The proliferation of ATM applications over satellite depends on finding solutions to key issues such as appropriate operating system support, efficient networking protocol implementations, and state-of-the-art onboard processing and switching capabilities of the telecommunication satellites. Global grid architectures based on ATM technology satellite and terrestrial circuits are emerging rapidly. For satellite communications to play an important role in provisioning the ATM based services and networks, it is essential to demonstrate satellite configurations (for example, networking protocols, deep buffers) that are reliable and yield high throughput. Most of the research on ATM architectures is presently focused on using fiber optic (low bit error rate) transmission lines. However, mere substitution of research findings on ATM terrestrial circuit technology to satellite technology will not suffice to improve ATM performance. The communication frameworks over ATM satellite require some modifications to ATM equipment (buffering requirements), operating systems software, and communications protocols. Existing transmission protocols such as TCP/IP, XTP, AALs, TP-4, etc., which are suitable for use in the terrestrial networks, will require some modifications (response timers, frame sizes, etc.). We examine ATM performance issues such as overall throughput, bearer quality of services parameters (congestion control and cell delay), and transmission protocols. We also provide examples of ATM tests performed during October '93 by NCCOSC RDT&E Division (NRaD) San Diego and GTE Government Systems under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) using GTE SPANet ATM switches.<<ETX>>


A study, investigating the relationship between scientific reasoning and the capacity to discover the strategy to play an hypothetico-deductive game (MasterMind), posits that students being able to discover Complex Strategies (vs. General Strategy, Feedback Related, No Strategy) were also, on average, performing higher on our measure of scientific reasoning, itself composed of evaluative, experimental and scientific knowledge measures. In addition to bridge the discovery of complex strategies with higher SR ability, the finding also suggests the necessity to integrate rule discovery exercises in curriculum to 1practice while 2recognize valid reasoning procedures. Finally, inquiring about the middle schooler's capacity to recognize the most effective strategy, will help to assess the class level as a whole. Such assessment will help the teacher identify some needs and target effective lessons to explain and facilitate the transfer of CoV strategies to novel situations, as suggested by "real life" problem demands.


Introduction Sudden cardiac arrest continues to have a high mortality rate. Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has a poor outcome compared to those occurring in a healthcare setup due to lack of awareness and appropriate resources. The most common rhythm abnormality in OHCA is ventricular fibrillation which requires early defibrillation, ideally on the location. Case Report A 19-years male was witnessed by lay bystanders to have become unresponsive following contact with an electric lighting pole on the road median in Chandigarh. A passer-by medical resident detected no pulse and initiated chest compression. Since there was no immediate return of spontaneous circulation and aetiology suggested a defibrillate rhythm. The patient was taken in the car and rushed to a tertiary care centre, 10-minutes away. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was interrupted during transport for lack of adequate personnel. Ventricular fibrillation was noted and shock was delivered along with inotropes. Around 26-minutes into the resuscitation, the patient had the return of spontaneous circulation. After post-cardiac arrest care in intensive care unit (ICU), he was extubated and discharged home in 1-week with full neurological recovery. Discussion Recovery of full neurologic function could be explained by the alternating presence of stable and unstable cardiac rhythms and in part at least brought about by immediate attempts at resuscitation. The report seeks to review these aspects of emergency care besides highlighting the need for both immediate and accurate emergency medical services such as lay responder training, public access defibrillation and responsive transport systems for such patients.


Abstract The nesting ecology of the Allen Cays rock iguana was studied on Leaf Cay and Southwest Allen's Cay (= U Cay) in the northern Exuma Islands, Bahamas, during 2001 and 2002. Mating occured in mid-May, and females migrated 30–173 m to potential nest sites in mid to late June. Females often abandoned initial attempts at digging nest burrows, and average time from initiation of the final burrow to completion of a covered nest was six days. At least some females completely buried themselves within the burrow during the final stages of burrow construction and oviposition. Females defended the burrow site during the entire time of construction, and most continued that defense for at least three to four weeks after nest completion. Nests were completed between mid-June and mid-July, but for unknown reasons timing was seven days earlier on U Cay than on Leaf Cay. Nest burrows averaged 149 cm in length and terminal nest chambers usually angled off the main burrow. Depth to the bottom of the egg chamber averaged 28 cm, and was inversely correlated with shadiness of the site, suggesting that females may select depths with preferred temperatures (mean, 31.4 C in this study). Overall, only about one in three females nested each year, although nesting frequency increased with female size such that the largest females usually nest annually. Nest fidelity was common, despite the potential for observer effects; seven of 13 two-year nesters placed nests within 0.7 m of that constructed the previous year. Nesting females averaged 32 cm snout–vent length (SVL) and 1336 g body mass, and larger, older females nested earlier than smaller, younger ones. Sexual maturity is reached at 26–27 cm SVL, about 750 g body mass, and twelve years of age (nearly twice as old as any previously studied lizard). Longevity of females apparently exceeds 40 years. Clutch size ranged from 1–10 eggs (mean 4.6) and was correlated with female body size and age. Eggs averaged 66 mm in length, 35 mm in width, and 49 g in mass. Egg mass was not correlated with female body size, although egg length was negatively correlated, and egg width was positively correlated with female size. The production of elongate eggs in the smaller females allowed them to invest the same total mass in each egg as a larger female, while being constrained by the limits of the pelvic opening. No trade-off existed between standardized clutch size versus egg size. Relative clutch mass (clutch mass/gravid female body mass × 100) averaged 16.5 and did not vary with female size or age. Hatching apparently occurs in late September and early October after about 80–85 days incubation, with emergence within just a few days. Hatchlings averaged 9.5 cm SVL and 33 g body mass. Survivorship to emergence was 78.9%, and was inversely correlated with soil moisture. The reproductive ecology of other iguanids (sensu strictu) is reviewed for comparison with that of the Allen Cays rock iguana. Comparisons of these data with those available for other rock iguanas of the genus Cyclura suggest that colonization of smaller islands has produced reductions in adult female body size, clutch size, clutch mass, and relative clutch mass, but no change in egg or hatchling mass. Because this pattern is also demonstrated by a population of Cuban iguanas introduced to a small island only 40 years ago, it may primarily be a proximal response to decreased resource availability and/or physiological processability on small islands rather than an evolved response to reduced predation rates or other factors affecting survivorship.


This datasheet on Celosia argentea covers Identity, Overview, Associated Diseases, Pests or Pathogens, Distribution, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Uses, Prevention/Control, Management, Genetics and Breeding, Food Quality, Food Safety, Economics, Further Information.


Objective: To investigate the oral health (with regard to the periapical status, quality of root fillings and coronal restorations) in an urban adult Turkish subpopulation using digital panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: One thousand digital panoramic radiographs involving 28,000 teeth were selected from the archive of the Public Oral and Dental Health Center of Isparta. Coronal status (the type of restoration, signs of marginal leakage or decay), root filling quality (length and lateral seal) and periapical status (according to Periapical Index, PAI) were evaluated. Correlations between apical periodontitis (AP) and the quality of root fillings or coronal restorations were statistically analyzed using the χ2 test. Results: Of the 28,000 teeth evaluated, 22,380 (80.0%) were sound, 4,732 (16.9%) were missing, 753 (2.6%) were filled and 135 (0.5%) were decayed. Of the 753 coronal restorations, 400 (53.1%) were radiographically acceptable. Of the 23,268 teeth, 601 (2.6%) were root filled and 247 root fillings were adequate. Ninety-five (15.8%) root-filled teeth had AP (PAI 3-5). Out of the total, the AP prevalence was 0.4% in root-filled teeth and 0.8% in teeth without root fillings. The presence of AP was significantly correlated with inadequate coronal restorations and root canal fillings (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Tooth type, quality and type of coronal restorations, and length and homogeneity of root fillings significantly affected periapical status.


The effects of guanabenz on serum lipids were assessed from data obtained in multicenter studies involving 483 patients treated for up to 2 years for essential hypertension. The mean age of the population was 50 years; 54% were male, and 61% were white. Dosage was titrated to maximize individual blood pressure response and was maintained at that level (mean final dosage 25 mg/day) for the remainder of the treatment period. After 4 weeks of treatment, mean total cholesterol levels decreased by 10 mg/dl (p less than 0.01), and the decrease was maintained throughout subsequent therapy. The decreases in cholesterol concentration were not affected by age, race, sex, previous diuretic therapy, previous antihypertensive therapy, smoking habits, or caffeine use. Complete lipid and lipoprotein profiles were obtained on serum specimens from 39 guanabenz-treated, overnight-fasted patients. Significant (p less than 0.01) mean decreases were observed for total cholesterol (-25 mg/dl) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (-23 mg/dl) with no significant changes either in cholesterol levels of high density lipoproteins and very low density lipoproteins or in triglyceride levels. These changes indicate that guanabenz, given as monotherapy, has a favorable effect on the serum lipid profile with regard to cardiovascular risk.


Introduction From January 2014 the Department of Gastroenterology at York Hospital introduced evidence based guidelines for the use of faecal calprotectin (FC) in monitoring patients with Crohn's disease (CD) established on a management plan. These are summarised: FC <100 mcg/g: likely quiescent disease. Manage patient expectantly in the first place and re-test at 12 months or consider withdrawal of therapy. Repeat FC 3 monthly if treatment step-down. FC 100–250: likely mild or quiescent disease. Manage patient expectantly in the first place and re-test at 6 months. FC >250: likely active disease. Repeat FC and if >250 again consider treatment escalation or re-investigation. Repeat FC 3 monthly after re-establishing management plan. Method An audit of these guidelines was registered with the Clinical Audit and Effectiveness Team. The negative and positive predictive values (NPV and PPV) of these guidelines at 1 year has been determined. Results Demographics: 106 patients have been entered into the audit. Compliance is 87%. Disease location (%): ileal 20, colonic 20, ileocolonic 60, perianal 8, upper GI 4. Previous surgery: 48%. Established therapy (%): none 20, mesalazine 15, azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine 35, methotrexate 5, infliximab 12, adalimumab 12, dual immunomodulation 13. 76% patients were clinically asymptomatic. With a FC cut off set >250: NPV for active CD was: 0.89 (0.77–0.95) and PPV: 0.91 (0.79–0.97). FC <100: of 34 evaluated 8 patients became symptomatic and were investigated; 2 had active CD. 6 had therapeutic reductions of whom 3 flared; 1 had surgery and 2 were re-captured (FC <100). FC100–250: of 15 evaluated 4 patients became symptomatic within 6 months. For the asymptomatic remainder FC was stable in 15%, reduced in 15% and increased in 70% at 6 months. FC >250: of 43 evaluated the repeat FC remained >250 in 35 patients. 28 were investigated of whom 24 had active CD. 28 patients had treatment escalation but only 1 required bridging steroid. 2 patients had resections. 73% of those re-evaluated now have a repeat FC <250. Conclusion This interim analysis confirms the applicability of these guidelines. Such a model is ideally suited to a nurse specialist service, identifying those patients that can be managed expectantly without recourse to invasive or expensive investigation and those that require proactive intervention before becoming symptomatic. The key elements to these guidelines are: a traffic light system of risk assessment, the confidence interval between repeat FC assessments, repeating the FC before acting if >250 and recognising that FC monitoring does not replace clinical decision making. In conclusion such a model of FC monitoring has the potential to be safe, clinically- and cost-effective in those with CD established on a management plan. Disclosure of interest None Declared.


BACKGROUND
Outbreaks of filoviral hemorrhagic fever occur sporadically and unpredictably across wide regions in central Africa and overlap with the occurrence of other infectious diseases of public health importance.

METHODS
As a proof of concept we developed a bivalent recombinant vaccine based on vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) expressing the Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) and Andes virus (ANDV) glycoproteins (VSVΔG/Dual) and evaluated its protective efficacy in the common lethal Syrian hamster model. Hamsters were vaccinated with VSVΔG/Dual and were lethally challenged with ZEBOV or ANDV. Time to immunity and postexposure treatment were evaluated by immunizing hamsters at different times prior to and post ZEBOV challenge.

RESULTS
A single immunization with VSVΔG/Dual conferred complete and sterile protection against lethal ZEBOV and ANDV challenge. Complete protection was achieved with an immunization as close as 3 days prior to ZEBOV challenge, and 40% of the animals were even protected when treated with VSVΔG/Dual one day postchallenge. In comparison to the monovalent VSV vaccine, the bivalent vaccine has slightly reduced postexposure efficacy most likely due to its restricted lymphoid organ replication.

CONCLUSIONS
Bivalent VSV vectors are a feasible approach to vaccination against multiple pathogens.


To the Editor:— A recent contribution "Aspiration Pneumonitis, An Obstetric Hazard" by Dr. Charles C. Hall of Oakland, Calif., deserves further comment. Dr. Hall presents reports of fourteen women in labor who vomited while affected by pain relieving drugs; five of them died as a result, and the infant of one of them also was lost. The paper emphasizes the danger of the occurrence of vomiting by anesthetized patients but does not go far enough. Similar occurrences are not infrequent in patients depressed from the action of drugs other than anesthetics and from illness or accident, as well as during induction and recovery from surgical anesthesia. When pneumonitis or death from asphyxia results from inhaled vomitus, it is doubtful whether the physician in attendance should be held blameless. Effects following injury, illness and administration of drugs for relief of pain exaggerate the hazard of aspiration of foreign matter into the


The definitive biography of one of the great British literary figures of the twentieth century: Dame Rebecca West.

Cicely Fairfield was born in 1892, but as a young woman - and a budding actress - she changed her name to that of the feminist heroine in Ibsen's play, Rosmersholm . A passionate suffragist, socialist (though in later life she was also a passionate supporter of Mrs Thatcher), fiercely intelligent, Rebecca West began her career as a writer with articles in The Freewoman and The Clarion, and published her first book, a biography of Henry James, when she was only twenty-four and her first novel two years later. She had a notorious affair with H.G. Wells, and their illegitimate son, Anthony, was born at the beginning of the First World War. The author of several novels, she is perhaps best remembered for her classic account of pre-war Yugoslavia, Black Lamb, Grey Falcon (published by Macmillan in 1941 and as relevant today as it was sixty years ago) and for her coverage of the Nuremberg Trials. When she died in 1983, aged 90, William Shawn then editor in chief of The New Yorker said of her: 'Rebecca West was one of the giants and will have a lasting place in English literature. No one in this century wrote more dazzling prose, or had more wit, or looked at the intricacies of human character and the ways of the world more intelligently.' Formidably talented and indeed formidable, West was a towering figure in the British literary landscape Lorna Gibb's vivid and insightful biography affords a dazzling insight into her life and work.


Sealab II, an underwater habitat experiment conducted by the Navy in 1965, and Skylab, NASA's proto-space station launched into Earth orbit in 1973, are examples of extreme environments in which psychological research was carried out on the inhabitants of these spaces. These vessels showcase attention paid to psychological field research during the Cold War, a time when isolated confined environments and small group studies were funded under federal auspices for national defense purposes. These case studies challenge historians to re-evaluate existing definitions of the laboratory and of fieldwork, as their application to novel spaces in postwar social science research differed from prior uses of these terms.


The integration of cell culture and characterization onto a miniaturized platform promises to benefit many applications such as tissue engineering, drug screening, and those involving small, precious cell populations. Microfluidic technology provides the tools for creating more in vivo like environments for cell culture, and the integration of electrodes into the lab-on-a-chip system permit temperature control, electrokinetic cell handling, and dielectric characterization. We use hydrogels to trap and release cells for incubation. The porous nature of these gels allows the transport of nutrient and waste, and the gel network can also present specific adhesive properties for attachment of cells. Channel design and flowrate control are crucial in determining hydrogel geometry, while on-chip temperature control triggers reversible gel formation.


The Affordable Care Act (ACA) HR 4972 (Public Law 111-148 and 111-152) contains a broad sweeping set of health care reforms that will move our country toward universal insurance coverage, change how Medicare and Medicaid pay for services, and infuse a new focus on wellness and care coordination into our previously reactive health care system. Each of these reforms will have important implications for patients with cancer, both those who have been diagnosed as well as those who have yet to be diagnosed. This article provides a brief overview of how some of the key changes included in the ACA will affect Medicare patients and those dually eligible for the Medicaid program. We focus on Medicare in particular because individuals 65 years or older make up only 12% of the U.S. population, but account for more than half of all cancer patients. The ACA will also have important impacts for cancer patients without health insurance-nearly 10% of all cancer patients-as we move toward universal coverage that does not discriminate against individuals with pre-existing conditions. Changes in the ACA that will affect access to and payment for cancer care among Medicare and dually eligible patients are outlined in this article.


Methionine is the precursor of homocysteine, a sulfur amino acid intermediate in the methylation and transsulfuration pathways. Elevated plasma homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia) is associated with occlusive vascular disease. Whether homocysteine per se or a coincident metabolic abnormality causes vascular disease is still an open question. Animals with genetic hyperhomocysteinemia have so far not displayed atheromatous lesions. However, when methionine-rich diets are used to induce hyperhomocysteinemia, vascular pathology is often observed. Such studies have not distinguished the effects of excess dietary methionine from those of hyperhomocysteinemia. We fed apolipoprotein E-deficient mice with experimental diets designed to achieve three conditions: (i) high methionine intake with normal blood homocysteine; (ii) high methionine intake with B vitamin deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia; and (iii) normal methionine intake with B vitamin deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia. Mice fed methionine-rich diets had significant atheromatous pathology in the aortic arch even with normal plasma homocysteine levels, whereas mice fed B vitamin-deficient diets developed severe hyperhomocysteinemia without any increase in vascular pathology. Our findings suggest that moderate increases in methionine intake are atherogenic in susceptible mice. Although homocysteine may contribute to the effect of methionine, high plasma homocysteine was not independently atherogenic in this model. Some product of excess methionine metabolism rather than high plasma homocysteine per se may underlie the association of homocysteine with vascular disease.


A growing number of users in Web 2.0 based social network sites and photo sharing portals upload millions of images per day. In many cases, this leads to serious privacy threats. The images reveal not only the personal relationships and attitudes of the uploader, but of other persons displayed in the images as well. In this paper, we propose the PRIMO system architecture for privacy-aware image sharing. Our approach is based on semantic annotations, face recognition and user-defined privacy rules. PRIMO connects to many social network sites and photo sharing portals via the OpenSocial API and proprietary interfaces.


Background and Purpose: Effective relapse treatment is critical for minimizing disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Repository corticotropin injection (RCI; Acthar® Gel) has demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of MS exacerbations. However, there is limited real-world evidence available regarding the relationship between the use of RCI for MS relapses and patient demographics, disease characteristics, and dosing regimens. In this multicenter, prospective, observational registry, patients receiving RCI for acute MS relapse were characterized, and recovery and safety outcomes were described. Methods: Patients were invited by their treating clinician to participate in the registry during a routine care visit. The decision to initiate RCI occurred before determination of study eligibility. All treatment decisions were made at the discretion of the patient's health care provider and were not mandated by the study design or protocol. Each enrolled patient was followed for up to 24 Months or until the date of study termination. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in MS Impact Scale Version 1 (MSIS-29v1) physical subscale scores at Month 2. Additional assessments included the MSIS-29v1 psychological subscale, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: MS (WPAI:MS), and Health Resource Utilization (HRU) questionnaire. Results: Of 145 patients enrolled, 82 (56.6%) completed 24 Months of follow-up. Mean MSIS-29v1 physical subscale scores improved at 2 Months (−8.0; P = 0.0002) and 6 Months (−9.6; P < 0.0001). Mean MSIS-29v1 psychological subscale scores also improved at 2 Months (−7.9; P = 0.0040) and 6 Months (−9.9; P = 0.0012). Mean EDSS scores improved at 2 Months (−0.4; P < 0.0001) and 6 Months (−0.5; P < 0.0001). CGI-I scores indicated improvement in 63.4% of 71 patients at 2 Months and 61.4% of 57 patients at 6 Months (both P < 0.0001). Improvements on the WPAI:MS activity impairment domain (P < 0.001) and reductions in outpatient, specialist, and emergency department visits were observed at 2 and 6 Months. A total of 35 (28.0%) patients reported 83 adverse events; 11 (8.8%) patients reported 16 serious adverse events. Conclusions: This observational study found significant improvements in MS assessment scores after RCI treatment and supports the efficacy and tolerability of RCI for MS relapse. Clinical Trial Registration: This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT02633033.


Two simple and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric methods have been developed for determination of zolmitriptan (ZTP) in tablets. These methods are based on the formation of yellow ion-pair complexes between ZTP and tropaeolin OO (TPOO) and bromothymol blue (BTB) in citrate-phosphate buffer of pH 4.0 and 6.0, respectively. The formed complexes were extracted with dichloromethane and measured at 411.5 and 410 nm for TPOO and BTB, respectively. The best conditions of the reactions were studied and optimized. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration ranges of 2-20 and 1.5-17 microg/mL with molar absorptivities of 1.42 x 10(4) and 1.60 x 10(4) L/mol/cm for the TPOO and BTB methods, respectively. Correlation coefficients were 0.9998 and 0.9999 for TPOO and BTB methods, respectively. Limits of detection of the TPOO and BTB methods were 0.341 and 0.344 microg/mL, respectively, and the limits of quantitation were 1.034 and 1.051 microg/mL, respectively. Sandell's sensitivity and stability constant were also calculated. The proposed methods have been applied successfully for the analysis of the drug in its dosage forms. No interference was observed from excipients present in tablets. Statistical comparison of the results with those obtained by a high-performance liquid chromatography method showed excellent agreement and indicated no significant differences in accuracy and precision.


We investigated the effect of oxidative stress on the expression of adrenomedullin (AM) mRNA in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), using diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), which is known to inhibit endogenous Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and to increase superoxide (O2-). DDC (10 mM) increased O2- levels produced from rat VSMCs in a time-dependent fashion. Concomitantly, DDC increased the expression of AM mRNA for up to 24 h, although it did not affect the expression of beta-actin mRNA. Thus, oxidative stress enhanced AM production in rat VSMCs, which may compensate for oxidative-stress-induced vasoconstriction.


Vector Quantization (VQ) is a well-established technique for low bitrate source coding due to its inherent theoretical superiority over the scalar quantization. In product code VQ the input vector is decomposed to different elements and separate codebooks are designed for each element. In the paper, a new variation of SVQ is presented, which vastly reduces the encoding complexity. Fast Lattice-based Spherical Vector Quantization (FLSVQ), enables the use of very fast lattice quantizing algorithms instead of the exhaustive search of all the codebook points. Fast lattice nearest neighbour algorithms have been developed by conway and Sloane (1982). In this method an extension of these algorithms is used. Then, a novel two-stage lattice vector quantization method based on FLSVQ is tested for interframe coding of images sequences and simulation results are provided to assess the performance of the proposed method. >


Sustainability has been an issue receiving growing attention in the past decade and the construction sector has not escaped notice. There has been a response at both the Government and industry level, to the agenda; with agreement that the industry must address sustainability by acting to minimise its impacts on both the environment and society. While much focus has been placed on how to minimise these impacts in the building sector, far less attention has been given to the infrastructure sector. Again while attention has been given to the construction process and acknowledging the potential for maximising impact reduction at the design stage, the focus given to the relationship between sustainability and consultant engineers has been limited.

This research sets out to understand the influences affecting sustainability in a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy, with an emphasis on the environment and the design stage. Utilising a selection of research methods (i.e. case studies, archival analysis, interviews, causal loops and questionnaires) an understanding was developed illustrating the influence that clients, strategic and operational organisational issues, policy and engineers knowledge, have on implementing sustainability. Relating the research to the existing literature, it was possible to propose a number of interventions to promote the integration of sustainability within a consultancy.


In the field of data mining, clustering of educational data has not given much of the importance. Considering the growth of educational field as a business, clustering of educational data must be focused as it can give effective results as in the case of mining enrolled students on the basis of education they undertake. A new algorithm is proposed and implemented by us for clustering educational data. This algorithm is based on a continuous looping procedure. Raw dataset is assigned to clustering algorithm initially and a novel cluster is identified for partition whose cluster high degree is less. Then improvement of degree of cluster is carried out. In this algorithm on the basis of homogeneity, cluster high degree is defined. Experiment is carried out on educational data; which provides good high degree clusters.


The thesis raises questions concerning prehistoric conditions in a high mountain region in central Scandinavia; it focuses on the human use of stone and on hunting principally of reindeer. An analysis of how the stone material was utilized and an approach to how large mammals were hunted result in a synthesis describing one interpretation of how the vast landscape of a region in the central Scandinavian high mountains was used. With this major aim as a base questions were posed concerning the human use of stone resources and possible changes in this use. Preconditions for the occurrence of large mammals as game animals and for hunting are also highlighted. A general perspective is the long time period over which possible changes in the use of stone and hunting of big game, encompassing the Late Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age and to a certain extent the Early Iron Age.Considering the manufacture of flaked stone tools, debitage in the form of flakes from a dwelling, constitute the base where procurement and technology are essential. The occupation of the dwelling covers a period from the Late Mesolithic to the Bronze Age. Possible changes in lithic use are discussed based on an analysis of debitage which includes testing variables reflecting various steps in the process of flaked stone tool manufacture. Also, the results are discussed from a methodological aspect; the classificatory aspect of analyzing large flake assemblages is implied. The result of the flake analysis indicates differences in the use of stone from the Late Mesolithic to the Bronze Age/Early Iron Age. These differences are interpreted in a three-part chronological division and as theoretically proceeding in a manufacturing process of five steps including acquisition, reduction through three steps and use of completed tools. A pattern, dividing the Bronze Age use of stone from that of the Neolithic and Late Mesolithic is discerned and discussed in terms of changes in procurement strategies and technology. Also, social organization is touched upon.When approaching the issue of hunting the character of data differ; archaeological and palaeo-environmental data together comprise the base for a discussion of possible changes. This is based on a theoretical model applied in a hypothetical research design. Archaeological categories of remains relevant in hunting contexts together with ethnographic and traditional hunting techniques are discussed. They constitute the base and illustrate possible variables in the testing of the hypothetical model. Changes in the Holocene climate are clear, just as changes in the archaeological record are observable. Together these circumstances indicate changes in the hunting process.The structural changes in economy and society that occur in central and north Scandinavia during stone-using periods are discernible in the region studied here.


This thesis investigates on a specific tool for people with dementia that can help them to
preserve memories. This tool is called life storybook and is similar to a photo album. More
particularly, in this thesis it is tried to find out whether making a life storybook digital can
enhance its user experience for people with dementia. At first it might seem rather contradictory
that making a book digital for people who struggle with little daily-life-activities and are not used
to technology can achieve an improvement in any way. Research however shows that
technology is going to play an important role in dementia care in the future. That is because
recent developments like our ageing society and elderly wanting to live longer at home require
health care to adapt to these changes. The main pillar in this restructuring process is technology
due to its possibilities. Additionally, these possibilities offer new ways to dementia treatment
methods, in particular to the ones that include multi sensory stimulations which have
been found to be especially effective. Subsequently, a digital life storybook could stimulate more
senses of the user than only a book. If this and what else contributes to a better user experience
was investigated by designing and developing a 'life-storybook-application'.
This process happened in two steps. First a LoFi-prototype was created and tested. In
this phase the prototype was not fully functional yet, which is why the testing was aimed at its
usability. Next to that, an interview was conducted collecting information about people with
dementia in general. With the results of both, the testing and the interview, the first part of the
answer to the research question could be formulated: for the life-storybook-application to be
able to enhance the user experience it has to be usable by elderly. This concretely means that
its design has to be simple, intuitive and consistent. Furthermore it was found that it should
preferably be designed as book. It is important, that buttons and the font size are big enough
and it should always be clear what the user can do, i.e. if something is clickable or not. In
general, it is crucial to limit the options.
In the second step the prototype was realized by being programmed as complete and
functional application, which was then evaluated in a second user test. This time, the focus was
put on its functionality and content. The content included screens showing photos with a voice
recording, a video and photos with a song. The main goals were to find out which combination
of media is considered to be most stimulating and whether the participant is able to perform a
basic interaction with the application, which is to add content to it. Answers to these questions
were obtained by observing the participant testing the application and through an interview, that
was meant to clarify, testify and complement the observations. Additional information was
collected with a questionnaire providing quantitative data and therefore another perspective to
the results. The main findings were that participants struggled with adding content to the
application and that all combinations of media were considered to be stimulating with the remark
that for voice recordings that is only the case if the voice is familiar. That way, it is shown that
with multimedia, more ways of stimulating can be provided as with a conventional life storybook.
In conclusion, digitising a life storybook enhances its user experience due to the different
combinations of media that can be included, given that it is user friendly for people with
dementia.


The issue of rising number of disasters, the overwhelming increase in number of older adults, and historically flawed evacuations presents real challenges. Disasters can strike anywhere, any time, and have devastating consequences. Since 1900, the number of Americans 65 and older has increased 12 times (from 3.1 million to 36.3 million). During the next two decades, the number of American baby boomers, now aged 45-64, who turn 65, will increase by 40%. As evidenced by recent disasters, the imperfections and vulnerabilities of flawed evacuations for older adults are still present. This study examined the level of willingness to evacuate among older adults in the event of a disaster. Despite the extensive literature on disasters and evacuation, some significant questions regarding evacuation and older adults have not been addressed. This study addressed the following concerns: (1) What is the willingness among older adults to evacuate when asked to do so by emergency management officials? (2) Does the call to evacuate being mandatory versus voluntary influence the willingness of seniors to evacuate? (3) Do preconditions (Gender, Marital Status, Age, Ethnic Origin, and Education Levels) influence the willingness to evacuate among older adults?

The sample population consisted of 765 voluntary participants aged 60 years and older from thirty senior/community centers within seven counties in the State of Oklahoma. A group administered survey (The Disaster Evacuation Survey) included a total of 15 questions. This study revealed the following findings: older adults are more likely to comply with a mandatory evacuation order. Individuals with college degrees are more likely to comply with mandatory evacuations. African Americans are more likely to comply with a voluntary request. American Indian/Alaskan Native are more likely to comply with mandatory evacuation orders from emergency officials. Important practical implications for emergency officials responding to vulnerable older adults in disaster situations are also provided.


Rating enables the information asymmetry existing in the issuer-investor relationship to be reduced, particularly for issues with a high degree of complexity, as is the case of securitizations. However, there may be a serious conflict of interest between the issuer's choice and remuneration of the agency and the credit rating awarded, resulting in lower quality and information power of the published rating. In this paper, we propose an explicative model of the number of ratings requested, by analyzing the relevance of the number of ratings to measure the reliability, where multirating is shown to be associated to the quality, size, liquidity and the degree of information asymmetry relating to the issue. Thus, we consider that the regulatory changes that foster the widespread publication of simultaneous ratings could help to alleviate the problem of rating model arbitrage and the crisis of confidence in credit ratings in general and in the securitization issues, in particular. KEYWORD: Credit rating agencies (CRAs), rating, securitization, rating shopping, rating model arbitrage


Index insurance is often promoted as a solution to many of the barriers that are thought to limit the supply of formal insurance coverage to smallholder farmers and livestock owners in developing countries. This manuscript summarizes the state of index insurance, paying special attention to the key challenges facing index insurance if it is to become a more effective tool for development. We then offer recommendations to tackle those challenges by strategically investing in a set of public goods and services geared towards addressing key informational gaps and improving the quality of index insurance products around the world.


While Paul Ricoeur's Time and Narrative (1990) was only concerned with fictional and historical narratives, its influence on narrative theory has been much broader. Ricoeur's reflections expanded into the field of journalism, among other areas, notably through the notion of media narrative (or récit médiatique) as defined by Marc Lits (1997a). Following Lits, Ricoeur's legacy—and, more specifically, the distinction it inspired between immersive and informative narratives (Baroni 2018)—has been used to shed light on a specific kind of journalism often referred to as narrative journalism, that is, journalism that uses the writing techniques of fiction to tell news stories. This article further examines the dialectic between immersion and information in narrative journalism by exploring both journalists' goals when writing their texts and receivers' experiences when reading them. First, interviews with journalists show that they are largely aware of this dialectic and purposefully use an immersive form to help readers better understand information. Then, an exploratory study with readers reveals that they claim to look mostly for information yet seem to favor immersive narratives.


Inactivating mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 confer a large lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancer. These genes are involved in high-fidelity repair of DNA double strand breaks. Although defects in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are contributing to tumorigenesis, they may also form therapeutic targets. We investigated two treatment options, one being overloading the tumor with DNA double strand breaks using high dose alkylating chemotherapy. The other employing synthetic lethality between Poly(ADP)Polymerase (PARP) inhibiton and BRCA1 and BRCA2 deficiencies. To identify which patients could benefit from these treatments, tests to identify patients with defective BRCA1 and BRCA2 need to be identified and validated. In this thesis we studied several of these markers. We established that a previously identified tumor DNA profile with amplifications and deletions similar to that of BRCA1 mutated breast cancer can be robustly obtained using several (SNP) array based technologies and next generation sequencing. We then identified BRCA1-like and BRCA2-like DNA signatures in ovarian cancer. We further established that tumor type specific and mutation type specific signatures corresponded best with identifying tumors with a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2, but that certain combinations of genes and tumor types might be present. Subsequently, we used the BRCA1-like breast cancer test on tumor DNA of one balanced cohort of patients and one randomized trial in which patients were treated with high dose alkylating chemotherapy. We found in both studies that patients with a BRCA1-like tumor benefitted substantially from the high dose alkylating chemotherapy. Corrected for prognostic factors, patients with BRCA1-like tumors had 5-6-fold decreased risk of recurrence and death. The prediction of patients that benefit could be improved by measuring the expression of two other genes. Xist and 53BP1 were identified as resistance markers in BRCA1 deficient preclinical model systems. When used in patients with a BRCA1-like tumor, these two genes identified patients that were not benefitting from high dose alkylating chemotherapy treatment. Next evaluating these high dose alkylating regimens in patients with tumors with a BRCA-like DNA profile, we set up a trial to test PARP inhibition by olaparib in combination with carboplatin (a double strand break inducing chemotherapeutic). In a phase 1/randomized phase 2 trial we will first establish the dose of olaparib and carboplatin that can be administered in combination. In phase 2 we will randomize patients with a BRCA1 or BRCA2-mutated breast cancer to first line treatment with olaparib-carboplatin followed by olaparib monotherapy versus capecitabine, the currently established clinical standard for these patients. In conclusion, we performed technical validation of breast cancer BRCA-like profiles, established ovarian cancer BRCA-like profiles, validated the BRCA1-like breast cancer profile as predictor for high dose alkylating chemotherapy, performed early validation of the putative resistance markers Xist and 53BP1 and set up a randomized study to test olaparib-carboplatin as first line treatment of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutated patients.


Weather derivatives represent an important financial innovation for risk management. As with the use of any derivatives contract, the behaviour of the basis ultimately determines the net-hedged outcome. However, when using weather derivatives to hedge volumetric risks, risk managers often face unique basis risks arising from both the choice of weather station where a derivatives contract is written, as well as the relationship between the hedged volume and the underlying weather index. Using the encompassing principle, this research shows that the nonlinear relationship often found between crop yields and weather creates a specific hedging role for options. The results suggest that weather derivative instruments with nonlinear pay-offs, such as options, be used solely or in combination with linear payoff instruments, such as swaps or futures, to minimize basis risk associated with the nonlinear relationship between yields and weather. This research also suggests that the choice of weather station may be less critical in managing basis risk than properly accounting for the relationship between yields and weather.


Using a longitudinal sample of Swedish midadolescents, variations from the normal transition into regular drinking habits were proposed to be linked to particular types of peer relationships. The interpersonal ecology for variations from the age-normative patterns was assumed to be the association with younger, older, or full-time working peers. As predicted, analyses for midadolescent males and females (N = 1,012) at age 14 years showed that having younger peers as friends was related to a lower prevalence of and less frequent drunkenness in midadolescence as compared to having only same-age peers as friends. Similar results were evident for association with older or with working peers. The differential impact of peers, which was evident at the age of 14 years, was still significant 17 months later but not at the age of 26 years. Discussion emphasized the need to assess differential influences on timing in the transitions in social behavior in adolescence.


Abstract Although a large superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors serves multiple functions, little is known about their functional activation during ontogeny. To examine the functional activation of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) and the delta-opioid receptor (DOR) during development, sections of mouse embryos and fetuses from e11.5 until birth were treated with DAMGO and DPDPE, respectively, and the ability of these drugs to induce G-protein coupling was assessed by using GTPγ35S binding autoradiography. MOR activation was first detected in the caudate-putamen (CPU) at e12.5, and by e15.5, activity had not only increased in this region but also expanded to include the midbrain, medial habenula, hypothalamus, pons, and medulla. DOR activity first appeared at e17.5 in the hypothalamus, pons, medial habenula, and medulla and at p1 in the CPU at levels noticeably less than those of the MOR. In general, MOR and DOR activation lagged only slightly behind the appearance of MOR-1 and DOR-1 mRNA but delayed activation was particularly pronounced in the trigeminal ganglia, where MOR-1 gene expression was first detected at e13.5, but MOR activity was not observed even at birth. Thus, the data demonstrate temporal and often region-specific differences in the appearance and magnitude of functional activity in cell groups expressing either the MOR-1 or DOR-1 genes, suggesting that interaction between the opioid receptors, G-proteins, and other signaling cofactors is developmentally regulated.


This study establishes a quantitative and qualitative
difference in the pattern of text processing of native and
non native speakers of English. The psychological nature of
this difference is explored in five studies. They reveal
the following influences.
1 - Non-native speakers are disadvantaged when text
processing relies on mental operations which are based on
schema representations of the language e.g. assumption,
evaluation and interpretation. They are not disadvantaged
when processing is based on mental operations more related
r
to ability like deducing and inferring. A test of these five
mental processes was constructed especially for this
investigation.
2 - The study also reveals that native speakers benefit
almost twice as much from repeated presentations of the same
text. The improvement, however, is limited to certain types
of test items.
3 - The processing difference between native and
non-native speakers of English was elucidated when analysed
in terms of the current expert/novice paradigm. Factors
and strategies which differentiate expert learners from
novices were also seen to differentiate between native and
non-native speakers of English. 4 - The contribution of ability to text processing
is studied under a condition of varying relationship between
past experience and learning content. The results show that
learners' performance is quantitatively and qualitatively
different when faced with schema related as against schema
unrelated texts. A reciprocal function is observed when the
non-schema relevant group compensates for lack of past experience
by making use of deductive reasoning. On the other hand,
learners in the schema relevant condition make minimum call
upon this ability.
5 - The generality of the influence of cognitive group
membership (e.g. identical native language, similarity of
past experience) was tested by comparing the processing patterns
of 'A' level students doing the same science subject (physics)
with students doing an arts subject (history). The results
support the hypothesis of differential approaches to learning
associated with subject discipline. The findings are discussed
in the context of positive attempts to improve the processing
performance of students operating in a non-native language.


Temperature-sensitive (ts) mutations have been used as a genetic and molecular tool to study the functions of many gene products. Each ts mutant protein may contain a temperature-dependent intramolecular mechanism such as ts conformational change. To identify key ts structural elements controlling the protein function, we screened ts p53 mutants from a comprehensive mutation library consisting of 2,314 p53 missense mutations for their sequence-specific transactivity through p53-binding sequences in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We isolated 142 ts p53 mutants, including 131 unreported ts mutants. These mutants clustered in β-strands in the DNA-binding domain, particularly in one of the two β-sheets of the protein, and 15 residues (Thr155, Arg158, Met160, Ala161, Val172, His214, Ser215, Pro223, Thr231, Thr253, Ile254, Thr256, Ser269, Glu271, and Glu285) were ts hot spots. Among the 142 mutants, 54 were examined further in human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells, and it was confirmed that 89% of the mutants were also ts in mammalian cells. The ts mutants represented distinct ts transactivities for the p53 binding sequences and a distinct epitope expression pattern for conformation-specific anti-p53 antibodies. These results indicated that the intramolecular β-sheet in the core DNA-binding domain of p53 was a key structural element controlling the protein function and provided a clue for finding a molecular mechanism that enables the rescue of the mutant p53 function.


Objectives: To evaluate trends in the national and regional reporting of syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, genital herpes, trichomoniasis, and HIV in Ukraine. Methods: Annual notification rates of infection per 105 population in three regions of Ukraine—Donetsk, Mikolaiv, Chernivtsi—and also among children, adolescents, and pregnant women were used as indicators for the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the Ukraine from 1994 to 2000. The estimates were based on a review of medical literature, reported data from STD clinics, and local epidemiological surveys. An analysis of the trends was made. Results: The notification rate of trichomoniasis rose from 284.3 in 1997 to 330.8 in 2000. The same for syphilis was 68.7 per 100 000 population in 1994 peaked in 1996 with 150.9 falling to 91.5 in 2000. The reported incidence of gonorrhoea has been falling recently to 52.7/105 in 2000 (a 104.6% decrease since 1994). Chlamydia notification rates, however, rose 2.4-fold between 1995 and 2000 (16.1/105 to 54.2/105). In the same period there was a 218% increase the reported incidence of genital herpes. STIs are more common in the eastern industrial regions. In the period 1994–7 there was a dramatic 179-fold increase in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS which has plateaued in subsequent years. By January 2001 a total of 36 600 cases of HIV infection (including 2040 people with AIDS) have been reported. The proportion of HIV acquired through injecting drug use is falling (72.7% in 1997 to 54.2% in 2000) in relation to that acquired through sexual contact. Conclusions: STIs and HIV are a common cause of morbidity in Ukraine.


Integrating multifunctionality such as stretchability, adhesiveness, and electroconductivity on a single protein hydrogel is highly desirable for various applications, and remains a challenge. Here we present the development of such multifunctional hydrogels based on resilin, a natural rubber-like material with remarkable extensibility and resilience. First, genetically engineered reslin-like proteins (RLPs) with varying molecular weight were biosynthesized to tune mechanical strength and stiffness of the cross-linked RLP hydrogels. Second, glycerol was incorporated into the hydrogels to endow adhesive properties. Next, a graphene-RLP conjugate was synthesized for cross-linking with the unmodified, pristine RLP to form an integrated network. The obtained hybrid hydrogel could be stretched to over four times of its original length, and self-adhered to diverse substrate surfaces due to its high adhesion strength of ∼24 kPa. Furthermore, the hybrid hydrogel showed high sensitivity, with a gauge factor of 3.4 at 200% strain, and was capable of real-time monitoring human activities such as finger bending, swallowing, and phonating. Due to these favorable attributes, the graphene/resilin hybrid hydrogel was a promising material for use in wearable sensors. In addition, the above material design and functionalization strategy may provide intriguing opportunities to generate innovative materials for broad applications.


Abstract Aluminum phosphate sulfate (APS) minerals associated with the Athabasca Basin are compositionally part of the alunite group. Typically 5–20 μm in size, they accompany the regional diagenetic-hydrothermal illite-kaolinite-dickite assemblage in the Athabasca Group sandstones, the illite-sudoite assemblage of the altered paleo-regolith, and alteration zones surrounding uranium deposits. In the vicinity of the Centennial deposit, where illite and sudoite replace coarse-grained aluminosilicate porphyroblasts in the basement phyllitic pelites, cubic APS crystals are as large as 80 μm. Detailed petrography indicates that the APS crystals form broadly coeval to illite. Backscattered electron imaging, elemental mapping, and compositional analysis reveal complex zoning as well as later hydrothermal alteration of the APS crystals. Growth-zoned crystals are a solid solution between crandallite-goyazite-svanbergite [Sr 0.17–0.32 Ca 0.0.18–0.28 LREE 0.0.25–0.46 (Al 2.78–2.92 Fe 0.01–014 )(PO 4 ) 1.82–2.03 (SO 4 ) 0.14–0.35 (OH) 6 ], whereas the later alteration of the APS minerals results in a compositional shift to endmember florencite [Sr 0.15 Ca 0.11 LREE 0.57 (Al 2.86 Fe 0.02 )(PO 4 ) 1.98 (SO 4 ) 0.15 (OH) 6 ]. Fluids responsible for the alteration of APS to florencite are paragenetically linked to late hydrothermal fluids associated with mafic Mackenzie dikes and do not appear to be related to proximity to uranium mineralization. Both zoned and altered portions of the crystals have bulk compositions that overlap with APS minerals in other areas of the basin suggesting a common genetic origin. However, it is critical to link the paragenetic context to observed compositional changes. An increase in MREE from early to late stages of zoned crystal growth correlates with the greatest concentration of REE found in uraninite from unconformity-related uranium deposits. This could be a link between broader APS growth and uraninite precipitation.


A gene encoding a Phe-221-to-Met substitution in the haem enzyme horseradish peroxidase has been constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. In the wild-type enzyme the side chain of Phe-221 is tightly stacked against the imidazole ring of His-170, which provides the only axial ligand to the haem iron atom. The Phe-221-->Met enzyme is active, and forms characteristic complexes with typical peroxidase ligands (CO, cyanide, fluoride), and with benzhydroxamic acid. Significant differences between the mutant and wild-type enzymes can be detected spectroscopically. These include a change in the Fe(III) resting state of the enzyme to an unusual quantum mechanically mixed-spin haem species, a marked decrease in the pK(a) of the alkaline transition and a reduction in enzyme stability at alkaline pH for both Fe(III) and Fe(II) forms. The perturbation of the haem pocket in the mutant can be attributed to several factors, including the increased steric freedom and solvent accessibility of the His-170 ligand, as indicated by (1)H-NMR data, and the loss of the pi-pi interaction between His-170 and Phe-221.


In bringing together the most characteristic and serious writings by black scholars, authors, journalists, and educators from the years that preceded the modem civil rights movement, African-American Social and Political Thought provides a comprehensive guide to the range and diversity of black thought. The volume offers a deep history of how the terms of contemporary debate over the future of black Americans were formed. The writings assembled here reveal a tension and a thread between two essential poles of thought. These include those voices that clearly projected civic assimilation as the goal of black aspiration, and those who described how this aim would be achieved, as well as nationalist or separatist voices that despaired of ever having a dignified future in a biracial society. These two positions reflect the most fundamental questions faced by any minority group. In his forceful and courageous introduction to this new edition, Howard Brotz relates the thoughts and reflections of these black thinkers to the social and political situation of blacks in America today and argues against the political orthodoxy and sociological determinism that perpetuates the image of the black as a perennial and passive victim. In the scope and quality of its contents, African-American Social and Political Thought is a unique, invaluable source book for cultural historians, sociologists, and students of black history.


Terms Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Human-Level Artificial Intelligence (HLAI) have been used interchangeably to refer to the Holy Grail of Artificial Intelligence (AI) research, creation of a machine capable of achieving goals in a wide range of environments. However, widespread implicit assumption of equivalence between capabilities of AGI and HLAI appears to be unjustified, as humans are not general intelligences. In this paper, we will prove this distinction.


The paper presents results of mechanical tests and grain structure investigation of aluminium wires obtained by plastic consolidation of aluminium powders produced by atomisation from liquid state. The powders produced by this method could be potentially adopted to obtain ultra fine/nano structured materials by rapid solidification. Conversion of material from powder to bulk state with retaining of powders fine structure and minimizing of porosity are crucial for technological route of sub-micron grained materials production. An influence of condition of plastic consolidation by hot extrusion on mechanical properties of consolidated products is a main target of presented investigation. The standard mechanical properties of extrusion products have been determined and grain structure has been inspected. The results have been compared to extrusion products of conventional bulk aluminium. It has been stated substantial increase of properties and refining of grain structure in materials consolidated from powders.


Bacterial infections continue to be a major cause of deaths globally, particularly in resource-poor settings. In the absence of rapid and affordable diagnostic solutions, patients are mostly administered broad spectrum antibiotics leading to antibiotics resistance and poor recovery. Culture diagnosis continues to be a gold standard for diagnosis of bacterial infection, despite its long turnaround time of 24 to 48 h. We have developed a portable immunomagnetic cell capture (iMC(2)) system that allows rapid culture diagnosis of bacterial pathogens. Our approach involves the culture growth of the blood samples in broth media for 6 to 8 h, followed by immunomagnetic enrichment of the target cells using the iMC(2) device. The device comprises a disposable capture chip that has two chambers of 5 ml and 50 μl volume connected through a channel with a manual valve. Bacterial cells bound to antibody coated magnetic nanoparticles are swept from the 5 ml sample chamber into the 50 μl recovery chamber by moving an external magnetic field with respect to the capture chip using a linear positioner. This enables specific isolation and up to 100× enrichment of the target cells. The presence of bacteria in the recovered sample is confirmed visually using a lateral flow immunoassay. The system is demonstrated in buffer and blood samples spiked with S. typhi. The method has high sensitivity (10 CFU ml(-1)), specificity and a rapid turnaround time of less than 7 h, a significant improvement over conventional methods.


Quantile regression (QR) is a valuable tool for data analysis and multiple imputation (MI) of missing values – especially when standard parametric modelling assumptions are violated. Yet, Monte Carlo simulations that systematically evaluate QR-based MI in a variety of different practically relevant settings are still scarce. In this paper, we evaluate the method regarding the imputation of ordinal data and compare the results with other standard and robust imputation methods. We then apply QR-based MI to an empirical dataset, where we seek to identify risk factors for corporal punishment of children by their fathers. We compare the modelling results with previously published findings based on complete cases. Our Monte Carlo results highlight the advantages of QR-based MI over fully parametric imputation models: QR-based MI yields unbiased statistical inferences across large parts of the conditional distribution, when parametric modelling assumptions, such as normal and homoscedastic error terms, are violated. Regarding risk factors for corporal punishment, our MI results support previously published findings based on complete cases. Our empirical results indicate that the identified "missing at random" processes in the investigated dataset are negligible.


Approaches to quantitative equity investing have evolved markedly. Thirty years ago, the focus was on alpha generation, but with the recent decade's acceptance of smart (alternative) beta, the focus is turning to transparent methods of construction for factor investing. In this article, the authors present an approach for evaluating various methods of portfolio construction that lead to the same factor exposures. Four portfolios are of interest: factor weighted, cap weighted, equal weighted, and risk parity weighted. The authors compare these portfolios based on standard performance statistics as well as new metrics of value-added, such as performance participation rates and portfolio sector concentrations. The results indicate that once the desired factor exposure is achieved, it is beneficial to build the portfolio with the most desirable characteristics in terms of diversification.


Fifty cases (54 limbs) of valvuloplasty and fixation of the incompetent valve of the femoral vein were reported. Diagnosis was made by clinical features, measurement of ambulatory venous pressure, ascending and descending phlebography, and by intraoperative checking the blood flow. After repairing the highest primary valve of the superficial femoral vein a circular suture around the vein at 2 mm under the repaired valve was made to prevent the recurrence of valvular incompetence. Patients were followed-up for 6 to 45 months (mean 20.2 months) with satisfactory results in all and excellent in 50 limbs (92.6%). The swelling subsided, stasis dermatitis and ulcer healed promptly, the "heavy leg" became light, and venous pressure of post-exercise lowered significantly (P less than 0.01). No retrograde flow of contrast medium was detected during the descending phlebography after operation. The results suggest that this operation is better than simple repair of the incompetent valve.


Most family businesses do not last for long. Only one third are able to survive the transition from first to second generation. A critical issue in the perpetuation of family businesses is the management of succession. Most successions primarily fail because the first generation founders find it difficult to let go or disengage from the business as they approach the age of retirement. As a result, they fail to prepare the next generation of successors for the leadership role. The founders often fail to plan for succession due to a number of different reasons such as a lack of other interests outside of work, psychological identity with the firm, and fears of aging or death. Due to these reasons, the founder's retirement from the business is frequently portrayed as a negative event. Succession, in turn, is often seen as a phase of crisis and upheaval, which a business must overcome. However, this need not necessarily be the case. Retirement could provide a new, even more exciting, phase of life, while succession could be viewed as a strategic opportunity to revive the business. This case involves an accomplished business leader, B.K. Jhawar (BK), founder of Usha Martin Group (UMG), who successfully managed the twin challenges of retirement and succession. By the time he reached the age of retirement, BK had built up a social venture (KGVK) as his second and endless career option. Before completely disengaging from the business and transitioning to his new role full time, BK prepared the second generation for business leadership and effectively passed on the baton.


Death or disability from CHD is a major public health problem that costs the Air Force about $50 million annually. Statistically, 20% of 30,000 pilots in the Air Force could have a significant degree of coronary atherosclerosis. In-flight incapacitation due to "heart attack" is a real possibility. Fortunately, aircraft accidents related to coronary events have been very uncommon. The basic mechanisms leading to the development of CHD, a multifactorial condition, are not fully understood. The significance of various risk factors associated with an increased incidence of CHD are discussed. It is hoped that preventive programs designed to identify, educate, and treat those at high risk will reduce the incidence of premature death and disability due to CHD. Two such programs (HEW's MRFIT and USAF's HEART) are briefly described. The costs, benefits, risks, sensitivity, and predictive value of tests available to detect CHD in asymptomatic individuals are outlined.


In this paper, we evaluate the short term impact of a Fruit Fly Eradication Program in the coastal areas of Peru. Exploiting arbitrary variation in the program's intervention borders, as well as precise geographic location data of farmer's households, we use a Geographical Regression Discontinuity (GRD) approach to identify the program's effects on agricultural outcomes. For this purpose, baseline and follow up surveys were collected for 615 households -307 treated and 308 controls- . Baseline data shows that producer and farm-level characteristics in treated and control areas are balanced. This confirms that the program's intervention borders were set only as a function of financial and logistic restrictions and independently of the pest incidence levels and/or other producer and/or farm characteristics. The results show that farmers in treated areas improved pest knowledge and are more likely to implement best practices for plague prevention and control. Beneficiary farmers also present increased fruit crops productivity and sales. The robustness of these findings is confirmed using placebo tests.


Consolidated Metal Products has a unique cold-forming process to create U-bolts that makes them the industry leader in U-bolt production. This process has a tendency to create cracks due to high residual stresses. The senior design team researched several methods of crack detection including ultrasonic, dye penetrant, and visual camera inspection. The conventional ultrasonic method was tested by NDT systems in house and was shown to work with the curvature of the U-bolt. Fluorescent dye penetrant was tested by applying the dye to the bolts with, and without cracks in them and then observed the difference in light values in and out of the cracks. Camera inspection was tested statistically by comparing light intensity values inside and out of crack areas on gathered images without the application of dye. After testing these methods, camera inspection was chosen through the use of a selection matrix. In The senior design, the team began with construction of a controlled lighting environment box for taking photographs of U-bolts. A Matlab code was formed to compare light intensity values of bolt images and to work in unison with an Arduino to output separate signals for normal and defective U-Bolts. The Matlab code also automatically analyzed images taken by the camera. The Matlab code was then tested with sample bolts. Threshold light values were obtained to optimize the system's ability to detect cracks.


ABSTRACT Research Findings: The objective of this study was to understand how instructional book-reading style and emotional quality of reading interact and relate to cognitive skills in a sample of at-risk infants and toddlers. Participants were 81 parents and their children participating in Early Head Start programs in the rural Midwest. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to test the hypothesis that parental book-reading instructional style and emotional quality interact and relate to changes in children's cognitive scores for culturally and linguistically diverse families. Results included that there were variations in how book-reading qualities interacted and related to changes in child cognitive scores for families whose primary home languages were either English or Spanish. Practice or Policy: The results of this study are discussed in conjunction with findings from a previous study published in this journal that examined concurrent relationships in the same sample of Early Head Start families. Combined, findings of these studies underscore a need to further explore potentially complex patterns of relationships among parental literacy behaviors and child knowledge, concurrently and across time, for culturally and linguistically diverse families. Better understanding these patterns could inform the development and implementation of culturally sensitive intervention approaches designed to support high-quality parent–child book reading.


The effect of the individual analyst on research findings can create a credibility problem for qualitative approaches from the perspective of evaluative criteria utilized in quantitative psychology. This paper explicates the ways in which objectivity and reliability are understood in qualitative analysis conducted from within three distinct epistemological frameworks: realism, contextual constructionism, and radical constructionism. It is argued that quality criteria utilized in quantitative psychology are appropriate to the evaluation of qualitative analysis only to the extent that it is conducted within a naive or scientific realist framework. The discussion is illustrated with reference to the comparison of two independent grounded theory analyses of identical material. An implication of this illustration is to identify the potential to develop a radical constructionist strand of grounded theory.


Background Good eyesight is a basic precondition for safety but also for performance in sports. Vision has a crucial importance for movement control and balance regulation. Vision helps anticipating, e.g. fast movements in ball games as well as potential accident risks e.g. in one-on-one-situations in football or handball. Investigations show that about 20% of all elite athletes exert their sport ametropic. Nevertheless regular and meaningful visual tests for the analysis of the multidimensional visual performance and the detection of ametropia are only integrated in the health diagnostics of a few sports. Objective Aim of the study was to analyze current data of German elite athletes concerning ametropia or different parameters of visual performance; especially considering parameters that are also tested by optometrists or ophthalmologists. Participants The study is based on a retrospective analysis of cross-sectional eye test data from different national teams (n=553; age: 21.0±4.0 years) which were collected in the annual routine health check in the last three years (2013–2015). Results About 27.5% of athletes use visual aids in daily life, whereas 33.3% of athletes with ametropia are practicing their sports without an optical correction. The median of the (monocular) visual acuity is about 1.85 for men and 1.80 for women (maximum-values considerably above 2.50). Altogether there are 22.6% athletes that are detected as ametropic and thus in need of correction. Conclusions All results mentioned and further literature searches show that good eyesight is important from the perception physiology and injury prevention point of view. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, depth and motion perception etc. have a significant influence on performance and quality of sports – depending on the specific demands of the discipline. Visual function tests should be included in health diagnostics in order to be able to detect and subsequently correct visual deficiencies at an early stage.


A functional POSS monomer (POSS-NH2) was employed to modify cyanate ester (CE) resin. A series of POSS-NH2/CE hybrids containing different content of POSS have been prepared by melt casting and then curing. The curing kinetics and reaction mechanisms of the resin systems were studied by using FT-IR. The experimental results show that both temperature and POSS content may influence the curing reaction of CE. POSS-NH2 mainly displays the catalytic effect at higher temperature (220oC). While the circumstance is more complex at lower temperature (190oC).


Simulations are often needed when the performance of new methods is evaluated. If the method is designed to be blind or robust, simulation studies must cover the whole range of potential randominput. It follows that there is a need for advanced tools of data generation. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a technique for the generation of correlated multivariate random data with non-Gaussian marginal distributions. The output random variables are obtained as linear combinations of independent components. The covariance matrix and the first four moments of the output variables may be freely chosen. Moreover, the output variables may be filtered in order to add autocorrelation. Extended Generalized Lambda Distribution (EGLD) is proposed as a distribution for the independent components. Examples demonstrate the diversity of data structures that can be generated.


A coincidence site lattice is a sublattice formed by the intersection of a lattice \Gamma in $\mathbb{R}^d$ with the image of \Gamma under a linear isometry. Such a linear isometry is referred to as a linear coincidence isometry of \Gamma. Here, we consider the more general case allowing any affine isometry. Consequently, general results on coincidence isometries of shifted copies of lattices, and of multilattices are obtained. In particular, we discuss the shifted square lattice and the diamond packing in detail.


Abstract Context. Despite the regular use of pesticides to control locusts, there is a lack of information on the effects of locust-control treatments on reptiles worldwide. Exposure to pesticides poses a significant potential hazard to small reptiles, both from the direct effects of exposure, and indirectly because of their largely insectivorous diet and small home ranges. Aims. Our study aimed to monitor the effects of two insecticides applied operationally for locust control in Australia. A phenyl pyrazole pesticide, fipronil, and a fungal biopesticide, Metarhizium acridium (Green Guard®), were applied aerially in either a barrier or block treatment in the absence of dense locust populations, and effects on non-target arid-zone reptiles were measured. Methods. We monitored reptile-abundance and community-composition responses to treatments using a large field-based pitfall-trapping experiment, with replicated control and spraying treatments, which approximated the scale of aerial-based locust-control operations in Australia. Key results. Neither reptile abundance nor community composition was significantly affected by locust-control treatments. However, both abundance and community composition as detected by pitfall trapping changed over time, in both control and treatment plots, possibly as a result of a decrease in annual rainfall. Conclusions. The absence of any significant short-term pesticide treatment effects in our study suggests that the two locust-control application methods studied present a relatively insignificant hazard to reptiles at our site, based on a single application. Similar to other areas of Australia, climate and other factors are likely to be stronger drivers of reptile abundance and community structure. Implications. Monitoring over an area that approximates the scale of the current locust-control operations is an important step in understanding the possible effects of current pesticide exposure on reptile populations and will inform insecticide risk assessments in Australia. However, important information on the immediate response of individuals to insecticide application and long-term effects of exposure are missing. The preliminary research reported in the present paper should be complemented by future investigations on long-term and sublethal impacts of pesticide exposure on Australian native reptiles and the possible benefits provided to reptiles by the resource pulses represented in untreated high-density locust populations.


This retrospective study of red cell antibodies covered the period from 1985 to 1993. A three-cell antibody screen, 22% albumin enhancement, and a polyspecific antiglobulin reagent assay were performed. From a total of 159,262 patients in the data set, 6996 antibodies were detected among the sera of 4700 patients (2.9%). Four thousand two hundred thirty-five (60.5%) alloantibodies of potential clinical significance were found. These included anti-K1 (23.0%), -E (17.6%), -D (12.4%), -Le(a) (7.3%), -C (6.3%), -Fya (5.7%), and -c (4.4%). Cold agglutinins were found in 1119 positive antibody screens, 261 had warm autoantibodies, and 554 had high-titered, low-avidity antibodies. Three hundred seven were clinically insignificant (eg, Sda and Bga). Five hundred seventeen were too weak to identify. Most patients' sera demonstrated only one antibody (69.3%), but there was a strong linear correlation between the total number of recorded red cell transfusions and the number of antibodies found (r = .976; P < .0001). There was a higher percentage of females with antibodies than the percentage of females in the total study population (59.2% versus 43.8%, P < .0001). Two hundred nine of 554 (37.7%) high-titered, low-avidity antibodies and 349 (31.2%) of 1119 of the cold agglutinins accompanied or obscured clinically significant antibodies.


A study of a copper-based metal–organic framework (MOF) synthesized by an electrochemical route is presented. Morphological and adsorption properties of the MOF synthesized as bulk powder and on supported copper surfaces were investigated. Differences in these properties and structural refinement studies indicate that when 4,4′,4′′-s-triazine-2,4,6-triyl-tribenzoic acid (H3TATB) is used as linker interpenetration can be prevented when the structure is grown on a surface.


Abstract : Tasks such as street mapping and security surveillance seek a route that traverses a given space to perform a function. These task functions may involve mapping the space for accurate modeling, sensing the space for unusual activity or processing the space for object detection. With a prior map an optimal path can be computed using a graph to represent the environment and generating the solution using known graph algorithms. However, the prior map may be inaccurate due to factors such as occlusion, outdatedness, dynamic objects, and resolution limitations. In this work, we address the NP-hard problem of optimal environmental coverage with incomplete prior map information. To utilize related algorithms in graph theory, we represent the environment as a graph. Using this representation, we present a graph coverage approach for optimal plan generation based on the Undirected Chinese Postman and Rural Postman problems. This approach produces a tractable solution through the use of low complexity algorithms in a branch-and-bound framework. Additionally, as the robot receives sensor updates during traversal of the environment, we update the graph to reflect those changes. The updated graph can be highly disconnected so computing an optimal solution can be NP-hard. To combat this, we introduce a heuristic for coverage path generation that helps maximize the connectivity of the updated graph. We evaluate our approach on a set of comparison tests in simulation.


During the last decades cancer has become a global concern and it is currently considered as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Lung cancer (LC), which is the first and foremost cause of cancer death, is mostly caused by airborne carcinogens exposures, such as cigarette smoke (CS), automobile exhaust, and coal combustion, that lead to DNA damage and mutation. Various cellular systems have been evolved to counteract this destructive process, including DNA repair and the programmed cell death machineries. However, the growing level of exposure to environmental insults of modern life requires additional protection against diseases like cancer, such as found in a daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. Here, we review studies that show LC chemopreventive effects of cruciferous vegetables and their phytochemicals, and describe the molecular mechanisms potentially involved in its prevention.


A revealing look at the representations of women in Victorian fiction Tracing the Victorian crisis over the representation of working-class women to the 1842 Parliamentary bluebook on mines with its controversial images of women at work, Hidden Hands argues that the female industrial worker became even more dangerous to represent than the prostitute or the male radical because it exposed crucial contradictions between the class and gender ideologies of the period and its economic realities. Drawing on the recent work of feminist historians, Patricia Johnson lays the groundwork for a rein terpretation of Victorian social-problem fiction that highlights its treatment of issues that particularly affected working-class women: sexual harassment; the interconnections between domestic ideology and domestic violence; their relationships to male-dominated working-class movements such as Luddism, Chartism, and unionism; and their troubled connection to middle-class feminism. Uncovering a series of images in Victorian fiction, ranging from hot-tempered servants and sexually-harassed factory girls to working-class homemakers pictured as beaten dogs, Hidden Hands demonstrates that representations of working-class women, however marginalized or incoherent, reveal the very contradictions they are constructed to hide and that the dynamics of these representations have broad implications both for other groups, such as middle-class women, and for the emergence of working-class women as writers themselves.


The heliosphere instrument for spectrum, composition, and anisotropy (HISCALE) recorded the fluxes of low-energy ions and electrons (> 50 kiloelectron volts) when Ulysses crossed the southern solar polar region and revealed that the large-scale structure of the heliosphere to at least approximately -75 degrees was significantly influenced by the near-equatorial heliospheric current sheet. Electrons in particular were accelerated by the current sheet-produced and poleward-propagating interplanetary reverse shock at helioradii far from the Ulysses location. At heliolatitudes higher than approximately -75 degrees on the Ulysses ascent to the pole and approximately -50 degrees on the descent, small, less regular enhancements of the lowest energy electron fluxes were measured whose relations to the current sheet were less clear. The anomalous component of low-energy (approximately 2 to 5 megaelectron volts per nucleon) oxygen flux at the highest heliolatitudes was found to be approximately 10(-8) [per square centimeter per second per steradian (per kiloelectronvolt per nucleon)]; the anomalous Ne/O ratio was approximately 0.25.


Coevolution, between a population of candidate solutions and a population of test cases, has received increasing attention as a promising biologically inspired method for improving the performance of evolutionary computation techniques. However, the results of studies of coevolution have been mixed. One of the seemingly more impressive results to date was the improvement via coevolution demonstrated by Juille and Pollack (1998) on evolving cellular automata to perform a classification task. Their study, however, like most other studies on coevolution, did not investigate the mechanisms giving rise to the observed improvements. In this paper, we probe more deeply into the reasons for these observed improvements and present empirical evidence that, in contrast to what was claimed by Juille and Pollack, much of the improvement seen was due to their "resource sharing" technique rather than to coevolution. We also present empirical evidence that resource sharing works, at least in part, by preserving diversity in the population.


Positron emission tomography (PET) is becoming increasingly important in the fields of medicine and biology. Penalized iterative algorithms based on maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation for image reconstruction in emission tomography place conditions on which types of images are accepted as solutions. The recently introduced median root prior (MRP) favors locally monotonic images. MRP can preserve sharp edges, but a steplike streaking effect and much noise are still observed in the reconstructed image, both of which are undesirable. An MRP tomography reconstruction combined with nonlinear anisotropic diffusion interfiltering is proposed for removing noise and preserving edges. Analysis shows that the proposed algorithm is capable of producing better reconstructed images compared with those reconstructed by conventional maximum-likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM), MAP, and MRP-based algorithms in PET image reconstruction.


The evolution of optical networks can be compared to the evolution of electronic transmission systems. Technologies such as Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), and Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) are well established in electronic systems, and have an equivalent optical technology that is currently under development. Current optical-electrical-optical (o-e-o) systems utilize optical point-to-point links to provide extremely high data rates between connection points, and electronic switches for data routing. As key optical technologies become available, networks will migrate from o-e-o to an optimal optical-optical-optical (o-o-o) solution. The key optical technologies that help this migration are o-o-o switching and the multiplexing technologies in the optical domain such as Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM) and Optical-CDM.
This study describes specific characteristics of optical technology and the requirements they place on routing and path selection. Moreover, a concept for an all-optical circuit-switched network is presented that utilizes near future WDM and Optical-CDM technologies. Mainly this study emphasizes on devising a routing algorithm for all-optical networks that uses these technologies and taking into consideration the optical technology attributes.
Routing in all-optical networks needs to be cognizant of different resource types and resource characteristics such as fiber types, fiber linear impairments (attenuation, dispersion, etc.), and fiber nonlinear impairments (four-wave mixing, cross-phase modulation). There are also other types of impairments generated by optical nodes---photonic switches---that also affect the signal quality (Q) or the optical signal to noise ration (OSNR), which is related to the Bit Error Rate. Therefore, both link and switch impairments must be addressed and somehow incorporated into the routing algorithm. However, it is not practical to fully integrate all photonic-specific attributes in the routing process. In turn, new routing parameters and constraints must be defined that reflect the distinct characteristics of photonic networking. These constraints are applied to the design phase of all-optical networks. Thus, these constraints are expressed as a cost (or metric form) that will be used in this algorithm.
Furthermore, this algorithm finds the best available circuit based on link and O(3) switch impairments by utilizing the characteristics of the flooding mechanism. To testify the optimality of the proposed algorithm, we consider networks with an arbitrary number of nodes (O(3) switch), and a fixed number of codes and wavelengths on each link. A route between a source or ingress node and destination or egress node can be constructed using a flooding mechanism which distributes messages, consisting of defined metrics, from ingress node to all-egress nodes such that wavelengths and codes used on each established path is not used by the already existing paths. This way, the distinguishable properties of flooding mechanism will be exploited to make it more popular in all-optical backbone networks. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)


Current theory lacks clarity on how different kinds of resources contribute to new product advantage, or how firms can combine different resources to achieve a new product advantage. While several studies have identified different firm-specific resources that influence new product advantage, comparatively little research has explored the contribution of strategic supplier resources. Combining resource-based and relational perspectives, this study develops a theoretical model investigating how a strategic supplier's technical capabilities impact focal firm new product advantage and how firms combine different resources to gain this advantage. The model is tested using detailed survey data collected from 153 interorganizational new product development projects in the United Kingdom within which a strategic supplier had been extensively involved. Empirical results support our research hypotheses. First, supplier technical performance is shown to have a significant positive impact on new product advantage. Next, we show that while supplier technical capabilities have a positive influence on supplier technical performance, the a priori nature of the supplier's task moderates the relationship. Finally, our data support our hypotheses related to the positive relationship between relationship-specific absorptive capacity and new product advantage, and the proposed negative moderation of supplier technical capabilities on this relationship. Based upon these findings, we encourage managers to recognize that strategic suppliers' with greater technical capabilities perform better regardless of the degree of creativity required by their task; but that strategic suppliers with lower technical capabilities may partially compensate (substitute) for their lack of technical capabilities, if they are able to respond to high problem-solving task requirements. Furthermore, we suggest that the firm's development of relationship-specific absorptive capacity is much more important when a strategic supplier is less technically capable. A buying firm's relationship-specific absorptive capacity can, according to our data, substitute for low supplier technical capabilities. On the other hand, where the supplier has strong technical capabilities, investments in relationship-specific absorptive capacity have no effect on new product advantage. Our findings reinforce recent calls for research on how firms can combine different resources and capabilities to achieve superior performance


Apparatus and techniques were developed by which moment-curvature curves can be generated over a wide range of curvatures, cable diameters, and environmental conditions. The resulting curves can be used to analyze bending performance in the same way as stress-strain curves are used to analyze tensile performance. In the first series of tests using this apparatus, five wire-reinforced fiber-optic cable sheaths were tested at room temperature. The wire reinforcement had a dominant, theoretically predictable effect on the bending stiffness of certain designs, while it was relatively unimportant in others. The key difference is the degree of encapsulation of the reinforcement, which can be controlled by simple changes in design. In addition, buckling performance can be improved by increasing the cross-sectional rigidity. In both cases, tensile performance is relatively unaffected. These findings are exemplified by the performances of a single-ply and a crossply design. Compared to the single ply, the crossply has the more rigid cross section and the lower degree of encapsulation. Both sheaths have nearly equal bending stiffness throughout the entire range of curvature, and the buckling radius of the crossply design (7.4 cm) is better than that of the single-ply design (8.4 cm) despite a 2 to 1 advantage in tensile stiffness. An effective design sequence has evolved from the results of this study: (a) select reinforcement for tensile performance, (b) adjust cross-sectional rigidity for buckling performance, and (c) adjust reinforcement encapsulation for bending stiffness performance. In this sequence, each step is nearly independent of the others.


We studied the effect of intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (30-250 micrograms) on the release of several anterior pituitary hormones as indicated by changes in their concentrations in plasma. Within 30 min after intravenous injection of LPS there was a dose-related stimulation of ACTH release; prolactin (PRL) release was induced only by the highest LPS dose injected (250 micrograms). Even the lowest dose of LPS (30 micrograms) decreased plasma growth hormone (GH) by 60 min. Higher doses lowered plasma GH by 30 min, but thyroid-stimulating hormone release was only significantly inhibited by the highest dose of LPS. The action of LPS seems to be primarily exerted on the central nervous system, since incubation of hemipituitaries with LPS for 3 h in doses ranging from 0.001 to 10 micrograms/ml had no effect on ACTH release. LPS is thought to induce its effects on hormones either by release of cytokines from immune cells which subsequently induce the hormonal changes or possibly by direct action within the hypothalamus. In this report we demonstrate the immunocytochemical localization of a population of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha)-like cells in a region extending from the basal forebrain at the level of the diagonal band of Broca, caudally and dorsally to the dorsolateral preoptic region and the hypothalamus at the level of the paraventricular nucleus. Further caudally, IL-1 alpha-like immunoreactive cells were located in the midportion of the amygdala. Two hours after injection of the 125-micrograms dose of LPS, the number of these immunoreactive cells was dramatically increased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)