Studies were conducted to improve adventitious shoot regeneration in sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.], specifically to extend the protocol to many genotypes and to elicit production of multiple shoots per explant. The use of a two-stage procedure where excised petioles were incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) (1962) medium with 2,4-D (0.2 mg.liter -1 ) for 3 days and transferred to a second medium containing MS salts with thidiazuron and 2iP (0.05 mg.liter -1 each) resulted in shoot regeneration from eight of 13 genotypes tested, including elite sweetpotato cultivars such as 'Jewel' and 'Rojoblanco'. PI 318846-3 was the most regenerable genotype, with up to 77% of explants producing one to three shoots per explant. The orientation of the petiole on the nutrient medium was critical ; those placed vertically inverted developed multiple shoots. Wounding explants through epidermal peeling with normal horizontal orientation of the explants during incubation also resulted in multiple shoot production (about three shoots per explant). Interference with auxin transport due to explant inversion or wounding may have stimulated increased shoot induction. Chemical names used : 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) ; N-phenyl-N'-1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea (thidiazuron) ; N 6 -(2-isopentenyl) adenine (2iP).


One of the key components of a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) is the linear translation stage used to vary the optical path length between the two arms of the interferometer. This translation mechanism must produce extremely constant velocity motion across its entire range of travel to allow the instrument to attain high signal-to-noise ratio and spectral resolving power. A new spectrometer is being developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory under NASA s Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program (PIDDP). The goal of this project is to build upon existing spaceborne FTIR spectrometer technology to produce a new instrument prototype that has drastically superior spectral resolution and substantially lower mass, making it feasible for planetary exploration. In order to achieve these goals, Alliance Spacesystems, Inc. (ASI) has developed a linear translation mechanism using a novel ultrasonic piezo linear motor in conjunction with a fully kinematic, fault tolerant linear rail system. The piezo motor provides extremely smooth motion, is inherently redundant, and is capable of producing unlimited travel. The kinematic rail uses spherical Vespel(R). rollers and bushings, which eliminates the need for wet lubrication, while providing a fault tolerant platform for smooth linear motion that will not bind under misalignment or structural deformation. This system can produce velocities from 10 - 100 mm/s with less than 1% velocity error over the entire 100-mm length of travel for a total mechanism mass of less than 850 grams. This system has performed over half a million strokes under vacuum without excessive wear or degradation in performance. This paper covers the design, development, and testing of this linear translation mechanism as part of the Planetary Atmosphere Occultation Spectrometer (PAOS) instrument prototype development program.


A wafer-scale 1.4 nm ultrathin Ni(OH)2 nanosheet was synthesized by ionic layer epitaxy. This free-standing Ni(OH)2 nanosheet was directly used to catalyze the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). At a current density of 10 mA cm-2, the overpotential reached 295 mV (vs. RHE) in Fe-rich 1 M NaOH. This 1.4 nm Ni(OH)2 nanosheet showed a very high turnover frequency of 5.47 s-1 and a mass activity of more than 2 × 104 A g-1 at an overpotential of 300 mV. Such a high electrocatalytic mass activity of the Ni(OH)2 nanosheet was more than 2 orders of magnitude higher than those of typical OER catalysts. The capability of producing wafer-scale nanometer-thick nanosheets offers a promising strategy to improve the mass efficiency of electrochemical catalysts, which is particularly valuable for preserving rare and precious catalyst materials.

publisher-specific, author manuscript: http://rsc.li/journals-terms-of-use


The provincial government of Alberta in Canada experiences significant annual revenue variability arising from changes in crude oil and natural gas prices. This research evaluated whether Alberta's non-renewable revenue risk could be managed using a derivatives hedging program. Results from a historical hedging simulation approach suggested that such a program would not have been the most effective method of managing revenue risk over the period of 1995-96 to 2003-04. Total impacts of hedging would have varied from Can-$8 Billion to Can $6 Billion over this time period. These results suggest the Alberta government explore alternative methods to manage non-renewable resource revenue risk.


This study investigates the procurement process effecting green-supply chain management in manufacturing industry in Thailand. Empirical data was collected from the sample group which consists of CEOs, sale managers, and procurement managers from 210 organizations in 4 manufacturing industries: electrical and electronics, auto parts, metal and aluminum, and plastics. Structural equation consists of; antecedent variables which involve top management commitment and customer pressure; dependent variables which concern business performance and environmental performance; and mediator variables which contain employee involvement, green regulations and collaborative partners. The result of the investigation indicates that top management commitment affects employee involvement, green regulations, and collaborative partners. In addition, employee involvement affects business performance rather than environmental performance while green regulation solely affects environment performance. Ultimately, collaborative partners affect business and environmental performance significantly.


Objective: Our objective was to determine the cutoff s of the Czech version of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS) for the as ses sment of cognitive impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Introduction: ECAS is cur rently the most specifi c multidomain cognitive screen ing instrument for the detection of cognitive impairment in ALS. It consists of the cognitive and behavioral part and attenuates the interference of motor impairment on cognition dur ing the as ses sment of patients with ALS. Cur rently, there are no validated Czech version methods available for the detection of cognitive impairment in ALS. Methods: Fifteen ALS patients (age 62.53 ± 11.28 years) and 15 (61.07 ± 10.99 years) age, genderand educationmatched healthy controls were recruited. The conditional probability of the presence/ absence of cognitive impairment was based on the Mattis Dementia Rat ing Scale, Second Edition. Subsequently, we performed a psychometric analysis regard ing discriminative validity and the detection potential of ECAS based on the receiver operat ing curve analysis. Results: ECAS total score signifi cantly diff erentiates between ALS and paired controls (p < 0.001) and the scale has a high potential for the detection of cognitive impairment in ALS (area under curve = 83%). The cutoff for the detection of cognitive impairment in ALS was 107/ 136 with 92% sensitivity and 83% specifi city. Conclusion: We performed a translation and backtranslation of ECAS into Czech and showed and showed adequate measurement properties of the Czech version on a sample of patients with ALS and paired controls from the Czech population. ECAS Czech version can be recom mended for its detection potential of cognitive impairment in ALS for use in clinical practice. Autoři deklarují, že v souvislosti s předmětem studie nemají žádné komerční zájmy. The authors declare they have no potential confl icts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. Redakční rada potvrzuje, že rukopis práce splnil ICMJE kritéria pro publikace zasílané do biomedicínských časopisů. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE "uniform requirements" for biomedical papers. O. Bezdíček, L. Marková, N. Soósová, M. Forgáč Laboratoř neuropsychologie J. Diamanta a Elektromyografi cká laboratoř Neurologická klinika a Centrum klinických neurověd 1. LF UK a VFN v Praze  Mgr. Ondřej Bezdíček, Ph.D. Neurologická klinika a Centrum klinických neurověd 1. LF UK a VFN Kateřinská 30 128 21 Praha 2 e–mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Přijato k recenzi 11. 8. 2017 Přijato do tisku 15. 1. 2018


ABSTRACT This article addresses the problem of international law enforcement within the War on Cyberterrorism. Hybrid conflicts have replaced the traditional ones, and new threats have emerged in cyberspace, which has become a virtual battlefield. Cyber threats - cybercrimes, cyberterrorism, cyberwarfare - are a major concern for Western governments, especially for the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The international community has begun to consider cyberattacks as a form of terrorism, to which the same measures apply. Because the term "terrorism" is ambiguous and legaly undefined, there is no consensus on a definition of the derivative term "cyberterrorism", which is left to the unilateral interpretations of states. Pretending to consider the cyberspace domain as traditional domains, and claiming to apply IHL for the sole purpose of lawfully using armed forces in contrast to cyberterrorism is a stretch. This paper addresses the question of whether or not current laws of war and international humanitarian law apply to cyber domain, and gives some recommendations on how to tackle this issue.


Abstract Aim Temporary lodging facilities which were non‐medical facilities were established to secure beds for severely and moderately ill patients with COVID‐19, as well as for isolation, non‐contact observation, and care of mildly ill and asymptomatic patients in Japan. This study aims to understand nursing management practices adopted in these facilities by examining cases of their establishment and operation. Methods A multiple‐case study design was used. Interviews for qualitative data collection were conducted from August to October 2020. After analyzing the nursing management practices in four temporary lodging facilities, common points were collated and integrated. Results For the establishment and operation of temporary lodging facilities, a three‐layer structure based on disaster management methods was adopted: headquarters at the helm as overseers, field supervisors in the middle, and frontline nursing staff at the base. The structure had clear roles, facilitated information exchange, and provided efficient and effective nursing care. Field supervisors mainly provided psychological and clinical support for staff and served as information and interprofessional hubs. Conclusion It is recommended that temporary lodging facilities should be organized based on principles of the division of labor. The workforce should comprise nursing staff, and experienced nursing professionals should be recruited to the higher echelons.


Emergent aquatic weeds present in the monocropped
fresh water wetland area of Bangladesh create a hazard in land preparation by
developing dense stands. A field experiment was conducted at the farmers' field
of two villages namely Mahilara and
Kashemabad under Gournadi Upazila of Barisal district, Bangladesh during October 2012 to evaluate the efficacy of Gramoxone 20SL (Paraquat) in
controlling emergent aquatic weeds and to find out an appropriate dose of this
herbicide. Three doses of Gramoxone 20SL at 1.96 l·ha-1, 2.00 l·ha-1 and 2.04 l·ha-1 were tried with an untreated control. All treatments
were laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated thrice.
There were 8 different emergent weed species infesting the field among which
the most dominant weed species were Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Enhydra
fluctuans, Monochoria vaginalis, Echinochloa crus-galli. The results revealed that, weed control efficiency was significantly affected
by different herbicidal treatments. The treatments, Gramoxone 20SL at 2.00 l·ha-1 and 2.04 l·ha-1 were controlled in all the emergent aquatic weeds more than 85%
infesting both the sites. Application of non-selective
herbicide Gramoxone 20SL at 2.00 l·ha-1 prior to land preparation was
most effective to suppress weed dry
masses in both the site resulting reduced land preparation cost up to 78.93% as compared to manual
weed control.


In this paper, a dispersed anterior pituitary cell system that is continuously perifused and suitable for the study of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)-anterior pituitary physiology is described. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were decapitated and the anterior pituitaries removed, dispersed using collagenase, mixed with Biogel P2, and packed into 0.9-cm columns using sterile technique. All experiments were conducted using Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate-glucose buffer, and a stable base line was achieved. A constant dose of LHRH (50 ng) administered several times at 1-h intervals stimulated the same quantal release of LH. LH secretion is linear in response to LHRH over the range of 1-50 nM and to rat hypothalamic extracts over a range of 1/32 to 1/2 hypothalamic equivalents, regardless of whether the extracts are administered in ascending or descending order. These results indicate that perifusion of dispersed pituitary cells provides a useful model for the study of LHRH physiology, combining the advantages of the long-term viability of pituitary cells in culture with the dynamic nature afforded by perifusion.


Code obfuscation is intended to thwart reverse engineering by making programmes hard to understand. Call chains collected by stack tracing can be used to understand the behaviour of programmes. To hinder reverse analysis of stack tracing, a binary code obfuscation method based on random obfuscated table and hash coding is proposed. Random obfuscated table is used to map call addresses while call and ret instructions are executing. Hash coding and random value can be used to encode and decode the data of stack frames in the run-time programmes. Experiment and analysis show that the obfuscation can effectively impede stack trace analysis and increase the cost of reverse analysis for programmes.


This study provides the reader with a methodology for directly deriving basic streamflow statistics (mean, variance, and correlation coefficient) from long‐term recorded daily rainfall data. A daily streamflow sequence is considered as a filtered point process where the input is a storm time sequence that is assumed to be a marked point process. The mark is the storm magnitude that is constructed from a daily rainfall time series, and the correlation of the daily rainfall during the storm is considered. The number of storms is a counting process represented by either the binomial, the Poisson, or the negative binomial probability distribution, depending on its ratio of mean versus variance. As a pulse‐response function for a filtered point process, the model of three serial tanks with a parallel tank is adopted to describe the physical process of rainfall‐runoff. Thus the basic statistics (mean, variance, and covariance function) of J‐day averaged streamflows can be estimated in terms of the constants expressing stochastic properties of a rainfall time series and the tank model's parameters representing the causal relationship between rainfall and runoff. The method is used to derive the streamflow statistics of an actual dam basin, the Sameura Dam basin, located in Shikoku island, Japan. The resulting computed means and variances of 5‐day averaged streamflows show a good correspondence with observed ones.


This PhD thesis is aimed at studying the possible pathways and the mechanisms that can trigger oxylipins biosynthesis, and particularly that of short chain aldehydes and alcohols, in Lactobacillus helveticus, also in the presence of oxidative stress, using a totally labelled linoleic acid as precursor. In plants and fungi these molecules, involved in defence mechanisms against pathogens and in communication systems, derive from the oxidation of cellular unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and their accumulation is associated with stress exposure. Since some oxylipins are produced also by lactobacilli, it is possible to hypothesize that a metabolic pathway from UFAs to oxylipins, similar to what happens in plants and fungi, is present also in lactic acid bacteria. The results obtained pointed out that some volatile molecules are the result of UFAs catabolism, since they appear only when cells are incubated in their presence. Labelled linoleic acid is integrated in the membrane and subsequently transformed into aldehydes and alcohols, whose extent and carbon atoms number depend on stress exposure. The enzymes responsible for this metabolic pathway in plants and fungi (e.g. lipoxygenase, dioxygenase) seem to be absent in Lactobacillus helveticus and in other lactobacilli. Proteomic analyses show the over expression of many proteins, including thioredoxin reductase (part of the bacterial oxidative defence system), mainly in cells grown with linoleic acid without oxidative stress exposure, confirming that linoleic acid itself induces oxidative stress. 6 general oxidoreductases (class including dioxygenases and peroxidase) were found and therefore a deeper investigation on them could be productive in elucidating all steps involved in oxylipins biosynthesis in bacteria. Due to the multiple role of oxylipins (flavouring agents, antimicrobial compounds and interspecific signalling molecules) the identification of genes involved and regulating factors should have an important biotechnological impact, also allowing the overproduction of selected bioactive molecules.


Rechargeable, all-solid-state Li ion batteries (LIBs) with high specific capacity and small footprint are highly desirable to power an emerging class of miniature, autonomous microsystems that operate without a hardwire for power or communications. A variety of three-dimensional (3D) LIB architectures that maximize areal energy density has been proposed to address this need. The success of all of these designs depends on an ultrathin, conformal electrolyte layer to electrically isolate the anode and cathode while allowing Li ions to pass through. However, we find that a substantial reduction in the electrolyte thickness, into the nanometer regime, can lead to rapid self-discharge of the battery even when the electrolyte layer is conformal and pinhole free. We demonstrate this by fabricating individual, solid-state nanowire core-multishell LIBs (NWLIBs) and cycling these inside a transmission electron microscope. For nanobatteries with the thinnest electrolyte, ≈110 nm, we observe rapid self-discharge, along with void formation at the electrode/electrolyte interface, indicating electrical and chemical breakdown. With electrolyte thickness increased to 180 nm, the self-discharge rate is reduced substantially, and the NWLIBs maintain a potential above 2 V for over 2 h. Analysis of the nanobatteries' electrical characteristics reveals space-charge limited electronic conduction, which effectively shorts the anode and cathode electrodes directly through the electrolyte. Our study illustrates that, at these nanoscale dimensions, the increased electric field can lead to large electronic current in the electrolyte, effectively shorting the battery. The scaling of this phenomenon provides useful guidelines for the future design of 3D LIBs.


Using the technique of transcranial magnetic stimulation over the motor areas of cortex and recording electromyographic (EMG) responses from the first dorsal interosseous muscle, we measured the excitability of corticocortical inhibitory circuits at rest using a double pulse paradigm, in 11 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) studied both on (ON) and off (OFF) (after overnight withdrawal) their normal medication and in 10 age‐matched control subjects. There was a significant decrease in the amount of corticocortical inhibition at short (1–5 msec) interstimulus intervals in patients relative to their controls, which improved after L‐dopa intake. For comparison with previous reports using transcranial magnetic stimulation we also measured the duration of the EMG silent period when stimuli were given to voluntarily active muscle, and the threshold for evoking an EMG response in both the active and relaxed states. There was no change in the threshold for evoking EMG responses whether muscles were active or relaxed. However, the silent period was significantly prolonged when ON compared with OFF, although in neither state was the duration significantly different from that seen in normals. We suggest that there may be abnormalities of motor cortical inhibitory mechanisms in patients with Parkinson's disease that are not readily detected using threshold or silent period measurements alone.


This paper reports a case of a twisted small bowel obstruction in a 74-year-old man that occurred after a double tract reconstruction (DTR) in a laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (PG) for early gastric cancer. The patient had inadequate oral intake and reflux symptoms for 10 days after discharge. Imaging analysis revealed a narrowed small bowel with twists between the esophagojejunostomy and gastrojejunostomy sites. A fully covered stent was placed in the narrowed small bowel for 2 weeks. The patient was then discharged after stent removal without any dietary problems. The authors' experience shows that twisted small bowel after a DTR in PG can be treated by endoscopy.


The long-term effects of serious traumatic brain injury in the child or adolescent are often underestimated. The seriousness of a brain injury's lasting effects, especially cognitive and behavioral ones, will be increased in inverse proportion to the age at the trauma occurred. Using an account of the psychotherapy of an adolescent who has suffered a traumatic brain injury, the author suggests a specific psychotherapy setting for brain-injured adolescents.


Taking as my starting-point the view that equity is essentially a mechanism for preempting the enforcement of common law remedies, I attempt to show that equitable estoppel is in the main stream of equitable developments; that its history is longer than that recognized in the more recent cases; and that it currently avails promisees who are unable to frame their suits in conformity with the requirements of common law contract. I have preferred to look to the distinctly equitable view of contract, obscured for a time by the courts of the nineteenth century, rather than to the answer suggested by Atiyah, in order to meet the problems encountered at law by reason of the. official obeisance to the doctrine of consideration. The equity, I suggest, facilitates a more unified picture, when placed in the context of equity's traditional aims, of recent changes, particularly in the field of licences: for by emphasising its equitable nature, one may more easily counter the objection that new interests in land are being created. Statute aside, the trust itself is a mere highly developed form of preemption of a legal claim; so, I urge, is the so-called "new equity". And again, the confusing kaleidoscope of recent cases may gain meaning if one sees them in this way. By reference to its history, its analogy to so-called "proprietory estoppel", and its lack of real connexion with common law estoppel, I suggest that equitable estoppel in all of its manifestations can properly found a cause of action, and that only an unjustifiable judicial timidity prevents the realization of this. Moreover, I stress that greater equivalence between law and the mores, both of the commercial and. the private transactor, may be obtained through greater use of the promise-enforcing remedy: that is to say, its criterion of enforcement, "equity", like that of the reasonable man at common law, is a parameter whose value may be varied according with the standards of the time.


A prototype water-tank-based analog/digital pulsed imaging system was built to study the feasibility of tumor differentiation using color flow Doppler under low-flow and weak scattering conditions. Images of the whole breast instead of one section were obtained. Data from 20 slices per patient were taken. Since attenuation increases with depth, the recorded ultrasound images were characterized by low signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio with increasing tissue depth. Therefore, frequency estimation algorithms based on depth dependent threshold variation were developed to determine the Doppler frequency at low S/N ratios. Preliminary clinical studies using this system were performed and show good correlation with various medical diagnostic modalities used to investigate breast tumors.<<ETX>>


Intermittent hydrarthrosis in general has hitherto been regarded as a medical curiosity of unknown pathogenesis and in which treatment has been decidedly unsatisfactory.

Two typical cases of intermittent hydrarthrosis of the knee joint, of diverse etiology, are reported in which apparent cure was obtained following the operative removal of the synovial membrane.

The etiology in the first case was definitely traumatic, and the condition was associated with a fibrous tissue mass in the calf muscle, the probable origin of this mass being a hematoma of that region. The attacks were of nine months' duration, came on five weeks after the traumatism, and persisted despite aspiration, rest in bed, and autoserotherapy. No clinical hypersensitiveness could be demonstrated in the history or by exhaustive tests.

The etiology in the second case was obscure, but definitely related to menstruation. The semilunar cartilages had been removed at another hospital. She had had repeated aspirations without effect.

Despite the fact that rarely recurrences of this disorder may take place after long intervals, it is nevertheless felt that, on the basis of the above observations, synovial excision offers the best prospect for the cure of the condition.


Static loading and impact tests of ceramic alumina tiles have shown a very interesting behaviour of tough, brittle, and high energy absorbing materials. Strain gauges techniques and data acquisition were used in previous research for static and low velocity impact testing. A static-dynamic equivalence was done through a calibration procedure of the measuring system. The research is continued in this paper by using the digital image correlation method with the complete displacement and strain history acquired till the failure of the ceramic tiles of different compositions, proving the capacity of such materials to be used for particular purpose applications.


A variety of numerical techniques are used in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for the numerical analysis of practical problems. The most important are the finitedifference time-domain technique, the finite-element method, the transmission-line-matrix method and the method of moments. All approaches have their strengths and weaknesses and cannot be applied to all kinds of problems with the same degree of efficiency, measured in memory consumption and computation time necessary. In this paper it is shown that the method of moments (MoM) can be applied to a variety of scenarios, each of which would form a challenging problem to all of the mentioned numerical techniques. It is shown that a customization of the MoM to the specific problems at hand can be accomplished. All examples shown have been computed using the academic code CONCEPT-II developed at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH).


The study Climatological Review of Enugu Rainfall (RF) from 1916 – 2012 and Its Implications examines in detail the RF characteristics and pattern over Enugu during the study period. These include the annual, seasonal and parameters like onset, cessation, duration and seasonality of Enugu RF. Data for this work were extracted from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) Oshodi, Lagos archive for analysis. The result shows among other things that RF fluctuates both annually and seasonally between and outside the group study period over Enugu. In annual / trend analysis it was observed that RF occurrence decreased from 1916 – 1991 generally, but from 1991 – 2012 RF tend to increase. It was also observed that wet season accounted for 83.30% of the total RF over Enugu. The wet season months accounted for 83.30% of the total RF over Enugu.


Build a Website for Free Build yourself a state-of-the-art website.Its incredibly easy... and it wont cost you a dime! You need a website. But you dont need the hassles that usually go with building one, or the expense of hiring someone else to do it. Heres your solution: Build a Website for Free!Youll learn how you can use new Web 2.0 technologies to create a site thats impressive and effective. And heres the best part: Youll do it all with software and tools that wont cost you a dime! Plan, organize, and design a site that really works, using tools you can find for free Discover the simple secrets of writing pages people want to read Use video on your siteand get someone else to pay for hosting it Add an easy-to-update blog and start building your own web community Quickly and easily handle nuts and bolts tasks, from getting your site name to uploading your content Get your site picked up by Google, Yahoo!, and other search engines Adapt your site for easy viewing on cell phones Mark Bell is a Ph.D. student in the Indiana University Telecommunications department. He studies virtual worlds and mediated trust with the Synthetic Worlds Initiative and has spent 15 years in the computer industry. Mark created his first website in 1992, ran a web design company in the 90s, and consults on several academic web projects. CATEGORY: Internet/Web


This book mainly describes Ancient Tantra Techniques, which is nowadays cure all Psychological and Biological problems, This book is not an Religious Book, this book mainly deals with all Psychological and Biological problems like Stress disorders, Alzheimer's disease, Alcoholic, Drugs Addiction, personality disorders, Anxiety disorders, Autism, Bipolar disorders, Schizophrenia, Cognitive disorders, Depression, Dissociative disorders, Phobia, Identity disorder , Insomnia, Somnambulism, social Anxiety disorders, Sexual disorders, Heart disease, blood pressure, Sexual orientation, Homosexuality, Lesbianism, Gay sexuality, Suicidal mentality, etc., This book contains Six Practical Methods or Techniques, explain very simple and scientifical ways, to activate your inner potentiality, and Your Body Chakras, and Intuitive, Psychic power, Hypnosis, Telepathic power, Yoga, Meditation, Tantra, and also described how to get Enlightenment, this is not only cure psychological and Biological problems its described how to move higher level of human also describe here Clair-audience sensibility.


This thesis project considers the potential use of inertial navigation on a consumer grade tablet mounted in a vehicle in an underground mine. The goal is to identify which sensors and techniques are useful and to design a navigation algorithm based on those results. The navigation algorithm is intended to work alongside the current received signal strength indication (RSSI) positioning system. Testing of the gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer sensors suggest that, while dead reckoning is likely not precise enough, an orientation filter can be designed that can be used for navigation. A complementary orientation filter using the gyroscope and accelerometer is then designed that shows better results than the default sensor fusion solutions available in Android. The filter is expandable and can come to include magnetometer data in the future. Based on the outputs of this filter, a navigation algorithm based onangle matching with map information is proposed. Precise positioning in an underground mine can be crucial to employee safety, and may also bring production benefits.


Purpose
The purpose of this study is to demystify the authenticity dimensions of wine experience with the locally guided tour in the meal-sharing economy, drawing on travellers' online reviews at Withlocals for French locally guided wine tours.

Design/methodology/approach
The qualitative research approach was performed through the thematic analysis of 940 online reviews from Withlocals. The coding phase was completed based on a three-step coding process (i.e. open, axial and selective coding), as all reviews that were gathered were related to locally guided wine tours rather than only wine-sharing activities.

Findings
The findings of this study demonstrated four interrelated authenticity dimensions: the taste of terroir, local atmosphere, oenological knowledge and local insight. The results of this study also notably showed that all reviews were primarily positive; travellers expressed their satisfaction with wine tours at Withlocals and often mentioned their re-purchase intentions as well as advising wine tours in the meal-sharing economy.

Practical implications
Several worthy theoretical and practical implications were discussed for local tour guides to improve their tour quality more authentically. The results also demonstrate that locally guided wine tours in the meal-sharing economy were regarded as a multidimensional activity that provides a better discovery of a wine destination.

Originality/value
Despite the large volume of generic meal-sharing economy experience studies, the authenticity experience of the locally guided wine tours has been surprisingly omitted by scholars. Therefore, this study contributes to the sharing economy literature through wine experience by addressing the authenticity dimensions of the locally guided wine tours in the meal-sharing economy.


Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is a slow setting Portland cement (PC) based dental material for endodontic applications. The present study investigated the effect of adding either CaCl2 or Plaster of Paris (PoP) as setting accelerators on the development of the material properties and microstructure with reaction time for a PC based model system. Mechanical strength, density and relative porosity were measured after 1, 10 and 30days and the microstructure was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The strength of all cements increased with time whereas material density and relative porosity decreased due to the progress of the hydration reaction. Cements with 5-10% CaCl2 in the liquid phase had a higher final strength and lower porosity than cements modified with 20wt% PoP in the cement powder, whilst PoP modified cement had a shorter setting time of 15min compared with 60min for 10% CaCl2 addition. The microstructure of the two modifications were noticeably different, with the CaCl2 modified cement having more interconnected needle-like crystals than seen in PoP modified cements, which may explain the higher strength of this cement.


In response to the complaints of readers that The Gun Tree was too short and didn't tell the full story, this follow up is the inevitable answer. In The Parwan Wind the author attempted to fill in some of the gaps plus bring the story of her former 'brothers in arms' up to date. The ever changing political situation, combined with personal reasons, did not allow her to return there until the spring of 2004. The author returned to a completely different Afghanistan than she had found in 1983. Visiting Kabul for the first time came as a shock, and meeting and discussing the outcome of 23 years of war with former Mujahideen was a revelation indeed. The changes in custom, culture and expectations were sadly fascinating. The author has endeavoured to portray the harsh outcomes and realities of war in these pages.


The last two decades, the level of political engagement in Sweden has continued to decline, despite various projects attempting to adjust this trend that threatens to weaken the legitimacy of Swedish democracy; a participatory democracy with deliberative qualities. New studies have shown that today's youth engage in matters regarding society, on the Internet. Can web 2.0. be the solution? A majority of Swedish municipal authorities are now seeking interaction; specifically dialogue in social media, though scholars argue the channel is used primarily for publicity and information rather than interactive dialogue.This thesis's key questions are the following. What attitude do students have, towards engaging in dialogue with municipalities on the latter's Facebook pages? Which criteria must this communication meet, in order to catch their interest, furthermore promote dialogue? Lastly, would they engage in the dialogue, given these criteria are met?The concept has been studied through a qualitative research method, focus group. Our respondent's attitudes towards the concept where then analyzed and put into scientific context with theories argued in previous studies.Our study shows that students would participate given their criteria where met. Issues, criteria discussed where the following. Our respondents have little faith in the municipality's will to have dialogue, further they don't believe they can make an impact consequently they don't engage in the dialogue. They wished that matters discussed met their interest and that municipalities remained in main control over the communication process and that the communication form corresponds with the channel's, Facebook's.


Purpose: This article aims to observe the expression of the Regenerating gene (Reg) IV in intestinal tissues of patients of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and explores the correlation between Reg IV expression level and the activity of IBD.
Method: 65 cases of IBD patients confirmed during January 2013-October 2013 as well as 30 cases of healthy people tested by colonoscopy inspection during corresponding period are taken for comparisons, including 30 cases of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and 35 cases of Crohn's Disease (CD). The immunohistochemistry method is adopted to detect the protein expression level of Reg IV. The RT-PCR method is adopted to inspect the mRNA expression level of Reg IV. In addition, the correlation with IBD is further analysed.
\Results: According to the quantitative results of immunohistochemistry staining, Reg IV has weak protein expression in health people, and Reg IV protein level of UC during active stage is significantly higher than that of remission stage (P 0.05). The RT-PCR result is consistent with that of the immunohistochemistry.
Conclusion: Reg IV has a significantly higher expression in IBD, illustrating that Reg IV may be involved in the occurrence and development of IBD.


Power amplifiers (PAs) often exhibit instabilities leading to frequency division by two or oscillations at incommensurate frequencies. This undesired behavior can be detected through a large-signal stability analysis of the solution. However, other commonly observed phenomena are still difficult to predict and eliminate. In this paper, the anomalous behavior observed in a Class-E PA is analyzed in detail. It involves hysteresis in the power-transfer curve, oscillation, and noisy precursors. The precursors are pronounced bumps in the power spectrum due to noise amplification under a small stability margin. The correction of the amplifier performance has required the development of a new technique for the elimination of the hysteresis. Instead of a trial-and-error procedure, this technique, of general application to circuit design, makes use of bifurcation concepts to suppress the hysteresis phenomenon through a single simulation on harmonic-balance software. Another objective has been the investigation of the circuit characteristics that make the noisy precursors observable in practical circuits and a technique has been derived for their elimination from the amplifier output spectrum. All the different techniques have been experimentally validated.


Aim: To evaluate the predictive factors for visual outcome after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection to treat refractory diabetic macular oedema (DME). Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with DME who met the following inclusion criteria was performed: clinically significant diabetic macular oedema, receipt of a 4 mg/0.1 ml intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the macula performed up to 10 days before injection. All patients received a full ophthalmic examination including best-corrected Snellen visual acuity (VA). The main outcome measure was the mean change in vision 3 months after injection. Results: Data from 73 eyes of 59 patients were analysed. After a mean follow-up of 324 days, the mean change in vision was −0.075 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) units, with 27.3% improving ⩾3 lines, 6.8% declining ⩾3 lines and 60.2% remaining stable within 1 line of baseline vision. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate generalised estimating equations on the basis of data from 52 eyes of 42 patients. Factors associated with an improvement in vision 3 months after injection were worse baseline VA (−0.27 logMAR units/unit increase in baseline VA, p = 0.002) and presence of subretinal fluid (−0.17 logMAR units, p = 0.06). The presence of cystoid macular oedema negatively affected the visual outcome (0.15 logMAR units, p = 0.03). In addition, the presence of an epiretinal membrane (ERM) was associated with less visual improvement. ERM modified the effect of baseline VA as demonstrated by a significant interaction between these two variables (0.34 logMAR units/unit increase in baseline VA, p = 0.04). Conclusions: OCT factors and baseline VA can be useful in predicting the outcomes of VA 3 months after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection in patients with refractory DME.


This paper explores the question: How should we modify and extend existing UM Languages and representations to address specific ubiquitous computing issues? The answer we propose builds upon previous work on single user model server and exploits the user model representation to enable users to permit parts of the environment to access selective personas, which allow the user to provide one persona to one application and a different persona to another. We discuss the way that sensors can contribute to the user model in an ubiquitous computing environment. We also describe the ways that we address the issues of reusability and group models in ubiquitous computing.


Evolution has produced a multi-scale mosaic of interacting adaptive units. Innovations arise when perturbations push parts of the system away from stable equilibria into new regimes where previously well-adapted solutions no longer work. Here we explore the hypothesis that multi-agent systems sometimes display intrinsic dynamics arising from competition and cooperation that provide a naturally emergent curriculum, which we term an autocurriculum. The solution of one social task often begets new social tasks, continually generating novel challenges, and thereby promoting innovation. Under certain conditions these challenges may become increasingly complex over time, demanding that agents accumulate ever more innovations.


This paper presents the application of wheeled vehicle based on a hybrid propulsion system. Describes control system structure and communication between different units of propulsion, intermediary devices and the fundamental issues of building such a network. Virtual propulsion of a wheeled vehicle hybrid drive designed for parallel connection structure of the drive units. This enabled the propulsion work more efficiently through the synergy of energy units – ICE and electric motor, and allowed ICE unit turn off in built-up areas. In the presented research results can be seen as a great contribution to the work of the propulsion system has an internal combustion engine, which not only drives the electric generator, but also a wheeled vehicles.


For treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), local therapies and surgery, including liver transplant, are the first line treatment options; however, several contraindications limit their clinical use. The improvement of radiotherapy (RT) established RT in treating HCC contraindicated against local therapies, including transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation. For HCC that recurs after RT and still contradicts against local therapies, there is a need to investigate the use of reirradiation. This study recruited patients receiving two courses of RT for recurrent HCC between January 2007 and December 2019. The result suggested that patients who experienced tumor regression after reirradiation had better survival over those with a stable form of the disease, with the mean overall survival (OS) as 30.0 and 4.0 months, respectively (p < 0.001). The analysis also revealed that systemic therapy had no benefit on both the OS and controlling distant metastasis; the result was limited to a small study number and diversity of drugs. Considering systemic therapy and portal vein tumor thrombosis, which are commonly viewed to affect prognosis, multivariate analysis suggested that the Child–Pugh score and local control were the only two independent factors for the OS, with p = 0.017 and p = 0.028, respectively. Our findings suggested that reirradiation could be the choice for treating recurrent HCC.


Indoor and outdoor bites' collections of gravid Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes were made with plastic aspirator from residential areas within Jimeta-Yola metropolis for three years (between March and May; August and October 2003 to 2005). They were identified using standard morphological keys and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The identification results of the dry season collections of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes using morphological keys were Anopheles gambiae complex (64.0 %), Anopheles funestus complex (17.0 %), Anopheles pharoensis (9.0 %), Anopheles rhodesiensis (5.0%); Culex
quinquefasciatus (40.5 %), Culex pipiens fatigans (32.4 %) and Culex tigripes (10.1 %). The results of the wet season collections were Anopheles gambiae complex (56.0 %), Anopheles funestus complex (19.6.0 %) Anopheles pharoensis (11.4
%), Anopheles rhodesiensis (7.0 %); others (4.0 %). There were no significant changes in the relative abundance of different species of Culex mosquitoes due to changes in season, except Culex pipiens fatigans (36.4 %) and Culex tigripes (12.4 %). Results of the PCR identifications confirmed that Anopheles gambiae complex consisted of Anopheles arabiensis (66.7%) and Anopheles gambiae s.s.(6.7%). The study shows that Anopheles and Culex mosquito species abound in the study area with potential health consequences in the transmission of malaria and filariasis all year round. Keywords : gravid, Anopheles, Culex , identification, PCR. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 28 (2) 2007: pp. 114-117


This paper is concerned with an investigation of the existing level of worker participation in management decision making within the Indian work environment. The study involved a survey in which a total of two hundred and twenty seven (217) non management employees drawn from two work organizations in Uttar Pradesh (Flour Mills and Sugar Mills) were used as subjects. Interview schedule and in-depth interview were the main research techniques adopted for data collection while percentage distribution and chi-square statistical techniques were used to analyze the data collected for the study. Results show that employees in both organizations demonstrate a high interest in participation in the decision making process within their respective work places. However, the actual level of involvement in management decision making demonstrated by the employees was found to be relatively low. There is significant relationship between education and employees' involvement in decision making at Flour Mills. In Sugar Mills, there is a significant relationship between age and employees' involvement in decision making as well as between frequency of employees' consultation and organizational commitment.


[1] The world's largest observed Slow Slip Events (SSE) occurred in 2001–2002 and 2006 in the Guerrero subduction zone, Mexico. Using an improved GPS processing that accounts for time-varying atmospheric phenomena as well as oceanic, atmospheric and hydrologic loading corrections, the 11 year GPS position time series in Guerrero show a noise reduction of ∼50% with respect to previous studies. Thanks to the improved position time series and, in particular, the simultaneous analysis of the three-dimensional GPS observations, we can provide new information about SSEs in the studied area. First, we detect seven nonperiodic anomalous displacements with subcentimeter amplitude, but no quasi-annual anomalies as proposed previously. The displacements seem to occur simultaneously with the observed peaks of non-volcanic tremor activity in the area. Second, we refine the characteristics of the two major SSEs in terms of timing, duration, and cumulative displacements, and highlight the complex surface spatiotemporal evolution of the displacements during these SSEs. In particular, we observe a clear initiation phase for the 2006 SSE as well as ending phases for both large SSEs. The ending phase shows a strong deceleration of the anomalous displacements with respect to the main displacement phase already observed, for the 2001–2002 and 2006 SSEs. The duration of the SSEs increases by 30–40% including the initiation and ending phases. For the 2006 SSE, the main displacement phase also shows spatiotemporal complexity. Our results demonstrate the need for improved three-dimensional GPS processing technique in order to undertake detailed studies of SSEs.


Abstract
In this research, the effects of corm culture in 15, 20 or 25 cm distances in two culture pattern of triangle and square on growth and flowering of gladiolus (Gladiolus hybrida cv. White friendship) was investigated. The experiment was carried out as factorial in completed randomize design with four replication (each replicate consist of one plot 1×1.5 m). The results showed with corm culture in triangle pattern and 25 cm distance, the height of flowering stalk was significantly more than corm culture in 15 cm distance in both triangle and square patterns. The ratio of flowering section height to stalk height in culture distance of 25 cm in both patterns were significantly higher than 15 cm culture distance. The most number of cut flowers were produced in 15 cm culture distance in both patterns and increase of culture distance caused of decreasing this index in both patterns. In both triangle and square culture patterns, increase of culture distance caused of decreasing the number of new corms and the most number of corms were obtained in 15 cm distance of triangle pattern. The culture pattern and culture distance of corm did not affect significantly on weight and diameter of new corms and also weight, number and diameter of cormlets. The treatments used were not affected significantly on ratio number of florets to height of stalk, number, height and wide of leaf and diameter of stem.

Key words: Plant Density, Culture Pattern, Gladiolus, Cut Flower, Flowering


In this study, the antiviral effects of bovine interferon-tau (boIFN-tau) on bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) were examined in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro experiments, the replication of cytopathic and non-cytopathic BVDV was inhibited in the bovine cells treated with boIFN-tau. The replication of BVDV was completely suppressed by boIFN-tau at a concentration higher than 10(2) U/ml. In order to examine the effect of boIFN-tau on virus propagation in cattle persistently infected (PI) with non-cytopathic BVDV, boIFN-tau was subcutaneously administered to PI cattle at 10(5) U/kg or 10(6) U/kg body weight 5 times per week for 2 weeks. No physical abnormality such as depression was observed in the cattle during the experiment. The mean BVDV titers in the serum of the PI cattle decreased slightly during the boIFN-tau administration period with the dose of 10(6) U/kg. However, the BVDV titers in the serum returned to the pre-administration level after the final boIFN-tau administration. These results suggest that boIFN-tau demonstrates an anti-BVDV effect, reducing the BVDV level in serum transiently when injected into PI cattle.


BACKGROUND
Patients with acromegaly are currently treated with surgery, radiation therapy, and drugs to reduce hypersecretion of growth hormone, but the treatments may be ineffective and have adverse effects. Pegvisomant is a genetically engineered growth hormone-receptor antagonist that blocks the action of growth hormone.

METHODS
We conducted a 12-week, randomized, double-blind study of three daily doses of pegvisomant (10 mg, 15 mg, and 20 mg) and placebo, given subcutaneously, in 112 patients with acromegaly.

RESULTS
The mean (+/-SD) serum concentration of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) decreased from base line by 4.0+/-16.8 percent in the placebo group, 26.7+/-27.9 percent in the group that received 10 mg of pegvisomant per day, 50.1+/-26.7 percent in the group that received 15 mg of pegvisomant per day, and 62.5+/-21.3 percent in the group that received 20 mg of pegvisomant per day (P<0.001 for the comparison of each pegvisomant group with placebo), and the concentrations became normal in 10 percent, 54 percent, 81 percent, and 89 percent of patients, respectively (P<0.001 for each comparison with placebo). Among patients treated with 15 mg or 20 mg of pegvisomant per day, there were significant decreases in ring size, soft-tissue swelling, the degree of excessive perspiration, and fatigue. The score fortotal symptoms and signs of acromegaly decreased significantly in all groups receiving pegvisomant (P< or =0.05). The incidence of adverse effects was similar in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of these preliminary results, treatment of patients who have acromegaly with a growth hormone-receptor antagonist results in a reduction in serum IGF-I concentrations and in clinical improvement.


Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are considered to be a major worldwide health problem causing an increased risk of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Hypertensive disorders are the most common medical disorders encountered during pregnancy.Objective: This study aimed to assess the maternal and perinatal outcome of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.Methods: A hospital based prospective study was conducted in Obstetrics ward of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital. Total one hundred pregnant women admitted in antenatal ward with the diagnosis of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was designed and data collection was done through one- to- one interview technique during the period of December 2015 to January 2017. The collected data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science version 20.Results: Among 100 hypertensive disorders; 80% respondents had gestational hypertension, 16% had preeclampsia and two percent had eclampsia. Of total, 52% respondents had normal vaginal delivery followed by 46% caesarian section. One respondent had ante-partum hemorrhage, 11% had post-partum hemorrhage and one had developed hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes low platelets counts syndrome. Fortunately, no maternal mortality was occurred. Regarding perinatal outcome, 17% babies were born preterm, 13% babies had low birth weight and seven percent babies had birth asphyxia. Total fi ve were stillbirths and one percent had early neonatal death.Conclusion: Maternal outcome was good except few morbidities but perinatal outcome was found to be adverse. Proper management of hypertensive disorders is required to reduce perinatal morbidities and mortalities.Journal of Kathmandu Medical College,Vol. 6, No. 4, Issue 22, Oct.-Dec., 2017, Page: 145-149


Controlling the polymorphism of crystals is crucial to the design of novel metallic materials with specific properties; however, the atomistic mechanism underlying polymorph selection during crystallization remains unclear. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations combined with well-tempered metadynamics simulations are employed to explore the atomic mechanisms of polymorph selection during the nucleation process of FCC aluminum and copper. Simulation results suggest that the distinct nucleation pathways of both FCC metals originate from different free-energy surfaces of nucleation processes and diverse symmetries of nucleation precursors. The initially forming phase from undercooled melts is most likely to be the one that has the symmetry closest to the precursors. Besides, tiny seeds with diverse crystal symmetries could induce the formation of preordered precursors for nucleation around the seed, leading to the reduction of free-energy barrier and thus the promotion of nucleation. Controlling polymorph selection with tiny seeds is realized by tuning the symmetry of precursors. Our findings not only shed significant light on understanding polymorph selection, but also provide theoretical guidance for better controlling the nucleation pathway in practice.


Biphasic α-tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite (α-TCP/HA) calcium phosphate (BCP) is prepared through a modified slip casting based method: α-TCP powders are dispersed in the HA precursor solutions to form castable slurries, then the slurries are poured into round mold. After curing, the slurries turn into cakes. Room temperature curing leads the cakes to contain α-TCP and HA phases. Higher temperature heat treatment will result in the increase of HA content, while even higher temperature will leads the cakes to be triphasic. Low temperature derived BCP have particular microstructure with HA covers the surface of α-TCP powders, and these powders further agglomerate into large blocks. After higher temperature treatment, β-TCP dominates the cake and microporous structure is resulted.


Amorphous solids display a ductile to brittle transition as the kinetic stability of the quiescent glass is increased, which leads to a material failure controlled by the sudden emergence of a macroscopic shear band in quasi-static protocols. We numerically study how finite deformation rates influence ductile and brittle yielding behaviors using model glasses in two and three spatial dimensions. We find that a finite shear rate systematically enhances the stress overshoot of poorly-annealed systems, without necessarily producing shear bands. For well-annealed systems, the non-equilibrium discontinuous yielding transition is smeared out by finite shear rates and it is accompanied by the emergence of multiple shear bands that have been also reported in metallic glass experiments. We show that the typical size of the bands and the distance between them increases algebraically with the inverse shear rate. We provide a dynamic scaling argument for the corresponding lengthscale, based on the competition between the deformation rate and the propagation time of the shear bands.


Absrruct -A new family of digital prefilter structures is introduced, based on the Dolph-Chebyshev function. These prefilters can be combined with appropriately designed "equalizer" filters based on equiripple methods, leading to efficient FIR digital filter designs. Design examples are included, demonstrating the simplicity of the resulting designs, as compared to conventional equiripple designs.


Experimental evaluations of energy efficiency in WSNs on real nodes are very reliable, but also challenging. Due to the large amount of nodes and complex communication paths energy measurements have to be done in a distributed fashion. In this paper we analyze the challenges of distributed energy measurements and propose our approach to face them with WSN testbeds. In this context, we discuss existing energy measurement approaches and energy aware testbeds.


With the advent of the big data era, generative models of complex networks are becoming elusive from direct computational simulation. We present an exact, linear-algebraic reduction scheme of generative models of networks. By exploiting the bilinear structure of the matrix representation of the generative model, we separate its null eigenspace, and reduce the exact description of the generative model to a smaller vector space. After reduction, we group generative models in universality classes according to their rank and metric signature, and work out, in a computationally affordable way, their relevant properties (e.g., spectrum). The reduction also provides the environment for a simplified computation of their properties. The proposed scheme works for any generative model admitting a matrix representation, and will be very useful in the study of dynamical processes on networks, as well as in the understanding of generative models to come, according to the provided classification.


Porous ceramics are essential for a variety of technical applications such as thermal insulators, filters, catalyst supports, gas sensors, bone graft substitutes, etc. Of numerous processing methods, the slurry foaming method is advantageous in producing porous ceramics with a cellular structure with high degrees of shape complexity and control of pore size and connectivity. It combines foaming and setting of a ceramic slurry. The gelcasting employing in situ polymerization of organic monomers is superior to other setting methods utilizing thermal gelation of agar, carrageenan, gelatine, starch, or egg white in green strength and machinability. Previously unusual acrylic (or acrylate) monomer was used to produce porous Al2O3 and hydroxyapatite. In the present work, porous Al2O3 was prepared by the slurry foaming method with acrylamide monomer, commonly used in gelcasting for producing dense ceramics. The foaming and gelation behavior was investigated with the parameters such as the type and concentration of surfactant (i.e. foaming agent), solid loading, and the concentrations of initiator and catalyst. The density, porosity, microstructure, and strength of the resulting samples were characterized.


Calls for the recruitment and retention of more Black male teachers have unfolded amid popular depictions of Black men as patriarchal disciplinarians. Against that backdrop, this article investigates how 11 Black male teachers were positioned as disciplinary agents in a predominantly Black urban school district on the east coast of the United States. As they described the discipline-related expectations they encountered in their jobs, study participants critiqued and complicated prevailing perceptions of Black male teachers as authoritarian disciplinarians for Black students. Through careful analyses of participants' narratives, this article offers new insights into how Black male teachers negotiate their roles as disciplinarians, and it raises several questions that could drive future efforts to understand and support Black male teachers' disciplinary practices in today's urban schools.


Nuisance alarms often clutter and obscure a process plant operator's view of critical information, with potentially severe consequences. The intelligent alarm management system (IAMS) suppresses nuisance alarms and provides valuable advisory information to help the operator focus quickly on important alarm information and take correct, quick actions. Test results show that IAMS effectively suppresses nuisance alarms, making alarm systems more helpful.


New shape and concepts and creative ideas exploration with regard to experience creation which has the point of interests for customers in the public spaces of commercial building are often encountered. In this study, a shopping center is a case study to understand about the relation among physical designs of commercial public space which conditions the atmosphere to be the mental image of sense of place creator at certain level. As a recreation center does, such unique design of this space will help the management to creatively create a "theatrical" atmosphere of space for the visitors, especially those public spaces, so that those shapes finally can seduce the visitors to be interested in visiting the space and thus, a special bound between the shopping centre and the contemporary society can eventually be created as the preference place to support their lifestyle. This study is aimed to find out the role of internal public space (internal quasi public space) arrangement, especially at a shopping center, in order to create the sense of place. Sense of place is usually constructed from physical factor and social factor, but the study will only focus deeper on the physical factor. Further, the specific objective of study can be described to obtain the scheme of correlation between public space physical elements in its role to create various scales of sense of place, especially at a shopping center. The study case in this matter is Ciputra World Shopping Center of Surabaya. The subject of study consists of 15 informants at Ciputra World of Surabaya. The method of study employed herein is called qualitative methods will be joined. The result is physical dimension of certain place is related to comfort as well as to create the sense of place.


The ECG is a vital part in the armory of the fight against heart disease. In this work we have designed and implemented a 6 lead ECG acquisition system on silicon. The total circuit consisting of instrumentation amplifiers and filters were placed them onto a silicon die 870 /spl mu/m by 500 /spl mu/m. The circuit shows good noise immunity, very high CMRR, and a good frequency response. The output of the circuit is a 0 to 4 volt signal for lead I and lead II. The advantage of this system is the use of the standard CMOS process which will reduce the complexity and cost of manufacture.


Aim: The assessment of the metabolic syndrome prevalence, as defined by the American Heart Association / The US Na-tional Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel, (AHA / NCEP III updated), has been made in 68 polyexperimented HIV infected patients that received antiretroviral therapy over 24 months and who have a favorable viroimunologic response (undetectable plasmatic viral load). Materials and methods: this cross-sectional analytical study has been carried out on a cohort of 68 patients clinically and paraclinically monitored at the HIV /AIDS Department. Results: The response to antiretroviral therapy clinically and paraclinically evaluated after two years from the initiation of the novel HAART scheme has been favourable in all the 68 patients. Only 4 (0.58%) of the patients fulfill the criteria of the metabolic sindrome definition. The statistical analysis does not indicate an increase in the risk of the metabolic syndrome development in these polyexperimented patients, where the clinical symptoms connected with the lipodistrophic syndrome with lipoatrophy are prepon-derent, associated with different types of antiretroviral drugs. Conclusions: The metabolic syndrome criteria are not applicable in the case of HIV infected patients (infected in the first year of life), polyexperimented at HAART therapy with favourable viroimmunologic response.


Background LQTS, the long QT syndrome, is associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias, named torsades de pointes (TdP). TdP can result in ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. The incidence of such arrhythmia is often a result of polypharmacy and drug–drug interactions. Several studies have shown an advantage of pharmacist involvement in monitoring and reducing the risk. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential role of a clinical pharmacist consult on monitoring and management of pharmacodynamic drug–drug interactions potentially causing QTc prolongation. Material and methods This was an observational and retrospective study. It included all admissions to a single 44 bed internal medicine department during 2013 for whom a 'combination of drugs' was prescribed. The 'combination of drugs' was defined as pharmacodynamic drug–drug interactions of major severity, potentially causing QTc prolongation. The study group, as opposed to the control group, received a clinical pharmacist consult and interventions. Demographic data and risk factors were collected and ECG records were obtained. Patients' files were scanned for doctor's mentioning of ECG results in the follow-up, and treatment interventions. The ECG records were read by an internal medicine resident. Evaluation of the impact of pharmacist consult on doctor's follow up, and ECG records, was made. Factors affecting a doctor's decision to intervene were identified. Results During the study period, pharmacist consultations were written in 643 electronic charts. About 6% of the total consultations involved QT prolonging interactions. Pharmacist consult resulted in higher ECG recordings (71.8% vs 39.2%; p=0.0004). In addition, the consult resulted in higher doctor's attention to ECG findings in the follow-up (53.8% vs 5.7%; p<0.0001). Finally, a doctor's decision to intervene in the treatment was influenced by the pharmacist consult (p=0.03). This decision was not influenced by the degree of QTc prolongation or the presence of risk factors. The most frequent intervention was drug discontinuation. Conclusion A clinical pharmacist has the ability to identify potentially dangerous drug combinations, increase medical awareness and monitoring where necessary. Most importantly, a pharmacist's consult resulting in a doctor's attention to ECG findings in the follow-up increases the probability of doctors' interventions even in the absence of meaningful ECG changes. No conflict of interest


Coral reefs are predicted to be one of the ecosystems most sensitive to ocean acidification. To improve predictions of coral reef response to acidification, we need to better characterize the natural range of variability of pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) and calcium carbonate saturation states (Ω). In this study, autonomous sensors for pH and pCO2 were deployed on Media Luna reef, Puerto Rico over three seasons from 2007 to 2008. High temporal resolution CaCO3 saturation states were calculated from the in situ data, giving a much more detailed characterization of reef saturation states than previously possible. Reef pH, pCO2 and aragonite saturation (ΩAr) ranged from 7.89 to 8.17 pH units, 176–613 μatm and 2.7–4.7, respectively, in the range characteristic of most other previously studied reef ecosystems. The diel pH, pCO2 and Ω cycles were also large, encompassing about half of the seasonal range of variability. Warming explained about 50% of the seasonal supersaturation in mean pCO2, with the remaining supersaturation primarily due to net heterotrophy and net CaCO3 production. Net heterotrophy was likely driven by remineralization of mangrove derived organic carbon which continued into the fall, sustaining high pCO2 levels until early winter when the pCO2 returned to offshore values. As a consequence, the reef was a source of CO2 to the atmosphere during the summer and fall and a sink during winter, resulting in a net annual source of 0.73 ± 1.7 mol m−2 year−1. These results show that reefs are exposed to a wide range of saturation states in their natural environment. Mean ΩAr levels will drop to 3.0 when atmospheric CO2 increases to 500 μatm and ΩAr will be less than 3.0 for greater than 70% of the time in the summer. Long duration exposure to these low ΩAr levels are expected to significantly decrease calcification rates on the reef.


In a virtual environment for small groups of interacting participants, it is important that the physical motion of each participant be replicated by synthetic human forms in real time. Sensors on a user's body are used to drive an inverse kinematics algorithm. Such iterative algorithms for solving the general inverse kinematics problem are too slow for a real-time interactive environment. In this paper we present analytic, constant time methods to solve the inverse kinematics problem and drive an avatar figure. Our sensor configuration has only eight sensors per participant, so the sensor data is augmented with information about natural body postures. The algorithm is fast, and the resulting avatar motion approximates the actions of the participant quite well. This new analytic solution resolves a problem with an earlier iterative algorithm that had a tendency to position knees and elbows of the avatar in awkward and unnatural positions.


Research has explained interviewer effects in face-to-face surveys: in terms of question, respondent and interviewer characteristics. In this paper, we relate interview speed to interviewer effects. Three interview types are operationalized (slow, moderate and fast) based on the residual speeds from a model controlling for respondent characteristics. Data from the European Social Survey is used. Results show larger interviewer effects among slow and fast interviews than moderate interviews, although with variations between variables and countries. Assuming that moderate interviews are conducted under standardized interviewing, these results support the idea that deviations from standardized interviewing are linked to greater interviewer effects.


This study considers whether domestic violence increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico City. We use two separate data sources to study this question--domestic violence call-center calls and official police reports. Using both an event-study design and difference-in-differences, we show that while domestic violence during the pandemic continued (and even increased), police reports of domestic violence declined. During the pandemic, call-center calls for psychological violence increased by 17% and physical domestic violence by 7%. Despite this increase, police reports of domestic violence decreased by 22%. By December of 2020, both types of domestic violence reports had returned to baseline levels. To reconcile the discrepancies between hotline calls and reported domestic violence incidents, we consider several potential mechanisms. We find suggestive evidence that the increase in psychological domestic violence is related to stress-inducing income loss. We also show evidence indicating that women faced difficulties reporting their abusive partners to the police during the lockdown, explaining the reduction in domestic violence police reports. Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 lockdown prevented reporting of domestic violence even while violence continued or even increased.


In this lecture I will begin by suggesting that economic equality is one of the founding principles of Pakistan in terms of the explicitly stated view of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and also in the Constitution of Pakistan. I will in section-II indicate the analytical basis of growth policies followed by Pakistan's policy-makers in the decades after independence and the consequent inequality and mass poverty that persist till today. In the next Section-III, I will discuss recent research to lay the basis of an alternative perspective on economic growth which can provide the framework for fulfilling the Pakistan vision. In the final Section-IV, I will outline three main features of a new inclusive development strategy. It will be argued that if a prosperous future for Pakistan is to be achieved then a change in the institutional structure is required whereby all of the people rather than only a few have opportunities to fulfill their human potential. Thus Pakistan can be placed on a new trajectory of sustained and equitable growth.


Rice (Oryza sativa) is a major staple food that feeds more than half of the human population in the world. However, rice
production faces major loss in yield due to rice diseases including Rice Sheath Blight (RSB), which is caused by a soil-borne
fungal pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani. Interestingly, the same pathogenic R. solani in rice has also been isolated from orchids
and is known to form a vital symbiotic relationship, called orchid mycorrhiza. Thus, this study aims at isolating and identifying
the orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) present in roots of orchids at beach ridges interspersed with swales (BRIS), Setiu
Wetlands and to determine their antagonistic activity towards pathogenic R. solani through dual culture bioassay. Mycorrhizal
fungi were isolated from the roots of Phalaenopsis pulcherrima, Bromheadia finlaysoniana and Dendrobium crumenatum.
Three isolates were identified through morphological identification to be Rhizoctonia species namely A, B and C along with
one fungal isolate as Daldinia species. In vitro antagonistic test against pathogenic R. solani showed Rhizoctonia species (B)
displayed the strongest anti-fungal activity with 60.46% of Percentage Inhibition of Radial Growth (PIRG) value followed
by Rhizoctonia species (C) with 59.9%, Rhizoctonia species (A) with 51.02% and Daldinia species with 39.80%. This
preliminary investigation shows the potential of orchid mycorrhizal fungi to be developed as a biocontrol agent.


Everyone would agree that urban development, especially when involving the building of residential areas, should be accompanied by sufficient and good public infrastructure and facilities. We all want neighborhoods with the necessary roads, green areas, social facilities, affordable housing and public spaces of high quality. At the same time, nowadays, governments are facing severe cuts in public expenditure. So who is going to pay for all that quality? In the Netherlands and in many other countries, achieving these public goals has become a problem, especially in the regeneration of deteriorated inner cities sites. This book offers insight in how the economic value increase that arises from urban development can serve to finance the quality we want, without the need for public subsidies. The findings and recommendations made in this book focus on Western Europe, mainly on successful and alternatively less successful recent experiences in Spain, England and the Netherlands. Public bodies can use the recommendations to create the necessary conditions to improve the involvement of property developers and landowners in the financing of infrastructure and facilities. Property developers and landowners can find formulas for private-public partnership that can lead to lower development costs and risks, allowing them to pay for good infrastructure and facilities while maintaining profitability. Scholars will find here the theoretical backgrounds for this relevant topic. The author has both an academic and a professional background in the practice of urban development.


Objective
To describe the procedure for early corneal epithelial basement membrane(EBM) repair and regeneration in rabbits with corneal penetrating injury.

Methods
Forty-two New Zealand white rabbits were divided into modeling 1-, 3-, 5-, 7-, 14-, 21-, and 30-day groups using a random number table method, with 6 rabbits in each group; the right eyes were selected as the experimental eyes.Another 6 New Zealand white rabbits without any treatment were taken as the normal control group.A 2.0-mm trephine was used to ablate a full-thickness button of the central corneal tissue of each rabbit.The corneas were observed by slit lamp biomicroscopy at the respective time points after the trephined injury.Corneal epithelial fluorescein staining was used to evaluate re-epithelialization with Image J software and haze grading was evaluated with the Fantes classification.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the healing process of the cornea.Transmission electron microscopy was conducted to assess the regeneration of the EBM and the reconstruction of the cornea.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangxi Medical University (No.201811031). The use and care of the experimental animals complied with the Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research.

Results
The corneal epithelial fluorescein areas in modeling 1-, 3-, 5-, 7-, and 14-day group were (4.00±0.10), (3.11±0.10), (2.00±0.06), (0.90±0.04) and (0.67±0.03)mm2, respectively, with a significant difference among them (F=3 398.88, P<0.01). With the increasing of time after modeling, the corneal epithelium fluorescein area was gradually reduced, showing significant differences between any two groups (all at P<0.05), and the staining was disappeared at 21 and 30 days after modeling.The corneal haze grades were 3.44±0.53, 0.67±0.25, 1.33±0.50, 2.11±0.60, 2.44±0.53, 3.22±0.44 and 3.78±0.44 in modeling 1-, 3-, 5-, 7-, 14-, 21-, and 30-day group, respectively. The corneal opacity score gradually decreased during 1-5 days after modeling and gradually increased during 5-30 days after modeling, with a significant difference among them (F=51.182, P<0.01). Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed that a fibrin clot formed in the wound area, and a single layer of epithelium covered the area at initial 3 days after modeling, and a large number of fibroblasts and some extracellular matrix were found at 5 days after modeling.At 21 and 30 days after modeling, the collagen fibers were tightly arranged in the anterior stroma.Transmission electron microscopy showed that the wound was filled with irregular collagen fibers and myofibroblasts.The stroma was remodeled at 21 days after modeling, and defective regeneration of the EBM was detected at 21 and 30 days after modeling.

Conclusions
Corneal fibrosis initiates after corneal penetrating injury in rabbits and gradually aggravates, the EBM regenerates defectively.

Key words:
Epithelial basement membrane; Cornea wound healing; Penetrating injury; Rabbit


This article analyses the trend of unfair inequality in Brazil (1995-2009) using a nonparametric approach to estimate the income function. The entropy metrics introduced by Li, Maasoumi and Racine (2009) are used to quantify income differences separately for each effort variable. A Gini coefficient of unfair inequality is calculated, based on the fitted values of the non-parametric estimation; and the robustness of the estimations, including circumstantial variables, is analysed. The trend of the entropies demonstrated a reduction in the income differential caused by education. The variables "hours worked" and "labour-market status" contribute significantly to explaining wage differences imputed to individual effort; but the migratory variable had little explanatory power. Lastly, the robustness analysis demonstrated the plausibility of the results obtained at each stage of the empirical work.


Sulfur nanoparticles have been successfully prepared from sodium thiosulfate in the presence of Albizia julibrissin fruits extract at room temperature. The resulting sulfur nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD characterizes the final product as highly crystalline sulfur, exhibited high purity, spherical shape with average particle size of about 20 nm, and particle size distribution in range 10 nm to 100 nm. The particle size of nanoparticles could be controlled by tuning the amount of Albizia julibrissin fruits extract. FT-IR analysis of S-NPs indicated a new chemistry linkage on the surface of sulfur nanoparticles. This suggests that Albizia julibrissin fruits extract can bind to sulfur nanoparticles through carbonyl of the amino acid residues in the protein of the extracts, therefore acting as stabilizer and dispersing agent for synthesized sulfur nanoparticles. This research provides a greener and more environment-friendly synthetic method for the production of sulfur nanoparticles for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Copyright © 2015 VBRI Press.


Agonist stimulation of cells results in phosphatidylinositol turnover and the generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3), which mobilizes intracellular calcium. The inositol-polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (5-phosphatase) enzymes hydrolyze Ins(1,4,5)P3 in a signal-terminating reaction. We have isolated a 2.7-kilobase (kb) composite cDNA, encoding the 43-kDa membrane-associated 5-phosphatase, by screening a human placental lambda gt11 library, using degenerate oligonucleotides. The 2.7-kb cDNA contains a 1.1-kb open reading frame, comprising 363 amino acids, which encodes a protein of a predicted molecular mass of 42 kDa. Amino acid sequence analysis demonstrates a number of potential sites for phosphorylation by protein kinase C and a CAAX motif in the COOH terminus, which may mediate membrane localization. The recombinant enzyme was expressed in COS-7 cells, resulting in a 50-fold increase in enzyme activity in the detergent-soluble membrane fraction of the cell (nanomole of Ins(1,4,5)P3 hydrolyzed per min/mg), but only a 2.5-fold increase in 5-phosphatase activity in the total cell homogenate. Sequence analysis demonstrated a 73-amino acid domain in the COOH terminus of the 43-kDa membrane-associated 5-phosphatase, which had 30% sequence identity and 67% similarity to a region in the 75-kDa 5-phosphatase and 34% identity and 70% similarity to a sequence in the protein that is encoded by the gene, defective in Lowe's oculocerebrorenal syndrome. As shown by RNA analysis the 43-kDa membrane-associated 5-phosphatase appears to be predominantly expressed in heart, brain, and skeletal muscle.


Using bilateral data on international equity and bond flows, we find that the prediction of the International Capital Asset Pricing Model is partially met and that global equity markets might be more integrated than global bond markets. Moreover, over the turbulent 1998-2001 period characterised by an equity bubble and the subsequent burst, we find evidence that investors preferred portfolio assets of countries where the central bank gave relative importance to money. As for EMU, once controlling for diversification benefits and the elimination of the exchange rate risk, we show that cross-border portfolio flows among euro area countries have increased due to the catalyst effect of EMU. Country's shares in the world market portfolio, home bias, initial degree of misallocation across countries, past returns, diversification benefits and EMU can explain 35-40% of the total variation in equity and bond asset flows.


Hollow silica microspheres with promising physical properties (MAT540TM) as support for enzyme immobilization and biocatalyst were investigated in this study. The amine-functionalized MAT540TM was activated by six bisepoxides inclosing different spacers and used as epoxy-functionalized carrier for immobilization of lipase B from Candida antarctica (CaLB). The novel, covalently fixed CaLB biocatalysts were compared in kinetic resolution (KR) of racemic 1-phenyethanol rac-1 and five racemic amines rac-3a-e using shaken flasks and continuous-flow packed-bed microreactors. Mechanic stability, re-usability and the effect of temperature (0–90 °C) on productivity and enantiomer selectivity of the covalently immobilized CaLB were investigated. The best performing CaLB biocatalyst showed good mechanic stability after 24 h operation time in continuous-flow mode at 60 °C and provided in KRs of racemic 1-phenyethanol rac-1 with vinyl acetate and of five racemic amines with isopropyl 2-ethoxyacetate as acylating agent the non-reacted (S)-alcohol [(S)-1] or (S)-amines [(S)-3a-e] and the forming (R)-ester [(R)-2] or (R)-amide [(R)-4a-e] in good yields with high enantiomeric excess (ee > 99 %, for all).


Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) upregulations are found in many types of cancers, including breast cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, and colon cancer. This Patent Highlight showcases PROTAC compounds formed by conjugating EGFR inhibitor with E3 ligase ligand, which recruit targeted proteins to E3 ubiquitin ligase for EGFR mutant protein degradation.


Sectors of the U.S. cage layer industry have begun adopting practices of reduced stocking density (i.e., increased cage floor space per hen) and varying group sizes. This study was conducted with 24 groups of 48 W‐36 laying hens (39 to 46 weeks old) to assess the effects of cage floor space or stocking density (SD) (348, 387, 465, or 581 cm2 hen-1; 54, 60, 72, or 90 in.2 hen-1) and group size (GS) (8 or 16 hens per cage) on the ability of the hens to cope with heat challenge. Data were collected at thermoneutral (24°C or 76°F) and warm conditions (32°C or 90°F, followed by 35°C or 95°F). No differences in core body temperature (CBT) of the hens were observed among the treatment regimens at 24°C. In general, mean CBT increased with heat exposure duration (P < 0.0001) but leveled off after the 32°C phase. At 32°C, CBT was higher for GS of 16 vs. 8 (42.3°C vs. 42.1°C, P = 0.05) and higher for SD of 348 and 387 cm2 hen-1 than for 465 or 581 cm2 hen-1 (42.4°C and 42.2°C vs. 41.9°C and 42.1°C, respectively, P = 0.009). Bird body mass decreased as heat exposure duration increased (P < 0.0001), but no differences were observed among the treatments. No mortalities were observed during the thermoneutrality period, and the mortality rate increased with heat exposure duration. The results indicate that, while CBT was lower for lower SD, the increased space was not sufficient to offer a clear benefit for coping with heat challenge of 32°C followed by 35°C.


SUMMARY The skin-breathing amphibious fish Kryptolebias marmoratus experiences rapid environmental changes when moving between water- and air-breathing, but remodelling of respiratory morphology is slower (~1 week). We tested the hypotheses that (1) there is a trade-off in respiratory function of gills displaying aquatic versus terrestrial morphologies and (2) rapidly increased gill ventilation is a mechanism to compensate for reduced aquatic respiratory function. Gill surface area, which varied inversely to the height of the interlamellar cell mass, was increased by acclimating fish for 1 week to air or low ion water, or decreased by acclimating fish for 1 week to hypoxia (~20% dissolved oxygen saturation). Fish were subsequently challenged with acute hypoxia, and gill ventilation or oxygen uptake was measured. Fish with reduced gill surface area increased ventilation at higher dissolved oxygen levels, showed an increased critical partial pressure of oxygen and suffered impaired recovery compared with brackish water control fish. These results indicate that hyperventilation, a rapid compensatory mechanism, was only able to maintain oxygen uptake during moderate hypoxia in fish that had remodelled their gills for land. Thus, fish moving between aquatic and terrestrial habitats may benefit from cutaneously breathing oxygen-rich air, but upon return to water must compensate for a less efficient branchial morphology (mild hypoxia) or suffer impaired respiratory function (severe hypoxia).


Solitary and early brain metastases from colon carcinoma are unusual. This possibility must be kept in mind, in patients with cerebral metastasis of unknown adenocarcinoma. These patients could benefit from colonoscopy and CEA studies with the aim of achieving more early diagnosis and surgical resection. The case of a 48-year-old woman with brain metastasis diagnosed 4 months before the primary tumor, a colon cancer, is reported.


Systemic hemodynamic responses to exercise (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure) depend on the relative intensity, the active muscle mass, and the mode of exercise. It is not known whether regional vasomotor responses follow the same pattern. To answer this question, in five men we examined cutaneous vascular responses to dynamic and isometric exercise of two legs, one leg, one arm, and one hand, each at high and low work loads. Skin blood flow was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) at the forearm. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured each minute. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was indexed as LDF/MAP. Reductions in CVC during the 1st min of dynamic exercise were statistically significant for two-leg exercise at either level and for one-leg exercise at the higher level. Dynamic exercise of smaller muscle groups at either intensity was not associated with significant changes in CVC. The reduction in CVC correlated with external work load (r = 0.75). Work load relative to the capacity of a given muscle group had no identifiable role in the response of CVC to dynamic exercise but did have a role in the increase in MAP at the beginning of exercise. Isometric exercise did not have a measurable effect on CVC regardless of the muscle group or the intensity of the exercise. We conclude that the level of external work determines the redistribution of blood flow from skin to active muscle. Furthermore, absolute rather than relative work and dynamic rather than isometric modes of exercise are the dominant factors.


EDITOR'S NOTE: This paper represents 1 of 9 papers generated from a SETAC Pellston Workshop titled "Science-Based Guidance and Framework for the Evaluation and Identification of PBTs and POPs" (January 2008, Florida, USA). The workshop objectives were to develop guidance and recommendations on the evaluation of substances fulfilling PBT and POP criteria, using scientific information such as experimental and monitoring data, as well as computer models. Characterization of "significant adverse ecotoxicological effects" of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) presents particular challenges. In the various international conventions on POPs and persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances, guidance on classification is not detailed and, in some cases, is unclear. This paper focuses on several key issues in relation to selection of assessment endpoints, use of appropriate effect measures, and uncertainty in the face of limited data. Because POPs are persistent and bioaccumulative, measures of effect should be based not on concentrations in environmental matrices but rather on residues in the body of the organism or in tissues that are causally linked to adverse responses. To obtain these data, currently used toxicity testing methods may need to be modified or substantiated by toxicokinetic information to ensure that substances with POP-like properties are adequately characterized. These data can be more easily matched to environmental monitoring measurements of body or tissue residues for the purposes of assessing whether adverse effects occur in the environment. In the face of persistence and accumulation in the food chain, and considering the extent and suitability of available data, a suitable policy on the use of uncertainty factors may need to be applied when making judgments about toxicity. This paper offers guidance that can be used to identify candidate POPs that have the potential to cause significant adverse effects in the ecosystem.


Abstract Information technology (IT) is central to the process execution and management of an ongoing relationship in outsourcing, both of which are fraught with challenges, and often lead to poor business outcomes. Thus, it is important for IT groups in organizations to understand how to deal with such difficulties for improved outsourcing performance. We study whether firms learn over time to deal with these two related but distinct issues in IT and business process outsourcing. Does such learning affect financial value appropriation through outsourcing? We build on the literature in information systems and strategy to investigate whether value creation in outsourcing depends on relational learning that results from prior association with the vendor, and procedural learning that results from prior experience in managing interfirm relationships. We estimate value in terms of long-term abnormal stock returns to the client relative to an industry, size, and book-to-market matched sample of control firms following the implementation of the outsourcing contract. We also analyze announcement period returns and allied wealth effects. Using data from the hundred largest outsourcing deals between 1996 and 2005, we find that whereas relational learning influences value creation in both simple and complex outsourcing engagements, procedural learning impacts value only in complex initiatives. Financial markets are slow to price the value of learning. The results suggest that caution should be exercised when firms without the experience of managing interfirm relationships externalize complex tasks to vendors they have not worked with in the past. Furthermore, IT groups can help improve learning-based outcomes by developing processes and systems that enable a firm to improve outsourcing procedures in a cumulative manner and also to coordinate and collaborate with the vendor.


Management of non-native
Spartina
plants including
Spartina
alterniflora
Lois.,
Spartina anglica
C. Hubb
and
Spartina
patens
(Ait.) Muhl. in Washington State, U.S. evolved during
the 1990s from small-scale field trials to a large-scale integrated
pest management program. The development and implementation
of the program were significantly hindered by
stakeholder conflict, particularly regarding the use of herbicide
in estuarine environments. In 1995, Washington State
Department of Agriculture was appointed to manage these
invasive species. Agency coordination and strategy reviews
were undertaken. A wide range of control techniques, including
physical removal, mowing and herbicide, were established,
with all techniques demonstrating considerable
limitations. The combination of mowing and herbicide provided
the greatest efficacy but was expensive. Development
of biological control options is in progress but will take years
to prove effectiveness for
Spartina
management. Program
progress based on existing mapping and efficacy data is difficult
to gauge. This program demonstrates that
Spartina
plants are difficult and expensive to eradicate. Between 1995
and 2000, infestations increased in area by 250%, affecting
more than 8,093 ha of intertidal land. During this period, approximately
15% of the infestation was treated annually. Although
the program has evolved considerably, substantially
increasing knowledge on the management of
Spartina
, infestations
in Washington State continue to present a range of
management challenges, including the development of a
standardized and integrated mapping procedures, cost-effective
control techniques and improvements to stakeholder
management.