An ultra-wideband (UWB) highly compact bandpass filter with extremely high passband bandwidth is presented. The proposed structure is made using three-staged stepped-impedance lines and a composite right/left-handed transmission line (CRLH-TL) synthesized with meander fractal like ring slot in the ground and series capacitive gap in conductor strip. The capacitive gap in conductor strip and meander fractal like ring slot in the ground plane play major role for controlling the lower and higher cut-off frequencies. The equivalent circuit model of proposed filter is demonstrated and lumped parameters are extracted. A prototype is fabricated to experimentally validate the performance of proposed filter. The proposed UWB filter has extremely wide −10 dB return loss passband bandwidth from 3.14 to 18.26 GHz with relative bandwidth of 142% and insertion loss better than 0.5 dB. Also it achieves a wide upper-stopband from 19.7 to 24.4 GHz with insertion loss better than 13.0 dB, return loss <1.5 dB and sharpened rejection skirts outside the passband at both lower and upper frequency ends. Good agreement is found between simulated and measured results with measured group delay variation in the passband <0.65 ns.


The article presents a bibliographic study about the aspects to be observed in the choice of the toy and the act of play in the ludodiagnostic process, for that, it was used mainly, theorical contributions of A. Freud, M. Klein and D. W. Winnicott. It was discussed the role of the psychotherapist, the therapeutic setting, and the meaning of the toy and playing it. That shows that the psychotherapist have an fundamental role in the choice of the material and the ambience in the ludodiagnostic process and it's an right attitude of the professional if he considers the variables of the ambience, adapts the toys and the play into the cognitive capacity of the children and simultaneously respects the process of maturation and allows the free expression.


We outline three challenges involved in designing external representations that promote sustainable use of natural resources. First, the task environment of sustainable resource-use is highly unstructured, and involves many uncoordinated and asynchronous actions. Following from this complex nature of the task environment, more task constraints and task interactions are involved in designing representations promoting sustainability, compared to representations that seek to make tasks easier in structured task environments, such as aircraft cockpits and control rooms. Second, external representations promoting sustainable resource-use need to motivate people to make decisions that sustain resources, and persist with this behavior, even though alternate behaviors are easier and commonplace. Third, external representations promoting sustainability also need to lower the cognitive load involved in sustainability decisions. This three-tiered function (meeting complex task constraints, providing motivation, lowering cognitive load) makes such representations challenging to design. However, some early prototype designs promoting sustainable resource-use have appeared recently, primarily addressing electricity use. Analyzing these digital prototypes, we outline three design principles they share, and show how these seek to address the complexities of the sustainability problem-space (complexity of task environments, goals, and representations). We then argue that at least two further cognitive scaffolds are required for effectively promoting sustainable resource use (action scripts, deconstruction). We close with some of the limitations of this approach to promoting sustainability, and outline future work.


Abstract Introduction Brain activation is hypothesized to form an inverse U‐shape in prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD), with hyperactivation in the early phase, followed by hypoactivation. Methods Using task‐related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we tested the inverse U‐shape hypothesis with polynomial regressions and between‐group comparisons in individuals with subjective cognitive decline plus (SCD+; smaller hippocampal volumes compared to a group of healthy controls without SCD and/or apolipoprotein E [APOE] ε4 allele) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Results A quadratic function modeled the relationship between proxies of disease severity (neurodegeneration, memory performance) and left superior parietal activation. Linear negative functions modeled the relationship between neurodegeneration and left hippocampal/right inferior temporal activation. Group comparison indicated presence of hyperactivation in SCD+ and hypoactivation in MCI in the left superior parietal lobule, relative to healthy controls. Discussion These findings support the presence of an inverse U‐shape model of activation and suggest that hyperactivation might represent a biomarker of the early AD stages.


The metal mining industry faces many large challenges in future years, among which is the increasing need to process low-grade ores as accessible higher grade ores become depleted. This is against a backdrop of increasing global demands for base and precious metals, and rare earth elements. Typically about 99% of solid material hauled to, and ground at, the land surface currently ends up as waste (rock dumps and mineral tailings). Exposure of these to air and water frequently leads to the formation of acidic, metal-contaminated run-off waters, referred to as acid mine drainage, which constitutes a severe threat to the environment. Formation of acid drainage is a natural phenomenon involving various species of lithotrophic (literally 'rock-eating') bacteria and archaea, which oxidize reduced forms of iron and/or sulfur. However, other microorganisms that reduce inorganic sulfur compounds can essentially reverse this process. These microorganisms can be applied on industrial scale to precipitate metals from industrial mineral leachates and acid mine drainage streams, resulting in a net improvement in metal recovery, while minimizing the amounts of leachable metals to the tailings storage dams. Here, we advocate that more extensive exploitation of microorganisms in metal mining operations could be an important way to green up the industry, reducing environmental risks and improving the efficiency and the economy of metal recovery.


Small denominations play a special role in a payments ecosystem because they facilitate exchange for small-value goods and services. This report examines the $1 bill holdings of adults in the United States using data from the Diary of Consumer Payments Choice (DCPC). Simply knowing the number of $1 bills in circulation is not useful for understanding consumers' actions, since many of these bills are held by merchants. The costs and benefits to the consumer of carrying $1 bills have been largely ignored in the policy discussion of the costs of switching from dollar notes to dollar coins. Knowing the facts about U.S. adult consumers' holdings of $1 bills represents a first step toward gaining an understanding of these costs and benefits to consumers.


BACKGROUND
A previous study associated CD34(+) levels with NYHA functional class in heart failure patients. The aim of this study was to correlate CD34(+) levels to exercise capacity, functional class, quality of life and norepinephrine in heart failure patients.

METHODS
Twenty three sedentary patients (52 +/- 7 years, 78% male) answered the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire and rested for 20 minutes before an investigator collect a blood sample. After this, patients performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test to determine the heart rate at anaerobic and ventilatory threshold and oxygen consumption at peak effort, at anaerobic and ventilatory threshold. One other blood sample was collected during the peak effort to investigate the norepinephrine and CD34(+) levels.

RESULTS
Rest percentage of CD34(+) did not show correlation with: left ventricle ejection fraction (r = 0.03, p = 0.888), peak VO(2) (r = 0.32, p = 0.13), VO(2) at anaerobic threshold (VO(2)AT) (r = 0.03, p = 0.86), VO(2) at ventilatory threshold (VO(2)VT) (r = 0.36, p = 0.08), NYHA functional class (r = -0.2, p = 0.35), quality of life (Minnesota) (r = -0.17, p = 0.42). CD34(+) did not show correlation, either, with: peak VO(2) (r = 0.38, p = 0.06), VO(2)AT (r = 0.09, p = 0.65), VO(2)VT (r = 0.43, p = 0.4), NYHA functional class (r = -0.13, p=0.54), quality of life (r = 0.00, p = 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS
CD34(+) levels did not correlate with exercise capacity, functional class, quality of life and norepinephrine. Percentage of CD34(+) levels did not increase during the cardiopulmonary exercise test in heart failure patients.


characterized the variability of the Hudson River discharge and identified several freshwater transport pathways that lead to cross-shelf mixing of the Hudson plume. The plume's variability is comprised of several different outflow configurations that are related to wind forcing, river discharge, and shelf circulation. The modes are characterized by coastal current formation and unsteady bulge recirculation. Coastal currents are favored during low-discharge conditions and downwelling winds, and represent a rapid downshelf transport pathway. Bulge formation is favored during high-discharge conditions and upwelling winds. The bulge is characterized by clockwise rotating fluid and results in freshwater transport that is to the left of the outflow and opposed to classical coastal current theory. Upwelling winds augment this eastward flow and rapidly drive the freshwater along the Long Island coast. Upwelling winds also favor a midshelf transport pathway that advects fluid from the bulge region rapidly across the shelf on the inshore side of the Hudson Shelf Valley. A clockwise bulgelike recirculation also occurs along the New Jersey coast, to the south of the river mouth, and is characterized by an offshore veering of the coastal current. Modeling results indicate that the coastal transport pathways dominate during the winter months while the midshelf transport pathway dominates during summer months. Finally, because the time scales of biogeochemical transformations in the plume range from hours to weeks or longer, the details of both the near-and far-field plume dynamics play a central role in the fate of material transported from terrestrial to marine ecosystems.


High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) is currently being prepared as the newest video coding standard of the ITU-T Video Coding Experts Group and the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group. The main goal of the HEVC standardization effort is to enable significantly improved compression performance relative to existing standards—in the range of 50% bit-rate reduction for equal perceptual video quality. This paper provides an overview of the technical features and characteristics of the HEVC standard.


Soil being natural and non-manufactured material has proven itself to be most potentially problematic and complex materials to tackle with. The complexity does not arise only because of soil as a material, but also by the fact that various methods to characterize the soil for estimations of constituents, behavior and strength are potentially difficult. In this paper , a study on the effect of stone columns on the behaviour of cohesive soils has been done, it was found that the installation of the stone columns plays a very significant role in improving the bearing capacity of the cohesive soils. The main improvement in cohesive soils takes place by virtue of densification while inserting the stone column, the increase in drainage also plays a great role. The length of the stone columns was found to greatly influence the behaviour of the improvement of the soils. The improvement is very significant for a length of 1B where B is the width/diameter of the footing.


The Na-bentonite with contained smectite was fabricated in order to observe their absorption and preservation about water. Absorption of fabricated specimens in the water and preservation of absorbed samples in the drying machine at 323 K was measured. It was obtained that absorption had been decreasing with increasing smectite. Absorption of As-received Na-bentonite was higher than absorption of As-received smectite. The preservation has been also decreased with increasing smectite was obtained. Na-bentonite with contained smectite were investigated the good absorption and preservation when the Na-bentonite containing smectite 5 mass %.


The research is concerned with the application of the computer simulation technique to study the performance of reinforced concrete columns in a fire environment. The effect of three different concrete constitutive models incorporated in the computer simulation on the structural response of reinforced concrete columns exposed to fire is investigated. The material models differed mainly in respect to the formulation of the mechanical properties of concrete. The results from the simulation have clearly illustrated that a more realistic response of a reinforced concrete column exposed to fire is given by a constitutive model with transient creep or appropriate strain effect The assessment of the relative effect of the three concrete material models is considered from the analysis by adopting the approach of a parametric study, carried out using the results from a series of analyses on columns heated on three sides which produce substantial thermal gradients. Three different loading conditions were used on the column; axial loading and eccentric loading both to induce moments in the same sense and opposite sense to those induced by the thermal gradient. An axially loaded column heated on four sides was also considered. The computer modelling technique adopted separated the thermal and structural responses into two distinct computer programs. A finite element heat transfer analysis was used to determine the thermal response of the reinforced concrete columns when exposed to the ISO 834 furnace environment. The temperature distribution histories obtained were then used in conjunction with a structural response program. The effect of the occurrence of spalling on the structural behaviour of reinforced concrete column is also investigated. There is general recognition of the potential problems of spalling but no real investigation into what effect spalling has on the fire resistance of reinforced concrete members. In an attempt to address the situation, a method has been developed to model concrete columns exposed to fire which incorporates the effect of spalling. A total of 224 computer simulations were undertaken by varying the amounts of concrete lost during a specified period of exposure to fire. An array of six percentages of spalling were chosen for one range of simulation while a two stage progressive spalling regime was used for a second range. The quantification of the reduction in fire resistance of the columns against the amount of spalling, heating and loading patterns, and the time at which the concrete spalls appears to indicate that it is the amount of spalling which is the most significant variable in the reduction of fire resistance.


Conventional cosmic-ray propagation models usually assume an isotropic diffusion coefficient to account for the random deflection of cosmic rays by the turbulent interstellar magnetic field. Such a picture is very successful in explaining a lot of observational phenomena related to the propagation of galactic cosmic rays, such as broken power-law energy spectra, secondary-to-primary ratios, etc. However, the isotropic diffusion presupposition is facing severe challenges from observations. In particular, recent observations on the large-scale anisotropy of TeV cosmic rays show that the dipole direction differs from the prediction of the conventional model. One possible reason is that the large-scale regular magnetic field, which leads to an anisotropic diffusion of cosmic rays, has not been included in the model provided by the public numerical packages. In this work, we propose a pseudo source method to solve the 3-dimensional anisotropic transport equation. Based on a realistic configuration of Galactic magnetic field, both proton energy spectrum and B/C ratio are reproduced with proper transport parameters.


Due to its longevity (almost 400 episodes and 18 years), and the sheer number of
supporting characters that appear on it, the writers and producers of The Simpsons
has created a model of society which can be exploited by the political theorist. This
paper aims to explore the social and political ramifications of this model of, especially
the accusation that the programme in inherently conservative in its portrayal of
gender and the nuclear family.

This paper will also look at the depiction of politicians in the programme (for example
fictional politicians such as Mayor 'Diamond' Joe Quimby and Sideshow Bob as well
as real politicians Bill Clinton and George Bush snr), and suggest that whereas The
Simpsons may appear to mock all politicians, this is not in fact the case, and that The
Simpsons does provide us with examples of the types of qualities that are admirable
in a politician. It will be argued that the writers of The Simpsons only mock two types
of politicians; actual living politicians (it is from this fact that it gets its reputation for
being impartial), and dishonest metropolitan-type politicians. Local, hard working
politicians (most notably Governor Mary Bailey and former Sanitation Commissioner
Ray Patterson) are exempt from their criticism, suggesting that they prefer local
substance over glitz and style.


The levels of bioactivity in lichens can change in response to environmental stress. For this reason, it was decided to compare the activity levels of Hypogymnia tubulosa (Schaer.) Hav. (Parmeliaceae) samples collected from six different localities in Turkey and the factors that may be effective. We also questioned our opinion that antibacterial activity is not directly proportional to the effectiveness of the antibiotic. The in vitro antibacterial activity and antibiofilm effect of diethyl ether (DE) and chloroform-methanol-acetone (CMA) extracts of the lichen H. tubulosa were explored against two pathogenic microbial strains of Staphylococcus aureus-ATCC 25923 and Enterococcus faecalis-ATCC 29212. Antibacterial activity was screened by disk diffusion method through the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Biofilm inhibitory potency of the extracts was measured by spectrophotometrically. Most of the tested extracts of H. tubulosa demonstrated inhibitory effects against S. aureus and E. faecalis as strong as antibiotics. Differences of the findings depending on locality, habitat and extract variables were evaluated. The most antibacterially active samples were from Bursa (Location 4 and 6), both DE and CMA extracts with MIC values of 100 μg/ml, did not show inhibition effect against the bacterial biofilm. CMA extract of the Bolu sample (Location 3) with lower antibacterial effect, significantly reduced biofilm formation of both strains measured with lower absorbance levels compared to control groups. This result confirms that the samples with low antibacterial activity have more inhibitory effect on biofilm formation. In addition, different results were obtained according to localities among the samples of the same lichen species. Environmental factors influence the active substances produced by lichens. The results of this study present evidences of antibiofilm potential as well as strong antibacterial effect of H. tubulosa as promising source of antibacterial drugs.


Emerging memory technologies are offering unprecedented storage densities, alongside significant new reliability issues. One such issue this paper addresses is inter-cell interference between coupled pairs of cells. In the studied model there is strong interference between cells, in the sense that programming one cell to a high level changes the level of a second cell significantly. The particular type of interference we study is pair-wise coupling interference: where interference happens between disjoint pairs of cells, so every cell is affected by exactly one other cell. Our results show that strong coupling interference can be effectively mitigated without need to add large amounts of redundancy beyond the simple Hamming codes common in low-latency memories. One of our techniques is using a soft decoder that can correct many more error combinations thanks to its knowledge of the interference model and parameters. Another technique introduces controlled intentional coupling between the cells at the write path, such that the undesired coupling can be neutralized at the read path with a clever choice of read levels. Overall the two schemes show promising reliability results compared to using the accepted read/write and decoding schemes. The schemes are applicable to a very general class of memories, and thus can help in the deployment of extremely dense emerging storage-class memory technologies that suffer from poor isolation between cells.


Population studies have identified the histocompatibility antigen HLA-DR4 to be a genetic marker of significantly increased risk for the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Family studies are now beginning to elucidate the role of this and other genetic factors in the pathogenesis of RA. We have studied a large family in which the mother and 3 of the 6 children have seropositive RA. One maternal and 1 paternal HLA haplotype contain HLA-DR4. The mother and the 2 children with the maternal DR4 containing haplotype have RA. One sibling inherited neither of the DR4 haplotypes, yet developed RA at age 20. The inheritance of RA in this family illustrates the complexity of the genetic predisposition to this immunologically mediated disorder.


The aims of this study were to evaluate knowledge level among parents regarding tooth avulsion and replantation and to evaluate a simple leaflet as an information tool to enhance this knowledge. One Hundred and fifty parents in a primary school in Kuwait City participated in the study. Half of the parents received a leaflet with basic first aid message regarding what to do in case of tooth avulsion. One week after reading the leaflet, the parents who had received the leaflet were evaluated by using a questionnaire. The other half of the parents who had not seen the leaflet served as control. The level of knowledge was measured in the following categories: General knowledge of tooth avulsion, knowledge of replantation and primary vs permanent teeth, knowledge of how to clean an avulsed tooth, knowledge of extra-oral time, knowledge of storage methods and storage media. By scoring the knowledge, the level of knowledge was calculated. The results showed that knowledge level was low among Kuwaiti parents. Improvement was seen in all categories of knowledge as a result of reading the leaflet. A simple leaflet can be a valuable tool to convey important basic information and enhance knowledge of tooth avulsion and how parents should act in such a situation, although there are limitations in conveying the message for a complete understanding. Measuring the knowledge by scoring can give valuable feedback in developing various educational tools.


ABSTRACT RIG-I senses intracellular virus-specific nucleic acid structures and initiates an antiviral response that induces interferon (IFN) production, which, in turn, activates the transcription of RIG-I to increase RIG-I protein levels. Upon intracellular poly(I:C) stimulation, however, the levels of RIG-I protein did not correlate with the expression patterns of RIG-I transcripts. When the ISG15 conjugation system was overexpressed, ISG15 was conjugated to RIG-I and cellular levels of the unconjugated form of RIG-I decreased. The ISGylation of RIG-I reduced levels of both basal and virus-induced IFN promoter activity. Levels of unconjugated RIG-I also decreased when 26S proteasome activity was blocked by treatment with MG132, ALLN, or Lactacystin. In the presence of MG132, ISG15 conjugation to RIG-I increased, and hence, the unconjugated form of RIG-I was reduced. In Ube1L−/− cells, which lack the ability to conjugate ISG15, basal levels of both RIG-I protein and transcripts were increased compared to those in wild-type cells. As a result, enhanced production of ISGs and enhanced IFN promoter activity in Ube1L−/− cells were observed, and the phenotype was restored to that of wild-type cells by the overexpression of Ube1L. Based on these results, we propose a novel negative feedback loop which adjusts the strength of the RIG-I-mediated antiviral response and IFN production through the regulation of RIG-I protein by IFN-induced ISG15 conjugation.


&NA; Many of the most deeply and persistently distressed regions of the United States, such as parts of West Virginia, suffer from extremely low levels of labor force participation. These are regions where economic despair seems to have taken hold for generations and which face numerous other impediments to economic prosperity, such as opioid abuse. Better understanding these linkages can lead to policy solutions to help the most disadvantaged places break the cycle of economic despair. Using county‐level data, we begin by estimating a series of models that allow us to understand the drivers of local labor force participation. We also consider how these drivers may differ between rural and urban areas. We then analyze how levels of participation in the labor force are related to other measures of economic distress. We find that there is significant variation in the drivers of rural and urban labor force participation; however, much of the variation can be explained by known factors. Yet, our results also suggest that there remains some portion of the lower levels of labor force participation in West Virginia and Appalachia that cannot be explained by other factors. Since it appears that labor force participation is important to explaining higher levels of employment growth in rural areas, for persistently distressed regions, finding ways to increase labor force participation may be a critical step toward increasing economic prosperity.


Synopsis VERDICT (Vascular, Extracellular, and Restricted Diffusion for Cytometry in Tumours) MRI combines a diffusion-weighted MRI acquisition with a three-compartment mathematical model that describes signal from i) intracellular water (fIC), ii) water in extracellular-extravascular space (fEES) and iii) water in the microvasculature (fvasc). In contrast to VERDICT, clinical ADC is derived from a mono-exponential model. Upon comparison between VERDICT parameters and clinical ADC, we showed that fIC was better able to discriminate between Gleason ≥3+4 histology pattern and Gleason ≤3+3/benign histology. We also showed that image quality of VERDICT-MRI maps and clinical ADC was comparable.


Temperate grasslands are considered to be a significant sink for CH3Br, although large uncertainties exist about the magnitude of this sink because of a paucity of field measurements. Here, we report the results of a combined field and laboratory study that investigated the effects of water, temperature, and plant community composition on CH3Cl and CH3Br fluxes in a semiarid temperate grassland. A novel stable isotope tracer technique was also employed to deconvolute simultaneous production and oxidation of CH3Cl and CH3Br. Net and gross fluxes were measured from different landforms (ridges, floodplains) and cover types (grass‐dominated, shrub‐dominated) to capture a representative range of hydrologic regimes, temperatures, and plant communities. In field experiments, net CH3Cl and CH3Br uptake was observed at all grass‐dominated sites (−400±77 nmol CH3Cl m−2 day−1 and −3.4±0.9 nmol CH3Br m−2 day−1), while net CH3Cl emission (439±58 nmol CH3Cl m−2 day−1) was observed at sites dominated by the shrub Atriplex canescens, indicating that this plant is a strong CH3Cl producer. Gross CH3Cl and CH3Br oxidation were comparable with estimates from other dryland ecosystems (507±115 nmol CH3Cl m−2 day−1 and 9.1±2.2 nmol CH3Br m−2 day−1), although CH3Br oxidation rates were at least five times lower than those observed in more mesic temperate grasslands. We suggest that estimates of the temperate grassland CH3Br sink should be reduced by ≥19% (≥1.8 Gg yr−1) to account for the weaker sink strength of semiarid environments. Identification of A. canescens as a 'new' CH3Cl source may have important ramifications for the global atmospheric budget of CH3Cl, given the global distribution of this plant and its congeners and their widespread presence in many dryland ecosystems. Laboratory experiments revealed that soil water was the chief regulator of CH3Cl and CH3Br oxidation, while temperature had no observed effect between 14 and 26 °C. Oxidation rates rose most rapidly between 0.4% and 5% volumetric water content, suggesting that methyl halide‐oxidizing bacteria respond strongly to small inputs of water under the very driest conditions. Soil drying and rewetting experiments did not appear to affect the oxidation of CH3Cl and CH3Br by soil microorganisms, which are presumably adapted to frequent wet/dry cycles.


Bacteriochlorins such as bacteriochlorophyll a absorb strongly in the near-infrared spectral region and are potentially useful in a variety of photochemical fields. De novo syntheses of bacteriochlorins entail self-condensation of a dihydrodipyrrin-acetal (containing one pyrrole and one pyrroline joined via a methylidene bridge) either via a heavily studied Eastern–Western (E–W) route or a recently reported Northern–Southern (N–S) route. The Michael addition to form the dihydrodipyrrin-acetal for the E–W approach has limited scope for the installation of substituents on the pyrroline units. By use of the N–S route, new bacteriochlorins have been prepared that bear a pair of aryl or alkyl groups, together termed a "swallowtail" substituent, at each β-pyrroline unit, a previously inaccessible design. Single-crystal X-ray structures of three intermediates were determined. Bacteriochlorins synthesized herein exhibit characteristic bacteriochlorophyll-like absorption spectra, including a Qy band in the region of 730–758 nm. The swallowtail groups have little impact on the excited-state properties of the bacteriochlorins, and the slight changes of spectral properties that are observed stem from substituent electronic effects rather than changes in structure. In summary, introduction of an integral swallowtail unit on the pyrroline ring opens new sites for tailoring molecular designs without altering the attractive photophysical features of the synthetic bacteriochlorins.


Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an aging-associated, progressive, and irreversible lung disease of unknown etiology, elusive pathogenesis, and very limited therapeutic options. The hallmarks of IPF are aberrant activation of alveolar epithelial cells and accumulation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts along with excessive production of extracellular matrix. The linkage of aging with this disorder is uncertain, but a number of changes associated with aging, including telomere attrition, cell senescence, and mitochondrial dysfunction, have been revealed in IPF lungs. Also, aging seems to confer a profibrotic phenotype upon fibroblasts and to increase the severity of the fibrogenic response in non-IPF fibrotic lung disorders. Better knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms linking aging to IPF will advance understanding of its pathogenesis and may provide new therapeutic windows to treatment of this devastating disease.


In Hungary, the economic role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is of major importance, however, the sector-specific management techniques are not comparable to those used by larger economic operators. The main objective of the research was to show the presence or lack of motivation as a value creating tool in the management practice of the SME sector in the South Transdanubian Region. A further significance of the research is that it draws attention to management practices that are extremely harmful from an economic point of view, the transformation of which can result in significant profit growth for the companies even without significant financial expenditures. To complement the survey, 15 in-depth management interviews were conducted where 10 questions were analysed. All in all, the executives in the study use management knowledge moderately and only partially consciously in their everyday practice and do not have a systematic motivational strategy. The theory learnt during school years – 15–20 years earlier – sometimes appear in everyday activities, but it is more typical that leaders follow their own paths and rely on information and advice from friends. In either case, management knowledge and motivation practices based on sound information do not play a significant role. Regarding the competencies, self-awareness is hardly recognized. Most executives do not seek regular feedback from their subordinates or give to their staff. Nevertheless, they feel that they are aware of their individual values and systems, especially of those which were mainly built instinctively and experientially. The study showed that the role of innovation in creating a motivating work environment and the extensive economic power of motivation are either not or not fully understood by managers. When describing the ideal worker and their expected qualities, executives did not even mention the necessity of intrinsic motivation!


When the Government of India developed its strategies and programmes to decentralize the water and sanitation sectors, it soon became obvious that capacity was not always sufficient at the district and community levels for effective implementation. For the two national programmes respectively called sector reform for water and total sanitation campaign, UNICEF worked together with the Ministry of Rural Development in a district-based planning and capacity-building programme. This was organized through district multi-institutional and participatory workshops. The focus was on scoping, which in this case meant that representatives of many stakeholder groups were involved in a multi-step process: visualizing the ideal, examining the current situation, identifying gaps/challenges/problems, identifying institutional and experiential resources to address those gaps and challenges. From this, district (and community-oriented) capacity building plans were developed. Concurrently briefing sessions and meetings were held with district leaders who, at the end, were asked to approve these plans. The scoping workshops were carried out with a voluntary team of senior professionals from throughout the country. Beginning with two districts, the scoping expanded to 8 and then 20 districts. This case study examines the strategies, techniques and lessons learned from this capacity building programme. A scoping workbook will also be made available in electronic form.


The Bible is hardly the first text that comes to mind when the general public considers gender, sex, and violence, yet within its first four chapters the Bible includes the creation of the first couple, thus gender designation; procreation, thus sex; and violence via the first murder. "Pregnant Passion" presents essays excavating some of the biblical stories that explore the dynamics, intersection, and relatedness of gender, human sexuality, and violence in the Bible, with themes spanning the realms of feasts and famines, betrayal and bloodshed, seduction and sensuality, power and politics, virtue and violence. Contributors include Randall C. Bailey, Valerie C. Cooper, Nicole Duran, Barbara Green, Gina Hens-Piazza, Barbara A. Holmes, Susan E. Hylen, Hyun Chul Paul Kim, Mignon R. Jacobs, Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan, Madeline McClenney-Sadler, M. Fulgence Nyengele, Mary Donovan Turner, and Susan R. Holmes Winfield. Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org)


Although Micrococcus luteus UV endonuclease has been reported to be an 18-kDa enzyme with possible homology to the 16-kDa endonuclease V from bacteriophage T4 (Gordon, L. K., and Haseltine, W. A.(1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 12047-12050; Grafstrom, R. [Abstract] H., Park, L., and Grossman, L.(1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 13465-13474), this study describes three independent purification schemes in which M. luteus UV damage-specific or pyrimidine dimer-specific nicking activity was associated with two proteins of apparent molecular masses of 31 and 32 kDa. An 18-kDa contaminant copurified with the doublet through many of the chromatographic steps, but it was determined to be a homolog of Escherichia coli ribosomal protein L6. Edman degradation analyses of the active proteins yielded identical NH2-terminal amino acid sequences. The corresponding gene (pdg, pyrimidine dimer glycosylase) was cloned. The protein bears strong sequence similarities to the E. coli repair proteins endonuclease III and MutY. Nonetheless, traditionally purified M. luteus protein acted exclusively on cis-syn thymine dimers; it was unable to cleave site-specific oligonucleotide substrates containing a trans-syn -I,), or Dewar thymine dimer, a 5,6-dihydrouracil lesion, or an A:G or A:C mismatch. The UV endonuclease incised cis-syn dimer-containing DNA in a dose-dependent manner and exhibited linear kinetics within that dose range. Enzyme activity was inhibited by the presence of NaCN or NaBH4 with NaBH4 additionally being able to trap a covalent enzyme-substrate product. These last findings confirm that the catalytic mechanism of M. luteus UV endonuclease, like those of other glycosylase/AP lyases, involves an imino intermediate.


The study was conducted at Tululujia control hunting natural forest areas where coffee plantation forest management system has been invaded the natural forest. The problem of coffee forest management, from a biodiversity point of view, leads to homogenization of the age, size and species composition of forests, consequently, reducing species diversity. Although these problems have been existed in the study area, there is limited information concerning their relative influence on forest biodiversity. Therefore, this study was conducted aiming to evaluate effects of coffee plantation expansion on the woody species diversity, composition, and abundance of Tululujia natural forest. Purposive and Systematic random sampling techniques were applied to locate sample plots. Data were collected from square plots of 20m*20m for trees, 10m*10m for saplings and 5m*5m for seedlings by drawing transect lines. Data analysis was done by using PAST software and Microsoft excel. From the result, a total of 27 woody species from natural forest with 1914 trees/ha and 10 woody species with 498 trees/ha from coffee plantation were recorded. The Shannon Wiener indices (H) for NF and CP were 2.789 and 1.84 respectively. Menhinick's index also showed that NF was more species rich (MR = 1.929) than the CP which had species richness index of 1.4. Forest management activities such as slashing, cutting, and clearing of under canopies within coffee plantation forest management system leads to reduce seedlings and sapling species (affects the regeneration status). Finally, the study concluded that coffee plantation forest management system has a great negative impact on biodiversity conservation particularly in the study area where remaining moist Afromontane forest exists.


: We know that the contrast of MR images can be better than that of CT scans. In the spin echo mode, sequences with long TR and long TE provide great contrast, while, conversely, sequences with short TR and TE produce images with a greater anatomical fidelity. This dual performance, a notion that had never been expressed as explicitly in imaging, has led to distinguishing between the roles of MRI for detection and tissue characterization (diagnosis and nature). While the choice of an appropriate sequence for characterization has apparently been made immediately with a modulation of T2 weighting, the selection of a detection sequence is less easy. The number of parameters involved (signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios, spatial resolution, artifacts, imaging time) and the compromise arrangements needed to take them into account explain the lack of consensus as to the optimal sequence for detection. Instead of becoming simpler with time, the issue is increasingly complex, as now fast imaging has been developed in addition to conventional spin echo imaging, and may even supersede it.


ABSTRACT The nonstructural protein 1 (nsp1) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus has 179 residues and is the N-terminal cleavage product of the viral replicase polyprotein that mediates RNA replication and processing. The specific function of nsp1 is not known. Here we report the nuclear magnetic resonance structure of the nsp1 segment from residue 13 to 128, which represents a novel α/β-fold formed by a mixed parallel/antiparallel six-stranded β-barrel, an α-helix covering one opening of the barrel, and a 310-helix alongside the barrel. We further characterized the full-length 179-residue protein and show that the polypeptide segments of residues 1 to 12 and 129 to 179 are flexibly disordered. The structure is analyzed in a search for possible correlations with the recently reported activity of nsp1 in the degradation of mRNA.


This Special Issue of Earth Surface Processes and Landforms develops from the 'Geomorphology: a 2020 Vision' Annual Conference of the British Society for Geomorphology, organised at the University of Birmingham, UK, in July 2007. Entitled 'New Developments in Process Understanding and Modelling in Geomorphology', the Issue comprises a vibrant selection of 10 'process' papers from leading researchers in geomorphological processes who presented at Birmingham. It aims to provide a readily accessible source of new and emerging ideas in understanding different landform processes across a range of space and time scales, based on innovations in geomorphological modelling and monitoring. The last few years have seen significant and exciting changes in geomorphology, especially in conceptual developments, numerical simulations, monitoring methodologies, data‐acquisition strategies and dating techniques. The resultant empirical datasets, theory development and modelling results have generated substantial advances in the understanding of geomorphological processes, form‐process feedbacks, scale impacts, long‐term landform evolution, the effects of climate and environmental change, and human impacts and management strategies. The Special Issue attempts to address the following key challenges: (a) to build on our Conference theme 'Geomorphology: a 2020 Vision', by identifying fundamental areas where doors need to be opened, for example in theory development, conceptual understanding, model evaluation, integration of the chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics of geomorphological processes, experimental validation, data needs and monitoring requirements; (b) to look forward to the next decade and beyond, and critically examine some of the approaches we will need for the questions ahead; and (c) to stimulate new research in the geomorphological sciences by highlighting both research gaps and promising developments, including emerging process modelling approaches, monitoring technologies and robust datasets. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


1. Changes in the activities of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 184.108.40.206), phosphofructokinase (EC 22.214.171.124), aldolase (EC 220.127.116.11), extramitochondrial aconitate hydratase (EC 184.108.40.206) and NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 188.8.131.52) have been measured in the livers of developing rats from late foetal life to maturity. 2. The effect of altering the weaning time on some enzymes associated with lipogenesis has been studied. Weaning rats at 15 days of age instead of 21 days results in an immediate increase in the activity of ;malic' enzyme (EC 188.8.131.52) whereas the activities of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 18.104.22.168) and ATP citrate lyase (EC 184.108.40.206) did not increase until 4-5 days and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2-3 days after early weaning. Weaning rats on to an artificial-milk diet led to complete repression of the rise in activity of hepatic enzymes associated with lipogenesis normally found on weaning, except for ;malic' enzyme, which increased in activity after 20 days of age. 3. The effect of intraperitoneal injections of glucagon, cortisol, growth hormone and thyroxine on the same hepatic enzymes has been investigated. Only thyroxine had any effect on enzyme activities and caused a 20-fold increase in ;malic' enzyme activity and a twofold increase in ATP citrate lyase activity. 4. The activities of hepatic glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and ;malic' enzyme are higher in adult female than in adult male rats and it has been shown that this sex difference in enzyme activities is due to both male and female sex hormones. 5. Hepatic malate, citrate, pyruvate, glucose 6-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate concentrations have been measured throughout development. 6. The results are discussed in relation to the dietary and hormonal control of hepatic enzyme activities during development.


PREMISE
Evolutionary transitions among floral morphologies, many of which provide evidence for adaptation to novel pollinators, are common. Some trumpet-shaped flowers are among the largest flowers in angiosperms, occurring in different lineages. Our goal was to investigate the role of pollinators in the evolution of these flowers using Lilium.

METHODS
We investigated floral traits and pollinators of L. primulinum var. ochraceum and L. brownii var. viridulum and reviewed reports of visitors to huge trumpet-shaped flowers. Using a published phylogeny of Lilium, we reconstructed ancestral floral morphological states in Lilium to elucidate the origins of trumpet-shaped lilies.

RESULTS
Both lilies are largely self-incompatible and show floral syndromes indicative of hawkmoth pollination. The short trumpet-shaped lily can be pollinated by short-tongued (<40 mm) but not long-tongued hawkmoths (>65 mm), while the huge trumpet-shaped lily can be pollinated by both. A literature review including 22 species of trumpet-shaped flowers suggests that their pollinator guilds commonly include both short- and long-tongued moths. A phylogenetic reconstruction indicates that trumpet-shaped lilies possibly have multiple origins from tepal-reflexed ancestors, at least six of which have evolved huge flowers (>50 mm).

CONCLUSIONS
Adaptation to short-tongued hawkmoths may have initiated the evolution of trumpet-shaped lilies. Huge trumpet-shaped lilies may have evolved as a response to selection by long-tongued hawkmoths, without excluding the short-tongued ones. This evolutionary pathway leads to a functionally more generalized pollination system instead of an increasingly specialized one and is not necessarily associated with pollinator shifts.


Background
Anxiety in children is common, impairs everyday functioning and increases the risk of severe mental health disorders in adulthood, yet few children with anxiety are identified and referred for treatment.
Objective
To investigate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a universal school-based preventative programme (FRIENDS) in reducing symptoms of anxiety and low mood.
Design
Cluster randomised controlled trial. Schools (n = 41) were randomly assigned after recruitment on a 1 : 1 : 1 basis to health-led FRIENDS, school-led FRIENDS and usual school provision.
Setting
Primary schools in three local education authorities in the south-west of England.
Participants
Children (n = 1362) aged 9–10 years attending school and participating in personal, social and health education (PSHE).
Interventions
The FRIENDS programme is a cognitive–behavioural therapy programme that develops skills to counter the cognitive, emotional and behavioural aspects of anxiety. The FRIENDS programme was led by either a trained member of the school or a health leader external to the school and was delivered over 9 consecutive weeks. The comparison group received usual school PSHE lessons. Interventions were delivered in the academic year September 2011–July 2012.
Main outcome measures
Clinical effectiveness assessed by child report of symptoms of anxiety (Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale, RCADS); cost-effectiveness based on RCADS and quality-adjusted life-years (Child Health Utility 9 Dimensions, CHU-9D) between baseline and 6 months; process evaluation, evaluation of reach and attrition and qualitative feedback from children, school staff and parents.
Results
At 12 months there was a difference in the adjusted mean RCADS scores for health-led FRIENDS compared with school-led FRIENDS [–3.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) –6.48 to –1.35] and for health-led FRIENDS compared with usual school provision (–2.66, 95% CI –5.22 to –0.09). At 24 months we were able to assess only 43.6% of our cohort. There were few differences in baseline characteristics between completers and non-completers. Child-reported anxiety in all three groups had reduced by 24 months and there were no longer any group effects. There were no between-group effects for any parent- or child-completed secondary outcomes at 12 or 24 months. The cost of the FRIENDS programme was £52–56 per child. We found no evidence that the FRIENDS programme was cost-effective over a 6-month period; however, our subgroup for the economic analysis differed significantly from our main trial cohort.
Conclusions
Although greater reductions in anxiety were noted at 12 months when the FRIENDS programme was delivered by health leaders, these additional benefits were not maintained at 24 months. Children's anxiety levels improved irrespective of the intervention that they received. Our economic evaluation and 24-month assessment had significant shortcomings. However, the universal delivery of specific anxiety prevention programmes will result in additional costs that may be beyond the finances available to most schools. Future work should identify the active ingredients and potential moderators of universal anxiety programmes to determine whether programme length can be reduced, short-term effectiveness maintained and cost-effectiveness improved. At present, our results find limited evidence to support the universal provision of specific anxiety prevention programmes in UK primary schools.


This article reports the findings on classroom practice in Malaysia, as the nation attempts to transform the education system to better prepare children for the 21st Century. The goal of the study is to describe an overview of classroom practice in Malaysia, to provide essential empirical data to inform discussions in one of the most important areas in education – what happens in the classroom in relation to national aspirations, policies and practices. A random sampling of 24 secondary schools from across the country led to a sample size of 140 teachers. Lessons facilitated by these teachers were video recorded and analysed. The findings revealed that classroom practice was largely the same throughout the country, and lacked the kinds of activities widely associated with creating engaging and thinking classrooms. Systemic issues and possible ways forward are discussed in light of these findings.


Management systems play a central role in almost every company these days. Some of them have evolved past being customer or accounting management systems alone and are now multi-purpose systems responsible for managing almost everything you can think of: customers, documents, projects, orders, accounting, inventory etc. Most companies are forced into changing their management systems at some point though, especially those that have used the same systems for more than 10 or 15 years; these old and often monolithic systems are getting increasingly hard to maintain and adapt to the requirements of today's management systems.
 The goal of this project is to develop a system architecture for an extensible and adaptable management system. The purpose of this system is to be able to assist in the management of everything a company would want to manage while still keeping the application as light weight as possible. This is achieved by developing a highly modular and configurable application able to provide the user with management capabilities through several modules, with separate modules for each specific area such as customer relations or accounting. The main application of this system provides the base infrastructure to support and manage multiple extensions or modules; a selection of modules then provides the user with necessary management capabilities based on his or her responsibilities in the company.
 The system architecture is designed to be highly maintainable and able to adapt to future architectural changes with a minimum amount of effort. To achieve an adaptable architecture the system is designed following the SOLID design principles. These principles are analyzed and discussed in detail covering the effect they have on both single classes and the application as a whole. How to properly incorporate these principles in the system on both an overall architecture level and single-class level is also discussed, and some of the key players in achieving this are dependency injection and a high level of code reusability. Microsoft's new Managed Extensibility Framework is used to support extensibility in the system.


The effect of Al content on the castability, tensile and creep properties of Mg-xAl-Zn alloy was investigated. The molten Mg-(3~11)Al-Zn alloys of 700 °C were poured into the mould designed to estimate castability. Tensile and creep tests were performed for the alloys. It has been shown that creep resistance decreased while tensile strength improved with increasing Al amount. Microstructure study revealed that morphology of Mg17Al12 is main factor determining the tensile and creep properties of as cast Mg-xAl-Zn alloys. The final purpose of this study is to develop the heat resistant Mg alloys to apply transportation systems such as automobile. Further study on effect of heat treatment and additional alloying elements on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-xAl alloys is going to be performed.


The traditional reliance on blood pressure (BP) measurement in the medical setting misses a significant number of individuals with masked hypertension, who have normal clinic BP but persistently high daytime BP when measured out of the office. We suggest that masked hypertension may be a precursor of clinically recognized sustained hypertension and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk compared with consistent normotension. We discuss factors that may contribute to clinic–daytime BP differences as well as the changing relationship between these two measures over time. Anxiety at the time of BP measurement and having been diagnosed as hypertensive appear to be two possible mechanisms. The identification of individuals with masked hypertension is of great clinical importance and requires out-of-office BP screening. Ambulatory BP monitoring is the best established technique for doing this, but home monitoring may be applicable in the future.


Background Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a highly infectious disease that has produced over 25,000 cases in the past 50 years. While many past outbreaks resulted in relatively few cases, the 2014 outbreak in West Africa was the most deadly occurrence of EVD to date, producing over 15,000 confirmed cases. Objective In this study, we investigated population level predictors of EVD risk at the regional level in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. Methods Spatial and descriptive analyses were conducted to assess distribution of EVD cases. Choropleth maps showing the spatial distribution of EVD risk across the study area were generated in ArcGIS. Poisson and negative binomial models were then used to investigate population and regional predictors of EVD risk. Results Results indicated that the risk of EVD was significantly lower in areas with higher proportions of: (a) the population living in urban areas, (b) households with a low quality or no toilets, and (c) married men working in blue collar jobs. However, risk of EVD was significantly higher in areas with high mean years of education. Conclusions The identified significant predictors of high risk were associated with areas with higher levels of urbanization. This may be due to higher population densities in the more urban centers and hence higher potential of infectious contact. However, there is need to better understand the role of urbanization and individual contact structure in an Ebola outbreak. We discuss shortcomings in available data and emphasize the need to consider spatial scale in future data collection and epidemiological studies.


Decreased health may have lowered the birth and survival rates of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands over the past 30 yr. Reference ranges for clinical hematology and serum chemistry parameters needed to assess the health of wild sea lion populations are limited. Here, blood parameters were serially measured in 12 captive female Steller sea lions ranging in age from 3 wk to 16 yr to establish baseline values and investigate age-related changes. Whether diving activity affects hematology parameters in animals swimming in the ocean compared with animals in a traditional aquarium setting was also examined. Almost all blood parameters measured exhibited significant changes with age. Many of the age-related changes reflected developmental life history changes, including a change in diet during weaning, an improvement of diving capacity, and the maturity of the immune system. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume were also higher in the ocean diving group compared with the aquarium group, likely reflecting responses to increased exercise regimes. These data provide ranges of hematology and serum chemistry values needed to evaluate and compare the health and nutritional status of captive and wild Steller sea lions.


A case of granulomatous leptomeningitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans is described in a 2-year-old mixed-breed, female goat which presented acute neurological signs including ataxia, nystagmus, bilateral blindness, opisthotonus, hyperesthesia, and spastic paresis of forelimbs. Granulomatous inflammation was detected in the pia arachnoid covering the frontal, parietal and occipital lobes of the telencephalon; cerebellum, thalamus, mesencephalon, pons, medulla, and cervical and thoracolumbar segments of the spinal cord. Yeast-like organisms with morphology compatible with Cryptococcus spp. were observed. A 350 base pair sequence was amplified from DNA extracted from the formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue. The amplified sequence matched 100% Cryptococcus neoformans . It is suggested that cryptococcal meningitis should be included in the differential diagnosis list of goat diseases with neurological signs such as ataxia, opisthotonus, nystagmus, hyperesthesia and spastic paresis.


Injury risks associated with musical performance continue to be a serious problem for professional and student musicians. Much research has focused on the incidence and severity of these problems yet less information is available on the potential influence of health awareness and attitudes to injuries in these populations. This study aimed to investigate health awareness and attitudes to injury amongst Australian music students. Using a qualitative case study methodology, in-depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 11 student cellists. Further interviews were undertaken with 10 orchestral cellists and five orchestral management staff as a means of triangulating student data. All data were analysed using a "themes-based" analysis of narrative approach. Findings indicated that in comparison to professional cellists students demonstrated poor health awareness and behaviours such as playing through pain and inaction in response to injury. Analysis of the combined interview data (student, professional and management) suggest that there is poor health awareness and knowledge of injury prevention strategies at all levels of education and training. All three participant groups felt that changes needed to be made to current music education practices and that health education should be integrated into core curriculum.


The wide acceptance of Hedge Funds by Institutional Investors and Pension Funds has led to an explosive growth in assets under management. These investors are drawn to Hedge Funds due to the seemingly low correlation with traditional investments and the attractive returns. The correlations and market risk (the Beta in the Capital Asset Pricing Model) of Hedge Funds are generally calculated using monthly returns data, which may produce misleading results as Hedge Funds often hold illiquid exchange-traded securities or difficult to price over-the-counter securities. In this paper, the Maximum Overlap Discrete Wavelet Transform (MODWT) is applied to measure the scaling properties of Hedge Fund correlation and market risk with respect to the S&P 500. It is found that the level of correlation and market risk varies greatly according to the strategy studied and the time scale examined. Finally, the effects of scaling properties on the risk profile of a portfolio made up of Hedge Funds is studied using correlation matrices calculated over different time horizons.


Obtainment of the variance-covariance matrix through Kronecker products for balanced models of two and three ways with applications in R. Objective. To present a methodology based on the concept of Kronecker products that facilitates the construction of the variance and covariance matrix for designs with balanced data structure for 2 and 3 ways, and an application in R to facilitate its calculation and application in different areas. Materials and methods. We provide a starting point for people interested in using R in the analysis of variance. Results. We use an application made in R for a methodology based on Kronecker products through which we build the covariance matrix for working with designs with balanced data structure developed by Moya (2003). We also present an application of the method with real data. Conclusions. With this methodology we can accelerate the development and solution of some practical problems. The proposed methodology can be applied to mixed models with fixed or random effects with any number of factors.


It has been a major goal of the United States government to increase the participation of Americans in the fields of Science & Engineering (S&E), especially in under-represented groups. This research examines the use of an embodied conversational agent (ECA) as a virtual mentor to African American undergraduates who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in computing. Mentoring advice was collected from a group of experts and programed within the ECA. A between-group, mixed method experiment was conducted with 37 African American male undergraduate computer science majors where one group used the ECA mentor while the other group pursued mentoring advice from a human mentor. Results showed no significant difference between the ECA and human mentor when dealing with career mentoring functions. However, the human mentor was significantly better than the ECA mentor when addressing psychosocial mentoring functions.


Background & objectives: In India, certain geographic regions witness simultaneous outbreaks of two or more diseases like scrub typhus, dengue fever, malaria, leptospirosis and chikungunya during monsoon and post-monsoon period, sharing common indication of acute febrile illness. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of coinfections among patients with acute undifferentiated fevers (AUF) admitted in a tertiary care hospital in the northern hilly state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Methods: This was a hospital based open cohort study conducted over a period of two months (September and October) in 2016. All the patients above the age of 18 yr admitted in medical wards and fulfilling the definition of AUF were included. The patients diagnosed with dual infections were the subjects of the study. Standard guidelines were used for case definitions of scrub typhus, dengue, chikungunya, malaria and leptospirosis. Results: Dual infections were noted in 16 patients admitted with AUF. The most common coinfection was scrub typhus and dengue, reported in 10 patients. Scrub typhus and leptospirosis coinfection was observed in three patients. Dengue and chikungunya was observed in one patient. Scrub typhus, dengue and vivax malaria was detected in one patient. Scrub typhus and vivax malaria was detected in one patient. Out of the 10 cases positive for both scrub and dengue, four had no history of travel outside Himachal Pradesh. All three cases positive for both scrub and leptospirosis were indigenous without any history of travel outside Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The outcome of all the patients was with full recovery. Interpretation & conclusion: The study established the presence of coinfections (mainly dengue fever and leptospirosis) as a cause of AUF in the study area, which is a nonendemic region. The role of easily available and widely performed serological tests in the aetiological diagnosis of AUF is significant. Studies are required to determine the normal titres in the local population before using the imported commercially available serological tests in the diagnosis of AUF.


A new acylhydrazone fluorescence probe, SPBH, was synthesized from salicylaldehyde and 4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzohydrazide (PBH). SPBH exhibited high selectivity and a sensitive fluorescence response towards Al3+, even in the presence of other competing metal ions in DMF/H2O (1 : 1, v/v) medium. And, the chemosensor can even detect Al3+ in the intracellular region of human non-small cell lung cancer H460 cells. The binding phenomenon of SPBH was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy and HR-MS. Mass spectrometry analysis showed a 1 : 1 complex formation of SPBH with Al3+. The Job plot also confirmed its 1 : 1 interaction. This SPBH/Al3+ complex exhibited excellent fluorescence "turn-off" properties towards the F− anion. Thus, SPBH acts as a sequential fluorescence "Off–On–Off" probe. The limits of detection for Al3+ and F− were calculated from the titration curve and found to be 1.1 × 10−7 M and 1.47 × 10−6 M, respectively.


Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is present when the passage of gastric contents into the oesophagus causes symptoms or damages the mucosa. Potent suppression of gastric acid secretion with proton pump inhibitors is a highly effective and safe treatment for many patients with symptoms associated with reflux. It would be wrong to conclude, however, that proton pump inhibitors had solved the problem of GORD. The relation between reflux symptoms, endoscopic findings, and exposure of the oesophagus to acid is not straightforward. Some patients with a convincing history of heartburn fail to respond well to proton pump inhibitors. Although symptoms may be severe, at endoscopy the oesophagus is often found to be normal, and pH studies may not disclose the cause of symptoms that persist despite treatment for acid suppression.

Apart from typical symptoms of reflux many other problems have been linked to GORD, including dysphagia, hoarseness, non-cardiac chest pain, and chronic cough. It can, however, be difficult to identify those patients who will benefit from antireflux treatment. Most serious is the increased risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma in patients with reflux symptoms, in particular those with Barrett's columnar lined oesophagus. Since the 1980s the incidence of oesophageal carcinoma has increased sixfold, more rapidly than any other common cancer.

#### Summary points

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is common, causes a variety of symptoms, and is associated with important diseases, including asthma and oesophageal adenocarcinoma

Genetic influences and lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, and dietary behaviour may be involved in the development of GORD

The structure and function of the gastro-oesophageal junction is of key importance in reflux disease—as the condition becomes more severe, the risk of reflux during transient relaxations of the lower oesophageal sphincter rises and the volume of refluxate increases

Routine endoscopy is not required for reflux symptoms in the absence of features …


Erythema multiforme (EM) is an acute mucocutaneous hypersensitivity reaction characterised by a skin eruption, with or without oral or other mucous membrane lesions. Occasionally EM may involve the mouth alone. EM has been classified into a number of different variants based on the degree of mucosal involvement and the nature and distribution of the skin lesions. EM minor typically affects no more than one mucosa, is the most common form and may be associated with symmetrical target lesions on the extremities. EM major is more severe, typically involving two or more mucous membranes with more variable skin involvement - which is used to distin- guish it from Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), where there is extensive skin involvement and significant morbidity and a mortality rate of 5-15%. Both EM major and SJS can involve internal organs and typically are associated with systemic symptoms. Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) may be a severe manifestation of EM, but some experts regard it as a discrete disease. EM can be triggered by a number of factors, but the best documented is preceding infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV), the lesions resulting from a cell mediated immune reaction triggered by HSV-DNA. SJS and TEN are usually initiated by drugs, and the tissue damage is mediated by soluble factors including Fas and FasL. Oral Diseases (2005) 11, 261-267


The FACETS (Framework Application for Core-Edge Transport Simulations) project began in January 2007 with the goal of providing core to wall transport modeling of a tokamak fusion reactor. This involves coupling previously separate computations for the core, edge, and wall regions. Such a coupling is primarily through connection regions of lower dimensionality. The project has started developing a component-based coupling framework to bring together models for each of these regions. In the first year, the core model will be a 1 ½ dimensional model (1D transport across flux surfaces coupled to a 2D equilibrium) with fixed equilibrium. The initial edge model will be the fluid model, UEDGE, but inclusion of kinetic models is planned for the out years. The project also has an embedded Scientific Application Partnership that is examining embedding a full-scale turbulence model for obtaining the crosssurface fluxes into a core transport code.


An attempt is made in the present paper to highlight the spatial aspect of inequalities within the system of higher education. Analysing the way and proportions of spatial segregation among students of various universities and colleges can illustrate not only the inequalities within the system of higher education but can also provide useful contribution to knowledge on the segregation of various social groups in Budapest. The population of the survey: first year students at Budapest universities and colleges with a permanent residence in Budapest. (They, almost without exception, lived together with their parents in the same apartment.) 2,626 addresses were collected and were represented on a very detailed city map. The number of students of various universities and colleges ere aggragated by census planning tracts (amounting to some 500 in Budapest in 1980) and these data, together with the necessary additional information were analysed by computer: clusters were made on the basis of the social composition of the population by census tracts and it was found that the number of students related to the number of residents in the relevant age group was the highest in the most prestigious clusters and students were the most underrepresneted in areas with the lowest status. It could be also established that clustering in better positions within the system of higher education corresponds to segregation in favourable positions within the city structure. Analysing this isolation by indices of segregation or dissimilarity we concluded that the hierarchy generated by spatial segregation and the hierarchy produced by social distances actually coincide. The study could therefore point at a new aspect of the existing hierarchy within the Hungarian system of higher education and could highlight the characteristic feature of this hierarchy.


An attempt has been made in this research work to evaluate the current status of vehicular pollution in Srinagar city, the Capital City of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The main thrust in this research work is given on the contribution of urban and sub-urban vehicular exhausts to the total CityÂ'sVehicular Pollution. Two sites were selected fromeach area (i.e. two fromurban area and two fromsub-urban), close to the road about 20ft fromthe center of the road. The main parameters considered for the study include SPM, settleable particulate, NOx, SO2 andNoise level. The sampleswere collected between 0900-1700 hours and analysis was carried out within 24 hours. Through out the study, SPM was found much above the standards. On an average, the highest level of SPM, 720.2ig/m3 was recorded at site-II of Athwajan and lowest 426.4ig/m3 at Zainakadal at site-II.OverallNO2 was found higher atAthwajan than at Zainakadal mainly due to high Traffic flow and Traffic Jams. Athwajan was found to have more pollutant level of SO2 than Zainakadal, whichmay be due tomore traffic flow, and large number of heavy diesel vehicles atAthwajan.Noise level at all the sites was found much above the standards. AtAthwajan the maximum level was found at site-II, (111.6dB (A)). At Zainakadal noise level was found maximum at II, 102dB (A). Moreover, a negative correlation has been observed between the speed of the vehicle and emission of carbonmonoxide.While as Positive Correlation has been observed between the Speed of the vehicle and Nitrogen oxide emissions. Finally the remedial measures have been suggested in order to minimize the Vehicular Pollution.


The signaling mechanisms that regulate lymphokine gene expression in the murine Th2 clone D10.G4.1 were investigated by comparing the steady state mRNA levels of six lymphokine genes in response to cellular treatment with various activators and inhibitors of several key signaling pathways. A surprising degree of differential regulation was found. All of the genes studied (IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF) were induced by the lectin Con A and the TCR idiotype-specific mAb 3D3. However, the induction of the IL-3, IL-4, and GM-CSF genes, but not the IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 genes, was strongly inhibited by cyclosporin A. Furthermore, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 genes were independently induced by IL-1 alpha, the phorbol ester PMA, and by forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase. Results of studies performed with use of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 indicated that elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels is sufficient to fully induce IL-3 and IL-4 gene expression. Protein kinase C activation was also required for full induction of the GM-CSF gene and seemed to be obligatory for maximal IL-5 gene expression. The patterns of mRNA induction by the different stimuli broadly correlated with increased rates of transcription. In addition to their induction by IL-1 alpha, the IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 genes were also induced by mAbs to CD2 and to CD45. In contrast, adding CD45 mAb strongly inhibited the induction of IL-3, IL-4, and GM-CSF genes through TCR stimulation. These results indicate that distinct groups of lymphokine genes may be differentially regulated by signaling pathways that are activated by stimulation of the TCR and other cell surface molecules.


The Computerized Adaptive Practice (CAP) system describes a set of algorithms for assessing player's expertise and difficulties of in-game problems and for adapting the latter to the former. However, an effective use of CAP requires that in-game problems are designed carefully and refined over time to avoid possible barriers to learning. This study proposes a methodology and three different instruments for analyzing the problem set in CAP-enabled games. The instruments include the Guttman scale, a ranked order, and a Hasse diagram that offer analysis at different levels of granularity and complexity. The methodology proposes to use quantified difficulty measures to infer topology of the problem set. It is well-suited for serious games that emphasize practice and repetitive play. The emphasis is put on the simplicity of use and visualization of the problem space to maximally support teachers and game developers in designing and refining CAP-enabled games. Two case studies demonstrate practical applications of the proposed instruments on empirical data. Future research directions are proposed to address potential drawbacks.


The continued penetration of technology in our daily lives has led to the emergence of the concept of Internet-of-Things (IoT) systems and networks. An increasing number of enterprises and businesses are adopting IoT-based initiatives expecting that it will result in higher return on investment (ROI) [1]. However, adopting such technologies poses many challenges. One challenge is improving the performance and efficiency of such systems by properly allocating the available and scarce resources [2, 3]. A second challenge is making use of the massive amount of data generated to help make smarter and more informed decisions [4]. A third challenge is protecting such devices and systems given the surge in security breaches and attacks in recent times [5]. To that end, this thesis proposes the use of various optimization modeling and machine learning techniques in three different systems; namely wireless communication systems, learning management systems (LMSs), and computer network systems. In particular, the first part of the thesis posits optimization modeling techniques to improve the aggregate throughput and power efficiency of a wireless communication network. On the other hand, the second part of the thesis proposes the use of unsupervised machine learning clustering techniques to be integrated into LMSs to identify unengaged students based on their engagement with material in an e-learning environment. Lastly, the third part of the thesis suggests the use of exploratory data analytics, unsupervised machine learning clustering, and supervised machine learning classification techniques to identify malicious/suspicious domain names in a computer network setting. The main contributions of this thesis can be divided into three broad parts. The first is developing optimal and heuristic scheduling algorithms that improve the performance of wireless systems in terms of throughput and power by combining wireless iii resource virtualization with device-to-device and machine-to-machine communications. The second is using unsupervised machine learning clustering and association algorithms to determine an appropriate engagement level model for blended e-learning environments and study the relationship between engagement and academic performance in such environments. The third is developing a supervised ensemble learning classifier to detect malicious/suspicious domain names that achieves high accuracy and precision.


Electric vehicles have the ability to drastically reduce petroleum use. As the battery used in EVs appears to be the main technical barriers both from a performance and cost perspective, the main efforts have been focused on how to select appropriate power train system for the better dynamic performance. This paper introduces some methods of parameters design of EV's main power train components, such as the lithium-ion battery and AC induction motor. Then we build a battery model, a motor model and vehicle simulation models using ADVISOR software. Meanwhile, this paper proposes simulation results of the entire vehicle's dynamic performance, which shows that the power train components' parameters designed here basically meet the vehicle's requirements.


T-1982 (cefbuperazone) concentrations in antecubital venous blood and pelvic dead space exudate were examined in 4 patients who had received radical hysterectomy due to uterocervical cancer. Data analysis for the transfer of T-1982 into pelvic dead space exudate was performed with the stimulation curves prepared from pharmacokinetic parameters by the three-compartment model. When T-1982 was given at a dose of 1 g, the peak level in the venous blood was 83.7 micrograms/ml at 1 hour after the start of administration. With regards to T-1982 concentration in pelvic dead space exudate, the peak level of 19.3 micrograms/ml was observed at 2.24 hours after the start of administration and relatively high concentration of about 6.1 micrograms/ml was observed even at 8 hours after the start of administration. From the above results, it is concluded that T-1982 is a useful drug for the treatment of infections in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.


Abstract During the last decade, we have seen an increased opposition to globalization. Within this wave of criticism, firms and more specifically multinational corporations have been major targets, accused of multiple wrongdoings, such as social dumping, fiscal evasion, job cuts, trade deficits, abuses of power, and environmental damages. In many respects, this debate echoes the one that took place during the 1970s with respect to oil shocks, de-industrialization, and imperialism. At that time, several international organizations, such as the OECD, ECOSOC, ILO, and the European Community started to address the issue of multinationals and international investments, and advocated for the creation of guidelines to regulate their activities. The following paper explores the reactions of Swiss multinationals to these attempts, as well as their strategies for protecting their latitude in conducting business. Relying on archival material of the Swiss Union of Commerce and Industry and of the Federal Archives, this paper shows how the biggest companies in the pharmaceutical, machine, and food processing industries—all of them still being global players —decided to create a task force to deal with these emerging regulations at the international level.


Microfluidics has a lot of applications in fields ranging from pharmaceutical to energy, and one of the major applications is micromixers. A challenge faced by most micromixers is the difficulty in mixing within micro-size fluidic channels because of the domination of laminar flow in a small channel. Hence, magnetic field generated by permanent magnets and electromagnets have been widely used to mix ferrofluids with other sample fluids on a micro level. However, permanent magnets are bulky, and electromagnets produce harmful heat to biological samples; both properties are detrimental to a microfluidic chip's performance. Taking these into consideration, this study proposes rapid mixing of ferrofluid using a two-layer microfluidic device with microfabricated magnet. Two microfluidic chips that consist of microchannels and micromagnets respectively are fabricated using a simple and low-cost soft lithography method. The custom-designed microscale magnet consists of an array of stripes and is bonded below the plane of the microchannel. The combination of the planar location and angle of the array of magnets allow the migration of ferrofluids, hence mixing it with buffer flow. Parametric studies are performed to ensure comprehensive understanding, including the angle of micro-scale magnets with respect to the fluidic channels, total flow rate and density of the array of magnets. The result from this study can be applied in chemical synthesis and pre-processing, sample dilution, or inducing reactions between samples and reagent.


This book consists mainly of revised papers that were presented at the Agents for Educational Games and Simulation (AEGS) workshop held on May 2, 2011, as part of the Autonomous Agents and MultiAgent Systems (AAMAS) conference in Taipei, Taiwan. The 12 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from various submissions. The papers are organized topical sections on middleware applications, dialogues and learning, adaption and convergence, and agent applications


Importance
Many women spend a substantial proportion of their lives preventing or planning for pregnancy, and approximately 87% of US women use contraception during their lifetime.

Observations
Contraceptive effectiveness is determined by a combination of drug or device efficacy, individual fecundability, coital frequency, and user adherence and continuation. In the US, oral contraceptive pills are the most commonly used reversible method of contraception and comprise 21.9% of all contraception in current use. Pregnancy rates of women using oral contraceptives are 4% to 7% per year. Use of long-acting methods, such as intrauterine devices and subdermal implants, has increased substantially, from 6% of all contraceptive users in 2008 to 17.8% in 2016; these methods have failure rates of less than 1% per year. Estrogen-containing methods, such as combined oral contraceptive pills, increase the risk of venous thrombosis from 2 to 10 venous thrombotic events per 10 000 women-years to 7 to 10 venous thrombotic events per 10 000 women-years, whereas progestin-only and nonhormonal methods, such as implants and condoms, are associated with rare serious risks. Hormonal contraceptives can improve medical conditions associated with hormonal changes related to the menstrual cycle, such as acne, endometriosis, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Optimal contraceptive selection requires patient and clinician discussion of the patient's tolerance for risk of pregnancy, menstrual bleeding changes, other risks, and personal values and preferences.

Conclusions and Relevance
Oral contraceptive pills are the most commonly used reversible contraceptives, intrauterine devices and subdermal implants have the highest effectiveness, and progestin-only and nonhormonal methods have the lowest risks. Optimal contraceptive selection incorporates patient values and preferences.


Four cobalt(II)-carboxylate complexes [(6-Me3-TPA)CoII(benzoate)](BPh4) (1), [(6-Me3-TPA)CoII(benzilate)](ClO4) (2), [(6-Me3-TPA)CoII(mandelate)](BPh4) (3), and [(6-Me3-TPA)CoII(MPA)](BPh4) (4) (HMPA = 2-methoxy-2-phenylacetic acid) of the 6-Me3-TPA (tris((6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methyl)amine) ligand were isolated to investigate their ability in H2O2-dependent selective oxygenation of C-H and CC bonds. All six-coordinate complexes contain a high-spin cobalt(II) center. While the cobalt(II) complexes are inert toward dioxygen, each of these complexes reacts readily with hydrogen peroxide to form a diamagnetic cobalt(III) species, which decays with time leading to the oxidation of the methyl groups on the pyridine rings of the supporting ligand. Intramolecular ligand oxidation by the cobalt-based oxidant is partially inhibited in the presence of external substrates, and the substrates are converted to their corresponding oxidized products. Kinetic studies and labelling experiments indicate the involvement of a metal-based oxidant in affecting the chemo- and stereo-selective catalytic oxygenation of aliphatic C-H bonds and epoxidation of alkenes. An electrophilic cobalt-oxygen species that exhibits a kinetic isotope effect (KIE) value of 5.3 in toluene oxidation by 1 is proposed as the active oxidant. Among the complexes, the cobalt(II)-benzoate (1) and cobalt(II)-MPA (4) complexes display better catalytic activity compared to their α-hydroxy analogues (2 and 3). Catalytic studies with the cobalt(II)-acetonitrile complex [(6-Me3-TPA)CoII(CH3CN)2](ClO4)2 (5) in the presence and absence of externally added benzoate support the role of the carboxylate co-ligand in oxidation reactions. The proposed catalytic reaction involves a carboxylate-bridged dicobalt complex in the activation of H2O2 followed by the oxidation of substrates by a metal-based oxidant.


Introduction Anti-CD3 antibody binds to the CD3/TCR complex on the wall of T lymphocytes and results in their activation. This leads to the release of various cytokines including tumour necrosis factor (TNF). TNF has previously been shown to bind to the TNFR1 receptor on the basolateral wall of small intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), triggering their apoptosis and shedding (Williams JM et al, DMM, 2013). We aimed to determine the time course and dose response of anti-CD3 antibody-induced apoptosis in murine small IECs and investigate whether this is regulated by the expression of members of the NFκB family of proteins. Methods Groups of 3 wild-type female C57BL/6 J mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 1 mg/kg anti-CD3 antibody and were euthanased at different time-points from 1–6 hours. Groups of 3 wild-type female C57BL/6 J were subsequently injected i.p. with 0.5–4 mg/kg anti-CD3 antibody and were killed after 1.5 hours. The responses of 6 NFκB1-/-,6 NFκB2-/- and 6 c-Rel-/- female mice were compared with 6 C57BL/6 mice 1.5 hours after i.p. administration of 2 mg/kg anti-CD3 antibody. After euthanasia, the small intestine was dissected, fixed in formalin and paraffin embedded to produce histological slides. Immunohistochemistry was performed using a rabbit anti-mouse active caspase 3 primary antibody. Positively stained cells reflecting the percentage of shedding and apoptotic cells were scored on 20 villi per mouse on a cell positional basis. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA (with Tukey post-hoc test for multiple comparisons). p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results 1 mg/kg anti-CD3 antibody caused a significant increase in the percentage of IECs undergoing apoptosis and shedding from 1±0.1% in untreated mice to a peak of 2.3±0.1% at 1.5 hours then started to decline to reach 1.3±0.1% at 6 hours. The percentage of IECs undergoing apoptosis and shedding increased with increasing doses of anti-CD3 antibody with a maximum of 5.6±0.2% observed 1.5 hours after administration of 4 mg/kg anti-CD3 antibody. Although NFκB1-/- mice (5.1±0.3%) and c-Rel-/- mice (4.8±0.6%) showed more IEC apoptosis and shedding than wild-type (3.6±0.2%) these differences were not significant. However NFκB2-/- mice were much more resistant (0.8±0.1%) (p < 0.001). In all cases the effects of anti-CD3 antibody were most pronounced in the apical portion of small intestinal villi. Conclusion Systemic administration of anti-CD3 antibody induces apoptosis and shedding of murine IECs. The time course and cell positional distribution of apoptotic cells are very similar to those observed following administration of either lipopolysaccharide or TNF. The responses to anti-CD3 antibody are significantly affected by the expression of NFκB2. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


A pure AlPO4-11 (AEL) zeolite crystal is optically transparent in visible region and a good insulator with thermal stability up to 1173 K. These excellent physical properties, plus their unique elliptical pore structures, make them an excellent template to fabricate ultra-thin single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs).We studied the polarization dependence Raman spectra for (2,2) SWNTs formed inside the channels of AEL crystals. These (2,2) SWNTs acts as a dipolar antenna, polarized along the crystal channels axis. The polarization angle dependence of the Raman intensity indicates that the enclosed (2,2) SWNTs are highly oriented in the channels with their dipole transition moment mostly along the channels.


Good leadership in the lifelong learning of technical and vocational education exists when the leaders are able to perform either one or combination of transformational leadership characteristics, even though, less emphasis on these characteristics can affect job satisfaction of his or her subordinates. This study investigated transformational of Heads of Departments at the Polytechnics with regards to the job satisfaction of the lecturers. Respondents of this study are made up of 365 lecturers randomly selected from the polytechnics in Malaysia. Survey instrument had been used. Data obtained is analyzed using means and Pearson correlation methods. Results of the study show the elements of intellectual stimulation (mean = 3.18), increasing influence (mean = 3.17), providing reasoning as individuals (mean = 3.08) and inspirational motivation (mean = 3.04) are high; as well as a high job satisfaction level (mean = 3.16). The Pearson correlation analysis indicates that all four transformational leadership in the life long learning characteristics practiced by Heads of Departments at the Polytechnics have strong and significant correlations with the job satisfaction of the lecturers. As a conclusion, Heads of Departments at the Polytechnics is practicing transformational leadership in the life long learning characteristics in the administration of departments.


Inconsistencies and inadequacies in both the approach to post-mortem examination of the heart and the subsequent reporting of findings have been blamed for a lack of progression of understanding about great ape cardiovascular disease. In order to minimize and confront these issues in the United States, Association of Zoos and Aquariums-member zoos have necropsy data collated by the Great Ape Heart Project using a protocol developed by their pathology advisors. In Europe, however, there does not appear to be in existence any standardization or process for consistent cardiac post-mortem examination, data collection and/or relevant research. This article provides those readers working within/for European collections with a suggested protocol for the initial post-mortem inspection and sampling of the hearts of great apes. This article also outlines the detailed macroscopic and histopathological examination that is currently carried out at The University of Nottingham, UK, as part of an ongoing prospective, multi-centre study into great ape cardiovascular disease aetiopathogenesis. Finally, readers are offered guidance on the reporting and description specifically of idiopathic myocardial fibrosis (also referred to elsewhere as fibrosing cardiomyopathy). The standardized post-mortem examination of the great ape heart across European zoological collections will ensure a more uniform sampling procedure resulting in the availability of consistent good-quality data. It is hoped that this will, in turn, inform diagnostic pathology and research in this area, and enhance understanding about the aetiopathogenesis of great ape cardiovascular lesions.


The paper reports on a mail questionnaire survey that gathered information about historians' use of archival resources in the process of researching historical material. The survey population consisted of all faculty members (1185 prospective participants) in history departments of degree-granting institutions in Canada. Based on responses from 52 percent of the survey population, the findings indicate that historians rate finding aids, footnotes, and archivists very highly as sources for becoming aware of and locating information in their research. In addition, the overwhelming majority of historians want to see and use historical sources in their original format. However, the study also indicates that electronic access and digital reproductions have great, untapped potential.


Endocrine disruptors (EDs) belong to large and diverse groups of agents that may cause multiple biological effects associated with, for example, hormone imbalance and infertility, chronic diseases such as diabetes, genome damage and cancer. The health risks related with the exposure to EDs are typically underestimated, less well characterized, and not regulated to the same extent as, for example, carcinogens. The increased production and utilization of identified or suspected EDs in many different technological processes raises new challenges with respect to occupational exposure settings and associated health risks. Due to the specific profile of health risk, occupational exposure to EDs demands a new paradigm in health risk assessment, redefinition of exposure assessment, new effects biomarkers for occupational health surveillance and definition of limit values. The construction and plastics industries are among the strongest economic sectors, employing millions of workers globally. They also use large quantities of chemicals that are known or suspected EDs. Focusing on these two industries, this short communication discusses: (a) why occupational exposure to EDs needs a more specific approach to occupational health risk assessments, (b) identifies the current knowledge gaps, and (c) identifies and gives a rationale for a future occupational health paradigm, which will include ED biomarkers as a relevant parameter in occupational health risk assessment, surveillance and exposure prevention.


We introduce a new framework for the convergence analysis of a class of distributed constrained non-convex optimization algorithms in multi-agent systems. The aim is to search for local minimizers of a non-convex objective function which is supposed to be a sum of local utility functions of the agents. The algorithm under study consists of two steps: a local stochastic gradient descent at each agent and a gossip step that drives the network of agents to a consensus. Under the assumption of decreasing stepsize, it is proved that consensus is asymptotically achieved in the network and that the algorithm converges to the set of Karush-Kuhn-Tucker points. As an important feature, the algorithm does not require the double-stochasticity of the gossip matrices. It is in particular suitable for use in a natural broadcast scenario for which no feedback messages between agents are required. It is proved that our result also holds if the number of communications in the network per unit of time vanishes at moderate speed as time increases, allowing for potential savings of the network's energy. Applications to power allocation in wireless ad-hoc networks are discussed. Finally, we provide numerical results which sustain our claims.