"Ideal speech situations", "domination-free discourse" or "deliberative communities" describe political ideals proudly cherished by many sociologists. The sometimes explicit, sometimes implicit, motivation is to mobilise political discourse as an instrument to tame or transform the capitalistic "system" according to alleged needs of "society". Most economists and defenders of capitalistic competition, in return, don?t care about communicative communities. The individual market actor is assumed or demanded to be free to choose among given alternatives satisfying given preferences subject to given constraints. Why, then, should homo oeconomicus argue (van Aaken 2003)? There is no "communicative action" among the individuals that populate economic textbooks, there is only "commutative action". Only a few, mostly "Austrian", economists realised that the exchange of goods and services within the spontaneous order of "catallaxy" involves an exchange of knowledge, ideas, opinions, expectations, and arguments – that markets are indeed communicative networks (e.g. Hayek 1946/48; Lavoie, ed. 1991; Horwitz 1992). In fact, and this will be my major claim, market competition is more "deliberative" than politics in the sense that more information about available social problem solutions and their comparative performance, about people's preferences, ideas and expectations is spontaneously created, disseminated and tested. This very idea is anathema for followers of Habermasian discourse ethics. The intellectual thrust and political clout of their vindication of deliberative politics critically seems to depend on a mostly tacit assumption that markets fail to address social needs and regulate social conflicts. Political discourse therefore ?steps in to fill the functional gaps when other mechanisms of social integration are overburdened? (Habermas 1996: 318). I will claim that the argument should be very much the other way around: politics and public deliberations are overburdened mechanisms – unable to deal with an increasingly complex and dynamic society. Moreover, the requisites of ideal speech communities are so enormous that functional gaps are inevitable. Partly, these gaps can be closed if market competition steps in. Partly, reorganisations of the political system are needed. Hence, I am not arguing that Habermas is wrong by stressing the need for open discourse in order to reach informed agreement among citizens who seek to realise mutual gains from joint commitment by contributing to common (public) goods and submitting to common rules of conduct (s.a. Vanberg 2003). I am challenging his neglect of capitalistic competition as a communicative device and his disdain for the classical liberal conception of bounded democracy that respects individual property rights (e.g. Habermas 1975; 1998).


Giant planets on short-period orbits are predicted to be inflated and eventually engulfed by their host stars. However, the detailed timescales and stages of these processes are not well known. Here, we present the discovery of three hot Jupiters (P < 10 days) orbiting evolved, intermediate-mass stars (M ⋆ ≈ 1.5 M ⊙, 2 R ⊙ < R ⋆ < 5 R ⊙). By combining TESS photometry with ground-based photometry and radial velocity measurements, we report masses and radii for these three planets of between 0.4 and 1.8 M J and 0.8 and 1.8 R J. TOI-2337b has the shortest period (P = 2.99432 ± 0.00008 days) of any planet discovered around a red giant star to date. Both TOI-4329b and TOI-2669b appear to be inflated, but TOI-2337b does not show any sign of inflation. The large radii and relatively low masses of TOI-4329b and TOI-2669b place them among the lowest density hot Jupiters currently known, while TOI-2337b is conversely one of the highest. All three planets have orbital eccentricities of below 0.2. The large spread in radii for these systems implies that planet inflation has a complex dependence on planet mass, radius, incident flux, and orbital properties. We predict that TOI-2337b has the shortest orbital decay timescale of any planet currently known, but do not detect any orbital decay in this system. Transmission spectroscopy of TOI-4329b would provide a favorable opportunity for the detection of water, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide features in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting an evolved star, and could yield new information about planet formation and atmospheric evolution.


The present invention provides a method to produce hydrazone from hydrazide. The method includes steps of mixing a hydrazide with an aldehyde in a reaction device, adding an organic solvent forming a mixture, stirring the mixture at a oredetermined speed and a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time, carrying out reaction under a reflux system wherein condenser used in the reflux system is equipped with a circulating bath forming a reaction product, cooling the reaction product at an ambient temperature after the completion of reaction, adding a non-reacting liquid to the reaction product to form a white paste produiuct, conducting filtration on the white paste product to produce a dried white-solid product, recrystallizing the dried white-solid product from dimethylformamide, adding 30 to 50 mL of an organic solvent which has been heated to a temperature of between 40C to 80C to the dried white-solid product to obtain a clear solution, adding between 5 to 15mL of a non-reacting liquid to allow formation of a white paste hydrazone and conducting filtration on the white paste hydrazone to obtain dried white-solid product.


Human trafficking and immigration have become prominent policy issues during Barack Obama's presidency. In this thesis, I argue that the metaphors used in the Obama administration's human trafficking rhetoric and those used in immigration rhetoric are mutually constitutive. I examine a number of texts related to human trafficking and immigration produced by the Obama administration, including speeches, statements, public service announcements videos, posters, and government reports for the most prevalent metaphors. By comparing the metaphors used by the Obama administration to describe the practices of human trafficking and immigration, this thesis will illustrate the commonly overlooked interlinkages between human trafficking and immigration rhetoric. The implications this rhetoric has for trafficking and immigration policy and conceptualizations of national identity are explored. This analysis contributes to a deeper theorization of the role of metaphor in human trafficking rhetoric and a better understanding of the relationship between human trafficking and immigration rhetoric.


Iodine is an essential trace mineral. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy can lead to adverse postnatal consequences such as impaired mental development, reduced intelligence scores and impaired motor skills in the offspring of the deficient women (Khazan et al., 2013, Rayman et al, 2008). There is growing evidence in the UK of low dietary iodine intakes and potential iodine deficiency in vulnerable populations (pregnant women and women of child bearing age group) (Rayman and Bath, 2015, Vanderpump et al., 2011) and a paucity of information on the iodine content of food products. In developing countries where iodine deficiency is widespread, salt has successfully been used as a vehicle for iodine fortification, however iodised salt is not widely available in UK supermarkets and there are valid health concerns about promoting salt intake. Salt is an essential component of the cheese production process, and cheese is commonly consumed in the UK. The overall aim of the present study was to explore the use of iodised salt in cheese production to improve the iodine status in the UK. In order to accomplish this, 4 smaller interconnected aims were identified namely development of method
and subsequent analysis of iodine content of cheese samples in the UK, examining these results in relation to the legislative policies regarding iodine fortification practised in the country of production of cheese, understanding about the knowledge, attitudes and practices of consumers regarding iodine nutrition and fortification through a survey and then finally manufacturing popularly consumed cheese varieties (soft cheese and cheddar – from the consumer survey) using iodised salt and comparing it with cheese made with non- fortified regular table salt in terms of iodine content and overall sensory acceptability.
A cheese mapping exercise was conducted to gain an overview of cheese varieties available across three major supermarkets in the UK and their country of origin. Selected varieties of cheese were analysed for their iodine content which was subsequently mapped against legislation policies (mandatory or voluntary) for iodine fortification in their country of origin. A questionnaire was designed to explore the knowledge attitude and practices (KAP) of general consumers about the use of iodised salt in food products. After pilot testing and minor modifications, the questionnaire was used to obtain KAP data from general consumers (n=506). To explore the use of iodised salt in cheese production, a collaboration between UCLan and Food technology centre (Anglesey) was established. Two varieties of cheese (cheddar cheese and soft cheese) with two variations (with and without iodised salt) were developed. Sensory acceptability was assessed by both expert (at Cardiff Metropolitan University) and non-expert consumer (at UCLan) panels. The newly developed cheese samples were analysed for their iodine content to evaluate their potential as a novel vehicle of improving dietary iodine intake.
The iodine content of cheese samples from countries with mandatory legislation ranged from 0.16mg/kg for creamy Danish blue cheese (from Denmark) to 0.76mg/kg for Canadian cheddar. From countries with voluntary legislation, the range in iodine content was much broader, from 0.08 mg/kg (Swiss Le Gruyere) to 0.92 mg/kg (Farmhouse Cheddar). Analysis of milk and salt samples revealed that the iodine content of all the selected salt samples produced in the UK was negligible. Consumer KAP survey results revealed a general lack of awareness about significance of iodine for optimal health with only 11% participants aware that it is 'Extremely important' for maintaining optimal levels of iodine in the body and a high percentage of participants (81%) were not aware of any illness associated with iodine deficiency. 11% of consumers reported seeing brands of iodised salt in supermarkets, indicating low availability in the UK and most (62%) expressed a preference for non-iodised salt. The survey also revealed that 61% of respondents reported consuming cheese more than once a week and that Cheddar cheese was the most popular variety.
The iodine content of the soft and hard cheese made with iodised salt was higher (0.92 mg/kg and 0.77mg/kg respectively) than those made with regular salt (0.76mg/kg and 0.48mg/kg respectively). Sensory evaluation of this cheese by sensory experts and general consumers revealed the use of iodised salt in place of regular salt had no significant impact on the main attributes (colour, appearance, taste, texture, odour and overall quality) or specific characteristics (sweetness, bitterness, aftertaste, creamy odour, saltiness) of the cheese (Chi Square test p>0.05).
In conclusion, this research has revealed that on a global scale, mandatory iodine fortification policy may result in more consistency in the iodine content of cheese. In a sample of the UK population, there was a lack of awareness of the importance of iodine for human health. The research demonstrated that replacing non-iodised salt with iodised salt in the production of both soft and hard cheese increased the iodine content of the cheese by 21% and 60% respectively and had no detectable impact on the sensory attributes, thus is potentially a useful vehicle for iodine fortification in the UK.


Translation raises ethical and epistemological dilemmas inherent in cross-cultural research. The process of communicating research participants' words in a different language and context may impose another conceptual scheme on their thoughts. This may reinforce the hegemonic terms that Development Studies should seek to challenge. The article explores the idea that a reflexive approach to translation can not only help to overcome the difficulties involved in cross-cultural research, but also be a tool with which to deconstruct hegemonic theory. It addresses the epistemological and political problems in translation, techniques of translation, and the impact of translation on the author's own research, which is used to illustrate some of the ways in which translation can support deconstruction and highlight the importance of building a framework for talking with rather than for research participants.


Recently there has been an increased demand for natural language processing tools that work well on unstructured and noisy texts such as texts from Twitter messages. It has been shown that tools developed for structured texts, do not work well when used on unstructured texts hence necessitates considerable customization and re-training for the tools to be able to achieve the same accuracy on unstructured texts. This paper presents the results of testing a HMM (Hidden Markov Model) based POS (Part-Of-Speech) tagger customized for unstructured texts. The tagger was trained on Tweeter messages on existing publicly available data and customized for abbreviations and named entities common in Tweets. We evaluated the tagger rstly training and testing on the same source corpus and later did cross-validation testing by training on one Twitter corpus and testing on a dierent Twitter corpus. We also did similar experiments with the datasets using a CRF (Conditional Random Frequency) based state-of-the-art POS tagger customized for Tweet messages. The results show that the CRF-based POS tagger from GATE performed slightly better compared to the HMM model at token level, however at the sentence level the performances were approximately the same. An even more intriguing result was that the cross-validation experiments showed that both the tagger's results deteriorated by approximately 25% at the token level and a massive 80% at the sentence level. This suggests vast dierences between the two Tweet corpora used and emphasizes the importance of recall values for NLP systems. A detailed analysis of this deterioration is presented and the HMM trained model together with the data has also been made available for research purposes.


Common measures of cultural attitudes, such as those constructed from the World Values Survey, are characterized by substantial within-country volatility. This volatility is at odds with the notion of culture adopted in economics: a set of slow-moving traits that determine preferences and expectations transmitted from one generation to the next via family or social interactions. The insufficient persistence of survey proxies for such traits may compromise empirical studies of culture as a determinant of economic outcomes. We illustrate this point via a thorough replication, using the most recent WVS waves, of analyses carried out previously for regions in Europe.


Abstract Present work is devoted to experimental demonstration of possibility of short pulsed (<100 μs) multicharged ion beams creation. Two regimes of short pulsed beams generation are discussed: quasi-stationary and non-stationary in preglow regime. Experiments with ECR discharge stimulated with gyrotron radiation @ 37.5 GHz, 100 kW were performed to reach the minimum duration of the pulse. In quasi-stationary regime pulses with duration of 50 μs and more were obtained. "Preglow" effect was also observed and investigated in experiments. Received dependencies of the "Preglow" parameters are in good correspondence with results of numerical simulations. It was shown in experiments that generation of "Preglow" peak with duration about 20 μs is possible.


Indigenous foods contain phytochemicals that are linked to protection against the development of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension1. Some of these indigenous foods have been chemically analysed and contain active compounds such as organic sulphur, hypoglycaemic alkaloids, flavonoids, phytosterin glycosides and polyacetylenes. The article is based on an explanatory study that was carried out to determine the consumption of indigenous fruit and vegetables, and health risk in rural subjects. Subjects were selected from twenty-four (24) villages in the five former districts of Limpopo Province. In Phase One, dietary consumption of the indigenous fruit and vegetables was collected from 703 subjects and health risk and presence of other chronic diseases of lifestyle were determined in the subjects. The study was done during 2002-2005. Phase Two is underway where the identified foods are being analysed for phytochemical composition. Sixteen indigenous vegetables were consumed by between 33% and 92.5% while 15 indigenous fruits were consumed by 32.3% to 81.5% when in season and accessible. There was no significant difference in health risk in subjects (p<0.05). Group one consisted of subjects who reported having consumed indigenous fruits and vegetables at least once a week (frequently) while group two consisted of those who consumed them occasionally (once in three months or seasonally).


Context: Nanotechnology is an empowering technology that holds promise in cancer therapeutics by increasing the ratio of tumor control probability to normal tissue complication probability. It can increase the bioavailability of the drug at the target site, reduce the frequency of administration and reach otherwise lesser-accessible sites. The present study shows the feasibility of the cisplatin-loaded albumin nanoparticle as a sustained delivery system. Aims: Cisplatin is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of malignant disorders. Conventional cisplatin formulation given as intravenous infusion has low bioavailability to the target organ in addition to significant side-effects, like ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study was to develop a protein-based nanoparticulate system for sustained release of cisplatin. Materials and Methods: Nanoparticles were prepared by the coacervaton method of microcapsulation and chemical cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. Particle size was characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Results and Conclusions: Using the coacervation method, nanoparticles of less than 70 nm diameter were produced. Drug encapsulation measured by ultraviolet spectroscopy varied from 30% to 80% for different ratios of cisplatin and protein. In vitro release kinetics shows that the nanoparticle-based formulation has biphasic release kinetics and is capable of sustained release compared with the free drug (80% release in 45 h). The study proves the feasibility of the albumin-based cisplatin nanoparticle formulation as a sustained release vehicle of cisplatin.


Abstract. The spatial coherence of a measured variable (e.g. temperature or pressure) is often studied to determine the regions of high variability or to find teleconnections, i.e. correlations between specific regions. While usual methods to find spatial patterns, such as Principal Components Analysis (PCA), are constrained by linear symmetries, the dependence of variables such as temperature or pressure at different locations is generally nonlinear. In particular, large deviations from the sample mean are expected to be strongly affected by such nonlinearities. Here we apply a newly developed nonlinear technique (Maxima of Cumulant Function, MCF) for detection of typical spatial patterns that largely deviate from the mean. In order to test the technique and to introduce the methodology, we focus on the El Nino/Southern Oscillation and its spatial patterns. We find nonsymmetric temperature patterns corresponding to El Nino and La Nina, and we compare the results of MCF with other techniques, such as the symmetric solutions of PCA, and the nonsymmetric solutions of Nonlinear PCA (NLPCA). We found that MCF solutions are more reliable than the NLPCA fits, and can capture mixtures of principal components. Finally, we apply Extreme Value Theory on the temporal variations extracted from our methodology. We find that the tails of the distribution of extreme temperatures during La Nina episodes is bounded, while the tail during El Ninos is less likely to be bounded. This implies that the mean spatial patterns of the two phases are asymmetric, as well as the behaviour of their extremes.


Extracted from text ... HTS 61(4) 2005 1433
Boekbesprekings / Book Reviews
Dibelius, M - The book of Acts: Form, style and theology
Publisher: Fortress Press, Minneapolis. 228 Pages. Price Unknown
Reviewer: Dr D H Reinstorf (Cape Town)
This book provides insight into Martin Dibelius' vast knowledge of the book of Acts. It
consists of a collection of essays, translated from the original German into English,
bringing together some of Dibelius' most important works. Martin Dibelius (1983-
1947), Professor of New Testament at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, has
been widely recognized as one of the most influential scholars of the twentieth
century. His ..


Potato growing is severely threatened by the late blight agent Phytophthora infestans, which is usually controlled by massive amounts of fungicides. While variety resistance is often bypassed by the pathogen, the plant innate immunity opens the way to new biological plant protection tools, e.g. the COS-OGA elicitor. This oligosaccharide composition mimics the interaction between plants and fungal pathogens as it combines chitosan oligomers (COS) with pectinderived oligogalacturonides (OGA). Two different COS-OGA elicitors were evaluated against potato late blight: FytoSave, mainly efficient against powdery mildews, and FytoSol, a new composition still under development. In addition, a comparative study of plant defence induction was performed, focusing on the effect of repeated sprayings as well as on the stimulation of salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid and ethylene-related pathways during the biotrophic and necrotrophic growth stages of the pathogen. The FytoSave elicitor strongly increased the SA content but failed to induce sufficient protection against late blight, while FytoSol maintained or even decreased the free SA content in the presence of P. infestans and was completely efficient. Surprisingly, the necrotrophic development of P. infestans occurred along with a strong leaf accumulation of free SA and SA-related transcripts. This may represent an attempt by P. infestans to divert plant defences for its own benefit. Preventive sprayings with FytoSol but not FytoSave completely impeded this hijacking. FytoSol seemed to keep the SA pathway under control, thereby preventing its diversion by P. infestans.


In all-optical processors, enhancement of image details is the result of high-pass filtering. We describe an optoelectronic processor in which detail enhancement results from the digitally calculated difference between an original input image and its low-pass filtered version. The low-pass filtering is realized through the rank-order median and the morphological opening and closing operations calculated by use of the optical convolver. It is shown that the normalized difference between the morphological white and black top hats enhances bright and dark image details analogously to the rank-order unsharp masking.


This thesis presents a specific method for simulating realistic spine motion through the use of traditional rig control objects. The spine's motion and flexibility is based on a curve as opposed to the more traditional three bone spine. This allows for a more fluid animation more closely resembling that of a spinal column. However, this setup keeps the traditional three control rig setup in order to mimic the control system of a traditional three bone spine. Currently, three bone systems are well understood by animators and the motion is easy to control. The problem with this setup is that although easy to control, these rigs lack the fluid curving motion of a true spine. The proposed method creates a solution to this problem by creating a curve that's length, shape, and twist is based on that of the three traditional bones. This solution allows traditional animators to quickly and effectively begin animating without having to alter the traditional control setup. This thesis describes how this animation pipeline can be set up using commercial software primarily focusing on Softimage XSI. Finally, a program was created using visual basic script that will allow other users to easily integrate the spine into future characters. The program is also based on the idea that the user is accustomed to the three bone spine set-up, and allows the user to create an advanced curve based spine rig by simply drawing the traditional three bone spine.


Macrophages are an integral part of the innate immune system and key players in pathogen clearance and tissue remodelling. Both functions are accomplished by a pivotal network of different macrophage subtypes, including proinflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages. Previously, our laboratory identified the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) as the master regulator of the M1 macrophage polarisation. IRF5 was found to be highly expressed in human M1 compared to M2 macrophages. Furthermore, IRF5 dictates the expression of proinflammatory genes such as IL12b and IL23a whilst repressing anti-inflammatory genes like IL10. Here we show that murine bone marrow derived macrophages differentiated in vitro with GM-CSF are also characterised by high levels of IRF5 mRNA and protein and express proinflammatory cytokines upon LPS stimulation. These macrophages display characteristic expression of M1-marker MHC II but lack the M2-marker CD206. Significantly, we develop intracellular staining of IRF5- expressing macrophages and utilise it to recapitulate the in vitro results in an in vivo model of antigen-induced arthritis, emphasising their physiological relevance. Thus, we establish the species-invariant role of IRF5 in controlling the inflammatory macrophage phenotype both in vitro and in in vivo.


Unsupervised anomaly detection on multior high-dimensional data is of great importance in both fundamental machine learning research and industrial applications, for which density estimation lies at the core. Although previous approaches based on dimensionality reduction followed by density estimation have made fruitful progress, they mainly suffer from decoupled model learning with inconsistent optimization goals and incapability of preserving essential information in the low-dimensional space. In this paper, we present a Deep Autoencoding Gaussian Mixture Model (DAGMM) for unsupervised anomaly detection. Our model utilizes a deep autoencoder to generate a low-dimensional representation and reconstruction error for each input data point, which is further fed into a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM). Instead of using decoupled two-stage training and the standard Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm, DAGMM jointly optimizes the parameters of the deep autoencoder and the mixture model simultaneously in an end-to-end fashion, leveraging a separate estimation network to facilitate the parameter learning of the mixture model. The joint optimization, which well balances autoencoding reconstruction, density estimation of latent representation, and regularization, helps the autoencoder escape from less attractive local optima and further reduce reconstruction errors, avoiding the need of pre-training. Experimental results on several public benchmark datasets show that, DAGMM significantly outperforms state-of-the-art anomaly detection techniques, and achieves up to 14% improvement based on the standard F1 score.


Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) are the plant root-fungus interactions that are most widespread mycorrhiza in nature. As classically defined, there are two major AM morphologies named after the plant genera in which they were first described: Arum(intercellular hyphae with arbuscules mainly in inner root cortex), Paris(extensive hyphal coils in outer root cortex), as well as intermediate morphotypes. In this study, dandelions and chives harvested in Saskatoon (SK, Canada) were examined for AM colonization and morphological types. A Multiple Quantitation Method (MQM) was used for assessing fungal colonization intensity using magnified epifluorescence images of lactofuchsin stained roots, plus details analyzed by high-resolution confocal fluorescence imaging. The results showed that host plants harbored diverse endorhizal fungi, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), septate endophytes (SE) and fine endophytes (FE), with varying abundances. The soil properties were assessed with respect to P status, organic matter and pH, but there was no correlation with the fungal abundance in this study. Both dandelion and chive roots had Arumand Paris-type AM. In order to assess the applicability of a current model, I studied quantitative relationship between the cell packing pattern and AM morphotype. Cross sections of host roots were analyzed with Image J software to calculate the proportion of air spaces. The abundance of arbuscules (Arum-type) and hyphal coils (Paris-type) were significantly different in chive and dandelion roots. However, there was no difference in the proportion of air spaces in the inner or outer cortex. Therefore, host root cell packing does not appear to influence AM morphotype at least in the samples in this study. AM fungal diversity was preliminarily investigated by nested PCR with group specific primers, showing multiple PCR bands within root samples, and indicating the potential complexity of AMF groups. Further work to sequence the PCR products is needed to elucidate the AMF groups present.


The paper analyses the role of injunctions in the private enforcement of competition law. Most commentators deal predominantly with damages actions and the European policy proposals only discuss the conditions for successful compensation claims. However, damages claims are likely to be the most expensive and time consuming remedy available. In many cases injunctive relief may be cheaper and, thus, be preferred by the victim. Asking the court to order the perpetrator to either cease from certain behaviour or to undertake certain actions, plaintiffs might be willing to forego compensation in exchange for a quicker dispute solution with effect for the future. The variety and flexibility of injunctive relief – injunctions can be granted on a preliminary basis or permanently, contain a prohibition or being mandatory – provides victims of anticompetitive conduct with a multi-functional tool to seek relief. The paper compares the usage of and the legal framework for injunctive relief in England and Wales and Germany. The antitrust litigation data available for both jurisdictions indicate that the use of injunctive relief in English and German courts differs greatly. Analysing the legal framework for injunctive relief, I will look at the judicial approach that is taken with respect to injunctions and the possible reason for a varying usage of this remedy. Acknowledgements: The support of the ESRC Centre for Competition Policy and the Faculty of Social Sciences is gratefully acknowledged. I would like to thank Dan Crane, Simon Deakin, Andy Gavil, Michael Harker and Morten Hviid for their comments. The support of the Economic and Social Research Council is gratefully acknowledged.


The low quality of life of patients with schizophrenia has been extensively discussed and investigated. Various aspects from gender, socio-demographic profile, and/or type of neuroleptic treatment have been taken into account in describing this condition. The purpose of this study is to assess the perceived quality of life of Romanian patients suffering from schizophrenia and to correlate it with gender differences, type of schizophrenia, family history of psychiatric illness, and type of antipsychotic treatment. 143 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM IV-TR and ICD 10 were included in the study. Social demographic data were documented and further assessment was performed using the Subjective Well Being under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale –the short form (SWN-S) and the short version of the WHOQuestionnaire for The Quality of Life (WHO-QoL-BREF). The mental functioning dimension was higher in men than women; the social integration dimension was higher for the residual type of schizophrenia. Emotional regulation and the capacity of social integration did not show significant differences between patients who had a family history of mental illness and those who did not. Levels of self-control and physical functioning were better for patients treated with atypical antipsychotics and who did not report a family history of psychiatric illness. All five dimensions of the SWN-S were higher in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics, compared to those who were treated with typical antipsychotics. The study showed that for people with schizophrenia mental functioning was better preserved in men, in patients who did not have a family history of psychiatric illness, and in patients who were treated with atypical antipsychotics. The level of social integration was better in patients who were treated with atypical antipsychotics but this effect depended on the type of schizophrenia.


In a broad sense this thesis concerns the politics (and ethics) of strategic management, organisational psychology, organisational narratives, knowledge management and conditions of innovation. More specifically, this is research into the dimension of politics and the legitimacy of power relations within the synchronization of time and space in social organisations, typically as part of the design and implementation of strategy, in context of organisational definitions of innovation and contestations of 'the new'.

With a conceptual archaeology, the thesis contends that strategy research focuses on the nodal concepts of 'inertia', 'adaptation' and 'friction', in context of three past conceptual frameworks: namely, Newtonian mechanics, Hobbesian interpretations of evolution, and Clausewitzian military theory.

A genealogical approach is used to reveal the persistent influence of the Newtonian notion of simultaneity (absolute time and absolute space) across these three frameworks in their combinatorial guise in the discourse of strategic management. The genealogy unfreezes the nodal concepts by showing the history of their contingent construction and selection.

Finally, a critical analysis scrutinizes the contextual appropriateness of applying the concept of simultaneity to social matters. The thesis rejects simultaneity and its dominant position as an 'articulatory practice' of organisational strategy. By decoupling the notion of simultaneity from frames through which sense is made of motion and events, the grip that structuralism has on organisational strategy is loosened and by substituting simultaneity with political power the implications for strategic management become clear.

The approach draws from Political Discourse Theory to reframe the strategy discourse, in its current conception, as hegemonic and an antagonistic system of 'Politics' that, instead of facilitating either stability or innovation, leads, instead, to 'conceptual inertia' and economic stagnation, by repressing emergences of 'the Political'.

The thesis proposes a strategy of 'agonism' as an alternative. Rather than replacing one despotic concept with another, the suggestion of agonistic strategy is made because agonism allows for its own reinterpretation, thus does not represent a sedimented centre of a discourse. In this way, agonism is less susceptible to stagnation, and more amenable to innovation.

The theoretical framework is then accompanied with a study of the design and implementation of strategy within a research institute engaged with the innovation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) using the CRISPR-cas9 technique. The selection of this case organisation allows for an analysis of the politics and power relations at play in the definitions of innovation, and a means to ground a study of the social construction of reality within an empirical setting regarding the strategic development of genetic constructs.


Tight budget constraints confronting the Russian authorities since the 2008 crisis urge the federal government to adjust the traditional system of its relations with the regions. The paper presents the case of the Republic of Tatarstan (RT) to analyze potential regions' response to the emerging, considerably harsher "rules of the game." Our main conclusion is that Tatarstan and other stronger Russian regions can take advantage of the current crisis for transitioning to a new economic development model resembling developmental states in Southeast Asia. This conclusion draws on analysis of the strategies recently implemented by the RT elites in response to external shocks the republic had to cope with in the post-Soviet period. Special focus is on identifying key factors that helped the republic successfully tackle the previous shocks, such as effective mechanisms of aligning the interests of the main regional elite groups and forming a consensus regarding the republican developmental priorities and the instruments for their attainment. The actual prospects for the formation of a developmental state model in Tatarstan will depend upon the success of the current regional elite in finding a consolidated response to new challenges facing the republic in recent years, as well as the constructiveness of the federal policy towards the regions. One of specific obstacles for Tatarstan to follow on Asian experience of catching up relates to a need to accelerate opening up of the regional economy for new, domestic and foreign, players.


Extracted from text ... Coggins, R J 1998 - Sirach
Publishers: Sheffield Academic Press, Sheffield, England. 111 pages. Price: unknown
Reviewer: Prof P M Venter (University of Pretoria)
This Study Guide is not a survey of research on Sirach like the articles of Harrington and Di Lella, but a thorough introduction on the 'The Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach' using the most recent research in this area. An outstanding characteristic of this work is Coggins' ability to set the investigation of the book within the larger context of Biblical study. He points out how the ..


The main objective of this research is to observe the evolution of road accident rates in five municipalities of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil (Araraquara, Franca, Matao, Ribeirao Preto and Sao Carlos), by means of analyzing the relationship between the accident/mortality indexes and the actions performed by each municipality in the following areas: engineering, education and enforcement. As a first step, statistical data on road accidents in the above-referred municipalities during the period between 2005 and 2014 will be collected. As a complement, group interviews will be carried out with the responsible people for each area related to the performed actions in each municipality. These group interviews follow a Focus Group protocol aiming at stimulating discussion among participants in order to get more complete information than in individual interviews. Based on the collected data a questionnaire will be developed in order to be applied to drivers from each one of the targeted cities. It is assumed that the subsequent use of these methodological tools will enable the analysis of the relationship between the statistical indexes and the effects of the adopted actions (engineering, education and enforcement) on road users' behavior within each targeted municipality from the perspective of different road users' categories: experienced, novice and professional drivers, pedestrians and motorcycle and bicycle riders.


The bus driver scheduling problem consists of assigning bus work to drivers so that all the bus work is covered and a combination of the number of drivers and associated costs is minimised. Restrictions imposed by logistic, legal and union agreements complicate the problem.

Successful present day systems for computerised driver scheduling often use mathematical programming combined with heuristics. Purely heuristic approaches have found it very difficult to produce efficient driver schedules for large scheduling problems. Furthermore, some of these approaches may not be easily adaptable to different conditions. This thesis presents two new ways of using constraint satisfaction to form driver schedules. The two methods differ in their approach, one being a systematic constraint programming approach and the other being an adaptation of a local search method called GENET. The constraint programming approach uses a similar approach to mathematical programming systems in selecting the schedule from a large number of possible shifts, to allow adaptation to different regulations. In particular, a set partitioning formulation is used.

It then makes use of the structure of the problem and the relaxed linear programming solution to the problem in producing a schedule. The GENET system has been adapted to cope with minimising the numbers of drivers in a schedule and with the memory problems caused by the huge number of constraints involved in the set partitioning model.

The constraint programming approach has been shown to solve successfully several small scheduling problems from different companies using varying regulations. Local search procedures have hitherto not had great success on driver scheduling problems. GENET has been adapted to solve some of the small schedules from its initial state where it could not solve any. Features of the adaptation may be of interest to researchers using GENET on similar problems.


Most I/O- and data-intensive scientific applications access multiple layers in the parallel I/O software stack during execution. Typical I/O requests from these applications may include accesses to high-level I/O libraries such as Parallel netCDF and HDF5, the MPI I/O library, and parallel file systems. To design and implement parallel applications that exercise such parallel I/O software stack, one must understand the flow of interactions between I/O calls across the entire I/O stack. This would in turn help one describe I/O behavior and thus exploit the potential performance in the di erent layers of the storage hierarchy. In this paper, we propose a Pin-based dynamic instrumentation framework to understand the complex interactions of I/O from the applications through multiple I/O libraries to the underlying parallel file systems without any modification of the code. We also present the overheads incurred by the proposed dynamic instrumentation tool. When our tested application is executed using a process count of 32, 64, 128, and 256, the overheads we observed are 38.7%, 66%, 68.9%, and 78.4%, respectively.


Recently, Malaysia has adopted the "Safe city program", which is focused towards creating violence and crime free cities. To achieve this, it is important to address crimes and disorder in residential areas. So far studies identified that changes in built environment and modifications in space design can impact residents and offenders' perceptions of criminality. Various CPTED measures are employed to create defensible space. This paper examines the effect of physical design on the occurrences of crime in Taman Melati residential area of Kuala Lumpur City and tests the effects of the built environment on the possibility of crime reduction through physical planning measures.
Keywords: Crimes; Terrace housing; Environmental design; Safe city; CPTED.
© 2017 The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, UniversitiTeknologi MARA, Malaysia.


The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) has focused the intensive multi-wavelength and international observational effort on blazars since it was launched in 2008. Part of this effort involves systematic monitoring of the highly variable polarization of the continuum emission from these objects. These observations are valuable in that they provide direct information on the degree of ordering and orientation on the sky of the magnetic field within the non-thermal emission region(s). Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to measure the polarization of the inverse-Compton continuum, only that of the lower-energy synchrotron emission. The inability to directly compare the polarization of the two dominant continuum sources in blazars is a drawback and leads to more ambiguities in determining their relative locations. There are many compelling examples of strong connections between γ-ray, X-ray, UV/optical/IR, and radio behavior in blazars that suggest the same region produces much of the observed emission at all wavelengths at least some of the time. However, the wealth of polarization behavior seen relative to flux changes invariably results in a complex situation that is difficult to interpret and model. The long-term blazar monitoring program undertaken at Steward Observatory is designed to primarily obtain accurate optical polarimetry of γ-ray-bright blazars during the Fermi mission with the goal of gaining important insights into the jet structure and physics of these objects. Data from this program are available to all researchers as soon as reductions are completed. I briefly detail the current status and progress of the program and the data products available. Although the wide variety of polarization behavior in blazars adds another layer of complexity to an already difficult problem, I summarize several important conclusions that can be drawn from the polarization information gathered during the Fermi era.


The purpose of this thesis is to study the anomalies around the ex-right day of right issue. Evidence suggests that the equity price is not always adjusted according to the Theoretical ex-right price (TERP) around ex-right date and therefore creates large arbitrage opportunities. In an international perspective very few studies have been conducted on this area and to make attempt to provide explanations for market inefficiency of these markets. This study comprises an investigation of rights issues carried out on the Stockholm Stock Exchange during the period of 2009 and 2011, counting 45 rights offerings on the Large, Mid and Small Cap lists. The study is based on quantitative nature and is derived with an event study and a hypothesis testing. Collected data were analysed during an event window of nine days with ex-right date set as the event day and an estimation window of 100 days. Common Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) has been utilized to study the market efficiency around the ex-right date to explain the behaviour. Findings in this paper tell us that the excess return that has been observed can tactically be utilized by an observant investor to save money in a right issue that is commonly associated with diminishing returns for the investor..


The study sought to investigate challenges faced by school level women managers and the extent to which they coped with such challenges. To collect data the study used a triangulation of three instruments: interviewing, observation and document analysis. The findings of the study revealed that the barriers that retard women's progress in management include the endocentric bias and patriarchal nature of the society which 'make it difficult for women to be accepted as managers, the traditional stereotypical perceptions of women's abilities and attitudes towards women's family roles. The study concluded that although women education managers still face many barriers in their job, they are working hard to try and cope with them. As managers they are more inclined towards contemporary approaches to management such as participative engagement of those they lead. The researcher recommended that the following seemed to be possible strategies to address the challenges: induction programmes, mentoring, women networks as well as training programmes.


Developing sustainable urban environments is complex as it requires consideration of interacting social, economic and environmental sustain ability factors. The task is made even more difficult by the wide variety of stakeholders (e.g. planners, architects, businesses and the public) that may be involved in the process and the lack of a common language for all to understand. This paper describes a prototype visualisation tool (S-City VT) that will allow stakeholders to understand and influence decisions regarding the sustainability of an urban development. S-City VT models the interactions between the sustainability indicators, using the analytical network process (ANP) methodology. The results of the ANP model are shown to the user in a novel way using a 3D visualisation tool. The user will be presented with a 3D visualization of the 'virtual' development that encapsulates the results of the ANP model and thus the sustainability of the virtual development. By taking this approach S-City VT provides a common language for the theory of sustainability which will be understood by all stakeholders. Further, the tool will allow evaluation of the consequences of decisions relating to the short and long term implications of alternative courses of action.


This project is investigating the development of automated explosive detection and classification algorithms for high throughput screening. This is critical both in portal systems, where high throughput requires significant automated decision support, and in stand-off systems where the proliferation of multimodal data can overwhelm human interpretation. The project's fundamental assumption is that it is too slow or costly to collect full sensor data on every object of interest, either for training, or during real-time operation. As a consequence, there are several important problems to address. In training, one needs to select which data will be used to train the decision algorithms in order to achieve robust performance. This is a problem known as active learning. In the real-time phase, one needs to use a hierarchy of sensing and classification strategies, based on relatively inexpensive early warning sensors, and adaptively select subsequent sensor measurements in order to arrive rapidly at an accurate classification decision. The long range impact of this research will be the development of adaptive, high throughput screening algorithms for different combinations of sensing modalities that exhibit improved sensitivity/specificity.


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Management Today March 2006 41
Strategy and HR:
why they need one another
Strategy and human resource management
have both changed substantially in recent
years. Strategy has evolved from formal
long range planning - with the emphasis
on planning - to strategic management.
The operational planning exercise was
more linear, the organisation relying on
stability in the environment. Strategy has
now become a constant process in an unstable
world. This has resulted in strategy
falling down at the implementation and
execution stage - hence becoming a process.
Highly centralised corporate planning
staff have exercised top-down planning.
Now it ..


Digital technology offers new options for product-developing firms. However, to reap the benefits of digital technology, firms need to handle the tensions between these options and the institutionalized practices established over long periods of incremental innovation. We report a 20-month intensive case study of a global automaker's efforts to innovate instrument clusters and explore the influencing role of established innovation practices. We develop a conceptual model for understanding how digital technology shapes, and is conditioned by, the dominant design of a product class. Our research contributes to the emerging literature of digital innovation and offers lessons learned for established firms dealing with the contradictory logics of digitized products.


National science systems have become embedded in global science and countries do everything they can to harness global knowledge to national economic needs. However, accessing and using the riches of global knowledge can occur only through scientists. Consequently, the research power of nations relies on the research power of individual scientists. Their capacity to collaborate internationally and to tap into the global networked science is key. The constantly evolving, bottom-up, autonomous, self-regulating, and self-focused nature of global science requires deeper understanding; and the best way to understand its dynamics is to understand what drives academic scientists in their work. We are particularly interested in the contrast between global science as a largely privately governed and normatively self-regulating institution and global science as a contributor to global collective public goods. The idea that science remains a state-driven rather than curiosity-driven is difficult to sustain. In empirical terms, we describe the globalization of science using selected publication, collaboration, and citation data from 2000-2020. The globalization of science implies two different processes in two different system types: the growth of science in the Western world is almost entirely attributable to internationally co-authored publications; its growth in the developing world, in contrast, is driven by both internationally co-authored and domestic publications. Global network science opens incredible opportunities to new arrivals—countries as well as institutions and research teams. The global system is embedded in the rules created by scientists themselves and maintained as a self-organizing system and nation-states have another major level to consider in their science policies: the global level. Globalization of science provides more agency, autonomy, collegiality, and self-regulation to scientists embedded in national science structures and involved in global networks.


The Web services resource framework defines conventions for managing state in distributed systems based on Web services, and WS-notification defines topic-based publish/subscribe mechanisms. We analyze five independent and quite different implementations of these specifications from the perspectives of architecture, functionality, standards compliance, performance, and interoperability. We identify both commonalities among the different systems (e.g., similar dispatching and SOAP processing mechanisms) and differences (e.g., security, programming models, and performance). Our results provide insights into effective implementation approaches. Our results may also provide application developers, system architects, and deployers with guidance in identifying the right implementation for their requirements and in determining how best to use that implementation and what to expect with regard to performance and interoperability.


The Threshold Level model: a mirror of language use.This paper investigates the speaking and listening potential of a foreign language user of the proposed Threshold Level. Van Ek 1975 serves as the main source of information for this study.In order to carry out this investigation the following procedure vas adopted:1. for each topic listed in chapter 8 of van Ek 1975 it was determined what course a conversation on that topic was likely to take.2. subsequently van Ek 1975 was consulted to find out if the words and structures needed for these imaginary conversations would be available to a Threshold Level speaker. If a word could not be found in the lists of words it was paraphrased and the words needed for that paraphrase also looked up in van Ek 1975.3. for the remaining words listed under each topic in van Ek 1975 it was determined what possible use a Threshold Level speaker could make of them in a conversation on that topic.Some examples of results of this procedure are given. These examples show that Threshold Level speakers will be able to begin a conversation on a topic but will not be capable of carrying on such a conversation. From this it is concluded that there is a clash between one of the main objectives of the Threshold Level ( the objective of Threshold Level speakers being able to carry on a conversation in the foreign language) and the linguistic means provided for it.Some other examples are given to show that in developing the model no effective account has been taken of the situations in which a Threshold Level language user will have to figure as a listener.The rest of the examples quoted from van Ek 1975 serve to show that a Threshold Level speaker will probably be able to:1. speak in cliches when engaged in activities connected with tourism or 'going out' (buying tickets, making hotel reservations, asking the way etc.).2. give some factual information about himself (age, family, job, home etc.).


An introductory account is given of the inflationary cosmology, which postulates a period of accelerated expansion during the Universe's earliest stages. The historical motivation is briefly outlined, and the modelling of the inflationary epoch explained. The most important aspect of inflation is that it provides a possible model for the origin of structure in the Universe, and key results are reviewed, along with a discussion of the current observational situation and outlook.


Social thinkers in all fields are faced with one unavoidable question: what does it mean to be 'human' in the 21st century? As definitions between what is 'animal' and what is 'human' break down, and as emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and nano- and bio- technologies develop, accepted notions of humanity are rapidly evolving.

Humanity 2.0 is an ambitious and ground breaking book, offering a sweeping overview of key historical, philosophical and theological moments that have shaped our understandings of humanity. Tackling head on the twin taboos that have always hovered over the scientific study of humanity - race and religion - Steve Fuller argues thar far from disappearing, they are being reinvented.

Fuller argues that these new developments will force us to decide which features of our current way of life - not least our bodies - are truly needed to remain human, and concludes with a consideration of these changes for ethical and social values more broadly.


Abstract 17-Hydroxypregnenolone (3β, 17α-dihydroxypregn-5-en-20-one) and pregnenolone (3β-hydroxypregn-5-en-20-one) were determined by radioimmunoassay following HPLC separation in serum of healthy subjects of both sexes from 2 to 66 years old (29 girls, 85 women, 30 boys, 89 men). The effects of age and sex on the levels of both steroids were investigated and the upper limits of normal in age groups were determined. The 17-hydroxypregnenolone levels as a function of age were characterized by a statistically significant maximum at the age of 18 and 20 years followed by a local minimum at the age of 39 and 37 years and by a statistically insignificant local maximum at the age of 55 and 49 years in men and women, respectively. Pregnenolone age-dependence was similar and the statistically significant maximum was reached at the age of 17 and 16 years, the local minimum occurred at the age of 37 and 38 years and the second, statistically insignificant, local maximum at the age of 48 and 47 years in men and women, respectively. Both 17-hydroxypregnenolone and pregnenolone in both sexes exhibited similarly shaped peaks with age. Both peaks of the polynomial fit in 17-hydroxypregnenolone were more pronounced in men than in women (13.0 and 9.20 nmol/l in the first peak; 7.72 and 4.78 in the second peak respectively). The situation with pregnenolone was the opposite. Both peaks of the polynomial fit in pregnenolone were lower in men than in women (2.29 and 3.21 nmol/l in the first peak; 0.92 and 1.78 in the second peak, respectively). The higher serum levels of pregnenolone at puberty and during fertile age and their wider variance in comparison with men could, be explained by the different gonadal steroidogenesis depending on the menstrual cycle, where the pregnenolone serves as a substrate for progesterone formation. The age dependencies of 17-hydroxypregnenolone and pregnenolone in women resembled that of unconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone. These results indicate that the increased metabolic activity in gonads in adolescence concerns not only dehydroepiandrosterone as the product of the 5-ene metabolic pathway but also its precursors.


The reviewed book concentrates on the issue of qualitative data analysis. It primarily provides practical information for students and social researchers on how to deal with textual data starting with data preparation until writing the actual report. The book proposes coding as a convenient and effective way to process data. But, what is additionally valuable, it suggests multiple comparative analysis techniques which would allow a researcher to go beyond simple "coding and retrieving" in order to achieve more plausible and in-depth interpretations. Apart from this, it introduces a reader to the analysis of biographies and narratives, as well as to computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS). The book is full of practical advice, with a lot of how-to-do suggestions and useful examples, as well as indications of the possible difficulties in the analysis. Still, even if the book seems to be kept on an elementary level, it would have helped readers to better apply proposed practical advice to their research, if, before reading the book, they had acquired more general knowledge about the specificity of qualitative analysis and the various approaches used within it.
URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs100341


Building on the success of previous investigations, the doctoral thesis offers a contribution to the study of communication between health professionals and their clients. Since the overall aim of the investigation was to analyse both the verbal and non-verbal communication strategies used by both midwives and mothers in antenatal clinics in Great Britain and Germany, data was collected in the form of videotaped recordings of consultations during pregnancy. Socio-demographic data was retrieved through the use of questionnaires designed to investigate the participants' perceptions of the consultation. Working within a framework of speech act theory and conversation analysis, data was analysed in order to assess the varying degrees of asymmetry apparent in the communicative patterns of interactants. Typically occurring features such as use of the first person plural pronoun, references to the expected baby, interruptions, requests for information and confirmation, and unrelated responses were examined under the linguistic areas of lexis and pragmatics. The significance of non-verbal behaviour and its relation to verbal requests was investigated through the analysis of listener-oriented and other-oriented head movements. Statistical analysis of the phenomena chosen for observation revealed that the appearance and frequency of certain linguistic features (e.g. the first person plural pronoun) was significantly associated with socio-demographic variables such as age and occupational status. Analysis of request sequences also revealed significant correlation when compared with social variables such as age of participants and occupational status of mothers. Qualitative analysis of detailed transcriptual data appeared to indicate that the functions of particular utterances were positively associated with socio-demographic and cross-cultural features such as age and country of study, respectively. Confirming the hypothesis that both linguistic and sub-linguistic features are subject to influences from social and external factors, the results offer a thorough description of the communicative behaviour of both midwives and mothers in antenatal consultations in Great Britain and Germany. Furthermore, it is suggested that the findings arising from the study will enable professional midwives and members of the public alike to develop greater awareness of the importance of good communication skills in order that consultations may operate effectively and to the benefit of both parties. Linguistically, it is argued that the study contributes to our understanding of the distribution and functions of language according to its particular context.


A thesis presented to the Department of Community
Health, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the award of MSc.degree in Health Services Planning and Management, 2005


Cooperative communication systems have attracted much attention recently due to their desirable performance gain while using single antenna terminals. This paper addresses the joint timing and channel estimation problem, and furthermore the resynchronization of multiple timing offsets in a cooperative relay system. The estimations of timing and channel are conducted in two phases and the associated Cramer-Rao bounds (CRB) are derived for both phases. It is demonstrated that the conventional CRB is not valid for timing parameters under fading conditions, and a new bound called weighted Bayesian CRB is proposed. With the timing and channel estimates, a general framework of the resynchronization filter design is developed in order to compensate the multiple timing offsets at the destination. The proposed methods are applied to different scenarios with varying degrees of timing misalignment and are numerically shown to provide excellent performances that approach the perfectly synchronized case.


Occurrences of oil within the Bencliff Grit at Osmington Mills were studied through an integration of organic geochemistry and a consideration of the geological setting. Oil-stained sandstones dominate the cliff outcrop with localized regions of particularly concentrated oil impregnation. A second 'live' seep of oil occurs where the Bencliff Grit beds pass below high tide level at Bran Point. Organic geochemical analyses showed both oils to be at least moderately biodegraded, with the oils in the cliff outcrop showing enrichment in polar constituents compared with the active seep. Multivariate statistical analysis of the molecular composition identified an enrichment in diasterane biomarkers in the oils of the live seep; this difference is ascribed to source and/or maturity differences. The oil within the outcrop is considered to represent the residual staining of an unroofed oil field, whilst the live seepage at Bran Point represents a migration pathway towards the eroded anticline.


Under the norms of the Forest Code in its new edition the Subjects of the Federation are provided with the most important powers of managing the development of forests. To make forests management more eff ective, it is necessary that a big volume of forest be rented at a higher price annually, hence increasing the regional budget input. It is natural that some objective factors impede eff ective management growth, but there are also some reasons of a subjective nature. Some decisions of the Federal administration, which relate to the principles of the "hand management" and do not comply with the logic of the Forest Code, are reasonably believed to hinder eff ective forest managing and forming a sound forest market.This article is devoted to the evaluation of the capabilities of the regional public administration to handle forest relations eff ectively and restrictions, both objective and subjective, that they face in the course of work.


Unchecked consumption, extraction, and growth have resulted in severe damage to ecological systems. Fresh water issues constitute one of the great challenges for political ecologists. On the one hand, there is a human health and development crisis and over 700 million people still lack access to clean, safe drinking water. On the other hand, there is a growing environmental water crisis regarding water scarcity, water stress, and freshwater resource depletion. This analysis utilizes metabolic rift theory to demonstrate the disruptive consequences that human development and agriculture have on the water cycle. I use two-way fixed effects longitudinal regression for 176 nations from 1970-2015 to test how agriculture, capital, international aid, governance, and civil society are associated with two important water indicators: access to water and water stress. I find that agriculture is associated with higher levels of water stress and higher levels of water access. Higher GDP per capita and international aid increase water access but have no significant relationship with water stress. Additionally, international non-governmental organizations and environmental treaty ratifications are associated with decreased water stress, but also decreased water access. Therefore, I find that the disruptive processes of capital and development have differential impacts on these two interrelated water outcomes. This political ecological analysis suggests that simple solutions that address water access or water stress alone, without considering the interrelated aspects of global water issues, may inadvertently influence other facets of the world's growing water concerns. Furthermore, agriculture and development create an ever-growing metabolic rift in the processes that allow fresh water to replenish itself, leading to future global issues of water access and stress.


"An incredibly useful and valuable guidebook to the new consumer economy. Buy it. Learn from it. Succeed with it."Jeff Jarvis, author of What Would Google Do "This is the stuff that every business and nonprofit needs to embrace if they're going to succeed in a changing world."Vivian Schiller, CEO of NPR With clear analysis and practical frameworks, this book provides a strategic guide that any business or nonprofit can use to succeed in the digital age. Marketing expert David Rogers examines how digital technologiesfrom smartphones to social networksconnect us in frameworks that transform our relationships to business and each other. To thrive today, organizations need new strategiesstrategies designed for customer networks. Rogers offers five strategies that any business can use to create new value: ACCESSbe faster, be easier, be everywhere, be always on ENGAGEbecome a source of valued content CUSTOMIZEmake your offering adaptable to your customer's needs CONNECTbecome a part of your customers' conversations COLLABORATEinvolve your customers at every stage of your enterpriseRogers explains these five strategies with over 100 cases from every type and size of businessfrom shoes to news, and software to healthcare. In The Network Is Your Customer, he shows: How Apple harnessed a host of collaborators to write apps for its iPhone How IBM designed a videogame to help sell its enterprise software How Ford Motors inspired an online community to build brand awareness for its new Fiesta...and countless other cases from consumer, b2b, and nonprofit categories. The book outlines a process for planning and implementing a customer network strategy to match your customers, your business, and your objectiveswhether you need to drive sales, to enhance innovation, to reduce costs, to gain customer insight, or to build breakthrough products and services. Because today, whatever your goals and whatever your business, the network is your customer.


The updated edition on all the latest features and capabilities of ActionScript 3.0 and Flash Player 10. ActionScript is a popular programming language used primarily for the development of Web sites and software. This update to the successful previous version introduces you to all the exciting new capabilities of ActionScript 3.0. You'll see how ActionScript 3.0 goes beyond its primary use of scripting Flash animations and is now an object-oriented evolution that runs ten times faster than previous versions and can be used in Adobe's new platforms, including Flex and AIR. Hands-on instruction and step-by-step tutorials enhance your learning process as you discover everything you need to know in order to harness the power of ActionScript 3.0. You'll learn the nitty gritty of building Rich Internet Applications (RIA) and the ins and outs of putting the new features of ActionScript 3.0 to work for you. ActionScript 3.0 goes beyond its original role as a scripting language and has added development features, incredible speed, and the ability to work with Flex and AIR Shows you how to apply advanced graphic effects using Pixel Blender Demonstrates the all-new text and typography capabilities Addresses your new enhanced control over dynamic sound Explains templated types and new vector data structures ActionScript 3.0 Bible offers you a soup-to-nuts guide on all things ActionScript 3.0 so you can get started working with it immediately.


From 2009 to 2013 the workplace innovation project "My Enterprise 2.0" was carried out in the region of Utrecht in the Netherlands in order to strengthen the workplace innovation capability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Participating enterprises completed a questionnaire regarding the "workplace innovativeness" of their company. A workplace innovation intervention was then implemented by some of the companies, while other companies chose not to take part. At the end of the project, a second questionnaire indicated that those companies that implemented interventions had a significantly higher score with regard to overall workplace innovativeness. The companies without such interventions reported a small decrease. While the companies in the region had higher workplace innovativeness scores relative to a national reference group both before and after the project, the increase in the "workplace innovativeness" of the regional SMEs that experienced interventions suggests that the project proved beneficial to their continued "workplace innovativeness." Moreover, these companies also reported positive effects on company performance, achieving company goals and improving labor productivity.


Deoxyribonucleic acid methylase activity has been detected in a preparation of disrupted nuclei prepared from pea seedlings. S-Adenosyl-L-methionine acted as a donor of methyl groups, and the product of the reaction was identified as 5-methylcytosine. The reaction had a sharp temperature optimum at about 30�C and was unusual in that the DNA methylase was able to methylate DNA in the crude extract.


In this study, the potential of oxoanion separation with the ligands N-4-methylbenzyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (L1), N-4-fluorobenzyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (L2), N-4-hydroxy benzyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (L3), and N-3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (L4) was explored. The salts of sulphate, nitrate, and perchlorate were crystallized in the form of [HL1]+[HSO4]−·H2O, [HL2]+[HSO4]−·H2O, 2[HL3]+[SO4]2−·2(H2O), and 2[HL4]+[SO4]2−·H2O, [HL3]+[NO3]−·H2O and [HL4]+[NO3]−, and [HL3]+[ClO4]− and [HL4]+[ClO4]−, respectively. Competitive crystallization and competitive sulphate-binding experiments demonstrated special recognition of the sulphate–water clusters (in the forms of [HSO4−·H2O]n or [SO42−·H2O]n) via the parallel packed 3-D architectures of HL1+, HL2+, and HL4+ cations, which were far more effective and selective than the non-3-D structure of HL3+ cation. The observed selectivity for sulphate, nitrate, and perchlorate was found to be anti-Hofmeister. In addition, the selective separation of sulphate anions in seawater was investigated, which demonstrated the real-world application of the present strategy.


Context: Despite significant economic development in many parts of the world, upwards of 150 million children are short for their age. Epidemiologic and clinical data suggest that stunting increases the risk for nutrition-related chronic diseases (NRCD), a particular problem for transitional countries as dietary and environmental shifts that accompany development are also reported to increase the risk for NRCD. Objective and methods: This paper reviews studies on the causes and long-term effects of poor nutrition as well as data from clinical studies of growth retardation and metabolism and body composition that may explain the link between poor growth and later risk for NRCD. Results: Growth retardation is the physical outcome of a complex interaction of socio- economic factors during key periods of development. Growth-retarded children may present with metabolic or body fat distribution profiles that predispose them to NRCD, a risk factor that may be compounded by consuming a diet consistent with the 'nutrition transition'. Conclusion: It is important to continue studying the long-term physiological changes following recovery from under-nutrition, especially in countries undergoing a 'nutrition transition'. Estimates suggest that, within 20–30 years, ∼ 2/3 of the world population will reside in urban areas. The potential economic fallout of continued poor nutrition, poor growth and changing diets and activity patterns will be great given the healthcare costs and social problems associated with NRCD.


Knowledge, the multinational firm, and the free flow of financial capital seem to be the new and perhaps leading actors in the emerging 21st century global economy. From a comparative basis and relating this variables we attempt in this paper to study and explore what we consider are basic initial conditions that will led into the 21st century to conform a one-world one-system market an how it affects emerging countries like Colombia. Path dependence approaches explain current equilibrium as a function of early random shocks in the trend process that led to a new balance. As a departure point we advance in the notion that is applicable knowledge the factor that may have a long-term consequence on sustaining growth. As well we consider that economic practices advanced by the multinational corporations will determine changes in the one-world one-single market structure, where an important effect of this institutional change relates with the transfer of technology and knowledge marking a new trend and modifying the diffusion of organization principles. Finally, we consider that the expansion of direct foreign investment flows and on the volume of risk capital ventures invested in Colombia may introduce somewhat permanent transformations in the globalizing economy.


We introduce a novel channel impulse response (CIR) estimation method, for sparse multipath channels, with applications to digital TV receivers with multiple antennas. Our method uses symbol rate samples of the receiver matched filter output, and it is based on blending the least squares based channel estimation and the correlation based channel estimation methods. We first overview the shortcomings of the least squares and the correlation based channel estimation algorithms, where a training sequence is utilized in both cases. The performance of the new channel estimation method is demonstrated, such that the channel estimation becomes more robust, and the overall quality of the estimate improves by recovering the pulse shape which is naturally embedded in the overall channel impulse response. We demonstrate how both methods can be combined effectively to minimize the problems associated with the effective channel delay spread being longer than the known training sequence can support. Examples are drawn from the ATSC digital TV 8-VSB system (see ATSC Digital Television Standard, A/53, 1995) with a multi-antenna receiver. The delay spread for digital TV systems can be as long as several hundred times the symbol duration; however, digital TV channels are, in general, sparse where there are only a few dominant multipaths. Finally, we derive the noise variance estimator.


As the world sails into the second decade of the new millennium, more and more people are beginning to realize the importance of folk art, their elegance and beauty. Contemporary art is a reflection of the seeds sown by folk art in different cultures hundreds of years ago. But apart from just being traditional, folk art has a significant socio-political dimension. In this paper, folk art stands as a representation of the mass public which expresses itself as popular culture. According to Ang, the 'populist aesthetic' is "based on an affirmation of the continuity of cultural forms and daily life, and on a deep- rooted desire for participation, and on emotional involvement" (274). This paper will focus on the distinctive nature and role of popular folk art- the Bangladeshi Jatra and the Japanese Kabuki , which originated from the populist aesthetic of two very different cultures. Although Bangladeshi and Japanese cultures are varied, they have some common grounds on which oral or "dialogue drama" flourished as ' performance' among the underprivileged masses. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/afj.v4i0.12935 The Arts Faculty Journal Vol.4 July 2010-June 2011 pp.109-115


Patients mobilising guanxi (interpersonal relations) to gain access to hospital care is prevalent in post-Mao China. Yet few studies have centred on how medical professionals deal with guanxi patients. Based on ethnographic research and applying an analytical frame of Chinese guanxi developed by Fei Xiaotong (1992 [1948]) and Cheris Shun-Ching Chan (2009), this article examines the dilemmas that Chinese physicians face in weighing professional standards versus guanxi. We divide the patients into three general categories: patients without any guanxi, patients with weak to moderate ties with physicians, and patients with strong ties with physicians. We find that physicians face few dilemmas when they interact with patients without guanxi. They largely adhere to their professional code of practice and generally display dominance over the patients. When interacting with patients with weak to moderate ties, however, physicians are caught in a dilemma between fulfilling renqing (interpersonal obligation) and adhering to a professional code of practice. They manage this dilemma through dramaturgical strategies such as information-sharing, emotional work, and face-giving. When interacting with patients with whom they have strong ties, however, affection and the sense of asymmetric obligation may take precedence over professional codes. Physicians deal with this dilemma through a different set of strategies, such as information-control, emotional avoidance, and altruistic care. Our analysis reveals the impacts of guanxi on medical professionals and the moral dilemmas they face in a guanxi-dominant societal context. It offers direction for possible policy reforms to mitigate the problem.


Wire and cable coverings are potentially a major cause of fire in buildings and other installations. As they need to breach fire walls and are frequently located in vertical ducting, they have significant potential to increase the fire hazard. It is therefore important to understand the ignition and burning characteristics of cables by developing a model capable of predicting their burning behaviour for a range of scenarios. The fire performance of electrical cables is usually dominated by the fire performance of the sheathing materials. The complexity of the problem increases when cable sheathing incorporates fire retardants. One-dimensional pyrolysis models have been constructed for cable sheathing materials, based on milligram-scale and bench-scale test data by comparing the performance of three different software tools (ThermaKin, Comsol Multiphysics and FDS, version 6.0.1). Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were conducted on powdered cable coatings to determine the thermal degradation mechanism, the enthalpy of decomposition reactions, and the heat capacities of all apparent species. The emissivity and the in-depth absorption coefficient were determined using reflectance and transmittance measurements, with dispersive and non-dispersive spectrometers and integrating spheres. Bench-scale tests were conducted with a mass loss calorimeter flushed with nitrogen on samples in a horizontal orientation, for comparison with the pyrolysis model of non-flaming decomposition at an external heat flux of 50 kW m-2. The parameters determined through analysis of the milligram-scale data were used to construct a pyrolysis model that predicted the total mass loss from calorimeter tests in anaerobic conditions. A condensed phase pyrolysis model that accurately predicts in-depth temperature profiles of a solid fuel, and the mass flux of volatiles evolved during degradation of the fuel, is an essential component of a comprehensive fire model, which when coupled to a computational fluid dynamics code can be used to predict the burning processes in a fire scenario. Pyrolysis models vary considerably in complexity based on the assumptions incorporated into the development of the model.


Multi-objective optimisation focuses on optimising multiple objectives simultanuously. Evolutionary and immune-based algorithms have been developed in order to solve multi-objective optimisation problems. These algorithms often include a property called elitism, a method of preserving good solutions. This study has focused on how different approaches of elitism affect an algorithm's ability to find optimal solutions in a multi-objective optimisation problem with a discrete and highly discontinuous decision space. Three state-of-the-art algorithms, NSGA-II, SPEA2+ and NNIA2, were implemented, validated and tested against a multi-objective optimisation problem of a miniature plant. Final populations yielded from all the algorithms were included in an analysis. The results of this study indicate that external populations are important in order for algorithms to find optimal solutions in multi-objective optimisation problems with a discrete and highly discontinuous decision spaces.


This work is a collaboration with fashion designer Gareth Pugh and make-up artist Alex Box to create a series of 12 masks for the LFW catwalk show.

Part of my research involved looking at the way 3-D data captured from the body may be used as a surface on which to explore creative ideas of form and function customised to the individual. In this case it is in the context of identity and gender, where the mask is used, like clothing or make-up in fashion, both as an expression of identity, and as a protective barrier between wearer and audience.

This project demonstrated the use of 3D design and manufacturing techniques which allow fast product development cycles. This type of process is typically associated with engineering product development where rapid prototyping reduces the costs associated with tooling.

The method used was to scan the face of a model using a laser scanner, which was then cleaned and surfaced using haptic tools. This was then realised using Rapid Prototyping to make a master, from which a series of clear masks could be vacuum formed. It was planned to scan each individual model and realise individualised masks, but the restraints of time and availability made this unfeasible at this time. The process was realised in 4 days, and demonstrates the efficacy of these techniques for fast-turnaround in creative applications.

The significance of developing this project for a designer like Pugh is that it allows for last minute creative decisions to be rapidly translated for catwalk presentation, without significant investment in time and materials.

The masks remain as part of the designers archive for that season. They will be available for stylists and photographers to use in magazine editorial shoots from September 2007, via Mandi Lennard PR.


Astrophysics is the branch of Astronomy (from the Greek "the laws of the stars") that studies the physics of the Universe. Nearly all our information for the study of distant cosmic objects in our Universe comes from the observation of electromagnetic waves and particles that reach the Earth. In the history of Astronomy, all the discoveries have been accompanied hand-in-hand by technological developments sometimes to improve our perception of the Universe and at other times to open new as yet unexplored windows. This Thesis intends to introduce the reader to one of the windows, opened in the recent past, since 1989, to the most violent phenomena of the Universe that take place at high energies and which has given rise to a new branch in Astronomy: High Energy Astronomy. The new window of observation has improved thanks to the development of new instrumentation, which needs calibration and monitoring tasks and which sometimes has to face up to new intrinsic difficulties. This work is based on the ground-based telescopes used to observe the Universe at high energies, in particular the MAGIC Telescope. Specifically, this Thesis covers the MAGIC telescope monitoring, its detection capabilities, the new challenges opened up by the effect of the Earth's magnetic field at low energies and the first results for the physics of some members of a particular kind of star, called pulsars. It describes in detail the efforts to monitor the behaviour of the telescope, which has to be stable enough to guarantee a good understanding of the results. Finally, this work presents the upper limits of two of the most promising pulsar gamma-ray candidates: PSR J0205+6449 and PSR J0218+4232.


A detailed study of alteration mineralogy, mineral chemistry, and lithogeochemistry in the host rocks surrounding the A-B and K lenses at the north end of the Rosebery mine has revealed a series of overlapping alteration halos with characteristic mineralogy and geochemistry. The study involved logging and sampling from
nine drill holes spaced at varying distances from the A-B and K lenses. The stratiform Zn-Pb-Cu ore lenses
have a sheetlike morphology and are hosted by a mixed sequence of rhyolitic to dacitic massive mediumgrained
quartz-porphyritic pumice breccia, black mudstone, and crystal-rich volcaniclastic sandstone, overlying
a thick homogeneous sequence of rhyolitic pumice breccia.
The major alteration minerals at Rosebery are arranged in a complex series of zones passing away from the
deposit-quartz-sericite zone, Mn carbonate zone, chlorite zone, and outer sericite zone. The chlorite zone is
best developed in the immediate footwall below the copper-pyrite-rich ore lenses, whereas the strongest Mn
carbonate alteration occurs in the immediate hanging-wall volcanics or lateral to the ore lenses. The outermost
visible sericitic alteration extends about 60 to 100 m into the footwall, 10 to 20 m into the hanging wall, and
over 500 m along the upper contact of the footwall pumice breccias.
Thallium and antimony form the most extensive trace element halos related to the mineralization. Thallium
forms a halo that extends 200 to 300 m into the overlying volcanics and 60 to 100 m into the footwall. Anomalously
high thallium also occurs over 500 m along strike marking the contact between the footwall pumice breccias and the overlying volcaniclastic sandstones. Proximal to the ore lenses Tl and Sb values range from 10 to 100 ppm, compared to the halo zone where they vary from around 1 to 10 ppm.
Studies of alteration mineral chemistry at Rosebery have revealed some important relationships that may assist
exploration. The Mn content of alteration carbonate increases toward ore, both along strike and across
strike. Close to ore, alteration carbonates contain >20 mole percent MnCO3 (kutnahorite, rhodochrosite, Mn
siderite, and Mn ankerite), whereas at distances of 40 to 60 m across strike the mole percent MnCO3 in carbonate
drops to below 10 percent. At greater than 80 m, the carbonates are Mn-poor calcites and are commonly
located in synmetamorphic structures. White mica composition changes with stratigraphy and alteration
assemblages and may be related to the mineralizing event, although this has not been convincingly demonstrated.
Proximal white mica contains minor Ba substituting for octahedral Al. However, except for their Ba content, these phengetic white micas are similar to those found in nonmineralized areas of the Mount Read
Volcanics. Sodic white mica with up to 0.35 Na/(Na + K) and a low phengite content (<0.5 Fe + Mg cations)
occurs in a zone of volcanic sandstones and black slates overlying the ore deposit.
This research has lead to the development of a series of proximal, medial, and distal vectors useful for both
regional and mine-scale exploration. The most useful vectors, listed from proximal to distal, include Zn, Ba content
of white mica, Na2O, K2O, Ishikawa alteration index (AI), S/Na2O, Ba/Sr, Mn content of carbonate, Tl, and
Sb.


The contributions that form the centrepiece of this special edition, from Margaret Gardner, Keith Hancock, John Niland and Ron McCallum, offer diverse insights both as to the policy debates that have shaped Australian workplace relations over the past 25 years, and as to the opportunities and challenges that now confront the Rudd Government. But one feature they share is that they have virtually nothing to say about the regulation of work performed outside the confines of the traditional employment relationship. Their focus is unremittingly on employers and employees. From one point of view, this might seem odd. The 'increasing scope of atypical employment arrangements' to which Margaret Gardner alludes has not just been about employees working part-time, or as casuals, or on fixed term contracts, or away from a traditional workplace. It includes a large number of workers who provide their personal labour as 'self-employed' contractors, rather than as employees in the common law sense (Productivity Commission 2006). There has also been a burgeoning awareness, at least in the labour law literature, of the regulatory challenges posed by forms of work that fall outside the conventional categories of employee and contractor, whether performed by volunteers, franchisees, social security recipients, prisoners, and so on (Gahan 2003; O'Donnell and Mitchell 2006). Yet the focus of the plenary papers is in another sense entirely justified. The progressive waves of reform that occurred in 1993, 1996 and 2005, as well as the Rudd Government's recently enacted 'transitional' legislation, (1) have all involved amendments to a federal statute whose application remains anchored to the common law conception of a contract of service. (2) Federal awards and workplace agreements can generally deal only with the terms on which employees are engaged. The growing list of minimum entitlements directly established by what is now the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (WR Act) likewise apply only for the benefit of employees. And while registered trade unions are permitted to have independent contractors or other non-employees as members, at least in certain circumstances, (3) the various rights granted to unions under the Act--to enter workplaces, to enforce compliance with industrial instruments, to organise protected industrial action, to appear in tribunal proceedings--have little application to those members. In the same vein, the public debates and advertising wars that surrounded the Howard Government's contentious 'WorkChoices' reforms were conducted almost entirely by reference to the position of employees. And in responding to those debates, the federal ALP's 'Forward with Fairness' policies were likewise framed in terms of restoring 'balance' to the treatment of employers and employees (Rudd and Gillard 2007a, 2007b). They have nothing at all to say about contractors or other non-employees. What Might Have Been But it could easily have been different. In the lead-up to the 2004 election, the Coalition promised to 'legislate to protect and enhance the freedom to contract and to encourage independent contracting as a wholly legitimate form of work' (Liberal and National Parties 2004: 3). For a time, it seemed that what John Howard had in mind was a two-pronged approach to labour market deregulation. Businesses who wanted to escape the 'rigidities' of the award system, not to mention the inconvenience of having to deal with unions, would be given a choice of how to do that. They might use statutory individual agreements to strip away award entitlements and block union representation, either with or without any compensating wage increase. Or, more radically, they might take a worker right outside the scope not just of the award system, but of the various minimum standards set by the WR Act for employees, by the simple expedient of hiring them under a contract that described them as self-employed. Whether or not that was the intent behind the 2004 policy, however, it is not what eventuated. …


Recently a measure for Economic Complexity named ECI+ has been proposed by Albeaik et al. We like the ECI+ algorithm because it is mathematically identical to the Fitness algorithm, the measure for Economic Complexity we introduced in 2012. We demonstrate that the mathematical structure of ECI+ is strictly equivalent to that of Fitness (up to normalization and rescaling). We then show how the claims of Albeaik et al. about the ability of Fitness to describe the Economic Complexity of a country are incorrect. Finally, we hypothesize how the wrong results reported by these authors could have been obtained by not iterating the algorithm.