Title of dissertation: Domain Transfer Learning for Object and Action Recognition Jingjing Zheng, Doctor of Philosophy, 2015 Dissertation directed by: Professor Rama Chellappa Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Visual recognition has always been a fundamental problem in computer vision. Its task is to learn visual categories using labeled training data and then identify unlabeled new instances of those categories. However, due to the large variations in visual data, visual recognition is still a challenging problem. Handling the variations in captured images is important for real-world applications where unconstrained data acquisition scenarios are widely prevalent. In this dissertation, we first address the variations between training and testing data. Particularly, for cross-domain object recognition, we propose a Grassmann manifold-based domain adaptation approach to model the domain shift using the geodesic connecting the source and target domains. We further measure the distance between two data points from different domains by integrating the distance of their projections through all the intermediate subspaces along the geodesic. Our proposed approach that exploits all the intermediate subspaces along the geodesic produces a more accurate metric. For cross-view action recognition, we present two effective approaches to learn transferable dictionaries and view-invariant sparse representations. In the first approach, we learn a set of transferable dictionaries where each dictionary corresponds to one camera view. The set of dictionaries is learned simultaneously from sets of correspondence videos taken at different views with the aim of encouraging each video in the set to have the same sparse representation. In the second approach, we relaxes this constraint by encouraging correspondence videos to have similar sparse representations. In addition, we learn a common dictionary that is incoherent to view-specific dictionaries for cross-view action recognition. The set of view-specific dictionaries is learned for specific views while the common dictionary is shared across different views. In this way, we can align view-specific features in the sparse feature spaces spanned by the view-specific dictionary set and transfer the view-shared features in the sparse feature space spanned by the common dictionary. In order to handle the more general variations in captured images, we also exploit the semantic information to learn discriminative feature representations for visual recognition. Class labels are often organized in a hierarchical taxonomy based on their semantic meanings. We propose a novel multi-layer hierarchical dictionary learning framework for region tagging. Specifically, we learn a node-specific dictionary for each semantic label in the taxonomy and preserve the hierarchial semantic structure in the relationship among these node-dictionaries. Our approach can also transfer knowledge from semantic label at higher levels to help learn the classifiers for semantic labels at lower levels. Moreover, we exploit the semantic attributes for boosting the performance of visual recognition. We encode objects or actions based on attributes that describe them as high-level concepts. We consider two types of attributes. One type of attributes is generated by humans, while the second type is data-driven attributes extracted from data using dictionary learning methods. Attribute-based representation may exhibit variations due to noisy and redundant attributes. We propose a discriminative and compact attribute-based representation by selecting a subset of discriminative attributes from a large attribute set. Three attribute selection criteria are proposed and formulated as a submodular optimization problem. A greedy optimization algorithm is presented and its solution is guaranteed to be at least (1-1/e)-approximation to the optimum. Domain Transfer Learning for Object and Action Recognition


Abstract High-heat-flux (HHF) removal (HHFR) limits can be formidable technological barriers that prevent or limit the normal implementation or optimization of new and novel devices or processes. A conjugate heat transfer HHFR simulation methodology has been developed with excellent resulting accuracy (>98.0% accurate) for predicting HHF amplification (peaking factors) and the peak flow channel inside wall temperature. The methodology can be used directly or expanded to a correlation form. Although the simulation utilized axial and swirl water flows with single-phase fully developed turbulent and subcooled flow boiling in a single-side-heated circular inside flow channel with a rectangular outer boundary, the methodology appears to be fluid- and flow regime-independent (e.g., applicable to developing or jet impingement flows) so that other fluids (e.g., gases, dielectric liquids, liquid metals) and flow regimes can be employed possibly for HHFR applications requiring specialized fluids and/or flow conditions. However, more work is required to validate the applicability of this methodology (and the correlation) to other fluids, flow regimes, and channel materials. Further, the approach can be expanded possibly to include applications employing a hypervapotron for HHFR. For the prototypic simulation cases (≤38.0 MW/m2) considered, the circumferential inside flow channel heat transfer coefficient distribution [h([varphi])] was not known a priori, so, h([varphi]) was determined from the unknown local inside wall heat flux via iterative finite element conjugate heat transfer analyses for flow regimes ranging from fully developed turbulent subcooled flow boiling (at the top of the flow channel) to single-phase turbulent flow (at the bottom of the flow channel).


The aim of this paper is to determine if macroeconomic policy convergence amongst member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is required for establishing and sustaining a free trade area (FTA). The paper also investigates whether a restraining mechanism is required in order to compel member countries to have compatible macroeconomic policies. The paper finds that macroeconomic policy convergence is not necessary for establishing an FTA, but is necessary for sustaining an FTA over time. The paper also finds that a credible collective agency of restraint against macroeconomic divergence must be created by SADC governments to ensure that SADC, as a free trade area is sustained.


A natural approach to generative modeling of videos is to represent them as a composition of moving objects. Recent works model a set of 2D sprites over a slowly-varying background, but without considering the underlying 3D scene that gives rise to them. We instead propose to model a video as the view seen while moving through a scene with multiple 3D objects and a 3D background. Our model is trained from monocular videos without any supervision, yet learns to generate coherent 3D scenes containing several moving objects. We conduct detailed experiments on two datasets, going beyond the visual complexity supported by state-of-the-art generative approaches. We evaluate our method on depth-prediction and 3D object detection---tasks which cannot be addressed by those earlier works---and show it out-performs them even on 2D instance segmentation and tracking.


Genetic engineering is the process of using recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology to alter the genetic makeup of an organism. Traditionally, humans have manipulated genomes indirectly by controlling breeding and selecting offspring with desired traits. Genetic engineering involves the direct manipulation of one or more genes. Most often, a gene from another species is added to an organism's genome to give it a desired phenotype.


Many competitions require investment of nonrefundable resources, e.g., political campaigns, financial markets, sports or courting rituals. One contestant wins the prize for the invested amount, while all others forfeit their investments without receiving compensation. Frequently, contests are asymmetric, due to differing resources or prize valuations. This could lead weaker contestants to avoid investing, and stronger ones to lower their investment. Two experiments explored the effects of asymmetry between the contestants – arising from their endowments or prizes – on investments. Subjects played both symmetric and asymmetric contests, enabling direct within-subject comparisons. We observed an effect of asymmetry only when it concerned endowments: Subjects invested less when their endowments were asymmetric, whereas (a-)symmetry in the prizes did not influence investments. The changes between consecutive investments can be explained by reactions to the previous outcome (win or loss) in terms of regret over the previous investment being too much or too little.


Writing truly concurrent software on the Java Virtual Machine just got a whole lot easier. The Akka Toolkit takes the sting out of coding for multiple cores, multiple processors, and even multiple machines. Akka Concurrency will show you what it means to design and write software in the paradigm of Akka. You'll learn how to think about your software in new and exciting ways that will allow you to express your designs naturally, allowing you to focus on the business of your software more than on the concurrency of it. This book picks up where the Akka documentation leaves off, exploring the how and the why of Akka, in a way that will empower you to grow your applications to new levels of scalability, responsiveness, and performance.


BACKGROUND
It is generally believed that dihydrotestosterone is one of the pivotal mediators of hair loss in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Finasteride, which blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, has now become an integral part of the current treatment approaches for male AGA. Several lines of evidence support the notion that dermal papilla (DP) cells represent the androgen target within the hair follicle. The specific molecular regulators modulated by androgens within hair follicles in the balding scalp are unknown.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify changes in expression of specific molecular hair growth regulators in DP of men with AGA treated with finasteride and correlate these findings to clinical efficacy.

METHODS
Biopsy specimens were collected from 9 male patients from both the balding area and nonbalding occipital area before and after 4 months of finasteride therapy. DP were microdissected and total RNA was extracted from an equal number of DP from each biopsy specimen. The expression of various cytokines, including insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The signals were detected by autoradiography. All 9 patients were given finasteride for 1 year and evaluated for efficacy at month 12. Efficacy was graded on a 7-point scale on the basis of comparison with initial baseline photography.

RESULTS
IGF-1 was up-regulated by finasteride treatment in 4 of 9 patients. Among the patients with increased IGF-1 expression, 3 of them showed moderate clinical improvement after 12 months of treatment and another patient remained unchanged. In contrast, 3 patients with decreased IGF-1 expression in the balding scalp showed clinical worsening after 12 months. The other 2 patients without noticeable change in IGF-1 expression showed either slight improvement or no change in their hair condition.

CONCLUSION
In a small uncontrolled study of 9 patients with AGA, an increased expression of IGF-1 messenger RNA levels in the DP was associated with patient response to finasteride.


BACKGROUND
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are an important category of birth defect, but surveillance remains inadequate in South Africa.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the identification of NTDs at a tertiary hospital using a range of prenatal, perinatal and postnatal data sources, and to estimate the impact of prenatal diagnosis and birth prevalence for the referral area.

METHODS
Cases of anencephaly, encephalocele and spina bifida (SB) in a 6-year period were retrospectively identified from 5 data sources covering prenatal, perinatal and postnatal care. These were cross-correlated to avoid duplicate entries and to determine the contribution of different data sources. Details of prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy (TOP) were obtained for 10 years, and birth prevalence over 2 years.

RESULTS
During a 6-year period 195 NTDs were identified at a Western Cape Province tertiary hospital. These included 59 (30%) cases of anencephaly, 28 (14%) of encephalocele and 108 (55%) of SB. The majority of NTDs (71%) were detected prenatally, although SB was less commonly diagnosed prenatally than cranial defects (56% v. 88%; p<0.001). Of SB cases ascertained pre- or postnatally, 57% of patients were born alive and 50% discharged alive, but 72% of survivors had not been diagnosed prenatally. Women receiving prenatal diagnosis of any type of NTD before 24 weeks' gestation were nearly always offered TOP, and the majority accepted termination after non-directive counselling. For SB, later prenatal diagnosis was associated with much lower termination rates because the option was less often offered (51% v. 100%; p<0.001), and perhaps less often accepted (57% v. 78%; p=0.06). The estimated NTD birth prevalence for the referral area was 0.76 - 0.80 per 1 000 live births, but perhaps up to 1.18 per 1 000 when considering under-referral of lethal cranial lesions from rural areas.

CONCLUSIONS
A substantial number of NTDs can be ascertained from a tertiary hospital environment if multiple data sources are used, even though adding data from the Perinatal Problem Identification Program for outlying health facilities increases detection of lethal defects. Hospital-based surveillance can be considered, especially for SB. Prenatal diagnosis was fairly common and pregnancy termination was often offered and accepted if detected before 24 weeks' gestation. A regional prenatal ultrasound programme, predominantly based in primary care but with ready access to a tertiary centre, can be quite effective, although limited or delayed access to prenatal diagnosis must be addressed.


An understanding of Blue Compact Dwarf galaxies (BCDs) and the processes occurring within
their chemically un-evolved environments is fundamental in our understanding of the early universe.
This thesis presents an investigation into their physical conditions, kinematics, chemical
abundances and dust compositions.
An optical integral field spectroscopy investigation of two perturbed BCDs, UM420 and UM462,
is presented. Emission line maps show that both galaxies display signs of ongoing perturbation
and/or interaction. Electron temperatures, densities and chemical abundances are computed from
spectra integrated over the whole galaxies and for each area of star formation.
A similar yet more complicated analysis is undertaken of the BCD Mrk996, which displays
multi-component emission lines. The high excitation energy [O III] \lambda4363 and [N II] \lambda5755 lines
are detected only in the inner regions and purely in broad component form, implying unusual
excitation conditions. A separate physical analysis of the broad and narrow emission line regions
is undertaken, yielding a revised metallicity and N/O ratio typical for the galaxy's metallicity.
The mid-IR properties of 19 BCDs are studied through Spitzer spectral and imaging data. The
depeletion of PAH emission in BCDs is investigated and found to be due to formation and destruction
effects. The [S III] flux ratio is used as a density diagnostic, showing typically low-densities.
Maps of PAH emission and radiation field hardness are derived from IRS spectral mapping data.
Blackbody fits to IR photometric SEDs typically reveal two dust components.
The observed physical and chemical properties of Mrk 996 are successfully reproduced using
the photoionisation code MOCASSIN. The best-fit model involved the inclusion of a filling factor
and an amorphous carbon dust component with a two-zone dust distribution. A STARBURST99
input spectrum was used, yielding ages consistent with the known young WR stars and old super
star clusters within Mrk 996.


Classic thinkers as diverse as Adam Smith, Alexander Hamilton, and Karl Marx have recognized that wealth and power go hand in hand. World politics and international economics are intimately connected and should never be treated as separate areas of intellectual inquiry, much less of national policy. Just as designing and implementing war is too important to be left to generals, an understanding of trade, finance, and globalization is too important to be left solely in the hands of professional economists. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The links between international politics and economics are as important in today's post-September 11 world as they were during the balance of power struggles of the 18th and 19th centuries and during the collapse of the world economy and onset of two world wars in the 20th century. The global political economy currently stands at a crossroads. There are many key economic players--an integrated European Union, a resource-rich Russia, a recovering Japan, and a rising India and Brazil. But two countries, the United States and China, will continue to have disproportionate influence over the direction of the world economy, primarily due to their economic size and geopolitical prominence. Whether these two global players, simultaneously economic partners and security rivals, can cooperate in leading the world economy will be an essential determinant of how world politics develop in the years ahead. Political Leadership: Essential Yet Elusive Contemporary global capitalism is a remarkable mechanism. It allocates resources and produces wealth with a level of efficiency unsurpassed in human history. Yet notwithstanding the invisible hand of the marketplace and the formidable influence of transnational corporations, the world economy does not and simply cannot run itself. Left to its own devices, global capitalism will generate not only great prosperity but also great disparities in income and wealth, both within and between countries. Governments must work to address these disparities in order to maintain political support for continued economic liberalization. Global capitalism's powerful twin motivators, fear and greed, also produce recurrent economic crises, such as the Asian financial crisis of the 1990s, the Latin American debt crisis of the 1980s, and of course the Great Depression of the 1930s. The latest crisis to shake the stability of the world economy, the sub-prime mortgage crisis of the summer of 2007, was the unintended consequence of profitable yet poorly understood innovations in global financial markets. Greed abruptly gave way to fear, and equity values plunged by 10 percent in seemingly stable Asian, European, and North American markets. A prosperous world economy requires the steady hand of political leadership. One or more of the system's most powerful states must provide both international political and economic stability in order to guard against such violent economic fluctuations. Security conflicts among the major powers or in resource-critical regions can create economic dislocations and an atmosphere of uncertainty that hinders trade and investment. When international politics are stable and predictable, private economic actors can make the longer-term calculations that lead to cross-border specialization and international economic expansion. On the economic side, leading states must be prepared to step in to resolve market failures and manage the periodic crises generated by unexpected shocks or major miscalculations by corporations and governments. They must facilitate the provision of social safety nets, to provide protection for the casualties that global capitalism inevitably creates--displaced workers, collapsed banks and firms, and regions that are no longer competitive. Leading states must also enforce rules of governance and develop or modify institutions that help market forces to flourish. This latter task is especially critical today, as the relevance and effectiveness of longstanding, post-war institutions are continuously challenged and questioned. …


The impact of counterparty insolvency on contracts has become an area of concern for those in the energy industry. The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act , Alberta Business Corporations Act , and Canada Business Corporations Act ; are all statutes that override or diminish strict contractual rights. This article examines six ways in which these pieces of legislation accomplish this: (1) restructuring proceedings; (2) stays of proceedings; (3) replacement and default clauses; (4) disclaimers of contracts; (5) assignment of contracts without the consent of the solvent counterparty; and (6) plans of arrangement. Public policy considerations support this legal framework, but it has a significant impact on the solvent party when trying to achieve restructuring or insolvency objectives and preserving legitimate bargains. Therefore, it is crucial for energy law practitioners to understand these policy considerations and this area of law to be able to properly advise clients of the inherent risks and options available.


In the last two decades, the notion of 'best practice' has become accepted into the standard lexicon of policy-making. Transport policy has not been exempt from this trend; 'best practice' approaches to the development, implementation and evaluation of policy interventions are ubiquitous at all scales of governance, appearing to enjoy both explicit and tacit support from a diverse array of political actors. Recently, however, dissenting voices in the planning literature have questioned the core tenets of the 'best practice' notion. Chiefly, these critiques have tended to focus on the apparent naivete of 'best practice' as it relates to the attendant notion of 'policy transfer', highlighting the salience of institutional heterogeneity as a limitation to spatial policy convergence. Yet, while such analyses are extremely commendable, they have failed to address: (1) how the notion of 'best practice' is understood, encountered and employed by policy actors; (2) why the 'best practice' notion has proven so popular; and (3) the broader implications of 'best practice' policy learning with regard to a future transition to sustainable mobility. Grounded in critical realist ontology, this thesis directly addresses these three concerns through a series of in-depth case studies with policy actors involved in UK walking and cycling policy. Contrary to received wisdom, it argues that the notion of 'best practice' is characterised by significant conceptual ambiguity and diverse functionality, attributing this to the inherent causal powers present in the notion itself and the antagonistic, intractable policy context in which active travel is presently mired. Recognising the limits to 'best practice' thinking, the thesis concludes with a plea for a modest 'rebalancing' of contemporary policy learning approaches.


4.48 Psychosis was written throughout the autumn and winter of 1998-99 as Kane battled with one of her recurrent bouts of depression. On February 20, 1999, aged 28, the playwright committed suicide. On the page, the piece looks like a poem. No characters are named, and even their number is unspecified. It could be a journey through one person's mind, or an interview between a doctor and his patient.


In state-of-the-art New Keynesian model firms are monopolistically competitive and prices are sticky. However, the average markup resulting from the monopolistic competition is usually assumed away either by production subsidy or by the zero-inflation steady state. Also, in models of an open economy the same level of price stickiness is assumed for both countries. In this paper I study the optimal rate of inflation in a two country model keeping the average markup and allowing price stickiness to differ between countries. There are two channels that govern the optimal rate of inflation. First, with local currencies an inflation tax is partly imposed on the foreign country, so it is optimal to inflate. Second, the average markup constitutes a cost of holding money so it is optimal to deflate, to compensate this cost. The paper has four novel findings: 1) in the local currencies regime the first motive dominates and the optimal inflation is positive. 2) In a monetary union the first motive is absent and the optimal inflation is negative and below the Friedman rule. 3) A monetary union improves global welfare even when stickiness is different in two countries. However, when this difference is large, only one country (the one with higher stickiness) benefits from the integration. 4) A monetary union can be welfare improving for each of both countries, if a transfer is introduced from the more sticky to the more flexible country of (depending on the parameters up to) 2% of its GDP.


Robert Kaestner (2020) presents a critique of how our work on the Moving to Opportunity (MTO) experiment (Chetty, Hendren, and Katz 2016) should be interpreted. His primary point is that our empirical analysis does not establish that reducing neighborhood poverty rates will improve children's outcomes in adulthood. We found that moving to a lower-poverty neighborhood increases earnings in adulthood—an empirical result whose validity Kaestner (2020) does not dispute. We agree that one cannot conclude from this result that neighborhood poverty rates are the mechanism through which neighborhoods impact children's long-run outcomes. However, we made this point in our 2016 article, where we wrote that the treatment effects of moving to lower-poverty neighborhoods should "be interpreted as the effect of changing a bundle of neighborhood attributes rather than any one feature of neighborhood environments." Kaestner further notes that our point estimates by city are statistically less precise than the pooled estimates we report in our baseline specification, reproducing tables published in our paper. The fact that smaller samples yield larger standard errors is to be expected, but the estimates by site are not statistically distinguishable from the point estimates that pool across sites. Hence, there is no clear evidence for (or against) site-level heterogeneity. Finally, Kaestner analyzes heterogeneity across areas as a method for generating variation in poverty rates. This approach suffers from the very problem Kaestner highlights in his critique: there are other factors that vary across places beyond just their poverty rates. We conclude—as we did in Chetty, Hendren, and Katz (2016)—that moving to lower-poverty areas improves children's outcomes in the long run, but the MTO experiment does not isolate the causal effect of any one neighborhood characteristic (such as poverty rates or peer effects) on upward mobility.


Four desert plants species were grown in plexiglass cylinders in which thermocouple psychrometers were placed so that soil moisture potential could be measured. After establishment the plants were allowed to extract the soil moisture to −60 bars. Different samples of each were then irrigated at different time intervals to measure recovery characteristics. Partial wilting of each occurred at much lower soil moisture potentials than agricultural crops and each recovered in varying degrees for irrigation 8 to 10 days after reaching the point of −60 bars soil moisture potential. These studies of drought resistant species help understand some responses of other plants to soil moisture variations.


Fulvestrant is an estrogen receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in postmenopausal women with disease progression following antiestrogen therapy. Fulvestrant has a different mechanism of action than other hormonal therapies, including aromatase inhibitors and tamoxifen. In clinical trials of postmenopausal women with MBC, fulvestrant was effective and well tolerated compared to anastrozole after failure of tamoxifen. The monthly injection regimen of fulvestrant provides nurses with an additional opportunity to improve patient adherence to hormonal therapy, reinforce patient education, and monitor side effects. Several ongoing trials will elucidate the role of fulvestrant in the treatment of MBC. Issues that are being addressed in those trials include alternative doses and schedules, efficacy and safety in other patient populations, and the development of novel treatment combinations. This article provides oncology nurses with the knowledge needed to educate patients on the use of fulvestrant, to effectively administer this medication, and to prevent and manage potential side effects.


We propose a novel approach to reduce memory consumption of the backpropagation through time (BPTT) algorithm when training recurrent neural networks (RNNs). Our approach uses dynamic programming to balance a trade-off between caching of intermediate results and recomputation. The algorithm is capable of tightly fitting within almost any user-set memory budget while finding an optimal execution policy minimizing the computational cost. Computational devices have limited memory capacity and maximizing a computational performance given a fixed memory budget is a practical use-case. We provide asymptotic computational upper bounds for various regimes. The algorithm is particularly effective for long sequences. For sequences of length 1000, our algorithm saves 95\% of memory usage while using only one third more time per iteration than the standard BPTT.


We analyze one-dimensional nonuniform arrays of square resonators with a size of 5 μm. This choice of resonator size is motivated by a combination of factors such as size that gives a relatively small number of intrinsic modes, is compatible with current fabrication processes, and can deliver a reasonable amount of power without occupying a large area. In these arrays we initially change the separation between adjacent resonators by using standard functions used in specifying filter responses in the frequency domain such as binomial functions Chebyshev polynomials. We show that interesting spectral properties may appear when these functions are used. Next, we change one of the characteristic dimensions of the square resonator in a prescribed manner across the array and analyze the effect of the changes on the spectral characteristics of the arrays. In all cases, the arrays form light sources that couple light into a single-mode waveguide and their spectral characteristics are obtained after coupling into the waveguide.


Weathering extends to shallower depths on diabase than granite ridgetops despite similar climate and geomorphological regimes of denudation in the Virginia (United States) Piedmont. Deeper weathering has been attributed to advective transport of solutes in granitic rock compared to diffusive transport in diabase. We use neutron scattering (NS) techniques to quantify the total and connected submillimeter porosity (nominal diameters between 1 nm and 10 μm) and specific surface area (SSA) during weathering. The internal surface of each unweathered rock is characterized as both a mass fractal and a surface fractal. The mass fractal describes the distribution of pores (∼300 nm to ∼5 μm) along grain boundaries and triple junctions. The surface fractal is interpreted as the distribution of smaller features (1–300 nm), that is, the bumps (or irregularities) at the grain–pore interface. The earliest porosity development in the granite is driven by microfracturing of biotite, which leads to the introduction of fluids that initiate dissolution of other silicates. Once plagioclase weathering begins, porosity increases significantly and the mass + surface fractal typical for unweathered granite transforms to a surface fractal as infiltration of fluids continues. In contrast, the mass + surface fractal does not transform to a surface fractal during weathering of the diabase, perhaps consistent with the interpretation that solute transport is dominated by diffusion in that rock. The difference in regolith thickness between granite and diabase is likely due to the different mechanisms of solute transport across the primary silicate reaction front.


Species diversity within communities and genetic diversity within species are two fundamental levels of biodiversity. Positive relationships between species richness and within-species genetic diversity have recently been documented across natural and semi-natural habitat islands, leading Vellend to suggest a novel macro-ecological pattern termed the species-genetic diversity correlation. We tested whether this prediction holds for areas affected by recent habitat disturbance using butterfly communities in east Kalimantan, Indonesia. Here, we show that both strong spatial and temporal correlations exist between species and allelic richness across rainforest habitats affected by El Niño Southern Oscillation-induced disturbance. Coupled with evidence that changes in species richness are a direct result of local extirpation and lower recruitment, these data suggest that forces governing variation at the two levels operate over parallel and short timescales, with implications for biodiversity recovery following disturbance. Remnant communities may be doubly affected, with reductions in species richness being associated with reductions in genetic diversity within remnant species.


The "Gray Matters" section of Epilepsia provides a forum for the Journal's owner—for almost 100 years— the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). As the ILAE's centenary is approaching, and as we become involved with the project of documenting the organization's and the Journal's history, we have come to regret that the modern Epilepsia provides little information about the ILAE's agenda and development. The Editors-in-Chief believe that reports from the ILAE President in the Gray Matters section would be instrumental in improving this situation in the future. This first report, in what will hopefully be a regular series of messages, is a midterm report about the first 2 years of the present Executive Committee (EC), which was elected in 2004 and 2005 for the period 2005–2009.


Mesozoic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks in the northern White Mountains, eastern California and western Nevada, are separated from lower Paleozoic and Precambrian rocks by Jurassic and Cretaceous plutons. The large stratigraphic hiatus across the plutons is called the Barcroft structural break. Recent mapping and new U/Pb zircon ages of 154 +3/−1 Ma and 137 ±1 Ma. from an ash-flow tuff and a hypabyssal intrusion, respectively, indicate that part of the Mesozoic section and the Barcroft structural break are younger than the 160–165 Ma Barcroft Granodiorite, in contrast to previous interpretations. The Barcroft Granodiorite has been thrust westward over most of the Mesozoic section. It is everywhere in fault contact with overturned metasedimentary rocks on the west side of the range, rocks which were previously thought to be upright and the oldest part of the Mesozoic section. The McAfee Creek Granite, which has a 100 ±1 Ma U/Pb zircon age, postdates thrusting; therefore, the Barcroft structural break is primarily Early Cretaceous in age.


This work is the first movement of the design of an all composite UAV wing, helping a group of aeronautics engineering students, to increase the technologic level of its. To do that, the means and technology from CIMNE Company are used, specially a current main line of investigation in the center, the FEMCOM project. This work is included in the development of new finite element methods for analysis and optimal design of structures with composite materials.
After the introduction of the motivations and the student group, it's presented the initial construction technique of the D-box, the seed for the idea of building an entire wing made of composite material, and a test for the methodology to follow when simulating aeronautic composite structures using CIMNE's FEA software COMPack. There are exposed the main requirements that the new structure must fulfill. Besides the global idea of enhance the use of composite materials in the wing structure, it is established the need of increase the wing structural strength and maintain the specific mass, and also, to make it more easy to be constructed by non-professional technicians.
Later is presented a general picture of composite structures used in aeronautic applications. How and why the composite parts are being used in aircraft structures, and defining the advantages and benefits of using composites instead ordinary materials. The method to transform the old D-box structure made by a single layer of composite and balsa wood into an all-composite wing is planned. The final structure was defined after a decision process, started by a brainstorming, followed by a detailed evaluation of the more valid concepts, keeping in mind the main objectives. The E model specimen is chosen and the wing structure is named EV structure. After the decision of the structural morphology of the wing, the materials that will effectively form the composite parts as fibers, matrix, foams and such are decided. The decision is made after the study of the materials that are commonly used to manufacture composites structures, including a brief introduction to fiber science, woven fabrics theory and the main aspects of resin chemistry. After this the decision of the materials that will be use to simulate and construct the EV model is made, the materials are dividend in skin and core, and some special considerations of which material fits more to each part are explained, based on the general requirements of the structure and on the features of each material.
After this, it's possible to establish the first parameters of the structure and start to virtually construct and test the designed wing, by doing a Finite Element Analysis and the posterior optimization of the EV model of all composite wing. After introducing a brief part of COMPack theory and know-how, a trial load state is applied into the EV model in order to run the first introductory simulations. The first results obtained from the preliminary models served to initiate the optimization process. After a brief presentation of the optimization
16
module, a trial problem will be presented and run in order to establish optimization guidelines, and optimize the initial structure. The optimized models, named series 40's are analyzed and finally a definitive structure configuration is defined. This structure is loaded with the full load set established by the Trencalos Team for their future plane that will compete in the Trencalos Team. The results of the simulation showed that the main reinforce structures (carbon tube and the carbon band on the skin) the main part of the stress, still far away of its yielding limit. Due to the method of load application, the PS foam core was damaged when increased the nominal load to 126%. The composite structure takes without any major problem the stress caused by the load set defined, but the foam is sensitive to load concentrations. This fact will be important in order to establish future lines in work.
Later on, there is a discussion of the aspects related to the economic issues of this work, as a stage of the development process of CIMNE's FEMCOM project, based in the implementation of analysis and optimization tools and software for composites structures. The cost of this work will be estimated in 52.842 €, considering all the human and technical resources that actually took part and collaborated in a active way to develop the program and get the results here presented. In addition, it's offered the cost that represent to perform a study design or optimization of an composite part or model, in order to quantify the price of the service that CIMNE could offer after the development of this software and the possible launch into the market.
Finally, it is explained the future lines of investigation established after the end of this work. Details of how this work will be carried on inside CIMNE are given, considering the problems and conclusions exposed. About COMPACK software one of the main aspects is to improve the method of defining internal loads, specially twist and bending moments to avoid artificial stress concentration zones. The implementation of a module able to apply pressure value directly to a FEM mesh is also defined as a very useful tool, as well as the need of a user manual for COMPack, which was started last month of February.
Observing the good results obtained, the construction of the physic EV model is planned for this spring. In order to experimentally test the structure and compare the obtained results. The EV model is planned to take part of the new plane of the Trencalos Team, which will compete in the next Air Cargo Challenge 2011 that will take place in Stuttgart next 12th of August.


The aim is to present two action research projects conducted inSweden and The Netherlands. In The Swedish project the teachers are collaboratively developing a way of working with the bully-preventions in the schools. In the Dutch project teachers are designing an educational approach for participation in research between the pupils and their teachers. Both projects are about finding models to organize the co-creation with professionals in the educational context. This paper is focusing on what characteristics are important for co-creation, how these characteristics relate to each other in the process of designing and to the "product" they are developing. Data from the Swedish project consisted in surveys to the participants and the pupils, evaluations from the participants, minutes from the meetings and field notes from the researcher. Data from the Dutch project consisted in 'one minute papers' from the participants, minutes from the meetings, interviews with the facilitators and field notes from the researcher. Both projects looked at how the participants connect to each other and to the "product" they are developing. The results show that engagement, shared values, roles and role changes, professional attitude, reflection and knowledge are important when the professionals are engaging in a new product in their own practice. The results show also that time enables them to work with the project. Action Research helps this process by adequate phasing and continuously evaluation, keeping focus on the engagement of all participants and the intended outcomes. A steering group with external support and knowledge can help to sustain the project over time.


The object of this study was to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for reproductive traits in a composite multibreed beef cattle herd using multitrait analysis. A REML procedure fitting a multitrait animal model was used to analyse data. Heritabilities and genetic correlations for calving interval (CI), calving date (CD), calving date with a penalty score (CDP) and age at first calving (AFC) were estimated as traits of the dam. The estimated heritabilities for CI, CD, CDP and AFC obtained in this study were 0.01, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.40 respectively with a repeatability of 0.07, 0.12 and 0.13 for CI, CD and CDP. Genetic correlations between traits varied from low to moderate, except for high correlations between CD and CDP (0.98), CI and CD (0.75) and between CI and CDP (0.79). Heritabilities, genetic correlations and repeatabilities of CD and CDP obtained in this study suggest that CD and CDP are the same traits and that selection for CDP rather then for CD does not have any additional advantages. Due to the additional advantages of CD over CI and the fact that CD is a less biased measurement of the female reproductive complex, CD and AFC (because of its high heritability) may be considered as selection criteria for improvement of reproduction in beef cattle herds.


The transition from the near to the far field of the fundamental mode radiating out of a photonic crystal fiber is investigated experimentally and theoretically. It is observed that the hexagonal shape of the near field rotates two times by pi/6 when moving into the far field, and eventually six satellites form around a nearly gaussian far-field pattern. A semi-empirical model is proposed, based on describing the near field as a sum of seven gaussian distributions, which qualitatively explains all the observed phenomena and quantitatively predicts the relative intensity of the six satellites in the far field.


Molecular orbital calculations at the AM1 and B3LYP/6–31G* levels of theory have been used to analyze the Diels–Alder cycloaddition/rearomatization strategy for growing uniform diameter, single-chirality carbon nanotubes from short hydrocarbon templates (aromatic belts and hemispherical end-caps) by metal-free chemical methods. Bay regions on the rim of a [10,10]nanotube end-cap (15) are predicted to exhibit Diels–Alder reactivity comparable to that of bay regions in planar polyarenes that have previously been transformed into new benzene rings by reactions with "masked acetylene" dienophiles. The Diels–Alder reactivity of nanotube template rims was found to be relatively unaffected by the presence or absence of a cap on the other end.


Reservoir sedimentation is a worldwide problem affecting sustainable storage use as well as sediment transport downstream of dams. Various techniques are applied for sediment mitigation, among which, venting of turbidity currents. This paper reviews, discusses and evaluates venting of turbidity currents based on an experimental approach. Data acquisition during the tests is accomplished using five different measuring instruments. The efficiency of venting is analyzed by varying the relative outflow discharge. The study reveals the potential of optimizing venting operations in terms of water losses by employing adequate outlet discharges during venting.


This paper describes a research project on Year 3
primary school students in Malaysia in their use of computer-based video game to enhance learning of multiplication facts (tables) in the Mathematics subject. This study attempts to investigate whether video games could actually contribute to positive effect on children's learning or otherwise. In conducting this study, the researchers assume a neutral stand in the investigation as an unbiased outcome of the study would render reliable response to the impact of video games in education which would contribute to the literature of technology-based education as well as impact to the pedagogical aspect of formal education. In order to conduct the study, a subject
(Mathematics) with a specific topic area in the subject (multiplication facts) is chosen. The study adopts a causal-comparative research to investigate the impact of the inclusion of a computer-based video game designed to teach multiplication facts to primary level students.
Sample size is 100 students divided into two i.e., A: conventional group and B conventional group aided by video games. The conventional group (A) would be taught multiplication facts (timetables) and skills conventionally. The other group (B) underwent the same lessons but with supplementary activity: a computer-based video game on multiplication which is called Timez-Attack. Analysis of marks accrued from pre-test will be compared to post- test using comparisons of means, t tests, and ANOVA tests to investigate the impact of computer games as an added learning activity. The findings revealed that video games as a supplementary activity to classroom learning brings significant and positive effect on students' retention and mastery of multiplication tables as compared to students who rely only upon formal classroom instructions.


Australia is characterised as a migrant nation, and yet rhetoric rather than evidence-based research dominates current discussion about skilled migration. This paper reports on the scoping phase of a national industry-collaborative study that explores the issues associated with employing skilled migrants entering Australia on temporary 457 visas. It is well established that the Australian economy is currently almost unique amongst first world nations in entering an extended phase of growth fuelled by the developing nations' hunger for natural resources. How Australia should balance the current need for skilled migrants to sustain this growth, with the concerns for sustainable population growth, is the subject of vigorously contested public debate. This paper explores the current literature and details the key positions currently vocalised by the main stakeholders in the press and social media as a mechanism to argue for further research on the topic. The paper concludes with a summary of the current literature and stakeholder positions. This analysis indicates the complex ways that skilled migration impacts upon industry, communities and the migrant families themselves and provides a knowledge platform for our subsequent research study exploring the economic and social costs and benefits of skilled migrants on temporary 457 visas.


A model of transverse mixing in natural streams has been tested using dye data from a field experiment and has been proven successful. The model uses a natural coordinate system which follows the curvature of the stream and is based on the cumulative discharge concept. In the numerical solutions, different assumptions are used for the factor of diffusion, (uh²m x e z ). The best accuracy is found when local values of (uh²m x ) are used together with a dispersion coefficient e z which can vary in the downstream direction. The changes in the size of the dye plume can be predicted fairly well, even with an analytical solution. An analysis of available field values for e z suggests that the dimensionless dispersion coefficient e z /U*W can be represented as a function of the width-depth ratio and a variable which characterizes the curvature of the stream. The sinuosity is a possible variable to use. Most of the data are distributed fairly well along one curve which can be used to obtain estimates of e z for streams with small curvatures.


Policymakers should recognise the size and value of the woodfuel sector and its importance to many people. Harvesters and producers need better access to trees and land to promote better management and reduce conflicts. The tax system for woodfuel should be revised to be transparent and pragmatic. Woodfuel from plantation forests and agroforestry should be favoured over woodfuel from valuable or threatened tree species. More attention should be paid to energy-efficient charcoal kilns and cooking stoves, as well as activities to promote their use. Management options that combine agroforestry, plantations and improving energy efficiency need collaboration from different sectors: energy, forest, land-use planning and agriculture.


Papain family cysteine proteases are key factors in the pathogenesis of cancer invasion, arthritis, osteoporosis, and microbial infections. Targeting this enzyme family is therefore one strategy in the development of new chemotherapy for a number of diseases. Little is known, however, about the efficacy, selectivity, and safety of cysteine protease inhibitors in cell culture or in vivo. We now report that specific cysteine protease inhibitors kill Leishmania parasites in vitro, at concentrations that do not overtly affect mammalian host cells. Inhibition of Leishmania cysteine protease activity was accompanied by defects in the parasite's lysosome/endosome compartment resembling those seen in lysosomal storage diseases. Colocalization of anti-protease antibodies with biotinylated surface proteins and accumulation of undigested debris and protease in the flagellar pocket of treated parasites were consistent with a pathway of protease trafficking from flagellar pocket to the lysosome/endosome compartment. The inhibitors were sufficiently absorbed and stable in vivo to ameliorate the pathology associated with a mouse model of Leishmania infection.


This essay responds to an article by Daniel Shaviro which argues in part that the failure of empirical assumptions behind the permanent income hypothesis undermines the case for preferring consumption taxation over income taxation. We consider each of Shaviro's arguments and conclude that none change the basic considerations in favor of consumption taxation in any significant way. Shaviro concludes that administrability and implementation concerns should be central to the choice of the tax base and that these concerns are likely to point to taxing consumption. We agree with this conclusion.


Mantle–melt interaction during melt transport is explored in one dimension and steady state. We reconsider the equivalence between one-dimensional steady equilibrium transport and batch melting. In the absence of diffusion and radioactivity, conservation of mass flux requires that the major and trace element compositions of melt and solid at each point are the same as is generated by batch melting the source composition at the same pressure and temperature. Energy conservation requires that temperature and extent of melting are independent of melt migration except for irreversible source terms related to viscous compaction and gravitational energy release. The equivalence of phase compositions at each pressure between steady-state equilibrium transport and batch melting simplifies melt transport calculations. We examine the effects of increasing the melt flux to simulate melt focusing by channeling or by two-dimensional flow with converging melt streamlines. Melt focusing modifies the mineralogy of both residual matrix and erupted melt. We use MELTS calculations to model the formation of dunite by this mechanism and quantify the melt flux required to exhaust orthopyroxene from the residue as a function of pressure. The model dunites are found to be similar to natural dunites observed in the mantle section of ophiolite sequences.


The Trans New Wave is an emergent genre of independent gender–diverse films. This research embarks upon the first critical study of the Trans New Wave as a new genre in cinema emerging in the twenty first century. The use of transliteracy is presented as an innovative theoretical approach to reading film representations of the Trans New Wave. The methodology for this research is ethnographic and autoethnographic, centered on gender–diverse communities, centralising independent trans filmmakers in international screen and film festival culture. The term trans is used throughout the thesis as an inclusive, non–essentialist term, acknowledging the specificity of the term within western settings, embracing concepts beyond the western binary. The research necessitates an interdisciplinary approach, utilising a combined methodology, situated within the social sciences and cultural studies, theoretically engaging with contemporary transgender studies, screen and media studies, film festival studies and geographies of sexualities within specific areas. The research project is qualitative. Through exegesis of purposively selected key case study texts The Thing (Rhys Ernst, USA, 2011), Trans Boys (Ali Russell and Monique Schafter, Aus., 2012) and Sexing the Transman (Buck Angel, USA, 2011), trans representations currently being produced will be contexualised within the broader cinema of the Trans New Wave. The thesis embraces all that is 'post' in the study of film (from poststructuralism to postmodernism), incorporating industrial (screen industry) contexts and materials into the researches. Central theories from gender, queer and trans studies are incorporated throughout. Through fieldwork with Trans New Wave filmmakers and independent gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer and trans film festivals and drawing upon my autoethnographic experience as the Festival Director of a regional queer film festival in Australia (Queer Fruits Film Festival, 2009–2012), the research investigates the role of independent queer and trans film festivals in presenting alternative cultural, social and political representations of gender and sexuality, which disrupt dominant (gender– normative) paradigms. The role of official classifications (ratings) systems in maintaining hegemonic standards is critically evaluated in relation to independent film production and exhibition, with examples of gay, queer and trans films that have been Refused Exemption to screen (a 'ban') from exhibition in Australia. The transactivist significance of Buck Angel's film Sexing the Transman and his public advocacy work is situated within the growing international trans community. The Trans New Wave is contexualised amidst the growing necessity for sexually and gender diverse cinematic representations by and for trans communities.


This paper analyzes the impact on market prices of the policies that have been adopted in Brazil to foster electricity from renewable energy sources (RES-E), namely wind power. In recent years the Brazilian Government implemented a series of policies that enabled a strong growth of RES-E. Recently more than 14 GW of wind and solar power were contracted. However, as most of the assets are concentrated in specific regions, these policies will induce price differences among areas of the country. In this scope, this paper describes a System Dynamics based model of the Brazilian generation system to evaluate the impact on prices from the deployment of these new sources. The paper describes simulations using realistic data for the Brazilian power system and the results suggest that the difference of prices in the country tend to increase since the Northeast region of the country concentrates most of the wind parks.


In recent years, the concept of nomadic computing has received considerable attention from the business community. As an early form of nomadic information environment (NIE), wireless local area network (WLAN) has gained tremendous popularity with organizations. Using mostly anecdotal evidences, WLAN equipment manufacturers and practitioners claimed that WLAN brought dramatic improvements in the forms of productivity gains and attainment of convenience, flexibility, mobility, and time saving to organizations and their employees. However, very little academic research has been conducted to verify these claims and further our understanding of this new phenomenon. By surveying end users and managers, this study investigates the impact of WLAN on users and their work. Finally, recommendations to researchers, managers, WLAN technology providers, and equipment manufacturers also are provided.


Face cream has been used from pre-history until the present day to keep skin soft and youthful. Most people would like to be beautiful, healthy and good looking. The global world we are living in sets of stereotypes that become models. This desire and trends are growing and seen as a gold mine for the beauty care market. Face cream plays an important role in the life of people. Face cream is usually applied to the external skin. Face creams are formulated not as medicine by simply to smooth, rehydrate and soften the skin. The aim is to lighten pigmentation to given the skin as lighten rejuvenated more youthful and pleasant appearance. The cream used cosmetically for softening and cleaning the skin is known as the face cream. The present study deals with the brand preference towards face cream among the college students in Nagercoil. Buying face cream is not an easy job for a buyer because there are plenty of brands in the market. The brand preference of buyer has been influenced by internal and external factors. This study also analysis the selection of face cream brand by the college students. This study highlights the factors influencing to purchase a specific brand of face cream. To make the present research study highly effective and interesting statistical tools such as percentages and bar chart are used for analysis and interpretation of data . Likert's five-point scaling technique has been used to analysis the level of satisfaction of respondents. Simple random Sampling technique was used to select the sample respondents.  From the study, it is clear that the marketer can succeed in their field and can satisfy the target of the consumer if they have a clear idea about the customers and produce quality products according to their requirements.


Abstract. We present a selection of methodologies for using the palaeo-climate model component of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (Phase 5) (CMIP5) to attempt to constrain future climate projections using the same models. The constraints arise from measures of skill in hindcasting palaeo-climate changes from the present over three periods: the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (21 000 yr before present, ka), the mid-Holocene (MH) (6 ka) and the Last Millennium (LM) (850–1850 CE). The skill measures may be used to validate robust patterns of climate change across scenarios or to distinguish between models that have differing outcomes in future scenarios. We find that the multi-model ensemble of palaeo-simulations is adequate for addressing at least some of these issues. For example, selected benchmarks for the LGM and MH are correlated to the rank of future projections of precipitation/temperature or sea ice extent to indicate that models that produce the best agreement with palaeo-climate information give demonstrably different future results than the rest of the models. We also explore cases where comparisons are strongly dependent on uncertain forcing time series or show important non-stationarity, making direct inferences for the future problematic. Overall, we demonstrate that there is a strong potential for the palaeo-climate simulations to help inform the future projections and urge all the modelling groups to complete this subset of the CMIP5 runs.


This paper deals with the issue of strategic argumentation in the setting of Dung-style abstract argumentation theory. Such reasoning takes place through the use of opponent models--recursive representations of an agent's knowledge and beliefs regarding the opponent's knowledge. Using such models, we present three approaches to reasoning. The first directly utilises the opponent model to identify the best move to advance in a dialogue. The second extends our basic approach through the use of quantitative uncertainty over the opponent's model. The final extension introduces virtual arguments into the opponent's reasoning process. Such arguments are unknown to the agent, but presumed to exist and interact with known arguments. They are therefore used to add a primitive notion of risk to the agent's reasoning. We have implemented our models and we have performed an empirical analysis that shows that this added expressivity improves the performance of an agent in a dialogue.


This dissertation develops methods for evaluating the tribological behavior of anisotropic materials. The underlying objectives of the work are: (1) to elucidate the relationship between the sliding frictional contact and the fiber orientations of FRP composites; (2) to explore the relationship between the anisotropic strength and the wear of FRP composites and develop an innovative wear model of FRP composites; and (3) to derive a general approximate solution for analyzing the contact behavior of transversely isotropic coatings such solid lubricant films.The first goal was achieved in two steps. First, by incorporating anisotropic contact theory, the elastic properties of FRP composites, and the analytical expressions of Barnett-Lothe tensors, the contact behavior of FRP composites in the three principal fiber orientations (transverse, normal, parallel) was deduced. Specially, the influence of fibers, matrices, volume fractions, and friction coefficients on the contact behavior was ascertained. Next, through the numerical solution of the explicit expressions of Barnett-Lothe tensors, the relationship between the contact performance and the arbitrary fiber orientations was examined. Based on this approach, the influence of fiber orientations on the contact pressure and the contact patch was determined. To develop an anisotropic wear model of FRP composites, the Tsai-Wu failure strength criterion was employed to establish the relationship between the wear and the contact stress. The theoretically predicated results were in good agreement with the previously published experimental data. This correlation demonstrates that the anisotropic failure strength criteria may be used to explain the anisotropy of wear in FRP composites.Finally, a set of approximate solutions for thin, transversely isotropic coatings was derived to gain deep insight into the coated structures. These easy-to-use solutions are helpful for optimizing the contact behavior of thin coatings used in the design of contacting components.


We propose a new interferometer technique for high-precision phase measurements such as those in gravitational wave detection. The technique utilizes a pair of optically coupled resonators that provide identical resonance conditions for the upper as well the lower phase modulation signal sidebands. This symmetry significantly reduces the noise spectral density in a wide frequency band compared with single-sideband recycling topologies of current and planned gravitational wave detectors. Furthermore, the application of squeezed states of light becomes less demanding.


Many existing theories of user perceptions and attitudes towards technology suffer from "over investigation" of users' attitudes and "under investigation" of the technologies that cause them. This can be the result of a pursuit of generalisability at the expense of accuracy and salience to practice. In this paper, we offer some heuristics for addressing this issue. We propose that salient features of technologies can be identified using affordance theory. The functional affordances of technologies form the basis for users' descriptive beliefs (perceptions). These in turn form the basis for more generalized beliefs that lead to attitudes. We further suggest that multi-indicator structural models (MISMs), from contemporary psychometrics are highly suitable for modeling this theory area. We offer a brief illustration of how our heuristics could be used to develop a theory.


Despite progress during the last decade, the behavior of charged macromolecules, polyelectrolytes, including their interactions is not yet completely understood. In particular, interactions with oppositely charged surfaces, which play a significant role in many practical applications and are of central importance in life processes, need more investigation. This situation has motivated the selection of the topic of this doctoral thesis. The study is dedicated to interactions of positively charged polyelectrolytes with negatively charged surfaces considering two types of surfaces, flat amphiphile monolayers and porous surfaces of microspheres. The research aimed at quantitative evaluation of the influence of macromolecular dimensions, chemical structure, electrostatic parameters, and surface characteristics on the adsorption process. As a prerequisite, a series of poly(vinylbenzyltrialkylammonium chloride) model polyelectrolytes has been synthesized. The characteristics were five defined contour lengths with three different types of substituents at the quaternary ammonium group each in addition to uniform charge density and narrow chain length distribution. The final polyelectrolytes were the quaternization products of precursors synthesized by controlled radical polymerization. Two experimental techniques were employed to quantify the influence of chemical, macromolecular, and electrostatic parameters as well as geometrical characteristics on the adsorption of polyelectrolytes on porous microsphere surfaces. These were adsorption on microspheres suspended in aqueous phase and microspheres packed in a chromatography column. During the first technique the total surface comes immediately in contact with the polyelectrolyte molecules, whereas the second technique followed the rules of chromatography. For the first time, the contour length of the polyelectrolyte, the Debye length, the pore dimensions, as well as the chemical structure were likewise considered in a comprehensive study to describe the interaction of polyelectrolytes with well-characterized porous surfaces. A polyelectrolyte charge to surface charge ratio was defined and served to classify different adsorption behavior. Three models have been proposed to illustrate the adsorption behavior based on experimental findings and model calculations. The first one identifies the Debye length in addition to the contour length as dominating parameter, which decides whether a polyelectrolyte molecule can enter a pore or not. The second quantifies the influence of the contour length. Finally, the third describes the concentration influence on the type of molecule organization, layer formation, on the outer surface or inside of pores with diameters exceeding considerably the contour length. For amphiphile monolayer, for the first time, the influence of chain length and substituent at the quaternary ammonium group on the adsorption process was quantified. Based on the surface pressure, pressure-area and pressure-time isotherms measured, a model describing the monolayer arrangement on polyelectrolyte solutions was proposed. A second model correlates the increase of the area per amphiphile molecule and the decrease of the surface pressure with the size and hydrophobicity of the substituents. In addition chain length influence was evident. The results of the thesis contribute to progress in basic research in the field of polyelectrolytes, while also an impact on technical applications such as surface modification, chromatographic processes or improvement of materials is expected. Precise data for comparison with theoretical model calculations are provided, which were not available before.


Building upon our earlier Liberty Street Economics post, we continue to analyze the heterogeneity of COVID-19 incidence. We previously found that majority-minority areas, low-income areas, and areas with higher population density were more affected by COVID-19. The objective of this post is to understand any differences in COVID-19 incidence by areas of financial vulnerability. Are areas that are more financially distressed affected by COVID-19 to a greater extent than other areas? If so, this would not only further adversely affect the financial well-being of the individuals in these areas, but also the local economy. This post is the first in a three-part series looking at heterogeneity in the credit market as it pertains to COVID-19 incidence and CARES Act debt relief.


Different Places, Different Voices challenges Western feminist and post-colonial approaches in its analysis of the changing lives of women of Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania. Recognising the significance of place, this is a book informed by the voices of female geographers from the developing world. Twenty case studies present regional perspectives on urban and rural development, household reproduction and production and community organisation. The theoretical and contextual approach and the emphasis on location and positionality highlight the differences created by place to suggest other ways of seeing.


Collections of scenes and texts designated variously as the "Book of the Earth," "Creation of the Solar Disc," and "Book of Aker" were inscribed on the walls of royal sarcophagus chambers throughout Egypt's Ramessid period (Dynasties 19–20). This material illustrated discrete episodes from the nocturnal voyage of the sun god, which functioned as a model for the resurrection of the deceased king. These earliest "Books of the Earth" employed mostly ad hoc arrangements of scenes, united by shared elements of iconography, an overarching, bipartite symmetry of composition, and their frequent pairing with representations of the double sky overhead. From the Twenty-First Dynasty and later, selections of programmatic tableaux were adapted for use in private mortuary contexts, often in conjunction with innovative or previously unattested annotations. The present study collects and analyzes all currently known Book of the Earth material, including discussions of iconography, grammar, orthography, and architectural setting.


Section 34 of Nigeria's Arbitration Act provides that '[a] court shall not intervene in any matter governed by this Act, except where so provided in this Act'. Relying on this provision, the Court of Appeal recently set aside the interim order of a High Court restraining arbitration proceedings, reasoning that the High Court lacked the jurisdiction to make the order. It is argued in this comment that the Court of Appeal may have reached the right decision in that case, but for the wrong reason. Nigerian courts of superior record derive their powers from the Constitution; the Arbitration Act cannot operate to diminish the powers granted to these courts by the Constitution.


This thesis endeavours to answer the following question: is there a viable and
workable model for regulating workplace grievances and disciplinary action
(EDG), the end objective of which is enhanced business competitiveness by
encouraging partnerships at work, or greater levels of organisational
commitment behaviour? This thesis argues that the answer to that question
may be yes, if the regulation applied can encourage employers to deal with
EDG in a way that employees are likely to perceive as fair.
This is a challenging objective for law makers. Current regulation of EDG
does not and probably cannot achieve the high levels of fairness perception
that the partnership model requires. This thesis argues that, in order to rectify
this problem, there must be a shift away from formulating employment
regulation with a blinkered eye on worker protection, and towards a more
sophisticated model which views worker protection against unfair treatment as
beneficial in-so-far as it promotes fairness perceptions, and the resulting
benefits of a productive and innovative workforce. This recalibration of the
regulatory compass calls for a legal framework which allows the parties to
formulate a reflexive and self-regulating approach to EDG; a framework
according to which the parties will work to prevent and resolve disputes in a
manner which accounts for their particular working environment, and the
unique circumstances of each dispute or grievance.
The new regulatory model that is proposed in this thesis will provide
employers with the opportunity to be immune from the tribunals' jurisdiction
relating to EDG. Immunity will apply where the employer can demonstrate
that they have in place and follow certain methods and practices for managing
EDG which are likely to lead to fairness at work, and therefore a higher degree
of fairness perceptions.


Many neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by the prevalence of protein aggregates in the brain. These aggregates are often composed of proteins that have been modified by the addition of ubiquitin, a marker that should lead to degradation of the offending protein by a cytosolic proteolytic complex known as the proteasome. But are the aggregates a cause or a consequence of the disease process? Bence et al. (see the news story by Helmuth) now show that protein aggregation per se appears to inhibit the proteasomal protein degradation system. N. F. Bence, R. M. Sampat, R. K. Kopito, Impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome system by protein aggregation. Science 292, 1552-1555 (2001). [Abstract] [Full Text] L. Helmuth, Protein clumps hijack cell's clearance system. Science 292, 1467-1468 (2001). [Full Text]


Prominent economic sociologist Richard Swedberg has argued that economists have failed to develop a theory of the market that recognizes it as a "social phenomenon in its own right." While this may be true of mainstream economics, the Austrian school's theory of the market is much richer than the standard view. For Austrians, the market has always been a central concern. And, Austrians have always argued that the market is a social structure where both exchange and competition occurs. Still, Austrians give little more than scant attention to the non-economic sociality that occurs in markets. The market, however, is both a conversation and an arena where meaningful conversations can occur. This paper is an effort to focus attention on the market as a social space where social activity (beyond competition and exchange) takes place and where non-economic relationships as well as economic relationships develop.


The article discusses the process of developing a nutrition education calendar for an elderly, low-literate target group in Sharpeville. This occurred in three phases: (a) an ex-post evaluation of the existing nutrition education material to identify communicative defects (n=140), (b) pre-testing a sample of semantic units drawn from a draft version of the nutrition education calendar (n=102), and (c) checking whether the target group would like to move away from the adopted illustration approach approximately one year after it was disseminated free of charge in the community (n=106). In all three phases questionnaires, completed by a research assistant in the presence of the respondent, were used as the data collection instrument. The main findings were that (a) several shortcomings relating to object recognition and the logical fit between the caption and the visual image were identified in the first phase, (b) the preferred degree of visual abstraction emerged as the main issue during the pretesting of the draft nutrition education calendar, and (c) during the third phase the respondents opted to stay with the illustration approach, rejecting the possible introduction of alternative illustration styles. Taken together, the three phases of the study illustrate strategies for stabilising the notoriously unstable visual communication component of nutrition education materials. * Rolf Gaede is Associate Professor at the Vaal University of Technology in Vereeniging. 167


Gain cells have recently been shown to be a viable alternative to static random access memory in low-power applications due to their low leakage currents and high density. The primary component of power consumption in these arrays is the dynamic power consumed during periodic refresh operations. Refresh timing is traditionally set according to a worst-case evaluation of retention time under extreme process variations, and worst-case access statistics, leading to frequent power-hungry refresh cycles. In this brief we present a replica technique for automatically tracking the retention time of a gain-cell-embedded dynamic-random-access-memory macrocell according to process variations and operating statistics, thereby reducing the data retention power of the array. A 2-kb array was designed and fabricated in a mature 0.18-μm CMOS process, appropriate for integration in ultralow power applications, such as biomedical sensors. Measurements show efficient retention time tracking across a range of supply voltages and access statistics, lowering the refresh frequency by more than 5×, as compared with traditional worst-case design.


On March 11, 2011, an earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The emerging crisis at the plant was complex, and, to make matters worse, it was exacerbated by communication gaps between the government and the nuclear industry. An independent investigation panel, established by the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, reviewed how the government, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), and other relevant actors responded. In this article, the panel's program director writes about their findings and how these players were thoroughly unprepared on almost every level for the cascading nuclear disaster. This lack of preparation was caused, in part, by a public myth of "absolute safety" that nuclear power proponents had nurtured over decades and was aggravated by dysfunction within and between government agencies and Tepco, particularly in regard to political leadership and crisis management. The investigation also found that the tsunami that began the nuclear disaster could and should have been anticipated and that ambiguity about the roles of public and private institutions in such a crisis was a factor in the poor response at Fukushima.


We estimate the effects of quantitative easing (QE) measures by the ECB and the Federal Reserve on the US dollar-euro exchange rate at frequencies and horizons rele- vant for policymakers. To do so, we derive a theoretically-consistent local projection regression equation from the standard asset pricing formulation of exchange rate de- termination. We then proxy unobserved QE shocks by future changes in the relative size of central banks' balance sheets, which we instrument with QE announcements in two-stage least squares regressions in order to account for their endogeneity. We find that QE measures have large and persistent effects on the exchange rate. For example, our estimates imply that the ECB's APP program which raised the ECB's balance sheet relative to that of the Federal Reserve by 35 percentage points between September 2014 and the end of 2016 depreciated the euro vis-`a-vis the US dollar by 12%. Regarding transmission channels, we find that a relative QE shock that ex- pands the ECB's balance sheet relative to that of the Federal Reserve depreciates the US dollar-euro exchange rate by reducing euro-dollar short-term money market rate differentials, by widening the cross-currency basis and by eliciting adjustments in currency risk premia. Changes in the expectations about the future monetary policy stance, reflecting the "signalling" channel of QE, also contribute to the exchange rate response to QE shocks.


We analyze the entanglement dynamics in a nonlinear Kerr-like coupler interacting with external environment. Whenever the reservoir is in a thermal vacuum state, the entanglement (measured by concurrence for a two-qubit system) exhibits regular oscillations of decreasing amplitude. In contrast, for thermal reservoirs we can observe dark periods in concurrence oscillations (which can be called a sudden death of the entanglement) and the entanglement rebuild (which can be named the sudden birth of entanglement). We show that these features can be observed when we deal with two-qubit system as well as qubit-qutrit system.


During the last decades, Finite Element (FEM) simulations of metal forming processes have
become important tools for designing feasible production processes. In more recent years,
several authors recognised the potential of coupling FEM simulations to mathematical opti-
misation algorithms to design optimal metal forming processes instead of only feasible ones.
This report describes the selection, development and implementation of an optimisa-
tion algorithm for solving optimisation problems for metal forming processes using time
consuming FEM simulations. A Sequential Approximate Optimisation algorithm is pro-
posed, which incorporates metamodelling techniques and sequential improvement strate-
gies for enhancing the e±ciency of the algorithm. The algorithm has been implemented in
MATLABr and can be used in combination with any Finite Element code for simulating
metal forming processes.
The good applicability of the proposed optimisation algorithm within the ¯eld of metal
forming has been demonstrated by applying it to optimise the internal pressure and ax-
ial feeding load paths for manufacturing a simple hydroformed product. Resulting was
a constantly distributed wall thickness throughout the ¯nal product. Subsequently, the
algorithm was compared to other optimisation algorithms for optimising metal forming
by applying it to two more complicated forging examples. In both cases, the geometry of
the preform was optimised. For one forging application, the algorithm managed to solve
a folding defect. For the other application both the folding susceptibility and the energy
consumption required for forging the part were reduced by 10% w.r.t. the forging process
proposed by the forging company. The algorithm proposed in this report yielded better
results than the optimisation algorithms it was compared to.


We start this paper by emphasizing that that we currently do not learn as much as we could from evaluations. While there are well-established methods for determining, and understanding, the effects of simpler interventions in one set of places (i.e. internal validity), it is less clear how to learn the most possible from evaluations of context-specific, complex, interventions, and apply what we learn to other contexts. This is especially important in international development where evaluations are limited by time, cost and opportunity, and where there is significant heterogeneity in the issues and contexts within which work is undertaken. Using examples and case studies throughout, we outline several gaps in evaluation methods that if addressed, could allow us to learn more. First, we argue that an important gap is the failure to combine the analysis and interpretation of process and outcome data, and illustrate the benefits of doing so. We then highlight principles that could be adapted to guide the integration from two methodological frameworks from other research fields, and discuss Bayesian modelling as a potential method that could be employed. Second, we place this gap within an evaluation approach, which relies on developing "midlevel" theories, and using data from evaluations to test and refine these theories to allow for knowledge from one setting to be transported to others. Finally, we identify further gaps and the challenges that confront this evaluation approach.


On August 14, 1987, the Centers for Disease Control revised the surveillance case definition for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) to include several indicator diseases. The addition of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections to the definition reemphasized the increasing frequency of severe HSV infections in patients also infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These infections in patients with AIDS are associated with considerable morbidity similar to reports of HSV in other immunocompromised populations. Their spectrum can include persistent or recurrent genital disease, severe visceral involvement, and disseminated infection. Patients with AIDS also are at increased risk of drug toxicities when receiving treatment for HSV infections in addition to antiretroviral therapy. Acyclovir, a selective and specific inhibitor of HSV replication, has been the mainstay of safe and effective treatment for HSV for more than a decade. However, reports of acyclovir‐resistant strains of HSV in patients with AIDS have been steadily increasing since 1989. Although foscarnet has been successful in treating acyclovir‐resistant strains, foscarnet‐resistant strains have also been isolated. The search to find novel approaches for the treatment and suppression of HSV in patients with AIDS has become an added challenge in the management of this devastating disease.


Virtual online gaming clan organizations are used to analyze social grouping and cooperation within competitive gaming communities. Participants from two popular massive multi-player online role-playing games (MMORPGs) in Taiwan were interviewed to collect data on the social dynamics of gamer networks in virtual worlds. Our essential argument is that joining online clans involves costs and risks, yet the "law-of-the-jungle" nature of the gaming world and the interdependent role structure of most game designs encourage the formation of gaming groups. Players commonly establish clans consisting of individuals from their off-line networks in order to reduce the risk of cooperating with strangers. A typical portrait of careless and vulnerable teenage gamers is found unsound.


In the current study, the authors report on the application of the design science methodology to construct, utilize, and evaluate a frugal information system that uses mobile devices and cloud computing resources for documenting daily sales transactions of very small enterprises (VSEs). Small enterprises play significant roles in the socioeconomic landscape of a community by providing employment opportunities and contributing to the gross domestic product. However, VSEs have very little access to innovative information technologies that could help them manage their challenges that are restricting their effective growth, sustainability, and participation in a knowledge economy. The results of a field-evaluation experiment, involving 22 VSE entrepreneurs using a newly constructed system, MobiSales, disclosed that user behavior, which demonstrates confidence, excitement, enthusiasm, energy, and trust varied when employing a mobile electronic device for social interactions, as compared to using it for business transactions.


How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected armed conflict and political violence within countries? Focusing on Africa, a continent with a particularly high number of ongoing conflicts, this policy brief analyses the immediate and long-term implications of the pandemic on conflict and reflects on its implications for international peacebuilding efforts. In the short term, conflict patterns on the continent are marked more by a continuation of previous trends than by a strong direct impact of COVID-19. Regarding armed confrontations, there was a rise in conflict intensity in some countries and one new war erupted in the Tigray region of Ethiopia in November 2020. As to lower-scale political violence, especially in the beginning of the pandemic, many states used excessive state violence against civilians when enforcing Corona measures. Perhaps more important than the immediate effect of the pandemic, the consequences of the pandemic are very likely to accelerate violent conflict in the medium to long term. This is firstly because the pandemic exacerbates structural weaknesses, including the sharpening of societal divisions, severe disruptions in the education sector and deteriorating socio-economic circumstances. Secondly, the pandemic has curtailed actors and institutions that might be able to reduce the risk of violent escalation. Trust in the state and security institutions has suffered in many countries due to dissatis-faction with the handling of the pandemic. Moreover, democratic processes are hampered by the postponement of elections and increasing levels of government repression. At the same time, international peace support is negatively affected by social distancing and further threatened by looming cuts of commitments in official development assistance. Bringing together both the short-term and longer-term effects of the pandemic on conflict clearly shows the risk that the pandemic poses to peace in Africa. It is therefore vital for the international community to: 1. Stay engaged and stay alert. If the international community continues to focus on handling the domestic consequences of the pandemic rather than international challenges, conflict will further increase in intensity and spread geographically. COVID-19 has already led to a reduction in international peace support, including peacebuilding initiatives and mediation. However, these instruments are vital to foster peace and prevent emerging and renewed conflict. 2. Invest in conflict prevention. The adverse effects of COVID-19 on economic, social and political structures can, and very likely will, provide the breeding ground for larger-scale conflicts, both in least developed countries (LDCs) and middle-income countries. Thus, conflict prevention must be taken seriously, including the strengthening of open and participatory (democratic) processes that enable societies to deal with societal conflicts peacefully. 3. Pay special attention to post-conflict countries. Many African countries have experienced large-scale civil wars in their history and continue to be LDCs struggling with societal tensions. The risk of renewed conflict in these places is particularly high.


Intracranial compliance, as estimated from a computerized frequency analysis of the intracranial pressure (ICP) waveform, was continuously monitored during the acute postinjury phase in 55 head-injured patients. In previous studies, the high-frequency centroid (HFC), which was defined as the power-weighted average frequency within the 4- to 15-Hz band of the ICP power density spectrum, was found to inversely correlate with the pressure-volume index (PVI). An HFC of 6.5 to 7.0 Hz was normal, while an increase in the HFC to 9.0 Hz coincided with a reduction in the PVI to 13 ml and indicated exhaustion of intracranial volume-buffering capacity. The mean HFC for individual patients in the present study ranged from 6.8 to 9.0 Hz, and the length of time that the HFC was greater than 9.0 Hz ranged from 0 to 104.8 hours. The mortality rate increased concomitantly with the mean HFC, from 7% when the mean HFC was less than 7.5 Hz to 46% when the mean HFC was 8.5 Hz or greater. The length of time that the HFC was 9.0 Hz or greater was also associated with an increased mortality rate, which ranged from 16% if the HFC was never above 9.0 Hz to 60% if the HFC was 9.0 Hz or greater for more than 12 hours. In 12 patients who developed uncontrollable intracranial hypertension or clinical signs of tentorial herniation during the monitoring period, 75% were observed to have had an increase in the HFC to 9.0 Hz or more 1 to 36 hours prior to the clinical decompensation. The more rapid the increase in the HFC, the more likely the deterioration was to be caused by an intracranial hematoma. Continuous monitoring of intracranial compliance by computerized analysis of the ICP waveform may provide an earlier warning of neurological decompensation than ICP per se and, unlike PVI, does not require volumetric manipulation of intracranial volume.


We introduce a novel algorithm for mining temporal intervals from real-time system traces with linear complexity using passive, black-box learning. Our interest is in mining nfer specifications from spacecraft telemetry to improve human and machine comprehension. Nfer is a recently proposed formalism for inferring event stream abstractions with a rule notation based on Allen Logic. The problem of mining Allen's relations from a multivariate interval series is well studied, but little attention has been paid to generating such a series from symbolic time sequences such as system traces. We propose a method to automatically generate an interval series from real-time system traces so that they may be used as inputs to existing algorithms to mine nfer rules. Our algorithm has linear runtime and constant space complexity in the length of the trace and can mine infrequent intervals of arbitrary length from incomplete traces. The paper includes results from case studies using logs from the Curiosity rover on Mars and two other realistic datasets.


A method of incorporating self and peer marking in an undergraduate electronics subject is described and discussed. Similar methods could probably be used in other technical subjects. Its educational benefits are: greatly improved feedback to the students, additional reinforcement, and practice at self assessment. The method described has a high degree of student acceptance, and appears to produce reliable and valid marks. It can be incorporated into conventionally taught courses without disrupting teaching. The use of self and peer assessment in an isolated subject requires a great deal of attention to the details of the procedure, especially if it is to be part of the formal assessment in the subject. The procedure developed here requires the preparation of detailed model solutions and an extensive clerical procedure, but alternatives with a simpler clerical process are also possible. The nature and amount of the examination load on faculty is different when self and peer marking is used. For small classes it involves more work for faculty, but for large classes it reduces the work load. It is one of the few educational innovations that can do this, and at the same time have educational benefits.


Since 2010, the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany has developed a cultural landscape information system as a process to secure and further enrich aggregate data about its cultural assets. In an open dialogue between governing authorities and citizens, the intention of the project is an active cooperation of public and private actors. A cultural landscape information system called KuLIS was designed as a web platform, combining semantic wiki software with a geographic information system. Based on data sets from public administrations, the information about cultural assets can be extended and enhanced by interested participants. The developed infrastructure facilitates local information accumulation through a crowdsourcing approach. This capability offers new possibilities for e-governance and open data developments. The collaborative approach allows governing authorities to manage and supervise official data, while public participation enables affordable information acquisition. Gathered cultural heritage information can provide incentives for touristic valorisation of communities or concepts for strengthening regional identification. It can also influence political decisions in defining significant cultural regions worth of protecting from industrial influences. The presented cultural landscape information allows citizens to influence the statewide development of cultural landscapes in a democratic way.


A two-sector general equilibrium banking model is constructed to study the functioning of a floor system of central bank intervention. Only retail banks can hold reserves, and these banks are also subject to a capital requirement, which creates "balance sheet costs"of holding reserves. An increase in the interest rate on reserves has very different qualitative effects from a reduction in the central bank's balance sheet. Increases in the central bank's balance sheet can have redistributive effects, and can reduce welfare. A reverse repo facility at the central bank puts a floor under the interbank interest rate, and is always welfare improving. However, an increase in reverse repos outstanding can increase the margin between the interbank interest rate and the interest rate on government debt.