The potential carbon sequestration in rangelands is largely due to the extensive areas they occupy, even though levels of soil organic carbon (SOC) are low. There is considerable uncertainty in achieving this potential due to the inherent patchy spatial and temporal distribution of rangeland vegetation and resources. At a paddock scale, determining appropriate sampling scales is a critical first step in the accurate estimation of size and spatial distribution of stocks of SOC. This issue was addressed by examining the spatial distribution of SOC and determining the association of SOC with other site characteristics such as ground cover and vegetation. This was done in a pilot study conducted in a 136-ha paddock located on the Cobar Pediplain Bioregion in western New South Wales, Australia. Each of 104 sites was sampled using a 0.25-m2 quadrat to assess biomass and ground cover category (percentage of perennial plants, bare ground, cryptogams, annual plants and litter) of a soil core taken from the centre of each quadrat, and proximity to trees and shrubs. The soil core was used to determine total organic C (TOC), total N (TN) and the C : N ratio at four depths (0–5; 5–10; 10–20; 20–30 cm). From the quadrat and ground cover categories of the soil cores, six microsite categories were identified using cluster analysis: cryptogams; litter (≥25% litter); bare (≥60% bare ground); annual (≥40% annual plants); litter-P (≥15% litter and ≥10% perennial plants) and perennial (≥30% perennial plants). Microsite, depth in soil profile and the presence of trees and shrubs all had a significant (P < 0.001) effect on TOC concentration. The predicted means (s.e. of mean) of TOC at the soil surface (0–5 cm) were perennial 1.26 (0.04) %; litter-P 1.20 (0.05) %; annual 1.18 (0.06) %; litter 1.12 (0.05) %; bare 1.03 (0.05) % and cryptogams 0.88 (0.06) %. Higher concentrations of TOC were associated with the presence of trees and were almost 30% higher in close proximity (<1 m) to a tree. There was a consistent finding that higher concentrations of TOC, TN and the high values of C : N ratio were each associated with higher ground cover of perennial plants. The autocorrelation range for soil C stocks was ~30 m and for categories of ground cover which varied from 10 m to over 200 m. The spatial predictions for ground cover of perennial plants closely mirrored those for C stocks, which were 22.9 Mg C ha–1 in the top 30 cm of soil in this environment. As both tree proximity and ground cover had a significant effect on TOC, quantifying the levels of soil organic C at a paddock scale will require an understanding of the spatial patterns of vegetation (woody and ground cover), which provides a basis for within-paddock stratification before soil sampling.


Aim: This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of treatment planning system (TPS)-based heterogeneity correction for two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) electronic portal imaging device (EPID)-based pretreatment dose verification. An experiment was conducted on the EPID back-projection technique and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Materials and Methods: Treatment plans were delivered in EPID without a patient to obtain the fluence pattern (FEPID). A heterogeneity correction plane (Fhet) for an open beam of 30 cm × 30 cm was extracted from the TPS. The heterogeneity-corrected measured fluence is developed by matrix element multiplication (FResultant= FEPID× Fhet). Further planes were summed to develop a 3D dose distribution and exported to the TPS. Dose verifications for 2D and 3D were carried out with the corresponding TPS values using 2D gamma analysis (ɣ) and dose volume histogram (DVH) comparison, respectively. Totally, 33 patients (17 head–neck and 16 thorax cases) were evaluated in this study. Results: The head–neck and thorax plans show a 3-mm-distance to agreement (DTA) 3% DD gamma passing of 96.3% ± 2.0% and 95.4% ± 1.8% points, respectively, between FTPS and FResultant. The comparison of the uncorrected measured fluence (FEPID) with FTPS reveals a gamma passing of 82.2% ± 7.3% and 80.4% ± 8.6% for head–neck and thorax cases, respectively. A total of 87 out of the 102 head–neck and thorax beams exhibit a planner gamma passing of 97.6% ± 2.1%. In the 3D-DVH comparison of thorax and head–neck cases, D5% for planning target volume were −0.5% ± 2.2% and −2.1% ± 3.5%, respectively; D95% varies as 1.0% ± 2.7% and 1.4% ± 1.1% between TPS calculated and heterogeneity-corrected-EPID-based dose reconstruction. Conclusion: The novel TPS-based heterogeneity correction can improve the 2D and 3D EPID-based back projection technique. Structures with large heterogeneities can also be handled using the proposed technique.


The ISMS program provided for the development and demonstration of equipment modifications in both conventional and continuous coal mining systems. This report describes activities during the demonstration of the conventional equipment and includes machine performance, results of data gathering, system evaluation, and recommendations for implementing improvements.


Fidelity of vehicle dynamics is directly affected by virtual terrain data in driving simulator, in order to satisfy both high fidelity and simulation frame rate, management of high resolution terrain data is necessary. Vehicle dynamics process and terrain data triangle grid structure are introduced firstly, then a data management algorithm is described, whole terrain data is divided into small terrain blocks identified by their row and column, according to driver's view range, blocks around vehicle position are loaded rather than all terrain data, therefore dynamics calculation efficiency and simulation frame rate are improved. Finally, a simple driving simulator is created to test effect of this algorithm, the results show it is feasible and valid for driving simulator.


Predictions for the transmission of genetic traits along to generations are an important process for patients, their family and genetic counseling. For this purpose, Bayesian analysis in which one can include a priori knowledge taking into account all relevant information into the problem could be a useful tool to examine how disease forecasting affects its probability so that it provides a more straightforward interpretation of predictions. Therefore, we investigate here transmissions of autosomal recessive diseases along to generations within Bayesian framework. In order to do that we develop a computer code that is useful to facilitate genetic transition matrices to forecast predictions of probabilities of transmission of genetic traits by using Mathematica software, well known as an algebraic manipulation language. Furthermore, the symbolic implementation of the code is applied for the cystic fibrosis disease forecasting in humans genetics. All results show that Bayesian analysis plays a central role of prediction for probabilities of transmissions of genetic traits along generations for cystic fibrosis disease or other autosomal recessive disorders.


In Britain the term 'obscenity' has enjoyed a chequered career. Obscene libel first became an offence in 1727 when an erotic book called Venus in the Cloister was found to contravene common law by tending to 'weaken the bonds of civil society, virtue and morality' (Robertson 1991, p. 180). Despite this, erotic literature remained freely available throughout the eighteenth century. In the nineteenth century Britain got its first Obscene Publications Act. This came in 1857 and gave the police power to take books before local Justices who could order their forfeiture and destruction.


This paper presents a practical swarm navigation algorithm based on potential functions and properties of inviscid incompressible flows. Panel methods are used to solve the flow equations around complex shaped obstacles and to generate the flowlines, which provide collision-free paths to the goal position. Safe swarm navigation is achieved by following the generated streamlines. Potential functions are used to achieve and maintain group cohesion or a geometric formation during navigation. The algorithm is implemented and tested through numerical simulations, as well as experimental implementations on real robots in a laboratory environment in two settings, in which the flowlines are calculated either offline or in real time. The algorithm is easy to implement and can serve as an effective tool for cohesive navigation of robotic swarms.


readmitted and not to all operations. If these analyses are made in relation to the total number of operations, there is a significant increased risk for readmission due to abdominal pain after laparoscopic appendectomy, but no difference in the risk of readmission for adhesive small bowel obstruction. The study is a population based study including all patients with appendectomy for the Lothian region with 800 000 inhabitants during 62 months. During this time, 1493 appendicitis patients were operated, which represents an incidence rate of only 36 per 100 000 inhabitants and year. This is about one-third of the incidence reported in other European countries and in England. Is this caused by errors in the registration? R. E. Andersson Department of Surgery, Ryhov County Hospital, Jönköping SE55185, Sweden DOI: 10.1002/bjs.6366


Bologna - Ospedale Santa Orsola - European Journeys Asylum - NAME is a biographical, bibliographical and archival database of SUBJECT with links to related articles and images. ADD MORE DESCRIPTION AS REQUIRED


With superheated steam from thermal power plants for medium, the fluidized bed jet mill which had improved vertical turbine classifier was used to study Superheated steam as media in processing ultra-fine fly ash technology. Experiment tested the energy consumption of processing fly ash with superheated steam, which was converted into standard coal compared with the air jet mill technology to prove the environment and energy saving advantages in superheated steam-gas processing ultra-fine fly ash. Experimental results showed that this technology has low energy consumption, high grinding force, and its grinding, grading, collection process is completely in dry method, so this technology is an ideal method for processing ultra-fine fly ash by low-cost and large-scale. At the same time, this paper assessed the environmental benefits of some environmental indicators. Finally, the applications of this technology are summarized.


Background Violence by intimate partners (IPV) can be prevented and its impact reduced. This calls for to deal with violence from a public health perspective, according the ecological model, associated to a multidisciplinary and multisectoral networking approach. In Coimbra various sectors are working together from 2000, in tackling the problem of IPV. Health sector is an active and valuable ally in the global response to violence and brings a variety of advantages and assets to this work, from primary to terciary prevention, including programs for victims and perpetrators. Description of the problem IPV is a serious problem that occurs in all countries, among heterosexual or same-sex couples. The consequences are profound, extending beyond the health and happiness of individuals to affect the well-being of entire communities. Results Our strategies are addressed to prevention (al all levels). We deal with violence taking steps to understand the range of factors that put people at risk for violence and protect them from experiencing or perpetrating violence. Our fundamental goal is to stop IPV before it begins. Networks "Violence´s Group: Information, Research, Intervention" (2002), "School Against Violence" (2007), along with the training of 480 professionals (health, other sectors) in our region (2009–2012), in the area of prevention of IPV, are examples of our networking strategy. The Family Violence Unit, UVF (2004) - CHUC, integrates both networks; of the 1400 cases (2/3 women, 1/3 men) at UVF, we did not record any murder to date. Our strategy is recognised at regional and national levels. Conclusions We believe that prevent efforts associated to investigation and a networking strategy (from micro to macrosystem, throughout the life cycle), at individual, family, community, and political levels, are one of the keys to prevent IPV.


: 1. The relationship between tolerated nitrogen oversaturation and ambient pressure is practically linear. 2. Tissues with short half-times have a higher tolerance than tissues with long half-times. 3. The human body can be regarded as consisting of 16 compartments with half-times from 4 to 635 minutes for nitrogen and from 1.5 to 240 minutes for helium. 4. The coefficients for calculation of minimal tolerated ambient pressure for a given PN2 in the tissue can be deduced directly from the half-times for nitrogen. 5. The results of 573 simulated air dives and 544 real dives in mountain lakes are in accordance with the computed limits of tolerance. 6. The ZH-L16 system is applicable to all exposures with air or oxygen-nitrogen mixtures. 7. Adaptation to breathing of oxy-helium or trimix is simple.


Underpinned by missiological thinking, the article argues that, in a context searching for gender justice, the mission of God should begin with making sensitive the consciousness of Swazi church leaders who, in turn, would act as agents for transforming social consciousness.In this process, the leaders become critically aware that they are called to act as prophetic example by adopting a gender-sensibility posture and calling the local church to account forits reluctance and slothfulness in teaching and practicing gender-justice values and ideals as one of the key social organs of the country. In addition, the leaders should become conscious of the fact that they have a wider prophetic missiological task to subversively challenge and wisely remind the State about its social responsibility to advance the socially shared agenda of radically promoting the rights, humanity and dignity of women in its domain.


In recent years, the use of corpora has achieved increasing prominence for educational purposes in general, for second language vocabulary development in particular. To this end, the qualitative study reported in this article sought to find out learners' perceptions related to the use of corpus assisted vocabulary learning activities in an EFL classroom. The study was carried out at an international high school in Istanbul, conveniently sampling 26 learners (16 male, 10 female). The learners were exposed to four unknown words for two classroom hours of activities prepared using a corpus program as in the literature (e.g., Thurstun & Candlin, 1998). Upon completion of the activities, data, first of all, came from a persona evaluation checklist. Then, reflection papers were collected, and at the end all learners interviewed. The qualitative data were transcribed and coded. The results showed that learners found corpus-assisted vocabulary learning activities interesting enough, identifying their thoughts with such expressions as "easy", "fun", "innovative", "autonomous", "practical", but "complex". Bearing all these results in mind, a series of implications are given and suggestions made for both language teachers and learners.


Lesion segmentation in medical imaging serves as an effective tool for assessing tumor sizes and monitoring changes in growth. However, not only is manual lesion segmentation time-consuming, but it is also expensive and requires expert radiologist knowledge. Therefore many hospitals rely on a loose substitute called response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST). Although these annotations are far from precise, they are widely used throughout hospitals and are found in their picture archiving and communication systems (PACS). Therefore, these annotations have the potential to serve as a robust yet challenging means of weak supervision for training full lesion segmentation models. In this work, we propose a weakly-supervised co-segmentation model that first generates pseudo-masks from the RECIST slices and uses these as training labels for an attention-based convolutional neural network capable of segmenting common lesions from a pair of CT scans. To validate and test the model, we utilize the DeepLesion dataset, an extensive CT-scan lesion dataset that contains 32,735 PACS bookmarked images. Extensive experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of our co-segmentation approach for lesion segmentation with a mean Dice coefficient of 90.3%.


As the nanotechnology gate is scaling down, the fabrication technology of gate spacer for CMOS transistor becomes more critical in manufacturing processes. For CMOS technologies, sidewall spacers play an important role in the control of short channel effects by offsetting ion implantation profiles from the edge of the gate. A sidewall spacer patterning technology yields critical dimension variations of minimum-sized features much smaller than that achieved by optical Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication processes integration. The present study is to overcome the fabrication limitations and more particularly focus on etching processes integration on structural and formation processing for complementary metal oxide semiconductor nanofabrication process on gate spacer technology and electrical characteristics performance of nanotechnology gate structure were included. Based on the investigation of the etching effect and interface film variation on the electrical characteristics of the gate oxide on etching profile and their impacts on the sidewall transistor gate structure, a novel etching integration process for optimal controlled sidewall gate spacer fabrication was developed.


The cognitive processes supporting spatial navigation are considered in the context of a patient (CF) with possible very early Alzheimer's disease who presents with topographical disorientation. Her verbal memory and her recognition memory for unknown buildings, landmarks and outdoor scenes was intact, although she showed an impairment in face processing. By contrast, her navigational ability, quantitatively assessed within a small virtual reality (VR) town, was significantly impaired. Interestingly, she showed a selective impairment in a VR object-location memory test whenever her viewpoint was shifted between presentation and test, but not when tested from the same viewpoint. We suggest that a specific impairment in locating objects relative to the environment rather than relative to the perceived viewpoint (i.e. allocentric rather than egocentric spatial memory) underlies her topographical disorientation. We discuss the likely neural bases of this deficit in the light of related studies in humans and animals, focusing on the hippocampus and related areas. The specificity of our test indicates a new way of assessing topographical disorientation, with possible application to the assessment of progressive dementias such as Alzheimer's disease.


Abstract Design-driven innovation focuses on the innovation of product meanings. This innovation is enabled by integrating knowledge on needs, product language and technological development. So far, it has mostly been studied in contexts where the buyer is the assumed end user. There has been little research about design-driven innovation in other contexts, such as business-to-business and public contexts. Here, companies need to create value for multiple stakeholders. In this study, these are defined as users, buyers and influencers. The aim of this study is to explore how companies consider the different stakeholders in the innovation of product meanings. Two companies participated in a case study. The results demonstrate that both companies mainly focus on addressing needs. However, while one case company prioritizes the perspective from the user, the other focuses more on the buyer. The results illustrate the increased complexity that companies need to manage in design-driven innovation in these contexts.


Interactions are all around us, and as humans we may use words and gestures to communicate our intentions. At the micro level of fungi, communications are replaced by chemical signals and structure. These interactions fall into three distinctive categories: synergistic, where organisms help each other, as is the case with ectomycorrhizal fungi and tree roots, deadlock, or combat, where organisms fight for or defend a resource. When it comes to fungi-tree interactions, the fungi group of basidiomycetes fall into the latter category. At the onset of fungal infection, a living tree defends itself by producing resinous substances such as terpenes. These compounds are frequently found in hydrodistilled turpentine, which makes turpentine a prime source of antifungal compounds. A D-optimal design of fractionated turpentine together with gas chromatography (GC) coupled to a mass spectrometer was employed to find the most biologically active constituent of turpentine. Growth rate of Coniophora puteana was used to assess the efficacy of the mixed fractions. The partial least squares projection model had an excellent predictive power (R2 = 0.988, Q2 = 0.825) and validity. A putative sesquiterpene was identified as the most active compound for inhibiting fungal growth. The model was corroborated by an external validation assay employing preparative GC. After the death of a tree, fungi are no longer hindered by secondary metabolites from the tree. Instead, other interspecies interactions and intraspecies interactions, such as fungifungi interactions, occur. We found that when the white-rot fungus Heterobasidion parviporum and brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum sepiarium interact with each other, amino acids are used to a higher extent. Amino acids may be used to produce antifungal compounds to hinder the other species from growing. Lysine in particular was utilized to a greater extent during interaction. Glutamine was the only amino acid that increased in concentration. Glutamine might be exuded or converted by enzymes from already existing glutamic acid. Dry weights suggest that the fungi were in a deadlock and that nutrient limitation might be a determining


CRDM (Control Rod Drive Mechanism) is the key equipment of nuclear reactors. Accurate fault diagnosis can improve the reliability of CRDM equipment and effectively and quickly eliminate related faults, thus ensuring the safety of reactors. However, due to its complex operating environment, the fault characteristics of CRDM are easily masked by complex and changeable noises, resulting in difficulty in fault identification. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a fault diagnosis method for KELM based on ensemble empirical Mode decomposition (EEMD), wavelet threshold denoising and whale optimization (WOA). Firstly, an EEMD-Wavelet threshold signal denoising method is proposed according to correlation criterion and kurtosis criterion. Then, the time domain feature, frequency domain feature, EEMD modal component energy and sample entropy feature of noise reduction signal were extracted to construct a multi-scale feature set that can accurately reflect the fault state. Finally, a classification method based on WOA-KELM is proposed to diagnose the fault feature set accurately. The proposed method is validated with CRDM vibration signal data set, and compared with common fault diagnosis methods, the results show that the fault diagnosis method based on EEMD-Wavelet threshold denoising and WOA-KELM has higher fault classification accuracy.


Recently orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) has gained a lot of attention in mobile radio communications because of its ability to allow high data rate transmission in a severe frequency selective fading channel. Rate compatible punctured turbo coded hybrid ARQ (RCPT HARQ) has been found to give improved throughput performance in a DS-CDMA system. However the extent to which the RCPT HARQ improves the throughput performance of the OFDM system has not been fully understood. In this paper we evaluate by computer simulations the performance of the RCPT HARQ for the OFDM system. It is found that the type II RCPT HARQ has the highest throughput when minimum amount of redundancy bits are transmitted with each retransmission, typical case is when the puncturing period for the parity sequences is 8. It was found that the OFDM system with RCPT HARQ outperforms the DS-CDMA system with RCPT HARQ in a frequency selective channel.


Background The Quality Management System (QMS), present in hospital pharmacy certified according to UNI EN ISO 9001:2008, has been implemented in the antineoplastic drugs laboratory. Purpose The purpose of this study was to present tools and evaluation methods for work activity to improve both quality and safety of therapies. Material and methods Several specific performance indicators, with related reference values, were identified for critical activities: number of non-compliant preparations/number of controls executed (3%); number of sterility checks with negative results/number of checks executed; number of environmental negative controls/number of environmental controls (both 100%). In addition, a questionnaire was submitted to internal users concerning the main aspects of our service: quality, packaging of the preparations, clarity of the labels and administration form, and delivery time. Finally, we analysed the non-conformities recorded and then we implemented corrective/preventive actions. Results The indicators were verified and provided values in line with the reference values: non-compliant preparations 1–2%; product and surfaces sterility 100% negative reports. The questionnaire of internal user satisfaction confirmed that the overall quality of the service was good and packaging was in line with the indications in the data sheet. Delivery time was judged as not always on time and the labels, included in photo-shielding envelopes, as not clear. Given that the validation phase has been optimised, giving priority in parallel to monotherapy set ups and to first therapies for multiple patients, the delivery frequency to the department was increased; a packaging update improved the visibility of the labels. The registered non-conformities were 5 and led to the opening of four corrective and two preventive actions: it was decided to optimise staff training regarding the risk of cytotoxic drugs and the need for double controls during work in the hood was reiterated. Conclusion QMS support has helped us to create condition for effective management of the laboratory since its activation, to provide appropriate instruments for activity evaluation and to identify critical issues that can be resolved through concerted and shared measures. References and/or acknowledgements Thanks to the pharmacy service. No conflict of interest


Iodine chemistry in the marine aerosol plays important roles in the marine boundary layer such as ozone destruction and new aerosol particle formation. Iodine has a complex chemistry in the gas and aerosol phases and to date, what controls iodine speciation, the interactions and roles of individual iodine species are not well understood. This research aims to identify key controls on iodine speciation in marine aerosol.

Effects of filter types on iodine and extraction methods were tested to provide optimum conditions for extraction of iodine species. Coupling of ion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS) for the measurement of iodine speciation was developed to provide a reliable analytical method. These optimised methods were used to determine iodine speciation in samples collected during cruises in the Atlantic Ocean (AMT21) and the Pacific Ocean (TransBrom and SHIVA). Major ions were also determined in these samples by ion chromatography (IC) with the results providing insight into the chemical characteristics aerosol samples.

A high variability of the total soluble iodine (TSI) was observed between AMT21 (12–82, median 30 pmol m-3) and TransBrom (1.6–27, median 6.9 pmol m-3) and SHIVA (5.9–15, median 8.4 pmol m-3). The proportions of iodide (I-), iodate (IO3-) and soluble organic iodine (SOI) on the three cruises also showed a high variability: AMT21: I- 5.2–39%, median 14%; IO3- 36–99%, median 66%; and SOI 13–47%, median 28%, TransBrom: I- 8.8–64%, median 46%; IO3- 1.8–65%, median 6.2%; and SOI 5.9–50%, median 39%, SHIVA: I- 22–79%, median 42%; IO3- 17–66%, median 39%; and SOI non-determinable value–41%, median 14%.

Three main types of aerosol with distinctive iodine speciation were identified: polluted aerosol, clean seasalt and mineral dust. pH seems to play an important role in regulating iodine speciation. The formation of HOI and the reduction of iodate are driven by acidic conditions in polluted aerosol. In clean less acidic seasalt aerosol, a high iodine enrichment was observed (565–1675, median 725), especially in the fine mode aerosol. For mineral dust, uptake of HIO3 on calcium carbonate surfaces seems to dominate.


Abstract This study reports that quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is used to determine the effect of chitosan derivatives obtained by chemical method on biofilm inhibition. Plasma grafted chitosan (pchito) was modified chemically with both 5-methyl-4-phenyl-thiophene-3-carboxylic acid (MFTKA) and 4-(thiophene-2-sulfonylamino)-benzoic acid (TSABA). The quartz crystal electrode surfaces were coated with nanofibers of these chitosan derivatives by QCM-electrospinning techniques. The surface morphology and elemental compositions of nanofibers were examined using Scanning electron microscopy-Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 as model bacteria on the electrodes coated with nanofiber was examined as a function of time using a flow-cell through QCM.


The impact of views on property values has not been the specific focus of as much research as has the impact of other externalities on property values. When the impact of views is assessed, this is often done by simply adding a dummy variable for views in hedonic regression equations. This paper provides a detailed literature review as well as an empirical analysis of the impact of a view on residential property values using a very rich database of nearly 5,000 sales in Auckland, New Zealand. Several dimensions of a view are analyzed (type of view, scope of view, distance to coast, and quality of surrounding improvements). It is found that wide views of water add an average of 59% to the value of a waterfront property, but that this effect diminishes quite rapidly as the distance from the coast increases. Attractive landscaping and buildings in a property's neighborhood on average add 5% and 37% to value, respectively. Particularly attractive improvements in the immediate surroundings of a property add another 27% to value on average. Our results lead to the conclusion that aesthetic externalities are multi-dimensional [...] BOURASSA, Steven C., HOESLI, Martin E., SUN, Jian. What's in a View ?. 2003


The Single European Act (SEA) of 1986 was the first major reform of the founding treaties of the three original European Communities, the forerunners of the European Union (EU). The main purpose of the SEA was to facilitate implementation of the Single Market Program by the end of 1992, notably by making it possible for national governments to enact the necessary legislation in the Council of Ministers by means of qualified-majority voting (QMV). To complement the shift of decision-making from unanimity to QMV, the SEA also increased the legislative authority of the European Parliament by introducing the cooperation procedure. This was intended to help close the EC's perceived democratic deficit, or at least to prevent it from widening. The SEA included changes in other policy areas as well as the single market, such as cohesion policy, environmental policy, research and technology policy, and intergovernmental cooperation on foreign policy (European Political Cooperation). The SEA, and the Single Market Program with which it is closely associated, became synonymous with the acceleration of European integration in the late 1980s. Procedurally and substantively, the SEA set a precedent for other, far-reaching treaty reforms, especially the Maastricht Treaty of 1992. Jacques Delors, who became commission president in 1985, is widely credited with having engineered the SEA. The leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom may have played a more important role, especially as the SEA emerged out of a complicated intergovernmental conference, which culminated in a meeting of the European Council in December 1985. From the perspective of more than three decades later, with the EU facing serious setbacks, the SEA looks like a shining light in the history of European integration.


In modern software development, maintenance is one of the most expensive processes. When end-users encounter software defects, they report the bug to developers by specifying the expected behavior and error messages (e.g., log message). Then, they wait for a bug fix from the developers. However, on the developers' side, it can be very challenging and expensive to debug the problem. To fix the bugs, developers often have to play the role of detectives: seeking clues in the user-reported logs files or stack trace in a snapshot of specific system execution. This debugging process may take several hours or even days. In this paper, we first look at the usefulness of the user-reported logs. Then, we propose an automated approach to assist the debugging process by reconstructing the execution path. Through the analysis, our investigation shows that 31% of the time, developer further requests logs from the reporter. Moreover, our preliminary results show that the reconducted path illustrates the user's execution. We believe that our approach proposes a novel solution in debugging production failures.


Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) made from oriented, one-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures such as nanorods, nanowires, and nanotubes are receiving attention because direct connection of the point of photogeneration with the collection electrode using such structures may improve the cell performance. Specifically, oriented single-crystalline TiO(2) nanorods or nanowires on a transparent conductive substrate would be most desirable, but achieving these structures has been limited by the availability of synthetic techniques. In this study, a facile, hydrothermal method was developed for the first time to grow oriented, single-crystalline rutile TiO(2) nanorod films on transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. The diameter, length, and density of the nanorods could be varied by changing the growth parameters, such as growth time, growth temperature, initial reactant concentration, acidity, and additives. The epitaxial relation between the FTO substrate and rutile TiO(2) with a small lattice mismatch plays a key role in driving the nucleation and growth of the rutile TiO(2) nanorods on FTO. With TiCl(4)-treatment, a light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 3% could be achieved by using 4 mum-long TiO(2) nanorod films as the photoanode in a DSSC.


The proliferation of modern smartphones has given rise to Public Sensing, a new paradigm for data acquisition systems utilizing smartphones of mobile participants. In this paper, we present DrOPS, a system for improving the efficiency of data acquisition in Public Sensing systems. DrOPS utilizes a model-driven approach, where the number of required readings from mobile smartphones is reduced by inferring readings from the model. Furthermore, the model can be used to infer readings for positions where no sensor is available. The model is directly constructed from the observed phenomenon in an online fashion. Using such models together with a client-specified quality bound, we can significantly reduce the effort for data acquisition while still reporting data of required quality to the client. To this effect, we develop a set of online learning and control algorithms to create and validate the model of the observed phenomenon and present a sensing task execution system utilizing our algorithms in this paper. Our evaluations show that we obtain models in a matter of just hours or even minutes. Using the model-driven approach for optimizing the data acquisition, we can save up to 80% of energy for communication and provide inferred temperature readings for uncovered positions matching an error-bound of 1°C up to 100 % of the time.


The performance of a new approach to nuclear spectral analysis was compared with two widely accepted commercial codes. The comparison measured the new approach's ability to determine the presence and activity of multiple nuclides in spectra dominated by natural background. The new approach is implemented in the spectral analysis software, RobWin/sup TM/. Ten calibration sources ranging in activity from 25 to 450 kBq were placed 20.5 meters from a bare, 100% relative-efficient high purity germanium gamma-ray detector, thus assuring dominance of the natural background radiation over the test nuclides. Accumulated spectra were recorded at ever-doubling time intervals from 225 seconds to 128 hours. All spectra were analyzed by each code according to a defined procedure designed to achieve the best results from the comparator codes. The results from all codes were in general agreement for most nuclides where acquisition times were long, but RobWin's performance was significantly superior for short counting times.


In this study parasitic infection of bobwhite and Japanese quails were clarified in farms of Garmsar city in province of Semnan. Forty quails from two breeds randomly were selected and they examined to identify all internal and external parasites .Finding was shown that five percent of the quails examined harbored one or more species of helminthes. Two cestodes, Raillietina echinobothrida and Raillietina cysticillus were found in small intestine. One of female bobwhite quails was infected by R.echinobothrida and one male bobwhite quails was infected by R.cysticyllus. Eight of forty quails harbored intestinal Cryptosporidiosis (20%) and thirteen of forty quails had tracheal cryptosporidiosis (32.5%).Intestinal cryptosporidiosis was clarified in three male and one female of both bobwhite and Japanese quails and tracheal cryptosporidiosis was found in four male and five female of bob white quails and three male and one female of Japanese quails. Also in this study significant difference  was determined between female Bob white breed & female Japanese breed in case of tracheal cryptosporidiosis (p<0.05). In this study, there was no ectoparasite on quails.


According to recent studies, both absolute and relative mobility in Hungary have recently declined. In our paper, we seek to explain how these processes evolved in the lower and upper segments of the social structure. Is the decline in mobility more due to the fact that parents in a more favourable position manage to pass on their privileged social position successfully, or rather to the fact that those starting from below are less able to overcome their disadvantages? To what extent have these processes occurred simultaneously in the last almost twenty years, and to what extent have they taken place independently? According to our results, the decrease in social mobility can be detected in both the lower and upper segments of society. However, processes at the two poles have not involved the same dynamics over the past nearly two decades. In the 2000s, educational expansion fuelled immobility in the upper segment of society, but also created mobility channels for those with an unfavourable social background. In contrast, in the 2010s the proportion of the immobile increased among both the high and low educated. In terms of relative mobility, quite similar processes have taken place in the upper and lower segments of society: the already unequal relative mobility chances became even more unequal during the nearly twenty years under study.


The 1800-km-long Aleutian Archipelago is a breeding area for more than 10 million seabirds of 26 species. We evaluated the distribution of breeding colonies of 24 common breeding species in relationship to ocean passes of two sizes, availability of nesting habitat and the distribution of introduced predatory mammals. Further, we evaluated population trends and reproductive rates to amplify information about distribution. We compared distributions and demographic parameters based on proposed differences in marine habitats in the eastern, central and western Aleutians. Samalga Pass did not appear to be a break point for breeding seabird distribution as is suggested for oceanographic characteristics and other species groups by papers in this volume. Factors affecting distribution varied with foraging and nesting strategies of various species groups. The three largest breeding aggregations of seabirds in the Aleutians (Buldir, Chagulak and Kiska) all have relatively high species diversity and are located next to large passes. However, when other predictors were considered, proximity to medium or large passes was important mainly for surface-feeding piscivores. The extent of nesting habitat apparently does not limit the distribution of surface- or burrow-nesting species (including planktivores and piscivores). Instead, the distribution of these species probably has been shaped by introduced mammals. Nesting habitat for ledge- and crevice-nesting species is more limited than for surface and burrow nesters but is still fairly widespread. Ledge- and crevice-nesting species are less susceptible to fox predation than are surface and burrow nesters. These species may have been reduced by predation but were not extirpated.


64 Haemophilus influenzae strains circulating in Havana City during a year were characterized by the carbohydrate fermentation method for the first time in Cuba. The fermentative pattern D was the most frequently found. Patterns D and G together were 72% of the total of strains studied. The combination of the carbohydrate fermentation with serotyping and biotyping allowed a greater differentiation of strains (14 groups). Patterns A, B, C and F appeared in children over 6 months of age, and pattern G in the group from 6 to 18. Patterns D and G predominated in the bacterial meningoencephalitis. A higher heterogeneity was observed among the strains isolated from acute respiratory infections. Some of the advantages of the Haemophilus influenzae strains subtyping method are stressed, such as: simplicity, easiness to be applied and interpreted, and the fact that it is not necessary a qualified personnel or a specialized laboratory for its implementation.


The work was performed in framework of the State program for the improvement of the competitiveness of Kazan (Volga) Federal University among the world's leading research and education centers and subsidies unveiled to Kazan Federal University to perform public tasks in the field of scientific research. In the current methodological recommendations "Guide for assessing the risk to public health under the influence of chemicals that pollute the environment," P 18.104.22.1680-04 there is regulated the determination of quantitative and/or qualitative characteristics of the harmful effects to human health from exposure to environmental factors. We proposed to complement the methodological approaches presented in P 18.104.22.1680-04, with the estimation of the probability of pollutants input in the body with drinking water, which is the greater, the higher the order of the excess of the actual concentrations of the substances in comparison with background concentrations. In the paper there is proposed a method of calculation of the probability of exceeding the actual concentrations of metal cations above the background in samples of drinking water consumed by the population, which were selected at the end points of consumption in houses and apartments, to accommodate the passage of secondary pollution of water pipelines and distributing paths. Research was performed on the example of Kazan, divided into zones. The calculation ofprobabilities was made with the use of Bayes' theorem.


A survey of integral methods in laminar-boundary-layer analysis is first given. A simple and sufficiently accurate method for practical purposes of calculating the properties (including stability) of the laminar compressible boundary layer in an axial pressure gradient with heat transfer at the wall is presented. For flow over a flat plate, the method is applicable for an arbitrarily prescribed distribution of temperature along the surface and for any given constant Prandtl number close to unity. For flow in a pressure gradient, the method is based on a Prandtl number of unity and a uniform wall temperature. A simple and accurate method of determining the separation point in a compressible flow with an adverse pressure gradient over a surface at a given uniform wall temperature is developed. The analysis is based on an extension of the Karman-Pohlhausen method to the momentum and the thermal energy equations in conjunction with fourth- and especially higher degree velocity and stagnation-enthalpy profiles.


It is shown that, in a multicompartmental homeostatic system, the extent of interaction between any two compartments can be assessed by determination of the difference in free energy change of one particular reaction, or a series of coupled reactions, operative in both of the compartments under consideration. Hydrogen ion concentration and carbon dioxide tension have been used to determine free energy change difference relationships between the venous and arterial compartments (-deltadeltaG(a-v)) of the circulatory system. Data from the literature (from two studies of congestive heart failure and one study of experimentally induced cardiac arrest) are used to calculate -deltadeltaG(a-v). It was found that in control subjects -deltadeltaG(a-v) is close to zero, whereas in congestive heart failure or cardiac arrest, the value rises to 150 cal mol(-1) or more, whereas in blood, the approach towards equilibrium between hydrogen and bicarbonate ions and dissolved carbon dioxide (aqueous CO2) is known to be only moderately rapid. It is concluded that, in the system under study, and with respect to the reaction H+ + HCO3- = CO2 + H2O, a high value for the free energy change difference between the two compartments (high -deltadeltaG(a-v)) must be due to an insufficient blood circulation rate. Accordingly, -deltadeltaG(a-v) is probably a quantitative measure of cardiac insufficiency.


Microbiological diagnosis can help to establish the etiological factor of acute pharyngotonsillitis, otitis media and sinusitis only of appropriate specimens have been collected. Since relevant specimens for the diagnosis of otitis media and sinusitis have to be obtained with the usage of invasive procedures, microbiological diagnosis in both diseases is not routinely recommended. Administration of antibiotic therapy depends on clinical examination and the course of infection. ;e choice of antibiotic should be based on the recommendations. In Poland, the antibiotic of choice to treat acute bacterial otitis media and sinusitis is amoxicillin. In acute pharyngotonsillitis, microbiological examination is essential to confirm streptococcal etiology. It is not required if clinical examination suggests viral pharyngitis. To confirm or exclude streptococcal pharyngitis, throat swab should be obtained to perform rapid antigen detection test (RADT) or culture. Only patients with microbiologically confirmed streptococcal pharyngitis should be treated with antibiotic. Penicillin is the drug of choice to treat streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis. Inappropriate specimens should not be the subject of microbiological examination. ;e results of microbiological examination should provide physicians with interpretation, they cannot only contain the list of cultured bacteria. ;e discrimination should be done between etiological factors, normal <ora and carrier state. Such approach can decrease unnecessary antibiotic use in the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infections. It can also curtail the increasing antibiotic resistance among respiratory pathogens.


Among the three different non-covalent forces acting in aqueous media, i.e. Lifshitz-van der Waals (LW), Lewis acid-base (AB) and electrical double layer (EL) forces, the AB forces or electron-acceptor/electron-donor interactions are quantitatively by far the predominant ones. A subset of the AB forces acting in water causes the hydrophobic effect, which is the attraction caused by the hydrogen-bonding (AB) free energy of cohesion between the water molecules which surround all apolar as well as polar molecules and particles when they are immersed in water. As the polar energy of cohesion among water molecules is an innate property of water, the hydrophobic attraction (due to the hydrophobic effect) is unavoidably always present in aqueous media and has a value of DeltaG(hydrophobic) = -102 mJ/m(2), at 20 degrees C, being equal to the AB free energy of cohesion between the water molecules at that temperature. The strong underlying hydrophobic attraction due to this effect can, however, be surmounted by very hydrophilic molecules and particles that attract water molecules more strongly than the free energy of attraction of these molecules or particles for one another, plus the hydrogen-bonding free energy of cohesion between the water molecules, thus resulting in a net non-electrical double layer repulsion. Each of the three non-covalent forces, LW, AB or EL, any of which can be independently attractive or repulsive, decays, dependent on the circumstances, as a function of distance according to different rules. These rules, following an extended DLVO (XDLVO) approach, are given, as well as the measurement methods for the LW, AB and EL surface thermodynamic properties, determined at "contact". The implications of the resulting hydrophobic attractive and hydrophilic repulsive free energies, as a function of distance, are discussed with respect to specific and aspecific interactions in biological systems. The discussion furnishes a description of the manner by which shorter-range specific attractions can surmount the usually much stronger long-range aspecific repulsion, and ends with examples of in vitro and in vivo effects of hydrophilization of biopolymers, particles or surfaces by linkage with polyethylene oxide (PEO; also called polyethylene glycol, PEG).


SAR Polarimetry has become a valuable tool in spaceborne SAR based sea ice analysis. The two major objectives in SAR based remote sensing of sea ice is on the one hand to have a large coverage of the imaged ground area, and on the other hand to obtain a radar response that carries as much information as possible. Whereas single-polarimetric acquisitions of existing sensors offer a wide coverage on the ground, dual polarimetric, or even better fully polarimetric data offer a higher information content which allows for a more reliable automated sea ice analysis. In order to reconcile the advantages of fully polarimetric acquisitions with the higher ground coverage of acquisitions with fewer polarimetric channels, compact polarimetric acquisitions offer a trade-off between the mentioned objectives. With the advent of the RISAT-1 satellite platform, we are able to explore the potential of compact polarimteric acquisitions for sea ice analysis and classification in operational environment. Our algorithmic approach for an automated sea ice classification consists of two steps. In the first step, we perform a feature extraction procedure. The resulting feature vectors are then ingested into a trained neural network classifier to arrive at a pixelwise supervised classification. We present our results on datasets acquired over both Arctic and Antarctic sea ice.


Drosophila melanogaster blue cheese (bchs) encodes a large BEACH (Beige and Chediak-Higashi) family protein that is postulated to function as an adaptor protein with roles in vesicle trafficking. Mutation in bchs leads to the accumulation of ubiquitinated aggregates in aged brains, presumably because of a conserved function with its human homologue Autophagy-Linked FYVE (ALFY), which interacts with Atg5 and p62 to promote the clearance of aggregate-prone proteins. In this study, we present pharmacological and genetic evidence using a well-defined larval motorneuron paradigm that in Drosophila bchs mutants, autophagic deficit contributes to neurodegeneration. Specifically, we show that motorneuron death in larvae is accompanied by the accumulation of prominent ubiquitinated aggregates in synaptic termini, and that these are sensitive to autophagy modulating drugs. In primary bchs neurons, early autophagic compartments increase in number and intensity based on Atg5 expression, but fail to progress to Atg8-labelled compartments, indicating non-clearance. A rescuing transgene encoding the longest Bchs BEACH domain isoform not only reverses this defect, but also greatly increases Atg8 compartment number and rescues neuronal death. Although only a small fraction of Bchs colocalizes with these markers under wild-type conditions, the population of Bchs that does associate with autophagosomes shuttles between different locations depending on how autophagy is induced. These observations, together with epistatic relationships between bchs mutant alleles and autophagy-modulating drugs and genetic backgrounds, points to a model whereby BEACH domain isoforms of Bchs participate in the early steps of autophagy by recruiting Atg5 to target substrates for clearance, and that Bchs' association with different parts of the autophagy machinery depends upon the type of autophagic stress imposed upon the neuron.


PURPOSE
In this study, differences and relationships among variables in sleep quality/quantity and self-reported viral illness between day and non-day shift hospital nurses were examined.

DESIGN AND METHODS
A descriptive, cross-sectional study used the 10-item Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire to measure quality of sleep in 131 direct-care nurses from a 246-bed community-owned hospital in the northwestern United States.

FINDINGS
Non-day shift nurses used more techniques to stay awake while at work or aid in sleep at home. No differences were found between shifts in reported absenteeism for viral illness (m=2.9 days), or hours of reported sleep (m=7.5); significant differences were found in non-day shift quality of sleep compared to day shift nurses and between age groups.

CONCLUSION
Sleep disturbances are present among nurses and differ depending on shift worked and nurse's age. No association was found between sleep and reported viral illness.


Elementary particle physics is the quadrant of nature whose laws can be written in a few lines with absolute precision and the greatest empirical adequacy. If this is the case, as I believe it is, it must be possible and is probably useful to introduce the students and the interested readers to the entire subject in a compact way. This is the main aim of these Lectures.


GSM-Railways (GSM-R) is the current standard for railway voice and data communication. GSM-R provides railway specific voice services, such as Railway Emergency Call (REC). GSM-R provides also the European Train Control System (ETCS), which offers in-cab signaling and Automatic Train Protection (ATP). Despite these features and services, GSM-R has various major shortcomings. Therefore, alternative technologies are considered to replace GSM-R and become the next generation railway mobile communication network. 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a likely candidate for GSM-R replacement. LTE is more efficient, flexible and offers much higher capacity, which allows the railway network to provide new communication-based applications for railways. Most of the research on LTE in railways has been focused on data-based railway applications (ETCS signaling and other). Nevertheless, voice communication is still a crucial service for railways. Regardless of its advantages, LTE can only become a railway communication technology if it provides voice communication fulfilling railway requirements. This paper presents how Voice over LTE (VoLTE) can be used to build railway communication services. Examples of Railway Emergency Call and One-to-One Call are provided. Service performance, in terms of call setup times and voice transmission quality, is analyzed in simulation scenarios modelling two railway scenarios in Denmark.© 2015 ASME


OBJECTIVE
To explore the patterns of Cx43 and Pax3 protein expressions in the small intestinal muscular layers of human embryo during early development.

METHODS
Immunohistochemistry with SABC method was employed to examine the expression of Cx43 and Pax3 proteins in the muscular layers of the small intestine in early human embryos in the second to fourth months of gestation.

RESULTS
In the second month of gestation, the muscle layer of the small intestine was negative for Cx43 and Pax3 protein expressions. In the third month, Cx43 and Pax3 expressions were negative in the inner circular muscle layer, but some positive cells were found in the longitudinal muscle layer and the myenteric plexus. In the fourth month, positive expression of Cx43 and Pax3 proteins were seen in the entire muscle layer.

CONCLUSION
Cx43 and Pax3 proteins are closely related to the growth and development of the cells and tissues in the small intestinal muscle layer in human embryos.


This article understands integrity in public administration as a metaphor for the crafting of accountable, transparent, competent and responsive public administration underpinned by the concept of public value. It further argues that the design of effective integrity agencies requires a broad understanding of the obstacles to the achievement of integrity in public administration, the options for integrity reform and the appropriate strategic framework for implementing them. It concludes that integrity in public administration provides a methodology for achieving 'good enough' governance – a relative, evolving and culturally defined aspiration – otherwise known in mature democracies as representative, responsible and accountable government. It observes, however, that the achievement of integrity in public administration is as much a behavioural challenge as a problem of institutional design. Over the past two decades there has been a fascination with responding to integrity problems either through structural reform and the proliferation of integrity policy and processes to reinforce workplace integrity or by creating new institutions. These are often layered over existing institutions without due reflection on roles and responsibilities creating a crowded and inefficient policy and operational environment. Public organisations consequently spend a great deal of time, energy and resources on meeting compliance obligations rather than embedding integrity values in the hearts and minds of public servants. The removal of this integrity paradox remains the central challenge for integrity reform in Australia and has strong cadences in other Westminster style democracies.


We calculate the short-run effect that the construction of the Durango-Mazatlán highway in late 2013 and the Mexico City-Tuxpan highway in early 2014 produced on welfare in every municipality and on market access in every location of Mexico. Our estimates suggest that the former highway produced benefits not only in the region where the new highway is located, but in vast areas in the north of the country. Analogous estimates show that the latter highway mostly benefited regions near Tuxpan, but these focalized benefits were larger than any of the benefits derived from the construction of the Durango-Mazatlán highway. The municipalities in the south of the country have net short-run losses from the infrastructure construction due to losses in competitiveness. Our model is consistent with the observed sectoral growth in Sinaloa, Durango, and Veracruz in 2014. Qualitatively, market access and welfare change in the same direction and magnitudes. We thus recommend using the market access approach for short-run analysis of infrastructure, because it is much less computationally intensive.


The ∼2800-km-long Snowbird tectonic zone is a well-recognized but still enigmatic feature in the western Canadian Shield. It has been interpreted as a Paleoproterozoic continental suture or an Archean strike-slip fault system, but here we suggest that the distinctive geometry of the central Snowbird tectonic zone is primarily due to the interaction of crosscutting Paleoproterozoic intracontinental thrust and strike-slip shear zones having a length of hundreds of kilometers. First, a major zone of thrust-sense shearing, coeval with early continent-continent collision between the Superior and western Churchill provinces, accommodated uplift of a large exposure of granulite facies lower continental crust. Younger strike-slip shear zones, perhaps analogous to Asian fault systems behind the Himalayan orogen, offset the thrust zone. Thus, the current geometry and distribution of deep-crustal rocks in this region represent a relatively late stage in the tectonic evolution of the western Churchill province rather than an accretionary one. Earlier structures oriented at a high angle to the Snowbird tectonic zone may record the fundamental accretionary history in this part of Laurentia.


Selected stories about the life of A. L. Onishchik, and a review of his
contribution to the classification of non-split supermanifolds, in particular,
supercurves a.k.a. superstrings; his editorial and educational work. A brief
overview of his and his students' results in supersymmetry, and their impact on
other researchers.
 Several open problems growing out of Onishchik's research are presented, some
of them are related with odd parameters of deformations and non-holonomic
structures of supermanifolds important in physical models, such as Minkowski
superspaces and certain superstrings.


This paper presents a review of the major haptic feedback teleoperation systems for micromanipulation. During the last decade, the handling of micrometer-sized objects has become a critical issue. Fields of application from material science to electronics demonstrate an urgent need for intuitive and flexible manipulation systems able to deal with small-scale industrial projects and assembly tasks. Two main approaches have been considered: fully automated tasks and manual operation. The first one require fully pre determined tasks, while the later necessitates highly trained operators. To overcome these issues the use of haptic feedback teleoperation where the user manipulates the tool through a joystick whilst feeling a force feedback, appears to be a promising solution as it allows high intuitiveness and flexibility. Major advances have been achieved during this last decade, starting with systems that enable the operator to feel the substrate topology, to the current state-of-the-art where 3D haptic feedback is provided to aid manipulation tasks. This paper details the major achievements and the solutions that have been developed to propose 3D haptic feedback for tools that often lack 3D force measurements. The use of virtual reality to enhance the immersion is also addressed. The strategies developed provide haptic feedback teleoperation systems with a high degree of assistance and for a wide range of micromanipulation tools. Based on this expertise on haptic for micromanipulation and virtual reality assistance it is now possible to propose microassembly systems for objects as small as 1 to 10 micrometers. This is a mature field and will benefit small-scale industrial projects where precision and flexibility in microassembly are required.


This study focuses on the capital structure of oil and gas firms. I analyzed the balance sheets and other financial metrics of twelve oil and gas firms to form the sample of this analysis. I used the theories of Modigliani and Miller as my initial basis for further exploration into the phenomenon of capital structure. I studied how Return on Assets, Cash on Hand, and Stock Price relate to a firm's total debt level. Further, my goal in this analysis was to determine if the Financial Crisis of 2007 – 2009 had a lasting impact on the capital structure of oil and gas firms. Specifically, I gathered financial data over a time period from 1996 to the most recent earnings releases (2015) to analyze the periods before and after the crisis. After reviewing the regression analysis, I determined that stock price was the most influential factor in capital structure decision making. My initial hypothesis was that the total level of debt among oil and gas firms would decrease due to a poor investment environment and an increased level of risk. However, I determined that total debt increased substantially after the crisis, in part because of the macroeconomic event of quantitative easing. Thus, I found that my initial hypothesis did not hold true. Ultimately, the Financial Crisis itself impacted the relationship of the capital structure components.


We have previously documented that both FSH and eCG are equally effective in inducing ovarian superstimulation in llamas, resulting in the recovery of a high number of expanded COC suitable for in vitro fertilization (Ratto et al. 2005 Theriogenology 63, 2445-2457). The objective of the study was to evaluate the ovarian response, morphology, and competence of COC collected by ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration in llamas treated with FSH or eCG. Llamas were assigned randomly into 2 groups (n = 16 per group) and treated for 48 h after follicle ablation with (1)25 mg of FSH (Folltropin, Bioniche Animal Health Canada Inc., Belleville, Canada) i.m. twice daily for 4 d; or (2) 1000IU of eCG (Novormon, Bioniche Animal Health Canada) as a single i.m. dose. The starting of gonadotropin treatment was considered Day 0. Both groups were given an i.m. dose of 5 mg of Armour Standard LH (Lutropin, Bioniche Animal Health Canada) on Day 6, and COC were collected by transvaginal ultrasound follicle aspiration of all follicles ≥7 mm on Day 7. The ovarian response was assessed by transrectal ultrasonography using a 7.5-MHz linear-array transducer (Aloka SSD-500, Clinics, Santiago, Chile) immediately before oocyte collection at 24 to 26 h after LH treatment in both groups. The COC were classified as expanded, compact, denuded, or degenerated. Expanded COC collected from FSH- (n = 147) and eCG-treated llamas (n = 141) were fertilized in vitro using epididymal sperm as previously described (Ratto et al. 2006 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 97, 246-257). Gametes were co-incubated at 38.5°C in air with 5% CO2 and high humidity for 18 h. After in vitro fertilization, presumptive zygotes were co-culture in SOF medium supplemented with 0.6% of BSA with llama granulosa cells at 39°C, 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2 for 7 days. Embryo development was evaluated on Days 2, 5, and 7 of in vitro culture (Day 0 = IVF). Data were analyzed by Student's t-test or Fisher's exact test and presented as mean ± SEM. The FSH and eCG treatment groups did not differ with respect to the number of follicles ≥7 mm at the time of COC collection (16.0 ± 2.7 v. 14.0 ± 1.9; P = 0.5), the number of COC collected (11.5 ± 1.9 v. 9.7 ± 1.2; P = 0.4), or the collection rate per follicle aspirated (77.0 v. 71.5%; P = 0.2). No difference was detected between FSH and eCG-treated llamas in the number of expanded COCs (9.8 ± 1.4 v. 9.4 ± 1.2; P = 0.8). The percentage of presumptive zygotes to develop into 2 to 8 cells on Day 2 (65.3 v. 63.1), morulas on Day 5 (46.2 v. 42.5), and blastocyst stage on Day 7 (23.1 v. 20.5) did not differ (P > 0.05) between FSH and eCG-treated llamas, respectively. In conclusion, FSH and eCG treatments were equally effective for ovarian superstimulation and oocyte collection. The recovery of a high number of expanded COC can be used directly for in vitro fertilization and their competence is not affected by gonadotropin treatment. The study was supported by Convenio Desempeno en Investigacion (2007-DGI-CDA-04), Universidad Catolica de Temuco.


One of the greatest challenges that Nigeria is confronted with and which on the average has continued to witness a rising trend over the years is unemployment. Its scourge is known to be responsible for a high level of poverty, inequality, increasing rate of criminality and general low level of living in the country. This study examined how electricity consumption and human capital can be used to reduce unemployment in Nigeria. The study obtained secondary data and analysed the data with the Johansen co-integration technique. The study found out that electricity consumption negatively impact unemployment, so also is government education expenditure. The result showed that a 1% increase in electric power consumption will lead to about 0.22% decline in the level of unemployment and 1% increase in education expenditure will bring about 0.17% decrease in the rate of unemployment. Therefore, the study recommends that the government should put in place policies and measures that will enhance the turn-out of quality graduates with skills and competence to chant the course of development by all stakeholders in the education sector.


Metrics commonly used to assess group fairness in ranking require the knowledge of group membership labels (e.g., whether a job applicant is male or female). Obtaining accurate group membership labels, however, may be costly, operationally difficult, or even infeasible. Where it is not possible to obtain these labels, one common solution is to use proxy labels in their place, which are typically predicted by machine learning models. Proxy labels are susceptible to systematic biases, and using them for fairness estimation can thus lead to unreliable assessments. We investigate the problem of measuring group fairness in ranking for a suite of divergence-based metrics in the presence of proxy labels. We show that under certain assumptions, fairness of a ranking can reliably be measured from the proxy labels. We formalize two assumptions and provide a theoretical analysis for each showing how the true metric values can be derived from the estimates based on proxy labels. We prove that without such assumptions fairness assessment based on proxy labels is impossible. Through extensive experiments on both synthetic and real datasets, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed methods for recovering reliable fairness assessments in rankings.


Occupational therapy is a female dominated profession: only 3% of all clinicians are men. The purpose of this investigation was to identify variables that affect the job satisfaction of male occupational therapists. Specifically, the study examined five job satisfaction factors (work, pay, coworkers, supervision, and promotional opportunities), work environment traits, community role strain, colleague role strain, patient role strain, role ambiguity, role conflict, role overload, and specific demographic characteristics of male occupational therapists. A mailed survey questionnaire was sent to all male clinicians who were members of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (n = 199) during the 1990-1991 membership year. Eighty-three percent of the sample responded (n = 164). Of these, 74% said they expect to leave the occupational therapy profession within 10 years. Most male occupational therapists reside in Ontario, are 33 years old, work with an adult client case load in a general hospital setting, and spend half their time in direct client care. Respondents indicated that, as a group, they are very dissatisfied with their work, pay, promotional opportunities, supervision, and coworkers. Male occupational therapists rated their work environments as above average in terms of physical comfort, but below average for control. As a group, male occupational therapists experience an average level of community, colleague, and patient role strain. Similarly, they experience an average degree of role conflict and role overload, but reported a low level of role ambiguity. Significant predictors of respondents' global job satisfaction were examined by multiple regression analysis. Five factors were determined to be significant predictors of global job satisfaction: community role strain, number of hours of overtime worked on a weekly basis, involvement, year of graduation from professional training, and colleague role strain. Recommenda tions for occupational therapy personnel and future research are made based on these results.


Animal neocentromeres are defined as ectopic centromeres that have formed in non-centromeric locations and avoid some of the features, like the DNA satellite sequence, that normally characterize canonical centromeres. Despite this, they are stable functional centromeres inherited through generations. The only existence of neocentromeres provide convincing evidence that centromere specification is determined by epigenetic rather than sequence-specific mechanisms. For all this reasons, we used them as simplified models to investigate the molecular mechanisms that underlay the formation and the maintenance of functional centromeres.
We collected human cell lines carrying neocentromeres in different positions. To investigate the region involved in the process at the DNA sequence level we applied a recent technology that integrates Chromatin Immuno-Precipitation and DNA microarrays (ChIP-on-chip) using rabbit polyclonal antibodies directed against CENP-A or CENP-C human centromeric proteins. These DNA binding-proteins are required for kinetochore function and are exclusively targeted to functional centromeres. Thus, the immunoprecipitation of DNA bound by these proteins allows the isolation of centromeric sequences, including those of the neocentromeres. Neocentromeres arise even in protein-coding genes region. We further analyzed if the increased scaffold attachment sites and the corresponding tighter chromatin of the region involved in the neocentromerization process still were permissive or not to transcription of within encoded genes.
Centromere repositioning is a phenomenon in which a neocentromere arisen without altering the gene order, followed by the inactivation of the canonical centromere, becomes fixed in population. It is a process of chromosome rearrangement fundamental in evolution, at the bases of speciation. The repeat-free region where the neocentromere initially forms, progressively acquires extended arrays of satellite tandem repeats that may contribute to its functional stability. In this view our attention focalized to the repositioned horse ECA11 centromere. ChIP-on-chip analysis was used to define the region involved and SNPs studies, mapping within the region involved into neocentromerization, were carried on. We have been able to describe the structural polymorphism of the chromosome 11 centromeric domain of Caballus population. That polymorphism was seen even between homologues chromosome of the same cells. That discovery was the first described ever.
Genomic plasticity had a fundamental role in evolution. Centromeres are not static packaged region of genomes. The key question that fascinates biologists is to understand how that centromere plasticity could be combined to the stability and maintenance of centromeric function. Starting from the epigenetic point of view that underlies centromere formation, we decided to analyze the RNA content of centromeric chromatin. RNA, as well as secondary chemically modifications that involve both histones and DNA, represents a good candidate to guide somehow the centromere formation and maintenance. Many observations suggest that transcription of centromeric DNA or of other non-coding RNAs could affect centromere formation. To date has been no thorough investigation addressing the identity of the chromatin-associated RNAs (CARs) on a global scale. This prompted us to develop techniques to identify CARs in a genome-wide approach using high-throughput genomic platforms. The future goal of this study will be to focalize the attention on what strictly happens specifically inside centromere chromatin.


We present a novel distributed-memory parallel implementation of the concurrent atomistic-continuum (CAC) method. Written mostly in Fortran 2008 and wrapped with a Python scripting interface, the CAC simulator in PyCAC runs in parallel using Message Passing Interface with a spatial decomposition algorithm. Built upon the underlying Fortran code, the Python interface provides a robust and versatile way for users to build system configurations, run CAC simulations, and analyze results. In this paper, following a brief introduction to the theoretical background of the CAC method, we discuss the serial algorithms of dynamic, quasistatic, and hybrid CAC, along with some programming techniques used in the code. We then illustrate the parallel algorithm, quantify the parallel scalability, and discuss some software specifications of PyCAC; more information can be found in the PyCAC user's manual that is hosted on http://www.pycac.org .


The authors? research suggests that a variety of traps that forestall innovation can be avoided by, paradoxically, placing boundaries on innovation activity. In an environment without boundaries, say the authors, there is no context for shared interpretation or common expectations. Boundaries, on the other hand, act not as constraints but as aids to defining innovation needs and producing useful outputs that business units can exploit. Smartly placed constraints actually act as enablers of innovation by making it more palatable and execution friendly and giving it traction in the competition for corporate attention and resources.

Drawing on their research, the authors offer several scenarios of "boundaries in use." They describe how Shell makes the radical legitimate by making it thematically relevant to core business, how Nokia restricts its innovation efforts to business-unit strategies and environmental turbulence, how Air Products focuses on ideas that leverage operational capabilities, how Siemens focuses on innovation potential that crosses products and businesses, and how IDEO?s work with Texas Health Resources reframes the customer experience to anchor solutions in new ways.


Behavior of Cr-rich phase in rapid solidification Cu71Cr29 alloys was investigated by using melt spinning and splat quenching. The microstructure and solidification behavior of the Cr-rich were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the alloys generally have a microstructure consisting of a fine dispersion of a Cr-rich phase in a Cu-rich matrix. However, the morphology and size of the Cr-rich phase vary greatly with the cooling rate. On the one hand, the average size of the Cr-rich phase is reduced with increasing cooling rate. On the other hand, the Cr-rich phase show both dendrites and spheroids for lower cooling rate but only spheroids for the higher cooling rate. This means liquid phase separation occurred during rapid solidification. The results were discussed with respect to the formation of the Cr-rich spheroids during rapid solidification.


The Muslim Brotherhood poses a unique challenge to efforts to combat Al Qaeda and like-minded groups. It is one of the key sources of Islamist thought and political activism, and plays a significant role in shaping the political and cultural environment in an Islamist direction. At the same time, it opposes Al Qaeda for ideological, organizational, and political reasons and represents one of the major challenges to the salafi-jihadist movement globally. This dual nature of the Muslim Brotherhood has long posed a difficult challenge to efforts to combat violent extremism. Does its non-violent Islamism represent a solution, by capturing Islamists within a relatively moderate organization and stopping their further radicalization (a "firewall"), or is it part of the problem, a "conveyor belt" towards extremism? This article surveys the differences between the two approaches, including their views of an Islamic state, democracy, violence, and takfir, and the significant escalation of those tensions in recent years. It concludes that the MB should be allowed to wage its battles against extremist challengers, but should not be misunderstood as a liberal organization or supported in a short-term convergence of interests.


Based on the conceptions of the relationship between energy and adaptation-immunological systems a number of hormone-metabolic indices were compared with immune reactivity as evidenced by skin tests and rosette-formation reaction. It is shown that lowering of immunological indices in oncological patients is associated with a decreased sensitivity of dexametasone suppression of cortisol, an increased concentration of 11-oxycorticosteroids in blood, a higher level of triglycerides, cholestrol, beta-lipoproteins and less glucose tolerance. The use of phenformin during 3 months in patients with atherosclerosis resulted in a considerable increase of the index of phytohemagglutinin stimulated blasttransformation of lymphocytes and rosette-formation reaction. This effect was associated with normalization of lipid metabolism indices.


is unnecessary because responsibility based on negligence is better suited than either to the requirements of this type of legislation. At first sight the importation of a doctrine better known to civil than criminal law is strange, but the author argues convincingly that his new doctrine would both regulate society and at the same time be fairer to defendants than the present idea of strict responsibility. As an Australian, for the author is a senior lecturer in law at the University of Adelaide, we are given many cases and judicial pronouncements from Australia and other parts of the Commonwealth and the United States. This is a book which makes one think about an increasingly important subject and as such is worthy of consideration by both practising and academic laywers as well as our legislators. EVAN STONE.


Introduction Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, remains viable and therefore potentially infectious on several materials. One strategy to discourage the fomite-mediated spread of COVID-19 is the development of materials whose surface chemistry can spontaneously inactivate SARS-CoV-2. Silicon nitride (Si3N4), a material used in spine fusion surgery, is one such candidate because it has been shown to inactivate several bacterial species and viral strains. This study hypothesized that contact with Si3N4 would inactivate SARS-CoV-2, while mammalian cells would remain unaffected. Materials SARS-CoV-2 virions (2×104 PFU/mL diluted in growth media) were exposed to 5, 10, 15, and 20% (w/v) of an aqueous suspension of sintered Si3N4 particles for durations of 1, 5, and 10 minutes, respectively. Before exposure to the virus, cytotoxicity testing of Si3N4 alone was assessed in Vero cells at 24 and 48 hour post-exposure times. Following each exposure to Si3N4, the remaining infectious virus was quantitated by plaque assay. Results Vero cell viability increased at 5% and 10% (w/v) concentrations of Si3N4 at exposure times up to 10 minutes, and there was only minimal impact on cell health and viability up to 20% (w/v). However, the SARS-CoV-2 titers were markedly reduced when exposed to all concentrations of Si3N4; the reduction in viral titers was between 85% - 99.6%, depending on the dose and duration of exposure. Conclusions Si3N4 was non-toxic to the Vero cells while showing strong antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The viricidal effect increased with increasing concentrations of Si3N4 and longer duration of exposure. Surface treatment strategies based on Si3N4 may offer novel methods to discourage SARS-CoV-2 persistence and infectivity on surfaces and discourage the spread of COVID-19.


In societies emerging from conflict, education plays an important part in instituting peace and reconciliation, and school leaders are key to this. This paper examines the complexity of school leadership in Northern Ireland. Despite the peace agreement of 1998, Northern Ireland's communities are still deeply divided, and this is reflected in education. The school leaders who were interviewed as part of this research work within school partnerships as part of 'shared education' projects which involve schools working together and with twin aims of improving both educational and reconciliation outcomes for young people. The challenges that school leaders face when working in partnership in post-conflict societies have not been given the attention they deserve in the literature, so this work is significant in that it brings a focus on how school leaders can best be empowered to be agents of change, in turn empowering pupils. While the context is Northern Ireland, the outcomes from this study will be of wider interest and significance for school leaders facing similar challenges in other divided situations.


Background: There is no information on the socio-demographic variations and determinants of Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Kenyan adolescents. Objectives: To describe the traumatic experiences of Kenyan high school students and to determine the levels of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among them, and in relation to sociodemographic variables. Design: A cross-sectional study of 1 110 students (629 males and 481 females), aged 12 to 26 years, using self-administered questionnaires. Method: The students completed questionnaires on sociodemographic data followed by the Trauma Checklist and the Child PTSD Checklist. Results: Being confronted with bad news was the most common type of trauma encountered in 66.7% of the subjects, followed by witnessing a violent crime and domestic violence; 23.2% and 16.5% of the subjects reported physical abuse and sexual abuse respectively. PTSD symptoms were common; avoidance and re-experiencing occurred in 75% of the students and hyperarousal was reported by over 50%. The number of traumatic events was positively correlated with the occurrence of PTSD. The prevalence of full PTSD was 50.5%, while partial PTSD was 34.8%. Male and female subjects were equally affected but the boarders were more affected (p < 0.05) and the differences between the schools were statistically significant (p = 0.000). Conclusions: Kenyan secondary school students commonly experience traumatic events and have high rates of PTSD. Further studies are needed to determine the implications of these findings for their health and performance in school. The coping mechanisms need to be delineated and interventions put in place. Long-term studies are required to determine the role of such events in the causation of mental illness.


A girl with severe neonatal hypocalcaemia, thymic hypoplasia, congenital heart disease and mental retardation in combination with a partial monosomy of chromosome 22, del(22)(pter-q11.3), is reported. Nine other patients with an association between partial monosomy 22 and a DiGeorge syndrome have been reported earlier, and this combination probably constitutes a deletion syndrome similar to the Prader-Willi and the aniridia-Wilms' tumour syndromes. However, the deletion of chromosome 22 is mostly due to a translocation, with trisomy for another chromosomal segment. Such a mechanism may explain the different clinical features seen in patients with partial monosomy 22. In the present case there was an unbalanced translocation with a probable trisomy of the short arm of chromosome 20 combined with the partial monosomy 22. Cytogenetic investigation with high resolution banding techniques is indicated in patients with thymic aplasia and suspected DiGeorge syndrome.


The Trump administration's decision to abandon the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) coincides with China's interest in playing a more prominent role in advancing trade and economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region. Beijing's willingness to leverage its growing clout to underwrite a number of high-profile economic initiatives in the region, however, has raised concerns in Washington that such efforts will come at U.S. expense. Such worries are overwrought. Rather than sound the alarm over China's latest moves, policymakers should be open to the possibility that Beijing is finally becoming the responsible stakeholder that many have long urged it to be. On the trade front, encouragement is to be found in senior Chinese officials' rhetorical support for free trade and its institutions, while Chinese leadership's support for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a key steppingstone toward eventual realization of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. Although in many ways inferior to the TPP, the RCEP's standards could yet be improved, and even if left unchanged they still represent forward progress for free trade in the region. Meanwhile, China's backing of both the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative holds the possibility of much-needed improvements in infrastructure and connectivity that could bolster regional and global trade. With none of its own resources or prestige at stake, the United States stands to benefit considerably, and at little cost, from China's efforts in this regard. Moreover, zero-sum fears that China's increasing prosperity and commensurate growth in its regional influence come at U.S. expense should be balanced against the dangers presented by a country that is, alternatively, isolated and economically flailing. Mired in its economic failures before opening up to reform in the late 1970s, China was dangerous to both its neighbors and itself, with the country engaging in several border wars as well as the disastrous Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution. Rather than reflexively viewing China's economic initiatives as an affront to U.S. interests, the Trump administration should attempt to harness China's emerging taste for global economic leadership. Instead of focusing so intently on the trade disputes that divide us, the Trump administration should seek to conclude the bilateral investment treaty negotiation and consider the merits of initiating negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement with China. Through such cooperation, the United States and China could become successful partners in the promotion of trade and prosperity in the increasingly vital Asia-Pacific region.


This volume contains an introduction, new edition of the Greek text, English translation, and detailed linguistic and historical commentary of Apollodoros' speech "Against Neaira" (4th century BC). The introduction provides a comprehensive account of the historical and legal background, authorship, style, technique, manuscripts and textual tradition of the speech, and a radically new interpretation of the case against Neaira. The edition of the Greek text is based on independent collations of manuscripts written before the 14th century, bringing a new sensitivity to the stylistic preferences of Apollodoros. The commentary contains discussions on textual points, grammar, syntax, vocabulary, style and technique, while the historical notes illustrate the constitutional, legal, social and political background of the speech. The book is of the highest interest to scholars and students of the Attic Orators, Athenian society, daily life, women and gender relations, law, constitution, institutions, religion and culture.


This study aimed to assess the outcome of acute and chronic participants with spinal cord injury (SCI) after 12 weeks of bodyweight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) with a hybrid assistive limb exoskeleton (HAL). Acute participants were defined as ≤12 months between SCI and training, chronic participants >12 months between SCI and training. We assessed whether HAL-assisted BWSTT is advantageous for acute and chronic participants and if length of time post injury impacts the outcome of HAL-assisted BWSTT. As the primary outcome, we assessed the time needed for the 10 meter walk test (10MWT). Hundred and twenty-one individuals participated in a 12-week HAL-assisted BWSTT five times a week. We regularly conducted a 10MWT, a 6 minute walk test (6MWT), and assessed the walking index for spinal cord injury (WISCI II) and lower extremity motor score (LEMS) to evaluate the gait performance without the exoskeleton. Distance and time were recorded by the treadmill while the participant was walking with the exoskeleton. All participants benefit from the 12-week HAL-assisted BWSTT. A significant difference between acute and chronic participants' outcomes was found in 6MWT, LEMS, and WISCI II, though not in 10MWT. Although chronic participants improved significantly lesser than acute participants, they did improve their outcome significantly compared to the beginning. Hybrid assistive limb-assisted BWSTT in the rehabilitation of patients with SCI is advantageous for both acute and chronic patients. We could not define a time related cut-off threshold following SCI for effectiveness of HAL-assisted BWSTT.


Tangier region is known by a high density of mass movements which cause several human and economic losses. The goal of this paper is to assess the landslide susceptibility of Tangier using the Weight of Evidence method (WofE). The method is founded on the principle that an event (landslide) is more likely to occur based on the relationship between the presence or absence of a predictive variable (predisposing factors) and the occurrence of this event. The inventory, description and analysis of mass movements were prepared. Then the main factors governing their occurrence (lithology, fault, slope, elevation, exposure, drainage and land use) were mapped before applying WofE. Finally, the ROC curves were established and the areas under curves (AUC) were calculated to evaluate the degree of fit of the model and to choose the best landslide susceptibility zonation. The prediction accuracy was found to be 70%. Obtained susceptibility map shows that 60% of inventoried landslides are in the high to very high susceptibility zones, which is very satisfactory for the validation of the adopted model and the obtained results. These zones are mainly located in the N-E and E part of the Tangier region in the soft and fragile facies of the marls and clays of the Tangier unit, where landuse is characterized by dominance of arable and agricultural land (lack of forest cover). From a purely spatial point of view, the localization of these two classes of susceptibility is completely corresponding to the ground truth data, that is to say that all the environmental and anthropogenic conditions are in place for making this area prone to landslide hazards. The obtained map is a decision-making tool for presenting, comparing and discussing development and urban scenarios in Tangier. These results fall within the context of sustainable development and will help to mitigate the socio-economic impacts usually observed when landslides are triggered.


In the long-standing relationship between mental illness and literature in Italy, where historically literary and medical discourses on neurosis have been intertwined, the criticism of mental institutions has stood out as a literary trope only since the spread of radical psychiatry movements in the 1950s. From Le libere donne di Magliano (1953), by Tuscan psychiatrist and writer Mario Tobino, many writings produced around the years of the Basaglia reform and in the following decades have openly engaged with the dark present and past of psychiatric hospitals. However, while the shocking personal testimonies and photographic and audio-visual records of internment that supported and promoted the Basaglia reform are being reassessed today as tangible acts of memory, less attention has been given to the literary representations of asylums and their role as a medium of memory for a twenty-first-century readership. This has become clear in the years around the thirtieth anniversary of the Law 180/78, when the contemporary representations of the Italian teatro di narrazione significantly dealt with the theme of the internment, seeking to debunk the cultural myths surrounding psychiatric hospitals and their patients.  This thesis seeks to address this gap by arguing that the literary discourse on mental hospitals in Italy has focused on the intricate relationship between cultural perceptions of mental disorders, personal experience of treatment and internment, and their legacy on the country's collective memory. I structure my analysis within the intersection of two main theoretical frameworks: the first refers to the recent psychiatric and historical assessments of the Italian psychiatric confinement, and the second draws from theoretical conceptualisations of the relationship between literary genres and collective memory. To do this, I consider three literary genres that have played a significant role in this debate, each within their specific conventions: the memoir, the novel and narrative theatre.  After introducing the discourse on the perception of mental confinement through a review of its representations in different media, I discuss the memoir in depth, focussing on Tobino's three published diaries, Alda Merini's L'altra verità. Diario di una diversa (1986) and Fabrizia Ramondino's Passaggio a Trieste (2000). This is followed by a thorough analysis of the relationship between the novel and the psychiatric institution through the reading of Tobino's Per le antiche scale. Una storia (1972), Italo Calvino's La giornata d'uno scrutatore (1963) and Luca Masali's La vergine delle ossa (2010). Finally, I discuss Ascanio Celestini's La pecora nera. Elogio funebre del manicomio elettrico (2006), Renato Sarti's Muri. Prima e dopo Basaglia (2008) and Marco Paolini's Ausmerzen. Vite indegne di essere vissute (2012), in the context of narrative theatre.  Through my analysis of these texts and theatrical performances, I show how the manicomio gradually acquires the status of lieu de mémoire in contemporary Italian writing. Depicting, criticising and remembering the asylum, contemporary literary writings have responded to its disappearance as a physical space by rethinking it as a metaphorical means of understanding the present. Progressively challenging a literary tradition which struggled to give voice to the experience of mental disorder, these depictions have recognized persistent forms of social exclusion in contemporary Italy and highlighted the pressing need for a new culture of representing internment.