The article intends to analyze the current situation in the field of educational reforms. The objective taken by the author is comparing the main values and the goals of The New Ukrainian School (Conceptual principles of secondary school reform) issued by Ministry of Education and Science as an answer to the challenges of the modern society and the Waldorf Education as an example of the good practice of an alternative education system. The article reveals the certain similarities of the two conceptual approaches that considered meeting the modern needs of education such as: child-centered ideas; partnerships in the school governance; academic freedom of a teacher; school autonomy etc. Analyzing the methods which could be learnt from the Waldorf Schools good practice to be taken into the consideration, the author draws the attention to the artistic teaching in the sense of originality, imagery and creativity; the structure of lessons when subjects are presented in the Main Lesson, usually over a block of about three weeks; phenomenological approach to science, which means that the teacher sets up an experiment and calls upon the pupils to observe carefully, ponder, and discuss what is happening — thus allowing them to discover the conclusion for themselves; approaches to the assessment and the others. On the example of Waldorf Education approach, the author comes to the conclusion that the different educational alternatives can serve as meaningful models for the renewal of mainstream education in Ukraine. The democratic society should keep the educational pluralism for those who still seek for an alternative.


This paper discusses on small- and large-signal RF characterization of fully-depleted accumulation-mode varactors for low-voltage LC-VCO SOI design. This work provides a complete analysis of the evolution of K/sub v/ between small- and large-signal regimes and its consequences to the VCO design. Furthermore, several SOI devices are investigated, showing the best performances of zero voltage accumulation-mode varactors.


This book is an exposition of statistical methods for forecasting municipal water demand according to customer class and for integrating demand analysis with hydrologic studies, capacity planning, and water conservation programs. The authors address the following issues in the field of municipal water planning: the factors influencing municipal water use, the estimation of statistical demand functions by customer class, procedures for evaluating the reliability of forecasts, the experience of municipal utilities with statistical demand modeling, the conceptual range of applications of these models, the relation of applications in a systems context, and the integration of the applications in management planning. Case studies of two metropolitan water systems are used to explore the validity and range of applications of statistical demand techniques within management and planning processes.


Number of vice-premiers in a transitional country is an indicator of political weakness of the cabinet pointing out political and economic instability. So one can trace its connection with some economic data. Regression analysis has allowed to reveal significant correlation between the number of vice-premiers in the Russian government and the following socio-economic indicators: CPI (negative relation), money used by population to buy currency, strike participants number, unemployment, officially registered unemployed, officially registered unemployed on the dole (all - positive relation). The vice-premier growing number is connected positively with budget deficit growth that is another argument in favor of the thesis that such a number reflects government weakness.


This article is the outgrowth of a valuable project initiated by CERI on regional perspectives on the Iranian nuclear threat, which included both a seminar in Paris (December 2012) and articles that draw upon the presentations delivered. I was tasked with presenting Israel's perspective, to which I readily agreed, although presenting "an Israeli perspective" can be somewhat tricky in the context of the current debate. Unfortunately, some readers are likely to regard a "view from Israel" as an inherently biased perspective on this critical arms control dilemma, rather than an analysis of both the Iranian nuclear challenge and Israel's concerns from the perspective of an Israeli arms control expert.My hope is that readers will not prejudge the analysis according to assumptions they might have about what an Israeli perspective implies. This is especially important for the first part of the article, which analyzes Iran's nuclear program and some of the reasons why it took so long for the international community to present a convincing case regarding Iran's noncompliance, and the negative effect this had on international efforts to stop Iran. The analysis draws on in-depth research into the Iranian case, as well as broader nuclear arms control dilemmas.The second part of the article is where the spotlight turns to Israel. It analyzes Israel's interests, calculations, fears, frustrations and predicaments when facing Iran's nuclear advances, especially against the backdrop of international efforts that have so far been unsuccessful in turning the situation around. This section zeros in on the nature and ramifications of Israel's greater visibility over the course of 2012, and analyzes aspects of the public debate in Israel on the question of a possible attack against Iran's nuclear facilities. It goes on to clarify some misconceptions regarding the source of Israeli-Iranian animosity, and the role of nuclear weapons in that context. It underscores that while Israel has a high stake in the success of international diplomatic efforts to stop Iran, it is not involved in this dynamic. Moreover, the strong international players that are leading these efforts are pursuing their own nonproliferation and security interests and concerns, as well as their global responsibility to uphold the NPT.


The complexity of modern electronic equipment is putting new demand on system testability. Well design for testability (DFT) can save cost in fault detection and isolation, promote efficiency of system maintenance. The primary goal of testability prediction is to analyze and evaluate testability figures of merit (TFOMs) of unit under test (UUT) to support the assessment of the quality of DFT. Bayesian networks (BNs) are the combination of probability theory and graph theory, which has exhibited distinguished performance in representation and reasoning of uncertainty knowledge. So we combine BNs and testability prediction project together. The testability prediction method based on BNs can not only be modeled conveniently, and easy to be integrated into information framework of testability engineering. Predicted result from Bayesian method is more believable than traditional methods.


The electrostatic lower hybrid waves driven by the ion-ring distribution with a radially inhomogeneous density in homogeneous Maxwellian plasma are studied. It is shown that the main mechanism of excitation of instability is the ion-ring current across the magnetic field, although the effect of inhomogeneity of the ion-ring distribution on the conditions of instability also takes place. As a possible mechanism of saturation of instability the scattering of ions of ring distribution by random fluctuations of the electrostatic potential is considered. PACS: 94.05.Lk, 94.20.wf


In this work we provide updated constraints on coupled dark energy (CDE) cosmology with Peebles-Ratra (PR) potential and constant coupling strength $\beta$. This modified gravity scenario introduces a fifth force between dark matter particles, mediated by a scalar field that plays the role of dark energy. The mass of the dark matter particles does not remain constant, but changes with time as a function of the scalar field. Here we focus on the phenomenological behavior of the model, and assess its ability to describe updated cosmological data sets that include the Planck 2018 cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature, polarization and lensing, baryon acoustic oscillations, the Pantheon compilation of supernovae of Type Ia, data on $H(z)$ from cosmic chronometers, and redshift-space distortions. We also study which is the impact of the local measurement of $H_0$ from SH0ES and the strong-lensing time delay data from the H0LICOW collaboration on the parameter that controls the strength of the interaction in the dark sector. We find a peak corresponding to a coupling $\beta > 0$ and to a potential parameter $\alpha > 0$, more or less evident depending on the data set combination. We show separately the impact of each data set and remark that it is especially CMB lensing the one data set that shifts the peak the most towards $\Lambda$CDM. When a model selection criterion based on the full Bayesian evidence is applied, however, $\Lambda$CDM is still preferred in all cases, due to the additional parameters introduced in the CDE model.


residents in any of the 14 British towns that were studied, where the rates ranged from 4-2? ? to 7-5?0.2 The decline in prevalence that accompanies migration to Australia points to environmental influences in causing the disease. The rates among immigrants do not, however, fall to the levels of natives of Australia. There are two possible explanations for this. Firstly, some people who have already developed the disease while living in the UK may be included among the immigrants. Secondly, there may be a latent period between inception of the disease and its first radiological manifestation, so that, progression being to some extent irreversible, migrants carry with them the higher UK risk of developing the disease. It seems likely that both explanations apply. Since Paget's disease is uncommon before the age of 45 the reduction in risk among migrants in comparison with those who remain in the UK is probably related to the age at migration. Those who migrate as children will have had cumulatively less exposure to adverse influences in the UK environment, and there may be some critical age range below which migrants take on the lower risk of Australia rather than taking with them the higher risk of the UK. A study of variations in prevalence among immigrants according to the age at migration is being carried out to explore this. This study will also provide detailed data on the place of origin of migrants in the UK. There is, in England, an apparent area of high prevalence in the Lancashire towns, and the prevalence among migrants to Australia may also be related to the prevalence in their place of origin.


We analyze the dilepton emission rates from the hot pion gas confined to a finite space-time volume. Two models of pion(+) pion(-) annihilation to dileptons are under consideration. The first model mimics an extreme influence of the dense hadron environment on the rho-meson mean free path and mean life time. The second model deals with the standard concept of vector meson dominance when the hadron medium is not accounted. Our results indicate that the dilepton rates are finite in the low invariant mass region M<2m_\pi. It is found that the rates experience an enhancement in the electron-positron production when invariant mass tends to the "real" threshold M=2m_e. The breaking of the detailled energy-momentum conservation in favour of the integral one due to broken translation invariance is discussed.


On August 21, 2017, the volcanic island of Ischia was struck by a Mw 3.9 (http://cnt.rm.ingv.it/event/16796811) earthquake which caused two victims and heavy damages on wide portions of the Casamicciola Terme, Lacco Ameno and Forio municipalities. Following the Decree 1/2018 of the Government Commission for the reconstruction of damaged areas of Ischia Island, a Grade 3 Seismic Microzonation study was committed by each municipality to private consultants, who were scientifically supported by a multidisciplinary team of geologists, geophysicists and geotechnical engineers from CNR, INGV and University of Naples "Federico II". The existing data from previous geological and geotechnical investigations were integrated with the results of new geo-lithological surveys and geophysical measurements (HVSR, MASW, Down hole tests) carried out by the consultants. The whole amount of data was quality checked, homogenized and collected in a SQLite/SpatiaLite geodatabase using a QGIS open source software by the support team. A geo-lithological map of northern and western sides of the island was then produced, and the results of routine geophysical tests were coupled with those of seismic 2D ambient vibration arrays, to obtain shear wave velocity profiles (several hundreds of meters deep) down to the seismic bedrock, made of lithic tuffs and lavas, and to define its buried morphology. This in turn enabled to draw a map of seismically homogeneous microzones of the entire study area. Cyclic torsional shear tests were carried out on 10 undisturbed soil samples, mainly taken from epiclastic cover deposits, to characterize their non-linear behavior to be adopted for seismic response analyses. These latter were carried out along 1D profiles characterizing each microzone and along selected 2D cross sections running from the Mount Epomeo to the coast. The dynamic analyses allowed to detect and map areas characterized by variable amplification factors, of spectral accelerations throughout different ranges of periods (0.1-0.5s, 04.-0.8s, 0.7-1.1 s). The zones most prone to site amplification are those corresponding to localized graben-like depressions at the toe of Mount Epomeo, such as Maio neighborhood of Casamicciola, where thickened epiclastic covers are entrenched into blocks of uplifted bedrock and where a combination of 1D stratigraphic amplification and 2D reflection and diffraction effects is expected.


A method of operating a user interface for operating at least one device (26) in a motor vehicle (10), wherein the operator interface comprises a camera system (22) and, coupled to the camera system (22), gesture recognition means (46) and by the camera system (22) a in the motor vehicle interior (12) of the motor vehicle (10) with at least one arm (28, 30, 32, 34) gesturing person (14) is filmed and through the gesture recognition means (46) on the basis of image data (V) of the camera system (22 ) description data of a position and / or movement sequence of at least (a gesturing Arms 28, 30, 32 determines, 34) and the description data be assigned to one of a plurality of predetermined operating gestures by a first classification, characterized in that (by a Plausibilisierungseinrichtung 48) of the user interface at least one situation parameter which describes a Gestikulationskontext of the person (14), is determined and it is decided on the basis of at least one situation parameter with a second classification of whether the person (14), executes at all possible operating gesture or only non-specific one for the operator to ignore gesture, and decision of a possible user gesture in response to the by the first classifying detected control gesture, a control command (S) to the output at least one device (26) and at decision on a gesture to ignore the output of the control command (S) is suppressed.


In the scenery of a crystalline universe, embedded and related in a spatially extended polycrystalline system, with a relativistic framework, the constancy of the speed of light is the cosmic connection between the Planck length and the Hubble length, As a matter of fact, in the general relativity theory the gravitational interaction is propagated at the speed of light and when the gravitational field changed, the gravitational waves are produced in a similar form of an elastic field with dislocations in a crystal during plastic flow. Moreover, the nature role of a field in relativistic physics shows that it is an independent physical entity that should be considered on the same grounds as matter particles and it possesses energy and momentum. Consequently, in this work a mathematical model for plasticity and cosmology is proposed and some properties of the universe are obtained.


: The adsorption reaction of acetylene on the Ge(001) surface is investigated by first-principles calculations. In order to understand the relative populations of the di-σ and paired-end-bridge structures, we calculated the adsorption reaction paths leading to their formation at 0.5 and 1.0 ML coverage. More importantly, we studied the adsorption channel involving sublayer Ge atoms by forming a metastable sub-di-σ structure. This sub-di-σ structure represents second reaction pathway that results in the end-bridge structure, which plays an important role in the formation of the adsorption configurations. In contrast to C 2 H 2 , the adsorption of C 2 H 4 on the Ge(001) surface involving subsurface Ge atoms, is endothermic. Our calculations show from both kinetic and thermodynamic standpoints that the paired-end-bridge structure is the primary adsorption configuration that explains the experimental observations. Our work also helps to understand the fundamental differences between the adsorption of C 2 H 2 and C 2 H 4 on the Ge(001) surface.


Bill Hendricks covers a lot of territory in his essay "Teaching Work: Academic Labor and Social Class." I read Hendricks as aiming primarily to provoke consideration of a host of issues. Thus, my response is intended not as a critique of his essay but more an enactment of the kinds of considerations I take him to be calling for. Specifically, I'll comment on those parts of his essay that suggest that instructors?tenure and nontenure track, full and part-time? are increasingly "working class," and that this will encourage increasing numbers of these instructors to identify as a collective with a, or the, labor movement, in the form of unionization across the track of tenure lines. In support of the first of these points, Hendricks marshals not only the depressing and depressingly familiar data on the increasing reliance on contingent labor to staff college-level teaching positions, the lousy working conditions of those holding these positions (low pay and lack of job security, work autonomy, and health insurance), the privatization of funding for all institutions of higher education, and the growing commodification of that education, but also attacks on the profes sional managerial class (PMC) status of all academics as well as those in such other fields as law and medicine. While some readers may wish to quibble with some of the specific data Hendricks presents, the general trend seems clear: colleges and universities


Photocatalytic activity can be improved through modified morphology and structure. Sodium tantalate (NaTaO3) as a semiconductor photocatalyst is extensively used for photocatalytic water splitting. A novel electrochemical route was developed for preparing NaTaO3 spheres. The method can easily and fast synthesize high pure phase NaTaO3 spheres at room temperature. The NaTaO3 sphere structure consists of a crystalline core and an amorphous shell. After a thermal treatment, the NaTaO3 spheres show an enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting ability.


The study was aimed to investigate the histopathological changes due to interaction of Visceral Larva Migrans (VLM) and diabetes mellitus in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) and its potential zoonotic risk after being consumed accidently. A total of seventy two adult Wistar rats were taken (N=72) and divided into four groups of 18 rats each viz; group I (healthy control), group II (diabetic control), group III (VLM infected healthy rats) and group IV (VLM infected diabetic rats). Experimental rats exhibited haemorrhages in the liver, lungs and brain on 10, 20 and 30 days post infection (dpi). The accumulation of mononuclear cells in the hepatic parenchyma was observed on 10 dpi. Thrombosis was seen in some blood vessels at 20 dpi. Fibrous connective tissue proliferation in triad areas around the biliary tubules were seen at 30 dpi as compared to control group. Massive hyperplasia of the bronchiolar lymphoid tissue, bronchiolar epithelial and sub-mucosal smooth muscle hyperplasia were seen on 20 and 30 dpi. The brain of rat with diabetes and without diabetes showed the degenerative changes on 10, 20 and 30 dpi.


Large spaceborne flat seam antennas boom recently. The structure design of the large flat seam antenna is introduced, and finite element model is built. The first frequency of antenna is obtained from modal analysis and it meet the requirement. The results of sine vibration and random vibration shows that strength satisfy the requirement and it has a certain margin.


Life histories and distribution patterns were reconstructed from random vacuum samples o f coexistent populations of nine species of hunting spiders in an Ontario meadow . The populations o f Pardosa saxatilis (Hentz), Pirata minutus Emerton, Schizocosa avida (Walckenaer), S . heasman i Dondale, and S . crassipalpis (Emerton) had annual life histories, and matured, mated, and oviposite d in the spring or early summer . Xysticus pellax (O . Pickard-Cambridge) and X . gulosus Keyserling wer e also annual, but matured and mated in late summer or early autumn, and oviposited the followin g spring . X . discursans Keyserling was biennial, and matured and reproduced in the spring . Lycos a frondicola Emerton was also biennial, but matured in late summer and reproduced the followin g spring . Most of the nine species were more densely represented in the lower, moister part of th e meadow, whereas S . heasmani, individuals of which are very similar in anatomy to those of S . avida, was more densely represented on the higher, dryer part, and the adults of L. frondicola kept largely t o the edge of the meadow nearest the forest . INTRODUCTIO N


Two clinical psychology trainees relate their experience of four brief psychodynamic observations in a public and an Older Adult mental health setting. They reflect on their learning and the impact this has had on their practice.


Abstract Although there have been proven and successful developments in the field of Higher Education for Sustainable Development over the past 15 years or so, there are still numerous challenges to be overcome. Among these challenges is the need for Higher Education Institutions to improve the integration of sustainability in the curriculum and in research, and most importantly, to integrate it holistically in their systems. This paper presents an analysis of the fundamental obstacles to the incorporation of sustainable development in universities. It reports on an empirical study performed with universities across the world, where some of the main barriers are identified. It is recommended that these barriers are viewed as obstacles and entrepreneurial opportunities, and addressed accordingly.


Fast erasable photochromic films with well photofatigue property are prepared by blending of copper chloride into viologen/polyvinylpyrrolidone mixture.Photochromic performance,thermal fading and photofatigue properties of the films were studied.It has been found that with the addition of copper chloride there is color lost in the first UV irradiation,but the fading rate of the colored films are faster.The half life at 60℃of the film,prepared by exposing to UV irradiation for 80 s and mole ratio of copper chloride to viologen 1:1,is abut 9 min,in comparing with 54 min for the film with no copper chloride.The higher mole ratio of copper chloride in the films,the faster the thermal erasing rate is.With increasing of coloring-discoloration cycle number,the photochromic color of the films become much deeper,and the more copper chloride in the films,the deeper the color is.These photochromic films can be used for information storage,sunglass and smart windows.


Several subtle errors in an Ada tasking realization of the well-known Sieve of Eratosthenes algorithm are revealed and corrected. By discussing them here, we hope to increase the tutorial value of the original publication (G. E. Anderson in Ada Letters, September/October 1988).


This work describes a simple and inexpensive technique for the imaging of concealed objects. In place of traditional pulsed radar methods it offers an alternative CW method based on holographic intensity measurements. It demonstrates how indirect holographic techniques, employed at optical frequencies, can be adapted to image objects at microwave frequencies. It also demonstrates how 3D images may be reconstructed from measured two intensity patterns. Computer simulations using a simplified 1D conducting strip have provided encouraging results. Experimental results, also taken over a 1D scan above an aluminium strip, have indicated that this technique is capable of determining both the location and dimensions of the concealed object.


The digital transformation is creating a need for mass customization of tactical asset allocation (TAA). Asset managers publish TAA qualitative views regularly. However, the construction of robust portfolios from such views at large scale is often oversimplified. This article proposes a robust framework that enables the industrialization of highly customized TAA portfolios from a single set of investment views. The authors' framework links the conviction of investment views to the consumption of risk and derives the expected returns accordingly. They show that robust optimization brings the level of consistency required for full automation of portfolio construction. They also show how a factor-based risk model can provide the level of transparency necessary for the interpretability of the framework.


For small hydrogenic systems the discrepancy between theoretical and experimental studies of ro-vibrational spectra is mostly related to the neglect of adiabatic and non-adiabatic effects on the ro-vibrational eigenvalues. In the case of and its isotopomers, detailed investigations of low lying ro-vibrational excitations have been performed. Using gaussian geminals an absolute accuracy of the Born–Oppenheimer potential energy surface (PES) by ∼0.02 cm−1 was reached. Of similar quality are calculations of relativistic effects and diagonal adiabatic contributions. Non-adiabaticity can be simulated by using atomic masses for vibrational motion and nuclear masses for rotational motion, so that the deviation to experiment can be reduced to a few hundredths of a wavenumber. Recently, a rigorous non-adiabatic theory in terms of a single potential energy surface had been developed and was tested numerically for and H2. Within this new non-adiabatic theory distance-dependent effective nuclear masses have to be used. Our main interest is to use these new ideas for taking into account the effects of non-adiabaticity on the ro-vibrational spectrum of and its isotopomers. Within a perturbative approach we investigate the influence of the operator of nuclear kinetic energy of a triatomic molecule on the electronic wave function. For the asymptotic arrangement of a nearly separated atom–diatomic system we can calculate numerically with high accuracy the distance-dependent effective nuclear masses for and H2. The kinetic energy operator for a triatomic molecule describing ro-vibrational motion has many different terms, where different effective masses have to be taken into account. Within the present work for , the distance-dependent effective mass for the diatomic motion part, using Jacobi coordinates, will be presented.


India, with a growth rate of 6.6 per cent in the year 2022, is among the fastest growing economies in Asia. Manufacturing sector and agricultural sectors occupies second and third place in terms of contribution to GDP respectively. The automobile industry plays a vital role in Indian economy in India in terms of employment generation, production and sales. Automobile sector a key driver of macroeconomic growth. Success of any organisation depends on mainly on management of its finance efficiently; therefore financial performance evaluation is plays pivotal role. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the financial performance of select Automobile Companies using ratios. The study is desk research and it is based on the secondary data collected annual reports for five years 2016-17 to 2020-21. The population of the study comprises of top 10 automobile companies listed in BSE Ltd. as on 31-12-2021. The researcher has chosen top three companies on the basis of turnover. The sample companies are Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, and Hyundai Motors. The scope of the study is limited to the select companies which are from four wheel passengers' vehicles only. The data collected for study were analysed using ratio analysis and EVA analysis. It is found that on an overall the financial performance of select sample automobile companies were in a slow pace, but Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motors were stable and better in their financial performance.


The frequency of adverse events in rail traffic control system has been linked to the quality of teamwork and communication. With the automation developed, non-technical skills (NTS) underpin technical ability of railway drivers and are critical to the success of operations and the safety in the railway system. Developing suitable NTS evaluation system of railway drivers may play a role in reducing human errors in railway. In this study, four important NTS were selected to describe behaviors of railway driver in automation conditions: situation awareness, decision-making, communication and self-management. Consultation with experts and task analysis led to modifications reflecting the complexities of the railway drivers, particularly the coexistence of three post (driver, dispatcher and integrated controller). The scale was then developed using questionnaire and principle component analysis (PCA) method, and structural equation model (SEM) used to assess the reliability and validity of the NTS scale. The model can provide a certain basis for the evaluation, selection and training for railway drivers, enhance the NTS and ensure the safety of railway system.


A case of fulminating group A beta–hæmolytic streptococcal septicæmia is described. This case illustrated both the early and the late manifestations of severe streptococcal infection — that is, the early suppurative invasive lesions and the late hypersensitivity reactions. The management of these complications is discussed.


Extruders are now routinely controlled with digital computer systems and algorithms. In this study, we have installed, debugged, and demonstrated an advanced control algorithm for individual temperature-zone control of a laboratory single screw extruder. The algorithm: ¿ adjusts the parameters of a resident first-order plus deadtime process model with a linear least squares estimator, ¿ adapts the controller parameters to achieve a prespecified closed-loop setpoint response (Dahlin's method) and ¿ is in use in a polymer processing research laboratory, installed on a DEC PDP 11/23 system.


The paper examines genre strategies in a number of children's books by the well-known Swedish author, Astrid Lindgren. Drawing on the reception theories of Hans Robert Jauss, Aidan Chambers and Reinbert Tabbert, the paper demonstrates that the stormy reception of Pippi Longstocking (1945), prompted by a review by Professor John Landquist, had principally genre-related grounds. The book made readers feel a sense of provocation because it challenged their archetextual horizon of expectations by evoking certain traditional genres and simultaneously twisting them in almost anarchic ways. In later books Astrid Lindgren makes a more elaborate use of classic genre structures. She generally chooses one well-known archetext as the generic dominant and allows it to interact with a set of other genres, thus calling forth the main aesthetic effect of the book from the archetextual dialogue between the dominant and the accompanying genres. The paper specifically investigates this polyphonic method in three of Lindgren's most popular books. In All about the Bullerby children (1947–52) the generic dominant is idyll and the subordinated archetexts satire, parody, burlesque, farce, fairy tale and ballad. Mio, my son (1954) can be considered as an artistic fairy tale (Kunstmarchen), this dominant genre correlating with some other interwoven archetexts: apocryphal gospel, myth, legend, heroic tale and idyll. Finally, the generic dominant of Ronia, the robber's daughter (1981) – a novel about the adventures of a band of robbers (Rauberroman) – finds its archetextual counterparts in folktale, popular legend, myth, burlesque, fantasy and Bildungsroman, among others.


Deformation response of areca catechu palm leaf-sheath, after hydration and aqueous sodium hydroxide treatments, is studied using Limiting Dome Height testing. The leaf material can undergo large shape changes in biaxial stretching, with forming strains as high as 0.56 reached using optimized sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment (5% for 2 h). These limit strains are higher than for many sheet metals. The treatment also lowers the forming force, another key attribute of formability. Using parametric studies, optimal treatment conditions are established for producing high-aspect ratio products. Implications for single-step forming of palm-leaf materials and sustainable manufacturing of eco-friendly foodware are discussed. Graphical abstract


Abstract : The concept of personality is widely recognised as being central in psychology, yet its nature and the ways in which it can be defined and measured are questions on which psychologists are in considerable disagreement. While theorists tend to disagree over definitions of personality, they tend to agree that in order to perform a systematic exploration of personality's relation to other variables, a definite set of personality factors need to be specified. Researchers engaged in the question of the number of factors in the personality sphere seem to divide roughly into three positions: Two factors, five-to-eight factors, and 13-to-18 factors. Cattell devoted a major segment of his career to the development of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaires (16PF). With the continuing use of Cattell's 16PF by the Australian Army Psychology Corps comes the need to review the available literature with a focus on its use in personnel selection. The 16PF reports to measure 16 distinct personality traits, yet there is no evidence of the convergent validity of the 16 scales apart from factor loadings and what evidence there is of discriminant validity suggests the primary traits are not clearly differentiated. The psychometric adequacy of the test must be questioned. (SDW)


A piercing step of forming a via hole by laser processing in the prepreg, and filling a conductive paste containing a resin component and a metal powder on the holes, is copper foil or patterned above and below the filled conductive paste and the method for manufacturing a multilayer substrate including a step of pressing by disposing copper foil portion of the substrate, the alloy type paste metal powder with each other at least a portion of the metal powder as the conductive paste adjacent the molten alloying the use, as a prepreg, the storage modulus at the inflection point to change the storage modulus a, from decrease to increase at the inflection point of the storage elastic modulus is changed from increase to decrease at a temperature profile of raising the temperature from 60 ° C. to 200 ° C. used as 10 or more before preheating the ratio a / B and B, the ratio a / B was preheated prepreg before piercing process By less than 10, obtaining superior multilayer wiring board to the conductive and long-term stability.


Zinc ferrite films were deposited on fused quartz substrate at different substrate temperatures using a pulsed laser deposition technique. The deposited samples were ex situ annealed at different temperatures up to 650 °C in air for 2 h. It was found that the spontaneous magnetization of the films depends both on the grain size and on the substrate temperatures. The largest values of spontaneous magnetization for our sample were 3000 G at 300 K and 6600 G at 10 K, for the film deposited at substrate temperature of 450 °C. The ferromagnetic resonance linewidths of the films were found to depend both on substrate and annealing temperatures. A relatively low linewidth of 195 Oe was observed in parallel configuration for the film deposited at 250 °C and annealed at 350 °C.


Facial defects have numerous causes, including skin cancer, trauma, and congenital malformations. Various methods exist to address these issues, with the chosen approach varying depending on the defect size and position [1-6]. Defects near vital structures such as the periorbital, perioral, and perialar areas must be reconstructed without any deformities, as deformities in these regions can cause functional and aesthetic problems [3]. The reconstruction of lower eyelid defects is prone to complications, such as ectropion and epiphora, and therefore requires caution [3]. Defects can be easily covered with grafts, but depression deformities can arise, and color differences with surrounding tissues may be present [6]. Rhomboid flaps are geometrically random pattern-designed fullthickness cutaneous transposition flaps. These flaps can cover defects with tissues of similar thickness and color, making them common choices for facial reconstruction [7]. However, rhomboid flaps also have disadvantages, such as the potential for tension, additional scarring, or dog-ear deformity [7]. Advancement flaps are also a popular reconstructive option, but they require long additional incisions for tension-free closure. In this report, we introduce and analyze a sickle-shaped flap (a transposition flap) as a simple reconstructive method for the repair of small to moderate-sized lower eyelid defects. Tae Hyeon Lee, Hyun Joon Seo, Seong Oh Park


Aerosol-cloud interactions (ACI) are uncertain and the estimates of the ACI effective radiative forcing magnitude show a large variability. Studies using present day variability in satellite data to infer ACI, or that constrain model parameterizations to better agree with satellite observations find a less negative ACI radiative forcing than purely model based studies. Next to the problematic use of present day variability as a substitute for anthropogenic change, the scale at which the analysis of the responses of cloud properties to changes in aerosol is done could be a reason for the discrepancy in forcing estimates if the analysis/observational scales differ substantially from the process scale. The projects of the Climate Change Initiative (CCI) programme of ESA aim at producing long time series of satellite data of essential climate variables and give the opportunity to produce products for susceptibilities of aerosol properties from Aerosol_cci and cloud properties from Cloud_cci from high resolution datasets. Within the Aerosol_cci project these susceptibilities derived from high resolution (A)ATSR datasets with a nearest neighbour approach are compared to susceptibilities from the global aerosol climate model ECHAM6-HAM. Next to the new satellite products a relatively fine analysis scale is used and the clouds are separated in different environmental regimes to reduce smoothing or spurious effects by aggregation of data.


Measuring the size of international development aid is no easy matter. All sorts of definitional and statistical issues arise, and there are inevitably grey areas surrounding a concept that is so politically and normatively charged. This paper proposes a coherent framework for alternative aid measures. Against this background the statistics on aid published annually by the OECD are being assessed. The analysis focuses on three categories of aid: technical assistance, soft loans and debt relief. It is argued that lack of rigour and consistency considerably weaken the relevance of aid statistics for policy makers and researchers.


As two influential countries in the global grain production and marketing system, China and Russia have increasingly strengthened their agricultural, economic, and trade cooperation. There are few papers that have considered trade relations from the perspective of the growth effect of grain exports, and it is necessary to fill this gap by systematically sorting the grain trade between the two countries and clarifying the growth effect and influencing factors in this paper. By comparing and analyzing the quantitative and structural characteristics of grain trade between China and Russia between 1996 and 2020, this study used the H–K marginal analysis method to explore the growth path and influencing factors of the export trade of grain products between China and Russia. The results show that the main driving force of the export growth of Russian and Chinese grain products is the price margin, which presents a growth pattern dominated by price and complemented by type and quantity. The empirical analysis of the gravity model shows that the size of the agricultural economy, grain productivity, trade cost, and economic shocks have significant impacts on bilateral trade. In view of this, the status of international agricultural cooperation between China and Russia will be further optimized if they can optimize trade policies to improve the quality of trade development, build cross-border cooperation parks to construct the layout of the whole industrial chain, strengthen infrastructure construction, and deepen and expand interconnectivity.


Urban social movements are often associated with what are considered 'progressive' causes and most activists involved in such movements are inclined to describe themselves in such terms. The Thai coup of September 2006 poses problems for any such easy identification. Although executed by the military, on behalf of royalist interests, the coup was supported by an array of primarily Bangkok-based and middle-class groups, many of them associated with organisations such as NGOs and state enterprise unions. Although some of these groups claimed anti-neo-liberal political orientations, their support for the coup effectively placed them on the side of forces opposed to quasi-Keynesian policies and in favour of specific forms of neo-liberalism—at least for Thai villagers. This paper explores this development by focusing on the Bangkok/upcountry and urban/rural divisions in Thai politics, which, although socially constructed, have taken on political substance, in part because of their grounding in regionally differentiated class structures.


Objective To monitor antibiotic resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Nanjing City based on analysis of the results from 1999 to 2002. Methods The production of β-lactamase was determined by paper acidometric method. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of penicillin, ceftriaxone, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and spectinomycin were determined by an agar plate dilution method. Results A total of 417 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were examined. During the period of 1999-2002, positive rate of PPNG rapidly increased from 8.0% to 31.31% (P 0.005). Prevalence of TRNG increased from 1.8% in 1999 to 22.2% in 2002 (P 0.005). Among non-PPNG isolates, prevalence of chromosomally mediated resistance to penicillin ranged from 64.08% to 87.80%. Positive rate of chromosomal resistance to ciprofloxacin was between 83.93% and 97.17%. There was no gonococcal isolate resistant to ceftriaxone, but the prevalence of strains less susceptible to ceftriaxone rose from 17.9% in 1999 to 50.5% in 2002. One Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain resistant to spectinomycin each was detected in 2001 and 2002. Conclusions Among Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated in Nanjing City, plasmid mediated resistance (including PPNG and TRNG) has increased rapidly, and the proportions of chromosomally mediated resistance to both penicillin and ciprofloxacin are high. Spectinomycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain is rarely seen. Ceftriaxone and spectinomycin are considered as effective drugs for the treatment of gonorrhea.


To control the crystal form of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane(CL-20) and reduce the mechanical sensitivity,nano-e-CL-20/Estane particles were prepared by the suspension spray method with polyurethane elastic fibre(Estane) as coating agent.The particle morphology,particle size,crystal type,thermal stability and impact sensitivity of samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),laser particle size analyzer,transmission electron microscope(TEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),and different scanning calorimetry(DSC) and mechanical sensitivity test.Results show that the Estane can be successfully coated on the CL-20 crystal surface and its particles are ellipsoidal or spherical with mean diameter of 456.3 nm.The CL-20 crystal form is stills phase.The critical temperature of thermal explosion of raw CL-20,e-CL-20/Estane made by aqueous suspension method and e-CL-20/Estane made by suspension spray drying method is 224.57,228.65℃ and 229.87℃,respectively.Compared to water slurry method,the impact sensitivity of e-CL-20/Estane is reduced.The characteristic drop height is increased from 35.80 cm to 41.30 cm.


—This study aims to develop audiovisual media based on the local excellences of South Sumatra for science learning in elementary school. The method used were research and development methods. The Research and Development methods used adopted steps from the ASSURE learning media development model. The instruments used were questionnaires, interview guidelines and audiovisual media quality assessment sheets. The data were collected by descriptive. The result of this research were audiovisual media based on the local excellences of South Sumatra for science learning in elementary Grade IV Themes 4. berbagai pekerjaan subtheme 3. Pekerjaan Orang Tuaku. Feasibility test performed by professional team showed that audiovisual media based on local excellences was very feasible to applicate for science learning in elementary school.


As an aspect of medieval sodomy, masturbation is often ignored or dismissed by medievalists. Although its status within medieval discourse on sex and gender is multiple and contested, this article demonstrates that it does have a recurrent cluster of associations, and it offers an important perspective on medieval masculinities and male sexuality. Moreover, far from constituting a meaningless, solitary act in medieval literature, on the contrary, masturbation is both overdetermined and always already relational.


Religious freedom in America is guaranteed by the first sixteen words of the Bill of Rights: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. This simple declaration is pivotal. Its adoption in 1791 was the culmination of an era just as surely as it opened another. The first amendment has inspired almost 200 years of judicial history in which the United States Supreme and lower courts have attempted to fill these plain words with specific content. Its passage climaxed nearly as long a period of significant colonial history. An understanding of that history is indispensable to the interpretation of the first amendment since, as the Supreme Court has said: No provision of the Constitution is more closely tied to or given content by its generating history than the religious clause of the First Amendment. It is at once the refined product and the terse summation of that history.


Combining with the nature of the courses planned by the brand image and the demand of the society for the application talents of advertising, this article incorporates the concept of maker into the course of brand image planning, innovates the teaching modules, improves the teaching system and the design efficiency. It has provided new method and practical reference for higher education to cultivate innovative entrepreneurial application-oriented talents. Keywords—maker concept; brand image planning; module; project teaching


Professors Baskin and Sommers have raised some concerns about our recent article, "Effect of Forensic Evidence on Criminal Justice Case Processing." We reply to their critique here. First, Baskin and Sommers expressed concern over the appropriate units of analysis. In broad terms, we view this as a difference of opinion over the role of general theory in understanding the effect of forensic evidence on criminal justice decision making. Baskin and Sommers analyzed the data within offense types, while we analyzed the data across offense types. Peterson, Sommers, Baskin, and Johnson (1) had already taken an offense-based examination of the data in their final report to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and we summarized those findings in the introduction to our article. We chose not to repeat those analyses in this article and decided to step back and test other, more general forensic evidence/criminal justice hypotheses, in an effort to create "an improved understanding for the effect of forensic evidence in criminal justice case processing." At the present, we believe it is fair to ask which is more valuable: general theory about the role of forensic science in the administration of justice, or offense-specific theories about the role of forensic evidence. To be sure, the volume and types of forensic evidence collected across crime categories are different, but our analyses examined only the presence or absence of forensic evidence, without regard to volume or type. To a large extent, this is a necessary consequence of the low sample sizes typically available to support such detailed analyses in case-processing studies to date. Nonetheless, we controlled for offense type/seriousness and tested for interaction effects at each criminal justice decision level, and highlighted those effects as we progressed. If the forensic evidence had a particular effect in an offense category at a certain case-processing stage, we noted it. For example, we noted that for robbery cases specifically, the collection of evidence from the crime scene increased the likelihood of arrest. We noted that arrest was more likely for stranger offenses in which crime scene evidence was collected, as well as when witness or victim reports were available. We also reported that stranger rape cases were less likely to be referred for charges, and we found that guilty pleas were more likely for robbery cases having victim reports, as well as for stranger assaults and stranger homicides. In addition, we noted that homicide cases with evidence linking the suspect to the victim and/or the crime scene were a significant predictor of sentence length. Our models include offense controls, which represent the offense-specific effect on the outcomes as compared to the reference category, and as indicated in our article, we ran several supplemental models incorporating interactions between offenses, offense characteristics, and forensic evidence, and we discussed those effects. As to Simpson's paradox, it appears clear that forensic evidence has effects across crime categories and at different stages; we cannot envision a scenario in which the presence of forensic evidence for offense types leads to reversed, or less likely, criminal justice outcomes. Second, Baskin and Sommers reiterated their position on selection bias, as articulated in both the NIJ final report that they co-authored as well as their subsequent articles. We disagree, and we stand by our discussion of the relevant issues related to selection bias, as well as our decision not to include a correction factor on both theoretical and empirical grounds, as stated in our article. Third, Baskin and Sommers ask why we did not include particular variables that they included in their analyses. Our choice of variables was guided by extant criminal justice decision-making theory, as articulated in our article. The reason we did not include the attorney-type variable was because it has missing values for 81.8% of the cases. Including this variable would necessarily remove a large portion of cases from the analysis and introduce substantial bias. On the issue of gender and race, our analysis included gender and race controls for victims and suspects, but the rather extensive race–gender interactions employed by Baskin and Sommers (e.g., an indicator for Latina homicide suspects, of whom there were a total of four) seemed both theoretically and empirically unjustifiable. Fourth and Fifth, Baskin and Sommers state that we failed to consider temporal order, and that we failed to provide adequate commentary on the low percentage of cases having evidence linking the suspect to the crime scene. They further stated that the low rate of linking evidence would put the casual reader at a loss to understand how forensic evidence impacts criminal case processing. We clearly discussed the issue of temporal order in the Data and Hypotheses section and devoted a paragraph of the Discussion section to this topic in our article. We also discussed the issue of linking evidence in the Discussion section of our article, devoting an entire paragraph to this topic. As to the "casual reader," we can only hope that they would read this material. Baskin and Sommers apparently did not, which would be consistent with their letter indicating that, "... we have neither the time nor the interest in reviewing the article in its entirety ...." Finally, Baskin and Sommers mention "perceived insinuations" and offer all of the above-noted differences in analytical approaches as their example. We do not know to what other aspects of our article they are referring. However, we did include two Baskin and Sommers articles in our literature review. As part of that review, we noted that the sentencing phase was omitted from their analyses, and that the tables in one article indicated an effect of forensic evidence on referral for charges, although they did not mention this finding in the text (to be fair, none of the findings reported in the tables and in the text seem to match). These are not insinuations, these are facts. In closing, we would note that the underlying data are archived for public access at the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR, www.icpsr.umich.edu), study number 29203, where they may be freely downloaded and analyzed by anyone. We welcome and strongly encourage interested researchers to investigate these data using a wide variety of theoretical approaches and analytic methods.


We consider the fractional Schrödinger operator with Hardy potential and critical or subcritical coupling constant. This operator generates a natural scale of homogeneous Sobolev spaces, which we compare with the ordinary homogeneous Sobolev spaces. As a byproduct, we obtain generalized and reversed Hardy inequalities for this operator. Our results extend those obtained recently for ordinary (non-fractional) Schrödinger operators and have an important application in the treatment of large relativistic atoms.


Fusarium wilt (FW), caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi (Fop), has always been an important disease affecting pea production and causing severe yield losses in most pea-growing areas worldwide. Growing resistant pea cultivars is the most economical and effective method for controlling the disease. In this study, firstly, 21 Fusarium oxysporum isolates were identified as races 1 and 5 of Fop based on morphological and molecular characteristics, and the disease reactions of seven pea differential cultivars. Then, a detailed resistance evaluation strategy was established and validated by a death rate score, disease index, and percentage of leaves showing symptoms for each individual plant. Finally, a 1311 pea germplasm collection including 740 accessions from China and 571 accessions aboard or unknown sources was evaluated for resistance to a representative isolate PF22b of Fop race 5, and the results showed that 28 accessions and 164 accessions were highly resistant (HR) and resistant (R), respectively. Among these resistance accessions, 13 HR and 44 R accessions were collected from 19 provinces in China, most of which came from Sichuan, Tibet, and Gansu Provinces. The 15 HR and 120 R accessions were collected in 10 countries outside China or unknown sources, the majority of which came from the United States, Australia, and Russia. The findings would provide important information for using resistance pea cultivars to control Fusarium wilt. Incorporating these resistance accessions into breeding programs will contribute to improving the Fop resistance of pea cultivars.


BACKGROUND Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common clinical signs encountered in newborns and it is a universal problem, which creates anxiety and apprehension among the parents and paediatricians as well. Jaundice is a cause of concern not only due to its staining character but also because of potential brain damage caused by it. It is one of the preventable causes of deafness and mental retardation. Though in most cases it is a benign problem nevertheless untreated, severe unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia is potentially neurotoxic and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is a harbinger of underlying serious illness. The study was conducted at King George Hospital Visakhapatnam in the Department of Paediatrics. The study protocol was approved by the ethical committee for research studies of Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. The study population consisted of term new-borns born in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam. Study design was cross-sectional study. Study was conducted from August 2017 to October 2018. Multigravida Gestational hypertension is present in 33% of the Pre-mature rupture of is in 53% of the Intrapartum drug is administered in 33.5% of the mothers. Mode of delivery was vaginal delivery in 62% women, caesarean section in 35% women and forceps delivery in 3% women. Sibling history is present in 11.5% patients. Descriptive statistics of all the babies is as follows- mean birth weight was 2.85 Kg, mean APGAR at 1 min was 7.78, mean APGAR at 5 min was 9.82, mean APGAR at 10 min was 10.0, mean cord blood bilirubin was 1.40, mean 24 hr serum bilirubin was 4.85, mean 5 th day serum bilirubin was 13.38 and mean HB was 16.47. Descriptive statistics of all the jaundiced babies is as follows- mean birth weight was 2.97 Kg, mean APGAR at 1 min was 7.79, mean APGAR at 5 min was 9.88, mean APGAR at 10 min was 10.0, mean cord blood bilirubin was 2.32, mean 24 hr serum bilirubin was 6.39, mean 5 th day serum bilirubin was 18.38 and mean HB was 16.54. There was a statistically significant correlation between 24 hr serum bilirubin and jaundiced patients and also between 5 th day serum bilirubin and jaundiced patients. There was a statistically significant correlation between cord bilirubin and 24 hr serum bilirubin. Thus, cord blood bilirubin and 24 hr serum bilirubin have role in early prediction of developing significant jaundice in the first week of life.


Introduction: Programmed death protein/ligand 1 (PD1/PDL1) inhibitors are approved for several advanced or metastatic malignancies with improvement in both progression free and overall survival. However, there is a paucity of data on optimal treatment duration. Both KEYNOTE-001 and KEYNOTE-006 studies showed durable antitumor activity in approximately 90% of melanoma patients after discontinuation of two-year pembrolizumab treatment, with a median follow up duration of 32 and 33.9 months respectively. To our knowledge, there has been no study that provides similar information for other types of solid cancers. Hence, we report a retrospective single institute experience of the durable response after discontinuation of PD1/PDL1 inhibitors. Materials & Methods: Data on patients treated with immunotherapy between 2010 and 2017 were collected retrospectively. Patients with all types of cancers who achieved disease control (including stable disease, partial and complete response) and were no longer treated with the immunotherapy for any reason were included. We analyzed the outcomes of these patients after discontinuation of immunotherapy. Results: We evaluated a total 282 patients with a variety of solid tumor types who were treated with PD1/PDL1 inhibitors; 20 patients met our criteria. Cases were divided into two groups; melanoma (total 8), and non-melanoma (total 12; 3 renal cell, 3 bladder, 1 hepatocellular, 1 colon, and 4 non-small cell lung). As of Jan 2018, 7 out of 8 (88%) in the melanoma group had disease control after a median follow-up of 9 months post-treatment, whereas 8 out of 12 (67%) in non-melanoma group had disease control after a median follow-up of 10 months. The median treatment cycle in the melanoma group was 11.5 cycles (range: 3–20) versus 11 cycles (range: 3–15) in non-melanoma group. The main reason for stopping treatment was patient preference. Conclusion: Our study shows similar efficacy of durable response in melanoma patients after stopping immunotherapy compared to KEYNOTE studies. Despite limited sample size and short duration of follow-up, our study was the first showing sustained disease control in several non-melanoma cancers after discontinuation of approximately one-year PD1/PDL1 inhibitor treatment. Future prospective malignancy specific trials for optimal duration are warranted.


Abstract Emulsion is an efficient encapsulation tool for enhancing the functional properties of essential oils (EOs). Herein, two two-dimensional cinnamon essential oil emulsions (from micro- to nanoscales) were emulsified by hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and their antimicrobial and physicochemical properties were investigated. For the models of Escherichia coli CGMCC 1.0907, Salmonella enterica subsp. Enterica serovar Typhi (CICC 10867), Staphylococcus aureus CGMCC 1.0089, and Listeria monocytogene CGMCC 1.9144, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the nanoemulsion was 31.25 μL/mL compared to that of the microemulsion (62.5–125 μL/mL) and pure oil (125–250 μL/mL), indicating the superiority of nanoemulsion as an antibacterial agent. The results showed that the highest activity was seen in the gram-positive L. monocytogenes whereas the lowest was in the gram-negative S. enterica. The identified properties of HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) provide the potential for emulsifying and enhancing essential oils in light industries, especially for food processing.


Toxicological investigations were conducted on galenia [Galenia pubescens (Eckl. and Zeyh.) Druce], an introduced species of the family Aizoaceae. One lot of field-grown galenia assayed 2.5% nitrate (as KNO3) and 6.1% soluble oxalates. Three sheep were acutely poisoned after they were gavaged with this plant. Galenia grown in nutrient solution assayed 6% nitrate and 11.3% soluble oxalates. Chicks fed this material died of nitrate and oxalate poisoning. Galenia may accumulate toxic levels of both oxalates and nitrates and thus should be classed as a poisonous plant that would be considered hazardous to humans and livestock.


Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract originating from the cell of Cajal [1]. Up to 75% of cases are driven by constitutional activation of the proto-oncogene cKIT; 10% by a mutation of the gene encoding for the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFRA); 12% are wild-type and their pathogenesis has been related to mutations of the succinate dehydrogenase complex, BRAF or NF1 genes. Commonly GISTs arise as a solitary lesion; multiple spread is extremely rare and usually associated with familial GIST, type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF-1), or Carney's triad [2]. In July 2012, a 49-year-old healthy woman underwent a medical consultation after an episode of rectal bleeding. On examination she was found to have external hemorrhoids; digital rectal examination revealed an incidental finding of a 2-cm nodule in the rectovaginal area, which was later confirmed by a pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (●" Fig.1). A colonoscopy showed a 2-cm solid lesion at 6cm from the anal margin (Fig.●" 2a) and a second solid lesion of 2.5cm in the transverse colon (●" Fig.2b), both of which were covered with normal mucosa. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed the colonic lesion (●" Fig.3). The patient underwent resection of the transverse colon and enucleation of the rectal lesion. Histopathological examination of the colonic specimen showed a GIST of 1.5cm, with 1 mitosis per 50 high power fields (HPFs). Molecular analysis revealed a mutation in exon 11 of the cKIT gene. The rectal lesion was a GIST of 2cm with 2 mitoses per 50 HPFs and a mutation in exon 9 of cKIT. Both GISTs were low risk for recurrence so no adjuvant therapy was given. The patient was started on clinical and radiological follow-up and is free from disease more than 1 year after her surgery. Multiple sporadic GISTs not related to familial or NF-1 syndromes are a rare but recognized clinical presentation of GISTs and can occur as synchronous or metachronous spread. After the first publication, which reported five cases of multiple sporadic GISTs [2], other groups reported their experience, which showed the interest of experts in gaining a better understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical outcome of this peculiar presentation [3–6]. Synchronous second tumors have been reported in 13% of patient with GISTs and consideration of a differential diagnosis is mandatory for a correct therapeutic approach [7]. A molecular analysis is needed to distinguish betweenmultiple primary GISTs and multiple recurrence or metastatic GISTs [7,8]. To our knowledge this is the first report of sporadic synchronous GISTs originating in the colorectal tract.


: Aim of study was to assess trends in lipid profile and nutrition of adolescent population in Novosibirsk during the social and economic reforms in Russia (1989-1999). Three cross-sectional studies of school aged 14-17 in 1989 (657), in 1994 (620) and in 1999 (626) were carried out. Total sample was 1903 (914 males and 989 females). Blood lipids, such as total cholesterol (TC0, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG), were measured. Diet was estimated with the method of 24-hour dietary recall. During 10-year period mean serum TC decreased from 175 to 158 mg/dl in males and from 191 to 175 mg/dl in females (p = 2000 mg/dl) significantly decreased from 17% to 6% in males and from 28% to 14% in females. Frequencies of low HDL-C (> = 40 mg/dl) also decreased in boys (from 28 to 8%) and girls (from 13 to 3%). Trends in diet showed similar changes and characterized by significant decreasing of total energy intakes (from 3021 to 2342 kcal in boys and from 2300 to 1644 kcal in girls) and of basic nutrient intakes (proteins? Fats? Carbohydrates). Negative trends in blood lipid profile and diet in adolescents during the unstable period of socioeconomic reforms in Russia indicate on serious changes in metabolic processes and need in large state economic programs to improve the situation.


Most published reports on cold agglutinin (CA) haemolytic anaemia (CAHA), a rare condition with significant perioperative management challenges, are from patients who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery with hypothermia. Here, we report a hip fracture patient with CAHA, and review the perioperative management. This is the second published case report regarding CAHA in an orthopaedic patient. An 86 year old female with a 4-year history of recurrent episodes of CAHA and multiple comorbidities (atrial fibrillation, hypertension, strokes, secondary epilepsy, vascular dementia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by diabetic retinopathy, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections, and multinodular goitre) was admitted because of a hip fracture. She was commenced on prednisolone a month prior the hip fracture. On admission, her haemoglobin was 69 g/L, lactate dehydrogenase 494 U/L, haptoglobin <0.1 g/L and the blood film showed red blood cell agglutination at room temperature, which dissociated at 37 o C. She required transfusion of 5 units of packed red blood cells during her admission. Her management included intensive temperature monitoring, use of body thermal blanket, warming intravenous and irrigation fluids and medications before administration. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia on the 4th admission day. She received unfractionated heparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, antibiotics for wound infection prophylaxis, continued prednisolone, and started anti-osteoporotic medications. The patient was discharged to another hospital for rehabilitation on the 7th postoperative day. Perioperative examination and treatment of orthogeriatric patients with CAHA is challenging. The pathophysiology of CAHA is shortly revied and a management algorithm is presented.


Six experiments explored how readers take the protagonist's mental perspective in stories involving conflicting beliefs about a situation. Experiments 1. 2 and 3 demonstrated that readers with privileged information build emotional inferences corresponding to the protagonist's (wrong) beliefs. The time course of inferences was studied in Experiments 2, 4, 5, and 6. The results suggest that inferences related to the protagonist's beliefs are backward inferences at the text integration stage. Experiment 3 showed that negation markers are not necessary for mental perspective effects. It was concluded that readers as side participants are able to dissociate the protagonist's and their own beliefs about a narrative situation.


A new weighted adaptive algorithm of face recognition based on class matrix and feature fusion was proposed. Firstly, global features and local features of six key parts of faces were extracted respectively. Dynamic method of how to choose the weights of local features was given. Different weights could be gained for different training sets according to this method. So, the adaptive ability of algorithm was enhanced. Then, global and local features were fused with weights to get the eigen-matrix of samples. Secondly, a new weighted principal component analysis (PCA) method was designed to lower dimension for sample matrixes. Thirdly, the concept of class matrix was proposed, and formula of how to obtain the class matrix was given and proved. According to class matrix, a new projected rule was given. Finally, class matrix and tested samples were projected respectively through the proposed rules. Then, the final class that tested faces belonged to was declared according to the Euclidean distance. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm can deal with small sample problems in LDA effectively, and the results also indicate that it has good performance on speed and recognition rate.


Comparative Criminal Law seems to be on the rise, at least in terms of standing on its own feet. Th is was not always the case. When looking into traditional textbooks on 'comparative law', it is amazing to see that this discipline seems to have been considered a realm of private law only:1 as if comparison of criminal law was a quantité négligeable that for whatever reason did not merit any notice. It is a 'long neglected discipline'2 not only due to its disregard in comparative law literature but also in the teaching of it. In law school programmes it meant private law and, even if it includes public law, it was not considered as comprising criminal law. In recent years, however, this has changed. 'Comparative criminal law' is gaining recognition as a discipline of its own, both in research and the classroom. Emphasizing this development does not mean that there had not already been numerous transnational comparisons of particular elements of criminal responsibility (such as mental elements or justifi cations) or of specifi c crimes (such as abortion, corruption or fraud). Nor is this to ignore certain theoretical refl ections of criminal law on a comparative basis.3 What is rather novel, however, are the increasing eff orts to analyse comparative criminal law with regard to its functions and methods in more general terms and thereby establish it as an own discipline within comparative law. Starting with small monographs4 and articles in journals and anthologies,5 comparative criminal law not only found a space in


The roles of S6K1 is regulating ATPase, and GTPase synthesis, and consequently the endocytic proliferations including endocytic soluble MHC class II synthesis which regulate both SIRPα1 and TLR4 synthesis , where diabetes reflect deficiency in Ser amino acids that reflect deficiency in pyrimidines synthesis consequently deficiency in Estrogen and reflect increasing in androgen synthesis with increasing in consuming in purines (A&G) that lead to decreasing in anabolic processes which depends on presence of adenosine and guanosine stored in ribosomes. OPA1-synthetase enzymes are necessary for producing amino-acyl-CoA-synthetase (gamma-subunits) which regulate glucocorticoids synthesis, and Interferons isoforms productions, for reactivating macrophages, and MHC class-I which regulate the endocytic soluble MHC class II synthesis which regulate both SIRPα1 and TLR4 productions for cellular proliferation.
S6K1 promote ATPase synthesis for regulating Interferons (IFNs) isoforms synthesis and regulated by pyrimidine-kinases (PS/T Adenosine Kinase & PS/T-Guanosine Kinase) productions. Asthma is characterized by Prediabetes and diabetes, that the reasons
of causing the two diseases (Asthma & diabetes) are the deficiency in Ser amino acids and consequently deficiency in pyrimidine kinases productions lead to increasing in Androgen production but deficiency in Estrogen biosynthesis. Estrogen formed from Ser/ Thr mTOR FOX phosphorylations signaling pathways for glucocorticoids synthesis regulated and modified by OPA1 enzymes effects for producing acyl-CoA-glucocorticoids isoforms, but the feedback of GC to produce estrogen will be upon ATPase & synthetase enzymes on GCs isoforms followed by Ser/Thr phosphorylation signaling pathway which will promote both Estrogen, protein kinases, and S6K1
production.


Ensuring that the growing mobility demand is met in a sustainable manner is important for our climate goals, and this would require changes to our current mobility behaviours. Behaviour and behaviour change theories have an important role in informing the mobility behaviour research and practices that seek to achieve these changes, and this paper discusses the application of these theories in both research and practice. Newer and more comprehensive theories have been developed in this area in the last decade, improving the quality of theories available. However, two key challenges of using theories are identified. The great number of theories today makes it challenging when deciding what and when to use them, and the appropriateness of many theories are either too simplistic or too complex. Thus, there is a need to critically review the state of theories in this area and identify ways to advance our application and development of behavioural theories. Here, two suggestions are put forward on how we can address these challenges while advancing the use of theories in mobility behaviour research and practice. First, integrate and summarise multiple, individual theories into a comprehensive and accessible framework for researchers and practitioners. Second, expand this framework beyond behaviour and behaviour-change theories by mapping out their interconnections with theories from other paradigms and disciplines using a systems approach to facilitate a more holistic theorisation.


Perimeter Moment resisting steel frames (PMRSFs) are a commonly used seismic resisting system, placed around the perimeter of the building for maximum torsional stiffness. They are typically designed as "strong column weak beam" systems with fixed column bases. When subjected to severe earthquake demand, sufficient to push the beams into the inelastic range, it is expected that plastic hinging at the column bases will occur. However, the response of PMRSF systems to the severe 2010/2011 Christchurch earthquake series did not generate column base hinging in systems which exhibited beam yielding. In the first part of this research undertaken in 2014, representative 4 storey PMRSF building systems with varying column base rotational stiffnesses were subjected to inelastic time history analyses (ITHA) using three of the strong ground motions recorded from the 22 February 2011 M6.3 Christchurch earthquake. The influence of the column base stiffness on the performance of these systems is presented in this paper. The second part of this project investigated the influence of non-structural wall strength and stiffness on the response of buildings. It was observed that the structural response of buildings which have large numbers of internal fire rated walls may have been influenced by these walls. Three internal wall layouts were considered; no walls, minimal walls representative of an open plan office and many walls typical of a hotel. The results showed that the "many wall" layout did significantly influence the building response while the "minimal wall" layout had little influence. Results are presented in the paper. 1.1 Background Moment resisting frames are a form of seismic resisting system that utilises rigid frames to resist lateral forces. The fully rigid connections between the beams and columns mean that when the frame displaces laterally, due to the fixed geometry of the connection, rotation must occur in the beams and columns. This rotation can be either elastic or inelastic, depending on the extent of the rotational demand. When the superstructure is pushed into the inelastic range, it will form concentrations of inelastic yielding at specified locations within the PMRSFs. The New Zealand Steel Design Standard (NZS 3404:1997) has provisions to ensure columns are designed to over strength moments and that the structure will form a strong-column-weak-beam mechanism, isolating inelastic demands to the beam ends and the column bases. The exact location of the plastic hinging and the extent of deformation will vary depending on the distribution of bending moment forces and the strength of the members used. Traditionally structural engineering practices have adopted two types of base detailing. A pinned connection, that assumes no base fixity and results in the moment demand being fully distributed into the column, or a fixed connection, that assumes infinite rigidity and distributes almost the entire moment demand at the column base into the foundations. Realistically, neither of these can be achieved, which is recognised by NZS 3404:1997, which limits the rotational fixity to lower (equation 1) and upper (equation 2) limits.


Conclusions Subtilin has been shown to exert a powerful in vivo action on the course of experimental pneumococcus Type III infections in mice. Animals treated with subtilin 9 hours after being injected with the organism were quickly cured of the infection. The antibiotic exhibited no apparent toxic reaction in the animals.


Object of research is the State high school students in Surakarta. Collecting data by accident Purposive Simple Random Sampling sample of 160 responden .This research used descriptive statistical analysis tool, Validity and reliability test of the instrument, Regression Analysis Test, Test T, and determination test. Results of research : 1) Activities provide positive and significant effects on the independence of the State high school students in Surakarta. 2) Interests have no significant positive effects on the independence of the State high school students in Surakarta. 3) Opinions have no significant positive effect on the independence of the State high school students in Surakarta. Keywords : Life Style, Independence, Activities, Interest and Opinion


Geometry calibration is a critical step for phase measuring deflectometry (PMD) system. Generally, a circle grid, a chessboard, or a group of fringes is used to determine the camera pose during the calibration. There are two main problems with using a circle grid or a checkerboard for geometry calibration: incomplete pattern capturing and uneven gray value distribution. For fringe patterns, the camera needs to take many images of the reflected patterns. This paper proposes a new geometry calibration method for PMD system, which combines square-based fiducial markers with a marker-less flat mirror. The proposed method can accomplish the calibration in the case the captured calibration patterns are incomplete and have uneven gray value distribution, and only require to take a minimum of three images. Experiment shows the proposed method can get accuracy calibration result simple and flexible.


Based on a large number of measured data for a deep excavation in-situ, the corresponding bending moments, deformation characteristics and the earth pressure distribution of a double-row piles retaining structure are studied. Some problems are analyzed, including the space effect of deep excavation, the effect of cap beam on earth pressure, the relationship between retaining structure deformation and the earth pressure distribution, and the mechanism of action between retaining structure and soil. The studies show that the earth pressure distributions on the double-row piles retaining structure are quite complicated, and are different from those obtained by the classical Rankine's or Coulomb's earth pressure theory, which supply a basis for the design model of double-row piles retaining structure.


Poor indoor hygrothermal performance increases the risk of indoor moisture problems and deterioration due to mould growth, corrosion and damage to archival materials. Hence, proper control of indoor thermohygric intensity abates indoor moisture and its associated problems. This paper presents the results of envelopes hygrothermal performance assessments in a hot and humid climate building with varying operational profile between adjacent spaces. The case-studied building runs on 24hrs cooling mode in one part against natural and/or mechanical supply-exhaust fan means on the other. In-situ experiments were combined with hygrothermal analytical methods to assess the envelope thermal quality together with the operative conditions against condensation and mould growth risks. The results show that the building is overcooled leading to poor envelope hygrothermal performance with associated condensation and mould growth problems on non-air-conditioned sides of the envelopes.


The purpose of the Waste Calcining Facility (WCF) remote inspections was to evaluate areas in the facility which are difficult to access due to high radiation fields. The areas inspected were the ventilation exhaust duct, waste hold cell, adsorber manifold cell, off-gas cell, calciner cell and calciner vessel. The WCF solidified acidic, high-level mixed waste generated during nuclear fuel reprocessing. Solidification was accomplished through high temperature oxidation and evaporation. Since its shutdown in 1981, the WCFs vessels, piping systems, pumps, off-gas blowers and process cells have remained contaminated. Access to the below-grade areas is limited due to contamination and high radiation fields. Each inspection technique was tested with a mock-up in a radiologically clean area before the equipment was taken to the WCF for the actual inspection. During the inspections, essential information was obtained regarding the cleanliness, structural integrity, in-leakage of ground water, indications of process leaks, indications of corrosion, radiation levels and the general condition of the cells and equipment. In general, the cells contain a great deal of dust and debris, as well as hand tools, piping and miscellaneous equipment. Although the building appears to be structurally sound, the paint is peeling to some degree in all ofmore » the cells. Cracking and spalling of the concrete walls is evident in every cell, although the east wall of the off-gas cell is the worst. The results of the completed inspections and lessons learned will be used to plan future activities for stabilization and deactivation of the facility. Remote clean-up of loose piping, hand tools, and miscellaneous debris can start immediately while information from the inspections is factored into the conceptual design for deactivating the facility.« less


For N-body Schrodinger operators P = −Δ + ∑1≤i 0 uniquely determines all Vij in the class of dilation-analytic Schwartz potentials. The same question for two-body Schrodinger operators remains open.


Abstract Finite element model is built to predict specimensize effect based on nominal strength. The progressive damage model is described completely and compared with experimental results of diferent scaling geometry. The finite element simulation uses the real mechanical and fracture properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy laminates. The finite element results are in good agreement with the experimental results for both strength prediction, and direction of crack propagation of the fracture-processing zone. The proposed Finite element simulation can be used to define the location of critical section very well.


AIM: To describe the correlation between innunostaining patterns of p16 and CDK4 and prognosis in colorectal carcinoma.METHODS: Paraffin sections of 74 cases of colorectal carcinoma were analysed immunohistochemically for expression of p16 and CDK4 proteins.RESULTS: Most carcinomas showed stronger p16 and CDK4immunostaining in the cytoplasm than the adenomas or the adjacent normal mucosa. Strong immunostaining of p16 was a predictor for better prognosis whereas strong cytoplasmic immunostaining of CDK4 was a predictor for poor prognosis.Both p16 and CDK4 immunostainings were correlated with histological grade or Dukes' stage.CONCLUSION: These results support the experimental evidence that interaction of expression of p16 and CDK4may play an important role in the Rb/p16 pathway, and the expression paterns of CDK4 and p16 may be imperative in the development of colorectal carcinoma, thus becoming a new prognostic marker in colorectal cancer.


Pesticide performance against a TSSM infestation was evaluated during an unusual outbreak on soybean in Minnesota. Plots of 2 rows (30-inch spacing) by 15 ft were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 5 replicates. A single border row separated adjacent plots to minimize effects of spray drift. Mites were present on nearly every leaf throughout the soybean canopy at stage R5.5 (beginning seed) with feeding injury readily visible below the top 5-6 leaves. Insecticides were broadcast 13 Aug in 30 gal water/acre with a CO2-powered backpack sprayer with 8002 nozzles set at 40 psi. The population in each plot was sampled 12 Aug, 18 Aug, 23 Aug, and 29 Aug (-1, 5, 10, and 16 DAT). On each sampling date, spider mites were counted from 20 leaflets/plot (10 leaflets at the fourth node from the top and 10 leaflets at the eighth node from the top). Leaflets were placed in plastic bags in a cooler for transport to the laboratory. Samples were held at 45°F until mites were removed from the leaflets with a mite-brushing machine. Eggs and mites were counted. Leaf injury was visually estimated on 26 Aug from 5 leaflets/plant (nodes 4-8 from the top) on 5 plants/plot. Plots were harvested 10 Oct, and yields were corrected to 13% moisture.


The issues that prompted the passing of the War Powers Act will continue to bedevil us again if Congress does not prepare to meet the future with seriously asserted procedures to regularize its relationship to the executive branch regarding a recourse to arms. There were unintended ambiguities and unforeseen exigencies in the original war powers legislation that have confounded systematic application of that act. Also inhibiting Congress has been an acceptance of an incorrect formula-that the War Powers Act 'report" triggers the withdrawal of U.S. troops no later than 90 days after they were first committed. In fact, it is not the report that triggers the 90-day clock, but the military activity itself that starts the 90-day clock, irrespective of any report. An improved War Powers Act would require the executive to provide reports that are more timely and more extensive. It would rethink the obligation that troops return within 90 days. And it would compel more thorough consultations pursuant to any military undertaking. An improved war powers statute would come to grips with the "standing" of Congress in court and the financing of any proposed military undertaking.


Abstract We propose an optical isolator formed in a nanoscale structure based on non-linear silicon photonic crystal that can be easily realized on an optical integrated chip. The structure comprises an engineered waveguide that is coupled to a L2 cavity. By using a passive ultra-compact cavity-based isolator, without changing incident characteristics such as mode or frequency in outputs, an admirable transmission contrast of 20.5 dB with a small insertion loss (in the forward direction) of −14.8 dB is achieved. The isolator attains a broad isolating linewidth operation of 0.9 nm without bistability response that is outstanding in comparison with the currently proposed cavity-based isolators. The non-linear Fano resonances that are created by the interplay between the non-linearity and spatial asymmetry notion in the structure play a critical role in the isolator efficiency. In this study, the finite-difference time-domain and finite element methods are used for simulations.


The development of new control strategies for quadrotor types of unmanned aerial systems is important in meeting the existing research needs to handle undesired uncertainties for more satisfactory control systems. A Neural Network-Proportional plus Velocity (NN-PV) controller is proposed for improved stability and robustness in the presence of external disturbances and model parametric uncertainty. The experimental validation is conducted using Quanser's Autonomous Vehicles Research Studio (AVRS) for multiple-vehicle testing. The developed controller is validated through indoor flight tests. The experimental approach provides understanding and the manipulation of the controller (Angle Mode) of the QDrone. The performance of the control system demonstrates improvement of the speed and stability for the formation flight of two drones. The work presented produces a flexible, robust, and effective control system model that leads to expanded stability and reduces the effect of disturbances.


Planetary gearbox torsional vibration signals are free from the extra amplitude modulation effect due to time-varying transmission paths and have simpler frequency structure than translational ones. Gear faults result in modulation on the torsional resonance vibration and are manifested by the modulation feature. These merits are exploited for planetary gearbox fault diagnosis in this paper. Gear fault induced torsional vibrations in resonance region are modelled as amplitude modulation and frequency modulation (AM-FM) processes, the explicit equation of Fourier spectrum is derived, and the sideband characteristics are summarized. To avoid complex sideband analysis, amplitude and frequency demodulation analysis methods are exploited. The equations of amplitude and frequency demodulated spectra are derived in closed form, and their frequency structures are revealed. For fault diagnosis based on above theoretical derivations, a resonance frequency identification approach is proposed through time-frequency analysis of torsional vibrations during variable speed processes, according to the independence nature of resonance frequency on running conditions. The theoretical derivations and proposed approach are illustrated by numerical simulated signal analysis and are further validated through dynamics modelling and lab experimental tests. Localized faults on the sun, planet, and ring gears are successfully diagnosed.


Background: Persulphates can act both as irritants and sensitizers in inducing occupational asthma. A dysfunction of nervous control regulating the airway tone has been hypothesized as a mechanism underlying bronchoconstriction in asthma. Objectives: It was the aim of this study to investigate whether inhaled ammonium persulphate affects the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory innervation, the cholinergic nerve-mediated contraction or the muscular response to the spasmogens, carbachol or histamine, in the guinea pig epithelium-free, isolated trachea. Methods: Male guinea pigs inhaled aerosols containing ammonium persulphate (10 mg/m3 for 30 min for 5 days during 3 weeks). Control animals inhaled saline aerosol. NANC relaxations to electrical field stimulation at 3 Hz were evaluated in whole tracheal segments as intraluminal pressure changes. Drugs inactivating peptide transmission, nitric oxide synthase, carbon monoxide production by haem oxygenase-2 and soluble guanylyl cyclase were used to assess the involvement of various inhibitory neurotransmitters. Carbachol and histamine cumulative concentration-response curves were obtained. Results: In both groups, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide participated to the same extent as inhibitory neurotransmitters. In exposed animals, the tracheal NANC relaxations were reduced to 45.9 ± 12.1% (p < 0.01). The cholinergic nerve-mediated contractions to electrical field stimulation and the muscular response to histamine were not modified by ammonium persulphate exposure. The muscular response to carbachol was unaffected up to 1 µM. Conversely, the response to the maximal concentration of carbachol (3 µM) was increased (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Ammonium persulphate inhalation at high concentrations impairs the nervous NANC inhibitory control in the guinea pig airways. This may represent a novel mechanism contributing to persulphate-induced asthma.


Study plans required to obtaining university degrees in Archival and Library Sciences in Costa Rica are analyzed with the purpose of identifying the educational framework around audiovisual documentation. To achieve this objective, study plans from the following schools have been analyzed: Faculty of Information Library Sciences of the Costa Rica University, Faculty of Library, Documentation and Information of the National University, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanity of the Universidad Estatal a Distancia, Faculty of Library of the University Autonoma of Centroamerica and the Faculty of History and Archival Sciences of the Costa Rica University. Additionally, a status analysis is developed by reviewing existing documentation on previous study plans research works and also about the important of audiovisual documentation.


Background Sustained or consistent use of condoms by men remains a challenge. A study was carried out to identify factors associated with failure to use condoms consistently by men attending STD clinics in Pune, India. Method Among 14137 STI clinic attendees, 8360 HIV sero-negative men were enrolled in a cohort study. The changes in condom usage behavior were studied among 1284 men who returned for first scheduled quarterly follow up, 309 reported consistent condom use at the time of enrollment in the cohort. Data pertaining to heterosexual men practicing high risk behavior were analyzed to identify factors associated with change in condom use behavior using logistic regression model. Demographic, behavioral and biological factors observed to be associated with condom use were fitted in five Cox proportional hazards models to calculate hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals to identify independent predictors of failure to sustain condom use behavior. Results The univariate analysis showed that men who were 30 years or older in age (p = 0.002) and those who did not have contact female sex worker (FSW) were more likely to fail to sustain consistent condom use. However both these factors did not show significant association in multivariable analysis. Marital status and contact with Hijra (eunuch) in lifetime were associated with failure to change in their condom use behavior [AOR 0.33 (CI 0.13–0.82; p = 0.017)]. During the follow up of 2 years, 61 events (15.5 per 100 person years, 95% CI 12.3–19.5 years) of 'failure of condom use' were recorded despite counseling. Older age, contact with non CSW partner and presence of genital ulcer disease / discharge syndrome were significant predictors of failure to sustain condom use. Discussion Married monogamous older men, who report contact with sex worker and present with genital ulcer disease are at risk of failure to use condom after first exposure to voluntary HIV counseling and testing. This is a scenario of primary prevention program. Condom promotion and counseling needs to be reinforced through follow up counseling among this population.


~ T M C ~ . R a p t o r diet is most commonly measured indirectly, by analyzing castings and prey remains, or directly, by observing prey deliveries from blinds. Indirect methods are not only time consuming, but there is evidence to suggest these methods may overestimate certain prey taxa within raptor diet. Remote video surveillance systems have been developed to aid in monitoring and data collection, but their use in field situations can be challrnging and is often untested. To investigate diet and prey delivery rates of Northern Goshawks (Arripitrrp~lili.~), we operated 10 remote camera systems at occupied nests during the breeding seasons of 1999 and 2000 in east-central Plrizona. IVc collected 24.58 hr of useable video and succcssf~~lly identified 627 (93%) prey items at least to Class (Aves, Mammalia, or Reptilia). Of prey items identified to genus, we identified 344 (81%) mammals, 62 (15%) birds, and 16 (4%) reptiles. During camera operation, we also conducted observations from blinds at a subset of five nests to compare the relative efficiency and precision of both methods. Limited observations from blinds yielded fewer prey deliveries, and therefore, lower delivery rates (0.16 items/hr) than simultaneous video footage (0.28 items/hr). Observations from blinds resulted in fewer prey identified to the genus and species levels, when compared to data collected by remote cameras. Cameras provided a detailed and close view of nests, allowed for simultaneous recording at multiple nests, decreased observer bias and fatigue, and provided a permanent archive of data.