Shortage of nurses and declining interest in becoming a mental health nurse are often attributed to workplace distress and violence. These have become global issues and believed that shortage of nurses decreases the quality of health care services. It leads distress among nurses, which is exposure to violence and traumatic experiences. In addition, nurses are also accused of seizing the rights of patients and committing violence against a patient. This paper focuses on the violence that occurred in mental health nurses during working in unpredictable situation. A literature search of systematic review through the CINAHL, Medline, Google scholars and PsycInfo databases, the empirical report using a nursing sample includes data on rates of violence exposure including violence, aggressive behavior, bullying, and sexual harassment. The result, a total of 400 articles provide data on 2742 publications indicates near all of nurses in mental health experienced verbal abuse in the past month, furthermore, most of respondents' ever experienced psychological abuse, and less of respondents experienced physical violence and sexual harassment. Rates of exposure vary by world region (Developed countries, Asia, Europe and Middle East), with the highest rates for physical violence and sexual harassment in the USA, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand region, and the highest rates of psychological violence and bullying in the Middle East. The presence of violence signals an "alarm" that violence against nurses calls for special attention in many countries. Essentially, the world must give a "priority" to handling violence against nurses.


Mitophagy, the autophagic breakdown of mitochondria, is observed in eukaryotic cells under various different physiological circumstances. These can be broadly categorized into two types: mitophagy related to quality control events and mitophagy induced during developmental transitions. Quality control mitophagy involves the lysosomal or vacuolar degradation of malfunctioning or superfluous mitochondria within lysosomes or vacuoles, and this is thought to serve as a vital maintenance function in respiring eukaryotic cells. It plays a crucial role in maintaining physiological balance, and its disruption has been associated with the progression of late-onset diseases. Developmentally induced mitophagy has been reported in the differentiation of metazoan tissues which undergo metabolic shifts upon developmental transitions, such as in the differentiation of red blood cells and muscle cells. Although the mechanistic studies of mitophagy in mammalian cells were initiated after the initial mechanistic findings in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, our current understanding of the physiological role of mitophagy in yeast remains more limited, despite the presence of better-defined assays and tools. In this review, I present my perspective on our present knowledge of mitophagy in yeast, focusing on physiological and mechanistic aspects. I aim to focus on areas where our understanding is still incomplete, such as the role of mitochondrial dynamics and the phenomenon of protein-level selectivity.


Responding to the paper by Miller and Joffe, we review the development of the concept of therapeutic misconception (TM). Our concerns about TM's impact on informed consent do not derive from the belief that research subjects have poorer outcomes than persons receiving ordinary clinical care. Rather, we believe that subjects with TM cannot give an adequate informed consent to research participation, which harms their dignitary interests and their abilities to make meaningful decisions. Ironically, Miller and Joffe's approach ends up largely embracing the very position that they inaccurately attribute to us: the belief that, with some exceptions, it is only the prospect of poorer outcomes that should motivate efforts to dispel TM. In the absence of empirical studies on the steps required to dispel TM and the impact of such procedures on subject recruitment, it is premature to surrender to the belief that TM must be widely tolerated in clinical research.


State violence as a complex system of ideological prescriptions, normative values, and everyday practices has been emerging as a major topic in the study of Soviet-type regimes. Overcoming the Cold War preoccupation with the totalitarian character of these societies, new historiographical approaches put at the center the changing degree of physical and psychological violence. This article sketches the evolution of state violence concepts and practices in Communist-era Romania, focusing on the treatment of the large Hungarian minority in Transylvania. Although Nicolae Ceaușescu's Romania has been largely acknowledged as a special case, incompatible with the overall development of the Soviet bloc, it is possible to apply the model of "civilized violence" and "reliability of expectations" to the specific conditions of the late phase of Romanian national Communism. The most primitive forms of physical violence such as shooting or the savage beating of inmates never disappeared from the power instruments available to the different repressive bodies, but these techniques were supplemented by more refined attempts to encourage social collaboration based on patriotic conviction.


In the light emitting diode (LED) manufacturing industry, the most expensive and crucial facilities are manufacturing machines. Condition-based maintenance (CBM) for crucial components of a manufacturing machine aims to forecast in advance the precise time when some aging component will be broken and replace it in time, to avoid performing abnormally to manufacture defect products. This study focuses on the CBM for a crucial component called particle filter of a pneumatic conveyor machine in the LED epitaxy plant. Conventional forecasting methods were based on the theory of statistics, which requests a large number of data samples and assumes some probability distribution. With advance of machine technology, however, the data samples of broken particle filters to be collected are very few, such that those conventional methods cannot be applied. As a result, this study proposes a novel hybrid grey forecasting and harmony search approach, in which grey forecasting was shown to perform well for small data samples. In the proposed method, operating conditions of particle filters are monitored and collected by industrial sensors. Then, those data are preprocessed by data filtering and clustering. Finally, a hybrid grey forecasting and harmony search approach is used to fit the curve of the aging condition of a particle filter. Numerical analysis of a real example in an LED epitaxy plant shows that the proposed method performs better than conventional methods.


What Moves at the Margins is a critical rhetorical analysis that explores the literary work of three African American writers, while examining Black queer thematics, sensibilities, rhetorics, and pedagogies. The writers examined in this study include Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Natasha Trethewey. Although these writers work in multiple genres, their writings include thematics about the meaning and experiences of Black people in America (blackness) and the sociopolitical responsibilities of Black writers to their community and nation. Their projects are critically pedagogical, in scope and praxis, and intersect critical pedagogical discourses. Additionally, this study utilizes a framework called Black queer poetics, which functions much like the word rhetorics, both the object of study and a set of analytics to study said object. Furthermore, the adoption of the phrase Black queer poetics illustrates a certain type of methodological flexibility that gestures towards the simultaneous study of a certain set of texts held in regard in the humanities and other disciplines while also highlighting queer(ing) rhetorical, analytical, ideological lenses.


The internet contains vast amount of information that the search engines are able to provide search results that are based on page ranks. But the search results are not related to one particular user's environment. The main objective of this paper involves with search engine and search engine optimization methods. Here a new technique called as ontology search logs is introduced, which will be used for customized search logs according to the user define input. This application will be processed in any of the search engine. In this paper, a new system called as Semantic Search log Social Personalized Search is also proposed which would be able to provide results for search query that relates to a particular user's environment, his area of interests, his likes and dislikes, the data the he/she might have found to be useful for him while searching. Social networks are the domain in which it could obtain such user oriented information, which could be used for providing personalized search results. Supervised learning technique is used to learn about the user based upon his interactions inside the system. This process can be able to make applicable for each and every registered user in this application. User can give their basic information in their profile and get benefits from their each and every search. When the user getting register with the system it creates an ontological profile, according to the profile created by the user and when he/she getting login into the social network and interacts with it the system updates his/her ontological profile based upon the interaction. The search provision can be finding out in their home page after they get login. When the user searches a keyword using the search engine inside the social network, it refers to the ontological profile of the user and displays the Personalized Search results. The system should be able to intelligently identify whether a search result has been useful to him or not and save it for his future reference when he searches for the same or similar keyword next time.


Abstract Silibinin is a polyphenolic plant flavonoid with anti-inflammatory properties. The present study investigated the effect of silibinin on oxidative metabolism and cytokine production - tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)12, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1) - by peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) from preeclamptic pregnant women. It is a case-controlled study involving women with preeclampsia (PE, n = 30) compared with normotensive pregnant (NT, n = 30) and with non-pregnant (NP, n = 30) women. Monocytes were obtained and cultured with or without silibinin (5 μM or 50 μM) for 18 h. Superoxide anion (O2−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) release were determined by specific assays, and cytokine levels were determined by immunoenzymatic assays (ELISA). Monocytes from preeclamptic women cultured without stimulus released higher levels of O22, H2O2 and TNF-α, and lower levels of IL-10 and TGF-β1 than did monocytes from NT and NP women. Treatment in vitro with silibinin significantly inhibited spontaneous O2− and H2O2 release and TNF-α production by monocytes from preeclamptic women. The main effect of silibinin was obtained at 50 μM concentration. Thus, silibinin exerts anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects on monocytes from preeclamptic pregnant women by inhibiting the in vitro endogenous release of reactive oxygen species and TNF-α production.


The objective assessment of image quality is essential for the design of imaging systems. Barrett and Gifford (1994) introduced the Fourier crosstalk matrix. Because it is diagonal for continuous linear shift-invariant imaging systems, the Fourier crosstalk matrix is a powerful technique for discrete imaging systems that are close to shift invariant. However, for a system that is intrinsically shift-variant, Fourier techniques are not particularly effective. Because Fourier bases have no localization property, the shift-variance of the imaging system cannot be shown by the response of individual Fourier bases; rather, it is shown in the correlation between the Fourier coefficients. This makes the analysis and optimization quite difficult. In this paper, we introduce a wavelet crosstalk matrix based on wavelet series expansions. The wavelet crosstalk matrix allows simultaneous study of the imaging system in both the frequency and spatial domains. Hence it is well suited for shift-variant systems. We compared the wavelet crosstalk matrix with the Fourier crosstalk matrix several simulated imaging systems, namely the interior and exterior tomography problems, limited angle tomography, and a rectangular geometry positron emission tomograph. The results demonstrate the advantages of the wavelet crosstalk matrix in analyzing shift-variant imaging systems.


One of the major challenges facing evolutionary robotics is crossing the reality gap: How to transfer evolved controllers from simulated robots to real robots while maintaining the behavior observed in simulation. Most attempts to cross the reality gap have either applied massive amounts of noise to the simulation, or conducted most or all of the evolution onboard the physical robot, an approach that can be prohibitively costly or slow. In this paper we present a new co-evolutionary approach, which we call the estimation-exploration algorithm. The algorithm automatically adapts the robot simulator using behavior of the target robot, and adapts the behavior of the robot using the robot simulator. This approach has four benefits: the process of simulator and controller evolution is automatic; it requires a minimum of hardware trials on the target robot; it could be used in conjunction with other approaches to automated behavior transferal from simulation to reality; and the algorithm itself is generalizable to other problem domains. Using this approach we demonstrate a reduction of three orders of magnitude in the number of evaluations on a target robot (thousands compared to only five).


This paper presents a new, compact, canonical graph-based representation, called Taylor expansion diagrams (TEDs). It is based on a general non-binary decomposition principle using Taylor series expansion. It can be exploited to facilitate the verification of high-level (RTL) design descriptions. We present the theory behind TEDs, comment upon its canonicity property and demonstrate that the representation has linear space complexity. Its application to equivalence checking of high-level design descriptions is discussed.


We study the problem of optimizing the transistor sizes in the one-bit nMOS full adder either isolated or embedded in a regular array. A local optimization method that we call the critical-path optimization method is developed. In this method, two parameters at a time are changed along the critical path until a locally optimal choice of transistor sizes is found. The critical-path optimization method uses the Berkeley VLSI tools and the hierarchical layout language ALLENDE developed at Princeton. First, we optimize the isolated one-bit full adder implemented in three ways: as a PLA, data selector, and with random logic. The details of the critical-path optimization method and power-time tradeoff curves are illustrated here. Second, we optimize the one-bit full adder embedded in a simple array multiplier. The entire 3 × 3, 4 × 4, 8 × 8, and 10 × 10 multipliers are optimized and their local optima are compared. Because the optimization of the entire circuit becomes less practical when the circuit becomes larger, we develop a method that makes use of circuit regularity. We prove that some small array of one-bit full adders, called the canonical configuration, has the same local optima as the n × n multiplier for large n, with the criterion of minimizing the delay time T. Hence, we can greatly reduce the computation load by optimizing this canonical configuration instead of optimizing the entire circuit. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of this approach.


Introduction Low back pain is a very common problem among workers in the healthcare sector worldwide. In the international scientific literature, healthcare workers involved in caring for dependent patients are among those mos prone to acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders, especially the dorsolumbar spine. According to WHO 2011, there are around 19.300.000 nursing staff members working in healthcare facilities around the globe (85% are women). Most healthcare workers manually handle patients on a daily basis, activity 'potentially' in terms of workplace prevention, thus hospital management to adopt effective risk assessment, management and containment measures. The large number of nursing staff are affected by musculoskeletal disorders, preventing them fro performing activities for manually handling patients; the level of sick days taken due to musculoskeletal problems is extremely high. These aspects raise inefficiency, generate higher costs and lower the quality of care. Methods MAPO Methodology (ISO TR 12296) has been used for evaluating the risk of low back pain among healthcare workers in 3 hospitals in Curitiba. One of the characteristic features of the MAPO Method is that it combines all the various risk factors into a single formula. Three hospitals in Curitiba (surgical and orthopaedic sectors) ahs been the target of this study. Result The risk value in each sector/hospital has been stablished based upon the different patients, according to their diseases and workplace conditions. Discussion The MAPH Method approach to assessing and preventing risk is based on the typically global, interdisciplinary and participatory principles of ergonomics.


Aim: To determine biometry of the female genitalia of Kano Brown goats and Yankasa sheep.
Materials and Methods: Ninety-three samples (66 caprine and 27 ovine samples) of the entire reproductive tracts were collected and evaluated for biometrical dimensions.
Results: There was no significant difference in ovarian biometry of the sheep and goat, except the differences in their widths and weights. Biometry of the vagina and cervix agrees with established documentation. Pregnancy did not affect length of the uterine body but increased length of the uterine horns. Non-pregnant uterine horn of the ewe was greater than doe's in length and weight.
Conclusion: It is inferred that biometrical status of female genital tract is essential in artificial insemination, and pregnancy diagnosis.


Literature review is an essential part for research. Before starting research on a meticulous topic, one needs to map the types of available writings on the topic of research. Literature review helps in choosing a topic for research which has not been studied yet or less studied. It also tells the importance of research topic. This study assembles all the major categories of research on rural women and their work in agriculture. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijssm.v1i2.10284 Int. J. Soc. Sci. Manage. Vol-1, issue-2: 69-73


This study aimed to clarify the effects of a lifestyle intervention by the concurrent use of an activity monitor and Twitter on daily physical activity. Twenty-one healthy males and females (37 ± 13 yrs) were randomly assigned to Normal intervention group (N group, n = 10) or Twitter intervention group (T group, n = 11). In both groups, the intervention period was 6 weeks. Participants in N group wore an activity monitor (Lifecorder EX). Meanwhile, participants in T group were asked to tweet about their daily steps or physical activity in addition to wearing an activity monitor, and also an observer read through the tweet from each participant and commented about physical activity. There were no significant differences in daily physical activity ( i.e. , steps and amount of physical activity (PA)) at week 1 between both groups. In addition, no significant time-course changes in steps and amount of PA were observed in N group. In contrast, steps in T group were gradually increased from week 1 8,542 ± 3,158 steps/ day to week 6 12,700 ± 3,935 steps/day (P < 0.01). Amount of PA in T group was also gradually increased from week 1 2.5 ± 1.2 METs·hour/day to week 6 4.6 ± 2.3 METs·hour/day (P < 0.01). Therefore, these findings indicate that the lifestyle intervention by the concurrent use of an activity monitor and Twitter could effectively induce an increase in daily physical activity compared with the intervention using only an activity monitor. Phys Med, 62(4):


The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) was established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 as a major new center to evaluate and implement clinical comparative effectiveness research (CER). It is a private, non-profit, tax exempt corporation designed to "assist patients, clinicians, purchasers and policy makers in making informed health decisions by advancing the quality and relevance of evidence concerning the manner in which diseases, disorders and other health conditions can effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, monitored and managed through research and evidence synthesis".1 2 The ACA's directive is that the institute "shall enter into contracts for the management of funding and conduct of research with government agencies and academic or private sector research entities and that it shall give preference to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)".

The ACA established two independent and independently funded boards to control medical costs. The Independent Payment Advisory Board task is to implement target growth rates for Medicare while the PCORI's task is to evaluate and apply CER.1 3–5 The intent underlying the formation of the two panels is that they will, with their commingled effects on what care can be provided and what will be paid, provide high quality care at a reasonable cost.

The supporters of the PCORI and ACA proclaim the advantages of the PCORI and CER.4 6–8 In a 2008 report exploring ways to reduce healthcare costs, the Congressional Budget Office wrote that CER would reduce total spending on healthcare in the USA by an estimated US$8 billion from 2010 to …


In Charlottesville, Virginia, the University Cemetery serves as the final resting place of many of the most prominent community members of the University of Virginia. In 2011, the University planned an expansion. During archaeological research to this end, sixty-seven previously unidentified interments, in both adult and child-sized grave shafts, were discovered on the proposed site of expansion, to the northeast of the University Cemetery. Further archival research revealed that "at least two late nineteenth century references note that enslaved African Americans were buried north of but outside the enclosed University, in an adjacent wooded area." In one, Col. Charles Christian Wertenbaker recalls: "in old times, the University servants were buried on the north side of the cemetery, just outside of the wall." Current research suggests that at least as late as 1898 the area of land was recognized as historically utilized by the University of Virginia for "servant" burials. Since these discoveries, a commemoration ceremony has been held. Some beautification measures have been undertaken: a specially designed fence has been installed; some trees have been planted; and at both entrances an informational sign is posted explaining the significance of the plot. Still, this newly rediscovered sacred space stands in stark contrast to the marble tombs and gilded cenotaphs of the University Cemetery and adjacent Confederate monument.

Typically, descendants of the dead reserve rights in a cemetery in the form of some kind of property interest. Mourners and the children of mourners may return from time to time to pay their respects and tend to the graves of their dearly departed. In general, this is a well-established right (though further investigation will reveal that it somewhat less clear than one might expect). However, slavery in America has frustrated many rights, and its long shadow continues to disrupt others. Because of the nature of this property interest, today in Charlottesville, the cemetery rights of the descendants of those slaves interred to the northeast of the University Cemetery are arguably extinguished, or at best unclear. The owner of the cemetery, the University of Virginia, has made no attempt to exclude or to sell the land, nor likely would they, but it is unclear that they could not should they so desire. There are likely other slave cemeteries, on public and private land, that find themselves in a similar situation: specifically, slave cemeteries and African American burial grounds that, because of systemic oppression and discrimination, are rendered unprotected and abandoned—descendants' rights vanished into nothing.

In exploration of this problem, this paper lays out the historical legal landscape of cemeteries, the special issues that arise in slave cemeteries generally, and the application of these doctrines to the African American burial ground in Charlottesville. Additionally, it presents a suggested legal treatment of this special type of property interest: namely, that there should be legislative reform that, in the case of abandoned slave cemeteries, creates both a public easement allowing access and broad statutory standing so that communities can work together to maintain these sacred sites and police against desecration. Further, the development of the rights of sepulture in American common law and the accompanying legal solicitude would allow judges to read this regime into existence, even in absence of formal legislative measures.


Problem Statement: Depression post-myocardial infarction (MI) is a risk factor for worse cardiac outcomes and all-cause mortality (Gan et al., 2014; Lane et al., 2002; Lichtman et al., 2008; Lichtman et al., 2014; May et al., 2017; Wu & Kling, 2016). Purpose: The purpose of the quality improvement (QI) project was to determine if implementing a depression screening protocol in cardiology clinics would increase depression screening in patients who have had an MI in the last year. Methods: A QI project utilizing a quasi-experimental, two-group design was used to compare rates of depression screening in post-MI patients before and after implementing a depression screening protocol. A convenience sample was selected from two cardiology clinics – one metropolitan hospitalaffiliated and the other suburban. The pre-screening group included 116 post-MI patients, 75 of whom met inclusion criteria for screening, seen in February and March 2017. The post-screening group included 85 post-MI patients, 65 of whom met inclusion criteria for screening, seen in October and November 2017. Depression screening was done using the patient health questionnaire two-item (PHQ-2) screening tool, and if either question was answered positively, then the nine-item (PHQ-9) questionnaire was used. Results: With the implementation of the depression screening protocol there was an increase in depression screening for those who met criteria for screening from 0 (0%) out of the 75 candidates in the pre-implementation group to 23 (35%) out of the 65 candidates in the post-implementation group. Of the 23 who were screened in the cardiology clinic, 11 (48%) went on to complete the PHQ-9 with eight of them having scores that indicated moderate to major symptoms of depression. Conclusion: Implementing a depression screening protocol in the cardiology clinic did increase depression screening in post-MI patients.


Early instrumental pressure measurements from Gibraltar and the Reykjavik area of Iceland have been used to extend to 1821 the homogeneous pressure series at the two locations In winter the two sites are located close to the centres of action that comprise the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The extended 'winter half-year' record of the NAO enables recent changes in the record to be placed in the context of the period 1823-1996 The period since the early 1970s is the most prolonged positive phase of the oscillation and the late 1980s and early 1990s is the period with the highest values (strongest westerlies) The winter of 1995-1996 marked a dramatic switch in the index, with the change from 1994-1995 being the greatest change recorded from one year to the next since the series began in 1923. (The extended Gibraltar and Reykjavik monthly pressures and the NAO series can be found on the Climatic Research Unit home page. www.cru.uea-ac.uk.


Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) have improved the efficiency and accuracy of transportation means. In terms of safety, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS) is providing vertical and lateral guidance to civil aviation since 2011. Furthermore, EGNOS can support applications in other sectors such as maritime, railways and road. The present contribution aims to assess the use of EGNOS for maritime navigation compliant with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements established in its Resolution A.1046 (27) for harbour entrances, harbour approaches and coastal waters: 99.8% of Signal Availability, 99.8% of Service Availability, 99.97% of Service Continuity and 10 m of Horizontal Accuracy. The study has selected the waters surrounding the Canary Islands, within the south west border of coverage of EGNOS, to perform a kinematic test campaign from 7th November 2018 to 21st April 2019. For this purpose, we installed a geodetic multi-frequency multi-constellation receiver-antenna pair on-board two vessels from the Armed Institute of the Spanish Civil Guard based in Tenerife. The ESA/UPC GNSS laboratory (gLAB) tool suite has processed the remotely-retrieved GNSS measurements, in conjunction with EGNOS corrections and with cleansed GPS broadcast navigation messages. EGNOS Availability and Continuity have been evaluated within the area comprised between longitudes 13oW to 19oW and latitudes 27oN to 30oN with spatial resolution of 0.1o per 0.1o. The vessel accuracy is evaluated as the difference of coordinates obtained with single-frequency EGNOS solution and the reference trajectory computed with dual-frequency Precise Point Positioning and final orbits from the International GNSS Service. The EGNOS Maritime Service met all IMO requirements in the geographic area of latitudes northern than 28oN and longitudes eastern than 16oW after reaching a Signal Availability of 99.999%, a Service Availability in 99.90% of the predefined rectangular region, and 1.06 m of Horizontal Accuracy at the 95th percentile. In contrast, the Service Continuity requirement (only required for coastal waters) was met in 62.50% of the predefined region. We conclude that the continuity risk is the most limiting factor for expanding the EGNOS Maritime Service along the coastal waters of Canary Islands, in the EGNOS south-west border of coverage.


The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, is an acute respiratory disease that has been classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The sudden spike in the number of infections and high mortality rates have put immense pressure on the public healthcare systems. Hence, it is crucial to identify the key factors for mortality prediction to optimize patient treatment strategy. Different routine blood test results are widely available compared to other forms of data like X-rays, CT-scans, and ultrasounds for mortality prediction. This study proposes machine learning (ML) methods based on blood tests data to predict COVID-19 mortality risk. A powerful combination of five features: neutrophils, lymphocytes, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and age helps to predict mortality with 96% accuracy. Various ML models (neural networks, logistic regression, XGBoost, random forests, SVM, and decision trees) have been trained and performance compared to determine the model that achieves consistently high accuracy across the days that span the disease. The best performing method using XGBoost feature importance and neural network classification, predicts with an accuracy of 90% as early as 16 days before the outcome. Robust testing with three cases based on days to outcome confirms the strong predictive performance and practicality of the proposed model. A detailed analysis and identification of trends was performed using these key biomarkers to provide useful insights for intuitive application. This study provide solutions that would help accelerate the decision-making process in healthcare systems for focused medical treatments in an accurate, early, and reliable manner.


With the rise of fog computing, computation is moved away from a purely centralized approach. In the centralized approach devices have direct contact with the cloud servers. In fog computing allows for processing data along the path from the edge to the core of the network. The introduction of fog will have several benefits, such as reduced latency and increased reliability. The network topology changes continually in a fog computing network. New objects will join and leave. Since fog computing is a new field of study, there exists several open issues, one of them is how to establish trust. Trust is the level of assurance that an object will behave in a satisfactory manner. Trust can also be used to form autonomous collaboration. This thesis explores the need for trust management in fog computing. Through a literature review, specific tasks for trust management in fog computing have been identified. Trust can provide assistance in the decision making, and allow autonomous connections to be established between fog nodes and resource constrained IoT devices, called fog clients. Requirements for the trust in fog computing has also been defined. Additionally, misbehaving nodes can be detected in a network as well. By surveying existing solutions in other domains, requirements for trust is fog computing were defined. Based on these requirements a trust management solution for fog computing has been devised. Finally, two main open issues are identified and discussed.


Abstract The aim of this study is to proof the argument – i.e. 'there are significant linkages amongst tolerance, hybrid identities and migration.' These linkages can be comprehended by means of conceptualising extensions of hybrid identities in aggregate trans/inter-migration processes. It can be put forward that arising hybrid identities are embedded in a blurring structure of thoughts, beliefs, states of affairs, facts, belongings and so forth. From multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism viewpoints, it is argued that tolerance and migration ought to be analysed in frame of sociology of law, human rights, international migration law, and of course the European Union law. So far, normative arguments and soft law approaches are very much well integrated with social aspects of migration, tolerance, identity and culture. In this context, the study examines to what extent cultural and human components are protected by law in multiple levels from an interdisciplinary perspective. In this framework, it is crucial to raise the research enquiries: What are possible criteria for the limits of tolerance? In a consistent manner, the criteria and standards developed by some leading Scholars were reconstructed and discussed throughout this paper. These criteria and standards are both moral (part of a universal system of morality) and legal (international, supranational, or national – i.e. constitutional). In order to apply such standards their validity was discussed (i.e. the respective normative power has the norms at the various levels). In the case of morals, their difference to particular ethnic systems was established (i.e. criteria by which the two can be distinguished). Then the research argument was elaborated on whether and how the legal standards comply with the moral standards, how national standards comply with supranational or international standards. Likewise, the study highlights the crucial contributions of "World Society Paradigm" that are associated with social space, global civil society, cosmopolitanism, ethnic diversity, cultural hybridity, human rights activism and public sphere. Recent debates in Refugee Studies (e.g. Syrian Refugee Crisis, Dual and Multiple Citizenship Issues and so forth) highlights the fact that the European Union needs to consider new aspects of tolerance for hybrid identities and tolerate cultural rights of hybrid identities, create cohesion in communities and establish intercultural dialogue amongst home-states and host-states. Sanguinely, the efforts of hybrid identities are strengthening the relations between home-host states and these ought to attract some considerable attention. The authors of this study hope that their endeavours may contribute somewhat towards that. Key Words: Tolerance, Migration, Hybrid Identities, Intercultural Dialogue, Sociology of Law.


Hemophilia A and B are excellent candidate disorders for the application of somatic cell gene therapy. One of the major advantages in the preclinical development of hemophilia gene therapy strategies has been the availability of several animal models for both hemophilia A and B. These models recapitulate many of the phenotypic aspects of human hemophilia and have proven to be very informative in exploring the efficacy and safety of gene therapy. Considerable progress has been made in the design of gene therapy protocols, and over the last 5 years it has been shown that long-term phenotypic correction, with sustained therapeutic levels of factor VIII (FVIII) and factor IX (FIX), can be attained in FVIII-and FIX-deficient mice and dogs using various viral vector-mediated gene therapy approaches. These animal models also have elucidated potential complications of gene therapy protocols, including acute vector-associated toxicities and the induction of neutralizing antibodies to the FVIII and FIX transgene products. Nevertheless, although the preclinical paradigm of hemophilic mouse followed by hemophilic dog studies has proven to be extremely helpful in evaluating the efficacy and safety of potential clinical gene therapy protocols, several limitations to these animal models still exist. This review presents a summary of the animal models available for hemophilia gene therapy, and highlights the various strengths and weaknesses of these models.


Ensemble averages of a stochastic model show that, after a formation stage, the tips of active blood vessels in an angiogenic network form a moving two dimensional stable diffusive soliton, which advances toward sources of growth factor. Here we use methods of multiple scales to find the diffusive soliton as a solution of a deterministic equation for the mean density of active endothelial cells tips. We characterize the diffusive soliton shape in a general geometry, and find that its vector velocity and the trajectory of its center of mass along curvilinear coordinates solve appropriate collective coordinate equations. The vessel tip density predicted by the soliton compares well with that obtained by ensemble averages of simulations of the stochastic model.


It was believed that the reason for decline in Asian vulture population is the drug, Diclofenac sodium (DFS), used in livestock. Even after declaring the DFS use banned by the government, apparent decrease in the population of vultures was reported. Alternate hypothesis was suggested that food limitation may be a cause of Asian vulture crisis in Pakistan. Very recent shifts in livestock utilization observed in Pakistan may present a significant barrier to vulture recovery. Increased livestock utilization is translated to fewer carcasses. Since 2005, no livestock carcasses were found in 1650 km transect in the habitat of vultures. Carcasses recorded 13 in 1999 gradually declined to almost zero in 2005 and onwards, which suggests DFS may not be the only cause of Asian Vulture Crisis.


[1] Two-dimensional, turbulent plasma flows in the topside equatorial F region ionosphere associated with fully developed equatorial spread F are analyzed and simulated numerically. In the inertially dominated flow regime, the governing equations of motion resemble the Navier Stokes equation but are cubicly nonlinear. Large amplitude density irregularities are prerequisite for inertial effects to be important, but when these are present, the third-order nonlinear effects become significant, mean-squared velocity and vorticity cease to be conserved by nonlinear mode coupling, and the foundations of the turbulent cascade theory of Kraichnan [1967] are undermined. Nonetheless, one-dimensional, angle-averaged velocity spectra computed from simulated flows exhibit similarity ranges with k−5/3 and k−3 power laws, resembling inertial ranges and suggesting turbulent cascades. Invariants of the flow (quantities conserved by nonlinear mode coupling) are found which are generalizations of the quadratic forms of kinetic energy and enstrophy and which are dimensionally equivalent to them. Statistical properties of the flow appear to permit turbulent cascades to arise.


RATIONALE
The role of procalcitonin (PCT), a widely used sepsis biomarker, in critically ill patients with sepsis is undetermined.

OBJECTIVES
To investigate the effect of a low PCT cut-off on antibiotic prescription and to describe the relationships between PCT plasma concentration and sepsis severity and mortality.

METHODS
This was a multicenter (11 Australian intensive care units [ICUs]), prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 400 patients with suspected bacterial infection/sepsis and expected to receive antibiotics and stay in ICU longer than 24 hours. The primary outcome was the cumulative number of antibiotics treatment days at Day 28.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
PCT was measured daily while in the ICU. A PCT algorithm, including 0.1 ng/ml cut-off, determined antibiotic cessation. Published guidelines and antimicrobial stewardship were used in all patients. Primary analysis included 196 (PCT) versus 198 standard care patients. Ninety-three patients in each group had septic shock. The overall median (interquartile range) number of antibiotic treatment days were 9 (6-21) versus 11 (6-22), P = 0.58; in patients with positive pulmonary culture, 11 (7-27) versus 15 (8-27), P = 0.33; and in patients with septic shock, 9 (6-22) versus 11 (6-24), P = 0.64; with an overall 90-day all-cause mortality of 35 (18%) versus 31 (16%), P = 0.54 in the PCT versus standard care, respectively. Using logistic regression, adjusted for age, ventilation status, and positive culture, the decline rate in log(PCT) over the first 72 hours independently predicted hospital and 90-day mortality (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.76 [1.10-6.96], P = 0.03; 3.20 [1.30-7.89], P = 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
In critically ill adults with undifferentiated infections, a PCT algorithm including 0.1 ng/ml cut-off did not achieve 25% reduction in duration of antibiotic treatment. Clinical trial registered with http://www.anzctr.org.au (ACTRN12610000809033).


There are vital links among mental health conditions, chronic diseases, and substance use disorders. Simultaneous examination of the relationship among these three conditions is essential for providing well-integrated care to rural residents who have limited resources and for representing medically underserved areas. We aimed to assess the burden of behavioral health conditions and chronic diseases from a rural Texas community to garner context-specific insights and inform effective health promotion strategies in similar communities. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 181 residents from various zip codes in a rural Texas county. A self-administered, 18-item health-needs questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Of the total participants, 30.0% reported mental health conditions, 16.0% reported substance use disorders, and 44.2% reported having at least one type of chronic disease. Overall, mental health conditions were associated with substance use disorders [OR: 1.58 (95% CI: 0.73–2.42)] and chronic disease [OR: 1.07 (95% CI: 0.39–1.75)], but no associations were observed between substance use and chronic disease [OR: 0.62 (95% CI: -0.20–1.43)]. The economic and accessibility barriers that rural residents commonly face call attention to the need for integrated care that combines primary care and behavioral health services.


The current standard for evaluating breast tumor response to neoadjuvant treatment remains the assessment of a tumor size change several weeks after therapy begins. However, the tumor microenvironment (including microvasculature) is known to change drastically before any detectable change in physical size manifests. To that end, we have developed a new high-resolution ultrasound (US) imaging modality in our laboratory, termed super-resolution ultrasound (SR-US), for improved visualization of the tumor angiogenic network. A clinical US scanner (Acuson Sequoia 512, Siemens Healthcare) equipped with a 15L8-S linear array transducer was used for our study. Operation of this system was done using a nonlinear harmonic imaging. A low transmit power (mechanical index < 0.2) was used to minimize any MB destruction during imaging. After a slow injection of a MB contrast via a tail vein catheter placed in breast cancer-bearing mice (N = 10), each tumor was US imaged for 10 min at baseline and again at 1 and 2 h after dosing with an antiangiogenic drug (bevacizumab, Genentech Inc) or sham control drug. After collecting a stack of US images, images corrupted by respiratory motion were removed using curve fit-based filtering. A singular value decomposition (SVD)-based spatiotemporal filter was then used to localize individual MBs. Subsequently, a SR-US image (i.e., MB density map) was generated by mapping the cumulative MB localizations. SR-US images were reviewed and longitudinal changes in the tumor microvascular network in response to treatment were evaluated. Overall, an acute microvascular response to bevacizumab was found within 2 h of drug dosing. This observation was consistent with immunohistologic findings and suggests that in vivo SR-US imaging has enormous potential in monitoring the early tumor response to drug treatment.


The relationship between a history of selected medical conditions and risk of lymphomas was investigated in a hospital-based case-control study conducted in Northern Italy on 429 incident, histologically confirmed cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), 158 cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD) and 1157 controls admitted to hospitals for acute conditions. The odds ratios (OR) for NHL were above unity in patients with a history of infectious mononucleosis (OR 2.9), herpes zoster (OR 1.8), pyelonephritis (OR 4.9), tuberculosis (OR 1.8), malaria (OR 1.9), any chronic bacterial diseases (OR 1.7), rheumatoid arthritis (OR 1.7) and psoriasis (OR 2.5). With reference to HD, the ORs were 4.0 for infectious mononucleosis, 2.9 for herpes zoster, 3.3 for pyelonephritis, 2J for tuberculosis, 1.4 for chronic bacterial diseases, 2.4 for rheumatoid arthritis, 2.7 for psoriasis and 2.1 for diabetes. The association of NHL and HD with herpes zoster was restricted to the first ten years since the onset of the disease. The relationships between NHL and mononucleosis (OR 12.9), malaria (OR 2.8) and psoriasis (OR 14.0) were stronger for cases aged ≥ 60 years, and that with tuberculosis (OR 3.5) was stronger for younger cases. For HD, the positive association was stronger for cases aged ≥ 40 years for herpes zoster (OR 3.8) and diabetes (OR 2.6). An increased risk of NHL was found in association with poliomyelitis (OR 1.6) (restricted to cases aged ≥ 60 years, OR 4.0) and BCG immunizations (OR 1.6), but not with vaccination against smallpox, tetanus and diphtheria; increased risks of HD were found in relation to poliomyelitis and BCG immunization in cases aged ≥ 40 years (OR respectively 2.5 and 2.1), or ≥ 50 years (OR 4.3 and 2.2). Thus, our results confirm the association between a history of several chronic infectious and inflammatory diseases and the risk of NHL or HD, and are compatible with a role of chronic immunological alterations in the aetiology of lymphomas.


The public-housing project comprises 400 units in the city of El Oued, located in east-central Algeria, 350 kilometres from the Tunisian border. It is set in a mountainous desert area, characterized by scattered settlements and small villages, and serves a wide variety of middleclass families. The project as it was finally realized is the result of collaborative efforts between the architects and the local authority. With the clear aim of being responsive to the culture and environment of the region, the design and construction were developed over a period of more than ten years, based on social studies and surveys and a strong awareness of the regional identity. The technology adopted for the project is simply a reinforced concrete construction system. Through sensitivity to the climate and to the cultural traditions of the inhabitants, the reinterpretation of socio-spatial needs into built form for public housing has resulted in a residential environment that is both functional and efficient. The incorporation of traditional climate-control techniques into the construction system paves the way for developing aesthetic standards for public-housing schemes and results in a visually appealing residential environment.


The performance of wireless network diversity multiple access protocols (NDMA) critically depends upon the correct detection of the active users (or the correct estimation of the collision multiplicity). If one or more transmitting users are not correctly detected as active then all the colliding packets will be probably lost due to either a lack of retransmission diversity or an inaccurate equalization design. On the other hand, if some idle users are incorrectly detected as active then extra non-required retransmissions may degrade access-delay. To mitigate this problem, in this paper, we improve the training-based detection method originally proposed for NDMA through two new user detection schemes. Our first proposed scheme is particularly useful in channels with deep and long-term fades, and in systems with low traffic loads. It consists of a set of cooperative nodes that independently collect information about the collision multiplicity and relay it to the base station (BS). The BS finally combines all the contributions with its own collected information in order to improve detection performance. The cooperative nodes only have to extract and relay the header of their received packet, which is less demanding than other cooperative relaying mechanisms where the complete packet has to be processed and/or relayed. The second scheme consists of a sequential detection approach where the BS exploits the information contained in all the received retransmissions. This is different to the conventional NDMA which only considers the information provided by the first collision for user detection. Compared to the cooperative scheme, the second approach is particularly useful in channels with deep and short-term fades and in systems with high traffic loads. The proposed user detection mechanisms are shown to provide an important improvement to the performance of NDMA protocols. Simulation and analytic results are used to assess the benefits of the proposed schemes.


Summary: Even in the highest stability four-strand hamstring (4HS) or BTB ACL reconstruction series, KT 1000 side-to-side differences of ≥2mm are generally seen in at least a third of all knees. We hypothesized that a stronger, stiffer five-strand HS graft using three-strand-Semitendinosus/two-strand-Gracilis, would result in higher stability rates than 4HS using two-strand-Semitendinosus/two-strand-Gracilis. Materials and Methods: 20 consecutive patients had 5HS ACL reconstruction using 3ST/2Gr. 18 returned for evaluation 89-112 months postoperatively. Results were compared with a previously reported cohort of 133 knees reconstructed by the same surgeon using four-strand HS grafts evaluated at 24-104 months postoperatively. Both had suspensory-cortical- femoral and whip-stitch-cortical-screw tibial fixation. KT-1000, Noyes, Lysholm and SANE ratings were performed. Results: All 5HS and 4HS knees were clinically stable, with no graft failures or reinjuries. Average KT-1000 side-to-side difference was 0.44mm for 5HS vs. 1.0mm for 4HS for (p = 0.01). A reconstructed knee laxity increase of ≤1mm versus the normal knee was found in 89% of 5HS vs. 66% of 4HS (p = 0.03); of 2-3mm in 11% 5HS vs. 31% 4HS; of 4mm in 0% 5HS vs. 3% 4HS; and of >4mm in 0% 5HS and 4HS. 5HS/4HS clinical ratings were high and did not significantly differ. Conclusions: 5HS ACLR had higher stability than a high stability 4HS cohort. Since sufficient ST graft is usually available to fashion a 3strand-ST instead of 2strand-ST graft to combine with the 2strand-Gr, we believe 5HS is preferable to 4HS for ACL reconstruction, especially for double bundle techniques.


BACKGROUND
Clinicians seem hesitant about diagnosing personality disorders in adolescents. Furthermore, little is known about the assessment and treatment of adolescents with personality disorders.

AIM
To investigate the prevalence, burden, structure, and treatability of personality disorders in adolescents. method 257 adolescents, referred to De Viersprong (the Dutch national centre for personality disorders), were tested on different variables. 133 of them were admitted to the inpatient psychotherapy unit for adolescents and were followed for a period of one year after treatment.

RESULTS
Personality disorders were frequently present in the referred adolescents. The burden of disease was high. The structure of the core components underlying personality pathology in adolescents was similar to the structure found in adults. Adolescents with a cluster C personality disorder profited most from the inpatient treatment.

CONCLUSION
There appear to be more similarities than differences between personality disorders in adolescents and adults. It seems important to assess personality pathology in referred adolescents so that the most suitable treatment can be provided.


The transfer of various steroids and alpha-tocopherol between liposomes was examined. The transfer rate of cholest-4-en-3-one and epicholesterol between egg yolk phosphatidylcholine liposomes was much higher than that of cholesterol. Rapid transfer was also noted for coprostanol and 5-cholesten-3 beta-ol-7-one, while the transfer of cholestanol, which has a 3 beta-hydroxyl residue and a planar nucleus structure, was similar to that of cholesterol. These results suggest that the mode of interaction between steroid and phospholipid may be an important factor controlling the rate of transfer. It was found that alpha-tocopherol could also be transferred between liposomes. The transfer rate of alpha-tocopherol was dependent on the temperature and the phospholipid composition.


Abstract. Rainfall intensity–duration (ID) thresholds are commonly
used to assess flash flood potential downstream of burned watersheds.
High-intensity and/or long-duration rainfall is required to generate flash
floods as landscapes recover from fire, but there is little guidance on how
thresholds change as a function of time since fire. Here, we force a
hydrological model with radar-derived precipitation to estimate ID thresholds
for post-fire flash floods in a 41.5 km2 watershed in southern
California, USA. Prior work in this study area constrains temporal changes
in hydrological model parameters, allowing us to estimate temporal changes in
ID thresholds. The results indicate that ID thresholds increase by more than a
factor of 2 from post-fire year 1 to post-fire year 5. Thresholds based on
averaging rainfall intensity over durations of 15–60 min perform better
than those that average rainfall intensity over shorter time intervals.
Moreover, thresholds based on the 75th percentile of radar-derived
rainfall intensity over the watershed perform better than thresholds based
on the 25th or 50th percentile of rainfall intensity. Results
demonstrate how hydrological models can be used to estimate changes in ID
thresholds following disturbance and provide guidance on the rainfall
metrics that are best suited for predicting post-fire flash floods.


Executive Summary: The American Public Health Association (APHA) recently recommended that health professionals partner with park agencies in order to use nature for health promotion. We aimed to 1) determine the capacity of a local public health system to implement the APHA recommendations, 2) test the hypothesis that the likelihood of implementation is associated with health professional knowledge and beliefs, and 3) identify a framework for facilitating implementation. We surveyed all staff members at the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Branch. SFDPH, like many health departments, provides services for underserved and marginalized populations. The results of 108 quantitative surveys and the qualitative analysis from small group discussions with 120 public health professionals are presented in this paper. The majority of those surveyed (81%) agreed that patient health would improve if they spent time in nature. However, few health professionals believed that patients regularly visit parks (11%) or would follow a practitioner's recommendation to visit a park (16%) in order to experience nature. We found that if public health professionals knew of a specific location and activity to do in nature, and if they were confident that their low income patients would be welcome at parks, they were more likely to recommend a park visit. In group discussions, health professionals showed enthusiasm for collaboration with park agencies, pragmatism that their patients will need multiple supports in order to sustain outdoor behaviors, and a perspective that time in nature for underserved communities is the product of a socioecological system. This socioecological system includes factors to be considered at the individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels. Participants engaged in a rich discussion on how health departments can partner with park agencies and community-based organizations to encourage nature for health at each of these levels.We turned to public health professionals for suggestions about how nature can be integrated into public health systems. The resulting discussions came together in the form of a framework that provides insight on public health priorities, a roadmap for those who seek to initiate interdisciplinary alliances, and suggestions for future research.


This work deals with distributed, multi-probe, instrument for performance analysis of Real-Time Ethernet (RTE) network Particularly, the work is focused on synchronization techniques for distributed measurements. In fact, the accuracy of results (typically jitter and delay) strictly depends on synchronization among distributed probes that sample data. Three synchronization techniques have been implemented and experimental results are reported. Synchronization by means of an external dedicated l-PPS signal gives the best results but requires a more complicated instrument structure. On the other hand, a network-oriented synchronization, such as IEEE 1588 FTP or PCTP (PROFINET 10), can simplify time distribution keeping accuracy well below 1 mus.


The formal representation of economic theories normally takes the shape of a model, that is, a system of equations which connect the endogenous variables with the values of the parameters which are taken as given. Sometimes, it is possible to identify one or more equations which are able to determine a subset of endogenous variables priory and independently of the other equations and of the value taken by the remaining variables of the system. The first group of equations and variables are thus said to causally determine the remaining variables. In Pasinetti's works, this notion of causality has often been emphasized as a formal property having the burden of conveying a profound economic meaning. In this paper, we will go through those works of Pasinetti where the notion of causality plays a central role, with the purpose of contextualizing it within the econometric debate of the Sixties, enucleate its economic meaning, and show its connections with other fields of the modern classical approach.


This article investigates the hypothesis that different supply channels impose different types (and levels of) transaction costs on beef processors in the United Kingdom. The choice of supply channel is therefore influenced by these transaction costs. Recent food safety legislation and increasing consumer concerns over farm animal welfare may have altered the transaction costs arising from different supply channels. Conjoint analysis is used to measure the relative importance of selected transaction costs in a processor's procurement decision. A survey of UK beef processing firms is used to collect data for the conjoint analysis. The results suggest that the monitoring costs arising from the traceability of cattle to the farm of origin are particularly important. The implications for vertical coordination in the beef marketing chain are discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


The off-design operation of an isentropic plug nozzle designed for a jet pressure ratio of 15 was investigated experimentally at subsonic Mach numbers up to 0.9 and jet pressure ratios up to 5. When installed in a cylindrical nacelle with a sharp turn at the nozzle lip, the interaction of the jet and the external stream produced low pressures on the base formed by the high lip angle. These low pressures increased the nacelle drag and caused an overexpansion of the jet, which resulted in lower pressures on the plug and, hence, reduced thrust. With a boattail ahead of the plug nozzle, the base pressures were increased and the jet overexpansion significantly reduced.


THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND SURVEY RESPOSNE RATE WITH UNION MEMBERSHIP AS A MODERATOR by Alexandra M. de la Rocha Research has examined the benefits of having an engaged workforce. One way of measuring employee engagement is through organizational surveys. Survey response rate represents voluntary participation behavior and may be an outcome of employee engagement. However, research has not examined survey participation behavior as an outcome of employee engagement or factors that might influence this relationship. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between dimensions of employee engagement (vigor, dedication, and absorption) and survey response rate at the aggregate level and to examine how this relationship varied as a function of percentage of union membership. Analyses were conducted for small and large groups because they had different work environments. The researcher found that there was a significant positive relationship between aggregate employee engagement levels and survey response rate. Moreover, this relationship was stronger for large groups than small groups, suggesting that group size influences the relationship between aggregate employee engagement and survey response rate. Regarding the moderating effect, union membership influenced the relationship between dedication and survey response rate only in small groups. These findings suggest that in small groups, the percentage of union membership in a group influenced the relationship between a strong sense of pride and personal accomplishment and survey response rate.


The performance of a five-phase permanent-magnet (PM) motor is analyzed under postfault conditions. Proper current control strategies are adopted so as to guarantee safe drive operation after any fault occurrence. This paper covers three fault types: the open circuit condition of a single phase, the open circuit condition of two nonadjacent phases, and the open circuit condition of two adjacent phases. Two motors with two different windings (with double and single layers, respectively) are compared under each fault type. This paper aims to highlight the difference in the motor performance of motors adopting these two different windings. A further novelty of this paper is that the proper current control strategies are derived analytically, including not only the fundamental harmonic of the flux-density distribution but also the higher harmonics. It is shown that these harmonics cause high torque oscillations. Owing to this analytical approach, the strategy can be applied to a variety of PM motors. In addition, the postfault current waveforms remain sinusoidal, making the current control easier. For each fault type, the results of both simulations and experimental tests are included. A good match between analytical predictions and experimental tests validates the proposed current control strategies.


The paper studies the solution of stochastic optimization problems in which approximations to the gradient and Hessian are obtained through subsampling. We first consider Newton-like methods that employ these approximations and discuss how to coordinate the accuracy in the gradient and Hessian to yield a superlinear rate of convergence in expectation. The second part of the paper analyzes an inexact Newton method that solves linear systems approximately using the conjugate gradient (CG) method, and that samples the Hessian and not the gradient (the gradient is assumed to be exact). We provide a complexity analysis for this method based on the properties of the CG iteration and the quality of the Hessian approximation, and compare it with a method that employs a stochastic gradient iteration instead of the CG method. We report preliminary numerical results that illustrate the performance of inexact subsampled Newton methods on machine learning applications based on logistic regression.


Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) glycoprotein B (gB) has been shown to interact with two types of receptor on Madin Darby bovine kidney cells. The first receptor is heparan sulfate proteoglycan, whereas the second high-affinity receptor remains unknown. In order to study the structural requirement for gB's high-affinity binding activity, different forms of the gB ectodomain were expressed and compared with authentic gB. By using chemical cross-linking and sucrose gradient centrifugation, we found that BHV-1 gB was able to form dimers. A region between the cleavage site and the transmembrane anchor region, residues 506 to 763, was found to be required for gB oligomerization. Although the purified gBt and gBtM, two truncated forms of gB, formed oligomers, they did not block the high-affinity cellular receptor, suggesting that oligomerization was not the reason for the loss of the high-affinity binding site on gB. However, an N-terminal juxtamembrane region-located epitope recognized by a monoclonal antibody, designated epitope I, was lost from gBt and gBtM, indicating that both truncated gBs are conformationally changed. Therefore, the structure around this particular region may be required for the existence of the gB high-affinity binding site.


Green political theory has discovered urban areas as important spaces for the cultivation of ecological citizenship. Here, we explore urban agriculture's contribution to ecological citizenship, a concept that emphasises opportunities for public participation in, and social learning about, environmental decisions. Our analysis is based on participant-observation and open-ended interviews with the leaders and community participants of seven urban agricultural organisations in Philadelphia. Following a brief discussion of urban ecological citizenship and our study design, we discuss how urban agriculture promotes participation and learning.


A titanium matrix composite coating reinforced by in situ synthesized TiB and TiC was deposited on Ti6Al4V by laser cladding. Microstructural analyses were made by means of X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (EPMA). The solidification process was also discussed in detail. The results show that the coating is composed of -Ti cellular dendrites and a eutectic in which a large number of needle-shaped TiB whiskers and a few equiaxial TiC particles are embedded. A thin dilution zone with a thickness of 50 m is observed at the interface, and consists of a few TiB and TiC and a large number of lamella grains in which a thin needle-shaped martensitic microstructure is exist. The solidification process could be divided into four stages: nucleation and growth of primary -Ti phase, precipitation of a binary eutectic -Ti+TiB, precipitation of a ternary eutectic -Ti+TiB+TiC and solid transformation from -Ti to -Ti.


Delivery rights to a cooperative's marketing pool can take on a value independent of the members' equity share under certain conditions. Based on anecdotal information, transferable delivery rights become valuable when the pool is fixed in size (closed), members are protected from exploitation of quasi economic rents, and have an assured "home" for their production. The greater the potential buyers' aversion to risk, the higher the value of the delivery right. The right has additional value if the cooperative generates a premium per unit return due to product differentiation and market power. Cooperatives competing with investor-owned firms in less than purely competitive markets must be able to pay equal net returns to members if they are to survive.


In this paper we collect data concerning sleep environments in a bedroom and analyze the relationship between the collected condition data and sleep. In addition, this paper detects scene changes from the subjects in a sleeping state and presents the physical conditions, reactions during sleep, and physical sensations and stimuli. To detect scene changes in image sequences, we used color histogram for the difference between the preceding frame and the current frame. In addition, to extract the tossing and turning for different situations, the subjects were instructed to enter the level of fatigue, the level of drinking, and the level of stomach emptiness.


In 1530, Reformers presented their criticisms of the church to Catholic authorities in the form of the Augsburg Confession, the foundational document for Lutherans worldwide. Central to this document was disagreement over the doctrine of justification. For nearly five centuries, Lutherans and Catholics have viewed each other with suspicion, at best, with no efforts at reconciliation. Not until 1963, when Pope John XXIII initiated Vatican II, did efforts toward rapprochement begin in earnest. After more than thirty years of dialogue, on Reformation Sunday, October 31, 1999, in Augsburg, Germany, Vatican and Lutheran World Federation officials signed the historic Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. Refusing to sign the declaration was the conservative Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, whose leader, the Reverend A. L. Barry, called the signing "the latest example of Lutherans sacrificing God's truth on the altar of unity." (1) The historic signing of the Joint Declaration is one of many conciliatory efforts by North American mainline Protestants and Catholics near the turn of the twenty-first century. Canadian Anglicans have sought reconciliation with Canadian aboriginals, even as lawsuits from past abuses in church-sponsored aboriginal schools threaten to cripple the church financially. (2) The Consultation on Church Union's forty-year effort to promote unity among nine U.S. denominations has resulted in the creation of Churches Uniting in Christ, inaugurated on January 21, 2002, in Memphis, Tennessee. Standing on the spot where Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated, denominational officials signed a document committing themselves to working and worshiping closer together and to ending racism. (3) With the increased Catholic inclusivity since Vatican II (1962-65) and the resulting creation of the Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs in 1964, (4) Catholics have initiated ecumenical dialogue with Orthodox and with mainline and conservative Protestant Christians. (5) The Vatican's efforts seemed to gain momentum as the new millennium approached. In addition to the ecumenical Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adventiente, Pope John Paul II promulgated the encyclical "Ut Unum Sint" (That They May Be One) in 1995, encouraging renewed ecumenical efforts. In his last years, the pope resolved to seek reconciliation and forgiveness for past wrongs committed by the Roman Catholic Church, traveling to Jerusalem and elsewhere to make amends despite his frail health. (6) Just as the Missouri-Synod Lutherans reject the Joint Declaration, so conservative Protestants have historically been resistant to, though not uninvolved in, rapprochement efforts with mainline Protestants and Catholic Christians. (7) Conciliatory efforts by conservative Protestant elites, however, are numerous of late. In Canada, evangelical groups are seeking reconciliation with Jewish Canadians (8) and aboriginals, (9) while in the U.S. Pentecostals and Baptists have pursued reconciliation, particularly between Blacks and Whites. (10) Former leaders of national evangelical coalitions--the National Association of Evangelicals' Kevin Mannoia (11) and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Gary Walsh (12)--are promoting reconciliation and unity across religious, racial, and gender lines. With obvious exceptions, the rhetoric of evangelical elites seems more conciliatory now than even a decade ago. Even Jerry Falwell's once vicious vilification of homosexuality seems more irenic. (13) In spite of this recent ecumenical and cooperative activity, most commentators in the 1970's and 1980's argued that "local, national and international interest in ecumenism has declined sharply" since an upsurge in the 1960's. (14) Mainline Protestant survey respondents in the U.S., for example, agree that ecumenism is important but give it low priority, placing more importance on intra-congregational agendas. (15) Kelly calls the religious civility in pluralistic societies "folk ecumenism. …


This paper presents the conceptual design of plastic recycling machine for production of thin filament coil . The machine is meant to serve as a sustainable means of converting waste Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic materials into thin filaments to be used as feedstock material in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) machine. The machine design consists of a shredder hopper, two shredder shafts with knife-edge ring cutters, extruder hopper, extrusion barrel with heater jackets and extrusion auger shaft. The design analysis of each of the machine elements was done and structural integrity of the machine design was evaluated using finite element analysis (FEA) tool in Solid Works Computer Aided Design (CAD) application. The FEA result indicated that a maximum stress of 33 MPa was reached in one of the machine frame members when loads mounted on top and below the frame structure are 1204 N and 271 N respectively. The maximum resultant displacement in the member frame was 0.34 mm and the minimum factor of safety obtained was 8.3. Also, a minimum factor of safety value of 5.3 was obtained for shredder shaft between when subjected to a torque of 1000 Nm and it experienced an angle of twist of 0.42 o and a maximum stress of 46.8 MPa. The implication of the result is that the design of the machine is adequate and the machine will fulfill its intended purpose upon fabrication, as the yield strengths of selected materials for the fabrication of the machine members are not exceeded. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v36i2.13


The prehistoric chronology of the Three Gorges region along the Yangzi River in China has only become the focus of significant archaeological research in the last decade. The site of Zhongba is one of the most significant sites among those recently studied. Thirty-two radiocarbon dates produced by the C-14 laboratory at Peking University, and five additional dates from the Beta Analytic laboratory in the United States show a clear chronological profile of the activity periods at the site of Zhongba. This radiocarbon profile clarifies two very important issues related to the prehistory of the Three Gorges region. The dates anchor an emerging ceramic-based relative chronology in a series of stratigraphically associated absolute dates. This article discusses these results and suggests explanations for several anomalous dates. The sequence demonstrates the need to reassess radiocarbon sequences by means of ceramic seriation. The dates also demonstrate that three different vessel classes, which dominate the ceramic assemblage at Zhongba and which are believed to have been used in salt production at the site, date to three chronologically distinct phases of activity. The differences among the three types suggest that they represent a sequence of technological changes in the process of salt production at the site.


For a long time since 1933, vortex tube (VT) has been used as a device for cooling, heating and creating separation process (particles, hydrocarbons, energy, etc). The VT efficiency is very relevant to the characteristics of the inside fluid flow patterns. The most important part in the VT that directs the fluid flow is 'navigator', which has an angle and a rounded edge. In this study, the effects of change in the radius of the rounded edge (R*=0,0.5,1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5mm) on flow patterns and thermal performance of the VT are studied experimentally. The results show that with a rounded radius variation from 0 to 2 mm, the VT cooling efficiency increases sharply (34.84%) and with a further increase, there will be a decreasing trend for the cooling efficiency (10.48%). Also, this radius affects the location of the effective cold mass fraction (CMFs related to the highest thermal performance). In addition, variations in the gas velocity (axial/swirl at two positions Z/L=0.3,0.7) were studied with complete details and compared with other researchers' valid reports. As the results, the maximum axial velocity near the chamber and the maximum swirl velocity drop along the tube are effective on better cooling /heating performance.


1. Proteoglycan aggregates from bovine nasal cartilage were studied by using electron microscopy of proteoglycan/cytochrome c monolayers. 2. The aggregates contained a variably long central filament of hyaluronic acid with an average length of 1037nm. The proteoglycan monomers attached to the hyaluronic acid appeared as side chain filaments varying in length (averaging 249nm). They were distributed along the central filament at an average distance of about 36nm. 3. Chondroitin sulphate side chains were removed from the proteoglycan monomers of the aggregates by partial chondroitinase digestion. The molecules obtained had the same general appearance as intact aggregates. 4. Proteoglycan aggregates were treated with trypsin and the largest fragment, which contains the hyaluronic acid, link protein and hyaluronic acid-binding region, was recovered and studied with electron microscopy. Filaments that lacked the side chain extensions and had the same length as the central filament in the intact aggregate were observed. 5. Hyaluronic acid isolated after papain digestion of cartilage extracts gave filaments with similar length and size distribution as observed for the central filament both in the intact aggregate and in the trypsin digests. 6. Umbilical-cord hyaluronic acid was also studied and gave electron micrographs similar to those described for hyaluronic acid from cartilage. However, the length of the filament was somewhat shorter. 7. The electron micrographs of both intact and selectively degraded proteoglycans corroborate the current model of cartilage proteoglycan structure.


In this paper, I claim that the so-called present perfect puzzle is, in reality, a puzzle about the simple past. It is the latter, I argue, that shows a puzzling behavior, given that it can be used not only in definite contexts but also in seemingly indefinite ones. I employ the notions of time frame and specifiability to show how the obvious distinction between the two tenses in terms of temporal logic can be accounted for. I also propose that the past morpheme -ed be considered a kind of verb determiner which selects a temporal XP as a complement. Such complement can be (and usually is) expressed either in the sentence or in the larger discourse; however, it can also remain implicit, or covert.


This paper presents a number of techniques that are needed for realizing Web-operated mobile robots. These techniques include effective map-building capabilities, a method for obstacle avoidance based on a combination of range and visual information, and advanced Web and onboard robot interfaces. In addition to video streams, the system provides high-resolution virtual reality visualizations that also include the people in the vicinity of the robot. This increases the flexibility of the interface and simultaneously allows a user to understand the navigation actions of the robot. The techniques described in this article have been successfully deployed within the EU-funded projects TOURBOT and WebFAIR, which aimed to develop interactive tour-guided robots able to serve Web as well as on-site visitors. Technical developments in the framework of these projects have resulted in robust and reliable systems that have been demonstrated and validated in real-world conditions. Equally important, the system setup time has been drastically reduced, facilitating its porting to new environments.


The Dutch pension system is internationally top-ranked as a well-designed three-pillar system. Moreover, almost all forms of pension benefits are expenditure taxed in line with the European Commission's recommendations. Consequently, the Dutch pension policy approach could be regarded as a welcome blueprint for pension policy reform, currently on the agenda of all EU member countries. This paper focuses on the taxation of Dutch pensions and identifies two classes of problems that challenge the suitability of deferred pension taxation. First, cash flow taxation of pensions erodes the tax equity objectives of a progressive income tax. Second, deferred pension taxation generates a double fairness dilemma in a world with free cross-border migration and double taxation treaties in accordance with the OECD Model Tax Convention. The paper argues that these problems, as well as other minor problems in Dutch pension taxation, could be solved by replacing the Netherlands' current system of deferred income taxation of pensions with a frontloaded expenditure tax system.


This article scientifically analyzes and substantiates the methodology of using movement games in the development of physical and psychological training of 11-12-year-old athletes in the primary training group.


Chromosomal instability can result from defective control of checkpoints and is associated with malignant cell growth. Monopolar spindle 1 (Mps1) is a dual-specificity protein kinase that has important roles in the prevention of aneuploidy during the cell cycle and might therefore be a potential target for new therapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer. To gain insights into the molecular mechanism of Mps1 inhibition by small molecules, we determined the x-ray structure of Mps1, both alone and in complex with the ATP-competitive inhibitor SP600125. Mps1 adopts a classic protein kinase fold, with the inhibitor sitting in the ATP-binding site where it is stabilized by hydrophobic interactions. We identified a secondary pocket, not utilized by SP600125, which might be exploited for the rational design of specific Mps1 inhibitors. These structures provide important insights into the interaction of this protein kinase with small molecules and suggest potential mechanisms for Mps1 regulation.


1. Two cadmium-binding metallothionein (Mt) isoforms, called Mta and Mtb, were isolated from terrestrial snails (Arianta arbustorum), using various chromatographic techniques, such as gel-permeation chromatography and reversed-phase HPLC. The purified proteins were S-methylated and cleaved by means of different enzymes (trypsin, endoproteinase Glu-C, and endoproteinase Asp-N). Amino acid sequences were determined by automated Edman degradation and collision-induced dissociation (CID) tandem MS. According to their primary structures, both isoforms should be attributed to class-I Mts. 2. The two forms are structurally identical, differing only by one amino acid exchange in position 60 of the peptide chain. Both isoproteins consist of 66 amino acids, 18 of which are cysteine residues. Most of the cysteine residues are arranged in seven Cys-Xaa-Cys motifs. Mta and Mtb possess an N-terminal acetylated-serine residue and contain a short N-terminal motif which shows a high degree of similarity with the N-termini of histones H4 and H2A. 3. A comparison of Mta and Mtb with other invertebrate Mts shows a very high degree of sequence similarity with a cadmium-binding Mt from Helix pomatia, a species that is closely related to Arianta arbustorum. Moreover, Mta and Mtb, as expected, also exhibit structural similarities with Mts from other molluscan species, such as mussels and oysters. It is suggested that Mta and Mtb represent two allelic isoforms, reflecting the genetic polymorphism of Mt in Arianta arbustorum.


In the seventeenth century, religious paintings entered Roman private galleries transforming into a movable repertory of motifs apt for re-elaboration through intertextual relationships with other artistic genres. The re-location and unorthodox arrangement of sacred paintings in the stanze dei quadri has been generally understood as a process resulting in their commodification. However, the creation of biblical representations specifically intended for the Galleria suggests that subject matter still retained an important function, although a radically different one. New Testament narratives now offered artists new opportunities to reinvent painting. The so-called Caravaggisti distinguished themselves for exploring these newly-opened paths by conflating sacred and profane subjects in their gallery paintings - such as those representing the Denial of St. Peter. By examining some of the numerous representations of this biblical narrative set in seventeenth-century Roman taverns, this article explores the overlooked visual and theoretical conception behind the creation of these complex images produced by a generation of painters that, so far, has been overshadowed by Caravaggio. The concept of denial will be pivotal to the re-assessment of the function of religious representations created for the Roman Galleria. The exploration of such representations, in turn, will be crucial for opening up widespread, yet still under-investigated concepts that underlie the making of what is now called Caravaggisti - particularly truth in painting, mimesis and the process of replication that still binds their works with the uncontested notion of Caravaggio as the original.


Abstract Objective The aim was to compare Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES), sensitivity to criticism scale (STCS) and social appearance anxiety scale (SAAS) scores of individuals with different types of malocclusions, and investigate the correlation between these scores and the index of complexity, outcome and need (ICON) score. Materials and methods One hundred and twenty individuals, who did not have any previous orthodontic treatment, were included. Group 1 included 40 patients with Class I malocclusion (median age of 14 years), Group 2 included 40 patients with Class II malocclusion (median age of 14.25 years) and Group 3 included 40 patients with Class III malocclusion (median age of 15.15 years). ICON scores were 46, 53 and 56 for Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. RSES, STCS and SAAS questionnaires were performed to the patients. Student's t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Mann–Whitney's U and Kruskal–Wallis's tests were used for the statistical analysis. Results Group 1 showed significantly higher level of RSES scores compared to Groups 2 and 3 (p<.05). STCS scores were found to be significantly higher in Group 2, compared to other groups (p<.05). Group 1 (32.53 ± 8.94) showed significantly lower level of SAAS scores compared to Group 2 (39.63 ± 9.28) and Group 3 (39.42 ± 10.54) (p<.05). A significant positive correlation was found between the ICON and SAAS scores (r = 0.247, p=.007). Conclusions Adolescents with Class II and III malocclusions reported higher levels of social appearance anxiety scores, and lower levels of self-esteem scores compared to Class I. Complexity of orthodontic treatment need showed a significant impact on social appearance anxiety.


Introduction: As the absolute numbers of maternal deaths in an institution are few, maternal death audits may not provide the true picture of service provision. Therefore severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM), also referred to as near misses, has been proposed as a supplementary indicator for the assessment of the quality of maternity care. Objective: To study SAMM in order to identify strategies which could be adopted to improve quality of care. Design, Setting and Methods: Using the WHO near-miss criteria, a clinical audit was carried out in all five consultant units of the Castle Street Hospital for Women (CSHW), Colombo from 1st February 2011 to 31st January 2012. Of the admissions to the intensive care, only those who conformed to the WHO near-miss inclusion criteria were studied. Results: There were 91 cases of SAMM and five maternal deaths out of 16511 live births, giving a maternal mortality ratio of 30.3/100,000 live births, a maternal near-miss ratio of 5.5/1000 live births and a maternal near miss: mortality ratio of 18.2. Of the 91 cases of SAMM, there were 35 (38.5%) cases of major post partum hemorrhage (PPH), 18 (19.8%) cases of thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy due to Dengue fever, nine (9.9%) cases with cardiac dysfunction, five (5.5%) cases of liver disease and six (6.6%) cases of eclampsia. There were 45 cases who had more than one inclusion criterion. Suboptimal management processes identified included incomplete documentation in some cases, non documentation of estimated blood loss in PPH, deficiencies in monitoring in labor and instrumental delivery, non use of uterine tamponade prior to proceeding to hysterectomy, and inadequate knowledge and experience of uterine tamponade insertion. Conclusions: SAMM is approximately 18 times greater than maternal deaths in the CSHW and approximately 39% of SAMM is due to major PPH. Dengue fever is an important course of SAMM in the CSHW. Appropriate steps should be adopted to correct the sub optimal practices identified. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljog.v34i4.5930 Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2012; 34 : 135-143


The objective of this embedded tutorial is to give an overview for the state of the art of the pass-transistor logic technologies and their future prospects. The paper gives a survey summary for recent researches and developments on the pass-transistor logic technologies based on more than 100 surveyed papers that have been published after 1983. The number of publications has been rapidly increased after 1995, which shows recent quick growth of research activities. The survey includes several different viewpoints, such as circuit technologies, design and synthesis methodologies, applications and commercial use, etc. The circuit technologies and synthesis methodologies are roughly grouped into two categories, one of which has a close relation to BDD, while the other does not. Circuit technologies are also categorized into different axes, such as differential structure or single-rail structure, NMOS pass-transistors or CMOS, static circuits or dynamic, etc. Features of each pass-transistor logic family are explained along with these classification axes. For the most recent topics, commercial products by Japanese companies and cell/tool businesses in venture business companies in US are also reported. Several recent papers made performance comparisons of pass-transistor logic and CMOS, that are also reported with a discussion of future prospects.


The right posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) is a neural region involved in assessing the goals and intentions underlying the motion of social agents. Recent research has identified visual cues, such as chasing, that trigger animacy detection and intention attribution. When readily available in a visual display, these cues reliably activate the pSTS. Here, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined if attributing intentions to random motion would likewise engage the pSTS. Participants viewed displays of four moving circles and were instructed to search for chasing or mirror-correlated motion. On chasing trials, one circle chased another circle, invoking the percept of an intentional agent; while on correlated motion trials, one circle's motion was mirror reflected by another. On the remaining trials, all circles moved randomly. As expected, pSTS activation was greater when participants searched for chasing vs correlated motion when these cues were present in the displays. Of critical importance, pSTS activation was also greater when participants searched for chasing compared to mirror-correlated motion when the displays in both search conditions were statistically identical random motion. We conclude that pSTS activity associated with intention attribution can be invoked by top-down processes in the absence of reliable visual cues for intentionality.


OBJECTIVES
1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is a neurotoxin that induces a Parkinsonian-type syndrome in animals which is similar to Parkinson's disease in humans. MPTP toxicity partially depends on the production of free radicals which in turn play a key role in the apoptotic death of neurons. In the present study melatonin, a potent free radical scavenger with antiapoptotic properties, was given to determine whether it would reduce oxidative stress in mice treated with MPTP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Male mice were given MPTP with or without melatonin and the brain was studied either 6h, 24h, 7 days or 15 days after the last MPTP injection.

RESULTS
The results show that melatonin counteracted in vivo MPTP-induced apoptosis in midbrain neurons at 6 and 24 h after MPTP treatment, and partially prevented apoptosis at 7 and 15 days after MPTP administration. MPTP treatment also produced time-dependent cell damage, whereas melatonin reduced the percentage of damaged cells at all time points, the effect being most evident at 15 days after treatment. Moreover, melatonin counteracted MPTP-dependent DNA fragmentation in the midbrain and striatum at 7 and 15 days after drug administration.

CONCLUSION
These results support a role for melatonin in protecting neurons against MPTP toxicity in vivo, and suggest that its antiapoptotic action is one of the mechanisms by which melatonin protects neuronal cells from neurotoxic insults.


The main purpose of the structural design is to restrict the vibration of structures at a desirable level as per requirements.Usually, structures inherently possess low structural damping necessitating the introduction of additional measures to improve their damping characteristics in order to control the harmful effects of vibration in normal operating conditions. In fact, most monolithic structures possess low inherent damping thereby causing serious problems which will impair the function and life of structures leading to their ultimate failure. It is always desirable to keep the vibration level as low as possible by introducing damping so that the performance and useful life of structures are enhanced largely. Since many decades, it has been a biggest challenge to the practicing engineers and designers to limit this unwanted vibration in structures. In view of this, structures must be properly designed to possess adequate damping so that the undesirable vibration levels will not build-up beyond a permitted limit. The sole contribution of the present investigation is intended in this direction only. The design concept evolved from this research work of using layered structures with riveted joints can be effectively utilized in trusses and frames, aircraft and aerospace structures, bridges, machine members, robots and many other applications where higher damping is required.The present investigation highlights the effect of interfacial slip on the damping of layered fixed beams jointed with rivets undergoing free vibration. The inclusion of mechanical joints bears a strong influence in the overall system performance and behavior, particularly the damping level of the structures. One of the techniques used in the present problem for improving damping is fabricating these structures in layers by means of riveted joints.The incorporation of such joints is the major source of energy dissipation through frictional effects associated with relative shear displacements at the interfaces of the various structural members. Most of the damping in built-up structures is thus attributed to micro-slip at the interfaces. The contribution of the micro-slip on the overall system damping is always significant in spite of its low magnitude. This thesis consists of two different parts: a theoretical analysis of the problem and an experimental work. The theoretical analysis proposes the classical method to calculate damping. The analyses are based on the assumptions of Euler-Bernoulli beam theory as the dimensions of test specimens satisfy the criterion of thin beam theory. A continuous model is characterized by a partial differential equation with respect to spatial and time coordinates. An analytical exact solution is obtained for the above differential equation from which the dynamic characteristics of the structure are represented accurately.The logarithmic decrement technique has been used for measuring the damping from the time history curve of the decaying signals recorded on the screen of digital storage oscilloscope.The experimental results are compared with the corresponding theoretical ones. The damping characteristics in jointed structure are influenced by the intensity of pressure distribution, micro-slip and kinematic coefficient of friction at the interfaces the above vital parameters are largely influenced by the thickness ratio of the beam and thereby affect the damping capacity of the structures. Number of layers, fixed beam length and diameter of connecting rivet also play a key role on the damping capacity of the jointed structures quantitatively.