ABSTRACT: The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of the Nigerian tax policy on the ability of local governments to raise and spend money in discharge of their statutory responsibilities. The investigation was prompted by the fact that local governments seem to be carried away by the euphoria of the periodical statutory allocations from the Federation Account to the extent that they are blinded towards the potential of fiscal operations that would make them less dependent on the statutory allocations. The study therefore re-awakens the senses of local government administrators to the need to exploit more efficiently the opportunities that come with the recent national tax policy. The study is anchored on the Decentralization Theory as postulated by Richard Musgrave (1959) cited in Arowolo (2011). The study adopted a descriptive approach. The secondary data were analysed by means of Ordinary Least Square regression and by employing the Chow Test of structural stability it was established that the tax policy which came into operation in January 2010 has a significant impact on the fiscal operation of local governments in Imo State. Furthermore, the study found that the tax policy had a significant positive effect on the expenditure of local governments, for instance, for Owerri-Municipal Local Government, a unit increase in tax revenue brought about one million naira increase in total expenditure of the local government. It was also found that the tax policy improved the ability of local governments to raise revenue through various forms of taxes. Hence local governments would fare better when they fully avail themselves to the opportunities within the tax policy which make fiscal operations easier and more efficient. The implication of the result is that if local governments do not become enthusiastic in exploiting the benefits of the tax policy, they will remain inefficient in the discharge of their statutory functions. The study therefore recommends among others, that local government authorities should be more proactive in the business of fiscal operation by setting targets on the level of tax revenue to be realized within a particular period and reviewing same periodically.


This paper examines the dynamic adjustment of crude oil price differentials formed by a wide range of popularly traded crude oils which include non-benchmark crudes of different quality. Recent studies have pointed out the fact that the adjustment of oil price spreads is asymmetric in nature. This paper makes a contribution in many ways. Employing econometric procedures that are more powerful than recently applied methods, and on a much wider selection of crude oil pairs than previous studies we establish that the results obtained for price differentials between benchmark crudes are not representative of the behaviour of non-benchmark pairs. Further, our results show that the adjustment of price differentials cannot be fully explained by the quality differentials which are commonly approximated by the difference in API gravity. Finally, we find that short run and long run dynamics do not show a pattern that could be linked to quality differentials.


Wind energy contribution as a new source of green energy in electric utility systems around the world is on fast increase. One of the major challenges is its natural intermittency; unpredictability, and uncertainty. In this paper, two and three dimensional profiles are presented for the torque coefficient and turbine output torque surface response. Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Controllers (IT2FCs) are proposed to control the nonlinear pitch angle system of the rotor blades in variable speed wind turbine. The IT2FCs proposed in this paper were designed to deal with uncertainty and noisy inputs. In addition, the nonlinear pitch angle system is piecewise linearized based on two linear time invariant (LTI) models. The LTIs were controlled using a regional switched controller schemes that allow the controllers to cover the state space of the pitching system.


Radio-telemetry was used to investigate changes in home-range sizes and activity patterns of Rattus fuscipes and Antechinus swainsonii in a subalpine heathland at Perisher Creek, Kosciuszko National Park, southern New South Wales, in response to the accumulation of snow during the winter. We estimated home-range area for each animal during the autumn and winter using two methods, minimum convex polygon and 95% and 50% utilisation contours using the kernel method. With both methods, the home ranges of R. fuscipes and A. swainsonii were significantly smaller (P < 0.001) during the winter than in the autumn. In winter, both species were restricted to areas of dense wet heath close to the main drainage line. R. fuscipes showed signs of social interaction during both seasons, as indicated by location fixes and gnawing damage to radio-collars, in contrast to A. swainsonii, which appeared to remain solitary. In winter, R. fuscipes apparently nested at a single location, whereas during autumn it appeared to use several nest sites. There was no significant change in daily activity patterns between autumn and winter in either species. R. fuscipes remained primarily nocturnal during both prenival and nival periods whereas A. swainsonii continued to be active throughout the diel cycle, although there was a slight shift in its peak activity time from around sunset in autumn to early morning in winter.


The role of guanfacine in ADHD remains unclear. It may be reasonable to initiate a trial of guanfacine in a patient who has not responded to or cannot tolerate other agents due to adverse effects or drug dependence, or in a patient who develops motor tics. However, large placebo-controlled, double-blind, comparative trials involving guanfacine, stimulants, and/or TCAs are necessary to fully determine the role of guanfacine in the treatment of ADHD. Presently, behavioral modification is considered a first-line therapy and may be sufficient in mild cases of ADHD. Pharmacologic intervention or a combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioral modification should be tried in patients who cannot be adequately controlled with nonpharmacologic treatment. The stimulants still are considered first-line pharmacotherapy; however, guanfacine may have a role as a second- or third-line agent in patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate stimulants or TCAs.


Small RNAs (ribonucleic acids) are a group of noncoding RNA molecules with modulation functions that span a broad range, from RNA modification to protein synthesis regulation. The expression of small RNAs is found to be widespread in all eukaryotes, and more than a third of protein-coding genes in the human genome are regulated by small RNAs. Mounting evidence suggests that the appropriate spatiotemporal expression of small RNAs, in particular microRNAs (miRNAs), is required for both brain morphogenesis and nervous system development. Moreover, dysregulation of specific miRNAs is possibly correlated with the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding the potential roles of small regulatory RNAs in neural development and various human neurological disorders could reveal therapeutic applications that involve restoring or inhibiting the function of small RNAs.

Key Concepts:

Small RNAs have been found in all major groups of eukaryotes.

Small RNAs are divided into four classes: microRNAs, small interacting RNAs, Piwi-interacting RNAs and small nucleolar RNAs.

In humans, microRNAs play important functional roles, interacting with at least 30% of all mRNAs.

MicroRNAs are highly involved not only in normal brain function, but also in many developmental disorders.

Known to act on mRNAs, microRNAs will degrade, translationally inhibit or even upregulate mRNA expression.

One microRNA can affect the course of several neurodevelopmental disorders.

A full understanding of microRNA function will yield possible medicinal treatments.

Keywords:

microRNAs;
Alzheimer disease;
Parkinson disease;
Huntington disease;
fragile X syndrome;
Rett syndrome;
DiGeorge syndrome;
Down syndrome;
multiple sclerosis;
spina bifida


Fire can cause alterations in bone stability and composition that may impact an anthropological analysis of skeletal morphology and trauma. In this study, the extent that fires of different duration and intensity affected trauma analyses during a compartment fire was tested This study incorporated on site scene analysis to examine the significance of trauma identifications from burnt bodies in forensic cases and the impact that fire investigation plays on the ability to recognize, preserve, and analyze skeletal elements from burned remains. Whole pig carcasses were subjected to sharp force, blunt force, and gunshot trauma to investigate the influence of intense fire conditions on these injuries. The perimortem trauma marks were then assessed in relation to their exposure in a compartment fire that progressed through flashover conditions. This study found that fire can differentially influence an analyst's ability to recognize and analyze wounds in the limbs vs the torso but was still recognizable and often protected in the postcranial body.
Highlights:
• Skeletal trauma impact marks survivability in post-flashover fire conditions;
• Postcranial trauma protected by soft tissue post flashover;
• Fire related skeletal trauma differs from sharp force, blunt force, and gunshot trauma.


Severe infections of many kinds can lead to fetal death, abortion, or premature birth. Less severe infections lead to morphological malformations if they occur early enough in pregnancy or to functional disorders if they occur later; and mild infections lead to subtle disturbances or perhaps none at all. Hypothetically, there are at least five points at which the human fetus could be affected. These will now be considered. Unfertilized Egg or Germinal Epithelium The possibility that viruses may infect unfertilized eggs is intriguing, raising the idea of vertical transmission from generation to generation. Mumps virus certainly infects the ovaries and coxsackievirus B and other agents are probably also capable of doing so. However, these agents are usually lytic and would be expected to destroy the eggs. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus has been identified in the germinal epithelium of mouse ovaries, and this is presumably the means by which carrier mice pass


Background & objective: Family and genetic factors are effective on incidence of external hydrocephalus but its etiology is unknown. Based on deficiency of epidemiological studies, this study aimed to determine the demographic features of children with external hydrocephalus. Methods: In this retrospective descriptive study (2011), all records of children with external hydrocephalus referred to Taleghani tertiary hospital during 2009-2011 were assessed. Inclusion criteria was definite diagnosis of external hydrocephalus. Checklist was used for data collection. All data were entered to SPSS software (version 16) and were described by descriptive statistics. Results: From 41 children included to the study, 33 boys (80.5%), 20 cases with Fars ethnicity (48.8%), 32 cases born by cesarean section (78%), 31 cases (75.6%) with no consanguineous marriage of parents, 38 cases (92.7%) born at term gestational age, 24 cases (58.53%) with macrocephaly in family, 17 cases (41.5%) with hospitalization history, 39 cases (95.1) with normal birth weight were assessed. Mean of age and head circumference were 8.8±2.8 years and 35.15±1.5 cm, respectively. Increase of head circumference with 30.2 % was the most common complaint at referred time during health cares. 33 cases (80.5%) diagnosed based on CT scan and 11 cases (26.8%) had development delay. Conclusion: Boys children with fars ethnicity, macrocephaly history, developmental delay and increase of head circumference during health cares had the most frequency of external hydrocephalus. Much more attention to these children and early diagnosis and treatment is essential.


Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is a structured approach for discovering possible failures that may occur in the design of a product or process. Since classical FMEA is not sufficient to represent the vagueness and impreciseness in human decisions and evaluations, many extensions of ordinary fuzzy sets such as hesitant fuzzy sets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, Pythagorean fuzzy sets, spherical fuzzy sets, and picture fuzzy sets. Classical FMEA has been handled to capture the uncertainty through these extensions. Neutrosophic sets is a different extension from the others handling the uncertainty parameters independently. A novel interval-valued neutrosophic FMEA method is developed in this study. The proposed method is presented in several steps with its application to an automotive company in order to prioritize the potential causes of failures during the design process by considering multi-experts' evaluations.


We present Simplex Random Features (SimRFs), a new random feature (RF) mechanism for unbiased approximation of the softmax and Gaussian kernels by geometrical correlation of random projection vectors. We prove that SimRFs provide the smallest possible mean square error (MSE) on unbiased estimates of these kernels among the class of weight-independent geometrically-coupled positive random feature (PRF) mechanisms, substantially outperforming the previously most accurate Orthogonal Random Features at no observable extra cost. We present a more computationally expensive SimRFs+ variant, which we prove is asymptotically optimal in the broader family of weight-dependent geometrical coupling schemes (which permit correlations between random vector directions and norms). In extensive empirical studies, we show consistent gains provided by SimRFs in settings including pointwise kernel estimation, nonparametric classification and scalable Transformers.


Soybean isoflavones have been used as a potential preventive agent in anticancer research for many years. Genistein is one of the most active flavonoids in soybeans. Accumulating evidence suggests that genistein alters a variety of biological processes in estrogen-related malignancies, such as breast and prostate cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of genistein in the prevention of human colon cancer remains unclear. Here we attempted to elucidate the anticarcinogenic mechanism of genistein in human colon cancer cells. First we evaluated the growth inhibitory effect of genistein and two other isoflavones, daidzein and biochanin A, on HCT-116 and SW-480 human colon cancer cells. In addition, flow cytometry was performed to observe the morphological changes in HCT-116/SW-480 cells undergoing apoptosis or cell cycle arrest, which had been visualized using Annexin V-FITC and/or propidium iodide staining. Real-time PCR and western blot analyses were also employed to study the changes in expression of several important genes associated with cell cycle regulation. Our data showed that genistein, daidzein and biochanin A exhibited growth inhibitory effects on HCT-116/SW-480 colon cancer cells and promoted apoptosis. Genistein showed a significantly greater effect than the other two compounds, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, genistein caused cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, which was accompanied by activation of ATM/p53, p21waf1/cip1 and GADD45α as well as downregulation of cdc2 and cdc25A demonstrated by q-PCR and immunoblotting assay. Interestingly, genistein induced G2/M cell cycle arrest in a p53-dependent manner. These findings exemplify that isoflavones, especially genistein, could promote colon cancer cell growth inhibition and facilitate apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. The ATM/p53-p21 cross-regulatory network may play a crucial role in mediating the anticarcinogenic activities of genistein in colon cancer.


Following the Norwegian government's goal to be a 'low emission society' by 2050, there is a significant push to develop offshore renewable energy; principally offshore wind, but also wave and tidal stream. The MarinLab towing tank at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway is 50 m long with a 3.0×2.2 m section and was inaugurated in 2016 as an educational and research facility, supporting local industry to achieve a low-carbon transition.
To advance knowledge of aero- or hydrodynamic interaction of future turbines for both wind and tidal stream energy, a model scale test-bed horizontal axis turbine has been developed. This turbine will enable testing of rotor diameters typically in the range of 500-600 mm. The turbine is instrumented with a torque-thrust sensor of 5 Nm/100 N capacity, custom-manufactured by Marin in the Netherlands. The turbine is speed regulated via a 4096 counts angular encoder connected to a 200 W Maxon EC-i brushless motor.
Before testing new rotor geometries, a benchmarking study is being undertaken with an existing known geometry. The benchmark rotor has diameter, D=700 mm and employs the same NACA 63418 airfoil as Mycek et al. (2014), allowing comparison. Unlike Mycek et al. (2014), the nacelle has a nominal diameter of 90 mm and length 760 mm. The size of the rotor risks exceeding the capacity of the torque sensor, such that maximum tow-speed is limited to 0.8 m/s. The benchmark blades are machined from solid aluminium in a four-axis CNC milling machine, following a method similar to Payne et al. (2017). Due to machining limitations, the minimum trailing edge thickness is specified as 0.2 mm. The final surface finish is achieved by manual polishing, and the final dimensions, quantified using a Hexagon ROMER Absolute laser scanner, are found to be within ±0.2 mm accuracy. Future blade sets will typically have a smaller diameter, allowing for 3D printing and consistency of surface finish.
A blade-element momentum model has been run with Prandtl tip and hub losses and 0° pitch (Fig. I). Lift and drag coefficients were calculated for a range of chord Reynolds numbers using XFOIL, for angles of attack between -5 to 16° and extrapolated to ±180° with Viterna's method. Due to difficulties in estimating laminar-turbulent transition around critical Reynolds numbers, there is uncertainty in the XFOIL coefficients. At peak TSR, the chord-based Reynolds number is approximately 280k at 3/4 span. Curves for both Rec =250k (solid) and 500k (dashed) with Ncrit = 9 are presented, showing a significant drop in performance for lower Reynolds numbers, due to a collapse in Cl/Cd. Initial tests were conducted in near- zero ambient turbulence, though passive turbulence grids are available for future testing. Reasonable agreement on CT is observed when corrected for blockage according to Bahaj (2007), and further assessment will provide results on CP, tower loads and wake recovery.


CONTEXT
-Sir William Osler, MD, and Howard Kelly, MD, were probably the preeminent practitioners of their respective specialties, internal medicine and gynecology, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Both were passionately interested in pathology. Although not widely known, during the 1880s, both allegedly pioneered "arm's length" methods to perform covert autopsies that involved removing abdominal and even thoracic organs via the anus, vagina, or a small perineal incision hidden behind the scrotum. These techniques were allegedly used, at least occasionally, to circumvent autopsy-consent regulations and to procure teaching specimens for medical museums.

OBJECTIVE
-To examine the historical evidence for these alleged events and to examine these behaviors within the context of (1) the need to obtain pathologic specimens for teaching gross pathology and clinical pathologic correlation to medical trainees, (2) the loose interpretation of autopsy-consent regulations at "charity hospitals" during the late 19th century, (3) the medical museum movement, and (4) the paternalistic approach to the practice of medicine typical of the times.

DESIGN
-To address these issues, standard historiographic methods were used to examine available primary and secondary historical sources.

RESULTS
-The evidence suggests that Kelly developed and published 3 arm's length methods for covert autopsies while a resident in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and that both Kelly and Osler pioneered the use of these methods in the 1880s. The brief history of these "minimally invasive" autopsy techniques is also examined by reviewing 19th and 20th century textbooks of autopsy technique.

CONCLUSIONS
-Howard Kelly, MD, and William Osler, MD, pioneered arm's length methods for covert autopsies. In fact, this activity appears to have initiated the 2 doctors' long professional relationship.


ABSTRACT In addition to their electric organ discharges, two West African mormyrid species are known to generate sounds during reproduction. Here, we document the reproductive behaviour and concurrent vocalisations recorded in captive specimens of the new species Pollimyrus marianne from the Upper Zambezi River. Prior to spawning, three male P. marianne established a territory and built a nest of filamentous plant material each (that would hold eggs and larvae at a later stage). Beginning with territory establishment and usually at night, only the males generated two distinct vocalisations, a tonal moan (average duration, 2.26 ± SD 0.6 s), and a harsh grunt (0.596 ± SD 0.029 s; grunt pulse repetition rate, PRR, 32.1 ± SD 1.24 Hz at 25.4 ± SD 0.15 °C). Both vocalisation types were similar to, but clearly different from, those recorded in the two West African species, P. isidori and P. adspersus, the PRR (Pulse Repetition Rate) of which were higher by 25% and 60%, respectively (at similar temperature). At constant standard length, some of a male P. marianne's sound characteristics varied only slightly over two years, but depended clearly on water temperature. When no other fish were present, the three males produced moans only sporadically. When, however, females were visiting, the males generated long-lasting moan sequences that were superimposed by grunts (moan-grunt bouts; average duration, 14.69 ± SD 2.2 s). The maximum rate of vocalisation occurred in the nights immediately before spawning; this rate receded when larvae were present in the nest, and vocalisations finally stopped after the larvae had dispersed. Vocalisation rate increased again when females restarted to visit the nest site. Long before and also after reproduction, territorial males vocalised with moans and some grunts, when territory intruders evoked escalating agonistic interactions that were correlated with many bites or butts. In agonistic contexts, moan duration, moan peak amplitude frequency and grunt pulse repetition rate differed from the sounds produced during courtship. In P. marianne, the generation of sounds during reproductive and agonistic interactions suggests a dual function: attraction of mates and threatening competing males, or potentially egg-eating females.


Microcoulometric titrations of NADH:nitrate reductase at 25 degrees C in Mops buffer, pH 7.0, showed that the native enzyme, containing functional FAD, haem and Mo, required addition of five electrons for complete reduction. Reduction of the native enzyme occurred in three waves corresponding to addition of reducing equivalents to the centres in the order: Mo, haem, FAD. Oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials (E'0) for the various redox couples were calculated to be as follows: MoVI/MoV, +16 mV; MoV/MoIV, -27 mV; haemoxidized/haemreduced, -172 mV; FAD/FADH2, -283 mV. The values for the haem and flavin are in excellent agreement with those obtained by visible titrations, namely -164 mV and -288 mV respectively. In contrast, the results for the Mo centre are 28-50 mV more positive than the values previously determined by e.p.r. analysis of frozen enzyme samples poised at defined potentials at 25 degrees C and suggest different pH-dependencies or entropies of reduction for the Mo couples.


lobally, buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of the total world annual energy consumption. Most of this energy is for the provision of lighting, heating, cooling, and air conditioning. Increasing awareness of the environmental impact of CO2, NOx and CFCs emissions triggered a renewed interest in environmentally friendly cooling, and heating technologies. Under the 1997 Montreal Protocol, governments agreed to phase out chemicals used as refrigerants that have the potential to destroy stratospheric ozone. It was therefore considered desirable to reduce energy consumption and decrease the rate of depletion of world energy reserves and pollution of the environment. One way of reducing building energy consumption is to design buildings, which are more economical in their use of energy for heating, lighting, cooling, ventilation and hot water supply. This article discusses the potential for such integrated systems in the stationary and portable power market in response to the critical need for a cleaner energy technology. Anticipated patterns of future energy use and consequent environmental impacts (acid precipitation, ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect or global warming) are comprehensively discussed in this paper. Throughout the theme several issues relating to renewable energies, environment and sustainable development are examined from both current and future perspectives.


The prevalence of obesity has doubled worldwide since the 1980s, and having a high body mass index contributes to more deaths worldwide than being underweight. Over the past 20 years, consumption of calorie-dense foods has increased, and this is considered one of the major causes of the rapid rise in obesity. Thus, understanding the neural control of food intake is important for the development of new and effective treatments of obesity. Two important brain regions that regulate food intake are the hypothalamus and the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system. The hypothalamus is essential for the homeostatic control of feeding and body weight, while the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system, also known as the reward system, is the primary circuit for reward and motivated behavior. The reward system also regulates food intake and food reward, and there is increasing evidence that hypothalamic feeding-related neuropeptides alter dopamine neuron activity to affect feeding. Nevertheless, how these neuropeptides interact with the reward system to regulate feeding is not fully understood. For example, centrally delivered neurotensin and neuropeptide-Y (NPY) increase dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, but cause opposite effects on food reward. In addition, injection of the hypothalamic neuropeptides neurotensin, NPY, or alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (-MSH) into the ventral tegmental area (VTA), where reward-related dopamine neurons are located, alters multiple aspects of feeding, but how these neuropeptides interact with the reward system to alter feeding at both the circuit and cellular levels is not fully understood. In these studies, I have used whole cell patch-clamp electrophysiology in acute brain slices from mice to examine how neurotensin, -MSH, and NPY affect VTA dopamine neuron activity. I have demonstrated that these neuropeptides use multiple mechanisms to alter VTA dopamine neuron activity, including both preand post-synaptic mechanisms. Neurotensin and -MSH increased dopamine neuron activity, while NPY had both excitatory and inhibitory effects on dopamine neuron activity. Overall, these studies provide an important advancement in our understanding of the different mechanisms utilized by hypothalamic neuropeptides to alter VTA dopamine neuron activity and how hypothalamic neuropeptides interact with the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system to control food intake and food reward. INDEX WORDS: Dopamine, Ventral tegmental area, Neurotensin, Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, Neuropeptide-Y, MC3R, GIRK REGULATION OF VENTRAL TEGMENTAL AREA DOPAMINE NEURON ACTIVITY BY FEEDING-RELATED HYPOTHALAMIC NEUROPEPTIDES


OBJECTIVES
In order to assess the potential biomolecules for breast cancer, we analyzed in parallel the levels of cell-free glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and cell-free nucleosomes in serum samples from patients with benign and malignant breast tumors. The levels of cell-free DNA obtained by quantitative PCR were compared with those obtained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

METHODS
Twenty-three patients with benign breast tumors, 27 patients with breast cancer, and 32 age-matched healthy women were recruited. The amounts of serum nucleosomes were analyzed by ELISA and the levels of cell-free GAPDH were measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The correlation between nucleosome and cell-free GAPDH levels was examined using the Spearman rank test.

RESULTS
The levels of cell-free GAPDH were significantly higher in the serum samples of patients with benign and malignant breast tumors than in those of the control group (median 37,966 GE/mL, range 3,802-130,104 versus 11,770 GE/mL, range 2,198-73,522, p=0.035 and median 40,698 GE/mL, range 3,644-192,482 versus 11,770 GE/mL range 2,198-73,522, p=0.001). The concentration of cell-free GAPDH correlated significantly with the quantities of nucleosomes in serum samples (r=0.451, p=0.000). There was, however, no significant difference between healthy individuals and women with benign breast tumors or breast cancer in terms of nucleosomes determined by ELISA.

CONCLUSION
Our data suggest that the cell-free serum GAPDH DNA assayed by quantitative PCR is a better biomarker than nucleosomes assayed by ELISA in patients with breast tumors.


Gelatin from fish skin is known to be an alternative source for mammalian gelatin. However, it has weaker properties compared to bovine and porcine gelatin, which limits its use in the industry. The conventional method for fish gelatin extraction requires long production time and could cause serious water pollution and chemical treatments are often being used to enhance the yield of fish gelatin and its properties but it may affect the amino acid content of the gelatin. In this regard, High-Pressure Processing (HPP) is a novel method suggested for fish gelatin extraction. The HPP method is classified as green technology as it requires low electricity throughout the process. This study will discuss the impact of HPP the technique gelatin extracted from fish skin. Skins from four types of fish, namely red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), black tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), grouper (Epinephelus areolatus) and threadfin bream (Nemipterus tambuloides), were used. High pressure was applied at either pre-treatment in citric acid solution or during thermal extraction; and the pressure was maintained at 250 MPa with pressure holding time of 10 minutes and 18 hours of water extraction. Gelatin extract from traditional acid-base method was prepared as a standard for comparison. The study found that there was an increment in the yield of gelatin and the concentration of gelatin extract, and the pre-treatment time was also reduced.


The comprehensive textbook is the standard work on zoo and animal medicine. Covers topics such as nutrition, feeding practices, restraint, illness, clinical pathology, and reproduction. Introductory sections for each class of animals include information on the general principles of disease, behavior, preventative medicine, and poisoning.


Effective rangeland weed programs require the ability to predict plant community responses to management. Our objective was to develop regression equations to predict the plant community after control with picloram using the pre-treatment plant community. Five transects were established from dense spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa Lam.) in the center of each patch to an area of low or no spotted knapweed occurrence on the outside of the patch. Transects ended in areas dominated by Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis Elmer). Twenty permanent plots (20 x 50 cm, spacing along the transect ranged from 1/2 to 2 m) were placed along this gradient. Pre-treatment density and cover of all species were sampled in each plot. Biomass of all species was harvested in plots adjacent to the transect. Picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) was applied along each transect at a rate of 0.28 kg a.i. ha-1 in October 1996 to each plot. Density, cover, and biomass of all species were re-sampled in August 1998. Regression models were fit using perennial grasses, Idaho fescue, forbs, species richness, and species diversity after treatment as predicted variables. All predicted variables were indigenous species. Regressor variables used were site, transect, and spotted knapweed, a spotted knapweed quadratic component, indigenous perennial grasses, Idaho fescue, indigenous forbs, species richness, and species diversity sampled in the first year (1996) prior to treatment. The best predictive models for assessing post-management indigenous perennial grass, Idaho fescue, and species richness were based on density. The best models predicting post-management forbs and species diversity were based on cover and biomass, respectively. In 4 out of the 5 models, for a given post-management parameter, an important predictor in the model was its pre-management regressor variable. Additionally, pre-management spotted knapweed was a relatively unimportant preditar in most models. The model predicting species diversity based on density (pre-treatment) predicted an increase in species diveristy 2 years after management. This study indicated that it may be feasible to use pre-management spotted knapweed was a relatively unimportant predictor in most models. The model predicting species diversity based on density (pre-treatment) predicted an increase in species diversity 2 years after management. This study indicated that it may be feasible to use pre-management plant community data to predict post-management plant community response for spotted knapweed-infested rangeland using picloram. DOI:10.2458/azu_jrm_v55i6_kedzie-webb


Abstract We take a step towards addressing the under- representation of the African continent in NLP research by bringing together different stakeholders to create the first large, publicly available, high-quality dataset for named entity recognition (NER) in ten African languages. We detail the characteristics of these languages to help researchers and practitioners better understand the challenges they pose for NER tasks. We analyze our datasets and conduct an extensive empirical evaluation of state- of-the-art methods across both supervised and transfer learning settings. Finally, we release the data, code, and models to inspire future research on African NLP.1


Franki Raffles (1955-94) was a feminist social documentary photographer.
 She was based in Edinburgh but travelled widely, photographing women at work and in their everyday lives, in Scotland, and across the world.

Her tragic early death, at the age of just 39, came at a time when she was establishing a reputation as a campaigning feminist photographer with her innovative work on the first Zero Tolerance campaign, funded by Edinburgh District Council's Women's Committee. Her powerful constructed images raised awareness of the issue of men's violence against women and children with a totally new approach. Short text statements which presented evidence of the stark facts about the reality, and prevalence, of male violence, were juxtaposed with black and white photographs of girls and women of all ages in familiar, ordinary domestic settings. The campaign was public photography on a large-scale. It was the first time that mass media, social marketing techniques had been applied in a feminist campaign.

After her death for over two decades her work as a photographer remained largely forgotten. In 2013, with full support from The Raffles' Estate, Alistair Scott, of Edinburgh Napier University, who had known Franki since their undergraduate student days, began this research project to investigate and re-evaluate her creative practice. Scott has brought together the entire output of her work – photographic prints, catalogues, negatives, contact sheets, notebooks and other materials. In December 2014, with the assistance of Marc Boulay, Photographic Archivist, these materials were deposited in the Special Collections of St Andrews University Library where there are resources for conservation and storage, and the process of digitising and cataloguing over 90,000 images began. The aim is to trace the development of her career, investigate the key themes of her work, and assess her contribution as a social documentary and feminist photographer. At present her work still remains marginalised and hidden, and several of her international projects have never been exhibited. Now through the archive her photographs can be made available to scholars and the general public. We hope to organise a retrospective exhibition which will bring her photographs to the attention of a wider public. This website is a starting point.

Thanks to Rowan Lear, Ria Krause, Stuart Armit, and Jordan Anderson, former Edinburgh Napier Photography students, who contributed to the development of this site. And to Marine Benoit-Blain, the first post-graduate student to undertake research on this archive material and who completed a thesis entitled – Photographie feministe en Ecosse, 1980-1990, « Femmes au travail », autour de la production de Franki Raffles, at the Ecole du Louvre, September 2015.


In modern age, much thermal energy is emitted from ceramic and/or steel industries. Their temperature range is between 500 K and 1300 K. Thermoelectric materials are promising to utilize the waste heat, because of no CO2 emission and long life due to no moving parts. The thermoelectric properties of every thermoelectric material have temperature dependence and high performance appears at a specific temperature range. If the proper materials are placed and joined along the temperature gradient to form an FGM, the performance should be higher than a monolithic material. The performance of a thermoelectric material is expressed by the dimensionless figure of merit ZT=α2ρ-1κ -1T, where α is the Seebeck coefficient, ρ is the electrical resistivity, κ is the thermal conductivity, and T is absolute temperature. Thermoelectric oxides are suitable for high temperature materials because of chemical stability. NaxCoO2 shows relatively high ZT value in thermoelectric oxide at the temperature range below 800 K. Ca3Co4O9 shows ZT ~1 at 1000 K. Recently, it is reported that Ca3Co2O6 that is formed by decomposition of Ca3Co4O9 at 1173 K has high performance at 1300 K. The properties and fabrication condition of high density Ca3Co2O6 are, however, not reported in detail. In order to improve the thermoelectric properties and to shift the temperature range for Ca3Co2O6, we investigated the effects of element substitution. In this experiment, the sintered Ca3Co2-xMxO6 (x=0 or 0.2, M= Mn, Mo or V) were prepared by solid-state reaction or hot pressing. Relative density of Ca3Co2O6 by hot-pressing (HP) was over 94% which is larger than one of Ca3Co2O6 by solid-state reaction (SSR). The resistivity of Mo- or V-substituted Ca3Co2O6 (HP-Mo or HP-V) were lower than one of non-substituted Ca3Co2O6 (HP). The resistivity of Mo-substituted Ca3Co2O6 (HP-Mo) showed the lowest value of 4.3×10-2 Ωcm in all specimens at 1181 K. The power factor α2ρ-1 of Ca3Co2O6 (HP-Mo) was 64.2 Wm-1K-2, which is the largest of all specimens at 1178 K, and this value is approximately 1.3 times higher than 48.8 Wm-1K-2 for Ca3Co2O6 (HP).


Objective To test the procedures proposed for a main trial of a safer sex intervention for young people delivered by mobile phone text message ('safetxt'). Design and setting Pilot randomised controlled trial. Participants were recruited through sexual health services in the UK. An independent online randomisation system allocated participants to receive the safetxt intervention or to receive the control text messages (monthly messages about participation in the study). Texting software delivered the messages in accordance with a predetermined schedule. Participants Residents of England aged 16–24 who had received either a positive chlamydia test result or reported unsafe sex in the last year (defined as more than 1 partner and at least 1 occasion of sex without a condom). Intervention The safetxt intervention is designed to reduce sexually transmitted infection in young people by supporting them in using condoms, telling a partner about an infection and testing before unprotected sex with a new partner. Safetxt was developed drawing on: behavioural science; face-to-face interventions; the factors known to influence safer sex behaviours and the views of young people. Outcomes The coprimary outcomes of the pilot trial were the recruitment rate and completeness of follow-up. Results We recruited 200 participants within our target of 3 months and we achieved 81% (162/200) follow-up response for the proposed primary outcome of the main trial, cumulative incidence of chlamydia at 12 months. Conclusions Recruitment, randomisation, intervention delivery and follow-up were successful and a randomised controlled trial of the safetxt intervention is feasible. Trial registration number ISRCTN02304709; Results.


Alliance on Aging is a nonprofit agency in Salinas, California. It was established in 1970, and they help serve the needs of the senior citizen community by offering multiple services. Working professionals experience high levels of stress in the workplace. Although there are many contributing factors for high stress in the workplace, the main factors at play are the lack of self-care and lack of support Zastrow (pg. 332, 2015). Because working professionally in the human services field experience high stress the consequences they may face are burnout, high turnover rates, and poor overall health. The capstone project will assess high stress in health and human service professionals working at Alliance On Aging. The implementation of this project will be to conduct a 10-question online survey, and the participants will be staff members at Alliance On Aging. The purpose of the project will help determine the stress level and self-care practices from staff. My expected outcome in the survey is to show high levels of stress and a lack of self-care practices among survey participants. The most important findings noted after analyzing surveys was the stress levels among staff was minimal. Most respondents reported moderate stress levels rather than severe stress levels. Many survey participants already practiced some form of self-care making the stress levels minimal. Since most participants show some level of stress while practicing self-care, the next steps I would like to recommend a few ideas which can help reduce stress. Stress relief recommended ideas are group walks, tools to release stress, offering healthy snacks, and staff acknowledgment, praise, or incentives.


The demand for rapid in vitro diagnosis (IVD) point-of-care testing (POCT) systems to be used outside of a traditional healthcare setting has been vastly expanding. Effective fabrication solutions need to be forward thought to satisfy miniaturized and heterogeneously integrated POCT. A holistic engineering approach to increase sensitivity of a miniaturised fluorescence detector for POCT systems was carried out. The study investigated how effective fabrication methods could deliver a better performance fluorescence detector (FD) to be well fitted in sophisticated and varying POCT systems. SLA and SLS were introduced in the study and evaluated through the measurement of surface texture of roughness with an Alicona Infinite Focus instrument. SLA was ultimately selected to produce a functional OFD through the validation with a selected fluorescence dye, i.e., Cy5. A limit of detection was reached of 1.209x10-10 Mol to reach a certain level of IVD detection. In addition to this anisotropic wet etching was investigated as a portal into the development of miniaturised integration microfluidic FD. A case study was performed to compare the sensitivity of the FD's design, manufactured and tested against another style of FD. The work creates an avenue of rapid screening POCT OFD fabrication solutions with a view on high performance and multi-functional detection systems not only in POCT, but also high-throughput (HTP) screening in life sciences and environmental applications.


Information on vegetative productivity and nutritive responses to burning in mesic, high elevation big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) communities is limited. We investigated the effects of 2 wildfires and 3 prescribed fires on current year's production of herbs and selected shrubs for 3 years post-burn, and forage quality for 2 years post-burn in high elevation big sagebrush habitats in southcentral Wyoming. Production of perennial herbs on burned sites averaged twice that on controls, while production of annual herbs varied little 2-3 years post-burn. Burn-induced mortality of Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt) Nutt. ex Roem.) was less than or equal to 15%, but a 6-fold increase in twig production more than compensated for plant losses. Mortality of true mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus Raf.) and antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC) averaged 25% and 55%, respectively, but these losses generally were compensated by increases in browse production. Crude protein content of herbs from late spring through early far was significantly higher on burns for 2 years post-burn. These results suggest well-managed prescribed burning programs have potential to improve May through September diets of large herbivores in southcentral Wyoming mountain-shrub communities.


Functional diarrhea (FD) is a common type of chronic diarrhea in children. Recurrent diarrhea can negatively impact children's quality of life and raise healthcare costs significantly. However, conventional treatments are ineffective and limited. Moreover, children with chronic conditions have poor medication compliance. Therefore, non-pharmacological and complementary treatments are urgently needed. In China, abdominal massage is widely used to treat diarrhea in children. Numerous clinical studies have verified its usefulness in treating gastrointestinal disorders as well. Nevertheless, its intrinsic mechanisms are still unclear, and the impact of massage direction on treatment effects has received less attention. In our study, we found that FD was not associated with pathogen infection. A dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota and disruption of the intestinal barrier are most likely to cause FD. Moreover, this study also substantiates that abdominal massage can mitigate functional diarrhea by altering the intestinal microbiota structure and decreasing the number of bacteria that damage intestinal mucosal barriers. The reduction of Ruminococcus_torques_group and Clostridium_innocuum_group at the genus level potentially mediated the beneficial effects of abdominal massage on alleviating diarrhea. Furthermore, massaging from two different directions, clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) massage, would not significantly influence the effect of the massage on intestinal microbiota or tight junction proteins. In summary, abdominal massage is an effective complementary therapy for children suffering from functional diarrhea.


Wave propagation control is of fundamental interest in many areas of Physics. It can be achieved with wavelength-scaled photonic crystals, hence avoiding low frequency applications. By contrast, metamaterials are structured on a deep-subwavelength scale, and therefore usually described through homogenization, neglecting the unit-cell structuration. Here, we show with microwaves that, by considering their inherent crystallinity, we can induce wave propagation carrying angular momenta within a subwavelength-scaled collection of wires. Then, inspired by the Quantum Valley-Hall Effect in condensed matter physics, we exploit this bulk circular polarization to create modes propagating along particular interfaces. The latter also carry an edge angular momentum whose conservation during the propagation allows wave routing by design in specific directions. This experimental study not only evidences that crystalline metamaterials are a straightforward tabletop platform to emulate exciting solid-state physics phenomena at the macroscopic scale, but it also opens the door to crystalline polarized subwavelength waveguides.


In April 2015, the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) suffered the most extensive digital theft of government data in history, with a cyber hack that resulted in the loss of 21.5 million personnel records. Those affected included virtually all applicants for background checks since 2000. The scale of this breach has potentially catastrophic consequences for American national security, with some reports suggesting that US intelligence personnel has already been recalled from Beijing due to safety risks. The OPM hack reawakened the debate on how to better secure government data and limit potential damage to US national security. In broad terms, the US has the option to take defensive countermeasures as a form of protection, or offensive countermeasures as a form of deterrence. Defensive strategies center on allocating energy and resources to securing vulnerable systems. In contrast, offensive tactics involve economic sanctions, legal indictments, diplomatic protests, and offensive cyber operations of a pre-emptive nature. The Obama Administration is currently trying to determine the most effective route to retaliate against the primary suspect —China— without escalating an already tense bilateral relationship into an all-out cyber war. This paper outlines the US government's options in strengthening the protection of classified information. Specifically, should Washington adopt a defensive stance, or opt for an offensive response to cyber threats? To answer this question, this paper will examine the OPM hack case study under the prism of Information Assurance (IA), defined as the overall approach to identifying, understanding, and managing the risks to information systems. Based on the above methodology, this paper will argue that improving defensive security measures through the expansion of IA operations is prudent for two reasons: firstly, because they have a higher potential of actually securing classified information; and secondly, because they are less likely to jeopardize America's delicate relationship with China.


Competing ecopolitical projects seek to deliver answers to one of the most central questions of our time: how can the escalating climate crisis be halted? The paper asks how we may meaningfully compare ecopolitical projects that originate in fundamentally different conceptions of the type of change necessary to reach a sustainable organization of society? Using Peter Hall's paradigm approach as a starting point, the paper employs extant political economy scholarship to develop a framework that sets out four key dimensions that work as points of comparison between ecopolitical projects. The framework is applied in a comparison of the competing ecopolitical projects of green growth and degrowth to elucidate the ways in which these projects differ profoundly in terms of the extensiveness of change they envision, the actors they consider pivotal for sustainability transitions, their scientific basis and their distributional consequences.


Research indicates that northern koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are ubiquitously infected with koala retrovirus (KoRV). There is increasing evidence linking KoRV with neoplasia and a range of disorders associated with immunodeficiency, conditions observed at high rates in captive colonies, and sick koalas presenting to wildlife hospitals. However, less is known about the occurrence of these putative KoRV-associated diseases in wild populations. We analysed health data collected at the veterinary examinations of 691 koalas inhabiting three monitored wild koala populations in southeast Queensland between 2013 and 2020. At initial presentation, neoplasia and AIDS-like syndrome were detected at a prevalence of 1.16% (8/691; 95% CI 0.5–2.19%). Longitudinal data from koalas recruited into the monitoring programmes and receiving one or more subsequent examination revealed an incidence rate of 3.5 cases/100 koalas/year (95% CI 2.35–4.9). These findings indicate that a relatively small proportion of the populations studied were affected by these putative KoRV-associated diseases. However, the impact on individuals was severe, with high associated mortality in the diseased cohort. Furthermore, northern koala populations endure multiple threats, suffering severe declines in recent decades. We propose that the significance of putative KoRV-associated diseases on these populations should be considered within this context and that further research into the interactions between KoRV and other drivers of decline is warranted.


Recent advances in computer hardware have not been matched by comparable advances in computer software, inhibiting the production of reliable software at greater levels of productivity. Development of software is restricted by the so-called "maintenance backlog". Productivity in the maintenance sector has not kept pace with increasing annual labour costs, making the maintenance of software the major item in the budget, of organisations responsible for the development and maintenance of software. Gains in productivity can be anticipated by the exploitation of software-maintenance tools, within the framework of an Integrated .Software Maintenance Support Environment (ISMSE). for which a high-level design has been proposed in this thesis, offering comprehensive support for all phases of the software life-cycle, particularly the maintenance phase. A key factor in the reliable modification of software is the time taken to gain the prerequisite understanding, by a study of the system's documentation. This documentation degrades over a period of time, becoming unreliable, inhibiting maintenance of the software, which may be a large capital asset, ultimately, the software may become impossible to maintain, requiring replacement. Understanding gained during maintenance is wide-ranging and at various levels of abstraction, but is often NOT well-recorded, since no effective documentation system exists for recording the maintenance history of large software systems. The documentation paradigm in this thesis, used within the framework of an ISMSE, aims to provide a means of recording the knowledge gained during maintenance, facilitating easier future maintenance, and preserving the reliability of the documentation, so reducing the time required to gain an understanding of the software being maintained. This provides a powerful means of increasing productivity, while simultaneously preserving a valuable capital asset.


The wavelength shift in fiber Bragg grating does not
depend directly on the total light levels, losses in the connecting fibers and
couplers, or source power. However, if the tunable Fabry-Perot filter is place
on the end of incident fiber, the detected time delay of modulation light is
occurred due to the unmatch between the scanning time and light transmission
time in the transmission fiber. Consequently, the detected peak wavelength
shifts with the length of transmission fiber. Thus, the peak wavelength shift
effect of Bragg reflective light transmitted in fiber with different fiber
length can be obvious in the demodulator with a prepositive tunable Fabry-Perot
filter. The experiment indicates the shift rates of 0.109 - 0.126 nm/km
increase approximately linearly with the original peak wavelength of 1532.917 - 1560.300
nm at the fiber length of 0 - 6 km. To certify the consistency of
measurement data, the criterion correction is introduced. By using the
differential method of two fiber Bragg gratings with an optical path, the
differential worth is compensated from the disturbance modulated by the time
delay of fiber length.


This paper proposes a new high-speed network architecture called Dynamic Transfer Mode, DTM. At the entrance of the DTM network, destination addresses such as IP addresses are converted into DTM routing information and attached to the packet header. In a DTM network, a connection is set up on-the-fly by sending a series of routing link identifiers to the destination, so burst data transfers like WWW traffic are efficiently carried. A connection between adjacent nodes is created and released dynamically within the burst transfer period. This yields higher statistical multiplexing gain and improved bandwidth efficiency compared to with conventional STM. Time division multiplexing is utilized so delay jitter or cell loss, the major drawbacks of Asynchronous Transfer Mode, are avoided. This paper analyzes the performance of a DTM network and describes an implemented switching system. Because a DTM network uses source-routing and passive STM switching, it simplifies the core transit switch while localizing intelligence to edge nodes. A simplified core transit switch is well suited for future high-speed backbone networks. key words: network, burst, STM, traÆc, switch


We present a fixed point approach to find the whole solution set of a set-valued optimization problem though a parametric problem, in which the height of the level set of the objective function is regarded as the parameter. First, the solution concept based on the vector approach is considered in this method. Then, we propose another solution concept which additionally takes the maximal part of the set into consideration and compare it with the solution concept based on the set approach. The fixed point approach is also extended to set-valued optimization with respect to this solution concept. Finally, a special case of this theory is investigated particularly, for which the new solution concept actually provides a vectorization.


Creating high quality network trace files is a difficult task to accomplish on a limited budget. High network speeds may overburden an individual system running packet logging software such as tcpdump, resulting in trace files with missing information and making analysis difficult or incomplete. High end specialized systems may perform the job well, but may be out of reach due to financial constraints. To that end, we developed the Cheap Logger (CLog) system which utilizes inexpensive COTS hardware to create high quality, complete network trace files. A scalable distributed storage system enables the CLog system to expand and continue to create high quality, complete network data trace files even at extremely high data rates.


Anabolic implants reduce the cost of production in all phases of beef production from suckling calves to finishing. There are many types of implants available with varying dosages and payout mechanisms. The value of different implants and implant strategies have been well documented in the literature, allowing for economic models to be easily generated based on biological outcomes. These data can aid in designing the optimal strategy for each phase of beef production across operational logistics.


A number of modern digital processing systems implement complex multi-mode applications with high performance requirements and strict operating constraints; examples include video processing and telecommunication applications. A number of these systems use increasingly large FPGAs as the implementation medium, due to reduced development costs. The combination of increases in FPGA capacity and system complexity has lead to a non-linear increase in system implementation effort. If left unchecked, implementation effort for such systems will reach the point where it becomes a design and development bottleneck. At the same time, the reduction in transistor size used to manufacture these devices can lead to increased device fault rates. To address these two problems, the Multi-mode Adaptive Collaborative Reconfigurable self-Organized System (MACROS) Framework and design methodology is proposed and described in this work. The MACROS Framework other the ability for run-time architecture adaptation by integrating FPGA configuration into regular operation. The MACROS Framework allows for run-time generation of Application-Specific Processors (ASPs) through the deployment, assembly and integration
of pre-built functional units; the framework further allows the relocation of functional units without affecting system functionality. The use of functional units as building blocks allows the system to be implemented on a piece-by-piece basis, which reduces the complexity of mapping, placement and routing tasks; the ability to relocate functional units allows fault mitigation by avoiding faulty regions in a device. The proposed framework has been used to implement multiple video processing systems which were used as verification and testing instruments. The MACROS framework was found to successfully support run-time architecture adaptation in the form of functional unit deployment and relocation in high performance systems. For large systems (more than 100 functional units), the MACROS Framework implementation effort, measured as time cost, was found to be one third that of a traditional (monolithic) system; more importantly, in MACRO Systems this time cost was found to increase linearly with system complexity (the number of functional units). When considering fault mitigation capabilities, the resource overhead associated with the MACROS Framework was found to be up to 85 % smaller than a traditional Triple Module Redundancy (TMR) solution.


BACKGROUNDRisk factors for ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt complications have not been assessed with population cohort data since the advent of modern surgical techniques. We examined demographic factors and VP shunt complications in a population-based retrospective cohort study of all nonfederal California hospital admissions between 1990 and 2000. METHODSWe identified all admissions in a statewide administrative hospital discharge database that indicated a VP shunt insertion. Repeat hospital admissions within California generating a discharge diagnosis of surgical shunt complication, defined as a shunt replacement, revision, removal, or exploration, represented the primary outcome of interest. We performed Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and Cox proportional hazards modeling to analyze sex, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status based on payer status, and type of hydrocephalus in relation to the risk of shunt complications. RESULTSThe annual population incidence of VP shunt placement was 5.5 per 100,000. Among 14,455 individuals with 65,040 person-years of follow-up, the cumulative complication rate at 5 years was 32%. Children demonstrated a higher rate of shunt complications than did adults at 5 years (48 versus 27%, P < 0.0001). The following demographic factors were independently associated with increased risk of shunt complications: male sex (hazard ratio [HR], 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.2), low socioeconomic status (HR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1–1.3), and age younger than 19 years (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.4–1.7). Compared with communicating hydrocephalus, obstructive hydrocephalus was also associated with increased risk of shunt complications (HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5–1.9). CONCLUSIONVP shunt complications are common, especially in children. Further study is needed to explain the associations between demographic factors and elevated shunt complication rates.


Conventional stereolithography uses a bath based system, in which a constant layer thickness is applied to realize 3D printing. This approach limits the fabrication of parts consisting of one material only. To overcome this issue, the authors developed a new approach for additive manufacturing using UV curing polymers. In a two step layer-by-layer process, first a liquid monomer film is applied using an Aerosol Jet. Two droplet generators allow the deposition of pure materials as well as various compositions of both materials. In this way, a discrete transition from one pure material to another one from one layer to another is possible. The Aerosol Jet is also able to atomize materials with viscosities greater than 1000 mPa s, allowing a wider range of materials compared to conventional stereolithography. After coating, a laser initiates the one photon polymerization reaction completing one cycle of the layer-by-layer fabrication. In this study, the penetration depth of the raw materials is investigated. In addition, the feasibility of hybrid stereolithography is shown in terms of solid freeform fabrication as well as the multimaterial approach in building direction.Conventional stereolithography uses a bath based system, in which a constant layer thickness is applied to realize 3D printing. This approach limits the fabrication of parts consisting of one material only. To overcome this issue, the authors developed a new approach for additive manufacturing using UV curing polymers. In a two step layer-by-layer process, first a liquid monomer film is applied using an Aerosol Jet. Two droplet generators allow the deposition of pure materials as well as various compositions of both materials. In this way, a discrete transition from one pure material to another one from one layer to another is possible. The Aerosol Jet is also able to atomize materials with viscosities greater than 1000 mPa s, allowing a wider range of materials compared to conventional stereolithography. After coating, a laser initiates the one photon polymerization reaction completing one cycle of the lay...


Independence Day is by far the most important state holiday in Ambanja, a prosperous town in northwest Madagascar. Although clearly a celebration of national liberation, it is nevertheless fraught with ambiguity. Events climax in a morning parade, when legions of school youth march through town in military formation. This procession';s historical antecedents are extraordinarily complex, where current stagings of independent state power rely heavily on hybridized forms drawn from competing hegemonic orders that span the precolonial to postcolonial eras. In Ambanja disjunction inevitably characterizes readings of the nation-as-homeland, a theme rendered explicit by statements offered by the very youth who define the parade's rank and file. This work explores the consequences of highly localized readings of homeland and their relevance to constructions of liberty, national identity, and the independent state.


The mechanical response of an impact-modified, discontinuous fiber reinforced styrene-maleic anhydride (S/MA) polymer has been characterized at static and high strain rates and under both dry and wet test conditions. Five different material configurations were tested, including unreinforced S/MA as a reference material and composites incorporating fiber reinforcement with different average diameters, the presence or absence of an interfacial silane coupling agent, and fibers prepared with an acrylonitrile/butadiene latex coating. The ultimate tensile strengths, strains to failure, fracture energies, and effective moduli for each of the materials were evaluated as a function of strain rate, which was varied between 1.67 × 10−3 and 6.0 mm/mm·s. The results of the tests performed on the unreinforced S/MA revealed a 60% increase in the ultimate strength and marked reductions of 80% and 50% in the strain to failure and fracture energy, respectively, with increasing strain rate. While all of the composites exhibited on the order of twice the strength, 2.5 times the stiffness, and less than a tenth of the strain to failure compared to the unreinforced S/MA, the dependence of these properties on the strain rate was much weaker. Significantly, the work of fracture more than doubled with the strain rate for all the composite configurations tested due to the comparatively small reduction in fracture ductility of about 25%. All of the materials showed some degradation in the mechanical properties when tested wet, a result that was particularly evident for the composites having no silane coupling agent which suffered about a 15% loss in strength and stiffness. A simple rule of mixtures calculation revealed that as the rate of testing was increased, more efficient reinforcement by the fibers was realized. Fractographic observations using a scanning electron microscope, viewed in conjunction with the experimental results, indicated that fiber debonding during composite deformation was limited by the inhibition of viscoelastic flow in the matrix material at high strain rates.


The population is aging all over the world and the proportion of seniors is increasing from 10 to 20 % of the total population. The number of serious injuries due to crashes increases from about 50 crashes per billion km for the age groups from 25 to 65 years old to more than 250 crashes per billion km for the older age groups. The impact of older drivers on road safety is due predominantly to age-related impairments. Considering the difficulties, both in gaining older drivers' compliance with safety measures and in avoiding difficult driving situations, and considering the limited effectiveness of additional in-vehicle devices, this paper proposes to enhance the safety of the infrastructure for elderly people. Studies examining roadway characteristics have mainly focused on intersections. Here, the roadway geometry has been analyzed. Two stretches of a very hazardous road were simulated using an interactive driving simulator. Two age groups of young and older drivers were tested. The speeds of younger and older drivers were compared along the roadway. The understanding of the road was also assessed through a comparison of the two age groups. It was found that, if the geometry of the roadway is complex and tortuous, the speeds of older subjects are generally much lower than the speeds of younger subjects. The dispersion of speeds is always much greater for older rather than for younger drivers. From the outcomes of this study, the self-understanding road is expected to be self-understanding for both younger and older drivers, but at a different level. Younger drivers make more correct manoeuvres than older drivers. This study concludes that the older drivers experience more difficulties in understanding roadway geometry. Keywords – Road safety, older drivers, driving simulation, self-understanding road, roadway design


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cyclic fatigue and torsional resistance of Reciproc Blue R25 (VDW, Munich, Germany), WaveOne Gold Primary (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland), ProDesign R (Easy Equipamentos Odontológicos, Belo Horizonte, Brazil), and X1 Blue File (MK Life, Porto Alegre, Brazil) nickel titanium (NiTi) martensite reciprocating instruments.

METHODS
In each group, ten instruments were tested for cyclic fatigue resistance using a stainless-steel artificial canal (curvature angle of 80° and radius of 3 mm) and ten instruments for torsional failure according to ISO 3630-1 standard. The surface of the fractured instruments was examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at ×250 magnification. The results were compared statistically with one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests and the alpha-type error was set at 5%.

RESULTS
X1 blue file and ProDesign Rinstruments showed highest time to fracture than Reciproc Blue and Wave One Gold (P<0.05). However, no differences were found between X1 Blue File and ProDesign R (P>0.05). In addition, Reciproc Blue demonstrated highest time to fracture than WaveOne Gold (P<0.05). The lowest torsional resistance (1.0±0.2 N.cm) and angle of rotation (412º±46) was observed in the ProDesign R group (P<0.05). SEM analyses of fractured surfaces showed a crack initiation area and overload fast fracture zone after cyclic fatigue test, and concentric abrasion marks with microvoids at the centre of rotation after torsional failure experiment.

CONCLUSION
Overall, X1 Blue File and ProDesign R showed higher cyclic fatigue resistance than Reciproc Blue and WaveOne Gold instruments, while ProDesign R had the lowest torsional resistance and angular rotation values to fracture. SEM analysis of all instruments demonstrated typical failures features in both cyclic fatigue and torsional failure tests.


Numerous brain lesion and fMRI studies have linked individual differences in executive abilities and fluid intelligence to brain regions of the fronto-parietal "multiple-demand" (MD) network. Yet, fMRI studies have yielded conflicting evidence as to whether better executive abilities are associated with stronger or weaker MD activations and whether this relationship is restricted to the MD network. Here, in a large-sample (n=216) fMRI investigation, we found that stronger activity in MD regions – functionally defined in individual participants – was robustly associated with more accurate and faster responses on a spatial working memory task performed in the scanner, as well as fluid intelligence measured independently (n=114). In line with some prior claims about a relationship between language and fluid intelligence, we also found a weak association between activity in the brain regions of the left fronto-temporal language network during an independent passive reading task, and performance on the working memory task. However, controlling for the level of MD activity abolished this relationship, whereas the MD activity-behavior association remained highly reliable after controlling for the level of activity in the language network. Finally, we demonstrate how unreliable MD activity measures, coupled with small sample sizes, could falsely lead to the opposite, negative, association that has been reported in some prior studies. Taken together, these results align well with lesion studies demonstrating that a core component of individual differences variance in executive abilities and fluid intelligence is selectively and robustly positively associated with the level of activity in the MD network.


This report describes the process of prisoner reentry in Michigan by examining the trends in prison admissions and releases in the state, the characteristics of the state's released prisoners, the geographic distribution of prisoners returning to communities in Michigan, and the social and economic climates of the communities that are home to the highest numbers of returning prisoners. Conducted in conjunction with the National Governors Association's Prisoner Reentry State Policy Academy, the report consolidates existing data on incarceration and release trends and presents a new analysis of data on Michigan prisoners released in 2003. The data used in this report were derived from several sources, including the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the U.S. Census Bureau.


This article is concerned with the question of whether luck egalitarians should view the outcomes of option luck, understood as deliberate and calculated gambles that individuals voluntarily choose to undertake, as fair. In his last published work on luck egalitarianism, G.A. Cohen developed a supposedly paradigm example of option luck gambling in order to support his argument that option luck never maintains fairness, other than by accident. Cohen maintains instead that the most that can be said for option luck outcomes is that they are legitimate, in the sense that those responsible for them do not have the right to complain about their subsequent levels of advantage and disadvantage. The article argues that Cohen's argument fails, and that a determination that the outcome in the case he describes is unfair is not generalizable to other instances of option luck gambles. The article contrasts two related, but distinct, intuitively plausible accounts of fairness: one that holds that inequalities between persons can only be justified if they correspond to some morally relevant difference between persons; and one that holds that justified inequalities need to result from, but need not correspond to, a morally relevant difference. If one affirms the latter account, one can plausibly maintain that the differential choices that different parties make in some option luck gambles confer fairness, rather than just legitimacy, on the ensuing outcomes. If one does accept such an account of fairness, then determining whether a particular option luck outcome is fair will depend upon a detailed appraisal of the nature of the gamble in question, and this may have significant practical implications for the justifiability of subjecting such an outcome to redistributive taxation.


Meet Providence Traveler. Providence likes to make things. Not just ordinary things like macaroni pictures, but things that have never been made before. So it is not surprising that her hero is Leonardo da Vinci, the great sixteenth-century artist and inventor. One day at the library, when Providence is taking out her favorite book, "Leonardo da Vinci: Boy Was He Busy," she finds a scrap of paper covered with interesting designs for what looks like a mechanical mouse with a key coming out of its back. Diligently she follows the instructions on the paper and builds the intricate mouse. Just as she is putting on the finishing touches, in barge her brother and the meddlesome McMuzzin twins, who turn the key in the mouse's back. Suddenly there is a sound like thunder and a flash of light...and the four find themselves transported to Florence, Italy, during the time when Leonardo was alive. Will Providence get to meet her hero?Gifted artist and storyteller Robert Sabuda introduces young readers to an extraordinary new character -- Providence Traveler -- whose curiosity and excitement will match their own. Providence leads readers on an exciting adventure, full of fun and fascinating information.


An effective frozen core approximation has been developed and applied to the calculation of energy levels and ionization energies of the beryllium atom in magnetic field strengths up to 2.35 x 10(5) T. Systematic improvement over the existing results for the beryllium ground and low-lying states has been accomplished by taking into account most of the correlation effects in the four-electron system. To our knowledge, this is the first calculation of the electronic properties of the beryllium atom in a strong magnetic field carried out using a configuration interaction approximation and thus allowing a treatment beyond that of Hartree-Fock. Differing roles played by strong magnetic fields in intrashell correlation within different states are observed. In addition, possible ways to gain further improvement in the energies of the states of interest are proposed and discussed briefly.


Intraspecific variations in seasonal phenology and growth physiology reflect adaptation to local climate. To explore the patterns of local adaptation along latitudinal and longitudinal clines, we used thirty-four populations of Salix eriocephala sourced from its natural ranges across Canada. The genotypes were examined for 6 phenology and 19 ecophysiology traits over two growing seasons under common garden condition. Photosynthetic assimilation rate (A) increased with increasein latitude when measured during free growth. In spite, the negative correlation between stomatal density and stomatal conductance (gs), higher A is facilitated via larger pore length among genotypes from short growing seasons. In addition, higher A, was positively associated with total leafnitrogen and leaf mass per unit area. No population level differences wereobserved for water use-efficiency (Δ13C), however nitrogen isotope discrimination (δ15N) displayed latitudinalclines. Growing season phenological traits considered in this study accounted highheritability (H2 = 0.65-0.94). Melampsora rust infestation also displayed a strong latitudinal cline with high-latitude genotypes being more susceptible. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that functional trait variations are largely explained by climate of origin and facilitate selection of parents with superior adaptive traits in the Canadian willow improvement program forbioenergy and environmental applications.


Abstract. "Pamir–Karakoram–Western-Kunlun-Mountain (northwestern Tibetan Plateau) Glacier Anomaly" has been a topic of debate due to the balanced, or even slightly positive glacier mass budgets in the early 21st century. Here we focus on the evolution of glaciers on the western Kunlun Mountain and its comparison with those from other regions of the Tibetan Plateau. The possible driver for the glacier evolution is also discussed. Western Kunlun Mountain glaciers reduce in area by 0.12 % yr−1 from 1970s to 2007–2011. However, there is no significant area change after 1999. Averaged glacier thickness loss is 0.08 ± 0.09 m yr−1 from 1970s to 2000, which is in accordance with elevation change during the period 2003–2008 estimated by the ICESat laser altimetry measurements. These further confirm the anomaly of glaciers in this region. Slight glacier reduction over the northwestern Tibetan Plateau may result from more accumulation from increased precipitation in winter which to great extent protects it from mass reductions under climate warming during 1961–2000. Warming slowdown since 2000 happening at this region may further mitigate glacier mass reduction, especially for the early 21st century.


Sustainable Consumption: Key Issues provides a concise introduction to the field of sustainable consumption, outlining the contribution of the key disciplines in this multi-disciplinary area, and detailing the way in which both the problem and the potential for solutions are understood. Divided into three key parts, the book begins by introducing the concept of sustainable consumption, outlining the environmental impacts of current consumption trends, and placing these impacts in social context. The central section looks at six contrasting explanations of sustainable consumption in the public domain, detailing the stories that are told about why people act in the way they do. This section also explores the theory and evidence around each of these stories, linking them to a range of disciplines and approaches in the social sciences. The final section takes a broader look at the solutions proposed by sustainable consumption scholars and practitioners, outlining the visions of the future that are put forward to counteract damage to environment and society. Each chapter highlights key authors and real-world examples to encourage students to broaden their understanding of the topic and to think critically about how their daily lives intersect with environmental and ethical issues. Exploring the ways in which critical thinking and an understanding of sustainable consumption can be used in daily life as well as in professional practice, this book is essential reading for students, academics, professionals and policy-makers with an interest in this growing field.


Evaluation system of grindability was proposed for advanced ceramics. Grinding forces and material removals of SiC, Al2O3, Si3N4 and ZrO2 were measured. Grindabilities of ceramics were evaluated with property parameters based on fuzzy comprehensive evaluation theory. The experimental results suggest that grindabilities of SiC and Al2O3 are better than those of Si3N4 and ZrO2. The fuzzy evaluation results show grindabilities of SiC and Al2O3 ceramics are classified as grade of very easy to grind, and Si3N4 and ZrO2 are classified as grade of difficult to grind. The ranking of maximum grinding principal stresses of ceramics considering Poisson's ratio is SiC, Al2O3, ZrO2 and Si3N4. Theoretical analysis calculated with property parameters is consistent with experimental results in comparison of grinding output parameters. The proposed evaluation system for ceramic grindability is feasible, and the evaluated results are comprehensive and reasonable.


Tizanidine hydrochloride is a centrally acting α -adrenergic agonist. Tizanidine HCl (tizanidine) is a white to off-white, fine crystalline powder, which is odorless or with a faint characteristic odor. Tizanidine is slightly soluble in water and methanol; solubility in water decreases as the pH increases. Its chemical name is 5-chloro-4-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)-2,1,3-benzothiodiazole hydrochloride. Tizanidine's molecular formula is C H CIN S-HCl, its molecular weight is 290.2 and its structural formula is:


Abstract In many languages a linker element is inserted between a noun N and a modifier or a complement of N. We focus on Albanian articles and on Iranian ezafes, and we introduce comparison data from Aromanian. In section 2, we provide arguments as to why currently available formal theories of linkers (as copulas, as case assigners, as means for identity avoidance) face problems when applied to Albanian or Kurdish. In section 3 we argue, on the basis of morphological, syntactic and interpretive evidence, that linkers (at least in the languages considered) form a constituent with the A(P) that follows them and that their category is D. Section 4 contains the theoretical core of the discussion. A linker D and a determiner D have in common the fact that they are both able to satisfy argument slots of a predicative head (e.g. A). However a D closing off a DP is an operator, establishing a relation between a restrictor (the NP) and a domain of quantification (a VP). A linker D is a bound variable – it provides a satisfaction for a theta-role ultimately bound by the higher D. A cross-linguistic typology of determiners, linkers and pronominal clitics based on this analysis is provided. In section 5 we extend the analysis to pre-genitival linkers, treating genitive case as an elementary part-whole relation, of which the linker saturates the external argument (the possessum).


Collaboration research focusing on occupational therapists and general education teachers working in the classroom environment is a timely issue. Indeed collaboration as a concept, is a pressing issue in contemporary literature and in practice. Within the context of USA practice
and Federal regulations collaboration is deemed best practice for providing services for students with special needs in the least restrictive environment. In addition, new guidelines encourage collaboration in general education classrooms to support all children in the classroom, not only children with special needs.

Though legal mandates relating to teaching children in the least restrictive environment underpin the need for collaboration, the literature review provides evidence that research highlighting what collaboration looks like in the classroom setting is unreported. Gaps in the literature indicate that while collaboration is deemed best practice, the extent to which occupational therapists and general education teachers are collaborating is limited. The
literature review findings include disparate definitions of collaboration, a wide-range of inconsistent terminology, a general lack of research crossing disciplinary boundaries, and limited practical application for guidelines for collaboration in general education classrooms. There is a need for research to inform professional practice and highlight promising new knowledge underpinning successful collaboration in education.

The purpose of this study is to combine a workplace-based project with rigorous research to provide a deep understanding of the phenomenon of collaboration between occupational therapists and general education teachers working together in inclusive classrooms. S'cool
Moves, Inc. is an education consulting company providing staff development and training for United States school districts, organizations, and associations. As S'cool Moves evolved and provided training aimed at improving collaboration and professional practice, gaps in academic
research and the professional knowledge base became evident. The study's objectives are to a) close the gap in research regarding occupational therapist and general education teachers collaborating in the classroom environment, b) contribute to the current body of knowledge
and professional practice through completing a rigorous research study focusing on collaboration between occupational therapists and general education teachers, c) revise the current S'cool Moves training framework to reflect the research findings, and d) evaluate the
extent to which the revised training framework meets the needs of the stakeholders who participated in S'cool Moves training sessions.

The study seeks to answer two research questions, 'How and to what extent do general education teacher and occupational therapist pairs in the USA collaborate successfully and to what extent do the systems, assumptions, and worldviews enable or disrupt such collaboration in primary school classrooms?' and 'How and to what extent does the S'cool Moves collaboration training framework integrate relevant theory and meet the needs of stakeholders in the teacher-occupational therapist collaborative relationship.'

The methodology adopted by the study assumes a pragmatist paradigm and mixed methods research design. Phase one of the study is qualitative and through the use of semi-structured interviews, seeks to uncover key elements of successful practice and deep insights in order to
understand how the occupational therapists and general education teachers developed collaborative relationships that enabled positive outcomes for students in the classroom
environment. Based on these findings, the S'cool Moves training program is refined and implemented. Phase two of the study seeks to validate the findings of phase one in terms of an evaluation of the S'cool Moves revised training program and the extent to which it meets the needs of the stakeholders.

An underlying premise of the study is that observable behavior is the manifestation of layered meanings and interpretations that are not as easily observed. In the case of studying the phenomena of successful collaboration between occupational therapists and general education
teachers, the Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) theoretical framework is adopted which proposes that the litany (headline data) is underpinned by a systemically structured environment created based on the assumptions of those associated with the phenomena either as active decision
makers or those who function within systems created by others. The assumptions are representative of the dominant worldviews those associated with the phenomena and the
assumptions are in turn, at the deepest level, influenced by long-held myths and metaphors largely stemming out of their socialization and education. Based on the research findings the definition of collaboration was refined, an A-E
Collaboration Cycle framework was developed and the 'One for All' collaboration strategy was introduced.

The study contributed to professional practice by applying research findings to underpin a training framework designed to provide evidence-based guidelines and strategies to enhance collaboration between occupational therapists and general education teachers working in classroom settings.

The study contributed to methodology in that CLA is applied outside its originating 'futures studies' context and evidences its appropriate application in contemporary social science and educational research contexts.

Through conducting the complex interweave of workplace-based projects and research, the case of developing professional leadership is evidenced by the multi-dimensional outcomes of the study. The ability to integrate empirical, methodological, and theoretical knowledge that
engages current work-based issues is illustrated and promises to broaden paradigms traditionally associated with the nexus between Higher Education and professional
development.

The study is limited in that the research findings can only be transferred or generalized in so much as those reading the study relate to the findings, trust the audit trail, find the researcher trustworthy, and view the research as supporting or enhancing previous theory generated from
the fields of occupational therapy and education. Future research is required to expand the findings to rural, urban, and suburban school districts throughout the US, as well as include other multidisciplinary support staff in the research.


This study examined the nutrient dynamics of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) resorption from senescing leaves in four hydrophytes. Differences in N, P, and K concentrations of green leaves during the vegetation season were studied to test the influence of plant strategy on nutrient resorption efficiency. Live leaves were tagged at defined canopy heights and collected in the period from March to August. Senescent leaves were collected in September. All tissue samples were analyzed for N, P, and K concentrations. Significant differences in N resorption and N utilization among the four macrophytes were observed. Particularly high values of N concentrations were detected in Phragmites australis in comparison with other species. However, these differences were not observed with respect to P and K resorption efficiencies and proficiencies. Nitrogen and phosphorus resorption efficiency was lowest in Glyceria maxima (22.0%) and highest in Phragmites australis (49.9%), indicating that minor proportions of these nutrients were translocated to the rhizomes during senescence. The analyses of changes in nutrient concentrations in green leaves during the vegetation season suggest that wetland species with different nutrient strategy uptakes can show similar final nutrient concentrations in plant tissue. In the present study, macrophytes were characterized by high leaf N concentrations, higher litter N concentrations, and lower values of NRE, which documents the high productivity of these plants and their importance in primary production in wetlands.


We consider the following problem: from a given set of gene families trees on a set of genomes, find a first speciation, that splits these genomes into two subsets, that minimizes the number of gene duplications that happened before this speciation. We call this problem the Minimum Duplication Bipartition Problem. Using a generalization of the Minimum Edge-Cut Problem, known as Submodular Function Minimization, we propose a polynomial time and space 3-approximation algorithm for the Minimum Duplication Bipartition Problem.


The incorporation of cadmium into clinker during the co-processing of waste with cement kiln was investigated. Cadmium contained reagent was added to the cement raw meal to produce clinkers after clinkerization process. XRD analysis and SEM-EDS analysis were employed to indentify the major mineral phase of clinker and the cadmium contained mineral phase. Leaching test, sequential extraction procedures were employed to evaluate the leaching potential of cadmium in clinker. The results show the stabilization rate of cadmium during the clinkerization process is low. The incorporation ratio of cadmium in C2S is 0.32%~1.14%, the incorporation ability of cadmium in C2S is higher than C3S. The major mineral phases of clinker with the incorporation of cadmium were CH, C3S and C2S. The average leaching concentration of cadmium of clinker was 1.4 μg/L, which was higher than the blank samples. BCR Sequential extraction procedures analysis of the clinkers show exchangeable, water and acid-soluble fraction and residual fraction were very small, while the reducible phase of cadmium was up to 95.13%.


Phytoremediation is a promising technology for the cleanup of petroleum contaminated soil. Total petroleum hydrocarbon TPH are elements of difficult management and they can cause carcinogenesis and toxicity in human. Different techniques have been used for the remediation of contaminated soils, but the phytoremediation is proposed as possible alternative, convenient and environmentally friendly than traditional physicochemical techniques. In this study two systems adopted; free surface flow (FSF) and sub-surface flow (SSF) to select which system is more suitable for plant to be applied in future study of phytotoxicity test. The preliminary test for two types of plants phragmites communis (The scientific name is phragmites australis) and Helianthus annuus was conducted in a greenhouse for 14 days. The diesel concentrations used in this experiment were (0,1,2,3,5)% Vdiesel/Vwater for both systems. Through this period the growth parameters measured; were wet weight, dry weight, stem length, root length and observation the withered for the two plants. From this work, SSF better than FSF and Phragmites communis is better in phytoremediation than Helianthus annuus.


Aging is a difficult stage in human life, due to the limitations it imposes and the nearness to death. Modern society tends to be prejudiced against oldness. When dementia is also present, prejudices can be transformed into rejection. The aim of this author tries to devise a phenomenological description of oldness and points out its potentially positive aspects. Following Scheller's classification of dementias (1965), this author tries to determine the common elements of their different forms, using the phenomenological method, which can be applied either to one or to many cases of aging or dementia, not being the number of observations the fundament of the study, as in the case of empirical sciences. Three essential features characterize the spatiality of aging: distance, reduction of mobility and coexistence of the essential and the tangential; temporality is characterized by slowing, coexistence of essential and trivial elements and predominance of present over future and past. In the case of dementias, all characteristics attributed to senescence are exaggerated and/or deformed, for example, «distance» is transformed into indifference or «slowing» becomes a paralysis of temporal development. Now, regarding the main forms of dementia, this author sees their common feature in the loss of the Ego's ability to rise above the immediate situation, to be able to reflect on the environment and on him or herself. This wide vision both of aging and of the dementia process enables the author to identify the prejudices weighing over old age that must be overcome, as well as the reasons to respect and take care of the elderly when they are caught in a process of deterioration (Rev Med Chile 2005; 133: 113-20). (Key-words: Aging; Dementia; Ethics, medical)