We report multicolor optical imaging and polarimetry observations of the afterglow of the first TeV-detected gamma-ray burst (GRB), GRB 190114C, using the RINGO3 and MASTER II polarimeters. Observations begin 31 s after the onset of the GRB and continue until ∼7000 s postburst. The light curves reveal a chromatic break at ∼400–500 s, with initial temporal decay α = 1.669 ± 0.013 flattening to α ∼ 1 postbreak, which we model as a combination of reverse and forward shock components with magnetization parameter RB ∼ 70. The observed polarization degree decreases from 7.7% ± 1.1% to 2%–4% 52–109 s postburst and remains steady at this level for the subsequent ∼2000 s at a constant position angle. Broadband spectral energy distribution modeling of the afterglow confirms that GRB 190114C is highly obscured (Av,HG = 1.49 ± 0.12 mag; cm−2). We interpret the measured afterglow polarization as intrinsically low and dominated by dust —in contrast to the P > 10% measured previously for other GRB reverse shocks—with a small contribution from polarized prompt photons in the first minute. We test whether first- and higher-order inverse Compton scattering in a magnetized reverse shock can explain the low optical polarization and subteraelectronvolt emission but conclude that neither is explained in the reverse shock inverse Compton model. Instead, the unexpectedly low intrinsic polarization degree in GRB 190114C can be explained if large-scale jet magnetic fields are distorted on timescales prior to reverse shock emission.


Training of merchant vessels crew covers not only theoretical knowledge from a given field but also a lot o f practical exercises. Simula tors play a very important role here as they make it possible to create real life situations experienced at sea and the true behaviour of a vessel in different conditions. They enab le demonstrating real actions taken during ship's engine failure or during any other breakdown. Thanks to this the course participants and students can exp erience a variety o f different situations which may happen both while operating the vessels during their routine work at sea o r when something goes wro ng or in distress situations. This article presents the simulators which are at Gdynia Maritime University used for training, their use and the prospective of their development. The author concentrated on presenting the significant role o f simulators in the process of education and training of sea farers and officers both those from the deck and from the engine room departments. The simulator base is bein g constantly developed and sometimes the training employs only part of its possibilities and potential; wider use in the process of training may add a lot to increase the level o f safety at sea.


Cysteinlyl-leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) were introduced as oral preventative anti-asthma medications in the late 1990s and, very recently, montelukast has been approved also for the relief of symptoms of perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis. Although clinical trials and clinical practice showed LTRAs to be effective in the treatment of asthma patients with a wide range of disease severity, their exact role in the therapy of asthma is not well defined and possibly under-appreciated. As for other anti-asthma drugs, clinical trials with LTRAs uncovered a range of patient responses, so that an understanding of the variability mechanisms (e.g. acquired or genetic factors, etc.) is needed to maximize the probability of a beneficial response. Since the molecular cloning of CysLT receptors (CysLTRs) has been achieved, new roles for cysteinyl-LTs in pathophysiological conditions have been suggested or established from the observed distribution in cells and tissues other than the lung. Cysteinyl-LTs and CysLTRs have been implicated in the pathophysiology of other inflammatory conditions including cancer, atopic dermatitis, idiopathic chronic urticaria, and cardiovascular diseases. As a result, LTRAs might be worth assessing for a therapeutic role in some of these pathologies. This review summarizes and attempts to integrate recent data on the therapeutic efficacy, effectiveness and safety of LTRAs in asthma and allergic rhinitis, and speculates on other therapeutic opportunities.


Malaysia was once on the cusp of becoming one of the 'Asian Tigers' as a result of the impressively high growth rates recorded in the early 1990s. From 1990 until 1997, the growth rate was above 9 percent per annum on average. This performance came to an end when the economy was struck by the 1997/98 Asian Financial Crisis, the worst economic crisis Malaysia has ever experienced since independence. Things eventually worsened with the onslaught of the 2008/09 Global Financial Crisis, which dragged the Malaysian economy yet into another round of a recession with the growth rate contracting at 1.5 percent in 2009.

On hindsight, these two events, which have had a substantial impact on the state of the Malaysian economy, pointed to several urgent calls for economic reforms, such as the need to address structural weaknesses of the economy and to have a growth target which is both sustainable as well as inclusive. When Datuk Seri Najib Razak became the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia from April 2009 until May 2018, it was clear that a new approach to economic development for Malaysia had to be crafted. Towards this end, he introduced the National Transformation Policy (NTP), so that the economy can be transformed into one that is of high-income and developed status by the year 2020. He also set a new vision for Malaysia, also known as the 2050 National Transformation, or TN50, which is meant to chart a new course for Malaysia to move into the second half of the 21st century. How successful is this transformational agenda? What are the other issues and challenges which need to be addressed? What important lessons can we learn from this transformational journey? This book is an attempt to address these specific questions by assessing Najib's economic plans, policies, programmes and vision which evolved during the nine years of his term as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia.


The brains of 18-day-old rats utilize glucose and ketone bodies. The rates of acetyl-CoA formation from these substrates and of glycolysis were determined in vivo from the labelling of intermediary metabolites after intraperitoneal injection of d-[2-(14)C]glucose, l(+)-[3-(14)C]- and l(+)-[U-(14)C]-lactate and d(-)-3-hydroxy[(14)C]butyrate. Compartmental analysis was used in calculating rates to allow for the rapid exchange of blood and brain lactate, the presence in brain of at least two pools each of glucose and lactate, and the incomplete equilibration of oxaloacetate with aspartate and of 2-oxoglutarate with glutamate. Results were as follows. 1. Glucose and ketone bodies labelled identical pools of tricarboxylate-cycle metabolites, and were in every way alternative substrates. 2. The combined rate of oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from pyruvate (and hence glucose) and ketone bodies was 1.05mumol/min per g. 3. Ketone bodies contributed 0.11-0.53mumol/min per g in proportion to their concentration in blood, with a mean rate of 0.30mumol/min per g at 1.24mm. 4. Pyruvate and ketone bodies were converted into lipid at 0.018 and 0.008mumol/min per g respectively. 5. Glycolysis, at 0.48mumol/min per g, was more rapid in most rats than pyruvate utilization by oxidation and lipid synthesis, resulting in a net output of lactate from brain to blood. 6. Rates of formation of brain glutamate, glutamine and aspartate were also measured. Further information on the derivation of the models has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50034 (18 pages) at the British Library, Lending Division (formerly the National Lending Library for Science and Technology), Boston Spa, Yorks. LS23 7QB, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem. J. (1973) 131, 5.


Gaussian ODE filtering is a probabilistic numerical method to solve ordinary differential equations (ODEs). It computes a Bayesian posterior over the solution from evaluations of the vector field defining the ODE. Its most popular version, which employs an integrated Brownian motion prior, uses Taylor expansions of the mean to extrapolate forward and has the same convergence rates as classical numerical methods. As the solution of many important ODEs are periodic functions (oscillators), we raise the question whether Fourier expansions can also be brought to bear within the framework of Gaussian ODE filtering. To this end, we construct a Fourier state space model for ODEs and a `hybrid' model that combines a Taylor (Brownian motion) and Fourier state space model. We show by experiments how the hybrid model might become useful in cheaply predicting until the end of the time domain.


Through asset lifecycle, data is collected for a variety of purposes across multiple disciplines, and exists in various formats and repositories. Decommissioning projects utilize and repurpose a multitude of these datasets; from use in analysis and planning, to facilitating systematic environmental assessments, and meaningful discussion with stakeholders. The key challenge is how do we consolidate historical data, incorporate new data, and make it evergreen to support planning and informed decision making; and how do we coordinate large volumes of previously disparate data in a meaningful way for all users with a simple access model?
 A team of geographic information system (GIS) practitioners and subject matter contacts in technical and health, safety and environment (HSE) disciplines was convened to collect, sort, and compile known historical offshore data, including, but not limited to; pipeline and structural inspections and environmental studies, all captured via Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), Side Scan Sonar (SSS), and sampling programs. Data was reformatted to standardize headers and attributes allowing for merging of existing like-data and to support new data integration. To this end, we also worked collaboratively with vendors to optimize data collection and improve alignment with our internal data structures.
 The Esri GIS technology was utilized for data integration, specifically the web and mobile environments. Through these environments, non-GIS users could easily access data and focused applications, supporting ease of data visualization and allowing for a single view of data spanning decades and covering multiple themes. This enabled an enhanced understanding of the offshore environment, allowing us to identify gaps and focus areas for future data capture, helping to facilitate cross-discipline discussions, and identification of operational synergies; improving access, efficiency, and reducing decommissioning costs.
 Data integration resulting from this initiative and delivery through a spatially aware GIS environment is providing unprecedented access to a vast scope of cross-disciplinary data previously not possible with more traditional engineering methods and data formats. Data accessibility aids communication, and when combined with early engagement across multi-disciplinary teams, the path to decision making is reduced, synergies gained, and costs are reduced through improved efficiency and optimization.


Triple differential dijet cross sections in e ± p interactions are presented in the region of photon virtualities 2 < Q 2 < 80 GeV 2 , inelasticities 0.1 < y < 0.85, jet transverse energies E * T 1 > 7 GeV, E * T 2 > 5 GeV, and pseudorapidities −2.5 < η * 1 , η * 2 < 0. The measurements are made in the γ * p centre-of-mass frame, using an integrated luminosity of 57 pb −1. The data are compared with NLO QCD calculations and LO Monte Carlo programs with and without a resolved virtual photon contribution. NLO QCD calculations fail to describe the region of low Q 2 and low jet transverse energies, in contrast to a LO Monte Carlo generator which includes direct and resolved photon interactions with both transversely and longitudinally polarised photons. Initial and final state parton showers are tested as a mechanism for including higher order QCD effects in low E T jet production.


: The fluorescence intensity of small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells of rat atria was measured by the modified Falck method in health and chronic guanethidine administration. The normal value of fluorescence of single SIF cells was lower than that of clustered SIF cells. However, similar deviations were observed for both the types of SIF cells under chemical sympathectomy. The mean value of fluorescence decreased during 6-9 weeks of the experiment and increased during the next 3 weeks. The most pronounced reaction was exhibited by SIF cells in the superior vena cava and interatrial septum.


Previous research on second language (L2) vocabulary learning has examined the relationship between word properties and learnability (e.g. Ellis and Beaton 1993). Few studies, however, have examined patterns in partial word form learning as a method of assessing learnability and improving our understanding of allocation of processing resources during word-level input processing. Expanding on the research of Barcroft (2000b, 2008), the present study examined partial word form learning in L2 German and Spanish while testing for effects of number of syllables in target words. Production data from an L1-to-L2 translation task (administered after a learning phase) were analyzed to determine percentage of partial versus fully produced words; amount of word produced in partial words; fragment length in partial words; and word-internal location of target letters. Results indicated production of approximately 49 percent more partial words than whole words, a high percentage of one-letter fragments, and privileging for word-initial position for both languages.


Shors & Matzel (1997) suggest replacing the question "Is LTP a mechanism of learning?" with "Is LTP a mechanism of arousal and attention?" However, the failure of experiments to verify the LTP-learning hypothesis may arise not because it is untrue, but because in its current guise, it is not properly testable. If so, then the LTP-attention hypothesis is untestable, as well.


Observer production of achromatic appearance has previously been used to measure the time course of chromatic adaptation for changes from daylight to incandescent illuminants at constant luminance, indicating an exponential decay of chromatic adaptation with a time constant of the order of 10 s. The work extends previous results in several ways. The psychophysical technique was significantly improved to provide more reliable estimates of color appearance as a function of adaptation duration, and the time course of chromatic adaptation was measured for six chromaticity changes. Three observers tracked achromatic appearance on a computer-controlled CRT display during transitions of 2-min duration between the various chromaticities. The results indicate that observer differences are statistically significant. However, differences in time course for different chromaticity changes are not statistically significant (within observer). Single or piecewise exponential decay functions cannot be fitted to the data. However, sum-of-two-exponentials functions provided accurate descriptions of the data. The results suggest two stages of adaptation: one extremely rapid (a few seconds) and the other somewhat slower (approximately 1 min). Chromatic adaptation at constant luminance was 90% complete after approximately 60 s.


Studies on reproductive biology are essential to assess culture potential of a fish species. Mystus tengara is a popular food fish as well as preferred as an ornamental fish in West Bengal. Till date detailed report on reproductive biology of this fish species in the agro-climatic context of West Bengal is lacking. Therefore, the present work was aimed to study the detailed reproductive biology of Mystus tengara with an emphasis on sex ratio, length at first sexual maturity, cycle of gonadal maturation and spawning periodicity using standard methods. Results of the study revealed female dominance of the species over male in the population. However, the males showed earlier maturation than females. Five gonadal maturity stages namely immature, maturing, mature, ripe and spent were identified both for female and male fishes. Monthly study of gonadosomatic index (GSI), condition factor and mean ova diameter revealed that the breeding season for this fish species extended from May to September with a single spawning month in July. Total spawning behaviour along with synchronous oocytes development was also observed in this fish species.


BACKGROUND
Despite growing interest in the experiences and social barriers experienced by people with intellectual disabilities from ethnic minorities, the specific challenges associated with migration from abroad faced by these individuals and their families have been overlooked. This research focuses on narratives told by Turkish-speaking families about migrating to the UK with a family member with intellectual disabilities.

METHOD
Semi-structured interviews were carried out with five Turkish-speaking families who have a son or daughter with an intellectual disability and had migrated to the UK. Interviews were analysed using narrative analysis.

RESULTS
Seeking help for the person with intellectual disabilities in a new country was a central part of migration narratives. The family member with intellectual disabilities was described as being caught up in wider geo-political conflicts. Families continued to face challenges within their own communities and with accessing local services.

CONCLUSIONS
Eliciting narratives about families' migration to their new homes can provide professionals with important information about family experiences of trauma and clarify hopes and expectations regarding service provision.


Background: Advances in treatment of thalassemia major have improved the life expectancy of the patients and therefore their quality of life as other chronic diseases. This study was conducted to assess healthrelated quality of life in these patients in Guilan province. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, thirty-one children, aged 8-12 years, with β-thalassemia major were interviewed in Guilan, northern Iran, from January to March 2016. Source of data were health centers of the province and its satellite centers, blood transfusion organizations, general hospitals and private clinics. Health-related quality of life was assessed by using PedsQL questionnaire. The Questionnaire was completed at baseline by all patients and their parents. T and Chi-square tests were used as appropriated. Results: Of the 31 children, 58.1% were girls. Total summary score in children was 75.9±20.1. Physical, Emotional, social, school and psychosocial functioning scores were 70.6±24, 73.3±22.9, 85.9±21, 74.1±21.5, 77.7±19.7, respectively. None of the children underwent splenectomy. Sex, Serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels did not show any association with quality of life in this study. Conclusion: Although quality of life in these patients was acceptable, HRQOL showed lower scores in comparison to the healthy population. It seems more social and familial support for increasing the quality of life of these children is surely needed.


This thesis is composed by four chapters on New Keynesian macroeconomics.
Chapter 1 develops a small New Keynesian model augmented with a steady state level of public debt and a share of rule-of-thumb consumers (ROTC henceforth) as in Gali et
al. (2004; 2007). This chapter focuses on the consequences for the design of monetary and �scal rules, of the bifurcation on the demand side of the economy generated by the presence of ROTC, in the absence of Ricardian equivalence. When �scal policy follows a balanced budget rule, the share of ROTC determines whether an active and/or a passive monetary policy in the sense of Leeper (1991) guarantees determinacy. When a short run public debt asset is introduced, the amount of ROTC determines whether equilibrium determinacy requires a mix of active (passive) monetary policy and a passive (active) fiscal policy or a mix where both policies are active or passive.
Chapter 2 studies the equilibrium determinacy of a New Keynesian model augmented with trend inflation, public debt and distortionary taxation. Both the level of long run inflation as well as the stock of steady state public debt have to be explicitly taken into consideration for the characterisation of the equilibrium dynamics between monetary and fiscal policy.
Chapter 3 considers the implications of external habits for optimal monetary policy in an otherwise standard New Keynesian model, when those habits exist at the level
of individual goods as in Ravn et al. (2006). External habits generate an additional distortion in the economy, which implies that the flex-price equilibrium will no longer be efficient and that policy faces interesting new trade-offs and potential stabilisation biases.
The endogenous mark-up behaviour, which emerges with deep habits, signi�cantly a¤ects the optimal policy response to shocks and the stabilising properties of standard simple
rules.
Chapter 4 analyses both optimal monetary and �scal policy in a New Keynesian model augmented with deep habits and valuable government spending. We �find that, in line with the general consensus in the macro literature, �scal policy adds very little to optimal monetary policy as a stabilisation device.


Multicast was one of the first "value-added" services to be developed and deployed in the Internet. In evaluating the success of multicast, if ubiquitous deployment has been the goal, multicast has not been successful. However, if widespread use of multicast as a bandwidth-saving technique has been the goal, multicast has indeed been successful. Upon closer investigation, one of the reasons for only partial success is a lack of support for service management. Multicast is particularly hard to manage interdomain where it has been less successful, but easier to manage within a domain where network administrators have more control and smaller networks to manage. In this article we survey some of the recent service management efforts, efforts that have been successful intradomain, but fall short for interdomain. In particular, we focus on important topics like monitoring multicast reachability between sources and receivers; understanding the different challenges and solutions between inter- and intradomain service management; and surveying existing solutions to determine whether multicast capability exists on an end-to-end path. Our investigation shows that while not much attention was initially given to multicast service management, more recent efforts have been successful at developing good solutions and tools.


International management practices emphasize the Economic Value Added (EVA ® ) model as one of the most important performance measures. The main distinction between EVA ® and traditional metrics relates to the fact that EVA ® incorporates both remunerated liabilities and financing costs of debt as well as the invested capital. In addition, EVA ® includes adjustments that minimize a set of distortions that result from the accounting practice adopted. Furthermore, EVA ® and MVA ® (Market Value Added) together, provide a more accurate evaluation of the firm's performance. Thus, our case study explores the use of EVA ® in the corporate group Mota-Engil SGPS, SA, which has a significant presence in multiple activity sectors and is listed in NYSE Euronext Lisbon. We examine the incremental information of a set of performance measures between 2005 and 2009, using regression models. The empirical analysis allows us to identify the performance associated with the creation of value for the capital holders. Additionally, we analyse the MVA ® performance and compare it to the existing link between the latter and the former measures, and we found a statistically significant relationship between EVA ® e MVA ® .


The crisis year 2020 began with the dramatic Reaper drone attack by the U.S. on the cars carrying Iranian General Qassim Soleimani. As the hash tag "World War III" trended on Twitter, scholars, government officials, and lawmakers took up the question of whether the attack was lawful. Most pointed to the international law of self-defense and said if the facts were as the Trump administration alleged, the killings were lawful. Many cited a purported rule permitting armed force against imminent threats or dangers. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Soleimani was plotting just such future attacks on U. S. interests. The only problem is that there is no right to attack in such circumstances. The United Nations Charter, which regulates the inter-state use of force, does not use the term "imminent" or any variation on it. The Charter prohibits all use of force by member states in their international relations, unless the UN Security Council provides authorization or "an armed attack occurs". This article challenges the long tradition of reading a right to attack when alleging imminent threats or dangers. The analysis will meet resistance, given the long acceptance that imminence is part of Charter Article 51. The law, however, is plain. Imminence forms no part of Article 51, and the negative consequences of believing that it does can be seen graphically throughout a year of unprecedented developments from the coronavirus pandemic to wide exposure of structural racism, to climate change and insurrection. All of these crises are linked to the killing of Soleimani and disregard of fundamental legal norms, none more important than the prohibition of armed force.


Abstract Progomphus obscurus is one of the most abundant dragonflies in South Carolina, USA. We collected dragonfly larvae from 127 sites in the Enoree River and nine of its tributaries, and correlated the abundance of P. obscurus larvae with physical and chemical characteristics of these streams. As expected for this burrowing species, larval abundance varied among streams and was significantly correlated with mean silica concentrations and the proportion of sandy-bottom sites in these streams. We also examined habitat associations on a smaller spatial scale. We sampled P. obscurus larvae by kick-seine from fine sand, coarse sand, and pebble sediment types in five sites in the Enoree River basin. Larvae were collected, preserved in 75% EtOH, and their body lengths were measured. Sediment samples were collected and Ro-tapped, and mean particle size was calculated. Larvae were present in a greater fraction of the 'fine sand' samples than 'pebble' samples. In addition, abundance was inversely correlated with mean particle size. Mean larvae size was weakly correlated with mean particle size, and inversely correlated with larval abundance. This species is associated with sandy-bottom streams and fine sandy sediments within streams. Changes in sediment characteristics resulting from channelization, increased flooding, and increased stream flow could change sediment composition and impact the abundance of this common dragonfly species.


Purpose: Intra‐fraction organ motion may cause significant dosimetric uncertainty with respect to tumor coverage. Accounting for this motion by enlarging the internal margin also increases dose to normal organs near the tumor. Therefore, it is desirable to ensure adequate target dosimetric coverage while maintaining the smallest possible irradiation volume. We present an optimization of the internal margin used for intra‐fraction organ motion and study its dependence on other treatment planning parameters. Methods and Materials: Using a commercial treatment planning system, we created 3D conformal treatment scenarios for spherical targets of varying sizes. The treatment plans were designed to cover target with additional setup uncertainty and internal margins. Target dose was accumulated over 100 fractions using a custom developed software simulating treatment execution uncertainties as well as respiration motion. The internal margin was considered to be optimal if the dose to a moving target was equivalent to dose given to static target planned with no internal margin. Results: The optimum internal amount was found to be much smaller than the full amplitude of the motion. Symmetric margins of 1, 3 and 5 mm were found to be adequate for peak‐to‐peak respiration amplitudes of 10, 15 and 20 mm respectively. The optimal internal margin was also observed to be approximately independent of the margin chosen for setup uncertainties. Optimizations for several patient target volumes also confirmed that margins smaller than full amplitude were adequate. Conclusion: Our findings present significant implications for treatment planning of mobile targets, such as tumors found in the lung and upper abdomen. Using the full motion amplitude for the internal margin is overly conservative, and optimization of the internal margin provides improved sparing of nearby organs at risk without sacrificing dosimetric coverage for the target. Conflict of Interest: Sponsored in part by GE Healthcare.


Adoption study was carried out during 2003 cropping season on randomly selected 83 farmers out of the 300 that participated in the upland rice seed priming technology transfer between year 2000 – 2002 to determine the impact of the technology on upland rice production in five States of Nigeria, through the use of semi-structured questionnaire, personal interview and field visit. Yield advantage obtained by farmers in priming upland rice seed before planting over unprimed seed ranged between 33 – 84%. Because seed-priming technology was considered beneficial, most farmers (94%) diffused the technology to their friends. Generally, farmers were impressed on the technology of upland rice seed priming at the On-farm trial level and hence, the adoption. Upland rice seed priming technology has therefore gained wide acceptance in the areas of coverage. The short duration improved upland rice variety (FARO 46) supplied to the farmers during the On-farm trial period served as catalyst for adoption of the technology, as it was a desired variety. The farmer-to-farmer diffusion of the technology will further spread the technology to wider areas.
 Global Approaches to Extension Practice Vol.1(1) 2005: 1-6


Many real-world complex systems are adequately represented by networks of interacting or interdependent networks. Additionally, it is often reasonable to take into account node weights such as surface area in climate networks, volume in brain networks, or economic capacity in trade networks to reflect the varying size or importance of subsystems. Combining both ideas, we derive a novel class of statistical measures for analysing the structure of networks of interacting networks with heterogeneous node weights. Using a prototypical spatial network model, we show that the newly introduced node-weighted interacting network measures provide an improved representation of the underlying system's properties as compared to their unweighted analogues. We apply our method to study the complex network structure of cross-boundary trade between European Union (EU) and non-EU countries finding that it provides relevant information on trade balance and economic robustness.


In January 1996, Cogito, the U.S. challenger, defeated the Australian defender, Yellow Pages Edge, by the score of 4-0 in the 22nd running of the International Catamaran Challenge Trophy. This brought the trophy, better known as the Little America's Cup, back to the United States after an eleven-year stay in Australia. The Cogito project was three years in length and encompassed the design/construction phase, initial sailing and tuning at her home, the Bristol Yacht Club in Bristol, Rhode Island, and the final training and competition at the race venue, McCrae Yacht Club on Port Philip Bay south of Melbourne, Australia. This paper will cover all phases of the project from the design through the racing.


ABSTRACTA health risk assessment for the Lin-Yuan Petrochemical Industrial Complex (LYPIC) in southern Taiwan was conducted in this study. The main aims of the study were to develop an emission inventory for the 21 processing plants in the LYPIC, conduct hazard identification based on the emission inventory, perform an exposure assessment by applying air dispersion modeling to obtain the annual average concentration of hazardous air pollutants near the LYPIC, and estimate the lifetime risk of cancer associated with volatile organic compound exposure for residents living in the vicinity of the LYPIC. Comparing with the reported monitoring data from several petrochemical and refinery plants in the world, the estimated exposure concentrations in this study were within reasonable range. The results of cancer risk assessment showed that the cumulative excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) at four representative residential sites surrounding the LYPIC were in the range of 9.3 × 10–5 to 1.7 × 10–4. From a risk management perspective, in order to protect human health, greater emphasis on the reduction of emissions of benzene, 1,3-butadiene, acrylonitrile, and vinyl chloride is recommended. This study provides a feasible risk assessment procedure to identify the key carcinogenic chemicals emitted from a petrochemical industrial complex.


Providing a quantitative estimate of earthquake location quality is not a simple task. Traditional methods, used in literature, are not exhaustive and depend on a subjective point of view, because they consist of empirical choice of quality thresholds of different estimators of location uncertainty. However, we notice that these estimators are correlated with one another, implying the need to combine them to obtain a numerical and impartial estimate of the quality of a seismic location. Therefore, we provide a formula that associates a quality factor (qf) value with a seismic location, which is based on the combination of a set of uncertainty estimators, suitably normalized. We apply the criterion to two different‐type and different‐scale earthquake catalogs, located by two different methods, obtaining encouraging results.
 The qf parameter definition is a fast, simple, and objective instrument to provide a user‐friendly classification of location quality. Thus, the qf could represent a powerful tool for routine monitoring location computation.


The research described in this paper has analyzed the use of the balanced scorecard (BSC) as part of a management control system for implementing strategies in a large mixed economy company. The shareholder structure of the company combines traditional shareholder interests with those of the government. Based on a case study in Brazil, the research innovates on analyzing BSC use and contributions to translate a company's strategy (which requires bringing together different views) into objectives and goals aligned to the four BSC perspectives: financial, learning and growth, improvement of internal processes and customer. The results point out that: (1) BSC, when used as part of a MCS, provides effective improvement of the strategy implementation process and its diffusion across the different organizational levels; (2) in the company under analysis, the performance evaluation integrated qualitative, financial and productive dimensions; (3) BSC appeared as an important tool in strategy conception and implementation; and (4) BSC enables to translate the company's strategy into objectives and goals aligned to the financial, learning and growth, improvement of internal processes and customer perspectives.


Mountain lakes located at a high elevation are typically exposed to high UV radiation (UVR). Little is known about the ecology and diversity of yeasts inhabiting these extreme environments. We studied yeast occurrence (with special emphasis on those producing carotenoid pigments) at five high-altitude (>1400 m a.s.l.) water bodies located in the Nahuel Huapi National Park (Bariloche, Argentina). Isolates were identified using a polyphasic approach. Production of photoprotective compounds (carotenoids and mycosporines) by yeast isolates, and UVB resistance of selected species were studied. All water samples contained viable yeast cells in variable numbers, generally ranging from 49 to 209 cells L(-1). A total of 24 yeast species was found; at least four represented novel species. Carotenogenic yeasts prevailed in lakes with low water conductivity and higher transparency and chlorophyll a levels. Apparently, the ability to produce photoprotective compounds in yeasts was related to the transparency of mountain lake waters, and strains from more transparent waters developed increased UVB resistance. Our results indicate that UVR is an important environmental factor affecting the yeast community structure in aquatic habitats.


The development of the economic era of education 4.0 is a challenge in preparing quality and competitive human resources in the global era, the world of production and society, which is connected to it, changes faster and faster. oriented to the 4th industrial revolution. this change has an influence on the whole community and consequently the educational needs and methods of teaching / learning also change drastically. Improving the quality of education is a choice as well as the orientation of the development of national civilization as an investment in the future of long-term nation development. This orientation is absolutely done because education is believed to be the main means of developing the quality of human resources. The purpose of this article is to describe efforts to improve the quality of primary schools in the face of the Industrial Revolution Era 4.0 in the perspective of the role of School Supervisors. The results of the discussion are summarized as follows: 1) Criteria for learning quality target teaching outcomes that can be verified by students (process and results), which try to make the success of teaching measurable to students. The TIMSS scale is the latest example of a results-oriented estimation scale. 2) The concept of quality education is not simply focused on providing educational input factors, but rather paying attention to the educational process factors, but the input of education is an absolute must within certain limits but does not guarantee that it can automatically improve quality education. 3) In the context of 4.0 industrial revolution. The education system must create globalized students who can explore the world outside the immediate environment through investigating local, global, and cultural problems by recognizing, understanding and respecting the views of others, communicating cross-cultural ideas efficiently, effectively through involvement in interactions that right, open, and effective. 4) Supervisors in carrying out their main tasks in the school they are building are not to find fault as a basis for giving punishment but must be a partner of the school in fostering and developing the quality of education in schools so that school performance gradually increases towards achieving effective schools.


The purpose of this paper was to synthesize novel antibacterial reactive dyes for dyeing cotton fabrics.,Four synthetic novel antibacterial reactive dyes based on sulfonamide (D1-D4) have been synthesized by the coupling reaction of sulfonamide diazonium salt with sulfonamido-cyanurated 7-amino-4-hydroxynaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid "j-acid". The chemical structure of the synthesized dyes was secured by their spectral data [infra red (IR) and proton Nuclear magnetic Resonance (1HNMR)].,The prepared reactive dyes (D1-D4) were applied to cotton fabrics. Optimum conditions of the dying samples at sodium sulfate 100 g/l, liquor ratio (L.R.) 1:10, sodium carbonate 20 g/l at 80°C (D1, D2 and D4), 60°C (D3 for 60 min) were investigated. The fastness properties toward washing, perspiration, rubbing and light were evaluated. Dyed fabrics showed good light fastness property and good to very good washing and perspiration fastness properties according to the gray scale. Antimicrobial activities for synthesized dyes showed excellent activity against gram-negative organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis faecalis, whereas very good activity against gram-positive organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis with respect to the standard drugs ampicillin and chloramphenicol.,The principle advantages in this study were that the synthesis of novel synthesized dyes by introducing bisulfonamide-based moieties to increase the antimicrobial activity of the cellulose fabrics could be used as a medical textile, short reaction time and reaction procedure conducted in few steps, the work up is convenient and thus the starting material can be easily prepared.


Various fungi including Aspergillus and Fusarium induce agarwood resin formation as a selfdefense mechanism in Gyrinops walla, a tree belongs to the family Thymelaeaceae. Since artificial fungal inoculation induces to form agarwood, there is a growing need for potential fungal inocula to promote the formation of agarwood resin in G. walla. The aim of the study was to determine the optimum inoculum densities of Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. which can act as inducing agents of agarwood resin formation in G. walla. Cultural conditions for optimum growth, sporulation, germination, and inoculum density and incubation period of selected two species of Aspergillus and Fusarium were examined. The radial growth of the fungal colony on different culture media (PDA, YEGA, MEA and CDA) was measured to determine the suitable medium for the growth. Sporulation on different media was examined at different time intervals after incubation at room temperature. Percentage of spore germination was determined using freshly prepared spore suspension in water and in potato dextrose broth by counting the germinated spores. Optimum spore density for the germination was measured examining five different spore densities ranging from 103 ml-1 to 107 ml-1. The pH of the suitable medium and wood of the live stem (aqueous wood extract) of the tree was measured. Both Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. showed maximum colony growth on PDA medium. However, the colony growth and the sporulation were much faster in Aspergillus than in Fusarium on this medium. The pH of the live stem of the tree was recorded as 6.08 which is approximately equal to the pH of PDA medium 6.22. The highest spore germination for Aspergillus was at the density of spores 105 ml-1 while Fusarium at 107 ml-1. Both fungal species reached the highest percentage of spore germination after 12 hours of incubation. Results reveal that the spore densities of 105 ml-1 and 107 ml-1 of water are optimum inoculum densities for Aspergillus and Fusarium respectively. The recorded optimum inoculum densities of Aspergillus and Fusarium can be recommended as potential inocula for inducement of agarwood in G.walla. Keywords: Aspergillus, Fusarium, Gyrinops walla, Agarwood, Inoculum density, Sporulation


Objective:  This study aims to determine the effect of nursing standard treatment on  anxiety and self esteem among adolescents with prodroma early psychosis in orphanages. Method: A quasi experimental pre-posttest without control group was conducted. Seventy seven adolescents are selected by using purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using t-test.  Result: The results showed that after received nursing standard treatment, adolescents  have significant decreased in the symptoms of prodroma early psychosis (from 9,16 to 7.13) and anxiety score (from 17.03 to 13.70)  and have significantly increased in self-esteem (from 45.97% to 63.77 % )  with p value <0.05. Conclusion: Nursing standard treatment are recommended for adolescents with prodroma early psychosis in the orphanage who have anxiety and low self-esteem.


Spectra taken with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) reveal that NGC 4450 emits Balmer emission lines with displaced double peaks and extremely high velocity wings. This characteristic line profile, previously seen in a few nearby LINERs and in a small fraction of broad-line radio galaxies, can be interpreted as a kinematic signature of a relativistic accretion disk. We can reproduce the observed profile with a model for a disk with a radial range of 1000-2000 gravitational radii and inclined by 27° along the line of sight. The small-aperture HST data also allow us to detect, for the first time, the featureless continuum at optical wavelengths in NGC 4450; the nonstellar nucleus is intrinsically very faint, with MB = -11.2 mag for D = 16.8 Mpc. We have examined the multiwavelength properties of NGC 4450 collectively with those of other low-luminosity active nuclei that possess double-peaked broad lines and find a number of common features. These objects are all classified spectroscopically as "type 1" LINERs or closely related objects. The nuclear luminosities are low, both in absolute terms and relative to the Eddington rates. All of them have compact radio cores, whose strength relative to the optical nuclear emission places them in the league of radio-loud active nuclei. The broadband spectral energy distributions of these sources are most notable for their deficit of ultraviolet emission compared to those observed in luminous Seyfert 1 nuclei and quasars. The double-peaked broad-line radio galaxies Arp 102B and Pictor A have very similar attributes. We discuss how these characteristics can be understood in the context of advection-dominated accretion onto massive black holes.


Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a group psychosocial intervention for children (aged 12–18) of a parent with mental illness (copmi). Method: A treatment and waitlist-control design study with pre- and post-treatment, and 8 week follow up, was carried out. The treatment (n = 27) and control (n=17) groups were compared on three groups of dependent variables: intervention targets (mental health literacy, connectedness, coping strategies), adjustment (depression, life satisfaction, prosocial behaviour, emotional/behavioural difficulties), and caregiving experiences. Results: Group comparisons failed to show statistically significant intervention effects, but reliable clinical change analyses suggested that compared to the control group, more intervention participants had clinically significant improvements in mental health literacy, depression, and life satisfaction. These treatment gains were maintained 8 weeks after treatment. Participant satisfaction data supported these treatment gains. Conclusions: Given study limitations and the modest support for intervention effectiveness it is important that this and other similar interventions should continue to be revised and undergo rigorous evaluation.


As opposed to usual Einstein gravity in four dimensions, the brane-world scenario allows the construction of a local density of gravitational energy (and also of momentum, of angular momentum, etc). This is a direct consequence of the hypothesis that our universe is located at the boundary of a five-dimensional diffeomorphism invariant manifold. We compute these brane-world densities of charge using the Lanczos-Israel boundary conditions. To proceed, we implement an explicitly covariant generalization of the Hamiltonian procedure of Regge and Teitelboim given in a previous work. Finally, we study two simple brane-world examples.


After regulating Greenhouse Gas emissions from air transport, the European Union is now contemplating taking action on emissions from the shipping sector. In order to do so, the European Commission carried out a public consultation process between January and April 2012. This article analyses the legal problems that would arise, in the light of Public International Law, should the European Union decide to follow the path of aviation and include shipping under the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). To do so, the focus will be placed on six different normative bodies of international law: (1) the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol;(2) the MARPOL Convention; (3) the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; (4) the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the General Agreement on Trade of Services; (5) the principle of sovereignty over maritime areas; and (6) the bilateral agreements ratified by the EU containing clauses on maritime transport. The structure of each of the six normative bodies will be as follows: international commitments under each international norm, possibility of enforcement before tribunals and analysis of the legality of the EU measure in relation to that norm.


While graph kernels (GKs) are easy to train and enjoy provable theoretical guarantees, their practical performances are limited by their expressive power, as the kernel function often depends on hand-crafted combinatorial features of graphs. Compared to graph kernels, graph neural networks (GNNs) usually achieve better practical performance, as GNNs use multi-layer architectures and non-linear activation functions to extract high-order information of graphs as features. However, due to the large number of hyper-parameters and the non-convex nature of the training procedure, GNNs are harder to train. Theoretical guarantees of GNNs are also not well-understood. Furthermore, the expressive power of GNNs scales with the number of parameters, and thus it is hard to exploit the full power of GNNs when computing resources are limited. The current paper presents a new class of graph kernels, Graph Neural Tangent Kernels (GNTKs), which correspond to infinitely wide multi-layer GNNs trained by gradient descent. GNTKs enjoy the full expressive power of GNNs and inherit advantages of GKs. Theoretically, we show GNTKs provably learn a class of smooth functions on graphs. Empirically, we test GNTKs on graph classification datasets and show they achieve strong performance.


The fundamental objective of portfolio diversification is to construct a portfolio of uncorrelated or mildly correlated assets so as to maximize the risk-adjusted returns on a portfolio. Portfolio Optimization is one of the techniques used by investment professionals to explore the potential of different assets in maximizing the risk-adjusted returns of the portfolio by adjusting the weight of each asset using simulations or constrained scenarios. A significant amount of research has already been conducted in the area of portfolio diversification that helps investors in devising their investment strategies and policies. Cryptocurrencies in general, and Bitcoin in particular, have aroused significant interest among investment professionals, policymakers, and regulators alike. Although much research has primarily focused on the legal and technological aspects of Bitcoin, the examination of other financial, diversification, hedge, and safe-haven aspects of Bitcoin has not progressed as far. This study explores the potential of Bitcoin as an alternative asset, and its potential in portfolio diversification, by using the portfolio optimization approach. The study employs the portfolio optimization approach under multiple constraining scenarios to evaluate the effectiveness of Bitcoin in portfolio diversification. A Monte-Carlo Simulation approach is then employed to evaluate the outcomes under each scenario by randomizing the outcomes of portfolio optimization. This study suggests that Bitcoin, due to its exotic nature, unwavering appeal, and unknown set of drivers, could at best act as a diversifier rather than a hedge or a safe-haven.


It is often said that one of the most complex machines built by mankind is the global telecommunications network. Certainly if one's definition of complexity accounts for number of components (billions), number of nodes (~100k) or degree of connectivity (2-2000) the communications network is extremely complex. It should therefore not be surprising that it exhibits a variety of "symptoms" of complexity including power law connectivity (Barabasi), small world traverses, Fractal Traffic (Bestavros), emergent behaviours (AT&T Brownout), indeterminate fault conditions, etc.
Historically, modelling of communications networks has been based on assumptions of predictable behaviour, including Poisson traffic that aggregates to a smooth continuum in the core network, linear scaling rules, and independent faults. Clearly these assumptions are over simplifications, but whilst the network was mainly offering telephony, and was only growing slowly, they gave results that were useful. A large body of tools and expertise therefore built up using these simple assumptions. However, the emergence of the Internet has pushed network operators into an era of rapid (exponential) growth of capacity (that exposes the limitations of simple scaling rules), orders of magnitude more burstiness (that can no longer be treated as representing exceptional transients), and much more complex interdependence relationships between services (more than just telephony). Network operators are therefore starting to explore novel approaches to system modelling based on the ideas developed in the complex systems community in the last 20 years.
For example it is now routine to include a fractal traffic generator in many models to assess sensitivity to burstiness, and multi-agent or cellular automata models are common in advanced telecommunications research. There are also a few groups (e.g. Dorigo, Marshall) exploring models of self-organizing networks, protocols and management systems. Acceptance of the results by operational engineers has proved to be a major barrier however. Reasons include:
1. The techniques are largely statistical in nature and do not offer rigorous proofs of stability or absolute bounds on behaviour,
2. The mode of thought required is novel and many engineers feel threatened by the implied need to retrain, or simply prefer to stay with the tools they know,
3. Engineer's and manager's intuitions about complex network systems are often incorrect, and at variance with the model results.

In contrast, we have found that intuitions regarding natural complex systems are often highly sophisticated. We are therefore making extensive use of natural analogies in our current research. However care must be taken to avoid confusion – many biological analogies have associations with disease or pests, and arouse unintended emotional reactions that distract the audience and reduce the chances of acceptance. A more neutral source of analogy is in geophysical systems, such as rivers, metamorphic reaction fronts, oceanic currents etc. As a result our current research borrows heavily from geophysical analogies. For example we are developing energy efficient routing algorithms for mobile ad hoc sensor networks based on tidal currents, algorithms for autonomous placement of network services based on hydrothermal alteration at diffusion reaction fronts, and algorithms for prioritizing traffic based on fractional crystallization. We believe that our approach will be of interest to other scientists working in these and related areas, and that there may be mutual benefits to be obtained from future collaboration.


In the present paper we introduce the theory and algorithm of the unconditional and conditional age-dependent logistic regression model, which combines logistic regression analysis of case-control study with survival analysis of cases in the data, thus facilitating simultaneous comparison analysis between cases and controls and among cases with different ages of disease onset under study. In age-dependent logistic regression analysis, estimated compound relative risk (CRR) and compound attributable risk (CAR) comprise the variance contributions of risk factors to disease occurrence and the time of disease onset, thereby the role played by various risk factors in etiology and etiopathology can be objectively evaluated. The current logistic regression model is only a particular case of age-dependent logistic regression theory neglecting the variations in onset age of diseases.


The Orange Order is a large and complex voluntary, communal organisation. While it once claimed a membership of up to 120,000 (one in three of all Protestant males in Northern Ireland) the current strength of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland (GOLI) is estimated at somewhere around forty thousand members. Nonetheless, for many Protestants the Order continues to offer a central focus for social life, and although its political and religious importance has declined in recent years it still retains an important influence in those areas, and as an expression of political identity.

This paper further focuses on patterns of socialisation across Orangeism and its role in the maintenance of the 'Orange tradition'. These reinforce, and in turn are reinforced by strong self-perpetuating political frames and discourses within Orangeism. It draws directly upon ethnographic study and public iconography (especially its parading tradition), declarations and texts produced by the Orange Order (mainly taken from the monthly publication, Orange Standard) and on material drawn from interviews with members draw from the largest survey ever undertaken. It considers how these have been used to position the organisation, through political and cultural reactions to recent events in Ireland.

In so doing it identifies directly public declarations and texts produced by the Orange Order and those carried in its monthly publication, the Orange Standard and utilises material drawn from interviews with members to identify collective memories and identity construction within Orangeism. Through the analysis of in-depth interviews with its membership we highlight the Orange Order as a marker of ethnic identity and strong signifier of social and political belonging.


In the recent X-12-ARIMA program developed by the United States Census Bureau for seasonal adjustments, the RegARIMA modeling has been extensively utilized. We shall discuss some problems in the RegARIMA modeling when the time series are realizations of non-stationary integrated stochastic processes with fixed regressors. We propose to use the seasonal switching autoregressive moving average (SSARMA) model and the regression SSARMA (RegSSARMA) model to cope with seasonality commonly observed in many economic time series. We investigate the basic properties of the SSAR (seasonal switching autoregressive) models. We argue that the phenomenon called "spurious seasonal unit roots" could be an explanation for a good fit of the seasonal ARIMA models to actual data. Some results of economic data analyses are reported.


Lipid nanoparticles containing mRNA encoding a human antibody for chikungunya virus protect against infection and arthritis. mRNA-based passive immunotherapy Passive transfer of neutralizing antibodies can protect against disease caused by chikungunya virus, an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen. However, effective treatment of chikungunya-infected patients with symptomatic disease using antibodies will require identification of high-potency immunoglobulins and an efficient platform for delivering them to patients. Kose et al. screened immortalized human B cells from a chikungunya survivor and identified a monoclonal IgG antibody with exceptional neutralizing capacity. Intravenous injection of a lipid nanoparticle–encapsulated mRNA molecule encoding this antibody protected mice against viral infection and virus-associated arthritis and also induced protective concentrations of serum antibody in macaques. The preclinical results achieved in this study paved the way for the start of translational clinical trials of mRNA-based passive immunotherapy for human chikungunya infection. Infection with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes an acute illness characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia. However, CHIKV infection can sometimes progress to chronic arthritis or even lethal disease. CHIKV continues to cause substantial morbidity worldwide as its vector mosquitoes expand and spread. There are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral drugs available for the prevention or treatment of CHIKV. Although antibody therapy has shown promise in the prevention or treatment of CHIKV disease in preclinical models, challenges remain for implementing such therapies. Here, from the B cells of a survivor of natural CHIKV infection, we isolated ultrapotent neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and encoded their sequences into mRNA molecules delivered by infusion. One human mAb, CHKV-24, was expressed to biologically significant levels in vivo after infusion of mRNAs in lipid nanoparticles in mice. We evaluated the protective capacity of CHKV-24 mAb immunoglobulin G protein or mRNA in mouse models of CHIKV infection. Treatment with CHKV-24 mRNA protected mice from arthritis, musculoskeletal tissue infection, and lethality and reduced viremia to undetectable levels at 2 days after inoculation. Infusion of macaques with CHKV-24 mRNA achieved a mean maximal mAb concentration of 10.1 to 35.9 micrograms per milliliter, with a half-life of 23 days, a level well above what is needed for protection in mice. Studies with CHKV-24 mRNA in macaques demonstrated a dose-response effect after the first dose of mRNA and maintained levels after second dose. These preclinical data with CHKV-24 mRNA suggest that it might be useful to prevent human disease.


Many studies have reported nitrogen (N) fertilization of rangeland, but few have reported changes in botanical composition, which may be as important as changes in forage production, or were continued for as long as 14 years. We determined frequency of occurrence of over 90 plant species in 1976-1988 under rates of 0, 22, or 34 kg N ha-1 applied in spring or fall to mixed-grass rangeland in southeast Wyoming; frequency of 23 species will be reported. We also determined total biomass production and production of major species and species groups in 1982-1988. Blue grama Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Griffiths] frequency decreased during years 5 through 7 because of the interaction of N and drought. The effects of long-term application of N decreased blue grama in year 12 and beyond. Nitrogen fertilization increased frequency of western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Love] in all years except the driest year of the study. Needleleaf sedge [Carex eleocharis Bailey] decreased because grazing had been removed from the study area; this occurred sooner and to a greater extent on fertilized than on unfertilized plots. Fourteen other perennial species were quite variable in response to the 3 rates and the 2 seasons of application. Frequency of 6 annual species fluctuated greatly among years and treatments. Nitrogen fertilization did not increase average forage production enough to be profitable for cattle production.


More than 60 million children in rural China are "left-behind"—both parents live and work far from their rural homes and leave their children behind. This paper explores differences in how left-behind and non-left-behind children seek health remediation in China's vast but understudied rural areas. This study examines this question in the context of a program to provide vision health care to myopic rural students. The data come from a randomized controlled trial of 13,100 students in Gansu and Shaanxi provinces in China. The results show that without a subsidy, uptake of health care services is low, even if individuals are provided with evidence of a potential problem (an eyeglasses prescription). Uptake rises two to three times when this information is paired with a subsidy voucher redeemable for a free pair of prescription eyeglasses. In fact, left-behind children who receive an eyeglasses voucher are not only more likely to redeem it, but also more likely to use the eyeglasses both in the short term and long term. In other words, in terms of uptake of care and compliance with treatment, the voucher program benefitted left-behind students more than non-left-behind students. The results provide a scientific understanding of differential impacts for guiding effective implementation of health policy to all groups in need in developing countries.


The thermodynamics of surfactant micellization and adsorption onto hydrophobic surfaces are examined. The ideal and the Flory-Huggins approximations for the combinatorial entropy of transfer are contrasted. Two main contributions for the Gibbs free energy of transfer from the aqueous solution to the micelle or the surface are considered. The first is the collapse of the water cavity left behind when the solute is transferred and the second is the destruction of the water structuring around the solute. It is the balance between these two contributions which causes the minimum in critical micelle concentration and the maximum in adsorption of ionic surfactants with temperature. Separation of these two contributions is achieved using a two-state model recently reported for water molecules around non- polar solutes.


Business continuity and the reliance on energy-enabled resources for critical processes is an area of scant research. Using an environmental waste lens, we posit that business process modeling (BPM) during the software engineering process presents a dual opportunity: by contributing to sustainability; and to increase organizational readiness during times of crisis. Modeling provides a vehicle for the assessment of business (organizational) processes and practices. The assessment of information communication technology (ICT) usage behavior is another use when modeling information systems that tackle environmental sustainability. For example, the ongoing deployment of social media and mobile technologies are impacting day-to-day interactions but aren't assessed for impact or value-added (i.e. increased personal interactions, redundancy, immediacy), they are simply incorporated into everyday use. This research uses BPM as a vehicle to assessment ICT usage behavior within the alignment of sustainable business practices and business continuity. Recognizing environmental impacts through day-to-day business practices can empower users and increase their readiness to respond when called upon in times of crisis. Resilience and the continuity of business are factors that rely on sustainable ICT infrastructures. Overall, the alignment of sustainability and business continuity (crisis management) could benefit greatly from implementations that reduce energy use and mirror the conditions often present during a disaster.


BACKGROUND
Vitamin D deficiency is becoming an increasing problem worldwide. It should not be underestimated, not only due to the well-known consequences vitamin D deficiency has on bone health, but primarily because recent studies have shown how the biologically active form of vitamin D - 1,25(OH)2D - is involved in many biological processes, including immune system modulation. Moreover, the presence of a vitamin D receptor was discovered in almost all immune cells and some of its polymorphisms were found to be associated with increased incidence of autoimmune diseases. This finding led to a proposed link between vitamin D deficiency and autoimmune diseases. Patients affected by various autoimmune diseases showed low levels of vitamin D. However, it is not always clear whether vitamin D deficiency is the cause or rather a consequence of the disease. Limitations of the studies, such as the small number of patients, heterogeneity of selected groups, environmental conditions, methods used to measure vitamin D serum concentration and other confounding factors do not lead to unequivocal results to demonstrate a direct link between low vitamin D levels and autoimmune disease. Therefore, randomized trials are needed to clarify conflicting results.


If beta- and alpha-adrenergic inotropic effects are cyclic AMP dependent and cyclic AMP independent, respectively, they may be qualitatively different. The inotropic effects of beta-receptor stimulation (isoprenaline) and alpha-receptor stimulation (phenylephrine combined with propranolol) were characterized in isolated perfused rat hearts, rat atria and rat papillary muscles. The beta-effect reached its maximum before the alpha-effect. The alpha-effect followed a three-phasic time-course indicating both stimulatory and inhibitory components. The aortic pressure wave (perfused heart) indicated a shorter contraction phase after beta-stimulation than after alpha-stimulation. The time to peak tension (atrium, papillary muscle) was relatively shorter after isoprenaline than after alpha-stimulation, which tended to prolong it. The contraction-relaxation cycles (atrium, papillary muscle) were examined by recording the isometric tension (T), its first (T') and second (T'') deri derivatives. alpha and beta-stimulation both increased Tmax, T'max (maximal rate of tension rise), T'min (maximal rate of tension decline) and T''min (maximal rate of transition from rise to decline of tension). Isoprenaline increased T'min (papillary muscle) and T''min (atrium, papillary muscle) relatively more than did alpha-stimulation, i.e. the relaxing processes were activated relatively more by beta-stimulation. The results indicate different mechanisms for the two adrenergic inotropic effects. The relatively larger activation of relaxation by beta-stimulation is assumed to be caused by clic AMP.


PURPOSE
HNC IMRT treatment planning is a challenging process that relies heavily on the planner's experience. Previously, we used the single, best match from a library of manually planned cases to semi-automatically generate IMRT plans for a new patient. The current multi-case Knowledge Based Radiation Therapy (MC-KBRT) study utilized different matching cases for each of six individual organs-at-risk (OARs), then combined those six cases to create the new treatment plan.

METHODS
From a database of 103 patient plans created by experienced planners, MC-KBRT plans were created for 40 (17 unilateral and 23 bilateral) HNC "query" patients. For each case, 2D beam's-eye-view images were used to find similar geometric "match" patients separately for each of 6 OARs. Dose distributions for each OAR from the 6 matching cases were combined and then warped to suit the query case's geometry. The dose-volume constraints were used to create the new query treatment plan without the need for human decision-making throughout the IMRT optimization. The optimized MC-KBRT plans were compared against the clinically approved plans and Version 1 (original KBRT) using the dose metrics: mean, median, and maximum (brainstem and cord+5mm) doses.

RESULTS
Compared to Version 1, MC-KBRT had no significant reduction of the dose to any of the OARs in either unilateral/bilateral cases. Compared to the manually-planned unilateral cases, there was significant reduction of the oral cavity mean/median dose (>2Gy) at the expense of the contralateral parotid. Compared to the manually-planned bilateral cases, reduction of dose was significant in the ipsilateral parotid, larynx, and oral cavity (>3Gy mean/median) while maintaining PTV coverage.

CONCLUSION
MC-KBRT planning in head and neck cancer generates IMRT plans with equivalent dose sparing to manually created plans. MC-KBRT using multiple case matches does not show significant dose reduction compared to using a single match case with dose warping.


Natural language (NL) queries formed by novice, inexperienced and occasional users tend to be incomplete, mainly because this class of users are not likely to be familiar with the functional or organizational specifications of the underlying database. A subclass of incomplete NL queries is identified, namely queries with missing infonnation. The focus of the paper is on data semantics issues involved in handling the NL queries with missing infurmation. In particular, the following issues are addressed: What kinds of semantics about the data are necessary for the system to determine what information is missing in a query? What techniques can the system employ to carry out the decision process? If the user fails to provide the answer to a supplementary information request, how can the system calculate an alternative way of requesting the supplementary information? An approach to solving these problems is also provided.


Ebola virus (EBOV) is a zoonotic pathogen causing severe hemorrhagic fevers in humans and non-human primates with high case fatality rates. In recent years, the number and extent of outbreaks has increased, highlighting the importance of better understanding the molecular aspects of EBOV infection and host cell interactions to control this virus more efficiently. Many viruses, including EBOV, have been shown to recruit host proteins for different viral processes. Based on a genome-wide siRNA screen, we recently identified the cellular host factor carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase (CAD) as being involved in EBOV RNA synthesis. However, mechanistic details of how this host factor plays a role in the EBOV life cycle remain elusive. In this study, we analyzed the functional and molecular interactions between EBOV and CAD. To this end, we used siRNA knockdowns in combination with various reverse genetics-based life cycle modelling systems and additionally performed co-immunoprecipitation and co-immunofluorescence assays to investigate the influence of CAD on individual aspects of the EBOV life cycle and to characterize the interactions of CAD with viral proteins. Following this approach, we could demonstrate that CAD directly interacts with the EBOV nucleoprotein NP, and that NP is sufficient to recruit CAD into inclusion bodies dependent on the glutaminase (GLN) domain of CAD. Further, siRNA knockdown experiments indicated that CAD is important for both viral genome replication and transcription, while substrate rescue experiments showed that the function of CAD in pyrimidine synthesis is indeed required for those processes. Together, this suggests that NP recruits CAD into inclusion bodies via its GLN domain in order to provide pyrimidines for EBOV genome replication and transcription. These results define a novel mechanism by which EBOV hijacks host cell pathways in order to facilitate genome replication and transcription and provide a further basis for the development of host-directed broad-spectrum antivirals.


Twenty-three yeast strains traditionally identified as Zygosaccharomyces bailii were studied in order to clarify their taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships. The molecular phylogeny from rRNA gene sequences showed that these yeasts were well divided into three major groups, and two of the groups could be clearly distinguished from the type strain of Z. bailii at the species level. Therefore, we propose Zygosaccharomyces parabailii sp. nov. (type strain ATCC 56075(T)  = NBRC 1047(T)  = NCYC 128(T)  = CBS 12809(T)) and Zygosaccharomyces pseudobailii sp. nov. (type strain ATCC 56074(T)  = NBRC 0488(T)  = CBS 2856(T)) to accommodate the yeasts belonging to the two groups. By conventional physiological tests, Z. bailii and the two novel species are not clearly distinguished from one another, as variations exist more frequently between individual strains and are not species-specific. However, the conclusions from rRNA gene sequence analyses are well supported by genome fingerprinting patterns as well as other protein-coding gene sequence comparisons.


This paper summarizes recent work on a new theory of fatigue crack growth in ductile solids based on the total plastic energy dissipation per cycle ahead of the crack. The fundamental hypothesis of the theory proposes a unified criterion for crack extension under monotonic and fatigue loading, so that the fatigue crack growth rate is given explicitly in terms of the total plastic dissipation per cycle and the monotonic fracture properties of the material. The total plastic dissipation per cycle is obtained by 2-D elastic-plastic finite element analysis of a stationary crack under constant amplitude loading, for both mode I (C(T)) and general mixed-mode I/II specimen geometries. Both elastic-perfectly plastic and bi-linear kinematic hardening constitutive behaviors are considered, and numerical results for a dimensionless plastic dissipation per cycle are presented over a wide range of relevant mechanical properties and mixed-mode loading conditions. Results are further extended to include fatigue delamination of layered material systems, where either discrete mismatches or a continuous grading of mechanical properties can exist across the interface.


This classroom observation study attempts to comprehend, reveal and find the learning possibilities from the social learning perspective, in the process of peer-feedback activities of EFL Learners with autism learning with different peers in different settings. This study aimed at discovering the viability of the practice of EFL learners with autism peering with other autistic students, normal students, and special needs students. The research took place in inclusive (IC) classroom, mainstreaming and Special Educational Needs (SEN) classroom.8 autistic students, 7 males and 1 female, were observed during their discussion with their peers in the teaching and learning process in English Foreign Language class. Throughout the classroom observation and discourse analysis during the students' discussion there are four pattern of interaction took place: unique collaborative, expert-novice, and passive-passive. Wherein the unique collaborative is divided into active unique collaborative and passive unique collaborative and these are new findings and may add to the theory of peer-feedback interaction in EFL context.


Inorganic polyphosphates, linear polymers of orthophosphate, occur naturally throughout biology and have many industrial applications. Their biodegradable nature makes them attractive for a multitude of uses, and it would be important to understand how polyphosphates are turned over enzymatically. Studies of inorganic polyphosphatases are, however, hampered by the lack of high-throughput methods for detecting and quantifying rates of polyphosphate degradation. We now report chromogenic and fluorogenic polyphosphate substrates that permit spectrophotometric monitoring of polyphosphate hydrolysis and allow for high-throughput analyses of both endopolyphosphatase and exopolyphosphatase activities, depending on assay configuration. These substrates contain 4-nitrophenol or 4-methylumbelliferone moieties that are covalently attached to the terminal phosphates of polyphosphate via phosphoester linkages formed during reactions mediated by EDAC (1-ethyl-3-(3(dimethylamino)propyl)carbodiimide). This report identifies Nudt2 as an inorganic polyphosphatase and also adds to the known coupling chemistry for polyphosphates, permitting facile covalent linkage of alcohols with the terminal phosphates of inorganic polyphosphate.


Objective Compare the dynamic visual acuity test (DVAT) and gaze stabilization test (GST) in patients with unilateral vestibular loss (UVL) and healthy control subjects using a novel computerized testing system prototype. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Tertiary academic referral laboratory. Patients Seventeen UVL patients (median age 62 yr) with bithermal caloric asymmetry (≥49%) or ablative surgery and 17 control subjects (median age 57 yr). Intervention(s) Diagnostic. Main Outcome Measure(s) Comparison of DVAT and GST results during self-generated sinusoidal head movements using transient unpredictable target presentations less than 95 milliseconds in duration. Results UVL patients had significantly higher DVAT scores toward the lesioned side compared with controls (p = 0.001) and the non-lesioned side (p = 0.003), but the non-lesioned side was not significantly different from controls (p = 0.157). When comparing GST scores, UVL patients required a slower head velocity to maintain visual acuity with movement toward the lesioned side compared with controls (p < 0.001) and the non-lesioned side (p = 0.004). In addition, UVL patients had significantly lower scores toward the non-lesioned side (p = 0.002) compared to controls. ROC curve analysis identified optimal thresholds for abnormal test results to discriminate the lesioned side from controls. A DVAT score greater than or equal to 0.3 &Dgr;logMAR provided 65% sensitivity and 88% specificity while a GST score less than or equal to 95 degrees/s provided 71% sensitivity and 100% specificity. When GST results were normal, adding DVAT increased overall sensitivity to 88% with 88% specificity. Conclusions Both GST and DVAT demonstrated reduced gaze stabilization toward the lesioned side in the patient group compared with normal controls. Performing GST first and utilizing DVAT when GST was normal provides optimal identification of patients with vestibular dysfunction.


All memory disturbances, especially those developing suddenly, cause anxiety of the patient. Transient global amnesia is a form of amnesia of interest in many aspects. The amnesia was described in 1964 by Fisher and Adams, and as yet about 1000 cases have been reported. Middle aged or elderly patients prevail. The attack of amnesia lasts from several to about 20 hours and begins suddenly being regarded as mental confusion. The amnesia covers recent and remote events in many years. During the attack the patient is not appearing to be ill, but is depressed not knowing what has happened. The awareness of own personality, the ability to solve logical problems and visuospatial functions are preserved. The ability to execute complex activities, e.g. car driving, is normal. The aetiology of the disorder is completely unknown. The hypotheses for explaining the syndrome are: 1. ischaemia in the posterior cerebral arteries region with transient fall of blood supply through the vertebrobasilar system, 2. epilepsy or migraine, 3. disturbed aggregation of platelets in the cerebral vessels leading to loss of vessel patency. The first hypothesis seems least plausible. Attacks of this amnesia were noted after triazolam, after thalamic infarction and cerebral angiography, in brain tumours, hydrocephalus, scleroderma, frontal lobe haemorrhage. After an attack the events occurring in it are not remembered. Recurrence of attacks is very rare. Most authors consider that the disorder is benign and regresses without sequelae or only with slight changes in cognitive functions and memory fixation.


This talk, which is based on our newest findings and experiences from research and industrial projects, addresses one of the most relevant challenges for a decade to come: How to integrate the Internet of Things with software, people, and processes, considering modern Cloud Computing and Elasticity principles. Elasticity is seen as one of the main characteristics of Cloud Computing today. Is elasticity simply scalability on steroids? This talk addresses the main principles of elasticity, presents a fresh look at this problem, and examines how to integrate people, software services, and things into one composite system, which can be modeled, programmed, and deployed on a large scale in an elastic way. This novel paradigm has major consequences on how we view, build, design, and deploy ultra-large scale distributed systems.


The use of casual labour has been a source of ongoing conflict between workers, labour unions, and employers in most organizations in Nigeria. Many scholars and commentators have written and spoken extensively on the subject matter, yet in most cases their approach tended to be one-sided, skewed and lack duality of purpose. Attempt to look at it from another angle or juxtapose its position is rare and almost absent. Therefore, this paper through content analysis of literature review examined the rise of casual work in Nigeria vis-a-vis its challenges and benefits to Nigerians. It anchored casual work in Nigeria on Neo-liberal and Equity theories. The paper opined that casual work is not in all cases bad as most people think. It has its benefits and in some cases, it is a matter of choice. Also, the paper is


Highly-textured AlN films were obtained by using a Helicon sputtering system. This sputtering method was able to sustain the plasma in a gas atmosphere of 10-4 Torr, and, in turn, to improve the surface morphology of the film. The AlN film exhibits an extremely smooth surface with a root mean square roughness of only 3.2 A.


For high-quality synthetic aperture radar (SAR) processing, Doppler centroid ambiguity resolving is an essential procedure. A novel method for the resolution of Doppler ambiguity is presented which exploits the fact that, in the compressed azimuth time and range frequency domain, all targets span the same range frequency bandwidth and exhibit the same slope which is just proportional to the Doppler ambiguity number. The slope is removed by interpolation so that a simplified Radon transform can be applied. The use of entropy to find the maximum concentration of the Radon-transformed image can improve the robustness of the method. The proposed method directly gives a reliable estimate of the Doppler ambiguity number and is not affected by the azimuth partially covered targets. Experimental results show that the proposed method works well in medium- to high-contrast scenes.


Rationale: CSF1 receptor (CSF1R) mediated signaling is important for the recruitment of CD11b + F4/80 + tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). TAMs support tumor growth by several mechanisms including suppressing anti-tumor immune responses via the M2 macrophage subpopulation. Macrophages are found in the ascites and tumor tissue of patients with ovarian cancer and therefore present a suitable target for therapy. This study evaluates the effect of pharmacologic CSF1R inhibition on the profile of intraperitoneal macrophages in a murine model of ovarian cancer. In addition, we assessed the direct effect of CSF1R inhibition on several established human ovarian cancer cell lines. Methods: To establish an orthotopic ovarian cancer model, we injected murine ID8 epithelial ovarian cancer cells into the ovarian bursa of immuno-competent C57BL6 mice. ID8 cells were labeled with the luciferase gene for bioluminescence. Upon establishment of tumor disease and ascites, mice were treated with daily oral doses of the selective CSF-1R inhibitor GW2580. Ascites and tumor tissue was assessed for the presence of CD11b + Gr-1 lo Ly6C hi mononuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and CD11b + F4/80 + tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The human ovarian cancer cell lines OVCAR5, IGROV1 and SKOV3 were treated with CSF1R inhibitors and cell proliferation assessed. Results: In vivo gene imaging showed ID8 tumor growth initially confined to the ovary with subsequent metastatic spread to the peritoneal cavity closely mimicking the growth pattern of human ovarian cancer. In animals with established metastatic tumor disease and ascites, GW2580 treatment caused a significant reduction in the ascites volume to about 25% of the level in untreated animals. GW2580 induced a drastic reduction in TAMs and MDSCs in ascites and intraperitoneal tumor tissue. Both MHCII+ and MHCII- TAM subpopulations were reduced equally. OVCAR5, IGROV1 and SKOV3 showed a decrease in cell proliferation when treated with CSF1R inhibitors albeit at higher doses (>10 M). Conclusion: Inhibition of CSF1R signaling in vivo reduces immune-suppressive TAMs and MDSCs in an intraperitoneal murine ovarian cancer model. In addition, CSF1 decreases ovarian cancer cell proliferation. This suggests that CSF1R inhibition might have dual therapeutic effects by modulating the intraperitoneal microenvironment and directly targeting ovarian cancer cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C183.


This study sought to create better understanding about existing barriers to the use of maternal and child health services in northern Ghana. Using the survey research design, the study integrates outcome and process approaches to assessing barriers to the utilisation of maternal health services. Data were collected through primary interviews of 496 pregnancy and delivery episodes cases. The findings show that self-reported antenatal and postnatal attendance was high in all the districts surveyed. However, one major barrier has been the low quality of services provided. The findings also indicate that although health facility delivery is high in the districts surveyed, only the well-to-do non-literate, urbanite women and the educated patronise supervised normal health delivery care. Due to social and physical access constraints, most rural-based, illiterate and poor women perceived supervised delivery as an option only for pregnant mothers experiencing complications of pregnancy or labour. Recommendations to break existing barriers to maternal and child health services in outlying rural communities included the need to improve the quality of maternal and child health service through the supply of major logistic deficiencies, the need to provide support to the facilities with 4-wheel auxiliary drive pickup trucks to facilitate referrals of clients in pregnancy or labour complications as public transport is grossly lacking in the outlying communities, and the need to step up the training of traditional birth attendants (TBAs), as an alternative channel for supervised deliveries. KEYWORDS : Barriers, maternal and child health services, northern regions, Ghana, traditional birth attendants


Hydrogenated amorphous thin silicon films (a-Si:H) deposited using Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) on metal coated glass substrates were investigated to determine the effect of Aluminium Induced Crystallization (AIC) on their Electron Field Emission (FE) properties. Pre and post-surface characterization of the processed AIC-PECVD thin silicon films showed increased surface roughness and the presence of uniformly spaced "islandlike" micro/nano crystallites on the surface of both chromium (Cr) and molybdenum (Mo) backplane samples. Best FE results were obtained from a-Si:H sputtered with a thin layer of aluminum (Al) on top and isothermally annealed at 350 °C. FE currents were measured upto above 10-6 A at emission thresholds of 35-60 V/μm. FE results of the AIC-PECVD thin silicon films were found to be particularly dependent on backplane material and independent of the annealing temperature. Diode configuration field emission measurements have been conducted using an ANODE plate coated with indium tin-oxide (ITO) and phosphor to observe the light emission.


Due to increased pressures to raise scores on high stakes tests, teachers of emergent writers often focus on literacy sub-skills that do not provide authentic experiences with language and writing. Early literacy instruction must be designed around the interconnected modes of symbolic representation of oral language, drawing and writing to develop critical thinking skills and deep literacy learning. Additionally, learning environments must support the development of emergent writers as they negotiate their understandings and identities within unique sociocultural worlds. Through a digital presentation and collaborative experience, this project aims to inform administrators and teachers on the natural literacy development of emergent writers and influence their instructional practices toward a more effective and respectful way of teaching writing to children. The project presents current research and literature on oral language development, the use of storytelling in the composing process, the role of drawing for emergent writers, and the role of the environment in literacy learning. Instructional methods are explored that honor the needs and development of emergent writers.


OBJECT
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two different treatment protocols on physiological characteristics and outcome in patients with brain trauma. One protocol was primarily oriented toward reducing intracranial pressure (ICP), and the other primarily on maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP).

METHODS
A series of 67 patients in Uppsala were treated according to a protocol aimed at keeping ICP less than 20 mm Hg and, as a secondary target, CPP at approximately 60 mm Hg. Another series of 64 patients in Edinburgh were treated according to a protocol aimed primarily at maintaining CPP greater than 70 mm Hg and, secondarily, ICP less than 25 mm Hg for the first 24 hours and 30 mm Hg subsequently. The ICP and CPP insults were assessed as the percentage of monitoring time that ICP was greater than or equal to 20 mm Hg and CPP less than 60 mm Hg, respectively. Pressure reactivity in each patient was assessed based on the slope of the regression line relating mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) to ICP. Outcome was analyzed at 6 months according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). The prognostic value of secondary insults and pressure reactivity was determined using linear methods and a neural network. In patients treated according to the CPP-oriented protocol, even short durations of CPP insults were strong predictors of death. In patients treated according to the ICP-oriented protocol, even long durations of CPP insult-mostly in the range of 50 to 60 mm Hg--were significant predictors of favorable outcome (GOS Score 4 or 5). Among those who had undergone ICP-oriented treatment, pressure-passive patients (MABP/ICP slope > or = 0.13) had a better outcome. Among those who had undergone CPP-oriented treatment, the more pressure-active (MABP/ICP slope < 0.13) patients had a better outcome.

CONCLUSION
Based on data from this study, the authors concluded that ICP-oriented therapy should be used in patients whose slope of the MABP/ICP regression line is at least 0.13, that is, in pressure-passive patients. If the slope is less than 0.13, then hypertensive CPP therapy is likely to produce a better outcome.


Public procurers can use the public purchasing volume under their control to achieve an endless list of results. However literature does not give a complete overview of these results. The purpose of this research was to create an overview of the results mentioned in literature and subsequently analyzing the Dutch situation using the results found in literature. A survey was sent to practitioners across different public entities in the Netherlands to analyze how much attention was given to certain topics and which results were achieved. To create a more in-depth understanding of how these results were achieved the respondents were also asked to what extent a number of barriers had an influence on their results. Ensuring fairness, compliance with the Dutch rules and regulations and ensuring transparency are the results that are rated as most important. A lack of awareness of possible results of other parties with whom public procurers have to work is perceived as the biggest barrier for public procurement. Future research can be conducted on the relations between barriers and results and the differences across public entities.


In viscous Newtonian fluids, support of shear waves are limited to the viscous boundary layer. Non-Newtonian fluids which have shear modulus, however, support shear waves over much longer distances. The restoring force responsible for the shear wave propagation arises from the entanglement of high aspect ratio macromolecules. We report low frequency (30–60 Hz) shear wave studies of aqueous worm-like micellar fluids composed of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) for the surfactant and sodium salicylate (NaSAL) as the salt over a wide concentration range (20–500 mM CTAB). Shear speeds range from 75 to 700 mm/s over this concentration range at room temperature with evidence of two phase transitions at 200 mM and 375 mM CTAB. Shear stress attenuation and temperature resolved measurements between 20 and 40 C will also be presented.


Radical reform of the arrangements for pre-registration nurse education and the recommendation that nurse teaching become a graduate profession prompted a reappraisal of the arrangements for nurse teacher preparation. This thesis reports an evaluation of a new form of preparation for nurse teaching. The new courses were intended to combine advanced study of nursing with educational theory and practice, and led to an honours degree and a teaching qualification recordable on the professional register. The study used the fourth generation evaluation model as a theoretical framework. During the early stages of the work, a secondary research purpose emerged - to evaluate the fourth generation model. This model has a qualitative focus, and emphasises the participation of all stakeholders with an interest in the outcomes of the evaluation. Participants in the enquiry were student nurses, nurse teachers, and to a lesser extent, teacher course leaders. The multi-method research design included document analysis; group interviews; postal questionnaires; non-participant observation; individual interviews. Rich qualitative data obtained from a small number of participants illuminated the quantitative data gathered from a national postal survey of all the nurse teachers (n=109) who graduated in 1992 from the seven courses studied. A joint construction of an effective nurse teacher was developed from the data. It was concluded that the nurse teachers were broadly satisfied with the quality of the preparation courses. However, of the nine role elements included in the preparation courses, in only three elements did more than half the nurse teachers feel equipped for their new roles. In six role elements more than half the nurse teachers did not feel equipped. Credibility of the enquiry findings, the conclusions and recommendations were enhanced by a quality audit of the enquiry process and a critical review of the theoretical model. The fourth generation evaluation model was shown to be effective in revealing deficits in nurse teacher preparation which had become apparent when the respondents embarked on their new roles. Recommendations based on the findings encompassed both action and further research and were directed towards i) improving current courses for nurse teacher preparation ii) re-examining a crucial role element - the clinical role iii) re-examining the focus, location and organisation of nurse teacher preparation.iv) further creative application of the fourth generation model.