This historical reappraisal of the Acts of the Apostles, written in narrative form, allows the reader to understand the biblical author's worldview, historical and ideological assumptions, and purposes as they were communicated through portions of this work. Marion Soards analyzes the speech texts by comparing them to writings from ancient history, rhetoric, and midrashic interpretation of scripture. He points out the interesting features in the speeches and highlights the thematic similarities. Soards provides a clear picture of the manner of writings in Acts, the theology, and the encompassing history of the early Christian period, and he supplies a sound basis for contemporary Jewish-Christian relations.


ABSTRACT In the last two decades, the field of metagenomics has greatly expanded due to improvement in sequencing technologies allowing for a more comprehensive characterization of microbial communities. The use of these technologies has led to an unprecedented understanding of human, animal, and environmental microbiomes and have shown that the gut microbiota are comparable to an organ that is intrinsically linked with a variety of diseases. Characterization of microbial communities using next-generation sequencing-by-synthesis approaches have revealed important shifts in microbiota associated with debilitating diseases such as Clostridium difficile infection. But due to limitations in sequence read length, primer biases, and the quality of databases, genus- and species-level classification have been difficult. Third-generation technologies, such as Pacific Biosciences' single molecule, real-time (SMRT) approach, allow for unbiased, more specific identification of species that are likely clinically relevant. Comparison of Illumina next-generation characterization and SMRT sequencing of samples from patients treated for C. difficile infection revealed similarities in community composition at the phylum and family levels, but SMRT sequencing further allowed for species-level characterization - permitting a better understanding of the microbial ecology of this disease. Thus, as sequencing technologies continue to advance, new species-level insights can be gained in the study of complex and clinically-relevant microbial communities.


This paper presents the design, simulation and fabrication of a dual axis semiconductor gas gyroscope. The sensor configuration consists of a piezoelectric pump and a micro thermal sensing element, packaged in an aluminum case with diameter and length of 14 mm and 25 mm, respectively. Good agreement between the sensitivity simulation results and the experimental data has been realized. This sensor is to be applied in ship anti-rolling and stabilization systems.


Dipterocarpus dyeri (Dipterocarpaceae) is widely distributed in lowland rainforests in southeastern Vietnam. Due to over- exploitation and habitat destruction in the 1980s and 1990s, this species is listed as threatened. Understanding the genetic variation and mating rate among D. dyeri population that occurs in forest patches is necessary to establish effectively conservation strategies for this species. To conserve the species in tropical forests, genetic diversity and mating rate were investigated using eight microsatellites (single sequence repeat, SSR) as markers. All of the eight loci were polymorphic. A total of 36 different alleles were observed across the loci screened. The SSR data indicated high genetic diversity (NA = 4.5; HO = 0.542 and HE = 0.667) and high inbreeding value, FIS= 0,182. The mating system parameters were determined using the mixed mating model and the results indicated high outcrossing rate (tm=0.81 and ts=0.675) and lowselfing rate (0.19). Difference of tm-ts value indicated that inbreeding contributed to selfing rate for this species in the Tan Phu tropical rain forest. The results reflected that D. dyeri habitat in this area has been restored and the number of individuals was high, about 500 individuals. However, seedlings were not found so far in this study. These results indicated the importance of conserving of the genetic resources of Dipterocarpus dyeri species in the Tan Phu rain forest. The conservation strategy should include an establishment of an ex-situ conservation site with new big population for this species from all genetic groups, which might improve its fitness under different environmental stresses.


We propose a model of the transition from an autocratic regime to either a liberal democracy or a new autocratic regime (e.g. a communist government). An underground organization votes on whether or not to hold a mass protest. If a protest is held, the organization members decide whether to put effort into the uprising. Higher effort makes regime change more likely, but it is individually risky. This creates the possibility, in principle, of high and low effort equilibria. But we show, using weak dominance arguments, that only the high effort equilibrium is "credible." Thus, internal party democracy is shown to enhance the efficiency of political transitions. Finally, we show when the transition is likely to lead to the emergence of a democracy, and we derive conditions regarding the "quality" of that democracy. When a revolution succeeds, it leads to a constitutional design phase wherein revolutionaries and reformists of the old regime negotiate the constitutional rules of the democratic game. This then leads to a democratic consolidation phase wherein the two sides choose to abide or not to abide by the result of elections. Conditions for a successful transition to (and consolidation of) democracy incorporate both ex-ante and ex-post assessments of electoral prospects by the parties who participate in the process. JEL Codes: C72, D72, D74.


Abstract Nuclear criticality safety assessment often requires groupwise Monte Carlo simulations of k-effective in order to check subcriticality of the system of interest. A typical task to be performed by safety assessors is hence to find the worst combination of input parameters of the criticality Monte Carlo code (i.e., leading to maximum reactivity) over the whole operating range. Then, checking subcriticality can be done by solving a maximization problem where the input-output map defined by the Monte Carlo code expectation (or an upper quantile) stands for the objective function or "parametric" model. This straightforward view of criticality parametric calculations complies with recent works in Design of Computer Experiments, an active research field in applied statistics. This framework provides a robust support to enhance and consolidate good practices in criticality safety assessment. Indeed, supplementing the standard "expert-driven" assessment by a suitable optimization algorithm may be helpful to increase the reliability of the whole process and the robustness of its conclusions. Such a new safety practice is intended to rely on both well-suited mathematical tools (compliant optimization algorithms) and computing infrastructure (a flexible grid-computing environment).


Deliberate practice is increasingly recognised as necessary for professional development. This paper sets out to explore in what ways student teachers' learning activities in a teacher education programme can be characterised as deliberate practice. Based on an in-depth exploration of 574 learning activities, our results highlight the different ways in which activities in teacher education programmes can be designed, the different motivations students have to engage in them repetitively, and different ways in which feedback can be organised, within contextual constraints posed by all professional environments. Results also indicate that self-improvement is not the only motivation for engaging in deliberate practice for student teachers, as pupil improvement is also considered important. These results support a context-specific operationalisation of deliberate practice and provide starting points for teacher education programmes to promote deliberate practice in their curriculum.


The International Conference on Population and Development in 1999 reaffirmed their international commitment to Safe Motherhood by setting out essential strategic actions. This book provides an overview of the problems and challenges raised by this work (Safe Motherhood) and examples of efforts toward the achievement of Safe Motherhood goals in developing countries. The first section presents an outline on the evidence leadership resources and action for the prevention of maternal mortality. Second section presents the measurement indicators uses and limitations of health outcome indicators for maternal mortality and measurements for maternal morbidity. Third section presents the Safe Motherhood programs in Bangladesh Indonesia Bolivia South Africa and Kenya. The fourth section discusses several case studies on causes of maternal deaths and morbidity in India Mexico Vietnam Ghana and Tanzania with emphasis on common pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. The fifth and last section stresses the significance of effective policies and programs in preventing maternal mortality while emphasizing the need to address HIV/AIDS pregnancy and maternal mortality and morbidity concerns in South Africa and Nigeria.


Visual leaf damage symptoms affect plant and flower development. A variety of physiological leaf symptoms are induced by environmental and growing conditions, including light intensity during cultivation and the nutrition status of the leaves. In the present study, we studied effects of leaf age, leaf ionome, and shade factor during cultivation (20% and 47% shade – under shade nets), on the development of leaf disorders in two cultivars of Phlox paniculata. The leaf ionome of both cultivars changed with leaf age, and varied between cultivars. The percentage of shade applied during cultivation by shade nets, had a minor effect on the leaf ionome, and it did not affect the type and severity of the leaf disorders that developed on the plants, nor the stage of development of their appearance. The ionome of young leaves and mature leaves that were affected by a purple spotting disorder was similar to that of 'healthy'-looking leaves, demonstrating that this disorder is not related to the nutritional status of the tissue. Our results further excluded leaf age, plant age, plant trimming and shade factor during cultivation (by shade nets) as inducers of the purple spots disorder. This study is first to explore the ionome of Phlox paniculata and in relation to leaf age, physiological leaf disorders and shade factor during cultivation.


Grid provides efficient environment to execute application faster, with desired Quality of Service (QoS) constraints. Performance of grid (mainly time to execute applications) is dependent on the job scheduling strategy used to map applications or the job (collection of atomic tasks) grid resources. Grid Scheduling Algorithms (GSA) generates schedule of jobs and the corresponding resource which satisfy requirement of the job for successful execution. Attempts in optimizing the schedule shows use of classical, heuristic and nature based algorithms. For instance Genetic Algorithm (GA), Simulated Annealing (SA), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and Neural Network and Fuzzy System (NNFS) prove to be more efficient than classical scheduling algorithms. The performance of grid using discussed GSA requires improvement which will result in comparatively optimized schedule. The scheduling process needs to be more dynamic so as to consider runtime changes in the resource properties (for example CPU time, Memory, etc.) We implement ACO and GA as separate GSA used for the design of our scheduler of our experimental grid. We propose multilevel decision making engine, as special case Two Level Decision Algorithm (TLDA). In the first level decisions we generate initial schedule using Ant Colony Optimization algorithm (ACO). We refine this schedule using Genetic Algorithm (GA). This paper presents the findings of our proposed approach of multilevel decision engine as compared to the performance of GA, ACO each. Results show considerable improvement in execution time than the former approaches for scheduling.


This paper presents a new annual contractor delivery determination procedure for the California Department of Water Resources' State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP) system planning model: DWRSIM. The procedure attempts to mimic the delivery decision process the department uses in operating the SWP. The procedure uses the calendar year as the delivery timeframe in which estimates of the annual delivery are based on water system storage and runoff forecasts. Delivery decisions are made on 1-January of each year and updated each month until 1-May, at which time the delivery level is fixed for the remaining seven months. Increasing firmness of decisions is achieved by varying forecast exceedence levels and using a no-reduction rule. Decisions are based explicitly on runoff forecasts and storage levels, but implicitly incorporate unknown factors that influence the decision process. These factors may include: water quality and flow standards for, and restrictions on exports from, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta; water system facilities, level of hydrology; and the anticipated error range of forecasts. Two relationships are used in making delivery decisions: a user-defined Delivery versus Carryover Risk Curve, and a Water Supply Index versus Demand Index relationship. Using forecast data, incorporating Delta constraints and standardizing the modeled decision process are distinct benefits of this procedure.


Abstract. Terrestrial and marine ecosystems interact with other Earth system components through different biosphere-climate feedbacks that are very similar among ecosystem types. Despite these similarities, terrestrial and marine systems are often treated relatively separately in Earth System Models (ESM). In these ESM, the ecosystems are represented by a set of biological processes that are able to influence the climate system by affecting the chemical and physical properties of the environment. While most of the climate-relevant processes are shared between ecosystem types, model representations of terrestrial and marine ecosystems often differ. This raises the question whether inconsistencies between terrestrial and marine ecosystem models exist and potentially skew our perception of the relative influence of each ecosystem on climate. Here we compared the terrestrial and marine modules of 17 Earth System Models in order to identify inconsistencies between the two ecosystem types. We sorted out the biological processes included in ESM regarding their influence on climate into three types of biosphere-climate feedbacks (i.e. the biogeochemical pumps, the biogeophysical mechanisms and the gas and particle shuttles), and critically compare their representation in the different ecosystem modules. Overall, we found multiple evidences of unjustified differences in process representations between terrestrial and marine ecosystem models within ESM. These inconsistencies may lead to wrong predictions about the role of biosphere in the climate system. We believe that the present comparison can be used by the Earth system modeling community to increase consistency between ecosystem models. We further call for the development of a common framework allowing the uniform representation of climate-relevant processes in ecosystem modules of ESM.


Mechanisms of Prenatal High-Salt "Fetal Programming" Resulting in Stress Hyperresponsiveness in the Adult Female Offspring in the Sprague Dawley Rat Clinton Lee Johnson Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology, BYU Master of Science Female offspring of Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-salt diet (HS) during pregnancy show an enhancement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) response to acute stress in adulthood compared to offspring whose mothers were fed a normal-salt diet (NS) [1]. In the present study, we first examined the expression of soluble epoxide hydrolase (SEH) protein in brain tissue. Whole brains were collected and SEH gene (EPHX2) mRNA and SEH protein expression were analyzed using RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. mRNA levels were relatively decreased in high-salt rats (1.0 ± 0.32 NS vs 0.39 ± 0.07 HS, n=6). However, the relative expression of SEH protein was significantly increased in HS rats (0.97 ± 0.06 NS vs. 1.72 ± 0.32 HS, n=10). SEH is an enzyme that inactivates epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which can increase the level of oxygen free radical production and potentially produce an increase in blood pressure. Tempol, a free radical scavenger, was administered intracerebroventricularly to HS (n=12) and NS (n=11) offspring to determine if the stressinduces cardiovascular hyperresponsiveness could be reversed. We were unable to conclusively show that this was the case. Hence, the expression of SEH protein in the brains of HS offspring was increased, but a role, if any, for this change in explaining the exaggerated response to acute stress remains elusive. Second, the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene was investigated. We focused on the methylation patterns of the exon 17 GR promoter and 17 CpG dinucleotide sites that include the NGFI-A transcription factor binding site. Female rats (HS n=8, NS n=8) were sacrificed and brains were immediately extracted. Tissue from the pituitary, hypothalamus, and hippocampus was removed and DNA was extracted from each of these areas. CT conversion was performed on the DNA samples followed by cloning and sequencing. Methylation patterns between HS and NS in the pituitary, hypothalamus, and hippocampus did not vary. RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to investigate differences in the levels of GR transcription and/or translation. There were no significant differences found. However, the trends found may suggest different levels of GR mRNA and protein between HS and NS female rats. DNA methylation may play a role in the regulation of GR in prenatal high-salt female offspring. Additional studies will be needed to pinpoint the mechanisms responsible for the exaggerated cardiovascular response to acute stress in HS offspring.


This book explores the types of conflicts that occur over marine and coastal resources, the underlying causes, and attempts to prevent them. Despite the emergence of various marine and coastal governance approaches to address the effects of human activities within the marine environment, conflict continues. In this book, the author outlines the reasons conflicts can, and do, arise in the marine and coastal environment. Drawing on case studies from both the northern and southern hemispheres, the book takes a broad view of how we interact with our environment, of how and why conflict is perpetuated as a political and cultural phenomenon, and how this varies or remains constant across space and place. The case studies explore not only the underlying perceptions and needs of those involved in marine and coastal conflict and the types of conflicts that arise in oceanic and coastal areas, but also the underpinning reasons for these conflicts. Marine and coastal resource conflicts have the potential to derail conservation efforts and blue growth policies, as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Thus, it is imperative we understand the drivers and exacerbating factors of marine and coastal conflict. Arguing that there is an urgent need for renewed thinking and focus on conflict prevention, the author develops a theory of marine and coastal conflict which allows us to understand those factors and the means to help prevent such conflicts arising in the first place. This book will be of interest to students and researchers of coastal and marine science and environmental management as well as those working in the field of marine resource management, including coastal zone managers and fisheries managers.


For the fully connected K user wireless interference channel where the channel coefficients are time-varying and are drawn from a continuous distribution, the sum capacity is characterized as C(SNR)=K/2log(SNR)+o(log(SNR)) . Thus, the K user time-varying interference channel almost surely has K/2 degrees of freedom. Achievability is based on the idea of interference alignment. Examples are also provided of fully connected K user interference channels with constant (not time-varying) coefficients where the capacity is exactly achieved by interference alignment at all SNR values.


This is the final submission to the Australian Government by the Australian Privacy Foundation (APF) on the final report of the Australian Consumer & Competition Commission (ACCC) Report on regulation of digital platforms.

APF welcomes the contribution made by the ACCC to improving the understanding of how the protection of privacy is central to addressing anti-competitive concerns and consumer protection in the data economy. APF's primary focus in this submission is on the consumer privacy aspects of the Inquiry, but with an eye to the issues of market power, and the trust that is fundamental for public administration in online environments. The APF strongly supports the ACCC's analysis and recommendations, across the board. ACCC's analysis is consistent with a wide range of Australian and international official and private reports over the past three years, demonstrating that there is international recognition of a substantive problem that must be addressed. In particular, APF urges the Government's adoption of the recommendations in Chapter 7 to achieve vital and substantial upgrades in Australia's privacy protection, in order to address the major inroads into privacy because of the enormous growth in data surveillance by the private sector since 2000, the pressing need for a more powerful and much more effective Privacy Commissioner, and to achieve the privacy right of action previously recommended.

For reasons detailed in this Submission (and summarised at its end), APF expresses its strong support for the adoption by the Australian Government of all of the following Recommendations:

16: Strengthen protections in the Privacy Act

(a) Update 'personal information' definition

(b) Strengthen notification requirements

(c) Strengthen consent requirements and pro-consumer defaults

(d) Enable the erasure of personal information

(e) Introduce direct rights of action for individuals

(f) Higher penalties for breach of the Privacy Act

17: Broader reform of Australian privacy law, having regard to:

1. Objectives

2. Scope

3. Higher standard of protections

4. Inferred information

5. De-identified information

6. Overseas data flows

7. Third-party certification

18: OAIC privacy code for digital platforms, including but not limited to:

1. Information requirements

2. Consent requirements

3. Opt-out controls

4. Children's data

5. Information security

6. Retention period

7. Complaints-handling

19: Statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy

20: Prohibition against unfair contract terms

21: Prohibition against certain unfair trading practices


The mutual coherence function Γ12(τ) of the light scattered by turbulent-density fluctuations of a plasma has been derived. The starting point is the analytic signal associated with the electric field of the scattered light. Time dependence of the refractive-index fluctuations has been taken into account, which is an extension to the results obtained by other authors, for instance, Beran. In the same approximations as he used, coincidence of the results is shown. Extension of the theory is considered for calculation of higher-order correlation functions of electron-density fluctuations. Their determination is connected with the statistical properties of the medium, and is therefore of great interest for plasma diagnostics.


PET based tools can improve the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and differential diagnosis of dementia. The importance of identifying individuals at risk of developing dementia among people with subjective cognitive complaints or mild cognitive impairment has clinical, social, and therapeutic implications. Within the two major classes of AD biomarkers currently identified, that is, markers of pathology and neurodegeneration, amyloid- and FDG-PET imaging represent decisive tools for their measurement. As a consequence, the PET tools have been recognized to be of crucial value in the recent guidelines for the early diagnosis of AD and other dementia conditions. The references based recommendations, however, include large PET imaging literature based on visual methods that greatly reduces sensitivity and specificity and lacks a clear cut-off between normal and pathological findings. PET imaging can be assessed using parametric or voxel-wise analyses by comparing the subject's scan with a normative data set, significantly increasing the diagnostic accuracy. This paper is a survey of the relevant literature on FDG and amyloid-PET imaging aimed at providing the value of quantification for the early and differential diagnosis of AD. This allowed a meta-analysis and GRADE analysis revealing high values for PET imaging that might be useful in considering recommendations.


This thesis is concerned with the description and analysis of two semantically different types of definite articles in German. While the existence of distinct article paradigms in various Germanic dialects and other languages has been acknowledged in the descriptive literature for quite some time, the theoretical implications of their existence have not been explored extensively. I argue that each of the articles corresponds to one of the two predominant theoretical approaches to analyzing definite descriptions: the 'weak' article encodes uniqueness. The 'strong' article is anaphoric in nature. In the course of spelling out detailed analyses for the two articles, various more general issues relevant to current semantic theory are addressed, in particular with respect to the analysis of donkey sentences and domain restriction. Chapter 2 describes the contrast between the weak and the strong article in light of the descriptive literature and characterizes their uses in terms of Hawkins's (1978) classification. Special attention is paid to two types of bridging uses, which shed further light on the contrast and play an important in the analysis developed in the following chapters. Chapter 3 introduces a situation semantics and argues for a specific version thereof. First, I propose that situation arguments in noun phrases are represented syntactically as situation pronouns at the level of the DP (rather than within the NP). Secondly, I argue that domain restriction (which is crucial for uniqueness analyses) can best be captured in a situation semantics, as this is both more economical and empirically more adequate than an analysis in terms of contextually supplied C-variables. Chapter 4 provides a uniqueness analysis of weak-article definites. The interpretation of a weak-article definite crucially depends on the interpretation of its situation pronoun, which can stand for the topic situation or a contextually supplied situation, or be quantificationally bound. I make a specific proposal for how topic situations (roughly, the situations that we are talking about) can be derived from questions and relate this to a more general perspective on discourse structure based on the notion of Question Under Discussion (QUD) (Roberts 1996, Buring 2003). I also show that it requires a presuppositional view of definites. A detailed, situation-semantic analysis of covarying interpretations of weak-article definites in donkey sentences is spelled out as well, which provides some new insights with regards to transparent interpretations of the restrictors of donkey sentences. Chapter 5 deals with so-called larger situation uses (Hawkins 1978), which call for a special, systematic way of determining the situation in which the definite is interpreted. I argue that a situation semantic version of an independently motivated type-shifter for relational nouns (shifting relations (〈e, 〈e, st〉〉) to properties (〈e, 〈st〉〉)) brings about the desired situational effect. This type-shifter also applies to cases of part-whole bridging and provides a deeper understanding thereof. Another independently motivated mechanism, namely that of Matching functions, gives rise to similar effects, but in contrast to the typeshifter, it depends heavily on contextual support and cannot account for the general availability of larger situation uses that is independent of the context. The anaphoric nature of the strong article is described and analyzed in detail in chapter 6. In addition to simple discourse anaphoric uses, I discuss covarying interpretations and relational anaphora (the type of bridging expressed by the strong article). Cases where uniqueness does not hold (e.g., in so-called bishop sentences) provide crucial evidence for the need to encode the anaphoric link between strong-article definites and their antecedents formally. The resulting dynamic analysis of strong-article definites encodes the anaphoric dependency via a separate anaphoric element that is incorporated into a uniqueness meaning. Finally, remaining challenges for the analysis are discussed, in particular the existence of strong-article definites without an antecedent and a puzzling contrast between the articles with respect to relative clauses. The final chapter discusses some loose ends that suggest directions for future work and sums up the main


Relative Path Overwrite (RPO) is a recent technique to inject style directives into sites even when no style sink or markup injection vulnerability is present. It exploits differences in how browsers and web servers interpret relative paths (i.e., path confusion) to make a HTML page reference itself as a stylesheet; a simple text injection vulnerability along with browsers» leniency in parsing CSS resources results in an attacker»s ability to inject style directives that will be interpreted by the browser. Even though style injection may appear less serious a threat than script injection, it has been shown that it enables a range of attacks, including secret exfiltration. In this paper, we present the first large-scale study of the Web to measure the prevalence and significance of style injection using RPO. Our work shows that around 9% of the sites in the Alexa Top 10,000 contain at least one vulnerable page, out of which more than one third can be exploited. We analyze in detail various impediments to successful exploitation, and make recommendations for remediation. In contrast to script injection, relatively simple countermeasures exist to mitigate style injection. However, there appears to be little awareness of this attack vector as evidenced by a range of popular Content Management Systems (CMSes) that we found to be exploitable.


A recent appellate decision in the USA (In re Barnet) confuses the foreign debtor with the foreign insolvency representative. Notwithstanding the focus of US bankruptcy law on a foreign proceeding as the object of an ancillary case under Chapter 15, with the foreign representative as its emissary, the decision dismayed the international insolvency community by ruling that section 109(a) of the Bankruptcy Code applies to recognition under Chapter 15. The result is to require that the debtor in a foreign proceeding has some minimum jurisdictional presence in the USA as a condition of Chapter 15 recognition. Such a presence might include a domicile, a place of business, or property. While there might be a "backdoor" device avoiding this result, the decision creates serious confusion and a potential obstacle to full international recognition. Copyright © 2015 INSOL International and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd


The aim of this chapter is to provide an introduction to the field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based digital control system design for motion control. It is intended as a reference for the undergraduate students in science and engineering, professionals, and enthusiastic people who have a basic knowledge in discrete control theory and digital systems using reconfigurable logic. The scope of this chapter includes the analysis, simulation, and implementation of classic control algorithms. The presented topics serve as a foundation for the implementation of more complex systems. An experimental section is provided, which validates the proposed digital design.


This essay, written for a forthcoming volume titled Fatal Fictions: Crime in Law and Literature (Martha Nussbaum, Richard McAdams & Alison LaCroix, eds.), examines the crime of treason as depicted in Hilary Mantel's novels Wolf Hall (2009) and Bring Up the Bodies (2012). In the novels, Mantel provides a corrective to the enduringly popular view of Thomas Cromwell as at best a Tudor-era fixer, and at worst as a murderer and torturer – a view made famous by Robert Bolt's play A Man for All Seasons (1960). Instead, Mantel's Cromwell is the industrious creator of the modern administrative state. In this characterization, Mantel follows in the scholarly path of Geoffrey Elton, whose Tudor Revolution in Government (1953) rehabilitated Cromwell by arguing that he reformed English government by replacing personal rule with modern bureaucracy and systematizing the royal finances. In different ways, both Mantel's and Elton's account rebut the image of Cromwell as a criminal. But I argue that Mantel's Cromwell in fact should be seen as representing two species of crime: crimes against the state, in the form of treason; and crimes by the state, in the form of espionage and torture. The novels present both forms of crime as occurring at the same historical moment in which the modern state was being formed. Because crimes against the state and by the state both presuppose the existence of the state itself, Mantel's and Elton's modernizing Cromwell may not be as distinct from Bolt's devious Cromwell as the competing accounts would suggest.


Background: Chlorhexidine could have effect on shear bond strength of composite resin-dentin. Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare two methods of chlorhexidine application of shear bond strength degradation between composite resin and dentin. Methods: Thirty samples of dentin were taken from the crown of premolars and then divided into three groups (n = 10). Group 1 were applied bonding without chlorhexidine, group 2 were applied with liquid chlorhexidine and followed by bonding, group 3 were applied bonding which contains chlorhexidine. Each group was divided into two sub-groups (n = 5): the group with and without 10% NaOCl immersion for one hour. Then, 4 samples in each sub-group were used to measure shear bond strength using Universal Testing Machine, and 1 sample was examined with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Data were analyzed using SPSS 17 by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis test. Results: The highest mean shear bond strength without 10% NaOCl immersion was in group 1, while the highest mean with 10% NaOCl immersion was in group 3. Significant differences occurred between the groups 1 and 2, groups 2 and 3. Conclusion: Method of using bonding contains chlorhexidine can increase and inhibit degradation shear bond strength between composite resin and dentin.


The development of individual intelligent transportation systems (ITS) that operate well independently is not sufficient to meet the growing transportation needs of urban areas. To realize the true potential of ITS, systems such as freeway management systems, transit scheduling and dispatch systems, signal control systems, emergency computer-aided dispatch systems, and even construction scheduling systems must be integrated to allow for coordinated regional decision making. The formidable task of realizing integrated ITS (IITS) must often be accomplished by various municipal systems, most with little or no automation, and several organizational bodies that attempt to coordinate these efforts into a comprehensive regional network. Each of these organizations and systems has its own set of objectives, and these objectives may be noncommensurate and conflicting. Regional integration allows the systems to share information, allowing transportation officials to manage the entire regional transportation system. A sound regional architecture must be developed to guide developers in fitting their individual systems into a regional context. An overview of a vision of IITS is presented, along with an example of an integrated system proposed for the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. The vision is based on a critical analysis of five principal design areas: regional architecture, open systems, the World Wide Web and extranets, data warehousing, and data mining.


The Weak Gravity Conjecture holds that in a theory of quantum gravity, any gauge force must mediate interactions stronger than gravity for some particles. This statement has surprisingly deep and extensive connections to many different areas of physics and mathematics. Several variations on the basic conjecture have been proposed, including statements that are much stronger but are nonetheless satisfied by all known consistent quantum gravity theories. We review these related conjectures and the evidence for their validity in the string theory landscape. We also review a variety of arguments for these conjectures, which tend to fall into two categories: qualitative arguments which claim the conjecture is plausible based on general principles, and quantitative arguments for various special cases or analogues of the conjecture. We also outline the implications of these conjectures for particle physics, cosmology, general relativity, and mathematics. Finally, we highlight important directions for future research.


Designers of data centers and Web servers aim to make on-demand allocation of resources to clients in order to lower the deployment cost of hosted services. Moreover, they must also minimize operating costs, such as energy consumption, by matching service-capacity demand with resource supply. However, since the term "capacity" is typically defined vaguely or inadequately, it is difficult to assess resource needs and, hence, servers, which are several times larger than needed at runtime, are usually deployed. The time-varying nature of the workload model further complicates the problem and necessitates an online capacity-estimation solution. To address this overprovisioning problem, we first define the capacity of a server cluster as the sustainable throughput subject to a request retransmission ratio constraint and then analyze different approaches to capacity estimation in a running system. Various capacity-estimation mechanisms, such as offline benchmarking and CPU-utilization evaluation, are discussed and compared with our queue-monitoring method. We employ several different data-collection methods (application instrumentation, user-space tools, simple network management protocol (SNMP), and kernel modules) to compare their effects on estimation accuracy. Of these, queue monitoring is found to provide a good and stable estimate of server capacity. To validate this finding, we propose a simple cluster- resizing mechanism and evaluate the energy-conservation performance. A good combination of data collection and online capacity estimation is found to make significantly more energy savings than traditional approaches (that is, static estimation and scheduled capacity). Our experimental results show that more than 40 percent of energy can be saved for regular daily usage patterns without any prior knowledge of the workload and that long start-up and shutdown delays affect energy savings considerably.


A wavefront sensing technique is proposed based on the principle of aberration-mode filtering and detection. The mathematical foundation of the method is provided by a series of orthogonal and binary functions, for the optical aperture, derived from the Walsh series. It is shown that the expansion of a wavefront using these basis functions is explicitly related to the expansion of the optical field itself on the same basis. This permits the determination of the coefficients associated with the binary aberration modes through simple intensity measurements with the help of a phase-only spatial light modulator and a single-mode optical fiber. These coefficients can be independently acquired in sets that characterize wavefronts in various spatial resolutions. A numerical simulation and practical implementation of the technique are also discussed.


This paper develops the theory of the social contagion of violence by proposing a four-part analytical framework that focuses on: (1) contagious narratives and the accompanying behavioural script about the use of violence as a response to those narratives; (2) population susceptibility to these narratives, in particular the role of worldviews and the underlying emotional landscape; (3) mechanisms of transmission, including physical and online social networks, public displays of violence and participation in violence; and (4) the role of contagion entrepreneurs. It argues that a similar four-part approach can be used to identify and imagine possibilities of counter-contagion. The application of the theory is illustrated through examination of the recent epidemic of violence against individuals accused of practising sorcery in the Enga province of Papua New Guinea, a place where such violence is a very new phenomenon.


BACKGROUND
In the March edition of this journal a group of professors criticised the methods adopted by the SBG (Benchmark foundation of the Dutch Mental Health Services). The critical comments relate to the alleged objectives ('pay-for-performance' in the Dutch Mental Health Services) and the methods involving confounding, bias and the use of insufficiently sensitive instruments.

AIM
To provide more detailed information about the SBG and the role of the scientific council (WR) and about the social context within which rom and benchmarking are developing, and to give our views on the methodological criticisms.

METHOD
We elucidate the methods of the SBG and the role of the WR and we clarify the ways in which ROM and benchmarking are currently being used.

RESULTS
We recognise that there are methodological problems. The wr too warns against jumping to conclusions on the basis of data whose validity is still under discussion. The Dutch Mental Health Services have practically no experience of rom and benchmarking. The Dutch Mental Health Services need to gain more experience in this field. On the other hand, it is true that rom data and comparisons between institutions can lead to improvements in the standard of care, provided these procedures are carried out carefully. In the SGB methods the aforementioned problems have been removed, at least partially. The SBG is concerned not only with symptom reduction but also with the functioning of the individual and with his or her quality of life.

CONCLUSION
The WR believes that the Dutch Mental Health Services should operate a scientifically validated benchmark system. Sofar, there has been hardly any research into whether benchmark data really say anything about quality and/or whether comparisons between institutions are valid. A national ROM-system is needed. Current initiatives are creating ways in which these matters can be investigated, preferably in conjunction with scientists and professionals.


There is a misty-eyed vision of Bhutan which has popularized it as 'the last Shangri-la', the hidden Himalayan jewel, the travel destination of celebrities and unique-experience-hunters. We are not entirely comfortable with this image. Bhutan has undoubtedly become the focus of considerable media attention in the last few years. Articles appear regularly on its substitution of happiness for money as the indicator of the country's wealth. Television programs, books, visits by personalities - all have served to bring Bhutan to global awareness. This attention only serves to increase pressure on the culture to become like any other. How has Bhutan resisted the impact of globalisation which has had such a homogenizing affect on most other countries in the world? A practice, until recently, of self-imposed isolation from the rest of the world, the Buddhist tradition, and the lack of any successful foreign invader have combined to produce a living culture that is as unique as it is fragile. This fragility suggested the need to document a context that seemed on the verge of change. Our second visit in 2008 confirmed our sense of immanent change, as we could see for ourselves the ways in which 'international culture' was beginning to appear: the first escalator in the country, widening the main road from single track to dual carriageway, the first democratic election, the availability of satellite television, and internet expansion...Nevertheless, we continue to feel that in Bhutan there is a different 'way of knowing.' We have worked with staff at the University to try to capture something of this in three different forms: * chapters written by Bhutanese individuals about the culture, landscape, education and folklore * extracts from interviews with university staff and associates to draw out particular characteristics of Bhutan which would be of interest to Western readers * photographs of Bhutan which provide a different 'view' of the country to complement the text. The subject matter has been chosen by Bhutanese staff at the Royal University of Bhutan as an expression of their understanding of their own land. There are conventional travel books about Bhutan available and we have not attempted to contribute to this literature. Bhutan: Ways of Knowing is a book which reflects Bhutanese understanding of their country. We hope that you will find these contributions as interesting and thought-provoking as we do, and that you, too, will find a different way of knowing about Bhutan.


This paper studies the stability conditions of discrete-time switched linear systems in the presence of parametric uncertainties and time-delay. The time-varying delay is assumed to be unknown but bounded. Based on the discrete Lyapunov functional, sufficient conditions are investigated to determine the upper bound of admissible time-delay. Furthermore, the average dwell time method that is an effective tool for stability analysis of switched systems is used to derive the exponential stability conditions. These conditions characterize the switching signal that does not depend on any uncertainties. Finally, numerical example is provided to verify the theoretical results.


Thermokarst terrain develops when some forms of permafrost – or so-called frozen ground – thaw and the soil subsides under its own mass. The processes that create thermokarst terrain alter the Arctic landscape substantially. The formation of thermokarst terrain is a natural phenomenon that increases or decreases as the climate warms or cools. There is now strong evidence that permafrost has been warming for several decades and that the rate of thermokarst formation has accelerated in many parts of the Arctic. Based on predictions of future climate in Arctic regions, a substantial portion of the permafrost that exists today will disappear in the next 50–100 years. The increase in thermokarst activity observed recently is likely to be an early indicator of permafrost retreat. Taken individually a particular thermokarst feature is perhaps merely an interesting oddity. However, taking a longer temporal and larger spatial perspective, it is reasonable to conclude that thermokarst formation has important impacts on the hydrology, geomorphology, biogeochemistry and ecology of the Arctic landscape. If the rate of thermokarst formation increases as expected, then it is possible that important aspects of the structure and function of the Arctic landscape will change rapidly as well. It is of particular concern that permafrost contains more total carbon than is currently in circulation in the modern atmosphere. New experimental evidence suggests that when permafrost thaws, the carbon it contains will become available for microbial processing and much of the carbon may end up as carbon dioxide or methane in the atmosphere. It is important that we understand these interacting process to better understand how climate change will affect the Arctic environment as well as the global climate, in the future.


Introduction: The superoxide radical (O2-), hydroxyl radical (OH) are generated in physiochemical pathways. All biological systems have innate antioxidant defence mechanisms but these mechanisms can be inefficient due to poor diet intake, pollution, stress and chemicals etc. Therefore, it is imperative to consume antioxidants to shield cells from destruction by free radicals. Shilajatu is such a drugs of prime importance that has been advocated in the management of various ailments ranging from Diabetes to Immunomodulation and Antioxidant. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant potential of Shuddha Shilajatu along with impact of geography and processing media on it, was determined by using DPPH i.e. 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl Free Radical Scavenging Assay. Test was performed at the wavelength of 517 nm using 1 cm optical path cuvette at room temperature. The ultraviolet spectrum of Shuddha Shilajatu and Ascorbic acid was performed by UV-Vis spectrophotometer at different concentrations. The experiment was carried out in triplicate. The result was compared with ascorbic acid as it was taken as standard control under the same conditions. The sample concentration at which initial absorbance of DPPH solution get lowered by 50% has been considered as the endpoint for evaluating the antioxidant potential. Results: It has been found that Shilajatu samples processed in Triphala kwatha have shown better antioxidant profile than water processed samples. Moreover, sample procured from Amritsar showed much better antioxidant activity in comparison to Shilajatu sample procured from Nepal. Conclusion: Processing media and geography significantly modulate the effect and activities of Shilajatu.


This thesis aims to examine the complex issues in religious epistemology and authority. Inevitably, the thesis also discusses these subjects as they operate in non-theological areas. T. F, Torrance is a theologian who has much to say about these subjects and his position is both illuminating and refreshingly different. The thesis considers the ramifications of foundationalism and non-foundationalism in the pursuit of knowledge and Torrance's unique epistemological position is presented, clarified and assessed. Torrance's understanding of language and the Incarnation, as pivots of his theology, are explained and examined. Issues concerning the relationship between faith and reason are discussed as are the problems of rigorous verification in systems of knowledge. As "working models" of his theology, the thesis examines Torrance's approach to "natural theology", tradition, and scripture. As well as an assessment of Torrance's work, the thesis aims to point out where it presents the theologian with a way forward and also where the theologian needs to go beyond- Torrance's vision of reality and how this should be attempted.


This article provides a concise history of the Doha Round negotiation, analyzes its deadlock and offers some suggestions for a successful deal. The article observes that the nearly decade long negotiational stalemate is symptomatic of the diametrically opposed beliefs on the nature of the Round between developed and developing countries. While developed countries appear to be increasingly oblivious of Doha's exigency, i.e., as a "development" round, developing countries vehemently condemn the developed countries' narrow commercial focus on the Doha Round talks. It will not be easy to untie this Gordian knot since both Worlds tend to think that no deal is better than a bad deal. This political dilemma notwithstanding, the current global economic crisis has been a clarion call for a successful Doha deal. Ironically, the widespread protectionist reactions from both developed and developing countries alike have highlighted the vital importance of a well-operating multilateral trading system. The article concludes that the U.S. must not fail to exercise its due leadership in crystallizing such momentum into a concrete outcome, as it did in the interwar period.


While liminal spaces have been highlighted as important constitutive phenomena for how organization materializes, studies (e.g. Sturdy, Schwarz & Spicer, 2006) have tended to focus on liminality external to the organization; liminal spaces inside the organization are only very recently beginning to be seriously considered (Shortt, 2015). This paper addresses this and examines how actors contribute recursively to the production of liminal spaces in the workplace by their movement from their working area to take a refreshment break. This brief journey through corridors, stairways, and eating areas, involving human and non-human inter/action, we argue, is part of an ongoing process of intertextuality which produces an embodied, relational and political space of liminality.Researching this complex and under-theorized area, we bring together the methods of co-constructed auto-ethnography offered by Learmonth and Humphries (2011) and visual auto-ethnography (Watson, 2009) in examining the empirical photographic work of one of the authors. The result is a mutually elicited image-text (Warren, 2002) reflecting the ongoing dialogue between the co-authors about space and its production. Theoretically we draw on Barthes' (1977) approach to reflective photographic practice, to examine the authors' understandings of photographs of liminal (work-)spaces, as "genotexts" (Kristeva, 1980) in the production of a "paratext" (Genette, 1997; Gray, 2010), which engages 'readers' in the intertextual, dialogic (Bakhtin, 1981) process of spatial production. Our paper will contribute to theory through drawing on photographs of liminal experiences to articulate how the notions of paratext and genotext constitute an intertextual framing of liminal spaces in the workplace.


Abstract This paper provides compelling evidence that equity market liberalization, as the most efficient way to smooth financial market frictions such as credit constraints, can alleviate persistent cross-dynastic income inequality by promoting increased human capital accumulation. The authors examine the effect of equity market liberalization on inequality by using data from 72 countries for 1980–2006. Their measured effect is robust to alternative measures of equity market liberalization. Finally, The authors show that foreign equity flows benefit initially lessactive stock markets more than the active ones, providing evidence that foreign equity flows act as a substitute for domestic financial markets. This finding emphasizes the possibility of reducing inequality and poverty through equity market liberalization.


Proxies from Greenland ice cores and North Atlantic marine sediment cores document repeated extreme climate swings of a few decades to millennia during the last glacial cycle, including periods of intense ice rafting called Heinrich events (HEs). We have found similar oxygen isotope variations recorded in mixed-layer–and thermocline-dwelling planktonic foraminifera during HEs 0, 1, and 4, suggesting that three foraminiferal taxa calcified their shells at similar temperatures in a homogenized upperwater column. This implies that the surface mixed layer was deeper during HEs. Similar deepening occurred on the northern margin of the ice-rafted–debris belt, implying that these deep mixed layers during HEs were widespread in the region. We suggest that an increase in storminess during HEs intensified the vertical mixing of meltwater from ice rafting in the upper ocean.


The nanoparticulate size of fuel cell electrocatalysts raises significant challenges in the analytical techniques used in their structural and electrochemical characterisation. For this reason, the applicability of analytical protocols in the qualitative and quantitative characteri- sation of nanophase fuel cell electrocatalysts was investigated. A set of structural and chemical properties influencing the performance of the electrocatalysts was identified. A large range of analytical tools was employed in characterising the electrocatalysts of interest. High accuracy and precision in the quantitative and qualitative structural and electrochemical characterisation of Pt/C and Pt-Ru/C nanophase electrocatalysts was demonstrated. Certain techniques were deemed to be highly applicable in discriminating between high- and low-performance electrocatalysts based on their structural and electrochemical properties. The goal of this effort is to contribute to the development of South Africa's capabilities in the emerging hydrogen economy. : nanophase, electrocatalyst, platinum group metals, characterisation


Multi-agent path-finding (MAPF) is important for applications such as the kind of warehousing done by Kiva systems. Solving the problem optimally is NP-hard, yet finding low-cost solutions is important. Bounded-suboptimal MAPF algorithms, such as enhanced conflict-based search (ECBS), often do not perform well in warehousing domains with many agents. We therefore develop bounded-suboptimal MAPF algorithms, called CBS+HWY and ECBS+HWY, that exploit the problem structure of a given MAPF instance by finding paths for the agents that include edges from user-provided highways, which encourages a global behavior of the agents that avoids collisions. On the theoretical side, we develop a simple approach that uses highways for MAPF and provides suboptimality guarantees. On the experimental side, we demonstrate that ECBS+HWY can decrease the runtimes and solution costs of ECBS in Kiva-like domains with many agents if the highways capture the problem structures well.


Orthorhombic (K,Na)NbO3 (KNN) nanorod arrays with the [110]-orientation were grown on SrTiO3 substrates by the hydrothermal method. The nanorods exhibited greatly enhanced piezoelectric performance, with the d33 piezoelectric coefficient increasing from 140 pm/V to 360 pm/V, after annealing in oxygen at temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 800 °C. The high temperature annealing process was accompanied by severe volatilization of K, which modified the K/Na ratio closer to 1:1. Thus, orthorhombic-tetragonal (O-T) phase boundaries appeared, which improved the piezoelectric property. Moreover, surface oxygen vacancies were passivated in the high-temperature oxygen atmosphere, which would reduce the charge density in the nanorods and contribute to the enhanced piezoelectricity. Therefore, excellent piezoelectricity in the KNN nanorod arrays was driven by the combination of the O-T phase boundaries and the oxygen vacancy passivation. This work demonstrates that KNN has great potential in piezoelectric materials ...


The availability of suitable land for agricultural activities and the quality of this land are the main factors determining the maximum number of the population of the planet. In the Russian Federation is 8.9 % of the world's arable land. But the natural-climatic conditions of Russia are rather complicated from the point of view of agricultural production. Therefore, the special significance is having the land reclamation and the measures of enhance soil fertility. Meanwhile, the share of reclaimed land in Russia is much lower than by our competitors in the global food market. From 2014 the state is starting the realization of the Federal target program of land reclamation agricultural purposes. The information systems about the land in the period of the agrarian and land transformation and development of a market turnover of land (including agricultural) were attending more of legal aspects and of technical side (technology, electronic information exchange) rather than on the characteristics of the land as the main means of production. Currently agricultural producers are demanding the land information. But the modern systems, containing information on agricultural lands, are not enough characterizing this land as a productive resource. It is negatively affects the development of agriculture. Now the Ministry of agriculture of Russia develops the proposals on establishment of a special system of monitoring agricultural lands. However, this system is created very slowly.


Previous research has given scant attention to the issue of how and when ex-combatants resort to organized violence. This article fills this research gap by comparing ex-fighters in the Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone. It holds that ex-combatant violence is the result of interaction between entrepreneurs of violence, military affinities, intermediaries, and selective incentives. Ex-combatants take to arms when they have access to entrepreneurs of violence. By offering selective incentives and utilizing existing military affinities, entrepreneurs can generate the enticements and trust needed to convince ex-combatants to resort to arms. However, as entrepreneurs have limited contact with ex-fighters, they are dependent on intermediaries to do the actual recruiting for them. Contrary to previous assumptions, this article finds that ex-fighters are largely risk-averse individuals and that ex-combatant violence is seldom triggered by the mere presence of small arms, lack of economic opportunities, or experiences of insecurity.


Technological innovation happens on a daily basis all around us. Yet, in our educational programs there is rarely any attention paid to what this is and how this unfolds over time in real life. This is not at all surprising, since there is not one unified and widely accepted body of knowledge on technological innovation that is grounded enough, meaning, knowledge based on research of technological innovation practice. The CDIO-framework is implicitly addressing innovation from the perspective of existing technological knowledge and therefore is not yet equipped enough for the purpose of tech-innovation. This paper therefore aims to initiate a discussion on what technological innovation is and how this could fit within the CDIO-framework. We will provide a definition of technological innovation based on innovation theoretical framework which reaches its readiness when practice is able to apply the new technology to design, engineer, build, maintain and dispose the objects that apply that particular technology. This lens will be used to analyze a well-documented case that reports on the development of a new structural aircraft material that is now widely used in the Airbus A380, hence a technological innovation. It will be shown in this paper that the research activities that support the development of the new technology, follow the logic of innovating as a generic and natural phenomenon. The paper ends by proposing a possible path to bring the subject of technological innovation within the confines of our educational curricula, without too much cutting on the subjects that we are teaching. Its base comes from the idea that what we are teaching today is the result of a technological innovation process of yesterday.


This article presents a new perspective on the question of whether and to what extent states should provide accommodations to religious objectors to same-sex marriage. It critically evaluates both of the commonly presented, competing analogies for addressing this issue; the accommodation of religiously-based race discrimination (offered by those who oppose most accommodations) and conscience clauses for health care providers (suggested by commentators who are more supportive of accommodations.) As an alternative model, the article suggests that the starting place for determining whether or not an accommodation for religious objectors to same-sex marriage should be granted is to ask whether a comparable accommodation would be granted to an individual or institution seeking the right to discriminate on the basis of religion in providing goods, services, or benefits to others. The analogy to accommodation for religious discrimination is grounded on the recognition that religious liberty and the right of same-sex couples to marry share a common foundation and are in some sense mutually reinforcing interests. Both religion and same-sex marriage go to the core of a person's identity. Both are intrinsically relational. Both involve conduct that expresses commitment. Both relationships are the source of duties and responsibilities that people feel compelled to fulfill. Both religious liberty and gay and lesbian rights are susceptible to similar kinds of slippery slope challenges. (Polygamy is the pit at the bottom of both slippery slopes.) Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the essence of religious liberty is the right to be different and, in the eyes of the majority, to be wrong. That understanding has parallels to the debate about same-sex marriage as well.In evaluating possible accommodations, the article carefully describes the costs to objectors if accommodations are denied and the cost to same-sex couples if accommodations are granted. It concludes by suggesting that government has dual responsibilities if accommodations are granted. When the state protects religious liberty by adopting discretionary accommodations, it must also use its resources and authority to promote the goals of civil rights legislation by spreading or mitigating the costs and burdens resulting from such accommodations.


Thermal transport in carbon nanofibers (CNFs) was thoroughly investigated. In particular, individual CNFs were suspended on T-type heat nanosensors and their thermal conductivity was measured over a range of temperatures. Unexpectedly, thermal conductivity was found to be dependent on CNF wall thickness and ranging between ca. 28 and 43 W/(m⋅K). Further investigation of the CNF walls with high resolution electron microscopy allowed us to propose a tentative description of how wall structure affects phonon heat transport inside CNFs. The lower thermal conductivities, compared to other CNTs, was attributed to unique CNF wall structure. Additionally, wall thickness is related to the conducting lattice length of each constituent graphene cone and comparable to the Umklapp length. Hence, as the wall thickness and thus lattice length increases there is a higher probability for phonon scattering to the next layer.


Peat moss was used as an adsorbent in a packed bed column to reduce TOD (Total Oxygen Demand) from black liquor of pulp and paper mills and ABS (Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate) from an aqueous solution. A peat moss column seemed to be capable of removing almost completely TOD and ABS from an initial TOD concentration of black liquor of approximately 50,000 ppm and an initial ABS concentration in aqueous solution of approximately 7 ppm. In the initial tests with black liquor, it was noticed that TOD was increased by the probable reaction between sulfite compounds of black liquor and peat moss compounds. Subsequent tests, performed with black liquor treated with calcium chloride to precipitate sulfite compounds, showed an increased adsorption. The tests indicated an adsorption capacity of approximately 36% and 0.03% by weight of peat moss in cases of TOD of initial concentration of 53,000 ppm and ABS of initial concentration of 7 ppm respectively. Comparing with the data on adsorption of ABS in aqueous solution by activated carbon (1), it was found that peat moss was approximately 0.20% as effective as activated carbon in adsorbing ABS. The conventional external mass transfer model was applied to describe the data of an experiment on adsorption of ABS and it was found that the model could describe the data up to point adsorbate compositions of approximately 0.125 mgm of ABS/gm of oven dry peat.


Using the tools of information technology to understand the molecular machinery of the cell offers both challenges and opportunities to computational scientists. Over the past decade, novel algorithms have been developed both for analyzing biological data and for synthetic biology problems such as protein engineering. This book explains the algorithmic foundations and computational approaches underlying areas of structural biology including NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance); X-ray crystallography; and the design and analysis of proteins, peptides, and small molecules. Each chapter offers a concise overview of important concepts, focusing on a key topic in the field. Four chapters offer a short course in algorithmic and computational issues related to NMR structural biology, giving the reader a useful toolkit with which to approach the fascinating yet thorny computational problems in this area. A recurrent theme is understanding the interplay between biophysical experiments and computational algorithms. The text emphasizes the mathematical foundations of structural biology while maintaining a balance between algorithms and a nuanced understanding of experimental data. Three emerging areas, particularly fertile ground for research students, are highlighted: NMR methodology, design of proteins and other molecules, and the modeling of protein flexibility. The next generation of computational structural biologists will need training in geometric algorithms, provably good approximation algorithms, scientific computation, and an array of techniques for handling noise and uncertainty in combinatorial geometry and computational biophysics. This book is an essential guide for young scientists on their way to research success in this exciting field.


The present paper reports the development and application of Finite Particle Method for viscous fluid simulation. The main effort in present study is focused on increase of accuracy. To improve accuracy two approaches are studied. First of all, consistency of standard SPH restored using FPM. Secondly, automatic adaptivity and clustering of particles is remedied by applying shifting algorithm. Moreover new shifting appropriate for free surface flows introduced. Finally new algorithm validated and verified with 2D and 3D benchmarks.


It is rare today to pick up a newspaper or listen to a newscast without being confronted with reports of some type of recent fraud. In addition to the impact on the individuals involved, these incidents of unethical and fraudulent behavior can be devastating to businesses. Much of the media attention has centered on known incidents of financial statement fraud, such as occurred with Enron, WorldCom, and other high profile cases; however, businesses are negatively impacted by multiple types of fraud, many of which are never made public.The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) has been tracking fraud for several years. The organization's 2006 ACFE Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud and Abuse is the fourth comprehensive fraud study to be released by the organization. In the study, occupational fraud is defined asThe use of one's occupation for personal enrichment through the deliberate misuse or misapplication of the employing organization's resources or assets ... The activity is clandestine; violates the perpetrator's fiduciary duties to the victim organization; is committed for the purpose of direct or indirect financial benefit to the perpetrator; and costs the employing organization assets, revenue or reserves ACFE (2006, pg 6)."The ACFE conducted the study over a twenty-five month period commencing January 2004 and ending January 2006. Information was gathered from Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE) and was based on 1,134 cases of occupational fraud. When the CFEs were asked to estimate the percentage of annual revenues lost to occupational fraud, the median loss estimate was a sizable five percent.The ACFE classifies occupational fraud into three major types: asset misappropriation, corruption, and fraudulent financial statements. Asset misappropriation results from the misuse or theft of an entity's assets. This includes theft of cash, billing schemes, expense reimbursement schemes, check tampering, payroll fraud, fraudulent wire transfers, cash register disbursement schemes, theft of securities, theft or misuse of propriety information, and inventory theft. Corruption results from an individual using his or her influence in order to receive an unauthorized benefit. These activities include conflicts of interest, bribery, illegal gratuities, and extortion. Fraudulent financial statements result from one or more falsified entries in the entity's accounting system that causes the entity to look more or less profitable. Asset misappropriation occurred in the vast majority of cases reported in the ACFE's report (91.5 percent for asset misappropriation, 30.8 percent for corruption and 10.6 percent for fraudulent statements (some frauds fell into more that one category)) but the median loss was greatest for fraudulent financial statements. Median reported losses by category were $150,000 for asset misappropriation, $538,000 for corruption and $2,000,000 for fraudulent statements (ACFE, 2006).The ACFE found that fraud was initially discovered by tips (34.2% of cases), accident (25.4% of cases), internal audits (20.2% of cases), internal controls (19.2% of cases), external audit (12% of cases), and police notification (3.8% of cases). The sum of the above percentages exceeds 100 percent due to the overlapping of detection methods. As these data indicate, tips are a more successful fraud detection mechanism than other internal controls or either external or internal auditors. Tips are most often reported by employees (64.1% of the time, according to the ACFE survey). Other sources of tips include anonymous sources (18.1%), customers (10.7%), and vendors (7.1%).The prevalence of fraud and the wide array of fraudulent activities occurring in United States businesses show a need to understand how people will react when confronted with situations involving fraudulent behaviors. Since businesses rely on tips to discover many frauds, and a sizable portion of those tips come from employees, it is critical for employees to be aware of what activities are considered fraudulent. …


The purpose of this thesis is to investigate whether some positions in democratic theory should be adjusted or abandoned in view of internationalisation; and if adjusted, how. More specifically it pursues three different aims: to evaluate various attempts to explain levels of democracy as consequences of internationalisation; to investigate whether the taking into account of internationalisation reveals any reason to reconsider what democracy is or means; and to suggest normative interpretations that cohere with the adjustments of conceptual and explanatory democratic theory made in the course of meeting the other two aims.When empirical methods are used, the scope of the study is restricted to West European parliamentary democracies and their international affairs. More particularly, the focus is on the making of budget policy in Britain, France, and Sweden after the Second World War, and recent budget policy in the European Union. The aspects of democracy empirically analysed are political autonomy, participation, and deliberation. The material considered includes parliamentary debates, official statistics, economic forecasts, elections manifestos, shadow budgets, general election turnouts, regulations of budget decision-making, and staff numbers in government and parliament budgetary divisions. The study reaches the following conclusions among others. (i) The fact that internationalisation increases the divergence between those who make and those who are affected by decisions is not by itself a democratic problem that calls for political reform. (ii) That international organisations may have authorities delegated to them from democratic states is not sufficient to justify them democratically. Democratisation still needs to be undertaken. (iii) The fear that internationalisation dissolves a social trust necessary for political deliberation within nations seems to be unwarranted. If anything, views argued by others in domestic budgetary debate are taken increasingly serious during internationalisation. (iv) The major difficulty with deliberation seems to be its inability to transcend national boundaries. International deliberation at state level has not evolved in response to internationalisation and it is undeveloped in international institutions. (v) Democratic political autonomy diminishes during internationalisation with regard to income redistribution and policy areas taken over by international organisations, but it seems to increase in public spending. (vi) In the area of budget policy-making there are no signs that governments gain power at the expense of parliaments during internationalisation. (vii) To identify crucial democratic issues in a time of internationalisation and to make room for theoretical virtues like general applicability and normative fruitfulness, democracy may be defined as a kind of politics where as many as possible decide as much as possible.


The settlement system of Marmilla, historic hill area of central Sardinia, has endured for decades with increasing difficulties to depopulation and crisis of belonging of communities. The historic balance that characterized the mutual rooting between communities and places is questioned and sets questions on the meaning of living in these places and on the sense of the redevelopment of historic and traditional rural heritage. The community initiatives adopted by Regione Sardegna for the redevelopment of these areas point at the definition of quality projects for networks of small towns with cultural, territorial, economic common characters. In accordance with such objectives, the project of architectures and public spaces tries to share principles, targets, tools, languages, techniques and materials with in order to give form to a system strategy at the territorial scale. Marmilla already holds design micro-actions that contribute to create quality spaces transforming the territory into an extraordinary place for the experimentation of the construction and the continuous renewal of local specificities. the architecture project becomes, then, an instrument to measure the quality of places and their capability to go beyond the test of time adapting itself and reformulating their space-time, value, cultural coordinates: in other words, their resilience capability.


The decrease in the increase in death rates at old ages is a phenomenon that has repeatedly been discussed in demographic research. While mortality deceleration can be explained in the gamma-Gompertz model as an effect of selection in heterogeneous populations, this phenomenon can be difficult to assess statistically because it relates to the tail of the distribution of the ages at death. By using a focused information criterion (FIC) for model selection, we can directly target model performance at those advanced ages. The gamma-Gompertz model is reduced to the competing Gompertz model without mortality deceleration if the variance parameter lies on the boundary of the parameter space. We develop a new version of the FIC that is adapted to this non-standard condition. In a simulation study, the new FIC is shown to outperform other methods in detecting mortality deceleration. The application of the FIC to extinct French-Canadian birth cohorts demonstrates that focused model selection can be used to rebut previous assertions about mortality deceleration.


I study monetary and fiscal policy in liquidity trap scenarios, where the zero bound on the nominal interest rate is binding. I work with a continuous-time version of the standard New Keynesian model. Without commitment, the economy suffers from deflation and depressed output. I show that, surprisingly, both are exacerbated with greater price flexibility. I examine monetary and fiscal policies that maximize utility for the agent in the model and refer to these as optimal throughout the paper. I find that the optimal interest rate is set to zero past the liquidity trap and jumps discretely up upon exit. Inflation may be positive throughout, so the absence of deflation is not evidence against a liquidity trap. Output, on the other hand, always starts below its efficient level and rises above it. I then study fiscal policy and show that, regardless of parameters that govern the value of "fiscal multipliers" during normal or liquidity trap times, at the start of a liquidity trap optimal spending is above its natural level. However, it declines over time and goes below its natural level. I propose a decomposition of spending according to "opportunistic" and "stimulus" motives. The former is defined as the level of government purchases that is optimal from a static, cost-benefit standpoint, taking into account that, due to slack resources, shadow costs may be lower during a slump; the latter measures deviations from the former. I show that stimulus spending may be zero throughout, or switch signs, depending on parameters. Finally, I consider the hybrid where monetary policy is discretionary, but fiscal policy has commitment. In this case, stimulus spending is typically positive and increasing throughout the trap.


1 Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC * Corresponding author address: Prof. Wen-Shan Chen, Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; E-mail: email@example.com Well-exposed Oligocene strata of the Hsuehshan Range in Taiwan were deposited in the Hsuehshan Trough along the eastern Eurasia continental margin. The Hsuehshan Trough was a restricted epeiric basin confined by a series of horsts. The Oligocene succession records a deepening-upward to shallowing-upward sequence of deltaic deposystems associated with fluvial and shallow marine environments. These environments ranged from wavedominated delta-plain through storm-dominated delta-slope to regressive tidedominated delta-front environments. The fining-upward to coarsening-upward sequence can be divided into five lithofacies and five ichnocoenoses. Ichnocoenoses characterized by Ophiomorpha, Cylindrichnus, Teichichnus, Scolicia, and Zoophycos were defined on the basis of assemblages, degree of bioturbation, diversity, and abundance. The Lower Oligocene deposits exhibit a fining-upward trend and upward increases trend in bioturbation and abundance of deposit-feeding structures. Accompanying these changes is a transition from Ophiomorpha, Cylindrichnus, Teichichnus, Scolicia to Zoophycos ichnocoenoses, which also suggests a transgressive system from delta-plain to prodelta-slope environment. The sequential variation in lithofacies and ichnofossil assemblages coincides with changes in Early Oligocene sea level. The Upper Oligocene deposits show a shallowing-upward succession that suggests an evolution from a storm-dominated prodelta slope to a tide-dominated delta plain. The ichnofossil assemblages show a transition from Scolicia, Teichichnus to Ophiomorpha ichnocoenoses that are suggestive of regressive systems. The sequential trends documented in the Late Oligocene deposits of northeastern Taiwan are not consistent with global sea-level flucTAO, Vol. 16, No. 5, December 2005 1098 tuations and therefore, tectonic processes are invoked to have controlled local basin conditions. In general, the sequential variations documented in the Oligocene strata probably were controlled by paleoceanographic conditions that were closely linked to tectonic processes and longer-term, firstorder sea-level fluctuations. (


Summary

This paper presents a review and synthesis of archaeological surveys in western Syria and southern Turkey, alongside finds from recent excavations at Tell Qarqur, Syria, revealing regional patterns of late Roman settlement and land use in the lower Orontes River Valley. Survey data show that the late Roman period witnessed a peak in settlement density, with the extension of occupation into previously unoccupied areas and widespread agricultural intensification. Excavations of a typical lowland site at Tell Qarqur reveal an opulent building complex, possibly a church, with a columned hall, elaborate mosaic floor and frescoed interior. Analysis explores the process of agricultural intensification during the late Roman period, the relationship between lowland settlements and the better-known Dead Cities of the limestone massif to the east, and the ultimate abandonment of the settlement system following the seventh century AD.


Episodic event memory is a key component of human cognition. Predicting event memorability, i.e., to what extent an event is recalled, is a tough challenge in memory research and has profound implications for artificial intelligence. In this study, we investigate factors that affect event memorability according to a cued recall process. Specifically, we explore whether event memorability is contingent on the event context, as well as the intrinsic visual attributes of image cues. We design a novel experiment protocol and conduct a large-scale experiment with 47 elder subjects over 3 months. Subjects' memory of life events is tested in a cued recall process. Using advanced visual analytics methods, we build a first-ofits-kind event memorability dataset (called R3) with rich information about event context and visual semantic features. Furthermore, we propose a contextual event memory network (CEMNet) that tackles multi-modal input to predict item-wise event memorability, which outperforms competitive benchmarks. The findings inform deeper understanding of episodic event memory, and open up a new avenue for prediction of human episodic memory. Source code is available at https: //github.com/ffzzy840304/Predicting-Event-Memorability.


The doctrine of patent exhaustion implies that the authorized sale of patented goods "exhausts" the patent rights in the goods sold and precludes additional license fees from downstream buyers. Courts have considered absolute exhaustion, in which the patent owner forfeits all rights upon an authorized sale, and presumptive exhaustion, in which the patent owner may opt-out of exhaustion via contract. This paper offers the first economic model of domestic patent exhaustion that incorporates transaction costs in licensing downstream buyers and considers how the shift from absolute to presumptive exhaustion affects social welfare. We show that when transaction costs are high, the patent owner has no incentive to individually license downstream users, and absolute and presumptive exhaustion regimes are equivalent. But when transaction costs are at the intermediate level, the patent owner engages in mixed licensing, individually licensing high-valuation buyers and uniformly licensing low-valuation buyers. Presumptive exhaustion is socially optimal when social benefits from buyer-specific pricing outweigh social costs from transaction cost frictions in individualized licensing, which requires sufficiently low transaction costs.


Anti-Catholicism has a long history in America. And as Philip Jenkins argues in The New Anti-Catholicism, this virulent strain of hatred-once thought dead-is alive and well in our nation, but few people seem to notice, or care. A statement that is seen as racist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic, or homophobic can haunt a speaker for years, writes Jenkins, but it is still possible to make hostile and vituperative public statements about Roman Catholicism without fear of serious repercussions. Jenkins shines a light on anti-Catholic sentiment in American society and illuminates its causes, looking closely at gay and feminist anti-Catholicism, anti-Catholic rhetoric and imagery in the media, and the anti-Catholicism of the academic world. For newspapers and newsmagazines, for television news and in movies, for major book publishers, the Catholic Church has come to provide a grossly stereotyped public villain. Catholic opinions, doctrines, and individual leaders are frequently the butt of harsh satire. Indeed, the notion that the church is a deadly enemy of women, the idea of Catholic misogyny, is commonly accepted in the news media and in popular culture, says Jenkins. And the recent pedophile priest scandal, he shows, has revived many ancient anti-Catholic stereotypes. It was said that with the election of John F. Kennedy, anti-Catholicism in America was dead. This provocative new book corrects that illusion, drawing attention to this important issue.


An entertaining and captivating way to learn the fundamentals of using algorithms to solve problemsThe algorithmic approach to solving problems in computer technology is an essential tool. With this unique book, algorithm guru Roland Backhouse shares his four decades of experience to teach the fundamental principles of using algorithms to solve problems. Using fun and well-known puzzles to gradually introduce different aspects of algorithms in mathematics and computing. Backhouse presents you with a readable, entertaining, and energetic book that will motivate and challenge you to open your mind to the algorithmic nature of problem solving.Provides a novel approach to the mathematics of problem solving focusing on the algorithmic nature of problem solvingUses popular and entertaining puzzles to teach you different aspects of using algorithms to solve mathematical and computing challengesFeatures a theory section that supports each of the puzzles presented throughout the bookAssumes only an elementary understanding of mathematicsLet Roland Backhouse and his four decades of experience show you how you can solve challenging problems with algorithms!


ABSTRACT This overview paper examines three areas crucial to understanding why, despite clear scientific evidence for the growing environmental impacts of tourism transport, there is large-scale inertia in structural transitions and a lack of political will to enact meaningful sustainable mobility policies. These include the importance of addressing socio-technical factors, barriers posed by "technology myths" and the need to overcome "transport taboos" in policy-making. The paper seeks pathways to sustainable mobility by bridging the science–policy gap between academic research and researchers, and policy-makers and practitioners. It introduces key papers presented at the Freiburg 2014 workshop, covering the case for researcher engagement using advocacy and participatory approaches, the role of universities in creating their own social mobility policies, the power of social mechanisms encouraging long-haul travel, issues in consumer responsibility development, industry self-regulation and the operation of realpolitik decision-making and implementation inside formal and informal destination-based mobility partnerships. Overall, the paper argues that governments and the tourism and transport industries must take a more cautious approach to the technological optimism that fosters policy inertia, and that policy-makers must take a more open approach to implementing sustainable transport policies. A research agenda for desirable transport futures is suggested.


When the gun submerged underwater is launched, the gun barrel is filled with water, which leads to much higher resistance in front of the projectile than that launched in air. So, the projectile acceleration decreases and the chamber pressure increases sharply so as to result in a burst barrel phenomenon. Base on this research background, this paper proposes the gas-curtain launch of underwater gun. Through a tiny hole opened in the projectile head, the powder gas is guided to inject into the front of the projectile to drain off water, which contributes to create a gas environment for projectile flight in the tube. Thus, the resistance before the projectile decreases to control the chamber pressure and improve the muzzle velocity. The paper designed a projectile with a central orifice for the 12.7mm machine gun and established the mathematical physical model for the gas-curtain launch to simulate and investigate the internal ballistic properties. The computational results show that, the gas-curtain launch of underwater machine gun can be achieved with appropriate variable-burning rate powder. Taking the internal ballistic performance of gun launched in air as reference, the underwater gas-curtain launch shows superior performance than the fully submerged underwater launch when the same charge quality is employed. The maximum chamber pressure and the muzzle velocity under the gas-curtain launch respectively are 86.5% and 81.6% of the situation launched in air, while the chamber pressure rises sharply to 298.9% and the muzzle velocity decreases to 71.2% under fully submerged underwater launch. The internal ballistic performance can be improved by adopting appropriate ventilation mass flow rate of 75.3 gs-1, which can ensure the fully expand of the gas jet to create a gas channel with lower pressure. At this time, the maximum chamber pressure can decrease to 85.2% while the muzzle velocity can rise to 85.5% of the gun launched in air. It can be found that the present gas-curtain launch for underwater gun can effectively improve the internal ballistic performance and it has vital academic and practical value.


Abstract Diversity is a current buzzword in politics, but in the EU, people with disabilities are not achieving the gains made by women and ethnic minorities. This research examined barriers and facilitating factors through a literature review and interviews with politicians and political activists in five European countries. Six categories of barriers and facilitating factors were found: networks, recruitment and mentoring, resources (money, time and energy), the "hierarchy of impairments," accessibility of political spaces and activities, and laws and policies. Key recommendations include removing access barriers to political participation, from voting to holding office, including physical and procedural barriers in political spaces; ensuring that equalities legislation covers politicians; eliminating barriers imposed by benefits systems; promoting direct support for political activists, candidates and office-holders with disabilities, including access to necessary services and supports; encouraging parties to recruit and mentor disabled people with leadership potential; and considering quotas and job-sharing. Points of interest Not many disabled people are active in politics. In the EU, about 15% of people have an impairment, but only around 1% of politicians do. Inclusion at school and in social groups makes it easier to get into political jobs or to try to get elected. Some disabled political activists, volunteers, candidates and office-holders don't get the support they need. Political parties can help by finding disabled people, supporting them, and helping them get involved in politics. Our article provides several ideas about how to make it easier for disabled people to run for office and work in politics.


This paper sheds new light on the concept of selection in evolutionary economics. The interpretation of natural evolution has experienced significant changes in the last decades, while these developments have been often ignored by economists. This is especially true for the concept of selection, a key concept in many evolutionary approaches. In economics as well as in biology, selection is seen as a central mechanism, which mediates for example the spread of information and innovation, the coordination of groups of agents and the optimization of their behavior. In this article we are aiming to explore the actual significance of selection as a major explanatory principle in economics. Starting with an analysis of a modern and modified understanding of the selection mechanism in nature we will draw some conclusions for its use in economics.


The purpose of the current study was to determine whether a strength endurance training program of lower limbs isolate can increase endurance levels, both aerobic capacity and aerobic power, in order to adapt the strength training for endurance races. 20 phisically active men participated in the study. They were divided into two groups: control group (GC) (n=10) and experimental group (GE) (n=10). GE carried out a strength endurance training program for ten weeks. Results obtained showed that this type of training regime was useful to improve the performance in an aerobic endurance test. This could be due to an improvement in aerobic capacity, maximal dynamic strength, explosive strength and reactive strength. Moreover, there was a decrease in fat mass without increase in muscle mass. Key Words: Training, strength endurance, aerobic capacity, anthropometry.


Abstract To assess the effect of dietary manipulation on gross efficiency (GE), 15 trained male cyclists completed 3×2 h tests at submaximal exercise intensity (60% Maximal Minute Power). Using a randomized, crossover design participants consumed an isoenergetic diet (~4 000 kcal.day-1) in the 3 days preceding each test, that was either high in carbohydrate (HighCHO, [70% of the total energy derived from carbohydrate, 20% fat, 10% protein]), low in carbohydrate (LowCHO, [70% fat, 20% carbohydrate, 10% protein]) or contained a moderate amount of carbohydrate (ModCHO, [45% carbohydrate, 45% fat, 10% protein]). GE along with blood lactate and glucose were assessed every 30 min, and heart rate was measured at 5 s intervals throughout. Mean GE was significantly greater following the HighCHO than the ModCHO diet (HighCHO=20.4%±0.1%, ModCHO=19.6±0.2%; P<0.001). Additionally, HighCHO GE was significantly greater after 25 min (P=0.015) and 85 min (P=0.021) than in the LowCHO condition. Heart rate responses in the HighCHO condition were significantly lower than during the LowCHO tests (P=0.005). Diet had no effect on blood glucose or lactate (P>0.05). This study suggests that before the measurement of gross efficiency, participants' diet should be controlled and monitored to ensure the validity of the results obtained.