Full-duplex (FD) communications has the potential to double the capacity of a half-duplex (HD) system at the link level. However, in a cellular network, FD operation is not a straightforward extension of HD operations. The increased interference due to a large number of simultaneous transmissions in FD operation and real-time traffic conditions limits the capacity for improvement. Realizing the potential of FD requires careful coordination of resource allocation among the cells, as well as within the cell. In this paper, we propose a distributed resource allocation, i.e., joint user selection and power allocation for an FD multicell system, assuming FD base stations (BSs) and HD user equipment (UE). Due to the complexity of finding the globally optimum solution, a suboptimal solution for UE selection and a novel geometric-programming-based solution for power allocation are proposed. The proposed distributed approach converges quickly and performs almost as well as a centralized solution but with much lower signaling overhead. It provides a hybrid scheduling policy that allows FD operations whenever it is advantageous, but otherwise, it defaults to HD operation. We focus on small-cell systems because they are more suitable for FD operation, given practical self-interference cancelation limits. With practical self-interference cancelation, it is shown that the proposed hybrid FD system achieves nearly twice the throughput improvement for an indoor multicell scenario and about 65% improvement for an outdoor multicell scenario, compared with the HD system.


Students have the opportunity to apply their medical knowledge and skills for the benefit of their professional development and the social welfare of their community, engaging in different roles according to the level of expertise achieved in the training process. "We are currently experiencing a transcendental moment in clinical education because, in addition to the uncertainty that the medical student typically faces during an educational procedure, he or she has to face the fear of contagion and disease during the health contingency for COVID-19. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020 has had profound impacts on medical education, both domestic and abroad. In this consensus paper from the American College of Academic International Medicine, we systematically discuss the impact of the pandemic both immediately and long term on international medical education, bedside teaching, procedural teaching, didactics and curriculum, accreditation, and mental health of medical teachers and learners. We discuss some strategies that have been implemented to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic while providing reasons for hope in the future.


Great changes are afoot in the way we work. These changes spring from several concurrent factors. While the number employed in production industries is diminishing, the number in service fields and production of knowledge is expanding. The development of new products depends increasingly on research and development, and such information-intensive companies are the fastest expanding form of business. The rapid advancement of information technology is generating new conditions which affect the location, design, and use of the workplace. These conditions formed the background to four case studies of research parks and university buildings described and discussed in this paper.


Summary:

This submission is a supplementary material to the article [Coban 2020b]. As part of the manuscript, we release three simulated parallel-beam tomographic datasets of 94 apples with internal defects, the ground truth reconstructions and two defect label files.

Description:

This Zenodo upload contains the three simulated datasets, Datasets A-C, and the two defect label files. The three versions are a noiseless simulation (Dataset A); simulation with added Gaussian noise (Dataset B), and with scattering noise (Dataset C). The datasets are based on real 3D X-ray CT data and their subsequent volume reconstructions.

The defect label files contain tables of pixel numbers assigned to each defect present in the apples. Each row in the table corresponds to a single apple, and each column is a defect across the 94 apples. The two defect label files are apple_defects_full.csv and apple_defects_partial.csv: The former containing defect information for a full apple, and the latter for a selection of slices in an apple.

The ground truth reconstructions are also available through this project, via 6 separate Zenodo uploads:

 Apple CT Data: Ground truth reconstructions - 1 of 6
 Apple CT Data: Ground truth reconstructions - 2 of 6
 Apple CT Data: Ground truth reconstructions - 3 of 6
 Apple CT Data: Ground truth reconstructions - 4 of 6
 Apple CT Data: Ground truth reconstructions - 5 of 6
 Apple CT Data: Ground truth reconstructions - 6 of 6

The datasets are prepared for development and testing of data-driven, learning-based image reconstruction, segmentation and post-processing methods.

Simulation Setup:

Each projection in Datasets A-C contains 50 angles, taken over 180 degrees. The projections are evenly distributed over the half circle, with an angular increment of 3.6 degrees. The size of the projections is 50px x 1377px. In total we have 62792 projections for Datasets A and B, and 7520 for Dataset C. All projections are in .tif format.

We also include proj_angs.txt containing a list of projection angles in radians. These projection angles are the same for all three datasets.

List of Contents:

The contents of the submission is given below.

 Dataset_A:

 Simulated parallel-beam projections, each named as "data_appleNo_sliceNo.tif".

 Dataset_B:

 Dataset A with added 5% Gaussian noise, each named "data_noisy_appleNo_sliceNo.tif".

 Dataset_C:

 Dataset A with added scattering for a selection of slices, each named "data_appleNo_sliceNo.tif".

 proj_angs.txt: List of projection angles for all datasets.
 apple_defects_full.csv: The label defect information (in pixel numbers) for each apple for all slices.
 apple_defects_partial.csv: The label defect information (in pixel numbers) for each apple for a selection of slices.

Additional Links:

These datasets are produced by the Computational Imaging group at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CI-CWI). For any relevant Python/MATLAB scripts for the FleX-ray datasets, we refer the reader to our group's GitHub page.

Contact Details:

For more information or guidance in using these dataset, please get in touch with

 s.b.coban [at] cwi.nl
 vladyslav.andriiashen [at] cwi.nl
 poulami.ganguly [at] cwi.nl

Acknowledgments:

We acknowledge GREEFA for supplying the apples and further discussions.


Background
The proportion of undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in high-risk populations, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) is unclear. Identification of potential HCV transmitters is important to reach World Health Organization HCV elimination targets.

Methods
Between October 2015 and May 2016, we performed a systematic HCV RNA-based screening among HIV-infected MSM participating in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS). HCV antibodies were measured from all HCV RNA-positive samples.

Results
Of 4257 MSM recorded in the SHCS database, we screened 3722 (87%) by HCV polymerase chain reaction, and 177 (4.8%) harbored a replicating HCV infection. We identified 24 individuals (14%) with incident HCV infection; one-third of them had a negative HCV antibody result at the time of HCV RNA positivity. In a multivariable model, elevated liver enzyme values (odds ratio, 14.52; 95% confidence interval, 9.92-21.26), unprotected sex with occasional partners (2.01; 1.36-2.98), intravenous drug use (7.13; 4.36-11.64), noninjectable drug use (1.94; 1.3-2.88), and previous syphilis diagnosis (2.56; 1.74-3.76) were associated with HCV RNA positivity.

Conclusions
A systematic HCV RNA-based screening among HIV-infected MSM revealed a high number of potential transmitters. A substantial subpopulation of MSM had incident infection, one-third of whom had a negative HCV antibody test result at the time of the HCV RNA positivity. These data reveal that one-time RNA testing of a high-risk population for HCV RNA might identify more infected persons than routine testing for HCV antibodies and liver enzymes.

Clinical Trials Registration
NCT02785666.


This paper describes a system that allows users who obtain a "wearable ID key" to personalize dynamically ubiquitous computers by simply touching them. We call the concept of providing personalized service by touch "Active Personalization". For active personalization, users only have to wear a digital key and do not have to carry around other computers. When users touch ubiquitous computers with their wearable key, the keyholes of the ubiquitous computers recognize their IDs and can personalize the computers. We developed a new network technology between keys and keyholes that enables digital information to be carried through a person's body based on a near-field technology we call TouchNet.


Collagen XI, a member of the collagen family, is present in the extracellular matrix (ECM), and high collagen XI/αI (COL11A1) expression in tumor tissue is reportedly correlated with the clinicopathological parameters of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the function of COL11A1 in the development of pancreatic cancer cells remains unclear. In the current study, we assessed mRNA expression of COL11A1 and its receptors and created a testing-model of both a COL11A1-overexpressing tumor microenvironment and/or altered-COL11A1 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Next, we investigated the mechanism by which COL11A1 affects growth, gemcitabine (GEM) resistance and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. We demonstrated that COL11A1 phosphorylated AktSer473, promoting proliferation of cancer cells and inhibiting their apoptosis. Additionally, our data showed that COL11A1/Akt/CREB altered the balance between BCL-2 and BAX and mediated their mitochondrial translocation in pancreatic cancer cells. The COL11A1/Akt axis induced disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane function, enabling mitochondria-mediated apoptotic evasion to promote chemoresistance. We also explored the regulatory effect of COL11A1/Akt on molecular signaling in the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic program. COL11A1/Akt disturbed the BCL-2/BAX balance, inhibiting cytochrome c (Cyt-C) release and binding of Apaf-1/procaspase-9/Cyt-C, which suppressed the apoptotic program and induced GEM resistance in pancreatic cancer cells. In conclusion, COL11A1 modulates apoptotic inhibition and chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer cells by activating the Akt/CREB/BCL-2/BAX signaling pathway. COL11A1 may represent a distinct prognostic indicator and may be an attractive therapeutic target for PDAC.


Background Early childhood caries (ECC) is a preventable chronic disease. Parents' knowledge and attitudes toward oral healthcare have been associated with higher caries experience in their children. Mobile apps within the context of mHealth interventions are a potential tool for raising awareness and informing parents about their children's oral health. Objectives The aim of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of mobile health apps, targeted at parents and caregivers, for the prevention of ECC. Data sources A systematic search was carried out in five scientific databases; Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Study selection and data extraction Original studies, delivering oral health interventions to parents of children <6 years via smartphones, were included. Both quantitative and qualitative findings from the included studies were extracted. Synthesis A convergent segregated approach was used to integrate the quantitative and qualitative evidence, followed by side-by-side display and narrative synthesis. Results Out of 5,953 retrieved articles, five met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Three articles reported quantitative findings, while two reported both quantitative and qualitative findings. Four studies reported that a mobile app can be an effective tool to improve the oral health knowledge of parents/caregivers, aiding them in incorporating good oral health habits into their children's daily routines. Conclusion This review demonstrated that oral health promotion programs delivered through mobile apps to parents could be effective in improving child oral health awareness among parents. There is a need for more high-quality studies with a large number of participants to find out which features of mHealth interventions with parents could effectively be employed to reduce the prevalence of ECC. Further studies and apps should be developed based on evidence-based behaviour change techniques and incorporate features such as gamification to increase the effectiveness and engagement of the target population. Systematic Review Registration [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?], identifier [CRD42021268331].


The period 2002–2012 saw remarkable developments in multifaith education at American theological schools. Looking ahead, multifaith education in theological schools is poised to enter a new phase of broad engagement and development. This essay focuses on three aspects of the practice of multifaith education in seminaries. It first presents a brief historical overview of the initiatives and institutions that pioneered multifaith education in theological schools. It then summarizes findings from surveys, reports, and collegial gatherings about the pedagogy of multifaith education. Finally, eight questions for practitioners of multifaith education seminaries to explore in the future are offered.


When it was first published in 1992, The Macmillan Visual Dictionary redefined illustrated reference. Since then it has sold more than 180,000 copies! Now it is available with its own extraordinary CD-ROM -- the format that is redefining books. It addition to the book's 3,500 illustrations (reproduced electronically with the same exceptional clarity and amazing level of detail) and its 25,000 terms, it will contain: -- Selected animation of illustrated images (e.g., swimming strokes) -- All terms in three languages: English, Spanish and French -- Audio pronunciations for every term in all three languages -- An exhaustive index of every word, not just overall terms -- More than the usual "links" -- the Visual Dictionary with CD-ROM contains an astonishing array of cross-references and user-friendly research aids Now in one outstanding package, here are two genuinely extraordinary reference works. Each is detailed and comprehensive enough for the professional researcher yet easy to use in the home library.


Diamonds are very promising candidates for the neutron diagnostics in harsh environments such as fusion reactors because of their proven radiation hardness. In comparison to the standard neutron diagnostics currently used (i.e., fission chambers, silicon based detectors, scintillators) CVD diamonds are less sensitive to y rays, which represents a huge background in fusion devices. Furthermore, their low leakage current provides a high energy resolution. A CVD diamond based detector has been proposed for the measurement of the 14 MeV neutrons from DT fusion reaction. The prototype was arranged in a proton recoil telescope configuration, featuring a plastic converter in front of the sensitive volume, in order to induce the (n, n) reactions which generate the recoil protons. The segmentation of the sensitive volume, achieved using two crystals with two dedicated electronic readouts, allowed to perform measurements in coincidence, which suppressed the neutron-carbon elastic scattering background. A preliminary prototype was assembled and tested at FNG (Frascati Neutron Generator), showing promising results regarding efficiency and energy resolution.


Objectives and Settings: A growing Asian population currently resides in New Zealand, yet under half of this population claim the support they are entitled to in the face of an accident and injury. This research is focused on identifying ways of effectively engaging the Chinese community in health-promotion programmes to prevent and/or reduce injuries. Methods: Research field work was conducted based on a qualitative approach. Interviews were carried out with 32 members of the Chinese community and six experts from six different organizations working with the Chinese community in Auckland, New Zealand. Results: Interviews revealed that issues of resettlement and relocation, lack of communication, community readiness and community capacity all impacted on the delivery of health-promotion activities within the Chinese community. Conclusion: The findings led to a series of seven steps as guidelines to engage the Chinese community to prevent and/or reduce injuries towards improving the quality of their lives. The underlying principles of the guidelines helped in the development of a community engagement approach for Chinese communities in Auckland, New Zealand.


In theory, a sampled imager is optimized by removing all aliasing. One applies
presample and postsample filters at half the sample frequency; one avoids inband
spurious response by removing any frequency content beyond the halfsample
frequency before sampling; and one avoids out-of-band spurious response
by removing any frequency content beyond the half-sample frequency on the
display. It is possible to create a postsample filter that is close to ideal. How close to
ideal and how to do it are the main topics of this chapter. If the correct
interpolation function is used, a display with multiple pixels for each sensor
sample provides a good postfilter. Unfortunately, adding preblur beyond that provided by the optics and
detector is as likely to hurt performance as to help. There are multiple reasons for
this. One is that an "ideal" prefilter in the same sense as interpolation is not
possible. The postfilter is applied by digital manipulation of the samples. Once
the samples are taken, it is too late to apply a prefilter. Adding preblur by using slower optics, defocusing, adding fiber optic plates,
or other optical schemes degrades in-band MTF. Removing frequency content
beyond the half-sample frequency is good. Blurring the image to do it is probably
counterproductive. A third problem with adding preblur is that in-band aliasing might not be all
that important, anyway. Blur is undesirable. Noise is undesirable. Aliasing might
be undesirable, depending on the target, the task, the imager, and the range. Chapters 6, 7, and 8 discuss performance evaluation. The trade-off between
blur and aliasing can be made once a scenario is selected and target contrast, size,
and range are known. There are certainly times when degrading optical blur
improves range performance. Unfortunately, that kind of trade-off is scenario
dependent. Chapter 5 discusses interlace and dither. Both remove in-band aliasing by
providing better sampling of the scene. In the remainder of this chapter, the
benefit of display interpolation is discussed.


To meet a growing demand and a projected deficit in the supply of computer professionals (NCWIT, 2009), it is of vital importance to expand students' access to computer science. However, many researchers in the computer science education community unproductively assume that some students lack an innate ability for computer science and therefore cannot be successful learning to program. In contrast, I hypothesize that the degree to which computer science students make productive use of their out-of-domain knowledge can better explain the range of success of novices learning to program. To investigate what non-programming knowledge supports students' success, I conducted and videotaped approximately 40 hours of clinical interviews with 30 undergraduate students enrolled in introductory programming courses. During each interview, a participant talked as they solved programming problems, many of which were multiple-choice problems that were highly correlated with success on an Advanced Placement Computer Science exam. In the analysis of the interviews I focused on students' strengths rather than the typical decision to focus on students' weaknesses. I documented specific competencies of the participants and applied analytic tools from the Knowledge in Pieces theoretical framework (diSessa, 1993) to attempt to understand the source and nature of these competencies. I found that participants appeared to build upon several kinds of out-of-domain knowledge. For example, many students used algebraic substitution techniques when tracing the state of recursive functions. Students appeared to use metaphors and their intuitive knowledge of both iteration and physics to understand infinite loops and base cases. On the level of an individual students' reasoning, a case study analysis illustrated the ways in which a participant integrated her linguistic knowledge of "and" into her reasoning about the computer science command "and." In addition to identifying these specific applications of out-of-domain knowledge, this dissertation applies learning theories that had not previously been applied to computer science education. Through this application I extend the learning theories to the domain of computer science, propose refinements to the theories, and provide insights into participants' reasoning about particular computer science topics.


Preterm birth is delivery before 37 completed weeks. A study was conducted to evaluate the association of maternal serum concentrations of selenium, copper, and zinc, and preterm birth. There were 181 women in this nested case- control study, 90/181 (49.7%) term and 91/181 (50.3%) preterm pregnant women. The overall mean serum concentration of selenium was 77.0; SD 19.4microg/L, copper was 2.50; SD 0.52 mg/L and zinc was 0.77; SD 0.20 mg/L with reference values of 47-142microg/L, 0.76-1.59mg/L and 0.59-1.11 mg/L, respectively. For preterm birth, mean serum concentrations for selenium was 79.7; SD 21.6microg/L, copper was 2.61; SD 0.57 mg/L, and zinc was 0.81; SD 0.20 mg/L compared to that of term births: selenium (74.2; SD 16.5microg/L; p=0.058), copper (2.39; SD 0.43 mg/L; p = 0.004), and zinc (0.73; SD 0.19 mg/L; p = 0.006) respectively. In adjusted analysis, every unit increase in maternal selenium concentrations gave increased odds of being a case OR 1.01 (95% CI: 0.99; 1.03), p=0.234, copper OR 1.62 (95% CI: 0.80; 3.32); p = 0.184, zinc OR 6.88 (95% CI: 1.25; 43.67); p=0.032. Results show that there was no deficiency of selenium, and zinc; and high serum concentrations of copper in pregnancy. Preterm birth was associated with higher maternal serum concentrations of copper and zinc.


This investigation provides a preliminary examination of the difference between programmed and obtained reinforcement rates and its potential influence during treatment of aggression in a natural setting. Following a functional analysis that suggested that the aggression of a boy with autism was negatively reinforced, intervention was implemented by the boy's mother. Concurrent fixed-ratio (FR) 1 FR 1 schedules of escape were arranged for manding and aggression. When mands failed to compete effectively with aggression, obtained reinforcement ratios were calculated; these indicated that obtained reinforcement varied from the programmed schedule for aggression but not for mands. Increasing the rate of prompts for mands resulted in an increase in mands and a decrease in aggression to near-zero levels.


Attitudes and beliefs of parents about sport specialization may indicate why youth athletes decide to specialize. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between sport specialization level, ice hockey position, and the parent/guardians' attitudes and beliefs on sport specialization. Our results demonstrate that goalies were the most likely to specialize, and parents of specialized ice hockey players tend to believe that sport specialization helps their child achieve future sporting aspirations. Increased sport specialization may put ice hockey goalies at an increased risk for overuse injuries, and parents' beliefs about sport specialization may impact their child's sporting behaviors.


The cycles of a graph give a natural cyclic ordering to their edge-sets, and these orderings are consistent in that two edges are adjacent in one cycle if and only if they are adjacent in every cycle in which they appear together. An orderable matroid is one whose set of circuits admits such a consistent ordering. In this paper, we consider the question of determining which matroids are orderable. Although we are able to answer this question for non-binary matroids, it remains open for binary matroids. We give examples to provide insight into the potential difficulty of this question in general. We also show that, by requiring that the ordering preserves the three arcs in every theta-graph restriction of a binary matroid $M$, we guarantee that $M$ is orderable if and only if $M$ is graphic.


ABSTRACT Engabreen is an outlet glacier of the Svartisen Ice Cap located in Northern Norway. It is a unique glacier due to the Svartisen Subglacial Laboratory which allows direct access to the glacier bed. In this study, we combine both sub- and supraglacial observations with ice-flow modelling in order to investigate conditions at the bed of Engabreen both spatially and temporally. We use the full-Stokes model Elmer/Ice and satellite-based surface-velocity maps from 2010 and 2014 to infer patterns of basal friction. Direct measurements of basal sliding and deformation of lower layers of the ice are used to adjust the ice viscosity and provide essential input to the setup of our model and influence the interpretation of the results. We find a clear seasonal cycle in the subglacial conditions at the higher elevation region of the study area and discuss this in relation to the subglacial hydrological system. Our results also reveal an area with an overdeepening where basal friction is significantly lower than elsewhere on the glacier all year round. We attribute this to either water pooling at the base, or saturated sediments and increased strain heating at this location which softens the ice further.


To address the issue of increasing health care costs and overcrowded care giving institutions, there is an increasing focus on the use of mobile technology and biological sensors in developing better Tele-health systems. Remote monitoring of cardiac activity is a central endeavor of Telemedicine. This article describes the implementation and evaluation of the performance of an electronic health ECG monitoring system utilizing mobile phones and Bluetooth-enabled ECG sensors.


The development of a pitch pointing control system for an advanced high performance fighter aircraft using eigenstructure assignment and command generator tracking schemes is presented. A desired eigenstructure is first chosen to achieve a desired decoupling (i.e., pitch attitude and flight path angle), and to obtain a desired damping and rise time. The command generator tracker is next used to ensure zero steady-state error-to-step commands. The stability robustness to the parameter variations of the closed-loop system is evaluated in the sense of the conditioning of the achieved eigenstructure by using singular value analysis technique. The analysis and synthesis techniques for the pitch pointing control system are illustrated by applying the techniques to F-15 aircraft as a part of the NASA/USAF program named ACTIVE (Advanced Controls for integrated Vehicles). >


A problem arises in data mining, when classifying unbalanced datasets using Support Vector Machines. Because of the uneven distribution and the soft margin of the classifier, the algorithm tries to improve the general accuracy of classifying a dataset, and in this process it might misclassify a lot of weakly represented classes, confusing their class instances as overshoot values that appear in the dataset, and thus ignoring them. This paper introduces the Enhancer, a new algorithm that improves the Cost-sensitive classification for Support Vector Machines, by multiplying in the training step the instances of the underrepresented classes. We have discovered that by oversampling the instances of the class of interest, we are helping the Support Vector Machine algorithm to overcome the soft margin. As an effect, it classifies better future instances of this class of interest.


This thesis examines what it means to be a gendered subject in the context of organic
agriculture. Specifically, it considers the extent to which the ideological standpoint of the
organic agriculture movement facilitates the representation and construction of distinctive
gender roles, relations and identities within organic fanning. Three particular features of
organic agriculture have been identified that could potentially impact upon gender roles,
relations and identities: firstly, the organic movement has non-agrarian roots and has
therefore attracted individuals who are not part of the traditional gendered heritage of
agriculture; secondly, the basis of the organic ideology suggests a fundamentally different
approach to society-nature relations to that which dominates the agro-industrial model;
and thirdly, the ideology of the organic agriculture movement makes explicit reference to
the social relations inherent to agriculture and the role that organic fanning should take in
working towards a production process that is 'socially just'. These three reasons suggest
that the construction and representation of gender roles, relations and identities within
organic farming may be distinct from agriculture more widely, in which highly
'traditional' hierarchical constructions of masculinity and femininity have been shown to
persist.
Informed by perspectives within feminist geography, two phases of empirical research
were undertaken in order to address the research aim. The first phase involved a content
analysis of three publications drawn from the UK organic agriculture movement (and one
from conventional agriculture) and explored how gender roles, relations and identities
have been represented throughout its history. In the second phase the themes that emerged
from the textual analysis were explored in more detail through a series of in-depth, semistructured
interviews with forty-one men and women working on organic farms in the
county of Gloucestershire, UK, in order to critically assess the ongoing construction and
maintenance of gender roles, relations and identities within contemporary organic
fanning. The findings of the research show that organic agriculture is largely dominated by
'traditional' representations and constructions of gender roles, relations and identities.
However, they also show that organic agriculture does provide a space for alternative
configurations of gender roles, relations and identities. Nevertheless, these pose a
challenge to feminist understandings of what constitutes 'progressive' gender roles,
relations and identities since, paradoxically, they draw upon highly traditional notions
which associate women and nature whilst at the same time enabling women and men to
assume gender roles and relations that transcend conventional boundaries.


1. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a non‐invasive technique that uses hydrophones to monitor populations and ecosystem dynamics. Although many applications of PAM have been developed in recent years, it has never been used to identify a calling marine species.
2. The south pass of Fakarava Atoll, French Polynesia, hosts spawning events of many reef fish species, including the camouflage grouper Epinephelus polyphekadion, with a spawning aggregation abundance exceeding 17 000 individuals during the full moons of June and July.
3. The current study aimed to use PAM to distinguish camouflage grouper sounds among the vocal activities of all fish recorded during the aggregation periods. Audio recordings analysis resulted in the identification of 29 sound types, some of which showed diel and lunar patterns.
4. Temporal analysis of these sounds in relation to spawning activities allowed the identification of camouflage grouper calls. These calls can be described as a single pulse or a series of 'boom(s)' with a pulse duration of ~44 ms and a low dominant frequency of 103 ± 31 Hz. Video recordings show that the camouflage grouper produces the 'booms' to initialize spawner ascent and to promote synchronous gamete release into the water column.
5. The study highlights for the first time that PAM can be used to identify the previously unknown sound of a fish species. Moreover, we can use it to understand the phenology of some biological activities for improving the resolution of fish biodiversity assessments.


This qualitative study utilized the phenomenological psychological approach to describe and understand the experience of being a divorced or separated single mother. The participants in this study were five African American, five Caucasian, and five Latino divorced and separated single mothers. Their ages ranged from 27-52 years, and each had at least one biological dependent child. The findings show that being a mother was of utmost importance, and children were central in the lives of these women. Relocating or moving after divorce or separation was found to be necessary for closure and mental health while adjusting to the new lifestyle after divorce or separation. Family life after divorce or separation was characterized by quality time, less stress, and more freedom and control for the mothers. They had no regrets about leaving a marital relationship that did not work for them, but they had become aware of their need for preparation before marriage. Unlike the Caucasian and the Latino participants, the African American women were more accepted by their own community; but they also had more child responsibilities because the fathers of their children were the least involved in the lives of their children. In their responses towards the prevailing economic situation, the Caucasian participants were future oriented, the African American participants were oriented to the present, and the Latino participants were oriented to the past. This study showed the importance for mental health clients to be allowed to talk about their cultural and religious values in order to address existing conflicts such as being divorced, which is contrary to the cultural and religious values of marriage and the preservation of the


Cathepsins, are members of the papain superfamily of mammalian lysosomal cysteine proteases. Among others there are two prominent members with broad substrate specificity, these are cathepsin B and cathepsin L that are known to be involved in the process of intra- and extra-cellular protein degradation and turnover. However, the in vivo targets of cathepsin L in nervous tissues are yet to be identified. We examined by  immunofluorescence studies the distribution pattern of cathepsin L protein and determine the specific cell types synthesizing the enzyme in the brain of African giant rats ( Cricetomys gambianus) . Results showed that Cathepsin L protein was localized in various brain regions of the giant rats. In the telencephalon,  immunoreactivity was identified in cerebral cortex and subcortical structures, hippocampus, amygdala and basal ganglia. Within the diencephalon high density of positive signals was observed in mediodorsal and lateral posterior thalamic nuclei and medial habenular nucleus. In the mesencephalon, cathepsin L was detected in the substantia nigra and cerebral peduncles. Strong labeling in the hypothalamus was present in the anterior commissure and median eminence while in the cerebellum cathepsin L was observed in the deep white matter, granule cell layer, stellate, and basket cells of cerebellar cortex and in the Purkinje neurons. The distribution pattern and functional implications of cathespin L in relation to spatial memory establishment, learning coordination and disease mechanisms is discussed. Keywords : Cathepsin L, immunofluorescence, Cricestomys, brain


This paper presents a new design of transformer shape core with used in railway system via analyzed the magnetic vector potential in the form of partial differential equation. Finite element method is used to simulate threedimensional system. This paper focuses on the magnetic vector potential behavior on core transformer with V-connection, while the transformer was supplied voltage from three phase system. The unbalance input voltage is divided to three case studies in this paper: C-A couple phase, A-B couple phase and B-C couple phase from threephase system. In addition, a design of transformer shape core occurred on the corner that is the intersection between vertical core and horizontal core with 5mm radius curves. The simulation results compare magnetic vector potential between the original shape of transformer core and the new design of transformer core even though the supplied voltage are unbalanced. Nevertheless, the results shown that the new design of transformer core is more highly uniform a magnetic vector potential distribution in the transformer core and suitable for guideline for improving the shape of transformer core to reduce the core loss.


One of the most salient tasks in law is legal assessment, and concerns the problem of determining whether some case is allowed or disallowed given an appropriate body of legal norms. In this paper we describe a system and Protégé 4 plugin, called OWL Judge, that uses standard OWL 2 DL reasoning for legal assessment. Norms are represented in terms of the LKIF Core ontology, as generic situation descriptions in which something (state, action) is deemed obliged, prohibited or permitted. We demonstrate the design patterns for defining the norms and actual cases. Furthermore we show how a DL classifier can be used to assess individual cases and automatically generate a lex specialis exception structure using OWL Judge. We illustrate our approach with a worked-out example of university library regulations.


The binding properties of the Escherichia coli encoded single strand binding protein (SSB) to a variety of synthetic homopolynucleotides, as well as to single stranded M13 DNA, have been examined as a function of the NaCl concentration (25.0 degrees C, pH 8.1). Quenching of the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of the SSB protein by the nucleic acid is used to monitor binding. We find that the site size (n) for binding of SSB to all single stranded nucleic acids is quite dependent on the NaCl concentration. For SSB-poly(dT), n = 33 +/- 3 nucleotides/tetramer below 10 mM NaCl and 65 +/- 5 nucleotides/tetramer above 0.20 M NaCl (up to 5 M). Between 10 mM and 0.2 M NaCl, the apparent site size increases continuously with [NaCl]. The extent of quenching of the bound SSB fluorescence by poly(dT) also displays two-state behavior, 51 +/- 3% quenching below 10 mM NaCl and 83 +/- 3% quenching at high [NaCl] (greater than 01.-0.2 M NaCl), which correlates with the observed changes in the occluded site size. On the basis of these observations as well as the data of Krauss et al. (Krauss, G., Sindermann, H., Schomburg, U., and Maass, G. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 5346-5352) and Chrysogelos and Griffith (Chrysogelos, S., and Griffith, J. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 79,5803-5807) we propose a model in which E. coli SSB binds to single stranded nucleic acids in two binding modes, a low salt mode (n = 33 +/- 3), referred to as (SSB)33, in which the nucleic acid interacts with only two protomers of the tetramer, and one at higher [NaCl], n = 65 +/- 5, (SSB)65, in which the nucleic acid interacts with all 4 protomers of the tetramer. At intermediate NaCl concentrations a mixture of these two binding modes exists which explains the variable site sizes and other apparent discrepancies previously reported for SSB binding. The transition between the two binding modes is reversible, although the kinetics are slow, and it is modulated by NaCl concentrations within the physiological range. We suggest that SSB may utilize both binding modes in its range of functions (replication, recombination, repair) and that in vivo changes in the ionic media may play a role in regulating some of these processes.


Sociopragmatics has proven to be a challenging domain in language testing given that pragmatic expectations and assessments are highly cultureand context-specific (Liu, 2007). Thus, it is challenging to avoid constructirrelevant variance and to draw valid inferences on the basis of overall test scores. In an attempt to answer Roever's (2011) call for a "broadening of the evidence base that allows extrapolation inferences to a target domain of social language use in academic and non-institutional contexts" (p. 3), this study investigated the cognitive processes of university-level German learners of English when solving receptive sociopragmatic assessment tasks. Two groups of university-level EFL students with different amounts of exposure to the target language environment (each with n = 7) were asked to answer seven multiple-choice discourse completion tasks, taken from the American English Sociopragmatics Comprehension Test (AESCT), an intercultural sociopragmatics comprehension test that focuses on U.S.-American English as well as the academic context in the United States. Verbal report methodology was used to access respondents' cognitive processes while they were working on the tasks. By means of a grounded theory analysis, the author systematically investigated the respondents' strategic processing and compiled a taxonomy of 24 strategies in three categories: recall, evaluation, and other. A contrastive between-group investigation showed that respondents with higher exposure to the target language context showed a greater ability to contextualize, while candidates without exposure revealed a stronger reliance on the text and evaluation strategies to compensate for the lack of (experiential) knowledge. Although a final analysis with regard to the substantive aspect of construct validity (Messick, 1989, 1996) revealed that patterns in the data supported the trends hypothesized in the test construct, it also exposed some items that underrepresent the construct. The issue of underrepresentation will be discussed in further detail given that the results clearly reveal limitations of the multiple-choice test format for the assessment of (socio)pragmatic comprehension.


As the smart city concept and applications continue to evolve, traditional architects and urban designers are facing an increasingly uncertain future. This paper outlines an innovative educational format to bolster and perpetuate the interdisciplinary nature of architects and urban designers that resonates with both sustainable development (SD) and smart cities (SCs). By applying 'connective knowledge' to the concept of interdisciplinarity education, a method was established that uses the SC concept to expand upon and create a bridge between distant disciplines in the context of higher education sustainable development (HESD). As a complementary educational pedagogy to the 'whole institution approach' to reduce barriers in higher education institutions (HEIs), this paper highlights an opportunity to apply the SC concept as a basis to construct an interdisciplinary design workshop to focus on building inter-personal competence, targeting university-level students majoring in architecture and urban design. The design workshop used microcontrollers and sensors as these are scalable and easily learnt building blocks of the Internet of Things and SCs. The inter-disciplinary workshop ran for 16 weeks with 14 students majoring in architecture and urban design and electrical engineering. Based on interviews and course evaluations, the experiment was vetted using capacities of inter-personal competence in sustainable development. A series of insights and findings from the design workshop indicated positive initial outcomes that were used to form a set of working criteria for the interdisciplinary design workshop. Future work will include structuring empirical data collection and analysis and expanding collaborations with other distant disciplines such as public administration and social innovation, as delineated by the SC concept.


Background: Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary prerequisite for development of cervical cancer and its precursor lesion, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). However, HPV infection is not sufficient to drive this process, and genetic and environmental factors may also play a role. Methods/Design: The Cervical Cancer, Genetics and Environment Twin Study was established to investigate the environmental and genetic influences on variation in susceptibility to cervical pre-cancer in 25- to 69-year-old monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins recruited through the Australian Twin Registry. Reviews of Papanicolaou (Pap) screening histories were undertaken to identify individual women with a history of an abnormal Pap test. This was followed by detection of HPV in archival Pap smears of selected twin pairs to determine HPV persistence. Selected twin pairs also completed a detailed questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behavior, and HPV knowledge. In future analyses, under the assumptions of the classical twin design, case-wise concordance for persistent HPV infection and HSIL will be calculated for MZ and DZ twin pairs, and twin pairs (both MZ and DZ) who are discordant for the above outcomes will be used to assess the contributions of measured environmental risk factors. Discussion: The study examines factors related to HPV persistence and development of HSIL among female MZ and DZ twins. The results will contribute to our understanding of the natural history of cervical HPV infection and the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors in disease progression.


Background The incidence, pathogenesis, and prognostic effect of microvascular invasion on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain controversial. This study aimed to summarize the incidence, pathogenesis, role in clinical management, recurrence, and prognostic significance of microvascular invasion in PDAC. Material/Methods A literature review and meta-analysis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Systematic literature searches were conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar up to February 2021. Results Seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis. The incidence of microvascular invasion was 49.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 43.8–54.5%) among PDAC patients who underwent surgery. The weighted multivariate Cox proportional hazards model hazard ratio for disease-free survival of 8 studies was 1.78 (95% CI 1.53–2.08, P<0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference between the subgroups (P=0.477). The hazard ratio for overall survival of 14 studies was 1.49 (95% CI 1.27–1.74, P<0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference between the subgroups (P=0.676). Conclusions Microvascular invasion occurred in nearly half of PDAC patients after surgery and was closely related to disease-free and overall survival. Understanding the role of microvascular invasion in PDAC will help provide more personalized and effective preoperative or postoperative strategies to achieve better survival outcomes.


The individual components of magmatic rocks are being increasingly targeted to gain insight into volcanic systems. Here we demonstrate the use of Sr isotope microsampling to distinguish distinct populations of glass and plagioclase that represent the sources of components (liquids and crystals) within each erupted magma batch. We analyzed glasses and plagioclase feldspar crystal cores to characterize crystal cargoes and host liquids from pumice-fall units from the Minoan cycle, Santorini, Greece. Using this approach, we identify the magmatic components that interacted prior to eruption and formation of pumice clasts, allowing us to interpret the magma dynamics associated with each eruption. Varying degrees of complexity can be identified, from relatively simple cases where the crystals are in isotopic equilibrium with the glass, to more complex, such as the large caldera-forming Minoan eruption, which is characterized by at least two liquid components and three different crystal provenances.


Introduction: The possible effect of ageing on adrenergic mechanisms has been one of the most studied of the pharmacodynamic processes affecting responsiveness to drugs in old age. Drugs may exert their primary effect by acting on the sympathetic nervous system or unwanted drug effects may be the result of perturbation of normal sympathetic nervous system function. Because of the important role of the sympathetic nervous system in drug action, it is not surprising that those interested in ageing and drug response should examine various aspects of this system.


Concrete is a building material that is often used because it is strong against presses but weak to bending forces. A solution is needed to fix the weakness. To overcome this, this study was conducted to increase the strength of the compressive force and bending force on environmentally friendly earthquake-resistant concrete, as well as reduce the pollution of concrete materials in the Lombok LPG Terminal. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach starting from literature studies, repair preparation, implementation of improvements, strong press, and strong flexure tests, analysis and discussion, and conclusions. The results showed that the compressive and flexible strength of concrete that was given additional pineapple leaf fiber material with a composition of 15% had a strength greater than normal concrete. In conclusion, the utilization of pineapple leaf fiber in the manufacture of environmentally friendly earthquake-resistant concrete is able to increase the compressive strength and strong bending of concrete.


1. Two methods for the isolation of platelets are described in detail. Employing both methods, 55 isolations were made from 31 human beings and 20 isolations from 20 dogs. Both methods are based on the principle of using the platelet layer obtained by repeated fractional centrifugation. 2. The Blood Anticoagulant Platelet Isolation (A) differs from the Blood Saline Platelet Isolation (B). In Method A the following anticoagulants were used: sodium heparin, in various concentrations; sodium citrate; sodium oxalate; and magnesium sulfate. In Method B 10 to 15 parts of saline were added to 1 part blood to keep the blood incoagulable. 3. Special Platelet Isolation (P-I) tubes were designed to isolate the platelets in the final steps. 4. In both methods the platelets were washed with chilled 0.9 per cent sodium chloride solution. The final platelet suspension in saline was obtained free from red and white cells and plasma after six to seven centrifugations and washings. 5. Method A has the advantage of being less laborious. Method B may be preferred for studies of platelets obtained without anticoagulants. 6. The approximate platelet yield in each method varied greatly. It was found that high concentrations of heparin did not produce the highest yields of platelets. 7. Decreases of more than 25 per cent of the initial count were considered significant. The platelets isolated from blood containing sodium heparin, sodium citrate, and sodium oxalate did not significantly decrease in number following storage for a fairly long time. However, platelets isolated using magnesium sulfate and saline did decrease significantly after one to three days' storage at 1 to 4°C. 8. The isolated platelets did not appear to be morphologically altered. The cell outline was regular and the size did not vary extremely. 9. Both methods are recommended for securing pure platelet suspensions. Such suspensions should prove to be very satisfactory for studies of the physiology, the chemical constitution, and the physical properties of the mammalian blood platelet.


An experiment was conducted to study the effect of feeding diets containing fat sources with different fatty acid composition (fish oil, coconut oil or lard, 10 g/100 g diet) on exocrine pancreatic secretion in piglets after weaning. A total of 16 barrows were weaned at 4 wk of age; 3 d later, they were surgically fitted with a catheter in the pancreatic duct for continuous collection of pancreatic juice. Collections of pancreatic juice were made every other day starting 4 d postsurgically. Piglets fed the fish oil diet secreted a significantly greater volume of pancreatic juice than piglets fed the coconut oil or lard diets. The output [U/(h. kg(0.75))] of lipase was higher in piglets fed fish oil than in piglets fed lard or coconut oil. The output of colipase was greater in piglets fed fish oil and coconut oil than in those fed lard. The dietary treatments did not affect the output of carboxylester hydrolase. The output of trypsin was significantly lower in piglets fed lard than in piglets fed fish oil or coconut oil diets and the output of carboxypeptidase B was greater in those fed the fish oil diet. Protein, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase A, elastase and amylase outputs did not differ among the dietary treatment groups. The apparent digestibilities of nutrients and energy were measured in feces and did not differ among groups. Thus, the greater output of lipase in fish oil-fed piglets did not result in a greater digestibility of fat in this diet.


This study examines the relationship between corporate tax avoidance (CTA), earnings management (EM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) within a context of an emerging economy. The study employs system methods of moments (GMM) and logistic regression to establish whether firms in Ghana manage earnings and avoid tax to finance corporate social responsibility. The results show that almost all the firms sampled have engaged in some management of their earnings and tax during the period. The study also find evidence that an increase in CSR activities is associated with an increase in EM, suggesting that, sampled firms may use CSR as a cover for engaging in opportunistic behaviour such as earnings management. By extension, these results have important policy implications for policy makers in assessing the effectiveness of the tax laws.

 Key words: Corporate tax avoidance, corporate social responsibility, earnings management, developing country.


This study uses value-added methods to examine the effectiveness of Los Angeles elementary teachers and schools. The results show that teacher effectiveness varies substantially across the school district. Most of the variance in teacher effectiveness is within schools and not across schools. Traditional measures of teacher quality like experience and advanced degrees are weakly related to teacher effectiveness. Teacher effectiveness is more variable in mathematics than in language arts.


ABSTRACT Objective: Preconditioning exercise can exert neuroprotective effects after stroke; however, the effects of exercise intensity, frequency, duration are unknown. We investigated the neuroprotective effect of different frequency preconditioning exercise on neuronal apoptosis after cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods: Rats were divided into the following five groups: 5 times a week of exercise (5/w-Ex) group, 3 times a week of exercise (3/w-Ex) group, once a week of exercise (1/w-Ex) group, no exercise (No-Ex) group, and intact control (control) group. Rats were made to run on a treadmill for 30 min per day at a speed of 25 m/min for 3 weeks. After the running program, the rats were subjected to 60-min left middle cerebral artery occlusion. Two days after ischemia, the cerebral infarct volume, neurological and motor function, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) ratio, expression of caspase-3, and TUNEL positive cells were examined in the cerebral cortex surrounding the ischemic zone. Results: The 3/w-Ex and 5/w-Ex groups showed significantly reduced infarct volumes compared with the No-Ex group, but the 1/w-Ex group did not. In addition, the 3/w-Ex and 5/w-Ex groups had improved neurological scores and sensorimotor function compared with the No-Ex group. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, expression of caspase-3, and TUNEL-positive cells significantly decreased in the penumbra area in the 3/w-Ex or 5/w-Ex groups compared with the No-Ex group. Discussion: Our findings suggested that three times or more per week of high-intensity preconditioning exercise exert neuroprotective effects through the downregulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-3 activation after stroke. Abbreviations: TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated dUTP nick and labeling; MCAO:middle cerebral artery occlusion; BAX:Bcl-2-associated X protein; Bcl-2: B-cell lymphoma 2; TTC: 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazorlium chloride


Limiting amounts of the common receptor subunit γc result in asymmetric cross-talk among cytokines. Hierarchical sharing of the γc subunit Cytokines that belong to the common gamma chain (γc) family, including interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-7, and IL-21, not only bind to distinct receptor subunits but also rely on a shared γc subunit for signaling. Given the roles of these cytokines in immune cell survival, proliferation, and function, it is important to understand how their shared use of the γc receptor affects the responses of cells to multiple family members. Through computational modeling and experimental analysis of cytokine receptor signaling on naïve T cells, Gonnord et al. showed that whereas treatment with IL-7 reduced the responses of cells to subsequent treatment with IL-4 or IL-21, the reverse was not true. The amount of available γc subunit was limiting and bound more readily to the IL-7 receptor α subunit (IL-7Rα) than to IL-4Rα or IL-21Rα, thus sequestering the γc subunit. The γc subunit preassociated with the IL-7Rα in the absence of cytokine. These data suggest that there exists a hierarchy of responses of naïve T cells to cytokines, which has relevance for cells in inflammatory environments exposed to multiple cytokines. Cytokines belonging to the common gamma chain (γc) family depend on the shared γc receptor subunit for signaling. We report the existence of a fast, cytokine-induced pathway cross-talk acting at the receptor level, resulting from a limiting amount of γc on the surface of T cells. We found that this limited abundance of γc reduced interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-21 responses after IL-7 preexposure but not vice versa. Computational modeling combined with quantitative experimental assays indicated that the asymmetric cross-talk resulted from the ability of the "private" IL-7 receptor subunits (IL-7Rα) to bind to many of the γc molecules even before stimulation with cytokine. Upon exposure of T cells to IL-7, the high affinity of the IL-7Rα:IL-7 complex for γc further reduced the amount of free γc in a manner dependent on the concentration of IL-7. Measurements of bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) between IL-4Rα and γc were reduced when IL-7Rα was overexpressed. Furthermore, in a system expressing IL-7Rα, IL-4Rα, and γc, BRET between IL-4Rα and γc increased after IL-4 binding and decreased when cells were preexposed to IL-7, supporting the assumption that IL-7Rα and the IL-7Rα:IL-7 complex limit the accessibility of γc for other cytokine receptor complexes. We propose that in complex inflammatory environments, such asymmetric cross-talk establishes a hierarchy of cytokine responsiveness.


This is a sophisticated and nuanced introduction to critical discourse analysis (CDA) that covers a range of topics in an accessible, engaging style. With international examples and an interdisciplinary approach, readers gain a rich understanding of the many angles into critical discourse analysis, the fundamentals of how analysis works and examples from written texts, online data and images. This new edition: • expands coverage of multimodality •adds two new chapters on social media and analysis of online data •supports learning with a guided introduction to each chapter •includes a new and extended glossary Clearly written, practical and rigorous in its approach, this book is the ideal companion when embarking on research that focuses on discourse and meaning-making.


In multi-tier storage systems with large amounts of data, most of the data is stored on inexpensive slower tiers such as cloud or tape to achieve cost savings. This also implies that retrieving the data from the slower storage tiers incurs high latency. Therefore, it would be beneficial to proactively prefetch data from slower tiers to faster tiers by predicting future data accesses. State-of-the-art access prediction methods typically record access history of individual files, data objects, or data segments. However, in systems with large amounts of infrequently accessed (or cold) data, file-level access history is often unavailable for much of the data due to the low frequency of access. In this paper, we extract information from file metadata to predict file accesses in a storage system. The proposed method relies on the hypothesis that users and applications access data stored in the system in a given context and that the context and, therefore, the set of files that are likely to be accessed can be identified by detecting access patterns in file metadata. As an application, we consider the LOFAR radio telescope's long term archive, where the access patterns are learned based on a rich set of metadata, and these patterns are then used to make predictions as to likely future accesses by the astronomers.


The genetic variation of Duddingtonia flagrans, which has become a promising biocontrol agent of animal parasitic nematodes, was investigated in a worldwide collection of 22 isolates. We analysed the sequence variation in four nuclear genes, tubA (beta-tubulin), CMD1 (calmodulin), EF1alpha (translation elongation factor 1alpha), and PII (extracellular serine protease). 1428 aligned base pairs (bp) were analysed from the four genes, including 709 bp of introns. In addition, the variations in three anonymous genomic regions comprising 1155 bp were examined. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in the seven loci, none of them in the protein encoding genes. The genetic variation was significantly higher in the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora, the closest evolutionary relative to D. flagrans. Analysis of 12 isolates of A. oligospora revealed 30 SNPs in tubA, CMD1, EF1alpha and PII. The genetic variation in the isolates of D. flagrans was further examined using AFLP analysis. Five primer combinations were used to detect 159 bands, of which 94 (59.1%) were polymorphic. A neighbour-joining tree based on the AFLP data showed no clear association between genotype and geographical origin. Furthermore, the AFLP data suggest that D. flagrans is mainly clonal and no recombination could be detected, not even within the same country. The low genetic variation in D. flagrans suggests that this fungus has recently diverged from a single progenitor. Based on estimations of mutation rates, it was calculated that this most recent common ancestor lived about 16,000-23,000 years ago.


Expansion joints are non-standard devices whose shape and parameters could vary with temperature, pressure, displacement and cycle life, so it's drawing work is very burdensome. Expansion joint industry is badly in need a set of accurate, reliable and stong practical professional graphics software. Therefore this paper carried out targeted secondary development of the software on the basis of digestion and absorption of SolidWorks2010 so as to meet the urgent needs of expansion joints industry. The structure of most parts of bellows expansion joints is not complex, and their geometry are relatively simple and fixed, so it is very suitable for parametric modeling method.


The NOAA-KLM satellites (NOAA-15 to 18) are the current polar-orbiting operational environmental satellites (POES) that carry the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). This study examines the calibration stability and consistency of all three infrared channels (3.7, 11.0 and 12.0 μm) of AVHRR onboard NOAA-15 to 18. The short-term stability is examined from variations of the scan-by-scan gain response, while the long-term stability and calibration consistency are examined by tracking the trends of gain response and measured scene brightness temperatures. The relative differences of observed scene brightness temperatures among NOAA-15 to 18 AVHRR are determined using MODIS as a transfer radiometer based on observations from simultaneous nadir overpasses (SNO). Results show that variations of the scan-to-scan gain responses are within 0.10% under normal operational conditions, while long-term gain changes over six years from 2001 to 2006 vary from 2 to 4% depending on channel. Long-term trending results show that total six-year drifts in observed brightness temperature from NOAA-15 to 18 AVHRR are less than 0.5 K for a given scene temperature in the 250 to 270 K range for the 3.7, 11.0 and 12.0 μm channels, respectively. The calibration consistency is examined for a scene temperature range of 220 to 290 K. The temperature biases among NOAA-16 to 18 AVHRR are within ±0.5 K for the 11.0 and 12.0 μm channels. For NOAA-15 AVHRR, biases of –2.0 K at 11.0 μm and –1.5 K at 12.0 μm are found in comparison with others at the low end of the temperature range. For the 3.7 μm channel, relative biases up to a few degrees among NOAA-15 to 18 could be found at low brightness temperatures.


Global Financial Crisis has revealed major weakness in the design and implementation of the existing economic governance framework of the European Union. In addition, the first temporary fiscal backstop is EFSF (The European Financial Stability Facility) as a temporary crisis resolution mechanism by the Euro area Member States. In this case, The EFSF does not provide any further financial assistance, so the task of EFSF being replace by the new mechanism that includes the establishment of a permanent crisis management mechanism as the safeguard against imbalances in individual countries that is ESM (European Stability Mechanism).
            Spain as one of the Eurozone Member States that fall on financial crisis caused by disproportionate growth in the real estate sector, along with the expansion of credit, on 25 June 2012 made an official request for financial assistance through ESM for its banking system. In accordance with MoU, Spain must conduct a structural adjustment program through identifying individual bank capital needs, recapitalising and restructuring.


In this publication the simulation quality for the application in an ADAS test system is investigated. First requirements regarding to the light transport and image generation system are defined. Next the different shadow simulation techniques are compared to a real scene. In general computer graphics images are too ideal for the evaluation of image processing algorithms, e.g. the contribution of scene background is not depending on the distance. Therefore different approaches for increasing the perceived realism, such as depth-of-field, motion-blur and noise are analyzed. Finally the strength of a calibrated camera simulation is demonstrated by comparing hypotheses generated by vehicle detection system in a real scene and in the simulation.


Introduction: The Healthy Cities approach was initiated and has been promoted through the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region (WPRO) since the late 1980s, and its implications have been rapidly realized. The Alliance for Healthy Cities together with the WPRO and member cities organize global conference every two years. The 7th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC) was held in Wonju, the Republic of Korea, from 29th August to 1st September, 2016 with the main theme of "Our Cities, Our Health, Our Future."
 Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the outcome of the 7th Global Conference of the AFHC intern of participant's satisfaction and economic effects, and to provide future direction of Healthy Cities conferences.
Methods: This study applied a self-reported questionnaire survey for participant's satisfaction survey. Questionnaires with Likert-type scales were distributed among the conference participants on the last day of the conference. Independent sample t-test was used to see the difference in the satisfaction level between Korean and foreigners. Economic effect was also evaluated using six indicators of production effect, income-induced effect, labor-induced effect, induced value-added effect, induced workers effect, and indirect tax repercussion effect.
Result: The conference provided abundant opportunity for innovative learning and experience sharing between countries, member cities, and academia with a multi-linguistic approach. Satisfaction survey showed that most of the participants were satisfied with contents and organization of the conference. Average satisfaction was more than 4 for most of the aspects except for food and organizational arrangement. Overall cost-effectiveness, including secondary economic-effect, was more than 2.6 million USD.
Conclusion: The satisfaction of the conference was evaluated as a successful case of conducting a global conference with an attraction of participants over the World. The conference had good outcomes in term of participant's satisfaction and economic impact.


Distributed generation (DG) system ranging in size from a few kilowatts up to 50 MW refers to a variety of small, modular power-generating technologies connected to the electric grid which combined with energy management and storage systems to improve the operation of electricity delivery systems. DG provides solutions to two long standing problems of power system operation: nonavailability at all times of sufficient power generation to meet peak demands and the lack of capacity of existing transmission lines to carry all the electricity needed by consumers. Installing DG at or near a customer load can eliminate the need to upgrade existing transmission and distribution networks to handle the extra power requirement. The paper presents a model of the photovoltaic fuel generator (PVFC) for localized load management. Results obtained for dynamic and steady-state characteristics are presented and discussed. Photovoltaic systems employ direct current motors; therefore understanding of the system operation and the matching of the system components for a particular PV system, DC motor type, and load type are important factors of this system design. The performance of DC motor powered by PV generator connected the load, were analysed with respect to the transient (starting) and steady state operation. Since the PV generator is a nonlinear and time dependent power supply with output that varies with the insolation (hourly and daily). In all cases the DC motor load is more compatible with the PV generator.


We revisit the performance of template-based APR to build comprehensive knowledge about the effectiveness of fix patterns, and to highlight the importance of complementary steps such as fault localization or donor code retrieval. To that end, we first investigate the literature to collect, summarize and label recurrently-used fix patterns. Based on the investigation, we build TBar, a straightforward APR tool that systematically attempts to apply these fix patterns to program bugs. We thoroughly evaluate TBar on the Defects4J benchmark. In particular, we assess the actual qualitative and quantitative diversity of fix patterns, as well as their effectiveness in yielding plausible or correct patches. Eventually, we find that, assuming a perfect fault localization, TBar correctly/plausibly fixes 74/101 bugs. Replicating a standard and practical pipeline of APR assessment, we demonstrate that TBar correctly fixes 43 bugs from Defects4J, an unprecedented performance in the literature (including all approaches, i.e., template-based, stochastic mutation-based or synthesis-based APR).


Following the modification of the boundaries of the territorial administrative units (UAT), but also of the county limits, the land books are influenced on a case-by-case basis, so that it is updated through documentation.The present work was done for the purpose of inscribing the C1 construction – "Wind power plant" in a book land affected by the UAT limit change; on the building CFE 30157 outside the built-up area of Toplet, UAT Toplet, following the measurements and the office operations, a documentation on interrupted flow, on service code: MODUAT with deposit at BCPI Caransebes / OCPI Caras-Severin, in order to update according to the new UAT limits, building CFE 30157 Toplet, UAT Toplet passing Orsova (out of town), UAT Orsova, according to the limits of E-Terra III.The "MODUAT" documentation obtains both the location and delimitation plan (PAD) targeted by the Office of cadaster and real estate advertising Caras-Severin on the outside the built-up area of Orsova, UAT Orsova (which belongs to OCPI Mehedinti). By using this PAD, the documentation will be submitted on the code "2.1.1 – First real estate registration" + "2.6.1 – Construction registration" at BCPI Orsova / OCPI Mehedinti, containing a specification in the technical memory that the building is also affected by the modification of the UAT limit. The proof is the PAD endorsed by OCPI Caras-Severin.As a result, the cadastral inspector allocates a new cadastral number and a new land book number of the building "CFE 30157 Toplet, UAT Toplet", namely CFE 54023 outside the built-up area of Orsova, UAT Orsova and also inscribes in the new land book the building C1-54023 – "Wind power plant", thus issuing: End of admission of land book CFE 54023 Orsova, UAT Orsova, Information extract of the land book CFE 54023 Orsova, UAT Orsova as well as the Plan of location and delimitation of the building CFE 54023 Orsova, UAT Orsova.In order to avoid double evidence, following the allocation of the new cadastral number and the new land book number on UAT Orsova, by BCPI Orsova / OCPI Mehedinti, according to UAT and county limits based on E-Terra III data, the beneficiary of the documentation of "MODUAT", respectively "First real estate registration" request to terminate the land book no. 30157 Toplet, UAT Toplet at BCPI Caransebes on the code "2.4.1 – Deletions" + the code "2.5.1M – Material error correction". The application will display the following: End of book admission land CFE 54023 Orsova; the site and delimitation plan (PAD) targeted by the Cadastre Office and real estate advertising Caras-Severin on the built-up area outside Orsova, UAT Orsova; the site plan and delimitation (PAD) targeted by the Office of cadaster and real estate advertising Mehedinti on Orsova, UAT Orsova as well as a copy after the identity document, following that at the term assigned to the request the chief registrar should order the cessation of land book no. 30157 Toplet, UAT Toplet.


The antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs) found in mouse lymphoid tissues are heterogeneous. Several types of DCs have been identified on the basis of the expression of different surface molecules, including CD4, CD8alpha, and DEC-205. Previous studies by the authors showed that the mouse intrathymic lymphoid-restricted precursors (lin(-)c-kit(+)Thy-1(low)CD4(low)) can produce DCs in the thymus and spleen upon intravenous transfer, suggesting a lymphoid origin of these DCs. In the current study, the potential for DC production by the newly identified bone marrow (BM) common lymphoid precursors (CLPs), common myeloid precursors (CMPs), and committed granulocyte and macrophage precursors was examined. It was found that both the lymphoid and the myeloid precursors had the potential to produce DCs. All the different DC populations identified in mouse thymus and spleen could be produced by all these precursor populations. However, CLPs produced predominantly the CD4(-)CD8alpha(+) DCs, whereas CMPs produced similar numbers of CD4(-)CD8alpha(+) and CD4(+)CD8alpha(-) DCs, although at different peak times. On a per cell basis, the CLPs were more potent than the CMPs at DC production, but this may have been compensated for by an excess of CMPs over CLPs in BM. Overall, this study shows that the expression of CD8alpha does not delineate the hemopoietic precursor origin of DCs, and the nature of the early precursors may bias but does not dictate the phenotype of the DC product.


The psychosocial toll of caring for an individual with dementia is an important, if understudied, concept. For practitioners and researchers alike, understanding the relation between patient characteristics and different facets of caregiver burden is important for guiding treatment and prevention efforts. The current study analyzed the dimensions of caregiver burden and the relation between caregiver burden and results of neuropsychological testing. Participants included 243 dyads of caregivers and Veterans referred for neuropsychological evaluation. Caregivers completed the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) to assess caregiver burden. Patients completed a battery of neuropsychological tests measuring the domains of attention/processing speed, memory, language, and executive functioning. A principal components analysis of the ZBI revealed a three-factor structure: psychosocial burden, dependency burden, and guilt. Correlations with neuropsychological test performance by Veteran patients suggested that test performance in the memory, attention, processing speed, executive functioning, and emotional functioning domains were solely related to the caregiver dependency burden factor of the ZBI. Additional analyses suggested severity of dementia and number of tests in the impaired range further influenced reported caregiver burden. The current study is one of the few studies examining caregiver burden in relation to neuropsychological functioning in a mixed clinical sample and has important implications for clinical practice.


1. Unitary Na+ channel currents were recorded from isolated guinea‐pig ventricular myocytes using the cell‐attached patch‐clamp technique with high [Na+] in the pipette to enhance the signal‐to‐noise ratio. 2. The probability that the channel enters the inactivated state (I) directly from resting states (C) was investigated over a wide range of membrane potentials. 3. At membrane potentials of ‐60 mV or more positive, Markov chain theory was used to estimate the probability of C‐‐‐‐I from histograms of the number of channel openings per depolarizing period. Holding potentials at least as negative as ‐136 were required to ensure that all channels resided in C prior to depolarization. 4. At membrane potentials negative to ‐60 mV, a two‐pulse protocol was employed to determine the probability of C‐‐‐‐I from the fraction of blank sweeps during the pre‐pulse with correction for missed events. 5. The probability of C‐‐‐‐I was found to be steeply voltage dependent at negative potentials, falling from 0.87 +/‐ 0.03 (mean +/‐ S.D.) at ‐91 mV to 0.42 +/‐ 0.01 at ‐76 mV. At potentials positive to ‐60 mV, this probability was less steeply voltage dependent and decayed to near zero at 0 mV. 6. Under physiological conditions, C‐‐‐‐I transitions may produce appreciable Na+ channel inactivation at diastolic potentials. At potentials above the action potential threshold, inactivation is much more likely to occur from the open state.


The study addresses the question of whether or not the EU's foreign policy towards Latin American Southern Cone States (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, which created, in 1991, the Southern Cone Common Market - MERCOSUR) has become more cooperative since the mid-to-end 1980s, and why a change, if any, has occurred. It explores recurrent explanatory factors pointed out in the literature (EU's intention to balance the US hegemony, accession of Portugal and Spain to the EU, and the processes of democratization, economic liberalization, and regional integration taking place in the Southern Cone States) in two case studies, foreign direct investment and agricultural trade. The conceptual framework includes hypotheses derived from three theoretical approaches in the discipline of International Relations: Neorealism, Utilitarian Liberalism, and Identity-Constructivism.


The main aim of the paper is to present a developed methodology of simulation of the energy efficiency of a selected energy storage unit. The authors focused their actions on batteries that could be the base for an energy storage system possible to apply in a modernized hybrid-shunting locomotive. Three different nickel-cadmium batteries were selected as representatives for the study. Simulation was focused on repeated cycles of charging and discharging the batteries. The simulation model generally consists of three main components: a specified load cycle, a dynamic model of the DC electrical machine and a model of the Ni-Cd battery. The input data for the battery model is based mostly on the parameters provided by the manufacturer data sheets. However, an internal resistance had to be measured for each battery. Conducted simulations provided information about the electromotive force, state of charge, an average efficiency of the battery, as well as the temperature changes during the cycle. The proposed approach to the battery simulation can be also applied for the loading cycles similar to those that occur during the actual operation of the locomotive. The current study is a part of the project focused on modernization of the dieselelectric shunting locomotive to the hybrid one.


Venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP) was originally developed to study the physiology of the arterial circulation in the extremities. Improvements in plethysmographic instruments have now made bedside evaluation of peripheral hemodynamics feasible. In recent years, VOP has been employed for the detection of deep vein thrombosis. Combined analysis of the venous volume increase and the subsequent venous outflow in 3 sec, and measured by impedance plethysmography, has produced a 95% correlation with venography in detecting thrombosis of the popliteal, femoral, and iliac veins in 390 limbs. The method is inadequate for detection of isolated calf thrombi.


ABSTRACT This two-stage study was conducted to examine the awareness of policy and underlying pedagogy as well as the use of reflective practice by teaching staff (faculty) within a Scottish university. In the first stage, teaching staff completed a questionnaire; of these 14 then took part in stage two, semi-structured interviews. Interview transcripts were subject to thematic analysis and three main themes emerged: (1) The methods and processes of reflection ('How'); (2) The personal and organisational drivers for employing reflective practices ('Why'); and (3) The barriers to reflection ('Why not'). Significant findings included the dominance of traditional (paper-based as opposed to computer mediated) reflective writing in teaching staff's own reflection, and the importance of both formal and informal group reflection in methods and process. Reasons for reflection focused on the importance of both organisational drivers such as professional standards and awarding bodies, and personal drivers such as personal growth, identity, and psychological wellbeing. Barriers to reflection included both the concrete such as insufficient time and lack of opportunities to share resources, as well as the attitudinal and cultural. Possible ways of tacking these barriers also emerged. Implications for organisational and individual practice are discussed.


House has selected two essays on 'Scripture and Literary Criticism' (Clines and Stendahl), two on rhetorical criticism (Muilenburg's famous SBL address, Kuntz on Psalm 18), three on structuralism (Jacobson, Calloud, Patte-Parker), six on formalism and narrative (Alter, Bar-Efrat, Green, Berlin, Sternberg, Exum-Whedbee), two on poetry (Berlin, Exum), two on reader-response (Fowler, Vorster) and two on the future of OT Literary Criticism (Gunn on narrative and West on poetry). H. introduces the entire volume and each section. The articles have been reset, and many will be familiar to JSOT readers, who will probably find different quarrels with the choice. (I would have included some deconstruction and discourse analysis. But fashion


BACKGROUND
The recent literature showed positive results for bracing of patients with idiopathic scoliosis above 45° who refused surgery. However, no one has investigated whether other parameters can affect the results.

AIM
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bracing in idiopathic scoliosis with curves above 40° and to verify the mechanical and biological parameters which go beyond the simple bend value expressed in Cobb degrees.

DESIGN
This is an observational controlled cohort study nested in a prospective clinical on-going database including 1,238 patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

SETTING
Inpatients and outpatients in Rome.

POPULATION
The study enrolled 160 patients with idiopathic scoliosis with curves above 40°.

METHODS
This is a prospective study based on an ongoing database including 1,238 patients with idiopathic scoliosis. The patients studied had idiopathic scoliosis with curves of 40° or more, Risser grade 0-4, and had refused any surgical treatment. 160 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 104 patients had a definite outcome, 28 abandoned treatment and 28 are currently under treatment. The minimum duration of follow-up was 24 months. X-rays were used to obtain Cobb degrees and torsion of the apical vertebrae (Perdriolle's method). Three outcomes were distinguished according to SRS-SOSORT criteria: correction, stabilization and progression. To achieve the second aim, we divided the sample into subgroups according to Cobb degrees (<45°; ≥45°), Risser (0-2; 3-4) and rotation (<20; ≥20). Furthermore, logistic regression was applied by Stepwise Regression.

RESULTS
The results of our study showed that in 104 patients with a definite outcome the Cobb mean value was initially 47±5.25 SD and 34.19 ±8.45 SD at follow-up. Perdriolle was initially 20.04±5.53 SD and 16.76±7.04 at follow-up. Overall, 81 patients (78%) obtained a curve correction, and stabilization was achieved in 14 cases (13%). Nine patients experienced curve progression (9%), 16 patients were recommended for surgery because the curve at follow up was over 45°. The analysis of subgroups shows that with Cobb <45° at baseline, the average reduction was 11.46° Cobb, while in cases with Cobb ≥45 at baseline, the mean correction was 13.74° Cobb. In subgroups with Perdriolle <20° at baseline, the average reduction was 16.02° Cobb, while in cases with Perdriolle ≥20° at baseline, the mean correction was 8.4° Cobb. In subgroups with Risser 0-2 at baseline, the average reduction was 14.7° Cobb, while in cases with Risser 3-4 at baseline, the mean correction was 6.7° Cobb. The logistic regression model shows significance for the initial value of Perdriolle and Risser.

CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that an adequate conservative treatment must definitely be considered for patients with scoliotic curves who refuse surgery; the results will be better particularly if the rotation is lower than 20 and Risser is between 0-2.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT
With the simultaneous evaluation of the Cobb angle, the vertebral rotation and the potential vertebral growth, it was possible to predict the final results at the start of treatment.


Atherosclerosis is epidemiologically associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP) presumably by common etiologic factors, reflecting a state of co‐morbidity in aging. Osteoblasts make a significant facet of this co‐morbidity state. Since oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is a major factor in generation of vascular wall pathology, we examined the ability of native LDL (nLDL) and oxLDL to induce Saos2 osteoblasts growth arrest. OxLDL induced Saos2 cell death with morphological features of apoptosis that was inhibited mainly by caspase‐9 and partially by caspase‐3 but not by caspase‐8 inhibitors. nLDL, like oxLDL, has induced cell death, where 60% (P = 0.00033) and 30% (P = 0.075, ns) of the cell death, respectively, could be inhibited by scyphostatin (a neutral sphingomyelinase [nSMase] inhibitor). Upon similar condition, nLDL inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and two of its downstream targets, fork head receptor (FKHR) and glycogen synthase kinase‐3 (GSK3). This is a pathway that stimulates cell survival and proliferation. nLDL has also induced an increase in the proapoptotic Bcl‐Xs and it has diminished the potential antiapoptotic Src kinase activity. At the 4 h time‐point, upon a substantial decrease in nLDL‐induced Akt phosphorylation, scyphostatin has inhibited the reduction in FKHR and GSK3 phosphorylation but inexplicably not that of Akt. Scyphostatin has also corrected the reduction in Src kinase activity. Taken together, the results indicate that nLDL has induced apoptosis in Saos2 osteoblasts by inactivation of the pathway downstream to Akt using nSMase, and by involvement of Src kinase. Inferring that caspase‐9 was the main executioner (rather than caspase‐8 and‐3) in Saos2 cell death, indicates that the nSMase‐induced release of ceramide, directly activated the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. With regard to the Akt inactivation by nLDL, Saos2 osteoblasts responded in an opposite fashion to the response reported by others, in macrophages. J. Cell. Biochem. 98: 661–671, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Intramedullary cervical spinal cord schwannomas are rare tumours and complete excision is often an elusive goal. The use of the KTP laser to accomplish complete excision has not been reported previously. Postoperatively, our patient had no additional deficit and after 1 year has made a good recovery. This case further highlights the difficulty in interpretation of intraoperative biopsy specimens.


We experimentally study the ghost critical field (GCF), a magnetic field scale for the suppression of superconducting fluctuations, using Hall effect and magnetoresistance measurements on a disordered superconducting thin film near its transition temperature $T_c$. We observe an increase in the Hall effect with a maximum in field that tracks the upper critical field below $T_c$, vanishes near $T_c$, and returns to higher fields above $T_c$. Such a maximum has been observed in studies of the Nernst effect and identified as the GCF. Magnetoresistance measurements near $T_c$ indicate quenching of superconducting fluctuations, agree with established theoretical descriptions, and allow us to extract the GCF and other parameters. Above $T_c$ the Hall peak field is quantitatively distinct from the GCF, and we contrast this finding with ongoing studies of the Nernst effect and superconducting fluctuations in unconventional and thin-film superconductors.


Information has been compiled on the state of accident data collection in a number of countries--both at the mass data (police report) level and at the in-depth level. In addition to a literature review, personal contacts were made with scientists and engineers in England, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and Australia to discuss current reporting practices for in-depth or case study reports. Police accident reporting forms usually contain almost the same kinds of material in all of the countries studied. This includes information about the location of the accident, time, personal characteristics of the drivers, injury, the environment, and some indication of causation. However, the local development of different conventions for recording such information, and differences in case selection procedures, make it difficult to aggregate data across national boundaries or to compare data from different countries. For in-depth or case study reporting, the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) is used rather consistently worldwide, although not all users keep up with the most recent modifications. The use of the Occupant Injury Classification (OIC) and the Injury Severity Score (ISS) is less universal, although both are used in a number of countries. The most common vehicle damage scale is the Collision Deformation Classification (CDC) or a version of its predecessor, the Vehicle Damage Index (VDI). These practices make the in-depth data more comparable than the mass data. However, since sampling for in-depth cases typically comes from a sampling frame of the police reports, variation in the coverage of police reporting among countries leads to uncertainty in some aspects of the in-depth data files. Some innovations in reporting methods were found in remote places, and it is judged that all could profit from a more frequent and closer communication on the methods for reporting accident information for case studies. It is recommended that a more formal survey be conducted using computerized communication and conferencing techniques during the next year.


Control and alleviation of pain in the care to children with cancer are objects of nursing concern in the search for interventions that are able to minimize or avoid physical-emotional problems in these children. Medical, psychological and nursing literatures describe pain through physiological, emotional, behavioural and environmental aspects in several models of scales of pain evaluation and control. This study describes some models of evaluation of pain in children and presents the adaptation of the Scale Model of Visual Analogy of Faces by McGrath (1990), as an instrument to be used in nursing care to children with cancer. Although the literature utilized on this study gives emphasis on the evaluation and control of pain in children with cancer, we verify the viability of applying this model by nursing in other situations of pain.


The use of vaccines to prevent infectious diseases is a hallmark of modern preventive medicine and public health. During this century, improvements in immunization practices have dramatically reduced the number of reported cases of potentially serious diseases such as diphtheria, measles, mumps, pertussis, poliomyelitis, rubella, and tetanus. Yet, despite such reductions, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases continue to occur. Recent outbreaks of measles and pertussis, particularly in underimmunized and unimmunized children, raise concern regarding the effectiveness of existing childhood immunization practices. Such concern is stimulating action from policymakers, physicians, and public health professionals to improve childhood immunization programs in this country. This article discusses one of these programs, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which is part of a new federal initiative to improve childhood immunization levels. Enlisting the support and participation of private physicians is crucial to the success of this national immunization strategy.


This thesis develops a comparative methodology and research practice enabling the interpretive social study of urban built environments (cross-culturally and diachronically). Its contribution to comparative urbanism is framed specifically as a method for studying the socio-spatial significance of the material presence of the composition of urban form (conceptualised as boundaries) to the interactional process of human inhabitation. This perspective results from formulating a theoretical and conceptual rejoinder to questioning the nature of the role of the built environment as emergent from the human process of inhabiting the world and the functioning of urban life and development. On that basis an empirically operational method (Boundary Line Type (BLT) mapping) for the conceptual remapping and analysis of ground level spatial data on the urban built environment (city plans) is devised, so the comparative socio-spatial study of cities from this perspective through time and across geographical areas and societies or cultures becomes enabled.
This foundational development of a research process and ontology is informed by a material adaptation of a critical realist philosophy of science. The practical and technical implications of executing the mapping process on spatial data of varying nature (archaeological, historical, historically reconstructive, and contemporary maps) are comprehensively worked through. The comparative functional ability of the method is demonstrated by exemplifying two case studies, the cities of Chunchucmil (Mexico, Classic Maya) and Winchester (UK, 16th, 19th and 21st century), on the basis of which two test cases are taken forward for preliminary visualisation and analysis with the aid of Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques. The findings confirm its potential, replicating common expectations about contemporary urban life as well as laying a novel foundation for insights into Winchester's historical development and Chunchucmil's archaeology, from which future research and development can burgeon. These are expected to contribute significantly to the deeper understanding of urban life and urbanisation across past and present urban traditions and provide an improved appreciation of urban alternatives which could inform planning and urban design in the long term.