This workshop will create a space for discussion on environmental politics and its impact on design for sustainable transitions. It will help participants identify different sustainability discourses; create a space for reflection on how these discourses influence design practice; and consider the environmental and social implications of different discourses. The workshop will do this work by encouraging knowledge sharing, reflection and interpretative mapping in a participatory space where individuals will create their own discourse maps.
This work is informed by my research "Mapping Climate Communication" conducted at the Centre for Science and Technology Policy Research (CSTPR) in the Cooperative Institute for Environmental Sciences (CIRES), the University of Colorado, Boulder. With this research project I developed a discourse mapping method based on the discourse analysis method of political scientists and sustainability scholars. Using my own work as an example, I will facilitate a process that will enable participants to create new discourse maps reflecting their own ideas and agendas.


African Arts is distinct from other arts, with its dazzling colors, and it is characterized by simplicity and influenced by the customs and traditions of tribes in the desert and African forests. It contains the methods used in the implementation of  floor covering and including : manual and mechanical methods . African arts differ greatly from the arts in the world, as they always have real-life connotations in Africa in terms of heat, work and effort, and are embodied in dazzling colors and sometimes in an unconventional pattern in the formations of bodies and shapes, so African art is always distinguished from other arts by its dazzling colors and Warmth in expressing the subject of the artistic work as it is an art characterized by simplicity and its abstractions, and we find that African art has had a great influence on the arts of the modern and contemporary times. The assets in their artistic works, especially the Surrealist and Cubist school. Weavs wall were chosen to apply this art because this industry is one of the types of textile industries that are closely related to art and technology, as it is one of the industries that most show the customs and traditions of peoples through designs through which we can identify the customs and traditions of different peoples as it is an important means To learn about the civilizations of different nations. Research problem: That in light of the country's current orientation to Africa, this research will enrich African art and create designs inspired by it to be marketed globally and locally. Research objectives: Creating designs that can be used as weaving pendants, inspired by some African art units and symbols, to be executed in the Hand Tuft style. Significance : 1- Utilizing the units and colors of African art in creating designs for textile pendants. 2- Enriching the textile industry by using African art units and colors. 3- Support state directives, limit the consolidation of relations with African countries. Conclusion : 1- African art units can be used to create modern designs with aesthetic values and to use them as weaves wall object. 2- The use of different colors using the same design helped to obtain many aesthetic effects, which helps to satisfy all tastes. 3-Using the hand tufting method to implement the designs and the possibility of making a prominent and clear way to embody and clarify some elements from others.


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We report the very first application of a Transient 1D 1H{19F} NOE NMR experiment in neat ionic liquids. In comparison with classical 2D HOESY NMR spectroscopy, a substantial reduction in measurement time is gained with comparable quality and information content of the spectra. In combination with classical X‐ray crystallography, we have applied this technique for the determination of inter‐ionic distances (i.e. probabilities of presence) utilizing an ionic liquid containing a monofluorinated imidazolium cation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


An X-band electron paramagnetic resonance study at 5 K of ions in single crystals is reported. The spectra have been attributed to a unique centre of located at the site. The spin-Hamiltonian parameters have been determined for the even isotopes of Dy, as well as for the isotopes and . Moreover, a detailed g-factor analysis has been carried out by obtaining the ground doublet wavefunction. To this purpose, we have employed an interpolated set of crystal-field parameters for which was estimated from the fitted sets of and in . It is found that the interpolated set yields a satisfactory approach to the experimental g-factor values, which makes it feasible to predict the energy-level scheme for the ground manifold of in this host.


The Greenland Ice Sheet is a biome primarily driven by microbial activity. Despite the harsh conditions, such as cold temperatures, low nutrient levels, high UV radiation in summer, and long dark winters, various niches can be found on the ice sheet that can support organisms capable of withstanding these challenges. During the summer, eukaryotic glacier ice algae grow in large quantities on the ice surface, accompanied by a community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Additionally, cryoconite holes and snow serve as habitats with their own distinct microbial communities. Nevertheless, the microbiome of supraglacial habitats remains poorly studied, leading to a lack of representative genomes from these environments. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of the supraglacial microbiome using both culturing-dependent and -independent methods. We compared genomes obtained through metagenomic sequencing (133 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes or MAGs) and whole genome sequencing (73 bacterial isolates) to the metagenome assemblies to determine their abundance within the total environmental DNA. Interestingly, the isolates obtained in this study were not dominant taxa in their respective habitats, unlike the MAGs.
 Under-investigated extremophiles, such as those inhabiting the Greenland Ice Sheet, may offer an untapped reservoir of undiscovered chemical diversity. We cataloged the biosynthetic potential of these organisms by examining the presence of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in the obtained genomes. To accomplish this, we utilized tools like the Antibiotics and Secondary Metabolites Analysis Shell (AntiSMASH) and the Biosynthetic Gene Similarity Clustering and Prospecting Engine (BiG-SCAPE) to mine these genomes and subsequently analyze the resulting predicted BGCs. We identified a total of 849 BGCs, which were organized into 411 gene cluster families (GCFs). Notably, the MAGs and isolate genomes exhibited distinct pools of biosynthetic diversity, with only 5 GCFs shared between the two groups. The cryoconite genomes yielded the most unique GCFs. Furthermore, we found evidence for the capacity of these microbes to produce antimicrobials, carotenoids, and osmoprotectants. However, many of the obtained BGCs could not be matched to similar, previously described BGCs, highlighting the vastness of the undescribed biosynthetic potential present in microbes from the Greenland Ice Sheet.


The article presents the results of the authors' own observations and an overview of the main directions in clinical and experimental psychological studies of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which includes complementary data in the framework of the modern biopsychosocial paradigm and the concept of psychosomatic relationships. The analysis confirms the complex somatocentric basis of the idea of the disease in patients using cognitively determined separation of physiological (bodily) and psychosocial determinants, which can be considered as a vector for psychotherapeutic interventions and secondary psychoprophylaxis. It is emphasized that the attitude to the disease as a socially frustrating factor has a stronger effect on the quality of life of patients and adaptive potential than the actual symptoms of the disease.


For decades, hydroxyapatite has been used for bone regeneration in orthopedics and dentistry. This calcium phosphate presents excellent biocompatibility, bioactivity and osteoconductivity . More recently, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAP-NP) have been incorporated in several oral care products for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity . Due to their small size, HAP-NP are able to enter the dentin tubules, filling and sealing them. Consequently, the connection with the pulp nerves is blocked and the pain associated with dentin hypersensitivity is eliminated. Additionally, HAP-NP can also remineralize early enamel lesions by precipitating on its surface, forming a new apatite layer with increased hardness .


The ability to test general relativity in extreme gravity regimes using gravitational wave observations from current ground-based or future space-based detectors motivates the mathematical study of the symmetries of black holes in modified theories of gravity. In this paper we focus on spinning black hole solutions in two quadratic gravity theories: dynamical Chern-Simons and scalar Gauss-Bonnet gravity. We compute the principal null directions, Weyl scalars, and complex null tetrad in the small-coupling, slow rotation approximation for both theories, confirming that both spacetimes are Petrov type I. Additionally, we solve the Killing equation through rank 6 in dynamical Chern-Simons gravity and rank 2 in scalar Gauss-Bonnet gravity, showing that there is no nontrivial Killing tensor through those ranks for each theory. We therefore conjecture that the still-unknown, exact, quadratic-gravity, black-hole solutions do not possess a fourth constant of motion.


Recently dam managers have begun to use data produced by regional climate models to estimate how probable maximum precipitation (PMP) might evolve in the future. Before accomplishing such a task, it is essential to assess PMP estimates derived from regional climate models (RCMs). In the current study PMP over North America estimated from two Canadian RCMs, CanRCM4 and CRCM5, is compared with estimates derived from three reanalysis products: ERA-Interim, NARR, and CFSR. An additional hybrid dataset (MSWEP-ERA) produced by combining precipitation from the Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation (MSWEP) dataset and precipitable water (PW) from ERA-Interim is also considered to derive PMP estimates that can serve as a reference. A recently developed approach using a statistical bivariate extreme values distribution is used to provide a probabilistic description of the PMP estimates using the moisture maximization method. Such a probabilistic description naturally allows an assessment of PMP estimates that includes quantification of their uncertainty. While PMP estimates based on the two RCMs exhibit spatial patterns similar to those of MSWEP-ERA and the three sets of reanalyses on the continental scale over North America, CanRCM4 has a tendency for overestimation while CRCM5 has a tendency for modest underestimation. Generally, CRCM5 shows good agreement with ERA-Interim, while CanRCM4 is more comparable to CFSR. Overall, the good ability of the two RCMs to reproduce the major characteristics of the different components involved in the estimation of PMP suggests that they may be useful tools for PMP estimation that could serve as a basis for flood studies at the basin scale.


The Early Cretaceous Separation Point batholith of the South Island, New Zealand, represents the final magmatic stage of an extensive arc system located on the SW Pacific margin of Gondwana during the Mesozoic. The batholith consists of Na-rich, alkali-calcic diorite to biotite-hornblende monzogranite. The rocks are distinct from calc-alkaline subduction-related granitoids, but comparable with those of adakite and Archaean trondhjemite-tonalite-dacite suites. Primitive Sr and Nd isotopic ratios and the absence of inherited zircon, indicate that the granitoids experienced little, if any, interaction with felsic crust. Their geochemistry is consistent with melting of a basaltic protolith of amphibolite mineralogy, either young, hot, subducted oceanic crust or newly underplated material beneath a thickened continental arc. The latter model is preferred because Separation Point rocks do not posess MORB isotopic characteristics, and cannot be explained as mixtures of MORB-melt and continental crust. Most likely it involves melting of basal arc material in response to the collision and thrusting of the arc beneath the continental margin following subduction of a back-arc basin. On the basis of strong geochemical similarities, the Early Cretaceous Western Fiordland Orthogneiss of SW New Zealand is considered to be the lower crustal equivalent of the Separation Point batholith.


We investigate the magnetic ordering in zigzag edged graphene nanoribbons under cross-ribbon electric fields by using the Hubbard model within the unrestricted Hatree-Fock approximation. In the absence of applied electric field, the ground state is an "edge-magnetized state" with magnetic moments mainly localized on the edges, where the moments on the two edges are mutually antiparallel. Under electric fields, we find that the band gap near the Fermi level becomes spin dependent. On increasing the strength of the electric field, the biased charge distribution decreases or increases the band gap with respect to the majority spin on each edge. Increasing the strength further, the system becomes half-metalic, and finally the magnetization completely disappears.


Many chemically amplified resists that function on the basis of acid catalysis of thermolytic reactions have been described as well as systems that function on the basis of free radical chain reactions. But there have been very few reports on the use of base catalysis of chemical transformations in resist materials. We describe here our initial results on base catalyzed chemically amplified deep-UV photoresists. Photogenerated amines were used as catalysts for the decarboxylation of carboxylic acids. Two approaches to building resists around this chemistry were investigated. 1) Decarboxylation of a low molecular weight carboxylic acid led to base induced dissolution inhibition of a phenolic polymer giving negative tone images. 2) A carboxylic acid polymer was synthesized which also is susceptible towards base catalyzed decarboxylation. Wet development of this resist material gives negative tone images. Site specific gas-phase silylation of the carboxylic acid allows the use of this material in a positive tone dry develop process. A 0.5,m linespace pattern obtained by this dry develop process illustrates the potential of base-catalyzed chem ical amplification.


Metabolomic investigation of the freezing-tolerant Arabidopsis mutant esk1 revealed large alterations in polar metabolite content in roots and shoots. Stress metabolic markers were found to be among the most significant metabolic markers associated with the mutation, but also compounds related to growth regulation or nutrition. The metabolic phenotype of esk1 was also compared to that of wild type (WT) under various environmental constraints, namely cold, salinity and dehydration. The mutant was shown to express constitutively a subset of metabolic responses which fits with the core of stress metabolic responses in the WT. But remarkably, the most specific metabolic responses to cold acclimation were not phenocopied by esk1 mutation and remained fully inducible in the mutant at low temperature. Under salt stress, esk1 accumulated lower amounts of Na(+) in leaves than the WT, and under dehydration stress its metabolic profile and osmotic potential were only slightly impacted. These phenotypes are consistent with the hypothesis of an altered water status in esk1, which actually exhibited basic lower water content (WC) and transpiration rate (TR) than the WT. Taken together, the results suggest that ESK1 does not function as a specific cold acclimation gene, but could rather be involved in water homeostasis.


The use of the Doubly-fed Induction Generator (DFIG) in large wind turbines is growing rapidly. In order to investigate the dynamic response of a variable speed wind energy conversion system with DFIG connected to the power system during grid disturbance, a model has been developed. This model includes aerodynamics, the mechanical drive train, the induction generator as well as the control parts. The response of the system during grid disturbances is studied along with the reaction of the generator protection scheme (crow bar).


The present paper reports results of the effect of Potato virus X (PVX) on the contents of total phenols and alkaloids in leaves of Datura stramonium. A significant decrease in the contents of phenols and alkaloids was observed in leaves inoculated with PVX (X-I). However, there was an increase in the percentage of phenols in leaves rubbed with phosphate buffer (C1-I) and in leaves from the nodes immediately above, possibly induced by mechanical injury. Gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy revealed amounts of scopolamine in samples submitted to all treatments, except X-I, in which the amount of this alkaloid was low. High amounts of an unidentified compound (molecular ion m/z 302 and a prominent peak at m/z 129) were noted in extracts from leaves X-I, C1-I and leaves from the nodes immediately above the leaves inoculated with PVX. It is suggested that the synthesis and accumulation of the unidentified compound is a result of stress from mechanical injury and virus inoculation.


The inability of current materials to meet performance requirements is a key stumbling block for addressing grand challenges in energy and national security. Fortunately, materials research is on the brink of a new era - a transition from observation and validation of materials properties to prediction and control of materials performance. In this talk, I describe the nature of the current challenge, the prospects for success, and a specific facility concept, MaRIE, that will provide the needed capabilities to meet these challenges, especially for materials in extreme environments. MaRIE, for Matter-Radiation Interactions in Extremes, is Los Alamos' concept to realize this vision of 21st century materials research. This vision will be realized through enhancements to the current LANSCE accelerator, development of a fourth-generation x-ray light source co-located with the proton accelerator, and a comprehensive synthesis and characterization facility focused on controlling complex materials and the defect/structure link to materials performance.


ABSTRACT Johne's disease, a chronic enteritis of ruminants, is caused by infection with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Three distinct forms have been observed in sheep: paucibacillary disease (PB), multibacillary disease (MB), and asymptomatic infection (AS). In this study, immune parameters for animals naturally infected with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis and identified postmortem as having PB, MB, or AS were compared to provide a further understanding of the immunological reactivity contributing to or resulting from these different disease states in sheep. PB was associated with strong ex vivo M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis antigen-stimulated gamma interferon responses, pronounced increases in CD25+ T-cell frequencies in circulation, antibody production, and a B-cell population that expanded significantly upon ex vivo antigenic stimulation. The MB group featured the highest antibody levels and a lack of cellular immune responsiveness to the M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis antigen. The AS group expressed an immunological phenotype intermediate between that for noninfected control animals and that for the PB group. The relationship between immune responses and disease severity within the PB group was investigated more closely; significant positive correlations were observed between disease severity and both the CD8+ population in the circulating blood and the expression of interleukin-4 mRNA in antigen-stimulated blood samples ex vivo. Together, these data point toward distinct immune profiles in sheep that correspond to different Johne's disease states, which can be determined from circulating blood and/or from localized intestinal tract tissue samples.


Mr Justice Benjamin Boothby occupied the post of Second Judge in the Supreme Court of South Australia from 1853 to 1867. He may have been the most unsuitable appointment to the Bench in South Australia's history, and lacked almost every quality necessary for the role. After years of controversy, he was dismissed in 1867, the only Judge ever to suffer that fate in South Australia's history. It was his eccentric interpretation of the law that provoked the enactment of the Colonial Laws Validity Act 1865 (Imp.), and thus he was an important figure in the legal history of the whole British Empire. But very little indeed is known of his colourful early life before his arrival in South Australia aged 50. This article fills that gap.


Abstract We compared the reproductive performance of the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) from 1991-2002 at four restored colonies in Maine that differ in location (inshore, nearshore and offshore sites), colony age and size and predation. Specifically, phenology, clutch size, survival, growth, provisioning rates and predation intensity and frequency were compared between sites. Common Terns nesting on the two inshore islands laid larger clutches, hatched chicks earlier that grew faster, reached a greater asymptotic mass, and had a greater chance of fledging than conspecifics on a nearshore and an offshore colony, despite greater predation pressure. Individuals nesting at the offshore site suffered reduced reproductive performance, which may be due to colony location with respect to foraging areas. Clutch size, chick provisioning rates and first hatch dates (earlier) declined as colony size increased. Although inshore nesting terns produced more chicks on average, extensive predation in some years caused high breeding failure, resulting in a "boom or bust" productivity situation for these islands. Differences in predation and performance between inshore, nearshore and offshore islands have important implications for the restoration, conservation and management of terns in this region. Nearshore sites offer the best restoration potential and should be strongly considered when available.


A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) provides a bidirectional communication path for a human to control an external device using brain signals. Among neurophysiological features in BCI systems, steady state visually evoked potentials (SSVEP), natural responses to visual stimulation at specific frequencies, has increasingly drawn attentions because of its high temporal resolution and minimal user training, which are two important parameters in evaluating a BCI system. The performance of a BCI can be improved by a properly selected neurophysiological signal, or by the introduction of machine learning techniques. With the help of machine learning methods, a BCI system can adapt to the user automatically.
In this work, a machine learning approach is introduced to the design of an SSVEP based BCI. The following open problems have been explored:
1. Finding a waveform with high success rate of eliciting SSVEP. SSVEP belongs to the evoked potentials, which require stimulations. By comparing square wave, triangle wave and sine wave light signals and their corresponding SSVEP, it was observed that square waves with 50% duty cycle have a significantly higher success rate of eliciting SSVEPs than either sine or triangle stimuli.
2. The resolution of dual stimuli that elicits consistent SSVEP. Previous studies show that the frequency bandwidth of an SSVEP stimulus is limited. Hence it affects the performance of the whole system. A dual-stimulus, the overlay of two distinctive single frequency stimuli, can potentially expand the number of valid SSVEP stimuli. However, the improvement depends on the resolution of the dual stimuli. Our experimental results showed that 4 Hz is the minimum difference between two frequencies in a dual-stimulus that elicits consistent SSVEP.
3. Stimuli and color-space decomposition. It is known in the literature that although low-frequency stimuli (<30 Hz) elicit strong SSVEP, they may cause dizziness. In this work, we explored the design of a visually friendly stimulus from the perspective of color-space decomposition. In particular, a stimulus was designed with a fixed luminance component and variations in the other two dimensions in the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) color-space. Our results showed that the change of color alone evokes SSVEP, and the embedded frequencies in stimuli affect the harmonics. Also, subjects claimed that a fixed luminance eases the feeling of dizziness caused by low frequency flashing objects.
4. Machine learning techniques have been applied to make a BCI adaptive to individuals. An SSVEP-based BCI brings new requirements to machine learning. Because of the non-stationarity of the brain signal, a classifier should adapt to the time-varying statistical characters of a single user's brain wave in realtime. In this work, the potential function classifier is proposed to address this requirement, and achieves 38.2bits/min on offline EEG data.


Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterised by microvascular involvement and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs 1. Objectives In this study, bone mineral density (BMD) and parameters of bone turnover were evaluated to investigate the presence of systemic osteoporosis and/or osteopenia in SSc patients on the basis of their nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) patterns of microangiopathy ("early", "active", and "late") 2. Methods 42 patients (mean age 59±9 years) affected by SSc and presenting the "early" n=5; "active" n=9 and "late" n=28 NVC patterns as well as 36 age-matched healthy controls (mean age 61±3 years) were studied after informed consent. BMD of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and the proximal femur was analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan (Lunar Prodigy, GE, USA).Spot urinary calcium/creatinine ratio, and urinary deoxypyridinoline (Dpd) and crosslinks (NTx) were measured. Serum levels of phosphorus, calcium, bone alkaline phosphatase (bALP), osteocalcin (OC), as well as 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] were analyzed during winter and summer. Results Of the 32 SSc patients enrolled, 28 (87%) presented bone loss, and in particular 10 (31%) showed densitometric osteoporosis and 18 (56%) had osteopenia. BMD was significantly lower in the SSc patients than in the control group (lumbar spine: 0.979±0.120 g/cm2 vs 1.153±0.132 g/cm2, p<0.001; femoral neck 0.734±0.104 g/cm2 vs 0.877±0.128 g/cm2, p<0.0001; Ward 0.545±0.085 g/cm2 vs 0.071±0.125 g/cm2, p<0.0001; trochanter 0.669±0.107 g/cm2 vs 0.774±0.187 g/cm2, p<0.005; total hip 0.802±0.008 g/cm2 vs 0.972±0.108 g/cm2, p<0.0001). T score and Z score showed lower values compared to healthy controls (lumbar spine: T=-1.6±1.1 vs -0.7±1.1, p<0.0001; Z=0.2±1.1 vs 0.6±0.2, p<0.05 and total hip: T=-1.7±0.7 vs -0.8±0.3, p<0.0001; Z=-0.4±0.3 vs -0.1±0.7, p<0.03, respectively). In addition, BMD at lumbar spine and total hip was lower in patients with "late" NVC pattern than in those with "early" and "active" patterns (lumbar spine 0.962±0.146 g/cm2 vs 0.999±0.124 g/cm2 and 0.981±0.161 g/cm2; total hip 0.771±0.101 g/cm2 vs 0.839±0.081 g/cm2 and 0.841±0.161 g/cm2, all p<0.05, respectively "late" vs "active" and "early" pattern). 25(OH)D levels [19.4±13 ng/mL vs 20.3±12 ng/mL] and bone metabolic parameters [Dpd 12.6±3.9 nmol/mol vs 11.2±3.6 nmol/mol and NTx 49.6±26.8 nmol/mol vs 45.6±24.3 nmol/mol] were found lower in winter vs summer. On the contrary, the bone resorption parameters [OC 10.2±4.2 μg/L vs 12.1±2.8 μg/L and bALP 10.7±4.2 μg/L vs 12.5±4.5 μg/L] were found significantly higher in winter as compared to summer (p 0<0.05).No significant correlations were found between 25(OH)D levels or other boneparameters between winter and summer. Conclusions The present study reports the presence of reduced values of BMD and bone remodeling markers in patients with SSc. On the basis of their NVC patterns, this difference was more marked in the "late" pattern group and in winter (low [25(OH)D]. A possible role of diffuse tissue ischaemia as a consequence of the SSc microangiopathy/fibrosis, but also other factors may contribute to this2. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


This article seeks to analyse thoroughly the emerging regulatory principle of technological neutrality. The emergence of the principle during the review process of EC Telecommunications regulation is explained. Consequently, the author uses arguments drawn from both economics and communications science to found the norm incorporated in the principle. Ultimately, four rationales for technological neutrality are identified, that show that the interpretation and implications of technological neutrality can differ depending on the rationale chosen.


A controlled environment unit has been compared with plaster dressings in the management of the below knee stump in 60 patients undergoing amputation for advanced vascular disease. The main criteria were stump healing and the speed of rehabilitation. There were 30 patients in each group. Three patients died within 10 days of operation. Primary healing was obtained in 65 per cent, secondary healing in 22 per cent and revision to above knee was required in 13 per cent. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Neither did they differ in the times taken to reach the various stages of rehabilitation from bed excercises to independent walking with final prosthesis. While the controlled environment unit was as effective as the plaster dressing it tended to impede the patients' early mobility and to hinder nursing care. In particular it is not recommended for patients who may be confused or restless in the early postoperative period.


Texas Instruments has developed automotive grade DLP ® technology that enables highly-efficient, next-generation, full-color, true augmented reality (AR) automotive head-up display (HUD) systems. The uniqueness of DLP technology makes it possible to solve common design challenges of head-up display systems including managing environmental extremes and sunlight thermal loading, delivering high brightness and high resolution, and implementing dynamic dimming capabilities. Additionally, DLP projection-based architecture provides flexibility in the optical design needed to create very large field of view virtual displays over the road that augment and assist the driver. This paper includes a brief overview of DLP solid state illumination operation and how the implementation of DLP technology can solve the common HUD design challenges. DLP technology can be used to create advanced solutions for true automotive AR HUD applications.


The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3PUFAs) are a class of lipids biologically effective for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Patients consuming a high dietary intake of ω3PUFAs have shown a low incidence of metabolic disorders, including cancer. Although the effects of ω3PUFAs intake was shown to be involved in the prevention and treatment of these diseases, the underlying molecular mechanisms involved are not well understood. Here, we show that ω3PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) enhanced the tumor suppressor function of LKB1. We observed that when LKB1 expressing cells are treated with DHA, there is an increase in LKB1 activity leading to phosphorylation of AMPK and inhibition of mTOR signaling. Abrogation of LKB1 in MCF-7 cells by siRNA reversed this phenotype. Furthermore, cellular metabolism was altered and ATP levels were reduced in response to DHA treatment, which was further attenuated in cells expressing LKB1. More importantly, in mammary epithelial cells expressing LKB1, the rate of glycolysis was decreased as a result of diminished expression of glycolytic enzymes. Functionally, these events lead to a decrease in the migration potential of these cells. Overall, our discovery shows for the first time that LKB1 function is enhanced in response to ω3PUFA treatment, thereby resulting in the regulation of cell metabolism.


Objective To define impact of social support programme on MDR-TB patients' treatment outcomes

Introduction 5.206 MDR-TB patients were enrolled for treatment in civilian sector of 26 Russian regions in 2008 -2010 within GF Round 4 project. The GF Round 4 project implemented social support programme as tool to increase TB patients' adherence. Patients on outpatient treatment received weekly food and hygienic sets. The cost of sets comprised 20 $US per month/per capita. 3.738 MDR-TB patients (including 1.328 new cases, 602 relapses and 1.808 - from other groups of retreatments) were covered by the social programme and 1.468 patients (including 455 new cases, 228 relapses and 785 from other groups of retreatmnets) didn't receive social support due to termination of GF Round 4 project.

Results. Treatment success rate comprised 50.7% for covered by social support programme MDR-TB patients and 47.2% for patients who didn't received social support (p=0.03). There were no different in treatment success and default rates between new MDR-TB cases and relapses who received and who didn't receive social support (p>0,1). Other retreatments (including patients from registration groups: treatment after default, treatment after failure of category I and II and other) showed reliable different in default rate - 21.3% for patients who received social support component and 28.4% for patients treated without social support component (p<0,01).

Conclusion. Presented model of social support programme demonstrated improvement of patients' adherence only for retreatments with treatment problems in the past. Impact of this model on treatment outcomes of new MDR-TB cases and relapses was not found.


The present study aimed to investigate the foraging dynamic of an ant community in an urban semideciduous mesophitic forest. A total of 4,297 individuals, distributed in 23 species, seven genera and four subfamilies were sampled in January, April, July and October of 2010. Four ant species guilds were found: leaf cutters, soil-dominant omnivores, soil and vegetation opportunists and large-sized epigaeic predators. There were no significant differences in total of species richness and abundance of individuals in samples among the months evaluated. However, there was a clear substitution (turnover) of species over the months. Nine species were sampled exclusively in the rainy period and five species were present only during the dry period. Thus, the species turnover over the months support the hypothesis that ant communities present a temporal dynamics in their foraging activities even in an urban forest fragment. In general, the abundance of ants foraging on soil was greatest during the months with greater rainfall. However, two species belonging to the guild of opportunistic ants from soil and vegetation doubled the number of foraging individuals in period during the months with less precipitation. These findings support that ant communities, independent of isolation and environment (urban or natural), have temporal dynamics that arise from factors relating to the biology and behavior of the group.


Abstract Introduction In transwomen, hormonal replacement therapy typically usually consists of anti-androgen and/or estrogens. Per Endocrine Society 2017 guidelines, patients should be evaluated every 3 months in the first year for appropriate signs of feminization and adverse reactions. This includes measuring serum testosterone every 3 months initially and the testosterone level should be < 50 ng/dL. We describe a case of a transwoman patient diagnosed with testicular seminoma during surveillance of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). Case presentation A 31-year-old male-to-female transgender presents to the endocrine clinic for HRT. She previously had seen another provider for HRT and was started on estradiol valerate 5 mg weekly and leuprolide 3.75 mg every month. After 5 months of therapy, she reported that her testosterone level remained elevated, so spironolactone 100 mg BID was subsequently added. Despite adherence, she was dismayed at how little physical changes she achieved after 1.5 years of HRT. She denies taking exogenous substances or OTC mediation containing androgens. Her examination reveals a male habitus and musculature with male voice, male diamond pubic hair pattern, adult penis size and scrotum measuring 20 cc's bilaterally. Initial labs revealed total testosterone 131 ng/dl, free testosterone 30.8 ng/dl, bioavailable testosterone 64.6 ng/dl, SHBG 12 nmol/L, LH < 0.07 IU/L, FSH < 0.1 IU/L, and estradiol 146 pg/ml. Due to non-suppressed testosterone level despite undetectable gonadotropins, adrenal androgen labs were obtained which was normal. However, her HCG-beta tumor marker was elevated, 12 IU/L (0-3). This prompted a scrotal ultrasound which revealed 3.2 cm right testis mass. Follow-up PET/CT revealed increased activity localized to the right testis without findings of metastasis. Patient underwent right orchiectomy with pathology revealing seminoma stage 1A pT1bMx. At 2 months postop, her total testosterone is now 8 ng/dl, and she reports that her breast tissue has increased and skin softened. Conclusion Hyperandrogenism can be easily diagnosed in females given more obvious clinical features; however, except for precocious puberty, there are typically no obvious features of exogenous testosterone production in males. Thus, typically no workup is undertaken in males to look for underlying cause, including testicular cancer. While presence of scrotal mass is the most common initial presentation, patients can be asymptomatic until tumor burden is high and there is metastasis. Transwomen should be monitored by obtaining estradiol and testosterone levels following the Endocrine Society guidelines. If patient is on GnRH agonist, her testosterone level should be almost completely suppressed (T <50). A testosterone level > 50 ng/dL while on GnRH therapy should warrant workup for exogenous sources, including testicular cancer and adrenal abnormalities.


ABSTRACT Understanding why people visit museums is of interest to both cultural economics and museum studies. Most existing research relies on survey data concerned with visitors, their immediate background, and their experience of a particular museum. Very few studies have taken a more general perspective and analysed macro-level societal factors, such as inflation, educational attainment and unemployment, and their influence on the number of visits to museums. The conventional approach relies on visitor surveys to understand what drives visits and people's general views on museums. In a departure from these conventional approaches, this article presents a macro-level approach, using a unique dataset of visit counts for 40 English museums and visitor attractions spanning the period 1850–2015. It examines the effect of socio-economic factors on visits using panel data analysis and macro-level variables. The results suggest that inflation rates, average earnings, and educational level (using the indicator of secondary school attendance) all significantly influence the number of visits made. However, the most important variable is the number of visits recorded for the previous year. These findings are discussed in relation to existing studies, and some suggestions for future research are proposed.


The Falcon Island complex is an ultrapotassic pluton with a U-Pb age of 2695+ or -3 Ma intruding the Lake of the Woods greenstone belt in the Wabigoon Subprovince of the Superior Province, in western Ontario. It consists of nepheline-bearing alkali feldspar syenite and alkali feldspar melasyenite with lesser amounts of clinopyroxenite, monzodiorite, and peraluminous alkali feldspar syenite. The magma evolved with increasing P(H 2 O), as indicated by clinopyroxene cores mantled by hornblende, and hypersolvus perthitic alkali feldspar phenocrysts followed by subsolvus interstitial plagioclase, alkali feldspar and nepheline. An "aegirine-enrichment trend" is evident in the clinopyroxene as progressive depletion in Mg and Ca, and enrichment in Fe and Na (both as zoning in individual grains and in the successively fractionated units). Decreasing Fe (super 3+) /(Fe (super 2+) +Fe (super 3+) ) accompanied by increasing Fe/(Fe+Mg), Ti, and IV Al contents of the biotite of the fractionated rock units indicates progressive reduction and Al enrichment of the magma with fractionation. A spatial and genetic linkage of gold mineralization to oxidized alkaline intrusions has been proposed on the basis of mineral chemical studies from the Abitibi Subprovince. The lack of spatially associated gold mineralization with the progressively reduced Falcon Island pluton, despite its proximity to a potentially favorable zone of deformation, supports this hypothesis.


A F2 mapping population was created from a cross between 'UC-90' and E-line ryes (Secale cereale L.), two lines that showed polymorphism for eight C-band loci. Clones from rye, as well as other grasses, were used as probes. RFLP maps of rye chromosomes 6R and 7R were generated that include the 6RS and 6RL terminal C-bands and the 7RS terminal C-band. The 6R map spans 230 cM and includes 9 loci. The 7R map covers 225 cM and includes 21 loci. Segregation distortion was detected for several chromosomal regions. Heterochromatic C-bands did not appear to be responsible for the distortion.


Background—Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent chemical mediator involved in many functions. In vivo production of NO is thought to be regulated by endogenous analogues of L-arginine: asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Aim—To examine the effect of renal function and dialysis on the serum concentrations of ADMA and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA). Methods—Blood samples were obtained from nine healthy subjects, patients with renal failure before (n = 17) and after haemodialysis (n = 9), nine patients on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and 13 patients with chronic renal failure on conservative treatment. Serum samples were extracted using a solid phase cation exchange column and the extracts were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results—Serum concentrations of ADMA in patients with renal failure (mean, 1.04 μmol/litre; SD, 0.17) were significantly higher than those of controls (mean, 0.61 μmol/litre; SD, 0.13). Haemodialysis significantly decreased the serum concentration by 36% (before dialysis: mean 0.99 (SD, 0.25) μmol/litre; after dialysis: mean, 0.63 (SD, 0.15) μmol/litre). Serum SDMA concentrations were higher in patients with renal failure, and haemodialysis decreased the concentration by 60%. There was no difference in serum arginine concentrations between the groups. Conclusion—Serum concentrations of ADMA are increased in renal failure and haemodialysis reduces the concentration.


This demo/poster paper provides an overview of a Software-as-a-Service platform prototype for data integration on the Web – The Linked Data AppStore (LD-AppStore). It builds upon Linked Data technologies, targets data scientists/engineers and data integration application developers, and aims to provide a solution for simplifying tasks such as data transformation, querying, entity extraction, data visualization, crawling, etc. This paper focuses on the overall architecture of the LD-AppStore, basic data operations supported by the current prototype, and outlines the demonstration of the prototype.


In orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)-based cognitive radio (CR) systems, the subcarriers already occupied by the primary users cannot be used by the secondary users. This leads to possibly non-contiguous positions of the available subcarriers for the secondary users. The conventional pilot design methods are no longer effective for such systems. In this paper, we propose a new practical pilot design method for OFDM-based CR systems. We first formulate the pilot design as a new optimization problem. Instead of minimizing the mean-square error (MSE) of the least-squares (LS) channel estimator, we minimize an upper bound which is related to this MSE. We then propose an efficient scheme to solve the optimization problem. Specifically, the pilot indices are obtained sequentially by solving a series of one-dimensional optimization problems of significantly lower complexity. The computational complexity of the proposed scheme is low since it only involves real additions. Simulation results show that the pilot index sequences obtained by the proposed method exhibit significantly better performance than those obtained by existing pilot design methods.


Irradiance is the main driver of photosynthesis. In natural conditions, irradiance incident on a leaf often fluctuates, due to the movement of leaves, clouds and the sun. These fluctuations force photosynthesis to respond dynamically, however with delays that are subject to rate constants of underlying processes, such as regulation of electron transport, activation states of enzymes in the Calvin cycle, and stomatal conductance (gs). For example, in leaves adapted to low irradiance that are suddenly exposed to high irradiance, photosynthesis increases slowly (within tens of minutes); this process is called photosynthetic induction. Photosynthesis in fluctuating irradiance (dynamic photosynthesis) is limited by several physiological processes, and is further modulated by environmental factors other than irradiance, such as CO2 concentration, air humidity and temperature. Studying dynamic photosynthesis and its environmental and physiological control can help to identify targets for improvements of crop growth, improve the accuracy of mathematical models of photosynthesis, and explore new, dynamic lighting strategies in greenhouses. In this thesis, the limitations acting on dynamic photosynthesis are explored by reviewing the literature, by experimenting with a suite of environmental factors (CO2 concentration, temperature, air humidity, irradiance intensity and spectrum), genetic diversity in the form of mutants, genetic transformants and ecotypes, and by mathematical modelling. Several genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, all grown in climate chambers, were used in the experiments. The main findings of the thesis are that a) CO2 concentration and air humidity strongly affect the rate of change of dynamic photosynthesis through a combination of diffusional and biochemical limitations; b) Rubisco activation kinetics are pivotal in controlling rates of photosynthesis increase after a stepwise increase in irradiance, and are further affected by CO2 concentration; c) gs limits photosynthetic induction kinetics in A. thaliana but not in tomato in ambient conditions, and becomes a stronger limitation in low CO2 concentration or air humidity; and d) mesophyll conductance, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and sucrose synthesis do not limit dynamic photosynthesis under the conditions used. In Chapter 1, the rationale for the research conducted is described, by introducing the concept of fluctuating irradiance and its effects on photosynthesis rates. The chapter discusses how dynamic photosynthesis is measured and described, and provides a range of possible applications of the insights gained by the research conducted in this dissertation. In Chapter 2, the current literature is reviewed and a mechanistic framework is built to explore the effects that the environmental factors CO2 concentration, temperature and air humidity have on rates of dynamic photosynthesis. Across data from literature, higher CO2 concentration and temperature speed up photosynthetic induction and slow down its loss, thereby facilitating higher rates of dynamic photosynthesis. Major knowledge gaps exist regarding the loss of photosynthetic induction in low irradiance, dynamic changes in mesophyll conductance, and the extent of limitations imposed by gs across species and environmental conditions. Chapter 3 is an experimental exploration of the effects of CO2 concentration, leaf temperature, air humidity and percentage of blue irradiance on rates of photosynthetic induction in dark-adapted tomato leaves. Rubisco activation, changes in stomatal and mesophyll conductance, diffusional and biochemical limitations, efficiency of electron transport through photosystem II, NPQ and transient water use efficiency, were examined to give a comprehensive overview of the environmental modulation of dynamic photosynthesis. Unlike the percentage of blue irradiance, increases in CO2 concentration, leaf temperature and air humidity all positively affected the rates of photosynthetic induction, and these effects were explained by changes in diffusional and biochemical limitations. Maximising the rates of Rubisco activation would increase CO2 assimilation by 6-10%, while maximising the rates of stomatal opening would increase assimilation by at most 1-2%, at the same time negatively affecting intrinsic water use efficiency. In Chapter 4 it is explored whether the effects of CO2 concentration on dynamic photosynthesis are similar across various irradiance environments. Gain and loss of photosynthetic induction in several low irradiance treatments, as well as sinusoidal changes in irradiance, were studied using tomato leaves. Elevated CO2 concentration (800 ppm) enhanced the rate of photosynthetic induction by 4-12% (compared to 400 ppm) and decreased the loss of photosynthetic induction by 21-25%. Elevated CO2 concentration enhanced rates of dynamic photosynthesis regardless of initial photosynthetic induction state to a similar extent. Therefore, rising global CO2 concentration will benefit integrated assimilation throughout whole canopies, where different leaf layers experience widely differing irradiance regimes. In Chapter 5 it is tested whether stomatal limitation exists during photosynthetic induction in tomato leaves. The abscisic acid-deficient flacca mutant and its wildtype were exposed to various CO2 concentrations to change the diffusion gradient. Despite gs being much larger in flacca, photosynthetic induction proceeded with the same speed in both genotypes in ambient CO2 concentration. This suggested that stomata did not limit photosynthetic induction in the wildtype. Using these findings, several indices of stomatal limitations were compared. Diffusional limitation, a new index, was found to be the most useful. In Chapter 6, an exploration of some physiological limitations underlying dynamic photosynthesis is undertaken. Several mutants, transformants and ecotypes of A. thaliana, affecting rates of Rubisco activation, gs, NPQ and sucrose metabolism, were used. Next to a characterisation of their steady-state responses to CO2 concentrations and irradiance, leaves were exposed to stepwise increases and decreases in irradiance (using several intensities) and to lightflecks of several amplitudes and frequencies. Rubisco activase isoform and concentration, as well as various levels of gs, strongly affected rates of dynamic photosynthesis, while this was not the case with low NPQ or sucrose phosphate synthase concentration. This suggests Rubisco activase and gs as targets for improvement of photosynthesis in fluctuating irradiance. Chapter 7 is a modelling exercise of dynamic photosynthesis, based on data obtained from measurements on mutants of A. thaliana (Chapter 6). This includes a goal-seeking model that allows reproducing the regulation of Rubisco by irradiance and CO2 concentration. The model also includes a full description of leaf-level NPQ, incorporates mesophyll conductance and accounts for the fundamental physics of delays introduced by open gas exchange systems on CO2 measurements. Different data sets for model calibration and validation were used. It was found that the model accurately predicted the effects of the mutants, suggesting that the assumptions of the model were sound and represented the underlying mechanisms correctly. In Chapter 8, the findings in this thesis are synthesized. The insights gained throughout this dissertation are related to existing literature to give a comprehensive overview of the state of knowledge about the limitations of dynamic photosynthesis. The methodology of assessing transient stomatal limitations, and some aspects of using chlorophyll fluorescence measurements during photosynthetic induction, are discussed. Finally, possible applications and ideas for future research on photosynthesis in fluctuating irradiance are discussed.


The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Korea was 1.7~3.9% in the 1990s, but it has risen sharply since 2007, reported at 10.5% in 2011, Active prevention and management are needed to help address this continued increase. Several studies have shown that aggressive blood glucose management can reduce maternal and neonatal complications. The American Diabetes Association proposed control of blood glucose level during pregnancy at, less than 95 mg/dL at fasting, less than 140 mg/dL at 1 hour postprandial, and less than 120 mg/dL at 2 hours postprandial. In addition, blood glucose management is necessary for prevention of type 2 diabetes after childbirth.


Performance of modern cognitive and interactive mobile applications highly depends on the transmission delay in the wireless link that is vital to supporting real-time wireless traffic. To eliminate wireless network congestion caused by large amounts of concurrent network traffic and minimize such transmission delay, traditional schemes adopt various flow control and QoS-aware traffic scheduling techniques, but fail when the amount of network traffic further increases. In this paper, we present a novel design of high-throughput wireless side channel, which operates concurrently with the existing wireless network channel over the same spectrum but dedicates to real-time traffic. Our key idea of realizing such a side channel is to exploit the excessive SNR margin in the wireless network to encode data as patterned interference. We design such patterned interference in the form of energy erasure over specific subcarriers in an OFDM-based wireless network, and achieve a data rate of 1.25 Mbps in the side channel without affecting the existing wireless network links. Experimental results over both software-defined radios and custom wireless hardware demonstrate the effectiveness of our side channel design in reducing the latency of real-time wireless traffic, while providing a sufficient data throughput for such traffic.


3,3'-Diamino-4,4'-bifurazane (1), 3,3'-diaminoazo-4,4'-furazane (2), and 3,3'-diaminoazoxy-4,4'-furazane (3) were nitrated in 100 % HNO3 to give corresponding 3,3'-dinitramino-4,4'-bifurazane (4), 3,3'-dinitramino-4,4'-azofurazane (5) and 3,3'-dinitramino-4,4'-azoxyfurazane (6), respectively. The neutral compounds show very imposing explosive performance but possess lower thermal stability and higher sensitivity than hexogen (RDX). More than 40 nitrogen-rich compounds and metal salts were prepared. Most compounds were characterized by low-temperature X-ray diffraction, all of them by infrared and Raman spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Calculated energetic performances using the EXPLO5 code based on calculated (CBS-4M) heats of formation and X-ray densities support the high energetic performances of the nitraminofurazanes as energetic materials. The sensitivities towards impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge were also explored. Additionally the general toxicity of the anions against vibrio fischeri, representative for an aquatic microorganism, was determined.


This study was designed to determine the incidence and prognostic value of various populations of tumour-infiltrating T cells in glioblastomas. We also evaluated the difference in T-cell populations after conventional treatment. Sixty-seven patients with glioblastomas underwent surgery between 2003 and April 2009. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for CD3, CD4, CD8 and FoxP3, and the average number and percentage of positive cells were calculated. In eight patients, the average number of subpopulations was compared between the specimens obtained during the first and second operations. Age, gender, Karnofsky performance status, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group-recursive partitioning analysis (RTOG-RPA) classes, extent of removal, treatment modality, O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) methylation status and immunopositivity for CD4, CD8 and FoxP3 were analyzed as prognostic factors. There was an average of 12.8 ± 1.8 CD31 T cells, 1.5 ± 0.5 CD41 T cells, 6.8 ± 1.3 CD81 T cells and 0.6 ± 0.2 FoxP3 cells. The percentage of positive T-cell subpopulations was 89.6%, 22.4%, 77.6% and 34.3% for CD3, CD4, CD8 and FoxP3, respectively. In eight patients, there was no difference in the subpopulations between the first and second operations. The median progression-free survival was 7.0 months (95% CI, 5.2–8.9 months) and the overall survival was 14.8 months (95% CI, 11–18.7 months). Univariate analysis showed a statistically significant difference in progression-free survival for CD8 (p = 0.02) and overall survival for RTOG-RPA classes (p = 0.003), the extent of removal (p = 0.01) and MGMT promoter methylation status (p = 0.005). Based on multivariate analysis, RTOG-RPA classes were significantly associated with longer overall survival. The intratumoural immune response occurred frequently in glioblastomas and there was a consistent response, even after conventional treatment. There was a statistically significant difference in progression-free survival for CD81 T cells in immunologically privileged central nervous system.


Thomas, J. B., Gaudet, D. A. and Graf, R. J. 2012. AC Bellatrix hard red winter wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 163 168. AC Bellatrix is a winter-hardy, reduced-height cultivar of hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Lethbridge Research Centre. Based on evaluation in the Western Winter Wheat Cooperative Registration trials from 1995 to 1997, the average grain yield of AC Bellatrix was higher than Norstar and AC Readymade and similar to CDC Clair and CDC Osprey. AC Bellatrix was shorter than the standard height cultivar Norstar and had moderate lodging resistance, equivalent to CDC Osprey but with stiffer straw than Norstar and CDC Clair. AC Bellatrix exhibited moderate resistance to common bunt but was susceptible to leaf diseases including stem, leaf and stripe rust. Since its registration, AC Bellatrix is eligible for the enhanced-quality grades of the Canada Western Red Winter wheat market class.


IN 1936 Vogt first reported his experiences with cyclodiathermy puncture in the treatment of severe and intractable glaucoma. Later he further elaborated on three and a half years' experience with this operation, in which time the complications mentioned in his first communication were reduced to a minimum. During the past seven years, my associates and I have had opportunity to try out the method, and we believe it has a definite place in the surgical treatment of the disease, especially in cases of severe glaucoma, complicated by a very shallow anterior chamber, in which a previous operation has been done. Unfortunately, in our early cases the procedure was attempted with diathermy needles which were too thick and too long. The result was some rather severe complications, such as changes in the lens and corneal ulceration. At present, however, with the use of sufficiently small diathermy needles, complications previously encountered have


To evaluate the effect of non invazive mechanical ventilation(NIMV) on diaphragmatic function in COPD exacerbation inpatients by using M-mod ultrasonography. In 2009 COPD exacerbation inpatients who meet inclusion criterias and whom have NIMV endication were implicated in our study.Bronchodilator, antibiotherapy and systemic steroid treatment were performed to all patients.In addition to medical therapy,NIMV was applied.Before NIMV application,diaphragmatic excursion during tidal ventilation(TV), deep breathing(DB) and diaphragmatic thickness were measured by using GE Logic 7 US and 3.5MHz konveks probe.After 2 hours NIMV treatment, the same diaphragmatic parameters were measured again by the same radiology physician and by the same US.The measured values of diaphragmatic motion and thickness before and after NIMV treatment were compared by using Wilcoxon sign test. The mean age of 37 included COPD patients was 64.56±11 years old and 34 of them were male.In our study the mean FVC and FEV1 was 2567 ml and 1342 ml respectively.Before starting NIMV the mean diaphragmatic motion during TV was 1.71±0.53 cm,during DB was 4.25±1.02 cm.After adding short time NIMV treatment,the mean diaphragmatic motion during TV increases to 2.33± 0.74 cm, during DB it was 5.25±1.26 cm.The difference between the diaphragmatic motion during TV and DB before and after the NIMV was statistically significant(p M-mode ultrasonography is a non invasive and inexpensive method in evaluation of diaphragmatic motion. In our study the positive effect of short duration NIMV treatment on diaphragmatic motion in COPD exacerbation was determined.


Objectives:  1) To introduce to expert colleagues the concept of health sector information quality advocates. 2) To obtain these colleagues opinions on worth of the advocate role and the competencies needed by an advocate. 3) To identify existing courses that matched the needs of the advocacy role.
Design:  1) A workshop and pre-workshop survey of participants. 2) An online search of courses targeting a health workforce audience based on key words from the competencies identified by the workshop participants.
Setting:  The workshop was conducted at the 35th Patient Classification Systems International (PCSI) Conference in Iceland in September 2022. The pre-conference online survey used SurveyMonkey. The online course search used Google Chrome and Google Scholar and the English language.
Main outcome measures: 1) Agreement of expert colleagues on the need for an Information quality advocate role. 2) Consensus by the expert colleagues on the important competencies. 3) The identified courses described in terms of mode of course delivery, course cost and duration, the delivering institute and key competencies covered. Each course was assessed and scored on a scale from 0 to 10 based on comprehensiveness and effectiveness.
Results: The top five competencies for the information quality advocate in order of importance were data governance principles, quality management, stakeholder engagement, information and system governance, and information culture. The online search results identified many courses for specific technical roles, but most did not have the focus on data validity, reliability and information usefulness that matched the needs of the advocacy role.
Conclusions: Focused training is needed to support appropriately skilled information quality advocates for the health sector. The presence of information quality advocates at the point of data collection facilitates the pathway to best practice in data collection.


Social Networks has changed the way we use web. There is a huge amount of data created and generated by users. There is an obvious question about who owns your data you created. Can you take your data (FOAF information, bookmarks, tags, photos etc) as you leave the service? Browsing, tagging and bookmarking pattern can easily raise the issues of privacy. People are separated over many existing social sites which make it difficult to know the social relationship among the users. Most of the current search engines don't utilize social connection of users to resolve their query. Search results need to be personalized based peoples' relationship and their contribution at the same time we want to ensure the privacy of the users. Much of the information is still restricted to different sites and search is not possible due to the lack of technical and semantic interoperability, locking in knowledge resources in disconnected islands. In this paper we tried to develop an infrastructure that utilizes the relationship between people and their interaction with people to people, people to content. We present an approach of integration of information from different sources bringing together the concept from semantic technology, P2P and social sites. We also propose a novel publish subscribe mechanism for social networks that can benefit from the social relation between peoples to disseminate among the users.


This paper highlights the major drilling problems encountered in the field development programmes offshore Malaysia from 1978 to mid-1983. The major problems identified were pipe sticking which was common in all the areas and top hole drilling problems encountered in a few fields offshore Sabah and Sarawak. Generally, the problems were related to drilling deviated wells through the soft and unconsolidated formations common in this region. Preventive measures employed by the Contractors have been effective in overcoming these problems in the later years of the period under consideration.


Botany, domestication and physiology of the edible yam (Dioscorea alata) crop. An extensive literature revision summarizes the most important information about domestication, adaptation, ecology, phenology, growth analysis and physiology of the edible yam crop. The study presented the Yam Sim (Yam Simulator), which is the first version of a model developed from the Simple and Universal Crop Simulator (SUCROS). The Yam Sim model is useful for simulating the growth and harvest of the edible yam (Dioscorea alata). The possible yield limitation is discussed due to size of the watersource or the drain. The study concludes with the proposal of morpho-physiological traits of an ideotype of edible yam.


A dearth of practical resources is available for evaluating ergonomic risk factors in dynamic health care work environments. Of particular need are tools for inspecting patient care environments for hazards. The goal of this study was to describe the development and application of an inspection tool and a process for identifying hazards inherent in the modifiable aspects of the physical environment to reduce injury risk to hospital workers. Through an iterative and participatory process, the tool and inspection process were developed with three purposes in mind: (a) create a framework for the inspection of physical work environments and physical conditions of work associated with injury risk (hazards), (b) document the physical conditions, and (c) provide feedback to decision makers. The tool and process were used by an ergonomics researcher on four patient care units as part of the Be Well, Work Well Total Worker Health® intervention. The resulting inspection process provided a structured method for recognizing hazards in the dynamic modifiable physical work environment and reporting both observations and recommendations to decision makers. The development and implementation of the inspection tool provided guidance to modify the physical work environment by implementing ergonomic solutions. The tool allowed the organization to plan and prioritize ergonomic hazard abatement (e.g. resource allocation and tracking trends). Within a Total Worker Health® framework, this tool can measure work practices which can then be used to inform organizational programs and policies within a health care setting.


Background Current melphalan-based intravitreal regimens for retinoblastoma (RB) vitreous seeds cause retinal toxicity. We assessed the efficacy and toxicity of topotecan monotherapy compared with melphalan in our rabbit model and patient cohort. Methods Rabbit experiments: empiric pharmacokinetics were determined following topotecan injection. For topotecan (15 μg or 30 µg), melphalan (12.5 µg) or saline, toxicity was evaluated by serial electroretinography (ERG) and histopathology, and efficacy against vitreous seed xenografts was measured by tumour cell reduction and apoptosis induction. Patients: retrospective cohort study of 235 patients receiving 990 intravitreal injections of topotecan or melphalan. Results Intravitreal topotecan 30 µg (equals 60 µg in humans) achieved the IC90 across the rabbit vitreous. Three weekly topotecan injections (either 15 µg or 30 µg) caused no retinal toxicity in rabbits, whereas melphalan 12.5 µg (equals 25 µg in humans) reduced ERG amplitudes 42%–79%. Intravitreal topotecan 15 µg was equally effective to melphalan to treat WERI-Rb1 cell xenografts in rabbits (96% reduction for topotecan vs saline (p=0.004), 88% reduction for melphalan vs saline (p=0.004), topotecan vs melphalan, p=0.15). In our clinical study, patients received 881 monotherapy injections (48 topotecan, 833 melphalan). Patients receiving 20 µg or 30 µg topotecan demonstrated no significant ERG reductions; melphalan caused ERG reductions of 7.6 μV for every injection of 25 µg (p=0.03) or 30 µg (p<0.001). Most patients treated with intravitreal topotecan also received intravitreal melphalan at some point during their treatment course. Among those eyes treated exclusively with topotecan monotherapy, all eyes were salvaged. Conclusions Taken together, these experiments suggest that intravitreal topotecan monotherapy for the treatment of RB vitreous seeds is non-toxic and effective.


The dynamic ergodic divertor (DED), a new concept of the ergodic divertor, is presently installed for the TEXTOR tokamak. Beside the conventional ergodic divertor operation the DED also permits the operation with a rotating magnetic field which allows, in particular, to broaden the heat deposition pattern on the divertor plates. Since its first proposal of the DED in 1996 the structure of magnetic field, especially, the onset of ergodic zone of field lines and related transport in the DED-operation has been extensively studied using different theoretical and numerical methods. New methods to study the magnetic field, in particular, the field line mapping have been developed. The presentation gives the overview of the studies on the structure of magnetic field in the DED, the formation of the ergodic and laminar zones of field lines at the plasma edge. It also includes studies on the modelling efforts of the transport of heat and particles in the ergodic and laminar zones.


The paper presents field trials focused on technological and economic comparison of conventional tillage (CT) and reduced tillage (RT) technologies of soil cultivation and drilling of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). During fifteen production years starting in 2001/02, trials were set up in 520 fields of around 40 farm businesses located in all of the districts of the Czech Republic. With respect to average seed yields, no significant differences were proved with respect to tillage systems, to the application of organic fertilizers and to the fertilization during sowing. Irregular distribution of trial fields into the individual production areas influenced the outcomes thou. Concerning winter rape seed yields, costs per production unit, and earnings per hectare, the most suitable production area proved still to be the potatoes one, but particularly over the recent period also beet production area. The corn production area produced, despite some exceptions, worst results. Over the fifteen-year time, the average oilseed rape yield of all 520 monitored fields was 3.72 t ha–1. Reduced tillage attained average yield of 3.73 t ha–1, i.e. matched almost exactly the one of 3.70 t ha–1 attained by conventional tillage. Unit production costs realized by conventional tillage surpassed by 4.1% those gained by reduced tillage. Related earnings per hectare were on the other hand lower by 17.0%. With respect to fuel and labour consumption, reduced tillage brought significant savings reaching in average 20.2%, respectively 24.0%. In terms of yields, reduced tillage with deeper soil loosening proved repeatedly favourable results.


Little research has been done with regard to determinants of job performance of Cabin Crew working in an airline. Further it revealed that a contextual gap and an intellectual curiosity exist with regard to the determinants of job performance of these employees from the perception of relevant stakeholders. A systematic desk study was carried out to find answers for two conceptual research questions and interviews with 20 stakeholders, observations of three critical incidents, and administration of an interview evaluation sheet to ten resource personnel were done to find answers for three empirical research questions. The empirical findings revealed that job performance of the Cabin Crew on customer service of an airplane in an airline is very important as the work is pivotal and core; there are a variety of common and specific factors which may affect job performance of the Cabin Crew on customer service of an airplane, 14 factors were finalized as per the perception of different stakeholders; 8 factors were identified as major determinants; and the most important three factors from the finalized 14 factors were attitude about customers, agreeableness, and competencies according to the prioritization of the resource personnel. It is implied that attitude about customers, agreeableness, and competencies are built through right training; measured and improved through right performance evaluation; and reinforced through right reward management. As a proactive strategy, to have recruitment and selection to ensure that right people enter the organization in terms of these three factors needs to be done. Key Words: Airline, Cabin Crew, Determinants, Job Performance


Rising concerns among scholars about the intellectual and cultural foundations of democracy have led to a revival of interest in the American philosophical tradition of pragmatism. In this book, Hans Joas shows how pragmatism can link divergent intellectual efforts to understand the social contexts of human knowledge, individual freedom, and democratic culture. Along with pragmatism's impact on American sociology and social research from 1895 to the 1940s, Joas traces its reception by French and German traditions during this century. He explores the influences of pragmatism--often misunderstood--on Emile Durkheim's sociology of knowledge, and on German thought, with particularly enlightening references to its appropriation by Nazism and its rejection by neo-Marxism. He also explores new currents of social theory in the work of Habermas, Castoriadis, Giddens, and Alexander, fashioning a bridge between Continental thought, American philosophy, and contemporary sociology; he shows how the misapprehension and neglect of pragmatism has led to systematic deficiencies in contemporary social theory. From this skillful historical and theoretical analysis, Joas creates a powerful case for the enduring legacy of Peirce, James, Dewey, and Mead for social theorists today.


This paper will critically examine site-specific art in Australian heritage sites and museums, in particular the way in which artists have responded to, resurrected or in some cases 'created' a sense of Place. Since the early 1990s, there has been a growing trend in Australia of artists being commissioned to make work in non-art museums, frequently in the form of site-specific art that relates to a site's sense of Place. For many artists, loaded semiotic spaces, such as the historic houses or heritage sites referred to in this paper, provide rich material to which they can creatively respond. Such art has the ability to revitalise tired or inconsistent archives and displays, revive buried pasts, present alternatives to a museum's 'official history', as well as attracting a wider and varied audience. Two recent art projects undertaken in Tasmania, Australia, will be used to illustrate my argument: the Port Arthur Project and the Trust project. The Port Arthur penal settlement, now largely in ruins, was the site of a large art exhibition in 2007, with 23 artists making work in dialogue with the site. Port Arthur's paradoxical status as a historical site of incarceration and horrific abuse, its current popularity as a tourist site, and the strange beauty of the sandstone ruins on the tip of the Tasman peninsular, make it an obvious target as a loaded site for artistic response. Likewise, Trust (2009) utilised historic houses around the state, such as Home Hill and Clarendon House. Participating artists were commissioned to research the site, its original inhabitants, or its general history, with the aim of producing original artworks that contribute to our understanding of these usually neglected historic homes. © Common Ground, Lucy Hawthorne, All Rights Reserved.


This study proposes innovative ways for routine fire-fitness' to become a social norm to narrow the bushfire awareness-preparedness gap and thus save human lives. It identifies new, data-driven preparedness policies to help improve human safety in all-hazards emergencies. Public preparedness for natural hazard events requires continual improvement. Addressing this with innovative public health policy and practices aims to more effectively manage the impact of fire and worsening severe weather events on human populations. The Lower Eyre Peninsula in South Australia was selected as a research site for several reasons including its recent and severe fire history. Data were collected from stakeholders, namely emergency responders and animal owners, to explore, problem-solve and arrive at practical and achievable answers to cultivate a culture of preparedness as a routine activity. Data analysis generated three initiatives with the potential to achieve this, being a new type of workplace leave, financial incentives linked to municipal charges and reviewing management of firebreaks and crop placement in the modern environment of 'conservation farming'. These represent medium to long-term changes to public health and safety policy that can help to make 'fire-fitness' a social norm.


For estimating the AR (autoregressive) parameters from nonstationary MR (magnetic resonance) data, the authors introduce an algorithm with an adaptive mechanism, which attempts to follow the statistical variation of the data. Medical and material MR images reconstructed using the LSL (least-squares lattice) algorithm were more stable than the original nonadaptive TERA (transient error reconstruction algorithm) ARMA (autoregressive moving average) modeling algorithm. Stability with that algorithm was obtained by using several ad-hoc methods which did not make best use of the available resolution achieved by using modeling. Stability with the LSL algorithm was obtained by its adaptive characteristics to allow it to follow the varying properties.<<ETX>>


Objectives To investigate the use of manual vacuum aspiration in postabortion care in Malawi between 2008–2012. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was done at the referral hospital Queen Elisabeth Central Hospital, and the two district hospitals of Chiradzulu and Mangochi. The data were collected simultaneously at the three sites from Feb-March 2013. All records available for women admitted to the gynaecological ward from 2008-2012 were reviewed. Women who had undergone surgical uterine evacuation after incomplete abortion were included and the use of manual vacuum aspiration versus sharp curettage was analysed. Results Altogether, 5121 women were included. One third (34.2%) of first trimester abortions were treated with manual vacuum aspiration, while all others were treated with sharp curettage. There were significant differences between the hospitals and between years. Overall there was an increase in the use of manual vacuum aspiration from 2008 (19.7%) to 2009 (31.0%), with a rapid decline after 2010 (28.5%) ending at only 4.9% in 2012. Conversely there was an increase in use of sharp curettage in all hospitals from 2010 to 2012. Conclusion Use of manual vacuum aspiration as part of the postabortion care in Malawi is rather low, and decreased from 2010 to 2012, while the use of sharp curettage became more frequent. This is in contrast with current international guidelines.


A tone analyzer is demonstrated using a distributed resonator architecture on a tensioned piezoelectric polyvinyledene diuoride (PVDF) sheet. This sheet is used as both the resonator and detection element. Two architectures are demonstrated; one uses distributed, directly addressed elements as a proof of concept, and the other integrates organic thin film transistor-based transimpedance amplifiers directly with the PVDF to convert the piezoelectric charge signal into a current signal. The PVDF sheet material is instrumented along its length, and the amplitude response at 15 sites is recorded and analyzed as a function of the frequency of excitation. The determination of the dominant component of an incoming tone is demonstrated using linear system decomposition of the time-averaged response of the sheet and is performed without any time domain analysis. This design allows for the determination of the spectral composition of a sound using the mechanical signal processing provided by the amplitude response and eliminates the need for time-domain downstream signal processing of the incoming signal.


A 30-year-old woman who showed remission of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) 20 years previously developed membranous lupus nephritis (MLN). She had photosensitivity, facial erythema, proteinuria of 2.59 g/24 hr, anti-nuclear antibody and anti-ds-DNA antibody. To confirm whether a misdiagnosis of MPGN was made 20 years ago, the clinical data at that time were evaluated retrospectively. She had only mild proteinuria and hematuria but no photosensitivity or facial erythema. Anti-nuclear antibody was negative. Renal biopsy showed occasional lobulation and glomerular capillary double contour. The diagnosis of MPGN was definite. This might be a rare case of one person suffering from two types of glomerulonephritis, MPGN and MLN.


CURRENTLY, THE PORPHYRIAS ARE CLASSIFIED IN FOUR MAIN GROUPS: congenital porphyria, acute intermittent porphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda hereditaria, and porphyria cutanea tarda symptomatica. The acquired form of porphyria (porphyria cutanea tarda symptomatica) occurs in older males and is nearly always associated with chronic alcoholism and hepatic cirrhosis. The main clinical changes are dermatological, with excessive skin fragility and photosensitivity resulting in erosions and bullae. Biochemically, high levels of uroporphyrin are found in the urine and stools. Treatment to date has been symptomatic and usually unsuccessful.A case of porphyria cutanea tarda symptomatica is presented showing dramatic improvement of both the skin lesions and porphyrin levels in urine and blood following repeated phlebotomy.Possible mechanisms of action of phlebotomy on porphyria cutanea tarda symptomatica are discussed.


A simple chemical method of displacement is used for the conversion of thin films of SnS2 into Ag2S films. Thin, uniform and large-area films of SnS2 have been prepared by a chemical deposition method from an acidic medium on to glass and plastic substrates. The SnS2 films were dipped in AgNO3 solution to convert them into Ag2S films. Their structural, electrical and optical properties have been studied.


Human plasma fibronectin (FN) was adsorbed onto the surface of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) scaffolds with aim of improving adhesion of human osteoblasts (HOB). PHB scaffolds were modified via reaction with ethylenediamine in order to create sites for FN immobilization. Morphological and chemical composition changes were observed for treated scaffolds which led to an increase in the concentration of FN adsorbed onto scaffold surfaces. AFM images showed that FN molecules assumed distinct conformation according to the surface to which they were adsorbed. It is believed that the FN molecules added to non-treated scaffolds assumed an unfolded conformational owing to the exposure of their RGD domains, thus promoting an increased HOB adhesion. On the other hand, FN molecules which were added to the surface of previously treated scaffolds are believed to have assumed a folded conformation, hiding some RGD domains and inhibiting HOB adhesion.


Back ground: Ethiopia is among the country most affected by the HIV with adult prevalence of 1.5%; majority of children acquired HIV from their mother through vertical transmission. WHO estimate that about 3.2 million children were living with HIV at the end of 2013 worldwide. HIV-related mortality rates remain high in sub-Saharan Africa despite growing access to ART. Ethiopian government has launched fee based ART treatment in 2003 and free ART in 2005. The aim of current study is to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among HIV-exposed infant from their HIV positive mothers in Jimma zone. Methods : A retrospective study was carried out at JUSH on 225 infants born from HIV seropositive mothers. The relevant data were retrieved from molecular laboratory result record. Data were collected by the investigator. Collected data were tallied and processed by manually and computer tools.  Data was entered in to excel sheet for statistical analysis. The quality of data was controlled. Ethical issue was taken into account. Results : The study revealed that 5.3% (12/225) of the infants born from HIV seropositive mothers were found to be HIV positive. From a total of 225 infants born from HIV seropositive mothers and had been tested for HIV by DNA PCR, 120(53.3%) were males and 105(46.7%) were females. With regard to the time of diagnosis of infants born from HIV positive mothers, the majority 210 (93.3%) had their DBS tested at or after 7 weeks. While only 15 (6.7%) infants were tested at the right time, which is at 6 weeks. Conclusion: The vertical transmission rate was (5.3%) in the present study, reflects the using of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) strategy needed to be strengthen and further activities has to be continued. Keywords: HIV, Early infant diagnosis, HAART, DBS


Coeliac disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory enteropathy induced by dietary gluten in genetically susceptible individuals.1 CD has a worldwide distribution with a very high prevalence, and since undiagnosed adult patients entail a fourfold increased risk of death,2 a flawless diagnostic workup would be needed. At present, although current guidelines state that duodenal biopsy remains essential for the diagnosis of adult CD,3 4 expert opinions are rather heterogeneous and confusing. Actually, the two opposing lines of thought space from establishing a diagnosis only relying on CD serology,5 as already happens in paediatric CD when the transglutaminase 2 antibodies are 10 times over the upper limit of normal,6 to the careful and detailed morphometric evaluation of duodenal biopsy specimens,7 without clearly specifying the clinical settings in which such opposite strategies should be applied. The range of possibilities is even wider if we consider that the 'fresh' analysis of duodenal biopsies with a dissecting microscope is provided by high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of severe villous atrophy, the recognition of which would not require any detailed grading system.8 However, it is clear that this unsophisticated method cannot replace traditional histology, particularly in the cases of infiltrative or milder lesions or in the diagnosis of the complicated …


In any microscopy or spectroscopy, quantitative analysis of data requires some knowledge of the instrumental resolution function. Analysis in fact often involves image deconvolution, at least implicitly. However, for scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), the very definition of resolution becomes problematic and has until now been addressed only for metals, the simplest case. Here a natural general expression for the resolution of STM is developed. This definition gives a resolution function which may be strongly sample dependent in the case of semiconductors or semimetals, and which has an anomalous line shape and linewidth in certain cases. Thus image deconvolution is not generally possible, even in principle, without an understanding of the sample electronic structure.


This thesis is the written component of the multipart installation work, Six Sound Works. Like the work it accompanies and elaborates, not supplants, this thesis explores a number of interrelated themes, establishing a criss-crossing constellation of overlapping associations-more an accumulation of running questions than a compendium of finished answers. Themes explored include the use of art in terms of research-based expository analysis in the definition and investigation of a problematic; the critical, exploratory and methodological possibilities of Hal Foster's notion of the archive; the "mysteries" of sound and hearing and Jacques Lacan's notion of the real; the aesthetics, conceptual preoccupations and multiplex consequences of Minimalism in art production and music; and ghosts, audible or otherwise.


This paper proposes a dynamic analysis method of a 2-D linear oscillatory actuator. In this method, a magnetic field equation is coupled with motion equations of both linear and rotary motion of a mover employing the 3-D finite element method. The usefulness of the method is verified by comparing computational results with the measured resonant oscillation of the mover when it is operated at different frequencies for both motions


The glycolytic flux was investigated in the thermosensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae adenylate cyclase mutant cdc35-1. Directly after a shift to restrictive temperature, the specific CO2 production rate increased from about 250 nmol min-1 (mg protein)-1 to more than 400 nmol min-1 (mg protein)-1, but then the CO2 production gradually fell to about 70 nmol min-1 (mg protein)-1 after 5 h. O2 consumption at restrictive temperature continued at more or less the same rate as at permissive temperature. The temperature shift in the mutant resulted in an increase in the estimated intracellular cAMP concentration from about 1.1 microM to 1.8 microM. This indicates that high cAMP levels are not sufficient for cell cycle progression and high glycolytic activity. The decrease in glycolytic activity at restrictive temperature was not paralleled by a similar decrease in the specific activity of any of the glycolytic enzymes, but correlated with a decrease in hexose transport. A drop in intracellular concentrations of the early metabolites of glycolysis further indicated a defect in transport at restrictive temperature. Our data suggest that glucose transport has a high control on glycolytic flux.


Objective:To present feasibility data on SMART, the first teen worksite behavioural tobacco control intervention. Design:This phase II study was designed to estimate the efficacy and feasibility of a small scale, randomised, controlled intervention. Setting and subjects:This study, addressing youths aged 15–18 years, was implemented in four intervention and five control grocery stores that had an average of 44 eligible teens. Interventions:The tobacco use cessation and prevention interventions were based on social influences and peer leader models. Employee break rooms served as centres both for interactive activities including open houses, teen advisory boards, peer leader interviews, games and contests; and non-interactive interventions including bulletin boards and table tents with health messages and home mailings. Main process measures:Project staff collected process data on the extent of implementation of intervention activities, participation rates in activities, and contacts with peer leaders. On the final survey, teens reported on awareness of, participation in, and motivation for participating in project activities. Results:Indicators of feasibility were identified and discussed, including the number of activities implemented, teen participation, management support, cost, and barriers to and facilitators of implementation. During the 12 month intervention, a mean of 24.1 interactive activities and 55.3 non-interactive activities were implemented, and a mean 14.2% participation rate per activity per site was achieved. Eighty four per cent of teens reported being aware of SMART, and 39% reported participating in interactive and 67% in non-interactive activities. Conclusions:Teen smoking cessation rates in worksite programmes might be improved if they are conducted in companies where there is job stability and if teen programmes are part of worksite-wide tobacco control programmes that include both teens and adults.


Prevelar raising, or the raising of /E/ before voiced velars, has been treated as a sound change that applies uniformly across relevant lexical items. Using self-reported responses from 434 participants, this paper shows that prevelar raising is more likely to occur if the velar is word-final (beg, leg) or intervocalic (negative, legacy) while raising is significantly less likely to occur when the velar is followed by a sonorant (pregnant, regulate), especially if that sonorant is a liquid (negligent, segregate). The set of words containing /Eg/ is more heterogeneous than previously reported, suggesting that there are language-internal factors that must be controlled for when studying prevelar raising.


Purpose To assess the wavefront aberrations of photochromic senofilcon A contact lenses in both activated and inactivated states.Methods In this cross-sectional study, 20 subjects who had previously used soft contact lenses were enrolled. Corneal topography and aberrometry measurements were performed on each subject during one session with Sirius Scheimpflug-Placido topography (Sirius, Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, Italy). Following the first measurement of an eye without a contact lens, the measurements were performed with the photochromic contact lens in the inactivated and activated states, respectively. The corneal topographic [flattest keratometry (K1), steepest keratometry (K2), the axis of the steep meridian (Axis)] and aberrometric [root-mean-square (RMS) of aberrations; optical path difference (OPD), higher-order (HOA), astigmatism, coma, spherical aberration, and residual aberration] measurements were evaluated.Results The average contact lens sphere power was -2.33 ± 1.07 D. The mean refractive errors were 0.07 ± 0.18 D for sphere and -0.26 ± 0.15 D for cylinder when wearing contact lenses. The mean RMS values of all corneal aberrations showed no statistically significant difference in both activated and inactivated states (p > 0.05). In bivariate correlation analyses, all the aberration parameters showed no significant correlation with keratometric and contact lens associated variables (sphere power and refractive errors of eyes with contact lenses) in both states (p > 0.05). Conclusions The photochromic contact lenses did not increase the corneal aberrations in both inactivated and activated states. This property may help to provide a more comfortable vision in the real-world. Even so, this conclusion needs to be verified.


This article examines how the global climate change discourse influences the implementation of national science policy in the area of energy technology, with a focus on industry and science collaborations and networks. We develop a set of theoretical propositions about how the issues in the global discourse are likely to influence research agendas and networks, the nature of industry-science linkages and the direction of innovation. The plausibility of these propositions is examined, using Estonia as a case study. We find that the global climate discourse has indeed led to the diversification of research agendas and networks, but the shifts in research strategies often tend to be rhetorical and opportunistic. The ambiguity of the global climate change discourse has also facilitated incremental innovation towards energy efficiency and the potentially sub-optimal lock-in of technologies. In sum, the Estonian case illustrates how the introduction of policy narratives from the global climate change discourse to the national level can shape the actual policy practices and also networks of actors in a complex and non-linear fashion, with unintended effects.


In recent days, digital communication has become inevitable. The scope of this research is to provide a theoretical framework of automatically classification of question paper. It can be helpful to the library of any University to automate their archival process. A survey has been conducted to understand the existing systems in this research area. After doing the survey we observed that many authors have done significant work in document classification but little work has been done to automatically store the documents in particular folder. Therefore, there is a huge scope to develop working model of the framework suggested in this paper. Keywords: OCR, Kernel Discriminant Analysis (KDA), Semantic Analysis, document classification, binarization