Providing reliable and coherent interfaces to end-users in pervasive environments with a wealth of connected sensors and actuators is still an area with little to no support in terms of common methodologies and established standards. The wide range of diverse situations, in which interaction in these environments potentially takes place, prevents any single means of interaction to form a predominant approach. While one class of interaction devices, might be well suited in one given situation, it might be wholly inapplicable in another. Yet, users rightfully expect an interaction session to continue coherently when their situation calls for a change with regard to their means of interaction.

The entailing classes of new requirements for user interfaces, such as distributed interaction logic, guaranteed coherence with regard to the state of the overall interaction and the necessity to effectively support multiple modalities as equals are addressed only insufficiently by the established approaches to model user interface that are popular today. Much research has already been conducted in the last 50 years to develop various conceptualizations applicable to model distributed, coherent, and / or multimodal interfaces, but so far this only lead to a plethora of isolated research prototypes and solutions to specific problems in the design space, with no solution having developed the inertia to succeed in establishing a permanent foothold in industry-supported, commercial end-user applications. While first applications are, indeed, starting to be commercialized, \eg as seen on IFA 2015 and even earlier fairs, their lack of a standardized approach is still a serious obstacle to commodification: Having a BMW tell a Buderus central heating system that a user expects a warm living room in 30 minutes is appreciated, but the overall usefulness is diminished if one needs to change into the VW only to check on the contents of a Miele fridge, losing all interaction context in between.

In this thesis, we will elaborate on an approach, recently recommended by the "W3C Multimodal Interaction Working Group", to express the interaction logic of user interfaces in pervasive environments as modality-agnostic, nested state-charts controlling modality-specific components. The major contribution is a description of an automated transformation from these state-charts, given in an XML dialect onto the input language of a model-checker. This allows an interface designer to formally guarantee certain behaviors of the state-charts and thereby properties of the interaction described within. This core contribution is evaluated by (i) identifying the subset of state-chart semantics applicable for formal verification, (ii) approaching a proof of correctness of the transformation via the official tests accompanying the state-chart description language and by (iii) showing applicability of the overall approach via transforming a non-trivial state-chart employed to describe the user interface of a commercial consumer product.

Several smaller contributions of this thesis include (i) a proof of the Turing completeness of the employed state-chart semantics as well as the embedding of a push-down automaton, (ii) a transformation onto semantically equivalent state-machines in a slightly extended variant of the state-chart description language with (iii) a closed-form upper bound for the number of states in the state-machine (iv) and extensions to improve the applicability and expressiveness of the proposed state-chart formalism with regard to other established dialog modeling techniques.

All of this is actually implemented in a platform-independent C++ state-chart interpreter, compliant to the respective W3C standards and accompanied by various tools available under a free open-source license. The interpreter is already used in commercial deployments of multimodal dialog systems and was submitted as part of the implementation and report plan for the respective W3C recommendation.


Xenophobia in South Africa still needs more analysis just as the field of violence is still wide open for speculation.  The primary focus in the evaluation of the causes of xenophobia is on micro-politics and political discourse while the cultural aspect is most often neglected. As a concept, xenophobia is often explained by reference to present-day social, economic and political crises. The explanation that most of the violence facing millions of Africans results from the demands made on people by globalisation is often accepted without question. Moving away from this thinking and mindful of the fact that people do not live outside culture and history, there is a need to evaluate the effect of history and the recent shift in culture on the cancerous violence that infects the soul of South Africa. It is hoped that drawing on the theory of 'home,' developed by Alfred Schuetz, and with an eye on film a window could be opened on culture for understanding xenophobia within its cultural context. In this discussion, the strategy to curb violence and suggestions to improve media representation of Africa are also tackled.


We consider complex dynamical systems showing metastable behavior but no local separation of fast and slow time scales. The article raises the question of whether such systems exhibit a low-dimensional manifold supporting its effective dynamics. For answering this question, we aim at finding nonlinear coordinates, called reaction coordinates, such that the projection of the dynamics onto these coordinates preserves the dominant time scales of the dynamics. We show that, based on a specific reducibility property, the existence of good low-dimensional reaction coordinates preserving the dominant time scales is guaranteed. Based on this theoretical framework, we develop and test a novel numerical approach for computing good reaction coordinates. The proposed algorithmic approach is fully local and thus not prone to the curse of dimension with respect to the state space of the dynamics. Hence, it is a promising method for data-based model reduction of complex dynamical systems such as molecular dynamics.


Purpose: The aim of this article is to identify processes and recognise determinants in the copper mining industry supply chain creation and activity taking into account the influence of COVID-19 pandemic. Design/Approach: The research was conducted using qualitative methods. As part of the research procedure, process analysis was carried out using the method of mapping processes in the mining industry supply chain (on the example of copper mining). To analyse and evaluate the examined processes were presented in the form of graphical maps developed using the ADONIS software. A case study was used to show the specificity of the studies case (copper mining supply chain) and accompanying phenomena. Findings: The results of the study indicate that the coordination and integration of logistics processes has a significant impact on the mining supply chain. It is necessary to point out that the mining processes are separate from production processes. The individual tier of copper mining supply chain has their specific determinants that can be identified in the following groups: natural and geological, political, economic, legislative, social, environmental, and technological. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the intensity of the search for new technologies, human security, remote communication processes and process tracking tools; it also increased the need for cooperation and searching for cooperative solutions regarding sustainable development and the circular economy. Practical Implications: The results can be used to improve the operation of the supply chain. The conducted analyses have significant practical implications for the design of efficiency, security, and resilience of supply chains. Originality/Value: The comprehensive analysis of the supply chain creates opportunities for comprehensive improvement of both the entire system and its individual components.


Title of dissertation: PROBING THE CENTRAL REGIONS OF ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI Anne Maria Lohfink, Doctor of Philosophy, 2014 Dissertation directed by: Professor Christopher S. Reynolds Department of Astronomy Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are one of the key players in the Universe. Their energy output can strongly affect the growth of their host galaxy and can promote or suppress star formation on galactic scales. Most of the processes that determine the power of an AGN as well as the form in which that power is released take place in the immediate surroundings of its supermassive black hole, a region that is still not entirely understood. A comprehension of these inner regions is, however, crucial to any ultimate understanding of the AGN's vast influence. This dissertation explores these close-in environments of the black hole using two approaches: X-ray spectroscopy and variability studies. We begin by summarizing our current understanding of why AGN play such a significant role in galaxy formation. This is followed by a discussion of why Xray spectroscopy is one of the best means to investigate them. We point out that, in particular, the X-ray reflection spectrum is interesting as it can directly probe parameters such as the black hole spin or the inclination of the accretion disk. Since the reflection spectrum is a broad band component, that usually only contributes a fraction of the total observed X-ray flux, the entire X-ray spectrum requires careful modeling. To perform such modeling and gain access to the parameters of the reflection spectrum, we first select a target in which the spectral decomposition is simplified by the absence of absorption – the Seyfert 1 galaxy Fairall 9. We apply a multiepoch fitting method that uses more than one spectrum at a time to get the best possible results on the parameters of the reflection spectrum that are invariant on human timescales. This technique enables us to tightly constrain the reflection parameters and leads us to conclude that Fairall 9 most likely possesses a composite soft X-ray excess, consisting of blurred reflection and a separate component such as Comptonization. The reflection spectrum also provides a way to enhance our knowledge of jet formation. We present a multi-wavelength study of the broad line radio galaxy 3C120 centered around a study of the reflection spectrum from two Suzaku and one XMM observation. Our results confirm that jet formation is linked to changes in (and possibly the destruction of) the inner accretion disk, and the high measured spin suggests that the rotational energy could very well be the energy source required to launch the jet. Finally, we present results from variability studies, which present another window into the processes taking place close to the black hole. A 10 year RXTE monitoring of Fairall 9 allows us to discover very rapid flux dips in the X-ray band which only last 5-15 days. While we are unable to determine the exact nature of the dips, we discuss a range of possible models, including the idea that the accretion disk in this radio-quiet AGN may be undergoing sporadic disruptions (via some yet-tobe-determined global instability) in much the same manner as is inferred to occur in 3C120 and other broad-line galaxies. Lastly we turn to the UV variability of Fairall 9 and its connection to the X-ray variability. From 2.5 months of Swift monitoring, we find that Fairall 9 shows significant variability on 4 day timescales, and the analysis of XMM -OM data shows that variability is present even on the time scales of hours. Folding in the X-ray variability, we determined that this fast UV variability can be explained as reprocessing of X-rays. We conclude by explaining how these studies fit into the field of AGN science as a whole and how they can be followed up with future observations. PROBING THE CENTRAL REGIONS OF ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI


Parental involvement in their child's care in hospital is common place. Research indicates that parents want to actively participate in the care of their child. Nurses' responses to parental presence in hospital have been examined in previous research, especially with regard to attitudes, perspectives and role division. There was however a gap in the literature with regard to nurses' understanding of parenting in hospital. Within New Zealand there was no research examining nurses' understanding of parenting. The research described in this 75 point thesis explored the nurses' understanding of parenting in hospital. Using focus groups as the research method, eight nurses were invited to share their understanding of parenting in a New Zealand hospital. The data was analysed using thematic analysis informed by Stevens (1996) . Although the size of the study was limited, this research has been able to raise some important issues about nurses' understanding of parenting in hospital, including the conflict perceived between parents and nurses, and the participants "ideal" parent-nurse relationship.


Just as people defend against threats to personal identity, they also defend against threats to social identity. In the context of intergroup transgression, the defensiveness against social identity threat has the effect of undermining collective guilt and its prosocial consequences. However, there may be ways for perpetrator groups to alleviate threat without undermining guilt. Five studies examined whether perpetrator groups are more willing to acknowledge collective guilt once social identity threat has been buffered by ingroup-affirmation. As predicted, Study 1 revealed that men accepted greater collective guilt for the mistreatment of women after affirming their ingroup. Replicating this effect, Study 2 revealed that, following ingroup-affirmation, Canadians accepted greater collective guilt over the mistreatment of Aboriginal children in residential schools. In light of the theoretical distinction between collective guilt and collective shame, Studies 3 and 4 examined the effect of ingroup-affirmation on each emotion. Results revealed that, as with collective guilt, Canadians accepted greater collective shame following ingroup-affirmation. More importantly, ingroup-affirmation moderated the relation of each emotion with compensation. Specifically, when controlling for each other, collective shame predicted compensation only when social identity threat was left unchecked, whereas collective guilt predicted compensation only when social identity threat had been disarmed by ingroup-affirmation. Finally, Study 5 provided direct evidence that the effect of ingroup-affirmation is mediated by defensiveness. Specifically, ingroup-affirmation lowered defensiveness, which in turn freed group members to acknowledge greater collective guilt and greater collective shame. The theoretical and applied implications of these findings are discussed.


The story of Saudi television began in 1962 when King Faisal, who was then the crown prince, pointed out that the government intended to utilize the medium of television as a tool for information, guidance, culture, and recreation (Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Information, 1985). From July 17, 1965, when the first transmission signal went out simultaneously from stations in Riyadh and Jeddah until the transfer to the new Riyadh Television Complex in 1982. Saudi television has gone through many phases of development. The most recent development was the introduction of commercial advertising in 1986. Saudi television commercials have taken the form of 10 to 20 minute blocks which are taped and then aired many times during the broadcasting hours. Because Saudi television is a governmental operation, all of the funds required to maintain its expenditures are provided by the Saudi government, and commercial advertising is a new development. Thus, there was a need for a study which told the story of commercial advertising's development in Saudi television.


Investigations have been carried out of some aspects of the fine-scale structure of turbulence in grid flows, in boundary layers in a zero pressure gradient and in a boundary layer in a strong favourable pressure gradient leading to relaminarization. Using a narrow-band filter with suitable mid-band frequencies, the properties of the fine-scale structure (appearing as high frequency pulses in the filtered signal) were analysed using the variable discriminator level technique employed earlier by Rao, Narasimha & Badri Narayanan (1971). It was found that, irrespective of the type of flow, the characteristic pulse frequency (say Np) defined by Rao et al. was about 0·6 times the frequency of the zero crossings. It was also found that, over the small range of Reynolds numbers tested, the ratio of the width of the fine-scale regions to the Kolmogorov scale increased linearly with Reynolds number in grid turbulence as well as in flat-plate boundarylayer flow. Nearly lognormal distributions were exhibited by this ratio as well as by the interval between successive zero crossings. The values of Np and of the zero-crossing rate were found to be nearly constant across the boundary layer, except towards its outer edge and very near the wall. In the zero-pressure-gradient boundary-layer flow, very near the wall the high frequency pulses were found to occur mostly when the longitudinal velocity fluctuation u was positive (i.e. above the mean), whereas in the outer part of the boundary layer the pulses more often occurred when u was negative. During acceleration this correlation between the fine-scale motion and the sign of u was less marked.


A statistical test for the difference in the amounts of DNA variation between two populations is developed. The test statistic involves the covariance of the amount of variation between two populations, which is given by a function of their divergence time, T0. Accordingly, the power (rejection probability) of the test depends on T0. In this article, T0 is treated as unknown because it is very difficult to estimate. The test is most conservative when T0 = infinity is assumed because the covariance is zero. If T0 = 0 is assumed, the largest value of the rejection probability is obtained. Thus, the test provides a range of rejection probability unless we have a reliable estimate of T0. The test is applied to the PgiC region in three mustard species: Leavenworthia stylosa, L. crassa and L. uniflora. The results of our test show that the level of variation in L. stylosa is significantly higher than those in the other species.


The inherent nature of the physical setup and transmission mechanism in wireless ad hoc networks with random channel access, results in correlation between the link metrics of adjacent links, when considering path optimization problems. We identify a special structure inherent to the solution of Dynamic Programming (DP) problem arising in such an optimization over paths. According to this structure, the optimal policy tries to equalize the link metrics of adjacent links in a multi-hop route. We validate this structural property with simulations.


ABSTRACT This study investigated whether Black and White mock jurors would commit the ultimate attribution error (i.e., over-rely on dispositional explanations to understand the negative actions of out-group members) in a necessity defense case. Participants (N = 97) read a fictional looting case, in which the race of the defendant varied. Mock jurors were expected to show out-group severity through more guilty verdicts and blame attributions. Mock juror and defendant race were not significantly related to verdicts, but for the Black defendant, White mock jurors attributed more control to him, and believed he was likely to reoffend more so than did Black mock jurors. This study adds to the literature on the mechanism by which racial bias interferes with juror decisions.


The catalytic dehydration of 1,3-butanediol into butadiene was investigated over various aluminosilicates with different SiO2/Al2O3 ratios and pore architectures. A correlation between the catalytic performance and the total number of acid sites and acid strength was established, with a better performance for lower acid site densities as inferred from combined NH3-TPD, pyridine adsorption and 27Al-NMR MAS spectroscopy. The presence of native Bronsted acid sites of medium strength was correlated to the formation of butadiene. A maximum butadiene yield of 60% was achieved at 300 °C over H-ZSM-5 with a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 260 with the simultaneous formation of propylene at a BD/propylene selectivity ratio of 2.5. This catalyst further exhibited a slight deactivation during a 102 h run with a decrease in the conversion from 100% to 80% due to coke deposition as evidenced by XPS and TGA-MS, resulting in a 36% loss of the specific surface area.


The Biological Heritage eDNA Virtual Hub is a project created for New Zealand's Biological
Heritage National Science Challenge that aims to collectively describe biodiversity in Aotearoa.
The Biological Heritage NSC goal is to reverse the decline of New Zealand's biological heritage
by protecting and managing native biodiversity, as well as by enhancing resilience to harmful
organisms. Key to this is the ability, at a national level, to monitor biodiversity. An emerging
technology for biodiversity monitoring is
environmental DNA or eDNA, which is DNA collected from an environmental sample. Highthroughput DNA sequencing of regions of this DNA enables identification of the organisms who's
DNA was present in the sample. This allows for efficient assessment of an environment's
macrobiological and microbiological diversity. We have created a database to store eDNA data that has been generated by researchers, and a
web application that functions as an eDNA data analysis and visualization tool. The eDNA web
application allows users to combine environmental and taxonomic search filters to selectively
assess distributions of organisms. It also features graphs that allows users to compare
biodiversity metrics between environments and locations. The hub is designed to be usable by people regardless of expertise so it can improve the
accessibility, analysis, and collaboration of research related to biodiversity and biosecurity. This
"eDNA hub" therefore provides a centralized source of biodiversity information to enable
nationwide biodiversity monitoring and assessment by researchers, Government agencies, and
the public. ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S) Warrick Corfe-Tan is an eResearch Solutions Analyst at the Centre for eResearch, Univesity of
Auckland. Warrick's primary role at the Centre of eResearch is to develop software solutions for
researchers at the University of Auckland with a focus on visualization and virtual reality. Dr Austen Ganley is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland. Austen's primary research
interest is the function and evolution of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) with a focus on the functions
additional to rDNA's primary function of encoding ribosomal RNA. Other research areas include
fungal genome evolution, polyploidy, human genetics, and mushrooms. Dr Gavin Lear is an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland. Gavin's research largely
explores the complex interactions among microbial communities and the varied environments
they inhabit with a key focus on how microbial communities adapt to human influences. Dr Ian Dickie is a professor at the University of Canterbury. Ian is an ecological researcher with a
focus on the development and application of molecular tools to determine the role of fungal
community if community and ecosystem-level outcomes.


Multiple Sclerosis is the most common non-traumatic cause of neurological disability in
young people. Until recently few treatments existed for Multiple Sclerosis and Interferon
beta was the first and remains the most commonly prescribed. As a biological product it
induces antibodies to the protein which may abrogate the efficacy of the drug (neutralising
antibodies - NAbs). Testing for these antibodies has been problematic as biological assays
are difficult to standardise, time consuming and expensive. In the experiments described
here we sought to develop a novel cell-based reporter-gene assay to reliably test for Nabs,
to explore the relationship between NAbs, treatment efficacy, biological activity and
correlate NAb titres with in vivo biomarker induction to establish guidelines to interpret
results. The work presented in this thesis describes the development and validation of the
luciferase assay and has shown that subjects who develop NAbs experienced increased
relapse rates, (which lag behind the appearance of NAbs). Evaluating the in vivo biological
response to IFNβ injection it was established that in subjects with NAbs there was titre
dependent loss of bioactivity with reduced myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) level in
those with titres 100 – 600 NU and absent response in those with titres > 600 NU. Opinion
amongst neurologists (UK, USA, Canada and Austria) regarding NAbs was evaluated and
revealed uncertainty of their significance in the clinical setting, and the reluctance of some
neurologists to incorporate NAb testing into routine practice. Results were similar in the
countries surveyed in that 90 – 100% were aware of NAbs and thought they abrogate
clinical efficacy, yet few routinely tested for them, particularly in the UK. The validated
luciferase assay has since been dissemintated to 9 countries. Since it's launch in the UK in
2006 over 4,000 patients have been tested for NAbs. This work directly translates into
clinical practice and provides a useful service to aid management of subjects with MS.


The exact incidence of submacular haemorrhage (SMH) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is unknown, and risk factors for its occurrence ill defined. It is known, however, to be a relatively common problem and important because the visual prognosis of these patients is poor. Unfortunately, patients with significant SMH were excluded from all the recent major randomised control trials for nAMD with antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents and photodynamic therapy, and as such, the optimum management of patients is uncertain. SMH can present initially or during treatment of nAMD. The location, size, thickness and duration of SMH have an important bearing on treatment and outcomes. Thin or extrafoveal SMH are probably best treated with anti-VEGF agents alone. It has been proposed that patients with moderate-sized SMH, particularly thick haemorrhages, have an improved prognosis with surgical SMH displacement combined with treatment of CNVM if present. SMH drainage, macular translocation and RPE patch grafting are reserved for more severe extensive cases of SMH. Using these techniques, outcomes better than the natural history have been achieved. This review aims to summarise what is known about SMH in nAMD and will discuss a variety of therapeutic interventions.


This paper aims to gain insights into the interrelationship between transformation and quality of growth with attributes such as being inclusive, sustainable, innovative, secure, and balanced. It draws on case studies regarding four outstanding cases of industrial transformation. This analysis found that quality of growth needs to be discussed in the context of transformation because it features basically in the driving forces of growth, and that the interrelationship between transformation and quality of growth needs to be considered in a holistic manner as a comprehensive target to be achieved. As such, it might be more realistic to design measures to attain the desired attributes of quality of growth alongside the development of specific industries, within which structural transformation is taking place. On the other hand, as the interrelationship between attributes of quality growth and industrial transformation is complex, a comprehensive approach is needed, which pays due attention to macro-economic balance and stability, fiscal balance, synergy, trade-offs, and so on.


This essay will present a few challenges to a new Humanism from the perspective of the sociology of technics. For this purpose Humanism will be described as an effort to intervene in the process of human formation or hominisation. In order to intervene an understanding of this process is needed. Hominisation starts in the Palaeolithic era: technics, religion, language and the human being mutually give birth to one another. Reference will be made especially to the work of Leroi-Gourhan and Girard to analyse this point. Hominisation, however, is a continuous process and has not come to an end. The most recent phase of our hominisation is the industrial revolution: Western modernisation seems to be the future of global humanity. But industrialisation spreads unevenly, leading to a varied network of the human conditions, of advantages and disadvantages. A critical assessment of Africa's position in the global politics of technics will lead to a description of inhuman conditions as part of the network of industrialisation. The scale and extent of misery tolerated and produced by this era of hominisation could be considered as a possible springboard from where to reflect on a contemporary global Humanism even after the 'death of God' in modernity. But to what extent does modernisation allow intervention in the process of industrial hominisation in order to give it the quality of humanization? Aspects of theories on multiple or alternative modernities are considered. A suggestion to the kind of humanist orientation solicited by the inhuman condition of misery is presented with reference to Nussbaum's capabilities theory. Finding the content of a new Humanism is, however, only a beginning of a new humanization. The technical conditions for the possibility of a new Humanism and of its transmission are reflected on. In conclusion, on the basis of the preceding analyses, five technics-orientated tasks for a new Humanism will be identified.


NF2 loss in thyroid cancer reveals a transcriptional link showing that YAP promotes RAS expression. Neurofibromatosis type 2 is an autosomal-dominant tumor susceptibility syndrome caused by heterozygous mutations of NF2, which encodes merlin. In response to cell-cell contact, merlin activates the Hippo pathway, which suppresses the activity of the oncogenic transcription factor YAP and its cofactor TEAD. Activating mutations in the guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) RAS and increased activity of downstream signaling through the mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) pathway is common in various cancers. Garcia-Rendueles et al. found that loss of NF2 promotes the expression of mutant RAS in some thyroid cancers by enabling the transcriptional activity of YAP. Bioinformatics analysis of patient tumor tissue revealed that several types of RAS-mutant thyroid cancers also exhibit loss of heterozygosity in the chromosomal region containing the NF2 locus. Manipulating merlin abundance in RAS-mutant, NF2-wild-type or NF2-null thyroid cancer cells using RNA interference or transfection with wild-type or mutant forms of merlin revealed that merlin suppressed the expression of all isoforms of RAS and promoted the phosphorylation and cytoplasmic sequestration of YAP. Manipulation of YAP abundance revealed that YAP promoted the expression of mutant and wild-type RAS. In silico analysis predicted TEAD-binding sites in the promoters of the three RAS genes, and increasing merlin abundance or pharmacologically inhibiting YAP decreased the amount of YAP and TEAD1 at these sites. Knocking down YAP decreased RAS expression, MAPK signaling, and proliferation in RAS-mutant, NF2-null thyroid cancer cells. The findings suggest that targeting YAP may be therapeutically beneficial in RAS-mutant cancers, especially those lacking NF2. M. E. R. Garcia-REndueles, J. C. Ricarte-Filho, B. R. Untch, I. Landa, J. A. Knauf, F. Voza, V. E. Smith, I. Ganly, B. S. Taylor, Y. Persaud, G. Oler, Y. Fang, S. C. Jhanwar, A. Viale, A. Heguy, K. H. Huberman, F. Giancotti, R. Ghossein, J. A. Fagin, NF2 loss promotes oncogenic RAS-induced thyroid cancers via YAP-dependent transactivation of RAS proteins and sensitizes them to MEK inhibition. Cancer Discov. 5, 1178–1193 (2015). [PubMed]


We investigate the prediction of the infrared laser emission in the Yb3+-doped cubic KY3F10 crystal that can be pumped by a laser diode. Bulky single crystals have been grown by the Czochralski technique at Tohoku University, and crystalline fibers have been grown by the laser heated pedestal growth technique at Claude Bernard/Lyon 1 University. Absorption and emission spectra were recorded to contribute to the determination of electronic and vibronic energy levels by using in addition the Raman spectrum and the barycenter law. Yb3+ concentration dependence of the 2F5/2 experimental decay time was analyzed using concentration gradient fibers in order to attempt to understand involved concentration quenching mechanisms. Under Yb3+ ion infrared pumping, self-trapping has been observed at low concentration, whereas upconversion nonradiative energy transfer to unexpected rare-earth impurities (Er3+,Tm3+) has been observed in the visible region and interpreted with a limited diffusion process within the Yb3+ doping ion subsystem toward impurities. Main parameters useful for a theoretical approach of laser potentiality have been given and compared with other fluoride crystals.


This volume is the first to explore broadly many important theoretical and applied issues concerning the mental health of Appalachians. The authors-anthropologists, psychologists, social workers and others-overturn many assumptions held by earlier writers, who have tended to see Appalachia and its people as being dominated by a culture of poverty. While the heterogeneity of the region is acknowledged in the diversity of sub-areas and populations discussed, dominant themes emerge concerning Appalachia as a whole. The result of the authors' varied approaches is a cumulative portrait of a strong regional culture with native support systems based on family, community, and religion. Some of the contributors examine therapeutic approaches, including family therapy, that consider the implications of the cultural context. Others explore the impact of Appalachian culture on the impact of Appalachian culture on the development of mental health problems and coping skills and the resulting potential for conflict between Appalachian clients and non-Appalachian health providers. Still others examine cultural considerations in therapeutic encounters and mental health service delivery. The book is rich in case studies and empirical data. The practical, applied nature of the essays will enhance their value for practitioners seeking ways to improve mental health care in the region.


This paper presents a multicomponent topology optimization method for designing structures assembled from additively manufactured components, considering anisotropic material behavior for each component due to its build orientation, distinct material behavior, and stress constraints at component interfaces (i.e., joints). Based upon the multicomponent topology optimization (MTO) framework, the simultaneous optimization of structural topology, its partitioning, and the build orientations of each component is achieved, which maximizes an assembly-level structural stiffness performance subject to maximum stress constraints at component interfaces. The build orientations of each component are modeled by its orientation tensor that avoids numerical instability experienced by the conventional angular representation. A new joint model is introduced at component interfaces, which enables the identification of the interface location, the specification of a distinct material tensor, and imposing maximum stress constraints during optimization. Both 2D and 3D numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effect of the build orientation anisotropy and the component interface behavior on the resulting multicomponent assemblies.


Night Beat is a look at the disruption of culture as viewed through the history of rock music, its activists, its politics, the lives lived and lives grieved for during an epoch of upheaval. The author's personal touchstones (Bob Dlan, John Lydon, Lou Reed and others) are mixed with his interviews and encounters as a Rolling Stone journalist (such as The Clash, Sinead O'Connor, Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett) and a sampling of critical indulgences. This book is a mix of the best of Mikal Gilmore's writing and new and re-fashioned pieces which together tell the story of the people who made rock music, and who will carry rock & roll into the twenty-first century.


Host Your Web Site On The Cloud is your step-by-step guide to this revolutionary approach to hosting and managing your websites and applications. Cloud computing gives you the tools you need to prepare and cope with a traffic onslaught. You'll have the confidence to withstand a traffic surge without melting your servers or sending you into bankruptcy. There are a number of ways to use the cloud to host existing applications, build creative new ones, and improve the cost-effectiveness and efficiency or organizations large and small. You'll learn how to:gain a thorough understanding of cloud computing master the fundamentals of Amazon Web Services install and configure visual and command line tools store, retrieve, and distribute data quickly and easily build applications that scale manage the monitoring, load balancing, and scaling capabilities of cloud computing As a developer, you need room & flexibility to be innovative. Why waste time worrying about the technical aspects of server capacity? AWS handles security, load balancing, and server resources virtually so you're not restricted to one physical server.


ABSTRACT Using a new margin restoration model for the central South Atlantic we highlight margin-opposed rift basin subsidence characteristics, reconcile important facies relationships and consider the associated processes responsible for contrasting basinward transitions to oceanic crust. We interpret these parameters as diagnostic of strain evolution during rifting. Pre-salt subsidence patterns and sequence isopachs of late syn-rift and early post-rift sequences are symptomatic of these complex extension behaviours. Inherited basement fault trends partition extensional strain during stretching with resultant rift-related structural styles recording the heterogeneity of the pre-rift crust. Correspondingly the seismic and gravity expression of the transition from continental crust to oceanic crust differs systematically along the length of the 'conjugate' basins. The presence of a conspicuous coast parallel positive linear gravity anomaly, referred to as the 'terminal horst', defines the basinward extent of attenuated continental crust in the more symmetrical Campos Basin and its interpreted conjugate. In the 'asymmetrical' Santos and Benguela Basins the ocean–continent transition at the present-day OCB (ocean–continent boundary) becomes equivocal with little gravity expression. Consequently the relationship of primary salt basin edges to the basinward extent of crustal extension appears more complex. Pre-existing crustal and lithospheric mantle scale heterogeneities are considered to impart a first-order control on whole crust deformation and ultimately 'sag' basin development. These structurally defined heterogeneities are believed to partition crustal strain and juxtapose end-member mechanisms of pure-shear and simple shear deformation styles as recorded by the complex distribution of syn-rift subsidence patterns within the pre-salt basins of the central South Atlantic. These conclusions challenge the necessity for invoking dominantly depth-dependent processes as a mechanism to explain apparent pre-salt, syn-rift subsidence anomalies. The complex interplay of structure and stratigraphy with an overlay of palaeoclimatic models provides important insights into hydrocarbon play fairways along the margin. In particular the impact on reservoir and source rock distribution and heat flow are discussed.


In East Africa, Uganda is one of the major producers of organic pineapples for export. These pineapples are mainly produced in central Uganda and have to meet stringent quality standards before they can be allowed on international markets. These quality standards may put considerable strain on farmers and may not be wholly representative of their quality interpretation. The aim of this paper is therefore, to determine the Ugandan organic pineapple farmers' quality perception, the activities they carry out in order to attain that quality and challenges (production, postharvest & marketing) faced on the same. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were carried out among 28 organic pineapple farmers in Kayunga district, central Uganda. Findings suggest that quality of organic pineapples is mainly perceived in terms of product attributes particularly appearance followed by food security provision. Certification plays a minor role in what farmers describe as organic quality. High production input costs (labour and coffee husks) coupled with a stagnant premium are some of the major challenges faced by farmers in attaining organic quality. The paper argues that currently there are concealed negative food security effects embroiled in these pineapple schemes. It is recommended that the National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU) works with all relevant stakeholders to have the farmer premium price raised and an official organic policy enacted.


The theoretical basics for the simulation of the inert gas influence on explosion limits of fuel gas/air-gas mixtures of the halfempirical simulation model EPSIM are detailed described. Through modifications of this model it is possible to simulate the inert gas and fuel gas influence on the pressure limits of stability of C2H2 at different initial temperatures for the first time. The simulation model is based on the conservation equations for the minority species and energy without consideration of heat losses by radiation for the propagation of an one dimensional, stationary, premixed, laminar flame. The necessary border criterion for an explosion limit or a stability limit is a certain flame temperature, which is than constantly assumed about the further process of the limit curve. This flame temperature is calculated using measured stability limits or explosion limits. For the determination of the reaction enthalpy of the system the equilibrium constants of the formulated gross reactions are iterative calculated. Apart from homogeneous also heterogeneous gross reactions, especially the important decomposition reaction with the formation of elementary carbon, are considered for the first time. The simulation results are validated by pressure limits of stability determined experimentally at several initial temperatures for C2H2, C2H4 and C2H2/N2-, C2H2/CO2-, C2H2/H2-, C2H2/NH3-, C2H2/C2H4-gas mixtures. By visualization of a C2H2-decomposition with high speed videotakes and from the simultaneously measured pressure/time-curves the detailed form of the pressure/time-curve can be explained physically for the first time.

The connection of stability limits and explosion limits is represented by the example of the ternary gas system C2H4/N2/Luft at an initial pressure of 100 bar and different initial temperatures. The inert gas influence on the explosion limits of C2H4/air-systems is also simulated.


The time evolution of evaporation from a bare soil, over a 9-d period following irrigation, is described by a combination of daily and hourly drying patterns. From the second day, the daily evaporation shows a second stage of drying that can be described as a desorptive process (evaporation proportional to (t - to)-1/2, where t is time in days and to is the day when the second stage starts). The short time (hourly) evaporation rate can be modeled on the basis of a type of self-similarity in the energy balance components. Combining the evaporative flux behavior at the two time scales, desorption at the daily timescale and self-similarity for the diurnal variations, a robust description of evaporation for drying land surfaces is obtained. This approach is tested using accurate measurements of the different com-ponents of the energy balance at the soil surface, obtained at 20-min intervals. The model accurately describes the time evolution of the evaporative flux and could be used for the disaggregation of daily or weekly evaporation into hourly values.


The Business of Black Power emphasizes the centrality of economic goals to the larger black freedom movement and explores the myriad forms of business development in the Black power era. This volume charts a new course for Black power studies and business history, exploring both the business ventures that Black power fostered and the impact of Black power on the nation's business world. Black activists pressed business leaders, corporations, and various levels of government into supporting a range of economic development ventures, from Black entrepreneurship, to grassroots experiments in economic self-determination, to indigenous attempts to rebuild inner-city markets in the wake of disinvestment. They pioneered new economic and development strategies, often in concert with corporate executives and public officials. Yet these same actors also engaged in fierce debates over the role of business in strengthening the movement, and some African Americans outright rejected capitalism or collaboration with business. The ten scholars in this collection bring fresh analysis to this complex intersection of African American and business history to reveal how Black power advocates, or those purporting a Black power agenda, engaged business to advance their economic, political, and social goals. They show the business of Black power taking place in the streets, boardrooms, journals and periodicals, corporations, courts, and housing projects of America. In short, few were left untouched by the influence of this movement.


The recent financial crisis was characterized by losses in nearly every type of investment vehicle. Yet no product has attracted as much attention as the subprime mortgage.What is generally agreed is that subprime mortgages disproportionately contributed both to the severity of the crisis and to the size of losses imposed upon the taxpayer. What remains in dispute is the role of government — specifically, that of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — in expanding the availability of subprime mortgage credit.Changes in the mortgage market, resulting largely from misguided monetary policy, drove a frenzy of refinancing activity in 2003. When that origination boom died out, mortgage industry participants looked elsewhere for profits. Fannie and Freddie, among others, found those illusionary profits in lowering credit quality.Foremost among the government-sponsored enterprises' deleterious activities was their vast direct purchases of loans that can only be characterized as subprime. Under reasonable definitions of subprime, almost 30 percent of Fannie and Freddie direct purchases could be considered subprime.The government-sponsored enterprises were also the largest single investor in subprime privatelabel mortgage-backed securities. During the height of the housing bubble, almost 40 percent of newly issued private-label subprime securities were purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.In order to protect both the taxpayer and our broader economy, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be abolished, along with other policies that transfer the risk of mortgage default from the lender to the taxpayer.


We address three common misconceptions about capability-based systems: the Equivalence Myth (access control list systems and capability systems are formally equivalent), the Confinement Myth (capability systems cannot enforce confinement), and the Irrevocability Myth (capability-based access cannot be revoked). The Equivalence Myth obscures the benefits of capabilities as compared to access control lists, while the Confinement Myth and the Irrevocability Myth lead people to see problems with capabilities that do not actually exist. The prevalence of these myths is due to differing interpretations of the capability security model. To clear up the confusion, we examine three different models that have been used to describe capabilities, and define a set of seven security properties that capture the distinctions among them. Our analysis in terms of these properties shows that pure capability systems have significant advantages over access control list systems: capabilities provide much better support for least-privilege operation and for avoiding confused deputy problems.


Baseball has joined America and Japan, even in times of strife, for over 150 years. After the ""opening"" of Japan by Commodore Perry, Sayuri Guthrie-Shimizu explains, baseball was introduced there by American employees of the Japanese government tasked with bringing Western knowledge and technology to the country, and Japanese students in the United States soon became avid players. In the early twentieth century, visiting Japanese warships fielded teams that played against American teams, and a Negro League team arranged tours to Japan. By the 1930s, professional baseball was organized in Japan where it continued to be played during and after World War II; it was even played in Japanese American internment camps in the United States during the war.From early on, Guthrie-Shimizu argues, baseball carried American values to Japan, and by the mid-twentieth century, the sport had become emblematic of Japan's modernization and of America's growing influence in the Pacific world. Guthrie-Shimizu contends that baseball provides unique insight into U.S.-Japanese relations during times of war and peace and, in fact, is central to understanding postwar reconciliation. In telling this often surprising history, Transpacific Field of Dreams shines a light on globalization's unlikely, and at times accidental, participants.


Abstract It is well documented that providing advanced information regarding the spatial location of a target stimulus (i.e., spatial anticipation) or its timing of occurrence (i.e., temporal anticipation) influences reach preparation, reducing RTs. Yet, it remains unknown whether the RT gains attributable to temporal and spatial anticipation are subtended by similar preparatory dynamics. Here, this issue is addressed in humans by investigating EEG beta-band activity during reach preparation. Participants performed a reach RT task in which they initiated a movement as fast as possible toward visual targets following their appearance. Temporal anticipation was manipulated by having the target appear after a constant or variable delay period, whereas spatial anticipation was manipulated by precueing participants about the upcoming target location in advance or not. Results revealed that temporal and spatial anticipation both reduced reach RTs, with no interaction. Interestingly, temporal and spatial anticipation were associated with fundamentally different patterns of beta-band modulations. Temporal anticipation was associated with beta-band desynchronization over contralateral sensorimotor regions specifically around the expected moment of target onset, the magnitude of which was correlated with RT modulations across participants. In contrast, spatial anticipation did not influence sensorimotor activity but rather led to increased beta-band power over bilateral parieto-occipital regions during the entire delay period. These results argue for distinct states of preparation incurred by temporal and spatial anticipation. In particular, sensorimotor beta-band desynchronization may reflect the timely disinhibition of movement-related neuronal ensembles at the expected time of movement initiation, without reflecting its spatial parameters per se.


Abstract Context. Over the past two decades, an increase in the number of resident (non-migratory) Canada geese (Branta canadensis) in the United States has heightened the awareness of human–goose interactions. Aims. Accordingly, baseline demographic estimates for goose populations are needed to help better understand the ecology of Canada geese in suburban areas. Methods. As a basis for monitoring efforts, we estimated densities of adult resident Canada geese in a suburban environment by using a novel spatial mark–resight method. We resighted 763 neck- and leg-banded resident Canada geese two to three times per week in and around Greensboro, North Carolina, over an 18-month period (June 2008 – December 2009). We estimated the density, detection probabilities, proportion of male geese in the population, and the movements and home-range radii of the geese by season ((post-molt I 2008 (16 July – 31 October), post-molt II 2008/2009 (1 November – 31 January), breeding and nesting 2009 (1 February – 31 May), and post-molt I 2009). Additionally, we used estimates of the number of marked individuals to quantify apparent monthly survival. Key results. Goose densities varied by season, ranging from 11.10 individuals per km2 (s.e. = 0.23) in breeding/nesting to 16.02 individuals per km2 (s.e. = 0.34) in post-molt II. The 95% bivariate normal home-range radii ranged from 2.60 to 3.86 km for males and from 1.90 to 3.15 km for females and female home ranges were smaller than those of male geese during the breeding/nesting and post-molt II seasons. Apparent monthly survival across the study was high, ranging from 0.972 (s.e. = 0.005) to 0.995 (s.e. = 0.002). Conclusions. By using spatial mark–resight models, we determined that Canada goose density estimates varied seasonally. Nevertheless, the seasonal changes in density are reflective of the seasonal changes in behaviour and physiological requirements of geese. Implications. Although defining the state–space of spatial mark–resight models requires careful consideration, the technique represents a promising new tool to estimate and monitor the density of free-ranging wildlife. Spatial mark–resight methods provide managers with statistically robust population estimates and allow insight into animal space use without the need to employ more costly methods (e.g. telemetry). Also, when repeated across seasons or other biologically important time periods, spatial mark–resight modelling techniques allow for inference about apparent survival.


This paper studies the barriers to the diffusion of development across countries over the very long-run. We find that genetic distance, a measure associated with the amount of time elapsed since two populations%u2019 last common ancestors, bears a statistically and economically significant correlation with pairwise income differences, even when controlling for various measures of geographical isolation, and other cultural, climatic and historical difference measures. These results hold not only for contemporary income differences, but also for income differences measured since 1500 and for income differences within Europe. We uncover similar patterns of coefficients for the proximate determinants of income differences, particularly for differences in human capital and institutions. The paper discusses the economic mechanisms that are consistent with these facts. We present a framework in which differences in human characteristics transmitted across generations - including culturally transmitted characteristics - can affect income differences by creating barriers to the diffusion of innovations, even when they have no direct effect on productivity. The empirical evidence over time and space is consistent with this "barriers" interpretation.


This article examines the extent to which the imperfect nature of the EU system of judicial remedies can explain the peculiar evolution of the EU law on abuses of dominance. A comprehensive analysis of competition law judgments since the 1960s suggests that the procedural avenue through which a case reaches the General Court and the European Court of Justice has a significant impact on the outcome of individual cases and, over time, on the very substance of Treaty provisions. It is submitted that some of the distinct features of the case law on Article 102 TFEU – lack of consistency, legal uncertainty, judicial restraint – are the consequence of the fact that the scope of the notion of abuse has been defined in the context of annulment actions against Commission decisions, as opposed to preliminary references submitted by national courts in accordance with Article 267 TFEU. This conclusion is tested against the evolution of Article 101 TFEU and Article 2 of the successive Merger Regulations.


Algorithms have found their way into courtrooms, college admission committees, and human resource departments. While defendants and other disappointed parties have challenged the use of algorithms on the basis of due process or similar objections, it should be expected that they will also challenge their accuracy, and attempt to present algorithms of their own in order to contest the decisions of judges and other authorities. The problem with this approach is that people who can transparently see why they have been algorithmically denied rights or resources can manipulate an algorithm by retrofitting data. Demands for full algorithmic transparency by policymakers and legal scholars are therefore misguided. To overcome algorithmic manipulation, we present the novel solution of algorithmic competition. This approach, versions of which have been deployed in finance, works well in law. We show how the state, a university, or an employer should set aside untested data in a lock-box. Parties to a decision then develop their respective algorithms and compete. The algorithm that performs best with the lock-box data wins. While this approach presents several complications which the Article discusses in detail, it is superior to full disclosure of data and algorithmic transparency.


Women & Children First: Nineteenth-Century Sea Narratives & American Identity Robin Miskolcze. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2007. Everyone knows that when a ship is sinking, women and children get the first seats in lifeboats; then men may take what's left. And the last one to leave is the captain. But what everyone knows is a relatively recent convention, says Robin Mickolcze. In 1854 the US Arctic took four hours to sink after having collided in the fog with a French steamer. Of those who boarded lifeboats, 70% were crew and only 30% were passengers. Not a single woman or child was saved. News of the disaster was bad enough, but accounts of the selfishness of the men were even worse for a nation that prided itself on being a city on a hill, a Christian model for the rest of the world to followwhat Alexis de Tocqueville had termed American exceptionalism. Miskolcze says this event shook America to its very core: the nation had failed to live up to its own espoused ideals. Three years later the Central America - carrying men, women, children, and gold-was hit by a hurricane on its way back from California. Three-quarters of those on board perished, a quarter of a million dollars in gold was lost, but under the direction of Captain Herndon all thirty women and twenty-six children were saved. This tragedy, horrific though it was, vindicated America's belief in itself. Men had sacrificed their own interests - wealth and life itself-to protect women and children. The nation's outpouring of sympathy was immediate and overwhelming. Newspaper readers subscribed to a fund for the widow of Captain Herndon -as water engulfed the ship, he was last seen on the bridge calmly smoking a cigar-and a monument to his memory was erected on the grounds of the US Naval Academy. Miskolcze reads antebellum sea narratives-factual and fictional -as coded cultural parables: they portray women as models of Christian and American ideals. What happens to women tests and explores anxieties about national identity. Her first two chapters take a chronological look a sea deliverance stories. Early Puritan accounts manipulated anecdotal details so that survival could be seen as evidence of the providential hand of God's protecting his chosen people: those coming to his New World. At the end of the eighteenth century, accounts showed that shipwreck survival depended not only on God's intervention but also on man's ingenuity. And by the nineteenth century, America was in fascinated by the exquisite sentiment (with an undeniable element of titillation) evoked by accounts of women in danger at sea. The code that demanded saving women served as a moral lesson from pulpit and editorial page. Miskolcze's final three chapters explore special cases. …


This thesis presents the idea of volunteer computing , which allows high-performance parallel computing networks to be formed easily, quickly, and inexpensively by enabling ordinary Internet users to share their computers' idle processing power without needing expert help. In recent years, projects such as [email protected] have demonstrated the great potential power of volunteer computing. In this thesis, we identify volunteer, computing's further potentials, and show how these can be achieved.
We present the Bayanihan system for web-based volunteer computing. Using Java applets, Bayanihan enables users to volunteer their computers by simply visiting a web page. This makes it possible to set up parallel computing networks in a matter of minutes compared to the hours, days, or weeks required by traditional NOW and metacomputing systems. At the same time, Bayanihan provides a flexible object-oriented software framework that makes it easy for programmers to write various applications, and for researchers to address issues such as adaptive parallelism, fault-tolerance, and scalability.
Using Bayanihan, we develop a general-purpose runtime system and APIs, and show how volunteer computing's usefulness extends beyond solving esoteric mathematical problems to other, more practical, master-worker applications such as image rendering, distributed web-crawling, genetic algorithms, parametric analysis, and Monte Carlo simulations. By presenting a new API using the bulk synchronous parallel (BSP) model, we further show that contrary to popular belief and practice, volunteer computing need not be limited to master-worker applications, but can be used for coarse-grain message-passing programs as well.
Finally, we address the new problem of maintaining reliability in the presence of malicious volunteers. We present and analyze traditional techniques such as voting, and new ones such as spot-checking, encrypted computation, and periodic obfuscation. Then, we show, how these can be integrated in a new idea called credibility-based fault-tolerance, which uses probability estimates to limit and direct the use of redundancy. We validate this new idea with parallel Monte Carlo simulations, and show how it can achieve error rates several orders-of-magnitude smaller than traditional voting for the same slowdown. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)


The average activity of xenon-133 within and at approximately 100 kilometers from Albany, New York, from April to July 1975 was 2.6 picocuries per cubic meter of air. The source was gaseous effluents from boiling water reactors located in the northeastern United States. Its 5.29-day half-life makes xenon-133 an appropriate isotope to observe for the study of regional and hemispheric dispersion of pollutants.


—Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most com- mon causes of cancer and cancer-related mortality worldwide. Performing colon cancer screening in a timely fashion is the key to early detection. Colonoscopy is the primary modality used to diagnose colon cancer. However, the miss rate of polyps, adeno- mas and advanced adenomas remains significantly high. Early detection of polyps at the precancerous stage can help reduce the mortality rate and the economic burden associated with colorectal cancer. Deep learning-based computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) system may help gastroenterologists to identify polyps that may otherwise be missed, thereby improving the polyp detection rate. Additionally, CADx system could prove to be a cost-effective system that improves long-term colorectal cancer prevention. In this study, we proposed a deep learning-based architecture for automatic polyp segmentation, called Transformer ResU- Net (TransResU-Net). Our proposed architecture is built upon residual blocks with ResNet-50 as the backbone and takes the advantage of transformer self-attention mechanism as well as dilated convolution(s). Our experimental results on two publicly available polyp segmentation benchmark datasets showed that TransResU-Net obtained a highly promising dice score and a real-time speed. With high efficacy in our performance metrics, we concluded that TransResU-Net could be a strong benchmark for building a real-time polyp detection system for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of colorectal cancer. The source code of the proposed TransResU-Net is publicly available at https://github.com/nikhilroxtomar/TransResUNet.


The educational world is increasingly dominated by 'network rhetoric'; not only are teachers and learners seen as participants in networks, the availability of low-cost electronic devices, collaborative environments and new forms of data 'born digital' have changed the nature of education research. How can researchers and research-informed practitioners best engage in and with networks and develop effective networking practices? How might networks and networking be conceptualized in order to frame and support their work in and on networks? How do networks relate to existing organizational forms and how might new networking practices emerge? This book draws on extensive research into educational research networks in schools, colleges and informal education settings to explore these questions. Carmichael combines theoretical insights into networks from different disciplinary backgrounds and awareness of technological developments, with the accounts of teachers, researchers, and technologists. He considers how educational research as a field is changing, how individual and collective research capacities might develop, identifies new research approaches and discusses the emerging role of the 'researcher-networker'.


Background. The optimal treatment of gallstones with associated common bile duct stones in the laparoscopic era is controversial. Various reviews and decision based algorithms have been published, but the superior treatment modality is unclear. Therefore, a metaanalysis was conducted to compare the two most commonly used treatment strategies. Methods. A systematic review was conducted to compare single stage laparoscopic cholecystectomy with common bile duct exploration versus a combined endoscopic and laparoscopic treatment. Eligible studies were identified using a search of Medline, Embase, Cochrane and Science Citation Index Expanded databases. Appropriately selected articles were independently reviewed and data was extracted and cross referenced. A meta-analysis was conducted of the pooled trial data to determine difference in outcomes. Results. A total of seven randomized trials were identified with 746 patients with 366 in the laparoscopic only treatment group and 380 in the combined endoscopic and laparoscopic treatment arms. There was no significant difference in successful bile duct clearance between the two groups (OR 1.23; 95% CI 0.55 to 2.75, P = 0.61). There was no statistical difference in morbidity (RR 1.23; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.66; P = 0.17), mortality (RD -0.00; 95% CI -0.02 to 0.01, P = 0.59) or length of hospital stay (MD -0.31; 95% CI -1.68 to 1.06, P = 0.66). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the duration of procedure in favour of the single stage laparoscopic treatment (MD -6.83; 95% CI -9.59 to -4.07, P < 0.00001). Conclusion. Both the laparoscopic alone or the combined endoscopic and laparoscopic treatment approaches show comparative efficacy in management of symptomatic gallstones with associated choledocholithiasis.


Many real incidents demonstrate that users of Online Social Networks need mechanisms that help them manage their interactions by increasing the awareness of the different contexts that coexist in Online Social Networks and preventing them from exchanging inappropriate information in those contexts or disseminating sensitive information from some contexts to others. Contextual integrity is a privacy theory that conceptualises the appropriateness of information sharing based on the contexts in which this information is to be shared. Computational models of Contextual Integrity assume the existence of well-defined contexts, in which individuals enact pre-defined roles and information sharing is governed by an explicit set of norms. However, contexts in Online Social Networks are known to be implicit, unknown a priori and ever changing; users relationships are constantly evolving; and the information sharing norms are implicit. This makes current Contextual Integrity models not suitable for Online Social Networks. In this paper, we propose the first computational model of Implicit Contextual Integrity, presenting an information model for Implicit Contextual Integrity as well as a so-called Information Assistant Agent that uses the information model to learn implicit contexts, relationships and the information sharing norms in order to help users avoid inappropriate information exchanges and undesired information disseminations. Through an experimental evaluation, we validate the properties of the model proposed. In particular, Information Assistant Agents are shown to: (i) infer the information sharing norms even if a small proportion of the users follow the norms and in presence of malicious users; (ii) help reduce the exchange of inappropriate information and the dissemination of sensitive information with only a partial view of the system and the information received and sent by their users; and (iii) minimise the burden to the users in terms of raising unnecessary alerts.


After deconstructing the thermodynamic concepts of work and waste, I take up Howard Odum's idea of energy quality, which tallies the overall amount of energy needed to be dissipated in order to accomplish some work of interest. This was developed from economic considerations that give obvious meaning to the work accomplished. But the energy quality idea can be used to import meaning more generally into Nature. It could be viewed as projecting meaning back from any marked work into preceding energy gradient dissipations that immediately paved the way for it. But any work done by an abiotic dissipative structure, since it would be without positive economic significance, would also be difficult to mark as a starting point for the energy quality calculation. Furthermore, any (for humans) destructive work as by hurricanes or floods, with negative economic significance, would not seem to merit the quality calculation either. But there has been abiotic work of keen interest to us—that which mediated the origin of life. Some kind(s) of abiotic dissipative structures had to have been the framework(s) that fostered this process, regardless of how it might come to be understood in detail. Since all dissipative structures have the same thermodynamic and informational organization in common, any of them might provide the material context for the origin of something. So we can pick any starting point we wish, and calculate backward what sequence of energy usages would have been necessary to set it up. Given such an open ended project, we could not find an obvious place in any sequence to stop and start the forward the calculation, and so we would need to take it right back to an ultimate beginning, like the insolation of some area, or the outpouring of Earth's thermal energy. Any energy dissipation might be the beginning of something of importance, and so Nature is as replete with potential meanings as it is with energy gradients.


People seeking protection who attain a status with lower guarantees whether, for example, for humanitarian reasons or due to the principle against non-refoulement, are accorded rights determined by a Member State's domestic law. Such statuses, which are not provided for by EU law, may be said to be non-EU harmonised statuses. The current study outlines and compares the EU harmonised and non-harmonised protection statuses currently in operation in Ireland.


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Kinase oxidation is a critical signaling mechanism through which changes in the intracellular redox state alter cardiac function. In the myocardium, PKARIα (type-1 protein kinase A) can be reversibly oxidized, forming interprotein disulfide bonds in the holoenzyme complex. However, the effect of PKARIα disulfide formation on downstream signaling in the heart, particularly under states of oxidative stress such as ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), remains unexplored. Methods: Atrial tissue obtained from patients before and after cardiopulmonary bypass and reperfusion and left ventricular (LV) tissue from mice subjected to I/R or sham surgery were used to assess PKARIα disulfide formation by immunoblot. To determine the effect of disulfide formation on PKARIα catalytic activity and subcellular localization, live-cell fluorescence imaging and stimulated emission depletion super-resolution microscopy were performed in prkar1 knock-out mouse embryonic fibroblasts, neonatal myocytes, or adult LV myocytes isolated from "redox dead" (Cys17Ser) PKARIα knock-in mice and their wild-type littermates. Comparison of intracellular calcium dynamics between genotypes was assessed in fura2-loaded LV myocytes, whereas I/R-injury was assessed ex vivo. Results: In both humans and mice, myocardial PKARIα disulfide formation was found to be significantly increased (2-fold in humans, P=0.023; 2.4-fold in mice, P<0.001) in response to I/R in vivo. In mouse LV cardiomyocytes, disulfide-containing PKARIα was not found to impact catalytic activity, but instead led to enhanced AKAP (A-kinase anchoring protein) binding with preferential localization of the holoenzyme to the lysosome. Redox-dependent regulation of lysosomal two-pore channels by PKARIα was sufficient to prevent global calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in LV myocytes, without affecting intrinsic ryanodine receptor leak or phosphorylation. Absence of I/R-induced PKARIα disulfide formation in "redox dead" knock-in mouse hearts resulted in larger infarcts (2-fold, P<0.001) and a concomitant reduction in LV contractile recovery (1.6-fold, P<0.001), which was prevented by administering the lysosomal two-pore channel inhibitor Ned-19 at the time of reperfusion. Conclusions: Disulfide modification targets PKARIα to the lysosome, where it acts as a gatekeeper for two-pore channel–mediated triggering of global calcium release. In the postischemic heart, this regulatory mechanism is critical for protection from extensive injury and offers a novel target for the design of cardioprotective therapeutics.


Entrepreneurial marketing is both a theoretical and practical construct at the interface between entrepreneurship and marketing, with a relatively long existence, but insufficiently developed in theoretical terms. Most evidence of effective EM practice is Western in nature. Little attempt has been made to explore entrepreneurial marketing in transition economies, such as China. This research builds on the limited work to date on the practical aspect of the role of EM in a transition economy, China. The findings of this research are generated from qualitative research through in-depth interviews and participant observation. To investigate the role of EM among Chinese SMEs, Morris et al. (2002)'s seven dimensions framework is applied. The findings show that all dimensions of EM have been internalised and applied effectively in marketing activities among Chinese SMEs with promising results. The results also confirm a positive link between the core EM elements (including networking, word of mouth marketing, creativity) and Chinese SMEs' performance. EM provides Chinese SMEs with new opportunities in overcoming obstacles posed by certain limitations, such as constrains in business financing, underdeveloped free market, industry barriers, and so on. While traditional marketing is causal logic-based, EM decision-making tends to be effectual. Through using Sarasvathy (2009)'s principles of effectuation, this research assessed the part played by Chinese entrepreneurs in shaping a business venture. The findings show that all participant Chinese entrepreneurs had applied effectuation logic in their decision-making, especially when they first started their businesses. Chinese entrepreneurs display sufficient signs of effectuation reasoning and play an essential role in shaping a new business venture. The finding also confirms that all dimensions of EM and principles of effectuation are not independent; instead, they can all be regarded as complementary elements. Chinese SMEs share EM and effectuation elements such as relying on networking, relationship building, adopting a bottom-up approach, use resources at hand, use creative ways to leverage limited resources, achieve control of the future, and so on. Being more entrepreneurial in marketing, employing both entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation as well as applying effectual decision making help Chinese SMEs to operate effectively in the turbulent business environment.


In the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, people across the United States protested that "too big to jail" banks were not held accountable after the financial crisis. Little has changed. Newly collected data concerning enforcement during the Trump Administration has made it possible to assess what impact a series of new policies has had on corporate enforcement. To provide a snapshot comparison, in its last twenty months, the Obama Administration levied $14.15 billion in total corporate penalties by prosecuting seventy-one financial institutions and thirty-four public companies. During the first twenty months of the Trump Administration, corporate penalties declined to $3.4 billion in total penal- ties, with seventeen financial institutions and thirteen public companies prosecuted. These trends build over time. In each year, blockbuster cases come and go, creating swings in fines. However, consistent with these data, this Article describes changes in written policy, practice, and informal statements from the Department of Justice that have cumulatively softened the federal approach to corporate criminals. This Article also describes continuity between administrations. A rise in corporate declinations, for example, represents a continuation of Obama Administration policy. A decline in use of corporate monitors similarly reflects prior policy. The steady and low level of individual charging in corporate cases reflects an ongoing lack of success in efforts to prioritize individual prosecutions, exemplified by the 2015 "Yates Memo." That policy, like others, has been formally relaxed. The series of DOJ corporate prosecution policy changes has also been accompanied by institutional shifts. For example, high-level vacancies within the DOJ and other enforcement agencies may compromise ability to coordinate resolution of complex cases. This Article concludes by proposing structural changes, such as independent corporate enforcement functions, to enhance capacity and prevent pendulum shifts in enforcement. How we handle corporate crime goes to the root of power imbalances in the economy that produced the financial crisis. If we still have not learned the lessons of the last financial crisis, the next one cannot be far ahead.


Avatars are technological artifacts that provide communicators a body in virtual spaces. It is through this affordance of embodiment that people, places and things are made concrete, tangible, and present. Presence consists of two interrelated phenomena: (i) telepresence : the sense of being there, and (ii) social presence : the sense of being together with others. In the context of virtual worlds, telepresence or the degree of immersion and engagement in the computer-mediated space is achieved through communicators' interaction with their avatar , and social presence through their interaction with others as an avatar. Building on this typology, we develop a multidimensional conceptual framework of the avatar-self relationship , that is, the interaction between a communicator and his/her virtual (re)presentation. Relying on data collected via photo-diary interviews from residents of Second Life, a virtual world, we then identify and empirically describe various enactments of the avatar-self relationship. Our results highlight that Second Life residents enacted multiple avatar-self relationships and cycled through them in quick succession, suggesting that these avatar-self relationships might be shaped and activated strategically in order to achieve the desired educational, commercial or therapeutic outcomes.


In this essay, lipase from Burkholderia cepacia was immobilized into 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) derived sol-gels. GPTMS:TMOS molar ratio of 1:3 was found to yield the best result. The morphological characteristics were investigated based on SEM and BET analysis. Sample mean pore diameter was 39.1 nm, it had a specific surface area of 60 m2/g prior to enzyme addition which decreased to 7.49 m2/g after immobilization. The enzyme activity was assessed through transesterification of waste cooking oil in the presence of ethanol with optimal conditions of: 40 ᵒC, 15 % immobilized lipase, 9:1 alcohol to oil molar ratio in 24 h of reaction which resulted to 91.70 % biodiesel production. In six-hour reaction time, 86.87 % biodiesel was obtained which is much shorter than conventional enzymatic transesterification which is 72 hours. Ethyl esters were characterized by determining their viscosity, density, and flash point based on ASTM D 6751-07b standards.


Syn-Rustenburg Layered Suite deformation in the Spruitfontein inlier of the western Bushveld Complex metamorphic aureole provides an insight into the emplacement mechanisms of the sill-like Rustenburg Layered Suite. East—northeast-trending ductile structures were formed during north—northwest- to south—southeast-oriented compression caused by the lateral propagation of east—northeast- or east-trending Marginal Zone finger-like sills. These fingers appear to have been largely co-planar in the west of the inlier, such that folding occurred in the region of compression between adjacent sills. With progression to the east, however, the fingers apparently diverged more and the wedging effect of the magma at the lower level of the finger system initiated rigid body rotation of Pretoria Group rocks, and the formation of a bridge structure between the dilating fingers. The orientation of syn-Rustenburg Layered Suite deformational features, coupled with Rustenburg Layered Suite facies variations across the inlier, suggest that magma flow was directed towards the east or east—northeast. Field relations do not elucidate whether or not the Spruitfontein inlier is still attached to the floor; however agenetic model whereby the inlier was initially deformed by intrusion-related processes and then became slightly detached from the floor may provide the most satisfactory explanation of Rustenburg Layered Suite compartmentalization across the inlier.


In this paper we develop a model for tax amnesty applications in a multi-period setting. One key insight from the model is that applying for amnesty becomes more attractive at the moment when stricter enforcement is announced, even if the implementation of the policy is in the distant future. We use our model to make sense of how international tax information exchange agreements affects voluntary disclosure of wealth and income previously hidden in tax havens. Our data is from Norway. In accordance with the dynamic amnesty model we observe a strong announcement effect of a tax information exchange agreement between Norway and Switzerland and Luxembourg, the two most important tax havens for Norwegian tax evaders. However, the effect levels off very quickly, much faster than our model predicts. We think this is because the initial announcement of the tax agreement exaggerated the risk the agreement imposed to those who had hidden taxable income and wealth in Switzerland. We also estimate and find significant effects of the press releases the Norwegian Tax Authority issues to inform taxpayers about new international tax agreements and the amnesty, or voluntary disclosure, option that exists in the Norwegian tax code.


We report coherent optical control of a biexciton (two electron-hole pairs), confined in a single quantum dot, that shows coherent oscillations similar to the excited-state Rabi flopping in an isolated atom. The pulse control of the biexciton dynamics, combined with previouslydemonstrated control of the single-exciton Rabi rotation, serves as the physical basis for a two-bit conditional quantum logic gate. The truth table of the gate shows the features of an all-optical quantum gate with interacting yet distinguishable excitons as qubits. Evaluation of the fidelity yields a value of 0.7 for the gate operation. Such experimental capabilityis essential to a scheme for scalable quantum computation bymeans of the optical control of spin qubits in dots.


The demand for measuring the diameter of the spherical object, which is used for the CMM stylus, for example, is now rising and its measurement error is desired to be less than several 10 nm for the spherical object whose size is around 100 μm. To achieve this, the measurement method based on WGM resonance is remarkable. But as long as we rely on this method, the model of the object must be a perfect sphere, and this assumption should not always be valid. Practically, a measured sphere has the rotational symmetry so that it suffices to evaluate the spheroidal distortion to know the macro-distortion. According to this motivation, we proposed the new measurement method to appreciate the degree of distortion for the object based on WGM resonance. Degeneracy for azimuthal direction disappears if the object distorted spheroidal-like. Hence, we can measure the interval between the resonant wavelengths for different azimuthal mode number and evaluate the degree of spheroidal distortion.


On September 2, 2008, a group of leading sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) agreed on generally accepted principles and practices. The process that created the so-called Santiago Principles is important in its own right, as a milestone on the way to what might become international financial architecture. Since SWFs rose to prominence two years ago, they have been trapped in sterile domestic arguments between national security and open investment. These have obscured SWFs' significance and the governance challenge they present. The challenge reflects the power shifts and culture clashes of financial integration, which, thanks to capital flow reversals, no longer looks like an exercise to remake the world in the Anglo-American image. Integration goes beyond opening borders to trade and investment. It entails assimilating public capital in private markets on a vast scale, dealing with new forms of financial organization, and marrying financial systems premised on very different ideas about the role of the state in the economy. The task of governing global finance entails making coherent, legitimate, and accountable a patchwork of public laws, private codes, bureaucratic networks and institutional remnants left in last century's wake. Because SWFs embody so many recent shifts in finance, the new principles go to the heart of the governance task. Their ultimate success or failure will be equally telling. In the meantime, states that had played a limited role in shaping the norms of international finance have taken the lead writing the rules. Competitors came together in a policy coordination forum, and in a substantive, non-hierarchical relationship with established international institutions. Funds from wildly different political systems have had to negotiate domestic and external demands, and reconcile conflicting visions of mixing public and private.


Encounters between police officers and members of the community are deeply influenced by race. Yet when courts assess whether police officers have complied with the Fourth Amendment, they explicitly exclude consideration of the ways in which the police-civilian interaction was influenced by racial bias, assumptions, and fear. In determining whether law enforcement officers seized a civilian, for example, courts look to the objective circumstances of the event, such as the number of officers involved, whether police weapons were drawn, and the tone of voice the officers used. They then assess whether, under such circumstances, a reasonable person would feel free to refuse law enforcement requests or otherwise terminate the encounter. Courts disregard the racial dynamics of the interaction as falling outside of the objective parameters of the seizure inquiry.
This Article suggests a novel pathway to a racially conscious reasonable person standard that does not require courts to abandon their allegiance to objectivity. This approach focuses attention on the assumption, already inherent to that inquiry, that a reasonable person is one with a knowledge of the controlling law. A reasonable person is thus one with an understanding both of Fourth Amendment jurisprudence and the legal doctrine intended to deter or punish police misconduct, such as criminal and civil liability and the exclusion of illegally obtained evidence from criminal trials. A reasonable person with such knowledge would understand that police officers are not meaningfully constrained in the moment and are not consistently held accountable by the law. This approach would thus serve to shift the Fourth Amendment seizure analysis closer to racial realities by requiring courts to engage with the lack of police accountability as an issue of consequence to all reasonable people.


There is no such thing as a low-stakes misdemeanor. The misdemeanor sentence itself, which can range from time served to up to twelve years in some jurisdictions, is often significant. But the collateral consequences of such a conviction can be far worse, affecting a person's work and home lives for decades, and sometimes for the rest of their lives. As a result of misdemeanor convictions, defendants can be fired from their jobs, barred from future employment in many fields, deported, evicted from public housing together with their entire family, and refused housing by private landlords.
Under most theories of punishment, a judge at sentencing does not simply look back to the crime and its circumstances but also looks forward at the defendant's future. Judges imposing sentences in misdemeanor cases should focus forward much more heavily than back, and should consider the collateral effects of a misdemeanor conviction on the defendant's future. Viewed through that more expansive lens, and given the broad discretion of judges in misdemeanor sentencing and lack of existing guidance for that discretion, the sentencing function of judges in misdemeanor cases is in serious need of study and reform.
This Article's goal is two-fold. First, it contextualizes judicial responsibility for misdemeanor sentencing in the realities of the lower criminal courts, where a number of structural and systemic barriers — including violations of the right to counsel and pressures on judges to move cases along rapidly — affect but do not excuse the way judges go about sentencing. Second, the Article calls for judges to undertake "informed misdemeanor sentencing," which draws on principles of proportionality and parsimony in determining the just sentence in a misdemeanor case. Accordingly, judges should explicitly acknowledge the many serious collateral consequences an individual suffers after any penal sanction, and incorporate those into the sentencing process to ensure that punishment is proportionate. In addition, judges should bring parsimony into the sentencing process by making more use of deferred adjudication as well as expungement and related mechanisms for mitigating the unintended effects of a misdemeanor conviction.


Recently, the increasing level of atmospheric CO2 has been well noted due to its association with global warming, provoking growth in environmental concerns toward the continued use of fossil fuels. To mitigate the concentration of atmospheric CO2, various strategies have been implemented. Carbon capture and utilisation along with renewable hydrogen production to generate raw materials for methanol production are one of the options to turn waste CO2 into useful fuels and chemicals. In the 1960s, the highly active and cost-effective Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst was developed for the synthesis of methanol from carbon oxides and hydrogen derived from natural gas. Since then, metal nanoparticles and nanocomposites have been extensively investigated and applied to CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. Particularly, bimetallic catalysts have emerged as an important class of catalysts due to their unique properties and enhanced catalytic performances compared to their monometallic counterparts. In this mini review, after giving the introduction of the main motivation for the development of green methanol production via CO2 hydrogenation, we first summarise the recent promising research activities in the fields of generating renewable CO2/H2 sources from carbon capture technologies, green hydrogen production, and biomass-derived CO2/H2 mixtures. Then we provide an overview of the developments in the preparation of some new bimetallic catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol with emphasis on the synergistic effects and the enhancement of catalytic performances compared to their monometallic counterparts. Finally, the main conclusions are summarised and an outlook is presented for future development in this research area.


During the past two or three decades structural change in the Australian financial system has been rapid. The system has grown substantially in assets and volumes of activity, has become much more open and competitive, and has undergone some significant shifts in market shares. There has also been much innovation in financial products and delivery systems. In analysing these historical trends a useful distinction can be made between two major parts of the financial system: the financial intermediaries (or credit institutions), of which banks form the largest part; and the funds managers, typified by superannuation funds and unit trusts. Although the overlaps between these two institutional groupings are increasing, their historical trends have been driven by rather different forces. Within the intermediaries sector two broad processes of change have been evident. The first involved the interaction between regulatory policy and financial innovation. Prior to the main thrust of financial deregulation in the late 1970s and early 1980s, banks lost market share to less heavily regulated institutions, a trend that eventually gave impetus to the move to deregulate. In the post-deregulation period, these trends in market share were reversed and, in the process, the system was opened to greater competition. The second main historical process has been a shift in the economics of production of banks' traditional financial services – what is often referred to as a process of 'unbundling'. This entails a move toward production and pricing of key products on a stand-alone basis, stimulated by the development of specialist suppliers such as mortgage managers or cash management trusts. Competition from these sources has put pressure on the traditional full-service suppliers (the banks) to cut margins and to reduce cross-subsidies. In the funds-management sector, and particularly the superannuation funds, the driving forces have been somewhat different. Policy changes in the areas of taxation and compulsory contributions have had an important impact on the structure of the industry. However, the most important factor behind the rapid growth of the industry since the early 1980s has been the high average rate of return accumulated on fund investments over that period. The available data do not yet show the increases in net new contributions to the funds expected to result from increases in compulsory contributions. Notwithstanding the historical differences between the two sectors, there have been increasing areas of overlap between them. For example, banks have become more active in funds-management business through subsidiaries, and funds-management institutions have become more active in areas of traditional bank business such as mortgage lending. These developments pose a challenge for regulators as to where are the appropriate regulatory boundaries between the different groups of institutions.


This study was designed to investigate the effects of a supplement of inulin and b-glucan into broiler rations on growth performance, serum cholesterol, intestinal length, and immune system. A total of 320 male 1-day-old Ross PM3 broiler chicks were divided into 1 control and 3 treatment groups, each comprising 80 birds. Each group was divided into 4 replicate groups of 20 birds each. The treatment groups were supplemented with 0.7% inulin, 0.014% b-glucan, and 0.7% inulin + 0.014% b-glucan, respectively. The experiment lasted for 6 weeks. Immunomodulatory roles were also investigated by measuring the effects on specific antibody titer, and, for this purpose, vaccination against the Newcastle disease (ND) virus was administered on days 10 and 26. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were also investigated. At the end of the experiment, inulin supplementation to the diets significantly increased the intestine and cecum length. The supplementation of 0.7% inulin + 0.014% b-glucan to the diets not only had negative effects on performance parameters but also resulted in increased serum total cholesterol (P =< 0.001) and triglyceride (P =< 0.01) levels. The amount of abdominal fat of the carcasses also increased during this treatment in the animals in the inulin + b-glucan group by the end of the trial.