Patient immobility remains to be one of the primary causes of pressure ulcers. In spite of the evidence supporting this, it still is a daily challenge to increase or at least stabilize patient mobility. In the process of activating and mobilizing patients the type of equipment and the working technique of nurses is crucial for success. At the same time these aspects are also crucial for the protection of nurses' backs. Repositioning in bed is rated as one of the most physically demanding transfers for nurses. From an occupational health perspective these techniques have been designed in order to protect nurses backs, shoulders and arms. The bed itself, the type of mattress, but also transfer aids like lifters and sliding sheets influence the risk profile for both the patient (pressure ulcers and others) and the nurses (occupational health problems). Force- and pressure-measurements indicate that, in order to get the maximum primary or secondary preventive effect out of the equipment, the working technique of nurses plays an important part. An analysis was made of the three most common repositioning techniques. Measurements (MecMesin and XSensor) and calculations (3D SSPP 6.0) demonstrate that small differences in technique result in large differences in pressure distribution, contact-area, the risk of shear forces under the patient's skin and the biomechanical load for the nurses. The conclusions drawn from these findings are partly contradictory when it comes to practical recommendations for the nurses. Even during the process of frequent repositioning, a procedure intended to reduce the risk of developing pressure ulcers, some of techniques currently taught in regular nursing training may be safe for the nurses to perform from an occupational health perspective, but in fact also result in an increase in risk for the patient instead of the intended decrease. In this study a cross-over is made between the field of biomechanics and ergonomics and the clinical research on the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. Such a cross-over, so far, although still in a developmental stage, seems to be relevant for daily practice and has led to a currently on-going process of re-design of transfer techniques.


The literature lacks a reliable holistic approach for the three-dimensional (3D) assessment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) including all three adaptive processes, which are believed to contribute to the position of the mandible: (1) adaptive condylar changes, (2) glenoid fossa changes, and (3) condylar positional changes within the fossa. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to propose and assess the reliability of a semi-automatic approach for a 3D assessment of the TMJ from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) following orthognathic surgery. The TMJs were 3D reconstructed from a pair of superimposed pre- and postoperative (two years) CBCT scans, and spatially divided into sub-regions. The changes in the TMJ were calculated and quantified by morphovolumetrical measurements. To evaluate the reliability, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated at a 95% confidence interval on the measurements of two observers. The approach was deemed reliable if the ICC was good (>0.60). Pre- and postoperative CBCT scans of ten subjects (nine female; one male; mean age 25.6 years) with class II malocclusion and maxillomandibular retrognathia, who underwent bimaxillary surgery, were assessed. The inter-observer reliability of the measurements on the sample of the twenty TMJs was good to excellent, ICC range (0.71–1.00). The range of the mean absolute difference of the repeated inter-observer condylar volumetric and distance measurements, glenoid fossa surface distance measurements, and change in minimum joint space distance measurements were (1.68% (1.58)–5.01% (3.85)), (0.09 mm (0.12)–0.25 mm (0.46)), (0.05 mm (0.05)–0.08 mm (0.06)) and (0.12 mm (0.09)–0.19 mm (0.18)), respectively. The proposed semi-automatic approach demonstrated good to excellent reliability for the holistic 3D assessment of the TMJ including all three adaptive processes.


On 27 May 2005, seven Member States signed the Prum Convention to step up cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism, cross-border crime and illegal migration. Named after the German city in which it was signed, the Treaty's main advantage is that it enables the signatories to speed up the exchange of information. However, this paper argues that the Treaty produces negative externalities for the European Union's area of freedom, security and justice by circumventing the EU framework. First, by keeping the Convention under a multilateral umbrella, the signatories create a hierarchy within the EU. Second, by reverting to an intergovernmental arena, the European Parliament is ignored precisely at a time when it is achieving an increasingly central role in law-making in this field. As a result, Prum weakens the EU more than it strengthens it, and under many circumstances, it simply cannot provide the way forward to the establishment of a manageable area of freedom, security and justice.


It has been estimated that triceps tendon ruptures represent less than 1% of all tendon ruptures. Despite its uncommon occurrence, the practicing orthopedic surgeon will likely be faced with the management of either the acute or the chronic triceps tendon rupture during the span of his career. The aim of this article is (1) to describe the technique used to repair acute triceps tendon ruptures and (2) to describe the techniques used to reconstruct the deficient acute tendon rupture or the chronic tendon rupture. Repair of the acute triceps tendon rupture consists of advancement of triceps with placement of a locking nonabsorbable suture through tendon and passing these through drill holes into the olecranon. Reconstruction of the tendon may involve augmentation of the repair with hamstring tendon autograft or Achilles tendon allograft. We have used the currently described triceps repair technique at the authors' institution to surgically treat 10 acute triceps avulsions in 9 patients. The mean time to surgery was 12 days (range, 1 day–44 days). Two elbows required subsequent reoperations. At an average follow-up of 1.4 years, all but 1 patient had returned to preinjury occupation.


Non-medical approaches to end-stage heart failure (ESHF) include heart transplantation, but also implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization therapy and ventricular assist devices. These techniques might be used as a bridge to transplant, as a bridge to recovery or as destination therapy. Optimal medical therapy of ESHF should include an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, a beta-blocker and spironolactone. Risk stratification in ESHF allows to determine the individual prognosis of each patient with parameters such as echocardiographic criteria, peak exercise oxygen consumption, or plasma BNP levels. Heart transplantation is to be considered if the individual prognosis obtained after stratification is worse than the expected survival of transplant recipients.


Objective: To examine alterations in patterns of brain activation seen in normal aging and in mild Alzheimer's disease by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during an associative encoding task. Methods: 10 young controls, 10 elderly controls, and seven patients with mild Alzheimer's disease were studied using fMRI during a face–name association encoding task. The fMRI paradigm used a block design with three conditions: novel face–name pairs, repeated face–name pairs, and visual fixation. Results: The young and elderly controls differed primarily in the pattern of activation seen in prefrontal and parietal cortices: elderly controls showed significantly less activation in both superior and inferior prefrontal cortices but greater activation in parietal regions than younger controls during the encoding of novel face–name pairs. Compared with elderly controls, the Alzheimer patients showed significantly less activation in the hippocampal formation but greater activation in the medial parietal and posterior cingulate regions. Conclusions: The pattern of fMRI activation during the encoding of novel associations is differentially altered in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease compared with normal aging.


ABSTRACT An extraordinarily engaging book, Jefferson Medical College: Legend and Lore is a labor of love to "record an institution's tradition and history" as its President, Paul C. Brucker, writes in the foreword. I was doubtful about the tome, the third in the trilogy of Jefferson's history, but it is beguiling to dip into its 15 chapters. They cover everything from the founding of the school, medical student life in the 19th century, alumni who founded other medical colleges, unusual Jefferson alumni, alumni who attended US presidents, eminent professors, and much more. I knew that the DaCostas were graduates of "Jeff," that Chevalier Jackson and Hobart Reimann had graced its corridors, but that Dercum of "Dercum's Disease" and John Gibbon of the heart-lung machine had worked there was news. There are chapters on early black alumni (the first identifiable black graduate, Algernon Jackson, graduated in 1901) and on early Jewish graduates


The control of line-edge roughness (LER) and line-width roughness (LWR) is a key issue in addressing the growing challenge of device variability in large-scale integrations. The accurate characterization of LER and LWR forms a basis for this effort and mostly hinges on reducing the effects of noise inherent in experimental results. This article reports how a power spectral density (PSD) is affected by a statistical noise that originates from the finiteness of the number N L of available samples. To achieve this, the authors numerically generated line-width data using the Monte Carlo(MC) method and assuming an exponential autocorrelation function (ACF). By analyzing the pseudoexperimental PSDs obtained using the MC data, they found that the standard deviation η of normalized analysis errors was determined by the total number N ALL of width data used in each analysis, regardless of N L and the number N of width data in each line segment. The authors found that η decreased with N ALL approximately in inverse proportion to N ALL 3 / 4 . It is noteworthy that they could obtain accurate results even in the case of N L = 1 as long as N ALL was sufficiently large, although the distribution of PSDs was large due to a large statistical noise. This resulted from the fact that the PSD distribution was not completely irregular, but centered at the true value and that the best-fitted PSD accordingly approached the true one with an increasing N . On the other hand, η at a fixed N ALL decreased with the ratio Δ y / ξ of an interval Δ y of width data to a correlation length ξ , approximately in inverse proportion to ( Δ y / ξ ) 3 / 8 . As a result, N ALL at a specified η decreased with Δ y / ξ in inverse proportion to the square root of Δ y / ξ in the case when Δ y / ξ was 0.3 or smaller. Beyond this threshold of Δ y / ξ , the authors needed to increase N ALL markedly to achieve the same accuracy of analyses. This comes from a decrease in the range of the PSD with an increasing Δ y / ξ and a subsequent loss of sensitivity of the PSD to the change of ξ . Based on these results, they established guidelines for accurate analyses as follows: Δ y / ξ ≤ 0.3 and N ALL ≥ A η − 4 / 3 ( Δ y / ξ ) − 1 / 2 , where A is 1.8 × 10 2 for ξ and 7.2 × 10 1 for the variance of widths, respectively. Equivalently in terms of the total measurement length L ALL , instead of N ALL , the guidelines are given in Δ y / ξ ≤ 0.3 and L ALL / ξ ≥ A η − 4 / 3 ( Δ y / ξ ) 1 / 2 using the same A 's as those of N ALL . Being expressed in universal forms like these, the guidelines of this study can be applied to many practical problems beyond LER and LWR to accurately analyze PSDs, as long as the stochastic processes have exponential ACFs.


Description: These guidelines were designed to assist schools to prevent or minimise the spread of infection, illness and disease to staff, pupils and others (such as student teachers and volunteers). They were primarily developed for use by teachers in primary and secondary schools. They aim to raise awareness about common and important infectious diseases and provide guidance on the prevention and management of infectious diseases in educational settings.


Statistical correlations of biodiversity patterns across multiple trophic levels have received considerable attention in various types of interacting assemblages, forging a universal understanding of patterns and processes in free-living communities. Host–parasite interactions present an ideal model system for studying congruence of species richness among taxa as obligate parasites are strongly dependent upon the availability of their hosts for survival and reproduction while also having a tight coevolutionary relationship with their hosts. The present meta-analysis examined 38 case studies on the relationship between species richness of hosts and parasites, and is the first attempt to provide insights into the patterns and causal mechanisms of parasite biodiversity at the community level using meta-regression models. We tested the distinct role of resource (i.e. host) availability and evolutionary co-variation on the association between biodiversity of hosts and parasites, while spatial scale of studies was expected to influence the extent of this association. Our results demonstrate that species richness of parasites is tightly correlated with that of their hosts with a strong average effect size (r  0.55) through both host availability and evolutionary co-variation. However, we found no effect of the spatial scale of studies, nor of any of the other predictor variables considered, on the correlation. Our findings highlight the tight ecological and evolutionary association between host and parasite species richness and reinforce the fact that host–parasite interactions provide an ideal system to explore congruence of biodiversity patterns across multiple trophic levels.


PURPOSE
To evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on rats submitted to hepatic ischemia and reperfusion.

METHODS
Twenty-three Wistar rats were divided at random into 3 groups: SHAM, rats submitted to surgical and anesthetic stress without induction of hepatic ischemia/reperfurion; I/R, rats submitted to total ischemia of the hepatic pedicle for 25 min followed by 5 min of reperfusion; HBOI/R, rats submitted to 60 min of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at a pressure of 2 absolute atmospheres immediately after the experimental protocol of ischemia/reperfusion. Hepatic function was evaluated by quantitation of serum alanine aminotranferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and by mitochondrial function through the determination of states 3 and 4 of mitochondrial respiration, respiratory control ratio (RCR) and mitochondrial swelling. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test, with the level of significance set at p <0.05.

RESULTS
There was a significant difference in state 3 values for the SHAM group vs I/R and I/R vs IRHBO, in state 4 values for the SHAM group vs I/R; and in mitochondrial swelling for the SHAM groups vs I/RHBO, SHAM vs I/R, and IR vs I/RHBO.

CONCLUSION
The use of hyperbaric oxygen after I/R improved in a relative manner both the production of energy and the effects on the mitochondrial wall.


Maximum likelihood detection of superimposed signals in code-division multiple access (CDMA) communication systems has a computational complexity that is exponential in the number of users, and its implementation is practically prohibitive even for a moderate number of users. Applying the expectation maximization algorithm to this problem, we decompose the multiuser detection problem into a series of single-user problems, and thus present an iterative computationally efficient algorithm for detection of superimposed signals in synchronous direct-sequence CDMA communication systems. The resulting structure includes the well-known multistage detector as one of its special cases. With a proper choice of its parameters, the new detector can achieve the advantages of both the multistage and conventional detector and have good performance for both strong and weak users.


If a body is resting on a flat surface, the maximal static friction force before motion sets in is reduced if an external torque is also applied. The coupling between the static friction force and static friction torque is nontrivial as our studies for a tripod lying on a horizontal flat surface show. In this paper we report on a series of experiments that we performed on a tripod and compare our findings with analytical and numerical solutions. It turns out that the coupling between force and torque reveals information about the microscopic properties at the onset of sliding.


Open source software systems are critical infrastructure for many applications; however, little has been precisely measured about their quality. Forecasting the field defect-occurrence rate over the entire lifespan of a release before deployment for open source software systems may enable informed decision-making. In this paper, we present an empirical case study often releases of OpenBSD. We use the novel approach of predicting model parameters of software reliability growth models (SRGMs) using metrics-based modeling methods. We consider three SRGMs, seven metrics-based prediction methods, and two different sets of predictors. Our results show that accurate field defect-occurrence rate forecasts are possible for OpenBSD, as measured by the Theil forecasting statistic. We identify the SRGM that produces the most accurate forecasts and subjectively determine the preferred metrics-based prediction method and set of predictors. Our findings are steps towards managing the risks associated with field defects


We investigate the phenomena of symmetry breaking and phase transition in the ground state of Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) trapped in a double square well and in an optical lattice well, respectively. By using standing-wave expansion method, we present symmetric and asymmetric ground state solutions of nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) with a symmetric double square well potential for attractive nonlinearity. In particular, we study the ground state wave function's properties by changing the depth of potential and atomic interactions (here we restrict ourselves to the attractive regime). By using the Fourier grid Hamiltonian method, we also reveal a phase transition of BECs trapped in one-dimensional optical lattice potential.


Protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation is the central mechanism of post-translational modification which regulates cellular responses and phenotypes. Due to the efficiency and resource constraints of the in vivo methods for identifying phosphorylation sites, there is a strong motivation to computationally predict potential phosphorylation sites. In this work, we propose to use a unique set of features to represent the peptides surrounding the amino acid sites of interest and use feature selection support vector machine to predict whether the serine/threonine sites are potentially phosphorylable, as well as selecting important features that may lead to phosphorylation. Experimental results indicate that the new features and the prediction method can more effectively predict protein phosphorylation sites than the existing state of the art methods. The features selected by the our prediction model provides biological insights to the in vivo phosphorylation.


Cytosolic phospholipase A2 catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 ester of arachidonate-containing phospholipids. In the present research, a "burst" of arachidonate which precedes a somewhat slower, linear rate (upsilon) of product formation was observed and characterized using covesicles of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol (DMPM) containing <10 mol% 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine as substrate. The magnitude of the burst (pi) was enzyme dependent, in both the presence and absence of glycerol. Upon subsequent addition of enzyme after the primary burst was complete, a second burst of arachidonate production was observed. This is consistent with the effect resulting from an enzyme effect and not from changes in the substrate. The use of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol as the carrier phospholipid instead of DMPM greatly reduced the rate of hydrolysis without a large effect on the pi/upsilon ratio, consistent with the burst not being the result of limitations in the lateral diffusion rate of phospholipids within the covesicles. When the assay is performed in the presence of glycerol, the burst phenomenon was also observed with the monoarachidonoyl glycerol transacylase product which shows that the effect occurs through a common mechanism. The burst and subsequent linear rate of hydrolysis are highly temperature dependent, with a pronounced increase in the pi/upsilon ratio as the temperature is increased from 35 to 45 degrees C. A mechanism in which a slow equilibrium between an active and less active (inactive) state of substrate-bound enzyme is proposed. This may provide a means by which the enzyme is switched off after a few hundred turnovers in order to prevent unabated phospholipid hydrolysis in cells which may be deleterious to membrane integrity.


Given the economy's high dependence on oil revenues combined with oil influential role in government budget in Iran, we seek to examine the impact of oil revenue shocks on Iran's economy by means of a DSGE-BVAR model. We are further motivated by the observation that government has been less likely to cut current spending in response to frequent plunges in oil revenues. This, in return, has led to higher macroeconomic instability in times of oil price volatility. We identify technology shocks, oil revenue shocks, foreign exchange rate shocks and money supply shocks as the main sources of business cycle fluctuations. After estimating the model with quarterly data over the period 1990:2-2015:1, the analysis of impulse response functions indicates that production and inflation responses to shocks confirm factual data and the relevant theories. In response to monetary and oil revenue shocks, output rises in the short term; while it falls as result of a surge in the general price level. Foreign exchange rate shock generates a decrease in output but it increases in the long run, due to higher investment. Moreover, positive monetary, foreign exchange rate and oil shocks generate an increase in inflation; while technology shocks induce a decrease in inflation.


Saccade target selection must be understood in relation to the obvious fact that vision naturally occurs in a continuous cycle of fixations interrupted by gaze shifts. The guidance of eye movements requires information about what is where in the visual field. The identities of objects are derived from their visible features. Single neurons in the visual system represent the presence of specific features by the level of activation; the reliability of the discriminating signal from single neurons varies over time. Each point in the visual field is represented by many populations of neurons activated by all types of features. Topographic representations are found throughout the visual and oculomotor systems; neighboring neurons tend to represent similar visual field locations or saccades. Selecting one out of many stimuli to which to direct gaze requires comparing stimulus attributes across the visual field. The existence of retinotopic maps of the visual field makes possible local interactions to implement such comparisons /41/. For example, a lateral inhibition network can extract the location of the most conspicuous stimulus in the visual field /30,40,81/. Coordinated with this parallel visual processing is activation in structures responsible for producing the movement such as FEF and the superior colliculus. A saccade is produced when the neurons at one location within the motor maps become sufficiently active. One job of visual processing, then, is to ensure that only one site within a movement map becomes activated. This is done when the neurons signalling the location of the desired target develop enhanced activation while the neurons responding to other locations are attenuated. Saccade target selection often converts an initially ambiguous pattern of neural activation into a pattern that reliably signals one target location. The ambiguity may be reduced through prior knowledge of the likely target location or identity, and extraretinal signals reflecting such expectations can modulate the responsiveness of afferent visual neurons. Specifying the metrics of a saccade and triggering the movement are coordinated but dissociable processes. Speed-accuracy trade-offs can thereby be produced allowing the visuomotor system to produce a saccade that is inaccurate because it is premature relative to the target selection process. While there are many gaps in our knowledge, the questions to ask seem reasonably clear. Because saccade target selection involves visual processing and eye movement programming combined with mnemonic influences, only continued experimental ingenuity will disentangle the various and variable contributions of individual neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Skillful scene control, sensitive communication, and grace under pressure are all necessary for safe passage in and out of the volatile field environment. These skills must be nurtured and practiced. Ideas for their mastery are presented in this article. But everyone has a different style. To some, few of these ideas will be relevant. Others may embrace most. The skills most important to everyone are recognizing and controlling the forces acting on a scene and understanding the need for clear and calm leadership. Short of that, EMTs as well as patients fall prey to these forces, and personal safety and patient care are jeopardized.


The Tumpangpitu porphyry and high-intermediate-sulfidation epithermal deposit is the largest deposit in the Tujuh Bukit district, southeast Java, Indonesia. The porphyry resource contains 1.9 billion tonnes @ 0.45% Cu and 0.45 g/t Au, for 28.1 Moz Au and 19 billion lbs of Cu. There are an additional 2.1 Moz Au and 72.9 Moz of Ag in oxidized high-sulfidation epithermal mineralization. Tumpangpitu is located along a NW-striking structural corridor covering an area of 12 × 5 km that hosts several Cu-Au-Mo mineralized tonalitic porphyries, each with varying degrees of metal enrichment. At least eight discrete intrusions spanning the alteration-mineralization sequence have been identified at Tumpangpitu. What is unusual, however, is the presence of both a premineralization, relatively dry volcanic breccia pipe (Tanjung Jahe) and a late-mineralization diatreme complex associated with a significant, large magmatic-hydrothermal system (Tumpangpitu) in the same district. Magmatism, mineralization, and alteration at Tumpangpitu occurred in response to north-directed subduction of the Indo-Australian plate beneath the Asian continental plate margin. The Tujuh Bukit district is floored by early to late Miocene sedimentary and andesitic volcanic rocks. Volcanic-hydrothermal activity at Tujuh Bukit began with the formation of the weakly altered Tanjung Jahe diatreme complex (U-Pbzircon ages of 8.78 ± 0.22-8.52 ± 0.21 Ma). Mineralization at Tumpangpitu was preceded by the intrusion of a large, equigranular, dioritic batholith (5.81 ± 0.20-5.18 ± 0.27 Ma). Hydrothermal activity associated with mineralization has been constrained by U-Pb age determinations from syn- to late-mineralization porphyries that were emplaced in the early Pliocene from 5.40 ± 0.46 to 3.94 ± 0.69 Ma. High- and intermediate-sulfidation Au-Ag ± Cu mineralization and associated advanced argillic alteration (part of a district-scale lithocap) has overprinted and significantly upgraded the top of the porphyry orebody. Ar/Ar dating of alunite (4.385 ± 0.049 Ma) and Re-Os dating of molybdenite (4.303 ± 0.018 Ma) have defined a short time period between the high-sulfidation epithermal and porphyry mineralization events. This suggests extreme rates of uplift, exhumation, and erosion in the vicinity of the Sunda-Banda magmatic arc. Volcanic-hydrothermal activity associated with the Tumpangpitu diatreme occurred during epithermal mineralization (breccia matrix zircon age of 2.7 ± 1.0 Ma with systematic errors). Clasts of high-sulfidation state mineralized rocks are a minor but significant component of the diatreme, and late-stage epithermal veins cutting the diatreme demonstrate an intermineralization timing with respect to epithermal activity in the district, implying that epithermal mineralization continued intermittently for 1 to 1.5 m.y. after porphyry mineralization ceased at Tumpangpitu.


The study investigates the effect of sludge ozonation on solid matter species, disintegration properties, sludge components, and solubilization characteristics under different operating conditions. Ozonation of surplus activated sludge samples taken from the secondary settling tank of a domestic wastewater treatment plant indicates that soluble nitrogen, phosphorus and COD concentrations proliferate as a consequence of extending the ozone feeding time. A steady increase both in soluble nitrogen concentration and ratio of organic phosphorus to soluble phosphorus is observed through ozonation where specific ozone doses range between 4 and 11 mg O3/g SS. Combined treatment of chemical oxidation and aerobic biodegradation to surplus activated sludge is also applied to improve the biodegradability of organic matter by partial chemical oxidative pretreatment with as little specific ozone consumption as possible. The partial oxidation by integrated ozonation is operated as a pre-oxidation step for the subsequent biological degradation, due to the fact that the competition with biological degradation in removing biodegradable organic compounds is avoided and most probably a more biodegradable sludge composition is obtained by means of ozonation. Combined treatment of chemical oxidation and aerobic biodegradation conducted to scrutinize the synergic effect of the coupled treatment system reveals that TS and COD removal efficiencies of ozonated sludge samples cannot be improved beyond the third aerobic biodegradation step.


"Anthropological Contributions to Conflict Resolution" consists of ten essays that make vividly apparent the variety of ways that anthropological approaches and perspectives can be of practical worth in the resolution of conflicts. The essays represent various subdisciplines in anthropology, including legal and political anthropology, economic anthropology, cross-cultural studies, interpretive approaches, and social network approaches.Conflicts and potential conflicts at many levels are the subjects of the essays. One contributor uses an ethnographic account of Sikh separatists in Punjab, India, to explore fighting resulting from the intertwining of religion and politics. Another essay discusses the role that anthropology played in conceptualizing the legal reforms on an island in the remote western Pacific in relation to the recent emergence of alternative dispute resolution. Conflicts over the commons in an American suburb are examined, as are harmony ideology and adversarial ideology as they are used for both freedom and control at a manufacturing plant. The introductory essay includes a discussion of network models in regard to conflict resolution, and the epilogue cites an agenda for applied research in the area.


The goal of language modeling techniques is to capture the statistical and structural properties of natural languages from training corpora. This task typically involves the learning of short range dependencies, which generally model the syntactic properties of a language and/or long range dependencies, which are semantic in nature. We propose in this paper a new multi-span architecture, which separately models the short and long context information while it dynamically merges them to perform the language modeling task. This is done through a novel recurrent Long-Short Range Context (LSRC) network, which explicitly models the local (short) and global (long) context using two separate hidden states that evolve in time. This new architecture is an adaptation of the Long-Short Term Memory network (LSTM) to take into account the linguistic properties. Extensive experiments conducted on the Penn Treebank (PTB) and the Large Text Compression Benchmark (LTCB) corpus showed a significant reduction of the perplexity when compared to state-of-the-art language modeling techniques.


Malignancies involving the upper and lower airways can be presented as acute and/ or acute-on-chronic life-threatening emergencies. Most of them require intensive care unit (ICU) admission and acute intervention. Such emergencies include but are not exhaustive to epistaxis, massive hemoptysis, central airways obstruction, postobstructive pneumonia, tracheoesophageal fistula, and pleural disease. These are frequent consequences of disease, iatrogenicity, and various pleural diseases causing respiratory failure. The incidence, physiology, symptoms, and sequelae of each disease will be outlined in addition to potential surgical, pharmacologic, and conservative interventions. An anatomical approach from the upper airway, lower airway, mediastinum, and pleura will be taken. Here, we discuss interventions such as emergent cautery, nasal packing, emergent airways, and tracheostomy in addition to a brief glance at other surgical modalities. We will also detail central airway complications such as obstructing endobronchial tumors, massive hemoptysis, bronchoscopy, rigid bronchoscopy, stent placement, and other interventions (cautery, cryotherapy, one-way valves). Finally, pleural disorders such as tension pneumothorax, bronchopleural fistulas, massive pleural effusion, and hemothorax will be reviewed.


The Covid-19 pandemic has blown through the Higher Education sector like a Schumpterian 'gale of creative destruction' (Schumpeter, 1934), accelerating the pace of change, disrupting entrenched pedagogical approaches, and revealing glimpses of the future of teaching. This study identifies how university-based early adopters responded to this 'gale,' successfully implementing the rapid change required to pivot to online teaching while addressing institutional requests to support the reluctant majority. Adopting an innovative interdisciplinary framework, this study advances understanding about the criticality of early-adopter behaviour in implementing change. The triggers, dynamics and impact of early-adopter behaviours are identified, as are the resultant implications for institutions for resourcing, recognising, and rewarding early adopters. The research design is underpinned by polyphony (Belova, 2010). Theoretical aspects from entrepreneurship (Stevenson, Roberts & Grousebeck, 1989) and networked learning (Dohn, Cranmer, Sime, De Laat & Ryberg, 2018) are also incorporated, relating early adopter behaviour to the entrepreneurial process in the context of virtual learning communities. This study uses vignettes from early adopters who have pivoted to online teaching in a university, identifying their experiences of instigating and supporting change. The findings highlight the facilitators of, and constraints on, early adopter behaviour, identifying the contextual characteristics necessary to challenge preconceived institutional notions and develop intrapreneurial mindsets that more readily support and implement early-adopter behaviours.


The master control switch of a pork production enterprise is weaning day. Pork production managers have little or no control concerning when a weaned female will cycle or how long she will be in estrus after weaning. When females are pen-mated, the producer needs to use management procedures to prevent an excessive number of estrous females from expressing the standing response at the same time, try to manage estrous females so that they are bred at the proper time, try to manage boars so they maintain an adequate level of fertility, evaluate boars for level of sexual behavior before and during the mating period and heat-check gestating females. Regardless of the boar-to-female ratio used or the management procedures implemented, there is no guarantee all females will be satisfactorily serviced during their first estrus after weaning.


The main goal of the project H-CUBE (French National Agency, ANR funds) is to develop innovative modelling approach to evaluate CO2 flow in heterogeneous reservoirs. Homogenization techniques, dual mesh methods, and ranking techniques are developed to speed up the evaluated processes.
An innovative "dual-mesh approach" for compositional modelling. Evolutions of the components are done on the high resolution grid and the pressure equation on a coarser grid to speed-up the flow modelling. In this case, the precision in fluid recovery is considerably improved and the CPU time and memory are much lower than for a full fine scale simulation [1].
Specific focus is given to (i) buoyant driven flow in unconsolidated sandy reservoirs containing shale layering, (ii) CO2 injection in fluvial sediment reservoirs, (iii) benchmarking on the SPE10 models [2].
Buoyant forces on the CO2 and brine vertical migration into a heterogeneous system are performed in a two folds fashion using both analytical and numerical upscaling methods. An analytical expression for effective multiphase flow properties in a laminar heterogeneous porous media generated with three level of complexity is proposed [3].
Dealing with multiple realization of heterogeneity field distribution of fluvial deposit in our case [4], appropriate ranking measures of the static realizations to select the limited number of geological realizations which are based on topological descriptors of the porous rock network to characterize a priori reservoir dynamic behaviour [5] are proposed.


ORDINARY TALENTS AND EXTRAORDINARY PERSEVERANCE": THE LIFE OF SIR THOMAS FOWELL BUXTON David S. Bruce, B.A., M.A. Marquette University, 2009 Born into a gentry family with roots in the Society of Friends, the evangelical social conscience of Thomas Fowell Buxton (1786-1845) was developed as he operated a brewery in Spitalfields, perhaps London's poorest parish. He was instrumental in raising funds for poor relief and establishing soup and bread kitchens there during the winter of 1816-1817. His interest and research on penal discipline brought him national prominence and led to a parliamentary seat which he held for nearly two decades. Buxton's association with noted activist William Wilberforce (1759-1833) led to his own involvement in the anti-slavery movement, a cause he fiercely championed, resulting in Britain's abolition of slavery throughout the Empire in 1834. After leaving Parliament in 1837, Buxton focused on revitalizing Africa through a program to end international slavery and encourage African selfsufficiency. This resulted in the disastrous 1841 Niger expedition that effectively ended Buxton's public career and paved the way to British imperialism in Africa. Buxton was a man of many interests, and aside from his work for penal reform, poor relief, and abolition, he also supported Catholic emancipation and ending the Hindu suttee. Few nineteenth-century social reformers have had as much of an impact or have cast as long a shadow as Buxton. At the time of his death, many saw him as the epitome of Christian activism. Yet, today Buxton remains largely ignored and forgotten. The intent of this study is to examine the life of one of Great Britain's most prominent social activists. Using his Memoirs, personal papers, and the papers and books of his friends, associates, and contemporaries, I have sought to paint a portrait of an individual driven by religious motives and idealism to improve his world.


Abstract This paper considers the problem of semi-parametric proportional hazards model fitting where observed survival times contain event times and also interval, left and right censoring times. Although this is not a new topic, many existing methods suffer from poor computational performance. In this paper, we adopt a more versatile penalized likelihood method to estimate the baseline hazard and the regression coefficients simultaneously. The baseline hazard is approximated using basis functions such as M-splines. A penalty is introduced to regularize the baseline hazard estimate and also to ease dependence of the estimates on the knots of the basis functions. We propose a Newton–MI (multiplicative iterative) algorithm to fit this model. We also present novel asymptotic properties of our estimates, allowing for the possibility that some parameters of the approximate baseline hazard may lie on the parameter space boundary. Comparisons of our method against other similar approaches are made through an intensive simulation study. Results demonstrate that our method is very stable and encounters virtually no numerical issues. A real data application involving melanoma recurrence is presented and an R package 'survivalMPL' implementing the method is available on R CRAN.


All papers published in this volume have been reviewed through processes administered by the Editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal published by IOP Publishing. • Type of peer review: Double Anonymous • Conference submission management system: Morressier • Number of submissions received: 48 • Number of submissions sent for review: 44 • Number of submissions accepted: 20 • Acceptance Rate (Submissions Accepted/Submissions Received × 100): 41.7 • Average number of reviews per paper: 2 • Total number of reviewers involved: 30 • Contact person for queries: Name: Jennie Z. J. Lee Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Affiliation: The Hong Kong Society of Robotics and Automation


In the human gut microbiome, specific strains emerge due to within-host evolution and can occasionally be transferred to or from other hosts. Phenotypic variance among such strains can have implications for strain transmission and interaction with the host. Surveilling strains of the same species, within and between individuals, can further our knowledge about the way in which microbial diversity is generated and maintained in host populations. Existing methods to estimate the biological relatedness of similar strains usually rely on either detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), which may include sequencing errors, or on the analysis of pangenomes, which can be limited by the requirement for extensive gene databases. To complement existing methods, we developed SynTracker. This strain-comparison tool is based on synteny comparisons between strains, or the comparison of the arrangement of sequence blocks in two homologous genomic regions in pairs of metagenomic assemblies or genomes. Our method is executed in a species-specific manner, has a low sensitivity to SNPs, does not require a pre-existing database, and can correctly resolve strains using complete or draft genomes and metagenomic samples using <5% of the genome length. When applied to metagenomic datasets, we detected person-specific strains with an average sensitivity of 97% and specificity of 99%, and strain-sharing events in mother-infant pairs. SynTracker can be used to study the population structure of specific microbial species between and within environments, to identify evolutionary trajectories in longitudinal datasets, and to further understanding of strain sharing networks.


BACKGROUND
 Education informatization is still in the early stage in China. The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic led medical educators to passively incorporating information technology for remote medical teaching, in which challenges and opportunities have co-existed.

 OBJECTIVE
 The objectives of this study were to (1) explore the medical educators' perception and experience of online teaching in medical education before and after emergency remote teaching (ERT) experience during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) illustrate the medical educators' satisfaction with the contribution of online teaching on medical teaching, and (3) reveal the main challenges medical educators met when they conduct the ERT during the COVID-19 epidemic, and to demonstrate whether the challenges are different by age or gender including some other factors.

 METHODS
 A web-based questionnaire was disseminated to the faculty of medical education departments at higher institutions in China. The collected quantitative data of the questionnaire were analyzed by using the SPSS software package. Descriptive statistics were conducted on demographic data and the perception and experience of medical educators before and after the COVID-19 were shown as the frequencies and percentages, while the teachers' opinions on contribution of online teaching on medical education were analyzed by descriptive statistics with means and standard deviations. Multiple response analysis combined with crosstabulation chi-square test was applied, and a P-value <.05 was considered to be statistically significant to exams the relationship between age as well as gender and difficulties met in online teaching respectively.

 RESULTS
 A total of 26 medical educators (65.38%, n=17 female and 34.62%, n=9 male) were valid participants. Total 57.69% (n=15) of them had used web-based teaching before the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas 43.21% (n=11) had not. The agreement level on the teaching effect of online teaching was medium, with a mean value of 2.55 (range from 1-5). The first two difficulties medical teachers came across in online teaching were the web-based instructional design (27%), and the unfamiliarity with web-based teaching tools (25 %). No significant difference in the types of difficulties encountered by different ages (P=0.969) or gender (P = 0.873) in online teaching.

 CONCLUSIONS
 A total of 26 medical educators (65.38%, n=17 female and 34.62%, n=9 male) were valid participants. Total 57.69% (n=15) of them had used web-based teaching before the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas 43.21% (n=11) had not. The agreement level on the teaching effect of online teaching was medium, with a mean value of 2.55 (range from 1-5). The first two difficulties medical teachers came across in online teaching were the web-based instructional design (27%) and the unfamiliarity with web-based teaching tools (25 %). No significant difference in the types of difficulties encountered by different ages (P=0.969) or gender (P = 0.873) in online teaching.


Background: To study attenuation and increased skin dose for the iBEAM Standard couchtop, and attenuation of the BreastSTEP board, for an Elekta Compact 6 MV accelerator. Materials and Methods: Couchtop attenuation were measured for the range of gantry angles 125°-180° and field sizes 5×5-20×8 cm. H&N extension and the BreastSTEP attenuations measured in an 8×8 cm2 field. The couchtop effect on percentage depth-dose (PDD) measured by an EFD diode for field sizes 5×520×20 cm and compared with that produced by a Co-60 beam passing through a 'tennis-racket' couch insert. A Monte Carlo (MC) model of the couchtop produced to provide more superficial PDDs. (PDDs that are more superficial) Results: Maximum couchtop attenuation (7.6%) measured for the 135° gantry and 5×5 cm field. Couch extension attenuation was 1.5% lower. Adding BreastSTEP increased attenuation by 2.4%. MC attenuation results agreed with measurements to within 0.2%. The couchtop removed the dose buildup effect almost completely and increased the PDD at 0.4 mm depth by 60.6%-74.6%. MC-calculated PDDs at the depth range of skin basal cell layer (0.1-0.4 mm) increased by 55.3%-63.2%. The couch insert in the Co-60 beam increased the dose at 0.4 mm depth by 18.1%. For the same dose prescription at 10 cm depth, the insert in the Co-60 beam produced a skin dose 49.7% lower than the couchtop at 6 MV. Conclusion: These results provide useful practical data on attenuation and skin dose increase applicable to many centres. The acceleratorcouchtop combination creates a greater skin dose increase than a tennis-racket insert on a Co-60 unit.


Background: Bortezomib (formerly PS-341) has demonstrated significant activity in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. Numerous Phase I/II studies have also shown that it has activity in untreated patients, and we have previously reported results of the combination of standard dose bortezomib (1.3mg/m2), adriamycin and dexamethasone (PAD) in this setting where a response rate of 95% was seen. The CREST study has demonstrated that responses still do occur at a reduced dose of bortezomib, and so here a dose of 1.0mg/m2 was used in order to minimise toxicity.

Aims: The primary objective of this Phase II study was to assess the feasibility of harvesting peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) after PAD, with secondary objectives being response rate, progression free survival, overall survival and safety, toxicity.

Methods: Patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma were elligible. The received 4x21 day cycles of PAD comprising of bortezomib 1.0mg/m2 on days 1,4,8,and 11; 9mg/m2 of adriamycin given by iv infusion on days 1–4 and dexamethasone 40mg on days 1–4, 8–11 and 15–18 on cycle 1 and days 1–4 during cycles 2–4. Following PBSC harvesting, they received high dose melphalan (MEL200) with PBSC rescue.

Results: At present 19 patients have been enrolled with a median age of 61 (range 34–65), 8 were male and 11 female and 16 were of Durie-Salmon Stage III disease. Out of the 18 evaluable the PR/CR rate was 89% (2 CR. 1 nCR, 4 VGPR, 9 PR). 15 patients completed all 4 cycles and all successfully mobilised PBSC (median 5 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg, range 2.4–16). Of those not completing therapy, one was withdrawn because of primary progressive disease; one died of pneumonia and severe bone disease having achieved a PR after 1 cycle, and the other developed line sepsis requiring cessation of intravenous therapy prior to completion of cycle 1 (response thus unevaluable).

11 patients have received MEL200 so far with adequate haematological recovery - median neutrophil (>0.5 x 109/L) and platelet (>20 x 109/L) engraftment of 14 (range 6–28) and 16 (range 11–40) days respectively. Of those who are assessable at 3 months following MEL200, 7 out of 7 have achieved at least a PR (3CR, 1nCR, 1VGPR, 2PR). One patient was refractory to PAD, but has now successfully received MEL200 following re-induction with cyclophosphamide, thalidomide and dexamethasone combination.

Toxicities have been modest, with 1 serious adverse event (hospitalisation with pneumonia) and 6 Grade 3 events (abnormal liver function test; thrombocytopaenia, neutropaenia, hyperglycaemia, sepsis and anxiety). Grade 3–4 neuropathy was not seen and the incidence of Grade 1–2 neuropathy was 16%.

Summary: This preliminary data suggests that reduced dose PAD is well tolerated, efficacious (89% ≥ PR) and does not prejudice subsequent PBSC collection. Due to the small numbers in the study, a meaningful comparison with PAD (bortezomib 1.3mg/m2) is not possible, however toxicities appear improved especially with regards to neuropathy. This data therefore supports the continued use of dose adjusted bortezomib in PAD if patients develop toxicity. This reduced dose regime may also be of use in patients with pre-existing neuropathy or those with a poorer performance status.


Abstract. As part of the NASA's INTEX-B mission, the NASA DC-8 and NSF C-130 conducted three wing-tip to wing-tip comparison flights. The intercomparison flights sampled a variety of atmospheric conditions (polluted urban, non-polluted, marine boundary layer, clean and polluted free troposphere). These comparisons form a basis to establish data consistency, but also should also be viewed as a continuation of efforts aiming to better understand and reduce measurement differences as identified in earlier field intercomparison exercises. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of 140 intercomparisons of data collected as well as a record of the measurement consistency demonstrated during INTEX-B. It is the primary goal to provide necessary information for the future research to determine if the observations from different INTEX-B platforms/instrument are consistent within the PI reported uncertainties and used in integrated analysis. This paper may also contribute to the formulation strategy for future instrument developments. For interpretation and most effective use of these results, the reader is strongly urged to consult with the instrument principle investigator.


Clinical features of acute and remote periods of experimental enterovirus uveitis were studied. The disease was induced in 22 monkeys by inoculation of ECHO 11 and ECHO 19 strains in the anterior chamber. The animals were followed up for 3 months to 5 years 8 months. The main clinical manifestations of the acute and remote periods of experimental disease were similar to its clinical presentation in children. The developed experimental model can be used to study the pathogenesis of complications of enterovirus uveitis.


Mannitol (Mtl), not previously reported as an intracellular component of bacteria, although it has been found as an extracellular end product of anaerobic carbohydrate metabolism, accumulated within strains of all 10 staphylococcal species tested after aerobic incubation of washed cell suspensions in phosphate-buffered 1% glucose for 2 h. Phenol extracts of the cells, before and after incubation, were analyzed for Mtl content by periodate utilization and paper chromatography and for Mtl 1-phosphate content, with Mtl 1-phosphate dehydrogenase. In Staphylococcus aureus Towler, the content of Mtl increased from a 0-h value of less than 2.4 to 16 mumol/g (dry weight) after incubation, and the level of Mtl 1-phosphate increased from a 0-h value of 1 to 8 mumol/g. The identification of Mtl was confirmed as the per-O-acetyl ester by gas-liquid chromatography and as the per-O-methyl ether by mass spectrometry. Also tested were 5 additional S. aureus strains and 32 coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains. All strains accumulated Mtl, even those strains that could not utilize exogenous Mtl during aerobic growth, usually in the range 4 to 25 mumol/g. Furthermore, three strains accumulated very high Mtl levels. Bacteria from several other genera were tested, and some were found to accumulate low to moderate levels of Mtl under similar incubation conditions. The metabolic conversion of glucose to intracellular Mtl, probably via Mtl 1-phosphate, is a common feature of staphylococci and also occurs in some other bacteria.


Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the critical pathogens resulted in hospital land community-acquired infections. Aminoglycosides are potent bactericidal agents that are often used in staphylococcal infection treatment in combination with a beta-lactam or glycopeptide antibiotics. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of encoding gene ofaac (6 ́)Ie/aph (2 ̋).This gene is one of the important aminoglycoside modifying enzymes in combination with mecA which results in methicillin resistance. In doing so, disk diffusion and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods were utilized in clinical isolates of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Materials & Methods: In the current study, 174 clinical isolates of MRSA were obtained from different clinical specimens, including blood, sputum, trachea, brunch, pleura, urine, wound, and catheter. Antibiotic resistance of erythromycin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, cefazolin, rifampicin, doxycycline, cotrimoxazole and vancomycin was determined using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test method according to the CLSI guidelines. The presence of MRSA was confirmed using oxacillin and cefoxitin anti biotic disc diffusion. Subsequently, DNA of MRSA isolates was investigated to detect mecA and aminoglycoside resistance aac (6 ́)-Ie/aph (2 ̋) genes using PCR. Ethics code: 22530507932020 Findings: The results obtained from biogram anti-microbial susceptibility test system indicated that all of the isolates were resistant to oxacillin and cefoxitin. All of the isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and majority of them were resistant to erythromycin (84.8%). According to PCR test results, 100 and 78.3% of the isolates were positive for the mecA and aac(6′)/aph(2 ̋)-Ia genes, respectively. Discussion & Conclusions: According to the results, the aminoglycoside resistance geneswere highly prevalent in MRSA isolates.


In this article, we report feasibility of composite hydroxide-mediated (CHM) approach for the synthesis and doping of Cu1- xZnxO (x=0%, 3%, 6% and 9%) nanomaterial. The proposed method offers a low cost, low temperature and environmentally friendly approach to preparing doped nanomaterials in a feasible and cost- effective route. Further, we investigate the effect of incorporated Zn +2 on the properties of produced Cu (II) O nanostructures. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirms formation of the single-phase monoclinic Cu (II) O and incorporation of Zn at the Cu-lattice sites. The crystalline structure is improved and the average grain size has increased from 85.32 nm to 124.86 nm. FTIR spectroscopy shows characteristic vibrational peaks of the Cu (II)-O bonding which confirms formation of the Cu (II) O. SEM micrographs reveal interesting flower like dense features with morphological peculiarities and seems to strongly depend on the content of the incorporated Zn +2 . The UV- visible spectra are measured to study the direct bandgap of the prepared nanomaterial. The direct bandgap found to be in the range of 3.73 - 3.89 eV. The method seems experimentally friendly and provides a feasible and a high productive fast synthesis route for the doped oxide nanomaterials in a single step with tunable properties for the research purposes. However, the method still requires further investigation to finely control doping for the desired properties of a nanomaterial and to give a potential avenue for further practical scale-up of the production process and applications of novel devices based on doped nanostructures. Copyright © 2016 VBRI Press.


A novel visual tracking algorithm is proposed in this paper. The algorithm plays an important role in a cooperative driving support system (DSSS) that is aimed at reducing traffic fatalities and injuries. The input to the algorithm is a gray-scale image for every video frame from a roadside camera, and the algorithm can be used to detect the existence of vehicles on the road and then track their trajectories. In this algorithm, discriminative pixel-pair feature selection is adopted to discriminate between an image patch with an object in the correct position and image patches with objects in an incorrect position. The proposed algorithm showed stable and precise tracking performance when implemented in various illumination conditions and traffic conditions; the performance was especially good for the low-contrast vehicles running against a high-contrast background.


NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR), EC 18.104.22.168, is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of chlorophyll in all organisms with oxygenic photosynthesis. POR catalyzes the reduction of protochlorophyllide (PChlide) to chlorophyllide (Chlide) by the absorption of light in the presence of the cofactor NADPH. In plants, two different isoenzymes are found, POR A and POR B. POR A is transiently active in etiolated plant seedlings, whereas POR is predominantly active throughout the greening process and in greened and adult plants. The two plant POR isoenzymes are compared with respect to their catalytic efficiency and their reaction mechanism in experiments using highly purified recombinant POR from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). POR B shows a 6-fold higher catalytic efficiency (kcat/KM) but the same reaction mechanism when compared with POR A. The increased catalytic efficiency is attributed to a higher substrate binding affinity and a higher conformational flexibility of protein sites in the surrounding of the active centre. With the aim of gaining a deeper insight into the active-site architecture a 3-D model is predicted for POR B by using in silico homology modelling techniques. The prediction identifies His-138, Ser-164, Lys-216 and Tyr-299 as important residues for the correct positioning of the PChlide substrate within the active site. Moreover, the active site Tyr-212 and Lys-216 also play a key role in PChlide binding whereas Tyr-212 is also shown to take part in the proton transfer to the C(18) position of PChlide. The remaining residues within the catalytic motif, Lys-213, Asp214 and Ser-215 obviously create a polar interaction site, which is finely tuned by the cooperation of all three residues to facilitate the proper alignment of PChlide within the active site and to support a highly efficient photochemistry. Only small steric perturbations or changes in the hydrogen bonding tendency of these residues affect the photoreaction dramatically.


The UK's Government Construction adviser announced that all the public
construction will be implemented with BIM in the coming years. This decision affects
dramatically the design phase of healthcare facilities as by 2016, BIM is mandatory in
the implementation of the design process. Moreover, The UK Construction Strategy
plan does not offer for investigating the multidisciplinary design space of possible
solutions. The uncertainty that impacts on healthcare (demographic trends, changing
patterns of disease, technological advances and clinical knowledge) has led healthcare
policy makers to take action to manage demand for healthcare services and the supply
enabled by healthcare infrastructure. A state of the art review of literature identified
that healthcare facilities are not designed to be change-ready and that owners of such
facilities have dynamic requirements. To future-proof healthcare facilities a design
process is required to offer a collaborative, parametric lean construction practice that
enables the design team to generate and analyse flexible healthcare building design
spaces based on multi-stakeholder requirements. BIM and Integrated Project Delivery
(IPD) offer dynamic decisions early in the design process. Here, IPD, the RIBA
Outline Plan of Work 2012 and the BIM Guide from the Computer Integrated
Construction Research Program were used to define the exact information exchange
between the parties in a BIM-based construction process for change-ready healthcare
facilities. A generic process map is derived from the literature for future testing and
is presented in respect to the principles and philosophies of process protocol.


In shrikes (Laniidae) social monogamy is commonly occurs reproductive system. However, many kinds of behaviour look like an adaptation to extra-pair copulations were also described. The paper presents a popular synthesis of studies done on behavioural ecology of shrikes in Poland. Major part of study was possible because in Polish farmland still living quite dense and stable population of two shrike species: great-grey shrike Lanius excubitor and red-backed shrike L. collurio. We believe that some obtained findings may help to understand animals behaviour generally, and birds particularly. Especially fact than great grey shrike males offer quality of food to female before copulation, according to mate status: worst to an official social partner, and better to extra-pair female. Moreover, extra-pair copulations were realised in open places, but extra-pair in hidden sites. More details, including information on study area, used methods and statistical analysis, can be find in published scientific papers listed below.


Value added tax (VAT) is a consumption tax that is applied in many countries today. It was introduced in mainland China during the 1994 tax reform. The Chinese VAT system imitates the European VAT system. This article discusses the Chinese VAT system and its problems with evasion. China's recent reform experience is also compared with the European Union (EU) experience in implementing VAT. The article discusses what lessons can be learned from the experience in mainland China and the EU, so that VAT evasion is minimised.


Objective of this study is to examine the employment status of the music teachers completing the programs prepared in conformity with the aim of training music teachers at the end of restructuring studies in terms of the qualified manpower output of the programs. Accordingly, answer is sought for the following question; What is the rate of the music teachers who graduate from the Education Faculties, the Conservatories and the Fine Arts Faculties and are appointed to the public positions as music teachers at the end of Public Personnel Selection Exam (PPSE - KPSS)? Descriptive method was used in the research. Statistical information received from different Provincial Directorates of National Education of Istanbul. Some recommendations were presented in line with the findings obtained from these data.


The indirect detection of 14N spectra via protons in the manner of heteronuclear multiple-quantum correlation (HMQC) allows one to obtain single- (SQ) and double-quantum (DQ) 14N spectra in solids. A comparison of the SQ and DQ line widths as a function of temperature with simulations reveals motions in the tripeptide AAG with rates on the order of 107 s(-1) at 49 degrees C.


Diabetes mellitus is a disease that requires frequent medical attention. The hospitalization of a person with diabetes for a concurrent illness mandates ongoing medical evaluation and treatment of the diabetic state. Such close attention is best performed by a physician with special interest and expertise in diabetes. Quality care for the hospitalized patient with diabetes is improved and hospital length of stay may be shortened with concurrent care by a physician-led team with expertise in diabetes and by a physician responsible for the patients intercurrent illness.


Purpose: S-CKD602 is a pegylated liposomal formulation of CKD602, a semisynthetic camptothecin analogue. Pegylated (STEALTH) liposomes can achieve extended drug exposure in plasma and tumor. Based on promising preclinical data, the first phase I study of S-CKD602 was done in patients with refractory solid tumors. Experimental Design: S-CKD602 was administered i.v. every 3 weeks. Modified Fibonacci escalation was used (three to six patients/cohort), and dose levels ranged from 0.1 to 2.5 mg/m2. Serial plasma samples were obtained over 2 weeks and total (lactone + hydroxyl acid) concentrations of encapsulated, released, and sum total (encapsulated + released) CKD602 measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Forty-five patients (21 males) were treated. Median age, 62 years (range, 33-79 years) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status, 0 to 1 (43 patients) and 2 (2 patients). Dose-limiting toxicities of grade 3 mucositis occurred in one of six patients at 0.3 mg/m2, grade 3 and 4 bone marrow suppression in two of three patients at 2.5 mg/m2, and grade 3 febrile neutropenia and anemia in one of six patients at 2.1 mg/m2. The maximum tolerated dose was 2.1 mg/m2. Partial responses occurred in two patients with refractory ovarian cancer (1.7 and 2.1 mg/m2). High interpatient variability occurred in the pharmacokinetic disposition of encapsulated and released CKD602. Conclusions: S-CKD602 represents a promising new liposomal camptothecin analogue with manageable toxicity and promising antitumor activity. Phase II studies of S-CKD602 at 2.1 mg/m2 i.v. once every 3 weeks are planned. Prolonged plasma exposure over 1 to 2 weeks is consistent with STEALTH liposomes and provides extended exposure compared with single doses of nonliposomal camptothecins.


Background The aim of this study was to determine the clinical significance of the expression levels of bladder cancer-specific antigen-1 (BLCA-1) in the diagnosis of bladder cancer (BC). The study also determined the relationship between BLCA-1 expression levels and the clinical manifestation of BC. Material/Methods Patient samples were derived from 66 cases of BC that presented at the Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, were recruited from April 2014 to May 2015, and 64 healthy control cases. Serum and urine BLCA-1 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Urine BLCA-1 levels in BC patients were significantly higher than that found in healthy controls (P<0.01). BLCA-1 levels in the urine of patients without mucus membrane invasion (Ta) were significantly different from urine levels found in patients with mucus membrane invasion (T1–T4; P=0.022). BLCA-1 levels in the serum of patients without muscular coat invasion (Ta–T1) were significantly different than serum levels of patients with muscular coat invasion (T2–T4; P=0.042). Conclusions BLCA-1 is involved in the appearance and development of BC. Clinical detection of serum and urine BLCA-1 protein levels showed a high level of sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing BC. Further study of the functional expression of BLCA-1 levels as a valuable and novel diagnostic marker in BC is clearly warranted.


A case of a patient with diagnosis of autoimmune panhypopituitarism (vasopressinsensitivity diabetes insipidus, hyperprolactinemia, hypothyroidism, secondary hypogonadism and corticosuprarenal insufficiency) established 3 years ago, was reported. At the end of 2005, he began to present an acute pain in the epigastrium and right hypochondrium, accompanied with vomiting with food residual, high fever with chills, followed of choluria, acholia and greenish icterus, hepatomegaly, marked elevation of bilirubin, leukocyte alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamil transpeptidase, leukocytosis, that required treatment with antibiotics by endovenous route and mimmicked, at the beginning, the diagnoses of choledocian lithiasis, pancreatic head tumor, and cholangiolitic hepatitis caused by drugs. These episodes were frequently repeated until the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis was made by retrograde endoscopic cholangiopancreatography and liver biopsy. Literature was reviewed, but no reports of association of primary sclerosing cholangitis with autoimmune panhypopituitarism were found.


In clearing terrains contaminated or potentially contaminated by landmines and/or unexploded ordnances (UXOs), a quick wide-area surveillance is often required. Nevertheless, the identification of dangerous areas (instead of the detection of each subsurface object) can be enough for some scenarios/applications, allowing a suitable level of security in a cost-saving way. In such a framework, this paper describes a probabilistic approach for the definition of risk maps. Starting from the measurement of the scattered electromagnetic field, the probability of occurrence of dangerous targets in an investigated subsurface area is determined through a suitably defined classifier based on a support vector machine. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach and to evaluate its robustness, selected numerical results related to a two-dimensional geometry are presented.


ABSTRACT This paper investigates seven early education practitioners' attitudes toward multilingual activities and translanguaging as well as their actual practices in Luxembourg. They took part in a professional development comprising a course, coaching, and regular meetings to deepen their understanding of multilingualism and language learning, and enable them to implement activities in multiple languages. The findings, drawn from questionnaires, observations, and interviews, show that all practitioners opened up toward multilingual activities and translanguaging, increased activities in such languages, and translanguaged frequently. The practitioners analyzed their beliefs and practices, connected theory and practice, constructed new knowledge, developed positive attitudes and changed their practice. This study is the first one to investigate the attitudes and practices of professionals in formal and non-formal education settings as well as the effect of professional development in Luxembourg. It also addresses the research gap regarding professional development on multilingualism in early childhood.


In response to the recent financial crisis, European policymakers put banking regulation in the Eurozone on top of the agenda. In 2016, as part of the newly created European banking union, a mechanism for resolving troubled banks, the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM), became fully operational for the 19 member states of the euro area. The SRM was established to avoid future involvement of tax payers' money in the resolution of banks. This paper focuses on the negotiations on one of its instruments, the Single Resolution Fund (SRF), a fund of ex-ante contributions of Eurozone banks set up to winding down unviable banks. The SRF proved to be a main conflict issue during the negotiations. Germany and France were pushing for diverging preferences although both countries' banking sectors suffered from the crisis and both governments generally favored a regulatory approach on the European level. I provide an institutionalist explanation for these opposing positions of the two most important Eurozone countries. By drawing on the "Varieties of Capitalism" literature, I explain how the distinct features of these countries' financial and banking systems accounted for their preferences. On the one side, German negotiators sought to preserve the dominant way of bank-based corporate finance by particularly protecting savings and cooperative banks. On the other, the French government was in favor of higher contributions by the banking sector because market-based corporate finance is more prevalent in France. Nevertheless, France aimed at keeping its 'national champions' out as far as possible. This paper has important implications for how to think about preference formation in European financial regulation.


In this paper, we study the overall link-based spam structure and its evolution which would be helpful for the development of robust analysis tools and research for Web spamming as a social activity in the cyber space. First, we use strongly connected component (SCC) decomposition to separate many link farms from the largest SCC, so called the core. We show that denser link farms in the core can be extracted by node filtering and recursive application of SCC decomposition to the core. Surprisingly, we can find new large link farms during each iteration and this trend continues until at least 10 iterations. In addition, we measure the spamicity of such link farms. Next, the evolution of link farms is examined over two years. Results show that almost all large link farms do not grow anymore while some of them shrink, and many large link farms are created in one year.


Whereas emerging technologies, such as touchscreen tablets, are bringing sensorimotor interaction back into mathematics learning activities, existing educational theory is not geared to inform or analyze passages from action to concept. We present case studies of tutor–student behaviors in an embodied-interaction learning environment, the Mathematical Imagery Trainer. Drawing on ecological dynamics—a blend of dynamical-systems theory and ecological psychology—we explain and demonstrate that: (a) students develop sensorimotor schemes as solutions to interaction problems; (b) each scheme is oriented on an attentional anchor—a real or imagined object, area, or other aspect or behavior of the perceptual manifold that emerges to facilitate motor-action coordination; and (c) when symbolic artifacts are introduced into the arena, they may both mediate new affordances for students' motor-action control and shift their discourse into explicit mathematical re-visualization of the environment. Symbolic artifacts are ontological hybrids evolving from things with which you act to things with which you think. Students engaged in embodied-interaction learning activities are first attracted to symbolic artifacts as prehensible environmental features optimizing their grip on the world, yet in the course of enacting the improved control routines, the artifacts become frames of reference for establishing and articulating quantitative systems known as mathematical reasoning.


In January, 2019, 18 Tech students and two leaders (Dr. Pat Bagley and Mrs. Amy Miller) spent 11 days in Puebla, Mexico as a University sponsored study-abroad program. Students were exposed to various aspects of ordinary life of Mexicans in this upscale city about 60 miles southeast of Mexico City with a population of 3 million people. Towards the end of the trip, students were addressed by a local businesswoman who was educated in the US and fluent in English. Her mother and father, in about 1955 had purchased an old monastery built in the 15th Century in Puebla, Mexico, and renovated the facility into a hotel. The husband was in charge of the construction, while the wife managed the hotel and the business side. The owner, Maria Louisa retired recently, with their son and daughter now managing the hotel, while the daughter also works in commercial design. She addressed the group of 18 students regarding the role of women in Mexican society. After her discussion a survey was passed out to students and responses were based upon a 5-point Likert Scale. Selected results included: "as compared to US, Mexican women face more discrimination- 72% responded 4 & 5 (yes, more/ much more); as compared to US, Mexican women have higher unemployment – 82% responded 4 & 5 (higher, much higher). In qualitative responses, students felt Mexico had very good laws regarding women in the workplace, and after college, both sexes had equal chances at high paying jobs.


Urban agriculture plays a significant role in national development by contributing towards food security, employment creation and income generation. However, it is associated with diverse negative impacts on public health and the environment. Development of UA has been affected by lack of specific laws and policies geared towards addressing the development this important sub- sector. However, various legislations refer individually to the sub-sector. Some of these legislations indirectly support or hinder the growth and development of the sub sector. Despite these shortcomings UA has continued unabated in most parts of Nairobi. Many households in Nairobi are facing a serious decline in their purchasing power and poverty levels are on the rise. The poorer the household the more they depend on farming to supplement their food requirements. As Nairobi metropolis expands, it encroaches on the hither to agricultural areas in its periphery. These areas are an integral part of the city as they provide the bulk of the food especially vegetables to the city. Their close proximity to the city provides ready market for farm produce and hence encourages peri- urban agriculture. This study examined the contribution of urban agriculture to households' livelihoods in Nairobi County. It covered various aspects such as legal and policy framework, problems affecting development of UA, trends and patterns of land use in Nairobi and its implications on UA and finally came up with an integrated plan for sustainable urban agriculture in Roysambu Ward. The Sampling frame for the study comprised of farmers in Roysambu Ward, a number of institutions and farmer groups in Roysambu Ward. Primary data was derived from field surveys using questionnaires, key informants interviews and focused group discussions. A sample size of 90 was used for household interviews, 5 institutions interviewed and 3 focused group discussions held. Secondary data was synthesized from books, journals, newsletters, electronic media and Government policy papers. Landsat satellite images were used to obtain the land use trends in Nairobi. Probability and non-probability sampling methods were used in data collection. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists whereas qualitative data was analysed either in text, diagrams or photographs. GIS generated maps were analysed to capture land use trends over the last 20 years ie year 1995 to year 2014.Review of legal and policy framework revealed that there is a dire need to harmonize all the conflicting pieces of legislation governing UA in Kenya and this can only be achieved by bringing all stakeholders on board. UA policy is also overdue. The trend of UA in Nairobi County showed a decline of 28% of the area under forests and crops compared to an increase of 35% of the area under built up areas over the last 20 years. This shows that all the hither to agricultural areas in the County will soon be taken up by the built up areas. However UA remains popular especially among the urban poor because of food security and income generation. Some middle and upper income people also prefer growing their own food for food safety reasons. Health and environmental concerns were noted especially in the low income areas of Mathare, Ruaraka and Njathaini which reinforces the fact the UA should be controlled if not outlawed in these areas. It is strongly recommended that agricultural areas in the study area and in Nairobi County should be designated so that they are easily controlled. Investments should be done in the City waste management to allow use of treated liquid and solid waste, while building capacity of farmers on its utilization. This may involve integration of UA in the City land use planning.


We present an atlas of the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of normal, nonblazar, quasars over the whole available range (radio to 10 keV X-rays) of the electromagnetic spectrum. The primary (UVSX) sample includes 47 quasars for which the spectral energy distributions include X-ray spectral indices and UV data. Of these, 29 are radio quiet, and 18 are radio loud. The SEDs are presented both in figures and in tabular form, with additional tabular material published on CD-ROM. Previously unpublished observational data for a second set of quasars excluded from the primary sample are also tabulated. The effects of host galaxy starlight contamination and foreground extinction on the UVSX sample are considered and the sample is used to investigate the range of SED properties. Of course, the properties we derive are influenced strongly by the selection effects induced by quasar discovery techniques. We derive the mean energy distribution (MED) for radio-loud and radio-quiet objects and present the bolometric corrections derived from it. We note, however, that the dispersion about this mean is large (approximately one decade for both the infrared and ultraviolet components when the MED is normalized at the near-infrared inflection). At least part of the dispersion in the ultraviolet may be due to time variability, but this is unlikely to be important in the infrared. The existence of such a large dispersion indicates that the MED reflects only some of the properties of quasars and so should be used only with caution.


Four uranyl-organic framework-type compounds have been hydrothermally synthesized with different ditopic aromatic dicarboxylates. The use of 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate (noted 1,4-bdc), 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate (noted 4,4′-bpdc), 4,4′-azobenzenedicarboxylate (noted 4,4′-adc), and 1,3-benzenedicarboxylate (noted 1,3-bdc) gave rise to the crystallization of a series of phases UO2(L) (L = 1,4-bdc (1), 4,4′-bpdc (2), 4,4′-adc (3), or 1,3-bdc (4)), which exhibited 6-fold coordinated uranyl centers as monomeric square bipyramidal unit. The crystal structures showed that the para position of the carboxylate groups favored the formation of layered extended assemblies in 1–3, whereas the meta isomer isophthalate induced the formation of a three-dimensional framework. In situ X-ray diffraction of the thermal behavior indicated the decomposition of the different networks in the range 360–420 °C, successively followed by the crystallization of the uranium oxide U3O8.


Abstract Because of the misery and deprivation suffered by homeless persons, the initial response to homelessness in the United States focused first on quickly addressing the dire need for emergency food and shelter, and then on providing additional assistance to already homeless persons—ideally to help them move out of homelessness. New preventive measures to help people avoid becoming homeless were largely ignored or put off.1 But now that efforts to provide emergency food and shelter are well under way throughout the country, many more experts, policymakers, and service organizations have begun focusing on homelessness prevention.2 Nevertheless, actual prevention efforts are still tentative and somewhat haphazard. In support of a more rapid expansion of effective homelessness‐prevention activities, this paper discusses the benefits of prevention, develops an initial framework for a comprehensive homelessness‐prevention strategy, and, using this framework, evaluates existing prevention efforts and sugge...


xv Research on the implications of law for organization theory in general and interorganizational relations (IOR) in particular is conspicuous by its neglect. The tendency has been to take the legal context as a unidimensional institutional given, ignoring the fact that there are many challenges to legislative efficacy. For this reason alone, theoretical and practical contributions by organizational scholars to important mainstream debates on regulation, deregulation and reregulation have been limited. The purpose of this study is to offer some redress to the situation by focusing on legally mandated IOR. Specifically, it poses and seeks to answer the following question: what are the implications of legally mandating IOR through public policy, with particular reference to occupational rehabilitation in N e w South Wales? Using Cranston's (1987) four phase process model of legislative efficacy, modified to account more fully for the compliance behaviour of the target population, a concept of partially mandated IOR is developed. This concept attempts to explain the differences and the interaction between mandated and voluntary IOR contingencies. Following a case study research design which allows for contextually embedded analysis employing multiple methods, the above model and concept, together with six theoretical propositions, are examined and subsequently validated in their application to legally mandated occupational rehabilitation. The largely historical analysis of mandate emergence draws attention to the need for interorganizational learning and adaptation to a complex, uncertain and variable set of unenforced, self-regulatory circumstances. Content analysis of mandate form shows it to be vague, open-ended and partial in nature and reliant upon the authority of nonmandated organizations (insurers and treating doctors). Network analysis of mandate implementation is based on 81 interviews with 79 informants in 56 organizations which, except for the regulatory agency, are all situated in the Illawarra region of N e w South Wales. Agency-target IOR tended to be consultative, based on xvi broadly unbridled target organization discretion. Compliance behaviour was found to depend on voluntary incentives and the voluntary cooperation of the nonmandated rather than through agency enforcement. Finally, the absence of objective mandate impact measures did not preclude the formation of positive views and experience largely attributed to successful interorganizational activities. These findings draw attention to the need for IOR theory to acknowledge the partial nature of mandates, and for the public regulation literature to embrace I O R in policy formulation as well as implementation. In addition to identifying the potential utility of interorganizational collaboration in the management of I O R at a local, network and policy level, the study also proposes a number of future research directions based on the concept of partial mandates.


Destructive bone lesions occurring in patients who have previously had a malignancy are generally assumed to be a metastasis from that malignancy. We reviewed 60 patients with a previous history of malignancy, who presented with a solitary bone lesion that was subsequently found to be a new and different primary sarcoma of bone. These second malignancies occurred in three distinct groups of patients: (1) patients with original tumours well known to be associated with second malignancies (5%); (2) patients whose second malignancies were likely to be due to the previous treatment of their primary malignancy (40%); (3) patients in whom there was no clearly defined association between malignancies (55%). The purpose of this study is to emphasise the necessity for caution in assuming the diagnosis of a metastasis when a solitary bone lesion is identified following a prior malignancy. Inappropriate biopsy and treatment of primary bone sarcomas compromises limb salvage surgery and can affect patient mortality.


Good governance and open government principles require more participative, open, transparent, accountable, and collaborative. However, in public policy development, the negligence of these principles loomed particularly large until recently. In consequence, citizens have taken action by forming protest activities or responding to current politics with election turnouts leading to drastic change in political directions. Lessons from such activities are that policy makers need urgently to respond to demands of citizens to engage more pro-actively with politics in policy decisions that heavily concern particular stakeholder groups and citizens. Both groups need reliable support and up-to-date information and efficient and effective interactions on emerging societal problems and public affairs. The authors introduce an innovative approach to collaborative policy development, integrating scenario development, and formal policy modelling via an ICT toolbox. To bridge the gap between narrative texts of stakeholder-generated scenarios and formal policy models generating model-based scenarios, introducing conceptual modelling, which supports the construction of conceptual models of the policy domain and which enables tracing inputs of stakeholders to inform the formal policy models. This way, policy makers and stakeholders are better supported to understand the policy context. The OCOPOMO Open Collaboration in Policy Modelling approach fully supports the implementation of good governance principles.


The main aim of my PhD project was the design and the synthesis of new pyrrolidine organocatalysts. New effective ferrocenyl pyrrolidine catalysts, active in benchmark organocatalytic reactions, has been developed. The ferrocenyl moiety, in combination with simple ethyl chains, is capable of fixing the enamine conformation addressing the approach trajectory of the nucleophile in the reaction. The results obtained represent an interesting proof-of-concept, showing for the first time the remarkable effectiveness of the ferrocenyl moiety in providing enantioselectivity through conformational selection. This approach could be viably employed in the rational design of ligands for metal or organocatalysts. Other hindered secondary amines has been prepared from alkylation of acyclic chiral nitroderivatives with alcohols in a highly diastereoselective fashion, giving access to functionalized, useful organocatalytic chiral pyrrolidines. A family of new pyrrolidines bearing sterogenic centers and functional groups can be readily accessible by this methodology.
The second purpose of the project was to study in deep the reactivity of stabilized carbocations in new metal-free and organocatalytic reactions. By taking advantage of the results from the kinetic studies described by Mayr, a simple and effective procedure for the direct formylation of aryltetrafluoroborate salts, has been development. The coupling of a range of aryl- and heteroaryl- trifluoroborate salts with 1,3-benzodithiolylium tetrafluoroborate, has been attempted in moderate to good yields. Finally, a simple and general methodology for the enamine-mediated enantioselective α-alkylation of α-substituted aldehydes with 1,3-benzodithiolylium tetrafluoroborate has been reported. The introduction of the benzodithiole moiety permit the installation of different functional groups due to its chameleonic behaviour.


-a mobile, two legged man-is far preferable to a disarticulated or hindquarter amputation. The hospital stay of seven months was a small price to pay for the patient's present state of health. The comments relating to the cost of his postoperative care are short sighted and obviously take no account of the patient's wishes, quality of life, and the long term cost to society of a young man with a mutilating amputation. E R T C OWEN


The Japanese squirrel, Sciurus lis Temminck, is distributed on the Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu islands of Japan, although local extinction of this species has recently occurred in the southwestern part of Japan. To assess the impacts of environmental change on habitat availability for the Japanese squirrel, I studied spatial responses to habitat fragmentation. Suitable habitats were defined in accordance with previous work showing that the squirrels selectively use natural or secondary forests. Studies were conducted in a natural forest on Mt. Takao, western Tokyo, and in a neighboring forest fragmented by plantation development. Home range size, mean daily range size and mean daily movement distance were estimated by radio-tracking 16 female and 17 male squirrels. Home range size in both sexes and the daily range size in females increased as the percentage of suitable habitat declined. Japanese squirrels survived by expanding home ranges, even in fragmented forests including unsuitable vegetation types, as far as habitat mosaic was small.


Inter-domain IP traffic engineering requires the collection and analysis of data that is distributed among multiple network platforms. This process is usually considered complex for network operators and limits the efficiency that traffic management methods can achieve. The introduction of Software Define Networks may change this rigid context, as it is pushing operators to request flexible routing system architectures. In the future, the network operation team might have the resources to obtain, maintain, and analyze a rich variety of data from within and outside their networks. Without the need to change many of their routing devices, such data can be leveraged to implement more complex inter-domain TE applications. In this paper, we review the process of data col- lection and management required to benefit from such techniques. Additionally, we describe various enhanced TE applications, providing details of one of them in a case study.


The goal of this research was to explore the use of deception in romantic relationships and relate the use of such behavior to relational outcomes. Three possible explanations underlying the use of deception in romantic relationships were tested. It was expected that deception would be related to the reciprocal exchange of information, the desire to avoid punishment, and individuals' attachment beliefs. Two hundred and fifty-six individuals (128 couples) completed questionnaires regarding their own communicative behaviors, as well as their partners' behavior. Support for all three explanations regarding the use of deception was obtained. The results are discussed in terms of their theoretical and practical implications.


With the rapid development of computer, communication, network and economics, home automation (HA) is stepping into our daily life. European Installation Bus (EIB) is an important standard in HA area. The first section describes the framework and the second section illuminates how EIB works. The following section provides an overview of EIB-IDE, the EIB-integrated development environment, which is the most effective tool to develop EIB application module. Finally the development process is demonstrated by an example of a simple application for one of the possible target devices.


An ego-network is a graph representing the interactions of a node (ego) with its neighbors and the interactions among those neighbors. A sequence of ego-networks having the same ego can thus model the evolution of these interactions over time. We introduce the problem of segmenting a sequence of ego-networks into k segments, for any given integer k. Each segment is represented by a summary network, and the goal is to minimize the total loss of representing k segments by k summaries. The problem allows partitioning the sequence into homogeneous segments with respect to the activities or properties of the ego (e.g., to identify time periods when a user acquired different circles of friends in a social network) and to compactly represent each segment with a summary. The main challenge is to construct a summary that represents a collection of ego-networks with minimum loss. To address this challenge, we employ Jaccard Median (JM), a well-known NP-hard problem for summarizing sets, for which, however, no effective and efficient algorithms are known. We develop a series of algorithms for JM offering different effectiveness/efficiency trade-offs: (I) an exact exponential-time algorithm, based on Mixed Integer Linear Programming and (II) exact and approximation polynomial-time algorithms for minimizing an upper bound of the objective function of JM. By building upon these results, we design two algorithms for segmenting a sequence of ego-networks that are effective, as shown experimentally.


Some serum proteins have a finite capacity for binding hemoglobin and its degradation products such as hematin and bilirubin. Of these proteins, the haptoglobins alone bind free circulating hemoglobin, 1,2 a globulin and albumin bind hematin, 1,3-7 while only albumin binds bilirubin. 8 The globulin has been called the heme binding globulin, since it has a greater affinity for hematin than does albumin. 3 This heme binding protein is identified by electrophoresis as a fast α 2 -globulin on starch gel, 1 as a β-globulin on paper, 3,7,14 and as α 3− and β-globulins on cellulose acetate 9 and is therefore distinctly different from the haptoglobins. The heme binding protein and the haptoglobins also differ in their in vivo life cycles. In chronic hemolytic processes, the haptoglobins will bind hemoglobin and disappear from the plasma before the heme binding protein becomes saturated and is removed from the circulation. 1,7 On