Climate affects the abundance and distribution of many species of wildlife. Nevertheless, the potential effects of climate on dispersive behaviour remain unstudied. Here, I combine data from (i) a long-term Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) monitoring program, (ii) a capture-recapture marking program in Doñana, and (iii) reports from the Rare Birds Committee in the United Kingdom to analyse at different geographical scales the relationship between climate, survival, philopatry, and dispersive behaviour. Black-winged Stilt populations varied in size in consonance with changes in both the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and local rainfall during the breeding season. Changes in population size are related to changes in philopatry and increases in dispersal beyond the traditional range of the species. The results indicate that climatic conditions influence the dispersive behaviour of individual birds, explaining rapid changes in the local population of this species breeding in unstable Mediterranean wetlands.


Mice infected at 2 days of age with a virus that induces reticulum cell sarcoma and myeloerythroleukemia were treated with erythropoietin-containing serum obtained from rabbits that had been treated with acetylphenylhydrazine. A marked inhibition of tumor induction occurred, particularly in females, when treatment was begun early. Delayed treatment resulted in instances of regression of overt neoplasia.


A case of traumatic intracerebellar hematoma is presented. The salient feature of the patient's early clinical course was delayed, rapid deterioration in the absence of antecedent focal neurological findings. The rarity of this lesion and its high mortality due to delay in correct diagnosis have been previously emphasized. Reported cases have followed a subacute clinical course and deterioration has been preceded by focal neurological findings. Prompt ventricular drainage followed by evacuation of the hematoma can be expected to yield a satisfactory clinical result.


Objective: To identify the etiology and risk factors of undifferentiated fever in a cluster of patients in Western Province, Solomon Islands, May 2014. Methods: An outbreak investigation with a case control study was conducted. A case was defined as an inpatient in one hospital in Western Province, Solomon Islands with high fever (> 38.5 °C) and a negative malaria microscopy test admitted between 1 and 31 May 2014. Asymptomatic controls matched with the cases residentially were recruited in a ratio of 1:2. Serum samples from the subjects were tested for rickettsial infections using indirect micro-immunofluorescence assay. Results: Nine cases met the outbreak case definition. All cases were male. An eschar was noted in five cases (55%), and one developed pneumonitis. We did not identify any environmental factors associated with illness. Serum samples of all five follow-up cases (100%) had strong-positive IgG responses to scrub typhus. All but one control (10%) had a moderate response against scrub typhus. Four controls had low levels of antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsia, and only one had a low-level response to typhus group rickettsia. Discussion: This outbreak represents the first laboratory-confirmed outbreak of scrub typhus in the Western Province of Solomon Islands. The results suggest that rickettsial infections are more common than currently recognized as a cause of an acute febrile illness. A revised clinical case definition for rickettsial infections and treatment guidelines were developed and shared with provincial health staff for better surveillance and response to future outbreaks of a similar kind.


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The present study proposes a novel reverse precipitation procedure, which is different from the conventional precipitation method, for the synthesis of ultra high surface area mesoporous CeO2 at various conditions. Mesoporous Ni2xCe1−xO2 (x = 0.05, 0.13, 0.2) is also synthesized for use in the methane steam reforming reactions. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts and catalytic activity tests for the steam reforming of methane are also investigated. In the present study, the preparation of high surface area mesoporous CeO2 is proposed, which successfully enables control over the surface area. The results showed that the highest surface area of mesoporous ceria reached 695 m/g. Tests on long-term catalytic activities indicated that Ni0.4Ce0.8O2 exhibited a much greater stability and activity for the steam reforming of methane than the others. Further, the present work also found that the amount of mobile oxygen increased simultaneously as the nickel content in the proposed catalysts due to the synergistic effects of structural nickel species to the oxygen vacant sites at the vicinity of the surface. Using the proposed new method, mesoporous ceria can be utilized more extensively in many ways, including as a three-way catalyst, as an electrolyte of solid oxide fuel cells, in reforming reaction, and in some other practical applications.


Purpose Pentamidine is an anti-protozoal cationic aromatic diamidine drug and has been reported to exhibit anticancer properties. We aimed to identify the effect of pentamidine on proliferation and migration of human ovarian cancer (OC) cell lines and the related mechanisms. Methods HO8910 and Caov3 ovarian cancer cells were treated with pentamidine. MTS and colony formation assays were used to detect the proliferation ability of cells. The migration of cells was detected using wound healing and transwell assays. The protein levels of PTEN, phosphorylated Akt, Akt, N-cadherin, E-cadherin and snail were detected by Western blotting. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting were used to detect ubiquitination levels of PTEN. Results Our findings revealed that pentamidine inhibited both proliferation and migration of OC cells. Further investigation found that pentamidine increased the protein expression of PTEN and reduced phosphorylation levels of AKT in OC cells. Pentamidine treatment modulated PTEN stability through the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. In addition, pentamidine inhibited the expression of N-cadherin and snail, and increased E-cadherin expression in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion Pentamidine is involved in the maintenance of PTEN protein stability and suppresses proliferation and migration of OC cells.


Introduction: For sequential and somatotopic assessment of small fiber neuropathy, heat pain (HP) tests of hypoalgesia might be used instead of decreased counts of epidermal nerve fibers (ENFs), but then healthy subject reference values of HP thresholds are needed. Methods: Using the Computer Assisted Sensation Evaluator IVc system, HP thresholds of hypoalgesia were estimated for 10 unilateral sites and counts of ENFs for 4 of them in healthy subjects. Results: In healthy subjects, small but statistically significant differences of both HP thresholds of hypoalgesia and counts of ENFs were observed among tested sites. Significant correlations between HP thresholds and counts of ENFs were not found. Discussion: For the studied somatotopic sites, we provide ≥95th and ≥99th percentile reference limits for HP 0.5 and 5 of 1–10 HP thresholds of hypoalgesia and decreased counts of ENFs at ≤5th and ≤1st percentile levels. Muscle Nerve 58: 509–516, 2018


The research looked at the successful policy network formation process in new EU energy governance perspective and studied the CEESEN Central and Eastern European Sustainable Energy Network case. Thesis used "New Institutionalism" analytical framework to approach the successful network formation process. Thesis addressed the question of how meanings and purposes of EU new energy governance constrain and contribute to the successful emergence of policy networks in the case of the Central and Eastern European Sustainable Energy Network CEESEN. The study made tentative suggestion that the successful policy network formation happens by institutionalizing the structures of meanings via standardization, homogenization, and authorization of meanings in the case of CEESEN network. Qualitative Content Analysis was used to approach the date. Analysis consisted of 8 interviews with core and secondary network members, network materials and documentation, EU energy policy documents. Thesis brought a theoretical contribution to the institutionalization and network formation theory, provided a practical recommendation to the policy field and suggested further research avenues.


From the perspective of product uncertainty, the effect of product type, product price and sales on buyer's online payment method choice was explored with a 2 price levels (high vs. low) × 2 sales levels (high vs. low) × 2 product types (experience vs. search) within-subjects eye-tracking experiment. Thirty voluntary participants from Zhejiang University participated in the experiment. The determinants of payment method choice were examined in three levels data including observable behavior data, attention eye-tracking data, and psychometric cognitive data. Repeated measures ANOVE and logistics regression indicated that product uncertainty and price were the two main determinants of online payment method choice. Pay-after-delivery was more likely to be chosen when price or product uncertainty was high. However, sales had no significant effect on the choice. The analysis of eye-tracking data, including dwell time and duration before on AOI-price and AOI-sales, found that buyers first paid attention to and had more cognitive effort on the price than sales. This study extended the theory of product uncertainty, and provided cognitive processing of information behind online payment method choice. The results of this study can help the online sellers optimize the service of payment, finally improving the development of e-business.


Background Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are the major cause of medication-related hospital admissions in older patients living in the community. This study aimed to develop and validate a score to predict ADR-related hospitalization in people aged ≥65 years. Methods ADR-related hospitalization and its risk factors were determined using a prospective, cross-sectional study in patients aged ≥65 years admitted to two hospitals. A predictive model was developed in the derivation cohort (n = 768) and the model was applied in the validation cohort (n = 240). ADR-related hospital admission was determined through expert consensus from comprehensive reviews of medical records and patient interviews. The causality and preventability of the ADR were assessed based on the Naranjo algorithm and modified Schumock and Thornton criteria, respectively. Results In the derivation sample (mean [±SD] age, 80.1±7.7 years), 115 (15%) patients were admitted due to a definite or probable ADR; 92.2% of these admissions were deemed preventable. The number of antihypertensives was the strongest predictor of an ADR followed by presence of dementia, renal failure, drug changes in the preceding 3 months and use of anticholinergic medications; these variables were used to derive the ADR prediction score. The predictive ability of the score, assessed from calculation of the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, was 0.70 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65–0.75). In the validation sample (mean [±SD] age, 79.6±7.6 years), 30 (12.5%) patients' admissions were related to definite or probable ADRs; 80% of these admissions were deemed preventable. The area under the ROC curve in this sample was 0.67 (95% CI 0.56–0.78). Conclusions This study proposes a practical and simple tool to identify elderly patients who are at an increased risk of preventable ADR-related hospital admission. Further refinement and testing of this tool is necessary to implement the score in clinical practice.


Methane eructed by ruminant animals is a main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and is solely produced by members of the phylum Euryarchaeota within the domain Archaea. Methanogenesis depends on the availability of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methanol and acetate produced, which are metabolic products of anaerobic microbial degradation of feed-derived fibers. Changing the feed composition of the ruminants has been proposed as a strategy to mitigate methanogenesis of the rumen microbiota. We investigated the impact of corn silage enhanced diets on the rumen microbiota of rumen-fistulated dairy cows, with a special focus on carbohydrate breakdown and methanogenesis. Metatranscriptome analysis of rumen samples taken from animals fed corn silage enhanced diets revealed that genes involved in starch metabolism were significantly more expressed while archaeal genes involved in methanogenesis showed lower expression values. The nutritional intervention also influenced the cross-feeding between Archaea and Bacteria. The results indicate that the ruminant diet is important in methanogenesis. The diet-induced changes resulted in a reduced methane emission. The metatranscriptomic analysis provided insights into key underlying mechanisms and opens the way for new rational methods to further reduce methane output of ruminant animals.


Exact determination of needle tip position is obsolete for interventional procedures under control of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Exact needle tip navigation is complicated by the paramagnetism of microsurgical instruments: Local magnetic field inhomogeneities are induced resulting in position encoding artifacts and in signal voids in the surrounding of instruments and especially near their tips. The artifacts generated by the susceptibility of the material are not only dependent on the material properties themselves and on the applied MRI sequences and parameters, but also on the geometric shape of the instruments and on the orientation to the static magnetic field in the MR unit. A numerical model based on superposition of induced elementary dipole fields was developed for studying the field distortions near paramagnetic needle tips. The model was validated by comparison with experimental data using field mapping MRI techniques. Comparison between experimental data and numerical simulations revealed good correspondence for the induced field inhomogeneities. Further systematic numerical studies of the field distribution were performed for variable types of concentric and asymmetric tip shapes, for different ratios between tip length and needle diameter, and for different orientations of the needle axis in the external static magnetic field. Based on the computed local inhomogeneities of the magnetic field in the surroundings of the needle tips, signal voids in usual gradient echo images were simulated for a prediction of the artifacts. The practically relevant spatial relation between those artifacts and the hidden tip of the needle was calculated for the different tip shapes and orientations in the external field. As needle tip determination is crucial in interventional procedures, e.g., in taking biopsies, the present model can help to instruct the physician prior to surgical interventions in better estimating the needle tip position for different orientations and needle tip shapes as they appear in interventional procedures. As manufacturing prototypes with subsequent measurements of artifacts in MRI are a costly procedure the presented model may also help to optimize shapes of needle tips and of other parts of MR-compatible instruments and implants with low expense prior to production if some shape parameters can be chosen freely.


Functional data analysis plays an increasingly important role in medical research because patients are followed over time. Thus, the measurements of a particular biomarker for each patient are often registered as curves. Hence, it is of interest to estimate the mean function under certain conditions as an average of the observed functional data over a given period. However, this is often difficult as this type of follow‐up studies are confronted with the challenge of some individuals dropping‐out before study completion. Therefore, for these individuals, only a partial functional observation is available. In this study, we propose an estimator for the functional mean when the functions may be censored from the right, and thus, only partly observed. Unlike sparse functional data, the censored curves are observed until some (random) time and this censoring time may depend on the trajectory of the functional observations. Our approach is model‐free and fully nonparametric, although the proposed methods can also be incorporated into regression models. The use of the functional structure of the data distinguishes our approach from the longitudinal data approaches. In addition, in this study, we propose a bootstrap‐based confidence band for the mean function, examine the estimation of the covariance function, and apply our new approach to functional principal component analysis. Employing an extensive simulation study, we demonstrate that our method outperforms the only two existing approaches. Furthermore, we apply our new estimator to a real data example on lung growth, measured by changes in pulmonary function for girls in the United States.


Piezoresistive microcantilevers are widely applied to measurements of low forces, masses and viscosity [1]. After surface functionalization they might be used as a biochemical sensors being capable of the intermolecular force investigation. The problem is that such sensors change its mechanical properties in the environment they operate. Therefore there is a need for a high accuracy technique being capable of measuring of mechanical properties of functionalized cantilevers operating in the target environment. We suppose that such conditions meet the analysis of thermomechanical oscillation noise. In this paper the analysis of two types of cantilevers, that might be used in bioelectrochemical measurements, was performed. We determined the cantilever deflection and force sensitivity. The spring constant was measured by three different methods: the Cleveland methods [2] and the thermomechanical noise analysis. The obtained results indicate that analysis of thermomechanical excitation noise is the simplest and the most reliable method for spring constant calibration of piezoresistive cantilever based sensors. © 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.


Received: September 12, 2018 Revised: October 03, 2018 Accepted: October 5, 2018 Abstract: In our paper, we will discuss the epidemiological differences that are present around the world as it is expected that the difference may be due to the genetic environment or habitual and nutritional causes. The word Keratoconus (KC) comes from the Greek words: Kerato (Cornea), and Conos (cone). Keratoconus is a bilateral noninfectious, non-inflammatory disorder of the eye which results in gradual thinning of the cornea and distorted vision. It occurs in late childhood to early adulthood. This degenerative condition of the cornea results in thinning of the stromal layer with consequent forward bulging of the normal shape cornea into a conical shape due to the structural weakness of the collagen fibers. The induced abnormal profile leads to high levels of astigmatism, often combined with myopia (Nearsightedness). Due to the progressive distortion of the cornea's front surface, it may become increasingly difficult to correct the vision with spectacles or contact lenses, and in some patients, it may lead to hydrops formation and corneal opacity. As we know that the cause is unknown until present day but there is a large epidemiological difference between different areas of the world and different ethnicities, and there is an increase in the number of cases occurring nowadays in the world which may be due to technology advancement or better methods of diagnosis.


Dual-band and wide-band receiver-front-ends (RFEs) using transformer-based current-gain-boost techniques are designed in 0.13μm CMOS. With a single switchable 3-coil transformer, the first dual-band RFE prototype measures NF of 2.5dB and 3.5dB and voltage gain of 20.7dB and 17dB at 1.7GHz and 3.8GHz, respectively. The second wide-band RFE achieves 0dBm IIP3 with 4dB NF and 13dB voltage gain over a frequency range from 2GHz to 5GHz.


Fisher information is widely used in statistical signal processing to measure the amount of information that a random variable (RV) carries about an unknown parameter of the probability distribution that models the RV. For some RVs, the exact sampling distribution is either intractable or admits no closed analytical form, which renders the computation of the Fisher information a difficult task. In those cases, it would be useful to have lower bounds that can be computed easily. In this correspondence, lower bounds for the Fisher information of a general parametric probability distribution are derived based on its characteristic function using the Fisher information inequality. The necessary and sufficient condition required to achieve these bounds is discussed. It is shown that the relations derived previously for the Fisher information of a location parameter can be obtained as special cases of the general parametric scenario investigated in this correspondence. Examples from common continuous and discrete distributions as well as mixture densities, symmetric $\alpha$ -stable distribution, and K-distribution are provided to corroborate the applicability and efficiency of the proposed bounds.


This study begins to make inquires about user's opinion of introducing Interior Landscape into Apartment Housing to grip the problems of contemporary Interior Landscape and suggest the fundamental data to improve it. The city-ward drifting of population drawn from industrial development and aggravation of living condition bring about exclusion of nature and lack of green space. Furthermore, it increases the length of stay of urban liver in indoor space. Thus, dwellers' desire to Interior Landscape increase but housing can't follow it. The purpose of this study is to understand characteristics of Interior Landscape, derive essential factors, study plans, establish radical data, and suggest better plans including Interior Landscape through making inquires about user''s opinion.


The present M.A. thesis deals with the status and the distinct role that Luxembourg can carve out for itself in the current, post-Maastricht institutional and decision-making framework of the European Union (EU). Our aim is to understand the way Luxembourg operates in the EU's central decision-making body, the Council of Ministers. We do not analyse the policy output and its effects on Luxembourg but the formal and informal features of the Council of Ministers and Luxembourg's interaction with it. hi view of the weaknesses that small-state status confers on Luxembourg, the small state has a persistent interest in finding strategies for managing smallness. Like other small states, the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg sees its small-state predicament best resolved by coperating at international level. In this respect the institutional and legal framework of the European Union offers unique benefits. The Council of Ministers is the central decision-making institution of the European Union and the institution via which Luxembourg's negotiating status and behaviour is analysed. The principle of equality of states and federal-type overrepresentation place Luxembourg in a particularly advantageous situation. Not only is the small state overrepresented but it also enjoys a disproportionately high influence under the current Council voting system. Things look different when it comes to exerting political weight. Still, Luxembourg has adopted a behaviour and strategies allowing it to overcome the weaknesses derived from its small size. It will be shown that the small state has important opportunities of action both when it acts in a neutral way and when it needs to defend important national interests.


This report investigates methods of optimization to make treatment plans in radiosurgery robust to spatial uncertainty, and attempts to determine whether they could be used with bene t in a Gamma Knife context. To make the problem mathematically feasible, regions of interest (ROIs) are approximated to move in a pre-computed static dose cloud, which in turn is estimated by methods of linear interpolation and linear approximation.The movements of ROIs are modeled by transforms, of which rigid, general affine, and a special case of non-affine transforms are treated. Of these, the rigid transforms are used to flexibly assess various properties of the robust optimization model; the a ne transforms to model the total geometric error of the Gamma Knife, excluding ROI delineation; and the non-affine transforms for initial modeling of the important delineation uncertainty.For the geometric errors, traditionally seen as small for the Gamma Knife, the robust treatment plans are seen to compare favorably to those obtained by non-robust optimization. Delineation errors are found to need careful modeling in order to avoid excessively conservative plans, which may harm normal tissue.


The latest Paleocene benthic foraminiferal extinction event has been studied in two marlstone successions in the Tethys: at Wadi Nukhl (Egypt) and Torangly (Turkmenistan). Both sections yield a sapropelic layer at the level of the extinction event. At Nukhl, this layer underlies a thin calcareous bed that has also been found in other Middle East upper Paleocene sections. With the onset of anoxia at the Tethyan sea floor, the aerobic and oligotrophic Gavelinella beccariiformis deep-sea community collapsed. Eutrophic-to-mesotrophic and low-oxygen conditions, most likely resulting from enhanced organic carbon fluxes to the sea floor, triggered an ~100‐200 k.y. repopulation sequence, marked by downslope migration of several neritic communities that were dominated by opportunistic and tolerant taxa. The initial ecosystem restoration was completed when an aerobic and oligotrophic Nuttallides truempyi deep-sea community became established. We suggest that this repopulation mode could be typical for the central Tethys.


The paper demonstrates the results of TDIl-200k/25SN-P pseudospark switch (PSS) developed by Russian company "Pulsed Technologies Ltd" application. PSS was used in pulsed power unit intended for electric-discharge fracture of rocks and concrete blocks and splitting off from monolith. The pulsed power unit has a pulse current generator with the capacity of 560 μF, stored energy of up to 63 kJ, operating voltage of up to15 kV, current pulse amplitude of up to 200 kA and pulse duration more than 200 μsec. The study also shows the current waveforms determined in the short-circuit experiment of the pulse current generator and in the experiments of the electric-discharge fragmentation of concrete at the charging voltage of 13 kV. PSS was operated in ringing single-pulse mode with the exceedance of more than two maximum permissible parameters: current pulse amplitude, current pulse duration and maximum pulse energy. Internal electrode erosion of PSS is shown and possible reasons of asymmetric current feed are discussed.


Node cooperation is one unique feature distinguishing wireless sensor networks from conventional wireless networks. In this paper, we explore cooperative geographic routing in coalition-aided wireless sensor networks. We first propose a new communication paradigm, i.e., cooperative data transport, where sensor nodes within a coalition cooperatively transmit data via a three-phase procedure. We then treat the routing path selection as a multistage decision problem, where at each stage, the coalition head would choose the next hop destination to minimize the corresponding energy consumption. Next, we investigate the impact of location errors and synchronization errors on the routing performance degradation. Furthermore, we generalize our study to let the nodes with good channel conditions participate in cooperative forwarding, and keep others silent to reduce energy consumption further. Our results demonstrate that the coalition-aided sensor network architecture is most amenable to cooperative sensor networks, simply because it improves energy efficiency and reduces control overhead significantly


Abstract Introduction Congestive heart failure due to left to right cardiac shunt is usually managed medically with diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and, in some cases, with the addition of digoxin. Case We report a 31-week gestation premature male infant who did not respond to such treatment and developed hyperaldosteronism and severe hypokalemia secondary to activation of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system. The hypokalemia was not responsive to intravenous KCL supplementation and induced digoxin toxicity despite a relatively normal digoxin level. The earliest signs of digoxin toxicity in the patient were junctional rhythm and bradycardia. The discontinuation of digoxin and the administration of digoxin specific immunoglobulin fragments (Fab) reversed those changes. The addition of spironolactone (an aldosterone antagonist) had a dramatic effect, resulting in clinical improvement of the patient coupled with normalization of Q4 serum and urine electrolytes. Conclusion Serum Digoxin level alone may fail as an independent guide in the diagnosis of digoxin toxicity when hypokalemia is present. In premature infants with congestive heart failure and hypokalemia, addition of an aldosterone antagonist should be considered.


Cell cycle and growth control of the DNA binding and transactivation functions of regulatory factors provides a direct mechanism by which cells may coordinate transcription of a multitude of genes in proliferating cells. The promoters of human DNA replication dependent histone H4, H3, and H1 genes interact with at least seven distinct proteins. One of these proteins is a proliferation‐specific nuclear factor, HiNF‐D, that interacts with a key cis‐regulatory element (H4‐Site II; 41 bp) present in H4 genes. Here we describe binding sites for HiNF‐D in the promoters of H3 and H1 genes using cross‐competition, deletion analysis, and methylation interference assays, and we show that HiNF‐D recognizes intricate arrangements of at least two sequence elements (CA‐ and AG‐motifs). These recognition motifs are irregularly dispersed and distantly positioned in the proximal promoters (200 bp) of both the H3 and H1 genes. In all cases, these motifs either overlap or are in close proximity to other established transcriptional elements, including ATF and CCAAT sequences. Although HiNF‐D can interact with low affinity to a core recognition domain, auxiliary elements in both the distal and proximal portions of each promoter cooperatively enhance HiNF‐D binding. Thus, HiNF‐D appears to bridge remote regulatory regions, which may juxtapose additional trans‐activating proteins interacting within histone gene promoters. Consistent with observations in many cell culture systems, the interactions of HiNF‐D with the H4, H3, and H1 promoters are modulated in parallel during the cessation of proliferation in both osteosarcoma cells and normal diploid osteoblasts, and these events occur in conjunction with concerted changes in histone gene expression. Thus, HiNF‐D represents a candidate participant in coordinating transcriptional control of several histone gene classes. © 1994 wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Ports are an important intermodal terminal for a particular country (or region) economy because they concentrate the goods flow for exportation or importation. Despite their economic relevance, ports can cause negative impacts in environment – such as greenhouse gases (GHG) and pollutant emissions – and different levels of impacts in society – as employment or social disintegration and violence (Lemos et al, 2014). However, ports' performance assessment usually considers economic, environmental and social aspects apart. Nevertheless, it is important consider them jointly, as the sustainability concept recommended. So, this paper aims to purpose a set of indicators to assess sustainability performance of ports terminals. Besides, the authors evaluated five Brazilian container terminals with the highest amount of container handled, considering one indicator of each aspect that comprises sustainability concept. Bibliographic research was done in order to understand how the authors can apply sustainability concept to assess ports performance and to select a set of indicator which can represent economic, environmental and social aspects. It also helps to choose the indicators that were used to assess the performance of the selected container terminals. Data was gathered from documental research, involving governmental (and private) agencies and ports' reports. A multicriteria technique known as Grey Relational Analysis - GRA were applied in order to establish the sustainability ranking of container terminals. At the end, the authors intend to indicate which terminal has the best sustainability performance and which aspect had the biggest influence in each terminal result.


Cytokines are inflammatory mediators important in responding to pathogens and other foreign challenges. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13 are two cytokines produced by T helper type 2 cells, mast cells, and basophils. In addition to their physiological roles, these cytokines are also implicated in pathological conditions such as asthma and allergy. IL-4 can stimulate two receptors, type I and type II, whereas IL-13 signaling is mediated only by the type II receptor (see the STKE Connections Maps). These cytokines activate the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling cascades, which may contribute to allergic responses. In addition, stimulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway through recruitment of members of the insulin receptor substrate family may contribute to survival and proliferation.


X-ray amorphous tricalcium-phosphate nanoparticles (ATCP) produced by flame spray synthesis were heat-treated at temperatures between 500 and 1000 °C and analyzed in situ by X-ray powder diffraction. The main phase occurring after crystallisation at 525 °C was α-TCP, minor phases were identified as β-TCP and hydroxyapatite. More elevated temperatures induced crystallite growth and the transformation of α-TCP into β-TCP. Above 900 °C no α-TCP was traceable anymore. α'-TCP was not observed in the experiment. This study shows that nanoparticulate α-TCP can be obtained by thermal treatment of an amorphous TCP nanoparticle in a temperature range where sintering effects such as particle growth and densification are moderate or nearly negligible.


Introduction
 In 2011 the Department of Health Outcomes strategy for COPD suggested that the needs and preferences of patients for care at the end of life were not being met. The model of Day Hospice did not meet the needs of this group of patients; therefore a proposal was put forward with the support of the local chest physicians to provide a service accessible to COPD patients and their carers. A pilot clinic was set up for twelve months. Staffed by a nursing Sister, a physiotherapist and trained volunteers.
Aims
 The aim was to develop an accessible multidisciplinary service that met the individual needs of the patients, family and carers. This included transition to palliative care services, psychosocial support, symptom management and advanced care planning.
Method
 During the pilot and the following year the numbers of patients attending was monitored. Also the source of referrals was examined. Some anecdotal feedback was gained from the referrers. The service was adjusted overtime to maximise accessibility for the patients. A qualitative questionnaire was produced in December 2012 to find out the perceived benefits for patients attending the clinic and if there was anything else that could be provided. Nine questionnaires were completed.
Results
 The results of the questionnaire suggested that the patients were fearful of attending the hospice beforehand, however, once attendance had commenced their psychosocial and symptom control needs were being met. The results of the questionnaire will be made available.
Conclusion
 The clinic is meeting the patients' needs, therefore it will continue in its current format. There is a need to discuss and consider strategies to educate the referrers on Hospice philosophy and the aims of the clinic so they can help change the fearful expectations of the patients on referral.


The characterization of leaf phenology in tropical forests is of major importance for forest typology as well as to improve our understanding of earth–atmosphere–climate interactions or biogeochemical cycles. The availability of satellite optical data with a high temporal resolution has permitted the identification of unexpected phenological cycles, particularly over the Amazon region. A primary issue in these studies is the relationship between the optical reflectance of pixels of 1 km or more in size and ground information of limited spatial extent. In this paper, we demonstrate that optical data with high to very-high spatial resolution can help bridge this scale gap by providing snapshots of the canopy that allow discernment of the leaf-phenological stage of trees and the proportions of leaved crowns within the canopy. We also propose applications for broad-scale forest characterization and mapping in West-Central Africa over an area of 141 000 km 2 . Eleven years of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data were averaged over the wet and dry seasons to provide a data set of optimal radiometric quality at a spatial resolution of 250 m. Sample areas covered at a very-high (GeoEye) and high (SPOT-5) spatial resolution were used to identify forest types and to quantify the proportion of leaved trees in the canopy. The dry-season EVI was positively correlated with the proportion of leaved trees in the canopy. This relationship allowed the conversion of EVI into canopy deciduousness at the regional level. On this basis, ecologically important forest types could be mapped, including young secondary, open Marantaceae, Gilbertiodendron dewevrei and swamp forests. We show that in West-Central African forests, a large share of the variability in canopy reflectance, as captured by the EVI, is due to variation in the proportion of leaved trees in the upper canopy, thereby opening new perspectives for biodiversity and carbon-cycle applications.


W-BAN applications have been around since a long time, but have been experiencing a tremendous growth during the last decades. This results in the need of dedicated antennas, which are designed and optimized taking into account their lossy surroundings. Design considerations and several examples will be presented in this paper.


Nonmammalian vertebrates have a remarkable capacity to regenerate brain tissue in response to central nervous system (CNS) injury. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether animals recover lost function after injury or whether injury‐induced cell proliferation mediates recovery. We address these questions using the visual system and visually‐guided behavior in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. We established a reproducible means to produce a unilateral focal injury to optic tectal neurons without damaging retinotectal axons. We then assayed a tectally‐mediated visual avoidance behavior to evaluate behavioral impairment and recovery. Focal ablation of part of the optic tectum prevents the visual avoidance response to moving stimuli. Animals recover the behavior over the week following injury. Injury induces a burst of proliferation of tectal progenitor cells based on phospho‐histone H3 immunolabeling and experiments showing that Musashi‐immunoreactive tectal progenitors incorporate the thymidine analog chlorodeoxyuridine after injury. Pulse chase experiments indicate that the newly‐generated cells differentiate into N‐β‐tubulin‐immunoreactive neurons. Furthermore, in vivo time‐lapse imaging shows that Sox2‐expressing neural progenitors divide in response to injury and generate neurons with elaborate dendritic arbors. These experiments indicate that new neurons are generated in response to injury. To test if neurogenesis is necessary for recovery from injury, we blocked cell proliferation in vivo and found that recovery of the visual avoidance behavior is inhibited by drugs that block cell proliferation. Moreover, behavioral recovery is facilitated by changes in visual experience that increase tectal progenitor cell proliferation. Our data indicate that neurogenesis in the optic tectum is critical for recovery of visually‐guided behavior after injury. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:2262–2278, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Abstract: Eliot contrasted reading the Bible "as literature" with reading it "as the report of the Word of God." Central to "the Bible as literature" movement was the contention that the Bible is best approached primarily in terms of its language (usually in translation), style, and/or structure. Eliot's preferred traditional mode of reading, while not fundamentalist, treated the Bible as authoritative witness to religious truth. This throws light on the way the biblical resonances of his mature poetry are often more imagistic than verbal, pointing to an intelligently "God-fearing" poetic approach to the literary dimension of the Bible. ********** "I could fulminate," wrote T. S. Eliot in 1935, against the men of letters who have gone into ecstasies over "the Bible as literature," the Bible as "the noblest monument of English prose." Those who talk of the Bible as a "monument of English prose" are merely admiring it as a monument over the grave of Christianity.... [J]ust as the work of Clarendon, or Gibbon, or Buffon, or Bradley would be of inferior literary value if it were insignificant as history, science and philosophy respectively, so the Bible has had a literary influence upon English literature not because it has been considered as literature, but because it has been considered as the report of the Word of God. And the fact that men of letters now discuss it as "literature" probably indicates the end of its "literary" influence. ("Religion and Literature" 390) Five years later we have a suggestive echo: O dark dark dark. They all go into the dark. The vacant interstellar spaces, the vacant into the vacant, The captains, merchant bankers, eminent men of letters. ("East Coker" III) (1) By this stage there is a distinct self-referential element. The somewhat irritating "eminent man of letters" voice is one we have just met: That was a way of putting it--not very satisfactory: A periphrastic study in a worn-out poetical fashion, ... (II) And indeed a voice we are shortly to meet again: You say I am repeating Something I have said before. I shall say it again. Shall I say it again? (III) In the second section of "Little Gidding" the verse, it seems, seeks to transfigure this voice through subjection to the discipline of Dante, but that is two years later still. What is relevant here is that "men of letters" has a certain negative charge for Eliot, such that placing at least one of his own voices in that category represents, not merely recognition of what he himself had become, but also what for "East Coker" is "the wisdom of humility" evoked three lines before the "fulmination," if that is the right expression: "O dark dark dark." "Fulminate" is indeed in itself an interesting word, perhaps suggesting a certain self-mockery or at least self-distancing, analogous to that in "East Coker" which his critics seem to miss. An eminent man of letters such as himself could hardly have been altogether unaware of such put-downs as that of William Warburton's of "judgements ... fulminated with the air of one who had the divine Vengeance at his disposal" (II, v, 113). Literal thunderbolts not being available, fulminations have been primarily associated with ecclesiastical censure, so Eliot's use of the term is not wholly inappropriate, but we note that it is (perhaps wisely) used with a subjunctive. More interest in this context has been attracted by the use of the word "as." Terence Wright, for example, has argued that in refusing "to accept the Bible as 'literature'" Eliot seems intent on regarding the Hebrew Bible as a religious rather than a cultural product, as if the two could be separated, as if the Bible were not a form of literature, of writing. (30) The context is not only that of Eliot's "Religion and Literature" discussion but also of his engagement with the Hebrew Kethubim or Writings, and later characterization of the Jewish contribution to European culture as "religious" rather than (as in the cases of Greece and Rome) "cultural. …


Using a well-known German soccer club – Borussia Monchengladbach – as an example the present article deals with some supplemaentary regional economic effects of soccer clubs. Theoretical considerations suggest that such effects appear, because soccer clubs can raise a city's awareness level and improve its image, can be a relevant location factor by itself and can result in a "psychic income" accruing to the inhabitants of the city. All these effects are not only of direct interest for regional economic development, but they can indirectly increase the number of firms settling in the region and/or the level of regional tourism. These theoretical considerations are empirically tested by different methodological approaches – survey of households, survey of experts and media presence analysis. The empirical analysis shows that Borussia Monchengladbach releases an impulse to its location city that noticeably exceeds "normal" demand-side effects. This impulse is connected with the mentioned theoretical aspects. Though all attempts to quantifiy the supplementary effects can only give a rough impression of its true dimension of these effects, it can be stated that the supplementary effects of a sports club (or a major sporting event) are at least as important as demand-side effects normally are are.


The Raman scattering signature of molecules has been demonstrated to be greatly enhanced, on the order of 106-1012 times, on roughened metal surfaces and clustered structures such as aggregated colloidal gold. Here we describe a method that improves reproducibility and sensitivity of the substrate for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) by using a nanofluidic trapping device. This nanofluidic device has a bottle neck shape composed of a microchannel leading into a nano channel that causes size-dependent trapping of nanoparticles. The analyte and Au nanoparticles, 60 nm in diameter, in aqueous solution was pumped into the channel. The nanoparticles which were larger than the narrow channel are trapped at the edge of the channel to render an enhancement of the Raman signal. We have demonstrated that the Raman scattering signal enhancement on a nanochannel-based colloidal gold cluster is able to detect 10 pM of adenine, the test analyte, without chemical modification. The efficiency and robustness of the device suggests potential for single molecule detection and multicomponent detection for biological applications and/or biotoxins.


From 185 to 225 lb BW, no differences in ADG, ADFI, or F/G occurred among pigs fed diets without or with vitamin and trace mineral premixes. Then, from 225 to 266 lb BW, a special premix with megadoses of vitamin E, vitamin C, Mg-proteinate, and Feproteinate was added to the diets of half the pigs given the previous treatments. Growth performance was not different among pigs fed diets without vitamin or with the KSU and special vitamin and mineral premixes. Also, meat quality (color, marbling, and firmness scores; drip, thawing, and cooking losses; shear force; and Hunter L*a*b*) was not affected by inclusion of the KSU and special vitamin and mineral premixes.


The frequent occurrence of eccentric fixation in the amblyopic eye of a strabismic patient has been well recognized, and its pathophysiology was discussed in detail in a recent publication. 1 On that occasion it was reported and demonstrated that true eccentric fixation with accomplished adjustment to an extrafoveal retinal area, which becomes the zero point of sensory and motor orientation, is not limited to strabismic patients alone but also occurs in patients with bilateral macular disease of longer duration, where it may be present in both eyes. Bilateral eccentric fixation in patients with strabismus has not been described before and will be discussed in this paper and illustrated by studies performed in 2 cases. Materials and Methods Case. 1. —This white male, age 18 years, had no family history of strabismus. A full-term baby, he had had an uncomplicated delivery. He had spinal meningitis at age 1½; both eyes turned


Centric translocations of the short arm of rye (Secale cereale L.) chromosome 1R are useful in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding because they confer resistance to several pests and diseases and improve yield. Their major disadvantage is in reduced bread making quality. To remedy this defect, rye chromosome arm 1RS in translocations 1RS.1BL and 1RS.1DL was induced by the ph1b mutation to recombine with the short arms of wheat group-1 chromosomes. Among 20 234 progeny screened, 139 primary recombinant chromosomes were recovered including 103 with 1BS, 22 with 1AS and 14 with 1DS. The Gli-1/Glu-3 loci of wheat were non-homoeoallelic to the Sec-1 locus of rye and were separated by about a 13-cM-long segment, which on the rye chromosome contained disease resistance loci Pm8, Lr26, Sr31, and Yr9. Pairs of primary recombinants 1RS-1BS with breakpoints flanking the storage protein loci were intercrossed and two types of secondary recombinant chromosomes 1RS were produced: a group of over 30 chromosomes where the Sec-1 locus was replaced by segments of 1BS of various lengths, and two chromosomes where 1.4- and 3.2-cM segments of 1BS introduced the Gli-1/Glu-3 loci. Selected chromosomes from each class were allowed to recombine within the shared segments of 1RS separating the intercalary wheat segments and two tertiary recombinant chromosomes were recovered. Cytologically, these chromosomes appear as normal 1RS arms but each has two intercalary segments of 1BS: one introducing the Gli-1/Glu-3 loci and the second one removing the Sec-1 locus. Because the protein composition of the resulting translocation lines is identical to that of normal wheat, it is believed that these manipulations could eliminate the quality defect associated with the 1RS.1BL translocation.


Background Compared to the golden standard glycation index of HbA1c, glycated albumin (GA) has potentials for assessing insulin secretory dysfunction and glycemic fluctuation as well as predicting diabetic vascular complications. However, the reference ranges of GA and a conversion equation need to be clearly defined. We designed this study to determine the reference ranges in patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) based on conventional measures of glycemic status and to devise a conversion equation for calculating HbA1c and GA in a Korean population. Methodology/Principal Findings In this multicenter, retrospective, cross-sectional study, we recruited antidiabetic drug-naïve patients with available glycemic variables including HbA1c, GA, and fasting plasma glucose regardless of glucose status. For the reference interval of serum GA, 5th to 95th percentile value of GA in subjects with NGT was adopted. The conversion equation between HbA1c and GA was devised using an estimating regression model with unknown break-points method. The reference range for GA was 9.0–14.0% in 2043 subjects. The 95th percentile responding values for FPG, and HbA1c were approximately 5.49 mmol/l, and 5.6%, respectively. The significant glycemic turning points were 5.868% HbA1c and 12.2% GA. The proposed conversion equation for below and above the turning point were GA (%) = 6.960+0.8963 × HbA1c (%) and GA (%) = −9.609+3.720 × HbA1c (%), respectively. Conclusions/Significance These results should be helpful in future studies on the clinical implications of high GA relative to HbA1c and the clinical implementation of diabetes management.


OBJECTIVE
Obesity is highly prevalent among American adults and has negative health and psychosocial consequences. The purpose of this article was to qualitatively review studies that used technology-based interventions for weight loss and to identify specific components of these interventions that are effective in facilitating weight loss.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted a narrow, qualitative review, focusing on articles published in the last 10 years that used an experimental or pre/posttest design and used a technology-based intervention for weight loss.

RESULTS
Among the 21 studies reviewed, we identified the following five components that we consider to be crucial in technology-based weight-loss interventions that are successful in facilitating weight loss: self monitoring, counselor feedback and communication, social support, use of a structured program, and use of an individually tailored program.

CONCLUSIONS
Short-term results of technologically driven weight-loss interventions using these components have been promising, but long-term results have been mixed. Although more longitudinal studies are needed for interventions implementing these five components, the interface of technology and behavior change is an effective foundation of a successful, short-term weight-loss program and may prove to be the basis of long-term weight loss.


The role of pricing policies in multiple service class networks is studied. An abstract formulation of service disciplines and pricing policies that allows the interplay between service disciplines and pricing policies in determining overall network performance to be described more clearly is presented. Effective multiclass service disciplines allow networks to focus resources on performance-sensitive applications, while effective pricing policies allows the benefits of multiple service classes to be spread around to all users. Furthermore, the incentives formed by service disciplines and pricing policies must be carefully tuned so that user self-interest leads to optimal overall network performance. These concepts are illustrated through simulation of several simple example networks. It is found that it is possible to set the prices so that users of every application type are more satisfied with the combined cost and performance of a network with service-class-sensitive prices. >


District-based manipulation, or gerrymandering, is usually taken to refer to agents who are in fixed location, and an external division is imposed upon them. However, in many real-world setting, there is an external, fixed division – an organizational chart of a company, or markets for a particular product. In these cases, agents may wish to move around ("reverse gerrymandering"), as each of them tries to maximize their influence across the company's subunits, or resources are "working" to be allocated to areas where they will be most needed.In this paper we explore an iterative dynamic in this setting, finding that allowing this decentralized system results, in some particular cases, in a stable equilibrium, though in general, the setting may end up in a cycle. We further examine how this decentralized process affects the social welfare of the system.


The tautomerism of the enol form of acetylacetone (=pentane-2,4-dione; 1) inside a host cavity has been studied by means of solid-state 13C-NMR spectroscopy (SSNMR) using the variable-temperature CPMAS technique. It appears that the enol form, 4-hydroxypent-3-en-2-one (1a), exists in an equilibrium with an identical tautomer (1c) trough OH ⋅⋅⋅O proton transfer. The experimental results (energy barrier and chemical shifts) were rationalized by means of MP2 and GIAO calculations.


A technique to identifY damping parameters directly from the frequency response functions (FRF) in matrix forms has been developed. Furtl1ermore, the technique identifies the viscous damping and structural damping coefficients separately. The technique provides more accurate damping values because it does not rely on the information of the natural modes as in the conventional method. The damping effect is identified as two matrices, which represent the viscous damping and the internal damping effects. Therefore, the best use of the technique is considered to build a hybrid finite element method (FEM) modeL For example, the mass and stiffness matrices of a hermetic compressor can be formulated from the FEM program, while the damping matrices, which should include fue effects of tlle internal components such as lubrication oil, are identified by fue proposed mefuod. Such a hybrid model will be able to predict the characteristics of complicated systems as a hermetic compressor much more accurately.


A sensor system enabling real-time monitoring of organ perfusion following transplantation is presented. This system uses a three wavelength oximetry-based approach. The instrument is intended for implantation at the organ site during transplantation to provide real-time reporting of the perfusion status of the tissue for 7-10 days following the procedure. Data is transmitted from the sensor to a localized receiver using direct sequence spread spectrum techniques at 916 MHz. In this paper, the sensing method and associated electronics implementation are presented. The present status of system miniaturization is summarized along with plans for future miniaturization efforts. Preliminary sensor data is presented demonstrating the efficacy of the technique.


It is a challenging problem to test the acceleration of the high-speed missiles and space shuttle under high temperature. This paper proposed a design of LC-resonant and high-temperature resistant acceleration sensors about the phenomenon. With the operational amplifier OP4177, it produces the input signal that contents with A/D (Analog to Digital) signal. An eight level low-pass filter MAX291 is used for testing after the signal is regulated. This design mainly uses AD7934 to complete the conversion from analog signals to digital signals. It also recognizes the resonant point of LC acceleration sensor by the DSP (Digital Signal Processing)recognizing program. The acceleration is computed finally by the DSP chip.


This volume emerged from a symposium held in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in 1990, during which it became apparent how diverse are the research traditions and perspectives that have guided recent studies on Einstein. The desire of the editors to help establish links between these sometimes disparate branches of research, and thus set them "in context," is one of the principal motivations for publishing this volume. The papers are presented in an order that is determined partly by the chronology of Einstein's biography and partly by the increasing generality of the topics they discuss. The first section presents "The Early Professional Context." Einstein was employed as a technical expert by the Swiss patent office from 1902 to 1909. This period was crucial for his scientific creativity, reaching its first peak in the famous papers of 1905 — although seen with hindsight, Einstein's employment at the patent office might appear to be the waste of a mind. Robert Schulmann's paper sets the tone for a reevaluation of this period. It critically examines the myth of Einstein's "banishment" to a Swiss federal office, which is closely linked to the myth of the isolation of Einstein's achievements from contemporary academic research. Schulmann presents a somewhat speculative reconstruction of the academic politics behind what he sees as Einstein's "tactical retreat" to the patent office, in preparation for a carefully outlined academic career. Schulmann's account throws light on a previously invisible network of social relations around Einstein, as well as on his sometimes astonishing ability to operate within this network. The context of Einstein's early career is that of the emergence of theoretical physics as an autonomous subdiscipline, and Schulmann captures important local aspects of this process. In spite of the groundbreaking work of Jungnickel and McCormmach (1986) on the institutional history of theoretical physics, it remains a task for future research to show exactly how these local aspects are interwoven with the strands of the larger picture. In particular, the relationship between the institutional context and the intellectual content of Einstein's contributions to the growing field of theoretical physics merits further attention.


Fusion-bonded epoxy-coated reinforcement (FBECR) has been developed to help combat problems of corrosion in reinforced concrete structures. The surface texture of the coating is smoother than the normal mill scale surface of reinforcement, and it alters the bond characteristics of the bar. This paper reports results from an experimental study into the effect of the changed bond properties on the cracking and deflection of reinforced concrete beams. Crack width in beams reinforced with FBECR was found to be greater than that in similar beams reinforced with ordinary ribbed bars. The extent of the difference depended on a number of factors including cover, bar diameter and reinforcement percentages. Increases of up to 100% were measured. The increase is attributable to an increase in spacing of cracks together with a reduction in the tension stiffening contribution of concrete. Existing methods of crack width calculation are shown to predict changes in crack development with satisfactory accuracy, and proposals are developed for the incorporation of findings into the relevant codes of practice for structural design.


Abstract. A portable Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS), model EM27/SUN, was deployed onboard the research vessel Polarstern to measure the column-average dry air mole fractions of carbon dioxide (XCO2) and methane (XCH4) by means of direct sunlight absorption spectrometry. We report on technical developments as well as data calibration and reduction measures required to achieve the targeted accuracy of fractions of a percent in retrieved XCO2 and XCH4 while operating the instrument under field conditions onboard the moving platform during a 6-week cruise on the Atlantic from Cape Town (South Africa, 34° S, 18° E; 5 March 2014) to Bremerhaven (Germany, 54° N, 19° E; 14 April 2014). We demonstrate that our solar tracker typically achieved a tracking precision of better than 0.05° toward the center of the sun throughout the ship cruise which facilitates accurate XCO2 and XCH4 retrievals even under harsh ambient wind conditions. We define several quality filters that screen spectra, e.g., when the field of view was partially obstructed by ship structures or when the lines-of-sight crossed the ship exhaust plume. The measurements in clean oceanic air, can be used to characterize a spurious air-mass dependency. After the campaign, deployment of the spectrometer alongside the TCCON (Total Carbon Column Observing Network) instrument at Karlsruhe, Germany, allowed for determining a calibration factor that makes the entire campaign record traceable to World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards. Comparisons to observations of the GOSAT satellite and concentration fields modeled by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) demonstrate that the observational setup is well suited to provide validation opportunities above the ocean and along interhemispheric transects.


The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) relies heavily on the expansion of Medicaid eligibility to cover uninsured populations. In February 2008, Wisconsin expanded and reformed its Medicaid/CHIP program and, as part of program implementation, automatically enrolled a set of newly eligible parents and children. This process of "auto-enrollment" targeted newly eligible parents and older children whose children/siblings were already enrolled in the state's Medicaid/CHIP program. Auto-enrollment brought over 44,000 individuals into the program, representing more than 60% of all enrollees in the first month of the reformed program. Individuals who were auto-enrolled were modestly more likely to leave the program relative to other individuals who enrolled in February 2008, unless their incomes were high enough to be required to pay premiums; these auto-enrollees were much more likely to exit relative to other enrollees subject to premium payments. The higher exit rates exhibited by non-premium paying auto-enrollees were likely due to the fact that over 40% of auto-enrollees were covered by a private insurance policy in the month of their enrollment, compared to approximately 30% for regular enrollees. A national simulation of an auto-enrollment process similar to Wisconsin's, including the expansion of adult Medicaid eligibility to 133% of the federal poverty level under the ACA, suggests that 2.5 million of the 5.6 million newly eligible parents could be auto-enrolled, and approximately 25% of this population would be privately insured. These results suggest that auto-enrollment may be appropriate for other states, especially in their efforts to enroll eligible populations who are not subject to premium requirements.


Controlling the annular frictional pressure losses is important in order to drill safely with overpressure without fracturing the formation. To predict these pressure losses, however, is not straightforward. First of all, the pressure losses depend on the annulus eccentricity. Moving the drillstring to the wall generates a wider flow channel in part of the annulus reducing the frictional pressure losses significantly.The drillstring motion itself also affects the pressure loss significantly. The drillstring rotation, even for fairly small rotation rates, creates unstable flow and sometimes turbulence in the annulus even without axial flow. Transversal motion of the drillstring creates vortices that de-stabilize the flow. Consequently, the annular frictional pressure loss is increased even though the drilling fluid becomes thinner because of added shear rate.Naturally, the rheological properties of the drilling fluid play an important role. These rheological properties include more properties than the viscosity as measured by API procedures. It is impossible to use the same frictional pressure loss model for water based and oil based drilling fluids even if their viscosity profile is equal because of the different ways these fluids build viscosity. Water based drilling fluids are normally constructed as a polymer solution while the oil based are combinations of emulsions and dispersions. Furthermore, within both water based and oil based drilling fluids there are functional differences. These differences may be sufficiently large to require different models for two water based drilling fluids built with different types of polymers. In addition to these phenomena washouts and tool joints will create localised pressure losses. These localised pressure losses will again be coupled with the rheological properties of the drilling fluids. In the paper, all the above mentioned different phenomena and their consequences for annular pressure losses will be discussed in detail. Application of Det norske field data will be used as an example. The data cannot be used to build general models. The arguments for this model restriction are based on flow stability analysis and the consequences of using drilling fluids with different rheological properties. These different rheological properties include shear dependent viscosity, elongational viscosity and other viscoelastic properties.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


The Philippine government tried to cover the informal workers in the National Health Insurance Program of PhilHealth, which aims to provide financial and health risks pro-tections to all towards achieving the goal of Universal Health Care. However, despite of the promising legislation and progressive health reforms, it is still a big challenge for the government to cover the informal workers in the program. The study investigates the extent of the coverage of the NHIP among the workers in the informal economy and the factors that can adversely affect the demand of the informal workers to participate in program, which could impede the achievement of the UHC. Mixed methods and various sources of data were used in the study.
The study found out that PhilHealth coverage (both estimates and actual cover-age) among the informal workers is still low and far-off from the universal target. Fol-lowing are some of the significant reasons identified that can adversely affect the de-mand and the effective coverage of the program among the informal workers: a) lack of awareness about the program; b) limited and different benefit packages offered across membership categories; c) negative perceptions of the informal workers on the targeting mechanism used by the government in selecting the households to be fully or partially subsidized in the program, and others. To improve the coverage of the NHIP, some of the recommendations of the study are: improve the targeting mechanism used for se-lecting the sponsored and indigent beneficiaries; focus more on the coverage of the non-indigent or non-sponsored members; strengthen the policies of the government that aim to provide the overall security (work, employment and other securities) for the in-formal workers; intensify information dissemination about the program and ensure the involvement of the informal workers' associations, organizations and even the female member of the household (i.e wives) in the awareness campaigns; expand the benefit packages of the program; and treat informal workers as heterogeneous group with var-ying level of needs to come up with appropriate strategies to reach and cover them in the program. In this regard, universal health care coverage and protection for all Filipi-nos against healthcare financial risks, particularly among the informal workers, could be more possible and attainable.


Doing Philosophy with Others portrays philosophy as a communicative endeavor energized by dialogical transactions in which the involved parties strive for an understanding of the meaning of their corporate existence. As suggested by the book's title, conversation, reminiscence, and reflection are entwined activities and processes. Reminiscence and reflection are understood as parts of dialogic encounters that stimulate the embodied conversational economy. Concrete illustrations of these encounters are provided in the conversations of the author with leading philosophers of the twentieth century. These varied conversations, some going back over fifty years, take the form of interviews, joint presentations, epistolary transactions, and casual exchanges of ideas. The postscript addresses issues pertaining to the role of narrative in everyday engagements, the struggle for multicultural understanding, the challenges of conversing across the disciplines in the present-day university, communication as constitutive of knowledge and self-identity, and the requirement for a transvaluation of the political.


Biological weapons, whether wielded by the military forces of nations or by terrorists, will continue to pose a serious threat to international security for the foreseeable future. Although access to toxic material and pathogenic strains of microorganisms is restricted, covert traffic in such agents is as difficult to control as that of illegal drugs. Since international travel of microbiologists qualified to perform applied biological weapons-related research is not restricted, the international bioscientific community must do its part to prevent the proliferation of biological weaponry to nations that now do not possess them and to eliminate these weapons where they presently exist.

To prevent acquisition of weapons of mass destruction, including biological weapons, the United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency must continue their activities in Iraq as called for by United Nations Security Council Resolution 697 (1991), including investigating past weapons programs, inspecting and monitoring suspect facilities, and controlling import of dual-use equipment and supplies. However, to secure peace for the long term, these activities need to be augmented by initiatives taken by nongovernmental scientific organizations. Most important, once sanctions have been lifted by the United Nations, Iraqi scientists must be brought back into the fold of the international scientific community. Communication and collaboration among scientists from all countries encourage shared values, mutual respect, and friendships. Interpersonal scientific contact with Eastern bloc scientists during the Cold War had beneficial effects and offers a model for the reintegration of scientists from countries such as Iraq.

The international bioscientific community can take immediate steps to support colleagues in every country, including Iraq and the republics that once constituted the former Soviet Union (FSU), thereby countering the international proliferation of biological weaponry. Of special concern is the risk that scientific and technical workers who once were employed in a national biological weapons program, but now are unemployed or underemployed, might be induced by proliferant countries and terrorist groups to perform illicit biological weapons-related research and development. The best way to prevent this from happening is to provide those scientists with challenging and adequately remunerated work in their home nations. Recognizing this fact, the European Union, Japan, the United States, and other nations have established international programs designed to help weapons laboratories convert to peaceful uses. These programs, including the International Science and Technology Center, the Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention, the International Association for the Promotion of Cooperation with Scientists from the New Independent States of the FSU, and the Civilian R&D Foundation for the Independent States of the FSU, should be supported and promoted by bioscientists worldwide.

Scientists of countries alleged to be sponsoring or supporting biological weapons programs should be encouraged to participate in international scientific meetings, and electronic communication links should be established. In particular, the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and professional societies should help provide the equipment and funding necessary to set up electronic mail and Internet access for scientists from developing countries. Under Article X of the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention (BWC), which enjoins member countries to cooperate in applied microbiology, BWC members could encourage reciprocal visits between scientists and fund joint research projects involving laboratories of all countries. Through these approaches, scientists of every country would become full partners in international collaborations.

In addition, science students from nations suspected of pursuing the acquisition of biological weapons should be invited to international forums that include discussions of ethics in science. The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, headquartered in Trieste and New Delhi, might lead such an effort. Scientists imbued with a strong sense of ethics will be more inclined to slow the progress of biological weapons-related research or alert outsiders to activities that violate international law. The codes of ethics promulgated by professional societies such as ICSU and the American Society for Microbiology can provide useful guidance for action.


The present study considers the treatment of failed States in international law. State failure represents a relatively recent phenomenon, which presents novel problems for the international community to deal with. For international law, the principles and experience of dealing with the creation, continuity and extinction of States present the nearest analogies, and so will form the basis of its responses to failure. Failure is defined as governmental and societal collapse in a State, so severe as to render it incapable of exercising internal and external sovereignty. It is likely to take the form of either conflictual implosion - such as in Somalia; or fragmentary explosion - as in Yugoslav ia. Accordingly, an examination of the treatment of these two failed States, during the early 1990s, provides the substantive basis of the study. The key aspects of Statehood under which the study proceeds are: loss of government as a criterion of Statehood; self-determination, including the emerging right of democratic governance; and recognition. Consideration of the Somali and Yugoslav experiences of failure, and their treatment under the three areas identified, evidences a strong inertia in the international system against findings of State failure - the Somali experience. The only exception is if such a finding is coupled with a potential solution, such as the possible emergence of new States - the Yugoslav experience. The determinations constitute a meta-legal process, which can be seen as indicative of a new conception of 'political international law'.


In the genus Anigozanthos, a number of species with different flower colour and mode of flowering have recently come into cultivation for cut-flower production in Western Australia where they are often grown on soils deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus. However, the requirements of these species for nitrogen and phosphorus for vegetative growth and optimal flower production are not well researched. In the present study, three glasshouse experiments and one field experiment were set up to study the nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition of the yellow kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos pulcherrimus Hooker). Clonal, tissue cultured plants were used in all experiments to reduce genetic variation.

The rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium required for vegetative growth and the response of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in selected leaves to increasing rates of nitrogen and phosphorus supply were examined in the first glasshouse experiment. Four rates each of nitrogen (0, 20, 70 and 200 mg N/kg air dry soil), phosphorus (0, 10, 40 and 70 mg P/kg air dry soil) and potassium (0, 20, 70 and 200 mg K/kg air dry soil) were applied in a factorial combination to a sandy soil, to which adequate supplies of other nutrients were added. Plants were harvested 158 days after planting and the basal and the terminal portions of the elongating leaf (EL), the first leaf older than the youngest fully elongated leaf (YFEL + 1) and the third leaf older than the youngest fully elongated leaf (YFEL + 3) were sampled for nitrogen and phosphorus analyses. Maximum leaf , rhizome and sucker dry weights and number of suckers produced per plant were obtained at 70-200 mg N, 10-40 mg P and 20-70 mg K/kg air dry soil. Phosphorus toxicity developed in plants under high rates of phosphorus supply and was severe where nitrogen was in short supply. Phosphorus concentrations increased more strongly in the basal portions of leaves while nitrogen did not vary very much between the leaf portions. The terminal portion of the YFEL was chosen for nitrogen and the basal portion for phosphorus analyses.

Two concurrent glasshouse experiments were set on the same soil to determine critical nitrogen and phosphorus concentration ranges in selected leaf parts.

In the nitrogen experiment, plants were grown under ten rates (0,15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 and 135 mg N/kg air dry soil) of nitrogen supply. The terminal portion of the YFEL was sampled for nitrogen analysis 123 days after planting and the YFEL and EL were sampled at harvest, 161 days after planting. Plants grown without application of nitrogen had severe phosphorus toxicity symptoms. Plants grown under deficient nitrogen supply had a general pale green appearance. Increasing the nitrogen supply progressively increased leaf dry weights, number of suckers per plant and total number of leaves per plant without adverse effects at higher nitrogen levels. Nitrogen concentrations in both the terminal and basal portions of the YFEL and the EL were closely correlated with plant growth. The YFEL was chosen for determination of critical concentration ranges. Critical nitrogen concentration ranges for deficiency diagnosis and prognosis obtained from the relationship between leaf dry weight and nitrogen concentration in the terminal portion of the YFEL from hand fitted curves at 90 and 95% of maximum yield were 1.35-1.44% N for deficiency diagnosis and 1.72 - 2.02% N for predicting deficiency after a further 6 weeks of growth for 123 day old vegetatively growing plants.

Ten rates of phosphorus (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, and 60 mg P/kg air dry soil) were used in the phosphorus experiment. Application of low rates of phosphorus increased leaf and rhizome dry weights but high rates of phosphorus were toxic to the plants. The total number of leaves produced per plant was not reduced under phosphorus toxicity while the number of suckers produced per plant was slightly depressed. Phosphorus concentrations in the basal portions of the YFEL and the EL correlated well with plant growth suggesting that the basal portion was suitable for phosphorus analysis for deficiency and toxicity diagnosis. Critical phosphorus concentration ranges in the basal portion of the YFEL at 90 and 95% of maximum yieldwere 0.05-0.06% P and 0.24 - 0.29% P and 0.07 to 0.10% P for for diagnosis of deficiency and toxicity respectively. The critical phosphorus range in the basal portion of the YFEL in 123 day old vegetatively growing plants for predicting deficiency after a further 6 weeks growth was 0.07- 0.10% P.

The field experiment was set up with four rates of nitrogen and four rates of phosphorus in a factorial combination on a sandy soil to confirm the glasshouse obtained critical concentration ranges. All plants that survived had adequate supplies of nitrogen and phosphorus, and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in 170 day old vegetative plants in the field were higher than the critical concentration ranges established for deficiency in the glasshouse.


This paper studies the input design problem for system identification where time domain constraints have to be considered. A finite Markov chain is used to model the input of the system. This allows to directly include input amplitude constraints in the input model by properly choosing the state space of the Markov chain, which is defined so that the Markov chain generates a multi-level sequence. The probability distribution of the Markov chain is shaped in order to minimize the cost function considered in the input design problem. Stochastic approximation is used to minimize that cost function. With this approach, the input signal to apply to the system can be easily generated by extracting samples from the optimal distribution. A numerical example shows how this method can improve estimation with respect to other input realization techniques.


The Chief Nursing Officers Review (2006) recommended mental health nurses act in response to the spiritual and/ or religious needs of service users. However, this aspect of care is still approached with uncertainty by many nurses, who are reluctant to engage with it despite professional requirements to provide holistic care. Nurses may fear imposing their own view, or intruding on the privacy of a person who is already vulnerable. Nurses may additionally be unaware of their own spiritual needs and be consequently unprepared to recognise them in others (Elliott, 2011).
This presentation presents initial findings from on-going research undertaken as part of a Professional Doctorate. The study uses a qualitative phenomenological approach to explore mental health nurses' understanding of the spiritual needs of service users. Interviews were undertaken with 17 qualified mental health nurses currently in clinical practice and included a range of ages, gender and clinical experience. Data were analysed thematically using Template Analysis (e.g. Brooks et al, 2015).
Some of the main themes emerging from the on-going study include differing belief systems (including the supernatural), professional responsibilities, cognitive dissonance and professionals' own differing perspectives from service users. Mental health nurses may be influenced by fear of ridicule from colleagues. Whilst they may privately empathise with a service user's spiritual needs, they are more likely to record any potential spiritual expression as delusional. This may result in a negative outcome for the service user (e.g. an increase in medication).
A primary aim of this work is to consider how mental health nurses might be supported to identify and address spiritual needs and improve the service user experience. Potential outputs include the development of an assessment tool and educational programmes for mental health nurses.


The developments in applied mathematics and computational capabilities facilitate the design and implementation of control. In addition, huge developments in nanotechnology and its availability attract many of the researchers towards embedded systems especially the embedded flight control. Among the real applications are the unmanned air vehicles (UAV), which is the state of art in the last few years especially the four rotors vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft known as the quadcopter, due to their maneuverability, ease of design and control. Although it remains a complete nonlinear system, this paper manipulate with mathematical representation of the quadcopter and modelling of the intended system. A linearization of the obtained mathematical model has been achieved via algebraic manipulation, the next objective for this paper is the autopilot design using with justification against previous work concerning the performance requirements of time responses and flight path characteristics. So a PID controller has been designed. Also, a FUZZY logic controller has been established, the evaluation of the obtained controllers and the original one with the nonlinear system has been achieved. The evaluation results reveals that the designed PID controller has the best performance and less control effort compared to the original and designed fuzzy controller.


Cloud Computing is an environment where computing resources, such as processing power, storage, network, application, and other IT services, are provided to users as computing utility. This paper presents the university distributed databases consolidation and relocation to the cloud for the provision of Database as a Service (DBaaS), through their deployment into high availability, interactive, secure private cloud setup utilizing Al-Balqa Applied University (BAU) Private Cloud (BPC). This solution involves several transitions, and represents the main key step in BAU journey to the cloud to allow the university to achieve greater efficiency in terms of database services, and to improve performance, availability, interactivity, and security. The resulted service also reduces operating, management and capital costs.


Fogging activity has become one of the important methods in tackling dengue outbreaks nowadays. Despite this, it is an occupation that has known hazards namely noise and pesticides which can affect the body organs. Based on this knowledge, a cross sectional study was conducted to determine the association between hearing impairment and serum cholinesterase level among foggers from five randomly selected Health District Offices in Selangor. A total of 200 workers comprising of 100 workers exposed to fogging activity and another 100 workers not exposed were randomly selected for this study. Data was obtained through self administered questionnaire, audiometric testing and serum cholinesterase level measurement. The overall prevalence of hearing impairment was 16% with foggers having significant higher prevalence (24%) compared to the non foggers (8%) (χ2=9.52, p=0.002). Measurement of serum cholinesterase showed that exposed workers had lower level compared to the non exposed group. Similarly, those who have hearing impairment had also lower serum cholinesterase level although it was not statistically different. Among all studied factors, age and duration of exposure to fogging activities were statistically different with hearing impairment (p<0.05). With regression analysis, the age (adjusted OR=5.15; 95% CI: 1.06–5.77) and duration of exposure (adjusted OR= 2.47; 95% CI: 2.01-13.24) were found to have consistent association with hearing impairment. It was concluded that the hearing impairment among foggers were prevalent. Therefore steps in conducting hearing conservation program need to be done adequately to ensure the health of the workers is not compromised by such activities.


The purpose of this study was to see how well newspapers manage to maintain their objectivity and balance when covering a Swedish team's matches in an European tournament. We did this by doing a qualitative content analysis of the two biggest local newspapers, Sydsvenskan and Skanska Dagbladet, and the two biggest tabloids, Aftonbladet and Expressen – and their coverage of Malmo FF's participation in the UEFA Champions League 2015. We analyzed all the post-game texts of the six games in the group stage – except for texts based on personal opinions, such as chronicles. The results show that the newspapers lose their objectivity and write more about the Swedish team and the Swedish players than the opponent team and their non-Swedish players. The result also show that the local newspapers put the focus on Malmo FF as a team, while the major tabloids focus on Malmo FF as being a part of Sweden and Swedish football. Last but not least the results also show that the ethnocentric and nationalistic attributes of the journalists play a major role in their writing.


The influence of pH and state of polymerization on the site of attachment of the fluorophore 7-chloro-4nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-C1) to actin was examined. Possible interference of buffer constituents which react with NBD-C1 was also observed. F-actin is primarily labeled at cysteine below pH 6.5 and at lysine at values of pH above neutrality. Time dependences of the excitation spectra support the contention that NBDC1 may react first with cysteine and then undergo transfer to a neighboring lysine. The quantum yield enhancement of NBD bound to cysteine upon polymerization is markedly less than the 2-fold increase observed when it is bound to lysine. Labeling reactions carried out with G-actin give predominantly the lysine derivative regardless of pH. NBD-Cl was found to react with a number of the constituents of buffer systems normally employed with actin. The spectra of these reaction products are sufficiently similar to those of the NBDamino acid derivatives to require care when interpreting reaction rate data by spectrophotometric or fluorometric methods.


The essence of a 3D shape can often be well captured by its salient feature curves. In this paper, we explore the use of salient curves in synthesizing intuitive, shape-revealing textures on surfaces. Our texture synthesis is guided by two principles: matching the direction of the texture patterns to those of the salient curves, and aligning the prominent feature lines in the texture to the salient curves exactly. We have observed that textures synthesized by these principles not only fit naturally to the surface geometry, but also visually reveal, even reinforce, the shape's essential characteristics. We call these feature-aligned shape texturing. Our technique is fully automatic, and introduces two novel technical components in vector-field-guided texture synthesis: an algorithm that orients the salient curves on a surface for constrained vector field generation, and a feature-to-feature texture optimization.


ABSTRACT Parclo (partial cloverleaf) interchange, connecting major freeways and surface streets with one or two loop ramps and two closely spaced intersections, is one of the most commonly used interchange types in urban and suburban areas. The two-ramp terminal intersections are often the critical bottlenecks for the parclo interchange system, especially when the turning volumes are high. In this study, we propose a design in which the median U-turn technology is applied to the parclo interchanges to relieve the congestion problem. A mixed-integer nonlinear program is developed to integrate the selection of prohibited movements with detour routes, lane markings, and signal timings for three types of parclo interchange. The results from extensive numerical analyses and a case study reveal that the proposed design is promising as it could increase the capacity. The capacity improvement, when the proposed design is applied, is larger with the increase in the proportion of the turning movements. Moreover, a relatively stable capacity improvement (approximately 8.33%) could be obtained when our design is applied to cases where the volumes between the two sub-intersections are unbalanced.


The focus on children's voices and experiences has been a substantial part of childhood studies. Research with children is closely linked to the idea of children as agents rather than seeing them as passive objects. In this article the authors examine how video ethnography, and the video camera in particular, in an Early Childhood Education and Care ( ECEC ) facility is an actor that actively co-produces agency. The authors explore how agency is distributed in assemblages consisting of children, the researcher and the video camera. The authors argue that approaching agency as manifold and as distributed is helpful in a critical discussion of children and agency and point to the need to study agency as entangled with human and non-human actors in relational activities. Far from being a tool to represent the real world as it is, or merely a tool for "collecting" data, the video camera and the children are mutually constructed.


Wind speed forecasting is an exciting study because it covers the fields of climate and energy disciplines, where the most widely used research focus is forecasting. During the last decade, the use of wind speed forecasting analysis techniques has seen a significant change from the traditional statistical method to machine learning. in this article discusses publication trends from 1945 to the end of 2020 using co-occurences.


Prepreg resin systems are typically of complex composition and require very specific manufacturing conditions. These characteristics restrict the use of some commonly used micro analysis techniques. This paper investigates the use of low acceleration voltage scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis for the characterization of diffused polymer interfaces. It is shown that, by operating at the dynamic charge balance, high resolution secondary electron images of polymer interfaces can be obtained and that conductive coating is not required. In addition, the effect of acceleration voltage on the interaction volume in EDX analysis is discussed using Monte Carlo simulation. X-ray intensity measurements in combination with afore mentioned Monte Carlo simulation is used to define practically obtainable spatial resolution limits. It is shown that by reducing the acceleration voltage below 5kV spatial resolution higher the 500nm can be obtained.


The study was organized to investigate the anomalous methylation of genes NA?1, RASSF1A, MLH1, N33, DAPK, the expression of genes hTERT. metalloproteinase MMP7, MMP9, survivin. COX-2, p53. The activity of telomerase in 106 samples of stomach tumors taken through intra-operation way and 53 samples of stomach tumors taken through endoscopic way and 50 samples of biopsy taken from patients with chronic calculous cholecystitis (comparison group) was analyzed too. These changes can be used as additional markers both in diagnostic of cancer of stomach and dynamic monitoring of operated patients.


The ethnic makeup of the population significantly affects the domestic policy of any state, and its relations with neighbouring countries. Although interactions with ethnic minorities are not as urgent a problem in Lithuania as they are in the two other Baltic States, ethnicity-related conflicts continue to occur, particularly, as regards the relations between the Lithuanian state and the Polish minority, which is the largest in the country. The Polish minority—Lithuania—Poland relations are not the only factor that affects the situation of the Poles in Lithuania. The other important factors are Lithuania and Poland' EU membership, the relations between Lithuania and Russia, and the Russian minority in Lithuania. Our analysis shows that the EU membership of Lithuania and Poland did not provide an instant solution to the problem of the Polish minority but rather attenuated it. Although the EU factor played a significant role before the accession of Poland and Lithuania to the Union, its influence is very limited today. The effect of the Russian factor is different. Strained PolishRussian relations do not affect the relations between the Polish and Russian minorities in Lithuania. On the contrary, both minorities collaborate on a wide range of issues.


In the collapsar scenario, gamma ray bursts are caused by relativistic jets expelled along the rotation axis of a collapsing stellar core. We discuss how the structure and time-dependence of such jets depends on the stellar envelope and central engine properties, assuming a steady jet injection. It takes a few seconds for the jet to bore its way through the stellar core; most of the energy output during that period goes into a cocoon of relativistic plasma surrounding the jet. This material subsequently forms a bubble of magnetized plasma that takes several hours to expand, subrelativistically, through the envelope of a high-mass supergiant. Jet break-through and a conventional burst would be expected not only in He stars but possibly also in blue supergiants. Shock waves and magnetic dissipation in the escaping bubble can contribute a non thermal UV/X-ray afterglow, and also excite Fe line emission from thermal gas, in addition to the standard jet deceleration power-law afterglow.