There are limited studies on multinational enterprises from lesser developed and smaller Asian countries and even less attention given to the area of subsidiary management in Asian firms. This article contributes to this knowledge gap with empirical evidence from a study of nine case studies of firms from Malaysia, a rapidly developing country. Differences as well as commonalities in the management of their subsidiaries were found among sample firms. These findings are discussed in relation to the literature on management of subsidiaries in other Asian and developed countries' firms. Implications for research and limitations of the study are covered.


: Five hundreds and thirty-six patients, aged from 19 to 50 years, have been studied. Occipital lobe epilepsy (OLE) have been diagnosed in 22 (4,1%) of cases. The study included evaluation of anamnesis, clinical and neurological examination, routine EEG and/or video-EEG monitoring and MRI of the brain. Duration of the study was 1-5 years (on average 3 years). The most typical clinical features were visual phenomena, mostly "irritation symptoms" represented by elementary hallucinations. Visual "symptoms of loss" (scotomas, amaurosis) are associated with ineffectiveness of antiepileptic drugs. The regional epileptiform activity in occipital leads is found in the routine EEG in 1/4 of patients, epileptogenic structural lesions of the same localization in the MRI - in 1/3 of patients. The data suggest that these diagnostic methods are not sufficient and support the validity of clinical diagnosis.


Perception is the process of acquiring information from the environment. The concept of perception explains the relationship of humans with the environment, and it is shaped by several different stimuli, such as the social, cultural, and physical environments. Children's perception is different from that of adults, and it develops gradually through the cognitive development periods of childhood. Children have had very little experience of the fast-changing environment around them, and thus they should grow in their own natural rhythm to become a part of society. To achieve this, children need time and places in which they can explore their environment by playing to improve their cognitive processes. The most important thing in a child's life is playing games. As long as a child plays games, he explores himself and his environment, and thus achieves satisfaction. In this way, the child finds the opportunity to acquire perceptual, cognitive, physical, and social gains, and he forms his spatial imagery through the stimuli that he gets from the environment. In the past, children played freely in the traditional neighborhoods; they could make their own playing fields in dead-end streets and could explore nature and themselves through games. However, today, children in big cities are confined to playing under their parents' supervision and within a limited time period. Indoor places have replaced children's natural playing fields. With the increasing traffic and crime rate, children cannot explore their environment, nor can they play in front of their houses, on the sidewalk, or the street. However, the importance of the environment, in which the child lives, is great on his physical and social development. The more a child becomes integrated with his environment, the more he develops his environmental perception by finding opportunities to explore his environment and himself. This study aims to determine the way in which living in the countryside or in a big city affects children's perception of playing fields, and how this affects their use of these spaces. To achieve this, surveys were conducted with children living in different physical environments; by getting the children to draw pictures, we enabled them to transfer their mental schema onto the paper. The results of this study indicate that children's playing field perception varies according to the different stimuli presented in rural and urban areas. It is also shown that the spatial imagery formed by children is different as a result of this difference in perception. Moreover, it can be determined that children are influenced by the advantages and disadvantages of the environment that they live in. It is seen that negative factors, such as the increasing vehicle traffic and crime rates in big cities, have an impact on the selection of playing fields. The information obtained from this study is intended to improve design decisions regarding the areas children use for playing, which have a significant role in their development. The study also aims to find solutions that will meet the expectations of children in these places. Keywords : Child, play, playing field, perception, space imagery, cognitive development.


The aim of the study was to prepare squash from different fruits and to investigate the effect of Potassium metabisulphite (0.1%), storage time and temperature on the physiochemical and organoleptic properties of samples. During this study total five samples were prepared utilizing five different fruits which were peach, apple, guava, mango and lime such as X1, X2, X3, X4 and X5 and were preserved with 0.1% Potassium metabisulphite. The purpose of utilizing these fruits to prevent post-harvest loss in the peak season which is due to lack of proper post-harvest handling and preserving facility. These samples were randomly analyzed physiochemically (pH, acidity, ascorbic acid content and total soluble solids) and organoleptically (taste, color and odor) with the storage interval of 15 days during one month storage. A decrease was observed in pH and ascorbic acid content while acidity and total soluble solids were found increased at α value less than 0.05 during storage. From this study it was concluded that X4 [ (25% mango pulp + 25% distilled water + 50%Sugar + Citric acid (0.75%) + 0.1% Potassium metabisulphite (0.075%)] stayed very much acceptable as compared to others because of minimum changes in sensory evaluation score and physicochemical characteristics. Fruit based beverages are very important food products; further study is suggested on the refrigerated temperature to know the effect of temperature. Study on effect of other preservatives in different concentration is also recommended in future.


The use of prenatal ultrasound has become controversial as it is increasingly being performed for business and social interests rather than for medical use. This nonmedical use of the modality has violated the US FDA guideline. Ultrasound scans have been proven to increase temperature in insonated tissue and their effects have been investigated via phantom and animal experiments. Absorption coefficient of the bone is the highest compared with any other structure. Thus, exposure to ultrasound, especially during osteogenesis, can cause significant damage to developing foetus. Twenty-two pregnant does of known gestation were enrolled in the control and experimental groups. No exposure was given to the control group while the experimental groups were exposed accordingly to the prenatal ultrasound in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd stage for 30, 60 and 90 minutes respectively. A total of 142 subjects aged between 1 and 5 months were analysed for bone strength. The Tb.Th of the experimental group was reduced significantly as compared to the control group. Po, TMD and empty lacunae were higher in the experimental group. It is thus concluded that one-time prenatal ultrasound can affect bone strength in young subjects.


Background Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is neuroprotective in models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Although CB1 receptors are increased within the basal ganglia of PD patients and animal models, current evidence suggests a role for CB1 receptor independent mechanisms such as anti-oxidant activity. Here we investigate the mechanisms behind the neuroprotective potential of Δ9-THC in a human cell culture model of PD. Methods SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were differentiated with retinoic acid and exposed to the PD relevant neurotoxin MPP+. Cannabinoids and modulatory compounds were co-administered with MPP+ for 48 h after which cell death was determined using the LDH assay. Protein levels of PPARγ were determined by western blotting. Results The protective effect of Δ9-THC was not blocked by the CB1 antagonist AM251, nor reproduced by the CB1 agonist WIN55, 212-2. The anti-oxidants α-tocopherol and butylhydroxytoluene were unable to elicit the same neuroprotection as Δ9-THC. The antioxidant Δ9-THC analogue nabilone potentiated neurotoxicity induced by MPP+. Co-application of the specific PPARγ agonist pioglitazone was protective against MPP+ toxicity and the PPARγ antagonist T0070907 dose dependently blocked the neuroprotective effect of Δ9-THC. Δ9-THC increased PPARγ expression indicating PPARγ activation. Conclusions We propose that the neuroprotective effect of Δ9-THC may be mediated by PPARγ activation rather than via the CB1 receptor or its antioxidant properties.


The expectation is an example of a descriptive statistic that is monotone with respect to stochastic dominance, and additive for sums of independent random variables. We provide a complete characterization of such statistics, and explore a number of applications to models of individual and group decision-making. These include a representation of stationary, monotone time preferences, extending the work of Fishburn and Rubinstein (1982) to time lotteries, as well as a characterization of risk-averse preferences over monetary gambles that are invariant to mean-zero background risks. The full paper is available at https://arxiv.org/abs/2102.00618.


A total preparation of cytoplasmic RNA was isolated from late stage-infected African green monkey kidney cells using phenol extraction procedure. The poly (A)-containing mRNA fraction was selected on oligo(dT)-cellulose columns. The resulting mRNA preparations were heterogenous in size and contained about 20--60% of SA7-derived sequences. SA7 late mRNA was efficiently translated in rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system giving rise to a number of polypeptide products that were related by antigenicity to authentic SA7 virion proteins. The main translation product having a molecular weight of 114 kilodaltons was identified as intact SA7 hexon protein.


We describe in this paper an RCA Labs team project begun in 1968, with the general goal to predict the performance of new system architectures being considered within RCA for future computers. The cache-system or slave memory idea was the principal subject. However, many other problems have been studied, and the data base that was collected has been found useful in analysis as well as prediction of performance, and in obtaining fundamental data for modelling purposes.


Organic farming in India is attaining popularity day by day. India is endowed with various types of naturally available organic forms of nutrients in different parts of the country, and it will help for the organic cultivation of crops substantially. The rising population of India has started creating demographic pressure on the agriculture sector to maintain food security. For producing better crop yield, chemical fertilizers and pesticides were used, and this creates more health hazards. To generate good health and environment, a need arise a shift to organic agriculture. India is home to 30 percent of the total organic producers in the world. Still, it accounts for just 2.59 percent (1.5 million hectares) of the total organic cultivation area of 57.8 million hectares (World of Organic Agriculture Report, 2018). Organic farming is beneficial for natural resources and the environment. The study mainly focused on the Present Status of organic farming in India and given the main challenges and constraints of organic farming.


A novel keyword propagation method is proposed for image retrieval based on a recently developed manifold-ranking algorithm. In contrast to existing methods which train a binary classifier for each keyword, our keyword model is constructed in a straightforward manner by exploring the relationship among all images in the feature space in the learning stage. In relevance feedback, the feedback information can be naturally incorporated to refine the retrieval result by additional propagation processes. In order to speed up the convergence of the query concept, we adopt two active learning schemes to select images during relevance feedback. Furthermore, by means of keyword model update, the system can be self-improved constantly. The updating procedure can be performed online during relevance feedback without extra offline training. Systematic experiments on a general-purpose image database consisting of 5 000 Corel images validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.


[1] The Cute-1.7+APD II, 10 × 15 × 20 cm3 in size and 5 kg in mass, is the third picosatellite developed by students at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. One of the primary goals of the Cute-1.7+APD II mission is to validate the use of avalanche photodiodes (APDs) as a radiation detector for the first time in a space experiment. While the mission itself is immature compared to the forefront satellites of space plasma physics, use of APDs offers various possibilities regarding a brand-new electron energy analyzer for medium-energy electrons and ions (1–100 keV), as well as a high-performance light sensor for the future X-ray astronomy missions. The satellite was successfully launched by ISRO PSLV-C9 rocket on 28 April 2008 and has since been in operation for more than a year. The Cute-1.7+APD II carries two reverse-type APDs to monitor the distribution of low-energy particles (mainly electrons and protons) down to 9.2 keV trapped in a low Earth orbit (LEO), including the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) as well as aurora bands. We present the design parameters and various preflight tests of the APDs prior to launch, particularly, the high counting response and active gain control system for the Cute-1.7+APD II mission. Examples of electron/proton distribution, obtained in continuous 12 h observations, will be presented to demonstrate the initial flight performance of the APDs in orbit.


This paper describes the design of an automated slurry consolidometer and calibration chamber system used to prepare largesize cohesive soil specimens for testing in-situ devices, model foundations, and ground anchors. A two-stage technique for the preparattion of homogeneous cohesive specimens subjected to a known stress history is described. Briefly summarized are the data acquisition/control system and the instrumentation details for monitoring the spatial pore pressure distributions in the specimen, the vertical and lateral stresses on the specimen, and specimen settlement during slurry consolidation and subsequent reconsolidation in the chamber. The specimens prepared were reproducible and of uniform quality as indicated by the settlement and pore pressure dissipation histories and by the water content results obtained from samples taken from chamber specimens. The homogeneity of the specimens is confirmed by the cone penetration test results.


The paper describes the "electronic" stiffening of the actuators developed for the articulated boom of JET. Experimental trials on a two joints boom have confirmed the improvements of speed and reliability that can be achieved. Based on these developments, a new control system for the boom is now under development together with a simulator intended to make easier and faster the system commissioning, design and optimization as well as the fault identification. The main originalities of the paper are the modeling of the actuators, based on a mechanical equivalent and an extension of the Craig's computed torque method to elastic systems.


External information propagates in the cell mainly through signaling cascades and transcriptional activation, allowing it to react to a wide spectrum of environmental changes. High-throughput experiments identify numerous molecular components of such cascades that may, however, interact through unknown partners. Some of them may be detected using data coming from the integration of a protein–protein interaction network and mRNA expression profiles. This inference problem can be mapped onto the problem of finding appropriate optimal connected subgraphs of a network defined by these datasets. The optimization procedure turns out to be computationally intractable in general. Here we present a new distributed algorithm for this task, inspired from statistical physics, and apply this scheme to alpha factor and drug perturbations data in yeast. We identify the role of the COS8 protein, a member of a gene family of previously unknown function, and validate the results by genetic experiments. The algorithm we present is specially suited for very large datasets, can run in parallel, and can be adapted to other problems in systems biology. On renowned benchmarks it outperforms other algorithms in the field.


Leaders from across the political spectrum articulate the virtues of homeownership. As expressed in the above quotations, both Republican and Democratic presidents emphasize that homeownership is part of the American dream. Besides the direct benefits accruing to a family owning its own house, proponents stress that higher rates of homeownership boost civic activity, reduce crime, and create communities more conducive to the cognitive and non-cognitive development of children.Unsurprisingly, bipartisan consensus has produced public policies with the express purpose of increasing homeownership. But are these policies subsidizing the building of the American dream for more people, or are they bankrolling bigger dream houses for a few?


Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is recognised as an important risk factor for tuberculosis (TB). India has high-TB burden, along with rising DM prevalence. Aim: This study was conducted to document the co-existence of DM and TB in persons with established TB and difference in clinical presentation. Type of Study: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive observational study conducted at selected directly observed treatment (DOT) centre in Gwalior North-Central India. Materials and Methods: A total of 550 patients of confirmed diagnosis of TB and on treatment were recruited. The study participants were screened for DM and diagnoses were made on the basis of the World Health Organization criteria. Clinical parameters were compared between persons with DM and those without DM. Results: DM/TB comorbidity was noted in 85 persons, and these made up 15.4% of the study population. Mean age was higher in DM patients with TB (43.4 ± 15.4 vs. 33.1 ± 16.2 years, P = 0.000); the mean duration of symptoms of TB with DM was more (124 ± 16.4 vs. 107.49 ± 10.3 days). Majority of the patients (63.5% dysglycaemic and 43.6% normoglycaemic TB patients) were presented with a cough with or without expectoration and significantly found more in dysglycaemic TB patients (odds ratio = 2.2, P = 0.007). The frequency of reporting symptoms was higher among dysglycaemic TB patients as compared to normoglycaemic TB patients. This difference in both groups was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05) for pleural effusion, fever, shortness of breath, chronic abdominal pain, fatigue/weakness and in other non-specific symptoms. Conclusions: Given the substantial burden of DM and TB co-morbidity, this study makes a contribution for re-echo the need to raise awareness on screening for DM in persons with TB.


In an investigation by the Swedish Cancer Society, an expert group described the present status, critical issues and future aspects and potentials for each of nine major areas of radiation therapy research. This report deals with radiation therapy using activation of stable nuclides.


Background: Both cortisol and thyroid hormones were sought to be stress hormones in critical illnesses which are readily measurable in a clinical setting. The investigation was to sequentially observe the changes in these hormone levels in pigs after acute radiation exposure. Methods: Six 27-week-old SPF miniature pigs were divided into 2 groups. The irradiated (non- survival) group (n =4) received 12 Gy of 60Co whole body γ-irradiation only and all died within 3 weeks after irradiation. The non-irradiated group C (n=2) served as control. Serial blood samples were drawn at the same time the day before and weekly after irradiation for 7 weeks. Results: A trend of progressive decline of both serum T3 and T4 values after irradiation was found. A rapid drop of serum tri-iodothyronine (T3) values was found in the irradiated groups, which is reaching the nadir within 10 days post-irradiation. There was a profound decrease of T4 values in the irradiated group days before death (all <23 nmol/L, 49% mean decrease before death, control, 31-44 nmol/L). Changes of serum cortisol values were rather inconsistent in irradiated groups. There was a surge of serum cortisol value in the irradiated group within 2 days before death (167 ± 122 vs. 453 ± 177 nmol/L; P<0.01) that was not found in the control group (195±34 nmol/L). Conclusion: Serial monitoring serum T3, T4 and cortisol values may be a feasible indicator of the severity of acute radiation events. Dropped T3 levels appeared to be a sensitive marker to reflect the presence of sickness while the degree of decrease of serum T4 levels may represent the severity of sickness. A surge of serum cortisol value may indicate a fatal outcome.


A high-precision, magnetically levitated, five degree-of-freedom (5DOF) positioning stage is presented. Four independently controlled iron-cored permanent magnet linear synchronous motors are used to translate the stage and rotate it about the two horizontal axes. Six optical encoders with 10 mum resolution, mounted on linear guides, are used to measure displacements and rotations. A detailed mathematical model is developed and nonlinear tracking controllers are designed for the 5DOF system using feedback linearization, output regulation, and antiwindup compensation for step and sinusoidal references.


Today's large-scale algorithms have become immensely influential, as they recommend and moderate the content that billions of humans are exposed to on a daily basis. They are the de-facto regulators of our societies' information diet, from shaping opinions on public health to organizing groups for social movements. This creates serious concerns, but also great opportunities to promote quality information. Addressing the concerns and seizing the opportunities is a challenging, enormous and fabulous endeavor, as intuitively appealing ideas often come with unwanted {\it side effects}, and as it requires us to think about what we deeply prefer. Understanding how today's large-scale algorithms are built is critical to determine what interventions will be most effective. Given that these algorithms rely heavily on {\it machine learning}, we make the following key observation: \emph{any algorithm trained on uncontrolled data must not be trusted}. Indeed, a malicious entity could take control over the data, poison it with dangerously manipulative fabricated inputs, and thereby make the trained algorithm extremely unsafe. We thus argue that the first step towards safe and ethical large-scale algorithms must be the collection of a large, secure and trustworthy dataset of reliable human judgments. To achieve this, we introduce \emph{Tournesol}, an open source platform available at \url{https://tournesol.app}. Tournesol aims to collect a large database of human judgments on what algorithms ought to widely recommend (and what they ought to stop widely recommending). We outline the structure of the Tournesol database, the key features of the Tournesol platform and the main hurdles that must be overcome to make it a successful project. Most importantly, we argue that, if successful, Tournesol may then serve as the essential foundation for any safe and ethical large-scale algorithm.


This paper compares and contrasts Bayesian variable‐exclusion methods proposed by Fernando Ley and coauthors with methods proposed by Raftery and Sala‐i‐Martin et al. and with the s‐ values proposed by myself.   A distinction is drawn between estimation uncertainty which is the focus of Ley's research and model ambiguity which arises in Ley's work and is the focus of my own recent proposal.  The discussion is organized around the prior covariance matrix,  which needs to be diagonal to support all‐subsets regressions.   The basic question that addressed here is: What aspects of the prior covariance matrix can be taken as known, what aspects can be estimated and what aspects require a sensitivity analysis because they are neither known nor estimable.  When diagonality is in doubt, we are more‐or‐less forced into a model ambiguity sensitivity mode because the data are never rich enough credibly to estimate the full prior covariance matrix.  When diagonality is assumed, the data evidence, though very limited, can help to estimate the diagonal elements, but this literature has not yet produced a compelling conventional treatment which will necessarily include both estimation uncertainty and model ambiguity as they relate both to the diagonal values and to the rest of the prior covariance matrix.   But there has been a lot of progress.


Recently, Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) has been widely deployed in the Internet. However, the research about DASH over Multiple Content Distribution Servers (MCDS) is few. Compared with traditional single-server-DASH, MCDS are able to offer expanded bandwidth, link diversity, and reliability. It is, however, a challenging problem to smooth video bitrate switchings over multiple servers due to their diverse bandwidths. In this paper, we propose a block-based rate adaptation method considering both the diverse bandwidths and feedback buffered video time. Multiple fragments are grouped into a block, and the fragments are downloaded in parallel from multiple servers. We propose to adapt video bitrate at the block level rather than at the fragment level. By dynamically adjusting the block length and scheduling fragment requests to multiple servers, the requested video bitrates from the multiple servers are synchronized, making the fragments downloaded orderly. Then, we propose a control-theoretic approach to select an appropriate bitrate for each block. By modeling and linearizing the rate adaption system, we propose a novel Proportional-Derivative (PD) controller to adapt video bitrate with high responsiveness and stability. Theoretical analysis and extensive experiments on the Internet demonstrate the good efficiency of our DASH designs.


Middle cavities between the input and output cavity can be used to decrease the required input RF power for the relativistic klystron amplifier. Meanwhile higher modes, which affect the working mode, are also easy to excite in a device with more middle cavities. In order for the positive feedback process for higher modes to be excited, a special measure is taken to increase the threshold current for such modes. Higher modes' excitation will be avoided when the threshold current is significantly larger than the beam current. So a high-gain S-band relativistic klystron amplifier is designed for the beam of current 5 kA and beam voltage 600 kV. Particle in cell simulations show that the gain is 1.6 × 105 with the input RF power of 6.8 kW, and that the output RF power reaches 1.1 GW.


Online science communities can serve as powerful platforms for advancing scientific knowledge, capacity, and outreach by increasing collaboration and information sharing among geographically distant peers, practitioners, and the public. Here, we examine the value and role of the Early Career Climate Forum (ECCF), a climate-focused online science community that is based in the United States and is dedicated to training and providing support to the next generation of climate scientists. In a survey of community users and contributors, we find that the ECCF played a unique role in providing users access to career resources as well as climate-related research and insights. Respondents also indicated that the ECCF provides them with a strong sense of community and a sense of hope for the future of climate science research. These findings highlight the importance of online science communities in shaping and supporting the next generation of scientists and practitioners working at the science–management interface on climate change issues.


Several mutations have been found to be heterogeneous throughout cancer samples. As an example, approximately 20% of lung cancer cases have a mutation in the proto-oncogene RAS. In order to specifically test for heterogeneous mutations we introduce a new test that measures differences between quantiles. It will be shown that this test can achieve larger power values than a previously published test by Coombes et al. when sample sizes are small (10-20 samples) and the probability of mutation is small (10%-40%). When applied to two publicly available microarray data sets our method also produces lists of results that are 12% and 27% the size of those produced by Coombes et al.


Demand Side Management (DSM) will play a large role in creating a pathway to a low carbon future. Microgrids are an ideal test bed for DSM within the Smart Grid (SG) framework, allowing for increased integration of distributed generation (DG), here focused on distributed Renewable Energy Sources (RESs). Existing work uses conservative estimates to model the stochastic nature of RESs, resulting in inaccuracies in simulation results. Large uncertainty in user specific participation in DSM programs exists. This paper develops a flexible energy load function, effectively incorporating different user's behaviour patterns into the DSM framework. Uncertainty in connecting small-scale wind generation into the smart microgrid is reduced by using an expected cost function to accurately map predicted wind speed to power output. Actual wind speed is varied across numerous sub-horizons within each time slot by using a pseudo-random number generator. The stochastic nature of renewable generation is effectively managed, producing a robust simulation. Model sensitivities are investigated and graphical results presented.


Induction motor driven mechanical transmission systems are widely utilised in many applications across numerous sectors including industry, power generation and transportation. They are however subject to common failure modes primarily associated with faults in the driven mechanical components. Notably, gearboxes, couplings and bearings can cause significant defects in both the electrical and mechanical systems. Condition monitoring (CM) undertakes a key role in the detection of potential defects in the early development stages and in turn avoiding catastrophic operational and financial consequences caused by unplanned breakdowns. Meanwhile, variable speed drives (VSDs) have been increasingly deployed in recent years to achieve accurate speed control and higher operational efficiency. Among the different speed control designs, sensorless VSDs deliver improved dynamic performance and obviate speed measurement devices. This solution however results in heightened noise levels and continual changes in the power supply parameters that potentially impede the detection of minute fault features. This study addresses the gap identified through a systematic review of the literature on the monitoring of mechanical systems utilise induction motors (IM) with sensorless VSDs. Specifically, existing techniques prove ineffective for common mechanical faults that develop in gearboxes and friction induced scenarios. The primary aim of this research centres on the development of a more effective and accurate diagnostic solution for VSD systems using the data available in a VSD. An experimental research approach is based to model and simulate VSD systems under different fault conditions and gather in-depth data on changes in electrical supply parameters: current, voltage and power. Corresponding techniques including model based methods and dynamic signature analysis methods were developed for extracting the changes from noise measurements. An observer based detection technique is developed based on speed and flux observers that are deployed to generate power residuals. Both static and dynamic techniques are
incorporated for the first time in order to detect the mechanical misalignment and lubrication degradation, each with different degrees of severities. The results of this study demonstrate that observer based approaches utilising power residual signalling can be effective in the identification of different faults in the monitoring of sensorless VSD driven mechanical systems. Specifically, the combination between dynamic and static components of the power supply parameters and control data has proved effective in separating the four types of common faults: shaft misalignment, lubricant shortage, viscosity changes and water contamination. The static data based approach outperforms the dynamic data based approach in detecting shaft misalignments under sensorless operating modes. The dynamic components of power signals, however, records superior results in the detection of different oil degradation problems. Nevertheless, static components of torque related variables, power and voltage can be used jointly in separating the three tested lubricant faults.


It has long been proposed that the nominal species Anastrepha fraterculus is a species complex and earlier studies showed high levels of pre-zygotic isolation between two laboratory strains from Argentina and Peru. Further experiments were carried out on the same populations and on their reciprocal hybrids, including pre- and post-zygotic isolation studies, pheromone analysis, and mitotic and polytene chromosome analysis. A high level of pre-zygotic isolation had been maintained between the parental strains despite 3 years of laboratory rearing under identical conditions. The level of pre-zygotic isolation was reduced in matings with hybrids. There were also differences in other components of mating behaviour. There were quantitative and qualitative differences in the sex pheromone of the two strains with the hybrids producing a mixture. The pre-zygotic isolation barriers were complemented by high levels of post-zygotic inviability and sex ratio distortion, most likely not due to Wolbachia, although there was evidence of some cytoplasmic factor involved in sex ratio distortion. Analysis of polytene chromosomes revealed a high level of asynapsis in the hybrids, together with karyotypic differences between the parental strains. The combined results of the present study indicate that these two strains belong to different biological entities within the proposed A. fraterculus complex.


Some police forces in the UK institute 'No Cold Calling' (NCC) zones to reduce cold callings (unsolicited visits to sell products or services), which are often associated with rogue trading and distraction burglary. This paper evaluates the NCC-targeted areas chosen in 2005–06 in Peterborough and reports whether they experienced a measurable impact on their burglary rates in the period up to 2008. Time-series data for burglary at the census output area level are analysed using a Bayesian hierarchical modelling approach to address issues of data sparsity and lack of randomised allocation of areas to treatment groups that are often encountered in small-area quantitative policy evaluation. To ensure internal validity, we employ the interrupted time-series quasi-experimental design embedded within a matched case-control framework. Results reveal a positive impact of NCC zones on reducing burglary rates in the targeted areas compared with the control areas.


Starting from the need to tackle in a sustainable way the new economic and social requirements particularly induced by the recent financial crisis, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is one envisaged solution at community and organizational level, because of its win-win strategic potential. More than that, acknowledging the economic impact of strongly supporting social domains like education and sport, the European Union (EU) has designed new measures for developing the human potential during 2014-2020 period. Following these two rationales, the main research objective is to emphasize the relationship between CSR and corporate support for educational and sport projects of top performing companies in Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia in the post-crisis period. Four main issues are investigated in detail regarding the corporate support for education and sport areas through CSR initiatives, namely existence of corporate involvement, forms of commitment, reasons for engagement, and main beneficiaries of implication. The research methodology focuses on empirical and analytical perspectives, while the results show new facets and implications of CSR initiatives in education and sport domains, but also a set of similarities and differences between the analysed EU countries. Economic and social impacts are also examined, as well as future research directions.


The Peruvian power market was established in 1992, amid serious supply constraints and financially distressed power utilities. Since its inception, the market has been adapted by competitive market reforms and adaptations due to government-driven public policy objectives. This paper analyzes the experience of Peru with power markets, including market design, implementation, and outcomes. A cost-based power pool with locational marginal prices was established overnight, with bilateral contracts among market participants and regulated capacity payments. After an initial period of rapid investment, sluggish capacity additions and a prolonged drought in 2003-04 motivated the successful introduction of competitive supply auctions in 2006, to ensure that needed capacity additions were made to meet demand growth. Competitive auctions for renewable capacity have also been successful, attracting investment at falling prices. However, the market has been adapted by the government, pushing technology-specific auctions to develop a balanced mix of gas and hydro power generation, with additional costs passed through to final customers. As a result, supply is less prone to hydrological conditions, but it is now subject to gas transport constraints; prices are depressed at US$9/megawatt hour; and the reserve margin increased to 81 percent in 2017. Overall, continuous adaptations to the Peruvian power market have delivered competitive outcomes, with concentration falling steadily and security of supply increasing over the past decade. However, the mixed approach of competitive forces and government-driven adaptations for public policy objectives calls into question the long-term efficiency of the market.


A "Situation-Location" aware system has the main task of handling the set of distributed information and resources available within heterogeneous networks to provide a user with seamless and optimized network access to the desired service from any location. A suitable description of Situation&Location and its whole set of variables can be a powerful means to trade-off among user requirements, application constraints, and underlying network conditions. We propose a Multi Agent System able to capture the concept of Situation&Location and perform the task highlighted above. We follow a general-purpose approach with the aim of guaranteeing the highest versatility is possible. The main strength of our proposed system is its "adaptability" that can be achieved without the use of either new terminals or novel technologies. The only requirement is the introduction of a middleware functionality into already existing terminals and into some network servers.


A 35-year-old female presented with abdominal pain, fever, projectile vomiting, and a diffuse tender epigastric mass. She was diagnosed to have acute persistent pancreatitis with a pancreatic pseudocyst. Elevated serum calcium levels provided an etiologic link between hypercalcemia and pancreatitis. On examination, a nodule was found in the left side of her neck which was later diagnosed as a giant left inferior parathyroid adenoma. This report highlights the critical analysis of history, examination, and investigations to reach an ultimate diagnosis. Pseudocyst drainage and parathyroidectomy resolved her symptoms.


The large availability of Kraft lignin as an industrial by-product and its polyaromatic characteristic, is ideal to consider the potential for recycling it into fine chemicals. To depolymerise lignin, solvolysis and hydrogenolysis experiments were performed. This research considered whether the low yields of products (fine chemicals) were related to the low content of β-O-4 bonds or if it was also associated to the dissolution of lignin in the solvent solution employed in the reactions. The type of solvents chosen to check the dissolution effect were those with low cost and were more sustainable than traditional solvents. Water, ethanol, isopropanol (IPA) and acetone were used. The water mixtures were applied in the tests in various proportions (25:75, 50:50, 75:25 solvent/water v:v). Due to their ability to break C-C and C-O bonds in lignin model compounds [1][2], the efficiency of platinum and rhodium in these reactions supported on alumina was also studied. It was found that the non-catalysed (solvolysis) and catalysed reactions showed different selectivities but similar overall yields ~ 10 % wt of monomeric phenols. The difficulty in increasing yields was mainly associated with the highly condensed character of Kraft lignin and re-polymerisation issues.
To achieve an understanding of Kraft lignin depolymerisation, isotopic labelling reactions were completed in the presence of deuterated solvents as well as deuterium gas. This gave information on how Kraft lignin depolymerises, the influence of solvent to products formation and the involvement of hydrogen in the rate determining steps in the reactions. These results have led to an initial mechanistic understanding on how this complex molecule may yield alky-phenolic compounds. It was revealed that the solvent was directly involved in the products' formation and that they were not generated by simple thermolysis. In addition, the presence of catalysts and hydrogen influenced product formation. The compounds showed different kinetic isotopic values, suggesting that each of these molecules came from individual mechanisms, highlighting the complexity of their formation. This was a relevant study as most of lignin depolymerisation mechanistic insights are based on model compounds and not on lignin itself.
It was of interest to this project to explore not only different catalysts and their relationship to lignin depolymerisation, but also different lignin types. A simple pre-treatment for lignin extraction using sawdust (from oak and birch wood) in a Parr autoclave reactor in the presence of hydrogen, solvent and high temperature was developed. The lignins obtained after the pre-treatment were named parr-lignin and successfully resulted in polyaromatic molecules with less condensed character compared to lignins from Soda or Kraft pulping. Reactions were carried out with these lignins and a sugar-cane lignin.

Different catalytic systems with these lignins were investigated and how depolymerisation was affected by the metal and support used. The catalysts involved in the reactions included platinum, rhodium, nickel and iron. Various supports such as alumina, zirconia and carbon were tested along with the metals described. It was found that the supports were not inert in these experiments presenting catalytic activity. Materials with low surface area (zirconium catalysts) gave a poor performance compared to the others. In addition, nickel, a non-noble metal, showed as good a catalytic effect in the depolymerisation of these lignins as Pt and Rh. The components in the system influenced the reactions to different extents, especially product distribution. The catalysts had different selectivities and the solvents were not only dissolving lignin but also influencing the results.
GPC analysis was performed to give an overview of the condensed level of these lignins and degrees of depolymerisation compared to the original material. GC-MS enabled the identification and quantification of 18 monomeric compounds. The post reaction characterisation of selected alumina catalysts (Pt/Al2O3, Ni/Al2O3 and Al2O3) was performed using XRD, BET, CHN, TPO and Raman Analysis to study the nature of the carbonaceous layer deposited on these materials. The work showed that after reaction the catalysts turned black in colour and the carbon laydown consisted of not only one simple type of carbon, and included graphitic species. The amount of carbon deposited depended on the type of lignin. Oak and birch parr-lignins had the highest and lowest amount of carbon over the catalysts respectively. No obvious trend relating to the type of catalyst, lignin and solvent used to the carbon nature was identified.
This work showed that lignins with less condensed nature were less susceptible to solvolysis and more to hydrogenolysis. For example, sugar-cane lignin gave 3.9% of phenolic compounds in the solvolysis while reaction with Rh/Al2O3 gave 12.9% of products. This indicated that more selective cleavage of bonds were promoted by heterogenous catalysts. The results suggested that some compounds were mainly generated via dealkylation and hydrodeoxygenation, allowing a future possibility to generate target molecules. These results were mainly due to the presence of more labile bonds, vulnerable to hydrogenolysis. Highlighting that prior to depolymerisation, the pre-treatment used to extract lignin must be appropriate to avoid depletion of the alkyl-aryl ether bonds (β-O-4 bonds, especially) relevant for fine chemicals generation.


This work is focused on the study of hydrogenated silicon (Si:H) thin films and
nanostructures grown by layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition technique using a home-built
radio-frequency (rf) plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) system.
The initial phase of this work involved preparation and characterization of hydrogenated
silicon (Si:H) thin films by continuous (CD) and LBL deposition techniques on crystal
silicon (c-Si) and glass substrates at different rf powers, substrate temperatures and
hydrogen to silane flow-rate ratios. The effects of the deposition conditions on the
optical and structural properties of the films are studied by optical transmission
spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction
(XRD). The influence of substrates on these properties is also investigated. The second
phase is focused on the study of the morphology, crystallinity, crystallite size, siliconoxygen
bonding and photoluminescence (PL) properties of the Si:H films grown on c-Si
substrates by LBL deposition technique at the same deposition conditions in the first
phase. These properties of the films are characterized by Micro-Raman scattering
spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution
transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Micro-photoluminescence
spectroscopy including further analysis done on the characterization results obtained
from XRD and FTIR measurements done in the first phase in this work.
The results of this work demonstrated that rf power and substrate temperature
produced significant changes to the optical and structural properties of the LBL films
compared to the CD films. Increase in rf power increased the deposition rate of the LBL
and vice-versa for the CD films. Also, increase in rf power increased the disorder of the
CD films however suppressed the disorder in the LBL films. The preferred crystalline
orientation was also changed from Si (311) to Si (111) plane with increase in rf power.
Increase in substrate temperature increased the deposition rate, refractive index and
structural order in the LBL films. The substrate temperature showed significant effects
on optical band gap and hydrogen content in the LBL films. The LBL films deposited at
substrate temperatures of 100 and 200°C showed large optical energy gaps suggesting
that broadening of the band gap was due to quantum confinement effects. The LBL
films deposited on c-Si substrates showed highly crystalline structure as compare to the
other deposited films. The periodic hydrogen plasma treatment on the growth surface of
the film during the LBL deposition processes showed effectively enhances the electrooptical
properties of these LBL films.
The LBL deposition produced silicon nanostructures with Si nano-crystallites
embedded in either amorphous silicon (a-Si) or mixed phases of a-Si and amorphous
silicon oxide (a-SiO) matrix for the films deposited on c-Si substrates. These
nanostructures of nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) grains produced high intensity of PL
emission due to enhancement of quantum confinement effects by the presence of high
crystalline volume fraction (XC ~ 41-54 %) of Si nano-crystallites (~ 2 nm) in the
matrix. The intensity of the PL emissions was strongly dependent on crystalline volume
fraction, crystallite size and oxygen content in the a-SiO matrix. These parameters were
significantly controlled by the rf power and substrate temperature. Based on these
results, the growth kinetics and structural configuration of the LBL grown nc-Si grains
were proposed. It was shown that high intensity of PL emission was emitted by these
clusters of nc-Si grains.


Elements of a car suspension system more and more often are made of light and firm aluminium alloys. The lightweight suspension enables reducing the total weight of the car and the fuel consumption; in addition, it enables improving controllability and stability of the car on a road. In the Paper, transverse arms that are the principal elements of the front axle "McPherson" suspension system are discussed upon. The external forces that impact the suspension arms on driving a car upon different modes are analyzed. In course of analysis of prototypes of the front suspension arms in cars PEUGEOT 406 and BMW 3, the causes of dangerous stresses in certain points of the arm's structure and the opportunities of optimization of suspension arms were analyzed. The external forces that impact the car suspension were established; on the base of the above-mentioned guiding elements (arms) of a car suspension, computer models were developed upon applying the computer-aided simulation package "SolidWorks 2009". Striving to get to know the real marks of the alloys and to bring the simulation more in line with the real conditions, chemical analysis of metals and tests on metal hardness were carried out. Simulation of loads of L-shaped steel and aluminium alloy arms of various profiles was performed as well. On the base of the results, the most dangerous points in arm structure were detected. The recommenda-tions and proposals for improving the structure of alumini-um alloy arms in order to make them able to withstand large external forces were provided. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.mech.19.6.5987


Decolonizing girlhood illuminates an attempt to refuse and recover the pathological representation of Indigenous refugee girls by going beyond the discourse of the Western construction of girlhood. It takes an anticolonial, critical race feminist approach to the understanding of girlhood that challenges the intersectional, racialized exclusion and the deficit representations of Indigenous refugee girls, which are often reinforced by humanitarian schemes of embodied vulnerability. The digital visual fiction stories created by Karen tribe refugee girls in a media arts summer workshop reposition their presence by creating spaces in which they can speak their own desires, share their imaginings, and portray their struggles. Through this experience, these girls challenge colonial social realities and the fantasies of democracy. Ultimately, their futuristic visual fiction acts as a form of counter-storytelling that illustrates an alternative curriculum space and flips the hegemonic script for empowerment.


This essay deals with the chances and problems of intersectionality and border feminism for empirical research on transnational migration. Empirically based on a qualitative research of the return movement of guatemalan refugees, the focus of the paper will be on the importance of borders and experiences of bordercrossings for the formation of political subjectivities within transmigrant communities. Parting from a postcolonial perspective the theoretical and methodical inputs and limits of the concepts of intersectionality and border feminism will be discussed. Secondly, the developed analytical framework will be applied to the return movement of guatemalan war refugees.


JIPITEC 4 (2013) 1 - In January 2012, Poland witnessed massive protests, both in the streets and on the Internet, opposing ratification of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, which triggered a wave of strong anti-ACTA movements across Europe. In Poland, these protests had further far-reaching consequences, as they not only changed the initial position of the government on the controversial treaty but also actually started a public debate on the role of copyright law in the information society. Moreover, as a result of these events the Polish Ministry for Administration and Digitisation launched a round table, gathering various stakeholders to negotiate a potential compromise with regard to copyright law that would satisfy conflicting interests of various actors.
This contribution will focus on a description of this massive resentment towards ACTA and a discussion of its potential reasons. Furthermore, the mechanisms that led to the extraordinary influence of the anti-ACTA movement on the governmental decisions in Poland will be analysed through the application of models and theories stemming from the social sciences. The importance of procedural justice in the copyright legislation process, especially its influence on the image of copyright law and obedience of its norms, will also be emphasised.


Pdgfra+ oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) arise in distinct specification waves during embryogenesis in the central nervous system (CNS). It is unclear whether there is a correlation between these waves and different transcriptional oligodendrocyte (OL) states at adult stages. Here we present a bulk and single-cell transcriptomics resource providing insights on how transitions between these states occur. We show that E13.5 Pdgfra+ populations are not OPCs, exhibiting instead hallmarks of neural progenitors. A subset of these progenitors, which we refer as pre-OPCs, rewires their transcriptional landscape, converging into indistinguishable OPC states at E17.5 and post-natal stages. P7 brain and spinal cord OPCs present similar transcriptional profiles at the single-cell level, indicating that OPC states are not region-specific. Postnatal OPC progeny of E13.5 Pdgfra+ have electrophysiological and transcriptional profiles similar to OPCs derived from subsequent specification waves. In addition, lineage tracing indicates that a subset of E13.5 Pdgfra+ cells also originate cells of the pericyte lineage. In summary, our results indicate that embryonic Pdgfra+ cells are diverse and give rise at post-natal stages to distinct cell lineages, including OPCs with convergent transcriptional profiles in different CNS regions.


The behavior of users in social networks is often observed to be affected by the actions of their friends. Bhawalkar et al. (ICALP '12) introduced a formal mathematical model for user engagement in social networks where each individual derives a benefit proportional to the number of its friends which are engaged. Given a threshold degree k the equilibrium for this model is a maximal subgraph whose minimum degree is at least k. However the dropping out of individuals with degrees less than k might lead to a cascading effect of iterated withdrawals such that the size of equilibrium subgraph becomes very small. To overcome this some special vertices called "anchors" are introduced: these vertices need not have large degree. Bhawalkar et al. considered the Anchored k-Core problem: Given a graph G and integers b, k and p do there exist sets of vertices B, H such that B is a subset of H, size of B is at most b and size of H is at least p, and every vertex v which is in H but not in B has degree at least k in the induced subgraph G[H]. They showed that the problem is NP-hard for all k greater equal 2, and gave some inapproximability and fixed-parameter intractability results. In this paper we give improved hardness results for this problem. In particular we show that the Anchored k-Core problem is W[1]-hard parameterized by p, even for k=3. This improves the result of Bhawalkar et al.  (who show W[2]-hardness parameterized by b) as our parameter is always bigger since p is greater equal than b. Then we answer a question of Bhawalkar et al. by showing that the Anchored k-Core problem remains NP-hard on planar graphs for all k greater equal 3, even if the maximum degree of the graph is k+2. Finally we show that the problem is FPT on planar graphs parameterized by b for all k greater equal 7.


Since the introduction of the concept of a "nummulite bank" more than 50 years ago, the significance of these peculiar sedimentary structures has been debated, especially whether they are of autochthonous or allochthonous origin. At first considered as substantially autochthonous, an alternative interpretation as allochthonous deposits was suggested in the mid-1980s to explain the observation of sedimentary features indicating displacement of the nummulite tests. In more recent literature, we found examples of non-uniform use of the nummulite bank concept; sometimes the 'banks' are vaguely described as nummulite-rich beds, and illustrations may not allow recognition of the features characteristic of the real banks. In an attempt to achieve a scientifically robust model explaining the genesis of the nummulite banks, our objective was to test the original definition, based upon the most fundamental and useful characteristics that can be observed in the field, even in non-optimal outcrop conditions: the A/B ratio and the percentage composition (dominance) of the fossil assemblage. Both can be quantified using simple techniques on samples collected for this purpose.
 In an extensive survey of nummulite banks and non-banks from Italy, Spain, Romania, and Germany, we determined A/B ratios and taxonomic composition of the nummulite assemblages. Recognized nummulite banks are characterized by A/B ratios <60 and dominance of one species accounting for at least 75% of the specimens of Nummulites. Non-bank samples show A/B ratios between 60–350 and dominance usually <50%. An unexpected result was the discovery of an 'Assilina bank', characterizing both conditions for recognition of a nummulite bank, but with Assilina cuvillieri as the dominant species representing >75% of the larger foraminiferal assemblage.


Background and Objective: Fluorescence spectroscopy is a potential tool for brain tumour resection surgery. The main advantages of fluorescence spectroscopy are the objective fluorescence detection, possibility to quantify the signals and high sensitivity for instance to distinguish between healthy and neoplastic tissue. This distinction is a difficult task attributed to the diffuse growth pattern of brain tumour. A low dose of 5- aminolevulinic acid (5- ALA) is given orally to the patient. 5- ALA promotes accumulation of protporphyrin IX (PpIX) in the tumour cells which is a fluorescing substance. To measure the fluorescence emission the neurosurgeon examines the brain tissue with the help of an optical probe and spectroscopy system developed at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Linkoping University. The aim of this study was to develop an optical phantom which mimics brain tumour tissue. The phantom allows measuring and performing characterisation experiments in a controlled environment.Material and methods: To develop the tissue simulating phantom black ink and 20 % intralipid was used to obtain the optical properties of high grade glioma brain tumour. The optical properties of each substance were measured with collimated transmission spectroscopy and compared to the data reported in the literature. Agar gel was used to obtain similar photobleaching properties of tissue. Different PpIX concentrations were added to the phantom and fluorescence characterisation measurements were performed. Fluorescence quantification and the photobleaching as a function of concentration were investigated. An algorithm was established to predict the fluorescence concentration in the phantom based on the photobleaching decay characteristics.Results: An optical phantom with an error of ± 4 % was developed for the specified wavelength. The fluorescence ratio measurements showed a power and integration time independent relationship while they were linearly correlated (R2 = 0.79) with the PpIX concentration which could be quantified with a resolution of 4 μg ml-1. The fluorescence ratio values showed among the concentrations significant differences (p < 0.001) by using the Kruskal-Wallis. Three parameters of laser light pulsation, initial concentration of the fluorophore and excitation power affected the photobleaching proportionally. The developed algorithm can predict the fluorophore concentration in the phantom with an error of 9.2 %. The decay times for 63 % for loss of the initial intensity in the phantom (9 s - 43 s) were comparable with clinical data (19 s - 39 s). With the assumption that the photobleaching characteristics were the same in brain tumour tissue as in the phantom an already photobleached clinical measurement was reconstructed and the initial PpIX concentration was predicted.Conclusion: This study provides insight into a detailed development process of a brain tumour simulating optical phantom. The fluorescence ratio measurements showed a significant difference (p < 0.001) among different PpIX concentrations. Furthermore, the fluorescence ratio measurements showed a power and integration time independent linear relationship (R2 = 0.79) to quantify the PpIX concentration with a resolution of 4 μg ml-1. Additionally, main excitation parameters which affected the photobleaching kinetics in vivo were investigated in the phantom. The developed method to predict the fluorescence concentration in the phantom, based on the photobleaching measurements, was feasible to predict the initial intensity from a clinical measurements in a reasonable range but further investigations are required.


Chronic illness is an increasing concern in the United States as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 50% of adults have at least one chronic illness. When individuals must adjust to chronic illness, they may experience uncertainty regarding the illness, prognosis, and symptoms. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore the management strategies of uncertainty in chronic illness from patients' perspectives. Merle Mishel's uncertainty in illness theory was the framework used to explore the lives of individuals diagnosed and living with chronic illness. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight individuals who have chronic disease. Results revealed themes that individuals with chronic illness do experience uncertainty and that it impacts almost all aspects of their lives. Some of the themes identified were chronic illness, uncertainty, impact of uncertainty on daily living, coping or managing uncertainty, and communication from the healthcare team about uncertainty. The individuals expressed changes in daily activities and retraining their minds to accept their new normal. This study offers coping and management strategies that healthcare professionals can implement into treatment plans to improve the quality of life for individuals with uncertainty in chronic illness. The information produced from this study will aid healthcare providers in understanding the need to address the uncertainty at diagnoses and offer ways to assist patients in coping and managing uncertainty.


Aerospace performance engineers and dynamicists sometimes need to manipulate two or three sets of axes defining their coordinate systems, and make transformations between them. If they wish to show the computer model of one of their vehicles and illustrate its motion on a graphic display device, they have to employ additional axes systems and expand their mathematical and geometrical manipulative skills still further. This new book aims to make such processes systematic and readily comprehensible. Display coordinate systems are the starting point from which the book proceeds to present the mathematics needed for the display of points, lines, planes, polygons, polyhedra and a variety of two and three dimensional constructions. Window-viewport transformations and the basics of orthographic and perspective projection are dealt with early on. Translation, rotation and scaling transformations are next considered and illustrated by application to the two and three dimensional objects analysed earlier. Later chapters study more sophisticated and powerful transformations using vector geometry and matrix algebra. These topics are introduced along with a general treatment of curves and surfaces. A further chapter is devoted to the more detailed examination of the orthographic and perspective projections and it examines the kinematic relationship between the observer and the scene. The issues addressed here are fundamental to the design of the user interface of interactive modelling systems such as those employed in CAD/CAM. The author has extensive experience in CAD/CAM and in geometric modelling for the McDonnell Douglas Corporation. The text which he has written leads into its subject with but a modest expectation of the reader's mathematical knowledge. The book is structured to explain, emphasise and later reinforce the vital concepts. This, together with numerous exercises and selected answers, makes it suitable for both class study and for self-tuition. An adequate index and the treatment of specific problems in terse summaries, which are highlighted within the body of the text, extend the usefulness of this book as a handy reference for all who become involved with the production of graphics software. A. J. BARRETT, CEng, FRAeS


The PiP Evaluation Plan documents four distinct evaluative strands, the first of which entails an evaluation of the PiP system pilot (WP7:37). Phase 1 of this evaluative strand focuses on the heuristic evaluation of the PiP Course and Class Approval Online Pilot system (C-CAP). Heuristic evaluation is an established usability inspection and testing technique and is most commonly deployed in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research, e.g. to test user interface designs, technology systems testing, etc. The success of heuristic evaluation in detecting 'major' and 'minor' usability problems is well documented, but its principal limitation is its inability to capture data on all possible usability problems. For this reason heuristic evaluation is often used as a precursor to user testing, e.g. so that user testing focuses on deeper system issues rather than on those that can easily be debugged. Heuristic evaluation nevertheless remains an important usability inspection technique and research continues to demonstrate its success in detecting usability problems which would otherwise evade detection in user testing sessions. For this reason experts maintain that heuristic evaluation should be used to complement user testing. This is reflected in the PiP Evaluation Plan, which proposes protocol analysis, stimulated recall and pre- and post-test questionnaire instruments to comprise user testing (see WP7:37 phases 2, 3 and 4 of PiP Evaluation Plan). This brief report summarises the methodology deployed, presents the results of the heuristic evaluation and proposes solutions or recommendations to address the heuristic violations that were found to exist in the C-CAP system. It is anticipated that some solutions will be implemented within the lifetime of the project. This is consistent with the incremental systems design methodology that PiP has adopted.


The work presented in this thesis concerns the synthesis and study of various RuII polypyridyl complexes and organic chromophores which incorporate strongly electron-accepting and ?-conjugated pyridinium groups. Several of these compounds have been studied as potential sensitisers for solar cell applications.The N3 dye, cis-RuII(NCS)2(dcbpy)2 (dcbpy = 4,4?-dicarboxy-2,2?-bipyridyl) has been synthesised in pure form and excellent yield via ester hydrolysis of cis-RuII(NCS)2(Et2dcbpy)2 (Et2dcbpy = 4,4?-di(ethoxycarbonyl)-2,2?-bipyridyl). This well known complex is used as a benchmark for comparison purposes with our novel pyridinium compounds. A single-crystal X-ray structure has been obtained for the new complex cis-RuIICl(NCS)(Et2dcbpy)2.Three new 4,4?:2?,2??:4??,4???-quaterpyridinium pro-ligand cations along with several known ones have been synthesised and isolated as their chloride salts. Single-crystal X-ray structures have been determined for one of these salts and also for an unexpected protonated derivative. These pro-ligands have been used to prepare two series of RuII polypyridyl complex salts.A series of eleven new complexes of the form cis-[RuII(bpy)2(LA)]4+ and fourteen of the form cis-[RuIIX2(LA)2]4+ (bpy = 2,2?-bipyridyl; LA = quaterpyridinium-based ligand; X = NCS? or Cl?) have been synthesised and isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. The various characterisation techniques used include 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The UV-vis spectra show intense intraligand ? ? ?* absorptions in the UV region and low energy metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) bands in the visible. Small shifts in the MLCT bands correlate with changes in the electron-accepting strength of the ligand LA. The UV-vis absorption profiles of the salts cis-[RuIIX2(LA)2][PF6]4 cover the entire visible region extending well into the near-IR, with MLCT bands much more red-shifted than those of their cis-[RuII(bpy)2(LA)][PF6]4 relatives and the N3 dye. Cyclic voltammograms show quasi-reversible or reversible RuIII/II oxidation waves and ligand-based reductions. The variations in the redox potentials correlate with changes in the pyridinium substituents, and also with the MLCT energies. Single-crystal X-ray structures have been solved for three of the new cis-[RuII(bpy)2(LA)][PF6]4 salts. Four carboxylate-functionalised RuII polypyridyl compounds have been tested as dye sensitisers on both TiO2 and ZnO electrodes, but only low overall efficiencies are achieved. A series of eight new stilbazolium compounds has been synthesised and fully characterised as their hexafluorophosphate salts. Single-crystal X-ray structures have been determined for a new picolinium precursor and three of the ester-substituted stilbazolium compounds. The UV-vis spectra of these organic chromophores feature intense intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) bands. Four acid-functionalised compounds have been tested as dye sensitisers on both TiO2 and ZnO surfaces, with the most encouraging preliminary results observed for the latter.Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations were carried out on six of the new dye sensitisers to clarify their electronic/optical properties. TD-DFT-derived depictions of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) show negligible electron density near the acid-functionalities. This factor, along with possible energy level mismatch of the excited-state donor orbitals with the conduction band edge of the semiconductor, may be the cause of inefficient electron injection and thus poor photovoltaic performance of our new pyridinium-based dyes.


Tension-compression fatigue tests under various mean stress conditions were conducted with round bar specimens of short glass fiber reinforced polybuthyleneterephthalate made by injection molding. Under cyclic loading with high mean stresses, the creep phenomenon became predominant and the ratcheting deformation increased with the number of cycles. This phenomenon is characteristic of plastics including short glass fiber reinforced plastics. The experimental data of the fatigue strength at the stress ratios above 0.7 were lower than the prediction based on the modified Goodman diagram. We propose to use the creep rupture strength, σc, instead of the tensile strength, σB, as the strength without mean stress and the parabolic equation for a constant life in the amplitude-mean stress (σa-σm) diagram. Our new design equation for the mean-stress effect on the fatigue strength on plastics is as follows: σa = σw – (σw / σc 2) σm 2, where σw is the fatigue strength at the stress ratio R=-1 and σa is the stress amplitude under a mean stress of σm. We also proposed a method to obtain the constant-life relation from limited experimental data.


As a major public health crisis, the opioid epidemic caused over 556,000 deaths in the U.S. between 2000 and 2020. To control the epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed some general guidelines, encouraging physicians to use opioid medications only when their benefits outweigh their risks. The CDC's 2016 guidelines mainly left it to physicians to decide when the benefits outweigh the risks. A few years later (in 2022), the CDC made some modifications to make its recommendations a bit less reliant on each individual physician's perception of benefits versus risks. In complex and high stake decision-making environments such as those pertaining the use of opioid medications, it is not clear whether and how human-based perceptions might differ from algorithmic-based ones. In this study, we first develop some longitudinal machine learning algorithms (e.g., historical random forest, recurrent neural networks, and long short-term memory networks) and train them on clinical evidence of more than 3 million patients. We then feed the best machine learning algorithm to a mathematical model that enables determining cost-effective treatments for each patient in a personalized manner. Through extensive numerical experiments, we compare the treatment options and recommendations from our algorithmic-based approach with human-based ones that are currently followed in the medical practice. Compared to the human-based approach, our results show that the average saving in quality-adjusted life years and costs obtained by following our algorithmic-based treatments are about 2.82 days and $ 461.46 per patient per year. Finally, we make use of our findings and generate insights for policymakers as well as individual physicians into better ways of managing opioid prescriptions (and hence, the opioid epidemic) by incorporating and interacting with our algorithmic-based approach.


Background South Asian Children present more frequently than White British Children to emergency departments with acute asthma: tailored interventions may redress this. The Management Interventions for Asthma project (MIA) assessed the feasibility of involving adults, parents and children from this potentially 'hard to reach' ethnic community alongside healthcare professionals (HCPs) in prioritising components for tailored asthma interventions. Methods Eleven issues identified as barriers to asthma management following interviews with community members, parents, children and HCPs were presented at community based events by the MIA team utilising interpreters/facilitators for simultaneous 5-way translation. HCPs were sent information electronically. Forty six community members, 22 parents, 19 children and 13 HCPs used Borda ranking to prioritise the issues for subsequent development of interventions in the current health care system. Results Getting a diagnosis was ranked first by parents and community members but last by HCPs. Language barriers were ranked first by HCPs. Children prioritised managing acute asthma attacks. Conclusions Ethnicity and language need not be barriers to involving South Asian families in health services research. It is crucial to include community members, families and children in the development of tailored interventions as well as HCPs. Relying on HCPs alone could lead to key issues being missed or priorities misjudged. Acknowledgement This project was funded by the NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research programme (ref 09/2001/19). The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the HS&DR programme, NIHR, NHS or the Department of Health.


A dissertation submitted to University of Mandalay in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree doctor of Philosophy in History


Standards for hand-transmitted vibration predict dependent variables (e.g. finger blanching) from measurements of a few independent variables (e.g. vibration magnitude, vibration frequency, exposure duration). This paper illustrates the assumptions in the current International Standard guidelines for the evaluation of hand-transmitted vibration and compares research methods which may provide information to improve the guidance. Subjective assessments of vibration discomfort have influenced the frequency weighting used in current standards, but the data have been modified greatly for this purpose. Subjective and biodynamic data suggest that the severity of vibration may not be similar for vibration occurring in different axes. Physiological and pathological studies seek to uncover the mechanisms involved in the temporary and permanent changes caused by vibration, but they have yet to contribute to the guidance in standards. Future experimental studies in humans are unlikely to be sufficient to determine how injury depends on the characteristics of vibration exposures at work. Epidemiological studies are required to uncover the effects of occupational exposures, but the complexity of occupational exposures will prevent the formulation of standards based solely on the results of epidemiological studies. Standards for hand-transmitted vibration include unproven assumptions but, for those assessing the severity of occupational exposures, they offer the most reasonable method for predicting the likely effects of vibration. A combination of subjective, biodynamic, physiological, pathological and epidemiological studies is required to improve current guidance.


On Wittgenstein's purely syntactical, radical constructivist account of mathematics, the sense (meaning) of a mathematical 'proposition' is not at all like the sense of a contingent (empirical) proposition. In the latter case, a contingent proposition has a fully determinate sense as a function of linguistic conventions, which make it possible to fully understand the sense of a contingent proposition without knowing its truth-value. In the mathematical case, however, a so-called "mathematical proposition" only has sense when we have proved it (with understanding) and thereby located it within the syntactical structure of a mathematical calculus. This paper aims to (1) show how Wittgenstein's radical position on a mathematical proposition and its sense results from his life-long view that mathematics is exclusively syntactical and invented bit-by-little-bit by human beings, (2) propose a particular conception of "mathematical sense" – and an interpretation of Wittgenstein's remarks – that best resolves the internal tension between two of Wittgenstein's principal views on mathematics, and (3) consider some objections to Wittgenstein's view and how he does or might respond to them. The paper shows that, on Wittgenstein's account, the sense of a mathematical proposition is its syntactical location and its syntactical connections within a purely syntactical calculus.


The present paper is based on the contribution by Niihara and his co-workers devoted to indentation testing of ceramic materials, while it provides new observations of peculiarities registered during nanoindentation of sapphire, GaAs and InGaNAs deposited by MBE-technique. Exploiting previous studies of the spherical indentation in sapphire, the present authors recognized different causes that result in the apparently similar pop-in phenomenon for sapphire and GaAs-based semiconductors. The finite element modeling of the quasi-plastic nanoindentation of the ( 1 1 20) plane of sapphire with the elastically deformable tip confirmed that the deformation of sapphire is governed by twinning which causes pop-in phenomenon, as suggested earlier by Niihara et al. The singularities registered for GaAs-based crystals are associated with dislocation movement within {111} slip bands, which is in contrast to the case of sapphire.


Trimethoprim is now available in Britain for the treatment and prophylaxis of urinary tract infection. As a result the debate has been renewed on the value of combined folate inhibitor preparations, notably co-trimoxazole-in particular, on the potential for emergence of trimethoprim resistance in bacteria exposed to the drug. When first marketed in 1969 preparations of sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim were chosen primarily because the combination showed greater antibacterial activity than the individual components; the part played by each drug in minimising risks-of acquired resistance was ofsecondary importance.' Since then, the original claimsthat sequential blockade of bacterial folate synthesis produces synergism and hence superior clinical activity, and that the two agents protect each other from the development of bacterial resistance-have been challenged, and these issues have been examined in recent reviews.2 3 Trimethoprim is considerably more active than sulphamethoxazole against most bacterial species,1 and in thetreatment of urinary tract infection the activity of trimethoprim is so dominant as to be almost entirely responsible for the activity of co-trimoxazole.4-6 Clinical trials have shown that in most urinary tract infections trimethoprim alone is as effective as co-trimoxazole and causes fewer side effects.7 8 Clearly, there is a persuasive case for evaluating trimethoprim in urinary tract infections, but doubts have been raised on the grounds that its widespread use might promote bacterial resistance.9-11 Trimethoprim acts by selectively inhibiting bacterial dihydrofolate reductase and so depleting folate, an essential cofactor in the biosynthesis of nucleic acids. Some species have intrinsic resistance to the drug: for example, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa a permeability barrier denies it access into the cell. Another mechanism protects the Neisseria species and anaerobes, in which the dihydrofolate reductase isrelatively insusceptible to trimethoprim. Acquired resistance may be mediated by changes in dihydrofolate reductase making it less susceptible to inhibition by trimethoprim. Such changes may be determined by gehes located either on the bacterial chromosome or as plasmid-borne R factors (extrachromosomal fragments of DNA capable of mediating transmissible resistance). Resistance determined by R factors is characteristically very high, raising minimal inhibitory concentrations of trimethoprim to 1000 mg/l or more. Another suggested mechanism for mediating resistance to trimethoprim might be that it facilitates selection of mutant thymine-dependent bacteria, a specialised group, highly resistant to trimethoprim, which require exogenous thymine or thymidine for DNA


Abstract This paper introduces the Social Skills Training for the 21st Century Model (SST-21). This innovative group approach for enhancing social skills provides creative and indirect activities to students. The SST-21 Model has four components; Media, Recreation, Family and Community, and Enterprise. While the need to develop effective strategies to improve the social skills of students with disabilities has long been apparent, the methods used to develop these skills have varied considerably. In their review of the history and development of social skills training, Goldstein and McGinnis (1997) suggest that until the early 1970s, three major psychological approaches dominated the field, the psychoanalytic, nondirectivist, and behavior modification models. The first model represented the psychoanalytic school of thought and suggested that calling forth and interpreting the unconscious thoughts of the child could facilitate behavioral change. In this way, the latent awareness of the child could emerge, and healthy, appropriate behavior would follow. The nondirectivist, or humanistic psychological model, sought to create changes in behavior by providing an empathic and accepting environment. Theorists postulated that such environmental adaptations would stimulate the potential for change within the child, enabling the child to make better proactive behavioral decisions. Practitioners of the third model, behavior modification, employed contingent reinforcement of appropriate behaviors in an attempt to increase the probability that these behaviors would recur. In the early 1970s, a shift occurred from the therapeutic model toward a pedagogic or direct teaching approach. As greater numbers of educators came to the conclusion that inappropriate or ineffective interpersonal skills were learned, it became clear that appropriate and effective interpersonal skills could and should be taught. Based on the principles of social learning (modeling) theory, a number of direct teaching models were proposed and implemented (Bandura, 1977). Several of these approaches are in wide use today. Among the most widely used approaches are the Boys Town Model (Dowd, Tobias, Connolly, Criste, & Nelson, 1993), and Skillstreaming the Adolescent (Goldstein, Sprafkin, Gershaw, & Klein, 1998). While differences exist in the implementation and practices of these and other social skill models, certain commonalties are apparent. Direct teaching of social skills is emphasized. Specific skill deficiencies are identified, and student groups are formed based upon common needs. Many models require specific classroom arrangements, specific timing and spacing of class sessions, and prescribed systems of reinforcement. In order to maximize success, many direct teaching models require hours of teacher training prior to implementation, and remain personnel intensive after training, often requiring the presence of more than one trained instructor at each teaching session (Weiner, Fritsch, & Crenshaw, 2000). Many of these demands can be met with relative ease in a Special Day Classroom (SDC) for students with disabilities. However, the ongoing trend toward inclusive programming as mandated by the Reauthorization of IDEA (1997) has resulted in the placement of many students with disabilities in general education settings. Thus, the demands of the direct teaching of social skills may simply be overwhelming and impractical in general education settings. As the social skills training movement has matured, relevant evidence regarding effectiveness has accumulated. It has become clear that specific social skills can be acquired in the classroom situation. The generalization of these skills, however, is quite another matter. Both generalization to new settings (transfer) and over time (maintenance) have been reported to occur in only a few of the training situations (Gresham, 1998; Mathur & Rutherford, 1997). …


Electoral competition is quite expensive. The prevalent idea in Western countries is that public funding may contribute to and preserve the system's fairness and pluralism, defending political parties from the influence of big money. However, the Italian reform of political funding approved in 2014 appears to move in an opposite direction, encouraging political players to extract private sources while discarding public support. Such a choice entails hazards associated with several current phenomena, including system transparency, financial appeals from competing players and the rising personalization of politics.
This article describes the financial status of the major Italian political parties in 2013 and 2018, with an emphasis on the allocation of private funds. Unfortunately, political parties' responses to the new regulation came late, resulting in significant variations and disparities. Private money needs regulation and restrictions before being established as the primary source of revenue for political competition. At present, Italian political parties are left with few guidelines and appear to be navigating by sight.


Seawater acidification and warming have been found to affect the early life of many marine organisms, but their effects on the microbial community in the environment related to the early development stage of aquaculture species have been rarely investigated. To understand how seawater acidification and warming impact the microbial community in aquaculture systems, we designed four microcosms to monitor and characterize the microbial composition on the corrugated plates in the Apostichopus japonicus culture tanks during its post-settlement stage. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the bacterial community composition varied significantly in different periods of incubation. The bacterial diversity and community composition were obviously changed by seawater acidification and warming in the early period and then tended to revert to the level of the control group. Acidification significantly increased the relative abundance of dominant families Rhodobacteraceae and Flavobacteriaceae in the early period, suggesting that microbiota could increase the abundance of predominant taxa to adapt to increased CO2 concentration and reconstruct a stable community structure. No interaction effect of both factors was observed in the combined group. Results reveal that the microbial communities on the corrugated plates in A. japonicus culture tank were affected in the early period of incubation, and could then acclimatize to the increased CO2 and temperature. This study provides new insights into the variation and adaptation responses of the microbiota in aquaculture systems to seawater acidification and warming.


It is shown that a waveguide mode, which exists between metal dimer particles and does not cut off, produces an enhanced electric field and hence a mechanism for surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Structures can thus be designed that provide large average field enhancement over significant length scales.


An econometric model of economic development is estimated with data from leading European countries between 1300 and 1800. The model explores the impact of population, enclosure, empire, representative government, technology, and literacy on urbanization, agricultural productivity, proto-industry, and the real wage. Simulations show that the main factors leading to economic success in north-western Europe were the growth of American and Asian commerce and, especially, the innovations underlying the export of the new draperies in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The enclosure of the open fields, representative government, and the spread of literacy did not play major roles.


Researchers analyzed that social emotional learning is one of the factors for effective learning to take place. Researchers call academic resilience as one of the important components of social emotional learning. It is the students' ability to compete and get success in environment where they face adverse conditions. These adverse conditions include poverty or abuse etc. Academic resilience has numerous components, for example ability to motivate him, ability to understand stress, and ability to manage stress while facing adverse conditions. It also includes the level of confidence of the students. The framework of academic resilience makes clear the reasons for difference in success of students from similar socioeconomic background. The aim of this meta-analysis is to understand the theories of researchers and getting insight into their methodologies for establishing link between academic resilience and success.


ABSTRACT BEGO, F and MALLTEZI, J., 2011. Ecotourism Opportunities and Challenges in Butrint, Albania, a Unique UNESCO and Ramsar site. In: Micallef, A. (ed.), MCRR3–2010 Conference Proceedings, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 61, pp. 150–157. Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy, ISSN 0749–0208. This paper provides ecoturism opportunities in the Butrint National Park (BNP), designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999 and Ramsar site in 2003. Geographical position, landscape and biodiversity combined with a very rich culture heritage makes the site the most frequented by foreign visitors in Albania. Other new opportunities to bring more visitors in outside of the summer touristic season, including birdwatching, walking trials, biking, scuba-diving are discussed. The paper raises concerns that the ecotourism opportunities are put at risk by a number of uncontrolled human activities, such as illegal urbanization and massive tourism, wetland reclamation, mining, irrational marine aquaculture, hunting, excessive grazing and fires. Finally, some recommendations on how to address these concerns and maximize potential for ecotourism development of this unique UNESCO and Ramsar Site in Albania are suggested.


I Jesel M, Isch-Treussard, Isch F. Electromyography of striated muscle of anal and urethral sphincters. In: Desmedt JE, ed. New Developments in Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology. Basal: Karger, 1973; 2:406-20. 2 Fowler CJ, Kirby RS, Harrison MJG, Milroy EJG, Turner-Warwick R. Individual motor unit analysis in the diagnosis of disorders of urethral sphincter innervation. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1984;47:637-41. 3 Stalberg E, Trontelj JV. Single Fibre Electromyography. Woking (Surrey): Mirvalle Press, 1979. 4 Neill ME, Swash M. Increased motor unit fibre density in the external anal sphincter muscle in ano-rectal incontinence: a single fibre EMG study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1980;43:343-7. 5 Voduiek DB, Janko M, Lokar J. EMG, single fibre EMG and sacral reflexes in assessment of sacral nervous system lesions. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1982;45:1064-6. 6 Krieger MS, Gordon D, Stanton SL. Single fibre EMG: A sensitive tool for evaluation of the urethral sphincter. Proceedings, International Continence Society 18th Annual Meeting, Oslo, Norway Ist-3rd September 1988. Urology and Urodynamics 1988; 7:239-40. 7 Stalberg E, Trontelj JV. Clinical neurophysiology: The motor unit in myopathy. In: Rowland EP, ed. Diseases ofMuscle. Vinken PJ, Bruyn GW, eds. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, revised series. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ Co, in press, 1989. 8 Payan J. The blanket principle: a technical note. Muscle Nerve 1978;1:432. 9 Vodu§ek DB, Janko M, Lokar J. Direct and reflex responses in perineal muscles on electrical stimulation. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1983;46:67-71.


The aim of this study is to develop an inexpensive method for preparing transparent and heat insulating tin oxide film. Antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) thin films have wide variety of technical applications, such as high transmission of visible light and heat insulated coatings. Films were formed by the dip-coating of this colloidal suspension. The structure and morphology of these films were analyzed using XRD and SEM analysis. The optical properties of the ATO thin films were investigated using a UV–VIS spectrophotometer. The heat insulating performance was evaluated using Halogen lamps to irradiate a film coated glass which cover on wooden box for two hours. The results of this study indicate that only the SnO phase (tetragonal rutile structure) appeared in X-ray diffraction, and the Sb dopant does not from a second phase. However, the crystallinity of the SnO structure is impaired by the presence of antimony. For the heat insulating performance the ATO coated glass achieves better heat insulation than that of bare glass.


notoriously difficult to find in any quantity. I presume, therefore, that the vast majority would be housed in hostels, and, as the Ministry of Health's standard sets a maximum of 25 beds per hostel, and there is no mention of any existing hostel accommodation in Birmingham, approximately 30 hostels will have to be found or built. When applied on a national basis it is in my opinion quite. unrealistic to contemplate money, let alone staff, becoming available on this kind of scale. This is not to say that much more money is not required for the service ; I agree completely with the authors that an inadequate service should not be disguised as desirable because it is economical. One way of obtaining improvement in the service is to avoid multi-authority responsibility and duplication of effort; we should close our ranks, pool our resources, and integrate. A single responsible authority derived from health and welfare, education, and hospital authorities could wellibe the basic essential ingredient of such a concept. The best use is thereby, I suggest, more likely to be made of the available finances, staff, and accommodation, and the controlling authority would have a sense of unified responsibility and purpose.-I am, etc.,


Functional morpho-histology of the alimentary tract of the Indian Climbing perch, Anabas testudineus (BLOCH) has been described. The fish possesses a wide, slightly upturned mouth. The presence of jaw, vomerine, palatine, pharyngeal, and horny pad teeth in the bucco-pharyngeal region indicates the carnivorous feeding habit of the fish. Gill-rakers are toothed but the tongue is edentulous. The latter helps in manipulation of larger prey. The nature and disposition of the taste buds in the lips and bucco-pharyngeal region indicate that the fish procures its food primarily by taste and secondarily by sight. Taste buds are also present in the middle oesophagus which indicates that the gustatory sense extends upto this region. The surface epithelium of the cardiac stomach is conspicuous in having specific mucous cells. The pyloric stomach indicates a more primitive nature due to the presence of tubular mucous glands or pyloric glands. The number of pyloric caeca is 4. The intestine is slightly looped and the dimensionless RLG (Relative Length of the Gut) is 0.42. An ileo-rectal valve and the mucosal folds distinguish the rectum from the intestine.