Malaria infection during pregnancy is a significant public health problem with substantial risks for the pregnant woman, her fetus, and the new-born child. Malaria-associated maternal illness and low birth weight is mostly the result of Plasmodium falciparum infection and occurs predominantly in Africa. The influence of ABO blood groups on malaria infected pregnant women were investigated in Enugu, South- East, Nigeria. Two hundred and fifty women consisting of 200 pregnant women and 50 non-pregnant women (control) aged 19 to 35 years participated in the study. After obtaining informed consent from the participants, their blood samples were collected for total white blood cell, blood grouping and blood smears for malaria parasites. In the blood groups A, B, AB and O, the malaria parasite density increased significantly in the first, second and third trimesters when compared with the control respectively. Primigravida recorded the highest incidence with highest number of parasite positivity. Blood group O+ recorded the highest incidence but group AB+ recorded highest parasite positivity in the second trimester. The study has demonstrated more malaria parasite densities in blood groups AB+ and O+ of pregnant women in first and second trimester. Since group AB has both A and B antigens and group O has both anti-A and anti-B antibodies, these findings may suggest that ABO blood group has no influence on malaria parasites in pregnancy.


Abstract : There seems to be a widely held belief that different generations have different attitudes toward work, organizations, and co-workers. Clearly, these observed differences have implications for managers and leaders. Actions taken by leaders might be misunderstood by junior organizational members, leading to undesirable outcomes. Considering that many generational groups are represented within the Air Force, there is a need to analyze and understand potential generational differences. With the exception of the Smola and Sutton (2002) study, little empirical research has explored the extent to which these differences actually exist and whether differences exist among Air Force members. This research explores the extent to which differences exist among three generations of Air Force members, and the affects these potential differences have on leadership strategies. The generational groups studied were Baby Boomers (1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1978), and Millennials (1979-1994). Hypotheses were developed based on generational characteristics and tested using a questionnaire that includes 77 items to assess general work attitudes, attitudes towards job and organization, and individual preferences toward work processes. The results of the study indicate that while generational differences were shown to exist, significant differences among the groups accounted for a small proportion of the variables tested. Knowing these findings, if a leader or manager relies on generational stereotypes to establish human resource management policies and practices, they will be incorrectly applying leadership at least half of the time. Instead of focusing on generational stereotypes, leaders should focus on an individual's current stage of life. An individual's stage of life will more accurately reflect his/her attitudes towards work, loyalty to the organization, and job satisfaction. (5 tables, 1 figure, 33 refs.)


The signatures of nanosolvation on the one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) IR spectra of a proton-transfer mode in a hydrogen-bonded complex dissolved in polar solvent molecule nanoclusters of varying size are elucidated by using mixed quantum-classical molecular dynamics simulations. For this particular system, increasing the number of solvent molecules successively from N=7 to N=9 initiates the transition of the system from a cluster state to a bulk-like state. Both the 1D and 2D IR spectra reflect this transition through pronounced changes in their peak intensities and numbers, but the time-resolved 2D IR spectra also manifest spectral features that uniquely identify the onset of the cluster-to-bulk transition. In particular, it is observed that in the 1D IR spectra, the relative intensities of the peaks change such that the number of peaks decreases from three to two as the size of the cluster increases from N=7 to N=9. In the 2D IR spectra, off-diagonal peaks are observed in the N=7 and N=8 cases at zero waiting time, but not in the N=9 case. It is known that there are no off-diagonal peaks in the 2D IR spectrum of the bulk version of this system at zero waiting time, so the disappearance of these peaks is a unique signature of the onset of bulk-like behavior. Through an examination of the trajectories of various properties of the complex and solvent, it is possible to relate the emergence of these off-diagonal peaks to an interplay between the vibrations of the complex and the solvent polarization dynamics.


Presented are the results, with emphasis on the situation in Greece, of the ENHIS-2 project "Establishment of Environment and Health Information System Supporting Policy Making". The information system is based on a set of Environmental Health Indicators developed and updated by the project, organized according to the four WHO CEHAPE (Children's Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe) Regional Priority Goals (RPGs). In total 30 indicators have been developed and calculated using data from international and national databases. The outcome of the indicator piloting and the collection of information on relevant policies is used to make a preliminary assessment for Greece of the effects of environmental agents to population health in general and to children's health in particular. The preliminary conclusions are that environmental problems in Greece are similar to those experienced by other European countries. Regarding legislation and policies, Greece as a European member state has a well established legislative framework based mainly on the ratification of E.C. Directives. There is however a lack in more specific policies and action plans , and a lack of a well organized system for inspecting, monitoring and reporting environmental health problems.


Child maltreatment encompasses a constellation of adverse parental behaviors that include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, physical or emotional neglect, as well as exposure to violence between parents. A growing body of literature indicates that exposure to child maltreatment is a significant risk factor for the development and maintenance of eating disorders (EDs) and that practitioners experience challenges related to recognizing and responding to various forms of child maltreatment in their practice. Parent-child interactions signifying possible child maltreatment can be subtle; furthermore, the emotional and behavioral symptoms associated with an ED can overlap with those linked with child maltreatment, making it difficult for practitioners to distinguish whether children's symptoms are attributable to underlying psychopathology versus exposure to child maltreatment. This challenge can be further complicated in the context of delivering family-based treatment (FBT); FBT reaffirms that there is no single cause of EDs and asserts the leadership role of parents in their child's recovery process—both of which may lead practitioners to inadvertently miss indicators of child maltreatment. In this article, we provide an overview of the evidence linking child maltreatment to EDs among children and adolescents, as well as evidence-informed strategies for practitioners to safely recognize and respond to suspected child maltreatment when delivering FBT to children and adolescents in their practice.


Abstract. Virtual Reality technology has already matured and is capable of offering impressive immersive experiences. AT the same time head mounted devices (HMD) are also offering many possibilities along with the game engine environments. So far, all these impressive technologies have been implemented to increase the popularity of on-line visits and serious games development, as far as their application in the domain of Cultural Heritage is concerned. In this paper we present the development of a set of VR tools, which enable the user to perform accurate measurements within the immersive environment. In this way we believe that these tools will be very helpful and appeal to experts in need of these measurements, as they can perform them in the laboratory instead of visiting the object itself. This toolbox includes measuring the coordinates of single points in 3D space, measuring three-dimensional distances and performing horizontal or vertical cross sections. The first two have been already presented previously (Kontos & Georgopoulos 2020) and this paper focuses on the evaluation of the performance of the toolbox in determining cross sections. The development of the tool is explained in detail and the resulting cross sections of the 3D model of the Holy Aedicule are compared to real measurements performed geodetically. The promising results are discussed and evaluated.


Abstract:This article analyzes contemporary devotionalism to saints among a group of millennial-generation Catholics. Devotions to the communion of saints have long-been, for many generations of Catholics, practices of building and sustaining relationships between humans and extra-humans. This article explores a twenty-first century iteration of those practices. Drawing on fourteen months of ethnographic research among Catholic missionaries who evangelize on college campuses in the United States, this article examines how these missionaries remix their devotional practices on and for their contemporary American landscape. The article begins with an introduction to contemporary devotions, paying special attention to the centrality of suffering for this group of Catholics, as well as their efforts to "be saints" in the twenty-first century. Relationships with Saints Gemma Galgani, Faustina Kowalska, and Thérèse of Lisieux were particularly poignant in this worldview. How these young adults prayed with these saints shaped their Catholic identities. This article contributes to scholarship on contemporary Catholic prayer and the making of religious persons.


Abstract Over the past two decades, comprehensive sexuality education has increasingly been recognised as a measure that positively impacts on the sexual behaviour of young people in Africa. Despite this, and a political call to scale-up the use of comprehensive sexuality education in schools in South Africa, learners with disabilities continue to be left behind. Besides contending with negative hegemonic constructs of disabled sexualities, educators of learners with disabilities lack skills and resources to teach sexuality in accessible formats. Based on this premise, a comprehensive sexuality education approach – Breaking the Silence – was developed and piloted to assist educators of learners with disabilities to provide access to comprehensive sexuality education in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This article presents results from the formative evaluation of this pilot work and discusses educators' perceptions of their learners with intellectual disabilities' sexual knowledge, agency and behaviour after implementing the approach. Although educators appeared to situate learners with intellectual disabilities as sexual agents, their implementation of the approach was dependent on the cognitive ability of learners, and discourses of culture, gender and protection from violence.


The mechanical properties of several types of block copolymer (BCP) thin films have been investigated using PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping. The samples consisted of polystyrene/poly(methylmethacrylate) (PS/PMMA)-based BCP thin films with different pitches both randomly oriented and self-assembled. The measured films have a critical thickness below 50 nm and present features to be resolved of less than 22 nm. Beyond measuring and discriminate surface elastic modulus and adhesion forces of the different phases, we tuned the peak force parameters in order to reliably image those samples, avoiding plastic deformation. The method is able to detect the changes in mechanical response associated with the orientation of the PMMA cylinders with respect to the substrate (parallel versus vertical). The nanomechanical investigation is also capable of recognizing local stiffening due to the preferential growth of alumina deposited by atomic layer deposition on BCP samples, opening up new possibilities in the field of hard mask materials characterization.


Some researchers have found higher cholesterol levels linearly related to hostility, whereas others have found no relation. Even so, it remains unclear whether research should seek to find a linear relation between hostility and cholesterol levels. We hypothesized that a U-curved association was the proper test of the relation between hostility and cholesterol. Total fasting and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were collected from a population-based sample of 2,306 Canadians. Barefoot's (1989) scoring of the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale was used to assess hostility levels. Both a linear and a U-curved relation among hostility scores, fasting total, and LDL cholesterol levels were significant. Participants with low and high cholesterol levels had significantly higher hostility scores than the normal cholesterol group. A U-curved relation between hostility and serum cholesterol levels may be a more appropriate function to consider given the all-cause mortality findings we seek to explain.


Overall transmittance of porous cerium dioxide is measured in the spectral range of 900–1700 nm using dispersive spectroscopy. Dense and porous samples of cerium dioxide with average porosities of 0.08 and 0.72, respectively, are investigated. The transmittance of both sample types increases with decreasing thickness, and this trend is more pronounced for the dense samples. The on-average spectrally increasing transmittance of the dense samples is attributed to the decreasing absorption by bulk cerium dioxide with radiation wavelength. The transmittance of the porous samples, on the other hand, remains a constant over the spectrum. Porous samples attenuate radiation stronger than the dense samples at any wavelength in the considered range, and it is hypothesized that this effect is due to more intense scattering. Sharp local variations of the transmittance are observed for both sample types.© 2011 ASME


Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease associated with increased production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Triptolide is a compound originally purified from T. wilfordii Hook F. and has potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of triptolide on the global gene expression patterns of macrophages treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We found that LPS stimulation resulted in >5-fold increase in expression of 117 genes, and triptolide caused a >50% inhibition in 47 of the LPS-inducible 117 genes. A large portion of the genes that were strongly induced by LPS and significantly inhibited by triptolide were pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes, including TNF-α, IL- 1β, and IL-6. Interestingly, LPS also induced the expression of micro-RNA-155 (miR-155) precursor, BIC, which was inhibited by triptolide. Confirming the cDNA array results, we demonstrated that triptolide blocked the induction of these pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as miR-155 in a dose-dependent manner. Profound inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was observed at concentrations as low as 10-50 nM. However, triptolide neither inhibited the phosphorylation or degradation of IBα after LPS stimulation, nor affected the DNA- binding activity of NF-B. Surprisingly, we found that triptolide not only inhibited NF-B-regulated reporter transcription, but also dramatically blocked the activity of other transcription factors. Our study offers a plausible explanation of the therapeutic mechanism of T. wilfordii Hook F.


We present a simple route to prepare strontium-doped lanthanum cobaltites, La0.7Sr0.3CoO3 (LSCO), from an aqueous precursor solution. This method uses metal acetates and are complexed by an organic ligand with strong electron donating functionalities. This method allows us to eliminate the need to perform a mechanical milling step that is usually done in conventional solid state reaction method and reduce its processing temperature. X-ray diffraction was used as a tool to determine the amount of LSCO phases in our samples. The result shows that the powder prepared using this simple route produces LSCO-dominant powders.


This thesis is concerned with John Stuart Mill's democratic theory.

In chapter I, I examine the relations between political philosophy and political theory and science before providing a detailed outline of the aims of the dissertation.

In chapter II, I argue that in order to reconcile the concepts of progress and equality within a utilitarian theory, a Millian political system needs to devise institutions that promote general happiness, protect individual autonomy, safeguard society from mediocrity.

Chapter III discusses what different authors have said about Mill and liberty, then explores James Mill's theory of education and Coleridge's influence on John Stuart Mill's thought. I conclude by criticising Richard Arneson's interpretation according to which the Considerations and On Liberty are inconsistent, and some of Gregory Claeys' conclusions on Mill and paternalism.

Chapter IV explores the methodology of the social sciences and the philosophy of history as found in Mill's writings; then it considers Mill's thought in regard to his father's Radical proposals. I also discuss at some length the idea of the tyranny of the majority.

Chapter V begins with a discussion of Hanna Pitkin's theory of representation. I then provide a critical account of Richard Krouse and Nadia Urbinati's interpretations of Mill. I conclude by arguing that, in a Millian democracy, the higher is the degree of complexity or the need for expertise in dealing with affairs, the greater is the bearing of the principle of competence in assessing whether a representative should act as a trustee or a delegate. I also introduce the idea of rational debate as a sort of 'influence multiplier', arguing that this would help to make a democracy rational and effective along Millian lines.

In the last two chapters, I stress the relevance of Mill's political philosophy as for some contemporary issues (nationalism, European federalism, current social and economic changes) while suggesting some potential further investigations, and summarise my conclusions.


Abstract Since 1981 three American cities—Boston, San Francisco, and Santa Monica—have adopted downtown planning policies that link large-scale commercial development with housing, transit, and employment to mitigate the negative effects of downtown growth. In this article I review the experience of those cities. I also discuss issues raised in debates about linkage policies in other cities and the factors that are critical to adoption of such policies; identify policy issues in the design and implementation of linkage programs; discuss the legality and effects of linkage policies; and analyze two alternatives to linkage policies. I conclude that only a few cities are likely to adopt linkage policies; that linkage programs are likely to have a significant but only marginal effect on social problems aggravated by downtown growth; that the effects and legality of linkage are unresolved; that linkage policies should be tied to comprehensive downtown plans; and that such policies can provide an equitable mean...


Hair tourniquet syndrome may be a rare clinical phenomenon that involves hair, thread, or similar material becoming so tightly wrapped around an appendage that it leads to pain, injury, and, sometimes, loss of the appendage. Essentially, any appendage could also be involved, including a toe, wrist, penis, scrotum, tongue, uvula, vaginal labium, ear lobe, umbilicus, or nipple. In a meta-analysis review of 210 cases of hair-thread tourniquet syndrome, 44.2% involved the penis, 40.4% the toes, 8.6% fingers, and another 6.8% represented other sites. HTS has been variously described within the literature as toe tourniquet syndrome or Hair-thread tourniquet syndrome. Its exact incidence is unknown, but it has been accepted that it is underreported in literature. First described by Quin HTS commonly affects infants. However, a few cases have been described in adults with impaired cognitive function.
Hair or threads from clothing are the common culprits. After childbirth, mothers are in telogen effluvium phase and shed their hair which increases the danger to develop HTS. Increased hair loss seen in chemotherapy patients also make the kid vulnerable. When mittens and regularly washed old clothing is employed, there's an opportunity for HTS to develop. It has sometimes also been described as a form of child abuse, and therefore, a careful clinical examination to rule out any other injuries is very important.
Hair tourniquets become very painful, so a baby who has one will likely cry tons. Looking for a hair tourniquet may be a unique but important addition to any parent or caregiver's checklist when helping a crying baby. If your baby is crying or seems in pain, and you've tried the standard feed-change-sleep routine, it's a good idea to look over the whole body for a hair tourniquet.
Vulvar disease often presents with a spread of lesions and in patients with severe symptoms the lesion is generally excised. Hair tourniquet syndrome may be a rare case that involves fibres of hair or thread wrapped around an appendage producing tissue necrosis within the vulva. Its incidence, epidemiology and explanation are unknown. This paper presents hair thread tourniquet syndrome within the vulva, specifically the labium in a teenager female with hypertrophic labia. She presented with labial swelling and initial impression was an infected labial cyst. Under careful examination, there was note of hair strangulating the labial minora. Management involved mechanical release of the strangulation and there was note of immediate improvement within the blood flow to the affected area. Prompt diagnosis and timely management of this condition is vital to stop tissue ischemia, necrosis and unnecessary amputation of the appendage.
Treatment consists of removing the constricting agent and if significant compartment syndrome is present, then a soothing incision is required to alleviate it. If the hair or thread is easily visible during the examination, they can be cut using scissors or removed using forceps under magnification. Depilatory creams applied on intact skins have been found to weaken the hair fibre. However, most of the times, due to excessive edema, no definite constricting agent is visible, and this necessitates examination under anesthesia and complete release of the constricting ring to ensure unimpeded blood flow. Infants are more vulnerable to digital ischemia if a toe is encircled by a strand of hair or another similar material. An early diagnosis and prompt removal of material is important in order to prevent loss of the part. The emergency doctors should confine mind that hair thread tourniquet syndrome is unusual but the results are often severe.


To elucidate the anti-obesity effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus LRa05 through the analysis of gut microbiota and liver metabolomics, we investigated changes in gut microbiota and liver metabolomic phenotypes in mice by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. C57BL/6J male mice were orally administered with LRa05 for 8 weeks. Body weight, serum lipid levels, and the lipid accumulation of liver cells and epididymal fat tissues in the mice fed with a high-fat diet were inhibited after treatment with LRa05 at 1 × 109 CFU per day per mouse. LRa05 also reshaped the gut microbiota, reduced the abundance of the pro-pathogen bacterial Streptococcus, suppressed blood and liver glucose content, and promoted liver carbohydrate and energy metabolism. Moreover, Intestinimonas and palmitoyl ethanolamide exhibited a positive correlation, whereas Enterorhabdus and vitamin B2 showed a negative correlation. Therefore, LRa05 can potentially be used as an anti-obesity probiotic in further interventions.


Author: Samuel Williams Title: Evaluating Effective Altruism and its Implications on the Fight Against Malaria Supervising Professors: Ian Proops, Christopher Meakin While malaria cases and fatalities have fallen since 2000, there were still an estimated 216 million cases and 445,000 deaths worldwide in 2016 -comprising 0.8% of global deaths. One movement calling great attention and action to the global burden of malaria, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, is effective altruism. Effective altruism is focused on prioritizing donations to causes and organizations with the greatest impact and highest cost-effectiveness. It hinges on the argument that when faced with cost-equivalent decision alternatives, we should choose those that do more good than less. The first task is to evaluate whether effective altruism is correct in its assertions and aims. This will rely upon philosophical discussion centered on the works of a few key effective altruists, namely Peter Singer, and various objections raised against the movement. The second task will be to understand the current state of antimalarial efforts in prevention, treatment, and elimination. Last, I will apply the valuable principles of effective altruism to these efforts to determine what methods the ideal fight against malaria would utilize.


Given a connected crystalline structure, the set of paths and cycles of the quotient graph of its bond net is embedded into a commutative ring structure. Multiplication combines walks to build up geodesics of the net whereas addition stands symbolically for enumerating a collection of walks. Topological criteria are used to define zero divisors which enable the development of an algebraic generator into a combination of geodesics that are in a one-to-one correspondence with the vertices of the net. A ring mapping gives the generating function of the coordination sequence in the net.


Umbral flashes (UFs) are emissions in the core of chromospheric lines caused by upward propagating waves steepening into shocks. UFs are followed by an expanding blueshifted umbral wave and redshifted plasma returning to the initial state. Here we use 5 s cadence images acquired at ±0.04 nm off the H line center by the Visible Imaging Spectrometer installed on the Goode Solar Telescope (GST) to detect the origin of UFs and umbral waves (UWs) in a sunspot with a uniform umbra free of light bridges and clusters of umbral dots. The data showed that UFs do not randomly originate over the umbra. Instead, they appear to be repeatedly triggered at locations with the lowest umbral intensity and the most powerful oscillations of H –0.04 nm intensity. GST magnetic field measurements using the Near-Infrared Imaging Spectropolarimeter also showed that the dominant location of prevalent UF origin is cospatial associated with the strongest fields in the umbra. Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph 149.0 nm images showed that no bright UV loops were anchored in the umbra in general, and near the UF patches in particular, suggesting that UFs and UWs alone cannot be responsible for the origin of warm coronal loops. We thus conclude that the existence of locations with prevalent origin of UFs confirms the idea that they may be driven by a subsurface source located near the axis of a flux rope, while the presence of several UFs trigger centers may indicate the complex structure of a sunspot umbra.


The results of treatment of 150 patients, suffering gastroduodenal perforative ulcer, using laparoscopic method, were studied. Depending on the operations volume, they must be divided on palliative, conditionally radical and radical. The operation volume choice has depended on the patient age, the ulcer disease duration and the course character, as well as the conservative therapy efficacy. Laparoscopic interventions were performed in 138 (92%) patients and laparoscopically-associated--in 12 (8%). Complications in the early postoperative period have had occurred in 4 (2.7%) patients. Postoperative recurrence of ulcer was revealed during three years in 14 (9.3%) patients.


We describe here a comprehensive framework for intelligent information management (IIM) of data collection and decision-making actions for reliable and robust event processing and recognition. This is driven by algorithmic information theory (AIT), in general, and algorithmic randomness and Kolmogorov complexity (KC), in particular. The processing and recognition tasks addressed include data discrimination and multilayer open set data categorization, change detection, data aggregation, clustering and data segmentation, data selection and link analysis, data cleaning and data revision, and prediction and identification of critical states. The unifying theme throughout the paper is that of "compression entails comprehension", which is realized using the interrelated concepts of randomness vs. regularity and Kolmogorov complexity. The constructive and all encompassing active learning (AL) methodology, which mediates and supports the above theme, is context-driven and takes advantage of statistical learning, in general, and semi-supervised learning and transduction, in particular. Active learning employs explore and exploit actions characteristic of closed-loop control for evidence accumulation in order to revise its prediction models and to reduce uncertainty. The set-based similarity scores, driven by algorithmic randomness and Kolmogorov complexity, employ strangeness / typicality and p-values. We propose the application of the IIM framework to critical states prediction for complex physical systems; in particular, the prediction of cyclone genesis and intensification.


This study aims is to determine the relationship between capital flow and exchange rate in Malaysia. This study analyzes time series data which comprised of annually
data from 1970 until 2010. In this study, there are three steps that have to be carried out to analyze the data which are unit root test, cointegration test and Granger
causality test. The empirical result shows that there exists a long-run relationship among the variables that are tested which included real exchange rate, short-term external, net capital inflows and government spending by using Johansen's
cointegration test. The cointegrating vector suggests that real exchange rate is negatively related to short-term external debt, it is positively related to net capital
inflows and government spending. Besides that, the results from the vector error correction model (VECM) give information regard on the effect of short-term external
debt, net capital inflows and government expenditure on real exchange rate in Malaysia. Short-term external debt and government spending explains the most variations of real exchange rate in long-run while net capital inflows is significant only in short-run. The empirical result further shows that there are unidirectional causality from short-term external debt to real exchange rate and there is also exists a unidirectional causality from net capital inflows to real exchange rate. The contemporaneous value of real exchange rate can be Significantly improved by incorporating past value of short-term external debt and capital inflows. Capital flows have played an important role in explaining the dynamic changes in real exchange rate.


Gradient Langevin dynamics (GLD) and stochastic GLD (SGLD) have attracted considerable attention lately, as a way to provide convergence guarantees in a non-convex setting. However, the known rates grow exponentially with the dimension of the space. In this work, we provide a convergence analysis of GLD and SGLD when the optimization space is an infinite dimensional Hilbert space. More precisely, we derive non-asymptotic, dimension-free convergence rates for GLD/SGLD when performing regularized non-convex optimization in a reproducing kernel Hilbert space. Amongst others, the convergence analysis relies on the properties of a stochastic differential equation, its discrete time Galerkin approximation and the geometric ergodicity of the associated Markov chains.


This article explores the career of Jacob Behrman (1921–2012) and the growth of Behrman House from a small Jewish bookseller to the leading publisher of Jewish religious school textbooks. Behrman's success owed in part to his ability to appeal to the vast center, to gauge correctly his consumers' needs and reflect their outlook and values, to eschew partisanship and play down ideological differences, and to swim with the tide. In addition, I make the case that Behrman House elevated the field of Jewish education by raising the quality of Jewish textbooks, and that through its ascendency played a role in redefining the goals of Jewish education and its undergirding ideological thrust. Behrman was not driven by a single model of Jewish education or a monolithic vision for the Jewish community, but rather, by business exigencies and a connection to Jewish peoplehood and culture.


This paper investigates the estimation of low-rank multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels in millimeter wave (mmWave) communications. Hybrid MIMO transceivers equipped with uniform linear arrays (ULAs) and phase shifter networks are considered. We propose a novel three-stage channel estimator by exploiting the low-rankness of the channel matrix and knowledge of the array response: We first obtain a low-rank estimate of the channel matrix using inductive matrix completion (IMC); then estimate the angle of arrival (AoA) and angle of departure (AoD) for the propagation paths by solving two one-dimensional spectrum estimation problems using Toeplitz rectification and the root multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm; and finally pair the AoAs and AoDs and estimate the channel gains by solving a sparse recovery problem. Each stage is implemented at a low complexity and thus the overall complexity is kept low. A priori knowledge about the channel is exploited progressively to enhance the performance. The simulation results suggest significant gains in the channel estimation performance along with sparse representations of the estimated channel.


The carcinoembryonic antigen is a protein that is produced by embryos during development. The protein helps cells stick to each other . For this reason it is called a 'cell adhesion molecule or CAM'. It is not normally found in the blood in adults Some cancers, including colon, rectal, ovarian, breast and pancreatic may produce CEA. Because normal adults do not have CEA protein in their blood, the presence of the protein can be used to detect cancer and to determine whether cancer treatments are working.


Large Transformer-based models have shown great performance in sequence-tosequence tasks such as machine translation, text summarization etc. While these models perform well on the original task they have been trained on, it is hard to use them for a new but related task. We propose CASPer, a framework to perturb the input-output behavior of the original pre-trained sequence-to-sequence model. CASPer learns a perturbation parameter at test time to modify the behavior of pre-trained model and generates samples that have target characteristics. We apply this framework on a pre-trained text summarization model to alter a given input text such that the generated text has a changed sentiment or other attributes. In experiments, we show that CASPer effectively generates controlled text that preserve the original content, are fluent, diverse and follow the steering provided by the attribute model.


This article examines a few appropriations of the main women characters in the Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, by ordinary women in their folk songs, as well as by women writers and artists in the feminist domain. The appropriations dip into already existing associations about the epic heroines, but rearticulate these to create greater space for the elaboration and positioning of postcolonial Indian feminisms. While the appropriation of the epics carries certain risks, such as unintentional complicity with right-wing conservative projects and the positioning of Indian feminism as exclusive of caste and class concerns, it is contended here that the risk is worth taking because the epics continue to be an important and contested part of the cultural field, and because the feminist appropriations are able to absorb and respond to the critiques to some degree. The appropriations in the folk domain are juxtaposed with those in the feminist domain: those of Sita from the Ramayana are juxtaposed with those of Draupadi from the Mahabharata. In addition, all appropriations are placed within the debate in Indian feminism over the use of traditional narratives in order to garner insight into the potential of the narratives as a resource for feminist projects.


We have determined the atomic structure of the Bi/Ge(111)-( √ 3 × √ 3)R30◦ surface by dynamical low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) analysis and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The optimized atomic structure consists of Bi atoms which are adsorbed near the T1 sites of the bulk-truncated Ge(111) surface and form triangular trimer units centered at the T4 sites. The atomically resolved STM image was consistent with the LEED result. The structural parameters agree well with those optimized by a first-principles calculation which supports the interpretation of the electronic band splitting on this surface in terms of the giant Rashba effect. PACS numbers: 61.05.jh, 68.37.Ef, 68.47.Fg Submitted to: J. Phys.: Condens. Matter


A finite element analysis using zero-thickness interface elements of the Goodman type, which incorporate a fracture mechanics-based mixed-mode constitutive law, is presented to study stress-induced cracking and spalling around a highly stressed tunnel. The effect of bolting on stress-fracturing and rock mass deformations (strains of the rock matrix and opening/sliding of the fractures) is considered by applying bolts at various spacing densities. The adopted tunnel excavation and far-field loading sequence approximates conditions typically experienced at the extraction level of a caving operation. Starting from an in situ stress state, the tunnel is excavated and then loaded vertically to simulate the advancement of the overlying undercut. The tunnel is then unloaded to stress values lower than in-situ once the undercut becomes effective and caving begins.
Using a Voronoi tessellation routine, the rock mass near the tunnel cross-section is randomly discretized into triangular elements of similar size to that expected for spalled rock blocks. Interface elements are inserted in between all mesh lines. An interface transitioning to the far-field rock mass separates this finely-discretized zone allowing the rest of the cross-section to be modelled as a linear elastic material for computational efficiency. Rock bolts are simulated in a simplified manner with elasto-plastic rod elements overlapped to the continuum mesh and anchored at several points along their length including the ends. Calculations are run using various bolt spacing densities. The model results show bulking due to stress-fracturing of strong rock. They further show that bulking can only be reduced, but not prevented, through confinement provided by high bolting forces.


Abstract Oxyplumboroméite, Pb2Sb2O7, is a new mineral of the roméite group of the pyrochlore supergroup (IMA 2013-042). It is found together with calcite and leucophoenicite in fissure fillings in tephroite skarn at the Harstigen mine, Värmland, Sweden. The mineral occurs as yellow to brownish yellow rounded grains or imperfect octahedra. Oxyplumboroméite has a Mohs hardness of ~5, a calculated density of 6.732 g/cm3 and is isotropic with a calculated refractive index of 2.061. Oxyplumboroméite is cubic, space group Fd3̅m, with the unit-cell parameters a = 10.3783(6) Å, V = 1117.84(11) Å3 and Z = 8. The strongest five X-ray powder-diffraction lines [d in Å (I)(hkl)] are: 2.9915(100)(222), 2.5928(32)(400), 1.8332(48)(440), 1.5638(38)(622) and 1.1900(12)(662). The crystal structure of oxyplumboroméite was refined to an R1 index of 3.02% using 160 unique reflections collected with MoKa radiation. Electron microprobe analyses in combination with crystal-structure refinement, infrared, Mössbauer and electronic absorption spectroscopy resulted in the empirical formula A(Pb0.92Ca0.87Mn0.09Sr0.01Na0.05)∑1.93B(Sb1.73Fe0.273+)∑2.00X+Y[O6.64(OH)0.03]∑6.67. Oxyplumboroméite is the Pb analogue of oxycalcioroméite, ideally Ca2Sb2O7.


Applying by-products as soil amendments to agricultural systems is growing in popularity. We aimed to assess the efficacy of some contemporary by-products to provide nutrients to crops as well as the potential harm of adding toxic elements to the environment. Four different by-products widely available in Northern Europe were tested for their effects on two nutrient-poor agricultural soils in terms of increasing available macro- and micro-nutrients as well as toxic elements. Assessing soil microbial community as a sensitive tool for evaluating soil quality was conducted with the focus on microbial activity, carbon metabolism and on Rhizobium/Agrobacterium. Wood ash increased pH and CaEDTA, KEDTA and MgEDTA in the soils. The only increase in EDTA-extractable micronutrients in the soils was observed by applying pot ale, increasing Cu. None of the amendments increased the availability of Pb and Cd in the soils. Soils amended with the by-products thus remained similar to the unamended control but were quite different from fully mineral fertilised soils. There were no detectable adverse effects on the physiological and genetic profiles of microbial communities. The by-products were moderately beneficial and did not change the soil microbial community as much as the fully fertilised treatment with mineral fertilisers. Changes in the microbial community profiles were probably due to direct effects on microbes limited by K, Ca and N as opposed to indirect effects on plant growth. This is potentially significant in understanding how to improve impoverished and marginal soils as microbial activity affects many other ecosystem functions.


Soluble TNFRs (tumour necrosis factor receptors) inhibit in-vivo and in-vitro bioactivities of TNF, and thus the secretion of soluble TNFRs could be a physiological principle to attenuate the bioactivities of TNF. Two types of TNFR have been identified and both forms can be released from cells. In this study, soluble TNFRs in seminal plasma from three groups of men were analysed: from men with normal semen quality (n = 32), with reduced semen quality (n = 7) and vasectomized men (n = 3). Sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were utilized to detect soluble TNFRs in seminal plasma, based on capture antibodies directed against non-TNF-binding sites of the TNFRs and digoxigenin (DIG)-labelled TNF. The mean +/- standard deviation levels of p55 TNFR were 56.4 +/- 20, 64.4 +/- 17 and 45.4 +/- 5 ng/ml in the three groups, respectively. The concentration of p75 TNFR was < 1 ng/ml in all groups. The results suggest an exclusive existence of high amounts of the soluble p55 TNFR in seminal plasma. Seminal plasma from vasectomized men contained p55 TNFR at approximately the same levels as the specimen from the two other groups, indicating that the source of p55 TNFR is not the testis but rather some tissue more distal in the male genital tract, such as the prostate or the seminal vesicles. The soluble p55 TNFR was purified from human seminal plasma, using affinity and gel filtration chromatography. Further characterization of the purified p55 revealed a protein with a molecular weight of approximately 22 kDa, both under reducing and non-reducing conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


We present a phonetic encoding for Bangla that can be used by spelling checkers to provide better suggestions for misspelled words. The encoding is based on the Soundex algorithm, modified to match Bangla phonetics. We start by analyzing Soundex encoding scheme when applied to Bangla. Next we propose a new encoding that handles the case of Bangla words, including those containing conjuncts. We conclude with a demonstration of a prototype spelling checker that uses this phonetic encoding to offer suggestions for a set of misspelled Bangla words.


BACKGROUND
The role of personality in the causation of cancer has been controversial. We examined this question in a large, prospective study.

METHODS
From June through August 1990, 30 277 residents of Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan completed a Japanese version of the short form of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised and a questionnaire on various health habits. There were 671 prevalent cases of cancer at baseline, and 986 incident cases of cancer were identified during 7 years of follow-up, through December 1997. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the relative risk (RR) of incident cancer (total, stomach, colorectal, breast, and lung) according to four levels of each of four personality subscales (extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, and lie), with adjustment for sex, age, education, smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, and family history of cancer. Statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS
Multivariable RRs of total cancer for individuals in the highest level of each personality subscale as compared with those in the lowest were 0.9 for extraversion (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.7 to 1.1; P(trend) =.32), 1.1 for psychoticism (95% CI = 0.9 to 1.3; P(trend) =.96), 0.9 for lie (95% CI = 0.7 to 1.0; P(trend) =.19), and 1.2 for neuroticism (95% CI = 1.0 to 1.4; P(trend) =.06). There were no associations between any personality subscale and risk of specific cancers. Neuroticism showed statistically significant positive, linear associations with prevalent cancer at baseline (P(trend)<.001) and with the 320 incident cancer cases diagnosed within the first 3 years of follow-up (P(trend) =.03); however, it showed no association with the 666 cases diagnosed during the fourth through the seventh years of follow-up (P(trend) =.43).

CONCLUSION
Our data do not support the hypothesis that personality is a risk factor for cancer incidence. The association between neuroticism and prevalent cancer may be a consequence, rather than a cause, of cancer diagnosis or symptoms.


Clostridium difficile is a leading cause of nosocomial infection in North America and a considerable challenge to healthcare professionals in hospitals and nursing homes. The Gram-positive bacterium produces two exotoxins, toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB), which are the major virulence factors responsible for C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) and are targets for CDAD therapy. In this work, recombinant single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs) which target the cell receptor binding domains of TcdA or TcdB were isolated from an immune, llama phage display library and characterized. Four VHHs (A4.2, A5.1, A20.1, and A26.8) were potent neutralizers of the cytopathic effects of TcdA in an in vitro assay and the neutralizing potency was enhanced when VHHs were administered in combinations. Epitope mapping experiments revealed that some synergistic combinations consisted of VHHs recognizing overlapping epitopes, an indication that factors other than mere epitope blocking are responsible for the increased neutralization. Binding assays revealed TcdA-specific VHHs neutralized TcdA by binding to sites other than the carbohydrate binding pocket of the toxin. The TcdB-specific VHHs failed to neutralize TcdB, as did a panel of human VL antibodies isolated from a synthetic library. To enhance the stability of the C. difficile TcdA-specific VHHs for oral therapeutic applications, the VHHs were expressed with an additional disulfide bond by introducing Ala/Gly54Cys and Ile78Cys mutations. The mutant VHHs were found to be well expressed, were non-aggregating monomers, retained low nM affinity for TcdA, and were capable of in vitro TcdA neutralization. Digestion of the VHHs with the major gastrointestinal proteases, at biologically relevant concentrations, revealed a significant increase in pepsin resistance for all mutants and an increase in chymotrypsin resistance for the majority of mutants without compromising inherent VHH trypsin resistance. Collectively, the second disulfide not only increased VHH thermal stability at neutral pH, as previously shown, but also represents a generic strategy to increase VHH stability at low pH and impart protease resistance. These are all desirable characteristics for the design of protein-based oral therapeutics. In conclusion, llama VHHs represent a class of novel, non-antibiotic inhibitors of infectious disease virulence factors such as C. difficile toxins.


Prolonged physical endurance performances can show different effects on the organism in different genders. Systematic differences between men and women are still largely unknown. In this case study we describe the effects of a 600 km ultra-cycling race on the body composition in a female World class ultra-endurance cyclist. The athlete showed a decrease in fat mass and an increase in total body water and plasma volume. The increase in plasma volume presumably led to a haemodilution, which consequently resulted in an oedema and in an increase in total body water. Possible reasons are hypoproteinaemic oedema or an endocrine-induced renal retention of water in order to maintain metabolism processes for energy supply and blood flow during ultra-endurance performance. In the urinary proton magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy, however, we found no increase in ketone bodies. These findings in a single female cyclist should be further investigated in larger samples of male and female cyclists.


Adenosine-mediated analgesia and interactions between opioids and adenosine in the brain have been observed by several researchers. Our investigations were designed to examine opioid-adenosine interactions at spinal sites and possible modulation of opioid-stimulated descending antinociceptive pathways by adenosine in the spinal cord. Methylxanthines administered intrathecally (i.t.) were used as adenosine receptor antagonists to determine possible interactions between opioids and endogenous adenosine. Theophylline administered i.t. dose-dependently antagonized analgesia induced by morphine administered i.t. or i.c.v. as measured by tail-flick and hot-plate assays. Analgesia induced by i.t. injections of 2-chloroadenosine, an adenosine agonist, was also antagonized by theophylline. However, doses of naloxone (i.t.) that antagonized analgesia induced by i.t. injections of morphine had no effect on 2-chloroadenosine (i.t.)-induced analgesia. These data support morphine-stimulated release of adenosine in the spinal cord. Antagonism of morphine (i.c.v.)-induced analgesia by theophylline was mimicked by caffeine and isobutylmethylxanthine. The results could not be explained as a consequence of effects on phosphodiesterease enzymes, drug-induced hyperalgesia or spinal redistribution of i.c.v. administered morphine. Therefore, our studies suggest that endogenous adenosine in the spinal cord is involved in analgesia mediated by opioid-stimulated descending antinociceptive pathways.


Introduction: Breast cancer accounts for 19-34% of all cancer cases among women in India. There is high mortality due to late stage diagnosis as patients usually present at an advanced stage because of lack of awareness and nonexistent breast cancer screening programs. Early detection and prompt treatment offer the greatest chance of long-term survival and breast self-examination (BSE) seems to be a important viable optional substitute for early detection of cancer. Objectives: 1) To assess the level of knowledge of degree college female students on BSE. 2) To determine the effectiveness of planned teaching program among degree college female students on BSE. 3) To find the association between pretest knowledge and selected demographic variables. Materials and Methods: Pre-experimental one group pretestpost-test design was carried out among 40 degree female students by using cluster sampling method from selected colleges of Udupi district. Results: The data analyzed showed that majority (52%) of them was in the age group of 18-19 years and 72% of them were had average knowledge on BSE in the pretest score. Out of 40 participants only one student was performing BSE occasionally. Conclusions: Awareness regarding breast self examination among young generations is useful and it is the most important viable tool for early detection.


The use of catalysts to improve the exchange kinetics between hydrogen isotopes in the gas phase and that in the solid phase was investigated. Granules of alumina, silica and molecular sieve were coated with platinum as the catalyst. The granules saturated with water at room humidity were packed in a 2-cm diameter column for isotope exchange tests. Deuterium and protium were alternately fed through the column at a constant rate. Isotope concentration in column effluent was monitored to generate isotope break-through curves. The curves were analyzed to produce information on the kinetics and capacity of the material. The results showed that all materials tested provided some extent of isotope exchange but some were superior both in kinetics and capacity. This paper will present the test results.


The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) technique, combined with the analyses of satellite images and the geological structure, are examined on Lonar crater , a small, ~1.8-km-diameter impact crater in India, to evaluate the direction and obliquity of asteroid impact. The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Refl ection Radiometer (ASTER) image (15-m resolution) of the ca. 52 ka Lonar crater in the subhorizontal Deccan basalt (ca. 65 Ma) shows that this simple, bowl-shaped impact crater has a near-circular rim with a circularity of ~0.95. Most of the highly refl ecting, continuous-ejecta blanket around the crater rim can be enveloped with an ellipse whose major E-W axis is coincident with the diameter of the crater rim and minor N-S axis is relatively displaced toward the west by ~200 m. The present ejecta distribution, which appears to be close to its pristine shape, extends to a distance of ~700 m in all the directions from the crater rim except to the west where it extends to a distance of a little more than 1 km. The circular shape of the crater rim, the E-W bilateral symmetry of the enveloping ellipse on the ejecta, and the greater extension of the ejecta toward the west appear to be the result of an oblique impact from the east with an angle of incidence of 30°–45° when compared with experiments. The AMS data suggest that the target basalts occurring at ~2 km west-southwest of the crater rim are highly shocked, as indicated by the random orientation of their K 3 susceptibility axes in comparison to the unshocked basalts at ~2 km east-southeast of the crater; the unshocked basalts show a bimodal distribution of susceptibility axes typical of lava fl ows. Moderate to strong westward shifts of the K3 axes are seen for the majority of the shocked basalts on the crater rim and westsouthwest of the crater; the shocked basalts also indicate an oblique impact from the east when compared with modeling and experiments. A general lowering of degree of anisotropy of the Lonar shocked basalts (~1.01) compared to the surrounding unshocked basalts (~1.03) is found to be a characteristic feature of impact crater target rocks. Variation in attitudes of the basalt fl ows on the Lonar crater rim shows a bilaterally symmetrical distribution about an E-W axial plane, which includes quaquaversal dips of the fl ows all around the crater rim, except to the west where overturned dips of the basalt fl ows are seen. It appears that oblique impact and the symmetry in structural variations around the crater rim have a relationship for a small crater such as Lonar.


Dr Moran and Drs Finlayson and Birkmeyer raise several important points regarding our analysis1of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons prospective registry on laparoscopic colectomy procedures. They include the accuracy of the data, the cut-point of 40 or more cases in the high-experience group, and the statistical analysis. First, as in our earlier study using registries for laparoscopic cholecystectomy,2the data collection form in the current study1addressed only the most important clinical information and data capture was, therefore, virtually complete. Second, because of a typographical error in the Table1(a complication rate for the group of 10-19 cases should have been listed as 22.0%, not 2.0%), postoperative complication rates are misleading also in reference to the cut-point of 40 or more cases in the high-experience group. The correct figures for postoperative complication rates, using Dr Moran's categories, are 17.3% for


OBJECTIVE. To describe the changes in causes of death among persons with HIV infection. METHODS. An analysis of mortality according to cause was performed in persons diagnosed with HIV infection and residing in the province of Navarre (Spain) from 1985 to 2004. RESULTS. Among 1,649 persons diagnosed with HIV infection up to 2004, 709 (43.0%) had died. Mortality reached the maximum in 1993-1996 with 83.1 deaths per 1,000 person-years (PY). Since that time and up to 2001-2004, mortality due to AIDS decreased from 68.3 to 14.1 per 1,000 PY (p 0.0001). From 1989-1992 period to the 2001-2004 period, mortality due to drug overdose dropped from 9.2 to 3.6 per 1,000 PY (p 0.0035) and mortality due to hepatic disease rose from 1.6 to 6.6 per 1000 PY (p 0.0061), with no significant changes in all other causes. In 2001-2004, AIDS continued to be the first cause of death (44.4%) in this population, followed by hepatic disease (20.9%) and drug overdose (11.3%). In the era of potent antiretroviral therapy (1997-2004), death caused by AIDS (rate ratio 0.63; p 0.0344) and by all other causes (RR 0.59; p 0.0232) was lower among women. In addition, mortality due to causes other than AIDS was higher in persons 40 years of age and older (RR 1.77; P 0.0050) and mortality was lower in homosexual men (RR 0.22; p 0.0360). A simultaneous diagnosis of HIV infection and AIDS was associated with higher mortality by AIDS (RR, 3.39; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS. AIDS continues to be the primary cause of death in HIV-infected people, and mortality due to hepatic diseases and drug overdose is high. Early diagnosis of HIV-infection would reduce the incidence of deaths due to AIDS.


The contents of Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Fe, Al and Ni in the muscle tissue of Cancer polyodon from Caldera, Calderilla, Inglesa, and Salada bays (Atacama, Chile) were quantified. The results were compared with similar studies by other authors and with the national and international regulatory standards for heavy metal contents in crustaceans for human consumption. In increasing order, the metal contents in C. polyodon were: Cd< Ni< Cu< Pb< Zn<Fe< Al. Mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, Fe and Al were highest in Salada Bay: Cu and Ni were highest in Caldera Bay; and Zn was highest in Inglesa Bay. All the metals except Cu differed significantly (P < 0.05) among the analyzed bays. Of the seven metals analyzed, Pb, Fe, and Al concentrations in C. polyodon were higher than those reported for other coastal systems. Concentrations of Cu (except Calderilla), Cd (except Caldera and Inglesa), and Pb exceeded the threshold values indicated by the national and international standards, suggesting that the presence of these metals in C. polyodon represents a potential risk for human health.


Studies were made of glucose tolerance and other characteristics related to diabetes in fifty-one patients with hyperthyroidism. Glucose tolerance compatible with diabetes was present in 57 per cent of patients when toxic and 30 per cent on return to euthyroidism. Histories of family diabetes in both sexes and of heavy babies delivered by the women were obtained more frequently than expected in the general population. Reasons are given to suggest a genetic relation between hyperthyroidism and diabetes.


An experimental process has been developed to compare the performance of candidate military satellite communications (SATCOM) architectures. Because a traffic scenario can drive the performance of an architecture model, several scenarios are developed representing the major classes of traffic types. Models of each architecture are then executed with each scenario to provide a relative assessment of the performance of each. Finally, by viewing the entire experiment (i.e., the series of scenarios and results), we develop a relative utility surface over the space of traffic scenarios and define the regions where each architecture excels.


This thesis presents a complete set of user requirements and high-level architecture for [a] product lifecycle management (PLM) system for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Engineering activities such as engineering change management (ECM) and product data management (PDM) are emphasized. The system is designed to be developed in [an] open source environment. Therefore the system is called Open Product Lifecycle Management (OPLM) system. The thesis begins with a presentation of the motivation for the work and description of products and literature in the areas of PLM, SME and open source. An industry survey is conducted to elicit requirements of OPLM. Engineering change management (ECM) process is described and a modified framework for ECM in OPLM is presented. The proposed model is expected to make ECM faster, reusable and accurate. Four OPLM subsystems, namely, product data management, engineering change management, process management and business intelligence are defined. For each of the subsystems, subsystem components are identified and defined.


Chronic pain is ubiquitous in people all over the world. Australia is no exception, with up to a fifth of the population claiming that they have experienced chronic pain over the past year. Chronic pain has been explored in a multitude of studies over the past century, with the majority being quantitative studies aimed at understanding the patho-psycho-physiological aspects of pain, or the psychological/behavioural management issues. More recently, qualitative studies have been undertaken to begin to understand the individual person's perspective on chronic pain in an attempt to inform health care professionals so they can better assist those they care for to live with their pain. In this study, living in rural areas provided a contextual background to living with chronic pain. Geographical distance often imposes restrictions on the health care services that are available, and these restrictions increase the impact of living with chronic pain in a rural area. The aim of this study was to answer the question: What is it like to live with chronic pain in a rural area of Queensland? An interpretive study using van Manen's (1997) approach to hermeneutic phenomenology explored the experiences of seven adults living with chronic pain in rural areas of Queensland. Hermeneutic phenomenology was chosen as the underlying philosophy for this study. Conversational interviews were conducted with adults between the ages of 23 and 55 years in small towns in several parts of Queensland. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and the resulting transcripts analysed using van Manen's (1997) analytic approach. Several sub-themes emerged and fell into the four existential concepts or essences described by van Manen: spatiality, temporality, corporeality and relationality.

Spatiality - 'The country style of life' included four sub-themes. 'Distance is the biggest problem' spoke of geographical distance to sophisticated health care that was found to be a problem, both in additional physical discomfort during travel, and in personal and financial costs. As well, a diminution or lack of health care services in country areas was apparent. 'Living in a small town' assists the person to deal with their chronic pain quietly and privately. The 'Safety and comfort of living in a small town' revolved around the trust and the relationships participants developed with community members over the years. 'Retreating to private spaces' permitted disengagement from others, both mentally and physically, fostering relaxation and reducing pain.

Temporality - 'This is my life now', was constituted by four sub-themes. The temporal discontinuity between 'what was' and 'what is now' was explored in 'I am different to what I was'. Grief was endured because of these changes and lives and identities were fragmented. As part of this experience, participants also attempted to retrieve a sense of self. 'This is my life now' told of the endurance and acceptance of the pain, and the recognition that the pain would be a constant companion. 'Things will not improve' extended this theme with reference to uncertainty, maintaining independence and the value of distraction. 'Pace of life in the country' demonstrated some of the positive factors that assisted with living with chronic pain in a rural area – quiet, fewer interactions and the slower rhythm of the country lifestyle.

Corporeality - 'Some days are better than others' included four sub-themes. 'Pain is invisible – but it really does hurt', related the psychological burden of not being able to actually demonstrate the hurt, and feeling like a fraud. 'Difficult to name – all there is is the pain' emphasised participants' inability to articulate pain and the increased necessity for health care professionals to be astute in their assessment of the person living with chronic pain. 'What's wrong? What's wrong? – the meaning of pain' tells of making sense of the pain for peace of mind and giving it a name so as to legitimize it. 'Balancing the pain' brought forth the experience of persisting versus pacing of activities to reduce the effects of the pain, being aware of personal limitations, use of analgesia, and distraction to cope with the pain. 'Mind over matter – the scary mental side of things' tells of believing in their own body rather than worrying that they were losing their mind, the effects of mind over the somatic body and of depression, of memory loss and of cognitive dysfunction.

Relationality - 'Relationships in Pain' included four sub-themes. 'Silence on pain' relates stoicism, reticence about the pain, independence and perseverance. 'Privacy – you don't have to look and act happy' protects as it keeps the pain from others. 'Support and comfort' from family, friends, community, animal companions and God helps cope with the pain. Good, solid family relationships empower, but as the circle widens, support and comfort became less apparent. 'He just doesn't understand' paints a telling story of participants' relationships with health care professionals. Inadequate care and difficult interactions were often experienced. As a consequence, traveling great distances to consult compassionate doctors occurred, although nurses were seldom mentioned.

Several key recommendations arose from the findings of this study. In respect to education, suggestions for future curricula development to help health care professionals to learn to provide more empathetic assistance to people living with chronic pain were made. In respect to clinical practice, the development more effective strategies to assist people living with chronic pain is suggested. Advanced practice nurses with an interest in, and further studies in assessing and managing chronic pain are needed in rural areas, both as practitioners and as mentors to other nurses. Adoption of standardised pain management strategies by professional organisations, and especially dissemination of these through their rural networks would assist health care professionals to practice in a consistent and contemporary way. The importance of aggressive and thorough pain assessment of people seeking health care advice in rural areas is an important finding in this study and should be utilized by all first-contact health care professionals.

In reference to research, specific recommendations were made. Since pain assessment and pain management are currently taught in the health care disciplines and have been for at least a couple of decades (personal experience), research projects are urgently needed to determine why this knowledge has not translated into practice in order to address the indifference, lack of knowledge and the stigma that people living with chronic pain face from the professionals who are supposed to assist them. Further qualitative studies are recommended to increase the scope of knowledge of the experiences of people living with chronic pain in rural areas.


Background and objectives: Controversy exists about the optimal imaging technique in acute stroke. It was hypothesised that CT is comparable with DWI, when both are read systematically using quantitative scoring. Methods: Ischaemic stroke patients who had CT within six hours and DWI within seven hours of onset were included. Five readers used a quantitative scoring system (ASPECTS) to read the baseline (b) and follow up CT and DWI. Use of MRI in acute stroke was also assessed in patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) by prospectively recording reasons for exclusion. Patients were followed clinically at three months. Results: bDWI and bCT were available for 100 consecutive patients (admission median NIHSS = 9). The mean bDWI and bCT ASPECTS were positively related (p<0.001). The level of interrater agreement ranged from good to excellent across all modalities and time periods. Bland–Altman plots showed more variability between bCT and bDWI than at 24 hours. The difference between bCT and bDWI was ⩽2 ASPECTS points. Of bCT scans with ASPECTS 8–10, 81% had DWI ASPECTS 8–10. Patients with bCT ASPECTS of 8–10 were 1.9 times more likely to have a favourable outcome at 90 days than those with a score of 0–7 (95% CI 1.1 to 3.1, p = 0.002). The relative likelihood of favourable outcome with a bDWI ASPECTS 8–10 was 1.4 (95% CI 1.0 to 1.9, p = 0.10). Of patients receiving tPA 45% had contraindications to urgent MRI. Conclusion: The differences between CT and DWI in visualising early infarction are small when using ASPECTS. CT is faster and more accessible than MRI, and therefore is the better neuroimaging modality for the treatment of acute stroke.


An acute administration of phenylalanine to neonatal animals has been reported to result in large decreases in the intracellular concentrations of several essential amino acids in neural tissue, as well as an inhibition of neural protein synthesis. The present report evaluates the effects of the loss of amino acids on the concentrations of aminoacyl-tRNA in vivo, with the view that an alteration in the concentrations of specific aminoacyl-tRNA molecules could be the rate-limiting step in brain protein metabolism during hyperphenylalaninaemia. tRNA was isolated from saline- and phenylalanine-injected mice 30-45 min after injection, by using a procedure designed to maintain the concentrations of aminoacyl-tRNA present in vivo. Periodate oxidation of the non-acylated tRNA and aminoacylation with radioactively labelled amino acids was used to determine the proportion of tRNA that was present in vivo as aminoacyl-tRNA. Although decreases in the intracellular concentrations of alanine, lysine and leucine were observed after phenylalanine administration, the concentrations of alanyl-tRNA, lysyl-tRNA and leucyl-tRNA actually increased by 15%. Although tryptophan has been suggested to be rate-limiting during hyperphenylalaninaemia, the proportion of tryptophan tRNA that was acylated was maximal in both normal and hyperphenylalaninaemic animals. This unexpected increase in aminoacyl-tRNA concentration is discussed as perhaps a secondary effect resulting from the phenylalanine-induced inhibition of protein synthesis. In contrast, the proportion of methionine tRNA that was acylated in vivo after phenylalanine administration was demonstrated to be decreased by approx. 17%. When the isoaccepting species of methionine tRNA were separated by reverse-phase column chromatography, three species were separated, one of which was demonstrated to be the initiator species, tRNAfMet, by the selective aminoacylation and formylation with Escherichia coli enzymes. After the administration of phenylalanine, the acylation of each of the three methionine tRNA species was decreased, with the initiator species being lowered by 10%. This effect on aminoacylation of tRNAfMet may be the primary step by which phenylalanine affects neural protein synthesis, and this is consistent with previous reports that re-initiation may be inhibited during hyperphenylalaninaemia.


The American common law system should adopt court-connected mandatory mediation as a parallel system of justice for some cases that are currently not justiciable, such as wrongs caused by constitutionally protected behavior. As evidence that such a system is practical, this Article describes systemic and ethical parallels between court-connected mediation and the rise of the equity courts in medieval England, demonstrating that there are no insurmountable practical objections to the creation of "mediation-only" causes of action. The Article then explores the constitutional concerns surrounding the idea of "mandatory mediation-only" causes of action, using constitutional hate speech and invasion of privacy cases to test the validity of these concerns.


Atomically precise graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) of two types, chevron GNRs and N = 7 straight armchair GNRs (7-AGNRs), have been synthesized through a direct contact transfer (DCT) of molecular precursors on Au(111) and gradual annealing. This method provides an alternative to the conventional approach for the deposition of molecules on surfaces by sublimation and simplifies preparation of dense monolayer films of GNRs. The DCT method allows deposition of molecules on a surface in their original state and then studying their gradual transformation to polymers to GNRs by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) upon annealing. We performed STM characterization of the precursors of chevron GNRs and 7-AGNRs, and demonstrate that the assemblies of the intermediates of the GNR synthesis are stabilized by π-π interactions. This conclusion was supported by the density functional theory calculations. The resulting monolayer films of GNRs have sufficient coverage and density of nanoribbons for ex situ characterization by spectroscopic methods, such as Raman spectroscopy, and may prove useful for the future GNR device studies.


Resulting from the present effort on international regulations and the compilation of guidelines to handle the space debris problem in the future, the need consists to advise spacecraft manufacturer, suppliers and operators ideally in the form of a commercially useful End to End Service. The competence of German institutions incl. research institutes and companies in the field of the space debris research and risk analyses is widely recognized and very well suitable to deal with all the corresponding aspects in Germany but also Europewide. It is the intention of DLR to concentrate and link all expertises and competences, available in Germany, in one coherent project. The space industry should contribute to risk analyses, reviews of guidelines and to proposals for space debris minimising design and operations of spacecrafts. Preliminary proposals by several institutes and companies have been prepared and have been compiled to a consolidated work plan for a project named 'Space Debris End to End Service'. 'End to End' means the consideration of space debris mitigation aspects from begin of the design over the operational phase of a spacecraft up to the end of the mission and the following phase of the initiation of space debris avoidance measures (e.g. passivation, deor re-orbiting). The effectiveness of such an End to End Service shall be demonstrated on a satellite project. The work packages of the project shall cover in principle the following activities: • Conception of an End to End Service • Identification of national needs, the state of knowledge and information • Spacecraft requirements and mitigation measures • Re-entry analyses • Application on a pilot project, incl. system review, meteoroid and space debris modelling, hazard analyses, recommendations of measures and a cost to benefit analysis. This paper reports about the work plan and the status of the project.


Utah rangeland real estate underwent an inflation-deflation price cycle from 1975 through 1988. A total of 166 Utah land sales were analyzed to determine whether factors affecting rangeland prices changed during the price cycle. Regression analysis was used to test changes in method of pricing rangeland between the inflation phase (1975-81) and deflation phase (1982-87). The effects on sale price of parcel size (acres or hectares) and number of deeded animal unit months (AUMs) differed between the 2 time periods. Size of parcel sold significantly affected land price in the first time period, but not in the second. Conversely, the number of deeded AUMs did not significantly influence land price in the first time period, but did in the second. Thus rangeland tended to be priced per acre (hectare) during the inflation phase of the price cycle and per AUM of carrying capacity during the deflation phase. These results indicate that rangeland owners should try to maintain or improve range condition and carrying capacity to preserve real estate values during deflationary times.


Stereotypies are frequently associated with sub-optimal captive environments and are used as welfare indicators. However, susceptibility to stereotypy can vary across individuals of the same group. As such, identifying which individuals are more susceptible to this behaviour may be helpful in managing this issue. We have investigated which sex-age class of semi-captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp) is more susceptible to stereotypic behaviours and evaluated whether or not they are also more affected by the social factors that typically influence and increase allostatic load. To accomplish this, we used instantaneous sampling to collect data on a group of capuchins kept on an island in an urban park in São Paulo, Brazil. We found that sub-adult males were the only sex-age class to display stereotypic behaviours and they all displayed pacing. Furthermore, 33% of sub-adult males also exhibited a second stereotypic behaviour associated with their pacing. Compared to the other sex-age classes, sub-adult males had a higher participation in social conflicts and experienced higher social isolation. Sub-adult males also demonstrated a lower level of positive social interactions. All of these factors typically increase allostatic load. We suggest that distal causation of the observed pacing behaviour would be the ecological/evolutionary need of sub-adult males to disperse from their natal group and that the proximal causation would relate to the high allostatic load from social sources. We recommend that managers of zoos and other facilities monitor changes in the social composition of captive groups and evaluate individuals' age so that necessary alterations may be made, where appropriate, to reduce allostatic load and generate better welfare at individual and group levels.


Alternative approaches to reduce congenital muscle dysfunction are needed in cases where the ability to exercise is limited. (-)-Epicatechin is found in cocoa and may stimulate capillarity and mitochondrial proliferation in skeletal muscle. A total of 21 male rats bred for LCR (low running capacity) from generation 28 were randomized into three groups: vehicle for 30 days (control); (-)-epicatechin for 30 days; and (-)-epicatechin for 30 days followed by 15 days without (-)-epicatechin. Groups 2 and 3 received 1.0 mg of (-)-epicatechin/kg of body mass twice daily, whereas water was given to the control group. The plantaris muscle was harvested for protein and morphometric analyses. In addition, in vitro experiments were conducted to examine the role of (-)-epicatechin on mitochondrial respiratory kinetics at different incubation periods. Treatment for 30 days with (-)-epicatechin increased capillarity (P<0.001) and was associated with increases in protein expression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)-A with a concomitant decrease in TSP-1 (thrombospondin-1) and its receptor, which remained after 15 days of (-)-epicatechin cessation. Analyses of the p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signalling pathway indicated an associated increase in phosphorylation of MKK3/6 (MAPK kinase 3/6) and p38 and increased protein expression of MEF2A (myocyte enhancer factor 2A). In addition, we observed significant increases in protein expression of PGC-1α (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator 1α), PGC-1β, Tfam and cristae abundance. Interestingly, these increases associated with (-)-epicatechin treatment remained after 15 days of cessation. Lastly, in vitro experiments indicated that acute exposure of LCR muscle to (-)-epicatechin incubation was not sufficient to increase mitochondrial respiration. The results suggest that increases in skeletal muscle capillarity and mitochondrial biogenesis are associated with 30 days of (-)-epicatechin treatment and sustained for 15 days following cessation of treatment. Clinically, the use of this natural compound may have potential application in populations that experience muscle fatigue and are unable to perform endurance exercise.


Baleen has been harvested by indigenous people for thousands of years, as well as collected by whalers as an additional product of commercial whaling in modern times. Baleen refers to the food-filtering system of Mysticeti whales; a full baleen rack consists of dozens of plates of a tough and flexible keratinous material that terminate in bristles. Due to its properties, baleen was a valuable raw material used in a wide range of artefacts, from implements to clothing. Baleen is not widely used today, however, analyses of this biomolecular tissue have the potential to contribute to conservation efforts, studies of genetic diversity and a better understanding of the exploitation and use of Mysticeti whales in past and recent times. Fortunately, baleen is present in abundance in museum natural history collections. However, it is often difficult or impossible to make a species identification of manufactured or old baleen. Here, we propose a new tool for biomolecular identification of baleen based on its main structural component alpha-keratin (the same protein that makes up hair and fingernails). With the exception of minke whales, alpha-keratin sequences are not yet known for baleen whales. We therefore used peptide mass fingerprinting to determine peptidic profiles in well documented baleen and evaluated the possibility of using this technique to differentiate species in baleen samples that are not adequately identified or are unidentified. We examined baleen from ten different species of whales and determined molecular markers for each species, including species-specific markers. In the case of the Bryde's whales, differences between specimens suggest distinct species or sub-species, consistent with the complex phylogeny of the species. Finally, the methodology was applied to 29 fragments of baleen excavated from archaeological sites in Labrador, Canada (representing 1500 years of whale use by prehistoric people), demonstrating a dominance of bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) in the archaeological assemblage and the successful application of the peptide mass fingerprinting technique to identify the species of whale in unidentified and partially degraded samples.


This paper studies the problem of motion planning of wheeled mobile robot (WMR), which is driven by double wheels separately. It mainly accomplish the motion planning of WMR by taking center of one of double wheels as a base point, and also carry out this problem by traditional method, which takes the midpoint of interval between two wheels as a base point. Besides, these two motion planning methods are compared. Experimental results show that the first motion planning method is simply controlled, saves much computer time and it establishes the foundation to solve the problem of real time control to WMR.


Abstract. The weathering of rocks influences the geochemistry of the oceans, the erosion of landscapes and man-made structures, and even the global climate. Although a high degree of variance is often observed in rate measurements, little is understood about the statistical characteristics of weathering rate distributions. This preliminary study demonstrates that the weathering rates of limestone, determined from measurements of an ancient eroded limestone edifice, can exhibit highly non-Gaussian behavior. While a Gaussian model produced a poor fit with the data, an alternative model – the generalized extreme value (GEV) framework – was capable of capturing the asymmetric long-tailed distribution, in good agreement with the measured curve. Furthermore, the non-Gaussian distribution of these field rates was found to have similar characteristics to the distribution of rates measured over much smaller microscopic regions of limestone surfaces in laboratory experiments. Such similar behavior could be indicative of analogous chemical and mechanical weathering processes acting over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Moreover, highly asymmetric rate distributions with high variance could be characteristic of rates not only in carbonate rocks, but also in other rock types, suggesting that the use of a small number of measurements to determine field weathering rates may be insufficient to fully characterize the range of rates in natural systems.


Emile Durkheim: Law in a Moral Domain is the first full-length account in English of Durkheim's ideas on law. Radically challenging standard accounts of these ideas, it draws on a wide range of writings by Durkheim and his co-workers to present his legal thought systematically as a unified, highly original and hitherto unjustly neglected contribution to the understanding of law. Durkheim confronts issues about the moral foundations of contemporary Western law. He explains in relation to such fields as criminal, contract, property, inheritance, industrial, and family law, the values that must underpin this law, justifying these sociologically in terms of law's modern tasks and its historical development. Emile Durkheim: Law in a Moral Domain also surveys the work of jurists who were closely involved in Durkheim's sociological project, but are little known in the common world. It shows Durkheimian legal theory as a rich, multi-faceted enterprise which, until now, has lacked proper recognition. Addressing many standard criticisms of Durkheim's sociology, Professor Cotterrell shows that some of these need substantial reconsideration in the light of Durkheim's work on law.* Accessible account of the whole of Durkheim's writing about law in society * Shows the centrality of Durkeim's legal theory to his social theory as a whole * Reveals Durkheim as a highly original and instructive theorist of law * Does not presuppose prior familiarity with Durkheim's sociology or with legal theory


There are two major color morphs, truei and dalli types, of the Dall's porpoise and the latter includes two minor morphs. A small number of dalli types are found among truei types off the Pacific coast of Japan, where truei types normally winter. Based on differences in the patch size of dalli-type porpoises taken by the harpoon fishery, we determined that those dalli types contain both minor morphs. Although the total number of both types in the sample was similar, the proportion of the two types varied seasonally. Sex ratio, body length, and maturity rate were different among the dalli and truei types. These facts strongly suggest that these dalli types were not members of the truei-type population and were actually migrants from adjacent dalli-type populations. The definition of the subspecies Phocoenoides dalli dalli and P. d. truei as polymorphic groups is not supported, although we consider that each of the three color morphs is worthy of full subspecific status.


ABSTRACT This article investigates the link between attitude formation at the national and the supranational level of the European Union (EU). While the existing studies have provided strong evidence that attitudes towards national institutions fundamentally condition attitudes towards the EU, the mechanisms through which these spillovers occur are not clearly spelled out. Our main contribution is to theorize the complex ways in which the national politicization of the European integration process affects support for the EU by focusing on critical moments in the EU integration process and the electoral fortunes of the political parties doing the cuing. To test our theoretical claims, we employ multilevel models using six rounds of the European Social Survey combined with party-level data from Chapel Hill Expert Survey, and various country-level data. The analyses show that spillover effects are crucially conditioned by the level of politicization of European integration at the national level.


The National Cholesterol Education Program and physician/patient awareness of the risks of hypercholesterolemia have resulted in aggressive screening and treatment of elevated cholesterol levels. The "one size fits all" concept has been used as the criterion for intervention. However, this has been promulgated without convincing evidence that levels of cholesterol are as important in older individuals as in those of middle age. Clearly, cholesterol is not the only contributor to cardiovascular risk, and other risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity should not be ignored. To prevent unnecessary intervention, overzealous interpretation of cholesterol values should be avoided.


Outcomes of competition may depend both on subtle differences in traits relevant to fitness and on how those traits are expressed in the context of the environment. Environmental effects on traits impacting population dynamics are often overlooked in studies of parasitic wasp (parasitoid) competition. Lineages of the parasitoid Diachasma alloeum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) differ in relative ovipositor length (a trait affecting the proportion of hosts available for parasitism). Since the size of natal hosts affects the overall body size of many adult parasitoids, outcomes of competition between D. alloeum lineages should be influenced by both their natal host's size and their inherited ovipositor:body size ratios. Previous genetic work showed the unexpected result that the apparently inferior competitor (the lineage with smaller ovipositors in its ancestral environment) has successfully colonized a new host. We present body size measurements and a phenomological model of competition showing that relative ovipositor sizes of the two lineages predict success of the apparently inferior wasp lineage in the new host. We present several variants of the model, including simulations: 1) wherein competitors have either ancestral trait values or trait values acquired in the novel environment; 2) that allow varying rates of constant immigration from the inferior competitor's source population; and 3) with stochastic immigration from both lineages' source populations. We show that ancestral trait differences and changes in environmentally mediated traits interact to affect outcomes of competition. Apparently inferior female parasitoids ('meek mothers') attacking a host in a novel environment can produce highly successful daughters if those daughters inherit large ovipositor:body size ratios and grow to a larger size in the new environment. Predictive models of parasitoid competition that consider effects of environmentally mediated trait changes may be particularly important for biocontrol programs wherein parasitoids are introduced into new environments or used to control novel hosts.


Venezuela is essential for global energy politics because it has the largest oil reserves in the world. Historically the nation has been a significant producer, but from 2013 onward it became immersed in a deep crisis. This chapter discusses the transformation of Venezuela attributed to oil extraction, the complexities of the political configurations molded by rent distribution, and the changes in sociocultural features due to the permeation of oil rents. Venezuela's dependence on oil has often been explained through the "resource curse thesis" due to its incapacity to assure the benefits of the commodity-led growth model and to invest in activities that foster long-term development. Political science scholarship, specifically, has been most concerned with the use of oil wealth to shape state and society and with the relationship between the state and the oil industry in Venezuela, especially its national oil company, PDVSA. These arguments account for a paradoxical mismatch between Venezuela's promise as producer and its indebted and inefficient oil industry during Bolivarian Revolution, led first by Hugo Chávez and later by Nicolás Maduro.


This paper formulates an integrated inventory model that allows Stackelberg game policy for optimizing joint total cost of a vendor and buyer system. After receiving the lot, the buyer commences an inspection process to determine the defective items. All defective items the buyer sends to vendor during the receiving of the next lot. Due to increasing number of shipments fixed and variable transportation, as well as carbon emissions, are considered, which makes the model sustainable integrated model forever. To reduce the setup cost for the vendor, a discrete setup reduction is considered for maximization more profit. The players of the integrated model are with unequal power (as leader and follower) and the Stackelberg game strategy is utilized to solve this model for obtaining global optimum solution over the finite planning horizon. An illustrative numerical example is given to understand this model clearly.


An adaptive initialization method was developed to produce fully automatic processing frameworks based on graph-cut and gradient flow active contour algorithms. This method was applied to abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) images for segmentation of liver tissue and hepatic tumors. Twenty-five anonymized datasets were randomly collected from several radiology centres without specific request on acquisition parameter settings nor patient clinical situation as inclusion criteria. Resulting automatic segmentations of liver tissue and tumors were compared to their reference standard delineations manually performed by a specialist. Segmentation accuracy has been assessed through the following evaluation framework: dice similarity coefficient (DSC), false negative ratio (FNR), false positive ratio (FPR) and processing time. Regarding liver surfaces, graph-cuts achieved a DSC of 95.49% ( FPR=2.35% and FNR=5.10%), while active contours reached a DSC of 96.17% (FPR=3.35% and FNR=3.87%). The analyzed datasets presented 52 tumors: graph-cut algorithm detected 48 tumors with a DSC of 88.65%, while active contour algorithm detected only 44 tumors with a DSC of 87.10%. In addition, in terms of time performances, less time was requested for graph-cut algorithm with respect to active contour one. The implemented initialization method allows fully automatic segmentation leading to superior overall performances of graph-cut algorithm in terms of accuracy and processing time. The initialization method here presented resulted suitable and reliable for two different segmentation techniques and could be further extended.


Small bowel perforation is a rare complication of femoral artery access in cases of femoral hernia. A 48-year-old woman was admitted to the intensive care unit due to pulmonary insufficiency. After a routine femoral arterial blood gas analysis, severe abdominal pain and nausea began. She underwent emergency laparotomy due to acute abdomen. Laparotomy revealed small bowel perforation. Segmental resection and end-to-end anastomosis were performed. The femoral canal was closed using plaque mesh. Special attention is needed during femoral artery access to avoid accidental small bowel perforation. As seen in this case, a careful examination should be done in cases of femoral hernia.


This Dissertation explores the metaphor of Ariadne's thread in terms of interconnection, when an element from the everyday is used as a locus linking broader concepts of time and space.
Such experiences and associations are reflected in the work of Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse, Doris Salcedo, Lucio Fontana, Richard Tuttle, Mona Hatoum, Simone Mangos, Anya Gallaccio and Yoshihiro Suda.
In relation to my own work, the metaphor of interconnecting thread allows a sense of freedom and journey of discovery. My studio and related research are closely aligned in developing my understanding of interconnection, through my studio process of making and continuing experiences of looking at and interpreting others artists' work.


This article applies Marx's concept of the fetish generally and technological fetishism specifically to how digital ICTs are influencing the craft of journalism. A theoretical analysis of technological fetishism is linked to the findings of a 2013 survey among Canadian journalistic workers. These workers are found to hold mixed and often contradictory views on how digital technologies are shaping their work and profession. We understand ICTs as constitutive of journalism and as a technological fetish which mediates its development. In this context, the survey respondents are not 'wrong' to recognize that digital technologies seem to possess inherent powers. Because the fetishization of digital technologies is rooted in the social relations of contemporary journalism and neoliberal capitalism, redressing these is what needs to be strategically prioritized. Indeed, both critical thought (applied to the concept of technological fetishism) and political action are needed if the deleterious transformations taking place in journalism are to be modified and the democratizing potentials of digital ICTs fully realized.