The insect Malpighian tubule is involved in osmoregulation, detoxification and
immune function, physiological processes which are essential for insect
development and survival. As the Malpighian tubules contain many ion channels
and transporters, they could be an effective tissue for targeting with novel
pesticides to control populations of Diptera. Many of the insecticide compounds
used to control insect pest species are no longer suited to their task, and so new
means of control must be found. The malarial mosquito, Anopheles gambiae,
spreads the Plasmodium parasite which is responsible for over one million deaths
each year, and is one of the species on which many current insecticides are no
longer effective. Anopheles is notoriously difficult to study due to a lack of
natural mutation stocks and transgenic capabilities, as well as the difficulties
involved with maintaining a colony. The fruit-fly Drosophila melanogaster is a
useful model organism for Anopheles, and previous studies suggest that the
mechanisms of Malpighian tubule function are well conserved between the two
species.
Following microarray investigations to identify genes which were highly enriched
in both the Anopheles and Drosophila Malpighian tubules, four homologous genepairs
were selected, AGAP097752 and CG15406, AGAP012251 and Picot,
AGAP009005 and ZnT35C, and AGAP002587 and CG8028. Analysis of the
Anopheles Malpighian tubule microarray data-set showed ion channels and
transporters to be highly expressed in the tubules, although similarly to
Drosophila, very few of the renal up-regulated genes have been characterised.
The gene-pairs chosen were all novel, but putatively predicted to be involved in
sugar transport, phosphate transport, zinc transport and monocarboxylate
transport respectively. These are functions which are likely to be essential, but
so far remain unstudied in the insect renal system. The gene-pairs were chosen
with two main purposes; to determine how closely expression of the genes was
conserved between Anopheles and Drosophila, and also to determine which of
the genes were essential, and could therefore be effective insecticide targets.
The homologous gene-pair AGAP007752 and CG15406 have well-conserved
expression in the Malpighian tubules, suggesting that they are functionally
important genes. This was shown in Drosophila, where knockdown of CG15406
4
expression was lethal to the fly. A direct role in tubule fluid secretion was not
found, and experiments to determine the sugars transported by CG15406 were
inconclusive, possibly due to an abundance of highly-expressed sugar
transporters in the tubules. The inorganic phosphate co-transporters
AGAP012251 and Picot also show conservation of expression in the Malpighian
tubules, and are likely to be involved in the transport of inorganic phosphate
into the tubules for incorporation into metallo-organic concretions. In the
Anopheles tubules the concretions are found in the main segment, in the
Drosophila tubules they are located in the distal initial and transitional
segments, where AGAP012251 and Picot are expressed. Picot is essential for
Drosophila development through to adulthood, and for survival as an adult,
although the transporter does not appear to be directly involved in fluid
secretion. Expression of neither AGAP012251 nor Picot is confined to the
tubules. The putative zinc transporters AGAP009005 and ZnT35C show a highly
conserved expression pattern, and appear to be involved in the secretion of
excess zinc from the Malpighian tubules. ZnT35C is essential early-on in
Drosophila development, and for survival in the adult fly. Similarly to Picot and
CG15406, there is no direct role for ZnT35C in fluid secretion from the tubules
under normal zinc conditions. The putative monocarboxylate transporters
AGAP002587 and CG8028 are not as well conserved, as AGAP002587 is highly upregulated
in the tubules of female mosquitoes both before and after a bloodfeed,
whereas CG8028 has no sex-specific up-regulation. CG8028 is not essential
for Drosophila development or survival, and plays no discernable role in fluid
secretion.
The data collected during this investigation suggests that in general there is a
high level of conservation of expression between homologous transport genes in
the Anopheles and Drosophila Malpighian tubules. The three gene-pairs which
show the greatest conservation of expression are also essential for development
and survival in Drosophila. This suggests that cross-species studies are an
effective way of finding essential and important genes. The data collected also
suggests that Drosophila is a reliable model for Anopheles, and could be used as
a high-throughput system of finding genes which could be effective insecticide
targets in Diptera.


e-mail: email@example.com The aim of the present article is to provide information on the results of the safety culture assessment carried out in three engineering companies in the Czech Republic in 2017. Determining the level of safety culture helps to reveal the weaknesses in the work process from the point of view of safety in a particular company and, of course, it also allows to propose the necessary measures for improvement. The article builds on the previous publications of the authors; therefore, it no longer announces the theoretical essence of the safety culture, but addresses the practical aspects of the subject based on factual examples. The article has two main parts. First, the issue of investigating the safety culture is described, including one of the selected approaches. The principles and techniques of questionnaire processing are analysed. The next part of the article introduces the results of the assessment. The issues of safety culture are quite extensive; it is not possible to tackle all of them in a single article. In some areas, the safety culture is not systematically addressed in its complexity. This also applies to engineering. In our workplace, we intensively focus on the issues of safety culture; some partial approaches and results are the content of the present article. Experience with the described assessment method can be useful or serve as a guide to analyse the level of safety culture in other industrial companies.


Accumulating evidence suggests that activin A/erythroid differentiation factor (EDF), a homodimer of beta A chain, is a physiologic hematopoietic factor, particularly of erythroid lineage. Media conditioned by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated murine bone marrow stromal cell lines, MC3T3-G2/PA6 and ST2, contained activin A/EDF, assayed as the activity inducing erythroid differentiation of an activin A/EDF-responsive murine erythroleukemia cell clone F5. Follistatin, a protein specifically binding to activin A/EDF, abolished this erythroid differentiation. Northern blot analysis showed that PMA rapidly increased beta A chain messenger RNA levels in MC3T3-G2/PA6 and ST2 cells. In a search for natural stimulators, we found that tumor necrosis factor-alpha, in itself and synergistically with interleukin-1 beta, induced activin A/EDF production in both cell lines. These results indicate that stromal cells produce activin A/EDF in bone marrow.


This paper derives a test rig of a power steering system with purpose to investigate the performance of closed-centre valves as actuators in the steering system loop using hardware-in-the-loop simulation. Servo valves are used for independent control of each chamber pressure. The approach is to use a static model of the reference actuator and control the pressures with the servo valves accordingly. A simulation model of the system is used to verify the approach. Results from the test rig are presented from on-centre driving which show how the pressure is controlled satisfyingly.


The Standard Model (SM) is the theory that describes elementary particles and their fundamental interactions. In the Standard Model neutrinos are massless particles. Nevertheless, this has been proven wrong by neutrino oscillation experiments. Neutrinos possess mass, but several orders of magnitude below those of the other SM fermions. This invites the consideration of new physics, beyond that described by the SM, that could explain the smallness of neutrino mass. This is achieved, in particular, in the Type-1 Seesaw model, which is the focus of this work. Neutrinos are especially difficult to detect in colliders, since they are chargeless, they leave no tracks, and no energy in the calorimeters. However, if massive enough, these new neutrinos can decay into charged particles inside the collider, which results in tracks with displaced vertices. A complete analysis of this processes is required in order to characterize the parameters of these new particles. In this work we use the MonteCarlo simulation program MadGraph to study the relevant processes that involve these neutrinos. The principal objective of this work is to define the probability to observe the heavy neutrinos as Higgs decay products in the LHC (and HL-LHC), when they have been produced via vector boson fusion (VBF) and are in the section of parameter space useful for displaced vertices.


In this paper we study the notion of group knowledge in a modal epistemic context. Starting with the standard definition of this kind of knowledge on Kripke models, we show that it may behave quite counter-intuitively. Firstly, using a strong notion of derivability, we show that group knowledge in a state can always, but trivially be derived from each of the agents' individual knowledge. In that sense, group knowledge is not really implicit, but rather ez~plieit knowledge of the group. Thus, a weaker notion of derivability seems to be more adequate. However, adopting this more 'local view', we argue that group knowledge need not be distributed over (the members of) the group: we give an example in which (the traditional concept of) group knowledge is stronger than what can be derived from the individual agents' knowledge. We then propose two additional properties on Kripke models: we show that together they are suiHcient to guarantee 'distributivity', while, when leaving one out, one may construct models that do not fulfill this principle.


This review discusses liquid crystal phase formation by biopolymers in solution. Lyotropic mesophases have been observed for several classes of biopolymer including DNA, peptides, polymer/peptide conjugates, glycopolymers and proteoglycans. Nematic or chiral nematic (cholesteric) phases are the most commonly observed mesophases, in which the rod-like fibrils have only orientational order. Hexagonal columnar phases are observed for several systems (DNA, PBLG, polymer/peptide hybrids) at higher concentration. Lamellar (smectic) phases are reported less often, although there are examples such as the layer arrangement of amylopectin side chains in starch. Possible explanations for the observed structures are discussed. The biological role of liquid crystal phases for several of these systems is outlined. Commonly, they may serve as a template to align fibrils for defined structural roles when the biopolymer is extruded and dried, for instance in the production of silk by spiders or silkworms, or of chitin in arthropod shells. In other cases, liquid crystal phase formation may occur in vivo simply as a consequence of high concentration, for instance the high packing density of DNA within cell nuclei.


We conducted an analysis of deforestation and forest disturbance from 2005-2011 in Masoala National Park, the largest federal protected area in Madagascar. We found that the annual rate of forest change in 2010-2011 within the park (1.27%) was considerably higher than in 2005-2008 (0.99%), and was higher than the most recently published deforestation rate for all of Madagascar. Although deforestation and disturbance immediately following the 2009 coup d'état were lower than in the other time periods analyzed, the longer-term increase in forest change over the study period corroborates recent ground-based accounts of increased illegal activities in national parks, including logging of precious hardwoods. We also analyzed forest disturbance patterns in relation to rivers and travel distance from permanent villages. Forest disturbances were significantly closer to rivers than expected by chance, and 82% of disturbance was within the mean maximum travel distance to villages surrounding the park. Both results strongly indicate that most of the mapped disturbance in the study area is anthropogenic, despite two cyclones during the study period. High-resolution forest monitoring ensures that forest change statistics accurately reflect anthropogenic disturbances and are not inflated by forest losses resulting from natural processes.


This paper examines the interrelationship between music blog buzz and album sales, examining both time precedence and the contemporaneous relationship between the two. Using the Granger Causality methodology to examine time precedence, we find evidence of bi-directional causality for the full sample of music albums we are examining as well as for both independently released and major-label released music albums. Next, we employ two-stage least squares analysis to quantify the contemporaneous relationships between music blog buzz and album sales. Preliminary results indicate that blog buzz has a positive and significant relationship with album sales and that this relationship is stronger for independently released music. Results from this study have implications for the music industry, particularly music labels and artists in making decisions about album promotion.


Abstract This paper describes the synthesis of Pb(Zr0.95Ti0.05)O3 powder by sol gel and solid state methods. PZT powders were fabricated by solid-state reaction process using metal oxides and in sol gel method salts and organic compounds were employed. The powders were calcined at 700 and 950 C in sol gel and solid state methods, respectively. The synthesized powders were analyzed by FTIR and XRD. The average crystal grain size of PZT powders determined by X-ray diffraction method using the Scherrer equation, and in sol gel and solid state methods measured 42 and 330 nm, respectively. The optical constants of powders were evaluated and compaed using FTIR transmittance spectroscopy and Kramers-Kronig analysis.


Periodicity is often studied in timeseries modelling with autoregressive methods but is less popular in the kernel literature, particularly for higher dimensional problems such as in textures, crystallography, and quantum mechanics. Large datasets often make modelling periodicity untenable for otherwise powerful non-parametric methods like Gaussian Processes (GPs) which typically incur an $\mathcal{O}(N^3)$ computational burden and, consequently, are unable to scale to larger datasets. To this end we introduce a method termed \emph{Index Set Fourier Series Features} to tractably exploit multivariate Fourier series and efficiently decompose periodic kernels on higher-dimensional data into a series of basis functions. We show that our approximation produces significantly less predictive error than alternative approaches such as those based on random Fourier features and achieves better generalisation on regression problems with periodic data.


Larch forest is an important research object for evaluating CO2 uptake by forests because it is a common tree type of plantation that has been planted widespread over northeastern Japan. Quantifying the influence of the forest management on carbon budget in larch forests have significance on the securement of forests as a source of CO2 absorption. Thus, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) has implemented long-term monitoring program of CO2 exchange over larch forests. Fuji Hokuroku Flux Observation Site was established in the foothills of Mt. Fuji as an alternative base for monitoring, and began observations in January 2006. The site is dominated by larch trees of more than 50 year-old. 30% thinning was conducted at the site in spring of year 2014 and 2015. The characteristics of CO2 exchange were affected from the human disturbance. Gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (RE) of CO2 were remarkably decreased temporarily after the thinning. Consequently, both GPP and RE has recovered gradually. Net ecosystem production (NEP) has not fully recovered at 2017 to the level before the thinning because the speed of the recovery differs for GPP and RE. We will introduce the results of carbon fluxes and related parameters for the sites.


The effect of microbending loss on SNRs received from multimode graded-index fibers excited by single-mode laser sources is considered. Analytical expressions are derived which describe the combined effects of microbending loss and detector misalignment loss on the integrated intensity statistics in the fiber. The theoretical predictions for the SNR are experimentally checked and found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.


In Judging Thomas: The Life and Times of Clarence Thomas, author Ken Foskett argues that "the key to unlocking Justice Thomas's decision making is not dissecting the opinions but understanding the man who wrote them." Capturing the essence of Judging Thomas, this quote forms the premise for this book review. A person cannot always be understood by his accomplishments. Instead, we sometimes must look beyond the person himself, and look into that person's family history. That is precisely what this Thomas biography attempts to do.This book review, entitled From Pin Point to the Legal Pinnacle, briefly outlines how Thomas catapulted from poverty to the Supreme Court of the United States. It is an amazing and inspiring American story, one that began humbly without even a tint of privilege.At the age of seven, Thomas's family life unraveled, forcing him to move in with his grandparents. This life-changing event brought Thomas face to face with a taskmaster of a grandfather, Myers Anderson. Anderson shunned excuses for a person's lot in life even if confronted with bitter racial division, instead instilling in Thomas fundamental values and principles such as self-reliance, personal responsibility, hard work, and discipline. These values and principles laid the groundwork for Thomas's success in school and life. The book review recounts Thomas's struggles during his formative years in the Deep South, culminating in his graduation from Yale Law School.After Yale, Thomas's professional career took off like a rocket ship. He accepted a position as an Assistant Attorney General under Missouri Attorney General John Danforth. He then moved to Washington D.C. to serve as then-Senator Danforth's legislative assistant. President Ronald Reagan soon discovered Thomas's enormous talents, appointing Thomas to be an assistant secretary for civil rights at the Department of Education. Two years later, President Reagan tapped Thomas to be chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) at the young age of thirty-four. During Thomas's eight years at the EEOC, he transformed the agency from a fledgling bureaucracy to a first-rate government agency. This position also allowed Thomas to crystallize his views on civil rights and other important public policy issues. Thomas's leadership at the EEOC earned him a fair amount of supporters, and detractors, and it ultimately laid the groundwork for his judicial nominations several years later. udging Thomas tries to reveal how Thomas had spent a lifetime flirting with conservative principles that begin to take shape as solidly conservative during the EEOC period.In 1989, Thomas was once again elevated in his service to America, this time to replace Judge Robert H. Bork as a federal circuit judge on the prestigious United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Thomas accepted President Reagan's judicial nomination, and he received nearly unanimous support from the Senate. Less than two years later, the air in D.C. would shift dramatically and turn ugly against Thomas. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated Thomas to the Supreme Court. To say that Thomas's Supreme Court confirmation process would not go as smoothly as his circuit court appointment is a monumental understatement. A battle erupted over Thomas's nomination, and that confirmation battle is still being discussed today. The book review provides a glimpse into how Judging Thomas details the now-infamous Supreme Court confirmation hearings. In response to vicious attacks on his character and integrity, Thomas made the following famous statement to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee:And from my standpoint, as a black American, as far as I am concerned, it is a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks who in any way deign to think for themselves, to do for themselves, to have different ideas, and it is a message that, unless you kowtow to an old order, this is what will happen to you. You will be lynched, destroyed, caricatured by a committee of the U.S. Senate, rather than hung from a tree.This book review attempts to encapsulate what the book expressly details about Thomas's pain during these hearings and how that pain affected him and robbed him of his good name. This book review of Judging Thomas gives readers a glimpse of what they can expect to learn about Clarence Thomas's life and the experiences that ultimately molded his worldview and legal philosophy. The review ultimately posits that regardless of your opinion of Justice Thomas, it is highly recommended that you read about Clarence Thomas, and Judging Thomas is a good place to start. If you drown out the incessant noise that for some reason surrounds the public discourse about Justice Thomas, and instead focus on the life story of Clarence Thomas, you will find an inspiring tale of hard work, self-reliance, discipline, personal responsibility, and perseverance, even against long odds. You also will witness the life-altering magnificence and boundless opportunity that America offers to its citizens, including a poor child born in a segregated small town who skyrocketed to the legal pinnacle.


Much attention has been paid in the last ten years to the necessary solvency margin especially as influenced by risk theory considerations. In these calculations, by which the solvency margin is determined in such a way that the probability of ruin remains under a specified norm, such factors as type of insurance, size of portfolio, reinsurance etc. play an essential role. In these calculations, based on pure risk theory, there is thus no attention paid to risks in the investment field, in the area of costs, etc. Yet one must not forget that the solvency margin must also act as a buffer against these uncertainties, in other words the solvency margin must be large enough to cover all risks to which the concern is liable, within stipulated limits of certainty. One drawback of a pure risk theoretical approach, as interpreted above, is that the bases of the risk theory are often difficult to translate into practical terms, and furthermore will differ from company to company. The latter is also the case with the size of portfolio, reinsurance, etc. However, if this could all be translated into practical terms in the right way, the results would upset relations between competitors, so that it seems natural to make the required solvency margin the same for all companies. Seen in this light Campagne's approach is of great importance—already in 1948 he realized that a scientific basis for the size of the solvency margin was necessary . He confined himself to the life insurance industry, and based his calculations on the idea that the total results of the companies working in a country should be such that, ceteris paribus, the chance of bankruptcy remains below a stipulated norm. These same ideas are worked out by Campagne for several countries and for the life and non-life insurance industries in a report entitled: "Standard minimum de solvabilite, applicable aux entreprises d'assurances" . In par. 2 of Chapter I (Modele statistique du portefeuille de l'assureur-dommages) is laid down what information one needs for a risk theoretical approach, in the same way as mentioned above. The O.E.C.D. also finds that this information is in general not available and therefore in practice chooses a simplified model


Background : pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been isolated from Echium amuenum . These alkaloids knowing as hepatotoxic, damage the liver. Mutagenicity of pure pyrrolizidine alkaloids has been identified. Thus, the mutagenic effect of the methanolic flower extract was tested using Amest test. Materials and Methods: The long maceration process (for 48 hrs) is carried out in order to extract all constitutes. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) method was used to evaluate aflatoxin B1 contamination and histidine amino acid presence. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined with the dilution method. Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100 was used to determination of mutagenicity. The genotype was confirmed by using histidine requirement, R- factor presence, rfa and uvrB mutations tests. The mutagenicity assay was performed by four extract concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1mg/ml). Sodium azide (NaN 3 ) and methanol were used as the mutagens (positive control) and negative control, respectively in the absence or presence of liver-metabolizing enzymes. Results: The data indicate that Echium amuenum has not significant mutagenic activity against negative control. The presence of liver-metabolizing enzymes did not exhibit a significant change against the properties of extract. Conclusion: It seems that this extensive used plant in traditional medicine, doesn't contain mutagenic or genotoxic effect in usual doses.


A/B testing is a popular tool for guiding mobile game development. The developer releases different versions of a game to different test cohorts, and observes which version has the best player retention or monetization. Correctly determining whether the differences are statistically significant is however challenging. Typically the analysis needs to be done on small and heterogeneous player cohorts, with differing follow-up times and unknown player churn. In this paper, we show for the first time how these issues can be properly addressed using the Cox model for recurrent events. The method enables a multivariate A/B-test, that allows determining which game version has the highest player retention or purchase rate, with confidence intervals provided. We demonstrate the benefits of the approach in multiple game development problems, on real-world free-to-play mobile game data.


: Increased public attention to the costs of healthcare in the United States has resulted in greater scrutiny of all aspects of the health industry, including the education of healthcare providers. Because Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists will, as in the past, have a major role in healthcare delivery systems of the future, knowledge of the educational costs and resulting benefits of this advanced practice nurse is important. This is the first comprehensive study of the economic investment in nurse anesthesia education. This study sought to determine the costs, benefits, and net benefits of nurse anesthesia education to four entities: (1) students, (2) clinical institutions, (3) academic institutions, and (4) others, primarily taxpayers. Considering these four entities together, the costs, benefits, and net benefits to society as a whole can be estimated. A prototypical nurse anesthesia educational program was developed, using the most common characteristics found among such programs in the United States. Data were then collected to estimate the costs and benefits to the four entities as they function within this prototypical program. The study concluded that all entities realize a net benefit from the investment by sponsorship or association with nurse anesthesia education, except the academic institution, which is a nonprofit institution and does not show a gain. Nurse anesthesia students show the highest internal rate of return on their investment, followed by others (primarily other taxpayers), and the clinical institution.


The stakes are high for university students accused of misconduct. When expulsion is a possible sanction, an accused student faces a financial loss and a stigma that may preclude admission to another university or access to a career that requires a clean conduct record. For universities, the stakes are also high. Universities use student disciplinary processes to maintain a safe environment for learning and to convey and promote university and civic values. Discipline procedures are matters of public interest and criticism, particularly where the alleged misconduct is sexual. When student discipline processes are fair and perceived as such, these processes reinforce a culture of responsible and ethical behavior that will benefit students, faculty, and staff into the future. When discipline processes are perceived as unfair, irrelevant, or overly bureaucratic, the negative impact on the university is similarly profound and long-lasting.


Objectives: To examine the transport times of immediate and emergency retrievals for neonatal and paediatric patients retrieved by ground and air from general hospitals to tertiary centres. Designs: We conducted a database review of the records of 17 011 requests for retrieval to a centralised transport service in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia from 2000 to 2006. Results: Immediate and emergency retrievals included 4575 (43.7%) neonatal and 5887 (56.3%) paediatric retrievals. The median stabilisation time was 97 min for neonatal compared with 50 min for paediatric retrievals. Neonatal retrievals had a significantly longer stabilisation time (approx ×2), handover time (approx ×1.2) and mission time (approx ×1.3) compared to paediatric retrievals. Conclusions: Establishing reference times for the transport process is a valuable quality assurance tool. Such data will be valuable for staff and budgeting purposes and for evaluating new interventions that reduce retrieval times.


This article considers practical production or media-making within schools, which is both a long-established aspect of media education and one that presents significant dilemmas and difficulties. The article suggests that some familiar pedagogical approaches to practical work embed 'stories' about the media, audiences and teachers that are particularly gratifying for educators; nonetheless, they also understand and value knowledge, agency and language in ways that may be ultimately unhelpful to teaching and learning. Schematically distinguishing between 'modernist' and 'postmodern' conceptualizations, the article argues that practices permeated by the former tend to exaggerate the power of the media and the role of the teacher's knowledge whilst undervaluing classroom relationships; that they inform hostile responses to student productions based on unfamiliar popular cultural forms; and risk penalizing students who struggle with traditional academic formats, whatever their creative talents. Post-modern perspectives, by contrast, offer renewed insights into the processes involved in making media and how students can engage critically with their own knowledge and the meanings they create, whilst they entail at most adjustments to current practice rather than radically different approaches. The article also argues for 'reading through' cultural theory in conducting and analyzing educational research, both to do justice to the complexity of classroom cultures and pedagogies, and to contribute to theoretical developments.


The development of efficient red sensitizer dyes is essential for the optimization of dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical solar cells. Ru-phthalocyanines are good candidates because they show high absorbance in the red while their axial ligands hinder the formation of aggregates, a recurrent problem among phthalocyanine dyes. In this paper, we present the photophysics and photovoltaic device performance for a series of novel Ru-phthalocyanines. We focus in particular upon the origin of the enhancement in device performance observed in the presence of two additives, Li+ and chenodeoxycholic acid. The addition of Li+ lowers the conduction band edge of the TiO2 semiconductor leading to a higher electron injection yield and a higher photocurrent in the device. The increases in injection yield and photocurrent are large for these sensitizers, compared to the widely studied ruthenium bipyridyl dye N719, due to the relatively slow injection dynamics, emphasizing the importance of injection yield in limiting device performance for this Ru-phthalocyanine dye series. Of particular interest is the effect of chenodeoxycholic acid. This coadsorbent dramatically enhances the photocurrent of the studied devices without lowering the photovoltage. Unlike previous studies, in this case the photocurrent rise can not be attributed to an increment in the electron injection yield due to the effect of the coadsorbent hindering the formation of dye aggregates. Photophysical measurements instead show that the slower recombination of dye cations with the TiO2 electrons and faster regeneration of the dye cations by the electrolyte are the reasons for the enhanced photocurrent.


The Map and Pictorial Collection of the National and University Library of Slovenia encompasses map and pictorial documents that are part of the national collection. New technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) provide a novel way to display, access, and research the valuable, interdisciplinary holdings of an institution. This paper discusses a pilot, Web-based application that explores the possibilities of GIS by creating a virtual collection of diverse materials. Spatial data are the basis for this digital archive on which other pictorial elements, such as views and portrait images, are connected by hyperlinks.


The use of drugs for treating neuromuscular impairments that present in the patient admitted to the Intensive Care Unit is virtually inexistent. The use of intravenous immunoglobulins for managing polyneuropathy of the critically ill patient (PCIP) is supported by no evidence. More important is prophylactic therapy, as is the administration of insulin perfusion to prevent hyperglycemia that is associated to increased development of PCIP. New data suggest that the protective mechanism of this perfusion, which normalizes glucose levels, is achieved through the modulation of endothelial dysfunction and lowering levels of asymmetrical di-methyl arginine (ADMA). As for myopathy of the critically ill patient or conditions with prolonged neuromuscular blockade, treatment consists in avoiding the use of several drugs known to be associated with development of these conditions, such as muscle relaxants and aminoglycosides. In relation to acute flaccid paralysis -an infection caused by the Western Nile Virus, anecdotic cases have been reported of improvement with the use steroids or interferon, although routine management remains to be established.


Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the depth of cure of two composite materials (SDR and Filtek bulk-fill) cured at variable increment depths (2, 4, and 6 mm) and voltages (180 and 220 volts). Materials and Methods: Each sample of the composite material was packed in a mold of 2 mm, 4 mm, and 6 mm and curing light (quartz tungsten halogen) of optimal intensity was exposed for 20 s at 2 different voltages on each specimen. After curing, the specimens were removed and the composite on the nonexposed end was scraped with a plastic instrument. The remaining composite thickness was measured using a digital Vernier caliper. The reading was divided by half to follow the ISO 4049 method. Independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and linear regression analysis were applied. Level of significance was kept at 0.01. Results: The mean DOC of SDR and Filtek were 1.93 ± 0.82 and 1.77 ± 0.65 mm. Lowering the voltage from 220 to 180 volts reduced the depth of Filtek from 1.87 ± 0.74 to 1.67 ± 0.54 mm, whereas the DOC of SDR remained unchanged at 1.93 mm at the two voltages. The adjusted R2 for the depth of cure was 0.93 when the increment thickness, voltage, and restorative material were taken together in the regression model. Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference between SDR and Filtek for the depth of cure at 2 and 4 mm increments. However, at 6 mm increment, the SDR cured significantly deeper than the Filtek. Around 91% variation in the depth of cure of these composites materials is explained by increment thickness alone.


We study the beam non-uniformity smoothing effect of the radiation transport in the density valley formed by an ion-beam deposition in a heavy ion-beam inertial confinement fusion pellet by numerical simulations. The simulation results show that the radiation energy is confined in the density valley, and the beam non-uniformity can be smoothed out by the radiation transport along the density valley. In addition, an estimation for the Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth during the implosion phase is also presented.


The near field of a confined coaxial square jet configuration has been investigated using a two-component laser Doppler anemometer. Measurements at velocity ratios (γ u = U o /U i ) 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 with a fixed mean velocity (0.7 m/s) for the inner stream were obtained. Reynolds numbers based on the average velocity of the two coflowing streams U M and the jet equivalent diameter D e were ranged from 1.53 x 10 4 to 4.2 × 10 4 . The streamwise vortices generated at the corners of the inner square nozzles had affected the downstream flow development considerably. The spreading rate at γ u = 0.5 was found to be the highest among the three cases investigated and that for respective cases were also higher than their circular counterparts under similar flow conditions. Self-similarity can be attained and is in the order of γ u =0.5, 1.0, and 2.0. The difference can be attributed to the relative strength as well as the sense of rotation for the corner streamwise vortices generated by the inner jet. The downstream developments for various velocity components are presented. Finally, the flow structure at different velocity ratios will be briefly discussed via inviscid vortex dynamics


The world's core infrastructure—including our transport and energy systems, buildings, industry, and land-related activities—produce more than 60 percent of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. By 2030 the world will need to build approximately $85 trillion in low-carbon climate-resilient (LCR) infrastructure in order to meet the Paris climate change agreement's goal of keeping the global average temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius by 2050. Meeting this infrastructure investment need will require doubling today's global capital stock. This paper defines LCR infrastructure as including renewable energy, more compact cities, and suitable mass transit as well as energy efficiency measures. Whether the world builds LCR infrastructure will also determine whether the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are achieved. Around 60 percent of LCR infrastructure needs are in developing countries. Because public finances are constrained, private capital will be required to meet these LCR infrastructure needs. Increasing private investment into infrastructure can also deliver efficiency gains. Fortunately, there is no shortage of private capital globally. In particular, institutional investors have assets under management of $85 trillion and this is expected to be over $110 trillion by 2020. However, current allocations from institutional investors into infrastructure are low—approximately 1 percent of total asset allocations. Moreover, there is a shortage of other private capital for infrastructure, particularly LCR infrastructure in developing countries. Risks to financing LCR infrastructure raises the cost of capital. The lack of investment in infrastructure by institutional investors as well as the private sector more broadly is due to infrastructure risks and other barriers. Moreover, LCR infrastructure carries additional risks. Combining sources of public finance—such as from multilateral development banks (MDBs) and climate funds is a form of blended finance that can reduce risk, lower the cost of capital, and crowd-in private sector capital into LCR projects. The CTF is the largest provider of blended financing amongst the MCF to date. Outcomes from CTF blending with MDBs and the private sector provides insights into the success of blending to achieve climate and development goals. Using data provided by the Climate Investment Funds' Administrative unit, supplemented with desk research, this paper analyzes investments blending CTF and other public finance and its capacity to crowd-in private capital.


: Hot/cold wallet refers to a widely used paradigm to enhance the security level of cryptocurrency applications that was proposed on Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 32. In a nutshell, after performing an initial setup in which the hot wallet receives partial information of the cold wallet in order to hierarchically generate (transaction receiving) addresses, the cold wallet stays offline, whereas the hot wallet is kept online. The initial transferred information enables the hot wallet to generate receiving addresses for both wallets, but it can only spend its own funds, i.e. , it cannot spend the funds in the cold wallet . This design conveniently mimics money storage in daily life: pocket money is kept in a less safe location, e.g. , a regular wallet, while life savings are kept in a more safe environment, e.g. , banking account. Note that the funds that land in offline addresses cannot be spent if the cold wallet is kept permanently offline. We propose a protocol and a technical solution to spend funds from a cold wallet without physically connecting it to any network . We designed and implemented a prototype for a system based on Optical Camera Communication (OCC) in a screen to camera setting, which can receive messages from a computer screen at the rate of over 150kB per second. Our system consists of a sequence of QR codes – a QR video. Our solution minimizes the possible attack vectors, including malware, by relying on optical communication yet providing a larger bandwidth than regular QR code based solutions.


This study analyzed immediate implantation and immediate loading of chemical mechanical polished (CMP) and resorbable blast media (RBM) SSIII OSSTEM dental implants histometrically. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th mandibular premolars were extracted from five adult dogs. Immediate implantation was performed in the fresh extraction sockets. Each dog received two types of implant: CMP and RBM. The first premolar was submerged, whereas the second, third, and fourth were not submerged. The implants were splinted using acrylic resin and subjected to immediate loading. After 4 months, X-rays were taken and analyzed. The animals were euthanized and processed histologically to obtain non-decalcified sections. Longitudinal ground sections of each implant were made, and histometry was analyzed under light microscopy. No significant difference was found between the control and experimental groups based on immediate loading (p > 0.05) and implant surface (p > 0.05). The implant survival rate and implant-to-bone contact rate after immediate loading were similar to those of submerged implants. The CMP and RBM dental implants did not differ in terms of implant survival rate and implant-to-bone contact rate.


An important clinical issue concerns the efficacy of current voice therapy approaches in treating voice disorders, such as vocal nodules. Much research focuses on finding reliable methods for documentation of treatment results. In this second treatment study of ten patients with vocal nodules, who participated in a behaviorally based voice therapy program, 11 aerodynamic (transglottal air pressure and glottal waveform) and acoustic (spl, f0, and spectrum slope) measures were used. Three pretherapy baseline assessments were carried out, followed by one assessment after each of five therapy phases. Measurements were made of two types of speech materials: Strings of repeated /pae/ syllables and sustained /ae/ phonations in two loudness conditions: comfortable loudness and loud voice. The data were normalized using z-scores, which were based on data from 22 normal subjects. The results showed that the aerodynamic measures reflected the presence of vocal pathology to a higher degree than did the acoustic spectral measures, and they should be useful in studies comparing nodule and normal voice production. Large individual session-to-session variation was found for all measures across pretherapy baseline recordings, which contributed to nonsignificant differences between baseline and therapy data.


In elastic shape analysis, a representation of a shape is invariant to translation, scaling, rotation and reparameterization and important problems (such as computing the distance and geodesic between two curves, the mean of a set of curves, and other statistical analyses) require finding a best rotation and re-parameterization between two curves. In this paper, we focus on this key subproblem and study different tools for optimizations on the joint group of rotations and re-parameterizations. In this conference paper, we give a first account of a novel Riemannian optimization approach and evaluate its use in computing the distance between two curves and classification using two public data sets. Experiments show significant advantages in computational time and reliability in performance compared to the current state-of-the-art method. Further information will become available in a forthcoming full version of this conference paper.


The spread of the exotic insect pest sycamore lace bug Corythucha ciliata (Say) is increasing worldwide. The identification of behaviorally active compounds is crucial for reducing the current distribution of this pest. In this study, we identified and documented the expression profiles of genes encoding chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in the sycamore lace bug to identify CSPs that bind to the alarm pheromone geraniol. One CSP (CcilCSP2) that was highly expressed in nymph antennae was found to bind geraniol with high affinity. This finding was confirmed by fluorescence competitive binding assays. We further discovered one candidate chemical, phenyl benzoate, that bound to CcilCSP2 with even higher affinity than geraniol. Behavioral assays revealed that phenyl benzoate, similar to geraniol, significantly repelled sycamore lace bug nymphs but had no activity toward adults. This study has revealed a novel repellent compound involved in behavioral regulation. And, our findings will be beneficial for understanding the olfactory recognition mechanism of sycamore lace bug and developing a push-pull system to manage this pest in the future.


This paper presents an inverse method for determining the permeability distribution of a flat, layered conductor by using a multifrequency electromagnetic sensor. It discusses the use of spectroscopic techniques to extract depth profiles and examine more fully the internal structure of the test piece. The forward solution for a small right-cylindrical air-cored coil placed next to a layered conductor is based on the analytic solution provided by the transfer matrix approach. For the inverse solution, a modified Newton-Raphson method is used to adjust the permeability profile to fit a set of multifrequency inductances in a least-squared sense. The approximate Jacobian matrix (sensitivity matrix) is obtained by the perturbation method. The paper provides numerical results of the forward solution for cases of step and continuous permeability profiles. Inverse results based on experimental and simulated data verify the accuracy of this method, which yields good estimates for the permeability profile


The Internet-of-Things (IoT) paradigm offers applications the potential of automating real-world processes. Applying IoT to intensive domains comes with strict Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements, such as very short response times. To achieve these goals, the first option is to distribute the computational workload throughout the infrastructure (edge, fog, cloud). In addition, integration of the infrastructure with enablers, such as software-defined networks (SDNs) can further improve the QoS experience, thanks to the global network view of the SDN controller and the execution of optimization algorithms. Therefore, the best placement for both the computation elements and the SDN controllers must be identified to achieve the best QoS. While it is possible to optimize the computing and networking dimensions separately, this results in a suboptimal solution. Thus, it is crucial to solve the problem in a single effort. In this work, the influence of both dimensions on the response time is analyzed in fog computing environments powered by SDNs. DADO, a framework to identify the optimal deployment for distributed applications is proposed and implemented through the application of mixed-integer linear programming. An evaluation of an IIoT case study shows that our proposed framework achieves scalable deployments over topologies of different sizes and growing user bases. In fact, the achieved response times are up to 37.89% lower than those of alternative solutions and up to 15.42% shorter than those of state-of-the-art benchmarks.


Recent work in data mining and related areas has highlighted the importance of the statistical assessment of data mining results. Crucial to this endeavour is the choice of a non-trivial null model for the data, to which the found patterns can be contrasted. The most influential null models proposed so far are defined in terms of invariants of the null distribution. Such null models can be used by computation intensive randomization approaches in estimating the statistical significance of data mining results.
Here, we introduce a methodology to construct non-trivial probabilistic models based on the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) principle. We show how MaxEnt models allow for the natural incorporation of prior information. Furthermore, they satisfy a number of desirable properties of previously introduced randomization approaches. Lastly, they also have the benefit that they can be represented explicitly. We argue that our approach can be used for a variety of data types. However, for concreteness, we have chosen to demonstrate it in particular for databases and networks.


The recent identification of mutations at arginine 482 (R482) in human Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP) in two drug-selected cell lines largely explains some discrepancies observed in the cross-resistance profiles of human cell lines overexpressing this multidrug transporter. We find that each of three mouse cell lines independently selected for resistance to the anthracycline doxorubicin also acquired mutations in the cognate mouse transporter Bcrp1 exclusively at R482. Although the mouse Bcrp1 amino acid substitutions (M or S) are distinct from those seen in the human cell lines (G or T), they all have similar consequences: (a) greater resistance to anthracyclines (and bisantrene); (b) relatively lower resistance to topotecan; (c) greatly enhanced efflux of the dye rhodamine 123. The ready selection of R482X mutations seen in vitro might also occur in tumors treated with anthracyclines. Thus, it is noteworthy that the efficacy of Bcrp1 inhibitors applicable in vivo was not markedly affected by the presence of the mutations. We found that the Bcrp1 mutations all occurred after previous amplification and overexpression of the wild-type gene under doxorubicin selection; wild-type Bcrp1 is evidently able to mediate substantial resistance to anthracyclines, and this was confirmed in Bcrp1-transduced cell lines. These observations emphasize the general importance of the arginine at amino acid 482 for substrate specificity of the transporter, while reminding us that unmutated Bcrp1 remains a potential source of resistance to anthracyclines and a potential factor in anthracycline pharmacokinetics. The same is most likely true of human BCRP, given its profound similarities to mouse Bcrp1.


In mobile crowdsourcing (MCS), mobile users accomplish outsourced human intelligence tasks. MCS requires an appropriate task assignment strategy, since different workers may have different performance in terms of acceptance rate and quality. Task assignment is challenging, since a worker's performance 1) may fluctuate, depending on both the worker's current personal context and the task context and 2) is not known a priori, but has to be learned over time. Moreover, learning context-specific worker performance requires access to context information, which may not be available at a central entity due to communication overhead or privacy concerns. In addition, evaluating worker performance might require costly quality assessments. In this paper, we propose a context-aware hierarchical online learning algorithm addressing the problem of performance maximization in MCS. In our algorithm, a local controller (LC) in the mobile device of a worker regularly observes the worker's context, her/his decisions to accept or decline tasks and the quality in completing tasks. Based on these observations, the LC regularly estimates the worker's context-specific performance. The mobile crowdsourcing platform (MCSP) then selects workers based on performance estimates received from the LCs. This hierarchical approach enables the LCs to learn context-specific worker performance and it enables the MCSP to select suitable workers. In addition, our algorithm preserves worker context locally, and it keeps the number of required quality assessments low. We prove that our algorithm converges to the optimal task assignment strategy. Moreover, the algorithm outperforms simpler task assignment strategies in experiments based on synthetic and real data.


In order to develop a fatigue design method for the actual railroad car body structures using the fatigue data on simulated single spot welded lap joints, firstly, evaluated fatigue strength on the spot welded t-type member which is a component of the actual railroad car body structure. And next, possibility of fatigue design for spot welded T-type member using the fatigue data of single spot welded lap joints was investigated. From the results, it was found that, even though there is some difference in fatigue strength between single spot welded joint and the actual members under the same fatigue life, the fatigue design criterion could be predicted by correction between them.


AIM
A cross-sectional study to determine the caries experience characteristics and their relationship with aging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Using stratified sampling method, 748 subjects divided into 3 age groups of 11-14, 14-17 and 17-20 year-olds (355 females and 393 males, aged 15.11 ± 2.23 years) were examined in urban area of Isfahan (Iran). The DMFT scores (DT, MT, FT) were recorded. The Student t-test was used to assess any differences in the mean DMFT score between genders. Simple (DMFT >0), severe caries experience (DMFT >8), severe form of filling (FT>3), and decay (DT>6) were calculated. Chi-square tests were performed to assess any relationship between gender and DMFT variables. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the predictive value of gender and age groups for the DMFT categories dichotomized into presence or absence of DMFT-related variable. Scatter plots and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to explore the relationships between the DMFT (DT, MT, FT) and participant's age.

RESULTS
The mean DMFT values for the sample, 11-14, 14-17 and 17-20 year-olds were 4.94, 3.03, 5 and 6.66, respectively. Caries prevalence (DMFT >0) and active caries prevalence (DT >0) were 88.8% and 81.8%, respectively. Prevalence of active caries (DT) did not vary significantly between genders; however, prevalence of fillings (FT) was higher in females (OR 1.96, 95% CI, 1.45-2.67). The odds of experiencing caries (DMFT, DT, FT) increased with increase in participant's age. Prevalence of subjects with DT>6 was higher in males than in females (OR 1.50, 95% CI, 1.04-2.01). Prevalence of subjects with FT>3 was higher in females than in males (OR 1.74, 95% CI, 1.10-2.73). Significant positive correlations existed between the participant's age and DMFT (rho 0.40), DT (rho 0.34) and FT scores (rho 0.194), respectively.

CONCLUSION
Caries experience was highly prevalent in our sample. With increase in age, there was an upward trend in caries prevalence and mean DMFT.


Cycling is a sustainable mode of travel and is an alternative to private motor vehicles in urban areas, particularly for trips of less than 6 km. Although there are a number of benefits of promoting more cycling, including health benefits to cyclists, reduced emissions, reduced parking demand and less traffic congestion, the risk of having a crash while cycling is typically higher than while travelling as a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle. There is also a perception that cycling is unsafe, particularly on busy roads. This paper presents research findings from two NZ Transport Agency (formerly Land Transport NZ) studies which focused on understanding and reducing the risk of cycle crashes. Progress on a third study on this topic is also presented. The first study focuses on the relationship between motor-vehicle flow, cycle flow and crashes. The key finding of this study is that as cycle volumes increase, the risk to the individual cyclist reduces, the 'safety in numbers' effect. The second study focuses on factors and interventions influencing cycle safety, other than cycle flows. This study involved the development of crash models for on-road cycle facilities at intersections and along road links in New Zealand, and looks at factors such as kerbside parking demand and the presence of a flush (painted) island. The final study, on the effectiveness of cycle facilities at intersections, looks at the relationship between the various cycle facilities installed at traffic signals and crash savings. Data on cycle facilities and other treatments, crash occurrence and traffic flows are being collected from around New Zealand and for a number of Australian states. Early results are presented.


In this paper, we propose a stochastic optimization method that adaptively controls the sample size used in the computation of gradient approximations. Unlike other variance reduction techniques that either require additional storage or the regular computation of full gradients, the proposed method reduces variance by increasing the sample size as needed. The decision to increase the sample size is governed by an inner product test that ensures that search directions are descent directions with high probability. We show that the inner product test improves upon the well known norm test, and can be used as a basis for an algorithm that is globally convergent on nonconvex functions and enjoys a global linear rate of convergence on strongly convex functions. Numerical experiments on logistic regression problems illustrate the performance of the algorithm.


Context. Predictions of solar cycle 24 obtained from advection-dominated and diffusion-dominated kinematic dynamo models are different if the Babcock–Leighton mechanism is the only source of the poloidal field. Some previous studies argue that the discrepancy arises due to different memories of the solar dynamo for advection- and diffusion-dominated solar convection zones.
Aims. We aim to investigate the differences in solar cycle memory obtained from advection-dominated and diffusion-dominated kinematic solar dynamo models. Specifically, we explore whether inclusion of Parker's mean-field α effect, in addition to the Babcock–Leighton mechanism, has any impact on the memory of the solar cycle.
Methods. We used a kinematic flux transport solar dynamo model where poloidal field generation takes place due to both the Babcock–Leighton mechanism and the mean-field α effect. We additionally considered stochastic fluctuations in this model and explored cycle-to-cycle correlations between the polar field at minima and toroidal field at cycle maxima.
Results. Solar dynamo memory is always limited to only one cycle in diffusion-dominated dynamo regimes while in advection-dominated regimes the memory is distributed over a few solar cycles. However, the addition of a mean-field α effect reduces the memory of the solar dynamo to within one cycle in the advection-dominated dynamo regime when there are no fluctuations in the mean-field α effect. When fluctuations are introduced in the mean-field poloidal source a more complex scenario is evident, with very weak but significant correlations emerging across a few cycles.
Conclusions. Our results imply that inclusion of a mean-field α effect in the framework of a flux transport Babcock–Leighton dynamo model leads to additional complexities that may impact memory and predictability of predictive dynamo models of the solar cycle.


A retrospective analysis of case-records data of 53,653 patients (0-18 years) over a two and half year period was conducted to ascertain the spectrum of congenital heart diseases. Two hundred and twenty one patients were found having congenital heart diseases; a prevalence of 4.1/1000. Ventricular septal defect (VSD) was the most frequent lesion seen in 69 (31.2%), followed by patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in 36 (16.3%) children. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) was the most frequent cyanotic heart disease seen in 17 (7.8%) patients.


We study the effect of gluon number fluctuations (Pomeron loops) on the proton structure function at HERA. It is shown that the description of charm and bottom quarks and longitudinal structure functions are improved, with χ2/d.o.f=0.803 (fluctuations) as compared with χ2/d.o.f=0.908 (without fluctuations), once the gluon number fluctuations are included. We find that in the gluon number fluctuation case the heavy quarks do not play an important role in the proton structure function as the saturation model. The successful description of the HERA data indicates that the gluon number fluctuation could be one of the key mechanisms to describe the proton structure function at HERA energies.


In Reply.— The letter of Drs A. and E. Shapiro offers the opportunity for clarifying our findings concerning TS. Diagnosis.— Each of the patients in our report satisfied the following DSM-III criteria for TS: multiple motor and phonic symptoms of over one year's duration, temporary suppressibility, and waxing and waning severity. In addition, the patients demonstrated characteristics of TS that have been highlighted since the first descriptions in the 19th century, including complex behaviors, echo phenomena, compulsions, obsessions, impulsivity, coprolalia, poor frustration tolerance, attentional difficulties, as well as school and learning proplems. 1-4 For example, the Shapiros and colleagues found that 58% of their patients had minimal brain dysfunction and 57% had marked behavioral maladjustment. 5 In the current letter, they state that the mental disorders of patients with TS are not statistically distinguishable from those of psychiatric outpatients, again suggesting the range and severity of psychiatric difficulties in patients with TS.


Integral substrates (printed wiring boards with buried capacitors and/or resistors) can lower costs, improve component density, improve performance and reliability. Integral substrates are economically and technically viable for replacing a large portion of the ceramic chip capacitors used for decoupling and resistor chips and networks used for termination, pull-up and pull-down. However, passive integration is easier said than done. Integral substrates require new design and test systems, manufacturing processes and materials. Further investigation concludes that stable, low cost materials and processes, design and test systems are only half the equation. In order for this technology to reach its full market potential, time-to-market issues such as rapid prototyping and engineering changes must be solved.


Solid waste management is one of the most challenging issues for authorities in the Mt Everest region of Nepal, exacerbated in recent years by the rapid and continued growth of tourism. Open and unsightly landfills in the vicinity of villages along the main trekking routes are creating serious public health and environmental concerns, primarily because of their routine burning, resultant release of toxic chemicals, and contamination of groundwater supplies. Following 2 community consultations held in Namche Bazaar and Kathmandu in July 2019, a sustainable solid waste management plan was developed by the authors at the expressed request of local stakeholders. Based upon a collaborative approach, the plan proposes the implementation of a 4-point waste management process: (1) routine segregation of waste type at its source by lodges and home owners, (2) collection of recyclable waste from lodges and households and/or transfer of waste by lodges themselves to environmental stations, (3) transfer of all segregated waste to material recovery facilities for preprocessing and packaging, and (4) transfer of preprocessed materials to Lukla airport for transportation to Kathmandu and/or other recycling facilities. In January 2020, the plan was formally presented to local authorities, who, at the time of writing, are considering available options for its implementation. It is suggested that progress toward the sustainable management of solid waste in Khumbu be closely monitored in the coming years, as success here could provide working models for other heavily visited regions throughout the high mountain world.


The recent discussion of the winners and losers from globalisation has given prominence to regional development and industrial clusters in the global organisation of production and know-how. Tuttlingen, in southern Germany, is the recognised world leader in the global surgical instruments industry. However, price competition from emerging low-cost locations in South and South/East Asia and Eastern Europe, and rapid technological developments in medical engineering pose new challenges for the Tuttlingen cluster. In the past, institutional joint action was one of the pillars of the cluster's success, but there are doubts as to whether such institutions can face the new challenges. New public-private initiatives suggest a way forward, but it is too early to gauge their impact. In the past there were important examples of small and medium sized firms coming together in joint marketing, production, and research and development efforts. While they continue, local competition has become more intense, making inter-firm co-operation more difficult. Some firms do, however, co-operate with suppliers further down the value chain, particularly those in Pakistan and Malaysia. The new challenges are also leading to further differentiation, both amongst firms as well as between producers and traders within the cluster. The most radical forms of product and functional upgrading are being concentrated in the cluster's leading large firms. Innovation seems to be linked to close ties with end-users, the concentration of knowledge in medical engineering, and changes in surgical practices and health care delivery. Thus, the cluster while the 'big fish' in its own pond of surgical instruments, is having to come to terms with being a 'small fry' in the larger sea that constitutes the global health care sector.


Reacting flows in annular enclosures, such as combustion chambers in gas turbine engines, are subject to acoustic waves that inevitably interact with the primary flow [1]. In this study we consider a simplified case of a non-reacting axisymmetric jet subject to transverse acoustic forcing in the form of a standing wave. We perform high-speed stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements in the near-field region of the jet to determine the effects of acoustic forcing on the turbulent structure. The jet is produced by issuing air (ν = 1.51 × 10−5 m2s−1) from a convergent nozzle into a rectangular chamber. The convergent profile ensures a top-hat velocity profile at the nozzle exit, which produces a jet at Re = 7300, where Re = ueD/ν, ue = 11.0 ms−1 is the nozzle-exit velocity of the jet and D = 0.01 m is the diameter of the nozzle. We perform PIV measurements at 5 locations: the pressure node, the pressure anti-node, and 3 equidistant positions in between the node and anti-node. The frequency of the initial vortex formation from the Kelvin-Helmoltz instability is locked into the forcing frequency from the speakers (f = 260 hz). However, the structure of these initial vortices is noticeably different at the different nodal positions. In figure 1 we present the rms phase-averaged axial (urms) and radial (vrms) velocities for the (a) pressure node and (b) anti-node. At the pressure node the centreline velocity urms is near zero because the pressure amplitude does not vary significantly at this position of the jet. Rather, the pressure gradient changes across the forcing cycle, which results in the jet being 'pushed' transversely by the pressure field. This is manifested by the non-zero radial velocity vrms along the jet centreline. In contrast, the pressure anti-node position exhibits no radial velocity fluctuations at the centreline, but very strong axial fluctuations. The magnitude of the rms velocities at the shear layer (r/D = ±0.5) correspond with the nature of the initial vortex formation in the near-field, which is illustrated in the instantaneous vorticity fields shown in figure 1(c) and (d) for the node and anti-node, respectively. At the pressure node and anti-node the near-field vortical structure is anti-symmetric and symmetric, respectively. However, in between these points in the pressure field we observe a distinct asymmetry of the turbulent structure when subject to transverse acoustic forcing. We are currently performing tomographic PIV measurements to elucidate the instantaneous 3D vortical structures that correspond with these asymmetric pressure conditions.


Feynman is credited as saying that "Philosophy of science is about as useful to scientists as ornithology is to birds". So perhaps no other philosophical subject – ethics, logic or the philosophy of language – is of any interest to scientists as scientists. On the other hand, Einstein believed in "the significance and educational value of methodology as well as history and philosophy of science". He believed this was important to scientists' research. Who is right, Feynman or Einstein? Not surprisingly, I argue that Einstein is right. In order to do that, the nature of both philosophy and science must be clarified. I will then argue that philosophy is of value to scientists not just for methodological reasons, as Einstein argues, but also for theoretical reasons.


Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behaviors of Mg-7Al-0.3Mn alloy in 0.21M K2CrO4+0.6M NaCl solution and in air were studied using slow strain rate test (SSRT). The effect of electrode potential on SCC behaviors of the alloy was investigated in 0.21M K2CrO4+0.6M NaCl solution during SSRT. The fractographs of the alloy tested in air and in the solution were observed. These results indicated that SCC of the alloy was related to the hydrogen embrittlement and pitting corrosion. The pitting corrosion was the cause of crack initiation, and the hydrogen embrittlement leaded to crack propagation.


Background Informal carers of someone with a life-limiting or terminal illness often experience marked levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Carers have limited free time to devote to lengthy, well-being interventions. Carers also struggle to prioritize their self-care, a factor which may help buffer some of the negative impacts of being a carer. The aim of this study was to gain insight into carers' views and perceptions of a brief, four session face to face self-compassion intervention for carers (iCare) which was created to improve well-being, increase self-compassion and develop self-care among carers. In so doing, this qualitative research addresses gaps in the literature relating to self-compassion interventions for carers and targeted self-care initiatives for carers. Method Semi-structured interviews with nine participants of iCare were conducted and data subjected to a reflexive thematic analysis within a critical realist framework. Findings A number of themes and sub-themes were identified. Carers discovered a kinder, less judgemental way of seeing themselves allowing themselves to recognize that they had their own individual needs. In turn this led to an intentional practise of self-care activities. Benefits from conscious self-care and self-kindness included experiencing a greater sense of calm or relaxation and the development of a more positive outlook. Conclusion The findings highlight that a brief self-compassion intervention can have a positive impact on carers reported well-being through developing a kindlier internal orientation and locating a permission to allow themselves to practise an intentional self-care.


The study examined the effect of xylanase supplementation on apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and hepatic vitamin E and carotenoids in broiler chickens fed wheat based diets. A total of one hundred forty four male Ross 308 chickens were used in this study. Birds were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments (8 cages per treatment of 6 male broilers each) for 14 days from 7 to 21 day old. The control treatment was based on wheat-soyabean meal and was either unsupplemented or supplemented with either 1000 or
2000 xylanase units per kg diet. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts were used to test linear response to dietary xylanase activity. There was a positive linear relationship
(P < 0.05) between dietary AME and doses of supplementary
xylanase. A linear relationship (P < 0.05) was also observed between dosage of xylanase supplementation and hepatic vitamin E concentration and retention.
In conclusion, xylanase supplementation improved dietary AME and increased hepatic vitamin E concentration which may have positive effects on the antioxi-dative status of the birds.


We present a measurement of Z{sup 0} boson and Drell-Yan production cross sections in {bar p}p collisions at {radical} (s) =1.8 TeV using a sample of 107 pb{sup {minus}1} accumulated by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The Drell-Yan cross section is measured in the mass range of M{sub {mu}{mu}}{gt}40 GeV/c{sup 2}. We compare the measurements with the predictions of quantum chromodynamics in both leading order and next-to-leading order, incorporating the recent parton distribution functions. The measurements are consistent with the standard model expectations. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}


This timely and authoritative set explores three centuries of good times and hard times in major economies throughout the world. More than 400 signed articles cover events from Tulipmania during the 1630s to the U.S. federal stimulus package of 2009, and introduce readers to underlying concepts, recurring themes, major institutions, and notable figures. Written in a clear, accessible style, "Booms and Busts" provides vital insight and perspective for students, teachers, librarians, and the general public - anyone interested in understanding the historical precedents, causes, and effects of the global economic crisis. Special features include a chronology of major booms and busts through history, a glossary of economic terms, a guide to further research, an appendix of primary documents, a topic finder, and a comprehensive index. It features 1,050 pages; three volumes; 8-1/2" X 11"; topic finder; photos; chronology; glossary; primary documents; bibliography; and, index.


Author(s): Byrnes, Steven John Feinman | Advisor(s): Wang, Feng | Abstract: This thesis will detail four projects aimed at understanding and applying the principles of optics and optoelectronics.In Chapter 1, we describe phase-sensitive sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (PS-SFVS), a nonlinear optical technique that can probe the molecular structure of the top few monolayers of a liquid-vapor interface. We use this technique to investigate the air-water interface, using a number of water samples with different dissolved salts. The information is used to draw inferences about the surface propensity of these salt ions—information that can shed light on both atmospheric chemistry and water solvation theory. We also give a detailed description of the experimental methodology for PS-SFVS, its rationale, and the issues that can arise.PS-SFVS measurements, such as those described in Chapter 1, can be fruitfully used by comparing them with the signal predicted by molecular simulation. However, the relationship between a molecular configuration and its nonlinear optical signal is not thoroughly understood in the theoretical chemistry community. In particular, the procedures used in the literature to predict an PS-SFVS signal within a molecular simulation have been ambiguous, depending on arbitrary parameters. In Chapter 2, we review PS-SFVS theory at a fundamental level, then map it to modern simulation methods, thereby explaining the ambiguities as consequences of improper truncation of a multipole expansion. A molecular-dynamics simulation of the water-air interface is used as an example, illustrating the consequences of different simulation methods and suggesting which ones should be most accurate.Chapter 3 explores a different aspect of nonlinear optics: The compression and characterization of ultrafast pulses of light. These pulses have been explored for a variety of scientific and technological applications. Ideally, an optical pulse can be reduced in duration up to the limit imposed by its spectral bandwidth via the uncertainty principle. However, the presence of "nonlinear chirp" (different frequencies arriving at different times in a nonlinear fashion), which is especially common in mode-locked fiber lasers, can be a major factor preventing the shortening of a pulse. We describe a new technology, a type of patterned glass phase plate, that promises to reduce nonlinear chirp in a convenient, adjustable, inexpensive, and high-throughput manner. After showing simulations, we describe how we made the plate, and then how we used frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) to watch the plate change the duration and shape of a pulse from a fiber laser.Finally, Chapter 4 discusses a new architecture for solar cells that uses the field effect, rather than the traditional p-n junction, to separate charge. This could be advantageous for semiconductor materials that are difficult to dope to both p- and n-type, such as oxides, sulfides, and nanoparticles. We discuss the underlying physics and rule-of-thumb design principles, along with both finite element simulations and experimental verifications.


"problem doctors" .1,2 These articles discuss people with psychiatric and substancerelated disorders, a group easily stigmatised. In this context, "dysfunctional", "damaged" and "problem" are victim-blaming terms. If they were used in the headlines of articles discussing, for instance, a person with HIV/AIDS, cancer, depression or diabetes, there would be editorial intervention. Doctors with psychiatric and substancerelated disorders are a danger to community members, but are they more responsible than similarly "afflicted" ! people who work as taxi drivers, on a car assembly line or preparing food whose "impairment" might also lead to injury or death? These comments do not mean that care of people (of the occupation "doctor") with psychiatric and substance-abuse problems is unimportant, nor that that care can ignore the context of the ill person. Yet, equally, we must remember society excuses us from the usual obligations of occupation when ill.


Aims: To determine whether herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) has declined as an indication for penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) over the past 30 years. Methods: Records of the Hogan Eye Pathology Laboratory were reviewed to determine the incidence of PKP performed for HSK from 1972 through 2001. Archived corneal tissue with the diagnosis of HSK was evaluated for herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assays. Results: The number of corneal buttons submitted with the clinical diagnosis of HSK decreased from 1972 to 2001, while the overall number of PKPs performed did not. The percentage of corneal buttons with a clinical diagnosis of HSK that contained detectable HSV DNA did not change over the course of the study period. Conclusion: HSK declined as an indication for PKP from 1972 to 2001 at UCSF. It is unlikely that this decline was the result of improved diagnostic accuracy since detection of HSV DNA in corneal buttons with a clinical diagnosis of HSK was similar at the beginning and end of the study period.


Social ties have been hypothesized to help people to gain support in achieving collaborative goals. We test this hypothesis in a study of organizational crowdfunding (or 'crowdfunding behind the firewall'). 201 projects were proposed for peer-crowdfunding in a large international corporation. The crowdfunding website allowed people to join a project as Co-Proposers. We analyzed the funding success of 114 projects as a function of the number of (Co-)Proposers. Projects that had more co-proposers were more likely to reach their funding targets. Using data from an organizational social-networking service, we show how employees' social ties were associated with these success patterns. Our results have implications for theories of collaboration in social networks, and the design of crowdfunding websites.


: Carrell and Lehmann have reported a method of precipitating Hb that is attractive in terms of its rapidity, simplicity, reversibility, and lack of rigorous conditions. We have applied the methodology to the concentration and partial purification of certain red cell enzyme activities. Twenty-three glycolytic and nonglycolytic enzymes were studied (Table 1). Under conditions where 97% to 98% of Hb was precipitated, recoveries in the supernatant for 14 enzymes ranged from 40% to 100%, with nine activities virtually completely recovered as measured by routine assay. In six instances, only minimal activity was recoverable either in the supernatant or in the precipitate. In the case of those enzymes whose recovered activities in supernatant were large, more rigorous investigation to detect possible zinc-induced alterations is necessary to determine whether the procedure impairs parameters not readily evaluated by routine assay. The effect of the procedure on PK was studied more intensively. The kinetics of the enzyme with PEP and ADP were unaffected, its thermostability appeared not to differ from native PK, and ATP inhibition of activity was normal. Addition of more zinc to the supernatant precipitated PK, which could then be further partially purified by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation. Inclusion of magnesium and substrate PEP in the hemolysate prior to zinc addition increased recovery in the supernatant from 40% to 80%.


A surface molecular imprinted polymer (SMIP) was synthesized by using dibenzothiophene (DBT) as the template, 4-vinylpyridine as the functional monomer, and modified potassium hexatitanate whisker as the carrier. The structural and textural properties of the product were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption. Different factors affecting the adsorption such as contact time, initial concentration, and temperature were investigated. Kinetic analyses were performed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models; the equilibrium data were fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich models, and thermodynamic parameters were also evaluated. It was determined that the SMIP exhibited high recognition selectivity and binding affinity to template DBT over the structure analogues. Moreover, the SMIP could be reused eight times without significant loss in performance; then the SMIP was successfully applied for ...


Living with a child with a disability is often perceived as a permanent stressor to the family and it affects all aspects of family life including the well-being of family members. Since little is known about parenting teenage daughters diagnosed with ADHD, the aim of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of the main problem involved using a grounded theory approach. Interviews were carried out with 12 parents, 11 mothers and 1 father, of teenage daughters diagnosed with ADHD. The parents' situation was conceptualized as living at the edge of one's capability with the properties having the sole parental responsibility, fighting for professional support, being on duty around the clock and trying to solve family conflicts. Parents described how their health was negatively affected by their life situation.


This paper represents visual results for the B2 module of the MAS. Using four meta genetic variables, multiple probability measures are extracted. Variations between pairs of virus genomes could be measured. From a macroscopic viewpoint, measures can be organized in a set of 16 × 16 with (m+ 1)2 density matrix in combinations with supersymmetric properties. In view of the different types of coronary virus samples, various pairs of genomes make different projections under multiple levels of hierarchical forms of quantization matrix. Under proper selection, huge numbers of variations could be performed. Applying this transformation, a list of sample results are generated to illustrate intrinsic symmetric maps associated with selected parameters. Since this is an initial exploration, further explorations on theoretical foundation and specific applications are essential to support applicable theory and the systematic expansion on medical applications for COVID-19 patients.


The present paper deals with the correspondence between Morse func- tions and flows on nonorientable surfaces. It is proved that for every Morse flow with an indexing of saddle points on a nonorientable surface there is a unique Morse function, up to a fiber equivalence, such that its gradient flow is trajectory equivalent to the initial flow, and the values of the function in the saddle points are ordered according to the indexing. The algorithm for constructing the Morse function from a Morse flow with an indexing is given. Reeb graphs and 3-graphs, which assign Morse functions and the corresponding Morse flows with the number of the saddle points less than 3 are presented.


Purpose. This study examines the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by ethnicity/race among patients with type 2 diabetes. Subjects and methods. Four hundred and ten (410) patients with type 2 diabetes recruited from an academic-medical center completed a survey assessing CAM use, diabetes status, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results. Several significant ethnic/racial differences were observed in CAM use (both in the types of providers seen as well as in the herbs and dietary supplements used). Although White patients reported using CAM in addition to their diabetes medication (mean [SD] 4.9 [0.4] on a scale from 1=never to 5=always) more frequently than Mexican American patients (3.1 [1.6], p<.05), Mexican American patients (1.4 [1.1]) used CAM instead of their diabetes medications more frequently than non-Hispanic White patients (1.0 [0.1], p<.05). More Mexican American (66.7%) and Vietnamese American patients (73.7%) than non-Hispanic Whites (11.8%, p=.002) described CAM practitioners as being closer to their cultural traditions than Western practitioners, whereas Vietnamese patients were more likely to describe use of herbs and supplements as closer to their cultural traditions (84.5% versus 15.3% for White and 30.9% for Mexican American patients, p <.001). Conclusions. Considering the variability and perceptions in CAM use, providers should discuss with their patients how their CAM use may influence diabetes management behaviors.


The present study deals with flexible structures which protect human lives and buildings against falling rocks with a high energy, up to 5 000 kJ. These rockfall kits have to match the new European standard ETAG 027 which requires different specific full scale tests. To reach high level of performance, these flexible barriers have to be studied in details. First, each main component such as net sets and dissipating devices, have been studied separately. The Anti Sub Marine net was then chosen for its elasticity and isotropic behavior. The best parameters for braking systems have been defined by different tests. Then, the complete design of the structure was performed according to several criteria such as the position of brakes, the post height, the easy repair, the independence of modules and the final cost (kit with its global installation). Finally, the design which fit the best of our criteria was used to perform full scale tests. After some trials, the so-called HC RP® 3 000 kJ and 5 000 kJ kits matched the ETAG 027 requirements. All kits need lateral anchors to stabilize lateral posts during the impact. All the posts are H-shaped and a central net brake is used.


The FtsZ protein, a tubulin-like GTPase, plays a pivotal role in prokaryotic cell division. In vivo it localizes to the midcell and assembles into a ring-like structure-the Z-ring. The Z-ring serves as an essential scaffold to recruit all other division proteins and generates contractile force for cytokinesis, but its supramolecular structure remains unknown. Electron microscopy (EM) has been unsuccessful in detecting the Z-ring due to the dense cytoplasm of bacterial cells, and conventional fluorescence light microscopy (FLM) has only provided images with limited spatial resolution (200–300 nm) due to the diffraction of light. Hence, given the small sizes of bacteria cells, identifying the in vivo structure of the Z-ring presents a substantial challenge. Here, we used photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM), a single molecule-based super-resolution imaging technique, to characterize the in vivo structure of the Z-ring in E. coli. We achieved a spatial resolution of ∼35 nm and discovered that in addition to the expected ring-like conformation, the Z-ring of E. coli adopts a novel compressed helical conformation with variable helical length and pitch. We measured the thickness of the Z-ring to be ∼110 nm and the packing density of FtsZ molecules inside the Z-ring to be greater than what is expected for a single-layered flat ribbon configuration. Our results strongly suggest that the Z-ring is composed of a loose bundle of FtsZ protofilaments that randomly overlap with each other in both longitudinal and radial directions of the cell. Our results provide significant insight into the spatial organization of the Z-ring and open the door for further investigations of structure-function relationships and cell cycle-dependent regulation of the Z-ring.


This article considers the role that Christian Scriptures play in the formation of intellectual humility within Christian community. Intellectual humility is often considered in abstraction from these and their influence on how the virtue is itself conceived is seldom considered in depth. This article highlights that the Bible, considered as sacred scripture, shapes the way Christians think about humility by using certain words in certain ways: a core lexicon associated with poverty or low status is linked to the expectation that the humble person will be dependent upon God and will submit to his rule. This bears on the intellect of the humble person, who must depend upon and yield to God in their evaluation of the world and in their decisions about how to act. This, however, is just one strand to a complex representation of the virtue that is dramatically shaped by the incarnation of Jesus, whose own humility is not just an act of human submission to God, but of divine condescension. In addition to these elements, I will argue that the concept of virtue itself should be carefully qualified to acknowledge that the acting self is identified as a participant in the identity of Jesus Christ.


In this paper we present the synthesis and characterization of two novel copolymers obtained from a bithiophene unit carrying octylsulfanyl side chains and thienothiophene units substituted with keto (PK) or ester (PE) groups. Their structural, electrochemical and photophysical properties were investigated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), NMR, UV-visible-NIR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). They possess good solubility in common organic solvents, filmability, proneness to form π-stacks, moderate solvatochromism, good thermal stability and low band gap energy. They were tested as donor materials in combination with [70]PCBM (electron acceptor) in bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells. The geometry of the devices is: glass/ITO/PEDOT:PSS/copolymer:[70]PCBM/Ca/Al. The external quantum efficiency curve of the best device, realized using a blend of PK : [70]PCBM, 1 : 2 weight ratio, shows a broad response from 350 to 1000 nm. The power conversion efficiency under 100 mW cm−2 AM 1.5G illumination is greater than 1%.


The capabilities of technology today can solve problems that have plagued mankind since the establishment of civilization. In its assent over the past decade or two, technology has been leveraged to close gaps in communication, cure diseases, and explore propel mankind into a new renaissance, one in which information is more bountiful and accessible than ever before. Although the project I embarked on a little more than a year ago will not solve global woes or usher in the next great evolution of our social existence, it is using technology for the betterment of mankind nonetheless. Sophia Bernard and I created our capstone from the need to use our educations for the betterment of society and to utilize digital, social, and multimedia for a good cause. The manifestation of this endeavor took shape in our partnership with Assumption Food Pantry in north Syracuse. This food pantry serves hundreds upon hundreds of those in need in the Syracuse area, a region of the state that has experienced notable atrophy over the past decade and took an especially hard hit during the recession. We set out to make Assumption Food Pantry a visible and vibrant entity by immersing them in a full digital creation campaign. By creating a website that is not only aesthetically appealing and functional, not also easy for pantry administrators to use on the back-end, we hoped to help them spread their message, recruit volunteers and become more visible for sorely-needed government grants. By presenting them with a social media proposal and setting up their social media accounts, we aimed to help them connect with their clients, their volunteers, and engage in conversation in the nonprofit community. By developing Public Service Announcements and short documentaries, we hoped to shine a light on what exactly it is to work at a food pantry, and more importantly, what it means when one is on the receiving end of this service. Sophia and I knew we could use our skills in technology and media creation to help an organization that not only needs it, but thoroughly deserves it. Taking into consideration our specific specialties, Sophia and I decided to split the work by focus. Sophia came up with the concept for all of the films, filmed them and edited them into the packages available on the site. I took charge of the technological aspects, researching the needs of the pantry, assessing the technological capabilities of the pantry administrators, designing and implementing the website, and creating guides to allow the pantry to be able to make their own changes and updates. It is with joy that we deliver our products over to Assumption Food Pantry, and with hope that we yearn to see these products draw in new volunteers, provide information to the needy, make the pantry more visible for grants, and see a real connection made between the Assumption and all who wish to enter into some kind of relationship with them. This project was challenging in a spattering of ways. It compelled me to take tangents of my own education and connect the dots between them to be able to deliver this final product. although it may be with higher blood pressure and a tad less hair that I deliver this project, the challenges have been far eclipsed by my satisfaction with it and with my optimism that Sophia and I have been able to make a difference.


2011 News Literacy Conference Photos, set 17 (Thursday NewsLit2011.Thrs-1) 640 x 4801/20 sec / 4.355.9 mm ISO 800 Canon PowerShot SX110 IS


Randomized clinical trials are recognized as providing the most rigorous evidence of treatment efficacy. For temporomandibular disorders, randomized clinical trials have been used to evaluate the efficacy of low-cost occlusal appliances or the adjunct use of cognitive behavioral interventions. However, noncompliance with treatment regimens and losses to follow up are common randomized clinical trial protocol violations that compromise the desired rigor of the trial. At times it is not clear to the investigator how to deal with these issues during the trial and at the data analysis phase. Often treatment efficacy is based on the compliant subjects, subjects who may no longer represent randomized groups or yield the desired "fair" estimate of treatment efficacy. This study focuses on management of compliance issues, the description and collection of data needed to obtain a more accurate assessment of treatment efficacy, and results particularly relevant to actual clinical practice and patient care decisions. These are applied to a randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for temporomandibular disorders.