Transformational leadership practices and spirituality continue to be topics of research on effective leadership. Quantitative research on the impact a leader's spiritual health has on transformational leadership practices has not been explicitly examined. This quantitative correlational research study evaluated, via self-assessment inventories, nonprofit administrators' spirituality, transformational leadership practices, and the relationship between the two. Data were gathered and tested via Person's r bivariate correlation to determine if a significant relationship between nonprofit administrators' spirituality, measured by the Spiritual Transformation Inventory 2.0, and transformational leadership practices, measured by the Leadership Practices Inventory, exists. Thirty-one nonprofit administrators in western Pennsylvania were selected by way of convenience sampling. The first 31 participants to return a consent form were selected. Data were collected in two weeks using online surveys. SPSS was utilized to calculate the composite (mean) scores for the spirituality and transformational leadership practices variables. The correlational coefficients were analyzed to determine significant relationships between the variables. A one-tailed test of significance was used to test the relationship of the variables with a .05 significance level to analyze the results. Data gathered and analyzed from the study provided no conclusive evidence about the relationship between western Pennsylvania nonprofit administrators' spirituality and transformational leadership practices. Continued research on spirituality and transformational leadership may offer leaders responsible for developing organizations' culture and climate a greater understanding of how to effectively nurture leadership practices for self-improvement, improvement of others, and well-being in the workplace.


The advent of the Smart City domain has led to the creation of massive amounts of diverse data. Stakeholders in this domain need to be able to analyze this data in order to make informed planning decisions. To address this complex task, Distributed Analytical Environments (DAEs) have emerged. These environments consist of different distributed analytical and data services, which are composed in a dynamic way to deliver insights that are crucial for stakeholders. Since these environments deal with business critical and sensitive information, strict compliance constraints apply. These constraints lead to situations where certain concrete services are not allowed to exchange data, even though their interaction is necessary to produce the desired results. Finding a valid solution in the space of possible instantiations is a non-trivial problem. In this paper we introduce Nomads, a framework that enables service mobility in such constrained dynamic composition environments to overcome aforementioned restrictions. The framework improves the overall satisfiability and therefore also the quality of constrained DAEs. We outline the requirements of a representative DAE scenario, provide a detailed problem formulation, and then discuss the service mobility framework along with our solution finding algorithm. The evaluation demonstrates that the Nomads framework considerably increases the number of successfully performed compositions even in highly constrained environments.


Vitamin C (Vit C) has been shown to be protective against doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cardiotoxicity. However, Vit C uptake into cardiomyocytes is poorly understood. Furthermore, whether the antioxidant enzyme reserve is enhanced by Vit C is also not known. The present study investigated an influence of Dox on Vit C transporters, expression of endogenous antioxidant reserve as well as enzymes, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in isolated cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes isolated from adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to control (culture medium 199 alone), Dox (10 μM), Vit C (25 μM), and Vit C + Dox for 24 h. Vit C transporter expression and localization, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes, and apoptosis were studied. Expression and localization of sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter-2 (SVCT-2) in the sarcolemma was reduced by Dox, but Vit C supplementation was able to blunt this change. There was a decrease in the expression of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) due to Dox, but only GPx expression was completely prevented and Cu/Zn SOD was partially rescued by Vit C. Dox-induced decrease in antioxidant reserve and increase in oxidative stress were partially mitigated by Vit C. Dox-induced apoptosis was ameliorated by Vit C. It is suggested that cardioprotection offered by Vit C in Dox-induced cardiomyopathy may involve an upregulation of SVCT-2 transporter followed by a reduction in oxidative stress as well as blunting of cardiomyocyte injury.


Purpose: Intra‐operative three dimensional imaging via FP‐CBCT (flat‐panel cone‐beam computed tomography) offers high spatial resolution and the ability to image low contrast structures such as soft‐tissue. However, repeated FP‐CBCT scanning requires irradiation of the patient for each subsequent acquisition. The aim of this work is to significantly reduce the delivered dose for monitoring and verification scanning, by using a planning scan to constrain the reconstruction.Method and Materials: An extension to compressed sensing (CS) has recently been proposed wherein a prior image is utilized as a constraint in the image reconstruction procedure (i.e. Prior Image Constrained Compressed Sensing — PICCS). The PICCS framework was used here on a clinical neuro‐interventional C‐arm system. Geometric calibration was incorporated into the algorithm through measured projection matrices of a known phantom. Results: The clinical task of placing a needle into a target was simulated with phantom and cadaver experiments. A full range of tomographic angles was explored from 10 degrees to 200 degrees. In the phantom experiments the delivered dose used for the reconstruction was twenty times less than the planning image. In the cadaver experiments PICCS images were reconstructed with a dose reduction factor of ten. The needle was well visualized in the tomosynthetic planes (e.g. coronal planes for a PA arc) for all acquisitions and the PICCS algorithm enabled improved reconstruction of the background anatomy compared with CS and standard FBP. Conclusion: The PICCS algorithm enabled reconstruction of the needle introduced from few views, while maintaining the background anatomy. If a tomosynthesis acquisition is chosen the orientation of the arc with respect to the object of interest is no less important than with standard image reconstruction. Experimental data indicates that a significant undersampling is acceptable (e.g. an order of magnitude dose savings) when using the PICCS reconstruction algorithm.


Most patients needing intensive care cannot give informed consent to participation in research. This includes the most acutely and severely ill, with the highest mortality and morbidity where research has the greatest potential to improve patient outcomes. In these circumstances consent is usually sought from a substitute decision maker, but while survivors of intensive care believe substitute decision makers will look after their interests, evidence suggests substitute decision makers are poorly equipped for this task. Various models have been suggested for research without patient informed consent when intervention is urgent and cannot wait until first person consent is possible, including a waiver of consent if conditions are met. A nationally consistent model is proposed for Australia with a robust process for initial waiver of consent followed by first person consent to further research-related procedures or ongoing follow-up when this can be competently provided.


BACKGROUND
Video consulting was widely rolled out across general practice at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the in-hours setting there has been a marked shift away from using the technology, but many urgent care clinicians continue to use video consulting. Little is known about the reasons behind this discrepancy.

AIM
To understand how and why video is used in urgent care settings DESIGN AND SETTING: Focus groups were held via Microsoft Teams with 11 General Practitioners (GPs) working in in- and out- of hours settings across the UK.

METHODS
GPs were recruited through a purposive sampling strategy. Meetings were recorded, auto-transcribed and checked for accuracy. A thematic analysis was performed.

RESULTS
Urgent care GPs usedvideo as an adjunct to the telephone in the initial assessment of patients and felt it helped direct patients to the right service first time. They were confident using video for a broad range of presenting conditions. They felt it created additional trust and rapport with patients and was useful for bringing third parties into the consultation. They felt that it allowed them to maximise resources and use shielded colleagues effectively. They were more likely to have received 1-1 training and this was seen as vital for effective implementation within an organisation CONCLUSION: Video consulting is useful in the urgent care setting as an adjunct to telephone consulting. It is particularly helpful in the initial triage of patients. 1-1 training is needed for effective implementation.


In this paper some bioethical reflections about medical research in human beings are made. The social moral obligation to increase this kind of investigation, with the purpose of enlarging resources to take care of the health of society, as well as to comply with the moral duty of keeping the integrity of the participating subjects, have placed to medical investigators face to face with ethical problems that may affect the development of this essential activity for human healthcare. On one hand, in the present context, the resistance of both healthy and sick individuals to collaborate in the studies, as possible, according to a wrong autonomous decision (irreflexive individualism). On the other hand, the shortage of anticipating strategies that promotes altruistic attitudes to take into account, the suffering experiences proper of human nature. In this regard, the author focuses his reflections, from the principle of social welfare that underlies medical research and of the necessity of providing instrumentation for some educational policy that without lacking respect for the autonomy of subjects, would propitiate the participation of society so that humanity would continue to benefit from the achievements of this type of research.


Background/Aims: Turner's syndrome (TS) is associated with increased insulin resistance and adiposity, which might be associated with type 2 diabetes in later life. We aimed to determine whether the defect in insulin sensitivity is a primary intrinsic defect in TS or dependent on variation in body composition. Methods: Sixteen women with TS not on growth hormone replacement but receiving oestrogen replacement therapy [age (mean ± SD): 30.2 ± 8.5 years; height-corrected fat-free mass: 26.1 ± 3.1 kg/height] and a control group of 16 normal healthy women (age: 30.1 ± 8.2 years; height-corrected fat-free mass: 25.9 ± 2.4 kg/height) were studied. Fasting blood samples were obtained for measurement of glucose, insulin, IGF-I, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3 and lipid levels. The hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp was performed to assess peripheral insulin sensitivity (M value), and the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-S) was used to estimate fasting insulin sensitivity. Body composition was assessed using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Results: Fasting insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S 103.2 ± 78.6 vs. 193.9 ± 93.5, p = 0.006) was lower in TS subjects compared to controls as was whole-body insulin sensitivity (M value 2.9 ± 1.9 vs. 5.5 ± 2.6 mg/kg/min, p = 0.003). In a multiple regression analysis the Turner karyotype was significantly related to insulin sensitivity (p = 0.008) independent of any differences in fat-free mass and percent whole-body fat mass. Conclusion: The increased insulin resistance in women with TS is independent of measures of body composition and may represent an intrinsic defect related to their chromosomal abnormality.


The effect of the liquid/gas interfacial energy on the drain sink formation height has been studied using both mathematical and physical modeling. Initially, the mathematical model predictions of the drain sink formation height were compared with data from physical modeling, representing a situation with a low interfacial energy. The agreement was found to be good. Thereafter, mathematical modeling was done to evaluate the drain sink formation height at higher interfacial energies. In addition, an analytical expression was derived for the prediction of the drain sink formation height. The calculations using this equation were found to align well with both the experimental data as well as the numerical predictions. This analytical equation is suitable to use for determination of the drain sink formation height as function of the liquid/gas interfacial energy, liquid density, outlet radius and outlet length. In order to demonstrate its industrial usefulness the equation was used to predict drain sink formation heights for steel in a system with geometrical dimensions relevant for steel production. It was found that an increased interfacial energy lowered the drain sink formation height severely for small outlets, low-density fluids and short outlet lengths. In real plant practice, the predictions with the analytical equation yield that the effect of steel/argon interfacial energy decreases the predicted drain sink formation height by approximately 10% compared to if the interfacial energy was neglected.


For presurgical evaluation of epilepsy a 44-year old patient with complexpartial seizures underwent HMPAO-SPECT. The morphology of the seizures, the MRI-scan, psychometry and ictal as well as interictal EEGs showed a left temporal origin of the seizures. Early images were obtained 20 min and late images 24 h following injection. On both scans a marked hyperperfusion was observed in the left temporal area. A crossed cerebellar diaschisis was also seen on both SPECTs. It could be shown that during ictal examinations there is no bloodflow-dependent wash-out from brain tissue.


Background: The beauty of nasal tip is very important in septorhinoplasty surgeries. Unstable tip rotation may lead some problems in the outcome of this surgery or performing a repair surgery. Hence, using an appropriate method to save the tip rotation for the long term is considered. Materials and Methods: We studied 30 patients who underwent rhinoplasty in Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex of Tehran and Razi Hospital of Tehran and divided them equally into two groups of rein (case) and septocolumellar (control), randomly. Then, we evaluated the rotation and projection of the nasal tip (nasolabial, columellar-labial, and nasofacial angles) after 2 weeks and 6 months of the surgery. Results: In both groups, 80% and 20% of the patients were female and male, respectively. The reduction of the nasal projection (columellar-labial and nasofacial angles) and nasal rotation (nasolabial angle) was significant in both groups during 6 months after the surgery (P > 0.001) that showed reduction in the nasal projection and rotation after 6 months in both group. This reduction was not significant in the nasofacial and columellar-labial angles (nasal projection) among two groups. However, in the case of nasolabial, we found less reduction in the case group that explains significant relation (P = 0.03). Discussion: Using rein flap can be used as a proper way to save the tip rotation in the long term and could be used in the patients with droopy tip noses. Conclusion: Using rein flap in nasal tissue seems to be effective in providing a stable rotation and projection. This method can be considered as a good option for providing proper projection and rotation.


Objective Non-oxidative metabolism of ethanol (NOME) produces fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) via carboxylester lipase (CEL) and other enzyme action implicated in mitochondrial injury and acute pancreatitis (AP). This study investigated the relative importance of oxidative and non-oxidative pathways in mitochondrial dysfunction, pancreatic damage and development of alcoholic AP, and whether deleterious effects of NOME are preventable. Design Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]C), NAD(P)H, mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of apoptotic and necrotic cell death pathways were examined in isolated pancreatic acinar cells in response to ethanol and/or palmitoleic acid (POA) in the presence or absence of 4-methylpyrazole (4-MP) to inhibit oxidative metabolism. A novel in vivo model of alcoholic AP induced by intraperitoneal administration of ethanol and POA was developed to assess the effects of manipulating alcohol metabolism. Results Inhibition of OME with 4-MP converted predominantly transient [Ca2+]C rises induced by low ethanol/POA combination to sustained elevations, with concurrent mitochondrial depolarisation, fall of NAD(P)H and cellular necrosis in vitro. All effects were prevented by 3-benzyl-6-chloro-2-pyrone (3-BCP), a CEL inhibitor. 3-BCP also significantly inhibited rises of pancreatic FAEE in vivo and ameliorated acute pancreatic damage and inflammation induced by administration of ethanol and POA to mice. Conclusions A combination of low ethanol and fatty acid that did not exert deleterious effects per se became toxic when oxidative metabolism was inhibited. The in vitro and in vivo damage was markedly inhibited by blockade of CEL, indicating the potential for development of specific therapy for treatment of alcoholic AP via inhibition of FAEE generation.


A procedure has been developed for purification of the tripartite anthrax-toxin components. This involves sequential high-performance anion-exchange, gel-filtration and hydrophobic-interaction chromatography. From an initial culture volume of 15 litres, typical yields of 8 mg of protective antigen, 13 mg of lethal factor and 7 mg of oedema factor are produced to higher degrees of purity than have previously been achieved by conventional chromatographic techniques.


P33

 A significant pathology associated with hypertension is endothelial dysfunction caused by reduced availability of endothelial nitric oxide. There are several potential contributing mechanisms to the decreased nitric oxide availability including changes in membrane receptor function, alterations in second messenger systems, or decreases in crucial cofactors associated with enzyme regulation. Recently it has been demonstrated that endothelial nitric oxide synthase is concentrated in the caveolae of endothelial cells, presumably by formation of a heteromeric complex. The current studies hypothesize that disruption of caveolar membranes by the sterol binding agent filipin will result in the attenuation of endothelium dependent vasodilator responses. Aorta from male Sprague-Dawleys rats were removed, cleaned of adhering fat, and cut into rings for the measurement of isometric force development. Rings were incubated in the presence of filipin complex (5 ug/ml) or vehicle for one hour. To determine vasodilation all vessels were precontracted with an EC50 concentration of phenylephrine. Filipin treatment significantly attenuated endothelium dependent relaxation in response to both cholinergic activation with acetylcholine (maximum relaxation, filipin 40±7% vs. vehicle 95±2%; EC50 -5.8±.20 vs. -6.6±.03) and the Ca
 2+
 ionophore A-23187 (maximum relaxation, filipin 24±5% vs. vehicle 82±3%; EC50 -4.2±.19 vs. -6.5±.09). Maximal relaxation in response to 10
 -5
 M sodium nitroprusside was unchanged between groups. These results implicate the caveolae in endothelium dependent relaxation and suggest that the damage to the endothelium such as in hypertension may result in diminished caveolar function. This impaired caveolar function may provide a novel mechanism contributing to the reduction in nitric oxide available in hypertension.


The elimination of hypernasal speech in patients with cleft palate following pharyngeal flap surgery in childhood is well established. However, pharyngeal flaps in adults have been considered to yield more modest results. This study reports on 20 adult patients with cleft palate-related hypernasality who underwent pharyngeal flap surgery. Normal nasal resonance was achieved in 15 cases, hyponasality occurred in 3 cases, and hypernasality persisted in 2 cases. However, speech intelligibility was not always dramatically improved. Indications and outcome were found to be highly dependent on preoperative articulation.


This paper draws on Bourdieu's notions of habitus, social field, and capital to provide a more complex examination of the place and meaning of physical education in Turkish young people's lives. Two secondary schools comprised of students from quite distinctive social, cultural, and geographical locations were involved in the study. Collected data from several focus group discussions, individual interviews, and class observations was analysed in relation to the themes of 'social class', 'gender', and 'students' positions within the social field of 'physical education'. The findings demonstrate how the national Turkish physical education (PE) curriculum became interpreted and deployed by each school in distinctive ways. Both schools promoted disciplinary and performance-based physical activities in the PE social field, even as they used different physical activities and had different reasons for privileging these types of activities. Physical education was used by the middle-upper-class school to reify and enhance the symbolic, cultural, and social capital of young people, who were regarded as future intellectual, business, and government leaders within Turkish society. In comparison, the school based in the poor suburb used physical activity as a means to create 'good' and 'productive' citizen-subjects. However, in using particular physical activities to create certain types of subjects with institutionally valued habitus (including physical 'abilities' and personal and social attributes), both schools ended up privileging only a few select young men and women whose physical capital was commensurate with the discursive requirements of the social field. From this perspective, we argue that both schools authorised certain individuals (mostly young men) who were able to take up ascendant positions because they could most easily convert their physical capital into social and cultural forms. These students were most able to determine acceptable forms of embodiment and could dictate patterns of use in the physical education classroom. In many instances, their dominance worked to prevent most of their peers from fully participating in PE.


This is an interesting paper containing usefuly insights into the relative role of shear and sharpness at the tropopause. It uses an idealised framework for the investigation, which as the authors acknowledge would require further investigation. This should not be seen as a criticism however as the idealised setting provides the ideal setting for testing ideas and forming hypetheses to be tested in a more comprehensive setting as long as limitations are clearly articulated. I feel the following points need to be addressed.


Background & Aim: The occupational nature of health profession is such that employees in these occupations are exposed to various stressors which threaten their mental health. We aimed to investigate the influence of stress management and communication skills training on the improvement of mental health of nurses and hospital staff. Material & Methods: It was a quasi-experimental study. The sample included 32 nurses and other hospital staff of Baqiyatallah hospital in Tehran that were first recruited by voluntary sampling and then were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Stress management and communication skills training program based on the cognitive-behavioral theory was performed during a 16 hours period. Data was collected by Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) before and after the intervention and was analyzed by descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance using SPSS-PC (v. 18). Results: The results of the analysis of covariance indicated that the intervention has significantly reduced stress and anxiety in the experimental group compared to the control group (P< 0/01). However, no significant difference was seen in terms of depression (P=0/861). Conclusion: By reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety, stress management and communication skills training based on cognitive-behavior theory can improve mental health of nurses and hospital staff. Accordingly, using this program by health managers to improve mental health of their staff is recommended.


Working beyond a paradigm where musicians perform pre-composed works, the authors celebrate spontaneity and the ephemeral nature of sound. Using examples from their audio and visual practice they offer a post hoc analysis, discussing ambiguity and unpredictability as a strategy to foster musical creativity. In uncovering hidden and unintended potentials in seemingly fixed media they expose the instability of this definition, suggesting a reworking of such fixities as a useful line for enquiry. In highlighting the efficiency of physical interaction they consider the lack of tactility inherent within computer systems and problematize the wider role of digital technology within their work.


Pfandbriefe are bond issues issued by German mortgage banks. Agency ratings do not play a significant role in the risk profile of jumbo Pfandbriefe, one type of Pfandbriefe, so it might be that the withdrawal of government guarantees and the prospect of agency rating downgrades do not mean more risk in the highly standardized jumbo market, with its many investor protections. Ratings do appear to have more relevance for the basic Pfandbriefe, where non-standardized issues, lower liquidity, and higher trading costs pose greater challenges for investors who wish to adjust their holdings quickly. There are systematic and sometimes large differences between Pfandbriefe and jumbo Pfandbriefe. Spread levels are clearly more homogeneous for jumbos than for Pfandbriefe. The higher liquidity and standardization of jumbo issues also results in a stronger benchmark where both issuer idiosyncrasies and risk are largely reduced. The risk modeling implications are clear; the two asset types should be treated separately.


Fluidic driving device plays an important role in the delivery and distribution of minute amount of the liquid in the micro-fluidic system. Due to the unique advantages of simple structure, short response time, and low power consumption, piezoelectric actuation was employed to implement the microfluidic transportation. A piezoelectrically driven microfluidic device, piezoelectric pump, was developed and widely applied in many fields in last three decades. As a kind of displacement pump, piezoelectric pumps is able to realize accurate transportation of the liquid because of per stroke of output fluid is equal to the volumetric change of pumping chamber. And the output flow rate and pressure is easily to be controlled through adjusting the driving voltage or frequency. In this chapter, the design, structure, working principle and the characterisation of piezoelectric pumps with single chamber and multiple chambers are introduced.


This paper aims to verify whether and how the ownership model has an impact on the technical efficiency of the Italian water utilities. Some indices of Total-Factor Productivity (TFP) are presented in this analysis. Estimations from a previous econometric study on this technical efficiency are also used. With regard to the objectives of the Galli law and the most recent reform, the empirical results suggest that in the water sector the ownership model has no impact on efficiency, thus confirming the vast existing literature on this topic. In other words, the form of ownership does not influence productivity (this evaluation does not take into account the impact on the quality of service).


Standard-setting organizations typically require FRAND commitments from owners of standard-essential patents in order to ensure the availability of technologies needed to practice the standard. Failure to observe these FRAND commitments can lead to "patent hold-up" when implementers of a standard are confronted with supracompetitive royalty demands from SEP owners exploiting the market power associated with the standard. This article reviews empirical evidence from several recent cases suggesting that the problem of patent hold-up is real. We then analyze a number of arguments that have been advanced to downplay the risks of patent hold-up and demonstrate that they are flawed.


4G and other wireless systems are currently hot topics of research and development in the communication field. Broadband wireless systems based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) often require an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to produce multiple subcarriers. In this paper, we present the efficient implementation of a pipeline FFT/IFFT processor for OFDM applications. Our design adopts a single-path delay feedback style as the proposed hardware architecture. To eliminate the read-only memories (ROM's) used to store the twiddle factors, the proposed architecture applies a reconfigurable complex multiplier and bit-parallel multipliers to achieve a ROM-less FFT/IFFT processor, thus consuming lower power than the existing works. The design spends about 33.6K gates, and its power consumption is about 9.8mW at 20MHz.


Altogether 114 parents of patients attending a cystic fibrosis clinic and 27 regional genetics units were surveyed for their views on whether healthy siblings should be tested for carrier status during childhood. Most parents wanted to know their child's carrier status and felt it was their right; almost all would tell the children if they were carriers. However, 37% of the units never tested siblings and 40% said the parents had no right to this knowledge. Furthermore, 60% would withhold the information from parents.


FPS(Filament Power Supply), one of the KSTAR NBI (Neutral Beam Injections) is implemented by full-bridge DC/DC converter. NBI heating device for KSTAR(1.5㎿) is developed for heating an ion source of plasma in KSTAR tokmak[1]. The full-bridge DC/DC converter is applied to FPS for isolation with input and output. And FPS is operated with PWM control method which is the most usual method. In this paper, NBI FPS of 4.8㎾ is simulated by using the PSIM 6.0. And the full-bridge DC/DC converter using IGBTs is fabricated to demonstrate it. The processor DSP 28335 is implemented for digital control.


Podocytes (renal glomerular epithelial cells) are known to regulate glomerular permeability and maintain glomerular structure; a key role for these cells in the pathogenesis of various renal diseases has been established since podocyte injury leads to proteinuria and foot process effacement. It was previously reported that various endogenous agents may cause a dramatic overload in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in podocytes, presumably leading to albuminuria, and this likely occurs via calcium-conducting ion channels. Therefore, it appeared important to study calcium handling in the podocytes both under normal conditions and in various pathological states. However, available experimental approaches have remained somewhat limited to cultured and transfected cells. Although they represent a good basic model for such studies, they are essentially extracted from the native environment of the glomerulus. Here we describe the methodology of studying podocytes as a part of the freshly isolated whole glomerulus. This preparation retains the functional potential of the podocytes, which are still attached to the capillaries; therefore, podocytes remain in the environment that conserves the major parts of the glomeruli filtration apparatus. The present manuscript elaborates on two experimental approaches that allow 1) real-time detection of calcium concentration changes with the help of ratiometric confocal fluorescence microscopy, and 2) the recording of the single ion channels activity in the podocytes of the freshly isolated glomeruli. These methodologies utilize the advantages of the native environment of the glomerulus that enable researchers to resolve acute changes in the intracellular calcium handling in response to applications of various agents, measure basal concentration of calcium within the cells (for instance, to evaluate disease progression), and assess and manipulate calcium conductance at the level of single ion channels.


Research on the history of media is a 'patchy' area in Sub Saharan Africa. The existing research works on African media history focused on a single country or else on sub regional contexts. The same is true in the Ethiopia context. A lot of things has contributed for this, one of which; the practice of journalism in the country is being in its infancy stage and scholars in the field as well. Due to this factor, the Ethiopian media history remained without comprehensive and rigorous literature in the area. That being said, the following questions were not properly addressed through empirical researches: 'how media developed in Ethiopia?' or 'how they operated in the traditional Ethiopian society?' or 'how they are functioning today?' hence, this study attempts to fill this apparent paucity of knowledge on Ethiopia media history by providing an informative and accessible accounts.


Precise spatiotemporal gene expression during animal development is achieved through gene regulatory networks, in which sequence-specific transcription factors (TFs) bind to cis-regulatory elements of target genes. Although numerous cis-regulatory elements have been identified in a variety of systems, their global architecture in the gene networks that regulate animal development is not well understood. Here, we determined the structure of the core networks at the cis-regulatory level in early embryos of the chordate Ciona intestinalis by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) of 11 TFs. The regulatory systems of the 11 TF genes examined were tightly interconnected with one another. By combining analysis of the ChIP data with the results of previous comprehensive analyses of expression profiles and knockdown of regulatory genes, we found that most of the previously determined interactions are direct. We focused on cis-regulatory networks responsible for the Ciona mesodermal tissues by examining how the networks specify these tissues at the level of their cis-regulatory architecture. We also found many interactions that had not been predicted by simple gene knockdown experiments, and we showed that a significant fraction of TF-DNA interactions make major contributions to the regulatory control of target gene expression.


For reconstruction of low-rank matrices from undersampled measurements, we develop an iterative algorithm based on least-squares estimation. While the algorithm can be used for any low-rank matrix, it is also capable of exploiting a-priori knowledge of matrix structure. In particular, we consider linearly structured matrices, such as Hankel and Toeplitz, as well as positive semidefinite matrices. The performance of the algorithm, referred to as alternating least-squares (ALS), is evaluated by simulations and compared to the Cramér-Rao bounds.


We propose an approach to increase the operating range and matching stability of in-body ingestible or implantable capsule antennas. It involves using high permittivity biocompatible superstrate on a high-Q narrowband microstrip antenna. In this way, the antenna-body coupling can be significantly reduced, resulting in improved detuning immunity, increased radiation efficiency, and reduced power absorption inside the body. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach, we designed a mid-ISM band (433 to 434.8) MHz low-profile (85 μm) conformal microstrip antenna loaded with high permittivity ceramic superstrate. We achieved a simulated gain of -20.4 dBi. The radiation efficiency reaches 0.6%, which exceeds the counterparts operating within the same band by at least 3.5 times. The bandwidth is 26 MHz (6%), while the antenna remains matched (S11 <; -10 dB) at 434 MHz within a wide range of tissue-equivalent phantoms. To validate the numerical results, we manufactured an antenna prototype and characterized it in terms of reflection coefficient S11.


There is agreement across different approaches that although sentences consist of words, they are much more than strings of words: They also have structure. Section 1 shows how clause structure is analysed very differently across different approaches. The rest of the paper addresses ambiguity: lexical ambiguity in section 2, morphological structural ambiguity in section 3, and syntactic structural ambiguity in section 4. Subsections 4.1-4.2 analyse the ambiguity arising when a constituent, e.g. a PP, is interpretable either as the sister of one constituent or of another constituent. Subsection 4.3 argues that the ambiguous examples analysed in all of section 4 cannot be accounted for within approaches that do not recognise a constituent that contains a verb and its complement (i.e. a VP).


With the rapid development of the intelligent sensing and the prompt growing industrial safety demands, human behavior recognition has received a lot of attentions in industrial informatics. To deploy an utmost scalable, flexible, and robust human behavior recognition system, we need both innovative sensing electronics and suitable intelligence algorithms. In this paper, a new scheme for human behavior recognition on wireless sensor networks is proposed, namely Rank preserving discriminant analysis algorithm, which transmits the activities recognized from human or subject to network server. This activity signals are compressed by Hamming Compressed Sensing and the compressed signals are send to the network server. Heavy computations are performed by the network server and decompression also performed by network server. In the network server the classification process will takes place using nearest neighborhood algorithm. For transmitting of activity signals we are using Dash7 protocol which covers large area. Finally the results will be returned to the server. RPDA encodes local rank information of within-class samples and discriminative information of the betweenclass under the framework of Patch Alignment Framework. Experiments are conducted on the SCUT Naturalistic 3D Acceleration-based Activity (SCUT NAA) dataset and demonstrate the effectiveness of RPDA for human behavior recognition.


Algorithms, as constitutive elements of online platforms, are increasingly shaping everyday sociability. Developing suitable empirical approaches to render them accountable and to study their social power has become a prominent scholarly concern. This article proposes an approach to examine what an algorithm does, not only to move closer to understanding how it works, but also to investigate broader forms of agency involved. To do this, we examine YouTube's search results ranking over time in the context of seven sociocultural issues. Through a combination of rank visualizations, computational change metrics and qualitative analysis, we study search ranking as the distributed accomplishment of 'ranking cultures'. First, we identify three forms of ordering over time – stable, 'newsy' and mixed rank morphologies. Second, we observe that rankings cannot be easily linked back to popularity metrics, which highlights the role of platform features such as channel subscriptions in processes of visibility distribution. Third, we find that the contents appearing in the top 20 results are heavily influenced by both issue and platform vernaculars. YouTube-native content, which often thrives on controversy and dissent, systematically beats out mainstream actors in terms of exposure. We close by arguing that ranking cultures are embedded in the meshes of mutually constitutive agencies that frustrate our attempts at causal explanation and are better served by strategies of 'descriptive assemblage'.


This study evaluates the influence of different states of energy balance, positive and negative, on the accumulation and utilisation of energy reserves during the period of gonad development in the clam Rllditapes decussatus (L.). Our results show a clear sexual differentiation in the biochemical composition of the clams. The differences were associated with gonad development and were particularly evident in proteins and lipids. These findings imply that separation of the sexes for studying variations in the biochemical composition of sexually developed specimens is essential, and thus questions the results of previous studies in which both sexes were analysed simultaneously. Gonad development occurs under conditions of both positive and negative energy balance. and permits the development of a model of the utilisation of reserves during gonad development, which is closely linked to the clam's energy balance. Under conditions of positive energy balance, the amount of food ingested provides sufficient energy for both metabolic consumption and the accumulation of reserves. The absolute value of all biochemical components increases, in particular for lipids in the case of female clams, with no evidence of consumption of glycogen and other carbohydrates or their conversion into lipid reserves. Conditions of negative energy balance lead to a moderate degree of organic weight loss in the clams. Glycogen and other carbohydrates are rapidly consumed. falling to almost a quarter of initial values, whilst protein and lipid levels remain constant in females. Lipid values decrease slightly in males. Finally. under situations of extreme nutritive stress (when energy reserves are scarce) there is a loss of all biochemical components in a specific order of priority. Most of the glycogen and other carbohydrates are consumed initially (a decrease of 61 and 74%, respectively), followed to a lesser extent by lipids in males (40%) and then proteins (between 20 and 25%). In females, there was no lipid loss until the majority of the carbohydrates and part of the proteins had been consumed, indicating that lipids constitute the reproductive reserve par excellence in this species.


Surface engineered systems for industrial applications must be able to withstand the harsh inservice environments that they will be operated under. Localised testing on the nanoscale is a method commonly used to probe such systems at very high temperatures, varying humidity and even under liquid environments. However little or no research has been directed towards investigating their behaviour under low temperature conditions. In this study a novel sub-ambient temperature nanomechanical testing instrument has been designed and developed. It allows testing of materials under the temperature range from 20 oC to minus 30 oC. The instrument employs peltier coolers to provide vibration free measurements and a custom purging chamber has been designed to prevent condensation of water vapour on the sample surface during the sub-ambient testing. The study demonstrated the need for dual cooling of both the sample and indenter to ensure drift free measurements are obtained under sub-ambient regimes. A section of the research is dedicated to the testing of polymeric materials. A range of tests were performed from nanoindentation through to probing of time and environmental dependence parameters. In particular creep was studied at ambient temperatures on a range of engineering polymers and also on Nylon's which were submerged in a fluid cell. The prototype was constructed and validation tests carried out to ensure its performance on standard samples. Next the mechanical properties and creep behaviour of an atacticpolypropylene through its glass transition temperature was examined. Further experiments were carried out focusing on tribological testing of surface engineered systems with the new prototype providing interesting results on DLC's when tested under below ambient temperatures. Based on the outcomes of this research, a few papers have been published in peer-reviewed technical journals and it is envisaged that the novel sub-ambient instrumentation will be used for the design, charaterisation and optimization of novel engineered surfaces for various environmental applications.


From its beginnings in the 19th century to today's digital revolution, The photograph and Australia investigates how photography was harnessed to create the idea of a nation. It reveals how Australia's view of the world and itself has been changed by the advent of photography which paralleled the development of the colonies and the relationships between settlers and Indigenous Australians. Taking a thematic approach, the book encourages the reader to explore connections - between different forms of photography, people and place, past and present. It features renowned artists such as Richard Daintree, Charles Bayliss, Frank Hurley, Harold Cazneaux, Olive Cotton, Max Dupain, Sue Ford, Carol Jerrems, Rosemary Laing, Tracey Moffatt, Ricky Maynard, Patrick Pound and Robyn Stacey, among many others. Their work is reproduced alongside that of unknown photographers in cartes de visite, government and family albums and, early scientific and astronomical photography. Above all, this publication reminds the reader of the sense of wonder that the photograph can still induce with its ability to capture both things of the world and those of the imagination. Visually rich with fine reproductions, The photograph and Australia will not only be an important addition to the scholarship on Australian photography but a valued addition to the bookshelves of photography experts, lovers of photography and history.


This article appears in two parts. "The Story of Khalil Gibran International Academy" is Debbie Almontaser's account of the anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hysteria that was whipped up when she helped found the first Arabic Dual Language public school in New York City. Instead of backing her against the attacks, the Department of Education turned on Almontaser and forced her to resign. However, she fought in the courts, who in the end ruled in her favor. Donna Nevel's "The Campaign of Resistance" describes the organizing campaign that emerged in support of Almontaser, which was a coalition of Arab, Muslim, Jewish, immigrant, labor, and peace groups. They engaged in extensive outreach and mounted a media-intensive counterattack in defense of the school and its principal. This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website , where most recent articles are published in full. Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.


This thesis focuses on resource management both in communication and computing sides of the cloud radio access networks (C-RANs). Communication and computing resources are bandwidth, power, baseband unit servers, and virtual machines, which become major resource allocation elements of C-RANs. If they are not properly handled, they create congestion and overload problems in radio access network and core network part of the backbone cellular network. We study two general problems of C-RAN networks, referred to as communication and computing resource allocation problem along with user association, base band unit (BBU) and remote radio heads (RRH) mapping problems in order to improve energy efficiency, sum data rate and to minimize delay performance of C-RAN networks.

In this thesis, we propose, implement, and evaluate several solution strategies, namely posterior probability based user association and power allocation method, double-sided auction based distributed resource allocation method, the energy efficient joint workload scheduling and BBU allocation and iterative resource allocation method to deal with the resource management problems in both orthogonal and non-orthogonal multiple access supported C-RAN networks. In the posterior probability based user association and power allocation method, we apply Bayes theory to solve the multi-cell association problem in the coordinated multi-point supported C-RANs. We also use queueing and auction theory to solve the joint communication and computing resource optimization problem. As the joint optimization problem, we investigate the delay and sum data rate performance of C-RANs. To improve the energy efficiency of C-RANs, we employ Dinkelbach theorem and propose an iterative resource allocation method. Our proposed methods are evaluated via simulations by considering the effect of bandwidth utilization percentage, different scheduling weight, signal-to-interference ratio threshold value and number of users. The results show that the proposed methods can be successfully implemented for 5G C-RANs.

Among the various non-orthogonal multiple access schemes, we consider and implement the sparse code multiple access (SCMA) scheme to jointly optimize the codebook and power allocation in the downlink of the C-RANs, where the utilization of sparse code multiple access in C-RANs to improve energy efficiency has not been investigated in detail in the literature. To solve the NP-hard joint optimization problem, we decompose the original problem into two subproblems: codebook allocation and power allocation. Using the graph theory, we propose the throughput aware sparse code multiple access based codebook selection method, which generates a stable codebook allocation solution within a finite number of steps. For the power allocation solution, we propose the iterative level-based power allocation method, which incorporates different power allocation approaches (e.g., weighted and successive interference cancellation ) into different levels to satisfy the maximum power requirement. Simulation results show that the sum data rate and energy efficiency performance of non-orthogonal multiple access supported C-RANs significantly increases with the number of users when the successive interference cancellation aware geometric water-filling based power allocation is used.


The paper is devoted to evaluation of the econometric method applied as a part of a variance screen in collusion detection procedure. Validation is based on ex-post analysis of Indian cement industry in the 1994 - 2009 time period and comparative study of the obtained results with factual evidences of collusion at that market. The method in question is based on MS(M)AR (p, q) Markov switching model specification. As a result of the research we could identify variability regimes consistent with theoretical motivation of the marker and detect collusion and competition phases partly consistent with historical evidences. However promising, method had some drawbacks applied to high frequency data in the context of variance screen. We proposed some solutions for further research to overcome it.


The concept of an endurance limit assumes a strain value below which the net fatigue damage that occurs during a load cycle is zero. The fact that real traffic loads are separated by rest periods may allow for partial or full healing of the microcracks, which can affect this endurance limit. If the asphalt layer thickness is controlled to keep strains below the endurance limit, the fatigue life of the pavement can be extended considerably. In the study reported in this paper, it was hypothesized that the endurance limit in asphalt concrete developed from the interaction and balance of damage and healing during a load cycle. This hypothesis formed the basis of the testing and analysis program, which evaluated the effects of air voids, asphalt content, rest periods, and temperature on the endurance limit. Two types of fatigue tests were conducted: beam (flexural) and uniaxial. A regression model also was developed on the basis of the results of each test and used to obtain the endurance limit values. This paper compares fatigue damage, healing, and endurance limit results from the two tests under similar conditions. The comparison shows that the beam fatigue test yields less overall fatigue damage and less healing than the uniaxial fatigue test. Beam fatigue yields 8 to 14 times longer fatigue lives, while uniaxial fatigue yields higher healing (10.4 times for the only available case). Because damage and healing combined to govern the endurance limit, the two tests produced close values in which the overall uniaxial endurance limit values were 12% less than the beam fatigue endurance limit values.


We propose a quantity-based "dual" version of the gravity equation that yields an estimating equation with both cross-sectional interdependence and spatially lagged error terms. Such an equation can be concisely estimated using spatial econometric techniques. We illustrate this methodology by applying it to the Canada-U.S. data set used previously, among others, by Anderson and van Wincoop (2003) and Feenstra (2002, 2004). Our key result is to show that controlling directly for spatial interdependence across trade flows, as suggested by theory, significantly reduces border effects because it captures "multilateral resistance". Using a spatial autoregressive moving average specification, we find that border effects between the U.S. and Canada are smaller than in previous studies : about 8 for Canadian provinces and about 1.3 for U.S. states. Yet, heterogeneous coefficient estimations reveal that there is much variation across provinces and states.(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)


The major power quality issue of voltage flicker has resulted as a serious concern for the customers and heavy power companies. Voltage flicker is an impression of unsteadiness of visual sensation induced by a light source whose luminance fluctuates with time. This phenomenon is experienced when an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) as load is connected to the power system. Flexible AC transmission devices (FACTS) devices were gradually utilized for voltage flicker reduction. In this paper the FACTS device of Distribution Static Synchronous Compensator (D-STATCOM) is used to serve the purpose of mitigating voltage flickering caused by electric arc furnace load, which is efficiently controlled by Icosɸ control algorithm. The model of electric arc furnace is considered as a current source controlled by a non linear resistance, which had been simulated and performance was analyzed using MATLAB/SIMULINK Software.


The main aim of suspension system is to isolate a vehicle body from road irregularities in order to maximize passenger ride comfort and retain continuous road wheel contact in order to provide road holding. The aim of the work described in the paper was to illustrate the application of fuzzy logic technique to the control of a continuously damping automotive suspension system. The ride comfort is improved by means of the reduction of the body acceleration caused by the car body when road disturbances from smooth road and real road roughness. The paper describes also the model and controller used in the study and discusses the vehicle response results obtained from a range of road input simulations. In the conclusion, a comparison of active suspension fuzzy control and Proportional Integration derivative (PID) control is shown using MATLAB simulations.


Background: Antireflection coatings (ARCs) applied to ophthalmic plastic lenses must have a good quality base hard coat for the ARC to adhere to. The hard coating must be durable so as not to crack, craze or peel under different atmospheric conditions. The purpose of ARC is also to increase the transmission of light through the lenses and eliminate reflections.Aim: The aim of this research was to compare the quality of eight different pre-coated ARC stock lenses in terms of light transmission and durability.Setting: The measurements were taken in the physics laboratory at the University of Johannesburg.Methods: Eight different stock ARC lenses were obtained from different lens suppliers. The performances were assessed by measuring the light transmission through each lens, exposure to chemicals such as salt–water solution and adhesion and abrasion tests to assess the quality of the coatings.Results: The performance and quality of the different lenses differed slightly in terms of hardness, durability and quality. The lenses also differed slightly in average transmission percentage. The difference between the control lens and the highest average percentage transmission was 4.8%, and the lowest average transmission was 2.2%. The lens that performed the best overall was Crizal Forte and the worst was Precision.Conclusion: Not all lenses have the same quality of ARC applied and durable qualities. Quality control should be carried out regularly in batches so as to maintain high standards set out by the different suppliers.


This article investigates how prior corporate venture capital (CVC) relationships between two firms affect the likelihood of their subsequently entering a strategic alliance. Creating a portfolio of CVC investments provides the investing firm with a set of opportunities that can be pursued once the technological and market uncertainty have been reduced. If the technology appears to be promising, a follow–on investment, such as a strategic alliance, is made to ensure the transfer of the technological knowledge. This article shows that prior CVC investments can play a role in the formation of strategic alliances and investigates the conditions under which they are most likely to do so.


The paradox of blunted parathormone (PTH) secretion in patients with severe hypomagnesemia has been known for more than 20 years, but the underlying mechanism is not deciphered. We determined the effect of low magnesium on in vitro PTH release and on the signals triggered by activation of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). Analogous to the in vivosituation, PTH release from dispersed parathyroid cells was suppressed under low magnesium. In parallel, the two major signaling pathways responsible for CaSR-triggered block of PTH secretion, the generation of inositol phosphates, and the inhibition of cAMP were enhanced. Desensitization or pertussis toxin-mediated inhibition of CaSR-stimulated signaling suppressed the effect of low magnesium, further confirming that magnesium acts within the axis CaSR-G-protein. However, the magnesium binding site responsible for inhibition of PTH secretion is not identical with the extracellular ion binding site of the CaSR, because the magnesium deficiency-dependent signal enhancement was not altered on CaSR receptor mutants with increased or decreased affinity for calcium and magnesium. By contrast, when the magnesium affinity of the Gα subunit was decreased, CaSR activation was no longer affected by magnesium. Thus, the paradoxical block of PTH release under magnesium deficiency seems to be mediated through a novel mechanism involving an increase in the activity of Gα subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins.


Leaf Area Index (LAI) is an important structural feature of our ecosystem as it affects energy, carbon, and water exchanges between the land surface and overlying atmosphere. Global scale LAI datasets have been obtained by regression, heuristic data driven, and radiative transfer models using remotely sensed land surface reflectance data. However, the estimation of LAI from remotely sensed data is limited only to clear sky conditions. Also, it is problematic to estimate LAI in forests by using conventional remote sensing image analysis of multi-spectral data. Due to the above-mentioned shortcomings of estimating LAI from remotely sensed data, this study obtained LAI from meteorological data using the Gene Expression Programming (GEP) technique. The new approach was tested in different forest sites with broad-leaf and needle-leaf trees in USA. The results showed that the GEP technique can accurately estimate LAI from meteorological data in different forest sites.


State-of-the-art video contrastive learning methods spatiotemporally augment two clips from the same video as positives. By only sampling positive clips from the same video, these methods neglect other semantically related videos that can also be useful. To address this limitation, we leverage nearest-neighbor videos from the global space as additional positives, thus improving diversity and introducing a more relaxed notion of similarity that extends beyond video and even class boundaries. Our "Inter-Intra Video Contrastive Learning" (IIVCL) improves performance and generalization on video classification, detection, and retrieval tasks


A small transition delays and little faults create major concern in digital circuits. It Produce greater impact on not only for simple memory but also for most of the memory applications. During encoding and decoding process, the error may occur in the codeword which results in the mismatching or loss of information. Error detection and correction are main issues in the memory which needs to be identified and corrected. The proposed method will identify the error and correct the error in the memory application using Majority Logic Decoder and Detector (MLDD). MLDD corrects the error based on number of parity check equation. This technology reduces the N-iteration to three iteration, if the codeword doesn"t contain any fault. It reduces the memory access time when there is no fault in data read. However it reduces the decoding time that increase memory application. Therefore delay is reduced. All the codes for MLDD design are written in VHDL. Modelsim SE 6.3f used for simulation process and the system is implemented on Sparatan-6 - XC6SLX16 - CSG324C FPGA kit.


ABSTRACT This research was conducted in six typical villages of Northern Bangladesh. A sample of 170 farmers was selected. Research indicates that the farmers practising agroforestry own small farms and the income of agroforestry helps them to reduce their poverty, maintain their socio-economic needs and sustain their livelihoods. Agroforestry is not a new concept in the study area. The people have been practicing agroforestry traditionally in the form of home gardens, hedgerows and alley cropping. Homestead agroforestry is an age old practice. Alley cropping and hedgerow agroforestry systems are comparatively new. Yet alley cropping is now most popular and is widely accepted in the study area because of its socio-economic advantages and environmental sustainability.


We studied the effects of hardwood-derived biochar (BC) and the phytohormone-producing endophyte Galactomyces geotrichum WLL1 in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) with respect to basic, macro- and micronutrient uptakes and assimilations, and their subsequent effects on the regulation of functional amino acids, isoflavones, fatty acid composition, total sugar contents, total phenolic contents, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-scavenging activity. The assimilation of basic nutrients such as nitrogen was up-regulated, leaving carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen unaffected in BC+G. geotrichum-treated soybean plants. In comparison, the uptakes of macro- and micronutrients fluctuated in the individual or co-application of BC and G. geotrichum in soybean plant organs and rhizospheric substrate. Moreover, the same attribute was recorded for the regulation of functional amino acids, isoflavones, fatty acid composition, total sugar contents, total phenolic contents, and DPPH-scavenging activity. Collectively, these results showed that BC+G. geotrichum-treated soybean yielded better results than did the plants treated with individual applications. It was concluded that BC is an additional nutriment source and that the G. geotrichum acts as a plant biostimulating source and the effects of both are additive towards plant growth promotion. Strategies involving the incorporation of BC and endophytic symbiosis may help achieve eco-friendly agricultural production, thus reducing the excessive use of chemical agents.


Modular languages support generative type abstraction, ensuring that an abstract type is distinct from its representation, except inside the implementation where the two are synonymous. We show that this well-established feature is in tension with the non-parametric features of newer type systems, such as indexed type families and GADTs. In this paper we solve the problem by using kinds to distinguish between parametric and non-parametric contexts. The result is directly applicable to Haskell, which is rapidly developing support for type-level computation, but the same issues should arise whenever generativity and non-parametric features are combined.


Even though research on CSR activities has been on the rise, they do not have generally ratified and widely acclaimed explanation with regard to the variation in consumer response to firms operating within the same industry and supporting the same CSR activities. The aim of this research was to investigate the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in catalyzing consumer choice. The writers used quantitative research method whereby data was collected by means of online questionnaires in an online survey. The analysis was carried out through frequency, descriptive, reliability, correlation and regression analyses. We realized that although a relationship exists between CSR and consumer behavior through the three channels including legitimacy, information asymmetry and ethical decision making, CSR does not drive sales, but increases the appetite for more CSR information for use in product assessment. Therefore, the engagement in CSR may only increase purchasing and evaluation intention, but not the actual purchase. Given that CSR directly results in the increased information search, the best way to orient CSR to stimulate consumer purchase is through the availability of CSR information to the consumer through localization of CSR activities alongside product excellence and competitive product pricing. Our recommendation is that future research should consider smaller geographical zones, for instance an institution or a city.


Given the government's commitment to localism, social inclusion and transfer of power from politicians to communities embodied by the Big Society agenda, we question
whether these principles have been adequately translated within 'Payments by Results' and the supposed 'Rehabilitation Revolution' Green Paper. Of all the communities in our diverse society, offenders should specifically be included to encourage them to become more responsible citizens and, therefore, participate fully in creating a more responsible society? However, accessing offender voices in the prison setting can often prove challenging, as will be discussed. The authors have been involved in using qualitative methodologies in evaluations of predominately voluntary sector arts and media projects with prison communities since 2005. With these data, this article explores opportunities for encouraging citizenship status in the prison community. Prisoners engaging with these projects report significant impacts of their engagement, including increases in their feelings of self worth, hope and belief in their own personal capacity to alter the way they behave.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between the severity of dynamic upper airway obstruction (DUAO) and selected fitness parameters in Standardbred racehorses measured by treadmill test.

ANIMALS
191 Standardbred racehorses that underwent a standardized diagnostic protocol for poor performance evaluation between 2002 and 2021 at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Milan.

PROCEDURES
Horses underwent a diagnostic protocol including clinical examination, lameness evaluation, laboratory analyses, ECG, resting upper airway endoscopy, metabolic incremental treadmill test, high-speed treadmill endoscopy, postexercise tracheobronchoscopy, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology. On the basis of findings of the high-speed treadmill endoscopy, horses were divided into the following groups: no DUAO, mild DUAO (medial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds or epiglottic entrapment), severe DUAO (dorsal displacement of the soft palate, nasopharyngeal collapse, dynamic laryngeal collapse, or epiglottic retroversion), and multiple DUAOs (different forms of DUAO occurring concomitantly). Fitness parameters, measured by incremental treadmill test, included speed at a heart rate of 200 bpm (V200), speed and heart rate at a lactate concentration of 4 mmol/L (VLa4, HRLa4), peak lactate, maximum speed, maximum hematocrit, and minimum pH. Data were compared between groups by use of descriptive and statistical analyses.

RESULTS
Horses affected by severe or multiple DUAOs showed lower V200 and VLa4, compared to the no-DUAO group; horses with multiple DUAOs also had higher peak lactate concentrations compared to horses without DUAOs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE
While mild forms of DUAO do not affect athletic capacity, severe forms of DUAO and multiple DUAOs may lead to reduced fitness in Standardbred racehorses by impairing aerobic capacity.


There is a growing body of research which treats the effects of economic conditions on presidential popularity in the United States. For the French case, however, work on the question has yet to begin. I focus here on the impact of variations in unemployment and inflation on presidential popularity in France, as measured by monthly national surveys taken over the last two decades. According to my analysis, increasing unemployment and inflation result in significant and important reductions in the popularity of the French president. Further, when the model is applied to the prime minister, his approval appears even more damaged by these adverse economic conditions than that of the president.


The Greek revolt of December 2008 marks the end of the political
system established after the fall of the dictatorship in 1974. But the
collapse of Greece's economic base only began in the spring of
2010, when the government was forced to admit that the public
debt was higher than previously claimed. The credit provided by
the states of the Eurozone and the IMF was coupled with strict
austerity measures that led Greece into a general economic, social
and political crisis. On 25 May 2011, following a range of local
strikes and revolts in 2010, people squatted central squares in cities
all over Greece, following the example of Tunisia, Egypt and Spain.
After six weeks of mass protest, the Greek prime minister was on
the point of resigning, but remained in office due to the intervention
of the French and German governments. Since then, the government's
political power has remained precarious, and a new mass
mobilisation is to be expected.


Increased medical attention is needed as the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rises. Both cardiovascular disorder (CVD) and hyperlipidemia are closely associated with adult ASD. Shank3 plays a key genetic role in ASD. We hypothesized that Shank3 contributes to CVD development in young adults with ASD. In this study, we investigated whether Shank3 facilitates the development of atherosclerosis. Using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis software (Version No.: GSEA-4.0.3), we analyzed the data obtained from Shank3 knockout mice (Gene Expression Omnibus database), a human population-based study cohort (from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database), and a Shank3 knockdown cellular model. Shank3 knockout upregulated the expression of genes of cholesterol homeostasis and fatty acid metabolism but downregulated the expression of genes associated with inflammatory responses. Individuals with autism had higher risks of hyperlipidemia (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.39; p < 0.001), major adverse cardiac events (aHR: 2.67; p < 0.001), and stroke (aHR: 3.55; p < 0.001) than age- and sex-matched individuals without autism did. Shank3 downregulation suppressed tumor necrosis factor-α-induced fatty acid synthase expression; vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 expression; and downstream signaling pathways involving p38, Jun N-terminal kinase, and nuclear factor-κB. Thus, Shank3 may influence the development of early-onset atherosclerosis and CVD in ASD. Furthermore, regulating Shank3 expression may reduce inflammation-related disorders, such as atherosclerosis, by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated inflammatory cascades.


Background: The imposed COVID-19 lockdown is taking a toll on mental health individuals, with low-income earners considered most affected, as the imposed lockdown was accompanied with partial or complete loss of livelihood among low income earners. The study aimed to investigate level of education and relationship status on awareness of mental healthcare and explore how these factors influence mental health among low income earners in Western Uganda.Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was undertaken among low-income earners in South Western Uganda. Data were collected from two hundred and fifty-three (253) participants using a structured closed ended questionnaire. Anxiety, anger and depression were assessed using a modified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) item tools respectively.Result: Most respondents were single male individuals with secondary level of education. Respondents with tertiary level of education and those with partners had higher score (71.7% and 70.28% respectively) for awareness on mental healthcare. Respondents with primary education level and individuals that were single had higher score (46.98% and 43.72% respectively) for anxiety. Respondents with primary education level and those living with partners had higher mean score (56.44% and 56.21% respectively) for anger. Respondents with no formal education and those who had lost partners had higher mean score (32.11% and 30.50% respectively) for depression. Individuals without formal educational and primary education were observed to have a negative correlation (r2 = 47.4 and 6.4% respectively) with awareness on mental healthcare, and the no formal group had positive correlation with anger and depression (r2 =1.9 and 0.3% respectively), while other groups were negatively correlated (r2 =10.1%). The group of single individuals had a negative correlation with awareness on mental healthcare, anger and depression (r2 =1.9, 0.8 and 0.3% respectively), and a positive correlation with anxiety (r2 =3.9%).Conclusion: It is evident that education and relationship status influence awareness on mental healthcare and mental health state among low income earners in Western Uganda. Therefore, we suggest policy maker pay more attention to social transformation, through proper engagement of low income earners.


The new genetic screening processor for newborn screening (GSP™) from PerkinElmer was extensively tested under routine conditions. The GSP is intended to fully process all newborn screening tests, apart from tandem mass spectrometry. For our evaluation we used all so far available tests for the GSP (TSH, 17-OHP, IRT, total-T4 and GALT). For all 5 tests we have determined specificity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), intra- and inter-assay variation, recovery, influence of EDTA and on-board stability of the reagents. Results were also compared with AutoDelfia and the Astoria Pacific Spot Check System (GALT). LOD and LOQ were 0.38 and 0.45 mU L−1 (blood) for TSH, 1.30 and 3.25 nmol L−1 (serum) for T4, 0.35 and 0.55 nmol L−1 (blood) for 17-OHP, 0.85 and 1.58 ng mL−1 (blood) for IRT and 2.6 and 3.6 U dL−1 (blood) for GALT. Mean recovery was 97.8–107.1%: intra-assay CVs 2.5–8.9; inter-assay CVs 5.7–11.0. On board stability was >37 days for the immunoassay. The dissolved GALT reagent is not stable at 4 °C, however if the reagent is removed from the GSP and stored at −18 °C, it is stable for 11 days. On board stability of the inducer is >140 days. The GSP is suitable for routine newborn screening. Compared to AutoDelfia, additional control procedures were included which increase the reliability of the system.


Narrow-band photoconductivity with a spectral width of 0.16 eV is obtained from solution-processed colloidal ZnO nanocrystals beneath the band-edge at 2.25 eV. A new model involving electron transfer from deep defects to discrete shallow donors is introduced to explain the narrow spectrum and the exponential form of the current rise and decay transients. The defects are tentatively assigned to neutral oxygen vacancies. The photocurrent responsivity can be enhanced by storage in air, and this correlates with the formation of carbonate surface species by capture of carbon dioxide during storage. This controllability is exploited to develop a low-cost and scalable photolithographic approach to pixelate photodetectors for applications such as object discrimination, sensing, etc. The spectral response can be spatially patterned so that dual (ultraviolet and green) and single (ultraviolet only) wavelength detecting ZnO pixels can be produced on the same substrate. This presents a new sensor mode with applications in security or full color imaging.


US foreign policy is in the midst of an unprecedented, but incomplete, diplomatic revolution. This transformation began in earnest after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and has resulted in new levels of cooperation in a worldwide war against terrorism. Yet it has also initiated a risky process that signifies a profound change in the nature of alliance systems, as well as a fundamental reassessment of relations with former Cold War enemies and friends. Six interrelated factors are driving this reassessment. First, states and terrorist organizations that are willing to use tactics of asymmetrical warfare and extreme violence have emerged as new threats. Second, the post-Cold War US rapprochement with Russia has been followed by the post-September 11 emergence of Russia as a potentially close ally. Third, NATO has continued to spread into areas formerly under Soviet influence. Fourth, the revolution in military affairs and technology has given the United States clear military superiority. Fifth, the expansion of the European Union has strengthened Europe's desire to devise common foreign defense policies. Finally, a rising China is increasingly perceived as a challenge to US and Japanese interests in Asia. On the positive side, this reassessment of US alliance options could evolve into a closer relationship between the United States, the European Union, and Russia that pools resources in order to carefully and diplomatically manage the rise of China and the emergence of other regional powers. Management of new international threats could be accomplished through concerted approaches that identify the nature of the threat and the most appropriate method of dealing with it. One option is to foster the formation of loose confederations or regional "cooperative-collective security communities" backed by overlapping US, EU, and Russian security guarantees, which would help diverse states to cooperate despite their significant political, social, and ideological differences. More negatively, such a reassessment could degenerate into an "America first" position that ignores the nuances of multilateral diplomacy and the complexities of joint military efforts as the United States displays a more assertive unilateralism. The latter approach, based in part on superior technological prowess, would attempt to pressure unwilling states into obeying US directives. This approach might lead the United States to take precautionary measures and preemptive actions that could alienate key allies and eventually overextend US political will and resources, possibly leaving the country bogged down in regional quagmtres. The NATO-Russia Council Although there were belated signs of a closer NATO-Russian relationship, the September 11 attacks provided the major catalyst for the United States to move more rapidly than generally anticipated toward a full-fledged entente with Russia. At the May 2002 North Atlantic Council meeting at Reykjavaik, Iceland, NATO opted to establish the NATO-Russia Council (NRC), which is intended to engage Russia more directly in the NATO decision-making process--although Russia remains unable to set the agenda or veto NATO decisions. The three new Central European members of NATO--Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary--effectively blocked steps to adopt a radically new mode of NATO-Russian cooperation and pressed instead for a more "evolutionary" approach. As a result, the NRC agenda is initially limited to prove to skeptics that NATO and Russia can in fact cooperate. Despite its initial restrictions, the NRC will ultimately need to confront the global and regional ramifications of the war on terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. There are more fundamental issues at stake as well, such as the future of peacekeeping in the Balkans and the nature of military cooperation between NATO, Russia, and the European Union. The NRC will also have to tackle the problems surrounding military cooperation in Kaliningrad and the Baltic states and contemplate NATO-Russian accords regarding conventional forces and ballistic missile defenses. …


Introduction Walking exercise is a recommended but underused treatment for intermittent claudication caused by peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Addressing the factors that influence walking exercise may increase patient uptake of and adherence to recommended walking. The primary aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the efficacy of a physiotherapist-led behavioural change intervention on walking ability in adults with intermittent claudication (MOtivating Structured walking Activity in people with Intermittent Claudication (MOSAIC)) in comparison with usual care. Methods and analysis The MOSAIC trial is a two-arm, parallel-group, single-blind RCT. 192 adults will be recruited from six National Health Service Hospital Trusts. Inclusion criteria are: aged ≥50 years, PAD (Ankle Brachial Pressure Index ≤0.90, radiographic evidence or clinician report) and intermittent claudication (San Diego Claudication Questionnaire), being able and willing to participate and provide informed consent. The primary outcome is walking ability (6 min walking distance) at 3 months. Outcomes will be obtained at baseline, 3 and 6 months by an assessor blind to group allocation. Participants will be individually randomised (n=96/group, stratified by centre) to receive either MOSAIC or usual care by an independent randomisation service. Estimates of treatment effects will use an intention-to-treat framework implemented using multiple regression adjusted for baseline values and centre. Ethics and dissemination This trial has full ethical approval (London—Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee (17/LO/0568)). It will be disseminated via patient forums, peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Trial registration number ISRCTN14501418


Background Neural stem cells (NSCs) represent an optimal tool for studies and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. We recently established a v-myc immortalized human NSC (IhNSC) line, which retains stem properties comparable to parental cells. Oxygen concentration is one of the most crucial environmental conditions for cell proliferation and differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. In the central nervous system, physiological concentrations of oxygen range from 0.55 to 8% oxygen. In particular, in the in the subventricular zone niche area, it's estimated to be 2.5 to 3%. Methodology/Principal Findings We investigated in vitro the effects of 1, 2.5, 5, and 20% oxygen concentrations on IhNSCs both during proliferation and differentiation. The highest proliferation rate, evaluated through neurosphere formation assay, was obtained at 2.5 and 5% oxygen, while 1% oxygen was most noxious for cell survival. The differentiation assays showed that the percentages of β-tubIII+ or MAP2+ neuronal cells and of GalC+ oligodendrocytes were significantly higher at 2.5% compared with 1, 5, or 20% oxygen at 17 days in vitro. Mild hypoxia (2.5 to 5% oxygen) promoted differentiation into neuro-oligodendroglial progenitors as revealed by the higher percentage of MAP2+/Ki67+ and GalC+/Ki67+ residual proliferating progenitors, and enhanced the yield of GABAergic and slightly of glutamatergic neurons compared to 1% and 20% oxygen where a significant percentage of GFAP+/nestin+ cells were still present at 17 days of differentiation. Conclusions/Significance These findings raise the possibility that reduced oxygen levels occurring in neuronal disorders like cerebral ischemia transiently lead to NSC remaining in a state of quiescence. Conversely, mild hypoxia favors NSC proliferation and neuronal and oligodendroglial differentiation, thus providing an important advance and a useful tool for NSC-mediated therapy of ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease.


Thunderstorm rainfall is considered as a very vital climatic factor because of its significant effects and often disastrous consequences upon people and the natural environment in the Greater Sydney Region. Thus, this study investigates the following aspects of thunderstorm rainfall climatology of the region between 1960 to 1993. In detail, it was found that thunderstorm rainfalls in Sydney have marked diurnal and seasonal variations. They are most frequent in the spring and summer and during the late afternoon and early evening. Thunderstorms occur primarily over the coastal areas and mountains, and less frequently over the lowland interior of the Sydney basin. Environmental factors, such as the local climatic factors and physiographic parameters may control thunderstorm occurrence and its associated rainfall distribution. More detailed associations, possible causal relationships, using stepwise regression indicate that thunderstorm rainfall frequency could partially be affected by air and sea temperatures, and air humidity. Accordingly, specific attention was paid to the patterns of the spatial variation of thunderstorm rainfall during the warm months (October to March) over a long timespan (34 years), using data from 191 rainfall stations. Mathematically, the g a m m a functions (beta and alpha values) describe and summarise the probability distribution of daily thunderstorm rainfall across the Sydney region. The findings reveal the interplay of topographic, coastal and urban effects in controlling the amount of thunderstorm rainfall in both spring and summer. A "climatologically oriented GIS" (including a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), a proximity map, and a landuse model) together with regression procedures were used to assess the relative importance of physiographic and environmental variables for six of the largest thunderstorm rainfall events. Three patterns emerged. The first is an increase in thunderstorm rainfall occurring toward the coast. The second is an increase in thunderstorm rainfall as elevation increases. Finally, the more compact the urban residential and commercialised areas the greater the amount of thunderstorm rainfall. These variables account for 70 per cent of thunderstorm rainfall variations throughout the Sydney region.


Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are the seeds for cancer metastases development, which is responsible for >90% of cancer-related deaths. Accurate quantification of CTCs in human fluids could be an invaluable tool for understanding cancer prognosis, delivering personalized medicine to prevent metastasis and finding cancer therapy effectiveness. Although CTCs were first discovered more than 200 years ago, until now it has been a nightmare for clinical practitioners to capture and diagnose CTCs in clinical settings. Our society needs rapid, sensitive, and reliable assays to identify the CTCs from blood in order to help save millions of lives. Due to the phenotypic EMT transition, CTCs are undetected for more than one-third of metastatic breast cancer patients in clinics.

To tackle the above challenges, the first volume in "Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs): Detection Methods, Health Impact and Emerging Clinical Challenges discusses recent developments of different technologies, which have the capability to target and elucidate the phenotype heterogenity of CTCS. It contains seven chapters written by world leaders in this area, covering basic science to possible device design which can have beneficial applications in society.

This book is unique in its design and content, providing an in-depth analysis to elucidate biological mechanisms of cancer disease progression, CTC detection challenges, possible health effects and the latest research on evolving technologies which have the capability to tackle the above challenges. It describes the broad range of coverage on understanding CTCs biology from early predictors of the metastatic spread of cancer, new promising technology for CTC separation and detection in clinical environment and monitoring therapy efficacy via finding the heterogeneous nature of CTCs. (Imprint: Nova Biomedical)


In this paper, a compact multi-resonator with a new G-shaped defected ground structure (DGS) is proposed. The equivalent circuit model for the proposed resonator is presented and the equivalent circuit parameters are extracted. The influence of the geometrical dimensions on the resonant and cut-off frequencies is investigated. The new G-shaped has a good quality factor, lower cut-off frequency (7.5 GHz) and lower attenuation pole (−30 dB) if it is compared to other DGS structures with the same size. The proposed multi-resonator is realized using single resonator. Then, an implicit G-shaped is etched inside the main G-shaped to generate another resonant and so on without any additional size. Achieving compactness and more resonant frequencies are produced by multi-implicit G-shaped structures. The proposed multi-resonator could apply for high-performance band stop filter design. The design and analysis of the proposed multi-resonator is based on numerical experimentation techniques using a commercial EM simulator. The results are in excellent agreement.


This dissertation develops a historical and theoretical reconstruction of the category and praxis of extraterritoriality in the fields of International Relations and Public International Law. The analysis first addresses the dominant Neo-Liberal tradition and its focus on the concept of 'judicial globalisation', before engaging with critical and Marxist studies that rely on imperialism and capitalism as explanatory phenomena.

In response, the thesis argues that extraterritoriality is a political process, covering a set of jurisdictional struggles determined by contested social property relations. As legal strategies of accumulation, these struggles can neither be explained by a chronologically and discursively progressive deterritorialising world order, through which they emerge as depoliticised events, nor by structural and functional theories of capitalist or Western imperialism that narrowly assume their logic and behaviour.

This argument emerges from the analysis of three historical case studies: 16th to 17th century Spain, 17th to 18th century France, and 19th century Britain. Each case, set in its international context, evinces the role of specific intellectual debates, juridical institutions and legal strategies of accumulation in shaping contending extraterritorial regimes and legal world orders.

Thereby, the thesis reformulates a Political Marxist approach as a historical sociology that places the actors and politics of international legal processes at the forefront of the history of Public International Law. This approach enables a non-determinist understanding of contemporary extraterritoriality. It dissociates its analysis from a naturalised history of judicial globalisation and from a monolithic history of capitalism, to resituate extraterritorial practices in a more open and contested field in between those of International Relations and Public International Law.

In conclusion, examining the politics of extraterritoriality exposes Public International Law as a practical site of struggle between legal strategies of expansion, accumulation and resistance. This historical and theoretical reconstruction asserts the political legitimacy and agency of otherwise excluded legal actors and ideas, affected by and involved in the multiple transitions in the forms of sovereign jurisdiction and territorial control.


Deltamethrin is one of the most toxic pollutants for aquatic ecosystem. The present study investigated the extraction of deltamethrin in water and liver tissue of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Water was collected at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96hrs after the addition of toxicant and the amount of deltamethrin present in the water and liver tissue. In the concentration level range of 5μg/L for the extraction of deltamethrin from water and liver tissue. Amount of deltamethrin in water and liver tissue analyzed by HPLC to know the amount of residue left out in the water and zebrafish liver after addition of 5μg/L of deltamethrin initially. The recoveries were the decrease of concentration deltamethrin in water and increase in liver with increase in time of exposure is an indication of the accumulation of the toxicant in the organism through uptake. This could be hazardous as it could make its way into the food chain and pose a potential ecological risk to the aquatic ecosystem and a consequent hazard to human health.


Summary

1. Knowledge of forest change is often formalized in state-and-transition models (STMs). These models generate forecasts of forest condition that are widely used for forest management planning. Common techniques for evaluating such models are complex, requiring specialized skills not available to non-modellers. Consequently, model transparency can be limited, hampering collaborative resource modelling that otherwise may increase the chances of management success.

2. We demonstrate evaluation of STMs through network visualization that produces intuitively accessible results, comparable to results of more commonly applied, complex techniques. To evaluate this approach, we statistically test model similarities with empirical data. As examples, we use STMs of forest change, alternately parameterized with information from experts and literature, and compare them to our empirical reference information.

3. Graph theoretical analyses revealed differences in structure and dynamics between alternate STMs. For example, compared to empirical STMs, expert STMs were less complex while literature STMs were more complex. Overall, expert STMs were less similar to empirical STMs than were literature STMs, suggesting information in the expert STMs may deviate more strongly from empirical reference data.

4. We used several techniques that provided complementary information, which produced a comprehensive view of network similarity. We speculate that differences between expert and empirical STMs result from lower complexity of mental models compared to empirical data. While we illustrated our approach using a simple matrix model, it could be adapted for more complex STMs. Improvements of the proposed approach could involve representation of forest change rates with waiting times depicted by multigraphs.

5.Synthesis and applications. Common evaluations of forest change STMs involve complex techniques not easily accessible to non-modellers. Approaching such models as networks makes their evaluation and statistical testing intuitively accessible to many audiences. Benefits of this approach to modellers include improved communication about models with non-modellers, while benefits to stakeholders and decision makers include enhanced understanding of models. This may aid a collaborative resource modelling process and should improve the chances of successful resource management plan implementation. While we used an example from boreal forests, our approach could be applied to many other vegetation types globally.


Roughly one million Swedes emigrated to the USA between 1870 and 1920. These emigrants gave rise to over four million individuals with a Swedish ancestry currently living in the USA. This study shows that Swedes have maintained the geographic concentrations chosen by their parents and grandparents. Also, Swedish migrants were on average less educated than the US-born white population, yet their descendants tended to be relatively better educated. The statistical analysis of the data shows that Swedish-born men had lower, and women much lower, earnings than the native born. However, this position was not carried over to the subsequent generations who performed similar to natives with similar characteristics.


Abstract Introduction. Multimodal approaches in behavioral treatment have gained recent interest, with proven efficacy for migraine. The utility of the Internet has been demonstrated for behavioral treatment of headache disorders, but not specifically for migraine. The aim of the study was to develop and evaluate an Internet-based multimodal behavior treatment (MBT) program for migraine and to test hand massage treatment as an adjunct. Methods. Eighty-three adults, 58 women and 25 men, with at least two migraine attacks a month were recruited via advertisements. An MBT program aiming at improvements in life-style and stress coping was developed for this study and, together with a diary, adapted for use over the Internet. Participants were randomized to MBT with and without hand massage and to a control group, and were followed for 11 months. Questionnaires addressing issues of quality of life (PQ23) and depressive symptoms (MADRS-S) were used. Results. A 50%, or greater, reduction in migraine frequency was found in 40% and 42% of participants of the two groups receiving MBT (with and without hand massage, respectively), who statistically were significantly more improved than participants in the control group. No effect of hand massage was detected, and gender did not show any independent contribution to the effect in a multivariate analysis. Conclusions. MBT administered over the Internet appears feasible and effective in the treatment of migraine, but no effect of hand massage was found. For increased knowledge on long-term effects and the modes of action of the present MBT program, further studies are needed.