using Genetic Algorithms, the carbon budget approach, and the case study method. Research in the second phase is mainly focused on the development of tool for energy systems and services at the district level.


Capoeira is a fight-dance-game, a music and movement form practiced in Brazil for hundreds of years up to today. Since the 1930's, capoeira has been institutionalized and is now commonly taught in dance studios or athletic facilities across the world. As with many other knowledge systems, the internet now hosts extensive resources for capoeira students, including thousands of videos of capoeira games on YouTube. With this paper I ask how capoeira learners consume and interact with these media, and how these interactions contribute to or change how learners experience their practice. I have conducted interviews with members of my own capoeira group about their online habits and I have watched dozens of YouTube videos. This searching reveals that students access the internet to seek knowledge inaccessible to them offline in order to supplement their learning. Specific aspects of capoeira, such as body-to-body transfer of knowledge, are less likely to be transmitted virtually, while students report kinesthetic reactions to videos, and the ability to experience aesthetics and energy. This study examines these limitations as well as the opportunities made possible by online technologies.


In recent years, the ecosystem services (ES) concept has become a major paradigm for natural resource management. While policy-makers demand "hard" monetary evidence that nature conservation would be worth investing in, ongoing attempts are being made to formalize the concept as a scientifically robust "one size fits all" analytical framework. These attempts have highlighted several major limitations of the ES concept. First, to date, the concept has paid little attention to the role of humans in the production of ES. Second, the ongoing formalization of the ES concept is turning it into a "technology of globalization," thereby increasingly ignoring the socio-cultural context and history within which ecosystems emerge. Third, economic valuation has been shown to limit local stakeholders in expressing their daily and immediate ways of interacting with their environment over and beyond extrinsic motivation provided by financial gains. We address these three limitations by analyzing a social evaluation of the roles of peri-urban farmland from a territorial perspective. Our case study is the Thau lagoon in southern France. We conducted in-depth interviews with a broad range of stakeholders and ran two participatory workshops. Using a territorial meta-model that distinguishes three levels-physical, logical, and existential-stakeholder data were analyzed to unravel the interplay of territorial elements at these three levels that gives rise to ES in two broad categories: food production and aesthetic landscape. The coupling of ES and territory concepts opens up several novel analytical perspectives. It allows partitioning of ES in a manner that "re-contextualizes" them and gives insight about both their physical constituents and their meaning at the territorial level. Additional research should incorporate the dynamics of service demand and supply, and further investigate options for implementation.


This thesis examines the shifting politics of remaking the urban experience in post-colonial Cairo, through investigating the account of remaking an old historical district, namely, Bulaq Abul Ela. It examines the extent to which planning approaches and ambitions to improve the quality of the built environment have achieved their objectives and attended to people's changing needs. To achieve this aim, critical analysis of the chronological development of the remaking process, planning institutions and legislation in Egypt has been undertaken in the context of three re-planning schemes for Bulaq, drafted between 1966 and 2005. Understanding spatial quality, in this context, indicates an intersection between two realms: spatial settings and social needs, which both influence the process of space reproduction in Cairo. The schemes are investigated on two levels; first, there is a careful study of the planning institution's ambitions for improving Bulaq's spatial qualities; second, there is critical analysis of how such visions were imposed on the schemes, and how this affected their credibility in terms of improving the district. Through each scheme, the district's conditions, approved re-planning actions, proposed physical attributes and land uses will be discussed and analyzed. The study is based on detailed accounts of original reports, meetings, decrees, correspondents' archives, interviews and fieldwork that took place between 2008 and 2009, and has relied on original documents from various planning institutions, and local newspapers in Egypt. The investigated schemes revealed a consistent clarity of the planning institution's visions towards remaking old districts, but alongside this, there is evidence of a lack of coherent processes in planning and of implementing these visions. Not only was there an apparent conflict between the planning institution's underlying objectives towards re-planning Bulaq, and people's needs, but within the planning institution itself there was a lack of reliability and consistency in performing its role, in which respect it was impeded by the absence of an effective legislative framework to guide planning practices in Egypt. The study revealed that Bulaq's spatial qualities are grounded in the historical authenticity of the district, its physical attributes, and the vibrant mix of activities and land usage practised in Bulaq's urban spaces. Thus, investigating Bulaq re-planning schemes has allowed the research to find new meanings, images, stories, and places to replace the increasingly undesirable authentic fabric of the district. Against this background, continuous dialogue for participation, shared commitments, and flexible planning approaches, have emerged as necessary and, indeed, the only tools through which improvement of the built environment and creation of a successful remaking project may be achieved.


Few research studies have examined female sexual offending. Furthermore, most of what we know about sexual offending is based on male perpetrators. Our conceptions of female criminals who act outside their designated sexual scripts are formed by prevailing stereotypes of femininity. This research expands the available literature in the field of sexual offending, while examining how women are constituted when it comes to female child sexual offending. I conduct a critical discourse analysis of court transcripts and electronic news articles of cases involving women as child sexual perpetrators. Three criminal cases are examined from Wisconsin, U.S. The goal is to examine whether, and through what processes, traditional sexual scripts are discursively reproduced in court proceedings and media reporting of female sexual offending. Two cases reveal that women who adhere to their expected sexual scripts despite having committed a sexual offense receive sympathetic responses from legal officials and news journalists. The legal and media responses also ensure these women are able to continue their expected roles as women during and following sentencing. On the other hand, one case reveals that women who overtly contravene their expected gender scripts are legally and morally condemned. The call for strict punishment centred upon removing the female offender's ability to participate in motherhood, because of the offender's contravention of expected gender scripts by sexually offending against her own children. Furthermore, the male co-offender in this latter case was not deemed to have contravened his sexual scripts, resulting in less social condemnation. Overall, this thesis demonstrates discursive maneuvering that occurs in female sexual offender cases, in which legal officials and news journalists justify offenses based on prevailing notions of femininity.


265 naturally mummified individuals from the 18th-19th centuries were discovered during the reconstruction of the Dominican Church of Vac, Hungary in 1994-1995. The crypts were continuously utilised for burials from 1731 until 1838 and they were the traditional burial site for a number of middle class families. Seventy percent of the bodies were more or less mummified. The initial studies showed that there was evidence of suspected tuberculosis in at least one of these individuals (No. 60) as detected by CT and histology. Therefore, this and another individual (No. 33) were examined more fully taking precautions against contamination of the material to see whether or not the provisional diagnosis of tuberculosis could be verified. Tissue samples were obtained from the lungs (individuals No. 33 and 60) and the abdominal cavity (individual No. 33). Two other bodies from the crypts from the same period were used as negative controls (Nos. 65 and 73). The histology of the sections prepared from these tissues was surprisingly good and the basic architecture could still be seen in places. Many acid-fast bodies were visible both within the parenchyma and macrophages (Nos. 33 and 60). These were the expected size of M. tyberculosis, but cocco-bacillary in shape. DNA was extracted from the samples by a modiication of Boom's method (Boom et al., 1990) based on guanidium thiocyanate and silica. Taking stringent precautions against cross-contamination, a two-stage nested PCR was performed (Taylor et al., 1996) using the Eisenach primers (Eisanach, 1990) for the IS6110 sequence of the M. tuberculosis complex which results in a 92bp product. The tissue samples clearly yielded M. tuberculosis complex-specific DNA which supports the initial morphological findings. Though the first mortality data (from 1881) show that the eruption of tuberculosis appeared only in the late 19th century due to the late industrialisation of Hungary, our cases show that tuberculosis might have occurred a 130 years earlier and could well have been common in this population of the middle class population of this rural township. The study of ancient DNA from microbial pathogens is of growing interest, as it enables the verification of traditional diagnoses, may answer long-standing questions in the history of the disease and more excitingly, perhaps provides ancient DNA sequences that can be compared with those of modern pathogens.


: Several studies have analysed postoperative or spontaneous variations in astigmatism. The methods of quantification of these variations, frequently used in these studies, are based on different ways of calculating: subtraction, vectorial or polar methods: Naylor, Jaffe and Clayman, Cravy, Naeser, Russell et al. and recently, Holladay et al. Although these methods have the advantage of taking into account the axial component of astigmatism and are useful for a single patient, they have many problems and they are more and more numerous (five in the last three years). We have computerized these formulae on a personal computer and studied their performances when the cylinder power decreases without modification of the axes, when the axes are modified without modification of the cylinder power and when the two axes change with the same angular difference. These calculations demonstrate that these formulae are not linear and introduce statistical errors before the statistical decision tests. Moreover, their application is only possible for evaluation of astigmatism axes between 0 degree to 180 degrees and not for semi meridians and corneal topography.


The existence of women in the customary structure often has a position as a complement of males so that their existence is limited by the stigma and norms that apply to the society. The existence of women in customs in Buru Island became an idea of how women are placed on the social economic space based on the inteprestation of men as customary rulers. This research is a qualitative study aimed at describing the existence of women in the customs of Buru Island. The research location focuses on three indigenous villages namely Kayeli village, Kubalahin and Wasi with consideration of the existence and the existence of adat that is still preserved. The number of informant that will be interviewed as many as 30 people taken in purposive. The analytical techniques used to follow the concepts given by Miles and Huberman include data reduction, data presentation and withdrawal of conclusions. The results showed that the distinction between men and women occurred through the process of socialization, strengthening and the construction of socio-cultural, even through the power of tradition. Women with all abilities and limitations only placed on complementary positions on customary structures ruled by men even though women are given certain status and awards but remain in male domination


This collection brings together the work of both film scholars and queer theorists to advance a more sophisticated notion of queer film criticism. While the "politics of representation" has been the focus of much previous gay and lesbian film criticism, the contributors to Out Takes employ the approaches of queer theory to move beyond conventional readings and to reexamine aspects of the cinematic gaze in relation to queer desire and spectatorship.

The essays examine a wide array of films, including Calamity Jane , Rear Window, The Hunger , Heavenly Creatures , and Bound , and discuss such figures as Doris Day, Elizabeth Taylor, and Alfred Hitchcock. Divided into three sections, the first part reconsiders the construction of masculinity and male homoerotic desire—especially with respect to the role of women—in classic cinema of the 1940s and 1950s. The second section offers a deconstructive consideration of lesbian film spectatorship and lesbian representation. Part three looks at the historical trajectory of independent queer cinema, including works by H.D., Kenneth Anger, and Derek Jarman.

By exploring new approaches to the study of sexuality in film, Out Takes will be useful to scholars in gay and lesbian studies, queer theory, and cinema studies.

Contributors. Bonnie Burns, Steven Cohan, Alexander Doty, Lee Edelman, Michelle Elleray, Jim Ellis, Ellis Hanson, D. A. Miller, Eric Savoy, Matthew Tinkcom, Amy Villarejo, Jean Walton


...........................................................................................................iv CHAPTER 1.  INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 1 1.1  Background ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2  Network Diagram................................................................................................ 1 1.3  Two major methodologies to model biological systems in network .................. 3 1.3.1  Static large-scale biological network modeling ........................................... 3 1.3.2  Dynamic Quantitative modeling .................................................................. 6 1.4  Proposed methods and contributions of this work .............................................. 7 1.5  Organization ........................................................................................................ 8 CHAPTER 2.  OMICSVIZ AND OMICSANALYZER FOR INTEGRATING AND ANALYZING OMICS DATA IN NETWORK CONTEXT .......................................... 10 2.1  Network provides graceful and concrete modeling platform to integrate complex large-scale biological datasets. ...................................................................... 10 2.2  Introduction to Cytoscape ................................................................................. 12 2.3  OmicsViz: Cytoscape plug-in for visualizing omics data across species ......... 14 2.3.1  Omics data import and mapping ................................................................ 14 2.3.2  Data Visualization ..................................................................................... 16 2.3.3  Usage example ........................................................................................... 17 2.4  OmicsAnalyzer: a Cytoscape plug-in suite for modeling omics data ............... 17 2.4.1  Architecture of OmicsAnalyzer ................................................................. 18 2.4.2  Data collection and pre-processing ............................................................ 19 2.4.3  OmicsAnalyzer Statistical Analysis .......................................................... 20 2.4.4  OmicsAnalyzer Visualization .................................................................... 22 CHAPTER 3.  CYTOMODELER, A TOOL FOR BRIDGING LARGE SCALE NETWORK ANALYSIS AND DYNAMIC QUANTITATIVE MODELING ............. 25 3.1  Introduction ....................................................................................................... 25 3.1.1  Architecture of CytoModeler ..................................................................... 28 3.1.2  CytoModeler Model Editor ....................................................................... 30 3.1.3  CytoModeler SBML Exchanger ................................................................ 33 3.1.4  CytoModeler Simulation Interface ............................................................ 34 3.1.5  CytoModeler Visualizer ............................................................................ 38 3.2  An Usage Example: Build SM-SNARE Model Using CytoModeler ............... 43


This paper presents the development of a dynamic model of the valve train of one engine. During the parameter determination of the model, finite element method is used to calculate the contact stiffness of the cam-follower . The simulation results of the model are compared with measured data of the valve train at same speed. Excellent quantitative agreement is found between the numerical and experimental results and the validity of the dynamic model can be verified.


PART 1 JANUARY 1985 page Articles RICHARD ROSE, The Programme Approach to the Growth of Government I STANLEY ROTHMAN and S. ROBERT LICHTER, Personality, Ideology and World Review: A Comparison of Media and Business Elites 29 CATHERINE MARSH, Back on the Bandwagon: The Effect of Opinion Polls on Public Opinion 51 SYLVIA B. BASHEVKIN, Changing Patterns of Politicization and Partisanship Among Women in France 75 Review Article PHILIP WILLIAMS , Party Realignment in the United States and Britain 97 Notes and Comments STEVE SMITH, Groupthink and the Hostage Rescue Mission 117 RAIMUND E. GERMANN and JURG STEINER, Comparing Decision Modes at the Country Level: Some Methodological Considerations Using Swiss Data 123


This paper examines the case for, and plausibility of, eradicating American mink Neovison vison from mainland Great Britain and its associated offshore islands. This invasive species causes extensive damage to native fauna throughout Europe, and the UK Government is obliged to eradicate it, if feasible, under the Bern Convention. Current mink control buys time, but is patchy and dependent on substantial funding in perpetuity. If enacted, eradication would be cheaper in the long term and much more effective in preserving native wildlife. The methodology of an eradication campaign is explored, together with risks, challenges, and a tentative timeline and cost. We judge that mink eradication is now logistically feasible, due to technological developments and experience gained from landscape‐scale control. Using live traps fitted with electronic sensors – 'smart' traps – as the primary means of catching mink would render the campaign efficient, humane and free of non‐target mortality and negative environmental impacts. The ecological benefits of mink eradication would be profound, including greatly improving prospects for water vole Arvicola amphibius populations. Reinvasion is highly unlikely. The greatest logistical challenge is probably removing mink from Scottish west coast islands. Eradication might take around a decade and be dependent on co‐ordination between many conservation, fishing, farming, and water‐related organisations, together with the consent of landowners. By adding alarms to existing mink traps, land and water managers can pave the way to eradication now. A mink‐free Great Britain would plausibly cost tens of millions of pounds, against which could be set the limitless future costs of mink control. Such a campaign would be by far the world's largest invasive predator eradication project by geographical area and would set a precedent for citizen‐led conservation action globally. Regional trials would be extremely valuable in determining the costs and practicality of a GB‐wide campaign.


Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic cardiac disease, occurring in 1 out of every 500 individuals. The pathologic hallmarks of HCM are myocyte hypertrophy, myocyte disarray, fibrosis and arteriolar remodeling. Majority of HCM patients have mutations in genes coding for sarcomeric proteins. However, the mechanisms whereby the mutations lead to myocyte hypertrophy are not fully elucidated. Despite successes in animal models, there is no known therapy that can prevent the cardiac phenotype in HCM patients. We hypothesized that differences in pathophysiology of the cardiac phenotype in HCM could underlie failure of clinical trials in HCM patients. Hence, in this study, we investigated 2 transgenic mouse models of HCM, namely the R403Q mutation in the alpha Myosin Heavy Chain gene (R403Q‐MHC) and the R92W mutation in the Troponin T gene (R92W‐TnT). Since energetic deficits and abnormalities in calcium handling are 2 postulated mechanisms underlying the cardiac phenotypes in HCM, we investigated expression levels of AMP‐Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), Ca2+/Calmodulin‐Dependent Protein Kinase II (CamKII) and the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) in these 2 mouse models using western immunoblotting.


This study investigated efficiency of switching between different tasks in 12 male participants (19–30 years) during 40 h of constant wakefulness. As index of task‐switching efficiency, switch costs in reaction time were assessed every 3 h under controlled behavioural and environmental conditions. Overall reaction times and switch costs showed a temporal pattern consistent with the assumption of a combined influence of a sleep homeostatic and a circadian process. An additional analysis indicated that the variation in switch costs could not be attributed to interference of the current task with persisting activation from preceding tasks. We therefore conclude that sleep loss and the circadian system affect the ability to prepare the current task rather than automatic processing of irrelevant stimulus information.


Piecewise polynomials have been used to visually link and classify network traffic. The advantage of using piecewise polynomials to approximate traffic is that significantly less storage space is required when compared to traditional packet captures. However, when representing discrete data with continuous approximations, error is introduced. We analyze this error through the creation and examination of polynomials for client, server, and bidirectional traffic, where each polynomial represents a single TCP connection. An application of the piecewise polynomial technique is traffic classification. In this initial work, we use traffic attributes of packet length and arrival time to represent Instant Messaging, Video, and Basic Web Page traffic. We then examine the error introduced by using polynomials to represent each of these traffic types. The initial results also show that this technique can reduce standard packet trace sizes by up to four orders of magnitude. An understanding of the error involved and the amount of memory saved by using this technique is a necessary step toward an automated process for traffic classification that utilizes piecewise polynomial approximations.


This paper documents patterns of price setting at the retail level in the euro area. A set of stylized facts on the frequency and size of price changes is presented along with an econometric investigation of their main determinants. Price adjustment in the euro area can be summarized in six stylized facts. First, prices of most products change rarely. The average monthly frequency of price adjustment is 15 p.c., compared to about 25 p.c. in the US. Second, the frequency of price changes is characterized by substantial cross-product heterogeneity and pronounced sectoral patterns: prices of oil-related) energy and unprocessed food products change very often, while price adjustments are less frequent for processed food products, non-energy industrial goods and services. Third, cross-country heterogeneity exists but is less pronounced. Fourth, price decreases are not uncommon. Fifth, price increases and decreases are sizeable compared to aggregate and sectoral inflation rates. Sixth, price changes are not highly synchronized across price-setters. Moreover, the frequency of price changes in the euro area is related to a number of factors, in particular seasonality, outlet type, indirect taxation, use of attractive prices as well as aggregate or product-specific inflation.


A new type and high efficiency adsorbent was prepared with powder activated carbon and polyurethane vesicant and surfactant, which being used to adsorb humic acid (HA) in boiler feedwater. The batch adsorption experiments were carrid at different pH value, different adsorbent dosage and different initial concentration to investigate HA removal rate and adsorption capacity by as-produced adsorbent. Their adsorption kinetics experiments data was fitted with pseudo-second-order rate model, its quation was 1/qt=0.094+5.51/t, and equilibrium adsorption capacity obtained from fitting curve was 10.6mg/g, consistent with the experimental results(11.5mg/g).The adsorption isotherm test was carried at 25°C-50°C, the equilibrium adsorption capacity was 10.9mg/g by Langmuir model, which being similar with experiment results, the free energy (ΔG), enthalpy(ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) were obtanined with Clapeyron-Clausius and Gibbs-Helmholtz equation in the adsorption isotherm, which all were negative, indicated that HA adsorbed by as-produced adsorbent was an exothermic process of entropy reduction.


Sexual isolation resulting from differences in mate choice behaviors is a hallmark of rapidly-speciating lineages. When present, asymmetrical sexual isolation may provide insights into the mechanisms responsible for the evolutionary change in mate signaling traits. In particular, Kaneshiro's hypothesis suggests that divergence in sexual characters between populations may arise in allopatry when 'derived' founding populations are subject to severe population bottlenecks, accompanied by a relaxation of sexual selection relative to 'ancestral' source populations. In the present study, we tested predictions of asymmetrical sexual isolation between two allopatric species of Hawaiian Laupala crickets, representing 'ancestral' (L. makaio) and 'derived' (L. nigra) taxa. While crickets in this genus are notable for rapid divergence of male courtship songs, these species share similar song types, thus suggesting that patterns of sexual isolation are likely due to other mating cues. Analysis of behavioral responses in conspeci- fic and heterospecific 'no-choice' mating trials revealed pronounced asymmetrical isolation in the direction predicted by Kane- shiro's hypothesis, wherein we observed a significant reduction in mating success for crosses involving 'derived' males paired with 'ancestral' females, compared to the reciprocal heterospecific and both conspecific pairings. Further dissection of courtship behaviors suggested this difference did not reflect male mate choice, but rather, marked reduced spermatophore acceptance rates by 'ancestral' females paired with 'derived' males. The results are discussed with respect to founder effect models of speciation and the potential role of chemosensory signals in mate choice in these species (Current Zoology 59 (2): 230−238, 2013).


A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for determination of oxazepam in serum. Oxazepam was isolated from biological fluid using a simple liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane. Nordazepam was used as the internal standard. The chromatographic separation was accomplished using a 125 x 4-mm (inner diameter) stainless-steel (5 microm) Perfectsil Target ODS-3 reversed phase column with a mobile phase consisting of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (0.05 mol x L(-1), pH 5.8) and methanol (50:50, v/v), running at a flow rate of 1.5 ml x min(-1). The absorbance of the fluent was monitored at 254 nm. The developed method resulted in totally symmetrical peaks. It has been applied to assess the pharmacokinetics of oxazepam. Also the bioequivalence of two different oxazepam preparations following oral administration in healthy volunteers was assessed by this method.


Numerous recent commentators have pointed out the advantages of using the theories of Mikhail Bakhtin to read the works of Thomas Pynchon, James Joyce, and Samuel Beckett, though, as far as I know, no one has attempted to read all three simultaneously in this way. But viewing all three of these writers through the common optic of Bakhtin reveals certain family resemblances among them, in particular their participation in the Menippean tradition privileged by Bakhtin. Such a reading strategy also highlights the intensely political vision that informs the works of these three writers, all of whom mount fierce assaults on authoritarian ideologies of all kinds. Since a full study of the political similarities among Pynchon, Joyce, and Beckett is obviously beyond the scope of any single essay, I will concentrate here on the ways these writers use organized religion as a central instance of the authoritarian ideologies they oppose, particularly the ways they carnivalize religion by juxtaposing the high-minded idealistic claims of the Church with images of the mortality and physicality Christianity attempts to repress. One specific image cluster reappears in the work of all three authors. Pynchon, Joyce, and Beckett all use rats as images of abject physicality to subvert the spiritual/physical hierarchy maintained in traditional Christian thought.


Regular participation in physical activity (PA) is associated with several adaptive physical and mental health outcomes across the lifespan. However, children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs: e.g., cerebral palsy (CP), developmental coordination disorder (DCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD)) engage in less PA than their typically developing peers. Although several reviews have been conducted examining the effects of PA on mental health outcomes in typically developing samples, reviews among NDDs remain non-existent. The purpose of this study was to conduct the first review of the effects of PA, exercise, and sport on mental health outcomes in children and adolescents (0-18 years) with NDDs. Mental health outcomes included anxiety, depression, self-esteem/concept, and quality of life. We searched 4 databases (Ovid Medline (R), Embase, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus) and identified 4200 possible records, for which 285 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. 63 studies were included in the synthesis: 22 randomized controlled trials, 25 experimental non-randomized, 15 cross-sectional, and 1 cohort. The majority of the studies included children and adolescents with CP (n=27), followed by DCD (n=10), ADHD (n=10), and ASD (n=5). Findings are consistent with typically developing populations and generally showed that participation in PA, exercise, or sport improves various mental health outcomes among children and adolescents with NDDs. As mental health issues among children and adolescents with NDDs are most likely exacerbated, additional experimental research targeting specific interventions (i.e., motor coordination training, cognitive-behavioural therapy) is warranted.Acknowledgments: This study was supported by a CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship and ParticipACTION


Rich contextual information is typically available in many recommendation domains allowing recommender systems to model the subtle effects of context on preferences. Most contextual models assume that the context shares the same latent space with the users and items. In this work we propose CARS2, a novel approach for learning context-aware representations for context-aware recommendations. We show that the context-aware representations can be learned using an appropriate model that aims to represent the type of interactions between context variables, users and items. We adapt the CARS2 algorithms to explicit feedback data by using a quadratic loss function for rating prediction, and to implicit feedback data by using a pairwise and a listwise ranking loss functions for top-N recommendations. By using stochastic gradient descent for parameter estimation we ensure scalability. Experimental evaluation shows that our CARS2 models achieve competitive recommendation performance, compared to several state-of-the-art approaches.


A biorefinery is an agro-industrial facility which creates an interface between the industrial and agricultural worlds: between technological and natural assets. Biorefineries are one element of a global socio-technical system and reflect how the sustainability transition is put in place at the local and regional levels. Analyzed according to the model of transition management, ongoing generations of biorefineries are regarded as new niches of innovation and experiment, no longer solely dedicated to biofuel production. The stakeholders involved in their development try to find new processes of biomass transformation, rooted in their local situation, which consume less energy less energy, to use different types of feedstock and produce a variety of final products/ outputs. However, this biomass optimization is a controversial issue because it raises multi-scale societal environmental dilemmas. Based on empirical research this article reflects on the tangibility of socio-technical transitions and their respect for sustainability principles.


We prove the formulae conjectured by the first author for the index of K-theory classes over the moduli stack of algebraic G-bundles on a smooth projective curve. The formulae generalise Verlinde's for line bundles and have Witten's integrals over the moduli space of stable bundles as their large level limits. As an application, we prove the Newstead-Ramanan conjecture on the vanishing of high Chern classes of certain moduli spaces of stable G-bundles.


Envelope protein gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is armored with a dense glycan shield, which plays critical roles in envelope folding, immune-evasion, infectivity, and immunogenicity. Site-specific glycosylation profiling of recombinant gp120 is very challenging. Therefore, glycoproteomic analysis of native viral gp120 is still formidable to date. This challenge promoted us to employ a Q-Exactive mass spectrometer to identify low abundant glycopeptides from virion-associated gp120. To search the HCD-MS data for glycopeptides, a novel spectral-aligning strategy was developed. This strategy depends on the observation that glycopeptides and the corresponding deglycosylated peptides share very similar MS/MS pattern in terms of b- and y-ions that do not contain the site of glycosylation. Moreover, glycopeptides with an identical peptide backbone show nearly resembling spectra regardless of the attached glycan structures. For the recombinant gp120, this "copy–paste" spectral pattern of glycopeptides facilitated identification of 2224 spectra using only 18 spectral templates, and after precursor mass correction, 1268 (57%) spectra were assigned to 460 unique glycopeptides accommodating 19 N-linked and one O-linked glycosylation sites (glycosites). Strikingly, we were able to observe five N- and one O-linked glycosites in native gp120. We further revealed that except for Asn276 in the C2 region, glycans were processed to contain both high mannose and hybrid/complex glycans; an additional four N-linked glycosites were decorated with high mannose type. Core 1 O-linked glycan Gal1GalNAc1 was seen for the O-linked glycosite at Thr499. This direct observation of site-specific glycosylation of virion-derived gp120 has implications in HIV glycobiology and vaccine design.


This guide will provide basic legal information that can be found in the NMSU Library and elsewhere on the internet.


We report fabricating a microfluidic device that selectively detects biomarker gases. It consists of a microfluidic channel and a semiconductor gas sensor integrated on a PMMA chip. Biomarker gases are identified by monitoring their transient molecular diffusion-driven flow in a microfluidic channel using a semiconductor gas sensor. Analyte-dependent specific features of the sensor response patterns are extracted, which facilitate analyte classification in a 3-D feature space. The ability of the device to distinguish four different gas biomarkers, including acetone, hydrogen, ethanol and benzene, in a wide concentration range, is demonstrated. The miniaturized gas analyzer presented is versatile and cost effective.


Accurate diagnosis of early stage traumatic facial palsy is often difficult due to severe complications. In this paper, a case of traumatic facial palsy in a 5-year old male is presented. Left facial palsy was noticed following a head injury. As the facial palsy gradually progressed after the trauma, he was referred to our clinic, 3 days after the onset of palsy. Facial movement was evaluated based on the 40-point grading system. He showed 8/40 points, but a CT scan didn't depict any temporal bone fracture which might involve the facial canal. In spite of concentrative treatment, his facial movement score deteriorated to 4/40 points 5 days after the trauma. We performed decompression surgery 5 days after the onset of palsy. Bony fragment from a fracture involving the tympanic segment of the facial nerve impinged directly on the nerve. In this case, surgical exploration revealed a fracture which extended to the tympanic portion.He had a good recovery of facial movement with a score of 32/40 points 8 months after surgery. This case shows that temporal bone fractures are not always revealed by CT and that early decompression of the facial nerve is recommended when facial palsy gradually gets worse following trauma.


The genes of tryptophan biosynthesis are arranged and regulated differently in many microorganisms. Comparison of the transcription regulatory regions of the trp operons of several species of enterobacteria reveals that those sequences and structures believed to be essential for repression and attenuation control are conserved. Examples of divergent and convergent evolutionary change are presented. Rearrangements involving the homologous trpG and pabA genes and their presumed ancestral bi-specific gene are described. Alignment of homologous sequences of trp polypeptides encoded by fused and nonfused genes from various species reveals short connecting amino acid sequences at fusion junctions. These connecting sequences may be relics of gene fusion events and/or they may facilitate the proper folding of neighboring polypeptide domains.


Computer scientists in developing nations such as India and mainland China face daunting challenges in keeping pace with their colleagues in more advanced countries. India's faulty infrastructure, which hobbles collaboration among scientists there, is discussed. The problems surrounding China's outdated equipment, which sometimes forces its researchers to construct paper machines to study computing problems, are described. The prospects of the United Nation's International Institute for Software Technology (IIST), which opened in Macau in the Summer of 1992, are reviewed.<<ETX>>


This paper is about the way contemporary farmers value, in their public engagement, different conceptions of what a "(good) peasant" is. Focusing on how the actors plot their activist engagement in semi-directive interviews, the paper shows that various forms of attachment are at stake. Focusing on the actors' narratives provides us with new elements that help us understand the constitution of grassroots movements and the tensions between them. The hypothesis raised in this paper, through a case study among contemporary activist farmers in Jura (France), is that the enhancement of forms of attachment is constrained by the availability of a dominant reactionary framework — a ghost the actors have different ways of exorcizing. How do the actors who try to enhance the figure of the "peasant" cultivate their "rooting"?