Government reform projects fail at an alarming rate (Cabinet Office, 2014), wasting billions of pounds in public spending and sustaining what has been termed the "performance paradox" (Flyvbjerg et al,. 2003, p.3). The paradox suggests that despite ever increasing numbers and magnitudes of major projects, the rate of failure continues to grow too. In addressing this paradox, this research responds to Flyvbjerg's (2001), call for phronetic social science that concerns itself with society's improvement and enters into public dialogue and praxis. In so doing, the research promotes a second order approach to understanding project failure to challenge taken-for-granted evaluation processes and concerns itself with working towards improving what and how we learn lessons. The study presents a detailed and reflexive account of an exemplar case of Government project failure, from an alternative perspective. The case exposes the political conceptualisations underpinning unsuccessful attempts to regionalise parts of the English fire service via the structural reform project called 'FiReControl1'. The FiReControl project was initiated in 2004 under the Labour Government and was cancelled by the Coalition Government in 2010. The Public Accounts Committee inquiry into the failure of FiReControl labelled it one of the worst cases of project failure that the Committee had seen (Hodge, Public Accounts Committee, 2011), and blamed project and ministerial department staff for the failure. The research challenges the adequacy of taken-for-granted evaluations of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), that typically finds project delivery agents to blame after reform projects are considered to have failed. A phronetic approach would be sceptical of the PAC methodology alone to provide definitive answers after reform projects fail, since social and particularly political actions from which reform projects emerge, are complex and unfold over time in the unobservable realms of Government institutions. A truer understanding of reform projects requires knowledge of both their context and their history emergence (Archer, 1995), that is not accessible through theory alone (Flyvbjerg et al. 2012). The intention of this study was to explore these concepts of time and context to ascertain if alternative theoretical perspectives and analytic methods can help us to understand more about 1 The FiReControl logo will be written as such throughout this manuscript for consistency. The capitalisation represented the 'Fire and Resilience' section of Department of Communities and Local Government and Control being the fire service function that was to be regionalised under the reform. 11 why many large-scale public reform projects do not complete successfully, or are considered failures. A fundamental concept underpinning the research was ontological, asking not just where project failure begins, but also, what exactly is project failure. The study premised its perspective of reform project failure on the idea of it being a loss of support, or a loss of legitimacy and not an objective state of reality (McConnell, 2003). The study departs from traditional 'flat ontology' of much foundationalist and resource-based research and evaluation in the field and set out to explore where and how legitimacy for FiReControl began, what sustained it and by what power the final, contested reform idea was approved. The approach sought to reveal more of the power-relations that underlie policy reforms, working beneath the more obvious levels of policy-effectiveness assessment found in conventional post-project evaluation approaches. Using the overarching philosophy of critical realism, the realist social theory method approach of the morphogenetic sequence (Archer, 1995), is adopted, as well as critical hermeneutic methods, to operationalise the idea that society consists of parts and people, the social and the individual, structures and agents. The methods revealed changing situational logics (Archer, 1995), as organisational relations ebbed and flowed across the sequence of events. The logics influenced the decisions and actions of agents which served their vested interests to a greater or lesser extent, depending on which groups held more agency at the time. The hermeneutic analyses of key texts revealed how the Government was not only predisposed to act by the institutional legitimacy of new public management, but also how powerful legitimating devices were deployed to further their ideas over any alternatives. The methods gave explanatory power to understanding the emergent properties of mechanisms of legitimacy and institutionalism in building support for structural reform. Moreover, the methods revealed the power by which Government ideas finally succeeded in 2004, where they had failed in 1999, by the morphogenesis (transformation), of corporate agency. Corporate agents promote their own interests to define and redefine organisational goals; they "pack more punch in defining and redefining structural forms" (Archer, 1995, p. 191). The influence of these mechanisms in shaping the FiReControl project, regardless of any reliable evidence to suggest the reform could succeed, was not explored by the Public Accounts Committee.


This paper examines the contribution of peer relations to delinquency from the perspective of two sociological traditions: socialization/normative influence and opportunity. Earlier studies have likely overestimated normative influence by relying on respondents' reports about their friends' behaviors rather than obtaining independent assessments and by inadequately controlling for the tendency to select peers who are similar to oneself. Using detailed social network data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we find support for both the socialization and opportunity models. Adolescents engage in higher rates of delinquency if they have highly delinquent friends and if they spend a great deal of time in unstructured socializing with friends. Yet our results also indicate that (1) the normative influence of peers on delinquency is more limited than indicated by most previous studies, (2) normative influence is not increased by being more closely attached to friends or spending more time with them, (3) the contribution of opportunity is independent from normative influence and of comparable importance, and (4) influences from the peer domain do not mediate the influences of age, gender, family or school.


: The most frequent mistakes in dental papers are analysed. The first part of mistakes is an incorrect use of modern classification of periodontal disease. The second--about of adequate periodontal and epidemiological and clinical investigations and very adequate controls--for providing the results most correct.


The purpose of this paper is to first briefly discuss the main elements of costs in agricultural finance operations of formal agencies. Secondly, the sources of high administrative costs are identified. And finally a strategy is proposed for reducing these high costs. These objectives are discussed mainly in conceptual terms. Wherever possible the available costs data are also used for empirical validation of analytical arguments. However, in India these data are not yet adequately documented. Nor are the experiences of group or area approach to agricultural financing adequately studied.


This alphabetical guide to language and mind gives an up-to-date introduction to the key topics of speech comprehension, speech production and child language. Written by a well-known author in the field, the entries are concise and lucid, and provide an easy-to-read overview of an area of linguistics which lies at the core of the human ability to use language. Key features *A handy and easily understandable pocket guide for anyone embarking on courses in developmental linguistics or psycholinguistics *Supplies numerous cross-references to related terms *Contains an introduction which outlines the range of the field *Brings in relatively new areas, such as bonobos and brain scans *Includes an annotated bibliography with suggestions for further reading.


The inclusion of design in corporate strategies has been a recurring research theme, and organizations are using it as strategic element for gaining competitive advantage in the long term. Thus, it becomes evident the need to manage design activities, making use of concepts related to competencies, learning, dynamic capabilities and other aspects. Therefore, this paper aims at investigating what experts think about design management and competencies, joints and intervenient factors in Brazilian fashion industry. In addition, this article aimed at knowing how design teams are structured and the relationship of these with the organization. The methodology was exploratory, qualitative, through in-depth interviews with ten designers working in Brazilian firms in the fashion industry and four specialists in fashion design. We identify phases and activities of design professional, which are decisive for the design management occurrence in enterprises in apparel industry, identifying the coworkers at each stage of this process.


The aim of this was to examine the influence of Hostel Services Quality on Student's Satisfaction in the University of Development Studies (UDS) within the Wamunicipality of Ghana. A cross sectional quantitative research design was employed. The target populations of the study were predominately students in private hostels. Whopping 300 students were randomly sampled to participate in the study. The questionnaires were adopted from the SERQUA Model. Both primary and secondary data were employed in the study. The data were analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The study had revealed that overall the model used in this study was acceptable ANOVA was significant (p-value < 0.05). The study also revealed that, taking all the other factors constant at zero; a unit change in tangibility will bring 0.054 change in students satisfaction, a unit change in assurance will bring 0.318 a unit change in reliability will bring 0.342 in customer satisfaction, a unite change in responsiveness will bring 0.096 change in students satisfaction and finally, a unit change in empathy will bring 0.381 change in students satisfaction. It is concluded that hostel management should paid attention to the legitimate discontent among the students to improve efficiency in order to prevent massive switching rate in the long run when supply exceed demand in this business.


Online failure prediction for large-scale software systems is a challenging task. One reason is the complex structure of many-partially inter-dependent-hardware and software components. State-of-the-art approaches use separate prediction models for parameters of interest or a monolithic prediction model which includes different parameters of all components. However, they have problems when dealing with evolving systems. In this paper, we propose our preliminary research work on online failure prediction targeting large-scale component-based software systems. For the prediction, three complementary types of models are used: (i) an architectural model captures relevant properties of hardware and software components as well as dependencies among them, (ii) for each component, a prediction model captures the current state of a component and predicts independent component failures in the future, (iii) a system-level prediction model represents the current state of the system and-using the component-level prediction models and information on dependencies-allows to predict failures and analyze impacts of architectural system changes for proactive failure management.


Despite the abundance of analysis techniques to discover control-flow errors in workflow designs, there is hardly any support for data-flow verification. Most techniques simply abstract from data while data dependencies can be the source of all kinds of errors. This paper focuses on the discovery of data-flow errors in workflows. There are many issues in the dataflow, like Redundant Data, Lost Data, Missing Data, Mismatched data, Inconsistent data, and Misdirected data. We present an analysis approach that uses so called "The RWD Boolean Table Technique" expressed in steps, I Split dataflow from control flow; II Create Boolean table for each data element/s; III Make comparative between RWD Boolean table for current task and next task until get the end of workflow; Typical errors include dataflow issue, like redundant Data, lost Data and missing Data.


The Nickel-Hydrogen (NiH 2 ) battery system is the dominant rechargeable technology for communications, scientific and military satellites and is recognized for its long life, reliability and durability. Eagle-Picher Technologies, LLC has developed the Single Pressure Vessel (SPV) NiH 2 battery, which houses all cells within a single vessel, as an evolutionary step in NiH 2 technology. The SPV configuration was developed to improve the performance, producibility and reliability of the NiH 2 system at the battery level, and ultimately to reduce overall battery cost and weight. Recognition of the benefits and advantages of the SPV resulted in its choice as the battery design for a large-scale telecommunications satellite program. After instituting high-volume production procedures and undergoing a significant life test effort at Eagle-Picher Technologies, the program is proceeding very smoothly, on lime and on cost. This particular application requires a 22 cell, 28 VDC, 60 Ah, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) battery; however, 50 Ah, 30 Ah and 15 Ah battery configurations have been produced, and capacities up to 120 Ah are possible with a short development time. An accelerated life test of an early prototype and an independent design review have both shown the design to be robust. The advanced SPV battery has the flexibility to fulfill the requirements of any mission needing a reliable, durable, space-qualified battery with a high duty cycle capability. This presentation discusses SPV design features and presents life test data. Also addressed are the production features of the SPV battery which have resulted in cost and performance benefits for the IRIDIUM® global telecommunications system.


Previous findings on the relationship between self-esteem and psychological outcomes are inconsistent. Therefore it appears that self-esteem, while related to crucial variables, does not provide a clear, direct, and comprehensive prediction of psychological symptoms. Thus, it was hypothesized that the relationship between self-esteem and symptomatology would be moderated by broader measures of how one interacts with emotional and cognitive stimuli.The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of self-esteem, psychological flexibility, and cognitive flexibility on psychological symptomatology. A sample of 82 undergraduate students at the University of North Texas completed self-report questionnaires measuring low self-esteem, psychological flexibility, measured inversely as inflexibility, cognitive flexibility, and psychological symptoms. Results of the study suggest that self-esteem (?= -0.59, p < 0.001) and flexibility (both psychological (?= 0.36, p = 0.001) and cognitive (?= 0.21, p < 0.05) are significant predictors of psychological symptoms. In other words, self-esteem is positively correlated with psychological symptoms, while psychological and cognitive flexibility are negatively correlated with psychological symptoms. Neither form of flexibility moderated the relationship between self-esteem and psychological symptoms in this sample. The findings of the current study are discussed as well as suggestions for further research related to self-esteem, psychological and cognitive flexibility, and their impact on psychological outcomes.


The CdS nanoparticles of different sizes are synthesized by a simple chemical method. Here, CdS nanoparticles are grown through the reaction of solution of different concentration of CdCl2 with H2S. X-ray diffraction pattern confirms nano nature of CdS and has been used to determine the size of particle. Optical absorption spectroscopy is used to measure the energy band gap of these nanomaterials by using Tauc relation. Energy band gap ranging between 3.12 eV to 2.47 eV have been obtained for the samples containing the nanoparticles in the range of 2.3 to 6.0 nm size. A correlation between the band gap and size of the nanoparticles is also established.


In semiconductor manufacturing, new technologies impose more and more time constraints in product routes, i.e. a maximum time between two (often non-consecutive) operations. The management of Time Constraint Tunnels (TCTs, combining multiple time constraints) in high-mix facilities is becoming more and more challenging. This paper first recalls an approach for estimating the probability that a lot at the entrance of a TCT will leave the TCT on time. This approach relies on a list scheduling algorithm using a dispatching policy with random components. Three dispatching policies are presented. Computational experiments on industrial data comparing these policies are discussed. Perspectives are drawn to extend the approach and support decision making.


The sexual violence (SV) suffered in childhood and adolescence significantly affects the physical and mental health of the victims who are subjected to pain, shame and guilt, requiring them to adopt coping strategies of these feelings. The use of alcohol and drugs is a recognized way of dealing with the pain of living. This work of narrative feature analyzes and discusses through the life story of eight people, chemical dependency as a result of VS suffered in childhood or adolescence. The participants of this study are male and have suffered sexual violence in this age period of life. Their ages range from 23 to 39 years, and all are admitted to a therapeutic community in a city in the interior of Sao Paulo state, in Brazil, for treatment of chemical dependency, being met by the department of Psychology. Seven participants cited the violence suffered in childhood (between 7 and 9 years), and adolescence (age 14). The attackers were people closed to the victims. All patients claim that violence suffered influenced their entry into the world of drugs. Six participants declare themselves as homosexuals, a participant claims to have ceased to be gay and the other is not stated as a homosexual, but presents difficulties regarding sexuality. The participants see the drugs as an anesthetic of heartaches. Was noted that the patients have a double stigma in society: the issue of drugs addiction and the orientation of sexual desire, because the majority of participants are homosexual. The results reinforce the need for effective action geared to accommodate the victims of sexual violence and effective preventive measures to prevent them, as well as preventing the use of alcohol by adolescents victimized.


This study examined the post-thaw survival of frozen buffalo spermatozoa using two different concentrations of ethylene glycol and three different equilibration time. Semen was collected from the three Murrah buffalo bulls using an artificial vagina. The ejaculate was divided into three, which were then diluted with Tris egg-yolk extender with 7% glycerol and 7% or 10% ethylene glycol. Semen extended with 7% and 10% ethylene glycol were equilibrated for 15-20 minutes, 2 hours or 4 hours. Semen extended with 7% glycerol was equilibrated for 4 hours. These were packaged in 0.5 ml French straws during their equilibration period, after which they were suspended in liquid nitrogen vapor for 7 minutes. The straws were submerged in liquid nitrogen and were evaluated for percent motility after a week of storage in liquid nitrogen tank. Post-thaw survival results show that semen frozen with 7% ethylene glycol was better (p< 0.005) than those frozen with 10% ethylene glycol. However, post-thaw survival produced by 7% or 10% ethylene glycol were significantly lower (p<0.005) than using 7% glycerol. Results further show that a short equilibration time seems to have no detrimental effect on post-thaw survival with the use of ethylene glycol as cryoprotectant regardless of concentration. By shortening the equilibration time, the use of ethylene glycol may save time in processing bubaline semen, which in routine procedure took less than 6 hours to complete. It was also observed, that there was a significant variation in survival of spermatozoa among individual bulls. This study demonstrates that ethylene glycol can be used in freezing bubaline spermatozoa. However, there is still a need to study other factors that affect the survival of spermatozoa frozen with the use of ethylene glycol as cryoprotectant.


In the rapidly changing landscape of society, understanding how consumers make purchasing decisions is essential to the success of any product or service organization. As such, marketing professionals are looking for more effective ways to promote their goods and services to their customers. Analyzing Attachment and Consumers' Emotions: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a critical scholarly resource that examines the application of attachment theory to consumer brands and products. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics, such as customer satisfaction, brand evaluation, and brand authenticity, this book is geared towards marketing professionals, consumer researchers, international business strategists, scholars, and graduate-level students.


A lead (Pb) isotopic record, covering the two oldest glacial–interglacial cycles (~572 to 801 kyr ago) characterized by lukewarm interglacials in the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica Dome C ice core, provides evidence for dust provenance in central East Antarctic ice prior to the Mid-Brunhes Event (MBE), ~430 kyr ago. Combined with published post-MBE data, distinct isotopic compositions, coupled with isotope mixing model results, suggest Patagonia/Tierra del Fuego (TdF) as the most important sources of dust during both pre-MBE and post-MBE cold and intermediate glacial periods. During interglacials, central-western Argentina emerges as a major contributor, resulting from reduced dust supply from Patagonia/TdF after the MBE, contrasting to the persistent dominance of dust from Patagonia/TdF before the MBE. The data also show a small fraction of volcanic Pb transferred from extra-Antarctic volcanoes during post-MBE interglacials, as opposed to abundant transfer prior to the MBE. These differences are most likely attributed to the enhanced wet removal efficiency with the hydrological cycle intensified over the Southern Ocean, associated with a poleward shift of the southern westerly winds (SWW) during warmer post-MBE interglacials, and vice versa during cooler pre-MBE ones. Our results highlight sensitive responses of the SWW and the associated atmospheric conditions to stepwise Antarctic warming.


The article is focused on the evaluation of economic differentiation of subjects on particular processing stages within the wheat commodity chain in the czech republic with regard to agro-food market development in the last years. The analysis is based on the statement that better economic results of businesses can be achieved not only by successful business strategy or quality management and employees but also by business ability to advance its own interests and to influence market conditions, such as setting higher prices, pressure on lower input prices, better position for negotiations with business partners etc. The Spider Analysis was used for evaluation. The results of analysis have proved worsening of economic position of the second stage of processing (bakeries) in comparison with the first stage of processing (mills) within the commodity chain in the last time, especially as a result of increasing market power of retail. it was also confirmed that decisive subjects in milling industry become bigger mills with joining to raw commodity supplier and subsequent processing stages.


A cell-free extract from Arthrobacter 37, isolated from a manganese nodule from the Atlantic Ocean, exhibited enzymatic activity which accelerated manganese accretion to synthetic Mn-Fe oxide as well as to crushed manganese nodule. The reaction required oxygen and was inhibited by HgCl(2) and p-chloromercuribenzoate but not by Atebrine dihydrochloride. The rate of enzymatic action depended on the concentration of cell-free extract used. The enzymatic activity had a temperature optimum around 17.5 C and was destroyed by heating at 100 C. The amount of heat required for inactivation depended on the amount of nucleic acid in the preparation. In the cell-free extract, unlike the whole-cell preparation, peptone could not substitute for NaHCO(3) in the reaction mixture. An enzyme-containing protein fraction and a nucleic acid fraction could be separated from cell extract by gel filtration, when prepared in 3% NaCl but not in seawater. The nucleic acid fraction was not required for enzymatic activity.


In this paper, we shall investigate a problem analogous to the one treated in Prakasa Rao [6]. We shall now suppose that there is a sample of n independent observations from a distribution F with monotone failure rate r and the problem is to obtain a maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) of r and its asymptotic distribution. Grenander [4] and Marshall and Proschan [5] have obtained the MLE of r and the latter showed that these estimators are consistent. We obtain the asymptotic distribution of this estimator. The estimation problem is reduced at first to that of a stochastic process and the asymptotic distribution of MLE is obtained by means of theorems on convergence of distributions of stochastic processes. Methods used in this paper are similar to those in Prakasa Rao [6] and therefore, proofs are given only at places where they differ from the proofs of that paper. We shall consider the case of distributions with increasing failure rate (IFR) in detail. Results in the case of distributions with decreasing failure rate (DFR) are analogous to those of IFR and we shall state the main result in Section 7. Sections 2 and 3 deal with the definition and properties of distributions with monotone failure rate r. Some results related to the asymptotic properties of the MLE of r are given in Section 4. The problem is reduced to that of a stochastic process in Section 5. The asymptotic distribution of the MLE is obtained in Section 6.


Abstract. Accurate near real time fire emissions estimates are required for air quality forecasts. To date, most approaches are based on satellite-derived estimates of fire radiative power (FRP), which can be converted to fire radiative energy (FRE) which is directly related to fire emissions. Uncertainties in these FRE estimates are often substantial. This is for a large part because the most often used low-Earth orbit satellite-based instruments such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) have a relatively poor sampling of the usually pronounced fire diurnal cycle. In this paper we explore the spatial variation of this fire diurnal cycle and its drivers using data from the geostationary Meteosat Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI). In addition, we sampled data from the SEVIRI instrument at MODIS detection opportunities to develop two approaches to estimate hourly FRE based on MODIS active fire detections. The first approach ignored the fire diurnal cycle, assuming persistent fire activity between two MODIS observations, while the second approach combined knowledge on the climatology of the fire diurnal cycle with active fire detections to estimate hourly FRE. The full SEVIRI time series, providing full coverage of the fire diurnal cycle, were used to evaluate the results. Our study period comprised of 3 years (2010–2012), and we focused on Africa and the Mediterranean basin to avoid the use of potentially lower quality SEVIRI data obtained at very far off-nadir view angles. We found that the fire diurnal cycle varies substantially over the study region, and depends on both fuel and weather conditions. For example, more "intense" fires characterized by a fire diurnal cycle with high peak fire activity, long duration over the day, and with nighttime fire activity are most common in areas of large fire size (i.e., large burned area per fire event). These areas are most prevalent in relatively arid regions. Ignoring the fire diurnal cycle generally resulted in an overestimation of FRE, while including information on the climatology of the fire diurnal cycle improved FRE estimates. The approach based on knowledge of the climatology of the fire diurnal cycle also improved distribution of FRE over the day, although only when aggregating model results to coarser spatial and/or temporal scale good correlation was found with the full SEVIRI hourly reference data set. We recommend the use of regionally varying fire diurnal cycle information within the Global Fire Assimilation System (GFAS) used in the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Services, which will improve FRE estimates and may allow for further reconciliation of biomass burning emission estimates from different inventories.


PURPOSE
To retrospectively review our experience with visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) treated with percutaneous coil embolization techniques.

METHODS
Patient records were retrospectively reviewed between 1988 and 1998 for VAA cases treated with catheter-based techniques. Nine patients (5 women; mean age 64 +/- 11 years) with 12 (8 false and 4 true) VAAs were identified. The majority (67%) of these patients presented with symptoms of aneurysm rupture. The etiology of the aneurysm was iatrogenic in 4, pancreatitis in 4, and idiopathic in 4. Ten cases involved the hepatic artery; the other 2 aneurysmal arteries were the middle colic and the gastroduodenal. Selective and superselective catheter techniques were used to obtain access to the VAA. A variety of microcoils were delivered to entirely fill saccular aneurysms, whereas fusiform aneurysms were thrombosed by occluding the inflow and outflow vessels.

RESULTS
Aneurysm exclusion was achieved in 9 (75%) of the 12 cases. The 3 technical failures resulted from the inability to cannulate the aneurysm neck. Coil embolization of the neck of the aneurysm sac did not result in occlusion of the native vessel, with a single exception. No procedure-related complications or deaths were noted. All patients remained symptom free during a mean follow-up of 46.0 +/- 29.6 months.

CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous transcatheter coil embolotherapy is an effective alternative to open surgery for the management of VAAs. This therapy may decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with an open surgical procedure in patients with ruptured aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms, selectively thrombosing the aneurysm while preserving flow in the native vessel.


Jose Royo y Gomez (1895 - 1961) was the first Spanish paleontologist that realized the potential significance of the Spanish dinosaur record. His research in dinosaurs lasted from 1918 to 1927. A lot of dinosaur material was housed in the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Madrid), most of it lost during the civil war. The main goal of Royo y Gomez was the research on wealden dinosaurs from the provinces of Castellon, Valencia y Teruel. He reported the presence of Cetiosaurus, which is very improbable under the present-day knowledge. The presence of a form akin to Megalosaurus is probable. The ornithopod Iguanodon atherfieldensis actually belongs to the Lower Cretaceous Spanish dinosaur fauna. Royo y Gomez was not convinced of the similarity of the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur fauna between the Iberian peninsula and other western Europe sites, an idea currently accepted


Peripheral chemoreceptor afferent information is sent to the nucleus tractus solitarii (nTS), integrated, and relayed to other brain regions to alter cardiorespiratory function. The nTS projects to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), but activation and phenotype of these projections during chemoreflex stimulation is unknown. We hypothesized that activation of PVN-projecting nTS neurons occurs primarily at high intensities of hypoxia. We assessed ventilation and cardiovascular parameters in response to increasing severities of hypoxia. Retrograde tracers were used to label nTS PVN-projecting neurons and, in some rats, rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM)-projecting neurons. Immunohistochemistry was performed to identify nTS cells that were activated (Fos-immunoreactive, Fos-IR), catecholaminergic, and GABAergic following hypoxia. Conscious rats underwent 3 h normoxia (n = 4, 21% O(2)) or acute hypoxia (12, 10, or 8% O(2); n = 5 each). Hypoxia increased ventilation and the number of Fos-IR nTS cells (21%, 13 ± 2; 12%, 58 ± 4; 10%, 166 ± 22; 8%, 186 ± 6). Fos expression after 10% O(2) was similar whether arterial pressure was allowed to decrease (-13 ± 1 mmHg) or was held constant. The percentage of PVN-projecting cells activated was intensity dependent, but contrary to our hypothesis, PVN-projecting nTS cells exhibiting Fos-IR were found at all hypoxic intensities. Notably, at all intensities of hypoxia, ∼75% of the activated PVN-projecting nTS neurons were catecholaminergic. Compared with RVLM-projecting cells, a greater percentage of PVN-projecting nTS cells was activated by 10% O(2). Data suggest that increasing hypoxic intensity activates nTS PVN-projecting cells, especially catecholaminergic, PVN-projecting neurons. The nTS to PVN catecholaminergic pathway may be critical even at lower levels of chemoreflex activation and more important to cardiorespiratory responses than previously considered.


Abstract 109 Three human miR-99∼125 clusters, each containing one miR-99/100, let-7 and miR-125 family member in identical polycistronic configuration, are located within or next to long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) host genes on distinct chromosomal regions. In this study, we investigated the integrative function of these three polycistron-miRNAs. Expression profiling in sorted leukemic blasts indicated an enrichment of mature miR-99∼125 miRNAs in acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) and promyelocytic leukemia (APL). We demonstrated that intronic miR-99∼125 miRNAs are produced from one primary transcript with their lncRNA host genes and that the leukemogenic transcription factor and stem cell regulator HOXA10 acts as an upstream transcriptional activator. Therefore, we assessed the consequences of concerted activation of miR-125b, miR-99/100 and let-7 in the megakaryocytic and myelomonocytic system. During megakaryocytic in vitro differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), lentiviral overexpression of the tricistron (miR-99a/let-7c/miR-125b-2) or miR-125b-2 alone increased proliferation and survival of megakaryocytic cells. Megakaryocytic/erythroid progenitors (MEP) were expanded upon tricistron and miR-125b-2 overexpression, and not by miR-99a and/or let-7c overexpression. In an unbiased triple-transduction RGB-competition assay using distinct color-marked (red/green/blue) monocistronic miRNA constructs, miR-125b-2 alone or in combination with miR-99a or let-7 conferred a selective growth advantage to murine and human HSPCs. In murine transplantation experiments, only combined expression of all three cluster-miRNAs led to the expansion and retention of an immature Gr-1(low)/Mac-1(+)/B220(-) cell population in the bone marrow. Similarly when the miR-99a/let-7c/miR-125b-2 tricistron-transduced HSPCs differentiated along the myelomonocytic lineage (liquid culture and methylcellulose colony-forming assay), we observed a major cell population of monomorphic, non-adherent cells devoid of granulocytic and monocytic markers, which was not present in the miR-99a-, let-7c- or miR-125b-2 single transduced cells. Global gene expression profiling followed by qRT-PCR-validation of transduced HSPCs identified high confidence targets commonly or individually downregulated by the three miRNAs. Among these targets, we found TGFβ pathway agonists and Wnt antagonists to be enriched. miR-125b and -even stronger- the tricistron decreased the reporter activity of a SMAD response element in 293T cells treated with TGFβ and increased the activity of a TCF response element in synergy with a Wnt-activator (GSK3-inibitor). Western blotting and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated cooperative targeting of TGFBR1, ALK7, BMPR1a, BMPR2, SMAD2, SMAD4 and APC by the tricistron. Strikingly, inhibition of miR-125b by a lentiviral decoy sensitized TGFβ-resistant AMKL-cell lines (CMK and CMY) to TGFβ-mediated apoptosis and proliferation arrest. Conversely, overexpression of miR-125b or the tricistron rendered MV4:11 and NB4 cells resistance to TGFβ. miR-125b or the tricistron-transduced HSPCs displayed a marked increase in cell viability and cells in S-Phase upon TGFβ-treatment during megakaryocytic differentiation. The application of a TGFβ-inhibitor phenocopied the effects of miR-125b or the tricistron during megakaryocytic differentiation. These effects were not further enhanced by combined Wnt activation. In contrast, recapitulating the effects of the polycistron in the myelomonocytic lineage required Wnt-activation. Collectively we deciphered the functional linkage of miR-99/100, let-7 and miR-125, which are produced from one primary transcript with their lncRNA host genes and are regulated by the stem cell regulator HOXA10. Our study creates a microRNA interaction network, wherein the concerted action of the three miRNAs converges at the TGFβ pathway by a combinatorial block of this pathway. During myelomonocytic commitment only the combination of all polycistron-miRNAs enhanced Wnt signaling to inhibit differentiation. These synthetic phenotypes form an epistatic circuit regulating stemness and developmental fate. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


The 15-winding and 3-column autotransformer supplying an 18-pulse rectifier circuit was developed. Presented methods can be used also for the autotransformers of other topologies supplying different kinds of converters. Presented methods make it pos- sible to exactly calculate main and leakage inductances of the multi-winding autotrans- former. The presented analysis of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the inductance matrix makes it possible to identify the influence nature of individual modes on the inductance matrix, and to compare the calculation results obtained using the presented methods. Frequency dependence of autotransformer parameters was shown. Also modes of the impedance matrix of the multi-winding autotransformer was investigated, this made it possible to identify the influence nature of individual modes on the inductance matrix. Using presented methods one can exactly calculate main and leakage inductances of the autotransformer. Thanks to this, one can design in optimal way autotransformers for supplying, for example, rectifier circuits, THD coefficients. The results of the measu- rements and simulations were also shortly presented at the end of the article.


The present study describes a method of exploring the Romanian old words collected in the written press, from 1829 till 2015, and contains three independent collections of newspapers, developed and structured corresponding to Moldavia, Wallachia, and Transylvania. The purpose of this research is to record the chronology of the Romanian old words identified in the diachronic corpus that we have built in the last three years, called RODICA (ROmanian DIachonic Corpus with Annotations), in order to develop a learning technology based on the language evolution. We have used the citations extracted from the eDTLR (Dictionary Thesaurus of the Romanian Language in electronic form), with an important role for eLearning applications. To recover lemmata of old, obsolete, word forms using eDTLR quotations is a target on which NLP group from Iasi has started to work a few years ago and this work contributes significantly in developing a diachronic POS-tagger. A diachronic POS-tagger is very important in different comparative language analyzes of eLearning. However, there is an important problem, which arises, the fact that the corpus contains only quotations and not a complete sentence. One quotation may be attached both to a title-word different than the word searched for or belonging to the searched for title-word. We consider that the model of language that we used could be useful both for applicative objectives (for enabling effective language similarity analysis using statistical methods) and for scientific objectives (for exploring the nature of related languages).


Safety interventions (e.g. median barriers, photo enforcement) and road features (e.g. median type and width) can influence crash severities, crash frequencies, or both. Both dimensions—crash frequency and crash severity—are needed to obtain a full accounting of road safety. Extensive literature and common sense both dictate that all crashes are not 'created' equal—with fatalities costing society more than 1000 times the cost of property damage only crashes. Despite this glowing disparity, the profession has not unanimously embraced or successfully defended a non-arbitrary severity weighting approach for analyzing safety data and conducting safety analyses. This paper argues that both the crash frequency and severity dimensions are made available by intelligently and reliably weighting crash frequencies and converting all crashes to property damage only crash equivalents (PDOEs) using comprehensive societal unit crash injury costs. This approach is analogous to calculating axle load equivalents when predicting pavement damage—for instance a 40,000 lb truck causes 4025 times more stress than does a 4000 lb car and so simply counting axles is not sufficient. Calculating PDOEs using unit crash costs is the most defensible and non-arbitrary weighting scheme, allows for the simple incorporation of severity and frequency, and leads to crash models that are sensitive to factors that affect crash severity. Moreover, we show that using PDOEs diminishes the errors introduced by under-reporting of less severe crashes—an added benefit of the PDO equivalent analysis approach. The method is illustrated using rural road segment data from South Korea (which in practice should apply Korean crash cost data). Finally, the results and remaining issues with PDOEs and their adoption in safety analysis are discussed.


The measurement of the electrical impedance inside the esophagus provides information about its status, and is being explored in the study of the gastroesophageal reflux. This paper presents theoretical computation of impedance inside the esophagus. The results of the numerical solution for a simple geometry are compared against the solution formulated from the Green's function approach. The effect of the electrode configuration on the resulting impedance is studied as an application of the methodology developed in this paper. The results of this paper will be useful in the design of an intraluminal impedance catheter as well as in the interpretation of the resulting impedance signals.


OBJECTIVE
This study's objective was to determine the effect of therapeutic massage on peripheral blood flow utilizing dynamic infrared thermography in a constant temperature/humidity thermal chamber to assess noncontact skin temperature.

DESIGN
The design was a repeated-measures crossover experimental design; the independent variable was treatment condition (massage, light touch, control).

SETTING
The study setting was a university research laboratory.

SUBJECTS
Seventeen (17) healthy volunteers (8 males/9 females; age = 23.29 +/- 3.06) took part in the study.

INTERVENTIONS
One (1) 20-minute neck and shoulder therapeutic massage treatment was performed for each of the three treatment conditions.

OUTCOME MEASURES
The dependent variable was noncontact, mean skin temperature in 15 regions measured at 6 time points (pretest and 15, 25, 35, 45, and 60 minutes post-test) for each treatment condition.

RESULTS
The massage treatment produced significant elevations in temperature in five regions: anterior upper chest (p = 0.04), posterior neck (p = 0.0006), upper back (p = 0.0005), posterior right arm (p = 0.03), and middle back (p = 0.02). Massage therapy produced significant increases in temperature over time, compared to the other conditions, in the anterior upper chest, and posterior neck, upper back, right arm, and the middle back. Additionally, the temperatures remained above baseline levels after 60 minutes. Interestingly, the massage treatment produced significant temperature elevations in two nonmassaged areas posterior right arm and middle back.

CONCLUSIONS
These changes in temperature suggest corresponding changes in peripheral blood flow in the treated areas as well as in adjacent not-massaged areas. Moreover, the results suggest dynamic infrared thermography as a useful tool to measure noninvasive, noncontact changes in peripheral blood flow for massage therapy research.


Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the co-production of a mixture of crude cellulosic and hemicellulosic enzymes (endoglucanase, xylanase, and mannanase) by Aspergillus terreus K1 in solid-state fermentation (SSF) using palm kernel expeller (PKE) as the sole carbon source. These enzymes have gained renewed interest due to their efficacy to improve the digestibility of PKE for use in diets of mono-gastric animals (poultry, pigs, and fish). The results showed that temperature, moisture, inoculum concentration, and initial pH had significant (P< 0.05) effects on the enzymes production. Using PKE as a solid substrate, maximum endoglucanase, mannanase, and xylanase (17.37, 41.24, and 265.57 U/g DM, respectively) were obtained at 30.5 °C, 62.7% moisture, 6% inoculum, and pH 5.8. The enzyme activities recorded were close to the predicted values (19.97, 44.12, and 262.01 U/g DM, respectively).


antibiotics and surgery. In this paper we present the outcome of fecundability after transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) guided drainage of tubo-ovarian abscesses. Materials and methods: Out of 302 women who were treated for tubo-ovarian abscesses by use of TVS guided drainage, 50 women were less than 40 years of age. Four underwent later laparoscopic sterilization leaving 46 for the study. These women were followed for up to 17 years (Range 2–17 years). All women were asked to answer a questioner at the end of the follow-up. Results: From the questioner it was found that 32 women had a wish for becoming pregnant after the passed infection. Ten women got spontaneously pregnant; two out of these got a spontaneous abortion. Eight out of 32 women (25%) delivered a child during the follow-up time. Three women delivered more than one child. Conclusions: We conclude that TVS guided drainage is the treatment of choice in women with tubo-ovarian abscesses, mainly when fertility is an option.


The purpose of this review paper is to outline the constructivist approach to the notion of information from two perspectives. The first perspective explores the role of 'constructed' information in the 'constructivist niche' – a common name for the appropriate viewpoints in different science fields, such as cognitive and neuroscience, psychology, cybernetics and biology of cognition. The second perspective considers library and information science (LIS) papers in which information is treated as a constructed entity. This paper assumed the origin of the notion of information to be a construction as defined in the 'constructivist niche' that is based upon communication theory and cybernetics. Conversely, the origin of the notion of information as a construction as per LIS can be found in Bateson's definition of information as a 'difference which makes the difference,' as well as in the 1970s LIS definition wherein information is associated with the direction of a cognitive viewpoint, as in a 'cognitive turn'. The study showed that 'information as a construction', except in a few cases, did not play a significant role in the constructivist theories nor in LIS. LIS researchers reduce the concept of information to a subjective, socially-constructed entity which inherently results in different interpretations.


1. Uncropped field margins are important foraging habitats on farmland for many declining bird species and are a key component of Agri-Environment Schemes across Europe. Maximizing the value of foraging habitats requires detailed knowledge of the factors influencing habitat selection and food availability. 2. We firstly conducted an observational study of foraging habitat selection by breeding yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella L. on lowland mixed farmland, in relation to underlying invertebrate and vegetation characteristics. 3. There was a clear seasonal shift in the relative use of field margins and cereal crops. Margins were used less than crops in late summer, despite supporting higher invertebrate abundance relative to cereals. Seasonal increases in vegetation height were most marked in margins, suggesting the seasonal decline in margin use may reflect reduced food accessibility. 4. In the second phase of the study, field margins were cut experimentally to create short, open patches within taller margin swards. The use of cut patches by foraging yellowhammers increased significantly between early and late summer, and patches were used more frequently with increasing height of adjacent uncut margin. These findings strongly support the theory that tall vegetation reduces margin accessibility in late summer. 5. Synthesis and applications. Provision of invertebrate-rich field margins is a core component of Agri-Environment Schemes, but current prescriptions may result in them having limited value in late summer. More effective management, such as more frequent cutting, may be required to maximize the benefits for foraging birds by creating short, open vegetation patches. Measures to increase accessibility to invertebrates on farmland are likely to benefit a range of bird species across a variety of crop types.


Major-element chemical compositions of the Utuado, Morovis, San Lorenzo, Rio Blanco, Rio Vivi, Torrecilla, and Guyon intrusions in Puerto Rico and the nearby Virgin Islands batholith indicate that there was a decrease in K 2 O in the intrusive magmas over most of the last 40 m.y. of eastern Greater Antilles island-arc evolution (80 to 40 m.y. B.P.) with a possible slight increase after 40 m.y. B.P. The average rate of change of K 2 O content was about −0.06% K 2 O/m.y. This compositional evolution is similar to that observed in the intrusive rocks of the south-western United States. By analogy to interpretations made for that area, the observed compositional changes could have been caused by gradual flattening of the angle of subduction of the Caribbean plate beneath the south side of the eastern Greater Antilles until 40 m.y. B.P. and subsequent initiation of subduction along a new trench to the north.


After September 11, much legislation has been passed that has impacted negatively upon the tradition of limited government and entrenched privacy rights. Scholarly interest is attracted to the mechanism by which regimes of control and surveillance have disestablished rights without engendering substantial popular resistance. In this article, we analyze a survey of Americans and Canadians on their attitudes toward surveillance and security-based legislation. We develop an argument that trust in government (TGB) produces a tolerance for legislation that limits citizen's rights. We evaluate our model for both Canada and the United States, given the scholarly debate that these countries differ regionally in their level of TGB and support of statism. We posit that support for surveillance and security legislation is related to respondents' trust of government, airport officials, and low tolerance of minorities (LTMs). Results suggest that TGB and airport officials as well as LTMs are the key predictors of surveillance and security legislation in both Canada and the United States. Although Quebeckers are more supportive and residents of the U.S. South are less supportive of security and surveillance legislation than the rest of North America, much of the difference in support for such policies can be accounted for by the level of public TGB.


: Medical treatments for PCOS are usually aimed at improving the clinical, endocrine and metabolic effects of this disease. A combination of hormonal contraceptives, progestins, insulin sensitizing agents and statins is effective, and also has metabolic and endocrine benefits. However, their long-term effects in terms of preventing the complications of PCOS, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, are still unknown and their adverse effects limit long-term use. Additionally, their effects on ovulation rates and hirsutism varied in women with PCOS. Resistance to clomiphene citrate (CC) is quite common (15-20%) along with variable efficacy. Metformin, the commonly prescribed drug for insulin resistance poses the patient to risk of hypoglycemia and increase in serum homocysteine level. Thus, available treatment is not without dis advantages and their adverse effects can limit the success of the treatment. Therefore, new agents are needed which treats PCOS with minimal side effects. Myoinositol is an important constituent of follicular microenvironment, playing a determinant role in both nuclear and cytoplasmic oocyte development. It positively affects hyperinsulinemia and oocyte's quality. It improves ovarian function and pregnancy rate. NAC has got multiple mechanism of actions including antioxidant property, has anti-apoptotic effect, vaso dilating effect, anti-inflammatory effect etc. It not only improves insulin sensitivity in hyperinsulinemic patients with PCOS but also shows better improvement in acne, hirsutism and weight gain compared to metformin. It helps in restoring the menstrual regularity.


It is generally agreed that digitalis finds its greatest use and value in its slowing of the ventricular rate during established auricular fibrillation. That digitalis may, however, initiate and be responsible for the development of this arrhythmia in children with heart disease has been questioned on the ground that other factors responsible for the onset of this irregularity could not be ruled out. 1 Since the rational use of digitalis depends in a great measure on a recognition and appreciation of its toxic manifestations, I have considered it worth while to call particular attention to the fact that digitalis in adequate doses can produce both the transient and the permanent forms of auricular fibrillation in children with heart disease. Moreover, the development of this arrhythmia is an early toxic manifestation during the course of digitalis therapy, and in some instances may result fatally. The close relationship of administration of digitalis


The War of June 1967 proved to be instrumental in changing the perceptions of the principal protagonists in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and also the major powers outside the region. The pre-emptive strike launched by Israel on 6 June began a comprehensive defeat of the Arab states, and in just six days Israel increased her size threefold, incorporating large portions of Arab land into her territory. The changes that occurred can be briefly summed up as follows: Soviet influence within the Arab states increased with military advisers sent to Egypt and Syria in great numbers to help reconstruct the defeated armies (despite the fact that Soviet armaments had failed to avoid a convincing Israeli victory). Israel's confidence both i n her own strength and i n her ability to survive increased. The idea that Israel could act as a "strategic asset" became a firmly established tenet of American foreign policy. Ironically, relations between the Soviet Union and the Arab states, who backed them, were strengthened after the defeat inflicted by Israel. On a practical level, the Soviet Union embarked upon a massive programme of military and economic support for the Arab states, quickly replacing the amount of military hardware that had been lost in the war. The Soviet newspaper "Izvestia" suggested that the Arab states realised that only: "through reliance upon the Soviet Union and other socialist countries, can they abolish completely imperialist influence in the Middle East and achieve Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Territories"!


showing reat spontaniety, in which the artist's eye and hand worked in splendid harmony, and these finished performances must have repaid the artist in the coin of satisfaction. George Inness' greatness lies in the fact that he blazed the way for our present day landscape school. He stopped painting nature anatomically correct in all its details, and investigated the ever changing light and atmospheric envelope which come over it and clothe it in beauty. He had absolute confidence in the material at hand, and instead of following the trail marked out by his predecessors he cut for himself a new path, studying constantly, and endeavoring togive his impressions of Nature in his own way. Incidentally he solved by instinct in which he had an abiding faith, some of the same problems which a later group of painters were to solve by scientific investigation. Mr. Ainslie did the Detroit Museum of Art and the people of the City of Detroit a real service in loaning his collection of Inness', the only one now available, and the people of this city showed their appreciation i the attendance during the month of November, which numbered nearly sixteen thousand visitors.


Background. Against the background of the dominance of patriarchy and heteronormativity in Africa and the resultant stigma, discrimination and victimisation of sexually and gender-diverse people, this article reports on the development of an affirmative position statement by the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) for psychology professionals working with sexually and gender-diverse people. The position statement is an attempt to contribute positively to the de-stigmatisation, amongst psychology professionals, of all people with diverse sexual and gender identities. objective. In documenting and reflecting on the process of developing the statement — a first on the African continent — the article aims to contribute to the potential resources available to others in their work on similar projects around the world. design. Although initially intended to be relevant to the African continent, the position statement is appropriate to the South African context specifically, but developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders, also from other African countries. Results. Concerns expressed during stakeholder consultations, and thus taken into account in the development of the statement, include relevance to other African countries, negotiating the politics of representation and language, the importance of including gender and biological variance in addition to sexuality, and the need to be sensitive to how Western influence is constructed in some African contexts. conclusion. Other national psychology organisations stand to benefit by 'lessons learned' during this country-specific process with global implications, especially with respect to broadening the lens from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) to sexual and gender diversity, as well as an acknowledgement of the multiple and fluid developmental pathways around sexuality and gender, in general.


: A 61-year-old woman in chronic treatment with 25 mg of amitriptyline underwent ovarian cancer resection under combined general and epidural lumbar anesthesia. After administration of local anesthetic she presented signs of severe arterial hypotension that was refractory to high doses of ephedrine and administration of dopamine alpha-adrenergic substances. Control was achieved with 200 micrograms of noradrenaline. We review the anesthetic implications of chronic use of tricyclic antidepressives as they affect choice of vasopressin for treating hypotensive events during anesthesia.


Although few in number, studies consistently find that price explains little, if any, of the variation in profit across farms. This contrasts with farmers' opinions regarding the importance of price, as well as the use of price supports as a primary policy instrument. Using farm level data from the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management program for calendar years 1996 through 2004, a potential explanation for this conundrum is identified. Price is significantly more correlated with a farmer's variation in management return from year to year (approximately, +0.45) than with the variation in management return across farmers (approximately, +0.10). Thus, the conundrum arises out of different perspectives: farmers focus on the performance of their own farm over time while studies have focused on the variation among farms.


Author(s): Marsh, Rex E. | Abstract: Rodenticide options for pocket gopher control are more limited now than anytime in the last 40 years. Strychnine remains the most economical and efficacious of the rodenticides available for use in production agriculture and forestry. The anticoagulant rodenticides, diphacinone and chlorophacinone, provide the best alternative to strychnine where the latter is thought inappropriate (e.g., school grounds, parks, etc.). The development of a behavioral type resistance to strychnine baits is currently jeopardizing control on certain ranches. Perishable baits (e.g., cubed raw carrots) are no longer an option because technical or concentrated strychnine is no longer registered for such uses. The development of the gopher burrow builder revolutionized pocket gopher control and has led to widespread extensive and concentrated gopher management which has been successful beyond expectations. Sources of gopher machines, reservoir-type baiting probes, and traps are provided along with a discussion of their uses. Fumigants and other gopher management methods are mentioned briefly.


Hybridization between a DNA sequence and its base-pairing complement is crucial in DNA computing to retrieve the information stored in DNA sequences and operate a computation processes. Therefore, much works have focused on designing the DNA sequences for a reliable molecular computation. In this paper, Ant Colony System (ACS) is proposed to solve the DNA sequence design problem. ACS, which is based on Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is an improvement of Ant System (AS) that uses some agents to obtain the solutions based on the pheromone in their colony. The DNA sequence design problem is modeled by four nodes, representing four DNA bases (A, T, C, and G) using the nearest-neighbor thermodynamic parameter's Watson-Crick base-pair DeltaGdeg37 as distances between one node to other nodes. Seven ordering methods for ACS are presented in this study in order to obtain the best set solution. The performance of each of those methods are compared and evaluated to decide the best ordering method for this application.


Background: Cancer is a fatal disease and is on the rise across the globe. In India, breast, cervix and the oral cavity are the leading cancer sites, but, unfortunately, in-spite of availability of screening tools, there is no organized cancer screening program in India. The main objective of this study was to review the performance of various cancer screening modalities in a resource poor setting. Methods: MEDLINE and web of science electronic database was searched from January 1990 to December 2013, using keywords such as "breast cancer, cervical cancer, oral cancer and their corresponding mesh terms were also used in combination with Boolean operators OR, AND." Two authors independently selected studies published in English and conducted in India. A total of 16 studies was found relevant and eligible for the review. The data on sensitivity and specificity of various screening tool was extracted and analyzed. Results: Most of the reported screening trails in India are on cervical cancer and few on breast and oral cancer screening. The pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity of cervical cancer screening test such as visual inspection with acetic acid, magnified visual inspection with acetic acid, visual inspection with Lugol's iodine, cytology (Papanicolaou smear) and human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid was found to be 68.76% and 84.02%, 63.27% and 85.43%, 81.86% and 87.03%, 63.25% and 93.17% and 75.04% and 91.66%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of clinical breast examination was found to be 94.30% and 94.30%, respectively. Oral cancer screening through visual inspection by trained health care worker was found to have 87.90% sensitivity and 92.05% specificity. Conclusions: Our study highlights the availability and success of visual screening tools in early detection and mortality reduction of major neoplasia in resource-poor health care settings and recommends implementation of oral and cervical cancer screening as part of assured primary health care package in developing countries.


Novel FPGA architectures combined with new implementation methods influence the widespread area of embedded system design. Current research results based on the Global Run Time Reconfiguration (RTR) method show improvements to the functional density of up to 500% in contrast to the widely used Compile Time Reconfiguration (CTR) method. In addition, the RTR method applied to a partial reconfigurable architecture, like Xilinx XC6000, promises further enhancements. This paper analyses different implementation methods in order to exploit the resources of specific FPGA architectures. The development of an ATM diagnostic monitor serves as a realistic application to analyse these methods. We will analyse the differences between the XC4000E/EX and XC6000 FPGA architecture, based on their use of the same CTR implementation method. Additionally: applying Local RTR to XC6000 leads to a further benefit of about 20% in contrast to the CTR method. The evaluation process is based on the FZI internal rapid prototyping environment, which is best suited for sophisticated ATM applications.


In this article, we present a literature review of the most popular and commonly used therapeutic procedures belonging to complementary and alternative medicine, which is part of the modern concept of integrative medicine, used in the treatment of psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disease wherein skin changes are the most visible sign. It occurs in approximately 1% to 3% of the world population, and the National Psoriasis Foundation of the United States estimates the number of patients in the whole world at about 125 million. Psoriasis primarily affects the skin, burdening patients with inflamed, pruritic, and sometimes painful lesions covered with whitish scales that last for years. Because of its prevalence in the general population, diversity of the clinical picture (from minimal and localized lesions without subjective symptoms to life-threatening conditions), and disease duration (practically a lifetime), psoriasis is a disease that has become a focus of modern medicine, and therapeutic options for the treatment of psoriasis are currently very numerous and diverse. Conventional treatment of psoriasis is guided by the so-called principle of "steps," where treatment options are applied according to the severity of illness assessed by a physician. Apart from the official therapy for psoriasis, as it is defined and understood in modern developed societies, there exists in parallel a great number of traditional, complementary, and alternative psoriasis treatments, which are based on the beliefs, experiences, and theories inherent to different cultures; in this article, we have analyzed the literature related to some of these procedures.


An information systems architecture is a specification of the information, computational elements, people, and underlying concepts in a services system. Accordingly, an associated data architecture is a specification of how data is stored, processed, and used in a system of record. A given data architecture effectively governs the flow of data in a system and establishes a relationship between an organization's processes and it's supporting information systems. Data architecture for an enterprise describes its applications, hardware, networks, business objects, business processes, and data. As such, it encompasses a complex set of definitions, methods, data types, and relationships. This paper introduces the concept of ontology applied to information systems and describes the essential elements of data architecture.


Advances in cell biology have often been driven by studies in diverse organisms and cell types. Although there are technical reasons for why different cell types are used, there are also important physiological reasons. For example, ultrastructural studies of vesicle transport were aided by the use of professional secretory cell types. The use of tissues/primary cells has the advantage not only of using cells that are adapted to the use of certain cell biological machinery, but also of highlighting the physiological roles of this machinery. Here we discuss advantages of the skin as a model system. We discuss both advances in cell biology that used the skin as a driving force and future prospects for use of the skin to understand basic cell biology. A unique combination of characteristics and tools makes the skin a useful in vivo model system for many cell biologists.


The goal of this paper is to make an attempt to generalise the model of pricing European options with an illiquid underlying asset considered by Rogers and Singh (2010). We assume that an investor's decisions have only a temporary effect on the price, which is proportional to the square of the change of the number of asset units in the investor's portfolio. We also assume that the underlying asset price follows a CEV model. To prove existence and uniqueness of the solution, we use techniques similar to fixed point theorems and Feynman–Kac representation. Asymptotic behaviour of the option price for small values of the illiquidity parameter is also analysed and a numerical procedure along with some numerical results is included.


AIM AND OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the apical extrusion of debris during root canal preparation with the use of different Nickel-Titanium (Ni-Ti) file systems.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Totally 60 single-rooted human mandibular premolar teeth with fully formed roots were chosen for the study. The coronal access cavity and all other preparations were done with the use of an access cavity kit and then 60 samples were randomly separated into three investigational groups (n = 20); group I: self-adjusting file, group II: WaveOne Gold, and group III: Mtwo rotary system. After instrumentation, the teeth were taken out from the tube and the root surface-adherent debris was collected by washing off the apical area of the tooth with distilled water (1 ml) into a centrifuge tube. The centrifuge tube was kept for 5 days in an incubator at 70°C to permit evaporation of the moisture prior to weighing the dry debris with the aid of an electrical analytical balance.

RESULTS
The highest quantity of debris extruded was by the Mtwo rotary system (0.0394 ± 0.880) followed by WaveOne Gold (0.0247 ± 1.030) and self-adjusting file (0.0198 ± 0.102). A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was found between the various file systems.

CONCLUSION
After considering the drawbacks of this study, apical debris extrusion could be found with all three groups. However, the self-adjusting file demonstrated a significantly reduced quantity of apical debris extrusion compared to the Mtwo rotary system and WaveOne Gold.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The chief step during the procedure of root canal treatment is the preparation of the infected root canals biomechanically. This preparation may lead to forcing the apical debris into the periapical space through the apical foramen, resulting in host-initiated immunological response which leads to postoperative discomfort and pain. This consequently leads to selection of a specific rotary system for endodontic treatment.


In contrast to conventional image-capture systems, which attempt to minimize the amount of data collected during capture, typically by using hardware filters, the more general condition of using all information captured on a camera sensor is much more challenging and requires rigorous consideration of the hardware and software pipelines to obtain accurate tracking results. In this paper, this issue is specifically addressed by describing a unique hardware and software design implemented for use as a fully image-based capture system. An attempt is made to minimize the cost of this system by maximizing hardware control through software implementation. The hardware and software requirements are described in the context of the desired high-speed capture suitable for earthquake motions or other dynamic movements in a scene. Experiments are conducted and presented illustrating the good performance and stability of the system. This system is deemed suitable for the general condition of a building interior.


In this article, our aim is to quantify the impact of three reference architectural styles, i.e. Aspect-peer-to-peer, Aggregator-escalator-peer, and Chain-of-configurators on the maintainability attribute in self-healing systems. To do so, we used metrics of coupling and cohesion. To show the effectiveness of our method, we applied it to the Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) as a case study. Our findings showed the Chain-of-configurators architectural style, in comparison with two other styles, had the least (best) coupling and the most (best) cohesion. In fact, it was the best style from the maintainability point of view.


Abstract : This monograph is a comprehensive treatise on Lanchester-type models of warfare, i.e. differential-equation models of attrition in force-on-force combat operations. Its goal is to provide both an introduction to and current- state-of-the-art overview of Lanchester-type models of warfare as well as a comprehensive and unified in-depth treatment of them. Both deterministic as well as stochastic models are considered. Such models have been widely used in the United States and elsewhere for the modelling of force-on-force attrition over the complete spectrum of combat operations, from combat between platoon-sized units through theater-level air-ground combat. This material should be of interest primarily to individuals concerned with defense planning, quantitative aspects of military analysis, military OR, war gaming, or combat modelling, although it may also be of interest to the reader concerned with the modelling and analysis of other dynamic systems. It should also be of interest to the concerned citizen who is interested in the foundations for defense analysis and has the appropriate technical background.


This study continues previous work on off-stoichiometric Fe-Pd alloys using a combined reaction strategy during thermomechanical processing [1,2]. Severe plastic deformation of the initial disordered fcc gamma phase (γ) of compostion Fe-35at.%Pd, followed by heat treatment in the two phase field produces a nano-composite ferromagnet comprised of soft alpha phase/ferrite (α) in a high-anisotropy L10 FePd matrix. The length scale and morphology of the transformation products have been characterized using x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The transformed microstructures exhibit strong texture retention similar to the stoichiometric alloy suggesting a massive ordering mode. The alloy has shown a proclivity to exchange couple at a length scale not in agreement with proposed theories of exchange coupling [3,4]. The magnetic properties were measured using standard vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). This research has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF-DMR).


This paper presents a low noise and high linearity LNA based on InGaP/GaAs HBT for 5.3 GHz WLAN. Previous LNAs based on FET series such as HEMT show excellent noise characteristics, but poor linearity. The InGaP/GaAs HBT LNA shows excellent linearity and noise characteristics because of its high base doping concentration. The proposed LNA is fully integrated in area of 0.9 /spl times/ 0.9 mm/sup 2/ single chip with high Q spiral inductors and MIM capacitors and biased at current point for optimum noise figure and gain characteristics, furthermore, excellent linearity is achieved. Measured result of the proposed LNA shows 13 dB gain, 2.1 dB noise figure, and excellent linearity in terms of IIP3 of 5.5 dBm. The figure of merit (FOM) defined as a function of the linearity and noise figure is 20.1 dB, which is the best result among previous LNAs.


Objectives: Analysis of new markers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) provides new insights into the immunopathogenesis and may be helpful in differential diagnosis of lung diseases. High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a non-histone nuclear protein and its release into the extracellular environment may be associated with the inflammatory response. The aim of the study is the analysis of HMGB1 in BALF, correlations with other markers of inflammation and differences in extracellular HMGB1 levels in various lung diagnoses. Methods: The concentration of HMGB1 was tested by an Elisa test. We calculated correlations with other inflammatory markers (leukocytes, total protein, albumin, IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 complement component, alpha-2macroglobuline, CD3, CD4, CD8, TREM-1 and TREM-2) and specified HMGB1 level in various diagnoses. Results: A positive correlation was found between the level of HMGB1 and total protein levels (p=0.0001), albumin (p=0.0058), IgA (p=0.011), IgM (0.0439) and TREM-2 (p=0.0188). Conversely, a negative correlation was revealed between HMGB1 and TREM-1 (p=0.0009). HMGB1 level varied in different diagnoses: the highest level was detected in QuantiFERON TB-positive subjects (median: 30.2) and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (median: 33.2), followed by pulmonary sarcoidosis (median: 16.8) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (median: 8.8). Conclusion: HMGB1 correlates with other inflammatory markers tested in BALF. Its level varies in different lung diagnoses. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2018; 35: 268-275)


The objective of this research is to understand cooperation performance using integration of Balanced Scorecard and Data Envelopment Analysis an to analyze the eficiency and efectivity level by utilizing Data Envelopment Analysis based on criteria in Balanced Scorecard. The sampling determination method used non probability sampling. The research data were collected from Cooperation Agency in Jombang Regency. The data analysis instrument was performance assesment using Balanced Scorecard Perpective based on financial perspective, customer, internal bisnis, learning and growth, and also eficiency calculation using DEA output oriented model. The result of this research concludes : from financial perspective is has been there was performance improvement in 2014 and 2 Cooperation were eficient; from customer perspective it has been discovered that there was performance decline in 2014 and 2 Cooperation were eficient; from internal bisnis perspective, it has been detected that there was performance improvement in the last year and 2 Cooperation were eficient; from learning and growth perspective, it that only one Cooperation was able to reach maximum eficiency. Keywords: Performance, DEA, BSC, Efficiency


ABSTRACT In the face of climate change, and as building codes and standards evolve to promote increased building energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprints, it is also important to ensure that buildings, especially housing, can withstand prolonged power outages during extended periods of both extreme cold and hot weather to provide habitable shelter passively. This paper examines an approach for visualizing the impact of robust passive measures in multi-unit residential buildings by examining the 'weakest links in the chain' – the suites most susceptible to underperforming – in three climatic zones: Toronto and Vancouver, Canada; and Adana, Turkey. Two time-based and thermal comfort-related metrics are explored: thermal autonomy, a measure of what fraction of the time a building can deliver comfort without supplemental active systems; and passive survivability (also termed thermal resilience), a measure of the length of time a building remains habitable following the onset of a prolonged power outage during a period of extended extreme weather. A visualization of the results of parametric building energy simulations helps guide the selection of passive architectural parameters at the early stages of design to promote enhanced environmental performance and resilience.


This thesis deals with one of the most important disturbances that affect the quality of the electrical supply. Voltage sags cause industrial processes malfunction, producing an enormous economical impact. A voltage sag is defined as a short duration reduction of the rms voltage. A voltage disturbance is in general considered as a sag when the rms voltage remains below 90 % of nominal voltage for a period not exceeding 3 minutes, however, there is not full agreement about these limits. A comprehensive literature review on power quality and voltage sags is included in this thesis.
A voltage sag characterisation method based on instantaneous voltages and phasor analysis is introduced. Through the analysis of the voltage phasor the sag magnitude, the phase-angle jump and the event duration are obtained. A new method for the sag classification of unbalanced sags into ABC categories using instantaneous voltages is proposed.
The presentation of the voltage sag characteristics is also important for the understanding of the event. Several methods for the presentation of sag characteristics are described. Besides the usual rms voltage vs. time and phase angle vs. time representation, a new method based on the phasor locus, extreme phasors, and a set of phasor snapshots is proposed.
The system performance is assessed through sag indices such as voltage sag frequency. The indices are obtained from measurements and a deterministic method combined with two simulation tools: a time-domain simulation program and a short-circuit calculation program. Both approaches are very suitable to simulate voltage sags. The choice for one of the approaches should be based on the goals of the study and the availability of system data.
The system performance is also assessed by stochastic simulation using the method of fault positions. The performance of some selected buses is estimated and compared to the actual one obtained from a voltage sag survey. The strengths and shortcomings of the method of fault positions are discussed. The sensitivity of the method is analysed in terms of variations of the fault rate, fault type distribution, and fault position.
The location of the source of voltage sags is estimated considering two network regions: upstream and downstream to a certain monitored bus. Several methods using voltage and current information are investigated and their performances are compared. A new method using only sag magnitude is introduced. The method is successfully applied in a simulated case study and verified by data obtained during a sag survey. The method shows its strength when applied in a sag survey where only voltage information is available.


This paper proposes the use of a synchronized linear transform, the synchronized short-time-Fourier-transform (sSTFT), for time-frequency analysis of anechoic mixtures. We address the short comings of the commonly used time-frequency linear transform in multichannel settings, namely the classical short-time-Fourier-transform (cSTFT). We propose a series of desirable properties for the linear transform used in a multichannel source separation scenario: stationary invertibility, relative delay, relative attenuation, and finally delay invariant relative windowed-disjoint orthogonality (DIRWDO). Multisensor source separation techniques which operate in the time-frequency domain, have an inherent error unless consideration is given to the multichannel properties proposed in this paper. The sSTFT preserves these relationships for multichannel data. The crucial innovation of the sSTFT is to locally synchronize the analysis to the observations as opposed to a global clock. Improvement in separation performance can be achieved because assumed properties of the time-frequency transform are satisfied when it is appropriately synchronized. Numerical experiments show the sSTFT improves instantaneous subsample relative parameter estimation in low noise conditions and achieves good synthesis.


459 blood donors aged 18-50 years were examined in 1987-1988 in Moscow. Among them, carrier state with respect to beta-hemolytic streptococci was detected in 107 donors (23.3%). The number of carriers gradually decreased with the increase of age of the examined donors. Group C streptococci occurred least of all (6.9%). Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated in 16.7% of the carriers. The isolation rate of streptococci from blood achieved its maximum in autumn and winter months and did not depend on preceding diseases, unhealthy working conditions, the rhesus factor and, with the exception of group A streptococci, the blood group. Among tonsillectomized donors carrier state with respect to beta-hemolytic streptococci occurred 2.2 times less frequently than among donors who had not undergone tonsillectomy. Carrier state with respect to beta-hemolytic streptococci was accompanied by higher levels of salivary sIgA antibodies to polysaccharide A, serum antibodies to polysaccharide A and circulating polysaccharide A. All beta-hemolytic streptococci were sensitive to erythromycin. All groups of streptococci showed the highest percentage of cultures resistant to gentamicin and tetracycline. In 100% of cases group A streptococci were sensitive to benzylpenicillin, methicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin and lincomycin.


Earthworms incorporate organic matter into soil but their influence on cycling of N from incorporated materials is not well understood. This study examined the role of earthworms in the turnover of N from different 15 N-labeled inputs. We incubated intact soil cores with or without earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) and with 15 N-labeled KNO 3 , rye litter (Secale cereale L.), or cow manure, added to the soil surface at a rate of 150 kg N ha -1 . The cores were destructively sampled after 2, 6, and 10 wk and assayed for total soil N. KCl-extractable N, microbial-biomass N (MBN), two size fractions (53-2000 μm and >2000 μm) of particulate organic matter (POM), and 15 N enrichment of all N pools. Earthworms increased the incorporation of 15 N into the soil in organically treated cores but had little effect on the distribution of 15 N in the inorganically fertilized cores. The percentage of initial 15 N that was incorporated into the soil after 10 wk was 71 and 45% in cores with earthworms and 34 and 25% in cores without earthworms, in the manure and rye treatments, respectively. Earthworms incorporated the manure more rapidly than the rye, as shown by temporal patterns of incorporation of total N and POM. Earthworms increased MBN in the manure treatment by about 20 to 30%, but slightly decreased MBN on one sample date (2 wk) in the rye treatment. Interactions between earthworms and organic materials of different quality influence both the rate at which the materials are incorporated into the soil and the subsequent mineralization of N from those materials.


Purpose: To compare a custom‐developed method for accurate dose recalculation of patient plans entered into clinical trials with results from a common treatment planning system. Method and Materials: A measurement‐driven multiple‐source model with the Dose Planning Method (DPM) Monte Carlo(MC)dose calculation algorithm was previously developed, validated, and benchmarked for the Varian 6 MV and 10 MV photon beams. Several patient cases have been recalculated and compared to the calculations from a Pinnacle planning system. Intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) prostate, IMRT abdomen, stereotactic body radiotherapylung, and IMRTlung patient cases were selected. Results:Field sizes from 4 cm × 4 cm to 40 cm × 40 cm were validated to within 2% of the maximum dose and 2 mm distance to agreement. At least 95% of the data tested met the validation criteria. Benchmark treatments planned using anthropomorphic phantoms were tested to within 3% of the target dose and 2 mm distance to agreement. At least 85% of the data tested met the benchmark criteria. Disagreement in the patient plan evaluation tended to occur at heterogeneity interfaces where electronic disequilibrium occurred, and in the beam penumbra, where scattered radiation was more prominent. The ratios of planning system calculation to MC calculation for the mean dose of the gross and planning target volumes for the patient plans ranged from 0.984 to 1.016. Conclusion: These results show that this MCsoftware code generates answers similar to the Pinnacle system for IMRT and SBRT treatment plans. Differences are consistent with the superior physics modeling inherent in the Monte Carlo code. We believe the method will be useful for recalculating dose distributions for patients entered into clinical trials. Work supported by PHS CA010953, CA081647, and R01 CA85181 awarded by NCI, DHHS


Performance parameters and oxidation of body lipids of broiler chickens were investigated when their diet was supplemented with a commercial preparation of essential oils (Apacox) derived from selected herbs. One hundred and twenty day-old Cobb-500 female chicks were divided into four groups with three replicates each. One group received the basal diet, the control. The three experimental diets consisted of the basal diet to which either 200 mg α-tocopheryl acetate/kg (Toc200 group), Apacox at 0.5 g/kg (Apa0.5 group) or Apacox at 1.0 g/kg diet (Apa1.0 group) was added. At the end of the 42 day feeding period there were no differences in initial and final body weights, daily weight gains, daily feed intakes and feed conversion ratios between treatments, and no mortalities were recorded. It is concluded that the mixture of herbal essential oils exerted no growth-promoting effect when incorporated in the chicken diet. The progress of lipid oxidation was assessed in raw and heat treated breast and thigh muscle at 0, 3, 6 and 9 days of refrigerated storage at 4 o C. Results showed that Apacox retarded lipid oxidation in both raw and heat treated breast and thigh muscles at all time points, with the supplementation level of 1.0 g/kg diet being more effective in retarding lipid oxidation than the 0.5 g Apacox/kg treatment. The retardation offered by Apacox was, however, inferior to that exhibited by α-tocopheryl acetate supplementation. Raw and heat treated thigh muscle samples were more susceptible to oxidation compared to breast muscle, although the latter contained α-tocopherol at markedly lower concentrations.


Previously, we reported that rdxB, encoding a likely membrane-bound two [4Fe-4S]-containing center, is involved in the aerobic regulation of photosystem gene expression in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1. To further investigate the role of rdxB as well as other genes of the rdxBHIS operon on photosystem gene expression, we constructed a series of nonpolar, in-frame deletion mutations in each of the rdx genes. Using both puc and puf operon lacZ fusions to monitor photosystem gene expression, under aerobic conditions, in each of the mutant strains revealed significant increased photosynthesis gene expression. In the case of mutations in either rdxH, rdxI, or rdxS, the aerobic induction of photosystem gene expression is believed to be indirect by virtue of a posttranscriptional effect on cbb3 cytochrome oxidase structure and integrity. For RdxB, we suggest that this redox protein has a more direct effect on photosystem gene expression by virtue of its interaction with the cbb3 oxidase. An associated phenotype, involving the enhanced conversion of the carotenoid spheroidene to spheroidenone, is also observed in the RdxB, -H, -I, and -S mutant strains. This phenotype is also suggested to be the result of the role of the rdxBHIS locus in cbb3 oxidase activity and/or structure. RdxI is suggested to be a new class of metal transporter of the CPx-type ATPases.


1. Three different inbred lines of rats were found to vary in their response to antikidney serum: rats of the Whelan strain were most susceptible to nephrotoxin and most prone to develop chronic glomerulonephritis immediately following the acute injury induced by this agent; animals of the Evans strain were almost as vulnerable to the acute effects of nephrotoxin; Wistar rats were the least affected. 2. Both Evans and Wistar rats usually recovered quickly from the acute injury, and between the 2nd and 5th months after injection they excreted normal or only slightly abnormal urines. During this period of absence of clinical signs of disease, histopathological examination of their kidneys revealed only minor scarring in the glomerular tufts. 3. Most of these apparently recovered rats subsequently developed a slowly progressing chronic glomerulonephritis irrespective of whether they were fed a basal or high protein diet. 4. Histopathologically similar renal lesions were present in all three strains of rats with active chronic nephritis regardless of whether the chronic disease followed immediately the acute nephrotoxic injury or was separated from it by an interval of months. These lesions were somewhat more severe, however, in Whelan rats. 5. Some intraglomerular scarring was present in the kidneys of all rats which survived acute nephrotoxic nephritis. It was especially prominent in those animals that remained clinically cured for as long as a year. 6. The permanent clinical recovery of certain animals, which were found to have moderate glomerular fibrosis on postmortem examination, suggests that factors other than this residual scarring contributed to the development of the recurrent nephritis observed in most of the Evans and Wistar rats. These unknown factors may produce varying degrees of renal functional trauma affecting both glomeruli and tubules.


The paper focuses on two Russian interpretations of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, the first written by Peter Struve, whose reaction on Weber's research was among the first in Russia, and the second by Sergey Bulgakov, who attempted a reinterpretation of Weber's concepts with their subsequent application to the conditions of Imperial Russia. It is widely known that Max Weber had a number of well-educated readers in Russia. The first was Bogdan Kistiakowsky who was directly connected with Weber's academic circle through his teacher, the prominent German jurist Georg Jellinek. Yet, this paper addresses the reflections of other intellectuals who belonged to the generation born in 1870s, including Peter Struve and Sergei Bulgakov and their younger fellows such as Semyon Frank who joined this intellectual circle through his older friend and supporter, Peter Struve. Despite the fact that Weber's The Protestant Ethic did not cause intense intellectual debates in Russia during 1906– 1910, Struve and Bulgakov were those who responded to the main arguments, providing two views on this classic book. Peter Struve proceeds from the premise of the loss by modern Christianity (both Western and Eastern) of an effective, real faith in the Resurrection, and the consequent impossibility of true religious community. As a result, Christianity turns out to be an asceticism exercised outside this world. Bulgakov's analysis interprets the Weberian concept as a general model of the "deep idealistic enthusiasm" influence on economic life, and translates this reasoning into a pragmatic plane, that is, into the possibility of economic "pedagogics" and the rise of a "spirit" of a new economy as an alternative to capitalism.


Five cases studied at our clinic are discussed and the literature reviewed with the aim of assessing the diagnostic value of various examination methods used for Wilson's disease and a modified diagnostic approach is suggested. CT and MRI are compared with regard to sensitivity, specificity and prognostic value. Almost regularly, MRI showed bilateral lesions in the basal ganglia in combination with structural changes in the brain stern. A pattern consisting of symmetrical lesions of the red nuclei, the periaqueductal grey region amI, facultatively, the substantia nigra and the dentate nuclei was discovered and appeared almost pathognomonic. Follow-up studies revealed excellent reversibility of MRI changes by both penicillamine and trientine. Auditory evoked potentials showed the highest sensitivity and the best correlation with structural findings. Kayser-Fleischer corneal ringsa diagnostic requirement in the literature were not found in al! patients. The current state of therapy and therapy management is discussed on the basis of pathophysiological considerations. As possible complications of penicillamine administration the deterioration of the clinical condition after initiating therapy, and the risks associated with an abrupt termination of therapy are discussed in detail.


Linear response conductance of a two terminal Aharonov-Bohm (AB) interferometer is an even function of magnetic field. This "phase symmetry" is no expected to hold beyond the linear response regime. In simple AB rings the phase of the oscillations changes smoothly (almost linearly) with voltage bias. However, in an interferometer with a quantum dot in its arm, tuned to the Coulomb blockade regime, experiments indicate that phase symmetry seems to persist even in the nonlinear regime.
In this letter we discuss the processes that break AB phase symmetry. In particular we show that breaking of phase symmetry in such an interferometer is possible only after the onset of inelastic cotunneling, i.e. when the voltage bias is larger than the excitation energy in the dot. The asymmetric component of AB oscillations is significant only when the contributions of different levels to the symmetric component nearly cancel out (e.g., due to different parity of these levels), which explains the sharp changes of the AB phase. We show that our theoretical results are consistent with experimental findings.