SUMMARY 1. Fish and invertebrate assemblage data collected from 670 stream sites in Minnesota (U.S.A.) were used to calculate concordance across three nested spatial scales (statewide, ecoregion and catchment). Predictive taxa richness models, calibrated using the same data, were used to evaluate whether concordant communities exhibited similar trends in human-induced taxa loss across all three scales. Finally, we evaluated the strength of the relationship between selected environmental variables and the composition of both assemblages at all three spatial scales. 2. Significant concordance between fish and invertebrate communities occurred at the statewide scale as well as in six of seven ecoregions and 17 of the 21 major catchments. However, concordance was not consistently indicative of significant relationships between rates of fish and invertebrate taxa loss at those same scales. 3. Fish and invertebrate communities were largely associated with different environmental variables, although the composition of both communities was strongly correlated with stream size across all three scales. 4. Predictive taxa-loss models for fish assemblages were less sensitive and precise than models for invertebrate assemblages, likely because of the relatively low number of common fish taxa in our data set. Both models, however, distinguished reference from non-reference sites. 5. The importance of concordance, geographic context and scale are discussed in relation to the design and interpretation of stream integrity indicators. In particular, our findings suggest that community concordance should not be viewed as a substitute for an evaluation of how assemblages respond to environmental stressors.


moon. Had we included admissions for self-injury and accidental poisoning, including smoke injury, the figures would have been 390 and 336. The mean number of selfpoisoning admissions, with standard deviation, on full moon days was 5 9 2 3 (range 2-10) but on new moon days only 5-1 2 6 (0-12). We made comparisons for each full moon and new moon pair, and found t= 1 8487, df= 61. If we merely ask whether there might be a significant difference among the pairs then p = 007, which does not reach standards for significance. However, the report from India specified a direction of difference and allowed a prediction, and if we consequently adopt a one-tailed test then p =0035. The likelihood that the higher rate of admissions for poisoning on full moon days than on new moon days in Edinburgh, as in Patna, could be a matter of chance alone would thus be only about 1 in 28.


We are in the process of developing a two-step synthesis of imino stilbenes as potential molecular switches, which are important in biology, electronics and other applications especially at nanoscopic scale. While both imines and stilbenes are well known, we have not uncovered any prior research and documentation on our proposed imino stilbenes in the scientific literature. In pursuit of our goal we have developed a new procedure for synthesis of t-butyl imines derived from aromatic aldehydes and ketones. We are also currently evaluating four different stilbene synthesis methods. Future work will systematically investigate the effect of electron withdrawing and donating imino (Ra) groups on the stibene synthesis process.


As user demand scales for intelligent personal assistants (IPAs) such as Apple's Siri, Google's Google Now, and Microsoft's Cortana, we are approaching the computational limits of current datacenter architectures. It is an open question how future server architectures should evolve to enable this emerging class of applications, and the lack of an open-source IPA workload is an obstacle in addressing this question. In this paper, we present the design of Sirius, an open end-to-end IPA web-service application that accepts queries in the form of voice and images, and responds with natural language. We then use this workload to investigate the implications of four points in the design space of future accelerator-based server architectures spanning traditional CPUs, GPUs, manycore throughput co-processors, and FPGAs. To investigate future server designs for Sirius, we decompose Sirius into a suite of 7 benchmarks (Sirius Suite) comprising the computationally intensive bottlenecks of Sirius. We port Sirius Suite to a spectrum of accelerator platforms and use the performance and power trade-offs across these platforms to perform a total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis of various server design points. In our study, we find that accelerators are critical for the future scalability of IPA services. Our results show that GPU- and FPGA-accelerated servers improve the query latency on average by 10x and 16x. For a given throughput, GPU- and FPGA-accelerated servers can reduce the TCO of datacenters by 2.6x and 1.4x, respectively.


In 1987 the University of Guadalajara performed a seroepidemiological survey in order to know the prevalence of infection for Trypanosoma cruzi in the 124 counties of the state of Jalisco, Mexico in which appraisals of 21.6 for 100 inhabitants were gotten. From December of 1993 to June of 1994 was carried out a pursuit of some those individuals, studying it only to 2669 of they, of 50 municipalities of rural areas of the state. The causes off not survey of the not found was diverse, being between the most important the emigration (27.6%) and the not cooperation (14.8%). We found to 476 positives (17.8%) and 2193 negatives (82.2%). This second study allowed us detect 80 new cases (2.9%) the one which represents an appraisal of incidence of 30 for 100 inhabitants. However we found a seroconvertion in the studied individuals, since of 1007 individuals that were positives in 1987; 943 of them continues so, while 64 individuals became negative (2.3%), not being this attributable to flaws of laboratory, the prevalence of positivite detected in both studies was almost identical, 18.1 and 17.8 % respectly, for the one which we believe that the conditions in that the individuals of the rural towns of the state of Jalisco live favor to that the infections continue.


NR2D subunit-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) gradually disappear during brain maturation but can be recruited by pathophysiological stimuli in the adult brain. Here, we report that 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) intoxication recruited NR2D subunit-containing NMDARs that generated an Mg2+-resistant tonic NMDA current (INMDA) in dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the midbrain of mature male mice. MPTP selectively generated an Mg2+-resistant tonic INMDA in DA neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Consistently, MPTP increased NR2D but not NR2B expression in the midbrain regions. Pharmacological or genetic NR2D interventions abolished the generation of Mg2+-resistant tonic INMDA in SNpc DA neurons, and thus attenuated subsequent DA neuronal loss and gait deficits in MPTP-treated mice. These results show that extrasynaptic NR2D recruitment generates Mg2+-resistant tonic INMDA and exacerbates DA neuronal loss, thus contributing to MPTP-induced Parkinsonism. The state-dependent NR2D recruitment could be a novel therapeutic target for mitigating cell type-specific neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases.Significance StatementNR2D subunit-containing NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are widely expressed in the brain during late embryonic and early postnatal development, and then downregulated during brain maturation and preserved at low levels in a few regions of the adult brain. Certain stimuli can recruit NR2D subunits to generate tonic persistent NMDAR currents in non-depolarized neurons in the mature brain. Our results show that MPTP intoxication recruits NR2D subunits in midbrain dopaminergic neurons, which leads to tonic NMDAR current-promoting dopaminergic neuronal death and consequent abnormal gait behavior in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease. This is the first study to indicate that extrasynaptic NR2D recruitment all could be a target for preventing neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases.


In the present work, an attempt has been made to study the superdisintegrant property of isolated mucilage powder of Plantago ovata by formulating the dispersible tablets of ciprofloxacin and comparing its efficiency with other super disintegrants like microcrystalline cellulose, crosspovidone and sodium starch glycollate. Drug compatibility with the mucilage was checked by FTIR studies and found to be intact and stable. The values of pre-compression and post-compression parameters evaluated were within the prescribed limits and showed g ood flow property. In all the formulations, friability was less than 1%, indicating that tablets had a good mechanical resist ance. Drug content and weig ht variation for all the formulations were found to be within the acceptable limits. The formulations were also evaluated for wetting time, hardness, thickness, disintegration time, uniformity of dispersion, water absorption ratio and dissolution. The results of all the test s of the formulation prepared with Plantago ovata mucilage powder are similar to that of those formulations prepared using other superdisintegrants and the disintegration time was found to be 110 sec. The study also rev ealed that the isolated mucilage powder of Plantago ovata showed a better drug release of 99% over the other superdisintegrants, sufficin g its applications as a superdisintegrant of natural origin.


Drying is one of the complex and highly energy-consuming process unit operation used in many industry such as textile, paper, chemical, pharmaceuticals, agro and food-processing, sugar, etc. Significant R&D efforts are underway in last more than a decade to enhance dryer technology and operations to enhance its energy efficiency. A mathematical modelling and simulation framework is developed on the MATLAB-SIMULINK platform for rotary dryer. The model is semi-empirical based on the first principles using mass balance and moisture balance equations amongst the vegetables and hot air. Later, a mathematical model for textile dryer machine has been developed by modifying the rotary dryer model.


China's Western Development Strategy (WDS) has been carried out since 1999 with remarkable achievements, whereby Western China also experienced a rapid and stable development during the past decade. This paper analyzes policy actions and effects of WDS. The findings indicate that Western China's economic development has experienced a dramatic reversion after implementation of WDS, which to a certain extent, proves that WDS has played a significant role in promoting western regions' development. This paper also reveals some key constraints on Western China's economic development and then offers a set of policy ideas for the next stage of Western development.


pH recovery in response to addition of and removal from NH4Cl was examined using 2',7'-bis(2-carboxy-ethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein fluorescence in primary cultures of inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells from rat kidneys. In 0 K+, pH recovery rate was 0.012 +/- 0.010 U/min; in 5 mM K+, the recovery rate was greater at 0.065 +/- 0.013 U/min (P = 0.026). The H(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (H(+)-K(+)-ATPase) inhibitors omeprazole and Sch-28080 and the P-type ATPase inhibitor vanadate significantly inhibited pH recovery at 100, 10, and 5 microM, respectively. The vacuolar H(+)-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin failed to inhibit pH recovery, but N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) did. A range of Sch-28080 concentrations inhibited ouabain-resistant ATPase activity of microsomes from these cells in a reverse sigmoidal manner, with little inhibition < 1 microM, virtually 100% inhibition > 100 microM, and a 50% inhibitory concentration of approximately 20 microM. Bafilomycin only produced significant inhibition of activity at concentrations well in excess of those that are effective against the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. The ouabain-resistant ATPase activity in cultured IMCD was also sensitive to vanadate (90% inhibition with 5 microM) but relatively resistant to N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and NEM. These results indicate that pH regulation in primary cultures of IMCD cells, presumably reflecting H+ transport, is predominantly due to an H(+)-K(+)-ATPase.


Abstract. Accurate determination of water depth is indispensable in multiple aspects of civil engineering (dock construction, dikes, submarines outfalls, trench control, etc.). According to the final objective, different accuracies will be required. Accuracy in bathymetric information is highly dependent on the atmospheric correction made to the imagery. The reduction of effects such as glint and cross track illumination in shallow-water areas with homogeneous improves the results of the depth estimations. The aim of this work is to assess the best atmospheric correction method for the estimation of depth in shallow waters. This paper addresses the use of hyperspectral imagery to quantitative bathymetric mapping, and explores one of the most common problems when attempting to extract depth information in conditions of variable water types and bottom reflectances. The current work assesses the accuracy of some classical bathymetric algorithms (Polcyn-Lyzenga, Philpot, Benny-Dawson, Hamilton, Principal Component Analysis) when four different atmospheric correction methods are applied and water depth is derived. This work shows the importance of atmospheric correction in order to depth estimation in shallow waters. None atmospheric correction is valid for all type of coastal waters but in heterogeneous shallow water, the model of atmospheric correction 6S offers good results.


High throughput plant phenotyping is emerging as a necessary step towards meeting agricultural demands of the future. Central to its success is the development of robust computer vision algorithms that analyze images and extract phenotyping information to be associated with genotypes and environmental conditions for identifying traits suitable for further development. Obtaining leaf level quantitative data is important towards understanding better this interaction. While certain efforts have been made to obtain such information in an automated fashion, further innovations are necessary. In this paper we present an annotation tool that can be used to semi-automatically segment leaves in images of rosette plants. This tool, which is designed to exist in a stand-alone fashion but also in cloud based environments, can be used to annotate data directly for the study of plant and leaf growth or to provide annotated datasets for learning-based approaches to extracting phenotypes from images. It relies on an interactive graph-based segmentation algorithm to propagate expert provided priors (in the form of pixels) to the rest of the image, using the random walk formulation to find a good per-leaf segmentation. To evaluate the tool we use standardized datasets available from the LSC and LCC 2015 challenges, achieving an average leaf segmentation accuracy of almost 97% using scribbles as annotations. The tool and source code are publicly available at http://www.phenotiki.com and as a GitHub repository at https://github.com/phenotiki/LeafAnnotationTool.


In this study, Fuzzy Expert Systems in Aviation is inspected and a fuzzy expert system is  designed  to  provide  solutions  on  aerospace  vehicles'  airworthiness  evaluation  and  mission  planning. In aviation aspect, mission planning is a rather complicated process consisting two  main parts, operations management and maintenance, and requires many different criteria must  be evaluated and met. This research is intended to be a supportive solution for the mission  planning process, to which the flight safety is the most important issue, and for the planning task  that is human‐based and expects many inputs and needs to be done flawlessly. A fuzzy expert  system structure has been developed according to the process. Stages applied respectively;  creating a database, fuzzification, rule based inference process and defuzzification. The research  shows, this process can be solved effectively by using a web based fuzzy expert system.


Police as a Law enforcing agency is an important institution of that social control which existed in some form or the other in all society in all ages. Police is an integral part of the present day society. A society in the present set up cannot live and progress without an effective, sincere and honest police force. The Indian police have its roots in the ancient period and the present day police are the outcome of an evolutionary process. The bad things which it has inherited from the old system include corruption among policemen today. Corruption exists in one form or the other in the police system. Corruption has infected every sphere of modern life. It has vitiated the moral values of the society and the police force cannot be an exception. In fact, corruption of police is not a new phenomenon, but the irony is that the issue has seldom been seized by the organization with a sense of seriousness. In this paper an attempt has been made to discuss the various aspects of police corruption in India. The author has tried to discuss the various factors responsible for police corruption and suggest some remedies to control the corruption among policemen. The main objective of the paper is to discuss the extent, causes and remedies of police corruption and explain the extent of distrust that create against police due to corruption. The basis of the discussion is from secondary sources like police commission reports, books, magazines, news paper, and other sources.


Background selection is a process whereby recurrent deleterious mutations cause a decrease in the effective population size and genetic diversity at linked loci. Several authors have suggested that variation in the intensity of background selection could cause variation in FST across the genome, which could confound signals of local adaptation in genome scans. We performed realistic simulations of DNA sequences, using parameter estimates from humans and sticklebacks, to investigate how variation in the intensity of background selection affects different statistics of population differentiation. We show that, in populations connected by gene flow, Weir & Cockerham's (1984) estimator of FST is largely insensitive to locus-to-locus variation in the intensity of background selection. Unlike FST, however, dXY is negatively correlated with background selection. We also show that background selection does not greatly affect the false positive rate in FST outlier studies. Overall, our study indicates that background selection will not greatly interfere with finding the variants responsible for local adaptation.


This paper describes a novel method of character recognition targeted for extracting complex annotations found in engineering documents. The results of this work will make it possible to capture the information contained in documents used to support facilities management and manufacturing. The recognition problem is made difficult in part because characters and text may be expressed in arbitrary fonts and orientations. Our approach includes a novel incremental strategy based on the multi-scale representation of wavelet decompositions. Our approach is motivated by biological mechanisms of the human visual systems. Using wavelets as a set of basis functions, we may decompose an image into multiresolution hierarchy of localized information at different spatial frequencies. Wavelet bases are more attractive than traditional hierarchical bases because they are orthonormal, linear, continuous, and continuously invertible. The multi-scale representation of wavelet transforms provides a mathematically coherent basis for multi-grid techniques. In contrast to previous ad-hoc approaches, our method promises a practical solution embedded in a unified mathematical theory. A feasibility study is described in which several hundred characters extracted from engineering... Read complete abstract on page 2.


Abstract. Seiches are normal modes of water bodies responding to geophysical forcings with potential to significantly impact ecology and maritime operations. Analysis of high-frequency (1 Hz) water level data in Monterey, California, identifies harbor modes between 10 and 120 s that are attributed to specific geographic features. It is found that modal amplitude modulation arises from cross-modal interaction and that offshore wave energy is a primary driver of these modes. Synchronous coupling between modes is observed to significantly impact dynamic water levels. At lower frequencies with periods between 15 and 60 min, modes are independent of offshore wave energy, yet are continuously present. This is unexpected since seiches normally dissipate after cessation of the driving force, indicating an unknown forcing. Spectral and kinematic estimates of these low-frequency oscillations support the idea that a persistent anticyclonic mesoscale gyre adjacent to the bay is a potential mode driver, while discounting other sources.


Racism and anti-racism can be seen as duelling discourses which constantly cross-reference each other. Using interview data from interviews with working-class Maori and Pakeha, this article analyses the ways in which anti-racism expressed by ordinary New Zealanders engages directly with dominant racist discourses. The article explores some of the themes and linguistic devices identified in Wetherell and Potter's classic analysis of middle-class racism in New Zealand, arguing that counterhegemonic discourses challenging these themes are alive and well, and being used to resist racism at a grass-roots level. It specifically analyses challenges to the notions that resources should be used productively; that Maori should appreciate that they are much better off than other indigenous people; that there are legitimate and illegitimate ways of protesting; and that present generations are not responsible for mistakes of the past. It argues that many of the same rhetorical devices utilized in racist talk are also found in the articulation of these arguments, indicating that common linguistic resources are the shared weaponry through which an ideological battle about rights and discrimination is being waged.


The application of augmented reality in industrial environments requires an effective visualization of text on a see-through head-mounted display (HMD). The main contribution of this work is an empirical study of text styles as viewed through a monocular optical see-through display on three real workshop backgrounds, examining four colors and four different text styles. We ran 2,520 test trials with 14 participants using a mixed design and evaluated completion time and error rates. We found that both presentation mode and background influence the readability of text, but there is no interaction effect between these two variables. Another interesting aspect is that the presentation mode differentially influences completion time and error rate. The present study allows us to draw some guidelines for an effective use of AR text visualization in industrial environments. We suggest maximum contrast when reading time is important, and the use of colors to reduce errors. We also recommend a colored billboard with transparent text where colors have a specific meaning.


Writing ability is defined as the level of skill or competence in writing. The writer should
be more careful and pay attention to the aspects of writing. Commonly, writing is the
hardest thing for students because they should take a long process. One of the English
components is grammar. The grammar can defined as the science of the rules in forming
and combining words into sentences. Adjective is one the most important part in the
grammar. The objective of this research was to know whether there was the correlation
between students' ability in using adjective and their ability in writing descriptive text.
Descriptive text is the form of text that aims at describes how something or someone looks
or feel. The purpose or the social function of descriptive text is to describe the reader about
many things, including people, places, events, situations, thoughts, and feelings. In the
recount text, the sentences are usually organized according to identification and description.
The research methodology used in this research was correlation research. The population of
the research was taken from the students at the first semester of the eighth grade of SMPN
1 Talangpadang Tanggamus in 2016/2017 academic year consisted of 137 students. The
sample was chosen based on cluster random sampling technique. The sample taken was
class VIII.2 consisting of 34 students. In collecting the data, the writer used instrument in
the form multiple choice test for adjective ability and descriptive writing for ability in
writing descriptive text. After giving try out, the writer gave the test and then analyzed the
data by using Pearson's Product Moment formula.
The result of Pearson's Product Moment correlation showed that the result was 0.8, and
then it was consulted to rcritical. The result of rcritical with significant level 0.05 was 0.325.
Due to robserved is higher than rcritical (0.8 > 0.325), the conclusion of the research is that there
is a correlation between sudents' ability in adjective and ability in writing descriptive text at
the first semester of eighth grade of SMPN 1 Talangpadang in 2016/2017 academic year.


CONTEXT
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain disorder associated with multiple debilitating symptoms and high disease-related costs. Effective treatment options are needed.

OBJECTIVES
To determine the efficacy of antidepressants in the treatment of FMS by performing a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.

DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched through August 2008. Reference sections of original studies, meta-analyses, and reviews on antidepressants in FMS were reviewed.

STUDY SELECTION
Randomized placebo-controlled trials with tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) were analyzed.

DATA EXTRACTION AND DATA SYNTHESIS
Two authors independently extracted data. Effects were summarized using standardized mean differences (SMDs) by a random-effects model.

RESULTS
Eighteen randomized controlled trials (median duration, 8 weeks; range, 4-28 weeks) involving 1427 participants were included. Overall, there was strong evidence for an association of antidepressants with reduction in pain (SMD, -0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.55 to -0.30), fatigue (SMD, -0.13; 95% CI, -0.26 to -0.01), depressed mood (SMD, -0.26; 95% CI, -0.39 to -0.12), and sleep disturbances (SMD, -0.32; 95% CI, -0.46 to -0.18). There was strong evidence for an association of antidepressants with improved health-related quality of life (SMD, -0.31; 95% CI, -0.42 to -0.20). Effect sizes for pain reduction were large for TCAs (SMD, -1.64; 95% CI, -2.57 to -0.71), medium for MAOIs (SMD, -0.54; 95% CI, -1.02 to -0.07), and small for SSRIs (SMD, -0.39; 95% CI, -0.77 to -0.01) and SNRIs (SMD, -0.36; 95% CI, -0.46 to -0.25).

CONCLUSION
Antidepressant medications are associated with improvements in pain, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and health-related quality of life in patients with FMS.


: Optic nerve hypoplasia is an uncommon congenital defect of the optic nerve and retina, although recent studies show it occurs more frequently than previously thought. It is characterized by a small, pale optic disc, normal appearing retinal vasculature, and marked visual impairment. This condition may be unilateral or bilateral and familial cases have been described. It may be associated with other defects of the central nervous system but also occurs in otherwise normal individuals. It is different from aplasia of the optic nerve in which there is complete absence of the optic disc and retinal vasculature, usually in a badly malformed eye. The purpose of this communication is to describe the clinical and fluorescent appearance of an infant with bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia and the unilateral abnormality of retinal vessels.


Several University policy interventions have been implemented over the last ten years. Overall, they have had the effect of reducing tertiary education in Italy and in particular in Southern Italy, compressing and distorting academic offer and reducing the demand for education, through strong political choices. Such choices damage both social mobility and the overall development prospects of this area (as well as the country as a whole), given the fundamental role played by Universities and human capital both in the contemporary and future economy - as it is reasonably foreseeable. This paper summarizes the main lines of these policies, recalling the great disinvestment on University education carried out in Italy over the last ten years, illustrating and discussing the choice to segment - in this overall scenario - the national University system in «first-class» and «second-class» Universities, and presenting how this choice was made; highlighting some reflections on the research evaluation processes, and their use as an important tool to promote and emphasise this segmentation. Then, the paper shows how all these decisions have consistently aimed at a strong compression, in particular, of Southern Italy's University system, destined, thanks to the automatic and cumulative action of rules and indicators, to continue over time.


Background: Female genital mutilation is common practice in Egypt with its drawback effects. Studies concerned with the impacts of that practice on women's health in general and reproductive health in particular are sparse. Objective: To assess the impact of female genital mutilation (FGM) on some reproductive health factors among Egyptian women. Material and Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Alexandria governorate, Egypt. The study recruited 200 circumcised (case group) and 200 uncircumcised (control group) women attending maternity health care centers in the studied area. Interview questionnaires were used to collect data from the studied women. The questionnaire included sociodemographic and reproductive data related to FGM. Chi square tests were used to compare between the two groups with p value ≤ 0.05 as a significant difference. A multivariate logistic regression was also used to assess the effect of FGM on the studied reproductive health factors. Results: The study revealed statistically significant associations between FGM and adverse reproductive health. The risk of dyspareunia was high among circumcised women with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.9 (95% CI = 2.5- 6.1). There have also been significant high risks of recurrent vaginal infection (OR = 3.3; 95% 1.6-7.5), infertility (OR = 2.9; 95% CI = 1.5-5.9), and post partum hemorrhage (OR = 3.2; 95% CI = 1.2-8.3) among circumcised women. Conclusions: Women with FGM are significantly more likely to have adverse reproductive health than women without FGM. This finding is highly relevant for preventive work against this ancient practice.


Modular supervisory control of discrete-event systems, where the overall system is a synchronous (parallel) product of subsystems, is considered. The main results of this paper are formulations of sufficient conditions for the compatibility between the synchronous product and various operations stemming from supervisory control as supervised product and supremal controllable sublanguages. These results are generalized to the case of modules with partial observations: e.g., modular computation of supremal normal sublanguages is studied. Coalgebraic techniques based on the coinduction proof principle are used in our main results. Sufficient conditions are derived for modular to equal global control synthesis. An algorithmic procedure for checking the new conditions is proposed and the computational benefit of the modular approach is discussed and illustrated by comparing the time complexity of modular and monolithic computation.


Objectives: This study aimed is to identify treatment pattern and awareness of migraine in Eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia. Methods: The survey questionnaire used to assess the awareness and treatment pattern of migraine was adopted from previous study. The questionnaire contains three sections. The first section contained of items related to demographic information of the participants. The second section contains to assess the knowledge of participants towards migraine. The third part of questionnaire contains about different types of therapy used in treatment of migraine. Results: Overall awareness of migraine among participants from Eastern Provinces of Saudi Arabia is 81.81%. 98.60% participants have heard about the migraine. Nearly 40% of participants are suffering from migraine and main cause of it is stress and tension. Panadol and Brufen drugs were used by almost migraine patient. Although few migraine patient were also used Rapidus. Conclusion: There is higher occurrence of migraine in women than in men by ratio of 12:1. Despite of having good knowledge of migraine (81.81%), only 39.16% participants know about the causes of migraine and only 26.80% of participants know about the preventive measures of migraine. Thus educational and preventive health campaigns are needed all over the Saudi Kingdom.


Contents: Section I: T.D. Yawkey,Development and Context. J.L. Roopnarine, D. Cochran, N.S. Mounts, Traditional Psychological Theories and Socialization During Middle and Early Childhood: An Attempt at Reconceptualization. M.B. Shure, Prevention Research, Evaluation, and Application: Reflections on a Cognitive Approach. Section II: J.E. Johnson, Intraindividual Integration: An Introduction. S. Harter, Developmental Processes in the Construction of Self. L. Rose-Krasnor, Social Cognition. J.E. Johnson, T.D. Yawkey, Play and Integration. Section III: T.D. Yawkey, Interindividual Integration: An Introduction. V.A. Christopherson, The Family as a Socialization Context. S. Oden, Alternative Perspectives on Children's Peer Relationships. E. Asp, J. Garbarino, Integrative Processes at School and in the Community. Section IV: J.E. Johnson, T.D. Yawkey, Intra and Interindividual Integration: An Introduction. J.A. Goldman, Diet and Behavior: A Consideration of Recent Research. K. Levine, E. Mueller, Communication. W. Emmerich, Individual Differences and Socialization.


Age differences in skin potential level (SPL) of young adult and aged men were investigated using basal skin potential level (BSPL) procedures at three levels of epidermal hydration. A glycol medium was used at a site of least hydration. A distilled water and agar solution was the medium at two other more hydrated sites which also received either 0 min or 15 min pretreatment in distilled water. A 0.5% KCl electrolyte concentration was used at all sites. Significant effects for age and hydration were dependent on the point in the recording session comparisons were made. The major findings were: (1) the old men had significantly lower SPLs than did the young men at the start of recording with the glycol electrolyte medium; there were no significant age differences at the start of recording with the agar mediums, or at BSPL with any hydration condition. (2) Hydration significantly affected SPL magnitude at the start of recording, but not at BSPL. SPL recorded with the glycol medium at certain points in the recording was significantly related to outdoor activity among the aged men. This effect was independent of differences in cardiovascular status, and cardiovascular status was not significantly correlated with glycol SPL. It is concluded that there is a reduced sweat gland potential in old age which can only be observed when recording conditions produce high epidermal resistance. This reduced sweat gland potential is related to low levels of outdoor activity.


This study primarily deals with introducing an efficient numerical technique called the Complementary Functions Method (CFM) for the solutions of the initial value problem for the linear elastic analysis of anisotropic rotating uniform discs. To bring the performance of the method to light, first, closed form formulas are derived for such discs. The governing equation of the problem at stake is solved analytically with the help of the Euler-Cauchy technique under three types of boundary conditions namely free-free, fixed-free, and fixed-guided constraints. Secondly, the CFM is applied to the same problem. It was found that both numerical and analytical results coincide with each other up to a desired numerical accuracy. Third, after verifying the results with the literature, a parametric study with CFM on the elastic behavior of discs made up of five different materials which physically exist is performed. And finally, by using hypothetically chosen anisotropy degrees from 0.3 through 5, the effects of the anisotropy on the elastic response of such structures are investigated analytically. Useful graphs are provided for readers.


This paper examines simultaneous interpreting (SI) from the viewpoint of procedural competence, whose evolution may be followed and monitored through the changes intervening within implicit and explicit tasks performed. As a goal-oriented communicative activity, SI may be analysed through the strategies applied to achieve the communicative goal. The interpreter, first during his studies and then throughout his career, develops and constantly refines a strategic behaviour integrating conscious and unconscious strategies. Strategies are a dynamic concept, useful not only for the description of process-oriented aspects of SI, but also as a teaching tool orienting the study and for devising exercises that help automatize specific interpreting solutions.


In this paper, waterborne epoxy (EP) coatings were modified by the incorporation of synthetic structure (DA/meso-TiO2) to improve the anticorrosion ability of waterborne epoxy coatings for steel structures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nitrogen adsorption–desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermo-gravimetric analyses (TGA) were used to characterize textural properties of DA/meso-TiO2. Corrosion performances of mild carbon steel coated samples were tested by salt spray tests and employing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). FTIR, XRD, TGA and nitrogen adsorption–desorption attested to dopamine polymerization within the mesopores and on the surface of meso-TiO2. The results of EIS and salt spray test showed that the specimen coated with 1.0 wt % DA/meso-TiO2 exhibited optimum corrosion performance among other coating specimens.


Poststroke pain syndrome is commonly regarded as an intractable disease. We describe four patients who responded to an intravenous lidocaine infusion for relief of central pain after a stroke. The infusion was administered over a 48-hour period after an initial bolus of 50 to 100 mg intravenously over 40 to 120 seconds. Pain intensity and pain relief were measured by visual analog and numeric scales. All patients reported some relief within the first 12 hours of infusion. All patients were subsequently given a trial of mexiletine, an oral congener of lidocaine. Two have continued taking the drug and report excellent relief at 12 months' follow-up; the other two had side effects that precluded further use of the drug. We conclude that lidocaine can reduce poststroke pain, and we propose a treatment algorithm based on our experience with 40 additional patients treated for other neuropathic pain states.


Abstract As an international metropolitan area undergoing rapid development, Beijing is facing a sharp rise in the volume of motor vehicles and mobility, which has become the major contributor to the air pollution in this city. This is evident in the recent ranking of Beijing as the most congested as well as the most polluted city in the world by the Millennium Cities Database. Local government has adopted a battery of policies to reduce these problems. In this study, we investigate the impact of increasing the fuel tax on travel mode choice based on a large sample of travel survey data. We estimate that if the price of gasoline increased to a moderate level, 11.53 RMB/liter, the total car volume on the road would be reduced by 7 per cent, which corresponds to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 786,002.4 tons, or about 8 per cent of vehicular emissions from private cars and company-owned cars in Beijing.


This paper studies the operating conditions for 2 SO recovery in one fluidized bed reactor which is filled with aluminum oxide catalysts. The performance of the bed is analyzed experimentally and theoretically in this work. Sweet gas production is themajor purpose of this process. Experiments are conducted for sour gases with different amounts of concentration. The influence of bed height, bed width, diameter of aluminum oxide particles, operating conditions such as temperature and pressure and also superficial velocity of inlet gas are measured and discussed. Likewise, comparison between obtained experimental data for bed height, temperature, sorbent aluminumcontent and the results of model is done. No relevant differences are observed between experimental data and theoreticalmodel. Results show the increase in the amount of recovery with increasing sorbent aluminum content and bed height. The relation between recovery and operating temperature is linear, relatively. Finally, this paper provides clear insights into the effect of operating conditions of fluidized bed filled with aluminum oxide upon recovery.


Abstract Podocnemis sextuberculata is cited as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List due to a decline in its population as a result of the intensive exploitation pressure throughout its range. Understanding the effects of environmental characteristics and human activities on turtle populations is essential to improve current conservation programs. We analyzed the abundance of Podocnemis sextuberculata in the lower Amazon, where a management experiment is under way, by comparing neighboring areas with and without community-based management (CBM) initiatives. In addition, we analyzed the influence of environmental variables on the species' abundance. Abundance was measured by captures per unit effort expressed in number of individuals (CPUEN) and biomass (CPUEB). The effects of CBM and environmental variables were tested by General Linear Model analysis. A total of 354 individuals were captured, 321 in the areas under CBM and 33 in areas without CBM. CPUEN and CPUEB were strongly correlated, and their values were about 10-fold higher in the areas carrying out CBM initiatives. The variable that best explained variation in CPUEN and CPUEB was CBM. Distance between the sampling point and the nearest nesting beach and river level also influenced capture rates. Results clearly show that local fishing restrictions can have a positive influence on turtle populations.


A number of recombinants between the virulent Mahoney and attenuated Sabin strains of type 1 poliovirus were constructed by using infectious cDNA clones of the two strains. To identify a strong neurovirulence determinant(s) residing in the genome region upstream of nucleotide position 1122, these recombinant viruses were subjected to biological tests, including monkey neurovirulence tests. The results of the monkey neurovirulence tests suggested the important contribution of an adenine residue (Mahoney type) at position 480 to the expression of the neurovirulence phenotype of type 1 poliovirus. This nucleotide, however, had only a minor effect, if any, on viral temperature sensitivity. Monkey neurovirulence tests on the recombinant virus whose genome had a guanine residue (Sabin type) at position 480 and variants generated from this recombinant virus in the central nervous system of monkeys strongly suggested that only one nucleotide change, from adenine to guanine, was not sufficient for full expression of the attenuation phenotype encoded by this genome region. These results suggest that the expression of the attenuation phenotype depends on the highly ordered structure formed in the 5' noncoding sequence and that the formation of such a structure is possibly influenced by the nucleotide at position 480. Furthermore, in vitro biological tests performed on viruses recovered from the central nervous system of monkeys injected with a temperature-sensitive recombinant virus showing the small-plaque and d phenotypes revealed that most of the recovered viruses had even higher temperature sensitivities and that all of the recovered viruses that had acquired the large-plaque phenotype had lost the d phenotype to some extent. These results indicate that there may be an unknown selection pressure(s) in the central nervous system and that common determinants might be involved in the expression of the small-plaque and d phenotypes.


Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have achieved remarkable performance in various computer vision tasks but this comes at the cost of tremendous computational resources, partly due to convolutional layers extracting redundant features. Recent works either compress well-trained large-scale models or explore well-designed lightweight models. In this paper, we make an attempt to exploit spatial and channel redundancy among features for CNN compression and propose an efficient convolution module, called SCConv (Spatial and Channel reconstruction Convolution), to decrease redundant computing and facilitate representative feature learning. The proposed SCConv consists of two units: spatial reconstruction unit (SRU) and channel reconstruction unit (CRU). SRU utilizes a separate-and-reconstruct method to suppress the spatial redundancy while CRU uses a split-transform-and-fuse strategy to diminish the channel redundancy. In addition, SCConv is a plug-and-play architectural unit that can be used to replace standard convolution in various convolutional neural networks directly. Experimental results show that SCConv-embedded models are able to achieve better performance by reducing redundant features with significantly lower complexity and computational costs.


Quaternary Zn–Ag–In–S (ZAIS) quantum dots (QDs) with efficient, tunable, and stable photoluminescence (PL) emission were prepared via a simple, effective, and low-cost reflux method. The structural analysis revealed the dominance of the quantum confinement effect. The calculated PL emission quantum yield was enhanced from 8.2% to 28.7% with experimental parameters indicating their marked influence on the PL emission properties of the final product. Particularly, it was found that by varying the precursors' feeding ratio, tunable emission from green to red was achieved. A set of direct and indirect pieces of evidence such as the broad-band emission spectrum (FWHM > 100 nm), large Stokes shift more than 120 nm, and predominantly a biexponentially long-lived decay profile with an average lifetime of about 366 ns were observed, showing the contribution of midgap localized energy levels in the recombination process. These data were obtained independently on the experimental condition used, which confirmed that this is mostly an intrinsic electronic property of quaternary In-based QDs. Finally, to ensure the stability of QDs in terms of colloidal and optical emission, their emission ability was evaluated after 26 months of storage. Colloidal QDs were still luminescent with strong yellowish-orange color with emission efficiency of ∼20.3% after 26 months. The combination of synthesis simplicity, compositional non-toxicity, PL emission superiority (strong, tunable, stable, and long lifetime emission), and colloidal stabilities confirms that the present ZAIS QDs are promising candidates for a wide range of applications in biomedicine, anticounterfeiting, and optoelectronics.


The western Amazon is one of the world's last high-biodiversity wilderness areas, characterized by extraordinary species richness and large tracts of roadless humid tropical forest. It is also home to an active hydrocarbon (oil and gas) sector, characterized by operations in extremely remote areas that require new access routes. Here, we present the first integrated analysis of the hydrocarbon sector and its associated road-building in the western Amazon. Specifically, we document the (a) current panorama, including location and development status of all oil and gas discoveries, of the sector, and (b) current and future scenario of access (i.e. access road versus roadless access) to discoveries. We present an updated 2014 western Amazon hydrocarbon map illustrating that oil and gas blocks now cover 733 414 km2, an area much larger than the US state of Texas, and have been expanding since the last assessment in 2008. In terms of access, we documented 11 examples of the access road model and six examples of roadless access across the region. Finally, we documented 35 confirmed and/or suspected untapped hydrocarbon discoveries across the western Amazon. In the Discussion, we argue that if these reserves must be developed, use of the offshore inland model—a method that strategically avoids the construction of access roads—is crucial to minimizing ecological impacts in one of the most globally important conservation regions.


The purpose of this study was to investigate how parental involvement has influenced KCPE performance of pupils in public primary schools in Kanziko zone, Kitui County. The specific objectives were; to access the extent to which parents' supervision of homework, parents' attendance to school functions, home Chores assigned to pupils by parents, availability of physical facilities provided at home by parents and parenting styles influence pupils' KCPE performance in public primary schools in Kanziko zone. The research adopted a descriptive survey design. This was suitable for this study as it helped the researcher establish the existing conditions at home. It further allowed identification of standards or norms with which to compare the parental involvement. The target population was 109 teachers, 505 pupils and 450 parents within the study area. A sample of 90 parents, 55 teachers and 152 pupils were selected through simple random sampling. A pilot study was carried out on a different set of respondents to better plan for the research. The test-retest procedure was used for testing reliability. Teachers' questionnaire yielded a reliability of 0.76 whereas pupils' questionnaires yielded a reliability of 0.72 this was considered favorable to warrant reliance on the data collected and its findings. Validity was ensured through discussion with the experts including supervisors and colleagues. Primary data were collected and analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques and presented in tables and graphs. Secondary data were obtained from journals and schools data base. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Descriptive statistics and thematic statistics were used. This assisted in determining the level of influence the independent variables had on the dependent variable. The study findings indicated that educated parents assisted their pupils in doing their school work. The study also revealed that the sorry state of education standards at Kanziko Zone were mainly attributed to the fact that there was little parental involvement. This is a major challenge because parents invest a lot in education and as such need to take more interest in curriculum implementation to improve the performance in national examinations. It was clear that the lack of involvement of parents in school activities hinders efforts to actualize the curriculum. This in-turn leads to poor performance. The study recommends the involvement of parents in all aspects of the curriculum implementation.


This article concerns The Zone, an interactive sound installation by the collaborative group Volumetric Units. It focuses on the installation's philosophical and creative aspects through a reflective analysis. The Zone expresses the phenomenological experience of hyperreal cyberspace: a condition where the shift in consciousness causes an inability to distinguish reality from the simulation of reality. The installation is an investigation of the sociopolitical effects of hidden online processes. The work intends to provoke a feeling of condensed confusion like the hyperreality that we experience online, a sense of dissolution of information that is followed by a dissolution of meaning.


The goal of this qualitative study was to understand the impact of working with traumatized clients on the student clinician. Eight graduate student clinicians, who were currently providing mental health services to clients who had experienced trauma, participated in this study. They represented the fields of clinical and counseling psychology and social work. Interviews of participants utilized an interview guide approach. Data was analyzed using grounded theory. In describing the impact of trauma work and their coping with vicarious trauma, the participants" personal stories shared the following common themes: understanding the importance of social support, recognizing personal changes such as developing a more nuanced view of humanity and the world, developing a deeper appreciation of personal circumstances and personal growth, and acknowledging the importance of self-care. The participants also provided suggestions for training programs related to preparing students for facing the challenges involved in working with traumatized clients. Results are discussed in relation to current literature, and ideas for future research and implications for the field are examined. THE IMPACT OF WORKING WITH TRAUMA ON THE GRADUATE STUDENT CLINICIAN iv


Error propagation analysis is an important part of a system development process. This thesis addresses a probabilistic description of the spreading of data errors through a mechatronic system. An error propagation model for these types of systems must use a high abstraction layer that allows the proper mapping of the mutual interaction of heterogeneous system components such as software, hardware, and physical parts. A literature overview reveals the most appropriate error propagation model that is based on Markovian representation of control flow. However, despite the strong probabilistic background, this model has a significant disadvantage. It implies that data errors always propagate through the control flow. This assumption limits model application to the systems, in which components can be triggered in arbitrary order with non-sequential data flow. A motivational example, discussed in this thesis, shows that control and data flows must be considered separately for an accurate description of an error propagation process. For this reason, a new concept of system analysis is introduced. The central idea is a synchronous examination of two directed graphs: a control flow graph and a data flow graph. The structures of these graphs can be derived systematically during system development. The knowledge about an operational profile and properties of individual system components allow the definition of additional parameters of the error propagation model. A discrete time Markov chain is applied for the modeling of faults activation, errors propagation, and errors detection during operation of the system. A state graph of this Markov chain can be generated automatically using the discussed dual-graph representation. A specific approach to computation of this Markov chain makes it possible to obtain the probabilities of all erroneous and error-free system execution scenarios. This information plays a valuable role in development of dependable systems. For instance, it can help to define an e↵ective testing strategy, to perform accurate reliability estimation, and to speed up error detection and fault localization processes. This thesis contains a comprehensive description of a mathematical framework of the new dual-graph error propagation model, several methods for error propagation analysis, and a case study that demonstrates key features of the application of the presented error propagation model to a typical mechatronic system. A numerical evaluation of the mechatronic system in question proves applicability of the introduced concept.


A common phenomenon about transition economies is that the return to schooling improves as economic reform progresses. Existing research suggests that Vietnam is not an exception to the pattern. However, the rate of return in period from 1992 to 1998 is still relatively low, below 5 percent, relative to that of the world and other transitional economies. And it is hard to see a clear trend in the current literature due to different methods applied and sets of variables controlled in the earnings equations (see Appendix B). The low returns may result from the gradual economic reforms applied in Vietnam, whilst in Eastern European countries the "Big Bang" transformation was conducted. Therefore, to test whether the return to schooling in Vietnam is rising and reaches other transitional economies' rate of returns, we re-examine the trend in the rate of return to schooling in Vietnam over the 1998-2008 period, when the reforms have had a longer time to have an effect. We apply the OLS and Heckman selection estimator (Maximum Likelihood approach) and find that the return has increased quickly during the later economic reform but its pace has slowed down when the return reached the global average rate of returns at somewhere between 9 and 10 percent.


Drawing on classical and contemporary jurisprudence and political philosophy, this Essay argues that the Roberts Court should seize the next apt moment to abandon the doctrines of "sovereignty" and "sovereign dignity" that the Rehnquist Court developed over the decade that began with the 1996 decision in the Seminole case. Although pursued in service of the laudable goal of "our federalism," these doctrines work a corruption of our legal, political, and moral self-understanding. As they do so, they distract the Court and the citizenry from the disciplined commitment to the rule of law and legal justice by which a body politic and its state earn their true dignity (but not sovereignty). The Court's baroque and unconvincing metaphysics of sovereignty and sovereign dignity should be retired in favor of a political and legal vision informed by a constitutional commitment to natural law and natural rights, which stand in every season as a bulwark against the overreaching claims of putative sovereigns. A state that by supreme judicial self-profession is axiologically incompetent to pass on questions of the meaning or value of human life is demonstrably not sovereign or possessed of sovereign dignity.


In vivo assessment of dispersion affecting the propagation of visco-elastic waves in soft tissues is key to understand the rheology of human tissues. In this paper, the ability of the supersonic shear imaging (SSI) technique to generate planar shear waves propagating in tissues is fully exploited. First, by strongly limiting shear wave diffraction in the imaging plane, this imaging technique enables to discriminate between the usually concomitant influences of both medium rheological properties and diffraction affecting the shear wave dispersion. Second, transient propagation of these plane shear waves in soft tissues can be measured using echographic images acquired at very high frame. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that dispersion curves, which characterize the rheological behavior of tissues by measuring the frequency dependence of shear wave speed and attenuation, can be recovered in the 75-600 Hz frequency range. Based on a phase difference algorithm, the dispersion curves are computed in 1 cm2 regions of interest from the acquired propagation movie. In vivo measurements in biceps brachii muscle and liver of three healthy volunteers show important differences in the rheological behavior of these different tissues. Liver tissue appears to be much more dispersive with a phase velocity ranging from ~ 1.5 m/s at 75 Hz to ~ 3 m/s at 500 Hz whereas muscle tissue shows an important anisotropy, shear waves propagating longitudinally to the muscular fibers are almost nondispersive while those propagating transversally are very dispersive with a shear wave speed ranging from 0.5 to 2 m/s between 75 and 500 Hz. The estimation of dispersion curves is local and can be performed separately in different regions of the organ. This signal processing approach based on the SSI modality introduces the new concept of In vivo shear wave spectroscopy (SWS) that could become an additional tool for tissue characterization. This paper demonstrates the in vivo ability of this SWS to quantify both local shear elasticity and dispersion in real time.


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Introduction: Eplerenone is an anti-hypertensive drug. A sensitive reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the assay of Eplerenone (Isocratic mode) in the presence of an internal standard, teneligliptin (an antidiabetic drug). Materials and Methods: Mobile comprising formic acid and methanol was selected (flow rate: 0.4 ml/min), and Eplerenone as well as the internal standard were eluted a detection wavelength of 244 nm. Phenomenex C8 column was used during the study, and the HPLC system was from Shimadzu with photodiode array detector. Results and Discussion: Eplerenone follows linearity according to Beer–Lambert's law 0.5–60 μg/mL with regression equation, y = 0.2054x + 0.0351 correlation coefficient 0.9996. The LOD and LOQ are found to be 0.0141 μg/mL and 0.3947 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: The liquid chromatographic method is simple and sensitive, and the method was validated for the determination of Eplerenone in pharmaceutical dosage forms.


List of Contributors. Series Preface. Preface. Part I Historical Aspects. 1 History of Natural Dyes in the Ancient Mediterranean World (Maria J. Melo). 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 Ancient Reds. 1.3 Ancient Blues. 1.4 Ancient Purple (Tyrian Purple). 1.5 Ancient Yellows. Acknowledgement. References. 2 Colours in Civilizations of the World and Natural Colorants: History under Tension (Dominique Cardon). 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 The Triumph of Mauvein: Synthetic Fulfilment of the Antique Purplemania. 2.3 Blue: from Kingly Regional to Globally Democratic. 2.4 Red and Yellow: from Micro to Macro Scales. 2.5 What Future for Natural Colorants in the Dawning Era of Renewable Resources? Acknowledgement. References. 3 History of Natural Dyes in North Africa 'Egypt' (Harby Ezzeldeen Ahmed). 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Natural Dyes in Pharaonic Textiles. 3.3 Dyeing Techniques. 3.4 Dye Sources. 3.5 Dyeing in Coptic Textiles. 3.6 Wool Dyed Fabric with Natural Dye. 3.7 Dyes in Islamic Textiles. 3.8 Mordants. References. Part II Regional Aspects of Availability of Plant Sources. 4 Dye Plants in Europe (Andrea Biertumpfel and Gunter Wurl). 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Potential European Dye Plants. 4.3 Cultivation of Dye Plants Yesterday and Now. 4.4 Modern Cultivation Methods for Important European Dye Plants. 4.5 Production of Dye Extracts. 4.6 Relevant Examples for the Application. 4.7 Conclusions, Discussion and Summary. References. 5 Dyes in South America (Veridiana Vera de Rosso and Adriana Zerlotti Mercadante). 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 Annatto. 5.3 Turmeric. 5.4 Marigold. 5.5 Cochineal and Carmine. Acknowledgements. References. 6 Natural Dyes in Eastern Asia (Vietnam and Neighbouring Countries) (Hoang Thi Linh). 6.1 Introduction. 6.2 Annatto (Botanical Name Bixa orellana L., Family Bixaceae). 6.3 Tea (Botanical Name Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, Family Theaceae). 6.4 Umbrella Tree (Botanical Name Terminalia catappa L., Family Combretaceae). 6.5 Diospyros mollis Mackloeur (Botanical Name Diospyros mollis L. Griff, Family Ebenaceae). 6.6 Indigo (Botanical Name Indigofera L., Family Fabaceae). 6.7 Henna (kok khan, or khao youak in Laos) (Botanical Name Lawsonia spinosa L., Family Lythraceae). 6.8 Nacre (Botanical Name Khaya senegalensis, Family Meliaceae). 6.9 Sappan Wood (Botanical Name Caesalpinia sappan L., Family Fabaceae). 6.10 Sophora japonica Flowers (Botanical Name Sophora japonica L., Family Leguminosae). 6.11 Turmeric (Botanical Name Curcuma longa L., Family Zingiberaceae). 6.12 Sapodilla (Botanical Name Manilkara zapota L. or Achras zapota Family Sapotaceae). 6.13 Betel (Botanical Name Piper betle L., Family Piperaceae). 6.14 Eucalyptus (Botanical Name Eucalyptus, Family Myrtaceae). 6.15 Caesalpinia Yellow (Botanical Name Caesalpinia pulcherrima L., Family Fabaceae). 6.16 Brow-tuber (Botanical Name Dioscorea cirrhosa Lour, Family Dioscoreaceae). Part III Colorant Production and Properties. 7 Indigo Agricultural Aspects (Philip John and Luciana Gabriella Angelini). 7.1 Introduction. 7.2 Isatis. 7.3 Persicaria (Polygonum). 7.4 Indigofera. Acknowledgements. References. 8 Indigo Extraction (Philip John). 8.1 Introduction. 8.2 Methods of Determining Indigo. 8.3 Precursors in the Plants and Indigo Formation. 8.4 Extraction Procedures. 8.5 Purity of Natural Indigo. Acknowledgements. References. 9 Anthocyanins: Nature's Glamorous Palette (Maria J. Melo, Fernando Pina and Claude Andary). 9.1 Chemical Basis. 9.2 Natural Sources for Anthocyanins. 9.3 Applications. 9.4 Examples of Commercial Products and Processing. References. 10 Natural Colorants Quinoid, Naphthoquinoid and Anthraquinoid Dyes (Thomas Bechtold). 10.1 Introduction. 10.2 Benzoquinone Dyes. 10.3 Naphthoquinone Dyes. 10.4 Anthraquinone Dyes. 10.5 Other Sources of Anthraquinoid Dyes. References. 11 Dyes from Lichens and Mushrooms (Riikka Raisanen). 11.1 Use of Lichen and Mushroom Dyes in the Past. 11.2 Cultivation of Lichens and Mushrooms. 11.3 Dyestuffs in Lichens and Mushrooms. 11.4 Colour-fastness of Lichen and Mushroom Dyes. 11.5 New Approaches to Lichen and Fungal Natural Dyes. References. 12 Tannins and Tannin Agents (Riitta Julkunen-Tiitto and Hely Haggman). 12.1 Introduction. 12.2 Chemical Structure, Biosynthesis and Degradation. 12.3 Properties of Tannins. 12.4 Chemical Activities of Tannins. 12.5 Analysis of Tannins. 12.6 Use, Toxicology and Safety Aspects of Tannins. References. 13 Carotenoid Dyes Properties (U. Gamage Chandrika). 13.1 Introduction. 13.2 Properties and Functions of Carotenoids. 13.3 General Procedure for Carotenoid Analysis. 13.4 Problems in Carotenoid Analysis. References. 14 Carotenoid Dyes Production (U. Gamage Chandrika). 14.1 Factors Influencing Carotenoid Composition in Plant Sources. References. 15 Chlorophylls (Ursula Maria Lanfer Marquez and Daniela Borrmann). 15.1 Introduction. 15.2 Chlorophylls as Colorants. 15.3 Other Applications of Chlorophylls and their Derivatives. 15.4 Chemical Structures and Physicochemical Properties. 15.5 Stability and Analysis. 15.6 Sources, Storage and Handling. 15.7 Purity, Standardization and Quality Control. 15.8 Toxicological and Safety Aspects. References. Part IV Application in Technical Use and Consumer Products. 16 Flavonoids as Natural Pigments (M. Monica Giusti and Taylor C. Wallace). 16.1 Introduction. 16.2 Role of Localized Flavonoids in the Plant. 16.3 General Flavonoid Chemical Structure. 16.4 Biosynthesis of Flavonoids. 16.5 Anthocyanins as Natural Colorants. 16.6 Other Flavonoids as Natural Colorants. 16.7 Therapeutic Effects of Flavonoids in the Diet. 16.8 Regulations on the Use of Flavonoid Colorants. References. 17 Application of Natural Dyes in the Coloration of Wood (Martin Weigl, Andreas Kandelbauer, Christian Hansmann,Johannes Pockl, Ulrich Muller and Michael Grabner). 17.1 Introduction. 17.2 Coatings. 17.3 Dyes. 17.4 Color Modification. 17.5 Outlook. References. 18 Natural Colorants in Textile Dyeing (Rita A. M. Mussak and Thomas Bechtold). 18.1 Introduction. 18.2 Reasons for Natural Coloration. 18.3 Analysis of a Dyeing Process. 18.4 Basics of Natural Dyeings. 18.5 Natural Dyes on an Industrial Scale. 18.6 Conclusion. Acknowledgment. References. 19 Natural Colorants in Hair Dyeing (Thomas Bechtold). 19.1 Introduction. 19.2 Human Hair. 19.3 General Requirements on Hair Dyeing Concepts. 19.4 Chemical Principles of Dyestuff Binding. 19.5 Relevant Natural Dyes for Hair Dyeing. 19.6 Specialities. 19.7 Regulations. References. Part V Environmental. 20 Environmental Aspects and Sustainability (Erika Ganglberger). 20.1 Introduction. 20.2 Supply of Plant Material. 20.3 Processing to Dyestuff. 20.4 Application of Colouring Matter. 20.5 Considerations Concerning the Life Cycle. 20.6 Conclusion. References. 21 Economic Aspects of Natural Dyes (Susanne Geissler). 21.1 Introduction. 21.2 Basic Requirements for the Industrial Use of Natural Colorants. 21.3 Challenges for the Industrial Use of Natural Colorants. 21.4 Consumer Expectations. 21.5 Production Costs of Natural Colorant Products. 21.6 Closed-Loop Economy: Towards a Zero-Emission and Zero-Waste Society. 21.7 Conclusion: Aspects Influencing Market Development for Natural Colorants. References. Index.


Field supervisors' evaluations of their student externs are packed with lively stories. They deliver a fly-on-the-wall perspective, giving us color about the work entrusted to our students, the behaviors our students exhibited, and the enjoyment the attorneys reaped. The authors decided the evaluations were so fertile that they should be systematically scrutinized to seek meaningful, reliable insights about the extern experience, especially regarding the variety, complexity, and responsibility levels of their work. We also saw a prime opportunity to assess an externship program and find ways to improve it. Thus, the Externship Assessment Project was born.

We deployed qualitative data analysis methodology to distill the supervisor narratives in a comprehensive, uniform, and disciplined manner. Our method entailed building a database of all elements of the supervisor evaluations (both numerical and narrative), and coding the data for types and quality of student work. We added data on each placement's setting and practice area. From a two-page evaluation form we were able to tag characteristics about student work with dozens of codes, enabling us to compare and contrast student experience across many dimensions. We overlaid student demographic data to understand variations along class year, GPA, gender, and race.

The evaluations revealed that educational opportunities varied among different field placement settings and practice areas. For example, and perhaps the most expected finding of the analysis, nonprofit and government settings provided the best platform for dynamic and high responsibility work, especially in criminal practice. In contrast, student work was most often featured for its high complexity and quality in government and law firm settings. Student GPA was not a predictor of the types of work performed by the externs or of supervisor ratings. Although judicial placements tended to attract the higher-grading students, the judge and mentor attorneys tended not to highlight the complexity or quality of the student work in their final evaluations. Our analysis seeks to describe extern performance and learning in clear-eyed fashion and offer guidance for externship program design and assessment of programmatic and institutional learning outcomes.


This article examines a number of poems in which Shirley Campbell challenges the myth of historical objectivity by suggesting that the history of African diasporic peoples and societies has been obliterated in Europe's agenda to relegate them to positions of subservience and deny even their very existence. The poetic voice declares that imperial history has been used to justify slavery and the othering of the non-European world. The analyses will reveal too, how the persona destroys the myth that the history of Blacks does not exist by showing how this history was hidden, even though it existed before other histories were written. The persona's ultimate objective is that Blacks should confront and understand their history as a means of understanding their existence as human beings.


Abstract Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important crops worldwide. In this study, we used 7720 genome-wide SNPs to characterize the genetic diversity within a tomato germplasm collection enriched with 64 accessions from southern Italy of the so called "da serbo" type i.e. drought-tolerant and long storage landraces. Notwithstanding the relatively small collection area, 1575 (20.4%) polymorphic SNPs, mostly on Chr11, detected considerable levels of genetic variation. Maximum parsimony analysis of genetic distance revealed four main clusters and clearly separated most "da serbo" landraces from the outgroups. One of the clusters grouped the landraces from the Mount Vesuvius area, though no further indications of a geographic-specific structure were found. STRUCTURE analysis confirmed the presence of four genetic groups within the collection, with admixture between them. A survey of non-synonymous SNPs highlighted several mutations in genes related to stress tolerance and fruit maturation/quality. Overall, our results suggest possible exchange of "da serbo" genetic material between southern Italy regions and indicate that the long storage "da serbo" germplasm could be a promising reservoir of peculiar alleles for traits of interest.


Optical communication is gaining popularity in telecommunications; most obviously evident is the increase in demand for a large variety of fiber optic components. V-groove structure quality is critical to the functionality of the fiber connector as it governs the position of the optic fibers. The main parameters, which determine the V-groove quality, include core pitch, surface roughness and the position of centerline. In this paper, a series of cutting conditions were applied to investigate the effect of different machining parameters on the V-groove quality. In the experiment, the V-groove structure is machined by a 40° single crystal diamond tool on aluminium alloy with different cutting conditions. Based on the findings, the relationship between the cutting conditions on the surface roughness was explored. The implications of these findings on the improvement of the surface finish of V-groove profile are discussed.


This guide recommends resources for research in English language studies, British and American literature, and other literatures written in English.


In congenital microphthalmos and anophthalmos, the socket and lids are often underdeveloped. Progressive dilation of the socket often does not increase the horizontal lid aperture or permit the use of a larger prosthesis. The authors present two cases in which a modified Mustarde cheek flap, lined with a tarsal-conjunctival graft, was used to reconstruct and lengthen the lower lid. This procedure results in a larger horizontal lid aperture and permits a larger prosthesis to be contained in the socket.


In States, Banks, and Markets Nancy Neiman Auerbach approaches financial policymaking as a strategic interaction between two sets of domestic actors: private financiers and state officials. Through a comparative lens, Auerbach explains why the transition to financial liberalization was accompanied by economic crisis and declining growth rates in countries such as Mexico, while the same policy was associated with higher growth rates and a relatively more equitable distribution of income in other countries such as South Korea and Hong Kong.Auerbach first sets up a theoretical foundation that underlies the comparative case studies, and she then follows with a detailed account of Mexico's transition to financial liberalization in the 1980s. The author systematically compares various countries' cases--Germany, South Korea, Hong Kong, Turkey--with Mexico as a means of underscoring the central and recurring themes illustrated by financial market politics in newly industrializing countries. The author then returns to her analysis of Mexico with an examination of the Mexican peso crisis in light of the recent financial crises in Asia. Auerbach not only demonstrates how the timing and duration of the liberalization process is the element differentiating the performance of newly industrializing countries (rather than financial liberalization itself), for she takes the analysis a step further by explaining the economic and political preconditions that put a country in the position to choose a reasonable reform path.


Numerous programs aimed at enhancing the choice of bicycle and walk as modes of choice for children's trips to and from school are being implemented by public agencies around the world. Disaggregate choice models capable of accounting for the myriad of factors that influence child school mode choice are needed to accurately forecast the potential impacts of such programs and policies. This paper aims to present a school mode choice model that is capable of capturing the unobserved spatial interaction effects that may potentially influence household decision-making processes when choosing a mode of transportation for children's trips to and from school. For example, households that are geographically clustered close together in a neighborhood may interact or observe one another, and be influenced by each other's actions. In order to overcome the computational intractability associated with estimating a discrete choice model with spatial interaction effects, the paper proposes the use of a maximum approximated composite marginal likelihood (MACML) approach for estimating model parameters. The model is applied to a sample of children residing in Southern California whose households responded to the 2009 National Household Travel Survey in the United States. It is found that spatial correlation effects are statistically significant, and that these effects arise from interactions among households that are geographically close to one another. The findings suggest that public policy programs aimed at enhancing the use of bicycle and walk modes among children may see greater impact if targeted at the local neighborhood level as opposed to a more diffuse regional scale. Sidharthan, Bhat, Pendyala, and Goulias 1


Studies of sexual selection have focused mainly on dimorphic and/or polygynous species, where males, typically possess more exaggerated secondary sexual characters. However in many species, receiving far less attention, the expression of ornamental traits by females matches that in males. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain sexual monomorphism, including mutual mate choice, genetic correlation, weak sexual selection and sexual indistinguishability. The sexual indistinguishability hypothesis suggests that sexual monomorphism is an adaption to avoid competition in monogamous flock-living species. Based on measurements of museum skins and domesticated birds in Europe, the Australian long-tailed finch was classified as a sexually monomorphic species, providing the best empirical support for the sexual indistinguishability hypothesis. Using both domestic and wild long-tailed finches, we have re-evaluated the extent to which the sexes are really indistinguishable. Morphological measurements of wing, tail, tail streamers, tarsus, bill and patch size, and colour spectrometric measurements of the yellow upper mandible and grey crown, were compared between the sexes. While the sexes are similar, males and females nonetheless differed in seven of ten traits in wild populations. In domestic populations, the sexes differed to a lesser extent but were still significantly different at three of ten traits, and discriminant analysis showed that 92% of wild individuals and 89% of domestic individuals could reliably be sexed based on just these morphological traits. Contrary to previous work, this study demonstrates that wild long-tailed finches are sexually dimorphic, and that the similarity between males and females in this species cannot be explained by the sexual indistinguishability hypothesis.


In this paper, the causes and consequences of nutritional deficiencies in inflammatory bowel disease are reviewed. Particular emphasis is made on their pathophysiological implications. In addition, the basis for nutritional intervention in these patients are described (both in terms of dietary counseling and the use of specialized nutritional support). Particular mention is made on the current evidences in favour of a primary therapeutic role of artificial nutrition and some specific nutrients in Crohn's disease.


The presence of spliceosomal introns in eukaryotic genes poses a major puzzle for the study of genome evolution. Intron densities vary enormously among distant lineages. However, the mechanisms driving intron gains are poorly understood and very few intron gains and losses have been documented over short evolutionary time spans. Fungi emerged recently as excellent models to study intron evolution and "reverse splicing" was found to be a major driver of recent intron gains in a clade of ascomycete fungi. We screened a total of 38 genomes from two fungal clades important in medicine and agriculture to identify intron gains and losses both within and between species. We detected 86 and 198 variable intron positions in the Cryptococcus and Fusarium clades, respectively. Some genes underwent extensive changes in their exon–intron structure, with up to six variable intron positions per gene. We identified a very recently gained intron in a group of tomato-infecting strains belonging to the F. oxysporum species complex. In the human pathogen C. gattii, we found recent intron losses in subtypes of the species. The two studied fungal clades provided evidence for extensive changes in their exon–intron structure within and among closely related species. We show that both intronization of previously coding DNA and insertion of exogenous DNA are the major drivers of intron gains.


Fifty-seven eyes of 49 patients with senile retinoschisis were treated by argon laser photocoagulation and followed up for 3 to 6 years. In most of the treated eyes the retinoschisis either completely or partially collapsed and in none did the retinoschisis or loss of visual field progress further. No long-term complications due to the treatment were noted. In none of the treated eyes did retinal detachment develop. In view of this the indications at present for argon laser treatment in retinoschisis may be extended to include any case in which the retinoschisis progresses beyond the equator and visual field loss continues. This may prevent further visual field damage and other rare complications of slowly progressive retinoschisis and facilitate the many years' follow-up of elderly patients with retinoschisis who develop cataracts.


Abstract With the aid of an electronic computer, case studies of wind analyses at the 850-mb., 700-mb., 500-mb., 400-mb., 300-mb., and 200-mb. pressure levels have been made. The divergent and non-divergent wind components resulting from the u and v wind-component analyses are investigated. For the cases considered, the streamfunction fields are slightly superior to the Joint Numerical Weather Prediction operational fields, obtained initially through use of the "balance equation." The magnitude of the horizontal wind divergence values are comparable to those obtained from the winds by previous investigators employing hand-analysis techniques. However, the divergence patterns are not sufficiently accurate for the strict requirements necessary for numerical weather forecasting.


petencies give an indication of the ability of an SHO to perform basic anaesthetic skills, these skills are not adequate by themselves to allow safe independent practice. A course covering the management of critical incidents should form part of the basic curriculum for novice anaesthetists prior to being placed on the on-call rota. Having the opportunity to manage these types of cases in a controlled simulator environment adds to both the enjoyment and the efficacy of the learning process.


BACKGROUND
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most frequent form of leukemia in Europe and North America, and it mainly affects older individuals. Many approaches are implemented in the management of CLL from a watch and wait (WandW) strategy to chemotherapeutic regimens. We here reviewed our clinical practice for the relevance of the W and W strategy in Lebanese CLL patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 95 patients with CLL diagnosed in four institutions in Lebanon, between 1992 and 2013, were selected and their files were reviewed. Characteristics of these patients were noted including age, sex, RAI and Binet scores, CBC values, presence of hepatomegaly or splenomegaly, performance of bone marrow biopsy or peripheral blood flux cytometry for diagnosis, adoption of W and W strategy, different chemotherapeutic regimens and the indications for treatment.

RESULTS
Some 38 patients (40%) diagnosed with CLL were women and 57 (60%) were men with a mean age of 65.1 years [36-89]. Of the total, 50.5%, 17.2%, 14%, 7.5% and 10.8% had an RAI score at diagnosis of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, while 65.6%, 17.2% and 17.2% had Binet scores of I, II and III. The mean lymphocyte count at diagnosis was 39885/mm3 [1596-290000], the mean hemoglobin level was 12.7 g/dl [6.2-17] and the mean platelet count was 191255/mm3 [14000-458000]. While 26.3% of patients with CLL had splenomegaly, only 7.4% had hepatomegaly. Some 33.7% had undergone a bone marrow biopsy, 66.3% flow cytometry of circulating blood and 5.3% a lymph node biopsy. Overall, the W and W was adopted in 62.4% (58) of patients with a mean duration of 37.7 months [3-216]. The W and W was used in 82.6%, 73.3%, 46.2%, 14.3% and 0% of patients having RAI scores of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, and, it was used in 80%, 46.7% and 6.25% with Binet scores of I, II and III. The most frequent indication for treatment was anemia and thrombocytopenia, accounting for 32.7% of cases. The most frequently used chemotherapeutical regimens were chlorambucil until the end of the last century and flufarabine-cyclophosphamide-rituximab during the last decade.

CONCLUSIONS
This retrospective review of CLL clinical practice showed an important implementation of the W and W strategy with a long duration, especially in early stage cases with low RAI or Binet scores.


This research investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence of service providers and customers satisfaction. The case study of pharmaceutical service in Bangkok is the focused group for the researcher to discover the correlation between emotional intelligence of pharmacists and customers satisfaction. Customers from nine pharmaceutical service organizations in Bangkok, Thailand participated in the study by completing a seven item customers satisfaction questionnaire and the Bar-On Standardized Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQI). The findings showed that there was a significant relationship between emotional intelligence score of the pharmacists and customers satisfaction. Therefore, pharmaceutical service providers played an important roles of developing customers satisfaction from the caring characters. The author recommends skills in the form of caring and mercy for service providers in air transport to enhance customers satisfaction. Since, the air transport is an important sector to achieve economic growth. In addition, the air carrier as a service provider played an important role not only to promote tourism but also to make connections in national and the international levels. This would generate a significant level of revenue for the country.


The Artificial Reaction Network (ARN) is an Artificial Chemistry representation inspired by cell signaling networks. The ARN has previously been applied to the simulation of biological signaling pathways and to the control of limbed robots. In this paper we create multiple cell-like autonomous agents using ARN networks. It is shown that these agents can simulate some aspects of the behavior of biological amoebae. To demonstrate practical applications of such agents they are then reconfigured as a swarm of robots in a simulated oil spill clean-up operation. We demonstrate that ARN agents, like amoebae, can autonomously recognize environmental patterns and produce emergent behavior. The results show that such agents may be useful in biological simulation and furthermore may have practical applications in swarm robotics.


ABSTRACT The extensive reforms of Sweden's education system during the last few decades have resulted in deregulation and individualization of schools. In upper secondary education, a distinct flexible course structure with multiple options was introduced in order to enhance school effectiveness and equity. This study departs in some of the previously outlined tensions in educational research between market interests and a 'free choice discourse' in relation to processes of differentiation. The purpose of this article is to investigate the ways gender patterns may be reproduced in relation to the emergence of multiple options and the re-organization of subject matters within Swedish upper secondary science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Our case addresses relations between discourses of choice and gender articulated in policy incentives, and large-scale enrolment patterns. Our results show how multiple options reproduce gender orders by 1) changing the system in accordance with a general market logic emphasizing 'freedom of choice', and 2) distinguishing predominantly gendered subject matters. Also, our results point to the importance of studying the STEM domain at a non-aggregated level to further understand the mechanisms behind gender gaps in STEM education.


Improving the quality and consistency of the fresh mangos that are available to consumers in the United States is an important goal of the National Mango Board (NMB). The NMB-funded project, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Mango Supply Chain to Improve Mango Quality (referred to hereafter as the Mango Quality Project), was conducted from December 2007 through April 2009 to identify impediments to successfully meeting that goal. The final deliverable of the Mango Quality Project is this best management practices manual for harvesting and handling mangos marketed in the U.S. The manual includes quality-control procedures to use when monitoring the maturity and quality of mangos in commercial handling operations.The 77-page manual (10 MB pdf), written in Portuguese, was most recently revised in October 2020. The English version is available at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1185.


Racial discrimination has emerged as a risk factor for poor health and well-being, and recent evidence has highlighted racial discrimination's effects on adolescent adjustment. Still, little is known about the nature of race-based discriminatory experiences for various ethnic groups and their respective mental health consequences. Research suggests that identification with one's racial or ethnic community can potentially buffer racial discrimination's negative consequences and serves as an important factor in the development of children and youth of color. The present study investigates racial discrimination and ethnic identity as they relate to mental health for Cambodian American adolescents. Guided by theoretical perspectives that include the integrative model, stress process, and risk and resilience theory, this research had four primary research aims: (1) to examine the relationship between racial discrimination in multiple contexts and depression, (2) to investigate whether ethnic identity protects against the influence of racial discrimination on depression, (3) to explore factors associated with racial discrimination, and (4) to analyze factors associated with ethnic identity. The analyses examined cross-sectional data from a survey of 418 Cambodian American adolescents residing in Southern California. The survey data derive from a larger research project using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework, wherein Cambodian American youth and adult community members helped shape the purpose, process, and dissemination of the research. Secondary data analyses included multiple imputation to address missing data and multivariate analyses examining direct and indirect effects of primary study variables. The results indicated that Cambodian American adolescents experience racial discrimination in multiple contexts--from peers, in school, and in the community--and further, that these discriminatory experiences were associated with depression. However, neither ethnic identity nor centrality and public regard subfactors moderated the association between racial discrimination and depression using post-imputation data. Furthermore, being male, having greater ethnic identification, and lower perceived socioeconomic status were associated with racial discrimination in various contexts. In addition, proficiency in Khmer (Cambodian) language was linked to elevated levels of both centrality and ethnic identity as a whole. In contrast, being older was associated with less centrality of ethnic identity. The findings suggest that experiences with racial discrimination are multidimensional in nature and detract from mental health for Cambodian American adolescents. The study findings have implications for future interventions and prevention efforts by targeting specific settings that may expose adolescents to discrimination. Furthermore, the findings underscore the need to examine individuals' own perceptions of racial discrimination and how they may relate to mental health.


Our aim is to investigate the factors which determine the intrinsic hardness of constructing a solution to any particular constraint satisfaction problem instance, regardless of the algorithm employed. The line of reasoning is roughly the following: There exists a set of distinct, possibly overlapping, trajectories through the states of the search space, which start at the unique initial state and terminate at complete feasible assignments. These trajectories are named solution paths. The entropy of the distribution of solution paths among the states of each level of the search space provides a measure of the amount of choice available for selecting a solution path at that level. This measure of choice is named solution path diversity. Intrinsic instance hardness is identified with the deficit in solution path diversity and is shown to be linked to the distribution of instance solutions as well as constrainedness, an established hardness measure.


The article discusses the barriers faced by people with physical disabilities, using air transport. Consideration literature, shows the difficulties they have to deal with people with disabilities in air traffic. The article presents a review of the utility, such as the quality and quantity (range) information given to people with disabilities, and web airports. Portals were used to evaluate one of the methods usability testing web pages, which is a method of cognitive wandering (called cognitive walkthrough). Evaluation criteria were selected on the basis of the recommendations of the European Parliament (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 Concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when traveling by air). According to the website includes the following airports: Chopin in Warsaw (Poland), Sheremetevo in Moscow (Russia) and London Heathrow (UK). The results show that although more and more attention is paid to people with disabilities (in the law), but the amount of information which can be read in the pages of airport services prior to travel is insufficient.


The perimeter blocks in cities are usually rectangular and follow the streets. The buildings are mostly of similar height within each block. However, perimeter blocks can be developed in many various forms. Geometric options such as chamfered corners, varied building heights and different positioned openings in a broken perimeter block are analyzed in this paper regarding the aspects of views and daylight in city planning. The choice of evaluation criteria is based on scientific discourse in the field of daylighting. As in the new European standard, "Daylight in Buildings", the following three parameters are included in calculations: solar radiation, daylight level and view out. Computer-based daylighting simulations and calculations of view parameters are performed for different designs of the perimeter blocks with equal density, FAR = 1.33. The simulations have been carried out for Stockholm. That means roughly the same shadows as in Oslo, Helsinki, Tallinn, St Petersburg and Anchorage, all close to the same latitude (60°N). In lower latitudes, e.g. Southern and Central Europe the shadows are shorter. Nevertheless, the ranking of the alternatives will be similar. This study confirms that geometrical changes can improve the conditions for views and daylight in the perimeter blocks. The advantages in the tested urban design alternatives are considerable compared to the perimeter block of the standard type.


The present article aimed at studying the relationship between project-based organization and competence management practices (recruitment, assessment, training, compensation and career management). The central question of our research is formulated as follows: To what extent does project-based organization influence competence management practices? To answer this question, we adopted a quantitative study. A total of 156 Tunisian project managers participated in our survey. We tested our hypotheses through a linear regression analysis. The results show that the majority of competence management practices, namely recruitment, evaluation and training, are more relevant to project-based organizations and thus the three first hypotheses are confirmed. However, other practices, like remuneration and career management, are insensitive to project activities.