The recognition of patterns and structures has gained importance for dealing with the growing amount of data being generated by sensors and simulations. Most existing methods for pattern recognition are tailored for scalar data and non-correlated data of higher dimensions. The recognition of general patterns in flow structures is possible, but not yet practically usable, due to the high computation effort. The main goal of this work is to present methods for comparative visualization of flow data, amongst others, based on a new method for efficient pattern recognition on flow data. This work is structured in three parts: At first, a known feature-based approach for pattern recognition on flow data, the Clifford convolution, has been applied to color edge detection, and been extended to non-uniform grids. However, this method is still computationally expensive for a general pattern recognition, since the recognition algorithm has to be applied for numerous different scales and orientations of the query pattern. A more efficient and accurate method for pattern recognition on flow data is presented in the second part. It is based upon a novel mathematical formulation of moment invariants for flow data. The common moment invariants for pattern recognition are not applicable on flow data, since they are only invariant on non-correlated data. Because of the spatial correlation of flow data, the moment invariants had to be redefined with different basis functions to satisfy the demands for an invariant mapping of flow data. The computation of the moment invariants is done by a multi-scale convolution of the complete flow field with the basis functions. This pre-processing computation time almost equals the time for the pattern recognition of one single general pattern with the former algorithms. However, after having computed the moments once, they can be indexed and used as a look-up-table to recognize any desired pattern quickly and interactively. This results in a flexible and easy-to-use tool for the analysis of patterns in 2d flow data. For an improved rendering of the recognized features, an importance driven streamline algorithm has been developed. The density of the streamlines can be adjusted by using importance maps. The result of a pattern recognition can be used as such a map, for example. Finally, new comparative flow visualization approaches utilizing the streamline approach, the flow pattern matching, and the moment invariants are presented.


The 2010 earthquake in Haiti has exposed the extreme vulnerability of a people living in a country where the state and the economy simultaneously fail to deliver. Haiti's neighbor, the Dominican Republic, has witnessed several phases of strong economic growth since the 1870s and an encouraging transition towards democratic rule in the late 20th century. How could this Caribbean island drift apart so profoundly? Capitalizing on decades of seminal scholarship in the neo-institutional tradition North, Wallis and Weingast (2009) have developed a new conceptual framework to explain different performance characteristics of societies through time. In this study we put the latest vintage of institutional theory to the test by taking it to the case of Hispaniola. We conclude that it captures the differing internal logic of the political economy in both countries quite well, but that it is of little use to understand the effect of external (international) relations on long term development.


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Through a discussion of power dynamics with a critical eye towards the political situation of influential Christian leaders including Constantine, Damasus, Ambrose, and Augustine, Death's Dominion demonstrates the ways in which these individuals sought to craft Christian identity and cultural memory around the martyr shrine. Other recent scholarship on the martyr cult has conflated issues of the early fifth century with those from the early fourth, with little discussion of the development of the martyr cult during the intervening decades. Death's Dominion corrects that omission by presenting a diachronic focus on the development of the martyr cult in the pivotal fourth century. During this period the martyr cult was repeatedly a decisive tool for the augmentation and solidification of civil and religious authority. Late in the fourth century pilgrimage created a network within Christianity which ultimately led to a catholic Christian understanding of the martyrs' graves by broadening the appeal of regional practices to disparate audiences. This simultaneously reinforced and subverted the desired message of those who sought to craft the meaning associated with the martyrs' remains. Pilgrims helped manufacture a homogenized understanding of the martyr cult ultimately enabling it to become one of the most identifiable features of Christianity in subsequent centuries.


In the void left by the declining popularity of public-private partnerships, the concept of 'water operator partnerships' (WOPs) has increasingly been promoted as an alternative for improving water services provision in developing countries. This paper assesses the potential of such partnerships as a 'model' for contributing to the MDGs, by focusing on 4 water utilities in Mozambique. Although, the study found these partnerships to be successful, it is more sceptical about the potential for this type of water operator partnership to significantly contribute towards achieving the MDGs. The main reason for this is that the replicability of the partnership-model studied in Mozambique was found to be quite limited. The case presented in this article highlights 3 main lessons for water operator partnerships in the water services sector. First, the availability of investment funds is a crucial component of a partnership. Without access to such funds the impact of such a partnership is likely to be limited. Secondly, the level of commitment to the partnership needs to be high if it is to be successful. This commitment is likely to take shape in the form of both financial commitment as well as commitment of time and effort of the organisations involved. Thirdly, even if the partnership is a success, the question of how sustainable the achieved performance gains are remains a point of concern. All in all, although we acknowledge the success achieved by the studied partnership, the findings have made us hesitant about the potential for replicating this 'model' at a large scale. Keywords: partnerships, Millennium Development Goals, water supply, Mozambique


This article is a comprehensive look at the story of school desegregation in the Memphis City Schools. Beginning with the Brown v. Board of Education decision that ended segregation in schooling, the article traces the steps taken in Memphis to put the Brown decision into practice. Following a period of inaction and delay, the Memphis City Schools experienced a relatively peaceful transition as token desegregation took place in the early part of the 1960s. However, after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in Memphis in 1968, the community's polarization was globally exposed and further progress on school desegregation was limited. After federal courts ordered busing to implement the Brown mandate, a quarter of the district's white students departed for the nearby Shelby County Schools or for a growing, and uniquely successful, system of private schools. Since the busing order, the white population in the Memphis City Schools has steadily declined so that by the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision, a district that had been 58% white and 42% black in 1954 was 86% black and 9% white in 2004. Using the Northcross v. Board of Education of the Memphis City Schools litigation as a guide, this article traces that history, putting Memphis in the context of the larger desegregation story.


Oxide electronic materials provide a plethora of possible applications and offer ample opportunity for scientists to probe into some of the exciting and intriguing phenomena exhibited by oxide systems and oxide interfaces. In addition to the already diverse spectrum of properties, the nanoscale form of oxides provides a new dimension of hitherto unknown phenomena due to the increased surface-to-volume ratio. Oxide electronic materials are becoming increasingly important in a wide range of applications including transparent electronics, optoelectronics, magnetoelectronics, photonics, spintronics, thermoelectrics, piezoelectrics, power harvesting, hydrogen storage and environmental waste management. Synthesis and fabrication of these materials, as well as processing into particular device structures to suit a specific application is still a challenge. Further, characterization of these materials to understand the tunability of their properties and the novel properties that evolve due to their nanostructured nature is another facet of the challenge. The research related to the oxide electronic field is at an impressionable stage, and this has motivated us to contribute with a roadmap on 'oxide electronic materials and oxide interfaces'. This roadmap envisages the potential applications of oxide materials in cutting edge technologies and focuses on the necessary advances required to implement these materials, including both conventional and novel techniques for the synthesis, characterization, processing and fabrication of nanostructured oxides and oxide-based devices. The contents of this roadmap will highlight the functional and correlated properties of oxides in bulk, nano, thin film, multilayer and heterostructure forms, as well as the theoretical considerations behind both present and future applications in many technologically important areas as pointed out by Venkatesan. The contributions in this roadmap span several thematic groups which are represented by the following authors: novel field effect transistors and bipolar devices by Fortunato, Grundmann, Boschker, Rao, and Rogers; energy conversion and saving by Zaban, Weidenkaff, and Murakami; new opportunities of photonics by Fompeyrine, and Zuniga-Perez; multiferroic materials including novel phenomena by Ramesh, Spaldin, Mertig, Lorenz, Srinivasan, and Prellier; and concepts for topological oxide electronics by Kawasaki, Pentcheva, and Gegenwart. Finally, Miletto Granozio presents the European action 'towards oxide-based electronics' which develops an oxide electronics roadmap with emphasis on future nonvolatile memories and the required technologies. In summary, we do hope that this oxide roadmap appears as an interesting up-to-date snapshot on one of the most exciting and active areas of solid state physics, materials science, and chemistry, which even after many years of very successful development shows in short intervals novel insights and achievements. Guest editors: M S Ramachandra Rao and Michael Lorenz


Abstract. Seven-year measurements of precipitation, lightning flashes, and visibility from 2000 to 2006 have been analyzed in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, China, with a focus on the Guangzhou megacity area. Statistical analysis shows that the occurrence of heavy rainfall (>25 mm per day) and frequency of lightning strikes are reversely correlated to visibility during this period. To elucidate the effects of aerosols on cloud processes, precipitation, and lightning activity, a cloud resolving – Weather Research and Forecasting (CR-WRF) model with a two-moment bulk microphysical scheme is employed to simulate a mesoscale convective system occurring on 28 Match 2009 in the Guangzhou megacity area. The model predicted evolutions of composite radar reflectivity and accumulated precipitation are in agreement with measurements from S-band weather radars and automatic gauge stations. The calculated lightning potential index (LPI) exhibits temporal and spatial consistence with lightning flashes recorded by a local lightning detection network. Sensitivity experiments have been performed to reflect aerosol conditions representative of polluted and clean cases. The simulations suggest that precipitation and LPI are enhanced by about 16% and 50%, respectively, under the polluted aerosol condition. Our results suggest that elevated aerosol loading suppresses light and moderate precipitation (less than 25 mm per day), but enhances heavy precipitation. The responses of hydrometeors and latent heat release to different aerosol loadings reveal the physical mechanism for the precipitation and lightning enhancement in the Guangzhou megacity area, showing more efficient mixed phase processes and intensified convection under the polluted aerosol condition.


Field and mesocosm experiments were performed to examine the affects of different nutrient
concentrations on production of bacteria and phytoplankton in three New Hanover County,
North Carolina, tidal creeks of differing watershed impervious cover. Radiotracer assays were
performed to determine production rates using tritiated-thymidine for bacteria and 14-C
bicarbonate for phytoplankton. The field study compared production rates and nutrient
concentrations monthly during dry and rain conditions and the mesocosm experiment compared
production rates given different combinations of nutrients approximating concentrations from
rain events (control, NP, NPSi, NPC).
Pages Creek had mean daily heterotrophic and autotrophic production rates of 36.4 and
395.4 mgC m-3day-1, respectively. Physical parameters control production in Pages Creek, while
nutrients are also a limiting factor in Howe and Bradley Creeks. Nutrient concentrations are
generally similar between creeks, all of which are also nitrogen limited. Mean heterotrophic and
autotrophic production rates in Howe Creek were 38.3 and 636.7 mgC m-3day-1, respectively.
Production rates in Bradley Creek were 41.1 mgC m-3day-1 heterotrophically, and 547.2 mgC m-
3day-1 autotrophically. Production ratios in Bradley Creek differ from the other creeks,
indicating interdependence between bacteria and algae. Both types of production correlated with
dissolved carbohydrates in this creek, suggesting that phytoplankton supply dissolved
carbohydrates to support bacterial growth. This research shows that though nutrient
concentrations and production appear to be similar among creeks, there are differences in
response to nutrient concentrations and grazing pressure, which may be anthropogenically
altered.


Description: "Frontiers in Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery" is an eBook series devoted to publishing the latest and the most important advances in Anti-Cancer drug design and discovery. Eminent scientists write contributions on all areas of rational drug design and drug discovery including medicinal chemistry, in-silico drug design, combinatorial chemistry, high-throughput screening, drug targets, recent important patents, and structureactivity relationships. The eBook series should prove to be of interest to all pharmaceutical scientists involved in research in Anti-Cancer drug design and discovery. Each volume is devoted to the major advances in Anti-Cancer drug design and discovery. The eBook series is essential reading to all scientists involved in drug design and discovery who wish to keep abreast of rapid and important developments in the field.


The intrinsic image decomposition aims to retrieve "intrinsic" properties of an image, such as shading and reflectance. To make it possible to quantitatively compare different approaches to this problem in realistic settings, we present a ground-truth dataset of intrinsic image decompositions for a variety of real-world objects. For each object, we separate an image of it into three components: Lambertian shading, reflectance, and specularities. We use our dataset to quantitatively compare several existing algorithms; we hope that this dataset will serve as a means for evaluating future work on intrinsic images.


As the permafrost region warms, its large organic carbon pool will be increasingly vulnerable to decomposition, combustion, and hydrologic export. Models predict that some portion of this release will be offset by increased production of Arctic and boreal biomass; however, the lack of robust estimates of net carbon balance increases the risk of further overshooting international emissions targets. Precise empirical or model-based assessments of the critical factors driving carbon balance are unlikely in the near future, so to address this gap, we present estimates from 98 permafrost-region experts of the response of biomass, wildfire, and hydrologic carbon flux to climate change. Results suggest that contrary to model projections, total permafrost-region biomass could decrease due to water stress and disturbance, factors that are not adequately incorporated in current models. Assessments indicate that end-of-the-century organic carbon release from Arctic rivers and collapsing coastlines could increase by 75% while carbon loss via burning could increase four-fold. Experts identified water balance, shifts in vegetation community, and permafrost degradation as the key sources of uncertainty in predicting future system response. In combination with previous findings, results suggest the permafrost region will become a carbon source to the atmosphere by 2100 regardless of warming scenario but that 65%–85% of permafrost carbon release can still be avoided if human emissions are actively reduced.


This paper presents an initial analysis of the duration and effort data collected during the migration of WinEcon, a large-scale CAL package to WWW-based delivery. The paper reviews the data collected during the initial development of WinEcon before presenting the preliminary data collected during the recent migration. The data presented represents a snapshot of the data collection process towards the end of the migration project including an overview of the raw project data in terms of cost, duration and effort. Initial lessons learned from the project will be presented along with the potentially controversial view that conversion of large-scale projects, while feasible, may not represent the most efficient use of resources. The authors will argue that in many cases it may be more efficient to start again rather than migrate and reuse exiting tools and technology.


b * This article describes the features of SERGE, a stochastic, spatially explicit tool for the simulation of daily rainfall in arid environ- ments. Rainfall data (either raw or produced by a rainfall generator) are frequently available on a daily basis but at low spatial resolu- tion. Furthermore, although the rainfall characteristics of a given small area may vary little when averaged over the long term, rainfall does vary substantially on a daily time scale. It is exactly this short-term, small-scale variation that is of interest to modellers in many applications. A tool is needed therefore that generates spatio-temporal rainfall estimates based on only temporal data. To fill this gap, we developed SERGE using an ad hoc approach. Based on known characteristics of rainfall at a point, SERGE projects spatially homogeneous daily rainfall produced by a rainfall generator into spatially heterogeneous estimates by distributing clouds of fixed size and random position. Our algorithm preserves the long- term rainfall characteristics at each point, but introduces spatial autocorrelation of variable length. SERGE provides a simple and flexible tool for the simulation of spatio-temporal rainfall to be integrated into other models. SERGE is intended for modellers wanting to investigate the effect of spatially variable rainfall in their system. Given the importance of spatial variability in arid environments, this should be of interest to scientists in the fields of ecology, range management, agriculture, climate change, and hydrology.


The young man at the center of this extraordinary and moving story will one day be among the most highly paid athletes in the National Football League. When we first meet him, he is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or any of the things a child might learn in school such as, say, how to read or write. Nor has he ever touched a football. What changes? He takes up football, and school, after a rich, Evangelical, Republican family plucks him from the mean streets. Their love is the first great force that alters the world's perception of the boy, whom they adopt. The second force is the evolution of professional football itself into a game where the quarterback must be protected at any cost. Our protagonist turns out to be the priceless combination of size, speed, and agility necessary to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability: his blind side.


Pure fiscal actions—fiscal actions that leave the money supply unchanged—cannot alter aggregate demand without concomitant support from the monetary sector. At the initial level of output, either the demand for money or the quantity of money demanded must change appropriately. Alternatively, since money demand and money velocity are two sides of the same coin (no pun intended), the velocity of money at the initial level of output must change exogenously or endogenously. Otherwise, aggregate demand is unchanged. This unassailable monetary proposition is consistently ignored in current macro-monetary textbook literature. These authors argue that the monetary sector moderates the expansionary/contractionary thrust of pure fiscal actions, whereas arguments grounded in monetary basics would claim that the monetary sector is the source of whatever expansion/contraction occurs. One must go back upwards of thirty years to find textbook authors correctly incorporating monetary basics in their analysis of pure fiscal actions.


The current generation of legal profession scholarship has explored the rise and organization of large law firms. A "standard story" has developed regarding the structure of large firms, their hiring and promotion patterns as well as their discriminatory culture, past and present. This Article shows that the "standard story" may offer too narrow an understanding of large firms and the challenges they and the legal profession in general face. It documents the rise of Colorado's largest law firms, examining the background conditions that enabled their emergence, how they came to occupy a dominant position atop the Colorado legal profession, and their organization, culture and growth patterns. Contrasting the Colorado experience with the "standard story," the Article offers new insights about the organization of large firms, in particular regarding the operation of various discriminatory mechanisms in that setting.


English Historical Documents is the most ambitious, impressive and comprehensive collection of documents on English history ever published. An authoritative work of primary evidence, each volume presents material with exemplary scholarly accuracy. Editorial comment is directed towards making sources intelligible rather than drawing conclusions from them. Full account has been taken of modern textual criticism. A general introduction to each volume portrays the character of the period under review and critical bibliographies have been added to assist further investigation. Documents collected include treaties, personal letters, statutes, military dispatches, diaries, declarations, newspaper articles, government and cabinet proceedings, orders, acts, sermons, pamphlets, agricultural instructions, charters, grants, guild regulations and voting records. Volumes are furnished with lavish extra apparatus including genealogical tables, lists of officials, chronologies, diagrams, graphs and maps.


Current woodland restoration programs are increasingly focussing on the creation of habitat networks in order to increase woodland cover and connectivity. However, the basic assumptions underpinning such strategies are largely untested for species associated with woodland habitat. For many woodland invertebrate species, local scale processes are potentially more important than processes operating at the landscape scale in terms of species persistence, especially for those species that show high dependence on woodland habitat conditions and have limited dispersal ability. The applicability of landscape-scale approaches to woodland restoration therefore needed to be evaluated in relation to the ecological characteristics of invertebrates. This thesis examines these issues and provides a quantitative analysis of the factors influencing presence of wood cricket (Nemobius sylvestris) at multiple scales within the landscape. The investigation was conducted in woodland habitats on the Isle of Wight in the south of the United Kingdom. A landscape-scale survey indicated that wood cricket was found predominantly in large woodland fragments situated in close proximity to each other, with ancient woodland characteristics and with a high amount of edge habitat. The current pattern of distribution of wood cricket suggested that most woodland fragments in the agricultural matrix are effectively isolated from each other, indicating the importance of maintaining a high level of connectivity between habitats for this invertebrate species. An investigation within woodlands indicated that locations with permanent low cover of ground vegetation, low canopy closure and high availability of leaf litter were the preferred habitat conditions for wood cricket. Ride and track edges, woodland peripheries and open areas created and maintained by management activities were found to be the main habitat locations for wood cricket. It was further found that wood cricket was mainly present at permanent edges or in close proximity to these locations, indicating the importance of maintaining these habitat features for this species. The mean dispersal rate for dispersing wood cricket obtained from a series of field experiments was found to be similar to that of other ground-dwelling invertebrate species that were strongly associated with woodland. This level of habitat specialism was consistent with the habitat preferences found for wood cricket, and therefore wood cricket can be seen as representative of this particular group of wood land-associated invertebrates. Comparable to wood cricket, the dispersal ability for species of this group was found to be limited. Few individuals of nymph (i. e. juvenile) and adult wood cricket populations were found to disperse. Wood cricket was found able to disperse up to 55 m into non-woodland habitat and mature habitat corridors were found to be used by wood cricket, but not new immature woodland plantings. The results of this investigation indicate that the overall success of woodland conservation for woodland invertebrates lies in adopting a multi-scale and multimanagement strategic approach. The current initiatives focussing on restoration and re-instatement of traditional management activities within existing woodlands were found to be highly beneficial for wood cricket. Corridors were found to facilitate movement if suitable woodland habitat conditions were provided. Creation of woodland habitat networks might therefore be beneficial for wood cricket if given enough time to develop.


Modern society is plagued by fragmentation. The various sectors of our communities--businesses, schools, social service organizations, churches, government--do not work together. They exist in their own worlds. As do so many individual citizens, who long for connection but end up marginalized, their gifts overlooked, their potential contributions lost. This disconnection and detachment makes it hard if not impossible to envision a common future and work towards it together. We know what healthy communities look like--there are many success stories out there, and they've been described in detail. What Block provides in this inspiring new book is an exploration of the exact way Community can emerge from fragmentation: How is Community built? How does the transformation occur? What fundamental shifts are involved? He explores a way of thinking about our places that creates an opening for authentic communities to exist and details what each of us can do to make that happen.


The long history of sovereign debt and the associated enforcement problem have attracted researchers in many fields. In this paper, we survey empirical work by economists, historians, and political scientists. As we review the empirical literature, we emphasize parallel developments in the theory of sovereign debt. One major theme emerges. Although recent research has sought to balance theoretical and empirical considerations, there remains a gap between theories of sovereign debt and the data used to test them. We recommend a number of steps that researchers can take to improve the correspondence between theory and data. JEL Codes: C82, E01, F21, F34, F51, F55, N20


This paper introduces UniFIeD, a new data preprocessing method for time series. UniFIeD can cope with large intervals of missing data. A scalable test function generator, which allows the simulation of time series with different gap sizes, is presented additionally. An experimental study demonstrates that (i) UniFIeD shows a significant better performance than simple imputation methods and (ii) UniFIeD is able to handle situations, where advanced imputation methods fail. The results are independent from the underlying error measurements.


The high‐latitude North Atlantic (HLNA) is characterized by a marked seasonal phytoplankton bloom, which removes the majority of surface macronutrients. However, incomplete nitrate depletion is frequently observed during summer in the region, potentially reflecting the seasonal development of an iron (Fe) limited phytoplankton community. In order to investigate the seasonal development and spatial extent of iron stress in the HLNA, nutrient addition experiments were performed during the spring (May) and late summer (July and August) of 2010. Grow‐out experiments (48–120 h) confirmed the potential for iron limitation in the region. Short‐term (24 h) incubations further enabled high spatial coverage and mapping of phytoplankton physiological responses to iron addition. The difference in the apparent maximal photochemical yield of photosystem II (PSII) (Fv : Fm) between nutrient (iron) amended and control treatments (Δ(Fv : Fm)) was used as a measure of the relative degree of iron stress. The combined observations indicated variability in the seasonal cycle of iron stress between different regions of the Irminger and Iceland Basins of the HLNA, related to the timing of the annual bloom cycle in contrasting biogeochemical provinces. Phytoplankton iron stress developed during the transition from the prebloom to peak bloom conditions in the HLNA and was more severe for larger cells. Subsequently, iron stress was reduced in regions where macronutrients were depleted following the bloom. Iron availability plays a significant role in the biogeochemistry of the HLNA, potentially lowering the efficiency of one of the strongest biological carbon pumps in the ocean.


The aim of this study is to illustrate the ethnocentrism of Western thought by projecting its own science-oriented culture onto cultures with different beliefs. A comparative study between African witchcraft and the Greek phenomenon of the evil eye will be done to investigate whether similar reasons can be given for their existence today. The article reflects on the view that has been prevalent since the Enlightenment, namely that belief in the supernatural is "primitive" and has no place in a world where most things can be explained or solved scientifically. Against this background, contemporary Western perspectives on evil are explained and compared with those of the Greek Orthodox worldview, which shows similarities with New Testament textual evidence. This correlation is demonstrated by an anthropological perspective on the phenomenon of the evil eye as seen from a social, cultural and ecological point of view. These insights are compared with the belief in witchcraft, demonic possession and exorcism within African tradition and spirituality.


The increase in the
variety of food choices influences the eating patterns of older adults, which
is in turn increases the occurrence of obesity. This study aimed at identifying
eating patterns and their association with obesity in a representative sample
of older adults living in an urban area and registered in the basic health unit
in the city of Botucatu, S?o Paulo, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study and
data collection took place from March to June of 2011 through the application
of a validated food frequency questionnaire for older adults, a socio-demographic
survey and an anthropometric evaluation. Eating patterns were identified
through principal component analysis. Scores of individual consumption were
divided in tertiles, characterizing as low, moderate or high adherence of the
individuals to each pattern. Logistic regression models were fitted for the
outcomes "general obesity" and "abdominal obesity" and the tertiles of consumption
adjusting by sociodemographic variables. Six eating patterns were identified:
Healthy foods, Snacks and weekend meals, Fruits, Light and whole foods, Mild
diet and Traditional diet. It was found that the adherence to healthy foods
is protective against obesity as well as adherence of snacks and weekend meals
are risk of obesity. Eating patterns and their recognized influence on
obesity comprise an issue that deserves continuous attention in order to
evaluate collectively the eating profile, and develop specific nutritional
guidelines for older adults.


Summary Adrenal oncocytomas are rare tumours, with only approximately 160 cases reported in the literature. We report the use of urinary steroid profiling as part of their diagnostic evaluation and prognostication. A 45-year-old woman presented with clinical features of hyperandrogenism. Serum biochemistry confirmed androgen excess and computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a 3.2 cm adrenal tumour with density 39 HU pre-contrast. Urine steroid profiling showed elevated tetrahydro-11 deoxycortisol (THS), which is associated with adrenal malignancy. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed, and histopathology diagnosed adrenal oncocytoma. Serum and urinary biochemistry resolved post-operatively and remained normal at 1-year follow-up. Learning points: Differential diagnosis of adrenal masses is challenging. Current techniques for differentiating between tumour types lack sensitivity and specificity. 24-h urinary steroid profiling is a useful tool for reflecting steroid output from adrenal glands. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of urinary steroid metabolites has sensitivity and specificity of 90% for diagnosing adrenocortical carcinoma. Adrenal oncocytoma are rare tumours. Differentiating between benign and malignant types is difficult. Data guiding prognostication and management are sparse.


Contributors. Foreword (Sally Collins). Introduction. Chapter 1 Science, Ethics, and the Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis: Was White Right? (Thomas J. Sauer and Michael P. Nelson). 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 Historical Perspective on Soil Degradation. 1.3 The New Challenge of Global Climate Change. 1.4 White. 1.5 Other Views on the Ethics of Land Use: Leopold et al. 1.6 Ethical Considerations of Strategies for Climate Change Mitigation: An Example. 1.7 Conclusions. Chapter 2 Intellectual Inertia: An Uneasy Tension between Collective Validation of the Known and Encouraging Exploration of the Unknown (John M. Norman). 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 Defining Intellectual Inertia. 2.3 Examples of Intellectual Inertia. 2.4 Intellectual Inertia is Unavoidable But Requires Vigilance. 2.5 Intellectual Inertia and Climate Change Science. 2.6 Optimizing Intellectual Inertia. Chapter 3 The Ethics of Soil: Stewardship, Motivation, and Moral Framing (Paul B. Thompson). 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Private Property and Personal Ethics. 3.3 Common Pool Resources. 3.4 Public Policy. 3.5 Instrumental Values of Soil. 3.6 Beyond Instrumental Value. 3.7 Conclusion and Next Steps. Chapter 4 Aldo Leopold and the Land Ethic: An Argument for Sustaining Soils (Susan L. Flader). 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 The Shaping of a Progressive. 4.3 Erosion as a Menace. 4.4 Standards of Conservation. 4.5 Conservation as a Moral Issue. 4.6 Wildlife and Soils. 4.7 The Conservation Ethic. 4.8 An Adventure in Cooperative Conservation. 4.9 Land Pathology. 4.10 Land Health. 4.11 The Land Ethic. 4.12 Epilogue. Chapter 5 Rural Response to Climate Change in Poor Countries: Ethics, Policies, and Scientific Support Systems in Their Agricultural Environment (C. J. (Kees) Stigter). 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 Ethics. 5.3 Policies. 5.4 Scientific Support Systems. 5.5 Conclusions. Chapter 6 Soil and Human Health (Eiliv Steinnes). 6.1 Introduction. 6.2 Essential Trace Elements. 6.3 Concerns for the Future. Chapter 7 Agroecological Approaches to Help "Climate Proof " Agriculture While Raising Productivity in the Twenty-First Century (Norman Uphoff). 7.1 Introduction. 7.2 Agroecological Approaches. 7.3 The System of Rice Intensification. 7.4 Effects of SRI Practices on Agriculture Affected by Climate Change. 7.5 Applications to Crops Other than Rice. 7.6 Climate-Proofing Agriculture. Chapter 8 Ecological Integrity and Biological Integrity: The Right to Food (Laura Westra). 8.1 Introduction. 8.2 Ecological Integrity and Food Production Today. 8.3 The Legal Status of Genetically Modified Organisms. 8.4 Western Diets and Lifestyle Preferences: Vegan versus Carnivore. 8.5 Conclusion. Chapter 9 Soil Ecosystem Services: Sustaining Returns on Investment into Natural Capital (Brent E. Clothier, Alistair J. Hall, Markus Deurer, Steven R. Green, and Alec D. Mackay). 9.1 Introduction. 9.2 F. H. King "Farmers of Forty Centuries". 9.3 Soil: Valuable Natural Capital. 9.4 Valuing Ecosystem Services. 9.5 Valuing Carbon and Soil Ecosystem Services. 9.6 Valuing Terroir. 9.7 Land-Use Policy, Nutrient Management, and Natural Capital. 9.8 Conclusion. Chapter 10 Climate and Land Degradation (Mannava V. K. Sivakumar). 10.1 Introduction. 10.2 Influence of Land Surface Changes on Climate. 10.3 Climate Change and Land Degradation. 10.4 Climate Variability and Impacts on Land Degradation. 10.5 Technologies, Policies, and Measures to Address the Linkages between Climate and Land Degradation. 10.6 Future Perspectives. Chapter 11 The Role of Soils and Biogeochemistry in the Climate and Earth System (Elisabeth A. Holland). 11.1 Introduction. 11.2 Lessons Learned from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 11.3 The Carbon Cycle. 11.4 The Nitrogen Cycle. 11.5 Future of Earth System Models. Chapter 12 Net Agricultural Greenhouse Gases: Mitigation Strategies and Implications (Claudia Wagner-Riddle and Alfons Weersink). 12.1 Introduction. 12.2 Mitigation Practices for Reduction of Net GHG Emissions. 12.3 Net GHG Reduction. 12.4 Case Study 1: GHG Emission Mitigation through Composting of Liquid Swine Manure. 12.5 Case Study 2: Direct and Indirect N2O Emission Reduction through Soil Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Practices. 12.6 Designing Policies for Reduced Nitrogen Fertilizer Use. 12.7 Conclusion. Chapter 13 Overview on Response of Global Soil Carbon Pools to Climate and Land-Use Changes (Thomas Eglin, Philippe Ciais, Shi Long Piao, Pierre Barre, Valentin Belassen, Patricia Cadule, Claire Chenu, Thomas Gasser, Markus Reichstein, and Pete Smith). 13.1 Introduction. 13.2 Global Distribution of SOC. 13.3 Global Vulnerability of SOC to Climate and Land-Use Change. 13.4 Historical Land Cover, Agricultural Management, and Climate Change Effects on SOC. 13.5 Future Changes in Climate and Land Use and the SOC Balance. 13.6 Discussion: Uncertainties and Future Directions. 13.7 Conclusions. 13.8 Methods. Chapter 14 Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Microbial Function in Soil: The Effect of Elevated CO2 Concentration (Paolo Nannipieri). 14.1 Introduction. 14.2 Effect of CO2 Concentration on Plant C Inputs including Rhizodeposition to Soil. 14.3 Effects of Elevated CO2 Concentration on Activity, Size, and Composition of Soil Microbiota. 14.4 Effects of Elevated CO2 Concentration on Mycorrhizal Infections of Plants. 14.5 Effect of Elevated CO2 Concentration on Biotic Interactions and on the Rhizosphere Microfauna. 14.6 Effects of Increased CO2 Concentration, Global Warming, and Changes in Soil Moisture on Microbial Functions Related to C Sequestration in Soil. 14.7 Conclusions. Chapter 15 Impacts of Climate Change on Forest Soil Carbon: Uncertainties and Lessons from Afforestation Case Studies (Philip J. Polglase and Keryn I. Paul). 15.1 Introduction. 15.2 Afforestation Overview. 15.3 Implications for Predicting Climate Change Impacts. 15.4 Modeling the Impacts of Climate Change on Soil Carbon. 15.5 Conclusion. Chapter 16 The Effect of Forest Management on Soil Organic Carbon (Giustino Tonon, Silvia Dezi, Maurizio Ventura, and Francesca Scandellari). 16.1 Forest Ecosystems and Global Carbon Cycle. 16.2 Effect of Forest Management on Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration. 16.3 Forest Management Strategies and Forest Structures Improving Carbon Storage. 16.4 Conclusions. Index.


Hematologic malignancies constitute about 9% of all new cases of cancers as reported via the GLOBOCAN series by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2008. So far, the conventional therapeutic and surgical approaches to cancer therapy have not been able to curtail the rising incidence of cancers, including hematological malignancies, worldwide. The last decade has witnessed great research interest in biological activities of phenolic compounds that include anticancer, anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation, among other things. A large number of anticancer agents combat cancer through cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis and differentiation, as well as through inhibition of cell growth and proliferation, or a combination of two or more of these mechanisms. Various phenolic compounds from different sources have been reported to be promising anticancer agents by acting through one of these mechanisms. Honey, which has a long history of human consumption both for medicinal and nutritional uses, contains a variety of phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins and tannins. This paper presents a review on the molecular mechanisms of the anti-leukemic activity of various phenolic compounds on cell cycle, cell growth and proliferation and apoptosis, and it advocates that more studies should be conducted to determine the potential role of honey in both chemoprevention and chemotherapy in leukemia.


The local slaughterhouse's coronavirus cluster was the first large outbreak we heard about in Champaign County The sprawling pork processing plant sits in the midst of cornfields some 17 miles north of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Until early May, workers there processed 35 million pounds of pork a month The company reported its first case on 25 April Health inspectors arrived two days later to find the plant 90 percent out of compliance in its infection control practices By 15 May, after testing 200 of the 627 workers for COVID-19, 83 got positive results Management admitted it was 'complex' to track employees being tested and to follow up with those who had to be quarantined That's when they contacted the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign They then announced confidently to the local press: We've got it under control We have the scientists now


All papers published in this volume of IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science have been peer reviewed through processes administered by the Editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal published by IOP Publishing. • Type of peer review: Double-blind • Conference submission management system: AI Scholar Submission System • Number of submissions received: 210 • Number of submissions sent for review: 197 • Number of submissions accepted: 124 • Acceptance Rate (Number of Submissions Accepted / Number of Submissions Received X 100): 59% • Average number of reviews per paper: 2 • Total number of reviewers involved: 75 • Any additional info on review process: Step 1. Each of selected paper will be reviewed by two/three professional experts in the related subject area. Step 2. Review Reports received from the experts will be judged by one of the editors either Review Reports are logical or not? Step 3. If not logical, then editor can assign new reviewer or can also judge at his/her own. Step 4. If logical, then Review Reports will be sent to authors to modify the manuscript accordingly. Step 5. Authors will be required to revise their papers according to the points raised. Step 6. Revised version will then be evaluated by the editor for the incorporation of the points raised by the reviewers. Step 7. Then the editor will send the revised manuscript to the reviewers again for re-evaluation. Step 8. If the reviewers approve the revise version of the manuscript, then will be accepted for publication. • Contact person for queries: Chunlin Wang, Ocean University of China, OUC, firstname.lastname@example.com


This article finds that the financial regulatory agencies operate in an environment where regulatory actions often face legal challenge, but deregulatory actions are rarely challenged, and argues that the growing use of interpretive rules combined with administrative law doctrines that restrict access to legal review create an environment that is structurally biased to favor deregulation.Two examples of deregulatory agency action are explored in detail. The implementation of the 2004 Final Rule governing the provision of eligible liquidity facilities to asset-backed commercial paper conduits is evaluated and found to almost certainly fail a "clearly erroneous" standard of judicial review. The second example reviews Omarova's study of the process by which the "business of banking" was reinterpreted to include trade in derivatives; the method of legal analysis that supported this reinterpretation was rejected by the D.C. Circuit. Both of these actions were implemented using interpretive rules, and in both cases these deregulatory actions have not faced legal challenge.This article argues that the combination of the growing use of interpretive rules and the application of doctrines determining who has standing to challenge the actions of the financial regulatory agencies in court forces agencies to favor deregulatory action over regulatory action. The article proposes (i) that every financial regulatory statute be amended to include a "citizen suit" clause and that courts uphold the right of citizens to sue under such clauses, and (ii) that a division of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau be created that is dedicated to opposing the policy proposals made by regulated parties to financial regulatory agencies.


OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of maternity leave length and time of first return to work on breastfeeding. METHODS: Data were from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort. Restricting our sample to singletons whose biological mothers were the respondents at the 9-month interview and worked in the 12 months before delivery (N = 6150), we classified the length of total maternity leave (weeks) as 1 to 6, 7 to 12, ≥13, and did not take; paid maternity leave (weeks) as 0, 1 to 6, ≥7, and did not take; and time of return to work postpartum (weeks) as 1 to 6, 7 to 12, ≥13, and not yet returned. Analyses included χ2 tests and multiple logistic regressions. RESULTS: In our study population, 69.4% initiated breastfeeding with positive variation by both total and paid maternity leave length, and time of return to work. In adjusted analyses, neither total nor paid maternity leave length had any impact on breastfeeding initiation or duration. Compared with those returning to work within 1 to 6 weeks, women who had not yet returned to work had a greater odds of initiating breastfeeding (odds ratio [OR]: 1.46 [1.08–1.97]; risk ratios [RR]: 1.13 [1.03–1.22]), continuing any breastfeeding beyond 6 months (OR: 1.41 [0.87–2.27]; RR: 1.25 [0.91–1.61]), and predominant breastfeeding beyond 3 months (OR: 2.01 [1.06–3.80]; RR: 1.70 [1.05–2.53]). Women who returned to work at or after 13 weeks postpartum had higher odds of predominantly breastfeeding beyond 3 months (OR: 2.54 [1.51–4.27]; RR: 1.99 [1.38–2.69]). CONCLUSION: If new mothers delay their time of return to work, then duration of breastfeeding among US mothers may lengthen.


By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1440) (the "Act"), and solely in order to provide expedited naturalization for aliens and noncitizen nationals serving in an active-duty status in the Armed Forces of the United States during the period of the war against terrorists of global reach, it is hereby ordered as follows: For the purpose of determining qualification for the exception from the usual requirements for naturalization, I designate as a period in which the Armed Forces of the United States were engaged in armed conflict with a hostile foreign force the period beginning on September 11, 2001. Such period will be deemed to terminate on a date designated by future Executive Order. Those persons serving honorably in active-duty status in the Armed Forces of the United States, during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and terminating on the date to be so designated, are eligible for naturalization in accordance with the statutory exception to the naturalization requirements, as provided in section 329 of the Act. Nothing contained in this order is intended to affect, nor does it affect, any other power, right, or obligation of the United States, its agencies, officers, employees, or any other person under Federal law or the law of nations.


In this article, the authors discuss the need to consider the potential barriers faced by both interviewers and respondents who wish to participate in qualitative research. Drawing on their experience of enabling disabled refugees to interview other disabled refugees, they discuss their conceptual basis for challenging barriers, and the practical measures they took to address the health, impairment and linguistic needs of both interviewers and respondents participating in the 'Disabled Refugees in Britain' research project. They conclude by encouraging other researchers to identify and challenge the barriers faced by all potential participants in qualitative research.


This important new book outlines current developments in thinking in the field of Social Impact Assessment (SIA). It advances the theory and practice of SIA, and argues that a dramatic shift is required in the way socioeconomic studies and community participation is undertaken. The book emphasizes that, much more than the act of predicting impacts in a regulatory context, SIA needs to be the process of managing the social aspects of development and that there needs to be a holistic and integrated approach to impact assessment. It stresses that greater attention needs to be given to ensuring that the goals of development are attained and enhanced.


The announcement of the provisional population figures from Census 2011 has come at a very important moment in India's relationship with the census and its operations. Newspaper headlines made it clear where India's own priorities lay – first and foremost were the "positives": improvements in the rate of decline in the growth of the population (though less than anticipated), a rise in literacy rates and also of the overall sex ratio of the number of women per 1,000 men. The only fly in the ointment is therefore the child sex ratio (CSR measuring those in the 0-6 year range) which has dropped from 927 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001 to an all-time low of 914 in 2011. The secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs appeared on the evening news saying that on the matter of the girl child, the government must re-examine its policies. How should we approach the


Genetic testing raises new issues from those involved in other medical contexts, particularly for children. Most of the concerns relevant to minors are prompted by the familial and predictive aspects of genetic information.It is vital that GPs and other health professionals know more about genetic testing and genetics services in New Zealand, so that they can better facilitate informed consent; recognise and acknowledge any limitations in their expertise, particularly as they will influence their patients when discussing testing possibilities; know when to refer patients for genetic testing; and can offer some degree of genetic counselling, if required.Genetic testing of children who lack capacity to consent to genetic testing for non-medical reasons should be treated with caution. Many adults choose not to discover their own genetic risk status and the threat to the child's autonomy and right to confidentiality are the reasons for this caution. Also, where there is a lack of evidence about what the test results may signify for the child's health, this uncertainty is best dealt with by waiting until the child is able to make personal choices.A register should be established to facilitate disclosure to persons who have reached the age of sixteen or eighteen years (or earlier if they are competent and personally seek access to the information) of the fact that they underwent genetic testing as children. Initially, the minors may be informed either that they underwent predictive or carrier testing as children, or that some information is available about genetic risk status should they wish to access it.Such a register is the appropriate method for ensuring that people who undergo testing as children are informed of the fact for the following reasons. Firstly, it would encourage parents and health professionals to disclose test results to children - as the fact of testing will be disclosed to them anyway. Secondly, it gives the person tested a choice regarding whether or not to access the information (assuming that he or she has not already been told). Thirdly, it avoids the difficulties of imposing a new disclosure duty that may have unwieldy and undesirable consequences in terms of monitoring, enforcement and sanctions.Genetic counselling would be required to assist minors in deciding whether to access their test results, and to support them whatever their choice. The privacy of the register and its information must be strictly maintained.


From the depths of the Indian Ocean, a horrific plague has arisen to devastate humankind--unknown, unstoppable . . . and merely a harbinger of the doom that is to follow. Operatives of the shadowy covert organization Sigma Force, Dr. Lisa Cummings and Monk Kokkalis search for answers to the bizarre affliction aboard a cruise liner transformed into a makeshift hospital. But a sudden and savage attack by terrorist hijackers turns the mercy ship into a floating bio-weapons lab. Time is an enemy as a worldwide pandemic grows rapidly out of control. As the seconds tick closer to doomsday, Sigma's commander, Gray Pierce, must join forces with the beautiful assassin who tried to kill him--following the trail of the most fabled explorer in history into the terrifying heart of an astonishing mystery buried deep in antiquity and in humanity's genetic code.


Extensive geochemical investigation (of water, travertine, soil and diffuse gas), coupled with geo-structural analysis, provides new insights into local fault–fluid interaction and allows us to pinpoint basic elements in the geological origin (or geomythology) of the Delphic Oracle, still debated by geologists. Delphi hosted the most famous oracle of antiquity, supposed to prophesy under the effects of intoxicating gas exhaling from a chasm in the ground. CO2–H2S-rich, ethylene-rich or CH4-rich gases have been invoked to explain the mantic vapours. Although previous interpretations dismissed the results achieved by classical scholars, this study fits together history, archaeology, mythology and geology in a single coherent frame. We highlight that no hydrocarbon gas discharges are released at present to the surface in the area. The lack of any geochemical 'anomaly' indicates that the Delphi active fault does not at present constitute a preferential route for the circulation of thermogenic deep fluids. The mythological gas-exhaling chasm can plausibly be related to episodic seismic ruptures in the ancient past, which affected for a limited time gas pockets fed by a relatively deep confined hydrothermal system. The Delphi fault has produced shocks up to Ms=6.7 (1 August 1870), and similar seismic faulting events in the past could have episodically triggered CO2–H2S-rich emissions.


Recent developments have seen forest landscape restoration (FLR) become widely recognized as an important means of not only restoring ecological integrity at scale but also generating additional local-to-global benefits. This handbook presents the Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM), which provides a flexible and affordable framework for countries to rapidly identify and analyse FLR potential and locate special areas of opportunity at a national or sub-national level. The handbook offers practical advice and options to bear in mind when considering or conducting an FLR assessment using ROAM, as well as real-life examples of the kinds of outputs you can expect, and will enable you to commission or design a tailor-made process to meet your specific needs. This "road-test" edition of the handbook is being circulated to engage others in the process of learning about -- and improving -- the methodology. A revised version of the handbook will be published at a later date in order to integrate learning from the road-testing process.


The cost of building new nuclear reactors receives a great deal of attention in market economies, including the United States, Japan, and Germany. But in a post-Fukushima era of additional safety regulations, the economics of keeping a fleet of aging reactors online may command just as much attention. The author reviews the experience of the US nuclear reactor fleet in light of the post-Fukushima scrutiny of nuclear safety and describes the factors that have influenced, and will likely influence, future decisions about whether to own and operate nuclear reactors. He shows that safety has been the driver of nuclear costs and that the inability of the industry to deliver safe reactors at affordable costs is an endemic, long-standing problem. Nuclear power, he writes, is a complex technology based on a catastrophically dangerous resource that is vulnerable to natural events and human frailties, which suggests that nuclear safety and affordable reactors are currently incompatible and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.


Are you tired of squinting at the tiny color-coded tables and difficult-to-read text you find on the typical laminated reference card that you keep with you when you're in the field or on location? Well throw away your cheat sheets and command cards! DAVID BUSCH'S COMPACT FIELD GUIDE FOR THE CANON EOS 60D is your solution. This new, full-color, spiral-bound, reference guide condenses all the must-have information you need while shooting into a portable book you'll want to permanently tuck into your camera bag. You'll find every settings option for your Canon EOS 60D listed, along with advice on why you should use--or not use--each adjustment. Useful tables provide recommended settings for a wide variety of shooting situations, including landscapes, portraits, sports, close-ups, and travel. With this guide on hand you have all the information you need at your fingertips so you can confidently use your camera on-the-go.


The past few years have seen the rise of a new model of production and consumption of goods and services, often referred to as the "sharing economy." Fueled by startups such as Uber and Airbnb, sharing enables individuals to obtain rides, accommodations, and other goods and services from peers via the Internet or mobile application in exchange for payment. The rise of sharing has raised questions about how it should be regulated, including whether existing laws and regulations can and should be enforced in this new sector or whether new ones are needed. In this Article, we explore those questions in the context of taxation. We argue that, contrary to the claims of some commentators, the application of substantive tax law to sharing is mostly (though not completely) clear, because current law generally contains the concepts and categories necessary to tax sharing. However, tax enforcement and compliance may present challenges, as a result of two distinctive features of sharing. First, some sharing businesses tend to opportunistically pick the more favorable regulatory interpretation if there is ambiguity regarding which rule applies or whether a rule applies. This leads to compliance and enforcement gaps. Second, the "microbusiness" nature of sharing raises unique compliance and enforcement concerns. We suggest strategies for addressing these dual challenges, including lower information reporting thresholds, safe harbors and advance rulings to simplify tax reporting, and targeted enforcement efforts.


Due to continuously increasing demands in the area of advanced robot control, it became necessary to speed up the computation. One way to reduce the computation time is to distribute the computation onto several processing units. In this survey we present different approaches to parallel computation of robot kinematics and Jacobian. Thereby, we discuss both the forward and the reverse problem. We introduce a classification scheme and classify the references by this scheme.


This is the only complete, all-in-one guide to deploying, running, and troubleshooting wireless networks with Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) and Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP)/Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP). Authored by two of the most experienced Cisco wireless support professionals, the book presents start-to-finish coverage of implementing WLCs in existing wired and wireless network environments, troubleshooting design-related issues, and using LWAPP/CAPWAP solutions to achieve your specific business and technical goals. One step at a time, youll walk through designing, configuring, maintaining, and scaling wireless networks using Cisco Unified Wireless technologies. The authors show how to use LWAPP/CAPWAP to control multiple Wi-Fi wireless access points at once, streamlining network administration and monitoring and maximizing scalability. Drawing on their extensive problem-resolution experience, the authors also provide expert guidelines for troubleshooting, including an end-to-end problem-solving model available in no other book. Although not specifically designed to help you pass the CCIE Wireless written and lab exams, this book does provide you with real-world configuration and troubleshooting examples. Understanding the basic configuration practices, how the products are designed to function, the feature sets, and what to look for while troubleshooting these features will be invaluable to anyone wanting to pass the CCIE Wireless exams. Efficiently install, configure, and troubleshoot Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers Move autonomous wireless network solutions to LWAPP/CAPWAP Integrate LWAPP/CAPWAP solutions into existing wired networks Understand the next-generation WLC architecture Use Hybrid REAP and Home AP solutions to centrally configure and control branch/remote access points without deploying controllers in every location Use Mobility Groups to provide system-wide mobility easily and cost-effectively Use Cisco WLC troubleshooting tools, and resolve client-related problems Maximize quality in wireless voice applications Build efficient wireless mesh networks Use RRM to manage RF in real-time, optimizing efficiency and performance Reference the comprehensive WLC and AP debugging guide Part of the CCIE Professional Development Series, this is the first book to offer authoritative training for the new CCIE Wireless Exam. It will also serve as excellent preparation for Ciscos new CCNP Wireless exam.


At its core, this Article argues that the everyday landscape is one of the most overlooked instruments of modern race-making. Drawing on evidence from geography and sociology, the paper begins by demonstrating that the built environment inscribes selective and misleading versions of the past in solid, material forms. These narratives — told through street renamings, parks, monuments, and buildings — ultimately marginalize African-American communities and transmit ideas about racial power across generations. After demonstrating that the landscape remains the agar upon which racial hierarchies replicate themselves, the Article then pivots and examines current efforts to rid the built environment of discriminatory spaces. I put forth that contemporary attacks on the landscape are doomed to fail. The approaches suggested by academics in law and geography either turn a blind eye to the political economy of local decision-making or fail to consider entrenched legal precedent. The final section of the manuscript lays out a policy proposal that could spark a new focus on issues of "landscape fairness." I argue in favor of a set of basic procedural requirements that would force jurisdictions to reconsider the discriminatory places within their borders. Procedural mandates would force government to internalize values it might otherwise ignore, allow citizen-critics to challenge dominant historical narratives, and push communities to view the past (and future) in much more diverse terms.


The two purposes of this study were to: (a) define music teacher identity and its underlying constructs based on a critical examination of the extant research, and (b) develop an instrument to measure selected constructs from among a sample of music teachers across years of teaching The Music Teacher Identity Scale (MTIS), a researcher-constructed data gathering instrument, was developed to measure two constructs of music teacher identity: Music Teacher Self-Efficacy and Music Teacher Commitment. Participants in the study were selected using a stratified sampling technique, based on music teaching level, and MENC Division membership, producing a total of 2,500 possible participants. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach's coefficient alpha, item-total corrected correlation, and inter-item correlation were used to evaluate the degree of reliability of the survey instrument. A factor analysis was calculated to provide evidence of the construct validity for the measurement instrument. Factorial Analysis of Variance was used to find differences among the constructs of Music Teacher Efficacy and Music Teacher Commitment by year of teaching, gender, school location, teaching area, and by teaching level. The MTIS had an overall reliability of α = .81, with the individual constructs of Music Teacher Self-Efficacy reliability of α = .87, and Music Teacher Commitment of α = .67. The two constructs were found to contribute 42.17 percent of the variance through the exploratory factor analysis. Statistically significant differences were found among all years of teaching experience for Music Teacher Self-Efficacy. Statistically significant differences were found between Music Teacher Self-Efficacy and Music Teacher Commitment at each experience level examined. Music Teacher Commitment was found to be a statistically significant different between men and women. A significant three way interaction effect was found in Music Teacher Commitment at the 6-10 years of teaching experience between Middle /Junior High School and High School, and again at the 31+ years of teaching experience between Middle /Junior High School and High School. Recommendations were suggested for future research regarding music teacher identity construction.


Microblogs and social media platforms are now considered among the most popular forms of online communication. Through a platform like Twitter, much information reflecting people's opinions and attitudes is published and shared among users on a daily basis. This has recently brought great opportunities to companies interested in tracking and monitoring the reputation of their brands and businesses, and to policy makers and politicians to support their assessment of public opinions about their policies or political issues.

A wide range of approaches to sentiment analysis on social media, have been recently built. Most of these approaches rely mainly on the presence of affect words or syntactic structures that explicitly and unambiguously reflect sentiment. However, these approaches are semantically weak, that is, they do not account for the semantics of words when detecting their sentiment in text.

In order to address this problem, the author investigates the role of word semantics in sentiment analysis of microblogs. Specifically, Twitter is used as a case study of microblogging platforms to investigate whether capturing the sentiment of words with respect to their semantics leads to more accurate sentiment analysis models on Twitter. To this end, the author proposes several approaches in this book for extracting and incorporating two types of word semantics for sentiment analysis: contextual semantics (i.e., semantics captured from words' co-occurrences) and conceptual semantics (i.e., semantics extracted from external knowledge sources). Experiments are conducted with both types of semantics by assessing their impact in three popular sentiment analysis tasks on Twitter; entity-level sentiment analysis, tweet-level sentiment analysis and context-sensitive sentiment lexicon adaptation.

The findings from this body of work demonstrate the value of using semantics in sentiment analysis on Twitter. The proposed approaches, which consider word semantics for sentiment analysis at both entity and tweet levels, surpass non-semantic approaches in most evaluation scenarios.

This book will be of interest to students, researchers and practitioners in the semantic sentiment analysis field.


This book provides an introduction to the Meroitic language and writing system, which was used between circa 300 BC and AD 400 in the Kingdom of Meroe, located in what is now Sudan and Egyptian Nubia. This book details advances in the understanding of Meroitic, a language that until recently was considered untranslatable. In addition to providing a full history of the script and an analysis of the phonology, grammar, and linguistic affiliation of the language, it features linguistic analyses for those working on Nilo-Saharan comparative linguistics, paleographic tables useful to archaeologists for dating purposes, and an overview of texts that can be translated or understood by way of analogy for those working on Nubian religion, history, and archaeology.


In free material optimization (FMO), one tries to find the best mechanical structure by minimizing the weight or by maximizing the stiffness with respect to given load cases. Design variables are the material properties represented by elasticity tensors or elementary material matrices, respectively, based on a given finite element discretization. Material properties are as general as possible, i.e., anisotropic, leading to positive definite elasticity tensors, which may be arbitrarily small in case of vanishing material. To guarantee a positive definite global stiffness matrix for computing design constraints, it is required that all iterates of an optimization algorithm retain positive definite tensors. Otherwise, some constraints, e.g., the compliance, cannot be evaluated and the algorithm fails. FMO problems are generalizations of topology optimization problems. The goal of topology optimization is to find the stiffest structure subject to given loads and a limited amount of material. In contrast to FMO the material is explicitly given and cannot vary. Based on a finite element discretization, in each element it is decided whether to use material or not. The regions with vanishing material are interpreted as void. The resulting optimization problem can be solved by numerous efficient nonlinear optimization methods, for example sequential convex programming methods. Sequential convex programming (SCP) formulates separable and strictly convex nonlinear subproblems iteratively by approximating the objective and the constraints. Lower and upper asymptotes are introduced to truncate the feasible region. Due to the special structure, the resulting subproblems can be solved efficiently by appropriate methods, e.g., interior point methods. To ensure global convergence, a line search procedure is introduced. Moreover, an active set strategy is applied to reduce computation time. The iterates of SCP are not guaranteed to be inside the corresponding feasible region described by the constraints. As a consequence it is not able to solve free material optimization problems as the compliance function is only well-defined on the feasible region of some of the constraints. We propose a modification of a SCP method that ensures feasibility with respect to a given set of inequality constraints. The resulting procedure is called feasible sequential convex programming method (SCPF). SCPF expands the resulting subproblems by additional nonlinear constraints, that are passed to the subproblem directly to ensure their feasibility in each iteration step. They are referred as feasibility constraints. In addition, other constraints may be violated within the optimization process. As globalization technique a line search procedure is used to ensure convergence. The The research was supported by FP-6 STREP 30717 PLATO-N (Aeronautics and Space), PLATO-N A PLAtform for Topology Optimisation incorporating Novel, Large-Scale, Free-Material Optimisation and Mixed Integer Programming Methods


Expert writing advice from the editor of the Boston Globe best-seller, The Writer's Home Companion Dissertation writers need strong, practical advice, as well as someone to assure them that their struggles aren't unique. Joan Bolker, midwife to more than one hundred dissertations and co-founder of the Harvard Writing Center, offers invaluable suggestions for the graduate-student writer. Using positive reinforcement, she begins by reminding thesis writers that being able to devote themselves to a project that truly interests them can be a pleasurable adventure. She encourages them to pay close attention to their writing method in order to discover their individual work strategies that promote productivity; to stop feeling fearful that they may disappoint their advisors or family members; and to tailor their theses to their own writing style and personality needs. Using field-tested strategies she assists the student through the entire thesis-writing process, offering advice on choosing a topic and an advisor, on disciplining one's self to work at least fifteen minutes each day; setting short-term deadlines, on revising and defing the thesis, and on life and publication after the dissertation. Bolker makes writing the dissertation an enjoyable challenge.


Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a short‐lived atmospheric pollutant that serves as an air quality indicator and is itself a health concern. The Airborne Compact Atmospheric Mapper (ACAM) was flown on board the NASA UC‐12 aircraft during the Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality Maryland field campaign in July 2011. The instrument collected hyperspectral remote sensing measurements in the 304–910 nm range, allowing daytime observations of several tropospheric pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), at an unprecedented spatial resolution of 1.5 × 1.1 km2. Retrievals of slant column abundance are based on the differential optical absorption spectroscopy method. For the air mass factor computations needed to convert these retrievals to vertical column abundance, we include high‐resolution information for the surface reflectivity by using bidirectional reflectance distribution function data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. We use high‐resolution simulated vertical distributions of NO2 from the Community Multiscale Air Quality and Global Modeling Initiative models to account for the temporal variation in atmospheric NO2 to retrieve middle and lower tropospheric NO2 columns (NO2 below the aircraft). We compare NO2 derived from ACAM measurements with in situ observations from NASA's P‐3B research aircraft, total column observations from the ground‐based Pandora spectrometers, and tropospheric column observations from the space‐based Ozone Monitoring Instrument. The high‐resolution ACAM measurements not only give new insights into our understanding of atmospheric composition and chemistry through observation of subsampling variability in typical satellite and model resolutions, but they also provide opportunities for testing algorithm improvements for forthcoming geostationary air quality missions.


In this study, the scope is confined to final year engineering students where the aim of the paper is primarily to look at the motivating and hindering factors for these students to choose the English language when preparing for their final year engineering project reports. These students are from four engineering faculties in Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM). A quantitative approach was employed in this study. A total of 201 UTeM final year engineering students were involved in the survey done for this study. The study found that the tasks of understanding, selecting and integrating resources to their projects, not to forget the problem of composing the paper which is always influenced by their first language, are always the hindering factor for the students. Many students did not begin to learn how to approach this task until they were in the process of writing the report. Meanwhile, students are mostly motivated to write report in English due to the dominantly available resources relevant to their project topic written in English.


The industry favorite Linux guide, updated for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 and the cloud Linux Bible, 9th Edition is the ultimate hands-on Linux user guide, whether you're a true beginner or a more advanced user navigating recent changes. This updated ninth edition covers the latest versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (RHEL 7), Fedora 21, and Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, and includes new information on cloud computing and development with guidance on Openstack and Cloudforms. With a focus on RHEL 7, this practical guide gets you up to speed quickly on the new enhancements for enterprise-quality file systems, the new boot process and services management, firewalld, and the GNOME 3 desktop. Written by a Red Hat expert, this book provides the clear explanations and step-by-step instructions that demystify Linux and bring the new features seamlessly into your workflow. This useful guide assumes a base of little or no Linux knowledge, and takes you step by step through what you need to know to get the job done. * Get Linux up and running quickly * Master basic operations and tackle more advanced tasks * Get up to date on the recent changes to Linux server system management * Bring Linux to the cloud using Openstack and Cloudforms Linux Bible, 9th Edition is the one resource you need, and provides the hands-on training that gets you on track in a flash.


Given recent increases in the size of main memory in modern machines, it is now common to to store large data sets in RAM for faster processing. Multidimensional access methods aim to provide efficient access to large data sets when queries apply predicates to some of the data dimensions. We examine multidimensional access methods in the context of an in-memory column store tuned for on-line analytical processing or scientific data analysis. We propose a multidimensional data structure that contains a novel combination of a grid array and several bitmaps. The base data is clustered in an order matching that of the index structure. The bitmaps contain one bit per block of data, motivating the term "blockmap." The proposed data structures are compact, typically taking less than one bit of space per row of data. Partition boundaries can be chosen in a way that reflects both the query workload and the data distribution, and boundaries are not required to evenly divide the data if there is a bias in the query distribution. We examine the theoretical performance of the data structure and experimentally measure its performance on three modern CPUs and one GPU processor. We demonstrate that efficient multidimensional access can be achieved with minimal space overhead.


In this thesis we have discussed the problem of decomposing an integer matrix \(A\) into a weighted sum \(A=\sum_{k \in {\mathcal K}} \alpha_k Y^k\) of 0-1 matrices with the strict consecutive ones property. We have developed algorithms to find decompositions which minimize the decomposition time \(\sum_{k \in {\mathcal K}} \alpha_k\) and the decomposition cardinality \(|\{ k \in {\mathcal K}: \alpha_k > 0\}|\). In the absence of additional constraints on the 0-1 matrices \(Y^k\) we have given an algorithm that finds the minimal decomposition time in \({\mathcal O}(NM)\) time. For the case that the matrices \(Y^k\) are restricted to shape matrices -- a restriction which is important in the application of our results in radiotherapy -- we have given an \({\mathcal O}(NM^2)\) algorithm. This is achieved by solving an integer programming formulation of the problem by a very efficient combinatorial algorithm. In addition, we have shown that the problem of minimizing decomposition cardinality is strongly NP-hard, even for matrices with one row (and thus for the unconstrained as well as the shape matrix decomposition). Our greedy heuristics are based on the results for the decomposition time problem and produce better results than previously published algorithms.


Authors are encouraged to submit new papers to INFORMS journals by means of a style file template, which includes the journal title. However, use of a template does not certify that the paper has been accepted for publication in the named journal. INFORMS journal templates are for the exclusive purpose of submitting to an INFORMS journal and should not be used to distribute the papers in print or online or to submit the papers to another publication.


Social networking platforms are enabling users to create their own content, share this content with anyone they invite and organize connections with existing or new online contacts. Within these electronic environments users voluntarily add comments on virtual boards, distribute their search results or add information about their expertise areas to their social networking profiles and thereby share it with acquaintances, friends and increasingly even with colleagues in the corporate world. As a result, it is most likely that the underlying knowledge sharing processes result in many new and creative ideas. The objective of our research therefore is to understand if and how social social networking platforms can enforce creativity. In addition, we look at how these processes could be embedded within the organizational structures that influence innovative knowledge sharing behavior. The basis for our research is a framework which focuses on the relations between intrinsic motivation, creativity and social networking platforms. First results of our empirical investigation of a social software platform called "StudiVZ.net" proved that our two propositions are valid.


A variety of phenomena can be characterized by repetitive small scale elements within a large scale domain. Examples include a stack of fresh produce, a plate of spaghetti, or a mosaic pattern. Although certain results can be produced via manual placement or procedural/physical simulation, these methods can be labor intensive, difficult to control, or limited to specific phenomena. We present discrete element textures, a data-driven method for synthesizing repetitive elements according to a small input exemplar and a large output domain. Our method preserves both individual element properties and their aggregate distributions. It is also general and applicable to a variety of phenomena, including different dimensionalities, different element properties and distributions, and different effects including both artistic and physically realistic ones. We represent each element by one or multiple samples whose positions encode relevant element attributes including position, size, shape, and orientation. We propose a sample-based neighborhood similarity metric and an energy optimization solver to synthesize desired outputs that observe not only input exemplars and output domains but also optional constraints such as physics, orientation fields, and boundary conditions. As a further benefit, our method can also be applied for editing existing element distributions.


Only a small proportion of introduced plant species become invasive and may eventually create ecological or economic problems. In many species it is still not clear which traits cause biological invasions. As a case study we focussed on the fast-spreading Epilobium brachycarpum in Central Europe to investigate the potential of this species to become a transformer or agricultural weed. We (1) documented the spread of the species in Central Europe, (2) modelled its range and (3) seed dispersal, (4) described its phytosociological alignment, (5) analysed the traits of invaded vegetation types, (6) described seed production, population densities and life cycle, (7) did competition and germination tests, and (8) drafted a risk assessment. Relevant traits and characteristics of E. brachycarpum are (i) formation of dense stands under ruderal conditions, (ii) high seed production, (iii) effective seed dispersal, (iv) high competitiveness on bare soils against other ruderal plants, and (v) ecological niche shift compared to its native range. We expect E. brachycarpum to settle in the Mediterranean, sub-Mediterranean and many parts of temperate Europe within the next decades in habitats strongly altered by human activities, especially open stands of the alliance Sisymbrion. We predict that E. brachycarpum will become a noxious weed in vineyards, and that it will also colonise vegetation of the alliances Bidention and Carici-Epilobion.


In Amazon.com Jeff Bezos built something the world had never seen. He created the most recognized brand name on the Internet, became for a time one of the richest men in the world, and was crowned "the king of cyber-commerce." Yet for all the media exposure, the inside story of Amazon.com has never really been told. In this revealing, unauthorized account, Robert Spector, journalist and best-selling author, gives us this up-to-date, fast-paced, behind-the-scenes story of the company's creation and rise, its tumultuous present, and its uncertain future.


The incredible sequel to the bestselling A STREET CAT NAMED BOB - the moving and uplifting true story of an unlikely friendship between a man on the streets and the ginger cat who adopts him, soon to be a major motion picture. 'Since Bob has appeared, I've made huge strides in my life. For more than a decade I was a homeless drug addict. I was lost to the world and had forgotten what was important in life. Now I've got myself back on my two feet, but as I put the past behind me, I'm still stepping unsteadily into the future. I still need help in the right direction. Bob is always there to offer guidance and friendship.' James and his street cat Bob have been on a remarkable journey together. In the years since their story ended in the bestselling A STREET CAT NAMED BOB James, with Bob's help, has begun to find his way back to the real world. Almost every day, Bob provides moments of intelligence, bravery and humour, at the same time opening his human friend's eyes to important truths about friendship, loyalty, trust - and the meaning of happiness. In the continuing tale of their life together James shows the many ways in which Bob has been his protector and guardian angel through times of illness, hardship, even life-threatening danger. As they high five together for their crowds of admirers, James knows that the tricks he's taught Bob are nothing compared to the lessons he's learnt from his street-wise cat.


This Article proposes that in 1957, the Supreme Court came close to applying Brown v. Board of Education to immigration law. In Brown, the Supreme Court held that school segregation was unconstitutional. Ultimately, Brown came to be understood as prohibiting almost all racial classifications. Meanwhile, in a line of cases exemplified by Chae Chan Ping v. United States and Fong Yue Ting v. United States, the Supreme Court held that Congress enjoyed plenary power to discriminate on any ground, including race, in immigration law. These holdings have never been formally overruled. Immigration, then, is said to be an exception to the general rule of Brown and Bolling v. Sharpe. In 1957, however, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in United States ex rel Lee Kum Hoy v. Murff, to resolve the question of the permissibility of race discrimination in the immigration context. The case involved a policy under which immigration officials tested the blood of Chinese people immigrating as children of U.S. citizens to determine whether they were related to their claimed parents, but not the blood of similarly situated members of other races. The Second Circuit, over the dissent of Judge Jerome Frank, upheld the discriminatory policy, so the Court had no reason to take the case unless it thought the decision was incorrect. While the Supreme Court ultimately granted the petitioners relief on other grounds, records of the Court and the short per curiam opinion suggest that the Court may have been prepared to hold at least this form of discrimination in immigration unconstitutional.


Her name is Omakayas, or Little Frog, because her first step was a hop, and she lives on an island in Lake Superior.It is 1850, and the lives of the Ojibwe have returned to a familiar rhythm: they build their birchbark houses in the summer, go to the ricing camps in the fall to harvest and feast, and move to their cozy cedar log cabins near the town of LaPointe before the first snows. The satisfying routines of Omakayas's days are interrupted by a surprise visit from a group of desperate and mysterious people. From them, she learns that all their lives may drastically change. The chimookomanag, or white people, want Omakayas and her people to leave their island in Lake Superior and move farther west. Omakayas realizes that something so valuable, so important that she never knew she had it in the first place, is in danger: Her home. Her way of life. In this captivating sequel to National Book Award nominee The Birchbark House, Louise Erdrich continues the story of Omakayas and her family.


Vertical integration occurs when a firm does something for itself that it could otherwise procure on the market. For example, a manufacturer that opens its own stores is said to be vertically integrated into distribution. One irony of history is that both classical political economy and neoclassicism saw vertical integration and vertical contractual arrangements as much less threatening to competition than cartels or other horizontal arrangements. Nevertheless, vertical integration has produced by far the greater amount of legislation at both federal and state levels and has motivated many more political action groups. Two things explain this phenomenon. First, while economists prior to the 1930s rarely saw a threat, neither did they understand why firms integrate or enter into long term contracts, except for fairly obvious savings in production costs. Second, vertical integration led to many bankruptcies of small family businesses unable or unwilling to take on the costs and associated risks of integrating vertically themselves. When that happened, politics inevitably triumphed over economics. Both the common law and classical economists tended to view vertical integration favorably. The principal limitation on vertical integration by contract was common law rules limiting restraints on alienation. The managerial revolution in the United States in the nineteenth century occasioned the rise of significant vertical integration. At the same time, however marginalist, or neoclassical, economics first began to see significant competitive problems. The emergent legal policy toward vertical control by contract was developed first in intellectual property law's "first sale" doctrine, and later on in antitrust policy. In his 1937 article on the "Nature of the Firm," Ronald H. Coase formulated a purely marginalist theory of vertical integration, but it was ignored by both economists and legal policy makers for nearly half a century. Economists continued to wrestle with theories that were far more myopic, and as a result much less satisfactory. The result was that vertical integration became much more vulnerable to special interest legislation than did competition policy generally. By the mid-twentieth century a set of aggressive antitrust policies had emerged that dealt harshly with both vertical integration by contract and ownership vertical integration.


A real-world guide to becoming a top-performing equity analyst Praise for Best Practices for Equity Research Analysts: "Jim Valentine has taken his decades of experience as a highly successful security analyst and written an effective and comprehensive guide to doing the job right. Ionly wish I had this book by my side throughout my career." -- Byron R. Wien, Vice Chairman, Blackstone Advisory Partners LP "Given the fast pace and high-pressure nature of the markets, analysts don't have the luxury to make mistakes. James J. Valentine's Best Practices for Equity ResearchAnalysts should be required reading for all new and experienced analysts, particularly those who were not lucky enough to be brought up in the business under amentor. Valentine can be that mentor." -- Jami Rubin, Managing Director, Global Investment Research, Goldman Sachs "Jim's book is an excellent window into the world of securities research. Very few works cover the complete life cycle of an analyst and the necessary balance betweentheory and practice. This is one of them." -- Juan-Luis Perez, Global Director of Research, Morgan Stanley "Valentine's book doesn't rehash the basics of finance but covers all the nonacademic topics in terms of how the analysts should manage their time, resources,data, and contacts in order to come up with the best stock picks. This book is required reading for beginning analysts and a must-read for all analysts who want todevelop an edge." -- Carl Schweser, Founder of Schweser's Study Program for the CFA Exam "Best Practices for Equity Research Analysts is by far the best written and most comprehensive book that I have read on how to become a top-notch analyst. I shouldn't be surprised; it was written by one of the best analysts that Wall Street has ever seen. Every securities firm should require their analysts to read this book." -- Eli Salzmann, Portfolio Manager Most equity research analysts learn their trade on the job by apprenticing under a senior analyst. However, equity analysts who work for senior producers often havelittle time or incentive to train new hires, and those who do have the time may not have research skills worth emulating. Now, Best Practices for Equity Research Analysts offers promising equity research analysts a practical curriculum for mastering their profession. James J. Valentine, a former Morgan Stanley analyst, explains everything today's competitive analyst needs to know,providing practical training materials for buyand sell-side research analysis in the United States and globally. Conveniently organized for use as a learning tool and everyday reference on the job, Best Practices for Equity Research Analysts covers the five primary areasof the equity research analyst's role: Identifying and monitoring critical factors Creating and updating financial forecasts Deriving price targets or a range of targets Making stock recommendations Communicating stock ideas Expanding upon material covered in undergraduate courses but written specifically to help you perform in the real world, this authoritative book gives you access to the wisdom and expertise of leading professionals in the field. You'll learn best practices for setting up an information hub, influencing others, identifying the critical factors and information sources for better forecasting, creating a better set of financial forecast scenarios, improving valuation and stock-picking techniques, communicating your message effectively, making ethical decisions, and more. Without Best Practices for Equity Research Analysts, you're just treading water in the sink-or-swim world of the equity analyst.