To the Editor.— In theArchives(113:486-488, 1977), Wilkin described three patients with unilateral nevoid telangiectasia and reviewed 12 cases previously reported. Recently, we have had occasion to observe a case akin to those mentioned in that article. Report of a Case.— A 36-year-old woman has suffered since puberty from telangiectasia on the superior right limb, and that also involves the right shoulder, the right scapular area, and the right breast. The palm of the hand is affected. These lesions are strictly unilateral and do not go beyond the mediosternal line, nor behind the line of the spine. These telangiectasias, which fade away totally with vitropression, are asymptomatic. There is no similar history in her family. The lesions remained stable from puberty until the age of 36 years. At this age, the patient had measles, which was confirmed serologically. Following this febrile, infectious episode, numerous telangiectasias continued to appear, always


The starting point for Dusan Makavejev's controversial and explicit "WR - Mysteries of the Organism" (1971), is Wilhelm Reich, the Marxist psychoanalyst who preached sexual enlightenment as a gateway to a better society. Reich is a "intellectual maverick" and "sexual pioneer", and theorist of "Orgone energy" and "world revolution". Loosely inspired by Reich's "The Function of the Orgasm" WR stages an encounter between psychotherapy and Marxism, sexual permissiveness and socialism. Juxtaposing hippie America and cold war Yugoslavia, it is a film of ideas and sensations which speaks to the contemporary world. It was banned in Yugoslavia, under pressure from Moscow, as politically offensive. This book explores the film and how its spectators interact with it.


This book is probably one of the most concise and impactful manuals on understanding and practising Mindfulness – a way of finding happiness by looking within ourselves. Based on the author's life-changing experiences with Mindfulness, this book offers a superb introduction to how readers can begin their own journey today. Along the way, we learn to live in the present moment, re-examine the meaning of success, failure, stress and joy, and confront any difficult situation with poise and inner strength. Mindfulness has been one of the most researched contemplative sciences over the last two decades, with increasing research evidence of its effectiveness. Skeptics who think it is just another New Age fad will find that this book offers a convincing case for making this practice a part of their lives. With well-chosen quotes, wise words of encouragement, and short, easy-to-do daily activities spread over just 8 days, this book is the perfect opportunity for anyone to enter into the world of Mindfulness.


Semantic 2D maps are commonly used by humans and machines for navigation purposes, whether it's walking or driving. However, these maps have limitations: they lack detail, often contain inaccuracies, and are difficult to create and maintain, especially in an automated fashion. Can we use raw imagery to automatically create better maps that can be easily interpreted by both humans and machines? We introduce SNAP, a deep network that learns rich neural 2D maps from ground-level and overhead images. We train our model to align neural maps estimated from different inputs, supervised only with camera poses over tens of millions of StreetView images. SNAP can resolve the location of challenging image queries beyond the reach of traditional methods, outperforming the state of the art in localization by a large margin. Moreover, our neural maps encode not only geometry and appearance but also high-level semantics, discovered without explicit supervision. This enables effective pre-training for data-efficient semantic scene understanding, with the potential to unlock cost-efficient creation of more detailed maps.


Paramo ecosystems are tropical alpine grasslands, located above 3000 m.a.s.l. in the Andean mountain range. Their unique vegetation and soil characteristics, in combination with low temperature and abundant precipitation, create the most advantageous conditions for regulating and storing surface and groundwater. However, increasing temperatures and changing patterns of precipitation due to greenhouse-gas-emission climate change are threatening these fragile environments. In this study, we used regional observations and downscaled data for precipitation and minimum and maximum temperature during the reference period 1960–1990 and simulations for the future period 2041–2060 to study the present and future extents of paramo ecosystems in the Chingaza National Park (CNP), nearby Colombia's capital city, Bogotá. The historical data were used for establishing upper and lower precipitation and temperature boundaries to determine the locations where paramo ecosystems currently thrive. Our results found that increasing mean monthly temperatures and changing precipitation will render 39 to 52% of the current paramo extent in CNP unsuitable for these ecosystems during the dry season, and 13 to 34% during the wet season. The greatest loss of paramo area will occur during the dry season and for the representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenario 8.5, when both temperature and precipitation boundaries are more prone to be exceeded. Although our initial estimates show the future impact on paramos and the water security of Bogotá due to climate change, complex internal and external interactions in paramo ecosystems make it essential to study other influencing climatic parameters (e.g., soil, topography, wind, etc.) apart from temperature and precipitation.


Introduction Studies of risk factors for HIV infection usually ascertain these at the time of diagnosis, when they are subject to multiple biases. This study aimed to identify factors present at the time of the last negative HIV test that could predict the risk of HIV acquisition within the next 12 months among men who have sex with men (MSM) attending a sexual health service in Australia. This may allow prioritisation of MSM for preventive interventions, which are becoming increasingly expensive. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of MSM attending Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2013 with at least two HIV tests within 12 months. Age, sexual behaviour, and bacterial STI diagnoses were extracted from the date of the last negative HIV test and HIV incidence rate ratios (RR) were calculated for each risk factor. Risk factor prevalence was compared among all MSM and those subsequently infected. Results Of 14745 MSM, 5262 were eligible, contributing 6525 person-years follow-up. 85 new HIV diagnoses were identified within 12 months of a HIV negative test with an incidence of 1.3 (95% CI: 1.0–1.6) per 100 person-years. Significant associations with subsequent HIV infection were: gonorrhoea at any site (RR: 4.1, 95% CI: 2.3–7.0), chlamydia RR: 3.9 (2.3–6.3), inconsistent condom use RR 2.7 (1.6–4.5), and injecting drugs RR 4.1 (1.7–8.6). Risk factor prevalences in tested MSM compared to those subsequently infected were: any bacterial STI (26% vs. 42%), inconsistent condom use (49% vs. 73%), any significant risk factors (60% vs. 83%). Conclusion This analysis of a large clinic cohort identified significant predictors of subsequent HIV infection that were present at the last negative HIV test, when preventive intervention would still be possible. These could be used to prioritise MSM for potentially costly interventions. Disclosure of interest statement We declare no conflict of interest.


The main objective of this paper is to present a reading of The Arcades Project by Walter Benjamin in the context of the financial crisis, in particular, reflect from a few fragments of Benjamin's work appear to lie around a Black Swan. The recovery of the fragments of The Arcades seems appropriate at a time when the financial crisis should be taught as a deeper crisis. Walter Benjamin is placed beyond its time, with a powerful sense of observation worthy of emulation analytical.


To date, neighbourhood studies on ethnic diversity and social trust have revealed inconclusive findings. In this paper, three innovations are proposed in order to systemise the knowledge about neighbourhood ethnic diversity and the development of social trust. First, it is proposed to use a valid trust measure that is sensitive to the local neighbourhood context. Second, the paper argues for a conception of organically evolved neighbourhoods, rather than using local administrative units as readily available proxies for neighbourhood divisions. Thirdly, referring to intergroup contact theory and group-specific effects of diversity, the paper challenges the notion that ethnic diversity has overwhelmingly negative effects on social trust.


Aim: The present study aimed to demonstrate protective effects of alpha lipoic acid on experimental sciatic nerve crush injury model assessed with functional and electronmicroscopy analyses. Methods: In this study, groups were; Group 1; sham operated, Group 2; applied only sciatic nerve crush (Control), Group 3; Sciatic nerve crush + treated ALA 25 mg/kg (received orally) and Group 4; Sciatic nerve crush + treated ALA 50 mg/kg. Subsequently, sciatic nerves crush injury induced by forceps. At the second and fourth week, all animals were evaluated for sciatic functional index (SFI) and histomorphometric analyses with electronmicroscopy. Results: The SFI was significantly increased for both ALA-treated groups 30 days post-injury compared with control groups. The elecronmicroscopy results demonstrated that the axon diameter, the myelin diameter, the area of regenerating axon and miyelin were better in the treatment group than in the control group. Also ALA decreased IL-1β and Caspase 3 levels that increased in SNC group. Conclusions: These results suggest that ALA neuroprotective agent for peripheral nerve injury (PNI) and promoted peripheral nerve regeneration via its anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects.


How does the literacy teacher negotiate the tensions between skills and social practice? Negotiation requires engaging with the debate in which literacy is seen as a set of discrete, transferable skills, dependent upon cognitive development, to the notion of literacies which are bound to social practice, and adapting teaching practices which align these two perspectives. Literacy teacher training can facilitate this via modelling literacy pedagogy such as active reading strategies based upon authentic texts. This paper will discuss the skills and practice debate, and then illustrate the alignment of the two perspectives by reference to some specific active reading strategies devised around a restaurant menu.


The concepts of performance management and coaching are of key importance to businesses globally. Various studies have been conducted on the link between the concept of performance management and coaching within business organisations, specifically where coaching seeks to align the activities and objectives of individuals to business objectives and goals. The purpose of this study was to further explore this relationship between these two processes and in so doing, explore the application of coaching skills as introduced for the first-line team supervisor leadership process. The study involved the direct participation of first-line team supervisors. A qualitative research design was used to answer the research question in order to explore the processes, patterns of behaviour and themes that emerged out of the coaching skills application process. The research findings gave an indication that the coaching process could play a critical role in the development of first-line team members as well as the first-line team supervisors' leadership skills. The results indicated a rewarding process in both instances. It was evident that the modern firstline supervisor would want to be equipped with skills for understanding and managing the behavioural patterns of the people they lead, i.e. over and above the technical expertise required to perform in their jobs. The study further gave rise to a new dimension of approaching the team performance conversations where the first-line supervisors used the GROW model in conducting individual performance discussions. The GROW model improved understanding and acceptance of the process amongst the people reporting into their roles. The broader finding is that coaching can enable more collaborative teamwork and this may lead to improved conversations on performance and goal clarification for first-line production teams; specifically in clarifying goals, providing feedback, listening actively and following up on tasks to be carried out. Results and conclusions may be limited by the fact that the study was conducted in a single industry. Additional studies from a variety of industries with large numbers of participants would be helpful to fully understand the ways in which performance coaching skills and first-line team leadership development programmes can best be developed and deployed in organisational settings.


Current methods for wax fractionation result in products with large polydispersity, and due to the high temperatures required, thermal degradation of the wax is often incurred. The need for an alternative process thus exists. The purpose of this project is to investigate the technical viability of supercritical fluid processing as an alternative wax fractionation technology. The main aims of this project are to select a suitable supercritical solvent, to conduct binary phase equilibrium experiments, to determine if the process is technically viable and to investigate the ability of various equations of state to correlate the phase equilibrium data. Based on limited data from the literature, propane and a propane rich LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) were selected as suitable solvents. Literature data for propane and high molecular weight alkanes is scares and incomplete, thus necessitating experimental measurements. A phase equilibrium cell was designed, constructed and commissioned. The cell was designed for pressures up to 500 bar and temperatures to 200 C, and with the aid of an endoscope, the phase transitions were detected visually. The measurements correspond well to literature values from reliable research groups. Phase equilibrium data sets for propane with nC32, nC36, nC38, nC40, nC44, nC46, nC54 and nC60 as well as LP Gas with nC36 were measured. At temperatures just above the melting point of the alkanes, the phase transition pressures can be considered to be moderate, which will positively impact the economics of the process. The phase transition pressure increases with increasing carbon number, the relationship being found to be linear when the pressure is plotted as a function of carbon number at constant mass fractions and temperature. The increase in phase transition pressure with increasing carbon number indicates that the solvent will be able to selectively fractionate the wax. At higher temperatures the gradient of the line is larger and may thus lead to improved selectivity. The higher temperatures will also lead to better mass transfer. The linear relationship indicates that limited extrapolation to higher carbon numbers may be possible. However, this needs to be verified experimentally. The inability to measure the critical point and vapour pressure curves of the higher molecular weight normal alkanes, as well as the inability of cubic equations of state to predict liquid volumes and to capture the chain specific effects such as internal rotations, results in cubic equations of state requiring large interaction parameters to fit the data. The alternative, statistical mechanical equations of state, have difficulty in predicting the critical point of the solvent correctly and thus overpredicts the mixture critical point, yet require smaller interaction parameters to fit the data. Further work is required to improve the predictability of these non-cubic equations of state. This project has proven that wax fractionation by supercritical extraction with propane is technically feasible


Background: Following carotid endarterectomy (CEA), cerebrovascular hemodynamic may be hampered by ipsilateral restenosis or development of contralateral stenosis. It remains to be clarified if these patients need follow-up for identifying development of contralateral stenosis. Identification of risk factors contributing to development of contralateral stenosis could allow more specific follow-up. In this current study, we assessed clinical risk factors and plaque characteristics of patients undergoing CEA with development of new contralateral stenosis during mid-term follow-up. Methods: Seven hundred and sixty patients undergoing CEA between 2003 and 2011 at UMC Utrecht were included. Atherosclerotic plaques were excised and analyzed for smooth muscle cells (SMCs), collagen, macrophages, lipid core, plaque hemorrhage and vessel density. Patients underwent clinical and duplex ultrasound follow-up at 3 and 12 months and yearly thereafter. Association between plaque- and patient characteristics with development of contralateral stenosis ≥50% was assessed with univariate and multivariate analysis. Clinical outcome during follow-up was associated with development of new contralateral stenosis. Results: After a median follow-up time of 2.5 years, development of contralateral stenosis was observed in 108 patients (20%). Presence of high collagen (p = 0.025) and high SMC (p = 0.027) was associated with development of new contralateral stenosis, whereas large lipid core was negatively associated with new development of contralateral stenosis (p = 0.034). The same plaque characteristics were related to contralateral occlusion. History of coronary artery disease (p = 0.031) and asymptomatic presentation (p = 0.000) were univariably associated with development of contralateral stenosis. Multiple regression analysis indicated that asymptomatic status was independently associated with contralateral stenosis (p = 0.001). Patients with new development of contralateral stenosis more often showed symptoms during follow-up (p = 0.049). Conclusion: Dissection of a lipid-poor, collagen-rich or SMC-rich plaque yielded an association with development of new contralateral stenosis during mid-term follow-up after CEA. Asymptomatic patients had a significantly higher risk for development of contralateral stenosis. New contralateral stenosis was related to the presence of new cerebral symptoms. These findings may help to develop individual treatment algorithms for patients with cerebrovascular atherosclerotic burden.


We propose Scheduled Auxiliary Control (SAC-X), a new learning paradigm in the context of Reinforcement Learning (RL). SAC-X enables learning of complex behaviors - from scratch - in the presence of multiple sparse reward signals. To this end, the agent is equipped with a set of general auxiliary tasks, that it attempts to learn simultaneously via off-policy RL. The key idea behind our method is that active (learned) scheduling and execution of auxiliary policies allows the agent to efficiently explore its environment - enabling it to excel at sparse reward RL. Our experiments in several challenging robotic manipulation settings demonstrate the power of our approach.


The U.S. Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972 with a stated objective to restore and maintain the chemical; physical and biological integrity of the nation's waters through point source and non-point source controls. The method to achieve this restoration process is through the implementation of "Best Management Practices" (BMP's). An effective tool to achieve compliance with the Proposed Stormwater National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I and Phase II Regulations is implementation of a Storm.water Utility. The NPDES program was created. to ensure that permitted discharges meet applicable water quality requirements. The Phase I and Phase II permitting process involves primarily urban communities of a specific size and population. Phase I of the process required cities (100,000 population or greater) to secure a NPDES permit. The Phase II process will require smaller municipalities and other urbanized areas to secure a NPDES permit. The City of Griffin will undergo the Phase II permitting process based on its size and population. We took a proactive approach to watershed management by addressing both Storm.water quantity and quality issues. The City of Griffin felt that creation of a Storm.water Utility (the Utility) was one of the most important steps to take in order to ensure that the overall Storm.water Management Program could be successfully implemented. The Utility is an example of a non-structural Best Management Practice (BMP) thathas been implemented for the sole purpose of generating revenues for storm.water related improvements. This paper summarizes the important aspects associated with Griffin's successful effort to create and implement the first Stormwater Utility in Georgia.


Prevalence rate of chronic energy deficiency (CED) is used as a measure of (adult) nutrition and health status for any region or country. That these rates in India have been rather high particularly for women is a matter of concern. As Floud (1992) and Fogel (1997) have shown, among several anthropometric measures weight-for-height or Body Mass Index (BMI) is an effective predictor of morbidity and mortality rates. BMI is shown to indicate the current nutritional status thereby reflecting the difference between food intake and the demand for these intakes. The present study uses this indicator as a measure of health status. Due to limited information base on BMI very few studies in India have analysed the determinants of CED (which is the current health status) and even far fewer studies estimating the persons vulnerable to it (that is future health status). This paper attempts to do so based on a sample of ever-married women in the age group of 15-49 years in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) for the year 1998-99. The results indicate that education, social infrastructure and quality of diet influence those who are likely to be CED in future, with significant rural urban differences. Apart from these well-known indicators, presence of drinking water source within the residence (whether piped or otherwise), women in the age group of 15-19 years, and education status of the husband seems important. More importantly, the results clearly highlight that the CED rates and vulnerability rates can be very different across two sub-groups of population. Hence, the results from this study would be more useful in targeting policy most effectively as the emphasis would now be on 'potential' deficient persons rather than on current ones, which is the convention in policy intervention.


High-power electronics are being applied at the Center for Electromechanics at the University of Texas at Austin to control the launching of compulsator-driven railgun loads. The design, fabrication, and testing of a 200 kA, 1.5 kV (150 Hz) switch are presented, followed by design considerations for two other projects under construction. The latter will have operating ranges of 400 kA at 2.3 kV (400 Hz) and 3.2 MA at 6 kV (138 Hz), respectively. In all cases, the switches are designed for a limited number of half-cycle current pulses (three to nine) followed by a prolonged cooling period.<<ETX>>


Designing
composite electrodes with optimal microstructure, composition,
and choice of active material (AM) as well as solid electrolyte (SE)
is critically important for the development of high-performance solid-state
batteries (SSBs). To optimize AM loading, which includes loading amount,
composition, and dispersion state, and to maximize AM utilization
in composite SSB electrodes, we need to precisely understand how the
AM loading affects electrochemical reactions taking place in the electrodes.
Here, using computed tomography combined with X-ray absorption near
edge structure spectroscopy (CT-XANES), we performed operando three-dimensional (3D) observations of electrochemical reactions
in composite SSB electrodes with different AM loading amounts to understand
the influence of the AM loading on the electrochemical reactions.
In the composite electrode with higher AM loading amount, the lower
reacted regions were mainly found at the inner parts of the aggregated
AM regions. It was suggested that such a reaction distribution resulted
from the slow intergranular ion transport between AM particles. In
the composite electrode with lower AM loading amount, the electrochemical
reaction progressed more homogeneously compared to the one with higher
loading. This is probably because the lower AM loading mitigated the
AM aggregation and decreased the number of high-resistance AM–AM
interfaces that Li ions must pass through. Such a reaction distribution
formation due to the slow ion transport between the AM particles can
be a serious restriction in composite SSB electrodes. This is in marked
contrast to conventional liquid-based lithium ion battery (LIB) electrodes,
in which a majority of AM particles can directly exchange Li ions
with the surrounding liquid electrolyte. Therefore, the optimal design
for composite SSB electrodes can significantly differ from that for
liquid-based LIBs. Our analysis technique can provide valuable information
to rationally design optimal composite electrodes, and hence we expect
that this technique contributes to the further development of high-performance
SSBs.


Ion beam analysis comprises of a group of analytical techniques tackling the elemental composition of thin films by probing them with MeV ions. These techniques exploit information from photons and particles that come from the interaction of the MeV ions with the sample surface. Secondary ions, yet another species ensuing from such interactions can also be analysed providing information on molecular composition. The only ion beam analysis technique addressing the molecular composition is MeV SIMS, enabling detection and imaging of organic matter. The molecular detection and imaging of organic material is dominated by other surface sensitive techniques, such as TOF SIMS, providing a strong competition to MeV SIMS. In a pursuit to fully exploit the advantages of MeV SIMS in the field, the possibility to extract MeV ions into the air can also be utilised, thus offering the potential for application of ambient based MeV SIMS.
In this work, a fully ambient MeV SIMS setup is introduced and commissioned at the University of Surrey Ion Beam Centre, and termed "Ambient Pressure MeV SIMS". The aims of this thesis are to optimise AP MeV SIMS for detection and imaging of organic species, as well as to explore potential applications for the technique. The complex optimisation of AP MeV SIMS described in this work encounters many parameters influencing either the electronic sputtering or gas dynamic of secondary ions. A great volume of the optimisation process has addressed the issue of an immense background contribution by investigation of its identity and origin. Moreover, the atmosphere encompassing the sampling area was investigated and the effect of different angles and types of a sheath gas directing the sample was tested.
The following work of this thesis demonstrates the application assessment of AP MeV SIMS. Here results of analysis of amino acids, explosives and synthetic organic pigments are presented. Finally, a description of a feasibility study on merging of AP MeV SIMS and HIPIXE with a purpose of simultaneous molecular and elemental imaging under ambient conditions is given.


Can expansionary budgetary policy boost employment? Ten years ago almost every economist would have answered "yes" to this question. Now there is an important conflict in the debate on economic policy. The conflict is between the results of theoretical and empirical multiplier analysis on the one hand and, on the other, beliefs of policy advisers about the need for tight budgetary policies which help to bear down on inflation despite uncomfortably high unemployment. This paper examines this issue with the aid of the RBA79 model of the Australian economy. The usual versions of this model (and all others in existence) have fiscal multipliers for output and employment which are positive for many years. The paper shows that it is relatively simple to adjust the assumptions of the model so that increases in real government spending produce increases in output and employment for only a couple of years. In the process, considerable inflation is generated, and this has strong adverse effects on activty in the medium term. The assumptions examined are associated with the reaction of inflation to increases in government spending and the effects of inflation and/or increases in government spending on demand and supply in the goods market. The approach consists of changing selected parameters in the model, in directions dictated by economic theory and a priori reasoning. Simulation analysis is then used to explore the implications of changing these assumptions. In short, RBA79 with changed assumptions produces results more in line with the intuitions of policy makers than the results of other models. The most interesting aspect of this is that the revised assumptions may be more appropriate for current conditions than the assumptions used in conventional multiplier analysis.


Although the possibility of complex dynamical behaviors-limit cycles, quasiperiodic oscillations, and aperiodic chaos-has been recognized theoretically, most ecologists are skeptical of their importance in nature. In this paper we develop a methodology for reconstructing endogenous (or deterministic) dynamics from ecological time series. Our method consists of fitting a response surface to the yearly population change as a function of lagged population densities. Using the version of the model that includes two lags, we fitted time-series data for 14 insect and 22 vertebrate populations. The 14 insect populations were classified as: unregulated (1 case), exponentially stable (three cases), damped oscillations (six cases), limit cycles (one case), quasiperiodic oscillations (two cases), and chaos (one case). The vertebrate examples exhibited a similar spectrum of dynamics, although there were no cases of chaos. We tested the results of the response-surface methodology by calculating autocorrelation functions for each time series. Autocorrelation patterns were in agreement with our findings of periodic behaviors (damped oscillations, limit cycles, and quasiperiodicity). On the basis of these results, we conclude that the complete spectrum of dynamical behaviors, ranging from exponential stability to chaos, is likely to be found among natural populations.


ABSTRACT Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and marine spatial planning (MSP) have been proposed for sustainable development of coastal zones. To implement ICZM and MSP, there is a need to establish database and informational networks to collect, share and disseminate information of the present situation of coastal zones. One permanent and concentrated use of coastal zones is hosting aquacultural facilities. This study aimed to develop a method to detect and discriminate aquacultural facilities in Matsushima Bay, Japan, using L-band polarimetric and interferometric airborne synthetic aperture radar (Pi-SAR-L2). Three-component-scattering model and eigenvalue–eigenvector decomposition were applied. The volume-scattering component images of the three-component-scattering model showed raft, longline, and rack aquacultural facilities from the sea surface in good contrast. The double-bounce-scattering component percentage discriminated rack aquacultural facilities from raft and longline aquacultural facilities. The size difference in the raft and longline aquacultural facilities was helpful for discriminating the type.


Video instant messaging tools are not as widely used as we would have predicted and have so far failed to fulfill their promise to become an indispensable tool of social presence, interacting within the workgroup environment and creating a sense of community. Whilst users are becoming comfortable with videoconferencing and software video meetings, the use of video in "awareness" is still very uncommon. Over a 2-year period, we have run 8 discrete Hexagon room studies on naturalistic "ambient video awareness". Only one of these studies can be considered to be a (limited) success. This paper discusses some of the factors inhibiting the use of such tools in e-learning environments, based on users' feedback on issues, such as the tool promotion, user interface, size of community and visibility concerns.


Aim To determine if elevational variation in the proportion of lianas in woody floras parallels the variation observed on latitudinal gradients. This is to be expected if the poleward decrease in the importance of lianas is related to the vulnerability of their wide vessels to freeze embolism. Location Coastal ranges of south-central Chile (latitude 37� –40� S) and western South Island of New Zealand (41� –43� S). Methods The presence of all woody species was recorded in plots of 2500 m 2 (Chile) or 100–400 m 2 (New Zealand) on four elevational gradients in temperate rain forest. Each species was classified as a tree, shrub or liana. Original data were obtained from 22 plots at two sites in Chile. In New Zealand, two surveys comprising a total of 296 plots were extracted from the National Vegetation Survey data base. Results Liana species richness declined more or less monotonically on all four gradients, whereas richness of trees and shrubs showed more varied elevational patterns. The proportion of woody species contributed by the liana life-form was negatively correlated with elevation on all four gradients, falling from 15 to 35% of the woody flora at c. 200 m a.s.l. to nil well below the tree line. The elevational and latitudinal limits of liana species were marginally significantly correlated in Chile, but not in New Zealand. Main conclusions The elevational parallel of the well-documented decline in liana representation with increasing latitude is consistent with the hypothesis that cold intolerance is a strong control on the global distribution of the liana life


Zr-based bulk glassy (BG) alloys show high tensile strength and a high Charpy impact value. In this study, the free volume changes for the hypoeutectic Zr60Cu30Al10 BG alloy during isothermal annealing below glass transition temperature (Tg) have been investigated by positron annihilation lifetime and coincidence Doppler broadening (CDB) measurements. The positron lifetime of hypoeutectic and eutectic BG alloys is almost the same, although the atomic volume ratio, estimated by the density for the eutectic BG alloy is different from that for the hypoeutectic BG alloy. The CDB spectra show a marked difference between eutectic and hypoeutectic BG alloys; that is, the spectrum of the hypoeutectic BG alloy is closes to that of Zr metal than that of the eutectic BG alloy. This result exhibits that the elemental fraction of Zr atoms around free volume in hypoeutectic BG alloy is greater than that in eutectic BG alloy. The CDB ratio profiles for the hypoeutectic BG alloy during annealing shows no appreciable change. The same trend was observed in the eutectic BG alloy.


The model-based approach is an experimental technique for system development that strives to automatically transform models describing the specifications required for a system into a usable solution. This paper describes an extensible set of the software tools required to build complex, parallel, real-time, computer systems using the model-based approach. The paper focuses on the model editor portion of the tools but also provides background information and application examples to enhance understanding.


This paper proposes two methods for providing speech privacy between spatial zones in anechoic and reverberant environments. The methods are based on masking the content leaked between regions. The masking is optimised to maximise the speech intelligibility contrast (SIC) between the zones. The first method uses a uniform masker signal that is combined with desired multizone loudspeaker signals and requires acoustic contrast between zones. The second method computes a space-time domain masker signal in parallel with the loudspeaker signals so that the combination of the two emphasises the spectral masking in the targeted quiet zone. Simulations show that it is possible to achieve a significant SIC in anechoic environments whilst maintaining speech quality in the bright zone.


The integration of therapeutic interventions with diagnostic imaginghas been recognized as one of the next technological developments that will have a major impact on medical treatments. Therapeutic applications using ultrasound, for example thermal ablation, hyperthermia or ultrasound induced drug delivery, are examples for image-guidedinterventions that are currently investigated. While thermal ablation using MR-HIFU is entering the clinic, ultrasound mediated drug delivery is still in a research phase, but holds promise to enable newapplications in localized treatments. The use of ultrasound for thedelivery of drugs has been demonstrated in particular the field ofcardiology and oncology for a variety of therapeutics ranging from small drug molecules to biologics and nucleic acids exploiting temperature or pressure mediated delivery schemes.


During my trip to Malaysia in 1966, sponsored by the Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (WOTRO), for doing field work on Anacardiaceae, a new tree genus was found in Sarawak belonging to the family Celastraceae which I have revised for the Flora Malesiana series I, volume 6. While camping at the Nyabau Forest Reserve, Bintulu, Sarawak, with the field team of the Forest Department, I examined and collected a number of interesting plants. The area is quite near the sea coast and the type of forest is intermediate between kĕrangas (heath forest) and dipterocarpaceous forests. One day, the plant collector Mr Sibat ak Luang guided me to see a flowering tree of Anisophyllea ferruginea Ding Hou ( Rhizophorac.). On the way I picked up one fallen flower from the forest floor just a few metres from the camp. With its characteristic fleshy disk and three stamens, I thought it might belong to Salacia (Celastrac.). I showed the flower to Sibat and asked him to look for the plant. He pointed to a tree, c. 12 m tall, beside me. I could hardly believe it, because the Malesian Salacia species are mostly lianas. He climbed the tree and obtained a fertile branch for me. I examined the material and the flower in my hand was evidently from that tree. To my surprise, the leaves were distinctly alternate, while those of the Salacia species are mostly decussate.


This article discusses two important improvements that are needed in Enterprise Architecture (EA) programs: (1) formalization in EA approaches and (2) auditing of EA programs. Formalization occurs through the implementation of six elements that are foundational to any EA approach: governance, methodology, framework, artifacts, repository, and best practices. Auditing is accomplished through an approach-neutral process that evaluates completeness, consistency and utilization to promote transparency, accountability, maturity, and value. The article provides context through a discussion of the background of EA, the growing popularity of EA programs in the public and private sectors, and the mixed record of value the EA programs have produced for different stakeholder groups, some of whom tend to view a formalized architecture as expensive to develop, light on returns, and a threat to project or system-specific interests. Auditing is discussed as a best practice that should be considered as an essential aspect of any EA program, just as auditing is integral to most quality assurance approaches and is the impetus for several influential federal laws that seek to improve accountability, accuracy, and service delivery. The article concludes with an introduction of the EA Audit Model (EA2M) as a method to support the formalization and maturation of EA programs.


While much of the social debate in the past decade has focused on work/life balance and working mothers, less attention has been devoted to scholarship which explicitly examines working fathers in this context. If working fathers are as stressed as research suggests, then how is time experienced by these individuals? This question was addressed through a review of selected findings from the 'Work/Life Tensions' project which set out to examine how working parents use and experience time in Australia. Using the 'Experience Sampling Method', this paper reports on data gathered via personal data assistants (PDAs) from 83 working fathers in two age cohorts (2470 time use surveys) with a view to providing 'in -situ' interpretive information on men's activity contexts and their subjective experience of time over a 7-day period. These data indicate that there are significant differences in positive affect in time spent in different activities. Post hoc analysis revealed that men engaged in 'committed' time (e.g. child care, domestic duties, purchasing good and services or voluntary work) or 'free' time activities (e.g. recreation and leisure or socialising) reported significantly higher levels of positive affect than those engaged in activities associated with 'necessary' time or 'contracted' time. Moreover fathers from the mid-aged cohort (aged 52-57) expressed significantly lower feelings of time crunch and significantly more positive affect than younger fathers aged 25-30. Qualitative data from follow-up interviews with the same sample of parents are used to highlight strategies used to manage time, in the busy daily schedules of this group of working fathers in Australia. By understanding better the experience of work/life tensions in time crunched households, the research seeks to demonstrate associations between time use, life course experience and individual well-being, as well as strategies used by individuals to better manage time.


ABSTRACT Interactions between viral and cellular membrane fusion proteins mediate virus penetration of cells for many arthropod-borne viruses. Electron microscope observations and circumstantial evidence indicate insect acquisition of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (genus Tospovirus, family Bunyaviridae) is receptor mediated, and TSWV membrane glycoproteins (GP1 and GP2) serve as virus attachment proteins. The tospoviruses are plant-infecting members of the family Bunyaviridae and are transmitted by several thrips species, including Frankliniella occidentalis. Gel overlay assays and immunolabeling were used to investigate the putative role of TSWV GPs as viral attachment proteins and deter mine whether a corresponding cellular receptor may be present in F. occidentalis. A single band in the 50-kDa region was detected with murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to the TSWV-GPs when isolated TSWV or TSWV-GPs were used to overlay separated thrips proteins. This band was not detected when blots were probed with antibody to the non-structural protein encoded by the small RNA of TSWV or the TSWV nucleocapsid protein, nor were proteins from nonvector insects labeled. Anti-idiotype antibodies prepared to murine MAbs against GP1 or GP2 specifically labeled a single band at 50 kDa in Western blots and the plasmalemma of larval thrips midguts. These results support the putative role of the TSWV GPs as viral attachment proteins and identified potential cellular receptor(s) in thrips.


The mandate of the Child Protection Act Article 9 states that every child has the right to receive education and teaching in the context of his personal development and the levelofhisintelligenceinaccordancewithhisinterestsandtalents.Childrenunderthe age of 18 in Cigadung Village are around 28% of the total population in the village. Therefore, the government or community has the responsibility to provide education services for school-age children. Based on this background, the problem in this study are1)Howistheconditionofaccesstoeducationservicesforchildrenaged6-18years in Cigadung Village?; and 2) How is the alternative program for school-age children in accordance with the results of the SIPBM application?. This research is a descriptive study by analyzing data quantitatively and qualitatively. In this case the research subjectwasthefamilyheadoftheCigadungVillage.Dataretrievalisdonebyinterview method and documentation. While the data that has been obtained will be narrated. The results of the study showed that a 564 out of a total of 1216 school-aged children were served access to education. Thus, there are around 53% of school-aged children in Cigadung Village who have not attended school. The top three factors that cause these children not to go to school are the perceived better work, economic burden and better assumption of marriage. Meanwhile, several alternative programs that are in accordancewith the SIPBM applicationnamely GerakanKembali Bersekolah,Forum Masyarakat Peduli Pendidikan Desa and "Kejar Paket".


Objective: Medically unexplained pain is a common manifestation of psychological distress in children, though establishing this diagnosis is seldom an easy task. This study aimed to enhance and share clinical insights in the complex interplay of medical and/ or psychological factors in these children as revealed by multidimensional assessment, to help in their effective management. Methods: Researchers assessed 65 consecutive children with unexplained pain for more than a month, referred by pediatrician. Of these, 59 consented and completed the interview. Clinical interview by psychiatrist generated psychiatric diagnosis as per ICD ‐ 10 research criteria. Global functioning of the child (CGAS) and relational functioning of the family (GARF) were assessed before and after treatment. Psychosocial stresses were assessed clinically and treatments given to child and/or parent were recorded. Psychologist assessed intelligence of the child using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices and administered Children's Apperception Test (CAT). Results: A total of 38 (64.4%) children fulfilled criteria for Persistent Somatoform Pain Disorder. Most of them (89.8 %) were undergoing personal, familial and social stresses, many of which were revealed only after detailed clinical assessment. Major depression (28.8%), intellectual subnormality (11.9%), non-organic enuresis (8.5%) and ADHD (8.5%) were common co-morbid psychiatric diagnoses. Children with varying intellectual levels were proportionately represented, and colored the clinical complexity. Repression and reaction formation were common defenses and fear of loss of love of parent, injury, being overpowered were common fears as revealed on CAT. Conclusion: Unexplained pain was often a somatic expression of emotional needs in these children. Psychosocial adversities were common and often causative. However being subtle, these were routinely unidentified. Precise assessment is the key to effective management of these cases. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 16 (1): January ‐ June 2015: XX XX.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the addition of doxorubicin chemotherapy affected the outcome of cats with incompletely excised, nonvisceral soft tissue sarcomas undergoing postoperative radiotherapy.

DESIGN
Retrospective case series.

ANIMALS
71 cats.

PROCEDURES
Medical records were reviewed for clinically relevant data on cats that underwent postoperative radiotherapy for treatment of incompletely excised soft tissue sarcomas with or without concurrent doxorubicin chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was performed on an alternate-day schedule, with a total dose of 58.8 to 63 Gy delivered in 21 fractions. Doxorubicin was administered every 21 days for 3 to 5 cycles. Follow-up information was obtained by means of physical examination or through telephone conversations with refer-ring veterinarians or owners.

RESULTS
Median disease-free interval with concurrent radiotherapy and doxorubicin chemotherapy (15.4 months; range, 2.4 to 44.9 months) was significantly longer than median disease-free interval with radiotherapy alone (5.7 months; range, 1.0 to 50.8 months). However, survival time was not significantly different between groups.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Results suggested that doxorubicin chemotherapy may play a role in extending the disease-free interval in cats undergoing radiotherapy for treatment of incompletely excised soft tissue sarcomas.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how political leaders can rhetorically use social media to construct their leadership, with a special focus on character – rhetorical ethos.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a qualitative case study which consisted of two political leaders' activities on Twitter. The leaders were chosen on the basis of similarity – both foreign ministers in Scandinavian countries and early adapters to ICT. All tweets, including photos, for selected period were analyzed qualitatively with the classical rhetorical concept of ethos.

Findings

Social media is the virtual square for political leadership. The two political leaders studied use social media similarly for rhetorical means and aims, with ethos as rhetorical strategy. The rhetorical ethos they constructed differs radically though: busy diplomat vs a super-social Iron man. There is no single constructed ethos that political leaders aim for.

Research limitations/implications

Even though this is just one qualitative case study, it shows a variety of rhetorical means and constructs of ethos in political leadership.

Practical implications

The study shows a possibility for political leaders to construct their own image and character through social media, for a potentially large audience of voters, without being filtered by political parties or media.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the evolving area of rhetoric in leadership/management and it adds to knowledge about how political leaders use social media.


: Tetracycline is expected to be as effective as erythromycin in the treatment of pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae. In this clinical trial 12 cases with pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae were given doxycycline (Vibramycin "Pfizer'), a long-acting derivative of tetracycline. Judging from time periods required for defervescence, improvement in symptoms such as cough and disappearance of shadows on chest X-ray, the therapeutic effect of doxycycline was excellent in 8 cases and good in 4 cases.


Severe anxiety affects a huge number of women in pregnancy and the postnatal period, making a challenging time even more difficult. You may be suffering from uncontrollable worries about pregnancy and birth, distressing intrusive thoughts of accidental or deliberate harm to the baby, or fears connected to traumatic experiences. This practical self-help guide provides an active route out of feeling anxious. Step-by-step, the book teaches you to apply cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) techniques in the particular context of pregnancy and becoming a new parent in order to overcome maternal anxiety in all its forms. Working through the book you will gain understanding of your anxiety and how factors from the past and present may be playing a role in how you feel. Together with practical exercises and worksheets to move through at your own pace, you will gain the tools you need to help you move forward and enjoy parenthood.


The distribution in a mixed crystal A1-xBxC grown from an either (A, B)-rich or C-rich solution zone (e.g. travelling heater method or related techniques) is to be described by Pfann's zone melting function which depends on the segregation coefficient and a characteristic length. Using pseudobinary mole fractions x the characteristic length of the distribution function is not the actual length of the liquid solution zone but an effective zone length is to be regarded which may be considerably smaller or much bigger for C-rich or (A, B)-rich solutions zones, respectively.


The old and somewhat vexed subject of the methods of transportation of material by land- and sea-ice is again brought up in this paper, a subject on which there is so voluminous a literature that any attempt to add to it must have the support of the strongest reasons. It is, therefore, with some temerity that I attempt the description of a set of facts which appears to contain a key to some of the well-known problems of ice-action. Of all the phenomena of glacial deposits, perhaps the most puzzling are the occurrences of shelly drifts of marine origin in a great variety of circumstances, both as to height and as to composition. The great discussions of the past as to whether they indicated submergence, or merely an upthrust-action of the ice, can only be said to have been suspended and not concluded. The subject of this paper is a series of deposits on the Antarctic shores which point to an explanation of the origin of many of these shelly drifts and the peculiar circumstances in which they occur. In South Victoria Land we had the good fortune to see these shelly deposits at an early stage of their evolution, a stage now only possible in polar lands with a severe climate. The occurrence of raised marine muds, resting upon ice, was reported by the first Expedition that wintered in the Ross Sea, the British National Antarctic Expedition of 1901-1904. They were described by Mr. H. T. Ferrar, the geologist


The Israel Yearbook on Human Rights- an annual published under the auspices of the Faculty of Law of Tel Aviv University since 1971- is devoted to publishing studies by distinguished scholars in Israel and other countries on human rights in peace and war, with particular emphasis on problems relevant to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.


Purpose:Dose calculation is essential in treatment planning in radiation therapy. Collapsed Cone Convolution/superposition (CCCS) based dose calculation is regarded as clinical standard in terms of accuracy. It is essential to run a CCCS based dose calculation before accept the plan. Our main objective is to develop an ultrafast GPU‐based CCCS dose calculation engine capable of performing near real‐time dose calculation with a single PC. Method and Materials: The dose calculation engine in commercial TomoTherapy® system is re‐implemented using NVIDIA'S CUDA language. In order to fully unleash the power of GPU, algorithms are modified to better suit the GPU architecture. A non‐voxel based ray‐tracing algorithm is used for TERMA calculation to avoid write‐conflicts and utilize GPU's free texture interpolation. An exponential dose kernel model is used for CCCS calculation that reduces the computation by over 100. Efforts are made to ensure the coalesced memory access throughout calculation. Results: The GPU dose engine running on a single NVIDIA GTX‐295 card is compared with the original commercial version running on a CPU cluster for both performance and accuracy. Extensive tests were run that includes different delivery modes (TomoHelicalSM, TomoDirectSM) and different disease sites on either patient CT or Tomo® cheese‐phantom. The GPU algorithm on one GTX‐295 is 8–16 times faster than original dose engine running on a 14‐blade (consists of 28 dual‐core Xeon5148 2.33GHz CPUs) TomoTherapy® high‐performance cluster. This translates to a speedup of 200‐400 over a single Xeon5148 CPU. The new GPU dose engine produces doses that are within 1%, 1 mm of original dose engine. It is also within 3% of the ion chamber and film measurement, passing all verification tests. Conclusion: We developed an ultrafast GPU‐based CCCS dose engine. Compared with the current cluster based commercial product, performance gains and accuracy verification are demonstrated.


With the emergence of health related side effects of synthetic substances, the trend towards natural products has increased and has directed researchers to determine their pharmacological properties. At the same time, the resistance of the microorganisms to the antibiotics used in the treatment revealed that they should be controlled without allowing them to gain resistance. In this study, the total phenolic content, volatile composition and antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-quorum sensing and antitumor activities of Prunella vulgaris, Sambucus nigra and Calendula officinalis extracts were determined. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was determined by the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) method, volatile component analyses were determined by GC-MS, and antimicrobial activity was determined by the disc diffusion method. Chromobacterium violaceum 026 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens A136 were used to determine the anti-quorum sensing activity. Additionally, the antitumor potential of the extracts was determined by the potato disc method. Prunella vulgaris was the plant with the highest antioxidant capacity, while the extract with the highest antimicrobial activity was determined to be Sambucus nigra against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. The results showed that all extracts have anti-quorum sensing properties. Prunella vulgaris was the plant with the highest anti-quorum sensing properties. There was a correlation between the extract concentration and tumor inhibition. The Prunella vulgaris extract was found to have the highest antitumor activity. As a result, it was determined that the plants used in the study have the potential to be used in alternative medicine treatment and can be utilized for the control of microorganisms.


The recognition of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults is a relatively new phenomenon. In the
academic community adult protection research has received sparse attention.
A decade of commentary by researchers, practitioners and campaign agencies indicates a general
consensus about the confusing and ambiguous nature of the term 'vulnerability'. A few studies have
drawn attention to confusion over what constitutes vulnerability, noting the lack of clarity over
definitions. Fewer still have sought to elicit the views of staff on applying this concept.
This study explores what signs of vulnerability professionals in human services employ when
assessing the risk of abuse/exploitation to adults and what contextual factors or operators have a
bearing on their conceptualisation and subsequent responses. Additionally, it explores how the
findings and recommendations of Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) could be understood in the light of
this.
The study exploits the researcher's insider position, giving voice to practitioners by describing and
interpreting the conceptualisation of vulnerability from the perspective of current police officers,
health or social care practitioners working in safeguarding adults practice.
A mixed qualitative methods design was used including document analysis, focus group discussions,
individual interviews and direct field observations of practice. The demographic and thematic
analysis of SCR reports provided another layer of data.
It is argued that professional conceptualisation of vulnerability to abuse is highly differentiated,
identifying characteristics which fall into 3 domains. These relate to an adult's personhood
(Character), their Circumstance (Context) and the Conduct or Condition of persons who exploit
them. Characteristics of these categories included inability to understand, inability to communicate,
inability to protect oneself, neediness and reliance on others, lack of relationship skills, and the
status of being cared for.
Despite this differentiated concept of vulnerability professionals described constraints acting upon
their understanding, and their authority and autonomy to act. These organisational constraints
served to reduce the shutter size on the lens of practitioner gaze on vulnerability. With reference to
Lipsky's model of Street Level Bureaucracy and use of discretion, it is argued that the constraints on
professional response to vulnerability are a function of criteria in law and policy, and the legitimised
work by employers.
This thesis argues that to understand the findings of SCRs and implied criticism of practitioner
understanding of vulnerability, there has to be an understanding of the context and other influences
on decision making in practice. It suggests description rather than definition of vulnerability to
policy makers to liberate professionals from criteria driven decision making. This approach concurs
with the views of Judge J Munby (2006) who was careful to avoid a definition of a vulnerable adult
and emphasised that the characteristics outlined were 'descriptive, not definitive: indicative rather
than prescriptive'.


Objective—The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) on the risks of coronary heart disease (CHD) in a general population of Japanese. Methods and Results—The Hisayama study is a population-based prospective cohort study. A total of 2589 participants aged 40 years or older were followed up for 14 years. Outcomes are incident CHD (myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and sudden cardiac death). The median hs-CRP level was 0.43 mg/L at baseline. During the follow-up period, 129 coronary events were observed. Age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence rates of CHD rose progressively with higher hs-CRP levels: 1.6, 3.3, 4.5, and 7.4 per 1000 person-years for quartile groups defined by hs-CRP levels of <0.21, 0.21 to 0.43, 0.44 to 1.02, and >1.02 mg/L, respectively (P<0.0001 for trend). The risk of CHD in the highest quartile group was 2.98-fold (95% CI, 1.53 to 5.82) higher than that in the lowest group even after controlling for other cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions—hs-CRP levels were clearly associated with future CHD events in a general population of Japanese. In Japanese populations, the hs-CRP cut-off point for high-risk of future development of CHD is likely to be >1.0 mg/L, which is much lower than that for Western populations.


Fourteen Sarda goats in mid-late lactation were housed in individual pens where they received a common total mixed ration (TMR) during the preliminary period (21 d). During the experimental period (24 d) the goats were divided in two isoproductive groups and fed differentiated TMR: one group received a high NDF-low no fibre carbohydrate (NFC) total mixed ration (H-NDF diet = 44.7% NDF, 29.3% NFC, DM basis), while the other received a low NDF-high NFC total mixed ration (L-NDF diet = 36.9% NDF, 36.0% NFC, DM basis). These differences were achieved substituting ground corn and barley grains with beet pulp shreds and soybean hulls. Both diets contained 50% of dehydrated chopped alfalfa on a DM basis. Soybean meal completed the diets. Dry matter intake was higher in the H-NDF group, while dietary energy intake and body weight variations did not differ significantly between the two groups. Milk yield was significantly higher in the L-NDF group, while milk protein and milk urea were higher in the H-NDF group. Milk fat concentration and somatic cell count did not differ between groups, while milk fat and milk protein yields were higher in the L-NDF group. These results are in clear contrast to what was previously observed in sheep, fed diets similar to the ones used here, in which H-NDF diets induced higher milk yield than L-NDF ones.


Summary Surfactant is routinely injected after waterflooding where substantial amount of oil trapped within the formation porous media. Surfactant, as one of the promising chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR), aims at lowering the interfacial tension (IFT) between the formation fluids. However, during the production, the technique was challenge by surfactant loss due to the adsorption of surfactant onto native rock surface. Surfactant adsorption has been proved to be reversible, provided that a foreign material is introduced in the extended water process, which increases thereby the production cost. In this study rather, we investigated the desorption and subsequently the rate of reversibility by alteration of process water, during initial and extended stages. Using sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) as surfactant and Berea sandstone as adsorbent, we showed that the adsorption increased with salinity gradient, while desorption exhibited a reverse trend. Reducing water salinity from 3 (or 5 wt.%) to 1 wt.% NaCl, up to twofold of surfactant desorption was enhanced. This increment is owing to a better solubility in a less saline medium water and electrostatic repulsion. We extended the analysis to oil recovery, herein performed by spontaneous imbibition tests, using a light dead crude oil (API 31.06°). The results revealed an increase in oil recovery up to 4.6% of initial oil-in-place (IOIP) during extended water process by salinity alteration. The production was found subsequent to a decrease of about 82% in IFT .Furthermore, microscopic analysis of the sandstone surface after salinity alteration revealed that the increment in oil recovery was inherent to a reduction in pore blockage.


The cloud computing market is expected to rapidly expand and change the nature of ICT across all sectors; cloud computing transforms ICT from a tool dependent upon investment and physical ownership to one that can easily make use of outside resources. Cloud computing is expected to have a positive impact on industry as a whole as a General Purpose Technology (GPT). According to a published 5-year market forecast, the domestic cloud market in Japan is expected to grow at the annual compounded rate of 22%, while ICT investment is expected to remain at the same level.
On the other hand, cloud computing service is being provided not as a simple data storage service but as service models known as Saas/Paas/IaaS. Due to the nature of its network externality, a gradual shift seems to be taking place, whereby cloud computing service is provided by a limited number of big-name firms and the market tends to take on monopolistic/oligopolistic characteristics.
In this research, the impact of advancement of cloud computing use on Japanese macroeconomics is simulated and analyzed. Also, the effects of cloud computing markets' monopolistic/oligopolistic characteristics on Japan's macroeconomics and social welfare are estimated and explored.
For the purpose of this research, the cloud computing market is modeled utilizing DSGE (Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium) model-based simulation. DSGE is a sophisticated simulation tool employed to describe how macroeconomic variables, such as GDP and utility-based social welfare, collectively evolve over time by modeling the theory of microeconomics. There are also other reasons why DSGE is chosen for this research, including: (1) the majority of research employing DSGE is on monetary/fiscal policies, and the amount of research applying DSGE to ICT is relatively limited; and (2) the number of papers applying DSGE to social welfare is limited, even in the fields of monetary/fiscal policies.
The simulation parameters are calibrated for the case of Japan, based on (1) the latest national statistics on communications usage and economic business activity and (2) the results of the web-survey, conducted for this research, with over 1,500 valid responses from business people who have a company position to make ICT investment decisions.
For the sound development of the cloud computing market, there are several kinds of measures that industry and government can jointly take (in terms of guidelines and/or regulatory framework). For example, the advancements of data security and personal data protection may ease concerns of potential users. The advancement of data encryption technology may decrease the risks of unauthorized data access. The enhancement of cloud portability (cloud inter-operability) may ensure that market barriers to entry are not unduly high and allow users to more easily switch from one cloud service provider to another. These measures may encourage potential users to subscribe to cloud services. At the same time, since with these measures, cloud service providers can more easily sell their services, they are pro-competition as well. Some related results of above-mentioned web-survey are introduced and possible joint measures and roles of industry and government are discussed.


We report research on the relations between emotions, display rules, social motives, and facial behaviour. In Study 1 we used a questionnaire methodology to examine how respondents would react to a funny or a not funny joke told to them by a close friend or a stranger. We assessed display rules and motivations for smiling and/or laughing. Display rules and social motives (partly) mediated the relationship between the experimental manipulations and self‐reported facial behaviour. Study 2 was a laboratory experiment in which funny or not funny jokes were told to participants by a male or female stranger. Consistent with hypotheses, hearing a funny joke evoked a stronger motivation to share positive affect by showing longer Duchenne smiling. Contrary to hypotheses, a not funny joke did not elicit greater prosocial motivation by showing longer "polite" smiling, although such a smiling pattern did occur. Rated funniness of the joke and the motivation to share positive affect mediated the relationship between the joke manipulation and facial behaviour. Path analysis was used to explore this mediating process in greater detail.


Among contemporary economists, Mariana Mazzucato stands out for her emphasis on the importance of innovation to solve pressing challenges and achieve a greater quality of life. However, the type of mission-oriented innovation policies she promotes usually rely on an overly mechanical view of innovation and economic growth. We employ an ecosystem perspective to demonstrate that innovative entrepreneurship takes place in a collaborative innovation bloc consisting of a myriad of nodes. Entrepreneurs, inventors, earlyand later-stage financiers, key personnel, and customers are all actors whose skills and abilities are necessary to realize an entrepreneurial project. When mission-oriented policies play a large role in an industry's production or financing, connections between actors in the innovation bloc risk being severed, severely curtailing the scope for actors to play their requisite roles. Thus, there is a risk that such policies do more harm than good for innovation and economic growth.


The applicability of 3-D slope stability analysis is discussed in the first part of the paper. A conclusion is drawn that 2-D analysis is often deficient in one or more respects, and often fails to model properly the true mechanics of landslides. The paper describes the application of 3-D slope stability analysis using Hungr's Method of Columns to a small but active landslide in Wealden strata at Hanover Point on the SW coast of the Isle of Wight. The basal slide surface of this very small landslide follows a bedding plane. This bedding plane has components of dip both across the landslide and also into the slope. The shape of the slide mass is affected by the shape of the basal shear, but as the slide is also clearly prevented from moving in the direction of steepest dip (inland) by the confining effect of the embayment within which it is developing, the slide is a strong candidate for 3-D analysis. Systematic analyses of the slide have been made using the Method of Columns, which is essentially a 3-D variant of the 2-D Method of Slices. By changing the assumed movement direction by a small amount between analyses, and covering all possibilities, it is demonstrated that there is a vector direction of movement that exhibits the least Factor of Safety. This vector direction is comparable to the actual movement direction observed in the field. The paper draws conclusions as to the applicability of 3-D methods of analysis, and also concerning the evolution of bedding controlled landslides with dips into or out of the slope, when subject to strong marine attack and cliff retreat.


Tourism is one of industry that is growing rapidly. As a result, traveled has become a part of the human necessities . This phenomenon causes the number of tourist arrivals in the city of Semarang is increasing. Has contributed to an increase experienced by Taman Margasatwa Semarang, a tourist attraction concept Conservation, Recreational, Education, and Research in the area of West Semarang. This study aims to determine the influence of Tourism Product Attribute and Word of Mouth to the Tourism Decision to visit Taman Margasatwa Semarang. This type of research is explanatory research where data collection techniques used is by means of questionnaire, the selected sample of 100 people with purposive sampling. Respondents are visitor attractions Taman Margasatwa Semarang who had never been at the Taman Margasatwa Semarang and find out information Taman Margasatwa Semarang from others. The results showed that the attributes of travel products and significant influence on the decision to visit by contributing 32.7% and the rest is explained by other factors. Word of mouth and significant influence on the decision to visit by donating 35% and the rest is explained by other factors. Meanwhile, simultaneous attributes of the tourism product and word of mouth influence and significant impact on the decision to visit. Means the better attributes of the tourism product and word of mouth, the higher the decision been Attractions: Wildlife Areas Semarang. Besides word of mouth has the most dominant influence with regression coefficient of 0.472. The results obtained by analyzing primary data using validity, reliability test, correlation coefficient, determination coefficient, simple linear regression, multiple linear regression, and a significance test (t test and F) with SPSS 22.0. Based on the results of the study, the researchers suggested that UPTD Taman Margasatwa Semarang re-analyze the pricing policy in order to get the quality and benefit traveled better, increasing promotion through a wide range of marketing communications, and gives a good impression on visitors.


Microstructure and texture development in twinned fcc metals is investigated in order to characterize the influence of micro- and macro-scale brass-type shear bands (SB) on structural and textural changes at large deformations. TEM and SEM analyses are focused on bands developed by plane strain compression in twinned C{112}<111> oriented single crystals. The proposed crystallographic model of the shear banding phenomenon refers to the idea of local lattice reorientation within narrow areas. Most of these rotations occur around the TD||<110> axis with significant further rotations about <112> poles. These two rotations explain the influence of SB's on the formation of Goss{110}<001> and brass{110}<112>-S{123}<634> texture components clearly observed in highly deformed low SFE metals. At high deformations symmetrically equivalent crystal lattice rotations inside narrow areas lead to the formation of positive and negative macroscopic SBs.


Encrustation, also known as fouling or scale formation, on the wall of plug flow crystallizers (PFC) can cause major operational and economic problems in pharmaceutical industries. These include increased energy requirements due to increment of thermal resistance and pressure drop, and clogging of the crystals due to reduction of flow area. In this work, a mathematical model for predicting the dynamic behavior of a PFC undergoing encrustation is presented. This model describes the formation of encrust layer by considering various mechanisms such as rate of solute transport from bulk to the wall, integration and removal due to shear stress induced by fluid turbulence. A population balance model for describing the crystallization process in the PFC is also coupled with the encrustation model in order to obtain the appropriate concentration profile in the PFC as well as product crystal size distribution (CSD). Based on this model, a mitigation strategy is proposed that relies on injection of pure solvent to ...


1. An enzyme present in rat liver extracts degraded insoluble collagen maximally at pH3.5. Collagenolytic activity was more abundant in kidney, spleen and bone marrow and was also present in decreasing concentrations in ileum, lung, heart, skin and muscle. 2. The crude collagenolytic cathepsin was activated by cysteine and dithiothreitol, but not by 2-mercaptoethanol. Iodoacetamide, p-chloromercuribenzoate and 7-amino-1-chloro-3-l-tosylamidoheptan-2-one hydrochloride inhibited the enzyme. Zn(2+), Fe(3+) and Hg(2+) ions were strongly inhibitory, but Ca(2+), Co(2+), Mg(2+) and Fe(2+) ions had little or no effect. EDTA was an activator of the enzyme. Inhibitors of cathepsin B were found to enhance collagenolysis, but phenylpyruvic acid, a cathepsin D inhibitor, inhibited the enzyme. Di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate had no effect. 3. Collagenolysis at pH3.5 and 28 degrees C was restricted to cleavage of the telopeptide region in insoluble collagen, and the material that was solubilized consisted mostly of alpha-chains. 4. The collagenolytic cathepsin was separated from cathepsins B2 and D by fractionation on Sephadex G-100 and a partial separation from cathepsin B1 was obtained by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex. 5. The function of the collagenolytic cathepsin in the catabolism of collagen is discussed in relation to the action of the other lysosomal proteinases and the neutral collagenase.


We report on a detailed parametric study of the extremely efficient supersonic chemical oxygen-iodine laser recently developed in our laboratory [V. Rybalkin, A. Katz, B. D. Barmashenko, and S. Rosenwaks, Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 5851 (2004)]. At the early stage of operation, 40.0% efficiency was measured for 1 s followed by a sustained 35.5% chemical efficiency for 20 s. The power and spatial distributions of the gain and temperature across the flow were measured for different supersonic nozzles with both staggered and nonstaggered iodine injection holes, different injection locations along the flow and nozzle throat heights. The effects of the partial pressure of O2 and the residence time of the flow in the generator, as well as the heating of the nozzle, are discussed and shown to be crucial in attaining this high efficiency. By carefully studying and optimizing the operation of the chemical generator, 0.73 yield of singlet oxygen was obtained for conditions corresponding to the highest efficiency.


Romance languages have been classified as verb-framed languages in Talmy's typology (1991, 2000). However, it has been argued that languages with the same genetic affiliation and/or within the same typological group do not necessarily show the same behavior when it comes to describe motion events, that is, there is intratypological variation (see Goschler and Stefanowitsch 2013). This paper examines how speakers of Aragonese and Catalan, two Romance minority languages of Aragon (Spain), talk about motion based on data from the frog story. We conclude that there is no intratypological variation with respect to Manner of motion. As expected in verb-framed languages, both languages hardly describe this component either in detail or frequently. However, as far as Path is concerned, Catalan and, especially, Aragonese, can be regarded as high-path salient languages. Speakers describe this component in detail by means of pleonastic locative adverbial structures, complete path constructions, and adverbial pronouns.


BACKGROUND
The use of a megaprosthesis has become the method of choice for reconstruction after bone tumor resection at the knee. However, the long-term survival of megaprostheses is poor. In this study, we sought to identify factors that were associated with implant failure and amenable to interventions designed to improve implant survival.

METHODS
A retrospective review of the charts of ninety-one patients who had undergone resection of a tumor of the knee followed by reconstruction with a custom-made megaprosthesis was performed. The distal part of the femur was resected in fifty-six patients and the proximal part of the tibia, in thirty-five patients. The reconstruction was performed with an allograft-prosthesis composite in thirty-three patients and with metal or plastic sleeves in fifty-eight patients. Reconstruction of the extensor mechanism was necessary in all thirty-five patients with a tibial tumor.

RESULTS
The median duration of follow-up was sixty-two months. The extensor mechanism was significantly less likely to rupture when partial continuity had been preserved at the time of the resection. Intra-axial laxity (an arc of motion of >5 degrees in the frontal plane) was significantly more common when the prosthesis had an antirotation pin than when it did not have an antirotation pin (p = 0.0023). There was mechanical failure of ten allograft-prosthesis composites and ten sleeve reconstructions. Thirty-six patients had removal of at least one component of the prosthesis. When revision due to local tumor recurrence was excluded, the median duration of prosthetic survival was 130 months following the distal femoral resections and 117 months following the proximal tibial resections. The median duration of survival was 117 months for the allograft-prosthesis composites and 138 months for the sleeve reconstructions. Body weight and activity level were independent predictors of early revision.

CONCLUSIONS
The long-term survival of the knee megaprostheses in this study was poor. Mechanical failure was multifactorial and the leading cause of revision. Use of allograft-prosthesis composites and use of bushings or an antirotation pin appeared to have no mechanical benefits. We recommend that weight control programs and advice about adapting their activity level be offered to patients preoperatively.


It is estimated that there are 11 million diabetics in the United States. Increasing recognition of the importance of nutrition in clinical medicine coupled with the frequent hospitalizations of the diabetic patient has heightened interest in their nutritional therapy. Patients with diabetes mellitus exhibit many abnormalities in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism which may be accentuated during illness as part of the metabolic response to injury. An understanding of the effect of injury/illness, parenteral nutrition, and diabetes mellitus on carbohydrate metabolism is essential for the development of a rational approach to the initiation and maintenance of nutritional support in the diabetic patient.


The priority of the EU in the international trade and investment order is to provide leadership in supporting the open, rules-based order at a time when it faces its most severe test since the establishment of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) more than 70 years ago. An effective EU policy on international trade and investment is important for the EU in terms of ensuring access to future growth markets and promoting sustainable development. But at the time of major threats from both the United States and China, it is important for the EU to support an open, rules-based trading system. The EU cannot however, achieve this aim alone, and will need to cooperate with like-minded countries that share this broad aim. The EU's capability to pursue a coherent policy in pursuit of these general aims requires the establishment of an effective trade policy regime that includes the Council of Ministers, European Commission, and European Parliament. It also requires the (re)establishment of a broad political consensus on the scope and aims of EU trade and investment policy, something that can only be achieved with the full engagement of member state governments and stakeholders in an informed debate.


This paper describes a series of new qualitative spatial logics for checking consistency of sameAs and partOf matches between spatial objects from different geospatial datasets, especially from crowd-sourced datasets. Since geometries in crowd-sourced data are usually not very accurate or precise, we buffer geometries by a margin of error or a level of tolerance σ ∈ R≥0, and define spatial relations for buffered geometries. The spatial logics formalize the notions of 'buffered equal' (intuitively corresponding to 'possibly sameAs'), 'buffered part of' ('possibly partOf'), 'near' ('possibly connected') and 'far' ('definitely disconnected'). A sound and complete axiomatisation of each logic is provided with respect to models based on metric spaces. For each of the logics, the satisfiability problem is shown to be NP-complete. Finally, we briefl y describe how the logics are used in a system for generating and debugging matches between spatial objects, and report positive experimental evaluation results for the system.


This mixed-methods study investigated the influence of a financial management course on couples' relationship quality. Based on family stress theory, we hypothesized that couples who attended the course would report an improvement in their relationship quality, and that greater implementation of the financial management practices recommended in the course would be related to an increase in relationship quality, accounting for time living together and income. The data from 32 couples supported our hypotheses and revealed that couples' relationship quality improved during the course. Greater implementation of financial management practices was found to be associated with improvement in relationship quality. Participants identified improved communication as the primary reason for improved relationship quality.


Background Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) is defined by a progressive loss of FEV1 and is associated with premature mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the direct association between FEV1 decline and risk of mortality in patients after lung transplantation (LTx). Methods 10-year follow up data from lung transplant recipients participating in randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the role of liposomal Cyclosporine A for inhalation (L-CsA-i) in the prevention of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (NCT01334892) was used. The association between the course of FEV1 over time and the risk of mortality was assessed using joint modeling and Cox regression analysis. Results A total of 130 patients were included. Predictors of FEV1 decline were a higher absolute FEV1 at baseline and male sex. The joint model analysis indicated a significant association of change of FEV1 and risk of mortality (p < 0.001), with a predicted 3.4% increase in mortality risk for each 1% decline in FEV1. Significant predictors of a progressive phenotype were single LTx and treatment with placebo (as opposed to L-CsA-i). At the end of follow-up, 82 patients (63.1%) were still alive. Cox regression analyses for mortality identified only single LTx as a predictor of higher risk. Conclusion Based on our observation of a close association between FEV1 and mortality over a period of 10 years we suggest FEV1 as a valid predictor of mortality and a suitable surrogate endpoint in the investigation of early interventions.


With the increased deployment of face recognition systems in our daily lives, face presentation attack detection (PAD) is attracting much attention and playing a key role in securing face recognition systems. Despite the great performance achieved by the hand-crafted and deep-learning-based methods in intra-dataset evaluations, the performance drops when dealing with unseen scenarios. In this work, we propose a dual-stream convolution neural networks (CNNs) framework. One stream adapts four learnable frequency filters to learn features in the frequency domain, which are less influenced by variations in sensors/illuminations. The other stream leverages the RGB images to complement the features of the frequency domain. Moreover, we propose a hierarchical attention module integration to join the information from the two streams at different stages by considering the nature of deep features in different layers of the CNN. The proposed method is evaluated in the intra-dataset and cross-dataset setups, and the results demonstrate that our proposed approach enhances the generalizability in most experimental setups in comparison to state-of-the-art, including the methods designed explicitly for domain adaption/shift problems. We successfully prove the design of our proposed PAD solution in a stepwise ablation study that involves our proposed learnable frequency decomposition, our hierarchical attention module design, and the used loss function. Training codes and pre-trained models are publicly released 1.


: Recently, we surveyed thyroid function and TSH concentration of villagers in an endemic goiter area where iodized salt had been supplied for 25 years; it was found that the serum FT3 and TSH levels determined with immunoradiometric analysis (IRMA) were higher and the FT4 level was lower than that of the controls. It was shown that the inhabitants of the endemic goiter area had subclinical hypothyroidism based on the "ultrasensitive" method for TSH assay. We suggest that the best biochemical techniques for monitoring the iodized salt prophylaxis program and the physiological response of the villagers to iodine should be the periodical measurement of serum TSH level using ultrasensitive assay and determination of FT4 level.


For years, studies of founder populations and genetic isolates represented the mainstream of genetic mapping in the effort to target genetic defects causing Mendelian disorders. The genetic homogeneity of such populations as well as relatively homogeneous environmental exposures were also seen as primary advantages in studies of genetic susceptibility loci that underlie complex diseases. European colonization of the St-Lawrence Valley by a small number of settlers, mainly from France, resulted in a founder effect reflected by the appearance of a number of population-specific disease-causing mutations in Quebec. The purported genetic homogeneity of this population was recently challenged by genealogical and genetic analyses. We studied one of the contributing factors to genetic heterogeneity, early Native American admixture that was never investigated in this population before. Consistent admixture estimates, in the order of one per cent, were obtained from genome-wide autosomal data using the ADMIXTURE and HAPMIX software, as well as with the fastIBD software evaluating the degree of the identity-by-descent between Quebec individuals and Native American populations. These genomic results correlated well with the genealogical estimates. Correlations are imperfect most likely because of incomplete records of Native founders' origin in genealogical data. Although the overall degree of admixture is modest, it contributed to the enrichment of the population diversity and to its demographic stratification. Because admixture greatly varies among regions of Quebec and among individuals, it could have significantly affected the homogeneity of the population, which is of importance in mapping studies, especially when rare genetic susceptibility variants are in play.


Starting from the consideration that UNIMARC (and in general the MARC) is in fact an ontology, this contribution proposes to make it explicit and to convert it – only at a syntactic level – in Linked Data / RDF structures through the use of the Wikibase data model. The outcome could therefore become not only the publication of data as LOD, but also an environment for the production of bibliographic data, that allows different ontological approaches. We illustrate the possibility to achieve a restructuring of the UNIMARC record into distinct items by data type (potentially referred also to the different FRBR entities), retaining the possibility to recover all the information of the original format. Then we highlight the Wikibase solutions that become exploitable for the MARC: "usable version" of the record, with explicitation of the encoded values, and definitions connected to the data in the same system; identification of univocal data with URIs, as required in the context of the semantic web; source of the data recorded for each field; statistics on the presence of fields and subfields; new storage format natively designed for collaborative editing; export of all elements in standard RDF; support of modification via open API.


An electronic control system is programmed to control movement of a cutting tool relative to a rotating workpiece. After engagement of the stock, the tool is controlled to follow a curved path until the cutting surface of the tool reaches a predetermined depth of cut in the stock. The tool is then controlled to follow a straight/linear path, with the cutting surface of the tool engaged with the stock at said predetermined depth of cut. The control system varies the feed rate as the tool rolls into cut along a known path of curvature, to control the thickness of the material which is removed as the tool rolls into cut, e.g. to induce fracture as the material begins to coil. The feed rate as the tool rolls into cut is programmed to vary in relation to an arc of engagement between a cutting surface of the cutting tool and the stock into which the cutting tool is being moved.


The article describes the features of the processes of economic convergence in the countries of Eastern Europe for the last 10 years. The analysis of β- and σ-convergence was carried out based on a system of macroeconomic indicators with 10 key parameters. The calculation of the direction and speed of convergence was performed using the econometric instruments in the region as a whole and pairwise analysis of the β-convergence index for all analyzed countries. The obtained results allowed to conclude the inequity development of Eastern European countries and the lack of a stable trend towards convergence of macroeconomic indicators. The resulting model is universal and can be applied to other world regions or to determine the processes of convergence of another system of macroeconomic indicators and choose main directions of reforming to bring national economies closer and achieve stronger external relations.


A systematic procedure for quantifying the financial risk of repetitive hardware failures is used to analyze the reliability of plant electrical systems and process units. The procedure uses component failure rates and the financial impact to calculate annual risk premiums, which approximate the insurance premiums required to compensate for financial losses caused by the component failures. Basic reliability calculations are then used to combine the component characteristics and to find the annual risk premium of the system. Typically the annual risk premiums for components follow a Pareto distribution; i.e., several component failures account for most of the production losses. Results of these calculations provide data for: ranking component failures on the basis of financial impact across discipline, system, and unit boundaries; developing realistic estimates of the future availability of units and systems; developing alternatives for upgrading systems to achieve desired availability; and developing maintenance strategies.


Since the late 1980s, software architecture has emerged as the principled understanding of the large-scale structures of software systems. From its roots in qualitative descriptions of empirically observed useful system organizations, software architecture has matured to encompass a broad set of notations, tools, and analysis techniques. Whereas initially the research area interpreted software practice, it now offers concrete guidance for complex software design and development. It has made the transition from basic research to an essential element of software system design and construction. This retrospective examines software architecture's growth in the context of a technology maturation model, matching its significant accomplishments to the model's stages to gain perspective on where the field stands today. This trajectory has taken architecture to its golden age.


: We have treated 12 patients with acute dacryocystitis complicated by abscess formation. All the patients were examined by an ophthalmologist and otolaryngologist. The patients received intravenous antibiotics followed by Nd:YAG laser dacryocystorhinostomy via transcanalicular approach under the endonasal endoscopic control. The treatment resulted in resolution of symptoms and signs of acute dacryocystitis complicated by abscess formation in all the patients. No recurrence of acute dacryocystitis occurred during the median follow-up period of 11 months. Ostium patency defined as the absence of epiphora and observation of irrigated lacrimal fluorescein at the ostium was achieved in 9 patients. Epiphora recurred in 3 cases. Use of Nd:YAG laser reduces the duration of the operation and provides maximal functional and cosmetic results.


This paper examines the effect of sectoral and geographical diversification on the performance of Turkish banks and try to show how the diversification affects banks' performance. The study asks whether diversification via sectoral and geographical credits helps banks. To investigate the relationship between the credit diversification and performance of 50 Turkish banks between the time period of 2007 and 2011, data sources of Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA), The Banks Association of Turkey (BAT) and Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) is used. Because of the mergers and acquisitions and being closed, it is failed to reach some of bank data in 2007-2011. In this manner the study is analysed on 40 banks' data. In the present study, ROA (Return on Assets) and ROE (Return on Equity) are used as measure of performance and Herfindahl Index (HI) is used as a measure of diversification of banks. The number of credits and the amount of credits that banks let borrewers' use are employed as control variables. According to the result of the analysis it is determined that dependent variables ROA and ROE are explained by diversification.