Anjana et al. (1) analyzed the rate of worsening of glucose metabolism in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG)/impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), the rate of regression fromabnormal glucosemetabolism to NGT, and the risk factors for theworsening in an Asian Indian cohort. The study may be a valuable addition to the previously accumulated knowledge in the epidemiology of the diabetes evolution. However, we are afraid that the classification of glucose tolerance categories and terminology were confusing and misleading in their study. Namely, the current definition of prediabetes by the American Diabetes Association is fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 100–125 mg/dL (5.6–6.9 mmol/L), 2-h plasma glucose (PG) during 75-g oral glucose tolerance test of 140–199 mg/dL (7.8–11.0 mmol/L), or HbA1c of 5.7–6.4% (39–64 mmol/mol) (2). Although Anjana et al. (1) determined HbA1c at the baseline and the follow-up, the values were not used for the classification of the participants by the authors. Instead, the authors used prediabetes as a synonym for IFG/ IGT. That is, they defined prediabetes as "FPG 100–125 mg/dL (5.6–6.9 mmol/L) or 2-h PG 140–199 mg/dL (7.8–11.0 mmol/L)," so that the participants were classified as prediabetes irrespective of HbA1c levels if the glucose criteria were fulfilled (1). The reason(s) why they did not conform to the standard definition of prediabetes was not provided. The difference between the two prediabetes definitions, i.e., categorization with and without adoption of HbA1c, is not negligible, as reported previously (3,4). Namely, approximately 15% of subjects with HbA1c 5.7–6.4% (39–64mmol/mol) have FPG ,100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) or 2-h PG ,140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) (3,4). The value, 15%, was obtained by calculation on the basis of mean and SE (3) or SD (4) of FPG and 2-h PG of subjects with HbA1c 5.7–6.4% (39–64 mmol/mol) in these studies. In the study by Anjana et al. (1), existence of this subset of subjects with prediabetes was neglected and such individuals were treated as NGT. Importantly, correlation between HbA1c and 2-h PGwas not significant in subjectswithout diabetes (3),b-cell functionwasworse in subjects with "isolated IFG plus HbA1c 5.7–6.4% (39–64 mmol/mol)" compared with those with isolated IFG alone (4), and HbA1c 5.7–6.4% (39–64 mmol/mol) was less sensitive than IFG and IGT for the detection of subjects with increased risk for development of diabetes (3). These facts imply that groups of subjects captured by the two diagnostic criteria of prediabetesarepathophysiologically dissimilar. We consider the use of prediabetes as a synonym for IFG/IGT as inappropriate and misleading, if not totally wrong. In fact, the term prediabetes has been used to denote different subsets of subjects with nondiabetic hyperglycemia by other researchers, too (5). Investigators should explain why they used their own definition of prediabetes to the readers if they used nonstandard definitions. We believe now is the time to standardize the use of "prediabetes."


In neural prosthetic systems, a low-impedance electrode-tissue interface is important for maintaining signal quality for recording, as well as effective charge transfer for stimulation. However, neural microelectrodes often have high impedance due to their small surface areas. In this paper, we present a simple method of increasing their effective surface areas by introducing nanostructures on the electrode sites. The method combines photolithography and electron-beam evaporation with a locally patterned anodized porous alumina template to integrate Au-nanorod arrays on the flexible thin-film microelectrode, which can significantly increase the effective surface area and decrease impedance due to its 3-D and compact nanostructures. Moreover, the geometrical and electrical properties of Au-nanorod electrodes were demonstrated and compared with conventional planar microelectrodes by using a scanning electron microscope and an impedance spectroscopy system. Experimental results showed that approximately 25 times lower interface impedance was achieved for this nanostructured microelectrode. Such Au-nanorod integrated microelectrode arrays will be a promising tool for neural engineering.


If intrusive political, media and public oversight into the fine detail of the conduct of military affairs were to become the norm, what could be the implications? This paper argues that the micro-management of warfare, and less intensive military operations such as humanitarian intervention and peacekeeping, can distort and unbalance the broad political-military relationship. The consequences of that unbalancing could be described in terms of three related hazards: strategic (where the Clausewitzian model, predominant in the West, of the linkage between society and armed forces, and between politics and war, becomes strained); military (where modern western military practices such as manoeuvre warfare, mission command and rules of engagement become difficult if not impossible to sustain); and moral (where the western liberal project to contain and moderate the effects of warfare is undermined).


The democratic state is an administrative state: the actual work of representative governance is done primarily in administrative agencies, which interpret and implement the often vague ambitions inscribed in statutes. When we talk about agency in the state, then, we must primarily be talking about agency in agencies. That may seem odd. Bureaucracy seems like the absence of agency: just mechanistic gear-grinding continuing things begun by other, distant, powerful actors. Where can agency find a foothold amid the faceless people, the featureless buildings, the infinite red tape, the endless unread files? So, another oddity: administration has world-changing effects, yet seems bereft of agents. Infuriatingly — yet conveniently — bureaucracy appears as an undifferentiated entity exerting power that cannot be held to account. This common image, it turns out, distorts our understanding of both agencies and agency. It conceals the complex distribution of possibility and responsibility within bureaucracy, which involves individual subjectivities, interpersonal relations, and socially structured decisionmaking (Blau 1963; Bernstein 2008). And it obscures the varied ways that accountability for bureaucratic action is structured by different social arenas allow. What kind of accountability is available, it turns out, depends on the position from which one does the accounting. Here, I unpack one administrative process to show how units of agency emerge and blend in the ongoing process of differentiation and subsumption that characterizes bureaucratic action. I then explain how one particular social arena — litigation — provides a scaffolding for bureaucratic accountability that, like all scaffoldings, both enables and constrains.


PURPOSE
Patients with locally advanced breast carcinoma (LABC) receive preoperative chemotherapy to provide early systemic treatment and assess in vivo tumor response. Serial positron emission tomography (PET) has been shown to predict pathologic response in this setting. We evaluated serial quantitative PET tumor blood flow (BF) and metabolism as in vivo measurements to predict patient outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Fifty-three women with primary LABC underwent dynamic [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and [(15)O]water PET scans before and at midpoint of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The FDG metabolic rate (MRFDG) and transport (FDG K(1)) parameters were calculated; BF was estimated from the [(15)O]water study. Associations between BF, MRFDG, FDG K(1), and standardized uptake value and disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS
Patients with persistent or elevated BF and FDG K(1) from baseline to midtherapy had higher recurrence and mortality risks than patients with reductions. In multivariable analyses, BF and FDG K(1) changes remained independent prognosticators of DFS and OS. For example, in the association between BF and mortality, a patient with a 5% increase in tumor BF had a 67% higher mortality risk compared with a patient with a 5% decrease in tumor BF (hazard ratio = 1.67; 95% CI, 1.24 to 2.24; P < .001).

CONCLUSION
LABC patients with limited or no decline in BF and FDG K(1) experienced higher recurrence and mortality risks that were greater than the effects of clinical tumor characteristics. Tumor perfusion changes over the course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy measured directly by [(15)O]water or indirectly by dynamic FDG predict DFS and OS.


Background: Dysphonia secondary to posterior glottic insufficiency (PGI) can be difficult to identify and correct. Inadequate arytenoid approximation from medial arytenoid erosion results in a breathy, soft voice. The anatomical location of the gap is difficult to correct by vocal fold injection laryngoplasty. This study reviews the presentation, evaluation, and treatment for pediatric patients who were identified with PGI. Methods: An Institutional Review Board–approved chart review was performed on all patients who were diagnosed with PGI at our institution from 2013 to 2015. We studied the presentation, workup, and treatment for these patients, including laryngoscopy, parent or patient-based voice impairment ratings, and response to treatment. Results: Seven patients were identified. Erosion of the medial arytenoid was identified on microlaryngoscopy for all of these patients. The patients had suboptimal improvement from injection laryngoplasty. Three patients underwent surgical correction with an endoscopic posterior cricoid reduction laryngoplasty (EPCRL) with significant improvement in voice, assessed by perceptual, laryngoscopic, and patient-based measures. Conclusion: The key diagnostic procedures to identify posterior glottic insufficiency include laryngoscopic findings of a posterior glottal gap, microlaryngoscopy with close inspection of the posterior glottis and medial arytenoids, and suboptimal response to injection laryngoplasty. The EPCRL is an effective procedure to treat dysphonia from PGI.


Abstract. In this study we use a new dust product developed using CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation) observations and EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar Network) measurements and methods to provide a 3-D multiyear analysis on the evolution of Saharan dust over North Africa and Europe. The product uses a CALIPSO L2 backscatter product corrected with a depolarization-based method to separate pure dust in external aerosol mixtures and a Saharan dust lidar ratio (LR) based on long-term EARLINET measurements to calculate the dust extinction profiles. The methodology is applied on a 9-year CALIPSO dataset (2007–2015) and the results are analyzed here to reveal for the first time the 3-D dust evolution and the seasonal patterns of dust over its transportation paths from the Sahara towards the Mediterranean and Continental Europe. During spring, the spatial distribution of dust shows a uniform pattern over the Sahara desert. The dust transport over the Mediterranean Sea results in mean dust optical depth (DOD) values up to 0.1. During summer, the dust activity is mostly shifted to the western part of the desert where mean DOD near the source is up to 0.6. Elevated dust plumes with mean extinction values between 10 and 75 Mm−1 are observed throughout the year at various heights between 2 and 6 km, extending up to latitudes of 40° N. Dust advection is identified even at latitudes of about 60° N, but this is due to rare events of episodic nature. Dust plumes of high DOD are also observed above the Balkans during the winter period and above northwest Europe during autumn at heights between 2 and 4 km, reaching mean extinction values up to 50 Mm−1. The dataset is considered unique with respect to its potential applications, including the evaluation of dust transport models and the estimation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN) concentration profiles. Finally, the product can be used to study dust dynamics during transportation, since it is capable of revealing even fine dynamical features such as the particle uplifting and deposition on European mountainous ridges such as the Alps and Carpathian Mountains.


We investigate possible mechanisms to induce electric polarization in layered organic-inorganic hybrids. Specifically, we investigate the structural phase transitions of PEA2MnCl4 (PEA = phenethylamine) using temperature dependent single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, including the symmetry analysis of the observed space groups. Our results show that PEA2MnCl4 transforms from a high-temperature centrosymmetric structure with space group I4/mmm to a low-temperature polar Pca21 phase via an intermediate phase with polar space group Aea2. We study the mechanism responsible for the I4/mmm to Aea2 polar phase transition and find that it is different from previously proposed mechanisms in similar systems. The transition is governed by the opening of a small dihedral angle between the phenyl ring planes of two adjacent PEA molecules, which consequently become crystallographically inequivalent in the Aea2 phase. This molecular rotation induces a significant difference in the lengths of the ethylammonium tails of the two molecules, which coordinate the inorganic layer asymmetrically and are consequently involved in different hydrogen bonding patterns. Consequently, the negatively charged chlorine octahedron that coordinates the Mn2+ cation deforms. This deformation moves the Mn2+ off-center along the out-of-plane-axis, contributing to the polar nature of the structure. Notably, the polar axis is out-of-plane with respect to the inorganic sheets. This is in contrast to other layered organic-inorganic hybrids as well as conventional layered perovskites, such as the Aurivillius phases, where in-plane polarization is observed. Our findings add to the understanding of possible mechanisms that can induce ferroelectric behavior in layered organic-inorganic hybrids.


According to the discussion of domestic scholars on county talents, we know that the researches concerning county human resources mainly focus on discussing the problems such as the total amount, distribution, quality and introduction of county talents though the analysis of coordination between talents and county economic development, and the research of relationship between industry adjustment and talents need. However, there have no relevant documents about the analysis and discussion of county talents problems based on system schema theory. In view of this reality, on the basis of the introduction of the system schema theory propounded by management guru Peter Senge, we conduct the feedback schema analysis of the restricted factors of talents shortages during county economic development; establish the growth limits schema of county talents system; analyze the functioning mechanism of the total amount, distribution, quality and introduction of county talents on the development of county economy; discuss the relationship between the individual quality, social relation and emotional need of returning-home start-up, and talents resource shortage; propose the countermeasures and suggestions to mitigate the shortage of county talents, in order to optimize the allocation of county human resources, and promote the county's economic development.


Telemetry, or the remote monitoring of animals with electronic transmitters and receivers, has vastly enhanced our ability to study aquatic animals. Radio telemetry, acoustic telemetry and passive integrated transponders are three common technologies that generate detection data — time‐stamped, tag‐specific records that are logged by receivers. We review current statistical methods and comment on potential future directions for analysing detection data derived from fixed telemetry receiver arrays. To illustrate how different methods may be used to achieve diverse study objectives, we provide a case study dataset collected by an array of 42 acoustic telemetry receivers on 187 bull trout in the Kinbasket Reservoir of British Columbia. To close, we present a decision tree for guiding the selection of a method based on study objectives and sampling design. This paper provides both experienced and novice telemetry researchers with the knowledge and tools to facilitate more comprehensive analysis of detection data and, in so doing, ask a wide variety of ecological questions that will enhance our understanding of aquatic organisms.


Just as in the real world, plants are important objects in virtual worlds for creating pleasant and realistic environments, especially those involving natural scenes. As such, much effort has been made in realistic modeling of plants. As the trend moves towards networked and distributed virtual environments, however, the current models are inadequate as they are not designed for progressive transmissions. In this article, we fill in this gap by proposing a progressive representation for plants based on generalized cylinders. We model the shape and thickness of branches in a plant as Bézier curves, group the curves according to the similarity, and differentially code the curves to represent the plant in a compact and progressive manner. To facilitate the transmission of the plants, we quantify the visual contribution of each branch and use this weight in packet scheduling. We show the efficiency of our representations and the effectiveness of our packet scheduler through experiments over a wide area network.


Maintaining a balance between hot and cold is essential to the wellbeing of the Cuyonon people. Any tension between these two may cause several maladies, all encompassed by the general term pasma. Tan (1987) noted that the term pasma is recorded for all Christian groups, as well as for acculturated Muslim and tribal groups in the Philippines. Its usage however is limited in other Philippine languages. In Tagalog for instance, pasmado is used instead of pasma and it only refers to a spasmodic condition of a particular part of the body (usually, hands) because of a perceived bad habit of washing it after a strenuous activity. The term pasma has no established origin but the term is thought to have been derived from Spanish espasmo, which literally means 'spasm'. A similar set of medical belief and practices relating to "hot-cold syndrome" had also been recorded in other parts of the world, particularly in Latin America (Currier 1966; McCullough 1973). Earlier studies suggest that such indigenous view of attributing illnesses to thermal stress can be traced back to Greek humoral pathology (Foster 1953 and Taylor 1963, as cited by Currier, p.251). This study neither validates this claim in the case of pasma in Cuyonon nor argues against its implication that such knowledge is possibly just a remnant of belief systems introduced by the colonizers. Knowledge about pasma among the Cuyonon people is essential for them to live a healthy life and this is supported by the intricate elaboration of the concept into a network of interconnected labels and the culturally shared knowledge on its various types, potential causes, specific symptoms and corresponding ways of curing. Such complex yet systematically organized conceptual system of pasma has not been attested in other Philippine languages. Based on data gathered through interviews, this study presents a documentation of pasma as an important indigenous knowledge system in health care that is learned and shared by the Cuyonon people and that comprehensively manifests through a conceptual network in their language. In addition, it also seeks to find entanglements of pasma with Cuyonon people's view about human body in general and how one relates own physical being with elements of nature. Finally, this study also aims to present narratives as to how Cuyonons negotiate such deeply ingrained knowledge with the competing views of mainstream contemporary medical science that are taught in schools and practiced in state-supported health institutions. Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, health care, pasma, hot-cold Currier, Richard L. 1966. The Hot-Cold Syndrome and Symbolic Balance in Mexican and Spanish-American Folk Medicine. Ethnology, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 251-263. McCullough, John M. 1973. Human Ecology, Heat Adaptation, and Belief Systems: The Hot-Cold Syndrome of Yucatan. Journal of Anthropological Research, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 32-36 Tan, Michael L. 1987. Usug, Kulam, Pasma : Traditional Concepts of Health and Illness in the Philippines. Quezon City: Alay Kapwa Kilusang Pangkalusugan.


Received: July 04, 2019 Accepted: August 28, 2019 Published: September 30, 2019 Volume: 2 Issue: 5 DOI: 10.32996/ijllt.2019.2.5.3 This study aims to show that the Black African transformative resistance in literature has remained a powerful strategy that helped their literature survive. The study used Bill Ashcroft views to illustrate the process of White hegemony over Blacks. Then, to illustrate each text in the light of the postcolonial theory in order to shed light on how the chosen writer gave evidence to the ongoing hegemony in his texts. The final stage used Bill's theory to talk about the resistance and antihegemony literature of the chosen writer. A lot of studies have been conducted on Black African American Literature but very little dealt with transformative resistance particularly in Richard Wright. This writer grew in immigrant family in America which represents a challenge to him since he faces the dilemma of abandoning his cultural identity through white hegemony into the mainstream dominant American culture and he is often known for promoting hegemony between the Black Americans and white people. However, the current study which reviewed the literature written by Richard Wight has other hidden motives seen in the light of post-colonial theory through the concepts of resistance, hegemony, and hybridity. It investigated how resistance has been passed down from generation to generation through interpolated literature and how his transformative resistance to white hegemony of the Western culture. KEYWORDS


We anticipate that a possible next phase in the information technology revolution could be the convergence of control, i.e., sensing and actuation, with communication and computing. We address the broad set of issues that we believe to be important to the design, implementation, and proliferation of such systems. In particular, we expound on the topics of the architecture of such systems, methodologies for design, distributed time, services, and middleware. We describe our efforts in the Convergence Lab at the University of Illinois with respect to each of these topics.


The true surface processing approach takes into account the difference in the source and receiver raypaths introduced by variable elevation and weathering. In this project seismic data from the Spring Coulee line, in this case P-P, are processed using the true surface methodology. The post-stack time migrated P-P section obtained shows important differences with respect to other published results.


The dilemma in the July/August issue concerned a vet and a new graduate assistant who would soon be starting bovine tuberculosis (TB) testing (In Practice, July/August 2010, volume 32, pages 318–319). The assistant would initially accompany the vet while they carried out TB tests, before going out on his own. Over time, the vet had developed a way of doing the test that was not exactly as defined in the protocol, but which they believed did not affect either its accuracy or its validity. Gareth Enticott commented that a key issue related to the extent to which the reality of work could ever be captured in a standardised protocol. Signing a TB test certificate was an act of certification, and false certification could have serious consequences for one's career. However, despite offering a way of controlling and standardising behaviour, protocols had their limitations in that they rarely covered all eventualities or offered solutions for new problems. A possible way forward would be for senior vets to remind new assistants of the importance of certification and that it was their own responsibility to ensure that rules and protocols were followed. A second solution would be to demonstrate to the assistant the types of informal procedures that were useful when dealing with problems encountered by the protocol. Potentially, a better way forward would be to see the ethics of TB testing as part of a much broader set of relations, and address these collectively rather than focusing on individuals.


The application of solid adsorbents for gas separation in pre-combustion carbon capture from gasification processes has gained attention in recent times. This is due to the potential of the technology to reduce the overall energy penalty associated with the capture process. However, this requires the development of solid adsorbent materials with large selectivity, large adsorption capacity, fast adsorption kinetics for CO2 coupled with good mechanical strength and thermal stability. In this work, results on CO2 adsorption performance of three different types of adsorbents; a commercial activated carbon, phenolic resin activated carbons and zeolite templated carbons have been reported at atmospheric and high pressures conditions. The commercial activated carbon was obtained from Norit Carbons UK, the phenolic resin activated carbon was obtained from MAST Carbon Ltd., while the templated carbons were synthesized in the laboratory. A commercial activated carbon was used as bench mark for this study. Surface modification of these carbons was also undertaken and their CO2 uptake measurements at ambient and high pressure conditions were recorded. The commercial and templated carbons were modified by functionalising with amine group, while the phenolic resin carbon was modified by oxidation.
The textural properties of the adsorbents was examined using the Micromeritics ASAP, while the CO2 adsorption capacities were conducted using the thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) and the High pressure volumetric analyser (HPVA).
Textural properties of synthesized templated adsorbents were seen to depend on the textural characteristics of the parent material. The β-type zeolite produced the carbons with the best textural property. Increase in activation temperature and addition of furfuryl alcohol (FA) enhanced the surface area of most of the templated carbons. The textural property of all the adsorbents under study was seen to differently affect the CO2 uptake capacity at atmospheric (0.1 MPa) and high pressure conditions (up to 4 MPa).
Micropore volume and surface area of the commercial activated carbons, phenolic resin activated carbons, and the templated carbons greatly influenced the adsorption trends recorded at ambient conditions. Total pore volumes positively influenced adsorption trend for templated carbons, but not the phenolic resin activated carbons at ambient and high pressure. This also positively influenced the adsorption trend for the commercial activated carbons, but at ambient conditions only. The surface area and the micropore volume have no effect on the adsorption trends for the templated carbons and the commercial activated carbons at high pressure conditions. However, these played a positive role in the adsorption capacities of the phenolic resin activated carbons at the same experimental conditions.
Micropore volume and surface area of adsorbents play a major role on the adsorption trends recorded for the modified adsorbents at ambient conditions only. No trend was recorded for adsorption capacities at high pressure conditions. Only the oxidized phenolic resin activated carbon showed a positive adsorption trend with respect to total pore volume at high pressure condition. The amine modified commercial activated carbon showed no positive adsorption trend with respect to the total pore volume at both ambient and high pressure conditions, while the amine modified templated carbon showed no adsorption trend with respect to the textural properties at ambient and high pressure conditions.
CO2 uptake measurements for the modified and unmodified templated carbon and phenolic resin carbon, were observed to be higher than those of the commercial activated carbon at ambient and high pressure conditions. Maximum CO2 uptake was recorded at 25 oC. At ambient pressure, the phenolic resin carbon (MC11) showed the highest CO2 uptake of approximately 3.3 mmol g-1, followed by the commercial activated carbon (2.4 mmol g-1), then, the templated carbon (2.4 mmol g-1). At high pressure, the templated carbons (β-AC7-2%) showed the highest CO2 uptake (21.3 mmol g-1), followed by phenolic resin carbon (MC4 - 12.2 mmol g-1), and the commercial activated carbon (6.6 mmol g-1). When samples were modified, the amine modified templated carbon and oxidized phenolic resin carbon showed the highest CO2 uptake of 2.9 mmol g-1 each at ambient pressure, followed by the commercial activated carbon (2.7 mmol g-1). At high pressure conditions, the oxidized phenolic resin carbon showed the highest (10.6 mmol g-1) uptake level, followed by the templated carbon (8.7 mmol g-1), and commercial activated carbon (6.5 mmol g-1).


The issue of cancer clusters, which has been in the spotlight recently, is plagued by a wide disparity between public perceptions and scientific findings. Movies like Erin Brockovich have led the public to think that industrial pollution in the environment is causing local "cancer clusters" where cancer cases are more prevalent due to cancer-causing chemicals. There are many scientifically documented instances in which chemical exposure has caused cancer in humans, but the evidence for purely environmental exposures causing cancer is sparse. The clusters that scientists have been able to attribute successfully to a particular cause have been occupational (such as workers in a factory developing a particular type of cancer from daily exposure to a specific chemical), linked to a particular medicine, or linked to behaviors such as smoking or sunbathing. There is some indication that chemicals dissolved in drinking water may elevate the risk of gastrointestinal and bladder/urinary tract cancers and that living next to a smelter or other "point source" of air pollution may elevate risk of lung cancer. The many efforts that have been made to demonstrate links between other types of cancer and environmental contamination have not conclusively identified such links. Several challenges bedevil any cancer cluster investigation and can result in ambiguous or misleading conclusions. This report discusses the potential cancer clusters in Toms River, New Jersey and Long Island, New York, because they contain many elements typical of cancer cluster investigations and have received considerable media attention.


Transforming Multilateral Diplomacy provides the inside view of the negotiations that produced the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Not only did this process mark a sea change in how the UN conducts multilateral diplomacy, it changed the way the UN does its business. This book tells the story of the people, issues, negotiations, and paradigm shifts that unfolded through the Open Working Group (OWG) on SDGs and the subsequent negotiations on the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, from the unique point of view of Ambassador Macharia Kamau, and other key participants from governments, the UN Secretariat, and civil society.


Purpose The Australian Temperament Project Generation 3 Study (ATPG3) was established to examine the extent to which offspring social and emotional development is shaped in the decades prior to conception, in parent and grandparent histories of psychosocial adjustment (eg, emotional regulation, relationship quality and prosociality) and maladjustment (eg, depressive symptoms, substance use and antisociality). Participants The Australian Temperament Project (ATP) commenced in 1983 as a population representative survey of the social and emotional health of 2443 young Australians (Generation 2: 4–8 months old) and their parents (Generation 1). Since then, families have been followed from infancy to young adulthood (16 waves). Between 2012 and 2018, the cohort was screened biannually for pregnancies (Generation 3), with assessments conducted in the third trimester of pregnancy, and at 8 weeks and 1 year postpartum. Findings to date A total of 1167 offspring (607 female) born to 703 Generation 2 parents (400 mothers) were recruited into the ATPG3 Study. Findings to date highlight: (1) strong continuities in depressive symptoms and substance use from adolescence through to becoming a parent; (2) a role for persistent preconception mental health problems in risk for parent–child bonding difficulties, as well as infant emotional reactivity and behaviour problems; (3) the importance of secure attachments in adolescence in reducing long-term risk for postpartum mental health problems; and (4) the protective nature of perceived social support, both preconception and postpartum, in strengthening relationship quality and social support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future plans Assessments of ATPG3 families in preschool and middle childhood are currently funded and underway. We intend to maintain the offspring cohort through childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and into parenthood. Data will be used to map preconception determinants of emotional health, and enhance approaches to population monitoring and targeted intervention over the life course and across generations.


OBJECTIVE
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) affects all ethnicities worldwide. The Hispanic population being the leading ethnic minority in the United States, its importance to the healthcare system cannot be understated. This study aims to assess the occurrence and outcomes of CCA in Hispanic patients in the United States.

METHODS
This is a case-control study using the National Inpatient Sample 2014. All patients with ICD-9 CM codes for CCA were included. Hispanic patients were identified from the ethnic categories within the database. The primary outcomes were the occurrence and odds of CCA in the Hispanic population when compared with other ethnicities. Secondary outcomes were inpatient mortality, morbidity, ICU stay, multiorgan failure, and resource utilization.

RESULTS
A total of 13 965 patients with CCA were identified, of which 2750 were propensity-matched to controls (1480 Hispanic). The inpatient occurrence of CCA in Hispanics relative to the national population was 2.73/100 000 persons, compared to 4.82/100 000 persons (39.9/100 000 relative to inpatient population) of all other ethnicities. After adjusting for confounders on multivariate analysis, Hispanic patients displayed adjusted propensity-matched odds of 1.28 (P < 0.01) of having CCA when compared with other ethnicities. Hispanics did not display different propensity-matched odds of inpatient mortality, morbidity, hospital length of stay, or resource utilization compared to non-Hispanic patients.

CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that the odds of CCA in admitted patients are higher for the Hispanic population. This difference with the prevalence potentially suggests the presence of social factors such as disparities in cancer prevention or detection in this group.


Laser assisted machining (LAM) is an effective method machining difficult-to-machine materials such as ceramics which uses a high power laser to focally heat a workpiece prior to material removal with a traditional cutting tool. A laser assisted machining experiment system was set up and a transient, three-dimensional heat transfer model was developed for LAM of silicon nitride using Finite Element Method to understand the thermal process of laser heating. The model was based on temperature-dependent thermophysical properties and the heat generated was neglected due to cutting which is assumed to be small compared to the heat generated by laser heating. The experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of operating parameters, such as laser power, laser translational speed, rotational speed, laser beam diameter and preheating time on temperature distribution. An infrared radiation thermometer was used to measure the surface temperature histories and the experimental results were in good agreement with predictions. The laser power and laser translational speed have the greatest influence on the temperature.


It takes much neglect, rejection, humiliation, physical maltreatment and sexual abuse to transform a tiny, trusting, innocent human being into a callous, cruel and vicious youth and adult. This paper will examine some of the factors that contribute to the development of the violent personality. It is suggested that the answer to street violence is not state violence. The answer is conscious parenting supported by social institutions, laws and practices, which attend to the needs of pregnant parents, particularly, the disadvantaged.


This paper examines the impact of salt iodization in Switzerland in the 1920s and 1930s on occupational patterns of cohorts born after the intervention. The generalized use of iodized salt successfully combatted iodine deficiency disorders, which were previously endemic in some areas of Switzerland. The most important effect of universal prophylaxis by means of iodized salt was the eradication of mental retardation inflicted in utero by lack of iodine. This paper looks for evidence of increased cognitive ability of those treated with iodine in utero by examining the occupational choice and characteristics of occupations chosen by cohorts born after the intervention. By exploiting variation in pre-existing conditions and in the timing of the intervention, I find that cohorts born in previously highly-deficient areas after the introduction of iodized salt self-selected into higher-paying occupations. I also find that the characteristics of occupations in those areas changed, and that cohorts born after the intervention engaged to a higher degree in occupations with higher cognitive demands, whereas they opted out of physical-labor-intensive occupations.


The chief communication officer at a Fortune 500 multinational corporation today faces the challenges of a rapidly changing global economy, a revolution in communications channels fueled by the Internet, and a substantially transformed understanding of what a 21st-century corporation stands for. This book provides an accessible framework for describing these forces and the specific communication challenges that they have thrown at the global corporation. The text reviews the evolution of society's response to the development of the modern company and the corporate communication practices that grew up in response to it, as well as examining the impact of globalization, Web 2.0 and the networked enterprise on current corporate relationships with key stakeholders such as customers, employees, shareholders, communities and regulators. In examining these forces and how they are interwoven, the authors offer insights and strategies for deploying effective communication as a strategic business asset in today's global economy. Designed for the advanced student of corporate communication, the book contains updated guidelines for the management of investor relations, community relations and other corporate relationships in the age of social media. Specific recommendations for how to organize and execute effective communication for the contemporary practitioner working in the communication field are also provided.


By 2013, nearly 95% of the 250 largest companies in the world, and 71% of the top 100 companies across the Asia Pacific region used sustainability reporting as a tool to inform and manage the impacts of their activities on society, the environment, and the economy. There are now over 400 sustainability reporting instruments being used in 64 countries, 80% of which are introduced by governments. However, by the end of 2013, only 17% of the top 100 companies in New Zealand were providing a corporate responsibility report and, by the end of 2017, this number had not grown much. This is particularly significant when sustainability reports are widely viewed as a proxy for corporate transparency.
This thesis examines the ways in which some of the largest companies in New Zealand perceive and react to stakeholders' expectations for non-financial disclosure, and the factors that may have caused the current lack of sustainability reporting in this country. It also looks critically into the relative power of shareholders and other stakeholders to influence the publication of sustainability reports. The thesis draws on a theoretical framework that combines Mitchel, Agle, and Wood's (1997) Salience Model with Zygmunt Bauman's (2000) concept of liquid modernity, to explain how different stakeholders have different impacts on target companies, and why that differentiation tends to run counter to theoretical, market based expectations.
Twenty-eight interviews, including those with key representatives of 21 public companies (reporting and non-reporting), and seven sustainability professionals, were the primary sources of data. Secondary data was gathered from the participating corporate reports, reporting frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), government regulations in New Zealand, and formal organisational documents, policies, and regulations. This study applies thematic analysis to identify the most important themes to emerge from the interview transcripts and other documents.
The results of the study demonstrate how leading corporations in New Zealand perceive different stakeholder groups and their expectations, and how that perception affects the way they publish corporate reports. While some companies view the lack of stakeholders' expectation as a barrier for non-financial reporting, the findings of this study suggest that there may have been little to no communication between these organisations and their stakeholders in practice, and that, therefore, company perceptions may have little substance.


Systems are naturally constructed in hierarchies, in which design choices made at higher levels of abstraction levy requirements on system components at the lower levels. Thus, whether an aspect of a system is a design choice or a requirement largely depends on your vantage point within the system components' hierarchy. Systems are also often constructed from the middle-out rather than top-down; compatibility with existing systems and architectures and availability of specific components influence high-level requirements. Requirements and architectural design should be more closely aligned: requirements models must account for hierarchical system construction and architectural design notations must better support requirements specification for system components.


Robust in situ power harvesting underlies the realization of embedded wireless sensors for monitoring the physicochemical state of subsurface engineered structures and environments. The use of electromagnetic (EM) contrast agents in hydraulically fractured reservoirs, in coordination with completion design of wells, offers a way to transmit energy to remotely charge distributed sensors and interrogate fracture width, extent, and fracture-stage cross-communication. The quantification of available power in fracture networks due to energized steel-cased wells is crucial for such sensor designs; however, this has not been clarified via numerical modeling in the limit of Direct Current (DC). This paper presents a numerical modeling study to determine the EM characteristics of a subsurface system that is based on a highly instrumented field observatory. We use those realistic field scenarios incorporating geometry and material properties of contrast agents, the wellbore, and the surrounding geologic environment to estimate volumetric power density near the wellbore and within hydraulic fractures. The numerical modeling results indicate that the highest power densities are mainly focused around the wellbore excited by a point current source and the fracture boundary. Using DC excitation, the highest power density in the fracture is at the fracture tip. The relatively high-power density on the order of tens of mW/m3 at the vicinity of the wellbore and at fracture tips suggests that remote charging of sensor devices may be readily possible. Simulation results also show that the region of the highest power density can be significantly increased when the EM source is located inside a conductive fracture, which may lead to a promising deployment strategy for embedded micro-sensors in geologic formations.


Abstract. Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative condition that is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the main cause for the development of the disease. The symptoms of this form, such as deterioration of vision and scotomas (loss of visual fields), appear in the latter stages of the disease. Therefore, an IOP monitoring device is needed for better, simpler, and faster diagnosis, and to enable a fast treatment response. We present a theoretical assessment as well as preliminary experimental results of a simple approach for easy, optical, IOP self-monitoring. It is based on a polydimethylsiloxane membrane coated with a reflective layer and a Hartmann–Shack wavefront sensor. Nearly linear correlation is found between membrane deformation and Zernike coefficients representing defocus primary spherical aberration, with high sensitivity and negligible dependence on the measurement distance. The proposed device is expected to provide an accurate IOP measurement resolution of less than ±0.2  mm Hg with a pressure dependence on working distances <0.7  mm Hg/cm for a thick membrane; the corresponding values for a thin membrane are ±0.45  mm Hg and <0.6  mm Hg/cm, respectively, at typical IOP values—up to 40 mm Hg.


Piezoelectric energy harvesting has attracted wide attention from researchers especially in the last decade due to its advantages such as high power density, architectural simplicity, and scalability. As a result, the number of studies on piezoelectric energy harvesting published in the last 5 years is more than twice the sum of publications on its electromagnetic and electrostatic counterparts. This paper presents a comprehensive review on the history and current state-of-the art of piezoelectric energy harvesting. A brief theory section presents the basic principles of piezoelectric energy conversion and introduces the most commonly used mechanical architectures. The theory section is followed by a literature survey on piezoelectric energy harvesters, which are classified into three groups: (i) macro- and mesoscale, (ii) MEMS scale, and (iii) nanoscale. The size of a piezoelectric energy harvester affects a variety of parameters such as its weight, fabrication method, achievable power output level, and potential application areas. Consequently, size-based classification provides a reliable and effective basis to study various piezoelectric energy harvesters. The literature survey on each scale group is concluded with a summary, potential application areas, and future directions. In a separate section, the most prominent challenges in piezoelectric energy harvesting and the studies focusing on these challenges are discussed. The conclusion part summarizes the current standing of piezoelectric energy harvesters as possible candidates for various applications and discusses the issues that need to be addressed for realization of practical piezoelectric energy harvesting devices.


One of the most important problem at present time is crisis of fatherhood, especially seen at careless of bringing up their own children by fathers. In connection with that appears a question about a sort and scope of education, that should be taken by fathers. Researching of proper methods, means and appropriate using them to realization of education of the children by father is nowadays particularly precious. It is necessary to find a source that included some educational indications. Such a source might be treated the Holy Bible. It has lots of texts about bringing up the children. One of these texts is Eph 6, 4. In the light of this text a father is particularly obliged to education of their own children. He should pay a special attention for proper methods of education, among them, especially teaching and discipline. Father should avoid any methods that may cause anger behaviour at their children. Using these methods helps to keeping order in a family life. This is why, these educational indications to father included in Eph 6, 4, seemed to be helpful at present time to get fathers more responsible for bringing up the children and also in this way to get this process more effective.


Five species of trees were measured in 12- to 27-year-old parking lots in north-central Florida, U.S. Tree species evaluated were Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.), live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.), shumard oak (Q. shumardii Britton), and laurel oak (Q. laurifolia Michx.). Tree growth in the parking lot planting zones was reduced as the surface area of nonpaved surface was reduced for all trees except live oak. Regression models yielded significant relationships with prediction value between parking lot detail space openings and tree size, measured by diameter at breast height or by canopy radius. Normalization of the data within the site allowed for multiple site analysis. A method for generating similar data is introduced for development of regionally species-specific growth reduction multipliers. Those multipliers can be used to better meet long-term canopy expectations or to advocate for larger planting zones.


It has been well documented that the role of school principals has become increasingly complex and demanding. In turn, newly appointed principals are faced with greater challenges and steeper learning curves as expectations and accountabilities continue to rise. This study took a mixed methods approach to examining the effectiveness of current preparation opportunities in the Victorian government sector, in Australia. A total of 744 principals completed a postal
 questionnaire, while nine principals were interviewed following a semi-structured format.
 Findings from each method converged, suggesting that extended shadowing was the most effective method to prepare principal aspirants for the role. Mentoring also rated as highly effective, although structures need to be in place to ensure this is a positive experience for both the mentor and mentee.
 The apprenticeship model of progressing through the roles of leading teacher and assistant principal proved to be a very effective pathway, and one most commonly used by aspirants. Performing the role of leading teacher was particularly useful in preparing for the human leadership element of the role, however an assistant principal role was the most effective of the two, providing strong growth in technical, human and cultural leadership. These three findings
 concur with previous research that adult learning in educational leadership needs to be real life problem solving and enquiry based, with opportunities for reflection. It also needs to have an element of theory that is strongly linked to practice.
 The support of an aspirant's own principal was also shown to be a pivotal element to
 preparation. In most cases this proved to be a very positive support, although perceived support from the Department of Education was a major concern for principals. In light of this the importance of school networks and collegiate networking was frequently highlighted.
 A total of 17 recommendations have been made to system level leaders, school principals and aspirants themselves, as well as recommendations for further study in this area.


Management tools such as strategic planning, benchmarking, pay-for-performance, outsourcing, customer segmentation, reengineering, balanced scorecard, and total quality management garner considerable attention in the popular management literature. Companies throughout the world spend millions of dollars each year implementing a dozen or so of these tools. This survey examines the usage of these tools over a seven-year period, assesses user satisfaction with the tools, and attempts to correlate tool usage with company performance. It identifies tools that have been consistently used over time as well as those that seem to have been passing fads.


This article explores the statutory interpretative practices and debates in recent competition law cases considered by the High Court. While these debates appear to centre on 'textual/literal' versus 'contextual/purposive' interpretative practices, further examination reveals that these theoretical differences do not adequately predict outcomes. Instead, these practices often mask undisclosed policy decisions that give preference to particular economic and political outcomes concerning the role of the state and the market over other desirable goals. This raises important practical and jurisprudential issues concerning legislative supremacy and judicial accountability, which have significance that extends beyond competition law adjudication.


Currently, there is a dispute on whether live fuel moisture content (FMC) should be accounted for when predicting a real-world fire-spread rate (RoS). The laboratory and field data results are conflicting: laboratory trials show a significant effect of live FMC on RoS, which has not been convincingly detected in the field. It has been suggested that the lack of influence of live FMC on RoS might arise from differences in the ignition of dead and live fuels: flammability trials using live leaves subjected to high heat fluxes (80–140 kW m−2) show that ignition occurs before all of the moisture is vaporized. We analyze evidence from recent studies, and hypothesize that differences in the ignition mechanisms between dead and live fuels do not preclude the use of overall fine FMC for attaining acceptable RoS predictions. We refer to a simple theory that consists of two connected hypotheses to explain why the effect of live FMC on field fires RoS has remained elusive so far: H1, live tree foliage FMC remains fairly constant over the year; and H2, the seasonal variation of live shrubs' FMC correlates with the average dead FMC. As a result, the effect of live FMC is not easily detected by statistical analysis.


The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in New Hampshire's Great Bay Estuary has declined in the past decades, with local populations reduced due primarily to disease, excessive siltation, and past over-harvest. The loss of filtering oysters results in diminished ecological benefits for water quality, nitrogen control, and other services that healthy oyster populations provide. In support of management objectives to restore oyster populations, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the University of New Hampshire (UNH) have combined for a fourth consecutive year of scaled-up methods to rebuild reefs and oyster populations. Since 2009, we have "planted" dried shell, primarily surf-clam and oyster mix, on channel bottom as a hard substrate foundation to recruit spawn from nearby native populations. Constructed areas are amended with laboratoryraised and volunteer-grown "spat-on-shell" from remotely set larvae to supplement recruitment. In 2012, despite limited funding, we successfully constructed and seeded two new acres of reef adjacent to native oysters in the mouth of Squamscott River, Newmarket. Results were somewhat below target for shell cover and live oyster density but natural recruitment was strong and encouraging for future reef development. Overall, we restored about a quarter of a million new oysters to the estuary. Community engagement, particularly through the volunteer Oyster Conservationist program, reached an all-time high with thirty-nine families participating in direct restoration activities and another twenty-three volunteers assisting in various project tasks.


Background: In the long term, smoking cessation can decrease the risk of cancer, stroke, and heart attacks and improve overall survival. This umbrella review aimed to assess the effect of pharmacological interventions on smoking cessation and to evaluate the methodological quality of previously conducted systematic reviews. Methods: Databases including the Cochrane library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar were used to retrieve reviews. Systematic reviews that included only randomized controlled trials designed to assess pharmacotherapeutic interventions supporting abstinence from smoking were considered in this umbrella review. The methodological quality of the included reviews was assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) tool, which contains 16 domains. Two authors (AM, AB) screened the titles and abstracts of all reviews obtained by the search strategy, assessed the full text of selected articles for inclusion and extracted data independently. Two authors (AM, AB) also performed a quality appraisal independently. The findings of the studies were narrated qualitatively to describe the evidence regarding the effectiveness of pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation.Results: Ten reviews were included in this umbrella review. Most of the reviews included in this review reported that Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), bupropion and varenicline and cytisine were effective for smoking cessation. The combination of a nicotine patch with other nicotine formulations was also more effective than monotherapy. Similarly, the combination of nicotine with the non-nicotine therapy varenicline was found to be more effective than varenicline alone. However, the opioid antagonist naltrexone alone was not found to be effective for smoking cessation nor in combination with nicotine replacement therapy. Based on the AMSTAR 2 rating, one review scored high quality, two scored moderate quality, four scored low quality, and three scored critically low quality.Conclusions: This review revealed that drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are effective for smoking cessation. A combination of nicotine patches with other nicotine formulations was also effective for smoking cessation compared to nicotine monotherapy. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO Registration: CRD42017080906


Measurements are reported that suggest partial discharge sources might be detected and located using amplitude-only free-space radiometric measurements. The measurements are made in two locations with similar measurement protocols by three collaborating research groups. One measurement set is more encouraging than the other but a likely explanation for the disparate nature of the results is offered. It is suggested that amplitude only measurements might form the basis of a low-cost wireless sensor network for monitoring partial discharge in electricity substation.


In 5 cases of leukaemia and in two other cases where a diagnosis of leukaemia was considered, no definitive classification was made by morphology, cytochemistry, patterns of surface markers and/or cytogenetics. Therefore, genotyping was performed by DNA analysis of leukaemic cells. Somatic rearrangements in leukaemic cell DNA of immunoglobulin and T cell receptor genes, and of the breakpoint cluster region on chromosome 22 involved in the Philadelphia chromosome translocation, proved to be useful DNA markers to confirm or refute particular types of leukaemia.


ABSTRACT Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and members of the interferon (IFN) family have been shown to independently inhibit the replication of a variety of viruses. In addition, previous reports have shown that treatment with various combinations of these antiviral cytokines induces a synergistic antiviral state that can be significantly more potent than addition of any of these cytokines alone. The mechanism of this cytokine synergy and its effects on global gene expression, however, are not well characterized. Here, we use DNA microarray analysis to demonstrate that treatment of uninfected primary human fibroblasts with TNF plus IFN-β induces a distinct synergistic state characterized by significant perturbations of several hundred genes which are coinduced by the individual cytokines alone, as well as the induction of more than 850 novel host cell genes. This synergy is mediated directly by the two ligands, not by intermediate secreted factors, and is necessary and sufficient to completely block the productive replication and spread of myxoma virus in human fibroblasts. In contrast, the replication of two other poxviruses, vaccinia virus and tanapox virus, are only partially inhibited in these cells by the synergistic antiviral state, whereas the spread of both of these viruses to neighboring cells was efficiently blocked. Taken together, our data indicate that the combination of TNF and IFN-β induces a novel synergistic antiviral state that is highly distinct from that induced by either cytokine alone.


Conformal prediction is a model-agnostic tool for constructing prediction sets that are valid under the common i.i.d. assumption, which has been applied to quantify the prediction uncertainty of deep net classifiers. In this paper, we generalize this framework to the case where adversaries exist during inference time, under which the i.i.d. assumption is grossly violated. By combining conformal prediction with randomized smoothing, our proposed method forms a prediction set with finite-sample coverage guarantee that holds for any data distribution with `2norm bounded adversarial noise, generated by any adversarial attack algorithm. The core idea is to bound the Lipschitz constant of the non-conformity score by smoothing it with Gaussian noise and leverage this knowledge to account for the effect of the unknown adversarial perturbation. We demonstrate the necessity of our method in the adversarial setting and the validity of our theoretical guarantee on three widely used benchmark data sets: CIFAR10, CIFAR100, and ImageNet.


We present a video co-segmentation method that uses category-independent object proposals as its basic element and can extract multiple foreground objects in a video set. The use of object elements overcomes limitations of low-level feature representations in separating complex foregrounds and backgrounds. We formulate object-based co-segmentation as a co-selection graph in which regions with foreground-like characteristics are favored while also accounting for intra-video and inter-video foreground coherence. To handle multiple foreground objects, we expand the co-selection graph model into a proposed multi-state selection graph model (MSG) that optimizes the segmentations of different objects jointly. This extension into the MSG can be applied not only to our co-selection graph, but also can be used to turn any standard graph model into a multi-state selection solution that can be optimized directly by the existing energy minimization techniques. Our experiments show that our object-based multiple foreground video co-segmentation method (ObMiC) compares well to related techniques on both single and multiple foreground cases.


Albion, Vol 30, No 4 "A straightforward account of the development of Britain"s nuclear capability that usefully summarizes the main themes covered in the literature. As a former military officer he writes clearly and systematically and has a sense of the meaning of some of the issues from inside government." Military Review, Mar/Apr 1999 "As a history of Britain"s nuclear program, Paterson contribution clearly ensures him a place on the shelf among serious works of strategic scholarship." Contemporary British History, Vol 11, No 4, Winter 97 Paterson"s book is an extremely useful addition to the literature. Its main virtue - and it is a considerable one - is that Paterson has an ability to communicate complex technological issues clearly and simply." International Affairs, Vol 74, No 1, Jan 98 "The historical overview of British nuclear policy is succenct and clearly written and the author provides a useful outline of the context for a contemporary debate." Air Power History, Vol 47, No 1, Jan 2000 "For those interested in the complexities of formulating strategic and procurement decisions, this is an excellent book.


In this master's thesis we present the development of the methodology for the analysis of insurance data. Due to the fact that insurance data are presented temporally and spatially, a special approach is necessary for the development of the methodology. For this purpose we use approaches of spatio-temporal data mining, which enable us the appropriate treatment of temporal and spatial attributes.
When analysing data we limit ourselves on the data of personal insurance. Into the treatment we capture data on reports of the loss events in the field of accidents and diseases. Insurance data are linked to the data on weather conditions on the day of the report of the claim of compensation. By this linkage we wish to use the thesis on the influence of the weather on the accidents. We hope that in this way we shall predict the number of the claims of compensation and the average amount of the disbursed claims of compensation more easily.
Firstly, we deal with the solving of the classification problem. We use some of the basic classification algorithms, but the level of successfulness of predicting in case of all algorithms proves to be extremely low. Due to the fact that the problems are by nature regression, we try to solve the regression problem too. Even regression algorithms do not offer much better results. We check the adequacy of training set time window. We get the confirmation that the time windows is selected appropriately with respect to the data. Furthermore, we check if the instances deal with the appropriate time scale. We come to the conclusion that the time scale is selected appropriately. We try to localize the problem: we divide the data. In different cases of the cut of Slovenia we come to the ascertainment that the estimate of the prediction for each of the local areas is worse than for the entire Slovenia.
The set methodology proves to be partially useful. It can be used for predicting the number of accidents. By means of diagnostics we receive the confirmation that the failure is due to the smallness of the multitude of treated events. We give proposals regarding the possibility of improvements. We hope that the usefulness of the set methodology will become evident in the future.
For the needs of the master's thesis we also prepare the maps for following the accidents and diseases in Slovenia through time. On the basis of the maps we ascertain the trends for the future. We identify the most important factors, responsible for the emergence of the accidents. At the end we perform the analysis of the influence of the altitude for the emergence of the accidents.


During several decades, considerable attention has been paid to speaking assessment procedures. Probably, the reason for this relevance lies in the difficulties in dealing with oral assessment and in determining the adequate type of assessment (Campbell et al., 2001; Stoynoff, 2013; Schwartz & Arena, 2013).The main aim of this article is to analyze to what extent students' oral competences (such as their English competence and fluency) affect their peers'English oral production. More precisely, we intend to study effective procedures to assess oral production in ESP contexts.In order to assess our students, we have designed a speaking-based rubric as the main instrument (called 'Speaking Diagnostic Test'), based on previous research (Wilson, 2006; Spandel, 2006).The results obtained from both questionnaires will help us identify to what extent students' preferences in working with other classmates influence their English oral production and therefore to what extent these results could lead to the reformulation and modification of the assessment methods.


Abstract Background Native Hawaiians have higher hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates than non-Hispanic whites, calling for culturally responsive interventions to close this gap. Purpose We tested the effects of a 6-month behavioral intervention, a cultural dance program based on hula (the customary dance of Hawai'i), for improving blood pressure (BP) and CVD risk among Native Hawaiians with uncontrolled HTN. Methods In a randomized controlled trial, we tested the effects of the hula-based intervention among 263 Native Hawaiians with uncontrolled HTN (systolic ≥ 140 or ≥ 130 mmHg if diabetes) and no CVD at enrollment. All participants received a brief culturally tailored heart health education before random assignment to the hula-based intervention (n = 131) or the education-only waitlist control (n = 132). Intervention received hula lessons and group-based activities for 6 months. Control received only 1-week education through 6 months. Results Intervention yielded greater reductions in systolic (−15.3 mmHg) and diastolic (−6.4 mmHg) BP than control (−11.8 and −2.6 mmHg, respectively) from baseline to 6 months (p < .05). At 6 months, 43% of intervention participants compared to 21% of controls achieved a HTN stage <130/80 mmHg (p < .001). The 10-year CVD risk reduction was two times greater for the intervention group than the control group based on the Framingham Risk Score calculator. All improvements for intervention participants were maintained at 12 months. Conclusions This trial represents one of the few rigorously conducted examinations of an Indigenous practice leveraged for health promotion, with implications for other ethnic populations.


Background:
Complex lower extremity trauma can result in devastating outcomes including amputation and poor quality of life. Limb salvage can be achieved with the use of local flaps like muscle flaps such as the gastrocnemius or soleus flaps, which detach muscles in order to use them for local coverage.  Fasciocutaneous flaps such as reverse sural and propeller flaps are other examples of local flaps which utilize overlying soft tissue for local rearrangement.  Patient-reported outcome (PRO) studies have not been reported for local flaps. Additionally, the potential for functional deficits as a result of muscle flaps in comparison to fasciocutaneous flaps has not been investigated.

Methods:
Local flap coverage for lower extremity traumas between 2014-2019 were reviewed. 248 local flaps were performed for lower extremity salvage following trauma. PROs were recorded utilizing both the Lower Extremity Functional scale (LEFS) and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).

Results:
Surveys were completed by 37 patients (response rate 18.3%, mean follow-up time 3.16 years, average age 49.72 years old). The average LEFS score was 42.09 ± 14.18, and the average physical functioning score was 43.03 ± 21.54. LEFS score and SF-36 physical functioning scores were significantly lower in patients who underwent muscle flaps compared to fasciocutaneous flaps (p=0.021 and p=0.022 respectively).

Conclusions and Impact:
Patients undergoing local flaps for lower extremity reconstruction have low quality of life scores. Patients who underwent fasciocutaneous flaps had significantly higher quality of life scores compared to muscle flap patients suggesting that fasciocutaneous flaps may cause less functional deficit in salvage operations.


Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) R5 isolates that predominantly use CCR5 as a coreceptor are frequently described as macrophage tropic. Here, we compare macrophage tropism conferred by HIV-1 R5 envelopes that were derived directly by PCR from patient tissue. This approach avoids potentially selective culture protocols used in virus isolation. Envelopes were amplified (i) from blood and semen of adult patients and (ii) from plasma of pediatric patients. The phenotypes of these envelopes were compared to those conferred by an extended panel of envelopes derived from brain and lymph node that we reported previously. Our results show that R5 envelopes vary by up to 1,000-fold in their capacity to confer infection of primary macrophages. Highly macrophage-tropic envelopes were predominate in brain but were infrequent in semen, blood, and lymph node samples. We also confirmed that the presence of N283 in the C2 CD4 binding site of gp120 is associated with HIV-1 envelopes from the brain but absent from macrophage-tropic envelopes amplified from blood and semen. Finally, we compared infection of macrophages, CD4 (cid:1) T cells, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) conferred by macrophage-tropic and non-macrophage-tropic envelopes in the context of full-length replication competent viral clones. Non-macrophage-tropic envelopes conferred low-level infection of macrophages yet infected CD4 (cid:1) T cells and PBMCs as efficiently as highly macrophage-tropic brain envelopes. The lack of macrophage tropism for the majority of the envelopes amplified from lymph node, blood, and semen is striking and contrasts with the current consensus that R5 primary isolates are generally macrophage tropic. The extensive variation in R5 tropism reported here is likely to have an important impact on pathogenesis and on the capacity of HIV-1 to transmit.


We synthesized and characterized a series of oligo(phenyl-amide-triazole)s that can fold into a helical conformation guided by halide ions. Their binding models and affinities are highly dependent on the length of the foldamer, media and the inducing capability of halide ions. The short foldamer with one helical turn shows a 1:1 binding stoichiometry to all halides, while the longer foldamer with two or three helical turns in principle can form 1:2 complexes with chloride anions even bromide anions with an enhancement on binding affinities. A result of quantitative NOE calculations imply that the longer foldamer should increase its helical pitch so as to release the electrostatic repulsion between halide ions.


In this study, 24 temporal bones with an age range from neonates to 23-month-old infants were serially sectioned and studied for the spread and fate of amniotic fluid cellular content (AFCC) in the middle ear and mastoid. Most children had had either a moderate or massive contamination. AFCC clusters were found to spread to all compartments, with the sites of predilection being the stapes region, the lower lateral attic and the tympanic isthmus. AFCC created an intensive foreign body giant cell reaction and the foreign material practically dissolved in 5 months as a result of the organization process. Tiny remnants of AFCC appeared as late as 15 months after birth. It seems likely that AFCC contamination predisposes the ears to recurring otitis media. The sequalae of the massive granulation tissue development involves obliteration of Prussak's space and its aeration routes, as well as blockage of the tympanic isthmus, leading to extensive disease in the major attic compartments.


OBJECTIVES
Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) have been associated with improvements in antibiotic utilization and patient outcomes; however, ASP studies originating from non-freestanding children's hospitals are lacking. In this study, we present the implementation and impact of a multidisciplinary ASP that employs a collaborative physician and pharmacist driven thrice-weekly prospective audit-with-feedback approach at a non-freestanding children's hospital.

METHODS
Implementation was assessed via descriptive design. Pediatric inpatients maintained on predefined targeted antibiotics of interest for 48 to 72 hours preceding ASP review were eligible for inclusion. Outcomes evaluated included ASP recommendation and provider acceptance rates (overall and by antibiotic and provider specialty). Impact was examined using an interrupted time series design (with a preimplementation period of August 1, 2013, to July 31, 2014 and postimplementation period of December 1, 2014 to May 31, 2016). Eligibility included all targeted antibiotic usage among pediatric inpatients, with a control group comprising those who received antibiotics requiring preauthorization. Outcomes analyzed included days of antibiotic therapy per 1000 patient days (DOT/1000 PD) and 30-day hospital readmission rates over time.

RESULTS
Postimplementation, 882 antibiotic reviews were performed on 637 patients, with 327 recommendations generated. Reviews of patients maintained on vancomycin and clindamycin, and of those under care of intensivist and hospitalist physicians, were most likely to prompt recommendations. A mean targeted antibiotic usage decrease of 24.8 DOT/1000 PD (95% confidence interval, -62 to 14) was observed postimplementation, with no change in 30-day readmissions (0.64% during both periods).

CONCLUSIONS
ASP implementation at a non-freestanding children's hospital was feasible and allowed for identification of areas for targeted quality improvement, while demonstrating modest antibiotic use reduction without adversely impacting patient care.


Irony, inclusiveness, and complexity are the chief criteria of value in the twentieth century intellectual poetry. These criteria, however, do not merely indicate qualities of craftsmanship; they reflect a sensibility, a particular way of experiencing reality. What really distinguishes Dylan Thomas is a capacity for self-analysis, a capacity for objectifying, and subjecting to analytical scrutiny, one's own experiences and feelings. The searching self-exploration that links Thomas with W.H. Auden is more evident in 25 Poems than in his 18 Poems , and in 25 Poems the readers are priviledged to watch his own mental processes. What happens in 18 Poems is that the poet's mind operates simultaneously at two levels, and the readers can witness a co-operation and coalescence of emotion and ratiocination. In 25 Poems, the heart is involved in experience and suffers, while an alert intelligence, conscious of itself, analyses and weighs the experience. The result is inclusiveness arising out of a recognition of the complexity of experience, of the pressure of the total context upon a particular situation or mental state. Thomas's 18 Poems has this quality of paradox in varying degrees, and it shows the juxtaposition and integration of opposed attitudes enriching the poetic texture. The most equal emphases on erotic love and creative quest in 18 Poems present one kind of inclusiveness.  In 25 Poems , the apparently disorganized flow of thought resembles the stream-of-consciousness technique, but the presence of an alert mind weighing different approaches and directing the journey of life is obvious. His interest in Day Lewis, Spender, and MacNeice is equally indicative of his love of contrasts, of chiaroscuro effects, and is not to be confused with Auden's interest in characterization. Thomas's early poetry is an imago of paradox, "a home" of "comfort" and faith "the neighbour's strongest wish, to serve and love…" in which "no one but myself is loved".


In this work, the degradation of Rhodamine B by hydrogen peroxide under microwave irradiation is studied and the optimum conditions are designed by single factor experiment. The UV-VIS spectral changes of RhB solution is detected under the optimum conditions. The results indicate that microwave induction can efficiently improve the oxidative degradation of RhB by hydrogen peroxide in alkaline solution, espcially the dye has the best photodegradation efficiency more than 99% when the concentration of RhB was 300mg/l and the pH of solution was 12 after irradiated for 10min, It is better than RhB under visible irradiation in alkaline environment with hydrogen peroxide. The solution initial pH has no effect on the temporal absorption spectral of RhB. The process of reaction conforms to the first-order kinetic equation.


The thesis focuses on the archaeobotanical study (micro-remains: pollen and ferns spores,
macro-remains: seeds, fruits, woods and charcoals) of six sites located in the city of Venice and
two in the surrounding lagoon. The eight sites were investigated starting from 2000 under the
direction of the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici del Veneto-NAUSICAA and are mostly
of Medieval age, with some occupation phases in the pre-Roman age, the Roman period, the
Renaissance and the post-Renaissance age.
The present work represents the first systematic archaeobotanical study which was ever carried
out in the town of Venice. All the phases of the analysis have been undertaken according to the
current international standards. As a whole, the analysis has involved the study of 106 pollen
samples, 9 seeds/fruits and wood/charcoal samples obtained by sieving and 59 wooden artefacts.
The samples come from the following sites: A) City of Venice (74 samples): 1) Piazza San
Marco: 17 pollen samples (8 of Medieval age and 9 of the Renaissance period); 2) Ca
Vendramin Calergi- Casino Municipale: 12 pollen samples (8 of Medieval age and 4 of the
Renaissance period); 3) Ca Foscari: 12 pollen samples (10 of the Late Roman Age and 5 of
Medieval age); 4) Palazzo Carminati: 10 pollen samples (all of which of Medieval age); 5)
Palazzo Genovese: 12 pollen samples (8 of the Late Roman Age, 3 of Medieval age and 1 of the
Renaissance period); 6) Arsenale: 8 pollen samples (4 of Medieval age, 2 of the Renaissance
period and 2 of an uncertain chronology); B) North-eastern lagoon (32 samples): 7) Ca
Ballarin: 10 pollen samples (3 pre-Roman, 5 Roman, 2 Late Roman Age) and 8) Lazzaretto
vecchio: 22 pollen samples (7 Medieval period, 11 Renaissance, 4 post-Renaissance).
All the samples have undergone the routine treatments. The preservation state of most finds
(pollens, seeds/fruits, woods/charcoals) is good/excellent. The list of plants is very rich: 375 taxa
have been identified, ca. 90 of which belong to wooden plants; 230 are herbs and 15 pteridophytes. The
archaeobotanical data obtained have allowed the evolution of the vegetal and cultural landscape
of Venice to be reconstructed from the origin to the Modern period: in the pre-Roman period the
area is scantly populated; a wide lagoon is present with some large sandbanks and areas covered
with meso-hygrophilous oakwoods and hygrophilous alder forests. During the Roman age the
anthropic pressure becomes intense, with wood felling and a substantial increase in agricultural
activities; in the Late Roman period the area appears more forested and dominated by extensive
oakwoods and hygrophilous forests with a decrease of anthropic activities. In the Medieval age
the landscape goes through further changes: it becomes more open, wooden free, with a high
anthropic pressure and a good economy (commercial trade, a rich and varied diet, etc.) as it is
testified by the presence of numerous botanical finds and exotic species. This trend will continue
in the Renaissance period until the beginning of the Modern age, with several finds which give
evidence of the refined tastes and the richness of the Venice society.


Several studies have been carried out to find an appropriate method to classify the remote sensing data. Traditional classification approaches are all pixel-based, and do not utilize the spatial information within an object which is an important source of information to image classification. Thus, this study compared the pixel based and object based classification algorithms using RapidEye satellite image of Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos. In the object-oriented approach, the image was segmented to homogenous area by suitable parameters such as scale parameter, compactness, shape etc. Classification based on segments was done by a nearest neighbour classifier. In the pixel-based classification, the spectral angle mapper was used to classify the images. The user accuracy for each class using object based classification were 98.31% for waterbody, 92.31% for vegetation, 86.67% for bare soil and 90.57% for Built up while the user accuracy for the pixel based classification were 98.28% for waterbody, 84.06% for Vegetation 86.36% and 79.41% for Built up. These classification techniques were subjected to accuracy assessment and the overall accuracy of the Object based classification was 94.47%, while that of Pixel based classification yielded 86.64%. The result of classification and accuracy assessment show that the object-based approach gave more accurate and satisfying results


A promising strategy to slow down aging and to prevent or delay the onset of age-related diseases is that of repeated mild stress-induced hormesis. Any condition that causes low level damage in cells and leads to the activation of one or more stress response defence pathways is a potential hormetin. Physical, nutritional and mental hormetins initiate cellular stress responses and strengthen the homeodynamic space that determines the health and survival of an individual. Exercise, heat and irradiation are examples of physical hormetins, which activate heat shock-, DNA repair- and anti-oxidative-responses. Several non-nutritional chemical components in the food, such as flavonoids and polyphenols present in spices, herbs and other sources, are examples of nutritional hormetins, which induce anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory stress responses. Calorie restriction and intermittent fasting are also hormetins, which activate the autophagic and sirtuin-mediated stress responses. Intense brain activity and focussed attention comprise mental hormetins, which also induce various stress responses. A successful strategy for discovering novel hormetins involves elucidating multiple stress responses of normal cells in culture. This requires establishing immediate and delayed stress response profiles, followed by cell type-specific functional assays, after exposure to natural or synthetic compounds and mixtures. A combination of physical and nutritional hormetins, combined with mental hormetins, can be the drugs for maintaining, improving and recovering health during aging.


Skills are increasingly identified by policy makers as a central means to address social and economic challenges at national and supranational levels. The present study looks specifically at the Greek economy and explores the determinants, nature and extent of skills development in Greek manufacturing SMEs, notably in the textile sector.

The research involved three main stages. First, interviews were conducted with high-ranked industrial policy makers in Greece to gain an understanding of the key problems facing Greek manufacturing industry, and to identity the policy
measures introduced to promote skills upgrading and industrial competitiveness. The policy agenda was then interrogated `in practice', through complimentary
survey and case study research of textile SMEs.

The study argues that current policy intervention neglects the workplace and production context in which skills are created and mobilised, which acts to impede the policy agenda of a viable skills strategy. The study reveals that a
narrow skills supply strategy is adopted by the Greek government and policy action is based on simple targets for the accumulation of human capital. It is strongly believed by decision makers that publicly-funded boosts to stocks of
qualifications will push the Greek economy onto a new, higher skilled, higher value added pathway. Yet, the demand for skills, which appears to be the real problem, is not considered. The research shows that the vast majority of textile employers do not demand a highly-skilled workforce and that formal HRD interventions are not their preferred method of skills development. In contrast, informal learning activities seem to serve as the key vehicle to help Greek SMEs meet their skill needs. This suggests a new agenda for policy intervention.

What is being contested in the present study is the tendency by Greek policy makers to depict skills as a panacea for a range of social and economic ills. As
such, there is an immediate need for a more open debate about what skills can contribute as part of wider strategies to help improve the economic performance
of Greece and the competitiveness of SMEs specifically.

VET has a role to play, but its nature, scope and relationship with other policies needs a lot more thought. Greek policy makers need to construct a more sophisticated and integrated approach to developing social and economic policies wherein skills play a part rather than carry the entire weight of policy.


In his article "Defending Hard Incompatibilism," Derk Pereboom presents an argument against the compatibility of libertarianism and moral responsibility. In my paper, I first symbolize his argument and present Pereboom's support of his premises. In short, Pereboom claims that in order for libertarians to claim that moral responsibility is plausible, they must adhere libertarianism of the agent causal sort. He then presents a case, in which he contends that agent causation is shown to be no different than event causation, which leads to the denial of the plausibility of moral responsibility. Secondly, I present a case of my own which shows that the fourth premise of Pereboom's argument is false, and thus allows a libertarian to avoid denying moral responsibility. Next, I present a response to a possible counter argument from Pereboom, or by a proponent of his theory. Finally, I present a practical reason why the compatibility of libertarianism and moral responsibility is a philosophical position worth upholding.


Problem statement: Gram-negative pathogens harboring ESBLs have caused numerous outbreaks of infections and are becoming an increasing therapeutic problem in many countries. The incidence of ESBL-producing strains among clinical isolates has been steadily increasing over the past years resulting in limitations of therapeutic option. The focus of this study was to examine the molecular epidemiology of ESBL-producing Klebsiella spp, investigate the susceptibility of Klebsiellae spp producing ESBLs towards non-beta-lactam antibiotics in the different seasons, identify the various clonal types of ESBL-producing K.pneumoniae and detect the dominant ESBL clonal types. Approach: Clinical isolates of Klebsiella spp were identified during the period March 2007- April 2008. ESBLs production identified by phenotypic and genotypic methods. MLST was performed for dissemination of ESBLs producing K. pneumoniae. Results: The findings showed that 51.6% of K.pneumoniae were produces ESBLs. 35.8, 21.2 and 38.7% of K. pneumoniae producing ESBLs were resistant to amikacin, ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazol, respectively. It was found that 40 and 27.3% of K.oxytoca producing ESBLs were resistant to cotrimoxazol and amikacin, respectively. The findings reflected that ESBLs existed in 73% of K. oxytoca. The results showed that the frequency of blaSHV, blaTEM and blaCTX-M due to K.pneumoniae producing ESBLs were 87.5, 12.4 and 24.8%, respectively. Of the eleven K. oxytoca producing ESBLs, 100% blaSHV were obtained. Based on the nucleotide variations of the five genetic loci, twenty-five different STs could be identified among thirty K.pneumoniae producing ESBLs isolates. Among the STs shared by multiple isolates, the most frequently encountered were 14, 16 and ST18. Conclusion: In conclusion, the percentage of K.oxytoca producing ESBLs was higher than K.pneumoniae producing ESBLs. Generally, K.penomoniae produces more ESBLs in winter and fall than in the other seasons.


The mixing effect in steel converter process is very important to the fluid flow and mass transfer in bath and directly affects the chemical reaction and temperature homogeneity in the industry steel process. The cold model was employed to research the relationship of mixing time, agitation power, lance type, operation parameters, bath shape et al. According to the results, the mixing time of the bath decreases with larger gas flow rate and bigger diameter of the bath. Increasing the nozzle inclination properly is benefit for decreasing the mixing time and improving the agitation of the bath. The relationship of mixing time and lance height is complicated, because the mixing time is fluctuant by the lance rising. By introduce the relative energy utilization factor, the agitation power utilization was analyzed and compared under different conditions. The energy efficiency is higher with larger nozzle inclination as well as the bigger ratio of diameter and depth of the bath.


The relevance of the article is due to the fact that the functioning of labour markets in theRepublic of Moldova and Ukraine is facing a number of serious problems. Among them, the most acuteare the problem of inefficient employment, the widespread informal employment, and the imperfect wagesystem. The aim of the research is to analyze the challenges and risks in the labour sphere of Moldova andUkraine, to identify commonalities and differences in the process of transforming the labour markets ofboth countries, and to develop proposals for resolving the most acute problems. Information base of theresearch is represented by data of national statistics, international databases, legislative and normativeacts. The authors are using the following methods: monographic, statistical, analogue based, andcomparison based ones. They proposes various measures to bring the minimum wage to Europeanstandards, reduce the level of informal employment, and improve the system of social protection of theunemployed.


143 Transient currents in the staircase voltammetry of electro-catalytic reaction on the rotating disk electrode Milivoj Lovrić Divkovićeva 13, Zagreb 10090, Croatia email@example.com Abstract The method of variable diffusion layer thickness is applied in the calculation of staircase voltammetry of electrocatalytic reactions on the rotating disk electrode. It is shown that voltammograms exhibit either maximum or limiting current, but rarely both. This is because the potential range within which a certain reaction is recorded is limited and must be scanned rather slowly to allow the diffusion layer to extend to the steady state limit. If the scan rate is high, this condition is not satisfied and the response is recorded under transient conditions. The relationship between current maxima and the experimental conditions are analysed theoretically.


Leopards, though broadly distributed, are highly variable in terms of their ecology. Recently, the Soutpansberg Mountains were identified as supporting one of the highest leopard populations in a non-protected area in Africa. This study aims to understand how these mountains can support such a high density of leopards, thus aiding in identifying the conservation potential of this environment and the species in it. Using a combination of camera trap and scat data collected over two years, research into leopard occupancy, diet and activity was conducted. This research represents the first of its kind to use this combination to investigate these factors in the Soutpansberg.

The occupancy analysis proved inconclusive in determining which variables influence the occupancy of leopards. It was found that camera trap data can be split into almost any number of sessions (groupings of trap days), which is a valuable finding as no previous study has provided evidence to support their choice of session number.

Leopards consumed 22 species of various sizes, with Artiodactyla species like bushbuck and bushpig contributing most to their diet. No livestock were found in the scats, indicating that leopards are preying on livestock at lower levels than landowners perceive. Some species, such as red duiker and common warthog, were consumed less than expected by leopards based on their availability.

Activity patterns indicate that leopards are active throughout the day and night, but their diet suggests they may hunt nocturnally as their most commonly consumed prey are active during this time. Evidence of temporal partitioning between leopards and their prey provides viable explanations for prey selection.

This study provides knowledge of elements, such as availability of prey and temporal overlap with prey, which make this environment suitable for a high density of leopards. The knowledge gained through this study of the ecology and behaviour of the Soutpansberg's top predator in relation to its prey should be valuable in future conservation planning there and in similar montane environments.


The variations in the arteries have been drawing attention of anatomists for a long time because of their clinical significance. The brachial artery is the principal artery of the arm which is the continuation of the axillary artery from the lower border of the Teres Major. It terminates into the radial and ulnar arteries below the elbow joint at the neck radius. The present study aims at exploring the clinical significance of the high termination of the brachial artery. During the routine cadaveric dissection of the arm, for the undergraduate students of medicine at our university, we observed a high bifurcation of the radial and the ulnar artery at the midshaft of the humerus. The median nerve was seen passing between these two junctions. Further, the course and the relations of this artery were studied. The accurate knowledge regarding these kinds of variation in the blood vessels is mandatory for planning of designing. General physicians, surgeons and radiologists should keep in mind the variations in the branching pattern of the arteries in their daily medical, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to avoid complications in diagnostic and surgical procedures. Keywords—Brachial artery, high termination, radial artery, ulnar artery.