Abstract The spreading of liquid Ag and Ag–Mo alloys on molybdenum substrates has been studied, using a drop-transfer setup. Even though initial spreading velocities as fast as ≈ 1 m/s have been recorded in some experiments, a large variation in the spreading dynamics has been observed, and there is no unique relationship between the contact angle and the spreading velocity. This can be attributed to the formation of ridges at the triple junction, the movement of which controls spreading. The fastest spreading rates are consistent with results reported for low-temperature liquids; these can be described, using a molecular-kinetic model. Spreading kinetics and final contact angles were similar for pure Ag and Ag–Mo liquids.


On 29 June 1832, Victor Cousin announced to F.W.J. Schelling, "In a few days, I will send you a new edition of my Fragments with an introduction that speaks much of you. It is one of the most important things I have written and I recommend it to your attention." Cousin's reference is to the new Preface written for the second edition of his Fragments philosophiques, which Schelling did indeed receive a year later. On 23 August 1833, Schelling responds: "I received with great pleasure and read with great interest the second edition of your Fragments philosophiques, evident proof of the fact that your political career has not taken you from science. Your friendship for me cannot be doubted from the Preface; I am thinking of giving an extract of it and a critique of the scientific part in a literary journal published here." This promise of "a critique" was fulfilled in a notice Schelling published initially in the Bayer'schen Annalen in 1833 and subsequently, in revised form, as the Preface to the 1834 German translation of Cousin's second-edition Prefac —"your preface to my preface," as Cousin dubbed it. In 1835, it was translated into French, twice: initially by Felix Ravaisson and then by Joseph Willm. It was to become Schelling's most significant publication during the final four decades of his life and, indeed, Schelling himself writes to Cousin of his apprehension and "repugnance at having to explain myself on so many very significant philosophical issues after having kept silent so long."


In this paper, we examine the query complexity of verifying a hidden graph G with a betweenness oracle. Let G = (V,E) be a hidden graph and Ĝ = (V, Ê) be a known graph. V and Ê are known and E is not known. The graphs are connected, unweighted and have bounded maximum degree ∆. The task of the graph verification problem is to verify that E = Ê. We have access to G through a black-box betweenness oracle. A betweenness oracle returns whether a vertex lies along a shortest path between two other vertices. The betweenness oracle nicely captures many real-world problems. We prove that graph verification can be done using n1+o(1) betweenness queries. Surprisingly, this matches the state of the art for the graph verification problem with the much stronger distance oracle. We also prove that graph verification requires Ω(n) betweenness queries – a matching lower bound.


This study considers the effect of smartphone involvement for purchase intentions in fashion shopping malls based on mobile web apps and on PC web apps; in addition, it investigates the correlation between purchase intention in fashion shopping malls (based on activated PC web apps) and those of fashion shopping malls (based on newly created mobile web apps). The results of this study are: First, the analysis of smartphones factors showed that smartphones consist of 6 kinds of dimensions of ``appearance involvement``, ``time and information search involvement``, ``application involvement``, ``entertainment involvement``, ``communication involvement``, and ``transaction involvement``. Second, the higher the entertainment and transaction involvement among descriptive variables for smartphone involvement were due to the positive responses displayed towards fashion shopping mall purchases based on mobile web apps. Third, a higher application and entertainment involvement in the descriptive variables for smartphones resulted in a positive response displayed for purchases in fashion shopping malls based on PC web apps shown in a regression analysis that verified the smartphone and purchase intention relationship in fashion shopping malls based on PC web apps. Fourth, consumers with high purchase intention in the existing PC web app based fashion shopping malls were shown to have a high purchase intention in mobile web app based fashion shopping malls due to the results of a correlation analysis that analyzed the relationship between purchase intention in PC web app based fashion shopping malls and mobile web app based fashion shopping malls.


The Lemoine auriferous volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit (0.76 Mt at 4.6 g/t Au, 4.2 wt % Cu, and 9.5 wt % Zn) is part of the Chibougamau camp located in the northeastern part of the Abitibi greenstone belt. The deposit is hosted by a steeply dipping, S-facing homoclinal volcanic succession (~2729–2726 Ma Waconichi Formation, Lemoine Member) composed of effusive and intrusive tholeiitic rhyolites and andesites cut by comagmatic diorite and gabbro dikes and overlain by transitional to mildly calc-alkaline basalts, andesites, and rhyolites.

Seven predominant synvolcanic alteration assemblages, now intensely deformed and metamorphosed to upper greenschist facies, were defined based on their mineralogy and position relative to ore. Albite-quartz, sericite-carbonate, sericite-chlorite, sericite-chlorite-(Zn), and chlorite-sericite-epidote-carbonate assemblages define semiconcordant zones that are stacked from the paleoseafloor to the deep footwall. In contrast, chlorite and chlorite-sericite-chloritoid assemblages overprint the other alteration zones and form subconcordant to now transposed discordant zones in the deposit footwall. Most alteration assemblages are characterized by relative SiO2, CaO, and Na2O mass losses and relative FeO, MgO, K2O, and CO2 mass gains. Whole-rock oxygen isotopes indicate that the temperatures of alteration ranged from ~100° to 150°C (sericite-carbonate assemblage) to ≥350°C (sericite-chlorite, chlorite-sericite-chloritoid, and chlorite assemblages). The chlorite-sericite-chloritoid assemblage, and to some extent the sericite-chlorite assemblage, are associated with strong to near total depletion of light rare earth elements possibly due to reaction with Cl-bearing, mildly acidic fluids at depth in the ore-forming hydrothermal system.

The sulfide lens was formed in part on the seafloor and in part by subseafloor replacement. The massive sulfides are particularly rich in Bi, suggesting a possible magmatic input into the Lemoine ore-forming hydrothermal system. High Bi concentrations in the mineralizing system are likely to have enhanced Au precipitation by scavenging the precious metal from the hydrothermal fluids. The Au-rich nature of the Lemoine auriferous volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit can be explained by a combination of very efficient metal transport, highly effective capture of metals at or near the seafloor, and a possible magmatic contribution to the hydrothermal system.


The emerging field of context-oriented programming gives a predominant role to the execution context of applications, and advocates the use of dedicated mechanisms to allow the elegant expression of behavioural adaptations to such context. With suitable reflective facilities, language semantics can be adapted to context by reusing the same context-oriented mechanisms that allow base-level adaptability. This kind of meta-level adaptability, in which the computation model itself becomes adaptable to context, gives rise to context-oriented computational reflection. To explore this idea, we set out to implement a simple software transactional memory system that exploits meta-level adaptability by regarding transactions as contexts, and adapting fundamental system behaviour to such transactional contexts. The implementation is succinct and non-intrusive, giving us an indication of the power lying at the crossroads of context-oriented programming and computational reflection.


The average spectrum and energy spectrum of the short-exposure image intensity are evaluated for the case of an object illuminated by a monochromatic plane wave and viewed through atmospheric turbulence, assuming a complex Gaussian model for the turbulence. In general, the average image energy spectrum contains diffraction-limited information about the complex amplitude reflectivity of the object, but, unlike in the case of incoherent imaging, it is generally not possible to extract this information in a straightforward manner. This is illustrated by a computer simulation example of imaging a double-point object in incoherent and coherent illumination. When the object is optically rough and it is physically possible to average over an object ensemble (e.g., the object rotates slightly), then the image energy spectrum is more simply related to the object energy spectrum. The possibilities for diffraction-limited object reconstruction are discussed, and it is pointed out that the image bispectrum does not provide diffraction-limited imaging, in contrast to the case of incoherent imaging.


The paper addresses the application of the mathematical definition of a particle's trajectory in maritime traffic. After the introductory definition of the concept of a particle's trajectory, it goes on to provide a definition of the concept necessary for the understanding of the issues in question: the concept of the manoeuverability. Next, an example is given which defines the concept of a wave particle's trajectory and the method of ship manoeuvring along a trajectory. Finally, there is a definition of the trajectory error and the method how to calculate it. There is also following the description of block scheme which depicts the way of steering a ship along a given trajectory with corresponding transfer functions. At the end, there is a conclusion.


Through-substrate-vias (TSVs) provide conduction paths to allow for three-dimensional integration of microelectronic structures. It is also known that metallic TSVs can be used to suppress resonance modes within dielectric substrates by altering the propagation of electromagnetic waves. Numerical analyses of transmission through substrates containing metallic TSVs revealed that although resonance modes of the composite structure are shifted to higher frequencies, these frequencies are not solely dictated by the TSV periodicity. Simulations show that hybrid modes are formed through a convolution of the original substrate modes and a long-wavelength mode analogous to that found in a two-dimensional photonic crystal. An analytical formula is proposed that provides a simple relation between the intrinsic substrate mode frequencies and the long-wavelength mode that scales with the ratio of TSV radius to its periodicity.


It was recently demonstrated that mutations in the human SPTLC1 gene, encoding the Lcb1p subunit of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), cause hereditary sensory neuropathy type I (1, 2). As a member of the subfamily of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate enzymes known as the α-oxoamine synthases, serine palmitoyltransferase catalyzes the committed step of sphingolipid synthesis. The residues that are mutated to cause hereditary sensory neuropathy type I reside in a highly conserved region of Lcb1p that is predicted to be a catalytic domain of Lcb1p on the basis of alignments with other members of the α-oxoamine synthase family. We found that the corresponding mutations in the LCB1 gene ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae reduce serine palmitoyltransferase activity. These mutations are dominant and decrease serine palmitoyltransferase activity by 50% when the wild-type and mutantLCB1 alleles are coexpressed. We also show that serine palmitoyltransferase is an Lcb1p·Lcb2p heterodimer and that the mutated Lcb1p proteins retain their ability to interact with Lcb2p. Modeling studies suggest that serine palmitoyltransferase is likely to have a single active site that lies at the Lcb1p·Lcb2p interface and that the mutations in Lcb1p reside near the lysine in Lcb2p that is expected to form the Schiff's base with the pyridoxal 5′-phosphate cofactor. Furthermore, mutations in this lysine and in a histidine residue that is also predicted to be important for pyridoxal 5′-phosphate binding to Lcb2p also dominantly inactivate SPT similar to the hereditary sensory neuropathy type 1-like mutations in Lcb1p.


This article briefly reviews the background of weather derivatives. The primary goal is to develop a pricing scheme that accommodates and reflects their unique characteristics. Because the underlying indexes of weather derivatives are not traded, a no‐arbitrage model cannot be directly applied for the purpose of pricing. The actuarial technique is a feasible choice but cannot be applied in the traditional fashion, because the historical data are characterized by long‐term variability and trends that are difficult to define and correct based purely on the data. The pricing scheme developed in this article attempts to address these concerns by combining information from both empirical analysis of historical data and numerical simulations.


The thesis proposes a methodology for designing a complex distribution system. Designing a distribution network requires several qualitative and quantitative issues to be considered. Quantitative issues could be deciding relevant costs to be considered which would have an impact on the design of the distribution system, while the qualitative issues could be the service level constraint. The thesis discusses different issues which could be important in designing a distribution system and develops a model which could be used to decide the number of distribution centers and their locations. The thesis proposes a three step approach. In the first step, the model is made to choose the locations of the distribution centers by specifying the number of distribution centers desired in the network. In the second step, total cost obtained for each scenario is plotted on the graph. The total numbers of distribution centers are decided from the scenario which has the minimum total cost. In the third step, the result obtained is then fine tuned as per the business specifications. This model is developed for a generic drug manufacturer. Though the model is developed for a specific business case, the design of the model provides the flexibility to incorporate the same model for different business cases.


The study examined the impact of agro-allied industries on rural dwellers in Benue state, Nigeria. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select the respondents for the study. Primary data were collected through the use of structured questionnaires administered on 366 respondents from the selected communities; the data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of MannWhitney (U) statistics showed that water availability (14 350) and good road network (15 082.00) were the only social impact derived from the industries by the rural dwellers. The study recommended that government should ensure that infrastructural facilities such as schools, electricity, hospitals, good roads and portable water are provided for the rural dwellers who are residing where the agro-allied industries are situated.


Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an increasingly multi-drug resistant human pathogen, is now one of the top three causes of opportunistic infection and there is much interest in identifying novel therapeutic targets for treatment. As a bacterial pathogen, P. aeruginosa encounters innate immune system defences and must continue to adapt to its defence strategies to accommodate the ever-changing environment. Though P. aeruginosa virulence determinants have been heavily characterised over the last several decades, most recent work acknowledges the complex interaction between the human host and the pathogen as an on-going dialogue of virulence factors adapting to the continuum that is the immune response. A major challenge that P. aeruginosa must overcome are reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are released at all stages of infection. Based on previous work which demonstrated a role for soluble nitro- and quinone oxidoreductase (NQOR) enzymes in protecting a related bacterium (Pseudomonas putida) from oxidative stress, we hypothesized that P. aeruginosa would similarly utilize NQORs to withstand ROS. This thesis seeks to understand the role of ROS-protecting enzymes in pathogenesis as well as their potential applications in a therapeutic context. Several NQORs of P. aeruginosa were identified to possess biochemical characteristics consistent with the enzymatic capacity to indirectly reduce reactive species like H₂O₂. However, when individual genes encoding NQORs were deleted from P. aeruginosa, no apparent H₂O₂ sensitivity was seen. In contrast, when candidate genes were over-expressed, certain NQOR enzymes conferred the ability to tolerate H₂O₂ challenge at low concentrations; indicating that these NQORs may play a protective role whose effects are masked in vitro by genetic redundancy as well as a highly active endogenous catalase. By developing a novel in vivo cell culture infection model, the survival of P. aeruginosa post exposure to immunocompetent murine macrophages was also assessed. This not only demonstrated that several putative NQORs were activated in the presence of macrophages but also that an in vivo modelling system is likely to be more appropriate for discovering virulence determinants. In a different aspect of this study it was investigated whether the reductive capacity of the P. aeruginosa-derived NQORs might hold potential for gene-directed enzyme-prodrug therapy (GDEPT). Prodrugs, such as 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide (CB1954) or the nitro-chloromethyl benzindoline SN 26438, are nontoxic in their native form, but become highly toxic upon reduction of their nitro functional groups. The P. aeruginosa NQORs, were tested to identify enzymes capable of efficient activation of CB1954 or SN 26438. Although none of these enzymes exhibited greater activity with CB1954 than the "best in class" Eschericha coli enzymes NfsA or NfsB, the P. aeruginosa NfsB orthologue (PA5190) demonstrated greater than 20-fold improved activity over NfsB from Escherichia coli in its ability to sensitise human cells to SN 26438. This finding offers promise for development of PA5190 and SN 26438 as a novel enzyme-prodrug paradigm for GDEPT.


New Guinea is one of the last remaining regions of extensive tropical forest and is an important biodiversity hotspot, yet most of its canopy ant species are poorly known. Here, we provide the first study of arboricolous ant communities of the genus Camponotus MAYR, 1861 from a lowland rainforest in New Guinea. We censused Camponotus nests in trees from two 0.32 ha forest plots in primary forest (389 trees) and secondary forest (296 trees) and explored their species diversity and nesting preferences. In total, 293 nests of 19 species were found. In 16 of the 19 species, major workers exhibited a set of morphological traits (i.e., flattened anterior part of head, swollen fore femora and maximal distance between frontal carinae greater than a third of head width) associated with phragmosis, an adaptation for arboricolous nesting. In primary forest, we detected 15 species in 124 nests versus only eight species in 169 nests in secondary forest. Only four species were shared between the two forest plots. Camponotus species differed significantly in their preferences for nesting microhabitats in both forest plots, ranging from species that were opportunistic and relatively abundant to those that specialized and nested only in living tree branches high in the canopy where they tended myrmecophilous scale insects. Of the 19 species collected, 13 are newly reported for New Guinea, including four that are described here as new species: Camponotus anezkae sp.n., Camponotus rotundus sp.n., Camponotus triangulatus sp.n. and Camponotus wanangus sp.n. In addition, Camponotus aruensis KARAVAIEV, 1933 is redescribed. Diagnostic features for species identification, digital photos of all available castes and morphological measurements are provided. The study demonstrates the high diversity of arboricolous Camponotus ants and their nesting habits within a single tropical forest site.


Kynurenine (Kyn) is a circulating tryptophan (Trp) catabolite generated by enzymes including IDO1 that are induced by inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-gamma. Kyn levels in circulation increase with age and Kyn is implicated in several age-related disorders including neurodegeneration, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia. Importantly, Kyn increases with progressive disease in HIV patients, and antiretroviral therapy does not normalize IDO1 activity in these subjects. Kyn is now recognized as an endogenous agonist of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, and AhR activation itself has been found to induce muscle atrophy, increase the activity of bone-resorbing osteoclasts, decrease matrix formation by osteoblasts, and lead to senescence of bone marrow stem cells. Several IDO1 and AhR inhibitors are now in clinical trials as potential cancer therapies. We propose that some of these drugs may be repurposed to improve musculoskeletal health in older adults living with HIV.


Background: Mining is one of the major sectors of the country's economy as it employs and attracts a large number of people from different areas. As a result, mining sites are at great risk of HIV transmission. While a few unsynchronized mine-specific population-based studies provide evidence of a growing HIV problem in this sector, virtually few evidence exists on availability and quality of interventions targeting HIV and AIDS in this population. The study was conducted to assess the availability and quality of HIV/AIDS intervention programmes in and around mining sites in Tanzania. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted from November 2012 to April 2013. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data. Study areas involved both mining sites and its surrounding communities in Kahama, Nzega and Geita Districts. It involved household members from villages in and around the mining sites, mining community relations officers, community health facility workers, district HIV/AIDS focal persons and village leaders. Results: A total of 463 individuals were recruited into the study for household interviews. In-depth interviews with Key Informants involved 15 respondents. HIV/AIDS intervention programmes in the study area were available despite that knowledge of their existence was limited to a segment of the community.  Their availability was only known to about 25% of the study respondents in Geita and Kahama study sites.  The programmes carried out intervention activities which included HIV/AIDS education campaigns, promoting uptake of voluntary counselling and testing services, promoting and supporting condom use, safer sex, and male circumcision. HIV/AIDS services such as screening, distribution of condoms and ARVs for infected people were available and were offered free of charge. Conclusion: Our findings show that HIV/AIDS intervention programmes were available despite that they were unequally distributed. Although their availability has contributed to the decrease of HIV prevalence in the community, knowledge of their availability was limited to some people in the community.


BACKGROUND
γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT; EC 22.214.171.124) is a widely distributed enzyme that is of interest in the food industry. In this study the effects of pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) on GGT synthesis from Bacillus subtilis SK 11.004 were investigated.

RESULTS
GGT production increased to 0.5 U mL⁻¹ when the pH value was controlled at 6.5. The control of a single DO level revealed that the highest specific growth rate (3.42 h⁻¹) and GGT production rate (0.40 U g⁻¹ mL⁻¹) were obtained at DO levels of 40 and 10% respectively. To satisfy the different oxygen demands at different stages of cell growth and GGT synthesis, a stage DO level control strategy was designed as follows: 40% from 0 to 4 h, 30% from 4 to 6 h and 10% from 6 to 18 h. Furthermore, the maximum biomass (2.27 g L⁻¹) and GGT production (3.05 U mL⁻¹) could be obtained using a fermentation strategy combining a constant pH value with stage DO level control.

CONCLUSION
The proposed fermentation strategy resulted in a 13.7-fold increase in GGT production. This finding should be of great importance for the industrial production of GGT.


This paper identifies fundamental issues which prevent the effective uptake of climate information services in Nigeria. We propose solutions which involve the extension of short-range (1 to 5 days) forecasts beyond that of medium-range (7 to 15 days) timescales through the operational use of current forecast data as well as improve collaboration and communication with forecast users. Using newly available data to provide seamless operational forecasts from short-term to sub-seasonal timescales, we examine evidence to determine if effective demand-led sub-seasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) climate forecasts can be co-produced. This evidence involves: itemization of forecast products delivered to stakeholders, with their development methodology; enumeration of inferences of forecast products and their influences on decisions taken by stakeholders; user-focused discussions of improvements on co-produced products; and the methods of evaluating the performance of the forecast products. We find that extending the production pipeline of short-range forecast timescales beyond the medium-range, such that the medium-range forecast timescales can be fed into existing tools for applying short-range forecasts, assisted in mitigating the risks of sub-seasonal climate variability on socio-economic activities in Nigeria. We also find that enhancing of collaboration and communication channels between the producers and the forecast product users helps to: enhance the development of user-tailored impact-based forecasts; increases users' trusts in the forecasts; and, seamlessly improves forecast evaluations. In general, these measures lead to more smooth delivery and increase in uptake of climate information services in Nigeria.


BACKGROUND
Nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy is the predominant (and often the only) regimen available for children in resource-limited settings. Nevirapine resistance after exposure to the drug for prevention of maternal-to-child human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission is common, a problem that has led to the recommendation of ritonavir-boosted lopinavir in such settings. Regardless of whether there has been prior exposure to nevirapine, the performance of nevirapine versus ritonavir-boosted lopinavir in young children has not been rigorously established.

METHODS
In a randomized trial conducted in six African countries and India, we compared the initiation of HIV treatment with zidovudine, lamivudine, and either nevirapine or ritonavir-boosted lopinavir in HIV-infected children 2 to 36 months of age who had no prior exposure to nevirapine. The primary end point was virologic failure or discontinuation of treatment by study week 24.

RESULTS
A total of 288 children were enrolled; the median percentage of CD4+ T cells was 15%, and the median plasma HIV type 1 (HIV-1) RNA level was 5.7 log(10) copies per milliliter. The percentage of children who reached the primary end point was significantly higher in the nevirapine group than in the ritonavir-boosted lopinavir group (40.8% vs. 19.3%; P<0.001). Among the nevirapine-treated children with virologic failure for whom data on resistance were available, more than half (19 of 32) had resistance at the time of virologic failure. In addition, the time to a protocol-defined toxicity end point was shorter in the nevirapine group (P=0.04), as was the time to death (P=0.06).

CONCLUSIONS
Outcomes were superior with ritonavir-boosted lopinavir among young children with no prior exposure to nevirapine. Factors that may have contributed to the suboptimal results with nevirapine include elevated viral load at baseline, selection for nevirapine resistance, background regimen of nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, and the standard ramp-up dosing strategy. The results of this trial present policymakers with difficult choices. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others; P1060 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00307151.).


Political leaders often have private incentives to pursue socially wasteful projects, but not all leaders are able to pursue these interests. We argue that weaker accountability mechanisms allow autocratic leaders to more easily realize wasteful projects than democratic leaders. We focus on one particular project, skyscraper construction, where we obtain objective measures comparable across different contexts. We test different implications from our argument by drawing on a new dataset recording all buildings exceeding 150 m, globally. We find that autocracies systematically build more new skyscrapers than democracies. Furthermore, autocratic skyscrapers are more excessive than democratic ones, and—in contrast with democracies—autocracies pursue skyscraper projects to about the same extent in rural/poor and urban/rich societies. When investigating different mechanisms entailed in our argument, the link between regime type and skyscraper construction seems due in large part to stronger vertical accountability mechanisms and more open information environments in democracies.


We study the joint components in a random `double graph' that is obtained by superposing red and blue binomial random graphs on $n$~vertices. A joint component is a maximal set of vertices, which contains both a red and a blue spanning tree. We show that there are critical pairs of red and blue edge densities at which a joint-giant component appears. In contrast to the standard binomial graph model, the phase transition is first order: the size of the largest joint component jumps from $O(1)$ vertices to $\Theta(n)$ at the critical point. We connect this phenomenon to the properties of a certain bicoloured branching process.


The basis of this essay, which analyzes the use of mathematics in economics, is the supposed dilemma between axiomatics and empiricism. The proponents of formalist axiomatics hold that economic phenomena should be explored and expressed with the language of mathematics, because mathematics is a form of reasoning from predefined axioms and because its reflection is more precise and rigorous. Empiricists of realists argue that this methodology cloisters economists in abstract discussions that are not pertinent to real economic problems. The article reviews some fundamental philosophical works and contrasts their arguments with those of economists both persuasions.


In this paper, we propose a method for solving some classes of the singular fractional nonlinear Lane-Emden type equations. The method is proposed by utilizing the second-kind Chebyshev wavelets in conjunction with the quasilinearization technique. The operational matrices for the second-kind Chebyshev wavelets are used. The method is tested on the fractional standard Lane-Emden equation, the fractional isothermal gas spheres equation, and some other examples. We compare the results produced by the present method with some well-known results to show the accuracy and efficiency of the method.


The SIS electronic Journal, an online electronic journal to become the voice of Senology internationally. This publication, in English, will cover original articles, reviews, case reports, new video reports, thesis abstracts and short communications. It will be free for the registered guests and we intend to develop an applicative for tablets in the newer future.


Ground calcium carbonate (GCC) is usually of smooth/flat surface and pointed edges angles which have disadvantageous effects on the mechanical properties of composite polymer materials filled with the powder. Nanometer calcium carbonate reactants would deposit, nucleate and grow on surface of ground calcium carbonate with micron grain size by adjusting suitable technical parameters in Ca(OH)2–H2O–CO2 system. Compared with the uncoated powder, composite ground calcium carbonate (CGCC) is of rough surface, blunt edges, larger specific surface area, larger in whiteness. In this paper, we reported the successful preparation of CGCC particles, and found GCC/Ca(OH)2 weight ratio was the key parameter. Some technological parameters were mainly analyzed for the coating process. Furthermore, We also prepared nanosized calcium carbonate coating GCC at higher temperature (40 °C) using additives. Filling tests showed that a rough surface of the CGCC enhanced contact opportunities and improved the interface between polymer and CGCC blended with polypropylene (PP).


Formed in London in 1751, the Antients Grand Lodge of Freemasons was created as a rival to the pro-establishment Grand Lodge of England, itself created in 1717. The Antients was shaped by the Irish diaspora in London, although disaffection within London Freemasonry was then so great that the new lodge also attracted English Masons. Its rapid growth in London and provincial England was seeded by the bigotry and condescension with which many in England viewed the Irish, but was more a function of the Antients' social inclusivity and its commitment to mutual support. This resonated not only among the émigré Irish, but also within the lower orders more generally. Under the guidance of Laurence Dermott, its enterprising grand secretary, the Antients extended and altered Freemasonry's profile in Britain and elsewhere, and the Craft became a means by which a broad cross section of male society could associate and obtain communal support. The movement's success set an explicit challenge to the authority of the original Grand Lodge of England, which the Antients disparagingly termed "the Moderns," and led to a schism in English Freemasonry that lasted some sixty years.


This paper examines the category of "Woman" within the metastructure of a system of knowledge organization. We trace the subject scheme used to list books about women in a standard bibliographic guide over the first three-quarters of the twentieth century.Building on the feminist critique of subject representation, our analysis documents how the category was continually constructed over time, providing evidence of multiplication, isolation, and confusion in the process. The outcome is a framework that fails to capture the complex nature of knowledge about women and conceals relationships to the larger body of knowledge. The case of this legacy system exemplifies problems associated with representing the complexity and integration of knowledge and provides a basis for considering the potential residual impacts of current information organization and navigation systems.


We present a fast, petaflop-scalable algorithm for Stokesian particulate flows. Our goal is the direct simulation of blood, which we model as a mixture of a Stokesian fluid (plasma) and red blood cells (RBCs). Directly simulating blood is a challenging multiscale, multiphysics problem. We report simulations with up to 200 million deformable RBCs. The largest simulation amounts to 90 billion unknowns in space. In terms of the number of cells, we improve the state-of-the art by several orders of magnitude: the previous largest simulation, at the same physical fidelity as ours, resolved the flow of O(1,000-10,000) RBCs. Our approach has three distinct characteristics: (1) we faithfully represent the physics of RBCs by using nonlinear solid mechanics to capture the deformations of each cell; (2) we accurately resolve the long-range, N-body, hydrodynamic interactions between RBCs (which are caused by the surrounding plasma); and (3) we allow for the highly non-uniform distribution of RBCs in space. The new method has been implemented in the software library MOBO (for "Moving Boundaries"). We designed MOBO to support parallelism at all levels, including inter-node distributed memory parallelism, intra-node shared memory parallelism, data parallelism (vectorization), and fine-grained multithreading for GPUs. We have implemented and optimized the majority of the computation kernels on both Intel/AMD x86 and NVidia's Tesla/Fermi platforms for single and double floating point precision. Overall, the code has scaled on 256 CPU-GPUs on the Teragrid's Lincoln cluster and on 200,000 AMD cores of the Oak Ridge national Laboratory's Jaguar PF system. In our largest simulation, we have achieved 0.7 Petaflops/s of sustained performance on Jaguar.


This document provides a preliminary overview of the findings of the survey. It is anticipated that further analysis will be done, building in part on suggestions and reactions received to the information in this report. Additional analyses will be possible once the data have been processed and analyzed for the agricultural activities of the rural households covered by the survey. It is anticipated that this will take place in the second half of 1997.


The uniformity of cell size in healthy tissues suggests that control mechanisms might coordinate cell growth and division. We derived a method to assay whether growth rates of individual cells depend on cell size, by combining time-lapse microscopy and immunofluorescence to monitor how variance in cell size changes as cells grow. This analysis revealed two periods in the cell cycle when cell size variance decreases in a manner incompatible with unregulated growth, suggesting that cells sense their own size and adjust their growth rate to correct aberrations. Monitoring nuclear growth in live cells confirmed that these decreases in variance reflect a process that selectively inhibits the growth of large cells while accelerating growth of small cells. We also detected cell-size-dependent adjustments of G1 length, which further reduce variability. Combining our assays with chemical and genetic perturbations confirmed that cells employ two strategies, adjusting both cell cycle length and growth rate, to maintain the appropriate size.


The prevalence of HIV-1 is increasing rapidly among the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. Here, we report a novel HIV type 1 recombinant form consisting of CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC detected in a male patient through homosexual behavior. A phylogenic analysis revealed that this unique recombinant form (URF) exhibits a complex genomic structure with three CRF07_BC regions inserted into the CRF01_AE backbone. Recently, several second-generation recombinant forms (e.g., CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC) have been identified among MSM in China. The emergence of such URFs highlights the complexity of the HIV-1 epidemic among this population. Therefore, further molecular epidemiological investigation is required to track the genetic evolution of HIV-1 strains.


Previous research has examined whether price dispersion exists in theoretically highly efficient Internet markets. However, much of the previous work has been focused on industries with low cost and undifferentiated products. In this paper, we examine the presence of price dispersion and product differentiation using data on the airline ticket offerings of online travel agents (OTAs). We find that different OTAs offer tickets with substantially different prices and characteristics when given the same customer request. Some of this variation appears to be due to product differentiation -different OTAs specialize by systematically offering different tradeoffs between ticket price and ticket quality (minimizing the number of connections, matching requested departure and return time). However, even after accounting for differences in ticket quality, ticket prices vary by as much as 18% across OTAs. In addition, OTAs return tickets that are strictly inferior to the ticket offered by another OTA for the same request between 2.2% and 28% of the time. Overall, this suggests the presence of both price dispersion and product differentiation in the online travel market.


Laser medium for solar-pumped solid laser of 10MW-1GW power is a key to realize Laser Space Solar Power System (L-SSPS). Since it is an ultrahigh power system operated in space, the laser medium must satisfy the conditions such as high efficiency, high power per weight or volume, excellent durability and maintainability, thermal equilibrium operation, and excellent long-range propagation of oscillated laser. YAG (Y3Al5O12) ceramics doped doubly with Nd and Cr is considered to be a suitable laser medium for L-SSPS at present. There are the following important points for L-SSPS application: 1) Optimization of the doping amount, 2) Process, 3) Temperature control. Feasibility of YAG ceramics is discussed from a view point of material science and proposed a YAG ceramics structure with graded distribution of dopants.


Smokers often report that the first cigarette of the day is the most rewarding, and subsequent smoking is less rewarding. Reduction in smoking enjoyment later in the day may be related to acute tolerance to the discriminative stimulus effects of nicotine. We examined changes in nicotine discrimination behaviour in humans as a function of acute nicotine ( ) pretreatment. Male and female dependent smokers n 15 were initially trained to discriminate 20 g kg nicotine by ( ) nasal spray from placebo 0 g kg without nicotine pretreatment. They then were tested on generalization of discrimination across a range of spray doses from 0–20 g kg following pretreatment with placebo, moderate dose ( ) ( ) 14–21 mg or high dose 28–42 mg transdermal nicotine. Generalization testing involved both twoand three-response ( ) 'novel' option quantitative procedures. Subjects also engaged in a self-administration phase at the end of each session, ( ) involving choices between nicotine 20 g kg and placebo spray. Nicotine pretreatment significantly attenuated nicotine-appropriate responding at higher nicotine spray doses, suggesting acute tolerance, but only in women. Similar results were seen for subjective 'head rush', suggesting this effect may be related to discrimination behaviour in women. However, nicotine pretreatment also increased novel-appropriate responding, especially in men, following intermediate generalization doses, suggesting qualitatively different stimulus effects. Although differences were not significant, nicotine self-administration tended to be inversely associated with nicotine pretreatment dose in men but not in women. These results only modestly support the notion of acute tolerance to the discriminative stimulus effects of nicotine, and even then only in women and not in men. 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.


Inherited or sporadic heterozygous mutations in the transcription factor GATA2 lead to a clinical syndrome characterized by non-tuberculous mycobacterial and other opportunistic infections, a severe deficiency in monocytes, B cells and natural killer cells, and progression from a hypocellular myelodysplastic syndrome to myeloid leukemias. To identify acquired somatic mutations associated with myeloid transformation in patients with GATA2 mutations, we sequenced the region of the ASXL1 gene previously associated with transformation from myelodysplasia to myeloid leukemia. Somatic, heterozygous ASXL1 mutations were identified in 14/48 (29%) of patients with GATA2 deficiency, including four out of five patients who developed a proliferative chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Although patients with GATA2 mutations had a similarly high incidence of myeloid transformation when compared to previously described patients with ASXL1 mutations, GATA2 deficiency patients with acquired ASXL1 mutation were considerably younger, almost exclusively female, and had a high incidence of transformation to a proliferative chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. These patients may benefit from allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation before the development of acute myeloid leukemia or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00018044, NCT00404560, NCT00001467, NCT00923364.)


The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount of radiating energy transmitted through lithium disilicate discs of different thicknesses and opacities with different curing units (CU). Discshaped specimens 8 mm in diameter and 1.5 mm or 0.7 mm thick were designed with Zbrush® and Cura 3D® software, milled from HT and MO IPS e-maxCAD blocks (Ivoclar Vivadent) with Ceramill Mikro 4 (Amann Girrbach, Austria) and processed according to manufacturer instructions. Thickness was checked with a Mitutoyo (México) caliper. Four groups (n=4) were formed: G1(HT/1.5 mm), G2(MO/1.5 mm), G3(HT/0.7 mm) y G4(MO/0.7 mm), and the effect of three CUs: Coltolux (Coltene- Whaledent), LED.C, (Woodpecker Medical Instrument Co.Ltd) and Deepcure L(3M-ESPE) was tested Measurements were taken with a halogen and LED radiometer (Woodpecker® LM-1-Guilin Woodpecker Medical Instrument Co.Ltd) after applying the guide of each CU directly on the reading window (d) and after interposing each of the specimens. The ratio of transmitted energy was determined in each case and data was analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey test for multiple comparisons. LED.C: d:1600 mW/cm2, G1: 0.31(0.00), G2: 0.14(0.00) G3: 0.54(0.01), G4: 0.38(0.01); Deepcure L: d:1500 mW/cm2, G1: 0.34(0.01), G2: 0.20(0,00), G3: 0.56(0.01), G4: 0.41(0.02); Coltolux: d:1275 mW/cm2, G1: 0.44(0.01), G2: 0.24(0,00), G3: 0.65(0.01), G4: 0.47(0,00). Statistically significant differences were found among the curing units (P<0.001) and for the interaction CU-thickness (P<0.001) and CU-opacity (P=0.023). Within the conditions of this study, the ratio of light transmitted through lithium disilicate structures is related to their thickness and opacity, and to the curing unit employed.


The single-phase quasi-Z source inverter topology (qZSI) is attracting attentions for the single-phase grid-tie photovoltaic applications. However, due to the inherent second harmonic power flow in a single phase system, a large qZS network is required to reduce the second harmonic components of current and voltage at the dc port. Minimization of this qZS network remains an open research topic. This paper proposes a design method for the single-phase qZSI topology to minimize the qZS capacitance and inductance. A second harmonic power flow model for the single-phase qZSI is derived and ripple power is analyzed for the minimization solution of the qZS network. A current ripple damping control is proposed to ensure suppression of the second harmonic power flow in the inductor. The proposed design and conventional design methods are compared through design examples, simulation comparison, and experimental verification. These results verify the proposed minimization design method.


Burn injury is a trauma that has variable scarring outcomes dependent on both the size and the depth of the burn. This chapter will discuss the pathophysiology of wound healing by both primary and secondary intention and its applicability to burn wounds. The importance of accurate assessment of burn depth and its impact on the primary treatment and subsequent scar outcome will be explored. Special anatomic areas such as the face, hands and neck will be highlighted. Skin grafting and skin substitutes as treatment options will be reviewed. Improvements in burn care have enabled people to survive larger burns that may once have proved fatal. The emphasis of treatment, once healing has been achieved, is now focused upon rehabilitation and scar management. Scar management strategies including pressure garments and silicone therapy are highlighted along with secondary scar revision strategies.


World Christianity has been enriched by Christian student movements such as the Uniting Christian Students' Association (UCSA) from South Africa. This article, based on my recent doctoral research, starts with the affirmation of the ambiguous relations of these movements with colonial racism. However, faced with new challenges in a postcolonial context, there are key impulses to be gained by an inter-subjective, but also interdisciplinary dialogue with these movements as they negotiate their calling. By focussing on one movement within the southern African context, UCSA, in particular its formation and development since the demise of apartheid in South Africa, the article aims to present an attempt to understand the missionary praxis of UCSA through a postcolonial missiological matrix. The article draws on the theological disciplines of missiology, systematic theology, church history, contextual theology, as well as the methodologies in non-theologic disciplines like sociology, in particular social movement studies, and history. The findings show, amongst others, a growing complexity in relation to its agency, how it frames its world and also how it used its authoritative sources to discern its calling. The article closes with some key insights and pointers relevant for faith communities in their mission to overcome colonial racism. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The teaching and research in missiology and systematic theology in how the challenge of colonial racism is addressed, methodologically.


The leaves of Triflolium resopinatum were collected from the mountains of Malakand division, Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, Pakistan and was grinded into smaller particles and converted into powder. The ground biomass was treated with different solvents in the Soxhlet apparatus for the removal of soluble extractive like pectin, cutin and wax substances. For bond breaking the alkaline substance was kept in the autoclave. Ethylene diamine tetra-acetate (EDTA) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) were used for the removal of most polar substances like pectin, cutin, waxes and other extractives. Furthermore, raw cellulose was purified through acetic acid and nitric acid. Double distilled water was used for the neutralization of pH.The analysis of purified cellulose was carried out through different procedures such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The extracted cellulose has high degree of purity and crystallinity (72%) and thermal stability indicating that the process for the extraction of cellulose is quite adequate. KEY WORDS : Triflolium resopinatum , Cellulose, FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2019 , 33(1), 61-68 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v33i1.6


Ethnography per se offers insights into complex social processes and its potential has relevance for the increasingly difficult notion of 'leadership'. Understanding complex leadership situations from the perspective of serial narratives has the potential to reveal the 'dark matter' of leadership practice. Thin descriptions of 'real time' practice are more pervasive and plausible than the thick descriptions of observation and behaviourism. Auto-ethnography invites the practitioner to reveal how they, within a particular setting, create meanings around their leadership activity.


Maintenance of dosage compensation for housekeeping genes on the human X chromosome is mediated through differential methylation of clustered CpG nucleotides associated with these genes. To determine if methylation has a role in maintaining inactivity of X‐linked genes which show tissue‐specific expression, we examined the locus for blood clotting Factor IX. The analysis encompassed 91% of the HpaII and HhaI sites in the 41‐kb region that includes the presumed promoter region, 5 kb of 5′‐ and 4 kb of 3′‐flanking sequences. Although there are sex differences in methylation of the locus in leukocytes, the methylation pattern in liver, where the gene is expressed, is essentially the same for loci on the active and inactive X chromosome. The lack of differences in methylation of active and inactive genes makes it unlikely that methylation within the locus has a role in expression of the Factor IX gene. These findings, along with the absence of clustered CpG dinucleotides within the Factor IX locus, suggest that functional differences in DNA methylation related to X chromosome dosage compensation may be limited to CpG clusters. In any event, dosage compensation seems to be maintained regionally, rather than locus by locus.


This article examines marginal notes glossing two entries (glaidemain and gudemain) in a legal glossary in TCD MS 1337. The entries in the glossary and the glosses in the upper margin connect these terms to a range of natural and supernatural beings (wolves, women of the side, morrigna, infernal demons, demons of the air, scaldcrows, and foxes). The glosses in the right margin etymologize the lemmata as referring to the doubling of howls or voices. It is argued here that this may refer to the phenomenon of the echo; furthermore, it is proposed that this interpretation may relate to a recurring image in the Tain Bo Cualnge, wherein supernatural beings screech in reply to Cu Chulainn's shouts or the sounds of battle. Finally, the association between echoes and the voices of demons in a pseudepigraphic text and the Vita Antonii is discussed briefly.


I INTRODUCTION On 22 September 2010 the appellants commenced representative proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against the Australia New Zealand Banking Group ('ANZ') pursuant to Part IV of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth). There were approximately 38,000 group members. John Andrews, Angelo Saliba and Geoffrey Field were the 'head' applicants, or representatives, for the group members. Their claim was based upon the premise that certain 'fees' charged by the ANZ are not, in effect, fees at all, but penalties imposed upon the Bank's customers and, as such, are void or unerforceable pursuant to the doctrine of penalties. As a consequence, the appellants further claimed restitution for money had and received of, in the alternative, damages. At first instance, Gordon J held that the majority of the lees charged by the ANZ could not be characterised as penalties because the penalty doctrine cold only be invoked when the impost arose from a breach of contract or where there was no responsibility or obligation upon the appellants to avoid the events which triggered the imposition of the fees. The appellants appealed against this finding to the High Court, which allowed the appeal with costs, determining that the penalty doctrine could be applied where there was no breach of contract of occurrence of an 'uncontrolled' event. The High Court remitted the matter to the Full Court of the Federal Court for determination as to whether the ANZ fees were penalties within the parameters discussed in its judgment. In addition to the proceedings under consideration, six similar proceedings were commenced in the Federal Court against other Australian financial institutions, including the other major banks, bringing the total of represented litigants to approximately 170,000 and the total value of the claims in excess of $223 million. Apart from the significance of the number of litigants involved in the representative actions, the ultimate effect of the High Court's decision and the subsequent findings of the Full Court of the Federal Court in this matter upon banking and finance practice, bank/client relations and financial institution profitability, cannot be overstated. (1) II BACKGROUND: THE FEDERAL COURT PROCEEDINGS The Federal Court proceedings were commenced in the Victorian Registry of the Federal Court (2) and claimed relief against: fees identified as honour, dishonour, and non-payment fees charged by the ANZ in respect of various retail deposit accounts and business deposit accounts, and lees identified as over limit and late payment fees charged by the ANZ in respect of consumer credit card accounts and commercial credit card accounts. (3) Although the initial pleadings filed by the applicants contained a number of grounds upon which their claim was based, including unconscionable conduct on the part of the ANZ (4) and the use by the Bank of 'unfair' terms (5) in its contracts and which were accordingly 'unjust' transactions, (6) the principal emphasis of their claim was for: 1. declarations that the disputed 'fees' were void or unenforceable as penalties; and 2. the repayment of all or part of the disputed fees by way of restitution for money had and received or damages. In addition, separate questions were presented to the court for resolution. These questions included the issues of: 1. whether the fees were payable by the applicants upon breach of contractual obligations and, or in the alternative, 2. whether the applicants had a responsibility to ensure that the circumstances giving rise to the fees did not occur. As pointed out on appeal by the High Court in its judgment: 'If there was an affirmative answer to either of the alternative questions, it was then asked whether the fees were capable of being characterised as a penalty by reason of that fact. …


The incident of migration that occurs as a result of the mobility of individuals between various regions and is considered a social change process brings along various factors. Among these factors, the most important one is the culture of the new society where the immigrant begins to live and the process of adaptation with this culture. Individuals from different cultures are required to live together, cope with differences and overcome the difficulties. The process of adaptation to the new lifestyle might cause the individual to have some feelings such as loneliness, socially isolation, being alienated, being regretful and self-depreciation, and consequently experience a greater stress. Being unable to cope with stress efficiently creates risks in individuals in terms of health problems such as anxiety and depression. Healthcare professionals are required to evaluate life styles, difficulties and coping levels of immigrants in order to protect and develop their mental health.


OBJECTIVE
To observe whether local vaccination rates are improved by a patient and physician education program on the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Farmacia San José, Lares. According to the Puerto Rico Immunization Registry, the HPV vaccine is currently underutilized.

METHODS
Patients within the ages of 18 and 26 years who are current patients of Farmacia San José were contacted by phone and approached in person at the pharmacy. Once contacted, patients were provided with educational materials and counseling regarding the risks and benefits of HPV vaccination. The primary outcome for this study is HPV vaccination rates at 4 months after starting the educational program.

RESULTS
Only 79 of the 200 attempted patients who were candidates to receive the HPV vaccine were able to be reached by phone. Out of 79 patients, 24 reported they had previously been vaccinated against HPV. After all educational efforts, 4 patients (all insured by government) received vaccination against HPV at the pharmacy. In addition, 16 physicians near the pharmacy were contacted and visited by the pharmacist resident. The physicians agreed to receive educational information regarding the ACIP recommendations for their patients.

CONCLUSION
Although the total number of HPV vaccination administered at the pharmacy during the study period was low, we found an individual patient counseling approach to be much more successful than attempting to coordinate group educational interventions.


A sustainable resource and climate-friendly construction material, timber is also materialised solar energy and carbon dioxide accumulator. As a universally applicable heat-insulating material and highly resilient natural product, it is the building material of the future. In this book renowned experts examine timber's ecological importance, its technological potential as well as the new possibilities for architectural construction and design of this familiar material. The 50 international examples selected in this volume illustrate digital manufacturing methods for timber and the variety of modern timber constructions, from low-energy houses and wide-span supporting structures to high-rise construction.


This paper displayed the perspective on analyzing online media text using task-based learning in learning basic grammar. The data were collected for 6 months through observation, interview and questionnaires from July to December 2018 in IAIN Tulungagung. It involves 45 Indonesian undergraduate students who were taking English Basic Grammar with online media text. The data was analyzed using a descriptive qualitative approach. The finding revealed that the students got experience of using online media text as learning basic grammar medium. Their perspectives on analyzing online media text using task-based learning are various (not interesting, passive in the learning process, low interest in reading, tend to rely on friends, and difficult to analyze the online text). Furthermore, their' perspective of using task-based learning in learning Basic English Grammar can be categorized into five types: the act of acquring strategy, the experiencing process, the process of acquiring benefits, the pupils' responses, and evaluating their performance. It also reported that some benefits of task-based instruction strategy in teaching learning Basic English Grammar can be ability to deep understanding the materials, having good cooperation, having the ability to memorize, managing the time effectively, identifying the kinds of grammar part, and increasing the communication abilities. While the disadvantages of task-based learning in learning Basic English Grammar through analyzing the online media text included having difficulties in analyzing, not being used to with the learning model, getting bored and uncomfortable with the strategy, and being burdened with the task.


Introduction: Septic shock is a potentially fatal organ dysfunction caused by an imbalance of the host response to infection. The changes in microcirculation during sepsis can be explained by the alterations in the endothelial barrier function. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a potential recovery index of endothelial function and it an increase in response to neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) was demonstrated. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the effects of NMES in patients with septic shock. Methods and analysis: It is a study protocol for a randomized cross-over design in an intensive care unit of a tertiary University hospital. Thirty-one patients aged 18 to 65 years. The study will be divided in 2 phases: the phase one will be held in the first 72 hours of septic shock and the phase two after 3 days of first assessment. Patients will be randomly selected to the intervention protocol (decubitus position with the limbs raised and NMES) and control protocol (decubitus position with the limbs raised without NMES). After this procedure, the patients will be allocated in group 1 (intervention and control protocol) or group 2 (control and intervention protocol) with a wash-out period of 4 to 6 hours between them. The main outcome is mobilization of EPCs. The secondary outcome is metabolic and hemodynamic data. A linear mixed model will be used for analysis of dependent variables and estimated values of the mean of the differences of each effect.


Research into Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) has been dominated by the neo positivist paradigm providing clinical practice with a sufficiently robust evidence base for DBT as an intervention, reporting positive outcomes with regards to reducing symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). However, in recent years, DBT has been adapted and replicated to different client groups, offering potential for new research into transdiagnostic applications and adapted versions of DBT to different settings.
Recent literature concludes that there is less practice-based evidence on the process of change in DBT, and which components are useful. The client voice is lacking in the literature, which would provide services with evidence and unique insights into how the therapy works and for whom.
This study aims to address these questions, by asking the clients how they experience DBT and its perceived role in the process of change. Furthermore, the study focusses on client experience in a private hospital setting with a transdiagnostic group of an adapted 12 week DBT programme.
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was applied as the methodology, incorporating descriptive, linguistic and conceptual elements in analysis of semi-structured interviews. The sample consists of five participants whom had completed a 12 week DBT programme at a private hospital.
Three master themes were identified, namely 'Pre DBT: Crisis & Desperation'; 'In-session: Belonging'; and 'The Real World: Living'. Each master theme was characterised by 4 sub-themes, illustrating the journey of the participants and the perceived process of change. All themes were conceptualised by the overarching theme 'The private setting: Heterotopia', giving voice to the role of the context of the private psychiatric setting.
The research findings illustrate that this version of DBT was a helpful and positive experience for participants, where outcomes included being able to build a life worth living, feel hope and joy, build DBT skills into a lifestyle, connect with a sense of spirituality and develop reflective practice. The implications for service delivery and for Counselling Psychology are discussed, along with ideas for future research.


This paper presents a system for visualization of large amounts of new stories. In the first phase, the new stories are preprocessed for the purpose of name -entity extraction. Next, a graph of relationships between the extracted name entities is created, where each name entity represents one vertex in the graph and two name entities are connected if they appear in the same document. The graph of entities is presented as a local neighborhood enriched with additional contextual information in the form of characteristic keywords and related name entities connected to the entity in the focus. Operations for browsing a graph are implemented to be efficient enabling quick capturing of large amounts of information present in the original text.


The purpose of this investigation was to examine whether components of psychological well-being (i.e., positive affect, negative affect, self-esteem, and vitality) mediated the relationship between self-determination theory (SDT) basic needs (competence, autonomy and relatedness) and perceived return-to-sport outcomes. Competitive athletes (n = 204) from Australia, Canada, and the United States completed an injury need satisfaction scale, psychological well-being inventories, and a measure of perceived return-to-sport outcomes. Mediation analysis (Baron & Kenny, 1986) revealed that positive affect partially mediated the relationship between competence and autonomy need satisfaction and a renewed perspective on sport, while negative affect, self-esteem, and vitality fully mediated the relationship between relatedness need satisfaction and return concerns. Interpretation of the findings suggests the importance of components of well-being in mediating relatedness need satisfaction on "return concerns" in a sport injury context. Prospective longitudinal designs using an SDT framework are discussed to further research in this area.


Abstract : While single neurons in inferior temporal (IT) cortex show differential responses to distinct complex stimuli, little is known about the responses of populations of neurons in IT. We recorded single electrode data, including multi-unit activity (MUA) and local field potentials (LFP), from 618 sites in the inferior temporal cortex of macaque monkeys while the animals passively viewed 78 different pictures of complex stimuli. The LFPs were obtained by low-pass filtering the extracellular electrophysiological signal with a corner frequency of 300 Hz. As reported previously, we observed that spike counts from MUA showed selectivity for some of the pictures. Strikingly, the LFP data, which is thought to constitute an average over large numbers of neurons, also showed significantly selective responses. The LFP responses were less selective than the MUA responses both in terms of the proportion of selective sites as well as in the selectivity of each site. We observed that there was only little overlap between the selectivity of MUA and LFP recordings from the same electrode. To assess the spatial organization of selective responses, we compared the selectivity of nearby sites recorded along the same penetration and sites recorded from different penetrations. We observed that MUA selectivity was correlated on spatial scales up to 800 micrometers while the LFP selectivity was correlated over a larger spatial extent, with significant correlations between sites separated by several mm. Our data support the idea that there is some topographical arrangement to the organization of selectivity in inferior temporal cortex and that this organization may be relevant for the representation of object identity in IT.


On the basis of routine clinical observations of mental stress, mainly of anxiety and depressive type, in the everyday treatment of chronic vascular disease, an attempt has been made to obtain a more strictly scientific assessment in relation to age, profession, admittance to hospital, degree of invalidity and immobility, etc. of two groups of patients with similar characteristics, one with chronic phlebopathy and a control group suffering from traumas of the lower extremities and their sequelae. Following intensive, highly informative conversations, the evaluation was made by means of the Machover human figure test which showed greater aggressiveness among the phlebopathy patients than the controls, the Cattel anxiety test (I.P.A.T.) which showed a marked prevalence of concealed anxiety in phlebopathy patients, and the Rosenzweig frustration test which revealed no significant differences between the groups. The data obtained were evaluated by statistical analysis with the Student test and Pearson's x test and results are reported.


Abstract The Henry Allan Gleason Nature Preserve is located in the extensive glacial sand deposits associated with the Illinois River in central Illinois. An extensive sand dune is present within the preserve on which undisturbed dry sand prairie, disturbed dry sand prairie, and blow-out communities are present. The undisturbed sand prairie is dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium (42% of the importance value [IV]), along with Tephrosia virginiana, Opuntia humifusa, and Ambrosia psilostachya. The disturbed sand prairie is dominated by Eragrostis trichodes (24% of the IV), followed by Heterotheca camporum, Ambrosia psilostachya, and Rhus aromatica. Common species in an active blow-out includes Aristida tuberculosa and Cyperus grayioides, while nearly stabilized blow-outs have a high diversity characterized by Bouteloua hirsuta, Ambrosia psilostachya, and Eragrostis trichodes. A total of 172 plant species were found: 4 fern and fern-allies, 3 gymnosperms, 39 monocots, 126 dicots. Thirty-one non-native species were found, comprising about 18% of the flora. The Floristic Quality Index for the nature preserve is 41.33 when the non-native species are included in the calculations.


Three-dimensional finite element modeling was used to analyze the delamination between the stiffener flange and the skin of a typical pull-off specimen representing a section of a stiffened skin panel. The finite element analysis results were used to calculate the total strain energy release rate and its Mode I, Mode II, and Mode III components along the delamination front through the width of the pull-off specimen. Three-dimensional modeling makes it possible to represent ply-by-ply lamina properties in the model. However, the ply-by-ply approach should not be used for highly angle ply laminates because of the strong transverse effect from adjacent plies. A smeared properties approach is more robust for the strain energy release rate analysis of delamination between ±45-degree angle ply laminates. The three-dimensional analysis indicates that delamination failure between the stiffener flange and the skin is dominated by Mode I and Mode II delamination modes. The three-dimensional analysis predicts delamination growth from the interior of the pull-off specimen width, and higher pull-off load is required to grow the delamination close to the free edges. The delamination initiation load along the interior of the pull-off specimen width does not change with the change of the width of the pull-off specimen. However, the wider specimen has stronger free edge effects than the narrower specimen. The lay-up of the skin and the flange can have significant effect on the delamination initiation load. Stiffening the skin and maintaining the compliant flange will increase the delamination initiation load.


In this study, the plaster stemming application for blasting at a basalt quarry is studied. Drill cuttings are generally used in open pits and quarries as the most common stemming material since these are most readily available at blast sites. However, dry drill cuttings eject very easily from blastholes without offering much resistance to blast energy. The plaster stemming method has been found to be better than the drill cuttings stemming method due to increased confinement inside the hole and better utilization of blast explosive energy in the rock. The main advantage of the new stemming method is the reduction in the cost of blasting. At a basalt quarry, blasting costs per unit volume of rock were reduced to 15% by increasing burden and spacing distances. In addition, better fragmentation was obtained by using the plaster stemming method. Blast trials showed that plaster stemming produced finer material. In the same blast tests, +30 cm size fragments were reduced to 47.3% of the total, compared to 32.6% in the conventional method of drill cuttings stemming. With this method of stemming, vibration and air shock values increased slightly due to more blast energy being available for rock breakage but generally these increased values were small and stayed under the permitted limit for blast damage criteria unless measuring distance is too close.


ABSTRACT Autophagy is an intracellular degradation pathway conserved in eukaryotes. Among core autophagy-related (Atg) proteins, mammalian Atg9A is the sole multi-spanning transmembrane protein, and both of its N- and C-terminal domains are exposed to the cytoplasm. It is known that Atg9A travels through the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and the endosomal system under nutrient-rich conditions, and transiently localizes to the autophagosome upon autophagy induction. However, the significance of Atg9A trafficking for autophagosome formation remains elusive. Here, we identified sorting motifs in the N-terminal cytosolic stretch of Atg9A that interact with the adaptor protein AP-2. Atg9A with mutations in the sorting motifs could not execute autophagy and was abnormally accumulated at the recycling endosomes. The combination of defects in autophagy and Atg9A accumulation in the recycling endosomes was also found upon the knockdown of TRAPPC8, a specific subunit of the TRAPPIII complex. These results show directly that the trafficking of Atg9A through the recycling endosomes is an essential step for autophagosome formation. Highlighted Article: Atg9A trafficking through the recycling endosome is required for autophagy, and is mediated by TRAPPIII and intrinstic Atg9A-sorting motifs that bind to AP2.


Abstract BACKGROUND Neuromuscular choristoma (NMC) is a peripheral nerve malformation frequently associated with a fibromatosis (NMC-DTF) that mimics sporadic desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF). Sporadic DTF is often managed conservatively but its clinical behavior varies. CTNNB1 mutational subtypes in sporadic DTF have prognostic value. We have previously identified CTNNB1 mutations in NMC, and 3 paired NMC-DTF but the clinical behavior of NMC-DTF is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE To evaluate patients with NMC-DTF to determine (1) CTNNB1 mutational subtypes in NMC-DTF, and (2) associated clinical behavior and response to treatment. METHODS Retrospective review of clinical, imaging, and pathologic features of patients with NMC and NMC-DTF, and molecular testing for CTNNB1 mutations. RESULTS Among 7 patients with NMC of the sciatic nerve (median age: 18 yr), NMC-DTF (mean size 10.7 cm) developed shortly following NMC biopsy (N = 5) or spontaneously (N = 2): 6 NMC-DTF had CTNNB1 p.S45X mutations and 1 NMC-DTF had a p.T41A mutation. All patients with CTNNB1-p.S45-mutated NMC-DTF developed local progression after wide local excision or active surveillance, including one distal metachronous NMC-DTF. No patient had spontaneous disease stabilization. Following adjuvant radiation or systemic therapy, disease stabilization was achieved in 4 (of 6) patients. One patient progressed on sorafenib treatment. CONCLUSION NMC-DTF frequently contain CTNNB1 p.S45 mutations, behave aggressively, and require adjuvant therapies for disease stabilization. We now use imaging alone to diagnose NMC, and routinely surveille the NMC-affected nerve segment to identify early NMC-DTF. In contrast to sporadic DTF, earlier adoption of systemic therapeutic strategies may be required for optimal disease management of NMC-DTF.


In order to eliminate the influence of the large-amplitude magnetic field noise that has complicated magnetocardio-graphic studies since October 2009, we have performed high-accuracy measurement of the environmental magnetic field noise in the vicinity of Beijing Subway Line 4 using a three-component height T c radio frequency (rf) superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). By analysing the spatial form and other characteristics of the time and the frequency domains and by calculating the circumferential magnetic field distribution based on a duel-end feeding system model, we reach the following conclusions: (i) the main source of magnetic field noise is the magnetic field generated by the subway trains, and (ii) the magnetic field interference results mainly from the imbalance between traction current and return rail current that is caused by the leakage current.


The field of quantum Hamiltonian complexity lies at the intersection of quantum many-body physics and computational complexity theory, with deep implications to both fields. The main object of study is the LocalHamiltonian problem, which is concerned with estimating the ground-state energy of a local Hamiltonian and is complete for the class QMA, a quantum generalization of the class NP. A major challenge in the field is to understand the complexity of the LocalHamiltonian problem in more physically natural parameter regimes. One crucial parameter in understanding the ground space of any Hamiltonian in many-body physics is the spectral gap, which is the difference between the smallest two eigenvalues. Despite its importance in quantum many-body physics, the role played by the spectral gap in the complexity of the LocalHamiltonian is less well-understood. In this work, we make progress on this question by considering the precise regime, in which one estimates the ground-state energy to within inverse exponential precision. Computing ground-state energies precisely is a task that is important for quantum chemistry and quantum many-body physics.
In the setting of inverse-exponential precision, there is a surprising result that the complexity of LocalHamiltonian is magnified from QMA to PSPACE, the class of problems solvable in polynomial space. We clarify the reason behind this boost in complexity. Specifically, we show that the full complexity of the high precision case only comes about when the spectral gap is exponentially small. As a consequence of the proof techniques developed to show our results, we uncover important implications for the representability and circuit complexity of ground states of local Hamiltonians, the theory of uniqueness of quantum witnesses, and techniques for the amplification of quantum witnesses in the presence of postselection.


Ecology is the science that studies the ecosystems and the relationships that take place between their components. The relation between the complexity and the stability of microbial ecosystems is one of the most studied issues in this field because of its current social relevance. We can appreciate it in the human microbiota, a key factor for health care; in the soil microbiomes, with a vast application in agriculture; or in some microbial communities with great potential in environmental detoxification. The first studies of the complexity-stability relationship of ecosystems were performed by mathematicians like Robert May. They used population-level models to study the stability of the ecosystems by the local stability analysis. They analysed three complexity factors: the number of species, the connectivity (frequency of interaction per species) and the medium interaction strength. The May theorem indicates that these three factors reduce ecosystem stability when they increase. In the 80s, permanence studies began being applied to the complexity-stability debate. The permanence concept states that a stable ecosystem is the one in which none of the species dominates or tends to extinction. In Coyte et al. 2015, they used a cellular automaton to model microbial communities and performed a permanence analysis. A cellular automaton has a lattice of cells that can be empty or occupied by an individual. The individual can interact with other individuals in the proximal cells and grow by filling an empty cell. A new modelling tool was developed in the last decades. These are the individual based models (IBMs), which are the evolution of the cellular automatons. They use a continuous space where the individuals can grow. They simulate real biological processes in every individual such as nutrient uptake, substrate-dependent growth, signal processing, metabolite-mediated interaction, etc… Gro is the IBM used in this work to model and simulate bacterial communities in one-layer culture. We think that an IBM like Gro is able to model microbial ecosystems and to contribute to the study of the relationship between complexity and stability. The objective of this work is to deepen in the knowledge of this relationship studying, via permanence analysis, the effect of 4 complexity factors in the stability of simulated microbial communities: connectivity, interaction strength, interaction range and the positive-to-negative interaction ratio. The first group of experiments consist of simulations varying the level of the first 2 factors and in the second group varying the level of the other 2 factors. The simulations consist of 5 species communities interacting between them according to an interaction network. This network is randomly designed given a level of connectivity. The communities suffer a perturbation during the simulation process. From the simulation output data we estimated the population density per species and performed a permanence analysis to determine whether the microbial community is stable or not. We calculated the proportion of stable communities for each level of the studied factors. Our results indicate that the higher the interaction strength or the connectivity level here the less stable the microbial community. They suggest the same about the interaction range but not for the positive-negative interaction ratio. Regarding to the later factor, our results suggest that extreme ratios make the communities more stable. They also show the influence of the interaction-network topology on the stability. We conclude that an IBM like gro, used to study factors and parameters of the simulated microbial communities, can contribute to the knowledge of the complexity-stability relationship of the ecosystems.


Purpose. Lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE) and lid parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF) are related to dry eye symptoms in contact lens wearers. Both clinical signs are assumed to be related to mechanical forces during blinking. As the mucus layer is a protector of the ocular surface tissue, this study investigates whether any alterations of mucins are detectable comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic soft contact lens wearers. Methods. Comfort was evaluated using the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire. Corneal staining, LWE, and LIPCOF were assessed in the right eyes of 50 (19 men, 31 women; mean age, 32.1 ± 11.4 years) experienced lens wearers. The tear film was sampled using Schirmer strips pressed onto the temporal conjunctiva and from harvested contact lenses. Mucins were assessed in dot-blots and Western blots after electrophoresis on 1% agarose or 4 to 12% NuPAGE Gels. Non-parametric analyses were used to study differences between groups and correlations between objective tests, mucins, and symptoms. Results. Thirty-one subjects were classified asymptomatic and 19 symptomatic by the questionnaire. LWE and LIPCOF were significantly increased in the symptomatic group (p < 0.035). MUC5AC reactivity was significantly decreased in symptomatics (p = 0.050). MUC4 was correlated to temporal LIPCOF and LWE, (r = −0.47 and −0.46; p < 0.01). MUC16 and MUC5AC correlated with corneal staining (0.36 < r < 0.53; p < 0.04). Conclusions. Symptomatic contact lens wearers exhibit significantly more LWE and LIPCOF, and decreased MUC5AC reactivity. LWE and LIPCOF are significantly correlated; this may reflect their common frictional origin. Increased friction might follow from insufficient mucins, or an altered composition of the resident mucins at the ocular surface. In this study, we show that decreased mucin production is associated with the severity of LWE and LIPCOF.


A guide to library and web resources relevant to Companies, public and private; doemesti, local, and foreign; large and small. For an overview of business sources, see the Business & Economics Guide.


We present distributed algorithms for sensor localization based on the Gauss-Newton method. Each sensor updates its estimated location by computing the Gauss-Newton step for a local cost function and choosing a proper step length. Then it transmits the updated estimate to all the neighboring sensors. The proposed algorithms provide non-increasing values of a global cost function. It is shown in the paper that the algorithms have computational complexity of O(n) per iteration and a reduced communication cost over centralized algorithms.


With advances in computational modeling techniques, limit load methods are gaining wider acceptance as a tool for determining the structural integrity of pressure vessels. The objective of a limit load analysis is to size a vessel or structure considering nonlinear methods such as elastic-plastic material properties and non-linear strain-displacement relations. Case studies are presented in this paper that feature external pressures, gravity, and wind loads. The technique applies an appropriate initial magnitude for each load type and uses the analysis model to increase the load until a lower bound is calculated. The lower bound value is determined by incrementally increasing the load until convergence is not possible then the results are extracted. This paper presents how limit load techniques were used to address the structural integrity of four engineered systems including the structural stability of a corroded tower under wind and vacuum loads, determining the pressure capacity of a pressure vessel, analysis of a subsea vessel under high external pressures, and the remaining buckling resistance of a dented subsea flowline. The paper highlights the application of limit load techniques using criteria detailed in WRC 464.Copyright © 2005 by ASME


The purpose of evaluating enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems ought to be to improve the systems' life cycles. In this paper, narratives are proposed as a means of improving ERP systems as a complement to traditional evaluation methods. The potential of narratives is that they can convey meanings, interpretations, and knowledge of the system, which may lead to action. Even though narratives belong to an interpretive research tradition, this paper takes a pragmatic view of evaluation on the basis of three assumptions about evaluation: evaluations should form the basis for action; narratives can make evaluation more relevant; and evaluations should be made with the purpose of improving selection, implementation and use of the system. The conclusion reached is that narratives can advance evaluation practice by providing a richer evaluation picture which conveys meanings not included in traditional evaluations, and improve the use of ERP systems by changing users' mental maps.


The purpose of this study is to examine collaboration between food manufacturers and retailers and compare their motivation to collaborate the possible areas for collaboration and the preferred type of collaboration. Using a large quantitative sample of the Greek food sector, we compare and contrast what triggers retailers and manufacturers to get involved in long-term collaboration. We also compare the types of collaboration favoured by each group and illustrate the factors which influence the favoured type of collaboration for both manufacturers and retailers. Results show that the type of collaboration preferred is related strongly to specific factors, such as physical distribution management, trust and commitment to collaboration, and effective information management, with the last one commanding an increased role in the years to come. Another key finding is that transaction collaboration is the preferred collaboration type for these chain members.


The novel noble-gas complexes NgBeSO2 (Ng = Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) have been prepared in the laser-evaporated beryllium atom reactions with SO2 in low-temperature matrixes. Doped with heavier noble gas, the guest (Ar, Kr, Xe) atom can substitute neon to form more stable complex. Infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations are used to confirm the band assignment. The dissociation energies are calculated at 0.9, 4.0, 4.7, and 6.0 kcal/mol for NeBeSO2, ArBeSO2, KrBeSO2, and XeBeSO2, respectively, at the CCSD(T) level. Quantum chemical calculations demonstrate that the Ng-Be bonds in NgBeSO2 could be formed by the combination of electron-donation and ion-induced dipole interactions. The Wiberg bond index (WBI) values of Ng-Be bonds and LOL (localized orbital locator) profile indicate that the Ng-Be bond exhibits a gradual increase in covalent character along Ne to Xe.


The study of computational agents capable of rational behaviour has received increasing attention in recent years. A number of theoretical formalizations for such multi-agent systems have been proposed. However, most of these formalizations do not have a strong semantic basis nor a sound and complete axiomatization. Hence, it has not been clear as to how these formalizations could assist in building agents in practice. This paper explores a particular type of multi-agent system, in which each agent is viewed as having the three mental attitudes of belief (B), desire (D), and intention (I). It provides a family of multi-modal branching-time BDI logics with a possible-worlds semantics, categorizes them, provides sound and complete axiomatizations, and gives constructive tableaubased decision procedures for testing the satisfiability and validity of formulas. The computational complexity of these decision procedures is no greater than the complexity of their underlying temporal logic component.


Whole body hyperthermia (WBH) not only embraces lymphocyte migration to the bone marrow and skin, but also prolongs their subsequent transit through these organs, while inhibiting homing to the lymphoid organs. The effect of WBH is transitory, it subsides within 16 h after a 8 h WBH period. The accumulation of circulating lymphocytes in lymph nodes, Payer's patches and spleen dropped significantly between 4 h and 8 h in WBH, but rose during subsequent 16 h normothermia. In the absence of the adrenal glands, the enhanced bone marrow localization observed in non-adrenalectomised rats during WBH did not occur. Skin localization increased while splenic localization fell in adrenalectomised as compared to non-adrenalectomised rats. These results strongly support the hypothesis that WBH-induced enhancement of lymphocyte migration to the bone marrow is adrenal-hormone dependent. The above mentioned changes can not be attributed to changes in blood flow to the tissues during WBH. Blood flow to the bone marrow was not significantly different from flow to this organ in normothermic rats. Flow to the skin fell significantly and yet localization in this tissue during WBH was higher than during normothermia.


: A review is given on the analysis of melatonin (MT) and of its main peripheral metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) in old patients with different types of primary unoperated carcinomas. A very low production of melatonin (as estimated by the nocturnal urinary excretion of aMT6s) was found in male patients with lung or stomach cancer compared to aged-matched controls as well as in female patients with thyroid cancer. The levels of these women, however, did not differ from female patients with benign thyroid diseases indicating a general suppressive effect of thyroid diseases on the pineal gland. A similar but opposite phenomenon was observed in male patients with primary unoperatide colorectal cancer which showed an elevated production of mellatonin when compared to healthy men but not when compared to patients with colitis ulcerosa. The mechanisms involved in these phenomena are poorly understood and seem to include central as well as peripheral components. This view is supported by the finding that in spite of varying urinary aMT6s excretion measured in patients with different types of tumor, aMT6s shows comparable positive correlations with the degree of tumor cell proliferation (as estimated by the number of PCNA-immunopositive cells). Therefore the amount of aMT6s excreted (as well as the corresponding concentration of circulating MT) has to be understood as the net result of a number of different effects by the tumor on organism.


Internationally there is much research showing that achievement within the education sector is a key determinant of positive labour market outcomes as well as supporting many other areas of wellbeing. Against a backdrop of overall strong and very positive improvements in educational participation and achievement, there is evidence that a gendered 'education transition' has taken place in New Zealand. The transition in tertiary education is demonstrated by higher rates of participation and achievement of women relative to men, particularly among the Māori and Pacific communities. Does this transition matter? Certainly in the past higher participation and achievement by men prompted much concern about the need for women to improve their relative outcomes. While now there is some concern expressed about boys' achievement within schooling, the same level of disquiet is not being expressed about the relative underperformance of men in tertiary education. In this sector concerns focus on overall Māori and Pacific under-representation, and there is still attention given to female under-representation in areas such as engineering or building. Is this because the gaps that favour women are minor differences or, in fact, are they new and important disparities? We find there is no objective measure that can tell us when gender gaps are important. However, historically gaps of the size currently found in tertiary education, but in favour of men, did cause concern. And currently similar sized gaps, again in favour of men, in areas such as pay continue to be high on public policy agendas. Further complicating this analysis of gaps is whether absolute gains to both men and women are considered, or whether simply relative positions are examined. Overall, the paper suggests that much of the gender analysis undertaken within the tertiary education sector, as well as within much of the wider policy world, remains based on a premise of female disadvantage or, alternatively, focuses on very specific areas of female disadvantage while often ignoring parallel male disadvantage. Focusing on one part of a binary population, without looking at the other part, has the potential to create new inequalities. We suggest that this needs to change to allow a more sophisticated analysis of gender and ethnic gaps. This includes a requirement to consider the growing heterogeneity of choices and outcomes for women and men, as well as identifying and overcoming the remaining constraints on choice for both men and women.


Abstract. Significance Exogenous extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, such as fibrinogen and the thrombin-polymerized scaffold fibrin, are used in surgical repair of severe nerve injuries to supplement ECM produced via the injury response. Monitoring the dynamic changes of fibrin during nerve regeneration may shed light on the frequent failure of grafts in the repair of long nerve gaps. Aim We explored whether monitoring of fibrin dynamics can be carried out using nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) containing fibrin tagged with covalently bound fluorophores. Approach Fibrinogen was conjugated to a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye. NGCs consisting of silicone tubes filled with the fluorescent fibrin were used to repair a 5-mm gap injury in rat sciatic nerve (n=6). Results Axonal regeneration in fluorescent fibrin-filled NGCs was confirmed at 14 days after implantation. Intraoperative fluorescence imaging after implantation showed that the exogenous fibrin was embedded in the early stage regenerative tissue. The fluorescent signal temporarily highlighted a cable-like structure within the conduit and gradually degraded over two weeks. Conclusions This study, for the first time, visualized in vivo intraneural fibrin degradation, potentially a useful prospective indicator of regeneration success, and showed that fluorescent ECM, in this case fibrin, can facilitate imaging of regeneration in peripheral nerve conduits without significantly affecting the regeneration process.