Immunoregulatory antigen-presenting cells (APC) play an important role in maintaining T cell homeostasis and self-tolerance. In particular, recent evidence demonstrates a role for inhibition of T cell proliferation by macrophage tryptophan catabolism involving the activity of the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Dendritic cells (DC) have also been shown to exert immunoregulatory effects mediated by tryptophan catabolism and to cause T cell apoptosis. In the present study, we have comparatively analyzed the expression of IDO activity by murine macrophages and splenic DC. By means of PCR, Western blotting and measurements of enzyme functional activity, we obtained evidence that, different from macrophages, DC constitutively express IDO. Following activation by IFN-gamma, the latter cells, in particular the CD8 alpha(+) subset, exhibit high functional activity and, unlike macrophages, mediate apoptosis of T(h) cells in vitro. Therefore, in the mouse, CD8 alpha(+) DC may be unique APC capable of fully expressing the IDO mechanism functionally.


Seafloor Massive Sulfides have been expected to be future mineral resources. The grade of valuable metallic elements in ores of Seafloor Massive Sulfides is usually small percentage. If valuable minerals can be extracted from the ores on deep seafloor, the total mining cost can be reduced significantly. The authors proposed Seafloor Mineral Processing, where ores are to be ground into fine particles and separated into concentrates and tailings on seafloor. The Seafloor Mineral Processing system consists of processing units for unit operations such as grinding and separation. To investigate the applicability of flotation, which is a method to separate ore particles by using the difference in wettability of minerals, to the separation unit, measurements of contact angles of sulfide minerals at high pressures were carried out. The results suggested that the contact angles of the minerals would have relationships with pressure in depending on the kind of minerals and solutions. In addition, applying Laser-Induced breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), an optical method for elemental analysis, to measurement of metal grade of ore particles handled as slurry in the processing units was also investigated. Signals assigned to copper, zinc, and lead were successfully detected in the spectra obtained from ore particles in slurry flow.


Machine learning models are becoming an increasingly popular way to exploit data from fluid dynamics simulations. This project investigates how autoencoders and output consolidation can be used to increase the accuracy of machine learning models, by injecting knowledge of the full flow field in the predictions of Quantities of Interest (QoI) used in the optimisation of highly loaded transonic compressor blades. Results show that the accuracy of the predicted QoI can indeed be increased, by using both an appropriate autoencoder and output consolidation. Most significantly, the prediction accuracy is increased in the range of QoI values which is involved in optimisation problems. As a result, a more accurate and faster computational design approach driven by machine learning methods has been demonstrated.


This research identifies the problems associated with the implementation of strategic decisions in Jordanian publicly quoted industrial firms. The study makes a comparison between high success firms and less successful firms to learn whether or not differences exist in their experience of these problems. A cross sectional survey, employing a questionnaire as the data collection method, was used. The empirical research was conducted by delivering by hand the questionnaires to all Jordanian publicly quoted industrial firms (hereafter referred to as Jordanian industrial firms). The main findings of this research are that Jordanian industrial firms experience all the major strategy implementation problems that earlier literature identifies; that the high success group experiences strategy implementation problems less often than the low success group; and that formal strategic planning helps firms to deal with these problems.


OBJECTIVE
To compare CBC results obtained by use of an in-house centrifugal analyzer with results of a reference method.

DESIGN
Prospective study.

SAMPLE POPULATION
Blood samples from 147 dogs, 42 cats, and 60 horses admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital and from 24 cows in a commercial dairy herd.

PROCEDURE
Results obtained with the centrifugal analyzer were compared with results obtained with an electrical-impedance light-scatter hematology analyzer and manual differential cell counting (reference method).

RESULTS
The centrifugal analyzer yielded error messages for 50 of 273 (18%) samples. Error messages were most common for samples with values outside established reference ranges. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.80 to 0.99 for Hct, 0.55 to 0.90 for platelet count, 0.76 to 0.95 for total WBC count, and 0.63 (cattle) to 0.82 (cats) to 0.95 (dogs and horses) for granulocyte count. Coefficients for mononuclear cell (combined lymphocyte and monocyte) counts were 0.56, 0.65, 0.68, and 0.92 for cats, horses, dogs, and cattle, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Results suggested that there was an excellent correlation between results of the centrifugal analyzer and results of the reference method only for Hct in feline, canine, and equine samples; WBC count in canine and equine samples; granulocyte count in canine and equine samples; and reticulocyte count in canine samples. However, an inability to identify abnormal cells, the high percentage of error messages, particularly for samples with abnormal WBC counts, and the wide confidence intervals precluded reliance on differential cell counts obtained with the centrifugal analyzer.


I invoke agency theory to evaluate how top executives' compensation contracts are structured, conditional on risk in the firm's operating environment, focusing on the total, fixed, and variable components. The results suggest that companies exert some effort to adhere to agency theoretic principles in designing top executive compensation contracts. However, imperfections in the pay setting process mean that there is ample room for powerful CEOs to seek rents. Furthermore, when risk in the operating environment is measured with volatility in returns, non-CEO top executives sometimes bear greater risk than CEOs, collecting a greater percentage of their compensation in variable pay than most CEOs. The results are most distinct in the extreme deciles of volatility, suggesting that firms may be paying greater attention to compensation design in the most extreme settings of volatility. I offer potential explanations for this phenomenon.


The Robinson Music Library is constantly updating its collections of books, scores, and media for the use of CIM faculty and students. Select one of the tabs below to view recent additions to our collections.


Methods for matrix decomposition have found numerous applications in image processing, in particular for the problem of template decomposition. Since existing matrix decomposition techniques are mainly concerned with the linear domain, we consider it timely to investigate matrix decomposition techniques in the nonlinear domain with applications in image processing. The mathematical basis for these investigations is the new theory of rank within minimax algebra. Thus far, only minimax decompositions of rank 1 and rank 2 matrices into outer product expansions are known to the image processing community. We derive a heuristic algorithm for the decomposition of matrices having arbitrary rank.


Enterprises that host services in the cloud need to protect their cloud resources using network services such as firewalls and deep packet inspection systems. While middle boxes have typically been used to implement such network functions in traditional enterprise networks, their use in cloud environments by cloud tenants is problematic due to the boundary between cloud providers and cloud tenants. Instead we argue that network function virtualization is a natural fit in cloud environments, where the cloud provider can implement Network Functions as a Service using virtualized network functions running on cloud servers, and enterprise cloud tenants can employ theseservices to implement security and performance optimizations for their cloud resources. In this paper, we focus on placement issues in the design of a NFaaS cloud and present two placement strategies-tenant-centric and service-centric-for deploying virtualized network services in multi-tenant settings. We discuss several tradeoffs of these two strategies. We implement a prototype NFaaS testbed and conduct a series of experiments to quantify the benefits and drawbacks of our two strategies. Our results suggest that the tenant-centric placement provides lower latencies while service-centric approach is more flexible for reconfiguration and capacity scaling.


We prepared nano-sized La1-xSrxMnO3 (x=0.2~0.5) cathode catalyst for the zinc air secondary batteries by citrate method and measured cathode's electrochemical characteristics according to content of strontium compose the cathode catalyst. We heat treated the prepared precursor at various calcination temperature (500~900), and examined the optimum calcinations temperature by XRD analysis and electrochemical evaluation. We examined the ORR (oxygen reduction reaction) and OER (oxygen evolution reaction) performance of the prepared La1-xSrxMnO3 catalyst powder. La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 and La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 catalyst has shown the best performance in the ORR. But in the OER, La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 catalyst has shown better performance. When we consider ORR and OER performance simultaneously, La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 catalyst has shown the best performance because of its lowest voltage difference between charge and discharge.


In Rechargeable Wireless Sensor Networks(R-WSNs), it is critical for data collection because a sensor has to operate in a very low and dynamic duty cycle owing to sporadic availability of energy. In this work, we propose a distribute maximum rate allocation based on data aggregation to compute an upper data generation rate by maximizing it as a linear programming problem. Subsequently, a dual problem by introducing Lagrange multipliers is constructed, and subgradient algorithms are used to solve it in a distributed manner. The resulting algorithms are guaranteed to converge to an optimal value with low computational complexity. Through extensive simulation and experiments, we demonstrate our algorithm is efficient to maximize data collection rate in rechargeable wireless sensor networks.


The present paper focuses on non-epistemic modal particles in contemporary Lithuanian that have received far less attention in the literature than epistemic particles. Based on authentic data drawn from the Corpus of the Contemporary Lithuanian Language, the study aims to disclose the formal and functional features of the particles tegu(l), te and lai in spoken discourse and fiction. The study has shown that the particles under investigation occur in hortative constructions where they express the speaker's desire to get a third person or the addressee to carry out some action. Although tegu(l), te and lai share a number of functions (e.g. hortatives, negative or positive performative optatives), functional extension is more typical of tegu(l) than of te and lai. The formal features of the particles (their co-occurrence with indicative or subjunctive forms) provide evidence for their functional variation.


Innovation management is a subdiscipline of management that studies the rules that govern the generation, diffusion, adoption of innovation, and relationships between innovation inputs and outputs. A great number of innovative products and services depend on software. In the software industry, many small entities act as subcontractors that develop components that are later integrated into larger industrial systems. However, these small entities do not have the resources needed to support long-term R&D activities and they also lack innovation management models which makes the planning and execution of innovation management difficult. These same small enterprises face similar challenges in the software development process. However, the ISO/IEC 29110 standard provides small enterprises with a clear path in implementing a systematic software development process. The planning and execution of innovation management activities may also benefit from a similar approach. This article describes an innovation activity model suited to the characteristics of small entities whose main stream of revenue is software development. Using the existing literature, standards, and the practical experience of companies with a successful history of developing innovative software-based products, this study identifies the activities and practices that lead to the development of innovative products. Interfaces between innovation management activities, software development processes, and work products are also identified.


This article examines the expansion of methodologies for articulating heterogeneous (experiential and behavioral) data within the course-of-action research program (Theureau, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2015). In the area of sports expertise, recent studies have articulated verbalizations based on conscious awareness and behavioral data from largely unconscious processes in order to shed light on expert instrumented activity. The methodological differences between these studies are highlighted, especially regarding the priority given to the types of data and the conditions under which these data were collected. Three studies are presented, covering trail running, swimming, and ice climbing, and each is distinct in its conditions for data collection and processing and its methodology for data articulation. We examine their advantages and limitations for aiding the design of sports equipment and question the observatory within the course-of-action research program. Essentially, the program's methodological advances raise questions about how sports equipment is designed, the athlete-researcher-designer relationship, and the heuristic scope for analyzing activity in work situations that share similarities with the instrumented activity of sports situations.


Introduction: Although protein-based drugs have shown success, they have been limited mostly to cytokines, growth factors, enzymes and monoclonal antibodies, all of which function primarily extracellularly. There are a number of diseases, including genetic diseases and cancers, that have the potential to be treated through proteins with an intracellular target. However, proteins alone are not usually able to cross the cell membrane in order to reach their intracellular targets. Hence it is desirable to develop efficient and effective tools as well as strategies that will enable us to deliver therapeutic proteins in their active forms to tumor cells or tissues. Here we present a combinatorial approach for the creation of cationic lipid-like nanoparticles (termed "lipidoids") to facilitate intracellular cytotoxic protein delivery for the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation.


This study outlines the methodology of the new approach of laser stripping technique in functional surfaces of monolithic cutting tools. Starting from the initialization test of the coating thickness using a laser calotest including beam-material interaction test, through the introduction of the main geometrical elements necessary for the analysis of the tool, the study discusses segmental laser stripping including its evaluation, where the effects of different segment modifications (overlapping, resizing, rotation or reordering) were investigated. The influence of the presented technology on the microgeometry of the tool was beneficial from several points of view: the area around the cutting edge can be influenced by the polarization of the laser beam and the resulting radius values show no negative influence of the substrate by the laser.


This volume on anticonvulsant therapy is the second edition, the first having been printed in 1974. It is well organized with three distinct sections on basic concepts, the pharmacology of anticonvulsants, and the use of anticonvulsants. In the first section, the clinical pharmacology and mechanisms of action of the anticonvulsants are particularly well described and concisely summarize the state of the art to the present time. The individual anticonvulsants are thoroughly discussed in the second section, each in a standardized sequence. The chapter on the hydantoin anticonvulsants is 55 pages long and there are 20 pages of references. I was particularly impressed with the routine subsection, in each of the chapters on anticonvulsants, devoted to the effect on the fetus. Furthermore, pharmacodynamic interactions of these anticonvulsants with others, as well as a wide variety of different pharmacological agents, are also discussed and are of increasing importance in the 1980s as


Many adolescents in the juvenile justice system have been exposed to trauma, which has been linked with negative outcomes that may lead to ineffective adjustment while incarcerated. Trauma may decrease a youth's feelings of fairness and safety, which may increase misconduct. The present study examined the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, perceptions of fairness and safety, and rates of institutional misconduct in a subsample of youth (n = 386) who participated in the Pathways to Desistance study. A serial multiple mediation model found that PTSD symptoms were not significantly associated with perceptions of fairness, safety, or institutional misconduct. Relationships were found between perceptions of fairness and safety, and between perceptions of safety and institutional misconduct. Results also indicated differences in perceptions of fairness and safety based on gender, age, and ethnicity. Perceptions of fairness and safety may be an avenue for intervention to improve adjustment within the juvenile justice system.


In the last decades, the world economy has been undergoing a process of production reorganisation and relocation of unprecedented scale and scope. The era of 'globalisation' has been characterised by falling barriers to trade and increasing capital flows, both of speculative and investment nature. Huge trade deficits and surpluses have emerged, which have raised a renewed interest in international trade issues as well as concern within the scientific community, as is witnessed in the literature about global imbalances. Since the Nineties, few rich countries (United States, Great Britain, France, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands) have been securing a substantial stake in worldwide production through FDI, a phenomenon mirrored by increasing FDI negative positions for nations such as China, Mexico, Brazil and Ireland. The building up of this dualistic international structure can be detected also analysing the dynamics of net exports of royalties and license fees. This fact might suggest a new perspective from which to study the rise of the 'tertiary economy', which could then be considered as 'post-industrial' having offshored manufacturing production, while paying for the imports of goods with the profit stream accruing from FDI, the sale of property rights and the exports of other sophisticated services. This interpretation, however, would explain the recent development path of only a subset of FDI net exporter countries, namely the US, Great Britain, France and, partially, Japan, whereas Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands are running a growing merchandise trade surplus. This heterogeneity calls for further investigation. The paper therefore, combining information from trade flows and net asset positions worldwide and their evolution since the Seventies-Eighties, proposes a tentative classification of countries based on their relative strength in manufacturing and several services categories so as to identify, among them, a core and a periphery in the chain of worldwide production. To do that several indicators are considered, such as each country's comparative advantages, its dependence on net exports and its market share in the world economy by relevant trade category. The picture resulting is that of a growing specialisation among advanced as well as emerging economies. Paradigmatic examples of this heterogeneity are the United States, increasingly involved in financial activities, vis-A -vis the export-driven Germany, or the industrial producer China and the offshoring of services towards India.


The sources show that as early as 5th millennium B.C. dancing was one of the most important and most common forms of social interaction in Egypt. The development and social changes during Neolithic, firstly population increase which led to the growth of settlements, development of agriculture, led to the origin of rituals and cults in which dance became an important factor. Most findings depicting dance were found on ceramic pots and figurines which were part of grave goods. First dancing figure was recorded during the Badari culture – hands with bent palms raised above the head. Many dancing scenes on reliefs and walls of tombs of the Old Kingdom emphasise the importance of funeral dance for Ancient Egyptians. It is possible that such dances evolved from dancing performances of the pre-dynastic era, and that they formed into specified moves, performed during funeral processions, during the Old Kingdom. Egyptians held their religion and worship of many deities dearly, so tributes and sacrifices were offered to them on festivals. Important parts of those festivals were dancing performances, most commonly by temple's female and male dancers. Such performances were often accompanied with singing and dancing. The most well-known deities in whose honour dances were performed were Hathor, Amon- Ra, Bes, Bastet, Osiris and Isis. The dances of the Middle Kingdom retained the old forms, but they also adopted some new characteristics. More and more acrobatic elements were introduced into dancing performances of funeral ceremonies and cult festivals. Also, during this time, physical fitness, strength and more demanding dancing skills started to be appreciated more. Female dancers started to attach importance to slenderness of the body and flexibility, so they started working out more. The dances of the New Kingdom differ substantially from the dances of earlier periods. Albeit old dancing forms are performed, the dances changed and they became more complex. New elements emerged which are manifested in greater freedom of dance moves. Albeit funeral and cult dances remained the most popular types, this period also witnessed the emergence of secular dances which take erotic characteristics and which are performed by professional male and female dancers. Graphic displays of dancing performances during the Late Period are rare; however, they are sporadically mentioned in texts, hymns and songs and the temples of Efu, Esna, Dendera and File. Albeit during the Late Period Egypt was ruled by foreign dynasties, the Egyptians still built in Egyptian style and cultivated their culture.


Pentanoic acid (PA) is an industrially relevant chemical used in several applications, currently manufactured from fossil feedstock. Conversion of γ-valerolactone (GVL), a stable platform chemical from cellulosic biorefineries, into PA is studied here in the presence of aqueous formic acid (FA), as a sustainable and available reducing agent. For this purpose, bifunctional catalyst comprising Pt supported on acidic zeolites were utilized. Pt has a dual role, decomposing FA into hydrogen in the fastest step occuring in the initial stage of the reaction, and hydrogenating pentenoic acids (PEAs) intermediates, which are formed through acid-catalyzed ring opening of GVL, to PA. Since ring-opening is thermodynamically disfavored under hydrothermal conditions at high temperature (543 K), hydrogenation on Pt is rate limiting and thus fast provision of hydrogen is a prerequisite to PA formation from GVL. Strong acidity such as on ZSM-5 is required to catalyze the dehydration/ring-opening step in the reaction cascade from GVL to PA. High surface area of Pt improves GVL conversion rate, whereas no dependency of rate on Brønsted acidity is observed in the applied conditions. Strong interaction of the Pt/ZSM-5 catalyst with FA and its decomposition side-products, e.g. CO, retards the hydrogenation step, and therefore may better be added stepwise. The temperature dependency of this cascade reaction was determined, showing an apparent activation energy for GVL conversion and FA dehydrogenation of 73 kJ mol and 19 kJ mol, respectively. Finally, the selective one-pot process of levulinic (LA) instead of GVL, to PA using FA as reducing agent was pioneered successfully.


In this study, commercial Cu was subjected to plastic deformation by compression with oscillatory torsion. Different deformation parameters were adopted to study their effects on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu. The deformed microstructure was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipment with electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) facility and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The mechanical properties were determined on an MTS QTest/10 machine equipped with digital image correlation. Can be found, that process performed at high compression rate and high torsion frequency is recommended for the refining grain size. The size of structure elements: average grain size (D) and subgrain size (d) reached 0.42 m and 0.30 m respectively, and the fraction of high angle boundaries was 35%, when the sample was deformed at a torsion frequency f= 1.6 Hz and compression rate v=0.04 mm/s. Deformation at these parameters leads to an improvement in strength properties. The strength properties are about two times greater than the initial state.


Here we report on spawning and development of the Bahama lancelet, Asymmetron lucayanum. Ripe adults collected in Bimini spawned the same evening when placed in the dark for 90 minutes. The developmental morphology is described from whole mounts and histological sections. A comparison between development in Asymmetron and the better known cephalochordate genus Branchiostoma reveals similarities during the early embryonic stages but deviations by the late embryonic and early larval stages. Thus, the initial positions of the mouth, first gill slit, and anus differ between the two genera. Even more strikingly, Hatschek's right and left diverticula, which arise by enterocoely at the anterior end of the pharynx in Branchiostoma, never form during Asymmetron development. In Branchiostoma, these diverticula become the rostral coelom and preoral pit. In Asymmetron, by contrast, homologs of the rostral coelom and preoral pit form by schizocoely within an anterior cell cluster of unproven (but likely endodermal) origin. Proposing evolutionary scenarios to account for developmental differences between Asymmetron and Branchiostoma is currently hampered by uncertainty over which genus is basal in the cephalochordates. A better understanding of developmental diversity within the cephalochordates will require phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear genes and the genome sequence of an Asymmetron species.


Background: Prescription analysis is an essential means to monitor drug use and ascertain the rationality of prescriptions. This study was conducted to assess the drug usage pattern and identify the possible drug-drug interaction in the paediatric ward of the tertiary care hospital. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the paediatric department to analyse the prescriptions using WHO core prescribing indicators and also to identify the possible drug-drug interactions. The study was conducted for a period of 6 months. The drug therapy details were collected and documented in a specially designed data collection form. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyse the data. Results: Among 340 prescriptions studied, 1091 drugs were prescribed. The most commonly prescribed drug class was antibiotics (25.93%), followed by antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agents (16.68%). Acetaminophen was the frequently prescribed drug (14.57%), followed by amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (12.09%). The average number of drugs prescribed per prescription was 3.2. 24.11% of drugs were prescribed as generics. The percentage of antibiotics and injections prescribed was 68.52% and 25.58%, respectively. The percentage of drugs that are prescribed from EDL was 88.52%. One hundred forty-three drug interactions were identified from the prescriptions, of which the majority were found to be moderate in severity (86.01%). Conclusion: The study observed increased use of antibiotics when associated with WHO core prescribing indicators. It also observed a majority of moderate drug-drug interactions. Key words: Paediatrics, Prescribing indicators, Prescription pattern, WHO core indicators, Drug-drug interactions, Antibiotics.


New estimates of the impacts of germplasm improvement in the major staple crops between 1965 and 2004 on global land-cover change are presented, based on simulations carried out using a global economic model (Global Trade Analysis Project Agro-Ecological Zone), a multicommodity, multiregional computable general equilibrium model linked to a global spatially explicit database on land use. We estimate the impact of removing the gains in cereal productivity attributed to the widespread adoption of improved varieties in developing countries. Here, several different effects—higher yields, lower prices, higher land rents, and trade effects—have been incorporated in a single model of the impact of Green Revolution research (and subsequent advances in yields from crop germplasm improvement) on land-cover change. Our results generally support the Borlaug hypothesis that increases in cereal yields as a result of widespread adoption of improved crop germplasm have saved natural ecosystems from being converted to agriculture. However, this relationship is complex, and the net effect is of a much smaller magnitude than Borlaug proposed. We estimate that the total crop area in 2004 would have been between 17.9 and 26.7 million hectares larger in a world that had not benefited from crop germplasm improvement since 1965. Of these hectares, 12.0–17.7 million would have been in developing countries, displacing pastures and resulting in an estimated 2 million hectares of additional deforestation. However, the negative impacts of higher food prices on poverty and hunger under this scenario would likely have dwarfed the welfare effects of agricultural expansion.


In recent years, browser extensions gain great popularity among users, as they significantly enhance functionality and improve the usability of web browsers. Browser extensions can have high privileges to access web page content, thus recent browsers, such as Chrome, controls their capabilities with permissions. However, permission control is not effective to control the behaviours of content scripts injected into web sessions. Once injected into victim web sessions, malicious content scripts can perform all sorts of actions in a web application without user's knowledge. Therefore, content scripts pose serious threats to the confidentiality and integrity of web application data. To address this problem, we propose a mechanism, SessionGuard, which isolates content scripts in an isolated environment, called the shadow DOM. With the shadow DOM, SessionGuard provides content scripts an encrypted view of web application data, and controls their access to the original DOM. We have developed a proof-of-concept prototype in the Google Chrome web browser with little effect on normal browsing experience. Our experiments with real-world browser extensions demonstrate the effectiveness of the SessionGuard in protecting the confidentiality and integrity of web application data against malicious content scripts.


Predicting business opportunity sand risks is based on existing knowledge about them. In practice, this knowledge comes from collecting business information from the business environment, within the framework of something that is known as business intelligence (BI). Prediction of opportunities and risks is inherent in business of successful company. Corporate security as a framework for ensuring the safety of business is based on timely and accurate information that becomes foreknowledge of threats, for which prediction companies are using different tools, and business intelligence (BI) is a proven tool. The aim of using BI in company is well-timed detection of opportunities and threats in business environment that management could react in time. Implementation of BI activities in Croatia significantly differs from the world average and in applying of BI activities companies are primarily focused on business dimension of business environment, while ignoring the political and security dimensions from which threats are generated, as shown by the survey results conducted from October 2010 till April 2011 with online survey method on a sample of 1,000 largest Croatian companies by revenue.


Design showing Sally Tompkins in a Civil War era gown with Bible and medical bag, overseen by angel. Above her: Robertson Hospital, Richmond, VA, scene with Confederate flag. Below: gathering wounded from train. Border: ribbon with battle names, including Manassas, Fredericksburg, and The Wilderness. Window text says: "Captain Sally Louisa Tompkins, CSA. St. James Church. The Captain who was a Lady."


Introduction: Anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) or grade III is a primary brain tumor, astrocytic, malignant, and diffusely infiltrating. The survival of patients depends on several clinical and treatment factors, being this unknown in our environment. The objective of this study was to determine the survival of patients operated on for grade III astrocytoma and the impact of preoperative and postoperative prognostic factors. Methods: A retrospective, observational and longitudinal study of 35 patients operated on for astrocytoma grade III at Hospital Guillermo Almenara between 2003 and 2009 was carried out. Data were collected from medical records, operative reports, and telephone interviews. Patients with anaplastic astrocytomas were classified according to prognostic risk group, treatment type, and surgery extent. SPSS 25.0 was used for the analysis. Results: Of a total of 124 patients with astrocytoma, 28.2% (35/124) had a grade III astrocytoma, with an average survival of 34.8 months. According to the clinical prognosis group, the survival of the low, medium, and high-risk groups was 46.7, 28.1, and 8.5 months, respectively. Regarding the type of treatment, the group with the longest survival was surgery + radiotherapy (39.5 months), followed by surgery + radiotherapy + chemotherapy (29.3 months), and the one with the lowest survival was surgery alone (6.5 months). According to the extension of the surgery, the highest survival was obtained by the total resection group (46.2 months), while the lowest survival was for the partial resection group (13.9 months). Conclusions: The average survival of patients operated on for grade III astrocytomas in our hospital was 34.8 months, with the best prognostic factors being the "low risk" clinical group, the combined treatment of surgery + radiotherapy, and total resection. Its classification into prognostic risk groups based on pre-surgical clinical data helps us predict survival. Keywords: Astrocytoma, Prognosis, Brain Neoplasms, Hospitals, Humans (source: MeSH NLM)


Research Problem: Virtual worlds like Second Life are shared 3D graphical places where people interact with each other and the environment through customizable embodied self-representations called avatars. Due to the recent nature of this research environment, the literature encompassing avatar identity, disability and learning in virtual worlds is limited. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore experiences of people with physical disabilities learning about self and other in virtual worlds.
Research Questions: 1) How do people with physical disabilities experience learning about self and other in virtual worlds? 2) What do they learn?
Literature Review: Virtual worlds' constructs and historical developments contextualize the research environment. Definitions and typologies of selfhood and virtual identity explore the connection between person and avatar. Medical, social theory and capabilities models of disability are described, and accessibility, issues of virtual embodiment and disability in virtual worlds are explored.
Methodology: Conducted in virtual worlds and involving in-depth interviewing of three residents of Second Life who experience physical disabilities, this study follows a qualitative phenomenological approach with descriptive and interpretative analyses within and between participants.
Results and Conclusions: Self-avatar and avatar-avatar interactions lead to participants experiencing learning about themselves, their roles, and coping with disability. Participants expressed that Second Life is freedom and that with the right knowledge and tools disabilities can be overcome. Implications include shifts in perceptions of disability in technological contexts and potential uses of virtual worlds for self-exploration. The findings are limited to this study; future research should explore their generalizability.


The paper calculates the top income shares in Greece from 1967 (the seizure of power by the military dictatorship) until 2017 (the aftermath of the debt crisis). This long-run perspective allows for the examination of the relationship between inequality and institutional transformations, namely democracy, finance and crisis. We find in particular that (a) transition to democracy did not affect the income share of the top decile, whereas social democracy had a significant negative impact (b) financial development and liberalization substantially increased all top decile shares (c) debt crisis, consolidation and recession were beneficial for the upper ranks of the top decile.


The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a simple successive (go/ no- go) discrimination procedure in producing functional class formation as a systematic replication of a previous study with simple simultaneous discrimination. Five preschool children learned 3 simple discriminations and were given repeated reversal training with all 6 stimuli simultaneously. Four of these children learned a fourth discrimination and a new series of reversals with 8 stimuli. Rapid reversals (learning set) occurred with 6 stimuli in 3 children and 8 stimuli in 4 children. Two children presented performance compatible with functional class formation. The results were similar to those reported in the previous study. Similar to the simultaneous procedure, the successive procedure effectively generated functional class formation with some, but not all, of the participants. The occurrence of errors inherent to the reversal procedure may be a source of variability. Future research should investigate other strategies to promote stimulus classification on the basis of shared discriminative functions.


This paper proposes two parallel versions of an Estimation of Distribution Algorithm (EDA) that represents the probability distribution by means of a single connected graphical model based on a polytree structure (PADA). The main goal is to design a new and more efficient EDA. Our algorithm (pPADA) is based on the master/slave model which allows to perform the estimation of the probability distribution (the most time-consuming phase in EDAs) in a parallel way. The aim of our experimental studies is manifold. Firstly, we show that our parallel versions achieve a notable reduction of the total execution time with respect to existing algorithms. Secondly, we study the behavior of the algorithm from the numerical point of view, analyzing the different versions. Finally, our methods are evaluated over three interconnection networks (Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, and Myrinet) and a study on the influence of the parallel platform in the communication is performed.


The upper Cretaceous deposits of the Opole Trough contain rare but relatively diverse shark teeth, mainly from ptychodontid sharks (Ptychodus latissimus Agassiz, 1843, Ptychodus polygyrus Agassiz, 1843 and Ptychodus mammillaris Agassiz, 1843), Anacoracidae (Squalicorax sp.), Mitsukurinidae (Scapanorhynchus raphiodon (Agassiz, 1843)), Alopiidae (Paranomotodon angustidens (Reuss 1845)) and Cretoxyrhinidae. Paranomotodon angustidens has not previously been reported from the Opole Trough. The selachians from the Opole Basin can be divided into two trophic groups: bottom-dwelling ptychodontid sharks with a diet consisting of shelly invertebrates, and pelagic Lamniformes, which were active predators feeding on fast-swimming fish and reptiles. The morphology of the teeth, signs of abrasion and the analysis of the invertebrate assemblage from the Opole Cretaceous suggest that the ptychodontids fed on inoceramid bivalves, while the lamniform sharks fed mostly on fish. Lamniformes live in all marine environments, and their remains are numerous in all the lithostratigraphic units of the Upper Cretaceous in the Opole Trough. The teeth of deep-water ptychodontid sharks are only abundant in the middle part of the Middle Turonian sediments. Nearshore shark remains are extremely rare in the Cretaceous deposits of the Opole Trough. This indicates that the Middle Turonian (middle I. lamarcki Zone) represents the deepest environment of the Opole Cenomanian and Turonian .


Fair-minded and sympathetic to Jewish, Muslim, and Christian concerns, Lutz and Smith provide a clear account of the Israeli-Palestinian situation and a compelling plea for Christian involvement in the area. Carefully sorting out the tangled historical and religious roots of the problems, they reveal the strong forces at work in the conflict and lay out the driving biblical notions of election and covenant, the historical causes of the bitter and divisive clashes of the last 50 years, the complex demographic and political issues today, how Palestinians (particularly Christians) have been affected by the turmoil, and how, finally, Christians must engage the future of justice and peace. Includes maps and twelve black and white photos.


Concrete is one of the most widely used engineering building material. Using waste concrete to produce recycled aggregate applying in concrete has been highly valued in developed countries, and has achieved significant economic and environmental benefits. China's current large-scale urban construction and road network renovation throughout the country generated a lot of waste concrete, but the technology about the recycled concrete is not widely used. In this paper, from the use of recycled concrete technology, production costs and environmental benefits and other aspects of social, evaluated the recycling using of waste concrete.


Climate is an important determinant factor that controls the geographic distributions of a plant species more than any other factors. Climate is changed when the average long-term weather patterns of a region are altered for an extended period, typically decades or longer. The cause of climate change can be categorized as natural processes and human activities that increased the level of emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide. Plant species respond to environmental change remaining within the modified climate by tolerance or adaptation and migrating or a combination of both. The major response of plant species to climate change is: phenology (time), phenotypic plasticity, gene flow, species range shift (migration). Seed dispersal is essential for allowing plant migration to reach specific habitats that are favorable for survival and determining the migration ability of a specific plant species. The degree of movement of a species to favourable climatic conditions depends on its potential migration rate. The potential migration rate of a species is determined by seed dispersal capacity of the species and the population growth rate of plants in newly established populations, the seed size and competition also determine the potential migration rates of a species.


Elongation growth in actinobacteria is localized at the cell poles. This is in contrast to many classical model organisms where insertion of new cell wall material is localized around the lateral site. We previously described a role of RodA from Corynebacterium glutamicum in apical cell growth and morphogenesis. Deletion of rodA had drastic effects on morphology and growth, likely a result from misregulation of penicillin-binding proteins and cell wall precursor delivery. We identified the interaction of RodA with the polar scaffold protein DivIVA, thus explaining subcellular localization of RodA to the cell poles. In this study, we describe this interaction in detail and map the interaction sites of DivIVA and RodA. A single amino acid residue in the N-terminal domain of DivIVA was found to be crucial for the interaction with RodA. The interaction site of RodA was mapped to its cytoplasmic, C-terminal domain, in a region encompassing the last 10 amino acids (AAs). Deletion of these 10 AAs significantly decreased the interaction efficiency with DivIVA. Our results corroborate the interaction of DivIVA and RodA, underscoring the important role of DivIVA as a spatial organizer of the elongation machinery in Corynebacterineae.


The Black Sea is experiencing human-induced ecological degradation along its coastal zone. As part of the Coastal Zone Management strategy, regular monitoring of shoreline changes plays an important role. Growing population in coastal zones creates extra pressure on shores which leads to the creation of new land filling areas (accretion). Moreover, a recently completed highway construction caused a catastrophic impact on coastal areas of the southern part of the Black Sea and needs to be taken into account. The main purpose of this article is to determine the pattern of shoreline changes along the Turkish coast of the Black Sea. Remote sensing is used to identify and evaluate hot spots of shoreline changes. A developed algorithm automatically extracts the coast line position by processing satellite images covering the period of 1987 to 2001. The maximum and minimum shoreline changes in terms of erosion and accretion were 118 to 53 and 95 to 635 m, respectively. More significant changes have been determined in the eastern part than the western part of the Black Sea. The locations with higher changes were mainly accretion regions along the study area. It can be concluded that coastal movements mainly caused by humans induced impacts at the coasts of the Black Sea. Coastal accretion is significant at the most part of the Turkish Black Sea coast and might be related to a recently constructed international highway.


Hormonal profiles of captive individuals show that bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) are seasonally polyoestrous, but little is known of reproductive behaviour among free-ranging bottlenose dolphins. In Shark Bay, Western Australia, we have documented for the first time patterns of female attractiveness that may correspond to multiple oestrous cycles. Male bottlenose dolphins in stable alliances of 2-3 individuals form temporary consortships with individual females. Consortships often are established and maintained by aggressive herding. Consortships are associated with reproduction and are a useful measure of a female's attractiveness. Following reproduction, females may become attractive to males when their surviving calf is about 2-2.5 years old or within 1-2 weeks of losing an infant. Individual females are attractive to males for variable periods extending over a number of months, both within and outside of the main breeding season. The duration of attractive periods is greater during breeding season months than during the preceding months. Males sometimes are attracted to females for periods exceeding the reported duration of rising estrogen levels during the follicular stage of the oestrous cycle. Males occasionally have consorted or otherwise been attracted to females in several unusual contexts, including late pregnancy, the first two weeks after parturition, and the day after the loss of a nursing infant. Individual females were consorted by up to 13 males during the season they conceived, supporting predictions of a promiscuous mating system in bottlenose dolphins. Thus, consorting is a strategy by males to monopolize females, but not a completely successful one. Multiple cycling by female bottlenose dolphins may be a strategy to avoid being monopolized by particular males. Given the duration and agonistic nature of many consortships, the benefits to females of such a costly strategy are not obvious. Multiple cycling may reduce the risk of infanticide by males or allow females to mate with preferred males after being monopolized by less desirable males.


Introduction and objectives Most asthmatic women have normal pregnancies and complications are infrequent when their asthma is controlled (BTS/SIGN 2012). Symptom control and medical treatment concern them, as does the impact of their illness and treatment on their unborn baby (Lim et al 2012). Few qualitative studies illustrate recently delivered asthmatic mothers' feelings about their care, support and medication during their pregnancy. The aim of the study was to investigate in a qualitative study the thoughts and feelings of women's experiences of asthma in pregnancy. Methods NHS IRAS ethical approval and trust research governance were obtained; women gave written informed consent subject to the usual ethical guarantees. Twenty-two women with asthma and a pregnancy within two years were invited to participate. Seven women were interviewed when data saturation was achieved. Data collection took place between March 2012 and September 2012. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using a phenomenological 'Framework' Method involving familiarisation; identifying a thematic framework; indexing; charting; mapping; interpretation. Data were independently analysed by two researchers and consensus reached concerning themes. Results Asthma and pregnancy Self-management including fears; lack of recognition of symptoms; poor knowledge of inhaled therapy Risk factors Anxieties including drugs, procedures, risks versus benefits General understanding of asthma Concealing symptoms Pregnancy and post-natal experiences Impact of exacerbations on baby; breastfeeding benefits; changes to asthma, post-natal experience Health professionals' Lack of regular contact; midwife support; interaction with healthcare professionals, education Conclusions These findings are globally relevant because maternal asthma is so prevalent. They illustrate participants' experiences of their asthma care and their views on its improvement. Similar to the international literature (Lim et al 2012), pregnant asthmatic women have concerns about their care and treatment, which might be alleviated by outreach, joint working between respiratory nurse specialists, midwives and GP practice nurses. References British Thoracic Society (2012). British Guideline on the Management of Asthma. Available on-line at http://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/Portals/0/Guidelines/AsthmaGuidelines/sign101%20Jan%202012.pdf Lim AS, Stewart K, Abramson MJ, Ryan K, George J (2012) Asthma during Pregnancy: The Experiences, Concerns and Views of Pregnant Women with Asthma. J Asthma. 49(5):474–9.


Critics of the American law and economics movement normally sidestep its analysis by emphasizing noninstrumental goals for legal rules or challenging the fundamental assumptions (like the rational-actor model) of legal-economic arguments. These critiques are often valid, but they neglect an equally important problem with much legal-economic reasoning, which is that it is often simply incorrect on its own terms. Too often, legal-economic analyses amount to elaborate restatements of particular disputed legal propositions, depend on an artificial scope of analysis, smuggle in various factual assumptions, and so on. This article demonstrates these problems using a series of examples in American private law.


This dissertation consists of four chapters devoted to work at the intersection of Development and Behavioural Economics. Chapter 1 provides a review of recent contributions to aspirations theory in the context of the literature on behavioural development economics. It discusses the promise of aspirations theory to usefully contribute to addressing the puzzle of low investment levels at high returns among households and microenterprises in developing countries. The three following chapters study the business practices and growth aspirations of microenterprises using data from a randomised controlled trial conducted among traditional retail businesses in Jakarta, Indonesia. Chapter 2 elicits local microenterprises' business practices through qualitative interviews and a quantitative survey to disseminate best practices via professionally designed handbooks. It further documents the positive impact of two additional treatments to facilitate adoption among peers: a documentary of successful peers to foster social learning and personalised short-term implementation assistance through local laymen to encourage individual learning. Chapter 3 makes use of the panel structure of the control-group data. It shows that, in the absence of treatment, entrepreneurial aspirations predict forward-looking firm behaviour and performance, but that failures to aspire beyond the status quo and failures to imagine or plan for the entrepreneur's ideal business are common. Chapter 4 uses the experimental data to directly test predictions from aspirations theory. It shows that exposure to aspirational role models can have differential effects on effort and performance depending on their distance to initial levels of aspirations and the inherent risk of seeing one's aspirations frustrated.


Similar to many other species of fiddler crabs, the interactions of Uca tangeri are influenced by 2 characteristic visual signals: the waving display performed by males with their enlarged claw, and the building of structures (mudballs) around the burrow entrance. This study focused on male signalling, male-male competition and female mate choice. Female choice and male mating success were investigated by looking at male quality, male visual signals (waving activity and mudballs) and male interactions and their outcome. Fieldwork was carried out in June and July 1997 at the Ria Formosa Natural Park, Algarve, Portugal, on a sandy beach with an average population density of 2.06 burrows m -2 , Behavioural observations of focal males were made at low tide, 1 h before and after the peak of low tide, that is during the mudballing phase or interaction phase. This was also when measurements of male characteristics, mudballs and burrow characteristics were taken. The results show that the quality of a male's burrow is related to its depth, and depth is correlated with 4 features: claw size, waving rate, mean distance to mudballs and number of mudballs. Therefore, females could use these features as indicators of gallery depth, eliminating the need to enter the burrow for sampling. Males compete for the possession of burrows that are more visited by females, thus taking over burrows is an alternative strategy to burrow digging. Male waving activity, mudball distance and claw size can be considered as multiple visual signals available to females for mate choice. Females' first choice criterion would seem to be burrow quality.


In the present study, physicochemical properties (pH, ash, commercial glucose, starch, reducing sugars and moisture) and microbial (yeast and enterobacterial) contaminations of 263 honey samples from North-western regions of Iran were evaluated in a 2 year period in different seasons of 2010 and 2011. Levels of reducing sugars and sucrose showed significant seasonal differences, with the highest levels observed in summer samples. No commercial glucose or starch was detected in any of the samples; but levels of reducing sugars and sucrose content of 1.52 and 6.84% samples were unacceptable, respectively. Moisture, ash content (0.4 ± 0.01%) and pH values (4.44 ± 0.02) of all samples were in the required standard range and did not significantly vary in different seasons. Of all the samples evaluated, only seven samples (2.66%) contained yeast, and two samples (0.76%) were contaminated with bacteria from family Enterobacteriaceae (2 samples with both contaminations). None of the isolates were found to be of major pathogenic importance.


Customarily the position of women in Ethiopia has been low compared to men. Women are poorer, have low education and suffer from traditions and customary laws. This study explores the role of microfinances in socio-economic and psychological empowerment of women. The study is causal type of research to clearly depict the relation (correlation) between empowerment of women and microfinances institution. Since the study uses survey method the research approach is basically quantitative. Qualitative data have been used in support. Convenient sampling strategy were in work to select study sites as the research is proposed to be done in five selected zones of Somali region. From the total population of 2559 female customers having relation with MFIs and engaged in various business activities in Somali region the researcher selected 334 persons as a sample respondent based on Simple random sampling technique on Proportional base. Primary data is the main source of data and the data were obtained by using questionnaire and interview. To analyze the data inferential statistics like t-test were applied to gain an insight about the change before and after the microfinance intervention in women's life. Linear regression and correlation analysis are also made with the help of statistical package for social science. It is found that Women are economically, socially and psychologically empowered by participating or dealing with microfinance program. Focus on providing Skill trainings, consultancy and consciousness raising training which are supposed to be combined with the core function of a microfinance program of providing financial services let women's feel empowered. Keywords: Microfinance, economic, social and Psychological empowerment


The configuration-dependent cranked Nilsson–Strutinsky approach was used to investigate the rotational structures in 128Pr and signature splittings of some observed bands could be well described quantitatively at high spin. Its modified model was used to calculate special configurations in order to distinguish the N = 4 d3/2s1/2 and g7/2d5/2 orbitals. All observed bands were compared with the calculated configuration assigned to the band and the agreement between experiment and theory is remarkable.


Oxidation is one of the major causes of hamburger deterioration. Antioxidants are used to minimize oxidation process. There is a growing interest in the substitution of synthetic food antioxidants by natural ones from vegetable sources. In meat industry, sodium erythorbate is antioxidant that is usually used and is an example of chemical antioxidant. Effect of olive leaf extract rich in oleuropein on the quality of frozen hamburger was investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usage of oleuropein from olive leaf extract as natural antioxidant in frozen hamburger stored at -12 °C compared with sodium erythorbate. Results suggested that olive leaf extracts might be useful to the meat industry as an efficient alternative to synthetic antioxidants by retarding oxidation of hamburger compared with sodium erythorbate 0.5% of oleuropein and 0.5% of sodium erythorbate are the best concentrations to be used in frozen hamburger.


VIP stimulated prolactin secretion from incubated rat hemipituitaries. Under the same conditions, the secretion of GH, LH, FSH was not affected. The stimulation of prolactin was dose-dependent, with an apparent affinity of VIP of 10.9 +/- 3.1 nM and a maximal stimulation of 57.7 +/- 4.2%. Secretin, a structurally related peptide, was also active at higher concentrations whereas another partial analogue, glucagon, was ineffective. The effect of VIP was not blocked by alpha-flupentixol, a potent dopaminergic antagonist, at concentrations which antagonized the dopamine inhibition of prolactin secretion. Stimulation by VIP and TRH was additive. Neither Met-enkephalin nor naloxone interfered with the response to VIP. It thus seems that specific VIP receptors are present on pituitary prolactin cells. VIP, present in the mediobasal hypothalamus and detected in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal blood therefore is a good candidate as a physiological PRF.


Bitter taste perception is initiated by TAS2R receptors, which respond to agonists by triggering depolarization of taste bud cells. Mutations in TAS2Rs are known to affect taste phenotypes by altering receptor function. Evidence that TAS2Rs overlap in ligand specificity suggests that they may also contribute joint effects. To explore this aspect of gustation, we examined bitter perception of saccharin and acesulfame K, widely used artificial sweeteners with aversive aftertastes. Both substances are agonists of TAS2R31 and -43, which belong to a five-member subfamily (TAS2R30-46) responsive to a diverse constellation of compounds. We analyzed sequence variation and linkage structure in the ∼140 kb genomic region encoding TAS2R30-46, taste responses to the two sweeteners in subjects, and functional characteristics of receptor alleles. Whole-gene sequences from TAS2R30-46 in 60 Caucasian subjects revealed extensive diversity including 34 missense mutations, two nonsense mutations and high-frequency copy-number variants. Thirty markers, including non-synonymous variants in all five genes, were associated (P< 0.001) with responses to saccharin and acesulfame K. However, linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the region was high (D', r(2) > 0.95). Haplotype analyses revealed that most associations were spurious, arising from LD with variants in TAS2R31. In vitro assays confirmed the functional importance of four TAS2R31 mutations, which had independent effects on receptor response. The existence of high LD spanning functionally distinct TAS2R loci predicts that bitter taste responses to many compounds will be strongly correlated even when they are mediated by different genes. Integrative approaches combining phenotypic, genetic and functional analysis will be essential in dissecting these complex relationships.


Advocacy campaigns opposing the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Anti-counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) illustrate that the dynamics of networked activism have symbolic as well as structural aspects, with implications for scholars and activists who have focused on the coordination possibilities of networks. This paper analyses the creation and movement of discourses of 'network exceptionalism' between advocates, online culture and news media. Networks operate functionally to disseminate ideas and link together people participating in social action (e.g. by embedding aspects of discourse in memes, which then propagate ideas swiftly), but also symbolically, inflecting discourses towards a focus on the exceptional – and essential – qualities of the internet. These discourses embed fears about the fragility and indispensability of the internet, as well as thrilling and threatening elements like Anonymous. They are carried by memes that link the structural dynamics of networked activism to the discourses of illness, threat and utility, and gain different inflections through the European campaigns to oppose ACTA. These discourses not only create spaces for discussing and expanding upon the value of the internet to communication rights, but also leave room for interpretations that may undermine these advocacy projects.


The aim of this article is to analyse the possibilities (and intentions) of Lithuania's literary periodicals to start publishing them only in a digital version. An assumption is made that network society, affected by fast consumption trends, is more likely to choose digital magazines and newspapers, therefore literary publications are also challenged to reconsider their publishing strategies. There are several very important reasons (small circulation, possibility to survive only with the help of support funds are included) why literary periodicals should think about the possibility to abandon traditional print editions, leaving only a digital version. The attitude of editors of literary publications to possible (or necessary) typological changes could be summarized in a few sentences: the biggest problem – getting (not earning!) more money. The rest is all right. In order to find out what editors of popular periodicals think about these issues the author of this paper interviewed three editors-in-chief. Why popular publications are marched with literary ones? Because they have to survive knowing that they will not get any financial support from anywhere. There was another reason for inquiring the editor-in-chief of delfi.lt, the biggest Lithuanian news portal, about this matter: delfi.lt would like to co-operate with literary publications. Opinion of the deputy editor-in-chief of internet daily bernardinai.lt which publishes many texts on literary subjects was also sought out. What is their opinion?


ABSTRACT This study compared the effects of long slow distance training (LSD) with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in rowers. Nineteen well-trained rowers performed three tests before and after an 8-week training intervention: (1) 2000 m time trial; (2) seven-stage incremental step test to determine maximum oxygen uptake (O2max), power output at O2max (WO2max), peak power output (PPO), rowing economy and blood lactate indices and (3) seven-stroke power-output test to determine maximal power output (Wmax) and force (Fmax). After baseline testing, participants were randomly assigned either to a HIIT or LSD group. The LSD comprised 10 weekly aerobic sessions. The HIIT also comprised 10 weekly sessions: 8 aerobic and 2 HIIT. The HIIT sessions comprised 6–8 × 2.5 min intervals at 100% PPO with recovery time based on heart rate (HR) returning to 70% HRmax. Results demonstrated that the HIIT produced greater improvement in 2000 m time trial performance than the LSD (effect size (ES) = 0.25). Moreover, the HIIT produced greater improvements in O2max (ES = 0.95, P = 0.035) and power output at lactate threshold (WLT) (ES = 1.15, P = 0.008). Eight weeks of HIIT performed at 100% PPO is more effective than LSD in improving performance and aerobic characteristics in well-trained rowers.


Operculina turpethum Linn, belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. It is widely grown throughout India and it is occasionally cultivated in gardens as an ornament. It has been used as a folk medicine in many countries to treat constipation, jaundice, rheumatism, chronic gout, piles and tumors. This paper deals with the microscopic study of young and old root of Operculina turpethum, along with this physico-chemical like ash values, extractive values and preliminary phytochemical analysis were also studied.


We investigated the relative importance and predictive power of different frequency bands of subcutaneous glucose signals for the short-term (0-50 min) forecasting of glucose concentrations in type 1 diabetic patients with data-driven autoregressive (AR) models. The study data consisted of minute-by-minute glucose signals collected from nine deidentified patients over a five-day period using continuous glucose monitoring devices. AR models were developed using single and pairwise combinations of frequency bands of the glucose signal and compared with a reference model including all bands. The results suggest that: for open-loop applications, there is no need to explicitly represent exogenous inputs, such as meals and insulin intake, in AR models; models based on a single-frequency band, with periods between 60-120 min and 150-500 min, yield good predictive power (error <;3 mg/dL) for prediction horizons of up to 25 min; models based on pairs of bands produce predictions that are indistinguishable from those of the reference model as long as the 60-120 min period band is included; and AR models can be developed on signals of short length (~300 min), i.e., ignoring long circadian rhythms, without any detriment in prediction accuracy. Together, these findings provide insights into efficient development of more effective and parsimonious data-driven models for short-term prediction of glucose concentrations in diabetic patients.


The present study considers a fuzzy color system in which three membership functions are constructed on the RGB color triangle. This system can process a fuzzy input (as the membership values of subjects) to an RGB system and output the center of gravity of three weights associated with respective grades. Three membership functions are applied to the RGB color triangle relationship. By treating three membership functions of redness, greenness, and blueness on the RGB color triangle, an average color value can be easily obtained as the center of gravity of the fuzzy output. The differences between fuzzy input and inference output are described, and the relationship between the centers of gravity of fuzzy inputs and inference outputs for fuzzy inputs are shown in the present paper. A technique for obtaining expressions of the RGB color triangle using the fuzzy set theoretical method has been reported [5] and improved [6]. In the previous study, the relationship between input fuzzy sets with a plateau on the RGB triangle and fuzzy inputs of conical membership functions was examined. The RGB color triangle (plane) represents the hue and saturation of a color [8]. The six fundamental colors and white can be represented on the same color triangle (See Fig. 1). Vague colors on the RGB color triangle were clarified. In the present study, the membership value on the RGB triangular system are examined to determine the average color value as the center of gravity of the attribute information of vague colors. This fuzzy set theoretical approach is useful for vague color information processing, color-naming systems, and similar applications.


The genus Metrodorea (Rutaceae), with 6 species, has representatives that vary from small shrubs to tall trees, and its leaf sheaths make it unique in the family; it is restricted to South America, with species diversity concentrated in Brazil. In this study, we applied Bayesian and parsimony methods to infer the molecular phylogeny of Metrodorea, and cladistic biogeographic methods to propose an area cladogram for the genus. All results supported Metrodorea as monophyletic, and the presence of leaf sheaths is reinforced as its key diagnostic feature. Bayesian and parsimony trees were identical for relationships within Metrodorea. The crown clade (M. Flavida, M. Mollis) is composed of two species of allopatric distribution and very different morphologies. Metrodorea is distributed in three biogeographic subregions: the Amazonian subregion is populated by one species, the Parana subregion by three species, and the Chacoan subregion by five species. Primary Brooks parsimony resulted in only one area cladogram, which differs from the strict consensus tree from the component analysis by the relationships of the Cerrado, and it suggests a closer relationship between Caatinga province and the Amazon subregion.


We analyze a fiber Bragg grating by focusing the beam of a probe laser (λ = 633 nm) through the side of the fiber onto its core. Designed for Bragg retroreflection at some longer wavelength (λB = 1290 nm), the grating causes Bragg reflection of the probe beam if the input angle is chosen suitably. The reflected power is proportional to the square of the amplitude of the refractive-index modulation at the probed position. By scanning the probe beam along the fiber we measure the axial profile of the modulation amplitude with a spatial resolution of 10 μm. The measured profile is consistent with a single-photon UV writing process.


This is an essay on Quentin Meillassoux' recent book After Finitude: An Essay on the Necessity of Contingency , placing it within recent discussions of the relationship between science, philosophy and the humanities. The book presents a strong critique of the linguistic turn in continental and analytic philosophy and argues for a retrieval of a realist notion of the power of reason. There are nonetheless a few remaining ontological problems identified towards the end of this review essay.


The intraventricular injection of D-alanine-methionine-enkephalinamide (D-Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide), a synthetic analog of Met-enkephalin that is resistant to enzymatic degradation, inhibits copulatory behavior in sexually vigorous male rats in doses which do not influence motor activity or feeding behavior. This effect is prevented by naloxone, a specific inhibitor of opioid receptors. In addition, injections of naloxone induce copulatory behavior in sexually inactive male rats. These results suggest that endorphins play an important role in the regulation of sexual behavior.


The last fifteen years have seen a flurry of exciting developments in Fourier restriction theory, leading to significant new applications in diverse fields. This timely text brings the reader from the classical results to state-of-the-art advances in multilinear restriction theory, the Bourgain–Guth induction on scales and the polynomial method. Also discussed in the second part are decoupling for curved manifolds and a wide variety of applications in geometric analysis, PDEs (Strichartz estimates on tori, local smoothing for the wave equation) and number theory (exponential sum estimates and the proof of the Main Conjecture for Vinogradov's Mean Value Theorem). More than 100 exercises in the text help reinforce these important but often difficult ideas, making it suitable for graduate students as well as specialists. Written by an author at the forefront of the modern theory, this book will be of interest to everybody working in harmonic analysis.


BACKGROUND The roots of advanced practice nursing (APN) can be traced back to the 1890s, but the nurse practitioner (NP) emerged in Western countries during the 1960s in response to the unmet healthcare needs of populations in rural areas. These early NPs utilized the medical model of care to assess, diagnose and treat. Nursing has since grown as a profession, with its own unique and distinguishable, holistic, science-based knowledge, which is complementary within the multidisciplinary team. Today, APNs demonstrate nursing expertise in clinical practice, education, research and leadership, and are no longer perceived as "physician replacements" or assistants. Saudi Arabia has yet to define, legislate or regulate APN. AIMS This article aims to disseminate information from a Saudi APN thought leadership meeting, to chronicle the history of APN within Saudi Arabia, while identifying strategies for moving forward. CONCLUSION It is important to build an APN model based on Saudi healthcare culture and patient population needs, while recognizing global historical underpinnings. Ensuring that nursing continues to distinguish itself from other healthcare professions, while securing a seat at the multidisciplinary healthcare table will be instrumental in advancing the practice of nursing.


STUDY OBJECTIVES
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a renal replacement therapy. One concern is whether patients on PD have a higher risk of sleep apnea (SA) due to intra-abdominal pressure increase and worsened ultrafiltration capacity. Despite this concern, to date, whether the risk of SA differs between PD, hemodialysis (HD), and groups without uremia is still uncertain.

METHODS
In this retrospective cohort study, data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. This database enrolled almost all patients on dialysis in the country. A total of 7,645 incident patients on PD and 38,225 incident patients on HD were enrolled. In addition, 38,225 patients without uremia were selected as the comparison cohort. Individuals were monitored for the occurrence of SA until 2013.

RESULTS
The results showed that patients on PD, regardless of sex, all had a higher risk of SA than non-dialysis groups. In contrast, the risk of SA in patients on HD was not significantly different from that of patients without uremia. We also compared the risk of SA between patients on PD and HD directly. The results showed that male patients on PD had a significantly higher risk of SA risk than male patients on HD. However, the risk of SA did not differ between female patients on PD and HD.

CONCLUSIONS
Patients on PD should receive regular SA assessments and that an increased awareness and a higher index of suspicion for SA should be maintained in these patients, especially male patients.


Several studies have been carried out in order to evaluate optimal process management practices and to assess specific aspects related to the environmental impacts (e.g. CO2 emission) of steelmaking facilities. On the other hand, limited efforts have been spent so far to jointly evaluate the enhancement of process performances, resource management and the overall environmental and energy impact. This paper describes a simulation tool, which is a part of the integrated framework that is under development within the research project entitled "EIRES – Environmental Impact Evaluation and Effective Management of Resources in the EAF Steelmaking". The modelling approach and validation for one steel grade is described to represent the electric steelmaking route through Aspen Plus® . Results show a global error on energy consumption of about 0.4%, negligible differences in steel composition and temperature. The model application for the evaluation of environmental impact of the process is depicted. The model computes energy consumptions and emissions that can be used to evaluate KPIs to allow evaluation of plant environmental impact during scenario analyses. Thus it can be a powerful instrument for plant manager in feasibility studies in order to enhance process sustainability.


Objective: To determine the prevalence, management and outcome of traumatic dental injuries among children treated at the Paediatric Dental Clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
Methods: Data of children with traumatic dental injuries were collected from the clinical register for all children who were treated at the Paediatric Dental Clinic from November 2004 to October 2014. Data collected included the year of trauma, age, sex, teeth injured, type of traumatic dental injury and treatment done. These were analyzed with the chi square test and probability values of p<0.05 applied.
Results: Three hundred and nine children (5.0%) suffered dental trauma out of a total number of 6,169 children (age range 1-16years) seen within the study period. The mean age of the patients with dental trauma was 7.61±4.0 years. Dental injuries relating to the primary teeth was recorded in 104(33.7%). Those relating to the permanent teeth was 188(60.8%) and soft tissue injuries accounted for 17(5.5%). Many males 177(57.3%) were affected more than females 132(42.7%) but this was not statistically significant (P=0.086). There were two peak age incidences of trauma namely the 2-3years and 9-10years of age. The most common type of injury was enamel-dentin fractures 69(22.3%) in permanent teeth and lateral luxation 32(10.4%) in primary teeth. In the primary teeth related injury, the most commonly performed treatments were extractions and drug prescriptions each in 43(39.8%) while for permanent teeth were restorations 86(42.8%) and root canal treatment 57(28.4%).
Conclusion: The clinic prevalence of traumatic dental injury in this study was relatively low, still this low percentage represents a large number of patients. Institution of standard treatment modalities and a long-term follow-up will minimize complications and improve outcome.


ABSTRACT In this introductory article, the guest editors introduce the special issue by providing some background information on excellence programmes in higher education in the Netherlands. This article also describes the current state of knowledge on excellence programmes in the Netherlands, especially in terms of the effects of these programmes on students and on higher education institutions, and they identify how this special issue fills some of the most prominent remaining gaps in the literature on this topic. In the remainder of the introductory article, the authors briefly summarize the other articles in the special issue, and synthesize the main conclusions from these studies to shed further light on the key contributions of this special issue to the literature, and on recommendations for policy makers, institutions, and teaching staff in higher education.


Despite the utmost importance and decades of experimental studies on fatigue in metallic glasses (MGs), there has been so far little or no atomic-level understanding of the mechanisms involved. Here we perform molecular dynamics simulations of tension-compression fatigue in Cu50Zr50 MGs under strain-controlled cyclic loading. It is shown that the shear band (SB) initiation under cyclic loading is distinctly different from that under monotonic loading. Under cyclic loading, SB initiation takes place when aggregates of shear transformation zones (STZs) accumulating at the MG surface reach a critical size comparable to the SB width, and the accumulation of STZs follows a power law with rate depending on the applied strain. It is further shown that almost the entire fatigue life of nanoscale MGs under low cycle fatigue is spent in the SB-initiation stage, similar to that of crystalline materials. Furthermore, a qualitative investigation of the effect of cycling frequency on the fatigue behavior of MGs suggests that higher cycling frequency leads to more cycles to failure. The present study sheds light on the fundamental fatigue mechanisms of MGs that could be useful in developing strategies for their engineering applications.


Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) hold great promise for maximizing atomic efficiency of supported metals via the ultimate utilization of every single atom. The foreign isolated substitutions anchored on different supports build varieties of local structural centers, changing the physical and chemical properties. Thus, distinct atomic local environments for single‐atom catalysts are essential for determining superior catalytic performance for a wide variety of chemical reactions. The examples of synthesizing single atoms on various supports presented here deepen the understanding of the different structural and electronic properties of SACs, in which the metal single atom does not bind with any other atoms of this metal, but substantially interacts with the support ions. Due to the strong support effects, the ubiquitous aggregation of metal single atoms can be addressed, achieving highly stable SACs. This review discusses recent progress in theoretical electronic effects between atomic dopants and supports, which reveal the electronic structures of various SACs and offers guidance for rational prediction and design of highly stable and reactive SACs. It is argued that tuning this interaction by the selection of the supports toward favorable atomic and electronic structures on the surface should be taken into consideration for the development of more efficient SACs.


Trade credit is an important component of corporate finance in many countries. This paper empirically investigates the determinants of trade credit in the Nigerian context. The empirical evidence presented suggests that the affect of institutional loans on demand for trade credit is much stronger indicating that firms are credit constrained and hence switch to trade credit financing. The econometric analysis showed that high level of operating income, retained earnings, depreciation provision gives the firms a strong leverage hence would not switch on to trade credit financing.


The objectives of this study were to investigate: (1) whether foliose lichen thalli could be transplanted from one substrate to another and (2) whether such transplants could be used to study the influence of the substrate on growth. Hence, six saxicolous lichens, with contrasting distributions on lime-rich and lime-poor substrates in South Gwynedd, Wales, were transplanted onto slate, granite, asbestos and cement. Fragments of the perimeters of thalli were glued to the different substrates using Bostic adhesive. Parmelia conspersa (Ehrh. Ex Ach.)Ach. and Parmelia saxatilis (L.)Ach., fragments increased in area over 15 months on slate and granite but decreased in area or did not survive on asbestos and cement. Fragments of Xanthoria parietina (L.)Th.Fr. and Physcia tenella (Scop.)DC. em Bitt. did not survive on slate and granite while some fragments survived but grew poorly on asbestos and cement. Parmelia glabratula ssp. fuliginosa (Fr. ex Duby)Laund. fragments decreased in area on all substrates and especially on cement and asbestos while Physcia orbicularis (Neck.)Poetsch fragments increased in area on granite and cement, decreased on asbestos and did not change significantly on slate. The results suggested that the distribution of P. conspersa and P. saxatilis was determined primarily by physico-chemical properties of the substrate. By contrast, P. glabratula ssp. fuliginosa may have responded to the transplant procedure while X. parietina, Ph. tenella and Ph. orbicularis may require nutrient enrichment to grow successfully on a substrate.


The present paper aimed to identify the impact of the national transformation programs on the life of the Saudi woman. The paper was applied to a sample of (381) Saudi women. The results showed that the programs have changed the life of woman and contributed to woman empowerment. The most influential programs allowed the woman to drive a car, changed the regulations of civil affairs; travel documents and work, participation in decision-making, holding leading positions, and enacting laws against harassment, violence and abuse.  Moreover, there was a positive correlation between national transformation programs, which reinforce woman self-reliance, and improving life quality. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between national transformation programs and the woman's increasing sense of satisfaction with the community, quality of life and enjoyment, as well as security. In addition, these programs maximized woman responsibilities, so she could hardly manage her time. Moreover, full-time jobs negatively affected her life and weakened her social relations.  The paper recommends providing the Saudi woman with adequate support to best fulfill her roles, implementing programs and initiatives that help cascade legal awareness, and increasing the adoption of STEM system, which integrates science, technology, engineering and mathematics, to prepare Saudi women for future jobs.

Received: 15 December 2020 / Accepted: 31 January 2021 / Published: 5 March 2021


The ability of the reactive dichlorotriazine dye Vilmafix Blue A-R (VBAR) to act as an affinity label for bovine heart L-malate dehydrogenase (MDH) was studied. VBAR binds specifically and irreversibly to MDH (k3 0.16 min-1; KD 14.4 microM). The inactivation of the NADH-dependent enzyme by VBAR is competitively inhibited by NAD+, NADH and ADP. Quantitatively inhibited MDH contained approx. 1 mol of dye per mol of active site. The inhibition is irreversible and activity cannot be recovered either on incubation with 10 mM NAD+, 10 mM NADH or 10 mM ADP, or by extensive dialysis or gel-filtration chromatography. Data obtained from high-performance gel-filtration chromatography and analysed by Scatchard plot suggested the presence of two coenzyme-binding sites per MDH dimer. Tryptic digestion of VBAR-labelled MDH followed by reverse-phase HPLC analysis revealed one VBAR-labelled peptide. It appears that each subunit features the same peptide bearing the modifying residue involved in MDH labelling. The pKa of the modifying residue is 8.05. Both total acid hydrolysis of VBAR-labelled MDH followed by HPLC and TLC analysis, and molecular-modelling studies suggest that the modifying residue is Lys-81 and/or Lys-217.


The students we now have in 2014 were almost born with technology in their hands. Numerical and graphical calculators are accepted tools on every student's desk. But they also have smartphones, tablets, ipads, with even more powerful apps, always at their sides.  How does this change math education? What can we still expect them to be able to do "by hand" and where will they need technology to support them? Have we gained something while encouraging them to use all these tools? We will show examples of math calculations that used to be done manually 30 or 40 years ago and that are accepted today as being done via technology. Today's students will smile if we attempt to explain that these calculations used to require a lot of time and paper. Looking at the way technology has evolved in the last 15 years, we believe we should be asking ourselves which math operations will make students smile in 30 years from now, thinking of how we did these calculations in 2014. Since numerical calculations are now mainly done with technology, we need to consider which level of algebra students really need to acquire, since calculators, apps and software can do more and more of these operations for them. Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) are easily available. Shouldn't we be showing them how to better use this technology? To be aware of its limits and caveats. Examples will be presented to illustrate this. At our university, all engineering students are required to have a CAS calculator. This has been mandatory now for 15 years. We will discuss how this has changed the way we teach some of our topics and show examples of how technology has allowed us to continue to cover the same general curriculum, discarding some manual calculations and having students explore and work even more mathematics or more challenging problems. We will also present how students themselves evaluate this technology in their learning environment and how good they consider their teachers are in teaching and using this CAS environment in the classrooms.


An off-line text-independent writer verification system that leverages the similarities with the field of speaker recognition by employing analogous techniques for modelling and comparing the features extracted from the input text images is presented. The main contribution of this work is the use of the i -vector paradigm in a writer verification setting. The proposed system is evaluated with images of lines of text from the IAM Handwriting Database, and compared with more traditional approaches. The authors also analyse several algorithms for the detection and extraction of points of interest in the text images, different parameters for the modelling part and different scoring techniques. The obtained results show that the use of i -vectors clearly improves the performance of the system even for configurations where the overhead of the additional calculations is minimal.


In the light of recent geochemical and sedimentological investigations, the Frasnian-Famennian Boundary sections at Hony and Sinsin (eastern and central Ardenne, Belgium) are re-evaluated in terms of quantitative analysis of spiny acritarchs and miospores. It is concluded that the shaly interval separating the limestone beds dated Frasnian and Famennian by conodonts corresponds to a transgressive - regressive marine sequence. This interpretationion is supported, for the Hony section, by a quantitative analysis of two spiny acritarch groups (Gorgonisphaeridium gr. and Micrhystridium gr.) based on the relationship between their abundance and the depth of the marine environment. It is also corroborated by the frequency distribution of a Prasinophyceae (Maranhites stockmansii) indicative for a maximum flooding surface. A sequence stratigraphic model and the possible causes of the bathymetric changes right at the Frasnian-Famennian Boundary are briefly discussed. It is suggested that these changes are related to a short glacial phase during a warm mode period.


In 1990 inter-provincial and international exports were about equal. By 1996, however, Canadian companies were exporting about $2 in goods and services to foreign countries for every $1 they exported between provinces. In 1990, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta exported more to their provincial counterparts than to international markets. By 1996, all provinces except Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Manitoba exported more internationally than they did interprovincially. Inter-provincial trade patterns varied by province, but only modest changes occurred between 1990 and 1996. The effects of the Agreement on Internal Trade (1995) were yet to be seen. The interdependence of Ontario and Quebec was apparent.


Evaluative in nature, this article includes an initial examination of a doctoral program uniquely designed to prepare higher education administrators and practitioners to be socially just and equity-minded leaders.  The program emphasizes the integration of equity, social justice, and ethics into professional practice.  As such, this article utilizes a social justice, leadership framework.  Originally designed in 2006 by Colleen Capper,  George Theoharis, and James Sebastian to prepare secondary administrators for social justice leadership, the framework assists with the enclosed evaluation of a program that prepares postsecondary administrators for social justice leadership.  The article delineates the effectiveness of the program's implementation and the extent to which the program's goals, curriculum, and pedagogy align with components of the framework.  The program has been chosen because of its commitment to addressing socio-economic and educational attainment disparities in higher education through the focused teaching and professional development of academic and student affairs personnel.


Abstract : NCSU has specified design concepts for apparel material handling units for the purpose of reducing the labor content in the production of apparel or military sewn products. The design concepts have been offered to existing equipment producers for bid on all or part of the equipment units. The modules specified include pickup and placement devices, orienting and alignment devices, equipment feeding devices and, finally, dispose or stacking devices. Wherever practical, existing commercially proven equipment is to be utilized or modified to satisfy systems requirements. Flexibility in equipment is sought through the use of programmable computers or computer chips. The selection of a vendor to produce all or elements of the system has been guided by the vendor's demonstrated capability to produce original equipment at market value costs. Commercially viable equipment must generate operating cost savings which will recapture the equipment investment within a reasonable time span. If the modules developed do not do this, then the apparel industry will not buy the units.


Clinical studies reporting outcomes after intensive care admissions are often published, including in this journal 1 . This is a field with much research activity, and with widespread clinical interest. For observational cohort studies, it is strongly recommended that authors form their reports using guidelines presented by the STROBE (Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology) group 2 , and these recommendations are designed to strengthen the report based on their observations.


Most studies involving UVB radiation effects in the marine environment have focused mainly on planktonic communities. Despite the importance of shallow-water sediments as nursery and feeding areas for various taxa, investigations of the impact of UVB radiation on meiobenthic communities are still scarce. A microcosm experiment was conducted over a 42 d period with a microbenthic community in a tidal mudflat of the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary, Canada, in order to assess the influence of ambient UVB radiation on the abundance of ontogenic stages of harpacticoid copepods, on nematodes, and on chlorophyll a and pheopigment concentrations. The microbenthic community within non-perturbed sediment cores was exposed to 2 different light regimes: natural irradiance (natural UVB) and reduced UVB. Sampling of the sediment cores was carried out on a weekly basis. There was a significant decrease in chlorophyll a concentrations in reduced UVB microcosms on Days 7 and 14, and no significant difference thereafter. A negative impact of UVB was observed upon meiobenthic copepod nauplii and copepodites. Adult harpacticoid copepods were significantly less abundant in the reduced UVB treatment on Day 7. There was no significant difference in the abundance of adult harpacticoid copepods between treatments at subsequent sampling dates and no effect on nematode abundance for the whole experiment. Our results suggest that natural UVB radiation may have a deleterious effect on the naupliar stages of harpacticoid copepods, a key group of the meiobenthic compartment. Thus, a change in UVB radiation may greatly influence the dynamics of intertidal populations of copepods by affecting their recruitment. Since meiofauna plays a key role in energy fluxes throughout the benthic food web, structural changes of harpacticoid populations induced by UVB radiation may significantly reduce nutrient transport at the water-sediment interface and the availability of food in the upper trophic levels.