Julie's Weekend was a Digital film and web site exhibited as a video projection and web site at ZKM, Centre for Art and Media, Karlsruhe, Germany in The Future Cinema Show. It was a collaborative project initiated, written, edited and produced by Myers. The method was one of artistic collaboration in which Myers invited 5 participants from Prague, Sydney, London, New York, Florence, Jakarta and Hong Kong to respond to her set of instructions posted on the project web site.

Julie's Weekend investigated the role of the World Wide Web as a tool to generate creative exchange. Myers used on-line technology to expand models of collaboration, and extend the debate surrounding the politics of authorship, subjectivity and cultural difference. In particular it made a contribution to models of collaboration and interactivity.

Julie's Weekend was commissioned by The Arts Council of England and DA2 (a digital funding agency) in Bristol.

It was also exhibited at: 'A History of Web Cinema', Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art - Helsinki – 02; Hong Kong Biennial – 02; DA2/Watershed - Bristol – 02

Artists screenings and talks were given at Hong Kong Biennale (2002); Sierre School of Art, Switzerland (2002); First Site Gallery, Colchester (2002); British Film Institute, London (2002); The Academy of Fine Art, Prague (2004)

500 DVD copies were produced and distributed through DA2.

The total budget for Julie's Weekend funded by The Arts Council of England and DA2 was £9,000.

As a result of Julie's Weekend Myers was awarded a small AHRC grant (£5,000) which enabled her to develop two future projects – Love and Adventure (2003) and Elsewhere In Between (2006). These projects were funded by ACE and Signals Media Arts, Colchester, FACT, Liverpool, NESTA and supported by British Telecom.

Hosted online at http://www.julie9.org


The annual Office for National Statistics (ONS) Pink Book contains estimates of the balance of payments of the United Kingdom. The presentation of the accounts is based on the IMF Balance of Payments Manual 5th edition (BPM5).


Purpose In the current targeted therapy era, information on the effect of smoking in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung cancer patients is scarce. Results In total, 11,678 adenocarcinoma patients were enrolled. Of these, 33.3% and 91.8% of male and female patients were non-smokers, respectively. An increased amount of smoking (P < 0.001 for trend), fewer smoke-free years (P < 0.001 for trend), and younger age of smoking initiation (P = 0.034 for trend) were all associated with significantly lower EGFR mutation rates. Smokers had a shorter median overall survival (OS) among both EGFR-mutant and EGFR-wild type patients (17.8 vs. 21.1 months, and 7.9 vs. 11.4 months respectively; both P < 0.001). Among patients with EGFR-mutant adenocarcinoma, younger smokers were associated with shorter OS (P = 0.047). In multivariate analysis, female gender was an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio: 0.86 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.80–0.93]; P < 0.001 in the EGFR-mutant group and 0.88 [95% CI: 0.81–0.96]; P = 0.004 in the EGFR-wild type group). Materials and Methods We reviewed the National Lung Cancer database (Taiwan) to assess the impact of smoking on the EGFR mutation rate and survival in advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients during 2011 and 2014 retrospectively. Conclusions Smoking was associated with lower incidence of EGFR mutation rate and reduced OS of advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients in a dose-dependent manner. In addition to EGFR mutation and smoking, gender also plays an important role in survival among these patients.


An irreversible Ericsson refrigeration cycle model is established, in which multi-irreversibilities such as finite-rate heat transfer, regenerative loss, heat leakage, and the efficiency of the regenerator are taken into account. Expressions for several important performance parameters, such as the cooling rate, coefficient of performance (COP), power input, exergy output rate, entropy generation rate, and ecological function are derived. The influences of the heat leakage and the time of the regenerative processes on the ecological performance of the refrigerator are analyzed. The optimal regions of the ecological function, cooling rate, and COP are determined and evaluated. Furthermore, some important parameter relations of the refrigerator are revealed and discussed in detail. The results obtained here have general significance and will be helpful in gaining a deep understanding of the magnetic Ericsson refrigeration cycle.


OBJECTIVES
We compared the strength of association between average 5-year county-level mortality rates and area-level measures, including air quality, sociodemographic characteristics, violence, and economic distress.

METHODS
. We obtained mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System and linked it to socioeconomic and demographic data from the Census Bureau, air quality data, violent crime statistics, and loan delinquency data. We modeled 5-year average mortality rates (1998-2002) for all-cause, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory diseases as a function of county-level characteristics using ordinary least squares regression models. We limited analyses to counties with population of 100,000 or greater (n = 458).

RESULTS
Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, particularly the percentage older than 65 years and near poor, were top predictors of all-cause and condition-specific mortality, as were a high concentration of construction and service workers. We found weaker associations for air quality, mortgage delinquencies, and violent crimes. Protective characteristics included the percentage of Hispanics, Asians, and married residents.

CONCLUSIONS
Multiple factors influence county-level mortality. Although county demographic and socioeconomic characteristics are important, there are independent, although weaker, associations of other environmental characteristics. Future studies should investigate these factors to better understand community mortality risk.


A silver-based organic salt, silver bis(trifluoromethane-sulfonyl)imide (AgTFSI), was employed as an effective p-type dopant for the triarylamine-based organic hole-transport material Spiro-MeOTAD, which has been successfully applied in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (ssDSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of AgTFSI-doped devices improved by 20%, as compared to the device based on the commonly used oxygen doping both for ssDSCs and PSCs. Moreover, the solid-state dye-sensitized devices exposed to AgTFSI as dopant showed considerably better stability than those of oxygen doped, qualifying this p-type dopant as a promising alterative for the preparation of highly efficient as well as stable ssDSCs and PSCs for the future.


Chemical signals released by one organism and perceived by another organism are classified as semiochemicals. Semiochemicals are divided into pheromones, which elicit intraspecific responses, and allelochemics, which elicit interspecific responses. Nematodes utilize and (or) recognize signals from both categories of semiochemicals. The existence of pheromones, specifically sex and aggregation pheromones, has been demonstrated in numerous plant and animal parasitic and free-living nematodes. Sex pheromones have been isolated and purified from Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and Heterodera glycines, and epidietic pheromones have been shown to be responsible for initiation of dauer juvenile formation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Allelochemics cause interspecific responses in insects and other invertebrates but are only postulated to occur in nematodes. Food-finding behavior of nematodes is almost certainly caused by host-released allelochemic messengers. Understanding of the behavioral responses and the chemical messengers that affect bioregulation of various processes in nematodes will influence future management strategies.


Presently, industrial movement more complex, Indonesia one of nation that just grown dealing with globalization and world trade in Pacific Asian. This compete require the industrial to achieve more satisfaction, specification and standard, according the legal author in international trading. Outsourcing more become known and also strategic weapon for eliminate the employee and saving more money and timed but the company still can focus to the bottom line on business. It is true that Outsourcing is majorly effected to the labour, some also reacting normally, and refusing, some also many labour feel anxiety for this situation. Anxiety can be generated from the respon mental tension against condition and from respon of uncertainly feeling. The aim of this study is to see and identified how anxiety level that happened to outsourcing labour, we expect that our study can give some input that can meaning a lot for industrial world and other organization. In this study we use kuantitatif descriptive method combine purposive sampling. Which were then analysed data by using Kuantitatif Descriptive. Validation test conducted is Total Correlation Item with Correlation Product Moment by using Dikotomi model. Result of the analysis from this 50 item there is 38 item valid, reliable and pass analysis item, from 30 people as subject study we got result the level of anxiety at outsourcing labour in Hipno Creative Media is high, total for it 16 people (53,3%) differ 2 people (6,6%) from total labour that having anxiety, with low level is 14 people or 46,7 %.


The energy efficiency of network elements is becoming more prominent, with growing concern for Internet power consumption and heat dissipation in datacenters and communications closets. Previous work has looked at energy efficient wireless topologies, network nodes, routers, and protocols. In considering a fresh redesign of the Internet datacenter for energy efficiency, we believe that energy efficient encodings are worthy of study. In this work, we re-examine the choice of Ethernet encoding, develop an associated energy model, evaluate current encodings, and propose new encodings. We found that simpler encodings are more energy efficient, with power savings of around 20% for the best encoding. Our work represents a first step in re-examining the established assumptions and practices of the PHY level of the network stack with respect to energy.


Introduction: Apical root resorption (ARR) is a common condition associated with periapical pathologies which is invariably detected by intraoral periapical radiographs. Although it is common, its distribution in different periapical pathologies has not been assessed so far. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution and severity of ARR in common inflammatory periapical pathologies. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional radiographic study was conducted on 333 patients who visited SEGi Oral Health Centre in the 6-month period of the study. Digital intraoral periapical radiographs of patients with clinically established periapical pathologies were taken. Data were collected using a structured proforma regarding the type of periapical lesions, presence or absence of ARR. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and Chi-square test was applied to check the association between ARR and periapical pathologies. Results: During this study period, 333 patients with inflammatory periapical pathologies were reported. Of which 135 (40.5%) showed definite ARR. Among 135 ARR, 97 (71.9%) were moderate resorption and 38 (28.1%) were severe resorption. ARR was significantly greater in periapical granuloma and cyst (72.8%) followed by periapical abscess (35%) and acute apical periodontitis (18.1%) which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Young adults (40.7%) and male patients (58.5%) had higher ARR compared to old-aged adults and female patients. Conclusion: The presence of ARR is the concern for the infection control in endodontics, as these conditions provide a favorable environment for bacterial colonization and also exact working length determination is difficult as there is altered apical constriction.


To enable general-purpose robots, we will require the robot to operate daily articulated objects as humans do. Current robot manipulation has heavily relied on using a parallel gripper, which restricts the robot to a limited set of objects. On the other hand, operating with a multi-finger robot hand will allow better approximation to human behavior and enable the robot to operate on diverse articulated objects. To this end, we propose a new benchmark called DexArt, which involves Dexterous manipulation with Articulated objects in a physical simulator. In our benchmark, we define multiple complex manipulation tasks, and the robot hand will need to manipulate diverse articulated objects within each task. Our main focus is to evaluate the generalizability of the learned policy on unseen articulated objects. This is very challenging given the high degrees of freedom of both hands and objects. We use Reinforcement Learning with 3D representation learning to achieve generalization. Through extensive studies, we provide new insights into how 3D representation learning affects decision making in RL with 3D point cloud inputs. More details can be found at https://www.chenbao.tech/dexart/.


Private transport is important in enabling older people living in the community to maintain their independence and social networks. Access to this resource remains a major concern for older people. This study examines the demographic risk factors that restrict older people's access to private transport. The findings lead to policy recommendations directed towards self-reliance. Analysis, based on the study's household survey consisting of a sample of noninstitutionalised older Gold Coast people (N=401), reveals that there is a sizable group (29%) who do not drive. Of single older women, 21% report that the inability to drive causes significant hardship. Being female, aged over 80 years, receiving a full government pension and possessing a disability are significant factors to the inability to drive. Within coupled households the preference for male drivers may lead to the depreciation of women's driving skills. Since these women are likely to become widowed, they eventually lose their primary source of transport. Programmes delaying the surrender of licences such as campaigns encouraging married older women not to surrender their driver licences prematurely will alleviate the pressure of the growing demand for government subsidised transport services and promote greater independence among the older people.


Abstract Mass-casualty triage has developed from a wartime necessity to a civilian tool to ensure that constrained medical resources are directed at achieving the greatest good for the most number of people. Several primary and secondary triage tools have been developed, including Simple Treatment and Rapid Transport (START), JumpSTART, Care Flight Triage, Triage Sieve, Sacco Triage Method, Secondary Assessment of Victim Endpoint (SAVE), and Pediatric Triage Tape. Evidence to support the use of one triage algorithm over another is limited, and the development of effective triage protocols is an important research priority. The most widely recognized mass-casualty triage algorithms in use today are not evidence-based, and no studies directly address these issues in the mass-casualty setting. Furthermore, no studies have evaluated existing mass-casualty triage algorithms regarding ease of use, reliability, and validity when biological, chemical, or radiological agents are introduced. Currently, the lack of a standardized mass-casualty triage system that is well validated, reliable, and uniformly accepted, remains an important gap. Future research directed at triage is recognized as a necessity, and the development of a practical, universal, triage algorithm that incorporates requirements for decontamination or special precautions for infectious agents would facilitate a more organized mass-casualty medical response.


Author(s): Torres, Pedro J. | Advisor(s): Kelley, Scott T.; Thackray, Varykina G. | Abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-aged women worldwide. In addition to infertility, many women with PCOS have metabolic abnormalities that result in an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Although the etiology of PCOS is poorly understood, accumulating evidence suggests that androgen excess is an important contributor to the pathogenesis of PCOS. The human large intestine contains a complex community of microorganisms (the gut microbiome) important for human health and disease. Studies have shown that the gut microbiome is altered in humans with metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, and that the gut microbiome may be a causal factor in the development of these disorders. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome has been proposed to factor in the development of PCOS and studies have shown that changes in the gut microbiome are associated with PCOS in women and in rodent models. However, it is unknown if the gut microbiome plays a causal role in the PCOS phenotype. For this dissertation I used human fecal samples and a letrozole-induced PCOS mouse model together with 16S rRNA gene sequencing to further our understanding of the effects of androgen excess and the role of the gut microbiome in PCOS. Using human fecal samples and patient clinical parameters, the results in chapter 1 suggest that androgen excess may play a critical role in altering the gut microbiome in women with PCOS. Since there is considerable variation in the human gut microbiome due to differences in diet and ethnicity, chapters 2 and 3 used a PCOS mouse model to gain more insight into the pathophysiology of PCOS. The results from chapter 2 indicate that dysregulation of the metabolism and gut microbiome in PCOS may be influenced by the timing of androgen exposure. Lastly, the results from chapter 3 showed that exposure to a healthy gut microbiome improved the metabolic and reproductive phenotype in a PCOS mouse model. Overall, these results suggest that modulating the composition of the gut microbiome may be a potential treatment option for women with PCOS.


Abstract. Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are a major concern throughout High Mountain Asia, where societal impacts can extend far downstream. This is
particularly true for transboundary Himalayan basins, where risks are expected to further increase as new lakes develop. Given the need for
anticipatory approaches to disaster risk reduction, this study aims to demonstrate how the threat from a future lake can be feasibly assessed
alongside that of worst-case scenarios from current lakes, as well as how this information is relevant for disaster risk management. We have focused on two previously identified dangerous lakes (Galongco and Jialongco), comparing the timing and magnitude of simulated worst-case outburst events from these lakes both in the Tibetan town of Nyalam and downstream at the border with Nepal. In addition, a future scenario has been assessed, whereby an avalanche-triggered GLOF was simulated for a potential large new lake forming upstream of Nyalam. Results show that large (>20×106 m3) rock and/or ice avalanches could generate GLOF discharges at the border with Nepal that are more than 15 times larger than what has been observed previously or anticipated based on more gradual breach simulations. For all assessed lakes, warning times in Nyalam would be only 5–11 min and 30 min at the border. Recent remedial measures undertaken to lower the water level at Jialongco would have little influence on downstream impacts resulting from a very large-magnitude GLOF, particularly in Nyalam where there has been significant development of infrastructure directly within the high-intensity flood zone. Based on these findings, a comprehensive approach to disaster risk management is called for, combining early warning systems with effective land use zoning and programmes to build local response capacities. Such approaches would address the current drivers of GLOF risk in the basin while remaining robust in the face of worst-case, catastrophic outburst events that become more likely under a warming climate.


Aluminum casting alloys with silicon as the major alloying elements are the most important commercial casting alloys because of their superior casting characteristics. This study aimed to investigate solidification and mechanical behavior of AlSi alloy against both the molding conditions and silicon content (3%15% Si). Grain size analysis and x-ray diffraction of the alloys have been studied. Tribological experiments have been carried out by using a pin on disc tribometer to investigate the effect of the alloying element content and the molding conditions on the wear resistance and the coefficient of friction of the alloy. The results showed that. With the increasing of silicon content the solidification time increased, as also a decrease of the liquidus temperature was observed up to 12% and then increased with increasing Si%. However, an increase of both the ultimate tensile strength and the hardness is obtained by the increase of the silicon content. With the increase of silicon content the wear rate decrease and coefficient of friction increase. Index Term-Solidification, eutectic temperature, wear, friction.


This study reveals the ABA as systematically giving lower ratings to Republican circuit court nominees, although no similar bias appears to exist for district court nominees. The data shows how important it is to separate the evidence for circuit and district court nominees. This study fits in with my previous research showing that it is the brightest nominees who face the most difficult time getting confirmed. One difference with earlier findings is that the biases seem to be hidden and are worse than looking at the averages across administrations. For example, the oldest Republican nominees, who will not be on the court for long, receive the highest ratings. The reverse is true for Democratic nominees. Similarly, the research explains why Republican nominees tend to get their lowest evaluations from the ABA when the Democrats control the Senate. Another factor that stands out is that Republican nominees who have written opinion pieces suffer large much lower ratings than Democrats who have done the same thing.


ABSTRACT How compaction can yield a progressive decrease in the permeability and pore structure of carbonate grainstones is not well documented. In this study, the destruction of permeability by compaction relative to early cementation is examined in forty-five shallow-buried (30-440 m) grainstones with a range in permeability of 12 to 5180 md. Compaction and cementation indices calculated from thin-section point-count data indicate a group of grainstones dominated by cementation and another by compaction. Log-linear cross plots of permeability versus these indices suggest that permeability loss in these two groups occurs by different processes. The nature of those processes is elucidated by capillary pressure data and the distribution of cement and compaction fabrics as a function of permeability. As cement abundance increases in the cement-dominated samples, a continuous distribution of cement develops along grain surfaces, which is followed by the development of partial and then complete pore-filling mosaics. Permeability is progressively reduced with this succession of cement fabrics and an increasingly greater percentage of pore space is positioned behind progressively smaller throats. Permeability loss results from porosity reduction, progressive constriction of pore throats, and increased tortuosity of flow paths. Once permeability is reduced to tens of millidarcies, effective pore radii are all less than 1 µm and many are less than 0.1 µm, but there is no evidence for complete blocking of all pore throats in this suite of samples. In absolute terms, the pore-lining cements reduce permeability by thousands of millidarcies whereas the pore-filling cements reduce permeability only by hundreds of millidarcies. Mechanical compaction is the dominant cause of permeability reduction between 5000 and about 500 md in the compaction-dominated samples. Linear grain contacts and embayed grains become more abundant and close to overly close packing textures become more homogeneously distributed as permeability decreases. However, there is no concurrent change in the amount of pore space accessed by large or small throats, indicating that mechanical compaction does not uniformly constrict or seal pore throats. Instead, the data suggest that mechanical compaction reduces permeability by reducing porosity, lengthening pore throats, and increasing tortuosity. At about 500 md the compaction-dominated trend steepens on the log-linear plot of permeability versus porosity, a change that corresponds to the development of grain-to-grain pressure solution. Unlike mechanical compaction, grain-to-grain pressure solution constricts and eliminates pore throats and isolates pore space, resulting in a loss of large throats and an increase in the amount of pore volume accessed by small throats. In contrast to cement-dominated samples, the most effective pore radii are still greater than 1 µm at tens of millidarcies of permeability. Such low amounts of permeability can be reached even when pressure solution is not pervasively distributed throughout a sample.


Objective: To investigate the usefulness of PLR in predicting severity and complexity of coronary atherosclerosis as assessed by the SXscore in patients with Non ST elevation myocardial infarction NSTEMI who underwent nonurgent coronary angiography (CA).
Background: In NSTEMI patients, there is a debate whether early angiography and revascularization is beneficial compared with a more conservative approach. Platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is a new prognostic marker that gives idea about inflammation and aggregation pathways and may predict coronary atherosclerotic burden. PLR can be used to select patients who should go under angiography earlier due to excessive ischemic load.
Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 111 consecutive patients who presented with NSTEMI and underwent non-urgent coronary angiography between July 2016 and March 2017. The PLR was calculated as the ratio of the platelet count to the lymphocyte count. The Syntax scores SX of all patients were calculated. A low SX score was defined as ≤ 22, an intermediate score as 23 to 32, and a high score as ≥ 33.
Results: 92 patients (82.8%) had low SX scores (≤ 22), 19 patients (17.1%) had intermediate to high SX scores (≥ 23). Patients in the intermediate to high SX score group had significantly higher PLR 263 (219-366) vs. 117 (82-144.5) p<0.001. In ROC analysis PLR of 178 or lower predicted a low SX score defined as ≤ 22 with a sensitivity of 91.3% and specificity of 100%.
Conclusion: In patients with NSTEMI, PLR has significant association with syntax score and may be used for risk stratification and assessing optimal timing for coronary angiography.


One of the more perplexing problems facing the anesthesiologist is provision of adequate and safe anesthesia for young children who have suffered fractures or large lacerations of the hand and forearm. Most children who receive general anesthesia for major suturing or closed reduction of fractures require hospital admission for at least 8 to 24 hours. This communication is a report of a safe and effective method of handling these procedures on an outpatient basis. A 7-year-old girl, weighing 20 kg (44 lb), was admitted to the operating room from the emergency room for full-thickness free skin graft to the left middle finger from which the tip had been avulsed. She had eaten a large evening meal shortly before the injury was sustained. Though moderately apprehensive, she quickly agreed to "just one needle stick" for anesthesia. Two narrow inflatable tourniquets were placed on the upper arm. A 25-gauge scalp vein needle


The authors present the clinical and cytogenetic studies of a white malformed baby with dup (3p) secondary to the malsegregation of a maternal balanced (X;3) (p22.3;p21) translocation. Besides the typical clinical features he also presented polydactyly of both hands. X-replication findings of the mother's lymphocytes did not strictly follow the usual inactivation pattern of balanced X;A translocations.


A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc) DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE


As an energy efficient technology that generates electricity and captures the heat that would otherwise be wasted to provide useful thermal energy, combined heat and power (CHP) hybrid energy systems have been widely used in the U.S. In the presented study, a two-stage co-design optimization model for CHP-based hybrid energy systems is developed. By applying a mixed integer programming (MIP) method, the optimization is performed from the operational and design perspectives. Six components: CHP, boiler, heat recover unit (HRU), thermal storage system (TS), power storage system (ES), and photovoltaic (PV) are considered in the CHP-based microgrids. During the optimization process, the cost-based optimal component design solutions are firstly obtained by minimizing the total installation costs of the components. The optimal operational strategy is further attained based on the component design by minimizing the costs from production, operation and maintenance, startup, and unsatisfied load. In the end, non-disruptive and disruptive scenarios are considered in the case study to testify to the model's effectiveness in co-design and reliability improvement.


The split between the United States and "Old" Europe over Iraq has had reverberations far beyond the chambers of the UN Security Council. The clash had a divisive impact on relations between NATO and the European Union, as well as within the organizations themselves. As NATO evolves from an organization centered on collective defense into one that focuses on collective security, and the European Union tries to achieve the last prerequisites of a sovereign state through the development of a Common Foreign and Security Policy, the rift created by the differences over Iraq undermines the overlapping interests of the two organizations in their efforts to adjust to the end of the bipolar order of the Cold War. In November 2002, NATO invited seven countries to join the alliance--the same seven who were invited, along with three other states, to join the European Union. For both organizations, the addition of new members is vital to their continued growth and evolution, the analysis of which is the most significant contribution of Zoltan Barany's The Future of NATO Expansion: Four Case Studies. In his distinctive case studies of Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, and Bulgaria, Barany argues that these countries regard NATO membership as a prelude to joining the European Union. These countries, particularly Romania, are acquiring an additional significance as many in the US security establishment now believe they will be the sites to which the United States and Europe will redeploy forces currently in Germany and Italy. The analysis of the domestic political, economic, and military situation in these countries during the period roughly from 1989 to the present is helpful to any student of Central and Eastern European affairs. Information on mid-rank countries outside the political and cultural centers of Western Europe is difficult to find for those who are not familiar with their languages, but Barany has used his broad knowledge of these languages to gain unmediated access to officials and gather his own data. Indeed, his argument for the selection of the case studies is that not only were they turned down for NATO membership in 1997, but that they are the "least studied" of all applicants for membership. Barany notes that he was himself an opponent of the early round of post-Cold War expansion of NATO to the so-called Visegrad countries of the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. The assimilation of these countries would unnecessarily provoke Russia, he reasoned, and the admitted countries would contribute little substantive military resources. They would be "free riders," likely to become sources of increased vulnerability for the alliance. Having changed his opinion on the matter, Barany has assembled the rare data by which the readiness of these four countries to join NATO can be assessed. Although Barany believes that membership should not be granted until the countries meet NATO's criteria for democracy, economic well-being, and military competence, he also notes that some of the charter members themselves may not yet have met these conditions. After reviewing the arguments for and against expansion before the first round of negotiations took place, Barany lays out a clear framework for the study of each country, including domestic politics, relations with both NATO and Russia, civil-military relations, and the military situation. The first case study is Slovakia, the one Visegrad country that was initially omitted in the first round of expansion. Economic troubles, close relations with Russia even several years after the breakup of the Warsaw Pact, and resentment toward the NATO bombing campaign in Serbia all worked against its admission. …


This study deals with the implementation of Round Table Technique (RTT) to
improve students' speaking skill in the eighth grade of SMPN 3 Bandar Lampung in
the academic year of 2016/2017. RTT is one of cooperative learning technique which
led the students to work together in a small group by taking turns in a round table.
The objectives of this research was to find out whether RTT is effective to improve
students' speaking skill and to measure how far the significant effectiveness of
students' speaking skill before and after teaching speaking using RTT.
This research applied quasi experimental research. The object of the research was two
classes in the eighth grade of SMPN3 Bandar Lampung. The object was selected by
using cluster random sampling from 187 of population in six classes. The first class is
VIII E as the experimental group and the second class is VIII C as the control group.
The data collected from the score of pre-test and post-test after the treatment. In
collecting the data, test had been used in this research. The Instrument of this research
was an oral test.
From the data analysis, it was found that the results obtained in the independent
sample t-test, that the value of significant generated Sig.(Pvalue) = 0.002 < α = 0.05.
So, Ha is accepted and Ho is rejected. Based on the computation, it can be concluded
that there was asignificant influence of using Round Table Technique to improve
students'speaking skill at the second semester of the eighth grade of SMPN 3 Bandar
Lampung in the academic year 2016/2017.
Key Words : speaking skill, round table technique, quasi experimental


BACKGROUND
Traumatic coagulopathy is thought to be caused primarily by fluid administration and hypothermia.

METHODS
A retrospective study was performed to determine whether coagulopathy resulting from the injury itself is a clinically important entity in severely injured patients.

RESULTS
One thousand eight hundred sixty-seven consecutive trauma patients were reviewed, of whom 1,088 had full data sets. Median Injury Severity Score was 20, and 57.7% had an Injury Severity Score > 15; 24.4% of patients had a significant coagulopathy. Patients with an acute coagulopathy had significantly higher mortality (46.0% vs. 10.9%; chi2, p < 0.001). The incidence of coagulopathy increased with severity of injury, but was not related to the volume of intravenous fluid administered (r2 = 0.25, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION
There is a common and clinically important acute traumatic coagulopathy that is not related to fluid administration. This is a marker of injury severity and is related to mortality. A coagulation screen is an important early test in severely injured patients.


This book provides readers with the most up-to-date information on cutting-edge research concerning chronic inflammation. We now know that when inflammation becomes chronic, it acts as a strong disease-promoting factor in a variety of disorders including arteriosclerosis, obesity, cancer, and Alzheimer disease. Chronic inflammation is hence called as the silent killer ; it upsets the body s homeostatic mechanism insidiously. In spite of these developments, we know very little about the mechanism underlying chronic inflammation. Particularly, we do not know precisely what induces chronic inflammation or what promotes its prolongation in a spatiotemporal framework. Neither do we have clear knowledge about how chronic inflammation destroys various tissues or how it predisposes individuals to many different diseases. To make the situation worse, we have no effective treatment against chronic inflammation. Since 2010, two major research programs (CREST and PRESTO) aimed at clarifying the mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation were launched in Japan, and investigators of different research areas with a brilliant track record were selected by their research proposals. Subsequently they have made their best efforts to answer the conundrum concerning chronic inflammation. This book is a compendium of such research efforts. In each chapter, the CREST- or PRESTO-funded researchers summarize their original work concerning mechanisms of induction, progression, or resolution underlying chronic inflammation. The most emphasized characteristic is the molecular aspect of chronic inflammation. The book thus presents the most recent progress made in the molecular understanding of chronic inflammation


Abstract The purpose of this commentary is to identify the key differences between the term Habilitation and Rehabilitation. Using historical and contemporary understandings, this commentary aims to disentangle these two terms from a developmental perspective. It is argued that these two concepts are distinct and should be appropriately reflected in international literature and practice.


Increasingly, nonprofit organizations' (NPOs) requests for assistance to large organizations are subject to formal processes and are being scrutinized more rigorously in terms of how they fit with the firm's corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy and the satisfaction of stakeholder needs. This screening and evaluation process is often performed by the corporate giving manager and we suggest stakeholder‐agency theory is the most appropriate theoretical lens to capture the pressures and influences of stakeholders on corporate giving managers and their decision making processes. NPOs, which best market the benefits of a corporate giving relationship in terms of how they satisfy stakeholder concerns, may significantly improve their chances of success. Several research directions are identified for future investigation.


Background : The interactions between kidney and thyroid functions have been known for many years; oxidative damage has been proposed as one of the possible mechanism involved in the nephrotic syndrome (NS). This study was done to find out the thyroid function of nephrotic children during nephrosis and to compare any significant changes of thyroid function status during nephrosis and remission in relation to oxidative stress markers. Patients and Methods: The study included 60 patients with steroid responsive NS (SRNS) and 30 children with matched age and sex as control. Cases were divided into three groups as follow, Group A: Include 35 patients with SRNS in relapse. Group B: Include 25 patients with SRNS in remission for periods ranging from 3 to 9 months, and not receiving steroid therapy. Group C: Include 30 children with matched age and sex as control. Methods: A thorough history and examinations, total serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine (TT4 and TT3) as well as serum free T4 (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and assessment of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels as an oxidative stress markers were measured in all studied groups. Results: Serum TSH was significantly higher in patients with SRNS in relapse in comparison with patients with SRNS in remission and with control group (P < 0.001 in both), we found a significant decrease in TT4 and FT4 and TT3 and FT3 (FT3) concentrations in patients with SRNS in relapse in comparison with both cases with SRNS in remission and control group (P < 0.001 in both). MDA levels were significantly elevated, while TAC level was significantly decreased in patients with SRNS in relapse in comparison with patients with SRNS in remission and with control group (P < 0.001 in both). There was a positive correlation between serum TSH and plasma MDA and a negative correlation with FT4. Conclusions: The development of hypothyroidism in children with SRNS is associated with alteration in oxidant and antioxidant status. The biochemical hypothyroid state in relapse phase is temporary and improves with remission.


In the recent era, computational intelligence techniques have found an increased popularity in addressing varied financial issues, including foreign exchange rate prediction. This article, through an intelligent system research framework, relates the Australian dollar (AUD)/US dollar (USD) exchange rate to the Australian and the US stock market indices. Information for exchange rate, All Ordinaries Index (AOI) and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) for the trading days over the period January 1991–May 2011 is considered in this research. Utilizing a set of statistical and computational intelligence techniques, the research establishes that the AUD/USD exchange rate is best estimated by a linear forecast model compared with the nonlinear and ensemble-based intelligent system models. This research further highlights that, among the competing linear models, the model with both the stock market indices and historical exchange rate values as the predictors is the best forecaster. Parameters of the linear model are deduced through a Monte Carlo stochastic approach. Relative importance of the predictors is also studied, and the influence of historical exchange rates, the immediate impact of AOI and the lagged effect of DJI are noted. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


A 0.8–4.2 GHz monolithic all-digital PLL based frequency synthesizer for wireless communications is successfully realized by the 130 nm CMOS process. A series of novel methods are proposed in this paper. Two band DCOs with high frequency resolution are utilized to cover the frequency band of interest, which is as wide as 2.5 to 5 GHz. An overflow counter is proposed to prevent the "pulse-swallowing" phenomenon so as to significantly reduce the locking time. A NTW-clamp digital module is also proposed to prevent the overflow of the loop control word. A modified programmable divider is presented to prevent the failure operation at the boundary. The measurement results show that the output frequency range of this frequency synthesizer is 0.8–4.2 GHz. The locking time achieves a reduction of 84% at 2.68 GHz. The best in-band and out-band phase noise performances have reached −100 dBc/Hz, and −125 dBc/Hz respectively. The lowest reference spur is −58 dBc.


Plant monitoring and diagnosis are usually integrated as one process to detect and isolate suspect symptoms and use these symptoms to find the root cause of the failure. The research reported here enables two new plant monitoring and diagnosis frameworks/architectures, each of which employs multiple fuzzy rule-based systems in parallel and in sequence. By employing fuzzy sets and by constructing a decision concerning the normalcy of system behavior in stages, we are able to exploit far more information contained in the signals (one signal per sensor). The paper focuses on a new transient identification scheme using fuzzy logic. A fuzzy rule based transient identification system is implemented in MATLAB. The experiments demonstrate how traditional features such as WOLP and HAS, for transient identification can be fuzzified to improve the efficiency and performance of traditional classifiers used for the same purpose.


In the optimization of turbomachinery components, shape sensitivities for fluid dynamical objective functions have been used for a long time. As peak stress is not a differential func- tional of the shape, such highly efficient procedures so far have been missing for objective functionals that stem from mechan- ical integrity. This changes, if deterministic lifing criteria are replaced by probabilistic criteria, which have been introduced recently to the field of low cycle fatigue (LCF). Here we present a finite element (FEA) based first discretize, then adjoin approach to the calculation of shape gradients (sen- sitivities) for the failure probability with regard to probabilistic LCF and apply it to simple and complex geometries, as e.g. a blisk geometry. We review the computation of failure probabilities with a FEA postprocessor and sketch the computation of the relevant quantities for the adjoint method. We demonstrate high accuracy and computational efficiency of the adjoint method compared to finite difference schemes. We discuss implementation details for rotating components with cyclic boundary conditions. Finally, we shortly comment on future development steps and on poten- tial applications in multi criteria optimization.


This paper was presented at the International Seminar on "State-of-the-Art Research in Science and Mathematics Education in Southeast Asia and the Pacific", held in Penang, Malaysia from 17-19 Feb 1992


This study creates a keen impression of the E-Learning as a veritable tool for preparing vocational educators for effective teaching in colleges of education. E-learning or electronic learning, is education based on modern methods of communication including the computer and its networks, various audio-visual materials, search engines, electronic libraries and websites, whether accomplished in the classroom or at a distance. Generally speaking, this type of education is delivered through the medium of the World Wide Web where the educational institution makes its programmes and materials available on a special website in such a manner that students are able to make use of them and interact with them with ease through closed or shared networks, or the internet and through use of e-mail and online discussion groups. The findings of this study will be of benefit to me following bodies: vocational educators, students, government, school management, parent, business organization and researchers. One hundred vocational teachers drawn from three colleges of education in Lagos State of Nigeria constituted the population and seventy five vocational teachers were used as sample for the study. The study was guided by two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated. The study utilized a validated four structured questionnaire with reliability co-efficient of 0.80 using Crombachy Alpha reliability test. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze data collected in order to answer the research questions while the null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using Z-test statistics. It was found out from findings that education in Nigeria cannot be relevant without effective preparation of new generation of students to effectively use the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in their professional practices while, lack of fund to procure necessary technology for e-learning by vocational teachers also serve as hindrance to effective teaching of vocational education courses in colleges of education in Nigeria. It was recommended among others that vocational teachers, educators and students must change their mindset by seeing knowledge about e-technology as learning that cannot be avoided if they must fit in and survive in the current etechnological race. Keywords— E-learning, Vocational Educators, Effective Teaching, Audio-Visual Materials, Websites.


OBJECTIVE
Breathing exercises after cardiac surgery are often performed in a sitting position. It is unknown whether oxygenation would be better in the standing position. The aim of this study was to evaluate oxygenation and subjective breathing ability during sitting vs standing performance of deep breathing exercises on the second day after cardiac surgery.

METHODS
Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 189) were randomized to sitting (controls) or standing. Both groups performed 3 × 10 deep breaths with a positive expiratory pressure device. Peripheral oxygen saturation was measured before, directly after, and 15 min after the intervention. Subjective breathing ability, blood pressure, heart rate, and pain were assessed.

RESULTS
Oxygenation improved significantly in the standing group compared with controls directly after the breathing exercises (p < 0.001) and after 15 min rest (p = 0.027). The standing group reported better deep breathing ability compared with controls (p = 0.004). A slightly increased heart rate was found in the standing group (p = 0.047).

CONCLUSION
After cardiac surgery, breathing exercises with positive expiratory pressure, performed in a standing position, significantly improved oxygenation and subjective breathing ability compared with sitting performance. Performance of breathing exercises in the standing position is feasible and could be a valuable treatment for patients with postoperative hypoxaemia.


Objectives Our aim was to assess the cross-sectional associations between food insecurity and cardiometabolic health indicators in American Indian young adults compared with non-Hispanic white, black, Asian or Pacific Islander and Hispanic young adults. Design Data from the fourth wave of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) were used. Variables included a self-assessed measure of risk of food insecurity, indicators of cardiometabolic health (body mass index, haemoglobin A1c, blood pressure) and sociodemographic characteristics. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the association of risk of food insecurity with cardiometabolic health, while controlling for sociodemographic variables. All analyses were weighted and accounted for the complex survey design. Participants The analytical sample of n=12 799 included mostly non-Hispanic white respondents (n=7900), followed by n=2666 black, n=442 American Indian, n=848 Asian or Pacific Islander and n=943 Hispanic. Results Risk of food insecurity was more common among respondents who were female, Black, American Indian, had lower educational attainment, and were classified as having obesity or diabetes. In unadjusted models, risk of food insecurity was significantly associated with greater odds of obesity (OR=1.39; 95% CI 1.20 to 1.60) and diabetes (OR=1.61; 95% CI 1.23 to 2.11). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors (age, sex, education, income, household size, tobacco smoking, alcohol intake and race/ethnicity), only the association between risk of food insecurity and obesity remained (OR=1.19; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.38). Relationships among risk of food insecurity, sociodemographic characteristics and diabetes varied across models stratified by race and ethnicity. Conclusions Results suggest that elevated risk of food insecurity is present in young American Indian adults, but its relationship with cardiometabolic health is unclear. Future work should capitalise on longitudinal data and the US Department of Agriculture's Food Security Survey Modules.


We demonstrate an optically pumped semiconductor disk laser operating at 1580 nm with 4.6 W of output power, which represents the highest output power reported from this type of laser. 1 W of output power at 785 nm with nearly diffraction-limited beam has been achieved from this laser through intracavity frequency doubling, which offers an attractive alternative to Ti:sapphire lasers and laser diodes in a number of applications, e.g., in spectroscopy, atomic cooling and biophotonics.


This thesis presents my work on the fabrication of nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) thin film transistors and characterization of their stability under different conditions. Nc-Si transistors are promising alternative to the current amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) devices, especially in areas where a-Si:H TFTs are reaching the performance ceiling, e.g. new large area applications such as active matrix organic light emitting diode displays (AMOLED). This is mostly due to the superior nc-Si properties – high carrier mobility and good electrical stability stemming from the crystalline Si grains embedded in a disordered a-Si:H matrix. Another large advantage of nc-Si TFTs over competing materials is the full compatibility with the a-Si:H fabrication base. Nanocrystalline silicon is a relatively new material and some aspects require further investigation before industrial applications. The pool of knowledge on nc-Si devices is especially shallow for the electrical stability of bottom gate TFTs under prolonged illumination which is important for several thin film applications, such as AMOLED and phototransistors. This issue was selected as the main topic of the thesis. Top gate TFTs were also designed, fabricated, characterized and compared to the bottom gate transistors. The electrically detected magnetic resonance method was employed to investigate the nc-Si/dielectric structures and it was shown that it can be used to evaluate the TG TFT channel/dielectric interface.


Suprascapular neuropathy is often overlooked as a cause for shoulder pain in overhead athletes and can be misdiagnosed for many months, even years. With recent advancements in the understanding of the condition as well as its treatment methods, suprascapular neuropathy is now being diagnosed more frequently. However with a multitude of treatment options, it can be difficult to choose the optimal management. In this systematic review, we have carried out a detailed literature search about suprascapular neuropathy looking into evidence-based diagnostic workup and treatment modalities available. Repetitive overhead activities, rotator cuff tear and direct compression of the nerve by space-occupying lesion are important etiologies for suprascapular neuropathy. Whilst MRI is widely used for the identification of space-occupying lesions and rotator cuff injury; Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) remain gold standards for confirming injury to the nerve. Conservative treatment modalities including physiotherapy and activity modification, nerve blocks, arthroscopic and open surgical interventions are the main treatment options for suprascapular neuropathy.


Library resources for TECH 1325, "Energy for Society", a course with an overview of available sources of energy for 21st century and their consumption, and conservation strategies to maintain a sustainable society.


It has been assumed that impaired intellectual capacity could act as a buffer to suicidality in the population of persons with intellectual disability (ID), developmental disability or mental retardation. The few studies conducted contest this assumption and in fact findings show that the characteristics of suicidality in that population were very similar to that in persons without intellectual disability. This paper reviews the studies conducted and describes the symptomatology in this population, risk factors, screening and intervention. Professionals working with this population should therefore be aware of and assess for this behavior, since in one study it was found that many caregivers were unaware of suicidality in their clients. Only two studies had systematically examined differences between suicidal and non-suicidal individuals with ID with regard to risk factors. Risk factors found were history of prior psychiatric hospitalization, comorbid physical disabilities, loneliness, sadness, depression or anxiety. There is limited research on intervention for suicidal behavior in the ID population, but professionals should consider risk factors for suicide in this population and intervene when suicidal risk/behavior is found.


We suggest a simple grand unified theory where the fifth dimensional coordinate is compactified on an S/(Z2 × Z ′ 2) orbifold. This model contains additional 10 + 10, (15 + 15) and two 24 Higgs multiplets in the non-supersymmetric SU(5) grand unified theory. Although this model is non-supersymmetric theory, the gauge coupling unification is realized due to the mass splittings of Higgs multiplets by S/(Z2 × Z ′ 2) orbifolding. The constraints from the b → sγ, μ → eγ, and electron and muon anomalous magnetic moments are also discussed.


Eccentric contractions, the lengthening of muscle while producing force, are a common part of our everyday movements. This study presents a challenge to the accepted notion that eccentric work causes obligatory muscle injury while demonstrating that an increase in muscle strength, via eccentric work, can occur with little demand for oxygen. Nine healthy subjects, ages 18-34, were randomly placed in either an eccentric or a concentric training group. Both groups trained for 6 wk while progressively increasing training frequency and duration. Significant gains in isometric leg strength were seen in the eccentrically trained subjects only. While training, the oxygen consumption required to do the eccentric work was equal to or less than that required to do the concentric work. The results demonstrate that by progressively increasing the eccentric work rate, significant isometric strength gains can be made without muscle injury and with minimal increase in metabolic demand for oxygen. The potential clinical implications of an eccentric training program that uncouples skeletal muscle strength improvements from the demand for oxygen are alluring.


ABSTRACT Sipiso-Piso Waterfall is part of the Lake Toba area which is included in the Indonesian National Tourism Strategy Area. This study aims to determine the characteristics of visitors and the economic value of Sipiso-piso Waterfall. Economic assessments are carried out based on the travel costs incurred by visitors to the natural attractions they enjoy and willingness to pay. This research was conducted by distributing questionnaires to visitors then analyzed with descriptive. Visitors to Sipiso-piso Waterfall natural attractions are dominated by young people (18-30 years), with an education level equivalent to high school, working in the private sector, income levels of 1-4 million per month and are visitors who have no dependents or single . Some visitors come from Karo Regency, Medan City and Pematang Siantar City, come with groups or families. The total travel costs obtained amounted to Rp. 26.4 billion / year and total willingness to pay Rp. 1.2 billion / year. Economic value was obtained at 27.6 billion / year. This shows that the economic value obtained can be taken into consideration by the manager to increase the entrance ticket rate in line with the increase in facilities, facilities and infrastructure.
Keywords: characteristics, travel cost method, waterfall, willingness to pa


After the Chernobyl accident appeared many publications exaggerating its medical consequences. Some of them are discussed in this minireview, which is a continuation of a preceding discussion. Among the motives for the overestimation were anti-nuclear resentments, widespread among the Green movement; however, their attitude has not been entirely wrong: nuclear facilities should have been prevented from spreading to overpopulated countries governed by unstable regimes and regions where conflicts and terrorism cannot be excluded. Nevertheless, we believe that certain Green activists have worked in the interests of the fossil fuel producers. The Chernobyl accident has been exploited to strangulate worldwide development of nuclear energy. Today, there are no alternatives to nuclear power: nonrenewable fossil fuels will probably become more expensive in the long run, contributing to the excessive population growth in the oil-producing countries and poverty in the rest of the world. Worldwide use of nuclear energy will become possible only after a concentration of authority within an efficient international executive based in the most developed countries. This will enable construction of nuclear power plants in optimally suitable places, considering all sociopolitical, geographic, geologic, and other preconditions, quality of working of local workforce, etc.


Computer technology is rapidly infiltrating and changing many aspects of the law. Judicial decision-making has, however, remained largely impervious to technological developments. Sentencing is one of the most controversial, complex and dynamic legal areas. Sentencing law is also fundamentally broken and has resulted in a mass incarceration crisis, which is the most serious sociolegal problem currently afflicting the United States. Despite this, it is also ostensibly one of the areas of law that is most amenable to automated decisionmaking. This is because the relevant variables that inform sentencing decisions are normally clear, especially in circumstances where an offense attracts a presumptive or fixed penalty. In this Article, we examine the desirability of computers, rather than judges, making sentencing decisions. Some disadvantages may be associated with sentencing by computer, including the possibility that there could be less opportunity to adapt penalties to the specific facts of a case than if a judge made the decision. However, if an algorithm is developed and applied in a clear and transparent manner, the benefits of computerized sentencing will outweigh the potential disadvantages. Indeed, we argue that computerized sentencing has the potential to achieve superior outcomes to sentences imposed by judges. In particular, it can lead to greater transparency, predictability and consistency in decision-making, and eliminate the subconscious bias that currently afflicts the decisions of some judges. Moreover, the introduction of computerized sentencing could be the catalyst for a much needed, wide-ranging reassessment of substantive sentencing law, as occurred four decades ago when the United States' sentencing system changed from an indeterminate system to the largely prescriptive process that exists today. A fundamental review of sentencing law would almost inevitably close the gap between sentencing knowledge and practice, thereby resulting in profound community benefits, including enhanced community safety and a reduction in the number of prisoners.


This paper presents the development of an instrumentation system for visualizing and characterizing free radicals in combustion flames. The system combines optical splitting, filtering, intensified imaging and image processing techniques for simultaneous and continuous monitoring of specific flame radicals ( OH*, CN*, CH*, and C2*). Computing algorithms are developed to analyze the images and quantify the radiative characteristics of the radicals. Experimental results are obtained from a gas-fired combustion rig to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system. The information obtained by the system is used to establish relationships between radical characteristics and air-to-fuel ratios of combustion gases, helping to obtain an in-depth understanding of burn characteristics.


Abstract. A growth factor is the ratio of the T-year extreme value to an index extreme value such as the mean of annual maxima. Whereas a record length of ten or more years may suffice to estimate the index variable, it is generally necessary to blend data from several sites if estimates of exceptional extreme values are to be obtained. Methods of rainfall growth estimation are reviewed, including traditional methods which extend frequency curves to long return period by a distributional assumption, and methods which study spatial dependence in extreme rainfalls. It is desirable that estimates at neighbouring sites, and across different durations and return periods, are internally consistent. The review concludes that rather special techniques may be required if this goal of estimation extreme rainfall depth consistently is to be met. The motivation of the Focused Rainfall Growth Extension (FORGEX) method is presented.


This paper reports on the findings of a study carried out on the advanced and elementary teachers' and students' functions and patterns of code-switching in Iranian English classrooms. This concept has not been adequately examined in L2 (second language) classroom contexts than in outdoor natural contexts. Therefore, besides reporting on the findings of the study, the paper also argues for bringing the use of L1 (first language), more narrowly code-switching, into the classroom and emancipating both teachers and students from the shackles of traditional approaches to teaching which were strongly against the process of code-switching and considered it as a debilitative behavior in the classroom. To this end, 60 Iranian students and 30 Iranian teachers were selected to come up with the data of this study which were sought through two sets of questionnaires, one for the teachers and the other for the students. Each one of the participants was given the questionnaire and some time to fill it in based on what he/she has remembered from their classes. Findings revealed that the elementary teachers and students, for most of the functions, ranked higher than their advanced counterparts, which is still quite indicative of the practice of the traditional methods in the classroom. The reasons why it turned out so is in detail explained, and the pedagogical implications are also accordingly examined.


Generational change is believed to be transforming the educational and employment preferences of medical trainees. In this article, we examine generational tensions in interviews with policy leaders and clinicians on workforce issues within one subset of the Australian medical profession: general practitioners who provide care to people with HIV in community settings. Integrating the accounts of policy leaders (n = 24) and clinicians representing the 'first generation' (n = 21) and 'next generation' (n = 23) of clinicians to do this work, shared and divergent perspectives on the role of generational change in shaping professional engagement were revealed. While those engaged in the early response to HIV believed younger clinicians to be less interested in the scientific and political dimensions of HIV care and more concerned about financial security and life balance, the next generation both countered and integrated these beliefs into new ways of conceptualising the value and appeal of this field of medicine. Critical appraisal of the assumptions that underpin generational discourse is essential in appreciating the changing views of providers over time, particularly in fields of medicine which have featured significant historical turning points.


The brain is in a constant state of dynamic change, for example switching between cognitive and behavioural tasks, and between wakefulness and sleep. The brains of people with epilepsy have additional features to their dynamic repertoire, particularly the paroxysmal occurrence of seizures. Substantial effort over decades has produced a detailed description of many human epilepsies and of specific seizure types; in some instances there are known causes, sometimes highly specific such as single gene mutations, but the mechanisms of seizure onset and termination are not known. A large number of in vivo animal models and in vitro models based on animal tissues can generate seizures and seizure-like phenomena. Although in some instances there is much known about the mechanism of seizure onset and termination, across the range of models there is a bewildering range of mechanisms. There is a pressing need to bridge the gap between microscale mechanisms in experimental models and mechanisms of human epilepsies. Computational models of epilepsy have advanced rapidly, allowing dynamic mechanisms to be revealed in a computer model that can then be tested in biological systems. These models are typically simplified, leaving a need to scale up these models to the large scale brain networks in which seizures become manifest. The emerging science of connectomics provides an approach to understanding the large scale brain networks in which normal and abnormal brain functions operate. The stage is now set to couple dynamics with connectomics, to reveal the abnormal dynamics of brain networks which allow seizures to occur.


This study employs an autoregressive distributed lag model to investigate the long-run and short-run economic growth impacts of the public service wage bill in South Africa. The annual time series data used ranges from 1983 to 2019 obtained from the South African Reserve Bank online dataset. The study also controls for other government expenditure items, and gross fixed capital formation. It does not find a negative relationship between wage bill expenditure and economic growth, as is widely assumed. However, the impact of the wage bill even though positive, is significantly small compared to government expenditure on health, social protection, education and investment, indicating a possibility of a crowding-out effect. This is the case in both the short and long run. Recommendations are made for structural reforms aimed at improving spending efficiency and effectively managing the wage bill to ensure that public services are delivered in a fiscally sustainable and cost-effective fashion.


With exponential increase in the effective video streaming in mobile network.There is an increasing need for optimizing the quality of video delivery along mobile network. Exist result shows the poor service quality of video streaming over mobile network such long buffering time and interrupt happen in the streaming video. We propose a new mobile video streaming method using cloud. In cloud we use user-Adaptive Mobile Video Streaming (AMoS) and the User Behavior Oriented Video Pre-Fetching (UBoP). We create private agent for video distribution process. It adjusts her streaming and reduces the traffic using SVC.It shows the social interaction between the mobile users. Video quality based on feedback of link quality. Result shows that the cloud can effectively provide the video streaming and video sharing on network. Efficient perfecting video content done in cloud. Prefetching done based on user resolution and bandwidth.


We propose a principal curve tracing algorithm that uses the gradient and the Hessian of a given density estimate. Curve definition requires the local smoothness of data density and is based on the concept of subspace local maxima. Tracing of the curve is handled through the leading eigenvector where fixed-step updates are used. We also propose an image segmentation algorithm based on the original idea and show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm on a Brainbow dataset.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the performance of children in kindergarten on the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) and their ability to copy letters legibly.

METHOD
Sixty typically developing children in kindergarten aged 64 months to 75 months (30 girls and 30 boys) were administered the VMI and the Scale of Children's Readiness In PrinTing (SCRIPT). The SCRIPT requires children to copy 26 lower case letters and 8 upper case letters from a model.

RESULTS
A significant relationship was found between subjects' performance on the VMI and ability to copy letters legibly. In addition, as subjects' ability to copy the forms on the VMI increased, a concomitant increase in ability to copy letters was also found. There were no gender differences in performance on the VMI or on the SCRIPT:

CONCLUSION
The findings of this study suggest that most children in kindergarten similar to those in this study will be ready for handwriting instruction in the latter part of the kindergarten year.


Purpose
An emphasis on school performance is not just a national issue, but must be examined within the global context. Successful leadership is ensured by school leaders' compliance to a set of basic practices within particular school contexts. The impact of leadership styles on performance, the work environment and job satisfaction is emphasized, while the appropriate leadership style could make teachers more effective in terms of job productivity. The adoption of different leadership styles by school leaders shows positive results with regard to school effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to describe school leadership styles and the influence the styles have on school performance.

Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative approach with a post-positive paradigm was followed. A systematic random sample of 72 secondary schools in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, was selected. The Cronbach's α coefficient, statistical significance (p-values) and effect size (d-values) were calculated, and a factor analysis was conducted.

Findings
The results show a difference between teachers and principals regarding the transformational leadership style. The principals in the high-performing schools were perceived as less passive-avoidant in practice than those in the low-performing schools. A principal manages and leads a school effectively by applying an appropriate leadership style.

Research limitations/implications
For future research, it will be advisable to make use of a mixed-method design. Although the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire addressed numerous aspects of leadership and leadership styles, the "voice" of the respondents lacked. Furthermore, more leadership styles could be investigated in different contexts.

Practical implications
A chosen principal leadership style is not necessarily the best style for this purpose. School principals and teachers interpret leadership styles differently. Communication is therefore important.

Social implications
The principal leadership style is not always necessarily the teachers' and learners' choice. It is important that schools keep up with a constantly changing world.

Originality/value
If school principals and teachers agree upon a specific leadership style, there may be better collaboration which enhances better academic performance as well as effectiveness regarding schools.


ABSTRACT:Existing theoretical frameworks and data collection tools relating to religious freedom suffer from various blind spots, leaving many forms of vulnerability of religiously motivated individuals and communities unobserved. We develop a new approach to observing violations of freedom of religion, informed by human security and with attention to active religious behavior. In a case study of the interactions of actively practicing Christians with crime syndicates in Northeast Mexico, we show that threats at the subnational level may have nothing to do with the quality of national legislation, and that religious freedom may be threatened by non-state actors who need not be religiously motivated. Most importantly, by focusing on religious behavior rather than religious identity, we bring to light the risks people may run because they translate their religiosity into behavior that involuntarily or intentionally challenges local powerholders.


Philosophy of Sport is a branch of Philosophy that seeks to conceptually analyze issues of sport as a human activity. It is concerned with questions and practical debates that arise in the context of sports. This branch of Philosophy originated in Ancient Greece with the advent of the Ancient Olympic Games. It utilizes non-empirical methods of philosophers to examine sport issues. The issues of sport fall in three philosophical categories that include metaphysics, ethics and moral philosophy, as well as political philosophy. Specifically, important questions that are explored in Philosophy of Sport relate to the nature, value, social virtues and morality in sports. Other related areas include mind-body holism, sexuality and gender, amateurism and professionalism, as well as the logic of rules in sport. By addressing questions in these areas, a better understanding of sport can be realized. This paper therefore, traces the historical development of Philosophy of Sport as an academic discipline and sheds light on the areas of philosophical debate in modern sport.


Intersubband polaritons are light-matter excitations originating from the strong coupling between an intersubband quantum well electronic transition and a microcavity photon mode. In this paper we study how the Coulomb electron-electron interaction and the Pauli saturation of the electronic transitions affect the physics of intersubband polaritons. We develop a microscopic many-body theory for the physics of such composite bosonic excitations in a microcavity-embedded two-dimensional electron gas. As a first application, we calculate the modification of the depolarization shifts and the efficiency of intersubband polariton-polariton scattering processes.


By using fixed point theorems in cones, the existence of multiple positive solutions is considered for nonlinear -point boundary value problem for the following second-order boundary value problem on time scales , , , , where is an increasing homeomorphism and homomorphism and . Some new results are obtained for the existence of twin or an arbitrary odd number of positive solutions of the above problem by applying Avery-Henderson and Leggett-Williams fixed point theorems, respectively. In particular, our criteria generalize and improve some known results by Ma and Castaneda (2001). We must point out for readers that there is only the -Laplacian case for increasing homeomorphism and homomorphism. As an application, one example to demonstrate our results is given.


A bichromatic nondispersive acoustooptic deflector was recently described. A new system, relying on a slightly different principle, is proposed here. It allows simple glass lenses to be used for the chromatic compensation instead of the dispersive crystal-glass compound ones needed in the previous version. Moreover, the new system is tunable for any arbitrary pair of wavelengths. A practical system has been designed and the experimental results agree very closely with the theoretical predictions.


The ac converter system discussed involves a design concept that results in a total cost that is competitive with dc converter systems when applied to specific application requirements. The particular application used as a reference is the limited speed range, constant horsepower grinder. This application may be satisfied by a constant voltage, adjustable frequency converter, and motor combination. First, the application requirements are presented. Next, the discussion covers satisfaction of these requirements by means of specific design as to minimize cost. Finally, other unusual aspects of the system are presented, such as the method of modifying the motor voltage during acceleration, the requirement for high voltage output, and a unique packaging design to satisfy the severe ambient conditions of the application.


For radio interferometric arrays with a sufficient number of redundant spacings the multiplicity of measurements of the same sky visibility can be used to determine both the antenna gains as well as the true visibilities. Many of the earlier approaches to this problem focused on linearized versions of the relation between the measured and the true visibilities. Here we propose to use a standard non-linear minimization algorithm to solve for both the antenna gains as well as the true visibilities. We show through simulations done in the context of the ongoing upgrade to the Ooty Radio Telescope that the non-linear minimization algorithm is fast compared to the earlier approaches. Further, unlike the most straightforward linearized approach, which works with the logarithms of the visibilities and the gains, the non-linear minimization algorithm leads to unbiased solutions. Finally we present error estimates for the estimated gains and visibilities. Monte-Carlo simulations establish that the estimator is indeed statistically efficient, achieving the Cramer-Rao bound.


Some convergence theorems of modified Ishikawa and Mann iterative sequences with errors for asymptotically pseudo-contractive and asymptotically nonexpansive mappings in Banach space are obtained. The results presented in this paper improve and extend the corresponding results in Goebel and Kirk (1972), Kirk (1965), Liu (1996), Schu (1991) and Chang et al. (to appear).


Multilayered electronic components, typically of heterogeneous materials, delaminate under thermal and mechanical loading. A phenomenological model focused on modeling the shape of such interface cracks close to corners in layered interconnect structures for calculating the critical stress for steady-state propagation has been developed. The crack propagation is investigated by estimating the fracture mechanics parameters that include the strain energy release rate, crack front profiles and the three-dimensional mode-mixity along the crack front. The developed numerical approach for the calculation of fracture mechanical properties has been validated with three-dimensional models for varying crack front shapes. A custom quantitative approach was formulated based on the finite element method with iterative adjustment of the crack front to estimate the critical delamination stress as a function of the fracture criterion and corner angles.


Much of the problem with regard to U.S. competitiveness in world markets resides in the way the U.S. has managed the application of new technology in the entire process of technology transfer. The key to success for U.S. corporations lies in building on their areas of strength—the U.S. still holds a leadership position in the development of software and in the area of systems and systems integration. The fast pace of global competition requires an evolution from the traditional serial model of product development to a parallel model. This parallel model relies heavily on the use of new tools such as expert systems, collaborative systems, the modeling of manufacturing and product delivery, and other software systems and applications. Capitalizing on these U.S. strengths will require a national effort in building an information infrastructure and a close collaboration between corporations and universities.


The present study investigated the presence of helminths in fillets of red piranha, Pygocentrus nattereri (Kner, 1858), with a note of a possible zoonotic potential of its consumption in nature. We examined 40 fish caught in lakes in the floodplain of the Solimoes River, located in the municipalities of Coari and Manaus in central Amazonia, Brazil. All fish examined were adults and had yellow cysts in the musculature. Of the 69 cysts found, 66 were identified as metacercariae of Clinostomum marginatum (Braun, 1899) and 3 as Austrodiplostomum compactum (Lutz, 1928). The analysis shows a higher susceptibility of P. nattereri for metacercariae of C. marginatum. The fact that metacercariae were found in fillets of P. nattereri, suggests a risk situation, addresses a concern about its use in raw form. It should not be consumed without proper inspection, processing and freezing, since ceviche, is readily consumed, mainly in the border region of the upper and Western Amazonia.


A directive source integral equation (DSIE) approach is proposed for the analysis of scattering from essentially convex impenetrable objects. The DSIE augments the conventional equivalent sources located on the surface with fictitious electric and magnetic currents placed inside the volume originally occupied by the scatterer. These electric and magnetic currents are designed to absorb and suppress the radiation of the on-surface equivalent sources towards the interior of the scatterer. Introduction of such artificial absorbing shields is advocated to confine the field interactions to the scatterer surface and reduce the coupling between the distant parts of the object, thus facilitating development of fast solvers. The DSIE also resolves the non-uniqueness problem of the electric and magnetic field integral equations by eliminating the internal resonances.


Background and study aim: Argon plasma coagulation (APC) has been used to ablate dysplastic and nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus. We determined the longer-term efficacy of APC ablation within two randomized controlled trials of APC versus surveillance for Barrett's esophagus in patients in whom gastroesophageal reflux was controlled by either surgery or proton pump inhibitors. Patients and methods: 129 patients (surgical trial 70, medical trial 59) with Barrett's esophagus (nondysplastic or low grade dysplasia) were randomly allocated to either ablation using APC or to continuing endoscopy surveillance. Outcomes were determined at three time points: short-term (12 months), mid-term (42 – 75 months) and long-term (> 84 months). Results: In the APC groups, initial ablation of > 95 % of the Barrett's esophagus was achieved in 61 of 63 patients; the > 95 % ablation persisted in 47 of 56 patients at short-term follow-up, in 33 of 49 at mid-term and in 21 of 32 at long-term follow-up. In the surveillance groups, the length of Barrett's esophagus reduced from a mean of 4.2 cm to 2.7 cm at long-term follow-up. High grade dysplasia (HGD) developed in 1 patient in the APC groups and in 3 in the surveillance groups. Low grade dysplasia developed in 1 APC patient and in 6 surveillance patients. Conclusions: APC ablation reduced the extent of Barrett's esophagus, and this reduction was maintained in some patients at longer-term follow-up. However, progression to HGD can still occur despite APC ablation, suggesting endoscopic surveillance is still required. Clinical trial registration: ACTRN012607000293460 and ACTRN12607000292471 (Australian Clinical Trials Registry).


Modern visual-inertial navigation systems (VINS) are faced with a critical challenge in real-world deployment: they need to operate reliably and robustly in highly dynamic environments. Current best solutions merely filter dynamic objects as outliers based on the semantics of the object category. Such an approach does not scale as it requires semantic classifiers to encompass all possibly-moving object classes; this is hard to define, let alone deploy. On the other hand, many realworld environments exhibit strong structural regularities in the form of planes such as walls and ground surfaces, which are also crucially static. We present RP-VIO, a monocular visual-inertial odometry system that leverages the simple geometry of these planes for improved robustness and accuracy in challenging dynamic environments. Since existing datasets have a limited number of dynamic elements, we also present a highly-dynamic, photorealistic synthetic dataset for a more effective evaluation of the capabilities of modern VINS systems. We evaluate our approach on this dataset, and three diverse sequences from standard datasets including two real-world dynamic sequences and show a significant improvement in robustness and accuracy over a state-of-the-art monocular visual-inertial odometry system. We also show in simulation an improvement over a simple dynamic-features masking approach. Our code and dataset are publicly available†.


While rates of food insecurity among various sectors of Canadian population are well documented, food security among post-secondary students as a particularly vulnerable population has emerged in recent years as an area of research. Based on a survey of 548 students in the 2015/16 school year, this article examines the extent of food insecurity among a population of undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Manitoba. Our study reveals that 35.3% of survey respondents face food insecurity. 23.5% of these students experience moderate food insecurity, while 11.8% are severely food insecurity. Using chi-square tests and regression analysis, we compare these rates with various demographic indicators to assess which students are at greater risk of food insecurity, factors contributing to food insecurity, and its effect on their student experience, their health and their lives in general . In contemplating funding for post-secondary institutions and increases in tuition fees, provincial governments need to consider how this will affect student food security


levels. Major differences were noted between the two groups in respect of amount of penicillin administered and penicillin C.S.F. concentration; the group with fits tended to have lower serum sodium values than those without fits. No patient with a lumbar C.S.F. penicillin concentration less than 10 units/ml. had a fit; clearly, whatever the state of renal function or the blood/C.S.F. barrier it is unwise to exceed this concentration of penicillin in the C.S.F. The other complications of infusion of large doses of penicillin G are fluid and electrolyte imbalance, which can be avoided or corrected, and haemolytic anaemia, which is quite rare. Intravenous penicillin G in doses of 20 to 100 million units per 24 hours is not only a useful form of therapy for septicaemia due to Clostridium welchis and selected Gramnegative species but may be the only effective therapy in certain patients with endocarditis. For those who may wish to administer these doses it is important that indiscriminate, use is avoided and that the limitation of dosage based on C.S.F. penicillin levels be understood.-I am, etc., HILLAS SMITH. Royal Free Hospital, Infectious Diseases Department, London N.1o.


People who engage in gambling are known to hold erroneous views about the nature of gambling. One of the most commonly observed cognitive biases is the illusion of control, where people's subjective appraisal of contingency between behavior and events is greater than the objective contingency. Such beliefs have been found to be strongest in problem gamblers and can lead to over-confidence in the ability to win money from gambling. A question, however, is whether such perceptions are (a) specific to gambling and whether gamblers display a tendency to over-estimate contingencies in everyday life and (b) if a tendency to endorse everyday illusion of control beliefs is related to specific gambling-related beliefs among those who gamble. Answers to these questions might provide insights into whether some people are potentially more vulnerable to beliefs that might have implications for gambling. An online sample of 788 adults completed a survey about simple everyday situations where people might attempt to exert control (e.g., pressing elevator buttons more often, throwing dice in games). The survey included a scale that captured everyday situations as well as established measures of illusion of control and superstition in gambling. The results showed that those who report greater control in everyday tasks scored higher on standardized measures of beliefs about chance and gambling-related cognitions relating to illusory control. Scores on both types of measures were higher in gamblers than non-gamblers. The findings suggest that gamblers may differ in how they generally perceive and respond to situations involving tasks largely dominated by chance or limited opportunities for genuine control.


This study aims to understand the current state of research in urban resilience, its relations to urban sustainability and to integrate several distinct approaches into a multi-level perspective of cities comprising micro, meso and macro levels and their interactions. In fact, based on the meta-analysis of nearly 800 papers from Scopus from 1973 to 2018, we show that urban resilience discourses address micro and meso levels, considering shocks of bottom-up origin such as natural disasters. In contrast, the regional resilience approach addresses meso and macro levels (regional and global scales), considering shocks of top-down origin such as world economic crises. We find these approaches complementary and argue that in order to expand the urban resilience theory and overcome its limitations, they should be combined. For that purpose we propose a multi-level perspective that integrates both top-down and bottom-up dynamic processes. We argue that urban resilience is shaped by the synchronicity of adaptive cycles on three levels: micro, meso and macro. To build the multi-level approach of dynamics of adaptive cycles we use the panarchy framework.


We study an atmospheric column and its discretization. Because of numerical considerations, the column must be divided into two parts: (1) a surface layer, excluded from the computational domain and parameterized, and (2) the rest of the column, which reacts more slowly to variations in surface conditions. A usual practice in atmospheric models is to parameterize the surface layer without excluding it from the computational domain, leading to possible consistency issues. We propose here to unify the two representations in a Finite Volume discretization. In order to do so, the reconstruction inside the first grid cell is performed using the particular functions involved in the parameterizations and not only with polynomials. Using a consistency criterion, surface layer management strategies are compared in different physical situations.


4514 Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor (PPAR) is a nuclear hormone receptor that binds specific response elements (PPRE) in the promoter of target genes. Three PPAR isoforms (α,β/δ,γ), each coded by a different gene, have been reported. We have previously shown that PPAR γ1 is highly over expressed in human breast cancer cells, and the high expression of PPAR γ1 in human breast cancer cells is driven by a tumor specific promoter. These data indicate that the pA1 promoter is the major promoter used in human breast cancer cell lines for PPAR γ1 transcription. We cloned a 3kb promoter region that is upstream of exon A1 of PPAR γ1 and identified a highly GC-rich (90%) 263bp minimum promoter fragment of pA1 by using standard deletion analysis. To obviate the difficulty of working with such a GC-rich promoter and to speed the identification of the transcription factor(s) mediating tumor specific expression of PPARγ1,we have merged microarry analysis with the Transcription Element Search Software, TESS analysis. These analysis identified 29 potential transcription factors that could bind to one of 209 different binding site within the 263bp fragment. These data were used in conjunction with microarry data comparing the expression of thousand of gene between MCF-7 and Normal Human Mammary Epitheial Cell (HMEC). We identified the only one of the transcription factor, MAZ (Myc-associated zinc finger protein, Genebank Accession: BC041629), that was highly over expressed in MCF-7 compared to HMEC. Gel shift assay demonstrated that MAZ is able to bind to the putative MAZ response element in the tumor specific promoter but not in the PPAR γ1 promoter used in HMEC. Using both MAZ over expression and silencing RNA approaches, these data indicates that MAZ plays a critical role in the tumor specific transcriptional activation of PPAR γ1 by binding to the tumor specific promoter region and possibly promoting PPAR γ1 promoter switching in tumor cells. Our gene chip data also showed GADD45 (the Growth Arrest and DNA Damage-inducible gene 45) mRNA level is regulated by PPAR γ1. When MAZ is transiently expressed in HMEC, GADD45 mRNA level also changes dramatically. As GADD45 is already known as an important regulator of cell cycle progression, apoptosis and DNA repair, and this points to one possible mechanism of PPARγ1 action in breast cancer. Together these data begin to define the mechanism of the tumor-specific expression of PPARγ1 provides unique insights into novel targets for therapeutic intervention.


The prominent issue in globalization era is the emergence of great attention to the issues of the law enforcement of consumer protection and the distribution of the incoming imported goods freely to Indonesia. The impact of open economic embraced by Indonesia causes the swift flow of goods and service into Indonesian territory. The effect of Indonesia in international economy is insignificant, but in contrary, the effect of International economy to Indonesian economy is highly significant. Consequently, the insignificant Indonesian effect on international economy causes Indonesia is having difficulty to compete in international trade. Therefore, Consumer Protection Act becomes public needs for protection and promotion of human interest as the consequence of the selling and purchase transaction of imported goods. The After Sale Service for imported goods is one of aspects covered by consumer protection as sellers have obligations to deliver the goods and is responsible for losses incurred by consumers due to use of the goods. This article would examine how law enforcement of consumer protection can be against after-sales service issues.


N. D. GAUTAM. The validity of equations of complex algebras. Archiv fiir mathematische Logik und Grundlagenforschung, vol. 3 (1957), pp. 117-124. The multiplication of complexes (subsets) of a given group is defined in a wellknown way, and this definition can be extended in an obvious manner to arbitrary (Birkhoff) algebras. Now consider any equation tx = t2 where both tx and t2 are obtained by the repeated application of the basic operations of an algebra A to a set of variables. We say that tx = t2 is satisfied by A if the sentence obtained from tt = t2 by the universal quantification of the free variables holds in it. This paper settles the problem under what conditions the fact that tx = t2 is satisfied in A entails that it is satisfied also by the algebra of complexes of A. The answer, simple and satisfying, states that this is the case if and only if every variable that occurs in t± = t2 occurs just once both in tx and in t2. Remark. Since in Definition 5 the author defines c-validity for a set of algebras, he should have mentioned that in Theorems 1, 3, 4, c-validity is defined with respect to all algebras for which tt = t2 is defined. ABRAHAM ROBINSON