In a natural gravel-bed stream, the bed that has an organized roughness structure created by the streamflow is called the water-worked gravel bed (WGB). Such a bed is entirely different from that created in a laboratory by depositing and spreading gravels in the experimental flume, called the screeded gravel bed (SGB). In this paper, a review on the state-of-the-art research on WGBs is presented, highlighting the role of water-work in determining the bed topographical structures and the turbulence characteristics in the flow. In doing so, various methods used to analyze the bed topographical structures are described. Besides, the effects of the water-work on the turbulent flow characteristics, such as streamwise velocity, Reynolds and form-induced stresses, conditional turbulent events and secondary currents in WGBs are discussed. Further, the results form WGBs and SGBs are compared critically. The comparative study infers that a WGB exhibits a higher roughness than an SGB. Consequently, the former has a higher magnitude of turbulence parameters than the latter. Finally, as a future scope of research, laboratory experiments should be conducted in WGBs rather than in SGBs to have an appropriate representation of the flow field close to a natural stream.


We developed a facile noninjection synthetic method to prepare white light-emitting Cd-free thick shell Cu,Mn:Zn–In–S/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with high stability. Based on systematic research on the relationship between shell thickness and QD stability, it was demonstrated that overcoating thick ZnS passivation layers (∼7.9 monolayers) onto a Cu,Mn:Zn–In–S core could improve the photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) substantially up to 75% and the high PL QY could be maintained after the initial oil-soluble QDs were transferred into aqueous media via ligand exchange. The PL lifetime of thick shell Cu,Mn:Zn–In–S/ZnS QDs increased remarkably by 30-fold (from 0.13 μs to 3.50 μs). Also, the prominent thermally and photochemically stable properties of the resultant thick shell QDs have been ascertained. Moreover, gram-scale white emission Cu,Mn:Zn–In–S/ZnS QDs could be prepared in a single batch reaction via the noninjection synthetic approach. In addition, the as-obtained white emissive Cu,Mn:Zn–In–S/ZnS QDs could be employed in white quantum dot light-emitting diode (QD-LED) devices and have shown good performance with a lower turn-on voltage of 5.7 V and color rendering indexes (CRI) as high as 85, indicating that Cu,Mn:Zn–In–S/ZnS QDs could be a potential candidate in QD-based lighting or solid-state lighting as a single color-converting material.


This paper tells us briefly the background and aims of the foundation of IFAD. It points out that IFAD plays an important part in helping the development of agricultural and food production in developing countries, and in reducing the poverty conditions in the poorest countries. It tells us that IFAD has offered donation to China for 8 times, with a total amount reaching to 56.839 million dollars. With the development of the economy of China, IFAD has changed its leading financial policies to China from a highly beneficial policy to a moderate lending policy. The operation of the loan projects have greatly improved the living conditions and of the local and the conditions of agricultural production, promoting the improvement of economy, social stability, and environment. It discusses several lending patterns of IFAD China' s rural financial projects. The government-lending model, which is represented by the IFAD financial loan. Market-oriented model of formal financial institution, which is represented by IFAD Rural Credit Cooperatives, with market oriented. Government supporting as secondary model, which are dominated by IFAD Women's lending patterns and Village Development Fund lending model. In this paper, advantages and disadvantages are analyzed and evaluated. It discusses the development trend of IFAD financial lending patterns in terms of Rural Credit Cooperatives and a pattern which is community –oriented and farmers-benefited.


The principle of non-discrimination takes a pivotal position in human rights debate both nationally and internationally. Elaborate provisions in international human rights instruments and national Constitutions recognise this right as one of the most basic guarantees of the individual. This means that national legal systems should create a conducive environment for the enforcement of this right. This article discusses judicial application of the principle of non-discrimination in Botswana. It assesses the extent to which this concept has been implemented in the national law of Botswana in light of the Attorney General of Botswana v. Unity Dow.1 This case does not only outlaw sex-based discrimination in Botswana but it is one of the few judicial decisions in the country in which non-discrimination provisions of the Constitution were extensively analysed. The article also examines the judicial approach to the interpretation of constitutional human rights clauses and the possible influence of the decision within the constitutional order of Botswana and the Southern African region generally. It is argued that the principles enunciated in the case should inform and guide not only the Botswana judiciary but also courts in the region especially the approach adopted by the court in interpreting nondiscrimination clauses of the Constitution.


The need for dental and oral treatment in the society is constantly changing. Epidemiological studies show that in the rapidly aging population in Western Europe, caries (except for root caries) is declining but more complex periodontal treatment is needed. The number of completely edentulous patients is decreasing. Patients have a longer life expectancy but are medically and psychologically more compromised. Many more patients are at high risk for medical complications. Therefore, a more medical orientation of the dental education is needed. The basic cellular and molecular knowledge in medicine is rapidly expanding. The practical application of this expanded knowledge has been introduced in dentistry such as use of DNA probes, genetic testing, vaccines etc. The graduating dentist should be aware of the scientific progress and be able to apply this technology in his future practice. Therefore, the urgent need was felt to reform the dental education fundamentally and to give it a more medical orientation. Teaching is organised in coherent blocks of lectures covering specific parts of' a discipline and discussing the content from different angles by different lecturers. Basic information (eg. physiology, microscopy, microbiology) is provided in the same block as the clinical and therapeutic information. Preclinical laboratories prepare the student for the clinical phase of a discipline and are not any longer devoted to dental technical laboratory work. More time is given to prosthetic planning, communication with the dental technician and to analyse the biological effects of prosthetic appliances. In the final year a large number of teaching hours is devoted to general medical pathology including physiopathology, dermatology, general head and neck pathology and surgery (ENT, oncology, orthognathic surgery) as well as gerodontology including general medical, psychological and nutritional themes. Finally, clinically the student has a multidisciplinary approach in his diagnosis and treatment of patients. The final aim is train and educated oral physicians.


Purpose of reviewReview of recent developments in the field of cross-reactivity in food allergy and the clinical relevance of these developments. Recent findingsNew foods have been added to the list of Bet v 1 and profilin-related food allergies. Clinical relevance of cross-reactions based on recognition of carbohydrate determinants and profilin is limited for the population of pollen-allergic patients as a whole. For selected food allergic patients, however, N-glycans and particularly profilin are potentially of clinical relevance. Lipid transfer proteins have further been established as clinically more severe allergens in several foods. This severity is attributed to their stability to proteolysis and processing. Storage proteins of several nuts and seeds have been identified as important allergens, but cross-reactivity between storage proteins of different foods appears to be limited. Using cross-reactivity as the basis for immunotherapy in food allergy seems promising but needs confirmation by double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. SummaryThe continued identification and characterization of cross-reactive allergens facilitates the study of factors determining clinical relevance of cross-reactivity and of possible efficacy of immunotherapy in food allergy.


Optunity is a free software package dedicated to hyperparameter optimization. It contains various types of solvers, ranging from undirected methods to direct search, particle swarm and evolutionary optimization. The design focuses on ease of use, flexibility, code clarity and interoperability with existing software in all machine learning environments. Optunity is written in Python and contains interfaces to environments such as R and MATLAB. Optunity uses a BSD license and is freely available online at this http URL


In February of 1900, the colony of Martinique experienced its first general strike, which was in turn mobilized in Paris by those on the left and right as they struggled for control of the French Chamber of Deputies. Socialists sought leverage in their struggle to oust "bourgeois" elements from the government; moderates and reformists used the strike to highlight issues of administrative misconduct within the metropole; and the right took the occasion to question the social ideals of the Republic and discredit the Waldeck-Rousseau coalition government. Growing civil unrest at the hands of a failing sugar economy on the distant island of Martinique was nearly sufficient to topple the government at home, as debates readily turned toward labor unrest within the metropole. As this paper demonstrates, the old colony of Martinique and its social concerns participated in and helped shape a fin-de-siecle France riddled with parliamentary infighting and rising demands for social equality.


Over fifty businesses in the Klang Valley, Malaysia that currently use e‐commerce responded to a survey asking them to identify potential barriers to e‐commerce expansion. The most frequently chosen categories were related to security and the uncertain nature of the legal contract between supplier and customer. Although some differences were found among certain types of companies, such concerns were generally felt by small and large companies and those with varying e‐commerce experience.


Tony Conrad has significantly influenced cultural developments from minimalism to underground film, "concept art," postmodern appropriation, and the most sophisticated rock and roll. Creator of the "structural" film, The Flicker, collaborator on Jack Smith's Flaming Creatures and Normal Love, follower of Henry Flynt's radical anti-art, member of the Theatre of Eternal Music and the first incarnation of The Velvet Underground, and early associate of Mike Kelley, Tony Oursler, and Cindy Sherman, Conrad has eluded canonic histories. Yet Beyond the Dream Syndicate does not claim Conrad as a major but under-recognized figure. Neither monograph nor social history, the book takes Conrad's collaborative interactions as a guiding thread by which to investigate the contiguous networks and discursive interconnections in 1960s art. Such an approach simultaneously illuminates and estranges current understandings of the period, redrawing the map across medium and stylistic boundaries to reveal a constitutive hybridization at the base of the decade's artistic development. This exploration of Conrad and his milieu goes beyond the presentation of a relatively overlooked oeuvre to chart multiple, contestatory regimes of power simultaneously in play during the pivotal moment of the 1960s. From the sovereign authority invoked by Young's music, to the "paranoiac" politics of Flynt, to the immanent control modeled by Conrad's films, each avant-garde project examined reveals an investment within a particular structure of power and resistance, providing a glimpse into the diversity of the artistic and political stakes that continue to define our time.Branden W. Joseph is Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art in the Department of Art History and Archaeology at Columbia University and an editor of the journal Grey Room (MIT Press). He is the author of Random Order: Robert Rauschenberg and the Neo-Avant-Garde (MIT Press, 2003.)


Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) has become serious issue especially after Cold War why symetric war perception has changed. In Cold War era, armament competition has been based for two blocks which has been between NATO and Warsaw Pacts. So Cold War has also involved to control of the armament process. Two blocks has signed treaties or agreements about disarmament concept. Conventional and nuclear arms were the main discussion issues in that era. Beside those arms, biologic or chemical arms has been intensively used in Vietnam War. Ideologic competition has required military solidarity with the super powers. USA and USSR have sold weapons to their allies in not only Europe continent but also to Asia, Africa, Southern America. The countries which have been asministrated by dictators have had WMD through the super power's competition. Currently the main problem, WMD can not be controlled by the treaties or agreements. After the dissemination of Soviet Bloc, WMD has been captured by different forces which some of them non-state actors. Dictators can not be controlled by any force. Super powers has founded balance in Cold War. New era has indicated to world public opinion main contradiction has not been among West and East, in fact it is among North and South. Southern countries' people feel they are pressed by Northern countries. Islamic fundamentalism is accepted instead of Marxism by the Arabs for resistance to developed countries. Arabs do not trust to their dictators. Al Queda has emerged from these injury emotions, it has been based on global environment. Islamic fundemantalism facilitates to use WMD, to realize terror attacks. 9/11 events has shown us, asymetric war has been realized by terror organizations, they are also non-state actors and they have not regular forces. Pre-emptive or preventive strike concept has been resourced from these terror strikes. In US strategies WMD has been coded as Chemical Biologic Radiological Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) weapons. In this paper, WMD will be considered as tool of new world order and asymetric war era.


Knowledge of factors influencing recurrence risk is essential in the prevention of disease recurrence. In this paper, we show that correct estimation of the strength of such factors is, however, troublesome. We performed a simulation study of the recurrence risk of a fictional pregnancy-related disorder, Y. We assumed that there were four component causes of Y, X1 representing the determinant under study, X2 and X3 representing unmeasured determinants, and X4 representing pregnancy as a necessary condition for developing Y. We stipulated that each woman would become pregnant twice. RR of disease during the first pregnancy for X1+ (presence) vs X1- (absence) was 19.0. Attributable risk (AR) was 0.18. RR of recurrent disease for X1+ vs X1- during the second pregnancy, calculated among women with previous disease, was apparently 1.0, and AR was apparently 0.00. However, we show that real RR and AR were considerably higher (19.0 and 0.95, respectively). Our simulation shows that selection of a study population on the basis of previous disease can lead to underestimation of the strength of recurrence risk factors. The bias involved is a form of collider-stratification bias. We urge for extra caution in the interpretation of studies of recurrence risk factors.


Within the field of terahertz science and technology, one of the most active areas of current research focuses on the intersection of terahertz measurements and methods with the world of biology and medicine. Current activities revolve around numerous diverse questions, ranging from studies of the vibrational spectra of biomolecules and macromolecular complexes to biosensing to medical diagnostics based on noninvasive imaging techniques. Unlike many other areas in which terahertz science is now making inroads, this research domain has been plagued with a number of misleading ideas, which originated at least two decades ago and continue to crop up in current literature. In the worst case, these unfortunate notions can distract from, and even obscure, fascinating and meaningful results. The purpose of this Perspective is to highlight a few of these mistaken concepts and, more importantly, to distinguish them from the many interesting works that continue to emerge from the fruitful marriage of terahertz with biology and medicine.


The objective of the study was to compare the use of medical and dental services by seniors residing at a seniors-only living facility and in the general community. It was a quantitative study, among 50 residents of the living facility and 173 in the general community. The data were collected between November 2011 and February 2012 through a questionnaire, and subjected to statistical analysis. Performance of clinical exams and satisfaction with health services was greater among seniors living in the general community; however, physical therapy treatment was more common among those living in the facility. The use of medical and dental services showed a statistically significant difference. The seniors in both groups need oral health monitoring and those living in the facility also require coverage by the Family Health Strategy. The presence of professionals with the right profile to adequately serve residents and the network of available services are determining factors for the success of this new housing policy.


Adult-use cannabis legalization is being increasingly embraced by various jurisdictions in the United States (US) and internationally. As adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences of cannabis, it is essential to ensure that the effects of adult-use legalization are minimized.

This review aimed to synthesize the extant literature exploring the impact of adult-use legalization on adolescents and provide recommendations for future action. We focused on the following domains: 1) prevalence of use, 2) high-frequency use, 3) perceived harm, 4) perceived availability, 5) modes of use, 6) potency, 7) mental health and medical outcomes, and 8) legal consequences.

Narrative review is focused on adult-use legalization in the US.

Adolescent cannabis use prevalence in US legal (as well as illegal) states has remained essentially stable since the advent of adult-use legalization. Criminal penalties for adolescents have not decreased in legal states and maybe increasing; out-of-school suspensions for cannabis use may also be increasing. It is uncertain whether reported decreases in national rates of perceived harm and availability and increases in cannabis frequency and potency of use in adolescents differ between legal and illegal states. The impact of legalization on adolescent health outcomes remains uncertain.

At this early stage of adult-use legalization, we recommend that jurisdictions implement real-time, detailed monitoring to assess adolescent outcomes. In addition, both criminal penalties and out-of-school suspensions for cannabis infractions should be minimized.


Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of losartan and prednisolone acetate in inhibiting corneal scarring fibrosis after alkali burn injury in rabbits. Methods Sixteen New Zealand White rabbits were included. Alkali injuries were produced using 1N sodium hydroxide on a 5-mm diameter Whatman #1 filter paper for 1 minute. Four corneas in each group were treated six times per day for 1 month with 50 µL of (1) 0.2 mg/mL losartan in balanced salt solution (BSS), (2) 1% prednisolone acetate, (3) combined 0.2 mg/mL losartan and 1% prednisolone acetate, or (4) BSS. Area of opacity and total opacity were analyzed in standardized slit-lamp photos with ImageJ. Corneas in both groups were cryofixed in Optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound at 1 month after surgery, and immunohistochemistry was performed for alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and keratocan or transforming growth factor β1 and collagen type IV with ImageJ quantitation. Results Combined topical losartan and prednisolone acetate significantly decreased slit-lamp opacity area and intensity, as well as decreased stromal myofibroblast α-SMA area and intensity of staining per section and confined myofibroblasts to only the posterior stroma with repopulation of the anterior and mid-stroma with keratocan-positive keratocytes after 1 month of treatment. Corneal fibroblasts produced collagen type IV not associated with basement membranes, and this production was decreased by topical losartan. Conclusions Combined topical losartan and prednisolone acetate decreased myofibroblast-associated fibrosis after corneal alkali burns that produced full-thickness injury, including corneal endothelial damage. Increased dosages and duration of treatment may further decrease scarring fibrosis. Translational Relevance Topical losartan and prednisolone acetate decrease myofibroblast-mediated scarring fibrosis after corneal injury.


Relative permeability and capillary pressure saturation functions are essential to Reservoir Engineering because they determine the efficiency of water-flooding operations on the microscopic and macroscopic scale. These functions are required for predicting the reservoir performance through the whole reservoir life time. Generally, the relative fluid-phase permeability in the formation rock can be measured by performing displacement experiments in core sample by either steady state or unsteady state flooding experiments. Conventional analytical interpretation of laboratory SCAL experiments as performed by many service laboratories may add uncertainty to relative permeability and capillary pressure data and consequently to reservoir simulation. Relative permeability and capillary pressure function can more reliably be obtained by numerical history matching of displacement experiments. The main problems of the analytical approach are the crude approximations behind the interpretation models such as the JBN approach [1]. This is the restrictive assumption that neglects action of capillary forces, which is especially a problem close to residual oil saturation. Thus numerical modelling of SS (steady-state), USS (unsteady state) and C (centrifuge) experiments and more specifically history matching of related production, pressure and saturation data are the way to obtain more accurate results because full physics is taken into account. Finally, the procedure will be verified by comparing the results obtained in this study to literature data obtained by using different simulation tools and approaches. The proposed master thesis aims on numerical interpretation of SCAL (Special Core Analysis) data in order to improve the quality of relative permeability and capillary pressure saturation functions. By simulating and history matching SCAL experiments we will overcome typical experimental issues and the deficiencies of analytical interpretation methods. In the frame of the thesis, numerical models for different SCAL techniques will be setup and experimental data will be described. To achieve the best and a more objective interpretation and for better data handling, the history matching procedure will be automated.


Background Cognitive bias is the tendency to make decisions or take action in an illogical way. According to Borstein and Emler, "The simplest approach to improving doctors' decision making is to educate them about the existence of the biases..."Our course explores subjectivity and bias in mental health settings and reinforce evidence-based guidelines for clinical practice. Methodology The course was developed by senior clinicians and is made up of three scenarios, designed to be uncertain cases of increasing difficulty. Participants were tasked with taking a targeted history and performing a risk assessment. The debrief followed the decision making cycle and culminated in a treatment decision made by the group, which then was portrayed in the next scenario. Data was collected on treatment decisions. Participants were asked to complete anonymised questionnaires that explored their internal thought process throughout the patient presentations as well as pre and post course self-assessments. Questions consisted of Likert-style questions and open responses. Results/outcomes Course was run 11 times in the last year. N = 94 (Multidisciplinary mental health clinicians) Results showed that there is not inter-patient consistency in practice with treatment decisions in respect to symptomology and current risk assessment and participant's stated reasoning. Decisions appear to be more closely linked to perceptions about patient. There was also a statistically significant increase in familiarity of decision making steps and familiarity with bias as well as self-reported increase in exploration of these factors. Qualitative themes showed a changed in focus less narrowly on perceived risk and safety and more towards building a complete picture of the patient and relevant decisions from the information and fact gathering. Conclusions and recommendations Further research into the different aspects of the clinical decision making are clearly indicated. There are also possibilities for further development of simulation of clinical decision making to other clinical specialties. References Bornstein BH, Emler AC. Rationality in medical decision making: a review of the literature on doctors' decision-making biases. J Eval Clin Pract. 2001;4(7):97–107 Round A. Introduction to clinical reasoning. J Eval Clin Pract. 2000;7(2):109–117 Muslin SB, Greene HL. Decision making in medicine, an algorithmic approach. 2010;656–685


In this thesis, the meaning of website quality and the parameters that affect on it were surveyed entirely. The most important factors of website quality that may cause a website to be more useful and also to become more successful were found. In this research first of all, in literature review that is in chapter two, the meaning of market, electronic market, Business to customer (B2C) form of the electronic commerce and also more recently specific website issues are going to be mentioned. At the half-end of chapter two, website quality as one of the most important and effective factors of website specific issued was illustrated completely. In the chapter three the research methodology of this thesis was designed that is how to rank all the affected parameters on website quality by help of technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and then to compare all the result of it by fuzzy TOPSIS with using fuzzy trapezoid numbers. Then it will shows how to interview with expert just in order to make the pairwise matrix so that it will give all the ranking factors weight through using analytical hieratical process (AHP), using fuzzy trapezoid numbers too. Finally, eight of the most important factors of website quality was ranked through the fuzzy TOPSIS and then were weighted through the AHP fuzzy. In chapter four, data gathering and analyzing the data that included the description of TOPSIS, fuzzy TOPSIS, and fuzzy AHP methods with trapezoid numbers and also the calculation tables was demonstrated completely. At the end in the chapter five, there is a conclusion part of thesis and the references in follows.


Glucuronyl- and sulpho-conjugates of intestinal putrefactive compounds (IPC) are considered kidney disease-associated toxic agents. Recently, several simultaneous methods of detection by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of the conjugated forms of glucuronyl- and sulpho-conjugates in blood serum were reported. To analyze these conjugated forms in urine, we modified and validated the LC-MS/MS detection methods. The range of the calibration curves were determined using phenyl glucuronide (PhG; 1.56-25.0 μM), indoxyl glucuronide (IndG; 1.25-20.0 μM), p -cresyl glucuronide (PCG; 0.625-10.0 μM), phenyl sulfate (PhS; 3.13-50.0 μM), indoxyl sulfate (IndS; 7.81-250 μM) and p -cresyl sulfate (PCS; 1.56-25.0 μM). Urine was diluted 2-4 fold to determine PhG, IndG and PCG concentrations, and 4-16 fold to determine PhS, IndS and PCS concentrations. We validated the newly-modified detection methods by a recovery test, and intra-day and inter-day repeatability. We analyzed six clinical urine samples, PCS and IndS, major toxic agents, which were mostly detected. Creatinine-corrected values of PCS and IndS were high in six conjugates. In summary, in the present work, the concentrations of six urinary conjugated forms of IPC were successfully measured by LC-MS/MS.


Inter-organisational cost management and control (IOCM and control) is generally defined as a means whereby independent organisations protect their interests and coordinate resources to create value from their inter-organisational relationships (IORs). While research in IOCM and control has been informed by a variety of theoretical perspectives, there is little which has employed structuration theory (examples are Free, 2008; Seal et al., 2004; Sydow & Windeler, 1998). Here, it is argued that Rob Stones' recent work is a development of the theory which shows good promise for research in this area. A field study at a Greek shipping organisation reveals the processes and dynamics of IOCM and control in practice. Despite public proclamations of long-term relationships with suppliers and buyers, the research uncovered a network of asymmetrically dependent relationships, which produced and reproduced predominantly arm's-length practices. Distrust and paternalism within the organisation spilled over to the management of its inter-organisational domain, while the structural influences of environmental institutions reinforced organisational agents' perspectives of IOCM and control and limited consideration of alternatives. Finally, this study argues that the notion of multiple and overlapping social systems as well as of learning and change can emphasise a role for certain theoretical constructs to implicate the skilful deployment of resources, which is central to economic phenomena. Such constructs refer to dialectics of control, path dependency, isomorphism, contradiction and praxis. It is proposed that future research in IOCM and control employing Stones' version of structuration, would benefit from explicit use of these constructs.


The chemical reaction of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere leads to a variety of oxidized products,
which are commonly referred to as secondary pollutants. Ground level ozone is a known secondary
photochemical pollutant of major importance possessing detrimental effects on health, agriculture,
natural/urban ecosystems and materials. Ozone (O3) can irritate lung airways and cause inflammation
much like sunburn. Hourly and monthly variations of O3 and their precursors – nitrogen oxides (NOx)
and meteorological parameters (temperature and wind speed) were presented using time series plots.
Possibility of employing multiple linear regression models as a tool for prediction of O3 concentration
was also tested. Measurement was performed continuously in 2005 at two sampling stations located in
the metropolitan area of Malaysia. Results indicated that the formation of O3 in the study area was
influenced by NOx precursors and meteorological conditions. The hourly variation showed maximum O3
concentrations were recorded between 1300 to 1400 hours, while NOx and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
exhibited two maxima, at 0800-1000 and 2000-2100 hours. The daily cycle of highest O3 concentrations
were revealed a lower night level and inverse relations between O3 and NOx. This is clear evidence of
photochemical formation of O3. Temperature has the highest influence to the high O3 concentrations


In Filling Regulatory Gaps in High Seas Fisheries, author Yoshinobu Takei investigates the regime of high seas fisheries from the perspective of international law and considers whether there are regulatory gaps and, if so, how they should be filled.


ABSTRACT Research question: What factors determine fans' responses to the sponsor of a rival team? To what extent does higher in-group fan identification, more positive prior attitudes to the sponsor and a more congruent fit between the sponsor and club, cause denigration or mitigate negative outcomes for the sponsor? Research methods: 300 questionnaires were collected from fans of English Premier League football teams Newcastle United and Sunderland allowed us to test our model of sponsorship responses. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate each hypothesis. Results and findings: Brands will gain greater benefits from sponsorships deemed to be congruent with the rival team and where a higher pre-sponsorship attitude exists. More highly identified fans tend to pay greater attention to the sponsor of their rival team. We find that schadenfreude is a better predictor of affective and behavioural responses than fan identification, despite its popularity in recent research involving rival fans. Implications: Brand managers concerned about the size and scope of out-groups can employ our findings to more effectively configure sponsorship activities.


Objective: The author has already published the experimental results around the employment of the thermal ablation with radiofrequency of the carcinoma and the fibroadenoma. The thermal ablation produces an effectiveness necrosis of the lesions for which the author has experimented the association of the breast lumpectomy with the thermal ablation of the borders of the residual breach with the purpose to reduce the risk of local recidivist and to allow a surgical treatment more preservative and aesthetical.
Methods: 10 women of inclusive age have been enlisted between 18 and 75 years, with DCIS, inferior diameter to 2 cm and situated to at least 1 cm from the cutaneous plan and from the thoracic plan, not submitted in primary chemotherapy. The patients have been submitted to quadrantectomy and during the intervention in the residual surgical breach a special needle has been installed and has been performed the radiofrequency of margin some residual surgical breach. . They have been studied by the point of view istopatological the prepared surgical.
Results: In 4 cases the margins were close but the patients don't submitted to ulterior removal. Never developed relapse: Complication is not recorded.
Conclusions: The thermal ablation increases the radical treatment of the lumpectomy that guarantees a mile resulted aesthetical in comparison to the quadrantectomy but introduces insufficient borders in the 40% of the T1s < 2 cm with recidivists in the native center of the tumor in the 70-90% of the cases. The preliminary results seem to point out that the RFA lumpectomy can be proposed in alternative to the quadrantectomy in the carcinoma of diameter up to 2


Abstract From a nonideal justice perspective, this article investigates liability and compensation in their wider theoretical context to better understand the governance of climate loss and damage under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The usual rationale for considering compensation takes a backward-looking understanding of responsibility. It links those causing harm directly to its remedy. This article shows that, under current political circumstances, it is more reasonable to understand responsibility as a forward-looking concept and thus to differentiate responsibilities on grounds of capacity and solidarity. The article argues that loss and damage entitlements in UNFCCC governance should be understood as entitlements to a threshold of capabilities for resilience. While compensation merely means redressing the situation ex ante a threat, entitlements to capabilities for resilience can entail more demanding responsibilities of support. This means that Article 8 of the Paris Agreement has much more demanding implications than it might at first appear.


Within the UK, the patients' voice is becoming more powerful politically, due to the recognition of the importance of their voice in service development and delivery (Department of Health (DoH) 2008). This commitment towards hearing individual voices has been further endorsed in the National Health Service (NHS) Constitution (DoH 2009), and Liberating the NHS (DoH 2010). All of these reports highlight the need for the NHS to utilise the voices of its users in assessing the quality of the care provided, recognising that individuals are best placed to judge their experiences. This focus on engagement with service users has transcended into nurse preparatory programmes. Indeed the regulatory body for nursing in the UK (Nursing Midwifery Council NMC) highlight one of its core standards for education is that Higher Education Institutions (HEI's) clearly demonstrate how service users/carers contribute to both programme design and delivery (NMC 2010). A further consideration within the UK nurse education is an increased focus on value based recruitment. A re-focus on values within the NHS was one of the areas identified in the Francis Report (2013). In 2014, Health Education England (HEE) published their Value Based Recruitment Framework in which they articulate how future recruitment of healthcare practitioners will focus on how applicants' individual values and behaviours align with the core values of the NHS Constitution (DoH 2009). HEIs are expected to comply with the guidance published from HEE as 50% student nurse programmes are based in healthcare settings. As part of reviewing our admissions process in light of the requirements of values based recruitment we decided we would like to include service users/carers more formally into our recruitment process. We have a long established link with service users within the university (coordinated by 2 part time designated staff), which includes engagement in both curriculum development and review, delivery of education as well as assisting us in the past in designing interview questions. In addition, service users and carers have been successfully engaged in social work interviews at the university for a number of years; however the numbers of candidates are very small. We sought inspiration from a study by Rhodes & Nyawata (2011) who evaluated involvement of service users in the recruitment of ninety child health and adult field nursing students and we wondered if we could implement that within our adult student nursing programme which interviews several hundreds of candidates each year. This paper will present our experience of implementing an initiative which enabled service users and carers to formally contribute towards the interviewing of pre-registration adult student nurses. It will explore some of the highlights and the challenges we experienced during the last year. Lastly, it will reflect upon our experience of how service users and carers are a fundamental aspect of value based recruitment. References Department of Health. (2008) High Quality Care for All (Darzi Report). Department of Health. Department of Health. (2009) The NHS Constitution. Department of Health. Department of Health. (2010) Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS. Department of Health. Francis, R. (2013) Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry; Executive Summary. London. Health Education England. (2014) Value Based Recruitment Framework. Available from: http://hee.nhs.uk/wp-content/blogs.dir/321/files/2014/10/VBR-Framework.pdf (accessed 07/02/15) Nursing Midwifery Council. (2010) Standards for Pre-registration Education. London: Nursing Midwifery Council. Rhodes, C., and Nyawata, I. (2011) Service user and carer involvement in student nurse selection: Key stakeholder perspectives. Nurse Education Today, 31, 439-443.


This study compared student evaluations of teaching (SET) for limited-term lecturers (LTLs) and full-time faculty (FTF) using a Likert-scaled survey administered to students (N = 1,410) at the end of university courses. Data were analyzed using a general linear regression model to investigate the influence of multi-dimensional evaluation items on the overall rating item (Overall, I would rate the instructor of this course as outstanding) on the SET. Results showed that students provided higher ratings for LTLs than FTF, but they value different items when rating the overall evaluation of LTLs and FTF. Some survey items (for instance, those about instructor planning and enthusiasm) influence more on the rating of the overall item for LTLs than for FTF, whereas other, multi-dimensional items (for instance, those about assessment strategies and instructor's availability) influence more on the overall rating for FTF than for LTLs. Data and discussions of results identify the differences and suggest strategies for improving teaching effectiveness based on the ratings provided by students.


In the study of the quantum Hall effect there are still many unresolved problems. One of these is how to generate representative wave functions for ground states on other geometries than the planar and spherical. We study one such geometry, the toroidal one, where the periodic boundary conditions must be properly taken into account.As a tool to study the torus we investigate the properties of various types of localized states, similar to the coherent states of the harmonic oscillator, which are maximally localized in phase space. We consider two alternative definitions of localized states in the lowest Landau level (LLL) on a torus. One is the projection of the coordinate delta function onto the LLL. Another definition, proposed by Haldane & Rezayi, is to consider the set of functions which have all their zeros at a single point. Since all LLL wave functions on a torus, are uniquely defined by the position of their zeros, this defines a set of functions that are expected to be localized around the point maximally far away from the zeros. These two families of localized states have many properties in common with the coherent states on the plane and on the sphere, e.g. a simple resolution of unity and a simple self-reproducing kernel. However, we show that only the projected delta function is maximally localized.We find that because of modular covariance, there are severe restrictions on which wave functions that are acceptable on the torus. As a result, we can write down a trial wave function for the state, that respects the modular covariance, and has good numerical overlap with the exact coulomb ground state.Finally we present preliminary calculations of the antisymmetric component of the viscosity tensor for the proposed, modular covariant, state, and find that it is in agreement with theoretical predictions.


Beginning teachers of young children often express concern that their professional preparation has not adequately prepared them to work effectively with families. This remains the case in spite of literature documenting the importance of involving parents in their children's early education. This article describes a service learning project designed to give students early in their professional preparation an authentic opportunity be a resource for the families of the children with whom they have worked. Service learning is a particularly appropriate pedagogical approach to enhance students' confidence and competence working with families because it provides authentic and hands-on opportunities to apply course content. This project effectively provided students an opportunity to assume a professional voice when working with families. It enhanced our program's success ensuring that our students take the requisite skills and dispositions to their work with families, while building their confidence and honing their communication skills.


: Switzerland is the first European country where health maintenance organizations (HMOs) characterised by capitation (per capita lumpsum) and gatekeeping were implemented according to the HMO staff model known in the USA. The development of managed health care in Switzerland relies on the belief that adequate economic incentives and competition result in cost reduction and high quality health care. Whether this is true or not--in any case the deregulation of legally accepted forms of health insurance and managed care result in profound changes in the Swiss health care system. Observations are made by using expert interviews and analysis of documents. The implementation of managed care induces socio-cultural changes of the medical profession which are as profound as the induced economic changes. We discuss conflicts of interests among physicians using four main dimensions of conflict: (1) control, (2) monopolization, (3) valuation, and (4) specialization. In the HMOs we observe pronounced conflicts of the physicians' role. The changes of the physicians' role in HMOs is on the one hand the result of new duties. On the other hand it expresses strategies of coping with the role conflict between the main clinical duties and the new obligation to control cost and to monitor treatment via gatekeeping. In HMOs the teamwork of doctors and the quality control of care promotes the satisfaction of physicians with their work, however, it can also have dysfunctional effects.


The object of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the Neogen Corp. microtiter plate enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA) for the screening of postmortem blood for amphetamine and methamphetamine and to choose the more appropriate assay for screening. Forty-seven postmortem whole blood specimens were obtained from drug-involved deaths, which had been screened and confirmed positive for methamphetamine and/or amphetamine. Eighty-five negative specimens were obtained from non-amphetamines-involved deaths, 17 of which involved decomposition. Specimens were tested using the Neogen Amphetamine Ultra and Neogen Methamphetamine/MDMA microtiter plate ELISA assays. No matrix effects were found for whole blood in these assays, and a dilution of 1:5 was chosen to facilitate pipetting and to bring the IC50 of the microtiter plate ELISA assay within the range of amphetamines concentrations encountered in medical examiner specimens. True positives, true negatives, false positives, and false negatives were determined relative to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and graphed for the ELISA. From these graphs and the receiver operating curves (ROC), the optimal cut-off for the Neogen Methamphetamine/MDMA ELISA was 50 ng/mL methamphetamine equivalents and the optimum cut-off for the Neogen Amphetamine Ultra ELISA was 100 ng/mL amphetamine equivalents. The Neogen Methamphetamine ELISA had a sensitivity of 93.6% +/- 3.5% and a specificity of 77.6% +/- 4.5% versus GC-MS at the cut-off of 50-ng/mL methamphetamine equivalents. The Neogen Amphetamine Ultra ELISA had a sensitivity of 95.7% +/- 3.0% and a specificity of 72.9% +/- 5.2% versus GC-MS at the 100-ng/mL amphetamine equivalents cut-off. The areas under the ROCs were equivalent for the two ELISA assays.


Abstract Background: Men are twice as likely to experience a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as women suggesting that aspects of masculine identity play an important role in how people acquire their brain injury. Research also suggests that masculine identity influences how people manage their health experiences. Masculine identity may therefore be an important consideration for neuropsychological therapy and rehabilitation more generally particularly because part of the process of rehabilitation concerns helping individuals with their sense of self. This research aimed to explore men's experiences of masculine identity following TBI. Method: Individual interviews were conducted with 10 men age 21-67 who had experienced a TBI who were living in the community. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to consider lived experiences and to explore the meaning of the TBI experience in relation to masculine identity.
Results: Three superordinate themes emerged from the analysis:
Doing life and relationships differently: Participants identified changes in aspects of their role as a man within relationships, family, occupation and social groups.
Self-perceptions and the perceived view of others: Self-perceptions and others perceptions of the ability to perform roles as a man resulted in experiences of shame and loss of self-confidence. The invisibility of the injury appeared to both accentuate and protect from the experience of shame.
Managing the impact: Participants identified ways in which they thought about their lives and reformulated their behaviour in order to protect their identity as a man.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that men experience changes in masculine identity following TBI, particularly when ideals about independence and roles were challenged. The findings highlight how masculine identity may be a valuable aspect of self in considering threats to and reconstruction of self-identity after TBI. Aspects of gender identity should be considered in order to promote engagement, support adjustment and achieve meaningful outcomes in rehabilitation.


Objective. —To evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose tacrine hydrochloride over 30 weeks in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease. Design. —A 30-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Setting. —Outpatients at 33 US centers. Patients. —Men and women at least 50 years of age with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and otherwise in good health. Interventions. —Group 1 received placebo; group 2 received 40 mg/d of tacrine for 6 weeks, then 80 mg/d for 24 weeks; groups 3 and 4 received 40 mg/d of tacrine for 6 weeks, 80 mg/d for 6 weeks, and 120 mg/d for 6 weeks. Group 3 remained on a dosage of 120 mg/d for a total of 18 weeks; after 6 weeks at 120 mg/d, group 4 titrated to 160 mg/d for the last 12 weeks. Primary Outcome Measures. —Clinician Interview-Based Impression (CIBI), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale—Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), and Final Comprehensive Consensus Assessment (FCCA). Results. —A total of 663 patients entered the study; 653 patients were included in an intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis; 263 had evaluable data at 30 weeks. The results of the ITT analysis revealed significant (P≤.05) dose-response trends and between-group comparisons on CIBI and ADAS-Cog. In evaluable patients, significant dose-response trends were observed for all three primary measures (P≤.001). Significant differences in favor of 160 mg/d of tacrine vs placebo were observed on the CIBI (P≤.002) and ADAS-Cog and FCCA (P≤.001), as well as caregiver-global and quality-of-life assessments (P≤.05). On the CIBI, 23% and 42% of tacrine-treated patients in the ITT and evaluable-patient populations, respectively, were rated improved compared with 17% and 18% of placebo patients, respectively. The primary reasons for withdrawal of tacrine-treated patients were asymptomatic liver transaminase elevations (28%) and gastrointestinal complaints (16%). These adverse events were reversible on discontinuation of treatment, and many patients were able to restart tacrine. Conclusions. —Tacrine produced statistically significant, dose-related improvements on objective performance-based tests, clinician- and caregiver-rated global evaluations, and measures of quality of life. There was no evidence that the large number of patient withdrawals biased the overall conclusions of the study. (JAMA. 1994;271:985-991)


Abstract Spain has declared its aim to promote democracy and human rights abroad and specifically in Morocco. This goal appears very ambitious in view of the low degree of institutionalization and consolidation of Spanish human rights foreign policy mechanisms. Moreover, from the outset other factors rule out the possibility of Morocco becoming an object of forceful action: it has a better human rights situation than other North African countries and is of vital importance to Spain, which fears that its own interests could be adversely affected by a resort to coercive policies. Having discarded the use of negative instruments, the route of incentives and rewards for positive evolution entails fewer risks for the promoter country, and seems reasonably appropriate in the case of Morocco. But circumstances such as the low profile of Spanish cooperation policy and the distrust of Spanish civil society towards Morocco have also prevented greater use of actions of a more positive nature.


The objective of the present study was to evaluate, by means of a systematic literature review, the adherence and motivation presented by diabetic patients that participate in health intervention programs, which stimulate the adoption of a healthy life style. The ingestion of an adequate diet and the increase in physical activity, focusing in the disease perception, considering the diabetic patient knowledge, making evident the recommendations that should be followed to reach a better life quality, demonstrating that it is possible to live well even if you have a chronic disease such as diabetes. A literature research in the main public health databases (Medline, Lilacs, Scielo, among others) was conducted from 1994 to 2006. A total of 37 studies focused in the interaction among the subject health and disease versus diabetes were selected. This study mentions some daily difficulties felt by the diabetic patient and his family to control the disease. These difficulties can directly affect the patient adhesion to the prescribed treatment. Therefore, the behavioral and emotional factors presented by each patient must be considered when the health activities are being planned to reach total assistance to this population.


Affine projection algorithms are useful adaptive filters whose main purpose is to speed the convergence of LMS-type filters. Most analytical results on affine projection algorithms assume special regression models or Gaussian regression data. The available analysis also treat different affine projection filters separately. This paper provides a unified treatment of the mean-square error, tracking, and transient performances of a family of affine projection algorithms. The treatment relies on energy conservation arguments and does not restrict the regressors to specific models or to a Gaussian distribution. Simulation results illustrate the analysis and the derived performance expressions.


Social policies are commonly defined from scattered knowledge. It is hard to find examples of social policy design based on a systemic perspective, and even harder with formal modeling support. To advance in filling this gap, we studied the case of the tourism development on Barú Island. In this place, tourism is a critical economic activity based on local ecosystem services, but it is being developed without planning and outside of a sustainability focus. We build a qualitative model of the social structure of tourism development that is taking place in the locality. Model building was based on experiences and opinions of local stakeholders, gathered through participatory procedures. Using our model, we projected the future states of the system, assuming several hypothetical public policy scenarios. More specifically, we evaluated the system responses to: (a) a multivariate business–as–usual (BAU) scenario, and (b) two multivariate aprioristic scenarios, pointed to improve expected outcomes. These scenarios were based on the opinions of both stakeholders and experts. We also tested: (c) simple (univariate) aposterioristic scenarios, built from the structural analysis of the system using the sensitivity matrix. Finally, we included: (d) a trivial (and unattainable) scenario, in which every model variable was increased or decreased at convenience. The outcomes of our scenario analysis were evaluated using four different weight sets applied to the projected states of system variables, representing different strategic priorities: social-economic, environmental, mixed, and plain. Our results show that the projected outcomes differ among the tested scenarios and the strategic priority to be adopted. However, in all cases the BAU scenario was markedly the worst. For every strategic priority, some simple aposterioristic scenarios performed slightly better, as compared to the more complex aprioristic ones, and even better than the trivial scenario. This result was more noticeable under the plain strategy. We conclude that aposterioristic scenarios derived from the sensitivity matrix of the qualitative model, particularly decreasing migration risk and increasing governance strength, are the best candidates for tourism policy-making in Barú among the evaluated alternatives. These results should be put in its context and adapted before they can be transferred to other study-cases. Our findings suggest that social policy-making can benefit from structural qualitative modeling. In particular, this approach may give analytical support to the selection of intervention measures from a structural perspective, based on defined strategic priorities. For this purpose, however, the model itself and the outcomes obtained from its analysis should be updated steadily.


The computation time used by the Extensive Air Showers (EAS) simulators is an important variable to be considered when generating shower simulated libraries. The thinning method implemented in the EAS simulator codes has been a fundamental tool when the computational resources were limited, nevertheless at present the computers allows to perform more calculations in a shorter time. Computer tools are such that the use of thinning nowadays is an option that can be avoided and one can perform simulations without it, achieving the totality of the information generated along the EAS development. This, anyway, imply the use of the maximum calculation time, on the other hand, it is always more efficient to have the option that allows a less time consuming, useful for example in the first stages of an EAS simulation analysis. It thus arise, naturally, the question about what is the optimal thinning that should be applied to perform the required EAS simulation, minimizing computer error and fluctuations.

We present an analysis of the convergence of the fluctuations of the observable of interest as a function of the thinning used, which allows to find the suitable thinning value and the number of simulated EAS needed in order to get the required observables with a value that guarantee the minimization of its artificial fluctuations.
We prove that the computation time can be optimized in a controlled way that allows to know which are the minimum numbers of EAS to average, the thinning value to be considered, which will allow to obtain a convergent value of the desired physical observable related to the fluctuations
between EAS.


Both experiments and numerical simulations pertinent to the study of self-similarity in shock-induced turbulent mixing often do not cover sufficiently long times for the mixing layer to become developed in a fully turbulent manner. When the Mach number of the flow is sufficiently low, numerical simulations based on the compressible flow equations tend to become less accurate due to inherent numerical cancellation errors. This paper concerns a numerical study of the late-time behaviour of a single-shocked Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) and the associated compressible turbulent mixing using a new technique that addresses the above limitation. The present approach exploits the fact that the RMI is a compressible flow during the early stages of the simulation and incompressible at late times. Therefore, depending on the compressibility of the flow field, the most suitable model, compressible or incompressible, can be employed. This motivates the development of a hybrid compressible–incompressible solver that removes the low-Mach-number limitations of the compressible solvers, thus allowing numerical simulations of late-time mixing. Simulations have been performed for a multi-mode perturbation at the interface between two fluids of densities corresponding to an Atwood number of 0.5, and results are presented for the development of the instability, mixing parameters and turbulent kinetic energy spectra. The results are discussed in comparison with previous compressible simulations, theory and experiments.


We have used WFPC2 VRI observations to calculate the distances to three nearby galaxies, NGC 4214, UGC 685, and UGC 5456, using the tip of the red giant branch method. Our values for NGC 4214 (2.94 ± 0.18 Mpc) and UGC 685 (4.79 ± 0.30 Mpc) are the most precise measurements of the distances to these objects ever made. For UGC 5456 the data do not allow us to reach a decisive conclusion since there are two possible solutions, one leading toward a short distance around 3.8 Mpc and another one toward a long distance of 5.6 Mpc or more.


Having virtues from plasmons and scanning probe microscopy (SPM), plasmonic tips employ radially polarized conical plasmons and create hot-spots at their apexes. Plasmonic tips are tapered and fully metal-coated vortex fibers that have M-shaped refractive index profiles. Vortex fibers allow the radially polarized mode to propagate over a long distance with high modal purity. When the fiber mode reaches the tapered region, it resonantly excites the plasmon mode at a metal-dielectric outer interface. In this paper, we study the plasmonic tip's behavior in liquids both theoretically and experimentally. By adiabatically tapering the vortex fiber, the radially polarized mode gets confined from the fiber with a diameter of 115 μm down to the tapered part with a diameter of 1.42 μm as a waveguide mode. In this region, the plasmon mode gets excited thus reaches the apex with a diameter of 200 nm. Our calculations show that the plasmon coupling efficiency increases in liquids due to two competing processes: a significant increase of the interaction region and slight decrease of the penetration depth of fields in metal. By choosing a liquid that either allows or forbids the phase-matching, we demonstrate that the plasmon coupling efficiency can increase or vanish. Due to the wetting effect, a tapered liquid-layer forms over the tip like an additional waveguide and allows resonant coupling of fiber modes to the liquid layer.


Measurements of ClO over Antarctica during the 1996 to 2000 ozone holes are compared with predictions of the SLIMCAT model. The model captures all of the major features of the measurements, including the rapid rise in August, the drop in mid or late September due to the arrival of warmer, ClOx poor air overhead, and the deactivation of ClOx into the reservoir species, HCl and ClONO2 in the ozone poor air. The model uses the standard JPL rates for the photolysis of the ClO dimer (j) and for the forward reaction forming the dimer (kf). The predicted ClO mixing ratios and columns are in excellent agreement with the measurements. A comparison of the model and data for all 5 years leads to a value of the ratio (j/kf) consistent with the standard value, namely 1.06 ± 0.30(j/kf)JPL.


Objectives: In the prospective Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II (KCPS-II), we investigated the application of metabolomics to differentiate subjects with incident liver cirrhosis (LC group) from subjects who remained free of LC (control group) during a mean follow-up period of 7 years, with the aim of identifying valuable biomarkers for LC. Methods: Metabolic alterations were investigated using baseline serum samples from 94 subjects with incident LC and 180 age- and sex-matched LC-free subjects via ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-linear-trap quardrupole (LTQ)-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS). Results: A total of 46 metabolites were identified through the metabolic analysis. Among them, 11 metabolite levels were significantly higher, and 18 metabolite levels were significantly lower in the LC group than in the control group. 9 metabolic pathways, including glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, α-linolenic acid metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism, showed significant differences between the two groups. Logistic regression revealed that the incidence of LC was independently affected by serum levels of myristic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) (18:1), glycolic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) (22:6), and succinylacetone (R 2 =0.837, P Conclusions: This prospective study showed the clinical relevance of dysregulation of various metabolisms on the incidence of LC. Additionally, myristic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, EPA, LPA (18:1), glycolic acid, lysoPC (22:6), and succinylacetone were identified as independent variables affecting the incidence of LC. Disclosure H. Yoo: None. M. Kim: None. Y. Han: None. C. Yoonjeong: None. J. Lee: None. Funding Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare (HI14C2686); Korean National Research Foundation (NRF-2012M3A9C4048762, NRF-2017R1C1B2007195)


Dermatophytes are a group of keratinophilic fungi falling within the genera of epidermophyton, microsporum and trichophyton. The genus trichophyton is particularly important and complex which comprises at least 24 recognised species. Additionally, molecular strain typing of trichophyton rubrum isolated within single nail specimens from patients with onychomycosis indicates involvement of multiple strains. In this study, nail specimens from patients with onychomycosis were cultured and 10 specimens from different patients with 5 colonies per culture plate were selected. Deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) was extracted from these isolates and subjected to a PCR-based typing method that analysed variations in numbers of repeats in the non-transcribed spacer(NTS) region of the ribosomal ribonucleic acid(rRNA) gene repeats. In 6 out of 10 specimens, there were 2 or more strain types. This suggests that in the majority of cases of fungal nail infections by trichophyton rubrum, multiple strains are involved. This has important implications for epidemiological studies.


Oman's role in facilitating the conclusion of the Iran-P5+1 nuclear deal in November 2013 and its announcement a few weeks later that it would not join a proposed Gulf union can be understood within a recent history of conciliatory efforts intended to promote negotiated solutions to regional crises. Oman has always perceived political instability in the Gulf and West Asia as a factor threatening the country's own internal stability. This perception of political vulnerability also explains the sultanate's determination to prevent foreign actors from interfering in its internal affairs. The price for this independent foreign policy towards its neighbours has been the country's unquestioned political and military dependence on Britain and the U.S. Given Oman's strategic importance to the security of the entire Gulf, controlling as it does the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-third of the world's seaborne trade in crude petroleum passed in 2013, Britain and the U.S. have shared Muscat's aversion for any disruption of its internal status quo and wish to prevent any contamination of Omani territory by unwanted foreign influence.


The criminal justice process should not involve obtaining the truth at any price. This article discusses how Mexico has adopted exceptional regulations which violate due process considerations and create a problematic breach of the rule of law. We argue that, at a time when Mexican society suffers the consequences of organized crime, the Constitution provides for two types of regulations: one protecting human rights, which are the foundation of the rule of law; and another which infringes on the individual rights of those suspected of having participated in organized criminal activity. We examine mechanisms such as preventive detention and preventive imprisonment and analyze their treatment under Mexican law as well as in international agreements. We explore whether or not the fight against criminality and the prosecution of criminals "by any means necessary" is more important that the protection of the human rights of those suspected of illegal activity. We conclude by suggesting that the response to criminality should not require limitations on the constitutional freedoms of citizens.


This paper outlines results obtained from an energy analysis of four sub metered residences. The study was done through a partnership between the Department of Architecture at the University of Texas at San Antonio and a design firm interested in learning from the data collected to influence design decisions. The study allowed for a performance evaluation of existing case studies and for the firm to improve upon design assumptions and modeled predictions for future designs. No prescriptive guidelines exist by which to measure and analyze sub metered residential data. A monitoring and analysis protocol was developed and applied in order to address this issue. Each home was monitored at the breaker level to allow for the measurement of residential end uses. The homes were analyzed individually and then comparatively. Results and conclusions centered on the performance and schedule of geothermal heating and cooling systems, pools, water heaters, and lighting. The analysis provided concise diagnostics and suggestions for each home as well as a unique conclusion for the future of residential design. When studied comparatively, the data from these homes suggests that residences with the ability to grow and shrink electrical consumption based on demand use less energy overall. This may suggest that designing a home with the ability to adapt electrical demand based on need may result in less total consumption.


A simulation involving three types of telerobotic tasks that require information about the spatial position of objects is reported. This is similar to the results of psychophysical experiments examining the effect of blur on stereoacuity. It is suggested that other psychophysical experimental results could be used to predict operator performance for other telerobotic tasks. It is demonstrated that refractive errors in the helmet-mounted stereo display, system can affect performance in the three types of telerobotic tasks. The results of two sets of experiments indicate that monocular target blur of two diopters or more degrades stereo display performance to the level of monocular displays. This indicates that moderate levels of visual degradation that affect the operator's stereoacuity may eliminate the performance advantage of stereo displays. >


Occupational and residential environments overlap on agricultural operations, placing children/youths as well as adults at risk. This study was conducted to determine the short- and long-term physical, psychosocial and economic consequences of injuries occurring among children/youths living in operation households and the associated burden on the overall operations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska Midwestern states characteristic of major types of United States agricultural production. From a random selection of 32 000 agricultural operations, generated from the states operations by the United States Department of Agriculture, 1474 eligible agricultural households participated. Baseline and follow-up data on physical and mental health, agricultural and other injury disability and economic status, were collected by trained interviewers using computerised assisted telephone interview data collection instruments; two 6-month injury data collection periods followed baseline collection. Among all household members, a total of 584 injuries were incurred with 250 related to their own agricultural operation. Respective child/youth case and control households, identified for these two 6-month periods were: (1) 100 cases (122 injuries), 366 controls; (2) 115 cases (138 injuries), 414 controls. Follow-up evaluation data were collected annually for each set, for the subsequent 2 years. Analyses focus on short-/long-term consequences, by examining changes between baseline, and follow-up data, comparing case and control households. Confounders are selected for multiple logistic regression analyses using directed acyclic graphs; reweighting adjusts for response and eligibility biases. Results of this effort address a serious deficiency in knowledge about the burden of agricultural and other injury consequences.


Abstract The definition of the multigroup diffusion coefficient for reactor physics problems is not unique; rather, it is based on limiting approximations made to the Boltzmann transport equation. In this paper, we present several new diffusion closures in an attempt to gain increased accuracy over the standard P1-based diffusion theory. First, the Levermore-Pomraning flux-limited diffusion theory is applied to reactor physics problems both in its original form and in a new modified form that makes the methodology more robust with respect to the energy variable. Additionally, two novel definitions of the diffusion coefficient are introduced that permit a neutron flux that is greater than first order in angle. These various diffusion theories are completed by developing consistent boundary conditions for each case. Diffusion theory solutions are computed for each unique closure and are compared against transport theory analytically for a simple half-space problem and numerically for a suite of simplified one-dimensional reactor problems. Conclusions and observations are made for each diffusion method in terms of its underlying assumptions and accuracy of the benchmark solutions.


This research is initiated by the phenomenon of competitive rivalry between the two giant convenience stores (Alfamart and Indomaret) in Indonesia. Alfamart must strive to improve the patronage intention of its customers so that they do not switch to its main competitor, Indomaret. The purpose of the research was to compare patronage intention and store image between Alfamart and Indomaret. Additionally, this research clarified the influence of the components in the retail mix, which were in-store promotion, store atmosphere, convenience, and merchandise between Alfamart and Indomaret in the formation of store image and its impact on patronage intention. The research methods were independent t-test and path analysis. Independent t-test aimed to find differences that occurred between Alfamart and Indomaret especially the differences in the components of the retail mix, store image, and patronage intention. Meanwhile, path analysis was to determine the effect of the retailmix to store image and patronage intention. After processing the data, it is shown that both variables which are the components of the retail mix, store image, and patronage intention are surpassed by Alfamart. In Alfamart, thereare significant influences of in-store promotion, convenience, and merchandise to the store image and patronage intention. Similarly, in-store promotion, merchandise, and store image have direct influence on patronage intention.Meanwhile, for Indomaret, there is the influence of the in-store promotion, convenience, and merchandise to store image and patronage intention with conditions that store atmosphere and store image have a direct influence onthe patronage intention.


Introduction:
 The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a well-validated predictor of 90-day functional outcomes. A score of ≥16 forecasts a high probability of death or severe disability. The palliative care (PC) needs of patients with serious or life-threatening stroke are enormous. Per PC standards and the American Stroke Association's position statement on PC after stroke, customized PC should be available to patients and their families throughout the entire course of illness. Palliative care can be initiated in the hospital setting without limitations on life expectancy. The purpose of this project was to quantify NIHSS scores on admission compared to the percent of PC referrals made at 3 urban hospitals that use neurological pre-formatted orders, and have in-patient PC programs.

 Hypothesis:
 We hypothesized that In-patient PC referrals for stroke patients with NIHSS scores of ≥16 are low, in the context of pre-formatted orders that set the referral trigger at ≥ to 25.

 Methodology:
 Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke cases discharged from Nov. 1, 2013-May 31, 2014 were reviewed retrospectively (674 total). NIHSS assessments were scored by stroke-certified RN staff on admission. Excluded were patients whose full NIHSS score was not documented, patients referred directly to hospice, and patients who left Against Medical Advice. Cases were examined for NIHSS score, and whether or not they were referred to PC.

 Results:
 Of 615 qualifying patients, 51 (8.3%) were referred for PC during their in-patient stay. The percentage with a NIHSS score on admission </= 6, was 3.5% (11/313). At a score of 7-15, 7.8% (15/188) received referrals. At scores ≥ 16, 21.9% (25/114) were referred.

 Conclusion:
 While the poor 90-day outcomes for patients with NIHSS scores ≥ 16 have been well-validated, just under 22% of the patients in this study received in-patient referrals to palliative care. Previously conducted studies relating NIHSS scores and 90-day outcomes suggest that there is an opportunity to improve the quality of life for more of these patients and their families through increased palliative care referrals.


A basic diagnostic of entanglement in mixed quantum states is known
as the positive partial transpose (PT) criterion. Such criterion is
based on the observation that the spectrum of the partially transposed
density matrix of an entangled state contains negative eigenvalues, in
turn, used to define an entanglement measure called the logarithmic
negativity. Despite the great success of logarithmic negativity in
characterizing bosonic many-body systems, generalizing the operation of
PT to fermionic systems remained a technical challenge until recently
when a more natural definition of PT for fermions that accounts for the
Fermi statistics has been put forward. In this paper, we study the
many-body spectrum of the reduced density matrix of two adjacent
intervals for one-dimensional free fermions after applying the fermionic
PT. We show that in general there is a freedom in the definition of such
operation which leads to two different definitions of PT: the resulting
density matrix is Hermitian in one case, while it becomes
pseudo-Hermitian in the other case. Using the path-integral formalism,
we analytically compute the leading order term of the moments in both
cases and derive the distribution of the corresponding eigenvalues over
the complex plane. We further verify our analytical findings by checking
them against numerical lattice calculations.


The aim of this study was to determine whether the circadian cycle of core temperature (Tc) and oxygen consumption (VO2) in juvenile rats is correlated with changes in the thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Nine-day-old rat pups derived from two colonies with 12:12 h light-dark cycles 180 degrees out of phase were artificially reared in continuous light for 12-48 h while Tc and VO2 were recorded. For measurement of GDP binding half the pups from each colony were killed during the maximum phase of their circadian Tc cycle and the other half during the minimum phase. During the maximum phase (0.5-2 h after lights-off in the colony of origin), when Tc was 36.1 +/- 0.1 degrees C, GDP binding (pmol/mg protein) was 575 +/- 31 (n = 19). During the minimum phase (0.5-2 h after lights-on), when Tc was 32.9 +/- 0.5 degrees C, GDP binding was 361 +/- 47 (n = 19). Moreover, the correlations between Tc, VO2, and GDP binding determined during the maximum plateau of the circadian cycle differ substantially from those determined during the minimum phase. Consequently, developmental studies of thermoregulation and BAT activity in suckling pups are seriously compromised if circadian phase is neglected.


Objective: Pancreatic pseudocysts are common complications of pancreatitis. Pseudocysts can be treated by various drainage procedures such as endoscopic cystenterostomy or transpapillary drainage, percutaneously with image guidance or operatively. We report our experience with image-guided percutaneous evacuation of pancreatic pseudocysts. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 37 consecutive patients who underwent 45 percutaneous catheter placements for the drainage of pseudocysts. The catheters were introduced under ultrasound or computerized tomography guidance. The patients were followed up with a fluoroscopic catheter check for evaluation of size of collection, communication with gastrointestinal tract and the pancreatic duct. The catheter was removed when the patient was asymptomatic and the output from the catheter was less than 10 cm3 in 24 h. Results: Forty-five procedures of percutaneous drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts were performed in 37 consecutive patients. The size of the cysts ranged between 4 and 20 cm. Drainage was performed on cysts larger than 5 cm in diameter. Forty-eight percent of the patients had communication with the pancreatic duct. Percutaneous drainage was successful in 95% of the cases in our study regardless of pseudocyst communication with the main pancreatic duct. The average duration of catheter drainage was 30 days in cases without communication versus 33 days in patients with communication with the pancreatic duct. Conclusion: Percutaneous drainage is a safe and effective alternative to surgery in patients with pancreatic pseudocysts. The duration of catheter drainage in cases with or without communication with the pancreatic duct was nearly the same.


Abstract Recently, The Netherlands Society of Gastroenterohepatology (Nederlands Genootschap Maag-Darm-Leverartsen; NGMDL) and the Netherlands Association of Internal Medicine (Nederlandse Internisten Vereniging; NIV) set up a covenant to optimise the collaboration between internists and gastroenterologists. Important points: certification of endoscopic skills; training of residents of internal medicine with regard to pathology of the stomach, intestines and liver as well as to endoscopy, and the training in internal medicine of residents in gastroenterology; defining competence of gastroenterologists for night and weekend duties in internal medicine.


Pretreatment is one of the approaches to yield the higher saccharification process leading to optimization of ethanol yield. The effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on ethanol production from rice straw was studied. A 0.16 kW/L ultrasonic treatment was applied to treat rice straw during enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation process. The enzymatic hydrolysis process was carried out at 50°C and pH 4.8 by using a commercial enzyme and followed by fermentation with S.cereviceae. Morphological structure of rice straw was analyzed by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the glucose concentration was detected by biochemistry analyzer. The result showed that the structure of rice straw after ultrasonic treatment showed a breaking of lignin and exposition of cellulose surface. The glucose concentration of the pretreated rice straw increased significantly by 57.65% (p = 0.003) when compared to the untreated rice straw. The total ethanol concentration of the untreated was not obviously different from the pretreated rice straw. Results revealed that ultrasonic treatment could enhance the ethanol production from rice straw.


The novel green-emitting phosphors of 12CaO 7Al2O3:Ce3+ , Tb3+ (C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+) were synthesized by a solid-state reaction. Upon the excitation of Ce3+ at 350 nm, the C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphor shows intense green emissions located at 543 nm assigning to 5D4-7F5 transitions of Tb3+ ions, and weak blue emissions centered at 434 nm due to the transitions of Ce3+ 5d-4f. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of Ce3+ decrease with increasing Tb3+ concentration, indicating the effective energy transfer (ET) occurred from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+. The ET efficiency between Ce3+ and Tb3+ in the optimum composition reaches to 99%. Based on Dexter's ET theory, we have demonstrated that the efficient ET is a resonant type via dipole-dipole mechanism with an energy transfer critical distance of 4.02 A. Our results suggested that C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphor would be a promising green-emitting phosphor for UV-converting white light-emitting diodes.


BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality remain high in recipients of a kidney transplant. The persistence of a patent arteriovenous fistula (AVF) after transplantation may contribute to ongoing maladaptive cardiovascular remodeling. The ability to reverse this maladaptive remodeling by ligation of this AVF is unknown. We conducted the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of AVF ligation on cardiac structure and function in stable kidney transplant recipients.

METHODS
In this randomized controlled trial, kidney transplant recipients (>12 months after transplantation with stable graft function) were randomized to AVF ligation or no intervention. All participants underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and at 6 months. The primary outcome was the change in left ventricular (LV) mass. Secondary outcomes included changes in LV volumes, left and right atrial areas, LV ejection fraction, NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) levels, cardiac output/index, brachial flows (ipsilateral to AVF), and pulmonary artery velocity.

RESULTS
A total of 93 patients were screened, of whom 64 met the inclusion criteria and were randomized to the AVF ligation (n=33) or control (n=31) group. Fifty-four participants completed the study: 27 in the AVF ligation group and 27 in the control group. On the second cardiac magnetic resonance scan, a mean decrease of 22.1 g (95% CI, 15.0-29.1) was observed in LV mass in the AVF ligation group compared with a small increase of 1.2 g (95% CI, -4.8 to 7.2) in the control group ( P<0.001). Significant decreases in LV end-diastolic volumes, LV end-systolic volumes, cardiac output, cardiac index, atrial volumes, and NT-proBNP were also seen in the AVF closure group ( P<0.01). No significant changes were observed in LV ejection fraction ( P=0.93) and pulmonary artery velocity ( P=0.07). No significant complications were noted after AVF ligation. No changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate or systolic and diastolic blood pressures were observed between cardiac magnetic resonance scans.

CONCLUSIONS
Elective ligation of patent AVF in adults with stable kidney transplant function resulted in clinically significant reduction of LV myocardial mass.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au . Unique Identifier: ACTRN12613001302741.


Inspection well is needed for water drainage pipe jacking project in municipal engineering construction, and the deep ones are usually built by sunk tube method. According to a real project, this paper dissertates the construction technique of deep buried inspection well with sunk tube method under the condition of abundant water existence form the aspect of design theory and construction technique and emphasizes the problems and countermeasures during tube sinkage. The practice shows that inspection well with sunk tube method could resolve the difficulty of construction in Water-soaked Stratum.


Nowadays, Solar power is
utilized more in domestic, commercial, and industrial applications.
Solar energy is renewable energy which is produced from sun heat. In 2020 India
solar installed capacity was 34,627 MW. In this paper developed an experimental
setup for solar panel power measurement. In this current, voltage and light
intensity has been measured. Declination angle of sun to earth is
+23.5°degrees, -23.5°degrees. The model of sun is represented by an
incandescent bulb light and the angles set up manually. In this
explained about solar power output at load side and see the variation between
power and load resistance. Solar panel is generated power by light intensity
applied by using incandescent light bulb. The light intensity changed by using
a voltage regulator. The power is measured by using voltmeter and ammeter
readings. Solar energy is to emulate the solar panel output power
characteristics. The model of sun was taken as an incandescent bulb light and
placed on the circular iron track to change east to the west. By changing the
position of the bulb and changing the bulb light intensity with the help of the
D.C speed regulator. Solar panel is placed in such a way that it freely moves
to certain angles. By taking voltmeter and ammeter readings calculate the
power. The graph is drawn between resistance versus power, the unique source of
energy. The main aim of the paper is. Ensure that the maximum power output
occurs at load which is taken as a resistor bank.


Synthetic lipid membranes are self-assembled biomolecular double layers designed to approximate the properties of living cell membranes. These membranes are employed as model systems for studying the interactions of cellular envelopes with the surrounding environment in a controlled platform. They are constructed by dispersing amphiphilic lipids into a combination of immiscible fluids enabling the biomolecules to self-assemble into ordered sheets, or monolayers at the oil-water interface. The adhesion of two opposing monolayer sheets forms the membrane, or the double layer. The mechanical properties of these synthetic membranes often differ from biological ones mainly due to the presence of residual solvent in between the leaflets. In fact, the double layer compresses in response to externally applied electrical field with an intensity that varies depending on the solvent present. While typically viewed as a drawback associated with their assembly, in this work the elasticity of the double layer is utilized to further quantify complex biophysical phenomena. The adsorption of charged molecules on the surface of a lipid bilayer is a key property to decipher biomolecule interactions at the interface of the cell membrane, as well as to develop effective antimicrobial peptides and similar membrane-active molecules. This adsorption generates a difference in the boundary potentials on either side of the membrane which may be tracked through electrophysiology. The soft synthetic membranes produced in the laboratory compress when exposed to an electric field. Tracking the minimum membrane capacitance allows for quantifying when the intrinsic electric field produced by the asymmetry is properly compensated by the supplied transmembrane voltage. The technique adopted in this work is the intramembrane field compensation (IFC). This technique focuses on the current generated by the bilayer in response to a sinusoidal voltage with a DC component, VDC. Briefly, the output sinusoidal current is divided into its harmonics and the second harmonic equals zero when VDC compensates the internal electric field. In this work, we apply the IFC technique to droplet interface bilayers (DIB) enabling the development of a biological sensor. A certain membrane elasticity is needed for accurate measurements and is tuned through the solvent selection. The asymmetric DIBs are formed, and an automated PID-controlled IFC design is implemented to rapidly track and compensate the membrane asymmetry. The closed loop system continuously reads the current and generates the corresponding voltage until the second harmonic is abated. This research describes the development and optimization of a biological sensor and examines how varying the structure of the synthetic membrane influences its capabilities for detecting membrane-environment interactions. This platform may be applied towards studying the interactions of membrane-active molecules and developing models for the associated phenomena to enhance their design.


In tetragonal zirconia, possibility is investigated of densification with finer grain sizes under the combination of doping and sintering in air. The materials used are CIP'ed compacts of 3-mol%-yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (3Y-TZP) doped with a small amount of cations. For a given sintering temperature and initial density of the compacts, while the doped cations enhances densification in the latest stage of sintering, the effect is different in grain growth during densification: a doped cation tended to enhance grain growth, whereas the other cations tended to suppress grain growth. As a result, the doping of the latter cations brings about a grain size finer than that of the undoped 3Y-TZP for a given relative density.


The Haiyuan fault is a major active left-lateral fault along the northeast edge of the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau. Studying this fault is important in understanding current deformation of the plateau and the mechanics of continental deformation in general. Previous studies have mostly focused on the slip rate of the fault. Paleo- seismic investigations on the fault are sparse, and have been targeted mostly at the stretch of the fault that ruptured in the 1920 M 8.6 earthquake in Ningxia Province. To investigate the millennial seismic history of the western Haiyuan fault, we opened two trenches in a small pull-apart basin near Songshan, in Gansu Province. The excavation exposes sedimentary layers of alternating colors: dark brown silty to clayey deposit and light yellowish brown layers of coarser-grained sandy deposit. The main fault zone is readily recognizable by the disruption and tilting of the layers. Six paleoseismic events are identified and named SS1 through SS6, from youngest to oldest. Charcoal is abundant, yet generally tiny in the shallowest parts of the trench exposures. Thirteen samples were dated to constrain the ages of paleoseismic events. All six events have occurred during the past 3500-3900 years. The horizontal offsets associated with these events are poorly known. However, events SS3 to SS6 appear to be large ones, judging from comparison of vertical separations and widths of fault zones. The youngest event SS1 instead seems to be a minor one, probably the 1990 Mw 5.8 earthquake. Thus, four large events in 3500-3900 years would imply a re- currence interval of about 1000 years. Three events SS2 to SS4 prior to 1990 occurred sometime during 1440-1640 A.D., shortly after 890-1000 A.D. and 0-410 A.D., re- spectively. We tentatively associate them with the 1514 A.D., 1092 A.D., and 143 or 374 A.D. historical earthquakes. Taking 10 2 m of slip for large events (SS3 and SS4), comparable to the 1920 M 8 Haiyuan earthquake, their occurrence times would be consistent with the long-term 12 4 mm/yr estimate of Lasserre et al. (1999). However, a more realistic evaluation of slip rate and its possible change with time requires a more rigorous determination of coseismic slip amounts of past earth- quakes.


With the increasing expansion of companies into the global markets, Relationship Marketing (RM) has become more significant than ever, drawing to it the interest of scholars and the attention of practitioners. One aspect of the subject, which this research addresses, is the need to understand the nature and importance of relationships across cultures, since such understanding is critical to organizational expansion. The focus of this research is B2B relationship marketing, with cross-cultural marketing as a major component of analysis. Building on and extending relevant cross-cultural theories, this research investigates B2B relationship marketing in a Middle-Eastern telecom company, Saudi Telecom Company (STC), a company that is well placed for providing fertile illustrations of the mechanism of B2B relationship marketing. It is, furthermore, a key company in Saudi Arabia with hundreds of partners worldwide, and its economic importance to the country is second only to SABIC, the state-owned national oil company. Adopting a case study research strategy, the research explores how a growing organization absorbs cultural awareness into its B2B relationships. Data are garnered by interviewing 35 STC managers, 29 STC Small Medium Enterprise SME business partners, and three of STC's Major Enterprise partners, as well as accessing and analysing secondary data from the company. The findings to date suggest that as the company grows it needs to develop B2B cross-cultural awareness at local and global level. This research extends cross-cultural models which have been developed in a business-toconsumer (B2C) context such as cross-cultural marketing theories proposed by Hall and Hofstede to understand cross-cultural theory in a B2B context. By exploring the role of culture in B2B relationships in the telecom industry in the Middle East in general and Saudi Arabia in particular, in light of a case study conducted on a specific and major company, STC and its global partners, and by investigating and assessing how it conducts its B2B relationships, this research aspires to extend the understanding of cultural awareness in B2B relationship and thereby to make a useful contribution to scholarship.


This paper offers a critique of existing ways of understanding management practice in International Non-Government Organisations (INGOs) and compares and contrasts these with insights drawn from the complexity sciences. The authors put forward a more radical interpretation of complexity theory as it might be taken up in organisations rather than suggesting that it can be accommodated with existing theories based in systems thinking. They suggest that understanding the process of organising as contingent, paradoxical and experiential could profoundly refocus the attention of managers and practitioners alike and lead to an intensifying of practice as more consciously political. In being more open to others, including their partners and beneficiaries, staff in INGOs may be more ready to change themselves and their ideas. At the same time, the authors point out the existing dynamics of current practice and the way it perpetuates itself, no matter how problematic. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.