This research was initiated by the purchasing department of Thales Nederland. The goal was to reduce
the costs of this department using outsourced kitting. A kit can be defined as a container with the
needed parts for one or more assembly operations for a sub-assembly or a whole end product and
kitting can be defined as the collection of these parts. Outsourcing the kitting to a supplier means that
the supplier delivers the kit with its parts already kitted. The research investigated how outsourced
kitting should be organized at Thales Nederland. The research question was as follows:
How should Thales Nederland organize outsourced kitting of parts of a single supplier for the same
radar?
We approached this research by studying literature on in-house kitting due to lack of literature on
outsourced kitting. The literature formed the basis for the model we used during this research. This
model was used to find the relevant parameters and locate possible obstacles which could increase the
costs. We formulated solutions to these obstacles when possible and calculated the savings based on a
case study on with the SYSTEM-X as system and Supplier-X as supplier.
Using the model, the current situation was analysed. The following factors can cause extra costs when
outsourcing the kitting:
 Incomplete kits, because the assembly cannot start when not all parts are present and the part
needs to be reordered.
 Inspections, since it would create a lot of movement and waiting of the parts.
 Late deliveries, since their number can increase due to outsourced kitting.
 Design changes of parts, since the changed part must be traceable.
 Special handlings, since a part with a special handling must be traceable.
 The bill of material, since implementing a kit in the BOM is currently difficult
 Delay due to missing/broken parts that are currently kept on stock, since there is no internal
buffer for these parts anymore.
The major benefits of outsourced kitting are a reduction in the number of order lines, picks at the
warehouse and a reduction in warehouse capacity needed.
Outsourced kitting requires some changes in the current process. The following changes must be
implemented when outsourcing the kitting:
 There must be a manufacturing-BOM (M-BOM) in which kits can be defined. The M-BOM is just
a regular BOM, but is more independent than a regular BOM from engineering influences.
 Outsource visual (V) and functional (F) inspections to supplier to prevent movements of kits.
 Supplier keeps a stock policy which is equal to or better regarding the fill rate than Thales' stock
policy to prevent production/delivery delay. This policy counters the possible benefit of a
reduction on holding costs, since the stock is moved to the supplier. The value of the stock is
small compared to the possible delay costs.
Besides these changes, the kit must meet some requirements. Its design must facilitate the pick and
assembly operations such that it can improve these processes. Subsequently this design must be kept up
to date. The kits must have some distinctive features, such that it and its parts are recognized. The kit
should have its own number and the parts must be kept in their original packaging. Kits must not
incorporate parts that are difficult to kit due to their size or the special handling they require. As last,
the kit should have space for other parts of suppliers such that it can move as one kit to the final
assembly.
We analysed the costs and the gains of outsourced kitting using the theoretic model. Taking the costs and gains of both Thales and Supplier-X into account, the savings of outsourced kitting are around the €XXX per System-X. These savings create enough margin regarding errors and exceptions. When taking only Thales into account, the gains are €XXX per System-X. Comparing these gains with the costs of a System-X, which is several XXX, the gains are very marginal. Implementing outsourced kitting is not very interesting when only taking the gains into account. However, the side effects of easier communication and control and enforced coordination could create additional gains. Yet these effects are only present when a supplier has performance issues. Alternatives which solve these issues are probably more effective. Outsourced kitting could be used to share the information on the assembly process. Since outsourced kitting leads to a small saving, it is a suitable alternative to accomplish this sharing. Outsourced kitting could also be a useful tool to support the outsourcing of assembly activities. It is questionable if outsourced kitting should be implemented for its direct savings or savings due to easier communication and enforced coordination, but it can be implemented for sharing information of the assembly process or as tool to support the outsourcing of assembly activities. If one of those two benefits is wanted, we advise to implement outsourced kitting.
The parts that are currently ordered in a quantity bear the risks of outsourced kitting. If the quantity used is a small fraction of the quantity ordered, these parts do not contribute much to the overall gains of a kit. This results in that these parts are sensitive for errors. Excluding these parts could therefore be an option to reduce the risks.
It is questionable if outsourced kitting is profitable for other suppliers. The location of Supplier-X causes a very short delivery time. This reduces the costs if a part that currently is kept on stock, is broken/missing. Other suppliers that are not located nearby cannot provide these small delivery times and resulting in higher costs for missing/broken parts. Removing the parts with a low ratio on quantity used compared to quantity ordered can make outsourced kitting at other suppliers more interesting.
As stated earlier the gains of Thales are €XXX per System-X. These gains are realised for a large part by the reduction of the handling at the logistic inbound and the picking and storing activities at the warehouse. The gains for the purchasing department are €XXX per System-X, which is almost nothing. So outsourced kitting does not contribute to the goal of reducing the costs of the purchasing department.
There are already projects started that facilitate the changes needed for outsourced kitting. When implementing outsourced kitting, we advise to create awareness on outsourced kitting such that outsourced kitting can be taken in account in these projects. We advise to start with a project to outsource the V and F inspections. When all projects are finished, we advise to start outsourced kitting with the kits that are the most robust regarding costs against missing/broken parts. These kits can help in detecting and solving the start-up problems without much cost.


Lucilia sericata is known as a facultative ectoparasite and it often causes myiasis in open wounds, mouth, nose and eyes of animals and rarely in humans. This case report concerns a 56 year old woman who had right breast cancer surgery. Approximately 10 months after surgery, swelling, pain, redness occurred in the incision site. About two weeks later the site turned into an open wound then fly larvae (97 live larvae) were found. Under t operation conditions, a large surgical wound debridement and debulking were performed on the open wound. The patient was followed for three weeks after the operation. The wound dressings were carried out daily and it shrank partially. Medical treatment was given to the patient and she was discharged. The collected larvae were identified as Lucilia sericata by microscopic examination in the parasitology lab.(Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2011; 35: 43-6)


Microstructural change of TiB2-Cu nanocomposite during spark plasma sintering (SPS) was investigated. Under simultaneous action of pressure, temperature and pulse electric current titanium diboride nanoparticles distributed in copper matrix move, agglomerate and form a interpenetrating phase composite with a fine-grained skeleton. Increase of SPS temperatures and holding times promotes the densification of sintered compacts due to local melting of copper matrix.


Terror management theory and research indicate that humans cope with concerns about mortality by believing we are more than nonhuman animals. The current studies investigated whether this motivation plays a role in believing humans are more intelligent than other animals. Study 1 had participants think about mortality or another unpleasant topic. The study found that after the death reminder, participants had more negative reactions to a scientific article describing dolphins as smarter than humans, but not to an article that merely focused on dolphins' intelligence. Study 2 had participants read an article about dolphins being smarter than humans or an article describing dolphin intelligence without a comparison to humans. Participants then completed a measure that assessed how close to consciousness thoughts of death were. Those who read that dolphins were smarter than humans exhibited higher levels of death-related thought. These results may have important implications for conserving intelligent animal species.


Incremental Sheet Forming (ISF) is a novel sheet metal forming technology where the deformation of the metal sheet occurs locally and progressively. Compared to conventional stamping process, ISF does not require custom-made dies and punches which are costly and time-consuming to manufacture, thus ISF is more flexible and is suited to the growing demand for customised production. However, the geometrical accuracy of the shape made by ISF is lower than that made by a stamping process. We address this issue by adopting a linear forming process model and using a closed loop feedback control scheme to generate an optimised tool trajectory. Two types of shapes are produced, and the experimental results show that the by using closed loop control the final geometrical errors can be reduced to a much lower level.


The developmental role of the T-box transcription factor Tbx1 is exquisitely dosage-sensitive. In this study, we performed a microarray-based transcriptome analysis of E9.5 embryo tissues across a previously generated Tbx1 mouse allelic series. This analysis identified several genes whose expression was affected by Tbx1 dosage. Interestingly, we found that the expression of the gene encoding the cardiogenic transcription factor Mef2c was negatively correlated to Tbx1 dosage. In vivo data revealed Mef2c up-regulation in the second heart field (SHF) of Tbx1 null mutant embryos compared with wild-type littermates at E9.5. Conversely, Mef2c expression was decreased in the SHF and in somites of Tbx1 gain-of-function mutants. These results are consistent with the described role of Tbx1 in suppressing cardiac progenitor cell differentiation and indicate also a negative effect of Tbx1 on Mef2c during skeletal muscle differentiation. We show that Tbx1 occupies conserved regulatory regions of the Mef2c locus, suggesting a direct effect on Mef2c transcription. However, we also show that Tbx1 interferes with the Gata4→ Mef2c regulatory pathway. Overall, our study uncovered a target of Tbx1 with critical developmental roles, so highlighting the power of the dosage gradient approach that we used.


Background: The objective of this study was to compare the impact of task oriented physical activity to
improve hand motor control in stroke patients by comparing with motor learning and motor strategy.
Methods: A total of 20 patients who are post-stroke patients suffered a left brain hemisphere were
recruited for the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the experimental group consisted of 10
patients who underwent occupational therapy 5 times per week along with occupational therapy based on
differential training 5 times per week and control group consisted of 10 patients without any occupational
therapy. Results: In the experimental group the mean performance time of all tasks for wrist, hand and lift
of toys improved significantly (p<5) and no decline in quality of arm function was observed. In control
group, the mean performance time of five patients is not improved significantly (p<5) and the lift of toys
and the quality of arm function was not significantly improved. Conclusions: In the both groups, the
experimental group with interventional and occupational therapy sessions improved arm function and
differential training based occupational therapy and counseling on joint movements exercise,inter-locking
blocks therapy, using extension and flexion along with enhancing fingers dexterity. this approach is
inexpensive and more effectively.


The traditional games of kaili children, nogarata, nomaca, and gunrece, are formed from socio-cultural processes influenced by the spirit of Islam. His paradigm of play shifted from the sacred and mystical to the educational and Islamic paradigm that positioned traditional games as a vehicle for educating and shaping morals. The purpose of this study is to find, identify, and explain the traditional game paradigm of the Kaili tribe in the context of sociocultural, educational, and Islamic (Islamic ethnoeducation). The method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive method that aims to obtain and obtain the results of phenomena in aspects of Islamic ethnoeducation in the traditional game of the Kaili Tribe. Intensive data collection is carried out with engaged observation, interviews and documentation. Data analysis is performed using ethnographic principles through domain analysis, taxonomic analysis, and component analysis. The result of his research is that the traditional games of the Kaili people, nogarata, nomaca, and gunrece, are formed and distributed in socio-cultural, educational, and Islamic dynamics. Socio-culture is a source of creation and value systems; education becomes the pragmatics of the use of traditional children's games for teaching or educational purposes; while Islam became an identity that changed the socio-cultural paradigm and became an important value system in the traditional game of the Kaili Tribe. With the Islamic paradigm, the traditional game of Kaili tribe children becomes a game carried out with the aim of distributing and internalizing Islamic values, especially in the good morals of children.


The interferon status was studied in 54 patients with urogenital chlamydiosis, presenting with disturbances in the reproductive system. The blood serum content of gamma-interferon was 32-fold in the above patient population vs control subjects on conventional therapy. Supplementing such a therapy with cycloferon, an inducer of endogenous interferon, and with immunomodulin have been shown to activate production of interferon.


The effect of including wall and streamline curvature terms in swept-wing boundary-layer stability calculations is studied. The linear disturbance equations are cast on a fixed, body-intrinsic, curvilinear coordinate system. Those nonparallel terms which contribute mainly to the streamline-curvature effect are retained in this formulation and approximated by their local finite-difference values. Convex-wall curvature has a stabilizing effect, while streamline curvature is destabilizing if the curvature exceeds a critical value.


Surface fire intensity (kilowatts per metre) and crown fire initiation were predicted using Rothermel's 1972 and Van Wagner's 1977 fire models with fuel data from 47 upland subalpine conifer stands varying in age from 22-258 yr and 35 yr of daily weather data (fuel moisture and wind speeds). Rothermel's intensity model was divided into a fuel component variable and weather component variable, which were then used to examine the relative roles of fuel and weather on surface fire intensity (kilowatts per metre). Similar variables were defined in the crown fire initiation model of Van Wagner. Both surface fire intensity and crown fire initiation were strongly related to the weather com- ponents and weakly related to the fuel components, due to much greater variability in weather than fuel, and stronger relationship to the fire behavior mechanisms for weather than for fuel. Fire intensity was correlated to annual area burned; large area burned years had higher fire intensity predictions than smaller area burned years. The reason for this difference was attributed directly to the weather variable frequency distribution, which was shifted towards more extreme values in years in which large areas burned. During extreme weather conditions, the relative importance of fuels diminishes since all stands achieve the threshold required to permit crown fire development. This is important since most of the area burned in subalpine forests has historically occurred during very extreme weather (i.e., drought coupled to high winds). The fire behavior relationships predicted in the models support the concept that forest fire behavior is determined primarily by weather variation among years rather than fuel variation associated with stand age.


In this paper, a model based on ELM is proposed to predict the air-conditioning load under drought conditions by analyzing the daily average air- conditioning load during the drought. The main meteorological factors that impact the air-conditioning load are considered in the model, and then the air-conditioning load under drought conditions can be predicted by training the samples by the single hidden layer feed forward neural network of ELM. Thus, the model is used to provide good theoretical basis for management on the demand side of power sector. Finally, an example is showed to prove that the curve of the air-conditioning load forecasting model and the curve of the actual cooling load of the power are almost consistent, and the prediction is accurate, reliable, and can be applied to other load forecasting.


Alloy 600 is used as a material for a steam generator tubing in pressurized water reactors(PWR) due to its high corrosion resistance under a PWR environment. In spite of its corrosion resistance, a stress corrosion cracking(SCC) has occurred on the primary side as well as the secondary side of a tubing. It is known that a SCC is related to the electrochemical behaviors of an anodic dissolution and a passivation of a bare surface of metals and alloys. Therefore in the present work, the passive oxide films on Alloy 600 have been investigated as a function of the solution temperature by using a potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and a TEM, equipped with EDS. Moreover the semiconductive property was evaluated by using the Mott-Schottky relation. It was found that the passivity depends on the chemical composition and the densification of the oxide film rather than the oxide thickness. As the solution temperature of 0.5M H3BO3 increased, the thickness of the passive film increased but the oxide resistance of the passive film was decreased, indicating that the measured current in the passive region of the potentiodynamic curve is closely related to the stability of the passive film rather than the oxide thickness. It was found that the oxide films were composed of an outer oxide layer with a lower resistance and an inner oxide layer with a relatively higher resistance. From the Mott-Schottky relation, the oxide formed at 300oC showed a p-type semiconductor property unlike the n-type oxide films up to 250oC.


In this study a series of 3D models for curved [100] grain boundaries (GBs) in pure α-iron have been constructed. Each model consisted of a spherical grain, with an initial size of about 9 nm, surrounded by a large single-crystal. Different orientations have been assigned to the grain and the matrix in order to obtain interfaces with misorientation angles in the range of 5-45 degrees in steps of 5 degrees. The molecular dynamics with Embedded Atom Method (EAM) potential have been performed for investigation of the temporal changes in GB migration and grain rotations at temperature of 1000 K. The relationship between GB misorientation and its mobility has been found. It was also discovered that the density of the material decreases with a reduction of GB area. The effect of a triple junction on the interface motion has been also studied by introducing a bi-crystal matrix instead of a singlecrystal one. The results are discussed in terms of grain growth investigations in nanometals.


Many challenges arises when it comes to the selection of Off-The-Shelf (OTS) software components to use in software development. To make the selection process easier, other users experience on working out similar tasks could be of great value. Such experience data concerning the selection, the use, and the integration of a component is rarely available. In this Master thesis we describe the implementation of OTS-Wiki, which is a wiki based portal with community driven content. OTS-Wiki is a web community fostering evaluation and selection of OTS software components. The wiki provides basic functionality to support the process of evaluating and selecting components for use in component-based software development. The success of OTS-Wiki relies heavily on the quality and relevance of the content populating the repository. The are also usually related heavy start-up costs to such a repository. A wiki based portal, based on the open source collaboration principle, where the users themselves controls and populates the repository could be the solution to both these issues. Keywords: Community Driven, Component Evaluation, Component Selection, Off-The-Shelf, Open Source, OTS, OTS-Wiki, Social Computing, Web Communities, Web Technology, Wiki


The ventilatory functions (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, and peak expiratory flow rate) of West Pakistani immigrants working near Manchester were measured. There were 198 `normal' healthy adult workers aged 25 to 60 years and 129 workers aged 16 to 24 years. The subjects were considered `normal' if they did not admit to persistent cough and phlegm. The regression equations on age and height for the two groups are presented together with the corresponding nomograms for the adult group. Ventilatory function reached its maximum between the ages of 25 and 30 years; smokers and dust-exposed subjects did not differ significantly from non-smokers and non-dust-exposed subjects (P>0·1). This was probably due to their relatively light smoking habits and the short duration of dust exposure. The effects of age, in workers over the age of 25 years, and the predominant effects of height on the FVC, FEV1·0, and PEFR are similar to those found in other studies. The ventilatory capacity of the subjects was found to be somewhat lower than that of Caucasians, about equal to that of Negroes living in America, and higher than that of Indians of Asian origin living in Guyana or of Bantu Negroes in South Africa. The predicted FEV1·0/FVC% in the West Pakistani subjects is a little higher than any calculated from the results of other authors, but its regression on age is consistent with the findings of other studies and, therefore, can be used in clinical practice to assess the pulmonary conductance.


The data of the following study of isoelectric focusing in the system 'buffer--nonelectrolyte' are described. The method was shown to be employed for study of proteins, when human serum albumin was used as a model. A standard method and an apparatus device are proposed for the analytical isoelectric focusing of proteins both in the wide (pH 4.00-8.50) and in the limit (PH 4.50-6.00) PH regions. Advantages and limitations of the method are discussed as compared with the method of isoelectric focusing in ampholines.


We show that, in difference to previously applied electrochemical methods working with stationary electrodes, square wave voltammetry produces well-developed peaks IISW (specific for dsDNA) and IIISW yielded by ssDNA at hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and solid amalgam electrodes (SAEs). Using these peaks various kinds of DNA structural transitions can be studied, including unwinding of dsDNA at negatively charged electrode surfaces. The sensitivity of the DNA analysis is much better than that obtained with guanine oxidation signals at carbon electrodes. Both carbon electrodes and SAEs appear attractive as transducers in label-free RNA and DNA sensors.


Master the Android mobile development platform

Build compelling Java-based mobile applications using the Android SDK and the Eclipse open-source software development platform. Android: A Programmer's Guide shows you, step-by-step, how to download and set up all of the necessary tools, build and tune dynamic Android programs, and debug your results. Discover how to provide web and chat functions, interact with the phone dialer and GPS devices, and access the latest Google services. You'll also learn how to create custom Content Providers and database-enable your applications using SQLite.

Install and configure Java, Eclipse, and Android plugin
Create Android projects from the Eclipse UI or command line
Integrate web content, images, galleries, and sounds
Deploy menus, progress bars, and auto-complete functions
Trigger actions using Android Intents, Filters, and Receivers
Implement GPS, Google Maps, Google Earth, and GTalk
Build interactive SQLite databases, calendars, and notepads
Test applications using the Android Emulator and Debug Bridge

Table of contents

Ch 1. What is Android
Ch 2. Downloading and setting up Eclipse
Ch 3. Downloading the Google Android SDK and Eclipse Plugin
Ch 4. Exploring the Google Android SDK
Ch 5. Application: Hello World!
Ch 6. Using the Google Android Emulator
Ch 7. Reacting to phone events
Ch 8. Calling the GPS
Ch 9. Application: Note Block
Ch 10. Buttons, Lists, and other Objects
Ch 11. Application: Caller Info
Ch 12. Application: Find Me
Ch 13. Interacting with other Google Services
Ch 14. Troubleshooting and Errors


A significant percentage of young men are infertile and, for the majority, the underlying cause remains unknown. Male infertility is, however, frequently associated with defective sperm motility, wherein the sperm tail is a modified flagella/cilia. Conversely, a greater understanding of essential mechanisms involved in tail formation may offer contraceptive opportunities, or more broadly, therapeutic strategies for global cilia defects. Here we have identified Rab-like 2 (RABL2) as an essential requirement for sperm tail assembly and function. RABL2 is a member of a poorly characterized clade of the RAS GTPase superfamily. RABL2 is highly enriched within developing male germ cells, where it localizes to the mid-piece of the sperm tail. Lesser amounts of Rabl2 mRNA were observed in other tissues containing motile cilia. Using a co-immunoprecipitation approach and RABL2 affinity columns followed by immunochemistry, we demonstrated that within developing haploid germ cells RABL2 interacts with intra-flagella transport (IFT) proteins and delivers a specific set of effector (cargo) proteins, including key members of the glycolytic pathway, to the sperm tail. RABL2 binding to effector proteins is regulated by GTP. Perturbed RABL2 function, as exemplified by the Mot mouse line that contains a mutation in a critical protein–protein interaction domain, results in male sterility characterized by reduced sperm output, and sperm with aberrant motility and short tails. Our data demonstrate a novel function for the RABL protein family, an essential role for RABL2 in male fertility and a previously uncharacterised mechanism for protein delivery to the flagellum.


The illegal addition of progesterone to cosmetics could cause serious adverse reactions and pose a serious threat to human health. In this work, a simple, fast and sensitive method was developed by combining molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography (MISPE-HPLC) for the selective determination of progesterone in cosmetics. Chitosan-modified silica is used as the carrier to provide binding sites for the effective conjugation of the target. The obtained molecularly imprinted polymers exhibited excellent adsorption capacity (36.2 mg·g-1), good selectivity and fast mass transfer rate for progesterone. Meanwhile, the prepared MISPE column could eliminate the interference of co-existing substances. Combined MISPE with HPLC, a selective and effective method for detecting progesterone in different cosmetics was achieved. Under the optimum conditions, the established MISPE-HPLC method was successfully used for the detection of progesterone in real samples. The linear range of this method was 1 to 200 μg·mL-1 with a limit of detection of 0.016 μg·mL-1. Therefore, this method could be used for the selective and effective detection of progesterone in different cosmetic samples with complex substrates. We provided an alternative method for the detection of illegal additions in cosmetics.


This article argues that syndicalist trade union organizations, viewed internationally, were unique in First World War Europe in not supporting the war efforts or defensive efforts of their respective governments. The support for the war of the important French organisation has obscured the fact that the remaining five national syndicalist organisations – in belligerent Germany and Italy, and in neutral Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands – remained faithful to their professed workers' internationalism. The article argues that forces tending to integrate the labour movement in pre-1914 Europe had less effect on syndicalists than on other trade unions, and that syndicalist resistance to both integration and war in the non-Gallic countries was also influenced by their rivalry with social-democratic organisations.


In this paper we discuss the wide disparities that exist in childhood malnutrition, food insecurity and livelihoods within urban areas which, when combined with the mobility of urban residents, add to the complexity of designing, targeting and implementing urban programmes. Livelihood security in urban areas is dependent on cash income, especially for food expenditures, and hence employment. For women, employment brings about the need for support with childcare; we analyse a programme that provides the double benefit of delivering affordable and reliable childcare for extended hours, and allowing women to secure a more formal employment and obtaining employment benefits. Other factors that need to be considered in shaping urban programmes include land and housing security, the crime and violence situation, the availability and nature of social networks, and governance issues. Finally, we discuss potential strategic responses to the challenges of urban programming.


We show a bidirectional optical access network with dynamic channel allocation capability of decimeter-wave band optical radio-over-fiber (RoF) and baseband signals. The network can be configured enabling peer-to-peer connectivity, and is based on a simple access point (AP) unit. The proposed RoF architecture is highly scalable, both in terms of channels and APs.


Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to identify themes across articles that aimed to explore HIV-related syndemics in 2020 and 2021 and to discuss their implications for research on syndemics. Recent findings We identified 189 articles on syndemics between 2020 and 2021. Key themes across studies included COVID-19; mental health and psychosocial challenges; substance use; socio-structural factors; protective factors; and methodological approaches. COVID-19's implications for HIV syndemic research were discussed. Mental health and substance use research largely examined linkages with sexual practices or reduced HIV care retention. Researchers examined associations between socio-structural variables (e.g. poverty) and elevated HIV exposure, reduced HIV testing and poorer health. Concepts of water insecurity and 'ecosyndemics' were also raised, as was the importance of attending to noncommunicable diseases and comorbidities. Most studies did not assess interactions between health conditions, signalling the need for methodological grounding in the foundational concepts of syndemic theory. Summary Most studies recommended that HIV prevention and care research attend to the interplay between poor mental health, substance use and multidimensional violence. Increased attention to structural factors, particularly exacerbated poverty in the COVID-19 pandemic, is required. Research can identify protective factors to harness to advance HIV prevention and care.


Deficient antioxidant defenses in preterm infants have been implicated in diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, periventricular leukomalacia, and intraventricular hemorrhage. The antioxidant properties of selenium, vitamin A, and vitamin E make these elements important in the nutrition of Very Low-Birth Weight (VLBW) infants. Selenium is a component of glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme that prevents the production of free radicals. The decrease in plasma selenium in VLBW infants in the first month after birth makes evident that preterm infants have low selenium store and require supplementation by parenteral and enteral nutrition. A meta-analysis, with only three trials, showed that selenium supplementation did not affect mortality, and the incidence of neonatal chronic lung disease or retinopathy of prematurity, but was associated with a reduction in lateonset sepsis. Most VLBW infants and extremely Low-Birth Weight Infants (ELBW) are born with low vitamin A stores and need vitamin A supplementation by intramuscular or enteral route. Low plasma retinol concentrations increase the risk of chronic lung disease/bronchopulmonary dysplasia and long-term respiratory disabilities in preterm infants. There is evidence that vitamin A supplementation decreases the mortality or oxygen requirement at one month of age, and oxygen requirement at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. Vitamin E blocks natural peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids from lipid layers of cell membranes. VLBW infants have a decrease in plasma concentrations in the first month after birth suggesting the need of vitamin E supplementation. A meta-analysis on vitamin E supplementation concluded that vitamin E did not affect mortality, risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and necrotizing enterocolitis but reduced the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage and increased the risk of sepsis. Serum vitamin E concentrations higher than 3.5 mg/dL are associated with a decrease in the risk of severe retinopathy of prematurity, and blindness, but also with an increase in neonatal sepsis. Caution is recommended with the supplementation of high doses of parenteral vitamin E and supplementation that increases serum levels above 3.5 mg/dL. In conclusion: although it is known that preterm infants are deficient in selenium, vitamin A and E, more studies are required to determine the best way to supplement and the impact of supplementation on neonatal outcome


To the Editor. —Immune corneal rings are most commonly seen in association with infectious keratitis caused by gram-negative bacteria, herpes simplex, andAcanthamoebaspecies. They have also been reported after intravenous injection of radiocontrast media and have been reproduced in various experimental models.1-4However, this phenomenon has not been reported following the administration of a therapeutic agent, such as sulfamethoxazole. We report a case of corneal ring formation after the administration of sulfamethoxazole. Report of a Case. —A 55-year-old man with a history of "sulfa" allergy was admitted to the hospital following the abrupt onset of a diffuse erythematous skin rash, temperature of 39.5°C, myalgias, and arthralgias. This occurred two to three hours after the ingestion of one tablet of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim prescribed for presumed prostatitis. That evening, periorbital edema and shortness of breath developed, which were relieved rapidly with 0.5 mL of subcutaneous epinephrine. The next


Aims To assess hippocampal-dependent spatial memory and perception in pre-manifest and early stage Huntington's disease (HD) patients. Background Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the gene (HTT) which encodes the huntingtin protein (HTT). Although HD is typically considered a motor disorder, cognitive and affective disturbances often precede motor symptoms. Degeneration of the striatum and cerebral cortex are universally found in HD. However, accumulating evidence from patients and animal models suggests that hippocampal dysfunction may be an early feature of the disease, contributing to the cognitive and affective disturbances. The Four Mountains Test is a recently developed measure of hippocampal-dependent spatial cognition and memory. The test has been shown to elicit a characteristic pattern of impairment that is capable of dissociating Alzheimer's disease from Frontotemporal Dementia. Crucially, hippocampal atrophy is observed in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease whilst this region is spared in Frontotemporal Dementia. Methods Patients were recruited from our research clinic at the Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair. Control participants included the spouses of patients or individuals recruited through an advertisement. We administered the Four Mountains Task to 30 HD patients (pre- manifest and early disease), 50 patients with Parkinson's disease (early and late stage disease) and 80 age and gender matched healthy controls. Results Patients with Huntington's disease performed significantly worse than healthy controls on the Four Mountains Test, a result which was still significant after age and gender were controlled for. Interestingly, patients with early stage HD were significantly more impaired than pre- manifest patients. The performance of HD patients did not differ from Parkinson's patients, who also performed significantly worse than controls. Conclusion HD patients exhibited progressive deficits in hippocampal-dependent spatial cognition. The results support evidence showing that hippocampal deficits are present in early stages of the disease and are likely to contribute to aspects of cognitive dysfunction. The results of this study suggest a common hippocampal deficit in Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease that may be a result of the reciprocal relationship between the striatum and hippocampus.


We study plane strain thermomechanical deformations of a square block made of steel, and model a material defect in it by a rigid non-heat-conducting ellipsoidal inclusion located at the center of the block. The boundaries of the block are presumed to be thermally insulated, and its top and bottom surfaces compressed vertically at a prescribed rate. The loading pulse is assumed to be made up of three parts; an initial segment in which the speed increases from zero to the steady value, the steady part, and the third part in which the speed decreases gradually to zero and is maintained at zero subsequently. In the undeformed state, the specimen is assumed to be fully annealed, isotropic, and its microstructure to be a mixture of coarse ferrite and cementite. A material point is presumed to start transforming into austenite once its temperature exceeds the transformation temperature; the rate of transformation is controlled by a simple kinetic equation. Proper account is taken of the latent heat required for the transformation, the associated volume change, and the variation in the thermophysicalproperties. The complete thermomechanical problem is analyzed during the loading and unloading phase till all of the body points have essentially come to rest, and the energy equation is solved subsequently. It is found that the austenite is quenched rapidly enough by the surrounding material for it to be converted into martensite rather than pearlite or a mixture of pearlite and martensite.


The possibility of eradicating the pelargonium flower break virus (PFBV) and pelargonium line pattern virus (PLPV) by cryotherapy of axillary shoot apices was investigated using five Pelargonium cultivars. Viruses were detected by DAS-ELISA and their location was determined by immunolocalization. Apex culture did not permit elimination of PFBV and only 15 percent regenerated plants of 'Stellar Artic' cultivar were ELISA PLPV-negative. Plants regenerated from cryotherapy-treated apices were tested by DAS-ELISA after a 3-month in vitro culture period. Viruses were not detected in 25 percent and 50 percent of the plants tested for PFBV and PLPV, respectively. However, immunolocalization carried out on apices originating from cryopreserved shoot tips sampled from DAS-ELISA negative plants showed that they were still virus-infected. Using immunolocalization, PFBV and PLPV could be detected in Pelargonium apices, even in the meristematic dome. However, viral particles were more numerous in basal zone cells than in meristematic cells. Our results demonstrate that PFBV and PLPV are present within meristematic cells and that cryopreservation can partly reduce the quantity of these viruses in Pelargonium plants but not eliminate them totally. Additional knowledge on localization and behaviour of viruses during cryopreservation is essential to optimize cryotherapy and plant genetic resource management.


Marine hydrates, which lock-up vast quantities of methane, are considered to be a prospective alternative energy source, a slow tipping point in the global carbon cycle and a probable trigger for submarine failures. In this thesis marine hydrate systems offshore of Mauritania and associated structural and sedimentary features are investigated by utilising two surveys of high-quality three-dimensional (3-D) seismic data. Interpreting them provides new insights into marine hydrate systems and how they respond to changes in ambient conditions.

In one region of one of the 3-D seismic surveys, a shear zone covering 50 km2 is identified immediately above the hydrate bottom simulating reflector (BSR). It is considered to be the initial stages of a failure that did not result in widescale downslope transport of the succession. Due to this failure not going to completion, some free gas remains trapped at the level of the BSR. At this level the presence of free gases is supported by the continuous high-amplitude reflections. It is proposed that buoyancy built up by the inter-connected gas accumulation increases the pore pressure of the overlying hydrate-bearing to the level such that its base was critically stressed. In this research there is no seismic evidence for failures triggered by hydrate dissociation but the role of free gas in priming submarine failures is examined.

Whether marine hydrates can release significant amounts of methane into the atmosphere is inconclusive. In this research a proposed model indicates that methane was re-captured in the hydrate stability zone after being liberated. Ocean warming since the last glacial maximum (LGM) gave rise to the shoaling of the base of the hydrate stability zone (HSZ). Gases released from hydrate accumulating at the base entered the HSZ, driven by buoyancy built up in the gas accumulation. The hydrate seal was breached and this is manifested by 15 gas chimneys in seismic data. Hydrates then re-formed at a specific level within the HSZ. This study implies that not all of methane would enter the ocean after released from hydrates and therefore the contribution of marine hydrates to the atmospheric methane budget may be not that much as it was predicted before.

Gas venting is an effective way to transport methane at depth vertically to the ocean and an example of it is found in the feather edge of marine hydrate. This venting was possible due to the presence of faults above a salt diapir and is manifested by a series of pockmarks and mounds at the seabed. The BSR at this site is convex upwards and hence formed a trapping geometry for underlying free gases. Numerical model shows that this up-convex geometry is caused by the salt diapir having a higher thermal conductivity. Permeable migration conduits along the faults and excess pore pressure at the top of the trap allow for the happening of the venting. Compared with the neighbouring area where the BSR can be well observed, the region affected by diapirism has a limited scale of the observable BSR. This absence is proposed to result from the formed trap intercepting methane-rich pore fluid that would migrate landwards along the level of the base of the HSZ.


Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is commonly used in domestic kitchen due to its low health and environmental impacts and high heat content compared to other traditional fuels. The growing demand of LPG, notwithstanding its limited reserve, influences the need for performance improvement of the LPG cookstoves. In an LPG cookstove, the fuel–air mixture is prepared in a self-aspirated burner, and burns as a rich premixed flame above the burner. The fuel–air ratio of the reactant mixture influences the burning characteristics and thermal efficiency of the cookstove. This part of work deals with a numerical study of flow and mixing characteristics in the mixing tube and burner assembly of a domestic LPG cookstove. The fuel is injected axially through a narrow nozzle inside the mixing tube causing entrainment of ambient air through the side ports and the end port. The effects of different side-port geometry, nozzle position, inlet fuel pressure, and nozzle throat diameter on the air ingress have been systematically investigated, and the optimum design has been identified. Results of the study provide important information on the design of the practical nozzle and mixing tube assembly of high-efficiency LPG stoves.


Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and levels of factor VIII inhibitors in known haemophilics in our population. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Haematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from Mar 2016 to Aug 2016.Patients and Methods: A total of 88 patients were included in this study. aPTT based screening for inhibitor was done both immediately and two hours after mixing the patients plasma with the normal plasma. Both host related and treatment related risk factors for inhibitor formation were checked. They were followed during the treatment. Outcome was noted in terms of inhibitor presence and strength of inhibitor. Results: Patients ranged between 2-30 years of age. Mean age of the patients was 6.68 ± 4.90 years. All patients were males. Severity of haemophilia was as follows: Eighteen cases (20.4%) were mild, 43 cases (48.9%) were moderate and 27 cases (30.7%) were having severe haemophilia. Level of factor VIII inhibitors was >0.5 BU in 4 patients (4.5%) and 10 years. Stratification with regard to age, severity of haemophilia and duration of treatment was carried out. Conclusion: In conclusion, though development of factor VIII inhibitors has not yet become major issue in our population and only 4.5% haemophiliaA patients developed inhibitors in present study.


Estradiol-17b (E2) and progesterone (P4) play critical roles in female reproductive physiology and behavior. Given the sensitivity of females to exogenous sources of these steroids, we examined the presence of E2 and P4 in conspecifics' excretions and the transfer of excreted steroids between conspecifics. We paired individual adult female mice with a stimulus male or female conspecific given daily injections of [H]E2 or [ H]P4. Following 48 h of direct interaction with the stimulus animal, we measured radioactivity in the uterus, ovaries, muscle, olfactory bulbs, mesencephalon and diencephalon (MCCDC), and cerebral cortex of the untreated female cohabitant. Radioactivity was significantly present in all tissues of female subjects after individual exposure to a stimulus male or female given [H]E2. In females exposed to males given [H]P4, radioactivity was significantly present in the uterus, ovaries, and muscle, but not in other tissues. In females exposed to stimulus females given [H]P4, radioactivity was significantly present in all tissues except the MCCDC. In mice directly administered [H]steroids, greater radioactivity was found in the urine of females than of males. Among females directly administered [H]steroids, greater radioactivity was found in urine of those given [H]P4 than of those given [ H]E2. When females were administered unlabeled E2 before exposure to [ H]E2-treated females, less radioactivity was detected in most tissues than was detected in the tissues of untreated females exposed to [H]E2-treated females. We suggest that steroid transfer among individuals has implications for the understanding of various forms of pheromonal activity. Key Words


The Pearsonian coefficient of correlation as a measure of association between two variates is highly prone to the deleterious effects of outlier observations (in data). Statisticians have proposed a number of formulas to obtain robust measures of correlation that are considered to be less affected by errors of observation, perturbation or presence of outliers. Spearman's rho, Blomqvist's signum, Bradley's absolute r and Shevlyakov's median correlation are some of such robust measures of correlation. However, in many applications, correlation matrices that satisfy the criterion of positive semi-definiteness are required. Our investigation finds that while Spearman's rho, Blomqvist's signum and Bradley's absolute r make positive semi-definite correlation matrices, Shevlyakov's median correlation very often fails to do that. The use of correlation matrices based on Shevlyakov's formula, therefore, is problematic.


In this paper, we introduce a class of $J$-quasipolar rings. Let $R$ be a ring with identity. An element $a$ of a ring $R$ is called {\it weakly $J$-quasipolar} if there exists $p^2 = p\in comm^2(a)$ such that $a + p$ or $a-p$ are contained in $J(R)$ and the ring $R$ is called {\it weakly $J$-quasipolar} if every element of $R$ is weakly $J$-quasipolar. We give many characterizations and investigate general properties of weakly $J$-quasipolar rings. If $R$ is a weakly $J$-quasipolar ring, then we show that (1) $R/J(R)$ is weakly $J$-quasipolar, (2) $R/J(R)$ is commutative, (3) $R/J(R)$ is reduced. We use weakly $J$-quasipolar rings to obtain more results for $J$-quasipolar rings. We prove that the class of weakly $J$-quasipolar rings lies between the class of $J$-quasipolar rings and the class of quasipolar rings. Among others it is shown that a ring $R$ is abelian weakly $J$-quasipolar if and only if $R$ is uniquely clean.


Scholars have suggested that autonomy can lead to better entrepreneurial team performance. Yet, there are different types of autonomy, and they come at a cost. We shed light on whether two fundamental organizational design choices—granting teams autonomy to (1) choose project ideas to work on and (2) choose team members to work with—affect performance. We run a field experiment involving 939 students in a lean startup entrepreneurship course over 11 weeks. The aim is to disentangle the separate and joint effects of granting autonomy over choosing teams and choosing ideas compared with a baseline treatment with preassigned ideas and team members. We find that teams with autonomy over choosing either ideas or team members outperform teams in the baseline treatment as measured by pitch deck performance. The effect of choosing ideas is significantly stronger than the effect of choosing teams. However, the performance gains vanish for teams that are granted full autonomy over choosing both ideas and teams. This suggests the two forms of autonomy are substitutes. Causal mediation analysis reveals that the main effects of choosing ideas or teams can be partly explained by a better match of ideas with team members' interests and prior network contacts among team members, respectively. Although homophily and lack of team diversity cannot explain the performance drop among teams with full autonomy, our results suggest that self-selected teams fall prey to overconfidence and complacency too early to fully exploit the potential of their chosen idea. We discuss the implications of these findings for research on organizational design, autonomy, and innovation.


The extent to which historical dispersal, environmental features and geographical barriers shape the phylogenetic structure and turnover of tree communities in northwestern Amazonia at multiple spatial scales remains poorly understood. We used 85 floristically standardized 0.1‐ha plots (DBH ≥ 2.5 cm) distributed in three subregions of northwestern (NW) Amazonia across three main habitat types (floodplain, swamp and terra firme forests) to hypothesize that (a) historical dispersal overcome geographical barriers, which meant low local phylogenetic relatedness and low phylogenetic turnover. (b) Geographical barriers triggered dispersal limitation, causing high local and subregional phylogenetic clustering and high regional phylogenetic turnover. (c) Edaphic properties and flooding were negatively associated with stem size and determined the tree phylogenetic structure and turnover at local and regional scales in Amazon forests. We found that the extent to which environmental or evolutionary features shaped the phylogenetic structure and phylogenetic similarity of tree communities in NW Amazonia was scale dependent. Specifically, we show that the relative importance of environmental factors increases as spatial scale and species pool decreases. Furthermore, we find that these results are generally robust for both adult and juvenile trees. Synthesis. Our analysis at the regional (NW Amazon) scale lends support to the idea of Amazonian forests as a large meta‐community primarily structured by historical dispersal at large spatial scales with an increasing importance of environmental factors at finer spatial scales. The convergence of ancestral lineages across habitat types may have been due to the relatively recent formation of geographical barriers that promoted local isolation and allopatric speciation.


Three-quarters of the world's written constitutions make reference to a right to education, and nearly half to a right to health care. Most also include a generic protection of 'the right to life' or of 'human dignity'. And, several key regional and international human rights regimes protect a variety of subsistence rights. Despite this flurry of constitutional innovation, little attention has been given by legal academics to questions such as what prompts countries to constitutionally entrench socio-economic rights, the place of such rights in a larger scheme of the welfare state, or the non-idealist, 'realpolitik' factors that explain the variance in judicial interpretation of socio-economic rights provisions or divergence in the actual distributive consequences of social rights regimes. This chapter examines several possible 'extra-constitutional' explanations for the tremendous variance in constitutional protection of social and economic rights and our analysis suggests that there are multiple paths and trajectories to the realization (or neglect) of social welfare rights, of which constitutionalization is only one aspect. Moreover, a significant body of scholarship in comparative politics and political economy attempts to determine the primary causal factors involved in shaping the form and strength of social protections regarding inequalities in living conditions, redistribution of wealth, and provision of welfare services. We submit that this literature and the empirical data upon which it draws could serve as a solid jumping off point for an investigation of the relationship of constitutionalization of socio-economic rights and their actual provision. Likewise, an exclusively doctrinal-legalist examination of socio-economic rights jurisprudence is limited without taking into account the extra-judicial determinants of judicial behaviour, in particular given the fact that socio-economic rights jurisprudence often has crucial fiscal and political ramifications.


Preparatory attention selects upcoming stimuli that will be used to guide behavior. This cognitive faculty is controlled by the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which primes sensory cortex neurons that represent the stimulus. Lesion studies have implicated multiple PFC regions in the control of attention, including the rat prelimbic cortex (PL) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The first aim of this dissertation was to characterize and compare neural activity in these regions during a preparatory attention task. The second aim was to assess interactions between these regions during preparatory attention. Coordinated activity between the PL and ACC was studied by measuring spike synchrony with local field potential (LFP) oscillations. The third aim was to study neural activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which provides dopamine projections to the PFC that are known to modulate PFC control of attention. The nature of VTA neural activity during attention and its coordination with the PFC has not been characterized.

In order to study PFC and VTA neural activity during preparatory attention, we recorded single unit spiking and LFP and primarily focused analysis on the pre-stimulus period, when a preparatory attention control signal is generated by PFC neurons. The rat was trained to orient to a wall of three stimulus ports, expect a brief illumination at one of the ports, and make a response into the illuminated port. While the timing of stimulus onset was predictable, the location varied randomly. These task characteristics resulted in error trials in which the rat responded to an incorrect port. The analyses of pre-stimulus neural activity compared correct and error trials.

We observed a sustained change in PFC single unit firing rate during the pre-stimulus period. The sustained firing patterns were predictive of attentional accuracy, in that the sustained activity was reduced during error trials. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the PL and ACC interacted during preparatory attention. We also observed sustained activity in the VTA, which may stabilize sustained PFC activity during preparatory attention. VTA spiking correlated with ACC gamma (40 Hz) oscillations, which may be used to communicate the attention control signal from the PFC to sensory cortex.


Remote sensing of foliar chemistry has been recognized as an important element in producing large scale, spatially explicit estimates of forest ecosystem function. Visible and near infrared reflectance measurements of forest foliage, at both the leaf and canopy scales, were studied in an effort to relate spectral data to foliar chemical composition. At the scale of the individual leaf, near infrared spectra and chemical data were collected from 211 fresh leaf samples, including 17 different hardwood and conifer species. Reflectance data at selected near infrared bands was closely related to the nitrogen, lignin, and cellulose concentration of these leaf samples, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.83. In order to make large-scale regional estimates of foliar chemistry, this study was extended to whole forest canopies. Foliage and leaf litter were sampled on forty plots at Blackhawk Island, Wisconsin and Harvard Forest, Massachusetts to determine canopy level nitrogen and lignin concentrations. At the time of the field sampling, spectral measurements of the canopy were made with NASA's Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer, a high spectral resolution instrument. Calibration equations were developed from these field and spectral data (R$\sp2 =.87$ and.77 for nitrogen and lignin, respectively). These equations were applied to all image pixels to make spatially explicit estimates of canopy nitrogen and lignin for both study sites. These estimates of nitrogen and lignin concentrations were then used with existing ecosystem models to predict carbon balance at Harvard Forest and nitrogen mineralization rates at Blackhawk Island. The chemical analysis of leaf samples collected from the study sites revealed that foliar nitrogen and lignin concentrations could be used to identify samples by species. The spectral bands used to measure nitrogen and lignin were then used to identify 11 different species classes at the Harvard Forest. A comparison of field measured species composition to the classification showed an overall accuracy of 73.4%. These results indicate that airborne and spaceborne imaging spectrometers will provide important information for the study of forest ecosystems.


Using a mixed set of ethnographic methods including interviews and a structured survey, we evaluate local perceptions about the sustainability of salmon fisheries among fishers of the Cook Inlet region of Alaska. A majority of residents report participating in these fisheries, but we find significant disagreement about their sustainability. Household income and the types of fishing practiced both influence people's responses, and many implicated specific user groups for overharvesting and/or for receiving unfair catch allocations. Drawing on the theoretical areas of information theory and political ecology, we argue that these findings reveal a complex interplay among the practical, social, and political aspects of how local resource users, or "local experts," develop and communicate their assessments of ecological conditions in a context of conflict. We conclude with notes on future research as it relates to the successful design of local-management and co-management solutions, especially in settings where resources are contested by stakeholders.


Frequency‐time spectrograms measured by the Detection of Electro‐Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions (DEMETER) spacecraft (2004–2010, altitude about 700 km) at frequencies below 20 kHz sometimes contain lightning‐generated whistlers whose intensity is significantly reduced at specific frequencies. The frequencies of the reduced intensity vary smoothly over the event duration, forming apparent curves in frequency‐time spectrograms. Events at frequencies higher than the Earth‐ionosphere waveguide cutoff frequency were explained by the interference of the first few waveguide modes of lightning‐generated spherics propagating therein (Záhlava et al., 2015, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JA021607. Here we present an analysis of events observed at frequencies lower than about 1 kHz. Altogether, we analyze 263 events identified at the times when DEMETER operated in the burst mode. The vast majority of the events (95%) took place during the nighttime, and they occurred more frequently during spring/autumn than during winter/summer. We present an overview of event properties. Moreover, measurements of all six electromagnetic field components performed by DEMETER allow us to perform a detailed wave analysis. It is shown that the emissions propagate with high wave normal angles inclined toward the Earth. We suggest that the events might be due to the wave propagation in the ionospheric waveguide formed around the refractive index maximum at the altitude of about 105 km.


Braille letter is characters designed for the blind, consist of six embossed points, arranged in a standard braille character. Braille letters is touched and read using fingers, therefore the sensitivity of the fingers is important. Those characters need to be memorized, so it is very difficult to be learned. The aim of this research is to create a braille characters recognition system and translate it to alpha-numeric text. Webcam camera is used to capture braille image from braille characters on the paper sheet. Cropping, grayscale, thresholding, erotion, and dilation techniques are used for image preprocessing. Then, artificial neural network method are used to recognize the braille characters. The system can recognize braille characters with 99% accuracy even when the braille image is tilted up to 1 degrees.


To perform patient-specific quality assurance (QA), the accuracy of the dose calculation algorithm is vital, especially in the lung cancer stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The present study is based on the evaluation of two widely used algorithms, analytical anisotropic algorithm (AAA) and Acuros XB (AXB) inside the in-house developed heterogeneous thorax phantom (HTP) and a homogeneous slab phantom (HSP) simultaneously. To evaluate dosimetric differences between the two algorithms, point dose measurement was performed for pretreatment QA plans of 35 lung cancer patients by keeping the same monitor units and beam angles as those for the actual patient treatment. The dose was calculated on the Eclipse treatment planning system inside both the medium by using both AAA and AXB algorithms. Plans were delivered on the Edge linear accelerator (LA) (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA, USA), and measurements were taken by using a 0.01 cc ion chamber and DOSE1 electrometer. Statistical analysis was performed on the observed data set, and percentage (%) variations between the measured and planned doses were calculated and analyzed. The mean % variations between the measured and planned doses inside HTP for all QA plans were found to be 2.61 (standard deviation [SD]: 0.66) and 2.19 (SD: 0.64) for AAA and AXB algorithms, respectively. Whereas, inside HSP, it was found to be 1.79 (SD: 0.74) and 1.64 (SD: 0.70) for AAA and AXB algorithms, respectively. The mean % difference between the measured dose and the planned dose was derived to be statistically significant for HTP, however, it was found to be statistically insignificant inside the HSP at P < 0.01. The Pearson's correlation coefficient test showed a strong positive correlation between the measured dose and the planned dose for both AAA and AXB inside HTP as well for HSP. The results obtained from this study showed that as the actual patient body is heterogeneous, thus to get more realistic results, patient-specific QA must be performed inside the heterogeneous phantom instead of homogeneous. Moreover, in the homogeneous medium, both the algorithms predict the dose efficiently, however, in heterogeneous medium, AAA over/under predicts the dose, whereas AXB shows good concurrence with measurements.


This contribution presents an approach to use fuzzy logic and fuzzy rule systems for enterprise application evaluations (enterprise architecture dependent application evaluations). Such evaluations regard all relations to enterprise architecture artifacts in order to evaluate an application. There may be a large number of criteria to be considered and some of them have to be assessed by humans, which may introduce vagueness to the results. We present a method to assign the results of criteria to linguistic terms that have semantics like "good" or "poor". Since it is often relevant to have exactly one characteristic to compare applications to each other, a fuzzy rule system approach is presented that aggregates those linguistic terms for each criterion of an application to an overall indicator of an application's quality.


In this article a closed form solution is derived for the deformation response of a composite sandwich plate subjected to static indentation of a flat-ended cylindrical indenter. The facesheet deflection is several times the laminate thickness so that bending moments may be neglected and only membrane forces are considered in the facesheet. In contrast to the existing analytical model for the indentation of composite sandwich plates, in the present model, the stacking sequence of the facesheets can be completely arbitrary, so that the shear-extension coupling terms, i.e. and , can also be included in the analysis. Furthermore, in the present model the effects of the initial in-plane normal and shear stresses on the edges of the sandwich plate are also considered. An improved contact law is derived based on the minimum total potential energy principle. The elastic strain energy, the plastic work dissipated in crushing the core and the external work are calculated using an appropriate shape function for the facesheet deflection. The relations between the indentation load and the deflection and length of deformation are obtained by minimization of the total potential energy. Analytical predictions of the load-indentation response compare well with experimental results. The effects of stacking sequence, ply thickness, number of layers and initial in-plane forces on the load-indentation response are studied and discussed.


Attributes of rigor and quality and suggested best practices for qualitative research design as they relate to the steps of designing, conducting, and reporting qualitative research in health professions educational scholarship are presented. A research question must be clear and focused and supported by a strong conceptual framework, both of which contribute to the selection of appropriate research methods that enhance trustworthiness and minimize researcher bias inherent in qualitative methodologies. Qualitative data collection and analyses are often modified through an iterative approach to answering the research question. Researcher reflexivity, essentially a researcher's insight into their own biases and rationale for decision-making as the study progresses, is critical to rigor. This article reviews common standards of rigor, quality scholarship criteria, and best practices for qualitative research from design through dissemination.


Researching sensitive topics such as sickness and disability can encompass a wide range of demands that must be continually negotiated throughout the research process by both the researcher and research participants. Therefore, a studying the study approach is important when exploring the quality and ethical practice in qualitative research on sensitive issues with vulnerable populations. This becomes especially important within a UK context when considering the negative discourse surrounding the sickness benefits process in the UK. Drawing upon semi-structured interviews with 25 long-term sick and disabled benefits recipients in the UK, the study sought to uncover the health and illness narratives of long-term sickness benefits recipients. Within the presentation of methods that were used, a discussion of the methods used in conducting a "study of the study" are considered, providing an illustration of how to do this and what to do with the results of such a reflective piece. The challenges of doing such research are outlined, and the need for a reflective process surrounding the research process is emphasised. Finally, the approach of studying the study is an example of an illustration of how to adopt this approach when considering qualitative research with hard to reach groups. Keywords: Reflexive, Sickness, Disability, Sickness Benefits, Identity, Performance, Qualitative, Grounded Theory, Hard to Reach


Abstract In debt financing, existence of information asymmetry on the firm quality between the firm management and bond investors may lead to significant adverse selection costs. We develop the two-stage sequential dynamic two-person game option models to analyse the market signalling role of the callable feature in convertible bonds. We show that firms with positive private information on earning potential may signal their type to investors via the callable feature in a convertible bond. We present the variational inequalities formulation with respect to various equilibrium strategies in the two-person game option models via characterization of the optimal stopping rules adopted by the bond issuer and bondholders. The bondholders' belief system on the firm quality may be revealed with the passage of time when the issuer follows his optimal strategy of declaring call or bankruptcy. Under separating equilibrium, the quality status of the firm is revealed so the information asymmetry game becomes a new game under complete information. To analyse pooling equilibrium, the corresponding incentive compatibility constraint is derived. We manage to deduce the sufficient conditions for the existence of signalling equilibrium of our game option model under information asymmetry. We analyse how the callable feature may lower the adverse selection costs in convertible bond financing. We show how a low-quality firm may benefit from information asymmetry and vice versa, underpricing of the value of debt issued by a high-quality firm.


Objective: Progress made in preclinical radiotherapy makes respiratory gating reachable. Nevertheless, technical means are still needed, as well as accurate investigations of the effect of motion on small animal treatment plans. Methods: An animal-scaled dynamic phantom (0.3–11.1-mm motion peak-to-peak amplitude, 30–120 cycles per minute) was developed and characterized. It was used to evaluate respiratory monitoring and high resolution imaging (mPET/CT scans). The width and position variations of a fluorine-18 solution were measured for various motions and gating configurations. The phantom was finally used to measure the impact of motion on dose distribution for vertical irradiation using 2.5and 5-mm collimations. Results: Phantommotions accurately reproduced original waveforms with good rate and amplitude linearity (R5 1 and R50.9995, respectively). mPET/CT acquisitions showed an increase of 92% of the target size caused by a 4.9-mm sine motion and reduced to ,12% by gating. Target motion measurements showed consistency better than 18% between modalities. Irradiations showed that motions .0.8 and 1.1mm (for the 2.5and 5-mm collimations, respectively) significantly impact dose homogeneity in the target. Conclusion: The phantom allowed studying motion in small animal imaging and irradiation. It showed the important impact of motions .2mm and provided accurate data to improve the management of mobile tumour irradiation. The implementation of gated irradiation, associated with motion-compensated imaging, is currently under progress. Advances in knowledge: Small animal irradiation gating is not yet used in preclinical studies. As few solutions are under development, tools and accurate studies are highly needed.


Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal that is found in aquatic food webs and is hazardous to humans. An emerging conceptual model predicts that the areas of the landscape that have the potential to contain food webs with elevated concentrations of Hg are those that receive high amounts of Hg and sulfate deposition and have high coverage of forests and wetlands and low coverage of agriculture. The objective of the present study was to test this conceptual model using concentrations of Hg in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) from 145 reservoirs in four ecoregions of North Texas. The highest level of Hg contamination in fish was in the South Central Plains, the ecoregion that receives the highest levels of Hg and sulfate deposition and contains extensive forest and wetland habitat and little agriculture. The present study has important implications for other areas of the United States, because the South Central Plains extend into parts of Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas, covering a total area of 152,132 km2 of the southern United States. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:2041–2045. © 2011 SETAC


Emergence of engineering nanomaterials to render exceptional properties require understanding the thermodynamics and kinetics of grain growth and eliciting role of grain boundary mobility therein. Grain boundary mobility in alumina (Al2O3) has shown several repercussions on the evolution of microstructure to render drastic differences in the mechanical- (hardness, yield strength), optical- (transmittance), electrical- (conductivity), magnetic- (susceptibility), and electrochemical- (corrosion) properties. Consequently, the role of surface energy and the effect of temperature in equilibrating the grain shape and size are presented herewith. Several statistical or deterministic computational modeling have been attempted by researchers to elicit the dominating grain growth mechanisms. But, the limitations extend from the memory of computer and number of atoms in a simulation, or feeding the boundary conditions without incorporation of the initial microstructure to arrive at the dominating growth mechanism parameters. Contrastingly, the role of dopants in Al2O3 to either enhance or impede the grain growth is presented via various complexions responsible for transitions at the grain boundary interface. Six complexions resulting various grain boundary interface, strongly affect the grain boundary mobility, and sideline the dopant contributions in deciding the overall grain boundary mobility. It has also been presented that grain growth exponent increases with decreasing grain size, and additionally, secondary reinforcement of carbon nanotube (CNT) in Al2O3 impedes the grain mobility by as much as four times. The effect of temperature is found to be more pronounced, and has shown to enhance the grain boundary mobility by as much as six orders of magnitude.


In this paper we describe the status of the first prototype of the 60 GHz wireless Multi-gigabit data transfer topology currently under development at University of Heidelberg using IBM 130 nm SiGe HBT BiCMOS technology. The 60 GHz band is very suitable for high data rate and short distance applications. One application can be a wireless multi Gbps radial data transmission inside the ATLAS silicon strip detector, making a first level track trigger feasible. The wireless transceiver consists of a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes an On-Off Keying (OOK) modulator, a Local Oscillator (LO), a Power Amplifier (PA) and a Band-pass Filter (BPF). The receiver part is composed of a Band-pass Filter (BPF), a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), a double balanced down-convert Gilbert mixer, a Local Oscillator (LO), then a BPF to remove the mixer introduced noise, an Intermediate Amplifier (IF), an On-Off Keying demodulator and a limiting amplifier. The first prototype would be able to handle a data-rate of about 3.5 Gbps over a link distance of 1 m. The first simulations of the LNA show that a Noise figure (NF) of 5 dB, a power gain of 21 dB at 60 GHz with a 3 dB bandwidth of more than 20 GHz with a power consumption 11 mW are achieved. Simulations of the PA show an output referred compression point P1dB of 19.7 dB at 60 GHz.


The National HIV-AIDS Strategy document was launched on December 27 1995 in simple rites in Malacanang with no less than President Fidel V. Ramos himself giving his famous thumbs-up sign as his way of endorsing the document for mass distribution and discussion. The 25-page strategy document was developed to "serve as a framework for both individual and community responses to the challenge of HIV infection and AIDS. It seeks to provide the appropriate context necessary for both independent as well as coordinated responses." The strategy presents nine major principles that need to be considered in developing and carrying out programs that aim to address the various dimensions of HIV infection and AIDS. These principles were presented critiqued and validated in several regional consultations held between June and September 1995 and participated in by representatives from government agencies and nongovernmental organizations. ISSA attended the launching ceremonies having been an active member of the Committee on Policy Development of the Philippine National AIDS Council which helped in the drafting and review of the document. Copies of the document are available at the STD/AIDS Unit of the Department of Health. It is encouraged that the document be discussed widely such that the strategy may be used to aid in the development and evaluation of programs on HIV/AIDS in the country. (full text)


Over the past few decades urbanization and population growth have been the main trend all over the world, which brings the increase of economic benefits (EB) and the decrease of cropland. Cropland protection policies play an important role in the urbanization progress. In this study, we assess the trade-offs between EB and ecosystem services value (ESV) under three cropland protection policy scenarios using the LAND System Cellular Automata for Potential Effects (LANDSCAPE) model. The empirical results reveal that trade-offs between EB and ESV in urbanizing areas are dynamic, and that they considerably vary under different cropland protection policy scenarios. Especially, the results identify certain "turning points" for each policy scenario at which a small to moderate growth in EB would result in greater ESV losses. Among the three scenarios, we found that the cropland protection policy has the most adverse effect on trade-offs between EB and ESV and the results in the business as usual scenario have the least effect on the trade-offs. Furthermore, the results show that a strict balance between requisition and compensation of cropland is an inappropriate policy option in areas where built-up areas are increasing rapidly from the perspective of mitigating conflict between EB and ESV and the numbers of cropland protection that restrained by land use planning policy of Wuhan is a better choice.


Performance and productivity production line system are very influenced by facility layout planning. Facilities composition if appropriate with flow of materials between departments, it will sustain the continuity of the system. PT. X engaged in the field of printing. Composition of the current layout facilities on the Plant has not fully optimized well and indeed has a potential possibility to be developed further in the future. This statement is supported from the result of existing MHPS which gives Rp 6.560.374,50 for total cost of material handling and 136329 metres for total distance. As for the purposes of this research are: evaluating the performance of current facility layout, designing the layout of the facility with qualitative and quantitative methods, comparing the current with proposed improvement layouts, as well as create a picture the new layout facility. The process of designing proposed layouts is done by using qualitative methods (CORELAP, BLOCPLAN & CRAFT) and quantitative methods (ABSMODEL & CRAFT) that both of the algorithms need same inputs, which are: current facility layout and the flow of material. Based from the results of calculation proposed layouts, show that layout from qualitative methods (CORELAP) gives maximal reduction to the total cost of material handling so that the amounts will be decreased to Rp 6.100.133,55 (reducing 7,02% from total cost of current layout), and 117264 metres for total distance (reducing 13,985%.).
Kata kunci : facility layout, quantitative methods, qualitative methods


In order to investigate the resistivity structure beneath the northern and the southern branches of the western part of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), which has been known as a seismic gap area, we started wideband magnetotelluric (MT) measurements on 27 July 1999, along a north-south profile crossing the northern branch near Izmit and the southern branch near Iznik. When the Izmit (Kocaeli) earthquake ( M w 7.4) occurred on 17 August 1999, MT fields were being measured at five sites, four of which happened to be located near the surface rupture zone associated with the mainshock, and large variations in the MT fields were observed in association with seismic waves. We propose motional electromagnetic induction in the electrically conducting crust, which vibrates under the Earth's magnetic field, as one of the possible generation mechanisms for such MT field variations. For more detailed studies of such a mechanism, we installed a wideband MT instrument and a three-component seismometer at two of the four sites on 16 September 1999 and made simultaneous measurements during several aftershocks. The estimate of the order of the magnitude of motional electromagnetic response, derived from the MT fields and ground motion observed during a large aftershock ( M 4.5), supports our claim that the seismo-dynamo effect is a plausible mechanism for variations in the MT fields associated with the seismic waves.

Manuscript received 31 July 2000.


Tables are given for the second virial coefficient and Joule-Thomson coefficient (at low pressures) of a gas whose molecules are non-polar, approximately cylindrical, and stiff. The tables cover the range of length/breadth ratio consistent with the last assumption. The tables can be used for the analysis of observed virial coefficients of gases whose molecules satisfy these assumptions, and give an estimate of the intermolecular forces between these molecules at any relative orientation. For small ratio of length to breadth the virial coefficient is nearly the same as that of a spherical molecule with certain mean values of the parameters defining the intermolecular field. This makes it possible to relate these mean parameters to the critical constants and to the parachor. The virial coefficients of nine gases are analysed. The data on seven hydrocarbons enable one to estimate the law of force between molecules of the lower non-polar hydrocarbons.


In this article we present SenPeer, a new Peer-to-Peer data management system allow- ing data sharing among experts working on the development of the senegal river in a decentralized and flexible fashion. SenPeer has a Super-peer network topology based on an organization of peers in semantic domains and in which peers can contribute XML documents, relational or object data- bases. Each peer exports its data in a common formalism which has a graph struture semantically enriched with a set of keywords in order to guide mappings discovery. Mappings discovery relies on a set of fuzzy similarity measures. Moreover they allow the establishment of a semantic topology that is independent of the underlying network toplogy which is the basis for intelligent query routing.


The objective of this work was to conduct an ontogenetic and structural study of the urachus. We studied 40 human fetuses (13–20 weeks post conception, WPC). The urachus was stained in Masson's trichrome, to quantify connective tissue and smooth muscle and to determine the urachal lumen area. Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin was used to observe elastic fibers, and picrosirius red and immunohistochemistry analysis were used to observe collagen. The images were captured with Olympus BX51 microscopy and an Olympus DP70 camera. The stereological analysis was done using the software Image Pro and Image J, to determine volumetric densities. For biochemical analysis, the collagen concentrations were expressed per milligram of dry tissue. Means were compared using the unpaired t test (p < 0.05). Quantitative analysis documented a statistically insignificant increase (p = 0.1475) in volumetric densities of smooth muscle in the urachus of males (23.02%), when compared with females (18.43%), and a statistically significant increase (p = 0.0439) in volumetric densities of connective tissue in the urachus of females, (67.64%) when compared with males (58.38%). Total collagen concentrations in the male (31,919–56.792 µg/mg, mean 45,656) and female fetuses (33,485–48,527 µg/mg, mean 42,308) did not differ significantly (p = 0.5912). At higher gestational ages, the urachal lumen area was smaller. In 13th WPC fetuses, the urachal lumen area was 16,301 µm2 and in 17th WPC fetuses, the urachal lumen area was 1,676 µm2. We determined that the urachal lumen was closed from the 17th WPC in all fetuses.


CLEVELAND PIGGOTT, JR. The role of microtubules and myosin II in the formation of Hirano bodies (Under the direction of Drs. MARCUS FECHHEIMER and RUTH FURUKAWA) Hirano bodies are intracellular, paracrystalline, F-actin rich, structures that are most commonly found in the autopsied brains of humans suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. However, their biochemistry and physiology are not well understood despite their association with aging and several diseases. Recently, an in vitro and in vivo model to induce formation of Hirano bodies in living cells by expression of various mutants of a 34 kDa actin bundling protein mutant (Maselli et, al., 2002, 2003; Davis et, al., 2008) was developed. This allows further questions concerning Hirano bodies to be investigated. To examine what is necessary for the formation of Hirano bodies, we investigated the role of microtubules and an actin-dependent motor protein, myosin II. An inducible promoter for a protein that forms Hirano bodies fused to green fluorescent protein (pVEII-E60K-GFP) was introduced in Dictyostelium discoideum amoeba in the presence of pharmacological reagents. Cells were treated with nocodazole, a microtubule depolymerizing drug, or blebbistatin, a myosin II ATPase inhibitor. Cells were analyzed via fluorescence microscopy. After 24 hours of induction, no statistical difference in Hirano body size was seen between control cells and those treated with nocodazole, but blebbistatin-treated cells contained significantly smaller Hirano bodies, but still retained some large Hirano bodies. This suggests that myosin II plays a role in the formation of Hirano bodies but is not essential. Further experiments are needed to elucidate what components of the cytoskeleton are absolutely essential for the formation of Hirano bodies. INDEX WORDS: Hirano bodies; neurodegenerative disease; microtubules; myosin II; actin THE ROLE OF MICROTUBULES AND MYOSIN II IN THE FORMATION OF HIRANO BODIES


The explanatory gap between the life sciences and the humanities that is present in the study of human phenomena impedes productive interdisciplinary examination that such a complex subject requires. Manifested as epistemological tensions over reductionism vs. holism, nature vs. nurture, and the study of micro vs. macro context, the divergent research approaches in the humanities and the sciences produce separate bodies of knowledge that are difficult to reconcile. To remedy this incommensurability, the article proposes to employ the complex adaptive systems approach, which allows to study specific cultural systems in their ecologies and to account for the myriads of factors that constitute such systems, including nonlinear interactions between these factors and their evolution. On a specific example of religious systems, we show that by studying cultural systems in their contextual variability, mechanistic composition, and evolutionary history, the humanities and the sciences should be able to fruitfully collaborate while avoiding previous pitfalls of excessive reductionism, genetic determinism, and sweeping overgeneralizations, on the one hand, and pitfalls of excessive holism, cultural determinism, and aversion to any generalizations, on the other hand.


Purpose
It is 10 years since the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) was founded and the development of the IIRC Framework has been adopted by thousands of organisations. This paper aims to provide empirical evidence on the motivation for the preparation of integrated reports from a diffusion of innovation (DOI) perspective.

Design/methodology/approach
Three case study organisations operating in distinct industry sectors are investigated to ascertain the motivation for the adoption of integrated reporting. DOI theory was adopted as the theoretical lens to guide the research design. An interpretative approach is used to ascertain common themes from an analysis of semi-structured interview transcripts of senior managers and directors.

Findings
The findings from these case studies support the main tenets of DOIs theory. The evidence suggests that senior executive leadership plays a significant role in commencing the integrated reporting "journey". This study finds evidence of DOI characteristics, such as relative advantage, compatibility and observability with respect to the objectives of senior managers. The main motivations for the production of the integrated report were to demonstrate leadership and innovation to stakeholders, overcome the perceived inadequacies of the disclosures required for traditional annual reports, to enhance transparency and to satisfy the changing demands of investors and other stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications
This project captures the perceptions and views of preparers of the integrated report rather than its users. In addition, only three case study sites were investigated, therefore, generalisations would be spurious.

Practical implications
Other organisations yet to consider the production of integrated reports or to re-assess their stakeholder relationships, could use these findings to plan for their own future reporting obligations.

Originality/value
The organisations investigated were a superannuation fund, a multinational company and a charity. All are recognised leaders in their respective industries.


Global health experts have warned for decades of potential global influenza outbreaks. Although some strides have been made to mitigate the risks and consequences of a pandemic, concerns have been raised about the level of preparedness – both nationally and internationally. This contribution considers a number of plagues and pandemics that directly or indirectly played a role in the development of the South-African legal system, specifically the Justinian Plague, the Black Death, the Great Plague, the Third Bubonic Plague, the Spanish Flu and the Influenza Outbreaks of the past century. Each pandemic created legal and political challenges at the time that were dealt with in the context of the existing conceptions of social justice; this inevitably shaped the development of public health and disaster management jurisprudence and, in some instances, also contributed to the change in the underlying world order. This contribution aims to set out the legal development associated with pandemics that influenced the South African common-law legal system from Roman times until the end of 2019, just prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. There are two main parts to this contribution: The first deals with local or national activities at the time of the pandemic, while the second deals with later international law developments to address possible negative global consequences of such pandemics. The aim is thus, on the one hand, to detect themes from local or national responses to the social, cultural and economic costs of a pandemic, even though it is understood that the impact and consequences of plagues and pandemics are not identical. On the other hand, international law developments are discussed as these too had an impact on the South African legal framework and commitments. Although various aspects related to addressing the consequences of pandemics have improved – such as global surveillance, prevention and eventual control to decrease the incidence and severity of outbreaks – a historical assessment of these experiences is useful for evaluating the progress made towards preparedness at national and international levels. The contribution concludes with a short description of the South African legal framework in 2019 as it pertained to a potential pandemic outbreak.


Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is an advanced manufacturing system that enables the integration of transactions-oriented data and business functions throughout an enterprise. ERP system holds the potential of greatly enhancing organizational performance and establishing competitive advantage. ERP project team can reduce their implementation costs by having a well thought out ERP implementation process. This research examines the ERP implementation process from the project management based perspective. The theoretical framework is developed to specify the ERP implementation process, which is categorized into five phases in project life cycle: initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing. The research adopts the iterative triangulation as a methodology to establish this study, and one large company in Iran has been chosen by researchers to examine the proposed framework.


The study aimed to identify the factors associated with street racing among the illegal motorcycle racers in Malaysia also known as the Mat Rempit, and their help-seeking intention. A total of 2,022 Mat Rempit were surveyed. The findings support the notion that experience-seeking, prestige-seeking, excitement-seeking, self-satisfaction, underestimate risk, and social influence were factors influencing illegal motorcycle street racing. The overall intention to seek help was extremely low. The majority (77.9%) reported that they would solve the problem themselves and 75.5% thought that illegal street racing is not big deal and would go away in time. Participants with neither (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.27–0.62) or at least one parent who is strict (OR 0.52; 95% 0.37–0.73) were less likely to have high help-seeking intention than those with both parents who are strict. Study indicates a need for family-centered intervention to curb illegal street racing.


Introduction: PTLDS/chronic Lyme disease may cause disabling symptoms with associated overlapping autoimmune manifestations, with few clinically effective published treatment options. We recently reported on the successful use of a mycobacterium drug, Dapsone, for those with PTLDS. We now report on the novel use of another mycobacterium drug, pyrazinamide, (PZA), in relieving resistant symptomatology secondary to Lyme disease and associated co-infections, while decreasing autoimmune manifestations with Behçet's syndrome. Method: Disabling multi-systemic/arthritic symptoms persisted in a Lyme patient with co-infections (Bartonella, tularemia) and overlapping rheumatoid arthritis/ Behçet's disease, despite several rotations of classic antibiotic and DMARD regimens. Dapsone, a published treatment protocol used for Behçet's syndrome, recently has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of PTLDS/chronic Lyme disease and co-infections. It was superior to prior treatment regimens in relieving some resistant chronic tick-borne/autoimmune manifestations; however, it did not effectively treat the skin lesions and ulcers secondary to Behçet's disease, nor significantly affect the granuloma formation, joint swelling, and pain associated with Lyme, Bartonella, and RA. PZA, in combination with Plaquenil, minocycline and rifampin, relieved her resistant symptomatology secondary to Lyme and co-infections, her Behçet's ulcers, as well as granulomatous skin changes. In addition, a quadruple intracellular combination of a tetracycline (doxycycline), combined with rifampin, Dapsone, and a quinolone (moxifloxacin) was effective in treating reactivation of her tularemia. Conclusion: Further scientific studies are needed on the role of intracellular bacteria and mycobacterium drugs like Dapsone and pyrazinamide in the treatment of both chronic persistent bacterial infections and resistant autoimmune phenomena.