The cellular uptake of nonphosphorylated myo-inositol (MI) and its incorporation into phosphoinositide in the rat epitrochlearis muscle was measured. Cellular uptake of [2-(3)H]MI was determined by the difference between total uptake and [2-(3)H]MI present in the extracellular fluid determined with [1-(14)C]mannitol. Cellular uptake was parabolic and directly proportional to medium MI concentrations between 25 and 3,200 muM. Saturation of a MI carrier was not evident. Moreover, uptake was not inhibited by 2 mM ouabain, 0.3 mM 2,4-dinitrophenol, or 22 mM glucose. Insulin, 100 mU/ml, was without effect on either cellular uptake of [2-(3)H]MI or its incorporation into phosphoinositides. In muscles that were preloaded with [2-(3)H]MI and then incubated in media that contained a constant amount of MI but no [2-(3)H]MI, 44.3% of the [2-(3)H]MI was released after 10 min increasing to 62.5% by 120 min. Cellular MI concentrations were 0.18 mumol/g wet tissue (four times plasma levels) in rapidly isolated and frozen epitrochlearis muscle. When muscle was incubated without MI, 48% of endogenous MI was lost rapidly. Restoration of cellular MI in 50 muM MI media occurred in two phases, a rapid uptake phase lasting 10 min and a subsequent slow phase of MI uptake. It is concluded that MI enters and leaves skeletal muscle cells freely by a process that does not involve active transport. Neither insulin nor hyperglycemia affected MI transport nor its incorporation into phosphoinositides. The intracellular to medium concentration gradient may be dependent on reversible binding to tubulin and possibly to other intracellular components.


In the subsurface of the San Juan Basin, New Mexico, the Coniacian Tocito Sandstone is composed of four sequences (Tocito-1, Tocito-2, Tocito-3 and Tocito-4). Over their extent, each basal sequence boundary is marked by erosion and truncation of underlying strata and onlap by shallower water, typically estuarine strata. Axes of erosion are typically narrow, straight to slightly sinuous and locally join to form tributary-like junctures. These patterns are interpreted to be incised valleys cut by fluvial and estuarine systems during lowstands in relative sea level. The four sequences stack in a backstepping pattern to form a retrogradational sequence set. Toward the outcrop belt (southwest), the sequence boundaries merge to form a composite surface which everywhere separate Tocito strata from underlying Gallup strata. Sandstone accumulations occur along sinuous lows associated with incised sequence boundaries. Two end-member types of lowstand facies exist: an open-marine facies dominated by marine mudstone with minor thin-bedded and bioturbated sandstone beds and a sand-prone, tidally influenced facies consisting of beds of medium to coarse grained, highly glauconitic sandstone. Tidal indicators include double clay drapes, flaser and lenticular bedding and large- to small-scale sigmoidal and trough cross bedding. Iron-cemented shale rip-up clasts, quartz and phosphatic pebbles, sharks teeth, Inoceramus and oyster shell fragments also characterize the Tocito Sandstone. Ichnofauna are dominated by Thalassinoides, Paleophycus and Planolites burrows with locally abundant robu t Ophiomorpha burrows. Bedding and ichnofauna indicate sand deposition within estuaries. Reactivated basement-involved faults were the dominant influence on Tocito drainage patterns. These northwest-trending basement-involved faults, which were active episodically throughout the Phanerozoic, created linear pathways that acted as catchments for southeast-directed stream and estuarine systems. Reactivation of these structures during the Tocito lowstands led to a reorientation of regional sediment transport directions nearly perpendicular to that of the underlying Gallup shoreline deposits. The close vertical juxtaposition of erosional sequence boundaries and variably filled incised valleys created abundant stratigraphic traps. Most hydrocarbon traps are dependent on a combination of trapping elements which can include a bend in the valley axis (lateral-trapping element), valley edges where valley-fill sandstones thin to zero (lateral and updip seals), and truncation of sandstone valley-fill by younger, shale-filled valleys (lateral, updip and top seals). Through time, valleys tend to become broader and shallower and are filled with strata that are more shale-prone and more open marine in character. Hydrocarbon production is chiefly from the older, sand-prone valley systems. Previous workers viewed the composite erosional surface at the base of the Tocito sequences as a single erosional unconformity which was progressively onlapped through time by beaches, offshore bars and shelf-sand ridges. In these models, hydrocarbon-trapping mechanisms relied on gradual facies changes of the sandy bars into marine shale. The incised-valley model accounts for the tidal and estuarine indicators, complex erosional patterns and hydrocarbon-trapping styles of the Tocito Sandstone.


A core collection (831 accessions) has been developed to represent the U.S. Arachis hypogaea L. germplasm collection. This core collection has been shown to be effective in improving the efficiency of identifying genes of interest in the entire germplasm collection. However, an even smaller subset of germplasm is needed for traits which are difficult and/or expensive to measure. The objectives of this study were to select a core of the core collection and to evaluate the usefulness of this subset of germplasm to identify genes of interest in peanut. Data for eight above ground and eight below ground morphological characteristics were measured for each accession in the core collection. Cluster analysis was used on these data to partition the core accessions into groups which, theoretically, are genetically similar. Random sampling was then used to select a 10% sample from each group. The result was a core of the core collection (mini core) consisting of 112 accessions. Examination of morphological data indicated that the majority of genetic variation expressed in the core collection has been preserved in this core of the core collection. Data on disease resistances for accessions in the core collection were collected and used to determine retrospectively how effective the use of a mini core collection would have been in identifying sources of resistance in the core collection. Results indicated that the mini core collection can be used to improve the efficiency of identifying desirable traits in the core collection. For resistance to late leaf spot (Cercosporidiumpersonatum (Berk. & M. A. Curtis), the use of a mini core collection would have improved the efficiency of identifying resistant accessions in the entire collection. The core of the core approach should be particularly useful for traits which are difficult and/or expensive to measure.


This paper presents the attempt to explore theoretically the nature of creativity in negotiation process in order to find out what is the biggest challenge for creativity there. Negotiation process as a context for exercising creativity has been presented and some challenges for creativity there have been pointed out. Further, theories of creativity have been reviewed and their implications or negotiation process have been discussed. It has been found that the main problem with creativity and negotiation process is the tug of war between the creative thinker, whose ideas are fostered through solitary work, and the multiparty, interpersonal, team-oriented negotiation process. Thus the challenge for creativity in negotiation is to achieve a balance between these two types of thinking and performing, so that creative ideas are available and are cultivated within negotiation settings. I close with a discussion of how creativity in negotiation settings can be increased.


lobal risk scores use individual level information on non-modifiable risk factors (such as age, sex, ethnicity and family history) and modifiable risk factors (such as smoking status and blood pressure) to predict an individual's absolute risk of an adverse event over a specified period of time in the future. Cardiovascular risk scores have two major uses in practice. First, they can be used to dichotomise people into a group whose baseline risk, and therefore potential absolute benefit, is sufficiently high to justify the costs and risks associated with an intervention (whether treatment or prevention) and a group with a lower absolute risk to whom the intervention is usually denied. Second, they can be used to assess the effectiveness of an interven tion (such as smoking cessation or antihypertensive treatment) at reducing an individual's risk of future adverse events. In this context, they can be helpful in infor-ming patients, motivating them to change their life-style, and reinforcing the importance of continued compliance.


The O-O coupling process in water oxidation on the gamma FeOOH hydroxide catalyst is simulated by means of density functional theory using model iron cubane cluster Fe4O4(OH)4. A key reactive intermediate is proposed to be the HO-FeIV-O• oxyl unit with terminal oxo radical formed from vertex HO-FeIV-OH moiety by withdrawal of proton-electron pair. The O-O coupling goes via water nucleophilic attack on the oxyl oxygen to form the O-O bond with a remarkably low barrier of 11 kcal/mol. This process is far more effective than alternative scenario based on direct interaction of two ferryl FeIV=O sites (with estimated barrier of 36 kcal/mol) and is comparable with the coupling between terminal oxo center and three-coordinated lattice oxo center (12 kcal/mol barrier). The process of hydroxylation of terminal oxygen inhibits the O-O coupling. Nevertheless, being more effective for ferryl oxygen, the hydroxylation in fact enhances selectivity of the O-O coupling initiated by the oxyl oxygen.


Tokyo is the world's largest, utmost complex and arguably most livable city. With a metropolitan region housing more people than Canada, Tokyo proves enigmatic – despite overwhelming size it's walkable, attractive, resilient, safe + dynamic. As a living laboratory for study of Architecture, Planning and Urban Design, Tokyo is second to none. The present research, critically considering & imaginatively exploring pedagogy, culture and competency, focused on an annually-offered Japan-based innovative/immersive study abroad initiative for environmental design graduate students. Urban design is at the core of the threemonth study abroad venture. Lying at the nexus of Architecture & Planning, Urban Design in this amazing city is rich, diverse, creative and highly successful. In a city with daunting complexity quality of life is astounding, richness of milieu is remarkable, and design boldness unparalleled. The term abroad is structured with two intertwined course offerings – design studio and urban theory class. Both studio and theory class engage in intense critical analysis of city and components. The three month period is organized into three related phases: Characterizing Tokyo; Urban Ideation, and Urban Design Intervention. Threading through of these aspects is overarching interest in urban typologies. Key to learning is development of self/world views, including sensitivities around Japan-ness (local) versus Gaijin-ness (foreign) perspectives on design. From a learning perspective few vehicles are as potent as study abroad. The research, focused on development/analysis of a Tokyo graduate studio, proffers an innovative model for studio-based education and offers lessons surrounding potent ways to prepare design students for the realities of more complex, demanding and internationally intertwined futures. The present paper is exploratory in intent and extent – it examines a unique study abroad venture and novel teaching approach that is in many ways speculative, preliminary, unconventional and provocative. The paper reveals key dimensions of pedagogy, encounter and education that open fascinating doors and call for richer and more rigorous study.


This paper considers the placement of m sensors at n > m possible locations. Given noisy observations, knowledge of the state correlation matrix, and a mean-square error criterion (equivalently maximizing an efficacy cost criterion), the problem is formulated as an integer programming problem. Computing the solution for large m and n is infeasible, requiring us to look at approximate algorithms and bounding optimal performance. Approximate algorithms include greedy algorithms and variations based on examining the efficacy cost function and projection-based methods that all run in polynomial time of m and n. A sequence of nested bounds are found that upper bound the optimal performance (with analysis based on using matrix pencils and generalized eigenvectors). Finally, we show through simulations that the approximate algorithms perform well and provide tight implementable lower bounds to optimal performance and the nested bounds provide upper bounds to optimal performance with tighter bounds achieved with increasing complexity. The sensor placement problem has many energy applications where we are often confronted with limited resources. Some examples include where to place environmental sensors for an area in which there are many distributed solar photovoltaic generators and where to place grid monitors on an electrical distribution microgrid.


In this study, the intensity of the asymmetrical tome neck reflex (ATNR) was measured in post-cerebrovascular accident (CVA) adults with hemiplegia and in neurologically intact adults to determine if the reflex exaggerated following CVA. Fourteen subjects with right and left hemiplegiC! were matched to neurologically intact subjects by age and sex and tested for the ATNR. Intensity of the reflex was measured using electromyography (EMG) biofeedback. The results indicate that no difference exists between the two groups in intensity of the reflex. The method of rotation used to elicit the reflex did significantly affect the strength of the muscle response. A possible explanation for observation of the reflex in the hemiplegic individual's movement and its significance in neuromuscular re-education programs is discussed. I t is known and accepted that a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) can disrupt normal sensorimotor integration within the nervous system, resulting in the widespread release of primitive postural reflexes, including the tonic neck reflexes (I, 2). However, the effect these reflexes have on the movement of the post-CV A patient and the potential for recovery of normal function is less clearly understood.


Accuracy analysis of replenishment diagnosis codes on the document medical records is very important because if the diagnosis code is not right or not in accordance with the ICD-10, it can cause a decline in the quality of care in hospitals as well as the influence of data, information reporting, and accuracy rates of INA-CBG's that are currently used as a method of payment for patient care. The purpose of this study was to analyze the accuracy of diagnosis codes acute gastroenteritis disease in hospitalized patients by medical record documents in the first quarter of 2015 in the Balung Hospital Jember. This research used qualitative data. Acquisition of data from this study through interviews and observations. Results obtained from the observation of medical record documents at the inpatient unit in the first quarter 2015 in Balung Hospital Jember, there are some numbers determining the accuracy of disease diagnosis codes as many as 17 medical record documents with acute gastroenteritis illness and the determination of improper diagnosis codes as many as 63 medical records document acute gastroenteritis illness. After analyzing, the cause of the problem is the accuracy of the diagnosis that affects the accuracy of writing code, beside it has never been disseminated to physicians and medical records personnel related to the management of medical records. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out activities that can improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis code and quality of human resources, among others, include doctors and medical records personnel in training and socialization related to the management of medical records. Key Words : Diagnosis codes , medical record, acute gastroenteritis


Purpose
– The significant role of anti-corruption compliance should be encouraged to create good
business and investment climate. Especially, in the circumstances of higher number of bribery and
corruption cases, whilst preparing for Asian Economic Community, the necessary actions to reduce the
financial crime and economic crime should be fostered into all aspects of business activities. To reduce
bribery and corruption cases in Indonesia, National Integrity System as part of National Strategy on
Corruption Prevention and Eradication is urged to be conducted. With the implementation of National
Integrity System among all public or governmental institutions and private institutions, the institutions
itself will be strengthened. National Integrity System should be implemented through all the people,
process and technology in the organizations. So, at the end, the purpose of this paper is to prevent any
financial crime, particularly in the Indonesian anti-corruption regime.
Design/methodology/approach
– This paper explores and analyzes anti-bribery regulations and
the important role of National Integrity System as the prevention approach to build anti-corruption
compliance in Indonesia.
Findings
– The National Integrity System and Anti-Corruption Compliance can be viewed as
important elements for preventing any financial crime. The new perspective is needed for all of the
public institutions and private institutions to build and implement National Integrity System in all
business activities. Furthermore, all of business society has a significant role of developing the
sustainable good business environment in Indonesia. Encouraging National Integrity System in every
business sector is also a way to achieve the last purpose, which is to strengthen economic
competitiveness.
Practical implications
– The paper can be a source to explore about the National Integrity System
and Anti-Corruption Compliance based on Indonesia perspectives.
Originality/value
– This paper gives contributions by encouraging the public and private
institutions to build anti-corruption compliance by implementing National Integrity System within
their organizational culture to prevent financial crime and lead to sustainable economic growth.


David has been "singled out." He is the only one in his neighborhood legally prohibited from building a house. In a town full of residences, his lot alone must remain vacant. This is unequal, but is it unconstitutional? Courts have continually grappled with this sort of question, vigilantly defending against unfair and unjust singling out. So important is this concern that the Supreme Court has emphasized it as the heart of the Fifth Amendment takings jurisprudence, and an entire Equal Protection doctrine has emerged around it. However, courts and scholars have yet to critically examine the concept of singling-out, and as a result, singling-out protections languish as ineffective and counterproductive. This Article remedies the oversight and presents a solution. By untangling the different singling-out theories, this Article prioritizes the approaches that best serve their underlying values. Moreover, this Article proposes an easily implementable, though counterintuitive, measure for improving both singling-out protections and Fifth Amendment takings jurisprudence.


Multiple arrays can be modeled as a single array that is composed of separate subarrays. Likelihood ratio testing, maximum likelihood delay-Doppler estimation, and maximum likelihood estimation of signal and noise parameters are applied to such a model in order to determine whether cross correlation should be used alone or in conjunction with other operations. The results indicate that cross correlation alone is usually suboptimum. Detection or combined detection-estimation should use a weighted sum of pairwise cross correlations between subarrays and energy detection at each subarray. Subarray cross correlation alone is only optimum for certain estimation problems and time windows. Cross-correlator and energy detector outputs at different frequencies should be linearly combined using frequency-dependent weighting functions. These functions are obtained for multiarray processing. For the special case of two-array cross correlation, the weighting function is the same as the one obtained by Knapp and Carter.


BACKGROUND: Information on the comparative efficacy of single deep breathing versus tidal breathing for inhaled asthma medications is limited, although such information can be of much use for the treatment of patients suffering from asthma. The objective of the present study was to compare the relative difference in improvement in peak expiratory flow (PEF) with single maximal inhalation with breath-holding versus 5 tidal breaths during inhalation of salbutamol from a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) with valved holding chamber (VHC) in children 5–15 y of age with asthma. METHODS: The randomized controlled trial was carried out on children with asthma between 5 and 15 y of age using a pMDI with a VHC either by a single deep breath with breath-hold or 5 tidal breaths. The experimental group received 200 μg of salbutamol from the pMDI with VHC with a single maximal inhalation and breath-hold technique, whereas the control group received 200 μg of salbutamol from pMDI with VHC using the 5 tidal breaths technique. The outcome variable, PEF, was reassessed 30 min after salbutamol use. RESULTS: Eighty-two subjects (mean age 8.79 ± 2.5 y, 65 boys and 17 girls) were analyzed. There was significant improvement in the PEF, from baseline (pre-intervention) to post-intervention within the single maximal inhalation with breath-hold group and tidal breathing group independently (P < .001). The mean difference in improvement in PEF between the single maximal inhalation with a breath-hold and 5 tidal breaths group was 30.0 ± 18.16 and 28.29 ± 13.94 L/min, respectively, and was not statistically significant (P = .88). CONCLUSIONS: Single maximal inhalation with a breath-hold technique is not superior to tidal breathing for improvement in PEF following salbutamol inhalation. Either method may be used in children between 5 and 15 y of age. (India's Clinical Trials Registry CTRI/2013/04/003559.)


The last common ancestor of Bilateria and Cnidaria is believed to be one of the first animals to develop a nervous system over 500 million years ago. Many of the genes involved in the neural function of the advanced nervous system in Bilateria are well conserved in Cnidaria1. Thus, Cnidarian representative species, Hydra, is considered to be a living fossil and a good model organism for the study of the putative primitive nervous system in its last common ancestor. The diffuse nervous system of Hydra consists of several peptidergic neuron subsets. However, the specific functions of these subsets remain unclear. Using calcium imaging, here we show that the neuron subsets that express neuropeptide, Hym-1762,3 function as motor neurons to evoke longitudinal contraction. We found that all neurons in a subset defined by the Hym-176 gene (Hym-176A) or its paralogs (Hym-176B) expression4 are excited simultaneously, which is then followed by longitudinal contraction. This indicates not only that these neuron subsets are motor neurons but also that a single molecularly defined neuron subset forms a single coactive motor circuit. This is in contrast with the Bilaterian nervous system, where a single molecularly defined neuron subset harbors multiple coactive circuits, showing a mixture of neurons firing with different timings5. Furthermore, we found that the two motor circuits, one expressing Hym-176B in the body column and the other expressing Hym-176A in the foot, are coordinately regulated to exert region-specific contraction. Our results demonstrate that one neuron subset is likely to form a monofunctional circuit as a minimum functional unit to build a more complex behavior in Hydra. We propose that this simple feature (one subset, one circuit, one function) found in Hydra is a fundamental trait of the primitive nervous system.


Synapse formation is a complex process that requires coordination of multiple steps. The factors that control this process are only beginning to be understood. Several molecules have already been implicated, including cell adhesion molecules like cadherins, synCAM, and neuroligin and its binding partner [Beta]-neurexin as well as secreted factors like FGF22, thrombospondin, and Wnts. Wnts are an intriguing class of molecules that have been reported to be involved in everything from regulating cell fate in stem cells to cancer. However, Wnts have only recently been investigated in synapse formation. Studies exploring Wnts in synapse formation have yielded conflicting results and it is unclear whether this disagreement is a result of the variety of systems or the variety of Wnt proteins used in these studies. I show here that Wnts are expressed in all regions of the forebrain during the first two weeks of postnatal rodent development, a time at which synapses rapidly form. Using hippocampal cultures, I show that several Wnts expressed in the hippocampus can mediate various signaling pathways. We show that Wnts 3a, 7a, and 7b, which are able to upregulate [Beta}-catenin, have a positive effect on synapses, while Wnt5a, which is unable to stabilize [Beta} -catenin, has a negative effect on synapses. This bidirectional control of synapses is likely due to the differential effects of these Wnts on stabilization of [Beta}-catenin. In addition to the coordinated assembly of synapses, it is also important for these synapses to be targeted to the correct postsynaptic cell. This directed synapse formation creates functional circuits of the brain. In collaboration with Megan Williams, we explore the specificity of the DG synapse in vitro using a combined functional and anatomical approach. We find that DG neurons in the absence of axon guidance cues make more synapses and evoke larger postsynaptic currents in their correct postsynaptic targets, CA3 neurons, than in any other cell type. These results lay the groundwork in which to explore potential mediators of synaptic specificity, including Wnts


The vehicle routing problem (VRP) under study involves managing a fleet of trucks existing to provide transportation services from a centralized distribution center (DC) to a set of geographically dispersed customers. The problem is motivated by a real problem from one of the large chains of high-end retail stores in Thailand. The objective of this study is to develop a simple and effective algorithm that can help the user manage the fleet in order to reduce the total transportation cost. The developed algorithm is based on the parallel savings algorithm but with a stochastic component that has a capability of escaping the local optima. The stochastic component applied a biased random sampling (BRS) and regret based random sampling (RBRS) to the selection of customers to add to delivery routes. Specifically, the selection probabilities are computed proportionally from the savings value of merging customers. The algorithm generates solutions containing delivery routes and schedules for all trucks in the fleet that satisfy daily store demands under limited truck capacity and delivery time window restrictions. Three measures of performance include the total distance, total travel time, and total cost. Computational test of the algorithm was performed on a set of standard problems, and promising results are obtained.


A new approach for a compressor casing design has been developed using new design possibilities offered by additive manufacturing technologies. Tip clearance behaviour is a serious problem in compressor design leading to increased aerodynamic losses and limiting the operating range of a compressor through a decrease in surge margin. Efforts are necessary to minimise the tip clearance in the load cycle of an engine.The approach presented in this work uses auxetic structures in a double-walled compressor casing with the aim to force the radial expansion behaviour of the inner casing wall in order to adapt the casing to the rotor. The studies of the casing and the calculations of the transient rotor displacement are carried out by using coupled-temperature-displacement calculations using commercial FEM-tools.Elements which influence the radial expansion of the casing are identified with the aim of generating a modular system for future compressor casing developments. So the casing elements are adaptable to the radial expansion of a certain rotor. An improved tip clearance behaviour in relevant operating points is achieved. In the latter part of the paper, practical design considerations are made as the auxetic structures are integrated into the CAD model of an existing compressor casing. Design challenges are also briefly discussed.This paper presents a new potential application of additive manufacturing technologies in future aero engine design. The focus of this paper is on the practical implementation of the new design freedom using the example of a compressor casing. The advantages for the overall engine performance as well as identified problems are also discussed qualitatively.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


Colony Collapse Disorder has become a global problem for beekeepers and for the crops which depend on bee polination. Multiple factors are known to increase the risk of colony colapse, and the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor that parasitizes honey bees is among the main threats to colony health. Although this mite is unlikely to, by itself, cause the collapse of hives, it plays an important role as it is a vector for many viral diseases. Such diseases are among the likely causes for Colony Collapse Disorder. The effects of V. destructor infestation are disparate in different parts of the world. Greater morbidity in the form of colony losses has been reported in colonies of European honey bees (EHB) in Europe, Asia and North America. However, this mite has been present in Brasil for many years and yet there are no reports of Africanized honey bee (AHB) colonies losses. Studies carried out in Mexico showed that some resistance behaviors to the mite especially grooming and hygienic behavior appear to be different in each subspecies. Could those difference in behaviors explain why the AHB are less susceptible to Colony Collapse Disorder? In order to answer this question, we propose a mathematical model of the coexistence dynamics of these two species, the bee and the mite, to analyze the role of resistance behaviors in the overall health of the colony, and, as a consequence, its ability to face epidemiological challenges.


Abstract Objectives: Launched in 1989, the Scottish Motor Neuron Disease Register (SMNDR) has provided a resource for prospective clinical data collection. However, in 2015 we aimed to evolve a system to allow: i) A patient-centered approach to care based on recognized standards, ii) Harmonized data sharing between Scottish health professionals in "real-time", iii) Regular audit of care to facilitate timely improvements in service delivery, and iv) Patient participation in a diverse range of observational and interventional research studies including clinical trials. Methods: We developed a standardized national electronic data platform—Clinical Audit Research and Evaluation of MND (CARE-MND) which integrates clinical audit and research data fields. Data completion pre- and post-CARE-MND were compared, guided by recently published National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendations. Statistical difference in data capture between time periods was assessed using Z-test of proportions. Results: Data field completion for the historical 2011–2014 period ranged from 4 to 95%; median 50%. CARE-MND capture ranged from 32 to 98%; median 87%. 15/17 fields were significantly more complete post-CARE-MND (p < 0.001). All MND nurse/allied health specialists in Scotland use the CARE-MND platform. Management of MND in Scotland is now coordinated through a standardized template. Conclusions: Through CARE-MND, national audits of MND care and interventions have been possible, leading to protocols for harmonized service provision. Stratification of the MND population is facilitating participation in observational and interventional studies. CARE-MND can act as a template for other neurological disorders.


This article reflects on the emergence of a strikingly affirmative form of feminist theorising, despite widespread discussion of the early twenty‐first century being a post‐feminist era. The author begins by sketching the general features of this new orientation, contrasting it with second‐wave feminist theorising and identifying a cluster of feminist theorists who, despite their different concerns and distinctive work, can be seen as affiliated in this reorientation in feminist theory. The second section offers a discussion of three key terms in post‐millennial feminist theory: post‐humanism, new materialism and the ontological turn. This section explores their deployment and significance in identifying new directions in feminist theory. In the third section, the author introduces a specific case study of this post‐millennial reorientation of feminist theory: Elizabeth Grosz's advocacy of Darwin's ideas is proposed as exemplifying this new trend in feminist theory. There is a brief review of Grosz's writings on Darwin and three key points in Grosz's encounter with Darwinian theory are highlighted. These important features of Grosz's approach to Darwin's ideas are then reviewed: the rejection of critique, the revisiting of the nature–culture divide and the embrace of biology. The discussion of each of these foci includes consideration of the rationale for and strengths of Grosz's positions. However, this commentary also highlights some worrying lacunae in her theories.


It is well known in the literature on security dilemma theorising that John Herz coined the concept in the early 1950s, with Herbert Butterfield developing a very similar concept at the same time. What is less well appreciated is that Butterfield powerfully argued in his 1951 book History and Human Relations that there was no prospect of state leaders and diplomats overcoming the dynamics of mutual suspicion and distrust that created what he had chosen to call a condition of `Hobbesian fear'. Herz parted company with Butterfield on this fundamental question, considering that two adversaries could come to appreciate that what they perceived as the other's hostile behaviour was a defensive response to their own actions. This article revisits this fundamental question that divided the pioneer theorists of the security dilemma as to whether better mutual understanding between potential rivals might be the key to mitigating fear-based hostility. The article discusses this question in relation to Herz's ideas about surviving the nuclear age, and shows how he believed that knowledge of the security dilemma was critical if the superpowers were to mitigate their security competition. Having examined how far the end of the Cold War supports Herz's position, the article concludes by showing how Herz became increasingly disillusioned that the United States was capable of acting to mitigate the security dilemma in the post-Cold War world.


Work-related stress among healthcare personnel has already been investigated in detail in the western setting. However, community health work in India differs in its content from that in western countries. The purpose of this study was to characterise stressrelated factors, both causative and alleviating, among healthcare workers in the College of NursingCommunity Health (CONCH) project in Tamil Nadu, India. An ethnographic approach was employed, consisting of observation, interviews and available documentation related to the CONCH project. The study participants were women, and included 7 nurses and 2 nursing supervisors. Data were gathered over a period of 3 months in 2003. Causes of stress among healthcare workers included communication problems, environmental factors and a large workload. Prominent among the stressrelieving factors were support from friends, family and colleagues, supervisor–nurse interaction and aChristian outlook. Stress-related fear experienced by workers hindered innovation and weakened their opportunity to further develop healthcare. Challenging work environments, varying work descriptions and unclear boundaries between working hours and free time all contributed to a decline in motivation and to fatigue. The identification of stressrelated factors could play an important role in the facilitation of appropriate interventions. The results of this study suggest that wider studies employing, for example, quantitative methods may provide useful information.


Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) is extended maternal child health of family welfare or safe motherhood or child survival and safe motherhood programme. Unless IMA members take up implementation of RCH programme, population stabilisation in India will remain unfulfilled.


Asphaltenes play a key role in oil production and its exploration from natural reservoirs. In carbonate reservoirs, the calcite (10.4) surface retains asphaltenes. However, its aggregate structure and deposition process are not fully understood. Using first-principles calculations based on density-functional theory (DFT) with van der Waals (vdW) dispersion, we studied the adsorption of asphaltene, resin and resin–asphaltene dimer molecular models on the CaCO3 surface in the presence of a dielectric water–toluene environment. These large molecules impose a challenging description at the electronic level. Our calculations indicate that there is a minor steric hindrance in the effective interaction of the aromatic region of asphaltene on the calcite surface. However, aliphatic chains with sulphide groups can play a significant role on the adsorption process and its availability to receive electronic charge density from the surface. Accordingly, the preferential LUMO localized in the aromatic region of asphaltene may also allow the adsorption on the calcite surface and π–π stacking interactions. Initially, the resin molecule tends to be trapped during dimer formation with the asphaltene, whereas a significant intramolecular charge rearrangement due to the heteroatoms is necessary to increase the π–π stacking interactions. For the dimer, the adsorbed form of asphaltene favors more available electronic states to increase the likelihood of nanoaggregation. Therefore, changes in the continuum dielectric constant only had a minor effect on the calculated adsorption energies. Experimental work related to the oil–water interface in the presence of toluene show similar behavior during asphaltene adsorption. Our studies indicate that nanoaggregates are grown through resin and the calcite (10.4) surface selectively adsorbs the less polar asphaltenes from oil.


Background: The metopic suture is unlike other cranial sutures in that it normally closes in infancy. Consequently, the diagnosis of metopic synostosis depends primarily on a subjective assessment of cranial shape. The purpose of this study was to create a simple, reproducible radiographic method to quantify forehead shape and distinguish trigonocephaly from normal cranial shape variation. Methods: Computed tomography scans were acquired for 92 control patients (mean age, 4.2 ± 3.3 months) and 18 patients (mean age, 6.2 ± 3.3 months) with a diagnosis of metopic synostosis. A statistical model of the normal cranial shape was constructed, and deformation fields were calculated for patients with metopic synostosis. Optimal and divergence (simplified) interfrontal angles (IFA) were defined based on the three points of maximum average deformation on the frontal bones and metopic suture, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the accuracy and reliability of the diagnostic procedure. Results: The optimal interfrontal angle was found to be significantly different between the synostosis (116.5 ± 5.8 degrees; minimum, 106.8 degrees; maximum, 126.6 degrees) and control (136.7 ± 6.2 degrees; minimum, 123.8 degrees; maximum, 169.3 degrees) groups (p < 0.001). Divergence interfrontal angles were also significantly different between groups. Accuracy, in terms of available clinical diagnosis, for the optimal and divergent angles, was 0.981 and 0.954, respectively. Conclusions: Cranial shape analysis provides an objective and extremely accurate measure by which to diagnose abnormal interfrontal narrowing, the hallmark of metopic synostosis. The simple planar angle measurement proposed is reproducible and accurate, and can eliminate diagnostic subjectivity in this disorder. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, IV.


The addition of iron to high-area TiO2 (Degussa P25, a mixture of anatase and rutile) increases the number of oxygen defect sites that react with O2 to form peroxide and superoxide species. In the presence of gold nanoclusters on the TiO2 surface, the superoxide species become highly reactive, and the activity of the supported gold catalyst for CO oxidation is approximately twice that of the most active comparable catalysts described in the literature. Images of the catalyst obtained by scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with spectra of the catalyst measured in the working state (Raman, extended X-ray absorption fine structure, and X-ray absorption near-edge structure) indicate strong interactions of gold with the support and the presence of iron near the interfaces between the gold clusters and the TiO2 support. The high activity of the catalysts is attributed to the presence of defects in these sites that activate oxygen.


The paper deals with quality assurance procedures for
general-purpose language resources. Special attention is paid
to quality control in wordnet development. General issues of
quality management are tackled; technical as well as
methodological aspects are discussed. As a case study, the
application of the described procedures is demonstrated on the
quality evaluation techniques in the context of the BalkaNet
project.


The present paper is empirically scrutinized the long and short-run causalities, which are running from the bird-in-hand dividends policy towards investors' preferences as proxied by banks' stability. Through analyzing a quarterly data set covering the period Q1/1996-Q4/2018; results from the ADF test proved that the series variables became stationary only after including the first difference. However, although the Johansen test showed long-run integrations among variables; findings from the single equation of the error correction model asserted that there are no long-run causalities running from dividends' policy towards investors' preferences as captured by the Z-Score index "ZSI", bankometer model or market capitalization. By contrast, results from the Waldtest proved that except for earnings per share and retained ratio; the solvency of banks is found to be significantly responding to the change in dividends payout ratio. However, since there are short-run correlations among dividends' stability, investors' preferences and banking stability, the study concluded that the ZSI is significantly related to investors' attitudes towards banks' decisions regarding dividends' payments.


In contrast to neutrophils or B-lymphocytes, cells of the monocytic lineage like rat macrophages, human peripheral blood monocytes and Mono Mac 6 cells contain a strong inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) activity, which scavenges hydroperoxides and inhibits 5-LO activity in broken-cell preparations in the absence of exogenously added thiols. Chromatographic purification of the inhibitor from the human monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 and amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the inhibitory factor is glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1). In contrast to the peroxidase activity of GPx-1, 5-LO inhibition by GPx-1 was supported by beta-mercaptoethanol and there was no absolute requirement for millimolar concentrations of glutathione or dithiothreitol. These cofactor characteristics suggest that both activities address distinct catalytic properties of GPx-1. 5-LO inhibition by GPx-1 was not due to direct GPx-5-LO protein-protein interactions, since GPx-1 did not bind to immobilized 5-LO. Interestingly, 5-LO derived from granulocytes was significantly more resistant against GPx-1 inhibition than B-lymphocytic 5-LO, which correlates with the respective cellular 5-LO activities. In summary, the data suggest that, in addition to previously reported phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPx-4), GPx-1 is an efficient inhibitor of 5-LO even at low thiol concentrations, and is involved in the regulation of cellular 5-LO activity in various cell types.


An overview of the 3D video processing chain is given, highlighting existing and upcoming technologies and standards, addressing dependencies and interactions between acquisition, coding and display, and pointing out requirements, constraints and problems of these individual modules.


1. Nutrient resource availability and host-plant foliar pubescence both influence arthropod food webs, but multifactor studies are needed to understand their interdependence and relative importance. Arthropods were sampled by clipping foliage from Metrosideros polymorpha (Myrtaceae) trees of pubescent, glabrous, and intermediate leaf forms on fertilised and unfertilised plots. 2. Fertilisation decreased leaf mass per area (LMA) but did not change the relative mass of pubescence within leaf morphological classes. 3. Fertilisation increased densities of individuals in four taxonomic orders, densities of individuals and species of all trophic levels, and the biomass of Collembola and Homoptera. Herbivore relative diversity (Shannon H0) also increased with fertilisation, but detritivore diversity declined due to increasing dominance of Salina celebensis (Schaeffer) (Collembola). 4. Detritivore density, driven again by S. celebensis, increased with decreasing leaf pubescence, but Heteroptera and Acari were most abundant on the intermediate pubescence class, and Psocoptera density and biomass increased with increasing pubescence. Trophic-level species density did not change with leaf morphological class, but relative diversity of all arthropods and of detritivores increased with increasing pubescence. 5. Both resource availability and leaf pubescence affected Metrosideros arthropod communities. However, the pervasive positive influence of fertilisation did not translate to compositional shifts, and there were no interactions with leaf morphological class. In contrast, the effects of leaf pubescence on arthropod density, biomass, and diversity were more restricted taxonomically, and nonparametric MANOVA and redundancy analyses demonstrated significant differentiation in community composition on the pubescent morphology.


With the advent of high-throughput DNA sequencing technology, the analysis and management of the increasing amount of biological sequence data has become a bottleneck for scientific progress. For example, MG-RAST, a metagenome annotation system serving a large scientific community worldwide, has experienced a sustained, exponential growth in data submissions for several years; and this trend is expected to continue. To address the computational challenges posed by this workload, we developed a new data analysis platform, including a data management system (Shock) for biological sequence data and a workflow management system (AWE) supporting scalable, fault-tolerant task and resource management. Shock and AWE can be used to build a scalable and reproducible data analysis infrastructure for upper-level biological data analysis services.


Background: The major morbidity in type 2 diabetes mellitus is due to microangiopathic and macroangiopathic complications. Though lung has been widely acknowledged to be a target organ in diabetes mellitus, its correlation and severity of involvement to other microvascular complications has not been studied. Aim: To study pulmonary function tests in type 2 diabetes mellitus and evaluate association of PFTs with microvascular complications, retinopathy and nephropathy and further assess the relationship of retinopathy, nephropathy and lungs with duration of diabetes.  Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in 100 male type 2 diabetic patients attending diabetic clinic in tertiary hospital. 100 non- diabetic subjects were selected as control from general population. PFTs tests were performed. Results were interpreted by one way ANOVA test. Association of PFT parameters FVC, FEV 1 , FEV 1% in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy and retinopathy was analysed by Pearson's correlation coefficient. The patient population was subdivided according to the duration of diabetes into 2 groups; less than 10 years of illness and more than 10 years. Relationship of each microvascular complications, retinopathy, nephropathy and pulmonary function tests with duration of diabetes was assessed by one- way ANOVA test. Results: There was a significant decrease in PFT parameters as compared to non-diabetic controls. The PFTs in type 2 diabetic subjects with nephropathy showed decline in FVC, FEV 1, FEV 1% , however association of these parameters with GFR and microalbuminuria was not significant. Also, a similar decline of PFT parameters was observed with increasing grades of retinopathy, though not significant. There was a significant positive correlation of retinopathy with microalbuminuria and GFR (nephropathy) in type 2 diabetic subjects. Also, there was significant association of microalbuminuria, GFR and retinopathy with increase in duration of diabetes. On the contrary the decline in FVC, FEV 1 , FEV 1% with duration of diabetes was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycaemic control and longer duration of diabetes history had significant correlation with microvascular complications, nephropathy and retinopathy as compared to pulmonary complications (PFT parameters). It is highly suggestive that diabetic patients with retinopathy must be screened for nephropathy.


ABSTRACT Framing the special issue on the transformation of Food and Agricultural Policy, this article introduces the concept of post-exceptionalism in public policies. The analysis of change in agri-food policy serves as a generative example to conceptualize current transformations in sectoral policy arrangements in democratic welfare states. Often these arrangements have been characterized by an exceptionalist ideational framework that legitimizes a sector's special treatment through compartmentalized, exclusive and producer-centered policies and politics. In times of internationalization of policy-making, increasing interlinkage of policy areas and trends towards self-regulation, liberalization and performance-based policies, policy exceptionalism is under pressure to either transform or give way to (neo-)liberal policy arrangements. Post-exceptionalism denotes a partial transformation of exceptionalist ideas, institutions, interest constellations and policy instruments. It reflects the more complex, open, contested and fluid nature of contemporary policy fields that nevertheless still maintain their policy heritage. Discussing stability, the authors distinguish between complementary and tense post-exceptionalism.


Abstract
During a site-based certification program in a large county school district in the southeastern United States, 14 educators took 7 graduate courses on teaching emergent bilinguals. These educators made a shift in their practices and perceived a corresponding shift in their teaching efficacy. Ten years after the onset of this program, researchers returned to the site and conducted a mixed-methods study. The first purpose of this study was to explore educators' perceptions regarding instructional practices for teaching emergent bilinguals after a decade had passed. The second purpose was to identify course features perceived by educators as having been most instrumental in fostering a long-term transformation in their teaching practices. Data were collected from a survey and interviews with the 14 educators (13 teachers and a program specialist) who had completed this certification program. Results indicated changes in their teaching methods and interactions with parents as well as heightened confidence for taking on leadership roles. Study participants identified professional learning communities, cyclical reflective activities, and action research projects as the course features that had been instrumental in transforming their practices for working with emergent bilinguals. Findings suggest that this site-based certification program was a catalyst for generating individual change that continued beyond program completion. By exploring this decade-long transformation, the current study provides implications for designing and implementing graduate certification courses that prepare in-service teachers to work effectively with emergent bilinguals.


Faced with the 'economy of exclusion' that brackets fraternity out of the picture, the only genuine alternative is to bind higher purposes such as individual virtue and public honour to institutions and practices that can provide prosperity and flourishing for the many. In this essay, I argue that solidarity is key to an economy that is both more ethical and more productive. Both solidarity and fraternity rest on the idea of social reciprocity: for example, balancing individual rights with mutual obligations; brokering collaboration out of conflicts of interest by appealing to the common good that serves both personal interest and social benefit. In this manner, fraternity and solidarity can foster the interpersonal trust and cooperation on which a vibrant economy and flourishing society depend.

The prevailing system is based upon a double impersonalism of commercial contract between strangers, and individual entitlement in relation to the bureaucratic machine. By making social reciprocity the ultimate principle that governs both the economic and the political realm, solidarity can avoid the two extremes characterising contemporary capitalism: contract without gift, plus the unilateral and poisoned gift from nowhere that is rationalised state welfare. The alternative, which this essay defends, seeks to fuse contract with gift. In theory and practice, binding contract to gift means mutualising the market, pluralising the state and re-embedding both in the relations that constitute society. Far from being utopian, solidarity so defined is indispensable to an economy that promotes greater innovation, higher productivity and more stable growth, which in turn can sustain rising employment and superior pay.

Section one explores how the meaning of solidarity and fraternity has evolved since the French Revolution elevated 'fraternity' alongside 'liberty' and 'equality' into a foundational value of modern politics. Section two focuses on Catholic social teaching and the ways in which it renews and extends the ancient and Christian tradition of 'solidarism'. Section three turns to the application of solidarity to the market, while section four examines how it can transform the state. Both sections 3 and 4 try to combine concepts with novel policy ideas. The conclusion briefly summarises my argument and the key policy recommendations.


This work presents a 2-layer uniform facet elastic object for real-time simulation based on physics modeling. It describes the elastic object procedural modeling algorithm with particle system from the simplest 1D object, to more complex 2D and 3D objects. The 2-layered elastic object consists of inner and outer mass spring surfaces and compressible internal pressure. The density of the inner layer can be different from the outer layer; the motion of the inner layer can be opposite to the motion of the outer layer. These special features, which cannot be achieved by a single layered object, result in improved imitation of a soft body, such as tissue's liquidity non-uniform deformation. The construction of the 2-layered elastic object is closer to the real tissue's physical structure. The inertial behavior of the elastic object is well illustrated in environments with gravity and collisions with the environment. The collision detection is defined by the collision penalty method and the motion of the object is guided by the Ordinary Differential Equation computation. Users can interact with the modeled objects, deform them, and observe the response to their action in real-time.


The occurrence of Trypanosoma cruzi intracellular clusters and phlebitis was searched for on pampiniform plexus vein walls of chronic chagasic patients. For this purpose, 23 pairs of spermatic cords, epididymides and testes (17 from chagasic patients and 6 from non-chagasic controls) were obtained, at autopsy. Trypanosoma cruzi was investigated by immuno-histochemistry on slides obtained from several sections of the gonads and vessels of each case. Only discrete and focal undetermined chronic phlebitis was observed, with no parasites, in 5 chagasics (bilateral in 3) and 2 controls (c2: p < 0.10), and discrete mononuclear interstitial infiltration in the funiculi of 13 chagasics and 5 controls (c2: p < 0.75). In conclusion, on the contrary to that published regarding the supra-renal central veins, it seems that the hormonal environment provided by testosterone does not favor the infection of the gonadal vessel wall.


By analyzing a novel dataset on publications by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), we shed light on the extent to which the knowledge production of a multilateral development bank can reach its beneficiaries. We find that IDB publications are downloaded mostly in the American continent, with Colombia, Peru, Mexico and the United States leading the ranking. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic downloads of IDB publications increased, both in the world and in Latin America and the Caribbean. Some characteristics of publications are significantly associated with higher numbers of downloads, such as the language of publications: documents in at least two languages or in Spanish only are downloaded more often than documents in English only, suggesting that it is important to disseminate research in the language of the targeted audience. As for the online discussion on the IDB, we find that mentions of the IDB touch different sectors important for development (especially modernization of the state, health, labor markets and financial markets), they increase when a document is published, and also when a loan is approved.


Previously we have described the isolation of seven monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and two polyvalent rabbit sera directed against the product of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) gene UL42, a 65K DNA-binding protein (65KDBP) which is essential for HSV DNA replication and virus growth. We now report the synthesis of all 483 overlapping hexapeptides of this 488 amino acid protein and describe their use for the identification of epitopes recognized by these MAbs and polyvalent sera. MAb 6898, derived from one fusion, recognizes the peptides EDLDGA and DLDGAA which correspond to amino acids 363 to 369 of 65KDBP. MAbs Z4D4, Z6F3, Z1A8, Z10Cl, Z3H12 and Z1F11, derived from a second fusion, all recognize the peptides GDPEDL and DPEDLD which correspond to amino acids 360 to 366. As expected both polyvalent sera recognize several different epitopes.


What makes people contribute voluntarily to Wikipedia? A new qualitative empirical study uncovers new motives, publication strategies and social dynamics in Wikipedia. In addition to the motives treated in the existing scientific literature such as status through status play, altruism through ideological identification, identity through community, the analysis uncovers three other motives through theoretical probability-making and empirical demonstration. Consequently, the following three motives must be added to the repertoire of possible motives for contributing voluntarily to Wikipedia. Firstly, the contributors experience a unique and cheap feeling of self-efficacy. They feel that they are efficient and able to handle the tasks that they take upon themselves. This feeling is caused by the fact that many types of contributions may be experienced as a successful contribution, from small text corrections to authoring of complete lexicon articles. Secondly, the contributors get a unique and cheap experience of self-esteem. A feeling that their modest input has a great impact because they are contributing to the creation of a global knowledge good. Thirdly, they are motivated by the ideology that all people have something to bring to Wikipedia. This may be called an egalitarian epistemology. These three motives in combination with the motives described in the literature provide a better and more balanced answer to the above question. The case is the Danish version of Wikipedia and the qualitative survey consists of six qualitative interviews with six contributors.


The heat deformation failure form of workroll bearing chock in Bao Shan steel 2050mm hot strip mill was studied by using finite element method. This phenomenon indicates that the internal friction heat in the bearing is the major heat source that results in temperature rise. With the establishment of reasonable temperature boundary conditions on free and contact surfaces, the heat conduction model of bearing chock was built and discreted. By means of finite element method and three dimensional FEM program, the rules of temperature distribution and heat stress distribution of bearing chock were discussed. Moreover, some suggestions on bearing improvement were brought up.


Rationale Salbutamol may affect lung function and exercise performance differently in individuals with and without asthma. Objectives To compare the effects of inhaled salbutamol on lung function, exercise performance and respiratory parameters during cycling exercise in athletes with a positive response to a eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea (EVH+) and negative (EVH−) challenge, indicative of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Methods In a randomised controlled trial with a crossover design, a total of 49 well-trained male athletes (14 EVH+ and 35 EVH−) performed two simulated 10 km time-trials on a cycle ergometer 60 min after the inhalation of either 400 μg of salbutamol or a placebo. Lung function, assessed by forced expiratory volume in 1 s, was measured immediately before and 30 min after inhalation. Performance was measured by mean power output. Measurements & main results Despite a significant increase in lung function after the inhalation of salbutamol compared to the placebo (p<0.001), salbutamol did not affect athletes' perceptions of dyspnoea (p>0.05) or leg exertion (p>0.05) during exercise. Salbutamol did not affect mean power output: EVH+ and EVH− athletes averaged 4.0 (0.5) and 4.1 (0.5) W/kg after salbutamol and 4.0 (0.5) W/kg and 4.0 (0.4) W/kg after placebo, respectively (p>0.05 for each comparison). Conclusions The inhalation of salbutamol induced a significant increase in resting lung function in EVH+ and EVH− athletes but this improvement in lung function did not translate to improved exercise performance. Salbutamol had no discernible effect on key ventilatory and exercise parameters regardless of EVH challenge outcome.


The U.S. Senate often adds various types of conditions, also known as reservations, understandings, and declarations, to its advice and consent to multilateral treaties. The ability to add conditions to a treaty likely increases the number of States willing to join a treaty because it allows States to modify their treaty obligations to address domestic concerns. However, the use of conditions also has the potential to undermine the integrity of the treaty by allowing States to opt out of important legal obligations and to create legal uncertainty regarding treaty obligations and relationships. This article examines U.S. treaty practice with respect to use of conditions to determine how and when conditions are being used and the effect of those conditions on the United States' legal obligations. Drawing on a database of almost 400 multilateral treaties to which the United States is a party, this article demonstrates that the U.S. Senate's use of such conditions has grown significantly over the last few decades, particularly with respect to the use of conditions other than reservations. The Senate purports to use conditions to modify the United States' legal obligations; to clarify ambiguous treaty terms; and to address how a treaty is to be implemented in U.S. law. However, the legal effect of the Senate's use of conditions, both in U.S. law and international law, is often murky. Accordingly, this article examines Senate practice with respect to its advice and consent function for multilateral treaties to determine what is happening in this area of the law and whether changes should be made.The article explains the legal authority for the use of conditions in U.S. treaty practice, and describes different types of conditions the Senate has used, how and when the Senate adds conditions to such agreements, and how Senate practice has changed over time. The article identifies the types of conditions most frequently added by the Senate and examines whether conditions are more likely depending on the treaty's subject matter. Based on this observed behavior, the article proposes some theories as to why the U.S. Senate is more likely to add conditions to certain types of treaties than others. The article also considers whether a prohibition on treaty reservations significantly lessens the likelihood the United States will join.Next, the article analyzes the consistency of U.S. treaty practice with international practice. This examination shows that U.S. treaty practice is not entirely consistent with international practice, especially with respect to the use of "understandings." It also highlights legal problems that may arise through the use of conditions. The article then discusses the extent to which the other branches of U.S. government are or should be bound by the different types of conditions proposed by the Senate. Finally, the article concludes with some recommendations regarding changes in treaty practice for the future.


Silica (SiO2) supported nickel oxide-copper oxide (NiO-CuO) composites were synthesized through alkoxide route of sol-gel process using tetraethyl ortthosilicate (TEOS), nickel nitrate hexahydrate and copper nitrate trihydrate as precursors. A series of different compositions were prepared varying NiO:CuO molar ratios keeping all other process parameters constant. The gels thus obtained were calcined at a moderate temperature i.e. 500and#186;C for one hour. The crystal structure and thermal stability of metal oxide particles embedded in silica matrix were studied using X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC-TGA) respectively. The purity of the composites was checked by Infrared spectroscopy (IR) whereas the composite formation was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed that crystals of NiO and CuO nanoparticles aggregated to form spheres of variable sizes were successfully embedded in the amorphous silica matrix composed of silica particles agglomerated to form clusters.


: Essential hypertension is a rise of arterial blood pressure whose etiology is unknown. Immune complexes are complexes created by the binding of an antibody to the antigen. They are also called circulating immune complexes because of its precipitation in peripheral blood vessels, commonly on the places of their bifurcation and the places of higher blood pressure (glomerules of kidney or synovia). The goal of this study is to, by statistical estimation, connect essential hypertension and immune complexes as a cause of many appearances. With this aim, two groups of twenty-five examinees were questionnaire about their frequency and how long they ailed acut streptococcal tonsillitis, which may latter cause poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis as a consequence of immune complex creation. In doing so, examinees were also questionnaired about immune complex diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Polynodosa Arteritis (PA), and Poststreptococcal Glomerulonepritis (PSG)). After all, they were questionnaired, about how frequently and how long they used penicillin as a therapy, which also may, in certain occasions, affect the creation of immune complexes. Examined groups were formed by patients suffering from essential hypertension, and the control groups were formed by randomly chosen examinees. By statistical estimating data from the mentioned questionnaire, we concluded that the frequency of past acute streptococcal tonsillitis in patients with essential hypertension has statistical significance and the frequency of past or actual immune complex diseases (SLE, PA, PSG); and using penicillin as a therapy does not have statistical significance.


In this method, the VHDL model to be tested is represented by its process model graph (PMG). Test sets for individual processes of the model are precomputed and stored in the design library. The Hierarchical Behavioral Test Generator (HBTG) algorithm accepts the PMG and the precomputed tests as inputs, from which it hierarchically constructs a test sequence that tests the functionality of the model. Such an automatic test generation process relieves the modeler of the time-consuming task of developing test-benches. The test sequence generated by HBTG is then used for simulation of the model. Experimental results indicate that the tests generated exercise the model thoroughly.<<ETX>>


Context. The measured average velocities in solar and stellar spectral lines formed at transition region temperatures have been difficult to interpret. The dominant redshifts observed in the lower transition region naturally leads to the question of how the upper layers of the solar (and stellar) atmosphere can be maintained. Likewise, no ready explanation has been made for the average blueshifts often found in upper transition region lines. However, realistic three-dimensional radiation magnetohydrodynamics (3D rMHD) models of the solar atmosphere are able to reproduce the observed dominant line shifts and may thus hold the key to resolve these issues. Aims. These new 3D rMHD simulations aim to shed light on how mass flows between the chromosphere and corona and on how the coronal mass is maintained. These simulations give new insights into the coupling of various atmospheric layers and the origin of Doppler shifts in the solar transition region and corona.
Methods. The passive tracer particles, so-called corks, allow the tracking of parcels of plasma over time and thus the study of changes in plasma temperature and velocity not only locally, but also in a co-moving frame. By following the trajectories of the corks, we can investigate mass and energy flows and understand the composition of the observed velocities.
Results. Our findings show that most of the transition region mass is cooling. The preponderance of transition region redshifts in the model can be explained by the higher percentage of downflowing mass in the lower and middle transition region. The average upflows in the upper transition region can be explained by a combination of both stronger upflows than downflows and a higher percentage of upflowing mass. The most common combination at lower and middle transition region temperatures are corks that are cooling and traveling downward. For these corks, a strong correlation between the pressure gradient along the magnetic field line and the velocity along the magnetic field line has been observed, indicating a formation mechanism that is related to downward propagating pressure disturbances. Corks at upper transition region temperatures are subject to a rather slow and highly variable but continuous heating process.
Conclusions. Corks are shown to be an essential tool in 3D rMHD models in order to study mass and energy flows. We have shown that most transition region plasma is cooling after having been heated slowly to upper transition region temperatures several minutes before. Downward propagating pressure disturbances are identified as one of the main mechanisms responsible for the observed redshifts at transition region temperatures.


This study aims to determine trends in research - research on alumni and alma mater colleges. This study uses a qualitative approach following the literature study procedure. The research phase through literary sequencing resulted in 77 articles which were further reduced based on the category and reference to customer relations management (CRM) theory. The results showed that research related to higher education alumni was dominated by alumni information system planning themes and alumni tracer studies (64.6%). In general, attention and research related to customer relations management (CRM), alumni associations and alumni feed back still need to be boosted.


Clinical Decisions in Nephrology: A Problem-Solving Approach provides a useful resource for those interested in renewing their clinical knowledge, diagnostic and therapeutic skills in nephrology. Each chapter consists of a series of challenging, clinically-oriented cases. The selected case reports focus on the essential aspects of the patient s presentation, laboratory data, and management to assist in the differential diagnosis. A series of logical questioning from the presentation of the signs and symptoms is followed by a detailed explanation that reviews recent publications and translates emerging areas of science into data that is useful at the bedside. An updated bibliography is included after each set of clinical cases."


Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have been synthesized from a wide array of materials. The therapeutic success of these platforms hinges upon their ability to favorably interact with the biological environment (both systemically and locally) and recognize the diseased target tissue. The immune system, composed of a highly coordinated organization of cells trained to recognize foreign bodies, represents a key mediator of these interactions. Although components of this system may act as a barrier to nanoparticle (NP) delivery, the immune system can also be exploited to target and trigger signaling cues that facilitate the therapeutic response stemming from systemic administration of NPs. The nano-bio interface represents the key facilitator of this communication exchange, where the surface properties of NPs govern their in vivo fate. Cell membrane-based biomimetic nanoparticles have emerged as one approach to achieve targeted drug delivery by actively engaging and communicating with the biological milieu. In this review, we will highlight the relationship between these biomimetic nanoparticles and the immune system, emphasizing the role of tuning the nano-bio interface in the immunomodulation of diseases. We will also discuss the therapeutic applications of this approach with biomimetic nanoparticles, focusing on specific diseases ranging from cancer to infectious diseases. Lastly, we will provide a critical evaluation on the current state of this field of cell membrane-based biomimetic nanoparticles and its future directions in immune-based therapy.


Summary The rationale is presented for a three-parameter AVO expression which includes a term quadratic in the shear velocity reflectivity. It is shown that this can be solved explicitly without recourse to iterative techniques. It is compared to other AVO methods in its ability to estimate various reflectivities from noisy synthetic data.


This study presents a detailed and critical review of the Alternative Dispute Resolution as a non-judicial mechanism for the settlement of environmental disputes in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Ordinarily, disputes whether environmental or otherwise are resolved through court processes, but due to delays, costs, publicity and technicality associated with litigation, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms evolved. There are several bitter complaints from the victims of pollution in the Niger Delta region that the courts, conventionally the last hope of the common man, have not lived up to expectations in environmental litigations thereby justifying their recourse to ADR as a better option. A significant number of environmental cases were lost on flimsy reasons. Today, ADR procedures are considered imperative worldwide, and are used by a wide range of courts, tribunals, organizations and victims of pollution in Nigeria as tools for overcoming environmental impasse, improving the efficiency of difficult negotiations, and achieving durable settlements. It takes different forms as arbitration, mediation, conciliation, negotiation, among others. The detailed discussion of these forms, and their advantages vis-a-vis the courts' processes will facilitate an informed appreciation of the use of ADR in the environmental disputes settlement.

 Key words: Alternative dispute resolution (ADR), environmental, Niger Delta, arbitration, court, pollution, right, Nigeria dispute.


Patients in the BENEFIT‐EXT study received extended criteria donor kidneys and a more intensive (MI) or less intensive (LI) belatacept immunosuppression regimen, or cyclosporine A (CsA). Patients who remained on assigned therapy through year 3 were eligible to enter a long‐term extension (LTE) study. Three hundred four patients entered the LTE (n = 104 MI; n = 113 LI; n = 87 CsA), and 260 continued treatment through year 5 (n = 91 MI; n = 100 LI; n = 69 CsA). Twenty patients died during the LTE (n = 5 MI; n = 9 LI; n = 6 CsA), and eight experienced graft loss (n = 2 MI; n = 1 LI; n = 5 CsA). Three patients experienced an acute rejection episode (n = 2 MI; n = 1 LI). The incidence rate of serious adverse events, viral infections and fungal infections was similar across groups during the LTE. There were four cases of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) from the beginning of the LTE to year 5 (n = 3 LI; n = 1 CsA); two of three PTLD cases in the LI group were in patients who were seronegative for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV(−)) at transplantation. Mean ± SD calculated GFR at year 5 was 55.9 ± 17.5 (MI), 59.0 ± 29.1 (LI) and 44.6 ± 16.4 (CsA) mL/min/1.73 m2. Continued treatment with belatacept was associated with a consistent safety profile and sustained improvement in renal function versus CsA over time.


The potential for coordination and H-transfer from Cp2MH2 (M=Zr, W) to gold(I) and gold(III) complexes was explored in a combined experimental and computational study. [(L)Au]+ cations react with Cp2WH2 giving [(L)Au(κ2-H2WCp2)]+ (L = IPr (1), cyclic (alkyl)-(amino)-carbene (2), or phosphines PPh3 (3) and Dalphos-Me (4; IPr=1,3-bis(di iso propylphenyl)imidazolylidene; Dalphos-Me = di(1-adamantyl)-2-(dimethylamino)phenyl-phosphine), while [Au(DMAP)2]+ (DMAP= p -dimethyl-amino-pyridine) affords the  C2-symmetric [Au(κ-H2WCp2)2]+ (5). The Dalphos complex 4 can be protonated to give the bicationic adduct 4H, showing Au(I)…H+ -N hydrogen bonding. The gold(III) Lewis acid [(C^N-CH)Au(C6F5)(OEt2)]+ binds Cp2WH2 to give a Au-H-W σ-complex. By contrast, the pincer species [(C^N^C)Au]+ adds Cp2WH2 by a purely dative W→Au bond, without Au···H interaction. The biphenyl-based chelate [(C^C)Au]+ forms [(C^C)Au(μ-H)2WCp2 ]+ , with two 2-electron-3-centre W-H…Au interactions and practically no Au-W donor acceptor contribution. In all these complexes strong but polarised W-H bonds are maintained, without H-transfer to gold. On the other hand, the reactions of Cp2ZrH2 with gold complexes led in all cases to rapid H-transfer and formation of gold hydrides. Relativistic DFT calculations were used to rationalize the striking reactivity and bonding differences in these heterobimetallic hydride complexes along with an analysis of their characteristic NMR parameters and UV-vis absorption properties.


Sustainability is pivotal in the urban transformation strategy in order to reach more resource-efficient, resilient and smarter cities. The goal of being a sustainable city should drive the decisions for city interventions. Nonetheless, impacts need to be quantified, lacking of standard and/or common methodologies that could be replicable across multiple cities. There exist many initiatives aiming at defining indicators and assessment procedures, but without convergence in the definition of terms and application methodologies, making complex its real implementation. Within mySMARTLife project (GA#731297), a KPI-driven evaluation framework is defined with the aim of covering the multiple pillars of a city (i.e. energy, mobility, citizens, economy) in a holistic way. This methodology also defines the concepts and terms to guide urban planners and/or experts at time of implementing the framework in a specific city. The evaluation framework has been deployed in the three cities of Nantes, Hamburg and Helsinki and some lessons learnt have been extracted, such as the necessity of providing a definition of measurement boundary to avoid interpretations. Thanks to a co-creation strategy, the main difficulties and issues from the cities have been taken into consideration for increasing the replicability.


In this study, a new type of iron/copper bimetallic combined with hydroxylamine (HA) activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was constructed to treat organic pollutants. Selecting the azo dye AO7 as the representative of organic pollutants, the new system can achieve nearly 100% degradation of AO7 within 5 minutes. The Fe(Ⅲ)/Cu(Ⅱ)/HA/PMS system mainly generates SO4·- to achieve the degradation of AO7 in acidic environment, while neutral and alkaline environments rely on ·OH. The presence of hydroxylamine accelerates the cycle of Fe(Ⅲ)/Fe(Ⅱ) and Cu(Ⅱ)/Cu(Ⅰ) in the system, and enhances the degradation ability of the system for organic pollutants. The addition of trace Cu(Ⅱ) (1 μM) enhances the ability of a single Fe(Ⅲ)/HA/PMS system to degrade AO7 in neutral and alkaline environments without causing secondary copper pollution. The common inorganic anions Cl- and NO3- in water have almost no effect on the degradation of AO7 in the system. The constructed Fe(Ⅲ)/Cu(Ⅱ)/HA/PMS system is an efficient and clean organic pollutant wastewater treatment process, which has very promising application prospects.


On-demand access to public safety data is critical to ensuring that public safety and first responder (PSFR) personnel can deliver the proper care and support during an emergency. This necessitates heavy reliance on mobile platforms while in the field, which may be used to access sensitive information. However, complex authentication requirements can hinder the process of providing emergency services, and any delay—even seconds—can become a matter of life or death. In collaboration with NIST'S Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division and industry stakeholders, the NCCoE aims to help PSFR personnel efficiently and securely gain access to mission data via mobile devices and applications. This practice guide describes a reference design for multifactor authentication (MFA) and mobile single sign-on (MSSO) for native and web applications while improving interoperability among mobile platforms, applications, and identity providers, regardless of the application development platform used in their construction. This guide discusses major architecture design considerations, explains security characteristics achieved by the reference design, and maps the security characteristics to applicable


We present MILABOT: a deep reinforcement learning chatbot developed by the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms (MILA) for the Amazon Alexa Prize competition. MILABOT is capable of conversing with humans on popular small talk topics through both speech and text. The system consists of an ensemble of natural language generation and retrieval models, including template-based models, bag-of-words models, sequence-to-sequence neural network and latent variable neural network models. By applying reinforcement learning to crowdsourced data and real-world user interactions, the system has been trained to select an appropriate response from the models in its ensemble. The system has been evaluated through A/B testing with real-world users, where it performed significantly better than many competing systems. Due to its machine learning architecture, the system is likely to improve with additional data.


SIR,-The editorial by Dr Tony Smith' reviews the European Commission document III/8267/89 but not the commission's proposals (111/3603/90EN) of February 1990. These sweeping proposals should alert doctors and their patients to the powerful centralised bureaucracy which, it is proposed, should be established for the approval of new medicines in the European Community. Document III/3603/90-EN proposes a centralised procedure for approving products from biotechnology (and other important new drugs if the producers wish) and a decentralised machinery for other drugs. Thus the centralised procedure will handle the new drugs for which the risk of unexpected adverse effects is greatest. In both procedures ifmember states "are unable to reach a bilateral agreement, the matter will be referred for binding arbitration at Community level." Thus the proposal is for absolute power overriding national sovereignty in a sensitive aspect of public health. With respect to monitoring adverse drug reactions quite impractical timetables are proposed with a requirement that all information should be passed to companies. This would break the confidentiality of the yellow card scheme and seriously damage our only fully national method of postmarketing surveillance. It is important that these proposals should not be agreed and that doctors alert themselves to this issue.


Crystalline silicon (c-Si) technology is attractive for advanced large area imaging applications because of higher transistor mobility, smaller feature sizes and higher density of integration. These benefits of c-Si technology can help expedite the development of high performance circuitry required for better contrast, lower noise, and lower X-ray dose while providing small, high-resolution pixels. In this research, we examine the technology requirements of performing digital mammography tomosynthesis, an advanced diagnostic X-ray imaging modality, using c-Si semiconductor technology. We then present a novel photon counting pixel architecture in CMOS 0.18 mum c-Si technology to address the requirements posed by mammography tomosynthesis


Abstract : Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, the new NATO invitees, have made remarkable progress in transitioning to Western-style democracies and free market economies. Each countries challenges differ, but they share a common thread. After decades of communist control and centrally planned economies the transition they are presently undergoing is difficult and slow. Political and economic aspects are intertwined and, like Poland, whose economy has had the most success, stability and a growing prosperity are the prizes. Politically, parties in each country are still struggling for an identity. The communist party, though no longer dominant in these countries, remains viable and continues to yield considerable influence. Economically, each country is pressing ahead with privatization and a loosening of government control. At the same time however, financial corruption and a lack of fiscal oversight are proving to be major stumbling blocks. Militarily, when compared to NATO standards, these countries have large amounts of equipment ready for the museum as opposed to the battlefield. Yet despite these challenges, each remains focused on meeting the expectations NATO had set with a goal of formally joining the organization in 1999. The first of many hopeful nations to be included as NATO invitees, they are on their way to meeting their goal.


Zr-Al-O-N composites were prepared in N2 atmosphere at 1600oC with Ca-PSZ and Al powders as raw materials. Phase composition of the composites and formation reaction mechanism were investigated by XRD and SEM analyses. With Al content increaseing from 1% to 50%, phase composition of the composites were changed step by step. The results showed that phase compositions of the composites are related to Al content.


Background This prospective study was established to develop and evaluate methods to harness pathogen sequencing in the clinical microbiology environment. We describe new insights into the clinical benefits of using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for outbreak investigation with solutions for the practical barriers to implementation in clinical settings. Methods Surveillance software (ICNet) and statistical process control charts (SPCs) detected potential outbreaks of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), Enterobacteriaceae producing extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), Listeriaspp. and optrAgene positive enterococci. Isolates were sent to reference laboratories for conventional typing and the Infection Group, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews for WGS (Illumina Inc, San Diego, CA, USA) and bioinformatic data analysis. Results Over 400 isolates have been sequenced to date. WGS replaced multiple typing techniques in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa ICU outbreak. It confirmed two patient's Listeria spp. isolates were indistinguishable prompting hospital kitchen inspections, identified a patient to be carrying two strains of VRE and confirmed that vancomycin-sensitive Enterococcus faecium isolates related to a VRE cluster. We observed five main barriers to implementing WGS (infrastructure, performance/quality assessment of data, isolate selection, clinical result interpretation and database management). Conclusion WGS is beneficial in outbreaks of uncommon organisms and when conventional typing cannot show whether isolates are linked or not. Identifying barriers assisted us in developing a clinical decision aid that can be used by clinicians when applying WGS to outbreak investigations.


Procedure Appropriateness Category Relative Radiation Level MRI head without IV contrast Usually Appropriate O CT head without IV contrast Usually Appropriate ☢☢☢ MRA head without IV contrast Usually Appropriate O CTA head with IV contrast May Be Appropriate ☢☢☢☢ MRI head perfusion with IV contrast May Be Appropriate O MRI head perfusion without IV contrast May Be Appropriate O MRI head without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate O MRA head with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate O CT head without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢☢ Arteriography cervicocerebral Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢☢ CT head perfusion with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate Varies CT head with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢ MRI head with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate O


Abstract Water blooms dominated by cyanobacteria are capable of producing hepatotoxins known as microcystins. These toxins are dangerous to people and to the environment. Therefore, for a better understanding of the biological termination of this increasingly common phenomenon, bacteria with the potential to degrade cyanobacteria-derived hepatotoxins and the degradative activity of culturable bacteria were studied. Based on the presence of the mlrA gene, bacteria with a homology to the Sphingopyxis and Stenotrophomonas genera were identified as those presenting potential for microcystins degradation directly in the water samples from the Sulejów Reservoir (SU, Central Poland). However, this biodegrading potential has not been confirmed in in vitro experiments. The degrading activity of the culturable isolates from the water studied was determined in more than 30 bacterial mixes. An analysis of the biodegradation of the microcystin-LR (MC-LR) together with an analysis of the phylogenetic affiliation of bacteria demonstrated for the first time that bacteria homologous to the Aeromonas genus were able to degrade the mentioned hepatotoxin, although the mlrA gene was not amplified. The maximal removal efficiency of MC-LR was 48%. This study demonstrates a new aspect of interactions between the microcystin-containing cyanobacteria and bacteria from the Aeromonas genus.


Plantain is one of the most important sources of food in the African lowlands stretching from the lowlands of Guinea and Liberia to the central basin of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Because plantain cultivars do not produce seeds, plantain cultivation is based on vegetatively transplanted lateral shoots/suckers. The way by which plantain reached the African continent is still under speculation. The aim of this study was to shed light on the history of plantain cultivars through a linguistic/synonymy study in northern Democratic Republic of Congo. We report the diversity of plantains in 18 villages across the Bas-Uele province based on a survey. Three villages in which plantain production systems dominated were selected in each territory, and ten households were consulted in each village. In each selected village, a focus group discussion was conducted with a group of at least 30 men, and with a separate group of 30 women to establish a list of plantain cultivars grown and known. A total of 46 cultivars were identified and 294 synonyms detected. The cultivar names are mostly related to animal features and agronomic traits, although there is a need to revisit the list for more specific traditional names. The local differences in cultivar identity, density and distribution are explained partly due to the influence of humid forest versus savanna landscapes, but the main part seems to be due to previous movements of Benza, Boa, Ngbandi, Rambo and Zande ethnic groups with their own set of cultivars. We demonstrate that the recorded synonymy data are useful for a tentative partial reconstruction of the history of some cultivars. This is useful for the genetic improvement of plantain cultivars, which most probably will have to rely for a great deal on the unraveling and management of epigenetic mechanisms.

 Key words: Bas-Uele, cultivar, diversity, ethnic group, plantain, synonymy.


In this study, thermal post-buckling characteristics of functionally graded (FG) panels in hypersonic airflows are investigated. The volume fraction and the material properties of FGMs are continuously changed from ceramic to metal in the thickness direction agreeably to a simple power law distribution and a linear rule of mixture, respectively. Using the principle of virtual work, the governing equations are derived and the finite element method is applied to obtain the solutions. Based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT), the FG panels are modeled by the von Karman strain-displacement relation for the structural non-linearity. Also, the third-order piston theory is employed to consider the aerodynamic non-linearity.