The Fourth International Merritt-Putnam Symposium was undertaken to meet a broad range of objectives. The first was to review the basic mechanisms of epilepsy, highlighting the known and potential targets for therapeutic modification by epileptic drugs, and then to examine how new potential antiepileptic compounds are presently identified, how their identification might be improved in the future, and how they are tested in the laboratory. The symposium next turned its focus to clinical monotherapy trials of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), summarizing the accepted and potential monotherapy indications for individual drugs. Exciting developments in identifying the genes (or linkage) associated with several epilepsy syndromes were then presented. The symposium concluded with an overview of the problems associated with intractable epilepsy. The objectives were designed to answer key questions related to the underlying theme of the symposium. First, does increased knowledge of the way in which seizures develop offer novel therapeutic targets for new drug development? Dr. Marc Dichter reported that the use of animal models of epilepsy has revealed that focal or partial seizures can develop directly from, or be independent of interictal discharges. Acute seizure foci both in vivo and in vitro make it possible to identify the precise location of the epileptic area at which hypersynchronous firing of a small group of neurons favors seizure development. When inhibitory synapses undergo repeated activation, their effectiveness is diminished, and seizure activity can spread throughout the brain. All of these mechanisms are potential targets for AEDs. The second question concerns the way in which new compounds can be identified and tested in animal models. Dr. Brian Meldrum presented an overview of the AED development process that focused on likely molecular targets especially ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, ion exchangers and transporters, and enzymes. In vivo drug screening can be enhanced by using animal models with genetic or acquired seizures whose target molecules have been modified to replicate those found in human epilepsy syndromes. In


The Hospitaller
Order of St John of God
is a world-wide Catholic
health care organisation
providing services in forty
six countries.
The Order was founded
by St. John of God in
Granada, Spain. In 1537
he opened his first
hospital on Lucena Street,
which he called a house
of hospitality.
The mission of each Lucena
Clinic is to provide a
specialised and
comprehensive mental
health service to the
children and families of
Dublin South and West and
County Wicklow.


This paper features a pilot study about making games to foster good contemporary learning, challenging traditional environmental design education to embrace games as inspiration for better teaching, learning, and contributing to the general lack of investigation of video games in environmental design education. Alongside select literature supporting playing and making games for learning, this paper reveals design processes and products from an immersive, interdisciplinary, landscape architecture elective course on game design. Evidence suggests that designing and making games in the context of such an environmental design curriculum has potential to stimulate traditional pedagogies and foster student learning, providing an enriched venue for students to learn about their chosen discipline, and make teaching and learning enjoyable, meaningful, and memorable. Discussion also indicates future directions for how the course could provide an even better environment for quality learning. DOI: 10.4018/jgcms.2012040104 International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations, 4(2), 60-83, April-June 2012 61 Copyright © 2012, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. such activities. Evidence suggests that designing and making games provides more and better learning than just playing them. Why Landscape Architecture? Simply put, it is among the most ideally suited disciplines in the world for integrating games to augment and energize learning. Landscape Architecture (LA) encompasses the analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of the natural and built environments (ASLA, http:// www.asla.org/). It is a combination of engineering, art, design, horticulture, ecology, natural resources, architecture, and urban planning that ultimately is about fitting people to the land and fitting the land to people. Despite the fact that the profession is often misunderstood, frequently underappreciated, and almost always a victim of severely limited public perception, the United States Department of Labor (2010) has identified LA as among the fastest growing (projected 20% growth through 2018), most in-demand (for site/environmental planning, design and remediation), and most important careers of the future. The LA discipline is well situated to be the subject of, and active agent for, a variety of good and useful games. Current LA pedagogies are largely built on the studio model of learning, where exploration & discovery lead to creative and functional project-based problem solving. Although generally successful, studio pedagogies have been relatively unchanged for decades. In particular, recent years have revealed the need to see our students more engaged and enthusiastic, and striving for higher levels of achievement in learning (and teaching) Landscape Architecture. The expectation here is that games and gaming technologies can provide a creative outlet where environmental design students can learn more and differently about their chosen discipline.


In two earlier papers (2, $) some evidence was presented which seemed to indicate that the gene for black color was linked with a factor responsible for transgressive susceptibility to smut in the oat cross Black Mesdag x Gopher. In the meantime, certain backcrosses involving this same material have been made and their reaction to a mixture of loose smut (Ustilago avenae) and covered smut (U. levis) has been determined. The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss the additional data.


A classical microscopic theory is presented for vibrational excitons interacting with the electromagnetic radiation field in uniaxial and biaxial molecular crystals. The coupled exciton—photon field leads to an eigenvalue equation, the solutions of which are polariton modes. It is shown how their frequencies ω(k) can be calculated, if the oscillator strengths are known. It is further shown, that there is a close connection between factor‐group splitting and LO/TO splitting. That part of the effective field, whose range is bounded by the surface of the Lorentz sphere, produces factor‐group splitting, while LO/TO splitting is caused by the long‐range part of the effective field, which is produced by the matter outside the Lorentz sphere.


Partial unilateral lentiginosis (PUL) is a pigmentation disorder characterized by multiple lentigines covering the normal skin with a unilateral, segmented pattern that stops at the midline. There has only been a few successful PUL treatments reported in the literature, and an ideal therapeutic method has not yet been identified. We report a case of facial PUL that was successfully treated with a 532-nm Q-switched neodymium-ser with subsequent low-fluence 1,064-nm QS Nd:YAG laser treatment. The patient did not experience recurrence until 3 years after the treatment. This appears to be a promising therapeutic approach for PUL. Additional research should be conducted for further assessment of this method.


Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is increasingly used as a means of insulin delivery for those with type 1 diabetes, and has recently been endorsed by NICE for this purpose. CSII improves glycaemic control compared to other intensified insulin regimens, with a small decrease in HbA1C and mean blood glucose, and a larger reduction in glucose fluctuation. This improved control is not associated with an increased risk of hypoglycaemia and CSII probably results in significantly lower rates of severe hypoglycaemia. There is no evidence that those using CSII are at increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. CSII is uniquely associated with a small risk of application site infection. CSII has a positive impact on quality of life. There is much less evidence concerning the benefits of CSII in reducing microvascular or macrovascular complication rates. Small studies, mostly from the 1980s, show improvements in markers of early nephropathy, retinopathy progression and neuropathy, but the potential long...


I do not know you personally, but I know your work as a journalist and author. I am writing to discuss your latest book, The Mother, the biography of Wenche Behring Breivik, the mother of Norwegian terrorist Anders Behring Breivik. I am boycotting this book; please let me explain why. Just as Americans will always remember 9/11, Norwegians will never forget July 22, 2011. On that day, I remember sitting in the kitchen when my house suddenly trembled. An earthquake in Norway? I soon discovered that it was a shock wave from a massive bomb that had exploded in the executive government quarter of Oslo, six miles away from my home. Oslo looked like a war zone on CNN, the ground littered with glass, debris, and bodies. Within hours, surreal reports poured in about a shooting that had taken place at the Worker's Youth League political summer camp on the small island of Utøya. Teenagers had been brutally massacred. In total, Breivik murdered 77 innocent people, among them a 16-year-old girl from my high school. Her name was Margrethe. I did not know her, but we all mourned at her memorial. Almost three years after the attack, we are still searching for pieces of the puzzle, trying to understand how such a tragedy could have occurred. Who is Breivik? Why did he commit such a heinous crime? Is he sane? Thousands of articles, books, and documentaries have been produced about Breivik. The most controversial, perhaps, is your book, The Mother. You interviewed Wenche and reconstructed her and her son's life stories. First, you describe Wenche's life from her perspective. Then you present the story again, this time with your own reflections and analysis (Wiese). On the night of the attack Wenche was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, where she stayed for three months. While she was hospitalized, you began interviewing her in secret, acting as a friend, a therapist, and a journalist


[ Patrick A. Lee ][1] Superconductivity in some metals is the result of electrons forming pairs that travel through the material without resistance. Although the mechanism in this process is understood in many materials, it remains only partly understood regarding high-transition-temperature copper oxide superconductors. In his Perspective, Lee discusses results in the same issue by [ Krishana et al .][2] that indicate unusual properties of excitations in the copper oxides known as "quasiparticles," particularly with regard to the transport of heat by these excitations. A better understanding of these quantum mechanical superpositions of electron and hole states should reveal more about the superconducting state itself.

[][3]

 [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org#affiliation
 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/277/5322/83
 [3]: http://


To define the biomechanical effects of total lateral meniscectomy and of subsequent lateral meniscal al lograft replacement on load transmission and distribu tion across the human knee, we mounted 10 fresh- frozen, young human cadaveric knees on a mechanical testing system. Peak pressure and contact area profiles were determined at 0°, 30°, and 60° of knee flexion using pressure-sensitive film and a den sitometer. Load transmission profiles were determined for each knee in a sequential test order: 1)intact knee, 2) after lateral meniscectomy, 3) after implantation of size-matched meniscal allograft fixed with bone plugs, and 4) after release of the anterior and posterior horn attachments of the allograft. Total lateral meniscec tomy resulted in a 45% to 50% decrease in total con tact area. Allograft replacement increased total contact area by 42% to 65% as compared with total meniscec tomy at all flexion angles. After release of the anterior and posterior horn attachments, contact area was identical to that after total meniscectomy. Total lateral meniscectomy resulted in a 235% to 335% increase in peak local contact pressure. Allograft replacement de creased these pressures by 55% to 65% at all flexion angles, but they remained significantly greater than those in the intact state. After release of the anterior and posterior horn attachments, contact pressures were identical to those after total meniscectomy. Com pared with total meniscectomy, meniscal allograft transplantation significantly increases contact area and decreases peak local contact pressures, but any bio mechanical advantages are lost without bone plug fix ation of the anterior and posterior horns.


Online social networks (OSNs) have demonstrated potential for enabling older adults to remain socially connected and for counteracting social isolation and loneliness. With older adults preferring to age in place, their local community and neighborhood gain in importance. Online neighborhood social networks (ONSNs) are a novel type of OSN aimed at connecting local communities by facilitating social interaction, information sharing and peer support among neighbors. With a focus on trust and privacy, local relevance and integration with local organizations and institutions, they might be particularly well suited for the needs of older adults. We investigate the relationship between older adults and ONSNs by analyzing usage data, an online survey and interviews with users of an ONSN active in two urban neighborhoods in Germany. Our findings show that the case ONSN was successful in facilitating communication between neighbors and in promoting participation in community life for older adults.


Transient and steady membrane potentials in response to a bitter substance have been measured in a membrane filter impregnated with phospholipid and 1-octanol. Quinine, which is one of the alkaloids, was used as the bitter substance. The internal and external solutions both contained 0.1 mol dm−3 KCl. A cation exchange liquid membrane was formed in a Teflon filter by impregnating it with a 1-octanol solution of dihexadecyl hydrogenphosphate (DCP). After the injection of the solution of quinine hydrochloride into the external solution, the membrane potential rapidly increased to reach a peak and gradually decreased to relax to a level of another steady potential. The time course curve of membrane potential was resolved in the early portion and the other portion after the peak to obtain the Donnan potential at the interface and the diffusion potential within the membrane at steady state, respectively. In comparison with the case of the response to HCl, even a small amount of aqueous quinine hydrochloride in...


Introduction Situating this researchStructure, scope and sourcesSetting the scene: The international and domestic setting 1946 - 1966 Part 1 - Defining Human Rights Guarantees Economic and Social RightsCivil and Political RightsMinority Rights and the Right of Peoples to Self-DeterminationJurisprudence of Human Rights Part 2 - Implementing Human Rights Domestic Implementation of Human RightsInternational Implementation of Human RightsHuman Rights and 'domestic Jurisdiction'Conclusion BibliographyAppendix 1 TimelineAppendix 2 The International Bill of Rights (excerpts)


Fluid injection experiments into a Hele-Shaw cell filled with agar gels were carried out at a constant injection pressure. Agar gels of concentration of 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, and 0.3 wt% agar were used as a model material with visco-elastic properties. In the case of lower concentration of agar, agar gels behave as a viscous fluid. However, the property of agar gels as elastic solids increases with increasing concentration of agar. The ratio of relative tensile strength among agar gels of concentration of 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, and 0.3 wt% agar resulted from indentation experiments are 0.14: 1.0: 3.9. Growth patterns obtained by our Hele Shaw cell experiments are classified into three typical patterns. They are patterns generated by viscous fingering, visco-elastic fingering, and single plane cracking. A visco-elastic fingering is new pattern formation observed in the fluid injection experiments into visco-elastic materials. The characteristics of the visco-elastic fingering pattern are following. 1) The visco-elastic fingering pattern has a branched structure same as one of the viscous fingering pattern. 2) The visco-elastic fingering pattern has an acute growing tip similar to that of single plane cracking, though a shape of growing tip of viscous fingering is round. The phase diagram for the Hele-Shaw cell experiment filed with the agar gel is obtained by changing both the pressure of air injection and the concentration of agar systematically. Fluid intrusion phenomena into visco-elastic materials often occur in geophysical process: e.g., magma migration, core formation, fluid migration in accretionary prisms, etc. Our results will give us new implications for the geophysical process in which the earth or planet's materials behave as visco-elastic materials.


'The Scottish Enlightenment' was one of the truly great intellectual and cultural movements of the world. Its achievements in science, philosophy, history, economics, and other disciplines also, were immense; and its influence has hardly if at all been dimmed in the intervening two centuries. This book, written for the general reader, considers the achievement of this most astonishing period of Scottish history. It attends not only to the ideas that made the 'Scottish Enlightenment' such a wondrous moment, but also to the people themselves who generated these ideas - men such as David Hume and Adam Smith, who are still read for the sake of the light they shed on contemporary issues.


The objective of this paper was to show a comprehensive literature review about wood preservation in Brazil, since the earliest years until 2011. Brazil is rich in natural resources and wood has always occurred in abundance. With the industrial growing, there was the necessity of using wood with low natural durability but with chemical preservative treatment. Wood chemical treatment began in late XIX century, mainly to attend the big demand of sleepers to railroads. Only during the 60's, wood preservation gained market with the increase of scientific researches, elaboration of technical standards and building industrial plants for wood preservation. From this point on, few advances have been reached. In 2011, Eucalyptus and Pinus, were the main species used in wood preservation plants that adopts the vacuum-pressure process. In small production scale, diffusion process is adopted. Copper chromium arsenate (CCA) and Copper chromium borate (CCB) are the most preservatives utilised with some creosote utilisation. The treated


Glacigenic strata associated with the proto-Precordillera were deposited in the Calingasta-Uspallata and Rio Blanco back-arc basins and the Paganzo foreland basin in west-central Argentina during the early Pennsylvanian (upper Namurian; Bashkirian). These basins were formed due to tectonic loading and later postcollisional extension in a convergent-margin setting along the western margin of Gondwana during the Chanic and Rio Blanco tectonic events. Uplift of the proto-Precordillera fold-and-thrust belt during the latest Visean–earliest Namurian (Serpukhovian) resulted in the development of a widespread unconformity that formed the pre glacial basin fl oors. During the Namurian, alpine glaciers carved deep valleys into the upland, and ice drained radially away from the proto-Precordillera. Valley glaciers or an ice cap also occupied basement uplifts in the Sierras Pampeanas to the east. Ice was grounded below sea level in the Calingasta-Uspallata and Rio Blanco Basins, where thick glacio marine successions were deposited. In the Paganzo Basin, a thin glacial succession was deposited in both terrestrial and glaciomarine settings. Throughout the proto-Precordilleran region, deposition is interpreted to have occurred (1) subglacially, (2) in morainal banks, (3) as a result of settling from suspension out of meltwater plumes, (4) as rain-out from melting icebergs, and/or (5) from mass movement and sediment gravity fl ows. An abrupt upward transition from diamictites to marl-bearing, dropstone-free mudrocks marks glacial retreat and establishment of sediment-starved marine conditions. Above this, coarsening-upward successions and truncation surfaces signal either postglacial deltaic progradation during a forced regression or fl uvial incision associated with a base-level fall. Although much is known about these strata, many questions remain, including the age of the deposits, environments of deposition, and the mechanisms responsible for the observed stratigraphic architecture.


The aim of this thesis was to investigate the operation of a venturi as a pump and to extend the work of a previous study. The study was applied to a sublimation chamber built as a trial at Davis Station in the Antarctic which used a venturi style pump to circulate air through the chamber. The investigation consisted of testing the effect of different venturi geometries using a model built previously in the wind tunnel. An attempt was made to verify these results using a finite element analysis program.
Testing of four different diffuser sections showed that 7 degrees was the ideal diffuser angle for a venturi used for this purpose. investigation showed that the power obtained from the venturi was significantly lower than that obtained from similar sized wind turbines. It was however recognised that the venturi was more suited to this type of application due to it having no moving parts and therefore being more robust than similar sized wind turbines. The main suggestion arising from this report was that should further improvement be necessary in the chamber design, the incorporation of a wind turbine into the design should be investigated.


Ultralong nanobelts (>0.3 mm) have been fabricated from an asymmetric perylene tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) molecule via a seeded self-assembly processing. The long length of nanobelts facilitates the construction of two-electrode devices employing the nanobelt as channel material, and the long-range one-dimensional π−π molecular stacking allows for efficient conductivity modulation through surface doping. A combination of these two characters enables efficient electrical sensing of reducing VOCs using the nanobelt. As examined for hydrazine, more than 3 orders of magnitude increase in current was observed for a single nanobelt when exposed to the saturated vapor of hydrazine.


The Observatory is composed of 13 public institutions, including the ministry of finance, the Chilean law enforcement agency, and the national customs and border control department, and several private actors such as British American Tobacco and the Chilean Chamber of Commerce. Since its inception, every report published by the Observatory on the illicit tobacco trade has either been conducted or commissioned by British American Tobacco. In May 2021 Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson stated that Juul, partly-owned by Altria Group, had ignored court orders and destroyed documents, potentially exposing the company to large fines. Global: Tobacco industry's tactical response to COVID-19 revealed in new database Few organisations have done more in opposition to public health than Philip Morris International (PMI), and few industries have killed more customers than the tobacco industry, yet tobacco companies have featured heavily during the COVID-19 Pandemic, harnessing the pandemic as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) opportunity. To illustrate this point, on December 2, 2020 in Greece (a country which has one of the highest smoking rates in Europe), the country's Prime Minister alongside the Vice President of the US Chamber of Commerce and the CEO of Pfizer and other corporate figures, met to discuss the impact of COVID-19 coming hot off the heels of Pfizer's


The best way to understand what someone is thinking is usually to listen to what she is saying, but what if she is being dishonest? We examined how perceivers' expectations of dishonesty moderated the relationships among deception, deception detection, and empathic accuracy. Ninety-five dyads engaged in an interaction in which targets were instructed to lie about or exaggerate their skills. In half of the dyads, perceivers were told to anticipate deception. After the interaction, perceivers inferred how honest targets had been and what targets were thinking at multiple time points throughout the conversation. Perceivers tended to be more empathically accurate for thoughts that were reported when the target was being honest. They also tended to be empathically accurate when they also accurately detected deception. Moreover, naive perceivers were more empathically accurate than informed perceivers, and naive perceivers who inferred the content of honest thoughts achieved the highest levels of empathic accuracy.


In this paper, the general class of singular systems with delay and second order linear constant coefficients singular systems with delay, is considered. First, for singular systems with delay, new definitions of stability are presented, and general sufficient stability conditions and instability conditions are derived. Secondly, these results are applied to the analysis of stability and instability of second-order linear constant coefficients singular systems with delay, the location of a possible bifurcation is discovered.


Abstract Data from previous trials that have been re-evaluated indicate that low levels of coffee berry disease on unsprayed coffee are associated with higher populations of microflora on coffee tissues. Samples were taken at different seasons and altitudes, and from coffee plots receiving different fungicide treatments for the control of coffee berry disease. Although largest populations occurred at the highest altitudes, the relative proportions of microflora components varied with altitude. Fungicides reduced populations of filamentous fungi on all tissues. Trees that had never received fungicide had low populations of Colletotrichum kahawae and had very low levels of coffee berry disease. The disease was also at a lower level on trees that had not been sprayed with fungicides for two seasons where microflora populations were highest. The likely effects of microflora components on coffee berry disease and their potential as biological control agents are discussed.


The objective of this experiment was to evaluate estrous synchronization responses and pregnancy rates of beef cows treated with melengestrol acetate (MGA) and estradiol cypionate (ECP). Forty lactating Caracu cows (a locally adapted Bos taurus taurus breed) grazing on Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania and supplemented with corn silage received the equivalent of 0.5 mg/animal/day of MGA for 14 days. On day 5, the animals were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group 1 (n=21) received an im injection of 2.0 mg ECP and group 2 (n=19) received 2 ml saline. Animals of group 1 that exhibited estrus within 120 hours after withdrawal of MGA were inseminated (AI), while animals of group 2 were treated with cloprostenol 17 days after MGA removal and were inseminated during induced estrus. In both groups, cows without estrus detection during the day stayed with a bull at night for possible mating. Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasound examination 40 days after AI. Chi-square analyses were used to detect differences between groups. Eight (38.1%) animals of group 1 and 7 (36.8%) of group 2 showed estrus after withdrawal of MGA (P>0.05). The conception rates in groups 1 and 2 were, respectively, 37.5% and 50.0% for inseminated cows and 58.3% and 64.3% for inseminated cows mated by the bull at night (P>0.05). These results suggest that it is possible to use the first estrus of females treated with ECP on day 5 of a 14-day MGA treatment. Furthermore, considering the large number of cows mated by the bull at night, it is recommended to use estrus detection tools as an aid  for the identification of such animals or  to combine AI and bulls for breeding.


This paper examines Corporate Social Responsibility concern at seaports where merely the "environmental" dimension takes the most part in the shipping and port literature and aims to present an overview of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementations of selected seaports in Europe. CSR variables for ports are extracted by the detailed analysis of specific CSR reports, annual and sustainability reports of selected ports. The paper demonstrates how the port organisations develop CSR applications in order to remain competitive in the global scale and this is executed by scanning the ports within the focus of the study according to the CSR-related dimensions (environmental, economic, social, stakeholder, ethical, philanthropic/voluntariness). Porter's Value Chain approach is adopted and a conceptual model encompassing value-driven CSR implementations at ports was developed. The value-driven CSR approach based on the strategies of the ports serves as a comprehensive tool to enlighten both the practitioners and the academics in the assessment of strategic and value-driven CSR practises. Research results indicate that, port authorities emphasize stakeholder and community engagement, voluntary participation on educational, cultural and sports activities and ethical values like transparency by reporting, integrity and honesty.


[Objective] To explore the therapeutic efficacy of laparoscopic ovarian drilling technique in treating polycystic ovarian syndrome. [Methode] 60 patients with PCOS were treated by laparoscopic ovarian drilling technique. [Results] All patients′ menstruation improved. LH and T of postoperation decreased significantly than that of preoperation. The ovulation rate and the pregnancy rate were 86.7% and 75%. [Conclusion] Laparoscopic ovarian drilling technique is a effective method for the treatment of PCOS with minimal invation, with less adhesion and quick recovery.


This thesis examines the characteristics of market microstructure on the Chinese stock exchanges (the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange). Analysis is based on using intraday 5-minute data covering a three-year period (2000 to 2002). The study focuses on empirical analysis and statistical testing of the Chinese stock market in three parts. In the first part (Chapter 3), I study the behaviour of intraday returns and return volatility. The statistical properties and systematic characteristics of intraday returns and return volatility of the Shanghai Composite Index and the Shenzhen Component Index are explored. Several parametric and non-parametric tests are used to investigate if there are systematic patterns in the Chinese stock market. Overall findings indicate that the Chinese stock market returns data is non-normal and has a fat-tailed distribution. The intraday returns broadly follow a U-shaped pattern (Wood, McInish and Ord, 1985) while the volatility of returns broadly follows an Lshaped pattern (Tang and Lui, 2002). Examinations by subperiods, wider and finer than 5-minute data, indicate that there exist intraday variations for each subperiod, and each 1-minute and 10-minute period, which are consistent with the intraday 5minute return characteristics. The results also provide the evidence that the return variance in the active trading period (open-to-close) of the stock market is larger than


What are the gender issues for constructivist approaches to science education? Constructivist work on girls and science has ensured that gender issues now have a place in the national curriculum, and in the thinking of most science teachers. In this paper, I acknowledge that achievement, and take that as a starting point to explore further steps. It seems to me that the next steps taken should be theoretical. In this paper, I raise issues for future development under five general headings. These are: the nature of science; the purposes of education; the nature of individuals; how students learn; and the role of teachers. These issues are discussed in the second part of the paper. First I will define constructivism, and explain how gender issues are linked with theoretical problems within it. What are the gender issues for constructivist approaches to science education? Constructivist work on girls and science has ensured that gender issues now have a place in the national curriculum, and in the thinking of most science teachers. In this paper, I acknowledge that achievement, and take that as a starting point to explore further steps. It seems to me that the next steps taken should be theoretical. In this paper, I raise issues for future development under five general headings. These are: • the nature of science; • the purposes of education; • the nature of individuals; • how students learn; and • the role of teachers. These issues are discussed in the second part of the paper. First I will define constructivism, and explain how gender issues are linked with theoretical problems within it.


Provincial health authorities will have to shift into scramble mode this fall if they are to fully monitor the efficacy and safety of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccine as it will be administered near or during a resurgence of the virus, according to infectious diseases experts and public health


Historians generally dislike lost causes. They seek to explain what happened, rather than what might have been, and have consequently neglected the story of political emigrations. Granted, the study of dmigres is full of methodological pitfalls for the unwary: biased accounts of past issues, outright forgeries of documentary evidence, personal recriminations that serve to distort political reality, and a pervasive mood of bitterness, acrimony, nostalgia, and endless hope. Yet it is an important story, not only because of its intrinsic merit as a political phenomenon worth studying, but also because of the effect that exiles have had both in their place of refuge and in their homeland when they have been able to return. He who would ignore the émigrés might do well to recall that the experience of exile helped fashion the political careers of Marx, Lenin, and Trotsky, as well as of Charles II and Louis XVIII.


In the article there are described two clinical cases of foreign bodies of pharynx and larynx in patients with cerebrovascular pathology, their diagnosis, features of course and treatment of clinical signs, associated with emergencies.


Ed. Note: In the RC oscillator the amplitude of oscillation is controlled by a thermallysensitive resistance in the form of a small tungsten lamp. This control element gives the oscillator its characterisfic constancy of output level over a wide range of operating conditions. In practice, for example, the oscillator's response i s quite slight to such disturbances as hum, microphonics, a change with tuning in the impedance ratios i n the frequency-determining network, or a change in loading at the oscillator output. A t the same time, and in contrast to the great majority of cases, experience with the RC oscillator has disclosed instances in which the oscillator has exhibited a n exaggerated response to such disturbances (see Fig. 2 below). In a few cases actual envelope instability has been observed. Although this effect was generally attributed to tube anomalies, since aging or replacing the tubes removed the effect, over a period of time the impression began to form that a more definite factor was involved. The envelope response was then investigated analytically by Bernard M. Oliver, -hpvice-president for R & D, and his analysis of the RC oscillator envelope response to amplitude disturbances introduced into the control element is presented in the following article. We believe the analysis will be of general interest because i t takes into account the effect o f the small non-linearity that exists in the amplifier portion of the oscillator circuit, where previous analyses have assumed an ideally linear amplifier. The analysis shows that, i f the amplifier were in fact ideally linear, the envelope response to amplitude disturbances would be some 100 db more than it is. It shows further thaf the amplifier must have a slight compression for the oscillator to be practical. This agrees with observed results.


viii, 217 leaves ; 30 cm. Includes bibliographical references. University of Otago department: Geography. Maps: Geological map of New Zealand, 1:250,000, sheet 23, Oamaru; and New Zealand, 1:63,360, sheet S118, Hakataramea.


In this letter, we develop a novel tensor-based receiver for two-hop cooperative multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relay systems. At the source node, the proposed transmit signal design combines the linear constellation precoding with time-domain spreading. We show that the received signal at the destination node is formulated as a fourth-order tensor satisfying a nested parallel factor (PARAFAC) model, and then a new tensor-based receiver is derived by resorting to the proposed receiver algorithm. Under the assumption that channel state information (CSI) is not available at each node, the proposed receiver jointly estimates the channel parameters and transmitted symbols. Numerical results show that the proposed receiver outperforms some competing tensor-based receivers and operates close to the zero forcing (ZF) receiver with perfect CSI.


Objective To investigate the clinical features of Leber`s hereditary optic neuropathy and its genetic diagnosis.Methods mtDNA was isolated from leukocyte of two probands.Gene was amplified by PCR.The type of gene mutation was determined by direct sequencing.Results Two pedigrees were the patients with Leber disease and the type of gene mutation was G11778A.Conclusion Leber disease was diagnosed as Leber disease by gene examination.


Geopolymers are formed by the reaction between an alkaline activator and an aluminosilicate precursor. As any cement-based materials, the reaction starts from the dissolution of aluminosilicate precursor in the alkaline solution. The dissolution kinetics of aluminosilicate precursor determines the reaction kinetics and strength development of geopolymers. In this study, the dissolution of blast furnace slag in alkaline solution will be investigated experimentally and numerically.


People's looking at each other or mutual gaze is ubiquitous in our daily interactions, and detecting mutual gaze is of great significance for understanding human social scenes. Current mutual gaze detection methods focus on two-stage methods, whose inference speed is limited by the two-stage pipeline and the performance in the second stage is affected by the first one. In this paper, we propose a novel one-stage mutual gaze detection framework called Mutual Gaze TRansformer or MGTR to perform mutual gaze detection in an end-to-end manner. By designing mutual gaze instance triples, MGTR can detect each human head bounding box and simultaneously infer mutual gaze relationship based on global image information, which streamlines the whole process with simplicity. Experimental results on two mutual gaze datasets show that our method is able to accelerate mutual gaze detection process without losing performance. Ablation study shows that different components of MGTR can capture different levels of semantic information in images. Code is available at https://github.com/Gmbition/MGTR


Current Man Machine Interfaces (MMI) present information to the operator when it becomes available and when it is convenient to the computer; such automated systems do not act as a 'team player'. Computers lack insight in the actual status, intentions and occupations of the operator. An approach is presented ( COMPANION) in which better co-operation between user and computer is stimulated. In this approach, information about the users' ( physiological) state is used to adapt the MMI of the task at moments or in time periods where this is helpful for optimal task performance. Also task performance measures can be used in this feedback structure. COMPANION is about improving the Human Machine relation by: not interrupting the operator with non-urgent messages when he or she is completing an important task, and supporting the operator when task demands are high. In order to prevent specific solutions for each new task or for each additional information source an Operator Status Model (OSM) has been developed.


Abstract Cognitive behaviour therapy concentrates on strategies to assist clients in changing their thoughts and/or their behaviour. The aim of this paper is to discuss research findings from the addictions field indicating that an effective approach to therapy is to enhance motivation for change. Research into stages and processes of change, decision making, and motivational interviewing is reviewed. The paper concludes by suggesting ways in which this research can be used by therapists to increase the likelihood that clients will engage in change and maintain change over time.


Eight demethylation inhibiting (DMI) fungicides were applied at two rates to 'Tifgreen' bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy] to determine if DMI fungicides would produce a plant growth regulation effect on healthy bermudagrass. After three applications at 28to 30-day intervals, compared to the control, both rates of cyproconazole, bromuconazole, propiconazole and triadimefon and the high rate of myclobutanil significantly decreased turfgrass quality on at least one evaluation date in each year of the study. The low rate of myclobutanil and both rates of tebuconazole and fenbuconazole did not adversely effect turfgrass quality in either year. For both rates of fenarimol, there was only one date during both years of the study when the turfgrass quality was significantly lower than the control. These results demonstrate the wide range of physiological activity the DMI fungicides can have on bermudagrass.


The present invention provides an oriented electrical steel sheet when forming a coiled state final annealing atmosphere does not hinder the flow of gas, and can suppress pitting oriented electrical steel sheet produced by annealing separating agent. Said annealing separating agent, magnesium oxide as the main body, and further containing 0.05 mass% or more and 20 mass% or less of a particle diameter of 45μm or more and 150μm or less of a water-insoluble compound, wherein the magnesium containing Cl: 0.01 ~ 0.05 by mass%, B: 0.05 ~ 0.15 mass%, CaO: 0.1 ~ 2 mass% and P2O3: 0.03 ~ 1.0% by mass, the activity of magnesium citrate at 40% CAA is 30 to 120 seconds, based on BET method specific surface area of 8 ~ 50m2 / g, ignition loss of hydration based on the amount of from 0.5 to 5.2% by mass, a particle diameter of 45μm or more particle content is 0.1 mass% or less.


This Dissertation is presented to the Department of Food Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirement of Msc. Degree in Food Quality Management, 2016


INTRODUCTION
In the treatment of any disease, it is advantageous if the concentration of the administered drug is highest in the target organ. It follows that, if possible, diseases of the conjunctiva should primarily be treated with eye drops.

AIMS
The author investigated the effect of an eye drop with selective H1-receptor antagonist properties, on children suffering from acute seasonal conjunctivitis.

METHOD
During the first experiment 20 children (suffering from acute seasonal allergic conjunctivitis) had received Emadine eye drop (containing emedastine difumarate, an H1 antihistamine agent). The severity of the itching of the eye and the grade of hyperemia of the conjunctiva were scored on scales ranging 0 to 4 (score 4 representing the most severe symptoms). In the second experiment 232 other children had received this eye drop during two pollen seasons and the author investigated its effectiveness and side effects.

RESULTS
The conjunctival itching decreased within less than 3 minutes significantly, and the redness was also reduced in an average of 8 minutes. In the second experiment none of the 232 children had to change this drug because of its ineffectiveness or side effects.

CONCLUSIONS
Emadine eye drop decreases the itching and the redness of the conjunctiva very quickly and effectively. It is usable even for three-year-old patients, and it keeps its effectiveness during the long-term treatment, too.


The invention relates to a hybrid junction of a hybrid beam of rectangular section concrete and an H-type steel structure. A steel bearing plate is arranged on the combined face of a rectangular section concrete main beam and an H-type section steel structure main beam. The steel bearing plate is firmly combined with the rectangular section concrete main beam through plate-type reinforcing ribs and shear nails on the steel bearing plate so as to transmit bending moment. A rectangular steel shell corresponding to the rectangular section concrete is formed at the portion of the hybrid junction by widening an upper wing plate and a lower wing plate of the H-type section steel structure main beam until the upper wing plate and the lower wing plate are the same as the rectangular section concrete main beam in width. Shear nails and PBL keys are arranged on the inner surface of the upper wing plate, the inner surface of the lower wing plate and the two sides of a web, so that the integrity between the rectangular section concrete main beam and the H-type section steel structure main beam is enhanced. Meanwhile, the main beams of the two sections are connected through prestressed steel, the integrity between the concrete and the steel beam is made to be good by stretching the prestressed steel, and thus axial internal force is transmitted to the concrete beam. By means of the hybrid junction, the main beams of the two sections are combined firmly and are good in integrity.


1 Criteria for membership 2 Membership criteria requiring gender representation 3 Multiprofessional membership 4 Commitment to training 5 Training at least once every two years 6 Availability of standard operating procedures 7 Quorum requirement: not less than 50% of members present 8 Included in review elements: scientific validity, study design, risk-benefit assessment, and informed consent process 9 Specified application forms 10 External consultation when necessary 11 Continuing oversight 12 Records kept for at least three years 13 Review turn-around time of not more than three months 14 Availability of resources (at least 5 of 11 items listed) 15 Compliance with other international guidelines 16 Registration with both the NHREC and OHRP


This paper studies the notion of W-measurable sensitivity in the context of semigroup actions. W-measurable sensitivity is a measurable generalization of sensitive dependence on initial conditions. In 2012, Grigoriev et. al. proved a classification result of conservative ergodic dynamical systems that states all are either W-measurably sensitive or act by isometries with respect to some metric and have refined structure. We generalize this result to a class of semigroup actions. Furthermore, a counterexample is provided that shows W-measurable sensitivity is not preserved under factors. We also consider the restriction of W-measurably sensitive semigroup actions to sub-semigroups and show that the restriction remains W-measurably sensitive when the sub-semigroup is large enough (e.g. when the sub-semigroups are syndetic or thick).


Wine estate Simonsig pioneered Methode Cap Classique - a traditional style of producing sparkling wines - in South Africa. The method has since been adopted by a number of estates. Winemaker Johan Malan spoke to Jeandre du Preez about Simonsig's heritage.


At present,with the speed lower problem of ontology matching,based on the ontology technology and the rough sets theory,this paper performs 3 step pretreatment operations before the ontology matching: the standardization treatments of the ontology,the irrelevant properties reduction for obtaining the smallest or the minimum properties sets,properties weights statistics.The experimental result indicates that the matching speed has improved very much after the ontology matching pretreatment,and improves reusing the of ontology.


Thank you for downloading calcium binding protein protocols volume 2 methods and techniques. As you may know, people have search hundreds times for their chosen novels like this calcium binding protein protocols volume 2 methods and techniques, but end up in harmful downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, instead they juggled with some harmful virus inside their desktop computer.


Satellite communications are becoming increasingly important thanks to their use in new fields and the need for integration with new generation networks. But the aspect that most slows down its development in this sector is the cost of research. In fact, implementing and testing new algorithms and technologies requires an infrastructure that has too high costs to allocate it to unprofitable use. For this reason this work proposes the realization of an open source simulator for satellite networks, and introduces the problem of traffic control to test its functionality.


The remarkable growth of the use of digital computers in nuclear medicine has resulted in the application of these devices in many routine clinical areas. The basic needs within these clinics of data collection, storage, analysis, and display have been fulfilled to a great extent. Additional applications, including radiotherapy, in vitro studies, and computer-aided instruction are being explored. Laboratory data management is the one new area common to all clinics. The importance and the required capabilities of laboratory data management systems are discussed. (auth)


4. The fragmentation of experience is the result of a new jump of the capability to concretion. The "concrete" dominates the scene of thought impeding transcendent generalizations. The only possible generalization is that of the genealogical generalization 5. -the reference to kinship between examples, cases and situations. The "concrete" manifests itself defined by the historic context of a nontransferable individuality.


The drive for miniaturization of electronic packaging is continuing relentlessly due to ever more functionality in smaller, lighter mobile products. Consequently, innovations are required in packaging technology, and more importantly, in enabled volume manufacturing. Some recent trends in thin products and packaging will be high-lighted and compared to the JEDEC standards for packages. The ASE roadmaps for package size reductions will be presented with particular focus on prepreg based substrate technology. A single sided substrate has been developed and is currently shipping in high volume. The manufacturing concept for this substrate has been adapted to build coreless substrates based on prepreg which are currently in characterization. Further adaptation has led to embedded component, actives and passives, substrates which are currently in qualification. For the later, a new manufacturing form factor has been chosen to take advantage of the assembly infrastructure and to maximize the yield of the substrate which is a key factor for the commercial success of this technology. ASE is offering these substrates in full turnkey service from wafer sort to bumping to embedding in the substrate to assembly of top components, balling and final test.


The xerophytic, but salt-sensitive Sorghum cultivar 'Sweet Sioux' is known as an ion excluder with a high K/Na selectivity at the plasmalemma and tonoplast of epidermal root cells. The aim of this study is the correlation of salt-effected changes in physiological parameters with structural and ultrastructural changes in root cells. The investigation was carried out with root cells because these cells are most directly exposed to the growth medium. Sorghum bicolor x S. sudanensis cv. Sweet Sioux plants were grown under steady-state conditions on nutrient solutions with or without 40 mol m -3 NaCI. Sorghum sustained this treatment but showed several salt-induced structural and physiological changes which were studied in various cell types of the root tip. (1) NaCI salinity led to a shorter growth region and to salt-induced alterations in the chemical and physical properties of the cell walls in the root tips. (2) Salt treatment also increased the membrane surface in root cells: root cells showed an increase in the quantity of vesicles in the epidermis and in the middle cortex cells. Additionally, some of the epidermis cells of salt-treated plants revealed a characteristic build-up of transfer cells, suggesting an increase in membrane surfaces to increase the uptake and storage of substances. (3) The number of mitochondria increased in the epidermal and in the cortex cells after salt stress thus indicating an additional supply of energy for osmotic adaptation and for selective uptake and transport processes. (4) In the epidermal cytoplasm NaCI stress led to a significant decrease of the P, K, Ca, and S concentrations accompanied by an increase of Na concentration. Electron micrographs show an increase in electron optical contrast within the cytosol and in the matrix of the mitochondria. These results are discussed with regard to the possibility of influence on the part of metabolic functions. (5) The NaCI concentrations were seen to increase and the K concentrations to decrease during salt stress in the vacuoles of the epidermis and cortex cells. The salt-induced increase in vacuolar NaCI concentrations of epidermis and cortex cells are in the region 2 cm behind the root tip, which is sufficient for an osmotic balance towards the growth medium. Additional solutes are necessary 0.5 mm behind the root tip to facilitate osmotic adaptation. The results show ultrastructural changes caused by an Na-avoiding mechanism characterized by a high level of energy consumption. The exclusion of Na from the symplast seems to lead additionally to a decrease in cytoplasmic concentrations of such essential elements as Mg, P, S, and Ca and is thus responsible directly (via energy supply in mitochondria, homeostasis, selectivity of K over Na) or indirectly (via enzyme conformation, cytoplasmic hydration) for the ultrastructural degradation indicated. The salinity-induced multiplicity of structural and functional changes within cell compartments constitutes a group of indicators for the limited NaCI tolerance of Sorghum.


This research documents the benefits and disadvantages of various project delivery methods for capital transit projects and provides guidelines for selecting the most appropriate delivery method for a specific project. Project delivery methods considered are Design-Bid-Build (DBB), Construction Manager at Risk (CMR), Design-Build (DB), and Design-Build-Operate-Maintain (DBOM). The results of several extensive interviews with directors of transit projects throughout the United States are reported. A three-tiered project delivery selection framework is developed that can help the owners of transit projects to evaluate pros and cons of each delivery method and select the most appropriate for their project. Tier 1 is a qualitative approach that allows the user to document advantages and disadvantages of each competing delivery method. The user can then review the results of this analysis and select the best delivery method. If at the conclusion of this analysis, still a clear option does not emerge, the user can move to Tier 2. Tier 2 is a weighted matrix approach that allows the user to quantify the effectiveness of competing delivery methods and select the approach that receives the highest score. The third Tier uses principles of risk analysis to evaluate delivery methods. Regardless of how many tiers an agency uses to arrive at a project delivery method selection decision, the framework forces the decision-makers to document their logic as they proceed through the process. This aspect will prove especially helpful as agencies can use these documented decisions in future projects.


This paper reads Nora Okja Keller`s Comfort Woman with emphasis on the mother-daughter relationship. Having undergone multiple rapes and sexual objectification, Akiko, a former Korean comfort woman, is deprived of the possession of her female body, let alone her own identity and agency. Her impoverished body is later claimed by the spirit of Induk, a murdered comfort woman, through the process of melancholic identification, in which one takes in the shadow of one`s lost love object by denying its death and loss. Transforming into a shaman who incorporates the memories and legacies of lost love objects like Induk and her own mother, Akiko mediates unresolved wishes and desires of wandering spirits and ghosts. Approaching Akiko`s shamanism as a psychological space in which she preserves what she loved but lost in reality, this paper claims that Akiko`s shamanism functions to offer mourning rituals for unacknowledged lives and deaths, like those of the comfort women during the war. The reconciliation process that Akiko`s daughter Beccah undergoes with her shamanic mother is also examined by tracing Beccah`s melancholic identification with her mother and other matrilineal spirits. Tracing the way Beccah comes to understand her mother`s traumatic past and accept her mother`s legacies, the paper examines the transmission of mothers` life-stories, secrets, and genealogies to their daughters.


Biofuels have recently attracted a lot of attention, mainly as alternative fuels for applications in energy generation and transportation [...]


Abstract : As a result of serious difficulties with the Air Force Stock Fund, the Office of the Secretary of Defense formed a General Officer Steering Group (GOSG) in December 1988 to place new emphasis on stock fund management. In response, the GOSG directed the format of the stock fund ratio be changed from an obligations-to-demands ratio to an obligations-to-sales ratio. They also directed the redesign of the materiel acquisition control record (MACR) to provide real-time visibility over the stock fund program. Five years later, it is apparent that neither one of these initiatives has improved stock fund management at base level. Instead, workload has increased, the number of priority backorders has increased, customer frustration and dissatisfaction have increased, and mission support has decreased. This study will affirm that outcome and mark the key decision points.


Previously derived threshold constraints on helicity amplitudes are simplified for high-spin cases, using a suggestion made by King and Kuo.


OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of the protein of Pinellia pedatisecta Schott on the proliferation of human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 in vitro and to determine whether the protein of Pinellia pedatisecta Schott inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer and its mechanism of action.METHODS CCK-8 was used to detect the effect of the protein of Pinellia pedatisecta Schott on the growth of SKOV3 cells in vitro;using flow cytometry,detected the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells treated with the protein of Pinellia pedatisecta Schott by Anexinn-V.RESULTS The protein of Pinellia pedatisecta Schott had some effect of inhibiting the proliferation and inducing apoptosis of SKOV3 cells,and the mechanism would be further studied.CONCLUSION The protein of pinellia pedatisecta schott had some effect of inhibiting the proliferation and inducing apoptosis of SKOV3 cells,and the mechanism would be further studied.


Soil, like other porous materials such as rock, sand, sandstone, sedimentation, and concrete, exhibits remarkable nonlinear behaviors. In this work, the nonlinear acoustic behaviors of soils are studied by measuring both amplitude and phase frequency responses as a function of dynamic strain. Typical nonlinear phenomena such as resonant frequency shift and harmonics generation are observed. It is also found that the phase difference between the received and reference signals changes with strain. New methods for measuring the nonlinearity parameters, based on resonant frequency shift, phase shift, and phase slope measurements, are developed and compared. This suggests that phase could be a very useful parameter for determining the nonlinearity of porous materials. [This work is supported by the USDA Agricultural Research Service under Specific Cooperative Agreement 58‐6408‐0‐108.]


This tutorial focuses on applying aspect-oriented software development (AOSD) concepts beyond the programming stage of the software development life cycle. Using concrete methods, tools, techniques and notations we discuss how to use AOSD techniques to systematically treat crosscutting concerns during requirements engineering (RE), architecture design and detailed design as well as the mapping between aspects at these stages. With a clear focus on composition, modelling, trade-off analysis and assessment methods, the tutorial imparts an engineering ethos for translation into day-to-day processes and practices.


In contemporary robotics applications, the detection and operation of visual targets are crucial research topics, and robot grasp detection serves as a prerequisite. However, existing research on this subject encounter significant issues concerning large angular errors in detection outcomes. To address this challenge, we propose an oriented reppoints-based robot grasp detection approach, integrating an angle refinement strategy. The proposed method employs an oriented reppoints network to obtain rough grasping rectangles, followed by an angle regression network to refine the angular error of the grasping frame. We evaluate the proposed method on the Jacquard public dataset, and the experimental outcomes demonstrate its excellent detection accuracy.


The Advanced Loose Parts monitoring System (ALPS), is installed in each Unit of Paks NPP. Its characteristics and some interesting results are presented. Wavelet analysis is being introduced to data evaluation techniques. The short-time Fourier transform and the continuous wavelet transform techniques have been used to present the time signal in a time-frequency and time-scale plane. Characteristic frequencies of the physical acoustic system and the growing frequencies of spectrum components during the start-up of the main coolant pumps are clearly seen on those pictures. The newly applied wavelet coherence promises to find new oscillation in the pair of signals, which remain hidden in time-dependent autospectra.


A two-way Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) analyses performed on a micro horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) which coupled the CFX solver with Structural solver in ANSYS Workbench was conducted in this paper. The partitioned approach-based non-conforming mesh methods and the k-e turbulence model were adopted to perform the study. Both the results of one-way and two-way FSI analyses were presented and compared with each other, and discrepancy of the results, especially the mechanical properties, were analysed. Grid convergence which is crucial to the results was performed, and the relationship between the inner flow field domain (rotational domain) and the number of grids (number of cells, elements) was verified for the first time. Dynamical analyses of the wind turbine were conducted using the torque as a reference value, to verify the rationality of the model which dominates the accuracy of results. The optimal case was verified and used to conduct the study, thus, the results derived from the simulation of the FSI are accurate and credible.


Understanding how natural resource management (NRM) technologies impact agricultural productivity is essential in order to ensure that policies designed to reduce environmental degradation and alleviate poverty are successful. In this paper, we analyze the impact of natural resource technologies delivered by the Socio‐environmental and Forestry Development Programme‐II (POSAF‐II) in Nicaragua. Using cross‐sectional data for 1,201 farmers (475 beneficiaries, 726 control farmers), we provide empirical evidence concerning the effects of a NRM programme on two critical components of productivity: technological change (TC) and technical efficiency (TE). We use propensity score matching (PSM) to mitigate potential biases from observable variables and a recent stochastic production frontier (SPF) model that addresses sample selection bias arising from unobservable variables. Our results show that POSAF‐II has had a positive impact on the two dimensions of productivity analyzed, i.e., TC and TE. This study contributes to the literature on impact evaluation by showing how an intervention designed to improve NRM can also enhance the income of poor farm households through increases in productivity.


The invention relates to a component (1) made of a composite and having the form of a screw, which comprises a head (2) with a force application point (3) and a shank (5) with a thread (4). The component consists of fibre-reinforced (6) thermoplastic materials. To permit adjustment of the fibres in line with the shape and use of the component (1), continuous fibres (6), especially fibres (6) made of a material with high X-ray absorption, are used, whereby the flow, quantity and orientation of said fibres can be predefined.


Objective To study the cause and the influencing factors of pregnant and parturient women's death in Chenzhou City.Methods The maternal mortalities in 11 counties and prefectures of Chenzhou City were monitored continuously with dynamic method.Every case had been investigated,verified,estimated and analyzed.Results A total of 131 pregnant and parturient women died in their perilabor and delivery period in Chenzhou City from 2000 to 2006.The average annual maternal mortality rate was 43.38/100,000.Five cases occurred in the city,and 126 cases in the country side.Most of the fatal cases were lowly educated which accounted for 93.89%,87.02% maternal deaths occurred after labor,83.33% deaths occurred within 24-hour postdelivery,28.95% died at their home during the course of parturition,and 10.69% died on the route of transferring into hospital.Among them,31.3% received no predelivery care.The direct obstetric events were the main cause of death,which accounted for 83.9%.Obstetric hemorrhage,amnioticfluid embolism,pregnancy-induced hypertension were the main causes which resulted in maternal death.The review suggested 75.52% deaths could be avoidable.Conclusion Factors affecting the maternal mortality are education level,living environment,socioeconomic condition,suboptimal technique of the village hospitals,health care consciousness of pregnancy,and low rate of hospital-delivery.


An 83-year-old woman suffered bee stings on her right forearm and left auricle. She showed shock symptoms and so was taken to a hospital by ambulance. She was diagnosed as having anaphylactic shock induced by bee stings, was treated as an inpatient, and was discharged on the fourth day. Three days after being discharged she returned, complaining of severe diarrhea. A colonoscopy revealed a widespread deep ulcer covered with thick white moss at the rectum Ra and Rb. She was re-admitted to the hospital and received conservative management, with which the symptoms improved gradually. On the seventeenth day in hospital, a colonoscopy revealed that epithelium had regenerated on almost all parts of the ulceration, so ingestion intake was started on the eighteenth day. Although the symptoms reduced sufficiently to leave the hospital on the twentieth day, she was discharged on the thirtieth day in accordance with her request to stay longer in hospital. Nine weeks after disease onset, a colonoscopy revealed that although almost all of the ulcerated lesion had been displaced by regenerated epithelium, open ulcers still remained. Twelve weeks after the onset of feeling of incomplete evacua-tion, which was the final residual symptom, the feeling disappeared. This case of proctocolitis was considered to be induced by anaphylactic shock following bee stings.


Fingerprints, as one of the most mature biometrics, have been used for personal identification for a long time. The purpose of fingerprint identification is to determine whether a query fingerprint is present in a fingerprint database, and the basis is matching the query fingerprint against all or a subset of the fingerprints in the database one by one. Whether the query fingerprint can be identified correctly is primarily dictated by the performance of the employed fingerprint matching technique, and the efficiency relies on the performance of the fingerprint classification technique as well as the speed of the fingerprint matching technique. In this thesis, we have focused on improving accuracy and efficiency of the fingerprint matching techniques and improving the performance of the fingerprint classification techniques, with information fusion techniques. We first improve the minutiae-based approach and FilterBank-based approach, respectively. Orientation-based ridge pattern is proposed to improve local minutiae features and hence remove more spuriously matched minutiae pairs. To reduce errors caused by broken bifurcation, we propose a new scheme that compares two minutiae regardless their types. Reliable ridge count matching mechanism is proposed and integrated with minutiae matching result to improve the global minutiae matching performance. A matched minutiae subset combination scheme is also proposed to reveal the optimal distortion mapping result instead of estimating the mapping function itself. For FilterBank-based approach, a new rotation-invariant reference point location method is proposed, and the direction features are combined with the AAD features to form an oriented FingerCode. The performance of these techniques is evaluated for fingerprint matching on large databases. Then, a multiple matcher model and a multiple impression model are proposed. Both multiple matcher models combine a minutiae-based matcher and a FilterBank-based matcher effectively and efficiently. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)


Accounting standards and conceptual framework are both institutional arrangements in economy.Accounting standards originated from asymmetric information between preparers of financial reports and their users,while accounting conceptual framework is used as a guide for IASB or FASB to evaluate and develop accounting standards.American conceptual framework for accounting is mainstream,being the most comprehensive and meticulous of all conceptual frameworks of this type.The program of conceptual framework was jointly formulated by IASB and FASB,whose boards of directors have basically reached consensus as to the objectives of financial reporting and the publicizing of qualitative characteristics of information.They also discussed the definitions of elements such as assets and liabilities and the concept of reporting entity without reaching any conclusions though.Compared with the international conceptual framework for accounting,China's fundamental accounting standards are characterized by both convergence and originality.


As far as the language intuition resarchis concerned,there are fuitful and in-depth theories concerning the re-search of language intuition.Meanwhile,as a key wordin China's 8thcurriculumreform,language intuition begins to appeal topeople.The teaching of language i mtuitionis facing an extremely difficult situation due to the weakness inits practical use.


Abstract : The overall objective of this research effort was to develop an interactive, user-friendly response surface methodology computer package which can be attached to any FORTRAN based simulation model to yield a response function which describes the relationships between the input parameters and the output parameter of interest. Subobjectives were: (1) After the response surface is generated, search this surface for the combinations of pertinent input parameters that yield the optimum response, (2) Interpret how the response function reveals the sensitivity of the output parameter due to changes in input parameters, and (3) Illustrate how the response function describes the relative ranking of effects on response between input parameters. This research effort accomplished the overall objective and touched on subobjectives two and three. The overall objective was accomplished by developing the RSM computer program. The user-friendly requirement meant the program had to be flexible and easy to understand. The input requirements were designed to be easily understood and proceed in a logical sequence. Five design types are offered by this program and also a user design input subroutine offers further flexibility. Originator-Supplied keywords included: Mathematical Analysis, Experimental Design, Regression Analysis, Response Surface methodology, User Manual, Computer Program, Fortran, Computerized simulation, and Theses.


Progressive-Addition Lenses (PAL) are commonly designed for non-astigmatic lens wearers, yet a large proportion of the population requires toric correction. Moreover, the optical performances of PAL are always given for lenses with spherical prescription. In fact, the charts of optical performances for PAL with toric prescription are not easy to interpret because of the combination of astigmatism induced by the progressive surface, the toric surface, and the obliquity of light rays.


Open and distance education graduate was researched by Inner Mongolia Radio TV university in July,2004.Basing on survey data and applying the education statistic theory to analyses,the results showed that the totol evaluation and the confidence level to the talent training quality of open and distance education in Inner Mongolia radio TV university are satisfying and the quality of open and distance education was confidence.


We have read with great attention to the recent article "Distinct Histopathology Characteristics in Empty Nose Syndrome". In particular, we have appreciated the efforts of Ching-Lung et al. to define the histopathological and molecular patterns for the identification of this controversial syndrome. However, in our opinion, there are several critical issues to consider in relation to their study. First, in the cohort of 17 enrolled patients with Empty Nose Syndrome (ENS), there is a significant percentage of subjects (35%) affected by allergic rhinitis that could be a confounding factor on the results. Previous studies have shown a decrease in nasal tactile sensitivity and have highlighted interesting aspects of the nasal chronic inflammatory condition in allergic rhinitis. In these cases, in fact, the dysregulation of the innate and adaptive mucosal immunity related to allergy could influence the histological pictures and the expression of the mucosal receptors. Second, the authors do not take into account, the nasal microbiota and the relationship between the presence of nasal dysbiosis and reactive nasal inflammation that could trigger a complex network of processes regulating mucosal permeability, TJ function, and the nasal neuroimmune system. Third, a recent retrospective review of 294 consecutive patients treated for sinonasal malignancies explained that turbinate resection is not correlated with nasal obstruction and poor sinonasal function. No cases of severe debilitating sinonasal dysfunction or ENS were reported. Fourth, it is not clear what is intended by the authors when they state that "the sensation of nasal patency closely related to thermoreceptor-like transient receptor potential channel melastatin 8 (TRPM8) in the nasal mucosa, which remained to play an implicit role in ENS": Along with mucosal histological change, the perception of nasal patency depends on adequate numbers and stimulations of the TRPM8 receptors. In fact, if this assumption were true, it is not clear how submucosal reconstruction over the lateral wall of the nasal cavity in these patients could resolve the nasal obstructive symptoms in the presence of an underexpression of these receptors. In summary, the authors' efforts to define and classify a syndrome that is still of uncertain pathogenesis and is not always repeatable after surgical demolition of the turbinates are certainly to be appreciated. However, in our opinion, the factors responsible for the so-called ENS are manifold and most likely related to the interaction of the nasal microenvironment with the mucosal firewall whose permeability causes the pathogenesis of this complex pathology.


Subirrigated sands with surface-applied fertilizer bands are susceptible to considerable gravity-induced convection of fertilizer salts whenever the water table approaches within 30 to 45 cm of the soil surface and induces rapid fertilizer dissolution. Laboratory studies have been conducted on two sands from Manatee County in the vegetable and citrus production region along central Florida's Gulf Coast. Peak saturated-zone electrical conductivity (EC) values of 14 and 9 dS m -1 were attained within 3 to 5 d at the 60-cm depth for columns of local sand having a water table maintained 2.5 and 22.5 cm below the soil surface, respectively. Such movement is far too rapid to be ascribed to reasonable diffusional or traditional convective-flow effects, and is instead attributed to gravity-induced convective flow, or fertilizer dropout. Sectioned-column studies demonstrated near-surface EC values of 25 to 35 and 70 to 90 dS m -1 for water tables maintained at the 15- and 45-cm depths, respectively. These same columns evidenced solute-pulse movement to the 8- to 10-cm depth and the 15- to 20-cm depth after 6 and 24 h, respectively, for water tables maintained at the 45-cm depth. Lower hydraulic conductivity, quite possibly as a result of increased soil organic matter content for these otherwise virtually identical fine sands, moderated such effects somewhat. Implications are discussed with respect to early-season fertilizer management in vegetable production regions of the southeastern Coastal Plain.


This paper reviews existing literature with the purpose of building a conceptual model to explain what leads to a high level of compliance with standards that govern the use of semi-autonomous vehicles. A broad review of compliance theories from different disciplines was conducted. The synthesis of the literature reveals that various factors influence compliance and these factors interplay. However, it appears that no particular theory comprehensively explains compliance in its entirety. Behavioral theorists argue that individuals are influenced by their perceptions which are informed by multiple influences and in order to understand realistically what drives behavior, these influences must be accounted for. Hence, we adopted a configuration approach which takes into consideration multiple factors and their interplay. We argue that by examining compliance using a gestalt (configuration) perspective, we can identify the combination of factors that could lead to high level of compliance with driving standards. The conceptual model proposed could be used by researchers and law enforcement practitioners to measure compliance and influence driver's compliance, respectively.


The main purpose of this paper is to analyse significance of the production factors on economic growth in Poland in the years 1995-2012, with particular attention given to the influence of foreign direct investments (FDI). The analysis was carried out with the use of the Cobb-Douglas production function. This paper describes two models. The first, basic model of the economic growth for Poland consists of four variables and the second - augmented model - consists of six independent variables. The research conducted in Poland reveals that in the period 1995-2012 a linear correlation existed between the FDI inflow and growth (Pearson's coefficient R = 0.8317), however, according to a model estimated with the use of the CLS method, FDI was not a significant factor determining GDP growth. The really significant factors were gross domestic expenditure on fixed capital and expenditure on R&D. The augmented version of the Cobb-Douglas function model for the years 1995-2012 estimated by means of the CLS method demonstrates that the only significant factor was government spending at 5% significance level. The remaining variables were insignificant.


Geochronological investigations, using U–Pb dating of zircons, have been conducted on several different rock types within the Mesoproterozoic Nain Plutonic Suite (NPS) from the region directly west of Kingurutik Lake in north-central Labrador. Leuconoritic rocks crystallized at 1349 ± 1 Ma, contemporaneous with a granitic body at 1348 ± 1 Ma. A composite 'dioritic' association was intruded ca. 1342-1341 Ma, and leucogranite dykes were emplaced at 1337 ± 1 Ma. The geochronological results reported herein enhance existing data showing that the western part of the NPS contains relatively undeformed plutonic rocks that are tens of millions of years older than similar ones from the eastern region. The ages bolster the currently existing geochronological framework that magmatism giving rise to the NPS began in the west and migrated eastward.


Described is a method of driving a seismic vibrator with a control signal to produce an output signal having minimized harmonic distortion. The method includes the steps of producing a plurality a harmonic distortion signals related to a fundamental frequency of the control signal. The phase and amplitude of said harmonic distortion signal is varied to produce with the vibrator suites of variations of the distortion signal. From among suites of variations there is selected that harmonic distortion signal having phase and amplitude values which produce a minimum value in harmonic distortion signal amplitude. The steps are repeated for different fundamental frequencies and the selected signals are summed with their related fundamental frequencies to produce a vibrator sweep control signal. The seismic vibrator is driven with the control signal to produce an output in which harmonic distortion is significantly attenuated.


There are a variety of ways in which the evolving knowledge base related to children's sibling relationships applies to the practice of social work with young children. This article1 explores the implications of sibling relationships literature for the foster care placement of young children. The author discusses attachment, kinship, socialization, caretaking, and cultural diversity issues along with both intentional and unintentional sibling segregation concerns. 1The author submits acknowledgments with gratitude to the University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee School of Social Welfare Writers' Guild and Adrienne Haeuser for their critiques of draft versions.


ABSTRACT Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is considered one of the top security risks organizations face today as these devices are very much part of the working culture of today's employees. However, there is still a lack of understanding of BYOD security risks and their impact on both information security and service delivery, particularly in the government sector, nor are there any strategies to reduce these risks. To examine this problem, interviews and BYOD risk assessments were conducted with eight IT security experts from selected public sector organizations to furnish in-depth insights into BYOD risks and its impact on organizations, and to recommend mitigation strategies to overcome them. Security risks that emanate from the security behavior of employees using their personal devices are identified and categorized into people, process, and technology risks. The risk assessment resulted in 16 critical risks for public sector organizations and strategies such as security training and awareness (SETA), policy, top management commitment, and technical countermeasures to overcome critical BYOD risks.


Parity violation in elastic ep scattering determines the elastic weak neutral current form factors G^Z(sub)E(q^2) and G^Z(sub)M(q^2) which are directly analogous to the familiar electromagnetic elastic form factors.By using the Standard Model of electroweak interactions and invoking strong isospin for the nucleon, the weak neutral current form factors may be expressed in terms of their electromagnetic counterparts and the strange quark vector form factors G^(S)(sub)E(q^2) and G^(S)(sub)M(q^2).Previous authors have argued that it is feasible to measure G^(S)(sub)E(q^2=0) in this way.In this paper, we show one may also measure G^(S)(sub)E(q^2) at finite q^2 in a separate experiment.Within certain models, it should be possible to extract the


Taking top buds and stems with axillary buds as the explants,the study of disinfection,proliferation culture,rooting in vitro and transition cultivating were conducted.The results were as follows: the most suitable disinfect time properly was 20 s by alcohol and 2 min by HgCl2 respectively;proliferation culture media was MS+6-BA1.0mg·L-1+IBA0.2+Sucrose 3%;hardening-off culture media was MS+6-BA0.1+ IBA0.05+Sucrose 3%;rooting culture media was 1/2MS+IBA 0.5+ Sucrose 1.5% and its rooting ratio was 82.0%;transition cultivating media was pearlite and peat,its rate was 2∶1,survive ratio was 98.3%.


BACKGROUND
Depression is a chronic disease consisting of emotional/psychological and physical symptoms. Emotional symptoms have been shown to respond to currently available antidepressants; however, physical symptoms may not be as responsive. It was hypothesized that resolution of both psychological and physical symptoms of depression would predict a higher percentage of patients achieving remission.

METHOD
Efficacy data were pooled from 2 identical, but independent, 9-week randomized, double-blind clinical trials of duloxetine 60 mg q.d. (N = 251) and placebo (N = 261). All patients met diagnostic criteria for DSM-IV major depressive disorder, which was confirmed by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Efficacy measures included the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D-17) total score, the HAM-D-17 Maier subscale, the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) scale, the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale, the Somatic Symptom Inventory, the Quality of Life in Depression Scale, and Visual Analog Scales (VAS) for pain (overall pain, headaches, back pain, shoulder pain, interference with daily activities, and time in pain while awake).

RESULTS
Duloxetine-treated patients demonstrated significantly greater improvement in overall pain (p =.016), back pain (p =.002), and shoulder pain (p =.021) at week 9 compared with patients receiving placebo. When treatment effects were pooled over all visits, patients receiving duloxetine, 60 mg q.d., exhibited significantly greater improvement than placebo-treated patients in 5 of the 6 assessed VAS pain measures. Approximately 50% of the improvement in overall pain was independent of improvement in HAM-D-17 total score. Assuming the same level of improvement in core emotional symptoms of depression (Maier subscale), improvement in overall pain severity was associated with higher estimated probabilities of remission (p <.001). The week 9 means for VAS overall pain severity were 13.0 for remitters (last observed value for HAM-D-17 was < or = 7) compared with 22.7 for nonremitters (p <.001), respectively, representing a greater than 3-fold improvement from baseline in remitters. The remission rate for pain responders (improvement in VAS overall pain from baseline to last observation > or = 50%) was twice that observed for pain nonresponders (36.2% vs. 17.8%, p <.001). Greater improvements in pain outcomes were associated with more favorable endpoint outcomes on the CGI-S and PGI-I scales. In addition, early favorable responses in VAS overall pain severity were associated with favorable endpoint outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with duloxetine, 60 mg q.d., significantly reduced pain compared with placebo. Improvements in pain severity were attributable equally to the direct effect of duloxetine and to associated changes in depression severity. Improvement in painful physical symptoms was associated with higher remission rates even after accounting for improvement in core emotional symptoms.


Because of wide distribution,poor ecological environments,deep ecological impacts,rapid expansion trends and difficult treatments,the stony desertification is called an ecological cancer on earth.This paper summarizes the achievements and experiences of the three-year pilot project throughout the country,and aims to provide a basis of further theoretical guidance for the comprehensive control.


There are a number of surgical procedures available today for the treatment of breast cancer. You will likely have a choice and will need to make your own decision, in consultation with your specific surgeon, about the best option for you. We offer you a choice because the research on the treatment of breast cancer has clearly shown that the cure and survival rates are the same regardless of what you choose. The choices can be divided into breast conserving options (i.e. lumpectomy or partial mastectomy) or breast removing options (mastectomy). A procedure to evaluate your armpit (axillary) lymph nodes will likely occur at the same time as your breast surgery. This is done to help determine the likelihood that cells from your breast cancer have left the breast and spread (metastasized) to another more dangerous location. This information will be used to help decide about your need for chemotherapy or hormone blocking drugs after surgery.


INTRODUCTION Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a complex syndrome involving disruption of the controlled inflammatory processes which normally maintain haemostasis. It can be a costly complication for both patient and healthcare provider, with over 50% of all ICU patients affected, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates despite improved supportive therapies (Robertson et al, 2006). Individual initiators of the inflammatory response have been targeted in the search for effective treatment stategies. However, despite success in animal trials, single target therapies have failed to produce significant clinical benefit possibly because they fail to impact enough of the complex mechanisms which contribute to SIRS (Oda et al, 2004). In light of these findings extracorporeal therapies involving haemoadsorption of inflammatory mediators have been investigated as a broader approach to the treatment of SIRS.


An experiment was conducted during 1998-99 to evaluate ear; stem weight ratio as a selection criterion of drought- tolerant genotypes of wheat (Tritium aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.), by subjecting genotypes slisceptible and tolerant to moisture stress, under natural water stress or potassium iodide-induced senescence of leaves und stem. The ear: stem ratio had significant correlation with grain yield, harvest index, single grain weight and grain-growth rate. Tillers had perceptible influence on association between the ratio and yield components. Path analysis, however, revealed that the correlation between the ratio and other traits was the indirect effect of grain weight. Ear: stem ratio was not as efficient as harvest index in differentiating susceptible and tolerant genotypes.


~have been calculated. Exo-molecular complex has been found to be relatively more stable than the endo-complex. The various cationic and radicalic intermediates of the electrophilic addition of chlorine to benzonorbornadiene have been studied using MNDO and ab initio methods. It has been found that the exo-chloronium cation is 7.9 kJ/ma l and 30.6 kJI mol relatively more stable than the endo-chloronium ion according to MNDO and STO-3G methods, respectively. The non-classical delocalized chloronium cation has been found to be the most stable one among the cationic in termediates formed in the reaction, and so the ionic addiiion reaction proceeds via this cation. According to the methods used in the study, the exo-chloro radical is relatively more stable than the en do-chI oro radical. Radicalic addition is predicted to occur via these intermediate radicals.


A new T-shaped microstrip (TSM) feeding technique is proposed to improve the impedance bandwidth of an eccentric dual annular slot antenna (EDASA). Based on the parametric study, an optimized prototype was fabricated and tested. The obtained results show that the proposed optimized structure can achieve a substantially bandwidth improvement compared to a corresponding straight shape microstrip (SSM) fed EDASA. Moreover, with this design, the radiation performance is also improved in term of crosspolarization level. The proposed structure can find its application in wireless local area networks at 5.8 GHz.


Object oriented systems are the main choice in the world scene today for development of high quality systems and object oriented metrics are shaping the way quality is perceived in these systems. This paper does an evaluation of the suitability of the various object oriented metrics across three popular Object Oriented programming languages - C++, Java and C#. The paper then analyzes the results that are arrived at. These evaluation results will help in selecting the proper set of metrics for a particular object oriented language.


Gas turbines are used widely in power generation, oil and gas industries, process plants and aviation. Efficiency and reliability is crucial in such applications. Hence, accurate modeling and control system designing is necessary. This paper first presents a nonlinear modeling of a single-shaft gas turbine in power generation application. This model is developed by solving differential and algebraic thermo dynamic equations and using turbine's component maps. Using this complex model, a number of linear models is identified around turbine's operating points. Effect of frequency and ambient condition is also considered in the models. Comparing these models, reduced number of linear models is selected to cover turbine's entire operating range. These models are validated using further identification tests and nonlinear model responses.


We present a semi-Lagrangian scheme for the approximation of a class of Hamilton--Jacobi--Bellman (HJB) equations on networks. The scheme is explicit, consistent, and stable for large time steps. W...


The guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a fruit plant that is widely distributed in Brazil. In the state of Mato Grosso, the culture adapted well in an irrigated system, however, there are still few studies related to the quality of the fruits produced in the state. In this way the objective of this work was to evaluate the physical and chemical characteristics of guava fruits cultivated in the region of Tangará da Serra - MT and establish the correlation between these characteristics. A randomized complete block design with three cultivars (Rica, Ogawa and Paluma) was used, four replications with six plants, where the following characteristics were evaluated: fresh mass, length, diameter, length / diameter ratio, pulp percentage, Total soluble solids, titratable total acidity, pH and ratio. The fruits of the cultivars Paluma, Rica and Ogawa cultivated in Tangará da Serra-MT have quality both for the in natura market and for the industry, in addition, a correlation of the physical and chemical characteristics of the guava fruits was observed, allowing the use Of simpler feature evaluations to aid the selection process.


Law student mental health and wellbeing was already a growing concern in the UK prior to COVID-19, but when the pandemic occurred, widespread uncertainty placed an unprecedented level of mental health burden on students. Law students were faced with dashed hopes, uncertain futures and the fear of negative academic consequences. This burden was exacerbated in respect of postgraduate international students in London, who were often also forced to decide whether to return home to their families, or to continue their studies abroad, albeit online.
This paper uses a case study approach to discuss how one provider of postgraduate clinical legal education (CLE), approached the promotion of positive student mental health both before, and in response to, the pandemic. qLegal at Queen Mary, University of London provides CLE to postgraduates studying for a one year law masters, and in 2019-2020, qLegal delivered CLE to 134 students from 27 countries. The impact that the pandemic had on the mental health of international postgraduate law students was therefore witnessed first-hand.
This paper discusses the challenges faced, and concerns raised by international postgraduate law students at qLegal as a result of the pandemic. It examines the steps taken by qLegal to maximise student engagement and promote positive student mental health when rapidly switching to a model of online delivery. The paper concludes by outlining the steps qLegal will take to monitor and address the impact that online delivery in this period of global uncertainty has on the mental health of the next cohort of postgraduate CLE students.