The Stressometer system is a measurement and control system used in cold rolling to improve the flatness of a metal strip. In order to achieve this goal the system employs a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) control system that has a considerable number of sensors and actuators. As a consequence the computational load on the Stressometer control system becomes very high if too advance functions are used. Simultaneously advances in rolling mill mechanical design makes it necessary to implement more complex functions in order for the Stressometer system to stay competitive. Most industrial players in this market considers improved computational power, for measurement, control and modeling applications, to be a key competitive factor. Accordingly there is a need to improve the computational power of the Stressometer system. Several different approaches towards this objective have been identified, e.g. exploiting hardware parallelism in modern general purpose and graphics processors. Another approach is to implement different applications in FPGA-based hardware, either tailored to a specific problem or as a part of hardware/software co-design. Through the use of a hardware/software co-design approach the efficiency of the Stressometer system can be increased, lowering overall demand for processing power since the available resources can be exploited more fully. Hardware accelerated platforms can be used to increase the computational power of the Stressometer control system without the need for major changes in the existing hardware. Thus hardware upgrades can be as simple as connecting a cable to an accelerator platform while hardware/software co-design is used to find a suitable hardware/software partition, moving applications between software and hardware. In order to determine whether this hardware/software co-design approach is realistic or not, the feasibility of implementing simulator, computational and control applications in FPGAbased hardware needs to be determined. This is accomplished by selecting two specific applications for a closer study, determining the feasibility of implementing a Stressometer measuring roll simulator and a parallel Cholesky algorithm in FPGA-based hardware. Based on these studies this work has determined that the FPGA device technology is perfectly suitable for implementing both simulator and computational applications. The Stressometer measuring roll simulator was able to approximate the force and pulse signals of the Stressometer measuring roll at a relative modest resource consumption, only consuming 1747 slices and eight DSP slices. This while the parallel FPGA-based Cholesky component is able to provide performance in the range of GFLOP/s, exceeding the performance of the personal computer used for comparison in several simulations, although at a very high resource consumption. The result of this thesis, based on the two feasibility studies, indicates that it is possible to increase the processing power of the Stressometer control system using the FPGA device technology.


This paper deals with morphosyntactic splits in the coding of actancy in transitive and intransitive sentences. In transitive sentences the splits are motivated by particular actant/person constellations and their interplay with modality, especially with negation. In intransitive sentences the splits are motivated by modality alone. All the different actancy coding procedures and intricate split patterns are explained here in terms of semantic motion, that is, the local increase or decrease of agency/salience properties of the actants involved. Thus motion manifests itself as promotion or demotion; this leads to a dynamization of the language-specific nominal hierarchy. Semantic motion is not bound to a particular type of alignment since it occurs with accusative as well as ergative coding behavior. The grammar of Yimas illustrates a broad variety of motional procedures rich enough to discuss the typologically useful notion of motion on the basis of one single language.


Since the inception of the atomic force microscope (AFM) in 1986, influential papers have been presented by the community and tremendous advances have been reported. Being able to routinely image conductive and non-conductive surfaces in air, liquid and vacuum environments with nanoscale, and sometimes atomic, resolution, the AFM has long been perceived by many as the instrument to unlock the nanoscale. From exploiting a basic form of Hooke's law to interpret AFM data to interpreting a seeming zoo of maps in the more advanced multifrequency methods however, an inflection point has been reached. Here, we discuss this evolution, from the fundamental dilemmas that arose in the beginning, to the exploitation of computer sciences, from machine learning to big data, hoping to guide the newcomer and inspire the experimenter.


Reduced deformability of red blood cells (RBCs) can affect the hemodynamics of the microcirculation and reduce oxygen transport efficiency. It is also well known that reduced RBC deformability is a signature of various physical disorders, including sepsis, and that the primary determinant of RBC deformability is the membrane shear modulus. To measure the distribution of an individual's RBC shear modulus with high throughput, we a) developed a high-fidelity computational model of RBCs in confined microchannels to inform design decisions; b) created a novel experimental system combining microfluidic flow, imaging, and image analysis; and c) performed automated comparisons between measured quantities and numerical predictions to extract quantitative measures of the RBC shear modulus for each of thousands of cells. We applied our computational simulation platform to construct the appropriate deformability figure(s) of merit to quantify RBC stiffness based on an experimentally measured, steady-state cell shape in flow through a microchannel. In particular, we determined a shape parameter based on the second moment of the cell shape that is sensitive to the changes in the membrane stiffness and cell size. We then conducted microfluidic experiments and developed custom automated image processing codes to identify and track the position and shape of individual RBCs within micro-constrictions. The fabricated microchannels include a square cross-section imaging region (7 by 7 μm) and we applied order 10 kPa pressure differences to induce order 10 mm s-1 cell velocities. The combination of modeling, microfluidics, and imaging enables, for the first time, quantitative measurement of the shear moduli of thousands of RBCs in human blood samples. We demonstrate the high-throughput features by sensitive quantification of the changes in the distribution of RBC stiffness with aging. This combined measurement and computational platform is ultimately intended to diagnose blood cell disorders in patients.


Solid waste accumulation is a significant issue in Latin America where poor infrastructure and management systems are present and with the exponential tourism growth in this region, the abundance of solid waste is also growing. This increase affects environmental, economic, and social factors such as pollution, a decline in tourism, and an increase in negative health effects. This study on Isla Colón, in the Province of Bocas del Toro, in western Panamá sought results on the abundance of solid waste along roadsides and beaches in the most populous and touristic locations. Approximately 2,160 meters squared were studied in Playa Bluff, Bocas del Toro town, and Boca del Drago utilizing quadrants to collect visible solid waste accumulation. 743 items of solid waste were collected, of which 62% were of plastic origin. Of the most prevalent composition of plastic; wrappers, plastic bottles, and unidentifiable fragmented plastics were the most. The mean density of solid waste on the study sites was 25.125 grams per meter squared. Approximately 344 items of solid waste are projected to be found every kilometer of the study sites. Traceability of corporations who produced the items and their production location were difficult to find. A mean of 14% of collected items were identifiable on their location or corporation. A history of the solid waste management system on Isla Colón as well as a history of Cero Basura and their mitigation methods utilized were identified through available literature as well as a semi-structured interview with the leader of the organization. Further research should be conducted on the specifics of the solid waste management system in order to have successful management actions on Isla Colón.


Women with pre-existing diabetes (T1DM/T2DM) face increased risk in pregnancy. Optimising glycaemic control, folic acid use and smoking cessation are all advised to improve outcomes. Maintaining these goals can be difficult. We retrospectively analysed data from sites across our Atlantic DIP network from 2015-17 and compared outcomes to data 2010-14 to see if prior improvements were maintained. Data was collected on pre-pregnancy care (PPC), glycaemic targets and neonatal outcomes. In total 98 women attended; 76 (78%)/22 (22%) with T1DM and T2DM respectively. Booking maternal BMI reduced but a fall in PPC attendance lead to lower folic acid use, greater teratogenic medication use and static smoking rates. Trimester 1 HbA1C was suboptimal in T1DM but patients subsequently reached target. HbA1C improved throughout pregnancy for T2DM and was at target (Table 1). Between the two time periods outcomes were unchanged for miscarriage, shoulder dystocia, NICU admission, macrosomia, LGA, SGA and birth weight. We recorded no stillbirths or congenital malformations. Improvements occurred in prematurity ( It is reassuring to record maintenance/improvement in neonatal outcomes but ongoing education on the importance of PPC and novel ways to reach patients are required. Disclosure C. Newman: Speaker9s Bureau; Self; Sanofi. L. Carmody: None. A.M. Egan: None. L.A. Owens: None. F. Dunne: None.


Chronic exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) has many side effects including glucose intolerance and diabetes and may accelerate the occurrence of cardiovascular disease and increase mortality. We studied the 14-year clinical development of diabetes in patients diagnosed with diabetes during GC treatment. A population-based sample of 1369 people newly diagnosed with clinical type 2 diabetes underwent a clinical examination at diagnosis, and surviving patients were followed up 6 and 14 years later. Patients receiving oral GC treatment at diagnosis were compared with the other patients. Of 1369 patients, 35 (2.6%) were treated with oral GCs at diabetes diagnosis. At that point, patients on GC therapy were older (69.9 versus 65.3 years, p = 0.007, sex-adjusted) and tended to have lower BMI (26.1 versus 29.1 kg/m(2) , p = 0.023), also 6 years after diagnosis (24.8 versus 28.4, p = 0.011), than patients not being treated with GCs. In a univariate Cox regression model, GC treatment at diagnosis increased all-cause mortality with a hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 2.01 (1.39-2.89, p = 0.0002, n = 1369), while this decreased to 1.41 (0.98-2.04, p = 0.065, n = 1369) when adjusted for age and sex and to 1.39 (0.92-2.11, p = 0.12, n = 1086) when risk factors, complications and cancer were added to the model. Apart from differences in age and overweight, patients in this relatively small sample of those diagnosed with clinical type 2 diabetes during GC treatment were comparable at diagnosis and during 14 years of follow-up with those not treated with GCs, including with regard to the adjusted mortality rate.


† The banking industry has been facing a lot of challenges in recent times in Nigeria. These include competition among them and non banking financial institutions such as insurance Companies. Therefore this research, impact of marketing strategies and performance of banks and its effects on Nigeria economy is aimed to identify the various types of the marketing mix components employed by the banks . to examine the effect of the marketing strategies on the performance of the banks. And to determine if the marketing strategies employed by the Banks differ significantly from one another. Questionnaire was administered on two population which are Management and staff of the banks and customers of the banks. 250 questionnaire was administered to Management and staff of the banks, and also 250 was administered to customers of the bank in Nigeria. Result of the analysis revealed four factors which were distribution network, quality of service, promotion and price with the percentage contribution of each factor being 51.9%, 73.6%, 31.2% and 38.5% respectively. Multiple regression analysis shows that R2 = 0.563 which indicated that the four factor accounted for 56% variability in the performance of marketing strategies employed by the banks. The result of the analysis of variance indicated that the mean ratings for the banks were not significantly different at 0.05level. We thereby conclude that banks should focus its innovative efforts on enlarging the size of the market in which it participates by introducing new products and services, promoting new uses for existing products and seeking out new class of customers.


Communications Skills is a Training for Medical team to learn how to provide excellent health service for the population. Modern healthcare delivery demands that the religious, cultural and ethical beliefs of patients be considered as a part of their treatment. Medical-Dental Team Education is the way to promote your team skills, consists of educations sessions for all your team staff, Doctors, Dentists, nurses and assistants and the reception to reach the high demand of health care and to build a good relation between the health provider and the patient. This training helps you to deal with different groups in your country as Multicultural society; the presentation consists of clarifications about how to market well your facility and how to talk with patients.


Cross-validation (CV) is a popular approach for assessing and selecting predictive models. However, when the number of folds is large, CV suffers from a need to repeatedly refit a learning procedure on a large number of training datasets. Recent work in empirical risk minimization (ERM) approximates the expensive refitting with a single Newton step warm-started from the full training set optimizer. While this can greatly reduce runtime, several open questions remain including whether these approximations lead to faithful model selection and whether they are suitable for non-smooth objectives. We address these questions with three main contributions: (i) we provide uniform non-asymptotic, deterministic model assessment guarantees for approximate CV; (ii) we show that (roughly) the same conditions also guarantee model selection performance comparable to CV; (iii) we provide a proximal Newton extension of the approximate CV framework for non-smooth prediction problems and develop improved assessment guarantees for problems such as l1-regularized ERM.


The general focus of the proposed chapter is to describe a complex yet transparent solution for advanced simulation analysis of urban electric vehicles propulsion unit. As general rule, precise and realistic results are obtained only when performing real-time simulations, engaging dedicated software for such applications. Hence, simulation of an electric vehicle as a complete solution can become rather difficult. The authors targeted advanced analysis of the propulsion unit, including the motor, the battery, the power converter, and its control. These are designed using multilevel models in Matlab/Simulink, referring to different complexity levels of each assembly. Another feature of the models is their organization, based on Energetic Macroscopic Representation (EMR), this easing the process of inter-connecting models correctly. Nevertheless, the mechanical, aerodynamical and road profile details are included using Amesim Software. All the simulations are performed on a real-time target, using a National Instruments PXIe embedded controller. The latter runs NI VeriStand software, allowing real-time communication between Amesim and Simulink offering in the same time possibility to read/write analog/digital IOs for external communication. This feature in fact is used when passing from modeling to Hardware in the Loop (HIL) analysis, replacing the simulated assembly with the actual one.


The aim of the article is to present the remarks and reflections of the Polish socialist activist, writer, journalist Feliks Kon (1864–1941) on some Siberian communities that he met while in exile at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Despite the fact that before his arrival in Siberia, he had not been professionally involved in scientific research, F. Kon made efforts to collect materials and information on the everyday life, customs and rituals of the inhabitants of this land. He can be described as self-taught, but the results of his work in the field of physical and social anthropology as well as the folklore and ethnography of the peoples of Siberia were in no way inferior to the research achievements of the then full-time employees of Russian scientific societies. The inhabitants of Siberia, both indigenous (Tuvians, Yakuts, Buryats) and immigrants (Russians, Jews), appear in F. Kon's view as "flesh and blood" people, with flaws, problems and dilemmas, but also enjoying small pleasures, joys of life.


Reinforcement learning (RL) is frequently used to increase performance in text generation tasks, including machine translation (MT), notably through the use of Minimum Risk Training (MRT) and Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN). However, little is known about what and how these methods learn in the context of MT. We prove that one of the most common RL methods for MT does not optimize the expected reward, as well as show that other methods take an infeasibly long time to converge. In fact, our results suggest that RL practices in MT are likely to improve performance only where the pre-trained parameters are already close to yielding the correct translation. Our findings further suggest that observed gains may be due to effects unrelated to the training signal, but rather from changes in the shape of the distribution curve.


One of the major challenges facing the 2010 Asian Games is the transportation problem. Because the games will use 58 existing game facilities and 12 new sports stadiums, which are located across the Guangzhou metropolitan areas (see Figure 1), safe and effective traffic control and transportation management will be essential to their success (see http://www.gz2010.cn/en/). The city already has a big issue with road congestion, caused mainly by the inadequate supply of transportation infrastructures. For example, between 2001 and 2008, the number of private passenger vehicles in Guangzhou increased 529 percent to 783 thousand, an annual increase of 26.9 percent. However, only 193.1 km are scheduled to be added to the total length of metropolitan road networks between 2007 and 2010, which is an increase of 5,528 km, a mere 3.6 percent. By 2010, the number of private passenger vehicles will increase to an estimated 1.261 million, but the space for new roads and transportation infrastructures is limited.1 Under such time and infrastructure constraints, Guangzhou has chosen intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to enhance and improve its traffic safety and efficiency for a better 2010 Asian Games.


ABSTRACT Meningococcal disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection that is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis), and it can cause meningitis, meningococcaemia outbreaks and epidemics. The disease is fatal in 9-12% of cases and with a death rate of up to 40% among patients with meningococcaemia. The objective of this study was to estimate the costs of a meningococcal outbreak that occurred in a Caribbean city of Colombia. We contacted experts involved in the outbreak and asked them specific questions about the diagnosis and treatment for meningococcal cases during the outbreak. Estimates of costs of the outbreak were also based on extensive review of medical records available during the outbreak. The costs associated with the outbreak were divided into the cost of the disease response phase and the cost of the disease surveillance phase. The costs associated with the outbreak control and surveillance were expressed in US$ (2011) as cost per 1,000 inhabitants. The average age of patients was 4.6 years (SD 3.5); 50% of the cases died; 50% of the cases were reported to have meningitis (3/6); 33% were diagnosed with meningococcaemia and myocarditis (2/6); 50% of the cases had bacteraemia (3/6); 66% of the cases had a culture specimen positive for Neisseria meningitidis; 5 of the 6 cases had RT-PCR positive for N. meningitidis. All N. meningitidis were serogroup B; 50 doses of ceftriaxone were administered as prophylaxis. Vaccine was not available at the time. The costs associated with control of the outbreak were estimated at US$ 0.8 per 1,000 inhabitants, disease surveillance at US$ 4.1 per 1,000 inhabitants, and healthcare costs at US$ 5.1 per 1,000 inhabitants. The costs associated with meningococcal outbreaks are substantial, and the outbreaks should be prevented. The mass chemoprophylaxis implemented helped control the outbreak.


Recently a new method for manufacturing bimetal clad pipes is introduced, which can integrate centrifugal casting with extrusion technology organically. Through experimental study on microstructure and properties of bimetallic clad pipes manufactured by centrifugal casting and extruding, the results indicates that bimetal clad pipes with intact metallurgical interface have good bonding properties. Meanwhile wider interfacial zone will be favorable for reducing deformation stress. However there are still a few technical difficulties about the bimetallic clad pipe. Due to chemical composition and properties difference between backing materials and CRA layer, chemical elements will spread and microstructure will change during the process of production and even mechanical behavior of backing metal pipe and corrosion resistance of CRA layer will decline. To meet application requirements, appropriate heat treatment with bimetal clad pipes seems vita.


Mechanical properties of ramie fiber reinforced epoxy lamina composite for socket prosthesis. This paper presents an investigation into the application of natural fiber composite especially ramie fiber reinforced epoxy lamina composite for socket prosthesis. The research focuses on the tensile and shear strength from ramie fiber reinforced epoxy lamina composite which will be applied as alternative material for socket prosthesis. The research based on American Society for Testing Material (ASTM) standard D 3039/D 3039M for tensile strength and ASTM D 4255/D 4255M-83 for shear strength. The ramie fiber applied is a fiber continue 100 % Ne14'S with Epoxy Resin Bakelite EPR 174 as matrix and Epoxy Hardener V-140 as hardener. The sample composite test made by hand lay up method. Multiaxial characteristic from ramie fiber reinforced epoxy composite will be compared with ISO standard for plastic/polymer for health application and refers strength of material application at Prosthetics and Orthotics. The analysis was completed with the mode of the failure and the failure criterion observation by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Based on results of the research could be concluded that ramie fiber reinforced epoxy composite could be developed further as the alternative material for socket prosthesis on Vf 40-50%. Results of the research will be discussed in more detail in this paper.


Purpose: The study purpose was to examine performance differences in physical education among learners from two middle schools from two different states. Methods: Performance in physical education was represented by attitude toward physical education, knowledge of physical activity and fitness, and active living behaviors (i.e., physical activity and sedentary behavior). The sixth, seventh, and eighth graders of a midwestern state school (n = 397) and a deep southern state school (n = 350) completed the surveys (N = 747). Results: The authors observed statistically significant school differences in physical activity and fitness knowledge and physical activity behavior (favoring the deep southern state school), and in attitude and sedentary behavior (favoring the midwestern state school). The authors also found stronger associations between attitude and physical activity (but weaker associations between attitude and sedentary behavior) among the deep southern state school students than the midwestern state school students. Conclusion: These observed performance differences and their pedagogical ramifications are discussed in relation to sociodemographic and environmental factors.


Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria. The emergence of resistant bacteria has been reported worldwide. The use of phages to treat bacterial infection or to reduce bacteria load has become a new area of interest. The viral colonization of rodents represents an important source for a specific biotope. The objective of this study is to characterize the effect of novel phages isolated from rodents (Mastomys) using clinical Enterobacteria strains. Three novel phages were isolated from the intestinal tract of rodents. The phages belong to Myoviridae family. By using three Random Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR), genomic characterization of the phages shows a high diversity that reveals several DNA bands. 3 virulent phages exhibited different patterns, indicating that the rodents' phages are genetically unique and could be distinguished by typing-PCR. The virulence spectrum of the phages shows phages Mα3 and Mα7 have 50% (7/15) lytic activity on enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli strains while phage Mα11 has 26.6% (4/15) lytic activity. These phages have no lytic activity on Salmonella strains. This study is the first to isolate novel phages from rodents with lytic activity. The candidate rodents' phages (Mα3, Mα7, Mα11) can be used to control virulent E. coli in West Africa.

 Keys words: Lytic phages, rodents, Escherichia coli strains, West Africa, enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic.


Background: Endobronchial valve (EBV) therapy is an innovative treatment that has been shown to be safe and effective in selected subgroups of patients with severe emphysema. Objectives: The objective of our study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of EBV therapy compared to the medical management of patients with high heterogeneity, complete fissures and lobar exclusion in the context of the German health-care system. Methods: Clinical data from a subset of VENT (Endobronchial Valve for Emphysema Palliation Trial) provided information about clinical events, health-related quality of life, and disease staging for 12 months. This information was subsequently used to project long-term disease progression, mortality, and health resource utilization. We computed the 5- and 10-year incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in euros per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Costs and effects were discounted at 3% per year. Results: EBV therapy led to clinically meaningful disease restaging at 12 months (37.8% of the cohort improved staging, compared to 0% in the controls). Over 5 years, EBV therapy was projected to increase survival from 66.4 to 70.7%, and to add 0.22 QALYs. Costs were estimated to increase by EUR 10,299, resulting in an ICER of EUR 46,322 per QALY. Over 10 years, 0.41 QALYs were gained at an additional cost of EUR 10,425, yielding an ICER of EUR 25,142 per QALY. Conclusions: Our model-based analysis suggests that EBV therapy leads to clinically meaningful changes in disease staging and progression when compared to medical management, with resulting gains in unadjusted and quality-adjusted life expectancy. Our results indicate that EBV therapy is cost-effective in the German health-care system.


Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr), is an important disease of wheat worldwide, and an emerging issue in New Zealand. The pathogen produces host-specific toxins which interact with the wheat host sensitivity loci. Identification of the prevalence of the toxin encoding genes in the local population, and the susceptibility of commonly grown wheat cultivars to Ptr will aid selection of wheat cultivars to reduce disease risk. Twelve single spore isolates collected from wheat-growing areas of the South Island of New Zealand representing the P. tritici-repentis population were characterised for the Ptr ToxA and ToxB genes, ToxA and ToxB, respectively, using two gene specific primers. The susceptibility of 10 wheat cultivars to P. triticirepentis was determined in a glasshouse experiment by inoculating young plants with a mixed-isolate spore inoculum. All 12 New Zealand P. tritici-repentis isolates were positive for the ToxA gene but none were positive for the ToxB gene. Tan spot lesions developed on all inoculated 10 wheat cultivars, with cultivars 'Empress' and 'Duchess' being the least susceptible and 'Discovery', 'Reliance' and 'Saracen' the most susceptible cultivars to infection by the mixed-isolate spore inoculum used. The results indicated that the cultivars 'Empress' and 'Duchess' may possess a level of tolerance to P. tritici-repentis and would, therefore, be recommended for cultivation in regions with high tan spot incidence.


The morphology, molecular composition, and distribution of organic matter (OM) were investigated in a suite of CR chondrites to better constrain its hydrothermal evolution. Multiple focused ion beam sections were extracted from the matrices of seven CR chondrites. Scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy and transmission electron microscopy reveal OM ubiquitously distributed across the CR matrices. OM mainly occurs as either discrete submicron rounded or irregularly shaped vein‐like particles. Two spectral populations of organic particles were identified by carbon K‐edge X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES): the most abundant one, similar to insoluble organic matter (IOM) residues, contains aromatic, carbonyl, and carboxylic groups. The second population is more aromatic‐rich and lacks a distinctive carbonyl peak. An additional, ubiquitous organic component occurs associated with amorphous silicates and phyllosilicates. Less aromatic but aliphatic‐ and carboxylic‐rich, this diffuse OM is interpreted as the result of the redistribution of organic compounds by aqueous fluids. The most altered CR1 GRO 95577 contains a more mature OM and highly aliphatic‐ and carboxylic‐rich diffuse OM. This evolution, from the CR2s to the CR1, is comparable to that of terrestrial gas shale maturation involving cracking reactions, releasing bitumen‐like, aliphatic‐, and carboxylic‐rich compounds, and aromatic residues. Our observations support the accretion of soluble OM and its later polymerization to IOM, as well as the maturation of IOM and its partial oxidation, releasing mobile compounds. The differences in GRO 95577 are clearly attributable to the hydrothermal episode(s), but the relative role of water and temperature on the evolution of OM remains elusive.


Abstract The 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions on 12 August 1949 provided an opportunity for reflection on international humanitarian law (IHL). This article continues that reflection and presents some fresh scholarship about and from the Asia-Pacific region. The region's plurality leads to a complex and diverse landscape where there is no single "Asia-Pacific perspective on IHL" but there are instead many approaches and trajectories. This fragmented reality is, however, not a mess of incoherence and contradiction. In the following pages, the author argues for and justifies the following assessments. The first is that the norm of humanity in armed conflict, which underpins IHL, has deep roots in the region. This, to some extent, explains why there is no conceptual resistance to IHL, in the way that exists with the human rights doctrine. The second is that there has been meaningful participation of certain States from the region in IHL law-making. Thirdly, some Asia-Pacific States are among those actively contributing to the development of new or emerging areas relevant to IHL, such as outer space, cyberspace and the protection of the environment in armed conflict. This leads to the unavoidable issue of contradiction. How is it that in a region where such findings can be made (i.e., where there is discernible positivity towards the norm of humanity in armed conflict), there are so many armed conflicts with very serious IHL violations emerging? Should we reflect in a more nuanced way on "norm internalization" and "root causes"? These issues will be considered in the second section of the article. This examination leads to a third and final section, a concluding reflection on what all of this reveals about IHL in the Asia-Pacific. The real challenge for progressive humanitarianism, the author contends, is to traverse disciplines and to build on work done in, on and from the region in order to develop more informed and nuanced approaches to understanding the countries and societies of the region, moving on to study the process of norm internalization, and then developing creative and meaningful strategies for strengthening the links between that internalization, actual conduct on the ground, and norm socialization in the wider community.


We present the design and evaluation of a multi-articular soft exosuit that is portable, fully autonomous, and provides assistive torques to the wearer at the ankle and hip during walking. Traditional rigid exoskeletons can be challenging to perfectly align with a wearer's biological joints and can have large inertias, which can lead to the wearer altering their natural motion patterns. Exosuits, in comparison, use textiles to create tensile forces over the body in parallel with the muscles, enabling them to be light and not restrict the wearer's kinematics. We describe the biologically inspired design and function of our exosuit, including a simplified model of the suit's architecture and its interaction with the body. A key feature of the exosuit is that it can generate forces passively due to the body's motion, similar to the body's ligaments and tendons. These passively generated forces can be supplemented by actively contracting Bowden cables using geared electric motors, to create peak forces in the suit of up to 200 N. We define the suit–human series stiffness as an important parameter in the design of the exosuit and measure it on several subjects, and we perform human subjects testing to determine the biomechanical and physiological effects of the suit. Results from a five-subject study showed a minimal effect on gait kinematics and an average best-case metabolic reduction of 6.4%, comparing suit worn unpowered versus powered, during loaded walking with 34.6 kg of carried mass including the exosuit and actuators (2.0 kg on both legs, 10.1 kg total).


Nurses play an essential thing in patient caring because they are the first who deal with the patient. Patient satisfaction is a crucial concern in a hospital, so the nurses, who are at the forefront in meeting the demands of the patient, must have a certain level of organizational commitment and excellent job satisfaction. The researcher conducted this study to analyze the job satisfaction and corporate loyalty of nurses in the Premier Hospital of Surabaya and seek the correlation between that two variables. This study used a descriptive-analytic design with cross-sectional. Samples were a nurse at the hospital in Surabaya and were 132 respondents. The instrument used was the Job Descriptive Index, which modified to analyze job satisfaction and Allen and Meyer's questionnaire to analyze organizational commitment. Analysis of the relationship between the two variables used the Spearman Rank Correlation analysis. The results showed that 88.6 % of respondents have moderate job satisfaction, 9.1 % have higher job satisfaction, and 2.3 % had low job satisfaction. While the organizational commitment of 97.7 % of respondents at a moderate level, 1.5 % at a weak level, and 0.8 % at stable levels. Analysis scored p=0.018. It means that there is a weak correlation between job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The conclusion that there is a weak correlation between job satisfaction and corporate loyalty of nurses in Premier Hospital of Surabaya. Further study should add more factors, which correlates with job satisfaction and organizational commitment.


There is growing scholarly recognition of the prominent role that religion can play in empowering, shaping, and constraining political mobilization. Conceptually, religion can intersect with political opportunity structure in two general ways. First, it can be a component of the political opportunity structure: degrees of religious diversity, varieties of religion-state relations, levels of religiosity, and prevailing religious norms can substantially affect how social movements mobilize supporters. Second, religion can be an attribute of movements operating within a given political opportunity structure: a set of distinctive frames and resources available to religious actors that are unavailable to their secular counterparts. Understanding the intersection of religion and political opportunity structure requires addressing both of these dimensions of religion.
 One key challenge derives from the diversity of religious beliefs and organizations across and within faith traditions. There is persistent scholarly disagreement regarding the importance of specific ideological or doctrinal tenets and how these shape the salience of particular religions as both a component of the political opportunity structure and as a set of resources available to social movements. Scholarly understanding of these dynamics is hampered by the limited amount of research across faith traditions. Works focusing on Catholic, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, or Protestant movements, among others, tend to emphasize different features of religion, in ways that make their findings hard to aggregate.
 Despite this and other challenges, the consolidation of religion as a topic of scholarly attention has resulted in increasingly sophisticated arguments and improved the scope and quality of data on religion and politics. Scholars now have access to a variety of global, regional, and national surveys that describe patterns of religious belief, behavior, and belonging. There is also a growing repertoire of country-level measures covering religion-state relations, denominational diversity, and religious conflict. In addition, a growing body of in-depth case studies focusing on particular religious movements and organizations has enriched our understanding of the dynamic interaction between religious groups and the institutional, structural, and cultural opportunities they face.


Grid-connected inverters utilizing renewable energy sources (e.g., photovoltaic, wind, fuel cell, etc.) are growing rapidly in recent years along with the constantly growing global demand for electricity. The utility is subjected to imbalance and distortion caused by unbalanced and nonlinear loads. Critical and random voltage disturbances could be established by time-varying loads like arc furnaces, the fluctuating output power of the wind and photovoltaic generation, voltage transients caused by line-start induction motors, and voltage transients associated with capacitor switching. These kind of voltage disturbances are stochastic in nature, with durations that differ from a small fraction of a cycle to some cycles. The two-level three-phase three-wire voltage-sourced inverter has become one of the main building blocks of renewable energy systems. In spite of weak grid condition; a grid-connected inverter must inject a synchronously regulated sinusoidal current to the utility grid with required low total harmonic distortion (THD) and high power factor. To overcome these challenges grid-connected inverters should provide unbalanced and distorted voltages. Hence, a new scalar implicit zero-sequence discontinuous pulse width modulation (IZDPWM) technique for three-phase three-wire two-level grid-connected voltage source inverters under the weak grid condition is presented. The proposed technique is the first scalar method that uses line-to-line voltages as reference signals. IZDPWM-based feedforward control strategy is proposed for current regulated grid-connected voltage source inverters under unbalanced and distorted condition. The feedforward control strategy is chosen because it can reject a large number of grid voltage harmonics simultaneously, while providing a clean sinusoidal current waveform to the grid. Regardless the grid topology, the compatible IZDPWM exactly copies the distorting harmonics of the grid voltage. Hence, a sinusoidal current is injected to the grid. IZDPWM-based closed loop controller minimizes low order harmonics in the grid current, and compensate for dc-link voltage ripple, deadtime delays, and semiconductor device voltage drops. For straightforward and significant current control using PI, the three-phase ac current is transferred into the synchronous d–q rotating frame whereas the feedforward compensation of the grid voltage is implemented in abc frame. Appling IZDPWM-based controller; pure sinusoidal current is injected to the grid under balanced, unbalanced, and distorted conditions. Moreover, under weak grid condition in spite of phase voltages, line-to-line voltages are measured by two sensors only. Thus, overall system cost is reduced and reliability of control system is increased. IZDPWM-based feedforward control was extensively tested under balanced, unbalanced, and distorted conditions in both simulation and experimental testes. The compatibility IZDPWM with the line-to-line voltages feedforwarding leads to an adequate control performance with robustness against dynamic voltage disturbances. By applying the proposed IZDPWM-based feedforward control, high quality injected current with low THD (0.888 %) and high power factor (0.999) are obtained.


This paper illustrates the main regional differences of Italian poverty and presents an econometric analysis of the key determinants of poverty risk for the period from 1992 to 2008. The results show that an increase by 1% in the unemployment rate and a lower level of education raise the risk of being trapped in poverty by 0.42% and 1.7%, respectively. Conversely, social protection benefits and higher levels of education attainments contribute significantly to reduce this risk. Since the low rate of employment in 'foot-loose activities' is one of the main culprits of the poor economic conditions in Southern Italy, a fiscal measure which aims at promoting automatic incentives to employment in manufacturing activities is suggested. This policy could contribute to securing employment and reducing poverty in a country characterized by a secular divide, with a light burden for public finances, and a positive side effect on Italy's balance of payments.


With the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies, a considerable effort has been put into sequencing the epigenomes of different species. The efforts such as "Encode" and "Roadmap" epigenomics projects provide an opportunity to compare epigenomes across species (especially between human and mouse). This study is an effort to understand how different histone modifications vary/co-appear between orthologous regions of the two species. In this work, we have used various measures of orthologous similarity between each pair of orthologous genes and explore how histone modifications are conserved with respect to changes in these similarity measures. These measures of similarity "codon usage frequency similarity" (CUFS), Ka/Ks ratio and gene expression similarity. Our simulation indicates that evolutionary selection pressure of an orthologous pair (Ka/Ks ratio) is more strongly correlated with its histone modification than any other similarity measure. We also found that genes with low Ka/Ks have more similar histone profiles across species than the ones with high Ka/Ks, suggesting more differential regulation for genes with higher selection pressure.


Existing research has not addressed the potential impact of neighborhood context--educational attainment of neighbors in particular--on individual-level cognition among older adults. Using hierarchical linear modeling, the authors analyzed data from the 1993 Study of Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD), a large, nationally representative sample of US adults born before 1924. Data from participants residing in urban neighborhoods (n = 3,442) were linked with 1990 US Census tract data. Findings indicate that 1) average cognitive function varies significantly across US Census tracts; 2) older adults living in low-education areas fare less well cognitively than those living in high-education areas, net of individual characteristics, including their own education; 3) this association is sustained when controlling for contextual-level median household income; and 4) the effect of individual-level educational attainment differs across neighborhoods of varying educational profiles. Promoting educational attainment among the general population living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may prove cognitively beneficial to its aging residents because it may lead to meliorations in stressful life conditions and coping deficiencies.


Galactic winds are a prime suspect for the metal enrichment of the intergalactic medium (IGM) and may have a strong influence on the chemical evolution of galaxies and the nature of QSO absorption-line systems. We use a sample of 1406 galaxy spectra at z ∼ 1.4 from the DEEP2 redshift survey to show that blueshifted Mg iyi λλ 2796, 2803 absorption is ubiquitous in star-forming galaxies at this epoch. This is the first detection of frequent outflowing galactic winds at z ∼ 1. The presence and depth of absorption are independent of active galactic nuclei spectral signatures or galaxy morphology; major mergers are not a prerequisite for driving a galactic wind from massive galaxies. Outflows are found in co-added spectra of galaxies spanning a range of 30 times in stellar mass and 10 times in star formation rate (SFR), calibrated from K-band and from the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer IR fluxes. The outflows have column densities of order NH ∼ 1020 cm-2 and characteristic velocities of ∼ 300–500 km s−1, with absorption seen out to 1000 km s−1 in the most massive, highest SFR galaxies. The velocities suggest that the outflowing gas can escape into the IGM and that massive galaxies can produce cosmologically and chemically significant outflows. Both the Mg ii equivalent width and the outflow velocity are larger for galaxies of higher stellar mass and SFR, with Vwind ∼ SFR0.3, similar to the scaling in low redshift IR-luminous galaxies. The high frequency of outflows in the star-forming galaxy population at z ∼ 1 indicates that galactic winds occur in the progenitors of massive spirals as well as those of ellipticals. The increase of outflow velocity with mass and SFR constrains theoretical models of galaxy evolution that include feedback from galactic winds, and may favor momentum-driven models for the wind physics.


Graph data is used in an increasing number of analytical data processing applications, ranging from social network analysis, to monitoring of network traffic, and to ontologies in the semantic web. Both application-specific and general graph data management systems have been proposed to address this trend. Nevertheless, it would be foolish to dismiss relational and object databases as possible solutions for graph data management and processing, due to the vast amount of experience that they encompass. As a consequence, graph data analysts are faced with a broad variety of choices and approaches. However, regardless of the approach taken, users need to be able to evaluate and assess which of the many possible solutions works best in their use case. We propose a benchmark in terms of a data model, query workload, sample data sets, and usage scenarios. We also report performance figures measured based on an opensource graph database as well as commercial relational and object databases. Finally, we discuss how our benchmark can be used to characterize databases with respect to particular application scenarios.


Montemayor S. I. & Dellapé P. M. 2010. — On the identity of Gargaphia subpilosa Berg, 1879, G. bergi Monte, 1940 and G. penningtoni Drake, 1928 (Insecta, Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Tingidae), with the description of immatures of G. bergi. Zoosystema 32 (1): 155-162. ABSTRACT The correct designation of the lectotype of Gargaphia subpilosa Berg, 1879 is discussed and a paralectotype is recovered; G. penningtoni Drake, 1928 is considered a junior synonym of G. subpilosa Berg, 1879; G. bergi Monte, 1940 is raised from synonymy with G. subpilosa and instars II–IV are described. Illustrations of habitus of both species and of the immature stages II to V of G. bergi are provided together with photographs in the field of this last species.


Degradation of various membrane proteins in the lumen of the vacuole/lysosome requires their prior sorting into the multivesicular body (MVB) pathway. In this process, ubiquitin serves as a sorting signal for most cargoes. The yeast ubiquitin hydrolase Doa4 acts late in the MVB pathway. It's role is to catalyze deubiquitination of cargo proteins prior to their sorting into the endosomal vesicles. This step rescues ubiquitin from degradation in the vacuole/lysosome, enabling it to be recycled. Accordingly, the level of monomeric ubiquitin is typically reduced in doa4mutants. Although MVB sorting of cargo proteins is also impaired in doa4mutants, the question of whether this defect is due solely to Doa4's role in maintaining a normal pool of ubiquitin in the cell remains open. We here show that the requirement of Doa4 for correct MVB sorting of the endocytic cargo general amino acid permease and of the biosynthetic cargo carboxypeptidase S are not because of the role of Doa4 in ubiquitin recycling. This suggests a direct role of Doa4 in MVB sorting and we show that this role depends on Doa4's catalytic activity. We propose that deubiquitination by Doa4 of cargo proteins and/or some components of the MVB sorting machinery is essential to correct sorting of cargoes into the MVB pathway.


Background Rapid identification of the etiological agent in bloodstream infections is of vital importance for the early administration of the most appropriate antibiotic therapy. Molecular methods may offer an advantage to current culture-based microbiological diagnosis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of IRIDICA, a platform based on universal genetic amplification followed by mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) for the molecular diagnosis of sepsis-related pathogens directly from the patient's blood. Methods A total of 410 whole blood specimens from patients admitted to Emergency Room (ER) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with clinical suspicion of sepsis were tested with the IRIDICA BAC BSI Assay (broad identification of bacteria and Candida spp.). Microorganisms grown in culture and detected by IRIDICA were compared considering blood culture as gold standard. When discrepancies were found, clinical records and results from other cultures were taken into consideration (clinical infection criterion). Results The overall positive and negative agreement of IRIDICA with blood culture in the analysis by specimen was 74.8% and 78.6%, respectively, rising to 76.9% and 87.2% respectively, when compared with the clinical infection criterion. Interestingly, IRIDICA detected 41 clinically significant microorganisms missed by culture, most of them from patients under antimicrobial treatment. Of special interest were the detections of one Mycoplasma hominis and two Mycobacterium simiae in immunocompromised patients. When ICU patients were analyzed separately, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values compared with blood culture were 83.3%, 78.6%, 33.9% and 97.3% respectively, and 90.5%, 87.2%, 64.4% and 97.3% respectively, in comparison with the clinical infection criterion. Conclusions IRIDICA is a promising technology that offers an early and reliable identification of a wide variety of pathogens directly from the patient's blood within 6h, which brings the opportunity to improve management of septic patients, especially for those critically ill admitted to the ICU.


Reliable broadcast protocols are important tools in distributed and fault-tolerant programming. They are useful for sharing information and for maintaining replicated data in a distributed system. However, a wide range of such protocols has been proposed. These protocols differ in their fault tolerance and delivery ordering characteristics. There is a tradeoff between the cost of a broadcast protocol and how much ordering it provides. It is, therefore, desirable to employ protocols that support only a low degree of ordering whenever possible. This dissertation presents techniques for deciding how strongly ordered a protocol is necessary to solve a given application problem. We show that there are two distinct classes of application problems: problems that can be solved with efficient, asynchronous protocols, and problems that require global ordering. We introduce the concept of a linearization function that maps partially ordered sets of events to totally ordered histories. We show how to construct an asynchronous implementation that solves a given problem if a linearization function for it can be found. We prove that in general the question of whether a problem has an asynchronous solution is undecidable. Hence there exists no general algorithm that would automatically construct a suitable linearization function for a given problem. Therefore, we consider an important subclass of problems that have certain commutativity properties. We present techniques for constructing asynchronous implementations for this class. These techniques are useful for constructing efficient asynchronous implementations for a broad range of practical problems.


Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks on the Internet have caused serious problems for many years and have become more severe over time. The difficulty in mitigating DDoS attacks comes from the architectural shortcomings of IP which make it easy to attack any IP node from anywhere. Named Data Networking (NDN), a proposed new Internet architecture, changes the basic network communication model from IP's address-based push to name-based data pull. In this paper, we comprehensively examine the basic properties of the NDN architecture and describe how they make the launch of DDoS attacks more difficult and the attacks less effective. We further make use of NDN's architectural properties to develop a new DDoS mitigation solution – Producer-assisted Pushback, called PAP. PAP pushes back DDoS traffic to misbehaving entities, at a much finer granularity than existing DDoS defense mechanisms in IP networks. We have evaluated the performance of PAP through extensive simulations and our results show that PAP can effectively push back attack traffic within a few seconds, and ensure over 99% of an attack target's incoming traffic is from legitimate clients.


The idea of vested private rights divides those who practice law from those who teach and think about law. On one side of the divide, practicing lawyers act as though (at least some) rights exist and exert binding obligation upon private persons and government officials. On the other side of the divide, scholars of law and jurisprudence have generally proceeded, since at least the rise of English positivism in the nineteenth century and the American legal realist movement in the early twentieth, as if the concept of vested right has little real meaning. This article attempts to explain the doctrine's continued appeal and to discern some coherence in it while also accounting for the causes of skepticism.The approach is made by way of a central case study: the right of emancipation on free English soil. The study suggests a coherent, focal meaning of the vested private right as a norm that imposes a conclusive duty upon a duty-bearer or class of duty-bearers, and which constrains public officials' powers to recognize, change, or adjudicate private rights and duties. This focal meaning suggests that central instances of vested rights are quite rare. This accounts for skepticism of the concept. Yet it also suggests that less-central instances of vested rights are rather common. This accounts for the concept's practical appeal and enables one to distinguish weak or peripheral senses of vested private rights, which are not as conceptually interesting but are nevertheless significant for the practice of law, from strong or central senses, which are rare in practice but theoretically interesting.


It has been observed that in case of an imaging geometry, the speckle size and shape depend upon the aberrations, provided the scattering spot size is smaller than the point-spread function of the optical system. In the presence of spherical aberration the speckle pattern becomes radially streaky. Photographs of the patterns at paraxial, marginal, least-confusion, and defocused planes are given. When the diffuser is given a translatory motion the speckle at a point in the observation plane moves along the shadow of a knife edge (with its edge parallel to the direction of translation) placed at a suitable position in the pupil plane. Experiments with the atropinized eye also yielded the same results. A heuristic explanation for these results is included.


This work analyzes the effect of various gate structures on the DC and radio frequency (RF) performance of AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices with a 3 μm drain-to-source spacing, 125 μm gate width and 0.3 μm gate length in various gate structures were fabricated to achieve the desired frequency response with a robust, high yield, and repeatable process. The maximum drain current (IDS,max), maximum DC transconductance (gm), pinch-off voltage (Vth), current-gain cutoff frequency (fT), maximum oscillation frequency (fmax), and RF characteristics of the devices in terms of the small-signal gain and RF output power (Pout) at 8 GHz were investigated. The results showed that the output power is increased by 1 dB when the gate structure is changed from field plate to gamma gate. The Vth, gm, fT and fmax values are maximized when the thickness of the passivation layer between the gate foot and the gate head is minimized. It is shown that the IDS,max is decreased and Pout is increased when the gate recess etching process is performed.


The hammer impact test is a conventional modal analysis technique in large-scale structures. It possesses efficient capability in the excitation of any structure within a wide range of frequencies and thus, this technique can be a good method to identify the dynamics of any structure. Here, we have implemented this method on nano-scale structures using molecular dynamics simulations. For convenience, we used a carbon nanotube (CNT) that showed complicated behavior due to van der Waals (vdW) interactions with a graphene sheet. The graphene sheet represents the vdW interactions of the CNT with its surroundings, which is an important distinction between the phenomena at the nano-scale. The variations in the fundamental natural frequency and quality factor of the CNT with different strengths of the vdW interactions are explored. For this purpose, the distance between the CNT and graphene is used as the tuning parameter. The results of the hammer impact tests were compared and matched to those obtained with a well-established method in the nano-scale that involved thermomechanical noise. Having the natural frequencies of CNT and graphene sheet at their isolated state, it can be noted that the vdW effects bring both the structures into a common intermediary natural frequency when they are close enough. Increasing the distance between CNT and graphene, after passing a certain limit, the structures tend to have their natural frequencies in their isolated states. Up to this certain limit, the fundamental frequency of the graphene sheet is completely equal to that of the CNT. This shows a full coupling of the two structures at closer distances, which transforms into decoupling at higher distances. The frequencies corresponding to the two structures deviate in a way that the CNT vibrates faster than the graphene sheet. At far enough distances, the natural frequencies meet the values of the isolated states of the structures. As an aside, the quality factor of the CNT shows an inverse relation with the fundamental frequencies. These results can be used in the design of novel experimental procedures for the evaluation of the vibrational properties of nanostructures.


In this paper, the Resistive Companion Form(RCF) analysis method is applied to analyze small signal stability of power systems including thyristor controlled FACTS equipments such as SVC. The eigenvalue sensitivity analysis algorithm in discrete systems based on the RCF analysis method is presented and applied to the power system including SVC. As a result of simulation, the RCF analysis method is proved very effective to precisely calculate the variations of eigenvalues or newly generated unstable oscillation modes after periodic switching operations of SVC. Also the eigenvalue sensitivity analysis method based on the RCF analysis method enabled to precisely calculate eigenvalue sensitivity coefficients of controller parameters about the dominant oscillation mode after periodic switching operations in discrete systems. These simulation results are different from those of the conventional continuous system analysis method such as the state space equation and proved that the RCF analysis method is very effective to analyze the discrete power systems including periodically operated switching equipments such as SVC.


In this paper we discuss the meaning of newness in research in the times when new paradigms of science are emerging and the sciences have become more and more fragmentary. In the positivistic and monolithic era of social science, before Kuhn and year 1966, methodologies and methods interpreting newness were simpler. In this paper it is argued the newness is more and more in the text itself, and that the dynamics of texts comes from interrelations between the subject of the text (the researcher self) and the object of it (the research audience). Scientific knowledge becomes new when it is substantiated and connected to the prior one Writing the research reports is political by nature but so is also its reading. While citation index makes researchers powerful, in gaining decisions whom to refer the colleagues make political choices that are bound to some political contexts they live and career. Building a theoretical frame is not a pure and objectivistic thing but many ways a path of choices that build the research field. Behind is a lot of social capital of the academia and at the same time the text shows and even builds it. Again, it is less and less the empirical facts itself that contributes to newness, but the ways to conceptualize and contextualize empirically based knowledge. In the times when subjectivity is grown into science and pure empirical data does not work in the same way it used to be, becoming a researcher with the right to access science text publishing is not only professional but more and more narrative by nature. The credibility and trust is of a lot of worth at the society of today, not least in academia. Personality, biography and social context of a researcher are perhaps becoming more important than it used to be and that makes the issue that the impact of the researcher on has grown. Gatekeepers of science and administrational processes that they guide form criteria according to which researchers are selected and promoted further. That way individual background issues like gender and ethnicity may either grow or diminish the credibility of the individual researcher and have a lot of impact on the fact on who passes the gate of becoming a knowledge holder in the future. In the paper we also argue that subjectivity is more and more compensated by inter-subjectivity in writing because of joint texts. In gate-keeping about who enters the knowledge holder-limit this states as well.


BACKGROUND
Recurrent toxin-mediated perineal erythema is a cutaneous disease mediated by superantigens made by staphylococci and streptococci, which, to our knowledge, has only been reported in young adults. We describe recurrent toxin-mediated perineal erythema in 11 children and outline the differences between recurrent toxin-mediated perineal erythema and Kawasaki disease in this age range.

OBSERVATIONS
Eleven children (7 male and 4 female) presented with the sudden appearance of asymptomatic erythema, which was salmonlike in color and rapidly desquamating, involving the perineum in 10 patients and extending to the perianal area in 1 patient. At the onset of the rash, all patients were in good health, although 9 had mild fever for 1 to 2 days before its appearance. Physical examination also revealed an erythema of the hands and feet in 4 patients and strawberry tongue in 7. Two patients had a facial impetigo, and another showed a perianal streptococcal dermatitis. A group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus was isolated from the throat in 10 cases and from a perianal culture in 1 case. In 8 cases, resolution was spontaneous, but all patients were treated with systemic antimicrobial therapy for 10 days. Three patients had a personal history of cutaneous rashes on the perineal area during the last years before consultation. Rash recurrence was observed in 3 of the 11 patients at the follow-up examination. Conclusion Recurrent toxin-mediated perineal erythema can be observed not only in young adults but also in childhood.


ABSTRACT Drawing on archival sources, interviews, and research literature, this article offers new insights into the making, structure and long-term effects of the International Educational Indicators (INES) programme of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The article argues that INES was crucial in setting the OECD on the path to becoming a global education policy actor. Although science has informed policy making for centuries, the 1980s mark the start of a much closer imbrication of evidence-making for policy. By focusing on those renewed encounters of education science with policy-making, the article examines the INES indicators as a boundary infrastructure. It shows the ways that INES materialised many of the OECD ambitions at the time. In other words, through INES, the OECD gained the unique confidence, expertise, and reputation in the field to deliver large international comparative works on a global scale.


Background: Leishmaniases are neglected diseases caused by infection with Leishmania parasites and there are no human vaccines in use routinely. The purpose of this study was to examine the immunogenicity of ChimeraT, a novel synthetic recombinant vaccine against visceral leishmaniasis (VL), incorporated into a human-compatible liposome formulation. Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with ChimeraT/liposome vaccine, ChimeraT/saponin adjuvant, or ChimeraT/saline and immune responses examined in vitro and in vivo. Results: Immunization with the ChimeraT/liposome formulation induced a polarized Th1-type response and significant protection against L. infantum infection. ChimeraT/liposome vaccine stimulated significantly high levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-12, and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) cytokines by both CD4 and CD8 T-cells, with correspondingly lower levels of IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines. Induced antibodies were predominantly IgG2a isotype, and homologous antigen-stimulated spleen cells produced significant nitrite as a proxy for nitric oxide (NO). Furthermore, we examined a small number of treated VL patients and found higher levels of circulating anti-ChimeraT protein IgG2 antibodies, compared to IgG1 levels. Conclusions: Overall, the liposomal formulation of ChimeraT induced a protective Th1-type immune response and thus could be considered in future studies as a vaccine candidate against human VL.


Transportation service providers that dispatch drivers and vehicles to riders start to support both on-demand ride requests posted in real time and rides scheduled in advance, leading to new challenges which, to the best of our knowledge, have not been addressed by existing works. To fill the gap, we design novel trip-vehicle dispatch algorithms to handle both types of requests while taking into account an estimated request distribution of on-demand requests. At the core of the algorithms is the newly proposed Constrained Spatio-Temporal value function (CST-function), which is polynomial-time computable and represents the expected value a vehicle could gain with the constraint that it needs to arrive at a specific location at a given time. Built upon CST-function, we design a randomized best-fit algorithm for scheduled requests and an online planning algorithm for on-demand requests given the scheduled requests as constraints. We evaluate the algorithms through extensive experiments on a real-world dataset of an online ride-hailing platform.


Real-world large-scale datasets are heteroskedastic and imbalanced – labels have varying levels of uncertainty and label distributions are long-tailed. Heteroskedasticity and imbalance challenge deep learning algorithms due to the difficulty of distinguishing among mislabeled, ambiguous, and rare examples. Addressing heteroskedasticity and imbalance simultaneously is under-explored. We propose a data-dependent regularization technique for heteroskedastic datasets that regularizes different regions of the input space differently. Inspired by the theoretical derivation of the optimal regularization strength in a one-dimensional nonparametric classification setting, our approach adaptively regularizes the data points in higher-uncertainty, lower-density regions more heavily. We test our method on several benchmark tasks, including a real-world heteroskedastic and imbalanced dataset, WebVision. Our experiments corroborate our theory and demonstrate a significant improvement over other methods in noise-robust deep learning.1


The structural behaviour of reinforced concrete is governed significantly by the transmission of forces between steel and concrete. The bond is of special importance for the overlapping joint and anchoring of the reinforcement, where rigid bond is required. It also plays an important role in the rotational capacity of plastic hinges, where a ductile bond behaviour is preferable. Similar to the mechanical properties of concrete and steel also the characteristics of their interaction changes with the velocity of the applied loading. For smooth steel bars with its main bond mechanisms of adhesion and friction, nearly no influence of loading rate is reported in literature. In contrast, a high rate dependence can be found for the nowadays mainly used deformed bars. For mechanical interlock, where ribs of the reinforcing steel are bracing concrete material surrounding the bar, one reason can be assumed to be in direct connection with the increase of concrete compressive strength. For splitting failure of bond, characterized by the concrete tensile strength, an even higher dynamic increase is observed. For the design of Structures exposed to blast or impact loading the knowledge of a rate dependent bond stress-slip relationship is required to consider safety and economical aspects at the same time. The bond behaviour of reinforced concrete has been investigated with different experimental methods at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich (UniBw) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra. Both static and dynamic tests have been carried out, where innovative experimental apparatuses have been used. The bond stress-slip relationship and maximum pull-out-forces for varying diameter of the bar, concrete compressive strength and loading rates have been obtained. It is expected that these experimental results will contribute to a better understanding of the rate dependent bond behaviour and will serve for calibration of numerical models.


A 54-month study of 65 patients with foot ulcers was performed at Community Hospital of Lubbock. These 65 patients constituted 73 hospital admissions. This article outlines the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of foot ulcers.


The hydrogen-induced internal friction and mechanical strength of the Ti-rich Ti34Zr11Cu47Ni8 and (Ti34Zr11Cu47Ni8)98Si2 hydrogenated glassy alloys have been investigated. It is found that the tensile strength is more than 0.8 GPa at room temperature when the hydrogen content is below about 20 at% for both alloys. The frequency dependence of peak temperature of the hydrogen-induced internal friction of (Ti34Zr11Cu47Ni8)98Si2-17.3 at%H hydrogenated glassy alloys has been clarified. Activation energy and pre-exponential factor are estimated to be 0.35 eV and 1.3x10-12, respectively. Compared with these values with those of Zr40Cu49Al10Si1 hydrogenated glassy alloys which show an internal friction peak around 300 K at about 300 Hz, it is found that the activation energy is much smaller than that of the latter although the pre-exponential factor is almost the same. Considering their similar composition and different component (Al), it is suggested that the component Al of the latter glassy alloys is effective for the higher activation energy which results in the increase of the peak temperature.


The wall thinning due to erosion, corrosion and flow accelerated corrosion is one of critical issues in nuclear industry. To secure against loss of integrity of pipes with a flaw, ASME Code Section III and Code Case N-597 etc have been used in design and operating stages, respectively. However, despite of their inherent conservatisms, it may reach unanticipated accidents due to degradation at local region. In this paper, a new evaluation scheme is suggested to estimate load-carrying capacities of wall thinned pipes. At first, computational fluid dynamics analyses employing steady-state and incompressible flow are carried out to determine pressure distributions in accordance with conveying fluid. Then, the discriminate pressures are applied as input condition of structural finite element analyses to calculate local stresses at the deepest point. A series of combined analyses were performed for different fluid flow velocities as well as d/t, Rm/t and l/t ratios. The efficiency of proposed scheme was proven from comparison with conventional analyses results and it is recommended to consider the fluid structure interaction effect for exact integrity evaluation.


We report a calculation of the shear viscosity in a relativistic multicomponent meson gas as a function of temperature and chemical potentials. We approximately solve the Uehling-Uhlenbeck transport equation of kinetic theory, appropriate for a boson gas, with relativistic kinematics. Since at low temperatures the gas can be taken as mostly composed of pions, with a fraction of kaons and etas, we explore the region where binary elastic collisions with at least one pion are the dominant scattering processes. Our input meson scattering phase shifts are fits to the experimental data obtained from chiral perturbation theory and the inverse amplitude method. Our results take the correct nonrelativistic limit (viscosity proportional to the square root of the temperature), show a viscosity of the order of the cube of the pion mass up to temperatures somewhat below that mass, and then a large increase due to kaons and etas. Our approximation may break down at even higher temperatures, where the viscosity follows a temperature power law with an exponent near 3.


The aim of this study was to assess the basic magnetic properties of a mixture composed of a commercial lubricant and soft magnetic iron particles, where the particle content is significantly higher than in conventional magnetic fluids, due to the fact that the particles verge on the sedimentation level. This so called magnetic slurry can, then, be regarded as a highly ductile magnetic conducting material for tentative use in a magnetic circuit that can change shape under operation. The high particle content results in high saturation field densities that extend the application field towards electric power engineering. This paper, therefore, focuses on properties like relative permeability, losses, the Q-factor and the efficiency for the power frequencies 50 and 400 Hz. It shows that the relative permeabilities are low (below 10). The values of the efficiency and the Q-factor decrease considerably above 0.5 T. That limits the application of the studied slurry in electric power engineering. In such applications, the powder properties must be improved.


This paper examines some of the daily realities of operating a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm in eastern Iowa and addresses the concept of community among growers. Popular depictions of local foods systems often emphasize the close relationships that develop between producers and consumers. This picture, however, may gloss over the necessary complexities of a healthy local food system. CSA has been promoted as a direct marketing strategy for small-scale growers and touted as a way of developing positive relationships between producers and consumers. Nevertheless, it is also important to understand that successful CSA initiatives are often reliant on a broad network of support that includes more than just growers and eaters. Ethnographic descriptions of CSA farms presented here show how involvement by media and other organizations contribute to successful CSAs as well as an overall concept of "civic agriculture." These descriptions also show that access to affordable, reliable labor tends to be among the greatest challenges for CSA growers.


A combined methodology consisting of successive linear programming (SLP) and a simple genetic algorithm (SGA) solves the reactive planning problem. The problem is divided into operating and planning subproblems; the operating subproblem, which is a nonlinear, ill-conditioned and nonconvex problem, consists of determining the voltage control and the adjustment of reactive sources. The planning subproblem consists of obtaining the optimal reactive source expansion considering operational, economical and physical characteristics of the system. SLP solves the optimal reactive dispatch problem related to real variables, while SGA is used to determine the necessary adjustments of both the binary and discrete variables existing in the modelling problem. Once the set of candidate busbars has been defined, the program implemented gives the location and size of the reactive sources needed, if any, to maintain the operating and security constraints.


The strengths of future carbon dioxide (CO2) sinks are highly uncertain. A sound methodology to characterize current and predictive uncertainties in carbon cycle models is crucial for the design of efficient carbon management strategies. We demonstrate such a methodology, Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), by performing a Bayesian calibration of a simple global‐scale carbon cycle model with historical carbon cycle observations to (1) estimate probability density functions (PDFs) of key carbon cycle parameters, (2) derive statistically sound probabilistic predictions of future CO2 sinks, and (3) assess the utility of hypothetical observation systems to reduce prediction uncertainties. We find that the PDFs of model parameter estimates are not normally distributed, and the residuals show statistically significant temporal autocorrelation. The assumption of normally distributed PDFs likely causes biased results, and the neglect of autocorrelation in the residual of the annual CO2 time series causes overconfidence in parameter estimates and predictions. Using interannually varying global temperature observations as forcing provides important information: terrestrial parameter PDFs are shifted and are more sharply constrained when compared to PDFs estimated when forcing the carbon cycle with a simple energy‐balance model. Although CO2 observations provide a strong constraint on the total carbon sink, adding independent observations of terrestrial and oceanic fluxes has the potential to reduce uncertainty in predictions of this total sink more rapidly. Assimilating hypothetical annual observations of terrestrial and oceanic CO2 fluxes with realistic uncertainties reduces predictive uncertainties about CO2 sinks in the year 2050 by as much as a factor of 2 compared to assimilating CO2 concentrations alone.


This paper is aimed at studying the bond and shear-strengthening performance of fabric reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) systems. Three FRCM systems were compared, namely, polyparaphenylene benzobisoxazole (PBO)-FRCM, Carbon-FRCM, and Glass-FRCM. At first, six double-shear specimens were tested to investigate the FRCM/concrete bond, with the test variables including the fabric type and the bond length. After that, seven shear-critical reinforced concrete (RC) beams were tested under three-point loading, considering the fabric type and strengthening configuration (full/intermittent) as the test variables. As for the double-shear test results, the failure observed was fabric/matrix debonding in carbon-FRCM, matrix/concrete debonding in PBO-FRCM, and fabric rapture in glass-FRCM. The FRCM/concrete bond increased with the bonded length, and the PBO-FRCM showed the highest bond to concrete. Regarding the RC beam tests, the FRCM-strengthened beams showed the same failure mode that is debonding at the FRCM/concrete interface. Nonetheless, FRCM had successfully strengthened the beams in shear: an average gain of 57% in the load carrying capacity was achieved as compared to the non-strengthened reference. Indeed, the full-length strengthening resulted in a better structural improvement compared to the intermittent-strengthening configuration. Amongst the three systems, carbon-FRCM systems were the most efficient in shear-strengthening RC beams.


We examine empirical "puzzles" documented in several high profile studies of the market for S&P 500 index options, such as the overpricing of out-of-the money (OTM) put options and at-the-money (ATM) straddles. We find that without any exception the theoretical bases of these studies have ignored persistent features of the index option market data such as the wide bid-ask spreads for OTM options, the partial segmentation of the market for puts and calls, and the inconsistency of the parameter estimates for different maturity options, which we document in our data. We present simple theoretical models of the end user option trader that incorporate these features and are parsimonious in terms of other assumptions. We find that these puzzles disappear under such conditions and conclude that these apparent anomalies are probably due to the omission of the above features.


Biphenyl is a universal intermediate agent used as a protectant in various industrial activities. Biphenyl is currently used in postharvest applications as a fungicide in foreign countries to maintain the safety and quality of agricultural products. However, the risk of using biphenyl is in dispute in Japan. The toxicity of biphenyl has been studied in animals, and reportedly affects the liver and kidney especially. However, the toxic effect of biphenyl on cells is currently not well-understood, and the mechanism is unclear. We examined the toxicity of biphenyl on HL60 cells, a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, by performing flow cytometry analyses with fluorescent probes. Biphenyl at 100 μM or greater significantly increased lethality and the intensity of side scatter on HL60 cells. Moreover, biphenyl at 30 μM or greater increased intracellular Ca2+ in a concentration-dependent manner. This increase resulted from free extracellular Ca2+ entering into the cells. These results indicate that an increase in intracellular Ca2+ may be one of several causes of the cytotoxicity induced by biphenyl. This study will contribute to the safety evaluation of biphenyl in the future.


Aiming to analyze the spatial distribution and self-correlation of data of mother-child health in Parana, Brazil, variables were selected from the Information System on Live Births, grouped into socioeconomic indicators: teenage mother, low education, high parity, race/color black of newborn; healthcare indicators: the prenatal coverage, prematurity and cesarean delivery and result indicators: low birth weight. The indicators were distributed in thematic maps and spatial self-correlation was measured using Moran's index that quantifies the degree of self-correlation. There was significant spatial self-correlation of teenage mother, low education and high parity of the "high-high" type in the macro-regions East, Campos Gerais and South; of low coverage of antenatal care in Campos Gerais, Central-south and North and of cesarean delivery in the Northwest. Elevated proportions of indicators of risk to the health of mother and child were found in the regions East, Campos Gerais and South. These results support the evaluation and planning of health services.


Educational developers are engaged in identifying and resolving tensions in their working roles that are often portrayed as multi-faceted and ambiguous. Similar uncertainties exist when individuals undertake research as insider members of the communities that are the subject of their research. They also experience significant ambiguity around their role that has an impact both on the research process and on their own identity. This paper proposes that there is much to be learnt from this experience that may help to explain ambiguities in the educational developer's position, both in their working roles and when undertaking their own research. In this paper, I explore my own experiences of being an educational developer and insider researcher and discuss the dilemmas that arose, with the aim of enabling others to reflect on their own positions and understand the insights, risks and opportunities presented by insider research.


A profilometer for micro-surface topography measurement is presented. The instrument is based on the scanning white-light microscopic interferometry (SWLMI). A Linnik type interference microscope is used and the interferograms which present changes of surface profile are recorded by a CCD camera. A developed nano-positioning work stage with integrated optical grating displacement measuring system realizes the precise vertical scanning motion during profile measurement. By white-light phase shifting algorism of arbitrary steps, frames of interferograms are processed by computer to rebuild and evaluate the measured profile. Because of the specialty of SWLMI, the profilometer is suitable for both smooth and rough surface measuring. It also can be used for the measurement of curved surface, dimension of MEMS etc. The vertical resolution of the profilometer is 0.5nm, lateral resolution 0.5+m.


Shipping is one of the major British industries and a valuable source of 'invisible exports' by virtue of its earnings of foreign currencies. One of the major costs incurred by shipping companies is that of preventing the corrosion of their vessels and at a rough estimate it is probable that something like £30 million is expended annually in countering the corrosion of ships and harbour installations. Ships are constructed mainly of steel and their protection is essentially a particular aspect of the problem of protecting steel against corrosion. Aluminium alloys and newer materials such as plastic sheets are being increasingly used on board ships, but these materials do not offer quite the same difficulty as regards protection nor is the problem yet of the same magnitude. Painting is the most widely used means of protection and the present article deals with some of the problems associated with the painting of ships from the point of view of a paint manufacturer.


A double antibody radioimmunoassay has been developed to measure thyroglobulin in rat (RTg) serum. The lowest detectable quantity measurable was 5.0 ng/ml. Specificity was documented by: (a) fall in serum RTg to undetectable levels after thyroid ablation; (b) the fact that L-thyroxine, D-thyroxine, L-triiodothyronine, D-triiodothyronine, triiodothyroacetic acid, tetraiodothyroacetic acid, triiodothyropropionic acid, moniodotyrosine, diiodotyrosine, and human thyroglobulin (HTg) in concentrations up to 40,000 ng per tube did not cross-react in the assay; (c) the demonstration that constant levels of serum RTg were observed while varying amounts of serum (criterion of parallelism) were introduced in the assay. The mean RTg concentration in tail vein blood of adult Sprague-Dawley rats were 101.5 +/- 13.0 ng/ml (SEM) (n=21); values ranged from 12.0 to 258.0 ng/ml. Chronic administration of a high-iodine diet (HID) did not affect serum thyroglobulin levels. Chronic administration of a low-iodine diet (LID) and propylthiouracil (PTU) led to a statistically significant increase in serum RTg that was accompanied by a significant rise in serum thyrotropin (rTSH). Serum thyroxine (T4) administered to normal rats for 14 days (20 mug/day subcutaneously) depressed serum RTg concentration from a mean level of 119.4 +/- 17.5 ng/ml (n=19) to a mean of 35.0 +/- 0.27 ng/ml (n=19) (P less than 0.001). While rats were on continuous T4 suppression, bovine thyroid-stimulating hormone (bTSH) given intravenously (2 IU) resulted in a mean maximal increment of RTg of 332.0 +/- 81.5 ng/ml (n=6) at 24 h. IgC-(LATS) long-acting thyroid stimulatory injected intravenously resulted in a mean maximal increment of RTg concentration at 96 h of 87.2 +/- 14.3 ng/ml (n=5). Normal IgG had no statistical significant effect of RTg levels at any time after the injection.


Overexpression of udk, an Escherichia coli gene encoding a uridine/cytidine kinase, interferes with T7 bacteriophage growth. We show here that inhibition of T7 phage growth by udk overexpression can be overcome by inhibition of host RNA polymerase. Overexpression of gene 2, whose product inhibits host RNA polymerase, restores T7 phage growth on hosts overexpressing udk. In addition, rifampicin, an inhibitor of host RNA polymerase, restores the burst size of T7 phage on udk‐overexpressing hosts to normal. In agreement with these findings, suppressor mutants that overcome the inhibition arising from udk overexpression gain the ability to grow on hosts that are resistant to inhibition of RNA polymerase by gene 2 protein, and suppressor mutants that overcome a lack of gene 2 protein gain the ability to grow on hosts that overexpress udk. Mutations that eliminate or weaken strong promoters for host RNA polymerase in T7 DNA, and mutations in T7 gene 3.5 that affect its interaction with T7 RNA polymerase, also reduce the interference with T7 growth by host RNA polymerase. We propose a general model for the requirement of host RNA polymerase inhibition.


olutbursts of solar activity had an' effect upon the human organism which manifested itself in an increase of nervous excitation and the accentuation of neuralgic pains. In 1927 Dr. Maurice Faure of the French Academy of Medicine, as the result of a large number of observations, advanced the theory that during the passage of large sun-spots across the solar meridian an increase in sudden deaths occurred, and he associated acute crises in certain chronic maladies with the same phenomenon. In the same year, at the International Congress of Public Health held at Dublin, I advanced the theory that suicidal and epileptic manifestations are associated with sun-spot activity, and I have found that there exists a close correspondence between suicidal incidence and the incidence of terrestrial magnetic storms secondary to sun-spot activity. Tchijevsky, employing figures of the monthly incidence of mortality from diseases of the nervous system covering the period 1924 to 1927, has shown that an exceedingly close correspondence exists between this incidence and the sun-spot curve, while a close correlation between the frequency of epileptic fits and the incidence of solar storms has been demonstrated by B. Ammon and H. H. Kritzinger, and to the incidence of diurnal oscillations in the earth's magnefic field by M. V. Sokoloff. Incidentally, blood calcium content has been found by H. and R. Bakwin to vary as the intensity of ultra-violet radiaticn varies in relation to solar activity. Apart from inferences drawn from statistical analysis of records of psychopathological incidence, a series of elaborately controlled experiments carried out by A. L. Tchijevsky, director of the Central Laboratory, Moscow, and his associates have shown that by means of experimental ionization of the atmosphere marked disturbances in the sexual behaviour of' animals can be brought about, excitation gradually attaining a maximum, followed by a period of depression which is reached considerably sooner by increasing the degree of ionization. A'practical result of Tchijevsky's researches has been'the publication of a work under the auspices of the Soviet Academy of Agriculturar Sciences, showing that by means of artificial ionization of the atmosphere a very considerable augmentation in the weight of poultry and of egg production may be brought about. It is-hardly necessary to refer to the well-known relationships which have been found' to occur in respect'to radio reception, lake levels, ice-needle blizzards, the growth of trees, abundance of harvests, bird migration, animal eruptions, and so on, with 'meteorological periodicities secondary to the solar cycle, all of which tend to confirm the hypothesis that the cyclicity of solar radiation may play a very important part in'human physiological and pathological phenomena. While in other countries considerable advance has already been made in the institution 'of inquiries into the causal relationship between solar activity and terrestrial phenomena, in this country this very important and interesting subject has received as yet but very scant attention, and has in fact, like other revolutionary but now accepted hypotheses, met with a marked quantum of the scepticism so inseparable from the conservatism of English scientific inquiry. I rcgard Sir William Hamer's provocative paper as a very timely stimulus toward the en'couragement of such investigation in this country, especially with respect to the association of the very complex changes which occur in the earth's atmosphere and the still more complex electromagnetic storms which arise in the sun's chromosphere, and to the effect of both upon the functionings of the human body.-I am, etc., C. CONYERS MORRELL, F.S.S., F.R.A.S., Mledical Officer of Health, Borough of Christchulrch, Hants, MNarch 7th. Christchuarch. Tea for Burns or Scalds in the Home SIR,-Dr. L. J. Panting's letter on the first-aid treatment of burns and scalds in your issue of February 29th (p. 446) gives me the opportunity of drawing attention to the use of a strong brew of tea as an alternative to tannic acid solution. Some years ago I was able to treat alternate cases of a series of fairly severe scalds in children with tannic acid and tea. So far as results went there was no difference between the two. For first-aid purposes in the home the brew of tea should be of the " lumberjack " variety, produced by boiling a handful of tea in a pan of water for a few minutes. Strips of linen may be sterilized by boiling them at the same time, and then lifted out and allowed to drip until cooled to body temperature before being applied as dressings. The fact that tea is to be found in any household renders it a much simpler and more universal family remedy than pure tannic acid solution. It is, T may add, not generally recognized that strong tea was an old wives' method of treating burns and scalds in Scotland in generations past. It was probably on the pseudo-scientific advice of our own profession that it was given up, and the community subjected to the horrors of carron oil.-I am, etc.,


Corporatism is often seen as the way Swiss stakeholders in business and politics handle industrial challenges in a reasonable and flexible way. The following publication argues, however, that the emergence of corporatist structures in the Swiss watch industry has often encouraged rent-seeking and collusion at the expense of the creation of new markets through innovation. This legacy makes it currently difficult for the industry to effectively respond to new technological challenges and changing societal preferences in the global watch business. The report draws on archival sources, accessible since 2015, that were extensively discussed in the Swiss print media in early 2016. They provide increasing evidence of corporate governance failure in the 1983 merger of SSIH (Societe suisse pour l'industrie horlogere) and ASUAG (Allgemeine Schweizerische Uhrenindustrie AG) that led to today's Swatch Group. The merger, induced by the involved Swiss banks, was portrayed as a necessary step to save the two allegedly bankrupt watch companies. Yet, the archival sources show that ASUAG had already been successfully restructured and was ready to conquer global markets with its new product, the Swatch.