This well-documented study discusses the social and economic changes in Shandong province before the influence of the West was felt at the end of the nineteenth century. The authors show that by the sixteenth century, commercial and handicraft towns linked to national and local markets had already begun to emerge. Urban growth was made possible by increased agricultural production, which in turn stimulated specialization and increased commercialization in the agricultural sector. Another important change in rural society at this time was the emergence of a new stratum of wealthy landlords who managed their estates with wage labor. Case studies of managerial landlords, who form the main focus of this study, are included as well as generalizations drawn from questionnaire materials. Luo Lun and Jing Su wrote this book while they were young researchers at Shandong University in the late 1950s, using data they had gathered in the culturally relaxed period of the Hundred Flowers. In his introduction, Endymion Wilkinson analyzes the authors' thesis and concludes that their Leninist model is inapplicable to premodern Chinese history. The value of this study lies not so much in its conclusion that even without the impact of Western imperialism China would of itself have developed a capitalist society, but rather in the wealth of data the authors present, in this first in-depth study of a relatively advanced region in north China.


Brazil is going through an institutional transition in the provision of public services, which had historically been supplied by State monopolies. A core element in this process is been the creation of a new form of public sector institutions – regulatory agencies with operational and financial autonomy. In this paper we identify their most important decisions and provide detailed analysis of the economic and political context in which they have been taken. We then compare Brazil with some of its peers and argue that its regulatory performance has been rather satisfactory so far, although four main problems must be solved: a. clear governance inadequacies in the coordination between different bodies; b. unclear definition of their respective competencies; c. lack of regulatory sovereignty; and d. inadequacies in design of the new antitrust agency. "What are we doing in practice? Creating regulatory agencies, a new State. And when I say regulation, I mean a radicalization of democracy. Improved control deepens democracy" Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1997)


Recent observations have shown the presence of dust and molecular material in galactic winds, but relatively little is known about the distribution of these outflow components. To shed some light on this issue, we have used IRAC images from the Spitzer Space Telescope archive to investigate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission from a sample of 16 local galaxies with known winds. Our focus on nearby sources (median distance 8.6 Mpc) has revealed detailed PAH structure in the winds and allowed us to measure extraplanar PAH emission. We have identified extraplanar PAH features on scales of ∼0.8–6.0 kpc. We find a nearly linear correlation between the amount of extraplanar PAH emission and the total infrared flux, a proxy for star formation activity in the disk. Our results also indicate a correlation between the height of extraplanar PAH emission and star formation rate surface density, which supports the idea of a surface density threshold on the energy or momentum injection rate for producing detectable extraplanar wind material.


Chapter 1 of this thesis provides a bnef introduction to the electrochemical techniques used in the study of electrode modifying matenals. A review of the synthesis, charactensation and application of redox polymers based on ruthenium and osmium poly(pyndyl) complexes is presented.

Chapter 2 descnbes the synthesis, charactensation and charge transport properties of [M(N)6]2+/3+ moieties coordinatively attached to a poly(4-vinyl pyndine) backbone (where M is Ru or Os and N is pyridine ). The effect of electrolyte type and concentration on charge transport and heterogeneous electron transfer is studied using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and sampled current voltammetry For M=Ru, the effect of redox site loading is also investigated. Activation parameters are used to aid the diagnosis of rate determining steps.

In Chapters 3 to 6 the Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (EQCM) is used to probe mass transfer within modifying polymer layers An introduction to the theory and application of the EQCM is first presented. This is followed in Chapters 3 and 4 by a study of the effect of electrolyte type and concentration on the polymer morphology and resident layer mass of [Os(bipy)2(PVP)ioCl]+ films Impedance analysis of the quartz crystal \ polymer film \ electrolyte composite resonator is used to confirm the rigidity of the polymer layers and also to provide an insight into electrolyte-dependent morphology changes. The importance of the electrolyte / polymer interaction and the subsequent polymer solvation is stressed. A membrane model describing the osmotic transfer of solvent is considered.

In Chapter 5, the kinetic aspects of redox-induced mass transfer through [Os(bipy)2(PVP)ioCl]+ are studied using cyclic voltammetry (under semi-infinite diffusion conditions) and potential step techniques. A correlation between the rate of charge transport and the facility for solvent transfer is established. The origins of the previously reported dependency of charge transport rates on experimental time scale for [Os(bipy)2(PVP)ioCl]+ is also explored.

In Chapter 6 , the pH dependency of mass transfer for redox processes in films of [Ru(bipy)2(PVP)io(H2 0 )]2+ is used to evaluate the mechanisms for coupled proton and electron transfer Charge transport through this polymer is also considered.


What assets does a firm need to hold to develop a profitable business model? A 'Hart asset' is an asset that a firm cannot strategically afford a rival firm to own or control due to the risk of hold up, and therefore must be held within the firm, and upon which a profitable business model can be built. We tie the Hart asset to the problem of complementarities in profitable innovation, and conclude with an example Hart asset in digital platforms.


The presentation of time-oriented data can provide significant insights into both the past and future. The use of timelines that integrate disparate quantitative time series data and other time-oriented information into a unified visual presentation can reveal patterns, causes, probabilities, and possibilities across complex social, technological, economic, and political systems. Cycles, waves, logistics curves, and other archetypal patterns, when laid over historical data, can provide a deeper understanding of the dynamics of change. Timelines and these archetypal change patterns can also be used in the field of futures studies as key components in a "hypothesis-to-forecast" (exploratory forecast) process to identify potential long-term patterns of change and make long-range (25+ years) forecasts.


With the rapid growth of Cloud computing, the size of Cloud data is expanding at a dramatic speed. A huge amount of data is generated and processed by Cloud applications, putting a higher demand on cloud storage. While data reliability should already be a requirement, data in the Cloud needs to be stored in a highly cost-effective manner. This book focuses on the trade-off between data storage cost and data reliability assurance for big data in the Cloud. Throughout the whole Cloud data lifecycle, four major features are presented: first, a novel generic data reliability model for describing data reliability in the Cloud; second, a minimum replication calculation approach for meeting a given data reliability requirement to facilitate data creation; third, a novel cost-effective data reliability assurance mechanism for big data maintenance, which could dramatically reduce the storage space needed in the Cloud; fourth, a cost-effective strategy for facilitating data creation and recovery, which could significantly reduce the energy consumption during data transfer.Captures data reliability with variable disk rates and compares virtual to physical disksOffers methods for reducing cloud-based storage cost and energy consumptionPresents a minimum replication benchmark for data reliability requirements to evaluate various replication-based data storage approaches


This thesis argues that case variation in English conjunction is best analysed as being the result of underspecification in the morphosyntactic features of lexical items(LIs). This supports the argument made by Adger and Smith (2005, 2010), Adger(2006), Biberauer and Richards (2006), Biberauer and Roberts (2005) inter alia: namely, that morphosyntactic variation does not require any variation-specific mechanisms and can be explained within a Minimalist framework by recourse to either morphosyntactic features or PF-based operations. An examination of the existing studies of case variation in conjunction shows that there is little consensus regarding which case forms are grammatical and the precise nature of the attested variation: whilst some assume that only acc+acc combinations are grammatical, others claim that all combinations are possible regardless of their syntactic position; and the proposals based on the possibility of intra-speaker variation are contradicted by those which assume that only inter-speaker variation exists. A new data set is collected in order to resolve this empirical uncertainty. It shows that nom+nom, nom+acc and acc+acc combinations are grammatical in subject position, but that only acc+acc combinations can be generated in object position. Furthermore, both inter- and intra-speaker variation is attested, with some speakers accepting all three subject-position variants and others accepting only one or two. Having shown that none of the existing analyses can satisfactorily account for both how all variants are generated and for the presence of inter- and intra-speaker variation, I develop an alternative using optional feature underspecification (Adger 2006) to show that all variants can be generated within a single grammar (thereby accounting for the intra-speaker variation) and that this grammar can be restricted to account for the attested inter-speaker variation. The contribution made by this thesis to our overall linguistic knowledge is three-fold. Firstly, it robustly establishes the pattern of attested case forms in English conjunction and demonstrates that both inter- and intra-speaker variation can be observed. Secondly, I identify the mechanisms of Case and feature assignment/agreement within conjoined phrases, and finally, I show how the Minimalist Program can accommodate both inter- and intra-speaker variation within the existing constraints of the programme.


Tropical cyclones drive intense ocean vertical mixing that explains most of the surface cooling observed in their wake (the "cold wake"). In this paper, the authors investigate the influence of cyclonic rainfall on the cold wake at a global scale over the 2002–09 period. For each cyclone, the cold wake intensity and accumulated rainfall are obtained from satellite data and precyclone oceanic stratification from the Global Eddy-Permitting Ocean Reanalysis (GLORYS2). The impact of precipitation on the cold wake is estimated by assuming that cooling is entirely due to vertical mixing and that an extra amount of energy (corresponding to the energy used to mix the rain layer into the ocean) would be available for mixing the ocean column in the hypothetical case with no rain. The positive buoyancy flux of rainfall reduces the mixed layer depth after the cyclone passage, hence reducing cold water entrainment. The resulting reduction in cold wake amplitude is generally small (median of 0.07 K for a median 1 K cold wake) but not negligible (>19% for 10% of the cases). Despite similar cyclonic rainfall, the effect of rain on the cold wake is strongest in the Arabian Sea and weak in the Bay of Bengal. An analytical approach with a linearly stratified ocean allows attributing this difference to the presence of barrier layers in the Bay of Bengal. The authors also show that the cold wake is generally a "salty wake" because entrainment of subsurface saltier water overwhelms the dilution effect of rainfall. Finally, rainfall temperature has a negligible influence on the cold wake.


Cortical spreading depression (CSD), a depolarization wave which originates in the visual cortex and travels toward the frontal lobe, has been suggested to be one neural correlate of aura migraine. To the date, little is known about the mechanisms which can trigger or stop aura migraine. Here, to shed some light on this problem and, under the hypothesis that CSD might mediate aura migraine, we aim to study different aspects favoring or disfavoring the propagation of CSD. In particular, by using a computational neuronal model distributed throughout a realistic cortical mesh, we study the role that the geometry has in shaping CSD. Our results are two-fold: first, we found significant differences in the propagation traveling patterns of CSD, both intra and inter-hemispherically, revealing important asymmetries in the propagation profile. Second, we developed methods able to identify brain regions featuring a peculiar behavior during CSD propagation. Our study reveals dynamical aspects of CSD, which, if applied to subject-specific cortical geometry, might shed some light on how to differentiate between healthy subjects and those suffering migraine.


Frits Clausen, the future leader of the Nationalist Socialist Workers Party of Denmark (DNSAP), was a Russian prison of war from 1915-18. The development that he underwent in captivity is examined through contemporary letters and later articles and reminiscences. He was forced to enlist in the German army as a professed Danish nationalist, and for him the war represented a possibility and a hope that Germany would lose, providing an opportunity for North Schleswig to be reunited with Denmark. He put this goal higher than other considerations, including the German orientation of Schleswigers, and his dislike of the Danish Social-Liberal Party was due in an inordinate degree to press releases from Denmark reporting the party's half-hearted attitude to the North Schleswig issue. He also clashed with the Danish clergyman who was sent to minister to the prisoners of war from North Schleswig. The clergyman was more of an upright, neutral Danish official than a wholehearted advocate of the North Schleswig case. In this respect the clergyman was a disappointment in Frits Clausen's eyes. His recommendation that the pro-Danish prisoners of war from North Schleswig should return to Germany to resuming fighting on the German side following the separate peace treaty between Germany and Russia was more than Frits Clausen could cope with. He went over the clergyman's head and tried, together with a small number of like-minded individuals, to fight against Germany, but his attempt failed. In the course of his endeavours he developed a hatred of the new Soviet regime, as personified by the Marxist Jew, but in other respects had gained an excellent impression of the Russians, who he in no way considered to be an inferior people. On his return from Russia he expressed his anti-Semitism and anti-Communism in various anonymous articles in the press. This was the first step towards keeping the promise, made to himself during his captivity, to dedicate his life to the struggle against Marxism.


Who speaks for science in a technologically dominated society? In his latest work of cultural criticism Andrew Ross contends that this question yields no simple or easy answer. In our present technoculture a wide variety of people, both inside and outside the scientific community, have become increasingly vocal in exercising their right to speak about, on behalf of, and often against, science and technology. Arguing that science can only ever be understood as a social artifact, Strange Weather is a manifesto which calls on cultural critics to abandon their technophobia and contribute to the debates which shape our future. Each chapter focuses on an idea, a practice or community that has established an influential presence in our culture: New Age, computer hacking, cyberpunk, futurology, and global warming. In a book brimming over with intelligence--both human and electronic--Ross examines the state of scientific countercultures in an age when the development of advanced information technologies coexists uneasily with ecological warnings about the perils of unchecked growth. Intended as a contribution to a green cultural criticism, Strange Weather is a provocative investigation of the ways in which science is shaping the popular imagination of today, and delimiting the possibilities of tomorrow.


In 1639, Diogo de Lima denounced Duarte Esteves de Pina, a Portuguese Jew living in Hamburg, to the Portuguese Inquisition. The present source is comprised of the charge (seven handwritten pages) as well as the testimonies of two witnesses (each four handwritten pages). An official of the Inquisition questioned the informants under oath and produced a brief report for each. Subsequently, several priests testified to the credibility of the informants and the authenticity of the reports. Such protocols formed the basis for the total of approximately 32,000 court cases carried out by the Inquisition in its almost 300-year existence in Portugal. Upon the Liberal Revolution of 1821, the Portuguese Inquisition came to its official conclusion. The archive of the Lisbon Tribunal, from which this source originates, was given to the Lisbon Public Library. Just four years later, however, it was again withdrawn from public view and placed in the royal archive (Torre do Tombo, today, the National Archive). Only in 1901, was this archive opened to regular scholarly research. Following the turn of the 20th century, a comprehensive digitalization of its holdings was carried out. At present, a majority of the documents of the Inquisition are freely accessible on the Internet.


Two articles in this issue of the Journal represent examples of what research is teaching us and not teaching us about the biological basis of schizophrenia. At best, they illustrate how discoveries in genetics and molecular neurobiology converge at the level of neural systems, and they exemplify progress via integrative approaches. At worst, they underline the very complexity of schizophrenia's nature and the failure of findings to always mesh in a simplistically pleasing way or to map against the disease as it is currently defined clinically. Both studies implicate γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)/glutamate function, which itself has protean effects on activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and modulation of neurocircuits that have been implicated in schizophrenia (1).

The study by David Lewis' group (Curley et al. [2]) illustrates the virtues of going where the money is in behavior, and that place is neuronal biology. In a cellular neurobio-logic approach, Curley et al. measured functions of a key molecule, glutamic acid de carboxylase 67 (GAD67, also known as GAD1), the major GABA-synthesizing enzyme. They report more evidence for lower levels of GAD67 protein and RNA in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. Many internal complexities of frontal cortical function remain unknown, but even if we treat the region as the proverbial black box, glutamatergic pyramidal neurons are key to its output to other regions, such as the striatum. Approximately one in four neurons in the frontal cortex use GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Release of GABA at other GABA interneurons leads to disinhibition. GABA release at dendrites of pyramidal neurons that provide excitatory input to other pyramidal neurons can also modulate that input. Also, many other neurotransmitters, including dopamine, are vital to the function of intrinsic frontal cortical circuitry. GABA interneurons that directly inhibit glutamatergic pyramidal cells appear to be marked by parvalbumin, and expression of GAD67 in these cells is reduced. Therefore, this single finding appears to point directly to an enzyme—and a GABA interneuron that expresses it—whose reduced function partially explains the dysfunction of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia.

From a different perspective, Greenwood et al. (3) used a genetic approach to tap the genome, which because of the moderate to high heritability of schizophrenia is a proven reserve of information on the origins of this disease. Taking advantage of the deep neurocognitive phenotyping in the Consortium on the Genetics of Schizophrenia (COGS), this multicenter team detected genetic associations to 12 schizophrenia-related neurocognitive traits, several of which are strongly influenced by frontal function. Among their 96 candidate genes, and taking into account a total of 16,620 tests due to analysis of 1,385 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 12 endophenotypes, Green-wood et al. found 30 SNPs with p values <0.001. Of the 96 genes, 23 were implicated at this level, far more than would be expected by chance. Most strongly represented were GABA/glutamate genes. Such neurocognitive systems approaches are probably critical for diseases such as schizophrenia, in which there is substantial genetic heterogeneity and where risk alleles may reside in different genes within the same network. Indeed, the schizophrenia genes identified so far as copy number variants have been rare, and there appear to be many genes involved. Because schizophrenia is common and clinically defined, we may perfectly reasonably expect that one day it will be retrospectively viewed as an amalgam of many distinct disorders that are individually much less common. By analogy, schizophrenia is at the state of hereditary deafness or anemia, both of which were syndromes without known causes prior to 20th-century medicine.

The complexity of relating the many neurocognitive features of schizophrenia to the many possible genes that could underlie the responsible changes in nerve cell biology has called for new approaches to data analysis. To statistically evaluate whether there was a global excess of significant genetic findings at multiple genes, the COGS group used a novel bootstrap method. Similarly, false-discovery-rate statistics, as well as the truncated product method, in which p values below a certain threshold are multiplied and compared to random expectation (4), have opened new and mathematically valid ways of evaluating experiment-wide significance. There are several pitfalls, but properly applied, such methods yield an accurate perspective on the experiment-wide level of significance of findings or findings clustered within a molecular network. These methods essentially enable us to answer the question of how likely it was that the lightning struck not just the tree but several trees in the same forest. One might conclude that there was a thunderstorm nearby.

We therefore look once again at the nerve cells whose function is dependent on GABA/ glutamate, and while the solution is still elusive, there are encouraging signs. GAD67 is an integral part of a molecular network encompassing GABA and glutamate, and yet GAD67 itself, the enzyme implicated in the Curley et al. analysis, was not among the most significantly associated genes in the Greenwood et al. analysis. As is well known, genetic association findings come and go—and GAD67 has previously been associated with both schizophrenia and decreased expression of GAD67 mRNA in the brains of schizophrenia patients (5). However, genetic and molecular neurobiology findings in GABA/glutamate have established this as a system where some of the answers to the mystery of schizophrenia reside. The Curley et al. and Greenwood et al. studies further strengthen the case that frontal GABA/glutamatergic pathways are targetable in psychosis (6). Also, cognitive symptoms associated to GABA/glutamate genes perhaps best delineate schizophrenia and represent aspects of the disease that remain most treatment resistant.

Why is it that the molecular genetics of schizophrenia has seemingly been forever poised on the brink of great breakthroughs? A variety of partially overlapping theories of schizophrenia have, for good reasons, attracted adherents. Evidence also strongly supports the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine, as well as neurocircuits they modulate. Too little progress has been made in recent years in the development of new drugs against old targets. However, many of the neurochemical findings converge at the circuit level, and it is at that level—possibly informed by assays of function and genotype—that new interventions can be developed and targeted. Other evidence implicates neurodevelopment, including factors that modulate reaction to stress and immune activation, and in this regard the timing of interventions could be critical. Medical revolutions transform the clinical landscape in ways that make the old medicine look awkward and inadequate—as indeed it was. For example, the tuberculosis sanatorium of which Thomas Mann wrote in The Magic Mountain (a place where time seemingly stood still) was shuttered because of the introduction of one drug: isoniazid, for the treatment of tuberculosis in its different manifestations. For schizophrenia, the clinical paradigm has previously shifted several times. We may look back on this as the era when the groundwork was laid for another sea change in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.


In the last few years it has been demonstrated, both by data analysis and by numerical simulations, that the transport of energetic particles in the presence of magnetic turbulence can be superdiffusive rather than normal diffusive (Gaussian). The term 'superdiffusive' refers to the mean square displacement of particle positions growing superlinearly with time, as compared to the normal linear growth. The so-called anomalous transport, which in general comprises both subdiffusion and superdiffusion, has gained growing attention during the last two decades in many fields including laboratory plasma physics, and recently in astrophysics and space physics. Here we show a number of examples, both from laboratory and from astrophysical plasmas, where superdiffusive transport has been identified, with a focus on what could be the main influence of superdiffusion on fundamental processes like diffusive shock acceleration and heliospheric energetic particle propagation. For laboratory plasmas, superdiffusion appears to be due to the presence of electrostatic turbulence which creates long-range correlations and convoluted structures in perpendicular transport: this corresponds to a similar phenomenon in the propagation of solar energetic particles (SEPs) which leads to SEP dropouts. For the propagation of energetic particles accelerated at interplanetary shocks in the solar wind, parallel superdiffusion seems to be prevailing; this is based on a pitch-angle scattering process different from that envisaged by quasi-linear theory, and this emphasizes the importance of nonlinear interactions and trapping effects. In the case of supernova remnant shocks, parallel superdiffusion is possible at quasi-parallel shocks, as occurring in the interplanetary space, and perpendicular superdiffusion is possible at quasi-perpendicular shocks, as corresponding to Richardson diffusion: therefore, cosmic ray acceleration at supernova remnant shocks should be formulated in terms of superdiffusion. The possible relations among anomalous transport in laboratory, heliospheric, and astrophysical plasmas will be indicated.


The essay discusses specific concerns of digital humanists in hopes of bridging the gap between how library directors and digital humanities researchers think. It suggests many ways to respond to the needs of digital humanists, and creating a Digital Humanities center is appropriate in relatively few circumstances. The essay recommends that a "Digital Humanities-friendly" environment may be more effective than a Digital Humanities Center but that library culture may need to evolve in order for librarians to be seen as effective Digital Humanities partners. The authors conclude that what we call "The Digital Humanities" today will soon be considered "The Humanities." Supporting Digital Humanities scholarship is not much different than supporting digital scholarship in any discipline. Increasingly, digital scholarship is simply scholarship.


Although it is well known now that age affects swallowing function, few data have been reported for larger bolus sizes, such as 20 mL or sequential cup swallows, and few have reported data on the "oldest old," or those older than 80 years. The purpose of this investigation was to provide data for future investigations on adults, ranging in age from 21 to older than 100 years, using thin liquid, puree, and solid boluses, ranging from 5 mL to 3 oz, and to add to the database regarding the effects of age, gender, bolus size, and bolus volume on swallowing function. Symptoms relating to swallowing dysfunction were also examined, including the presence of oropharyngeal residue and penetration-aspiration. Having incorporated data on larger swallows from older individuals than in the past and incorporating an 8-point penetration-aspiration scale, several findings emerged in this investigation that have not been clearly defined in prior research as being results of the aging process. Most prominently, it was observed that for older individuals laryngeal penetration is common, often with material remaining in the laryngeal vestibule after the swallow. Differences in oral transit duration and the duration of the onset of the pharyngeal swallow that may result from varying methodologies are also discussed. Implications are drawn for the appropriate evaluation and management of older adults with suspected dysphagia.


(No paper) BASINS—Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources, a geographical information system- (GIS-) based tool developed and released by the US EPA, provides a convenient interactive framework for watershed management. Within the current scope of BASINS, a user can employ existing computational utilities embedded within this tool to develop alternative total maximum daily load (TMDL) strategies to achieve desired water quality targets. Although these utilities allow quick trial-and-error capabilities to help the user explore a large number of alternatives, they do not include the necessary procedures for a systematic search to identify good strategies. Ongoing work by the authors focus on developing and implementing prototypes of extensions to BASINS to incorporate additional systems analytic tools that will enhance the watershed management capabilities of BASINS, including: automated search for feasible TMDL strategies; generation of a small number of good alternative strategies that are maximally different from each other, providing the user a choice of TMDL strategies that can be used for further trial-and-error search; estimation of uncertainty in achieving water quality targets; and comparison of economic implications of watershed management strategies. The presentation will describe and demonstrate the current capabilities of BASINS and its extensions.


AJE publishes original papers about the methods, theory, practice, and findings of evaluation. The general goal of AJE is to present the best work in and about evaluation, in order to improve the knowledge base and practice of its readers. Because the field of evaluation is diverse, with different intellectual traditions, approaches to practice, and domains of application, the papers published in AJE reflect this diversity. Nevertheless, preference is given to papers that are likely to be of interest to a wide range of evaluators and that are written to be accessible to most readers.


Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there has been a backlash of public opinion towards Arab Americans as a whole (Skitka, Bauman, Aramovich, & Morgan, 2006) that has only exacerbated the preexisting stereotypes of this population (see Erickson & Al-Timimi, 2001 and Nobles & Sciarra, 2000). While current national security measures have been put in place to make the country safer from future acts of terrorism (see Miller, 2004 for example), these same measures may indirectly reinforce long-held stereotypes and prejudices toward Arab Americans. For example, the Coalition for Secure Driver Licenses recently launched a billboard campaign in two states in which a blatant racial stereotype (an Arab individual in traditional garb holding hand grenades and sporting heavy weapons with Arabic script running along the border) was used, potentially inciting even more fear and distrust toward Arab Americans (Leinwand, 2005). Crandall, Eshleman, and O'Brien (2002) found that people are more likely to express prejudicial attitudes if social norms are in place to indicate that such prejudice is acceptable. Although their data were collected before 9-11, Crandall et al. (2002) found that the group "terrorists" was very high on the list of personal and acceptable prejudices (5th from the top), but that the group "Iraqi soldiers" was near the middle of the list (right above "politicians"). When their data were collected, it would not appear that their participants associated terrorists with Iraqi soldiers (the closest term they used for someone of Arabic descent). However, since 9-11, the rhetoric surrounding threats of terrorism has been such that the word "terrorist" is now often associated with individuals of Arabic descent. Therefore, it is likely that people may be more willing to openly voice prejudicial attitudes towards Arab Americans. In fact, Moradi and Hasan (2004) report that Arab Americans have experienced a much higher rate of discrimination and/or been a victim of a hate crime since 9-11. Furthermore, Adelman (2002) reports that many Arab Americans and Muslim Americans have reported being harassed at or terminated from work because of their religious beliefs since these attacks. Thus, it appears that prejudice and discrimination toward Arab Americans has become more prevalent since 9-11. The current study explored how likely people were to express prejudicial attitudes towards Americans of Arabic descent in three areas: expressing prejudice and engaging in social interactions, targeting those of Arabic descent as terrorists at airport security and on the plane (profiling), and associating the term Arab with "hot" (inciting fear and distrust) terms. We hypothesized that participants would be more likely to directly admit feeling prejudice towards Arab Americans as opposed to other ethnic groups and that there would be greater prejudice expressed on the other indirect measures as well. Three mini-studies were conducted with the same group of participants to test these predictions. GENERAL METHOD Participants One hundred forty participants from a small liberal arts university in the southeast were recruited to participate in the current study. Thirty percent of the participants were male and 70% were female. Participants ranged in age from 18-35 (M = 21.5, SD = 2.7). Fifty-eight percent of the participants identified as European American, 30% identified as African American, 5% identified as Asian American, while the remaining participants identified as Hispanic American, Native American, or other. STUDY 1 Rationale & Methods A 10-item survey assessed prejudicial attitudes. Participants made a series of ratings about how likely they were to feel prejudice towards or interact with a person described simply by their ethnicity (Arab American, European American, Asian American, African American, or Hispanic American). …


This paper examines the changing role of islands in the age of globalization and in an era of enhanced and diversified mobility. There are many types of islands, many metaphors of insularity, and many types of migration, so the interactions are far from simple. The 'mobilities turn' in migration studies recognizes the diversification in motivations and time-space regimes of human migration. After brief reviews of island studies and of migration studies, and the power of geography to capture and distil the interdisciplinarity and relationality of these two study domains, the paper explores various facets of the generally intense engagement that islands have with migration. Two particular scenarios are identified for islands and migration in the global era: the heuristic role of islands as 'spatial laboratories' for the study of diverse migration processes in microcosm; and the way in which, especially in the Mediterranean and near-Atlantic regions, islands have become critical locations in the geopolitics of irregular migration routes. The case of Malta is taken to illustrate some of these new insular migration dynamics.


Nanocomposite materials exhibit properties that highly depend on the organization of nanoparticles. Currently, the ability to control the arrangement of nanoscale building blocks has become one of the most important issues in the field. In this thesis, I present a unique way to control the arrangement of nanoparticles in polymer matrixes by the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers and nanoparticles. Unique capsulelike assemblies of nanoparticles were formed by controlling the interaction between nanoparticles and a prototypical block copolymer, PAA-b-PS. This layered structure is composed of a polymer core, a polymer shell and nanoparticles encapsulated between the polymer core and the shell. This unique assembly structure is induced by slightly unfavorable interactions between the polystyrene and nanoparticles. The strong segregation theory calculations showed that the reduced stretching energy of polymers by the incorporation of nanoparticle layer also contributed to the formation of the layered structure. Many parameters such as nanoparticle volume fraction, nanoparticle size, polymer length and nanoparticle capping agents affect the arrangement of nanoparticles as well as the overall assembly structure of the composite system. In particular, it was found that the radial location of nanoparticle in the core shell assembly can be effectively tuned by controlling the volume fraction of nanoparticles. This work demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to form ordered arrays of nanoparticles with controllable assembly structure through the self-assembly of nanoparticles and amphiphilic polymers. Polymer nanostructures were also used as templates to synthesize a new type of metal nanostructures called spiky gold nanoshells. Block copolymer assemblies of different morphologies were used to template nonspherical nanoshells. Also, magnetic nanoshells were synthesized by using block copolymer assemblies encapsulating magnetic nanoparticles as templates. Nanoshells of various surface morphologies such as spiky, blackberry, bumpy and blunt nanoshells were synthesized by varying the additives in the growth solution. These highly structured nanoshells possess high surface area and enhanced scattering properties compared to smooth shells. The enhanced optical properties together with the hollow morphology and straightforward synthetic procedure make the structured nanoshells an excellent system for sensing and biomedical applications. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Chemistry First Advisor So-Jung Park This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/481


We examine case marking in spontaneous production data from four successive bilingual children and in experimental data from 21 successive bilingual and 14 monolingual children. A clear difference surfaces between spontaneous production data and experimental data. Based on the spontaneous production data, we conclude that the four successive bilingual children behave like the monolingual children studied by Eisenbeiss, Bartke & Clahsen (2006). They rarely produce structural case errors and often produce lexical case errors. But under experimental conditions, successive bilingual and monolingual children produce a large number of structural case errors, in particular with structural dative. Our experimental findings from the monolingual children are in stark contrast to those in Eisenbeiss et al., which are based on spontaneous production data only.


Introduction Management of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature babies includes none, conservative management with diuretics, medical treatment to close the PDA, or surgical closure. When and if to close the PDA is controversial. We chose to study the population who undergo surgical closure of a PDA as a representation of those for whom the PDA is clearly thought to require closure. We wished to describe this specific population. In this abstract we describe their pathways of care and procedures. Methods Data were collected using the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) methodology. Those undergoing surgical closure of a PDA between 1st September 2012 and 30th September 2013 were reported monthly to the BPSU by Consultant Neonatologists, Paediatricians, Cardiologists and Cardiothoracic Surgeons. Eligibility criteria were birth gestational age less than 37 weeks, closure prior to first discharge home and absence of other congenital cardiac disease. Questionnaires were then sent to reporting Consultants and the data from these collated and analysed. Missing data or discrepancies were clarified through email or telephone contact. Results Over 13 months, 531 notifications were received. 68 did not meet inclusion criteria. 58 were not returned. The response rate (excluding ineligible notifications) was 405/463(87%). After merging questionnaires related to the same patient and excluding incomplete questionnaires, 268 patients with the minimum complete data set remained. Data are presented for the data available which is not 268 for all points. Surgical closure of the PDA was performed in 14 centres. The number of ligations performed in these centres varied from 1 to 50 over the 13 month study period. Contact was made with 1, 2 or 3 cardiothoracic centres in 153, 25 and 3 cases respectively to arrange the ligation. 56 babies had their procedure in the same hospital. For the 199 who had to move hospital, the average distance was 28.4 miles. 105/157 procedures were performed as day cases. 11 out of 14 centres performed day cases with 6 performing over half as day cases. 7 cases were performed as catheter occlusions (20 missing data). Conclusions There is wide variation in the number of ligations performed by each centre. Of those reported many were performed as day cases. A small number are performed by catheter occlusion. Referral practice is non-uniform across the UK.


This research explores the learning experiences of three mature students studying for a Foundation Degree – a two-year qualification, introduced in England and Wales in 2001, that uniquely spans the academic-vocational nexus within higher education. Data collected through interviews and journal entries were used to construct accounts of each of the students' learning experiences, forming a longitudinal case study that spanned two years. This material is used in three ways to give insight into learning through a Foundation Degree. Firstly, the accounts stand by themselves as detailed descriptions of what it is like to learn through a Foundation Degree. Secondly, the accounts illustrate ways in which particular learning theories and models are helpful to understanding the students' learning experiences, and also the areas in which some theories and models fall short. Thirdly, a new conceptual model has been developed which identifies six factors that significantly impact upon the Foundation Degree learner's experience. Each of these factors has the potential to influence learning positively or negatively, depending on where it lies upon a continuum that polarises learning inhibitors and enablers. This model is used to scrutinise Foundation Degree teaching and learning practice, using the accounts as reference points, and more effective approaches to Foundation Degree delivery have been suggested.


Systematic variability management is an important prerequisite for successful software reuse. However, it requires significant effort and extensive domain knowledge to document and maintain information on variability. In this paper we present a tool-supported approach which supports semi-automatically inferring variability information from customized standard software products. The approach does not only enable the identification and documentation of variability information based on existing products, it is also capable of incrementally updating this information. To guarantee quick access to reusable code artifacts (e.g. requirements, features or software components), the presented solution stores these artifacts together with related requirements and a generated variability model in an asset repository. The tool-supported approach has been applied to customizations of Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP systems. Our experiences highlight the potential and benefits of our approach compared to manually gathering information on software variability.


Understanding the sexualization of interracial relationships in the past illuminates the attitudes prevalent today towards same-sex couples and the continued opposition to same-sex marriage. This Article compares heterosexual mixed-race and same-sex unions (including both mixed-race and mono-race couples) in the context of history, both legal and cultural. The history of opposition to interracial marriage in this country is replete with sexual undertones. Mixed-race couples were viewed as sexually perverse, and the ban on marriage and sexual relationships in the States served to run these human connections underground, making them secret, closeted and sinful liaisons. In the courts, arguments were made to oppose the abolition of mixed-race sexuality and marriage that are similar to arguments currently brought forth to prevent same-sex marriage. In particular, opponents of mixed-race marriage - like current opponents of same-sex marriage - were concerned with biblical creed, natural law, and with the raising of future generations of Americans. This article also examines the real-life similarities between couples whose marriages break race taboos and couples whose marriages break gender taboos. Even recently, when mixed-race marriage has been legal for over three decades, many mixed-race couples encounter problems that should persuade skeptics that the analogy between same-sex love and mixed-race love is not just a glib legal argument. The sexualization of mixed-race couples served the same end it does for gay couples today, including making the deprivation of marriage rights seem fair. Due to sexual stereotyping, the "privilege" that allows only some couples to marry does not have to be understood as a "structured advantage;" instead it is seen as "deserved and fair."


The psychopathology of hospital life is keeping women doctors away

The week that saw a coroner request the urgent examination of junior doctors' working conditions (p 1530)1 also saw the publication of Doctors and Their Careers: A New Generation (p 1529).2 3 The latest report in series of interviews with doctors, it confirms that their unhappiness is as great as ever. An earlier report considered three cohorts of men and women who had graduated in 1966, 1971, and 1981.4 In the present study 124 female and 105 male graduates from 1986 were interviewed; most of the comparisons are with the graduates of five years before. The author's aim was to focus on "changes or trends in the activity or participation rates of women doctors," but her book relates to both women and men (as did her previous one).

Allen's starting point is that half of medical graduates are now female but that the proportion of women falls with the seniority of rank: in 1993, 17% of consultants and 26% of principals in general practice were women. Although the trend is up, the NHS Executive's goal of women making up 20% of female consultants by the end of this year is unlikely to be met.5 In certain specialties the picture is gloomier, with women making up 4% of consultants in surgery, 11% in accident and emergency, and 15% in obstetrics and gynaecology. In Allen's latest cohort less …


Insulin receptors on RINm5F cell membranes (an insulin-producing rat pancreatic cell line) were studied. To study the insulin receptor alpha-subunit, 125I-labelled photoreactive insulin was covalently bound to the membranes in the absence or presence of unlabelled insulin. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions showed specific labelling of an Mr 130 000 protein. The receptor beta-subunit was studied by using a cell-free phosphorylation assay. Analysis under reducing conditions showed a phosphoprotein of Mr 95 000 whose level of phosphorylation was selectively increased by insulin, and which was specifically immunoprecipitated by antibodies to the insulin receptor. Further, covalent hormone-receptor complexes purified with anti-insulin antibodies were able to undergo autophosphorylation, indicating the existence of operational receptor subunit arrangements. RINm5F cell insulin receptors (and, by analogy, possibly those of native B-cells) thus display structural and functional integrity comparable with those of conventional insulin target cells.


The evolution of multiple antibiotic resistance is an increasing global problem. Resistance mutations are known to impair fitness, and the evolution of resistance to multiple drugs depends both on their costs individually and on how they interact—epistasis. Information on the level of epistasis between antibiotic resistance mutations is of key importance to understanding epistasis amongst deleterious alleles, a key theoretical question, and to improving public health measures. Here we show that in an antibiotic-free environment the cost of multiple resistance is smaller than expected, a signature of pervasive positive epistasis among alleles that confer resistance to antibiotics. Competition assays reveal that the cost of resistance to a given antibiotic is dependent on the presence of resistance alleles for other antibiotics. Surprisingly we find that a significant fraction of resistant mutations can be beneficial in certain resistant genetic backgrounds, that some double resistances entail no measurable cost, and that some allelic combinations are hotspots for rapid compensation. These results provide additional insight as to why multi-resistant bacteria are so prevalent and reveal an extra layer of complexity on epistatic patterns previously unrecognized, since it is hidden in genome-wide studies of genetic interactions using gene knockouts.


While the proliferation of mobile devices has rendered mobile notifications ubiquitous, researchers are only slowly beginning to understand how these technologies affect everyday social interactions. In particular, the negative social influence of mobile interruptions remains unexplored from a methodological perspective. This paper contributes a mixed-method evaluation procedure for assessing the disruptive impact of mobile interruptions in conversation. The approach combines quantitative eye tracking, qualitative analysis, and a simulated conversation environment to enable fast assessment of disruptiveness. It is intended to be used as a part of an iterative interaction design process. We describe our approach in detail, present an example of its use to study a new call declining technique, and reflect upon the pros and cons of our approach.


The work of linguists, although certainly of value to our scientific understanding of human language function, has often been produced in such a way that it is nearly (or, in many cases, completely) inaccessible to the communities which speak the language or languages in question. This issue takes on special importance in language endangerment situations, where these linguistic documents can often represent the combined knowledge of more speakers than are currently living. Linguists working in these communities are thus in a unique position to either contribute substantially to language maintenance efforts, or to subtract from such efforts by monopolizing time with the few remaining speakers without channeling their knowledge and work back to the community. This talk will specifically address two issues related to linguistic materials in language maintenance and revitalization situations. First, it will present a preliminary framework for how to make newly-produced materials in such a way that they both support the overall mission of linguistics to further our understanding of the structure and function of human language, while also being accessible to and useable by the communities who rely on such materials for their language maintenance efforts. Contrary to the usually-held position that linguistic goals are separate from community needs, this framework will show that the materials can be produced in such a way that they benefit both parties, and in fact make both community and linguistic resources of a higher quality than they would be otherwise. This quality arises through a true collaboration between linguists and speakers, assuring that both parties are involved in establishing project goals, as well as the workplan to meet these goals. The second issue discussed during the talk will be ideas regarding how to 'transliterate' previously-produced materials into a more accessible format in light of the framework discussed for new materials. Because linguists in the past were focused almost solely on theoretical and documentary goals, the copious amounts of documentation they have produced is usually in such a form that it does not readily lend itself to language maintenance or revitalization efforts. Further, due to changes in linguistic conventions and theory, these older documents are often difficult to access even for trained linguists. Developing a paradigm for updating and reformatting these materials is thus extremely important for communities who speak endangered languages, as well as the linguistics community at large.


This paper critically assesses the supposition that the best way to capture the intuition that the concept of personhood has practical importance is to analyse personhood in terms of multiple selves. It explores the works of David Velleman and, more recently, Stanley Klein in illuminating the multiple self model. The paper argues that the reasons driving belief in multiple selves, and the subsequent conceptual distinctions between selves that David Velleman encourages, has not been sufficiently motivated. Among other things, it makes the point that Velleman's theory of self is plagued with the problem of ambiguity and arbitrariness. It also argues that Stanley Klein's recent attempt to ground the belief in multiple selves in empirical analysis is fraught with difficulties.


THE STORY A retired man in his 60s had been well until December 1998 when he had let out a sudden involuntary cry and then a yawn, and for a few seconds found that his speech was quiet and breathy. Over the following 8 weeks he developed slurring of speech and swallowing difficulties with regurgitation. He noticed generalized weakness and fatigue, with symptoms fluctuating from week to week. By March 1999 he had taken to using a buggy to get around his local 18-hole golf course. In April, he had a barium swallow, which showed aspiration (Fig. 1). Nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG) were normal, and computerized tomography (CT) of his brain showed 'small vessel disease'. By July 1999 he had swollen legs and had lost 6 kg in weight. He was found to be in fast atrial fibrillation (AF). A transthoracic echocardiogram was normal. In October he


Japanese soil and rice collected at 15 localities have been analyzed for cesium-137 since 1959 through 1963. The time trend of rice-levels indicates the minimum in 1960 and 1961 and the maximum in 1963, showing more than threefold value of the minimum. A higher depend ency was observed of the level of cesium-137 in rice on the fallout rate than either of the cumulative ground deposit or the N-ammonium acetate extractable cesium-137 in soil. Variation with locality is great and the highest rice-level is observed on the northern Japan Sea side, the lowest in the central and southern parts, and intermediate on the northern Pacific side.


Background The validity of excluding bereavement-related depressive episodes which satisfy all the criteria of major depression is examined in this community study. Method A total of 658 subjects were interviewed in their homes using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. The length of the episodes of depression, the dysfunction they caused, and the frequency of seeking and receiving treatment were assessed. Results The risk of recurrence did not differ whether the depressive episodes that satisfy the DSM–III–R criteria of major depression were or were not related to bereavement. Conclusions Excluding from the repertoire of depressions all those related to external stressors might need more research, but singling out those related to bereavement does not seem to be supported by our community-based data.


Designed for music students, this guide takes you through the Library's resources to improve your research. Find useful music reference books available at the Zondervan Library. If there are no print options shown for this subject be sure to search the online collections below.


The de Bruijn representation of syntax with binding is commonly used, but flawed when it comes to recursion. As the structural recursion principle associated to an inductive type of expressions is unaware of the binding discipline, each recursive definition requires a separate proof of compatibility with variable instantiation. We solve this problem by extending Allais' notion of syntax traversals to obtain a framework for instantiation-compatible recursion. The framework is general enough to handle multivariate, potentially mutually recursive syntactic systems. With our framework we define variable renaming and instantiation, syntax directed typing and certain unary logical relations for System F. These definitons lead to concise proofs of type preservation, as well as weak and strong normalisation. Our framework is designed to serve as the theoretical foundation of future versions of the Autosubst Coq library. All developments and case studies are formalised in the Coq proof assistant.


Professional identity has emerged as a common theme in teacher development research, and the student-teaching practicum is often identified as foundational to identity development. In the context of the student-teaching practicum, interactions with cooperating teachers and pupils are believed to comprise the press for professional identity development, though theory-based explanations are often neglected in the literature, and findings are not always consistent. To address this issue, we used grounded theory to articulate a model explaining the relations among three constructs important to the process of identity development of student teachers (n = 14). Our findings are organized around a model that highlights the phenomenon of "negotiating who I am as a teacher," which helps us describe differences between student teachers who changed identity vs. those that did not, and psychological and contextual reasons for renegotiation of identity. Discussion focuses on comparisons with previous models and possible implications for teacher education.


Mammography is the most effective procedure for the early detection of breast cancer. In this paper, we develop a novel algorithm to detect suspicious lesions in mammograms. The algorithm utilizes the combination of adaptive global thresholding segmentation and adaptive local thresholding segmentation on a multiresolution representation of the original mammogram. The algorithm has been verified with 170 mammograms in the Mammographic Image Analysis Society MiniMammographic database. The experimental results show that the detection method has a sensitivity of 91.3% at 0.71 false positives per image.


To mitigate the inter-symbol interference (ISI), multiple access interference (MAI), and the effect of different Doppler shifts within a data package incurred in variably mobile asynchronous underwater multiuser communications (VMAUMC), a Kalman filter-based chip differential blind adaptive multiuser detection (D-KF-BAMUD) algorithm is proposed in this paper. The Kalman filter-based blind adaptive multiuser detection (KF-BAMUD) algorithm has been adopted to combat ISI and MAI in the scenario of static users, and underwater and under-ice multiuser communication experiments have been carried out to verify the effectiveness of the KF-BAMUD algorithm. To tackle the more challenging VMAUMC, a differential modulation and demodulation technique operating at the chip level is proposed to reduce the impact of Doppler shift residues after the Doppler compensation with an average Doppler frequency offset within each data package. The technique is combined with the KF-BAMUD algorithm, leading to the D-KF-BAMUD algorithm, which is able to effectively handle ISI, MAI, and the effect of Doppler shift residues simultaneously in VMAUMC. This paper reports our experiments on VMAUMC carried out in Songhua River in April 2016 (seven users, data rate 7.87 bit/s, up to 2 m/s variably relative velocity in each data package, and horizontal distance 200-m shallow-water channel between transducer and hydrophone), and the encouraging experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system and the D-KF-BAMUD algorithm.


Direct-current magnetic fields of 10 to 100 gauss cause a significant short-term reduction of the in vitro electroretinographic b-wave response in turtle retina. This response compression is not accompanied by the usual reduction in retinal sensitivity that occurs with background illumination. Furthermore, this effect is obtained only briefly after the offset of ambient lighting in the diurnal light-dark cycle of nonhibernating animals.


BACKGROUND
The extent to which mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content (also termed mtDNA copy number) in normal human cells is influenced by genetic factors has yet to be established. In addition, whether inherited variation of mtDNA content in normal cells contributes to cancer susceptibility remains unclear. Renal cell carcinoma accounts for 85% of all renal cancers. No studies have investigated the association between mtDNA content and the risk of renal cell carcinoma.

METHODS
We first used a classic twin study design to estimate the genetic contribution to the determination of mtDNA content. mtDNA content was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 250 monozygotic twins, 92 dizygotic twins, and 33 siblings (ie, individual siblings of a pair of twins). We used biometric genetic modeling to estimate heritability of mtDNA content. We then used a case-control study with 260 case patients with renal cell carcinoma and 281 matched control subjects and multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine the association between mtDNA content in peripheral blood lymphocytes and the risk of renal cell carcinoma. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS
The heritability (ie, proportion of phenotypic variation in a population that is attributable to genetic variation among individuals) of mtDNA content was 65% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 50% to 72%; P < .001). Case patients with renal cell carcinoma had a statistically significantly lower mtDNA content (1.18 copies) than control subjects (1.29 copies) (difference = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.03 to 0.17; P = .006). Low mtDNA content (ie, less than the median in control subjects) was associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of renal cell carcinoma, compared with high content (odds ratio = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.07 to 2.19). In a trend analysis, a statistically significant dose-response relationship was detected between lower mtDNA content and increasing risk of renal cell carcinoma (P for trend <.001).

CONCLUSIONS
mtDNA content appears to have high heritability. Low mtDNA content appears to be associated with increased risk of renal cell carcinoma.


BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major source of mortality and morbidity in dialysis patients. Population-level descriptions of CVD medication use are lacking in this population.

STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS
Adult dialysis patients in the United States, alive on December 31, 2006, with Medicare Parts A and B and enrollment in Medicare Part D continuously in 2007.

PREDICTOR
CVDs and demographic characteristics.

OUTCOME
≥1 prescription fill during follow-up (2007).

MEASUREMENTS
Average out-of-pocket costs per user per month and average total drug costs per member per month were calculated.

RESULTS
Of 225,635 dialysis patients who met inclusion criteria during the entry period, 70% (n = 158,702) had continuous Part D coverage during follow-up. Of these, 76% received the low-income subsidy. β-Blockers were the most commonly used CVD medication (64%), followed by renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (52%), calcium channel blockers (51%), lipid-lowering agents (44%), and α-agonists (23%). Use varied by demographics, geographic region, and low-income subsidy status. For CVD medications, mean out-of-pocket costs per user per month were $3.44 and $49.59 and mean total costs per member per month were $124.02 and $110.32 for patients with and without the low-income subsidy, respectively.

LIMITATIONS
Information was available for only filled prescriptions under the Part D benefit; information for clinical contraindications was lacking, information for over-the-counter medications was unavailable, and medication adherence and persistence were not examined.

CONCLUSIONS
Most Medicare dialysis patients in 2007 were enrolled in Part D, and most enrollees received the low-income subsidy. β-Blockers were the most used CVD medication. Total costs of CVD medications were modestly higher for low-income subsidy patients, but out-of-pocket costs were much higher for patients not receiving the subsidy. Further study is warranted to delineate sources of variation in the use and costs of CVD medications across subgroups.


We analyze the interactions between different renewable support schemes and the benefits of real-time pricing (RTP) using a stylized economic model with a detailed demand-side representation calibrated to the German market. We find that there are considerable differences between a market premium on energy and capacity regarding wholesale prices, support levies and market values, which are all related to induced negative wholesale prices in case of the former. This comes along with overall higher welfare as it allows RTP consumers to increase their consumption in periods of high renewable availability. Moreover, increasing RTP shares also incurs higher welfare gains in case of a premium on energy, with the deployment-relevant group of consumers that switch from a flat-rate tariff to RTP benefiting most. Our analysis thus puts the widespread notion that higher market values are instrumental for the deployment of high shares of RES into perspective.


Common problems encountered in clinical sensing are those of non-biocompatibility, and slow response time of the device. The latter, also applying to chemical sensors, is possibly due to a lack of understanding of polymer support or membrane properties and hence failure to optimise membranes chosen for specific sensor applications. Hydrogels can be described as polymers which swell in water. In addition to this, the presence of water in the polymer matrix offers some control of biocompatibility. They thus provide a medium through which rapid transport of a sensed species to an incorporated reagent could occur. This work considers the feasibility of such a system, leading to the design and construction of an optical sensor test bed. The development of suitable membrane systems and of suitable coating techniques in order to apply them to the fibre optics is described. Initial results obtained from hydrogel coatings implied that the refractive index change in the polymer matrix, due to a change in water content with pH is the major factor contributing to the sensor response. However the presence of the colourimetric reagent was also altering the output signal obtained. An analysis of factors contributing to the overall response, such as colour change and membrane composition were made on both the test bed, via optical response, and on whole membranes via measurement of water content change. The investigation of coatings with low equilibrium water contents, of less than 10% was carried out and in fact a clearer signal response from the test bed was noted. Again these membranes were suprisingly responding via refractive index change, with the reagent playing a primary role in obtaining a sensible or non-random response, although not in a colourimetric fashion. A photographic study of these coatings revealed some clues as to the physical nature of these coatings and hence partially explained this phenomenon. A study of the transport properties of the most successful membrane, on a coated wire electrode and also on the fibre optic test bed, in a series of test environments, indicated that the reagent was possibly acting as an ion exchanger and hence having a major influence on transport and therefore sensor characteristics.


The article proposes a new reading of Vendredi ou les limbes du Pacifique with the intent to combine Postcolonial and Animal Studies, beyond the common emphasis on the notion of victim, and to resist the allegorical interpretations of the novel. Firstly, I demonstrate that during the "administrated island", Robinson imposes an order based on the correlation among capitalism, colonialism and Oedipal sexuality, as if humanity as such could be reduced to the features of Western societies. Then, I explore how the novel relocates the boundaries between the human and the nonhuman, challenging the exclusive identification of alterity to a human face. Finally, I focus on the new relation with otherness (both human and animal) experienced by the two characters: a kind of intersubjectivity based on the play, which is a practice that does not presuppose the knowledge of the other and exceeds the traditional categorical antithesis, such as truth/falsity, good/evil, nature/culture.


In this article we propose a concept of network media logic in order to discuss how online social media platforms change political communication without resorting to technological determinism or normalization. We argue that social media platforms operate with a distinctly different logic from that of traditional mass media, though overlapping with it. This is leading to different ways of producing content, distributing information and using media. By discussing the differences between traditional mass media and social media platforms in terms of production, consumption and use, we carve out the central elements of network media logic – that is, the rules/format of communication on social media platforms – and some consequences for political communication.


In the last two decades, the industry has deployed endlessly the rhetoric of the "digital threat" in order to demand harsher measures against digital piracy. Recently, the "digital threat" discourse called for enhanced liability of online intermediaries, especially those whose platforms may be used to infringe copyright. This short paper shows that the "digital threat" discourse is based on shaky grounds. Two related arguments might run against this approach. First, market conditions might incentivise piracy. Additionally, there are raising doubts over the argument that piracy is a threat to creativity, especially in the digital environment. Overall, it may be hard to find a factual justification for policy decisions based on the "digital threat" discourse. In fact, digital technology seems not to have negatively affected the creation of new works. In contrast, an observation of the literature and quantitative analysis on point may suggest that digital piracy can be an opportunity for the cultural market. Finally, piracy may function as an innovation policy by forcing market players to innovate in response to a consumer demand that widespread piracy highlights.


Abstract Background Accumulating evidence suggests that many psychiatric disorders etiologically represent the extreme end of dimensionally distributed features rather than distinct entities. The extent to which this applies to eating disorders (EDs) is unknown. Methods We investigated if there is similar etiology in (a) the continuous distribution of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), (b) the extremes of EDI-2 score, and (c) registered ED diagnoses, in 1481 female twin pairs at age 18 years (born 1992–1999). EDI-2 scores were self-reported at age 18. ED diagnoses were identified through the Swedish National Patient Register, parent-reported treatment and/or self-reported purging behavior of a frequency and duration consistent with DSM-IV criteria. We differentiated between anorexia nervosa (AN) and other EDs. Results The heritability of the EDI-2 score was 0.65 (95% CI 0.61–0.68). The group heritabilities in DeFries–Fulker extremes analyses were consistent over different percentile-based extreme groups [0.59 (95% CI 0.37–0.81) to 0.65 (95% CI 0.55–0.75)]. Similarly, the heritabilities in liability threshold models were consistent over different levels of severity. In joint categorical-continuous models, the twin-based genetic correlation was 0.52 (95% CI 0.39–0.65) between EDI-2 score and diagnoses of other EDs, and 0.26 (95% CI 0.08–0.42) between EDI-2 score and diagnoses of AN. The non-shared environmental correlations were 0.52 (95% CI 0.32–0.70) and 0.60 (95% CI 0.38–0.79), respectively. Conclusions Our findings suggest that some EDs can partly be conceptualized as the extreme manifestation of continuously distributed ED features. AN, however, might be more distinctly genetically demarcated from ED features in the general population than other EDs.


Luminescent
organic radicals have attracted much attention due to its distinctive
open-shell structure and all-in-one properties on optoelectronics,
electronics,
and magnetics.
However, organic radicals are usually instable and only very limited stable structures with π-radicals can exhibit luminescent property
in the isolated state, most of which originate from the family of
triphenylmethyl derivatives.
Here, we report an unusual radical luminescence phenomenon that nonconjugated
radical polymer can readily emits red luminescence at ~635 nm in the solid
state. A traditional luminescence quencher, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine
1-oxyl (TEMPO),
was turned into a red chromophore when grafted onto a polymer backbone.
Experimental data confirms the emission is associated with the nitroxide
radicals and is also affected by the packing of polymer. As a proof of concept,
a biomedical application in intracellular ascorbic acid visualization is
demonstrated. This work discloses a novel class of luminescent radicals and
provides a distinctive and simple pathway for stable radical luminescence.


A new membrane-integrated hybrid treatment system was investigated to turn highly hazardous coke wastewater reusable. This could protect both air and surface water bodies from toxic contaminants such as ammonia, phenol, cyanide, thiocyanate and other carcinogenic aromatic compounds which are normally released into the environment during discharge of coke wastewater and during quenching of coke by wastewater. Apart from these hazardous substances, oil, grease, other organics and even trace elements could be very effectively removed from wastewater by logical sequencing of chemical, biological and finally nanomembrane-based treatments in an integrated hybrid plant. After almost 99% removal of highly toxic cyanide compounds in a well-optimized Fenton9s treatment unit, subsequent biological treatment units could be very effective. All these pretreatments helped achieve microbial nitrification and denitrification of more than 98% of ammonia. Composite nanofiltration membranes selected through investigation could separate ionic trace contaminants from water with a high degree of purification permitting recycling and reuse of the treated water. A selected cross flow membrane module allowed long hours of largely fouling-free operation under a reasonably low transmembrane pressure of only 15 bars while yielding an industrially acceptable flux of 80 L of pure water per hour per square meter of membrane surface.


This paper analyzes recent trends in Latin America's institutional development regarding to investor protection. In spite of the underdevelopment of the region's financial markets, there is slow movement towards legal reforms intended to protect investors and make regional markets more attractive to investors; current inadequacies in the region's legal institution's generate high levels of ownership concentration, poor access to external equity financing, and narrow equity markets. The evidence in this paper, based on firm-level data for six countries, shows that, like legal protection of investors, appropriate firm-level corporate governance is linked to lower costs for capital, better valuation, performance, and dividend payments across countries. Firms can compensate for their countries' legal deficiencies by distinguishing themselves through improved corporate governance practices, thus increasing transparency and limiting potential conflict between large and minority shareholders. Firms can additionally look for capital by issuing ADRs, as they have in recent years, although this practice undermines local capital markets. In the end, firms and regulators must improve their governance structures and shareholder protections if they are to meet the improved benchmarks of developed nations brought about by Asian, European, and U. S. scandals in recent years.


A 14.2 kDa protein isolated from Bali cattle ( Bos sondaicus/javanicus ) saliva has been reported to have a bactericidal activity. The aim of this study was to analyse the nature of a 14.2 kDa protein using single dimension (1-D) sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometer (MALDI TOF/TOF). The protein was isolated by means of polyethylene glycol (PEG)/sodium sulfate aqueous two-phase system, and then determined by 12.5% SDS-PAGE. A band of 14.2 kDa was sliced and analysed by MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometer using a 5800 proteomics analyzer. Mascot search and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Blast search revealed that the spot of 1-D SDS-PAGE consisted of three proteins: zymogen granule protein 16 homologue B, pancreatic adenocarcinoma upregulated factor-like, and prolactin-inducible protein homologue precursor. The three proteins have been observed in Bos taurus and other species such as mouse. The actual nature of the proteins and their function in Bali cattle ( Bos sondaicus/javanicus ), as well as the connection with the evolution of bovines need further analysis.


BACKGROUND
Marijuana and alcohol are both substances that, when used during pregnancy, may have profound effects on the developing fetus. There is evidence to suggest that both drugs have the capacity to affect working memory, one function of the hippocampal formation, however there is a paucity of data on how perinatal exposure to alcohol or cannabis impacts the process of adult neurogenesis.

METHODS
This systematic review examines immunohistochemical data from adult rat and mouse models that assess perinatal alcohol or perinatal marijuana exposure. A comprehensive list of search terms was designed and used to search three separate databases. All results were imported to Mendeley and screened by two authors. Consensus was reached on a set of final papers that met the inclusion criteria and their results were summarized.

RESULTS
Twelve papers were identified as relevant, ten of which pertained to the effects of perinatal alcohol on the adult hippocampus, and two pertained to the effects of perinatal marijuana on the adult hippocampus. Cellular proliferation in the dentate gyrus was not affected in adult rats and mice exposed to alcohol perinatally. In general, perinatal alcohol exposure did not have a significant and reliable effect on the maturation and survival of adult born granule neurons in the dentate gyrus. In contrast, interneuron numbers appear to be reduced in the dentate gyrus of adult rats and mice exposed perinatally to alcohol. Perinatal marijuana exposure was also found to reduce inhibitory interneuron numbers in the dentate gyrus.

CONCLUSIONS
Perinatal alcohol exposure and perinatal marijuana exposure both act on inhibitory interneurons in the hippocampal formation of adult rats. These findings suggest simultaneous perinatal alcohol and marijuana exposure (SAM) may have a dramatic impact on inhibitory processes in the dentate gyrus.


This study analyzed the tree component structure of a riparian seasonal decidual forest, in Jaguari, RS. Data was collected in 15 10mx10m-plots randomly assigned along the riparian forest of a Jaguari river tributary. In these plots trees showing DBH equal or above 5cm were identified and measured. Podocarpus lambertii, Sebastiania commersoniana and Lithrea molleoides were the most representative species of the riparian forest. The tree diameter distribution in general and for the species with the higher importance value index showed the inverted "J" trend, typical of uneven-aged forests, and unbalanced structure resulting from different mortality and recruitment rates. The vertical and height species structure showing the highest importance value tended to normal distribution, with most of the individuals positioned in or close to the average height class.


The meaning of the tradition of the virgin birth: A discussion in the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk This essay explains the meaning attached to the tradition of the virgin birth according to conservative, liberal and balanced readings. Topics that feature in the course of the argument are fundamentalism, liberalism, kerygma and the experience and verbalisation of the kerygma. Fundamentalism is defined as the inability to discern between gospel and theology. Liberalism is the willingness to renounce the concept of revelation. The gospel is proclaimed by performative language. Dogma is the explanation of belief which precedes it. In conclusion an explanation of the meaning of the tradition of the virgin birth based on proposed hermeneutical principles, is given.


The threat of pressure cycle induced fatigue cracking of flaws associated with the longitudinal seam weld continues to be a primary concern for pipeline operators. Cyclic pressure loading can cause initial manufacturing flaws in a seam weld to sharpen and grow over time. While this behavior is most prevalent in pre-1979 electric resistance welds (ERW) and electric flash welds (EFW), historical data also shows that submerged arc welds (SAW) have been observed to develop cracks at the toe of the weld, and those cracks have exhibited fatigue growth from transit fatigue, operating pressure cycles, or both.
 When managing a large pipeline network, it is important to understand which pipelines exhibit higher priority with respect to seam weld fatigue cracking. While there are industry-accepted methodologies used to prioritize pipelines with respect to seam weld integrity (TTO-5 [1] and API RP 1176 [2] being the most well-known), these methodologies can be improved upon when specifically considering fatigue.
 Saudi Aramco and Quest Integrity developed a detailed methodology to determine a prioritization for a group of pipelines specifically with respect to seam weld fatigue cracking. This improved methodology was specially tailored to consider additional data available in Saudi Aramco's records to rank the likelihood for a fatigue failure to occur. This initial prioritization will be used to implement a more rigorous program to manage their assets. Additional data gathered in subsequent assessments can be included to refine the prioritization.
 The primary metrics used to determine the prioritization are pressure cycle aggressiveness, predicted remaining life with respect to recent hydrostatic testing, and the API 1176 Annex B prioritization classification.


This article discusses the ways in which languages can be integrated into histories of war and conflict, by exploring ongoing research in two case studies: the liberation and occupation of Western Europe (1944–47), and peacekeeping/peace building in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1995–2000). The article suggests that three methodological approaches have been of particular value in this research: adopting an historical framework; following the "translation" of languages into war situations; and contextualizing the figure of the interpreter/translator. The process of incorporating languages into histories of conflict, the article argues, has helped to uncover a broader languages landscape within the theatres of war.


Bizet's "Carmen" is one of the most famous operas of all time. Love, jealousy, murder, vast choral set pieces, and overwhelming passion combined with a colorful Spanish setting are sure-fire ingredients for a world-wide success. All the most beautiful tunes from this opera - including the Habanera - have been arranged in easy versions. The pretty illustrations by Brigitte Smith, in color throughout, add to the attractiveness of this volume.


Major international legal instruments commit international law to protect language rights absolutely, irrespective of counter-pressures toward linguistic uniformity. This unconditional commitment to language rights is echoed in the writings of prominent human rights scholars, who argue that language is a constitutive element of cultural identity. This article contrasts the ideals of language rights with the actual record of their enforcement. It presents a detailed analysis of the 133 cases that have come before the European Court of Human Rights, the U.N. Human Rights Committee, and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights dealing with language issues as they arise in (i) education, (ii) court proceedings, and (iii) communications with the government. The analysis demonstrates that the decisions of international judicial or quasi-judicial bodies in language protection cases have consistently favored linguistic assimilation, rather than the robust protection of linguistic diversity that is formally espoused. Instead of strong language guarantees, only transitional accommodations are offered in the public realm for those as yet unable to speak the majority language. This jurisprudence treats minority language not as a valuable cultural asset worthy of perpetual legal protection, but as a temporary obstacle that individuals must overcome in order to participate in society. The legal decisions take a narrowly utilitarian approach to language, forcing the state to accept the use of minority languages only insofar as they facilitate communication with the majority and with the official bodies of the state. The paper concludes with a commentary suggesting that treating language interests under the rubric of human rights, however valid and worthy they may be, cannot be normatively defended.


The objective of this work has been to study the behaviour and performance of a batch chromatographic column under simultaneous bioreaction and separation conditions for several carbohydrate feedstocks. Four bioreactions were chosen, namely the hydrolysis of sucrose to glucose and fructose using the enzyme invertase, the hydrolysis of inulin to fructose and glucose using inulinase, the hydrolysis of lactose to glucose and galactose using lactase and the isomerization of glucose to fructose using glucose isomerase. The chromatographic columns employed were jacketed glass columns ranging from 1 m to 2 m long and the internal diameter ranging from 0.97 cm to 1.97 cm. The stationary phase used was a cation exchange resin (PUROLITE PCR-833) in the Ca2+ form for the hydrolysis and the Mg2+ form for the isomerization reactions. The mobile phase used was a diluted enzyme solution which was continuously pumped through the chromatographic bed. The substrate was injected at the top of the bed as a pulse. The effect of the parameters pulse size, the amount of substrate solution introduced into the system corresponding to a percentage of the total empty column volume (% TECV), pulse concentration, eluent flowrate and the enzyme activity of the eluent were investigated. For the system sucrose-invertase complete conversions of substrate were achieved for pulse sizes and pulse concentrations of up to 20% TECV and 60% w/v, respectively. Products with purity above 90% were obtained. The enzyme consumption was 45% of the amount theoretically required to produce the same amount of product as in a conventional batch reactor. A value of 27 kg sucrose/m3 resin/h for the throughput of the system was achieved. The systematic investigation of the factors affecting the performance of the batch chromatographic bioreactor-separator was carried out by employing a factorial experimental procedure. The main factors affecting the performance of the system were the flowrate and enzyme activity. For the system inulin-inulinase total conversions were also obtained for pulses sizes of up to 20 % TECV and a pulse concentration of 10 % w/v. Fructose rich fractions with 100 % purity and representing up to 99.4 % of the total fructose generated were obtained with an enzyme consumption of 32 % of the amount theoretically required to produce the same amount of product in a conventional batch reactor. The hydrolysis of lactose by lactase was studied in the glass columns and also in an SCCR-S unit adapted for batch operation, in co-operation with Dr. Shieh, a fellow researcher in the Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry Department at Aston University. By operating at up to 30 % w/v lactose feed concentrations complete conversions were obtained and the purities of the products generated were above 90%. An enzyme consumption of 48 % of the amount theoretically required to produce the same amount of product in a conventional batch reactor was achieved. On working with the system glucose-glucose isomerase, which is a reversible reaction, the separation obtained with the stationary phase conditioned in the magnesium form was very poor although the conversion obtained was compatible with those for conventional batch reactors. By working with a mixed pulse of enzyme and substrate, up to 82.5 % of the fructose generated with a purity of 100 % was obtained. The mathematical modelling and computer simulation of the batch chromatographic bioreaction-separation has been performed on a personal computer. A finite difference method was used to solve the partial differential equations and the simulation results showed good agreement with the experimental results.


Ejaculate traits, testicular volume and plasma testosterone levels were determined once every two months for one year in 4 adult male jaguars (Panthera onca) housed at the Sao Paulo Zoo, SP, Brazil. Semen samples was collected by electroejaculation and analyzed for pH, total volume, motility (0-100%), status (0-5), total spermatozoa count and morphology. Blood samples was obtained by cephalic venipuncture immediately before the onset of electroejaculation and stored at -20oC until assay of testosterone by RIA. Using a calliper, the length and width of each testis was measured and the values were combined to determine the testicular volume. Semen analyses demonstrated a high percentage of structurally abnormal sperm (mean = 51%) and low rates of motility (50.6%) and status (2.2). No correlation was found between semen traits, plasma testosterone and testicular volume (Spearman's test). No season variation was detected throughout the year for semen traits, plasma testosterone and testicular volume (p>;0.05, Friedman's test). The results of this study suggest that the captive jaguars in Brazil are not seasonal, and that semen collections can be performed throughout the year without a perturbation in overall ejaculate quality. However, underlying causes of high percentages of structurally abnormal sperm, found in captive jaguars, need to be investigated mainly to improve semen quality.


This paper traces the ways in which British born Muslim women self-identify with Britain and South Asia. More specifically, the article explores the ways in which the young women express their sense of belonging and convey cosmopolitan identities while they self-reflect upon their travels to their parents' homeland. The paper argues that the women do not view Britain and South Asian nations in discrete terms along religious and cultural dimensions but with frequent visits in different stages in their lives come to understand these nation-states in porous ways. For example, they self-identify with South Asia because of South Asian culture's emphasis on the family and express openness and tolerance towards their parents' homeland. On occasions they express tourist-like appreciation of their parents' homelands. Yet in other instances, they reflect upon the ways in which they negotiate foreign and challenging circumstances. At the same time they consider Britain to be their home because they find that women have relatively greater independence and rights here. Some of the women also find it easier in Britain to express their religious rights. For example, they find that in Pakistan, although a Muslim nation, it is not customary to wear a headscarf but rather the traditional dress. Much of the literature that has explored diasporic young people's experience has focused on questions of identity through the lens of their country of residence. However, given the age of global interconnectedness and the decreasing salience of nation as an overarching feature of identity, it becomes significant to explore in greater detail questions of belonging, cosmopolitanism, and nation. Examining the narratives of British born Muslim Asian women, this study conceptualizes identity around 'belonging' and 'cosmopolitanism'. Data are based on in-depth interviews of 25 second-generation British Asian Muslim women meeting regularly at Islamic study circles. Respondents ranged from ages of 19 to 28 years old who were mainly middle class professionals and university students.


In 2011, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution inviting member states to gather data to capture the importance of the pursuit of happiness, with a view to these measures guiding their public policies. The latest edition of the British Gambling Prevalence Survey is the first large-scale social survey in the World to have included a question on happiness alongside detailed questions about gambling behaviour; and it also administered to respondents two of the most commonly employed screens for problem gambling. In the present paper, data from the Survey are analysed with an eye to implications for public policy. Statistical modelling reveals that problem gamblers typically exhibit exceptionally low wellbeing, comparably low with those reporting very bad physical health, even in the presence of a rich variety of controls for life circumstances. In the case of the DSM-IV screen, there proves to be a similarly strong association between low wellbeing and 'at risk' problem gambling (but only for women). In the case of the PGSI screen, low wellbeing is evident for both men and women amongst those who score any points on the screen, even when their total score is well below the threshold for classification as a problem gambler. Further, respondents who report having a relative with a gambling problem also tend to exhibit significantly lower wellbeing than would be expected from their personal characteristics and situation. Together all these findings suggest that significant expenditure on therapy may be justified for individuals who test positive for 'problem gambling'. They further suggest that the thresholds used to estimate the number of 'problem gamblers' may be conservatively high, leading to underestimation of the number of people affected by gambling issues. The paper goes on to explore the association between low wellbeing and endorsements of individual items on the DSM-IV screen and finds that the patterns of which questions predict unhappiness are very different between men and women. Together, these extra findings are relevant to development of short screens and also raise issues about whether interpretation of screen results should be different according to gender. Finally, the analysis finds, particularly for men, that gamblers who have no signs of a gambling problem tend to report modestly higher levels of wellbeing than people who do not gamble at all, again controlling for life circumstances.


This study deals with the estimation of a vector process disturbed by an additive white noise. When this process is modelled by a multivariate autoregressive (M-AR) process, optimal filters such as Kalman or H∞ filter can be used for prediction or estimation from noisy observations. However, the estimation of the M-AR parameters from noisy observations is a key issue to be addressed. Off-line or iterative approaches have been proposed recently, but their computational costs can be a drawback. Using on-line methods such as extended Kalman filter and sigma-point Kalman filter are of interest, but the size of the state vector to be estimated is quite high. In order to reduce this size and the resulting computational cost, the authors suggest using dual optimal filters. In this study, the authors propose to extend to the multi-channel case the so-called dual Kalman or H∞ filters-based scheme initially proposed for single-channel applications. The proposed methods are first tested with a synthetic M-AR process and then with an M-AR process corresponding to a mobile fading channel. The comparative simulation study the authors carried out with existing techniques confirms the effectiveness of the proposed methods.