This paper explores the economic impacts of two related tracks of China's expected transformation—economic slowdown and rebalancing away from investment toward consumption—and estimates the spillovers for the rest of the world, with a special focus on Sub-Saharan African countries. The paper finds that an average annual slowdown of gross domestic product in China of 1 percent over 2016–30 is expected to result in a decline of gross domestic product in Sub-Saharan Africa by 1.1 percent and globally by 0.6 percent relative to the past trends scenario by 2030. However, if China's transformation also entails substantial rebalancing, the negative income effects of the economic slowdown could be offset by the positive changes brought along by rebalancing through higher overall imports by China and positive terms of trade effects for its trading partners. If global supply responds positively to the shifts in relative prices and the new sources of consumer demand from China, a substantial rebalancing in China could have an overall favorable impact on the global economy. Economic growth could turn positive and higher on average, by 6 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa and 5.5 percent globally, as compared with the past trends scenario. Finally, rebalancing reduces the prevalence of poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa compared with the isolated negative effects of China's slowdown, which slightly increase the incidence of poverty. Overall, China's slowdown and rebalancing combined are estimated to increase gross domestic product in Sub-Saharan Africa by 4.7 percent by 2030 and reduce poverty, but the extent of this varies by country.


This paper concerns the likely impact of a temporary VAT cut stimulus policy on consumer demand in the UK. It suggests that around 75 per cent of the VAT reduction will be passed on to consumers and that consumers will react by maintaining their expenditure levels and therefore increasing their demand for consumption goods. The uncertainty caused by the downturn makes this a more muted impact than we might have hoped, especially on the demand for durable goods. Nevertheless, it is a substantive impact. In general, the uncertainty caused by the recession will tend to reduce the impact of any stimulus package. It is also argued that synchronising the subsequent rise with the economic upturn is critical.


Aerosol optical depth and Angstrom exponent were obtained from multi filter rotating shadowband radiometer (MFRSR) observations carried out at the island of Lampedusa, in the Central Mediterranean, in the period July 2001–September 2003. The average aerosol optical depth at 495.7 nm, τ, is 0.24±0.14; the average Angstrom exponent, α, is 0.86±0.63. The observed values of τ range from 0.03 to 1.13, and the values of α vary from −0.32 to 2.05, indicating a large variability in aerosol content and size. In cloud-free conditions, 36% of the airmasses come from Africa, 25% from Central-Eastern Europe, and 19% from Western France, Spain and the North Atlantic. In summer, 42% of the airmasses is of African origin. In almost all cases African aerosols display high values of τ and low values of α, typical of Saharan dust (average values of τ and α are 0.36 and 0.42, respectively). Particles originating from Central-Eastern Europe show relatively large average values of τ and α (0.23 and 1.5, respectively), while particles from Western France, Spain and the North Atlantic show the lowest average values of τ (0.15), and relatively small values of α (0.92). Intermediate values of α are often connected with relatively fast changes of the airmass originating sector, suggesting the contemporary presence of different types of particles in the air column. Clean marine conditions are rare at Lampedusa, and are generally associated with subsidence of the airmasses reaching the island. Average values of τ and α for clean marine conditions are 0.11 and 0.86, respectively. The largest values of α (about 2) were observed in August 2003, when large scale forest fires in Southern Europe produced consistent amounts of fine combustion particles, that were transported to the Central Mediterranean by a persistent high pressure system over Central Europe. Smoke particles in some cases mix with desert dust, producing intermediate values of α. The seasonal distribution of the meteorological patterns over the Mediterranean, the efficiency of the aerosol production mechanisms, and the variability of the particles' residence time produce a distinct seasonal cycle of aerosol optical depths and Angstrom exponent values. Particles originating from all sectors show a summer maximum in aerosol optical depth. The summer increase in optical depth for European aerosols is linked with an increment in the values of α, that indicates an enhancement in the number of fine particles. The summer maximum of τ for African particles is associated with a weak reduction in the Angstrom exponent, suggesting an increase in the total number of particles and a relatively more intense transport of large particles. The observations were classified according to the aerosol optical properties, and two main classes have been identified: desert dust and biomass burning/urban-industrial aerosols. Values of τ and α averaged over the whole observing period are 0.37 and 0.15 for desert dust, and 0.27 and 1.77 for urban-industrial/biomass burning aerosols.


Heart failure is a common reason for admission to the hospital and to critical care units. The care of patients with heart failure is changing almost daily as new research and therapies become available. Nurses caring for these patients must use available information and assessment findings to discern which type of heart failure exists in each patient. In this way, the care provided can be enhanced, and outcomes can be optimized. Critically thinking nurses can positively influence patients' quality of life and potentially reduce the devastating morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure.


Materials with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) are being investigated for magnetic random access memory (MRAM) and other spintronics applications. This article is an overview of the developments in this topic. At first, a historical overview of the magnetic memory is presented along with the fundamentals of MRAM using the field‐assisted scheme. Later on, the principle of spin‐transfer torque (STT) is explained briefly along with the STT‐MRAM design requirements. Here, it is described that the MRAM design is a challenge where a choice has to be made to meet five criteria, a phenomenon called MRAM pentalemma. The main part of the article focuses on the discussion of materials with PMA. The focus is made first on multilayers such as Co/Pd and Co/Pt which have been widely investigated, followed by the recent observation of PMA in FeCoB. In subsequent sections, the progress in future candidates such as FePt is discussed. The article concludes with a summary of the challenges and future directions in this research topic. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


When down-at-heel Glasgow conjurer, William Wilson gets booked for a string of cabaret gigs in Berlin, he's hoping his luck's on the turn. There were certain spectators from his last show who he'd rather forget. Like the one who's now a corpse. Amongst the showgirls and tricksters of Berlin's scandalous underground Wilson can abandon his heart, his head and, more importantly, his past. But secrets have a habit of catching up with him and, as he gets sucked into certain lucrative after-hours work, the line between what's an act and what's real starts to blur.


Due to the fact that English language learners (ELLs) often do not have the same educational opportunities or outcomes as non-ELL students in the United States, the professional standards for initial certification for teaching English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) call on ESOL teachers to advocate for them. Yet little research exists on how ESOL teachers view this role or what advocacy actions they believe are important. In this study of preservice teachers in ESOL teacher education programs, the majority of participants rate the advocacy actions as important to the ESOL teacher role. Advocacy actions in the classroom and school are rated as more important than those outside the school in the community. The study also reveals two factors that are positively associated with beliefs about the importance of advocacy: more time in the teacher education program and having other teaching experience besides ESOL. Based on this research, the author suggests more clearly delineated advocacy actions to better prepare preservice ESOL teachers in teacher education programs for classroom and school-based advocacy and to support in-service ESOL teachers in different levels of advocacy (in the classroom and school or beyond) at different stages in their careers.


One of the biggest challenges teachers face in today's classrooms is instructing students who are non-native English speakers. Research supports using drama and movement to enhance the literacy development of English language learners. Besides being "fun" learning experiences for children, drama and movement have proven to assist with developing decoding skills, fluency, vocabulary, syntactic knowledge, discourse knowledge and metacognitive thinking. Additional benefits for English language learners include increased motivation and reduced anxiety. This article explores various ways to incorporate drama and movement into classroom activities to support English language learners' literacy development. ********** I believe in action and activity. The brain learns best and retains most when the organism is actively involved in exploring physical sites and materials and asking questions to which it actually craves answers. Merely passive experiences tend to attenuate and have little lasting impact (Gardner, 1999, p. 82). When drama and movement are integrated within the daily curriculum, engaging and numerous learning experiences transpire for early childhood learners (Chauhan, 2004; Royka, 2002). Besides being "fun" for most children, kinesthetic activities can help young learners, especially English language learners, develop decoding skills, fluency, vocabulary, syntactic knowledge, discourse knowledge, and metacognitive thinking (Sun, 2003). Teaching language skills through drama and movement gives children a context for listening and meaningful language production, provides opportunities for reading and writing development (Chauhan, 2004), and involves children in reading and writing as a holistic and meaningful communication process (McNamee, McLane, Cooper, & Kerwin, 1985). In addition to the development of gross and fine motor coordination skills, creative expression and thinking, social interaction, problem solving, cooperative play, rhythm, and rhyming skills can be enhanced. Young children are often more receptive to any kind of drama activity since they are closer to the exploration stage of development (Royka, 2002) thus, early childhood teachers often use games, play, and drama activities in their daily classroom instruction. Integrating drama and movement techniques into the early childhood classroom can be especially effective in the development of language proficiency for English language learners (ELLs). These kinesthetic, authentic experiences use language in an interactive context (O'Malley & Pierce, 1996). Using the Total Physical Response (TPR) and the Language Experience Approach (LEA) are two techniques to facilitate learning through drama and movement and can be integrated across the curriculum. Drama and Literacy in the Classroom Dramatic Literature-Based Experiences and English Language Learners: Facilitating dramatic literature-based experiences to support English Language Learners (ELLs) is vital. Peregoy and Boyle (2008) suggested that acting out stories and events is a highly motivating approach for students to process and to share information. Wright and her colleagues (2007) agreed and added that dramatizing stories is not only motivational but allows students to think in more sophisticated ways. Other benefits of story dramatization include introducing children to the process of writing, allowing for creative expression of ideas and feelings, providing opportunities to develop social skills, and allowing young children to work through ideas and experiences (Cooper, 1993; Paley 1990). Opportunities for ELLs to develop reading fluency and a better understanding of syntactic knowledge through the reading and writing of stories are provided with the implementation of dramatic experiences in the early childhood classroom. Tompkins (2009) stated, "Listening is a key to language development because children learn English as they listen to the teacher and classmates talk and read aloud" (p. …


This study aims to understand how clients' expectations of therapy are experienced during the therapeutic process. It aims to explore the kinds of expectations clients bring as well as what happens to these and because of them, but above all the aim is to understand how this feels for clients and what sense they make of it. Much of the existing literature consists of questionnaire-based research, asking clients to choose between quantifiable options identifying types of expectations and how these correlate with types of outcome. However, anecdotal evidence from clinical practice suggests that clients may arrive with a very vague notion, at best, of what they are signing up for. This can mean negligible knowledge of elements central to therapy such as what the process involves, what kind of relationship to expect with the therapist or what will be expected of the client him or herself.

If clients do arrive with a lack of information, together with (sometimes intense) need, it is felt that there is a clear responsibility on the therapist to respond to this. One way therapists can do so is by taking the time to ask about expectations, including those to do with process and relationship as well as goals. They can listen to clients'responses and on that basis, it seems reasonable, they can explain and negotiate a suitable, agreed approach at the beginning of therapy. But how often therapists prioritise such concerns when faced with other priorities (including the need for assessment and formulation, time constraints, earning a living, logistics, contracting and a client's immediate emotional needs) is an important question. It was the belief that client expectations, though crucial, may sometimes be neglected that led to this research.

Importantly, lack of clarity in clients' pre-therapy expectations can be replaced by post-hoc certainty about what they would have wanted had they known more. For the current study this raised questions about how best to investigate expectancy. Ask clients before they start and they may say something akin to "I don't know"; ask them afterwards and they may be in a position to draw on retrospective understanding not available to them earlier. Asking beforehand also risks contaminating or influencing the very subject being explored – as well as the therapy itself. For this reason, while it may seem perverse to ask about client expectations after therapy, hindsight is seen as providing a valuable route to understanding how clients experience their assumptions, predictions, hopes, fears and guesses – their expectations overall.

This is not to argue that expectations are not there before therapy begins. Some may arise during the process but others may be present beforehand. Others still may have been present earlier but only become clear when illuminated by the experience of therapy. This growth in clarity can be central to progress in therapy but can also undermine it and lead to dropout where expectations are not fulfilled. In personcentred terms, expectations can be seen as the first step towards expression of the self-actualising tendency (Rogers, 2004), the most basic starting point of agency. Awareness of expectations can make it possible to work with this force and achieve transformation in therapy. Neglecting expectations can be tantamount to opposing the same drive, thwarting progress and potentially leading to dropout from therapy.

Due to the sometimes elusive and always deeply subjective nature of expectations, clients are asked here to give accounts of their experience in their own words. This means that qualitative methods are seen as appropriate, in particular Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis because this maximises access to the client's subjective sense while balancing this with a capacity to stand back and attempt to bring objectivity to bear as well. Better recognition and understanding of these experiences are likely to help therapists empower their clients and facilitate commitment,engagement, agency and other goals in therapy, as well as improve the overall outcome.

In these ways understanding how clients experience their expectations of therapy during therapy is centrally relevant to counselling psychology and its philosophical bases in phenomenology, humanism and existentialism. In particular it is relevant to the value counselling psychology places on the client's subjective perspective and on the necessity of engaging with this, as well as the core priority it places on understanding and nurturing the therapeutic relationship (Woolfe, 2012).


Sodium hexatitanate Na2Ti6O13 with a tunnel structure has been proposed to be an attractive anode material for lithium ion batteries because of its low insertion voltage, structural stability and good reversibility. In order to obtain a full understanding of the properties of this titanate, a combination of in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and 7Li MAS solid-state NMR spectroscopy is used in the present work. During the first insertion stage (centered at 1.3 V), lithium is allocated in square planar LiO4 2c (Li1) sites, minimizing electrostatic repulsion with Na ions. During the second lithium uptake (centered at 1.1 V), Li ions pass from 2c to empty 4i (Li2) sites of y/b = 0.5 planes, near Ti3+ cations. Distribution of Li+ and Na+ ions with respect to Ti3+ cations was deduced from Fourier map differences (Rietveld technique) and NMR quantitative analyses in Li0.8Na2Ti6O13 and Li1.7Na2Ti6O13 samples. 7Li MAS-NMR analysis showed that Li ions occupy three fourfold coordinated sites with reasonable Li+–O–Ti3+ bond distances, while Na cations remain at eightfold coordinated positions near Ti4+ cations as deduced from 23Na MAS-NMR spectroscopy. 7Li MAS-NMR recorded at increasing temperatures suggests that Li ions move along sinusoidal paths to reduce Li–Na electrostatic interactions. Li mobility along the b-axis is favored by partial occupation of interstitial 4i sites (Li3) located at both sides of Na cations in y/b = 0 planes. In lithium inserted samples the most probable – Li1(2c) → Li3(4i) → Li1(2c) – conduction paths were deduced. However, formation of Li pairs at y/b = 0 planes (Li2 sites), where Li ions are located near Ti3+ cations, reduces the amount of mobile Li ions that participate in conduction processes. Proximity of lithium to Li and Na ions limits insertion to ca. 2 Li ions per structural formula.


Abstract A large set of long sediment cores and high-resolution seismic-reflection data were used to study the sedimentology of the delta-fed prograding slope of the northwest Gulf of Mexico, during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6 (125–180 ka). Bryant and Eastern canyon systems were the main pathways during this period through which Mississippi River sediment was delivered down the continental slope. Two MIS 6 sedimentary environments have been defined on the slope of the northwest Gulf of Mexico: intracanyon and overbank environments. The erosional action of turbidity currents in Bryant and Eastern canyons was focused mainly on the thalweg, whereas, on the rest of the canyon floors, the flows acquired a mainly depositional character, resulting in the formation of inner levees and terraces. MIS 6 deposits in overbank environments consist entirely of thick (> 50 m), widespread (> 15–20 km), and continuous successions of mud turbidites, which indicate that spillover processes were dominant along Bryant and Eastern canyons. The total absence of bioturbation structures and hemipelagic sediments in MIS 6 overbank deposits indicate high sedimentation rates exceeding 200–600 cm/ky. The majority of the overbank deposits are normally graded, indicating that most of the turbidity currents during MIS 6 resulted from sediment failures on the outer shelf and upper continental slope. Sedimentological observations indicate that a complete mud turbidite sequence (T0–8 sequence in the nomenclature of Stow and Shanmugam 1980) results from a waning low-density turbidity current consisting of four successive flow-regime stages: (1) an initial erosional stage (≥ 30 cm/s), (2) deposition of the coarsest, noncohesive fraction (silt) of the suspended sediment in the flows (30–100 cm/s), (3) cyclic deposition of cohesive (mud) and noncohesive (silt) laminae due to fluctuations in the shear stress in the boundary layer of the flow (12–30 cm/s), and (4) deposition from a silt-depleted and slowly moving (≤ 15 cm/s) sediment cloud.


Fossils from Paleogene High Arctic deposits provide some of the clearest evidence for greenhouse climates in the past and offer the potential to improve our understanding of Earth system dynamics in a largely ice-free world. One of the most well-known and stunningly preserved polar forest sites, Napartulik, crops out of middle Eocene (47.9–37.8 Ma) sediments on eastern Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada (∼78°N paleolatitude). An abundance of data from Napartulik suggests mean annual temperatures at least 30 °C warmer than today and atmospheric water loads 2× current levels. Despite this wealth of paleontological and paleoclimatological data, there are currently no direct constraints on atmospheric CO 2 levels for Napartulik or any other polar forest site. Here we apply a new plant gas-exchange model to Metasequoia (dawn redwood) leaves to reconstruct atmospheric CO 2 from six fossil forest horizons at Napartulik. Individual reconstructions vary between 392 ppm and 474 ppm, with a site median of 424 ppm (351–523 ppm at 95% confidence). These estimates represent the first direct constraints on CO 2 for a High Arctic forest and suggest that the temperate conditions present at Napartulik during the middle Eocene were maintained under CO 2 concentrations ∼1.5× pre-industrial levels. Our results support the case that long-term climate sensitivity to CO 2 in the past was sometimes high, even during largely ice-free periods, highlighting the need to better understand the climate forcings and feedbacks responsible for this amplification.


[1] In this article I present some considerations on the measuring of musical rhythm with earlier research on rhythm and timing in Scandinavian traditional fiddle music as a point of reference (Ahlback, 1995; Bengtsson. 1974; Blom, 1981, 1993; Johansson, 2010a, 2010b, 2015; Kvifte, 1999, 2004; Waadeland,2000). The styles of music in question are called pols, springar or polska and often share the feature of being rhythmically irregular with beats of different (asymmetrical triple meter with long-average-short or short-long-average beat cycles) and varying duration.1 In addition, the fiddle (here also including the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle) produces sound images which are particularly challenging to account for in terms of rhythmic onsets or attack points. These features provide an interesting point of departure for discussing the merits of different approaches to measuring rhythm, here understood as the systematic determination of the duration of rhythmic units (measures, beats and individual notes/tones/sounds). Such determination equals the identification of attacks/onsets and the subsequent measurement of inter-onset intervals (IOIs) (Danielson, 2010). It is important to note that IOIs represent but one out of several aspects, or outputs, of timing behavior (see below), which implies that possibilities for generalization should be defined accordingly.


© in this edition Edinburgh University Press, 2011. A medical school associated with Archie Cochrane's MRC epidemiology research unit and Professor C.R. Lowe's multidisciplinary university department of social and occupational medicine was ideally placed to develop academic general practice as an interface between biomedicine and community medicine. In 1968, Robert Harvard Davis, an Oxford graduate and general practitioner in Cardiff, was appointed to Professor Lowe's department to establish an academic unit of general practice with teaching and research responsibilities. He established a presence in the department of social and occupational medicine and then negotiated with Cardiff City Council to co-fund the building of an academic health centre on a new housing estate (Llanedeyrn) on the outskirts of Cardiff. The Welsh National School of Medicine (part of the University of Wales) supported the development and backed Harvard Davis as he raised charitable money and secured NHS cooperation in the establishment of a model NHS general practice that served the population of the Llanedeyrn area and provided clinical teaching for medical students. Facilities for general practitioners, nurses, health visitors, social workers, physiotherapy and pharmacy were included in the building plans: a model for teamwork. A temporary building provided accommodation for the rapidly growing practice until 1971 when Llanedeyrn Health Centre opened. It was staffed by a combination of young academic general practitioners who worked in the practice and for the university, together with some older practitioners who worked part-time in their own practices and part-time in the academic unit at Llanedeyrn. Most of the funding for these posts came from NHS sources during the 1970s, with minimal university funding.


The aim of this practice-based art project is to explore the necessary absurdities of the established systems of scientific exploration, and how those absurdities are amplified when that exploration is undertaken by a layperson. I am presenting the resulting data in its raw state, with no condensation, or concession to user-friendliness. The way that this information is being unpacked and expanded mirrors the second law of thermodynamics, which mandates the expansion of entropy (in this context entropy can be read as information) in a closed system, which can never decrease, and will only increase. In doing this, I am attempting to take those absurdities to the level of the sublime, so that the effort that the pieces require is felt when one views the piece. In order to access that sense of the sublime, it is important that everything I do, I take to its maximum logical conclusion. For that reason, I use computers extensively because I am able to get much more done, and therefore "everything that I can do" will be much closer that that sublime infinite. The proviso to computer usage is that I cannot do anything whose processes I do not understand, so that the computer does not rob me of the need to exert mental effort, and so that the viewer can still get a sense of that effort.


We consider positive rules in which the conclusion may contain existentially quantified variables, which makes reasoning tasks (such as Deduction) undecidable. These rules, called ∀∃-rules, have the same logical form as TGD (tuple-generating dependencies) in databases and as conceptual graph rules. The aim of this paper is to provide a clearer picture of the frontier between decidability and non-decidability of reasoning with these rules. We show that Deduction remains undecidable with a single ∀∃-rule; then we show that none of the known abstract decidable classes is recognizable. Turning our attention to concrete decidable classes, we provide new classes and classify all known classes by inclusion. Finally, we study, in a systematic way, the question "given two decidable sets of ∀∃-rules, is their union decidable?", and provide an answer for all known decidable cases except one.


Secondary seed dormancy in oilseed rape is a phenomenon that allows seeds to survive in the soil for many years without germination. Following soil cultivation, dormant seeds may germinate in subsequent years, and they are the main reason for the occurrence of volunteer oilseed rape plants in successive crops. Inheritance of secondary dormancy may be related to seed longevity (SL) in the soil. Genetic reduction in secondary dormancy and SL could provide a mean to reduce the frequency of volunteer plants and especially the dispersal of transgenic oilseed rape. The aim of the present study was to analyse secondary dormancy, germination rate and SL of 28 black-seeded winter oilseed rape cultivars using in vitro laboratory tests. The material was tested in field experiments at six different locations in Germany in 2008/2009. Significant effects of the genotype and the location on all traits were found. Heritability was high for secondary dormancy (0.97) and moderate for germination rate (0.70) and SL (0.71). Results indicate that a selection for low secondary dormancy would be effective.


Political decentralization as a strategy to bring development to the local areas underpins the creation of
local government administration in Nigeria. Thus, the principal task is to promote efficient provision and
supply of public goods. But the crisis of development at the local government level which is attributable
to the failure of extant local government administration system has raised the imperative of paradigmatic
rethinking towards local governance. Unlike local government administrative system currently in place
with its narrow and restrictive arena, local governance is all-encompassing i.e. involving informal
institutions, networks, community organizations, neighbourhood associations etc. With service delivery,
flexibility and participation advantage, this paper examines local governance operation in some selected
areas-security, water supply; healthcare etc. and thus argues that local governance offers a potential
solution to this endemic problem of development failure at the local level. Identifying patron-clientelism,
corruption and political unaccountability as militating factors against efficient local government
administration, this paper concludes that local government autonomy will guarantee the success of local
governance in service delivery.
Key words: Local Governance, Local Government, Public Goods, Corruption.


Just after the close of World War II, America's political and scientific leaders reached an informal consensus on how science could best serve the nation and how government might best support science. The consensus lasted a generation before it broke under the pressures created by the Vietnam War. Since then the nation has struggled to reestablish shared beliefs about the means and goals of science policy. In American Science Policy Since World War II, author Bruce L. R. Smith makes sense of the break between science and government and identifies the patterns on postwar science affairs. He explains that what might otherwise seem to be a miscellaneous set of separate episodes actually constituted a continuing debate of national importance that was closely linked to broad political and economic trends. Smith's precise and unique analysis gives both the scholar and historian a better understanding of where we are and how we got there while casting a modest light on future policy directions.


CONTEXT
Policymakers and practitioners continue to pursue initiatives designed to engage individuals in their health and health care despite discordant views and mixed evidence regarding the ability to cultivate greater individual engagement that improves Americans' health and well-being and helps manage health care costs. There is limited and mixed evidence regarding the value of different interventions.

METHODS
Based on our involvement in evaluating various community-based consumer engagement initiatives and a targeted literature review of models of behavior change, we identified the need for a framework to classify the universe of consumer engagement initiatives toward advancing policymakers' and practitioners' knowledge of their value and fit in various contexts. We developed a framework that expanded our conceptualization of consumer engagement, building on elements of two common models, the individually focused transtheoretical model of behavior and the broader, multilevel social ecological model. Finally, we applied this framework to one community's existing consumer engagement program.

FINDINGS
Consumer engagement in health and health care refers to the performance of specific behaviors ("engaged behaviors") and/or an individual's capacity and motivation to perform these behaviors ("activation"). These two dimensions are related but distinct and thus should be differentiated. The framework creates four classification schemas, by (1) targeted behavior types (self-management, health care encounter, shopping, and health behaviors) and by (2) individual, (3) group, and (4) community dimensions. Our example illustrates that the framework can systematically classify a variety of consumer engagement programs, and that this exercise and resulting characterization can provide a structured way to consider the program and how its components fit program goals both individually and collectively.

CONCLUSIONS
Applying the framework could help advance the field by making policymakers and practitioners aware of the wide range of approaches, providing a structured way to organize and characterize interventions retrospectively, and helping them consider how they can meet the program's goals both individually and collectively.


This paper explores the potential to converge the theory of political ecology with the environmental justice discipline as means to promote more effective civil society actions against macro-economic risks, whilst analysing the case of South Africa. Such a convergence could result in mutual benefit for both arenas that already share a commitment towards justice. Whilst political ecology has focused on theoretical perspectives, which are mostly applied in rural areas, and examined justice in a larger macro-economic framework, environmental justice has been confined to an empirical focus at a local urban level, which is unable to link local struggles to larger political economic frameworks. Additionally, both arenas generally view civil society as coherent entities that act against the state and industry. Both disciplines should re-evaluate geographic scales and reconfigure romanticised understandings of civil society actions in order to attain justice.


REPRODUCING THE FIN-DE-SIECLE GOTHIC WITH TECHNO-GOTHIC VAMPIRES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE ALIEN QUADRILOGY AND BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA'S EXILE AbstractMany critics have agreed on defining both the Dracula novel by Bram Stoker and the Alien series as horror narratives, with specific reference to the latter as a form of contemporary Gothic. Indeed, several collections of critical essays and scholarly volumes on the Gothic analyse both the work of Dracula and the Alien films. In this article, I intend to examine the similarities between Stoker's 1897 work and the four films of Alien, produced between 1979 and 1998. Specifically, I will examine the characteristics of the 1890s Gothic and refer them to the Alien films. These works can be associated to each other by comparing the scholarly work by the critics and particularly their focus on the sexual metaphors and contents present in these texts. Certainly, innumerable literary and...


Stemming from ancient practices of female infanticide, the system of eliminating females is not decreasing with time and understanding, or with contemporary notions of post-modern gender equality. Rather, gendercide reflects the low status of female people around the world, and is increasing with advances in reproductive technology. Further complicating these gender equality concerns is the fact that gendercide is mostly accomplished by women. This essay deals directly with teaching, case books and curriculum in legal education in the context of reproductive rights and gender equality. Because the global problem of gender discrimination is advancing based on reproductive liberty, legal educators and scholars must be prepared to do something about it. This piece offers suggestions for scholarship, curriculum, and casebooks that will make a great deal of difference for furthering gender equality. Particularly in feminist discourse reproductive rights are inherent to gender equality, an idea also generally prevalent in legal education. When gender equality's foundation relies on unregulated reproductive rights, and those rights work to the actual diminishment and severe detriment of females, gender equality is turned against itself, even cannibalized, resulting in a sabotage of women in the colliding legal ideals of liberty and equality. This phenomenon in legal education undermines the ability to honestly discuss the conflict – undercutting gender equality at its foundation – making gender equality all the more challenging to achieve. This essay takes that challenge, considering reproductive sex selective technology, examining how it fosters gender inequality through both numbers and theory, and discussing what legal scholars and educators can do about it. It offers suggestions for solid scholarship, various appropriate casebook enhancements, and suggestions for teaching a curriculum of gender equality with justifiable incorporation of the impact of gendercide on gender equality.


A method to prepare 1,3-disubstituted 2,6-diketopiperazines (2,6-DKP) as useful heterocyclic library scaffolds in the search of new leads for drug discovery is described. The method can be used in solution-phase and solid-phase conditions. In the key step of the synthesis, the imido portion of the new molecule is formed in solution through intramolecular cyclization, under basic conditions, of a secondary amide nitrogen on a benzyl ester. A Wang resin carboxylic ester is used as the acylating agent under solid-phase conditions, allowing the cyclization to take place with simultaneous cleavage of the product from the resin ("cyclocleavage"). The synthetic method worked well with several couples of amino acids, independently from their configuration, and was used for the parallel synthesis of a series of fully characterized compounds. The use of iterative conditions in the solid phase (repeated addition of fresh solvent and potassium carbonate to the resin after filtering out the product-containing solution) allowed us to keep diastereoisomer content below the detection limit by HPLC and (1)H NMR (200 MHz).


Textile waste is a global problem and one in which we all must tackle together to minimize. In the UK alone 350,000 tonnes of textile waste goes to landfill each year. In order to foster pro environmental behaviors in the household and for it to become part of our culture, recycling awareness must be converted into practice.

Bringing together sustainability and innovative technology, the focus of this enquiry, aims to examine, design and manufacturing possibilities using recycled Polyester filament to 3D print fashion garments. This explorative journey will determine whether it is feasible to use this material to create wearable or sculptural fashion pieces, through design, development, sampling and testing whilst using an entirely sustainable material.

Recycled PET has been used for many years by outdoors clothing companies such as Patagonia who have been the pioneers of using old polyester clothing and recycling it back into new yarn to make more clothing. Working with Teijin a Japanese high-performance material developer since 2005 they have been able to advance their environmental responsibilities further into more of their products. In this study, the use of rPET will be explored.

Since 2010 3D printing has emerged as a new method of manufacture for clothing. This is mainly evident in experimental sculptural forms for women as seen by Iris van Herpen. Likening the development and commercialization of 3D printing in fashion to that of the desktop computer. In the beginning, few could afford or know how to use a PC, in time many improvements made it more affordable, smaller and more commercial. We are at the beginning of this journey with 3D printing in fashion but like the PC, before too long it will be commonplace to all.


Many plants and animals are defended from predation or herbivory by inhibitory secondary metabolites, which in the marine environment are very common among sessile organisms. Among bacteria, where there is the greatest metabolic potential, little is known about chemical defenses against bacterivorous consumers. An emerging hypothesis is that sessile bacterial communities organized as biofilms serve as bacterial refuge from predation. By testing growth and survival of two common bacterivorous nanoflagellates, we find evidence that chemically mediated resistance against protozoan predators is common among biofilm populations in a diverse set of marine bacteria. Using bioassay-guided chemical and genetic analysis, we identified one of the most effective antiprotozoal compounds as violacein, an alkaloid that we demonstrate is produced predominately within biofilm cells. Nanomolar concentrations of violacein inhibit protozoan feeding by inducing a conserved eukaryotic cell death program. Such biofilm-specific chemical defenses could contribute to the successful persistence of biofilm bacteria in various environments and provide the ecological and evolutionary context for a number of eukaryote-targeting bacterial metabolites.


Background: Surgical adhesive drapes can be used to create an aseptic area around the operative wound to reduce bacterial infection. However, the efficacy of such drapes in preventing wound infection remains unclear. Few studies have examined the effects of iodophor-impregnated and iodophor-free adhesive drapes on bacteria in the deeper layers of the epidermis. We therefore plan to compare the effects of 3M iodophor-impregnated antibacterial adhesive drapes and 3M aseptic iodophor-free adhesive drapes on the incidence of wound infection and wound healing after total hip arthroplasty. Methods/Design: We will perform a single-center, randomized, double-blinded, parallel-cohort controlled trial at the Hospital of Bone Injury, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China. A total of 120 patients scheduled for total hip arthroplasty will be numbered according to their sequence of admission to the operating room and sex, in a single-blinded manner: men, nos. 1-60 and women, nos. 1-60. Odd-numbered patients will be operated on using iodophor-impregnated adhesive drapes, and even-numbered with iodophor-free adhesive drapes at the surgical site. Peri-articular tissue will be harvested for bacterial culture after disinfection and again between the end of surgery and prior to skin suturing. The primary outcomes will be Bacterial culture results, wound healing time and grade, The secondary outcomes will be pain score (Visual Analog Scale), Harris score, and X-ray results. Discussion: The trial outcomes will support the rational use of iodophor-impregnated surgical adhesive drapes for preventing wound infections after total hip arthroplasty. Trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT02707302. Ethical approval: This study protocol acquired written approval from Ethics Committee of Hospital of Bone Injury, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China (approval No. 2016-001-01), and will be performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki developed by the World Medical Association.


Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a leading cause of adult cancer mortality in the United States. Recent studies have revealed that point mutation of the K-ras oncogene is a common event in pancreatic cancer, and oncogenesis mediated by Ras may also involve activation of Rel/nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B transcription factors. Furthermore, the c-rel member of Rel/NF-kappa B transcription factor family was first identified as a cellular homologue of the v-rel oncogene, suggesting that other members of the Rel/NF-kappa B family are potentially oncogenes. We therefore investigated the possibility that Rel/NF-kappa B transcription factors are activated in pancreatic cancer. Immunohistochemical analysis, Western blot and Northern blot analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assays were performed to determine RelA activity in human pancreatic adenocarcinomas and normal tissues and nontumorigenic or tumorigenic cell lines. RelA, the p65 subunit of NF-kappa B, was constitutively activated in approximately 67% (16 of 24) of pancreatic adenocarcinomas but not in normal pancreatic tissues. Constitutive RelA activity was also detected in 9 of 11 human pancreatic tumor cell lines but not in nontumorigenic Syrian golden hamster cell lines. I kappa B alpha, a previously identified NF-kappa B-inducible gene, was overexpressed in human pancreatic tumor tissues and cell lines, and RelA activation could be inhibited by curcumin and dominant-negative mutants of I kappa B alpha, raf, and MEKK1. This is the first report demonstrating constitutive activation of RelA in nonlymphoid human cancer. These data are consistent with the possibility that RelA is constitutively activated by the upstream signaling pathway involving Ras and mitogen-activated protein kinases in pancreatic tumor cells. Constitutive RelA activity may play a key role in pancreatic tumorigenesis through activation of its downstream target genes.


The emergence of data-intensive science as the fourth science paradigm has posed a data deluge challenge for enacting scientific workflows. The scientific community is facing an imminent flood of data from the next generation of experiments and simulations, besides dealing with the heterogeneity and complexity of data, applications and execution environments. New scientific workflows involve execution on distributed and heterogeneous computing resources across organisational and geographical boundaries, processing gigabytes of live data streams and petabytes of archived and simulation data, in various formats and from multiple sources. Managing the enactment of such workflows not only requires larger storage space and faster machines, but the capability to support scalability and diversity of the users, applications, data, computing resources and the enactment technologies. We argue that the enactment process can be made efficient using optimisation techniques in an appropriate architecture. This architecture should support the creation of diversified applications and their enactment on diversified execution environments, with a standard interface, i.e. a workflow language. The workflow language should be both human readable and suitable for communication between the enactment environments. The data-streaming model central to this architecture provides a scalable approach to large-scale data exploitation. Data-flow between computational elements in the scientific workflow is implemented as streams. To cope with the exploratory nature of scientific workflows, the architecture should support fast workflow prototyping, and the re-use of workflows and workflow components. Above all, the enactment process should be easily repeated and automated. In this thesis, we present a candidate data-intensive architecture that includes an intermediate workflow language, named DISPEL. We create a new fine-grained measurement framework to capture performance-related data during enactments, and design a performance database to organise them systematically. We propose a new enactment strategy to demonstrate that optimisation of data-streaming workflows can be automated by exploiting performance data gathered during previous enactments.


The New World tropics are home to the richest avifauna on the planet, with more than 4,000 species, many of them endemic. Two groups found exclusively in this region are the cotingas and the manakins. Few other families of birds have such widespread appeal. They are much sought after by birders for their colorful displays, unusual plumages, and, in some cases, great rarity. Their natural history and behavior offer fascinating case studies for evolutionary biologists, while the intriguingly elusive relationships of these birds are of profound interest to taxonomists. Cotingas and Manakins is the definitive work on these jewels of the Neotropics, covering more than 130 species. These range from some of the rarest and most enigmatic birds in the world to some of the best studied of all tropical species. Many are breathtakingly colorful and ornate while some are plain and difficult to see. This stunning volume features 34 color plates by Eustace Barnes, who has observed many of these species in the field, as well as distribution maps and approximately 400 color photographs that cover all but a tiny handful of species. Complete with detailed species accounts describing key identification features, Cotingas and Manakins is the authoritative illustrated guide to these magnificent Neotropical birds. * Covers more than 130 species of cotingas and manakins * Features 34 color plates and about 400 color photos * Includes detailed species accounts and distribution maps * The must-have illustrated guide to these colorful and exotic birds


An extension of the classic keto−enol tautomerization of β-dicarbonyl compounds into a kinetic analysis of deuterium exchange is presented. It is shown that acetylacetone and ethyl acetoacetate undergo nearly complete deuterium exchange of the α-methylene carbon when dissolved in methanol-d4. The extent of deuteration may be monitored via NMR spectroscopy as a function of time. A mechanism for deuterium exchange is presented and shown to be consistent with a consecutive first-order process. The data for acetylacetone are consistent with steady-state kinetics, whereas those of ethyl acetoacetate illustrate nonsteady-state behavior, offering an accessible example where students might collect and analyze real data to examine the applicability of the steady-state approximation.


Abstract : This study is a comprehensive analysis for psychokinesis. The characteristics of psychokinesis are examined by reviewing and analyzing available experimental studies, articles, and texts. The characteristics and applications were analyzed and recorded to determine if the collective literature reported and supported the explicit or implicit utility of psychokinesis as a tool of warfare. The results of the study reveals three main conclusions. First, psychokinesis could, with continued research, have a potential military value for future military operations when psychokinesis has been developed to the point for effective utilization. The second conclusion was that the implications of psychokinesis with respect to warfare strategy are not of immediate concern, but are of long range consideration impacting on command and control. The military application of psychokinesis has future possibilities, but is not sufficiently researched and refined for implementation at this time was the third conclusion.


The market for coal is of increasing significance in policy discussions on carbon reduction. Because the coal market has become increasingly internationalized, and because of the importance of coal in energy generation for industrial purposes and the limitations and costliness of alternative cleaner technologies, the use of multi-country, multi-sectoral computable general equilibrium (CGE) economic models is very popular for the evaluation of policies. These types of models frequently contain generic market structure assumptions that enhance the general applicability of the models but may limit their value for specific issues. This article evaluates the effects of imperfect competition in the international coal market under the CGE modeling framework. The results generated under various market structure scenarios are very similar, indicating that the structure of the international coal market does not play a significant role in determining the policy simulation outcomes. It can be concluded that coal-related CGE analyses can make use of the simple but robust perfect competition assumption and priority can be given to issues other than the underlying international coal market structure.


Noise pollution is a common environmental problem that directly or indirectly affects people health, productivity, behavior, and sometimes leading to death. Harmful noises are extensively found within specific environments such as airports, power stations, railway lines, road works, factories, construction, demolition sites, etc. Countries around the world initiated regulations in terms of monitoring as well as controlling and treating such pollution. These regulations raised the issue of finding a suitable, cost-effective, and reliable technology to encounter the noise pollution effects. Traditional manual noise detection and treatment solutions are not scalable to the high demand in time and space. So, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) can provide an effective, inexpensive, and flexible real-time acquisition platform to support the detection and control process of noise pollution sources. This paper brings the concept of noise pollution to the light. Also, a model is proposed for automatically monitoring, detecting, and controlling abnormal sound pressure levels representing noise pollution in the ambient environments. The proposed approach utilizes the integration of wireless sensing and Smartphone technologies for dealing with that type of pollution.


This study reports a calibration of Raman band positions for the determination of the Na/K ratio in disordered alkali feldspars. Crystals along the join sanidine–analbite were synthesised in steps of 10 mol% by ion exchange from a natural sanidine from Volkesfeld and were analysed by electron microprobe. Calibrations were made for the positions of three Raman bands located at 120–142 cm −1 (band A), 454–461 cm −1 (band B) and 510–514 cm −1 (band D) and for the difference between D and A (ΔDA). The calibrations for band A and ΔDA are most suitable for the determination of composition. They show two linear trends with an intersection at about K/(Na+K) = 0.32, which is probably due to the phase transition between the monoclinic and triclinic crystal structures of sanidine and anorthoclase, respectively. For anorthoclase (K/(Na+K) 0.32) the correlation K/(Na+K) = 7.3675 − 0.0550 · RS was obtained. Both correlations allow the determination of K/(Na+K) with an accuracy of better than ± 0.04 for the synthetic anorthoclase and sanidine. The application of this calibration to natural samples was tested by analysing a series of alkali feldspars (K/(Na+K) = 0.28 − 0.86) from various volcanic rocks. These data suggest that the calibration can be used to estimate the K/(Na+K) ratio in natural disordered alkali feldspars with an accuracy of better than 0.1. A further improvement can be reached by using ΔDA, for which the correlations K/(Na+K) = −8.3608 + 0.0228 · ΔDA and K/(Na+K) = −21.5327 + 0.0573 · ΔDA were obtained for anorthoclase and sanidine, respectively. These correlations allow the determination of K/(Na+K) with an accuracy of about ± 0.03 for the synthetic anorthoclase and sanidine and ±0.07 for the natural samples.


This paper discusses some consequences of developments in technologies that may impact the risk of electromagnetic interference and equipment damage despite the equipment complying with the tests according to the product standards. Examples of such technologies are: the change from analogue to digital communication, the fast increase in numbers of power converters having smart switching technology and the use of communication via the power system. The paper discusses upcoming sources of emission, uncertainties in emission level, and changing circumstances. It is shown that it is possible for equipment to remain below the emission limits while at the same time the disturbance level increases beyond what was intended by the standard document. The paper also proposes a framework for addressing the problems due to massive penetration of equipment injecting high-frequency harmonics


We address multicasting in a wavelength-routed WDM network in which each
 destination node has different, as opposed to the traditional uniform, weights for
 different multicast groups. The weight, in practice, may reflect the popularity of
 that multicast group at the node. The objective is therefore to serve the multicast
 groups so as to maximize the total weights of the multicast trees (or equivalently
 to minimize the weighted overall blocking rate). We propose for this purpose a
 routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) heuristic that serves the group of the
 largest weight first (LWF). Since LWF penalizes groups of small weights, we also
 propose a fairness improvement (FI) heuristic that runs on top of LWF to achieve
 better fairness among the multicast groups in terms of their respective blocking
 rates. We show that LWF significantly reduces the weighted overall blocking rate as
 compared with traditional schemes that do not take group weights into consideration,
 and FI is effective in improving the blocking fairness. Moreover, we show that FI
 does not trade off the overall blocking rate for fairness when the group weight
 heterogeneity is small, the group sizes are small, or the network is densely
 connected, because of more efficient use of the links.


Background: Little is known about Arabic Dialects of Yemen (ADY) in comparison with other Arabic dialects and/ or varieties. The purpose of this study is to account for issues related to the distinctive features of vowel deletion in ADY, their rules, and their relationship with other dialects in the regions in light of Optimality Theory (OT). Methods: Twenty seven subjects representing most ADY were interviewed to specify in which dialect short vowels are deleted. In order to carry out the purpose of this paper, samples of pictures plus a silent movie scene/ clip were given to the subjects to describe them in their local dialects. Conclusions: The results outline that all ADY except Aden dialect delete short vowels, be it in the middle or at the end of the syllable, when they use the verb in the past form with 3rd.p.f.s.3rd.p.f.pl. and 3rd.p.m.p. There is no cause/effect relationship between vowel deletion and other process of consonants' segmentation and/or those of syllabification.  A short vowel deletion is delimited to verbs; rather, it extends to include pronouns, overt infinitive in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Whereas eastern, western, northern dialects showed high vowel deletion, central dialects, namely, Taiz dialect and parts of Ibb city showed low vowel deletion.  It is also shown in this study that ADY contradicts the prediction of OT in two issues: the output and the diphthongs sounds. In response to these findings, the study proposes further positive answers based on chronological approach to questions addressed.


Aim/Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the rich potential for transformative learning, for both supervisees and supervisors, that is embedded in crosscultural supervision. Background Our example is an analysis of experiences from a five-year long crosscultural supervisory relationship between a Tanzanian PhD student and a Norwegian supervisor. Methodology In the research, we followed an action research approach, informed by the following question: "How can we account for and improve our supervising– supervised practice?" We analyzed our supervision experiences with the aim to explore the transformative power of cross-cultural supervision. Contribution Studies on supervision collaboration between Scandinavia and Southern Africa are scarce; hence, our study adds insight into the value of collaboration across continents and economic divides. Furthermore, we argue for greater research into the impact of cross-cultural supervision on supervisors as well as supervisees. Findings We have identified seven factors as central to mutual transformative learning in cross-cultural supervision: shared unhomeliness, shared uncertainty and trust building, otherness, shared second language, cultural differences relating to hierarchy, being in context together, and finally, flourishing. For the mutual transformative processes to unfold, building trust in openness to differences seems to be a crucial foundation. Hence, we believe that the qualities in the cross-cultural supervision relationship that we highlight can serve as a reminder to become aware of differences as a valuable source for mutual learning and expanded horizons. Transformative Power of Cross-Cultural PhD Supervision 442 Recommendation for Practitioners Our recommendation to practitioners is that they are receptive to and welcoming of differences, find common ground, and explore the value of learning from and with each other in supervisory relationships. Recommendations for Researchers Equally, we recommend that researchers inquire into how differences in gender, race, religion, and professional fields in supervisory and collaborative relationships can hold potential for valuable knowledge creation. Impact on Society Academic's awareness of the value of otherness as addressed in this paper might foster new ideas for dealing with challenges in our turbulent time through transculturation. Future Research More studies are needed on the potential for growth and the impact of mutual knowledge creation arising from cross-cultural doctoral supervision.


Openness to experience has often been linked to academic achievement because it subsumes traits such as curiosity, open-mindedness, thoughtfulness, and intellectuality. However, recent meta-analyses have reported rather small true correlation estimates. In this article, we first provide a comprehensive rationale for a relationship between openness and academic performance with a distinct focus on specific components of openness (i.e., facets and aspects). We then extend prior research by presenting our own meta-analysis (k = 28, N = 5,861) on the relationship between 6 openness facets and postsecondary academic performance. Furthermore, we report results from meta-analytic structural equation modeling (k = 19, N = 3,627) that describe the effects of 2 openness aspects, which form an intermediate construct-level between dimension and facets, on academic achievement. Finally, we investigate 2 possible moderators in a dimension-level meta-analysis (k = 149, N = 50,449). Overall, our findings suggest that (a) only 2 openness facets are positive predictors of academic performance, (b) the 2 openness aspects have contrary effects on academic achievement, and (c) the correlation between openness and academic performance is moderated by openness scales and academic majors. We conclude that the true potential of openness for predicting academic performance is concealed within the heterogeneity of the construct and discuss according perspectives for future research.


In 2008 at SEG's annual meeting Professor Martin Landro proposed a new way of deriving 4D noise by source strength variation. It was proposed that by shooting two surveys over the exact same area and process the datasets as two surveys in a 4D survey, the sensitivity of the 4D set-up could be determined. Based on this proposal BP Norge decided to shot a test with firing pressure 1750 psi, in contrast to the 2000 psi production pressure. These two datasets constitutes the data analysed in this thesis. No known work has been done one this type of data and an experimental approach was used in order to find application for the extra information given by varying the source strength. Several analysis done on the amplitude effect of the pressure variation suggested a less dramatical change in amplitude (around 5\%) than the established literature suggested (8.5\%). The frequency dependence of the amplitude change has also been investigated and is still not perfectly understood. Estimation of a noise profile has been done by several different methods suggesting both a continuously increase in noise with depth as well as a more intricate behaviour. The validity of these noise estiamtion are not perfectly understood and care should be given when evaluating the results. A new method for deriving the formation quality factor is also proposed. This method is considered to have great potential and although the derived quality factors were found to be inconsistent and illogical, it is believed that with better processing and greater source amplitude change this method could be used by the industry.


This paper considers the conference themes of practice, knowledge and vision in process-relational terms. It emphasizes the need to apply these concepts to the activity of research adjudication as much as to the activity of research itself. In so doing, it questions a notion that underpins much of the debate concerning the legitimacy of research undertaken in the fields of art and design; namely that there is a stable conception of 'research per- se' which might serve as a ground for judgment in cross- disciplinary comparisons. In contrast to this, the concept of 'research' is positioned as something that is transformative with respect to context and milieu. Accordingly, it is suggested that research adjudication should be considered a creative activity that is as much concerned with the transformation of law, as it is with law application.

Thinking research activity and research adjudication in process-relational terms has important practical consequences. The idea that concepts of research are at once domain specific and changeable over time, serves to problematise the notion of generic research training. It is argued here that discipline specific methodologies are more appropriate to a situation in which a multiplicity of research practices coexist and in which each of these practices places a variable degree of emphasis upon notions of tradition, integration, difference and innovation.


The Bible was the first scientific textbook of all; and it got some things right (and plenty more wrong). Steve Jones' new book rewrites it in the light of modern science. Are we all descended from a single couple, a real-life Adam and Eve? Was the Bible's great flood really a memory of the end of the Ice Age? Will we ever get back to Methuselah given that British life expectancy is still rising by six hours a day, every day? Many people deny the power of faith, many more the power of science. In this ground-breaking work, geneticist Steve Jones explores their shared mysteries - from the origins of life and humankind to sex, age, death and the end of the universe. He steps aside from the noisy debate between believers and unbelievers to show how the same questions preoccupy us today as in biblical times - and that science offers many of the answers. Erudite and accessible, The Serpent's Promise is a witty and thoughtful account of the ability and the limits of science to tell us what we are.


A significant problem of Gaussian process (GP) is its unfavorable scaling with a large amount of data. To overcome this issue, we present a novel GP approximation scheme for online regression. Our model is based on a combination of multiple GPs with random hyperparameters. The model is trained by incrementally allocating new examples to a selected subset of GPs. The selection is carried out efficiently by optimizing a submodular function. Experiments on real-world data sets showed that our method outperforms existing online GP regression methods in both accuracy and efficiency. The applicability of the proposed method is demonstrated by the mouse-trajectory prediction in an Internet banking scenario.


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. The CSPPT (China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial) demonstrated a significant risk reduction of first stroke in hypertensive patients treated with enalapril plus folic acid compared with those with enalapril alone, but the lifetime stroke-free survival associated with the treatment is unknown. By establishing adjusted models for competing risks and an age-based time scale using data from 19 053 participants of the CSPPT, we estimated lifetime incremental stroke-free survival for enalapril-folic acid versus enalapril alone. Compared with enalapril alone, the enalapril plus folic acid treatment projected a mean lifetime stroke-free survival gain of 1.75 months, with an interquartile range from 0.73 to 2.39 months and the maximum gain up to 12.95 months. Subgroup analyses showed greater gain in stroke-free survival in younger, male patients, those with lower baseline folate levels, higher baseline systolic blood pressure, higher baseline total cholesterol and blood glucose, and with MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) C677T CT or TT genotype. Overall, besides significant benefit in certain subgroups, enalapril plus folic acid treatment for hypertensive patients is associated with a modest gain in lifetime stroke-free survival, compared with enalapril alone.


Detailed field mapping, geochronologic and thermochronologic analyses, and petrologic investigations conducted along the southern segment of the late Cenozoic Kongur Shan extensional system provide new information on the Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the eastern Pamir at the western end of the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen. Field relations and cooling-age patterns in the hanging wall and footwall of the active faults show a southward decrease in the magnitude of east-west extension along the southern Kongur Shan extensional system, from 20 km or less along the Muztaghata massif in the north, to l3 km along the Tashkorgan fault in the south. These results, in conjunction with previously published work on the northern segment of the Kongur Shan extensional system, show a general southward decrease in east-west extension along the entire length of the extensional system, consistent with models of extension primarily driven by oroclinal bending or radial thrusting of the Pamir. Petrologic data, 40 Ar/ 39 Ar cooling ages, and monazite Th-Pb ages from schists and gneisses in the footwall of the southern Kongur Shan normal fault along the Muztaghata massif record two tectonic events that immediately preceded late Miocene initiation of east-west extension: (1) high-grade schists and gneisses experienced upper amphibolite facies metamorphic conditions (9–10 kbar, 700–750 °C) dated as late Oligocene to middle Miocene by in situ ion-microprobe analyses of monazite inclusions in garnet; and (2) high-grade schists and gneisses were subsequently rapidly exhumed to shallow crustal levels in the late Miocene with 40 Ar/ 39 Ar biotite cooling ages of 7.5–9 Ma. Rapid exhumation was accommodated in part by the east-west–striking, south-dipping, Shenti normal fault. Field relations and regional geologic correlations indicate that this exhumation event was related to the formation of the Central Pamir gneiss domes, and the antiformal Muztaghata massif is the eastward continuation of the Sares dome of the Central Pamir. These observations suggest that the antiformal gneiss domes of the Central Pamir have not been offset across the Karakorum right-slip fault from the Qiangtang anticlinorium in Tibet. Instead, we propose that the development of the Central Pamir gneiss domes may have been related to Oligocene-Miocene northward underthrusting and thickening of crust beneath the Pamir.


Network operators control the flow of traffic through their networks by adapting the configuration of the underlying routing protocols. For example, they tune the integer link weights that interior gateway protocols like OSPF and ISIS use to compute shortest paths. The resulting optimization problem -to find the best link weights for a given topology and traffic matrix -is computationally intractable even for the simplest objective functions, forcing the use of local-search techniques. The optimization problem is difficult in part because these protocols split traffic evenly along shortest paths, with no ability to adjust the splitting percentages or direct traffic on other paths. In this paper, we propose an extension to these protocols, called Distributed Exponentially-weighted Flow SpliTting (DEFT), where the routers can direct traffic on non-shortest paths, with an exponential penalty on longer paths. DEFT leads not only to an easier-to-solve optimization problem, but also to weight settings that provably perform no worse than OSPF and IS-IS. Furthermore, in our optimization problem, both link weights and flows of traffic are integrated as optimization variables into the formulation and jointly solved by a two-stage iterative method. Our novel formulation leads to a much more efficient way to identify good link weights than the local-search heuristics used for OSPF and IS-IS today. DEFT retains the simplicity of having routers compute paths based on configurable link weights, while approaching the performance of more complex routing protocols that can split traffic arbitrarily over any paths.


In this dissertation we show theoretical and empirical insights into the concept of motivation in the context of the business and organizational survey task. The research has led to a number of recommendations on how to improve organizational survey and communication design to enhance motivation and herewith improve response rates and data quality and diminish burden complaints by businesses and other types of organizations. We have also laid the base upon which to continue further research on motivation in organizational surveys, continuing to fill the gap between what is known in other disciplines about motivation and how this can be applied to organizational survey research. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques were used, as well as different types of data. By using different data types and analysis methods complementarity and validation of the results of the different chapters is achieved. Literature research was also part of the endeavor of bringing in more knowledge on motivation into the field of business and organizational survey methodology. To sum up, we conclude, first, regarding types of motivation, from Chapter 2, that extrinsic motivation calls for attention with regards to organizational survey response behavior and that thus extrinsic sources of motivation may be relevant besides those influencing intrinsic motivation. We also propose that other approaches may have the potential to better explain some aspects of motivation in organizational surveys than the self-determination theory framework alone, for instance the dual system approach to motivation that treats implicit motives besides explicit motives, as opposed to previous survey research that has given attention only to intrinsic motivation. Possible ways to enhance extrinsic motivation for the organizational survey response task are, for example, the use of incentives (Chapter 4); or the enhancement of the usefulness of the surveys as perceived by businesses by, for example, the feedback of statistical figures (Chapter 3). Chapter 3 explores more in depth businesses' use of official statistics and possibilities of enhancing this use. This knowledge can be used to enhance motivation through a survey and communication design. In the context of intrinsic motivation especially important seems to be the relationship between a survey organization such as Statistics Netherlands and the responding organization (for example a business) or an organizational respondent. The effect of survey design and communication instances and strategies on perception and sentiments is explored in Chapter 5. Chapter 5 indicates which kind of actions and communication strategies of the Dutch national statistical institute CBS influence a positive or negative sentiment and perception and herewith also points towards knowledge on how to enhance motivation through a survey and communication design. This chapter makes it especially evident that communication instances are very important in influencing perception and sentiments and should receive due attention when designing a survey. Chapter 6 critically reviews motivation research and theories from different fields of research and concludes with recommendations for the application of these findings on organizational survey design.


Workers with defined contribution retirement plans face a daunting array of choices as they enter retirement. They need to decide how to allocate their savings among asset classes and how much to withdraw from savings to support retirement. They also need to make choices about when to claim Social Security and whether or not to purchase annuities (and what type to purchase) to provide guaranteed lifetime income in addition to Social Security. In this article, we report on a recent collaboration between the Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL) and the Society of Actuaries (SOA) aimed at analyzing the various alternatives and finding optimal combinations of asset and product allocations, and strategies for withdrawing funds from savings. An important objective in this work has been finding solutions that are sufficiently straightforward to be implemented by retiring workers in employer-sponsored retirement plans or by utilizing low-cost advice options. Solutions that require substantial adviser involvement may be too expensive for typical middle-income workers. While the report focuses on solutions for defined contribution retirement plans, its framework can also be applied to out-of-plan solutions.


Soil consolidation and erosion caused by roadway runoff have exposed the upper portions of steel piles at the abutments of numerous bridges, leaving them susceptible to accelerated corrosion rates due to the abundance of moisture, oxygen, and chlorides at these locations. This problem is compounded by the relative inaccessibility of abutment piles for close-up inspection and repair. The objective of this study was to provide bridge owners with recommendations for effective methods of addressing corrosion of steel abutment piles in existing and future bridges A review of available literature on the performance and protection of steel piles exposed to a variety of environments was performed. Eight potential coating systems for use in protecting existing and/or new piles were selected and subjected to accelerated corrosion conditions in the laboratory. Two surface preparation methods were evaluated in the field and three coating systems were installed on three piles at an existing bridge where abutment piles had been exposed by erosion. In addition, a passive cathodic protection (CP) system using sacrificial zinc anodes was tested in the laboratory. Several trial flowable mortar mixes were evaluated for use in conjunction with the CP system. For existing abutment piles, application of a protective coating system is a promising method of mitigating corrosion. Based on its excellent performance in accelerated corrosion conditions in the laboratory on steel test specimens with SSPC-SP3, -SP6, and -SP10 surface preparations, glass flake polyester is recommended for use on existing piles. An alternative is epoxy over organic zinc rich primer. Surface preparation of existing piles should include abrasive blast cleaning to SSPC-SP6. Although additional field testing is needed, based on the results of the laboratory testing, a passive CP system could provide an effective means of protecting piles in existing bridges when combined with a pumped mortar used to fill voids between the abutment footing and soil. The addition of a corrosion inhibitor to the mortar appears to be beneficial. For new construction, shop application of thermally sprayed aluminum or glass flake polyester to the upper portion of the piles is recommended.


We study the effect of introducing hydrogen gas through the rf-plasma source during plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy of GaN(0001). The well-known smooth-to-rough transition that occurs for this surface as a function of decreasing Ga flux in the absence of H is found to persist even with H present, although the critical Ga flux for this transition increases. Under Ga-rich conditions, the presence of hydrogen is found to induce step bunching (facetting) on the surface. Conductive atomic force microscopy reveals that leakage current through dislocation cores is significantly reduced when hydrogen is present during the growth.


The climate response to variability in volcanic aerosols and solar irradiance, the primary forcings during the preindustrial era, is examined in a stratosphere-resolving general circulation model. The best agreement with historical and proxy data is obtained using both forcings, each of which has a significant effect on global mean temperatures. However, their regional climate impacts in the Northern Hemisphere are quite different. While the short-term continental winter warming response to volcanism is well known, it is shown that due to opposing dynamical and radiative effects, the long-term (decadal mean) regional response is not significant compared to unforced variability for either the winter or the annual average. In contrast, the long-term regional response to solar forcing greatly exceeds unforced variability for both time averages, as the dynamical and radiative effects reinforce one another, and produces climate anomalies similar to those seen during the Little Ice Age. Thus, long-term regional changes during the preindustrial appear to have been dominated by solar forcing.


This research report gives an overview of the needs and opportunities that exist in the U.S. home performance contracting industry. The report discusses industry trends, market drivers, different business models, and points of entry for existing and new businesses hoping to enter the home performance contracting industry. Case studies of eight companies who successfully entered the industry are provided, including business metrics, start-up costs, and marketing approaches.


Traditional, larger libraries can rely on their physical collection, coffee shops, and study rooms as ways to entice patrons into their library. Yet virtual libraries merely have their online presence to attract students to resources. This can only be achieved by providing a fully functional site that is well designed and organized, allowing patrons to navigate and locate information easily. One such technology significantly improving the overall usefulness of Web sites is a content management system (CMS). Although the CMS is not a novel technology per se, it is a technology smaller libraries cannot afford to ignore. In the fall of 2004, the Northcentral University Electronic Learning Resources Center (ELRC), a small, virtual library, moved from a static to a database-driven Web site. This article explains the importance of a CMS for the virtual or smaller library and describes the methodology used by ELRC to complete the project.


Quantum-dot
cellular automaton (QCA) is a novel nanotechnology that provides a very
different computation platform than traditional CMOS, in which polarization of
electrons indicates the digital information. This paper demonstrates designing
combinational circuits based on quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA)
nanotechnology, which offers a way to implement logic and all interconnections
with only one homogeneous layer of cells. In this paper, the authors have
proposed a novel design of XOR gate. This model proves designing capabilities
of combinational circuits that are compatible with QCA gates within nano-scale.
Novel adder circuits such as half adders, full adders, which avoid the fore, mentioned
noise paths, crossovers by careful clocking organization, have been proposed. Experiment
results show that the performance of proposed designs is more efficient than
conventional designs. The modular layouts are verified with the freely
available QCA Designer tool.


Indian Association of Special Libraries & Information Centres (IASLIC) is a pioneer association in India that has been working for the development of library and information services since its inception in 1955. IASLIC has adopted various multifaceted activities for the healthy growth of library services and to safeguard the interest of library professionals as well as library users. IASLIC has been working to resolve various discrepancies particularly in selection of hardware and library software packages, interchange formats, training for digitization and to set a standard that ideally suits the most of the libraries in our country. After introduction of computer applications in LIS in the later part of 1980s, libraries urgently required adequate computer trained workforce to perform library services. Understanding the scenario and anticipating the future needs, IASLIC has been giving prime importance to manpower development programme. A brief overview of IASLIC activities like Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, Study Circles, Special Interest Groups, publications, lectures by experts, etc. related to computer training organized by IASLIC and its role as a advisory organization to Government for making policies related to LIS has also described in this article. Bangladesh Journal of Library and Information Science Vol.2(1) July 2012 pp.39-47 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjlis.v2i1.12917


Work and organizational psychology is a branch of mainstream psychology which has truly global reach. This subject covers a broad array of aspects such as individual, team and organizational effectiveness, creativity and innovation, cross-cultural leadership and the organization of health services, healthcare and employee well-being.

In five thematic volumes, this collection brings together key papers on the topic, and together with the introductory chapters written by the Editor for each volume, is designed to serve the interests of psychology scholars, and also those involved in the social and behavioural sciences, more broadly.

Volume One: Research Methodology

Volume Two: Assessment and Selection

Volume Three: Organisational Change and Development

Volume Four: Human Resource and Performance Management

Volume Five: Emerging Trends


New monitoring technologies can help curb illegal activities by reducing information asymmetries between enforcing and monitoring government agents. I created a novel dataset using machine learning predictions on satellite imagery that detects illegal mining. Then I disclosed the predictions to government agents to study the response of illegal activity. I randomly assigned municipalities to one of four groups: (1) information to the observer (local government) of potential mine locations in his jurisdiction; (2) information to the enforcer (National Government) of potential mine locations; (3) information to both observer and enforcer, and (4) a control group, where I informed no one. The effect of information is relatively similar regardless of who is informed: in treated municipalities, illegal mining is reduced by 11% in the disclosed locations and surrounding areas. However, when accounting for negative spillovers — increases in illegal mining in areas not targeted by the information — the net reduction is only 7%. These results illustrate the benefits of new technologies to build state capacity and reduce illegal activity.


Negative urgency is a personality trait reflecting the tendency to act rashly in response to extreme negative emotions and is considered a transdiagnostic endophenotype for problematic levels of addictive behaviors. Recent research has begun to identify the neural correlates of negative urgency, many of which appear to overlap with neural circuitry underlying addictive disorders associated with negative urgency. The goal of this qualitative review is to summarize the extant literature concerning the neural correlates of negative urgency, to compare these correlates with those implicated with addictive disorders, and to propose new ways to begin to leverage such findings in treatment and intervention approaches. We also address current limitations in the field and make recommendations for areas for future growth in this research domain. Patterns of structure and function in the ventral striatum, frontal regions, such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and amygdala are common across addictive disorders and are related to both real-world risky behaviors and self-report measures of negative urgency. We propose that the time has come to move past considering this trait and these disorders as completely separate entities, and instead for the field to consider how general patterns of convergence across these disorders can lead to a more transdiagnostic approach to treatment and intervention. We suggest future work utilize these convergent patterns in the development of animal models of negative urgency, in the identification and testing of prime pharmacological and physiological interventions, and as objective biomarkers to be used when testing behavioral, pharmacological, and physiological intervention effectiveness. Little empirical work has been done to date in these areas and advances in these nascent fields would advance understanding and applications of the neuroscience of negative urgency.


Introduction: Peritonitis is an inflammatory process of multiple etiologies that can compromise the patient's life, so it is necessary to understand the risk factors that are associated with poor clinical evolution. Objectives: To determine the factors associated with poor clinical evolution in adult patients hospitalized for peritonitis in the Emergency Hospital "Jose Casimiro Ulloa, 2012 - 2016". Methods: Analytical, retrospective study, of type cases and controls. The universe population of the cases will be conformed by all the patients with bad evolution (patients with a hospital stay greater than 9 days). The universe population for the control group consisted of patients with peritonitis with favorable evolution (patients with a hospital stay of less than 9 days) hospitalized for peritonitis. The descriptive and analytical analysis was done with chi square and logistic regression. Results: The sample was 126 patients. 76% of the cases were female. 55% of the cases were older than 60 years. The risk factors were female (OR = 5.7 IC = 2.4 - 13.3), age over 60 years (OR = 7.2 IC = 3.06 - 17.1), malnutrition status (OR = 6.6 IC = 2.7 - 15.6), diabetes mellitus (OR = 12.1 IC = 3.2 - 45.5), sepsis (OR = 11.1 IC = 2.2 - 54 , 5), use of quinolones (OR = 9.7 IC = 4 - 23.4), use of imipenem (OR = 4.3 IC = 1.3 - 13.8), use of metronidazole (OR = 2, 3 CI = 1.07 - 5.2), delay between diagnosis and treatment (Mean of 26 hours p:, 000), and time of illness (Mean of 81 hours p:, 000). Conclusion: The female gender and the age group in which corresponds to patients over 60 years of age presented an association in relation to a poor clinical course in patients diagnosed with peritonitis. Presenting the comorbidity "malnutrition", "diabetes mellitus", "sepsis" is associated with a poor clinical evolution. Receiving hospital antibiotic treatment with quinolones or imipenem was associated with a poor clinical course. The prolonged illness time, the delay between the time of diagnosis and initiation of treatment is associated with a poor clinical evolution. Key words: Poor clinical evolution; Study of cases and controls; Risk factors; comorbidities. (source: MeSH NLM)

DOI: 10.25176/RFMH.v18.n2.1284


What resources underpin the development of a territory? What does territorial management of resources mean? What specific characteristics and opportunities does territorial organization offer for agricultural production, regulation of sectors, and services? How are territorial public policies conceived and applied? But also, what are the limits of the territorial approach? How does a territorial approach refashion the frameworks of intervention for development? How do we implement and reinvent mechanisms to provide support, build skills, and promote production and good governance? How do we mobilize information systems, apprehend territorial dynamics, and encourage decentralized planning? Using a wide diversity of case studies, the book explores how actors, scales and scopes of intervention interact in the development of rural spaces in the countries of the Global South, both at the local level and in the global perspective of the objectives of sustainable development. The book brings together the experiences and views of more than 150 researchers and experts from CIRAD, AFD and their partners. It is aimed at researchers, engineers, professionals in the countries of the Global South, as well as students and the wider public. (Resume d'auteur)


An analysis of Transparent Combustion Chamber (TCC3) engine Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) result was carried out to investigate Cycle-to-Cycle Variation (CCV) correlation between in-cylinder swirl ratio and flow in the valve seat region of the intake port to address a challenging question on "What causes CCV of in-cylinder flow". Polar Velocity (PV) profile, mean velocities normal to a ring-shaped cutting surface in the valve seat region, is calculated to depict intake port flow. A Net Polar Velocity (NPV) can be defined by performing the vector sum of the polar velocity around the intake valve. A standard deviation of PV is also calculated from azimuthal distribution of PV magnitudes relative to its mean value. The analysis of 18 LES cycles of TCC3 engine with a two-valve, pancake-shaped combustion chamber shows that similar CCV of in-cylinder swirl ratio patterns are observed at different crank angles from Intake Valve Opening (IVO) to Exhaust Valve Opening (EVO). Further analysis shows clear correlations of CCV between in-cylinder swirl ratio and NPV magnitude and the standard deviation of PV at selected crank angles from IVO to EVO. The correlations get significantly better with the ring-shaped cutting surface moves from up-stream to downstream of the valve-seat region. This study reveals that the CCV of in-cylinder swirl ratio is built up gradually from upstream to downstream in the intake port and valve-seat region. Further evaluation of the analysis method is planned for a four-valve engine as an evaluation metric for better engine intake port design and combustion chamber optimization.


Chemical composition of fingerprints includes the presence of salts, ions, fatty acids, lipids, amino acids, nucleobases, nucleotides, and nucleic acids. Many methods used to detect latent fingerprints on porous surfaces such as paper exploit the reactivity of amino acids with a number of different reagents, including ninhydrin and lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; HNQ). HNQ, also known as hennotannic acid, is a natural yellow-orange dye present in the leaves of henna plant (Lawsonia inermis) as well as in the flower of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). It is used as natural dye to color hair and skin. HNQ has been shown to react with amino acids, accordingly used to detect fingerprints on paper. HNQ has also been shown to be a sensor for the detection of anions (changes its color from yellow to orange-red in the presence of anions such as OH-, CN-, etc.). The presence of nucleobases, nucleotides and/or nucleic acids that are also part of the chemical composition of fingerprints, has not been exploited to detect latent fingerprints. In this study we propose utilize the reactivity of HNQ, nucleobases and nucleotides to detect and enhance the detection of latent fingerprints. HNQ reacts with amines and form Schiff-bases that are expected to be strongly colored, whose colors can be further enhanced upon exposure to a base (NH3) or anions (OH- and/or CN). In this regard, we have synthesized a series of HNQ-amine derivatives using microwave green synthetic methods (reactants dissolved in methanol and the reaction carried out at 150°C for 5 min). The compounds formed in the above reactions are strongly colored as judged visually and by spectrophotometry. Under similar conditions, adenine and guanine bases or adenosine and guanosine nucleosides (with amine substituents) also react with aromatic aldehydes to form Schiff-bases. The aromatic aldehyde derivatives of these purine nucleobases or nucleosides are expected to be highly fluorescent. Again, we have synthesized a series of aromatic imine derivatives of adenine, guanine, adenosine and guanosine as above. As judged visually and by spectrophotometry, these compounds exhibit strong fluorescence. The spectroscopic characterization of the compounds described above is on-going. Further, we have used these compounds to detect and enhance detection of latent fingerprints. The latter involved (a) application of powdered HNQ, adenine, guanine, adenosine or guanosine on latent fingerprints or cyanoacrylate coated latent fingerprints, (b) powder deposition aromatic amines or aldehydes, (c) followed by microwave synthesis of Schiff-base derivatives directly on the surface of the fingerprints using a commercially available domestic microwave oven (medium power for 3–10 min). The resulting fingerprints developed as above with HNQ and aromatic amines are strongly colored. Further exposure of thus formed colored fingerprints to NH3 strongly enhanced their color. The fingerprints developed as above using purine nucleobases or nucleosides with aromatic aldehydes were strongly fluorescent. Through this study, we have successfully synthesized Schiff-base derivatives of HNQ and aromatic amines as well as purine nucleobases or nucleosides and aromatic aldehydes. Further, we also suggest a novel method for the detection of latent fingerprints and its successful application on nonporous surfaces using the newly synthesized compounds.