OBJECTIVE
HIV-1 infection of the brain and related cognitive impairment remain prevalent in HIV-1-infected subjects despite combination antiretroviral therapy. Sterile alpha motif and histidine-aspartate domain-containing protein 1 (SAMHD1) is a newly identified host restriction factor that blocks the replication of HIV-1 and other retroviruses in myeloid cells. Cell-cycle-regulated phosphorylation at residue Thr592 and viral protein X (Vpx)-mediated degradation of SAMHD1 have been shown to bypass SAMHD1 restriction in vitro. Herein, we investigated expression and phosphorylation of SAMHD1 in vivo in relation to macrophage infection and proliferation during the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) encephalitis.

METHODS
Using brain and other tissues from uninfected and SIV-infected macaques with or without encephalitis, we performed immunohistochemistry, multi-label fluorescence microscopy, and western blot to examine the expression, localization and phosphorylation of SAMHD1.

RESULTS
The number of SAMHD1+ nuclei increased in encephalitic brains despite the presence of Vpx. Many of these cells were perivascular macrophages, although subsets of SAMHD1+ microglia and endothelial cells were also observed. The SAMHD1+ macrophages were shown to be both infected and proliferating. Moreover, the presence of cycling SAMHD1+ brain macrophages was confirmed in the tissue of HIV-1-infected patients with encephalitis. Finally, western blot analysis of brain protein extracts from SIV-infected macaques showed that SAMHD1 protein exists in the brain mainly as an inactive Thr592-phosphorylated form.

CONCLUSION
The ability of SAMHD1 to act as a restriction factor for SIV/HIV in the brain is likely bypassed in proliferating brain macrophages through the phosphorylation-mediated inactivation, not Vpx-mediated degradation of SAMHD1.


Previous researchers have identified two sequences present upstream (angiotensinogen gene–activating element [AGE2]) and downstream (d61–2) of the human angiotensinogen gene that act as cell-specific enhancers of transcription in transiently transfected HepG2 cells. To examine the importance of these two sequences in regulating tissueand cell-specific expression of the gene in vivo, we generated transgenic mice containing the mutations in the context of a genomic transgene previously shown to exhibit appropriate tissue and cell specificity. The ability of these sequences to enhance transcription of a basal human angiotensinogen promoter was confirmed in transient transfection assays in HepG2 cells, and mutations within the AGE2 and d61–2 sequences abolished transactivation of the promoter. Tissueand cell-specific expression was examined in three lines of transgenic mice carrying the d61–2 mutation, two lines of transgenic mice carrying the AGE2 mutation, and three founder transgenic mice carrying a double-mutant construct. Although the absolute levels of expression varied among lines, the pattern of tissue-specific expression was essentially unaltered by the mutations. In situ hybridization confirmed that the mutations were also dispensable for proximal tubule-specific expression within the kidney. Finally, a comparison of transgene expression with transgene copy number revealed a direct proportionality in liver (R5.77, P5.0014) and kidney (R5.76, P5.0024). These results clearly demonstrate that these sites, which strongly induce promoter activity in cells in culture, are not required for appropriate expression of the gene when present in a genomic construct in vivo. (Hypertension. 1998;31:734-740.)


Demographically, it is evident that the composition of the workforce is becoming more diversified and this trend is very significant in most developed countries such as the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Workforce diversity covers a wide range of dimensions like age, gender, culture, ability, background, level of skill, marital status etc. Because of this, workers share different attitudes, working behaviors, needs, desires and values. Workforce diversity management needs the development and management of such an environment where all individuals with these differences can perform at their full potential, so that any organization can draw an optimum benefit from its diversified workforce. Like many others, manufacturing organizations are also facing the issue of workforce diversity where it affects work performance capabilities. Organizational sustainability can only be ensured by workplace safety, employee satisfaction and retention along with health and well-being. In spite of highly automated systems, manufacturing activities like manual assembly tasks with sustained high quality requirements demand highly repetitive movements with high physical demands at the highest level of work pace.
Ergonomics plays a vital role in the development of work environments that ensure a healthy, safe, risk-free and productive use of human capital. Yet there has been little investigation of workforce diversity management with reference to ergonomic issues, challenges, opportunities and strategies. This paper reveals the need for an ergonomics-based 'design for all' approach to address the issues of a diversified workforce. This approach is based on the use of a digital human modeling system where an individual's actual working capabilities along with coping strategies are used at a pre-design phase for any design assessment. A database of 100 individuals belonging to different age groups and working capabilities provides an opportunity to assess any workplace, product, and process or environment design at an early design phase. In this way, it provides design solutions that are equally acceptable for a broad range of humans belonging to different backgrounds, age groups and levels of ability to do the work. Current ongoing research is focusing on capturing working strategies of a diversified workforce in the furniture manufacturing industry where workers belonging to different age groups, backgrounds, experience and levels of skill will be analyzed. Subsequently this data will be used in a digital human modeling system called HADRIAN providing designers and ergonomists with the ability to access and address the design needs of a more diversified workforce. This strategy helps in addressing global workforce challenges where organizations can effectively utilize their human capital by providing them with a healthy and safe working environment.


Shukti is an important component of Sudha Varga, which is considered as the latest class in the field of Rasa Shastra. Two types of Shukti have been mentioned in Rasa Shastra texts i.e. Jala Shukti and Mukta Shukti according to the availability. In present study, an attempt has been made to develop a standard manufacturing procedure (SMP) of Jala Shukti Bhasma and Mukta Shukti Bhasma. Five batches of Jala Shukti Bhasma and Mukta Shukti Bhasma were prepared and standardization was attempted by maintaining batch manufacturing records of individual batches. During pharmaceutical procedures like Shodhana, Bhavana, Marana, etc. due care of temperature, its duration, percentage of weight gain or loss and the cost factor of the end product, etc. were considered. The average weight loss observed was 12.08 g i.e. 2.42% and 14.62 g i.e. 2.92% during Jala Shukti and Mukta Shukiti Shodhana respectively. Average weight loss found was 38.94 g i.e. 7.79% in Jala Shukti Bhasma while in Mukta Shukti Bhasma, it was 35.24 g i.e. 7.05%. At the end of the pharmaceutical procedure, it was found that Mukta Shukti Bhasma is 2.8 times costlier than Jala Shukti Bhasma.


I saw a word in the air Prima vi una palabra en el aire solid and suspended sblida y suspendida showing me mostrandome her seed body su cuerpo de semilla She opened up and fell apart Se abrfa y deschacia and from her parts sprouted y de sus partes brotaban sleeping thoughts.... asociaciones dormidas (from Palabrarmas, Cecilia Vicuna, 1984 ) The impetus for this article came from a study I conducted of the instructional approaches of 26 college art appreciation instructors, teaching a yearly aggregate of 5,300 students, at 19 institutions in seven states. Data for the study were collected through an open-ended questionnaire soliciting teaching philosophy and instructional goals; organizational format; and learning activities, in particular, reading and writing assignments. The instructional emphasis of the majority (87%) of respondents was on breadth of coverage versus depth of learning, on formalist interpretation rather than contextual considerations, and on student readings (94%) drawn from secondary sources. In light of contemporary constructivist learning theory, I was surprised by the discontinuity between theory and classroom practice and moved to propose some methods for change The purpose of this article is to explore theoretical and practical advantages of a constructivist shift from breadth to depth, and from formal analysis to contextual understanding, through the inclusion of artists' primary source writings in the study of art appreciation. The following discussion describes my own pedagogical explorations into the possibilities that the study of artists' writings offers for the enrichment of learning in art appreciation. Authentic examples are drawn from my teaching experiences over four years in six college classes. All of these classes were lecture courses of approximately 200 students; all were writing intensive. Each class met three hours weekly-two hours of lectures, one of small group discussion. While teaching assistants conducted discussion groups, I made rotating visits to each and participated in their dialogue. The reports here of the kinds of learning that took place in these art appreciation classes are based on small and large group discussions and students' written assignments. The idea of introducing artists' writings into art appreciation has pedagogical as well as academic roots. It is well-established that throughout K12 schooling, students have far more experience with literary arts than with visual arts. Literature appreciation is an intensive part of language arts education, and toward that end, students regularly analyze, interpret, and evaluate multiple genres of literature. Thus, students come equipped with an acquaintance and comfort with literature that must, on the other hand, be coaxed and developed in their encounters with visual arts. It was this comfort and familiarity with language arts upon which I hoped to capitalize in complementing my instruction with readings in artists' primary source writings. In addition to building upon student learning experience, the decision to use primary source writings was stimulated by scholars in critical thinking who maintain that reliance on secondary source texts encourages student passivity and models superficial, reductive thinking (Paul, 1993; Mayfield, 1991). In Paul's perspective, "by conceptualizing education primarily as passing data to students, texts present products of reasoning" (1989, p. 155). Textbooks pose questions, present ideas and information, analyze, synthesize, interpret, evaluate, and deliver packaged knowledge from a single perspective. According to Paul (1989), Mayfield (1991), and Emig (1983), incorporating primary sources into the study of any discipline brings students into active participation with ideas, inviting them to draw upon their own experiences, raise their own questions, grapple directly with problems, analyze, synthesize their insights, and reason for themselves within that content area. …


The CAE is an independent, non partisan advisory body reporting to the French Prime Minister, whose members belong to the academic community, as well as to the business and government sectors. Reports issued by the Council represent the views of their authors only, not those of the CAE (which does not take policy positions) or of the French government. The reports, which are published together with comments by discussants and background papers, can be downloaded free of charge from our website www.cae.gouv.fr. Each issue of this newsletter, which is released by the Council's permanent staff, focuses on a particular report. The Newsletter of the French Council of Economic Analysis ISSN : 1287-4558


This study was carried out in Indoor Laboratory of Fishing and animal husbandry faculty, Biology Laboratory and Bio Technology Laboratory of University of Muhammadiyah Malang in August up to October 2007. The goal of this study is to know influence of LPS induction with injection to lobster unsalty water of Redclaw species (Cherax quadricarinatus) to propenoloxidase system and also to know LPS influence to Phagocytosis activity.
The material which be used in this study such as lobster unsalty water of Redclaw species (Cherax quadricarinatus) about 72 tails which be put in 12 aquarium, 6 tail in every aquarium is experiment method by random complete program (RAL), while the data analysis is carried out by variance test. The treatment of this study consist of 4 treatment that first treatment as control by 0 doses of PLS just given PBS, in second treatment 0.5 mg/ml doses of LPS, the third treatment 1 mg/ml doses of LPS, and the last treatment 1,5 mg/ml doses of LPS and the each treatment were repeated 3 times.
The study result show that LPS giving did not give significant influence to activating of Propenoloxidase while the fagositois activating of LPS giving give significant influence to Fagocitosis activity. The best treatment to fourth treatment about 40.193%.
Based on the study may be concluded that LPS giving give significant influence to fagositosis activity along with higher of LPS doses which be given to fagositosis activity. Based on the study the best doses to LPS giving is 1.5 mg/ml doses of LPS but is needed to next study relevance of doses in LPS giving to stimuli Fagositosiss activity.


The electrical activity in the electroencephalogram (EEG) and the event-related potentials extracted from the EEG provide the greatest temporal resolution for examining brain function. When coupled with the high spatial resolution of structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), the combined techniques provide a powerful tool for neuroscience in the examination of brain abnormalities in major psychiatric illnesses. Over the last 20 years, our work has examined brain structure and function in schizophrenia. Both EEG and MRI measures have indicated profound abnormalities in schizophrenia within the temporal lobe, particularly marked over the left hemisphere. Our studies of patients first hospitalized due to psychosis revealed the early course of the disease to be characterized by progressive impairment and cortical gray matter reduction, most intense near the time of first hospitalization. Knowledge of those locations and brain signals affected early should help understand the basic physiological defect underlying this progression, with potential implications for new therapeutic interventions.


Tuberculosis-related chronic granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis (GTN) and chronic renal dysfunction as a consequence of GTN is a rarely seen clinical condition, with a few case reports in the literature. In this report, a case with end stage renal failure as an unexpected late extrapulmonary sequela of tuberculosis has been presented. A 60 years old female patient was admitted to hospital with the complaints of fever, malaise and nausea. Her history revealed that she had pulmonary tuberculosis 30 years ago and received antituberculosis therapy for nine months. The laboratory results on admission were as follows: blood urea nitrogen 90 mg/dl, serum creatinine 9 mg/dl, sodium 116 mEq/L, potassium 6.6 mEq/L, albumine 2.9 g/dl, hemoglobin, 8.4 g/dl, white blood cell count 10.800/mm3, C-reactive protein 187 mg/L and erythrocyte sedimentation rate 110 mm/hour. Urinalysis showed 8.1 g/L protein, 10-12 leukocytes, 1-2 erythrocytes, while 24-hours urinalysis yielded proteinuria with 8 ml/minutes creatinine clearance value. Urine and blood cultures of the patient revealed neither bacteria or mycobacteria. PPD skin test was negative. Acid-resistant bacilli (ARB) were not detected in sequential urine samples obtained on three consecutive days. Since sputum samples could not be obtained, diagnostic procedures for sputum were not performed. Abdomen ultrasonography yielded bilateral edema and grade II echogenity in kidneys. Computed tomography of the chest showed bilateral pulmonary nodules, chronic sequela lesions, pleural scarring and calcifications, as well as minimal interstitial infiltrate. Transthoracic lung biopsy showed chronic inflammation and fibrosis, while amyloid was negative. Renal biopsy showed GTN with central caseified necrosis and granulomas, multinuclear giant cells, tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. Amyloid was negative and ARB were not detected in renal biopsy sample. Definitive diagnosis was achieved by the demonstration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis nucleic acid in kidney biopsy by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antituberculosis therapy was not initiated since there were no signs of active tuberculosis. The patient became clinically stable following dialysis and was discharged, however, she has been undergoing hemodialysis three times a week. The aim of this case presentation was to emphasize that renal tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with end stage renal failure, especially in countries like Turkey where tuberculosis incidence is high.


Nonparametric methods have been very popular in the last couple of decades in time series and regression, but no such development has taken place for spatial models. A rather obvious reason for this is the curse of dimensionality. For spatial data on a grid evaluating the conditional mean given its closest neighbors requires a four-dimensional nonparametric regression. In this paper a semiparametric spatial regression approach is proposed to avoid this problem. An estimation procedure based on combining the so-called marginal integration technique with local linear kernel estimation is developed in the semiparametric spatial regression setting. Asymptotic distributions are established under some mild conditions. The same convergence rates as in the one-dimensional regression case are established. An application of the methodology to the classical Mercer and Hall wheat data set is given and indicates that one directional component appears to be nonlinear, which has gone unnoticed in earlier analyses.


Introduction: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is a central nervous system demyelinating disease characterised by encephalopathy and multifocal neurological symptoms. This study intends to characterise a series of 15 hospitalised children diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and to identify the outcome prediction factors.
Methods: Retrospective observational study about a series of children hospitalised with the diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, admitted between 1993 and 2015, through data collected from patient medical records. Microsoft Office Excel® and R 3.1.2® software were used for the data analysis and statistical analysis, respectively. The statistical analysis included logistic regression models, log-ratio test, t-test and odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval.
Results: Most of the patients had a polysymptomatic presentation, mainly with encephalopathy, pyramidal motor signs, cranial neuropathies and ataxia. Serological and microbiological findings were positive in 53% of the children. Fourteen children were treated with glucocorticoids and four with intravenous immunoglobulin as rescue therapy. One patient developed multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis. All the patients recovered from the acute event, with a 100% survival rate. In the follow up period, neurologic impairment was present in 53% of the patients, and was considered moderate in more than half of them. Age at the time of diagnosis, gender, preceding symptoms, positive serologic and microbiological findings, fever at admission, length of hospital stay and altered electroencephalogram were analysed, without direct interference in the prognosis. Diagnosis and therapy institution delay did not seem to affect the clinical recovery.
Discussion: It was not possible to find factors that can predict the outcome in this case series. Although future studies with other paediatric patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis are necessary in order to better identify outcome prediction factors, a long-term follow-up should be performed to document recovery and confirm the diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.


During the last decade, the relation between activity cycle periods with stellar parameters has received special attention. The construction of reliable registries of activity reveals that solar type stars exhibit activity cycles with periods from few years to decades and, in same cases, long and short activity cycles coexist suggesting that two dynamos could operate in these stars. In particular, Epsilon Eridani is an active young K2V star (0.8 Gyr), which exhibits a short and long-term chromospheric cycles of near 3 and 13-yr periods. Additionally, between 1985 and 1992, the star went through a broad activity minimum, similar to the solar Maunder Minimum-state. Motivated by these results, we found in Epsilon Eridani a great opportunity to test the dynamo theory. Based on the model developed in Sraibman & Minotti (2019), in this work we built a non linear axisymmetric dynamo for Epsilon Eridani. The time series of the simulated magnetic field components near the surface integrated in all the stellar disc exhibits both the long and short-activity cycles with periods similar to the ones detected from observations and also time intervals of low activity which could be associated to the broad Minimun. The short activity cycle associated to the magnetic reversal could be explained by the differential rotation, while the long cycle is associated to the meridional mass flows induced by the Lorentz force. In this way, we show that a single non-linear dynamo model derived from first principles with accurate stellar parameters could reproduce coexisting activity cycles.


Mechanisms of glucose intolerance with aging were studied by comparing the metabolic response to glucose ingestion in 10 young (20–23 yr) and 10 elderly (73–80 yr) normal men with the simultaneous application of the forearm and double-isotope techniques. The latter technique consisted of a primed-constant infusion of [3-3H]glucose followed by the administration of an oral glucose load (mean ± SE, 90.7 ± 0.7 g) containing [1-14C]glucose. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were similar in young and elderly subjects, but in the elderly, glucose tolerance was markedly impaired. Although in the elderly the initial rise in insulin levels (∆, i.e., the incremental area under the curve) from 0 to 30 min was delayed (P < .02), the response from 0 to 45 min, 0 to 60 min, and thereafter equaled that in the young group, and from 90 to 240 min insulin concentrations in the elderly exceeded those in young subjects. Basal hepatic glucose output (HGO) was similar in young and elderly men (2.13 ± 0.10 and 1.97 ± 0.14 mg.· kg−1 · min−1, respectively). Similar proportional reductions in HGO from 0 to 270 min after glucose loading occurred in young (59.7 ± 10.3%) and elderly (50.3 ± 4.9%) subjects but was delayed in the elderly. Suppression of HGO was observed in the young 30 min after glucose ingestion (P < .02), but not before 60 min in the elderly subjects (P < .05). The systemic appearance of ingested glucose (0–270 min) was slowed with age (80.7 ± 3.1 and 66.9 ± 4.3% of the oral load in the young and elderly groups, respectively; P < .02). Initial increments in both total glucose disappearance (Rd) and forearm glucose uptake (FGU) from 0 to 60 min after glucose loading were decreased in the elderly (Rd, 4.1 ± 0.7 vs. 11.5 ± 1.3 g, P < .001; FGU, 17.2 ± 1.4 vs. 24.6 ± 2.5 md/dl forearm, P < .02). The overall increment (∆, 0–270 min) in Rd was reduced with age (47.2 ± 2.9 and 34.5 ± 3.6 g, P < .02 in the young and elderly, respectively), but the corresponding data for FGU were similar in the two groups. However, the ratios of ∆Rd and ∆FGU to the corresponding insulin responses (∆l), mainly reflecting peripheral insulin sensitivity, were reduced in the elderly (∆Rα/∆I, 1.3 ± 0.2 vs. 3.0 ± 0.6 U, P < .01; ∆FGU/∆I, 0.7 ± 0.1 vs. 1.2 ± 0.2 U, P < .05). Assessment of the relative contribution by the liver and peripheral tissues to age-related glucose intolerance suggested that the deficit in Rd was twofold greater than that due to the delayed fall in HGO. We conclude that age-related glucose intolerance 1) develops despite slowed glucose absorption; 2) is characterized by delays in the initial rise in insulin levels, the suppression of HGO, and the rise in peripheral glucose uptake; but 3) is predominantly the result of impaired peripheral glucose utilization. While the latter reflects increased tissue insulin resistance, the delayed fall in HGO may be mainly the consequence of delayed insulin secretion.


Non-Subsampled Contourlet Transform (NSCT) is a improvement of Contourlet Transform (CT). The important properties of the Non-Subsampled Contourlet Transforms are shift-invariance, high resolution, and high directionality. Non-Subsampled Transform represents high directional information and captures geometrical structures of the objects. In the proposed method the given numbers of decomposition levels are applied to multispectral Image and the Panchromatic Image in the relative ratio. Fine levels and coarse levels are obtained. During the Simulation process Bilinear Interpolation method is applied for fine levels of the Panchromatic Image and Multispectral Image. The coarse level of multispectral Image given to a local edge preserving filter, and later inverse NSCT is applied to get the Pan-Sharpened Image. Non-Subsampled Contourlet Transform preserves spectral and spatial information. The computation time is decreased. Considerably the detailed information can be preserved by applying Up sampling after NSCT. By this Upsampling after NSCT, the coefficients are fused by the application of Fusion Rule. After Inverse NSCT, the obtained Image is a Pan Sharpened Image. An additional Local Edge Preserving Filter (LEP) is used before NSCT to get Pan Sharpened Image with high Spatial and Spectral qualities. By Images and quality indices values, we can observe the improved Spatial and Spectral qualities.


Autosomal recessive guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase (GTPCH) type I deficiency is characterized by complex neurological dysfunction. Patients are usually diagnosed with hyperphenylalaninemia in newborn screening. We describe two unrelated patients without hyperphenylalaninemia who presented during early infancy with severe motor retardation, hypokinesia, and truncal hypotonia. CSF homovanillic acid and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid as well as tetrahydrobiopterin and neopterin were decreased. Diagnosis of recessive GTPCH deficiency was confirmed biochemically, and a novel homozygous mutation was identified in one patient and a compound‐heterozygous mutation of GCH1 in the other. Treatment with Levodopa/Carbidopa resulted in striking clinical improvement, with age‐appropriate development at follow‐up at 6 years. Autosomal recessive GTPCH deficiency should be considered in infants with severe truncal hypotonia even if hyperphenylalaninemia or classical extrapyramidal symptoms are missing. Neurotransmitter analysis followed by enzyme or mutation analysis can confirm the diagnosis, and Levodopa treatment should be started at high‐doses. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society


Abstract Resolving the detailed hydrodynamics of a slender body immersed in highly viscous Newtonian fluid has been the subject of extensive research, applicable to a broad range of biological and physical scenarios. In this work, we expand upon classical theories developed over the past fifty years, deriving an algebraically accurate slender-body theory that may be applied to a wide variety of body shapes, ranging from biologically inspired tapering flagella to highly oscillatory body geometries with only weak constraints, most significantly requiring that cross-sections be circular. Inspired by well known analytic results for the flow around a prolate ellipsoid, we pose an ansatz for the velocity field in terms of a regular integral of regularised Stokes-flow singularities with prescribed, spatially varying regularisation parameters. A detailed asymptotic analysis is presented, seeking a uniformly valid expansion of the ansatz integral, accurate at leading algebraic order in the geometry aspect ratio, to enforce no-slip boundary conditions and thus analytically justify the slender-body theory developed in this framework. The regularisation within the ansatz additionally affords significant computational simplicity for the subsequent slender-body theory, with no specialised quadrature or numerical techniques required to evaluate the regular integral. Furthermore, in the special case of slender bodies with a straight centreline in uniform flow, we derive a slender-body theory that is particularly straightforward via use of the analytic solution for a prolate ellipsoid. We evidence the validity of our simple theory with explicit numerical examples for a wide variety of slender bodies, and highlight a potential robustness of our methodology beyond its rigorously justified scope.


Background The Genghis Khan Ice Marathon took place in January 2016 in the mountains of the Terelj National Park, Mongolia at an altitude of 1800 metre. The route was a 26 mile marathon following the route of the frozen Tul Goll River. Conditions on race day were dry, sunny, light wind, with an air temperature of minus 35°C. Aim To determine the motivation of a group of experienced ultra-runners competing in a marathon in an extreme cold environment. Method A multinational group of experienced ultra-runners (n = 9, male 5, female 4, age range 25–53 years) completed a pre-race questionnaire to determine their motivation for competing both in ultra-distance running and in a race taking place in a challenging extreme environment. The 24 point modified Sport Motivation Scale was used, which consists of a seven point response to each question, with a maximum score of 168. Results Eight athletes completed the questionnaire (male 4, female 4). Scores in the male group were significantly lower than the female group (male: 85, 93, 94, 120 v female: 111, 120, 121, 122) p = 0.045, CI −40.1 to −0.86 (paired t test). On closer analysis of the individual questions answered the responses in the female group tended to slant towards participation for individual goal attainment and external acknowledgment of this, the responses in the male group were more towards participation for personal satisfaction and wellbeing involved in ultra-running. Conclusion All the athletes were very experienced in ultra-running having previously competed in mountain, desert or cold environments. A significant difference existed between male and female ultra-runners in their motivation for participation in the sport.


We shall propose a new computational scheme with the asymptotic method to achieve variance reduction of Monte Carlo simulation for numerical analysis especially in finance. We not only provide general scheme of our method, but also show its effectiveness through numerical examples such as computing optimal portfolio and pricing an average option. Finally, we show mathematical validity of our method.


Problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects selected tax reform and school finance proposals would have on the equalizing tendencies of state aid to Michigan school districts. The study focused on nine finance revisions as follows: The Tisch proposal which would make 50 percent cuts in all real property values; the Siljander proposal which would make 60 percent cuts in the value of some classifications of real property; two variations of the Tisch and Siljander proposals which would specify even larger reductions in property values than the original proposals; two variations of the Siljander proposal which would place ceilings on the amount of eligible state aid; and three alternative proposals which would not affect property values but would call for slight dollar increases in the state aid guarantee formula and/or removal of any designated mill-ceiling on state aid. Data Collection, Methods, and Procedures. Data were collected for 530 school districts representing 99.8 percent of all public school students in grades K-12 in the State of Michigan for the 1977-78 school year. Included for each school district was the tax rate and local per-pupil revenues; the total number of pupils; the state equalized valuations (S.E.V.) per pupil for each political subdivision (township, village, city) within each school district; and the amount of per-pupil state aid (apportionment) paid to each school district. Additionally, the amount of assessed property values by property classification for each of 1,783 political subdivisions in the State of Michigan for 1977 was acquired. The data collected for school systems and the data concerning property valuations were combined to reflect the property classifications within each school district. Subsequently, a computer simulation was performed applying each of nine finance revision schemes to the 1977-78 data. The r4elationship between state equalized valuations of property and state aid per pupil was determined by computing a Person product-moment-correlation coefficient for the 1977-78 data and each of the nine proposals being investigated to determine equalizing tendencies. A test of the difference between correlation coefficients from two independent samples was performed to determine statistical significance of each analysis compared to 1977-78 data. A power analysis of each proposal was performed to determine effect size and practical significance. Major Findings. The Tisch and Siljander proposals would significantly reduce the equalizing effects of state aid to Michigan schools. Two variations of the Siljander proposal which specified a ceiling on the amount of eligible state aid were not significantly different from the 1977-78 finance method and could be substituted without changing the equalizing effects of state aid. At the same time, property tax reduction could be achieved. No improvement in the equalizing effects of state aid to Michigan schools would be realized by adoption of any of the nine finance revision plans analyzed. Conclusions. Plans to reduce property taxes and make up for lost revenues by state sources decrease the equalizing effects of state aid except that shifts away from the property tax to other revenues can be carried out without damage to equalization if there is a ceiling on the amount of state aid permitted to the local school district. It appears that the larger the reduction in assessed valuations, the more damage that is done insofar as equalizing effects of state aid are concerned when the state makes up for lost revenues. Slight increases in the amount of state aid guaranteed in an equal yield formula does not improve equalization. Removing the ceiling on the number of mills eligible for state aid in a guaranteed equal yield formula does not result in improved equalizing tendencies of state aid. The utilization of computer simulation is a valuable tool in decision making.


Utilization of remotely located sustainable energy resources such as solar, wind and hydro calls for further developments of long-distance electric power transmissions operating at ultra-high voltage (UHV) levels which may exceed 1000 kV ac and 800 kV dc utilized today. It is foreseen that insulation of such transmission systems is to be based on polymeric materials that can provide a number of technical benefits over traditionally used glass and porcelain based insulation. As several studies have provided evidences of possible deterioration of withstand properties of polymeric insulators when electric charges are accumulated on their surfaces, especially under dc and impulse stresses, there is a need for acquiring knowledge on the mechanism lying behind such influences for improving design of polymeric insulators as well as related testing methodology.

The research presented in the thesis focuses on three main subjects, i.e. surface charging of polymeric insulation materials by external corona discharges, surface charge decay on thick material layers and impact of surface charges on dc and impulse flashover performance of model insulators.

Charging of polymeric surfaces was analyzed by utilizing a computer model describing development of corona discharges in air. Validity of the model was verified by comparing the calculated and measured corona currents in a needle-plane electrode system with a dielectric barrier. The simulations showed, depending on time regimes of the applied voltage, formation of either positive glow or burst current pulses that led to different conditions of charge deposition on the polymeric surface. The distributions of deposited charges were further investigated by measuring potential distributions along surfaces of flat and cylindrical samples of silicone rubbers, typically used for insulator manufacturing. The obtained results demonstrated existence of significant differences in the surface charge patterns for different charging conditions.

Dynamic behavior of the deposited surface charges was studied on fresh and aged samples of the silicone rubbers. The developed experimental procedure allowed for distinguishing between the effects of surface charge neutralization through the bulk of polymeric material or by so-called gas neutralization, the latter being conditioned by presence of free ions in the surrounding air. It was found that increased amount of free ions in the air as well as aging of the material accelerated strongly the charge decay process. For the aged materials the decay became sensitive to air wetness. At the same time, the characteristics measured under bulk neutralization regime were utilized for estimating the conductivities of the studied materials.

The impact of surface charging on flashover performance of polymeric insulator models was analyzed experimentally and theoretically. In the experimental study, a cylindrical composite insulator model was used, which consist of a fiberglass-epoxy rod covered with a layer of silicone rubber. The surface of the insulator was charged to various magnitudes and negative dc flashover voltage levels were determined. The obtained results demonstrated that deposition of a negative surface charge enhanced the dc withstand level, whereas deposition of positive charge reduced it. The dc flashover voltages of the charged insulator model were also calculated by means of a model utilizing streamer breakdown criteria. The measured and the calculated dc flashover voltages remained in good agreement for the utilized charging conditions. This further allowed using the model for simulating the influence of surface charging on impulse flashover performance of insulators. A parametric study was performed to investigate the effects of charge magnitude, its polarity and location on the insulator surface. The simulations shown that the dependence of impulse flashover voltage on charge polarity and concentration was similar to that of dc flashover voltage for the cases when the insulator was located far away from the ground (symmetry with regard to voltage polarity). However, when the insulator was standing on a grounded plane, the effect of surface charging was dependent on the polarity of the applied impulse voltage. In the case of positive impulse, presence of positive charge increased the flashover voltage, whereas negative charge yielded their reduction and vice versa.


Importance
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare skin cancer that develops in the deep dermis to subcutaneous adipose tissues. A COL1A1-PDGFB gene fusion, leading to the constitutive expression of PDGFB, is the tumorigenic mechanism in most DFSP cases.

Objectives
To evaluate the specificity of PDGFB expression as a diagnostic marker of DFSP and to determine whether other pathomechanisms (ie, gene fusions) exist in patients with DFSP without the COL1A1-PDGFB fusion gene.

Design, Setting, and Participants
All patients with DFSP registered in the pathologic database of the University of the Ryukyus from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 2013, and Gunma University from January 1, 1996, through December 31, 2011, were included in this analysis. Samples were obtained from 30 patients presenting with DFSP tumors. We examined the clinicopathologic characteristics and the expression of PDGFB, PDGFRβ, PDGFRα, CD34, nestin, factor XIIIa, fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin, S-100 protein, and Ki-67 in 30 DFSP cases and 48 non-DFSP mesenchymal tumor cases by immunohistochemical analysis. We then analyzed tumor tissues for the presence of the COL1A1-PDGFB fusion gene. We also tested whether other genes enriched in fibroblasts formed fusion products with PDGFB by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis, using gene-specific primers.

Main Outcomes and Measures
We aimed to analyze tumor tissues for the presence of the COL1A1-PDGFB fusion gene to investigate expression of PDGFB in DFSP tumors.

Results
PDGFB expression was detected in 28 (93%) of 30 patients with DFSP. PDGFB was not homogenously expressed in DFSP tumor cells, whereas CD34 and nestin were often expressed throughout the tumor mass. In 1 DFSP tumor, the COL1A1-PDGFB fusion gene was not detected even though PDGFB was expressed. We identified a novel COL1A2-PDGFB fusion gene in this tumor.

Conclusions and Relevance
Our findings indicate that PDGFB protein is expressed in most DFSP tumors and may be a useful diagnostic tool when used in conjunction with CD34 and nestin expression analysis. These PDGFB expression data, in addition to our discovery of a novel PDGF fusion gene, strongly support the concept that DFSP is a PDGFB-dependent tumor type.


PURPOSE
Radiomics is a promising tool for identification of new prognostic biomarkers. However, image reconstruction settings and test-retest variability may influence the absolute values of radiomic features. Unstable radiomic features cannot be used as reliable biomarkers. PET/MR is becoming increasingly available and often replaces PET/CT for different indications. The aim of this study was to quantify to what extend [18F]-FDG PET/CT radiomics models can be transferred to [18F]-FDG PET/MR and thereby to investigate the feasibility of combined PET/CT-PET/MR models. For this purpose, we compared PET radiomic features calculated on PET/MR and PET/CT and on a 4D-gated PET/MR dataset to select radiomic features that are robust to attenuation correction differences and test-retest variability, respectively.

METHODS
Two cohorts of patients with lung lesions were studied. In the first cohort (n = 10), inhale and exhale phases of a 4D [18F]-FDG PET/MR (4DPETMR) scan were used as a surrogate for a test-retest dataset. In the second cohort (n = 9), patients underwent first an [18F]-FDG PET/MR scan (SIGNA PET/MR, GE Healthcare, Waukesha) followed by an [18F]-FDG PET/CT scan (Discovery 690, GE Healthcare) with a delay of 33 ± 5 min (PETCT-PETMR). Lesions were segmented on inhale and exhale 4D-PET phases and on the individual PET scans from PET/CT and PET/MR with two semi-automated methods (gradient-based and threshold-based). The scan resolution was 2.73 × 2.73 × 3.27 mm and 2.34 × 2.34 × 2.78 mm for the PET/CT and PET/MR, respectively. In total, 1355 radiomic features were calculated, i.e., shape (n = 18), intensity (n = 17), texture (n = 136), and wavelet (n = 1184). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to compare the radiomic features of the 4DPETMR (ICC(1,1)) and PETCT-PETMR (ICC(3,1)) datasets. An ICC > 0.9 was considered stable among both types of PET scans.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
The 4DPETMR showed highest stability for shape, intensity, and texture (>80%) and lower stability for wavelet features (40%). Gradient-based method showed higher stability compared to threshold-based method except from shape features. In PETCT-PETMR, more than 61% of shape and intensity features were stable for both segmentation methods. However, a reduced stability was observed for texture (50%) and wavelet (<30%) features. More wavelet features were robust in the smoothed images (low-pass filtering) compared to images with emphasized heterogeneity (high-pass filtering). Comparing stable features of both investigations, highest agreement was found for intensity and lower agreement for shape, texture, and wavelet features. Only 53.6% of stable texture features in 4DPETMR were also stable in PETCT-PETMR, and even less in case of wavelet features (40.4%). Approximately 16.9% (texture) and 43.2% (wavelet) of stable PETCT-PETMR features are unstable in 4DPETMR. To conclude, shape and intensity features were robust when comparing two types of [18F]-FDG PET scans (PET/CT and PET/MR). Reduced stability was observed for texture and wavelet features. We identified multiple origins of instability of radiomic features, such as attenuation correction differences, different uptake times, and spatial resolution. This needs to be considered when models based on PET/CT are transferred PET/MR models or when combined models are used.


High step-up converters are required and used in photovoltaic applications, due to low voltage of photovoltaic modules. In this paper, an isolated dc-dc high step-up SEPIC with a Greinacher voltage quadrupler cell is presented. It has the advantage of continuous input current, high efficiency, high voltage gain, isolation and demands a single switch, being suitable for low power grid-tie photovoltaic systems. The operating principles and steady-state analysis are presented, including the detailed analysis of resonant stage, where the value of primary side capacitor is taken into account and plays an important role in the design of the converter, since it directly affects the resonance frequency and RMS current values. Simulation results are presented to validate the analysis and design.


Analysis of data from a village of Bangladesh shows that the incomes of poor and landless households are inadequate to meet their minimum basic needs and particularly the landless households mostly depend on gifts and loans for their mere survival. The need for credit is seriously felt by the poor farmers during born season which they meet mostly by borrowing from non-institutional sources at a very high interest rate and by mortgaging out land. Timely supply of credit at subsidized interest rate, input subsidy and ensured fair output price would improve the condition of the poor farmers. WI He for landless, since the prospect to get substantial benefit from new technology is not so bright (even if labour inte7sive technologies are adopted), particularly due to shifting of traditional peak periods of labour demand to new peak periods ; substantial credit and institutional support to create non-farm income generating activities would their condition.


Studies of climate impacts on agriculture and adaptation often provide current or future assessments, ignoring the historical contexts farming systems are situated within. We investigate how historical trends have influenced farming system adaptive capacity in Uganda using data from household surveys, semi-structured interviews, focus-group discussions and observations. By comparing two farming systems, we note three major findings: (1) similar trends in farming system evolution have had differential impacts on the diversity of farming systems; (2) trends have contributed to the erosion of informal social and cultural institutions and an increasing dependence on formal institutions; and (3) trade-offs between components of adaptive capacity are made at the farm-scale, thus influencing farming system adaptive capacity. To identify the actual impacts of future climate change and variability, it is important to recognize the dynamic nature of adaptation. In practice, areas identified for further adaptation support include: shift away from one-size-fits-all approach the identification and integration of appropriate modern farming method; a greater focus on building inclusive formal and informal institutions; and a more nuanced understanding regarding the roles and decision-making processes of influential, but external, actors. More research is needed to understand farm-scale trade-offs and the resulting impacts across spatial and temporal scales.


Development of the renewable energy is one of the most challenging issue in Malaysia since the fossil fuels and natural gas is foresee to be depleted in one day. Renewable energy is able to provide sustainable yet clean energy to the country in the near future. Other than Solar, wind energy is only of the renewable energy that has the potential to provide green energy to not only domestic but industrial users. This paper proposes a development of similar concept of wind energy by harvesting electrical energy from rooftop ventilator. Modification is made on a commercial rooftop ventilator with an integration of a 120V DC motor and conversion gear (gear ratio 1:2) to the turbine shaft. The continuous rotation of the rooftop ventilator due to temperature difference indoor and outdoor rotated the rotor of the DC generator. The DC energy is stored in the battery via a charge controller before distributing to the load. An average of 60 rpm turning speed of the ventilator is simulated mimicking the general turning speed of the ventilator installed on the roof. The generated energy characteristics study is carried out by using standard fan to produce steady rotational of the ventilator. As the spin rate is very low to reach the optimum spin rate, the generated energy is small and only for a small DC load.


The most basic form of the max-sum dispersion problem (MSD) is as follows: given n points in R^q and an integer k, select a set of k points such that the sum of the pairwise distances within the set is maximal. This is a prominent diversity problem, with wide applications in web search and information retrieval, where one needs to find a small and diverse representative subset of a large dataset. The problem has recently received a great deal of attention in the computational geometry and operations research communities; and since it is NP-hard, research has focused on efficient heuristics and approximation algorithms. Several classes of distance functions have been considered in the literature. Many of the most common distances used in applications are induced by a norm in a real vector space. The focus of this thesis is on MSD over these geometric instances. We provide for it simple and fast polynomial-time approximation schemes (PTASs), as well as improved constant-factor approximation algorithms. We pay special attention to the class of negative-type distances, a class that includes Euclidean and Manhattan distances, among many others. In order to exploit the properties of this class, we apply several techniques and results from the theory of isometric embeddings. We explore the following variations of the MSD problem: matroid and matroid-intersection constraints, knapsack constraints, and the mixed-objective problem that maximizes a combination of the sum of pairwise distances with a submodular monotone function. In addition to approximation algorithms, we present a core-set for geometric instances of low dimension, and we discuss the efficient implementation of some of our algorithms for massive datasets, using the streaming and distributed models of computation.


Samples of charred wood, collected during the excavation of the West House in Akrotiri, Santorini, were analysed and identified. Olive ( Olea europaea ) dominated the samples, especially inside the West House, suggesting regular pruning of olive trees and use of the branches as firewood. The findings included sweet chestnut ( Castanea sativa ), almond ( Prunus dulcis ), alder ( Alnus sp . ), pear ( Pyrus amygdaliformis ), terebinth or mastic tree ( Pistacia sp.), juniper ( Juniperus sp . ), pine ( Pinus sp.) and tamarisk ( Tamarix sp . ). Castanea and Alnus were not known before from Bronze Age Santorini. The find of Castanea is the earliest registered find of wood of Castanea in Greece. Also it is shown that domesticated almond trees grew on the island itself and already were cultivated as early as the Middle Cycladic period. The range of species in pre-eruption Santorini reflects intensive human habitation. The inhabitants of Akrotiri tended orchards of olive (O lea europaea ) and other fruit trees. The environment had a typical Mediterranean maquis vegetation, the result of years of cattle grazing. The occurrence of alder and tamarisk may indicate that a stream, as depicted in one of the wall paintings in the West House, was present on the island in reality.


Developing states have had an uneven, though often high, degree of influence in international environmental negotiations. Two characteristics influence their actions and ability to gain desired outcomes in these negotiations. Developing states are less likely to work together on negotiations for environmental issues in which non‐participant states can be kept from the benefits of co‐operation. They are most likely to receive benefits to encourage their co‐operation on issues pertaining to resources that can be used up. This article develops this theoretical framework and examines it through the issues of ozone depletion, climate change, biodiversity and desertification.


One of us once had a student who ran an experiment for his thesis. Let us call him Pogo. Pogo had an experimental group and a control group and found that the means of both groups were exactly the same. He believed it would be unscientifi c to simply state this result; he was anxious to do a signifi cance test. Th e result of the test was that the two means did not diff er signifi cantly, which Pogo reported in his thesis. In 1962, Jacob Cohen reported that the experiments published in a major psychology journal had, on average, only a 50 : 50 chance of detecting a medium-sized eff ect if there was one. Th at is, the statistical power was as low as 50%. Th is result was widely cited, but did it change researchers' practice? Sedlmeier and Gigerenzer (1989) checked the studies in the same journal, 24 years later, a time period that should allow for change. Yet only 2 out of 64 researchers mentioned power, and it was never estimated. Unnoticed, the average power had decreased (researchers now used alpha adjustment, which shrinks power). Th us, if there had been an eff ect of a medium size, the researchers would have had a better chance of fi nding it by throwing a coin rather than conducting their experiments. When we checked the years 2000 to 2002, with some 220 empirical articles, we fi nally found 9 researchers who computed the power of their tests. Forty years after Cohen, there is a fi rst sign of change. Editors of major journals such as A. W. Melton (1962) made null hypothesis testing a necessary condition for the acceptance of papers and made small p-values the hallmark of excellent experimentation. Th e Skinnerians found themselves forced to start a new journal, the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, to publish their kind of experiments (Skinner, 1984, p. 138). Similarly, one reason for launching the Journal of Mathematical Psychology was to escape the editors' pressure to routinely perform null hypothesis testing. One of its founders, R. D. Luce (1988), called this practice a "wrongheaded view about what constituted scientifi c progress" and "mindless hypothesis testing in lieu of doing good research: measuring eff ects, constructing substantive theories of some depth, and developing probability models and statistical procedures suited to these theories" (p. 582).


Air-atomised pure aluminium powder with additions of 10 at.% of AgO, PtO2 or PdO was mechanically alloyed (MAed) by using a vibrational ball mill, and MAed powders were consolidated into bulk materials by a spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. Mechano-chemical reactions among pure Al, precious metal oxide and stearic acid, added as a process control agent, during the mechanical alloying (MA) process and subsequent heat treatments were investigated by X-ray diffraction. The mechanical properties of MAed powders obtained under various heat treatment conditions and those of the SPS materials were evaluated by hardness tests. Mechano-chemical reactions occurred in Al/precious metal oxide composite powders during 36 ks of the MA process to form AlAg2, Pt and Al3Pd2 for the Al-AgO, Al-PtO2 and Al-PdO systems, respectively. Further solid-state reactions in MAed powders have been observed after heating at 373 K to 873 K for 7.2 ks. The hardness of MAed powders initially increased significantly after heating at 373 K and then generally decreased with increasing heating temperatures. The full density was obtained for the SPS materials under the conditions of an applied pressure of 49 MPa at 873 K for 3.6 ks. All the SPS materials exhibited hardness values of over 200 HV in the as-fabricated state.


The SwissFEL requires a 5.8 GeV beam provided by a C-band linac consisting of 104 two-meter accelerating structures [1]. Each structure is of the constant-gradient type and is composed of 113 cups [2]. The cup shape is double-rounded to increase the quality factor. No tuning feature is implemented. For this reason ultra-precise turning is exploited. A strong R&D program has been launched on structure fabrication, which will be followed by a future technology transfer to a commercial company. The program includes the production and test of short structures that can be brazed in the existing PSI vacuum oven and will be completed with the production of the full two-meter prototype once the new full scale brazing oven, presently under construction, is operational. The status of the R&D program, including the production and power test results of the first two test structures, is reported here.


This paper reports on the advantages of introducing a novel adaptive congestion control algorithm on physical networks for multimedia communication at virtual channels and virtual paths' levels. The adaptive control begins when congestion appears on the network. The control strategy is based on the information of congestion that is monitored and revised according to congestion status at any time. Basically the network is composed of physical communication links and control lines between nodes in the network topology. Nodes are composed of a switching system for multimedia users, a protocol converter, a knowledge-based flow control system for the multimedia network, a router, and a network interface. From/to the network node, actual information is exchanged and knowledge-based information for flow control is also exchanged. As a result, one can obtain the prospective trends in intelligent flow control to avoid the congestion of multimedia information on the network.


The potential of crowd sourcing has captured the imagination of many managers and professionals across all sectors of society, but left many others quite skeptical. This is not only because conceptions of the wisdom of crowds appear counter-intuitive, but also, if taken literally, these concepts can be misleading and therefore dysfunctional for governments seeking to adopt innovations in distributed collaboration. This paper challenges conventional notions of the wisdom of crowds, arguing that distributed intelligence must be well structured by technical platforms and management strategies. After clarifying these conceptual issues, the paper explains how collaborative networking can be used to harness the distributed expertise of citizens, as distinguished from citizen consultation, which seeks to engage citizens – each on an equal footing. Networking the public as advisors aims to involve experts on particular public issues and problems distributed anywhere in the world. The paper then describes the lessons learned from previous efforts to citizen source advice, and why governments should again pursue this strategy as a means to inform policy and decision-making. This is followed by a set of nine strategies for fostering the bottom-up development of governmental initiatives aimed at harnessing distributed public expertise.


Automated target recognition is an application area that requires special-purpose hardware to achieve reasonable performance. FPGA-based platforms can provide a high level of performance for ATR systems if the implementation can be adapted to the limited FPGA and routing resources of these architectures. The paper discusses a mapping experiment where a linear-systolic implementation of an ATR algorithm is mapped to the SPLASH 2 platform. Simple column oriented processors were used throughout the design to achieve high performance with limited nearest neighbor communication. The distributed SPLASH 2 memories are also exploited to achieve a high degree of parallelism. The resulting design is scalable and can be spread across multiple SPLASH 2 boards with a linear increase in performance.


This paper examines the redistributive impact of imputed rent (private and public) and indirect taxes (value added tax and excises), comparing this with the effects of cash transfers and direct taxes in five EU countries. The extended income concept, taking into account both imputed rent and indirect taxes, provides a more reliable picture of inequality differences across countries. Our results show that indirect taxes have a regressive effect with respect to income in all countries considered but always smaller in magnitude than other tax-benefit instruments. Imputed rent reduces overall inequality in particular where the prevalence of individuals living in own accommodation is high even among the poorest (Greece) and where the contribution of the public imputed rent is large (the UK).


A new technology relating to crystal orientation and structure alignment has emerged by the development of superconducting technologies. Now, a high magnetic field covering a rather large space is available even in small-scale laboratories. Under this circumstance it has been found that the crystal orientation in materials can be controlled by imposition of the high magnetic field. This principle due to a magnetization force can be applied not only to magnetic materials but also to non-magnetic materials with asymmetric unit cells. In this paper, three novel processes for the crystal orientation of ceramics and metals are described.


Lorenz's global energy cycle includes the conversion rate C between available potential and kinetic energy. In traditional estimates of C only gridscale processes were evaluated; subgridscale processes were lumped into dissipation. It is argued that this is inadequate; organized subgridscale heat fluxes like deep convection cannot be treated as molecular. Here both Cgrid and Csub are evaluated from the ECMWF Integrated Forecast System, for a 1-yr forecast in climate mode. The subgridscale fluxes are obtained from the model parametrization and the results tested for consistency; the largest contribution comes from the convection scheme. The integrand of Csub, the familiar 'buoyancy flux' −α′ω′¯ is locally much smaller than its gridscale counterpart −α′¯ω′¯. However, the buoyancy flux is upward throughout, and thus representative for, the global atmosphere. The global annual means are Cgrid = (3.4 ± 0.1)Wm−2 and Csub = (1.7 ± 0.1)Wm−2. Further, the gridscale generation rate of available potential energy is evaluated independently and found to be Ggrid = (3.0 ± 0.2)Wm−2. These results suggest that (i) the subgridscale processes contribute significantly to the Lorenz energy cycle and (ii) the cycle, represented by the total dissipation of D = (5.1 ± 0.2)Wm−2, is more intense than all earlier gridscale estimates have indicated.


Thermal performance of the solar thermal systems are estimated using numerical methods and software since the solar processes are transitient in nature been driven by time dependent forcing functions and loads. The system components are defined with mathematical relationships that describe how components function. They are based on first principles (energy balances, mass balances, rate equations and equilibrium relationships) at one extreme or empirical curve fits to operating data from specific machines such as absorption chillers. The component models are programed i.e. they represent written subroutines which are simultaneously solved with the executive program. In this thesis for executive program is chosen TRNSYS containing library with solar thermal system component models. Validation of the TRNSYS components models is performed i.e. the simulation results are compared with experimental measurements. With the simulations are determined the long-term system performance i.e. data are obtained for the energy consumption, solar fraction, collector efficiency also it is performed parametric analysis to determine the influence of specific parameters like collector area, tilt and orientation, mass flow rate etc. to the system performance. In this thesis are considered only the residential buildings.


A new version of the island rule, which relates transport around an island to wind and pressure forcing, provides a basis for comparing various published theoretical estimates of the long-term mean Indonesian throughflow magnitude. It is found, among other things, that nonlinear effects near Halmahera and pressure gradients across New Zealand may modify the long-term throughflow magnitude. Recent theoretical estimates of interannual throughflow variations are in approximate agreement with observation; Indian Ocean Kelvin waves play an important role. On still shorter timescales and for understanding flow details in different channels, consideration of the full details of the Indonesian region via numerical modeling becomes essential. Most of the throughflow enters from the Mindanao Current. The process by which the South Pacific waters eventually reach the Mindanao Current appears to involve some nonlinear retroflection process (particularly in northern summer) and subsequent freshening along long pathways in the North Pacific. Observed water mass transformations in Indonesian waters demand a vertical eddy diffusivity of about 10−4 m2 s−1, large enough to generate turbulent heat fluxes of order 40 W m−2 at the base of the mixed layer. According to numerical models, changes in ocean circulation associated with the throughflow are likely to affect patterns of heat exchange with the atmosphere in widely separated regions of the world ocean. In particular, an increased throughflow will result in more heat loss to the atmosphere in the subtropical Indian Ocean and less in the Pacific Ocean. Simple, physically reasonable mechanisms have been offered for these model results. Observational evidence to support or refute these mechanisms is rather fragmentary but is reviewed here. Our present understanding of the throughflow permits some informed speculations as to the possible role of the throughflow in coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomena, such as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Earlier estimates of western Pacific reflectivity seem largely confirmed by recent observational results. However, it is suggested that tidal mixing in the Indonesian seas may generate ENSO-related sea surface temperature anomalies there, possibly affecting the development of westerly wind bursts.


The present article aims to illustrate metric characteristics and selected research applications of an instrument that can be used to define aptitude for an entrepreneurial profile (created in the 1990s). TAI 'test di attitudine imprenditoriale – entrepreneurial aptitude test' describes entrepreneurial potential with regards to eight factors. The entrepreneurial aptitude test has acceptable metric characteristics and sufficient criteria reliability; the instrument presents significant correlations with career development and entrepreneurial jobs. The analysis highlights that the TAI and its specific items can be used to discriminate between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs. The paper presents research carried out in different fields of applications: seniors and juniors in generational transition and small business management, and analysis of entrepreneurial success and career guidance.


In the process of law enforcement, the public prosecutor in demanding and Judge deciding cases narcotic crime in particular is not arbitrary impose the death penalty. Death penalty if that is the legal facts in the examination in the court proceedings indicates decent offender sentenced to death, for example: consideration of the type categorized as narcotics or weight considerations of narcotics to be sold or distributed. Narcotics law enforcement has become a concern for legislators us and see the impact of drug abuse. No doubt the legislators also provides severe criminal purpose that is the death penalty in order to provide a deterrent effect for the offender dealers or drug dealers. Although the death penalty is still ongoing and has not been abolished in Indonesia, people differ in responding as the number of countries that abolished the death penalty. On the one hand, there are groups of people expressed support that the death penalty is still needed in Indonesia moreover legally still recognized. Meanwhile, on the other hand there are groups of people who want the death penalty abolished. They argue that the provisions which apply the death penalty in Indonesia is not in accordance with the basic principles of the fundamentals of this country, namely 1945.Keywords: Criminal Die; Abuse Of Narcotics; Principle Of Justice And Humanityity


Timber-concrete composites are interesting engineered wood products usually used for structural elements, which are mainly subjected to bending load; from simple floor systems to long-span bridges. This way, the advantage can be taken of timber tensile strength and concrete compression strength. The chapter begins with an introduction of various types of timber-concrete composite structural elements regarding type of the element, connection type and types of timber and concrete. Next, specific characteristics and advantages of timber-concrete composite structural elements are thoroughly discussed from viewpoints of engineering, architecture, builders and ecology. Furthermore, basic mechanical principles of timber-concrete composite structural elements are presented and some design methods are briefly described. Finally, worldwide inclusion of timber-concrete composite structures in currently applicable standards is discussed.


This paper introduces an ontology-based framework to improve the preparation of ISO/IEC 27001 audits, and to strengthen the security state of the company respectively. Building on extensive previous work on security ontologies, we elaborate on how ISO/IEC 27001 artifacts can be integrated into this ontology. A basic introduction to security ontologies is given first. Specific examples show how certain ISO/IEC 27001 requirements are to be integrated into the ontology; moreover, our rule-based engine is used to query the knowledge base to check whether specific security requirements are fulfilled. The aim of this paper is to explain how security ontologies can be used for a tool to support the ISO/IEC 27001 certification, providing pivotal information for the preparation of audits and the creation and maintenance of security guidelines and policies.


A randomised controlled trial of a new cephalosporin, cefotaxime, was carried out in men undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate. The purpose of the trial was to determine whether 48-hour prophylaxis with this new broad-spectrum, non-nephrotoxic cephalosporin would reduce postoperative bacteriuria and postoperative complications. The treated patients fared significantly better than the non-treated patients in having fewer febrile episodes, fewer episodes of tachycardia, a lower incidence of appreciable bacteriuria postoperatively, and fewer complications, and spending on average one day less in hospital. There was no difference in postoperative urea and creatinine concentrations between the groups, and no other side effects of cefotaxime occurred in this elderly population. Prophylaxis with cefotaxime would appear to make prostatic surgery safer.


Repeated observation of several characteristically textured surface elements allows the reconstruction of the camera trajectory and a sparse point cloud which is often referred to as "map". The extended Kalman filter (EKF) is a popular method to address this problem, especially if real-time constraints have to be met. Inertial measurements as well as a parameterization of the state vector that conforms better to the linearity assumptions made by the EKF may be employed to reduce the impact of linearization errors. Therefore, we adopt an inertial-aided monocular SLAM approach where landmarks are parameterized in inverse depth w.r.t. the coordinate system in which they were observed for the first time. In this work we present a method to estimate the cross-covariances between landmarks which are introduced in the EKF state vector for the first time and the old filter state that can be applied in the special case at hand where each landmark is parameterized w.r.t. an individual coordinate system.


Author(s): Wang, Yue | Advisor(s): Matsumoto, Mark R. | Abstract: Perchlorate (ClO4-) has gained attention recently due to its interference with thyroid gland function. In infants and unborn children, inadequate thyroid hormone production can cause mental retardation and thyroid tumors. Since new perchlorate standards will be proposed in 2013, and if a stricter standard is imposed, cost effective technologies will be in high demand. The overall objective of this research was to evaluate two perchlorate bioremediation strategies using indigenous soil bacteria: 1) an autotrophic strategy using zero-valent iron (ZVI) to generate hydrogen as the electron donor and alkalinity in the form of (bi)carbonate as the carbon source for cell growth and maintenance and 2) a heterotrophic strategy using organic substrates as the electron donor and the carbon source for cell growth and maintenance. The first strategy was evaluated on perchlorate-contaminated groundwater from West Valley Water District Well #2 located in Rialto, CA (Chapter III). A mobile treatment system consisting of a water holding tank, a ZVI packed bed and two parallel sand filters was placed at the site. In the first three months, the system experienced excellent performance, as measured by the tested parameters meeting the California drinking water standards. The effluent concentration of perchlorate was non-detectable (below 4 µg/L), nitrate effluent concentration was less than 0.01 mg/L as N, effluent iron ranged from 0 to 0.05 mg/L. Coliforms, fecal coliforms and E. coli in the reactor effluent were below the detection limit of 2 MPN/100mL. However, significant loss of perchlorate performance was observed after 3 months operation. The reason was attributed to the reduction of hydraulic conductivity and flow channeling. A laboratory column experiment was conducted to investigate the hydraulic condition change in the ZVI beds (Chapter IV). Effects of flow rate and (bi)carbonate on hydraulic condition were evaluated by performing hydraulic conductivity tests, SEM examination, and tracer tests. The results indicated that the decrease of hydraulic conductivity was more pronounced in the low flow reactors than in the higher flow reactors. This result appeared to contradict the hypothesis that increasing the flow rate will accelerate the hydraulic conductivity reduction. (Bi)carbonate was determined to be the primary cause of the hydraulic conductivity reduction. The decrease in hydraulic conductivity was most severe in the segment receiving the higher concentration of NaHCO3. Hydraulic conductivity decreased from 10-2.73 cm/s to 10 -7.33 cm/s after constantly feeding 24 mM of NaHCO3 for 41 days. The reduction of hydraulic conductivity was caused by the formation of mineral precipitates. Because of the lack of long-term perchlorate reduction in the autotrophic ZVI-based system, an alternative strategy that utilized organics as both the electron donor and carbon growth source was tested for perchlorate bioremediation (Chapter V). Laboratory microcosm and column tests were employed to assess the effectiveness of selected organic substrates on reducing perchlorate from two different locations of a real perchlorate-contaminated site. One location (source area) had 70 mg/L of perchlorate in groundwater, and another one (plume edge, referred to "biobarrier") had 500 µg/L of perchlorate. The effect of adding nutrients was also examined. For the high concentration source area treatment, emulsified oil substrate (EOS) and glycerin were determined to be the most effective organics from the microcosm testing. Hence, they were selected for column testing. The results revealed that amending soil with EOS had significant advantages over using glycerin as a soil amendment. After a single injection of EOS, perchlorate can be reduced to less than 4 µg/L for 4 months. Perchlorate reduction was not initiated in glycerin-amended soil. Glycerin had to be constantly added into the influent to treat perchlorate to non-detectable level. For the low concentration biobarrier treatment, compost/mulch, EOS, and EHC (a combination of carbon plant-based carbon source and zero-valent iron) had similar perchlorate removal rates in microcosm tests. EOS appeared to have greater longevity than EHC in the column tests. The addition of nutrients had minor benefit on both sites treatments. Comparing the two strategies, using organic substrate was more feasible for perchlorate bioremediation in terms of overall performance and longevity.


In this work, we present intrinsic shape context (ISC) descriptors for 3D shapes. We generalize to surfaces the polar sampling of the image domain used in shape contexts: for this purpose, we chart the surface by shooting geodesic outwards from the point being analyzed; `angle' is treated as tantamount to geodesic shooting direction, and radius as geodesic distance. To deal with orientation ambiguity, we exploit properties of the Fourier transform. Our charting method is intrinsic, i.e., invariant to isometric shape transformations. The resulting descriptor is a meta-descriptor that can be applied to any photometric or geometric property field defined on the shape, in particular, we can leverage recent developments in intrinsic shape analysis and construct ISC based on state-of-the-art dense shape descriptors such as heat kernel signatures. Our experiments demonstrate a notable improvement in shape matching on standard benchmarks.


An adaptation of Bagnold's (1936) method of estimating solid-transmitted shear stresses has been used to define the ballistic momentum flux of aggregates saltating over a cohesive bed. Results from in situ observations of these aggregates show that up to 7% of the mass transport of sediment was in saltation (under type II erosion), and took place in the form of irregular shaped aggregates that were up to 6.8 mm in diameter. The total momentum flux/unit area/unit time (shear stress) was 0(10%) of the fluid-transmitted bed shear stress. Nevertheless, observations showed that corrasion of the aggregates took place, with "sediment splashes" observed during aggregate impacts with the bed. This led us to believe that the impact forces (the impulse) beneath the aggregates was higher than the erosion threshold of the bed material (1.5-2.0 Pa) and aggregate strength. By normalising the ballistic momentum flux by the estimated area of impact, shear stresses up to 9.5 Pa were determined which were sufficiently high to explain the observed erosional behaviour. These stresses were applied over an impact area of 0.009 m2/m2 • The estimated effect on the net resuspension from the bed is small but significant (3%). Thus, it appears that saltating aggregates can contribute to the erosion threshold and erosion rate of cohesive beds in the Bay of Fundy at high current speeds (> 0.35 m/s).


This paper explores the causal relationship between energy, emissions and income in Canada for the period 1960- 2005. This study explores these relationships using the Toda Yamamoto approach in a multivariate framework including labour and capital as auxiliary variables. We also test the hypothesis of indirect or multi-horizon Granger non-causality between these variables, since causal effects may occur more than one-period-ahead, as is assumed by the standard Granger non-causality test. We find that there is bi-directional direct causality between income and energy use in Canada, and no other channels of causality between the three variables. However, indirect Granger non- causality testing shows that there is bi-directional causality between all variables in the system. This result is contrary to other results in the literature, and has different implications for energy and environmental policy.


In this paper studies on urethane magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) microstructure in respect to their magnetic and mechanical properties are reported. MREs were obtained from a mixture of polyurethane gel and carbonyl-iron particles cured in a magnetic field of 100 and 300 mT. The amount of particles was varied from 1.5 to 33 vol. %. Samples with different arrangements of particles were produced. Effect of the amount of ferromagnetic particles and their arrangement on microstructure and properties in relation to the external magnetic field was investigated. The microstructure was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Magnetic properties were measured using vibrating sample magnetometer. Rheological and mechanical properties under compression were also examined.


The Paris Agreement established a new mechanism by which a country can offset some of its emissions reductions in other countries. Its design is still under negotiation. While taking advantage of cheaper abatement opportunities enables efficiency gains, the impact on the price volatility in the emission trading schemes is unclear. We conduct an empirical analysis of the short-term impacts of these credits on the standard carbon markets, using the European Union experience with accepting credits for compliance in the second phase of its scheme. With vector-autoregressive models allowing regime changes at a priori unknown dates, we analyze the structural relationship between the prices of allowances and credits. Although one might expect that the allowance and credit markets influence one another, we find that, before November 2011, knowing the credit price variations helps to better predict the allowance price variations while, after November 2011, it is the opposite. We explain this by expectations and restrictions regarding credits. For the transmission of shocks and the impact on volatility, the influence is mainly from allowances to credits. The allowance price volatility explains between 56% and 72% of the credit volatility whereas the latter explains less than 2% of the former.


Continuous monitoring of the river flow is essential for assessing water availability. River flow velocity is crucial to simulate discharge hydrographs of water in the hydrological system.This study developed a digital water current meter with infrared. The infrared current meter was tested using Ebonyi River at Obollo-Etiti and the test was performed at three different verticals (A, B, & C) across the watercourse of Ebonyi River. At each location, the velocity readings were taken at the 0.6 of the depth below the surface. The total depth of water at locations A, B, and C are 0.35m, 0.4m and 0.54m respectively. The digital water current meter with infrared display velocity readings obtained per second. To confirm the accuracy of the infrared current meter, it was tested alongside with a conventional water current meter. The measurements performed with the infrared current meter compared well with the measurement performed with conventional current meters. The linear regression equation for the measurements obtained using the two current meters was obtained. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v33i2.8


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate the status of the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF) in academic hospitals in Turkey.

METHODS
Overall 661 successive patients from 16 academic hospitals were included in this retrospective study. In addition to treatments given to the patients before admission to hospital, during their hospital stay, and at hospital discharge, data regarding their functional classifications, causes of CHF, and laboratory findings were also recorded.

RESULTS
In our study the mean age of patients was 61+/-12 years and the mean hospital stay 10+/-6 days. Ischemic CHF was observed more frequently in men (72% vs. 46%, p<0.001), while hypertension and rheumatic CHF were more frequent in women (27% vs. 19%, p<0.001 and 24% vs. 9%, p<0.001 respectively). While 90% of patients were in NYHA III-IV class at admission to hospital, only 2% of patients were in class IV at hospital discharge. The proportion of smokers was greater in men than in women (68% vs. 12%). Atrial fibrillation was present in 35% of patients. During hospitalization, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were used by 77%, diuretics by 95%, digitalis by 76%, nitrate by 85%, beta-blockers by 3%, aspirin by 86%, anticoagulants by 44%, Ca antagonist by 10%, positive inotropic agents by 42%; and antiarrhythmic agents by 15% of patients.

CONCLUSION
The use of ACE inhibitors, the major milestone of CHF treatment, is not on an adequate level yet. The use of beta-blockers should also be encouraged.


Background: Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with hematological, neurological, and cardiovascular consequences. Epidemiologic data on these related illnesses indicate gender differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to examine gender differences in vitamin B12 deficiency among a healthy population. Data from healthy individuals aged 18–65, who were provided with a routine medical evaluation during 2000–2014, were retrieved from the medical charts. Individuals with background illnesses and those who had used medications or nutritional supplements were excluded. Vitamin B12 deficiency was defined by 2 cutoff values (206 and 140 pmol/L). The multivariate analysis was adjusted for age, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hyperhomocysteinemia, folate deficiency, albumin, and transferrin saturation. Sensitivity analyses were implemented by excluding individuals with anemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, or folate deficiency and by age stratification. Results: In all, 7,963 individuals met the inclusion criteria. Serum vitamin B12 mean levels were 312.36 and 284.31 pmol/L for women and men respectively (p < 0.001). Deficiency prevalence was greater for men (25.5%) in comparison with women (18.9%; p < 0.001). Men were strongly associated with severe deficiency (adjusted OR 2.26; 95% CI 1.43–3.56). Conclusions: Among the healthy population, men are susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency. This can be explained by neither diet habits nor estrogen effects. Genetic variations are therefore hypothesized to play a role.


The Constitutional Court recently confirmed an order for the forfeiture of a house from which an unlawful shebeen had been run for years (Van der Burg and Another v National Director of Public Prosecutions). In deciding whether to confirm the order of the full bench of  the High Court, Justice van der Westhuizen, writing for a unanimous court, addressed the following questions: whether the house was an instrumentality of an offence; whether the illegal sale of alcohol is an organised crime; the proportionality of the crime to the forfeiture under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (the POCA); as well as the impact of the forfeiture on the rights of the children that lived in the house. This judgment comes at a time where issues such as the proposal for the reduction of the legal limit of alcohol for drivers to 0% 2 are topical, and seems to point to a tougher stance towards the sale and consumption of alcohol in South Africa. The judgment may therefore be seen as a warning that the illegal sale of alcohol and running of a shebeen will no longer be seen as business as usual in cases where the seller does not heed the call to desist such business.


Aim: The aim of this initiative is to raise interest and understanding among nursing students in quantitative methods by embedding research instruction in the curriculum using a simplified, fun and research-active approach. Background: Quantitative research methods are traditionally unpopular and perceived as complex amongst nursing students. This is not helped by the fact that many nursing faculty lean in their own research activities more intuitively towards qualitative methods. However it is important that students gain an appreciation of both methods of research. Method: In an attempt to address this it is proposed that which is popular amongst students such as 'glossy' magazines could be used as an embedded teaching tool. Therefore, it is proposed that as part of an elective module in journalism students design a survey for a woman or man's 'glossy' magazine. Analysis: Students are provided with a computer survey package such as Survey Monkey to design, manage and analyse survey results and to create a discussion of these results in a feature style for a chosen popular magazine. Conclusions: This initiative brings with it the possibility of embedding quantitative research skills in an elective journalism course so that students gain an understanding and an appreciation of feature writing but also of survey design in an active and enjoyable manner. This initiative also provides encouragement for embedding a variety of other research activities and data collection tools successfully across the undergraduate curriculum.


We demonstrate that diaphragms for sensor applications can be fabricated by laser ablation in a~variety of substrates such as ceramics, glass, sapphire or SiC. However, ablation can cause pinholes in membranes made of SiC, Si and metals. Our experiments indicate that pinhole defects in the ablated membranes are affected by ripple structures related to the polarization of the laser. From our simulation results on light propagation in Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS) we find out that they are acting as a slot waveguide in SiC material. The results further show that field intensity is enhanced inside LIPSS and spreads out at surface distortions promoting the formation of pinholes. The membrane corner area is most vulnerable for pinhole formation. Pinholes funnel laser radiation into the bulk material causing structural damage and stress in the membrane. We show that a~polarization flipping technique inhibits the formation of pin holes caused by LIPSS.


The largely neglected characterization of Aeetes and the function of Ares in the 'Argonautica' may heighten the insight into Apollonius' intentions. Regarded more closely, the plot shows that Aeetes, though being the son of Helios, is marked as an Ares-hero, and not only in the scene in which he arms himself (3. 1225-45). Already in book 2 his close connection with the war-god is hinted at repeatedly, and in book 3 it is further intensified by the adaptation of the Cadmus-and-dragon myth (as told by Pherecydes). Jason, who was compared to both Ares and Apollo at the beginning of his aristeia, proved to be a match for the cruel Aeetes when he finally performs the shocking massacre of the earthborn. He wins, but he owes his success to Aphrodite. In Apollonius, Ares and Aphrodite rule over human beings and their fates; however, the outcome of their power is not harmonia (as in the Cadmus myth), but at the very end of his poem (book 4) crime, blood and death.


BACKGROUND
The World Health Organization (WHO) study entitled Suicide Trends in At-Risk Territories (START) is an international multisite initiative that aims to stimulate suicide research and prevention across different areas of the globe. A central component of the study is the development of registration systems for fatal and nonfatal suicidal behaviors.

AIMS
This paper provides an overview of the data collected on suicidal behaviors from the participating locations in the START study.

METHOD
Descriptive statistics on the data are presented in terms of age, sex, and method.

RESULTS
A greater proportion of suicide deaths occurred among males. In all areas except the Philippines more females than males engaged in nonfatal suicidal behaviors. Compared to Australia, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Hong Kong SAR, in the Pacific Islands suicide most often occurs in younger age groups. Results indicate notable variations between countries in choice of method. A greater proportion of suicides occurred by hanging in Pacific Islands, while inhalation of carbon monoxide, use of firearms, ingestion of chemicals and poisons, and drug overdose were the most frequent methods of choice in other areas.

CONCLUSION
The information drawn from this study demonstrates the enormous variation in suicidal behavior across the areas involved in the START Study. Further research is needed to assess the reliability of the established data-recording systems for suicidal behaviors. The baseline data established in START may allow the development of suicide prevention initiatives sensitive to variation in the profile of suicide across different locations.


This paper reports our progress in using the Knowledge Space Visualizer (KSV) as a tool for formative assessment of online discourse. Whereas social network analysis has been used in research on computer-supported collaborative learning, it only examines the social structure of discourse participants, and does not provide information about the content of the discourse. We discuss two types of networks as they relate to online discourse: structural and semantic. The initial findings indicate that the KSV can be used to visualize a Knowledge Forum database, and can provide a fine-grained semantic analysis that may enable teachers and students to locate the key ideas around which collective learning may takes place.


PURPOSE
We report on a clinical trial developed to compare four different instruments that provide overall quality-of-life (QOL) scores, ranging from a simple, one-item instrument to more detailed instruments. Two issues addressed were (1) Will QOL tools suffer from missing data when used in a community-based cooperative group setting?, and (2) Are there additional data generated by a more detailed multiitem instrument over that provided by a single-item global QOL question?

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A four-arm randomized trial was designed to compare four instruments that provide overall QOL scores in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Patients and physicians completed the single-item Spitzer Uniscale (UNISCALE) at baseline and monthly. Patients were randomly assigned to complete, in addition, either the 22-item Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLIC), the five-item Spitzer QOL index (QLI), a picture-face scale (PICT), or nothing else.

RESULTS
A total of 128 patients were randomized. Greater than 90% complete QOL data were obtained. There was strong correlation, concordance, and criterion-related validity among all four patient-completed tools. The UNISCALE had a greater decrease over time than did the FLIC (P=.005), which suggests a greater sensitivity; the UNISCALE was similar to the QLI and the PICT in this regard. Physicians provided lower UNISCALE scores than patients. Results supported the hypothesis that QOL is prognostic for survival.

CONCLUSION
Patients can effectively complete QOL tools in a cooperative group setting with proper education of health care providers and patients. A simple single-item tool (UNISCALE) appears to be appropriate to obtain a measure of overall QOL.


This article investigates the attitude to communism, National Socialism, Fascism, and authoritarian conservatism in the Swedish Catholic Church's journal Credo from 1922 to 1945. The comparative approach has made it possible to see how the journal distinguished between the various forms of authoritarian ideologies in Europe during this period. The article shows that the Catholic Church in Sweden took a very negative view of communism (the Soviet Union and the Spanish Republic) and strongly condemned it throughout the period, while it took a largely very positive stance towards Fascism (Italy) and Authoritarian Conservativism (Spain and Portugal). In the case of National Socialism (Nazi Germany) the attitude was more diverse. Credo was largely negative towards National Socialism but only because it was thought to threaten Catholics and Catholicism in Germany. However, Credo never criticized discrimination and genocidal violence against the Jews.