The Canadian government's Lawful Access discussion paper fails to provide empirical - or anything beyond anecdotal - evidence that the legislative amendments proposed are actually needed. Evidence derived from U.S. law enforcement agencies suggests that technological and administrative impediments - more than legal ones - are the cause of most difficulties experienced in cybercrime investigations and prosecutions, specifically: insufficient basic record keeping by telecommunications and Internet service providers; inability to effect data preservation extraterritorially; inability to circumvent encryption; and, a lack of common data-sharing protocols. Under the guise of international obligations, the government seeks to adopt new legal investigatory tools, the effect of which would be a dilution of judicial oversight for the production of digital traffic data in criminal investigations. These initiatives fail to address the fact that value is inherent in all technology and must be factored into the application of laws which seek to regulate new technologies. Unlike the analog analogue, digital traffic data will often reveal a great deal about one's lifestyle, intimate relations or political or religious opinions. Canadian courts have unequivocally found that information of this nature is subject to the highest constitutional protections, particularly in the criminal investigation context. The Lawful Access consultation paper misinterprets the Supreme Court's standard for finding a reasonable expectation of privacy, by failing to distinguish between the nature of information contained in the various categories of traffic and the label "traffic data", which is otherwise legally meaningless. Traffic data should attract a reasonable expectation of privacy under the Plant doctrine if it passes within the permeable walls of the biographical core or, under the Shearing and Law doctrines, if the owner of the information held a subjective reasonable expectation of privacy in the data, regardless of its content. Such an expectation could flow, inter alia, from the nature of the relationship between a subscriber and a provider. By their nature, packet-mode communication intercepts are liable for massive infringement of third party Charter rights, which the Supreme Court held in Thompson can be determinative of constitutionality. Further, investigatory tools for packet-mode communications cannot separate traffic and content data, necessitating a high reasonable expectation of privacy standard for both. The government's discussion paper claims that production orders - executed by third party telecommunications or Internet service providers - would be less invasive than traditional search warrants. This arguments overemphasizes the physical aspect of a search and fails to recognize that Section 8 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects people, not places or things against unreasonable search and seizures. The history of investigatory detentions under highway safety legislation shows that subjectively-based assessments can too easily mask discriminatory conduct by law enforcement. Contrary to popular understanding, discrimination is a corollary of discretion, not a synonym for racism. It is not a dirty word, but simply an accepted condition that must be factored into the administration of the law. Diluted judicial oversight in the context of cybercrime investigations expands law enforcement and third party discretion to discriminate and could lead to the de facto offences of, for example, surfing while Muslim, or belonging to any negatively-stereotyped group in cyberspace. Applying traditional rules of Lawful Access to the persistent, pervasive and permanent information realm of cyberspace introduces new and unique implications for privacy and freedom of expression. The efficacy of electronic surveillance is such that it has the potential to annihilate any expectation that our communications will remain private. A society which exposes us, at the whim of the state, to the risk of having a permanent electronic recording made of our words every time we send an email or visit a web site might be superbly equipped to fight crime, but would be one in which privacy no longer had any meaning. Consequently, proposed legal solutions to what are often technological or administrative dilemmas may not be the most equitable approach for extending effective policing and intelligence authority to cyberspace. To the extent that governments choose legal tools to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes, great care must be taken that they do not brogate existing constitutional protections.


•  An in vitro targeted inoculation technique has been developed for studying the earliest stages of arbuscular endomycorrhizal (AM) infection of Medicago truncatula roots, and in particular the spatio-temporal expression of the early nodulin gene MtENOD11. •  Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformed root explants were derived either from Myc + M. truncatula or from the infection-defective Myc - mutant TR26 ( dmi2-2 ), both expressing the pMtENOD11-gusA fusion. The normal positive geotropism of these roots, coupled with the negative geotropism of Gigaspora germ tubes allowed oriented growth of the two symbiotic partners, facilitating the identification of initial fungal/root contacts. •  Early infection events at the stage of appressoria and/or internal hyphae could be observed for over 50% of the inoculated explants, revealing that MtENOD11 is expressed transiently in both epidermal and cortical cells at sites of hyphal penetration in Myc + roots, but not in epidermal cells in contact with appressoria in Myc - roots. •  We propose that a direct link exists between MtENOD11 gene expression and cellular events required for fungal penetration, thereby extending analogies between rhizobial and AM host root infection processes.


Electrospinning is a simple and versatile technique that relies on the electrostatic repulsion between surface charges to continuously draw nanofibers from a viscoelastic fluid. It has been applied to successfully produce nanofibers, with diameters down to tens of nanometers, from a rich variety of materials, including polymers, ceramics, small molecules, and their combinations. In addition to solid nanofibers with a smooth surface, electrospinning has also been adapted to generate nanofibers with a number of secondary structures, including those characterized by a porous, hollow, or core-sheath structure. The surface and/or interior of such nanofibers can be further functionalized with molecular species or nanoparticles during or after an electrospinning process. In addition, electrospun nanofibers can be assembled into ordered arrays or hierarchical structures by manipulation of their alignment, stacking, and/or folding. All of these attributes make electrospun nanofibers well-suited for a broad spectrum of applications, including those related to air filtration, water purification, heterogeneous catalysis, environmental protection, smart textiles, surface coating, energy harvesting/conversion/storage, encapsulation of bioactive species, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Over the past 15 years, our group has extensively explored the use of electrospun nanofibers for a range of applications. Here we mainly focus on two examples: (i) use of ceramic nanofibers as catalytic supports for noble-metal nanoparticles and (ii) exploration of polymeric nanofibers as scaffolding materials for tissue regeneration. Because of their high porosity, high surface area to volume ratio, well-controlled composition, and good thermal stability, nonwoven membranes made of ceramic nanofibers are terrific supports for catalysts based on noble-metal nanoparticles. We have investigated the use of ceramic nanofibers made of various oxides, including SiO2, TiO2, SnO2, CeO2, and ZrO2, as supports for heterogeneous catalysts based on noble metals such as Au, Pt, Pd, and Rh. On the other hand, the diameter, composition, alignment, porosity, and surface properties of polymeric nanofibers can be engineered in a controllable fashion to mimic the hierarchical architecture of an extracellular matrix and help manipulate cell behaviors for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. To this end, we can mimic the native structure and morphology of the extracellular matrix in tendon using uniaxially aligned nanofibers; we can use radially aligned nanofibers to direct the migration of cells from the periphery to the center in an effort to speed up wound healing; and we can also use uniaxially aligned nanofibers to guide and expedite the extension of neurites for peripheral nerve repair. Furthermore, we can replicate the anatomic structures at the tendon-to-bone insertion using nanofiber scaffolds with graded mineral coatings. In this Account, we aim to demonstrate the unique capabilities of electrospun nanofibers as porous supports for heterogeneous catalysis and as functional scaffolds for tissue regeneration by concentrating on some of the recent results.


Over the past centuries, hard and soft technology transfer to developing countries had largely emanated from Western economies. It has been argued that these Western made hard and soft technologies are capital and skills intensive, rely on high-quality and pervasive infrastructure, and produce products for high-income consumers. Meanwhile, developing countries over the last two to three decades have witnessed a growing influx of hard and soft technologies from China and India (Asian Driver, AD, economies). The debate is that AD technologies are appropriate for the operating conditions in developing countries. This is because they are assumed to be labour intensive, tolerant to weak infrastructure, low cost, operate on small scale basis, accessible and less skills intensive. In order to validate (or otherwise) these assumptions, this research examines the distinctiveness and profitability of AD and Western hard and soft technologies using garment making machines in Uganda as a case study. I build this research on five key economic theories-the concept of hard and soft technology, technical choice, appropriate technology, technical change, the rise of the Asian drivers, technology transfer and diffusion.

The study shows five important findings (I) Uganda's landlocked nature makes the cost of transferring technologies into the country more expensive than for the country's maritime neighbours-Kenya and Tanzania; (II) relative to the Western machines, the distribution of the AD garment making machines is wider in Uganda. This spread is a function of access to finance, information and the location of the machine operator; (III) the assumption that the AD technologies are tolerant to weak infrastructure, low cost, was validated; but contrary to my expectation, the frequent breakdown of the AD garment making machines makes them relatively skills intensive; (IV) relative to the Western garment making machines, the level of profitability of the AD machines is higher in rural areas but lower in urban areas. Thus, the wider spread of the AD garment making machines does not necessarily reflect their level of profitability; (V) relative to other Western made machines, the use of manual AD garment making machines is appropriate for increasing output, creating jobs and small scale enterprises at a minimum cost. China and India are respectively becoming the main sources of hard and soft technologies.


The transcription of DNA in chromatin by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase resembles that of isolated DNA in two important respects: the release of nascent RNA and reinitiation of RNA synthesis is depen- dent on the salt concentration, and RNA synthesis is markedly stimulated by the addition of ribosomes.


Background Cardiovascular events are, after cancer, the most common cause of death in COPD patients. Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events. Several cross-sectional studies have confirmed increased arterial stiffness in patients with COPD. Various mechanisms in the development of arterial stiffness in COPD such as reduced lung function or systemic inflammation have been proposed. However, clinical predictors of arterial stiffness that had been reported in cross-sectional studies have not yet been confirmed in a longitudinal setting. We have assessed the course of augmentation index (AIx) - a measure of systemic arterial stiffness - and possible predictors in a cohort of COPD patients over a period of up to 7 years. Methods COPD patients underwent annual AIx measurement by applanation tonometry for a maximum duration of 7 years. Additionally, we performed annual assessments of lung function, blood gases, systemic inflammation, serum lipids and blood pressure. Associations between the course of AIx and potential predictors were investigated through a mixed effect model. Results Seventy-six patients (mean (SD) age 62.4 (7.1), male 67%) were included. The AIx showed a significant annual increase of 0.91% (95% CI 0.21/1.60) adjusted for baseline. The change in diffusion capacity (DLco), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hsCRP) was independently associated with the increasing evolution of AIx (Coef. - 0.10, p<0.001, Coef. 1.37, p=0.003, and Coef. 0.07, p=0.033, respectively). Conclusion This study demonstrated a meaningful increase in arterial stiffness in COPD over time. A greater annual increase in arterial stiffness was associated with the severity of emphysema (measured by DLco), systemic inflammation, and dyslipidaemia. Clinical Trial Registration www.ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01527773.


The aluminium content of several commercially available infant milk formulas was measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Results were compared with those for fresh breast milk, cow's milk, and local tap water. Differences in aluminium concentration of greater than 150-fold were found, with the lowest concentrations in breast milk.


PURPOSE
To evaluate outcome and assess complications in children and adolescents with low-risk Hodgkin's disease treated with vinblastine, doxorubicin, methotrexate, and prednisone (VAMP) chemotherapy and low-dose, involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS
One hundred ten children with low-risk Hodgkin's disease were treated with four cycles of VAMP and 15 Gy IFRT for those who achieved a complete response (CR) or 25.5 Gy for those with a partial response after two cycles of VAMP.

RESULTS
With median follow-up of 9.6 years (range, 1.7 to 15.0), 5- and 10-year overall survival were 99.1% and 96.1%, respectively, and 5-and 10-year event-free survival (EFS) were 92.7% and 89.4%. Factors contributing to 10-year EFS were: early CR (P = .02), absence of B symptoms (P = .01), lymphocyte predominant histologic subtype (P = .04), and less than three initial sites of disease (P = .02). Organ toxicity has been limited to correctable hypothyroidism in 42% of irradiated patients, and one case of cardiac dysfunction. Seventeen healthy babies have been born to 106 survivors. There have been two malignant tumors: one thyroid cancer within the radiation therapy field and one Ewing's sarcoma outside the radiation therapy field.

CONCLUSION
Risk-adapted, combined-modality therapy using VAMP chemotherapy with radiation is effective and well tolerated. Pediatric patients with low-risk Hodgkin's disease can be cured with therapy without an alkylating agent, bleomycin, etoposide, or high-dose, extended-field radiotherapy. Thus, these children are expected to retain normal fertility, organ function, and be at low risk of a second malignant tumor.


On June 22, 1998, in a five-to-four decision, the United States Supreme Court (Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, U.S. 118 S..Ct. 1998, 141 L.Ed.2d 277 (1998)) held that school districts cannot be sued for money damages under Title IX if a teacher sexually harasses a student unless a school official knows of the abuse and fails to take the necessary actions to stop the abuse. This case was watched closely both by schools and by victimsrights groups. The Court's decision in Gebser makes it more difficult for a school to be held liable for sexual misconduct by employees against students. Background A 53-year-old public high school teacher had an affair with one of his 15-year-old female students. The student never reported the incidents to school authorities. She testified that ". . . while she realized Waldrop's conduct was improper, she was uncertain how to react and wanted to continue having him as a teacher." In January of 1993, a police officer found the teacher and Gebser having sex. The officer arrested the teacher. Lago Vista school district fired him, and his teaching license was subsequently revoked. However, although required by federal law, the district had never instituted an official grievance procedure for filing sexual harassment complaints. The district also had failed to implement any type of formal anti harassment policy The affair ended, and the mother of the student, on behalf of her daughter and the mother herself, brought the action against the Lago Vista Independent School District. The school officials apparently had no knowledge of the relationship between the teacher and his student. The mother requested that the Federal District Court in San Antonio apply the legal theory of strict liability in order to rule that the district was responsible for the wrongful acts of its teachers. However, the district court ruled that, in the absence of actual or constructive notice by the school officials, there could be no liability On appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, the court agreed stating that liability would occur only if the supervisor of the teacher knew about the abuse, had the power to end the abuse, and failed to do so. This was a very conservative interpretation of Title IX. Ruling The case was heard by the Supreme Court. The Court rejected the mother's arguments. Further, the Court imposed a stringent twoprong test that must be met in order for a plaintiff to recover damages. The first prong is "actual knowledge," and the second is "deliberate indifference." The Court requires that an "appropriate person" must be made aware of the conduct in order to meet the "actual knowledge" prong of the test. The Court's definition of "appropriate person" is ". . . at minimum, an official of the recipient entity with authority to take corrective action to end the discrimination." This definition may leave many parents, students, and school officials confused as to just who is "appropriate," unless the school has adopted sexual harassment policies identifying who the "appropriate person" is for reporting of harassment. Discussion While it may appear that the Gebser decision was a victory for schools, the ruling in no way relieves school districts and principals of the responsibility to stop sexual harassment. On the surface, the outcome of this case may suggest that school officials need only to insulate themselves from being informed about instances of sexual harassment and claim ignorance. However, school districts and principals should not be lulled into a false sense of belief that student sexual harassment challenges are a thing of the past. It must be remembered that two issues are at stake here. The first issue is under what conditions may students and parents sue school districts claiming a violation of their Title IX rights. The Supreme Court's response was that school districts are liable only if they knew of the harassment and deliberately failed to take action. …


This study explores the relationship between use of tablet PCs in daily life and individuals' perceptions of wellbeing. Our results indicate that the number of features used and the degree to which different features are used directly influence individuals' subjective wellbeing and exert indirect effects on physical wellbeing. These findings suggest that more research is needed to advance understanding of the phenomenon. Developing understanding of these relationships could facilitate efforts to engage people meaningfully with IT and support improvements in wellbeing for individuals, social groups, and society.


This paper examines the double-edged logic behind events and characters in the Arthurian romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In particular, it highlights the ambivalent, contradictory way in which women function and the ramifications of the way women stand in relation to knighthood. Though a woman is the cause of the Knight's failure (the obstacle), she is also the agent of such a realization (the way). Adopting a double approach rather than a problematic mono-dimensional stance, we attempt to show how women are simultaneously the "obstacle" and the "way" to chivalric adventures and the knightly ideal. Women hinder or delay knightly adventures, and yet trigger new adventures in the process. In the very act of testing the knightly ideal, they can hone the individual characters of Arthur's knights as manifested in the case of Gawain. Understanding this double role of women can help us distance ourselves from the contradictory readings of the poem and appreciate the richness of the text. A multiplicity of interpretations, i.e. ambivalence, is a thematic link the text invites.


In sports where high speed is involved, races are often won by milliseconds. Any advantage can then be important in order to reach the success. The drag acting on the athletes is often the highest force that the athletes have to fight against and, even a small reduction of drag, can create an advantage in terms of performances. However, in sports like ski jumping, the aerodynamic involved gets to be more complex, involving drag and lift force. Wind tunnel measurements have been carried out in the last century in order to understand the physics behind phenomena linked to sport activities (for example ball aerodynamics) or in order to optimize postures and materials. With the performances enhancement as final goal the aerodynamics behind a number of sports have been previously studied. Posture optimization, low drag bycicles, skin suits or even the recent and famous Speedo swimming suits are only some of the achievements of the research carried out. In the present thesis, a wide approach to the topic with particular focus on textile aerodynamics has been used. The thesis has then be divided into two main areas: A research Area 1 named Textiles and their effect on the aerodynamics of athletes and referred RA1 where the influence of textiles and clothing equipement on the drag acting against the athletes have been studied and a Research Area 2 named Performances and Prototyping where more practical examples of how aerodynamics can directy affect athletes performances are given and exposed. In RA1 the topography of textiles have been studied and the surface structure properties has been linked to the aerodynamic properties with particular regards to drag reduction and turbulence tripping. In order to simplify the case the athlete's body has been simplified as a serie of cylindrical shapes and tests have been carried out mostly on cylinders. Effect of yaw angle, different speed, different diameter, different roughness, different material and distance between body parts have been analyzed. At the same time, test on existing suits have been carried out and a mathematical model in order to estimate performances in speed skating has been made. In RA2 different side projects have been carried out and the results can be summarized as follow: Effects of body weight in ski jumping has been analyzed in order to figure out if the new rules imposed by the FIS (International Ski Federation) were effective in order to reduce the increasing problem of anorexia amongst ski jumpers. Wind tunnel measurements were carried out in order to find the aerodynamic forces acting on a ski jumper in his flight path. The experimental data were then implemented into a mathematical model which is able to simulate the in-run and the flight path. In cycling, the attention was focused on the posture assumed by the cyclists with the goal of reducing the drag while keeping a good biomechanical efficiency. The rules imposed by UCI (International Cycling Union) set the boundaries. However, a impressively good result has been obtained focusing the attention on each athlete and finding a subjective optimum posture for each of the athletes tested. A low drag ski boot have been designed with a airfoiled shape which permitted to obtain an impressive drag reduction on the total drag acting on a downhill skier. Speed skating suits have been tested in order to quantify the influence of different model suits on skating performances. The suit used by torwegian Olympic team of ski-cross has been designed using the knowledge acquired and presented in RA1. An impressive drag reduction has been obtained and it helped two norwegian athletes to win a silver and a bronze medal at theWinter Olympic Games in Vancouver 2010. As previously mentioned, the research areas are: Research Area 1 - Textiles and their effect on the aerodynamics of athletes Research Area 2 - Performances and prototyping The main contributions are: P1: Reducing the Athlete's aerodynamics P2: Experimental analysis on parameters affecting drag force on athletes P3: Aerodynamic and comfort properties of single jersey textiles for high speed sports P4: Aerodynamic behavior of single sport jersey fabrics with different roughness and cover factors P5: Effect of different skin suits on speed skating performances P6: Aerodynamic optimization and energy saving of cycling postures for international elite level cyclists P7: Effects of body weight on Ski Jumping performances under the new FIS rules P8: Airfolied design for alpine skiers boots P9: Aerodynamic and Comfort Characteristics of A Double Layer Knitted Fabric Assembly for High Speed Winter Sports P10: A Low Drag Suit For Ski-Cross Competitions


In vivo drug interactions of the teratogen thalidomide with the model cytochrome P450 (P450) 3A substrate midazolam were investigated in mice with humanized livers. The clearance of midazolam (administered intravenously, 10 mg kg(-1)) in chimeric mice was enhanced by orally co-administered thalidomide (100 mg kg(-1)). A larger area under the curve of the major metabolite 1'-hydroxymidazolam (1.7-fold) was obtained with thalidomide because of the heterotropic cooperativity of human P450 3A enzymes. A larger area under the curve of the minor metabolite 4-hydroxymidazolam (3.5-fold) was seen with daily pretreatment with thalidomide for 3 days, presumably because of human P450 3A induction. These results demonstrate that livers of humanized mice mediate drug interactions of thalidomide and suggest interactions of therapeutic agents during therapies with thalidomide.


The river channel dynamics are result of the complex interaction between natural and human impact. In the presented study, we assessed spatial and temporal dynamics of Bosna river channel migration during 2001-2013 period using orthophoto images and GIS. We have identified that the total area of bank erosion during given period equaled 2.8695 km2 , of which 1.2178 km2 were on the left bank and 1.6516 km2 on the right bank. The total area of bank accretion from 2001 to 2013 equaled 2.6841 km2 , of which 1.2864 km2 was on the left bank and 1.3977 km2 on the right bank. The Bosna riverbed average movement in the period 2001-2013 was established in the amount of 60.7 m. During this period, the average lateral channel migration was 5.05 m per year. Lateral migration of the Bosna River has caused serious problems: disappearance of arable land, forests, pastures and meadows, economic loss due to the reduction of agricultural. Using statistical analysis of a land use structure changes along the lower part of Bosna River, we obtained the results which show significant lost in arable land. According to results, 42.3 ha of arable land, 171.9 ha forests and 31.8 ha pastures and meadows were lost during 2001-2013 period. The data presented here are significant for practical issues such as predicting channel migration rates for engineering and planning purposes, soil and water management.


Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Pathologically, RA is characterized by a destructive synovitis in multiple diarthrodial joints and immunologically by the presence in serum and joint fluid of autoantibodies to IgG (rheumatoid factor). The diagnosis remains a clinical one and, as such, RA investigations use epidemiologic methodologies. It is now clear that there is an important genetic contribution to the etiology of RA evidenced by the association of the disease with HLA-DR4, an allele of the major histocompatibility complex located on the short arm of chromosome six. HLA associations with RA occur in several different populations. This genetic epidemiologic approach substantiates the HLA association with disease and lays the foundation for recent molecular genetic discoveries that are reviewed, particularly the MHC structure and function.


Implementing effective logistics strategies when operating internationally differs from managing domestic logistics because of specific factors such as shipping regulations, transportation concerns, and cultural differences. This indispensable guide presents a coherent perspective on contemporary global logistics from raw materials through production to the customer. Now in its second edition, the book includes sections on: the roles of governments and intermediaries, international sourcing, the application of local trade laws, ocean, air, and surface carriers and systems. Plus, this second edition has been revised with new information on supply chain management, important updates of U.S. shipping regulations, new case studies, chapter review questions, and standardized international terms of sale.


Twenty-five patients with rheumatoid arthritis presented with knee joint bursal abnormalities. Nineteen patients presented with symptoms simulating thrombophlebitis. Sixteen had a rupture of the posterior joint capsule without a communicating semimembranosus-gastrocnemius bursa (S-G), with extension ventrally between the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles or between the skin and muscle. Nine had an enlarged S-G bursa with or without rupture. Two patients had additional cephalad ruptures: one from the posterior compartment and the other one from the suprapatellar bursa.


In recent times, international deliberations have centered on inaccessibility of essential services to persons with disabilities. These systematic discriminations have accounted for high rates of poverty and deplorable living standards among persons with disabilities. Deliberate attempts are being made to safeguard the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. In Ghana, one major development is the implementation of inclusive education, to open regular classrooms to children with disabilities. While much is known about the challenges faced by teachers, in terms of lacking skills, facilities and resources to teach students with disabilities in regular classrooms, little attention has been given to their ability to identify students with disabilities. This case study explored the prevalence, common sub-types and distribution of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among pupils in primary schools in Ghana. The school and home version of the ADHD Rating Scale IV were used to rate 374 pupils by their teachers and parents. Cluster sampling was used to select 15 schools from a district to take part in this study. The estimated prevalence of ADHD was 7% and more boys were identified with ADHD than girls. With regards to teachers' ratings, most of the pupils fell under inattentive sub-type while hyperactive was the most common sub-type identified by parents. Both teachers and parents identified twenty-one pupils. The need for stakeholders' engagement on public education on ADHD its symptoms and management, have been discussed extensively.


Motivated by the asset pricing implications of the regime-switching equilibrium models in the literature, this paper investigates empirically the effects of regime switches in aggregate stock returns and volatilities. The investors' belief, defined as the posterior probability of the bear regime, is estimated based on a regime-switching model where the regime of the economy follows a two-state hidden Markov process. Veronesi (1999) shows that both the expected excess return and the volatility of the returns are the concave, bell-shaped functions of the investors' belief if risk aversion is a constant.The empirical findings in this paper suggest that the expected excess return and the volatility are monotonically increasing functions of the investors' belief. Therefore, a reasonable explanation for the empirical finding is that risk aversion is time-varying and the representative agent is more risk averse in the bear regime so that a higher expected excess return and higher volatility in the bad regime are generated. A second empirical finding is that the stock return predictors, such as the term spread, the in flation rate, and the T-bill rate, have significant business cycle patterns in the predictive regressions. For example, the term spread is positively related to the stock market returns in the boom regime, but is negatively related to the stock market returns in the bear regime. This suggests that the increasing term spread is good news in the bear regime because it indicates that the economy is improving and will recover soon, thus the investors require a lower equity premium. In addition, the equity premium is more sensitive to the predictors in the bear regime because the bear regime is short lived. Similar results are also found in the predictive regressions for the variance of the stock market returns.


Both the programmed death (PD) 1–PD-ligand (PD-L) pathway and regulatory T (T reg) cells are instrumental to the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. We demonstrate that PD-L1 has a pivotal role in regulating induced T reg (iT reg) cell development and sustaining iT reg cell function. PD-L1−/− antigen-presenting cells minimally convert naive CD4 T cells to iT reg cells, showing the essential role of PD-L1 for iT reg cell induction. PD-L1–coated beads induce iT reg cells in vitro, indicating that PD-L1 itself regulates iT reg cell development. Furthermore, PD-L1 enhances and sustains Foxp3 expression and the suppressive function of iT reg cells. The obligatory role for PD-L1 in controlling iT reg cell development and function in vivo is illustrated by a marked reduction in iT reg cell conversion and rapid onset of a fatal inflammatory phenotype in PD-L1−/−PD-L2−/− Rag−/− recipients of naive CD4 T cells. PD-L1 iT reg cell development is mediated through the down-regulation of phospho-Akt, mTOR, S6, and ERK2 and concomitant with the up-regulation of PTEN, all key signaling molecules which are critical for iT reg cell development. Thus, PD-L1 can inhibit T cell responses by promoting both the induction and maintenance of iT reg cells. These studies define a novel mechanism for iT reg cell development and function, as well as a new strategy for controlling T reg cell plasticity.


A revision of the lichen genus Crocodia Link. in northern Argentinean rainforests is presented. Three species were identified for the region: C. arvidssonii (D.J. Galloway) D.J. Galloway & Elix, C. aurata (Ach.) Link., and C. clathrata (De Not.) Trevis. The distribution range known for these species is extended: C. arvidssonii is recorded for the first time for the country; C. aurata for Corrientes, Misiones, and Salta provinces; and C. clathrata for Corrientes and Jujuy provinces. The morphology of each species is described and illustrated. A distribution map and a key to known species of the genus are also presented.


In this study, we investigated the effect of voltage levels on muscle damage in patients with electrical injuries. METHODS This retrospective study included 36 patients with electrical injury (high voltage, 21; low voltage, 15). Initial serum creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were obtained from each patient on admission. RESULTS Although CK levels were observed to be higher in the high-voltage injured patients than in those exposed to a low voltage, the difference was not statistically signifi cant. The serum AST and ALT levels were elevated in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION Skeletal muscle damage can be caused by both high-voltage and low-voltage electrical injury, and in these patients, the degree of muscle damage may be consistent with the elevated initial serum levels of muscle enzymes, especially of CK. However, further researches are necessary to determine if there is strong evidence of a direct correlation between voltage level and the degree of muscle damage.


Left anterior congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a highly uncommon defect. In adults, its diagnosis is generally incidental, whereas in children, it frequently produces signs of respiratory disease. A 13-month-old boy, previously diagnosed as having a small ostium secundum atrial septal defect, was referred to our center to be studied because of poor echocardiographic visualization. The mother denied having any type of cardiorespiratory symptoms. The personal history of the infant included a postnatal diagnosis of Down's syndrome (mosaicism) and congenital hypothyroidism, with hormone replacement therapy. He was in good general health, afebrile, and eupneic. Chest auscultation revealed rhythmic, although slightly muffled, heart sounds, in the absence of murmurs, and mild hypoventilation at the base of left hemithorax, with bowel sounds at that level. The echocardiographic study (Figure 1) showed anterior basal pericardial effusion of up to 17 mm during diastole, with no evidence of hemodynamic impact. The cardiac structures were displaced to the right, but had a normal configuration; it was not possible to obtain parasternal views. Plain chest x-ray (Figure 2) revealed the presence of air in left hemithorax that obscured the cardiac border, suggestive of anterior diaphragmatic hernia, which was confirmed by means of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of chest and abdomen. Oral treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg body weight/day) and methylprednisolone (an initial bolus of 2 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg/day thereafter) was initiated and was maintained for 1 week, resulting in a considerable improvement in the effusion (8 mm after 48 hours). The studies performed included differential blood cell count, blood chemistry, thyroid hormones, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, Mantoux test, and serological testing for Echovirus, Coxsackievirus A and B, adenovirus, Influenza, Varicella, Epstein-Barr, and human immunodeficiency virus, with normal findings in every case. The effusion remained stable, and surgical repair of the hernia was carried out by means of laparotomy 3 weeks after the diagnosis, with very good results. There has been a progressive reduction of effusion (3 mm 6 months after surgical intervention). Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is an uncommon lesion (estimated prevalence, 1/2000 to 1/5000 live births). Morgagni hernia (anteriorly located) represents 3% to 5% of all of these hernias, and there is a clear predominance of the right parasternal position (at a ratio of 10:1), as the left side is protected by the pericardium.1 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Professor Bogus argues that there is a strongly enforced taboo within the Rhode Island legal culture against criticizing the state's governmental institutions, particularly its courts. The targets and enforcers of this taboo are one and the same - lawyers and judges. The essay describes eight examples, spanning nearly two decades, in which judges or lawyers attempted to punish others for statements deemed critical of the Rhode Island legal system. In some instances, critical statements were made in the public marketplace of ideas. One example concerns comments that Professor Alan Dershowitz of the Harvard Law School made in a book; another concerns comments that Professor Bogus himself made in a newspaper op-ed. Other examples involve statements that lawyers made during the course of litigation, such as a motion requesting that a judge recuse himself. Punishments ranged from writing to the perceived offender's employer to imposing serious and unwarranted sanctions against perceived offenders. The taboo permeates the entire legal culture and affects both state and federal courts. Professor Bogus argues that this culture - in which criticism is considered professional treason and punished by both courts and colleagues - diminishes the Rhode Island legal system. He argues that the culture is unlikely to change unless lawyers acknowledge the problem and work collectively for reform.


Community groups often seek to engage with schools in promoting environmental education goals. A collaborative initiative is described in which university pre-service teacher education students were encouraged to create Web-based teaching and learning resources, related to rainforests and world heritage areas, for use at primary and secondary levels. The partnership between Southern Cross University and the Advisory Committees of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area took the form of a voluntary competition, which was integrated with students' university assessment requirements. The factors that influenced students' decisions to get involved were identified through telephone interviews. Insight was also gained into pre-service teachers' understanding and willingness to engage in environmental education. The data was interpreted through the lens of participatory partnerships and incentives in environmental education. The study reveals implications for universities, professional associations and community organisations who may seek to similarly collaborate in educational resource development.


Introduction: The Class I skeletal deformity associated with vertical maxillary excess is a rare condition reported in the literature. Surgical impaction allows the correction of the long face and gummy smile. Objective: This case report aimed to evaluate the positioning of the condyle after Le Fort I osteotomy associated with mandibular selfrotation. Case report: The patient underwent orthognathic surgery for the correction of maxillary vertical excess. Tomography studies were performed to evaluate the initial and final position of the condyle. The patient improved mastication, breathing and phonetics, with esthetic benefit. Conclusion: After the Le Fort I osteotomy and mandibular self-rotation, the condyle remained stable occupying a new anterior-superior position in the glenoid fossa and patient's TMJ remained asymptomatic after 9 months of postoperative follow-up.


This article explores the role of brokers in the market for accommodation in contemporary Moscow. Drawing on fieldwork with Kyrgyz migrant workers and the variety of intermediaries [ posredniki ] on whom they depend, it introduces two interventions into a growing anthropological re-engagement with brokerage. First, it highlights the importance of spatial and social proximity for understanding brokerage relations. Second, it attends ethnographically to the kinds of skills that are understood to distinguish 'successful' from 'unsuccessful' intermediaries. Drawing together recent literature on 'everyday diplomacy' with emic identifications of the posrednik' s work as a diplomatic craft, it examines brokerage as a skilled practice for encountering and mediating difference in contexts of political and administrative indeterminacy. The posrednik becomes an important figure in the migrant economy to the extent that economic life is suffused with uncertainty. This has implications for comparative anthropological concern with processes of social navigation in contexts of precarity.


This study investigates hydrological responses to changes in land use, land cover and management practices at Hare River watershed, Southern Rift Valley Lakes Basin, Ethiopia. It addresses methods that are required to better characterize impacts of land use and cover and climate change scenarios and understand the upstream-downstream linkages with respect to irrigation water allocation. Understanding how the changes in land use and cover influence streamflow and subsequently optimization of available water resources utilization can enhance the ability of planners, practitioners, researchers and farmers to formulate and implement sound policies to minimize undesirable future impacts and devise management alternatives. Three land use and cover maps were developed using aerial photographs and satellite image through visual interpretation of the aerial photographs and supervised classification of the satellite image. The rates of land use and land cover changes were identified for two periods at watershed and sub-watershed levels. Two physical-based, semi-distributed hydrological models, SWAT2005/ArcSWAT and HSPF, were utilized to simulate hydrological responses to land use and climatic changes. Streamflow data at the outlet of the watershed was utilized to analyze seasonal stream flow variability due to land use and land cover changes. The performances of the models have been evaluated through sensitivity analysis, calibration, validation and uncertainty analysis. Consequently, impacts of hypothetical land use and climate change scenarios were developed to analyze their impacts on downstream water users. Eventually, based on the results these scenario analyses a new optimal irrigation water allocation tool was developed to allocate available water resources among competing irrigation sites.
The results of the land use and land cover change analysis identified that farmlands and settlements class has expanded during the past four decades. Detailed impacts of these changes were analyzed employing the SWAT2005. Sensitivity analysis using the SWAT2005 model has pointed out some crucial parameters that control the surface and subsurface hydrological processes of the studied watershed. Consequently, results of the models performances assessment illustrated that both SWAT2005 and HSPF have resulted acceptable outputs with some efforts of acquiring data in areas where there is limited available data. However, the SWAT2005 model performs slightly better than HSPF for monthly and seasonal streamflow analysis. As a result, streamflow variability during the dry and wet seasons was further analysed using this model based on pre-identified scenarios. Furthermore, uncertainty analyses were performed and discussed using ParaSol, SUNGLASSES, SUFI-2 and GLUE methods. On the other hand, results from the climate change scenario analysis using GCM for the period of 2010-2099 showed that an increase in future average annual precipitation and average temperature when compared to the baseline period. Similarly, analysis made on intervention of small scale irrigation in the upper and middle reach of the watershed resulted in substantial decrease in mean monthly discharge during the dry season, while increased discharge during the wet season. Consequently, an optimal tool was developed to allocate scarce water resources among three upstream and downstream demand sites with a prime objective of achieving equitable resources utilization while maintaining acceptable economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. The analysis revealed that a substantial volume of water can be saved through deficit irrigation principles. It is also noted that, in the face of intense competition among irrigation water users where there is a significant water shortage throughout a watershed, equitable and efficient utilization of water resources has always remained a social goal. The developed tool can be used in other watersheds too by decision makers and planners where there exist irrigation water allocation problems between competing upstream and downstream irrigation sites. However, it needs simulation outputs from SWAT2005 and needs to specify the exact sub-watersheds where the irrigation sites are located. In order to utilize outputs from other models, the tool needs some modification in the algorithm (visual basic) specifically on the declaration of the input files. Generally, the results highlighted that use of an integrated simulation-optimization approach has a paramount importance to investigate impacts of land use and cover and climate change on hydrological regime and consequently allocate limited available water resource in an equitable manner among competing sites.


James Jared Peate came at seventeen to Lincoln County, Kansas, in 1866, thus becoming one of the first persons to homestead in Lincoln County. His life was typical of that of the early settlers, but he also played certain other active roles. He became a courier for the United States Army in 1868 as it entered into the process of crushing the resistance of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians to the white settlers. He was detailed by General Philip H. Sheridan to gather men for Colonel George A. Forsyth's preliminary expedition against the Indians. He obtained fifteen men, but missed the expedition. However, he was a member of the rescue force. In later years, Peate was a businessman in Beverly, Kansas. He participated in the organization of the Beverly state Bank. He gave impetus to the founding of The Beecher Island Battle Memorial Association and was very active in promoting it for the remainder of his life. This organization is still in existence.


The purpose of this degree project was to examine which remedies are available to individuals when the State has violated their right to a fair trial as stated in article 6 in the European Convention on Human Rights. Furthermore, the aim was to, in cases where the remedy is determined to money, to clarify the indemnity rates that apply in determining the non-pecuniary damages. The starting point was a review of the European Court practice, domestic Swedish practice and relevant literature.The outcome of the review is that the remedies available to the individual's disposal can be divided into two categories: primary and secondary remedies. Primary remedies mean compensation not consisting of money, and must be exhausted first. If the primary remedies are inadequate to compensate for the breach of the European Convention, a secondary remedy may be realised, i.e. pecuniary compensation.The primary remedies may include any legal measure, as long as it complies with the national traditions of the country and do not contradict the principle of legality. As for the non-pecuniary damage levels, it was found that the so-called Tariffs stated in the Zullo-case are not binding, but offer some guidance to be found from its flat rate. Each Convention State may decide upon the amount that it considers to be appropriate compensation for the Convention violations, as long as the levels are not significantly lower than what the European Court would decide.


Introduction: Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) has been approved for treating strokes up to 3 hours after onset of symptoms and may be beneficial up to 4.5 hours in patients who qualify. Additionally, neuro-intervention, i.e., intra-arterial thrombolysis or thrombectomy, is also an approved treatment option. Population studies show that 6% receive IV tPA within 3 hours of stroke onset. However, in-hospital strokes present challenges to treating within an adequate time. We present here our experience with in-hospital strokes, treatments, and identifiable delays in treatments. Methods: Single, tertiary center retrospective study of 55 in-hospital strokes over a one-year period from January 2009 to January 2010, and strokes in the Emergency Department over 6 month period from January 2010 to June 2010. Results: Twenty-nine in-hospital strokes were evaluated within 3 hours of symptoms onset. Two (6.9%) received IV tPA, and four (13.8%) received neuro-intervention (either intra-arterial thrombolysis or thrombectomy). None of the patients who presented greater than 3 hours after symptom onset was treated with any treatment (n=28). When compared to patients who present to the ED within 3 hours, in-hospital strokes were less likely to get IV tPA (6.9% vs. 20.8%), and they were more likely to receive neuro-intervention (13.8% vs. 10.3%). Neuro-intervention was performed on 9.09% of all in-hospital strokes (1 of 5 presented beyond the 3 hour time window). For in-hospital strokes that receive any treatment within 3 hours, the average time to neurology evaluation, to CT, and to treatment are 35 min, 68 min, and 237 min, respectively. For strokes in the Ed, the average time to evaluation, to CT, and to treatment are 90 min, 28 min, and 66 min respectively. The delay for in-hospital strokes is in obtaining the CT and initiating the treatment. Discussion: In-hospital stroke patients wait longer than their ED counterparts to be taken to CT and to receive stroke treatment. They are also less likely to receive IV tPA, and more likely to receive neuro-intervention. The longer time to neuro-imaging and thrombolytic treatment may reflect the fact that patients suffering in-hospital strokes have more complex medical co-morbidities that must be taken account during the evaluation and administration of thrombolytic therapy.


In northwestern Argentina, mid-Pleistocene out-of-sequence thrusting further disrupted the Andean foreland, giving rise to the Lerma piggyback basin within the Eastern Cordillera. Emergent topography along the eastern edge of the basin, as well as in its interior, interfered with preexisting eastward-flowing river courses. In the northern part of the Lerma basin, rivers temporarily incised across the new topography, yielding wind and water gaps, and in places preserving straths with treads tilted upstream, revealing their tectonic origin. Application of Hack's law shows correspondence between the active and the abandoned channel profiles. Bed profiles of wind gaps are distinct from those of nearby consequent streams. Defeated and deflected northern streams coalesced into a trunk stream, which maintained an open channel across the eastern bounding ranges. River defeat may have been related to rain shadowing by the growing topographic barrier and retention of easterly derived moisture outside the Lerma basin. In the southern Lerma basin, river courses were not generally capable of sustaining active water gaps. Instead, they were deflected southward, and their discharges fed ancient Lake Lerma. Lake expansion ensued until water level reached a structural low, through which lake waters outflowed from the basin and subsequently incised across the eastern bounding ranges. The relative success of northern rivers in incising across the rising topographic barrier is mainly attributed to their greater channel gradients at the point of incision, combined with high rainfall levels. Longitudinal channel profiles show that rivers in the northern Lerma basin had approached their base level of erosion before uplift of the eastern bounding ranges. After this disturbance, the system continues to approach a new base level of erosion, modified by sediment aggradation within the basin. Speculatively, mid-Pleistocene out-of-sequence thrusting is attributed to basement uplift in the distal foreland.


Background: Capillary refill time has been studied in literature as a perfusion indicator. Two pilot studies have proposed possible reference values in healthy adults. No data exist regarding capillary refill time as an indicator of abnormal clinical conditions in adults, which might be of help for triage nurses. Objective: We wanted to assess if any relationships existed, between altered capillary refill time and abnormal clinical conditions in the emergency department. We investigated relations between capillary refill time and vital signs recorded in triage and blood tests, by analyzing the clinical records. Mortality at 24 hours, 7 days and over 14 days was investigated by calling the patients after discharge. Method: Observational, single-center study on a sample of consecutive patients aged ≥ 18 years in the Emergency Department of a major Milan hospital, from June to October 2014. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the impact of clinical variables on capillary refill time. Results: 1001 patients were enrolled, aged 59 ± 21 (473 aged 65 or more). Longer refill times were found in patients admitted to hospital units after medical consultations in the emergency department compared to those discharged or sent to outpatients. In elderly patients, statistically significant association was found between increased capillary refill time and sepsis (sensitivity 100%, specificity 83.33%, area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 65.95% CI 47-83), oxygen saturation, mean blood pressure, and lactates. In persons aged 45 to 64, altered refill times were associated with abnormal values of glicemia, platelets, and urea. Conclusion: Capillary refill time can be used by nurses at triage as a complementary parameter to normal vital signs. This is one of the few studies investigating refill time in adult patients.


The shape of the coastline has endowed the city Augusta of a huge size natural harbour: The site was chosen in 728 a. C. by Greek colonists to found the city of Megara. The size of the bay, along with the ease of landing, have made the site difficult to defend: and so, after the destruction of the city of Megara by the nearby Syracuse, for centuries the place has never been the subject of significant human settlements, apart from the construction of small villages. In 1233 the Emperor Frederick II built a massive castle and begins the life of a new city, in his honour called Augusta. Having long been a feudal town, in 1567 the city returns to the royal property, because its large natural harbour, difficult to defend, constitutes serious threat as a possible bridgehead for an invasion of the Kingdom of Sicily. The construction of new fortifications does not solve the problem due to the large size of the site and the lack of adequate economic resources, at least until the end of the seventeenth century. Precisely action taken in this period have particular influence on urban design with almost total reconstruction of the city to fit the new defensive needs.


Slowly developing renal diseases (SDRD) such as diabetic nephropathy (DN) and hypertensive nephrosclerosis constitute the large majority of disorders leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). These disorders are characterized by years to decades without renal functional abnormalities during which renal structural changes are developing. The earliest renal functional abnormalities [such as microalbuminuria in patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)] are often associated with already well established renal lesions that may progress independent of the initiating cause. Since the clinical manifestations of these disorders are dependent upon established structural changes, prevention of the early lesions seems a logical goal and thus a useful endpoint for clinical trials. Functional endpoints are impractical at these early stages as they would take too long to manifest. Diabetic nephropathy in IDDM patients is a useful model for such study design, since there is sufficient knowledge of the natural history of the disorder and of the important structural endpoints to allow for the statistical power calculations crucial for study design. More information regarding natural history and structural-functional relationships is needed in non-insulin dependent diabetes, hypertension, and other SDRD before intervention trials using renal structural endpoints can be developed for these important causes of ESRD.


Previous research on within-person variability in performance has largely examined short-term fluctuations and long-term changes in performance separately. The present study proposes a model-based on the cognitive-affective personality system meta--theory (Mischel & Shoda, 1995)--that integrates short-term and long-term performance variability within the 1 framework. Key propositions of the model include that short-term performance fluctuations are contingent on variability in situational cues and that situational cue-performance contingencies change over time. To test the propositions, performance data for 393 professional male tennis players were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. The results showed that 2 types of situational cues--resource allocation cues and task complexity--interact in complex ways to account for short-term performance variability. Moreover, as predicted, the contingency of performance on the situational cues changed over time, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach to short-term and long-term performance variability. The implications of these findings are discussed for studies of performance at work and practical applications that managers can employ to increase work performance. Furthermore, parallels are drawn with previous studies from the broader literature on dynamic job performance.


Detailed field mapping of outcrops in southern Garden and Monill counties, Nebraska, has revealed a drop of more than 60 m (200 ft) in 4.8 km (3 mi) in the elevation of the contact between the Brule Formation and the Ogallala Group as exposed on the east side of Rush Creek. Beds of silt, sand, siltstone, and volcanic ash locally dip to the northwest at angles up to 8.5'. The contact between the two formations cannot be seen on the west side of Rush Creek but beds in the Ogaflala Group there dip to the north and northeast. Rocks north of the North Platte River in the vicinity of Lisco dip to the south, completing the outcrop belt of the Rush Creek-Lisco Structural Basin. The unusually long valley of Rush Creek runs along the axis of a north plunging synclinal fold within the structural basin, which probably controls the position of spring in the Ogallala Group feeding the only large perennial stream on the south side of the North Platte River in Garden County. The occurrence of Ogallafa outcrops at river level along the south bank of the North Platte River just southeast of Lisco, Nebraska, is also related to this structural basin.


We applied TdT‐mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP)‐biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) to cytologic smears in order to detect the cells undergoing apoptosis. These smears were obtained by scraping the cut surface of 9 cases of carcinoma, including renal‐cell carcinoma (3 cases), esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma (3 cases), and gastric adenocarcinoma (3 cases), and were fixed and prepared by different methods. The results were also compared with those of tissue sections. TUNEL in smears was generally associated with higher background nuclear stain than in tissue sections. Smears that were fixed in 4% or 8% paraform aldehyde or absolute methanol exhibited results comparable with those of tissue sections, with minimum background in all cases examined. There were no significant differences in TUNEL labeling index among tissue sections and smears fixed in 4% or 8% paraformaldehyde or in absolute methanol. Smears treated in Carnoy's fixative (3:1 methanol:acetic acid) and air‐dried smears demonstrated a higher background. TUNEL positivity could not be detected in slides decolorized from May‐Grünwald‐Giemsa stain. Markedly high background, which may occur as a result of artifactural DNA breaks, was also observed in slides decolorized from Papanicolaou stain, in which TUNEL‐positive cells could be evaluated only in 3/8 cases. Application of the TUNEL method to cytology specimens has disadvantages or limitations compared to its application to histological sections, but the method is considered the most suitable one for detecting cells undergoing apoptosis in cytology materials. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;18:398–402. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


IMPORTANCE
The treatment of schizophrenia remains a challenge, and the currently available antipsychotic drugs are slow acting and produce a number of adverse effects.

OBJECTIVE
To examine the effectiveness and safety of a single intravenous administration of sodium nitroprusside (0.5 μg/kg/min for 4 hours) on the positive, negative, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

DESIGN
Single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial performed from March 9, 2007, to March 12, 2009.

SETTING
University teaching hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.

PARTICIPANTS
Twenty inpatients aged 19 to 40 years with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who were in the first 5 years of the disease who are taking antipsychotics.

INTERVENTION
Sodium nitroprusside administration.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the negative subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

RESULTS
After the infusion of sodium nitroprusside, a rapid (within 4 hours) improvement of symptoms was observed. The placebo and experimental groups had significant differences in the 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total score and subscale scores, which persisted for 4 weeks after infusion.

CONCLUSIONS
The results clearly show a therapeutic effect of sodium nitroprusside. If this drug is approved for routine clinical use in patients with schizophrenia, this discovery will be an important advance in the pharmacologic treatment of this devastating disorder.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01548612.


Co-infection of Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV, genus Crinivirus) with Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV, genus Potyvirus) results in sweet potato virus disease (SPVD), a synergistic disease that is widely distributed in the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) growing regions of the world. Since both SPCSV and SPFMV are common and often detected as part of multiple co-infections of severely diseased plants, the occurrence of synergistic interactions with other viruses was investigated. Data from this study show that SPCSV, but not SPFMV, can cause synergistic diseases in sweet potato with all viruses tested, including members of the genus Potyvirus (Sweet potato latent virus, Sweet potato mild speckling virus), Ipomovirus (Sweet potato mild mottle virus), Cucumovirus (Cucumber mosaic virus), and putative members of the genus Carlavirus (Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus and C-6 virus). The synergism was expressed as an increase in the severity of symptoms, virus accumulation, viral movement in plants, and as an effect on yield of storage roots. The presence of a third different virus in plants affected with SPVD increased the severity of symptoms even further compared with SPVD alone. There was a positive correlation between increase in virus accumulation and symptom expression in double and triple SPCSV-associated co-infections. The epidemiological implications of the results are discussed.


Junior doctors in most provinces in South Africa are compelled to work 30-hour shifts without a break. Shifts in excess of 24 hours can result in serious bodily harm to patients, third parties and the doctors themselves. These risks have been drawn to the attention of the health authorities but the 30-hour policy continues to be implemented in all provinces, except recently in the Western Cape. Public health officials may be held directly liable for the harm caused to patients, third parties or the junior doctors themselves, if it can be shown that they are at fault and are acting unlawfully in violation of the Constitution. Where officials carry out the unlawful orders of senior officials, including the minister of health and provincial members of the executive council (MECs) for health, they may not raise the defence of 'obedience to orders' and may be held directly liable for harm caused. Superior officials issuing such orders will also be held directly liable for harm caused.


Abstract Aim To investigate how nursing faculties' perceived time devoted to research changed during the first wave of the pandemic in Japan (April–June 2020) compared to pre‐pandemic. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted online from July 1 to August 10, 2020 and involved 1,023 nursing faculties in Japan. Participants were asked to respond to a questionnaire based on their experiences from April to June 2020. We calculated descriptive statistics for several measures and examined associations between professional/personal demographic factors and declines in overall research time. Results Of the 1,023 participants, 71.1% were spending less time on overall research activity; 79.6% spent less time attending academic events/conferences, and 77.4% spent less time conducting experiments/surveys. In contrast, 81.2% spent more time teaching, a much greater proportion than the global scientific community in a previous survey. As for work time allocation during the pandemic, teaching was by far the one activity that participants spent the most time on. Logistic regression analysis revealed that declines in overall research time were associated with several professional demographic factors, such as type of university, current academic position, and acquisition status of Japan's major research grant (KAKENHI) (all p < .05). Conclusions Nursing faculties in Japan clearly spent less time on research, and more time on teaching during the first wave of the pandemic compared to pre‐pandemic. The initial impact of the pandemic on nursing faculties revealed through this study is an eye‐opener and a start for addressing the long‐term impact on the nursing scientific community.


We construct an internal language for cartesian closed bicategories. Precisely, we introduce a type theory modelling the structure of a cartesian closed bicategory and show that its syntactic model satisfies an appropriate universal property, thereby lifting the Curry-Howard-Lambek correspondence to the bicategorical setting. Our approach is principled and practical. Weak substitution structure is constructed using a bicategori-fication of the notion of abstract clone from universal algebra, and the rules for products and exponentials are synthesised from semantic considerations. The result is a type theory that employs a novel combination of 2-dimensional type theory and explicit substitution, and directly generalises the Simply-Typed Lambda Calculus. This work is the first step in a programme aimed at proving coherence for cartesian closed bicategories.


Australia has one of the highest skin cancer incidence and mortality rates in the world. The reason for these high rates is due in part to the high ambient UV radiation levels, combined with a predominantly susceptible fair-skinned population. To address this problem, since 1980, Australians have been exposed to social marketing campaigns like SunSmart to raise awareness of skin cancer prevention. These campaigns have used advocacy to influence legislative reforms and mass media alongside interventions in schools, workplaces, and in the community to motivate sun protective behavior. As a result of these interventions it can be demonstrated that social marketing campaigns can be a very effective method to not only motivate behavior change, reduce sunburn, and increase awareness but more importantly, reduce melanoma rates. In addition to this, we have been able to demonstrate that for every $1 the government invests in skin cancer prevention over a 20-year period, it will yield a $2.30 return. This makes skin cancer control a remarkably good investment in public health. However, long-term investment in this area is required otherwise any population gains in behavior are very likely to be quickly eroded. In more recent years, skin cancer prevention programs worldwide have faced significant challenges in particular from the sunbed industry as well as increased awareness by the general population of vitamin D and its potential positive health benefits. To address these issues, Australia now has a comprehensive approach to manage sunbed operations that include legislative requirements to restrict under 18 access, ban people with skin type 1, and the licensing of operators. Due to these intervention and increased awareness, there has been a decrease of up to 50% in the number of sunbed operators in Australian cities, a downturn not seen anywhere else in the world. In addition to this, considerable effort has gone into managing the issues associated with vitamin D to the point now where the SunSmart program is an authoritative voice to advise people when they should use sun protection, but also when they should not. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):PL05-05.


Increase in carbon dioxide level is considered as a threat to all living organisms and in particular aquatic organisms are vulnerable. Although a number of studies were carried out to predict the effect of increased CO2 with marine organisms, fresh water fish were the least concerned ones. Therefore, the aim of this study was to study the effect of antioxidant enzymes in zebrafish exposed to acute concentration of CO2 (based on prediction for 2300). Three ranges of pH were selected below the range where no fatality was observed, 6.0 – 6.5, 5.5 – 6.0 and 5.0 – 5.5. Antioxidant enzyme analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LP), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was performed for the tissues, liver, gills and muscles. Although a significant decrease in SOD activity was observed in all three tissues, only a slight variation in CAT activity was found in all the tissues. MDA content which is an indicator of lipid peroxidation showed an increasing pattern in all the tissues. A slight increase in GR activity was found in all the tissues; however, a significant decrease in GPx activity was noted. Further, the histology of gills exposed to CO2 showed marked damage and injury including lamellar fusion and necrosis. Our study concludes that exposure to CO2 has led to oxidative stress which has resulted in cellular injury and damage


Introduction Documenting the recovery of hydrologic functions following perturbations is important to addressing issues associated with land use change and ecosystem restoration. Floodplains on the Santee Experimental Forest were used historically for ricecultivation in the early 1700s; those areas now support bottomland hardwood forests that are typical of the region. Recently acquired LIDAR data for the Santee Experimental Forest was used to delineate remnant historical water management structures within the watersheds. Hydrologic functions and pathways were altered during the agricultural use period, with changes to depressional storage, stream flow and runoff routing. Since the late 1800s the land was left to revert to forests, without direct intervention. The resultant bottomlands, while typical in term of vegetative structure and composition, still have altered hydrologic functions as a result of the historical land use. The application of high resolution LIDAR surface elevation data is expected to improve the basis for modeling and hydrological assessments.


CONTEXT
Little is known about older lesbian and bisexual women. Existing research rarely compares characteristics of these women with comparable heterosexual women.

OBJECTIVE
To compare heterosexual and nonheterosexual women 50 to 79 years on specific demographic characteristics, psychosocial risk factors, screening practices, and other health-related behaviors associated with increased risk for developing particular diseases or disease outcomes.

DESIGN
Analysis of data from 93,311 participants in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study of health in postmenopausal women, comparing characteristics of 5 groups: heterosexuals, bisexuals, lifetime lesbians, adult lesbians, and those who never had sex as an adult.

SETTING
Subjects were recruited at 40 WHI study centers nationwide representing a range of geographic and ethnic diversity.

PARTICIPANTS
Postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years who met WHI eligibility criteria, signed an informed consent to participate in the WHI clinical trial(s) or observational study, and responded to the baseline questions on sexual orientation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Demographic characteristics, psychosocial risk factors, recency of screening tests, and other health-related behaviors as assessed on the WHI baseline questionnaire.

RESULTS
Although of higher socioeconomic status than the heterosexuals, the lesbian and bisexual women more often used alcohol and cigarettes, exhibited other risk factors for reproductive cancers and cardiovascular disease, and scored lower on measures of mental health and social support. Notable is the 35% of lesbians and 81% of bisexual women who have been pregnant. Women reporting that they never had sex as an adult had lower rates of Papanicolaou screening and hormone replacement therapy use than other groups.

CONCLUSIONS
This sample of older lesbian and bisexual women from WHI shows many of the same health behaviors, demographic, and psychosocial risk factors reported in the literature for their younger counterparts, despite their higher socioeconomic status and access to health care. The lower rates of recommended screening services and higher prevalence of obesity, smoking, alcohol use, and lower intake of fruit and vegetables among these women compared with heterosexual women indicate unmet needs that require effective interactions between care providers and nonheterosexual women.


Propranolol therapy at a relatively low dose can cause anger and rage behaviors to subside in some patients. This case describes a man with Down syndrome who, after an accident, sustained minor brain trauma. Subsequently, he regressed to a rage state he had experienced when he was younger.


OBJECTIVES: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has already remained as a major public health problem all over the world. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors influencing the disease progression in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Iran, using parametric multi-state models to take into account the intermediate event in the analysis.
METHOD(S): The data of the present retrospective cohort study was extracted in Tehran from April 2004 to March 2014. The number of 2473 HIV-infected patients in Behavioral Diseases Counseling Centers was enrolled. The outcomes of interest were the transition times from HIV diagnosis to AIDS and AIDS to death. The effect of several prognostic factors on both transitions was investigated.
RESULTS: Parametric models indicated that AIDS progression was significantly associated with an increase in age (P = 0.017), low education (P = 0.026), and a decreased CD4 cell count (P = 0.001). Furthermore, the AIDS-related death was significantly associated with male sex (P = 0.010), tuberculosis coinfection (P = 0.001), antiretroviral therapy (P = 0.001) and a decreased CD4 cell count (P = 0.035).
CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that CD4 cell count was one of the most important prognostic factors that affected and accelerated both HIV→AIDS and AIDS→DEATH transitions and antiretroviral treatment was found to be an effective measure in decelerating survival of patients with AIDS to death state. The usual Cox Model is not able to identify some of these prognostic factors.


3D single-molecule localization microscopy relies on fitting the shape of point-spread-functions (PSFs) recorded on a wide-field detector. However, optical aberrations distort those shapes, which compromise the accuracy and precision of single-molecule localization microscopy. Here we employ a computational phase retrieval based on a vectorial PSF model to quantify the spatially-variance of optical aberrations in a two-channel ultrawide-field single-molecule localization microscope. The use of a spatially-variant PSF model enables accurate and precise emitter localization in x, y- and z-directions throughout the entire field-of-view. OCIS Codes (100.6640) Superresolution; (180.2520) Fluorescence microscopy; (180.6900) Three-dimensional microscopy; (100.5070) Phase retrieval; (150.1135) Algorithms; (220.1010) Aberrations (global).


This study explores how the backgrounds of indigenous students affect their academic achievement, with an emphasis on examining the intervening effect produced by academic achievement on background variables and educational expectations. We distributed questionnaires among 1,300 indigenous students studying at senior high schools in Hualien and Taitung using cluster sampling methods. A total of 1,216 questionnaires were analyzed using regression analysis. The findings are as follows: The indigenous students who have achieved previous academic success experience elevated educational expectations from their family. Meanwhile, academic achievement acts as an intervening variable for12th grade and middle and upper SES (socioeconomic status) and educational expectations. Therefore, we suggest enhancing the academic achievement of 12thgraders and students who come from middle and upper SES backgrounds, so as to elevate their educational expectations and increase the number of indigenous students pursuing college education immediately after leaving senior high school.


This thesis reports on research from a full-scale demonstration project to recharge a depleted aquifer with treated sewage effluent from the Paphos (Cyprus) wastewater treatment plant. The project artificially recharged the Ezousas river basin, located in the south-western coastal plain of Cyprus, with tertiary treated, disinfected effluent through a network of artificial infiltration ponds.
The aims of the research were to determine the capacity of the aquifer to provide a suitable buffer for the flow from the wastewater without flooding and to measure the changes in reclaimed water quality. The aquifer hydraulics and treatment capacity, including recharge basins, were analysed using field and laboratory measurements.
A geological field survey and modelling was used to assess, both by practice and theory the effectiveness of the Ezousas river aquifer for storage and recovery of the reclaimed water. The aquifer was found to be mainly composed of alluvium with typical hydraulic characteristics. The average porosity was 20% and hydraulic conductivity around 90 m/day, it was concluded the aquifer would be able to accept all the annual output of the treatment plant which was 5 Mm3 /a.
The recharge network consisted of five groups of infiltration basins arranged on both banks of the River Ezousas about 2km upstream of the wastewater treatment plant. Each infiltration basin contained two, four or six recharge ponds, each basin was 2,000m2 in area with a depth of 1.5 m. A recharge pattern consisting of alternating weeks of wet-fill and drying cycles was found necessary to maintain the unsaturated zone below the ponds in order to maximise the amount of water that could be recharged whilst optimising water quality.
The hydraulic impact of the artificial recharge and extraction from the field measurements of borehole water levels indicated recharged water down to 15m below the surface. Tracer tests on the groundwater flow, capture zone, residence times and mass balances
of recharged and native waters gave widely varying residence times between 30 days and 5 years, these were attributed to the complex flow patterns found.
Recharged water was sampled using a series of extraction wells located along the downstream river basin, starting at the infiltration ponds and then at stages downstream. Eight production and monitoring wells were tested including control samples up-gradient (upstream) from the ponds, to about 7km down-gradient (downstream).
Water quality was analyzed for the standard wastewater constituents including indicator organisms, organic matter, nutrients N and P and the metals. It was one of the recommendations of the thesis however that attention also be paid to the persistent organics, including the pesticides, biocides, plasticizers and pharma residues.
The chemical data was used to build and validate a solute transport model of the ponds and surrounding area to predict the transport and fate of priority contaminants. In this way, the geo-chemical potential for the retardation, attenuation and chemical or biochemical degradation processes taking place in the unsaturated and saturated zone were assessed. From the results it was concluded that for most analytes, which included metals, nitrate and common salts, the main processes were mixing and dilution by the native ground water. The extracted water was then a mix of waters according to the different residence times and flow of natural groundwater, giving a stable water quality for irrigation. A third reaction involving cation exchange with the local geology was however identified which reduced the concentrations of copper and phosphate beyond what was expected from just mixing.
It was also concluded that denitrification did not occur because of a combination of the high quality of the effluent, the operational cycling of the ponds and the high porosity of the vadose zone. Previous work has found denitrification if the recycled water still contains organic matter, further work was recommended to determine the critical organic concentrations. The renovated water from the Ezousas wastewater reuse Project was able to meet the health and agronomic requirements for unrestricted irrigation.
The risk of flooding with sewage effluent resulting from hydraulic mounding was also investigated to define the growth and decay of the mound. It was possible to report that after more than fifteen years of operation and a total infiltration of 40Mm3, there have been no signs of reduced hydraulic capacity or water quality.


Background
Sarcopenia, or the loss of muscle mass and strength, is known to increase the risk for falls and (hip) fractures in older people. The objective of this study was to assess the skeletal muscle fiber characteristics in elderly female hip fracture patients.

Method
Percutaneous needle biopsies were collected from the vastus lateralis muscle in 15 healthy young women (20 ± 0.4 years), 15 healthy elderly women (79 ± 1.7 years), and 15 elderly women with a fall-related hip fracture (82 ± 1.5 years). Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to assess Type I and Type II muscle fiber size, and myonuclear and satellite cell content.

Results
Type II muscle fiber size was significantly different between all groups (p < .05), with smaller Type II muscle fibers in the hip fracture patients (2,609 ± 185 µm2) compared with healthy elderly group (3,723 ± 322 µm2) and the largest Type II muscle fibers in the healthy young group (4,755 ± 335 µm2). Furthermore, Type I muscle fiber size was significantly lower in the hip fracture patients (4,684 ± 211 µm2) compared with the healthy elderly group (5,842 ± 316 µm2, p = .02). The number of myonuclei per Type II muscle fiber was significantly lower in the healthy elderly and hip fracture group compared with the healthy young group (p = .011 and p = .002, respectively). Muscle fiber satellite cell content did not differ between groups.

Conclusion
Elderly female hip fracture patients show extensive Type II muscle fiber atrophy when compared with healthy young or age-matched healthy elderly controls. Type II muscle fiber atrophy is an important hallmark of sarcopenia and may predispose to falls and (hip) fractures in the older population.


Chiral nanostructures and their optical activity have been attracting great interest. Here, we designed an enantiomer bolaamphiphile containing a naphthalene moiety (bola-1) and an alkyl spacer, and investigated its self-assembly as well as optical activity. It was found that the compound could form gels in various organic or mixed organic/water mixtures. In mixed DMSO/water, it formed a nanohelix. Due to the fluorescent nature of the naphthyl group, the nanohelix showed both CD and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). When three achiral fluorescent molecules, pyrene-1-carboxylic acid (D2), rhodamine 110 (D3) and rhodamine B (D4), were incorporated into the helical structures formed by bola-1, the nanohelix could be retained and the CPL from the dye molecules could be induced. In addition, an energy transfer occurred between the bola-1 nanohelix and the dyes. By mixing the different emission dyes with the bola-1 in an appropriate ratio, white CPL was obtained. It was found that the dissymmetry factor of the white CPL could be increased through energy transfer. This work provided a new convenient and efficient way for obtaining white CPL.


The culture of genital specimens for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis is generally regarded as the most sensitive technique available for routine use. However, the technique is relatively expensive and time-consuming, involving the preparation of one or more wet mounts from the culture to observe motile trichomonads. Considerable savings in cost and time can be achieved by using culture in microtitre trays and visualisation with an inverted microscope.


Characterization of nineteenth-century literary Gothic is usually confined to affective response. This project argues that literary Gothic works constitute an intellectual, empirical endeavor. Because authors of literary Gothic intentionally left voids in their narratives, they invited their readers to participate in making narrative through speculation and conjecture about missing information. The practice of Gothic reading makes the reader an active partaker in filling those voids with rational conclusions. Reading is not just textual encounter. Rather, it incorporates making meaning of one's surroundings. In their experiences, literary works' characters "read" their environments: people, objects, events, etc. Chapter 1 characterizes Gothic reading as the employment of logical processes; Northanger Abbey's Catherine Morland uses induction, deduction and syllogism to make sense of—read—her world. In Chapter 2, Frankenstein presents reading as audience engagement between characters as they tell their stories. Shelley uses sympathy as a social-bonding device in which characters read other characters through listening. Chapter 3 examines Jane Eyre through the motif of the legend of Bluebeard's House. The house serves as a narrative that Bluebeard's Wife must read and decode for its danger. With her keys, she can unlock the spaces of that narrative. Standing in for the reader, Jane attempts to unlock Thornfield's narrative through investigation. Both Jane and the reader use "keys" of unexplainable things to unlock the secrets within the narrative; the Gothic author endows the reader with keys of mysterious objects, people, and events. Reading continually opens up answers. In the final chapter, this project argues for Gothic as detective fiction. In their narrative structure and storylines, Dracula and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde allow for the reader to sleuth out mysteries. Dracula's Seward and van Helsing perform detective work on Renfield and Dracula, respectively. Additionally, each man represents a different style of reasoning, Seward algorithmic and Helsing heuristic. Meanwhile, Utterson the attorney must play detective to determine the nature of the relationship between Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. All three characters read their environments as part of their detection. Table of


This article notes that existing health professionals and managers constitute the first 'generation' working in a world where Health for All is a practical possibility because, if founded on community-based public and primary health care with hospitals in support and good intersectoral help, we now have the appropriate technology, access to finance and adequate numbers of health workers. What we still lack are sufficient health professionals, at all levels, with the managerial skills and experience to apply the technology, generate the funding and motivate the staff; making full use of community involvement, the co-operation of other sectors and good relationships with local and central government. Management can be learned both at the workplace and in the training room, and from the managers a few of them will emerge as leaders, with the vision to secure the willing support of others in reaching worthwhile health goals. A very useful publication is the Training Manual on Management of Human Resources for Health, WHO/EDUC/93.201 from World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland. The paper closes with examples illustrating four principles for health management development: finding key points of entry; reaching large numbers; accelerating national self-sufficiency; and international.


This study was implemented to determine effectiveness of various treatments in recovering boron (B)–deficient olive trees in the Marmara region. The study was carried out during the period 2000–2005. The experimental soil was in loamy texture with medium alkaline pH, low organic matter, and low B concentration. The experiment was conducted in a randomized plot experimental design with 12 treatments. In the study, different B fertilizers were applied to soil and leaves. Treatments of 125, 250, and 500 g−1 borax (sodium tetraborate) were applied to the soils at the beginning of the experiment to determine the later effects of sodium tetraborate. Treatments of 125, 250, and 500 g borax were applied to the soils every year in March. Also, 0.4% borax was applied two or three times, 0.8% sodium tetraborate two or three times, and 0.5% bor-track (boron ethanol amine) two times by foliar applications during the growing period. According to the results, two applications of 0.4% sodium tetraborate to the leaves gave the best results. Soil applications of 250 g sodium tetraborate every year and 500 g sodium tetraborate every two years were the most effective treatments.


Background: Healthcare workers responding to the Corona Virus Pandemic (COVID-19) are at risk of mental illness. Data is scanty on the burden of mental disorders among Kenyan healthcare workers responding to the pandemic that can inform mental health and psychosocial support. The purpose of this study was to establish the frequency and associated factors of worry, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and poor quality of sleep among Kenyan health care workers at the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted an online survey among 1,259 health care workers in Kenya. A researcher developed social demographic questionnaire and several standardized tools were used for data collection. Standardized tools were programmed into Redcap, (Research Electronic Data Capture) and data analysis was performed using R Core Team. In all analysis a p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 66% of the participants reported experiencing worry related to COVID-19. 32.1% had depression, 36% had generalized anxiety, 24.2% had insomnia and 64.7% scored positively for probable Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Depression was higher among females compared to men (36.5 vs. 26.9%, p = 0.003), workers <35 years old compared to older ones (38.1 vs. 26.4%, p < 0.001), and those who were not married compared to those who were married (40.6 vs. 27.6%, p < 0.001). Generalized anxiety was commoner among workers aged <35 years (43.5 vs. 29.3%, p < 0.001), females (41.7 vs. 29.2%, p < 0.001), those who mere not married compared to the married (45.2 vs. 31.2%, p < 0.001) and those with <10 years working experience (41.6 to 20.5%, p < 0.001). Younger health care professional had a higher proportion of insomnia compared to the older ones (30.3 vs. 18.6%, p < 0.001). Insomnia was higher among those with <10 years' experience compared to those with more than 20 years' experience(27.3 vs. 17.6%, p = 0.043) Conclusion: Many Kenyan healthcare workers in the early phase of COVID-19 pandemic suffered from various common mental disorders with young, female professionals who are not married bearing the bigger burden. This data is useful in informing interventions to promote mental and psychosocial wellbeing among Kenyan healthcare workers responding to the pandemic.


A large number of occurrences of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus in wild birds were reported in Europe. The relationship between the occurrence pattern and environmental factors has, however, not yet been explored. This research uses logistic regression to quantify the relationships between anthropogenic or physical environmental factors and HPAI H5N1 occurrences. Our results indicate that HPAI H5N1 occurrences are highly correlated with the following: the increased normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in December; intermediate NDVI in March; lower elevations; increased minimum temperatures in January; and reduced precipitation in January. A predictive risk map of HPAI H5N1 occurrences in wild birds in Europe was generated on the basis of five key environmental factors. Independent validation of the risk map showed the predictive model to be of high accuracy (79%). The analysis suggests that HPAI H5N1 occurrences in wild birds are strongly influenced by the availability of food resources and are facilitated by increased temperatures and reduced precipitation. We therefore deduced that HPAI H5N1 occurrences in wild birds in Europe are probably caused by contact with other wild birds and not by contact with domestic poultry. These findings are important considerations for the global surveillance of HPAI H5N1 occurrences in wild birds.