This paper presents a two-part study with walking conditions involving music and television (TV) to investigate their effects on human gait. In the first part, we observed seventeen able-bodied adults as they participated in three 15-minute walking trials: 1. without music, 2. with music and 3. without music again. In the second part, we observed fifteen able-bodied adults as they walked on a treadmill for fifteen minutes while watching 1. TV with sound 2. TV without sound and 3. TV with subtitles but no sound. Gait timing was recorded via bilateral heel sensors and center-of-mass accelerations were measured by tri-axial accelerometers. Measures of statistical persistence, dynamic stability and gait variability were calculated. Our results showed that none of the considered gait measures were statistically different when comparing music with no-music trials. Therefore, walking to music did not appear to affect intrinsic walking dynamics in the able-bodied adult population. However, stride interval variability and stride interval dynamics were significantly greater in the TV with sound walking condition when compared to the TV with subtitles condition. Treadmill walking while watching TV with subtitles alters intinsic gait dynamics but potentially offers greater gait stability.

Abstract. This paper introduces the aims and early activities of Colour and Space in Cultural Heritage (COSCH), an interdisciplinary European network of experts in the latest optical measuring techniques and electronic imaging applied to documentation of artefacts. COSCH is a forum open to organisations, institutions and companies interested in collaboration within the emerging field of precise spectral and spatial imaging techniques, in physical and chemical sciences applied to cultural heritage objects, as well as in research and applications to conservation and art-historical analysis of such objects. COSCH started in November 2012. Funded by COST, an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology, COSCH networking activities enable knowledge exchange and coordination of nationally-funded research on a European level with occasional contribution of experts from other countries. Funding has been made available for four years (2012–2016). Participation is open to researchers across a wide range of disciplines, including computer scientists and museum professionals, art historians and academics in heritage-related fields. COSCH is a trans-domain Action (TD1201) of the COST Domain Materials, Physics and Nanosciences (MPNS) which facilitates and promotes innovation in material science. The work of COSCH is defined in the Memorandum of Understanding between the COST Office and the Chairman of COSCH. The Memorandum is available from http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/mpns/Actions/TD1201 alongside the latest progress report and other documents. The scientific work draws on earlier and current research of the participants and is organised around the following areas: spectral and spatial object documentation; algorithms and procedures; analysis and restoration of surfaces and objects of material culture; visualisation of cultural heritage objects and its dissemination. Up-to-date information about COSCH activities, including its scientific and training programmes, abstracts of presentations and a list of participants, can all be found on the Action website at http://www.cosch.info.

A candidate identification questionnaire (CIQ) was tested to determine its predictive value for patient-reported satisfaction in patients switched from once-weekly or once-daily treatment with a bisphosphonate to once-monthly dosing. This was a prospective, open-label, multicenter international study in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis who had been receiving once-daily or once-weekly alendronate or risendronate for at least 3 months. Patients completed a CIQ, then commenced 150 mg monthly ibandronate for 6 months. Patients completed the Osteoporosis Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (OPSAT-QTM) at baseline for 6 months. Scores were converted to composite satisfaction scores (CSS, scale 0-100). Totally 677 patients completed a CIQ, 645 were enrolled in the treatment phase and comprised the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, and 630 completed the study. In the ITT population, 68.1% patients answered “yes” to one or more CIQ questions. OPSAT-Q scores increased for the convenience, quality of life and overall satisfaction domains (p scores for the side effects domains were significant (p preferred the once-monthly dosing schedule and 563 patients (90.7%) found it more convenient. The most common adverse events were dyspepsia (1.9%), nausea (1.1%), and upper abdominal pain (0.9%). Patients are likely to prefer treatment with monthly ibandronate to a weekly or monthly bisphosphonate irrespective of their stated preference before switching treatment.

We present a new approach to quantifying pole parameters of single-channel processes based on a Laurent expansion of partial-wave T-matrices in the vicinity of the real axis. Instead of using the conventional power-series description of the non-singular part of the Laurent expansion, we represent this part by a convergent series of Pietarinen functions. As the analytic structure of the non-singular part is usually very well known (physical cuts with branch points at inelastic thresholds, and unphysical cuts in the negative energy plane), we find that one Pietarinen series per cut represents the analytic structure fairly reliably. The number of terms in each Pietarinen series is determined by the quality of the fit. The method is tested in two ways: on a toy model constructed from two known poles, various background terms, and two physical cuts, and on several ∞

The division of responsibilities in complex states is a difficult issue. Of how these divisions depend on the organization of state administration at all levels of government. As Bosnia and Herzegovina is a complex state and thus its administration is very complex and diversified. Hence, Bosnia and Herzegovina has a large number of government agencies and organizations at all levels of government. Between these agencies and organizations, there is a relationship of cooperation and relations of mutual rights and obligations. Therefore, there is no hierarchical relationship except in the civil administration of the Republic of Srpska. The paper analyzes the status of state administration at all levels of government with regard to key administrative institutions.