when in 1989 the markets in Central and Eastern Europe opened, western firms wers quick to move in. Hungary treated foreign firms equal to domestic ones in the privatisation process. It attracted most foreign direct investment in the region. Now, other countries are likely to follow the Hungarian path and allow foreign firms to take over domestic firms. This contribution discusses the experience of six Dutch Multinational Firms in Hungary and discusses whether these can be useful for expansion into other countries in the region. The results indicate that firms easily underestimate the cost of reconstructing acquired enterprises and that building a market position is more expensive than anticipated.


The paper presents the results of an investigation on aluminum-silicon (LM6) alloy using pressurized lost foam casting process. The study investigated the effect of pressure on casting integrity-geometry, eutectic silicon spacing, particle roundness and hardness. Following air pressures: 1bar, 2bar, 3bar and 4bar were applied on the solidifying alloy. The eutectic silicon spacing and particle roundness were measured using optical microscope which was equipped with image analyzer by averaging of at least ten results as well as Vickers hardness testing machine. For casting integrity-geometry all surfaces of solidified castings were captured by digital camera for better observation. The results show that applying pressure during solidification of the LM6 alloy has significant influence on casting integrity-geometry, eutectic silicon spacing, particle roundness and hardness of the alloy. By increasing the applied pressure, solidification time decline. Consequently, silicon spacing reduces as well as increasing of hardness. Besides, rising air pressure lead to fulfilling of molten which improves the casting integrity and particle roundness.


Vortex-induced vibration (VIV) occurs at low wind speed under normal condition, affected greatly by section type of bridge and its ancillary facilities. Few researches on VIV of vehicle-bridge system are conducted, and many researchers pointed that vehicle-bridge system should be paid attention to in wind tunnel test. In this paper, type of vehicle, number of vehicle and distance of traffic flow's influence on VIV were studied with a flat steel box girder model. Results obtained from wind tunnel tests were displayed in order to prove the following rules: First of all, compared with conditions without vehicles, response of VIV is reduced severely when a vehicle is placed on the bridge. Secondly, response of VIV and range of VIV with three vehicles are greater than one vehicle on the bridge. At last, VIV is reduced when distance of traffic flow increases. Mechanism from fluid dynamic point view is given by simulating the working conditions with ANSYS 14.5.


This fifth segment of six discusses filters. Filtering implies a frequency-dependent selection process, passing, for example, frequencies within a certain range and rejecting those outside that range. I describe some essentials for creating frequency-dependent passbands and stopbands. I also briefly cover detrending and the cumulative periodogram.


Doppler color flow imaging (DCFI) was used to observe portal hemodynamic changes in 40 patients with portal hypertension after Hassab procedure. Preoperative portal blood flow was hepatopetal in all patients, and in 30 of them gastric coronary vein was shown, with the hepatofugal blood flow of 235.32 +/- 56.24 ml/min, and the velocity of 8.62 +/- 2.33 cm/sec. Postoperatively, the gastric coronary vein was interrupted in 27 patients, the portal blood flow was significantly increased from 742.62 +/- 141.73 ml/min to 986.82 +/- 134.58 ml/min (P < 0.01) and the velocity was increased from 10.14 +/- 2.13 cm/sec to 13.41 +/- 1.91 cm/sec (P < 0.01). The results showed that the operation can stop abnormal blood flow in the gastrosplenic region and enhance liver perfusion. DCFI is useful for postoperative follow-up and observing portal hemodynamic changes.


Now the second equation can assert neither more or less than the first. The first equation tells us the rate at which the area is growing, and is therefore independent of the point from which we commence to measure the area. Hence the second equation can only give an expression for the area measured from an undetermined start ing point : and hence the reasonableness of the introduction of an arbitrary constant on integration is manifest. To determine the area comprised between the curve y =f(x), the axis of .2.' and the ordinates at x = a and at x — b we have,


Carotid ultrasound imaging is one of the clinical diagnostic procedures that can be employed to detect plaque buildup at the carotid artery walls. It is an inexpensive and non-invasive procedure that has no known side effects. Yet, the acquired ultrasound images have poor quality and contain a lot of noise. Active contouring segmentation techniques (also known as snakes or deformable model) are characterized by their robustness to both image noise and boundary gaps. Hence, they are suitable to be used to segment noisy poor quality ultrasound images. One of the major issues of active contouring methods is their sensitivity to the initial contour that is provided by the user. Unless it is drawn close enough to the actual contour, it may lead to unsatisfactory results. Thus, most active contour algorithms require considerable user interaction to provide a good initial contour. This paper presents an efficient algorithm for extracting carotid artery lumens in ultrasound images. It starts by utilizing a rule-based scheme to generate an initial contour for the lumen. This contour is refined using a snake scheme, after carefully adjusting its energies. Our algorithm reduces the user interaction, as the user is only required to place a seed point inside the region of interest. It is worth mentioning that our proposed initial contour generation scheme can be easily integrated as an independent module with any active contouring algorithm. Sensitivity, precision rate, and overlap ratio are utilized to assess the performance of the proposed scheme. The results show that the extracted initial and final contours have a good overlap with contours that are manually segmented by an experienced clinician.


Methods for extracting audio and speech features have been studied since pioneering work on spectrum analysis decades ago. Recent efforts are guided by the ambition to develop general-purpose audio representations. For example, deep neural networks can extract optimal embeddings if they are trained on large audio datasets. This work extends existing methods based on self-supervised learning by bootstrapping, proposes various encoder architectures, and explores the effects of using different pre-training datasets. Lastly, we present a novel training framework to come up with a hybrid audio representation, which combines handcrafted and data-driven learned audio features. All the proposed representations were evaluated within the HEAR NeurIPS 2021 challenge for auditory scene classification and timestamp detection tasks. Our results indicate that the hybrid model with a convolutional transformer as the encoder yields superior performance in most HEAR challenge tasks.


Objective: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is anticancer of the alkylating agent (nitrogen mustard) and a prodrug which will be metabolized into an active metabolite form, 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (4-OHCP). Therefore, the effectiveness of therapy with CP is determined by its metabolites concentration. The purpose of this study was to obtain a validated analytical method of CP and 4-OHCP simultaneously and sensitively in dried blood spots with SIL (Stable Isotope Labeled) 4-OHCP-d4 Methods: A simpler analytical method was developed and validated to quantify CP and 4-OHCP in DBS samples using an Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). A linear regression was used as the statistical analysis method. Sample preparation was performed by protein precipitation using methanol. The separation was performed on UPLC H-Class BEH C18 column using formic acid 0.01%-acetonitrile as the mobile phase in gradient mode at 0.2 ml/minute. The mass detection was performed on Waters Xevo TQD using ESI+for CP, 4-OHCP-SCZ, and IS 4-OHCP-d4-SCZ with m/z value: 261.03>140.16; 334.10>221.04; and 338.10>225.06. as the internal standard using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, so optimization and full validation are conducted in this research. Results: This method was linear within the range of 10–40,000 ng/ml for CP and 5–4,000 ng/ml for 4-OHCP. Lower Limit of Quantification (LLOQ) concentration of CP was 10 ng/ml and 4-OHCP was 5 ng/ml. Conclusion: This method has successfully fulfilled the validation requirement referring to the 2011 EMA and 2018 FDA guidelines.


The interest towards nutraceuticals able to counteract drug side effects is continuously growing in current chemotherapeutic protocols. In the present study, we demonstrated that smoothies containing mixtures of Citrus sinensis and Vitis vinifera L. cv. Aglianico N, two typical fruits of the Mediterranean diet, possess bioactive polyphenols that protect cardiomyocytes against doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress. The polyphenolic extracts isolated from Citrus sinensis- and Vitis vinifera-based functional smoothies were deeply characterized by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry methods. Subsequently, the functional smoothies and relative mixtures were tested to verify their ability to affect cellular viability and oxidative stress parameters in embryonic cardiomyocyte cells (H9c2), and human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) exposed to doxorubicin. Interestingly, we found that the mix resulting from Citrus sinensis and Vitis vinifera association in ratio 1:1 was able to reduce cardiomyocytes damage induced by anthracyclines, without significantly interfering with the pro-apoptotic activity of the drug on breast cancer cells. These results point out the potential use of vegetable smoothies as adjuvants functional foods for chemotherapeutic anticancer protocols.


An investigation was conducted in the Lewis altitude wind tunnel to evaluate the performance and operational characteristics of the J40-WE-8 afterburner. A brief program of minor modifications to the flame holder, diffuser, and fuel system was undertaken to improve at a burner-inlet pressure level of 620 pounds per square foot. At this pressure level, modifications to the fuel system resulted in an increase in maximum net thrust from 1500 to 1600 pounds and a reduction in specific fuel consumption in the stoichiometric region from 3.70 to 3.15 pounds of fuel per hour per pound of net thrust. However, these fuel system modifications also resulted in buzzing combustion under certain operation conditions.


Using hydrological modeling technique with detailed sub-basin delineation, this study introduces basic concept and methods of analyzing warning indicators for flash flood early warning. Taking South Branch of Censhui watershed in China as an example, 3 typical early warning indicators for flash flood dynamic early warning were investigated. The primary indicator, critical rainfall, was analyzed at 3 early warning stations located inside the watershed, and other two important indicators, warning discharge threshold and warning rainfall duration, were also estimated using the results of critical rainfall. This research illustrates that detailed watershed characteristics can be modeled in-depth by further delineate the watershed into smaller sub-basins to simulate spatial distribution of various basin parameters. The resulted runoff and flood hydrographs show better accuracy at all 3 early warning stations. It further confirms that time of concentration of a watershed is an important factor to warning rainfall duration, and the antecedent soil moisture condition of the watershed has significant impact to the critical rainfall.


The main objective of this work is to study the effect of adding plastic fibers on Lightweight Aggregate Foamed Concrete (LWAFC) using mix proportion of 1:2.6:0.4 by volume (cement: fine Porcelanite: coarse Porcelanite) with 2% foaming agent by weight of water, and using sand as a partial and total replacement of local Porcelanite aggregate in that mix.
The properties of lightweight aggregate foamed concrete reinforced with different percentages of plastic fiber (0.5, 0.75, and 1% by volume) were studied. Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, dry density, initial surface absorption, water absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity, acoustic impedance, and impact resistance tests were conducted on mixes at ages of 7, 28, and 60 days.
The results showed a significant increasing in impact resistance, splitting tensile strength, and water absorption 34.55%, 4.2%, 326%, and 27.3% respectively. While the results indicated that the compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, dry density and acoustic impedance of the composites were reduced when the crimped plastic fiber volume fraction increases. The percentage of reduction of these properties was 15%, 11.1%, 6.23%, and 12.55% respectively


This paper examines trends in the instability of personal incomes in Britain in terms of changes in the transitory variance and in volatility, measures that have received much recent attention in research about the USA. It is shown that, although US measures have trended upwards over the past two decades, there is no such trend in Britain between the early-1990s and the mid-2000s. Explanations for these differences are discussed.


This paper presents a novel field-programmable gate array (FPGA) based method for empirical mode decomposition (EMD) in real time. Traditionally, EMD can be easily implemented and developed using a high-level computer language in a PC or DSP chip. However, it is difficult to implement EMD in a hardware environment. This paper develops EMD for real-time applications using a hardware-based FPGA. The proposed FPGA-based method calculates the upper and lower envelopes in EMD point by point by using a circular queue to temporarily store values of maxima and minima, from which the upper and lower envelopes in the EMD can be determined continuously. Additionally, an attempt is made to increase the efficiency of the computational process by cascading several identical modules as a serial pipeline structure in order to conduct an iterative loop for calculating the intrinsic mode functions in EMD. The fast process from the serial pipeline structure results in real-time computation with a sampling rate of up to 12.5 MHz and mitigation of the end effect. The proposed method is validated by the simulation results obtained by Quartus II and verified by FPGA (Altera Stratix III EP3SL150F1152C2) realization, revealing its effectiveness in real-time applications.


Background BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations confer increased risks of breast and ovarian cancer, but risks have been found to vary across studies and populations. Methods We ascertained pedigree data of 582 BRCA1 and 176 BRCA2 families and studied the variation in breast and ovarian cancer risks using a modified segregation analysis model. Results The average cumulative breast cancer risk by age 70 years was estimated to be 45% (95% CI 36 to 52%) for BRCA1 and 27% (95% CI 14 to 38%) for BRCA2 mutation carriers. The corresponding cumulative risks for ovarian cancer were 31% (95% CI 17 to 43%) for BRCA1 and 6% (95% CI 2 to 11%) for BRCA2 mutation carriers. In BRCA1 families, breast cancer relative risk (RR) increased with more recent birth cohort (pheterogeneity = 0.0006) and stronger family histories of breast cancer (pheterogeneity<0.001). For BRCA1, our data suggest a significant association between the location of the mutation and the ratio of breast to ovarian cancer (p<0.001). By contrast, in BRCA2 families, no evidence was found for risk heterogeneity by birth cohort, family history or mutation location. Conclusions BRCA1 mutation carriers conferred lower overall breast and ovarian cancer risks than reported so far, while the estimates of BRCA2 mutations were among the lowest. The low estimates for BRCA1 might be due to older birth cohorts, a moderate family history, or founder mutations located within specific regions of the gene. These results are important for a more accurate counselling of BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.


We have simulated atmospheric turbulence at several instances of possible laser propagation paths and turbulent flow regime regions within the area of interest. At a control volume that is in between two Hawaii mountains. We have applied statistical correlations between Large-Eddy Simulations results using CFD modeling and parametrizing optical variables of interest, such as refractive index structure function. By comparing our Large-Eddy Simulations with specified parameters against other Large-Eddy Simulations with almost all same parameters except for one allows us to perform a sensitivity study. To study the changes on how a parameter can affect other scenarios of Large-Eddy Simulations parametric studies. With the end goal of validating the capacity of a sensitivity analysis study using Large-Eddy Simulations versus other Large-Eddy Simulations by a way of simulating and parametrizing turbulent flow studies found in the field of CFD modeling. Allowing us to achieve our stochastic analysis by applying sensitivity studies to see how our distributions change as a function of different parameters, but one at a time. After a comparison between CFD modelling simulations we have found that after a complete parametric study, a correlation was formed between turbulent flow parameters and optical parameters of interest.


One hundred and twenty SHR male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. Their clean-shaven backs were painted with 0.2 ml of 0.05% acetone solution of benz(a)pyrene (BP) twice a week. Group 1 was in control and received no additional treatment. From beginning to end (6 months), the remaining mice received melatonin 2 mg/l with drinking water at nighttime (group 2), metformin 200 mg/l with drinking water during 24 hrs (group 3), melatonin and metformin as in groups 2 and 3 (group 4). There was a separate group of intact animals. Skin tumor frequency decreased: among melatonin/metformin-treated mice (groups 1-4) - 83.3%, 66.7%, 60%83 and 50%; squamous cell carcinoma - 56.73%, 36.7%, 20% and 20%. Treatment with melatonin and metformin and their combinations was followed by significantly lower tumor multiplicity and smaller size, longer latency period and survival of tumor-bearers. After BP, levels of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) and catalase rose in blood serum while concentrations of the latter in skin tumors were higher than in cutaneous homogenates in intact animals. Melatonin and metformin significantly lowered MDA content of blood serum as compared with group 1. Blood serum catalase fell after their joint administration whereas it was 2.6 times as high in cutaneous homogenates after metformin. However, it decreased after melatonin.


This thesis deals with various problems about the normal and subnormal structure of infinite groups. We first consider the relationship between the number of normal subgroups of a group G and of a subgroup H of finite index in G. We prove Theorem 1.5 There exists a finitely generated group G which has a subgroup H of index 2 such that H has continuously many normal subgroups and G has only countably many normal subgroups. Proposition 1.7 Let k be an infinite cardinal. Then there exists a group G of cardinality k that has only 12 normal subgroups but which contains a subgroup H of index 2 having k normal subgroups. We then consider partially ordered sets and investigate the subnormal structure of generalized wreath products. We deal with the question whether the number of subnormal subgroups of an infinite group is determined by the number of its n-step subnormal subgroups for an integer n. We prove Theorem 5.3 Let G be a group. Then G has finitely many subnormal subgroups if and only if it has finitely many 2-step subnormal subgroups. Theorem 5.5 Let m and n be infinite cardinals such that m ≤ n. Then there exists a group G with the following properties: (1) The cardinality of G is n. (2) The number of normal subgroups of G is . (3) The number of 2-step subnormal subgroups of G is m. ( 4) The number of 3-step subnormal subgroups of G is 2 n . Finally we consider characteristically simple groups with countably many normal subgroups. We construct a new type of characteristically simple groups: Corollary 6.15 Let ∧ be a partially ordered set such that for λ, ∊∧ there exists an automorphism a of ∧ such that ≤ λa. Let (∧) be the distributive lattice of semi-ideals of ∧. Then there exists a group G with the following properties: ( 1) |G| ≤ max( of | (∧)|). (2) All subnormal subgroups of G are normal in G. (3) The lattice of normal subgroups of G is isomorphic to (∧). (4) The group G is characteristically simple.


markdownabstractThis thesis proposes a perspective on language and its development by starting from two approaches. The first is the ecological-enactive approach to cognition. In opposition to the widespread idea that cognition is information-processing in the brain, the ecological-enactive approach explains human cognition in relational terms, as skilful interactions with a sociomaterial environment shaped by practices. The second is the metalinguistic approach to language, which holds that reflexive or metalinguistic language use – talking about talking – is crucial for understanding language and its development. In particular, I defend two theses:

1. A child's initial communicative behaviour can be explained in terms of attentional actions: social actions that function by directing someone else's attention.
2. In order for the child's communicative behaviour to be sensitive to key properties of language, such as semantic content and normativity, she needs to learn metalinguistic skills.

The development of this ecological-enactive perspective on language serves two functions. First, the ecological-enactive approach started by considering basic behaviour, such as locomotion and grasping. An approach in the cognitive sciences, however, should be able to account for the full gamut of human cognition. If the perspective developed in this thesis is viable, this is a contribution to extending the ecological-enactive approach to typically human forms of cognition. Second, this perspective throws new light on philosophical problems concerning language. In the different chapters, I deal with questions concerning the nature of linguistic knowledge, explanations of communicative behaviour, and the origins of semantic content and linguistic normativity.


To enhance performance of flash memory-based solid state disk (SSD), large logically chained blocks can be assembled by binding adjacent flash blocks across several flash memory chips. However, flash memory does not allow in-place overwriting and thus the operations that merge writes on these blocks suffer a visible decrease in performance. Furthermore, when small random writes are spread over the disk address space, performance tends to be degraded significantly. We thus present a technique to manage random writes efficiently to achieve stable SSD performance. In this paper, we propose a pattern adaptive SSD structure, which classifies access patterns as either random or sequential. The structure primarily consists of a write cache and a flash translation layer that separates groups of writes by access pattern (S-FTL). Separately managing the two types of write patterns enables greater parallelism and reduces the cost of large block management, thus enhancing the performance of the proposed SSD. Simulation experiments show that the proposed pattern adaptive structure can provide 39 percent decrease in extra flash block erase overhead on the average, and write performance can be improved by around 60 percent, compared with a basic FTL applied to existing parallel SSD structures.


Two cDNAs encoding functional carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzymes were recently isolated from a non-photosynthetic, cotyledon library of cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ) seedlings with putative plastid-targeting sequences (GenBank accession nos. AF132854 and AF132855). Relative CA transcript abundance and enzyme activity increased 9 and 15 times, respectively, in cotton embryos during the maximum period of reserve oil accumulation. Specific sulfonamide inhibitors of CA activity significantly reduced the rate of [ 14 C]acetate incorporation into total lipids in cotton embryos in vivo, and in embryo plastids in vitro, suggesting a role for CA in plastid lipid biosynthesis. CA inhibitors did not affect acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase activity or total storage protein synthesis. Similar results were obtained for two other plant systems: cell suspensions (and isolated plastids therefrom) of tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum ), and chloroplasts isolated from leaves of transgenic CA antisense-suppressed tobacco plants (5% of wild-type CA activity). In addition, tobacco cell suspensions treated with the CA inhibitor ethoxyzolamide showed a substantial loss of CO 2 compared with controls. The rate of [ 14 C]acetate incorporation into lipid in cell suspensions was reduced by limiting external [CO 2 ] (scrubbed air), and this rate was further reduced in the presence of ethoxyzolamide. Together, these results indicate that a reduction of CA activity (biochemical or molecular inhibition) impacts the rate of plant lipid biosynthesis from acetate, perhaps by impairing the ability of CA to efficiently "trap" inorganic carbon inside plastids for utilization by acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase and the fatty acid synthesis machinery. of thin-layer chromatography (TLC)- fractionated lipid classes in comparison with triolein standards. CA activity was determined electrometrically in cell free homoge- nates. Poly(A (cid:2) ) RNA was isolated from cotton embryos and the ratios of CA to actin transcripts were evaluated by northern-blot analyses. results experiments.


A case of pancreatic abscess from Salmonella typhimurium is reported. After surgical drainage of the abscess, positive stool cultures persisted. Finally, after intensive antimicrobial therapy with tetracycline and chloramphenicol, and cholecystectomy, stool cultures became negative. This is, to our knowledge, the first published case of S. typhimurium pancreative abscess.


In analyzing past hail suppression cloud seeding programs, the best test of hail suppression efforts to reduce crop-hail damage is the amount of money paid out on insured crop acres. The National Crop Insurance Services data supply these data. The size of the sample that these data represent and the homogeneity of the sample across the state can be determined by looking at the total utilized cropland acres in each county and the total liability for each county. Weighted Loss Cost values are preferred over Simple Loss Cost values in the analysis of crop-loss due to hail damage.


A 29-year-old primipara woman in the 36th week of pregnancy was admitted to our Emergency Clinic with a complaint of severe headache for 3 months and nausea / vomiting since since last week. A large frontoparietal intracranial tumour with peripheral edema was found at magnetic resonance imaging. Due to the high risk of herniation, she underwent an emergent craniotomy and cesarean section at the same session. Here, we presented the management of the patient throughout the perioperative period.


Background: Patient self-efficacy is one of the most important factors in
treating and overcoming disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to
evaluate the effect of an educational program based on the health belief model
on self-efficacy among patients with type 2 diabetes referred to the Iranian
Diabetes Association in 2014. Method: A randomized controlled clinical trial
was conducted. Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes were selected randomly by
the double block sample method. They were then divided into two groups of
intervention and control (40 patients in each group) by random allocation. Data
were collected by a questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model and
self-efficacy. The data were gathered two months after the educational program
was held. The educational program was designed on the basis of data collected
in the pre-test phase. Then, the educational program was executed for the
intervention group in 8 sessions (each 30 minutes) using lectures and an
educational booklet. Data analysis was done with Chi-square Test, Pearson's
correlation, Independent samples T-test and paired T-test. The significance level
was considered at 0.05. Results: Before intervention, no significant difference
was detected between the two groups. However, after intervention all variables
were significantly different except for perceived threat. Moreover, there were
significant linear relationships between Self-efficacy and all Health Belief
Model components after the educational intervention in both groups (p <
0.05). Conclusion: The educational program based on the health belief model
increased self-efficacy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.


Piezo devices have large power density and simple structure compared with conventional electrical motors. Thus they can generate larger forces than the conventional actuators with small size. Their resopnses to commands are also very fast and thus the bandwidths are very wide. Thus the piezo devices are expected to be used widely in the future for actuating devices requiring fast response and large actuating force with small size. However, the piezo actuators need high voltage with high driving current due to their large capacitive property. In this paper, proposed is a simple method to drive piezo devices using voltage inversion circuit with coli inductance. The coil inductance carries the charges in the piezo device to the opposite side, inverting the polarity of the applied voltage, thus saving the power to drive the device with AC voltages. Experiments with real circuit demonstrates that the proposed scheme can improve the energy efficiency very much.


A converter topology which is capable of four-quadrant (motoring and generation) operation is proposed for the variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) power conversion scheme. The new converter topology for the VSCF power conversion scheme is made of two functional stages. One is a converting stage which consists of six switches and six diodes and it interfaces a three-phase 60 Hz AC supply to provide a single-phase variable-frequency AC source to the next converter stage. The other is the commutating stage through which each phase-winding is energized.<<ETX>>


Formerly socialist countries and developing countries have rapidly moved toward open and free enterprise economic systems. Direct foreign investment is now very welcome in all these countries. Such investments are greatly advantageous to these countries with respite to income, employment, technological progress, productivity and ~work ethics. However, the effect of such investment on the foreign exchange reserves of the country may not he positive in all eases. The paper develops a procedure to make a rough assessment of the effect of direct foreign investment on the foreign exchange situation of the developing country.


The one-dimensional vibration equations of crystal strips of AT-cut quartz with narrow width and finite length are given by Lee and Wang (J. Appl. Phys., 75(12):7681, 1994). The mechanical vibrations of such strips have been studied by neglecting the coupling due to piezoelectric effect. In the present study, the one-dimensional equations are further expanded to include the piezoelectric effect sets of coupled equations. By neglecting the components of high-order displacements and electric potentials, particular attention is given to the thickness-shear vibrations of the strips. Analytical solutions of the free vibrations, including components of thickness-shear, flexural, width-shear, width-stretch, width-flexural, and the zeroth- and first-order electric potential, are obtained. The dispersion relations, frequency spectra, and mode shapes of the free vibrations are given as functions of the ratios of length to thickness and width to thickness. The forced vibrations are studied with these solutions, and forced response and capacitance ratios are obtained. Comparisons are made with known experimental results, A quartz strip resonator is studied with this seven modes model. The effect of the length of the electrodes, the width of the crystal, and the forcing frequency on the resonance frequency, vibration mode shapes, and capacitance ratios are obtained.


Intrathoracic neurogenic tumors are relatively common mediastinal tumors generally located in the posterior mediastinum. The most common origin is the intercostal nerve or the sympathetic chain. These tumors rarely arise from vagus nerve in the anterior mediastinum. The English literature demonstrates a total of 29 cases, which are more often on the left than the right. Here, we present another case: a 41-year-old man with a history of chronic cough for 10 years, whose chest radiograph showed a homogenous mass in the right anterosuperior mediastinum. The chest CT scan revealed a well-defined mass, 4-cm in diameter, located at the right side of trachea. Marked compression and lateral displacement of the R't innominate vein were noted. The mass was heterogenous with partial area of relative lower density and only mild enhancement was noted after contrast medium infusion. Sternotomy with tumor resection from the right vagus nerve was done. The histological diagnosis was schwannoma.


This thesis develops and investigates the application of novel identification and structure
identification techniques for I.C. engine systems. The legislated demand for reduced vehicle fuel consumption and emissions indicates that improved model-based dynamical engine
calibration and control methods are required in place of the existing static set-point based
mapping methods currently used in industry. The choice of structure of any dynamical engine
model has significant consequences for the accuracy and the calibration/optimization time of
engine systems. This thesis primarily addresses the issue of this structure selection.
Linear models are well understood and relatively easy to implement however the modern
I.C. engine is a highly nonlinear system which restricts the use of linear structures. Further
the newer technologies required to achieve demanding fuel consumption and emission targets
are increasingly more complex and nonlinear. The selection of appropriate nonlinear model
regressor terms presents a combinatorial explosion problem which must be solved for accurate
engine system modelling. In this thesis, two systematic nonlinear model structure selection
techniques, namely stepwise regression with F-statistics and orthogonal least squares method
with error reduction ratio, are accordingly investigated. SISO algebraic NARMAX engine
models are then established in simulation studies with these methods and demonstrate the
effectiveness of the approach.
The thesis also investigates the development and application of multi-modelling techniques and the expansion of the model structure selection techniques to the identification of
the local models terms within the multi-model structures for the engine. Based on the en-
gine operating regions, novel multi-model networks can be established and several alternative
multi-modelling techniques, such as LOLIMOT, Neural Network, Gaussian and log-sigmoid
function weighted multi-models, for the multi-model engine system identification are explored
and compared. An experimental validation of the methods is given by a black box identification of SISO engine models which are developed purely from the experimental engine test
data sets. The results demonstrate that the multi-model structure selection techniques can
be successfully applied on the engine systems, and that the multi-modelling techniques give
good model accuracy and that good modelling efficiency can also be achieved.
The outcome is a set of techniques for the efficient development of accurate nonlinear
black-box models which can be acquired from experimental dynamometer test-bed data which
should assist in the dynamic control of future advanced technology engine systems.


Psoriatic arthritis is one of the rare types of autoimmune disease that cause body's own immune system to harm skin and joints which leads to painful areas of swelling and inflammation. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is not like the other forms of arthritis that are clearly distinguishable , where arthritis is accompanied by typical psoriasis symptoms, such as a red, scaly rash that will develop silvery white patches. It's a chronic condition where hands, fingers, feet, large joints of the lower body, and the lower back are the most common areas to be affected by PsA. Effects will be worsening over time in case of no treatment provided on time. Permanent damage occurs to joints and tissues if not treated promptly. This paper has an analysis over the recent advancement in imaging techniques such as SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) and FDG-PET/CT (Fluorodeoxyglucose - Positron Emission Tomography /Comupted Tomography ) have showed more reliable and accurate diagnosis of early stage Psoriatic Arthritis.


Objectives : Estimate the incidence of hospitalized all-cause pneumonia (PN) and pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) among all ages in Spain in 2010. Methods : A retrospective study analysed data from IASIST, a Spanish data source covering more than 65% of National Health System discharges (170 hospitals from 15 out of 17 regions). Cases were Spanish residents admitted to participating hospitals during 2010, with a diagnosis of PN or PP based on ICD-9 codes. Hospitalization rates, in-hospital mortality rates, co-morbidities and length of stay were computed. Population data were provided by IASIST (2010: 10,984,724). Results : In 2010, there were 32, 726 incident cases of PN across all ages with incidence rate of 2.98/1000 per year; highest in children 0-4 years (4.87/1000) and adults ≥ 65 years (10.18/1000). There were 4,984 incident cases of PP across all ages with incidence rate of 45.37/100,000; highest in children 0-4 years (53.59/100,000) and adults ≥ 65 years (158.18/100,000). Hospital mortality rates for PN across all ages were 7.87% per year and 5.87% for PP; highest in adults ≥ 65 years (10.97% for PN, 7.67% for PP). Average length of inpatient stay for PN across all ages was 10.20 days and 11.17 days for PP; highest in adults ≥ 65 years (11.26 days for PN, 11.81 days for PP). Most frequent co-morbidities for adults ≥ 65 years for both PN and PP were COPD (24%, 27.4%), diabetes (23.9%, 24.5%) and renal disease (21.9%, 23.9%) respectively. In adults ≥ 65 years, 64.2% with PN and 66.5% with PP had at least 1 of the investigated co-morbidities. Conclusion : PN remains a source of morbidity and mortality in the Spanish population, especially among young children and adults ≥ 65 years.


Cryptochrome, a blue-light photoreceptor which has high sequence homology to DNA photolyase, is supposed to be the most conceivable magnetoreceptor in avian's magnetoreception. Its light-response mechanism is proposed to result from photoreduction of a protein-bound flavin chromophore through intramolecular electron transfer. We review the cryptochrome magentoreception focusing on the radical pair mechanism, structure of cryptochromes, theoretical and behavioral evidences and the electron transfer models inner cryptochrome protein. Finally, we analysis the superiority of avian's magnetosensitivity and point out that the animal's genius radical pair mechanism may be simulated to develop a new chemical magnetic detection mechanism, or even a new kind of magnetometer, which is different from current magnetic detection technology. Keywords: cryptochrome; radical pair mechanism; signaling pathway; electron transfer


Cellular networks and telecommunications bring major change to the way businesses are conducted. Mobility has become one of the main priorities for users and this has impacted on cellular networks and telecommunication operators (CNTOs). However, entrants into the cellular industry have been confounded primarily by inexistent or weak Business Models (BMs). Designing a BM for a CNTO is complex and requires multiple actors to balance different and often conflicting design requirements. Nevertheless, most research about CNTOs has been technically oriented and has mainly addressed the technological and engineering issues related to their infrastructure. Less attention has been given to the business model of CNTOs. Hence, there is a need to enhance our ability to determine what constitutes the optimal and most viable business model to meet the various strategic objectives and goals for these CNTOs. In this paper an overview of research into the cellular business model and the main issues to be resolved is provided. In particular, the authors propose guidelines as a basis on which to develop a more comprehensive definition which may lead to a consensus. Moreover, a generic model (V 4 Model) is proposed for the BM of these companies based on value proposition, value architecture, value network and value finance.


Dealing with phonology, this is one of a series for teachers, trainers and academic managers which aims to promote development by dealing with professional topics in a personal way, in order to deepen understanding, raise self-awareness, and encourage self-direction and choice.


This paper derives the fractional backward Kolmogorov equations in fractal space-time based on the construction of a model for dynamic trajectories. It shows that for the type of fractional backward Kolmogorov equation in the fractal time whose coefficient functions are independent of time, its solution is equal to the transfer probability density function of the subordinated process X(Sα(t)), the subordinator Sα(t) is termed as the inverse-time α-stable subordinator and the process X(τ) satisfies the corresponding time homogeneous Ito stochastic differential equation.


Weather and climate variations on subseasonal to decadal time scales can have enormous social, economic, and environmental impacts, making skillful predictions on these time scales a valuable tool for decision-makers. As such, there is a growing interest in the scientific, operational, and applications communities in developing forecasts to improve our foreknowledge of extreme events. On subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) time scales, these include high-impact meteorological events such as tropical cyclones, extratropical storms, floods, droughts, and heat and cold waves. On seasonal to decadal (S2D) time scales, while the focus broadly remains similar (e.g., on precipitation, surface and upper-ocean temperatures, and their effects on the probabilities of high-impact meteorological events), understanding the roles of internal variability and externally forced variability such as anthropogenic warming in forecasts also becomes important. The S2S and S2D communities share common scientific and technical challenges. These include forecast initialization and ensemble generation; initialization shock and drift; understanding the onset of model systematic errors; bias correction, calibration, and forecast quality assessment; model resolution; atmosphere–ocean coupling; sources and expectations for predictability; and linking research, operational forecasting, and end-user needs. In September 2018 a coordinated pair of international conferences, framed by the above challenges, was organized jointly by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and the World Weather Research Programme (WWRP). These conferences surveyed the state of S2S and S2D prediction, ongoing research, and future needs, providing an ideal basis for synthesizing current and emerging developments in these areas that promise to enhance future operational services. This article provides such a synthesis.


In 1881, Edward Mussey Hartwell stated, "So, physicians, indeed, before they endeavor to care for the human body and preserve it from the diseases which threaten it, ought to know very accurately, and to a nicety, all the parts of the body." These words mark the essence of clinical anatomy. This issue of our journal Clinical Anatomy continues to explore many topics that are salient to you as educators, researchers and clinicians. These topics include the history of anatomy with a cathartic paper on the research performed on executed Germans during the Third Reich by Dr. Sabine Hildebrandt and a review of the laboratory of the infamous Eduard Pernkopf by Drs. Aharinejad and Carmichael. Other papers presented in this issue describe methods for teaching better dissection courses and understanding pelvic anatomy with 3D modeling for improved medical education and surgical training, and anatomic findings pertinent to our understanding of the fat of the face and surgery of the colon, pelvis, and midfoot – Indeed, topics that run the gamut from head to toe, A capite ad calcem. I hope that you will find such papers enlightening and useful to you in your teaching, research or practice of clinical anatomy.


1 pagina.-- Trabajo presentado al: Joint Seminar of the FAO-CIHEAM Network on Sheep and Goats. Joint Seminar of the Sub-Networks on Production Systems and on Nutrition: Innovation for Sustainability in Sheep and Goats, p. 78 (S2N-43). 3-5 de octubre de 2017. Vitoria-Gazteiz (Espana).


Statistic states that 285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide: 39 million are blind and 246 have low vision. About 90% of the world's visually impaired people live in developing countries. Taking in consideration that Mechatronics is a methodology used for the optimal design of electromechanical products, and by combining technologies that are available to us we can develop a very useful tool that blind people and people with sight problems can change their lives. Combining smart phones and digital camera there are possibilities to build smart glasses which will give information to blind people. In this paper definitely a new approach for making peoples life easy is proposed. Initially the results are reached from simulation using Matlab/SIMULINK package which will lead this research to real time experimental results.


To the Editor:— Whether there really is such a disease as that termed "chronic carbon monoxide poisoning," as a consequence of prolonged or repeated exposure to small amounts of the monoxide and continuing after the exposure is stopped, is very doubtful. Certainly its importance in many cases is less medical than legal and financial as a basis for claims for damages to be awarded by a compensation commissioner or a court of law. There is a large literature presenting numerous cases, described with clinical fulness and accuracy in respect to the symptoms of the disorder but with little or no evidence that the patients had ever been exposed to any significant extent to carbon monoxide. If, then, numerous false claims are not to be bolstered by such papers, it is essential that writers on this subject should be required to report evidence as to the analytic method by which the


A simple stress based defect evolution model is developed to assess the influence of various process paramters on material removal rate (MRR) and induced damage during ceramic grinding processes. Model predictions for normal and lateral damage zones under normal indentations are first compared to fracture models as well as experimental observations on pyrex glass. The proposed model is then extended to simulate oblique indentation events depicting abrasive gritworkpiece interactions during ceramic grinding. It is also easily extendable to real grinding situations involving multiple interacting abrasive grits. Process design options for reducing induced damage in the finished part, and increasing MRR are considered next. In particular, the potential of a new design avenue involving intermittent unloading is investigated. For pyrex glass, it is observed that intermittent unloading can facilitate significant increase in force per abrasive grit without increasing the associated surface and sub-surface fragmentation in the finished part. This design feature may enable significant increase in MRR, while maintaining a very low level of process induced damage in the finished product.


Author(s): Ramirez, Paul F | Advisor(s): Taylor, William B | Abstract: This study examines processes of reform in disease management in the Viceroyalty of New Spain in the eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries. Especially under the enlightened rule of Charles III (1759-1788), onerous programs of epidemic management were introduced into communities accustomed to resolving disease in municipalities, villages, barrios, parishes, and homes. The objections of these communities to the interventions of the state led to an early and rapid adjustment in the official policy. In place of disruptive cordons sanitaires and isolation of patients in makeshift infirmaries, the viceregal government turned to immunization, where religious symbols, personnel, rituals, charity, and institutions helped frame modern medicine for lay communities. Bourbon reforms in the realm of public health ultimately became a reality through a modified "paternalistic" program of medical provision.This program was a natural outcome of centuries of Habsburg rule, in which indigenous villages had been accorded certain legal and fiduciary considerations and deemed especially vulnerable to disease, intemperate reform, and intervention from outsiders. Bourbon innovations in public health of necessity respected these longstanding arrangements or risked failure. The injunction to provide and receive charity in crisis, and the belief that ceremonial performance was the best way to effect conversions to novel practices such as vaccine, led to a sustained effort to transfer sacred status to the new components of public health policy. As one crown attorney observed, administrators had been reminded by subjects of the obligation to make use of the "sacred ties of civil society" whenever possible. Historical studies of public health have tended to stress innovations in hygiene and urban sanitation in the nineteenth century. This study shows that significant change occurred earlier and actively involved non-state actors in adapting and popularizing medicine at the local level. By considering the numerous sites where medical science, ideology, and techniques were tested and critiqued, it seeks a more adequate view of scientific culture and enlightened medical programs as the product of diverse laypeople, multiple epistemologies, and longstanding colonial practice.


To obtain failure characteristic of jointed rock mass, the propagation mechanism of twin collinear cracks with different angle is simulated by finite element under different consolidated condition. The change laws of stress strength gene, the slipping displacement of middle nodes of faces of crack, shear strain and plastic strain near crack tip is derived under different consolidated condition. It is shown that the consolidation role is the evident and the stress concentration is weakened when the inclination angle of crack is in range of 30°-60°. The corresponding value under consolidated condition is smaller than that under without consolidated condition. The slipping displacement of middle points of crack faces in y direction is mainly. The slipping displacement in y direction decreases and the slipping displacement in x direction increases with the increases of the inclination angle of crack. The compressive effect is bigger than that the shear effect.


Objective. Caregivers' pain estimations may have important implications for pediatric pain management decisions. Affective responses elicited by facing the child in pain are considered key in understanding caregivers' estimations of pediatric pain experiences. Theory suggests differential influences of sympathy versus personal distress on pain estimations; yet empirical evidence on the impact of caregivers' feelings of sympathy versus distress upon estimations of pediatric pain experiences is lacking. The current study explored the role of caregiver distress versus sympathy in understanding caregivers' pain estimates of the child's pain experience. Design, Setting, Subjects and Methods. Using a prospective design in 31 children undergoing consecutive lumbar punctures and/or bone marrow aspirations at Ghent University Hospital, caregivers' (i.e., parents, physicians, nurses, and child life specialists) distress and sympathy were assessed before each procedure; estimates of child pain were obtained immediately following each procedure. Results. Results indicated that the child's level of pain behavior in anticipation of the procedure had a strong influence on all caregivers' pain estimations. Beyond the impact of child pain behavior, personal distress explained parental and physician's estimates of child pain, but not pain estimates of nurses and child life specialists. Specifically, higher level of parental and physician's distress was related to higher child pain estimates. Caregiver sympathy was not associated with pain estimations. Conclusions. The current findings highlight the important role of caregivers' felt personal distress when faced with child pain, rather than sympathy, in influencing their pain estimates. Potential implications for pain management are discussed.


The objective of the research reported in this thesis was to develop a technique to monitor the dynamics of sediments and nutrients entering the coastal ocean with river plumes associated with high intensity low frequency events (e.g. floods), using ocean colour remote sensing. To achieve this objective, an inverse bio-optical model was developed, based on analytical and empirical relationships between concentrations of optically significant substances and remote sensing of water-leaving radiance. The model determines concentrations of water-colouring substances such as chlorophyll, suspended sediments, and coloured dissolved organic matter, as well as the values of optical parameters using water-leaving radiances derived from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS). To solve atmospheric correction in coastal waters, the aerosol type over clear waters is transferred to adjacent turbid water pixels. The vicinity of the Herbert River, central Great Barrier Reef zone, Australia, was used as a case study for the application of the algorithm developed. The satellite ocean colour technique was successfully validated using sea-truth measurements of water-colouring constituents acquired in the area during various seasons throughout 2002-2004. A high correlation between chlorophyll and dissolved organic matter was found in the coastal waters of the region, and when the bio-optical model was constrained to make chlorophyll a function of dissolved organic matter, the relationship between in situ and satellite-derived data was substantially improved. With reliable retrieval of the major water-colouring constituents, the technique was subsequently applied to study fluxes of particulate and dissolved organic and inorganic matter following a flood event in the Herbert River during the austral summer of 1999. Extensive field observations covering a seasonal flood in the Herbert River in February 2004 revealed high sediment and nutrient exports from the river to the adjacent coastal waters during the flood event. Due to rapid settling, the bulk of the sediment-rich influx was deposited close inshore, while the majority of nutrients exported from the river were consumed by phytoplankton in a relatively small area of the coastal ocean. With the help of ocean colour remote sensing, it was demonstrated that river-borne sediments and nutrients discharged by a typical flood in the Herbert River are mostly precipitated or consumed within the first 20 km from the coast and therefore are unlikely to reach and possibly affect the midshelf coral reefs of this section of the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.


rFVIIa may optimize thrombin generation to control bleeding. Smaller doses of rFVIIa may be effective in thrombocytopenic patients when used in combination with platelet transfusion, and rFVIIa may reduce the need for HLA-matched platelets in thrombocytopenic patients with life-threatening bleeding.


Objective
To estimate the national cost of ADEs resulting from inappropriate medication-related alert overrides in the U.S. inpatient setting.

Materials and Methods
We used three different regression models (Basic, Model 1, Model 2) with model inputs taken from the medical literature. A random sample of 40 990 adult inpatients at the Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston with a total of 1 639 294 medication orders was taken. We extrapolated BWH medication orders using 2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data.

Results
Using three regression models, we estimated that 29.7 million adult inpatient discharges in 2014 resulted in between 1.02 billion and 1.07 billion medication orders, which in turn generated between 75.1 million and 78.8 million medication alerts, respectively. Taking the basic model (78.8 million), we estimated that 5.5 million medication-related alerts might have been inappropriately overridden, resulting in approximately 196 600 ADEs nationally. This was projected to cost between $871 million and $1.8 billion for treating preventable ADEs. We also estimated that clinicians and pharmacists would have jointly spent 175 000 hours responding to 78.8 million alerts with an opportunity cost of $16.9 million.

Discussion and Conclusion
These data suggest that further optimization of hospitals computerized provider order entry systems and their associated clinical decision support is needed and would result in substantial savings. We have erred on the side of caution in developing this range, taking two conservative cost estimates for a preventable ADE that did not include malpractice or litigation costs, or costs of injuries to patients.


This paper introduces a new approach for solving the navigation problem of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) by studying its rotational and translational dynamics and then solving the nonlinear model by the Decomposition Coordination method. The objective is to reach a destination goal by the mean of an autonomous computed optimal path calculated through optimal control sequence. Solving such complex systems often requires a great amount of computation. However, the approach considered herein is based on the Decomposition Coordination principle, which allows the nonlinearity to be treated at a local level, thus offering a low computing time. The stability of the method is discussed with sufficient conditions for convergence. A numerical application is given in consolidation the theoretical results.


Is there a correlation between increased posterior-inferior tibial slope angle and noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury? Does increasing the posterior-inferior tibial slope angle increase the risk of bilateral ACL injury? A computerized relational database (Access 2007; Microsoft Inc, Redmond, Washington) was used to conduct a retrospective review of patients undergoing bilateral or unilateral ACL reconstruction surgery or treatment by a single surgeon between 1995 and 2013. Included in the study were patients with bilateral and unilateral ACL injuries and patellofemoral pain syndrome with no associated ACL deficiency. Exclusion criteria included concomitant ligament injury, previous ACL reconstruction, and previous knee surgery. Also excluded were patients who did not have plain lateral radiographs. Fifty patients were randomly selected from each group. After controlling for age and Tegner activity level, the authors found that the posterior-inferior tibial slope angle was a significant predictor (P=.002) of noncontact ACL injury. Mean posterior-inferior tibial slope angle for the bilateral, unilateral, and control groups was 11.8°±2.3°, 9.3°±2.4°, and 7.5°±2.3°, respectively. In the group with unilateral ACL injury vs the group without ACL deficiency, a 1° increase in posterior-inferior tibial slope angle (P=.03) was associated with a 20% increase in unilateral ACL injury. In those with bilateral ACL injury vs those without ACL deficiency, a 1° increase in posterior-inferior tibial slope angle (P=.001) increased bilateral knee injury by 34%. The difference between the mean angles of the control group without ACL deficiency and both the bilateral injury and unilateral injury cohorts was statistically significant (P=.003). Increased posterior-inferior tibial slope angle is associated with an increased risk of noncontact bilateral and unilateral ACL injury. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(1):e136-e140.].


Aims
The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a similar mortality and thrombo-embolic risk, after an atrial ablation procedure, compared with an atrial fibrillation (AF) procedure.

Methods and results
Using data from nationwide Danish health registries, we identified patients aged 18-75 years undergoing a first-time atrial flutter or an AF ablation procedure in the period 2000-13. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) after 5 years of follow-up, adjusting for concomitant risk factors. A total of 1096 and 2266 patients underwent an ablation for atrial flutter or AF, respectively. Age distribution was similar in the two, but atrial flutter patients had more co-morbidities. During 5 years of follow-up, we observed 38 and 36 deaths in the atrial flutter and AF groups, corresponding to an almost two-fold higher mortality rate among atrial flutter patients [crude HR 1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-3.03]. The higher mortality rate persisted after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension (adjusted HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.05-2.69). The rate of thrombo-embolic events was similar in the two groups (crude HR 1.34, 95% CI 0.71-2.56; adjusted HR 1.22, 95% CI 0.62-2.41).

Conclusion
In this observational study, patients with atrial flutter had a significantly higher all-cause mortality rate compared with those with AF after an ablation procedure, but similar thrombo-embolic event rates. Future studies should elucidate the reason for this difference in mortality.


The Effect of Computer-Based Pronunciation Readings on ESL Learners' Perception and Production of Prosodic Features in a Short-Term ESP Course Caitlin Jolley Department of Linguistics and English Language, BYU Master of Arts Recent studies on pronunciation teaching in ESL classrooms have found that the teaching of suprasegmentals, namely stress, pausing, and intonation, has a great effect on improving intelligibility (Derwing, Munro, & Wiebe, 1998; Kang, Rubin, & Pickering, 2010; Morley, 1991). The current project describes the development and implementation of computer-based pronunciation materials used for an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) program. The pronunciation program made use of cued pronunciation readings (CPRs) which used suprasegmentals and were developed for English as a second language (ESL) missionaries at the Provo, Utah, Missionary Training Center (MTC). Because there was no pronunciation program in place at the MTC, instructional materials that focused on prosodic features were greatly needed. Missionaries participated in the program anywhere from three to six weeks. Results from the implementation period revealed that missionaries made medium to large gains in their ability to perceive suprasegmentals after using the practice tasks and small-medium gains in their ability to produce suprasegmentals during this short time period. Recommendations for further development, implementation, and testing of similar materials are made for use with individuals in other ESP settings like these missionaries at the MTC.


[1] Carbon (C) cycling in Lake Superior was studied within the Keweenaw Interdisciplinary Transport Experiment in Superior (KITES) project to assess (1) whether the lake is net heterotrophic, (2) sources, sinks and residence time for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), (3) importance of terrigenous organic C subsidies, and (4) factors limiting C flow through bacteria. During 3 years of fieldwork, measurements were made of spatial and temporal distributions of C pools and rates of photosynthesis, community respiration, and bacterial production. Measurements were made of the composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM), rates of DOM photolysis, lability of DOM toward microbial consumption, and river inputs of DOM. All measurements suggest the lake is net heterotrophic. The C:N ratios of DOM suggest that it is primarily of terrigenous origin, but other characteristics (size distribution, UV absorption) point to the presence of autochthonous DOM and to alteration of terrigenous material. The lake mass balance indicates that the residence time (∼8 years) of the DOC pool (17 Tg) is short relative to the hydrologic residence time (170 years). The known flux of terrigenous DOC (∼1 Tg/yr) is too low to support annual bacterial carbon demand (6–38 Tg/yr), but microbial respiration is the major sink for terrigenous DOC. A rapidly cycling, autochthonous DOC pool must exist. Microbial activity was correlated with temperature, phosphorus availability, and DOC concentration but not with photosynthesis rates. Measurements of respiration (∼40 Tg/yr), photosynthesis (2–7 Tg/yr), and bacterial production (0.5–2 Tg/yr) are not all mutually compatible and result in a discrepancy in the organic carbon budget.


Photosynthetic activity performance of 3 wheat mutants such as BG48-3-1, BG48-3-7, and BD29-3-9 were studied at 2 different levels of temperature (20 °C and 30 °C) at seedling stage under controlled environment conditions during 2011 at Rothamsted Research, UK. These mutants had earlier been developed from 'Cham1' by exposing germinating seeds to the chemical mutagen, ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS). Simple mutations affecting amino acid residues close to catalytically important regions of Rubisco Activase in these mutants were identified through TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes). Although generally the mutants were less active for photosynthetic activity (A) than 'Cham1' (control) at 20 °C but their A exceeded those of the control at every CO2 concentration and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) tested at 30 °C. The higher A of the mutant lines at 30 °C was correlated with the induction of mutations affecting amino acid residues close to catalytically important regions of Rubisco activase. Differing trends in leaf stomatal conductance (gs) were observed for mutants and parent lines at 20 °C and 30 °C. Among the mutants, those with gs below 0.54 mmol m-2 s-1 at 20 °C showed greater gs at 30 °C; while the mutants exceeding the gs above 0.54 mmol m-2 s-1 at 20 °C showed slightly lower gs at 30 °C. In Cham1, however, the gs was invariably higher at 30 °C than 20 °C. Intercellular CO2 (Ci) was slightly lower in all mutant lines at every CO2 concentration and at all light intensities. Ci was also slightly lower in mutants at lowest light intensities at 20 than 30 °C. In contrast, Cham1 showed modest increase in Ci at 30 °C. Mutant BG48-3-1 at 30 °C displayed the highest rates of transpiration (E), while Cham1 and mutant BG48-3-7 at 20 °C displayed the highest E. The results are consistent with Rubisco activase from the mutant lines possessing greater thermal-stability than parent 'Cham1' at 30 °C under different levels of CO2 and PPFD. However, the mutant lines require more thorough evaluation before recommendation as a source of germplasm with enhanced thermal tolerance for use in wheat breeding programs.


This paper presents an inertial-measurement-unit-based pen (IMUPEN) and its associated trajectory reconstruction algorithm for motion trajectory reconstruction and handwritten digit recognition applications. The IMUPEN is composed of a triaxial accelerometer, two gyroscopes, a microcontroller, and an RF wireless transmission module. Users can hold the IMUPEN to write numerals or draw simple symbols at normal speed. During writing or drawing movements, the inertial signals generated for the movements are transmitted to a computer via the wireless module. A trajectory reconstruction algorithm composed of the procedures of data collection, signal preprocessing, and trajectory reconstruction has been developed for reconstructing the trajectories of movements. In order to minimize the cumulative errors caused by the intrinsic noise/drift of sensors, we have developed an orientation error compensation method and a multiaxis dynamic switch. The advantages of the IMUPEN include the following: 1) It is portable and can be used anywhere without any external reference device or writing ambit limitations, and 2) its trajectory reconstruction algorithm can reduce orientation and integral errors effectively and thus can reconstruct the trajectories of movements accurately. Our experimental results on motion trajectory reconstruction and handwritten digit recognition have successfully validated the effectiveness of the IMUPEN and its trajectory reconstruction algorithm.


Background
Our aim was to test the safety of cetuximab added to chemoradiation with either cisplatin or carboplatin after prior induction chemotherapy.

Methods
Patients with stage III/IV unresectable, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck received up to four cycles of TPF-E (cisplatin and docetaxel 75 mg/m2 on day 1 followed by 5-FU 750 mg/m2/day as a continuous infusion on days 1-5 plus cetuximab at a loading dose of 400 mg/m2 followed by a weekly dose of 250 mg/m2), with prophylactic antibiotics but no growth factors. Patients not progressing after four cycles of TPF-E were randomly assigned to radiotherapy (70 Gy over 7 weeks in 2 Gy fractions) and weekly cetuximab with either weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m2 or carboplatin, AUC of 1.5 mg/ml/min. Primary endpoint was feasibility.

Results
Forty-seven patients were recruited. One patient did not start TPF (hypersensitivity reaction during the cetuximab loading dose). Induction TPF-E was discontinued in 12 patients due to toxicity (6 patients), medical decision (2), death (1), patient refusal (1), protocol violation (1), co-morbidity (1). Three further patients were not randomized [progressive disease (1), protocol violation (1), toxicity and co-morbidity (1)]. Of particular interest are three patients who suffered from bowel perforation, one patient who died as results of pneumonia and septic shock, and a second patient who was found dead at home 12 days after starting TPF-E (cause of death unknown). Weekly cisplatin and carboplatin was stopped early in seven and four patients, respectively. Radiotherapy was stopped in two patients with cisplatin and interrupted in one patient with cisplatin and four patients with carboplatin.

Conclusions
The addition of cetuximab to full dose TPF induction chemotherapy led to unacceptable complications and premature closing of the study. Only 34 out of 46 patients completed four cycles of TPF-E and only 30 started biochemoradiation.


In East Africa, soil nutrient depletion and low yields jeopardise the food security of smallholder farming families and exacerbate poverty. The main reasons for the depletion of soil nutrients are overuse due to population growth, limited land, and increasing uncertainty in agricultural production caused by climate change. This study aims to analyse and optimise nutrient flows and stocks in the homegardens of smallholder banana-coffee-based farming systems in the Kagera region in NW Tanzania. The plant nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in plant-based biomass and organic farm waste are under investigation. We used data from a farm household survey (150 households) and from focus group discussions with 22 trainers who had been training about 750 farm households in sustainable land management (SLM) at a local farmer field school. In total, we identified six farm household types and calculated a nutrient balance (NB) for the homegardens of each household type. The NB was calculated for the following five management scenarios: S0: business as usual; S1: the use of 80% of the available human urine; S2: the incorporation of 0.5 t yr−1 of the herbaceous legume species Crotalaria grahamiana into the soil; S3: the production of 5 m3 yr−1 CaSa-compost (human excreta and biochar) and its application on 600 m2 land; and S4: a combination of S1, S2, and S3. The results show that the NB varies considerably depending on whether farmers have implemented the SLM training, apply nutrient-preserving manure collection and storage methods, and purchase fodder (imported nutrients), or whether they do not collect manure or do not purchase fodder. Trained farm households are more likely to have a positive NB than untrained households because they have already improved the nutrient management of their farms through the successful implementation of SLM practices. Untrained households would improve the NB in their homegardens under all management scenarios. However, the NB depends on labour-intensive manure collection and compost production, labour shortages, prolonged dry seasons, and socio-economic imbalances. As long as these constraints remain, nutrient deficiencies will not be overcome with mineral fertilisers alone, because soils have to be further enriched with organic matter first. In this paper, we also emphasise the importance of the system boundary, because only a complete NB can give an estimate of actual nutrient removal and the resulting nutrient demand (including removals by fodder and trees). Further improvements in the SLM training may be achieved by (i) measuring the current nutrient status of soils, (ii) analysing the need for the coexistence of free-range livestock on the grassland and zero-grazing in trained households, and (iii) conducting an in-depth analysis of the socio-economic differences between successful and unsuccessful households. In conclusion, if smallholder farmers were to integrate further improved SLM training and optimised nutrient management (S1 to S4), we assume that the NB would turn positive. Last but not least, the SLM training by the farmer field school may serve as a best-practice example for training and policy recommendations made by government institutions.


Physical models of cathodic protection (CP) for copper protected by 35# steel and for 35# steel protected by aluminum sacrificial anode respectively in seawater were built in this study. Weak form of Laplace equation was deduced to make finite element method (FEM) numerical calculation conveniently. Then, potential distribution of each physical model was computed by FEM following with measured experiments for validation. Typical FEM simulated data along X-axis and Y-axis of physical models agree well with measured experimental data. For 35# steel protected by aluminum sacrificial anode models, normal cathodic protection, over-protected (OP) and under-protected (UP) models were built, respectively. The results demonstrated that it should be feasible of CP for copper by 35# steel and for 35# steel by aluminum sacrificial anode respectively, and FEM could afford well forecast for CP design in engineering.


Computed tomography (CT) guided percutaneous punctures of the liver for cancer diagnosis and therapy (e.g. tumor biopsy, radiofrequency ablation) are well-established procedures in clinical routine. One of the main challenges related to these interventions is the accurate placement of the needle within the lesion. Several navigation concepts have been introduced to compensate for organ shift and deformation in real-time, yet, the operator error remains an important factor influencing the overall accuracy of the developed systems. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the operator error and, thus, the overall insertion error of an existing navigation system could be further reduced by replacing the user with the medical robot Robopsy. For this purpose, we performed navigated needle insertions in a static abdominal phantom as well as in a respiratory liver motion simulator and compared the human operator error with the targeting error performed by the robot. According to the results, the Robopsy driven needle insertion system is able to more accurately align the needle and insert it along its axis compared to a human operator. Integration of the robot into the current navigation system could thus improve targeting accuracy in clinical use.


The concept of blending mobile learning and cloud computing (cloud-based m-learning) is potentially a strong fit for higher education in developing countries with inadequate infrastructure. Notwithstanding the potential benefits, while a substantial number of theoretical studies exist, there are limited studies focusing on the practical implementation of such learning opportunities. Leveraging on the success of mobile technology in Nigeria, this study proposes a contextual cloudbased m-learning model. To explore the suitability of the proposed model in practice, a case study based trial was conducted using a blended approach, in which m-learning complemented the traditional teaching and learning in a Nigerian university. Applying the principles of social constructivism and the theory of optimal experience (Flow), learning was designed to be collaborative, motivating and engaging. Data were collected via questionnaire and observation of 208 undergraduate students. The outcome of the trial showed that cloud-based m-learning offered practical solutions to the limited IT infrastructure at the university and allowed for the merits of student-centered learning to be gradually introduced. This had a positive self-reported impact on students' learning. This study demonstrates how cloud-based m-learning exploiting local opportunities, can be effectively implemented to enhance learning in higher institutions with a paucity of resources.


Tapasin (tpn), an essential component of the MHC class I (MHC I) loading complex, has a canonical double lysine motif acting as a retrieval signal, which mediates retrograde transport of escaped endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins from the Golgi back to the ER. In this study, we mutated tpn with a substitution of the double lysine motif to double alanine (GFP-tpn-aa). This mutation abolished interaction with the coatomer protein complex I coatomer and resulted in accumulation of GFP-tpn-aa in the Golgi compartment, suggesting that the double lysine is important for the retrograde transport of tpn from late secretory compartments to the ER. In association with the increased Golgi distribution, the amount of MHC I exported from the ER to the surface was increased in 721.220 cells transfected with GFP-tpn-aa. However, the expressed MHC I were less stable and had increased turnover rate. Our results suggest that tpn with intact double lysine retrieval signal regulates retrograde transport of unstable MHC I molecules from the Golgi back to the ER to control the quality of MHC I Ag presentation. The Journal of Immunology, 2006, 176: 7482–7488.


Within the framework of sustainable development, the concept of cultural heritage is linked to the heritage awareness of a specific spatial context, and to the conservation of collective memory. Despite the clear interest in cultural sustainability, the lack of research devoted to interpreting different teaching methods for transmitting patrimonial assets and preserving natural heritage is noteworthy. For this reason, the present study takes various scientific contributions as the background for considering sustainable education as a fundamental instrument to recover and conserve heritage resources, both from an informative and educational point of view. The aim of this study was to assess the training of new teachers in terms of the particular skills needed to develop active learning methods related to the teaching of heritage sustainability. The research sample consisted of 488 students in the Degree in Primary Education program. The methodology combined both qualitative and quantitative techniques, to obtain information from both observation and an opinion survey given to the students. The results show several opinions related to achieving and facilitating the implementation of innovative methodologies, due to a lack of initial university training. Generally speaking, this work provided an opportunity for students to analyze a series of prejudices regarding their working methods, and to overcome excessive theorization in their university studies.


The European FP7 project DIANA has performed a coherent analysis of a large set of observational data of protoplanetary disks by means of thermo-chemical disk models. The collected data include extinction-corrected stellar UV and X-ray input spectra (as seen by the disk), photometric fluxes, low and high resolution spectra, interferometric data, emission line fluxes, line velocity profiles and line maps, which probe the dust, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the gas in these objects. We define and apply a standardized modeling procedure to fit these data by state-of-the-art modeling codes (ProDiMo, MCFOST, MCMax), solving continuum and line radiative transfer (RT), disk chemistry, and the heating and cooling balance for both the gas and the dust. 3D diagnostic RT tools (e.g., FLiTs) are eventually used to predict all available observations from the same disk model, the DIANA-standard model. Our aim is to determine the physical parameters of the disks, such as total gas and dust masses, the dust properties, the disk shape, and the chemical structure in these disks. We allow for up to two radial disk zones to obtain our best-fitting models that have about 20 free parameters. This approach is novel and unique in its completeness and level of consistency. It allows us to break some of the degeneracies arising from pure Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) modeling. In this paper, we present the results from pure SED fitting for 27 objects and from the all inclusive DIANA-standard models for 14 objects. Our analysis shows a number of Herbig Ae and T Tauri stars with very cold and massive outer disks which are situated at least partly in the shadow of a tall and gas-rich inner disk. The disk masses derived are often in excess to previously published values, since these disks are partially optically thick even at millimeter wavelength and so cold that they emit less than in the Rayleigh–Jeans limit. We fit most infrared to millimeter emission line fluxes within a factor better than 3, simultaneously with SED, PAH features and radial brightness profiles extracted from images at various wavelengths. However, some line fluxes may deviate by a larger factor, and sometimes we find puzzling data which the models cannot reproduce. Some of these issues are probably caused by foreground cloud absorption or object variability. Our data collection, the fitted physical disk parameters as well as the full model output are available to the community through an online database (http://www.univie.ac.at/diana).


Estrogens exert pleiotropic effects on reproductive traits, which include differentiation and activation of reproductive behaviors and the control of the secretion of gonadotropins. Estrogens also profoundly affect non-reproductive traits, such as cognition and neuroprotection. These effects are usually attributed to nuclear receptor binding and subsequent regulation of target gene transcription. Estrogens also affect neuronal activity and cell-signaling pathways via faster, membrane-initiated events. How these two types of actions that operate in distinct timescales interact in the control of complex behavioral responses is poorly understood. Here, we show that the central administration of estradiol rapidly increases the expression of sexual motivation, as assessed by several measures of sexual motivation produced in response to the visual presentation of a female but not sexual performance in male Japanese quail. This effect is mimicked by membrane-impermeable analogs of estradiol, indicating that it is initiated at the cell membrane. Conversely, blocking the action of estrogens or their synthesis by a single intracerebroventricular injection of estrogen receptor antagonists or aromatase inhibitors, respectively, decreases sexual motivation within minutes without affecting performance. The same steroid has thus evolved complementary mechanisms to regulate different behavioral components (motivation vs performance) in distinct temporal domains (long- vs short-term) so that diverse reproductive activities can be properly coordinated to improve reproductive fitness. Given the pleiotropic effects exerted by estrogens, other responses controlled by these steroids might also depend on a slow genomic regulation of neuronal plasticity underlying behavioral activation and an acute control of motivation to engage in behavior.


Introduction: Telepathology allows the digital transmission of images for rapid access to pathology experts. Recent technologic advances in smartphones have allowed them to be used to acquire and transmit digital images of the glass slide, representing cost savings and efficiency gains over traditional forms of telepathology. We report our experience with developing an iPhone application (App - Pocket Pathologist) to facilitate rapid diagnostic pathology teleconsultation utilizing a smartphone. Materials and Methods: A secure, web-based portal (http://pathconsult.upmc.com/) was created to facilitate remote transmission of digital images for teleconsultation. The App augments functionality of the web-based portal and allows the user to quickly and easily upload digital images for teleconsultation. Image quality of smartphone cameras was evaluated by capturing images using different adapters that directly attach phones to a microscope ocular lens. Results: The App was launched in August 2013. The App facilitated easy submission of cases for teleconsultation by limiting the number of data entry fields for users and enabling uploading of images from their smartphone′s gallery wirelessly. Smartphone cameras properly attached to a microscope create static digital images of similar quality to a commercial digital microscope camera. Conclusion: Smartphones have great potential to support telepathology because they are portable, provide ubiquitous internet connectivity, contain excellent digital cameras, and can be easily attached to a microscope. The Pocket Pathologist App represents a significant reduction in the cost of creating digital images and submitting them for teleconsultation. The iPhone App provides an easy solution for global users to submit digital pathology images to pathology experts for consultation.


Background: Apathy is common in aging, but the processes underlying its different components are still unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between apathy and prospective memory (PM), a process involved in the execution of delayed intentions. Methods: Fifty elderly participants completed a PM task and a working memory task. Close relatives of the participants were given the Apathy Inventory, which assesses three dimensions of apathy (lack of initiative, lack of interest, emotional blunting), and a negative mood scale. Results: Correlation analyses showed strong relationships between PM and lack of initiative and interest. These relations remain significant even after controlling for global cognitive functioning, working memory, processing speed and negative mood. Conclusion: This study sheds new light on the cognitive mechanisms associated with apathy in aging and opens up interesting prospects for psychological intervention.


This paper employs recently developed econometric models of marginal treatment effects to analyze the relevance of labor market comparative advantage and segmentation in the participation and earnings performance of workers in formal and informal jobs in Argentina. A novel household data set on informality and self-employment and information on labor inspections targeting informal work was collected for this purpose. We account for endogeneity and selectivity issues in our estimations. Our results offer evidence for both comparative advantage and segmentation. No significant differences between the earnings of formal salaried workers and the self-employed are found, once accounted for positive selection bias into formal work. This is consistent with labor market comparative advantage considerations. On the contrary, informal salaried employment carries significant earnings penalties, alongside negative selection bias and modest positive sorting. These results are more consistent with segmentation.


To replace bottom ash for natural sand completely, the mix proportions of bottom ash in concrete was adjusted according to tab density and replacement ratio of Metakaolin/Cement were established. And then testing for slump, setting time, and compressive strength was conducted. According to test results, the compressive strength of concrete using the bottom ash was lower than that of concrete using natural sand (BAO concrete). But by adjusting the amount of bottom ash in concrete according tab density so that the fine aggregate proportions change 44% to 38%, the compressive strength of concrete using the bottom ash could even be higher than BAO concrete. And the chloric content of concrete using the bottom ash increased as the replacement ratio of bottom ash increased, but it is satisfied with the chloric content of fresh concrete 0.30 kg/m2 below (concrete standard specification regulation value).


Abstract The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting a study on the indoor air quality (IAQ) impacts and engineering solutions related to the transport of pollutants from attached garages to residential living spaces. Natural or fan-induced pressure differences across air leakage paths in house-garage (HG) interfaces can result in the transport of the contaminants generated in garages into adjacent living spaces. This paper summarises a literature review on the transport of pollutants from garages to residential living spaces and describes a field study to estimate the range of airtightness of attached garages and of HG interfaces in the United States. Although the body of literature on pollutant transport from attached garages to residential buildings is limited, the studies reviewed provide substantial evidence that transport of contaminants from garages has the potential to negatively impact residential IAQ in either an acute (e.g., carbon monoxide from automobiles) or chronic manner (e.g., storage of chemical products). However, the literature contains few answers on issues such as the airtightness and geometry of the HG interface, the impact of heating and cooling equipment in the garage, and the effectiveness of potential engineering solutions. To address one gap in understanding these issues, the airtightness of garages and HG interfaces was measured in five residences using fan pressurisation. While the small sample of houses limits generalisation of the results, a range of house ages, styles, and sizes was included. For all homes tested, the garage was found to be at least twice as leaky as the house, based on air change per hour at 50 Pa. The leakiness of the garage envelope, based on surface area normalised effective leakage area at 4 Pa (ELA4/SA), ranges from a high of nearly eleven times to a low of two and a half times that of the house exterior envelope leakage. On average, the HG interface was almost two and a half times as leaky as the rest of the house envelope, when based on ELA4/SA. However, this average is somewhat skewed due to one HG interface measured in this study that is almost eleven times as leaky as the rest of the house envelope. Conversely, a larger Canadian study found HG interfaces to be comparable to house envelopes but found the average garage to be about ten times as leaky as houses – possibly because Canadian houses are consistently tighter than U.S. houses (Fugler et al. 2002). The knowledge gained from this review and the field study will be used in a simulation study of the potential occupant exposure to pollutants from attached garages and to explore potential engineering solutions to this IAQ problem.


Chong and Lam and Chong et al. show that SETAR(200) and MA(50) outperform other rules in both the U.S. and the Chinese stock market. This paper investigates the synergy of combining SETAR(200) and MA(50) rules in ten U.S. and Chinese stock market indexes. It is found that the SETAR rule performs better in the U.S. market, while the MA rule performs better in the Chinese market. In addition, we find evidence that a new strategy combining the two rules together is able to create synergy. An immediate implication of our result is that investors are able to improve the performance of their portfolios by combining existing profitable trading rules.


This paper tests for price patterns in retail gasoline markets consistent with those predicted by models of implicit collusion among firms. Recent supergame models show that the highest supportable collusive price is a function of today's profit relative to expected future profit: collusive prices are higher when predictable changes in demand or cost lead firms to expect that collusive profits are increasing rather than declining. Ceteris paribus, collusive profits will be expected to increase when demand is expected to increase and/or costs are expected to decline. Using panel data on sales volume, and retail and wholesale prices in 59 cities over 72 months, we find results consistent with these predictions. Controlling for current demand and input price, the elasticity of current retail margins with respect to expected next-month demand is about 0.37. The elasticity of current margins with respect to next-month wholesale price is about -0.37. The results are inconsistent with inventory effects.


1. Photoinactivation of dye-filled neurons was used to examine the modulatory role of the paired cerebral giant cells (CGCs) in the Lymnaea feeding system. 2. Both CGCs were filled with fluorescent dyes. Lucifer yellow was used for "soma" kills and injected via intracellular microelectrodes. CGC axons were retrogradely filled with 5 (6)-carboxyfluorescein (5-CF), through the cut ends of the ventro- and lateral buccal nerves, for "axonal" kills. 3. Irradiation of the CGC soma with a blue laser light (0.5 MW/m2) led to a loss of their recorded membrane potentials and the synaptic responses with their postsynaptic cells (feeding motor neurons). CGC coupling and axonal fluorescence were lost after axonal irradiation. 4. The tonic firing rate of CGC axon spikes in peripheral nerve roots following bilateral soma kills was reduced to approximately 15% of preirradiation levels (n = 2; from 52.5 +/- 3.75 spikes/min to 8.2 +/- 0.95 spikes/min; mean +/- SE) but spike activity was not completely eliminated. 5. The fictive feeding rhythm was evoked by depolarizing a modulatory neuron, the slow oscillator (SO), before and after laser irradiation. Thirty minutes after both the CGCs were irradiated (n = 8), the frequency of the SO-driven feeding rhythm was reduced. Mean fictive feeding rates were reduced from 8.3 to 4.5 cycles/min for soma kills (n = 3) and from 16.2 to 9.6 cycles/min for axonal kills (n = 5; P < 0.05). 6. The results suggest that the CGCs play a modulatory role in controlling the frequency of oscillation of the feeding central pattern generator (CPG) in Lymnaea. The SO could still drive a full fictive feeding rhythm after irradiation but at a reduced rate. At least in the soma kills, the residual spike activity retained in the distal branches of the CGCs appeared sufficient to allow the SO to drive this slow rhythm.


This article compares the assessment methods used by Atax, a school in the Faculty of Law, UNSW (Atax), and the Commercial Law Department in the Faculty of Business at the University of Auckland (University of Auckland) for undergraduate students. It utilises the main attributes of the methodologies used in each program to offer improved methods of assessment. This proposal is reviewed against the backdrop of the literature to ensure it meets best practice.The article expresses a view that assessment methods used in the teaching of taxation law need to achieve two goals: student abilities to think critically, solve problems and to be technically competent must be evaluated; and the methods implemented must meet the needs of educators who may themselves be balancing both research and teaching in a subject area that is constantly changing.


OBJECTIVE
Research has increasingly explored mental illness self-stigma: when people with mental illness believe that society's negative beliefs are true of them. Self-stigma predicts poorer functional and treatment outcomes. Stigma research has typically investigated the impact of a single stigma on people, without considering the potential effects of multiple stigmatizing labels. People with mental illness and a history of criminal conviction, however, may experience multiple stigmas related to mental illness and criminal history. This study investigated the impact of the combination of multiple stigmatized identities on self-esteem, depression, therapeutic alliance, and treatment adherence in a forensic psychiatric sample. It extended previous research on mental illness self-stigma to a forensic psychiatric sample.

METHODS
Participants (N = 82) were people with mental illness and a history of criminal conviction recruited from their treatment sites. Participants completed self-report questionnaires focused on mental illness and criminality self-stigma, racial self- concept, self-esteem, depression, working alliance, and medication/psychosocial treatment adherence. Researchers confirmed demographics through a chart review and treatment adherence from participants' clinicians. Multiple regression analyses examined the relationship between self-stigma and outcome variables.

RESULTS
Mental illness self-stigma, racial self-concept, and to a lesser extent criminality self-stigma were associated with reduced self-esteem (p ≤ .05) and medication adherence (p ≤ .05). Criminality self-stigma also appeared to magnify the effects of racial and mental illness self-stigma on outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
This study shows that self-stigma related to involvement in the criminal justice system may further contribute to the impact of mental illness self-stigma on important outcomes. Future research and interventions may tailor self-stigma interventions to a forensic psychiatric population.