Gold mineralization at the Ballarat East deposit, central Victoria, Australia, is hosted in lodes that are historically known as "leather jackets." These are quartz-dominant vein arrays related to low-displacement, W-dipping faults (≤45°) that transect the core and/or eastern limb of tight, asymmetric N-S-trending anticlines. The leather jacket lodes typically have dip extents from 5 to 65 m, widths of ≤20 m, and strike lengths up to hundreds of meters, but their along-strike continuity is disrupted by oblique, low-displacement listric faults known as "cross courses." The gold lodes are characterized by distinct phases of sulfide paragenesis with minor gold + arsenopyrite + pyrite defining the early sulfide stage. Late-stage coarse gold was precipitated with galena + sphalerite ± pyrrhotite ± chalcopyrite (late pyrite also occurs). The gold mineralization events are linked to low-strain mineralized fracture networks, which are closely related to the final deformation stages and the amplification of the major folds enclosing the lodes. This amplification produced domal fold culminations, with plunges ≤30°, and localized minor parasitic folds with shallower plunges (≤10°). A network of dilation sites, on the W-dipping faults, preferentially developed in the cores of anticlines, particularly in zones where there are changes in strike of bedding or fault bifurcation and refraction through contrasting sandstone and interbedded packages of sandstone and shale.

Numerical three-dimensional simulations were undertaken to test our geologic observations and replicate conditions controlling the emplacement of the leather jacket lodes. Two different scenarios were investigated: first, to determine how changes in the local stress field orientation influences dilation and fluid infiltration; secondly, to test variations in fault geometry during the last stages of deformation—that is, within the final 2% of shortening, when most of the mineralized sites were created. Results show that strain and fluid flow localized along refracted sections of faults and around changes in dip, specifically on the shallower dipping sections within subvertical sandstone units. This is consistent with the observation that high-grade gold-bearing quartz is associated with localized changes in fault dip in thicker sandstone and sandstone-shale packages. There was also a component of strike-slip motion and near-field NW-to-SE or N-to-S stress fields, which can be attributed to the development of a component of out-of-plane motion during the development of fold culminations. The preferred model for the distribution of the high-grade auriferous vein arrays defining the leather jacket lodes is one of fold amplification and extension parallel to the fold axes, which produced an increasing out-of-plane relaxation. The main fluid conduits responsible for the leather jacket style of mineralization involve infiltration along steep bedding-parallel faults and veins that link up with the arrays of low-displacement W-dipping faults.


Abstract The reflood rate in a core is an important parameter for core cooling during a large-break loss-of-coolant-accident (LBLOCA) reflood period, and it strongly depends on the thermal-hydraulic conditions in the downcomer. During this period, downcomer boiling has an important influence on the transient behavior of a postulated LBLOCA because it can degrade the hydraulic head in a downcomer and consequently affect the reflood flow rate for core cooling. Although it is recognized that downcomer boiling is critical to correctly predict the reflood phenomena of an LBLOCA transient, especially for a direct vessel injection adapted system like the advanced power reactor APR1400, the amount of experimental data and code assessment in this area is relatively limited. To improve the state of knowledge relative to downcomer boiling, a test program at the Downcomer Boiling (DOBO) facility is progressing for the reflood phase of a postulated LBLOCA. The DOBO facility was designed to meet a full scale for the height and gap of a reactor downcomer. The DOBO test revealed a strong multidimensional boiling behavior, which induces the need for performance evaluation of the best-estimate codes that are used to analyze a nuclear reactor's thermal-hydraulic safety, since they have mostly been used for one-dimensional system behavior. In this study, RELAP, MARS, and TRACE are evaluated by using measured two-phase-flow data. Based on the assessments, the modeling capability and weak points of the safety analysis codes are addressed for multidimensional downcomer boiling phenomena. Two models for a downcomer are considered to assess the codes for the DOBO tests, which are also applied to a plant analysis.


The quantification of greenhouse gas emissions from aquatic ecosystems requires knowledge about the spatial and temporal dynamics of free gas in sediments. Freezing the sediment in situ offers a promising method for obtaining gas‐bearing sediment samples, unaffected by changes in hydrostatic pressure and sample temperature during core withdrawal and subsequent analysis. This article presents a novel freeze coring technique to preserve the in situ stratigraphy and gas bubble characteristics. Nondestructive X‐ray computed tomography (CT) scans were used to identify and characterize coring disturbances of gravity and freeze cores associated with gassy sediment, as well as the effect of the freezing process on the gas bubble characteristics. Real‐time X‐ray CT scans were conducted to visualize the progression of the freezing process. Additional experiments were conducted to determine the freezing rate to assess the probability of sediment particle/bubble migration, and gas bubble nucleation at the phase transition of pore water to ice. The performance of the freeze coring technique was evaluated under field conditions in Olsberg and Urft Reservoir (Germany). The results demonstrate the capability of the freeze coring technique for the preservation of gas‐bearing sediments and the analysis of gas bubble distribution pattern in both reservoirs. Nevertheless, the obtained cores showed that nearly all gravity and freeze cores show some degree of coring disturbances.


DC to DC power converter topologies that are suitable for high-density, high-power supplies are presented. Topological variations on the basic inverse dual converter (IDC) circuit, such as the coupled transformer and the multiphase and multipulse derivation of the single-phase IDC, are analyzed, and simulation results are discussed. The topologies have most of the IDC features, such as buck-boost operation, bidirectional power processing, capacitive commutation for switches, and unlimited high-power capability. The multiphase, the coupled transformer, and the power distribution IDC topologies offer additional properties, such as significant power-density improvement isolation. AC tapping, and input-current reduction. A quantitative comparison between the single- and the multiphase IDC is presented.<<ETX>>


Objective: In this study four tea samples Gumero black, Wushwush black and Wushwush green from Agri- Ceft Plc and East Africa black tea leaves from East African Agribusiness Plc were investigated for total polyphenols, caffeine, catechin and L-theanine content. Materials and Methods: The aqueous extracts were investigated for their antioxidant and antileishmanial property and effect on amphotericin B, miltefocine and sodium stibogluconate, the commonly used antileishmanial drugs. Antileishmanial studies were conducted on L. aethiopica. Results: Wushwush green tea had the highest content of polyphenol (19.98 ± 1.15 mg gallic acid equivalent /100 g dry leaf weight), catechin (37.06 mg/g) and L-theanine (48.54 mg/g but the lowest caffeine content). It exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. The highest antioxidant effect of Wushwush green tea may be attributed to the highest polyphenol content. East African black tea had the lowest L-theanine (20.72 mg/g) and antioxidant activity but the highest caffeine (16.60 mg/g) content. Conclusion: Wushwush green tea showed slight inhibitory effect on L. aethiopica while the lack tea extracts (Gumero, East Africa and Wushwush) exhibited no antileishmanial activity. Wushwush green tea did not show any synergistic or antagonistic effect on the antileishmanial drugs used in this study while Gumero, East Africa and Wushwush black tea extracts exhibited dose dependant inhibitory activity to the commonly used antileishmanial drugs included in this study.


1. Introduction After the restoration of independence Estonia chose, compared to the other Central and Eastern European countries the most liberal way of development (Knell and Srholec 2007, Holmes et al. 2008). The latter was chosen for rebuilding the state as a whole, as well as designing the new media landscape. If to benchmark Estonian outcome with other Baltic states, new democracies in Central and Eastern European countries and 'old' Western European states, the question arises--are Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with low daily viewing numbers of PSB on media landscapes far ahead of the rest of Europe, or are these countries so badly falling behind that (Western) European standards can never be achieved? This research shows that a country's economic development (valued as Gross Domestic Product) is one characteristic which has a strong correlation with PSB performance in the past and most probably also in the future. When analyzing the development of the public service broadcasting, according to the concepts of Blumler and Gurevitch (1995), the main characteristic of Baltic broadcasting landscape can be presented: media policy bias towards economic welfare of commercial broadcasters, whereas the public service interests are secondary. The implementation of the European Union media regulation and the economic situation of television stations, conditioned by the size of the Estonian television market, led to the enforcement of the legislation which was economically advantageous and protectionist towards commercial TV-stations owned by international corporations. As a result, profit for private television companies was guaranteed but, at the same time, the value of the offered contents diminished. From the end of the 1980s, Eastern and Central European countries had the noble aim of changing from the communist regime towards free democratic welfare states. Among important aspects of development were changes in media systems. In transition states, commercial broadcasters were founded, state-owned print media was mainly privatized, state radio and television companies were turned into public service broadcasters. It has been challenging to reform vast communist party propaganda machines into efficient public service media. The European Union legislation had major impact on this process (Harcourt 2003, 2005, Jakubowicz 2003, 2004a, 2007a, 2008a, Joesaar 2005). 'Europeanization', as defined by Jakubowicz (2009), took place. Even when the Pan-European media policy aims--preserving cultural diversity and safeguarding media pluralism--were common, the ways chosen by countries and the achieved results vary a lot (Jakubowicz 2007a, 2007b, 2009, Ognyanova 2009, Richter 2009, Svendsen 2002, Wyka 2009). EU media policy is grounded on common market ideology. The former Television Without Frontiers Directive (TVWF), now the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), does not take into account country-specific circumstances such as size of the national (and media) market, economic conditions, cultural and historical specific context. However, these are important factors which have a strong influence on media development and performance. Implementation of the same EU legal framework in different circumstances gives in different member states different results. The size of the market determines available resources. In smaller member states there are fewer resources available for national channels compared to niche channels of large states (Doyle 2002). In the first place, commercial broadcasters focus on broadcasting main stream programming. If a market is big enough for profitable business, and resources are available, the launch of niche channels will follow. Due to the market limitations, it is unprofitable to launch niche channels on smaller markets. The diversity of programming offered will be lower in smaller states than on large markets. Therefore PSB on a smaller market is even more responsible for delivering diversity programming and for high-quality information. …


Textual criticism-the traditional term for the task of evaluating the authority of the words and punctuation of a text-is often considered an undertaking preliminary to literary criticism: many people believe that the job of textual critics is to provide reliable texts for literary critics to analyze. G. Thomas Tanselle argues, on the contrary, that the two activities cannot be separated. The textual critic, in choosing among textual variants and correcting what appear to be textual errors, inevitably exercises critical judgment and reflects a particular point of view toward the nature of literature. And the literary critic, in interpreting the meaning of a work or passage, needs to be (though rarely is) critical of the makeup of every text of it, including those produced by scholarly editors.


Industrial Ecology (IE) offers a systems approach to the analysis of materials and energy flows, based upon an analogy of ecological and industrial systems. The goal is to transfer the principles of natural ecological systems into an industrial context. What seemed straightforward in the beginning implies, however, an ambivalence that culminates in the question whether IE is a natural science and technology-determined concept, or if it implies a normative potential and thus has to be coupled with social sciences and political decision-making. This paper explores connections between both views within an analytical framework based upon Aristotelian philosophy. The framework consists of a constellation of activities – theoria (knowledge), praxis (action) and poesis (production), it shows changes of the importance of activities in different time spans and indicates phenomena of these changes. The objective of this analysis is to document IE's capability to connect different subsystems and to show how an interdisciplinary epistemology could advance the concept.


Sustainable development (SD) is a pressing global issue that is becoming increasingly prominent on clients and governing bodies agendas. In order to survive, organisations are seeking ways to negate their detrimental environmental impacts. This is no easy feat: SD is both complex and dynamic. To be successful, organisations need to leverage and expand their most valuable asset – knowledge. Civil engineering plays a significant role in SD – it shapes our environment and governs our interaction with it. However, extant research asserts that civil engineering related disciplines have been slow to adopt SD oriented practices; a possible result of their complex and fragmented organisational environments. The literature suggests that effective knowledge sharing (KS) can overcome these barriers, thus driving enhanced SD performance. Consequently, this research aims to investigate how the civil engineering sector can improve its intra-organisational sharing of SD knowledge, using an international civil engineering consultancy as an exemplar. Whilst there has been much research surrounding KS and SD there has been limited research that has investigated KS for SD, thus this thesis contributes to this limited body of knowledge. Mixed-method research was used to address the abovementioned aim. An increasingly popular approach, it is widely believed to generate greater value through complementary integration of quantitative and qualitative research paradigms. This approach lends itself also to the ethnographic inclinations of the reported research: the author was embedded within the case organisation, and sought a rich and reliable understanding of the study phenomena. An initial set of semi-structured interviews suggested that the case organisation's members exhibit positive attitudes towards KS and SD, yet are often constrained by a number of common KS barriers, namely: a lack of organisation slack (i.e. time); a silo mentality; and poor SD ICT systems. These socio-cultural and technical barriers were subsequently investigated and contested using social network analysis techniques and an intranet acceptance model. A number of observations are made on the relationships between the findings from the research activities. It is believed the organisation often exhibits a reactive approach to KS for SD, which is deemed undesirable. This signals the need for greater senior management support to cultivate a culture where KS for SD is the norm and is integrated with work practices. A series of recommendations are provided to help the case organisation understand how such change could be cultivated. Several implications follow from this work. The mixed-method approach revealed a number of contradictions between the findings of each research activity. It is therefore postulated that mixed-method designs can provide a richer understanding, thus reducing misconceptions of KS phenomena. Following from this, the research contends that it may be too easy for researchers to identify with ubiquitous KS barriers as the reported research suggests that these may be perceived rather than actual. The research also reinforces the need for senior management support. These individuals govern the systems in which organisational members operate and thus have the ability to enhance KS for SD. Finally, the research demonstrates that SD ICT systems have little impact unless they are embedded in receptive contexts. Thus, an action research approach to KS system development is advocated to ensure systems are shaped to meet user expectations and drive desired KS behaviours. This research is presented in five peer-reviewed articles.


Introduction. This article introduces two methods of information need analysis to study the acceptance of so-called "ubiquitous services" (u-services) in a ubiquitous and "smart" city. Case study is New Songdo City in South Korea. Our research is motivated by questions like: (1) Do such cities really react to the information needs of people? and (2) How can one ascertain the success of a u-city in regard to the information needs? Methods . To capture both questions we applied a ServQual-like survey as well as Customer Value Research as methods of information need analysis and interviewed residents in Songdo in early 2013. Results. In regard to methodology, both methods proved to be very useful. The information needs of our residents are more or less satisfied with the offered u-services; the grade of irritation between developers and customers is rather low. Discussion. Our research in Songdo provides first results in regard to the information need of the customers and the usefulness of the u-services in Songdo. For the future work it is important to continue and expand the research.


This paper analyses the present developments and future prospects for increased agricultural trade for Bangladesh with the EU. The trade relationship with the European Union (EU) is seeing important changes in recent years. The EU has unilaterally eliminated in 2001 tariff barriers for products originating in Less Developed Countries through the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement, which includes the highly protected agricultural products. This creates important export opportunities for Bangladesh. The paper analyses in detail the export trends for major agricultural products from Bangladesh and other countries in the region to look for any evidence of an impact from the EBA. Despite the short period analysed, there are indications of some positive impacts. However, these are often rather weak and at times there are none where expected. Analysing the trends of regional competitors, the paper implies that even with EBA Bangladesh lacks price competitiveness in some products, and most importantly a lack of marketing strategy directed towards EU consumers. For the future, the impact of the EBA will also depend on a number of other factors, such as any progress in the farm liberalisation negotiations at WTO, amendments in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary rules and the reform of the EUs Common Agricultural Policy. All of these factors have the potential to erode the benefits of the EBA considerably. The paper also addresses some important strategic aspects to improve import opportunities, from marketing to taking advantage of the trade related assistance offered by the EU to the less developed countries.


The University of Pennsylvania is a non-profit corporation chartered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under the Charter, the Trustees are charged with the ultimate responsibility for the course of the University. The administrative management of the University, on the other hand, is delegated by the Trustees to the President. The University's faculties participate in the decision-making process through two major bodies advisory to the President and administration—the University Council and the Faculty Senate. Non-faculty employees and students also participate with the faculty in the University's governance through their membership in the University Council and in an extensive number of advisory groups and committees. In addition, the University has a policy on consultation that articulates procedures for involving faculty, staff and students in decision-making where the administration has final or primary responsibility.


Design is increasingly recognized as offering strategic value to business in driving innovation, and has assisted organizations in balancing the needs of several stakeholders while maintaining competitiveness. However, for organizations which are not design-oriented, realizing outcomes through design can present a complex challenge. This paper presents the findings of a two-year action research project, and contributes a method for building an appetite for design, developing an awareness of the value design can offer, and for taking action within organizational constraints. Outcomes include enhanced perception of design methods, a clearer understanding of stakeholders, and the contribution of a framework for integrating design in organizations yet unfamiliar with the value of design.


Fascinating, surprising, challenging--these are among the words used by Robert Davidson to describe the two books covered in this commentary. The book of Ecclesiastes concerns the ultimate meaning of life itself and reminds us that we can be happy even amid uncertainty. The Song of Solomon invites us to an exploration of love that reminds us of God's unending care for the world. Carrying forward brilliantly the pattern established by Barclay's New Testament series, the Daily Study Bible has been extended to cover the entire Old Testament as well. Invaluable for individual devotional study, for group discussion, and for classroom use, the Daily Study Bible provides a useful, reliable, and eminently readable way to discover what the Scriptures were saying then and what God is saying today.


PURPOSE Salvage autologous stem-cell transplantation (sASCT) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) relapsing after a prior autologous stem-cell transplantation leads to increased remission duration and overall survival. We report a comprehensive study on patient-reported outcomes, including quality of life (QoL) and pain in sASCT. METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to either sASCT or nontransplantation consolidation (NTC). Pain and QoL were assessed as secondary outcomes using validated QoL instruments (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and myeloma-specific module, QLQ-MY20; the Brief Pain Inventory [Short Form]; and the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs [Self-Assessment] scale). RESULTS A total of 288 patients (> 96%) consented to the QoL substudy. The median follow-up was 52 months. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 Global health status scores were higher (better) in the NTC group at 100 days after random assignment (P = .0496), but not at later time points. Pain interference was higher (worse) in the sASCT group than in the NTC group at 6 months after random assignment (P = .0267), with patients with sASCT reporting higher scores for Pain interference with daily living for up to 2 years after random assignment. Patients reporting lower concerns about adverse effects of treatment after sASCT had a time to progression advantage. CONCLUSION Patients with sASCT with relapsed MM demonstrated a comparative reduction in QoL and greater impact of treatment adverse effects lasting for 6 months and up to 2 years for pain, after which patients who had received sASCT reported better outcomes. Patients who experienced lower adverse effects after sASCT had longer time to progression and overall survival, showing the need to improve symptom management peritransplantation. To our knowledge, this study provides the most comprehensive picture of QoL before and after sASCT in patients with relapsed MM.


Both systems theory and systems practice address organizational design and transformation from a participative, hence democratic, perspective. The work of Ackoff, Beer, Churchman, Emery, and Checkland is predicated on the notion that stakeholder participation is necessary for meaningful and effective change. The greater the level of stakeholder involvement, the more complete the information brought to the change process. This leads to better decisions about the system's future as well as a greater understanding of and commitment to the change.
Many of the organization design methods developed from the systems perspective are designed to create a forum for systemwide participation. Ackoff's interactive planning methodology and Emery's search conferences provide examples. The goal is to engineer the organization change process so that there is the greatest possible involvement on the part of members of the system.
A critical question remains unanswered within these schools of thought. Is there a point at which democratic processes become dysfunctional in the design processes of social systems? This paper argues that there are three conditions for effective democratic organizational design:
1. That the power relations are understood and the process is free of coercion.
2. That the members of the system are informed participants and have more than a superficial knowledge of the system.
3. That the members of the system have loyalty to the system beyond their involvement in the design process.
These three elements—power, knowledge and loyalty—are viewed as three constraining variables that limit the efficacy of democratic systems design processes. Examples from actual systems interventions in industry, government, and not-for-profit organizations are used in the paper to illustrate how the absence of any one of the three can impede both the process and the implementation of systems change.
Methods for working within these constraints are also discussed. These include methods for understanding and assessing sources of power and legitimacy within the organization, developing a uniform understanding of the system among participants, and understanding the nature of individual commitment and tenure within an organization.
Finally, the role of the systems thinker as interventionist is discussed. The ideological bias towards participative democracy is discussed and clarified. The conclusion is that the systems thinker must reaffirm his role as social scientist as well as interventionist to first develop sound assessments of the systems in which he is attempting to facilitate change.


Cross border water resources and drinking water supply management are among the basic concerns for almost all Adriatic Sea countries. Adopting measures such as developing common methodologies, tools and techniques addressing water quality and quantity issues, water losses and pricing policies, is a top priority. Regarding the harmonization of procedures and legislative framework, the requirements of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60 are respected. An approach to face these challenges is being developed through the cooperation of several organizations and stakeholders involved in the implementation of Drinkadria project. This paper discusses its specific objectives and outputs linked to: (a) promotion of sustainable provision of drinking water, by setting joint cross-border recommendations on drinking water resources management ; (b) undertaking of methods and technologies, through the implementation of pilot actions ; and (c) stimulating capacity building, through the exchange of know-how and the development of a regional network of water supply experts. A set of standardized protocols on the applicable management of water supply systems and resources in the Adriatic area is being developed and tested by the beneficiaries involved. The relevant pilot actions aim at improving water supply and water resources management. Eventually, Drinkadria measurable results support decision makers in the adaptation of effective and efficient measures and policies.


The normal modes and dispersion curves of completely deuterated isotactic polystyrene (IPS-d8) have been calculated using a previously developed force field. A good agreement was found between the calculated frequencies and those observed in the experimental infrared and Raman spectra. The results obtained are important to our subsequent study of the effect of mass defects on the vibrational spectrum of IPS.


A typical Information Technology (IT) project involves a number of disciplines working concurrently throughout a Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC). Requirements Engineering (RE) is one of the key project activities in the front-end of the lifecycle, generally performed jointly by Business and Systems Analysts.

Several studies of IT project failures have revealed that key factors include a lack of proper IT project management methods, and especially the absence of a well-defined RE process. While PM best practices, both generic and IT-focused, are highly evolved and sufficient to deal with the first factor, there is still a lack of standardized RE framework to serve as a guide for IT projects.

We propose to explore an opportunity to enhance the RE process by integrating emerging best practices in a related discipline, namely Governance, Risk, and Compliance Management (GRCM). Founded on the concepts of Strategic Management, Corporate Governance, and Policy Deployment, GRCM provides a framework for managing organization-wide risks, meet regularly compliance imposed by the organization's environment, and establish a governance infrastructure to deploy risk management policies and ensuring compliance across multiple projects.

The objective of this thesis is to see if a new GRCM discipline could be integrated in a standard SDLC. It could provide a new basis to improve Software Engineering methods in order to ensure the organization has enterprise-wide coherence into performing RE activities in every IT projects.

The research methodology used in this paper is based on the academic journal entitled "Investigating Information Systems with Positivist Case Study Research" authored by Guy Pare.

We performed a comparative analysis of RE activities in four key enterprise-wide IT projects. Data analysis is performed to see if the two following objectives can be fulfilled.

a. Develop and validate a new GRCM and RE capability measurement framework
b. Explore to what extent GRCM capabilities are correlated with RE capabilities

We concluded with a future research section, where examples of moving the GRCM and RE disciplines forward in IT projects are given.


This report addresses different aspects of the proposed referendum in Catalonia. In chapter one, Profes- sor Yanina Welp analyzes and presents a political sociological perspective on the respective evolutions of the Catalan support for or rejection of independence. This chapter also summarizes the events that led to the demand for a referendum. In chapter two, Professor Nina Caspersen presents a comparative and historical overview of the political context of the demand for independence for Catalonia and draws up a number of scenarios for the future, depending on the outcome of the referendum. In the subse- quent chapter, Professor Matt Qvortrup analyzes when referendums are held and what determines their outcome; as well, he analyzes the legislation governing the conduct of the proposed referendums. He concludes, with some reservations, that the current legislation meets international standards. Finally, Professor Daniel Turp analyzes and assesses the legality of the proposed referendum. Professor Daniel Turp examines the right to decide of the people of Catalonia in light of rules found in international, Eu- ropean, Spanish, Catalan and comparative law.


Metric temporal logic (MTL) and timed propositional temporal logic (TPTL) are quantitative extensions of linear temporal logic, which are prominent and widely used in the verification of real-timed systems. It was recently shown that the path checking problem for MTL, when evaluated over finite timed words, is in the parallel complexity class NC. In this paper, we derive precise complexity results for the path-checking problem for MTL and TPTL when evaluated over infinite data words over the non-negative integers. Such words may be seen as the behaviours of one-counter machines. For this setting, we give a complete analysis of the complexity of the path-checking problem depending on the number of register variables and the encoding of constraint numbers (unary or binary). As the two main results, we prove that the path-checking problem for MTL is P-complete, whereas the path-checking problem for TPTL is PSPACE-complete. The results yield the precise complexity of model checking deterministic one-counter machines against formulae of MTL and TPTL.


Significance Cancer therapies often fail to cure patients because a proportion of tumor cells withstand the toxic effects of chemotherapy. How surviving cancer cells recover from sublethal drug-induced stress is not known, but given that cellular resources are finite, stress resolution may come at the expense of less essential systems. Here, we studied the global cellular events of stress buildup and resolution in the bone marrow cancer, multiple myeloma, after proteasome inhibition, a commonly used therapeutic approach. Using a temporal multiomics approach, we delineate the unexpectedly complex and protracted changes myeloma cells undergo during stress resolution and demonstrate that recovering cells are more vulnerable to specific insults than acutely stressed cells. Thus, the findings may provide avenues for optimizing cancer therapies. Cancer cells can survive chemotherapy-induced stress, but how they recover from it is not known. Using a temporal multiomics approach, we delineate the global mechanisms of proteotoxic stress resolution in multiple myeloma cells recovering from proteasome inhibition. Our observations define layered and protracted programs for stress resolution that encompass extensive changes across the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome. Cellular recovery from proteasome inhibition involved protracted and dynamic changes of glucose and lipid metabolism and suppression of mitochondrial function. We demonstrate that recovering cells are more vulnerable to specific insults than acutely stressed cells and identify the general control nonderepressable 2 (GCN2)-driven cellular response to amino acid scarcity as a key recovery-associated vulnerability. Using a transcriptome analysis pipeline, we further show that GCN2 is also a stress-independent bona fide target in transcriptional signature-defined subsets of solid cancers that share molecular characteristics. Thus, identifying cellular trade-offs tied to the resolution of chemotherapy-induced stress in tumor cells may reveal new therapeutic targets and routes for cancer therapy optimization.


UNORTHODOX and unproven treatments for cancer are big business in the United States.1,2Usually, individuals providing these treatments offer the public little or no information on their qualifications to treat cancer. Their science is generally presented in unverifiable testimonials, anecdotal material, and non-peer-reviewed magazines sold in supermarkets or publicized on television talk shows and in throwaway health-fair circulars. When reviewed, they reveal a patchwork of half-truths and scientific misinformation. In contrast, there is no lack of published material for the patient who may be considering antineoplaston therapy. There are hundreds of papers about this therapy and its discoverer, Stanislaw R. Burzynski, MD.3-9They include his curriculum vitae, his list of publications, explanations of his theory of cancer and the way his treatment works, clinical information, press releases, brochures, abstracts of his speeches, reports of his research results, review articles, government reports, court opinions, legal depositions, records of public


Abstract A compact diagnostic system for monitoring Hard X-Ray (HXR) in the KSTAR tokamak has been developed in this work. Its development aims for an extension of the counting rate limit, and a good time resolution in the hard X-ray diagnostic. The all-in-one compact HXR diagnostic system is based on NaI(Tl) scintillation detector, because this scintillator provides reliable identification of the X-ray energy spectra with high efficiency. And in addition, the electronic equipment such as preamplifier, main amplifier, high voltage power supply, and fast analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with a digital signal processor (DSP) system was built-in on boards as compact modules in the system. In particular, a fast ADC based on a DSP, and an amplifier with a shaping time of 100 ns was adopted to achieve 1 ms time resolution and a higher counting rate up to 1 MHz. This diagnostic system is intended to provide information on dynamic mechanisms of the high-energy electrons arising from when runaway electrons interact with plasma-facing components in the KSTAR tokamak.


This article sets forth and indicates different sources of Israelite relationship with death. It examines the archeological findings and messages of Israelite graves, the relevant texts from Kohelet and Wisdom, the related Tora texts, the interrogation of the dead Samuel in 1 Sam 28 and the traditions of the deaths of Moses and Eliah. The OT texts are understood within the perspective of the YHWH cult Centralisation in Jerusalem and the written Mose-Tora. A short insight in greek and roman tomb inscriptions and their explanation will make the interpretation-model of Centralisation more plausible.


Scorzonera ahmet-duranii S. Makbul & Coskuncelebi sp. nov. (Asteraceae) is described and illustrated as a new species endemic to Turkey. It is morphologically similar to S. semicana DC., but differs by its rootstock, deeply undulating basal leaves and glabrous achenes. Additionally, the size and micro-morphological properties of achenes and some anatomical traits of the leaf and stem are helpful in distinguishing these closely related taxa. A phylogenetic analysis based on nrDNA ITS sequence data showed that S. semicana is the sister species of the new taxon presented in this study.


History has shown that economic consequences of a volcanic eruption can be disastrous, and nowadays 800 million people in 86 different countries are living within 100 km of an active or a potentially active volcano. Eruptions can cause significant economic loss and damage directly (eruptive processes) or indirectly (associated non-eruptive processes like lahars, tsunamis, etc.), and through cascading effects (perturbations on transport, networks, etc.). Loss and damages can then be direct, indirect, tangible or intangible, short-term or long-term, also depending on the exposure and vulnerability of the economic activities. Existing database on historical eruptions do not provide, or too sparsely, information on these economic impacts. The aim of the project presented in this paper is to build a new database to increase our understanding in the field, to facilitate the identification of vulnerability and resilience factors to future events. We first selected a sample of 55 eruptions from 42 volcanoes located in 18 developing and developed countries, that occurred after the World War II. We documented a number of physical characteristics of these eruptions and volcanoes. Second, we identified the different damages and losses due to volcanic events through 37 qualitative and quantitative variables. We collected economic information and data on these variables, using a variety of sources (governmental and non-governmental agencies, academic institutions, volcanic observatories, press, etc.). This database will be accessible through a web interface and the community will be able to contribute to its development by recording information on the economic consequences of past and future events. A next step would consist in extrapolating the economic impacts for those historical eruptions with missing data and of those that are not included in our first sample.


Existing work on gender and the politics of television culture suggests that seemingly tough girls such as Emma Peel (The Avengers, 1961- 1969), Jaime Sommers (The Bionic Woman, 1976-1978) and Jill Monroe (Charlie's Angels, 1976-1981) were less action chicks than they were powder puffs. After all, despite the seemingly active roles that these characters played from week to week, the strength, intellect and autonomy of these women was routinely undermined in a variety of ways, including marriage, male-rescue and masquerade. Moreover, these programs have been critiqued for emphasizing the surface appearance and sexual attractiveness of their stars as a way in which to diffuse the threat posed by second wave feminism. With these notions of feminism, feminine beauty and desirability in mind then, it is relevant to consider the ways in which representations of today's tough girls can be understood within a wider discussion of contemporary feminism. Theorists such as Charlene Tung, Renny Christopher, Sarah Projansky and Leah R. Vande Berg have recently praised the representation of strong female characters such as secret agent Sydney Bristow (Alias, 2001- ), Officer Aeryn Sun (Farscape, 1999-2003) and Xena Warrior Princess (Xena: Warrior Princess, 1995-2001) for challenging earlier representations of beautiful, feminine and heterosexually desirable heroines. However, although contemporary theorists seem happy to applaud such shows for their characters' combination of intelligence and physical action, they seem reluctant to examine those protagonists who combine female strength and femininity. With this in mind then, if one considers that the long-running Charmed (1998- ) series has been dubbed "Charlie's Angels with broomsticks" and "Charlie's Witches," respectively, it is interesting to consider the ways in which this contemporary text can be understood in a wider debate about female power, strength and surface appearance in the post-feminist period.


Background: Double-blind placebo-controlled trials are intended to control for the impact of expectancy on outcomes. Whether they always achieve this is, however, questionable. Methods: Reanalysis of a clinical trial of naltrexone and acamprosate for alcohol dependence investigated this issue further. In this trial, 169 alcohol-dependent patients received naltrexone, acamprosate or placebo for 12 weeks. In addition to being assessed on various indices of alcohol dependence, they were asked whether they believed they received active medication or placebo. Results: While there were no differences in outcomes between treatment groups, those who believed they had been taking active medication consumed fewer alcoholic drinks and reported less alcohol dependence and cravings. That is, irrespective of actual treatment, perceived medication allocation predicted health outcomes. Conclusions: These results highlight the differences between treatment administration in clinical trials and standard medical practice, a discrepancy that may sometimes decrease the validity of these types of trials.


The Earth-Moon system likely formed as a result of a collision between two large planetary objects. Debate about their relative masses, the impact energy involved, and the extent of isotopic homogenization continues. We present the results of a high-precision oxygen isotope study of an extensive suite of lunar and terrestrial samples. We demonstrate that lunar rocks and terrestrial basalts show a 3 to 4 ppm (parts per million), statistically resolvable, difference in D 17 O. Taking aubrite meteorites as a candidate impactor material, we show that the giant impact scenario involved nearly complete mixing between the target and impactor. Alternatively, the degree of similarity between the D 17 O values of the impactor and the proto-Earth must have been significantly closer than that between Earth and aubrites. If the Earth-Moon system evolved from an initially highly vaporized and isotopically homogenized state, as indicated by recent dynamical models, then the terrestrial basalt-lunar oxygen isotope difference detected by our study may be a reflection of post – giant impact additions to Earth. On the basis of this assumption, our data indicate that post – giant impact additions to Earth could have contributed between 5 and 30% of Earth ' s water, depending on global water estimates. Consequently, our data indicate that the bulk of Earth ' s water was accreted before the giant impact and not later, as often proposed.


How can design computation work as an interface between the virtual design space and the physical realization space, while forming a point of confluence within a multidisciplinary design and construction methodology? In an integrated design process for fiber composite structures in architecture (one based on morphogenesis of fibrous structures in nature), form generation and materialization are highly interrelated thereby leading to a synergy of form and materiality. This paper examines the framework of integrative computational design methodologies incorporating material, structure, fabrication and morphogenetic principles for the design development and digital fabrication of lightweight fiber-reinforced composite components. This process is discussed through the case study, ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2013-14, including project-specific applications and the implementation of computational tools. 1


In 1975, the Federal Communications Commission defined indecency as language that describes, in terms patently offensive by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory organs or activities at times when there is a risk that children may be in the audience.(1) The definition resulted from the case, In re Citizen 's Complaint Against Pacifica Foundation, which involved a monologue entitled "Filthy Words" by comedian George Carlin. The twelve-minute monologue(2) was aired by station WBAI, New York, as part of an hour-long program that discussed society's attitudes toward language.(3) In the monologue Carlin repeated seven words that were inappropriate for broadcast.(4) The FCC Pacifica decision was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1978, the Court issued its FCC v. Pacifica Foundation decision.(5)In Pacifica, the Court upheld the FCC's power to regulate indecent programs and channel them to late evenings, when children were less likely to be a part of the audience. A plurality of the Court said that Carlin's "filthy" words were not essential for the exposition of ideas and that given the "unique" pervasiveness of the broadcast media and their accessibility to children, the First Amendment tolerated the regulation of indecent speech.(6)Broadcast historians and mass communication law scholars regard Pacifica as the landmark case in the regulation of indecency, and rightfully so. However, the FCC has been dealing with the issue of how to regulate offensive speech-which in 1970 was finally labeled "indecent"--since 1935.(7)The story of how the FCC regulated offensive programming in its early years and how the agency eventually developed its indecency standard has never been documented. And yet, the regulation of indecency has become one of the most controversial issues that the FCC has ever faced.(8)While scholars have not ignored the issue of indecency regulation, few have examined the origins and the evolution of this legal concept.(9) Thus, this article will chronicle broadcasters' self-regulatory attempts to eliminate offensive programming before the FCC was created; Congress's calls on the FCC to punish broadcasters who aired offensive material; and the administrative steps the FCC took to penalize broadcasters who did air offensive material. The article will also discuss how by 1964--almost one decade prior to its Pacifica decision--the FCC had begun to articulate a rationale that would justify the regulation of offensive material and which eventually evolved into the current indecency standard.(10)Statutory ProhibitionsSection 29 of the Radio Act of 1927 provided that "no person within the jurisdiction of the United States shall utter any obscene, indecent, or profane language by means of radio communication."(11) This prohibition was transferred to the 1934 Communications Act, which created the FCC, as section 326.(12) In 1948 the anti-obscenity, indecency, or profanity clause was incorporated into Title 18 of the U.S. Code, Section 1464, as part of a reorganization of the U.S. Criminal Code.(13) While the 1927 and 1934 versions of the statute specifically prohibited the use of obscene, indecent, or profane language, the 1948 version stated that "whoever utters any obscene, indecent, or profane language by means of radio communication shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than two years or both."(14)Congress intended for the Federal Radio Commission FRC or Commission), and later the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission), to be the watchdog of the airwaves, but it restricted the agency's authority. Even though Section 29--and Section 326--provided that no obscene, indecent, or profane language should be broadcast, the same section denied the Commission any censorship power.(15) Consequently, the Commission had to walk the thin line of regulating indecent speech without totally eliminating the broadcast of offensive or controversial messages. …


To explore the halogen bonding proclivity of the o-hydroxyimine hydroxyl group, we have prepared two imines as halogen bond acceptors: salicylideneaniline (I) and a 3-pyridyl analogue (II) derived from the condensation of salicylaldehyde and 3-aminopyridine. These two Schiff bases were selected as the two simplest representatives of o-hydroxyimines, where one (II) possesses a potentially competing halogen bond acceptor (pyridine nitrogen) and the other does not. For cocrystal screening, as halogen bond donors, we used perfluorinated iodobenzenes: 1,2-, 1,3-, 1,4-diiodotetrafluoro-benzene (12tfib, 13tfib, and 14tfib) and 1,3,5-triiodotrifluoro-benzene (135tfib). The hydroxyl group has been found to act as a halogen bond acceptor in three out of five crystal structures determined in this study: (II)(13tfib), (II)(135tfib) and (II)2(135tfib). In all three cases, a pyridine nitrogen is also employed in halogen bonding. Our attempts at preparing cocrystals of I were generally unsuccessful and the only cocrystal of I, which has been obtained, with 14tfib, does not exhibit a halogen bond involving a hydroxyl oxygen. These results suggest that the halogen bond motif with an isolated hydroxyl group as the acceptor seems to be less favourable than the previously studied bifurcated halogen bonding motif with the ortho-methoxy–hydroxyl group as the acceptor.


Two popular classes of methods for approximate inference are Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and variational inference. MCMC tends to be accurate if run for a long enough time, while variational inference tends to give better approximations at shorter time horizons. However, the amount of time needed for MCMC to exceed the performance of variational methods can be quite high, motivating more fine-grained tradeoffs. This paper derives a distribution over variational parameters, designed to minimize a bound on the divergence between the resulting marginal distribution and the target, and gives an example of how to sample from this distribution in a way that interpolates between the behavior of existing methods based on Langevin dynamics and stochastic gradient variational inference (SGVI).


Air contaminants remain a problem in SMEs (Karlsson et al., 2006). Research has shown that short-term exposure to air contaminants can cause health risks, and short-term exposure has received low attention compared to long-term measured mean values of different air contaminants. Yet peak exposures often explain a large part of the mean exposure. The aim of this paper is to develop a work method that can be used to control wood dust and improve the work environment of SMEs. The work method was developed by earlier research in the field of safety training and occupational health, but also through interviews with regional safety representatives in wood industries. The work method illustrates several steps, such as risk and control identification of short term exposure, safety training (creation and implementation), and evaluation of safety training, collaboration in safety training, adaptation and implementation of safety training. The work method can be used by safety representatives to control wood dust primarily through safety training, but also to create conditions for further studies on risks and safety in SMEs.


Papua New Guinea is embedded in a regional strategic order dominated by the United States and Australia. The Government of Papua New Guinea recognises the country's security shortcomings and is taking action to remedy them. It plans to more than double the size of the PNG Defence Force to 5,000 regular and reserve personnel by 2017. The core tasks of the PNG Defence Force are to defend PNG against attack and maintain the integrity of its sovereign land, air and maritime borders; to provide civil emergency assistance in security, humanitarian and disaster relief; to engage in nation building; and to participate in international operations in both war zones and humanitarian operations. PNG is now sending peacekeepers to UN operations in Sudan and South Sudan. Regionally, the PNGDF has emerged with a good reputation after ten years with the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands. Borders present problems. Both the PNG-Indonesia border and the PNG-Australia border require continuing bilateral cooperation. The Pan-Melanesianism of the Melanesian Spearhead Group poses difficulties for PNG in its relations with Indonesia. Australia matters most as a defence partner for PNG, but the Manus asylum seeker processing centre is undermining Australia's advocacy of maintaining high standards in delivering security. The military mood is buoyant in PNG, but PNG's security problems are fundamentally developmental and political and will not be solved quickly.


Community activist groups typically rely on core groups of highly motivated members. In this paper we consider how crowdsourcing strategies can be used to supplement the activities of pro-environmental community activists, thus increasing the scalability of their campaigns. We focus on mobile data collection applications and strategies that can be used to engage casual participants in pro-environmental data collection. We report the results of a study that used both quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate the impact of different motivational factors and strategies, including both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. The study compared and provides empirical evidence for the effectiveness of two extrinsic motivation strategies, pointification - a subset of gamification - and financial incentives. Prior environmental interest is also assessed as an intrinsic motivation factor. In contrast to previous HCI research on pro-environmental technology, much of which has focused on individual behavior change, this paper offers new insights and recommendations on the design of systems that target groups and communities.


Reducing energy consumption for urban water management may yield economic and environmental benefits. Few studies provide comprehensive assessments of energy needs for urban water sectors that include both utility operations and household use. Here, we evaluate the energy needs for urban water management in metropolitan Los Angeles (LA) County. Using planning scenarios that include both water conservation and alternative supply options, we estimate energy requirements of water imports, groundwater pumping, distribution in pipes, water and wastewater treatment, and residential water heating across more than one hundred regional water agencies covering over 9 million people. Results show that combining water conservation with alternative local supplies such as stormwater capture and water reuse (nonpotable or indirect potable) can reduce the energy consumption and intensity of water management in LA. Further advanced water treatment for direct potable reuse could increase energy needs. In aggregate, water heating represents a major source of regional energy consumption. The heating factor associated with grid-supplied electricity drives the relative contribution of energy-for-water by utilities and households. For most scenarios of grid operations, energy for household water heating significantly outweighs utility energy consumption. The study demonstrates how publicly available and detailed data for energy and water use supports sustainability planning. The method is applicable to cities everywhere.


Totalitarian Experience and Knowledge Production is a comparative study of the disciplinary construction of sociology in six Central and Eastern European societies that proclaimed themselves 'socialist' but, after the collapse of Communism as a social-political system, are seen to have been totalitarian.


The aim of the research programme was to investigate factors .
influencing the production of extracts from blackcurrant buds. The
results, indicate that a small, but viable production unit could be
established within the framework of a broader essential oils industry
in Tasmania.
Various agronomic factors which influence the growth of blackcurrant
crops were examined in a systematic fan design. Investigations
for a source of bud material revealed that blackcurrant plants pruned
each winter to ground level, provide the maximum bud yields. In this
system, the blackcurrant bush will remain vegetative. The importance
of maintaining a healthy balance between plant vigour and bud yield.
needs to be appreciated, as the annual pruning regimen can potentially'
subject the plant to physiological stress and reduce bud yields in,
subsequent years.
The form of the bud yield-plant density response is asymptotic as
determined by non-linear regression analysis. Further, investigation.
of the relationship of total cane fresh weight and shoot numbers per
plant to planting density revealed that plant site is decreased at high
densities. Growth depression is observed, with respect to shoot length
at both high and low planting densities. This is discussed in terms
of competition for resources, in particular light. Basal cane girth is
Shown to be related to yield parameters and is suggested as being a reliable estimator of plant productivity.
Two canopy types are distinguished over the range of planting
densities examined. The continuous, uniform canopy at high densities
intercepts light more efficiently than the discontinuous, clumped
canopy observed at low planting densities. The continuous canopy
meets criteria laid down for an ideal canopy. In particular, it
reaches maximum size quickly, before incident radiation reaches its
summer peak, as well as being easy to maintain at maturity.
The compositional and organoleptic methods used on a number of
varieties in this assessment reveal White Bud as the preferred variety.
This analysis confirms the relationships established by Todd in his
identification key, based on phenotypic features.
Scanning electron microscopy identified, late November - early
December, as the period of most rapid increase in oil gland size. Gas
chromatographic methods reveal that the rate of oil synthesis increases
in early to mid January, corresponding to a period of increased photosynthate
availability as leaf growth slowed.
Investigation of oil quality during bud burst, under both glasshouse
and field conditions, showed that the strength of the catty note
increases as the buds break from dormancy. This raises questions concerning
the complexity of biosynthetic changes that are occurring,
particularly the relationship between terpene synthesis and abscisic
acid. Components in blackcurrant bud oil were analysed by liquid chromatography
on silica gel or florisil columns using a series of different
polarity solvents. The catty note was not eluted using these techniques,
however a reversed phase procedure employing High Performance Liquid
Chromatography was successful in separating this compound. Compositional
data and identification were obtained by gas chromatographic and mass spectrometry methods. One hundred and twenty-three components were
detected, of which sixty-six were positively identified, and good
quality mass spectra presented for fifty-seven unknowns. Some twenty-
three components reported have not been previously identified in blackcurrant
bud or fruit oils.
Gas chromatographic effluent odours were associated with the
corresponding peaks to determine their individual contribution to the
overall aroma complex. Five regions of the aroma profile were shown
to be important to the blackcurrant bud aroma, but the individual
components were not identified.
Various extraction solvents were investigated, and petroleum
ether was shown to produce an extract resembling the French product.
The superiority of liquid carbon dioxide extracts was demonstrated,
and these hold much promise for future commercial operations.
Both harvesting techniques examined were effective in removing
buds. However, the mechanical harvester is better adapted for commercial
operation due to lower labour inputs. This prototype consisted of a
set of rotating brush rollers which act to lift the bud and break the
petiole. Other rollers control the speed at which the cane passes these
brushes. In contrast, the chemical method utilizes sprays of ethephon
to cause abscission layer formation in the bud petiole.
An economic analysis was undertaken, examining the effect of price,
planting density and harvesting method on the internal rate of return of
capital invested. A mechanical harvesting operation is preferable,
returning a higher profit margin than manual harvesting, since the latter
requires high labour inputs. Lower planting densities, than those considered
desirable for agronomic reasons, are more profitable due to
reduced establishment costs.


We present a framework for reasoning about the concepts of "knowing what" and "finding out", in which the key concept is to identify "finding out the answer to question Q" with "achieving a situation in which Q is decidable" . We give examples of how the framework can be used to formulate non-trivial problems involving the construction of plans to acquire and use information, and go on to demonstrate that these problems can often be solved by systematic application of a small set of goal-directed backward-chaining rules. In conclusion, it is suggested that systems of this kind are potentially implementable in l-Prolog, a logic programming language based on higher-order logic.


Contemporary machine learning applications often involve classification tasks with many classes. Despite their extensive use, a precise understanding of the statistical properties and behavior of classification algorithms is still missing, especially in modern regimes where the number of classes is rather large. In this paper, we take a step in this direction by providing the first asymptotically precise analysis of linear multiclass classification. Our theoretical analysis allows us to precisely characterize how the test error varies over different training algorithms, data distributions, problem dimensions as well as number of classes, inter/intra class correlations and class priors. Specifically, our analysis reveals that the classification accuracy is highly distribution-dependent with different algorithms achieving optimal performance for different data distributions and/or training/features sizes. Unlike linear regression/binary classification, the test error in multiclass classification relies on intricate functions of the trained model (e.g., correlation between some of the trained weights) whose asymptotic behavior is difficult to characterize. This challenge is already present in simple classifiers, such as those minimizing a square loss. Our novel theoretical techniques allow us to overcome some of these challenges. The insights gained may pave the way for a precise understanding of other classification algorithms beyond those studied in this paper.


Abstract Until the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of tourism had confronted many destinations with policy decisions that had impacted regional ecosystems and the quality of life of their resident population. To counter the threats driven by dominant tourism growth models, a number of tourism scholars have called for revisiting the philosophical foundation upon which tourism activities are developed. Informed by debates in philosophy and the wider social sciences, including tourism scholarship, this conceptual paper, therefore, suggests an alternative governance paradigm for tourism destinations, which is articulated in four propositions that reflect a new materialist perspective. These propositions are a monist post-anthropocentric ontology, a participatory epistemology, resilient forms of tourism and participation as methodologies, and social eudaimonia as societal value. The core argument presented in this paper is that the Anthropocene requires tourism destinations to espouse alternative governance approaches drawing from ideas emerging from new materialist scholarship.


Heating of samples of the San Juan Cretaceous sandstones (NE Venezuela) results in large increases in their low field susceptibility, mostly above 650°C, which allows measurement of their low field susceptibility ellipsoids. Where measurements are available before and after heating, the same fabric is almost always enhanced. Samples, previously too weak for measurement, showed thermally induced fabrics which are consistent within each site, but vary between different localities. The susceptibility changes are all largely attributed to magnetite formation, probably from vermiculite at 450°C in the proximal sediments, and from illite at ≥850°C. In all areas, the induced magnetic fabrics can be interpreted in terms of either sedimentary structures or low grade metamorphism related to cleavage parallel to the fold axes. It is considered that this thermal enhancement technique offers a method for measuring low field magnetic fabrics in a wider range of geological conditions and lithologies than reviously, although the processes involved need considerable study.


This study examined the effects of knowledge of apparel and textile (AT) manufacturing's impacts on the environment, environmental concern, attitudes toward environmentally sustainable apparel (ESA), and the cultural characteristics of adult, female Kuwaiti nationals on purchasing behaviors of ESA. This study was conducted because Kuwait is a large consumer market for apparel goods and there was a gap in the existing literature on sustainable apparel with regards to Kuwait. To measure the independent variables of knowledge related to the environmental impacts of AT manufacturing, environmental concern, attitudes towards ESA, and the cultural characteristics of Kuwaiti women on the dependent variable of ESA purchase behavior intentions, a mixed methods approach was used. This mixed method approach included a survey instrument featuring five different scales to acquire data through quantitative methods on a population of Kuwaitis acquired through snowball sampling. Semistructured interviews were then utilized to acquire further data for a qualitative data analysis. The results were then analyzed through descriptive statistics, regressions, and coding. The data analysis of the quantitative survey responses of the female Kuwaiti nationals showed that their level of knowledge on the environmental impacts of the AT industry was low, their level of environmental concern was neutral, their ESA attitudes were neutral, and their ESA purchase intentions were slightly positive. Regression results found that environmental concern had no relationship with ESA attitudes, knowledge about AT related environmental issues positively influenced ESA attitudes, and both knowledge about AT related environmental issues and ESA attitudes had a positive influence on ESA purchase intentions. Additionally, the cultural dimensions of the surveyed population showed high power distance and collectivism, low longterm orientation and uncertainty avoidance, and intermediate levels of masculinity and indulgence. The qualitative interview revealed that Kuwaiti culture is strongly influenced by the Islamic religion, and the culture supports high levels of consumerism and ostentatious consumption. A majority of qualitative participants did not express any attitudes toward ESA, and none of the participants had purchased ESA products previously. This could be because female Kuwaiti nationals are limited in their knowledge related to AT environmental risks and are generally unaware of ESA and its purpose. The study's data could be used to provide educators with information through which to tailor curricula towards the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of Kuwaiti nationals. Additionally, this information could be essential for manufacturers and retailers of ESA products, so that they can produce and sell ESA affectively in Kuwait. EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF KNOWLEDGE, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN, ATTITUDES AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS ON KUWAITI CONSUMERS' PURCHASING BEHAVIOR OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE APPAREL


This Article focuses on the current development-related problems in the global trading system. A widening income gap and widespread poverty among trading nations denote the WTO's Gesellschaftian nature - interest and power - resulting in structural distortion and manipulation. This Article maintains that the global trading system can achieve its development agenda and become fair and legitimate only through a critical paradigmatic transformation enabled by the configuration of the "WTO's Gemeinschaft." This Article observes that a fundamental legal precept, the "Law of Nations" (jus gentium), plays a critical role in actualizing this communitarian telos. Part II redefines the global trading system through the theoretical lens of "Gesellschaft," a term articulated by the German sociologist Ferdinand Tonnies in the late nineteenth century. Part II tracks down futile attempts, under the Gesellschaftian limitation, to tackle development issues and consequent distributional injustice. Part III highlights and problematizes the Gesellschaftian limitation and resultant development failure as it enumerates the causes and effects of that failure: persistent protectionism, regulatory unilateralism, and rhetoric without action. Part IV then attempts to address the development problem by overcoming the WTO's Gesellschaftian limitation through exercising a communitarian paradigm shift and constructing, with the vehicle of the Law of Nations, the WTO's Gemeinschaft. This consists of a dual agenda of free trade and development assistance implemented and vindicated in an atmosphere of global empathy. Part V concludes that an ideal project of WTO's Gemeinschaft leads us to transform our perspective from could (right) to should (duty).


In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's depiction of womanhood is both varied and expansive. A woman can be gentle in spirit, incapable of finding ill in others. Daughters can be impossibly "silly" in their romantic endeavors. Wives are sometimes obnoxious, meddling fools with easily disturbed nerves. Even women linked by their intelligence, such as Charlotte and Elizabeth, differ in terms of practicality and adherence to social norms. There is, however, a factor that distinguishes intelligent females in the novel from the unintelligent: their insistence on maintaining privacy from male influence. From a feminist perspective, Jane Austen's emphasis on female personal space implies that intelligent women must secure privacy in order to remain independent, freethinking individuals within a patriarchal society. By linking privacy with mental growth, Austen takes part in a larger network of feminist literature in which private space is equated with female creativity and freedom from domestic duties. Therefore, Austen's examination of privacy serves as a critique of limitations on female intellectual growth.


A pulsed Nd:YAG laser is used in multi-layer cladding on ZM6 Mg base alloys. The microstructure is studied with an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The composition within the layer was determined by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was also used to investigate the phase of constitutes of the cladding zone. The results show that microstructure in solidified cladding layer changes much when treated by high energy laser beam. The microstructure of the ZM6 alloy consists of ?-Mg and Mg9Nd, while the L-ZM6 of ?-Mg, Mg9Nd and ?-Zr. The depth of the cladding is over 1 mm. Many fine particles were found to be distributed homogeneously throughout the matrix and the columnar grain grows along substrate.


The method of statistical haplotype inference is an indispensable technique in the field of medical science. The authors previously reported Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium-based haplotype inference that could manage single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. We recently extended the method to cover copy number variation (CNV) data. Haplotype inference from mixed data is important because SNPs and CNVs are occasionally in linkage disequilibrium. The idea underlying the proposed method is simple, but the algorithm for it needs to be quite elaborate to reduce the calculation cost. Consequently, we have focused on the details on the algorithm in this study. Although the main advantage of the method is accuracy, in that it does not use any approximation, its main disadvantage is still the calculation cost, which is sometimes intractable for large data sets with missing values.


We study the feedback from hedging mortgage portfolios on the level and volatility of interest rates. We incorporate the supply shocks resulting from hedging into an otherwise standard dynamic term structure model, and derive two sets of predictions which are strongly supported by the data: First, the duration of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) positively predicts excess bond returns, especially for longer maturities. Second, MBS convexity increases yield and swaption implied volatilities, and this effect has a hump-shaped term structure. Empirically, neither duration, nor convexity are spanned by yield factors. A calibrated version of our model replicates salient features of first and second moments of bond yields


This research aims at mapping the growth of concern of school members to keep the school facilities through the implementation of environment-cultured school (ECS) as a basis for keeping school facilities, observing the level of student's mastery of environment after the implementation of ECS. The results show that the school buildings and the classrooms are clean and well-kept. The school has a separate, clean, and well-kept canteen, and has a waste recycling facility as learning media. Environment materials are able to increase students' attitude towards environment.


The article describes the research tradition in which the findings of large-scale surveys on school achievement are discussed at present. From a contemporary point of view educational science in Germany - strongly influenced by the humanities - missed to participate in international large-scale surveys for two decades. Now educational science in Germany has to catch up with the results of studies like TIMSS, PISA, and PIRLS, which meanwhile have gained pronounced attention among experts, the public and the media. This could be of great profit for the empirical educational research, but on the contrary, the extensive reception of the findings of the PISA study has turned to a drop of bitterness. Several discussants, referring to the TIMSS and PISA results, read the findings carefully, others simply methodically misinterpreted the data. The authors give examples of some of the most popular misinterpretations of the findings of large-scale surveys and present starting points for the German educational science to attend and to further develop the processes of discussion. (The article is based on a conference paper held by the authors and the oral notation was kept for this journal). (DIPF/Orig.)


There is increasing evidence of shortage of ramping resources in the real-time operation of power systems. To explain and remedy this problem systematically, in this paper we take a novel look at the way the day-ahead unit commitment (UC) problem represents the information about load, generation and ramping constraints. We specifically investigate the approximation error made in mapping of the original problem, that would decide the continuous-time generation and ramping trajectories of the committed generating units, onto the discrete-time problem that is solved in practice. We first show that current practice amounts to approximating the trajectories with linear splines. We then offer a different representation through cubic splines that provides physically feasible schedules and increases the accuracy of the continuous-time generation and ramping trajectories by capturing sub-hourly variations and ramping of load in the day-ahead power system operation. The corresponding day-ahead UC model is formulated as an instance of mixed-integer linear programming (MILP), with the same number of binary variables as the traditional UC formulation. Numerical simulation over real load data from the California ISO demonstrate that the proposed UC model reduces the total day-ahead and real-time operation cost, and the number of events of ramping scarcity in the real-time operations.


Systems such as Google Street View and Bing Maps Streetside enable users to virtually visit cities by navigating between immersive 360° panoramas, or bubbles. The discrete moves from bubble to bubble enabled in these systems do not provide a good visual sense of a larger aggregate such as a whole city block. Multi-perspective "strip" panoramas can provide a visual summary of a city street but lack the full realism of immersive panoramas. We present Street Slide, which combines the best aspects of the immersive nature of bubbles with the overview provided by multi-perspective strip panoramas. We demonstrate a seamless transition between bubbles and multi-perspective panoramas. We also present a dynamic construction of the panoramas which overcomes many of the limitations of previous systems. As the user slides sideways, the multi-perspective panorama is constructed and rendered dynamically to simulate either a perspective or hyper-perspective view. This provides a strong sense of parallax, which adds to the immersion. We call this form of sliding sideways while looking at a street façade a street slide. Finally we integrate annotations and a mini-map within the user interface to provide geographic information as well additional affordances for navigation. We demonstrate our Street Slide system on a series of intersecting streets in an urban setting. We report the results of a user study, which shows that visual searching is greatly enhanced with the Street Slide interface over existing systems from Google and Bing.


Harvesting of the fish resources as an economic activity, which is strictly tied to biological matters, needs to be modeled proficiently through bioeconomic analysis. In this study, a bioeconomic age-structured model is used to analyse the profitability of Kutum fishing in Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea. Dwindling population of this species has been revived through an enhancement programme, since 1982 in southern Caspian areas by Iranian Fisheries Organization (IFO). Biological age-structured models in this paper were used to estimate the catch amount under two different hypotheses of Beverton-Holt and Ricker about stock-recruitment relationship. Considering the effects of the enhancement programme on recruitment and catch and also on the fishing activity costs, the net present value of the profits from fishing activity is calculated economically. The results showed a significant positive effect of the programme on profitability. Finally, the effect of fishing mortality adjustment, as a management tool, on profitability is also evaluated and it is shown that the reduction in fishing mortality causes a consequent increase on the NPV of profits from fishing activity. According to the results, one can consider the enhancement programme as a valuable addition to good management for the purpose of increasing economic performance when combined with appropriate management adjustments; in our case: reduction of the fishing mortality.


PURPOSE
To investigate whether the incomplete penetrance phenotype characteristic of adRP families linked to chromosome 19q13.4 (RP11) with mutations in the PRPF31 gene is due to differentially expressed wild-type alleles in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.

METHODS
Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was performed on RNA from lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from a large adRP family (RP856/AD5) that segregates an 11bp deletion in exon 11 of PRPF31. The mRNA levels from only the wild-type allele of PRPF31 were assayed using a probe designed across the deletion. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the median mRNA copy numbers of the symptomatic with the asymptomatic carriers of the mutant PRPF31 allele. The PRPF31 protein levels from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals were also assayed by Western blot analysis using an antibody specific to the wild-type PRPF31 protein.

RESULTS
The use of cell lines was validated by the observation that cell transformation did not alter PRPF31 expression in the cell lines compared with nucleated blood cells and donor retinas. A significant difference in wild-type PRPF31 mRNA levels was observed between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals (P < 0.001) and was supported by Western blot analysis of the PRPF31 protein.

CONCLUSIONS
Partial penetrance in RP11 could be due to the coinheritance of a PRPF31 gene defect and a low-expressed wild-type allele. This study revealed a potential avenue for future therapy in that it appears the moderate overexpression of wild-type PRPF31 may prevent clinical manifestation of the disease.


Background. Healthcare-associated outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks of rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) are frequently associated with contaminated tap water. A pseudo-outbreak of Mycobacterium chelonae–M. abscessus in patients undergoing bronchoscopy was identified by 2 acute care hospitals. RGM was identified in bronchoscopy specimens of 28 patients, 25 of whom resided in the same skilled nursing facility (SNF). An investigation ruled out bronchoscopy procedures, specimen collection, and scope reprocessing at the hospitals as sources of transmission. Objective. To identify the reservoir for RGM within the SNF and evaluate 2 water system treatments, hyperchlorination and point-of-use (POU) membrane filters, to reduce RGM. Design. A comparative in situ study of 2 water system treatments to prevent RGM transmission. Setting. An SNF specializing in care of patients requiring ventilator support. Methods. RGM and heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria were examined in facility water before and after hyperchlorination and in a subsequent 24-week assessment of filtered water by colony enumeration on Middlebrook and R2A media. Results. Mycobacterium chelonae was consistently isolated from the SNF water supply. Hyperchlorination reduced RGM by 1.5 log10 initially, but the population returned to original levels within 90 days. Concentration of HPC bacteria also decreased temporarily. RGM were reduced below detection level in filtered water, a 3-log10 reduction. HPC bacteria were not recovered from newly installed filters, although low quantities were found in water from 2-week-old filters. Conclusion. POU membrane filters may be a feasible prevention measure for healthcare facilities to limit exposure of sensitive individuals to RGM in potable water systems.


The environmental devastation caused by military conflict has been witnessed in the wake of the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the Kosovo conflict. This book brings together leading international lawyers, military officers, scientists and economists to examine the legal, political, economic and scientific implications of wartime damage to the natural environment and public health. The book considers issues raised by the application of humanitarian norms and legal rules designed to protect the environment, and the destructive nature of war. Contributors offer an analysis and critique of the existing law of war framework, lessons from peacetime environmental law, means of scientific assessment and economic valuation of ecological and public health damage, and proposals for future legal and institutional developments. This book provides a contemporary forum for interdisciplinary analysis of armed conflict and the environment, and explores ways to prevent and redress wartime environmental damage.


We study the impacts of a tracking program in a large urban school district that establishes separate "gifted/high achiever" (GHA) classrooms for fourth and fifth graders whenever there is at least one gifted student in a school-wide cohort. Since most schools have only a handful of gifted students per cohort, the majority of seats are filled by high achievers ranked by their scores in the previous year's statewide tests. We use a rank-based regression discontinuity design, together with between-cohort comparisons of students at schools with small numbers of gifted children per cohort, to evaluate the effects of the tracking program. We find that participation in a GHA class leads to significant achievement gains for non-gifted participants, concentrated among black and Hispanic students, who gain 0.5 standard deviation units in fourth grade reading and math scores, with persistent effects to at least sixth grade. Importantly, we find no evidence of spillovers on non-participants. We also investigate a variety of channels that can explain these effects, including teacher quality and peer effects, but conclude that these features explain only a small fraction (10%) of the test score gains of minority participants in GHA classes. Instead we attribute the effects to a combination of factors like teacher expectations and negative peer pressure that lead high-ability minority students to under-perform in regular classes but are reduced in a GHA classroom environment.


Diel and tidal changes in distributions of the 3 species of sand-burrowing mysids, .Archaeomysis kokuboi Ii, A. japonica Hanamura, Jo & Murano and Iiella ohshimai (Ii), were studied during summer on a sandy beach in Otsuchi Bay, on the P a c ~ f ~ c coast of northeastern Honshu, mainland Japan. During the day A. kokubol, the closest dweller to the shoreline, showed remarkable tidal migratlons that differed among the developmental stages and sexes. D u r ~ n g the daytime, intraspecific zonatlon of A. kokuboi relative to the shoreline was maintained during the habitat shift with tide. However at night A. kokuboi emerged from the sand and swam in the water column. The swimming activities became progressively less with growth through juveniles, ~nlmatures, mature males, non-brooding females to brooding females. A. japonica, which occurred just below the intertidal zone, showed no tidal migration, but also emerged into the water column a t night. Its swimming activities differed among developmental stages, i.e. adults were inactive, while immatures and juveniles swam into the water column to expand their horizontal distribution offshore. Likewise, I. ohshimai, mostly juveniles or ~mmatures <3.0 mm standard length, showed no tidal migration, but emerged into the water column a t night. The spatiotemporal distr~bution patterns of the 3 mysid species of various developmental stages showed very little overlap. The daytime behaviors of sand-burrowing mysids, such a s tidal migration or burrowing, are unique among mysidaceans, and may be adaptations to avoid visual predators. O n the other hand distribution patterns of the different species and stages a t night seem well adapted to ensurIng feeding or reproduction.


Cucurbitacins are highly oxidized tetracyclic triterpenoids from the Cucurbitaceae families. Several cucurbitacins, such as B, D, E, I, R, IIa, and dihydrocucurbitacin B, have been shown to possess antiproliferative and anticancer activities. Mechanistically, cucurbitacins induce cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and induce apoptosis through several mechanisms, such as the production of reactive oxygen species. In addition, they can inhibit the migration and invasion of cancer cells. Consistently, cucurbitacins have been shown to inhibit the Janus kinase-mediated activation of the transcription factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription. In addition, other receptor-mediated signaling pathways, such as ErbB, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, and integrins, have also been inhibited by the cucurbitacin on cancer cells. Cucurbitacin treatments for various types of cancer have been shown to disrupt the cytoskeletal components such as actin, inhibit the expression of the proto-oncogenic proteins such as c-myc, and induce the expression of tumor suppressor proteins such as p53. Importantly, the synergistic anticancer activities of cucurbitacins have been observed when combined with established chemotherapeutic drugs, such as imatinib mesylate, paclitaxel, docetaxel, and gemcitabine. Cucurbitacins are a promising anticancer agent and can potentiate the effect of current chemotherapy drugs as well as reduce the serious side effects of these drugs.


OBJECTIVE To determine whether interrupting prolonged sitting with brief bouts of light-intensity walking (LW) or simple resistance activities (SRA) improves postprandial cardiometabolic risk markers in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In a randomized crossover trial, 24 inactive overweight/obese adults with T2D (14 men 62 ± 6 years old) underwent the following 8-h conditions on three separate days (with 6–14 days washout): uninterrupted sitting (control) (SIT), sitting plus 3-min bouts of LW (3.2 km · h−1) every 30 min, and sitting plus 3-min bouts of SRA (half-squats, calf raises, gluteal contractions, and knee raises) every 30 min. Standardized meals were consumed during each condition. Incremental areas under the curve (iAUCs) for glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and triglycerides were compared between conditions. RESULTS Compared with SIT, both activity-break conditions significantly attenuated iAUCs for glucose (SIT mean 24.2 mmol · h · L−1 [95% CI 20.4–28.0] vs. LW 14.8 [11.0–18.6] and SRA 14.7 [10.9–18.5]), insulin (SIT 3,293 pmol · h · L−1 [2,887–3,700] vs. LW 2,104 [1,696–2,511] and SRA 2,066 [1,660–2,473]), and C-peptide (SIT 15,641 pmol · h · L−1 [14,353–16,929] vs. LW 11,504 [10,209–12,799] and SRA 11,012 [9,723–12,301]) (all P < 0.001). The iAUC for triglycerides was significantly attenuated for SRA (P < 0.001) but not for LW (SIT 4.8 mmol · h · L−1 [3.6–6.0] vs. LW 4.0 [2.8–5.1] and SRA 2.9 [1.7–4.1]). CONCLUSIONS Interrupting prolonged sitting with brief bouts of LW or SRA attenuates acute postprandial glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and triglyceride responses in adults with T2D. With poor adherence to structured exercise, this approach is potentially beneficial and practical.


Today, utility computing and Computing on Demand (CoD) could be parallelized to Grid computing because the latter is the best available technology to enable computing power as a massively available utility. In the present paper, iWatt, a naive linear measurement for CoD services is introduced. The innovative feature of iWatt is considered to be the fact that facilitates both a consumption assignment to a Grid-ready service and a producing capability to CoD infrastructure in an analogous way to electric power device-network interaction. Experimental and benchmarking work need to be done in order to test practical issues for the proposed metric.


Reliability is the probability that the system will perform its required functions for desired
 periods of time without failure, in a specified environment. There are many methods aimed at
 increasing systems reliability through mitigation of technical risks. Next to methods for direct
 technical risk analysis, there are also probabilistic risk assessment techniques. In this paper,
 RAMI (Reliability, availability, maintainability, inspectability) analysis, which was devised by
 the ITER Organization as a combination of IDEF0 (Integration definition for function
 modelling) functional analysis to provide the basis for FMECA (Failure mode, effects and
 criticality analysis) as technical risk analysis and RBD (Reliability block diagrams) as a
 probabilistic assessment technique, is used. Literature was studied to examine the advantages
 and disadvantages of these methods, as well as others, to obtain the best possible results and
 ensure correct application. Afterwards, this paper presents the application of the RAMI analysis
 to in-service inspection device, which is currently being developed by the INETEC company.
 In-service inspection device travels inside rails fixed on the outer shell of the ITER tokamak's
 vacuum vessel in order to inspect adjacent welds. During application, great emphasis was
 placed on the correct decomposition of functions and formulation of IDEF0 functional model.
 Next step of the analysis was the FMECA which includes the definition of failure modes for
 said functions, as well as their causes and effects, based on the company's previous experience.
 Previous experience combined with expert judgment also helped in quantifying the severity and
 occurrence of effects and causes of failure modes, respectively. The last step is the RBD
 analysis which used values from FMECA as an input and the decomposition shown in IDEF0
 functional analysis as its basis. FMECA analysis indicated, based on criticality values, 2 major
 risks, 57 medium and 40 minor risks. RBD analysis showed that the device's reliability achieves
 0% after 8 hours and constant availability of 16,5%. The biggest impact on risks occurrence is
 due to software and operator errors, and on severity is from failures propagating throughout the
 device, these are mainly air, water and electricity failures. Lastly, a comparison between
 obtained results and other approaches found in literature was made, and risk mitigations actions
 were suggested according to the results of the analyses. For future work, more reliability data
 should be collected from similar systems to get a better reliability model of the device.


Images of circular phase objects in partially coherent light have been studied. It has been shown that recognizable contrast is obtained in the image of phase objects formed by an ordinary microscope even when the cone of the illuminating beam is sizable and the microscope is focused perfectly.


The usage of credit card has increased dramatically due to a rapid development of credit cards. Consequently, credit card fraud and the loss to the credit card owners and credit cards companies have been increased dramatically. Credit card Supervised learning has been widely used to detect anomaly in credit card transaction records based on the assumption that the pattern of a fraud would depend on the past transaction. However, unsupervised learning does not ignore the fact that the fraudsters could change their approaches based on customers' behaviors and patterns. In this study, three unsupervised methods were presented including autoencoder, one-class support vector machine, and robust Mahalanobis outlier detection. The dataset used in this study is based on real-life data of credit card transaction. Due to the availability of the response, fraud labels, after training the models the performance of each model was evaluated. The performance of these three methods is discussed extensively in the manuscript. For one-class SVM and auto encoder, the normal transaction labels were used for training. However, the advantages of robust Mahalanobis method over these methods is that it does not need any label for its training.