This thesis is devoted to define the parameters influencing cold-water coral growth and therefore carbonate mound development with a focus on the impact of diagenesis on mound sediments. The first part of this thesis (Chapters 2 to 4) discusses the distributionand growth history of carbonate mounds, the sedimentary processes leading to sediment accumulation at mound sites and the primary sediment composition of cold-water coral carbonate mounds along the Irish margin. The second part of the thesis (Chapters 5 to 7) elaborates on the post-depositional processes (diagenesis) affecting mound sediments, the timing of these diagenetic processes and their impact on carbonate mound development.Piston cores obtained from mound summits were studied to determine paleo-environmental conditions influencing mound development. Component analysis, thin section petrography and X-ray fluorescence scanning revealed the impact of diagenesisin the form of dissolution and cementation of the coral framework. U-series dating of coral skeletons and stable isotope measurements on foraminifera provided us with a chrono stratigraphic framework for carbonate mound build-up. Coral ages showed that large hiatuses are present in the mounds, which can be linked to multiple phases of erosion or non-deposition in the mound history.In Chapter 2 the morphology and sedimentology of carbonate mounds from two mound provinces at the southeast and southwest margin of the Rockall Trough (RT)(NE Atlantic Ocean) are investigated. Cold-wat er coral mounds on both margins have a strongly different morphology. Single, isolated mounds occur on the SE RT marginand are mainly found on the upper slope between 650 and 900 m water depth, while large mound clusters are found on the SW RT margin in water depths between 600 and 1000 m, in a narrow zone almost parallel to the slope. Sedimentation rates on themounds are higher than on the surrounding seabed as a result of baffling of biogenic carbonate debris and sediment particles by the coral framework. The three-dimensional coral framework and the presence of extensive hardgrounds and firmgroundsare considered to be responsible for the stability of the relatively steep slopes of the mounds. High current velocities in the intra-mound areas result in local non-sedimentationand erosion, as is shown by the presence of IRD lag deposits on the seabed and moats around some of the mounds. The morphology and sedimentology of cold-water coral (mainly Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata) covered mounds on the southernRT margins is discussed and a model is presented describing the development of these mounds.Chapter 3 focuses on U-series dating of constructional cold-water corals. Dating of the coral skeleton of Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata from mounds along the RT margin and in the Porcupine Seabight reveal that the Holocene (past 11 kyr) wasa period generally favourable for coral mound development. Vertical mound growth rates are directly linked to the presence or absence of a dense coral cover at the mound summits. During times of reduced coral growth or the absence of a coral framework,mound growth rates are by far smaller. Periods favourable for coral growth on the SW RT and in the Porcupine Seabight are related to overall climatic warm phases and coralgrowth is largely reduced or even absent on mounds during cold phases such as glacial periods.Chapter 4 describes the accumulation of mainly carbonate sediment on a mound at the SW RT margin. Photo and video surveys at this station show the presence of living coral colonies on top of a thick layer of coral debris, which becomes slowly abraded andbio-eroded. Component analysis of a piston core from a mound summit shows that the coral framework is mainly filled with sediment composed of phytodetritus and skeletal parts of fauna living at the mounds. The mound sediment record displays analternation of skeletal and cement dominated intervals. Dating of coral skeletons and the oxygen stable isotope signature of planktonic and benthic foraminifera indicate a continuous sedimentation pattern since the Younger Dryas. The older part of the core, with mainly intermediate values of stable isotopes is dominated by the presence of large hiatuses, of up to 200,000 yr. Hiatuses in the core possibly are linked to climatechange, which had a large effect on the ocean circulation patterns, thereby influencing the local hydrodynamic regime, food supply and sedimentation patterns around thecarbonate mounds. This affected coral growth and therefore carbonate mound development.In Chapter 5 piston cores obtained at three mound crests reveal the complex internal structure of the mound build up, with alternating unlithified coral-dominatedintervals and lithified intervals. Coral ages obtained by U-series dating show the presence of several hiatuses in mound build-up. Down core X-ray fluorescence scanning(XRF), computed tomography scan images and petrographic observations indicate different degrees of diagenetic alteration. Aragonitic coral material is absent or onlypresent as mouldic porosity in the lithified intervals and coccoliths display widespread calcite overgrowths. The dissolution of the unstable aragonitic coral skeletons is linkedto organic matter oxidation and the subsequent lowering of the saturation state of the carbonate system. A model is presented describing the sedimentary and diagenetic processes leading to the formation of lithified intervals.Chapter 6 focuses on the enrichment of redox-sensitive elements and the dissolution of primary magnetic ferric iron minerals in the depth interval below lithification levels in carbonate mound sediments. By combining the magnetic susceptibility withthe XRF signal of Fe and Ti specifically, intervals with susceptibility variations related to the conversion of strongly magnetic into weakly magnetic iron species were defined.In all three studied cores a succession is recognised with a lithified interval with aragonite dissolution and low-Mg calcite precipitates that is underlain by an interval of magnetite dissolution and of iron and manganese enrichment. For the most recent lithified interval it is demonstrated that initial lithification occurred before an erosional regime was in place, most likely near the end of an interglacial or at the start ofglacial periods.In Chapter 7 the carbonate mound development and sediment composition of the mounds at the SW RT margin and the Galway Mound in the Porcupine Seabight are compared. Differences in sediment composition between these mound provinces arerelated to the local environmental conditions. Mound accumulation rates at the Galway Mound are higher due to a higher influx of off-mound derived fine grained noncarbonate sediments. At both locations mound growth has been continuous for the last 11 kyr, before this period several hiatuses exist in the mound record. The most recent hiatus can be traced across multiple mounds and mound provinces at the Irish margin. At the SW RT margin these are associated with post-depositional aragonite dissolution in and lithification of certain intervals, while at Galway Mound no lithification occurs. This study shows that the influx and composition of material transported to carbonate mounds have a direct impact on the carbonate mound accumulationrate and on post-depositional processes.Chapter 8 (synthesis) describes and discusses the impact of diagenesis on carbonate mound formation. It is debated whether lithified layers play a crucial role in carbonate mound development/vertical mound growth by providing a stable colonisation surface for cold-water corals and by stabilising the steep mound flanks. The underlying processes leading to post-depositional modifications are discussed, including theirlink to climate cycles. Furthermore, a compilation of coral ages at the Irish margin older than 11 kyr is shown.


The emergence of digital technology represents a paradigmatic historical shift. As a process transforming sociotechnical structures, digitalization has had pervasive effects on organizing structures and business logics, as well as contemporary society as a whole. In recent years, these effects have been particularly salient in the content-based (e.g. music and imaging), and most recently the print-media (e.g. newspapers and magazines) industries. Facing dramatically declining sales of print media products, publishers have sought to leverage digital technology for innovation. However, the digital revenues still do not yet typically compensate for the decline in print media sales. This thesis explores the organizational implications of digitalization in the media domain. Scholars have increasingly stressed that digital technology has some distinct characteristics that have fundamental implications for innovation. This thesis examines aspects of these implications that have been far from fully explored, including the roles of digital technologies as enablers of process innovation (new methods, procedures or responsibilities), product innovation outcomes (which shift or expand an organization's domain) and associated changes in organizational cognition and identity. The thesis is based on four empirical investigations, reported in appended papers, of the evolution of digital platforms, the new content creation practices they enable, and how traditional print media firms have sought to innovate and reorient themselves in relation to these novel phenomena. The composite analysis illustrates how the distinct characteristics of digital technologies are complicit in transitions from stable to fragile product categories, highlights the need for a dynamic approach to identity orientation, and discusses and proposes key concerns in scholarly studies of digital innovation in organizations based on insights generated by the underlying studies.


Short-wave infrared barriode detectors were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. An absorption layer composition of In0.28Ga0.72As0.25Sb0.75 allowed for lattice matching to GaSb and cut-off wavelengths of 2.9 μm at 250 K and 3.0 μm at room temperature. Arrhenius plots of the dark current density showed diffusion limited dark currents approaching those expected for optimized HgCdTe-based detectors. Specific detectivity figures of around 7×1010 Jones and 1×1010 Jones were calculated, for 240 K and room temperature, respectively. Significantly, these devices could support focal plane arrays working at higher operating temperatures.


The energetics of a Mn cofactor bound to modified reaction centers were determined, including the oxidation/reduction midpoint potential and free energy differences for electron transfer. To determine these properties, a series of mutants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides were designed that have a metal-ion binding site that binds Mn2+ with a dissociation constant of 1 μM at pH 9.0 (Thielges et al. (2005) Biochemistry 44, 7389-7394). In addition to the Mn binding site, each mutant had changes near the bacteriochlorophyll dimer, P, that resulted in altered P/P+ oxidation/reduction midpoint potentials, which ranged from 480 mV to above 800 mV compared to 505 mV for wild type. The bound Mn2+ is redox active and after light excitation can rapidly reduce the oxidized primary electron donor, P+. The extent of P+ reduction was found to systematically range from a full reduction in the mutants with high P/P+ midpoint potentials to no reduction in the mutant with a potential comparable to wild type. This dependence of the extent of Mn2+ oxidation on the P/P+ midpoint potential can be understood using an equilibrium model and the Nernst equation, yielding a Mn2+/Mn3+ oxidation/reduction midpoint potential of 625 mV at pH 9. In the presence of bicarbonate, the Mn2+/Mn3+ potential was found to be 90 mV lower with a value of 535 mV suggesting that the bicarbonate serves as a ligand to the bound Mn. Measurement of the electron transfer rates yielded rate constants for Mn2+ oxidation ranging from 30 to 120 s(-1) as the P/P+ midpoint potentials increased from 670 mV to approximately 805 mV in the absence of bicarbonate. In the presence of bicarbonate, the rates increased for each mutant with values ranging from 65 to 165 s(-1), reflecting an increase in the free energy difference due to the lower Mn2+/Mn3+ midpoint potential. This dependence of the rate constant on the P/P+ midpoint potential can be understood using a Marcus relationship that yielded limits of at least 150 s(-1) and 290 meV for the maximal rate constant and reorganization energy, respectively. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of the energetics of proteins with redox active Mn cofactors, in particular, the Mn4Ca cofactor of photosystem II.


Invasive plants can have dramatic effects on natural ecosystems. It is unclear, though, whether these will have a positive or negative effect on animal species' behavior and population parameters within ecosystems where invasive plants occur. Here, we use a 2-year time series of mouse trapping data to test the effects of an evergreen invasive shrub, Rhododendron ponticum, on population distribution and abundance in a population of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) in southern England. Given the importance of aerial predators on rodent survival and the shield that the thick cover of Rhododendron branches and leaves provides, we predicted that Rhododendron would have a positive effect on mouse aggregation and abundance. The results confirmed both predictions: proximity to Rhododendron positively influenced mouse abundance, whereas a significant interaction between protective microhabitat features (logs) and Rhododendron suggest that reductions in predation risk drive the proximity results. In addition, as mouse densities increased, competition increased. During spring, when mouse territoriality was greatest, we found primarily large adults in the Rhododendron habitat, with subadult and juvenile mice more likely to be found away from Rhododendron patches. The effects of Rhododendron-driven increases in mouse density on lower (seed predation and dispersal) and upper trophic level (weasel populations) are also discussed. Questing tick's density and invertebrate biomass were also lower under Rhododendron. Our research shows that an invasive plant species can increase the abundance of a native mammal and that this could potentially lead to increases/decreases in other species populations within the community.


Objective: The objective is to study the role of antibiotic prophylaxis, if any, in the prevention of wound infection after open mesh repair of primary inguinal hernias. Materials and Methods: Patients coming to outpatient department for open mesh repair of inguinal hernia were randomized into the placebo group and antibiotic group, a total of 150 patients were enrolled in the study. Follow-up was done up to 1 month to look for any evidence of surgical site infection using the criteria of Centers for Disease Control on wound infection. Results: Twelve patients in the antibiotic group and nine patients in the placebo group were found to have evidence of surgical site infection. This difference was found to be insignificant with P = 0.14. Three patients in the placebo group developed deep surgical site infection but on analysis, this difference was also found to be insignificant with P = 0.122.None of these patients required mesh removal. Conclusion: The result of the present study suggests that the use of prophylactic antibiotics during mesh repair of primary inguinal hernias does not give any extra protection from infections. Multicenter meta-analysis is required to give definite guidelines regarding the use of prophylactic antibiotics.


I. INTRODUCTION The United Nations Educational, Social, and Cultural Organization ("UNESCO") has estimated that the international trade in cultural property is worth $5 bilkon annuaky, second in value only to narcotics trafficking.1 As the demand for archaeological and ethnographic materials increases, looters respond with a rekable supply of antiquities by attacking archaeological sites. Because looted antiquities are unique, undocumented, and irreplaceable, traditional bkateral treaties and international trade law have proven insufficient to protect them.2 This Article discusses the issues that arise in an ownership dispute when the boundaries of the ancient culture that created objects overlap modern state borders and suggests that negotiating international cultural property trusts ("ICPTs") is an appropriate response to protect archaeological sites and to provide proper stewardship for cultural treasures. The futikty of trying to prove ownership by only one country when antiquities were created by a culture whose boundaries span multiple modern states was exhibited in Peru P Johnson,2, in which the court found that Peru could not succeed in claiming artifacts that could have come from Ecuador or Bokvia. The outcome in this case strongly suggests that modern countries sharing such ancient cultural boundaries would benefit by executing multilateral agreements to create ICPTs that delegate their international ktigation claims to a single agent. The creation of multilateral ICPTs that encompass ancient cultural footprints would yield more fair and just repatriation results and increased success of repatriation claims brought in the courts of market countries, particularly the United States. Rather than source countries losing in court because of competing ownership claims, the ICPT would need only prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the object is owned by one of the ICPT's member countries or by the ICPT itself. This Article discusses (i) the shortcomings of the current framework; (k) the need for a unified claim in American courts by modern states that share ancient cultural boundaries; and (Ui) how ICPTs would lead to more just outcomes for the stewardship of antiquities. Indeed, an ICPT estabkshed by modern states that share ancient cultural boundaries would serve as a deterrent for looting of sites and yield increased scholarship, stronger and more effective stewardship, and enhanced educational opportunities for ak citizens of the world. II. THE CURRENT FRAMEWORK: THE LOOTING OF SIPAN AND PERU V JOHNSON The current legal framework for repatriation of antiquities, or the return of antiquities to their country of origin, is based on national ownership laws enacted by countries with significant troves of property from ancient cultures that supply the international art market ("source countries"). These national ownership laws vest ak of the rights of ownership in the state, rather than in private parties. With ownership comes the right to control international trade, and source countries enact permit and export regulations to help enforce their rights. Many national ownership laws declare the state's ownership over ak antiquities both above and under the ground-that is, over antiquities that have already been discovered as wek as those yet to be excavated. Because of these laws, antiquities that are looted from archaeological sites may be deemed stolen property, and looters who remove the objects and deprive the state of its rights in such objects deemed thieves. National ownership laws, particularly as they apply in modern states with poktical boundaries that overlap ancient cultural boundaries, were put to the test most directly in Peru v Johnson. This case focused on antiquities from the Moche culture. The Moche-who existed nearly 1,200 years before the rise of the Inca civilization in modern-day Peru - farmed river vakeys along a 220-mke stretch of Peru's northern coast known as the Lamabyeque region. …


Abstract Purpose This study investigated the toxic effects of an antineoplastic agent, cisplatin (CIS), on retinal cells and the potential capacity of astaxanthin (ASTA) to elicit a future therapeutic protocol in CIS-induced retinal toxicity. Materials and methods Six groups were formed for the assessment; control (healthy; Group 1), olive oil (olive oil only; Group 2), ASTA control group (ASTA only, Group 3), the single intraperitoneal (IP) dose of 16 mg/kg CIS (CIS only group; Group 4), 16 mg/kg CIS +25 mg/kg (IP) ASTA (Group 5), and 16 mg/kg CIS +75 mg/kg (IP) ASTA (Group 6). On the third day after CIS administration, rats in all groups were sacrificed under anesthesia and the analysis of the biochemical parameters and histopathological levels were performed. Results A significant decrease in GSH levels and increases in MDA, eNOS, and 8-OHdG expressions were recorded. Additionally, CIS treatment had caused acidophilic staining in retinal histological appearance. ASTA treatment reduced the increases in MDA, eNOS, and 8-OHdG levels following CIS administration and increased the levels of GSH expressions, as well. Conclusions These results may suggest that the ASTA molecule as a promising option to prevent retinal toxicity in patients receiving CIS treatment for malignant tumors.


A field campaign, the Slope Experiment near La Fouly (SELF‐2010), was conducted to monitor the evening transition of slope flows on clear‐sky days from July to September 2010 in a narrow valley of the Swiss Alps. A steep west‐facing slope with inclinations ranging from 25° to 45° was instrumented from 1900 m to 2200 m above sea‐level. Detailed measurements were made along a linear transect of the slope with two turbulence towers, two weather stations, five surface temperature measurement stations and a tethered balloon system. The present study focuses on nine exemplary 'convective' days, characterized by weak synoptic flow and clear‐sky conditions, during which thermal circulations prevail. The analysis of the observational data shows that topographic shading triggers the evening transition. The topographic configuration around the experimental site results in a sharply defined 'shading front' propagating upslope, causing a sudden decrease in incoming short‐wave radiation on the order of several hundreds of W m−2 within a few minutes. The slope surface rapidly responds to the advancing shading front; in some cases, reductions in surface temperatures of some 10°C in less than 10 min are observed. This is rapidly followed by an early‐evening calm period with very small turbulent kinetic energy (TKE< 0.05 m 2 s−2) and extremely light wind speeds (< 0.5 m s−1). When the inertia‐driven upslope flow is fully stopped by the katabatic acceleration, a shallow local drainage flow forms and reaches a quasi‐equilibrium 1.5 h after the local sunset. An analysis of the TKE budget close to the surface shows that the buoyancy flux is much greater than the shear production in the last hours before the local sunset, possibly due to valley curvature effects. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society


As the pressure on elderly care is strong, preventive policy for health care is therefore essential. The goal of prevention for elderly is to keep older adults healthy, autonomous and independent as long as possible, even when they already need daily care. A preventive measure which is increasingly gaining popularity over the past few years is physical exercising. Physical activity can help reduce progression of diseases, delays emerging disabilities, has a positive influence on cognitive functioning, increases emotional well-being, and reduces the risk of loss of independence. This results in an overall better quality of life in nursing homes. Unfortunately, as the required level of care needed for elderly people in nursing homes is relatively high compared to those who could still live at home, preventive exercising is not always seen as essential in the residential setting yet. Moreover, due to factors as pain, changing attitude, fear of falling, lack of availability and care staff taking over activities, inactivity problem in nursing homes is increasing. Different types of preventive physical activities, motivators, barriers and role of stakeholders are explored during the context research phase of the project. Exergames – interactive computer games which require physical activity in order to play - were found to be effective means to stimulate elderly people in nursing home to become physically active. Well-designed games can increase intrinsic motivation as they stimulate discovery, enable the player to intuitively able operate tasks, fit interests of the player, enable interaction with others, and provide an appropriate level of challenge. Related to motivation of playing (computer) games and to exercise adherence, well-designed exergames could get the users into a state of flow. Furthermore, context research revealed that older adults are motivated by social interactions and group play, so multi-player exergames can be positively influencing the play experience and adherence. Although several existing exergames are specifically for the elderly target group, opportunities were found to design an exergame based on Tovertafel technology. From the observations and interviews during the context research, it became clear that one of the most valuable things for elderly people in terms of physical well-being is to maintain as much functional mobility as possible. Functional mobility refers to a person's ability to carry his own weight while standing, make transfers and move independently in order to perform personal care and Activities of Daily Living. Based on context research insights, an exergame focusing on lower extremity activity was designed with the following interaction qualities in mind: immersive, experience-focused, social, skill-independent, pleasurable. The ideation phase was focused on generating and testing inspiring game ideas which could be further developed by going through a few quick iterations. The final result of the ideation phase was a single evaluated game concept of a music game, which had most potential to stimulate players to maintain functional mobility in an enjoyable way, while meeting the design goal, interaction vision and requirements. In collaboration with physio therapists, programmers, users and music-therapist the exergame concept has been refined in the conceptualisation phase of the project. Parts of this concept have been developed into interactive prototypes for user testing purposes. Although game design should be seen as a coherent whole, the serious game design framework of (Mitgutsch and Alvarado, 2012) offered a basis to structure all game elements (framing, narrative, content, aesthetics, mechanics) in relation to the game purpose of stimulating elderly people to become physically active in order to maintain mobility. This framework was used to iterate on all game elements and to guide the play-tests in the evaluation phase. The final concept can be described as a rhythm game in which players need to stamp on the glowing cues, in order to turn on an instrument tracks of the song. The players cooperate to hear all instruments, thus when all play well, the complete song is the ultimate result. The difficulty of the glowing patterns(which are following the beat) is dynamically adjusted based on the performance of the individual player. This challenges all players at their own level of physical and cognitive abilities. The evaluation of the design goal and interaction vision showed that the game stimulates elderly people to move their legs, while all interaction qualities are found in the play experience.


Previous measurements have demonstrated that a small noble gas concentration is essential to the attainment of stable bright sonoluminescence from bubbles formed in a water nitrogen mixture. As the chemical properties of nitrogen and oxygen are quite different, these experiments for mixtures of water and oxygen have been repeated. Again, it is found that noble gas doping is an important aspect of the physics, and that there is a strong similarity between the behavior of the nitrogen and oxygen systems. [Work supported by the NSF.]


Large Phase 3 clinical trials of the two FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines, mRNA-1273 (Moderna) and BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech), have demonstrated efficacies of 94.1% (n = 30,420, 95% CI: 89.3-96.8) and 95% (n = 43,448, 95% CI: 90.3-97.6) in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, respectively. Given the ongoing vaccine rollout to healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities, here we provide a preliminary assessment of real-world vaccination efficacy in 62,138 individuals from the Mayo Clinic and associated health system (Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin) between December 1st 2020 and February 8th 2021. Our retrospective analysis contrasts 31,069 individuals receiving at least one dose of either vaccine with 31,069 unvaccinated individuals who are propensity-matched based on demographics, location (zip code), and number of prior SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests. 8,041 individuals received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and were at risk for infection at least 36 days after their first dose. Administration of two COVID-19 vaccine doses was 88.7% effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection (95% CI: 68.4-97.1%) with onset at least 36 days after the first dose. Furthermore, vaccinated patients who were subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19 had significantly lower 14-day hospital admission rates than propensity-matched unvaccinated COVID-19 patients (3.7% vs. 9.2%; Relative Risk: 0.4; p-value: 0.007). Building upon the previous randomized trials of these vaccines, this study demonstrates their real-world effectiveness in reducing the rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity among individuals at highest risk for infection.


Structural equation models can be seen as an extension of Gaussian belief networks to cyclic graphs, and we show they can be understood generatively as the model for the joint distribution of long term average equilibrium activity of Gaussian dynamic belief networks. Most use of structural equation models in fMRI involves postulating a particular structure and comparing learnt parameters across different groups. In this paper it is argued that there are situations where priors about structure are not firm or exhaustive, and given sufficient data, it is worth investigating learning network structure as part of the approach to connectivity analysis. First we demonstrate structure learning on a toy problem. We then show that for particular fMRI data the simple models usually assumed are not supported. We show that is is possible to learn sensible structural equation models that can provide modelling benefits, but that are not necessarily going to be the same as a true causal model, and suggest the combination of prior models and learning or the use of temporal information from dynamic models may provide more benefits than learning structural equations alone.


Objective: Oxidative/nitrative stress, an imbalance between oxidant production and antioxidant defense in the biological system, is induced not only by various diseases but also by anesthesia and surgical trauma. Since the choice of drugs is expected to reduce oxidative/nitrative stress in the perioperative period, the lipid peroxidation inhibition by different drugs associated with surgery was studied together with investigating one of their possible mechanisms.
Methods: Lipid peroxidation-inhibitory effects were fluorometrically determined using the liposomes of diphenyl-1-pyrenylphosphine-incorporated lipid bilayers which were treated with 10-200 μM drugs and reference antioxidants, and then peroxidized with 20 μM peroxynitrite. Membrane interactions were evaluated by the drug- and antioxidant-induced changes in membrane fluidity which were determined by measuring the fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene-labeled biomimetic membranes after treating with drugs and antioxidants at 1-200 μM.
Results: All of the tested drugs concentration-dependently inhibited peroxynitrite-induced lipid peroxidation as well as antioxidant α-tocopherol, quercetin and (–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate. The inhibition at 10 μM was greatest in propofol, followed by guaiacol, thiopental, thymol, phenol, midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine, eugenol, procaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine, sevoflurane, ketamine, mepivacaine and prilocaine. Antioxidant drugs including propofol, local anesthetics and phenol derivatives, and reference antioxidants interacted with biomimetic membranes consisting of phospholipids and cholesterol to modify the membrane fluidity, while their membrane-interacting potencies did not necessarily correlate to their lipid peroxidation-inhibiting ones, suggesting that the interaction between drugs and membrane lipid bilayers, at least in part, underlies the lipid peroxidation inhibition.
Conclusion: In addition to their inherent effects, propofol and other drugs to inhibit lipid peroxidation may be protective against perioperative oxidative/nitrative stress. The membrane interaction could be a guide for discovering novel antioxidant drugs.


I. INTRODUCTION The analysis of the argumentation and rhetoric of scientists during the [Hybritech Inc. v. Monoclonal Antibodies, Inc.] patent trial is more than a discussion of "literary devices" .... The problems raised during the proceedings and the solutions proposed by expert witnesses were grounded in a seamless web of philosophical, economic, and social distinctions .... [E]xpert witnesses used tools that do not differ, in principle, from tools mobilized by philosophers, economists, and sociologists when constructing representations of "society."1 Nearly fifteen years ago, three Canadian scholars published a unique study of scientific expertise in a United States courtroom.2 Drawing upon recent work in the sociology of science, the authors demonstrated that "while one might expect 'technical' arguments to play a central role in patent litigation proceedings, 'social,' 'historical,' 'economic,' or 'philosophical' arguments are coextensive with and constitutive of the 'technical.'"3 That is, the "interaction between legal and scientific categories" should not be "viewed as a clash between 'hard scientific facts' and legal conventions or representations, but as a back and forth movement between different kinds of representation."4 More specifically, we should not simply assume that scientists operate within a naturalistic framework that is sometimes translated into an obviously social context-the courtroom, doctrinal categories, or legal discourse. Rather, the discourse of scientists, whether in a laboratory or in a deposition, alternatively includes both naturalistic and social frameworks of explanation. Social, economic, historical, and philosophical arguments, in addition to technical arguments, are often "mobilized" for rhetorical advantages in scientific disputeseven those disputes that are internal to science and have nothing to do with litigation. This challenges the presumption that law is clearly distinguishable from science insofar as the former is a social and rhetorical enterprise, while the latter is grounded in natural phenomena, not in culture or language. Judging from the number of citations in legal literature to the Cambrosio article, it appears to have had very little impact in law and science studies. A search of the Westlaw legal periodicals database turned up only one reference to the article as an important example of disclosing the "hybrid" nature of law and science. The citation is followed by a sympathetic observation: "Such hybrids often experience difficulty locating and legitimating their knowledge claims in terms of the traditional professional rhetorics of law and science."5 Moreover, in a recent article criticizing the failure of U.S. courts to engage with or even accommodate the history, philosophy, and sociology of science, the authors note that the work of the lead author of the Canadian study, Alberto Cambrosio, is absent from federal-court opinions regarding scientific admissibility.6 Of course, scholarship in the history, philosophy, and sociology of science can easily be conceived as a critique of naive or popular notions of scientific progress, objectivity, or rationality.7 It is perhaps understandable that law-a clearly rhetorical, contested, and interpretive enterprise that seeks stability from science-would idealize science rather than welcome a destabilizing catalogue of its limitations. Representations of science in terms of its historical context, its theoretical commitments to temporary paradigms, or its social supports such as institutions, funding, linguistic conventions, and consensus-building techniques do not seem to provide strong support for our reliance on scientific expertise. Notably, the Cambrosio study was published in Social Problems, not a traditional law review but an interdisciplinary journal. Thus, it is no surprise that the Cambrosio study of scientific expertise in law did not revolutionize the post-Daubert world of evidentiary standards for admissibility of scientific testimony. …


Abstract: This article revises and extends Chen's (1990) theory-driven framework to address program development. The theory-driven approach to program development is useful for evaluators to facilitate stakeholders in strengthening program plans before implementation. Using this approach, evaluators are able to assist stakeholders in systematically developing a program theory for what they are proposing to do in a program. The theory-driven approach can ensure that crucial components and steps are systematically incorporated into the program plan. This article discusses in detail strategies and techniques for applying the theory-driven approach to program planning and development. It also provides two concrete examples of health promotion programs to illustrate such application.


. Although Hungarians in Austria are an officially recog-nised ethnic minority, surprisingly little attention has been given to the specific problems in teaching Hungarian as a heritage language. This paper focuses on the situation of heritage-language students who study Hungarian as part of a university curriculum in Vienna, together with German speakers. These students have learnt collo-quial varieties of Hungarian as a spoken language in their families but typically have no formal training in the standard written language. This leads to learners' errors which are often due to lacking language awareness: heritage-language students are unable to analyse their grammatical intuitions. It is also obvious that heritage-language students do not profit from traditional second-language teaching methods and material; furthermore, heterogeneous teaching groups rather create than solve problems. These issues, probably critical for an increasing group of multilingual speakers in many countries, call for more differentiated approaches to language planning and educational strategies.


This question of AI legal personhood is mostly theoretical today. In article we try to generalize some common ways that existing in legal theory and practice. We analyze some cases of recognition of untypical legal persons as well enacted statements in Europe and USA. Readers will not find a detailed methodology in the paper, but rather a list of criteria that is helpful to make a decision on granting legal personhood.

Practices of European Union and the United States indicate that common approaches to the legal personality of some kinds of AI are already developed. Both countries are strongly against legal personhood of intellectual war machines. Liability for any damage of misbehavior of military AI is still on competence of military officers. In case of civil application of AI there are two options. AI could be as legal person or as an agent of business relations with other legal persons. Every legal person has to be recognized as such by society. All untypical legal persons have wide recognition of society. When considering the issue of introducing a new legal person into the legal system, legislators must take into account the rights of already existing subjects. Policy makers have to analyze how such legal innovation will comply with previous legal order, first of all how it will affect the fundamental rights and freedoms of the human beings. The legal personhood of androgenic robots that can imitate human behavior regarded in paper as a good solution to minimize illegal and immoral acts committed with their involvement. It would be a factor that keep people from taking action against robots very similar to people. Authors conclude that key factors would be how society will react to a new legal person, how changing of legal rules will affect legal system and why it is necessary. At least all new untypical legal persons are recognized by society, affects of the legal system in manageable way and brings definite benefits to state and society.


The management of natural environments has become a fundamental issue for companies in recent years. A firm's environmental commitment affects all levels of its operation. In this study, we investigated whether having an effective and constant relationship with customers over time (customer capital) makes a difference to firms with a high environmental commitment compared with less environmentally committed firms. We found support for our idea by using original survey data from 149 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Iran (2016–2017). Furthermore, we found that customer capital enhances environmental collaboration with customers which, in turn, has a positive impact on the firm's environmental commitments. These findings provide empirical evidence for the important role of "getting closer to customers" as a way of enhancing corporate environmental responsibility in developing countries with weak institutional environments.


India is emerging as one of the major players in global apparel sourcing to the U.S. in the post-quota era. There has been a steady year-to-year rise of approximately 13.3% in exports of garments from India (Goel, 2007). In 2005, India ranked third in apparel exports to the U.S., increasing its total exports to 34%. Tariff and trade data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission (2007) shows that total apparel imported into the United States from India was $2.9 billion in 1997, increasing to $6.4 billion in 2006, and that the percentage change from 2005 to 2006 was an increase of 18.40%. This market growth suggests the importance of the buyer-supplier relationship throughout the supply chain. Effectively managing relationships with suppliers is an important concern for maintaining high profits as well as competitive advantage (Wuyts, 2007). Although several studies have been conducted on supply chain relationships, the particular importance of the U.S.-India relationship in the apparel sector has been overlooked. The purpose of this study is to explore U.S. apparel buyers' relationships with their Indian suppliers, including the supplier selection process, and to specifically investigate the role of buyer-supplier relationship attributes. Using a qualitative methodology, in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty three U.S. apparel industry buyers located in New York, North Carolina, and California who are engaged in buying apparel products from Indian suppliers. Interviews lasted approximately 45 to 90 minutes per participant, and were audio-taped with participant consent. Interviews were transcribed and interpreted thematically. Six themes - Expertise, Convenience, Price, Functionality, Service, and Partnership - surfaced within the interview data and were used to structure the interpretation. Based on the interpretation, four relationship types were developed: Convenience Driven, Price Sensitive, Functionality Driven, and Service Driven. The majority of participants seek to develop Service Driven relationships with their suppliers. In building this type of relationship, the most important attributes were found to be trust, communication, and commitment. Because there is a limited amount of research that explores relationships being developed between U.S. apparel companies and Indian suppliers, and no studies that explore them from the perspective of buyers, the results of this study provide an in-depth understanding of the issues and challenges involved in working together on a global platform. Strong relationships with India are critical for U.S. apparel companies, not only to increase profits, but to bring a quality product to market that will satisfy the final consumer. This study contributes to both U.S. apparel industry buyers' and Indian suppliers' knowledge of how to build strong buyer-supplier relationships in global apparel production. Future empirical research is needed to further investigate buyer-supplier relationships and thereby enrich our understanding of them.


This paper critically reevaluates recent claims that the postwar U.S. price level exhibits countercyclicality. While overall countercyclicality is confirmed, temporal disaggregation suggests a shift from pro- to countercyclicality in the early 1970s. Furthermore, the countercyclicality is markedly more pronounced for negative than for positive output innovations. The evidence thus casts doubt on single-source business cycle explanations.


Operating a vehicle is a form of complex skilled behavior, which requires the driver to be alert. Sleepiness and fatigue behind the wheel are important causes of driver errors and traffic accidents and are associated with sleep deprivation, sleep disorders, circadian factors, use of recreational or medicinal drugs, monotonous conditions, and long driving times. Psychoactive substances play a important role in the context of drowsy driving. Drug treatment of underlying disorders may improve performance, but these drugs can also cause residual effects. Two main classes can be identified: the sedatives, most importantly hypnotic drugs, and psychostimulants. In order to advise drivers and health care providers about the benefits and risks of these substances, it is of importance to assess their respective effects on driving ability. A survey showed that sleep specialist know that there are risks for traffic participation, but there opinionas are not always congruent with the available literature. In addition, the effect of treatment of a number of sleep disorders on driving ability is still unknown. The currently available medicinal treatment options for insomnia belong to the class of benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs). In previous studies, it was shown that these drugs lead to residual effects on driving performance in the morning after intake. In addition, most BZRAs lead to postural balance impairments. Ramelteon is a novel prescription hypnotic that does not belong to the class of BZRAs. It is a melatonin agonist, which lacks affinity for most receptors associated with adverse effects and which did not lead to residual effects in previous studies. However, an on-the-road driving study was conducted that showed that ramelteon impairs driving performance, delayed memory recall, and psychomotor functioning. Unlike the BZRAs, ramelteon did not lead to balance disturbances at peak plasma levels. In terms of traffic safety, ramelteon cannot be regarded as an improvement compared to the current hypnotic drugs. The golden standard for driving studies is the on-the-road driving test on the highway in actual traffic. However, driving simulators have advantages in terms of costs, standardization and safety. A method was developed to examine the effect of psychoactive substances in the STISIM driving simulator and a calibration was performed. The results showed a dose-dependent impairment after the intake of alcohol. This confirms that the highway driving test scenario is sensitive to alcohol-induced impairments, and as such suitable for future pharmacological research. In addition, the differences compared to placebo that are obtained can serve as reference values for impairment seen with other drugs. This highway driving scenario was used to develop a sleepy driver paradigm in which participants drove for 2 hours, then had a 15-minute break in which a sleepiness countermeasure was administred, followed by driving for 2 more hours. The aim was to mimick highway driving, which is characterized by prolonged hours behind the wheel in monotonous conditions. Two commonly available countermeasures were tested: coffee (80 mg caffeine) and Red Bull® Energy Drink (250 ml). Both substances alleviated subjective sleepiness and improved driving performance in non-sleep deprived individuals.


Native Americans are characterized by specific and unique patterns of genetic and cultural/linguistic diversities, and this information has been used to understand patterns of geographic dispersion, and the relationship between these peoples. Particularly interesting are the Tupi and Je speaker dispersions. At present, a large number of individuals speak languages of these two stocks; for instance, Tupi-Guarani is one of the official languages in Paraguay, Bolivia, and the Mercosul economic block. Although the Tupi expansion can be compared in importance to the Bantu migration in Africa, little is known about this event relative to others. Equal and even deeper gaps exist concerning the Je-speakers' expansion. This study aims to elucidate some aspects of these successful expansions. To meet this purpose, we analyzed Native American mtDNA complete control region from nine different populations and included HVS-I sequences available in the literature, resulting in a total of 1,176 samples investigated. Evolutionary relationships were explored through median-joining networks and genetic/geographic/linguistic correlations with Mantel tests and spatial autocorrelation analyses. Both Tupi and Je showed general traces of ancient or more recent fission-fusion processes, but a very different pattern of demographic expansion. Tupi populations displayed a classical isolation-by-distance pattern, while Je groups presented an intricate and nonlinear mode of dispersion. We suggest that the collective memory and other cultural processes could be important factors influencing the fission-fusion events, which likely contributed to the genetic structure, evolution, and dispersion of Native American populations.


This Article examines the development the "mandate millstone," the inflexible federal rules and regulations directed at state and local governments in the environmental arena. It surveys how the mandate millstone has burdened or threatened to burden the ocean dumping of sewage sludge by New York City. The Article reviews the method by which the city has traditionally disposed of its sewage sludge in the ocean waters surrounding the city, and how the city's disposal practices would have been altered radically had the city been forced to implement a plan, pursuant to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, to end its ocean dumping by December 31, 1981. The Article also traces the legislative history of the imposition of this rigid deadline, as well as the problems it posed and the development of widespread opposition to its enforcement. It discusses recent events which have spared New York City from conforming to the deadline, and what these events portend for ocean dumping practices in general. Finally, it considers the implications of these events for the development of the mandate millstone and for the process through which that millstone can be eased without undermining legitimate national goals.


Sustainability is addressed through the triple bottom line concept, bringing together economic, environmental and social issues, related management actions and their impacts for better building sites. Lean concepts are incorporated into the economic side of the model, while a new concept – wellbeing – expands the social pillar. Green attributes render themselves naturally to the environmental part of the triple bottom line approach. A model to evaluate how and in what degree lean, green and wellbeing concepts are being applied in site layout managing is developed using Design Science Research (DSR) propositions. This procedure is tested in three different sites in the city of Fortaleza, in the Brazilian northeast region. Results point out that the model artifact obtained through DSR is capable of synthesizing a huge number of variables both in terms of possible management actions and in terms of their sustainability outcomes. Graphical displays help to guide how sustainability might improve over time, either evaluating individual sites against their previous records or benchmarking different building projects.


Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the zebrafish embryo face a long migration from the point at which they are specified during development to the location of the future gonad, and it takes some precise signaling to get them there. Major guidance cues are provided by the chemokine SDF-1a (stromal-derived factor-1 alpha), which attracts the PGCs by signaling through its receptor CXCR4b [chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4b]. SDF-1a also binds to another receptor, CXCR7, but the function of this receptor in PGC cell migration has been uncertain. Boldajipour et al.'s experiments indicate that CXCR7's function is not to signal but rather to act as a sink that soaks up stray molecules of SDF-1a, thus adding to the precision of SDF-1a signaling through CXCR4b. Transplantation experiments taking PGCs from animals lacking CXCR7 into wild-type embryos showed that the critical function of CXCR7 was in somatic cells, not the PGCs. Microscopy of fluorescently tagged proteins showed that CXCR7 promoted internalization of SDF-1a, and human cells expressing CXCR7 depleted SDF-1a from the culture medium in which they were grown. In vivo, the inhibited motility of PGCs in embryos lacking CXCR7 was reproduced in embryos overexpressing SDF-1a, and depletion of CXCR4b suppressed the CXCR7 phenotype. Analysis of embryos in which SDF-1a was uniformly expressed but CXCR7 was expressed unevenly showed that PGCs moved to domains lacking CXCR7 (where concentrations of SDF-1a were presumably higher). The authors compare this decoy receptor strategy to a similar mechanism that functions in the resolution of inflammatory responses: In that case, interleukin-10 promotes expression of inflammatory chemokine receptors on mature dendritic cells, where they also appear not to signal but instead act to sequester proinflammatory chemokines. B. Boldajipour, H. Mahabaleshwar, E. Kardash, M. Reichman-Fried, H. Blaser, S. Minina, D. Wilson, Q. Xu, E. Raz, Control of chemokine-guided cell migration by ligand sequestration. Cell 132, 463-473 (2008). [Online Journal]


We observed slow frictional slip occurring at a constant shear stress below the nominal friction level and compared it with the time-dependent strengthening of the frictional interface, which was also tracked experimentally. It was found that slip velocity decreases as the interface strengthens due to aging, while it increases with the applied shear stress. These dependencies were both exponential and were of similar magnitudes, as implied by the framework law of rate- and state-dependent friction. In the spirit of the adhesion theory of friction the dependence of slip velocity on interface strength is understood to be the result of the change of the shear stress acting on frictional junctions due to the change of junction population, though the observed dependence was somewhat stronger than a simple model based on this idea predicts. By correcting the observed slip velocity for the effect of the change of the interface strength, we could obtain a unique relationship between stress and slip velocity, which may be readily compared with a standard rheological formulation. Thus the obtained relationship between stress and slip velocity showed a reasonable agreement with the absolute rate theory over a temperature range of 25-800°C for the present experimental condition (fine albite powder, 20 MPa normal stress, no pore water).


A series of recent anthropological studies on time emphasize the crucial importance of the future as a guiding trope in the present. Although located beyond an immediate temporal horizon, the future is consequently taken as connected to the present in a meaningful way through a sequence of chronological moments and hence potentially accessible. This paper takes its point of departure from the growing body of anthropological work on time and futurity, but challenges the inherent assumption of linearity characterizing the relation between present and future. Based on fieldwork carried out in Maputo, Mozambique, it examines the non-linear temporalities of house-building. According to house-builders living on the fringes of the city, the future constitutes a temporal position from where the present might be properly illuminated. However, when seen from the present, the future surprisingly seems to reflect its own inevitable collapse, thus making it crucial to maintain appropriate distance between the two. Whereas the imagined perspective from the future suggests an immediate readability of the present, the inverse temporal gaze (i.e. from the present) reflects the radical uncanniness of the future. Still, although prefigured as a failure at the end-point on a linear scale, the future asserts itself by opening up the present. It wedges itself within the present moment and establishes temporal differentiations without indicating a progressing trajectory. In a peculiar inversion of conventional linearity, the present becomes the effect of the future rather than vice versa.


Global climate change is a naturally occurring phenomenon, influencing weather and climate patterns. However, the greatest cause for concern at present is the rate at which climate change is currently occurring. Natural shifts in climate take place over a period of many thousands of years, not in a matter of decades, which is what is occurring at present. In South Africa, climate change is projected to have different regional effects, which in turn could impact on the components of the terrestrial hydrological system, such as land use. The alteration of the catchment upstream of the estuaries could affect the quantity and quality of streamflows entering estuaries. This could impact negatively upon estuaries, thereby reducing the considerable biodiversity in estuaries and the ecosystems goods and services provided by estuaries which would reduce the significant revenue provided by these systems. The research undertaken in this project investigates the possible effects of climate change, and changes in upstream land use on freshwater inflows into estuarine ecosystems using a daily hydrological model. Owing to the regionality of climate change in South Africa 10 estuaries in different climatic regions were selected for this investigation. Climate output from five GCMs under the SRES A2 climate scenario for the present (1971 – 1990), intermediate (2046 – 2065) and distant future (2081 – 2100) periods was used as input for the selected climate input. Results of these simulations show that the eastern regions of South Africa may experience considerable increases in the occurrence of high intensity rainfall events into the future. This could influence the abiotic factors of the system which may impact upon the biotic components of estuaries, as these systems are physically controlled. In the western regions the difference of the magnitude of flows between present and projected future is minimal. However, projected increases in temperature could influence evaporation, thereby decreasing future flows into estuaries. This, in some instances, may result in systems turning hyper-saline, which could have far reaching implications, both ecologically and economically. Additionally, an investigation, as to the possible effects of irrigation and climate change combined on flows entering and breaching events of the Klein estuary, was undertaken. Hence, simulations including and excluding irrigation routines have been completed. Results from these simulations illustrate the detrimental effects of irrigation into the future periods, especially during 1 in 10 low flow years, when flows into the Klein estuary cease completely. Breaching event results illustrate that climate change could have a negative impact on this estuarine system as the number of events decreases into distant future period. The addition of agricultural abstractions decreases the number of breaching events markedly. Therefore, the link between the marine and terrestrial hydrological systems is lost which could, if this estuary is isolated from the ocean for an extended period of time, become extremely detrimental to the ecological integrity of the Klein estuary. This highlights the value and vulnerabilities of estuarine ecosystems in South Africa to future climate and upstream land use changes.


This text aims to increase student awareness of each aspect of a physically fit lifestyle and provides information for healthy behavioral change. Fit to be Well: Essential Concepts offers simple, workable approaches for being healthy and fit that can easily be added into the lifestyle and schedule of a student. Throughout each chapter there are easy to follow guidelines for: Modifying lifestyle behaviors, Increasing self-esteem and creating a more positive self-image, Eating a balanced and nutritional diet, Keeping body composition and weight at a healthy level, Improving physical endurance, strength, and flexibility, and Managing stress. By adding self-assessments and related labs to each of the chapters, this text becomes an interactive guide to building and implementing a fitness program that will work with individual needs and schedules.


Background: The date palm cultivation has a long history in Bushehr province. Throughout the recent decade; the dusts, in addition to direct harmful effects on humans, have adverse effects on health of the population living in this area. The infestation of pests in the southern province of Bushehr has groves. Due to the importance of dates in this area, the total ash and acid insoluble ash as indexes for assessing of chemical pollution and also, mold and yeast as indicators for microbial contamination were evaluated. Recently in a number of dates packaging industries, washing the products after the harvest is done. In current study, the effects of rinsing to decrease the dust pollution on date palm along with, the time effect on the quality and durability of washed and un-washed dates were investigated. Materials and Methods: Overall, 48 washed and un-washed dates were sampled from traditional and technologically advanced packaging industries, equally, and were confirmed according to ISIRI methods. Results: The Averages of total and acid insoluble ashes in washed date samples were:1.05±0.14 and 3.32±0.32%, and for un-washed samples were 1.36±0.27 and 4.59±1.64 percent, respectively. In all date samples were presented the yeast, however, their means were lower than the maximum limit (1×10 4 CFU). Also, all date samples were moldy. The Mean percentage of total ash samples in un-rinsed and rinsed dates were approximately, 1.84 and 1.33 times more than the maximum permissible limit, respectively. The mean of acid insoluble ash in all samples (100%), and 98% of total ash were higher than acceptable levels (p<0.05). The results revealed that the average percentage difference between the two groups were transpicuous, while this difference was not significant (p=0.13). Under the similar conditions, the average amount of yeast in washed date samples, were significantly different (p<0.05) and more than un-wash samples. The Mold levels in un-rinsed and rinsed samples; were 83.3 and 75% higher than the maximum permissible limit. According to the results, regardless of a decrease in amount of molds in washed samples than un-wash samples, the rinsing, was unable to eliminate the pollution, or even decreased it to acceptable levels. Conclusion: According to the findings, present rinsing is not an appropriate method for long storage. Observations, after one year upkeep in the same conditions, expressed that all un-washed date samples were apparently healthy, without any pests and insects. While 91.6% of the washed samples were insectivores, also their textured appearances were very unpleasant.


Objective. Retinal prosthetic devices aim to restore sight in visually impaired people by means of electrical stimulation of surviving retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). This modelling study aims to demonstrate that RGC inhibition caused by high-intensity cathodic pulses greatly influences their responses to epiretinal electrical stimulation and to investigate the impact of this inhibition on spatial activation profiles as well as their implications for retinal prosthetic device design. Another aim is to take advantage of this inhibition to reduce axonal activation in the nerve fibre layer. Approach. A three-dimensional finite-element model of epiretinal electrical stimulation was utilized to obtain RGC activation and inhibition threshold profiles for a range of parameters. Main results. RGC activation and inhibition thresholds were highly dependent on cell and stimulus parameters. Activation thresholds were 1.5, 3.4 and 11.3 μA for monopolar electrodes with 5, 20 and 50 μm radii, respectively. Inhibition to activation threshold ratios were mostly within the range 2–10. Inhibition significantly altered spatial patterns of RGC activation. With concentric electrodes and appropriately high levels of stimulus amplitudes, activation of passing axons was greatly reduced. Significance. RGC inhibition significantly impacts their spatial activation profiles, and therefore it most likely influences patterns of perceived phosphenes induced by retinal prosthetic devices. Thus this inhibition should be taken into account in future studies concerning retinal prosthesis development. It might be possible to utilize this inhibitory effect to bypass activation of passing axons and selectively stimulate RGCs near their somas and dendrites to achieve more localized phosphenes.


This research produced strategy the Pancasila values reinforcement
through the innovation of Civic Knowledge-, Civic Disposition-, and
Civic Skill- Oriented Civic Education Learning. Such the strategy builton the renewal of existing content in Civic education course. The reinforcement strategy
obtained by studying the conceptual theoretical framework in ontological hierarchy of
Civic Education at College through studied object in which the ideal, instrumental and
practical aspects were examined. In this research, the ideal aspect was the study on Civic
Education regulation policy at College; instrumental aspect was the content of Civic
Education at college, while practical aspect was the potential challenge or threat of the
Pancasila values implementation in life, Pancasila values reinforcement in Civic
Education, and Civic Education problems emerging at college. This research was
conducted in both public and private college in Solo City with lecturers and students as
the subject of research. This study was a descriptive philosophical qualitative research.
The data collection was conducted by interviewing the practitioners and lecturers
relevant to the research, observing the lecturers and students in Civic Education
learning process, studying the document relevant to Civic Education policy, and holding
Focus Group Discussion with experts, lecturers and students. The data validation was
done by improving the persistence of conducting research, triangulation, observation
extension, discussion and theoretical study. The data obtained was then processed
through reduction, analysis process and presented qualitatively. The conclusions of
research were 1) the presence of potential challenge and threat against the
implementation of Pancasila values in life deriving externally that was primordial in
nature (ethnic, race, religion), externally by the presence of globalization development,
the presence of external factor of western ideology affected both directly and indirectly
the nation life. 2) The Pancasila values reinforcement strategies in Civic Education at
college included renewing the content of Civic education by strengthening the Civic
Education core in each substance of study; thereby in its development, each substance
of study was inspired by the Pancasila values philosophically. 3) The form of innovation
or renewal for reinforcing the Pancasila values in Civic Education was the further
extension of the Pancasila values reinforcement strategy in Civic Education course in the
form of standard product, the substance of which was inspired by the Pancasila values
as the core of Civic Education.


Name-based forwarding is a core component in information-centric networks. Designing scalable name-based forwarding solutions is challenging because name prefixes are of variable length and the forwarding tables can be much longer than seen with IP. Recently, the speculative forwarding method has been proposed, in which the forwarding structure size is proportional to the information-theoretic differences between the name prefixes rather than their lengths. In this paper, our goal is to enhance name-based forwarding performance with memory-and time-efficient data structures. We first define the string differentiation problem, based on the behavior of speculative forwarding in core networks, and then propose fingerprint-based solutions for both trie-based and hash table-based data structures. We experimentally demonstrate that the proposed solutions reduce the lookup latency and memory requirements. The proposed fingerprint-based Patricia trie decreases the average leaf-node depth and thus reduces the lookup latency. The proposed fingerprint-based hash table design requires only 3.2 GB of memory to store 1 billion names where each name has only one name component, and the measured lookup latency of the software-based single-threaded implementation is 0.29 microseconds. What's more, the distributed forwarding scheme presented in this paper makes name-based forwarding truly scalable.


David L. Ulin9s essay finds William Mulholland doubly generous—he gave LA both water and a motto to live by. Ulin begins with the Los Angeles Aqueduct9s inauguration photographs taken in November 1913. Here is where Mulholland said the five words that Ulin proposes as LA9s manifesto. As Ulin reports, within the last one hundred years many (in)famous Angelenos, like oil baron Edward Doheny, studio head Louis B. Mayer, and gambling kingpin Charlie Crawford, followed Mulholland9s prescription. For popular writers Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain, "There it is. Take it" describes their license to fictionalize scandal. But obeying Mulholland9s imperative, as Ulin reveals, was not without negative consequences. Mulholland, especially, with the 1928 collapse of the St. Francis Dam, for which he held himself responsible, found out the hard way the cost of trusting his authority. In the end, "There it is. Take it," Mulholland9s directive for the future, is a lesson from the past that haunts us today.


Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a country of great diversity. The landscape and geography ranges from volcanic and mountainous highlands to coastal and floodplain lowlands, as well as more than 600 islands. There are more than 800 cultural and language groups countrywide, with more than 80% of the population living in rural areas (National Research Institute 2010). In 2016, tuberculosis (TB) in PNG was estimated to have caused more than 30,000 cases countrywide (World Health Organization 2017a), with control challenged by the emergence of drug resistance, and complicated by a resource-limited health system. The situation faced by PNG due to TB and drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) has been described as an emergency (Eccles 2016; IRIN 2010).

Research from regional settings in PNG has described a TB burden much higher than the national average, including in Western Province where this study was based (Aia et al. 2018; Cross et al. 2014; McBryde 2012). However, there is limited epidemiological data from areas outside the South Fly and provincial capital of Daru, despite evidence of a heavy TB and drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) burden (Aia et al. 2016; Furin & Cox 2016; Kase et al. 2016; McBryde 2012). The research presented in this thesis describes and characterises the distribution and determinants of TB in the rural Balimo region of Western Province. It is hoped that this study will provide epidemiological data about TB in the region that can inform local TB control strategies.

This study used retrospective data analysis and laboratory techniques to describe TB in the Balimo region. The Balimo District Hospital (BDH) TB patient register was analysed, and laboratory diagnostic results were examined. A molecular assay was used to describe genetic evidence of DR-TB, and an interferon (IFN)-ɣ release assay (IGRA) was used to investigate the population-level latent TB burden and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infection in TB patients.

A very high burden of TB was identified, with an estimated incidence of 727 TB cases per 100,000 people per year. Approximately 25% of TB patients were children, and more than 75% of all patients had extrapulmonary TB. Spatial analysis of TB across the region identifed a high TB burden in the area immediately surrounding Balimo. Lower rates of TB were identified in more remote areas, likely due to the challenges faced by people from rural regions in accessing health facilities. However, the spatial analysis also provided evidence of potential under-diagnosis of TB in more remote areas.

DR-TB was described in the region, based on molecular evidence of rifampicin (RIF) resistance. In addition, the challenges of diagnosing TB in this region, where laboratory facilities are limited, are highlighted based on validation of the smear microscopy method used at the BDH laboratory. In combination, these results emphasise the importance of implementing a molecular method of TB diagnosis and detection of drug resistance in the Balimo region.

Given the high burden of TB described in the Balimo region, an unexpectedly low proportion of latent TB was identified. Analysis of the IGRA results provided support for the accuracy of extrapulmonary TB diagnoses at BDH, which is important given more than 90% of the extrapulmonary TB diagnoses in the TB register analysis were made clinically based only on presenting signs and symptoms.

Overall, this study emphasises the very high burden of TB present in the Balimo region. The results highlight the critical importance of investing in the hospital at Balimo, and ensuring that resources and facilities at the hospital are of a high standard adequate for accurate diagnosis and effective management of TB in the region. This need is especially important in the context of a region where other infectious diseases are also endemic. As a broad epidemiological study of TB in the Balimo region, the results presented in this thesis contribute important contextual information and baseline data on which future TB control efforts can be based.


Phenology is an integrative science that comprises the study of recurring biological activities or events. In an era of rapidly changing climate, the relationship between the timing of those events and environmental cues such as temperature, snowmelt, water availability, or day length are of particular interest. This article provides an overview of the observer-based plant phenology sampling conducted by the U.S. National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), the resulting data, and the rationale behind the design. Trained technicians will conduct regular in situ observations of plant phenology at all terrestrial NEON sites for the 30-yr life of the observatory. Standardized and coordinated data across the network of sites can be used to quantify the direction and magnitude of the relationships between phenology and environmental forcings, as well as the degree to which these relationships vary among sites, among species, among phenophases, and through time. Vegetation at NEON sites will also be monitored with tower-based cameras, satellite remote sensing, and annual high-resolution airborne remote sensing. Ground-based measurements can be used to calibrate and improve satellite-derived phenometrics. NEON's phenology monitoring design is complementary to existing phenology research efforts and citizen science initiatives throughout the world and will produce interoperable data. By collocating plant phenology observations with a suite of additional meteorological, biophysical, and ecological measurements (e.g., climate, carbon flux, plant productivity, population dynamics of consumers) at 47 terrestrial sites, the NEON design will enable continental-scale inference about the status, trends, causes, and ecological consequences of phenological change.


The research undertaken explores how the culture of a business can be changed when in distress. Because of the intangible nature of culture and culture change, the research firstly identified what culture is and how it is represented within organisations before exploring how culture could be changed while a firm is in crisis. A number of pragmatic and practical ways of changing culture were identified.


Escherichia coli can be used to help identify sources of fecal contamination in the environment. Escherichia coli genotypic fecal libraries and pattern-matching algorithms were assessed for their effectiveness in correctly identifying sources. Fecal samples (n = 172) were collected from various sources from three agricultural landscapes in Canada. Escherichia coli isolates were fingerprinted using BOX- and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) - polymerase chain reaction primers, revealing 769 and 1 057 distinct genotypes, respectively, for the 9 047 isolates collected in 2004 in Ontario. The average rate of correct classification (ARCC) was comparable for BOX- (48%) and ERIC-based (62%) libraries and between libraries with clones removed per sample (55%) and clones removed per unit (54%). ARCC increased with fewer classification units (from 44% to 65%). ARCC for k-nearest neighbour (64%) and maximum similarity (60%) algorithms were comparable, but maximum similarity had better sensitivity and specificity than k-nearest neighbour. Geographical and temporal shifts in community composition resulted in loss of accuracy. Several ERIC genotypes (n = 112) were common between sources and were removed from the library, improving ARCC (77%). The latter library proved to be more accurate, but its accuracy with respect to sourcing environmental isolates remains to be tested.


The main objective of this study is to identify the antecedents of end-user satisfaction with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, in the context of a transnational Bank. The Information System (IS) success theory is applied for the end-user computing satisfaction (EUCS) assessment. Quantitative data is analyzed through multivariate statistical techniques whereas qualitative data is analyzed through content analysis technique. The results indicate that the EUCS model is pertinent to the context of ERP systems for a fast data collection and overall perception of user satisfaction; nevertheless it is suggested the continuity of its evaluation in other research contexts and additional categories should be considered as antecedents to IS enduser satisfaction.


Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have substantially improved the state-of-the-art in salient object detection. However, training DNNs requires costly pixel-level annotations. In this paper, we leverage the observation that image-level tags provide important cues of foreground salient objects, and develop a weakly supervised learning method for saliency detection using image-level tags only. The Foreground Inference Network (FIN) is introduced for this challenging task. In the first stage of our training method, FIN is jointly trained with a fully convolutional network (FCN) for image-level tag prediction. A global smooth pooling layer is proposed, enabling FCN to assign object category tags to corresponding object regions, while FIN is capable of capturing all potential foreground regions with the predicted saliency maps. In the second stage, FIN is fine-tuned with its predicted saliency maps as ground truth. For refinement of ground truth, an iterative Conditional Random Field is developed to enforce spatial label consistency and further boost performance. Our method alleviates annotation efforts and allows the usage of existing large scale training sets with image-level tags. Our model runs at 60 FPS, outperforms unsupervised ones with a large margin, and achieves comparable or even superior performance than fully supervised counterparts.


The effect of three variables on ductile iron has been investigated in this study. The first variable was the effect of austempering time on ductile iron. The second variable was the effect of austenitizing temperature and the third major variable was the effect of alloying additions on ductile iron. The alloying elements selected for this purpose were copper, nickel, a combination of copper and nickel and lanthanum.The initial study was conducted on unalloyed ductile iron castings. The effect of austempering time was examined by varying austempering time in the range of 30 minutes to 90 minutes, while keeping austenitization temperature and austempering temperature constant. It was found that with the increase of austempering time,the tensile strength increased significantly. However, at 90 minutes the tensile strength decreased. The optimum temperature was found to be 60 minutes. The second variable was the effect of austenitization temperature on ductile iron. Based on the result of the first experiment, the austempering was carried out for 90 minutes. The
austempering temperatures were kept at 270 oC and 370 oC. The austenitization temperature was varied from 850 oC to 925 oC. The study revealed that tensile strength increased at 900 oC but it decreased at 925oC. The third major variable involving the effect of alloying additions on ductile iron, was studied by adding copper with three different values i.e. 0.5 wt. %, 1.0 wt. % and 1.5 wt. %.
The fourth melt was without the addition of copper. It was found that with the increase of copper the tensile strength continued to increase up to 1.5 wt. %. The second alloying addition was nickel. One melt was made without nickel while the remaining three melts were made with the addition of 1.0 wt. %, 2.0 wt. % and 3.0% x nickel. The tensile strength increased correspondingly with the increase in the addition of nickel to 3.0 wt. %. The effect of a combination of copper and nickel on ductile iron was also examined. The effect of the last alloying element which was studied was
lanthanum. Four melts were made for this study. The first melt was without the addition of lanthanum while the remaining three had 0.006 wt.%, 0.02 wt.% and 0.03 wt.% lanthanum. The results indicated that the tensile strength increased with the increase of lanthanum content with and without austempering. Furthermore, the highest nodule count was obtained with 0.03 wt.% lanthanum while the nodularity remained almost unchanged.Thus, it was observed that the addition of alloying elements results in an increase of tensile strength. The optimum austempering time was 90 minutes and the optimum austenitizing temperature was found to be 900 oC.


To allow systematic comparison of the construction and transformation of the Delft and Eindhoven University of Technology campuses, maps and profiles have been drawn. Below we describe the method used to draw them and indicate which sources were used.

The maps are based on what we call the chronological development map of the Randstad conurbation. This is a digital GIS map file, a kind of 'parent file' developed as part of the 'Mapping the Randstad' research project. The map, various versions of which have been published in OverHolland, shows the spatial development of Holland's towns and cities with reference to 'morphological periods': the periods up to 1850, from 1850 to 1910, from 1910 to 1940, from 1940 to 1970 and from 1970 to 2000.


The paper endeavours to give a narrower definition of the orientation of 'career'. The survey to be discussed examines a sample of 116 full time students of economics and has career anchor analysis as its focus. The study details the result of a questionnaire-based survey, which was carried out with respect to the carrier of university students and was supplemented by surveying motivation, value and work value as well. The analysis finds that "security, stability and organisational identification" are judged to be the primary career anchors among the members of the majority sample. This means that the respondents feel ready to identify themselves with the company and are looking for security to be provided by long term employment, regular earnings and by steady career advancement. The cluster analysis of the questionnaire differentiates four groups: Leaders, Specialists, Entrepreneurs and Employees. The results showed that the Leaders have high capacities of leadership, creativity and autonomy. The Specialists show highly developed functional capabilities in general and they seem to like challenges. The Entrepreneurs have outstandingly high scores concerning autonomy and entrepreneurial creativity. The members of the cluster of the Employees are characterised by a high expectation of security and stability and by low levels of managerial capability and entrepreneurial creativity. Discriminant analysis was applied to select the distinguishing features that can set the clusters apart from each other. The motivations, values preferences and work values inventory will consolidate the differences between the clusters of the career anchors. Using the method in high education within special trainings could be the practical utilization of the study. On the basis of the results a questionnaire can be compiled, which could help uncertain students relating to their carriers and future orientation containing information in connection with their carrier orientation, motivation, value preferences and work value.


The idea of ICT Convergence is used by many practitioners and observers such as economists, politicians, journalists, and academics as an important descriptor for technological change. However, a review of previous work in this field suggests that, despite more than 30 years of research on ICT Convergence, the theoretical basis of the concept of convergence is still under-researched. In particular in the IS literature, the concept has been either relegated to the sidelines or taken for granted without further reflection. Therefore, a systematic analysis of the idea of ICT Convergence from an IS perspective is needed. This paper aims to explore how the discourse of convergence is being shaped in the IS literature. In order to address this question, 317 articles published in ten leading IS journals from 1998 to 2008 have been examined. This study has been built around a Grounded Theory approach informed by Niklas Luhmann's Theory of Distinction. The findings show that convergence cannot be viewed as a single concept. Five archetypes of "convergence communication" are identified, and a conceptualization of ICT Convergence as a double process between alignment and interoperability is suggested. The main limitation of this paper is the focus on leading IS journals.


Feminist filmmakers are hitting the headlines. The last decade has witnessed: the first Best Director Academy Award won by a woman; female filmmakers reviving, or starting, careers via analogue and digital television; women filmmakers emerging from Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Pakistan, South Korea, Paraguay, Peru, Burkina Faso, Kenya and The Cree Nation; a bold emergent trans cinema; feminist porn screened at public festivals; Sweden's A-Markt for films that pass the Bechdel Test; and Pussy Riot's online videos sending shockwaves around the world. A new generation of feminist filmmakers, curators and critics is not only influencing contemporary debates on gender and sexuality, but starting to change cinema itself, calling for a film world that is intersectional, sustainable, family-friendly and far-reaching. Political Animals argues that, forty years since Laura Mulvey's seminal essay 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema' identified the urgent need for a feminist counter-cinema, this promise seems to be on the point of fulfilment. Forty years of a transnational, trans-generational cinema has given rise to conversations between the work of now well-established filmmakers such as Abigail Child, Sally Potter and Agnes Varda, twenty-first century auteurs including Kelly Reichardt and Lucretia Martel, and emerging directors such as Sandrine Bonnaire, Shonali Bose, Zeina Daccache, and Hana Makhmalbaf. A new and diverse generation of British independent filmmakers such as Franny Armstrong, Andrea Arnold, Amma Asante, Clio Barnard, Tina Gharavi, Sally El Hoseini, Carol Morley, Samantha Morton, Penny Woolcock, and Campbell X join a worldwide dialogue between filmmakers and viewers hungry for a new and informed point of view. Lovely, vigorous and brave, the new feminist cinema is a political animal that refuses to be domesticated by the persistence of everyday sexism, striking out boldly to claim the public sphere as its own.


This paper examines opportunities and constraints facing local revenue mobilisation in anglophone Africa, with an emphasis on urban settings. It discusses specific revenue instruments and their effects on economic efficiency, income distribution and accountability. In particular, it addresses political and administrative constraints facing various revenue instruments and factors affecting citizens' compliance. The analysis is illustrated with examples from across anglophone Africa. A general conclusion emerging from the study is that local revenues mobilised in most local government authorities in Africa are necessary but not sufficient to develop and supply adequate services for the fast-growing population. On this basis, areas for further research on local government revenue mobilisation in Africa are identified.


The more we learn about human milk, the more we are forced to admit to our extraordinary ignorance about this liquid, considered miraculous from ancient times. This editorial deals with three themes of great importance today: metabolomics, milk-oriented microbiota (MOM) and multipotent stem cells. Metabolomics, also called the "new clinical biochemistry", is an approach based on the systematic study of the complete set of metabolites in a biological sample, in our case milk. Very few papers have been published on this topic. The human milk is anything but sterile! Today we know that it contains a quantity of bacteria (microbiota) of 50 genera and 200 species. The composition of human milk microbiota is highly individualized and unique for each mother and can have important effects on the colonization of the intestine and the short- and long-term health of the child. We speak of MOM. Finally, we also know that human milk contains stem cells whose function is not yet fully known. It appears that the stem cells of human milk pass through the intestinal barrier as well as that of the brain and migrate to settle in the brain and other organs and apparata, among which surely the thymus, pancreas and liver. Once they reach the neonatal tissue of destination, they appear to differentiate to assimilate and integrate in the tissue. For example, at the level of the brain stem cells from human milk may differentiate have become oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and neurons. Perhaps from the integration of knowledge in these three fields we could take further significant steps towards the understanding of the miracles of human milk.


Without specialized sensor technology or custom, multi-chip cameras, high dynamic range imaging typically involves time-sequential capture of multiple photographs. The obvious downside to this approach is that it cannot easily be applied to images with moving objects, especially if the motions are complex. In this paper, we take a novel view of HDR capture, which is based on a computational photography approach. We propose to first optically encode both the low dynamic range portion of the scene and highlight information into a low dynamic range image that can be captured with a conventional image sensor. This step is achieved using a cross-screen, or star filter. Second, we decode, in software, both the low dynamic range image and the highlight information. Lastly, these two portions can be combined to form an image of a higher dynamic range than the regular sensor dynamic range.


Stroke remains the third leading cause of death in the UK after coronary heart disease and cancer, and the main cause of adult disability in the western world (Bonita, 1992). Unfortunately, for those people who suffer a recurrent stroke, outcomes are poorer than for those after a first stroke (Lee et al, 2004). The Royal College of Physicians (2004: 40) recommend: 'An individual strategy for stroke prevention should be implemented within a maximum of seven days of acute stroke or transcient ischaemic attack.' This paper explores the evidence base for interventions in secondary stroke prevention. Risk factors for stroke are outlined, the role of anti-platelet therapy is discussed, and pharmacological strategies in the management of hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension are examined. The risk factor of cigarette smoking is also addressed. Collaborative goal setting and care planning is a central tenet of this case study, with the patient enabled to make informed life-style changes.


Many poor people around the world are denied the opportunity to have their say. Politics generally works well for those in power, but those in poverty are often excluded from forums that directly affect their welfare and so are unable to hold decision-makers to account. Speaking Out describes different ways to strengthen the participation of people in poverty so that they become active citizens and shape policy decisions. The book includes different approaches, lessons learned, and useful case examples on issues ranging from local community budget monitoring to popular mobilization and media work. The chapters show that addressing a lack of ability to speak out against injustice, as well as the more tangible issues, can make a big difference to people's ability to achieve greater well-being and get out of poverty, and so work towards a point where poor and marginalized women and men are more able to access their rights. The case studies in this book are also available as individual papers.


NATURAL DISASTERS AND OLDER ADULTS: THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF DISASTER PLANNING By: Elizabeth Irene Fugate-Whitlock, PhD A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011 Director: J.J. Cotter, PhD, Assistant Dean for Distance Education and Director, Doctoral Program in Health Related Sciences Examining older adults" experiences with and response toward hurricanes within the context of the community of residence is key to both understanding their experiences and planning for future hurricanes. Specific to this research, the objective was to understand the current social network of older adults, or who provides care for whom under what circumstances, using the social constructionist perspective. Grounded theory combined with action research was the theoretical orientation guiding the study. Sources of data included the collection of household disaster plans, semi-structured interviews with older adult residents of housing authority neighborhoods, semi-structured interviews with community planners, and observation of community planning meetings. Data were gathered from older adults living in housing authority communities in Southeastern North Carolina using guidelines established by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to develop individual disaster plans. The individual disaster plans were completed during face to face meetings with the older adults, as were semi-structured interviews. Semi-structured interviews were also completed with area planners. Agendas, minutes, and observational notes from disaster planning meetings were collected. The content of the individual disaster plans, semi-structured interviews, and observation notes were then analyzed to determine gaps that must be addressed in order to meet the overall needs of the community. Working with participants, the housing authority disaster response committee, and county planners, a neighborhood plan will be developed that reflects the social construction of all concerned for use in response to future hurricanes. The impact of the multiple levels of communities was apparent in this research. While common thematic processes emerged in data analysis, planners, housing authority personnel and residents of housing communities define community differently. There is discordance when they identify needed resources, and when they reflect on past experience. A power differential which resulted in stifling was also observed.


Purpose: This paper analyzes how increasing economies of scale, higher productivity, and falling costs in an advanced region can lead to a relative reduction in progressiveness in an economically weaker region. Design/Methodology/Approach: The author uses the core-peripheral model as a basis for this framework. The regional development model thus, consists of two sectors. Technological progress favors either the advanced or lagging regions. Findings: Thus, optimization measures taken in the advanced region will lead to a steady slowdown in development. The effects of increasing economies of scale are reflected in falling marginal and fixed costs. This reduces costs and makes production more effective. The productivity of the advanced region increases. This increase in volume, however, means that agricultural production becomes more valuable. The relative price of industrial goods falls, and, as a result, the relative income differences decrease—the utility of both regions increases. However, the increasing economies of scale in the advanced region mean that the underdeveloped region's utility increases more strongly and reduces inequality. Practical Implications: The analysis shows that optimization measures in an advanced region weaken the region as they lead to loss of development benefits. Originality: The author analyzes the influence of rising economies of scale and declining costs on developing the advanced region and the underdeveloped region and relative inequality.