ABSTRACT Causal relations between knowledge-intensive business services and regional employment growth. Regional Studies. This paper studies the causal relations between regional employment growth in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) and overall regional employment growth using German labour-market data for 1999–2012. Adopting a recently developed technique, it uses a structural vector autoregressive model in which the causal directions between KIBS and other sectors are examined including various time lags. Results show that although regional growth has a negative short-term effect on KIBS, KIBS growth has a long-term positive effect on the whole regional economy. This confirms the claim that KIBS can play a key role in regional policies.


abstract I. Its Geological and Geographical Distribution The Moray Firth, from Duncansbay Head to Buckie, is enclosed by the Old Red Sandstone, except some Jurassic patches near Brora and Cromarty, and others near Elgin. In this area it is touched by no Silurian except for a few miles between Inverness and Beauly. The Old Red Conglomerate and other beds exist west of Inverness in a triangular patch between Dochgarroch and Bunchrew. The Silurian to the west of this forms an oblong semidetached area surrounded by Old Red, except for a few miles on the south. This Silurian patch has a general slope to the Moray Firth on the north, into which it is drained. Its main stream is the Moniack Burn, rising three miles north of Drumnadrochit in Glenurquhart, running generally along its centre and falling into the sea west of Lentran. The strata form a syncline, the axis striking roughly N. and S., the rocks on the east dipping to N.W., those on the west dipping generally to S.E., but the latter much disturbed. They consist chiefly of clay-slate, micaceous and chloritic schist, and gneiss. A limestone, worked at several points, runs parallel to and near the axis, of varying thickness, sometimes twelve feet, and often concretionary and interbedded with other rocks. A red granite also occurs in the Silurian near Abriachan; it is of commercial value, and known as Loch-Ness granite. Within this Silurian area the mineral which was the subject of the paper occurs at five points, at three of these in situ, and and has as yet been found nowhere else. I t is of a blue colour of various shades, from ultramarine to bluish white, often striking and beautiful. It occurs generally in a felspathic matrix, readily disintegrates under water to a fine, blue, soapy, unctuous clay (caused probably by the magnesia it contains), and is seldom found pure, and never yet in a crystalline form, though it sometimes presents a glistening crystal-line aspect. The sites where it has been found are these :— (1) Englishton Moor.—On the west side of Bunchrew Burn, a little above the Public School of Kirkton, at No. 23 croft, near an outcrop of limestone. It occurs here only in scattered blocks evidently carried from the west at Moniack Burn, where it is in situ. It is chiefly found in thin veins and plates in felspar. It was here that the mineral first attracted special attention, during an excursion of the Scientific Society and Field Club of Inverness, on September 1st, 1877, at which both the authors were present—Mr. Jolly having previously noted it in a preliminary examination of the ground along with Mr. Cran, of Kirkton, and Mr. Cameron having, at the excursion first suspected its rarity and subsequently analyzed it. (2) Moniack Burn.—This passes through a very picturesque gorge called Reelig Glen, enclosed by high cliffs, finely wooded, and attractive to the geologist and botanist. The stream runs here along a fault, near the synclinal axis, associated with a remarkable conglomerate and with granitic, felspathic veins. A great fall of rock took place last winter from the face of a high precipice in the glen above Reelig House. The fallen débris contained much of the mineral, associated with orthoclastic felspathic rock, interbedded with clay-slate, and mica and chloritic schist, &c., not only in veins but in regular strata some feet in thickness. (3) Near South Clunes Farm.—It is also found in situ above this gorge, on the east bank of the stream, at a limestone-quarry, where it occurs in great purity in a felspathic rock in contact and bedded with the limestone. It seems here to be more or less associated with the limestone, which crosses the river from this point near the fallen cliff, and runs to Rebeg farm, where also it is worked. (4) Near Dochfour, at the north end of Loch Ness—It occurs here in rock in situ, on a new road to the Mansion House, about 150 yards north of a new bridge over Dochfour Burn. It is also associated hero with felspar in large masses, bright blue at first but gradually losing colour by exposure, and easily disintegrating under water. (5) At Lochend, at the north end of Loch Ness.—It was found here, not in situ, but in detached blocks in the burn near Lochend Hotel, by Dr. Aitken and Mr. Wallace, members of the Inverness Field Club. The blocks have probably come down the burn, but their source has not yet been discovered.


This paper reviews the methodology and applications of terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides as a tool for quantifying rates of geomorphic processes. The review starts from systematics in the production of cosmogenic Be and Al in quartz, and Cl in calcite, and then describes the basic modeling of the accumulation of those nuclides under varying denudation rates. Procedures for sample preparation and nuclide measurement using accelerator mass spectrometry are also summarized. Recent research reveals denudation rates of bare rock surfaces for both silicates and carbonates, as well as soil production rates from saprolite beneath the soil layer on hillslopes. The empirical formulation of soil production rates as a function of soil thickness enables us to test hypothetical transport laws of soil particles through a combined analysis with topographic parameters of hillslopes. Chemical processes contributing to soil production and denudation have been quantified with a coupled approach using cosmogenic nuclide analysis and geochemical mass balance method. However, linkages across climate conditions, element leaching, and denudation rates are still debated because of timescale discrepancies between soil and saprolite formation. Climate seems to affect soil production indirectly by reducing the mechanical strength of saprolite resulting from chemical weathering of bedrock. A theoretical framework is presented for modeling saprolite weakening and denudation, which connects bedrock weathering, erodibility of uppermost saprolite, soil production and transport with steady-state topography of hill-noses.


Background: A dramatic increase in life expectancy was observed in the last decade in the Netherlands. This increase in life expectancy has been largely attributed to declines in coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates. The main objective of this thesis was to explain the decline in coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in the Netherlands between 1997 and 2007 by applying the IMPACT model to Dutch data. The second objective was to provide detailed information (by age, sex and socioeconomic circumstances) on time trends in CHD mortality, incidence, short-term case-fatality rates, risk factors, and uptake of cardiovascular treatments.

Methods: A previously applied model, IMPACT-SEC, was used. Nationwide information was obtained on changes between 1997 and 2007 in cardiovascular risk factor levels in all Dutch adults, aged 25 and over in the use of 42 treatments in 7 subgroups of all Dutch CHD patients. The primary outcome was CHD deaths prevented or postponed.

Results: The age-standardized CHD mortality fell 48% (from 269 to 141 per 100.000). This resulted in 11,200 fewer CHD deaths in 2007 than expected. About 37% (95% confidence interval: 10%-80%) of these deaths prevented was attributable to changes in the treatment in the acute phase and in secondary prevention treatments: the largest contributions came from treatment of patients in the community with heart failure (11%) or chronic angina (9%) and acute phase treatment of acute myocardial infarction (6%). Approximately 36% (24%-67%) was attributable to changes in risk factors: blood pressure (30%), total cholesterol levels (10%), smoking (5%) and physical inactivity (1%). However, 10% more deaths could have been prevented if BMI and diabetes would not have increased. The benefits from treatments were fairly equitable whereas the contribution from risk factor changes differed across socioeconomic groups. The model failed to explain approximately 28% of the mortality fall.

Conclusions: CHD mortality has recently halved in The Netherlands. Equally large contributions to the fall in CHD mortality have come from the increased use of acute and secondary prevention treatments and from improvements in population risk factors (including primary prevention treatments with cardiovascular drugs). Fewer patients developed CHD over time, but those who did tended to live longer. Quality of life, healthy life years and compression of CHD morbidity becomes increasingly important to reduce the future burden of CHD. Primary prevention strategies should go together with secondary prevention efforts to ensure a continuing decline in CHD mortality and morbidity in the future.


Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on anhedonia among patients with MDD. Method: In a randomized controlled trial study with pre-post test design and control group among referred MDD patients to Atieh Clinical Neuroscience Center, a total sample of 58 patients were selected and were randomized into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group patients were received 10 sessions of a 10-Hz rTMS on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and a 1Hz rTMS on the right DLPFC. Control group received a sham rTMS. The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)) were used to evaluation participants both before and after treatment. Results: Results of a Multivariate Analysis of Covariance showed that a bilateral rTMS significantly decreased the mean scores for anhedonia and depression symptoms in the experimental group than control. Conclusion: This study indicated that rTMS could be considered as an effective approach in the treatment of anhedonia and depression symptoms of the MDD patients.


This paper presents several methods for topic detection on newspaper articles based on either a general vocabulary or a set of topic vocabularies. Our topic detection methods will be applied to speech recognition framework. The originality and the difficulty of our work lies in the fact that both training and test corpora contain few words (less than 200 words for test corpora). Test corpora are very small because our objective is to identify topic and adapt the language model, after uttering only few words. Experiments show that beyond 60 words, topic detection methods are not reliable. On and after 80 words, topic detection rate reaches 82% for the two first hypotheses, which is promising due to the conditions of our experimentation.


The Red Hill Complex is an essentially concordant ultramafic body enclosed in Upper Paleozoic flysch facies sediments which include Pelorus Group (oldest), Lee River Group and Maitai Group. The Pelorus Group contains rare submarine lavas and is largely derived from spilitic volcanics. The Lee River Group consists of spilitic pillow lavas, volcanic breccias and spilitic basalts and dolerites. The Maitai Group consists of limestone, sandstone and argillite; an extensive conglomerate lens in the argillites is largely composed of andesitic pebbles. The Red Hill Complex is a 12,000 ft. thick lens and is part of a sheet of peridotites which may extend 40 miles northward to Dun Mountain. The Complex is divided into a 3000 ft thick Basal Zone of massive harzburgite and a 9000 ft thick Upper Zone of layered harzburgite and dunite with minor variants, feldspathic-peridotite, eucrite, lherzolite, wehrlite and pyroxenite. The bulk composition of both zones is approximately the same but the Upper Zone contains about 0.2 per cent feldspar not present in the Basal Zone. There is no significant regional change in mineral chemistry throughout the Complex and the average composition is about; olivine Fo91, 70 per cent; orthopyroxene, En88, 22 per cent; clinopyroxene, 5 per cent; feldspar An96, less than 0.2 per cent; spinel 2 per cent. Layering and foliation are common in the top of the Upper Zone. Layering is of at least two generations of which at least one is of metamorphic origin. Metamorphic layering was formed by metasomatic replacement probably along subhorizontal shear planes during intrusion of the ultramafic sheet. Pyroxene pegmatites formed after flow ceased. The diversity of rock types in the top of the Upper Zone is considered by the writer to have been caused by metamorphic differentiation of parent material the same composition as the Basal Zone. The preferred orientation of olivine in lineated, foliated, laminated and layered rocks has the same pattern suggesting a close genetic relationship between those structures. Evidence strongly supports a tectonic origin for the preferred orientation. Rocks in the Upper Zone are xenomorphic-granular in texture and those in the Basal Zone are typically protoclastic. Xenomorphic-granular textures are derived in part from protoclastic by post-deformational recrystallization. The ultramafic rocks are cut by a number of dykes composed of hornblende-labradorite, hypersthene-augite-bytownite assemblages or minor variants of these. The dykes were intruded shortly after emplacement of the ultramafic rocks. The Red Hill Complex is considered to have been emplaced as a sheet at shallow depths which intruded superficial deposits on the ocean floor and was later overlain by volcanics


Ethical issues with technology are emerging more frequently as new technologies, widespread access and massive content become prevalent. With zip disks and cracker sites, people can easily copy entire applications that could have cost them thousands of dollars. The developer of the application software has a loss of revenue. However, people often view this as a victimless crime. Particularly students, fail to see the broader implications of software piracy and other ethical issues with technology. Yet, in the Information Systems classroom, the topic of ethics or computer crime is sometimes neglected. In teaching Object Oriented Programming, for example, an instructor might not spend time on discussions about computer copyright laws or liability of computer programs. This paper describes the development of a multimedia ethical situations simulator. The premise is that letting a student face ethical issues in a web-based simulation will better prepare them for situations they may find themselves in at work in the future. The use of multimedia is important in that it is a visual approximation of reality, rather than reading a case or a legal document. The participant sees the event. It makes the student an active role player in a visual scenario and it gives students an opportunity to exercise ethical decision making before they actually are exposed to an ethical dilemma in business. Furthermore, the web based training can educate them further as to the consequences of several actions taken in scenarios related to ethics and technology.


EBV binds and infects HSB-2 T cells via a receptor distinct from CD21. To further study this novel EBV receptor, we expressed the first 470 amino acids of the EBV-gp350/220 using the baculovirus expression system. The recombinant gp350/220(1-470) has a m.w. of 95 kDa, reacts with anti-gp350/220 Abs, and binds CD21 in ELISA. Radiolabeled gp350/220(1-470) binds both HSB-2 and Raji cells. The gp350/220(1-470) protein also inhibits EBV binding to both HSB-2 and Raji, detected by flow cytometry. Lysates of HSB-2 cells compete with CD21 for binding to gp350/220(1-470), suggesting that the two receptors bind related epitopes on the recombinant protein. Scatchard analysis reveals that gp350/220(1-470) binds to 34,000 high affinity sites/HSB-2 cell (Kd = 0.92 x 10(-8) M) compared with the 97,000 high affinity sites bound/Raji cell (Kd = 1.78 x 10(-8) M). Utilizing a gp350/220(1-470)-affinity matrix, we identify a 70-kDa (55-kDa nonreduced) protein on the surfaces of 125I-labeled HSB-2 cells. Binding of this protein to the matrix is inhibited by anti-gp350/220 Ab 72A1. In summary, we characterize a novel EBV-binding molecule on HSB-2 cells, compare its reactivity with gp350/220 to that of CD21, and provide evidence of a gp350/220-reactive, 70-kDa protein on the surfaces of HSB-2 cells. In view of previous evidence of HSB-2 infectivity by EBV, we propose that the 70 kDa protein represents the novel EBV receptor.


Modern day mass spectrometry (MS) has evolved into a powerful analytical technique, central to the field of proteomics. Currently, the identification and quantification of proteins from different biological samples can be performed routinely and on a large-scale. Despite the availability of fast and accurate mass spectrometers, deciphering the complex proteome of an organism necessitates the use of various separation techniques prior to the mass spectrometric analysis. Each separation technique offers a set of advantages and disadvantages and has its own power and limitations. Evaluation of the performance of the different separation approaches prior to the mass spectrometric analysis is a crucial step in improving the analytical power of the technique.
The main aim of this study is to perform a proteomic characterization of chondrogenic progenitor cells (CPCs) using mass spectrometry and multidimensional separation approaches. CPCs are progenitor cells of mesenchymal origin, characterized by high chondrogenic potential, that migrate into the degenerating cartilage in late stages of osteoarthritis (Koelling, Kruegel et al. 2009). The mobilization of these cells from the bone marrow can be seen as a regenerative attempt of the cartilage, a tissue with very low reparative capacity. While the migratory and differentiation potential of CPCs has been studied in detail, additional information regarding the phenotype and the cellular fate of CPCs is needed. Results from this work show that CPCs upregulate proteins associated with the pericellular matrix and downregulate mesenchymal stem cells markers, when grown in a three dimensional cell culture, indicating ongoing chondrogenesis. In addition, this study reports multiple examples of the identification and quantification of not only single protein species but of a number of variants of the same protein which have different abundance in differentiating and undifferentiated CPCs. Moreover, a number of secreted signaling factors were discovered. The characterization of these different aspects of the protein expression profile of CPCs was done using different multidimensional separation methods. While the analysis of chondrogenic differentiation of CPCs could be performed using single dimension separation at the protein and peptide level, the identification of multiple protein species and secreted signaling molecules demanded the application of methods with higher separation power such as two-dimensional electrophoresis and a novel three-dimensional separation approach combining protein separation by molecular weight and peptide separation by isoelectric focusing and reversed phase liquid chromatography prior to the mass spectrometric analysis.
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Overall, this work provides a rich body of information about the protein expression profile of CPCs and its changes during chondrogenesis in addition to the application and critical evaluation of several multidimensional separation approaches for proteomic analysis.


Abstract:
Prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV has become a global interventional programme initiated by the United Nations Organization to protect the children of the world from the scourge of HIV virus pandemic. The purpose of the study is to determine the factors constraining the utilization of prevention of mother to child transmission services in two Teaching Hospitals in Enugu State. Specific objectives were set for the study.
A cross-sectional descriptive survey was the design used for the study. Researcher constructed questionnaire was used to elicit information from one hundred and twenty-nine respondents (129). The descriptive statistics- frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were the methods of data analysis used. Items with mean>2.5 were considered as constraining factors.
The findings revealed that, socioeconomic factors that constrained the HIV positive pregnant women were the fear that attitude of family members and neighbours towards them would change (discrimination) if they notice that they were attending PMTCT services (3.27±0.86), fear of being labeled as an HIV positive mother (stigmatization) (3.02±1.09), expensive cost of transportation (2.61±1.13) and fear of being tagged immoral because of being HIV positive (2.60±1.00). Limited support from husbands towards PMTCT services (2.53±1.10) was the cultural factor identified from the study while religious factors were not reported as a constraining factor to the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in the two Teaching Hospitals in Enugu State.
Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen patient support and community advocacy programmes aimed at eradicating stigma and discrimination attached to HIV positive pregnant women; nongovernmental organizations and community-based organizations should come up with programme planning interventions to reduce the influence of barriers hindering HIV positive pregnant women from uptake of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV services.


The main aim of our paper is to show that interpretative issues belonging to classical General Relativity (GR) might be preliminary to a deeper understanding of conceptual problems stemming from ongoing attempts at constructing a quantum theory of gravity. Among such interpretative issues, we focus on the meaning of general covariance and the related question of the identity of points, by basing our investigation on the Hamiltonian formulation of GR. In particular, we argue that the adoption of a peculiar gauge-fixing within the canonical reduction of ADM metric gravity may yield a new solution to the debate between substantivalists and relationists, by suggesting a tertium quid between these two age-old positions. Such a third position enables us to evaluate the controversial relationship between entity realism and structural realism in a well-defined case study. After having indicated the possible developments of this approach in Quantum Gravity, we discuss the structuralist and holistic features of the class of spacetime models that are used in the above mentioned canonical reduction.


Ultrasonography has become an essential tool in the practice of modern obstetrics. Its usefulness in the evaluation of a pelvic mass in gynecologic practice remains unclear. The present investigation is a comparison of pelvic examination findings and preoperative ultrasound findings in 72 patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy for a pelvic mass at the Nation Naval Medical Center. Of the 72 patients, 65 (90%) were correctly diagnosed as having a pelvic mass by both pelvic examination and ultrasonography. The ultrasound study had a 5.6% false-negative rate (4 patients), and 4.4% (3 patients) had false-positive pelvic examinations. There was no significant difference by chi 2 analysis in accuracy between ultrasonography and pelvic examination in detection, estimation of size, or determining the unilateral or bilateral position of the mass (P less than .05). Ultrasonography was significantly more accurate in determining the cystic or solid nature of the mass (P greater than .05). In no patient was the decision to perform exploratory laparotomy altered by the preoperative ultrasound study. It is concluded from this investigation that routine ultrasonography is not necessary in the preoperative evaluation of a pelvic mass unless the cystic or solid nature of the mass will modify the patient's treatment.


In this paper some effects of dynamical coupling between two interaction-carrying vectors on the internal auto- and cross-correlation functions are investigated in the limit of small amplitude motions. A linearized Langevin approach allows the derivation of explicit expressions for these correlation functions and for the corresponding order parameters.


The vacuolar-type sodium/proton antiporter is considered to play an important role in withstanding salt stress by transporting sodium ions into vacuoles. In this study, the gene structures of three kinds of vacuolar-type antiporters transcribed in bread wheat under salt stress were analyzed. After spraying 0.5 M NaCl to seedlings of wheat cultivar Chinese Spring, 1,392~1,400 bp cDNA fragments were isolated by RT-PCR using primers designed from common regions in rice OsNHX1 and Atriplex subcordata AgNHX1. Next, the entire structure of the genomic DNA and cDNA were determined via CapFishing-5' Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE), 3'RACE, and genomic PCR cloning. As a result, 3 kinds of vacuolar-type Na+/H+ antiporter genes, TaNHXa (genome DNA 4,255 bp, cDNA 2,414 bp, 539 a.a.), TaNHXb (gDNA 4,167 bp, cDNA 1,898 bp, 539 a.a.) and TaNHXc (gDNA 4,966 bp, cDNA 1,928 bp, 547 a.a.), were identified. They encode 12 transmembrane domains containing third domain's amyloid binding sites (FFIYLLPP), characteristic of the vacuolar-type Na+/H+ antiporter, binding to the cell vacuolar membrane. TaNHXa, b and c consisting of 14 exons and 13 introns were 22~55 % longer than A. thaliana AtNHX1 in total length. TaNHXa (TaNHX2) showed homogeneity with OsNHX1, while TaNHXb and c were phylogenetically independent.


In this paper we develop a theory of how factors interact at the plant level. The theory has implications for: (1) the micro foundations for capital skill complementarity (2) the relationship between factor allocation and plant size and (3) the effects of trade and growth on the skill premium. The theory is consistent with certain facts about factor allocation and factor price changes in the 19th and 20th centuries.


The moisture content of dead fuels is an important determinant of many aspects of bushfire behaviour. Understanding the relationships of fuel moisture with weather, fuels and topography is useful for fire managers and models of fuel moisture are an integral component of fire behaviour models. This paper reviews research into dead fuel moisture for the period 1991–2012. The first half of the paper deals with experimental investigation of fuel moisture including an overview of the physical processes that affect fuel moisture, laboratory measurements used to quantify these processes, and field measurements of the dependence of fuel moisture on weather, vegetation structure and topography. The second set of topics examine models of fuel moisture including empirical models derived from field measurements, process-based models of vapour exchange and fuel energy and water balance, and experimental testing of both types of models. Remaining knowledge gaps and future research problems are also discussed. Opportunities for exciting research in the future exist for basic fuel moisture processes, developing new methods for applying models to fire behaviour prediction, and linking fuel moisture and weather forecast models.


Current factor VIII (FVIII) products display a half-life (t(1/2)) of ∼ 8-12 hours, requiring frequent intravenous injections for prophylaxis and treatment of patients with hemophilia A. rFVIIIFc is a recombinant fusion protein composed of a single molecule of FVIII covalently linked to the Fc domain of human IgG(1) to extend circulating rFVIII t(1/2). This first-in-human study in previously treated subjects with severe hemophilia A investigated safety and pharmacokinetics of rFVIIIFc. Sixteen subjects received a single dose of rFVIII at 25 or 65 IU/kg followed by an equal dose of rFVIIIFc. Most adverse events were unrelated to study drug. None of the study subjects developed anti-rFVIIIFc antibodies or inhibitors. Across dose levels, compared with rFVIII, rFVIIIFc showed 1.54- to 1.70-fold longer elimination t(1/2), 1.49- to 1.56-fold lower clearance, and 1.48- to 1.56-fold higher total systemic exposure. rFVIII and rFVIIIFc had comparable dose-dependent peak plasma concentrations and recoveries. Time to 1% FVIII activity above baseline was ∼ 1.53- to 1.68-fold longer than rFVIII across dose levels. Each subject showed prolonged exposure to rFVIIIFc relative to rFVIII. Thus, rFVIIIFc may offer a viable therapeutic approach to achieve prolonged hemostatic protection and less frequent dosing in patients with hemophilia A. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01027377.


The purpose of the study was to compare the effect of static and dynamic stretching warm-up on health related variables among veterinary students. Twenty-four male veterinary students studying Bachelors of veterinary science of I year from Veterinary College And Research Institute, Tirunelveli were selected randomly as subject. The age of the subjects ranged in from 18 to 23 years. The selected subjects were divided into two groups. Group I underwent static stretching warming up programme (SSEP) and group II underwent dynamic stretching warm-up programme  (DSWP). The experimental groups were subjected to the static stretching  warming –up programme and dynamic stretching warming-up programme for alternative three days per week up to eight weeks. The static stretching warming –up programme (SSWP) group, received static type stretching warming up exercise for 40 minutes duration with the assistance of the investigator.


This study aimed to assess the effects of glutamine as feed additive on performance and intestinal mucosa morphometry of broiler chickens vaccinated against coccidiosis. A total of 400 day-old male chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments (NVNG – no vaccination, no glutamine supplementation; NVG – no vaccination, glutamine supplementation (10 g kg−1); VNG – vaccination, no glutamine supplementation; VG – vaccination, glutamine supplementation) replicated four times with 25 birds per replicate. A commercial sprayed-on vaccine against coccidiosis containing Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima, E. mivati, and E. tenella was administered at the hatchery. Broiler performance was evaluated from 1-28 days, and morphometric parameters were analyzed at 14, 21, and 28 days of age. Body weight gain and feed intake were negatively affected by vaccination, but not by glutamine. Vaccination increased crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum at 21 and 28 days. In conclusion, this study showed that glutamine was not able to increase weight gain of broiler chickens, irrespective of whether the animals were vaccinated or not against coccidiosis. Glutamine supplementation was able to improve feed conversion in vaccinated birds suggesting trophic effect on intestinal epithelium improving.


ABSTRACT pX, the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-encoded regulator, coactivates transcription through an unknown mechanism. pX interacts with several components of the transcription machinery, including certain activators, TFIIB, TFIIH, and the RNA polymerase II (POLII) enzyme. We show that pX localizes in the nucleus and coimmunoprecipitates with TFIIB from nuclear extracts. We used TFIIB mutants inactive in binding either POLII or TATA binding protein to study the role of TFIIB-pX interaction in transcription coactivation. pX was able to bind the former type of TFIIB mutant and not the latter. Neither of these sets of TFIIB mutants supports transcription. Remarkably, the latter TFIIB mutants fully block pX activity, suggesting the role of TFIIB in pX-mediated coactivation. By contrast, in the presence of pX, TFIIB mutants with disrupted POLII binding acquire the wild-type phenotype, both in vivo and in vitro. These results suggest that pX may establish the otherwise inefficient TFIIB mutant-POLII interaction, by acting as a molecular bridge. Collectively, our results demonstrate that TFIIB is the in vivo target of pX.


Introduction: WHO advocates for exclusive breastfeeding in infants till six months of age. Exclusive breastfeeding has been estimated to reduce 70% of infection related mortality in children. This study aims to elaborate the current trend of breastfeeding and its impact on common infectious morbidities in children.
Methods: This study was a prospective longitudinal study done at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital with a sample size of 103 infants. Detailed proforma including sociodemographic data, breastfeeding related data and morbidities were collected at one and half months of life. The patients were followed up at 6 months of age again and the same proforma was again filled up. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS 20.0 and  various associations were elucidated.
Results: A total of 103 infants were analyzed. Males were 58 in numbers with mean birth weight of the infants being 3048±537 grams. Breast feeding was initiated within an hour in around 37%. At one and half months of age, 63% reported of exclusive breastfeeding which decreased to 23% at 6 months of age. Breastfeeding for at least 45 days decreased the incidence of Acute Respiratory Infections(ARI), Acute Otitis Media(AOM) and diarrheal diseases although statistically significant difference was found with only ARIs.
Conclusion: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding is low in the study. The study has also shown that breastfeeding significantly reduces incidence of common infectious morbidities in infants.


Interstitial pregnancy is a rare variety of ectopic pregnancy, it can have disturbed 8-16 weeks of amenorrhea (later than the distal tubal ectopic pregnancy), due to the dispensability of the myometrium covering the interstitial segment of the fallopian tube, with subsequent massive internal hemorrhage.A 29-years-old female, Gravida 3, Para 2, presented with severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and syncope 3 days after her missing period, and positive pregnancy test. Trans-vaginal ultrasound showed empty uterine cavity, free pelvic fluid with severe cervical motion tenderness. She was diagnosed with ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Ruptured ectopic pregnancy in the proximal segment of right fallopian tube was confirmed with laparotomy.The ruptured pregnancy was managed by right salpingectomy, and hemostatic stitches at the right uterine corn. Her hemoglobin was 8 gr on admission, and she received 3 units of packed RBCs (one intra-operative, and two post-operative). Her post-operative hemoglobin was 10.5 gr, and she was discharged from the hospital on the 3rd post-operative day in good general condition for follow up in the outpatients` department. This case report represents a rare variety of ectopic pregnancy, which is the interstitial pregnancy, because it can rupture few days or weeks after the missed period with subsequent massive internal hemorrhage. Interstitial pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, the obstetricians should be aware of rare forms of ectopic pregnancies, it can have disturbed few days or weeks after the missed period leading to subsequent significant morbidity.


AIM
Comparing efficacy and safety of APT198K (xyloglucan plus heat-killed Lactobacillus reuteri SGL01 and Bifidobacterium brevis SGB01) versus a lactase dietary supplement as first-line treatment of infantile colic.

METHODS
Randomized, multicenter, open-label, parallel group, active-controlled study, in 46 infants aged 3-16 weeks with infantile colic, receiving APT198K or a lactase dietary supplement for 10 days.

RESULTS
Number and duration of crying episodes decreased significantly versus baseline in both groups. On day 8, the mean duration of crying per episode was significantly shorter in the APT198K group compared with the lactase group (9.14 ± 5.34 vs 13.22 ± 5.29 min; p = 0.014) and remained so up to day 11.

CONCLUSION
APT198K decreased the mean duration per crying episode significantly more than a lactase dietary supplement in infants with colic. Further evaluation in larger studies is warranted. Clinical trial registry: EudraCT number 2014-002860-334; https://eudract.ema.europa.eu .


Harry AIlen Second Nature brings together a number of themes which Lesley Head has explored over the past decade. These include Lake Argyle and the Ord River scheme, and concepts of the natural, of Aboriginalness, of the traditional, of hunter gatherers, and a variety of perspectives on landscapes. The book presents a discourse rather than an argument though running just below its surface is the notion that, in seeking simple answers to complex problems, we run the risk of missing facts which are in front of our eyes. The manner in which Australians conduct political debates about their country and its human inhabitants has a history of its own. The first five chapters of Second Nature locate this history in attempts to classifL nature and the Aborigines in geological, geographical and anthropological terms, based either on climate, race, evolution, time or function. Head argues that there was a 'conceptual dispossession' of the Aborigines which ran parallel with the processes of physical dispossession. Both forms of dispossession continue to the present. Arguments about theAustralian past are often presented as generalities. In drawing our attention to the Head family history and the author's genealogical connections to the land and the dispossession of the Yarra and Ovens River peoples, Lesley Head shows the power of understanding the details of specific tracts of land. In so doing, she demonstrates that neither Aboriginal nor European Australian history benefits from being seen in simplistic terms. In Second Nature, she addresses questions of serious importance for the future of the Australian nation-state. The shrillness of contemporary debates about sorry business, reconciliation and treaties, continues to drown out Aboriginal voices (see the concept of 'white noise' p. 71). Despite providing instance after instance of shallowness of thought and the intractability of powerful interests, on both sides of such debates, Second Nature remains an optimistic book. Lesley Head holds out the possibility that multi-vocal Aboriginal voices will be heard, that we can break through the misleading imagery of environmental debates, that non-Aboriginal Australians can see themselves in historical terms (p. 217) and, in so doing, recognize that the Australian environment, both social and physical, represents nature transformed. Although trained as a physical and a cultural geographer, Lesley Head holds an important place within the discipline of archaeology. She has participated in many of our discoveries and her work extends the richness of our conceptual discussions. Though Second Nature is aimed towards a wider audience it should find a distinguished place on our bookshelves, in our teaching reading lists, and, most importantly, in our discourse. I have reservations about the line-drawings, some of which are blurred and hard to read, but this concern is a minor one. Such reservations should not detract from the clarity of the writing and the high quality of the book overall. Williams, David Dunkerley, Patrick De Deckker, Peter Kershaw and John Chappell. London: Arnold (1998), xvi + 329 pages, 15 1 figures and 10 tables. ISBN 0-340-691 5 1-4 (paperback). Price A$75.00.


Abstract Continental flood basalt provinces (cfb) have isotopic ratios different from midocean ridge basalts, characteristics that may be due to (a) interaction of asthenospheric melts with old crust, (b) melting of enriched continental lower lithosphere, (c) upwelling of deep mantle plumes containing recycled components, (d) mixing of enriched and depleted mantle sources, or (e) combinations of these processes. It is apparent that several aspects of the chemistry of cfb are subcrustal in origin and therefore crustal contamination cannot be invoked as a generally applicable hypothesis. In addition wholesale extraction of cfb from the lower lithosphere is unlikely because the lithospheric mantle is believed to be a rather thin (< 150 km) reservoir of cold, anhydrous, granular peridotite. Dry melting of such peridotites would not produce a normal 'basalt' because they have already experienced a melting event. Metasomatism or enrichment processes can enhance the chemical budget of the lower lithosphere thus providing an adequate reservoir for small volume alkaline and potassic melts. However no conclusive evidence exists that such modification of the lower lithosphere is widespread enough to generate a laterally continuous, wet, enriched reservoir. It would appear that cfb require a dominant sub-lithospheric component (plume) to account for the large volumes of magma, in some cases produced over a short time period (e.g. Deccan). If so, the heterogeneity observed in mantle-derived magmas within flood basalt provinces reflects inhomogeneities within plumes rather than relatively shallow inhomogeneities in the lithosphere. The apparent concentration of depleted (87Sr/86Sr ≪ 0.7045) cfb in the northern hemisphere and enriched cfb (87Sr/86Sr ≫ 0.7045) in the southern hemisphere may be linked to the preponderance of enriched plumes in the Southern Oceans.


Fifth AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, Nov 12-15, 2006

PR-19

Dietary fats are known to influence the incidence and progression of prostate cancer. 15-lipoxygenase-2(15-LOX-2) is a fatty acid metabolizing enzymes catalyzing the formation of 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoid acid (HETE) using arachidonic acid as the substrate. 15-LOX-2 is expressed in normal prostate epithelium but its expression and activity are frequently lost in prostate carcinoma. To study the role of 15-LOX-2 in prostate cancer, we restored the expression of 15-LOX-2 as a fusion protein with GFP in prostate carcinoma cells (DU145 and PC-3 cells). When restored in hormone-independent PC-3 or DU145 cells, 15-LOX-2 did not abrogate the tumorigenicity of PC-3 or DU145 cells in animal models. But, the tumors with 15-LOX-2 expression restored were dormant. They grew significantly slower than those derived from vector controls. The data suggest that 15-LOX-2 sustains tumor dormancy while having no effects on tumor formation. Interestingly, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A or VEGF) was drastically reduced in prostate cancer cells with 15-LOX-2 expression restored. Further, VEGF promoter activities were reduced in prostate carcinoma cells with 15-LOX-2 expression restored. Using a series of VEGF promoter deletion constructs, a region between the -88 and -66 of VEGF promoter was identified as critical for 15-LOX-2 to suppress VEGF gene expression. Our studies suggest that 15-LOX-2 induces tumor dormancy by suppressing VEGF gene expression in prostate cancer, and that loss of 15-LOX-2 represents a key step for prostate cancer cells to exit from dormancy and embark on malignant progression in vivo.


Glomerular disease is associated with a limited number of signs which are easily detected by routine clinical examination and urine tests. Haematuria, proteinuria, oedema, hypertension and renal impairment occur in various combinations including classical and predictable syndromes such as acute post streptococcal nephritis and the nephrotic syndrome in children. Apart from these classical syndromes clinico-pathological correlations in glomerular disease are poor. Early renal biopsy is required to determine the extent of the glomerular disease and the long term prognosis in most patients with prolonged proteinuria and haematuria.


The most common method for gold content determination in raw materials is fire assay. An alternative to this method is atomic absorption in a solution obtained by dissolving an initial sample in aqua regia. This study focuses on the sludge of one of the chemical plants, in which the barite concentrate (barium in sulphate form) is fused with calcium chloride at coal presence, and then leached in water. Decomposition of samples in aqua regia followed by atomic absorption analysis, as well as fire assay, showed gold content in the sludge at the level of 1-4 gram per ton. The presence of infusible and chemically resistant compounds in the sludge does not allow to the reliable determination of the gold content. Sintering with sodium peroxide for decomposition of stable compounds at 700 ∘ C, dissolution of sinter in acidic solution, evaporation and fire assay of residue made it possible to establish a reliable concentration of gold in the sludge - 10-20 gram per ton. It was found that a direct determination of gold in acidic sinter leach solution provides inadequate values associated with the influence of the background.
Keywords: Gold determination, barium sludge, fire assay, atomic absorption


This report reflects the discussion that took place at a virtual panel at the ICIS 2020 conference. It focuses on a candid conversation on the code of conduct (AIS4C) among AIS community members. As our AIS community has evolved, we have grown in size, diversity, and in the scope of member needs;it is important for all stakeholders to understand what is expected as members of this academic community. The panel included those currently serving in AIS committees related to member and research conduct. The objective of the panel was to start a dialogue about what we – as members of the AIS – each hope to gain from our academic interactions, and how AIS can help members achieve these goals and help each other achieve desired outcomes. Maintaining good standing in the AIS community protects individuals' professional reputations and the reputation of the IS discipline as a whole. Understanding what AIS offers its members to accomplish these objectives, allows individuals to fully leverage AIS member services to become more successful researchers and teachers. By situating the panel within the current COVID-disrupted world, the descriptions of desirable behavior among members and the outlining of member services, this panel report is intended to benefit current and future members of AIS. © 2022 by the Association for Information Systems.


The candidacidal activity of histatin 5 is initiated through cell wall binding, followed by translocation and intracellular targeting, while the halocidin peptide exerts its activity by attacking the Candida cell membrane. To improve antimicrobial activities and to understand the killing mechanism of two peptides, six hybrid peptides were designed by conjugating histatin 5 and halocidin. A comparative approach was established to study the activity, salt tolerance, cell wall glucan binding assay, cytotoxicity, generation of ROS and killing kinetics. CD spectrometry was conducted to evaluate secondary structures of these hybrid peptides. Furthermore the cellular localization of hybrid peptides was investigated by confocal fluorescence microscopy. Of the six hybrid congeners, di-PH2, di-WP2 and HHP1 had stronger activities than other hybrid peptides against all tested Candida strains. The MIC values of these peptides were 1–2, 2–4 and 2–4 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, none of the hybrid peptides was cytotoxic in the hemolytic assay and cell-based cytotoxicity assay. Confocal laser microscopy showed that di-PH2 and HHP1 were translocated into cytoplasm whereas di-WP2 was accumulated on surface of C. albicans to exert their candidacidal activity. All translocated peptides (Hst 5, P113, di-PH2) were capable of generating intracellular ROS except HHP1. Additionally, the KFH residues at C-terminal end of these peptides were assumed for core sequence for active translocation.


Apigenin, a common dietary flavonoid, has been shown to induce cell growth-inhibition and cell cycle arrest in many cancer cell lines. One important effect of apigenin is to increase the stability of the tumor suppressor p53 in normal cells. Therefore, apigenin is expected to play a large role in cancer prevention by modifying the effects of p53 protein. However, the mechanisms of apigenin's effects on p53-mutant cancer cells have not been revealed yet. We assessed the influence of apigenin on cell growth and the cell cycle in p53-mutant cell lines. Treatment with apigenin resulted in growth-inhibition and G2/M phase arrest in two p53-mutant cancer cell lines, HT-29 and MG63. These effects were associated with a marked increase in the protein expression of p21/WAF1. We have shown that p21/WAF1 mRNA expression was also markedly increased by treatment with apigenin in a dose- and time-dependent manner. However, we could not detect p21/WAF1 promoter activity following treatment with apigenin. Similarly, promoter activity from pG13-Luc, a p53-responsive promoter plasmid, was not activated by treatment with apigenin with or without p53 protein expression. These results suggest that there is a p53-independent pathway for apigenin in p53-mutant cell lines, which induces p21/WAF1 expression and growth-inhibition. Apigenin may be a useful chemopreventive agent not only in wild-type p53 status, but also in cancer with mutant p53.


We have modeled underground isolated power cables by using magnetic eddy-current (EC) and thermal coupled formulations solved by the finite-element method (FEM). The magnetic field equation expressed in terms of magnetic vector potential (MVP) is strongly coupled with the total current density equation, which includes the source and the EC densities for taking into account skin and proximity effects. The model uses the computed EC density of losses with electric conductivity temperature dependence introduced as a heat source in the free transient thermal equation completed by the convection heat transfer. We studied single and multicircuit three-phase arrangements at various cable spaces in order to analyze the magnetic flux density and the time-space temperature evolution.


Iranian scorpions belong mainly to the Buthidae and Scorpionidae families, distributed into 16 genera and 25 species. In Iran, similar to other parts of the world, there are a few known species of scorpions responsible for severe envenoming; amongst which Mesobuthus eupeus is the most common. Its venom contains several toxin fractions that may affect the ion channel. In the present study purification, labeling and biological evaluation of M. eupeus venom are described. For separation, soluble venom was loaded on a chromatography column packed with Sephadex G-50 gel. Subsequently, the fractions were collected according to UV absorption at a wavelength of 280 nm. Toxic fraction (F3) was loaded on an anionic ion exchanger resin and then on a cationic resin. Finally, toxic subfractions F3.1.6 and F3.1.9 were labeled with 99mTc and injected into normal mice to distinguish excretion pathway. The venom toxic fraction was successfully obtained in its purified form. Radiolabeling of toxic fractions was performed at high specific activity with radiochemical purity of more than 97 and 95% respectively for F3.1.6 and F3.1.9. Biodistribution studies in normal mice with two toxic fractions usually show rapid clearance of the compounds from blood and tissue except for kidneys. Since tissue distribution studies are very important for clinical purpose, the present findings suggest that 99mTc labeling of venom is a useful tool for in vivo studies and comprises an excellent approach to monitoring the process of biodistribution and kinetics of toxins.


Research on plant molecular farming (PMF) is supported by public and private sectors in Canada. This may lead to benefits of new or cheaper medicines, industrial products and foods, but also be the source of appreciable risks to food safety from contamination by PMF materials, as well as potential environmental risks and costs. This study uses data from a 2005 nation-wide Canadian survey to gain insights into citizens' perceptions of PMF benefits and risks. A series of nonparametric tests are conducted on ordinal survey data on risk and benefit assessments of respondents. PMF is not seen as a major threat to food safety or the environment, but as a moderate indirect risk. The use of PMF to produce better and cheaper medical drugs appears to have the best benefits-to-risks ratio, while using PMF to produce more nutritious and cheaper food has the least favorable ratio.


Multimedia applications involving the transmission of video over communication networks are rapidly increasing in popularity. Such applications can greatly benefit from adapting video coding parameters to network conditions as well as adapting network parameters to better support the application requirements. These two dimensions can both be viewed as allocating source and network resources to improve video quality. We highlight recent advances in optimal resource allocation for real-time video communications over unreliable and resource constrained communication channels. More specifically, we focus on point-to-point coding and delivery schemes in which the sequences are encoded on the fly. We present a high-level framework for resource-distortion optimization. The framework can be used for jointly considering factors across network layers, including source coding, channel resource allocation, and error concealment. For example, resources can take the form of transmission energy in a wireless channel, and transmission cost in a DiffServ-based Internet channel. This framework can be used to optimally trade off resource consumption with end-to-end video quality in packet-based video transmission. After giving an overview of this framework, we review recent work in two areas-energy efficient wireless video transmission and resource allocation for Internet-based applications.


This paper discusses the changing symbolic potential of items in the Bulgarian contemporary urban wedding. Based on my fieldwork material regarding the wedding cake and other items, I investigate cultural change in modern Bulgarian society not only as a result of the one-way process of transference, adaptation and incorporation of mass produced commodities into Bulgarian culture but also as a process of cultural change and variation. In that sense, I investigate the alternation between global and local perspectives of the forms of material culture in which certain levels of meaning, inherent to objects, play a crucial role, as for example the social communication factor, kinship ties, cross-generational continuity, local ritual and symbolic systems, local food culture, and even the personal fate and private life of an object's owner. In this article I focus mainly on the wedding cake as a specific ritual item, functioning in the contemporary urban Bulgarian wedding, transmitted during the last decades from West European culture into the Bulgarian wedding tradition, and analyse the specific dialogue between 'global' items and local culture. Furthermore, taking as my example the wedding cake and other ritual objects (the wedding chicken, the wedding bread, and the sponsor's stick) I question the concept of the globalisation, homogenisation and unification of forms of material culture in contemporary society.


Recent studies have suggested that non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice transplanted with human hematological malignancies show higher levels of engraftment compared with other strains. We used this model to compare xenotransplantability of human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines and to investigate angiogenesis in hematopoietic malignancies. Ten of 12 evaluated cell lines were able to engraft NOD/SCID mice within 120 days. A strong correlation was observed between the amount of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) produced in vitro by cultured cells and the efficiency of tumor engraftment (r 5 0.808; P 5 0.001), and an inverse correlation was found between VEGF production and the time of tumor engraftment (r 5 20.792; P 5 0.006) and between VEGF production and the frequency of apoptotic/ dead cells in solid tumors (r 5 20.892; P 5 0.007). Moreover, VEGF production correlated with the frequency of endothelial (CD311/CD341) cells in solid tumors (r 5 0.897;P 5 0.001). Taken together within vitro data presented here and indicating that the VEGF antagonist Flt-1/Fc chimera inhibits leukemia and lymphoma cell proliferation, our findings support a role for tumor-derived VEGF in leukemia and lymphoma progression. Furthermore, the present study confirms previous observations indicating that VEGF expression may play a crucial role in xenotransplantability of human solid malignancies in SCID mice. The NOD/ SCID model is promising for future evaluations of antiangiogenic drugs, alone or in combination with established chemoor immunotherapy regimens.


Objective: To compare the management and outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients during the first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic with the preceding 6 months. Background: The pandemic has affected the diagnosis and treatment of CRC patients worldwide. Little is known about the safety of major resection and whether creating "cold" sites (COVID-free hospitals) is effective. Methods: A national study in England used administrative hospital data for 14,930 CRC patients undergoing surgery between October 1, 2019, and May 31, 2020. Mortality of CRC resection was compared before and after March 23, 2020 ("lockdown" start). Results: The number of elective CRC procedures dropped sharply during the pandemic (from average 386 to 214 per week), whereas emergency procedures were hardly affected (from 88 to 84 per week). There was little change in characteristics of surgical patients during the pandemic. Laparoscopic surgery decreased from 62.5% to 35.9% for elective and from 17.7% to 9.7% for emergency resections. Surgical mortality increased slightly (from 0.9% to 1.2%, P = 0.06) after elective and markedly (from 5.6% to 8.9%, P = 0.003) after emergency resections. The observed increase in mortality during the first phase of the pandemic was similar in "cold" and "hot" sites (P > 0.5 elective and emergency procedures). Conclusions: The pandemic resulted in a 50% reduction in elective CRC procedures during the initial surge and a substantial increase in mortality after emergency resection. There was no evidence that surgery in COVID-free "cold" sites led to better outcomes in the first 2 months. Mini-abstract: Elective surgery for colorectal cancer dropped by 50% at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in England. Mortality after major resection increased from 0.9% to 1.2% for elective and from 5.6% to 8.9% for emergency procedures. There was no evidence that using COVID-free hospitals improved outcomes during the initial surge.


BACKGROUND AND AIM
Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is a very rare neoplasm of low malignant potential that mostly affects young women. The aim of the present study is to report our experience in surgical treatment of SPT and review of the literature.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
A retrospective review of three cases of SPT who were treated at our department during the last two years was performed. The clinicopathologic characteristics, surgical treatment, and prognosis are described in detail.

RESULTS
Case 1 described an asymptomatic SPT in a pregnant woman. To the best of our knowledge, only one case of SPT in pregnancy has been reported in the literature. Case 2 described an SPT in the pancreatic tail causing splenic infarction, and a distal pancreatectomy combined with splenectomy was performed. Case 3 described an SPT in the pancreatic head, for which a pancreatoduodenectomy was successfully performed. All of the three patients were followed up for 10-22 months without recurrence or metastases after the initial surgery at the time of reporting.

CONCLUSIONS
At present, radical resection is the treatment of choice for SPT. Enucleation can be performed for tumors with complete amicula. Distal pancreatectomy combined with or without splenectomy can be performed for pancreatic body and/or tail tumor, and pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic head tumor. The prognosis of SPT is good.


Hepatitis C virus infection is a constant worldwide public health concern. The prevalence of HCV infection is much higher in patients on chronic haemodialysis (HD) than in the general population. HCV infection can detrimentally affect patients throughout the spectrum of chronic kidney disease. Despite the control of blood products, hepatitis C virus transmission is still being observed among patients undergoing dialysis. Detection systems for serum HCV antibodies are insensitive in the acute phase because of the long serological window. Direct detection of HCV depends on PCR test but this test is not suitable for routine screening. The objective of this study was to determine prevalence of HCV, genotyping and if HCV core antigen test could be a better an alternative to NAT techniques for the diagnosis of HCV infection during the window period and whether the sensitivity for antibody detection is preserved. We screened 159 patients on long-term dialysis by HVC antibodies test, PCR HCV-RNA and HCV core antigen test by commercial tests. The prevalence of HCV was 10.7% (17 patients) and genotype 4 was the most common one (64.7%). The sensitivity of HCV core antigen test was 94.1%, the specificity 100%, the positive predictive power 100%, and the negative predictive power 97.9%. In conclusions; patients on maintenance HD in Yemen have a high prevalence of HCV infection in comparison with ------------and genotype 4 is predominant. The performance of serological detection of HCV core antigen was better than that of HCV antibodies test and may be an alternative to nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) for routine monitoring of patients on chronic dialysis.


The effect of glipizide treatment on diabetic control and on in vivo insulin secretion and action was studied in 20 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Patients were examined before and after a minimum of 3 mo treatment. Mean (± SEM) fasting plasma glucose level fell from 264 ± 12 mg/dl to 172 ± 10 mg/dl (P < 0.001) after glipizide treatment, and this was associated with a fall in total plasma glucose response to a test meal of approximately 35﹪. Mean (±SEM) fasting plasma insulin levels increased slightly from 15 ± 2 μU/ml to 18 ± 2 μU/ml following sulfonylurea treatment, and the total plasma insulin response to the test meal increased by 63﹪. However, there was no correlation (r = −0.20) between the increase in plasma insulin response and the fall in plasma glucose levels that occurred as the result of sulfonylurea therapy. Glipizide treatment also led to enhanced in vivo insulin action, whether measured by the insulin clamp technique (P < 0.001) or the insulin suppression test (P < 0.02). Furthermore, in this instance there was a significant correlation (r = 0.69, P < 0.001) between the enhanced insulin action and the improvement on diabetes control. Thus, chronic therapy with glipizide, a new sulfonylurea agent, led to increased in vivo insulin secretion and insulin action. These results lend direct support to the assumption that sulfonylurea compounds have a substantial extrapancreatic effect on glucose homeostasis, and suggest that this effect contributes to the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs.


We show that directed percolation (DP) simulations in a pipe geometry in 3+1 dimensions capture the observed complex phenomenology of the transition to turbulence. At low Reynolds numbers (Re), turbulent puffs form and spontaneously relaminarize. At high Re, turbulent slugs expand uniformly into the laminar regions. In a spatiotemporally intermittent state between these two regimes of Re, puffs split and turbulent regions exhibit laminar patches. DP also captures some of the quantitative features of the transition, with a superexponentially diverging characteristic lifetime below the transition. Above the percolation threshold, active (turbulent) clusters expand into the inactive (laminar) phase with a well-defined velocity whose scaling with control parameter (Reynolds number or percolation probability) is consistent with experimental results. Our results provide strong evidence in favor of a conjecture of Pomeau.


Boza is a cereal-based fermented beverage. Lactobacillus casei Shirota, which rates among probiotic bacteria, is a member of starter culture combinations used for the production of industrial Yakult, a Japanese beverage. In this study, boza was produced using different starter culture combinations (Weisella paramesenteroides, L. casei Shirota and Lactobacillus acidophilus with two/three bacterial combinations) and principal component analysis was used for characterisation of their quality parameters. In the results, boza fermented with commercial boza (control) and with L. acidophilus + L. casei Shirota had the highest sensorial scores. Total lactic acid bacteria counts of the boza samples ranged from 9.09 to 10.48 log cfu/ml while pH was the lowest (4.08±0.02) in the boza produced with L. acidophilus + L. casei Shirota. Boza samples showed non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviours. Apparent viscosity values decreased with increasing shear rate. The first two principal components explain 80.71% of the total variation for measurements, with 54.90% of the total variance explained by the first principal component.


Background Prior meta-analysis and IARC reviews suggested no significant association between non-asbestiform talc exposure and increased risks of lung cancer, without including related Chinese literatures. A meta-analysis including eligible Chinese cohorts was performed to update the current evidence. Methods We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, through 2015 for a meta-analysis examining the association between non-asbestiform talc exposure of workers and increased risks of lung cancer. We also searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database and Wanfang Data, because many studies on talc exposure of workers have been published in Chinese journals only. Data from observational studies were pooled using a general variance based meta-analytic method. The outcome of interest was a summary standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) reflecting the risk of lung cancer death associated with non-asbestiform talc exposure of workers. Results Seven observational studies with eight cohorts meeting protocol specified inclusion criteria were located via a comprehensive literature search. Analysis for heterogeneity demonstrated the data were heterogeneous (p = 0.0003). Pooling all cohorts yielded a summary SMRs of 1.58 (CI = 1.12–2.22, p = 0.0091, random effect model) for lung cancer among workers exposed to non-asbestiform talc, showing a 58% increase in stomach cancer mortality for these workers compared to general population. Subgroup analysis for co-exposures contamination showed workers exposed to talc without quartz/radon contamination had a summary SMRs of 2.17 (CI = 1.29–3.66, p = 0.0036, random effect model), and workers exposed to talc with quartz/radon contamination had a summary SMRs of 1.14 (CI = 0.87–1.50, p = 0.3345, random effect model). Conclusion The available observational data showed increased lung cancer risk in workers exposed to non-asbestiform talc with quartz/radon co-exposures. However, existence of a causal relationship between non-asbestiform talc without quartz/radon co-exposures and increased risks of lung cancer cannot be established.


Surface defect identification is a crucial task in many manufacturing systems, including automotive, aircraft, and steel rolling. Although image-based surface defect identification methods have been proposed, these methods usually have two limitations: images may lose partial information, such as depths of surface defects; and their precision is vulnerable to many factors, such as the inspection angle, light, color, noise, etc. Given that three dimensional (3D) point cloud can precisely represent the multi-dimensional structure of surface defects, we aim to detect and classify surface defects using 3D point cloud. This has two major challenges: (i) the defects are often sparsely distributed over the surface, which makes their features prone to be hidden by the normal surface; (ii) different permutations and transformations of 3D point cloud may represent the same surface, so the proposed model needs to be permutation and transformation invariant. In this paper, a two-step surface defect identification approach is developed to investigate the defects' patterns in 3D point cloud data. The proposed approach consists of an unsupervised method for defect detection and a multi-view deep learning model for defect classification, which can keep track of the features from both defective and non-defective regions. We prove that the proposed approach is invariant to different permutations and transformations. A case study is conducted for defect identification in the aircraft fuselage. The results show that our approach receives the best defect detection and classification accuracy compared with other benchmark methods.


Increasing social problems and decreasing federal support for welfare programs are placing new demands on public agencies and straining existing human service delivery systems. This article presents a case study of a typical state social service agency, describes the current situation, identifies problem areas, and recommends structural and managerial changes. Some of the issues pressuring welfare agencies are stagnant family income, increased divorce, growth in reported child abuse and neglect, violent juvenile crime, escalating medical costs, and an aging population (Cherlin, 1988; Lynn, 1990; Levy and Michel, 1991). The problems are national in scope. Medicaid spending more than tripled between 1986 and 1993, while corrections experienced comparable growth rates. The nation's child welfare system is also under stress today, a result of unprecedented growth in the number of reports of abuse and neglect (American Public Welfare Association, 1990). These problems are escalating at a time when the federal government has significantly reduced its role in social welfare. In 1981, major cuts in welfare programs were proposed by President Reagan and approved by Congress. Since 1981, state expenditures for public aid have increased significantly faster than federal spending, 57 percent compared to 20 percent (Bixby, 1990). During that period the federal share of public aid spending has declined from 65.5 percent to 62.5 percent. Welfare has never been a popular issue, particularly with state and local politicians. Still it remains a significant portion of state and local government budgets. State and local governments spent nearly $220 billion on social welfare programs in 1992 (Burtless, 1994). That figure accounts for roughly one-quarter of all state and local government spending (Bixby, 1990). All indications are that the federal role in social welfare will continue to contract and that the role of the states will increase (Gold, 1990). The growing pressure on states has raised the question of whether or not the current organization and management of human services programs might be altered to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. In order to deal with the pressures created by expanding roles in social welfare, state governments must develop the capacity to manage resources more effectively. Based on clear observation of the operations of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS), this article identifies opportunities for improving managerial and organizational performance. METHOD This article is based on a study conducted for the Governor's Commission on a Policy Agenda for Kansas. The seventeen member, bipartisan commission was appointed in August of 1989 to identify issues critical to the future of Kansas, to solicit views from the public at large, to draw upon the expertise of university faculty to analyze the issues, and to identify policy choices available to Kansas to respond to these issues (Flentje, 1990). One of the issues selected was the organization of human services. Public interest in this topic was high due in part to serious budgetary overruns that were experienced by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services during fiscal years 1987-1990. The research took place over a six-month period and included structured interviews with the Secretary and former Secretary of SRS and all fifteen area directors (the number has since been reduced to twelve). Informal interviews were conducted with commissioners, various program administrators within SRS, the secretaries of the related departments, and private service providers. In addition, as part of a concurrent evaluation of the Kansas Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program, unstructured interviews were conducted with over fifty caseworkers in four different Kansas counties, two urban and two rural. Although these interviews were primarily designed to collect data on the implementation and performance of JOBS, the social workers and income maintenance workers interviewed volunteered significant information about the organizational culture of SRS. …


Parametric tools have been broadly implemented in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Recently, an increasing volume of research finds that parametric tools also have the capability to facilitate large-scale planning and urban design. Much of this research, however, focuses on parametric representation or environment simulation. There is insufficient research about using parametric tools to enhance urban regulation. Parametric tools can provide smart design procedures by integrating strategies, solutions and expressions in one system. They may allow alternative approaches to urban regulation that conventional tools do not process.  This research aims to create a parametric modelling system to aid urban regulation. The system offers a visualised coding interface to manipulate parameters and achieve interactive performance feedback at the early stage of urban regulation. Form-Based Code uses the modelling system in this research. It generates a specific morphology by controlling physical form with less focus on land use. With the rise of New Urbanism, Form-Based Code has been used in various American regulation projects. This research extends the application of Form-Based Code, adopting it for urban-peripheral environments outside of the USA. High-density cities where provide the volumetric morphology context is important for this work. Tsim Sha Tsui area of Hong Kong works as an experimental site.  The feasibility of parametric urban regulation is examined by developing a parametric modelling system for Form-Based Code in Hong Kong. Understanding the site's form characteristics, the transect matrix of Form-Based Code is expanded by incorporating multi-layered zone types and regulating plans. Embedding the zones into parametric modelling software Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper 3D, a regenerative prototype works to create real-time scenarios responding to parameters, rules and geometry constraints. The results of parametric urban regulation are evaluated by both Form-Based Code standards and local urban regulation standards to assess its feasibility in context.  This research demonstrates that the parametric modelling system for Form-Based Code has both technological and implemental potential to work as an alternative approach to urban regulation, especially in complex developments. Form complexity is a reflection of sophisticated human-society systems and the sequential evolution of a dynamic morphology. Form-Based Code is enhanced by the parametric modelling system to describe and regulate form complexity in a logical manner. Additionally, although parametric Form-Based Code processing is based on the original Form-Based Code, it is not limited to that. Describing urban regulation with visualised models bridges specialists and the public in community demonstrations and code assembling. The parametric modelling system has a positive impact on resolving challenges, predicting outcomes, and applying urban regulation innovation to the volumetric morphology of high-density cities in Asia.


In today's information world, bits of data are processed by semiconductor chips, and stored in the magnetic disk drives. But tomorrow's information technology may see magnetism (spin) and semiconductivity (charge) combined in one 'spintronic' device that exploits both charge and 'spin' to carry data (the best of two worlds). Spintronic devices such as spin valve transistors, spin light emitting diodes, non-volatile memory, logic devices, optical isolators and ultra-fast optical switches are some of the areas of interest for introducing the ferromagnetic properties at room temperature in a semiconductor to make it multifunctional. The potential advantages of such spintronic devices will be higher speed, greater efficiency, and better stability at a reduced power consumption. This Thesis contains two main topics: In-depth understanding of magnetism in Mn doped ZnO,and our search and identification of at least six new above room temperature ferromagnetic semiconductors. Both complex doped ZnO based new materials, as well as a number of nonoxides like phosphides, and sulfides suitably doped with Mn or Cu are shown to give rise to ferromagnetism above room temperature. Some of the highlights of this work are discovery of room temperature ferromagnetism in ■ ZnO:Mn (paper in Nature Materials, Oct issue, 2003) ■ ZnO doped with Cu (containing no magnetic elements in it!) ■ GaP doped with Cu (again containing no magnetic elements in it!) ■ Enhancement of Magnetization by Cu co-doping in ZnO:Mn ■ CdS doped with Mn, and a few others not reported in this thesis. We discuss in detail the first observation of ferromagnetism above room temperature in the form of powder, bulk pellets, in 2-3 μm thick transparent pulsed laser deposited films of the Mn (< 4 at.% ) doped ZnO. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) spectra recorded from 2 to 200nm areas showed homogeneous distribution of Mn substituting for Zn a 2 state in the ZnO lattice. Ferromagnetic Resonance (FMR) technique is used to confirm the existence of ferromagnetic ordering at temperatures as high as 425K. The ab initio calculations were found to be consistent with the observation of ferromagnetism arising from fully polarized Mn 2 state. The key to observed room temperature ferromagnetism in this system is the low temperature processing, which prevents formation of clusters, secondary phases and the host ZnO from becoming n-type. The electronic structure of the same Mn doped ZnO thin films studied using XAS, XES and RIXS. revealed a strong hybridization between Mn 3d and O 2p states, which is an important characterstic of a Dilute magnetic Semiconductor (DMS). It is shown that the various processing conditions like sintering temperature, dopant concentration and the properties of precursors used for making of DMS have a great influence on the final properties. Use of various experimental techniques to verify the physical properties, and to understand the mechanism involved to give rise to ferromagnetism is presented. Methods to improve the magnetic moment in Mn doped ZnO are also described. New promising DMS materials (such as Cu doped ZnO are explored). The demonstrated new capability to fabricate powder, pellets, and thin films of room temperature ferromagnetic semiconductors thus makes possible the realization of a wide range of complex elements for a variety of new multifunctional phenomena related to Spintronic devices as well as magneto-optic components.


Crop production in the tropics is subject to considerable climate variability caused by the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. In Southeast Asia, El Nino causes comparatively dry conditions leading to substantial declines of crop yields with severe consequences for the welfare of local farm households. Using a modelling approach that combines regression analysis with linear programming and stochastic simulation, and integrates climatic and hydrologic modelling results, the objective of this paper is to assess the impact of El Nino on agricultural incomes of smallholder farmers in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, and to identify suitable crop management strategies to mitigate the income depressions. The results contribute to the formulation of enhanced development policies and provide guidance for future research activities. Based on resource endowment and location within the mountainous research area, we identify five farm classes by cluster analysis. Our linear programming model maximizes their cash balance at the end of the period most severely affected by El Nino. Main activities are the cultivation of rice, maize, and cocoa, for which external Cobb-Douglas production functions are estimated that include water supply as an input factor; they generate output according to level of production intensity as well as predicted weather patterns. Stochastic simulation is used to account for variations in crop yields due to factors not captured by the production functions. Iterative model runs produce probability distributions of the model outcomes for each household class, whereby the downside risk of failing to achieve a specified minimum level of income is particularly insightful. The results illustrate that drought-related crop management recommendations must be tailored to farm households according to their location, farming system, and resource endowment.


The growing empirical base of studies on intraindividual variability speaks to its increasing importance in understanding human development. Studying intraindividual variability by definition requires multiple measurement occasions (e.g., microlongitudinal assessment). Tracking how intraindividual variability changes over time requires that the microlongitudinal assessment protocol be conducted again at a later time. Extended microlongitudinal studies (e.g., 100+ occasions) provide unique opportunities to study how intraindividual variability changes over time (e.g., across months). In this study the authors parse data from the 100-day Personal Understanding of Life and Social Experiences (PULSE) Project into a multiple time-scale design (four 25-day time segments) to examine the measurement reliability and stability of a variety of intraindividual variation/covariation-based constructs. Results showed that (1) reliability and stability differ across intraindividual variability constructs; (2) lability was more state-like for optimism, and trait-like for affect and goal progress; (3) intraindividual covariation-based constructs are difficult to measure reliably; and (4) in some situations it is possible to track month-to-month change in intraindividual variability using multiple burst study designs. The authors conclude that extended microlongitudinal studies be further considered as multiple time-scale designs that can, when appropriately invoked, be used to measure intraindividual variability constructs and how they change over time.


Wright et al. (2014, ApJ, 792, 26) have embarked on a search for advanced Karadashev Type III civilisations via the compilation of a sample of sources with extreme mid-IR emission and colours. The aim is to furnish a list of candidate galaxies that might harbour an advanced Kardashev Type III civilisation; in this scenario, the mid-IR emission is then primarily associated with waste heat energy byproducts. I apply the mid-IR radio correlation to this Glimpsing Heat from Alien Technology ( ˆ G) sample, a catalogue of 93 candidate galaxies compiled by Griffith et al. (2015, ApJS, 217, 25). I demonstrate that the mid-IR and radio luminosities are correlated for the sample, determining a k-corrected value of q22 = 1.35 ± 0.42. By comparison, a similar measurement for 124 galaxies drawn from the First Look Survey (FLS) has q22 = 0.87 ± 0.27. The statistically significant difference of the mean value of q22 for these two samples, taken together with their more comparable far-IR properties, suggests that the ˆ G sample shows excessive emission in the mid-IR. The fact that the ˆ G sample largely follows the mid-IR radio correlation strongly suggests that the vast majority of these sources are associated with galaxies in which natural astrophysical processes are dominant. This simple application of the mid-IR radio correlation can substantially reduce the number of false positives in the ˆ G catalogue since galaxies occupied by advanced Kardashev Type III civilisations would be expected to exhibit very high values of q. I identify nine outliers in the sample with q22 > 2 of which at least three have properties that are relatively well explained via standard astrophysical interpretations e.g. dust emission associated with nascent star formation and/or nuclear activity from a heavily obscured AGN. The other outliers have not been studied in any great detail, and are deserving of further observation. I also note that the comparison of resolved mid-IR and radio images of galaxies on sub-galactic (kpc) scales can also be useful in identifying and recognising artificial mid-IR emission from less advanced intermediate Type II/III civilisations. Nevertheless, from the bulk properties of the ˆ G sample, I conclude that Kardashev Type III civilisations are either very rare or do not exist in the local Universe.


The use of fish aggregating devices (FADs) by purse seine fisheries has come under increasing criticism for its potential deleterious impacts on tuna stocks, for high levels of by-catch and threats to the biodiversity of tropical pelagic ecosystems. Here, we review the current state of scientific knowledge of this fishing technique and current management strategies. Our intent is to encourage objective discussion of the topic and highlight areas worthy of future research. We show that catching juvenile tuna around FADs does not necessarily result in overfishing of stocks, although more selective fishing techniques would likely help obtain higher yield. Levels of non-tuna by-catch are comparable to or less than in other commercial tuna fisheries and are primarily comprised of species that are not considered threatened. Accordingly, to minimize impacts on ecosystem balance, there is merit in considering that all species captured in purse seine fisheries (excluding vulnerable species such as turtles and sharks) should be retained, but the consequences of such a measure should be carefully examined before implementation. The take of vulnerable species could be further reduced by introduction of additional mitigation measures, but their potential benefits would be limited without parallel efforts with other gears. Finally, there is no unequivocal empirical evidence that FADs represent an 'ecological trap' that inherently disrupts tuna biology although further research should focus on this issue. We encourage RFMOs to expand and improve their FAD management plans. Under appropriate management regimes, FAD fishing could be an ecologically and economically sensible fishing method.


We develop a functional encoder-decoder approach to supervised meta-learning, where labeled data is encoded into an infinite-dimensional functional representation rather than a finite-dimensional one. Furthermore, rather than directly producing the representation, we learn a neural update rule resembling functional gradient descent which iteratively improves the representation. The final representation is used to condition the decoder to make predictions on unlabeled data. Our approach is the first to demonstrates the success of encoder-decoder style meta-learning methods like conditional neural processes on large-scale few-shot classification benchmarks such as miniImageNet and tieredImageNet, where it achieves state-of-the-art performance.


This case study of our collective response as staff and students engaged in extracurricular activities is a vital contribution to the understanding of student life in the COVID-19 era. First, we introduce our extracurricular programmes. We then position our work within the context of COVID-19 and our response - utilising and enhancing an established virtual platform. We argue extracurricular activities can continue to thrive in the virtual environment providing benefits for students and staff alike. To illustrate this, we offer two personal vignettes from staff and students at NUI Galway, concluding with the opportunities and challenges of a virtual platform.


A 76-year-old woman with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) presented with a lO-year history of recurrent left preauricular squamous cell carcinoma of the skin . . She had been initially treated by a dermatologist, who had administered cryotherapy 3 times. After developing a recurrence, she underwent radiotherapy, which temporarFigure 2. MR1 of f ace shows the extent of the tumor 's deep sof ttissue invasion (arrow).


The amount of N mineralized or immobilized during the decomposition of a crop residue will influence the amount of N available for crop uptake and will ultimately impact N-management practices and groundwater quality. The objective of this work was to determine quantitative relationship(s) between a crop residue's chemical properties and the potential net amount of N that would mineralize in a season. Eight experiments (six from the literature and two conducted by the authors) were combined to determine general relationships between net N mineralized and residue chemical characteristics. Regression analysis indicated that 75 and 72% of the variability in the measured amounts of N mineralized in the eight experiments could be explained using either the C/N ratio or the square-root transformation of N concentration of the residue, respectively. The break point between net N mineralization and net immobilization was calculated to be at a C/N ratio of 40, which corresponds to a N concentration of about 10 g N/kg (assuming residue C is 400 g/ kg). Eighty percent of the variability in the amount of N mineralized could be explained by a regression equation that included N and the lignin-to-N ratio as independent variables. The fitted equations provide estimates of the maximum amount of N that potentially will mineralize in a season from incorporated crop residues of different


Blood is a complex fluid that is primarily composed of red blood cells (RBCs), which occupy (in a healthy human body), about 45% of the blood volume. The descriptions of blood flow properties escape the tradi- tional laws for simple fluids. We introduce the generalized Navier-Stokes equations reformulated to describe the non-Newtonian blood behavior . Being a non standard formulation, we carry out a well posedness analysis, providing an existence result for the evolutionary case. Moreover blood flow interacts mechanically with the vessel wall. A fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model where interactions between the fluid (blood) and structures (the arterial wall and atheromatous plaque) are conducted by an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) method in the case of numer- ical simulations. We provide an energy estimate for the coupling and compare the numerical results with those obtained with an equivalent fluid-structure interaction model using a Newtonian fluid and a fixed wall.


This paper presents a study of gait intention detection using force plates, inertial measurement units and an optical measurement system. The main goal is to detect gait initiation before heel-off and toe-off. Several established supervised machine learning methods are used to detect the onset of gait initiation, the first heel-off and the first toe-off. Events manually annotated by an expert serve as a reference. Results show that force plate signals are the most useful sensor, allowing gait onset to be detected with a mean absolute error of 0.12 seconds. Inertial measurement units are less accurate, with a mean absolute error for gait onset detection of 0.22 seconds. However, the decreased accuracy is primarily due to a small number of poorly detected outliers. The accuracy of the different supervised methods is also compared. For practical use, we recommend a combination of inertial measurement units and in-shoe pressure sensors, with different supervised methods used to detect different events.


Recent studies document a decline in the share of labour and a simultaneous increase in the share of residual ('factorless') income in national GDP. We argue the need for study of factor incomes in cross-border production to complement country studies. We define a GVC production function that tracks the value added in each stage of production in any country-industry. We define a new residual as the difference between the value of the final good and the payments to all tangibles (capital and labour) in any stage. We focus on GVCs of manufactured goods and find the residual to be large. We interpret it as income for intangibles that are (mostly) not covered in current national accounts statistics. We document decreasing labour and increasing capital income shares over the period 2000-14. This is mainly due to increasing income for intangible assets, in particular in GVCs of durable goods. We provide evidence that suggests that the 2000s should be seen as an exceptional period in the global economy during which multinational firms benefitted from reduced labour costs through offshoring, while capitalising on existing firm-specific intangibles, such as brand names, at little marginal cost.


The model therefore predicts that clients will interact more and more with therapists who are critical, and vice versa, and the author shows by experiment that this is so. A strongly competitive client, having heard some critical interpretation, must not change the subject but should persevere until the therapist retracts by making some favourable remark. The clients were divided into Byrnes' †̃¿ repressors' and †̃¿ sensitizers'. (A †̃¿ sensitizer' is broadly speaking a dysthymic, since the correlation with Taylor's Manifest Anxiety Scale is higher than the test-retest correlation of the scale itself.) Repressors were shown to be more successful than sensitizers in competitive strategies, and in general the experi mental findings favoured the competitive model. The clients were (inevitably?) psychology students motivated to co-operate by the lure of two academic credits, and (inevitably) lied to about the true purpose of the experiment. They could hear but not see the interviewer, whose behaviour was in any case not determined by them but by some pre-arranged schedule. It is very doubtful whether it is justifiable to use such artificial data to generalize to the entire


The mechanics of elasticity is a novel aspheric fabrication technology that could transform aspheric optical fabrication technology into sphere optical fabrication technology. The shape accuracy of the optical lens changes significantly with deformation conditions and various parameters of machining process. Considering Polymethyl-methacrylate (acrylic PMMA) characteristic and elastic deformation aspheric surface generated by the load is uniformly distributed over the inner portion of the plate, the investigation of elastic deformation machining method for aspheric surface generation is introduced in this paper. The subject of this study is to determine finished surface shape of acrylic after lapping process. The experiment results are compared with the finite element analysis (FEA) and theoretical results. The mentioned finite element models were established using the software Abaqus/CAE. The experiment result showed that the error of deformation curves between analytical and experimental result is smaller than FEA and experimental result. The theoretical of deformation curves obtained close to the experiment curves. The results indicate that the experimental investigation of elastic deformation machining method can be used to fabricate the aspheric surface with simple machining process and high efficiency.


Several high profile editorials and articles have advocated replacing the ubiquitous, but not especially informative, bar plot with dot plots or box plots which show the data or some summary of the data distribution. I argue that the biggest deficiency of bar plots (and other mean-and-error plots) is that they fail to directly communicate modeled effects and uncertainty, and dot and box plots do not address this deficiency. A Harrell plot combines a forest plot of modeled treatment effects and uncertainty, a dot plot of raw data, and a box plot of the distribution of the raw data into a single, two-part graph. A Harrell plot encourages best practices such as communication of the distribution of the data and a focus on effect size and uncertainty, while discouraging poor practices such as hiding distributions and focusing on p-values.


This synopsis presents the arguments and _ndings of this thesis and discusses the ambition, contributions, as well as the practical and normative implications of the analysis. Two articles of the cumulative dissertation investigate tax competition among Swiss cantons, and the third analyzes the politics of tax centralization in the European Union (EU). While the Swiss analysis substantially contributes to the theoretical and methodological challenges of the research on interdependent policy making, the implications of the EU article are of relevance for understanding the current institutional challenges of European integration.