The work submitted in this thesis consists of seven individual and inter-related studies, all of which are concerned with aspects of the pathology of chronic airways obstruction. This is a disease complex made up of pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis and bronchiolitis. In all the studies quantitation of the extent and severity of the disease processes was carried out. In the first study the incidence of pulmonary emphysema was established in a series of 50 autopsies on men, performed in a general hospital in Glasgow. Emphysema was present in more than trace amounts in 32 lungs (64%). Centrilobular emphysema was the commonest variety found, being the only or predominant type present in 17 lungs (34%), panlobular emphysema was the only or predominant type in 5 lungs (10%) and in 15 lungs (30%) significant amounts of both centrilobular and panlobular emphysema were present. These results were compared to the published incidences of emphysema in other British industrial centres. Secondly the incidence of bronchial mucous gland hypertrophy, consistent with chronic bronchitis, was ascertained in 359 consecutive autopsies performed in the same Glasgow hospital. Hypertrophy of the bronchial mucous glands was measured by two techniques which showed good correlation. Using the Reid Index 31 per cent of bronchi showed mucous gland hypertrophy in the chronic bronchitis range as compared to 33 per cent by a point counting technique. Changes of this degree were commoner in men than women, but were not related to age or smoking habits. The mean Reid Index was significantly greater in smokers (0.46 +/- 0.11) than non-smokers (0.41+/- 0.09) and there was a significant relationship between the presence of a chronic productive cough during life and the size of the bronchial mucous glands at autopsy. The third paper involved a comparison of the changes in the lungs and heart of patients dying from chronic airways obstruction and those with non-fatal chest disease. A series of 50 autopsies was performed in Sheffield, to determine the size of the right ventricle, the amount, type and distribution of emphysema, the size of the bronchial mucous glands and the proportion of the lung occupied by the lumen of small airways of less than 2 mm. in diameter. Eighteen patients died as a result of chronic airways obstruction, 17 had symptoms of chest disease but died from some unrelated cause and 15 had no symptoms related to the respiratory system. A positive correlation was found between the total amount of emphysema, the amount of panlobular emphysema, the reduction in small airways lumen and both the clinical severity of disease and the weight of the right ventricle. No relationship was found between clinical severity and the amount of centrilobular emphysema or the bronchial mucous gland size. The fourth project was concerned with the changes in the pulmonary arterioles in the same 50 cases. The number of thick-walled peripheral lung vessels (defined as vessels less than 100 u in diameter, which had two distinct elastic laminae) was calculated in all the cases. The mean number of these vessels was found to be significantly greater both in the fatal disease group, as compared to both other groups, and in cases with right ventricular hypertrophy as compared to those with normal hearts. Significant correlations were found between the number of thick-walled vessels and the right ventricular weight, the total amount of emphysema, the amounts of centrilobular and panlobular emphysema and the proportion of the lung occupied by the lumen of small airways. The fifth study involved the examination of small airway changes in chronic airways obstruction by a radiographic method. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).


Measurements with a toroidally and poloidally displaced three-dimensional set of Langmuir probe arrays have revealed details of turbulence, geodesic acoustic modes (GAMs), zonal flows and their interactions in the edge region of HL-2A tokamak plasmas. The coexistence of intensive low frequency zonal flows (LFZFs) of f < 4 kHz and the GAMs of 7 kHz < fGAM < 20 kHz has been unambiguously demonstrated. The poloidal and toroidal symmetries of the flows, including the GAMs, are verified experimentally. In particular, the coherency of the flows over a large toroidal scale of 2100 mm at a magnetic flux surface is emphasized. The LFZF packets are shown to propagate outward and inward as equally likely events, whereas the predominantly outward propagation of the GAM packets is analyzed. The nonlinear three-wave coupling of the flows with ambient turbulence is shown with a bicoherency analysis and an envelope modulation of the latter by the former. The intensity of the LFZFs is observed to increase and decrease with increases in ECRH power (∼300–700 kW) and safety factor q ∼ (3.5–6.2), respectively, whereas the intensity of the GAMs increases with increases in both ECRH power and q.


TechnoHeart is a digital way of monitoring heart rate using a Heart Rate Monitor device and an android phone. Moreover, this is made more special through its work-out training which is designed to help users set and achieve their target heart rate and monitor at what training intensity they are during a strenuous exercise. The training is made more interactive as the application has its real-time audio coaching. The need for this application comes from three sources; First, some athletes, non-athletes and even doctors are still using the traditional way of getting the heart rate; Second, training intensity is not monitored and target heart rate is not achieved; Third, most mobile developments do not tailor the need of users who undergo work-out training. With the following needs, objectives were set; First, to connect an HRM (Heart Rate Monitoring) device to an android mobile device and display individual's heart rate in digital form through mobile; Second, to create a work-out training program using the Karvonen Formula; Third, to enable users know one's target heart rate by using a Karvonen calculator; Fourth, to notify users in real time with every sudden change and the needed action in order to keep an effective training exercise. The project is to explore this and other similar concepts to develop a design that optimally satisfies all of these objectives. The project addresses all of these objectives while meeting the constraints given. The project was deployed in three different sets of users: The University of Mindanao Athletes, The elderly users aging from 50-80 years old and the other users aging from 12-49 years old. The researchers recommend the use of TechnoHeart for athletes and non-athletes who are aiming for an effective cardiovascular training. And for the next researchers, they can focus on the compatibility of the said application to other mobile platforms like iOS, Blackberry, Windows and etc. And also, they may upload application in the internet such as in social networking sites or any features that would make this project more usable.


Dynamic source routing (DSR, introduced in 1996) is one of the most frequently used routing protocols for mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs). Numerous MANET protocols were created based on DSR's algorithm. In addition to inheriting the overall performance specifications of DSR, these MANET protocols are designed to perform optimised for specific functionality. To name a few, these functionalities include: hierarchical routing, security-aware routing and multipath routing. Such flavoured DSR schemes (X-DSR) are often compared against the original DSR protocol through simulation results. The purpose of this survey is to first introduce DSR in detail, discuss most of the DSR flavours, point out their specific features, and to present a complete survey of the analyses given in the current literature against the original DSR protocol. Following this in-depth discussion, we introduce an X-DSR-aware management architecture, which utilises a multilayer scheme that imports parameters from different layers (network, data-link and physical) and performs current network condition matching compared to the closest pre-defined network condition groups. The output of such a match is the selection of the most optimal routing protocol, which satisfies most of the criteria of the predefined condition group.


Digital watermarking is the act of hiding a message related to a digital signals in different forms like an image, song, video within the signal itself. In this paper, we present review on Image Watermarking for Good Robustness .In this paper, we discuss the various factors used in watermarking, application area where water making technique need to be used. Also a survey on the some new work is done in image watermarking field. Index Terms—Digital Watermark, Steganography, Authentication, Frequency Domain, Spatial Domain


Since the publication of the work of Bass and Johns on pyorrhea, there has seemed to be a tendency among dentists and many medical men to administer emetin in all cases of dental infections without establishing the presence of the endameba. That the endameba is not the cause of all cases diagnosed as pyorrhea by competent dentists is shown by the history of such cases as that outlined below. Its publication at this time seems, therefore, justified. History. —A. L., man, aged 18, high school student, first seen Aug. 2, 1912, complained of attacks of sore mouth complicated by fever, earache and knee pains. The family history was negative except for tuberculosis in the second generation on the mother's side (no contact). The patient had been a healthy infant until 3 months of age, when he had otitis with a purulent discharge. The sore mouth began at the age of


The axial displacements for Co2+ and Ni3+ in Al2O3 are theoretically investigated starting from the perturbation formulas of the EPR parameters for a 3d7 ion with high spin (S=3/2) and low spin (S=1/2) in trigonal symmetry, respectively. Based upon these studies, the Co2+ is found to shift towards the center of the oxygen octahedron by an amount ZCo (≈ 0.03 Å) along the C3 axis, while the Ni3+ may suffer another axial displacement ZNi (≈ −0.38 Å) away from the center of the octahedron. The calculated EPR parameters based upon the above axial displacements show good agreement with the observed values. The differences in the EPR parameters and the axial displacements for the two 3d7 ions are discussed.


The statement that Xinjiang is an integral province of the People's Republic of China (PRC) is not as banal as it would first appear. The primary question that arises from this statement is how—by what processes and strategies—was Xinjiang brought to its contemporary situation as a province of the PRC? This paper seeks to highlight that, although Xinjiang's history since the eighteenth century has been one of great turbulence and dynamism, underlying continuities in both the practice of Chinese power and perceptions of Xinjiang impact profoundly on contemporary China's rule of Xinjiang. Therefore, this study attempts to chart the transition of the Qing goal of territorial incorporation of the region based upon a system of indirect rule c.1760 to the post-imperial Chinese state's goal of territorial incorporation based on the extension of direct, modern strategies of government and control.


Modern multi-agent robotic systems increasingly require scalable, robust and persistent Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF) with performance guarantees. While many MAPF solvers that provide some of these properties exist, none provides them all. To fill this need, we propose a new MAPF framework, the shard system. A shard system partitions the workspace into geographic regions, called shards, linked by a novel system of buffers. Agents are routed optimally within a shard by a local controller to local goals set by a global controller. The buffer system novelly allows shards to plan with perfect parallelism, providing scalability. A novel global controller algorithm can rapidly generate an inter-shard routing plan for thousands of agents while minimizing the traffic routed through any shard. A novel workspace partitioning algorithm produces shards small enough to replan rapidly. These innovations allow a shard system to adjust its routing plan in real time if an agent is delayed or assigned a new goal, enabling robust, persistent MAPF. A shard system's local optimality and optimized inter-shard routing bring the sum-of-costs of its solutions to single-shot MAPF problems to < 20-60% of optimal on a diversity of workspaces. Its scalability allows it to plan paths for 1000s of agents in seconds. If any of their goals change or move actions fails, a shard system can replan in under a second.


An additional term has been incorporated into the adiabatic mode parabolic equation (AMPE) to account for mode coupling. The coupled mode parabolic equation (CMPE) involves the solution of coupled horizontal wave equations for the mode coefficients. The numerical solution may be obtained efficiently using the splitting method. The first step is identical to the numerical solution of the AMPE. The second step involves Crank‐Nicolson integration of the coupling term. The accuracy of the CMPE has been confirmed for two‐dimensional problems involving coupling due to sloping bottoms and volume heterogeneities. The CMPE has been applied to three‐dimensional problems involving both mode coupling and azimuthal coupling. It is practical to apply the CMPE to large‐scale problems and possibly even global‐scale problems at low frequencies. [Work supported by ONR.] a)A. T. Abawi is presently at AETC, Inc., 10975 Torreyana Rd. 300, San Diego, CA 92121.


We compared ascorbic acid (AA) levels in the blood and TPA- and fMLP-stimulated superoxide (O2•−) production in neutrophils of pre-, early, and late hypertensive stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) with those of age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY), or two other normotensive strains of rats. Plasma and lymphocyte AA levels were about two-fold higher in SHRSP as early as 4 weeks old compared to WKY, and also higher than those of Wistar and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Levels of AA were high in the liver and adrenal glands of SHRSP, indicating congenitally high AA levels. The production of O2•− in neutrophils was about two-fold higher in SHRSP than in WKY even at 4 weeks of age, and increased with age in both strains. Among SHRSP, AA levels in lymphocytes decreased at the late hypertensive stages with a decrease in hepatic l-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase (GLO) activities. These data suggest that bi-phasic AA levels in the blood of SHRSP comprise congenitally high levels and a decrease after persistent hypertension due to enhanced O2•− production and a decrease in de novo AA synthesis through GLO.


The morphology and the capacitive properties of carbon supported hydrous ruthenium oxide (RuOxHy/C), prepared by impregnation of low-surface area carbon black VulcanÒ XC-72 R with solid phase of RuOxHy sol, were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The oxide sols of different ageing times, prepared by forced hydrolysis of RuCl3, were used for composite preparation. The prepared composites show considerably higher capacitance values in acid electrolyte if compared to carbon black support. Microscopic investigations show that the extent of impregnation and the composite surface appearance depend on ageing time. The composite capacitance increases with ageing time of oxide sol. A gradual decrease in capacitance of thermally untreated composite with charging/discharging cycles was registered, which appears to be related to the extent of impregnation, too. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements indicate an in-depth capacitance distribution through the composite layer. It was found that NafionÒ layer, used to ensure the adhesion of the composite layer to the current collector, influenced the composite impedance behavior, especially on the oxide-rich parts of the composite surface.


Microwave dielectric ceramics with the composition of Li2ZnTi3O8 – 4 wt% TiO2 were synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction. 4 wt% TiO2 powders with different particles size were added to the Li2ZnTi3O8 ceramic. Then the ceramic samples were sintered at temperatures 1075°C, 1050°C, 1000°C, and 950°C for 4 h. The effect of the particles size of TiO2 additive on the microwave dielectric properties of the ceramics has been investigated. In the study two categories of particles size of TiO2 additive have been used; (i) Nanoparticle (50 nm), (ii) Micron sized (40, 5, 1 μm) powder. X-ray showed that the TiO2 additive has not solved in the LZT structure and has not almost undergone chemical reaction with the LZT ceramic. The results showed that the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles to the LZT ceramics significantly improved the density and a dense and uniform microstructure and also abnormal grain growth were observed by SEM. The use of TiO2 nanoparticle reduces porosity and leads to an increase in green density. The maximum density was found to be 98.5% of the theoretical density and the best relative permittivity of 28, quality factor of 68000 GHz and τf value of −2 ppm/°C were obtained for the samples added with 4 wt% of the TiO2 nanoparticles, sintered at 1050°C for 4 h.


The endogenous plant hormones salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA), whose levels increase on pathogen infection, activate separate sets of genes encoding antimicrobial proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana. The pathogen-inducible genes PR-1, PR-2, and PR-5 require SA signaling for activation, whereas the plant defensin gene PDF1.2, along with a PR-3 and PR-4 gene, are induced by pathogens via an SA-independent and JA-dependent pathway. An Arabidopsis mutant, coi1, that is affected in the JA-response pathway shows enhanced susceptibility to infection by the fungal pathogens Alternaria brassicicola and Botrytis cinerea but not to Peronospora parasitica, and vice versa for two Arabidopsis genotypes (npr1 and NahG) with a defect in their SA response. Resistance to P. parasitica was boosted by external application of the SA-mimicking compound 2, 6-dichloroisonicotinic acid [Delaney, T., et al. (1994) Science 266, 1247-1250] but not by methyl jasmonate (MeJA), whereas treatment with MeJA but not 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid elevated resistance to Alternaria brassicicola. The protective effect of MeJA against A. brassicicola was the result of an endogenous defense response activated in planta and not a direct effect of MeJA on the pathogen, as no protection to A. brassicicola was observed in the coi1 mutant treated with MeJA. These data point to the existence of at least two separate hormone-dependent defense pathways in Arabidopsis that contribute to resistance against distinct microbial pathogens.


In this critical commentary, I examine the manifestation of racial tensions on Haida Gwaii—an archipelago in what is now known as Canada—between settlers and citizens of the Haida Nation. Racism has been entrenched and legitimized over generations leaving its implications unquestioned. When settler communities border colonially imposed reserves, racialized boundaries and tensions result. Indigenous claims to the land and to self-determination call into question the legitimacy of colonialism and subsequently reinforce the us versus them mentality. The assertion of Haida Nationhood and self-determination disrupts the rhetoric of settler superiority. Haida peoples are deemed a threat needing to be controlled. Challenging racialized hierarchies, settler complacency, and racism in all its manifestations is an integral component to ensuring that the next generation of Haida citizens can live freely without fear of the pain of racism, ignorance, and shame.


Sujata Bhatt was born in Ahmedabad, India, and grew up in Pune, India and in the United States. To date, she has published seven collections of poetry with Carcanet Press. The recipient of numerous awards, such as the Commonwealth Poetry Prize (Asia) and the Cholmondeley Award, her latest collection, Pure Lizard, was shortlisted for the Forward Prize and received the German Literature Award, Das neue Buch, in 2008. She has translated poetry from Gujarati and German into English. Her work has been widely anthologised, broadcast on radio and television, and translated into more than twenty languages. She is a frequent guest at literary festivals throughout the world. She currently lives in Germany.


Women's health is a field of study and health care that is of the highest concern for nurses, both from a professional and personal standpoint. It is imperative that those in nursing practice, education, and research be knowledgeable about, prepared for, able to advocate for, and participate in the transformation of health care policy and practice. The changing health care patterns and changing health care delivery system influencing the future of women's health are discussed. Recommendations for nursing practice, education, and research are proposed to advance women's health care.


Passively Q-switched lasers can be optimized by the choice of two factors: (1) reflectivity of the output coupler and (2) transmission of an unsaturated absorber. When intracavity frequency doubling is adopted, the nonlinear crystal behaves as a nonlinear output coupler. In this paper, we generalize the optimization theory for intracavity frequency-doubled passively (Q)-switched lasers. By introducing a nonlinear loss term caused by the frequency doubler into the coupled rate equations describing the operation of saturable absorber passively Q-switched lasers, we can express the harmonic pulse characteristics such as peak power, pulse energy, pulsewidth, and a factor describing pulse symmetry. Using the Lagrange multiplier technique to maximize the peak power of the second harmonic for a given pump level, we obtain an additional constraint equation describing the relation of a frequency-doubling factor to a normalized intermediate variable, which can be solved quickly to determine the characteristics of the pulse. The frequency-doubling factor, which is a normalized key parameter, is found to depend not only on the commonly used coefficient of the nonlinear frequency doubler and the emission cross section of the laser medium, but also on the laser cavity optical length. We plot design curves indicating the key parameter and the pulse characteristics via two normalized variables, one representing the pump level, and the other representing the laser emission medium and the absorber medium. Using these curves and expressions, one can design an optimal passively Q-switched intracavity frequency-doubled miniature laser and predict the pulse characteristics without relying on computer calculation.


Below the surface of the sun, a radical transition is afoot. In 5 years or so, the sun will be awash in sunspots and more prone to violent bursts of magnetic activity. Then, about 11 years from now, the solar cycle will conclude: Sunspots will fade away and the sun will again grow quiet. In early March, a dozen scientists, part of the Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel, descend on the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) here to predict how unruly the sun will become at its peak. NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have sponsored these panels since 1989, aiming to understand what drives the sun9s 11-year cycles and assess methods for predicting them. But the exercise is not just academic: the military, satellite operators, and electric utilities all want to know what the sun has in store, because of its tendency to flare up and send dangerous charged particles crashing into Earth as it approaches solar max. Sunspots can be seen with the naked eye, but it wasn9t until the mid-1800s that astronomers realized they come and go on a rough schedule. They first appear at midlatitudes and then proliferate, migrating toward the equator over about 11 years. In 1848, German astronomer Johann Rudolph Wolf published an account of the sunspot record, identifying 1755–66 as "Cycle 1," the first period when counts were reliable. He then created a formula for counting the number of daily sunspots—a somewhat subjective technique that has evolved into a counting method still used today to marry data sets across the centuries. The cycles are capricious, however. Sometimes, the sun goes quiet for decades, with anemic sunspot counts across several cycles—as occurred during the 19th century9s so-called Dalton minimum. Such variations are what the scientists at NCAR have gathered to forecast. The problem is that no one—in this room or elsewhere—really knows how the sun works.


A new conception of natural focus as anthropo-parasitic system is given by an example of tick-born encephalitis. Problems of natural foci classification and zoning of focal territories, as well as patterns of ecological relations in these systems, are considered. Causes and factors affected expansion of the infection are analyses.


We consider warm inflation with a Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) kinetic term in which both the nonequilibrium dissipative particle production and the sound speed parameter slow the motion of the inflaton field. We find that a low sound speed parameter removes, or at least strongly suppresses, the growing function appearing in the scalar of curvature power spectrum of warm inflation, which appears due to the temperature dependence in the dissipation coefficient. As a consequence of that, a low sound speed helps to push warm inflation into the strong dissipation regime, which is an attractive regime from a model building and phenomenological perspective. In turn, the strong dissipation regime of warm inflation softens the microscopic theoretical constraints on cold DBI inflation. The present findings, along with the recent results from swampland criteria, give a strong hint that warm inflation may consistently be embedded into string theory.


On the central Kuiseb in the southern Namib insectovorous bats are to be found at an important density. The following species could be approved: Eptesicus hottentotus pallidior (Vespertilionidae), Eptesicus zuluensis vansoni (Vespertilionidae), Sauromys petrophilus erongensis (Molossidae) and Nycteris thebaica damarensis (Nycteridae). Under the extreme climatic conditions the microchiroptera find prey enough, at least during the summer months, because this dry river-bed with its trees that partially are compact like a forest, offers favourable conditions of development to insects (above all to Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera). It is being examined in which way these desert bats provide for their need of water in a region where we hardly find open water places during a large period of year. Feeding experiments have shown that Eptesicus zuluensis vansoni and Sauromys petrophilus erongensis can do without having water for several months if they find enough insects. During the observation period a female of E. zuluensis vansoni gave birth to twins, one young of which was nourished up to the end of the lactation period.


Background: Gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement for children with neurologic impairment with dysphagia has been suggested for pneumonia prevention. However, prior studies demonstrated an association between G-tube placement and increased risk of pneumonia. We evaluate the association between timing of G-tube placement and death or severe pneumonia in children with neurologic impairment. Methods: We included all children enrolled in California Children's Services between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2014, with neurologic impairment and 1 pneumonia hospitalization. Prior to analysis, children with new G-tubes and those without were 1:2 propensity score matched on sociodemographics, medical complexity, and severity of index hospitalization. We used a time-varying Cox proportional hazard model for subsequent death or composite outcome of death or severe pneumonia to compare those with new G-tubes vs those without, adjusting for covariates described above. Results: A total of 2490 children met eligibility criteria, of whom 219 (9%) died and 789 (32%) had severe pneumonia. Compared to children without G-tubes, children with new G-tubes had decreased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] 0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-0.55) but increased risk of the composite outcome (HR 1.21, CI 1.14-1.27). Sensitivity analyses using varied time criteria for definitions of G-tube and outcome found that more recent G-tube placement had greater associated risk reduction for death but increased risk of severe pneumonia. Conclusion: Recent G-tube placement is associated with reduced risk of death but increased risk of severe pneumonia. Decisions to place G-tubes for pulmonary indications in children with neurologic impairment should weigh the impact of severe pneumonia on quality of life.


Combining information on the vertical distribution of nutrients and remote sensing can potentially improve estimates of ocean primary production (PP). Here, we employ in situ observations of chlorophyll a and nitrate from biogeochemical Argo floats deployed in the North Atlantic together with remote sensing to estimate PP and compare these results to estimates based on model approaches not including vertically resolved nutrient distributions. Analysis of the float data shows chlorophyll a distribution relates closely to both nutricline depth and latitude, and these relationships can be explained by nutrient and light availability. PP estimates based on satellite and Argo-observations also relate to both latitude and nutrient distributions. An analysis of these float-based PP estimates shows that large-scale patterns of total water column PP and associated variability are consistent with expected photosynthetic responses to different combinations of light and nutrient availability. When PP-estimates based solely on surface observations were plotted against light and nutrient fields, significant structural differences emerged compared with estimates that included subsurface observations, in particular in oligotrophic areas and areas with a shallow nutricline. The combination of in situ water column observations with remote sensing potentially opens a new phase in the estimation of ocean primary production.


Cognitive flexibility is crucial for adaptation, and is disrupted in neuropsychiatric disorders and 25 psychopathology. Human studies of flexibility using reversal learning tasks typically focus on mechanisms 26 that identify changes in response contingencies, rather than learning and expressing a new response. However, 27 animal studies suggest a specific role in this process for the connections between dorsal striatum and the 28 centromedian parafascicular (CM-Pf) thalamus, a system not well understood in humans. This study 29 investigated the role of this system in human probabilistic reversal learning, specifically with respect to 30 learning a new response strategy. Using psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis of functional magnetic 31 resonance imaging (fMRI) data we show that CM-Pf–dorsal striatal connectivity increased during reversal, but 32 not initial, learning. The strength of this connectivity was associated with the ability to flexibly alter behaviour. 33 These findings expand our understanding of flexibility mechanisms in the human brain, bridging the gap with 34 animal studies of this system. 35


Introduction Community integration is an important outcome of rehabilitation, because the ultimate focus of rehabilitation is to enable people to participate in their life roles. Aim To determine community integration scores achieved by adults with disabilities post discharge from an in-patient rehabilitation centre in the Western Cape Province. Method Fifty-nine individuals participated in this cross-sectional study. Community integration was determined using the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI). Descriptive analysis of age, gender, medical diagnosis and RNLI scores was performed. Kruskal–Wallis test and t-tests were used to determine whether there exists any relationship between age, gender, medical diagnosis and RNLI scores (p < 0.05). Results Participants' mean age was 45 (± 15.9) years. Of the study participants, 54% were women. The most common diagnosis was stroke (41%), followed by spinal cord injury (30%). The mean overall RNLI score was 66.3 (± 25.5). Persons with brain trauma (stroke or head injury) had a mean of 60.9 (±20.3); those with spinal cord injury had a mean of 75.2 (± 25.8) and those with peripheral impairments had a mean of 65.5 (± 30.5). The RNLI domains 'personal relationships' 73.45 (± 31.6) and 'presentation of self' 72.13 (± 35.4) recorded the highest mean scores. The domain 'work or meaningful activities' had the lowest mean score 52.54 (± 35.3). 'Community mobility' (59.9; ± 34.6) and 'recreation' (57.3; ± 37.2) also had mean scores below 60. No statistically significant relationships were found between age, gender and medical diagnosis and RNLI scores. Conclusion The relatively low mean scores indicate that participants achieved poor community reintegration.


: For the past 10 years, healthcare organizations have been reshaping themselves--merging, acquiring, aligning, and partnering--positioning themselves to provide services across the continuum of care. But as the dust settles around these newly structured entities, some providers are wondering when they--and the communities they serve--will realize the full potential of integrated healthcare delivery. Healthcare experts point out that, although asset aquisition lays the foundation for integration, many challenges lie ahead. True clinical integration will be possible only when solid governance, management, and systems infrastructures are in place.


Objectives: To present a single-centre experience on CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for the assessment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients with moderate-to-high risk of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Methods: We analysed consecutive COVID-19 patients (RT-PCR confirmed) undergoing CTPA in March 2020 for PTE clinical suspicion. Clinical data were retrieved. Two experienced radiologists reviewed CTPAs to assess pulmonary parenchyma and vascular findings. Results: Among 34 patients who underwent CTPA, 26 had PTE (76%, 20 males, median age 61 years, interquartile range 54–70), 20/26 (77%) with comorbidities (mainly hypertension, 44%), and 8 (31%) subsequently dying. Eight PTE patients were under thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin, four PTE patients had lower-limbs deep vein thrombosis at ultrasound examination (performed in 33/34 patients). Bilateral PTE characterised 19/26 cases, with main branches involved in 10/26 cases. Twelve patients had a parenchymal involvement >75%, the predominant pneumonia pattern being consolidation in 10/26 patients, ground glass opacities in 9/26, crazy paving in 5/26, and both ground glass opacities and consolidation in 2/26. Conclusion: COVID-19 patients are prone to PTE. Advances in knowledge: PTE, potentially attributable to an underlying thrombophilic status, may be more frequent than expected in COVID-19 patients. Extension of prophylaxis and adaptation of diagnostic criteria should be considered.


The objective of this study was to develop a framework in which a curriculum on leadership could be developed. This framework specifically addressed the needs of middle school students. Throughout Alberta many middle schools teach elements of leadership through various courses, or mini projects. A course dedicated to teaching the essential elements of leadership for middle school students is unique. The leaders of our school population and the future leaders of our world are the students attending our schools. What these people think, believe in, and act upon will help determine the future course of world events. Students need to gain knowledge about what leadership is, the different types of leadership and the skills associated with leadership but, most importantly, they should learn how to implement leadership skills. In this project, an 'action research' approach was used to develop a new curriculum design, specific to one situation, with the potential of transferability to other middle school settings. The participants were me as the teacher, the grade eight students enrolled in the leadership course and the principal of the school. As the students and I progressed through the course components, we evaluated the quality and usefulness of each component employing the 'triangulation' technique developed by Elliott and Adelman (1976). Data from the journal entries of all participants were collected once a week and summarized. What the participants wrote, the feelings they expressed and the explanations they gave of their perceptions were the key to understanding particular topics. All have contributed to the development of a leadership curriculum, unique to our school and owned by all.


Research and Development is critical for manufacturing companies to produce market leading products. R&D is expensive and usually incorporates expensive stakeholders and specialist experience and education. Small to medium sized manufacturing companies can struggle to keep pace with technological advancements mainly due to limited R&D budgets coupled with knowledge deficits.

The UK government recognised these conflicts and instigated an initiative initially called the Teaching Company Scheme (TCS), which it is now referred to as the Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme (KTP). The objective of the scheme is form a close, supportive collaboration of the three sectors for the benefit of all parties. It is clearly focused on key business goals facilitated by the drive and enthusiasm of a graduate called the "associate" directly employed by the KTP initiative.

This paper describes and analyses the benefits and problems of such schemes to all parties from a firsthand perspective applied to a manufacturing company based in the UK.


Barrett's esophagus is a metaplastic change in the mucosal lining which represents a peculiar form of healing in response to the chronic injury due to gastroesophageal reflux. It has been recognized that this change is associated with an increased risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. Several factors have been shown to identify the patients who are at particular risk for carcinoma, the most importance of which is the development of dysplasia. As a result, management of patients with Barrett's esophagus must include careful endoscopic surveillance with histological examination of the biopsies by two independent experienced pathologists. Patients with low-grade dysplasia require complete control of reflux and careful endoscopic surveillance. Because the majority of patients with high-grade dysplasia will have co-existent adenocarcinoma, and because of difficulties in differentiating high-grade dysplasia from invasive adenocarcinoma, esophagectomy is the treatment of choice for these individuals. This approach has been shown to result in a significant improvement in survival in patients with esophageal cancer identified under surveillance.


Tourism is one of the few sectors where Kerala has clear competitive advantages given its diverse geography in a short space ranging from the Western Ghats covered with dense forests to the backwaters to the Arabian sea. Its ancient rich culture including traditional dance forms and the strong presence of alternative systems of medicine add to its allure. Unfortunately, Kerala is dominated by domestic tourism within the state although foreign tourists arrivals to the state has been growing at a faster rate than national average. The goal in the KPP 2030 is to develop Kerala as an up-market tourism destination with the state being the top destination in terms of number of tourists and revenue among all the Indian states. Sustainable tourism is the mission. This can be achieved by integrating tourism with other parts of the economy like medical and health hubs which will attract more stable tourists over a longer period of time and with higher spending capacity. There will be new elements added to leisure tourism and niche products in tourism will be developed. Infrastructure development is crucial to achieve this goal. The success of Kerala tourism will be based on the synergy between private and public sectors. The government has taken steps to encourage private investment in tourism, while adhering to the principles and practices of sustainability. Industry led sustainable tourism development relies upon the gov- ernment- imposed and self- imposed regulations. Tourism in Kerala will be benchmarked against international indicators and monitored on a regular basis to achieve quality.


6 , 201 June  12 Accepted  Abstract A tracheotomy is a surgical procedure which consists of making an incision on the anterior aspect of the neck and opening a direct airway through an incision in the trachea (windpipe). As with any surgery, there are some risks associated with tracheotomies. Early Complications that may arise during the tracheostomy procedure or soon thereafter include bleeding, pneumothorax, and subcutaneous emphysema.The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of cautery knife instead of artery forceps in management of thyroid isthmus during tracheostomy with regard to time of operation, post-operative bleeding, and surgical emphysema. This study was a cross-sectional research performed on 60 ICU patients in need of tracheostomy through a period started from January 2009 to January 2012. The patients were divided into two groups each formed of 30 patients, one group(group A) dealt with by traditional tracheostomy through clamping of the thyroid by artery forceps and transfixion to expose tracheal rings, and second group (group B) had a new method of management through cautery knife. Time of both procedures and early complications were registered in questionnaires and the data were analyzed for both groups. A tracheostomy was performed in 60 morbidly ICU patients. The two groups had no significant difference in age, sex, and vital signs. Average duration of the procedure was 10-20 minutes in group A patients using the traditional procedure and 5-10 minutes in the second group (group B) using a cautery knife. Three patients out of thirty in group A got post-operative bleeding, while no patient in group B got bleeding. There was a significant difference between the two groups regarding time of procedure and post-operative bleeding, otherwise there was no significant differences between the two groups regarding occurrence of surgical emphysema. The use of cautery knife for thyroid isthmus management during tracheostomy minimize operation time and reduce occurrence of postoperative complication especially bleeding.


Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an obesity-associated disease and dysregulation of adipokines has an important role in its development. Omentin-1 (ITLN1 protein) and resistin are two adipokine secreted from adipose tissue. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the adipokine genes may affect expression and activity of the adipokine, and thus play a contributory role in NAFLD pathogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between omentin-1 rs2274907 (326A/T) and resistin rs1862513 (-420 C/G) polymorphisms and risk of NAFLD in Iranian patients. This case-control study was done on 282 subjects included 94 patients with NAFLD and 188 healthy peoples. The genotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP method. The frequency of omentin-1 AT genotype in patients with NAFLD was significantly different from that in the control (OR=2.3, 95% CI: 1.3-3.8, P=0.003). A significant association was observed between NAFLD and the GG genotype regarding resistin rs1862513 polymorphism (OR=2.3, 95% CI: 1.1-4.8, P=0.03). In conclusion, Omentin-1 rs2274907 and resistin rs1862513 polymorphisms might be a candidate genetic factor for susceptibility to NAFLD.


Studies on public diplomacy have been quite advanced since at least 2001. The public diplomacy phenomenon attracted the attention of researchers as more and more governments implemented public diplomacy as a tool of their foreign policy. This article aims to summarize the author's case studies and to discuss the impact that research on public diplomacy has on the understanding of political communication. The analyses were built on definitions of political communication by Denton and Woodward and by McNair. While discussing the New Public Diplomacy model as political communication, the author implemented a network approach to frame the concept.


Abstract Bacterial cultures collected over 12 yr from stranded harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups and weanlings located in the North Puget Sound and San Juan Islands region of Washington were analyzed retrospectively to determine the most common pathogenic isolates and to describe their antimicrobial resistance patterns. Culture attempts (n = 58) from wounds, umbilici, ears, conjunctiva, nares, oral lesions, and feces yielded 134 pathogenic isolates that represented 17 genera. The majority of isolates were Gram-negative (n = 87; 65%) and of the tested isolates were most susceptible to amikacin (n = 76; 99%) and gentamicin (n = 76; 97%) and least susceptible to ampicillin (n = 76; 26%). Of the Gram-positive isolates tested (n = 29), all were susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. The most frequent isolates were Escherichia coli (17%), β-hemolytic Streptococcus spp. (15%), Enterococcus spp. (11%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11%), with all four exhibiting resistance to more than 50% of the antimicrobials tested. The variety of organisms isolated, the variation in either Gram-negative or Gram-positive predominance, and the multiple drug resistance patterns observed suggest that when treating stranded harbor seals, culture and sensitivity testing are warranted and that antibiotic therapy should be based on results.


Road traffic accidents are one of the world's largest public health problems. In the EU alone, traffic accidents cause approximately 1.8 million injuries and 43.000 fatalities each year. This thesis is concerned with the development of in-vehicle systems that can detect hazardous traffic situations and assist drivers in avoiding or mitigating accidents.

An overview is given of different types of accidents and measures that are taken to reduce the number of accidents and their consequences. From this overview, certain types of accidents have been selected to be addressed in this research project. The contribution of this thesis is a number of algorithms that can assess traffic situations and make decisions to actively assist the driver in avoiding or mitigating these accident types.

The approach that is used for making decisions on when and how to assist the driver, is to first estimate how a collision can be avoided by the driver. Secondly, the brakes are applied autonomously if hard braking is the only option to avoid or mitigate an accident. The algorithms proposed in this thesis are capable of estimating how collisions can be avoided in any type of collision scenario, such as rear-end collisions and
intersection collisions. These algorithms can be used to avoid or mitigate collisions with all types of road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles.

The algorithms have been evaluated using data from both real traffic conditions and collision situations on a test track. The results show that the algorithms can improve the performance of conventional rear-end collision avoidance systems, without significantly increasing the risk of unnecessary braking.


The authors report a novel method to reduce the collector–emitter offset voltage of the wide bandgap SiC-P-emitter lateral HBTs using a dual-bandgap emitter. In their approach, the collector–emitter offset voltage VCE(offset) is reduced drastically by eliminating the built-in potential difference between the emitter–base (EB) and collector–base (CB) junctions by using a SiC-on-Si P-emitter. It is demonstrated that the proposed dual-bandgap P-emitter HBT, together with the SiGe base and Schottky collector, not only has a very low VCE(offset) but also exhibits high current gain, reduced Kirk effect, excellent transient response and high cutoff frequency. The performance of the proposed device is evaluated in detail using two-dimensional device simulation, and a possible BiCMOS compatible fabrication procedure is also suggested.


White lesions in the larynx, pharynx, and oral regions, which are called leukoplakias clinically, show a variety of histopathological features, including hyperplasia, dysplasia and cancer. Therefore, they should be treated carefully as precancerous lesions. Eighty-one patients with leukoplakia of the larynx, pharynx and oral tissue were treated between 1996 and 2005.The majority of these patients with leukoplakia in the larynx were heavy smokers.In the 11 cases of leukoplakia in the larynx, the white lesions were resolved by conservative treatment. Based on the findings above, it is important for heavy smokers to stop smoking completely. In leukoplakia of the larynx, squamous cell carcinoma was detected in 15 cases (26.8%).In leukoplakia of the oral tissue and pharynx, squamous cell carcinoma was detected in 2 (8.0%).Among the 81 cases in this series, squamous cell carcinoma was detected in 6 laryngeal lesions and 1 oral and pharyngeal lesions. Histological findings of these lesions were all dysplasia, initially. Therefore, long term follow-up is recommended if the histologoical findings of leukoplakia initially demonstrate dysplasia.


A core (900 mm long) of the scleractinian coral Dipsastraea (Favia) speciosa was collected from Iki Island (∼33°48′N), Japan, one of the highest latitude coral reefs known to exist at present, where winter monthly mean sea surface temperature (SST) drops to 13°C. The Sr/Ca profile was constructed using a bulk sampling method for the uppermost 280 mm interval of the core, which grew between 1966 and 2007, to test whether it could act as a suitable proxy for SST in a harsh environmental setting where reef‐building coral do not usually survive. The Sr/Ca‐SST relationship derived from the annual Sr/Ca and SST extremes predicted the observed monthly averaged summer SST extremes within an error range of ±1.1°C (1 s.d., n = 40). The obtained Sr/Ca‐SST calibration was also found to be valid for subtropical Dipsastraea (Favia) corals, proving its broad applicability. However, low‐amplitude winter peaks were observed in the slow‐growing intervals, which we confirmed (using individual spot analysis along a continuous growth line) result from the mixing of theca grown at different times. Our bulk sampling approach, across multiple growth lines in the skeleton of D. (F.) speciosa, led to the mixing of asynchronous skeletal part. At the study site, D. (F.) speciosa grows continuously, even during the cold season, suggesting that the skeletal Sr/Ca obtained from specimens of D. (F.) speciosa can be used as an SST proxy in the northwest Pacific marginal seas.


Optimal nitrogen fertilizer levels are computed for a sample of Texas Coastal Bend grain sorghum producers based on their assessed subjective conditional yield and price probabilities, utility measures, and cost information. Producers' mean yield expectations were substantially greater than experimental yield response and their perceptions of the effects of nitrogen on yield variability were contrary to usual characterization of nitrogen as a risk-increasing input. Optimal fertilizer levels based on expected utility maximization represent actual fertilizer use somewhat better than those based on expected profit maximization. However, both calculated levels were high relative to actual fertilizer use.


Brains from 32 neonatal autopsies from the Seychelles were examined histologically and analyzed for mercury levels. Six brain regions were sampled: frontal and occipital cortex, temporal cortex with hippocampus, basal ganglia with thalamus, cerebellum, and pons with medulla. Tissue blocks for histology and mercury analysis were taken from opposing faces to provide for correlation of findings. Similar studies were performed on 12 reference neonatal brains from Rochester, New York. No clear-cut developmental abnormality was found, but some brains exhibited low-grade, non-specific destructive changes. Total mercury levels, most of it in the organic form, were elevated in many of the Seychelles specimens. No correlation was demonstrated between mercury levels and degree or type of histologic change. There was considerable variability in total mercury for each anatomic region among the 32 Seychelles cases, as well as from one region to another in individual brains. All values of total mercury were under 300 ppb. Statistical analysis of mean mercury levels for each region demonstrated higher values in deep subcortical nuclei, brain stem, and cerebellum, phylogenetically older parts of the brain. When total mercury concentration of each region was paired with all other areas in the same brain and the paired values plotted for the entire group of brains, high correlations were obtained for all brain pairs, suggesting a strong concentration-dependent relationship between mercury intake and brain content. Analysis of mercury levels in separately dissected blocks of grey and white matter from 12 specimens revealed no significant differences between grey and white. In comparison with other human developmental studies and with experimental developmental studies in animals, where toxicity has been demonstrated with total mercury brain levels above 1,000 ppb, this study found no evidence of toxicity within a range of mercury levels below 300 ppb. Submicroscopic changes, subcellular alterations, subtle disturbances in the unfolding of brain architectonics -- none of these are excluded with methods used in this report. Further studies of threshold effects of MeHg on fetal brain are essential. That approximately half of the mercury resides in glial elements in white matter reinforces the need to focus attention upon glia as well as neurons during development.


Introducing the Expected Shortfall (ES) into CoVaR framework, the paper establishes the dynamic CoES model to measure the systemic risk undertaken by the various financial industries in China and identify the systemic importance of China's financial industry. The results show that CoES is able to reflect the time variability of risk in China's financial system and the scale characteristics of the China's financial industry. An observation to the mean level shows that when the China's financial system is under the high-risk pressure, the China's banking industry will shoulder the largest risk, followed by the insurance industry, securities industry, real estate industry and diversified financial industries. Among them, the Chinese insurance industry will undertake higher risk compared to its market scale, and the risk undertaken by Chinese insurance industry is significantly larger than the risk spillover. During the global financial crisis, the risk undertaken by each industry in China was higher than the mean value in the sample, which fell to around the mean value after the crisis. In the 'money shortage' period of Chinese banking industry in 2013, the risk undertaken by each financial industry in China changed largely in the short term, especially for the banking industry. During the "stock market crash" and "8.11 exchange reform" in 2015, the risk undertaken by the financial industries in China increased significantly and lasted for a long time.


It was well known that glucuronic acid played a important role as a combining antidote in vivo, but few determinative methods of glucuronic acid value are useful for a clinical aplication. Therefore, the determinative methods of glucuronic acid were first investigated and then glucuronic acid value in blood and urine, in health and disease, were observed. And the results were as follows. 1. The Fishman's determinative method of glucuronic acid value was confirmed to be useful for a clinical application, since it was compared with the original method for the determination of glucuronic acid value on the minuteness, singularity and recovered property by the use of naphthoresorcinolcarbon acid barium. 2. The value of glucuronic acid in blood of healthy adults was 7.1 mg/dl in male and 6.8 mg/dl in female, and it's total excretive dosis in urine was 363.7 mg in male ang 327 mg in female. The density of glucuronic acid in blood showed no change for 24 hours, but it's excretion in urine was so high in the morning that the total execretive dosis of glucuronic acid into urine should be measured with 24 hours' urine. 3. As the singularity was not observed on the excretive dosis of glucuronic acid by the intravenous administration of glucose, it was thought that glucose did not directly participate in the combination of glucuronic acid. 4. Glucuronic acid was, in some degrees, accumulated in blood by the administration of glucuronic acid, and it could be partly utilized for the combination. 5. In liver diseases, the total excretive dosis of glucuronic acid into urine showed markedly decreased and the value of glucuronic acid in blood also showed decreased with the degree of liver damage, but at the early stage of acute hepatitis, some cases showed the high value of glucuronic acid in blood, in opposition to the decreasion of it's excretion into urine. 6. In the cases with longstanding fever, like the case of subacute bacterial endocarditis, the excretive increasion of glucuronic acid into urine was observed. 7. In the cases with the administration of PAS, the total excretive dosis of glucuronic acid into urine showed the increasion, and it was thought that PAS was participated in the combination of glucuronic acid. 8. In half of the cases with habitual constipation the excretion of glucuronic acid into urine showed the increasion, but it became showing the normal value on the measurement of glucuronic acid after thebowel movement in those cases showed the high excretion of glucuronic acid into urine. 9. In other diseases, Basedowe disease, sypinal sphilis, thrombocytopenic purpura, stomach ulcer, duodenal ulcer, myelitis and cholecystopathy etc., no significant tendency was observed on the excretion of glucuronic acid.


This study is circumscribed Communication Ontology. It is based on two preliminary observations. First of all, as usual linguistic term, the message is clear and passive idea. On the other hand, as a concept, the idea of message is active, confused and elusive that needs clarification.Our approach is centered on clarifying site zetetic message across meanings generated in the communication process. Since the entire amount of meanings (created, co- constructed, generated, resulting in communication) which constitutes the discourse, is fundamental to detect contours, configuration and figure of the message.Corpus starting material consists of incidental reflection of the specialist in semiotics Roland Barthes on how to communicate a message such as "condolences".From meta-analytic examination position of Roland Barthes and other leading specialists positions expressed over the years, like G. Bateson, R. Rommetveit, G. Gerbner, D. K. Berlo, M. Burgoon, C. R. Berger, B. J. O'Keefe, J. G. Delia, M. E. Roloff, G. J. Shepherd, W. Douglas, P. D. Battista, M. L. Fleming, W. H. Levie, P. J. Shoemaker, S. D. Reese, J. O. Greene, J. P. Dillard, S. Kemper, K. Kemtes, R. Capurro, J. Holgate, B. R. Burleson, S. R. Wilson, are drawn five ascertaining-conclusive elements. I reflected on these elements making comparisons, building inferences, abductions, inductions and deductions and I set five axiomatic findings.First axiomatic finding is that there is no pure message or there is no message as message: message exists only in concrete form of discourse. Second axiomatic finding is that communication message is the nucleus of the meanings of the discourse. Third axiomatic finding is that, in fact, the message is the rationale of the discourse. Fourth axiomatic finding is that message production and discourse production are parallel and concatenated. The fifth axiomatic finding is that the message determines the form, type, shades and tones of the significance of the discourse.


Wafer Level Package (WLP) technology has seen tremendous advances in recent years and is rapidly being adopted at the 65nm Low-K silicon node. For a true WLP, the package size is same as the die (silicon) size and the package is usually mounted directly on to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Board level reliability (BLR) is a bigger challenge on WLPs than the package level due to a larger CTE mismatch and difference in stiffness between silicon and the PCB [1]. The BLR performance of the devices with Low-K dielectric silicon becomes even more challenging due to their fragile nature and lower mechanical strength. A post fab re-distribution layer (RDL) with polymer stack up provides a stress buffer resulting in an improved board level reliability performance. Drop shock (DS) and temperature cycling test (TCT) are the most commonly run tests in the industry to gauge the BLR performance of WLPs. While a superior drop performance is required for devices targeting mobile handset applications, achieving acceptable TCT performance on WLPs can become challenging at times. BLR performance of WLP is sensitive to design features such as die size, die aspect ratio, ball pattern and ball density etc. In this paper, 65nm WLPs with a post fab Cu RDL have been studied for package and board level reliability. Standard JEDEC conditions are applied during the reliability testing. Here, we present a detailed reliability evaluation on multiple WLP sizes and varying ball patterns. Die size ranging from 10 mm2 to 25 mm2 were studied along with variation in design features such as die aspect ratio and the ball density (fully populated and de-populated ball pattern). All test vehicles used the aforementioned 65nm fab node.


To the Editor:— A review of the article by Draeger and Pijoan on Treatment of Impetigo Contagiosa with Sulfathiazole in an Alcoholic Plastic Vehicle (The Journal, August 11, p. 1096) fails to reveal any mention of a control series of treatment with the vehicle minus the sulfathiazole. This a serious defect. Clinicians have recognized for decades the feasibility of successful treatment of impetigo contagiosa by occlusive dressings alone. It is important to have the authors indicate in a supplementary report the results in impetigo contagiosa of application of their alcoholic plastic vehicle without sulfathiazole. On the basis of insufficient clinical study, liquid provinyl acetate dressing inhibits growth of pus forming bacteria on the skin surface and in superficial injuries. Application of 55 per cent ethyl alcohol is also known to be a deterrent to bacterial growth. Its equivalent was the major volume of the alcoholic plastic vehicle of Draeger and


Police misconduct has received a heightened degree of media attention in the last two years, but in reality the problem has been around for decades, and the people who consistently bear the brunt of that misconduct are people of color. This Article focuses on one reason behind the misconduct crisis (that police officers are rarely held accountable in any meaningful way for their misconduct against minorities) and one solution for that problem (reforming the way cities review and respond to civilian complaints about police misconduct). While some scholars have acknowledged the flaws inherent in existing review structures, this Article is the first to consider how the ineffective methods by which cities respond to civilian complaints of police misconduct exacerbate the misconduct crisis, and the first to propose a model for an effective independent review agency.In this Article I begin by discussing the existent police misconduct crisis, and specifically the devastating effects police misconduct has had on minority communities. I then detail the failures of internal affairs review, and the flawed structures of many existing independent review agencies. I end the piece by proposing a model for an effective civilian oversight agency tasked with responding to police misconduct claims.


Malaria is a prevalent disease in India. The results show that the LD50 of the ethanolic extract of Phyllantus amarus and Enicostemma axillare was 500 to 1500 mg/Kg. The in vivo antimalarial activity of the extract against Plasmodium berghei was assessed within 4 days of suppressive test of P. amarus and Enicostemma axillare. The present study involves comparative screening of leaves of phyllanthus and root of Enicostemma for anti-malarial activity on plasmodium berghei induced Swiss albino mice using chloroquine as standard. Ethanolic and aqueus extracts (50, 100 and 200 mg/Kg b.w.) of leaves of phyllanthus and root of Enicostemma axillare were screened administered, produced significant (p < 0.05), dose-dependent activity against the parasite in the suppressive, the present study therefore validates the local use of the extracts of Phyllantus amarus Schumach and Thonn as an antimalarial agent. Further studies are however recommended to identify and possibly characterize the potential antiplasmodial agents in the aqueous extract of the plant.


Everts' account of his visit to Illenau Asylum, Achern - European JourneysArchival/Heritage Resources - NAME is a biographical, bibliographical and archival database of SUBJECT with links to related articles and images. ADD MORE DESCRIPTION AS REQUIRED


This paper uses matched employer-employee panel data on university graduates who obtained a Master's degree in 1988–2004 to study how facing adverse economic conditions upon graduation affects shortand long-term labor market outcomes in Finland. Among all graduation cohorts, the average graduate faces large and persistent negative effects on real annual earnings that last for at least the first ten years after graduation. There is also a persistently higher probability of being unemployed that lasts for roughly seven years. When only considering the cohorts who graduated after the exceptionally deep Finnish 1990s depression, the effects on earnings only last for the first five years and there appear to be little to no effects on unemployment. Female graduates face smaller earnings losses on average, potentially reflecting gender differences in fields of study, employing sector and labor market attachment. The empirical results appear not to be significantly affected by selective timing or place of graduation.


We consider how the origins of institutional frameworks affect entrepreneurship in Africa, evaluating the extent to which historically-embedded institutions and other environmental conditions affect the likelihood of high-growth-potential entrepreneurial start-ups. We investigate whether entrepreneurs in these countries are primarily motivated by the pressures of subsistence, or whether the broader economic context favours more ambitious entrepreneurial ventures. To illustrate our ideas, we draw on Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data about African economies in 2013, presenting results for nine countries. Next we focus on two pairwise comparisons, for which we conducted an in-depth analysis of entrepreneurial attitudes and historical context: First for a pair of resource-driven economies, Nigeria and Angola, and next for two economies with lower natural resource endowments: Ghana and Uganda. We conclude by highlighting the historical origins of present-day institutional environments for entrepreneurship in Africa, emphasizing the evolutionary elements of the historical context that continue to determine entrepreneurial aspirations.


Neoliberal higher education reforms in relation to quality assurance, managerialist practices, accountability and performativity are receiving increasing attention and criticism. In this article, I will address student assessment as part of the technologies that increasingly govern academics and their work in universities. I will draw on Foucault's theories of governmentality and subjectification, and discourse analysis that have framed the research conducted with 16 academics in one university in the UK. While academics in the study expressed frustration with neoliberal reforms in general, and assessment policies in particular, they tended not to demonstrate overt resistance within their university systems. The reasons for this will be questioned and analysed in relation to a neoliberal mode of government where power relations shaping academic subjectivities are diffuse and pervasive. I will discuss the ways in which academics understand and act within these power relations, and I will also demonstrate a variety of covert practices that academics tend to apply when coping with the neoliberal technologies of government such as assessment.


As the future of Moore's law of transistor scaling appears uncertain, Electronics is trying to reinvent itself by broadening its focus to other areas including macroelectronics (electronics of large, possibly flexible and transparent displays), bioelectronics (e.g. nanobio sensors for geomomics, proteomics), and energy-harvesting (e.g. solar cells). In this talk, I focus on the recent progress in the field of bioelectronics, specifically on nanobiosensors for gene and protein identification. While capabilities of classical techniques based on optical detection of biomolecules is already impressive, the method is too expensive to preclude its routine use in clinical setting for personal medicine. As an cost-effective alternative, (optical) label-free electronic detection of biomolecules has long been a cherished dream for researchers involved in Genomics and Proteomics. Despite significant interest and almost monthly reports of groundbreaking experimental results in leading journals by researchers all over the world, the elements that dictate response of a biosensor has remained – until recently – poorly understood. In this talk, we discuss how the elementary use of fractal geometry of diffusion, percolative transport in random networks, electrolyte screening-limited response, etc. are finally allowing us to establish the performance potential of such sensors and how "form' or geometry is fundamental in defining the sensitivity of biosensors.


This paper explores the value of retaining letterpress workshops within art and design schools, not merely as a tool to understand our past, but as a means to critically reflect upon our future.

The benefits of teaching letterpress to graphic design students as a way of improving their understanding of typography are well documented. There is an argument for preserving 'craft' subjects including letterpress within the curriculum, as they foster immersive learning. The letterpress process is a significant teaching tool that complements, and can act in conjunction with, computer-based design education.
This paper seeks to build upon these debates, examining the intersection between the practice and theory of an otherwise technologically outdated process. The paper focuses upon 6x6: Collaborative Letterpress Project as a case study. The project brings together six leading UK higher education institutions with active letterpress workshops. It encourages the sharing of best practice within a specialist subject area, through the creation of a collaborative publication where students and staff are linking their practice with critical and reflective writing in relation to the medium.

Traditionally, workshop areas have been concerned with the acquisition of a skill, often taught through rote learning or technical demonstration. By positioning students at the centre of the process they have been encouraged to form their own perspective on the discipline. Through the examination of evolving letterpress paradigms, it is possible to question why we do something; as opposed to how it is done.


This paper identifies and discusses important political and economic aspects of Turkish accession to the EU. Under the present rules, Turkey's size would give it the greatest number of votes within twenty years and its low income and dependence on agriculture the largest net transfer from other members. Free labor mobility would lead to substantial migration to the present EU; the Turkish immigrant population in Germany may increase from 2 to 3.5 million in thirty years. Most of the economic effects will be felt by Turkey, particularly in agriculture. The main obstacles to accession are not economic, but political, however. Historical experience makes it difficult for Turkey to eliminate the decisive political role of the military, to give Kurds and other minorities cultural rights and uphold basic human rights; these issues are perceived to threaten national unity and territorial integrity. Turkish membership is resisted by many in the EU because Turkey is not considered to be part of Europe geographically and culturally.


Financial literacy is important for employees in the banking sector, as they are required to advise and administer the savings and investments of their clients. This study aims to establish financial literacy levels for banking employees and socio-demographic variables that influence their financial literacy levels. When collecting the necessary data for analysis, a survey was used for the total final sample of 120 employees of the banking sector. Descriptive statistics, the two-sample T-test and a simple ANOVA were used to determine the actual financial literacy levels and the socio-demographic factors influencing them. Overall, the employees were found to have moderately high levels of financial literacy. Only gender, race and education level were found to have an influence on financial literacy levels. This study informs the banking sector about how well employees are involved in financial literacy and which socio-demographic groups of their employees they need to focus on when exploring financial education programs.


Submaximum bicycle and respiration ergometry was conducted before and after sinus rhythm recovery by means of electric impulse stimulation in 41 patients with atrial fibrillation after effective mitral commissurotomy. Physical working capacity was reduced considerably (by 25.8%), while oxygen spending per unit of work increased by 58.5% in patients with atrial fibrillations, as compared to normal subjects. After sinus rhythm was recovered, physical working capacity increased by 106%, while oxygen spending per 1 kgm work declined by 34.2%. Sinus rhythm recovery is essential as an element of postoperative rehabilitation in cardiosurgical patients.


Abstract Purpose: To determine if the legacy of early life stage irradiation seen in rainbow trout is modified in adult fish by acute exposure to waterborne aluminium (Al). Methods: Two-year-old trout which had been irradiated as either eggs 48 h after fertilization, eyed eggs, yolk sac larvae or as first feeders, were exposed to 100 or 200 μg l−1 Al. These fish were then paired with untreated fish. Gill and skin samples from both the irradiated and Al-exposed, and the untreated bystander fish, were then assayed for the production of toxic or pro-death signals, using the HPV-G reporter cell line. Results: Depending on the life stage, irradiated and the tissue assayed acute Al exposure modified both the radiation legacy, and the radiation-induced bystander effect in untreated fish, either by reducing reporter cell survival or increasing reporter cell growth. Conclusions: The effects of early irradiation and adult Al exposure were complex but clearly demonstrated that both the direct radiation effects and the communication of a radiation-induced bystander effect can be modified by a second environmental stressor.


This paper investigates the degree of control that designers might have over human relations in services. For this purpose, a number of speculative service designs were devised to address work-related stress. We focus on three of the generated designs, where design interventions have made changes to the material circumstance in which contacts among users and providers take place. The paper looks into the capacity of design to promote discussion and social support, and its capacity to make objects act as 'quasi-others' in social encounters. Through the case studies we show how different levels of designerly control can be exercised in practice.


Turkey has suffered from different economic crises since 1990. However, the February 2001 crisis has been unprecedented in intensity and repercussions. Although many factors, both internal and external, may have contributed to their occurrences, the former owing to their inducing corruption and waste in the economy, seem to have fomented them more than the latter. Although Turkey has been getting transformed into a market economy since 1980, government intervention is still pervasive in its economy. Government still controls Central Bank, owns commercial banks, and operates public enterprises. It has liberalised market, currency, foreign trade and foreign direct investment (FDI), but still operates sectors like energy, sugar and tobacco. Such a level of state intervention had adverse implications for corruption, waste, effective reforms, etc. in the country. Further, since the transformation of the economy could not be accompanied by concomitant structural, legal and institutional reforms in 1990s, resources have constantly been misused over the years. Further still, groups owning bank, media and holding companies jointly have notoriously precipitated domestic financial crisis by stashing away the home deposits in their offshore branches. Finally, supporting agriculture and industry with politically-motivated credit for voting purposes has constantly been aggravating the drain of resources and thereby financial crises of the country. This paper attempts a critical examination of how such factors may have contributed to the occurrence and accentuation of economic crises suffered by Turkey over the last decade.


DRAM has been a de facto standard for main memory, and advances in process technology have led to a rapid increase in its capacity and bandwidth. In contrast, its random access latency has remained relatively stagnant, as it is still around 100 CPU clock cycles. Modern computer systems rely on caches or other latency tolerance techniques to lower the average access latency. However, not all applications have ample parallelism or locality that would help hide or reduce the latency. Moreover, applications' demands for memory space continue to grow, while the capacity gap between last-level caches and main memory is unlikely to shrink. Consequently, reducing the main-memory latency is important for application performance. Unfortunately, previous proposals have not adequately addressed this problem, as they have focused only on improving the bandwidth and capacity or reduced the latency at the cost of significant area overhead. We propose asymmetric DRAM bank organizations to reduce the average main-memory access latency. We first analyze the access and cycle times of a modern DRAM device to identify key delay components for latency reduction. Then we reorganize a subset of DRAM banks to reduce their access and cycle times by half with low area overhead. By synergistically combining these reorganized DRAM banks with support for non-uniform bank accesses, we introduce a novel DRAM bank organization with center high-aspect-ratio mats called CHARM. Experiments on a simulated chip-multiprocessor system show that CHARM improves both the instructions per cycle and system-wide energy-delay product up to 21% and 32%, respectively, with only a 3% increase in die area.


Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has had an unprecedented effect, especially among under-resourced minority communities. Surveillance of those at high risk is critical for preventing and controlling the pandemic. We must better understand the relationships between COVID-19-related cases or deaths and characteristics in our most vulnerable population that put them at risk to target COVID-19 prevention and management efforts. Population characteristics strongly related to United States (US) county-level data on COVID-19 cases and deaths during all stages of the pandemic were identified from the onset of the epidemic and included county-level socio-demographic and comorbidities data, as well as daily meteorological modeled observation data from the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR), and the NARR high spatial resolution model to assess the environment. Advanced machine learning (ML) approaches were used to identify outbreaks (geographic clusters of COVID-19) and included spatiotemporal risk factors and COVID-19 vaccination efforts, especially among vulnerable and underserved communities. COVID-19 outcomes were found to be negatively associated with the number of people vaccinated and positively associated with age, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and the minority population. There was also a strong positive correlation between unauthorized immigrants and the prevalence of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Meteorological variables were also investigated, but correlations with COVID-19 were relatively weak. Our findings suggest that COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact across the US population among vulnerable and minority communities. Findings also emphasize the importance of vaccinations and tailored public health initiatives (e.g., mask mandates, vaccination) to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the number of COVID-19 related deaths across all populations.


A 59-year-old man was admitted for fever of unknown origin. Fever was associated with chills. His medical record revealed the history of aortic valve replacement 11 years earlier, as well as enterococcal endocarditis 4 months prior to the current admission. The patient was found to have normal left ventricular size with borderline systolic function, left ventricular hypertrophy, right ventricle at the upper limit of normal size, mild systolic dysfunction and mild transvalvular aortic insufficiency on transthoracic echocardiography; while no vegetations were observed on transesophageal echocardiography. Sequential blood cultures were negative; however, a blood culture sample obtained 5 …


3GPP-LTE networks use the EAP-AKA protocol to authenticate and negotiate session keys with mobile users. However, with the popular trend of single user owning multiple devices and subscribing to multiple services, the EAP-AKA protocol appears inefficient because its authentication is device-oriented. In this paper, we propose a secure and efficient multi-device and multi-service authentication protocol, called SEMMAP, for 3GPP-LTE networks. SEMMAP makes use of a key hierarchy and an authority-issued license to enable an authenticating server to quickly verify the legitimacy of multiple devices belonging to the same mobile user and conduct a fast key negotiation between the server and the mobile user. Performance analysis shows that SEMMAP is more efficient than the current EAP-AKA protocol under the multi-device, multi-service scenario in terms of authentication delay and storage overhead for Authentication Vector (AV) at authenticating servers.


The aim of this paper is to describe how functions of metaphors relate to translation strategiesin a translation of a popular scientific article from English to Swedish. The investigation isbased on a close reading of the source and target texts which identifies metaphors of fourdifferent functions: pedagogical, theory-constitutive, decorative and narrative. The methodfor metaphor identification is adapted from Merakchi and Rogers (2013) while the translationstrategies discussed have been borrowed from Toury (2012). These strategies reflect realtranslator behaviour and take into account source and target texts equally.The investigation starts with a quantitative summary of translation strategies which showsthat in the vast majority of cases metaphors exist simultaneously in the source and targettexts, whether it is as ―the same‖ or a ―different‖ metaphor. The qualitative analysis bringsforward that metaphors in general have a narrative function, sometimes in addition to adifferent function. It goes on to show that narrative themes are important to create links i)within the text, ii) to the scientific community and iii) within a wider cultural context, andthat this works for both source and target text independently.


A soil information system was developed to manage soil survey data and to ensure that soil information is readily available to support land use planning and development. The Soil Information System combined spatial information management of a Geographical Information System (GIS) with the textural information management of a relational database management system. The GIS is capable of manipulating and displaying area and point data with the logical framework of a database to store data for interpretation. The main objective of this paper was to demonstrate one of the approaches to utilize and interpret data from the soil information system for identifying soil suitable for irrigated agriculture. The design and implementation of the soil information system are discussed, and an example of system output, such as mapping soils suitable for irrigated agricultural, is presented in this paper. For mapping these areas, a criterion was defined to select potential areas for irrigated agriculture. The criterion was applied to each of the soil property classes and subclasses to determine the most limiting rating for each soil. The rating was applied to map units and was allocated by the geographic soil map units in the GIS to produce a suitability map for irrigated agricultural areas in Kuwait. The soil information for the State of Kuwait provided information in a digitized format that can be further extended to interpret other land uses.


The year is 1989 and Mark Doty's life has reached a state of equilibrium. His reputation as a poet of formidable talent is growing, he enjoys his work as a college professor and, perhaps most importantly, he is deeply in love with his partner of many years, Wally Roberts. The harmonious existence these two men share is shattered, however, when they learn that Wally has tested positive for the HIV virus. From diagnosis to the initial signs of deterioration to the heartbreaking hour when Wally is released from his body, this is an chronicle of love, its hardships, and its innumerable gifts.


This essay focuses on the degree to which Maltese foreign policy has become Europeanized because of its membership in the European Union. The author focuses on three trends resulting from the Europeanization process: first, the ways in which Malta's national policies and political structures have become altered to meet the demands of EU membership; second, the manner in which Malta projects its own interests at the EU level; and third, the degree to which Maltese national identity has transformed since becoming an EU member state in 2004. The author then provides a brief overview of the particular national characteristics of Maltese politics.


In high-yielding soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] environments, N uptake during seed-filling may be constrained when the late-season decline in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is coupled with insufficient soil N. Three N-fertilization strategies were compared with a control (NO) on soybeans in 2006 and 2007 in a high-yield soybean-maize (Zea mays L.) rotation experiment established in 1999. Our objective was to identify strategies for overcoming a late-season N-supply limitation to maximal seed yield coupled with N fertilizer-induced reduction in BNF. In the N0 treatment, no N was applied, but in each N fertilization strategy, 180 kg N ha ―1 were applied as (i) polymer-coated controlled-release urea placed 20 cm below the soil surface before planting (NLu); (ii) ammonium nitrate split-applied to the surface before planting and at V6 (early application, NEa), or (iii) ammonium nitrate applied to the surface at R5 (NLa). The ureide method was used to estimate BNF. The N0 yield was 4850 kg ha ―1 , but the mean of the three N-applied treatments had 228 kg ha ―1 (5%) higher yields. The N0 N uptake was 411 kg ha ―1 , but it was 36 kg ha ―1 (9%) greater in the mean of the three N treatments. Nitrogen uptake attributable to BNF in the N0, NLu, NEa, and NLa treatments was 50, 46, 32, and 38% of total N accumulation, respectively. Yield maximization and mitigation of N fertilizer-induced reduction of BNF were both achievable when soybean plants acquired N from a slow-release urea applied before planting in a deep band located below the root nodulation zone.


The article deals with the issue of unauthorized termination of chemotherapy by patients with tuberculosis. Some characteristics of present legal base in the aspects of social support of tuberculosis patients are discussed. The results of sociologic survey of patients in the TB dispensaries of Nijegorodskaya oblast related to the issues of TB awareness as a social important and social dangerous disease and its treatment as well. The authors derive from the received data the causes of unauthorized termination of specific treatment by patients and propose new directions of activities related to the amelioration of epidemiologic situation with TB.


Policy analysis is complicated by the myriad of benefits and costs generated by the use of natural resources. This study develops three benefits that must be considered in the granting of a consumptive use permit for water filed by Adena Springs Ranch, east of Ocala, Florida. This ranch is hoping to expand into grass-fat beef; but to do so, it needs additional water for irrigation. Specifically, our analysis considers the potential gain from the ranch, the potential negative effect on existing permit holders and environmental uses of water, and the possible positive value generated by the increased surface flow for other recreational users in eastern Marion County.


This paper presents a review of recent advances in nuclearbased hydrogen with the thermochemical copper-chlorine cycle. Growing attention has focused on thermochemical water decomposition as a promising alternative to steam-methane reforming as a sustainable future method of hydrogen production. Recent advances of specific processes within the Cu-Cl cycle will be presented, particularly for purposes of calculating the overall heat requirements of the cycle and preferred configurations of the oxygen cell, disposal of molten salt and the electrochemical process of copper electrowinning. Energy balances for each individual process will be formulated and numerical results will be obtained for the heat requirements of the chemical reactors.


cases in infants now seem to be making a considerable contribution to endemic transmission (table), one approach would be to offer infants early measles vaccination before giving measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine in the second year of life. Studies to determine the serological response to early vaccination in infants of vaccinated and naturally immune mothers and the accuracy of a clinical diagnosis of measles in infants and older age groups are under way, together with theoretical studies to explore the impact of such a strategy. An epidemiologically and logistically different approach to routinely offering two doses would be to attempt to vaccinate all subjects in a wide age range within a short time and thereby interrupt transmission. This has recently been done in the English speaking Caribbean, where over 95% of all children aged 1-15 in eight of the 17 islands were vaccinated within one month.' To ensure elimination this initiative must be repeated periodically, the interval and targeted age groups being decided on the basis of epidemiological data such as the age specific prevalence of the antibody,6 and results of theoretical studies. Clearly, further work is required to provide a sound scientific basis for deciding future policy. We suggest that in the short term the cost effectiveness of offering measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine to secondary school children should be decided locally on the basis of a district's previous uptake of measles vaccine and present age specific notification rates.


The fog computing is the emerging technology to compute, store, control and connecting smart devices with each other using cloud computing. The Internet of Things (IoT) is an architecture of uniquely identified interrelated physical things, these physical things are able to communicate with each other and can transmit and receive information. This research presents a framework of the combination of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Fog computing. The blockchain is also the emerging technology that provides a hyper, distributed, public, authentic ledger to record the transactions. Blockchains technology is a secured technology that can be a boon for the next generation computing. The combination of fog, blockchains, and IoT creates a new opportunity in this area. In this research, the author presents a middleware framework based on the blockchain, fog, and IoT. The framework is implemented and tested. The results are found positive.


Geochemical and isotopic studies of the Cretaceous (106 Ma) Prairie Creek olivine lamproites in southwestern Arkansas indicate that these diamond-bearing ultrapotassic magmas were derived from metasomatized Proterozoic subcontinental lithospheric mantle. Re-Os isotopic data yield a nonradiogenic initial γOs = –3.2 to –3.6 (percent deviation in 187Os/188Os from chondritic mantle) and mantle model ages ( T MA) of 0.9 to 1.2 Ga. Sm-Nd isotopic data yield a nonradiogenic initial ϵNd = –10 and a depleted mantle model age (T(DM)) of 1.2 Ga. These data are consistent with initial stabilization of low-density lithospheric mantle at ∼1.2 Ga, followed closely in time by reenrichment in incompatible trace elements. This Middle Proterozoic lithospheric mantle source is younger than overlying Early Proterozoic crust of the southern U.S. midcontinent. Pre-Grenville subduction of oceanic lithosphere may have juxtaposed 1.2 Ga mantle beneath 1.6 to 2.0 Ga crust and imparted the necessary slab-derived chemical components for the growth of diamonds.


Experiences of place and mobility play central roles not only in what was traditionally understood as tourism but also in the broader practices of travelling and visiting sites and sights. On the one hand, such experiences are performed to an extent where it is difficult to isolate the sites and movements experienced per se, since visitors and travellers take part in 'doing' places and mobility. On the other, experience sites and routes stand out with specific traces and characteristics affording some – and not other – experiences. This article discusses conceptual understandings that may help to better analyse what it takes to perform tourist sites. Following a discussion of Walter Benjamin's way of understanding experiences as Erlebnisse, I suggest that ideas about multiplicity and absence–presence in Actor–Network Theory can develop new insights into how place and mobility are experienced in several layers of reality. To better understand experiences taking place in intersections between realities, J.R.R. Tolkien's concept of how real enchantment produces a Secondary World suggests that we see fantasy as real, and this proposition is compared to Georg Simmel's more modernist suggestion that experiences (Erlebnisse) are practised as living adventures, where intersecting worlds are not apart from each other. These practices are performed in restless mobilities among places, where the connections and hints between place and mobility are central in making absence–presence tensions produce experiences. Finally, the article discusses how the analysis of experience is related to the professional, experimental work of building a tourist attraction, exemplified by the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde.


Winter cereals are often used as cover crops before planting cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) is the predominate cereal cover crop for cash crops in southern Brazil and Paraguay, but limited information is available on the suitability of black oat as a cover crop in the southeastern USA. The objectives of this study were to compare black oat with adapted winter cereals for this region and to determine the effect of cereal residue species and amount on cotton growth, N status, and lint yield. In a greenhouse study in which black oat and rye (Secale cereale L.) residues were mixed with soil, tap root elongation of both cotton and radish (Raphanus sativa L.) was inhibited more by black oat residue than by rye residue. In a field experiment on a Goldsboro loamy sand (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Aquic Kandiudult), cotton was grown in 1995 and 1996 following black oat, oat (Avena sativa L.), rye, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that were planted at three different times (October, November, and December). AH four winter cereals had similar hiomass production at each planting date in 1995. In 1996, rye was the only species not visibly damaged by a low temperature of -12.2°C that occurred during the winter. Black oat biomass was comparable to wheat in all planting dates but averaged 60% less than rye over all three planting dates and was 37% less than oat in the October planting date in that year. Black oat tended to have a higher N concentration than the other cereal species. Cotton plant density was lowest following black oat and rye. Cotton growth, leaf blade N, and petiole NO 3 -N were more dependent on residue amount than on residue species. Cotton lint yield following black oat was 120 kg ha -1 higher than lint yield of cotton following rye. Cotton following black oat, wheat, and oat had similar lint yield. Black oat may be a promising cover crop for the southeastern USA, but evaluations of other cultivars and/or improvement programs to improve cold hardiness are needed to improve the utility of this species.