BACKGROUND
An increase in the incidence of oral cancer among patients younger than 40 years has been reported worldwide. It has been suggested that the disease behaves more aggressively among young people.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical and biologic behavior of tongue cancer among younger patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Data on all patients younger than 40 years in whom tongue cancer was diagnosed in Finland between 1980 and 1989 (34 cases) were collected; pertinent clinical data were available for risk factor screening. A follow-up of at least 5 years or until death was available for all 34 patients. Immunocytochemical staining techniques were used to assess the expression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins, and p53 mutation analysis was performed by using the nonradioactive single-strand conformation polymorphism technique.

RESULTS
The incidence of tongue cancer in this age group in Finland did not change during the study period. The clinical behavior of tongue cancer in young people was not more aggressive compared with that of older patients in general, with the overall 5-year survival being as good as 70.6%. Altogether, p53 mutations were found in 17 of 33 tumors (51.5%). The p53 and bcl-2 protein expression was strong or moderate in 33.3% and 30.3% of the samples, respectively. Intense p53 protein expression was associated with the larger tumor size (P < .05). The poorest prognosis was found in patients with tumors greater than 4 cm in diameter (P = .01) or moderately or poorly differentiated cancer (P = .01). There was a trend for the adverse prognosis to accumulate in patients with moderately or poorly differentiated carcinoma and mutations in p53 (P = .09).

CONCLUSIONS
The cause of tongue cancer in patients younger than 40 years seems to be multifactorial. Those patients had a similar clinical course, prognosis, and function of p53 as found in the reports of a normal age variation. Mutations of p53 seemed to be an additional prognostic marker that was associated with moderate or poor differentiation of the tumors.


New composite metal foams are processed using powder metallurgy (PM) and gravity casting techniques. The foam is comprised of steel hollow spheres, with the interstitial spaces occupied by a solid metal matrix (Al or steel alloys). The cyclic compression loading of the products of both techniques has shown that the composite metal foams have high cyclic stability at very high maximum stress levels up to 68 MPa. Under cyclic loading, unlike other metal foams, the composite metal foams do not experience rapid strain accumulation within collapse bands and instead, a uniform distribution of deformation happen through the entire sample until the densification strain is reached. This is a result of more uniform cell structure in composite metal foams compared to other metal foams. As a result, the features controlling the fatigue life of the composite metal foams have been considered as sphere wall thickness and diameter, sphere and matrix materials, and processing techniques as well as bonding strength between the spheres and matrix.


During the pandemic, many countries go through a period of so-called "self-isolation" or quarantine, during which people are forced for a long time not to see their loved ones, not to visit places of importance to them and experiencing constant anxiety and uncertainty due to changing living conditions. This has had a very negative impact on most people's mental state. Analyzing data from many countries around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that the fear, loneliness, isolation, stress and anxiety experienced by all people during the COVID-19 pandemic can cause great mental health problems and countries need to be prepared for them. Metaanalysis of studies evaluating the prevalence of mental and behavioral disorders, self-harming behavior, acts of family violence, and problematic substance use in the COVID-19 pandemic show that depression, drug and alcohol addiction, self-harm and suicidal behavior are expected to increase, requiring increased preparedness by mental health services.


Romano-Ward syndrome is a condition that causes a disruption of the heart's normal rhythm (arrhythmia). This disorder is a form of long QT syndrome, which is a heart condition that causes the heart (cardiac) muscle to take longer than usual to recharge between beats. The term "long QT" refers to a specific pattern of heart activity that is detected with an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which is a test used to measure the electrical activity of the heart. In people with long QT syndrome, the part of the heartbeat known as the QT interval is abnormally long. Abnormalities in the time it takes to recharge the heart lead to abnormal heart rhythms.


Recent research has identified genetic diversity in the ability of animals to manufacture and recognize leptin, a protein that regulated appetite and weight. This paper determines the economic value of using information on leptin genotype to select and manage beef cattle. Results reveal that the economic value of using genotypic information to sort cattle by optimal endpoint is only about $2/head for steers and $1/head for heifers; however, the value of using genotypic information to optimally select and feed only certain genotypes is $23/head for steers and $28/head for heifers. The difference in per head profit between the best and worst performing genotype is over $28 on the date the cattle were actually marketed and increases to $60 if each genotype is optimally marketed.


The currently accepted theory of self-exciting dynamo generating magnetic field of the Earth and its shortage of energy is critically reviewed. Based on thermodynamic approach, a new hypothesis of the Earth's magnetic field, created by thermo-electrochemical processes of the Earth's degassing, gravitational differentiation and their energy, is proposed. The ion-exchange, extraction and solidification are sources of the ionic currents on solid core and lower mantle boundaries. These currents are carried by thermo-chemical flows, which create the primary exciting magnetic field. This field is amplified mostly by thermoelectricity generated by heat flow thus improving the heat and matter transport from the Earth's core and lower mantle to surface. Migration of the solidification zones and inner core precession are the main causes of changes of the main magnetic field intensity and reversals of its polarity.


The purpose of this article is to acquaint the research community with a new data base—a digitized archive of Northern Hemisphere snow cover. Historically, those researchers who needed snow cover data for climatic and atmospheric boundary layer studies have had to rely on the irregularly spaced (and in some regions, sparse) grid of point observations. Northern Hemisphere Weekly Snow and Ice Cover Charts, which are created from analyzed satellite imagery at the National Earth Satellite Service (NESS), have been available on an operational basis since late 1966. Each of these weekly charts for the period November 1966 through December 1980 was digitized and stored in a new data archive. Snow cover area and snow cover frequency climatologies were created and examples are presented. The significance of this unique data archive is examined by comparing the 14-year mean annual snow cover frequency climatology with several published snow cover climatologies. The potential uses for this data archive in meteorolog...


The aim of the present study was to analyze the validation of the equation proposed by Brzycki for the prediction of a maximum repetition (1-RM) in the bench press. Fifty sedentary or moderately active male subjects (22.2 ± 3.5 years; 64.7 ± 8.6 kg), were initially submitted to six test sessions of 1-RM in the bench press, with 48 hours of interval between each session, in order to determine the maximum workload. A protocol of force resistance was then performed for the determination of 7-10-RM. The used criteria for the validation included: t-Student test for dependent samples, for comparison among the mean values obtained by the predictive equation and by the 1-RM test; Pearson correlation coefficient for analysis of the association degree among the measurements; standard error of estimate (SEE) for evaluation of the mean deviation degree of the individual data along the produced line; total error (TE) for the verification of the mean deviation of the individual values of the identity line; constant error (CE) for analysis of the difference among the mean values obtained in the 1-RM test and predicted by the proposed equation. None statistically significant difference was verified among the values produced by the 1-RM test and the Brzycki equation (P > 0.05). Both the SEE and the TE were relatively low (2.42 kg or 3.4% and 1.55 kg or 2.2%, respectively), as well as the CE found (0.22 kg or 0.3%). Moreover, the correlation coefficient value found was extremely high (r = 0.99; P < 0.05), thus showing a strong association between the values found by the 1-RM test and the Brzycki equation. Therefore, the equation analyzed by this study satisfied the validation criteria established by the literature. The results suggest that the Brzycki equation seems to be a fairly attractive alternative for the estimation of 1-RM values in the bench press from the performance of submaximal tests of 7-10-RM, in sedentary or moderately active male adults.


In the financial field much of the data available is in panel form. Nevertheless, some researchers convert these data into indices in order to facilitate its use. Today, because of the availability of software programs, it is easier than in the past to handle panel data in those instances where its use is preferable to the use of indices. The objective of this paper is to analyze the long run equilibrium relationship between prices and fundamentals while proposing a very simple method of extending time series models to panel data. Although this method has multiple applications, here we are solely concerned with investigating the cointegrating relationship between prices and fundamentals with data expressed in panel form. This method has several characteristics that make it appealing. First, it is simple to implement (efficient). Second, it is general in scope (can be applied to many tests). Third, it takes into account arbitrary correlations (for example, among firms). Fourth, it does not require making unrealistic assumptions (such as the assumption of independence among firms within the same market). Our results are supportive of Han's (1996) in that we do not find cointegration between fundamentals and prices.


At a time where the international system is largely affected by a global economic crisis, cellular/mobile technology offers those previously disempowered by lack of access to previously computer-based communication technologies, capitalist neoliberal market forces, and limited education opportunities, a potentially enhanced means of entering and operating in the marketplace. Several studies have shown mobile technology to have the most rapid deployment in international society of all available communication technologies and this is certainly supported by statistics that show that in 2011, more than two thirds of South African households had access to a mobile phone (Statistics South Africa, 2012) making it the most used Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the country. Through its use in a business setting, individuals are able to benefit financially, including those who operate on a self-sustainability basis. Mobile technology therefore offers an exciting field of investigation for communication researchers and economists. This research project explores mobile phone practices amongst 'survivalists' in the informal business sector in Johannesburg, South Africa. It relies on indepth interviews with select individuals (such as street vendors, casual labourers and self-employed sole traders) in order to identify and examine emerging trends. From this research, it is evident that mobile phones have become a vital component of everyday economic welfare amongst those operating small market enterprises in the city centre of Johannesburg.


PURPOSE
To test the hypothesis that the extension of areas with increased fundus autofluorescence (FAF) outside atrophic patches correlates with the rate of spread of geographic atrophy (GA) over time in eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

METHODS
The database of the multicenter longitudinal natural history Fundus Autofluorescence in AMD (FAM) Study was reviewed for patients with GA recruited through the end of August 2003, with follow-up examinations within at least 1 year. Only eyes with sufficient image quality and with diffuse patterns of increased FAF surrounding atrophy were chosen. In standardized digital FAF images (excitation, 488 nm; emission, >500 nm), total size and spread of GA was measured. The convex hull (CH) of increased FAF as the minimum polygon encompassing the entire area of increased FAF surrounding the central atrophic patches was quantified at baseline. Statistical analysis was performed with the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rho).

RESULTS
Thirty-nine eyes of 32 patients were included (median age, 75.0 years; interquartile range [IQR], 67.8-78.9); median follow-up, 1.87 years; IQR, 1.43-3.37). At baseline, the median total size of atrophy was 7.04 mm2 (IQR, 4.20-9.88). The median size of the CH was 21.47 mm2 (IQR, 15.19-28.26). The median rate of GA progression was 1.72 mm2 per year (IQR, 1.10-2.83). The area of increased FAF around the atrophy (difference between the CH and the total GA size at baseline) showed a positive correlation with GA enlargement over time (rho=0.60; P=0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS
FAF characteristics that are not identified by fundus photography or fluorescein angiography may serve as a prognostic determinant in advanced atrophic AMD. As the FAF signal originates from lipofuscin (LF) in postmitotic RPE cells and since increased FAF indicates excessive LF accumulation, these findings would underscore the pathophysiological role of RPE-LF in AMD pathogenesis.


Water stable isotopes (18O and 2H) are widely used as ideal tracers to track water through the soil and to separate evaporation from transpiration. Due to the technical developments in the last two decades, soil water stable isotope data have become easier to collect. Thus, the application of isotope methods in soils is growing rapidly. Studies that make use of soil water stable isotopes often have a multidisciplinary character since an interplay of processes that take place in the vadose zone has to be considered. In this review, we provide an overview of the hydrological processes that alter the soil water stable isotopic composition and present studies utilizing pore water stable isotopes. The processes that are discussed include the water input as precipitation or throughfall, the output as evaporation, transpiration, or recharge, and specific flow and transport processes. Based on the review and supported by additional data and modeling results, we pose a different view on the recently proposed two water world hypothesis. As an alternative to two distinct pools of soil water, where one pool is enriched in heavy isotopes and used by the vegetation and the other pool does not undergo isotopic fractionation and becomes recharge, the water gets successively mixed with newly introduced rainwater during the percolation process. This way, water initially isotopically enriched in the topsoil loses the fractionation signal with increasing infiltration depth, leading to unfractionated isotopic signals in the groundwater.


Mcgraw-Hill Education Ltd Jul 2016, 2016. Taschenbuch. Book Condition: Neu. 229x151x17 mm. Neuware This book provides an exceptional insight into how children learn science, as well as which teaching approaches have been found to be most successful. Drawing on the significant body of research carried out over the past 35 years, the book provides valuable evidence about which tried-and-tested approaches enhance learning and help children actually learn science. The book:. supports you in becoming more effective in teaching primary science. offers a reliable evidential base, founded on significant research findings. helps you make informed choices about which approaches to use in your teaching repertoire. provides support for completing your written assignments Overall the text helps you develop your knowledge and understanding of primary science, as well as how best to plan for teaching this important subject. Insights into how children best learn science, together with practical teaching ideas that have been tested in a systematic way, makes this an essential book for primary teachers in training and an invaluable guide for primary teachers teaching science in Key Stages One and Two. 'This book makes a major, evidence-based contribution to teaching science in the primary school. It provides a solid...


Background: Pazopanib is an angiogenesis inhibitor approved for renal cell carcinoma and soft-tissue sarcoma. Studies indicate that treatment with pazopanib could be optimized by adapting the dose based on measured pazopanib plasma concentrations. Methods: We describe the validation and clinical application of a fast and straightforward method for the quantification of pazopanib in human plasma for the purpose of therapeutic drug monitoring and bioanalytical support of clinical trials. Stable isotopically labeled 13C,2H3-pazopanib was used as internal standard. Plasma samples were prepared for analysis by protein precipitation using methanol and diluted with 10 mmol/L ammonium hydroxide buffer. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column using isocratic elution with ammonium hydroxide in water and methanol. For detection, a tandem mass spectrometer, equipped with a turbo ion spray interface was used in positive ion mode at m/z 438 → m/z 357 for pazopanib and m/z 442 → m/z 361 for the internal standard. Results: Final runtime was 2.5 minutes. All validated parameters were within pre-established limits and fulfilled the FDA and EMA requirements for bioanalytical method validation. After completion of the validation, the routine application of the method was tested by analyzing clinical study samples that were collected for the purpose of therapeutic drug monitoring. Conclusions: In conclusion, the described method was successfully validated and was found to be robust for routine application to analyze samples from cancer patients treated with pazopanib.


The forecast water consumption values are the most critical input data in the pump schedule optimization of water distribution systems. The aim of this paper is to present a simple technique which is able to estimate the mean consumption and its distribution for a given demand zone with an hourly resolution. Simplicity (low computational cost) is advantageous since the forecast model needs to be run for any optimization computation. The proposed technique uses a recorded hourly consumption database and consists of two steps. First, the database content is automatically grouped based on the similarity of the elements (more precisely, their normality). This step is time-consuming but is performed only once for a given database independently of optimization. The second step – which is quick but has to be performed before the actual optimization – makes use of this grouping for forecasting mean value and standard deviation. The proposed technique provides hourly water consumption predictions independently; that is, the neighbouring hours do not effect each other, which prevents the accumulation of prediction errors. The daily overall consumption is computed a posteriori . The test results presented in this paper prove the applicability of the technique for real-life problems. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the confidence interval provided by the technique includes the actual measured data.


An experimental investigation was performed on mode I delamination of z-pinned double-cantilever-beams (DCB) and associate z-pin bridging mechanisms. Tests were performed with ten types of samples: (1) big-pin reinforced DCB (double-cantilever-beams) with three areal densities D=2.01%, 5.15%, 8.04%, respectively; (2) median-pin reinforced DCB with three areal densities D=0.85%, 2.17%, 3.40%; (3) small-pin reinforced DCB with three areal densities D=0.25%, 0.63%, 0.90% and (4) without pin reinforced DCB specimens. Delamination tests samples were prepared from unidirectional continuous carbon fibre/epoxy prepreg (T300/TDE86), made into 3 mm thick unidirectional laminates with and without a block of Z-pins in the crack path. Fracture testing was carried out under Mode I (standard DCB test). Experiments have shown that increases in debond resistance and ultimate strength depend on the material, size, density, location of the pins and the mechanisms of pin deformation. A finite element (FE) model is developed to investigate mode I delamination toughness of z-pin reinforced composite laminates. The z-pin pullout process is simulated by the deformation of a set of non-linear springs. A critical crack opening displacement (COD) criterion is used to simulate crack growth in a DCB made of z-pinned laminates. The toughness of the structure is quantified by the energy release rate, which is calculated using the contour integral method. The FE model is verified for both unpinned and z-pinned laminates. Predicted loading forces from FE analysis are compared to available test data. Good agreement is achieved. The numerical results indicate that z-pins can greatly increase the mode I delamination toughness of the composite laminates.


To address the issue that conducting a reliability enhancement test for large-caliber guns is impossible based on actual equipment, a new kind of enhancement test bed for the breech mechanism is designed and established. By measuring the extreme working stress of the test bed, enhancement test stress and enhancement stress levels are determined. The cross sections of single stress enhancement tests and comprehensive stress enhancement tests are designed. The cartridge extracting process is selected to excite the potential failures. The wear of the shaft arm of the shell stop and the wear of the arm of the cocking shaft are measured and analyzed based on finite element analysis and micro examination tests. The practical failure process is illustrated. Under the combined action of impact sliding coupling wear and abrasive particle wear, there are flakes, pan furrows, and holes on the part surfaces, which result in outline variation and force transmission failure. The research idea of this paper provides a new kind of failure mode analysis method for large-caliber guns.


An experiment of treating anaerobic fermented hogpen sewage by improved A2/O reactor was carried out to study the influence factors affect the pollution mater reducing rate during the course of combine domestication. After anaerobic fermented cultivation course of hogpen sewage by A2/O technics, thought the treatment system's parameters included hydraulics reside time (HRT), deliquescent oxygen (DO), and reflux ration of nitrate solution (r) to study the system's treatment effect. The experiment results indicated that the improved A2/O process starts with a smooth flow mode, the effluent COD, NH3-N removal were steady at about 90%, TN removal rate of up to 60% of available, TP removal rate of 85%, according to the test results, taking into account the energy consumption problem, the best conditions for the system: DO= 3 mg / L, HRT =24 h, nitration liquid reflux ratio 3.


Intensive care nursing is prone to episodic anxiety linked to patients' immediate needs for treatment. Balancing biomedical interventions with compassionate patient-centred nursing can be particularly anxiety provoking. These patterns of anxiety may impact compassion and patient-centred nursing. The aim of this paper is to discuss the application of Bowen Family Systems Theory to intensive care nursing, mapping a framework to support critical care nurses' well-being and, consequently, the quality of care they provide. This article is founded on research, theoretical papers and texts focused on Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST), and findings from a constructivist study on patient-centred nursing and compassion in the intensive care unit. The goal of Bowen Family Systems Theory is to empower individuals, decreasing blame and reactivity. Bowen Family Systems Theory can be applied to the sometimes intimate relationships that develop in this environment, aiding understanding of nurses' experience of compassion satisfaction and fatigue. Where organizational factors and management styles fall short in supporting critical care nurses to meet expectations, BFST can offer a perspective on the processes that occur within the intensive care unit, impacting nurse well-being and quality of care. This paper makes plain the importance of understanding the anxiety that occurs within the intensive care unit as a system, so that individuals, such as critical care nurses, can be supported appropriately to ensure nurse well-being and quality care.


Biogenic amines (BAs) are defined as low molecular weight organic bases with biological activity. They are formed and degraded as part of the normal metabolism of microorganisms, plants and animals, in which they have important physiological functions. In humans, BAs are involved in brain activity, the regulation of body temperature and stomach pH, gastric acid secretion, the immune response, and cell growth and differentiation etc. However, the consumption of foods with high concentrations of BAs can induce adverse reactions such as nausea, headaches, rashes and changes in blood pressure. The accumulation of BAs in the food matrix is mainly due to the presence of bacteria able to decarboxylate certain amino acids. The most common and powerful BAs found in food are histamine, tyramine and putrescine. Their contents vary, sometimes reaching over 2 g per kg. Histamine is the only BA for which maximum levels in food have been set, although general interest exists in reducing the presence of all BAs in all food products. This review discusses the toxic effects of BAs when ingested with food.


We propose a formalism for analysing multilayer perceptron (MLP) networks as propagations of binary transitions along excitatory and inhibitory sensitised paths. By characterising a Boolean function as sets of detected transitions, we produce a spectral summation and construct a network from the derived weight constraints. We build hidden node feature detectors by incorporating k-monotonicity checks in the partitioning step of a constructive algorithm. Propagation constraints are also used in an MLP network using gradient descent learning to limit hyperplane movement in weight space. Results for a pattern classification task represented as a binary-to-binary mapping show improved convergence and generalisation performance.


ABSTRACT Parenthood is a high impact, and culturally divisive issue; its influence over organisational life is as normalised as the negative consequences for working parents. The parental problem is indicative of patriarchal cultures idolising 'hegemonic masculinity' (HM), which privileges masculine careers. Such hegemonic problems demand radical, multifaceted approaches to re-imagine patriarchal organisational cultures; this is where dystopian fiction can help. This paper uses Dystopian Fiction (DF) to offer a manifesto of five demands (adapted from 'The Children of Men' by P.D. James, 1992), as a speculative future for new conceptions of parenthood. Drawing on masculinities theory and feminist manifestos, the paper problematizes current parental decisions in the context of DF examples of hegemonic masculinity. The paper's 'scriptology' incorporates DF and authorial reflexivity to subvert HM and imagine the future. These five demands promote a reconceptualization of existing problems affecting working parents towards equitable change. 1. Openly negotiate and make transparent organisational parental policies 2. Strengthen civil rights for marginalised mothers 3. Abolish the silencing of fathers in fertility discourse 4. Stop 'deporting' mothers out of their career paths 5. End the anticipatory discrimination of potential mothers


AIM
To evaluate short- to medium term outcome of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) in complex fractures of the distal humerus.

METHODS
A consecutive series of 24 complex distal humerus fractures operated with TEA in the period 2006-2012 was evaluated with the Mayo Elbow Performance score (MEPS), plain radiographs, complications and overall satisfaction. The indications for surgery were 1: AO type B3 or C3 or Sheffield type 3 fracture and age above 65 or 2: fracture and severe rheumatoid arthritis. Mean follow-up time was 21 mo.

RESULTS
Twenty patients were followed up. Four patients, of which 3 had died, were lost to follow up. According to the AO classification there were 17 C3, 1 B2 and 2 A2 fractures. Mean follow-up was 21 months (range 4-54). Mean MEPS was 94 (range 65-100). Mean flexion was 114 degrees (range 80-140). According to MEPS there were 15 excellent, 4 good and 1 fair result. Patient satisfaction: 8 excellent, 10 good, 2 fair and 1 poor. There were two revisions due to infection treated successfully with revision and three months of antibiotics. In two patients the locking split had loosened. One was referred to re-insertion and one chose yearly controls. Two patients had persistent dysaesthesia of their 5th finger, but were able to discriminate between sharp and blunt.

CONCLUSION
Our study suggests that TEA in complex fractures of the distal humerus in elderly patients can result in acceptable short- to medium term outcome.


Previous studies have reported anomalies in the arcuate fasciculus (AF) lateralization in developmental dyslexia (DD). Still, the relationship between AF lateralization and literacy skills in DD remains largely unknown. The purpose of our study is to investigate the relationship between the lateralization of the AF anterior segment (AFAS), AF long segment (AFLS), and AF posterior segment (AFPS) in connection to literacy skills in DD. The participants included 26 children with dyslexia and 31 age-matched children in the control group. High angular diffusion imaging, combined with spherical deconvolution tractography, was used to reconstruct the AF. Connectivity measures of hindrance-modulated oriented anisotropy (HMOA) were computed for each of the three segments of the AF: anterior segment (AFAS), long segment (AFLS), and posterior segment (AFPS). The lateralization index (LI) of each AF segment was calculated by (right HMOA - left HMOA) / (right HMOA + left HMOA). Results showed that the LIs of AFAS and AFLS were positively correlated with reading accuracy in children with dyslexia. Specifically, the LI of AFAS was positively correlated with text and nonword reading accuracy, while the LI of AFLS accounted for word reading accuracy. The results suggest adaptive compensation of arcuate fasciculus lateralization in developmental dyslexia and functional dissociation of the anterior segment and long segment in the compensation.


Malingering is the intentional simulation of illness for an external gain. It can occur in any medical illness and most clinicians will encounter this problem at some point in their clinical practice. Malingering occurs most often in a medicolegal setting where the external gain is monetary compensation for disability. However, in day-to-day practice most clinicians will probably be confronted with simulation in the context of avoiding work due to illness. Many clinicians may also experience the opposite situation, namely where patients try to hide illness or diminish the degree of symptoms in order to return to work or to qualify for an insurance policy.


To maintain a high-performance, long-duration tokamak plasma scenario, it is necessary to maintain desired profiles while respecting operational limits. This requires real-time estimation of the profiles, monitoring of their evolution with respect to predictions and known limits, and their active control to remain within the desired envelope. Model-based techniques are particularly suitable to tackle such problems due to the nonlinear nature of the processes and the tight coupling among the various physical variables. A suite of physics-based, control-oriented models for the core plasma proles in a tokamak is presented, with models formulated in such a way that powerful methods from the systems and control engineering community can be leveraged to design ancient algorithms. We report on new development and applications of these models for real-time reconstruction, monitoring and integrated control of plasma proles on TCV, ASDEX-Upgrade and simulations for ITER.


The new developed "sweeping detector" techniques using high energy synchrotron radiation allow to measure textures and microstructures of materials and their change during heat treatment with high location and orientation resolution. Here we show these new methods applied to cold rolled and subsequently annealed nickel samples. The grain-resolved measurements show, impressively, many details of the recrystallization process which can otherwise not be seen. The results of these measurements can be the base for omprehensive recrystallization theories.


Abstract : During the summer of 1995, an intensive, joint field study called Shallow Water Acoustics in a Random Medium (SWARM 95) was conducted by the Naval Research Laboratories (NRL), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), University of Delaware (UD), Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University (APL/JHU) and Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), among others, in the Mid-Atlantic Bight continental shelf region off the coast of New Jersey. Environmental and acoustic sensors were deployed as part of SWARM '95 to measure and characterize the non-linear internal waves and their impact on the spatial and temporal coherence of the acoustic transmissions. As part of the environmental monitoring network, two bottom-moored, upward looking Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) were deployed. A modal, time-series analysis of the data captured by the two ADCPs was performed. Highlights of the results reveal that: the generation mechanism, in this case, is consistent with the lee-wave hypothesis of generation; the phase speed is in good agreement with predicted phase speeds of the first baroclinic mode; and, the displacement power spectral density is significantly modified when soliton wavepackets are present.


Abstract The aim of this study was to examine associations between the importance of religion and disclosure of HIV seropositivity within sero-nonconcordant couples. In 2003, a face-to-face survey was conducted among patients selected in a random stratified sample of 102 French hospital departments delivering HIV care. Respondents who reported being in a couple with a non-HIV-positive partner were asked whether they had disclosed their HIV positive status to their partner and if religion represented an important aspect of their life. Among the 2932 respondents, 1285 were in a sero-non-concordant regular partnership. Among these, 37.5% reported that religion played an important role in their life; 7.2% had not disclosed their HIV-positive status to their partner, and 11.6% were unaware of their partner's HIV status. Lack of HIV disclosure to the partner was encountered more often among those who considered religion as an important aspect of their life. After multiple adjustment for socio-demographic factors, and for partnership characteristics, the importance of religion in the respondent's life remained independently associated with a lack of HIV disclosure to the regular partner. In conclusion, individuals who place importance on religion appear to have difficulties in disclosing their HIV-positive status due to the associated stigma and fear of discrimination.


The notion of arbitrariness of the linguistic sign should not pervade the whole of language study. Language as social interaction involves most naturally, person, number, time and other categories, which often find linguistic expression. The four dimensions of the personal endings of the Greek verb (person, number, tense and voice) can be abstracted from the paradigm and explained as a natural, non-arbitrary result of the subjective centering of language around the speaker.


Availability of renewable energy now makes solar energy the right choice because of its advantages and easy application compared to other renewable energy sources. Monitoring of the output parameters of solar power plants needs to be done to assess the performance and efficiency of a solar power plant in real environmental conditions. The aims of research is to provide a direct and real time monitoring. This research has been carried out in solar power plants at Engineering Physics Department, FTI-ITS. The design of an ATmega32 microcontroller-based system that is integrated with Raspberry-pi as a data acquisition system. Data reading solar power plants output parameters stored in memory can be downloaded at any time. The analysis result shows that the efficiency of photovoltaic arrays is 10.78 %. The total efficiency of the solar power plants system is 8.05 %.


This paper proposes an efficient content-based image feature extraction technique in the DCT domain using histogram quantization. The features are extracted from DCT block coefficients. These coefficients represent the low frequency content of the input image. This method extracts and constructs a feature vector of histogram quantization from partial DCT coefficient in order to count the number of coefficients having the same DCT coefficient over all image blocks. The database image and query image is equally divided into non overlapping 8X8 block pixel Therefore, each of which are associated with a feature vector of histogram quantization derived directly from discrete cosine transform DCT. Users can select any query as the main theme of the query image. The retrieval images is the relevance between a query image and any database image, the relevance similarity is ranked according to the closest similar measures computed by the Euclidean distance. The experimental results show significant promising results that our approach is easy to identify main objects and try to reduce the influence of background in the image, and thus improve the performance of image classification.


Sir, Keen et al' presented a typical case of hepatitis after using an Ayurvedic preparation as a remedy for diabetes. The authors did not give the details of the drug dosage, trade name, pharmaceutical dosage form or source. Ayurveda lays much emphasis on the purifactory aspects of its drugs which are mainly of herbo-metallo-mineral and animal origin, some of which are highly toxic when taken in their crude or natural form. After specific purifactory processes, metals are subjected to treatments such as impregnation and trituration with other herbal drugs and are eventually subjected to different types ofheat treatment, using conventional methods. The heavy metals are brought into colloidal form after incineration. For example, the leadcontaining preparation, sastiputa naga bhasma is subjected to 60 cycles of incineration. Studies were carried out at Gujarat Ayurveda University2 and Banaras Hindu University,3 in India on lead ash prepared by the different methods used to make Ayurvedic medicines and their use in the treatment of various diseases. Experimental studies showed that Pb, PbO, PbSO4, and PbS preparations available in the market are toxic. X-Ray diffraction analysis proved that the Ayurvedic preparation sastiputa naga bhasma is chemically PbS; it is nevertheless reported to be non-toxic in experimental and clinical studies.4 Depending on the preparation, the lead content varies from 14.5% to 68.14%. The lead content of sastiputa naga bhasma reported by Nagaraj was 64.24% whereas in their sample ofthe drug Keen et al' reported a lead content of 19%. The experimental study on rats and the clinical trials conducted proved that the Ayurvedic lead preparations are non-toxic when the dose is below 6 mg/100 g body weight.5 The prescribed dose in the treatment of diabetes is 30-120 mg/day in case of an adult.6 The results ofthe clinical trials carried out with sastiputa naga bhasma and other hypoglycaemics are given in the table to get a clear picture of its action on diabetes.


The timing of fertility declines in developed societies during the last decade first prompted scholars to associate it with the Great Recession of 2008. However, the persistence of fertility declines during the 2010s suggests that other developments, maybe triggered by the crisis, have influenced fertility. Here, we investigate how the decline in generalized trust as reflected in growing support for right-wing populist parties may have affected childbearing trends. We focus on Sweden where the vote share of Sweden Democrats increased six-fold between 2006 and 2018 and fertility rates simultaneously declined by almost fifteen percent. We use population-register data to construct complete individual-level fertility histories and link women to the SD share of votes in their municipality of residence in the elections that were held in 2006, 2010, and 2014. We estimate fixed effects and difference-in-difference fertility models and demonstrate that changes in the support for Sweden Democrats in the local municipality influenced the average woman's probability of having a child in a negative direction, net of observed and unobserved individual-level and municipality characteristics. The negative impact was strongest for highly educated women.


The emergence and rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance threatens medical progress and calls for innovative approaches for the management of multidrug resistant infections. Phage-therapy, i.e., the use of viruses that specifically infect and kill bacteria during their life cycle, is a re-emerging and promising alternative to solve this problem. The success of phage therapy mainly relies on the exact matching between both the target pathogenic bacteria and the therapeutic phage. Several papers propose models for in-silico prediction of phage-bacteria interactions but at the species level. In clinical applications prediction of phage-bacteria interaction at species level is not enough to target a given pathogenic bacteria strain.One of the main challenges to train classification models able to predict phage-bacteria interactions is the need of both types of samples: interaction and non-interaction phage-bacteria couples. Non-interactions are rarely reported, making these data scarce. This problem is even more evident for non-interaction data at strain level. These factors make difficult the use of classic machine learning algorithms which need relatively-balanced classes to produce accurate predictions.This problem calls for solutions to deal with such imbalanced data. In this paper are presented two approaches to tackle this problem. 1. To explore the use of One-Class learning methods 2. To generate putative non-interacting data and use single and ensemble-learning approaches, to predict phage-bacteria interaction at strain-level.


My journey to working with copyright at the Michigan State University (MSU) Libraries began with images for medical education. I was Coordinator for Health Sciences at the Libraries, during which time instructors creating a new online curriculum asked for clear guidance on images they could include.  Over a period of years, I negotiated licenses with major medical publishers to allow image use from our subscription resources for this purpose.  Through this project, I grew my expertise and knowledge about copyright issues, which gave me confidence to propose taking on the part-time copyright librarian position when the existing copyright librarian retired. I'm now in the position and enjoy collaborating with people across the MSU Libraries and across subject areas to promote understanding of copyright for teaching, learning, and scholarship.


To define the mechanisms of unexpected cardiac arrest in advanced heart failure, we reviewed the causes of cardiac arrest as established from electrocardiographic monitoring and from clinical and autopsy data in patients hospitalized for cardiac transplantation evaluation and management of advanced heart failure (mean left ventricular ejection fraction, 0.18 +/- 0.08) who were stable while on vasodilator and diuretic therapy such that hospital discharge to home was anticipated. Twenty-one cardiac arrests occurred in 20 of 216 (9%) such patients during a 4-year period. Heart failure was due to coronary artery disease with prior myocardial infarction in 13 patients and nonischemic cardiomyopathy in seven patients. The rhythm at the time of arrest was severe bradycardia or electromechanical dissociation (BA/EMD) in 13 (62%) patients. The precipitating cause of the BA/EMD arrest was coronary artery thrombosis or embolism in two patients, pulmonary embolism in one patient, hyperkalemia in two patients, and unexplained hypoglycemia in one patient. In seven of 13 (54%) patients, a precipitating cause of the bradycardia arrest could not be established. Only eight of 21 (38%) arrests were due to ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VT/VF), and all occurred in patients with prior myocardial infarction (p = 0.02 vs. BA/EMD arrests). Two VT/VF arrests were due to acute or recent infarction, and one patient had hyperkalemia. The patients who suffered a BA/EMD arrest were similar to those who had a VT/VF arrest in age, ventricular arrhythmia history, ventricular function, and serum potassium levels. Serum sodium levels were lower in patients with BA/EMD arrests (129 +/- 3 vs. 133 +/- 4 meq/l, p = 0.025).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is among the most major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Great progress has been made in the management of CVD which has been influenced by the use of experimental animal models. These models provided information at cellular and molecular levels and allowed the development of treatment strategies. CVD models have been developed in many species, including large animals (e.g. pigs and dogs) and small animals (e.g. rats and mice). Although, no model can solely reproduce clinical HF, simulations of heart failure (HF) are available to experimentally tackle certain queries not easily resolved in humans. Induced HF may also be produced experimentally through myocardial infarction (MI), pressure loading, or volume loading. Volume loading is useful to look at hormone and electrolyte disturbances, while pressure loading models is helpful to study ventricular hypertrophy, cellular imbalance and vascular changes in HF. Coronary heart disease is assessed in MI animal models. In this review we describe various experimental models used to study the pathophysiology of HF.


: The description of knee joint cinematics is based on the exact analysis of condylar contours. In this paper, a function of second degree (elliptical equation) is proposed as an acceptable approximation to the solution of the problem. The contours of the femoral condyles can be looked at as composed of two different elliptical arches. These arches can be fitted with a high degree of accurateness. This method describes the condylar contour at least with the same approximation as the much more complicated calculation of STANISLAUS (1977) does. Furthermore the evolute of this curve does not show the extreme discontinuities of the evolute, determined by STANISLAUS.


— The fatigue properties of an extruded Mg–3Al–0Mn magnesium alloy component were evaluated experimentally. Fully reversed, strain control fatigue tests were conducted on specimens extracted from regions with a varying grain size and texture. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to establish structure–property relations between microstructure and cyclic damage. Rela- tions were drawn between microstructural features such as particle size, grain size, initial Taylor factor and the number of cycles to failure.


Genetic testing for monogenic diabetes, essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment is underutilized. Obstacles include clinical overlap with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and difficulty distinguishing clinically significant (pathogenic/likely pathogenic; P/LP) from normal (benign/likely benign; B/LB) variation. The ClinGen Monogenic Diabetes Expert Panel (MDEP) was formed to adapt American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) variant interpretation guidelines to monogenic diabetes genes and enable depositing of expert panel variant reviews into ClinVar, a public database relating gene variants to phenotypes. MDEP includes endocrinologists, laboratory directors, genetic counselors, medical geneticists, clinical scientists and researchers from 37 academic and commercial institutions, allowing the panel to benefit from multiple expert perspectives and pooling of case-level data. Currently, MDEP is focusing on the three most commonly implicated monogenic diabetes genes: GCK, HNF1A and HNF4A. MDEP generated gene-specific modifications and/or strength adjustments to existing rules to provide guidance for the use of evidence, including molecular, phenotypic, segregation, functional, and minor allele frequency data. Our guidelines have so far been tested on 98 HNF1A variants, 15 HNF4A variants and 22 GCK variants selected from ClinVar and the literature. Fourteen of 31 variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in ClinVar were re-classified: nine to P/LP (enabling diagnosis and treatment) and five to B/LB (reducing ambiguity). Six LP variants and one LB variant from ClinVar were re-classified to VUS (stimulating further surveillance). MDEP's work will improve accuracy, standardization and concordance of variant interpretation for monogenic diabetes and support wider implementation of precision medicine in diabetes. Disclosure H. Zhang: None. K.A. Maloney: None. F. Barbetti: Consultant; Self; Amring. S.W. Greeley: None. J.L.T. Kettunen: None. J.P. Miranda: None. U.L. Mirshahi: None. J. Molnes: None. R. Murphy: None. R.N. Naylor: None. R.E. Pakyz: None. L.H. Philipson: None. S. Prudente: None. T. Tuomi: None. M. Udler: None. K. Colclough: None. L. Jeng: None. T.I. Pollin: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (5U24HD093486, R01DK104942, P30DK020595 )


A wave of decentralization processes has swept the Latin American continent since the late 1980´s. The citizens now directly elect their political leaders at the local (and in some countries also the regional/provincial) level, compared to traditional centralized political systems. Decentralization is likewise normally a key ingredient and requirement among international donors and multi-lateral banks when support is given for poverty reduction strategies. This article (re-) considers some theoretical and historical aspects of decentralization, among others the democratization principles and significances of the process, as well as its implications in form of accessibility to the State and political arenas for previously excluded social and political actors. Some of the experiences from Venezuela since 1989 and Bolivia from 1994 onwards are analyzed, including some of the "positive" achievements of decentralization and a few of the obstacles (e.g. corruption and violent protests) for the carrying through and continuation of the reform process. Decentralization can in many cases be considered a type of democratization (if defining democratization as an increase in political equality). The legitimacy of a democratic society depends on the linkages between civil society groups and the State.


For more than sixty years, tax scholars have recognized conditions under which the government ceases to be a mere taxing entity—imposing a rate of tax on a business's profits—and through the operation of tax law becomes more like an investment partner—contributing its fair share of capital to new investments and proportionately sharing in losses as well as gains. These conditions, which are satisfied by immediate expensing policies, are now common.

The investment partner analogy has been analyzed from the perspective of a taxpayer who, as a result of partnership-like treatment, enjoys returns on investment that are effectively tax-exempt. However, far less attention has been paid to the government's perspective. The government—based solely on the operation of tax law—contributes capital to and assumes risks of investments it does not select.

This Article argues that when tax policies make the government descriptively less like a taxing entity and more like an investor, it should do what any rational investor is expected to do: identify its attributes as an investor, consider how these attributes affect its investment priorities, and seek ways to align its investments with its priorities. Taking the example of immediate expensing, this Article identifies several changes that the government might make to tax laws to better align capital investing with its own preferences regarding risk, reward, and timing.

After identifying several potential policy changes implied by the government's investment role, this Article considers which changes make sense given the other priorities and roles of the government. In some cases, the government-as-investor perspective offers new justifications for tax policy changes that have long been advocated. In other cases, it suggests changes that should be rejected as inconsistent with the government's competing priorities and roles. And in several cases, it reveals new policy prescriptions that should be adopted because they advance the government's investment priorities, while at the same time advancing traditional tax goals and broader social goals. These changes could reduce distortion, increase revenues, promote economic stability, and even protect involuntary and unsecured creditors.


Due to environmental and fuel cost concerns more and more wind- and solar-based generation units are embedded in distribution networks (DNs). However, a part of such an embedded generation would be curtailed due to system constraints and variations of the energy penetration. This part of energy can be recovered by introducing energy storage systems (ESSs) and an optimal dispatch of both active and reactive powers. Therefore, we propose a combined problem formulation for active-reactive optimal power flow (A-R-OPF) in DNs with embedded wind generation and battery storage. The solution provides an optimal operation strategy which ensures the feasibility and enhances the profit significantly. Results of a 41-bus distribution network are presented. It can be demonstrated that more than 12% of energy losses and a large amount of reactive energy to be imported from the transmission network (TN) can be reduced using the proposed approach in comparison to the operation strategy where only active OPF is considered.


The 2007--2008 financial crisis has paved the way for the use of macroprudential policies in supervising the financial system as a whole. This paper views macroprudential oversight in Europe as a process, a sequence of activities with the ultimate aim of safeguarding financial stability. To conceptualize a process in this context, we introduce the notion of a public collaborative process (PCP). PCPs involve multiple organizations with a common objective, where a number of dispersed organizations cooperate under various unstructured forms and take a collaborative approach to reaching the final goal. We argue that PCPs can and should essentially be managed using the tools and practices common for business processes. To this end, we conduct an assessment of process readiness for macroprudential oversight in Europe. Based upon interviews with key European policymakers and supervisors, we provide an analysis model to assess the maturity of five process enablers for macroprudential oversight. With the results of our analysis, we give clear recommendations on the areas that need further attention when macroprudential oversight is being developed, in addition to providing a general purpose framework for monitoring the impact of improvement efforts.


A special challenge for land seismic exploration is estimating velocities, in part due to complex near-surface structures, and in some instances because of rugose topography over foothills. We have developed an integrated turning-ray and reflection-tomographic method to face this challenge. First, turning-ray tomography is performed to derive a near-surface velocity-depth model. Then, we combine the near-surface model with the initial-subsurface model. Taking the combined model as starting model, we go through a reflection tomographic process to build the model for imaging. During reflection tomography, the near-surface model and subsurface models are jointly updated. Our method has been successfully applied to a 2D complex synthetic data example and a 3D field data example. The results demonstrate that our method derives a very decent model even when there is no reflection information available in a few hundred meters underneath the surface. Joint tomography can lead to geologic plausible models and produce subsurface images with high fidelity.


I concur with Michael Mosser that bridge-building between academic and military policy communities should be an important priority. I also agree that this is a challenging task. But my sense of why this is both important and challenging differs from Mosser's in some key respects. Despite qualifications along the way, Mosser's account suggests that academia has a particular responsibility to make itself legible and available to military policy makers, but not the other way around. As he explains, his topic grew from a project concerned about "whether the academy is asking militarily interesting questions." And he proceeds by thinking about how academic scholarship might be "more tightly integrated" with the doings of military policy and planning. Undertaking bridge-building by firstly asking how the US academy can be more effectively leveraged to support national security goals sets up a largely one-sided and unilateral engagement, where the burden is primarily on academia to explain itself to the military policy community, and probably to do so within a frame of reference sensible to the policy crowd but not necessarily vice-versa. This sets up, in short, a scenario making it less likely for policy makers to listen to what academics might be saying, particularly whenever this appears to complicate established agendas. From my point of view, the best mutual outcomes flow from a more balanced dialogue. This includes policy makers taking academic frames at least as seriously when talking with them, so that greater clarity can be reached about how, and under what circumstances, scholarship might contribute to policy concerns, but also when academic contributions might be inappropriate, irrelevant, or even impossible.


Creative industry is one of sectors that most resistant to the economic crisis. The creative industry is a group of industries that relies on individual creativity, skill and talent that has ability to improve living standards and provide employment through creating ideas and exploiting copyright. To optimize their performance they need guidance and counseling which are appropriate to their characteristics and needs. The aim of this study is develop a model of guidance and counseling which is specific and relevant to the needs of workers in the creative industries. The study used research and development method. Additionally, the study used interviews and observations as the research instrument. The location of study was the district of creative industries in Bandung. The research subjects were 3 creative industries. The results of the study show that counseling system toward the employees has not been implemented comprehensively and sustainably. The guidance and counseling were implemented only on certain aspects related to the quantity and quality of the products. The guidance was implemented only by such industries and has not involved other parties. The conclusion of the study concludes that the creative industries need a model of guidance and counseling which would help them to develop their activities and products must be in accordance with national standard in order to be more competitive.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the 10-year incidence of retinal emboli, associated risk factors, and relationship of retinal emboli at baseline to stroke and ischemic heart disease mortality.

METHODS
The Beaver Dam Eye Study is a large (N = 4926) population-based study of persons 43 to 86 years of age at the time of the baseline examination. Retinal emboli were detected at baseline (1988-1990) and at a 5-year (1993-1995) and 10-year (1998-2000) follow-up by grading of stereoscopic 30 degrees color fundus photographs using standardized protocols. Cause-specific mortality was determined from death certificates.

RESULTS
The 10-year cumulative incidence of retinal emboli was 1.5%. After adjustment for age and sex, the incidence of retinal emboli was associated with increased pulse pressure (odds ratio [OR] [fourth vs first quartile range], 2.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98-5.97; P =.03, for test of trend), higher serum total cholesterol level (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.06-7.23; P =.03), higher white blood cell count (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.04-4.96; P =.05), smoking status (OR [current vs never-smoker], 4.60; 95% CI, 2.08-10.16; P<.001), and a history of coronary artery bypass surgery (OR, 7.17; 95% CI, 3.18-16.18; P<.001) at baseline. After controlling for age, sex, and systemic factors, a significantly higher hazard of dying with a mention of stroke on the death certificate was found in people with retinal emboli (hazard ratio, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.16-4.99) compared with those without.

CONCLUSIONS
We found associations of smoking and cardiovascular disease with the incidence of retinal emboli. Persons with retinal emboli are also at increased risk of stroke-related death.


Purpose: To show how e-readiness indicators, specifically the Networked Readiness Index, participate in the work of defining policy problems. Methodology/Approach: The article critically examines the Networked Readiness Index is terms of its presentation and its underlying model. It relies on an approach to policy analysis that views policy problems as socially constructed. Findings: E-readiness assessment tools purport to show how ready the nations of the world are to exploit the potential of new information and communication technologies. Yet they do more than that; being actively engaged in constructing policy problems. In the case of the NRI, the problem of the international digital divide is defined in a particular way that privileges certain interests while at the same time legitimatising its inclusion on the agenda of international organizations as a problem worthy of sustained attention. Practical Implications: The findings of the article suggest a need for alternative indicators that register the voices of a wider range of groups and could therefore create a more inclusive digital divide policy problem. Originality/value: Little critical (as opposed to technical) analysis of e-readiness indicators exits in the literature. By focusing on these tools, the article contributes to the debate surrounding the issue of the digital divide.


A theory of economic justice addresses those ground rules of a self-sufficient social system that dictate how property is acquired and transferred. Appealing to a broad criterion or set of criteria, such a theory describes and justifies what the rules ought to be. In this paper, I consider how conceptual features of a theory of economic justice logically determine its approach to economic crises. First, the paper introduces a number of classificatory terms. It distinguishes between deontological and consequentialist theories of economic justice. Then it defines holism as a continuous dimension — theories of economic justice are said to be more or less holistic — and argues that consequentialist theories of economic justice are somewhat holistic. In the second part, the paper turns to two examples of consequentialist theories of economic justice, those of Hegel and John Rawls. It shows that economic crises are within the scope of Hegel's and Rawls's theories, and then considers what the theorists actually say about economic crises. In the third part, using Rawls and Hegel as examples, the paper argues that consequentialist theories are capable in principle of justifying extraordinary property transfers in crisis situations, such as the bailouts made to American banks by the American government during the financial crisis of 2008. So a consequentialist theory could reconcile us to those transfers. But such theories, more than deontological ones, could equally well lead us to call for widespread structural change.


Ongoing siltation in the upper Tamar Estuary is problematic for reasons of amenity, navigation, human health and Launceston city's flooding hazard. Regional authorities commissioned catchment to estuary sediment flux computer-based modeling in 2008 to identify sediment sources or erosion hotspots. It had been over 20 years since sediment inputs were quantified and sedimentation processes in the Estuary identified.
The present research critically considered the modeling results in the context of the attribution of sediment provenance to land use and the validity of application of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) using the KLS component of the equation from digital soil mapping. Two major research themes developed:
1. The role of land use in sediment flux to the Tamar Estuary compared to "natural" rates of change was placed in context by researching landscape change through recent earth history to Pleistocene human migration and contemporary history.
2. Soils from a pilot study area were sampled and characterised to assess the feasibility of using soil types from existing soil mapping as an alternate basis to land use in modeling and to improve field data quality and resolution for sediment flux modeling as well as contribute data to the Soils and Landscape Grid of Australia (SLGA).
The literature was reviewed for qualitative pre-historical analyses and presentation, while landscape spatial data analyses were undertaken using a project geographic information system (GIS), using both digitised historical maps and digital datasets.
The pilot study area selected for soil characterisation and detailed examination of modeled erosion hazard was the upper South Esk catchment in the north-east highlands of the Tamar basin, over 1,000 km\(^2\) in area. Modeling suggested the area had some of the highest exports of sediment in the basin, which is known for its apparently highly erodible granite-based soils.
Pre-historical and historical phases of landscape instability and erosion events were identified and documented, placing historical human settlement and land use in long term context. It was found that the arid glacial climates and Aboriginal land management practices of the Pleistocene provided an abundance of sediment available for aeolian transport across the Tamar catchments from Tasmania's centre and west, a sediment source to the Tamar and its Esk rivers catchments by "natural" or background processes now ceased. Since then, erosion rates reduced and stabilised and a virtual dynamic equilibrium regime of sedimentation and scour in the estuary was established, albeit within the more gradual evolution of a drowned river valley infilling with sediment.
Nevertheless, while according to the literature the total suspended sediment (TSS) values of the Esk rivers are very low compared to world rivers, the dominantly fine (<63 μm) sediment flux has increased post-colonisation. From the literature research and GIS, the resolution or detail of historical data was sufficient to indicate four periods of historic landscape instability, the last still extant. These periods of instability, in which landscapes have been more vulnerable to erosion and siltation of the Tamar Estuary likely increased, can be attributed to a combination of specific climatic ("natural") and anthropogenic (land use) factors. While the development of sustainable agricultural systems has been prioritised, research suggests that the reinstatement of a dynamic equilibrium that minimises estuarine siltation is uncertain in the context of anthropogenic climate change and landscape transformation.
Contemporary geological mapping was found on the basis of soil geochemistry to be reliable for use, within specified limitations, in sediment provenance modeling or sediment source attribution. The project GIS, compiled from geological spatial data, land systems and contemporary land use and vegetation, enabled the classification of soils by four geological parent materials using strategic sampling stratification. The cartography produced includes land use and soil type overlays on erosion hazard values.
Elemental properties of top- and sub-soil samples from 54 sites were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following mixed acid (HNO3-HF-HCl) digestion. Subsequent to elimination of redundant elemental properties out of 35 analysed, the four soil types were differentiated by discriminant (function) analysis (DA or DFA) using a "fingerprint" of 13 elements. A satisfactory proportion (87%) of the samples were robustly classified, including discrimination of the alluvium derived from three other soil types, one of which comprised 50% of the total pilot area.
The sampling and analytical methodologies developed represent a minimalist yet robust approach, optimised for a sole researcher and/or limited facilities, suitable for application in sediment flux modeling or direct suspended sediment fingerprinting techniques in physiographically complex catchments such as the Tamar basin. The soil work undertaken and methodologies developed have value in confirming soil characteristics in the study catchment and in application in ground truthing where and as required. It is intended by the Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) to combine the project soil results with the new LIDAR (light detection and ranging) products when they become available, to enable more useful second generation soil mapping products e.g. for erosion hazard assessment at the subcatchment scale.


The Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) is a nonlinear estimator that is particularly well suited for complex nonlinear systems. In the UKF, the error covariance is estimated by propagating forward a set of "sigma points," which sample the state space at intelligently chosen locations. However, the number of sigma points required scales linearly with the dimension of the system, so for large-dimensional systems such as weather models, the approach becomes intractable. This paper presents an approximate version of the UKF, in which the error covariance is represented by a reduced-rank approximation, thereby substantially reducing the number of sigma points required. The method is demonstrated on a one-dimensional atmospheric model known as the Lorenz 96 model, and the performance is shown to be close to that of a full-order UKF.


Antennas are the key components for far-field wireless transmission of data and power by electromagnetic (EM) radiation. These passive devices are the only radiating structures in biomedical communication systems, so its design needs to be carefully studied to ensure human safety. In this paper, we analyse and discuss the effect of wearable and implantable biomedical antennas on humans and vice versa. The design process of these electromagnetic radiating structures in body-worn devices and implantable medical devices (IMDs), which take into consideration the human body effects and FCC/FDA safety regulations, has been demonstrated using a wearable endfire antenna on artificial magnetic conductor metasurface intended for wireless body area network communications and an implantable rectenna for far-field wireless powering. Both proposed antenna designs perform considerably well in/on the voxel model used for the human body analysis and adhere to the FCC/FDA human safety limits of specific absorption rate (SAR) and thermal heating by EM radiation.


Many companies are exploring flexible-benefits plans as a way to cut costs and still provide good benefits for their employees. Here are 10 steps for effectively communicating a flex plan.


Background: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have become a global health problem particularly in hospital setup causing simple skin infections to life-threatening infections. In many developing countries, including India, the situation appears gloomy due to inadequate or poor implementation of policy on infection control, lack of political will, inadequate resources including shortage of skilled manpower, poor motivation of health care workers and researchers.

Objective: The present study describes a rapid and accurate PCR for detection of clinically relevant antibiotic resistance gene of Staphylococcus aureus.

Materials and Methods: A total of 586 Staphylococcus positive clinical samples were collected under aseptic precautions from patients attending various departments in a tertiary care hospital in south India. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified based on cultural characteristics, biochemical reactions and positive tube coagulase test. Methicillin resistance was determined by Kirby-Bauer's disc diffusion method. The PCR was used for mecA gene detection from MRSA strains.

Results: Of the total 586 Staphylococcal aureus isolated, 236 (40.2%) strains were MRSA. Thirty-five MSRA strains were randomly selected for PCR assay. Thirty three MRSA strains (94%) were mecA gene positive and two MRSA strains were mecA negative visualised on 2% agarose gel electrophoresis.

Conclusion: The PCR assay was found to be rapid and accurate procedure for the detection of MRSA strains as compared to the conventional methods since the reporting time is less and can help efficiently in infection management.


Finish machining of a curved surface is often carried out by an NC system with curve interpolation in the field. This NURBS interpolation adopts a feedrate optimizing strategy based on both the geometrical information and dynamic properties. In case of a finish cut using a ball-end mill, the curve interpolator needs to take the machining process into account for more improved surface, while reducing the polishing time. In this study, the effect of low machinability at the bottom of a tool on surface roughness is also considered. A particular curve interpolation algorithm is proposed fur generating feedrate commands which are able to control the roughness of a curved surface. The simulation of the machined surface by the proposed algorithm was carried out, and experimental results are presented.


In order to produce segmented polyurethane polymers (PU) that can be processed readily into elastomeric thin films, a thermally labile blocking agent was used to form an isocyanate prepolymer and prevent reaction with moisture while facilitating the formation of the polymers by bulk thermal polymerization. The approach is to react a polymeric diol and isocyanate to form a prepolymer, end cap or 'block' the isocyanate, combine it with a chain extender, and form films that then thermally polymerize when the blocking agent dissociates and evaporates. A major advantage of this process is that the blocked isocyanate prepolymer is completely stable and unreactive on exposure to incidental moisture. Film polymerization kinetic studies were performed with the blocked isocyanate at a series of temperatures and reaction times. The extent of reaction was followed by proton NMR and the molecular weights of the resulting films were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The data indicate how both temperature and reaction time are important for the formation of high molecular weight polyurethanes and that a catalyst is required to facilitate the reaction. Films with high molar masses and excellent mechanical properties were obtained. High resolution quantitative atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging disclosed interesting features of the polymer morphology at the nanoscale that relate directly to the polymer mechanical properties.


OF DISSERTATION THE MAKING AND REMAKING OF PORTLAND: THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF IDENTITY AND LANDSCAPE AT THE PORTLAND WHARF The town of Portland, Kentucky was founded over 200 years ago as a speculative venture to profit from its advantageous location at the base of the Falls of the Ohio River. The Portland Wharf was the economic and cultural heart of the town. Throughout its history, the community has experienced much change. These changes are visible in the landscape of the Portland Wharf which reflected changes in the community's identity. Identity and landscape are topics that have been of great interest to archaeologists and this dissertation builds on previous works to examine identity as something that is reflected in the practices of people and can be unconscious, as well as overt. Identity can only become visible through contrast of differing aspects of culture, which is often created by researchers. The landscape is one place where the contrast necessary for making identity visible takes place, as it is where identities can be created, modified, and maintained. This study utilized archaeological, historical, and ethnographic data to examine changes to Portland's identity and landscape over time. The archaeological analysis of deposits at two house lots at the Portland Wharf has allowed for a reconstruction of Portland's historic landscape that when compared to that of Louisville created the necessary contrast to expose Portland's independent identity. This identity was developed amongst Portland's contentious and symbiotic relationship with Louisville and manifested in the landscape and the way privies were constructed. The process of identity continues present day, as the people of Portland reach into their past to deploy versions of history that are loosely based on events that are no longer materialized in the landscape when their identity is threatened. As the community plans to reanimate the Portland Wharf landscape to create and maintain identities based on the community's past, archaeologists must recognize their role in the process of identity and I argue that such responsibility can and should be used for activist goals for the good of the community.


Following a biographical sketch of Hugh Miller, his conduct of the Witness newspaper is considered in relation to contemporary social questions, the place and influence of the Witness being noted. Miller's teaching is elucidated from his writings in the Witness during, the period of his editorship (1840-I85S) and defined critical criteria applied, to verify his authorship. Reviving the question the Highland Clearances Miller advances the view of Sismondi that they were made possible by the breakdown of' the old Celtic system under the aegis of English Law. He further asserts that the Sutherlands while not personally responsible, for the atrocities associated with the Clearances were culpable in devising and, carrying, out a policy of 'improvement ' without due regard for the human lives affected by it. Miller refutes the charges le velled, against the Highland 'by the supporters of the 'Clearances' and claims that so far from being a depraved people they are virtuous, intelligent and religious. Contemporary and near- contemporary evidence is used to assess the validity of Miller's contentions. The proposed currency legislation of Sir Robert Feel which threatened to deprive the Scottish Banks of their free-note issue, and which culminated in the Bank Charter Act of 1844 caused Miller to make an excursus in.to the field of economics. His work in opposition to the legislation reveals an intimate knowledge of the growing industrialisation of Scotland, and appreciation of the character and strength of the Scottish Banking System, but not least the nationalism of the editor of the Witness, In viewing, .the, growing industrialisation whether; from the side of labour or of capital Miller sees, clearly, that economic systems must have ends outside themselves, and for all his emphasis upon industry and thrift,, people are always 'more important than money'. When the 'slavery' question' became a live issue following the acceptance of' money from American, Churches Miller 'supported the official Free Church attitude namely, that slavery was wrong but that Christian communion ought to be maintained with Churches approving or condoning the practice, of slavery. Miller' views of the ethics slaveholding, the duty of Christians in society and the relationship of one Church to another holding different ethical standard, are brought but clearly in his conflict with both slavist and abolitionist. Not least among, the problems of the Church was that of financing the schools it was forced to establish and it was only found possible by underpaying: the school master and later it was found to be impossible without the acceptance of government grants. In, the ensuing controversy. Miller, following Chalmers, advocated a national-system of education with religious instruction to be provided by the respective denominations, The crisis of the whole country was kept in; mind, since, the old, system-was already broken under the increase in population. Miller also argued for a division between primary and secondary departments, provision for further education and be treatment of schoolmasters - much of which has subsequent received implementation. His pamphlet on the subject is considered 'within the broad history of education in Scotland Tip to the present hut Miller's wider views on education are noticed. Education is of importance both, to the individual and to society, through the enrichment of the individual. Tt therefore, should be available to all of whatever age or condition. Above all, Miller deplores any narrow definition of education and .draws the distinction between moral and intellectual training. Each has a part to play in education where mentors range from the schoolmaster the minister. Public attention being directed to the problem of crime and criminals, Miller addressed leading articles to specific instances. They reveal his opposition to the abortion of capital .punishment for murder and his instances that .punishment should fit the; crime with the primary subject of protecting society.


This document specifies a set of cipher suites for the Transport Layer
Security (TLS) protocol version 1.3 to support ShangMi (SM)
cryptographic algorithms. The use of these cipher suites with TLSv1.3
is not endorsed by the IETF. The SM cipher suites are becoming
mandatory in China, and so this document provides a description of how
to use the SM cipher suites with TLSv1.3 so that implementers can
produce interworking implementations.


Laser as a source of focused energy may be applied for the modification of microstructure and/or composition of the near surface region. The technique may be applied for the development of a ceramic/intermetallics/ interstitial compound dispersed metal matrix composite layer on the surface of metallic substrate by melting the substrate with a high power laser and simultaneous addition of alloy powders for the development of metal matrix composite layer by in-situ reactions. In the present contribution, development of metal-dispersed and intermetallic- dispersed matrix composite layer on the surface of metallic matrix has been discussed with a suitable example of its application.


va The bacteriological and clinical findings in 19 pediatric patients with intracranial abscess are presented. Ten children presented with subdural empyema and nine had brain abscess. Sinusitis was present in 14 children, and dental abscess in two. The abscess was located in the frontal and parietal area in seven instances each, and in the temporal area in five. Anaerobic organisms alone were recovered in 12 (63%) of the patients (including eight with subdural empyema and four with brain abscess), aerobic bacteria alone were present in two children (11%), and mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were present in five (26%) patients. There were 43 anaerobic isolates (2.3 per specimen). The predominant anaerobes were anaerobic Gram-positive cocci (16 isolates); Bacteroides sp. (10, including two B. fragilis); Fusobacterium sp. (nine isolates); and Actinomyces sp. (five isolates). A total of eight aerobic isolates (0.4 per specimen), including five Gram-positive cocci and three Haemophilus sp., were recovered. Antimicrobial therapy was administered to all patients. Five patients, four with sinusitis and subdural empyema and one with sinusitis and brain abscess, did not respond to antimicrobial therapy and aspiration of the abscess, and required surgical drainage of their inflamed sinuses. These findings indicate the major role of anaerobic organisms in the polymicrobial etiology of intracranial abscess in children.


Modern automobiles are built with a steadily increasing variety of materials and semifinished products. The traditional composition of steel sheet and cast iron is being replaced with other materials such as aluminum and magnesium. But low formability of these materials has prevented the application of the automotive components. The formability can be enhanced by conducting the warm hydroforming using induction heating device which can raise the temperature of the specimen very quickly. The specimen applied to the test is AA6061 extruded tubes which belong to the age-hardenable aluminum alloys. But in the case of AA6061 age hardening occurs at room temperature or at elevated temperatures before and after the forming process. In this study the effects of the heating condition such as heating time, preset temperature, holding time during die closing and forming time on the hydroformability are analyzed to evaluate the phenomena such as dynamic strain hardening and ageing hardening at high temperatures after the hydroforming process.


Recognizing and predicting future three-dimensional (3D) scenes are crucial steps for real-time vision-based control systems, as these steps enable them to react appropriately in advance. In this study, a method for predicting the position of a 3D point cloud in the future and simultaneously segmenting the predicted point cloud is proposed for the first time. The prediction and segmentation tasks are performed by a novel neural network architecture that extracts both local geometric features and flow features for joint segmentation and prediction. Furthermore, we propose a new evaluation metric for future point cloud segmentation to resolve the problem of inconsistency in the order of future point clouds. The results of experiments conducted using real-world large-scale benchmark datasets revealed that the proposed network achieves higher prediction and segmentation accuracy than other baseline methods.


Cosmopolitan parasitic diseases are often unrecognized and misdiagnosed. Treatment can be difficult due mainly to a lack of the therapeutic drugs. The purpose of this review is to update knowledge about the therapy of anisakiasis, cystic echinococcosis, fascioliasis, giardiasis, pinworm/tapeworm infections, strongyloidiasis, and toxoeariasis.


Female farmers in Malawi and many other African countries remain subordinate to and more food insecure than their male counterparts. It is paradoxical that this status quo has persisted in spite of two significant factors: their high and increasing involvement in food and agricultural production, and policy commitments at both national and international levels to address gender inequalities in the agricultural sector. Using the case study of the Malawi Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP), this research critically engages with these issues to explain why agricultural policies have not been successful in addressing gender inequalities in the sector. It argues that in spite of feminisation of agriculture, development policies in Malawi still largely consider men as 'the farmers' and therefore neglect female farmers and the complexity of gender relations. Consequently, the government's response to food insecurity is compromised by a cyclical process embedded in the policy making cycle that facilitates, re-enforces and perpetuates the subordination of female farmers – the Female Subordination Cycle.

This research is situated at the intersection of food security, agricultural policy and gender and development literature – fields that are inter-connected but inadequately speak to each other. It therefore brings to the fore connections across these fields that are critical for understanding and consequently addressing the dual and inter-connected challenges of female subordination and food insecurity. Through a detailed examination of how the food security status of FHHs (both de jure and de facto) has been affected by the FISP, it contributes to a de-invisibilisation of female farmers from agricultural policies and interventions.

The research takes a pragmatic approach and employs mixed research methods. It is grounded in extensive fieldwork involving a large number of participants (over 540). A gender-aware approach to selection of participants is undertaken in that although female farmers are the main and primary research participants, male farmers are also consulted through focus group discussions.


Long-term fluid absorption (Jv) by everted rectal sacs from locusts is stimulated by both corpus cardiacum (CC) extracts and cAMP in a dosedependent manner. This hormonal antidiuretic activity (ADH) is present in both nervous and glandular lobes of CC. This distribution is similar to that of chloride transport stimulating hormone (CTSH) but not to that of other factors previously reported from this gland. As expected if ADH were due to CTSH acting on electrogenic Cl− transport, CC extracts also increased the electropotential across rectal sacs, and the stimulation of fluid absorption ceased in Cl-free salines. CC extracts also caused recta to absorb fluid against larger osmotic gradients, suggesting that the antidiuretic factor acts on the ion-dependent active transport of fluid rather than on the osmotic permeability of the rectal wall.


HOPE is an efficient parallel fault simulator for synchronous sequential circuits that employs the parallel version of the single fault propagation technique. HOPE is based on an earlier fault simulator called PROOFS, which employs sev- eral heuristics to efficiently drop faults and to avoid simulation of many inactive faults. In this paper, we propose three new techniques that substantially speed up parallel fault simulation: 1) reduction of faults simulated in parallel through mapping nonstem faults to stem faults, 2) a new fault injection method called functional fault injection, and 3) a combination of a static fault ordering method and a dynamic fault ordering method. Based on our experiments, our fault simulator, HOPE, which incorporates the proposed techniques, is about 1.6 times faster than PROOFS for 16 benchmark circuits.


Albizia myriophylla Benth is used as a remedy for cough, as an antidiabetic agent and as a starter culture in the preparation of rice beer. This study used a bioassay guided approach to investigate the anti-candidal properties of A. myriophylla and identify compound(s) responsible for the anti-candidal activity. In addition, otherphytoc hemical constituents of the plant were also investigated. Wood extract of A. myriophylla was screened for anti-candidal activity against four Candida species human pathogens: C. albicans, C. krussei, C. parapsilosis, and C.glabrata. Solvent fractionation technique was used to achieve a partition of the extract into four different fractions. Disc diffusion assay was used to determine the presence of anti-candidal activity in the fractions. Bioassay-guided column chromatography separation was used to retain anti-candidal fractions while separating out non-active fractions. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) bioautographic assay was used in an attempt to directly localize the anti-candidal compound(s) in the active fractions. Following this, separation and purification using preparative thin layer chromatography of the active fraction led to the isolation of an anti-candidal compound. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy were used for the characterization of the isolated compounds. The result showed that an anti-candidal compound was isolated from the chloroform fraction of the aqueous methanol extract of A. myriophylla. The compound, identified to be 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde or syringaldehyde, had MIC and MFC values of 0.000056 and 0.020000μg/μL respectively on C. parapsilosis- which was themost susceptible species. Meanwhile, chromatographic work up of the ethyl acetate fraction afforded five flavonoids, three of which were stereoisomeric flavans identified as (2R,3R,4R)-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromene-3,4,7-triol,(2R,3S,4S)-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromene-3,4,7-triol and (2R,3R,4R)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromene-3,4,7-triol; a flavanone, 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one;and a flavone, 7-hydroxy-3-methoxy-2-(3,4-ihydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one.


In this thesis, several aspects of the convection, magnetic, and optical auroral dynamics of the high-latitude ionosphere are investigated from multi-instrument observations.
The spatial and temporal relationships between nightside radar flow enhancements (NRFEs) and auroral intensifications are studied in Chapter 3. The NRFEs on open field lines usually are associated with very little accompanying auroral and magnetic activity. The NRFEs on closed field lines are often accompanied by optical auroral activity, but there is not a definite one-to-one correspondence. Both the statistical investigation and event study showed that the NRFEs may occur nearly simultaneously with the auroral intensifications. Because existing models associating the tail reconnection process and near-geosynchronous onset of substorms do not explain these correlated radar and optical observations very well, we propose a new model to explain the nearly simultaneous onset of the NRFEs and the auroral intensifications.
In Chapter 4 we describe a small postmidnight substorm event on October 9, 2000 during dominantly IMF By+ Bz+ conditions. A sequence of three optical auroral intensifications and Pi2 bursts were found. The first two activations were characteristic of pseudobreakups, while the last and strongest intensification corresponded to a substorm expansive phase (EP). The auroral, magnetic and radar signatures of the event are interpreted as the consequence of three successive drift-Alfven-ballooning (DAB) mode instabilities in the near-geosynchronous orbit plasma sheet (NGOPS). About 10 minutes after the EP onset, there was a second auroral brightening. The convection feature during this second auroral brightening was consistent with the scenario of a Stage-2 EP. We suggest that the first two pseudobreakups, the Stage-1 EP, and the Stage-2 EP are related, respectively, to loading-unloading, directly driven, and internal magnetotail processes.
Finally, in Chapter 5, we make some comparisons between the ionospheric plasma convection vortex structure observed by SuperDARN and the associated equivalent current pattern derived from the magnetometer observations. The discrepancies between the equivalent convection (EQC) and the SuperDARN-observed convection (SDC) pattern are explained in terms of the effect of day-night photoionization conductance gradient, and the coupling between field-aligned currents (FACs) and ionospheric conductances. In particular, we found the agreement between the EQC and SDC patterns is rather poor for a counterclockwise convection vortex. We suggest the discrepancies are probably due to a downward FAC-conductance coupling process.


Fearing that our overreliance on an individual, heroic model of leadership will only continue to dampen the energy and creativity of people in our organizations and communities, this essay proposes a practice perspective of leadership based on a collaborative agency mobilized through engaged social interaction. After briefly reviewing the emerging practice tradition in leadership studies, the article turns to the inseparable connection between leadership and agency and discusses how structure may pacify but, under dialogic conditions, release agency. Acknowledging the cultural constraints against collaborative agency, the account affirms its potential realization through interpersonal interaction and sociality. Specific leadership activities associated with collaborative agency and their conditions are illustrated. The paper concludes by showing how the collaborative agentic model might produce a more sustainable future for our world while suggesting avenues for future research of a collective rather than a personal approach to leadership.


Genomic data will become an increasingly important component of epidemiologic studies in coming years. The authors of the accompanying Journal article, van Ballegooijen et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2009;170(12):1455-1463), are to be commended for attempting to use the coalescent analysis of viral sequence data to evaluate a hepatitis B vaccination program. Coalescent theory attempts to link the phylogenetic history of populations with rates of population growth and decline. In particular, under certain assumptions, a reduction in genetic diversity can be interpreted as a reduction in disease incidence. However, the authors of this commentary contend that van Ballegooijen et al.'s interpretation of changes in viral genetic diversity as a measure of hepatitis B vaccine effectiveness has major limitations. Because of the potential use of these methods in future vaccination studies, the authors discuss the utility of these methods and the data requirements needed for them to be convincing. First, data sets should be large enough to provide sufficient epidemiologic-scale resolution. Second, data need to reflect sufficiently fine-grained temporal sampling. Third, other processes that can potentially influence genetic diversity and confuse demographic inferences should be considered.