Among the figures of animality evoked in narratives of violence are the "beast" who perpetrates acts of brutality and the debased creature who is subjected to captivity, forced labor, or slaughter. Yet a third figure of animality appears in the stories of animistically inclined emigrants who survived war and terror in Laos or Cambodia: the wild animal as transmigrated ancestor or capriciously sympathetic spirit who offers a powerful if unpredictable source of protection. Encounters with fantastic animals implicitly question the relationship between humanity and animality that often prevails in accounts of violence, opening possibilities for a zoopolitics of morality and animality.


An inverse method for the characterisation of the elastoplastic behaviour of materials has been studied. The method is based on spherical indentation test data and numerical analysis of the indentation process, enabling to find a characteristic stress-strain curve. This method will be appropriate for elastoplastic behaviour study, mainly on surface hardened materials, when the standard methods cannot be applied. In this work, the method was applied to annealed and quenched steels, with homogeneous properties over the cross section. The obtained results are in good agreement with those obtained from the standard tensile tests. However, if the material does not follow a linear hardening law, the elastoplastic characteristics determined by the inverse method will depend on the indentation depth. For these cases a method for the evaluation of the actual behaviour law has been improved.


Because they are recognized as one of the most reliable premonitory events of the subsequent earthquake, foreshocks are often very useful to pinpoint the time and location of the forthcoming earthquake. However, the most challenging questions, including why foreshocks precede some earthquakes but not others and what key factors control their occurrence, are not yet satisfactorily answered. In the present study, a group of strike‐slip earthquakes ( M s≥6.0) in China and the western United States are classified into three types according to the configuration of the seismologic ruptures: type 1, type 2, and type 3. They refer to earthquakes of ruptures containing an extensional rock bridge, a contractional rock bridge, and both extensional and contractional rock bridges, respectively. Foreshocks are more likely to occur in type 1 or type 3 earthquakes, whereas they are less likely in type 2 earthquakes. These phenomena may indicate that, in strike‐slip earthquakes, extensional interlock is a heterogeneity facilitating the occurrence of foreshocks. Being inconsistent with some published results, the incidence of foreshock seems to be independent of the depth of mainshock (shallower than 30 km) as far as this study is concerned, suggesting that the increase of normal stress may exert dissimilar influences on the foreshock occurrence for different earthquake focal mechanisms or locations. In the study data set, no definite connection is observed between the occurrence of foreshock and the magnitude of the forthcoming mainshock.

Online Material: Figures of spatial distribution of earthquake sequences, fault geometry, and isoseismal maps.


Recent advances in machine intelligence, particularly Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO), have introduced conceptually advanced technologies that can be utilised for financial market share trading analysis.

The primary goal of the present research is to model short-term daily trading in Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index (FTSE 100) shares to make forecasts with certain levels of confidence and associated risk. The hypothesis to be tested is that financial shares time series contain significant non-linearity and that ANN, either separately or in conjunction with PSO, could be utilised effectively. Validation of the proposed model shows that nonlinear models are likely to be better choices than traditional linear regression for short-term trading. Some periodicity and trend lines were apparent in short- and long-term trading. Experiments showed that a model using an ANN with the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) model features performed significantly better than analysis in the time domain.

Mathematical analysis of the PSO algorithm from a systemic point of view along with stability analysis was performed to determine the choice of parameters, and a possible proportional, integral and derivative (PID) algorithm extension was recommended. The proposed extension was found to perform better than traditional PSO. Furthermore, a chaotic local search operator and exponentially varying inertia weight factor algorithm considering constraints were proposed that gave better ability to converge to a high quality solution without oscillations. A hybrid example combining an ANN with the PSO forecasting regression model significantly outperformed the original ANN and PSO approaches in accuracy and computational complexity.

The evaluation of statistical confidence for the models gave good results, which is encouraging for further experimentation considering model cross-validation for generalisation to show how accurately the predictive models perform in practice.


Negative voting occurs when voters respond more strongly to political actions or outcomes that they oppose than to comparable actions or outcomes they favor. This paper discusses the possibility that negative voting is an artifact. We develop a simple probabilistic model of constituent support that produces negative voting among some constituents purely as a function of the boundedness of probabilities. The model has two implications that will help to determine whether empirical findings about negative voting are real or artifactual. First, negative voting should characterize the behavior of a politician's previous supporters, whereas previous opponents should show positive voting. Second, negative voting should be stronger the higher the previous level of support for a politician. Given that incumbents almost by definition have more previous supporters than opponents, empirical studies should be more likely to find negative voting when analyzing the vote for incumbents, and negative voting should be more noticeable the higher the incumbent's previous level of support. An analysis of voting in 1982 and 1986 House races produces evidence consistent with these propositions.


We rigorously prove a new kind of anomalous (or sub-ballistic) Lieb-Robinson bound for the isotropic XY chain with Fibonacci external magnetic field at arbitrary coupling. It is anomalous in that the usual exponential decay in $x-vt$ is replaced by exponential decay in $x-vt^\alpha$ with $0<\alpha<1$. In fact, we can characterize the values of $\alpha$ for which such a bound holds as those exceeding $\alpha_u^+$, the upper transport exponent of the one-body Fibonacci Hamiltonian. Following the approach of \cite{HSS11}, we relate Lieb-Robinson bounds to dynamical bounds for the one-body Hamiltonian corresponding to the XY chain via the Jordan-Wigner transformation; in our case the one-body Hamiltonian with Fibonacci potential. We can bound its dynamics by adapting techniques developed in \cite{DT07, DT08, D05, DGY} to our purposes.
We also explain why our method does not extend to yield anomalous Lieb-Robinson bounds of power-law type for the random dimer model.


The posterior clinoid process, a bony prominence at the superolateral aspect of the dorsum sellae, has a strategic importance in a transcavernous approach to basilar tip aneurysms. To further optimize this microsurgical technique during posterior clinoi-dectomy, we performed a cadaveric study of this regional anatomy, describe a technique called dural tailoring, and report initial results in the surgical treatment of upper basilar artery (BA) aneurysm. After 10 adult cadaver heads (silicone-injected) were prepared for dissection, a posterior clinoidectomy with dural tailoring was performed. The dura overlying the upper clivus was coagulated with bipolar electrocoagulation and incised. Stripping dura off the clivus and lateral reflection then exposed the ipsilateral posterior clinoid process and dorsum sellae, thus creating a dural flap. Posterior clinoidectomy with dural tailoring was then used in seven patients with upper BA aneurysms. Our stepwise modification of the posterior clinoidectomy with dural tailoring created a flap that afforded protection of the cavernous sinus and oculomotor nerve. During surgery, there were no recorded intraoperative injuries to neurovascular structures. One patient died postoperatively from morbidity related to severe-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage. Postoperative oculomotor nerve palsy occurred in 3 patients (43%). In all cases, the nerve was anatomically preserved and partial to complete recovery was recorded during the first postoperative year. This technique effectively provided exposure of retrosellar upper basilar aneurysms in seven patients (basilar tip 43% and superior cerebellar artery aneurysms 57%). Outcomes and safety are at least equivalent to or better than basilar aneurysm surgery performed without surgical adjuncts, presumably a less complex subset.


To investigate conformational properties of an isolated n-octadecane chain solvated in water-acetonitrile mixtures, configurational-bias Monte Carlo simulations in the isobaric-isothermal ensemble were performed at T = 323 K and p = 10 atm. The united-atom version of the transferable potentials for phase equilibria force field was used to represent n-octadecane and acetonitrile, and the TIP-4P model was used for water. In all four environments (neat water, 33 and 67 mole percent acetonitrile, and neat acetonitrile), similar conformational distributions are observed as in a previous study for water-methanol solvent mixtures; that is, the n-octadecane chain is found to predominantly adopt extended but not all-trans conformations, and only a small fraction of more collapsed conformations is observed for aqueous hydration, water-rich solvent environments. Analysis of the local solvation structures in the water-acetonitrile mixtures shows an enrichment of the acetonitrile molecules near the methylene and methyl segments of the n-octadecane chain. However, upon increasing the concentration of acetonitrile, the enhancement of acetonitrile and the depletion of water is more pronounced than for water-methanol mixtures because of the weaker interactions between acetonitrile and water.


Disulfiram treatment caused marked elevations of circulating blood acetone levels in rat and man. In the rat, disulfiram (0.59 g/kg, p.o.) given singly or for three consecutive days increased the fasting blood acetone levels 5- and 25-fold, fespectively. Circulating acetone levels were also estimated noninvasively in man by measuring acetone in the expired air. A 15-fold increase in the expired air acetone levels was observed in a group of five male non-fasting subjects taking disulfiram (250 mg daily) for a minimum of one month, when compared to control subjects.


We can conclude that the Elefant radars were experimental, conceived in several respects in imitation of CH, and intended for several purposes - but inspired by the same thinking that led to KH; in other words a recognition that the German early warning radar was potentially severely compromised by Allied countermeasures. The several purposes were (i) air defense (monostatic) in the same way as CH but particularly when the conventional radars were jammed or otherwise unusable, and there are several pieces of evidence that it did this quite effectively; (ii) tracking of V-2 rockets; this seems quite plausible, although there is not a great deal of evidence of the effectiveness; and (iii) for bistatic experiments, either using CH transmissions (noncooperative, in the same way as KH) or transmissions from other Elefants. The radars demonstrated some remarkable examples of engineering.


This work is a study of the Iranian caravansarai during the Safavid period. It describes the buildings which for economic and religious reasons were erected during this period. It consists of seven chapters as follows: Chapter one: consists of three parts, introduction, historical background and outline history of the Iranian caravansarai. Chapter two: Caravan Routes and Caravansarais, describes old caravan routes across the Iranian plateau and the caravansarais which were erected along these routes during different periods. Chapter three: consists of a description of the Iranian caravansarai from the early Islamic period up to the end of the Timurid period and its development in its various aspects. Chapter four: deals with Iran during the Safavid period, and consists of subsections with special reference to the Political Situation, Art and Architecture, Decoration and travellers who visited Iran during the Safavid dynasty. Chapter five: is a description of four differnt types of Safavid caravansarais in different cities of Iran. Chapter six: In this chapter is the first translation of a British Museum manuscript dealing with Safavid Caravansarais in Isfahan. It is the writer's belief that this hitherto neglected document is an important addition to our knowledge of these structures. Chapter seven: contains the conclusion, which sums up the result of the investigation and is followed by a list of Safavid rulers, and a bibliography. Illustrations of Iranian caravansarais form the final section of this work.


This paper is primarily concerned with estimating an upper bound for the contribution of technological progress on health care costs as motivated by the recent debate on U.S. health care reform. We critically address whether technology is at least 50% of the increase in health care costs as proposed recently in the literature. The desire to reduce costs in the health care system combined with estimates that technological change is the major contributor to those costs has led some to propose policies with the ultimate effect of discouraging innovation in health care technology. In this paper we show that more appropriate econometric procedures lead to estimates of technology's role in health care costs which are significantly less than other published results.Using only U.S. time-series data we estimate an upper bound for the contribution of innovation to health care costs. Our model follows that of the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) 2008 report and uses identical data, but finds that the contribution of technological progress is 32.3% – significantly smaller than what the CBO estimates. Even this value can only represent an upper bound, as there remain important factors which have been omitted from the study primarily due to data unavailability.


A synchronous boost DC–DC converter with an adaptive dead time control (DTC) circuit and anti-ringing circuit is presented. The DTC circuit is used to provide adjustable dead time and zero inductor current detection for power transistors and therefore, a high efficiency is achieved by minimizing power losses, such as the shoot-through current loss, the body diode conduction loss, the charge-sharing loss and the reverse inductor current loss. Simultaneously, a novel anti-ringing circuit controlled by the switching sequence of power transistors is developed to suppress the ringing when the converter enters the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) for low electromagnetic interference (EMI) and additional power savings. The proposed converter has been fabricated in a 0.6 μm CDMOS technology. Simulation and experimental results show that the power efficiency of the boost converter is above 81% under different load currents from 10 to 250 mA and a peak efficiency of 90% is achieved at about 100 mA. Moreover, the ringing is easily suppressed by the anti-ringing circuit and therefore the EMI noise is attenuated.


Objective: This study examined conjunctival microvasculature development in long-term habitual contact lens (HCL) wearers after a night of sleep. Methods: Twenty HCL wearers (15 women and 5 men, aged 28.6±6.9 years, mean age±standard deviation) who had worn contact lenses on a daily basis for at least 3 years and 40 noncontact lens (NCL) wearers (23 women and 17 men, aged 36.5±6.6 years, mean age±standard deviation) participated in the study. A functional slitlamp biomicroscopy imaging system was used to image the temporal bulbar conjunctiva. Imaging was performed in the morning while the contact lens wearers were not wearing their lenses after a night of sleep. The conjunctival vessel diameters, blood flow velocities, and flow rates were measured. In addition, fractal analyses were performed to obtain the vessel network density (Dbox) and complexity (D0). Results: The average blood flow velocity in HCL wearers after a night of sleep was 0.59±0.19 mm/s, which was significantly higher than that in NCL wearers (0.48±0.17 mm/s, P<0.05). The microvessel network density and complexity levels (Dbox=1.64±0.05 and D0=1.71±0.05, respectively) in the HCL wearers were significantly higher than those in NCL wearers (Dbox=1.61±0.05 and D0=1.69±0.04, both P<0.05). The blood flow velocity was positively correlated with the duration of contact lens wear (r=0.46, P<0.05) and with the daily number of lens-wearing hours (r=0.49, P<0.05) in HCL wearers. Conclusions: This study identified microvascular alterations in the conjunctiva in response to daily contact lens wear after a night of sleep in long-term daily contact lens wearers. The unrecovered changes may indicate that para-inflammation occurs on ocular surfaces because of contact lens wear and that overnight sleeping with no lenses may not sufficiently restore the ocular surface to an intact state.


Objective: To determine the frequency of symptomatic malpositioned mandibular third molars in elderly patients. Method: An analytic study of hospital records of elderly patients with symptomatic impacted mandibular third molars over 17 years was undertaken. Information on demographics, types of impaction, reasons for surgical extraction, and complications after treatment were obtained. Those who were asymptomatic would be excluded from analysis. Results: Altogether, 6214 impacted mandibular third molars were isolated in 5, 431 patients. However, 436 (7.0%) symptomatic impacted teeth were recorded in 436 (8.0%) patients and these were extracted, while the rest, 5778 (93.0%) were asymptomatic.  Males were greater than females in the ratio of 1.1:1. The frequency of occurrence of mesio-angular and vertical impactions were significant (P= 0.001) compared with disto-angular and horizontal. Periodontal disease was 211 (48.4%) of the case in addition to dental caries and its clinical sequelae 203 (46.6%) were significant reasons for extractions (P=0.000). The common postoperative complications were alveolar osteitis and hypersensitivity of the adjacent molar 22(68.7%) which related to surgical extraction of disto-angular impactions (P= 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed the older the patient the less likely malpositioned mandibular third molar suggesting that majority of such impactions do not cause pathology after many years of their presence in the oral cavity. Prophylactic extraction of malpositioned mandibular third molars in all patients should be discouraged, but each case should be treated on merit or when symptomatic.


Purpose Infectious microorganisms are hypothesized to contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD) in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants. This hypothesis remains controversial. We hypothesized that colonization of the respiratory tree with Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu), Adenovirus, or Chlamydia sp. increases the risk of CLD. Both Ureaplasma urealyticum and Adenovirus have been associated with CLD in previous studies. We analyzed endotracheal aspirate samples using PCR, a highly specific and sensitive method. Methods Intubated, VLBW (≤1500 g) infants admitted at ≤72hrs of age between 1/01/99 and 12/31/02 were studied. Uu, Adenovirus, and Chlamydia sp. were detected by PCR from endotracheal aspirate samples. Outcome measures included CLD defined as O2 supplementation at 36 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA), and a combined outcome of death from lung disease or CLD at 36 weeks CGA. The frequency of detection of Uu, Adenovirus, and Chlamydia sp. was compared between patients with and without CLD using chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. Logistic regression analysis was used to control for covariates. Results 139 patients were enrolled, all were screened for Uu, 33 (25%) were positive; 136 patients were screened for Adenovirus, 22 (16%) were positive; 133 patients were screened for Chlamydia, 8 (6%), were positive. At 36 weeks CGA, 18 patients had died or been transferred, 68 (57%) were O2 dependent. Detection of Uu was associated with CLD at 36 wks CGA (p ≤0.001), Adenovirus (p 0.52) and Chlamydia (p 0.33) were not. Controlling for covariates, days of mechanical ventilation, OR for Uu and CLD at 36 weeks CGA was 3.08, with 95% CI (0.78, 11.6). 59% of subjects met the criteria for the combined outcome of death or CLD. Uu was significantly associated with this outcome (p ≤.0001), Adenovirus (p 0.39) and Chlamydia (p 0.36) were not. Controlling for covariates, OR for Uu and CLD at 36 weeks or death due to lung disease was 4.7, with 95% CI (1.026, 21.2). Conclusions In our population, detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum in the respiratory tree of VLBW infants is associated with the combined outcome of need for supplemental O2 at 36 weeks CGA or death due to lung disease. Adenovirus was commonly detected in our population, but was not associated with CLD. Chlamydia sp. were rarely detected, and were not associated with CLD.


For the planning and implementation of lessons with digital technologies, a subject-specific technology-related professional competence of teachers is of central importance. However, the competency frameworks developed so far remain in a general perspective and do not explicitly address subject-specific issues. Furthermore, digital competencies are predominantly measured with subject-unspecific self-assessment instruments, as subject-specific operationalizations for this area are not yet available in a differentiated form. In this article, the framework for Digital Competencies for Teaching in Science Education (DiKoLAN), a subject-specific framework for pre-service science teachers, is introduced, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, first results of a self-assessment tool based on the framework are described. DiKoLAN defines competency areas highly specific to science, as well as more general competency areas that include aspects common to all subjects. Each competency area is described by competency expectations, which, in turn, are structured with reference to the four technology-related dimensions of the TPACK framework (i.e., Technological and Pedagogical Content Knowledge) and three levels of performance (Name, Describe, Use/Apply). Derived from DiKoLAN, a corresponding self-assessment instrument (DiKoLAN-Grid) was developed and empirically tested for the two competency areas, (n = 118) and Information Search and Evaluation (n = 90), in biology student teachers. By means of path models, tendencies regarding structural correlations of the four components Special Tools (TK), Content-specific Context (TCK), Methods and Digitality (TPK), and Teaching (TPACK) are presented for both competency areas and discussed, as well as in comparison to previously conducted, subject-unspecific surveys.


Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms are helping everyday life ranging from simplistic procedures such as self-service checkouts to the complexities of dispensing correct medication to patients. Likewise, AI is helping the education sector in unprecedented ways. Today AI is being used from simple online delivery of teaching through to the creation of virtual assistants and complex data analytics. However, AI related incidents, such as the recent failure of Zoom to prevent posting of obscene images and controversy over AI predicted A-level grades in England, reveal the vulnerability of AI programmes. These failures evidence that AI algorithms may behave contrary to the expectations of developers. Such incidents have caused concern about the reliability of AI, which has also been criticised as being unethical. With the help of various examples of the use of AI in the education sector as well as in everyday life, this article addresses the trust issues arising out the use of AI in teaching and learning. Are concerns about AI over exaggerated? Is this lack of trust due to misconceptions about AI systems? This article argues that although more needs to be done to make AI algorithms safer and reliable to overcome the existing misconceptions and lack of trust, the AI technology is developing very fast and already proving to be very useful in many areas of science and knowledge. The research concludes that AI should be trusted because by restricting its growth, it is likely to constrain our growth as a species.


This paper contributes to the ongoing debate about the existence and source of asymmetric information between the Federal Reserve and the public by examining the federal funds rate forecasts. It compares the Federal Reserve federal funds rate forecasts with the predictions of alternative forecasting models and forecasts from the futures market for federal funds. The results show that the Federal Reserve has superior information about its own future policy actions, the future federal funds rate. The results are robust to alternative specifications.


textabstractSummary statement of the proposal for inclusion

The benzodiazepine midazolam has proven sedative, anxiolytic and amnesic properties. It is extensively used for premedication and procedural sedation in both adults and children.

In comparison to other benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine drugs, midazolam is equally or more effective for premedication/preoperative sedation. No evidence exists that premedication with midazolam prolongs discharge time from hospital. Its efficacy and safety have been extensively studied in both adults and children. This contrasts its comparator drug, diazepam for which data in children and elderly are scarce or lacking.
Midazolam is also effective for procedural sedation as a single drug or in combination with an opioid. As a single drug, adequate sedation for procedures in the emergency room, is achieved in over 90% of all procedures. Comparative efficacy was shown for propofol. Data are insufficient to determine comparative efficacy for procedural sedation for other drugs.

When administered with the appropriate precautions, e.g. titration to effect, adequate monitoring and personnel to support ventilation, midazolam is very safe. No major adverse events were seen in 847 adults who received midazolam for procedural sedation. Also, adverse effects can be antagonized with an effective antagonist, flumazenil.

As midazolam is off-patent, drug costs are relatively low. Drug costs per procedure range from approximately 0.15 US$ to 2.6 US$ in an adult, depending on dose and country, with significantly lower costs in developing countries.


Aim. The primordial power spectrum describes the initial perturbations that seeded the large-scale structure we observe today. It provides an indirect probe of inflation or other structure-formation mechanisms. In this Letter, we recover the primordial power spectrum from the Planck PR1 dataset, using our recently published algorithm PRISM. Methods. PRISM is a sparsity-based inversion method that aims at recovering features in the primordial power spectrum from the empirical power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). This ill-posed inverse problem is regularised using a sparsity prior on features in the primordial power spectrum in a wavelet dictionary. Although this non-parametric method does not assume a strong prior on the shape of the primordial power spectrum, it is able to recover both its general shape and localised features. As a results, this approach presents a reliable way of detecting deviations from the currently favoured scale-invariant spectrum. Results. We applied PRISM to 100 simulated Planck data to investigate its performance on Planck-like data. We then applied PRISM to the Planck PR1 power spectrum to recover the primordial power spectrum. We also tested the algorithm's ability to recover a small localised feature at k similar to 0.125 Mpc(-1), which caused a large dip at l similar to 1800 in the angular power spectrum. Conclusions. We find no significant departures from the fiducial Planck PR1 near scale-invariant primordial power spectrum with A(s) = 2.215 x 10(-9) and n(s) = 0.9624.


The primary goal of a root canal treatment in deciduous teeth is to eliminate infection and to retain the tooth in a functional state until it gets normally exfoliated. The ideal root canal filling material for primary teeth should resorb at a similar rate as the roots of primary tooth, be harmless to the periapical tissue and to the permanent tooth germ, resorb readily if pushed beyond the apex, be antiseptic, radio-opaque, should not shrink, easy to fill and can be removed easily if required at any stage, should adhere to the walls and should not discolor the tooth. In order to achieve desirable properties of an ideal root canal filling material various investigations have been conducted the world over. Presently commonly used obturating materials for primary teeth are zinc oxide eugenol, calcium hydroxide and iodoform based pastes.


In order to recognize characters on the neat oracle bone rubbings, a new mesh point feature extraction algorithm was put forward in this paper by researching and improving of the existing coarse mesh feature extraction algorithm and the point feature extraction algorithm. Some improvements of this algorithm were as followings: point feature was introduced into the coarse mesh feature, the absolute address was converted to relative address, and point features have been changed grid and position relationship integrating into the feature vector. The recognition effect has been improved greatly using this algorithm to recognize oracle characters on the neat bone rubbings. At the same time, it could supply some help to recognize words of the neat handwriting instruments.


After reviewing the literature relating to the synthesis and properties of hydrophobic materials, and then considering potential methods for their synthesis, a route for the preparation of novel materials was chosen.
A reaction scheme involving the condensation of an excess of 1,4-bis (chloromethyl) benzene with bisphenolic compounds, and conversion of the resultant chloromethyl products to their vinyl analogues is described.
A variety of methods were used to accomplish the initial etherification. The use of dimethyl acetamide and potassium carbonate was found to reduce the incidence of side reactions. The vinylation stage, using the Wittig reaction was also studied.
The products were characterised by NMR and IR spectroscopy and by gel permeation and high perfonnance liquid chromatography. The curing reaction of the vinyl terminated material was studied using differential scanning calorimetry.
The reaction product derived from bisphenol A was cured into various specimens, and the physical properties of the material examined.
The polymer combines reasonable mechanical properties with one of the lowest water absorption maximov reported in the literature for non-fluorinated thennosets. On immersion in water at 700 C. the absorption maximov was 0.28% by weight.
The thermooxidative degradation of the base material was also examined.


There is hardly any literature on modelling nonlinear dynamic relations involving nonnormal time series data. This is a serious lacuna because nonnormal data are far more abundant than normal ones, for example, time series of counts and positive time series. While there are various forms of nonlinearities, the class of piecewise-linear models is particularly appealing for its relative ease of tractability and interpretation. We propose to study the generalized threshold model which specifies that the conditional probability distribution of the response variable belongs to an exponential family, and the conditional mean response is linked to some piecewise-linear stochastic regression function. We introduce a likelihood-based estimation scheme, and the consistency and limiting distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator are derived. We illustrate the proposed approach with an analysis of a hare abundance time series, which gives new insights on how phase-dependent predator-prey-climate interactions shaped the ten-year hare population cycle. A simulation study is conducted to examine the finite-sample performance of the proposed estimation method. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.


Abstract. The main aim of this paper is to update existing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission inventories over China using modern inversion techniques, state-of-the-art chemistry transport modelling (CTM) and satellite observations of SO2. Within the framework of the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) MarcoPolo (Monitoring and Assessment of Regional air quality in China using space Observations) project, a new SO2 emission inventory over China was calculated using the CHIMERE v2013b CTM simulations, 10 years of Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI)/Aura total SO2 columns and the pre-existing Multi-resolution Emission Inventory for China (MEIC v1.2). It is shown that including satellite observations in the calculations increases the current bottom-up MEIC inventory emissions for the entire domain studied (15–55° N, 102–132° E) from 26.30 to 32.60 Tg annum−1, with positive updates which are stronger in winter ( ∼  36 % increase). New source areas were identified in the southwest (25–35° N, 100–110° E) as well as in the northeast (40–50° N, 120–130° E) of the domain studied as high SO2 levels were observed by OMI, resulting in increased emissions in the a posteriori inventory that do not appear in the original MEIC v1.2 dataset. Comparisons with the independent Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research, EDGAR v4.3.1, show a satisfying agreement since the EDGAR 2010 bottom-up database provides 33.30 Tg annum−1 of SO2 emissions. When studying the entire OMI/Aura time period (2005 to 2015), it was shown that the SO2 emissions remain nearly constant before the year 2010, with a drift of −0.51 ± 0.38 Tg annum−1, and show a statistically significant decline after the year 2010 of −1.64 ± 0.37 Tg annum−1 for the entire domain. Similar findings were obtained when focusing on the greater Beijing area (30–40° N, 110–120° E) with pre-2010 drifts of −0.17 ± 0.14 and post-2010 drifts of −0.47 ± 0.12 Tg annum−1. The new SO2 emission inventory is publicly available and forms part of the official EU MarcoPolo emission inventory over China, which also includes updated NOx, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter emissions.


Humanity has faced an enormous technological evolution over the last 15 years in the area of Networks and Communications, in parallel with the continuous progress occurring in the computer hardware and software technologies. Communications and Informatics are undoubtedly considered as the fundamental sections for developing systems and managing their critical component, the data, in order to obtain information and consequently knowledge. As far as spatial data is concerned, the applied aspect of the relevant sciences and the involved technologies lay in the greater area of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS-based software implementations comply with the principles governing contemporary software developments and they often need to be integrated with existing systems of human activities. As a result, specialised server applications termed Internet Map Servers (IMS), satisfy client requests for different purposes including spatial based information retrieval. In addition, existing Database Management Systems (DBMS), handle spatial information and through special software connectors serve requests sourcing from GIS-based applications. Systems dealing with traffic accidents and road safety, may be generally termed as Traffic Accident Information Systems (TAIS), and serve the objectives of the present paper. Accidents are handled as point events and are positioned over the transportation network through appropriate Linear Referencing Systems (LRS). Although, numerous systems have been developed, the system proposed by the present study exploits the benefits of modern, state-of-the-art software modules, regarding spatial information related services.


A new mixed-model method was developed for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) by incorporating multiple polygenic covariance structures. First, we used genome-wide markers to calculate six different kinship matrices. We then partitioned the total genetic variance into six variance components, one corresponding to each kinship matrix, including the additive, dominance, additive × additive, dominance × dominance, additive × dominance, and dominance × additive variances. The six different kinship matrices along with the six estimated polygenic variances were used to control the genetic background of a QTL mapping model. Simulation studies showed that incorporating epistatic polygenic covariance structure can improve QTL mapping resolution. The method was applied to yield component traits of rice. We analyzed four traits (yield, tiller number, grain number, and grain weight) using 278 immortal F2 crosses (crosses between recombinant inbred lines) and 1619 markers. We found that the relative importance of each type of genetic variance varies across different traits. The total genetic variance of yield is contributed by additive × additive (18%), dominance × dominance (14%), additive × dominance (48%), and dominance × additive (15%) variances. Tiller number is contributed by additive (17%), additive × additive (22%), and dominance × additive (43%) variances. Grain number is mainly contributed by additive (42%), additive × additive (19%), and additive × dominance (31%) variances. Grain weight is almost exclusively contributed by the additive (73%) variance plus a small contribution from the additive × additive (10%) variance. Using the estimated genetic variance components to capture the polygenic covariance structure, we detected 39 effects for yield, 39 effects for tiller number, 24 for grain number, and 15 for grain weight. The new method can be directly applied to polygenic-effect-adjusted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in human and other species.


The "Dsl1p complex" in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, consisting of Dsl1p and Tip20p, is involved in Golgi-ER retrograde transport and it is functionally conserved from yeast to mammalian cells. To further characterize this complex, we analyzed the function of Dsl3p, a protein that interacts with Dsl1p in yeast two hybrids screens. DSL3, recently identified in a genome wide analysis of essential genes as SEC39, encodes a cytosolic protein of 82 kDa that is peripherally associated with membranes derived from the ER. There is strong genetic interaction between DSL3 and other factors required for Golgi-ER retrograde transport. Size exclusion chromatography and affinity purification approaches confirmed that Dsl3p is associated with subunits of the "Dsl1p complex." The complex also includes the Q/t-SNARE proteins, Use1p, Sec20p, and Ufe1p, integral membrane proteins that constitute the trimeric acceptor for R/v-SNAREs on Golgi-derived vesicles at the ER. Using mutants, we performed a detailed analysis of interactions between subunits of the Dsl1p complex and the ER-localized SNARE proteins. This analysis showed that both Dsl1p and Dsl3p are required for the stable interaction of the SNARE Use1p with a central subcomplex consisting of Tip20p and the SNARE proteins Ufe1p and Sec20p.


This study focuses on the gap junction expression pattern in trophoblast cells during human placental development in vivo and in vitro. Investigations of cell-cell communication properties within the subpopulations of trophoblast responsible for invasion, placental growth and feto-maternal transport seem of special interest because the intercellular channels are believed to coordinate proliferation and differentiation processes. From all gap junction connexins (Cx) investigated (Cx26, Cx31, Cx32, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43), Cx40 was the only connexin clearly detected within the cytotrophoblast of human placenta, and was restricted to the extravillous trophoblast of cell islands and cell columns. Most intense staining was found in the juxtastromal area correlated to the proliferating extravillous trophoblast cells. Connexin protein expression was missing during trophoblast migration into the decidua but was re-expressed in trophoblast aggregates within the decidua. Cx40 expression decreased with progressing pregnancy and no connexins could be detected in villous or extravillous trophoblast of mature placentae. In parallel, isolated trophoblast cells of first and second trimester placentae revealed Cx40 expression and, in contrast to the situation in vivo, Cx43 was also found. In isolated cells of mature placentae, expression of both Cx40 and Cx43 transcripts was decreased to low levels and Cx40 immunoreactivity was absent. Cx43 protein, however, was still detectable in trophoblast cultures of term placentae. Our studies suggest that Cx40 is the characteristic channel for the proliferating cell population of cell islands and cell columns of first and second trimester placentae and isolated trophoblast and is probably involved in regulation and coordination of the invasive pathway.


Abstract. The freshwater flatworm Crenobia alpina (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Planariidae) lives almost exclusively in cold springs and crenal streams and possesses only limited dispersal ability. In this study fragments of the COI and 18S rRNA genes were used to estimate genetic divergences among 37 C. alpina populations from the European Alps. Phylogenetic analyses revealed five geographically and genetically distinct groups and at least 10 distinct lineages of C. alpina across the European Alps. Our study suggests that C. alpina represents a complex of numerous cryptic species. Speciation (allopatric and/or sympatric) may have been facilitated by the orogenetic activity of the Alps and the high habitat specificity.


We investigate the association between direct debtholder monitoring via bond covenants and delegated monitoring via borrowers' corporate governance mechanisms. We find that bond contracts include fewer covenants when the borrower's corporate governance is more effective in mitigating the agency risk of debt. Bond contracts have fewer covenants when the borrowing firm's board size is larger, board members have more expertise, the firm has more activist shareholders and there are fewer powerful insiders on the board or blockholders. We document that these associations vary cross-sectionally with debtholders' monitoring efficiency. Bondholders rely more on corporate governance monitoring mechanisms when borrowers are informationally opaque and closer to insolvency, two settings associated with higher bondholder monitoring costs. However, when bondholders have the opportunity to delegate monitoring to senior creditors or to insure against credit losses in the CDS market, they rely less on corporate governance mechanisms. Finally, we document that, consistent with banks being more efficient monitors than bondholders, bank syndicates rely less on corporate governance monitoring unless they have a dispersed ownership.


This paper draws on 49 qualitative interviews to explore the contextual antecedents of methamphetamine use in a sample of gay and bisexual Manhattan men. The paper distinguishes itself from the public health literature on crystal methamphetamine use in this population by shifting the analytic focus from individual‐level factors of drug use to the role of social context. While individual‐level factors—including self esteem and social awkwardness—are related to methamphetamine use, we argue that these factors arise in and are exacerbated by interactional pressures attendant to Manhattan's gay sexual subculture, which revolve around the expectation of peak sexual performance. Because methamphetamine is associated with increased self‐esteem, increased libido, greater sexual endurance, diminished sexual inhibition, and a higher threshold for pain, the drug is used strategically by gay and bisexual men to negotiate sexual sociality and increase sexual pleasure. Hence, we suggest that there exists an elective affinity between Manhattan's gay sexual subculture and the particular pharmacological effects of methamphetamine—whereby the former strongly favours the latter as a systematic pattern of response. In turn, this relationship is linked to unsafe sexual practices or the social conditions that put gay men 'at risk of risk' of HIV infection.


The aim of this research was to investigate the integration of computer-aided drafting and finite-element analysis in a linked computer-aided design procedure and to develop the necessary software. The Be'zier surface patch for surface representation was used to bridge the gap between the rather separate fields of drafting and finite-element analysis because the surfaces are defined by analytical functions which allow systematic and controlled variation of the shape and provide continuous derivatives up to any required degree. The objectives of this research were achieved by establishing : (i) A package which interpretes the engineering drawings of plate and shell structures and prepares the Be'zier net necessary for surface representation. (ii) A general purpose stand-alone meshed-surface modelling package for surface representation of plates and shells using the Be'zier surface patch technique. (iii) A translator which adapts the geometric description of plate and shell structures as given by the meshed-surface modeller to the form needed by the finite-element analysis package. The translator was extended to suit fan impellers by taking advantage of their sectorial symmetry. The linking processes were carried out for simple test structures, simplified and actual fan impellers to verify the flexibility and usefulness of the linking technique adopted. Finite-element results for thin plate and shell structures showed excellent agreement with those obtained by other investigators while results for the simplified and actual fan impellers also showed good agreement with those obtained in an earlier investigation where finite-element analysis input data were manually prepared. Some extensions of this work have also been discussed.


The Global Rain Forest Mapping project GRFM is an international collaborative effort promoted by the National Space Development Agency of Japan, NASDA. The main goal of the project is to produce a wall to wall map of the entire tropical rain forest using the L-band SAR on board the JERS-1 spacecraft. Within the GRFM project the European Commission Joint Research Centre acts as main processing node for the assemblage and validation of the radar mosaics related to the African continent. The authors give an overview of the techniques used for the compilation of these wide area radar mosaics, with emphasis on the scene geo-referencing. A global optimization technique is used based on a least squares estimation of the scene geometry parameters given observations which comprise intra-scenes correlation measures, ground control points and nominal scene position derived by orbital parameters and the range-doppler equation. Two acquisitions at different dates are simultaneously included in the estimation process, thus assuring optimal co-registration between dates. A similar technique is used for radiometric calibration of the mosaic. Validation of the multi-temporal radar map's geometry with respect to existing cartographic data-a key issue in view of certain thematic applications-is also discussed. A RMSE (Residual Mean Squared Error) of 56 m was obtained when using tie-points between scenes only. This error characterizes the mosaic internal consistency for scenes down-sampled to a pixel spacing of 100 m. A RMSE of 240 m was obtained when using ground control points (GCP) derived from digital cartographic data.


Fish stress and mortality can be significant problems in both capture and culture operations. In addition to inexpensive and real-time metrics, ones that are simple to use are also desirable for measuring fish stress and predicting mortality. Current methods to define stress rely on expensive, laboratory-based measurements of changes in fish pathology such as disease, necropsy and histology, in physiology such as plasma cortisol, lactate, glucose and ions and in complex behaviour determined from swimming, feeding and predator evasion. All of these methods are often not rigorously linked to fitness outcomes. An alternative is to observe reflex impairment as a direct sign of stress which can be easily and rapidly measured in free swimming or restrained fish responding to peripheral stimuli such as gravity, light, sound and touch. Reflex impairment is correlated with stress and mortality outcomes, eliminating the need for prolonged holding or monitoring of fish. A few examples of reflexes that may be impaired include orientation, startle responses, fin erection, body flex upon restraint, operculum and mouth clamping or gaping, gag response and vestibular‐ocular response. Reflex impairment combines the effects of stressors and their interactions and is not dependent on fish size, motivation states and acclimation which make it a consistent sign of stress across a wide range of stressor types and fish ages. Use of reflex impairment to measure stress and predict mortality would significantly improve monitoring of fish health and welfare in many types of field operations such as commercial and recreational fishing, aquaculture, live transport, stock enhancement and tagging.


Remittances, the part of the migrant's income sent back to their family living in the origin country, have become a critical stepping-stone to economic development for many developing nations. A key factor that causes migrants to use informal channels is the high cost of transferring funds through formal channels. Reducing the cost of remitting is one of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals; it is also an important policy objective as it helps to bring remittances into the formal economy, enhances financial inclusion and increases the net income of receiving households. This study examines the question of whether and to what extent the reduction in the cost of remittances increases the flow of remittances to developing countries, and whether larger amounts are remitted when the cost per transaction decreases (the so-called scale effect). It uses bilateral data on remittance flows and exploits a novel dataset covering transaction costs for 30 sending and 75 receiving countries for the period 2011-2017. A gravity model of remittance flows is estimated using panel data and instrumental variable techniques to account for potential endogeneity. We find that transaction cost is a significant predictor of the volume of formal remittances. A 1 percent decrease in the cost of remitting USD 200 leads to about a 1.6 percent increase in remittances. This association remains unchanged regardless of the models used and techniques employed. In addition to this strong impact of transfer fees, migrant stock, exchange rate stability in the recipient country and financial development in both the recipient and sending countries are also found to be important factors driving remittances. The findings suggest that policies designed to increase remittances need to focus on decreasing the cost of remitting through formal channels.


The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between humble leadership and employee innovation behavior and to investigate the mediating effects of core self-evaluation (CSE) and the moderating effects of leader political skill in this relationship.,Questionnaire data from a sample of 169 employee-leader dyads from technology enterprises in China were employed in this research.,The results show that humble leadership positively affects employee innovation behavior; moreover, employee CSE and leader political skills play partial mediating and moderating roles, respectively, in the relationship between humble leadership and employee innovation behavior.,This study considered only the positive role of humble leadership and not its negative effects in extreme cases, such as the perceived weakness and inferiority of a humble leader, which may inhibit leadership effectiveness. Future research may examine the excessive and/or negative effects of humble leadership in an organization.,The findings of this study suggest that leaders should maintain humility, develop certain political skills, and enhance employee CSE to stimulate employee innovation behavior.,Although humility has been understood as the core trait of servant leadership, level-five leadership and participative leadership, humble leadership as a new type of independent leadership style has yet to be thoroughly investigated. In particular, there is limited empirical research examining the link between humble leadership and employee innovation behavior.


This book goes beyond the methods usually covered in introductory textbooks on quantitative methods in tourism. It considers key issues in data selection, approaches to factor and cluster analysis and regression before covering advanced topics including structural equation modelling, maximum likelihood estimation, simulation and agent-based modelling. The result is a guide to quantitative methods in tourism that de-mystifies both simple and apparently complex techniques and makes them more accessible to tourism researchers.


An array of high numerical aperture parabolic micromirrors (NA = 0.96) is used to generate multiple optical tweezers and to trap micron-sized dielectric particles in three dimensions within a fluidic device. The array of micromirrors allows generating arbitrarily large numbers of 3D traps, since the whole trapping area is not restricted by the field-of-view of the high-NA microscope objectives used in traditional tweezers arrangements. Trapping efficiencies of Q(max) r approximately = 0.22, comparable to those of conventional tweezers, have been measured. Moreover, individual fluorescence light from all the trapped particles can be collected simultaneously with the high-NA of the micromirrors. This is demonstrated experimentally by capturing more than 100 fluorescent micro-beads in a fluidic environment. Micromirrors may easily be integrated in microfluidic devices, offering a simple and very efficient solution for miniaturized optical traps in lab-on-a-chip devices.


leukaemias do not appear to be induced close to CEGB nuclear power stations. It is true that small excesses of leukaemia in children and young people have been observed around some of the older non-CEGB nuclear establishments, but, as Doll and his coworkers have pointed out, it is difficult to ascribe these excesses to ionising radiation.2 The absence of an increased incidence of leukaemia around CEGB sites would seem to exclude power generation also.


Currently, automatic generation of filmic variants faces a number of key technical issues and thus it usually resorts to the shooting of multiple versions of alternative scenes. However, recent advancements in video analysis has made this objective feasible, though semantic consistency must be somehow preserved. This demo presents a video-based storytelling (VBS) system that successfully integrates video processing with narrative generation by means of a shared semantic description. The novel filmic variants are constructed through a flexible video recombination process that takes advantage of the polysemy of baseline video segments. The short output video clips shown in this demo prove how the generated narratives are semantically consistent while keeping generative power intact.


We present a new approach using data-mining technique and, in particular, decision tree to classify peer-to-peer (P2P) traffic in IP networks. We captured the Internet traffic at a main gateway router, performed preprocessing on the data, selected the most significant attributes, and prepared a training-data set to which the decision-tree algorithm was applied. We built several models using a combination of various attribute sets for different ratios of P2P to non-P2P traffic in the training data. We observed that the accuracy of the model increases significantly when we include the attributes "Src IP addr" and "Dst IP addr" in building the model. By detecting communities of peers, we achieved classification accuracy of higher than 98%. Consequently, we recommend that: (a) the classification must be done within the authority of the Internet service providers (ISP) in order to detect communities of peers, and (b) the decision tree needs to be frequently trained to ensure the fairness and correctness of the classification algorithm. Our approach is based only on information in the IP layer, eliminating the privacy issues associated with deep-packet inspection.


The aim of this study was to characterize the pedigree of Burlina cattle breed. The file was supplied by the Breeders Association of Treviso province (Italy) and included 2303 animals. About 79% of individuals had both parents known. The additive genetic relationship (f) among animals and the coefficient of inbreeding (F) were calculated as well as the number of generations and pedigree completeness index (PCI). The PCI increased over the studied period and individuals born in 2009 had an average value of 90% considering 2 generations and 69% considering 5 generations. The additive genetic relationship increased across years, reached a value of 1.95% in 2004 and then decreased slightly. Coefficient of inbreeding was low in 1990s and increased rapidly afterwards; in 2009 the F value was 4.81%. The monitoring of f and its use as weighting factor for selecting sires and dams of future bulls will be used to control inbreeding levels within the population.


OBJECTIVE
To compare application time, accuracy of tibial plateau slope (TPS) correction, presence and magnitude of rotational and angular deformities, and mechanical properties of 5 canine tibial plateau leveling methods.

SAMPLE POPULATION
27 canine tibial replicas created by rapid prototyping methods.

PROCEDURE
The application time, accuracy of TPS correction, presence and magnitude of rotational and angular deformation, and construct axial stiffness of 3 internal fixation methods (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, tibial wedge osteotomy, and chevron wedge osteotomy [CWO]) and 2 external skeletal fixation (ESF) methods (hinged hybrid circular external fixation and wedge osteotomy linear fixation [WOLF]) were assessed.

RESULTS
Mean bone model axial stiffness did not differ among methods. Mean application time was more rapid for WOLF than for other methods. Mean TPSs did not differ from our 5 degrees target and were lower for ESF methods, compared with internal fixation methods. Mean postoperative rotational malalignment did not differ from our target or among groups. Mean postoperative medio-lateral angulation did not differ from our target, except for CWO. Internal fixation methods lead to axially stiffer constructs than ESF methods. Reuse of ESF frames did not lead to a decrease in axial stiffness.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The 5 tibial plateau leveling methods had acceptable geometric and mechanical properties. External skeletal fixation methods were more accurate as a result of precise data available for determining the exact magnitude of correction required to achieve a 5 degrees TPS.


Two splicing factors of the multipartite mitochondrial nad5 transcript are pentatricopeptide repeat proteins. Pentatricopeptide repeat proteins constitute a large family of RNA-binding proteins in higher plants (around 450 genes in Arabidopsis [Arabidopsis thaliana]), mostly targeted to chloroplasts and mitochondria. Many of them are involved in organelle posttranscriptional processes, in a very specific manner. Splicing is necessary to remove the group II introns, which interrupt the coding sequences of several genes encoding components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The nad5 gene is fragmented in five exons, belonging to three distinct transcription units. Its maturation requires two cis- and two trans-splicing events. These steps need to be performed in a very precise order to generate a functional transcript. Here, we characterize two pentatricopeptide repeat proteins, ORGANELLE TRANSCRIPT PROCESSING439 and TANG2, and show that they are involved in the removal of nad5 introns 2 and 3, respectively. To our knowledge, they are the first two specific nad5 splicing factors found in plants so far.


The purpose of this research is automatic generating 3-dimensional finite element mesh using the Delaunay method. In the present age, numerical analysis is used in various problems. The finite element method is one analytical approach using the finite element mesh. But, there are problems in that large scale finite element mesh generation takes a lot of time and cost. As for the large scale finite element mesh, data are enormous, and it is almost impossible for generation only by manual labor. In addition, the mesh generators prevail, but those do not always generate meshes in response to the demand of the user. It is necessary to generate mesh for the user's purpose. The Delaunay method is a technique to divide the domain into tetrahedra by using a set of nodes that are distributed arbitrarily. This technique can be applied to generate finite element meshes of complicated configuration, that is to say, practical models. In this research, generating a Suemune tunnel and mountain-shaped analysis model using the Delaunay method is presented. But, the Delaunay method cannot dispose the concave faces and interior boundaries. When generating mesh without device, inadequate elements are generated on concave faces and interior boundaries. The mesh of the concave faces and interior boundaries cannot be generated only by the Delaunay method. These problems can be solved by Virtual nodes. The Virtual nodes represent the nodes that are generated to remove inadequate elements.


This chapter assesses the various forms of corruption that occur during elections in Kenya, and probes whether power-preserving and/or extractive political corruption are at play. Drawing on qualitative interviews conducted with candidates and campaign officials during the 2013 gubernatorial campaigns in four counties in Kenya, it shows how voter-driven demand for politicians to act in particular culturally prescribed ways fuels practices before and during elections – such as patronage and vote buying – that many see as forms of corruption. While these behaviours are power preserving in helping incumbents win re-election, they are also culturally expected within the 'Big Man' mould of African politics and they are rational in terms of the incentives that poor voters are facing. However, these expectations and the rationale create incentives for extractive corruption. Besides, the prohibitive costs of campaigning, in a context of poor campaign funding and controls, create strong incentives for politicians to engage in extractive corruption to finance their campaigns. Cumulatively, these observations suggest that elections, and the expectations of voters, are one of the significant drivers of political corruption in Kenya.


The purpose of this article is to provide a figurational analysis of the plans for the participation legacy of London 2012. In the build-up to hosting the Games, there have been three different Prime Ministers and two different London Mayors; therefore, the changing political, and economic, landscape that impacted on the policy formation is a feature of this article. From a figurational sociological perspective, policy tends to be a complex, often contradictory and messy process frequently lacking a convincing evidence base. Such features are quite apparent within the legacy policies analysed for this article. This research entailed qualitative documentary analysis of official publications (n = 102) from selected organizations. Documents were analysed through coding emerging themes. A key feature of our findings was the centrality of the notion of an inherent 'inspiration' in virtually all publications analysed. It also emerged that the complexity of the networks involved in 'delivering' the legacy contributed to an unintended consequence that few, if any, organizations were willing to take accountability for any specific participation legacy outcomes. There was also limited reference to valid evidence in support of the claims being made in most publications. Despite the changing political climate, policy was characterized by continuity alongside change. The London 2012 Games were found to be too much of a 'focusing event' that the change in government did not impact substantially on the process.


Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐positive kidney transplant recipients have increased liver‐related mortality. The impact of lamivudine treatment on patient survival, the optimal time to start treatment, and the feasibility of discontinuing treatment have not been determined. This study examined these issues with a novel management protocol. Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels were measured serially in HBsAg‐positive kidney transplant recipients, and lamivudine was administered preemptively to patients with increasing HBV DNA levels with or without elevation of aminotransferase levels. Outcomes of patients who underwent transplantation before or after institution of this preemptive management strategy (in January 1996) were compared. Eleven de novo patients (91.7%) who underwent transplantation between 1996 and 2000 and 15 existing patients (39.5%) who underwent transplantation between 1983 and 1995 received preemptive lamivudine therapy for 32.6 ± 13.3 months. The treatment criteria were met by de novo patients at 8.4 ± 6.2 months (range, 1‐18 months) after transplantation. Suppression of HBV DNA and normalization of aminotransferase levels were achieved in all treated patients, and 21.4% had hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion. The survival of preemptively managed de novo transplant patients was similar to that of HBsAg‐negative controls, whereas HBsAg‐positive patients who underwent transplantation before January 1996 had inferior survival (relative risk of death, 9.7 [P < .001]; relative risk of liver‐related mortality, 68.0 [P < .0001]). Eleven patients (40.7%) developed lamivudine resistance. Discontinuation of lamivudine was attempted in 12 low‐risk patients after stabilization and was successful in 5 (41.7%). In conclusion, preemptive lamivudine therapy based on serial HBV DNA levels and clinical monitoring improved the survival of HBsAg‐positive renal allograft recipients. Treatment can be discontinued safely in selected patients after stabilization to minimize the selection of drug‐resistant HBV mutants.


Health-related incentives to reward effort or commitment are commonplace in many professional contracts throughout the world. Typically absent from small-scale agriculture in poor countries, such incentives may help overcome both health issues for remote rural families and supply issues for firms. Using a randomized control design, we investigate the impact of adding a micronutrient-fortified product in contracts between a Senegalese dairy processing factory and its seminomadic milk suppliers. Findings show significant increases in frequency of delivery but only limited impacts on total milk delivered. These impacts are time sensitive and limited mostly to households where women are more in control of milk contracts.


Individuals plan consumption and production for different points in the future, using interest rates of various maturities as a guide. How-ever, individuals do not always pre-contract all planned future borrowing and lending, and the intermediaries they work through often do not match the maturity structure of their assets and liabilities. As a result of this individual failure to hedge and institutional "misintermediation", aggregate production and consumption plans for each period in the future need not coincide. The resulting discrepancy will eventually appear as a recession or boom, involving an unanticipated change in interest rates. Fiscal stimulus aggravates the welfare loss associated with a recession, whether the spending is consumption-displacing or wholly wasteful.


Literary Nonfiction. Art Criticism & Theory. Introduction by Carol Becker. Over the course of the 20th century artists have sought to engage aesthetic and social potential latent in traditionally non-artistic sites. Such endeavors seek to activate both artistic and non-artistic communities while privileging the often ephemeral and social interactions that arise, rather than a singular art object or exhibition gallery practice. SERVICE MEDIA contains a collection of 16 essays, artist projects, an interview, and a syllabus around and about socially engaged art practice. Each contribution independently defines, critiques and celebrates art's action beyond and outside the white cube, "creating community within a community."


A new power train for electric vehicles is proposed using an anti-directional twin rotary (ADTR) motor. A stator in a conventional motor was reformed to be movable, and the stator (outer rotor) rotates in the opposite direction to the inner rotor. In this paper, several characteristics of an induction motor-type ADTR motor are reported. When an ADTR motor is used in electric vehicles, the direction of one of the rotors should be reversed and both rotors rotate in the same direction, propelling the two wheels of the electric vehicle. The torque of the wheels can be balanced without a differential gear. The fundamental torque-balancing characteristics of an ADTR motor are clarified, namely, the torque balance theory, the torque-speed characteristics, the rotor-speed transient characteristics and the transient torque response under speed sensorless torque control.


In recent studies, sodium arsenite (SA) inhibited IL‐6 production in cultured intestinal epithelial cells, at least in part by downregulating the activity of nuclear factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB). The influence of SA on the activity of other transcription factors regulating the interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) gene in enterocytes is not known. We tested the effect of SA on the activity of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), activating protein‐1 (AP‐1), and CRE binding proteins in IL‐1β‐treated Caco‐2 cells. DNA binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and transcriptional activity by transfecting cells with luciferase reporter plasmids containing promoter constructs with binding sites for the individual transcription factors. DNA binding activity for all three transcription factors was increased after treatment with SA or IL‐1β. In contrast, SA inhibited transcriptional activity of AP‐1 and CRE binding proteins but not C/EBP. Additional experiments provided evidence that the inhibition of AP‐1 and CRE mediated transcriptional activity was associated with, and probably caused by, increased expression of the transcriptional repressor cyclic AMP response element modulator (CREM)α. The present results are consistent with the concept that SA inhibits IL‐6 production in stimulated enterocytes by downregulating the transcriptional activity of several, but not all, IL‐6‐related transcription factors. Because of the multiple important biological functions of IL‐6 in the enterocyte and gut mucosa, methods to regulate enterocyte IL‐6 production have significant clinical implications. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


First attempt to predicting physical properties of paper by Near Infrared Spectroscopy (abbreviated as NIRS) mathematical model, Acacia is a kind of fast-growing tree which is a potential resource in pulp and paper industry. The mathematical models of physical properties of Acacia unbleached kraft paper were established by software OPUS6.5 of Near Infrared Spectroscopy. Spectral data of Acacia unbleached kraft paper were acquired by Near-Infrared. Physical properties, which include quality, whiteness, tensile index, burst index and tear index, of the paper were measured by GB methods. NIRS mathematical models between the spectral data and the laboratory reference values were established and optimized by software OPUS6.5 partial least squares (abbreviated as PLS). The NIRS mathematical models were evaluated by its parameters, and used to predict the physical properties of unknown samples rapidly and accurately. Compared with NIRS mathematical model of physical properties of Acacia unbleached kraft pulp, the NIRS mathematical models of paper have a better prediction on unknown samples; Compared with traditional laboratory methods, predicting properties of paper by the NIRS mathematical models of paper is rapid, accurate and non-destructive.


Stromal structures of the bone marrow in 22 patients with aplastic anemia (AA) were studied histophotometrically. A significant increase of the fat tissue volume and a decrease of hematopoietic tissue volume were observed. Bone tissue volume was significantly increased in 81.8% of patients, the number of endosteal cells was increased in all the patients and that of reticular cells in one third of them. The conclusion is made that hematopoietic microenvironment of the bone is not a determining factor in the majority of AA patients. Excessive bone formation might be one of the mechanisms of aplasia development.


Functional correspondences between deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) and the mammalian visual system support a hierarchical account in which successive stages of processing contain ever higher-level information. However, these correspondences between brain and model activity involve shared, not task-relevant, variance. We propose a stricter account of correspondence: If a DCNN layer corresponds to a brain region, then replacing model activity with brain activity should successfully drive the DCNN's object recognition decision. Using this approach on three datasets, we found that all regions along the ventral visual stream best corresponded with later model layers, indicating that all stages of processing contained higher-level information about object category. Time course analyses suggest that long-range recurrent connections transmit object class information from late to early visual areas.


The widespread occurrence of discontinuous gullies in the oil-shale region of northwestern Colorado is of particular concern because of the resulting progressive destruction of the valley floors. Furthermore, the integration of a semi-arid drainage network can cause a rapid increase in the sediment yield of the basin, with subsequent harmful effects downstream. Field work in the Piceance Creek and Yellow Creek drainage basins indicates that these discontinuous gullies developed on oversteepened segments of the valley floors. Although the critical slope of entrenchment is probably related to magnitude of run-off, discharge measurements are not available; therefore, drainage-basin area was selected as the most representative measure of discharge. An inverse relation between drainage-basin area and critical slope of entrenchment applies, and the lower limit of scatter of the data establishes a critical slope-area relation, which can be used to identify potentially unstable valley floors. This relation can help the land manager determine areas of instability where preventive measures can most economically and successfully be undertaken. It is stressed that this particular quantitative relation is applicable only to the Piceance Creek and Yellow Creek drainage basins. In more heterogeneous basins, other variables will need to be included in the analysis; however, the general theory of valley stability will remain applicable.


There are presented new data about Hesperis pýcnotricha in Romania. In 2004, the species was first identified in Gura Motrului Locality in Romania. Since then, the species has been pursued and so far, we have come up with new data on its origin and chronology. To our joy, the plant (ornamentally planted) has been identified in the same locality in a backyard adjacent to the first resort. Subsequently, the plant has been identified in other locations such as at the edge of abandoned farms and their premises in Cerna Valcea District; in some local households in PonoareleMehedinti District. Travelling in Turkey, at Marmara University in Erasmus, the author had the opportunity to see ornamental plants, inside the yard of DolmabahcePalace. Comparing the material collected from Turkey with that from Romania, he realized that both samples have the same morphologically characteristics. From bibliography sources, at the European level (like in Moldova, Slovakia, Turkey in Europe and Ukraine), it is known as a native plant or entered in Krym, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Russian Federation. The species is also known in Sweden while in Lithuania, it is mentioned in the list of invasive plants. The presence of the species in Romania, although was pointed out from 2004, is not consigned at the European level.

 Key words: New chronology, Hesperis pýcnotricha, Romanian, flora.


Architecture meets biography, and also meets travel guide in this highly personal exploration of some of the world's most provocative, revealing and beautifully built structures. Jonathan Lee travelled the world and found some truly extraordinary man-made places, from stunning mansions, subterranean auditoria, hotels and churches to bizarre houses and a breathtaking sports ground. He was particularly interested in places that blur the boundary between people and nature.


We performed a systematic cocrystal search for the enantiopure and racemic version of a selected active pharmaceutical ingredient, expecting that a coformer giving a cocrystal with a single enantiomer will also interact with the racemic mixture since they present identical functional groups prone to cocrystallization. We identified several novel cocrystals of levetiracetam and its racemic equivalent, etiracetam, using a wide variety of nonchiral coformers. Fourteen novel cocrystals of the enantiopure compound were obtained, whereas 18 of the racemic compound were identified. Out of these, 13 share a common coformer. A structural analysis indicates that in most cases the strongest hydrogen bonding interactions occur both in the enantiopure, as well as the racemic cocrystal, whereas van der Waals interactions, or less strong secondary hydrogen bonding interactions, lead to a differentiation of the final structure. On the basis of our work, we suggest an approach that could lead to a more optimal cocrystal screening of an enantiopure compound, especially when a limited amount of this compound is available. Starting with a screen of the racemic compound, the set of possible coformers for the enantiopure screen can be limited to those yielding a positive hit in the former screen. Doing so, our example shows an increase in efficiency from 10% to 72%. © 2014 American Chemical Society.


The reversible covalent conjugation of the small highly conserved ubiquitin protein modifier to selective substrates plays central roles in countless proteolytic and non-proteolytic cellular functions. Substrate protein ubiquitination is co-ordinated by the sequential activity of three distinct classes of proteins: (i) E1-activating enzymes, (ii) E2-conjugating enzymes, and (iii) E3-protein ligases. Really Interesting New Gene (RING) proteins represent the largest family of E3-proteins comprising over half of predicted human E3-ligases. As such, E3-RING proteins play pivotal roles in controlling both specificity and functionality within the ubiquitin system. E3-RING proteins function as catalytically inactive molecular scaffolds that position Ub~E2 and substrate proteins in close proximity for ubiquitination to occur. Within the active ligase complex, E3-RING proteins and E2 conjugating enzymes are believed to select protein substrate(s) and the form of conjugated ubiquitin upon them, respectively. Whilst E3-RING/E2 partners have been investigated in recent HTP screen approaches, a key area of data paucity exists for integral membrane E3-RING (TM-E3-RING) proteins.

As such, high throughput yeast-two-hybrid assays were performed for the entire complement of TM-E3-RING proteins and E2-conjugating enzymes. A broad subset of TM-E3-RING/E2 positive and negative Y2H interactions was re-tested in secondary luciferase protein complementation assays (PCAs), which increased confidence in Y2H-derived interactions and extended network coverage. Data from these studies was collated with previously published binary TM-E3-RING/E2 interaction data to provide a high-confidence TM-E3-RING/E2 network consisting of 312 unique binary interactions. In vitro auto-ubiquitination assays were employed to assign functional activity to TM-E3-RING/E2 protein pairs, revealing high verification rates for both positive and negative Y2H or PCA binary interaction data. Furthermore, novel trends in the generation of different forms of ubiquitin modifications were identified between selective TM-E3-RING/E2 pairs. Finally, Y2H screens were also performed to identify TM-E3-RING dimerization events, which represent an emerging theme in ubiquitin system regulation. In total 71 TM-E3-RING/TM-E3-RING interactions were reported demonstrating high incidence of these binding events. Novel data was combined with known interactions to generate a TM-E3-RING network containing >500 binary interactions, encompassing both components of the core ubiquitin cascade and non-ubiquitome proteins. This TM-E3-RINGcentric network provides a valuable tool for the investigation of specificity and regulation of TM-E3-RING proteins and specific ubiquitin cascades.


Background. Macroprolactinemia is defined as predominance of high molecular weight prolactin forms in the circulation. Although macroprolactin is considered as a biologically inactive molecule, some authorities suggest treatment in symptomatic cases. Gigantomastia is defined as excess breast tissue and most cases in the literature were treated by surgical intervention. Case. A 44-year-old woman was admitted to our clinic with gigantomastia and galactorrhea. The patient had a demand for surgical therapy. In laboratory examination, she had hyperprolactinemia and macroprolactinemia. Pituitary imaging revealed 6 mm microadenoma in right side of the hypophysis. Since she was symptomatic, cabergolin treatment was started. Macroprolactin became negative, breast circumference decreased significantly, and galactorrhea resolved after treatment. Conclusion. Gigantomastia might be the presenting symptom in patients with macroprolactinemia. In these patients medical treatment with cabergoline may be used initially as an alternative to surgical approach.


Many climate impact applications are sensitive to local differentials in the climate system. This study investigates how eco-geographic factors influence the local climate and propagate eco-climatic complexes that vary spatio-temporally. Local geography data including elevation, slope, aspect, rainfall, temperature, vegetation, population density, and soil potential for agriculture were integrated and analyzed using geographic information system and principal component analysis. The result was profiled for local climate drivers and associated spatial structures in present and future climate (2046-2065) scenarios. The results suggest a local climate system driven by the coupling between terrain, rainfall and temperature in all seasons. In the present climate, this coupling creates eco-climatic complexes that extend from the southeast to northwest corridor in all seasons except June-July-August (JJA) when it is shifted to the northeast axis. This pattern is projected to continue in the future climate scenario, but its spatial influence and intensity would weaken around the northwest axis and rainfall will become less significant in the system in JJA. The clustering of rural settlements these complexes suggests the climate-positives produced by the system significantly support rural livelihoods. Thus, these eco-climatic complexes represent climate sensitive natural resource systems that should be targeted as a fulcrum for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the wooded savannah.


This paper reports our synthesis of flexible coordination polymer, Ni(L)[Ni(CN)4], (L = 1,2-bis(4pyridyl)ethylene (nicknamed bpene)), and its structural characterization using synchrotron single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of the purplish crystals has been determined to be monoclinic, space group P21/m, a = 13.5941(12) Å, b = 14.3621(12) Å, c = 14.2561(12) Å, b = 96.141(2)u, V = 2767.4(4) Å , Z = 4, Dc = 1.46 g cm. Ni(bpene)[Ni(CN)4] assumes a pillared layer structure with layers defined by Ni[Ni(CN)4]n nets and bpene ligands acting as pillars. With the present crystallization technique which involves the use of concentrated ammonium hydroxide solution and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), disordered free bpene ligands and solvents of crystallization (DMSO and water molecules) occupy the pores, resulting in a formula of Ni(bpene)[Ni(CN)4]?Kbpene?DMSO?2H2O, or Ni2N7C24H25SO3. Without the inclusion of free bpene ligands and solvent molecules, the free volume is approximately 61% of the total volume; this free volume fraction is reduced to 50% with the free ligands present. Pores without the free ligands were found to have a local diameter of 5.7 Å and a main aperture of 3.5 Å. Based on the successful crystal synthesis, we also devised a new bulk synthetic technique which yielded a polycrystalline material with a significantly improved CO2 uptake as compared to the originally reported powder material. The improved synthetic technique yielded a polycrystalline material with 40% higher CO2 uptake compared to the previously reported powder material. An estimated 14.4 molecules of CO2 per unit cell was obtained.


The quality of the monomers lactic acid and lactide as well as the chemical changes induced during polymerization and processing are crucial parameters for controlling the properties of the resulting poly(lactic acid) (PLA) products. This review presents the most important analysis and characterization methods for quality assessment of PLA and its precursors. The impurities typically present in lactic acid or lactide monomers and their possible origins and effects on resulting PLA products are discussed. The significance of the analyses for the different polymer production stages is considered, and special applications of the methods for studying features specific for PLA-based materials are highlighted.


For strongly convex objectives that are smooth, the classical theory of gradient descent ensures linear convergence relative to the number of gradient evaluations. An analogous nonsmooth theory is challenging. Even when the objective is smooth at every iterate, the corresponding local models are unstable and the number of cutting planes invoked by traditional remedies is difficult to bound, leading to convergences guarantees that are sublinear relative to the cumulative number of gradient evaluations. We instead propose a multipoint generalization of the gradient descent iteration for local optimization. While designed with general objectives in mind, we are motivated by a ``max-of-smooth'' model that captures the subdifferential dimension at optimality. We prove linear convergence when the objective is itself max-of-smooth, and experiments suggest a more general phenomenon.


The reliability of a recently introduced nonlinear estimation method for tomographic imaging is discussed in full detail. It is shown how a proper choice of the functional spaces to which unknown quantities belong and the exploitation of the expected properties of the object under test and of all the available a priori information positively affect robustness against false solutions of the inversion procedure. The developed arguments allow the authors to understand causes of possible false solutions, suggesting possible countermeasures. In particular, it is shown how the proposed approach allows the authors to achieve accurate and reliable reconstructions in a set of cases larger than the range of applicability of other "false solutions free" approaches. Numerical analyses confirm the validity of the approach and the effectiveness of developed inversion procedures through practical examples.


A 64-year old woman presenting with symptoms of abdominal pressure and bloody discharge was found to have a pelvic mass above the vaginal apex on ultrasound scan. She had undergone hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy, 13 years previously, for cervical adenocarcinoma with early invasion. There were no lymph node metastases, and at that time all other staging procedures showed normal findings. Now, both transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound showed a 6 cm nonhomogenous solid and richly vascularized pelvic mass immediately affecting the bladder wall, but it was not possible to determine whether the tumor originated from or infiltrated the bladder. She had another large tumor of similar structure in the right iliac fossa as well as severe hydronephrosis of the right kidney. The suspected diagnosis was that of a recurrence of the cervical carcinoma or a tumor of the urinary bladder. A CT scan confirmed the findings of the pelvic masses, one engulfing the right ureter and the other engulfing the external iliac vessels, but did not add valuable information regarding tumor origin, except to exclude invasion of the bladder. Again the suspected diagnosis was a recurrence or the possibility of a lymphogenic tumor. She underwent surgery, which included dissection of the tumor from the bladder with partial resection of the bladder, resection of the affected segment of the ureter, reconstruction of the bladder and direct reimplantation of the ureter into the bladder. Histopathology supplemented by immunohistochemistry concluded with the diagnosis of an atypically proliferating endometrioid papillary cystadenoma (borderline tumor) with extensive mucinous metaplasia that originated from cystic endometriosis.


This thesis explores two albums of photographs of facial plastic surgery cases from the First World War. Drawing on the assumption that a photograph's meaning comes from its use and the context in which we view it, and emerging from the archive experience and the affect that this encounter has on me as a viewer, I examine how the photographs elicit readings, affect my historical consciousness, and shape their content for me as a viewer. The study begins with a definition of Foucault's concept of medical discourse as a means of putting the photographs into their historical context. The use of photographs to illustrate and support surgical progress played a key part in shaping medical thinking and the dissemination of information on facial surgery. The previously separate discourses of dentistry and surgery began to integrate and 'speak' together; photographs facilitated exchanges between dentists and surgeons and functioned as conduits through which these professions could bridge their knowledge and skills.

Reading the photographs through medical discourse only takes us so far in understanding what they mean today. During the course of this research I encountered a multiplicity of reinterpretations, including uses of these photographs as part of a re-evaluation of First World War history and some instances of being integrated into family history. These photographs raise difficult questions about their function within, and potentially, across historical discourses. These surgical images problematise Foucault's claims to using coded ways of seeing to access the photograph's past. The surgical photographs emerged from and in turn decisively shaped one specific medical discourse. The surgical images are historical photographs, meaningful within the kinds of discursive frameworks Foucault proposed. And yet these surgical photographs in particular can affect me —and not only me — in a way that seems to cut across time and cultural convention, that generates a spark of recognition, a connection—however brief — that cannot be discursively contained. I suggest that this kind of connection lies outside what Foucault calls history. The surgical photographs complicate, or even undermine, my own understanding of history. From one point of view they are important historical documents, but from another they function in a completely different way.


A solar tunnel dryer with a polycarbonate cover was designed and constructed. The dryer consists of two parts, namely a solar collector and a drying tunnel. Both parts are connected in series on the same structure. A polycarbonate cover is used to reduce heat losses while allowing the incident solar radiation to transmit into the dryer. Loading and unloading of products to be dried are undertaken through windows at a side wall of the dryer. A dc-fan driven by a 15-watt solar cell module is employed to ventilate the dryer. To investigate its performance, the dryer was used to dry five batches of jackfruits. For most cases, the temperature of the drying air in the dryer varied between 35 to 60 °C from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. This dryer can be used to dry 30 to 70 kg of jackfruits from an initial moisture content of 80% (wb) to a final moisture content of 30% (wb) within 3 days, compared to 4 to 5 days with natural sun drying in the same weather condition. High quality products in terms of flavor, colour and texture were obtained. The payback period of this dryer is approximately 3 years.


The structural requirements of substrates for two recombinant protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) are probed using various-sized synthetic phosphotyrosine (pY)-containing peptides corresponding to the autophosphorylation site in EGF receptor (EGFR) at Y992. The peptide EGFR988-998 (DADEpYLIPQQG) is chosen as a template due to its favorable kinetic constants. The contribution of individual amino acids on both sides of pY to binding and catalysis was assessed by kinetic analysis using a continuous, spectrophotometric assay. For both Yersinia PTPase and a soluble recombinant mammalian PTPase of 323 amino acid residues (rat PTP1), efficient binding and catalysis required six amino acids including the pY residue, i.e., four residues N-terminal to pY and one residue C-terminal to pY. Thus, PTPase substrate specificity is primarily dictated by residues to the N-terminal side of pY. The pY moiety and the rest of the peptide interact with PTPases in a cooperative manner. The presence of pY in the peptide substrate is necessary but not sufficient for high-affinity binding, since phosphotyrosine and other simple aryl phosphates exhibit weak binding, and dephosphorylated peptides do not bind to PTPases. Two variations on the pY moiety are also examined in order to assess their utility in PTPase inhibitor design. It is demonstrated that the thiophosphoryl analog in which one of the phosphate oxygens is replaced by sulfur can be hydrolyzed by PTPases, whereas the phosphonomethylphenylalanine analog in which the tyrosyl oxygen is replaced by a CH2 group is a competitive and nonhydrolyzable inhibitor, with Ki values of 18.6 and 10.2 microM, respectively, for the Yersinia PTPase and the rat PTP1.


Certain types of human capital (knowledge, skills, and competences) can bring some advantages (or disadvantages) to an actor and her/his counterparts. In social settings where participants are guided by distinct and opposite interests there is a premise for qualifying human capital as negative or positive depending on whether its owner damages or benefits the others. In this paper, a notion of human metacapital required for the management of human capital of other people is developed. This metacapital can be positive or negative depending on its contribution to accumulation of capital. Positive human metacapital contributes to the formation of positive human capital and impedes to the formation of negative one, and negative metacapital — vice versa. Interactions of owners of human metacapitals are considered as the games with human capital. The paper introduces formal statements depicting constructivity–destructivity of actors (organizers and recipients) teaching strategies, effectiveness of these strategies, etc. The author distinguishes three negative strategies for human capital management: non-participation in teaching (avoiding teaching), active counteraction to teaching, «Trojan» teaching. All these strategies are conducted at micro-, meso-, and macro levels. In general, the development of positive and negative teaching strategies is considered as a part of special activity devoted to formation and institutionalization of different types of human capital and metacapital.


In recent years, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have uncovered a large number of susceptibility variants. Nevertheless, GWAS findings provide only tentative evidence of association, and replication studies are required to establish their validity. Due to this uncertainty, researchers often focus on top-ranking SNPs, instead of considering strict significance thresholds to guide replication efforts. The number of SNPs for replication is often determined ad hoc. We show how the rank-based approach can be used for sample size allocation in GWAS as well as for deciding on a number of SNPs for replication. The basis of this approach is the "ranking probability": chances that at least j true associations will rank among top u SNPs, when SNPs are sorted by P-value. By employing simple but accurate approximations for ranking probabilities, we accommodate linkage disequilibrium (LD) and evaluate consequences of ignoring LD. Further, we relate ranking probabilities to the proportion of false discoveries among top u SNPs. A study-specific proportion can be estimated from P-values, and its expected value can be predicted for study design applications.