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It has been 30 (!!) years since I began working on zebrafish pigment cells, as a postdoc in the laboratory of Prof. Christiane Nüsslein‐Volhard. There, I participated in the first large‐scale mutagenesis screen in zebrafish, focusing on pigment cell mutant phenotypes. The isolation of colourless, shady, parade and choker mutants allowed us (as a postdoc in Prof. Judith Eisen's laboratory, and then in my own laboratory at the University of Bath since 1997) to pursue my ambition to address long‐standing problems in the neural crest field. Thus, we have studied how neural crest cells choose individual fates, resulting in our recent proposal of a new, and potentially unifying, model which we call Cyclical Fate Restriction, as well as addressing how pigment cell patterns are generated. A key feature of our work in the last 10 years has been the use of mathematical modelling approaches to clarify our biological models and to refine our interpretations. None of this would have been possible without a hugely talented group of laboratory members and other collaborators from around the world—it has been, and I am sure will continue to be, a pleasure and privilege to work with you all! [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Recherches en Sciences de Gestion is the property of ISEOR and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Agricultural Outlook (1673-3908) is the property of Institute of Agricultural Information, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Seasonality classification is a well-known and important part of time series analysis. Understanding the seasonality of a biological event can contribute to an improved understanding of its causes and help guide appropriate responses. Observational data, however, are not comprised of biological events, but timestamped diagnosis codes the combination of which (along with additional requirements) are used as proxies for biological events. As there exist different methods for determining the seasonality of a time series, it is necessary to know if these methods exhibit concordance. In this study we seek to determine the concordance of these methods by applying them to time series derived from diagnosis codes in observational data residing in databases that vary in size, type, and provenance. Methods We compared 8 methods for determining the seasonality of a time series at three levels of significance (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1), against 10 observational health databases. We evaluated 61,467 time series at each level of significance, totaling 184,401 evaluations. Results Across all databases and levels of significance, concordance ranged from 20.2 to 40.2%. Across all databases and levels of significance, the proportion of time series classified seasonal ranged from 4.9 to 88.3%. For each database and level of significance, we computed the difference between the maximum and minimum proportion of time series classified seasonal by all methods. The median within-database difference was 54.8, 34.7, and 39.8%, for p

Background: Seasonality classification is a well-known and important part of time series analysis. Understanding the seasonality of a biological event can contribute to an improved understanding of its causes and help guide appropriate responses. Observational data, however, are not comprised of biological events, but timestamped diagnosis codes the combination of which (along with additional requirements) are used as proxies for biological events. As there exist different methods for determining the seasonality of a time series, it is necessary to know if these methods exhibit concordance. In this study we seek to determine the concordance of these methods by applying them to time series derived from diagnosis codes in observational data residing in databases that vary in size, type, and provenance.Methods: We compared 8 methods for determining the seasonality of a time series at three levels of significance (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1), against 10 observational health databases. We evaluated 61,467 time series at each level of significance, totaling 184,401 evaluations.Results: Across all databases and levels of significance, concordance ranged from 20.2 to 40.2%. Across all databases and levels of significance, the proportion of time series classified seasonal ranged from 4.9 to 88.3%. For each database and level of significance, we computed the difference between the maximum and minimum proportion of time series classified seasonal by all methods. The median within-database difference was 54.8, 34.7, and 39.8%, for p < 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1, respectively.Conclusion: Methods of binary seasonality classification when applied to time series derived from diagnosis codes in observational health data produce inconsistent results. The methods exhibit considerable discord within all databases, implying that the discord is a result of the difference between the methods themselves and not due to the choice of database. The results indicate that researchers relying on automated methods to assess the seasonality of time series derived from diagnosis codes in observational data should be aware that the methods are not interchangeable and thus the choice of method can affect the generalizability of their work. Seasonality determination is highly dependent on the method chosen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different mechanisms of glacial-interglacial cycles and of the current global warming are considered and discussed: Milankovitch astronomical cycles, self-organization processes in Earth's geospheres, variation of Solar activity, increased concentration of greenhouse gases. It is pointed out that the current global warming cycle has started, according to data presented in J.R. Petit, at al., (1999, 2001), thousands of years before the first machines, even very primitive, were made by people. It is pointed out also that release of CH4 gas into atmosphere is an irreversible, uncontrolled process triggered by global warming. It is hypothesized that the planetary overheated atmosphere is in a state similar to "boiling". This explains the increased number and severity of different natural catastrophes -- hurricanes, floods, droughts. It is also shown that in each cycle the cooling down of atmosphere follows the Newton's Law of cooling suggesting a clear conceptual view of the Physics of this process. Finally, a mechanism explaining sharp the rise of temperature of atmosphere at the end of each glacial period is suggested and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to develop models that can forecast traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities in developing countries. Consequently, this could set the first step in enhancing traffic safety measures as well as to help planning for the future. Moreover, results of this investigation may assist decision and law makers at transportation and traffic agencies to come up with resolutions for the increasing traffic crashes and consequently loss of lives, properties and the high cost involved. The forecasting models were developed using the well-known time series analysis. Each time series model was decomposed into its components (trend, cyclical, seasonal and irregular components). In conclusion, the forecasting by time series analysis explained a significant proportion of the variability in the dependent variables (accidents, injuries and fatalities) as shown by the relatively acceptable coefficients of determination (R²). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cortisol is involved in a broad range of physiological processes and enables animals to adapt to new situations and challenges. Diurnal fluctuations in circulating cortisol concentrations in elephants have been demonstrated based on samples from urine and saliva. The aims of this study were to demonstrate diurnal cortisol fluctuations based on blood samples and compare concentrations between seasons, species, and changes in reproductive hormone concentrations. Nine African (Loxodonta africana) and three Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants at two facilities in the United States were included in this study. Blood samples were collected every 2–3 h at one location and every 1–6 h at another. Peak serum concentrations of cortisol averaged 28 ng/ml for both African and Asian elephants, and diurnal cycles included a fivefold decrease from morning peak to evening nadir concentrations. Diurnal cortisol profiles varied uniquely among individual elephants. During the winter, nadir concentrations of cortisol were slightly higher, and the timing of peak concentrations was less predictable. There was no correlation between diurnal serum concentrations of progesterone and cortisol; however, a significant correlation (p =.02) was identified between serum concentrations of testosterone and cortisol when a time lag of ~2–3 h was considered. The physiological significance of the positive correlations between diurnal serum concentrations of cortisol and testosterone in male elephants remains to be determined. If cortisol concentrations are being used to evaluate elephant health or welfare, samples should be obtained at the same time each day to minimize variation due to diurnal fluctuations, and ideally seasonal variations and individuality in diurnal profiles should also be considered. Research Highlights: Diurnal serum cortisol profiles vary across individual elephants.Serum cortisol concentrations and diurnal profiles vary seasonally in African elephants.Diurnal peaks in serum testosterone concentrations in males lag cortisol peaks by 2–3 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandarin speakers, similar to speakers of most other languages around the world, tend to conceptualize time in terms of space. However, it has been supposed that Mandarin speakers conceptualize time along both horizontal and vertical axes (i.e., along two mental timelines). This is attributed to two main factors. The first is the availability of both horizontal and vertical spatiotemporal metaphors in their language (in contrast to most other languages which rely predominantly on horizontal metaphors), and the second is the switch from the traditional Chinese vertical (still used occasionally currently) to the Western horizontal writing direction. This paper focuses on the vertical axis, readdressing the issues concerning the use of vertical spatiotemporal metaphors and the representations of time underlying these linguistic devices. Although numerous studies have been conducted on the topic, they have provided investigations only associated with the top-to-bottom mental timeline (i.e., with the past on the top and the future on the bottom). This, however, is not sufficient for understanding how Chinese people conceptualize time in terms of vertical metaphors. This paper proposes an extended theoretical explanation of vertical spatiotemporal metaphors and highlights that there might be a cyclical concept of time underlying the use of these metaphors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through this article we wanted to conduct a research on the demographic component in the Romanian Carpathians by dividing the Carpathian Oicumenical into the Internal Carpathian Oicumena and External Carpathian Oicumena. We also wanted to identify cycles of demographic evolution and involutivity in the Romanian Carpathian space, and in parallel to identify several causes of different orgini that underwent the continuity and the demographic cyclical. The studied Period is 1930-2011, with statistical data taken from four censused: 1930, 1977, 1992 and 2011. Their processing was done using the Microsoft Excel 2013 program, calculating demographic increases. Then, the resulting increases served in the implementation of the database, and their processing was done through geographic information systems (ArcGis 10.3), making maps representative of the intended purpose. In 1930, the urban environment was little represented in the Romanian Carpathians, but after the establishment of socialism, the number of cities increased greatly. Instead, the rural environment began to be gradually disintegrated by the communist regime, with the population having to migrate to urban centres. On the whole, the population of the Romanian Carpathians rose from 1930 to 1977 and 1992, with the beginning of the demographic decline, with the establishment of capitalism. In the period 1977-1992, the Carpathian population increased by 5%, and from 1992 to 2011, decreased by 16%.

A Drift-Free 3D Orientation and Displacement estimation method (DFOD) based on a single inertial measurement unit (IMU) is proposed and validated. Typically, body segment orientation and displacement methods rely on a constant- or zero-velocity point to correct for drift. Therefore, they are not easily applicable to more proximal segments than the foot. DFOD uses an alternative single sensor drift reduction strategy based on the quasi-cyclical nature of many human movements. DFOD assumes that the quasi-cyclical movement occurs in a quasi-2D plane and with an approximately constant cycle average velocity. DFOD is independent of a constant- or zero-velocity point, a biomechanical model, Kalman filtering or a magnetometer. DFOD reduces orientation drift by assuming a cyclical movement, and by defining a functional coordinate system with two functional axes. These axes are based on the mean acceleration and rotation axes over multiple complete gait cycles. Using this drift-free orientation estimate, the displacement of the sensor is computed by again assuming a cyclical movement. Drift in displacement is reduced by subtracting the mean value over five gait cycle from the free acceleration, velocity, and displacement. Estimated 3D sensor orientation and displacement for an IMU on the lower leg were validated with an optical motion capture system (OMCS) in four runners during constant velocity treadmill running. Root mean square errors for sensor orientation differences between DFOD and OMCS were 3.1 ± 0.4° (sagittal plane), 5.3 ± 1.1° (frontal plane), and 5.0 ± 2.1° (transversal plane). Sensor displacement differences had a root mean square error of 1.6 ± 0.2 cm (forward axis), 1.7 ± 0.6 cm (mediolateral axis), and 1.6 ± 0.2 cm (vertical axis). Hence, DFOD is a promising 3D drift-free orientation and displacement estimation method based on a single IMU in quasi-cyclical movements with many advantages over current methods.

In the last issue of 2015, the editorial was titled “Winter is coming: The dawn of Innovation?“ As almost 2 years have gone by, this topic was revisited. So why not wonder how innovation was going around this same time of the year? In trying to answer this question, a visit to Google© Trends revealed an interesting and possibly unexpected chart that is illustrated in figure 1. (...)

Introduction: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) can be characterized by recurrent paroxysmal episodes of intractable nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and compulsive hot showers/baths with symptom relief, on the background of chronic cannabis use. We reported the use of droperidol in the management of CHS. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of electronic medical records of Emergency Department presentations to a single tertiary level metropolitan hospital between January 2006 and December 2016 using search keywords: "cannabis", "cannabinoid", "cannabis", "hyperemesis", and "droperidol". A secondary search of pharmacy droperidol dispensing records was cross matched with electronic medical record data. We reviewed each record to determine if the presentation met previously published diagnostic criteria for CHS. Data were dichotomised into presentations with droperidol administered or not administered. The primary outcome was defined as the total length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes measures included time until discharge following last drug administration, and the total number of antiemetic dosages administered. Results: Six-hundred and eighty-nine records were identified and 76 met CHS diagnostic criteria. Thirty-seven presentations were treated with droperidol and 39 were not. Droperidol treatment group median length of stay was significantly lower compared to the no droperidol treatment group (6.7 vs. 13.9 hours, p =.014). Median time to discharge after final drug administration in the droperidol treatment group was 137 minutes (IQR 65, 203) vs. the no droperidol treatment group of 185 minutes (IQR 149, 403). The most frequent dosage of droperidol used was 0.625mg intravenously. The frequency of ondansetron (n = 100) and metoclopramide (n = 27) in the no droperidol treatment group was double that of the droperidol group. Conclusions: Use of droperidol to treat CHS associated nausea and vomiting resulted in less overall use of antiemetics and reduced length of stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the recent outcomes of management of mastalgia treated by Danazol and Evening Primerose oil. Study design: Descriptive observational study Study sett ing: Department of Surgery, Hamdard University Hospital Duration: For a period of 12 months: from December 2016 to December 2017. Material and Methods: The candidates were selected on basis of double blinded, consecutive sampling. Females with complains of Mastalgia, coinciding with our inclusion criteria were administered danazol, evening primerose oil in divided doses for a period of 6 weeks and they were assessed for pain alleviation by the Cardiff Breast Pain score. Results: In our study the results showed Danazol to be significantly effective in the management of Mastalgia as compared to the efficacy of evening primrose oil. In Group-A, the average Cardiff breast pain score of those candidates receiving Danazol at 4 weeks was 2.19 and at 12 weeks was 1.23, which signifies the efficacy of the drug in relieving pain. The Mean Cardiff breast pain score of group-B at 4 weeks was 2.77 and at 12 weeks was 2.03 reinforcing its use not strongly beneficial for patients in mastalgia. Conclusion: We concluded that although with mild, tolerable and reversible adverse effects Danazol has a promising role in management of cyclical in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through this article we wanted to conduct a research on the demographic component in the Romanian Carpathians by dividing the Carpathian Oicumenical into the Internal Carpathian Oicumena and External Carpathian Oicumena. We also wanted to identify cycles of demographic evolution and involutivity in the Romanian Carpathian space, and in parallel to identify several causes of different orgini that underwent the continuity and the demographic cyclical. The studied Period is 1930-2011, with statistical data taken from four censused: 1930, 1977, 1992 and 2011. Their processing was done using the Microsoft Excel 2013 program, calculating demographic increases. Then, the resulting increases served in the implementation of the database, and their processing was done through geographic information systems (ArcGis 10.3), making maps representative of the intended purpose. In 1930, the urban environment was little represented in the Romanian Carpathians, but after the establishment of socialism, the number of cities increased greatly. Instead, the rural environment began to be gradually disintegrated by the communist regime, with the population having to migrate to urban centres. On the whole, the population of the Romanian Carpathians rose from 1930 to 1977 and 1992, with the beginning of the demographic decline, with the establishment of capitalism. In the period 1977-1992, the Carpathian population increased by 5%, and from 1992 to 2011, decreased by 16%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK has had a long-standing regional house price gap with prices in London much higher than the rest of the UK. Using price data from 1969 to 2016 we track price differentials through several cycles of boom and bust, and note the growing divergence of London, particularly central London, from the rest of Britain. In explaining this divergence, we highlight the growing importance of international investment since the global financial crisis. We conclude that, although 'Brexit' may have brought the latest long London boom to a close, there is nothing to suggest that the regional house price gap will close. Given the ongoing importance of global financial inflows to major world cities, this has significant implications for how governments approach affordability and housing policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mastalgia was the most common symptom in patients attending a breast clinic. The two most common types of mastalgia were (cyclical and non-cyclical). The common cause of cyclical was Physiological changes due to premenstrual tension syndrome fibrocystic changes or fibroadenosis and (Aberrations in the Normal Development and Involution of the breast ). Non-cyclical diseases are mainly benign rather than malignant. Solid masses (fibroadenomas), cysts, infections, abscesses, trauma, and nipple discharge (hormones) are rare diseases associated with breast cancer. The aim of this study is to study the incidence of mastalgia, types (cyclical and non-cyclical) and pathological types of mastalgia (benign and malignant pathologies)., Material and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of mastalgia was carried out at the Breast Center Department of Maternity Teaching Hospital located in Erbil, from January 2014 to September 2015. A total of 150 breast pain cases (available clinical data) were studied in detail., Results: There are two types of mastalgia based on triple assessments, these are as follows, cyclical 90 cases (60%) and non-cyclical 60 cases (40%). Fibrocystic breast changes or fibroadenosis 35 cases (23.3%) and thirdly nipple discharges as part of fibrocystic (fibroadenosis) five cases (3.3%). Non-cyclical mastalgia was subdivided into benign breast pathologies, fibroadenoma 30 cases (20%), breast cyst 10 cases (6.7%), nipple discharge (hormonal) five cases (3.3%), mastitis three cases (2%) abscess two cases (1.3%), fat necrosis one case (0.7%), and malignant breast pathologies, cancer three cases (2%). Clinicopathological correlations in the current study were highly significant ( P <0.005)., Conclusion: Not all discomfort or pain can be diagnosed as mastalgia; occasionally, chest wall, referral pain, and systemic causes can mimic mastalgia. These results highlight the importance of differentiating between cyclical and non-cyclical mastalgia using clinical assessment, sonography, mammography, and blood investigations. Most mastalgia cases are benign, with cyclical mastalgia primarily related to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis mammarenavirus (LCMV) is an enveloped, negative-strand RNA virus that causes serious disease in humans but establishes an asymptomatic, lifelong infection in reservoir rodents. Different models have been proposed to describe how arenaviruses regulate the replication and transcription of their bisegmented, single-stranded RNA genomes, particularly during persistent infection. However, these models were based largely on viral RNA profiling data derived from entire populations of cells. To better understand LCMV replication and transcription at the single-cell level, we established a high-throughput, single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) image acquisition and analysis pipeline and examined viral RNA species at discrete time points from virus entry through the late stages of persistent infection in vitro. We observed the transcription of viral nucleoprotein and polymerase mRNAs from the incoming S and L segment genomic RNAs, respectively, within 1 h of infection, whereas the transcription of glycoprotein mRNA from the S segment antigenome required ~4 to 6 h. This confirms the temporal separation of viral gene expression expected due to the ambisense coding strategy of arenaviruses and also suggests that antigenomic RNA contained in virions is not transcriptionally active upon entry. Viral replication and transcription peaked at 36 h postinfection, followed by a progressive loss of viral RNAs over the next several days. During persistence, the majority of cells showed repeating cyclical waves of viral transcription and replication followed by the clearance of viral RNA. Thus, our data support a model of LCMV persistence whereby infected cells can spontaneously clear infection and become reinfected by viral reservoir cells that remain in the population. IMPORTANCE Arenaviruses are human pathogens that can establish asymptomatic, lifelong infections in their rodent reservoirs. Several models have been proposed to explain how arenavirus spread is restricted within host rodents, including the periodic accumulation and loss of replication-competent, but transcriptionally incompetent, viral genomes. A limitation of previous studies was the inability to enumerate viral RNA species at the single-cell level. We developed a high-throughput, smFISH assay and used it to quantitate lymphocytic choriomeningitis mammarenavirus (LCMV) replicative and transcriptional RNA species in individual cells at distinct time points following infection. Our findings support a model whereby productively infected cells can clear infection, including viral RNAs and antigen, and later be reinfected. This information improves our understanding of the timing and possible reg- ulation of LCMV genome replication and transcription during infection. Importantly, the smFISH assay and data analysis pipeline developed here is easily adaptable to other RNA viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Zealand has one of the highest (per capita) incidences of human leptospirosis in the world. It is the highest occurring occupational disease in New Zealand, often transmitted from livestock such as deer, sheep and cattle to humans. A cyclical model, showing the dynamics of infection of leptospirosis in farmed livestock in New Zealand, is presented. The limit cycle, bifurcation diagram and quasi- R 0 value of the system are determined. Leptospire death rate is used as a control parameter. Previously published parameter values are used in a case study to produce figures demonstrating analytical results. The model is used to predict conditions under which the infection will persist in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (AIPD) is a rare autoimmune response to endogenous progesterone, characterized by cyclic cutaneous and mucosal lesions at the end of the luteal phase with varied type of skin lesions include urticaria, angioedema, erythema multiforme, eczema, folliculitis, papulovesicular eruptions, fixed drug eruption, purpura, or vulvovaginal pruritus and anaphylaxis. We report a case of AIPD presenting as acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). She had papulovesicular lesions with sheet of pustules that appeared in relation with menstrual cycle. Progesterone intradermal test was positive. She was treated successfully with combination oral pills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the issue of time perception by an economic person as an independent direction in the field of its study. The urgency of addressing this topic is conditioned, on the one hand, by the lack of its systemic coverage in literature about an economic man, and on the other hand, by the fact that the perception of time by an economic person not only develops the principles of his activity, but also influences the nature of their changes. Our study is built in accordance with the systemic, comparativehistorical and dialectical method, the principle of historical and logical element unity. It is substantiated that an economic man could not appear in antiquity due to the lack of favorable conditions for his appearance, which will take shape only during the late Middle Ages and will be associated with the development of human existence secular vector. The contours of a bourgeois existence in the modern conditions of a postmodern situation are outlined. The mechanism of the bourgeois activity subordination is revealed to both linear and scattered-situational ways of time perception. The role of bourgeois activity is highlighted separately (through the transformation of the principle of uncertainty into the norm of life) in the change of the linear time model by its scattered-situational interpretation. The study concludes that A) The dialectical nature of the influence on each other concerning the way of time and bourgeois activity perception. B) The scattered-situational model of time does not mean an end, but a new stage in the history of bourgeois, whose characteristics are the following ones: the combination of features characteristic of both of modernity epoch and the epoch preceding modernity; the transformation of the market from the method of a person's personality oppression into the instrument of his self-creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines various aspects of crisis management, its causes, and the consequences of crises on the activities of an enterprise in the modern industrial enterprises management. Provided information is about general and specific aspects, as well as external and internal factors of the enterprise production activity development. Analyzed reasons for the emergence of crisis in modern industrial enterprises, as well as the trends of cyclical development in the enterprise. Studied the stages of effective business management and analyzed the emerging difficulties with changes in the market. The correct determination of the changes of process direction with the probability of periodic crises in the development of the enterprise. Also underlined the guidelines for management of crisis situations in a modern enterprise, the necessity and importance of their compliance and application in the management process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stratigraphical time, temporality and change have frequently been studied and theorized through dichotomy, that is two opposed, "either/or" views. Linear versus cyclical and the principles of uniformitarianism versus catastrophism are classic examples. This paper aims to look beyond these simple tensions. It utilizes sequence stratigraphy as a lens to re-view established dichotomies and to explore the potential for a more paradoxical "both/and" interpretation. The main finding is that the two opposed linear versus cyclical views can be reconceived as one synthesized sinusoidal view; other dichotomies are re-viewed which allow for spatiotemporal explanation and prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Engineering Geology / Gongcheng Dizhi Xuebao is the property of Journal of Engineering Geology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article is written in four parts. First, macrohistory as it relates to the study of the future is defined. Second, the role of macrohistory, or the timing of the future, is located in the “six pillars” approach to futures studies. Third, case studies of macrohistory as practice are presented. Finally, the article concludes with insights from the practice of using timing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fibroadenosis and mastalgia are common among the women in reproductive age group. Treatment for these conditions is not yet standardised. Most of the drugs used for fibroadenosis and mastalgia are expensive and have side effects. Aim: To find out the efficacy of centchroman, a Selective Estrogens Receptor Modulator (SERM) on regression of fibroadenosis and mastalgia. Materials and Methods: Fifty one patients with mastalgia/ fibroadenosis were treated with centchroman 30mg once daily on alternate days for a period of 3 months and followed up weekly for six months with Mastalgia chart and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score. Results: Before starting treatment, four patients presented with pain score of 6 followed by, 37 patients with a score of 4 and 10 patients with a score of 2. All the patients were started on tab centchroman 30mg OD alternate days and were reviewed on weekly basis with Mastalgia chart and VAS pain score for three months. On fifth and sixth visit, 46 patients reported with pain score 0, one with pain score of 2 and four with pain score of 6. The efficacy of centchroman was found to be significant (p-value = 0.001). Three patients (5.9%) reported epigastric pain and ten patients (19.6%) reported menstrual delay. A total of 38 patients did not complain of any side effect. Conclusion: Our study proves that centchroman is a safe and cost effective drug with significant efficacy on regression of fibroadenosis and mastalgia with minimal side effect.

Introduction: Fibroadenosis and mastalgia are common among the women in reproductive age group. Treatment for these conditions is not yet standardised. Most of the drugs used for fibroadenosis and mastalgia are expensive and have side effects. Aim: To find out the efficacy of centchroman, a Selective Estrogens Receptor Modulator (SERM) on regression of fibroadenosis and mastalgia. Materials and Methods: Fifty one patients with mastalgia/ fibroadenosis were treated with centchroman 30mg once daily on alternate days for a period of 3 months and followed up weekly for six months with Mastalgia chart and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score. Results: Before starting treatment, four patients presented with pain score of 6 followed by, 37 patients with a score of 4 and 10 patients with a score of 2. All the patients were started on tab centchroman 30mg OD alternate days and were reviewed on weekly basis with Mastalgia chart and VAS pain score for three months. On fifth and sixth visit, 46 patients reported with pain score 0, one with pain score of 2 and four with pain score of 6. The efficacy of centchroman was found to be significant (p-value = 0.001). Three patients (5.9%) reported epigastric pain and ten patients (19.6%) reported menstrual delay. A total of 38 patients did not complain of any side effect. Conclusion: Our study proves that centchroman is a safe and cost effective drug with significant efficacy on regression of fibroadenosis and mastalgia with minimal side effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There was an increasing trend in the prices of chillies in the selected market and was found to be statistically significant at 5 per cent level of significance. The seasonal index was maximum in December with 108.52, while in November it was with 104.60 and the price indices ranged from 92.52 to 102.94. Only one cycle was observed which had lasted for four years. That chilli prices were subjected to high irregular variations during the period of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen adsorption in porous nanostructured polyaniline (PANI) has been investigated to determine its potential as a hydrogen storage media. Residual gas analysis and thermogravimetric analysis were used to investigate the cyclical hydrogen adsorption in PANI. A hydrogen storage capacity of up to 3 wt % was obtained by charging the polymers at up to 3.0 × 106 Pa hydrogen at elevated temperature. Multiple charge and discharge cycles have been shown, with good retention beyond 106 sec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Bulletin of Polissia is the property of Chernihiv State Institute of Economics & Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Action research is an attempt to seek immediate solutions to the problems experienced in educational settings. In this type of research, teachers are the researchers who intend to make instant reforms to develop, and improve their teaching styles and reflect on pedagogical practices. The purpose of this study was to conduct an action research to tackle the problem of students' low motivation in English classes at the medical school of Iran University of Medical Sciences in fall 2010. Participants of this study were 98 third-semester ESP students of medicine. To reform the situation and promote students' motivation to participate in classes more actively and eagerly, the researchers changed the syllabus by applying Kemmis and McTaggart's (1988) cyclical model of action research, and adopting task-based teaching. Data was collected by means of interviews with both teachers and students to determine the changes to be made in the syllabus, classroom observations to monitor students' behavioral changes, and a questionnaire to assess students' attitudes towards the changes. This research study had a number of valuable outcomes the most important of which was a change in classroom behavior of the students.

The work represents a re-examination of the development of the Italian economy over the 20 year period from 1951 to 1971. The author first addresses cyclical versus structural interpretations. Analysis of the three main phases of the economy’s development since World War II is then provided. The first phase is 1951-58, when development factors were largely of domestic origin. The second phase is 1959-63, the years characterised by rapid integration and growth. The third phase is 1964-71, the years of the “rationalisation” of production, as well as when growth seemed less certain and more blatantly contradictory. Looking at the entire period under consideration, one may find a unifying factor in the absence of a policy constantly aimed at managing the development process. JEL: O11, N14, E32

Summary Integrated management of surface water and groundwater can provide efficient and flexible use of water by making the best use of the properties of different types of water resources. Integrated cyclical water management can help adaptation to climate variation and uncertainty by varying the proportion of surface water and groundwater allocations over time in response to changing water availability. Water use entitlements and rules specify conditions for the use, storage and exchange of surface water and groundwater. These entitlements and rules provide certainty for water users, investors and managers. Entitlements and rules also need to be flexible to enable users and managers to respond to changing water availability and knowledge. Arrangements to provide certainty and flexibility can conflict. For example guarantees of specific long-term allocations of water, or shares of allocations can conflict with arrangements to bank water underground during wet periods and then to use an increased amount of groundwater in dry periods. Systems of water entitlements and rules need to achieve a balance between certainty and flexibility. This article explores the effect of water entitlements and rules, and arrangements to provide certainty and flexibility for the integration of surface water and groundwater management over time. The analysis draws on case studies from the Namoi River basin in New South Wales and the South Platte River basin in Colorado. Integrated cyclical water management requires a comprehensive, flexible and balanced system of water entitlements and rules that allow extended water carryover, water banking, aquifer storage and recovery over the wet and dry climate cycle. Opportunities for extended carryover and aquifer storage and recovery over the wet and dry climate cycle merit further consideration in New South Wales, Colorado and other jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Comrades Marathon is a dominating event on the annual sport calendar in South Africa. The race challenges its participants in terms of a combination of constraints, such as the spatial, physical, temporal and the psychological. An auto-ethnographical research methodology is applied in combination with literature on ritual and sports, such as distance running, karate, the Olympic Games and triathlon. It is argued that the historical Comrades event is rife with elements of a ritual nature and ritual engagement. Throughout the race, participants in the world's greatest ultra-distance race experience notions of isolation and liminality, emotional and psychological instability, inscription and mental growth, a sense of profound camaraderie, symbolic awareness and the euphoria of the final reward. It is argued that these notions are typical of ritual action and that the Comrades race acts as a vehicle for such ritual transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Drift-Free 3D Orientation and Displacement estimation method (DFOD) based on a single inertial measurement unit (IMU) is proposed and validated. Typically, body segment orientation and displacement methods rely on a constant- or zero-velocity point to correct for drift. Therefore, they are not easily applicable to more proximal segments than the foot. DFOD uses an alternative single sensor drift reduction strategy based on the quasi-cyclical nature of many human movements. DFOD assumes that the quasi-cyclical movement occurs in a quasi-2D plane and with an approximately constant cycle average velocity. DFOD is independent of a constant- or zero-velocity point, a biomechanical model, Kalman filtering or a magnetometer. DFOD reduces orientation drift by assuming a cyclical movement, and by defining a functional coordinate system with two functional axes. These axes are based on the mean acceleration and rotation axes over multiple complete gait cycles. Using this drift-free orientation estimate, the displacement of the sensor is computed by again assuming a cyclical movement. Drift in displacement is reduced by subtracting the mean value over five gait cycle from the free acceleration, velocity, and displacement. Estimated 3D sensor orientation and displacement for an IMU on the lower leg were validated with an optical motion capture system (OMCS) in four runners during constant velocity treadmill running. Root mean square errors for sensor orientation differences between DFOD and OMCS were 3.1 ± 0.4° (sagittal plane), 5.3 ± 1.1° (frontal plane), and 5.0 ± 2.1° (transversal plane). Sensor displacement differences had a root mean square error of 1.6 ± 0.2 cm (forward axis), 1.7 ± 0.6 cm (mediolateral axis), and 1.6 ± 0.2 cm (vertical axis). Hence, DFOD is a promising 3D drift-free orientation and displacement estimation method based on a single IMU in quasi-cyclical movements with many advantages over current methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes dynamic interactions among macroeconomic variables and the stock markets of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China by incorporating the long-term and short-term comovements, which can shed some light on the long-term and short-term market efficiency/inefficiency in the region. The number of common cycles is investigated in these markets and each stock index series is decomposed into its trend and cyclical components. The authors observe that foreign stock markets have greater influence on the domestic market than domestic macroeconomic variables do. This implies that policymakers need to consider not only macroeconomic variables but also the effects of markets on one another when markets are integrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I suggest that early rationales for music education and recent philosophies of music education comprise a cyclical pattern within the history of music education of the United States. This claim is supported by an overarching theme detected within extant literature, wherein the value of music education lies in music. I find that early advocates for music education promoted the value in music using the contexts of morality, emotion, usefulness, and social reform. I discover that prominent aesthetic and praxial philosophers believed in similar justifications, citing the value in music within the contexts of expression, worth, practicality, and community. While early rationales and recent philosophies are nominally distinctive, their core beliefs, as they pertain to the value of music education as found in music, are analogous, and subsequently cyclical in nature. I note that recent scholarship acknowledges the value of music education in terms of what it is good for, as well as how it is associated with a democratic classroom. I suggest that this particular literature demonstrates a break in the cycle, and offers music educators the opportunity to critique past philosophies for the sake of rationalizing music in classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a fact that terrorist organizations come and go. This empirical fact tends to draw attention to the demise of the terrorist organization and distracts from the dynamics of the terrorist organization's life cycle. In this respect, the extant literature suffers from a serious weakness that is symptomatic of the absence from the literature of a rigorous theoretical explanation for the life cycle of terrorist organizations. This paper aims to address this by developing a theoretical explanation for the life cycle of terrorist organizations that is centered on competition for grassroots or popular support between the terrorist organization and the government. The decline and demise of a particular terrorist organization is not certain ex ante and a terrorist organization may be expected to be most dangerous not in its death throes, but during its early years as it competes with the government for grassroots support. These appear to be different conclusions to those that characterise some parts of the literature on this subject. The theoretical explanation developed herein also predicts a cyclical oscillation of conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]