The more rapidly the field of telecommunications competition, and the emergence of the companies engaged in the same field makes PT. Exelcomindo Pratama must compete in the capture market share. Competition is happening in the telecommunications company not only of the quality of the product, but also from the technology and market structure does not even hesitate to drop each other. PT. Excelcomindo Pratama (Excelcom) is a cellular operator GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) Dual Band third in Indonesia, present since November 1995. Companies could be said was new, but its presence can be placed in three major operators in Indonesia, are expected to have a mature marketing communications for business competition there. Of those phenomena, researchers interested to know the implementation of the marketing communications mix is made PT. Primary Exelcomindo in improving the customer.
Formulation of the problem in this research is how the implementation of the marketing communication mix done by PT. Excelcomindo Pratama in improving the customer on a pro XL product. While the purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of the marketing communication mix done by PT. Excelcomindo Pratama in improving the customer on a pro XL product. To help the understanding of researchers, it is used to explain the theoretical review of the marketing communications mix, five types of marketing communication mix of advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, publicity and public relations , direct marketing, marketing communication model, the process of marketing communications and marketing communications purposes.
This research uses a qualitative approach, which made data collection with way to collect actual information in detail, identify the problems, and make comparisons of all the obstacles that arise. Data collection techniques used in this study is to interview and documentation. Engineering researchers determining the number of informants using purposive sampling technique is sample selection that includes the people who are selected on the basis of certain criteria based on the researchers made research purposes. (Rachmat, 2006: 154). While the data analysis techniques used in this study is the analysis Interactive models, with three procedures, namely data reduction, data presentation, and draw conclusions / verification.
Based on the results of empirical research as well as conditions on the company is known that the implementation of the marketing communications mix that had been conducted PT. Excelcomindo Pratama Branch of Bondowoso has included all the elements of marketing variables that exist. Forms of advertising that have been implemented include the installation of promo material, product spreding, education regarding the benefits of the product. Sales promotions conducted by various programs to support sales promotion including through Grebek Market and Terminal. Publicity carried out by reaffirming the brand identity of the product. While personal selling is done by granting NSP gift to customers, Socialization HSDPA and direct selling community
Based on these results can be recommended to PT. Excelcomindo Pratama Branch of Bondowoso considering the frequent constraints on network problems, the management needs to better prioritize XL additions Base Transceiver Station (BTS) to all the network more efficiently. Network pattern which also allows for better use of existing bandwidth without sacrificing network quality.


Abstract Objective: Subependymomas are rare, indolent neoplasms that have been described in the brain and the spinal cord. The purpose of this study is to report the clinical and radiolographic features, and surgical outcomes of this entity. Methods: Twenty-six patients with pathologically-verified subependymomas were treated from 1990 through 2009, with a mean follow-up of 39 months. The clinical and radiological records were reviewed and outcomes analyzed. Results: There were 15 fourth ventricle tumors, 6 lateral ventricle tumors, and 5 spinal tumors. For the intracranial tumors, headaches, changes in vision, and difficulties with balance were the most common symptoms. Most tumors were heterogeneously enhancing and hypointense or isointense to gray matter on T1-imaging and hyperintense on T2-imaging. All patients with tumors in the fourth ventricle underwent a suboccipital craniotomy and seven patients received an additional C1 laminectomy. Patients with lateral ventricular tumors underwent craniotomy with primarily a transcallosal resection. Patients with spinal tumors underwent laminectomy with intramedullary tumor resection. All tumors were resected employing microsurgical techniques. Overall, six patients had a sub-total resection. No recurrence of tumor or symptoms was noted at last follow-up for any patient, suggesting that maximal safe resection is often sufficient to provide symptomatic relief. Three patients had long-term complications from surgery. Tumor location was not associated with age at presentation, resection achieved, or development of complications. Conclusions: Subependymomas are indolent tumors that when symptomatic can present with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obstructive symptoms in the brain and myelopathy in the spinal cord. There is no one symptom diagnostic for subependymomas. Surgical treatment can provide long term tumor control.


By SIYU WAN (Under the Direction of Louis A. Castenell) ABSTRACT The article aims to measure implicit gender-science stereotype of female and male individuals. A Many-Facet Rasch Measurement analysis was used to disentangle the contribution of specific associations to the overall IAT measure. A preference for associating males with science and females with liberal arts is observed in both gender groups. Male participants show stronger stereotype than female participants, and this preference is driven primarily by associating males with science rather than females with liberal arts. Besides, some stimulus words played different roles to the overall IAT effects. This research supported that MFRM is a useful method for exploring IAT. As consequences, we argue that researchers should be more careful when choosing stimulus for IAT and interpreting IAT effects.


The kaolinite-polyacrylamide intercalation compound was prepared by the displacement reaction of the kaolinite-formamide intercalation precursor with acrylamide and the polymerization under 140°C for 15h with the catalysis of dibenzoyl peroxide. Sialon was synthesized from kaolinite-polyacrylamide intercalation compound by carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CRN) processing at 1400°C. The kaolinite-carbon mixture and its CRN product were also prepared for the comparison with the CRN result of intercalation compound. XRD, FT-IR, and TEM were used to characterize the phases, structure and morphology of products. In the CRN product from the intercalation compound, β′-sialon is the main phase. And the reduction and nitridation rate from the intercalation compound was greater than that from the mixture. There was higher sialon phase's content and lower mullite phase's content in the CRN product from the intercalation compound than that from the mixture. The CRN processing of kaolinite intercalation compound is a novel and effective method of sialon synthesis.


In previous studies of plasma protein metabolism it had been demonstrated that catabolism is altered by diet and by the administration of hormones. The aim in this thesis was to decide whether the plasma proteins behaved in the same way as the proteins of the liver in response to the stimuli of injury and changes in the protein content of the diet, and also to elucidate the intermediate steps by which the response is mediated. The effects of injury (fracture of the femur) and the protein content of the diet on the rate of breakdown of plasma albumin in rats was studied using 131I-labelled rat plasma albumin. It was confirmed that the rate of breakdown of albumin was significantly greater when animals were maintained on a high protein diet than when they were deprived of protein. Nevertheless, the catabolic rate of plasma albumin was unaffected by injury in animals fed either a high or a low protein diet. The total plasma protein concentration and the protein and ribonucleic acid content of the livers of animals fed a diet of high protein content was greater than in those animals deprived of protein; none of these levels was affected by injury. It was concluded that although the metabolism of the liver and plasma proteins was affected by diet, they were not involved in the metabolic response to injury, and that the source of the increased nitrogen loss in the urine must have been the carcass. The effect of the level of protein feeding on protein synthesis in the liver was next studied. Since it had previously been shown that the greater part of the protein produced in the liver was synthesised by the microsomes, this fraction was studied in some detail. It was shown that when animals were deprived of dietary protein, the protein, ribonucleic acid and phospholipid phosphorus content of the microsomes was considerably reduced. The incorporation of 14C-leucine in vitro by the rat microsome fraction was greater two hours after feeding casein than following a fifteen-hour fast. In a study of the ribosome aggregates (polysomes) using a sucrose density gradient technique it was shown that there was a greater amount of free ribosomes in the preparation obtained from fasting animals than in the fraction obtained from animals which had been fed casein two hours previously. It was concluded that these results were compatible with the hypothesis that feeding protein led to a release of "messenger" ribonucleic acid from the nucleus which in turn led to an increase in the formation of aggregates of ribosomes and subsequently an increased synthesis of protein. Also in the course of this work, the fractionation of proteins by ion exchange chromatography was investigated, methods of estimating organic nitrogen and protein were reviewed, and an ultraviolet spectrophotometrie procedure for the estimation of ribonucleic acid was devised.


The computational characterization of the single molecule magnet (SMM) [Fe4(AcS(CH2)5C(CH2O)3)2(dpm)6] (Fe4C5) with Ac = CH3CO and Hdpm = dipivaloylmethane, grafted on the Au(111) surface (Fe4C5@Au(111)) is presented. For the first time, ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) calculations have been used to study the evolution of the structural properties of a SMM once adsorbed on a metallic substrate. Important structural rearrangements induced by the grafting process can be observed thanks to the AIMD approach. This allows us to elucidate some possible mechanisms that govern the SMM's magnetism on a surface, which wouldn't be revealed by the standard static approach. The sampling of the SMM@Au(111)'s configurational space at finite temperature, together with magneto-structural correlations, makes it possible to study the fluctuation amplitude of magnetic properties, thus revealing that a single minimum of the free energy surface (FES) is populated at 200 K. Starting from the finite temperature scenario, the potential energy surface (PES) was sampled by means of thermal annealing calculations showing that multiple local minima could be populated at 0 K. Both isotropic exchange coupling constants and zero field splitting (ZFS) parameters are calculated for the identified Fe4C5@Au(111) local minima, thereby allowing an in-depth characterization of the Fe4C5 magnetic properties from the isolated to the grafted scenario. The cutting-edge computational protocol used here shows that the experimentally observed retention of a spin S = 5 ground state upon grafting results from balancing the major modifications on spin Hamiltonian (SH) parameters. The electronic effects of the metal on the magnetic properties of Fe4C5 have been also discussed.


The purpose of this study was to assess the self-efficacy of nursing faculty and students related to their potential use of mobile technology and to ask what implications this technology has for their teaching and learning in practice education contexts. We used a cross-sectional survey design involving students and faculty in two nursing education programs in a western Canadian college. In January, 2011, 121 faculty members and students completed the survey. Results showed a high level of ownership and use of mobile devices among our respondents. The median mobile self-efficacy score was 75 on a scale of 100, indicating that both faculty and students were highly confident in their use of mobile technologies and prepared to engage in mobile learning.


As more and more taxpayers (businesses and individuals) are exposed to market risks (including but not limited to fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and prices), management of such risks has become more and more important for a growing number of taxpayers. To mitigate the potential impact of such market risks, taxpayers enter into hedging transactions (mostly derivatives) to manage such risks. Typically, to manage the risk effectively, the hedging transactions would involve offsetting (i.e., long and short) positions with respect to the same or similar property, so that normally, when one position appreciates the other depreciates (and vice versa). In addition, hedging transactions frequently involve periodic payments (for example, periodic swap payments) either made or received by the taxpayer, depending on movement in market prices or interest rates. Furthermore, a termination payment (again, either made or received by the taxpayer) is typically made when the transaction matures or terminated earlier.From a tax perspective, taxpayers seek effective matching of character and timing of income and deductions from the hedging transaction (both periodic and termination payments) and the hedged item; otherwise, the economic benefit of the risk management strategy will be offset (and perhaps completely negated) by the tax inefficiency created as a result of the mismatch. As I argue in this article, our government should encourage taxpayers to exercise risk management and therefore, should accommodate tax efficiency by reducing the potential for character and timing mismatches. As of now, however, the U.S. federal income tax regime pertaining to hedging transactions limits the availability of the matching principle in certain ways, the result of which is that many transactions with a purpose of risk management remain outside the scope of the tax hedging rules. The current U.S. tax hedging rules suffer from several flaws and are not accommodating enough to many taxpayers. An immediate reform of the tax hedging rules is necessary.


If a tourist is accidentally injured while visiting Western Australia, he or she may seek damages in the tort of negligence. The Civil Liability Act 2002 (WA) (CLA 2002), based on the Ipp Report, has altered the legal position with respect to such claims. This article examines the CLA 2002, and offers the tourism industry in Western Australia some insight into the effect of the Act. The Occupiers' Liability Act 1985 (WA) is also discussed. Cases referred to include Australian Safeway Stores v Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479, Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 and Nagle v Rottnest Island Authority (1993) 177 CLR 423.


Canines are commonly used for various police force tasks that help a human maintain situational awareness. One area where canines provide an enhanced search capability is manhunt tracking missions because of their ability to pick up a target's scent and lead a human to a missing person or runaway fugitive. It is common during for these manhunt missions to involve several police agencies that each have individual canine handler personnel that are involved with a search, along with a command post that manages the dynamic events of an ongoing mission. Having a wide variety of agencies and team members involved with a tracking mission makes it difficult to maintain a high level of distributed situational awareness across the entire team. This causes confusion of perimeter, target, and team member changes which ultimately can compromise the tracking event. To solve this problem, we have designed a set of mockups demonstrating the functionality of an interface that provides streamline communication and enhanced mission awareness between the command post and canine handlers. These mockups were designed from information collected through knowledge elicitation interviews and observations with subject matter experts. A functional requirements analysis was performed to map out task and information requirements to validate the interface design. This set of design mockups fueled by the user's needs increases the chance of providing a future solution that is representative of the work domain and useful for the command post and canine handlers' to maintain distributed common ground amongst team members while enhancing their situational awareness of the mission.


John Paul Swoger-Ruston HARMONIC INTONATION AND IMPLICATION (ANALYSES AND COMPOSITIONS): Harmonic perception and intonation in the reception and performance of alternative tuning systems in contemporary composition Most composers and theorists will acknowledge that some compromise is necessary when dealing with the limitations of human performance, perception, and the realities of acoustic theory. Identifying the thresholds for pitch discrimination and execution is an important point of departure for defining workable tuning schemes, and for training musicians to realise compositions in just intonation and other alternative tuning systems. The submitted paper 'HARMONIC INTONATION AND IMPLICATION (ANALYSES AND COMPOSITIONS): Harmonic perception and intonation in the reception and performance of alternative tuning systems in contemporary composition' is a phenomenological study of harmonic perception and intonation through the analysis of recordings, scores, theoretical papers, and discussion with practicing musicians. The examined repertoire covers western 'art' music of the late nineteenth to early twenty-first centuries. I approach my research from the composer's point of view though filtered through the ears and eyes of the performer, who is here considered 'expert listener'. lt is considered that intonation is a dynamic experience subject to influences beyond just intonation or equal temperament (the two poles for intonational reference}-the performance is assumed 'correct', rather than the idealised version of the composer. My goal is to relate the performance to the intentions of the composer and raise questions regarding the choice of notation, resolution of the tuning systems, the complexity of the harmonic concept, etc. and perhaps to suggest how to extend a general theory of harmony that embraces both musical practice and psychoacoustics. lt is with the understanding that harmonic implication affects intonation, but that intonation is subject to several other forces making intonation a complex system (and therefore not fully predictable).


HD189733 is an active K dwarf that is, with its transiting hot Jupiter, among the most studied exoplanetary systems. In this first paper of the Multiwavelength Observations of an eVaporating Exoplanet and its Star (MOVES) program, we present a 2-year monitoring of the large-scale magnetic field of HD189733. The magnetic maps are reconstructed for five epochs of observations, namely June-July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, September 2014, and July 2015, using Zeeman-Doppler Imaging. We show that the field evolves along the five epochs, with mean values of the total magnetic field of 36, 41, 42, 32 and 37 G, respectively. All epochs show a toroidallydominated field. Using previously published data of Moutou et al. (2007) and Fares et al. (2010), we are able to study the evolution of the magnetic field over 9 years, one of the longest monitoring campaign for a given star. While the field evolved during the observed epochs, no polarity switch of the poles was observed. We calculate the stellar magnetic field value at the position of the planet using the Potential Field Source Surface extrapolation technique. We show that the planetary magnetic environment is not homogeneous over the orbit, and that it varies between observing epochs, due to the evolution of the stellar magnetic field. This result underlines the importance of contemporaneous multi-wavelength observations to characterise exoplanetary systems. Our reconstructed maps are a crucial input for the interpretation and modelling of our MOVES multi-wavelength observations.


Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Neuroendocrine cells and tumors derived therefrom contain hormone-storing large dense core vesicles and neuron-like small synaptic vesicle analogues with unknown function. The aim of this study was to characterize the small synaptic vesicle pathway in detail. METHODS: In human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and corresponding mammalian cell lines, the expression of key proteins if regulated secretion were detected by immunofluorescence microscopy. Using 3H- gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), uptake and release by small synaptic vesicle analogues were studied. RESULTS: Tumor tissues obtained from 14 patients expressed key proteins of neurosecretion such as synaptobrevin, syntaxins, and SNAP 25. These proteins were also found in the cell lines AR42J, BON, RIN, and INR. The cell lines specifically transported GABA by low-affinity plasma membrane transporter and showed an adenosine triphosphate-sensitive GABA uptake into an intracellular compartment. Stored GABA was released upon stimulation by regulated exocytosis. Electrophysiological analyses suggested that calcium- dependent secretion was mediated by activation of voltage-dependent calcium channels of mainly the L type, but also of the N and probably the T type. CONCLUSIONS: Small synaptic vesicle analogues in neuroendocrine cells and tumors can store and secrete GABA and probably other amino acid transmitters by regulated exocytosis comparable with neurons. (Gastroenterology 1996 May;110(5):1595-604)


Lung cancer is the most frequent malignancy and also one of the leading causes of mortality in both men and women worldwide. Despite current advances in diagnostics and medicines, the incidence of lung cancer is increasing and effective treatment is very challenging. These facts emphasize on the importance of both proper animal models and seeking anticancer materials from traditionally used herbal materials for developing therapy for lung cancer. Here we developed a murine orthotopic lung cancer model using A549 human lung cancer cell line orthotopically injected to the lung of immune-impaired Balb/c mice for measuring the anticancer effect of Traditional Korean medicinal herb, Descurainia sophia. Traditional use of D.Sophia includes relieving cough, chest pain, and many other symptoms which commonly accompanied with lung cancer. Our data showed oral administration of KIOM-CRC#5, an ethanol extract of Descurainia sophia, effectively attenuated the lung tumor growth in this animal model after 4 weeks of drug administration. This effect was even greater in the pretreatment group, which received 5 times/week KIOM-CRC#5 administration for 3 weeks prior to tumor cell injection. In vitro study revealed that Stat3 phosphorylation at Tyr 705 site was rapidly diminished in A549 cells treated with KIOM-CRC#5 as low as 5μg/ml and the expressions of downstream targets of Stat3 including c-Myc and cyclin D1 were also abolished. Additionally, Stat3 reporter assay showed marked reduction of transcriptional activity of Stat3 in KIOM-CRC#5 treated cells. In the present study, we developed a murine model of orthotopic lung tumor, which can be useful in the screening and testing the efficacy of therapeutic candidates from medicinal herbs, and tested the anticancer activity of ethanol extract of Descurainia Sophia (KIOM-CRC#5). Oral admistration of KIOM-CRC#5 attenuated orthotopic lung tumor growth possible through blocking the Stat3 signaling pathway, which is hyper-activated in many cancers including lung cancer. Considering that there was no adverse effect related with the oral administration of KIOM-CRC#5 in the tested animals and its effect on blocking tumor growth in vivo as well as potent cytotoxic effect on various cancer cell lines in vitro, KIOM-CRC#5 can be a good candidate for chemotherapeutic agent for lung cancer. Citation Format: Jinhee Kim, Jong-Shik Park, Myung-Gi Baek, Haejin Kim, You Jin Lee, Jun Lee, No Soo Kim, Ok-Sun Bang. Oral administration of ethanol extract of Descurainia sophia (KIOM-CRC#5) attenuates A549 xenograft lung cancer growth in murine orthotopic lung cancer model through blocking Stat3 signaling. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B49.


Russia9s seamless presidential succession produced no major changes in domestic politics or foreign policy. Ties with Asia remained strong, though several key relationships——with China, Japan, and the Central Asian states——frayed under the impact of Russia9s military action in Georgia. Impressive economic performance in the first half of the year boosted Russian confidence as a great power, but its vulnerability to the global financial crisis together with the heavy-handed operation in the Caucasus undermined Moscow9s standing with both Asia and Europe by the end of the year.


We appreciate the comments of Baker et al., following our article on the performance of the "majority vote" rule for combining classifiers. The authors consider important special cases of this problem, limiting attention to conditionally (on class membership) independent classifiers and particularly "component classifiers with identical classification performances." Appeal to first principles in this context of conditionally independent and identically distributed classifiers leads to several important additional insights. For a fixed component false positive rate, the sum of individual binary classifier outputs (0's and 1's) is sufficient for the statistical problem based on "data" that comprise the vector of classifier outputs, and the likelihood ratio is monotone in this statistic. So standard Neyman–Pearson theory implies that "combined" classifiers based on comparing this sum to a single critical value are optimal (have the best true positive rates possible for the relevant false positive rates among functions of the component classifiers with this fixed false positive rate). Indeed,


The impact of news from the Moscow and New York stock exchanges on the daily returns and volatilities of Baltic stock market indices is studied. A nonlinear time series model that accounts for asymmetries in conditional mean and variance functions is used for the empirical work. News from New York has stronger effects on returns in Tallinn than news from Moscow. High-risk shocks in New York have a stronger impact on volatility in Tallinn, whereas volatility in Vilnius is more influenced by high-risk shocks from Moscow. Riga seems not to be affected by news arriving from abroad.


Background: Impurities in narcotics are one of the factors that cause or exacerbate the symptoms of acute and chronic poisoning. Heavy metals as one of the impurities found in the opioids can cause toxicity to consumers. Opioids contamination and its complications are a social health problem in Middle Eastern countries such as Iran. Lead smugglers add more benefits during the drug production process in order to increase their weight.
Objective: To determine the source of opioid contamination with lead metal.
Materials and methods: Preparation of Opioid, Heroin, and Crock Afghan Drugs for quantitative analysis is used for Wet Digestion (oxidation or wet digestion), for analysis of a flame atomic spectrometer. Air-acetylene flame gas, halogen-based lamp based on the metal studied.
Results: LOD and LOQ for lead, 2 PPM and 6 PPM spectroscopy were determined for flame atomic absorption spectrometry.
Conclusion: According to the results, the level of lead in the poppy basin is negative as a source of opium production. However, lead was found in opium, burned opium, cracker Afghani and heroin as opium products. Which suggests that lead in the production of opium and its natural and industrial opioids is likely to be added to the benefits of smugglers and vendors.


Objective: This study aims to assess the factor structure and reliability of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Additionally, the study also attempts to evaluate the psychological well-being among university students using the GHQ-12 scale and thereby determine a relationship between select demographic variables and well-being.  Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate students of a public university in Sarawak, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of the demographic aspects and the GHQ-12 scale were utilized to assess the well-being of students, who were selected by convenience sampling technique.  Results: Factorability of the GHQ-12 was examined and a three-factor model explaining 55% total variance was found to be the best fit. Internal consistency of the scale was 0.78, which is within the acceptable range. The results also suggest that considerable proportion (57%) of students had psychological distress.  Participants who were susceptible to psychological distress in the present study were identified as students with poor social support, in a relationship with partner as well as the student with Hindu's religion and male students.  By multiple regression analysis, variables that significantly predicted psychological distress were gender; income; area of residence; relationship with parents; negative life events; smoking; drinking and event with the overall model fit were 34%. Conclusion: Based on these findings, it may be foreseen that if prompt intervention is not provided to students in distress, they may be susceptible to depression, anxiety and stress. The findings have implications for teachers and counsellors, who are in a position to influence a wide range of students and provide support to improve the psychological well-being of students. Please click PDF below to download the full paper...


Digital signal processors plays an important role in fine tuning the sound system using Equalizers to overcome the acoustic problems. In digital communication, Graphical equalization techniques strengthen the successful provision of high speed and reliable data transmission over dispersive channels. The mentioned paper describes the development of equalizer for the digital signal processing (DSP) kit DSK C6713. Programming was done in 'C' language and compilation using code composer studio (CCS) integrated development environment using LabVIEW (Laboratory virtual Instrumentation Engineering Workbench) as front end. Different Sliders are designed for different frequency bands, the performance of the Equalizer is observed by altering the gain of the frequencies in the specific bands while playing an audio signal.


Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine), which is present in millimolar concentrations in skeletal muscles, induces Ca2+ release from the heavy fraction of rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum by activation ruthenium red-sensitive Ca-release channels. The effect of carnosine is dose-dependent, which indicates the presence of saturable carnosine-binding sites in the Ca-release channel molecule. The half-maximal Ca2+ release is observed in the presence of 8.7 mM carnosine. At the same time, carnosine addition to the medium increases the affinity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-channels for the Ca-release activators, caffeine and adenine nucleotides. It is concluded that carnosine is an endogenous regulator of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-channels which modulates the affinity of these channels for different ligands.


The M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) subtype has been implicated in the underlying mechanisms of learning and memory and represents an important potential pharmacotherapeutic target for the cognitive impairments observed in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia show impairments in top-down processing involving conflict between sensory-driven and goal-oriented processes that can be modeled in preclinical studies using touchscreen-based cognition tasks. The present studies used a touchscreen visual pairwise discrimination task in which mice discriminated between a less salient and a more salient stimulus to assess the influence of the M1 mAChR on top-down processing. M1 mAChR knockout (M1 KO) mice showed a slower rate of learning, evidenced by slower increases in accuracy over 12 consecutive days, and required more days to acquire (achieve 80% accuracy) this discrimination task compared to wild-type mice. In addition, the M1 positive allosteric modulator BQCA enhanced the rate of learning this discrimination in wild-type, but not in M1 KO, mice when BQCA was administered daily prior to testing over 12 consecutive days. Importantly, in discriminations between stimuli of equal salience, M1 KO mice did not show impaired acquisition and BQCA did not affect the rate of learning or acquisition in wild-type mice. These studies are the first to demonstrate performance deficits in M1 KO mice using touchscreen cognitive assessments and enhanced rate of learning and acquisition in wild-type mice through M1 mAChR potentiation when the touchscreen discrimination task involves top-down processing. Taken together, these findings provide further support for M1 potentiation as a potential treatment for the cognitive symptoms associated with schizophrenia.


Background: Maternal Mortality is a public health problem in Nepal, which was highest in 1990 among the South Asian countries. Associated factors of maternal mortality are various; among them maternal health services such as antenatal (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) services are the main. Methods: A multivariate secondary data analysis out based on Nepal Demographic Health Surveys 2001 and 2006. Logistic regression models was performed to compare the utilization of the ANC and PNC services, with background characteristics of women aged between 15 to 49 years old. Results: A total of 8913 reproductive aged groups (15-49) women were taken for analysis and the mean age was 28.59±7.040 years. Logistic regression analysis revealed that health facility delivery (AOR=1.297, 95% CI=1.135-1.481), PNC check-up at health facility (AOD=4.442, 95% CI=2.815-7.011) and PNC service with a skilled health worker (AOD=4.533, 95% CI=2.753-7.465) utilized more in 2006 compared to 2001. This study also found that highly educated women had (AOD, 95% CI=10.823-22.968) more utilized the heath facility during pregnancy and (AOD, 95% CI=2.194-16.950) more likely during a PNC check-up, whereas, educated women were less (AOR=0.043, 95% CI=0.007-0.254) likely consult with a skilled professional. Similarly, antenatal care (ANC) visits (4 or more than four) and ANC visit in the first trimester were increased (95% CI=1.137-1.518) and (AOD=1.041, 95% CI=0.924-1.173) respectively. This study found that educated women, those who were living in urban areas, were more likely to use maternal health services compared to other regions. Conclusion: Increased in utilization of the ANC and PNC services through skilled health workers in a health facility among cohorts of educated women. However, the improvements were not equally distributed across the all regions in the country. This utilization of maternal health services is not sufficient to achieve the MDG goal. Because, health facility delivery is poor and counterpart home delivery is still high in Nepal.


Host range of actinophage phi C31, VP5 and Pg81 in respect to 109 strains of Streptomyces genus and hybrid strain Rcg2 from the cross S. coelicolor A3(2)XS. griseus Kr was studied. The existence of RM-systems in strains S. griseus Kr15, S. griseus Kr20, Rcg2, S. griseofovillus 43 was shown using phage Pg81. Mutants of Pg81 were observed which to some extent lost snesitivity to RM-system in the strain Rcg2. The presence of RM-system in S. lividans 67 was demonstrated by the phage VP5.


BACKGROUND
Minimal data exist to describe health-related quality of life in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

STUDY DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS
193 children aged 5 to 18 years with ESRD and 190 parents of children aged 2 to 18 years with ESRD at 4 pediatric nephrology centers across the United States.

OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS
Generic and disease-specific health-related quality of life. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) Generic Core Scales encompass: (1) Physical Functioning (8 items), (2) Emotional Functioning (5 items), (3) Social Functioning (5 items), and (4) School Functioning (5 items). The PedsQL 3.0 ESRD Module encompasses: (1) General Fatigue (4 items), (2) About My Kidney Disease (5 items), (3) Treatment Problems (4 items), (4) Family and Peer Interaction (3 items), (5) Worry (10 items), (6) Perceived Physical Appearance (3 items), and (7) Communication (5 items).

RESULTS
Internal consistency reliability for the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales and the PedsQL 3.0 ESRD Module was acceptable for both parent-proxy report and child self-report, with the exception of 1 parent-proxy report and 3 child self-report scales on the ESRD Module. The PedsQL Generic Core Scales differentiated between healthy children and children with ESRD, supporting discriminant validity. Intercorrelations between the PedsQL Generic Core Scales and the ESRD Module were in the medium to large range, supporting construct validity. A confirmatory factor analysis further supported construct validity of the ESRD Module.

LIMITATIONS
Test-retest reliability was not conducted, limited generalizability may exist given the age distribution of the children included, and imperfect agreement between child and parent-proxy reports.

CONCLUSIONS
Results support the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales in children with ESRD and provide initial support for the PedsQL 3.0 ESRD Module, although additional validation testing is warranted.


Globally, agriculture has intensified during the past 50 years due to increased mechanization, changes in the timing of farming operations, grassland conversion to cropland, and increased agrochemical inputs. Birds associated with farmlands and grasslands in North America have experienced severe declines over the last several decades, prompting the need for a comprehensive review of the drivers, mechanisms and magnitude of effects on bird populations. Here we evaluated changes in North American farmland bird populations over time and conducted a systematic review and analysis of the published literature to identify the major causes. Based on North American Breeding Bird Survey data, populations of 57 of 77 (74%) farmland-associated species decreased from 1966 to 2013. Multiple species exhibited highly congruent declines during the 1960s-1980s − a period with rapid changes in farming practices to low tillage systems, heavy pesticide use and widespread conversion of grassland habitat to cropland. The most severe declines occurred in aerial insectivorous birds (average change of −39.5% from 1966 to 2013), followed by grassland (‐20.8%) and shrubland (‐16.5%) bird species. Direct agricultural drivers impacting bird abundance, survival, and reproduction include loss of natural habitats, interference from farming equipment, and direct mortality or sublethal effects from pesticide exposure. Subtle interference with behaviour or physiology are reported through indirect drivers such as reduced food supplies, sublethal pesticide toxicity, habitat fragmentation and alteration, and disturbance. Indirect effects are likely significant for many species, particularly aerial insectivores, but detailed mechanistic studies are lacking. Our review of 122 studies found that pesticides (42% of all studies), followed by habitat loss or alterations (27%), were most predominant in negatively affecting farmland birds, with pesticides (93% negative) and mowing/ harvesting (81% negative) having the most consistently negative effects. Modifications to farmland management such as reducing pesticide inputs through integrated pest management and maintaining or restoring uncultivated field margins and native habitat could positively influence farmland birds without significantly reducing agricultural crop yields.


Introducing magnetic order in a topological insulator (TI) breaks time-reversal symmetry of the surface states and can thus yield a variety of interesting physics and promises for novel spintronic devices. To date, however, magnetic effects in TIs have been demonstrated only at temperatures far below those needed for practical applications. In this work, we study the magnetic properties of Bi2Se3 surface states (SS) in the proximity of a high Tc ferrimagnetic insulator (FMI), yttrium iron garnet (YIG or Y3Fe5O12). Proximity-induced butterfly and square-shaped magnetoresistance loops are observed by magneto-transport measurements with out-of-plane and in-plane fields, respectively, and can be correlated with the magnetization of the YIG substrate. More importantly, a magnetic signal from the Bi2Se3 up to 130 K is clearly observed by magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements. Our results demonstrate the proximity-induced TI magnetism at higher temperatures, an important step toward room-temperature application of TI-based spintronic devices.


This paper proposes benefits of using service design against organised crime. As a vehicle to this discussion, the focus is an anti-child-trafficking project at Northumbria University in the UK, involving its multidisciplinary Northumbria Crime Prevention Network.
The last 10 years have shown increasing evidence of people trafficking, internationally (DoS, 2010), generally for the purposes of illegal labour and/or sex. A significant fraction of those who are trafficked are children. The majority of these children are in their mid-teens, but some are as young as five years old.
The C4 persona-based critical design process, (Hilton, 2008), is proposed to strategically enable a service design approach to counter organised crime, by first developing the required criminal personas in order to use their competitive perspectives in critical review of the preventative initiatives. Opportunities from such a service design approach, to child trafficking for example would include new means of: interruption or redirection of child trafficking services so that these children end up in legitimate care; also the proposition of considering new opportunities and improvements in child trafficking service routes and processes as a means of second guessing how and where Recruiters, Transporters, and Exploiters, (Van Dijck, 2005), might next be found operating, and then through border and security agencies successfully countered.


Background We delved into the selective migration hypothesis on health by comparing birth outcomes of Latin American immigrants giving birth in two receiving countries with dissimilar immigration admission policies: Canada and Spain. We hypothesized that a stronger immigrant selection in Canada will reflect more favourable outcomes among Latin Americans giving birth in Canada than among their counterparts giving birth in Spain. Materials and Methods We conducted a cross-sectional bi-national comparative study. We analyzed birth data of singleton infants born in Canada (2000–2005) (N = 31,767) and Spain (1998–2007) (N = 150,405) to mothers born in Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. We compared mean birthweight at 37–41 weeks gestation, and low birthweight and preterm birth rates between Latin American immigrants to Canada vs. Spain. Regression analysis for aggregate data was used to obtain Odds Ratios and Mean birthweight differences adjusted for infant sex, maternal age, parity, marital status, and father born in same source country. Results Latin American women in Canada had heavier newborns than their same-country counterparts giving birth in Spain, overall [adjusted mean birthweight difference: 101 grams; 95% confidence interval (CI): 98, 104], and within each maternal country of origin. Latin American women in Canada had fewer low birthweight and preterm infants than those giving birth in Spain [adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.82, 0.94 for low birthweight, and 0.88; 95% CI: 0.84, 0.93 for preterm birth, respectively]. Conclusion Latin American immigrant women had better birth outcomes in Canada than in Spain, suggesting a more selective migration in Canada than in Spain.


High serum concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. The efficacy of pantethine treatment on cardiovascular risk markers was investigated in a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled study, in a low to moderate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk North American population eligible for statin therapy, using the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines. A total of 32 subjects were randomized to pantethine (600 mg/day from weeks 1 to 8 and 900 mg/day from weeks 9 to16) or placebo. Compared with placebo, the participants on pantethine showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol at 16 weeks (P=0.040) and LDL-C at 8 and 16 weeks (P=0.020 and P=0.006, respectively), and decreasing trends in non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at week 8 and week 12 (P=0.102 and P=0.145, respectively) that reached significance by week 16 (P=0.042). An 11% decrease in LDL-C from baseline was seen in participants on pantethine, at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16, while participants on placebo showed a 3% increase at week 16. This decrease was significant between groups at weeks 8 (P=0.027) and 16 (P=0.010). The homocysteine levels for both groups did not change significantly from baseline to week 16. Coenzyme Q10 significantly increased from baseline to week 4 and remained elevated until week 16, in both the pantethine and placebo groups. After 16 weeks, the participants on placebo did not show significant improvement in any CVD risk end points. This study confirms that pantethine lowers cardiovascular risk markers in low to moderate CVD risk participants eligible for statins according to NCEP guidelines.


Components involved in superoxide anion production (cytochrome b) and in cell adhesion processes (CD11b, CD11c. CD18), two early functional responses of neutrophils during acute inflammation, are intracellularly located in resting human neutrophils. We have found a correlation between secretion of gelatinase and overexpression in the plasma membrane of CD11b. CD11c. CD18 and cytochrome b upon cell activation. Gelatinase and lactoferrin were parallely released after cell activation with different stimuli, but a better correlation between antigen up‐regulation and gelatinase release was obtained. Total translocation of the intracellular pool of these mobilizable molecules to plasma membrane was achieved under conditions that induced total degranulation of the gelatinase‐rich granule population, whereas 50% and 90% of the lactoferrin‐containing secondary granules and peroxidase‐containing primary granules, respectively, remained unfused. These results suggest a mechanism by which neutrophil function can be regulated through mobilization of gelatinase‐rich granules, which can be considered as a subpopulation of secondary granules.


Many powerful tools for automated controller synthesis now exist. However, classical control concepts are still very useful, because they often allow the designer to more readily employ engineering knowledge when making design trade-offs. This paper presents some recently developed compensator structures that are useful for loop shaping. The complex Proportional- Integral-Lead compensator is a variation of the cascade of of PI compensator and a lead compensator in which complex conjugate zeros provide additional design flexibility compared with the standard structure. Similarly the phase adjustable resonant compensator employs complex conjugate zeros to adjust the phase of at the resonant frequency making design with resonant compensators easier. The utility of these structures is demonstrated with a disk drive example.


Nanostructured materials for refrigeration applications are experimentally realized by molecular beam epitaxial growth of Co/Cr superlattices using mean-field theoretical concepts as guiding principles. Magnetocaloric properties are deduced from measurements of the temperature and field dependence of the magnetization of our samples. More generally, the potential of artificial antiferromagnets for near room-temperature refrigeration is explored. The effects of intraplane and interplane exchange interactions on the magnetic phase diagram in Ising-type model systems are revisited in mean-field considerations with special emphasis on tailoring magnetocaloric properties. The experimental results are discussed in light of our theoretical findings, and extrapolations for future improved nanostructures are provided.


This paper describes examinations conducted on fracture surfaces on the horizontal stabilizer of a large radio-controlled model airplane. This stabilizer separated from the aircraft in flight, causing it to go out of control and crash into a bystander who was casually observing the flight. The bystander suffered a ruptured liver and bled to death internally within a short time. In the course of a subsequent lawsuit, it was revealed that the horizontal stabilizer had broken off the plane in a previous flight and had been repaired. Infrared analysis was used to identify the glues used to effect the repair. Microscopic examinations provided evidence of multiple repairs and demonstrated the poor quality of the repairs. This case emphasizes the importance of a careful visual examination of items of evidence as an adjunct to chemical and instrumental analyses.


Slaughter and carcass data were obtained on 197 bulls produced in a diallel involving Angus, Brahman, Hereford, Holstein and Jersey that were slaughtered at either 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, or 30 mo of age. Bulls were given ad libitum access to a 72% TDN diet on an individual basis from 6 mo of age until slaughter. Empty body weight (EBWT) was determined as the sum of the weights of blood, hide, hard drop, soft drop (minus contents of the digestive tract), and carcass weight (CWT), which were recorded at slaughter. Carcass protein (CPROT) and fat (CFAT) were based on weights and chemical analyses of lean and fat tissue and bone of the carcass. Empty body protein (EBPROT) and fat (EBFAT) were based on weights and chemical estimates of the components of the empty body. Growth of EBWT, EBPROT, EBFAT, CWT, CPROT, and CFAT relative to either live weight (LWT), EBWT, or CWT were investigated using the allometric equation. Breed-type differences existed (P less than .01) for the growth of EBWT relative to LWT. Comparisons of general combining abilities revealed that Angus, Hereford, and Jersey generally had lower maturing rates of EBWT relative to LWT and that Brahman and Holstein had higher maturing rates. Across breed-type, relative growth rates indicated that fat and protein were later-maturing components relative to LWT, EBWT, or CWT, which implies that other components mature relatively earlier. Relative maturing rates of components studied were not important in explaining differences in body composition that have been previously reported for these breed-types.


Geomorphic changes in the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, were monitored during the two years following the passage of Hurricane Frederic in September 1979. Rates of beach accretion and closure of hurricane channels on these transgressive, microtidal barrier islands were affected by subsequent storms, including major frontal passages in the winters of 1978-79 and 1979-80 and three tropical cyclones that passed through the Gulf of Mexico in 1980. The hurricane's modification of barrier geomorphology was still evident twenty-four months after Frederic. Fourteen hurricane channels remained open and the mean beachwidth of the islands was 60 m in September 1981. Prior to the hurricane the beach was continuous throughout the study area and the mean beach width was 170 m. The slow, incomplete recovery of the barriers lends support to the hypothesis that the Chandeleurs are evolving from a continuous chain of barrier islands into a series of small islets and shoals. This transformation is a consequence of the frequent passage of tropical cyclones through the northern Gulf of Mexico, the lack of a sediment supply to the Chandeleur barrier system, and the subsidence of the relic St. Bernard Delta surface underlying the islands.


This study was carried out in metabolically stable infants aged from one to six months receiving artificial food. The lipid serum fraction presenting changes characteristic of essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency was determined. A preliminary study (n = 13 samples) showed that analysis of total fatty acids (TFA) and of phospholipids (PL) was more discriminatory than analysis of free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides (TG) or esterified cholesterol (EC). Comparison of TFA and PL (n = 25 samples) confirmed literature data; in particular, C18: 2 n-6 and C20: 4 n-6 decreased whereas C20: 3 n-9 increased. These changes were clearer and significantly greater (p less than 0.001) for C20: 3 n-9 and C20: 4 n-6 of the PL, but were also very significant for the TFA compared to healthy controls. The C20: n-9/C20: n-6 ratio was identical for all fractions. TFA analysis by gas-liquid chromatography is faster and less costly than analysis of lipid fractions and provides sufficient data for screening of EFA deficiency.


Abiotic reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethylenes by the sulfate form of green rust (GR(SO4)) was examined in batch reactors. Dechlorination kinetics were described by a modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. The rate constant for reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethylenes at reactive GR(SO4) surfaces was in the range of 0.592 (+/-4.4%) to 1.59 (+/-6.3%) day(-1). The specific reductive capacity of GR(SO4) for target organics was in the range of 9.86 (+/-10.1%) to 18.0 (+/-4.3%) microM/g and sorption coefficient was in the range of 0.53 (+/-2.4%) to 1.22 (+/-4.3%) mM(-1). Surface area-normalized pseudo-first-order initial rate constants for chlorinated ethylenes by GR(SO4) were 3.4 to 8.2 times greater than those by pyrite. Chlorinated ethylenes were mainly transformed to acetylene, and no detectable amounts of chlorinated intermediates were observed. The rate constants for the reductive dechlorination of trichloroethylene (TCE) increased as pH increased (6.8 to 10.1) but were independent of solid concentration and initial TCE concentration. Magnetite and/or maghemite were produced by the oxidation of GR(SO4) by TCE. These findings are relevant to the understanding of the role of abiotic reductive dechlorination during natural attenuation in environments that contain GR(SO4).


Introduction The ability to provide definitive and timely histological diagnosis of malignancy in suspected malignant pancreaticobiliary lesions depends on high quality tissue sampling. We conducted a study to evaluate the diagnostic utility of endobiliary biopsy versus endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS FNA) microcore biopsy. Method We performed a retrospective search of our laboratory information management system for patients with suspected malignant pancreaticobiliary lesions who had endobiliary and EUS FNA microcore biopsies. The haematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were retrieved and reviewed, and assessed for adequacy; a biopsy is regarded as adequate if a pathological diagnosis can be rendered. All adequate biopsies are then categorised into whether a definitive diagnosis can be established (diagnostic) or not (non-diagnostic). Results The search yielded 94 endobiliary biopsies and 78 EUS FNA microcore biopsies. 77 out of the 94 endobiliary biopsies were deemed adequate, and out of this 54 was diagnostic of malignancy (sensitivity 57%). In 11 cases where the endobiliary biopsy was not diagnostic, subsequent EUS FNA microcore biopsies provided a malignant diagnosis in 9. 96% of EUS FNA microcore biopsies were adequate and in 62 a malignant diagnosis could be established (sensitivity 83%). Cholangiocarcinoma was the pathological diagnosis in the majority of the endobiliary biopsies and there were two metastases from lung and two neuroendocrine tumours. The main malignant diagnosis in the EUS FNA microcore biopsies was adenocarcinoma of pancreaticobiliary-type, but also included neuroendocrine tumours, solid pseudopapillary neoplasm and adenosquamous carcinoma. There were also three metastases from the colorectum, kidney and breast. Conclusion Our study indicates that EUS FNA microcore biopsy is more sensitive than endobiliary biopsy in the diagnosis of malignant pancreaticobiliary lesions. Because lesions are visualised, sampling is targeted and this provides high tissue yield enabling a malignant histological diagnosis to be rendered and reduces the need for repeated sampling. The tissue sample is also amenable to immunohistochemical staining which is important in characterising suspected metastases. EUS FNA microcore biopsy has been demonstrated to be useful in sampling suspected primary biliary neoplasm1. As such, we believe that EUS FNA should be the standard method of tissue sampling in suspected malignant pancreaticobiliary lesions. Reference . Weilert F, Bhat Y, Binmoeller K, et al. EUS-FNA is superior to ERCP-based tissue sampling in suspected malignant biliary obstruction: results of a prospective, single-blind, comparative study. Gastrointest Endosc2014;80(1):97–104. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


We propose an automatic approach to tree detection from aerial imagery. First a pixel-level classifier is trained to assign a {tree, non-tree} label to each pixel in an aerial image. The pixel-level classification is then refined by a partitioning algorithm to a clean image segmentation of tree and non-tree regions. Based on the refined segmentation results, we adopt template matching followed by greedy selection to locate individual tree crowns. As training a pixel-level classifier requires manual generation of ground-truth tree masks, we propose methods for automatic model and training data selection to minimize the manual work and scale the algorithm to the entire globe. We test the algorithm on thousands of production aerial images across different countries. We demonstrate high-quality tree detection results as well as good scalability of the proposed approach.


The purpose of this paper is to discuss the implications of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA) of 2002 for U.S. agriculture and its subsequent impact on world agricultural prices and world trade. In order to effectively illustrate the implications of the 2002 Act it is important to consider it in the context of the changes already made in previous farm acts. As the paper develops, many of the changes in U.S. cropping patterns were already captured by the policy changes occurring under the 1996 Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act. The estimated impact of the 2002 Act on commodity production is minimal and, therefore, estimated price changes are relatively small. In the conclusions is a discussion on how trends in U.S. farm policy tend to reflect international agricultural policy, an important observation as World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations are anticipated. Policy changes in the 2002 Act are discussed in detail followed by a description of how the policy instruments are incorporated in the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute's (FAPRI) U.S. crops model. Implications of the policy changes for the 2002 Act are discussed relative to a continuation of the FAIR Act. A brief review of the possible implications for longer-term trade, production, consumption, and prices are also included. Finally, some observations are included that trace the evolution of U.S. farm programs, especially the trend toward designs in the European Union.


ABSTRACT The complete nucleotide sequence and organization of the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) adherence factor (EAF) plasmid of EPEC strain B171 (O111:NM) were determined. The EAF plasmid encodes two known virulence-related operons, thebfp operon, which is composed of genes necessary for biosynthesis of bundle-forming pili, and the bfpTVW(perABC) operon, composed of regulatory genes required forbfp transcription and also for transcriptional activation of the eae gene in the LEE pathogenicity island on the EPEC chromosome. The 69-kb EAF plasmid, henceforth designated pB171, contains, besides the bfp and bfpTVW(perABC) operons, potential virulence-associated genes, plasmid replication and maintenance genes, and many insertion sequence elements. Of the newly identified open reading frames (ORFs), two which comprise a single operon had the potential to encode proteins with high similarity to a C-terminal region of ToxB whose coding sequence is located on pO157, a large plasmid harbored by enterohemorrhagicE. coli. Another ORF, located between the bfpand bfpTVW operons, showed high similarity withtrcA, a bfpT-regulated chaperone-like protein gene of EPEC. Two sites were found to be putative replication regions: one similar to RepFIIA of p307 or F, and the other similar to RepFIB of R100 (NR1). In addition, we identified a third region that contains plasmid maintenance genes. Insertion elements were scattered throughout the plasmid, indicating the mosaic nature of the EAF plasmid and suggesting evolutionary events by which virulence genes may have been obtained.


We propose a low-complexity minimum mean square error (MMSE) transmit filter design for the coordinated beamforming (CB) in the coordinated multipoint (CoMP) under the practical per-antenna power constraint (PAPC). The proposed design is based on the nonlinear Gauss-Seidel type algorithm in which the transmit filters for given receive filters are computed by iteratively updating the beamformer of each transmit antenna using simple closed-form expressions. The proposed approach can significantly reduce the overall complexity of the alternating optimization while preserving the optimality in the MSE sense.


In this paper, a new control method for distribution static compensator (DSTATCOM) using artificial neural networks (ANN) instead of the conventional direct controller is presented. A feedforward three-layer neural network is adopted to control the output compensating currents. This is accomplished by producing the appropriate switching patterns of the IGBTs. A backpropagation algorithm trains this network. A practical case with PSCAD/EMTDC is presented to check the proposed control performance. The simulation results show a better source current waveforms and a near unity power factor operation is achieved. This technique offers an alternative to the multi-pulse techniques that require complex magnetic circuit arrangements as well as to the conventional PI controller that the parameters are hard to determine


In Michael Winterbottom's Code 46 (2003), recurrent motifs of global mobility and securitisation encode contemporary anxieties about mobility, migration and terrorism through motifs of genetic, biological or viral disruptions of national and bodily boundaries. These can certainly be located in terms of the 9/11 and 7/7 events, but also in terms of Anglo-American overseas involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, in the consequences of these actions for indigenous and US/UK populations, and the ethical and ideological distortions they produce. This article uses the work of Giorgio Agamben, Hannah Arendt and Michel Foucault in the field of bio-politics and bio-power to analyse Code 46 in terms of its representations of subjectivity, inclusion and exclusion, and systems of regulatory control. Like other contemporary sf and horror films that focus upon bio-politics, Code 46 presents a world of globalised mobility striated by class, gender and ethnic difference.


It is rare for traumatic amputation of the big toe to occur as a single injury. This trauma is especially significant in children for influencing foot development and for possible psychological impact. Two cases of successful replantation of completely amputated big toes in two girls, 2 years 7 months and 5 years 2 months old, are presented. Follow-up was 10 years. In the younger child, the replanted big toe was 49.2 percent shorter compared to the contralateral side, because growth was limited by the affected growth zone in the proximal phalanx. In the older child, the growth zone of the bone was intact, with consequent bone growth unimpaired, and an initial shortage of 10.4 percent was reduced to 2 percent compared to the contralateral side.


Objective To analyse Monash University pre-employment students' concerns about gaining employment with ambulance services in Australia. Design A Likert-based questionnaire and open-ended questions. Setting On campus study, Peninsula Campus, Frankston, Australia. Participants Eighty-eight (n=88) students studying the Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic) degree at Monash University. Results Interestingly, 45% of students intend to only apply to a Victorian ambulance service, with less than 10% of students stating they would accept an interstate position if successful in a Victorian service and interstate. Thematic analysis gained from the open-ended questions also emphasised many concerns students had regarding employment from a pre-employment perspective including: pre-employment education not being recognised, lack of workload, geographical isolation once employed and perception of being too young. Conclusion The findings of this study highlight many barriers in gaining employment and emphasise pertinent issues that not only currently confront the students of pre-employment education at Monash University, but also for pre-employment students studying around Australia.


Background: Temperature and ultraviolet radiation levels are known to have an impact on the skin's health and function. Several studies have examined the role of another variable climatic factor - humidity - on healthy and diseased skin in human and mouse subjects, with varying results. Methods: An online literature search using key words was based around ambient relative humidity and its impact on skin health and function. Results: Murine studies determine that low humidity causes a number of changes in the skin, including the impairment of the desquamation process, while studies in humans demonstrate changes in transepidermal water loss values (a measure of the integrity of the skins barrier function), water content in the stratum corneum, skin elasticity and roughness parameters. Further epidemiological studies indicate an association between common der-matoses and ambient humidity, while several studies support the hypothesis that changes in humidity levels can induce or exacerbate dry skin disorders. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that humidity, and changes therein, can have an impact on a range of parameters involved in skin health. Further studies examining the effect of humidity on diseased skin and the associated biological mechanisms could provide evidence to support new treatment regimens for patients, helping to alleviate the burden of dry skin associated with many common skin disorders.


T here has now been time to examine the findings of the Beasley Committee, the group assigned by Bell Laboratories to investigate charges of falsification in the work of a research group in which Jan Hendrik Schon was a leading participant. The report analyzes the work presented in 25 papers by Schon and various combinations of 20 colleagues. The task was a monumental challenge, and the committee met it admirably. Its conclusion, that Schon is guilty of multiple instances of scientific misconduct, is convincing. The committee also cleared all coauthors of scientific misconduct.

That does not settle the matter. Public interest in the case is intense: The research was an international effort, involving coauthors from several countries, and Bell Labs has earned a record for excellence. The work was published in a number of journals—including, prominently, this one. Strong interest of this kind yields hard questions. In response to one that is frequently asked: Science has a standing policy that all authors of a paper must agree to its retraction. Bell Laboratories is working with all coauthors to get such agreements for each challenged paper. If neither they nor we can secure them, we will move promptly to give notice, linked to the published papers, that the work has come under such serious question that it cannot be relied on.

We have been asked whether this sad incident has given us doubts about how well the peer review process at Science works. Unhappy experiences should generate efforts to learn from them, and we will use the report to evaluate what we might have done differently in these cases. That said, we would reiterate that it is asking too much of peer review to expect it to immunize us against clever fraud. In other respects, our faith in our quality-control process remains solid. Reporters have also told us that individual scientists have charged us with being too interested in "flashy" papers, and thus overeager to publish these. That is nonsense. We do want important papers of high quality, and our peer reviewers told us in no uncertain terms that these were both.

There's another critical question, and it's one the Beasley committee raised but left hanging, after questioning whether the coauthors exercised "appropriate professional responsibility" in ensuring the validity of the papers' claims. In dealing with authorship issues in other institutional roles, I have encountered vigorous arguments on both sides of this question. One claims that given the interdisciplinary nature of science and the coparticipation of people with various specialties in a project, each author cannot be expected to take responsibility for the validity of the results. Another asserts that because all coauthors receive professional credit for the entire product, all should share the consequences if it is invalid.

It's plain that the Beasley Committee struggled honorably with this problem. But its difficulty is well attested by some of its own language with respect to coauthor conduct: "There is no implication here of scientific misconduct; the issue is one of professional responsibility." That sounds like a distinction without a difference: This is, after all, about science. How could a clear failure of "professional responsibility" in a scientific matter not raise the issue of scientific misconduct?

The difficulty the committee encounters in this domain reflects, as their report recognized, the absence of a community consensus about the nagging issue of coauthor responsibility. It's hard to find a silver lining in the cloud cast by the Schon affair, but it would be good if it were to trigger a thoughtful examination of the issue. The committee said it did "not endorse the view that each co-author is responsible for the entirety of a collaborative endeavor …" Well, isn't each one getting part of the credit? And if the benefits are enjoyed jointly and severally by all authors, then shouldn't the liability be joint and several too? The answer has to come in the form of a decision by the scientific community, which now needs to attend to the task. The Ethics Committee of the Panel on Public Affairs of the American Physical Society is well suited to the challenge, and the Beasley report has supplied it with good starting material.


Intertidal organisms have long been considered an ideal system to quantify how physical variations determine differential energy allocations in specimens inhabiting environmental gradients such as exposure to wave action. In habitats with differential intertidal wave exposure (sheltered, Sh; and exposed, E) seasonal gonadal and foot weight variations and their associations with exposure and food availability (algae abundance) were determined in the keyhole limpet Fissurella crassa. Gonadal weight is used as a measure of reproduction allocation whereas foot weight is an indirect indicator of energy allocation to survival. RNA:DNA ratio in limpets obtained from Sh and E habitats during the two different seasons was used as an indicator of biosynthetic capability. Our results indicate that algae abundance in E sites was higher in summer and lower in winter compared to Sh sites. In E sites the muscular foot weight of limpet was higher in summer in contrast to Sh sites where F. crassa muscular foot weight of limpet was higher in winter. Gonadal weight in Sh sites was higher in summer and remained constant in winter; whereas in E sites gonadal weight was lower in summer and higher in winter. RNA:DNA ratios indicate that regardless of intertidal wave exposure, F. crassa showed higher biosynthetic capability in summer. Energetic allocation in animals that inhabit sheltered intertidal habitats would support constant allocation towards reproduction. In contrast, animals that inhabit exposed habitats may favour seasonally reproduction allocation at expense of survival.


We have developed an improved HVOF spray process called "Gas-shrouded HVOF" (GS-HVOF) over the past several years. By using an extension nozzle at the exit of a commercial HVOF spray gun, GS-HVOF is capable of controlling the oxidation of sprayed materials during flight as well as achieving higher velocity of sprayed particles. These features result in extremely dense and clean microstructure of the sprayed coatings. The process has been successfully applied to corrosion resistant alloys such as SUS316L, Hastelloy C, and alloy 625 as well as cermets such as WC-Cr3C2-Ni. The spray process, coatings microstructure and property evaluation will be discussed with potential industrial applications in the near future.


The valuation adjustment mechanism (VAM) is a contingent-payment contractual arrangement used in the Chinese mergers and acquisitions (M&As) market. The 'two-direction payment' design of Chinese VAMs can reduce deal uncertainty and generate value, especially for poorly performing companies that can use VAM contracts to boost short-term performance. I find in this empirical investigation that acquirers applying VAM terms have significantly higher market returns after addressing endogeneity. I also document that poorly performing bidders sign larger VAM contracts, pay higher bid premiums and achieve higher operating performance, and which types of firms are more likely to adopt a VAM in transactions.


Conception rates for mares bred with transported-cooled and fresh stallion semen were collected over a 4-yr period (1998–2002) for two stallions. Both stallions stood at a commercial breeding farm. Semen from both stallions was used immediately after collection on the farm and after 24 to 48 h of cold storage when transported to locations in the U.S. and Canada. Semen for insemination of mares located on the farm was extended with a commercially available skim milk glucose extender (SKMG). Spermatozoal motility following cold storage for spermatozoa diluted in SKMG extender was unacceptable. Thus, semen from both stallions was centrifuged, and spermatozoa were resuspended in SKMG supplemented with modified PBS. In a previous study, the percentage of motile spermatozoa increased following centrifugation and reconstitution of the sperm pellet in SKMG-PBS as compared with semen dilution in SKMG (Stallion A: 15% vs 47%; Stallion B: 18% vs 43%). In the current study, 22 of 25 (88%) and 3 of 4 (75%) mares conceived with transported-cooled semen from Stallions A and B, respectively. Conception rates for mares inseminated with transported semen did not differ (P>0.05) from those inseminated on the farm with fresh semen. These data illustrate that stallion owners can modify standard cooled semen processing procedures and semen extender composition to improve post-storage spermatozoa motility and to obtain acceptable fertility.


Performance is a critical issue in the context of massively parallel programs. In practice, it is almost impossible to observe and understand the behavior of such programs without the assistance of automated tools which offer the program developer insights into the execution behavior of complex applications. Most of these tools are based on event-based and tracing techniques. As the size of the parallel system grows, it generates a huge size of events. Visualizing and animating gathered traces often produce a complex and non understandable diagrams and displays. Recently, the Paje visualization frameworks have been developed in our laboratory ID (Informatique et Distribution). This framework provides interactive and scalable behavioral visualizations of parallel and distributed applications. This papers presents an empirical performance monitoring and visualization study with two large scale applications (JonAS (200.000 LOCI) and Jboss (400.000 LOC)). We have developed an event-based tracing framework for large scale applications monitoring. We use Paje framework to observe and visualize a large amount of harvested events.


This study sought to perform a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) and develop a data-based behavior intervention plan (BIP) in order to address a student's maladaptive behaviors as exhibited in the regular education classroom setting. Of particular interest in this study was the finding that the FBA failed consistently to identify many of the environmental variables that interacted with the student's likelihood of demonstrating a wide range of severe problem behaviors. Nevertheless, interventions based on social skills and self-control strategies were sufficient to reduce the frequency of most problem behaviors and concurrently improve the student's level of academic performance. During a reversal-of-treatment, the student showed elevated levels of problem behavior; however, with the reinstatement of the treatment protocol, the student's behavior improved substantially. The role of private events and rule-governed behavior is discussed within the context of conducting FBAs and developing data-based treatment protocols.


Bactrocera minax is a major citrus pest distributed in China, Bhutan and India. The long pupal diapause duration of this fly is a major bottleneck for artificial rearing and underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Genetic information on B. minax transcriptome and gene expression profiles are needed to understand its pupal diapause. High-throughput RNA-seq technology was used to characterize the B. minax transcriptome and to identify differentially expressed genes during pupal diapause development. A total number of 52,519,948 reads were generated and assembled into 47,217 unigenes. 26,843 unigenes matched to proteins in the NCBI database using the BLAST search. Four digital gene expression (DGE) libraries were constructed for pupae at early diapause, late diapause, post-diapause and diapause terminated developmental status. 4,355 unigenes showing the differences expressed across four libraries revealed major shifts in cellular functions of cell proliferation, protein processing and export, metabolism and stress response in pupal diapause. When diapause was terminated by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), many genes involved in ribosome and metabolism were differentially expressed which may mediate diapause transition. The gene sets involved in protein and energy metabolisms varied throughout early-, late- and post-diapause. A total of 15 genes were selected to verify the DGE results through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR); qRT-PCR expression levels strongly correlated with the DGE data. The results provided the extensive sequence resources available for B. minax and increased our knowledge on its pupal diapause development and they shed new light on the possible mechanisms involved in pupal diapause in this species.


Climate change has ecosystem-wide cascading effects. Little is known, however, about the resilience of Arctic marine ecosystems to environmental change. Here we quantify and compare large-scale patterns in rocky intertidal biomass, coverage and zonation in six regions along a north-south gradient of temperature and ice conditions in West Greenland (60–72°N). We related the level and variation in assemblage composition, biomass and coverage to latitudinal-scale environmental drivers. Across all latitudes, the intertidal assemblage was dominated by a core of stress-tolerant foundation species that constituted >95% of the biomass. Hence, canopy-forming macroalgae, represented by Fucus distichus subsp. evanescens and F. vesiculosus and, up to 69 °N, also Ascophyllum nodosum, together with Semibalanus balanoides, occupied >70% of the vertical tidal range in all regions. Thus, a similar functional assemblage composition occurred across regions, and no latitudinal depression was observed. The most conspicuous difference in species composition from south to north was that three common species (the macroalgae Ascophyllum nodosum, the amphipod Gammarus setosus and the gastropod Littorina obtusata) disappeared from the mid-intertidal, although at different latitudes. There were no significant relationships between assemblage metrics and air temperature or sea ice coverage as obtained from weather stations and satellites, respectively. Although the mean biomass decreased >50% from south to north, local biomass in excess of 10 000 g ww m-2 was found even at the northernmost site, demonstrating the patchiness of this habitat and the effect of small-scale variation in environmental characteristics. Hence, using the latitudinal gradient in a space-for-time substitution, our results suggest that while climate modification may lead to an overall increase in the intertidal biomass in north Greenland, it is unlikely to drive dramatic functional changes in ecosystem structure in the near future. Our dataset provides an important baseline for future studies to verify these predictions for Greenland's intertidal zone.


Domoic acid is a glutaminergic neurotoxin produced by marine algae such as Pseudo-nitzschia australis. California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) ingest the toxin when foraging on planktivorous fish. Adult females comprise 60% of stranded animals admitted for rehabilitation due to acute domoic acid toxicosis and commonly suffer from reproductive failure, including abortions and premature live births. Domoic acid has been shown to cross the placenta exposing the fetus to the toxin. To determine whether domoic acid was playing a role in reproductive failure in sea lion rookeries, 67 aborted and live-born premature pups were sampled on San Miguel Island in 2005 and 2006 to investigate the causes for reproductive failure. Analyses included domoic acid, contaminant and infectious disease testing, and histologic examination. Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were present both in the environment and in sea lion feces, and domoic acid was detected in the sea lion feces and in 17% of pup samples tested. Histopathologic findings included systemic and localized inflammation and bacterial infections of amniotic origin, placental abruption, and brain edema. The primary lesion in five animals with measurable domoic acid concentrations was brain edema, a common finding and, in some cases, the only lesion observed in aborted premature pups born to domoic acid–intoxicated females in rehabilitation. Blubber organochlorine concentrations were lower than those measured previously in premature sea lion pups collected in the 1970s. While the etiology of abortion and premature parturition was varied in this study, these results suggest that domoic acid contributes to reproductive failure on California sea lion rookeries.


Background: Risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage, such as chorioamnionitis and multiple gestation, have been identified in previous epidemiologic studies. However, existing data describing the association between gestational age at delivery and postpartum hemorrhage are conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess the association between gestational age at delivery and postpartum hemorrhage. Methods: The authors conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of women who underwent live birth delivery in Sweden between 2014 and 2017 and in California between 2011 and 2015. The primary exposure was gestational age at delivery. The primary outcome was postpartum hemorrhage, classified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision—Clinical Modification codes for California births and a blood loss greater than 1,000 ml for Swedish births. The authors accounted for demographic and obstetric factors as potential confounders in the analyses. Results: The incidences of postpartum hemorrhage in Sweden (23,323/328,729; 7.1%) and in California (66,583/2,079,637; 3.2%) were not comparable. In Sweden and California, the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage was highest for deliveries between 41 and 42 weeks' gestation (7,186/75,539 [9.5%] and 8,921/160,267 [5.6%], respectively). Compared to deliveries between 37 and 38 weeks, deliveries between 41 and 42 weeks had the highest adjusted odds of postpartum hemorrhage (1.62 [95% CI, 1.56 to 1.69] in Sweden and 2.04 [95% CI, 1.98 to 2.09] in California). In both cohorts, the authors observed a nonlinear (J-shaped) association between gestational age and postpartum hemorrhage risk, with 39 weeks as the nadir. In the sensitivity analyses, similar findings were observed among cesarean deliveries only, when postpartum hemorrhage was classified only by International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision—Clinical Modification codes, and after excluding women with abnormal placentation disorders. Conclusions: The postpartum hemorrhage incidence in Sweden and California was not comparable. When assessing a woman's risk for postpartum hemorrhage, clinicians should be aware of the heightened odds in women who deliver between 41 and 42 weeks' gestation. In a retrospective analysis of childbirth registries in California and Sweden, the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage varied from 3.2 to 7.1%. Compared to delivery at a gestational age of 37 to 38 weeks, delivery at 41 to 42 weeks was associated with a doubling of risk among parturients in California and a 62% increase in Swedish women. Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.


In a turbofan engine, the high pressure rotor and the radial driveshaft, which transmit the power from the internal gear-box to the external gear-box, are geared by a spiral bevel gear pair. In this paper, a reasonably simplified dynamic model of the coupled rotors system is established, and then, the coupled stiffness matrix and coupled damping matrix of the spiral bevel gear pair are deduced. A shaft element method is proposed to investigate the lateral-torsional coupled vibration equations of the gear-rotor system. Furthermore, the mode shapes and unbalance responses of this two rotors coupled system are simulated. The results indicate that the system derives many new modes and the exciting forces on a rotor of the system would be passed to the other rotor for the gears meshing. When the rotor dynamics of a turbofan engine is being analyzed, the high pressure rotor and the radial drive shaft must be viewed as a whole. The dynamic balance precision of the rotors should be qualified properly, in order to improve the dynamic quality of the turbofan engine.


We present Spitzer Infrared Array Camera photometric observations of the ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX, X-1) in Holmberg IX. We construct a spectral energy distribution (SED) for Holmberg IX X-1 based on published optical, UV, and X-ray data combined with the IR data from this analysis. We modeled the X-ray and optical data with disk and stellar models; however, we find a clear IR excess in the ULX SED that cannot be explained by fits or extrapolations of any of these models. Instead, further analysis suggests that the IR excess results from dust emission, possibly a circumbinary disk, or a variable jet.


Background Schizophrenia is one of the top 25 leading causes of disability worldwide in 2013. Despite its low prevalence, its health, social, and economic burden has been tremendous, not only for patients but also for families, caregivers, and the wider society. The magnitude of disease burden investigated in an economic burden study is an important source to policymakers in decision making. This study aims to systematically identify studies focusing on the economic burden of schizophrenia, describe the methods and data sources used, and summarize the findings of economic burden of schizophrenia. Methods A systematic review was performed for economic burden studies in schizophrenia using four electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and EconLit) from inception to August 31, 2014. Results A total of 56 articles were included in this review. More than 80% of the studies were conducted in high-income countries. Most studies had undertaken a retrospective- and prevalence-based study design. The bottom-up approach was commonly employed to determine cost, while human capital method was used for indirect cost estimation. Database and literature were the most commonly used data sources in cost estimation in high-income countries, while chart review and interview were the main data sources in low and middle-income countries. Annual costs for the schizophrenia population in the country ranged from US$94 million to US$102 billion. Indirect costs contributed to 50%–85% of the total costs associated with schizophrenia. The economic burden of schizophrenia was estimated to range from 0.02% to 1.65% of the gross domestic product. Conclusion The enormous economic burden in schizophrenia is suggestive of the inadequate provision of health care services to these patients. An informed decision is achievable with the increasing recognition among public and policymakers that schizophrenia is burdensome. This results in better resource allocation and the development of policy-oriented research for this highly disabling yet under-recognized mental health disease.


Abstract. Clouds cover around two thirds of the Earth's surface. Most of them are thick enough to influence the radiative budget of our planet: they increase the top of atmosphere (TOA) exitance and they alter the bottom of atmosphere (BOA) direct and diffuse irradiance. However, most radiative transfer models dedicated to Earth surfaces, such as DART (Discrete Anisotropic Radiative Transfer), simulate only cloudless atmospheres. We recently introduced clouds in DART in order to improve the modelling of weather for remote sensing simulations. In this implementation, clouds were characterized with user specified optical properties and vertical distribution. They were modelled as layered one-dimensional medium that coexists with gases and aerosols. The atmospheric radiative transfer modelling relies on the discrete ordinate method already in DART. In addition, an iterative inversion procedure was designed to test this improvement with field measurements during two cloudy days at Lamasquere meteorological station (France). Specifically, it derives time-series of atmosphere parameters from time-series of BOA solar irradiance measurements. These inversed atmospheric parameters were used to simulate total and diffuse BOA irradiance in PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) domain. The comparison of time-series of measured and DART simulated PAR irradiance lead to very encouraging results (mean relative error ∼8% for total irradiance and ∼20% for diffuse irradiance). It stresses the potential of DART to accurately simulate irradiance in cloudy days.


If an accident occurs at a nuclear power plant and if it affects, or is anticipated to affect, the environment by radioactive material release, it is important to minimize consequences to the public by conducting appropriate protective measures, in evaluating source terms (an amount of fission products released to the environment), environmental radiological consequences, effects of the protective measures, and so on. It is also important to give necessary information on the protective maesures to the public so as to conduct the measures effectively. In order to support radiological emergency response measures and to contribute to improve emergency plans, the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) is developing 1) a computerized support system for the Emergency Technical Advisory Body and 2) a computerized system for optimizing off-site emergency protective measures, and is studying appropriate information transmission methods in an emergency. This report describes current status of research on emergency response measures performed at JAERI.


Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Class of 2010-2011 (ECLS-K: 2011; n = 11,000), this study examined the developmental outcomes of 5-year-old children in multi-grade classrooms (combined pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms serving 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds) compared with 5-year-olds attending kindergarten-only classrooms serving primarily 5-year-olds. Results from regression and propensity score analyses revealed that 5-year-old children who attended multi-grade classrooms with pre-kindergarteners made smaller gains in math and literacy skills and demonstrated less optimal executive function at the end of the school year as compared with children who attended kindergarten-only classrooms. Classroom-level factors largely explained the differences in children's academic achievement but did not consistently explain differences in their executive functioning. No consistent differences emerged for children's social-behavioral development.


Among the costs of technology are health hazards that face employees and consumers. New advances in the highly competitive field of microelectronics involve exposure to a variety of hazards such as gallium arsenide. Small high-technology industries appear unprepared to invest in health and safety. Although stray electromagnetic fields are not a new development, researchers are beginning to assemble data indicating that such fields pose a significant cancer risk under certain circumstances. Data have been obtained on fields associated with power lines on the one hand and consumer products on the other. Although not conclusive, the data are sufficient to warrant carefully designed research into the risks posed by electromagnetic fields. Because the scientific issues require research, there is a need to make basic social value decisions that will determine which technologies will be developed and which ones may be set aside because of their danger at the present time.


In the US and UK, saving and borrowing routines have changed radically and become closely bound-up with the capital markets of global finance. As mutual funds have increased in popularity and pension provision has been transformed, many more individuals and households have come to invest in stocks and shares. As consumer borrowing has risen dramatically and mortgage finance has been extended to those deemed sub-prime, so the repayments of credit card holders and mortgagors have provided the basis for the issue and trading of bonds and other market instruments. The Everyday Life of Global Finance explores the unprecedented relationships that now bind society and the markets, challenging the dominant tendency to simply position recent developments in Wall Street and the City of London at the centre of contemporary finance. Grounded in literature from the sociology of finance and international political economy, drawing on the social theory of Callon, Foucault, and Latour, and informed by extensive empirical research, the book shows how global finance has become mundane and ordinary in Anglo-America. Finance is not 'out there somewhere', but is embedded in the calculative technologies and performances of reconfigured saving and borrowing networks, and is embodied through the assembly of everyday financial identities and self-disciplines. Society's new-found relationships with the financial markets are also shown, however, to be marked by stark inequalities, manifest contradictions, and political dissent. The Everyday Life of Global Finance is thus an ambitious and innovative contribution to our understanding of the contemporary financial world.


In the recent past, method of characteristics (MoC) has emerged as an efficient macromodeling and simulation technique for long high-speed transmission lines with low loss. However, one of the major limitations of this technique is that, the resulting interconnect macromodels are not guaranteed to be passive, which can lead to non-physical unstable transient responses during simulation. In order to address this problem, we present a new passivity compensation algorithm for non-passive MoC-based multiconductor transmission line (MTL) macromodels. The algorithm is based on the first-order perturbation of the non-passive macromodel and can handle single as well as coupled interconnects. A sample numerical example is presented to validate the efficiency of the algorithm.


Various embodiments are disclosed on service strategy communication systems and methods. In some embodiments, the communications device implements a service policy, using a communication device for assisting control of the service on the network; and service policy based on the usage monitoring service, wherein the service policy implemented is verified.