Taking a pioneering approach to commentary writing, Brevard Childs gives an entirely original treatment to the book of Exodus. Apart from the philological notes and translation, this commentary includes a form-critical section, looking at the growth of the tradition in its previous stages; a consideration of the meaning of the text in its present form; and a consideration of its meaning in its total Old Testament context. This volume is now available in a new casebound edition.The Old Testament Library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The contributors are scholars of international standing.


Neolicaphrium recens is the only survivor proterotherid in the Quaternary of South America, of which few fossil records from Argentina, Uruguay and probably Brazil are known. In this paper we describe new cranial remains with teeth series of N. recens from Artigas Department, Uruguay (Sopas Formation, Late Pleistocene), and previously published remains were reinterpreted and assigned to N. recens. We performed a dental microwear study of the seven most complete adult specimens from Argentina and Uruguay. The dental facets of interest were molded with silicone dental impression; the moulds were filled with epoxy resin and observed in a stereomicroscope. The paracone of M2 and the protoconid of m2 were photographed and the images digitally processed and studied. The results showed a high relative percentage of pits (scars of soft plants) on scratches (grooved pattern caused by silicophytoliths of grasses), indicating that the analyzed specimens were browsers, and their diet probably included fleshy leaves, buds and stems of trees and shrubs. These new data are consistent with previous results of carbon and oxygen isotopes studies and with inferences based on the associated fauna of N. recens in Uruguay, indicating for the Sopas Formation open to semi open grassland with forested areas, resembling a savanna. This study suggests some woodland environments for all the range of geographical distribution of the taxon.


This thesis investigates the role of the United Nations in the area of peace enforcement. It studies the UN system for the maintenance of international peace and security in the face of threats to the peace, breaches of the peace and acts of aggression. It assesses the Security Council attempts to employ enforcement measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter in response to inter-state and intra-state conflicts, paying attention to the effect of the Council's increasing involvement in internal situations, both on the development of the system and on the outcome of conflicts. It also takes account of changes in the nature of modern conflict and of the Security Council's innovative rebuttals; these amount to a transforming of peace enforcement and necessitate its reconceptualisation. The thesis examines challenges posed to the viability of peace enforcement by an increasing tendency to employ 'interventionist' methods such as 'humanitarian intervention' and the 'new internationalism'. In this respect, the thesis examines the assumption that these new methods do not substitute for the UN system of peace enforcement, which retain the universal approval of member states. It further assesses the argument that a reformed peace enforcement system will serve the cause of peace better than these controversial methods. The study of the Kuwait crisis as a central case in this thesis benefited from the release of authoritative accounts during the years 1995-99, by writers who had held official responsibilities during the crisis. The thesis also benefited from the study of peace enforcement cases that occurred after Kuwait in measuring claims raised after the Gulf war concerning the reactivation and viability of peace enforcement. These cases allowed the thesis to provide an account of peace enforcement during the first ten post-Cold War years, to contrast them to earlier cases, and to draw lessons for the future of the UN peace enforcement system.


This article examines the ways in which enslaved litigants engaged with the ecclesiastical courts in 17th century colonial Lima. The article analyzes a sample of the types of litigation instigated by Peruvian slaves to assert their conjugal rights, to effect transfers of ownership, and to enforce oral promises of manumission. It also deals with complaints of domestic violence, abandonment, destitution, and infidelity brought by enslaved women. The article uses accusations of concubinage and adultery, and "crimes against public morality" to explore the role of church courts in policing the boundaries of inter-ethnic relationships. This article should interest scholars of slavery working at the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality, particularly with regard to distinctions between the civil and common law systems of slavery. It should also interest historians of comparative family law and the canon law's treatment of marriage, illegitimacy and concubinage. How does a comparative perspective add to our understanding of the way that sexuality, race and gender influence family law, and vice versa? How does recourse to the court either influence hegemonic norms of marriage or contest these? Finally, the article should also interest those using legal records as narratives to "write history from below" through the optics of legal anthropology and critical legal studies.


Non-equity financial markets used to be 'hidden' in Europe, in the sense that relative to their size, they traditionally received less attention from ordinary investors and the media than equity markets. This phenomenon was accentuated by the fact that the Financial Services Action Plan was primarily geared towards equity markets. Given the crucial role played by bond markets in the economy through the capital allocation process, monetary policy decisions and the hedging of risk, this new report, by CEPS Research Fellow Jean-Pierre Casey and CEPS CEO Karel Lannoo, attempts to demystify bond markets and clarify a general misapprehension among investors and regulators about how these overwhelmingly wholesale, off-exchange markets operate. It first highlights recent developments in European bond markets in light of the ongoing transformation of the European financial system triggered by financial sector liberalisation, the ongoing process of disintermediation, and the introduction of the euro. The bond market microstructure and recent developments in the primary and secondary market architectures are then examined, especially in light of the ongoing phenomenon of electronisation of fixed income trading. Recent regulatory measures taken at the EU level that will impact on European bond markets are assessed, and the desirability, utility and feasibility of certain policy measures are examined as well. The report comes at a critical time – prior to the Commission's upcoming, mandated review of the MiFID transparency requirements and their possible applicability to non-equity markets.


Laboratory experiments on the feeding preferences of the potential predators of Musca domestica L. and Fannia canicularis (L.) indicated that Philonthus sordidus (Gravenhorst) consumed all immature stages of M. domestica while Carcinops pumilio (Erichson), Carcinops troglodytes (Paykull), Oxytelus sculptus (Gravenhorst), Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) and Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) fed on the eggs and first instar larvae of M. domestica. The predators could be important in the natural control of house flies. Predation rates at a range of predator densities varied considerably within and between species. Predation rates of C. pumilio decreased with an increase in predator density. Adult C. pumilio starved for nine days consumed significantly more M. domestica immatures than those fed for nine days. Starvation and feeding treatments had no effect on the predation rate of M. muscaedomesticae. The high numbers of eggs and young larvae consumed by C. pumilio and M. muscaedomesticae indicate that these two species have considerable potential for the biological control through augmentative releases against house flies breeding in poultry manure.


An efficient and yet simple neural-based approach is utilized to design real finite-impulse response filters with arbitrary complex frequency responses in the least-squares sense. The proposed approach establishes the quadratic error difference of the filter optimization in the frequency domain as the Lyapunov energy function. Consequently, the optimal filter coefficients are obtained with good performance and fast convergence speed. To achieve good convergences for large filter lengths, a cooling process of simulated annealing is used for the neural activation function. Several examples and comparisons to the existing methods are presented to illustrate the effectiveness and flexibility of the neural-based method


This is the second of two articles in which we seek an explanation for the hitherto unexamined fact that the average length of prison sentences imposed in federal court for narcotics violations declined by more than 15% between 1991-92 and 2000. Our first article, Quiet Rebellion? Explaining Nearly a Decade of Declining Federal Drug Sentences, 86 Iowa Law Review 1043 (May 2001) ( "Rebellion I" ), examined national sentencing data in an effort to determine whether the decline in federal drug sentences is real (rather than a statistical anomaly), and to identify and analyze possible causes of the decline. We considered whether the decline resulted primarily from trends in discretionary decision-making among the front line actors in the sentencing system (prosecutors, defense counsel, probation officers, and district judges) when dealing with individual cases, or whether the decline flowed from non-discretionary factors, such as changes in statutory or guidelines law, alterations in the mix of criminal cases brought to the federal system. Rebellion I arrived at four conclusions: First, the downward trend in federal drug sentence length is real. Second, at least some of the decrease flows from non-discretionary factors. Third, the decrease in drug sentences since 1991-92 cannot be entirely explained by non-discretionary causes, but is, to a significant degree, the product of an array of discretionary choices by front line sentencing actors. National data show: (1) at virtually every point in the Guidelines sentencing process where prosecutors and judges can exercise discretionary authority to reduce drug sentences, they have done so; and (2) where we can measure trends, the trend since roughly 1992 has been toward exercising discretion in favor of leniency with increasing frequency. Fourth, we suggested that these discretionary choices are, at least in part, a product of a widespread perception among front line sentencing actors that drug sentences are often too high, or are at the very least often higher than necessary to achieve the personal or institutional objectives of these front line actors of the federal criminal system. In the current article ( "Rebellion II" ) we update our data and reexamine them organized by the federal judicial districts. In our empirical analyses of average drug sentence length we find: (1) From the district-level perspective, the movement of average drug sentences has been markedly uneven. While fifty-one districts experienced a decline in average drug sentence between 1992 and 1999, average drug sentences increased in forty-one districts. Nonetheless, those districts in which sentences decreased accounted for 72% of all federal drug cases. (2) Increases in prosecutorial workload correlate with decreases in average drug sentence within districts. However, increases in judicial workload do not correlate significantly with decreases in average drug sentence. We remain unconvinced that workload pressures are a strong factor in the decline of the national average federal drug sentence. (3) Changes in the mix of drug types prosecuted within a district correlate with changes in average drug sentence within a district. In particular, during 1996-99, increases in the percentage of marijuana cases prosecuted within a district correlate with a decline in the district's average drug sentence. (4) Between 1996 and 1999, a dramatic increase in the number of marijuana prosecutions in the five Mexican border districts taken together with the adoption in these districts of "fast-track" sentence discounts for many marijuana offenders exerted downward pressure on average drug sentences nationally. (5) The available evidence continues to suggest a prolonged, if not regionally uniform, pattern of exercise of discretionary choice by frontline sentencing actors to decrease federal drug sentences.


The EU's emissions trading system (ETS) covers almost half of its greenhouse gas emissions and has been hailed as the cornerstone and flagship of EU climate policy. In spring 2013, however, the ETS was in severe crisis, with a huge surplus of allowances and a sagging carbon price. Even a formally simple measure to change the timing of auctioning was initially rejected by the European Parliament. Two years later, a much more important, quantity-focused "market thermostat" (the market stability reserve) was adopted, and proposals for a complete ETS overhaul were put on the table. This article examines how it was possible to turn the flagship around so quickly, providing insights into the mechanisms for gradually rendering emissions trading systems more effective. Crucial changes at the EU and national levels are identified, chief among them changes in Germany and in the European Parliament. Furthermore, the quantity-based tightening mechanism discussed could be of relevance for carbon markets outside Europe.


On 1 July 2009, the Socio-Economic Rights Project hosted a seminar on 'Gender, HIV and AIDS : Tracking the trends, progress and tribulations in South Africa'. The aim of the seminar was to take stock of recent developments and to reflect on progress made, and on setbacks and challenges encountered, when dealing with HIV and AIDS as it affects women. It also aimed at fostering conversation between different categories of stakeholders working on HIV and AIDS in South Africa. As participants included civil society organisations, health care practitioners and academics, the seminar looked at socio-medical, legal and policy perspectives. In particular, presentations were made on the double burden of HIV and tuberculosis (TB), food security and nutrition, sex work and legal reform ; the AIDs care burden on women, and the recent national HIV prevalence, incidence, behaviour and communication survey. Here is a summary of the issues considered.


Components of regulatory signaling pathways can control gene expression by phosphorylation of transcription factors, which in turn control expression of target genes. Members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family physically associate with target genes. Pokholok et al. show that this phenomenon is much more common than previously expected. The authors performed a genome-wide screen for binding sites for members of the MAPK and cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (PKA) families. The MAPK proteins tested were physically associated with their target genes--in some cases at the promoter but in others along the transcribed region of the genes. The PKA family member Tpk1p was found to be associated with the transcribed portion of essentially all actively transcribed genes, whereas another family member, Tpk2p, was associated specifically with the transcribed region of genes encoding ribosomal subunits. Such analysis of target gene binding may reveal previously unrecognized targets of kinases and the signaling pathways in which they act. D. K. Pokholok, J. Zeitlinger, N. M. Hannett, D. B. Reynolds, R. A. Young, Activated signal transduction kinases frequently occupy target genes. Science 313, 533-536 (2006). [Abstract] [Full Text] J. W. Edmunds, L. C. Mahadevan, Protein kinases seek close encounters with active genes. Science 313, 449-451 (2006). [Summary] [Full Text]


This study aimed to evaluate Euphorbia heterophylla and Bidens pilosa emergence in common bean- and wheat-producing areas, after cultivation of coverage plants. The experiment was carried out under a no-tillage system in straw, during five years, at Capivara Farm of Embrapa Arroz e Feijao, located in Santo Antonio de Goias, GO. The local soil is classified as dystrophic Oxisol. The treatments combined seven coverage plants (Brachiaria brizantha - cv. Marandu; Brachiaria brizantha intercroping with corn (Zea mays) - hybrid HT BRS 3150; Cajanus cajan; Pennisetum glaucum - cv. BN-2; Panicum maximum - cv. Mombaca, Sorghum bicolor - cv. BR 304 and Stylosanthes guianensis - cv. Mineirao and two crops cultivated successively in the areas (common bean - cv. Perola and wheat - Embrapa 42. All coverage plants were cut together by using a straw crusher and left on the ground; 60 days after being cut, the common bean and wheat plants were sowed. The number of plants obtained from Euphorbia heterophylla and Bidens pilosa was counted twice and the plants were separated into three growth stages (less than two leaves, from two to four leaves and more than four leaves). Brachiaria brizantha and Panicum maximum coverages were efficient in reducing weed emergence, mainly E. heterophylla in subsequent cultivation of common bean and wheat. No differences were observed in relation to common bean and wheat crop capacity of reducing E. heterophylla and B. pilosa population.


Technology development is a crucial issue for economic development in Sub-Saharan African countries. In this paper current research on biotechnology and the potential of biotechnology absorption in Kenya is analyzed. The institutional character, areas of research and funding mechanisms of the research institutions contributing to agriculture sector technological advancements were examined in the context of local farmer's needs. Also factors, such as legal framework and cultural and social values for the biotechnology research in the region were explored. Literature review and the qualitative analysis of data on research facilities and the papers from the region were applied in the research. OLS correlation method was applied in the analysis of the data.


This poster presents some of the work currently being done at the Paracelsus Clinic in Switzerland on heart rate variability biofeedback with a real time auditory display. Heart rate variability biofeedback is an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the work with a wide variety of chronic disorders. We use a proprietary building-block type laboratory computer program that is linked via MIDI to a software sequencer with a VST virtual instrument library. Beyond the sonification of RR intervals as discrete numbers, the development of new techniques became necessary in order to be able to sonify the dynamic, wave-like structure of autonomic rhythms in the frequency spectrum of HRV, what we call "heartmusic". The fact that patients can hear their inner autonomic activity as music in real time and so work with elements of their own autonomous rhythmic oscillations, may also add an important new dimension to this field in the future.


The STAR Collaboration reports the measurement of semi-inclusive distributions of charged-particle jets recoiling from a high transverse momentum hadron trigger, in central and peripheral $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200$ GeV. Charged jets are reconstructed with the anti-${k}_{\mathrm{T}}$ algorithm for jet radii $R$ between 0.2 and 0.5 and with low infrared cutoff of track constituents (${p}_{\mathrm{T}}g0.2 \mathrm{GeV}/\mathrm{c}$). A novel mixed-event technique is used to correct the large uncorrelated background present in heavy ion collisions. Corrected recoil jet distributions are reported at midrapidity, for charged-jet transverse momentum ${p}_{\mathrm{T},\mathrm{jet}}^{\mathrm{ch}}l30 \mathrm{GeV}/\mathrm{c}$. Comparison is made to similar measurements for $\mathrm{Pb}+\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=2.76$ TeV, to calculations for $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV based on the pythia Monte Carlo generator and on a next-to-leading order perturbative QCD approach, and to theoretical calculations incorporating jet quenching. The recoil jet yield is suppressed in central relative to peripheral collisions, with the magnitude of the suppression corresponding to medium-induced charged energy transport out of the jet cone of $2.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2(\mathrm{stat})\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.5(\mathrm{sys})$ $\mathrm{GeV}/c$, for $10l{p}_{\mathrm{T},\mathrm{jet}}^{\mathrm{ch}}l20$ $\mathrm{GeV}/c$ and $R=0.5$. No medium-induced change in jet shape is observed for $Rl0.5$. The azimuthal distribution of low-${p}_{\mathrm{T},\mathrm{jet}}^{\mathrm{ch}}$ recoil jets may be enhanced at large azimuthal angles to the trigger axis, due to scattering off quasiparticles in the hot QCD medium. Measurement of this distribution gives a 90% statistical confidence upper limit to the yield enhancement at large deflection angles in central $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ collisions of $50\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30(\mathrm{sys})%$ of the large-angle yield in $p+p$ collisions predicted by pythia.


This RFC is a discussion about the role of gateways in an
internetwork, especially the problems of translating or mapping
protocols between different protocol suites. The discussion notes
possible functionality mis-matches, undesirable routing "singularity
points", flow control issues, and high cost of translating gateways.
Originally published as M82-51 by the MITRE Corporation, Bedford,
Massachusetts.


In this work, wastewater samples were taken from the sewerage system of Konya I st.  Organized Industrial Zone and 72 hours toxicity tests were carried out. Toxicity levels of wastewater  samples were determined employing fish biyoanalysis in terms of LC50 which is the concentration that  kills 50 % of the test organisms in 72 hours and toxicity dilution factor (TDF). In addition phytotoxicity  levels of waste waters were determined by employing terrestrial plant Lepidium Sativum (L. Sativum). As  aquatic tests organism fresh water fish Lepistes Reticulates (L. Reticulates) was employed. As a result of  this  work  toxicity  dilution  factors  of  waste  waters  were  found  within  the  acceptable  range  for  discharging into sewerage system according to industrial wastewater discharge rules of Turkish Water  Pollution Control Regulations. Result of phytotoxicity test was not determined as EC50 (concentration  that effected 50 % of the test organisms in 72 hours), but for all of the sampling points determined as  phytotoxic according to germination percent values.  Values of Lepistes Reticulates and Lepidium  Sativum as test organisms were also evaluated in terms of ease of application and reliability of the  results.


Abstract. This study visualized the spatio-temporal changes in the tsunami inundation area and analyzed its expansion mechanism. The most characteristic of the Great East Japan Earthquake is the damage caused by the tsunami. And 90% of the dead was caused by it. One of the factors is that the preparation of countermeasures corresponding to the huge tsunami was not fully prepared. Therefore, after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Japanese government has emphasized the importance of the advance preparation of the hugest tsunami expected. According to the past experience the occurring of huge tsunami is very rare. Earthquake researchers have observed same scale tsunami in every 1000 years in Japan. According prediction, next huge tsunami may be happened around the 2030. Therefore, analyzing the tsunami inundation mechanism of the Great East Japan Great Eastern is important for the future tsunami countermeasure. The arrival time and spatial distribution of tsunami inundation can be considered as a main important component of evacuation planning. In addition, a wide range of inundation area caused by huge tsunami is suitable for analyzing the inundation mechanism compared with a small-scale tsunami inundation. In this study I would like to examine the tsunami inundation process caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.The method is as follows. First, movies shooting the tsunami inundation are collected from DVDs and TV hosting services. And they are examined as analysis materials. As a result, movies that taken from the ground were impossible to shoot the dynamic process of tsunami flooding. So that movies that taken from the helicopter or airplane was selected in this research. Next, the movies are converted into images at regular intervals of time. And adding position information to images (geo-reference), images are imported on the geographic information system (GIS). After that, Inundation limit lines are digitized. In this study, inundation limit lines are created at intervals of around 5 seconds. However, when the image is disturbed by dust etc., images of around 5 seconds are used. Basic information on the tsunami inundation handled in this study is shown in Table 1 and Figure 1.As the result, tsunami inundation process was strongly affected by the location of buildings (Figure 2). On the other hand, the inundation distance declined even where the fields spread. The spatio-temporal variation of the inundation process was quantitatively clarified. Regression analysis was performed with variables of inundation time and inundation distance. As a result, changes in correlation were observed in a certain section. In order to analyze the factors, two regression analyses were conducted. First is the inundation time and elevation as variables. Second is the inundation time and distance from buildings as variables. The building data had acquired the image before the earthquake (April 4, 2010) from Google Earth, and created the building shape data. As a result of each analysis, it became clear that sections where the elevation suddenly changes and the short distance from buildings, overlapped sections where the inundation distance does not extend (Figure 3). These results suggest that it is possible to predict inundation time and distance in other areas if parameters can be acquired.


For decades, multinational businesses have self-regulated their operations with respect to human rights, largely unfettered by international law.1 In recent years, however, human rights groups have advocated that the United Nations ("UN") create clear legal obligations for multinationals respecting their human rights-related conduct. At least partly due to the substantial burden such obligations could place on international businesses, these efforts by human rights proponents have proven largely fruitless-until now. On August 13, 2003, the UN Sub-commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights adopted the Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights ("Norms").3 In March and April of this year, the fifty-three-member UN Human Rights Commission will vote regarding whether to adopt the Norms into international law.4 At first glance, the Norms seem benign. The document is not directly binding against corporations and has been described by some of its drafters as a mere restatement of existing international human rights laws.5 A deeper look at the Norms, and the context in which they were drafted, however, reveals that they may be the first major stepping stone toward the adoption of an international, enforceable set of legal obligations binding on transnational corporations ("TNCs"). This Development explores possible long-term effects of the Norms on international businesses by briefly (1) describing historical events leading up to the Norms, (2) summarizing the Norms' controversial content and commentaries, (3) noting what organizations both for and against the Norms are saying about the document, and (4) analyzing the Norms from legal, economic, and political perspectives. I. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE NORMS The Norms are not the first important UN document devoted to addressing international human rights issues. The UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and has not looked back.6 For instance, the UN Commission on Human Rights has authority to investigate potential violations of international human rights laws by states, thus effectively aiding in the enforcement of those laws.7 About a decade ago, the UN also added a post for a High Commissioner for Human Rights. The High Commissioner is responsible for much of the coordination and implementation of UN human rights programs.8 International discussion on human rights has proliferated in recent decades through the activities of other organizations as well. Amnesty International, founded in Great Britain by Peter Benenson in 1961, has emerged as an influential non-governmental advocate for human rights around the world.9 In the US, legal scholars have recently taken interest in the potential for private international human rights claims against TNCs under the Alien Tort Claims Act, a US law which was enacted in 1789 but largely ignored by courts until 2002, when the Ninth Circuit refused to dismiss a case filed under the Act.10 Despite these and other recent developments, however, TNCs have enjoyed a significant amount of latitude to govern and regulate their own human rights-related activities. Voluntarism and self-regulation have been the methods explicitly endorsed and employed by the UN for addressing human rights issues as they relate to business. The UN's self-regulation approach is perhaps embodied most in the Global Compact, which was established in 2000 upon a recommendation from UN secretary-General Kofi Annan.11 Even though the UN describes the Global Compact as a "direct initiative" of the Secretary-General, the nine principles which constitute the Compact are enforced purely through "public accountability, transparency and the enlightened self-interest of companies" who volunteer to participate in it.12 The UN, in fact, proudly emphasizes that the Global Compact is "not a regulatory instrument-it does not 'police,' enforce or measure the behavior or actions of companies. …


Distribution networks across Australia differ in terms of topology, size, cabling, rating and loading. Although there are multiple different network types, all distribution network service providers (DNSPs) are required to maintain voltage levels across the entire network within specified boundaries. DNSPs cannot employ the same voltage regulation strategy on all networks due to diverse requirements for each network. In addition, DNSPs are also required to ensure that the voltage unbalance in a network is within acceptable limits. One of the recognised methods for voltage regulation in either medium voltage (MV) or low voltage (LV) networks is volt/var control. However, separate control methods are usually applied in MV and connected LV networks. This paper presents a broad classification of distribution networks in Australia based on their voltage regulation requirements. A generalised volt/var control strategy which aims to improve voltage regulation and reduce voltage unbalance in different types of distribution networks in Australia is proposed and tested on three different representative networks from each classification. The results validated the efficiency of the proposed volt/var control strategy for different types of networks.


Achievement of desired service life, of correct and reliable function as well as meeting demands regarding replacement of engineering products requires observance of exact dimensions of functional areas as well as accuracy of geometrical shape, direction, reciprocal position of areas and of other elements of components. Tolerance of shape, of direction, of position and of flapping is commonly referred to as geometric tolerance. The paper describes the created application which allows the user simple, fast and unlimited search for value of geometric tolerance.


The "antibiotic resistance crisis" is a major challenge for scientists and medical professionals. This steady rise in drug-resistant pathogens also extends to parasitic diseases, with antimony being the first anti-Leishmania drug that fell in the Indian subcontinent (ISC). Leishmaniasis is a major but neglected infectious disease with limited therapeutic options. Therefore, understanding how parasites became resistant to antimonials is of commanding importance. In this study, we experimentally characterized the dynamics of this resistance acquisition and show for the first time that some Leishmania populations of the ISC were preadapted to antimony resistance, likely driven by environmental factors or by drugs used in the 19th century. ABSTRACT Antimonials (Sb) were used for decades for chemotherapy of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Now abandoned in the Indian subcontinent (ISC) because of Leishmania donovani resistance, this drug offers a unique model for understanding drug resistance dynamics. In a previous phylogenomic study, we found two distinct populations of L. donovani: the core group (CG) in the Gangetic plains and ISC1 in the Nepalese highlands. Sb resistance was only encountered within the CG, and a series of potential markers were identified. Here, we analyzed the development of resistance to trivalent antimonials (SbIII) upon experimental selection in ISC1 and CG strains. We observed that (i) baseline SbIII susceptibility of parasites was higher in ISC1 than in the CG, (ii) time to SbIII resistance was higher for ISC1 parasites than for CG strains, and (iii) untargeted genomic and metabolomic analyses revealed molecular changes along the selection process: these were more numerous in ISC1 than in the CG. Altogether these observations led to the hypothesis that CG parasites are preadapted to SbIII resistance. This hypothesis was experimentally confirmed by showing that only wild-type CG strains could survive a direct exposure to the maximal concentration of SbIII. The main driver of this preadaptation was shown to be MRPA, a gene involved in SbIII sequestration and amplified in an intrachromosomal amplicon in all CG strains characterized so far. This amplicon emerged around 1850 in the CG, well before the implementation of antimonials for VL chemotherapy, and we discuss here several hypotheses of selective pressure that could have accompanied its emergence. IMPORTANCE The "antibiotic resistance crisis" is a major challenge for scientists and medical professionals. This steady rise in drug-resistant pathogens also extends to parasitic diseases, with antimony being the first anti-Leishmania drug that fell in the Indian subcontinent (ISC). Leishmaniasis is a major but neglected infectious disease with limited therapeutic options. Therefore, understanding how parasites became resistant to antimonials is of commanding importance. In this study, we experimentally characterized the dynamics of this resistance acquisition and show for the first time that some Leishmania populations of the ISC were preadapted to antimony resistance, likely driven by environmental factors or by drugs used in the 19th century.


This paper presents a genetic algorithm (GA)-support vector machine (SVM) hybrid classifier for multiclass fault identification of drivetrain gearboxes in variable-speed operational conditions. An adaptive feature extraction algorithm is employed to effectively extract the features of gearbox faults from the stator current signal of an AC machine connected to the gearbox. The multiclass GA-SVM classifier is used to identify the faults in the gearbox according to the fault features extracted. A GA is designed to find the optimal parameters of the SVM to obtain the best classification accuracy. The proposed hybrid classifier is validated on a gearbox connected with a permanent-magnet synchronous machine with three different faults. Experimental results show that the multiple types of gearbox faults can be effectively identified and classified by the proposed hybrid classifier with better accuracy than the traditional SVM classifier.


A recent Supreme Court decision—Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304 (2002)—prohibiting the execution of mentally retarded (MR) defendants may have raised the attractiveness of feigning this condition in the criminal justice system. Unfortunately, very few published studies have addressed the detection of feigned MR. The present report compared results from tests of intelligence, psychiatric feigning, and neurocognitive faking in a group of 26 mild MR participants (MR) and 25 demographically matched community volunteers asked to feign MR (CVM). Results showed that the CVM suppressed their IQ scores to approximate closely the level of MR participants. WAIS-III and psychiatric malingering measures were relatively ineffective at discriminating feigned from genuine MR. Although neurocognitive malingering tests were more accurate, their reduced specificity in MR participants was of potential concern. Revised cutting scores, set to maintain a Specificity rate of about .95 in MR clients, were identified, although they require cross-validation. Overall, these results suggest that new cutting scores will likely need to be validated to detect feigned MR using current malingering instruments.


In this paper we analyze if a shock of violence that has severe material and psychological consequences induces a sense of helplessness and pessimism about the future. For this purpose, we bring together micro-level data on expectations of future household mobility, psychological stress, and exposure to violence from a sample of rural households in Colombia, some of which were victimized and displaced in the past ten years. We find that perceptions regarding the size of the shock to wellbeing, poor material conditions, and the severity of victimization induce overly pessimistic expectations about the individual's ability to move out of poverty. These results thus suggest the incidence of learned helplessness among the displaced population, a condition that shatters hopes and aspirations and hinders the ability to undertake actions that would change future wellbeing. The shock of displacement could thus lead to pervasive economic behavior and to a behavioral poverty trap.


With wit and intelligence, Leo Katz seeks to understand the basic rules and concepts underlying the moral, linguistic, and psychological puzzles that plague the criminal law. "Bad Acts and Guilty Minds ...revives the mind, it challenges superficial analyses, it reminds us that underlying the vast body of statutory and case law, there is a rationale founded in basic notions of fairness and reason...It will help lawyers to better serve their clients and the society that permits attorneys to hang out their shingles."--Edward N. Costikyan, New York Times Book Review


Geotechnical engineers remain busy assessing and rebuilding U.S. infrastructure, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Opportunities abound in the reconstruction of bridges and interstate highways, and also in the construction of mass transit systems. Acquiring useful shallow (< 200 ft) seismic data in noisy urban conditions has always been difficult. The site conditions beneath bridges or in high-volume traffic corridors generally preclude acquisition of quality seismic data. Acquisition adjustments historically have not been practical, and the results were seldom useful to the project engineer. But just because these sites are located in difficult urban settings does not mean geophysical imaging should be overlooked as a source of valuable information for engineering design or construction. With the advent of surface wavefield methods, particularly passive surface-wave recording, urban site conditions no longer pose the same limitations to all surface-based geophysics.


The structural transformation of vacancy voids in the grain boundary region of the bicrystal under the influence of post-cascade shock waves is studied with the aid of molecular dynamics simulations. It is shown that the void may be split into two parts or completely displaced. This effect depends on the relative position of the void and grain boundary dislocations. Also shown is a seamless transfer of vacancy clusters through the tilt grain boundary.


Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is characterized by addiction to online gaming and reduced executive control, particularly when individuals are exposed to gaming-related cues. Executive control can be measured as vagally mediated heart rate variability (HRV), which corresponds to variability in the time interval between heart beats. In this study, we investigated whether individuals with IGD have altered HRV while playing online games. We hypothesized that while gaming, individuals with IGD would exhibit phasic suppression of vagally mediated HRV, which would reflect executive control dysfunction during game play. To test this, we measured the changes of HRV when young males with IGD were engaged in real-time online gaming. The changes of HRV were associated with the severity of IGD assessed by self-reports and prefrontal gray matter volume (GMV) calculated by voxel-based morphometry. We included 23 IGD subjects and 18 controls in our analyses. Changes in HRV were not statistically different between IGD subjects and controls. Within the IGD group, however, subjects showed significant decreases in high-frequency (HF) HRV during gaming. Furthermore, the degree of decrease correlated with IGD severity and prefrontal GMV. Importantly, this phasic suppression of HF-HRV in response to gaming did not occur in control subjects. In conclusion, young males with IGD showed an altered HRV response while playing an online game, reflecting their difficulties in executive control over gaming. The dynamics between executive control and reward seeking may be out of balance during game play in IGD.


In this paper, we present modeling a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system with its components using the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism. The DEVS formalism assures the developed component models are composable and exhibit well-defined temporal behavior independent of the simulation environment. These attributes enable users to assemble a valid simulation using any collection of compatible components to represent complete QKD system architectures. To illustrate the approach, we introduce a prototypical "prepare and measure" QKD system, decompose one of its subsystems, and present the detailed modeling of the subsystem using the DEVS formalism. The developed models are provably composable and exhibit behavior suitable for the intended analytic purpose, thus improving the validity of the simulation. Finally, we examine issues identified during the verification of the conceptual DEVS model and discuss the impact of these findings on implementing a hybrid QKD simulation framework.


The sustainability of a product is evaluated using the product sustainability index (ProdSI) methodology. This methodology is based on the total product life-cycle and a 6R approach. When it comes to product information models, it is difficult to extract required information to evaluate certain elements of ProdSI from the currently available geometry-based product data models. This paper discusses the development of an integrated product information model that will provide all such information, and will facilitate the ProdSI assessment process. The proposed model combines information about geometry and topology along with function, behaviour, manufacturing processes and product sustainability related information.


: Porous alumino-siliceous (PAS) materials are attractive for use in a wide variety of construction and adsorption materials. In the present study, the porous alumino-siliceous materials were synthesized by a geopolymerization method in a reaction from ceramic waste, metakaolin, and an alkaline solution, H 2 O 2 (as a foaming agent) and either pork lard or butter (surfactants). Different amounts of the surfactants (2.5–15 wt%) were added to the samples. The pore shape in the PAS materials was affected by the type of surfactant used. PAS materials with small open pores and high porosity were successfully fabricated with butter as a surfactant. The compressive strength value trend was related to total porosity. The relationship between compressive strength and porosity was found to be consistent with a model proposed by Ryshkewitch. The results suggest that this material can be used as a foam material.


On 2019 April 25.346 and 26.640 UT the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and Virgo gravitational-wave (GW) observatory announced the detection of the first candidate events in Observing Run 3 that contained at least one neutron star (NS). S190425z is a likely binary neutron star (BNS) merger at dL = 156 ± 41 Mpc, while S190426c is possibly the first NS–black hole (BH) merger ever detected, at dL = 377 ± 100 Mpc, although with marginal statistical significance. Here we report our optical follow-up observations for both events using the MMT 6.5 m telescope, as well as our spectroscopic follow-up of candidate counterparts (which turned out to be unrelated) with the 4.1 m SOAR telescope. We compare to publicly reported searches, explore the overall areal coverage and depth, and evaluate those in relation to the optical/near-infrared (NIR) kilonova emission from the BNS merger GW170817, to theoretical kilonova models, and to short gamma-ray burst (SGRB) afterglows. We find that for a GW170817-like kilonova, the partial volume covered spans up to about 40% for S190425z and 60% for S190426c. For an on-axis jet typical of SGRBs, the search effective volume is larger, but such a configuration is expected in at most a few percent of mergers. We further find that wide-field γ-ray and X-ray limits rule out luminous on-axis SGRBs, for a large fraction of the localization regions, although these searches are not sufficiently deep in the context of the γ-ray emission from GW170817 or off-axis SGRB afterglows. The results indicate that some optical follow-up searches are sufficiently deep for counterpart identification to about 300 Mpc, but that localizations better than 1000 deg2 are likely essential.


Spectral imaging requires rapid analysis of spectra associated with each pixel. A rapid algorithm has been developed that uses iterative matrix inversions to solve for the absorption spectra of a tissue using a lookup table for photon pathlength based on numerical simulations. The algorithm uses tissue water content as an internal standard to specify the strength of optical scattering. An experimental example is presented on the spectroscopy of portwine stain lesions. When implemented in MATLAB, the method is ~100-fold faster than using fminsearch().


In recent years, South Africa has attracted migrants from other African countries, many of whom find work in the informal sector of the economy. At the same time, African migrants elsewhere in Europe and the US have been shown to have higher rates of HIV infection than the general population. In South Africa, however, little is known about the vulnerability of international migrants to HIV infection. This study explored HIV/AIDS risks among informal economy migrants in the broader context of migration. The objective is to explore HIV/AIDS risk among migrants and to understand how migration experiences shape vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. This is a case study of ten Nigerian migrant traders in the Church Walk flea market in Durban. Ethnographic methods such as participant observation, individual and key informant interviews, as well as informal group discussion were used to collect in-depth data on migrants' motivations for migrating, challenges faced upon arriving in South Africa and sexual risk behaviours. It was found that migrants become vulnerable to HIV/AIDS both during the process of migration and once settled in the informal economy. Migrants found it difficult to secure jobs once in South Africa. Consequently, they had to deal with disillusionment, hunger, homelessness and hopelessness. During this period of hardship, migrants indulged in risky sexual practices such as having unprotected sex with casual partners as a means of dealing with their precarious situation. Migrants also had unprotected sex with many regular and casual partners once in the flea market where, as a last resort, they had found self-employment but had no access to HIV/AIDS intervention programmes. Reasons cited for risky sexual behaviour included separation from regular partners, loneliness, sexual pressures and the lack of social sanctions, which regulated sexual behaviour in their home country. The findings show that international migrants in the infonnal economy are a potential high-risk group for HIV infection and could transmit HIV to local partners as well as regular partners in their home country. This study highlights the need for interventions to reach this population.


Elementary schools are under increasing pressure to teach science and teach it well; yet, research documents that classroom teachers must overcome numerous personal and school-based challenges to teach science effectively at this level, such as access to materials and inadequate instructional time. The elementary science specialist model represents an alternative to the traditional model of classroom teachers providing science instruction. Although changing who teaches science may remove personal challenges, we do not know if the specialist alone can overcome the school-based challenges to teaching science. This study explored how school supports for science teaching varied across five elementary schools with science specialists through a qualitative comparative case study methodology. Drawing upon theory from organizational studies, school supports were conceptualized as four interrelated dimensions: (1) leadership, (2) resources, (3) culture, and (4) the external environment. Findings indicate that the science specialist model alone is insufficient to overcome school-based challenges to science teaching. Findings also reveal the potential danger of the specialist model to marginalize science as a content area. Overall, this study clarifies the importance of the principal to provide schoolwide leadership for science and to establish the value of science necessary to support a strong elementary science program.


Around the fourth decade of the last century there is a discernible climate of lively interest in a "Christian philosophy" and in new apologetic methods capable of re-expressing sensibilities and thematics that, while faithful to the dogmatic contents established by "Pascendi", would not necessarily reproduce the selfsame speculative and apologetic enterprise of the Thomism of the Neo-Scholastics. This is the wider context of a significant correspondence between Maurice Blondel and Luigi Stefanini, at the time a young lecturer at the University of Padua. This epistolary exchange - four letters by Blondel and one by Stefanini, which remained completely unpublished until some months ago - bears witness to the great philosophical undertaking of both. Both, being believers, aimed to carry out a speculative effort, which - not sacrificing any of the "technical" exigencies of philosophy as such - was not to obligate the Christian believer to renounce engaging in reflection that is explicitly "philosophical," i.e. based on the force of reason. This correspondence has its specific context in the Italian cultural environment, dominated by the almost hegemonic tendencies of Idealism, but also by the concerns of ecclesiastical authorities inevitably bound to official Thomism. In relation to this relatively closed and monothematic Italian landscape, Blondel stands out with the great refinement of his philosophical reflections, his passionate and conscious attempt to relate reason and faith, to respond with a philosophy capable of making human beings open to truth, or to the search for truth, capable of pointing to life, able to penetrate life itself in all its dimensions, including the dimension of the supernatural. To all of these thematics the Italian thinker relates "in sympathy". Indeed, having become close to it since his doctoral thesis, Stefanini will remain faithful to the spirit of "Blondelism" throughout his vast philosophical experience, from "imaginism" to "personalism", from the study of Plato to that of the existentialists.


Depressions of the Western Desert of Egypt (specifically, Kharga, Farafra, and Kurkur regions) are mainly occupied by shales that are impermeable, but easily erodible by rainfall and runoff, whereas the surrounding plateaus are composed of limestones that are permeable and more resistant to fluvial erosion under semiarid to arid conditions. Scallopshaped escarpment edges and stubby-looking channels that cut into the plateau units are suggestive of slumping of limestones by ground-water sapping at the limestone-shale interfaces, removal of slump blocks by weathering and fluvial erosion, and consequent scarp retreat. Spring-derived tufa deposits found near the limestone escarpments provide additional evidence for possible ground-water sapping during previous wet periods. A computer simulation model was developed to quantify the ground-water sapping processes, using a cellular automata algorithm with coupled surface runoff and ground-water flow for a permeable, resistant layer over an impermeable, friable unit. Erosion, deposition, slumping, and generation of spring-derived tufas were parametrically modeled. Simulations using geologically reasonable parameters demonstrate that relatively rapid erosion of the shales by surface runoff, ground-water sapping, and slumping of the limestones, and detailed control by hydraulic conductivity inhomogeneities associated with structures explain the depressions, escarpments, and associated landforms and deposits. Using episodic wet pulses, keyed by δ18O deep-sea core record, the model produced tufa ages that are statistically consistent with the observed U/Th tufa ages. This result supports the hypothesis that northeastern African wet periods occurred during interglacial maxima. The δ18O-forced model also replicates the decrease in fluvial and sapping activity over the past million years, as northeastern Africa became hyperarid. The model thus provides a promising predictive tool for studying long-term landform evolution that involves surface and subsurface processes and climatic change.


In any economy, employment growth at faster rates than economic growth is essential in reducing unemployment levels and facilitating economic development. Employment creation is one of the main cornerstones of any economy. Globally new employment has been difficult to achieve, especially within a low economic growth environment. High levels of sustained unemployment relate to structural weaknesses in an economy. South Africa has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world of more than 27 percent, with associated low economic growth and relatively high levels of inflation and interest rates. The objective of this research was to analyse the status quo regarding employment and the relationship with economic growth measured as growth in gross domestic product (GDP) in South Africa. The study used econometric time-series methods to test for a long and short-run relationship between employment and economic growth by utilising quarterly data from 2002 to 2016. Variables included in the study consisted of employment, real GDP, inflation rate and the repo rate. The study found long-run cointegrating relationships amongst the variables. The analysis indicated that South Africa has experienced an employment coefficient of 0.96. In terms of Granger-causality analysis, the study found that economic growth and repo rate cause changes in employment. Recommendations were also made regarding solutions for job creation in South Africa which should have an impact on future policy formulation.


Adolescents with disruptive behaviour problems represent one of the most difficult and recalcitrant treatment populations. These youth and their parents often enter treatment unwilling or unable to try new behaviours. Family interactions are laced with blame, hostility, hopelessness, and rejection, all of which create a context that interferes with adaptive change. This book explains how to provide Functional Family Therapy (FFT), an empirically supported, highly successful family intervention for delinquent and substance-using adolescents. FFT systematically alters important risk and protective factors associated with the problem behaviours. The FFT therapist first increases family members' motivation to change by disrupting their dysfunctional attributions about themselves and each other and replacing them with more positive and adaptive perceptions. The therapist then works with the family to eliminate the problem behaviours and generalise new skills and interaction patterns to broader community relations. Robust yet flexible, the FFT model has been replicated successfully in juvenile justice, mental health, and child welfare settings, as well as traditional substance treatment and school-based programs. Given FFT's high success rate and ability to fit an array of settings, this book is ideal for all therapists and administrators who work with troubled youth and their families. Readers will learn the therapy goals and techniques for each phase of FFT, as well as recommendations for supervision and administration.


Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most common type of bladder cancer. Emerging evidence has suggested that the capability of a tumor to grow and propagate is dependent on a small subset of cells, the cancer stem‐like cells (CSCs) or tumor initiating cells. We report on the isolation and biological characterization of putative bladder CSC populations from primary TCCs. Isolated cells were induced to proliferate in stem cell culture conditions (serum‐free medium containing mitogenic growth factors). The proliferating cells formed spheroids (urospheres) and their abilities for extensive proliferation and self‐renewal were assayed. Their positivity for several stem cell markers (CD133, Oct‐3/4, nestin, and cytokeratins) was also assessed by immunofluorescence tests and they could have the potential to differentiate in the presence of serum. In stem cell culture conditions they gradually showed loss of proliferation, adherence to the substrate, and morphological changes, which might reflect their progressive acquisition of differentiative capacity and loss of self‐renewal ability. To evaluate if effective cell selection occurred after isolation, conventional cytogenetic studies on fresh chromosome spreads immediately after isolation and after culture were carried out. In addition, a molecular cytogenetic study by UroVysion assay was carried out on paraffin‐embedded tissue sections and on fresh and after culture nuclei preparations. The data collected indicated important karyotype changes and a positive selection for hypo‐ or near‐diploid cells, losing the complexity present in fresh tumors. (Cancer Sci 2009)


Lower and Middle Cenomanian ammonite assemblages have been collected on a bed-by-bed basis from localities at Vohipaly and Mahaboboka, Madagascar, as well as from outcrops around Berekata, all in the Morondava Basin, southwest Madagascar. These collections demonstrate the presence of the upper Lower Cenomanian Mantelliceras dixoni  Zone and the lower Middle Cenomanian Cunningtoniceras inerme Zone of the north-western European standard sequence. These records indicate that the striking anomalies in the zonal assemblages of the classic divisions of the Madagascan Cenomanian are based on mixed assemblages, rather than a succession that differs radically from that elsewhere in the world. The dixoni Zone fauna is: Desmoceras cf. latidorsatum (Michelin, 1838), Pachydesmoceras kossmati Matsumoto, 1987, Forbesiceras sp., F. baylissi  Wright & Kennedy, 1984, F. largilliertianum (d'Orbigny, 1841),  Mantelliceras cantianum Spath, 1926a, M. dixoni Spath, 1926b, M. mantelli (J. Sowerby, 1814), M. picteti Hyatt, 1903,  M. saxbii (Sharpe, 1857), Sharpeiceras sp., S. falloti (Collignon, 1931), S. mocambiquense (Choffat, 1903), S . cf. florencae  Spath, 1925, Acompsoceras renevieri (Sharpe, 1857), A. tenue Collignon, 1964, Calycoceras sp., Mrhiliceras lapparenti (Pervinquiere, 1907), Mariella ( Mariella ) stolizcai (Collignon, 1964), Hypoturrilites taxyfabreae (Collignon, 1964), Turrilites scheuchzerianus Bosc, 1801, Sciponoceras cucullatum Collignon, 1964, and Sciponoceras antanimangaensis  (Collignon, 1964). The presence of Calycoceras in a Lower Cenomanian association represents a precocious appearance of a genus typically Middle and Upper Cenomanian in occurrence, and matches records from Tunisia. The inerme Zone yields a more restricted assemblage: Pachydesmoceras kossmati , Forbesiceras baylissi , Acanthoceras  sp. juv., Cunningtoniceras cunningtoni (Sharpe, 1855) and Hypoturrilites taxyfabreae .


BACKGROUND: The prevalence of skin cancer is rising worldwide. It is important to know the level of understanding of the population in the city of Recife. OBJECTIVE: Faced with the lack of statistical data on the knowledge and prevention of negative effects of sun exposure and especially skin cancer, an epidemiological study was carried out on members attending the main gyms located in the city of Recife. The study aimed at assessing their knowledge about skin cancer and its prevention. METHOD: Five hundred questionnaires comprising 22 items were applied to obtain data on each individual, notably age, sex, family income, educational level and behavior regarding sun exposure. Karl Pearson's chi-square test was applied for the statistical analysis. The frequency of similar replies was grouped in graphs and tables that allowed a discussion and comparison of the results with the literature. RESULTS: Of the females in the sample, the majority were under 40 years of age. There were more whites than blacks and family income was over 10 times the Brazilian legal minimum wages. CONCLUSION: The majority knew about the risks and damage associated with sun exposure as well as the means to protect the skin, nevertheless, those interviewed exposed themselves to these risks, but adopted various protective measures.


Live animal trade is considered a major mode of introduction of viruses from enzootic foci into disease-free areas. Due to societal and behavioural changes, some wild animal species may nowadays be considered as pet species. The species diversity of animals involved in international trade is thus increasing. This could benefit pathogens that have a broad host range such as arboviruses. The objective of this study was to analyze the risk posed by live animal imports for the introduction, in the European Union (EU), of four arboviruses that affect human and horses: Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan equine encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis. Importation data for a five-years period (2005-2009, extracted from the EU TRACES database), environmental data (used as a proxy for the presence of vectors) and horses and human population density data (impacting the occurrence of clinical cases) were combined to derive spatially explicit risk indicators for virus introduction and for the potential consequences of such introductions. Results showed the existence of hotspots where the introduction risk was the highest in Belgium, in the Netherlands and in the north of Italy. This risk was higher for Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) than for the three other diseases. It was mainly attributed to exotic pet species such as rodents, reptiles or cage birds, imported in small-sized containments from a wide variety of geographic origins. The increasing species and origin diversity of these animals may have in the future a strong impact on the risk of introduction of arboviruses in the EU.


Background/Objectives: New tools to accurately identify potentially preventable 30-day readmissions are needed. The HOSPITAL score has been internationally validated for medical inpatients, but its performance in select conditions targeted by the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) is unknown. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Six geographically diverse medical centers. Participants/Exposures: All consecutive adult medical patients discharged alive in 2011 with 1 of the 4 medical conditions targeted by the HRRP (acute myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, and heart failure) were included. Potentially preventable 30-day readmissions were identified using the SQLape algorithm. The HOSPITAL score was calculated for all patients. Measurements: A multivariable logistic regression model accounting for hospital effects was used to evaluate the accuracy (Brier score), discrimination (c-statistic), and calibration (Pearson goodness-of-fit) of the HOSPITAL score for each 4 medical conditions. Results: Among the 9181 patients included, the overall 30-day potentially preventable readmission rate was 13.6%. Across all 4 diagnoses, the HOSPITAL score had very good accuracy (Brier score of 0.11), good discrimination (c-statistic of 0.68), and excellent calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, P=0.77). Within each diagnosis, performance was similar. In sensitivity analyses, performance was similar for all readmissions (not just potentially preventable) and when restricted to patients age 65 and above. Conclusions: The HOSPITAL score identifies a high-risk cohort for potentially preventable readmissions in a variety of practice settings, including conditions targeted by the HRRP. It may be a valuable tool when included in interventions to reduce readmissions within or across these conditions.


Background: Statistical concepts and techniques are often applied incorrectly, even in mature disciplines such as medicine or psychology. Surprisingly, there are very few works that study statistical problems in software engineering (SE). Aim: Assess the existence of statistical errors in SE experiments. Method: Compile the most common statistical errors in experimental disciplines. Survey experiments published in ICSE to assess whether errors occur in high quality SE publications. Results: The same errors as identified in others disciplines were found in ICSE experiments, where 30 of the reviewed papers included several error types such as: a) missing statistical hypotheses, b) missing sample size calculation, c) failure to assess statistical test assumptions, and d) uncorrected multiple testing. This rather large error rate is greater for research papers where experiments are confined to the validation section. The origin of the errors can be traced back to: a) researchers not having sufficient statistical training, and b) a profusion of exploratory research. Conclusions: This paper provides preliminary evidence that SE research suffers from the same statistical problems as other experimental disciplines. However, the SE community appears to be unaware of any shortcomings in its experiments, whereas other disciplines work hard to avoid these threats. Further research is necessary to find the underlying causes and set up corrective measures, but there are some potentially effective actions and are a priori easy to implement: a) improve the statistical training of SE researchers, and b) enforce quality assessment and reporting guidelines in SE publications.


The generally-accepted law and economics theory of trademarks fails to explain why a brand owner would ever walk away from a trademark that generates financially lucrative returns.  In 2020, that is exactly what happened again and again as brand owners pledged to abandon racially explicit marks in the weeks following George Floyd's murder.  As citizens became more attuned to the experiences of those depicted in racial marks, the owners of Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben's, the Cleveland Indians, the Redskins, the Dixie Chicks, Lady Antebellum and others announced these brands' days were numbered.  By evoking racist stereotypes, they became a moral liability.  They could not be authentically unifying if they promoted values inconsistent with contemporary notions of equality and anti-racism.  This Article situates the adoption of racially explicit brands in a historic context and explores the reactions of the targeted communities.  It then explains why multiple legal challenges to these federal trademark registrations failed.  The traditional law and economics paradigm used to justify and explain trademark law does not account for strategic trademark decisions driven by values and expressive community connections.  While law and economics captures the essential message a symbol must communicate to function as a mark, it neglects to explain why some marks fail or, in spite of spectacular success, may be abandoned.  When a theory cannot account for what is happening in practice, it is time to reach for new tools to help explain the significant role trademarks play in reflecting and leading cultural dynamics.
The consumer investment framework is ideally suited to fill this theoretical gap.  It accounts for expressive and value driven decision making.  It embraces the many ways we engage with marks apart from the point of purchase.  In addition to purchasing trademarked products, people invest trademarks with time, meaning, and money.  Open dialogue between brand managers, influencers, and fans facilitates connections through shared values.  By accounting for brand meaning, communities, and values, the consumer investment theory provides a better framework for understanding the abandonment of racist imagery in a way that traditional law and economics cannot.  Where law and economics fails to function as an explanatory paradigm, the consumer investment model provides a theoretical framework for understanding how trademarks function if they are to succeed and what qualities make them resilient enough to remain resonant in a constantly changing cultural environment.


This paper considers the role for a Framework Convention on Global Health in addressing key challenges in women's health at a global level. Part I analyses the conceptualization of health in terms of human rights and the linking of women's rights and human rights. Part II seeks to identify pressing issues for women's health, articulating 10 key challenges for women's health. Part III considers the proposal for a Framework Convention on Global Health to meet global health needs. Finally, Part IV asks whether international law can provide a valuable platform to support recognition and achievement of women's health rights and identifies key elements for supporting and promoting women's health.


BACKGROUND: Intravenous (IV) medication administration has traditionally been regarded to be error-prone with high potential for harm. A recent US multisite study revealed surprisingly few potentially harmful errors despite a high overall error rate. However, there is limited evidence about infusion practices in England and how they relate to prevalence and types of error. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, types and severity of errors and discrepancies in infusion administration in English hospitals, and to explore sources of variation in errors, discrepancies and practices, including the contribution of smart pumps. DESIGN: Phase 1 comprised an observational point-prevalence study of IV infusions, with debrief interviews and focus groups. Observers compared each infusion against the medication order and local policy. Deviations were classified as either errors or discrepancies based on their potential for patient harm. Contextual issues and reasons for deviations were explored qualitatively during observer debriefs, and analytically in supplementary analyses. Phase 2 comprised in-depth observational studies at five of the participating sites to better understand causes of error and how safety is maintained. Workshops were held with key stakeholder groups, including health professionals and policy-makers, the public and industry. IV infusion practices across England and their impact on patient safety | 2 IVTEAM. | 2 SETTING: Sixteen English NHS hospital trusts. RESULTS: Point-prevalence data were collected from 1326 patients and 2008 infusions. In total, 240 errors were observed in 231 infusions and 1489 discrepancies were observed in 1065 infusions. Twenty-three errors (1.1% of all infusions) were considered potentially harmful; one might have resulted in short-term patient harm had it not been intercepted, but none was judged likely to prolong hospital stay or result in long-term harm. Types and prevalence of deviations varied widely among trusts, as did local policies. Deviations from medication orders and local policies were sometimes made for efficiency or to respond to patient need. Smart pumps, as currently implemented, had little effect. Staff had developed practices to manage efficiency and safety pragmatically by working around systemic challenges. LIMITATIONS: Local observers may have assessed errors differently across sites, although steps were taken to minimise differences through observer training, debriefs, and review and cleaning of data. Each in-depth study involved a single researcher, and these were limited in scale and scope. CONCLUSIONS: Errors and discrepancies are common in everyday infusion administration but most have low potential for patient harm. Findings are best understood by viewing IV infusion administration as a complex adaptive system. Better understanding of performance variability to strategically manage risk may be more helpful for improving patient safety than striving to eliminate all deviations. FUTURE WORK: There is potential value in reviewing policy around IV infusion administration to reduce unnecessary variability, manage staff workload and engage patients, while retaining the principle that policy has to be fit for purpose, contextualised to the particular ward situation and treatment protocol, and sensitive to the risks of different medications. Further work on understanding infusion administration as a complex adaptive system might deliver new insights into managing patient safety. FUNDING: This project was funded by the NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 8, No. 7. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. IV infusion practices across England and their impact on patient safety | 3 IVTEAM. | 3 Full Text You may also be interested in Comparison of IV infusion practices between the United States and England Study determines the safety of IV magnesium sulfate infusion Caution when using pumps for intravenous fluid infusion on a tucked limb Reference: Blandford, A., Furniss, D., Galal-Edeen, G.H., Chumbley, G., Wei, L., Mayer, A. and Franklin, B.D. (2020) Intravenous infusion practices across England and their impact on patient safety: a mixed-methods observational study. Health Services and Delivery Research. Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library; 2020 February. I enjoyed reading... IV infusion practices across England and their impact on patient safety Share Tweet Share More: Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rss-square Envelope Podcast


By many estimates, the world has just crossed the point where more than half the world's population is urban, a trend driven by rapid urbanization in developing countries. Urban centers offer economies of scale in terms of productive enterprise and public investment. Cities are social melting pots, centers of innovation and drivers of social change. However, cities are also marked by social differentiation, poverty, conflict and environmental degradation. These are all issues that not only matter to cities but also lie at the heart of development. As such the time is right to consider afresh the relationship between cities and development. This paper introduces a significant new collection of multidisciplinary papers focused on urbanization and its implications for development. It raises four questions: (i) What is so special about the urban context? (ii) Why is urbanization and urban growth important to development at the present conjuncture? (iii) What are the strengths and limitations of our current state of knowledge about urbanization and development from the policy perspective and finally, (iv) how can a multidisciplinary perspective on the urban context add value to development research and policy?


In contrast to the traditional viewpoint of psychopathology, which compulsivity [a repetitive ritualistic behavior which persists albeit its inappropriateness to the given situation and often result in undesirable consequences] and impulsivity [which encompasses actions that are insufficiently conceived, prematurely expressed, excessively risky or inappropriate to the situation, and that often lead to undesirable outcomes] were positioned at opposite ends of a behavioral characteristics, recent neuroimaging studies raise the possibility of compulsivity and impulsivity being orthogonal factors that each contribute in varying degrees to various psychiatric conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this presentation, I firstly will discuss two differential facets of compulsivityimpulsivity using the clinical (compulsion sub-score of Y-BOCS) and neurocognitive (stop signal task) measures and examined their neural underpinning as reflected in the small-world network of structural (DTI) and resting state functional connectivity network in OCD subjects. Later on, this presentation will also discuss the relationship between OCD and substancerelated and addictive disorders (as defined in the DSM-5) from the spectrum-wise perspective of compulsivity and impulsivity, also using the frame of structural and functional connectome, to widen our understanding for clinical and neurocognitive dimensions of compulsivity-impulsivity phenomena. Speaker 4: Jon Grant, USA Title: Treatment of Compulsive and Impulsive Disorders Abstract Impulsivity and compulsivity have been considered opposite poles of a continuous spectrum, but their relationship appears to be more complex. Disorders characterized by impulsivity often have features of compulsivity and vice versa. The overlaps of the constructs of compulsivity and impulsivity, as well as their differences, suggest different pharmacological targets may be warranted. This presentation will discuss novel pharmacological interventions for compulsive and impulsive behaviors. Many of the pharmacological options that reduce impulsive or compulsive behaviors in certain disorders may be useful for these cognitive domains seen in other disorders. For the purposes of this talk, I will focus on several classes of pharmacological agents and discuss to what extent they may be effective in reducing impulsivity and compulsivity. Of course, there are multiple forms of impulsivity and compulsivity, and different forms of each can co-occur within the same person. In some cases, there are data regarding which type of impulsivity or compulsivity the pharmacological agent is targeting. In those cases, this talk will discuss the subtype in more detail. Additionally, the presentation will discuss the implications of basic neuroscience for developing novel neuropsychopharmacological interventions, and the relevant clinical evidence-base.Impulsivity and compulsivity have been considered opposite poles of a continuous spectrum, but their relationship appears to be more complex. Disorders characterized by impulsivity often have features of compulsivity and vice versa. The overlaps of the constructs of compulsivity and impulsivity, as well as their differences, suggest different pharmacological targets may be warranted. This presentation will discuss novel pharmacological interventions for compulsive and impulsive behaviors. Many of the pharmacological options that reduce impulsive or compulsive behaviors in certain disorders may be useful for these cognitive domains seen in other disorders. For the purposes of this talk, I will focus on several classes of pharmacological agents and discuss to what extent they may be effective in reducing impulsivity and compulsivity. Of course, there are multiple forms of impulsivity and compulsivity, and different forms of each can co-occur within the same person. In some cases, there are data regarding which type of impulsivity or compulsivity the pharmacological agent is targeting. In those cases, this talk will discuss the subtype in more detail. Additionally, the presentation will discuss the implications of basic neuroscience for developing novel neuropsychopharmacological interventions, and the relevant clinical evidence-base.


Training of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) is notoriously fragile, requiring to maintain a careful balance between the generator and the discriminator in order to perform well. To mitigate this issue we introduce a new regularization technique - progressive augmentation of GANs (PA-GAN). The key idea is to gradually increase the task difficulty of the discriminator by progressively augmenting its input or feature space, thus enabling continuous learning of the generator. We show that the proposed progressive augmentation preserves the original GAN objective, does not compromise the discriminator's optimality and encourages a healthy competition between the generator and discriminator, leading to the better-performing generator. We experimentally demonstrate the effectiveness of PA-GAN across different architectures and on multiple benchmarks for the image synthesis task, on average achieving ~3 point improvement of the FID score.


Poor adherence is an issue in clinical trials with a striking magnitude and negative impact. Recent studies indicate that two widely used clinical screening tools, Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) can be used as risk stratifiers to identify participants who require extra interaction to stay adherent in specific population. There is, however, little evidence to support the implication of these tools in elderly individuals with mobility limitations. These individuals may be particularly vulnerable to the risks of poor adherence in the context of a demanding interventional scheme. This study fulfills this gap by analyzing the quality of life and adherence data from the VIVE2 study, which is a double-blinded randomized explanatory clinical trial assessing the benefits of nutritional supplements and daily exercises to elderly patients with mobility limitation. The preliminary results showed that in clinical studies targeting elderly population with mobility limitations, the summary scores of SF-36 trended to have weak and nonsignificant association with a decreased risk of poor adherence to both exercise completion and product consumption while CES-D has no association.


We study two-beam interaction in photorefractive sillenite crystals in reflection geometry and derive analytic expressions for the signal gain and its polarization direction in the presence of a strong pump beam. The crystal is cut normal to one of the crystallographic axes, and no external electric field is applied. Crystal absorption and its natural optical activity are taken into account. The coupling effects are strongly dependent on the polarization directions of the interacting beams. We determine the optimal polarization directions and optimal crystal thickness that give maximum signal gain. Experimental results are in excellent agreement with theoretical calculations.


The kinetics of photosensitive polymer holographic recording materials are examined assuming a material that exhibits nonideal kinetic behavior. Previously, a linear relationship between monomer concentration and polymerization was assumed when deriving the nonlocal polymer-driven diffusion (NPDD) model. This is consistent with ideal kinetic conditions in which chain termination is governed by a bimolecular process. However, these models have been reported to disagree with experimental results. In a limiting case of nonideal kinetics it is assumed that primary termination is dominant. In this case the NPDD model must be modified to incorporate a quadratic relationship between the monomer concentration and the polymerization rate. By use of a multiharmonic expansion method of solution the predictions of ideal (bimolecular or linear) and nonideal (primary or quadratic) kinetic models are compared. By using these models we carried out numerical fits to experimental growth curves of gratings recorded in an acrylamide-based cross-linked photopolymer system. Superior fits are achieved by use of the primary termination model. Physical parameters such as the diffusion constant are extracted and compared with results previously reported in the literature.


The estimation of rare event probability is a crucial issue in areas such as reliability, telecommunications, aircraft management. In complex systems, analytical study is out of question and one has to use Monte Carlo methods. When rare is really rare, which means a probability less than 10−9, naive Monte Carlo becomes unreasonable. A widespread technique consists in multilevel splitting, but this method requires enough knowledge about the system to decide where to put the levels at hand. This is unfortunately not always possible. In this paper, we propose an adaptive algorithm to cope with this problem: the estimation is asymptotically consistent, costs just a little bit more than classical multilevel splitting and has the same efficiency in terms of asymptotic variance. In the one dimensional case, we prove rigorously the a.s. convergence and the asymptotic normality of our estimator, with the same variance as with other algorithms that use fixed crossing levels. In our proofs we mainly use tools from the theory of empirical processes, which seems to be quite new in the field of rare events. Key-words: rare events, adaptive multilevel simulation, asymptotic normality


This book is for anyone who wants to learn computer programming and knows absolutely nothing about it. Of course, if you are wondering whether this book is going to teach you how to create amazing applets or incredible desktop or mobile applications, the answer is "no"that is a job for other books. So many books out there can teach you those skills in Python, C#, or Java. Many of them even claim that they can teach you in 24 hours! Dont laugh! They probably can do that, but all of them take one thing for grantedthat the reader knows some basics about computer programming. None of those books, unfortunately, bothers to teach you the first thing that a novice programmer needs to learn, which is "Algorithmic Thinking." Algorithmic Thinking involves more than just learning code. It is a problem solving process that involves learning how to code. With over 700 pages, and containing more than 300 solved and 400 unsolved exercises, over 450 true/false, 150 multiple choice, and 180 review questions (the solutions and the answers to which can be found on the Internet), this book is ideal for students, teachers, professors, novices or average programmers, or for anyone who wants to start learning or teaching computer programming using the proper conventions and techniques.


Fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) is the first gene associated with body mass index (BMI) and risk for diabetes. FTO is highly expressed in the brain and pancreas, and is involved in regulating dietary intake and energy expenditure. To investigate the transcriptional regulation of FTO expression, we created 5′-deletion constructs of the FTO promoter to determine which transcription factors are most relevant to FTO expression. The presence of an activation region at −201/+34 was confirmed by luciferase activity analysis. A potential Foxa2 (called HNF-3β) binding site and an upstream stimulatory factor (USF)-binding site was identified in the −100 bp fragment upstream of the transcription start site (TSS). Furthermore, using mutagenesis, we identified the Foxa2 binding sequence (−26/−14) as a negative regulatory element to the activity of the human FTO promoter. The USF binding site did not affect the FTO promoter activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed to confirm Foxa2 binding to the FTO promoter. Overexpression of Foxa2 in HEK 293 cells significantly down-regulated FTO promoter activity and expression. Conversely, knockdown of Foxa2 by siRNA significantly up-regulated FTO expression. These findings suggest that Foxa2 negatively regulates the basal transcription and expression of the human FTO gene.


Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and cytopenia in peripheral blood, where about a third of patients may develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The diagnosis of MDS requires the analysis of peripheral blood and bone marrow. Depending on the percentage of blasts in the bone marrow, the number of cytopenias and cytogenetic abnormalities, determination of the prognostic indices is possible (IPSS – "International Prognostic Scoring System", R-IPSS-"Revised International Prognostic Scoring System", WPSS – "WHO Prognostic Scoring System"). Until today, numerous studies have been conducted on the molecular mechanisms and epigenetic pathways in myelodysplastic syndrome, and their prognostic and therapeutic importance, but there are few studies analyzing the importance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in MDS. In the last few years, there have been numerous results on the impact of aberrant miRNA expression in malignant disorders where the miRNA represent tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes. Several miRNAs have been recognized as diagnostic and prognostic parameters and possible therapeutic targets. In this paper, we present the overview of recent results on the role of miRNA in MDS.


The presence of micron aggregates in protein formulations has recently attracted increased interest from regulatory authorities, industry, and academia because of the potential undesired side effects of their presence. In this study, we characterized the micron aggregate formation of hen egg-white lysozyme (Lyz) and its diPEGylated (5 kDa) analog as a result of typical handling stress conditions. Both proteins were subjected to mechanical stress in the absence and presence of silicone oil (SO), elevated temperatures, and freeze-thaw cycles. Flow imaging microscopy showed that PEGylated Lyz formed approximately half as many particles as Lyz, despite its lower apparent thermodynamic stability and more loose protein fold. Further characterization showed that the PEGylation led to a change from attractive to repulsive protein-protein interactions, which may partly explain the reduced particle formation. Surprisingly, the PEGylated Lyz adsorbed an order of magnitude faster onto SO, despite being much larger in size, as determined by small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering measurements. Thus, PEGylation may significantly reduce, but not prevent, micron aggregate formation of a protein during typical handling stresses.


Abstract Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a complex inflammatory disease that can have a long clinical course with sight-threatening and debilitating ocular sequelae. Until recently, there were limited therapeutic options available. In the last decade we have gained a deeper understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, which has led to the development of novel effective targeted therapies. This article discusses the challenges encountered in the clinical evaluation and treatment of TED patients, with the goal to empower endocrinologists and ophthalmologists to work together to provide effective multidisciplinary care. We will review recommendations of past clinical guidelines around evaluation and management of TED patients, discuss the randomized controlled trials of new biologic therapies, and explore how to navigate the emerging therapeutic landscape.


Introduction: Mastopexy surgery associated with breast augmentation is increasingly being requested. At the same time, patients with lower degrees of ptosis are less receptive to any correction through vertical scars. In this context, periareolar (circumareolar) mastopexy with a conical implant is an option that results in a scar that is limited to the areolar perimeter, and enables the treatment of changes in the position and size of the nipple-areola complex. Method: We evaluated 22 patients submitted to periareolar mastopexy with use of conical prostheses coated with polyurethane and placed in a subglandular position. All patients were operated on by the same surgeon. Results: Among the patients, 45% presented with grade I ptosis, 32% grade II, and 23% grade III, and 86% exhibited asymmetry of the nipple-areola complex, 27% lateralization, and 18% large areolas, with some combination in the same patient. The volume of the prostheses ranged from 215 to 380 mL. There were two cases of scar enlargement; however, there were no cases of enlargement of the areola or hypertrophic scar. During the period studied, there were no complications related to the placement of the implant. In the satisfaction questionnaire, most of the patients considered the aspect of the breast to be natural in appearance, giving good grades to the size, symmetry, and height of the breasts; the quality of the scar; and the position, shape, and size of the areolas. Conclusions: This technique produces satisfactory results in cases of mild to moderate ptoses, large areolas, lateralization, and asymmetry of the nipple-areola complex. Important technical aspects include the conservative removal of periareolar skin, use of implants of moderate sizes, and the use of the round-block containment suture.


Directed credit programs were a major tool of development in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, their usefulness was reconsidered. Experience in most countries showed that they stimulated capital-intensive projects, that preferential funds were often (mis)used for nonpriority purposes, that a decline in financial discipline led to low repayment rates, and that budget deficits swelled. Moreover, the programs were hard to remove. But Japan and other East Asian countries have long touted the merits of focused, well-managed directed credit programs, saying they are warranted when there is a significant discrepancy between private and social benefits, when invesment risk is too high on certain projects, and when information problems discourage lending to small and medium-size firms. The assumption underlying policy-based assistance and other forms of industrial assistance (such as lower taxes) is that the main constraint on new or expanding enterprises is limited to access to credit. The authors give an overview of credit policies in East Asian countries (China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea) as well as India, and summarize what these countries have learned about directed credit programs. Among the lessons: 1) Credit programs must small, narrowly focused, and of limited duration (with clear sunset provisions); 2) subsidies must be low to minimize distortion of incentives as well as the tax on financial intermediation that all such programs entail; 3) credit programs must be financed by long-term funds to prevent inflation and macroeconomic instability, recourse to central bank credit should be avoided except in the very early stages of development when the central bank's assistance can help jump-start economic growth; 4) they should aim at achieving positive externalities (or avoiding negative ones), any help to declining industries should include plans for their timely phaseout; 5) they should promote industrialization and export orientation in a competitive private sector with internationaly competitive operations; 6) they should be part of a credible vision of economic development that promotes growth with equity and should involve a long-term strategy to develop a sound financial system; 7) policy based loans should be channeled through well-capitalized, administratively capable financial institutions, professionally managed by autonomous managers; 8) they should be based on clear, objective, easily monitored criteria; 9) programs should aim for a good repayment record and few losses; and 10) they should be supported by effective mechanisms for communication and consultation between the public and private sectors, including the collection and dissemination of basic market information.


Contrary to influential assertions on the early postwar silence surrounding the extermination of European Jewry, in Hungary, as in a number of other countries, extensive documentation of the Holocaust had already begun in the 1940s. In addition to postwar trials, published memoirs and early historical works, thousands of Hungarian Jewish survivors articulated their experiences in the offices of the National Relief Committee for Deportees (DEGOB) in 1945–46. However, these sources have not yet been systematically analyzed and early witness accounts in particular remain heavily underrepresented in historiography. This study is an effort to begin to redress this imbalance by examining 349 DEGOB accounts that discuss Buchenwald, a major Nazi concentration camp and a contested lieu de mémoire. It reveals that returnees defined, represented and assessed Buchenwald in varying ways, their perspectives depending not only on factors such as when and where they stayed in the camp and what they had to endure while there, but also on which other camp they arrived from and the conditions under which they traveled. My analysis of early Hungarian Jewish accounts of Buchenwald also reveals that while a number of interviewees understood their escape from the group of Jewish prisoners within the camp as the key to their eventual survival, others tended to use ethnic labels to identify the perpetrators of violence against them. Moreover, two major narratives were circulating regarding the liberation of the camp: the accidental Nazi failure to complete their program of extermination and another involving a successful uprising of the inmates against their tormentors. Last but not least, the paper argues that some of those who survived Buchenwald and subsequently entered the DEGOB offices showed clear awareness of the Nazi extermination program, but they preferred to discuss it in indirect ways.