ABSTRACT Early-life stress can suppress immune function, but it is unclear whether transgenerational stress exposure modulates the immune consequences of early stress. In populations where, historically, the immune system is frequently activated, e.g. persistent stressors that cause injury, it may be maladaptive to suppress immune function after early-life stress. Thus, the relationship between early-life stress and immune function may vary with population-level historical stressor exposure. We collected gravid fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) from populations that naturally differ in long-term exposure to invasive fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). We manipulated early-life stress in the resulting offspring via weekly exposure to fire ants, application of the stress-relevant hormone corticosterone or control treatment from 2 to 43 weeks of age. We quantified adult immune function in these offspring with baseline and antigen-induced hemagglutination and plasma bacterial killing ability. Early-life corticosterone exposure suppressed baseline hemagglutination in offspring of lizards from populations not exposed to fire ants but enhanced hemagglutination in those from populations that were exposed to fire ants. This enhancement may prepare lizards for high rates of wounding, toxin exposure and infection associated with fire ant attack. Adult bacterial killing ability and hemagglutination were not affected by early-life exposure to fire ants, but the latter was higher in offspring of lizards from invaded sites. A population's history of persistent stress may thus alter individual long-term immunological responses to early-life stressors. Further consideration of historical stressor exposure (type and duration) may be important to better understand how early-life stressors affect adult physiology. Summary: Historical, population-level exposure to invasive predatory fire ants (and associated stress) affects the immune consequences of early-life exposure to a stress-relevant hormone.


Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a serious health problem affecting more than 50% of community-dwelling older adults worldwide and its prevalence increases with advanced age. It has a significant effect on all aspects of older adults' life. It affects the physical status of older adults causing activity limitation, loss of independence, and increased risk for fall and depression. Objective: Determine the relationship between chronic low back Pain and risk of fall and depression among community dwelling older adults. Setting: The outpatient clinic of the Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department; at the Main University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt. Subjects: A convenience sample of 120 older adults with chronic low back pain was recruited. Tools: Four tools were used for data collection: 1) Socio-demographic Characteristics and Clinical Data of the Older Adults with CLBP Structured Interview Schedule, 2) Colored Analogue Pain Assessment Scale, 3) Fall Risk Assessment Scale for Older People, and4) Beck Depression Inventory. Results: A high statistically significant relationship between the severity of CLBP and the degree of fall risk and the severity of depression among the study subjects, as well as a significant association was found between severity of depression and the risk for fall among them. Conclusion: CLBP is significantly associated with increased risk of fall and depression; this risk is positively correlated with the severity of pain. Recommendations: Periodic follow up for older adults with CLBP especially those who are at risk for falls and depression to improve their physical and psycho-social status and prevent pain recurrence.


Thrust augmentation of an axial-flow type turbojet engine by burning fuel in the tail pipe has been investigated in the NACA Cleveland altitude wind tunnel. The performance was determined over a range of simulated flight conditions and tail-pipe fuel flows. The engine tail pipe was modified for the investigation to reduce the gas velocity at the inlet of the tail-pipe combustion chamber and to provide an adequate seat for the flame; four such modifications were investigated. The highest net-thrust increase obtained in the investigation was 86 percent with a net thrust specific fuel consumption of 2.91 and a total fuel-air ratio of 0.0523. The highest combustion efficiencies obtained with the four configurations ranged from 0.71 to 0.96. With three of the tail-pipe burners, for which no external cooling was provided, the exhaust nozzle and the rear part of the burner section were bright red during operation at high tail-pipe fuel-air ratios. With the tail-pipe burner for which fuel and water cooling were provided, the outer shell of the tail-pipe burner showed no evidence of elevated temperatures at any operating condition.


The aim of this article is to find an explanation for the extraordinarily rapid demographic change in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) during the 1990s. It will be argued that population ageing in CEE is an unintended side effect of the socio-economic transition from 'communist' to 'capitalist' societies. An unprecedented drop in fertility in combination with the emigration of many young people and improvements in life expectancy has resulted in an extraordinarily rapid ageing of the CEE populations. First, evidence for the interaction between socio-economic crisis and demographic change will be presented based on a literature review and Eurostat data. Clear evidence for rapid population ageing in CEE will be provided and how three demographic factors – mortality, fertility and migration – are driving this ageing process. Finally, implications of this joint transition and ageing process for the CEE societies and their people will be discussed.


This paper examines those transports that in Galicia have become a tourist attraction in their own right and, consequently, tourist products. Firstly, a theoretical framework is established in order to distinguish between transport as tourism and transport for tourism. This is carried out by means of a revision of the geographical literature developed on the topic as well as by means of a mention of several international referencial experiences. Next, specific Galician experiences are studied through a classification by transport modes. In this classification all the practices are intended to gather: those that currently exist, as well as those carried out in the past, and even those that are forecasted. This study is complemented with case analysis of three organisations that offer transport as tourism products. These three organisations are considered representative of the existing heterogeneity of practices in Galicia. In the concluding section, the achieved results are discussed, the studied products effects on destinations are assessed and specific future proposals are elaborated.


A model has been constructed to describe the electrical characteristics of the central bulk plasma region in a 13.56-MHz parallel-plate discharge in chlorine at pressures of about 1 torr. This region is modeled as a volume-controlled plasma with the electron balance dominated by single-step electron-impact ionization and attachment and with the electron energy distribution function in equilibrium with the local instantaneous electric field. Relationships between the ionization frequency, the attachment frequency, the electron drift velocity, and the electric field are provided by solutions of the Boltzmann equation for mixtures of Cl2 and Cl which result from Cl2 dissociation. From a measured current waveform and Cl2/Cl density ratio, the model generates the local electric-field waveform, the time-varying electron density, and the power density in the central portion of the bulk plasma. The calculated time-averaged power input per unit discharge length compares well with experimentally determined values.


Abstract— Numerical simulations have been performed for the differentiation of planetesimals undergoing linear accretion growth with 26Al and 60Fe as the heat sources. Planetesimal accretion was started at chosen times up to 3 Ma after Ca‐Al‐rich inclusions (CAIs) were formed, and was continued for periods of 0.001–1 Ma. The planetesimals were initially porous, unconsolidated bodies at 250 K, but became sintered at around 700 K, ending up as compact bodies whose final radii were 20, 50, 100, or 270 km. With further heating, the planetesimals underwent melting and igneous differentiation. Two approaches to core segregation were tried. In the first, labelled A, the core grew gradually before silicate began to melt, and in the second, labelled B, the core segregated once the silicate had become 40% molten. In A, when the silicate had become 20% molten, the basaltic melt fraction began migrating upward to the surface, carrying 26Al with it. The 60Fe partitioned between core and mantle. The results show that the rate and timing of core and crust formation depend mainly on the time after CAIs when planetesimal accretion started. They imply significant melting where accretion was complete before 2 Ma, and a little melting in the deep interiors of planetesimals that accreted as late as 3 Ma. The latest melting would have occurred at <10 Ma. The effect on core and crust formation of the planetesimal's final size, the duration of accretion, and the choice of (60Fe/56Fe)initial were also found to be important, particularly where accretion was late. The results are consistent with the isotopic ages of differentiated meteorites, and they suggest that the accretion of chondritic parent bodies began more than 2 or 3 Ma after CAIs.


Syringomyelia is the condition in which cavities fulfilled with CSF are found within spinal cord. Syringes are caused by obstructions of CSF pathways of different causes. If we can not find a cause responsible for the blockage, we call it "idiopathic" syringomyelia. Drainage procedures have been widely used but results, especially long-term results, are not favourable and complication rate is high. Some authors prefer to restore CSF circulation instead to drain the syrinx. Results of this treatment modality are better in literature than drainage procedures. Adequate radiological studies help to identify problem location and to plan the approach. A case of "idiopathic" syringomyelia is presented. Treatment consisted on arachnoid webs dissection and dural plastia. Clinical and radiological response was good. Literature concerned about this kind of syringomyelia and treatment modalities are reviewed.


The calibration and performance of a microstrip six-port reflectometer consisting of only one six-port coupler is discussed. The positions of the centers of the impedance-locating circles are determined from the calibration constants and their frequency behavior is illustrated. The results of measuring some terminations by the reflectometer and two HP network analyzers are compared within the frequency range from 0.5 GHz to 8 GHz. From this comparison tke useful bandwidth of the reflectometer is found to be from 0.5 GHz to 5.5 GHz.


Abstract Localizing hyperexcitable brain tissue to treat focal seizures remains challenging. We want to identify the seizure onset zone from interictal EEG biomarkers. We hypothesize that a combination of interictal EEG biomarkers, including a novel low frequency marker, can predict mesial temporal involvement and can assist in prognosis related to surgical resections. Interictal direct current wide bandwidth invasive EEG recordings from 83 patients implanted with 5111 electrodes were retrospectively studied. Logistic regression was used to classify electrodes and patient outcomes. A feed-forward neural network was implemented to understand putative mechanisms. Interictal infraslow frequency EEG activity was decreased for seizure onset zone electrodes while faster frequencies such as delta (2–4 Hz) and beta-gamma (20–50 Hz) activity were increased. These spectral changes comprised a novel interictal EEG biomarker that was significantly increased for mesial temporal seizure onset zone electrodes compared to non-seizure onset zone electrodes. Interictal EEG biomarkers correctly classified mesial temporal seizure onset zone electrodes with a specificity of 87% and positive predictive value of 80%. These interictal EEG biomarkers also correctly classified patient outcomes after surgical resection with a specificity of 91% and positive predictive value of 87%. Interictal infraslow EEG activity is decreased near the seizure onset zone while higher frequency power is increased, which may suggest distinct underlying physiologic mechanisms. Narrowband interictal EEG power bands provide information about the seizure onset zone and can help predict mesial temporal involvement in seizure onset. Narrowband interictal EEG power bands may be less useful for predictions related to non-mesial temporal electrodes. Together with interictal epileptiform discharges and high-frequency oscillations, these interictal biomarkers may provide prognostic information prior to surgical resection. Computational modelling suggests changes in neural adaptation may be related to the observed low frequency power changes.


Background The increased caloric requirements of HIV-positive individuals, undesirable side effects of treatment that may be worsened by malnutrition (but alleviated by nutritional support), and associated declines in adherence and possible increased drug resistance are all justifications for developing better interventions to strengthen the nutrition security of individuals receiving antiretroviral treatment. Objective To highlight key benefits and challenges relating to interventions aimed at strengthening the nutrition security of people living with HIV who are receiving antiretroviral treatment. Methods Qualitative research was undertaken on a short-term nutrition intervention linked to the provision of free antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV in western Kenya in late 2005 and early 2006. Results Patients enrolled in the food program while on treatment regimens self-reported greater adherence to their medication, fewer side effects, and a greater ability to satisfy increased appetite. Most clients self-reported weight gain, recovery of physical strength, and the resumption of labor activities while enrolled in dual (food supplementation and treatment) programs. Such improvements were seen to catalyze increased support from family and community. Conclusions These findings provide further empirical support to calls for a more holistic and comprehensive response to the coexistence of AIDS epidemics with chronic nutrition insecurity. Future work is needed to clarify ways of bridging the gap between short-term nutritional support to individuals and longer-term livelihood security programming for communities affected by AIDS. Such interdisciplinary research will need to be matched by intersectoral action on the part of the agriculture and health sectors in such environments.


In this paper, numerical simulation was carried out for the tube bundle of a float-head heat exchanger with concentration on the effects of tube stiffness and tubesheet thickness on the thermal stress of the tubes and tubesheet. It is found that decreasing the tube stiffness by using corrugated tubes can reduce the axial thermal stress at the tubes and, thus, decrease the possibility of strength failure of the connection between the tubes and tubesheet. Decreasing the tubesheet thickness can reduce the thermal stress at the tubesheet, which is meaningful for the heat exchangers with large temperature difference between the shell-side fluid and tube-side fluid and under small pressures.


This paper is exploring the relationship of the small hotel sector with the principles of sustainable tourism development. Main objective is to highlight the benefits expected to accrue to the hotel industry and examine the degree of awareness among owners of small and medium hotel units on issues related to sustainable tourism development. A questionnaire was distributed in Greece and Taiwan and a logit model was used, to examine the impact of the dichotomous dependent variable of nationality between Taiwanese and Greek SME hoteliers. Greeks and Taiwanese have remarkable differences on how they perceive sustainable tourism development and what impact that kind of development will have on their enterprises. Greeks seems to be much more optimistic than Taiwanese when it comes to environmental issues. For Greeks high investment costs are the most important reason for not implementing the adoption of sustainable development. The biggest problem for Taiwanese hoteliers is the lack of trained staff.


Aim: This ex vivo study aims to compare the accuracy of two electronic apex locators, Wirele-X (Forum Engineering Technologies Ltd., Israel), tested in two modalities, alone and connected to the display screen and Dentaport ZX (J. Morita, Tokyo, Japan) in determining the working length.
Methodology: 15 single-rooted teeth were selected for this study. The actual microscopic working length was measured using a size 10 K-file that was advanced until the tip of the file could be visualized just within the apical foramen under a stereomicroscope. Then each tooth was placed into the alginate to simulate the clinical conditions. Wirele-X and Dentaport ZX were used according manufacturer's instructions. Three measurements were performed for each tooth and each apex locator and modality and differences between the electronic and actual working lengths were calculated. Positive values indicated measurements that extruded beyond the apical foramen, while negative values indicated measurements that were short of the apical foramen. Means and standard deviation were calculated and the statistical analysis was performed using One-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (P<0.05).
Results: The difference between electronic and actual working length was 0.05±0.34 mm for Wirele-X alone, 0.003±0.37 mm for Wirele-X connected to the display screen and 0.08±0.35 mm for Dentaport ZX. No statistical differences were found among Wirele-X alone, Wirele-X connected to the display screen and Dentaport ZX (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Wirele-X in both modalities and Dentaport ZX showed a high accuracy in determining working length and were accurate to within ±0.5 mm, without any statistical differences among them.


Models play an important role in systems analysis and design (SAD). A diagrammatic model is defined as a mapping from a domain to a visual representation in such a way that relevant information is preserved to meet a specific goal. So far, cognitive research on diagram criteria in relation to task performance has been fragmented. The aim of this paper is to (1) consolidate research on the cognitive processing steps involved during understanding and task performance with diagrams, (2) consolidate corresponding criteria for such diagrams to best support cognitive processing, and (3) demonstrate the support effective diagrams provide for performing SAD tasks. Addressing the first aim, we develop a theoretical cognitive framework of task performance with diagrams called CogniDia. It integrates different cognitive theories from research on diagrams in software engineering and information systems. Regarding the second aim, we review the literature to organize criteria for effective cognitive processing of diagrams. We identify research gaps on verbal and task processing. Regarding the third aim, we use the theoretical cognitive framework to investigate how diagrams support the SAD process effectively.


In this paper several scope asymmetries in VP ellipsis constructions in English and Spanish are studied. It is argued that an approach based on Fox' (1995 a,b) Ellipsis Scope Generalization faces numerous conceptual and empirical problems. Ellipsis resolution is conceived of as a phenomenon belonging to the conceptual-intentional pan of the computational system that is conditioned by the computation of the semantic features of quantifiers at LF. A semantic approach inspired in higher order unification theories of ellipsis is defended. This approach is compatible with the overall philosophy of minimalist grammar: the process of higher-order unification complies with the principle of inclusiveness (Chomsk - y. 19 or projection from the lexicon because the relevant semantic equations are set up and resolved at a discourse level, but they are determined by featuresensitive Logical Forms.


In this contribution I try to open up the debate on smart cities and living labs, particularly in the field of law and policy, beyond the focus on data. I offer a glimpse of a broader perspective by examining the Stratumseind Living Lab through surveillance and privacy theory, exploring the implications both for privacy and public space itself. This broadening of scope confirms the claim that an adequate regulatory response to a matter as complex as privacy in public space in the context of smart cities requires stepping outside the frame of existing laws and regulations, including going beyond data protection law.


Mohammad ebn-e Mobarak Shah Ghazvini (d. 996), known as Hakim Shah, was a sage, orator, philosopher and well-practiced physician in the Ottoman court. He enjoyed the apprenticeship of great masters namely Jalaloddin Davani and Sadroddin Dashtaki. Due to his mastery of Persian, Arabic and Turkish and because of his access to ancient books, he has managed to write books on a variety of sciences. One of these books is called Javahernameh or Ma'refat al- Javaher which deals with describing the nature, attributes, types, mines, defects and preservation methods of jewels as well as some stones. Prior to the tenth century A.H., numerous other works on jewels had been compiled in the Islamic world. However, Ghazvini's work shows some features which distinguish it from the works preceding and following it. One of these features is the variety of the jewels and stones introduced in addition to the large number of the types referred to in this book. Another feature of this book is its prose style. An investigation into the style of this book reveals that despite its author's distance from the center of the Persian language and thanks to his poetic nature and literary taste as well as his mastery of the works of great authors in different areas of knowledge preceding him, his book is free from many lexical and syntactic errors and is also devoid of the prevalent sophistication of the time. Adopting the simplicity and brevity necessary for a scientific text, this book has well been able to communicate its message to the readers.


The paper presents a simple pyramidal model of a real intergranular crack front enabling the analytical calculation of the effective stress intensity factor. This analytical approach yields values well comparable with the data obtained by a boundary element numerical procedure applied to real-like intergranular crack fronts. It enables to separate the geometrical shielding level from the measured fracture toughness values in order to obtain the real averaged grain boundary fracture energy. In this way, some apparently paradox phenomena can be quantitatively elucidated, e.g. the increase in fracture toughness with increasing solution annealing temperature in ultra-high strength low alloy steels.


Abstract. This paper describes the scientific and structural updates to the latest release of the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system version 4.7 (v4.7) and points the reader to additional resources for further details. The model updates were evaluated relative to observations and results from previous model versions in a series of simulations conducted to incrementally assess the effect of each change. The focus of this paper is on five major scientific upgrades: (a) updates to the heterogeneous N2O5 parameterization, (b) improvement in the treatment of secondary organic aerosol (SOA), (c) inclusion of dynamic mass transfer for coarse-mode aerosol, (d) revisions to the cloud model, and (e) new options for the calculation of photolysis rates. Incremental test simulations over the eastern United States during January and August 2006 are evaluated to assess the model response to each scientific improvement, providing explanations of differences in results between v4.7 and previously released CMAQ model versions. Particulate sulfate predictions are improved across all monitoring networks during both seasons due to cloud module updates. Numerous updates to the SOA module improve the simulation of seasonal variability and decrease the bias in organic carbon predictions at urban sites in the winter. Bias in the total mass of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is dominated by overpredictions of unspeciated PM2.5 (PMother) in the winter and by underpredictions of carbon in the summer. The CMAQv4.7 model results show slightly worse performance for ozone predictions. However, changes to the meteorological inputs are found to have a much greater impact on ozone predictions compared to changes to the CMAQ modules described here. Model updates had little effect on existing biases in wet deposition predictions.


A novel diphenylimidazole derivative (PTN), which shows strong excimer emission, has been designed and utilized in organic solar cells (OSCs). The extended solid-state excimer emission facilitates intra-system self-absorption and accelerates photon trapping in OSCs. The ternary OSC based on PTB7-Th:PTN:PC71BM using a green solvent (ethylbenzene) exhibits a high PCE of 11.44%, which is 28.40% higher than that of the binary device (8.91%). The great enhancement is mainly ascribed to the increased self-absorption in the system. Furthermore, the well-organized stacking of PTN is beneficial to promote overlap between small molecules and polymers and then accelerates intermolecular energy transfer. The most important thing to note is that ternary OSCs fabricated both with halogen and nonhalogen solvents show better air, thermal and light irradiation stability, compared with the control device. Over 55 days of air storage, the PCE of the unpackaged ternary OSC still remains at 76%, whereas the control device becomes inefficient. The performance is among the best results for both efficiency and stability in PTB7-Th:PC71BM based solar cells, which can narrow the gap between laboratory investigations and industrial production.


D laser scanning is the state of the art in modeling archaeological excavation sites, historical sites and even entire cities or landscapes. The documentation of findings on an excavation site is an essential archaeological task. Automated systems accelerate this process and decrease the amount of error to a minimum. This paper presents a new documentation approach in industrial archaeology. It consists of a set of tools for recording and registering 3D data from excavation sites. We provide an efficient tool for visualization of acquired 3D point clouds in 3D and 2D modes. The main purpose of this software is to provide an easy to use, on-site semantic mapping tool for archaeologists. It includes functions for selecting and labeling findings. Additional information can be provided for each label. This data is exported to an XML format and serves as input for other systems and databases.


: A neutrosophic network is an extension of an intuitionistic fuzzy network that provides more precision compatibility and flexibility than an intuitionistic fuzzy graph in structuring and modelling many real-life problems. The authors have explored the use of a neutrosophic network for modelling the passive optical network, mobile ad hoc network (MANET), and wireless sensor graph. They have presented the idea of strong arc, weak arc strong domination numbers, and strong perfect domination of neutrosophic network. They have described the method to find the values of strong and strong perfect domination of neutrosophic network. Finally, they use the idea of a strong arc strong domination number in MANET and wireless sensor graphs.


Abstract : The Air Force Research Laboratory at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, has contracted the University of Florida to develop autonomous navigation for various ground vehicles. Autonomous vehicle navigation can be broken down into four tasks. These tasks include perceiving and modeling the environment, localizing the vehicle within the environment, planning and deciding the vehicle's desired motion, and finally, executing the vehicle's desired motion. The work presented here focuses on tasks of deciding the vehicle's desired motion and executing the vehicle's desired motion. The third task above involves planning the vehicle's desired motion as well as deciding the vehicle's desired motion. In this work it is assumed that a planned path already exists and therefore only a technique to decide the vehicle's desired motion is required. Screw theory can be used to describe the instantaneous motion of a rigid body, i.e., the vehicle, relative to a given coordinate system. The concept of vector pursuit is to calculate an instantaneous screw that describes the motion of the vehicle from its current position and orientation to a position and orientation on the planned path. Once the desired motion is determined, a controller is required to track this desired motion. The fourth task for autonomous navigation is to execute the desired motion. In order to accomplish this task, two fuzzy reference model learning controllers (FRMLCs) are implemented to execute the vehicle s desired turning rate and speed. The controllers are designed to be dependent on certain vehicle characteristics such as the maximum vehicle speed maximum turning rate. This is done to facilitate the transfer of these controllers to different vehicles. The vector pursuit path-tracking method and the FRMLCs were first tested in simulation by modeling the Navigation Test Vehicle (NTV) developed by the Center for Intelligent Machines and Robotics (CIMAR) at the University of Florida.


Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) known as "King of Spices" is one of the important spice crops of India. It is affected by fungi, bacteria, phytoplasma, plant parasitic nematodes and phanerogamic parasites. Among plant parasitic nematodes, root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita is one of the important limiting factors in production and productivity of black pepper in various districts of Karnataka. Further, it is involved in creating disease complexes along with fungi apart from inflicting the disease on its own. Keeping this in mind, an extensive survey in major black pepper growing districts of Karnataka namely: Shimoga, Udupi, Chickmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Kodagu revealed the heavy incidence of root-knot nematode in all the major black pepper growing areas. The maximum mean RKI (3.52) was observed in Udupi district followed by Shimoga (3.58) and least mean RKI was observed in Kodagu district (2.73). Further in all the districts, fungal nematode associations were observed leading to slow wilt complex.

 Key words: Black pepper, root knot nematode, Meloidogyne spp., Phytophthora spp., slow wilt disease.


In this paper, the thinning rate and die elastic deformation under large forming force are investigated by finite element simulation with experimental validation focused on the problem of coloring rate between die and panel in automotive die manufacturing. The study suggests that when the panel is formed, the thinning rate of panel has little influence on the coloring rate and the die elastic deformation under large forming force is the main influence factor. The contact pressure of die face and punch surface displacement distribution under forming force are got with simulation. With these results the method that die face is compensated reasonably is also proposed. The industrial application shows that the method can reduce the die polishing workloads obviously compared to the traditional method of die face equivalent offset. This paper has a guide for comprehensive understanding the influence factors of coloring rate and greatly reducing the die tryout period.


The capacity of Amazon forests to sequester carbon is threatened by climate change-induced shifts in precipitation patterns. However, the relative importance of plant physiology, ecosystem structure, and trait composition responses in determining variation in gross primary productivity (GPP), remain 35 largely unquantified, and vary among models. We evaluate the relative importance of key climate constraints to gross primary productivity (GPP), comparing direct plant physiological responses to water availability and indirect structural and trait responses (via changes to leaf area index (LAI), roots and photosynthetic capacity). To separate these factors we combined the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere model with forcing and observational data from seven intensively studied forest plots along an Amazon 40 drought stress gradient. We also used machine learning to evaluate the relative importance of individual climate factors across sites. Our model experiments showed that variation in LAI was the principal driver of differences in GPP across the gradient, accounting for 33% of observed variation. Differences in photosynthetic capacity (Vcmax and Jmax) accounted for 21% of variance, and climate (which included physiological responses) accounted for 16%. Sensitivity to differences in climate was highest where 45 shallow rooting depth was coupled with high LAI. On sub-annual timescales, the relative importance of LAI in driving GPP increased with drought stress (R=0.72), coincident with decreased whilst the importance of solar radiation decreased (R=0.90). Given the role of LAI in driving GPP across Amazon forests, improved mapping of canopy dynamics is critical, opportunities for which are offered by new satellite-based remote sensing missions such as GEDI, Sentinel and FLEX. 50


Eating while distracted (e.g., while watching television or in a conversation) or under cognitive stress (e.g., studying, reading, writing, etc.) has shown to increase food consumption, which can result in overeating. Frequent overeating is a major factor in the development of obesity, a serious health concern. The current study examined the potential benefits of mindful eating in a university setting where student eating habits are constantly influenced by environmental distractions and cognitive stress. Eighty undergraduate students were randomly assigned to either a mindful eating condition or control condition, followed by either a high or low cognitive stress condition. Cognitive stress was manipulated using frequent (i.e., low cognitive stress) and infrequent word (i.e, high cognitive stress) anagram tasks, during which participants were given two bowls of food to snack on; grapes and Smarties. Participants in the mindful eating condition ate significantly less food overall than participants in the control condition; however, the negative effects of cognitive stress on eating were not demonstrated.


Importance
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is characterized by occlusion of blood flow in a pulmonary artery, typically due to a thrombus that travels from a vein in a lower limb. The incidence of PE is approximately 60 to 120 per 100 000 people per year. Approximately 60 000 to 100 000 patients die from PE each year in the US.

Observations
PE should be considered in patients presenting with acute chest pain, shortness of breath, or syncope. The diagnosis is determined by chest imaging. In patients with a systolic blood pressure of at least 90 mm Hg, the following 3 steps can be used to evaluate a patient with possible PE: assessment of the clinical probability of PE, D-dimer testing if indicated, and chest imaging if indicated. The clinical probability of PE can be assessed using a structured score or using clinical gestalt. In patients with a probability of PE that is less than 15%, the presence of 8 clinical characteristics (age <50 years, heart rate <100/min, an oxygen saturation level of > 94%, no recent surgery or trauma, no prior venous thromboembolism event, no hemoptysis, no unilateral leg swelling, and no estrogen use) identifies patients at very low risk of PE in whom no further testing is needed. In patients with low or intermediate clinical probability, a D-dimer level of less than 500 ng/mL is associated with a posttest probability of PE less than 1.85%. In these patients, PE can be excluded without chest imaging. A further refinement of D-dimer threshold is possible in patients aged 50 years and older, and in patients with a low likelihood of PE. Patients with a high probability of PE (ie, >40% probability) should undergo chest imaging, and D-dimer testing is not necessary. In patients with PE and a systolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher, compared with heparin combined with a vitamin K antagonist such as warfarin followed by warfarin alone, direct oral anticoagulants such as apixaban, edoxaban, rivaroxaban, or dabigatran, are noninferior for treating PE and have a 0.6% lower rate of bleeding. In patients with PE and systolic blood pressure lower than 90 mm Hg, systemic thrombolysis is recommended and is associated with an 1.6% absolute reduction of mortality (from 3.9% to 2.3%).

Conclusions and Relevance
In the US, PE affects approximately 370 000 patients per year and may cause approximately 60 000 to 100 000 deaths per year. First-line therapy consists of direct oral anticoagulants such as apixaban, edoxaban, rivaroxaban, or dabigatran, with thrombolysis reserved for patients with systolic blood pressure lower than 90 mm Hg.


The University of Maine is one of the world's leading producers of cellulose nanofibers (CNF). This material has the power to revitalize the Maine paper industry. This has led to an abundance of labs on campus researching applications for the material. Active research activities at the University of Maine include industrial applications such as, filtration, biodegradable packaging, building materials and niche health care applications. Niche health care applications include wicking pads for point of care diagnostics and tunable biomaterials ranging from dressings to implantable bone-like materials. Medical applications require an analysis of the biocompatibility of CNF. CNF is biocompatible in general: however, the degree of biocompatibility, particularly for tissue engineering applications involving long term integration within the body, is an area of active research. CNF is a highly tunable biomaterial; control of the fibril anisotropy dramatically alters bulk biomechanical properties which also modulates biological interaction. To tune fiber anisotropy, a novel strategy to produce single direction-oriented CNF films by application of a unilateral force via a latex substrate was developed. The alignment of CNF films was characterized using both polarized light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CNF is birefringent; therefore, using polarized light microscopy the alignment of CNF can be inferred by quantifying the birefringence optical index (BOI). The BOI ranges from -1 to 1, with high birefringence found at the extrema values. To validate the birefringence orientation sensitivity to CNF film alignment; we performed SEM for direct assessment of fiber alignment using OrientationJ, a FIJI plugin. Hydroxyapatite (HA) was incorporated as an additive to evaluate the application of this method to cellulose nano composites. Both the BOI and the SEM fibril analysis confirmed that CNF fibrils are aligned preferentially along the axis of force transmission. Furthermore, the addition of HA did not diminish the degree of CNF fibril alignment. Overall, we demonstrate a rapid and economic approach to fabricate and assess fibril alignment in CNF films useful for a myriad of tissue engineering applications.


Obesity is a prevalent metabolic disorder, which seriously affects human health and has become the world's public health problem. Kinase S6K1, an important downstream effector of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), influences specific pathological responses, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Presently, S6K1 has become an attractive therapeutic target in the treatment of these disorders. Here, the functions of kinase S6K1, its molecular regulation mechanisms, related pathogenesis of disease and relevant small molecular inhibitors are reviewed. Finally, the prospect of research toward S6K1 is expected as well.


The aim of this study was to document what changes in the resting and stressed urethral pressure profile occur in the incontinent bitch with urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (SMI) immediately after colposuspension. Resting and stressed subtracted simultaneous urethral pressure profilometry was performed immediately pre- and postcolposuspension in 26 bitches diagnosed with SMI. All of the urethral pressure profiles were measured in anaesthetized bitches using a standard technique and two orientations of the catheter transducers (dorsal and left). Readable pre- and postoperative urethral pressure profiles were obtained in 20 of the 26 bitches. Subjective and objective evaluation of the profiles showed significant differences in the profiles pre- and postcolposuspension. Immediately postoperatively there were significant (P < .05) increases in functional profile length, maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP), and distance between the bladder neck and the first negative respiratory peak and stressed spike. There was a significant (P < .001) decrease in the percentage of negative spikes extending below the resting intravesical pressure on the subtracted profile. The pressure transmission profiles were significantly (P < .001) altered by surgery. The findings presented support the hypothesis that colposuspension may restore continence by increasing pressure transmission to the proximal urethra and bladder neck. The results also suggest that immediately after surgery functional urethral length and urethral resistance are increased.


: The condition was studied of the immune and nervous system in 72 miners who took part in the elimination of the aftermaths of the Chernobyl accident and in 30 miners of the control group. Ascertained in the miners-liquidators was the presence of imbalance of T-cells of the immune system and disorder of the humoral immunity. The patients displayed changes in the blood content of sodium, increased concentrations of iron, zink, and lead, and diminished amounts of cuprum. In this group pathology of the vegetative nervous system, vascular and vestibular abnormalities were found with high frequency. The findings secured attest to the need for taking account of particular features of disordered immunity, abnormalities of metabolism and nervous regulation in instituting a complex therapy in miners-liquidators.


Neuroinflammatory responses induced by amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) are important causes in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Blockade of Aβ has emerged as a possible therapeutic approach to control the onset of AD. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects and molecular mechanisms of p-coumaric acid (p-CA) and ursolic acid (UA) from Corni fructus against Aβ(25-35)-induced toxicity in PC12 cells. p-CA and UA significantly inhibited the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in Aβ(25-35)-injured PC12 cells. Blockade of nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and phosphorylation of IκB-α was also observed after p-CA and UA treatment. For the upstream kinases, UA exclusively reduced ERK1/2, p-38, and JNK phosphorylation, but p-CA suppressed ERK1/2 and JNK phosphorylation. Both compounds comprehensively inhibited NF-κB activity, but possibly with different upstream pathways. The results provide new insight into the pharmacological modes of p-CA and UA and their potential therapeutic application to AD.


This was the collection with which Durcan broke through to the huge and appreciative audience he enjoys today. In the first part are poems of great satirical comedy and also of great passion and indignation, and in the second part, poems about the break-up of a marriage so intense they would hurt if they weren't also possessed of the healing gifts of truthfulness and humour. In The Berlin Wall Cafe Durcan has located that space between the walls and barriers societies and individuals erect - a no-man's-land of the free imagination where we meet as the vulnerable and comical human beings we are. It contains some of his very best work.


By de Vries duality, the category of compact Hausdorff spaces is dually equivalent to the category of de Vries algebras. In our recent article, we have extended de Vries duality to completely regular spaces by generalizing de Vries algebras to de Vries extensions. To illustrate the utility of this point of view, we show how to use this new duality to obtain algebraic counterparts of normal and locally compact Hausdorff spaces in the form of de Vries extensions that are subject to additional axioms which encode the desired topological property. This, in particular, yields a different perspective on de Vries duality. As a further application, we show that a duality for locally compact Hausdorff spaces due to Dimov can be obtained from our approach.


Improving survival in patients with pancreatic cancer remains a formidable challenge. For the few patients with localised stages of the disease, intra-operative radiotherapy, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and neo-adjuvant therapies remain non-validated and the survival benefit conferred by 5-fluorouracil-folinic acid adjuvant chemotherapy over radical surgery alone is still a matter of debate. Gemcitabine has recently emerged as the standard single agent in advanced stages of the disease and pharmacokinetic refinements such as the use of a fixed-dose infusion rate may further improve still rather modest result figures. At present, most efforts deal with the development of more effective doublet or triplet therapies, combining gemcitabine with either conventional cytotoxic drugs--the most promising being oxaliplatin--or more innovative, targeted therapeutic agents. Among these agents, matrix metalloprotease inhibitors and farnesyltransferase inhibitors have already undergone Phase III trials, alone or in combination with gemcitabine, with rather disappointing results. However, preclinical and Phase I and II studies of cyclooxygenase-2 or lipoxygenase inhibitors, various immunotherapeutic approaches and several tyrosine kinase inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies against growth factors or their receptors are encouraging and may provide some hope for patients with pancreatic cancer.


The analysis of biochemical networks is mainly done using relational or procedural languages. Combining or designing new analyses requires lot of programming effort that cannot be reused for other analyses. To overcome these limitations, we introduce CP(BioNet) a new constraint programming domain for the analysis of biochemical networks. Analyses are formulated using constraints over graph domain variables. The constraints are then solved by a constraint solver designed for biochemical networks. This provides a flexible and powerful approach as simple analyses can then easily be combined to form complex ones. We focus here on Constrained path finding, finding a path from node A to node B in a graph with additional constraints, such as requiring this path to include a predefined set of mandatory intermediate nodes. Constraints for path finding are introduced and their implementation (propagators) is described. A prototype is presented and constrained path finding experiments are performed and analyzed to illustrate the benefits of this new approach.


Based on the idea of snake-like robot, a novel mobile mechanism used in unstructured environment is proposed, which aims to solve the problems that a mobile robot must faced in unstructured environment such as viability, stability, flexibility and capability of climbing obstacles etc. By analyzing the kinematic mechanism of robot and several types of its special motions, the kinematic model is achieved. A specified method for the global torque distribution by torque control on single joint is introduced. Further more statics analysis shows that the new-style mechanism along with its specified torque-control method is realizable and superior to snake-like mechanism. Computer simulation confirms the validity.


If policy preferences follow material interests, the experience of socioeconomic disadvantage ought to increase support for redistributive policies. However, experiencing disadvantage might also reduce faith in government's ability to make things better, indirectly reducing support for redistributive action, and leading to a spiral of widening disadvantage and increasing political disengagement. Indeed, disadvantaged communities sometimes favour right-wing platforms over those offering redistribution, as in the taking of 'red wall' constituencies in the North and Midlands of England by the UK Conservative party in 2019. This article uses quantitative data from a survey of 'red wall' voters (n = 805) to examine the bases of people's perceptions of redistributive policies. We find that even a radical redistributive policy, Universal Basic Income (UBI), receives consistently high levels of support (69.45 SD 27.24). Lower socioeconomic status, greater financial distress and greater risk of destitution all increase support. These effects are partly mediated by mental distress, which is markedly higher among the less well off. However, the same socioeconomic factors also reduce faith in government, which in turn is associated with lower support. Thus, those who stand to benefit most from redistribution are aware of their material interests, but are also the least confident in the ability of government to improve their lives. As such, there is a clear political challenge for progressive politicians: those whose support they depend upon require a significant redistributive offer, but also need to be persuaded of the viability of reform to support progressive change.


Accurate and robust real-time state estimation is essential to the reliable and safe operation of the hybrid energy storage system. This paper handles a closed-loop method for state-of-charge estimation of lithium-ion battery and ultracapacitor hybrid system. In this work, a fractional-order model is developed to approximate the dynamic behavior of the lithium-ion battery and ultracapacitor. Then, a closed-loop method is proposed for model parameter and state-of-charge estimation. Experiments under dynamic load profiles are used to verify the proposed method. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method can obtain robust estimation results for the hybrid energy storage system, and is appropriate for real-time systems.


An algorithm for the real time detection of the direction error in the heading of a mobile robot is proposed. The proposed algorithm is designed for an omnidirectional image sensor. For the omnidirectional image sensor, a hemispherical mirror, one CCD camera, and a vision board are used. This configuration has low cost and efficiency in collecting omnidirectional data with one image compared with other types of image sensors. The proposed algorithm is verified through computer simulations and a practical mobile robot.


: Most studies of organizational stratification have remained largely at the narrative or inferential level. Few attempts have been made to empirically assess the consequences of a status system. This paper sought to examine the proposition that stratification is inversely related to job satisfaction and adaptiveness. Although not overwhelmingly demonstrated, there is presumptive evidence that stratification does have an impact upon the organization. It was concluded that medical technologists prefer a supportive, well-structured environment that provides an opportunity for them, through participation, to maintain a degree of control over their work setting. Practical implications of the findings and recommendations were made.


This book explores Vietnamese popular television in the post-Reform era, that is, from 1986, focussing on the relationship between television and national imagination. It locates Vietnamese television in the experiences of everyday life and the prevailing network of power relations resulting from marketization and globalization, and, as such, moves beyond the cliched assumption of Vietnamese media as a mere propagandist instrument of the party state. With examples from a wide range of television genres, the book demonstrates how Vietnamese television enables novel conditions of cultural oppression as well as political engagement in the name of the nation. In sharp contrast to the previous image of Vietnam as a war-torn land, post-Reform television conjures into being a new sense of national belonging based on an implicit rejection of the socialist past, hopes for peace and prosperity, and anxieties about a globalized future. This book highlights the richness of Vietnam's current culture and identity, characterized, the book argues, by 'fraternity without uniformity'.


By 1985, 300 or fewer dairy cooperatives will market 80 percent of the Nation's milk, 46 percent sold raw and 34 percent bottled or manufactured. About half will be marketed by 15-25 full-service co-ops, one fifth by 50-80 manufacturing co-ops, and one-fourth by small bargaining associations and nonproducers. Organizational and operating options, such as federation or centralization, dairy specialization or diversified operations, need to be explored. Managers must become more cost conscious and improve reporting significant operating results to boards. Di rectors must become more knowledgeable at their cooperative's operations, milk marketing, and role of· policy making. Increased equity capital of $0.6 billion to a needed total of $1.3 billion will require member investments of 13 cents a hundredweight, assuming a 10-year revolving plan.


Thinking Ahead: How Children Reason About the Future Janani Prabhakar Rutgers University, New Brunswick Judith Hudson Rutgers University, New Brunswick Abstract: Episodic future thinking relies heavily on self-projection, i.e., projecting oneself into the future. It involves the use of episodic and semantic memory in order to plan and anticipate future need. In our study, we focused on understanding the role of self in episodic future thinking in 3- and 4-year old children. Children were asked to make choices either for their own future need (self group) or for another individual's future need (other group). Including these groups allowed us to directly manipulate the role of self. Participants were shown a 3-D model of a neighborhood with several locations (houses and stores) and were asked to navigate around the neighborhood to achieve a future goal requiring a two-step action (go to toy store to buy present and then go to friend's house to give present). In one version of the study, children were given only a few choices of locations in the neighborhood in order to achieve their goal. Preliminary results suggest that both 3- and 4-year-old children demonstrate episodic future thinking by accurately following the actions to achieve the future goal. In the second version of the study, 2 additional choices of location were added to the neighborhood, while keeping the goal the same. These additional items served as distracters in the environment. Results show that while 4-year-old children still demonstrate episodic future thinking skills, 3-year-old children are no long able to accurately follow the actions necessary to achieve the future goal. Further research on optimal performance by 3-year-old in such visual working memory and episodic future thinking tasks is necessary.


This paper analyzes the impact of declining extraction costs of shale oil producers on the choice of the policy instrument of a climate coalition in the presence of a monopolistic oil supplier such as OPEC. Shale oil producers' extraction costs represent an upper bound for the oil price OPEC can charge. Declining extraction costs ultimately limit OPEC's price setting behavior and thus impacts the optimal climate policy of the climate coalition. A pure cap-and-trade system is weakly welfare-inferior relative to a carbon tax for the climate coalition. While high extraction costs allow OPEC to appropriate the whole climate rent in case of quantity regulation, declining extraction costs imply OPEC to capture only a part of the climate rent. A carbon tax always generates positive revenue and thus is welfare-superior in general. However, low extraction costs prevent OPEC from exerting its market power, leading the climate coalition to implement the Pigouvian tax in the first place. Both market-based instruments are equivalent in this case. Complementing a quota with a base tax cannot outperform a pure carbon tax.


The authors develop a model of cheap talk with multiple speakers in the presence of network externalities so that their utility functions are increasing in the network size. They first show that if there is no noise in private information that each sender receives, the full information is revealed by the harshest cross-checking strategies, that is, strategies to punish the senders unless their messages exactly coincide. Then, the authors show that with even a small noise cross-checking strategies cannot induce full revelation if utility functions of senders are linear in the network size, while full revelation is possible if utility functions are strictly concave. They find a sufficient condition for the existence of a fully revealing equilibrium which is supported by the cross-checking strategy with a positive confidence interval independent of each sender's private information.


Anastomotic leakage is one of the most serious early complications of any rectal anastomosis. Proximal defunctioning mitigates the consequences of leakage but does not abolish the risk. The lower the anastomosis the higher the risks of leakage. There is evidence that a short colon pouch reduces the risks of leakage. A high index of suspicion is required to detect the early non-specific signs of anastomotic leakage. Urgent surgical intervention is usually required to avert a life threatening situation. Reports of the demise of temporary defunctioning of the low anastomosis are premature, and judicious use of faecal diversion should never be regarded as surgical temerity.


Playgrounds and sports fields are filled with children and teenagers trying to impress their friends and team mates with their football freestyle juggling skills, attempting to copy their professional football heroes like Ronaldo or Ronaldinho. Sean D'Arcy, a world renowned football juggler, takes you step by step through the most popular and impressive football tricks. Includes: how to juggle; juggling drills to help you improve; impressive catches; the most popular juggling tricks. Freestyle Football Tricks is illustrated with hundreds of colour photos of Sean demonstrating the skills. From youngsters kicking a ball for the first time to keen amateurs looking for a competitive edge (or just wanting to show off) Freestyle Football Tricks shows you how to perform the skills and tricks that every keen footballer wants to master. If you've ever wondered how to do 'Around the World' or how Pele managed the Fantastic Five, this is the book for you! Aimed at children from 8-16 years.


Cell‐mediated contraction of tissues containing fibrillar collagene can lead to organ compromise and loss of function. The same process that is biologically advantageous during the contraction phase of wound healing can be subverted in diseases such as hepatic cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and scleroderma, although the cellular and molecular mechanism of matrix tissue contraction is difficult to study in such chronic diseases. However, certain human eye diseases that result in tractional detachment of the retina and loss of vision are characterized by acute cell‐mediated contraction of collagenous tissue in the vitreous cavity. In this study, we demonstrate that human cells can contract vitreous, a complex biological gel containing type II collagen, in vitro. This cell‐mediated contraction can be blocked by antibodies and peptides that antagonize the function of α2β1 integrin, and the potential for contraction can be conferred upon noncontracting cells by stable transfection of cells with α2 cDNA. We also show that this contractile process, if focally resisted, can result in remodeling vitreous from a gel to a structure that resembles a planar membrane, and that substantial isometric forces can be measured across this tissue. We propose that in diseases such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative vitreoretinopathy, α2β1 integrin‐mediated contraction of the vitreous and tension at the site of vitreoretinal attachments contribute to the terminal event of tractional retinal detachment. By extension, we propose that α2β1 integrin is a centrally important molecule in human diseases characterized by remodeling and contraction of collagenous tissue (i.e., fibrocontractive diseases).—Kupper, T. S., Ferguson, T. A. A potential pathophysiologic role for α2β1 integrin in human eye diseases involving vitreoretinal traction. FASEB J. 7: 1401‐1406; 1993.


The generation of ROS and lipid peroxidation has been considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic fluoride toxicity. In the present study, we observed that fluoride activated BV-2 microglia cell line by observing OX-42 expression in immunocytochemistry. Intracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide anions (O2 ∙−), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), nitrotyrosine (NT) and nitric oxide (NO), NOS in cell medium were determined for oxidative stress assessment. Our study found that NaF of concentration from 5 to 20 mg/L can stimuli BV-2 cells to change into activated microglia displaying upregulated OX-42 expression. SOD activities significantly decreased in fluoride-treated BV-2 cells as compared with control, and MDA concentrations and contents of ROS and O2 ∙− increased in NaF-treated cells. Activities of NOS in cells and medium significantly increased with fluoride concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. NT concentrations also increased significantly in 10 and 50 mg/L NaF-treated cells compared with the control cells. Our present study demonstrated that toxic effects of fluoride on the central nervous system possibly partly ascribed to activiting of microglia, which enhanced oxidative stress induced by ROS and reactive nitrogen species.


In this paper, some numerical tests on the fracture process zone (FPZ) in concrete tension specimen were carried out with Material Failure Process Analysis code (MFPA2D) to investigate the behavior of the FPZ and the effect of the meso-scale heterogeneity of concrete on fracture process. The numerical results provide a clear indicator of the FPZ of concrete. The numerical results show that the FPZ accompanied by AE events gradually develops ahead of the notch tip with the increase of the loading in the concrete tension specimen. Moreover, many of the AE events bring about very small energy at the beginning of loading stage. Zones of higher energy events demonstrate a localization zone around the notch tip. The zones of AE events progresses forward gradually, and much densely distributed AE events can be observed in the FPZ. Moreover, the numerical simulations about AE events agreed well with those of the microcracks obtained by laboratory findings.


Abstract.
 Here we report on a newly discovered nesting population of east Pacific green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in northwest Costa Rica at San José Island, Murcíelago Archipelago, that rivals those of Mexico and the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. A total of 1232 individual green turtles were tagged over 4 nesting seasons (2012–2013 to 2015–2016). Mean (± SD) annual number of nests (1077 ± 414; range, 490-1698 nests) and females (306 ± 133; range, 164-466 females) was higher than those previously reported for Pacific Costa Rica. The number of deposited nests was similar to that registered on the Galápagos main beaches, but density of nests (number of nests/km) was the second highest for any green turtle beach in the eastern Pacific. Reproductive output was similar (mean clutch frequency: 4.4 ± 2.2 clutches and mean clutch size: 75.8 ± 14.6 eggs/clutch), and mean hatching success was higher (0.89 ± 0.14) than those reported at other sites in the eastern Pacific. Because the study site was located on an island within a protected area, several of the common threats that sea turtles face at more accessible mainland sites (i.e., egg poaching, tourist development, and predation by large mammals) were absent. Our data indicate that San José Island is the most important nesting site for east Pacific green turtles in Central America. The large size of this population, along with its isolated and protected status, suggest that this rookery is making a significant contribution to the conservation of east Pacific green turtles. Additional information at the country level will help determine the relative importance of Costa Rica for green turtle nesting in the broad eastern Pacific region.


: Rats were repeatedly arused from REM sleep by the stimulation via implanted midbrain reticular electrodes. The 4-day seprivation reduced REM sleep by 50% whereas the slow-wave sleep was only reduced by 10%. There was no evidence of a disruption in the animal behaviour during the deprivation and no changes of emotional responsiveness in the "open-field" at the end of the deprivation. REM deprivation produced a slight but statistically significant (P = 0.025) adrenal weightlos. Thymus weight was unchanged and no stomach ulcers developed. Therefore the REM deprivation as such did not appear to produce stress in rats.


This dissertation presents and develops a novel method of wireless power transfer
that relies on electromagnetic coupling from open-wire transmission lines instead of tra-
ditional methods. Wireless power transfer techniques are being rapidly pursued in re-
search currently due to the potential utility of powering devices over the air instead of
with direct electrical connections. Uses for such techniques include an array of ap-
plications from consumer electronics, to medical devices, to cars and UAVs. While con-
ventional wireless power transfer techniques exist, it is shown here that open-wire trans-
mission line methods present distinct advantages for certain applications. In particular,
wireless power transfer using Goubau and twin-lead line architectures will be conceptual-
ized and investigated in terms of their theory, design, and efficiency performance. Fur-
ther, a circuit model theory will be developed in this work to provide a generalized for-
mulation for open-wire-line wireless power transfer analysis. Additionally, receiver de-
sign techniques will be outlined and geometries based on metamaterial principles will be
pursued in order to achieve receiver miniaturization and access the applications this af-
fords.


OBJECTIVE
Tar concentration in cigarette brands is chronologically decreasing in the USA and Japan. However, studies investigating lung cancer risk with cumulative tar exposure in Western and Asian countries are insufficient. To investigate the risk of lung cancer with cumulative cigarette tar exposure, we conducted a case-control study among Japanese current smokers.

METHODS
This study used data from the US-Japan lung cancer joint study in 1993-1998. A total of 282 subjects with histologically confirmed lung cancer and 162 hospital and 227 community controls were included in the study, and two control groups were combined. The information regarding tar concentration was obtained from the published documents and additional estimation using the equation of regression. Cumulative tar concentration was calculated by multiplying the annual value of brand-specific tar concentration by years of smoking. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for lung cancer with cumulative tar exposure were estimated using a logistic model.

RESULTS
The odds ratios for lung cancer with both lower (1-59.8 × 105 mg) and higher (>59.8 × 105 mg) total cumulative tar exposure were statistically significant (3.81, 2.23-6.50 and 11.64, 6.56-20.67, respectively) with increasing trend (P < 0.001). The stratification analysis showed higher odds ratios in subjects with higher cumulative tar exposure regardless of inhalation, duration of smoking filtered cigarettes and histological type.

CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that cumulative tar exposure is a dose-dependent indicator for lung cancer risk, and low-tar exposure was still associated with increased cancer risk.


Material construction resources are very limited, but the demand for these materials tends to increase. Therefore, it is necessary to search for alternative materials such as utilizing used goods (garbage) as construction materials. An alternative material used in this study was iron shavings waste as an additional material in the concrete brick mixture to replace sand. Therefore, it can minimize the use of sand and reduce iron shavings. The study was conducted by changing the standard size of the brick according to SNI to a size of 10 x 10 x 10 cm. The results showed that the addition of iron shavings in the concrete mixture was able to increase compressive strength value. The percentage increases in compressive strength of normal concrete blocks were: 14.87%, 24.79%, 45.45%, and 71.90%. The compressive strength of ordinary concrete brick of age 7 days is 41,374 KN, and after iron shaving addition the strength improve by 47,529 KN, 51,632 KN, 60,18 KN and 71,123 KN with the percentage of iron shaving of 2.5%, 5% , 7.5% and 10% respectively. These improve value was also categorized as quality I, II and III according to SNI 03-0349-1989 requirement.


A gas chromatographic (FID) method is described which aims at the quantitative compositional analysis of the additives in plasticized PVC, particularly the plastisols used as gaskets for lids of glass jars. An extract of the PVC is analysed directly as well as after transesterification to ethyl esters. Transesterification enables the analysis of epoxidized soya bean and linseed oil (ESBO and ELO) as well as polyadipates. For most other additives, the shifts in the chromatogram resulting from transesterification is used to confirm the identifications made by direct analysis. In the gaskets of 69 lids from the European market used for packaging oily foods, a broad variety of plastisol compositions was found, many or possibly all of which do not comply with legal requirements. In 62% of these lids, ESBO was the principal plasticizer, whereas in 25% a phthalate had been used.


The growing demand for wearable devices is imposed by the ability to monitor in real-time critical situations in the different areas of daily life. In many cases, power is the limiting factor for such devices. One aspect is the power supply with batteries that introduces issues due to the weight, the overall dimensions, and the disposal of the batteries. A viable solution to overcome the limitations of batteries as power source is to harvest ambient energy to power the devices directly. In this paper, a proposed wearable device with an energy-harvesting module has been designed, manufactured, and tested for the measurement of vital signs. The energy-harvesting module is implemented to directly power the electronic circuit board by a flexible solar panel. This paper describes the proposed instrumented autonomous T-shirt powered by the flexible solar panel applied directly on the T-shirt. The instrumented T-shirt is capable of measuring respiration rate, heart rate, and movement of the body. The methodology adopted, the design choices, and the experimental results are clearly reported and discussed. The experimental results show the functioning even with poor outdoor lighting conditions and under specific indoor constraints. Tests have been conducted aiming to compare the instrumented T-shirt's output data with the data obtained via instruments as gold standards and to show that the overall system described in this paper is capable of producing reliable data compared with the data obtained with these instruments.


Early marriage, defined as formal marriage or informal union before 18, has been normalized depending the expectations on gender roles. Especially in patriarchal societies, girls and young women who are married without their consents unwillingly accept the situation without having anything to say. Some young women, married early, on the other hand, become a "role model" to help the continuation of the system. Cultural implications that emphasize unequal gender roles, dominant male authority, and leaving females without power and autonomy in the society females depending on the patriarchy and its reflections are effective on the continuation of the early marriages and the occurrence of gender-based violence against young women. Girls growing up and getting married early in such a society are being exposed to different forms of physical, psychological, sexual, social and financial violence especially through the marriage starting from the marriage decisions made on behalf of them. The purpose of this study is to discuss how gender-based violence against young women and girls caused by early marriages occurs. In other words, gender-based violence before the marriage/union, considering especially the marriage decisions, and through the marriages is analyzed. Finally, suggestions aiming to prevent early marriages of girls and young women, and by extension, to deter gender-based violence are offered in this study.


Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been grown, simultaneously at different temperatures (600 °C, 700 °C, 725 °C, and 750 °C), by thermal chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of acetylene (C2H2) gas, in ammonia (NH3) atmosphere. The samples have been characterized morphologically by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a structurally by Raman spectroscopy. These analyses show that, when the temperature of substrate increases, the CNT average diameter and the density distribution decrease, and the CNTs are less defective. However there is a temperature limit (725 °C) for CNT growth. We have grown CNTs onto Si3N4/Si substrates with Pt electrodes, in order to realize the gas sensing devices. The CNTs grown at 725 °C, exhibit a fast response and a high sensitivity to NO2 gas.


Numerical modeling of large deformations in fluid‐infiltrated porous media must accurately describe not only geometrically nonlinear kinematics but also fluid flow in heterogeneously deforming pore structure. Accurate simulation of fluid flow in heterogeneous porous media often requires a numerical method that features the local (elementwise) conservation property. Here, we introduce a new finite element framework for locally mass conservative solution of coupled poromechanical problems at large strains. At the core of our approach is the enriched Galerkin discretization of the fluid mass balance equation, whereby elementwise constant functions are augmented to the standard continuous Galerkin discretization. The resulting numerical method provides local mass conservation by construction with a usually affordable cost added to the continuous Galerkin counterpart. Two equivalent formulations are developed using total Lagrangian and updated Lagrangian approaches. The local mass conservation property of the proposed method is verified through numerical examples involving saturated and unsaturated flow in porous media at finite strains. The numerical examples also demonstrate that local mass conservation can be a critical element of accurate simulation of both fluid flow and large deformation in porous media.


Polyoxometalates, also known as heteropolyacids (HPA), are solid acids widely utilised in heterogeneous catalysis. The physicochemical properties of HPAs facilitate surface-type or bulk-type reactions, dependent on substrate polarity. For the latter, the gas-phase dehydration of ethanol was investigated representing an environmentally friendly solution to produce bio-ethylene, a key compound to the chemical industry; while for the former, the solventless liquid-phase isomerisation of α-pinene was studied due to the widespread applications of its derivates. Supported HPAs, exhibiting the Keggin structure, were prepared on commercial low surface area fumed silica and mesoporous high surface area SBA-15 via wet impregnation technique to elucidate structure-activity behaviours in both catalytic systems relative to their bulk equivalents. In addition, different types of HPAs, phosphotungstic acid (HPW), silicotungstic acid (HSiW) and phosphomolybdic acid (HPMo), were studied to observe the role of acid strength on product distribution.
The successful synthesis of supported HPAs was confirmed by multiple characterisation techniques, revealing an inverse relationship between loading and dispersion which is further promoted through the use of mesoporous SBA-15 as the support, whereas non-porous fumed silica induced agglomeration which in turn increases the degree of crystalline water present in the HPAs. n-Propylamine TPD evaluated acid strength decreases in the order of HPW>HSiW>HPMo, which is independent of support. Support choice did not influence selectivity in either reaction, but did impact greatly on catalytic activity, imparting significant reaction rate and turnover frequency enhancement. For surface-type reaction, SBA-15 showed to be the optimal support due to greater active sites accessibility, whereas in the case of the bulk-type reaction, the fumed silica based materials, with larger 3D HPAs structures, even at low loadings, showed superior performance. Product distributions were affected through the choice of HPA, with higher selectivity towards camphene, for α-pinene isomerisation, and ethylene, for ethanol dehydration, observed over the HPW catalysts.


The immune pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) has been linked to imbalanced CD4+ T-cell responses while the contribution of CD8+ T cells is less well characterized. Chronically activated CD8+ T cells may become dysfunctional and acquire an exhausted phenotype during chronic viral infection or cancer. Recently, exhausted T cell (Tex) signatures have been proposed as a potential prognostic marker in autoimmune diseases. We therefore set out to characterize features of CD8+ T cell exhaustion in UC patients in more detail.

 Lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood and sigmoid biopsies of UC patients in remission (n = 9) and active disease (n = 20). Cytokine production and expression of exhaustion-associated markers were analyzed ex vivo by flow cytometry. Results were correlated with disease activity (Mayo Score) and mucosal inflammation (assessed endoscopically and histologically [Nancy Score]). To further analyze the role of CD8+ T cells within the intestinal tissue microenvironment, Imaging Mass Cytometry (IMC) was applied on sigma biopsies (n= 21).

 Analysis of CD8+ Tex marker expression and functionality did not reveal major differences between peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from UC patients with either active disease or remission as well as healthy controls. In contrast, in the sigmoid colon of patients with active UC, CD8+ T cell numbers were strongly increased. Moreover, expression of exhaustion markers was significantly increased in intestinal CD8+ T cells during active disease compared to remission. These cells also displayed dysfunctional cytokine profile patterns, as assessed by an established functional exhaustion score. This phenotype also closely correlated with clinical, endoscopic and histological markers of UC disease activity. The findings were confirmed by IMC, which revealed the presence of several clusters of CD8+ T cells with an exhaustion signature in inflamed colonic tissues.

 Our findings indicate that inflammation in the intestines of UC patients is associated with the induction of CD8+ T-cell responses that phenotypically and functionally resemble Tex. The functional relevance, prognostic value and therapeutic relevance of these exhausted CD8+ T cell signatures in UC need to be analyzed in future studies.


Conditions were defined for the successful transformation of the human pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei 4845 by electroporation, using the incQ plasmid pKT230. We have obtained frequencies of up to 8 x 10(3) transformants per microgram plasmid DNA with freshly prepared electrocompetent B. pseudomallei. The method also allows for easy and reproducible production of frozen cell suspensions which can produce efficiencies up to 2.5 x 10(2) transformants per microgram of plasmid DNA. Kanamycin had to be added to the culture growth medium at a minimum concentration of 20 micrograms ml-1 and a maximum concentration of 50 micrograms ml-1 for the bacteria to become electrocompetent. Bacteria grown in medium containing a final concentration of 30 micrograms ml-1 kanamycin produced the highest numbers of transformants, although the transformation frequency at this concentration was not as efficient as that at 50 micrograms ml-1. Electron microscopy indicated that the kanamycin affects the integrity of the bacterial outer membrane, which becomes loose and wrinkled in appearance. The electrocompetence does not result in a permanent morphological change.


Aygır Lake is located within the limits of Adilcevaz and South side of Süphan Mountain. It is a typical maar lake formed by volcanic eruption in 1942 m. Elevation. There are new parasitic cones surroundings of the mountain occured by energy which is accumulated in magma. Maar lake are caused by a phreatomagmatic eruption, an explosion caused by groundwater coming into contact with hot lava or magma. Surroundings of the lake is largely covered with pyroclastic materials of Süphan Mountain. In the field located South side of Süphan Montain and North of Aygır lake there are tracitik and traki-dasit lave flow. On the South west of lake and around of Nernek Mountain lavas are seen in asidic feature. Carps, rainbow trout and chalcal burnus tarichi are fishes which can live in the lake and it is in a very importand position for local angling. Also wooded tract located in North side of the lake is useful for holiday resort. Morover this place is proper camping side for climber when they ascent of Süphan Mountain. In this study, we aimed to determine morphologic units of Aygır lake and its surroundings. Also we introduced issues caused by anthropogenic effects and modified general land use on these morphologic unit. Furthermore this study advertised tourizm potential and sustainable land use of the field by using cartoraphic, analytic and observation methods.


The health of the Mexican population is influenced by several demographic transitions and has a direct impact on the health of the population, which is reflected in the increase of chronic degenerative diseases, as it has reduced the infant mortality rate and increased life expectancy. Although Mexican health system has implemented various campaigns for prevention, treatment and control of infectious and chronic degenerative diseases, it is necessary to generate a transformation in the promotion and prevention strategies to shift from the curative to preventive medicine.


Objectives: Research on the influence of body shape model on adolescent males is scarce. The current study aimed to assess this influence among adult males involved in intense physical activity and to determine its relationship to eating behaviour. Possible variations between 1998 and 2008 were also analysed. Method: A total of 950 males (672 in 1998 and 278 in 2008), all aspiring professional soldiers, were studied using the Questionnaire of Influences on Body Shape Model (CIMEC-V) and the Eating Attitudes Test-40 (EAT-40), as well as by assessing their physical/sporting activity and body mass index (BMI). Results: Scores on the CIMEC-V were significantly correlated with the EAT-40 and BMI. As regards physical activity the only positive correlation referred to gymbased exercise. A cluster analysis revealed two subgroups with respect to physical activity, BMI, and scores on the CIMEC-V and EAT-40. One of them scored higher on these three variables and they also had a BMI > 25. The comparative study of data from 1998 and 2008 showed significant changes in some variables. Conclusions: Generally, the results differ considerably from those reported for younger samples (which would suggest a lower risk of disordered eating behaviour). However, there is a higher risk group in which the influence of body shape models, physical activity and eating behaviour are related to greater body volume. The influence of the body shape model on males has increased, especially as regards the influence of friends and in terms of behaviours aimed at weight loss.


Phenolic compounds are important constituents of petrochemical waste waters arising from transformation processes. Phenol together with substituted halophenols, nitrophenols and alkyl phenols are the main constituents. An Arthrobacter citreus spp. strain MSA - 2005 initially selected for growth at the expense of phenol as the sole source of carbon and energy, was enriched with phenolic  compounds  such  as  4-nitrophenol,  4- chlorophenol and 4-methyl phenol. Metabolization of these compounds upto their maximum levels in the mineral salt medium was studied. The complete metabolization  of 4-nitrophenol  upto  15mM,  4- chlorophenol up to 12mM and 4-methyl phenol upto 6mM against phenol upto 22mM was achieved in 24 hours. The metabolism of these compounds by the isolated strain occurred through the involvement of catechol derivatives as key intermediates which are further hydrolysed to hydroxy quinol which enters the β -keto adipate pathway. Results indicate that the cells contain mono and di- oxygenase enzymes necessary for these conversions. The degradation rates of these phenolic compounds, by agar immobilized cells has also been reported.


The purpose of the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI)–Spent Fuel (SF) Project is to strengthen the technical toolkit of safeguards inspectors and/or other interested parties. The NGSI–SF team is working to achieve the following technical goals more easily and efficiently than in the past using nondestructive assay measurements of spent fuel assemblies: 1) verify the initial enrichment, burnup, and cooling time of facility declaration; 2) detect the diversion or replacement of pins; 3) estimate the plutonium mass; 4) estimate decay heat; and 5) determine the reactivity of spent fuel assemblies. The differential die-away self-interrogation (DDSI) instrument is one instrument that was assessed for years regarding its feasibility for robust, timely verification of spent fuel assemblies. The instrument was recently built and was tested using fresh fuel assemblies in a variety of configurations, including varying enrichment, neutron absorber content, and symmetry. The early die-away method, a multiplication determination method developed in simulation space, was successfully tested on the fresh fuel assembly data and determined multiplication with a root-mean-square (RMS) error of 2.9%. The experimental results were compared with MCNP simulations of the instrument as well. Low multiplication assemblies had agreement with an average RMS error of 0.2% in the singles count rate (i.e., total neutrons detected per second) and 3.4% in the doubles count rates (i.e., neutrons detected in coincidence per second). High-multiplication assemblies had agreement with an average RMS error of 4.1% in the singles and 13.3% in the doubles count rates.


The purpose of our studyis to investigate how the changed Education Act in Malmoe affects the work of school counselor in elementary school and how it further may affect the work. We were also investigating counselors' views on the politically increasing transparency of student health that comes as a result of the new school organization in Malmoe. To obtain our results, we have chosen to use a qualitative research interview, where we have chosen a semi-structured interview form. We have chosen two theories, Foucault -power and discipline and organizational theory. With the help of our results, we have come to the conclusions that the law is not sufficiently clear about what is meant by "access to the counselor" with the result that there are loopholes to apply. This can lead to students being assisted but not getting enough help. Despite the clear in the law that one should work more preventive, there is not enough time to work on value issues. This inturn means that most of the time out of their work is devoted to emergency situations. The school counselors in Malmoe believe that the new school organization probably is an act out of political interaction and not a way of exercising power. They set themselves very positive about the increasing transparency, because it will require competence by the counselor. The school counselors hope to have a head of student health that are proficient in student health work and understand what the counselors have for education. They want a manager who takes responsibility for the students, a manager that the counselors can discuss their work with and thus develop their professional skills.


Recent advances in computer technology offer to the medical profession specialized tools for gathering medical data, processing power, as well as fast storing and retrieving capabilities. Artificial intelligence (AI), an emerging field of computer science is studying the issues of human problem solving and decision making. Furthermore, rule-based systems and knowledge-based systems that are other fields of AI have been adopted by many scientists in an effort to develop intelligent medical diagnostic systems. In this study artificial neural networks (ANN) are introduced as a tool for building an intelligent diagnostic system; the system does not attempt to replace the physician from being the decision maker but to enhance ones facilities for reaching a correct decision. An integrated diagnostic system for assessing certain neuromuscular disorders is used in this study as an example for demonstrating the proposed methodology. The diagnostic system is composed of modules that independently provide numerical data to the system from the clinical examination of a patient, and from various laboratory tests that are performed. The examination procedure has been standardized by developing protocols for each specialized area, in cooperation with experts in the area. At the conclusion of the clinical examination and laboratory tests, data in the form of a numerical vector represents a medical examination snapshot of the subject. Artificial neural network (ANN) models were developed using the unsupervised self-organizing feature maps algorithm. Data from 71 subjects were collected. The ANN models were trained with the data from 41 subjects, and tested with the data from the remaining 30 subjects. Two sets of models were developed; those trained with the data from only the clinical examinations; and those trained by combining the clinical and the laboratory test data. The diagnostic yield that was obtained for the unknown cases is in the region of 73 to 93% for the models trained with only the clinical data, and in the region of 73 to 100% for those trained by combining both the clinical and laboratory data. The pictorial representation of the diagnostic models through the self organized two dimensional feature maps provide the physician with a friendly human-computer interface and a comprehensive tool that can be used for further observations, for example in monitoring disease progression of a subject.


A fixed dual cylindrical oscillating water column (OWC) acting as a breakwater-type wave energy converter (WEC) is proposed to harvest the wave energy effectively for shallow offshore sites. An analytical model is developed to investigate the hydrodynamic characteristics and the energy capture capacity of the cylindrical OWC device in severe waves. Based on the linear potential flow theory, the analytical solutions of the velocity potential in diffraction mode are solved by matching the Eigen-function expansion technique, and the continuous conditions of the velocity potential and fluid velocity between the computational sub-domains are involved in solving the problem for determining a solution. The proposed model is verified against the published data. The effects of the wave height, the angle of chamber clapboard and the radius of the inner and outer cylindrical column on the energy conversion efficiency are investigated in this paper. To improve the energy conversion performance and obtain a faster prediction for structural optimization of the cylindrical OWC, the geometrical parameters are further discussed in the analytical model. The results indicate that the geometrical parameters of the chamber have significant effects on the wave energy absorption efficiency. It is found that the effective frequency bandwidth of the dual cylindrical column can be broadened by improving the angle of the chamber clapboard and the inner–outer cylinder diameter ratio.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The development of syringomyelia has been associated with changes in CSF flow dynamics in the spinal subarachnoid space. However, differences in CSF flow velocity between patients with posttraumatic syringomyelia and healthy participants remains unclear. The aim of this work was to define differences in CSF flow above and below a syrinx in participants with posttraumatic syringomyelia and compare the CSF flow with that in healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six participants with posttraumatic syringomyelia were recruited for this study. Phase-contrast MR imaging was used to measure CSF flow velocity at the base of the skull and above and below the syrinx. Velocity magnitudes and temporal features of the CSF velocity profile were compared with those in healthy controls. RESULTS: CSF flow velocity in the spinal subarachnoid space of participants with syringomyelia was similar at different locations despite differences in syrinx size and locations. Peak cranial and caudal velocities above and below the syrinx were not significantly different (peak cranial velocity, P = .9; peak caudal velocity, P = 1.0), but the peak velocities were significantly lower (P < .001, P = .007) in the participants with syringomyelia compared with matched controls. Most notably, the duration of caudal flow was significantly shorter (P = .003) in the participants with syringomyelia. CONCLUSIONS: CSF flow within the posttraumatic syringomyelia group was relatively uniform along the spinal canal, but there are differences in the timing of CSF flow compared with that in matched healthy controls. This finding supports the hypothesis that syrinx development may be associated with temporal changes in spinal CSF flow.


The first aim of this paper is to decompose the productivity advantage of foreign multinationals into two components: the technology and scale effect. The second aim is to analyse the causal relationship between foreign ownership and these two components of productivity growth. We do so by analyzing the effects of an acquisition of a domestic establishment by a foreign multinational enterprise, using a combined propensity score matching and difference-in-differences estimation. Our empirical analysis is based on plant level data for the UK. From our econometric investigation four broad patterns emerge: (i) any positive impact of ownership change is predominantly due to change in technical efficiency, not scale effects (ii) the pre-acquisition TFP level of the erstwhile domestic plants play a role - positive or negative - in mediating the rate of technology transfer from the MNE parent companies, (iii) the productivity growth effects are not confined to the year of acquisition, and tend to persist through time.


The spreading use of the e-Health applications in healthcare raises questions about the legal aspects of this development. In this paper, we wanted to look into such questions related to one of the most basic elements of any e-Health solution - electronic health records - in Czech law. The article aimed to create a review of the national legislation related to electronic health records currently in force (which means primarily the Care for Health of the People Act n. 20/1966 Sb.), and to identify possible legal issues that could be preventing the deployment of e-Health Applications. The article shows that the Czech law indeed allows usage of electronic health records, and sets relatively detailed rules in some areas such as what information must be included inside it, and how to archive the data. However, it offers little guidance regarding some other situations, like it is ignoring the question of technical standards for interoperability. The briefness of the Act leaves lot of the decisions related to the development of the e-Health applications up to the individual healthcare facilities.


Objective. Validate primary care diagnosis of gout by the Mexico and the Netherlands classification criteria. Methods. Questionnaires on gout characteristics were sent to all individuals aged ≥ 18 with ≥ 1 International Classification of Diseases, 10th ed. diagnosis of gout at 12 primary care centers. Results. Positive predictive values for gout diagnosis ranged from 71% for the Netherlands criteria to 80% for the Mexico criteria. Maximum inflammation within 24 h was the most common reported symptom (86%). Conclusion. The vast majority of gout cases in primary care fulfill classification criteria and are valid for research purposes.