Many recently built residential houses and factories are equipped with facilities for converting energy from green sources, such as solar energy, into electricity. Electricity consumers may input the extra electricity that they do not consume into the smart grid for sale, which is allowed by law in countries such as Japan. To reduce peak-time electricity usage, time-varying pricing schemes are usually adopted in smart grids, for both the electricity sold to consumers and the electricity purchased from consumers. Thanks to the development of cyber-physical systems and advanced technologies for communication and computation, current smart grids are typically networked, and it is possible to integrate information such as weather forecasts into such a networked smart grid. Thus, we can predict future levels of electricity generation (e.g., the energy from solar and wind sources, whose generation is predominantly affected by the weather) with high accuracy using this information and historical data. The key problem for consumers then becomes how to schedule their purchases from and sales to the networked smart grid to maximize their benefits by jointly considering the current storage status, time-varying pricing, and future electricity consumption and generation. This problem is non-trivial and is vitally important for improving smart grid utilization and attracting consumer investment in new energy generation systems, among other purposes. In this paper, we target such a networked smart grid system, in which future electricity generation is predicted with reasonable accuracy based on weather forecasts. We schedule consumers' behaviors using a Markov decision process model to optimize the consumers' net benefits. The results of extensive simulations show that the proposed scheme significantly outperforms the baseline competing scheme.


There is a problematic treatment of field specific words in both general language dictionaries as well as specialised dictionaries, which in this paper is exemplified using the sports and fitness subject fields as the point of departure and focusing on meaning explanations. Particularly the treatment in general dictionaries in many cases results in inadequate solutions that cannot sufficiently accommodate the dictionary users' needs if we consider these from the viewpoint of the function theory, according to which a dictionary is designed to help a specific user type with a punctual information need that has occurred in a specific type of extra-lexicographical user situation. In this study, a total of 44 general and specialised information tools in English and Danish were analysed. The first part of the investigation involved an analysis of the introductory matter to determine the intended user situation(s) and user(s) of each tool. In the second part, a selected number of sports and/or fitness related lemmata in the dictionaries were analysed. These test words and their meaning explanations were in each dictionary compared to the dictionary's mentioned user situation(s) and user(s). Based on this comparison, a number of identified problems with the meaning explanations are discussed, and a set of principles for best practice when producing meaning explanations of specialised terms is suggested. The study revealed that quite a number of these information tools either do not clearly specify their functions or, to some extent, cannot live up to their intended functions. Some additional interesting findings were also made as some of the dictionaries either explicitly or implicitly are designed with operative and interpretative functions, which are functions that have yet not been fully incorporated into lexicographical theory. The overall findings from the study have led to a suggested function-based definition of meaning explanations to be applied in all types of information tools.


The performance of TiAlN coated and uncoated carbide drill bits when drilling titanium alloy were investigated on vibration, thrust force, torque, machining time, burr dimensions and surface roughness. In response, the experiments were carried out on CNC vertical milling machine with two factors and each factor consists of three levels. For experimentation, the ranges of spindle speed and feed rate selection is based on tool manufacturer recommendations. In addition, the effects of spindle speed and feed rate on considered responses were explored and the same is presented in this paper. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.mech.22.6.13467


Purpose: To investigate the genetic polymorphisms that may contribute to the worsening of glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with severe or acute hyperglycemia. Methods: The prospective cohort study included 156 T2DM patients with severe or acute hyperglycemia from all medical wards of the National University of Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) that were treated with insulin therapy. For the genetic association study, we used the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The glycemic control assessment during the acute phase was based on the degree to which the patient achieved the targeted glucose levels. The primary outcome was the influence of IRS gene on glycemic control in T2DM patients with severe/acute phase hyperglycemia. Results: Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (IRS1) (R2 = -0.023, p = 0.771) and Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 (IRS2) gene polymorphisms (R2 = -0.160, p = 0.046) were not associated with glycemic control in T2DM patients with severe/acute hyperglycemia. Conclusion: The IRS1 and IRS2 genetic factors may not be significant genetic determinant for glycemic control in T2DM patients during severe/acute phase hyperglycemia.


Tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA), which cannot be β-oxidized, exerts growth-limiting properties in glioma cells. In order to investigate the importance of modulated lipid metabolism and alterations in mitochondrial properties in this cell death process, we incubated glioma cells both with TTA and the oxidizable fatty acid palmitic acid (PA), in the presence of l-carnitine and the carnitine palmitoyltransferase inhibitors etomoxir and aminocarnitine. l-carnitine partly abolished the PA-mediated growth reduction of glioma cells, whereas etomoxir and aminocarnitine enhanced the antiproliferative effect of PA. The production of acid-soluble products increased and the incorporation of PA into glycerolipids decreased after l-carnitine supplementation. l-carnitine was found to enhance the antiproliferative effect of TTA, but did not affect the incorporation of TTA into glycerolipids, or ceramide. PDMP, sphingosine 1-phosphate, desipramine, fumonisin B1, and l-cycloserine were able not to rescue the glioma cells from PA and TTA-induced growth inhibition, suggesting that increased ceramide production is not important in the growth reduction. TTA-mediated growth inhibition was accompanied with an increased uptake of PA and increased incorporation of PA into triacylglycerol (TG). Our data suggest that mitochondrial functions are involved in fatty acid-mediated growth inhibition. Whether there is a causal relationship between TG accumulation and the apoptotic process remains to be determined.


Complex fjord topography (bathymetry and coastline) may differentiate significantly wave conditions not only compared with the offshore ones but in the vicinity of few tens of meters. In the present work, possible inhomogeneities of wave conditions are investigated in a hypothetical bridge crossing in the area of Sulafjorden, central Norway. More specifically, wave conditions at ten positions across the bridge crossing have been derived by means of numerical modelling. The analysis has been carried out by transferring offshore wave conditions to the nearshore area by successive applications of the well-known third-generation wave model SWAN. As input, a very detailed bathymetry of the area, and time series of wind and wave parameters, derived from ERA5 database, have been used. At the target points, long-term time series of directional wave spectra have been used as input for the assessment of the inhomogeneity hypothesis. Various statistical features have been examined including, among others, the seasonal variability, the probability structure, the directionality, the correlation structure, and the long-term wave spectra.


Espionage's permissibility under international law remains largely unsettled; no global regulation exists for this important state activity. This Comment first surveys the longstanding scholarship regarding espionage's legality, and proceeds to highlight the reasons why regulation continues to be absent. Then by examining cyber technology's transformative effects in this field, this Comment argues that this ambiguity is no longer sustainable, as espionage becomes more indistinguishable from low-level warfare, more efficient, more visible, and more involved in information wars. This prompts a need for the international community to set clear guidelines for allowable espionage activities. This Comment suggests that a possible solution, given the barriers prohibiting the development of wide-reaching regulations of cyber espionage, is to begin by incrementally carving out specific activities—starting with those that transcends states' strategic calculus. An example then provided is the broad disallowance of private entities to engage in cyber espionage.


SUMMARY: In their early investigation o the means by which the incompatibility factors of the incompatibility actors of the tetrapolar basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune find physiological or biochemical expression, Raper & Esser (1961) stresse the need to use isogenic strains to minimize differences in proteins other than those attributable to the incompatibility system. Recently Wang & Raper (1969) have shown disc electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel to be valuable in investigating the protein spectra of various mycelial types of this fungus and have used their results to test the validity of a model for the model of action of the incompatibility factors. In a preliminary investigation of the applicability of disc electrophoresis to the examination of the proteins of the related fungus Coprinus lagopus sensu Buller, the method described was found to give good results. The advantage of using 'isogenic' strains of Coprinus is open to question.


The topos $extrm{Sh}(mathcal{F})$ of sheaves on a $sigma$-algebra $mathcal{F}$ is a natural home for measure theory. The collection of measures is a sheaf, the collection of measurable real valued functionsis a sheaf, the operation of integrationis a natural transformation, and the concept of almost-everywhere equivalence is a Lawvere-Tierney topology. The sheaf of measurable real valued functions is the Dedekind real numbers object in $extrm{Sh}(mathcal{F})$ and the topology of ``almost everywhere equivalence`` is the closed topologyinduced by the sieve of negligible sets The other elements of measure theory have not previously been described using the internallanguage of $extrm{Sh}(mathcal{F})$. The sheaf of measures, and the natural transformation of integration, are here described using the internal languages of $extrm{Sh}(mathcal{F})$ and $widehat{mathcal{F}}$, the topos of presheaves on $mathcal{F}$.These internal constructions describe corresponding components in any topos $mmathscr{E}$ with a designatedtopology $j$. In the case where $mmathscr{E}=widehat{mathcal{L}}$ is the topos of presheaves on a locale, and$j$ is the canonical topology, then the presheaf of measures is a sheaf on $mathcal{L}$. A definition of the measure theory on $mathcal{L}$ is given, and it is shown that when$extrm{Sh}(mathcal{F})simeqextrm{Sh}(mathcal{L})$, or equivalently, when $mathcal{L}$ is the locale of closed sieves in $mathcal{F}$this measure theory coincides with the traditional measure theory of a $sigma$-algebra $mathcal{F}$.In doing this, the interpretation of the topology of ``almost everywhere' equivalence is modified so as to better reflect non-Boolean settings.Given a measure $mu$ on $mathcal{F}$, the Lawvere-Tierney topology that expressesthe notion of ``$mu$-almost everywhere equivalence' induces a subtopos $extrm{Sh}_{mu}(mathcal{L})$. If this subtopos is Boolean, and if $mu$ is locally finite, then the Radon-Nikodym theorem holds, so that for any locally finite $ullmu$, the Radon-Nikodym derivative $frac{du}{dmu}$ exists.


Prairie L. Moore, Karen D. Holl, and David M. Wood doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15447/sfews.2014v9iss2art1 Restorationists commonly plant overstory and understory species simultaneously at the outset of restoration, but a mature forest canopy may be necessary to facilitate survival of light-intolerant understory species. We conducted two experiments in riparian forest restoration sites along the Sacramento River to determine whether: (1) introducing understory species is more successful at the beginning of restoration or after the canopy has developed; (2) canopy cover directly (via reduced light) or indirectly (by reducing non-native competition) facilitates survival of native understory species; and (3) seeding or planting seedlings of understory species is most effective. Seven native understory species were introduced as both seeds and seedlings into an experiment that manipulated canopy cover (open or canopy) and non-native grass competition (control or grass-specific herbicide). We conducted another experiment using shade cloth to directly test the effect of different light levels on seedling survival and growth of three species. Both experiments showed that four species (Aristolochia californica, Carex barbarae, Clematis ligusticifolia, and Vitis californica) had higher survival under low-light conditions (canopy or shade cloth). In contrast, three species (Artemisia douglasiana, Euthamia occidentalis and Rubus californica) had similar survival across open and canopy conditions. Cover of unplanted understory vegetation (mostly non-native) was much lower under the canopy than in open plots treated with grass-specific herbicide. Establishment from seed was generally low and highly variable. Our results suggest that to restore understory species in riparian forests in north–central California: light-intolerant understory species should be planted after canopy closure; canopy cover is more effective than grass-specific herbicide at reducing non-native understory cover; and planting seedlings is more successful than direct seeding.


International capital market integration together with increasing international volatility, requires an accurate evaluation of the potential losses that portfolio managers may face as a result of international turbulence. Assets with high liquidity standards can be evaluated by the traditional Value at Risk approach (VaR), however, this statistic underestimates the true value of the potential losses when the instrument is not liquid. This paper applies the methodology of liquidity adjusted VaR to the Chilean sovereign bond by incorporating bid-ask spread fluctuations when evaluating a portfolio risk.


Oxidative stress is a key underlying component in the pathogenesis of retinal
diseases, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age related macular
degeneration (AMD). Intracellular and extracellular anti-oxidants counteract
oxidative stress to prevent tissue damage and subsequent disease. The
transcription factor Nrf2 is found in mammalian cells and is a major sensor of
redox changes. In response to oxidative stress, it activates numerous
intracellular anti-oxidant enzymes and cytoprotective proteins. Exogenous antioxidants
also utilise this pathway to amplify the anti-oxidant response in cells. In
retinal pigment epithelial cells and photoreceptor cells, the Nrf2 pathway has
been involved in providing cytoprotection and delaying degeneration within the
eye. Mueller cells play a supportive role within the retina, protecting the
surrounding cells from oxidative stress. However, the effects of oxidative stress
and the Nrf2 pathway have not previously been investigated in retinal Mueller
cells. In this study, the effects of a range of pro-oxidants and the dietary antioxidant
sulforaphane (SFN) on the Nrf2 pathway were investigated in the
human Mueller MIO-M1 cell line. None of the pro-oxidants investigated,
including hydrogen peroxide, high glucose concentrations, oxygen and glucose
deprivation, lipopolysaccharide and TNF-α, activated Nrf2-mediated gene
expression in MIO-M1 cells. Hydrogen peroxide however, induced the Nrf2-
driven cellular anti-oxidant heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the human ARPE-19
retinal epithelial cell line In contrast, SFN significantly increased HO-1 and
NAD(P)H:quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), but not ferritin or Thioredoxin
(Trx1) expression in MIO-M1 cells, which are Nrf2 target genes. SFN also
increased Nrf2 protein expression but not Nrf2 de novo synthesis in MIO-M13
cells. SFN-induced Nrf2 and HO-1 expression was dose-dependently suppressed by Bisindolylmaleimide I (a protein kinase C inhibitor) and LY294002 (a phosphionositide 3-Kinase (PI3K) inhibitor). These results suggest that Mueller cells may be more resistant to oxidative stress than other retinal cell types and that SFN utilises the Nrf2 pathway to amplify the anti-oxidant response in these cells via PI3K and PKC regulation of Nrf2. In conclusion, the Nrf2 pathway may have a key role in amplifying neuroprotection in the diseased retina through SFN in the Mueller cells.


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OBJECTIVE: To study the role of heat shock proteins in the mechanism of adaptive stabilization of structures. DESIGN: Double-blind randomized trial. ANIMALS: Wistar male rats weighting between 250 and 300 g. INTERVENTIONS: Adaptation to restraint stress. Animals were heparinized and anesthetized with nembutal. Experiments on isolated heart included ischemia, reperfusion, adrenergic damage and heat shock. Biochemical investigations studied calcium transport from sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and cytofluorimetrical analysis of DNA using the O'Farrell method. MAIN RESULTS: In reperfusion, the contraction amplitude of the hearts from adapted animals was 8.8 times higher than control. This acceleration of the contractile function recovery was due to a more rapid disappearance of the contracture. The duration of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation was 246 +/- 16 s in control and 119 +/- 12 s in adaptation (P < 0.001). The creatine kinase release was 719 +/- 34 mU/min/g wet weight in control and 302 +/- 120 mU/min/g wet weight in adaptation (P < 0.05). In adaptation, the heat shock-induced contraction amplitude was 2.4 times higher than control and the enzyme yield was practically absent. Adaptation reduced the duration of atrioventricular blockade from 385 to 233 s per group and decreased the number of extrasystoles by 6.5 times. The calcium leakage from intracellular stores during storage proceeded slower in adaptation than in control. During storage of mitochondria at 4 degrees C, oxygen consumption fell much slower in adaptation than in control. As a result, the capacity of mitochondria (isolated from hearts of adapted animals stored for two days) to consume oxygen was 50% higher than in controls; in controls, almost one-half of nuclei were already damaged at one-chain DNA concentration of 50 micrograms/mL, while this phenomenon was 5.5 times less pronounced in adaptation. Adaptation resulted in the accumulation of five polypeptides (molecular weight 72 kDa and pl from 6.3 to 5.7). CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism providing adaptive increase of the heart resistance is apparent both at the central level and at the level of heart cells, and is accompanied by accumulation of inducible polypeptides.


This paper focuses on the design method of optimal multi-loop proportional integral (PI) controllers for the multiple inputs and multiple outputs (MIMO) systems via using Lyapunov theorems. The design problem of optimal multi-loop PI controller is transformed into a nonlinear constraint optimization (NLCO) problem. The optimal multi-loop PI controller parameters are obtained from solving the NLCO problem. The design method is used to devise the multi-loop optimal PI controller for different types of MIMO plants, and the optimal multi-loop PI controller under different control weight is also given too. The performances and robustness of different multi-loop PI controller's tuning methods are studied. The computer simulation results are presented to demonstrate the design method's effectiveness and optimal MIMO PI controller's better performance and robustness.


While much prior work has been done regarding sketching and its impact on design and a few on how to train engineers to sketch, there have been no prior studies in engineering to reduce inhibition to frequent sketching. This paper describes a sketching intervention developed from art teaching aimed at reducing inhibition to sketching and a study to evaluate its effectiveness. In the study, students (n = 55) were tested with pre-mid-post assessments consisting of a mechanical, organic, and design-oriented sketching task and a TLX survey measuring the level of difficulty. The study found that the students overwhelmingly reported their inhibition was lowered, but the short-term TLX data suggested inhibition was higher. However, the TLX data showed a longterm decrease in inhibition-related measures, perhaps suggesting that long-term encouragement to sketch is effective in reducing inhibition to sketch. These results tentatively suggest that sketch inhibition is reduced by actively promoting creativity and sketching, some use of the activities presented here, and by deemphasizing the importance of higher-level skills such as perspective drawing.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


Tabu Search (TS) is a well known local search method which has been widely used for solving AI problems. Different versions of TS have been proposed in the literature, and many features of TS have been considered and tested experimentally. The feature that is present in almost all TS variants is the so called (short-term) tabu list which is recognised as the crucial issue of TS. However, the definition of the parameters associated with the tabu list remains in most TS applications still a handcrafted activity.

In this work we undertake a systematic study of the relative influence of few relevant tabu list features on the performances of TS solvers. In particular, we apply statistical methods for the design and analysis of experiments. The study focuses on a fundamental theoretical problem (GRAPH COLOURING) and on one of its practical specialisation (EXAMINATION TIMETABLING), which involves specific constraints and objectives. The goal is to determine which TS features are more critical for the good performance of TS in a general context of applicability.

The general result is that, when the quantitative parameters are well tuned, the differences with respect to qualitative parameters become less evident.


ABSTRACT Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a potentially fatal disease that is endemic to Northern Australia and Southeast Asia and is acquired from soil or water. Adherence of B. pseudomallei 08 to cultured cells increases dramatically following prior growth at 30°C or less compared to that following prior growth at 37°C. Here, we show that this occurs almost entirely as the result of microcolony formation (bacterium-bacterium interactions) following growth at 27°C but not at 37°C, which considerably enhances bacterial association with eukaryotic cells. Further, we demonstrate that the type IVA pilin-encoding gene, pilA, is essential for microcolony development by B. pseudomallei 08, and thus optimum association with eukaryotic cells, but is not required for direct adherence (bacterium-cell interactions). In contrast, although the B. pseudomallei genome sequence strain, K96243, also contains transcriptionally active pilA, microcolony formation rarely occurs following growth at either 27°C or 37°C and cell association occurs significantly less than with strain 08. Analysis of pilA transcription in 08 identified that pilA is dramatically upregulated under microcolony-forming conditions, viz., growth at low temperature, and association with eukaryotic cells; the pattern of transcription of pilA in K96243 differed from that in 08. Our study also suggests that biofilm formation by B. pseudomallei 08 and K96243 on polyvinylchloride is not mediated by pilA. Adherence and microcolony formation, and pilA transcription, vary between strains, consistent with known genomic variation in B. pseudomallei, and these phenotypes may be relevant to colonization from the environment.


Abstract Three important criteria for cryptographically strong Boolean functions are balance, nonlinearity, and the propagation criterion. The main contributions of this paper are to reveal a number of interesting properties of balance and nonlinearity, and to study systematic methods for constructing Boolean functions that satisfy some or all of the three criteria. We show that concatenating, splitting, modifying, and multiplying (in the sense of Kronecker) sequences can yield balanced Boolean functions with a very high nonlinearity. In particular, we show that balanced Boolean functions obtained by modifying and multiplying sequences achieve a nonlinearity higher than that attainable by any previously known construction method. We also present methods for constructing balanced Boolean functions that are highly nonlinear and satisfy the strict avalanche criterion (SAC). Furthermore we present methods for constructing highly nonlinear balanced Boolean functions satisfying the propagation criterion with respect to all but one or three vectors. A technique is developed to transform the vectors where the propagation criterion is not satisfied in such a way that the functions constructed satisfy the propagation criterion of high degree while preserving the balance and nonlinearity of the functions. The algebraic degrees of functions constructed are also discussed.


Fiber-ring-based optical frequency comb generators are analyzed to understand their behavior and limitations. A numerical frequency-domain model is described for studying dispersion and other phase mismatch causing effects in the fiber ring cavity, as well as for predicting the spectral and temporal evolutions of the comb in time. The results from this analysis are verified with experimental measurements. A flat optical comb, with a terahertz span within a 6-dB power envelope and containing 100 comb lines, with a suppressed central comb line, is demonstrated. The comb shows an excellent coherence dependent on the phase noise from the radio frequency synthesizer that drives the comb generator. Improvement in the error correction loop also enables the comb spacing to be set at precise 12.5-MHz intervals without having to adjust the system. Fast frequency switching of the comb line spacing is demonstrated for the first time. The comb line spacing can be switched to any operation frequency with a resolution of 12.5 MHz between 6 and 12.5 GHz, as limited only by the microwave circuit used. The switching time is less than 1 s, and the spectral profile of the comb is maintained.


Japan's 6th X-ray satellite mission ASTRO-H, which is planed to be launched in the fiscal year 2013, will carry two hard X-ray telescopes (HXT) using depth-graded multilayer reflectors which provide us the capability of hard X-ray imaging observation up to 80 keV. ASTRO-H/HXT is the light-weight hard X-ray telescope using Pt/C depth-graded multilayer and high-throughput thin-foil optics. The basic technology for fabricating ASTROH /HXT has been established through the balloon borne experiments, InFOCμS and SUMIT mission. The HXT consists of about 1300 foil reflectors of which a size of the 200 mm mirror length and the diameter range of 120-450 mm which is much larger that those for the balloon borne experiments. To clear the requirements of the angular resolution and the effective photon collecting area for ASTRO-H/HXT, we should produce twice the total number of reflectors and select them. Therefore we need to produce more than 5000 foil reflectors for the two flight telescopes. The installation of the production line and optical evaluation system dedicated to the ASTRO-H/HXT has been almost done. We are testing and improving the production line through productions of several sizes of reflectors. The mass production of the reflectors for the flight model is scheduled to start from July 2010.


Since there is no fixed infrastructure in wireless ad hoc networks , virtual backbone has been proposed as the routing infrastructure to alleviate the broadcasting storm problem. The virtual backbone construction has been studied extensively in undirected graphs, especially in unit disk graphs, in which each node has the same transmission range. In practice, however, transmission ranges of all nodes are not necessarily equal. In this paper, we model such a network as a disk graph, where unidirectional links are considered. To study the virtual backbone construction in disk graphs, we consider two problems: strongly connected dominating set (SCDS) and strongly connected dominating and absorbing set (SCDAS). We propose a constant approximation algorithm and discuss its improvements for the SCDS problem . We also propose a heuristic for the SCDAS problem. Through extensive simulations, we verify our theoretical analysis and also demonstrate that the SCDS can be extended to form an SCDAS with marginal extra overhead.


All communication entails moments of breakdown and repair. Research has shown that test-takers in oral proficiency interviews use both verbal and nonverbal behaviors to navigate these breakdowns, which may occur more often in online speaking tests than face-to-face settings. While individuals are often idiosyncratic in their baseline nonverbal behavior, it is unknown to what extent speakers resemble or differ from each other during moments of repair. To date, a research agenda including a broader range of embodied behavior in the context of language tests is lacking. In this study, four Zoom-based video recordings of second language tests were used to investigate seven categories of behavior and their alignment with speech during moments of other-initiated repair., This contribution uses multimodal conversation analysis to analyze differences in behavior amongst the participants and how those patterns align with the turn-by-turn nature of repair. The analysis shows that participants varied substantially in both the frequency and duration of each type of behavior during repair, and furthermore differed in how they combined these during their interaction with the examiner. The study highlights the need for more research in how individuals demonstrate their interactional competence both verbally and nonverbally for greater construct representation in second language speaking tests.


The internal draining of biliary tracts of patients with obstructive jaundice and acute cholangitis is considered most acceptable, but deficiency of this method is anastomosis failure, stricture and purulent-septic complications hazard. The investigations performed on 79 patients with obstructive jaundice, 36 of which were included in control group, 43 - in main group. To patients of main group with internal draining intraoperatively through the nose and biliodigestive anastomosis into the biliary tract transmitted tube with quartz optical monofiber for endocholedocheal laser irradiation in one lumen and hollow other, serve for drainage and irrigation of bile-excreting way with ozonized physiological solution. The application of endocholedocheal laser radiation and ozonetherapy in combination with suggested at biliodigestive anastomosis biliary tract drainage method allowed to earlier elimination of inflammatory process biliary tract, correct the bile lipids per oxidations disturbances and elevate activity of antioxidant protection system, to reduced the time of patients stay at hospital after surgery period from 20,3±1,24 day in control group to 12,7±0,653 day in main group (p<0,001), to prevent purulent-septic and scarry complications in complex treatment of patients with obstructive jaundice and acute cholangitis.


We present PneuModule, a tangible interface platform that enables users to reconfigure physical controls on pressure-sensitive touch surfaces using pneumatically-actuated inflatable pin arrays. PneuModule consists of a main module and extension modules. The main module is tracked on the touch surface and forwards continuous inputs from attached multiple extension modules to the touch surface. Extension modules have distinct mechanisms for user input, which pneumatically actuates the inflatable pins at the bottom of the main module through internal air pipes. The main module accepts multi-dimensional inputs since each pin is individually inflated by the corresponding air chamber. Also, since the extension modules are swappable and identifiable owing to the marker design, users can quickly customize the interface layout. We contribute to design details of inflatable pins and diverse pneumatic input control design examples for PneuModule. We also showcase the feasibility of PneuModule through a series of evaluations and interactive prototypes.


As seen in the past few decades, it is very common to observe the patient's paper work at the hospital. Even though the same personal information is used, an unusual way to actually decrement the amount of these paper works does not exist. The development of mobile web provides development direction for medical industry and a new service mode. In this paper, we introduce e-health authentication system to obtain patient's health record easily and securely in the local hospital and also to reduce the redundant paper work. One of the aims of this project is to use the dataset and machine learning techniques to predict the type of disease based on the symptoms and patient's health report. A mail regarding login details which includes patient's mail-id, secret key and symptoms is sent to the doctor automatically via email. The doctor logs-in into the application where predicted disease and personal information of patient is obtained. Further the doctor sends prescription to the patient which is seen by the pharmacist with the help of mailed secret-key .Here, we describe an integrated system, developed for use by the healthcare personnel within healthcare facilities, adapted to all handheld devices .With our proposed scheme, we believe that it will improve efficiency in terms of the cost and time for the patient, hospital and the doctor and protect patient's personal information.


We present a simplified $h$-box method for integrating time-dependent conservation laws on embedded boundary grids using an explicit finite volume scheme. By using a method of lines approach with a strong stability preserving Runge-Kutta method in time, the complexity of our previously introduced $h$-box method is greatly reduced. A stable, accurate, and conservative approximation is obtained by constructing a finite volume method where the numerical fluxes satisfy a certain cancellation property. For a model problem in one space dimension using appropriate limiting strategies, the resulting method is shown to be total variation diminishing. In two space dimensions, stability is maintained by using rotated $h$-boxes as introduced in previous work [M. J. Berger and R. J. LeVeque, Comput. Systems Engrg., 1 (1990), pp. 305-311; C. Helzel, M. J. Berger, and R. J. LeVeque, SIAM J. Sci. Comput., 26 (2005), pp. 785-809], but in the new formulation, $h$-box gradients are taken solely from the underlying Cartesian grid, which also reduces the computational cost.


It is claimed that WBC (whole-body cryotherapy) enhances the resistance of the human body, also thanks to the beneficial effect on the antioxidant system. Accordingly, this research aimed to evaluate the effect of a series of whole-body cryostimulations on the level of non-enzymatic antioxidants and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in healthy men. The study was carried out on 30 young and healthy men aged 27.8±6.1 years with average body mass index and peak oxygen consumption (46.34±6.15 ml kg−1 •min−1). The participants were daily exposed for 3 minutes to cryogenic temperatures (−130°C). Blood samples were obtained in the morning before cryostimulation, again 30 min after exposure and the following day in the morning, during the 1st, 10th and 20th session. Analysis concerned changes in plasma concentrations of total protein, albumin, glucose, uric acid and ceruloplasmin, and the most important components of the antioxidant system in red blood cells: superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, reduced and oxidized glutathione. To assess the oxidative stress level the 8-isoprostane concentration in plasma was measured. The obtained results indicate that cryogenic temperatures in repeated daily treatments result in changes in the peroxidant and antioxidant status. These changes seem to depend on the number of cryostimulations. After 20 daily treatments there was an increase in SOD, SOD:CAT ratio, a decrease in the concentration of reduced and oxidized glutathione and in the activity of GPx. It could be possible that differences in the activity of GSSG-R after 20 treatments depended on the body mass index of participants.


Drying shrinkage is the major drawback of lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) as reported by many researchers. It is happened due to the loss of water in the capillary of concrete mixture. This problem caused the changes of dimension or volume of the concrete structure which lead to the cracking and failure thus shorten the life performance of the material. Once the water evaporated from the cement paste, it is impossible to replace it back. Thus, this paper studies the drying shrinkage behaviour of LFC with the confinement of woven fiberglass mesh at three different densities were 600kg/m 3 , 1100kg/m 3 , and 1600kg/m 3 . The woven fiberglass mesh implemented in this research is a synthetic textile fabric with an alkali resistance characteristic. The LFC specimens were wrapped 1-layer to 3-layer(s) of woven fiberglass mesh to enhance the drying shrinkage performance. The drying shrinkage test was measured accordance with the ASTM C157 specification and cured under air storage condition. Protein-based foaming agent (NORAITE PA-1) was used to produce the desirable density of LFC. The result shows that confinement of 160g of woven fiberglass mesh significantly improves the drying shrinkage of LFC compared to control and the enhancement also increase as the layer(s) of textile fabric is added from l-layer to 3-layer(s). Besides, the densities of LFC also play an important role to control its drying shrinkage behaviour. As proven at higher density of LFC the reduction of drying shrinkage value can be obtained.


Author(s): Burr, Wendy | Advisor(s): Chemers, Michael | Abstract: The following thesis maps the evolution of my dramaturgy for the UCSC production of Machinal, written by Sophie Treadwell and directed by Kirsten Brandt, in three sections. It serves to detail my process through evidence, analysis, interpretation and reflection. The first section I refer to as my "monster essay," which places Treadwell's work beneath the microscope, to be viewed through the lens of Jeffrey Jerome Cohen's Seven Theses of Monster Theory. My essay exposes the fears and desires of 1920's America through objective analysis and informed interpretation. This essay served to inform my work as a dramaturg, using Monster Theory as an empirical method of cultural and historical investigation. The second section is a direct reflection of my dramaturgy for the 2014 production of Machinal. It begins with an assessment of how Monster Theory influenced my process, followed by a linear evaluation of my role as a dramaturg. It functions to provide an account of the objective successes of this production's dramaturgy in addition to exposing moments where further dramaturgy could have enriched the depth of the performance. Each of these documents is then supported by the evidence present within the third section, my dramaturgical casebook, which is separate to this file.The casebook's contents reflect a portion of my research, providing a glimpse at the socio-political and cultural elements of history that were relevant to both the historical moment of Treadwell's writing in addition to how it has been interpreted since its debut in 1928 to the present. Furthermore, it documents historical evidence of the Snyder-Gray trial which was heavily influential to Treadwell's work as being exemplary of the fears and desires present not only within the individual, but within the larger social sphere of the late 1920's in America. Newspaper articles, essays, and other resources retrieved both online as well as from physical documents provide concrete evidence that exposes the world of Machinal, both in its written form and as it was set in Brandt's production. In addition, this casebook reveals evidence of my dramaturgy that directly influenced the production. In particular, this is seen through the actor's packet, program notes, production journal and the external lobby display. Finally, it documents the designer and artist research, renderings and statements as well as production stills in order to historicize our production.


During the year 2016 several significant normative developments were recorded in the African human rights system. The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa was adopted but is yet to be ratified by any member state. The African Court delivered three merit decisions dealing with the right to fair trial and the right to political participation: a judgment on reparations; one ruling on jurisdiction; and one ruling on a review application. Despite this positive outlook, Rwanda's withdrawal of its article 34(6) declaration allowing direct access by individuals and NGOs posed a real challenge to the Court's legitimacy in cases with sensitive political implications. Both the African Commission and African Children's Committee made progress on the examination of state reports. As far as communications are concerned, the African Commission delivered seven merit decisions, while the African Children's Committee delivered two decisions on the merits and one ruling on admissibility. The African Children's Committee's decision on the age of childhood in Malawi, which was reached through an amicable settlement, led to constitutional amendments increasing the age of adulthood from 16 to 18 years. Finally, the trial and conviction of former Chadian dictator, Hissene Habre, by the Extraordinary African Chambers served as a breath of fresh air in the fight against impunity for human rights violations in Africa.


Automotive body structure design is critical to achieve lightweight and crash worthiness based on engineers' experience. In the current design process, it frequently occurs that designers use a previous generation design to evolve the latest designs to meet certain targets. However, in this process the possibility of adapting design ideas from other models is unlikely. The uniqueness of each design and presence of non-uniform parameters further makes it difficult to compare two or more designs and extract useful feature information. There is a need for a method that will fill the missing gap in assisting designers with better design options. This paper aims to fill this gap by introducing an innovative approach to use a non-uniform parametric study with machine learning in order to make valuable suggestions to the designer. The proposed method uses data sets produced from experiment design to reduce the number of parameters, perform parameter correlation studies and run finite element analysis (FEA), for a given set of loads. The response data generated from this FEA is then used in a machine learning algorithm to make predictions on the ideal features to be used in the design. The method can be applied to any component that has a feature-based parametric design.


Combinatorial filters are discrete structures for modeling and reasoning about robotic systems. Such filters are of interest not only because of the potential for reduction of the computational power needed to execute the filter, but also for the insight they can sometimes provide into the information requirements of certain robotic tasks. It is known that the filter minimization problem -that is, for a given filter, to find a combinatorial filter with the minimal number of states among all filters with equivalent behavior-is NP-hard. Intuition might suggest that the well-known notion of bisimulation might be of direct use for this minimization problem. Indeed, the bisimilarity relation -the union of all bisimulation relations over the state space of the original filter-is an equivalence relation, and one might attempt to reduce a filter by merging states that are equivalent under this relation. This paper studies this relationship between bisimulation and combinatorial filter reduction. Specifically, we show that every filter minimization problem can be solved by computing a quotient of the input filter with some relation, but that for some filters, the bisimilarity relation is not the correct relation for this purpose. We also characterize the result of the bisimulation quotient operation as the solution to a different, stricter filter minimization problem, and identify several classes of filters for which a variant of bisimulation, called compatibility, can be used to minimize filters in polynomial time.


Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are active ingredients in over 200 disinfectants currently recommended by the U.S. EPA for use to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus. The amounts of these compounds used in household, workplace, and industry settings has very likely increased, and usage will continue to be elevated given the scope of the pandemic. QACs have been previously detected in wastewater, surface waters, and sediments, and effects on antibiotic resistance have been explored. Thus, it is important to assess potential environmental and engineering impacts of elevated QAC usage, which may include disruption of wastewater treatment unit operations, proliferation of antibiotic resistance, formation of nitrosamine disinfection byproducts, and impacts on biota in surface waters. The threat caused by COVID-19 is clear, and a reasonable response is elevated use of QACs to mitigate spread of infection. Exploration of potential effects, environmental fate, and technologies to minimize environmental releases of QACs, however, is warranted.


Previous work from our laboratory has shown that cosmid clone pFVl00, containing a 26 kb insert, is able to restore O‐antigen synthesis in serotype O5 rough mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mobilization of pFV100 into two P. aeruginosa semi‐rough (SR) mutants, AK14O1 and rd7513, resulted in O‐antigen expression, indicating that pFV100 may contain an O‐polymerase (rfc) gene. pFV.TK6, a subclone of pFVl00 that contains a 5.6 kb chromosomal insert, was able to complement O‐antigen expression in these SR mutants. Mutagenesis of pFV.TK6 using Tn1000 exposed a 1.5 kb region that was essential for complementing O‐antigen expression in AK14O1. A 2.0 kb Xhol‐HindIII fragment, containing this region, was cloned into vector pUCP26 and the resulting plasmid called pFV.TK8. In Southern analysis of the 20 P aeruginosa serotypes using a probe generated from the 1.5 kb Xhol fragment of pFV.TK8, the rfc probe hybridized to a common fragment of the cross‐reactive O2‐O5‐O16‐O18‐O20 serogroup, suggesting that these serotypes may share a common O‐polymerase gene. In functional studies of the rfc gene, the PAOl (serotype O5) chromosomal rfc was mutated using a gene‐replacement strategy. These knockout mutants expressed the SR lipopolysaccharide (LPS) phenotype, which indicated that they were no longer producing a functional O‐polymerase enzyme. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the insert DNA of pFV.TK8 revealed one open reading frame (ORF), designated ORF48.9, which could code for a 48.9 kDa protein. In comparisons of the P. aeruginosa rfc nucleotide and amino acid sequences with DNA and protein databases, no significant homology was found. However, the deduced structure of the P. aeruginosa Rfc protein indicated that it is very hydrophobic and contains 11 putative membrane‐spanning domains. Therefore, the predicted structure is similar to that of other reported Rfc proteins. Furthermore, comparison of the amino acid composition and codon usage of the P. aeruginosa Rfc with other Rfc proteins revealed significant similarity between them.


Development implies a change in allocation of resources from somatic growth to reproduction. In a highly variable environment, growth can vary from year to year thereby influencing the long-term life history perspective. The Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) lives in a highly unpredictable marine environment in which food abundance varies not only seasonally, but also annually due to El Nino. Galapagos sea lions are restricted to a patch of cold upwelling waters surrounding the archipelago and are closely tied to land as nursing females alternate between foraging at sea and nursing ashore. Therefore, their offspring are especially vulnerable to ocean warming causing reduced food abundance. We found a significant correlation between sea surface temperature (SST) and early growth: Both mass at birth and linear growth within the first 2 mo of life correlated negatively with SST. Absolute mass gain was higher for males, but both sexes gained equally 1.9% of birth mass per day. Until the age of 3 yr male and female juveniles showed similar growth to an asymptotic mass of 40 and 35 kg, respectively. As a consequence of the highly variable environment, the plasticity in growth strategy of Galapagos sea lion juveniles appears wider than that of all other sea lions allowing them to cope with poor conditions.


Spinal deformities can result in increasing thoracic kyphosis or loss of lumbar lordosis, leading to imbalance in the sagittal plane. Such deformities can be functionally and psychologically debilitating. The Smith-Petersen osteotomy can achieve approximately 10 degrees of correction in the sagittal plane at each spinal level at which it is performed. This osteotomy is beneficial for patients who have a degenerative imbalance in the sagittal plane. The pedicle subtraction osteotomy can achieve approximately 30 degrees to 40 degrees of correction in the sagittal plane at each spinal level at which it is performed. It is the preferred osteotomy for patients with ankylosing spondylitis who have an imbalance of the spine in the sagittal plane. The cervical extension osteotomy is performed in the cervical spine, at the cervicothoracic junction, in patients who have a cervical flexion deformity that impedes their ability to look straight ahead while walking or who have difficulty swallowing. The vertebral column resection is used when the imbalance is severe enough that the other osteotomies cannot correct the deformity, especially in patients who have a combined sagittal and coronal spinal imbalance. Neurologic problems, whether transient or permanent, are the most commonly encountered complications following these procedures. Recent results have shown a high patient satisfaction rate and good functional outcomes after spinal osteotomies done to treat a variety of disorders.


Objective After the recent publication of the first patients with disease-associated missense variants in the GRIN2D gene, we evaluate the effect of copy number variants (CNVs) overlapping this gene toward the presentation of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Methods We explored ClinVar (number of CNVs = 50,794) and DECIPHER (number of CNVs = 28,085) clinical databases of genomic variations for patients with copy number changes overlapping the GRIN2D gene at the 19q13.33 locus and evaluated their respective phenotype alongside their frequency, gene content, and expression, with publicly available reference databases. Results We identified 11 patients with microduplications at the 19q13.33 locus. The majority of CNVs arose de novo, and comparable CNVs are not present in control databases. All patients were reported to have NDDs and dysmorphic features as the most common clinical phenotype (N = 8/11), followed by seizures (N = 6/11) and intellectual disability (N = 5/11). All duplications shared a consensus region of 405 kb overlapping 13 genes. After screening for duplication tolerance in control populations, positive gene brain expression, and gene dosage sensitivity analysis, we highlight 4 genes for future evaluation: CARD8, C19orf68, KDELR1, and GRIN2D, which are promising candidates for disease causality. Furthermore, investigation of the literature especially supports GRIN2D as the best candidate gene. Conclusions Our study presents dup19q13.33 as a novel duplication syndrome locus associated with NDDs. CARD8, C19orf68, KDELR1, and GRIN2D are promising candidates for functional follow-up.


Barrett's esophagus is an acquired condition with columnar metaplasia of the distal esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux is the main pathophysiological factor, although genetic predisposition may play a role. The significance of Barrett's esophagus is that it is the only recognized risk factor for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, which is one of the most rapidly rising types of cancer in North America. Cancer develops in Barrett's esophagus through a series of steps including mucosal dysplasia. High grade dysplasia is clearly a premalignant lesion and has been the focus of endoscopic surveillance strategies. Because dysplasia and adenocarcinoma develop predominantly in patients with specialized intestinal columnar epithelium, they make up the group that would be considered for surveillance programs. Endoscopic surveillance for dysplasia is only indicated for patients in whom esophagectomy would be considered if high grade dysplasia or carcinoma was found, at least until other endoscopic ablative techniques are proven to be beneficial. It has been recommended that endoscopy be performed every other year and be increased to yearly if low grade dysplasia is found. High grade dysplasia should be confirmed by another expert pathologist, and the patient should then be considered for esophagectomy. Flow cytometry and genetic markers may improve the ability to select patients for surveillance programs in the near future.


This prospective study aimed to quantify the risks and complications associated with AxiaLIF in a series of 29 patients. AxiaLIF is a fusion technique using a percutaneous retrorectal, presacral corridor approach to access the L5-S1 and L4-L5 intervertebral spaces transaxially, through the body of S1 and L5 vertebrae. The fusion rate in the present series was 92% and the reported results ranged from 68% to 100%. The only serious complication in the authors' series was one presacral haematoma (1/29, or 3.5%). Symptomatic subsidence occurred in the stand alone group, resulting in foraminal stenosis and radiculopathy in two patients (7%) and back pain in one (3.5%). Painful radiolucent halo around the rod was noted in a spondylolytic case (1/29, or 3.5%) ; it resolved after transpedicular instrumentation. AxiaLIF is a novel truly minimally invasive technique not requiring blood transfusion and can be safely performed as a day surgery. Retroperitoneal haematoma, ureteral and vascular injuries can be avoided by respecting the regional anatomical landmarks as guided by accurate fluoroscopy. Only expanding haematomas may have to be drained. Bowel perforation can be prevented by gently sweeping away the rectum from the sacrum before inserting the guide probe.


General form of the well known-relation between the critical stress, necessary to start/finish martensite/austenite formation, and the test temperature is simply and plausibly obtained from our local equilibrium model of phase transformation [1], and compared to the classical forms of the Clausius-Clapeyron relation. Although in general, first of all because of the stress and temperature dependence of the transformation strain, εtr, the above relations are not inevitably linear, in most of the cases linear functions were observed. Using the results of our experiments carried out on single crystalline Cu-11.5wt%Al-5.0wt%Ni samples for the strain stress hysteretic loops at constant temperatures [2], the slopes of these functions are analyzed on the basis of the relations obtained and it is shown that these are different due to different stress dependence of the elastic energy contributions.


BACKGROUND
Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has been increasingly used to manage acute and chronic pain. However, the level of clinical evidence to support its use is not clear.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the clinical evidence of PNS in the treatment of acute or chronic pain.

STUDY DESIGN
A systematic review of the efficacy and safety of PNS in managing acute or chronic pain.

METHODS
Data sources were PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL Plus, Google Scholar, and reference lists. The literature search was performed up to December 2019. Study selection included randomized trials, observational studies, and case reports of PNS in acute or chronic pain. Data extraction and methodological quality assessment were performed utilizing Cochrane review methodologic quality assessment and Interventional Pain Management Techniques-Quality Appraisal of Reliability and Risk of Bias Assessment (IPM-QRB) and Interventional Pain Management Techniques-Quality Appraisal of Reliability and Risk of Bias Assessment for Nonrandomized Studies (IPM-QRBNR). The evidence was summarized utilizing principles of best evidence synthesis on a scale of 1 to 5. Data syntheses: 227 studies met inclusion criteria and were included in qualitative synthesis.

RESULTS
Evidence synthesis based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies showed Level I and II evidence of PNS in chronic migraine headache; Level II evidence in cluster headache, postamputation pain, chronic pelvic pain, chronic low back and lower extremity pain; and Level IV evidence in peripheral neuropathic pain, and postsurgical pain. Peripheral field stimulation has Level II evidence in chronic low back pain, and Level IV evidence in cranial pain.

LIMITATIONS
Lack of high-quality RCTs. Meta-analysis was not possible due to wide variations in experimental design, research protocol, and heterogeneity of study population.

CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this systematic review suggest that PNS may be effective in managing chronic headaches, postamputation pain, chronic pelvic pain, and chronic low back and lower extremity pain, with variable levels of evidence in favor of this technique.


The right to equal recognition before the law, protected by Article 12 of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), mandates the use of supported decision-making practices to enable disabled people, particularly those with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities, to enjoy their legal capacity. Finding ways to translate this theoretical mandate into practice poses a number of particularly challenging socio-legal issues, which this research seeks to address. The English Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) sets out a right to support with decision-making (s.1(3)), underpinned by a presumption of capacity (s.1(2)). Qualitative interviews with intellectually disabled people, their supporters, and care and support professionals were undertaken to explore how disabled people make decisions in their everyday lives, the kinds of support they need, and the strategies for supported decision-making used in practice. Analysis of these interviews suggests that a range of supported decision-making techniques have been developed in practice and are effective in supporting everyday preferences and some life choices. Paradoxically, it appears that as decisions become more complex, the support available to disabled people reduces. Specifically, much less support is available for more difficult decisions around finances, healthcare and legal matters. We argue that the reasons for this are due to a web of regulatory, social and policy issues. We conclude that implementing the right to enjoy legal capacity through supported decision-making will require a combination of regulatory reform, social change and policy amendment.


A STUDY OF IDEAL AND ACTUAL PROFESSIONAL ROLE CONCEPTIONS OF NURSE ADMINISTRATORS/MANAGERS AND STAFF NURSES FEBRUARY, 1991 ANNE MARY BOURGEOIS, B.S., WORCESTER STATE COLLEGE M.Ed., WORCESTER STATE COLLEGE M.S., ANNA MARIA COLLEGE Ed.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS Directed by: Professor Jack Hruska The primary purpose of this study was to identify the way in which two groups, staff nurses and nurse administrators/managers, each conceptualize the ideal and actual role of the registered nurse practicing at the bedside. Data was examined in order to identify similarities and differences in the opinions of the two groups. A questionnaire with 35 items/situations using a Likert scale was developed. Items/situations were worded to conform to a five-point response format ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The role conception items/situations were designed to measure the respondent's perceptions of what the role should be and perceptions of what actually exists in the practice of the nurse role. vi The sample of 300 non-management nurses was randomly selected using 50 percent of the professional nurses from each unit. Nurse administrators/managers comprised a smaller number than non-managers, therefore, the questionnaire was given to this entire group. Noteworthy findings of the study include that (a) staff nurses and nurse administrators/managers agreed in their perception of what comprises the actual professional role of the nurse practicing at the bedside, (b) both groups also agreed in their perception of what comprises the ideal professional role of the staff nurse practicing at the bedside, (c) the staff nurses and nurse administrators/managers agreed in their perception of what comprised the actual bureaucratic role of the nurse practicing at the bedside, (d) the groups agreed in their perceptions of what comprised the ideal bureaucratic role of the nurse practicing at the bedside, and (e) there is a significant difference between the ideal and actual role conceptions within both the bureaucratic and professional concepts. Simply stated, the respondents of this study do not believe that nursing is being practiced the way nursing should


Interest for business models and business modeling has increased rapidly since the mid-1990's and there are numerous approaches used to create business models. The business model concept has many definitions which can lead to confusion and slower progress in the research and development of business models. A business model ontology (BMO) was created in 2004 where the business model concept was conceptualized based on an analysis of existing literature. A few years later the Business Model Canvas (BMC) was published; a popular business modeling approach providing a high-level, semi-formal approach to create and communicate business models. While this approach is easy to use, the informality and high-level approach can cause ambiguity and it has limited computer-aided support available. In order to propose a solution to address this problem and facilitate the development and communication of Business Model Canvas models, two artifacts are created, demonstrated and evaluated; a structured metamodel for the Business Model Canvas and its implementation in an OMG standards-based modeling tool to provide tool support for BMC modeling.This research is carried out following the design science approach where the artifacts are created to better understand and improve the identified problem. The problem and its background are explicated and the planned artifacts and requirements are outlined. The design and development of the artifacts are detailed and the resulting BMC metamodel is presented as a class diagram in Unified Modeling Language (UML) and implemented to provide tool support for BMC modeling. A demonstration with a business model and an evaluation is performed with expert interviews and informed arguments.The creation of a BMC metamodel exposed some ambiguity in the definition and use of the Business Model Canvas and the importance of graphical presentation and flexibility in the tools used.The evaluation of the resulting artifacts suggests that the artifacts do facilitate the development and communication of the Business Model Canvas models by improving the encapsulation and communication of information in a standardized way and thereby the goals of the research are met.


Parties often do not negotiate for contract terms. Instead, parties search for the products, terms, and contractual counterparties they desire. The traditional negotiation centered view of contract continues to lead courts to try to construe the meaning of the parties where no meaning was negotiated, and to waste time determining the benefits of bargains that were never struck. Further, while courts have ample tools to validate specifically negotiated contract terms, courts lack the tools to respond to searched-for terms. Although the law and literature have long recognized that there is a disconnect between the legal fictions of negotiation and the reality of contracting practice, no theory has emerged to replace fictional negotiation. Therefore, this article develops a new search-oriented theory of contract, and shows that search theory can explain contracting behavior where the fictions of negotiation fail. The article then applies this theory to the common law of contract, the Uniform Commercial Code, and the growing world of internet searches and electronic contracting.


This month, we focus on current research in diabetes. Dr. Pridjian discusses six recent publications, and each is concluded with a "bottom line" that is the take-home message. The complete reference for each can be found in Box 1 on this page, along with direct links to the abstracts.


If it needs a justification, this account is an attempt to fill in what I consider to be a gap in the story of New Zealand's economic development. A considerable amount of research has been done on the economic development of the pastoral and gold-mining districts of New Zealand; but the story of settlement in the bush areas, particularly in the period before 1860, has been relatively neglected. The Otago and Canterbury centenaries of 1948 and 1950 provoked a spate of writing on the early development of those provinces which still continues. On the other hand the Taranaki centenary of 1941, possibly because it occurred during war-time, went by almost unmarked by any commemorative publishing. Further, although events of the first two decades of European settlement in Taranaki have been often described in New Zealand history books, any treatment of economic development has usually been scanty and usually directed towards explaining the origins of the war between the Maoris and the European settlers that broke out in 1860. The main emphasis in the ensuing description has been given to the economy of the European community. This is simply because the quantity and quality of the material available allows the European economy to be described in more detailed fashion than the Maori economy.


1Department of Intensive Care Unit, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, People's Republic of China; 2Department of Stomatology, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, People's Republic of China Purpose: The novel Hsp90 inhibitor SNX-2112 showed broad antitumor activity. However, it was still necessary to optimize the therapeutic dosage of SNX-2112 applied on tumors to obtain effective therapy with minimal dose to reduce toxicity. We investigated the role of low-intensity US in promoting antitumorigenic effect of low doses of SNX-2112 on tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: Cell viability was measured using CCK-8 assay or staining with Calcein AM/PI. Relative cumulative levels of SNX-2112 in cells were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography. The production of ROS was analyzed using fluorescence microscope and flow cytometer. Cellular apoptosis was detected using flow cytometer. The expression levels of proteins of the ERS-associated apoptosis signaling pathway were detected using Western blotting analysis. The efficacy and biosafety of SNX-2112 were also investigated in a mouse xenograft model. Results: Low-intensity US combined with SNX-2112 exhibited significant antitumor effect, increased the absorption of SNX-2112 by cells even with a low dose, enhanced ROS generation and apoptosis. The combination regimen also inhibited the protein expression of Hsp90 and triggered apoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) by enhancing PERK, CHOP and Bax protein levels, while downregulating the level of Bcl-2. Additionally, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), ROS scavenger, was able to reverse these results. Low-intensity US combined with SNX-2112 significantly inhibited tumor growth, prolonged survival of mice, decreased proliferation and promoted apoptosis with no visible damage or abnormalities in major organs in the mouse xenograft model with tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion: The antitumor effects of SNX-2112 were enhanced by low-intensity US. The most probable mechanism was that US sonoporation induced more SNX-2112 delivery to the cells and enhanced ROS production, triggering the ERS-associated apoptosis signaling pathway. Therefore, low-intensity US may increase the efficiency of conventional chemotherapy and reduce the dosage of SNX-2112 required and its side effects.


A 74-year-old woman was seen by her primary care physician for dull epigastric and right upper quadrant abdominal pain of 1-year duration. Routine laboratory values were within normal limits. The patient underwent ultrasonography of the abdomen, and 2 cystic lesions were discovered in the liver. Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen revealed 2 multiloculated cystic lesions in segments IV and V of the liver (Figure, A). Additional laboratory values included normal carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen 19-9 levels. Percutaneous aspiration with a biopsy of one of the cystic lesions was performed that revealed atypical cells suspicious for malignancy. The patient was then referred for management to our institution, where she underwent an exploratory laparotomy and enucleation of these 2 complex multiloculated cystic lesions (Figure, B).


This study was designed to analyze sources and expenditures of non-tax money in public schools of Guilford County during the 1972-73 school year. Receipts, expenditures, and donations of goods recorded by a total of thirty-eight public schools were studied. Procedure followed four steps. First, a study was made of all receipts written during the 1972-73 school year by school treasurers within all Guilford County Schools. Receipts were classified and tables were produced from classifications. Second, all invoices paid by public schools of Guilford County during the 1972-73 school year were examined. Amounts shown on invoices were classified in accordance with usage of materials or services. Tables were formed from classifications. Third, a study of profits and cash donations made to or received by schools was conducted. Impact of non-tax monies on school programs was studied. This included a separate analysis of receipts and expenditures in the area of athletics. Fourth, a study was made of donated goods received by public schools of Guilford County during the 1972-73 school year. Analyses were made of values and origins of donated goods.


Although an extensive literature exists on creativity and music, there is a lack of published research investigating possible links between musical creativity and Csikszentmihalyi's concept of flow or optimal experience. This article examines a group composition task to study the relationships between creativity, flow and the quality of the compositions produced. First-year university students (n = 45) worked on a group composition task during three meetings. Each time the students met, they completed a detailed questionnaire that assessed aspects of each student's experience of the group compositional process using an 'experience sampling form' based on Csikszentmihalyi's previous work. Completed compositions were recorded and rated for quality and creativity by the participants and by a group of music education specialists (n= 24). Results indicated a number of ways in which the specialists' assessments of quality related to the students' assessments of creativity and flow. The study provides an example of a research method that can be used to further our understanding of the processes and outcomes of group music composition tasks. The discussion also considers a number of important ways that the concept of flow can be utilized within a music education context.


Fusing the predictions of multiple received signal strength (RSS)-based classifiers is an efficient strategy to mitigate the impact of the fluctuation of the RSS. However, most of the existing fusion methods exhibit two remarkable shortcomings: 1) they need to train and store offline weights by the supervised learning and 2) they directly fuse the so-called candidate location set (CLS), which is collected from the most likely location estimate of each classifier (location with the largest probability of being the true location predicted by the classifier), and thus do not fully leverage the knowledge of classifiers. In general, the fluctuation of RSS does not guarantee the location predicted by each classifier with the highest probability to be the true location, thus leading to severe performance degeneration of the existing fusion methods. To overcome the above shortcomings, we propose an accurate WiFi localization framework by unsupervised fusion of an extended CLS (ECLS). First, we train multiple classifiers by only using RSS fingerprints in the offline phase. In the online phase, instead of collecting the CLS from the trained classifiers, we construct an ECLS by augmenting CLS with other location estimates (locations with predication probability greater than a certain threshold) from each classifier. As compared with the CLS, ECLS provides a bigger fusion space that likely includes the true location of the user. Furthermore, an unsupervised fusion localization algorithm based on the ECLS is derived from the joint optimization of weights and the location of the user. Furthermore, a point of inflection searching algorithm is also proposed to intelligently construct the ECLS. Real experimental results show that our proposed algorithm is more robust to changing environments and model errors, and can significantly improve the localization accuracy without any fingerprint and hardware calibrations.


Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies (MEMP) are heterogeneous multisystem disorders frequently associated with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. Clinical presentation varies considerably in age of onset, course, and severity up to death in early childhood. In this study, we performed molecular genetic analysis for mtDNA pathogenic mutation detection in Serbian children, preliminary diagnosed clinically, biochemically and by brain imaging for mitochondrial encephalomyopathies disorders. Sanger sequencing analysis in three Serbian probands revealed two known pathogenic mutations. Two probands had a heteroplasmic point mutation m.3243A>G in the MT-TL1 gene, which confirmed mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episode syndrome (MELAS), while a single case clinically manifested for Leigh syndrome had an almost homoplasmic (close to 100%) m.8993T>G mutation in the MT-ATP6 gene. After full mtDNA MITOMASTER analysis and PhyloTree build 17, we report MELAS' association with haplogroups U and H (U2e and H15 subclades); likewise, the mtDNA-associated Leigh syndrome proband shows a preference for haplogroup H (H34 subclade). Based on clinical–genetic correlation, we suggest that haplogroup H may contribute to the mitochondrial encephalomyopathies' phenotypic variability of the patients in our study. We conclude that genetic studies for the distinctive mitochondrial encephalomyopathies should be well-considered for realizing clinical severity and possible outcomes.


In a letter, dated October 10, 1871, Mr. G. W. Stow states that, after a three week's visit to the Vaal-River Diamond-fields, he feels Certain the description given of the diamond-gravels in the foregoing paper is correct, and that no other agency than that advocated in it could have formed the accumulation of boulder-drift, the river-deposits being distinct. In determining the nature of these specimens, Thomas Davies, Esq., F.G.S., of the British Museum, has kindly given mo his assistance. No. 1. From Gong-gong. See page 7. Washed, coarse, agate gravel†, containing:— Veined Jasper, one pebble. Yellow and white Quartz, several pebbles. Agate, various, and largely predominating; rounded and subangular, mostly polished or glazed. No. 2. From Cawood's Hope. See page 6. Two rolled pieces of fossil Wood. No. 3. From Pniel. See page 7. Washed agate gravel*, containing:— Lydite, rounded (pebbles). Jasper and Quartzite, subangular and much worn (more than in the gravel from Klip drift). Fossil Wood, much rolled, one piece. One fragment of Quartz, off a worn crystal. Agate, various; subangular and rounded; largely predominating. No. 4. From Pniel. See page 7. Some unwashed ochreous agate gravel. (Not nearly so ochreous as some sent from the Klip-drift diggings by Mr. E. T. Cooper and Dr. G. Grey; 'Mining Journal,' March 4, 1871.) No. 5. From Pniel. Page 7. A small weathered subangular block of light-greenish Amygdaloidal Greenstone, weathering brown. No. 6. From Pniel. Page 7. Another, similar, but of a dull-greenish tint. Both are studded with chalcedonic Agates.


Aims: This study was performed to compare the effects of physiological saline and hypertonic saline administered at an early stage in a model of traumatic brain injury associated with hemorrhagic shock. Material and methods: Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. The rats in the control group (S) underwent a sham experimental hemorrhagic shock followed by a sham operation. The rats in the trauma group (T) underwent a hemorrhagic shock followed by head trauma and no treatment. The rats in the NS group underwent a hemorrhagic shock followed by head trauma and received 0.9% NaCl. The rats in the HS group underwent a hemorrhagic shock followed by head trauma and received a 7.5% NaCl solution. The weight-drop method was used for achieving head trauma. After the head trauma, hypovolemia was induced by the controlled hemorrhage of 30% of the blood volume. The animals were exposed to hypovolemic shock for a further 30 min prior to fluid resuscitation. Each animal received a single volume infusion of their assigned fluid within few minutes. The effects of different fluids were evaluated after 24-hours by their brain water contents, and histological, and biochemical tests. Results: Group T had a significantly higher mean value for brain water content than did the NS group (P < 0.0001). Also, the HS group had significantly higher mean values for brain water content than the NS group (P = 0.003). Edema and bleeding were more marked in the HS group compared to the NS group (both, P < 0.001) in the histopathological evaluation. Leukocyte accumulation was significantly increased in the untreated rats compared to the HS and NS groups (both, P < 0.001). More red neurons were observed in the rats in the T group than in the NS and HS groups (both, P < 0.001). The mean serum osmolarity was higher in the T group compared to NS, HS, and S groups (all, P < 0.001). The mean plasma ADH levels and the mean plasma aldosterone levels were significantly higher in the T group than in the S, NS, and HS groups (all, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Although not significantly different in biochemistry, animals treated with HS early in hemorrhagic shock secondary to head injury had more brain water than those the received NS as defined histopathologically. Therefore, in emergency settings, NS should be used safely in the early stage of hemorrhagic shock secondary to head trauma.


Abstract Background Palivizumab is the standard immunoprophylaxis against serious disease due to respiratory syncytial virus infection. Current evidence-based prophylaxis guidelines may not address certain children with CHD within specific high-risk groups or clinical/management settings. Methods An international steering committee of clinicians with expertise in paediatric heart disease identified key questions concerning palivizumab administration; in collaboration with an additional international expert faculty, evidence-based recommendations were formulated using a quasi-Delphi consensus methodology. Results Palivizumab prophylaxis was recommended for children with the following conditions: <2 years with unoperated haemodynamically significant CHD, who are cyanotic, who have pulmonary hypertension, or symptomatic airway abnormalities; <1 year with cardiomyopathies requiring treatment; in the 1st year of life with surgically operated CHD with haemodynamically significant residual problems or aged 1–2 years up to 6 months postoperatively; and on heart transplant waiting lists or in their 1st year after heart transplant. Unanimous consensus was not reached for use of immunoprophylaxis in children with asymptomatic CHD and other co-morbid factors such as arrhythmias, Down syndrome, or immunodeficiency, or during a nosocomial outbreak. Challenges to effective immunoprophylaxis included the following: multidisciplinary variations in identifying candidates with CHD and prophylaxis compliance; limited awareness of severe disease risks/burden; and limited knowledge of respiratory syncytial virus seasonal patterns in subtropical/tropical regions. Conclusion Evidence-based immunoprophylaxis recommendations were formulated for subgroups of children with CHD, but more data are needed to guide use in tropical/subtropical countries and in children with certain co-morbidities.


: After nearly a century of inquiry, the cause of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains to be found. On the subject of AD pathogenesis, recent basic and clinical evidence strongly argues in favor of the concept that AD is linked to brain circulatory pathology. This concept, when viewed from many different medical disciplines and from close pre-morbid similarities to vascular dementia, assembles and hypothetically explains most of the key pathologic events associated with the development of AD. These pathologic events are triggered in AD by impaired cerebral perfusion originating in the microvasculature which affects the optimal delivery of glucose and oxygen and results in an energy metabolic breakdown of brain cell biosynthetic and synaptic pathways. We propose that two factors converge to initiate cognitive dysfunction and neurodegeneration as expressed in AD brain: (1) advanced aging, and (2) the presence of a condition that lowers cerebral perfusion. The first factor introduces a normal but potentially deconstructing process that lowers cerebral blood flow in proportion to increased aging, whereas the second factor adds a crucial burden that further lowers brain perfusion to a critical threshold that triggers neuronal metabolic compromise. When age and a condition that lowers cerebral perfusion converge, critically attained threshold of cerebral hypoperfusion (CATCH) results. CATCH is a cyclical and progressive cerebrovascular insufficiency that will destabilize neurons, synapses, neurotransmission, and cognitive ability, eventually evolving into a neurodegenerative process characterized by the formation of senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and amyloid angiopathy. The concept of impaired cerebral perfusion as the cause of this dementia also explains the heterogeneic profile observed in AD patients, because an extensive list of risk factors for AD are also reported to significantly diminish blood flow to the aging brain.


We model "soft" error rates for writing (WSER) and for reading (RSER) for spin-torque memory devices that have a free layer with easy axis perpendicular to the film plane by solving the Fokker-Planck equation for the probability distribution of the angle that the free layer magnetization makes with the normal to the plane of the film. We obtain: 1) an exact, closed form, analytical expression for the zero-temperature switching time as a function of initial angle; 2) an approximate analytical expression for the distribution function of the direction of the magnetization and the exponential decay of the WSER as a function of the time the current is applied; 3) comparison of the approximate analytical expressions for the distribution function and WSER to numerical solutions of the Fokker-Planck equation; 4) an approximate analytical expression for the distribution function and WSER for the case in which the pinned layer is not collinear with the perpendicular free layer; 5) an approximate analytical expression for the linear increase in RSER with current applied for reading; 6) comparison of the approximate analytical formula for the RSER to the numerical solution of the Fokker-Planck equation; and 7) confirmation of the accuracy of the Fokker-Planck solutions by comparison with results of direct simulation using the single-macrospin Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equations with a random fluctuating field in the short-time regime for which the latter is practical. We find that the WSER decays at long times as exp[-2(i-1)τ] where the reduced time τ is related to the switching time, Gilbert damping and precession frequency through τ = αω0t, and the reduced current i is the ratio of the applied current to the critical current density for switching i=I̅/I0 . This exponentially decaying tail in WSER is not easily reduced by tilting the pinned layer magnetization.


The present work focuses on the elaboration of low energy consuming materials and the correlation between their final properties and the fabrication route. For this purpose, geomaterials have been elaborate using a common raw clay material. Also an original route has been developed to elaborate "geomimetic" materials. The raw material consists of lateritic clay, whereas the main reactives are namely: nitric acid, fulvic acid, and calcium hydroxide in an aqueous medium. In both materials, the strengthening process and the final characteristics of the as obtained products have been investigated. Namely: the characteristic compressive strength and the resistance to water seeping and wearing. The geomaterials exhibit a good resistance towards water seeping and wearing, but the products obtained using Portland cement present a greater characteristic compressive strength than with lime. "Geomimetic" materials are also water resistant. In fact, the products elaborated using nitric acid exhibit the best characteristic compressive strength, namely 20 MPa. While with fulvic acid, an environmental friendly organic acid, a characteristic compressive strength of 12 MPa is obtained. Thus the latter appears competitive towards usual stabilized earth and concrete building materials.


Janet Hoskins provides both an ethnographic study of the organization of time in an Eastern Indonesian society and a theoretical argument about alternate temporalities in the modern world. Based on more than three years of field work with the Kodi people of the island of Sumba, her book focuses on Kodi calendrical rituals, exchange transactions, and confrontations with the historical forces of the colonial and postcolonial world. Hoskins explores the contingent, contested, and often contradictory precedent of the past to show how local systems of knowledge are in dialogue with wider historical forces. Arguing that traditional temporality is more complex than many theorists have realized, Hoskins highlights the flexibility and relativity of local time concepts, whose sophistication belies the cliche of simple societies living in a world outside of time.


While dual-channel codeless and semicodeless processing are mature techniques used on the Global Positioning System P(Y) signals, the literature lacks assessment of their performance, with derivations from first principles. This paper fills that gap, providing mathematical models of three dualchannel codeless or semicodeless processing approaches. Each exploits a situation where the same signal is transmitted on two carrier frequencies, and the receiver cannot generate a signal replica for conventional processing. The mathematical formulation leads to derivation of analytical models for performance of the three techniques, all having the same parametric form but different parameter values. The models apply to more general cases than previously addressed, allowing any relationship between input signal-to-noise ratios, and including different signal design variants. Computer simulations crosscheck the analytical performance, and comprehensive numerical results are provided. The results provide the foundation for a companion paper assessing how GPS III signal generation affects these types of receivers.


Keywords: Philosophie ; Epistemologie et histoire des sciences ; Section PH Reference EPFL-STUDENT-164076 Record created on 2011-03-06, modified on 2017-05-12


During the course of an illustrious 50-year career that took him from the Bauhaus to New York, architect Marcel Breuer (1902-1981) generated a huge, influential and varied body of work. This is a comprehensive study of his oeuvre, looking at both Breuer's built and unbuilt work. He was a master of concrete technology and produced hundreds of buildings and designs that are distinguished by the diversity of their structure, material and form. He has been referred to as "the last modernist". This text aims to make it clear why his work was so revered.


Recent analysis of migration processes and malaria morbidity rates in the northern Caucasus showed that the risk of resuming local malaria transmission is on the rise in the Rostov Province, Dagestan, and Krasnodar Territory. The migration processes has affected malaria morbidity and amounted to 9.5% of all the factors available on one of these territories in the past years.


Data insecurity affects the general public to a significant degree, and the law needs to step forward and cope with the challenges posed by data breaches, data misuse, and data injuries. The primary goal of this article is to provide a thorough analytical framework for data breach cases that specifically focuses on the evolutions needed in the areas of duty and injury in shaping the contours of liability for data injuries. This article represents the first comprehensive analysis of a duty to secure data within the modern context of data insecurity. While most of our focus is on data breaches, the principles explored in this article are broad enough to be applied helpfully in data misuse cases as well, including the recent controversy over Facebook's permissive data use practices.

We examine duty as a part of a negligence framework for data insecurity harms, and we argue that courts should recognize a legal duty to secure data. This duty is made necessary by pervasive cognitive biases that result in systematic underestimation of cyber risk by firms and individuals and interfere with the risk management process. A legal duty to secure data is also supported by statutory trends towards liability for people who were upstream or downstream of a data thief.

We also analyze data injuries. Courts struggle with fitting data insecurity injuries within the existing legal models, but part of the reason for that is the preoccupation with economic harm, which is a poor method for quantifying privacy injuries. The erosion of privacy through neglect of security is troubling, and the legal system must shift away from traditional economic measurements of injury and focus instead on the fact that data insecurity is a social harm. Data insecurity is a privacy injury and an injury to autonomy that interferes with self-determination, and it should be analyzed as such. Our article represents another step forward in the process of aligning legal protections with the societal shifts driven by technological changes.


Contractionary monetary policy reduces the price level in the long run, but it is frequently observed that a positive interest rate shock raises the price level at a short horizon. Impulse response analysis and estimation of an interest rate augmented Phillips curve in Korea indicate the existence of a cost channel effect of monetary policy before the currency crisis period. Based upon these empirical results, this paper develops a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model in order to explain the price responses in Korea. The cost channel of monetary policy transmission is a key feature in the model. Moreover, in order to examine the role of the banking sector in the monetary policy transmission given cost channel, an explicit loan production function in the banking sector is introduced. I find from policy simulation that the cost channel effect of monetary policy has fallen dramatically since the currency crisis in 1997. The model suggests that this result comes mainly from the facts that it takes longer for firms to adjust their output prices, and that the capital adjustment cost has declined since the currency crisis. I also find that, despite the existence of the cost channel, when the banking sector supplies loans efficiently, monetary policy has an effect on the economy mainly through the changing of aggregate demand. This implies that, given the existence of the cost channel, the central bank can reduce undesirable output price movements by enhancing the efficiency of the banking sector.


Abstract. A comparison of two popular eddy-covariance software packages is presented, namely, EddyPro and TK3. Two approximately 1-month long test data sets were processed, representing typical instrumental setups (i.e., CSAT3/LI-7500 above grassland and Solent R3/LI-6262 above a forest). The resulting fluxes and quality flags were compared. Achieving a satisfying agreement and understanding residual discrepancies required several iterations and interventions of different nature, spanning from simple software reconfiguration to actual code manipulations. In this paper, we document our comparison exercise and show that the two software packages can provide utterly satisfying agreement when properly configured. Our main aim, however, is to stress the complexity of performing a rigorous comparison of eddy-covariance software. We show that discriminating actual discrepancies in the results from inconsistencies in the software configuration requires deep knowledge of both software packages and of the eddy-covariance method. In some instances, it may be even beyond the possibility of the investigator who does not have access to and full knowledge of the source code. Being the developers of EddyPro and TK3, we could discuss the comparison at all levels of details and this proved necessary to achieve a full understanding. As a result, we suggest that researchers are more likely to get comparable results when using EddyPro (v5.1.1) and TK3 (v3.11) – at least with the setting presented in this paper – than they are when using any other pair of EC software which did not undergo a similar cross-validation. As a further consequence, we also suggest that, to the aim of assuring consistency and comparability of centralized flux databases, and for a confident use of eddy fluxes in synthesis studies on the regional, continental and global scale, researchers only rely on software that have been extensively validated in documented intercomparisons.


INTRODUCTION
Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is increasing rapidly, and the impact on youth is unknown. We assessed associations between e-cigarette use and smoking intentions among US youth who had never smoked conventional cigarettes.

METHODS
We analyzed data from the nationally representative 2011, 2012, and 2013 National Youth Tobacco Surveys of students in grades 6-12. Youth reporting they would definitely not smoke in the next year or if offered a cigarette by a friend were defined as not having an intention to smoke; all others were classified as having positive intention to smoke conventional cigarettes. Demographics, pro-tobacco advertisement exposure, ever use of e-cigarettes, and ever use of other combustibles (cigars, hookah, bidis, kreteks, and pipes) and noncombustibles (chewing tobacco, snuff, dip, snus, and dissolvables) were included in multivariate analyses that assessed associations with smoking intentions among never-cigarette-smoking youth.

RESULTS
Between 2011 and 2013, the number of never-smoking youth who used e-cigarettes increased 3-fold, from 79,000 to more than 263,000. Intention to smoke conventional cigarettes was 43.9% among ever e-cigarette users and 21.5% among never users. Ever e-cigarette users had higher adjusted odds for having smoking intentions than never users (adjusted odds ratio = 1.70, 95% confidence interval = 1.24-2.32). Those who ever used other combustibles, ever used noncombustibles, or reported pro-tobacco advertisement exposure also had increased odds for smoking intentions.

CONCLUSION
In 2013, more than a quarter million never-smoking youth used e-cigarettes. E-cigarette use is associated with increased intentions to smoke cigarettes, and enhanced prevention efforts for youth are important for all forms of tobacco, including e-cigarettes.