Electrical heterogeneities play a role in the initiation of cardiac arrhythmias. In certain pathological conditions such as ischaemia, current sinks can develop in the diseased cardiac tissue. In this study, we investigate the effects of changing the amount of heterogeneity and intercellular coupling on wavefront stability in a cardiac cell culture system and a mathematical model of excitable media. In both systems, we observe three types of behaviour: plane wave propagation without breakup, plane wave breakup into spiral waves and plane wave block. In the theoretical model, we observe a linear decrease in propagation velocity as the number of heterogeneities is increased, followed by a rapid, nonlinear decrease to zero. The linear decrease results from the heterogeneities acting independently on the wavefront. A general scaling argument that considers the degree of system heterogeneity and the properties of the excitable medium is used to derive a dimensionless parameter that describes the interaction of the wavefront with the heterogeneities.


In this conceptual article, a new definition of the leader-manager; Coach-Like Leadership concept is introduced and discussed within the framework of leadership styles and coaching approach. Based on literature review and by using some secondary data to a certain extent, the current situation in the Turkish business organizations is also mentioned. This study exploratory and descriptive in nature, aims to draw attention to the emerging change in the definition of the new leader-manager.


BACKGROUND
Despite increasing interest and focus on patient-centric approaches to drug development, there might still be divergent views between key stakeholders in how to perceive patient involvement and how possibly divergent views influence the role of patients in the drug development process. The objective of this study is to explore how the perception of patient organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory agencies influence the role of patients in drug development.

METHOD
A qualitative interview study based on 12 semi-structured interviews with representatives from the 3 stakeholders. Interviews were transcribed, and data were analyzed using a social constructivist approach in the form of systematic text condensation.

RESULTS
Three main perceptions of patient involvement were identified: "a way to improve quality of life," "a way to avoid business failure," and "a way to foster a faster drug approval process." Transparency, trust, and clarification of expectations and roles were factors perceived as prerequisites for a valuable collaboration. Furthermore, a required cultural mindset change in the pharmaceutical industry, the lack of a common framework, patient organizations having limited resources available, and concerns about what to do with patient responsibility were perceived as the most important barriers for patient involvement.

CONCLUSION
Based on the findings, the pharmaceutical industry, patient organizations, and regulatory authorities were labeled as "pioneer/dominant," "unaware/quiet," and "hesitant," respectively. The 3 behavioural descriptors reflect a limited negotiation of the role patients have in drug development. Thus, the pharmaceutical industry appears to be the largest influencer with regard to patients' role in drug development.


By the 1981 centralized individual dosimetric control data using film dosimeters IFKU-1 the summary dose of medical radiologists in the Ukraine was 223 man-cSv X year-1. The mean annual doses in different occupational groups of medical radiologists varied from 0.07 to 0.60 cSv X year-1 and were in accord with the data available to the UN Scientific Committee on Atomic Radiation Effects concerning the levels of irradiation in similar professions in France, Canada and Austria in the period of 1974 to 1975. Persons in charge of the storage of radioactive substances are referred to high risk groups by the level of a mean annual dose (0.60 cSv X year-1). The distribution of irradiation annual doses of medical radiologists in the Ukraine was well approximated by Weibull function within the dose range of 0-1.1 cSv X year-1. This dose range accounts for 98.4% of all the cases. 1.6% of the persons received annual doses within the range of 1.1-3.5 per year-1, and their summary dose was 53.5 man-cSv X year-1. Basing on the data obtained a conclusion has been made that an increase in the frequency of stochastic effects in Ukrainian medical radiologists at the expense of occupational irradiation in 1981 is not to be expected.


A bonding method using Au-In alloy which requires a low process temperature of 200 degrees C to produce high temperature (454 degrees C) bonds is reported. Multiple layers of Au and In are deposited on semiconductor wafers in one vacuum cycle to reduce In oxidation. The semiconductor dice are then bonded to substrates coated with Au. Above 157 degrees C, the indium layer melts and dissolves the Au layers to form a mixture of liquid and solid. The solid-liquid interdiffusion process continues until the mixture solidifies to form the Au-In bond. A scanning acoustic microscope (SAM) was used to determine the excellent bonding quality before and after thermal shock tests while an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) was employed to determine the composition of the resulting bonds. The resulting bond has an unbonding temperature greater than 545 degrees C. Due to the low process temperature, the stress on the bonded structure caused by thermal expansion mismatch is reduced. This type of bonding is useful when bonding at a low temperature is followed by a subsequent higher temperature process. >


The paper examines some of the theoretical issues regarding the publication of the value added statement as a voluntary disclosure in the process of accounting communication. The social and economic motivation to use value added reporting is linked to the general process of disclosing financial information in a certain business and cultural environment. in this framework, a question arises about the possible role of the value added statement as a way of accounting communi - cation in the global economy. A survey of 211 published financial statements for the fiscal period 2003 of italian listed com - panies shows that the publication of the value added statement in the annual reports is a marginal phenomenon. however, the industrial and services firms voluntarily present in their annual report and income statements rearranged to expose the (industrial) value added by only looking at the production perspective, with a possible interpretation in terms of cost effici - ency.


Time is crucial in the airlines industry. Among all factors contributing to an aircraft turnaround time; passenger boarding delays is the most challenging one. Airlines do not have control over the behavior of passengers; thus, focusing their effort on reducing passenger boarding time through implementing efficient boarding strategies. In this work, we attempt to use cellular Discrete-Event System Specification (Cell-DEVS) modeling and simulation to provide a comprehensive evaluation of aircraft boarding strategies. We have developed a simulation benchmark consisting of eight boarding strategies including Back-to-Front; Window Middle Aisle; Random; Zone Rotate; Reverse Pyramid; Optimal; Optimal Practical; and Efficient. Our simulation models are scalable and adaptive; providing a powerful analysis apparatus for investigating any existing or yet to be discovered boarding strategy. We explain the details of our models and present the results both visually and numerically to evaluate the eight implemented boarding strategies. We also compare our results with other studies that have used different modeling techniques; reporting nearly identical performance results. The simulations revealed that Window Middle Aisle provides the least boarding delay; with a small fraction of time difference compared to the optimal strategy. The results of this work could highly benefit the commercial airlines industry by optimizing and reducing passenger boarding delays.


The migration of labour can affect economies in several ways. This paper focuses on two of the economic impacts of migration in the context of the recent Welsh experience. Firstly, since migration is a key aspect of labour market flexibility, it is a mechanism through which local and regional labour market differences can be reduced. However, it is found that the most deprived parts of Wales have the lowest levels of migration and that both in and outmigration rates are negatively correlated with unemployment and sickness rates. Secondly, the characteristics of in and out-migrants have important implications for the current and future performance of local and regional economies. Using a variety of data sources, it is shown that people leaving Wales are younger and more educated than migrants to Wales. Furthermore, younger and more educated Welsh individuals appear to have a higher willingness to move than their counterparts living elsewhere in Britain.


Pregnant female mice, after intravaginal inoculation with Herpesvirus hominis (HVH) type 2, developed vaginitis on days 5 to 7 after virus challenge, followed by hunching and hind limb paralysis on days 7 to 9 and death from encephalitis on days 9 to 11. After initial replication in the mucous membranes of the genital tract, virus spread to the spinal cord and ascended to involve the brain. Viremia or replication of H. hominis type 2 in the liver or spleen was not detected. Virus was cleared from vaginal secretions by days 8 to 10 after infection. Pregnant mice were more susceptible to the infection than nonpregnant mice. This experimental infection in female mice provides a model for genital herpesvirus infection and for herpesvirus infection and for herpesvirus encephalitis in which one can evaluate potentially promising antiviral chemotherapeutic agents.


Positron Annihilation Doppler Broadening Spectroscopy (PADPS) is a nondestructive technique used in materials science. Electrical measurements are one of the oldest techniques also used in materials science. This paper aims to discuss the availability of using both PADPS and electrical measurements as diagnostic techniques to detect defects in a set of plastically deformed 5454 wrought aluminum alloys. The results of the positron annihilation measurements and the electrical measurements were analyzed in terms of the two-state trapping model. This model can be used to investigate both the defect and dislocation densities of the samples under investigation. Results obtained by both nuclear and electrical techniques have been reported.


The transient outward current (Ito), an important contributor to transmural electrophysiological heterogeneity, is significantly remodelled in congestive heart failure (CHF). The molecular bases of transmural Ito gradients and CHF‐dependent ionic remodelling are incompletely understood. To elucidate these issues, we studied mRNA and protein expression of Kv4.3 and KChIP2, the principal alpha and beta subunits believed to form Ito, in epicardial and endocardial tissues and in isolated cardiomyocytes from control dogs and dogs with CHF induced by 240 beats min−1 ventricular tachypacing. CHF decreased Ito density in both epicardium and endocardium (by 73 and 55% at +60 mV, respectively), without a significant change in relative current density (endocardium/epicardium 0.11 control, 0.17 CHF). There were transmural gradients in mRNA expression of both Kv4.3 (endocardium/epicardium ratio 0.3 under control conditions) and KChIP2 (endocardium/epicardium ratio 0.2 control), which remained in the presence of CHF (Kv4.3 endocardium/epicardium ratio 0.4; KChIP2 0.4). There were qualitatively similar protein expression gradients in human and canine cardiac tissues and isolated canine cardiomyocytes; however, the KChIP2 gradient was only detectable with a highly selective monoclonal antibody and closely approximated the Ito density gradient. Kv4.3 mRNA expression was reduced by CHF, but KChIP2 mRNA was not significantly changed. CHF decreased Kv4.3 protein expression in canine cardiac tissues and cardiomyocytes, as well as in terminally failing human heart tissue samples, but KChIP2 protein was not down‐regulated in any of the corresponding sample sets. We conclude that both Kv4.3 and KChIP2 may contribute to epicardial–endocardial gradients in Ito, and that Ito down‐regulation in human and canine CHF appears due primarily to changes in Kv4.3.


We present a method for region identification in multiple images. A set of regions in different images and the correspondences on their boundaries can be thought of as a boundary in the multi-dimensional space formed by the product of the individual image domains. We minimize an energy functional on the space of such boundaries, thereby identifying simultaneously both the optimal regions in each image and the optimal correspondences on their boundaries. We use a ratio form for the energy functional, thus enabling the global minimization of the energy functional using a polynomial time graph algorithm, among other desirable properties. We choose a simple form for this energy that favours boundaries that lie on high intensity gradients in each image, while encouraging correspondences between boundaries in different images that match intensity values. The latter tendency is weighted by a novel heuristic energy that encourages the boundaries to lie on disparity or optical flow discontinuities, although no dense optical flow or disparity map is computed.


The theologian Hugo Rahner argued that the homo ludens is a man of 'Ernstheiterkeit' (serious-cheerfulness), a person who can smile under tears but also recognizes the gravity in all earthly cheerfulness. The primary aim of this study was to test the validity of this notion: Do homines ludentes exist? Two hundred sixty-three adult subjects were measured for (1) seriousness and cheerfulness and (2) playfulness. Results provided unequivocal support for Rahner's thesis. Numerous subjects scored high in both seriousness and cheerfulness thus confirming the existence of homines ludentes. It was further found that these subjects were among those scoring highest in playfulness. Subjects scoring high in cheerfulness but low in seriousness were, however, even more closely associated with playfulness. The scores for homines ludentes did not differ from the rest of the subjects in the creative and dynamic facets of playfulness. The importance of developing empirical research to investigate hypotheses derived from non-scientific concepts is discussed.


Species and sex identification are among the most important parameters for conservation management. However, it is extremely difficult to perform such identification in Formosa landlocked salmon (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus). Both sexual dimorphism in landlocked dwarf form Formosa landlocked salmon and morphological difference among cherry salmon complex are minimal. We developed a simple, rapid and noninvasive method for identifying sex and species of this critically endangered species using a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique. The LAMP assay showed the advantage of simple detection (evaluated by visual inspection), rapid reaction time (<1 h), isothermal condition (less equipment required) and high efficiency (only 0.5–5 pg of DNA was required in the reaction mixture). Therefore, the method is more economical and practical than PCR. The LAMP assay can be easily performed in the field and is a valuable tool for detecting sex ratios in wild populations and identifying species in commercial imports. This is the first application of LAMP in identifying species and sex of salmonids as far as we know and clearly shows the potential application of LAMP in molecular ecology and conservation efforts.


Properly annotated multimedia content is crucial for supporting advances in many Information Retrieval applications. It enables, for instance, the development of automatic tools for the annotation of large and diverse multimedia collections. In the context of everyday sounds and online collections, the content to describe is very diverse and involves many different types of concepts, often organised in large hierarchical structures called taxonomies. This makes the task of manually annotating content arduous. In this paper, we present our user-centered development of two tools for the manual annotation of audio content from a wide range of types. We conducted a preliminary evaluation of functional prototypes involving real users. The goal is to evaluate them in a real context, engage in discussions with users, and inspire new ideas. A qualitative analysis was carried out including usability questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. This revealed interesting aspects to consider when developing tools for the manual annotation of audio content with labels drawn from large hierarchical taxonomies.


The risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in relation to the use of combination oral contraceptives was evaluated in a case-control study of women younger than 60 years. Combination oral contraceptives were used by 35 (26%) of 136 cases and 187 (35%) of 539 controls. The relative risk estimate for combination oral contraceptive use was 0.6 (95% confidence interval, 0.4 to 0.9). The reduction in risk appeared to persist for as long as ten years after use had ceased and to be greater for longer durations of use, but these results were not statistically significant. The findings were not explained by parity or by other identified potential confounding factors. The results suggest that the use of combination oral contraceptives protects against epithelial ovarian cancer.


Translation of alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) RNAs in the mRNA-dependent rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system was examined using different RNA concentrations. The pattern of products synthesized under the direction of AMV RNA 2, 3 and 4 was not or almost not influenced by their concentration. However, depending on the RNA 1 concentration either a very large protein of Mr 115,000 or a mixture of two smaller proteins, Mr 58,000 and 62,000 respectively, was formed. These three proteins represent overlapping peptide chains with identical N-termini. Addition of the cap analogue 7-methylguanosine 5'-monophosphate (m7GMP) or AMV RNA 3 stimulated the production of the 115,000-Mr protein at the expense of the 58,000-Mr and 62,000-Mr proteins. Both m7GMP and RNA 3 probably reduce the active concentration of RNA 1 by competing for (a) cellular component(s) necessary for translation. These experimental results suggest that the rate of translation beyond the C termini of the 58,000-Mr and 62,000-Mr proteins is reduced or completely inhibited owing to the limited availability of the succeeding tRNA(s).


The present research paper is designed to investigate the importance of the application of Blended Learning (BL) in education as a method for teaching and learning Foreign Languages Subjects (FLs) at university level. The study has used the mixed-method approach for the collection of data and its analysis. The study discloses: The research-design; Foreign Language-framework; Teaching and learning-roleplay-reflection and Methodology-schemes. Although the employment of BL is very important in teaching and learning practices; the paper-results concluded that there is a need to provide methodologies and computer training sessions to the FL teachers for effective employment of BL in foreign languages classes. Consequently to this the study aimed to deliver an applicable script through which Spanish language teachers and foreign language teachers obtain pedagogical-and computer knowledge-inputs to setup foreign languages classes through Blended Learning.


Gastropod molluscs of the genus Conus (cone snails) occur throughout the world's tropical coastal waters where they capture their prey of fish, molluscs or worms using a complex battery of neurotoxins. Although these toxins are of major importance to biomedical science, the conservation status of Conus has been largely ignored. I assessed 632 species of Conus to the standards of IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This revealed 10.6% of species globally are either threatened or near threatened with extinction, with a further 13.8% data deficient but with indicators that suggest substantial cause for concern. Hotspots of endemism, particularly along the Eastern Atlantic found 42.9% of 98 species there at risk. This includes Cape Verde where 53 of 56 species are endemic and mostly restricted to single islands, and where all three critically endangered and four of eleven globally endangered species occur. The rapid transition of the Cape Verdean economy from services to tourism was found to have placed many Conus species at risk from habitat disturbance and marine pollution. Although the Red List yields valuable data, it is primarily focussed on species nearing extinction. However, many wide-ranging species, exposed to considerable anthropogenic impacts, may, through remoteness and/or depth, remain unnoticed and unrecorded for years, invisible to the Red List as their populations decline. To identify such species I explored the overlap of Conus with biogeographic data of human impacts and future threats from ocean acidification and thermal stress. This revealed a further 67 species occurring in high impact zones deserving further status consideration, and pinpointed regions with high concentrations of endemic taxa under potential threat. This reinforced the benefits of approaching threat assessment from a holistic standpoint in addition to the forensic scrutiny offered by the Red List, allowing proactive conservation management to complement its traditional reactive role.


Local blood flow in the brain is tightly coupled to metabolic demands, a phenomenon termed functional hyperemia. Both capillaries and arterioles contribute to the hyperemic response to neuronal activity via different mechanisms and timescales. The nature and specific signaling involved in the hyperemic response of capillaries versus arterioles, and their temporal relationship are not fully defined. We determined the time-dependent changes in capillary flux and diameter versus arteriolar velocity and flow following whisker stimulation using optical microangiography (OMAG) and two-photon microscopy. We further characterized depth-resolved responses of individual capillaries versus capillary networks. We hypothesized that capillaries respond first to neuronal activation, and that they exhibit a coordinated response mediated via endothelial-derived epoxyeicosatrienoates (EETs) acting on pericytes. To visualize peri-capillary pericytes, we used Tie2-GFP/NG2-DsRed mice, and to determine the role of endothelial-derived EETs, we compared cerebrovascular responses to whisker stimulation between wild-type mice and mice with lower endothelial EETs (Tie2-hsEH). We found that capillaries respond immediately to neuronal activation in an orchestrated network-level manner, a response attenuated in Tie2-hsEH and inhibited by blocking EETs action on pericytes. These results demonstrate that capillaries are first responders during functional hyperemia, and that they exhibit a network-level response mediated via endothelial-derived EETs' action on peri-capillary pericytes.


The specific features of the functioning of parasitic systems of tertian malaria were found in the elimination period when the number of foci and patients were drastically reduced. Despite the sporadic cases of tertian malaria, in 2009-2012 each of the 9 areas of the Kurgan Tyubin zone, Khatlon Region notified 12 of the 43 active foci with single manifestations of malaria after a long incubation period in the following spring or March-April a year later. The results of these investigations should be borne in mind when planning and implementing antimalarial measures.


The saluretic agent xipamide (4-chloro-5-sulfamoyl-2',6'-salicyloxylidide; Aquaphor) is a lipophilic substance as demonstrated by solubilities and partition coefficients. In the physiological pH-range, however, xipamide forms an anion which has an octanol-water partition coefficient of approx. 1. Two steps of ionization were investigated photometrically. The first one gives rise to a phenolate anion; pKa1 = 4.75. In the second one, ionization of the sulfamoyl group occurs; pKa2 = 10. Xipamide is stable in acidic as well as in basic media at room temperature. But when xipamide is acted upon by strong alkali and elevated temperature, 2,6-xylidine is formed by hydrolysis. For analytic use UV-photometric, colorimetric and TLC data of xipamide are given.


Abstract Standard application principles for the peeling test, also known as the scotch tape test, for assessing the surface cohesion characteristics of materials have been presented by the authors in earlier papers on laboratory testing of stone and mortar consolidation effects. The method has been in use for a long time for evaluating the strengthening of surface layers of mortars, but there have been no standards or reliably verified recommendations on how the test should be applied. Nevertheless, the method has been attracting continuing research, because it is a simple and quite reliable method for in situ testing of consolidation effects, if it is applied correctly. Our paper summarizes the basic principles, and presents illustrative results of an investigation of important historic buildings. It goes on to suggest some practical approaches and designs that are useful for in situ applications. We present a mathematical procedure suitable for evaluating the results that are obtained. We recommend repeated peeling on exactly the same place on the surface in order to compensate for and eliminate the effect of the natural decrease in the material detached from the subsurface layers, which might be incorrectly interpreted as a consolidation effect. The examples and validation measurements presented here include in situ measurements.


Bromodomain-containing proteins regulate transcription through protein-protein interactions with chromatin and serve as scaffolding proteins for recruiting essential members of the transcriptional machinery. One such protein is the bromodomain and PHD-containing transcription factor (BPTF), the largest member of the nucleosome remodeling complex, NURF. Despite an emerging role for BPTF in regulating a diverse set of cancers, small molecule development for inhibiting the BPTF bromodomain has been lacking. Here we cross-validate three complementary biophysical assays to further the discovery of BPTF bromodomain inhibitors for chemical probe development: two direct binding assays (protein-observed 19F (PrOF) NMR and surface plasmon resonance (SPR)) and a competitive inhibition assay (AlphaScreen). We first compare the assays using three small molecules and acetylated histone peptides with reported affinity for the BPTF bromodomain. Using SPR with both unlabeled and fluorinated BPTF, we further determine that there is a minimal effect of 19F incorporation on ligand binding for future PrOF NMR experiments. To guide medicinal chemistry efforts towards chemical probe development, we subsequently evaluate two new BPTF inhibitor scaffolds with our suite of biophysical assays and rank-order compound affinities which could not otherwise be determined by PrOF NMR. Finally, we cocrystallize a subset of small molecule inhibitors and present the first published small molecule-protein structures with the BPTF bromodomain. We envision the biophysical assays described here and the structural insights from the crystallography will guide researchers towards developing selective and potent BPTF bromodomain inhibitors.


An experimental investigation on the developmental studies of the pulsejet was undertaken at NAL as a possible power plant for the MAV. Both valveless and valved pulsejets were investigated. The working of these pulsejets was demonstrated at higher scales and the valveless pulsejets at the scaled down versions. Various geometries of valveless pulsejets were fabricated and the operations of the same were demonstrated for fuels like hydrogen and LPG. A valved pulsejet in the thrust class of 1 – 2 kgf was fabricated and successfully operated using liquid fuels like petrol, methanol and methanol with 16% nitro methane mixture. A thrust stand for measuring the thrust was fabricated and used for the experiments. Detailed measurements involving the unsteady pressure, temperatures and thrust were made on these pulsejets to get an insight into its operation. Attempts were made to understand the design philosophy of the pulsejets. Subsequently, a flight test was conducted by mounting the Dynajet engine over the Long EZ aircraft, which fared sucessfully. The project culminated with the successful flight test with the developed Valved pulsejet engine on a LONG-EZ configured flight model.Thereby, making Pulsejet engine a potential contender for the MAV propulsion unit.


In the ultraviolet (UV), Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) show a much larger diversity in their properties than in the optical. Using a stationary Monte Carlo radiative transfer code, a grid of spectra at maximum light was created varying bolometric luminosity and the amount of metals in the outer layers of the SN ejecta. This model grid is then compared to a sample of high-redshift SNe Ia in order to test whether the observed diversities can be explained by luminosity and metallicity changes alone. The dispersion in broad-band UV flux and colours at approximately constant optical spectrum can be readily matched by the model grid. In particular, the UV1 − b colour is found to be a good tracer of metal content of the outer ejecta, which may in turn reflect on the metallicity of the SN progenitor. The models are less successful in reproducing other observed trends, such as the wavelengths of key UV features, which are dominated by reverse fluorescence photons from the optical, or intermediate-band photometric indices. This can be explained in terms of the greater sensitivity of these detailed observables to modest changes in the relative abundances. Specifically, no single element is responsible for the observed trends. Due to their complex origin, these trends do not appear to be good indicators of either luminosity or metallicity.


Engineering geological mapping of Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania has been carried out using desk studies supplemented by field reconnaissance as well as limited laboratory tests. Desk studies involved interpretation of medium to large-scale topographical maps, Landsat imagery and sequential aerial photographs from 1953-1990. These studies also evaluated small to medium scale geological, pedological maps together with ground water data from 50 boreholes. Two basic maps were prepared, namely, geomorphological and geological map depicts the spatial extent of the Neogene geological formations. Three distinct sandstone terraces could be distinguished in Dar es Salaam region at 0-15 m and 30 – 40 m above sea level. The terraces comprised sandstones fringed by coral reefs and were backed on their west by uplifted weathered clayey sandstones. Three synoptic construction maps were also prepared:- hazard, resources and land use maps. The hazard map classifies the terrain according to slope steepness, delineates areas susceptible to soil erosion, beach erosion, landslides, flooding, as well as expansive, karstic and saline grounds. The resources map delineates areas with respect to soil fertility as well as the occurrence of sand and gravel, limestone, kaolin, brick clays, heavy minerals and ground water deposits. With respect to light construction of foundations, the middle terrace appeared to be the most suitable in comparison to other terrains. Tanz. J. Sci. Vol. 28(2) 2002: 83-96


For centuries, the criminal justice system has erected barriers to the successful prosecution of sexual violence. Today, many of the formal obstacles to prosecution have been abolished, but their effects linger. Rape myths weigh heavily on jurors, often manifesting in a rape culture that is unwilling to convict defendants of sexual violence unless victim testimony is corroborated by independent physical evidence. Yet empirical social science overwhelmingly finds that most sexual assaults do not involve eyewitnesses or result in corroborating physical injuries. One way to combat mistaken stereotypes about sexual abuse is through "noncorroboration instructions" that explain to jurors that they can return a guilty verdict if they believe the victim's testimony beyond a reasonable doubt, even without corroborating evidence.


The accuracy of the radiation-inactivation technique for estimating molecular size was investigated with a range of proteins of known molecular mass. With the use of irradiation with a 16 MeV electron beam, inactivation was examined both in frozen samples at 77 K and in freeze-dried samples at room temperature. The effect of the presence of detergents and chloroplast membrane preparations was also measured. It was demonstrated that proteins added as internal standards, including malate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c, can provide an accurate calibration of molecular size. However, a disadvantage of the technique was that the target size of oligomeric enzymes could be that of either the monomers, dimers or higher oligomers. The detergent Triton X-100 increased the rate of inactivation of the proteins investigated.


Background Effective symptom palliation can be achieved with low-dose palliative thoracic radiotherapy. In several studies, median survival was not improved with higher doses of radiation. More controversy exists regarding the impact of higher doses on 1- and 2-year survival rates. Therefore, a comparison of survival outcomes after radiotherapy with different biologically equivalent doses (equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions, EQD2) was performed. Methods This was a retrospective single-institution study of 232 patients with small or non-small cell lung cancer. Most commonly 2 fractions of 8.5 Gy were prescribed (34%), followed by 10 fractions of 3 Gy or equivalent regimens (30%, EQD2 circa 33 Gy). The highest EQD2 consisted of 45 Gy. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed. Results Survival was significantly shorter with regimens of intended EQD2 < 33 Gy, e.g., 2 fractions of 8.5 Gy (median 2.5 months compared to 5.0 and 7.5 months with EQD2 of circa 33 and 45 Gy, respectively). The 2-year survival rates were 0%, 7% and 11%, respectively. In 128 prognostically favorable patients, median survival was comparable for the three different dose levels (6 - 8.3 months). The 2-year survival rates were 0%, 10%, and 13%, respectively (not statistically significant). Conclusion Although most of the observed survival differences diminished after exclusion of poor prognosis patients with reduced performance status and/or progressive extrathoracic disease, a slight increase in 2-year survival rates with higher EQD2 cannot be excluded. Because of relatively small improvements, a confirmatory randomized trial in this subgroup would have to include a large number of patients.


Mucoceles are common cystic lesions of the oral mucosa. Extravasation mucoceles are mainly found in the lower lip of young patients, whereas retention mucoceles are usually located in the cheek or palate of older patients. The disparate site and age incidences of extravasation and retention mucoceles suggest that these two types are not related and have different pathogenesis. Treatment modalities for mucoceles are reviewed, with special attention to the cryosurgical technique for the treatment of oral ranulas.


In this paper, a novel low-temperature micro-insert bonding technology for 3D package has been reported. Nickel microcone arrays (MCA) fabricated on the bonding pad was used as the under bump metallization (UBM). The bonding temperature is below the melting point of the solder. At certain temperature and pressure, the MCA inserted into the lead-free Sn-Ag-Cu solder bumps to achieve a good adhesion. The bonding of the joint is realized by the mechanical interlocking and the diffusion between the MCA and the solder. The nickel microcone arrays were prepared by directional electrodeposition (DEP) method on the Cu substrates in the solution with inorganic additives. And then hundreds of bumps were bonded on the substrates at different temperatures (150deg-210degC) and different bonding pressure (450, 560, 750 gf/p). Subsequently, ball shear testings were performed to evaluate the mechanical reliability and failure mode of the solder joints. After the shear testings, the microstructures of the fracture interfaces were investigated by SEM.


The Atlantic Canary (Serinus canaria) is the most common caged bird with extensive carotenoid plumage coloration. Domestic strains of canaries have been bred for a range of colors and patterns, making them a valuable model for studies of the genetic bases for feather pigmentation. However, no detailed account has been published on the feather pigments of the various strains of this species, particularly in relation to dietary pigments available during molt. Moreover, in the twentieth century, aviculturists created a red canary by crossing Atlantic Canaries with Red Siskins (Carduelis cucullata). This "red-factor" canary is reputed to metabolically transform yellow dietary pigments into red ketocarotenoids, but such metabolic capacity has yet to be documented in controlled experiments. We fed molting yellow and red-factor canaries seed diets supplemented with either β-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin, or β-cryptoxanthin/β-carotene and measured the coloration and carotenoid content of newly grown feathers. On all diets, yellow canaries grew yellow feathers and red canaries grew red feathers. Yellow canaries deposited dietary pigments and metabolically derived canary xanthophylls into feathers. Red-factor canaries deposited the same plumage carotenoids as yellow canaries, but also deposited red ketocarotenoids. Red-factor canaries deposited higher total amounts of carotenoids than yellow canaries, but otherwise there was little effect of diet treatment on feather hue or chroma. These observations indicate that canaries can use a variety of dietary precursors to produce plumage coloration and that red canaries can metabolically convert yellow dietary carotenoids into red ketocarotenoids.


AIMS
This paper reports a study examining the quality of life of clients following hospital admission with acute coronary syndrome in Hong Kong and their use of cardiac rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND
Coronary heart disease is a major source of mortality and morbidity in Hong Kong. Western studies have suggested that participation in cardiac rehabilitation improves the quality of life of clients with coronary heart disease yet the use of cardiac rehabilitation has been reported to be low. Better understanding is needed of the psychosocial status of these clients in Hong Kong and their use of cardiac rehabilitation services.

METHODS
A prospective, pretest-post-test study was carried out, with data collected over a period of 6 months with convenience sample of 182 participants. Baseline data were obtained within one week after hospital admission for individuals experiencing ACS. The second phase of data collection commenced at 6 months after hospital discharge. Total period of data collection took over 12 months between 2002 and 2003. The Chinese version of the SF-36 was used to assess quality of life, and demographic data and the extent to which clients participated in the cardiac rehabilitation programme were assessed.

RESULTS
Only 25% of the participants attended at least one session of the cardiac rehabilitation programme. Significant improvement occurred in all clients' perceived quality of life 6 months following initial hospital admission. No significant group differences in perceived quality of life were found according to whether or not clients used the cardiac rehabilitation services.

CONCLUSION
Improvement in perceived health-related quality of life was evident over a 6-month period. Yet our findings suggested that participation in the cardiac rehabilitation programme did not have any apparent effects in subjects' perceived quality of life. Further studies using both generic and disease-specific health-related quality of life instruments, as well as the inclusion of control group, are recommended. Continual improvement in cardiac rehabilitation programmes, and consideration of alternative modes of delivery other than the traditional attendance at hospital outpatient services, are also recommended.


"Palthi" (leg-folding) posture has been studied in a random survey of 864 right handed and 37 left handed persons, ranging from 5 to 66 years of age and belonging to the Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh (Central India). The results show that the frequency of L-type "Palthi" (i.e. left leg crossed above the right leg) is significantly greater than that of R-type, and that it is not correlated either with age, sex, or handedness. Since "Palthi" is fairly under voluntary control, the cerebral dominance may be an important factor in the genesis of this posture pattern. This is well in keeping with the revised concept of cerebral dominance.


Abstract : Piezoelectricity is a material property that generates an electric charge proportional to the mechanical stress placed on the material. This phenomenon was first discovered by the Curie brothers in 1880. This material property gives the ability to turn vibrations into an electrical waveform, but power electronics is necessary to harness this low-level energy. AC power is often produced at the power plant level in modern society; however, low voltage AC power is widely available in vibrational form. The U.S. Navy may be able to utilize piezoelectric technology to harness wasted vibrational energy. Some of these applications include inserting a piezoelectric harvester in shoes to supply small amounts of power to cell phones or utilizing motion energy to provide power to iPod chargers. The power electronics that provides full bridge rectification and step down conversion, which achieves AC-DC power harvesting, is discussed. Also discussed is a breakdown of possible applications for such a device as well as the benefits of turning AC power into DC. A Linear Technology LTC-3588-1 integrated circuit was simulated in software and demonstrated in hardware. The hardware experiment showed that the software accurately predicted the performance of the chip.


Prior work has shown that systemic cocaine pretreatment augments cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats. In contrast, ghrelin receptor antagonism attenuates cocaine and amphetamine-induced CPP. In order to further investigate ghrelin's role in dopamine-mediated reward, the present report examined whether pretreament with ghrelin, administered directly into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain, would potentiate the rewarding properties of cocaine as measured by CPP. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were given access to either side of the CPP chamber in order to determine initial side preferences. The rats were then restricted to either their non-preferred or preferred side over the course of conditioning which lasted for a total of 16 consecutive days. This was followed by a final test day to then reassess preference. On days where rats were confined to their non-preferred side, ghrelin (30 – 300 pmol) and cocaine (0.625 – 10 mg/kg IP) were administered immediately prior to the conditioning trial. On alternate days rats were treated with vehicle and placed into what was initially determined to be their preferred side. CPP was calculated as the difference in percentage of total time spent in the treatment-paired compartment during the post-conditioning session and the pre-conditioning session. Our results indicated that both cocaine and ghrelin elicited CPP and that ghrelin pre-treatment potentiated the effect of cocaine on place preference. Overall, these findings provide additional support for the argument that ghrelin signaling within the VTA enhances the rewarding effects of psychostimulant compounds.


ABSTRACT Western typography involves the 26 letters, punctuation marks and numerals as a whole "expanded alphabet." Between the 11th and 16th centuries the hindu-arabic numerals entered that alphabet, causing greater numeracy, much like the growth in literacy during that period, Europeans had to overcome ignorance and prejudice toward a foreign number system, but also had to adapt the numerals' visual forms to fit in with their existing alphabet. Westerners were at last able to work out calculations "on paper, " which helped Europe move from a primarily oral to modern graphical culture. While the numerals we use today remain residually "foreign" in some ways, their introduction is a significant part of the history of Western typography. INTRODUCTION THE PRACTICE OF TYPOGRAPHY INVOLVES WORKING WITH THE 26 LETTERS, punctuation marks and numerals more or less as a whole "expanded alphabet," yet most histories of typography focus on the letters with little or no mention of the hindu-arabic numerals. The origination of the numerals in India and their migration to Arabic cultures has been dealt with extensively elsewhere. What follows is an account of how these characters became part of our writing system after repeated introductions; how they were adapted to fit in with our written letterforms; and how their incorporation played a part in the transition from the primarily oral culture of medieval Europe to modern graphical culture. IMPERFECT NUMBER SYSTEMS PRIOR TO THE RENAISSANCE, EUROPEANS USED SEVERAL SEPARATE SYSTEMS to count and do calculations. A farmer might have counted his sheep by carving notches in a wooden tally stick using a system of marks specific to his family or region. A merchant might have counted on his fingers, toes and other body parts to do addition and subtraction. A monk might have calculated the dates of upcoming Easter celebrations by moving stones on a counting board (a table that served as a sort of abacus) while another monk transcribed the dates onto parchment using roman numerals. These various methods were adequate for counting and recording simple operations, but none of the systems lent themselves to working out extended calculations "on paper." Those few who could do calculations on the counting board constituted a powerful elite, and the vast majority of Europeans could have been described as innumerate. Georges Ifrah describes the arithmetical state of Europe as late as the 15th and 16th centuries: A wealthy German merchant, seeking to provide his son with a good business education, consulted a learned man as to which European institution offered the best training. 'If you only want him to be able to cope with addition and subtraction,' the expert replied, 'then any French or German university will do. But if you are intent on your son going on to multiplication and division - assuming that he has sufficient gifts - then you will have to send him to Italy.' It has to be said that arithmetical operations were not in everyone's grasp: they constituted an obscure and complex art, the specialist preserve of a privileged caste, whose members had been through a long and rigorous training which had allowed them the mysterious and infinitely complicated use of the classical (Roman) counter-abacus. A student of those days needed several years of hard work as well as a long voyage to master the intricacies of multiplication and division - something not far short of a Ph.D. curriculum, in today's terms. The great respect in which such scholars were held provides a measure of the difficulty of the operational techniques. Specialists would take several hours of painstaking work to perform a multiplication that a child could now do in a few minutes. And tradesmen who wanted to know the total of the week 's or the month's takings were obliged to employ the services of such counting specialists.1 THE ROMAN NUMERAL SYSTEM ROMAN NUMERALS WERE USEFUL TO PRE-RENAISSANCE EUROPEANS FOR basic notations, but proved problematic for denoting large numbers. …


Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disease with inflammatory component. Several studies indicated the increased blood levels of proinflammatory interleukin-6 cytokine in schizophrenia. However, only limited studies explored the relationship between excess production and genetic variations of this cytokine in schizophrenia, and the results were controversial. Here, we investigated possible association of the interleukin-6 gene (IL6) rs1800795 (-174G/C) polymorphism with schizophrenia and relationship between this polymorphism and interleukin-6 protein (IL-6) blood levels. This polymorphism was found by other researchers to associate with different transcription rates and different plasma levels of IL-6. A total of 208 unrelated Armenians were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers, and IL-6 levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The IL6 rs1800795 alleles and genotypes in both groups were in Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) equilibrium. We found that rs1800795*C allele [38% vs 24%, P = 0.002, odds ratio (OR) = 1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-2.14] and its carriers (62% vs 42%, P = 0.003, OR = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.13-1.94) were more frequent in patients than in controls. IL-6 in patients was 1.5-fold higher than in controls (mean ± SD: 6.41 ± 2.47 pg/ml vs 4.15 ± 1.42 pg/ml, P = 1.9E-19). In both groups, higher IL-6 in rs1800795 GG compared to rs1800795*C allele carriers was observed (GG vs GC + CC, patients: 7.02 ± 2.83 pg/ml vs 5.39 ± 1.2 pg/ml, P = 0.0006; controls: 5.21 ± 1.17 pg/ml vs 3.38 ± 1.03 pg/ml, P = 1.6E-15). In conclusion, we report an association of IL6 rs1800795 and higher IL-6 with schizophrenia. We also conclude that IL6 rs1800795*C allele is linked to increased IL-6 blood levels and may be a risk factor for schizophrenia development at least in Armenian population.


The construction of a double discharge pulsed electron beam generator and the study of the characteristics of the beam are presented in this paper. The electron beam generator consists of a fast filamentary discharge in superposition with an ordinary glow discharge in low-pressure gases. The filling gas is argon or helium at approximately 0.1 Torr pressure. The duration of the electron beam is shorter than 50 ns and the peak current intensity is of the order of amperes. The electron density is evaluated by making use of Stark broadening of the Hβ line and compared with the full computer simulation method. The pinch effect of the filamentary discharge is evaluated and its size compared with the diameter of the beam.


In 1993 the General Medical Council (GMC) published Tomorrow's Doctors, a set of recommendations for medical education. Much of this document was concerned with the training of communication skills and how this could be improved. This recommendation follows decades of evidence about the importance of communication from many widely respected medical teachers from every discipline: Doctors can discharge (their) important tasks effectively only if they possess the relevant skills. Unfortunately, many do not appear to acquire them during their professional training. (Maguire, 1981) There appears to be a failure sometimes to notice what is really being said... the doctor avoids the acute discomfort of being aware of a problem in which he would rather not get involved. (Norell, 1972). DOI: 10.1080/0968776960040104


As synchrophasor data start to play a significant role in power system operation and dynamic study, data processing and data analysis capability are critical to wide-area measurement systems (WAMSs). The frequency monitoring network (FNET/GridEye) is a WAMS network that collects data from hundreds of frequency disturbance recorders at the distribution level. The previous FNET/GridEye data center is limited by its data storage capability and computation power. Targeting scalability, extensibility, concurrency, and robustness, a distributed data analytics platform is proposed in this paper to process large volume, high velocity dataset. A variety of real-time and non-real-time synchrophasor data analytics applications are hosted by this platform. The computation load is shared with balance by multiple nodes of the analytics cluster, and big data analytics tools such as Apache Spark are adopted to manage large volume data and to boost the data processing speed. Future data analytics applications can be easily developed and plugged into the system with simple configuration.


Real-world databases often have extremely complex schemas. With thousands of entity types and relationships, each with a hundred or so attributes, it is extremely difficult for new users to explore the data and formulate queries. Schema free query interfaces (SFQIs) address this problem by allowing users with no knowledge of the schema to submit queries. We postulate that SFQIs should deliver the same answers when given alternative but equivalent schemas for the same underlying information. In this paper, we introduce and formally define design independence, which captures this property for SFQIs. We establish a theoretical framework to measure the amount of design independence provided by an SFQI. We show that most current SFQIs provide a very limited degree of design independence. We also show that SFQIs based on the statistical properties of data can provide design independence when the changes in the schema do not introduce or remove redundancy in the data. We propose a novel XML SFQI called Duplication Aware Coherency Ranking (DA-CR) based on information-theoretic relationships among the data items in the database, and prove that DA-CR is design independent. Our extensive empirical study using three real-world data sets shows that the average case design independence of current SFQIs is considerably lower than that of DA-CR. We also show that the ranking quality of DA-CR is better than or equal to that of current SFQI methods.


The Highway Capacity Manual provides a method for determining the level of service (LOS) on freeways to evaluate freeway performance. Apart from being essentially an off-line decision support tool for planning and design, it is also based on point measurements from loop detectors, which may not provide an accurate assessment of freeway section performance. In order to meet user requirements of advanced traffic management and information systems, new LOS criteria based on section measures are required for real-time freeway analysis. The main aim of this research was to demonstrate a technique for development of such LOS criteria. The study uses a new measure of effectiveness, called reidentified median section speed (RMSS), derived from analysis of inductive vehicle signatures and reidentification of vehicles traveling through a major section of freeway in the City of Irvine, CA. Two main issues regarding real-time LOS criteria were addressed. The first was how to determine the threshold values partitioning the LOS categories. To provide reliable real-time traffic information, the threshold values should be decided such that RMSSs within the same LOS category represent similar traffic conditions as much as possible. In addition, RMSSs in different LOS categories should represent dissimilar traffic conditions. The second issue concerned the aggregation interval to use for deriving LOS categories. Two clustering techniques were then employed to derive LOS categories, namely, k-means and fuzzy approaches. Wilk's Lambda analysis and LOS stability analysis were performed to design new LOS criteria. Six LOS categories defined in terms of RMSS over a fixed 240-s interval were identified as the best solution to meet two major considerations described above. The procedures used in this study are readily transferable to other similarly equipped freeway sections for the derivation of real-time LOS.


We describe a tool that implements a set of services to manipulate and store data from a radar network in a transparent way to end users. A major requirement of this system is data availability and reliability. Consequently, we have implemented a redundancy schema based on the information dispersal algorithm (IDA). Preliminary results show that the IDA based replication provides better reliability and less storage spending than traditional replication


Prior to administration, leukocyte transfusions are commonly irradiated with up to 5,000 R to eliminate lymphocytes and thereby prevent graft-versus-host disease in the recipient. It has been widely believed that phagocytes are resistant to this irradiation. In a recent report, we noted that phagocyte oxidative metabolism was compromised during preparation of white cells for transfusion. As part of our effort to examine the basis for this inhibition of phagocyte function during white cell preparation, we assessed the effects of irradiation on the long-lived monocytes that have been shown to persist at inflammatory foci posttransfusion. Human monocytes were irradiated for up to 3 min, receiving 2,500-5,000 R. This irradiation damaged human monocytes, significantly decreasing their in vitro survival for the first 3 wk of culture (p less than 0.02, irradiated versus control survival), and growth as assessed by two-dimensional cell size measurements during the first 2 wk of culture (p less than 0.01, irradiated versus control growth). Despite smaller cell size, total cell protein was significantly increased over time in irradiated cultures (p less than 0.001, irradiated versus control total protein per cell). Extracellular release of lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase per cell was not affected by irradiation, but extracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was significantly increased after irradiation (p less than 0.001, irradiated versus control LDH release). Irradiated monocytes killed Listeria monocytogenes at a slower rate than the nonirradiated controls (p less than 0.05, irradiated versus control rate of killing). Thus, the data indicate that irradiation in doses used to prevent graft-versus-host disease in leukocyte transfusion recipients has a deleterious effect on in vitro human monocyte survival and function.


Background/Aims The ability of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to resect large early gastric cancers (EGCs) results in the need to treat large artificial gastric ulcers. This study assessed whether the combination therapy of rebamipide plus a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) offered benefits over PPI monotherapy. Methods In this prospective, randomized, multicenter, open-label, and comparative study, patients who had undergone ESD for EGC or gastric adenoma were randomized into groups receiving either rabeprazole monotherapy (10 mg/day, n=64) or a combination of rabeprazole plus rebamipide (300 mg/day, n=66). The Scar stage (S stage) ratio after treatment was compared, and factors independently associated with ulcer healing were identified by using multivariate analyses. Results The S stage rates at 4 and 8 weeks were similar in the two groups, even in the subgroups of patients with large amounts of tissue resected and regardless of CYP2C19 genotype. Independent factors for ulcer healing were circumferential location of the tumor and resected tissue size; the type of treatment did not affect ulcer healing. Conclusions Combination therapy with rebamipide and PPI had limited benefits compared with PPI monotherapy in the treatment of post-ESD gastric ulcer (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000007435).


In contrast to the large amount of literature concerning the types, incidence, and clinical description of uveitis in the West, Japan, and various areas of Africa, there is little such information available concerning uveitis in China. Previous clinical work at Hunan Medical College, Changsha, China, revealed that various types of uveitis were frequently seen, but because no specific clinical service for uveitis existed, there were no standardized uveitis records, no consistent terminology, no rational plan of therapy, and no attempt to establish an etiologic diagnosis. In May 1983, a Uveitis Service was established at Hunan Medical College in the Department of Ophthalmology of the Second Affiliated Hospital. A specific clinical study protocol was instituted, and separate patient records were kept. An article concerning the recognition, management, and complications of uveitis was published in Chinese 1 and widely disseminated. Ophthalmologists were encouraged to refer interesting and difficult uveitis cases to the Uveitis


Background: Self-regulated learning refers to the monitoring and controlling of one's own cognitive performance before, during, and after a learning episode. Previous literature suggested that self-regulated learning had a significant relationship with academic achievement, but not all self-regulated learning strategies exerted the same influences. Using an invalid strategy may waste the limited psychological resources, which will cause the ego depletion effect. The present meta-analysis study intended to search for the best self-regulated learning strategies and inefficient strategies for Chinese students in elementary and secondary school, and analyzed the critical phases of self-regulated learning according to Zimmerman's theory. The moderating effects of gender, grade, and publication year were also analyzed. Methods: Empirical studies which conducted in real teaching situations of elementary and secondary education were systematically searched using Chinese academic databases. Studies focused on undergraduate students, students of special education, or online learning environments were excluded. Fifty-five cross-sectional studies and four intervention studies (which generated 264 independent samples) were included with a total sample size of 23,497 participants. Random effects model was chosen in the current meta-analysis, and publication bias was also examined. Results: The results indicated that the overall effect size of self-regulated learning on academic achievement was small for primary and secondary school students in China. The effect sizes of self-efficacy, task strategies, and self-evaluation were relatively higher than other strategies. Self-regulated learning strategies have the largest effect size on science disciplines (including mathematics and physics). Performance phase and self-reflection phase are key phases of self-regulated learning. From 1998 to 2016, the effect size between self-regulated learning and academic achievement was gradually decreasing. Conclusions: The main findings of the current study showed that self-efficacy, task strategies, and self-evaluation were key self-regulated learning strategies for Chinese students. Performance phase and self-reflection phase played significant roles in the process of self-regulated learning. Future studies need to include more intervention studies with rigorous treatment fidelity control and provide more empirical evidence from online learning, so as to compare the different effects of self-regulated learning between traditional education and online education.


We study the asymptotic shape of random unlabelled graphs subject to certain subcriticality conditions. The graphs are sampled with probability proportional to a product of Boltzmann weights assigned to their $2$-connected components. As their number of vertices tends to infinity, we show that they admit the Brownian tree as Gromov–Hausdorff–Prokhorov scaling limit, and converge in a strengthened Benjamini–Schramm sense toward an infinite random graph. We also consider models of random graphs that are allowed to be disconnected. Here a giant connected component emerges and the small fragments converge without any rescaling towards a finite random limit graph. Our main application of these general results treats subcritical classes of unlabelled graphs. We study the special case of unlabelled outerplanar graphs in depth and calculate its scaling constant.


The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of elementary school teachers and the conditions within which they teach. This study is expected to contribute to the preparation for the new technology demands of our rapidly changing society and the recent changes made to the 2015 Revised National Curriculum aimed at Fostering Creative-Convergence Human Resources in Korea. It is primarily expected to contribute to the application of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education and Math-Focused STEAM education. For this purpose, we surveyed 273 teachers of 24 public schools in Seoul and Gyunggido area. The results showed that teachers recognized 'convergence' in STEAM education either as an 'integrated approach' in which specific subjects or topics are taught together or as a 'convergent approach' to teach together and further to a new one. In addition, positive responses were shown towards Math-Focused STEAM education in terms of its effectiveness on the education and needs of the students. The most significant problem in terms of the school environment was the lack of preparation time provided, materials, and educational resources. This study is expected to support the increased application of Math-Focused STEAM education in the field, and thus to expand the knowledge embodied in the subject of mathematics.


&NA; Date Presented 3/30/2017 People spend a considerable portion of time engaged in a bioneurological state termed sleep. Sleep loss impacts physiological, cognitive, and mood functioning. This study examined whether occupational therapists view sleep as an occupation and the extent to which they assess sleep precursors and sleep dysfunction. Primary Author and Speaker: Randy P. McCombie Additional Authors and Speakers: Ralyn Wolfe


Background and aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8-weeks of high-intensity interval exercise with L-cysteine (LC) consumption on interleukin (IL)-13 and hydrogen peroxide of the heart tissue in young rats with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: The statistical population of the present study consisted of young (4-month) rats with T2D. Ten rats were selected as a healthy group. Forty rats became diabetic. Diabetic rats were randomly divided into diabetes control, diabetics with exercise, diabetics with supplements, and diabetics with exercise and supplements. High-intensity interval exercises were performed 3 days a week for 8 weeks, and 500 μmol of LC were injected daily. Results: The healthy control group had lower IL-13 than the control group (P=0.001). There was no significant difference in IL-13 between other groups. Based on the results, the diabetes control group had a higher H2 O2 value than the healthy control group (P=0.001). A significant difference was found between the exercise group+LC consumption compared to the diabetes control group, and the H2 O2 levels in this group were less than the diabetic control group (P=0.001). The exercise (P=0.015) and LC (P=0.001) groups had a lower H2 O2 value than the diabetes control group. Eventually, the interval exercise group+LC was also lower than the periodic exercise group (P=0.02). Conclusion: High-intensity interval training, along with the use of LC, reduced hydrogen peroxide in the heart tissue, while it had no significant impact on IL-13.


Social media platforms have facilitated the use of shared breast milk for infant feeding since 2010. This study aims to assess the prevalence of shared milk use among breastfeeding mothers with insufficient milk supply; and compare shared milk users with non-users. Data were collected from breastfeeding mothers with low milk supply through an anonymous Internet-based survey in 2013. Shared milk users were those who used shared milk for at least 10% of their infant's needs; the rest were considered non-users. Chi-square comparisons between these groups assessed reasons and information sources for supplementation options; breastfeeding and supplement choice satisfaction; and breastfeeding duration. One hundred thirty-eight (29.1%) of 475 participants reported shared milk use. Healthfulness and reduced risk were most important to users (p < .001), whereas non-users cited convenience and lack of knowledge about other options (p < .001). Users reported receiving information from medical/breastfeeding professionals and online discussion forums, whereas non-users were more likely to not seek information about supplementation options. Users of shared milk were significantly more likely to provide breast milk at 6 months (59.3% vs. 39.6%, p = .001) and be satisfied with their supplementation choice (p < .001) compared with non-users. For women with self-reported lactation insufficiency, this study found that shared milk users were more likely to breastfeed longer, seek resources, identify healthful options, and report greater satisfaction with their supplementation choice than non-users. Importantly, shared milk may play a role in achieving U.S. Healthy People 2020 targets for breastfeeding duration.


First published in 1987 and widely acclaimed, A Guide to Documentary Editing is now available in a new and completely revised edition. Drawing on the experience of dozens of editorial projects, the author details every step of the editing process as now practiced in the electronic information age-planning a project, organizing materials, evaluating and transcribing texts, applying textual and editorial conventions, and preparing the edition for the publisher. The author even makes cautious predictions about future forms of electronic documentary publication: CD-ROMs, locally available text bases, and Internet sites. In addition, the author brings up to date her survey of literature in areas such as document selection, annotation, and non-verbal sources. Editors of such historical and literary documents as correspondence, journals, diaries, financial records, professional papers, and unpublished manuscripts will find this book an indispensable companion.


Research on the role played by gesture in language development have supported the hypothesis of a strong interconnection between language and movement (KIMURA 1981, MCNEILL 1992, PULVERMUELLER et al. 1996, IVERSON & THELEN 1999, BATES & FREDERIC 2002). Motor actions of hand and mouth are present from birth but this link becomes significant as a result of shared social meaning. In early infancy, hand-to-mouth behavior are extremely common in infants' spontaneous movements and occur similarly both in hearing and deaf children (see FONTANA & VOLTERRA 2012 for a review). Furthermore, similar motor constraints have been found in the production of gestures and a correlation between first actions and gestures in hearing and deaf toddlers has been pointed out in early language development (GALLESE & LAKOFF 2005, CAPIRCI et al. 2005, PETTENATI et al. 2010). Action and gestures emerge as a biological link but soon acquire social meaning through action routines which establish and fix a convention (BATES 1979). Transition from gesture to language occurs through the semiotic relationship between the caregiver and the child. In other words, what activates language is the relationship between child and adult. It has its origins in the biological sociality of human nature (STERN 1985, 2010). As result of the child's need of communication, gestures enable communication through relation and participation to social interactions and routines. The role of social interaction and relation with caregivers will be analyzed by referring also to the Theory of Embodied Simulation (GALLESE & SINIGAGLIA 2011) in order to show its importance in the transition from spontaneous movement to social and shared action and finally to the onset of communication made of gestures and vocalizations.


Evaluations of deviant behavior in organizations are often biased by personal characteristics of deviants. In four studies, we investigate the conditions under which sanctioners are more lenient towards deviants who hold leadership positions as compared to individuals at lower levels of organizational hierarchies. Results supported the hypothesized interactive effect of deviance severity — which is defined by the magnitude of harm that deviant behavior inflicts on others — and deviant leadership status on recommended (Studies 1 and 2) and actual punishments (Studies 3 and 4). Leadership status appeared to protect its holders in the case of low-severity deviances, but was a liability in the case of high-severity misbehavior. Furthermore, mediation studies with measured (Study 3) and manipulated (Study 4) proposed mediators supported our hypothesis that perceived entitlement mediates the effect of deviant leadership status on punishment for low-severity deviances. For deviances of high severity, we hypothesized and found that the effect of deviant leadership status is mediated by perceived betrayal of leader-specific responsibilities. These results suggest that deviance severity and perceived rights and responsibilities associated with leadership are important determinants of punitive actions that people are willing to impose on deviant leaders.


The title compounds were synthesized by refluxing different substituted chalcones (4a-j) with 2-(3-chloro-4-methyl- 2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yloxy)acetohydrazide (3) in presence of glacial acetic acid. Compound (3) was prepared by the reaction of 3-chloro-7-hydroxy-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one (1) with ethyl chloroacetate and subsequent treatment with hydrazine hydrate. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, IR, and Mass spectral data. Further all the compounds were screened for antimicrobial activity.


Airway remodeling is strongly correlated with the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this study, our goal was to characterize progressive structural changes in site-specific airways, along with the temporal and spatial expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in the lungs of male spontaneously hypertensive rats exposed to tobacco smoke (TS). Our studies demonstrated that TS-induced changes of the airways is dependent on airway generation and exposure duration for proximal, midlevel, and distal airways. Stratified squamous epithelial cell metaplasia was evident in the most proximal airways after 4 and 12 weeks but with minimal levels of TGF-β-positive epithelial cells after only 4 weeks of exposure. In contrast, epithelial cells in midlevel and distal airways were strongly TGF-β positive at both 4 and 12 weeks of TS exposure. Airway smooth muscle volume increased significantly at 4 and 12 weeks in midlevel airways. Immunohistochemistry of TGF-β was also found to be significantly increased at 4 and 12 weeks in lymphoid tissues and alveolar macrophages. ELISA of whole-lung homogenate demonstrated that TGF-β2 was increased after 4 and 12 weeks of TS exposure, whereas TGF-β1 was decreased at 12 weeks of TS exposure. Airway levels of messenger RNA for TGF-β2, as well as platelet-derived growth factor-A, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor-α, growth factors regulated by TGF-β, were significantly decreased in animals after 12 weeks of TS exposure. Our data indicate that TS increases TGF-β in epithelial and inflammatory cells in connection with airway remodeling, although the specific role of each TGF-β isoform remains to be defined in TS-induced airway injury and disease.


In the past several years, the exploration of non-stoichiometric metal oxides has triggered an explosion of interest for many important applications, while the contribution of oxygen vacancy defects to the photocatalytic performance of surface heterophase junctions is still an open question. In this paper, a hydrogenation treatment method was used to fabricate defect-rich heterophase junctions. Experimental characterization indicated that the generation of oxygen vacancies not only influenced the electronic structure of TiO2 nanofibers, but also facilitated the phase transformation from anatase/rutile to anatase/brookite junctions. For improved interfacial charge separation, a novel urea-assisted strategy was further developed to achieve the subsequent rearrangement of oxygen vacancy defects. As a result, ESR and XPS measurements evidenced the diminishment of bulk defects and the preservation of surface oxygen vacancies. Anatase/brookite heterophase junctions with surface oxygen vacancies exhibited an unprecedented hydrogen production rate of 1.6 mmol h−1, which was more than 12 times higher than that of pristine TiO2 nanofibers. Our work revealed the significant impact of oxygen vacancies on the phase and electronic structures of heterophase junctions. It also provided an effective strategy to develop highly active TiO2-based photocatalysts through integrating defect modulation and junction design.


The winter of 2012/2013 was the most accident-prone season in the Swedish avalanche history with a total of seven dead Swedes. In April 2013 the Swedish Mountain Safety Council initiated a web-based survey aimed towards Swedish skiers. The aim was to identify the target group's knowledge, experience and attitudes towards off-piste skiing and avalanches. Respondents were asked to answer a total of 28 questions. 1047 Swedish off-piste skiers answered, and we analysed them in more detail. The Swedish off-piste skier is apparently a seasoned skier who skis a lot every year. About 80 % ski at least two weeks per year and over 90 % have skied for at least 10 years. He or she is well trained and equipped for avalanche accidents. About 90 % possess avalanche equip- ment and about 60 % use it regularly. About 80 % believe they have good avalanche knowledge and 50 % have taken an avalanche course. About 35 % have themselves been caught in an avalanche, and 60 % knows someone who has. Although experience, education and the recent tragic deaths, off- piste and ski touring are increasing, approximately 80 % ski, as much or more, than three years ago. Approximately 50 % are unaffected by the recent accidents and about 75 % are still willing to take risks to go off-piste. The results show no indications of a more restrictive behaviour. The respondents seem often to overestimate their skills when skiing in avalanche terrain. Swedish avalanche education and communication is clearly missing an important piece.


This paper presents new analytical results on the crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) for a through-the-thickness crack in an infinite plate of arbitrary thickness. These results are based on a new fundamental solution for an edge dislocation obtained earlier and published elsewhere. The analytical predictions of CTOD for various ratios of the crack length to the plate thickness are compared with an independent three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element (FE) study. It is shown that both analytical and numerical results are in a good agreement when the numerical calculations are not affected by the size of the FE mesh and finite boundaries of the FE model.


Acid sulfate soils in Peninsular Malaysia are characterized l7y low pH and high amounts of At. Alleviation of toxic
ions in the soils l7y controlled drainage is recommended. However, potential acidity remains in the soils due to slow
release of toxic ions during mineral weathering. A study was conducted to determine the release of Al and other ions
l7y repetitive extraction of samples from the field and l7y aerobic incubation of samples in the laboratory. The results
showed that Al was released continuously from the soils even after the sixth extraction. When the soils were allowed
to undergo free oxidation under aerobic conditions Al, Mn, Fe, Ca, Mg, K, Na and S were released into the soil
solutions due to breakdown of clay minerals. Activities of these ions increased significantly, resulting in an increase
of electrical conductivity of the soil solution. Additionally, pH of the soil solution dropped. These commonly observed properties of acid sulfate soils have great implications on their management practices.


Well‐exposed gypsum veins in the Triassic Moenkopi formation in southern Utah, USA, are similar to veins at Endeavour and Gale Craters on Mars. Both Moenkopi and Mars veins are hydrated calcium sulfate, have fibrous textures, and crosscut other diagenetic features. Moenkopi veins are stratigraphically localized with strontium and sulfur isotope ratios similar to primary Moenkopi sulfate beds and are thus interpreted to be sourced from within the unit. Endeavour veins seem to be distributed by lithology and may have a local source. Gale veins cut across multiple lithologies and appear to be sourced from another stratigraphic interval. Evaluation of vein network geometries indicates that horizontal Moenkopi veins are longer and thicker than vertical veins. Moenkopi veins are also generally oriented with the modern stress field, so are interpreted to have formed in the latest stages of exhumation. Endeavour veins appear to be generally vertical and oriented parallel to the margins of Cape York and are interpreted to have formed in response to topographic collapse of the crater rim. Gale horizontal veins appear to be slightly more continuous than vertical veins and may have formed during exhumation. Abrupt changes in orientation, complex crosscutting relationships, and fibrous (antitaxial) texture in Moenkopi and Mars veins suggest emplacement via hydraulic fracture at low temperatures. Moenkopi and Mars veins are interpreted as late‐stage diagenetic features that have experienced little alteration since emplacement. Moenkopi veins are useful terrestrial analogs for Mars veins because vein geometry, texture, and chemistry record information about crustal deformation and vein emplacement.


The behaviour of coal in the different circumstances under which it is used is so varied and complex, and yet of so much importance to our well-being, that I offer no apology for recording observations made with regard to its physical properties and behaviour.

If we first examine the different conditions under which coals are used, and then examine the properties of the coals which have been found best suited to these conditions, we shall learn at least something of the general principles which should guide us in the selection of coals for our different requirements; and, on the other hand, we may, from the behaviour of the coal whilst in use, gather some information as to its origin and the alterations to which it has been subjected since it was deposited.

In this country some coals are used in open fire grates for domestic purposes which burn at a comparatively low temperature, some in boiler furnaces at a higher temperature for the making of steam, and others in reverbatory furnaces at a very high temperature for the heating or smelting of glass, iron, steel, &c. These are all used with a free admission of air.

Again, other coals are used for gasmaking, which I may remind you is performed by the introduction of coals into an air-tight vessel, this, being heated, distils its contents, giving off gas and other substances and leaving a residue of somewhat spongy coke.

Other coals are used for nothing but making coke. In this ...


This essay addresses the aesthetics and politics of "restitution" in the works of Victor Anicet, a contemporary ceramist and painter from Martinique. Specifically, it investigates the mixed-media piece titled Restitution as a site of memory, restoration, reinvention, and healing. Anicet uses the tray, a multifunctional object, to inscribe the plantation labor, along with Taïno, Vodun, Congolese, and Berber symbols that reflect fragments of Martinican culture. The color blue, which covers all of the objects in the tray, unites the fragments and serves as an agent of dynamism and memory. The visual—and tactile—creations of Anicet complement the theories of Suzanne Césaire, Edouard Glissant, Monchoachi, and Derek Walcott.


This thesis seeks to better understand the relationship of film genre to globalization through an examination of the use of the British romantic comedy and other related genres by the production company Working Title Films (WTF) from the 1900s through the 2000s. Because of the sudden and unexpected global success of British romantic comedies by Working Title Films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, the 1990s is a significant period for the study of the genre. In this examination the process of globalization is understood as one of complex connectivity postulated by John Tomlinson in Globalization and Culture as 'the rapidly developing and ever-densening network of interconnections and interdependences that characterize modern social life'. This theory of globalization is used as a methodological framework to understand the complex network of global and local interconnections that has driven the development of Working Title Films over the past twenty five years to becoming one of the most important British production companies in the international film industry. Through a detailed analysis of the practices of development, production, distribution and exhibition by Working Title Films and the Hollywood dominated global film industry, this thesis seeks to understand the function of genre and genre films as cultural products, economic products and meaningful representations in the global market and to better understand Hollywood, mainstream film and cinema as social institution. The analysis in the following chapters serves as evidence to support the central argument of this thesis that the use of genre in the film industry's production, distribution and exhibition processes of globalization was the critical area for Working Title Films to master in order to produce value as meaningful audience appeal and connectivity to global audiences for on-going economic success.


Extracted from text ... IMFO ? Fall 2006 IMFO ? Fall 2006 3939
By: Alan Townsend
ACMA ACIS
What is a project?
The Project Management Institute provides the
following definition:
"It is a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a
unique product or service."
This definition has evolved over the years. Work is
either operations or projects and in local government
we understand this perfectly, although our work is
usually referred to as operating and capital. The two
areas may overlap but the main elements of a project
are:
? a project has a definite beginning and a definite
end.
? projects are worked on ..


Big Data Analytics are indispensable components of architectures dealing with processing and visualizing results of diverse healthcare-related information sources. In this work, we propose a versatile cloud design where the Health Analytic Tools (HATs) are decoupled from the Datastore and the User-Interface parts, still preserving the element of system trust. This design offers advantages over the process of modifying and constructing new health policy models by means of supporting many-to-many relations between HATs and Health Key Performance Indicators. Additionally, it offers independence regarding HAT providers, analytics frameworks, cloud providers and deployment environments allowing the scaling of the proposed architecture.


BACKGROUND: Historically, a reduced serum sodium concentration has been used to diagnose absorption of electrolyte-free irrigating fluid during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). In bipolar TURP, the irrigating solution contains electrolytes, thus invalidating the serum sodium method. In this study, we investigated whether glucose can be used to diagnose the absorption of irrigating fluid during TURP procedures. METHODS: The serum glucose and sodium concentrations were measured in 250 patients undergoing monopolar TURP using either 1.5% glycine or 5% glucose for urinary bladder irrigation. The glucose kinetics was analyzed in 10 volunteers receiving a 30-min infusion of 20 mL/kg of acetated Ringer's solution with 1% glucose. These data were then used in computer simulations of different absorption patterns that were summarized in a nomogram for the relationship between the glucose level and administered fluid volume. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant inverse linear relationship between the decrease in serum sodium and the increase in glucose levels after absorption of 5% glucose during TURP (r2 = 0.80). The glucose concentration increased, from 4.6 (sd 0.4) to 8.3 (0.9) mmol/L, during the experimental infusions. Regardless of the absorption pattern, all simulations indicated that the uptake of 1 L of fluid containing 1% glucose corresponded to an increase in the glucose level of 3.7 (sd 1.6) mmol/L at the end of surgery, whereas 2 L yielded an increase of 6.9 (1.7) mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: In bipolar TURP, the addition of glucose to a concentration of 1% in the electrolyte-containing irrigation fluid can be used as a tracer of absorption that is comparable with measuring serum sodium after monopolar TURP.


The Quotient-Difference (QD)-scheme, symmetric functions and some results from the theory of Hankel determinants are treated. Some well known relations expressing the elements of the QD-scheme by means of the Hankel determinants are presented. The question of convergence of the columns of the QD-scheme is treated. An exact expression for $q_{n}^{k}$ is developed for the case of different roots. It is proved that the columns of the QD-scheme will converge not only in the well known case of different roots, but in all cases where the roots are positive. A detailed examination of the convergence to the smallest root is presented. An exact expression for $q_{n}^{N}$ is developed. This expression is correct in all cases of multiple positive roots. It is shown that the progressive form of the QD-algorithm is only ''mildly unstable''. Finally, some ALGOL programs and some results obtained by means of these are given.


A number of possible new applications for the use of Fourier Transform Raman spectroscopy (FT-Raman) in forensic science have been investigated. The evidence materials studied were fragments of broken plastic automobile lenses, paint coatings, paper and others. Raman spectroscopy was not only able to distinguish between the types of polymers employed in the manufacture of the lenses but, was also found to be sensitive to the thermal history impared to the item during its production. The detection of these internal stress conditions and their characterization by FT-Raman led to the differentiation of manufacturers of the same products. When inherent background fluorescence does not interfere (white, yellow, light colors) the Raman spectra of paint coatings supplies complementary information to that of FT-IR about the polymer binder while being a more useful technique for mineral pigment and extender component analyses. The FT-Raman technique is useful in forensic document examination of paper because of its ability to identify mineral components and some of the minor components which are associated with the origin of the cellulose and technology of paper production.


We consider a two-dimensional (2D) model of a rotating attractive Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), trapped in an external potential. First, a harmonic potential with the critical strength is considered, which generates quasisolitons at the lowest Landau level (LLL). We describe a family of the LLL quasisolitons using both numerical method and a variational approximation (VA), which are in good agreement with each other. We demonstrate that kicking the LLL mode or applying a ramp potential sets it in the Larmor (cyclotron) motion that can also be accurately modeled by the VA. Collisions between two such moving modes may be elastic or inelastic depending on their total norm. If an additional confining potential is applied along with the ramp, it creates a stationary edge state. Applying a kick to the edge state in the direction of the ramp gives rise to a skipping motion in the perpendicular direction. These regimes may be interpreted as the Hall effect for the quasisolitons. Next, we consider the condensate trapped in an axisymmetric quartic potential. Three species of localized states and their stability regions are identified, viz., vortices with arbitrary topological charge $m$, ``crescents'' (mixed-vorticity states), and strongly localized center-of-mass (c.m.) states, alias quasisolitons, shifted off the rotation pivot. These results are similar to those reported before for the model with a combined quadratic-quartic trap. Stable pairs of c.m. states set at diametrically opposite points are found, too. We present a VA which provides for an accurate description of vortices with all values of $m$, and of the c.m. states. We also demonstrate that kicking them in the azimuthal direction sets the quasisolitons in epitrochoidal motion (which is also accurately predicted by the VA), collisions between them being elastic.


The ability to acquire non-linearly separable (NLS) classifications is well documented in the study of human category learning. In particular, one experiment (Medin & Schwanenflugel, 1981; E4) is viewed as the canonical demonstration that, when withinand betweencategory similarities are evenly matched, NLS classifications are not more difficult to acquire than linearly separable ones. The results of this study are somewhat at issue due to non-standard methodology and small sample size. We present a replication and extension of this classic experiment. We did not find any evidence of an advantage for linearly separable classifications. In fact, the marginal NLS advantage observed in the original study was strengthened: we found a significant advantage for the NLS classification. These results are discussed with respect to accounts provided by formal models of human classification learning.


In Sri Lanka policy responses have direct impacts on rural dwellers. Over 80% of Sri Lanka's population live in rural areas and 90% of them represent low income dwellers. Their production system may be hampered by fragmented landholding, poor economics of scale, low investment levels resulting from poor financial services as well as inappropriate or limited technology. They are vulnerable to price hikes of basic foods and food security issues due to fragmented landholding and poor financial services. Policy measures to reduce the transmission of higher international prices in domestic markets exist to protect the food security of the vulnerable population. This paper will discuss the food policy and strategies implemented by the government and outside to the above facts this paper also describes the effectiveness of the policies forwarded by the government. The objective of this study is to analyse the impact of policy responses to the food price crisis and rural food security in Sri Lanka. Outside of the above facts this study also treats the impact of policies and decisions on the nutritional condition of rural dwellers. Furthermore this study is to analyse the fluctuation of buying power with the price hikes and the relation of above facts with issues like malnutrition.  This paper discusses why policy makers should pay greater attention to rural dwellers and describes the multiple pathways through which food price increases have on rural people. It also provides evidence of the impact of this crisis in particular, through hidden hunger, and discusses how current policy responses should adjust and improve to protect the rural dwellers in the short and long term. Keywords: Policy responses; Food price crisis; Food security; Sri Lanka Submitted: 11 January 2013; Revised: 12 November 2013; Accepted for publication: 6 December 2013; Published: 20 December 2013 urn:nbn:de:hebis:34-2014021145112


Zinc oxide and gold nanoparticles (ZnONPs and AuNPs) are biomimetically synthesized using Echinacea angustifolia flower extract and their structure and biological activities are reported. In this process, the dried flowers extracts reduced the zinc metal from the precursor Zinc nitrate hexahydrate [Zn(NO3)2.4H2O] and stabilized within 6 h. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized in 10 min by the addition of hydrogen tetracholoroaureate (III) hydrate to the Echinacea flower extract. Nanoparticles were characterized through UV–vis, FTIR and SEM. The synthesis of ZnONPs and AuNPs were analyzed through UV–visible spectrophotometry and spectral absorption bands of the flower reaction mixture were observed at 368 and 560 nm, respectively. SEM analysis showed that the zinc oxide and gold nanoparticles prepared were dispersed and the average size ranged from 90–170 and 80–120 nm, respectively. Both nanoparticles have been found to be spherical. Antibacterial activity was investigated against commonly known pathogenic bacterial strains and the results showed that the nanoparticles exhibited significant activities against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria.


Background: Capillary hemangiomas are the most common tumors of the eyelids and orbit in children. They typically appear at or shortly after birth, with approximately 90% being clinically obvious by 2 months of age. Complications include functional sequelae like anisometropia, amblyopia, visual axis impairment; cosmetic sequelae like scarring, ulceration, bleeding, displacement of the globe, proptosis and even optic nerve compression. Therapeutic options include corticosteroids, beta-blockers, pulse dye laser, topical imiquimod, interferon-α, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and surgery. Aim: The aim of our study is to investigate the efficacy of intralesional triamcinolone and combination of intralesional triamcinolone with topical timolol in treatment of periocular infantile hemangioma & its recurrence. Method: This prospective study was performed in 24 patients with periocular hemangiomas requiring intervention. Patients were arranged in two groups: Triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injection alone & combination of triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injection with timolol maleate local application. Patients were followed up for three months. The size of the hemangioma was measured in mm 2 . Result: In Group 1, 66.66% of patients showed good response while in group 2, 88.89% of patients showed good response. Group 2 showed less recurrence rate than group 1. None of the patients developed local side effects during or after injection. Conclusion: Beta blocker and intralesional steroid both are relatively safe and effective for the periocular capillary hemangioma. Beta blocker with intralesional steroid has less chances of recurrence than beta blocker and steroid alone.