The author is director of the Montana EPSCoR program and professor of Plant Pathology at Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. Federal funds for research are presently targeted for reduction. At the same time, the U.S. scientific community is viewed as detached from the people who pay its bills—Congress, state legislators, and, ultimately, the public. These facts make it apparent that scientists need to more directly involve people at all levels of public leadership in the scientific enterprise. The attitude that "someone else will do it" will no longer suffice. If the enterprise is to remain strong, new methods of acquiring public support for science are needed. A little-recognized program called EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research), begun by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 1980, has devised a model that may work for the entire country. The program had its beginnings in Congress's realization that 18 states (some of the nation's poorest) and Puerto Rico receive only about 4% of the annual federal R&D investment but have nearly 20% of the U.S. population. (The states are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.) EPSCoR was created to increase the competitive research base, build the scientific infrastructure, and improve the technology enterprise in those states. Each NSF dollar allocated is given on a competitive peer- or merit-reviewed basis and requires a matching state or private dollar. Because of the way EPSCoR is organized, including the matching fund requirement, public support for the program seems to flourish. State legislators are regularly advised of EPSCoR's progress in their state, and EPSCoR representatives, individually and as a group, hold regular scientific update meetings with federal Congresspeople and legislative assistants. Also, because of the federal-state partnership in the funding process, governors, legislators, company representatives, and state EPSCoR committees ensure that some of the science being done is connected with state and community needs and that the remainder meets longer term goals. Those needs are generally synonymous with national needs, such as increased numbers of high-tech jobs, greater access by students to better education and research experiences, and technological diversification away from a traditional reliance on natural resources and extractive industries. In addition to periodic external panel reviews of EPSCoR projects by experts in relevant disciplines, assessment is done by independent organizations such as the COSMOS Corporation of Bethesda, Maryland, and the AAAS; Quantum Research Corporation (also of Bethesda) gathers quantitative information on the programs of each state. Fundamental scientific discoveries have been made under the auspices of EPSCoR projects. Those discoveries are serving the needs of the states, and some have had national and international impacts. Specific examples are Maw Kuen Wu's participation in the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity while at the University of Alabama and Jack Horner's remarkable discoveries at Montana State University concerning dinosaur behavior, which helped inspire the story of Jurassic Park and promote a local dinosaur tourism industry. Overall, EPSCoR has had a nationwide impact by increasing the competitiveness of scientists. This is seen most clearly in the fact that since the program's inception, the EPSCoR states have doubled their share of NSF funding (not including the funds that NSF specifically allocates to support EPSCoR). Each of the seven major federal agencies that grant funds for research (the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, and NSF) has now established its own EPSCoR program (although some are more committed than others). The people involved in EPSCoR seem to have devised a system that is well organized and has strong momentum. Its success is the result of a simple formula: research whose value can be justified to the public, carried out by researchers and organizations that take the time to keep the public informed and involved. Our nation's scientists need to convince all sectors of the public of the importance of basic research. EPSCoR's successes can teach some important lessons about how to do so.


Current jet cutting systems experience severe nozzle erosion and associated maintenance and downtime costs. An experimental investigation was conducted to qualitatively and quantitatively analyse the generation of cavitation in a high pressure water jet cutting system, and to characterise cavitation induced accelerated surface erosion by slurries. The analysis of surface morphology indicates that the shearing induced by cavitation played a major role in the erosion process. The results promise a feasible solution to reduce nozzle wear, and to enhance material removal in the jet cutting process.


This study investigated the effectiveness of Tooki extract (Angelica sinensis) to enhance the skin penetration of alkannin/shikonin enantiomers (A/S). An 0.1 % suspension of A/S was compounded with or without different concentrations of Tooki extract and used in skin penetration studies in a Franz cell apparatus at 32°C and a 500-rpm stirring rate. Fresh full-thickness skin from the abdominal region of Wistar rats was used as the penetration barrier. Addition of Tooki extract at concentrations of 0.25 %, 0.5 %, and 1 % significantly increased the penetration rate of A/S by 1.62, 1.83, and 2.33 fold, respectively. Tooki extract also decreased penetration lag times. Enhancement of the A/S penetration rate was decreased penetration lag times. Enhancement of the A/S penetration rate was correlated with reduced rigidity of lipid matrices in the stratum corneum and enlarged hair follicles. Skin irritation studies in rabbits demonstrated that Tooki extract did not produce gross skin irritation with a primary irritation index of 0, and showed only slight dermal inflammatory effects upon histopathological examination.


We use a semiclassical approximation to derive the partition function for an arbitrary potential in one-dimensional Quantum Statistical Mechanics, which we view as an example of finite temperature scalar Field Theory at a point. We rely on Catastrophe Theory to analyze the pattern of extrema of the corresponding path-integral. We exhibit the propagator in the background of the different extrema and use it to compute the fluctuation determinant and to develop a (nonperturbative) semiclassical expansion which allows for the calculation of correlation functions. We discuss the examples of the single and double-well quartic anharmonic oscillators, and the implications of our results for higher dimensions.


ABSTRACT: Rice bran is a by-product of the rice milling process and contains 10–25% oil depending on rice variety, milling procedure, and other agro-climatic factors. To supplement the dwindling fossil fuel reservoirs and reduce environmental pollution, there is need to investigate rice bran oil for use as a bio-diesel. Rice bran was sourced from small scale rice millers in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, chemically processed to biodiesel which was used then used in a diesel engine to determine its performance. The engine performance was studied using a single cylinder four stroke engine and EA10 Dynamometer using diesel as a control and biodiesel blends of 5:95, 10:90, 15:95,20:80, 25:75, and 30:70 biodiesel to diesel respectively. It was observed that the engine speed decreased with increase in load for all the fuels. Brake power increased with increase in the percentage of biodiesel in the blend. The average brake power for B5 was 2.636KW while that of B30 was 2.682KW. The average BSFC increased by 47% when using biodiesel B100. However this reduced to 13.2% when using a blended ratio of 5:95. Thermal efficiency was the same for biodiesel, diesel and blends meaning the engine was converting the chemical energy to mechanical energy with the same efficiency for all the fuel types. This study revealed that bio-diesel from rice processing gave similar characteristics as diesel and that it is readily available and can thus be used as a fossil fuel subsidy. It will go a long way in poverty reduction in line with the millennium development goals.


Grid-connected transformerless photovoltaic (PV) inverters (TPVIs) are increasingly dominating the market due to their higher efficiency, lower cost, lighter weight, and reduced size when compared to their transformer based counterparts. However, due to the lack of galvanic isolation in the low voltage grid interconnections of these inverters, the PV systems become vulnerable to leakage currents flowing through the grounded star point of the distribution transformer, the earth, and the distributed parasitic capacitance of the PV modules. These leakage currents are prohibitive, since they constitute an issue for safety, reliability, protection coordination, electromagnetic compatibility, and module lifetime. This paper investigates a wide range of multi-kW range power rating TPVI topologies and classifies them in terms of their leakage current attributes. This systematic classification places most topologies under a small number of classes with basic leakage current attributes. Thus, understanding and evaluating these topologies becomes an easy task. In addition, based on these observations, new topologies with reduced leakage current characteristics are proposed in this paper. Furthermore, the important efficiency and cost determining characteristics of converters are studied to allow design engineers to include cost and efficiency as deciding factors in selecting a converter topology for PV applications.


Next generation database systems will need to support both textual data and other types of multimedia data. These two types of data differ in their organization and management. Multimedia data comprises static media like text and images, that do not vary with time, and dynamic or continuous media like audio and video, that varies with time and requires a guaranteed transfer rate. Conventional database systems are designed for managing textual and numerical data, and retrieving such data is often based on simple comparisons of text/numerical values. However, this simple method of retrieval is longer adequate for the multimedia data, since the digitized representation of images, video, or data itself does not convey the reality of these media items. Multimedia data has certain characteristics that complicate their storage in conventional databases or file systems. First, multimedia data tends to be voluminous. Second, continuous media data, such as video and audio have timing characteristics associated with them. The proposed method is to store multimedia objects in a relational database, which offers several advantages over file system storage, like secure back up, concurrent login, and faster retrieval. The paper shows how database systems can be architected to support multimedia data, making use of a relational database system such as MySQL and the application of real time video streaming in delivering such data. Based on the user query, the retrieved audio/video data is streamed over the Web using Real System G2 which provides high quality audio and video at all bit rates and even under lossy network conditions.


Abstract A field trial was conducted for 3 yr (2005 through 2007) near Scottsbluff, NE, to examine weed control, crop safety, forage production, and economics of glyphosate-tolerant and conventional alfalfa establishment systems. Glyphosate applied to alfalfa at the unifoliate growth stage provided 67% weed control and was similar to imazamox applied at the two-trifoliate leaf stage. Delaying glyphosate application until alfalfa had reached the two-trifoliate growth stage improved weed control to 83%, and weed control was similar to imazamox plus 2,4-DB and imazethapyr plus 2,4-DB. Imazamox and imazethapyr caused minor crop injury, and the addition of bromoxynil or 2,4-DB to both herbicides further decreased crop safety. Weeds were most competitive with the first forage harvest and reduced relative feed value, crude protein, and value (dollars per t) of forage compared to forage that had been treated with herbicides. The total forage yield for the season consisted of three forage harvests and was greatest when no herbicides were applied. The total forage yield of plots treated with glyphosate at the two-trifoliate growth stage was greater than that of plots treated with imazamox or imazethapyr in combination with bromoxynil. When glyphosate was applied at the two-trifoliate growth stage, seasonal forage yield was similar to forage treated with imazamox, imazethapyr, or both herbicides in combination with 2,4-DB. When herbicide was applied to alfalfa at the two-trifoliate growth stage, the net return from using glyphosate with a glyphosate-tolerant alfalfa variety or utilizing imazamox with a conventional alfalfa variety were similar at $742 and $743/ha, respectively. Nomenclature: 2,4-DB; bromoxynil; glyphosate; imazamox; imazethapyr; alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. 'RR04BD-2411', 'Rebound 4.2'.


Regional, diurnal and seasonal variations of surface
temperature are particularly large on Mars. This is mostly due to the Martian surface remaining close to radiative equilibrium. Contrary to most terrestrial locations, contributions of sensible heat flux (i.e. conduction/convection exchanges between atmosphere and surface) to the surface energy budget [hereinafter SEB] are negligible on Mars owing to lowatmospheric density and heat capacity (e.g. Figure 2 in Savijarvi and Kauhanen, 2008). This radiative control of surface temperature is a key characteristic of the Martian environment and has crucial consequences on the the Martian geology, meteorology, exobiology, etc.

In order to identify the impact of this Martian peculiarity to near-surface regional-to-local atmospheric circulations,
we employ our recently-built Martian limited-area meteorological model (Spiga and Forget, 2009). We use horizontal resolutions adapted to the dynamical phenomena we aim to resolve: from several tens of kilometers to compute regional winds (mesoscale simulations) to several tens of meters to compute atmospheric boundary-layer winds (microscale or turbulent-resolving simulations, also called Large-Eddy Simulations, LES).


ABSTRACT Genes encoding thiamine biosynthesis enzymes in microorganisms are tightly regulated such that low environmental thiamine concentrations activate transcription and high concentrations are repressive. We have determined that multiple thiamine (THI) genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are also regulated by the intracellular NAD+ concentration via the NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase (HDAC) Hst1 and, to a lesser extent, Sir2. Both of these HDACs associate with a distal region of the affected THI gene promoters that does not overlap with a previously defined enhancer region bound by the thiamine-responsive Thi2/Thi3/Pdc2 transcriptional activators. The specificity of histone H3 and/or H4 deacetylation carried out by Hst1 and Sir2 at the distal promoter region depends on the THI gene being tested. Hst1/Sir2-mediated repression of the THI genes occurs at the level of basal expression, thus representing the first set of transcription factors shown to actively repress this gene class. Importantly, lowering the NAD+ concentration and inhibiting the Hst1/Sum1 HDAC complex elevated the intracellular thiamine concentration due to increased thiamine biosynthesis and transport, implicating NAD+ in the control of thiamine homeostasis.


Objectives:To assess pancreatic fistula rate and secondary endpoints after pancreatogastrostomy (PG) versus pancreatojejunostomy (PJ) for reconstruction in pancreatoduodenectomy in the setting of a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Background:PJ and PG are established methods for reconstruction in pancreatoduodenectomy. Recent prospective trials suggest superiority of the PG regarding perioperative complications. Methods:A multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial comparing PG with PJ was conducted involving 14 German high-volume academic centers for pancreatic surgery. The primary endpoint was clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula. Secondary endpoints comprised perioperative outcome and pancreatic function and quality of life measured at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Results:From May 2011 to December 2012, 440 patients were randomized, and 320 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. There was no significant difference in the rate of grade B/C fistula after PG versus PJ (20% vs 22%, P = 0.617). The overall incidence of grade B/C fistula was 21%, and the in-hospital mortality was 6%. Multivariate analysis of the primary endpoint disclosed soft pancreatic texture (odds ratio: 2.1, P = 0.016) as the only independent risk factor. Compared with PJ, PG was associated with an increased rate of grade A/B bleeding events, perioperative stroke, less enzyme supplementation at 6 months, and improved results in some quality of life parameters. Conclusions:The rate of grade B/C fistula after PG versus PJ was not different. There were more postoperative bleeding events with PG. Perioperative morbidity and mortality of pancreatoduodenectomy seem to be underestimated, even in the high-volume center setting.


I is both an honor and pleasure to report that IEEE Transactions on Computers (TC) has enjoyed yet another successful year in 2009 and, justifi ably, it continues to be recognized as one of the fl agship publications of the IEEE Computer Society. Our motto "Leading worldwide innovation and technical excellence in computers" defi nes our mantra with respect to our glorious past (2010 will be the 59th year of publication) and an ever bright future. In 2009, we have seen the continuation of the growth pattern as experienced over the last few years: The number of submissions is in excess of 650, while maintaining a time-to-fi rst decision at just above three months (93 days to be precise). Overall, the acceptance rate is nearly 30 percent and TC has successfully published numerous Special Sections (SSs) on areas of interest to the readership. Additionally, the 2008 impact factor of TC stands at 2.61, i.e. at its highest level as per IEEE CS records and in the top 10 percent of all ISI-indexed journals in computer-related areas. The publication queue of TC remains healthy, albeit as Editor-In-Chief I have experienced an increase in the number of submissions that are clearly out-of-scope; I invite potential contributors to make themselves familiar with the goals and objectives of TC, thus avoiding a likely disappointment upon notifi cation due to an early administrative rejection. While every effort is being made to match expertise in the Editorial Board with submissions, this may not always be possible and makes an early decision fair to all parties involved. Hence, do not hesitate to visit the IEEE Computer Society Web site and, in particular, the newly redesigned TC web page (http://www.computer.org/tc). A further feature of TC is the rigorous and effi cient process of manuscript review; the unabated objective of this publication remains the dissemination of results of the highest quality and technical impact. Hence, acceptance is very competitive and can be recommended only upon positive recommendations from all reviewers. As such, revisions are pursued only when supported by public and private comments from reviewers and Associate Editors (AEs); hence a revision is recommended only if a manuscript is considered to have the likely potential of a fi nal acceptance. It is my responsibility as EIC to ensure that while maintaining fairness, the review process proceeds on a timely basis by not incurring unnecessary delays due to either clearly poor quality in incoming submissions and/or the requirement of an excessive delay due to a lengthy revision. In some cases the "Revise and Resubmit" decision is used to alert the authors of the defi ciencies of a manuscript early on, while enticing them to further pursue an additional submission of their revised work. In my opinion, acceptance criteria will continue in the future to be more stringent, thus further increases in the paper rejection rate should be expected. The role of an EIC is certainly not an easy one; as the number of submissions to TC increases, my load and commitment have also increased. Throughout my appointment I have replied to authors with celerity to clarify their concerns, while preserving the confi dentiality of the review process; however, do not hesitate to directly contact the AE in charge of your manuscript if a more detailed assessment of its status is required. Recently, the IEEE Computer Society has undergone major restructuring in operation to ensure that the continued satisfaction of all parties will be preserved in the future as we shift to an even more electronic dimension for all facets of publication activities. During 2009, the Editorial Board of TC has been enlarged in both scope and expertise. Many of our outstanding AEs have completed their terms and, on behalf of the IEEE CS, I would like to thank the following individuals for an outstanding job: Valmir Barbosa, Guiseppe Lipari, Alessandro Mei, C. Siva Ram Murthy, Bharadwaj Veeravalli, Cho-Li Wang, Zhiwei Xu, and Xiaodong Zhang The following colleagues are the new members of the Editorial Board of TC and their biographies can be found in the next pages: D.R. Avresky , Jianer Chen , Rajiv Gupta, Lizy Kurian John, Ethan Miller, Behrooz Parhami, Micheal Raynal, Jon Weissman, Cheng-Wen Wu, and Jie Wu I look forward to working with them to further enhance the standing of TC among our technical community and better serve you in the months ahead. I have the uttermost confi dence that 2010 will be yet another stellar year for TC and as always, do not hesitate to contact me at email@example.com for help and clarifi cation related to your manuscript.


Liagora japonica is a red algal species distributed in temperate regions of Japan. This species has not been collected from its type locality on the Pacific coast of Japan since 1927 and seems to have become extinct in this area. For molecular characterization of L. japonica, we extracted DNA from the topotype material of L. japonica collected in 1927, analyzed seven genes using Illumina next-generation sequencing, and compared these data with sequences from modern samples of similar red algae collected from the Japan Sea coast of Japan. Both morphological and molecular data from modern samples and historical specimens (including the lectotype and topotype) suggest that the specimens from the Pacific and Japan Sea coasts of Japan should be treated as a single species, and that L. japonica is phylogenetically separated from the genus Liagora. Based on the phylogenetic results and examination of reproductive structures, we propose Otohimella japonica gen. et comb. nov., characterized morphologically by diffuse carposporophytes, undivided carposporangia, and involucral filaments initiated only from the cortical cell on the supporting cell.


Both far- and near-UV ECD spectra have bands sensitive to thermal unfolding of Trp and Tyr residues containing proteins. Beside spectral changes at 222 nm reporting secondary structural variations (far-UV range), Lb bands (near-UV range) are applicable as 3D-fold sensors of protein's core structure. In this study we show that both Lb(Tyr) and Lb(Trp) ECD bands could be used as sensors of fold compactness. ECD is a relative method and thus requires NMR referencing and cross-validation, also provided here.
The ensemble of 204 ECD spectra of Trp-cage miniproteins is analysed as training set for "calibrating" Trp↔Tyr folded systems of known NMR structure. While in the far-UV ECD spectra changes are linear as function of the temperature, near-UV ECD data indicate a non-linear and thus, cooperative unfolding mechanism of these proteins. Ensemble of ECD spectra deconvoluted gives both conformational weights
and insight to protein folding↔unfolding mechanism. We found that the Lb293 band is reporting on the 3D-structure compactness. In addition, the pure near-UV ECD spectrum of the unfolded state is described here for the first time. Thus, ECD folding information now validated can be applied with confidence in a large thermal window (5≤T≤85 °C) compared to NMR for studying the unfolding of Trp↔Tyr residue pairs. In conclusion, folding propensities of important proteins (RNA polymerase II, ubiquitin protein
ligase, tryptase-inhibitor etc.) can now be analysed with higher confidence.


This Report was prepared through a joint effort of the AAPM Task Group 57 and the NCRP Scientific Committee 46‐13. It addresses the structural shielding design and evaluation for medical use of megavoltage x rays and gamma rays for radiotherapy and supersedes related material in NCRP Report No. 49, which was issued in 1976. This first presentation will review the general formalisms used for primary and secondary barrier designs at energies below and above the 10MeV maximum energy that was considered by the old Report 49. While most of the formalisms and data can be found in the published literature, the goal of the report was to bring together in one work all the required methods for shielding modern radiotherapy accelerators. This overview will be followed on the second day by a review of the methods and equipment that are necessary to survey the final facility and then the equations and data presented will be used extensively in the third day's presentation to work a number of detailed example calculations. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the history and rationale behind this report. 2. Understand the appropriate use of the equations and data for calculating shielding for medical accelerators. 3. Understand the limitations of the proposed methods.


Background. Middle molecular weight uraemic toxins are considered to play an important role in vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular outcomes in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Recent dialysis techniques based on convection, specifically high-efficiency on-line haemodiafiltration (HDF), enhance the removal of middle molecular weight toxins and reduce all-cause mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients. However, the mechanisms of these improved outcomes remain to be established. Methods. This prospective study randomly assigned 42 ESRD patients to switch from high-flux HD to high-efficiency online HDF (n = 22) or to continue HD (n = 20). Brachial artery endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation, central pulse pressure, carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), internal diastolic diameter and distensibility and circulating markers of uraemia, inflammation and oxidative stress were blindly assessed before and after a 4-month follow-up. Results. Brachial flow-mediated dilatation and carotid artery distensibility increased significantly in the HDF group compared with HD, while carotid IMT and diameter remained similar. HDF decreased predialysis levels of the uraemic toxins β2-microglobulin, phosphate and blood TNFα mRNA expression. Oxidative stress markers were not different between the HD and HDF groups. Blood mRNA expression of protein kinase C β2, an endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS) inhibitor, decreased significantly with HDF. Conclusions. High-efficiency on-line HDF prevents the endothelial dysfunction and stiffening of the conduit arteries in ESRD patients compared with high-flux HD. HDF decreases uraemic toxins, vascular inflammation, and is associated with subsequent improvement in eNOS functionality. These results suggest that reduced endothelial dysfunction may be an intermediate mechanism explaining the beneficial outcomes associated with HDF.


Adenosine A2a receptor antagonists reduce symptom severity in Parkinson disease (PD) and animal models. Rodent studies support the hypothesis that A2a antagonists produce this benefit by reducing the inhibitory output of the basal ganglia indirect pathway. One way to test this hypothesis in humans is to quantify regional pharmacodynamic responses with cerebral blood flow (CBF) imaging. That approach has also been proposed as a tool to accelerate pharmaceutical dose finding, but has not yet been applied in humans to drugs in development. We successfully addressed both these aims with a perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the novel adenosine A2a antagonist SYN115. During a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study in 21 PD patients on levodopa but no agonists, we acquired pulsed arterial spin labeling MRI at the end of each treatment period. SYN115 produced a highly significant decrease in thalamic CBF, consistent with reduced pallidothalamic inhibition via the indirect pathway. Similar decreases occurred in cortical regions whose activity decreases with increased alertness and externally focused attention, consistent with decreased self-reported sleepiness on SYN115. Remarkably, we also derived quantitative pharmacodynamic parameters from the CBF responses to SYN115. These results suggested that the doses tested were on the low end of the effective dose range, consistent with clinical data reported separately. We conclude that (1) SYN115 enters the brain and exerts dose-dependent regional effects, (2) the most prominent of these effects is consistent with deactivation of the indirect pathway as predicted by preclinical studies; and (3) perfusion MRI can provide rapid, quantitative, clinically relevant dose-finding information for pharmaceutical development.


Selective cooperation is a well investigated technique in non-cognitive networks for efficient spectrum utilization and performance improvement. However, it is still a nascent topic for underlay cognitive networks. Recently, it was investigated for underlay networks where the secondary nodes were able to adapt their transmit power to always satisfy the interference threshold to the primary users. This is a valid assumption for cellular networks but many non-cellular devices have fixed transmit powers. In this situation, selective cooperation poses a more challenging problem and performs entirely differently. In this paper, we extend our previous work of selective cooperation based on either hop's signal to noise ratio (SNR) with fixed gain and fixed transmit power relays in an underlay cognitive network. This work lacked in considering the primary interference over the cognitive network and presented a rather idealistic analysis. This paper deals with a more realistic system model and includes the effects of primary interference on the secondary transmission. We first derive end-to-end signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) expression and the related statistics for a dual-hop relay link using asymptotic and approximate approaches. We then derive the statistics of the selected relay link based on maximum end-to-end SINR among the relays satisfying the interference threshold to the primary user. Using this statistics, we derive closed form asymptotic and approximate expressions for the outage probability of the system. Analytical results are verified through simulations. It is concluded that selective cooperation in underlay cognitive networks performs better only in low to medium SNR regions.


The economic significance of International Joint Ventures (IJVs) has attracted a lot of academic research, resulting in a broad variety of studies of which many focus on key success factors of IJVs in emerging countries. Whereas success determinants of IJVs in China have continuously been in the very forefront of scholarly interest, empirical research on success factors of IJVs in other transitional market economies such as e.g., the Russian Federation (Russia) is rather neglected. Thus, this paper aims at filling the research gap by rigorously selecting and categorizing relevant publications on success factors of Russian- and Soviet-Foreign IJVs. Based on a comparative assessment with prior research on success determinants of Sino-Foreign IJVs propositions are deduced for further research on Russian-Foreign IJVs. In doing so, our synopsis draws upon both, fundamental criticism regarding IJV research in general and recent appraising looks on key success factor research of Sino-Foreign IJVs in specific.


ABSTRACT Hayek, M.; Salgues, M.; Souche, J.-C.; De Weerdt, K., and Pioch, S., 2023. How to improve the bioreceptivity of concrete infrastructure used in marine ecosystems? Literature review for mechanisms, key factors, and colonization effects. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 553–568. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. With 39,400 km2 of coastal and marine areas artificialized and an increasing demand due to the growing global population—9 billion by 2050—it has become necessary to find ways to mitigate futures constructions impacts on biodiversity. This study explores how civil engineering can take further technical measures to enhance marine biodiversity, in a real and valuable "win-win" strategy. The global aim is to integrate eco-engineering practices within coastal projects and include ecological targets (e.g., the diversity and speed of biological colonization) early, at the project design stage, with the same level efforts for technical, social, and economic studies. Concrete is the most useful material for coastal infrastructure construction. Therefore, enhance its positive impact on colonization that is by far one of the key points for developers and coastal managers. To this end, the latest research regarding the bioreceptivity of concrete is reviewed, focusing on the characteristics of the marine environment that affect the colonization of concrete and the organisms involved. From this base of publications, the intrinsic and environmental parameters that can influence the intrinsic and the extrinsic bioreceptivity of concrete have been updated, specifically operating the link with the mechanisms leading to the colonization of concrete and biofilm formation, which hasn't been done before. Based on the persistence of their significant effect (after 78 days of immersion in seawater), the intrinsic parameters that support greater biocolonization are classified from more to less effective in the following order: surface roughness (190%) > chemical composition (slag cement instead Portland cement) (136%) > chemical composition (presence of formwork oil) (106%). Lastly, both the ecological effect and the positive and negative effects of biofilm formation on the durability of concrete were analysed to provide clear and operational results for future concrete coastal construction implementation for decision makers.


Background Smoking is a negative behavior pattern that is harmful to our life .When the spinal muscles are fatigued, their capacity to create a quick extensor movement is compromised, and serotonin is the master regulating hormone in the body that controls distinctive body works for instance. Purpose This study was conducted to investigate the relation of serum cotinine level (the metabolite of nicotine), serum serotonin level, and peripheral fatigue of back extensors. Patients and methods A total of 60 (40 smokers and 20 nonactive smokers) normal men were assigned into three groups: 20 nonsmokers (control group), 20 moderate smokers, and 20 heavy smokers. Blood samples were taken from all patients to analyze cotinine and serotonin levels by laboratory tests. Isokinetic dynamometer was used to measure fatigue susceptibility by calculating the fatigue index. Results There was a statistically significant correlation among serum cotinine level, fatigue index, and serum serotonin level in heavy smokers (P<0.05) and in moderate smokers (P<0.05). In addition, there was a significant correlation between serum cotinine and serotonin levels in the nonsmoker group (P<0.05). Conclusion An increase in the serum cotinine level increases the fatigability of back extensors in smokers. Further, cotinine has an inverse relationship with serum serotonin level in smokers and nonsmokers. In addition, serum serotonin level had an inverse relation with peripheral fatigue of back extensors in smokers.


Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an inherited autosomal dominant disease presenting with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs), parathyroid tumors, or pituitary tumors. Using the PubMed database, we reviewed the literature on information regarding the proper diagnosis and treatment of MEN1-associated pNET. Many cases of MEN1-associated pNET are functioning pNETs. Gastrinomas and insulinomas tend to occur frequently in the duodenum and pancreas, respectively. In addition to diagnostic imaging, the selective arterial secretagogue injection test (SASI test) is useful for localizing functioning pNET. The standard treatment is surgical resection. However, in the case of a functioning pNET, the tumor should first be accurately located using the SASI test before an appropriate surgical method is selected. In cases of a MEN1-associated non-functioning pNET that exceeds 2 cm in diameter, the incidence of distant metastasis is significantly increased, and surgery is recommended. In cases of unresectable pNET, a somatostatin analog has been shown to demonstrate antitumor effects and is considered to be a promising treatment. In addition, molecular-targeted drugs have recently been found to be effective in phase III clinical trials.


In our research we have designed pedagogy for Low Cost Tablets (LCT) to enhance early grade reading in multi-grade classrooms in rural areas of India. The use of LCT helps meet the challenge of education in areas where there is a lack of qualified tutors and shortage of computing resources. The program has been implemented with (N=38) students in tribal areas of Kerala. Reading was the most common problem with the primary children, while mathematics and reading comprehension was a major challenge for children who were in middle school. Our pilot study students were able to learn faster on their own without requiring formal training due to the ease of use and the touch based interface of LCT, and they liked the idea of repeating lessons as many times as they wished. Teachers were trained in the use of LCT for assessment and early intervention and effective ways to bring up the reading skills of the students. Our findings confirm that LCT is powerful motivator in education and has a huge potential to address the issue of school dropouts. Our proposed pedagogy for LCT and findings will be of interest to educational policy makers who are looking at LCT options such as Aakash tablets to improve literacy levels among early grade learners.


The oxidation of sulfide minerals such as pyrite present in waste rock results in elevated sulfate, enhanced metal loadings and in many cases low pH conditions. Recently, many mines have opened in remote areas, including regions subject to permafrost conditions. In these regions, freeze-thaw cycles and the possible development of permafrost in mine waste add to the complexity of weathering processes, drainage volumes and mass loadings. To assess weathering in these waste rock piles, the reactive transport code MIN3P-HPC has been enhanced by implementing constitutive relationships related to freeze-thaw cycles that control flow patterns, solute transport, generation and transport of heat, as well as geochemical reactions and their rates. Simulations of a hypothetical pyrite-rich waste rock pile placed onto natural permafrost were conducted under reference climate conditions. Additionally, the effect of a warming climate was also studied through a sensitivity analysis. The simulation results indicate a potentially strong coupled effect of sulfide mineral weathering rates and a warming climate on the evolution and persistence of permafrost within waste rock piles and the release of acidic drainage. For relatively low sulfide mineral oxidation rates, the simulations indicate that permafrost can develop within waste rock piles, even under warming climate conditions. However, the results for low reactivity also show that mass loadings can increase by >50% in response to a slight warming of climate (3°C), relative to reference climate conditions. For the chosen reference reaction rates, permafrost develops under reference climate conditions in the simulated waste rock pile; however, permafrost cannot be maintained for a marginally warmer climate, leading to internal heating of the pile and substantially increased production of acidic drainage (>550%). For high reaction rates, the simulations suggest that internal heating takes place irrespective of climate conditions. Evaluation of thermal covers indicates that significant reductions of mass loadings can be achieved for piles with low and reference reactivity (91–99% in comparison to uncovered piles), but also suggest that thermal covers can be ineffective for piles with high sulfide content and reactivity. Together, these simulations provide insights into the complex interactions controlling waste rock weathering in cold-region climates.


Feed represents a large portion of input costs for dairy operations. Decreasing the feed consumed, measured here as dry matter intake (DMI), would therefore be advantageous to producers. However, this decrease could result in cows that do not supply the necessary energy to maintain high production, growth, and reproduction. Measures of feed efficiency try to capture important energy expenditures to ensure that cows consume less while maintaining production. Feed efficiency in this study is measured in residual feed intake (RFI), which is calculated as the difference between DMI and expected DMI based on production and growth measures. However, the RFI model does not capture the energy stores required for reproduction; therefore, selection for RFI may lead to reduced reproductive performance. In this thesis, I explored the phenotypic and genetic relationships between RFI, DMI, and reproductive performance as measured by number of services (NS), days open (DO), and days to first calving (DFC). First, ANOVA tests and phenotypic correlations determined the phenotypic relationship between the traits. Then, heritability and genetic correlations were used to estimate the genetic parameters. Phenotypically, results indicated mixed relationships between traits. Heritability estimates were low for reproductive traits and moderate for DMI and RFI. There was no unfavorable genetic relationship between DMI or RFI with any of the reproductive traits. Therefore, neither selection for DMI nor RFI will unfavorably impact reproduction.


Although it has generally been believed that structural styles in the Inner Moray Firth (IMF) have been largely controlled by strike-slip movements on the Great Glen Fault (GGF), integrated seismic and field studies suggest otherwise. Instead, most structural styles appear to have developed and evolved as a result of dip-slip extension and thermal subsidence consequent upon two phases of rifting during the Permo-Triassic and Late Jurassic and subsequent regional uplift and local inversion during the Tertiary. The integration of demonstrable thickening of Kimmeridgian–Portlandian intervals across the GGF with sedimentological information from onshore outcrops and cored wells suggests that the basin had a half-graben geometry during the Late Jurassic with a depocentre adjacent to the Helmsdale Fault, analogous to half-graben geometries which characterized other Late Jurassic sequences in Greenland and the South Viking Graben. Progressive marine onlap suggests that more gentle regional (thermal) subsidence took place in an underfilled basin, during subsequent Early Cretaceous deposition. However, the seismic data and subcrop information show that the geometries resulting from such classic rift- and thermally-driven phases of extension were modified by Cenozoic regional uplift and inversion in response to intraplate compression resulting from NE Atlantic (Thulean) and Alpine events. These events also appear to have effected minor strike-slip motion on the GGF, with the development of spectacular 'flower structure' and 'helicoidal' geometries, and caused limited oblique-slip reactivation of some extensional structures. The most notable modification of structural styles occurs in areas adjacent to the major basin-bounding faults. Particularly complex structural inversion geometries occur in the northwest corner of the basin adjacent to the Wick Fault while anomalously-trending folds developed in response to space problems in the Sutherland Terrace, between the Helmsdale Fault and the GGF, as a result of opposing senses of slip on these faults.


Ovarian cancer is a common and, yet, one of the most deadly human cancers due to its insidious onset and the current lack of robust early diagnostic tests. Tumors are complex tissues comprised of not only malignant cells but also genetically stable stromal cells. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind epithelial-stromal crosstalk in ovarian cancer is a great challenge in particular. In the present study, we performed comparative analyses of transcriptome data from laser microdissected epithelial, stromal, and ovarian tumor tissues, and identified common and tissue-specific reporter biomolecules-genes, receptors, membrane proteins, transcription factors (TFs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and metabolites-by integration of transcriptome data with genome-scale biomolecular networks. Tissue-specific response maps included common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and reporter biomolecules were reconstructed and topological analyses were performed. We found that CDK2, EP300, and SRC as receptor-related functions or membrane proteins; Ets1, Ar, Gata2, and Foxp3 as TFs; and miR-16-5p and miR-124-3p as putative biomarkers and warrant further validation research. In addition, we report in this study that Gata2 and miR-124-3p are potential novel reporter biomolecules for ovarian cancer. The study of tissue-specific reporter biomolecules in epithelial cells, stroma, and tumor tissues as exemplified in the present study offers promise in biomarker discovery and diagnostics innovation for common complex human diseases such as ovarian cancer.


Aims/Hypothesis: To investigate the prevalence and correlates of somatic and autonomic neuropathies concurrently in prediabetic and diabetic subjects in the general population. Subjects and Methods: Nerve conduction and heart rate variability studies were used for detecting both types of diabetic neuropathy. Of 1,576 inhabitants, 143 persons were identified as prediabetic or having diabetic mellitus. One hundred and thirty-three persons completed a nerve conduction test and 118 persons a valid heart rate variability test. Significant correlates responsible for diabetic neuropathies were also collected. Results: The prevalence rates of definite, probable and no somatic neuropathy were 9.0% (12/133), 20.3% (27/133) and 70.7% (94/133), respectively. The corresponding figures for autonomic neuropathy were 14.4% (17/118), 54.2% (64/118) and 31.4% (37/118). The prevalence rate for the presence of both neuropathies was 16.9%. In a univariate analysis, age, renal insufficiency, HbA1c and fasting glucose level were significantly associated with somatic neuropathy whereas only systolic blood pressure was statistically significantly associated with autonomic neuropathy. In a multivariate analysis, systolic blood pressure and fasting glucose level were positively associated with somatic neuropathy and systolic blood pressure remained statistically significant for autonomic neuropathy. Conclusions: The prevalence of autonomic neuropathy is twofold compared with somatic neuropathy. Concurrence of the two kinds of neuropathy was approximately half of sole somatic neuropathy and a quarter of sole autonomic neuropathy. Systolic blood pressure and fasting glucose level were related to somatic neuropathy whereas only systolic blood pressure was correlated with autonomic neuropathy.


Objective. To evaluate the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation in rats with acute pancreatitis during total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Methods. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats that underwent injection of 3.5% sodium taurocholate solution into the pancreatic duct were randomly divided into one of the following two groups: (1) received only TPN (control group) or (2) received TPN with EGF at a dose of 0.2 mg· kg-1· day-1 (Egf group). On fifth day of total parenteral nutrition, samples from mesenteric lymph nodes, pancreas, liver and spleen were harvested for cultures. Water, protein and DNA content in jejunal mucosa were determined. D-xylose and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran were instilled into the lumen of a ligated segament of small intestine. Thirty minutes later, superior mesenteric vein D-xylose and plasma FITC-dextran concentration were measured. Results. Positive cultures in liver and spleen, as well as FITC-dextran concentration in the Egf group were significantly lower than in the control group. Protein and DNA content in jejunal mucosa in the Egf group were significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusion. The results indicate that EGF may prevent increased intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation in rats with acute pancreatitis during TPN.


This paper explores research paths in the domain of corpus-based contact linguistics in order to detect regular patterns in the use of languages within bilingual communities, such as the one investigated here (South Tyrol). In particular, a first analysis of tag questions in a bilingual (Italian-German) corpus is presented. The data confirm that a subset of markers, common to both languages, has developed, witnessing the existence of a symmetrical context of languages in contact. KEYWORDS: contact linguistics, bilingualism, Italian, German, tag questions


We performed the structure optimization followed by the calculation of electronic structure and magnetic properties on Co2MnGe. The structure optimization was based on generalized gradient approximation (GGA) exchange correlation and linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) method. The calculation of electronic structure was based on full potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. We have studied the electronic structure and magnetic properties. The calculated magnetic moment is 5.004 µB which is an integral value. The calculated density of states (DOS) and band structures shows the half-metallicity of Co2MnGe.


This work presents the HP422-MoCHA, the first published hardware architecture that implements a full compliant H.264/AVC motion compensator for high profile 4:2:2. The hardware is composed by three main modules: Motion Vector Predictor, Memory Access and Sample Interpolator. The designed architecture was described in VHDL and mapped to a Xilinx Virtex-II PRO FPGA. This architecture reaches the throughput to decode HDTV Level 4 (1080p) @ 30fps.


A 30-day feeding experiment was conducted in 160-L plastic tanks to evaluate the potential use of Artemia biomass as a protein source in practical diets for postlarval Macrobrachium rosenbergii (initial mean weight of 12.12-12.29 mg). Nine isoenergetic and isonitrogenous experimental diets (approximately 40% crude protein) were formulated by replacing levels of the fishmeal (FM) protein difference either with dried or frozen Artemia (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%). The 0% Artemia treatment, in which Peruvian FM was the only main protein source, was considered to be the control diet. The results showed that prawn postlarvae (PLs) fed the FM control diet had a lower survival (46%) compared with all Artemia diets. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were, however, only found at 75% and 100% Artemia protein inclusion levels (survival of 68-77%). A gradual increase in growth performance (live weight gain, specific growth rate and total length) of the prawns was achieved on increasing dietary inclusion of Artemia protein. Additionally, the size distribution exhibited the same response as growth performance. However, prawns fed the frozen Artemia diets showed a better performance than the ones fed the dried Artemia diets. It can be suggested that Artemia biomass may totally replace FM in practical diets for PLs of the freshwater prawn M. rosenbergii.


This meta-analysis paper describes the analysis of observational clinical studies on the treatment of refractory epilepsy with cannabidiol (CBD)-based products. Beyond attempting to establish the safety and efficacy of such products, we also investigated if there is enough evidence to assume any difference in efficacy between CBD-rich extracts compared to purified CBD products. The systematic search took place in February/2017 and updated in December/2017 using the keywords "epilepsy" or "Dravet" or "Lennox-Gastaut" or "CDKL5" combined with "Cannabis," "cannabinoid," "cannabidiol," or "CBD" resulting in 199 papers. The qualitative assessment resulted in 11 valid references, with an average impact factor of 8.1 (ranging from 1.4 to 47.8). The categorical data of a total of 670 patients were analyzed by Fischer test. The average daily dose ranged between 1 and 50 mg/kg, with treatment length from 3 to 12 months (mean 6.2 months). Two thirds of patients reported improvement in the frequency of seizures (399/622, 64%). There were more reports of improvement from patients treated with CBD-rich extracts (318/447, 71%) than patients treated with purified CBD (81/175, 46%), with statistical significance (p < 0.0001). Nevertheless, when the standard clinical threshold of a "50% reduction or more in the frequency of seizures" was applied, only 39% of the individuals were considered "responders," and there was no difference (p = 0.52) between treatments with CBD-rich extracts (122/330, 37%) and purified CBD (94/223, 42%). Patients treated with CBD-rich extracts reported lower average dose (6.0 mg/kg/day) than those using purified CBD (25.3 mg/kg/day). The reports of mild (158/216, 76% vs. 148/447, 33%, p < 0.001) and severe (41/155, 26% vs. 23/328, 7%, p < 0.0001) adverse effects were more frequent in products containing purified CBD than in CBD-rich extracts. CBD-rich extracts seem to present a better therapeutic profile than purified CBD, at least in this population of patients with refractory epilepsy. The roots of this difference is likely due to synergistic effects of CBD with other phytocompounds (aka Entourage effect), but this remains to be confirmed in controlled clinical studies.


Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the occurrence of two strictly protected vascular plant species in managed stands of submontane acidophilous oak forests (Luzulo luzuloidis - Quercetum petraeae Hilitzer 1932 association) in the Sudeten foothills (Lower Silesia, Poland). During the study, the most important stand parameters influencing the occurrence of the wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz) and the orchid sword-leaved helleborine Cephalanthera longifolia (L.) Fritsch) were ascertained. The stands ranged from 50 to 130 years of age and were dominated by sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.), which comprised 5-100% of trees. Both of the protected plant species were observed in 10% of the examined plots with the most favorable type of forest stand for sword-leaved helleborine as well as the wild service tree being clearly dominated by sessile oak (portion of oak above 80%). The analysis showed that the wild service tree was found in pure oak stands, whereas sword-leaved helleborine was also recorded in mixed stands aged 50-80 years. The increased frequency of sword-leaved helleborine was associated with a higher portion of oak in the tree layer. The results suggest that the modern silviculture practices, 'close-to-nature' silviculture, transform pure oak forest into mixed forest and allow for natural expansion of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) as well as beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), which can induce the gradual disappearance of the orchid and the wild service tree in submontane acidophilous oak forests. Restoring semi-natural pure oak stands should play a significant role in supporting both protected species in submontane acidophilous oak forests of the Sudeten Region.


A complex examination of 320 patients with breast tumors of varying degree of advancement was carried out. Also, the data on examination of 20 cases of fibrous-cystic mastopathy and 40 healthy females were analysed. Similar studies were conducted in 20 cases of acute and chronic osteomyelitis, 14--tuberculosis of bones and joints, 63--rheumatoid arthritis and 36--Bekhterev's disease. Pyrphotech, Tc99m; pyrophosphate, Tc99m and diphosphonate Tc99m were used in carrying out scintigraphic examination. Parathyrin, prolactin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein and ferritin were assayed in patients' blood serum. Tumor dissemination to bones was matched by a significant rise in CEA and prolactin levels. However, these parameters were normal in patients with non-tumor skeletal pathology. No significant rise in ferritin and alpha-fetoprotein were recorded in all patients. The specificity of the said complex examination, including osteoscintigraphy and blood plasma parathyrin assays in breast cancer patients, was 79%.


The early history of the title page is well documented in the British Museum, where the crimes of probably the greatest biblioclast of all time are preserved in a series of innocent-looking scrapbooks. John Bagford spent most of his life (1650-1716) collecting material for a history of printing. He did this by tearing the title pages or representative pages of text out of thousands of books. His search for material took him over much of England and Europe. He obtained his books by purchase, borrowing, or outright theft. After tearing out the pages he wanted, he had no further interest in the books themselves. Since Bagford's "collection" amounts to more than 20,000 pages, he left a large number of mutilated books along the way. Many of these volumes can still be found in libraries or even on the market. For this reason book collectors have justification for anathematizing Bagford's name


When grown in culture Mycobacterium smegmatis metabolized S-nitrosoglutathione to oxidized glutathione and nitrate, which suggested a possible involvement of an S-nitrosothiol reductase and mycobacterial haemoglobin. The mycothiol-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase from M. smegmatis was purified by a combination of Ni2+-IMAC (immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography), hydrophobic interaction, anion-exchange and affinity chromatography. The enzyme had a subunit molecular mass of 38263 kDa. Steady-state kinetic studies indicated that the enzyme catalyses the NAD+-dependent conversion of S-hydroxymethylmycothiol into formic acid and mycothiol by a rapid-equilibrium ordered mechanism. The enzyme also catalysed an NADH-dependent decomposition of S-nitrosomycothiol (MSNO) by a sequential mechanism and with an equimolar stoichiometry of NADH:MSNO, which indicated that the enzyme reduces the nitroso group to the oxidation level of nitroxyl. Vmax for the MSNO reductase reaction indicated a turnover per subunit of approx. 116700 min(-1), which was 76-fold faster than the formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity. A gene, Rv2259, annotated as a class III alcohol dehydrogenase in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome was cloned and expressed in M. smegmatis as the C-terminally His6-tagged product. The purified recombinant enzyme from M. tuberculosis also catalysed both activities. M. smegmatis S-nitrosomycothiol reductase converted MSNO into the N -hydroxysulphenamide, which readily rearranged to mycothiolsulphinamide. In the presence of MSNO reductase, M. tuberculosis HbN (haemoglobin N) was converted with low efficiency into metHbN [HbN(Fe3+)] and this conversion was dependent on turnover of MSNO reductase. These observations suggest a possible route in vivo for the dissimilation of S-nitrosoglutathione.


Von Hippel‐Lindau disease (VHL) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder, characterised by the development of clear cell renal carcinomas, CNS hemangioblastomas, retinal angiomas, pancreatic tumors, pheochromocytomas and hepatic cysts. Recently a number of families with dominant familial pheochromocytoma as the only clinical manifestation have been reported to carry mutations in the VHL gene. We describe a family in which a novel VHL S68W mutation was segregating and carrier individuals manifested with variable penetrance of isolated pheochromocytomas. Investigation of this kindred confirmed that a mutation in the VHL gene could produce isolated pheochromocytomas as the only clinical feature and was variably penetrant. Hum Mutat 12:71, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


This article compares the science and technology strategies and priorities of France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. An analysis is given of similarities and differences, historical settings, research and development allocations, coordinating mechanisms, outputs, dissatisfactions, and recent changes. Also presented are data on performers and funding sources, the character and objectives of work, the industries involved, employment of scientists and engineers, and degrees by field. This comparison provides a way of understanding the advantages and disadvantages of different strategies and an opportunity for one country to learn from the others.


Recent strong commodity prices have led to rising demand for farmland and this is projected to continue for the medium term because of increasing populations and incomes and growing use of biofuels. Global analysis indicates that about 450 Mha of suitable land may be available to bring into cultivation, much of it in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Russia. Improved returns in farming and relatively cheap land in some countries have translated into a sharp rise in domestic and foreign investment into farmland, largely focused on these same countries with uncultivated land. Investors have been very heterogeneous, with many from emerging countries and some with little track record in agriculture, but supported by rising portfolio investor interest in agriculture. Despite perceptions, governments and sovereign wealth funds make up a relatively small share of such investments. A surprising development, given the long tradition of family farming almost everywhere, has been the rise of corporate 'superfarms' often managing over 100,000 ha of prime cropland. Where land and other markets work well, strong investor interest in agriculture represents an opportunity to tap capital, technology and new markets. However, where land governance is poor and institutional capacity weak, there have been many failures, whether measured in economic, social or environmental terms, especially in Africa and South-East Asia. In Australia, given skilled farmers and strong institutions, there seems little reason for concern about recent reports of foreign investment in farmland. Australia has led the world in arguing for freer agricultural trade and investment and should continue to do so. Increased transparency through a register of such investments could alleviate fears in some circles of a foreign 'land grab' in Australia.


In this era of molecular biology, protein crystallization is often considered to be a necessary first step in obtaining structural information through X-ray diffraction analysis. In a different light, protein crystals can also be thought of as materials, whose chemical and physical properties make them broadly attractive and useful across a larger spectrum of disciplines. The full potential of these protein crystalline materials has been severely restricted in practice, however, both by their inherent fragility, and by strongly held skepticism concerning their routine and predictable growth, formulation, and practical application. Fortunately, these problems have turned out to be solvable. A systematic exploration of the biophysics and biochemistry of protein crystallization has shown that one can dependably create new protein crystalline materials more or less at will. In turn, these crystals can be readily strengthened, both chemically and mechanically, to make them suitable for practical commercialization. Today, these novel materials are used as industrial catalysts on a commercial scale, in bioremediation and "green chemistry" applications, and in enantioselective chromatography of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. In the near future, their utility will expand, to include the purification of protein drugs, formulation of direct protein therapeutics, and development of adjuvant-less vaccines.


The atmospheres of gas giant planets are thought to be inhomogeneous due to weather and patchy clouds. We present two full nights of coronagraphic observations of the HR 8799 planets using the CHARIS integral field spectrograph behind the SCExAO adaptive optics system on the Subaru Telescope to search for spectrophomometric variability. We did not detect significant variability signals, but placed the lowest variability upper limits for HR 8799c and d. Based on injection-recovery tests, we expected to have a 50% chance to detect signals down to 10% H-band photometric variability for HR 8799c and down to 30% H-band variability for HR 8799d. We also investigated spectral variability and expected a 50% chance to recover 20% variability in the H/K flux ratio for HR 8799c. We combined all the data from the two nights to obtain some of the most precise spectra obtained for HR 8799c, d, and e. Using a grid of cloudy radiative–convective–thermochemical equilibrium models, we found all three planets prefer supersolar metallicity with effective temperatures of ∼1100 K. However, our high signal-to-noise spectra show that HR 8799d has a distinct spectrum from HR 8799c, possibly preferring more vertically extended and uniform clouds and indicating that the planets are not identical.


BACKGROUND
Young women with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have early menopause compared with women in the general population and the highest mortality among the dialysis population. We hypothesized that low estrogen status was associated with death in women with ESKD.

METHODS
We measured estradiol and sex hormone levels in female ESKD patients initiating hemodialysis from 2005 to 2012 in four Canadian centers. We divided women into quintiles based on estradiol levels and tested for associations between the estradiol level and cardiovascular (CV), non-CV and all-cause mortality. Participants were further dichotomized by age.

RESULTS
A total of 482 women (60 ± 15 years of age, 53% diabetic, estradiol 116 ± 161 pmol/L) were followed for a mean of 2.9 years, with 237 deaths (31% CV). Estradiol levels were as follows (mean ± standard deviation): Quintile 1: 19.3 ± 0.92 pmol/L; Quintile 2: 34.6 ± 6.6 pmol/L; Quintile 3: 63.8 ± 10.6 pmol/L; Quintile 4: 108.9 ± 19.3; Quintile 5: 355 ± 233 pmol/L. Compared with Quintile 1, women in Quintiles 4 and 5 had significantly higher adjusted all-cause mortality {hazard ratio [HR] 2.12 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-3.25] and 1.92 [1.19-3.10], respectively}. Similarly, compared with Quintile 1, women in Quintile 5 had higher non-CV mortality [HR 2.16 (95% CI 1.18-3.96)]. No associations were observed between estradiol levels and CV mortality. When stratified by age, higher quintiles were associated with greater all-cause mortality (P for trend <0.001) and non-CV mortality (P for trend = 0.02), but not CV mortality in older women.

CONCLUSIONS
In women with ESKD treated with hemodialysis, higher estradiol levels were associated with greater all-cause and non-CV mortality. Further studies are required to determine the mechanism for the observed increased risk.


This article studies energy-aware design strategies in the context of wireless sensor networks. Sensor networks provide an efficient means to collect, analyze, and transmit environmental data. Since wireless sensor nodes are normally powered by small batteries, the performance and viability of such systems rely strongly on energy conservation. In this work, an energy-efficient scheme by which sensor nodes go to sleep periodically is proposed. The duration of a sleep interval is determined dynamically based on past observations and prior knowledge about the statistics of the stochastic process being observed. For the problem of detecting level crossings in a Poisson arrival process, dynamic programming is employed to obtain an optimal average power versus detection delay tradeoff curve. This problem serves as an illustrative example to show how a small increase in expected detection delay can result in substantial energy savings.


Abstract Accidental anterior skull base defects associated with surgery are difficult to treat. There are several methods for the repair, yet postoperative rhinorrhea can occur despite the closure. A 56-year-old female patient was admitted for the treatment of a paraclinoid internal carotid artery aneurysm. The surgery included removal of the anterior clinoid process, unroofing the optic canal, decompressing the optic nerve, and clipping the aneurysm. During the surgery, the planum sphenoidale was accidentally drilled and the nasal cavity exposed. The dural defect was repaired using a U-flap technique. No postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea occurred in the patient, and she was discharged on postoperative day 3. On follow-up examination the patient did not have evidence of CSF leakage.


The family Tettigoniidae consists of the long-horned grasshoppers with a more or less distinct sword-shaped ovipositor and with a distinct auditory organ at the proximal part of the fore tibiae.
Handlirsch unites into this family 14 subfamilies of which the Pterophyllinae only are considered here.
Concerning the name Tettigoniidae the opinions were diverging, but in recent literature this name is generally used. In the 10th edition of Linne's Systema Naturae (1758) a number of species of the genus Gryllus are united into the subgenus Tettigonia. This subgenus was considered as a genus by Fabricius and it would have been logical if he had kept the Linnean name Tettigonia for it. Fabricius, however, mixed up the Linnean names and called the here-mentioned genus: Locusta. This name has for many years been considered as the correct name of the genus, and Tettigonia L. was used for another group of insects.
Stal (1874) placed Tettigonia L. into the synonymy of Locusta F. as both names refer to the same group of species. Linne (1758), however, had given the name Locusta to a group of short-horned grasshoppers; moreover Tettigonia L. has priority over Locusta F. as it had been established earlier. Thus the name Tettigonia L. is the eldest in the group and therefore should be considered to be the type genus and the name of the family should be derived from it.
As to the type species of the genus Tettigonia L. Karny (1907) gives a survey of all Linnean species in the genus Gryllus, Tettigonia, and shows that successively all species have been placed into other (new) genera, leaving viridissima L. as the only species in the genus Locusta F. (Stal


Despite several decades of linguistic research and activism, neutral/inclusive language use is far from the norm in English and German. In this article I explore whether the encounter with neutral terminology in June Arnold's novel The Cook and the Carpenter can prompt readers to question dominant practices and consider alternatives. Based on narrative research, my premise is that fiction can create familiarity with new terms and thereby support linguistic change. I frame my investigation with Wittgenstein's notion that 'to imagine a language means to imagine a form of life', and put it to the test with a discourse analysis of English and German reader responses. The results of my study show that Arnold's novel stimulates fruitful debate of the issue of gender and language. Based on my findings, I propose the text's integration into linguistics education in order to further promote neutral/inclusive language use.


Readers of Philip Massinger's hyper-self-reflective The Roman Actor have long noted, and then struggled to understand, Paris's inability to use performance to enact change in his audience. In the first of three inset plays, The Cure for Avarice, Paris (one of the Roman actors suggested by the title) uses a performance to cure Philargus of his greed and miserliness. Like Hamlet before him, Paris intends to present "on the stage as in a mirror" a character like Philargus, so that he "[m]ay see his own deformity and loathe it" (2.1.98; 99). (1) However, as critics have pointed out, Philargus, unlike Claudius, does not repent or even feel guilty. (2) Richard A. Burt remarks, "the attempt fails miserably.... To be sure, Philargus does identify with the [staged] miser completely. But Philargus does not regard the miser critically." (3) Philargus does eventually disown his dramatic doppelganger, but only because the character repents. "An old fool, to be gulled thus! Had he died / As I resolve to do, not to be altered, / It had gone off twanging" (2.1.407-9). In the end, Philargus remains unaffected (not "altered") by the performance. What makes this scene so puzzling (and for critics like Jonas Barish--frustrating) is that before Paris's failed attempt to redeem Philargus, the actor seems to be cast in the role of heroic defender of the stage. (4) As almost every critic who has written about The Roman Actor has noticed, Paris's defense of the theater in the first act draws on traditional and well-established defenses of literature and the theater. (5) So when Paris fails, the play seems to be suggesting that a whole tradition of poetic apologetics is also failing. Barish even suggests that Massinger's play takes an antitheatrical position. (6) Other critics, not willing to go as far as Barish, argue that Massinger is merely skeptical of dramas ability to reform audiences and so is complicating this traditional view of the theater by showing the variety and unpredictability of audience response, or they suggest that Paris's failure is actually a failure of his culture and not of the theater; that is, Paris is a tragic figure whose moral vision of a redemptive and curative theater is corrupted by a dishonest court and ruthless tyrant. (7) What these critics generally assume is that efficacy is a positive characteristic of drama and so naturally Massinger is either bemoaning theater's loss of efficacy or tracing the creative unpredictability of performances effect on the audience; however, the historical and political position of early modern theaters complicates this assumption. Efficacy, of the type Paris suggests, connects the actions of the audience with the content of the performance, and early modern Londoners were anxious about the action of playgoers. According to London magistrates and antitheatrical writers, audiences were often immoral, unruly, and occasionally riotous, and these groups relied on arguments like Paris's to blame the theaters for these actions. They viewed the audience's problematic actions as the effect of the stage performance. In this first inset play and similar scenes within the play, Massinger seems to be registering this anxiety about dramas efficacy by purposefully problematizing the relationship between the content of the performance and the actions of the audience. Thus, when the playwright questions the conventional defense of the stage as he does in the first inset performance (and as we will see, all subsequent inset performances), he is not so much bemoaning theater's loss of efficacy as he is constructing performance as ineffective in order to avoid the theater's culpability for the actions of the audience. That is, he is producing a fictive ineffective theater in order to flame the real theater as ineffective. When critics call Paris's defense of the stage "conventional" or "traditional" what they are often suggesting is that his speech in act 1 is highly indebted to early modern writers such as Thomas Nashe, Thomas Heywood, George Puttenham and, of course, Philip Sidney, all of whom offer arguments similar to Paris's. …


Sufficient conditions are provided for a deterministic algorithm for estimating an L1-norm best-fit one-dimensional subspace. To prove the conditions are sufficient, fundamental properties of the L1-norm projection of a point onto a one-dimensional subspace are derived. Also, an equivalence is established between the algorithm, which involves the calculation of several weighted medians, and independently-derived algorithms based on finding L1-norm solutions to overdetermined system of linear equations, each of which may be calculated via the solution of a linear program. The equivalence between the algorithms implies that each is a 2-factor approximation algorithm, which is the bestknown factor among deterministic algorithms, and that the method based on weighted medians has the smallest worst-case computational requirements.


This study describes the background and provides validation of new provisions included in the 2016 amendment to NZS1170.5 to address ratcheting due to the presence of static eccentric moments. The validation was done by performing nonlinear time history analysis using a fibre model of a bridge column with a cracked section period of 1.0 s subjected to the FEMA P695 far-field ground motion suite. Peak and residual displacements were used as indicators of the degree of ratcheting. The effects of member axial loads and design force reduction factors on ratcheting were also investigated. It was found that the peak displacement demands increase with an increasing eccentric moment. The increase in displacement when the ratio of effective lateral strengths in the back-andforth directions considering the presence of eccentric moment is 1.15 or less is lower than 10% compared to when equal lateral strengths were provided. Based on these findings, the ratcheting effect can be neglected for cases with low eccentric moments. When the effective strength ratio is increased to 1.86 and the eccentric moment applied is equal to 30% of the yield moment capacity, the peak displacements increased by more than 65% and residual displacements may also become close to the peak displacements. Design curves for estimating the displacement demands for different eccentric moments are provided.


A practical use of personal digital cameras for taking digital photographs in the microsurgical field through an operating microscope is described. This inexpensive and practical method for acquiring microscopic images at the desired magnification combines the advantages of the digital camera and the operating microscope.


A new high temperature mechanical spectrometer, based on an inverted torsion pendulum, has been constructed for the measurement of the internal friction and the dynamic shear elastic modulus in two different working modes: (a) as a function of temperature (300 – 1800 K) at imposed frequency, during heating or cooling; and (b) as a function of frequency (10-3 – 10 Hz) in isothermal conditions. The whole installation is computer controlled by a dedicated software specifically developed. We describe the different parts of this new installation, as well as its performances in both temperature and frequency through an original example study on a high temperature structural intermetallic of Fe-Al.


This article explores how heteronormativity shapes the (re)construction of gay male entrepreneurial identities. Drawing on in-depth interview data and utilising conceptual resources from queer theory, this article traces the effects of heteronormative entrepreneurial discourses, evident in the types of gay male sexualities discursively mobilised by study participants to (re)construct normal gay male entrepreneurial identities. Study data reveal the regulatory and normalising impact of heteronormativity along three discursive themes: entrepreneurial gay masculine identities; the entrepreneurial (gay) 'family type guy'; and repudiating the feminine in women and other gay men. This article contributes to the limited LGBT entrepreneurship literature, in particular, the scholarship on heteronormativity and entrepreneurial identities, showing how heteronormativity retrenches both the heterosexual/homosexual binary and the male norm at the core of dominant entrepreneurial discourses.

https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/fd891f79-74df-42a9-a469-3566babcb7f7/1/Heteronormativity and gay male entrepreneurial identities - 2019 - Rumens Ozturk.pdf


RADAR (RAdio Detection And Ranging) is the process of transmitting, receiving, detecting, and processing an electromagnetic wave that reflects from a target. RADAR was first developed by the German Army in 1935. As theoretical and technical developments continued, RADAR techniques and applications expanded into almost every aspect of the modern world. One area of that technical development was in the wavelength of the transmitted signal, first in the 50-cm range and later down into the millimeter and microwave regions. Pulsed light sources and optical detectors were first used in 1938 to measure the base heights of clouds. The acronym LiDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) was first used in 1953, and the 1962 development of high-energy or Q-switched pulsed lasers made such sources available for LiDAR applications. In 1963, Fiocco and Sullivan published work on atmospheric observations using a ruby laser. Since that time, laser-based sensors have demonstrated most, if not all, of the same functions as radio frequency (RF) or microwave RADAR. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) adopted the term LADAR (LAser Detection And Ranging) for these laser-based RADAR-type systems. That term will be used in this text.


This is where you will find all of the open- access government web pages related to the computer science field.


Miettinen (1968, Biometrics 24, 339-352) presented an approximation for power and sample size for testing the differences between proportions in the matched-pair case. Duffy (1984, Biometrics 40, 1005-1015) gave the exact power for this case and showed that Miettinen's approximation tends to slightly overestimate the power or underestimate the sample size necessary for the design power. A simple alternative approximation that is more conservative is presented here. In many cases, the sample size for the independent-sample case provides a conservative approximation for the matched-pair design.


Metamaterials are a class of artificial material, known to produce electromagnetic (EM) responses not found in nature due to their engineered subwavelength structure. In this thesis very thin subwavelength meshes are utilised to form layered metamaterials. The EM characteristics of the transmission and reflection response from these materials, including the polarisation converting behaviour, are explored to further understanding and develop structures to exploit and control the propagation of microwave radiation. Original experimental studies are presented across two sections; the first examines the response of stacks assembled from metallic meshes and dielectric plates; the second explores a rotated layered structure formed of square symmetric elements in a square subwavelength array that demonstrates chirality through evanescent coupling of the near fields. When metallic meshes are excited with EM radiation below the cut off frequency, only evanescently decaying fields are supported in the holes. By combining these subwavelength metallic meshes with dielectric plates in different arrangements, remarkably wide bands of high transmission and low reflection may be observed. The non-interacting resonant modes allow the response to be tuned through a suitable choice of the metallic mesh geometry and the properties of the dielectric. Further the low frequency band edge and the bandwidth are not dependent on the number of unit cells in the stack; but are dependent on the properties of the unit cell. The second section demonstrates "evanescent handedness" proposed as a new type of chirality. Two subwavelength square arrays of square elements are rotated with respect to one another. When the rotated arrays are positioned far from one another in the propagation direction, each acts as an effective medium layer. However when placed in close proximity the structure is shown to rotate the plane of polarisation of the incident radiation. All these mesh based structures share the property of producing an EM response that is tunable by design, allowing a structure to be tailored to a specific application.


This essay examines a neglected biographical sub-genre—collective "eccentric biography"—in its Victorian form. It contextualizes the genre by outlining its early-modern origins in character books and collections of wonders, and by relating Victorian versions to a wider press and public interest in eccentrics. The essay addresses readership, critical reception, publishing history, and the relationship of eccentric biography to the poetry of William Wordsworth, and to the fiction of Walter Scott and Charles Dickens, as well as reasons for the absence of new collections after the 1860s.


Background/Aims: Arteritis is an inflammatory disease of the vascular wall leading to ischemia and vascular occlusion. Complications of arteritis include anemia, which could, at least in theory, result from suicidal erythrocyte death or eryptosis, which is characterized by erythrocyte shrinkage and phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure at the erythrocyte surface. Cellular mechanisms involved in the stimulation of eryptosis include increased cytosolic Ca2+-concentration ([Ca2+]i), oxidative stress and ceramide formation. The present study explored whether and how arteritis influences eryptosis. Methods: Blood was drawn from patients suffering from arteritis (n=17) and from healthy volunteers (n=21). PS exposure was estimated from annexin V-binding, erythrocyte volume from forward scatter, [Ca2+]i from Fluo3-fluorescence, reactive oxygen species (ROS) from DCFDA fluorescence and ceramide abundance from FITC-conjugated antibody binding in flow cytometry. The patients suffered from anemia despite 2.8±0.4% reticulocytes. Results: The percentage of PS-exposing erythrocytes was significantly higher in patients (1.1±0.1%) than in healthy volunteers (0.3±0.1%). The increase in PS exposure was paralleled by increase in oxidative stress and [Ca2+]i but not by significant changes of ceramide abundance. Erythrocyte PS exposure and ROS production were significantly enhanced in erythrocytes exposed to patient plasma as compared to exposure to plasma from healthy volunteers. Conclusion: Arteritis is associated with enhanced eryptosis due to increased [Ca2+]i and oxidative stress. The eryptosis contributes to or even accounts for the anemia in those patients. As eryptotic erythrocytes adhere to endothelial cells of the vascular wall, they could impede microcirculation and thus contribute to vascular occlusion.


Recent research findings on the electron channeling contrast (ECC) characterization of various deformation microstructures in some metals were summarized. It is shown that the ECC technique can easily image, in a wide field of view, typical dislocation structures in fatigued Cu single crystals, as well as the relevant dislocation arrangements in deformation bands (DBs). The thermal instability of cyclic deformation induced dislocation structures in Cu single crystals under annealing, and microstructural instability of ultrafine-grained (UFG) Cu produced by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) under annealing or deforming were also well detected by ECC observations. In addition, a trial observation of the plastic deformation micro-features around the fatigue crack (tip) in Al6XN super-austenitic stainless steels was also made by the ECC technique.


Cardiac disease is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is the leading cause of death in the United States. Epidemiologic studies have shown a close association between morbidity and mortality from cardiac disease, primarily in persons already affected, and with modest increases in levels of air pollution. At present, no mechanisms are known by which inhaled air pollutants interact with the heart to cause death. Thus, animal models of cardiac disease are needed to study possible interactions between inhaled pollutants and the heart and the resultant morbidity and mortality. Very little research in animals has been conducted in this area, and appropriate animal models must be carefully selected. The purpose of this review is to examine several potential animal models and to discuss their advantages and disadvantages in the study of cardiac disease and air pollution.


This paper presents a new macroeconomic database for the Spanish economy, REMSDB. The con- struction of this database has been oriented to conducting medium-term simulations for policy eval- uation with the REMS model, a large Rational Expectations macroeconomic Model for Spain. The paper provides a detailed description of the data and documents its main statistical properties. The database is thought to be of major interest to related applications,whether strictly associated with the REMS model or, rather, with empirical macroeconomic studies.


The adsorption, dissociation, and diffusion of hydrogen in Ni(100) and Ni(100)/YSZ(100) slabs with two different interfaces (Ni/cation and Ni/O interface) have been studied by the density functional theory (DFT) with the Perdew-Wang functional. The H(2) molecule is found to preferentially absorb on a Top (T) site with side-on configuration on the Ni(100) surface, while the H-atom is strongly bound at a fcc Hollow (H) site. The barrier for the H(2) dissociation on both surfaces is calculated to be only ~0.1 eV. The potential energy pathways of H diffusion on pure Ni and Ni/YSZ with the two different interfaces are studied. Our calculated results show that the H-atom diffusion occurs via surface path rather than the bulk path. For the bulk path in Ni/YSZ, H-atom migration can occur more readily at the Ni/cation interface compared to the Ni/O interface. The existence of vacancy in the interface region is found to improve the mobility of H-atoms at the interface of Ni/YSZ slab. The rate constants for hydrogen dissociation and diffusion in pure Ni and Ni/YSZ are predicted.


The present study measured the energy efficiency at various sizes of farms in relation to their energy use pattern with special reference to wheat and paddy crops in relevance to electricity and fertilizer efficiency, identified the factors responsible for levels of efficiency on Punjab Farms and given the implications for future energy demand scenario and usage pattern in Punjab agriculture. A significant decline in per hectare use of commercial and non- commercial energy with the rise in the level of efficiency was observed. Per hectare use of commercial and non-commercial energy was comparatively low in zone III to zone I and zone II. Per hectare use of both commercial and non-commercial energy was more in paddy crop as expected in comparison to wheat crop. Paddy alone consumes three-fourth of total electricity consumption in agriculture. Only 20 per cent decrease in area under rice cultivation would decrease the energy use to a great extent. So, there is also a need of shifting from present wheat-paddy cropping system to less energy intensive cropping system.


A phonics-based reading curriculum in which students used an iPad to respond was created for students with developmental disabilities not able to verbally participate in traditional phonics instruction due to their use of augmentative and assistive communication. Time delay and a system of least prompts used in conjunction with text-to-speech software enabled students to participate in phonics instruction that included segmenting, decoding, sight words, and comprehension after reading a decodable short passage. Students were randomly assigned to a treatment group who received the phonics instruction or a control group who received sight word instruction on the iPad. A repeated-measures ANOVA found that students who received the iPad-based phonics curriculum outperformed the control students. Hierarchical linear model (HLM) analysis supports a two-level model with a time by group membership interaction effect, the inclusion of student-level variables was not statistically significant.


In osteoporosis there is a reduction in the protein and mineral matrix of the bone, with an increase in the risk of fracture, especially of some bones. The present paper discusses some of the preventive factors relating to nutrition and life style.
The acquisition of bone mass in infancy and adolescence is fundamental, carrying out a reasonable amount of exercise and a minimum exposure to sunlight, together with a high consumption of calcium proceeding from dairy products. The pharmacological supplement of calcium would be justified when the ingestion of milk and its derivatives is low in the juvenile and perimenopausal ages, as well as in cloistered or institutionalised persons, for whom vitamin D supplements should be added. Avoiding the following risks, smoking, the abusive consumption of alcohol, intense weight loss and diets that are extremely hypercaloric, a sedentary lifestyle and excessive exercise would all be other preventive measures for osteoporosis.


: The effect of halothane on prenatal development was assessed using the appearance of postnatal tolerance to the anesthetic and its effect on brain weight. Eighteen 3-month-old mice were repeatedly tested in a rotating cage for loss of righting reflex during exposure to increasing concentrations of halothane on 15 occasions to determine whether or not tolerance to halothane developed. Of these, nine mice were born to dams exposed for 30 min to 2% halothane on days 14 and 17 of gestation. The other nine mice (controls) were born to dams exposed to 100% oxygen for 30 min at the same stage of pregnancy. There was no significant difference in tolerance to halothane between the groups during the first nine days of repeated exposure to halothane. By the 13th and 15th days, however, mice exposed to halothane in utero became more tolerant to 1% halothane than did controls (P less than 0.025). In addition, the mean total brain weight of six 7-week-old mice exposed to 2% halothane in utero for 30 min on days 14 and 17 of gestation was found to be significantly less than the mean total brain weight of six control mice not exposed to halothane in utero (20.83 +/- 0.27 g and 23.07 +/- 0.51 g, respectively, P less than 0.0025). This difference occurred mainly in the brain stem rather than in the forebrain and cerebellum.


The design of cold roll forming roll tools, roll geometry and the number of tool sets, can typically be referred to as experiential design. Within a multi-occupant design office there will normally, for the same sectional profile, be as many different designs as there are designers. This variation in design results in a lack of design consistency and hence makes the process of developing design understanding, increasing profile complexity, maintaining quality, and roll tool predictability very difficult. This paper contains an explanation of the approach taken within the Hadley Group to identify the discrete steps associated with roll tool set design. To implement methods to standardise these steps including strip width and clearance calculations. With appropriate design steps standardised an explanation is provided as to how elements of this design process is automated leading to a system of assisted design for roll tool sets. The results, including increased design capacity, of the assisted roll design after being incorporated into the design office are discussed.


Hermeneutics is the art of understanding foreign meaning and communicating it to others in words. The present studies take their point of departure from juridical hermeneutics and compare them with biblical theology and literary studies. They all depend on understanding given texts and interpreting them. But only laws and biblical messages, authoritative texts that is, can be applied and have a planned effect on the life world. Possibilities of this kind are foreign to the "beautiful" texts of poetry. They follow their own aesthetic legality. The identical text can keep open different possibilities of interpretation. These, however, are not unlimited. Hermeneutics is oriented towards truth. But this is the truth about the given text, which is independent of whether the text itself is true or not.


ABSTRACT Epidemiological studies report that 80% of the population maintains antibodies (Ab) to wild-type (wt) adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2), with 30% expressing neutralizing Ab (NAb). The blood-brain barrier (BBB) provides limited immune privilege to brain parenchyma, and the immune response to recombinant AAV (rAAV) administration in the brain of a naive animal is minimal. However, central nervous system transduction in preimmunized animals remains unstudied. Vector administration may disrupt the BBB sufficiently to promote an immune response in a previously immunized animal. We tested the hypothesis that intracerebral rAAV administration and readministration would not be affected by the presence of circulating Ab to wt AAV2. Rats peripherally immunized with live wt AAV2 and naive controls were tested with single intrastriatal injections of rAAV2 encoding human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) or green fluorescent protein (GFP). Striatal readministration of rAAV2-GDNF was also tested in preimmunized and naive rats. Finally, serotype specificity of the immunization against wt AAV2 was examined by single injections of rAAV5-GFP. Preimmunization resulted in high levels of circulating NAb and prevented transduction by rAAV2 as assessed by striatal GDNF levels. rAAV2-GFP striatal transduction was also prevented by immunization, while rAAV5-GFP-mediated transduction, as assessed by stereological cell counting, was unaffected. Additionally, inflammatory markers were present in those animals that received repeated administrations of rAAV2, including markers of a cell-mediated immune response and cytotoxic damage. A live virus immunization protocol generated the circulating anti-wt-AAV Ab seen in this experiment, while human titers are commonly acquired via natural infection. Regardless, the data show that the presence of high levels of NAb against wt AAV can reduce rAAV-mediated transduction in the brain and should be accounted for in future experiments utilizing this vector.