With the driving force of "green" revolution in the electronics industry, tremendous efforts have been made in pursuing lead-free alternatives. Although lately lead-free alloys have drawn a lot of attention, their technical weaknesses, such as high processing temperature, poor wetting and high surface tension, limit their applications on the thermally sensitive, flexible, nonsolderable substrates and the ultra-fine pitch size flip chip interconnection. Conventional isotropically conductive adhesives (ICAs) have been used widely in surface mount and die-attach technologies for electrical interconnection and heat dissipation. The low temperature processing of ICAs is one of the major advantages over lead-free solders, which brings a low system stress, simple manufacture process and the like. In order to enhance the contact resistance of ICAs, the low melting point alloy (LMA) incorporating technology has been developed by our group. In this paper, LMA fusing methods were studied, since nonfused LMA in ICAs after a curing process can adversely affect the physical property and contact resistance stability. A differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used for the basic examination of depleting rate of LMAs in the typical ICAs. The cross-sectional morphology, LMA distribution and intermetallic compound were investigated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). In addition, contact resistance for the ICA formulation incorporated with LMAs under elevated temperature and humidity was evaluated.


Local zoning and land-use regulations have increased substantially over the decades. These constraints on land development within cities and suburbs aim to achieve various safety, environmental, and aesthetic goals. But the regulations have also tended to reduce the supply of housing, including multifamily and low-income housing. With reduced supply, many U.S. cities suffer from housing affordability problems.
This study uses regression analysis to examine the link between housing prices and zoning and land-use controls. State and local governments across the country impose substantially different amounts of regulation on land development. The study uses a data set of court decisions on land use and zoning that captures the growth in regulation over time and the large variability between the states. The statistical results show that rising land-use regulation is associated with rising real average home prices in 44 states and that rising zoning regulation is associated with rising real average home prices in 36 states. In general, the states that have increased the amount of rules and restrictions on land use the most have higher housing prices.
The federal government spent almost $200 billion to subsidize renting and buying homes in 2015. These subsidies treat a symptom of the underlying problem. But the results of this study indicate that state and local governments can tackle housing affordability problems directly by overhauling their development rules. For example, housing is much more expensive in the Northeast than in the Southeast, and that difference is partly explained by more regulation in the former region. Interestingly, the data show that relatively more federal housing aid flows to states with more restrictive zoning and land-use rules, perhaps because those states have higher housing costs. Federal aid thus creates a disincentive for the states to solve their own housing affordability problems by reducing regulation.


The euro area has several problems. Nevertheless, there is not only strong political support for it, but also most companies back the euro or at least do not complain. It is worthwhile to analyse which companies do profit from the euro and why most others do not oppose it. Exporting companies in the northern countries of the euro zone profit from the euro and the policies to save the common currency even if their countries and people suffer. Other companies, especially in the southern member countries, suffer themselves but fear a break-up of the euro area even more than its continuance. For small companies it is not worthwhile to lobby for other policies, while the companies worst affected already ceased to exist. All companies have to come to terms with the euro but should also prepare for the possible end of the euro zone. Companies in other European countries reconsider whether they really want their countries to join the euro area.


Acid mine drainage (AMD) barrens result from destruction of vegetation within AMD flow paths. When exposed to air, soluble iron in AMD undergoes oxidation and hydrolysis to form ferric iron (oxyhydr)oxides which accumulate on soil surfaces. A restoration experiment was conducted at a 50‐year‐old AMD barrens created by discharge from an abandoned underground coal mine. The objective was to determine whether vegetation could be established by altering rather than removing surface layers of acidic precipitates at a site representative of other mining‐degraded areas. Three zones in the barrens were identified based on moisture content, pH (2.7–3.3), and thickness of precipitates (0–35 cm). Our hypothesis was that application of the same reclamation method to all zones would fail to sustain >70% vegetative cover in each zone after four growing seasons. The method consisted of applying 11 t/ha lime and 27 or 54 t/ha compost before rototilling (top 15 cm) and mulching with oat straw containing viable seeds for a nurse crop. Lime‐only plots were included for comparison, and all amended plots were sown with a mine reclamation seed mix. Oats, sown species, and indigenous species dominated cover in the first, second, and fourth growing seasons, respectively. In the fourth year following reclamation, compost‐amended plots had >70% cover and improved soil properties in all three zones, providing evidence to reject our hypothesis. Vegetative restoration of AMD barrens did not require removal of highly acidic precipitates, since they could be transformed at low‐cost into a medium that supports indigenous plants.


A simple preparation of Cd17S4(SCH2CH2OH)26 clusters in aqueous solution leads to the formation of colorless blocky crystals. X-ray structure determinations revealed a superlattice framework built up of covalently linked clusters. This superlattice is best described as two enlarged and interlaced diamond or zinc blende lattices. Because both the superlattice and the clusters display the same structural features, the crystal structure resembles the self-similarities known from fractal geometry. The optical spectrum of the cluster solution displays a sharp transition around 290 nanometers with a large absorption coefficient (∼84,000 per molar per centimeter).


Cyanobacteria are the primary taxa responsible for freshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs), with several genera capable of producing potent intracellular toxins and off-flavor compounds. There is considerable growing interest in methods to rapidly quantify cyanobacteria in water samples. Past studies have demonstrated poor correlations between phycocyanin in vivo fluorescence and cyanobacterial cell densities. We conducted a series of laboratory experiments aimed at refining a protocol that uses benchtop fluorometry to measure the cyanobacterial pigment, phycocyanin, to accurately estimate cyanobacterial biovolume. In our study, we found strong correlations between phycocyanin concentration and cyanobacterial biovolume (but not for cell densities) both within and across ponds, which varied widely in productivity and algal diversity. Thus, benchtop fluorometry of phycocyanin is a viable method for water resource managers to quickly estimate cyanobacterial biovolume.


Since Hobbes, the capacity to govern through providing 'security' has been understood as the way of producing and organising political order and subjectivity. Hobbes' claim that the security of domestic peace is founded on fear of violent death meant that modern individuals must be taught to love life. The discourse of 'security' is arguably the most powerful discourse of the modern age since it has largely set the parameters of modern thinking about politics and war. However, contra Schmitt and his followers, this is not because 'security' is the political discourse par excellence, allowing the sovereign to decide the law and exceptions to the law. Modern security is an exemplary instance of the rise of the social, as understood by Hannah Arendt. Modern discourses and practices of security have provided the justification and mechanism for the expansion of what Arendt described as the 'life process' of 'society' and the liberal view that 'life is the highest good'. Arendt's unwieldy and strange concept of 'the social' is eccentric, but defensible, both in terms of its origins in her unique form of philosophical anthropology and her socio-historical analysis of capitalism and the modern bureaucratic state.


The geophysical and geological interpretation of a 3D survey, which was acquired in 2001, and four wells in the study area have revealed the structural framework on the West Schleswig Block, consisting of horsts and graben. The structural development of the area from Early to Late Rotliegendes times has been reconstructed and a multiphase history of depositional infill and associated fault patterns can be demonstrated. Well-log correlation provided a wider view of the regional structural styles and the stratigraphic setting of the study area. The Altmark, Havel & Elbe Sub-group lithologies of Rotliegendes times were analysed by sequence stratigraphic methods, concluding that depositional facies is linked to the tectonic movements of the Altmark pulses. Finally, the development of the palaeomorphology and its associated sedimentary facies types throughout time and space showed a sequence starting with dry desert environments and ending with perennial saline lake conditions. The interdisciplinary analysis led to the conclusion that 3D seismic and well information in the German sector of the Southern North Sea identified an early Late Rotliegendes graben filled with reservoir-prone sandstones equivalent to the German onshore.


The development of country-specific emission factors in relation to the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector has the potential to improve national greenhouse gas inventory systems. Forests are carbon sinks in the AFOLU that can play an important role in mitigating global climate change. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), signatory countries must report forest carbon stocks, and the changes within them, using emission factors from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) or from country-specific values. This study was conducted to estimate forests carbon stocks and to complement and improve the accuracy of national greenhouse gas inventory reporting in South Korea. We developed country-specific emissions factors and estimated carbon stocks and their changes using the different approaches and methods described by the IPCC (IPCCEF: IPCC default emission factors, CSFT: country-specific emission factors by forest type, and CSSP: country-specific emission factors by species). CSFT returned a result for carbon stocks that was 1.2 times higher than the value using IPCCEF. Using CSSP, CO2 removal was estimated to be 60,648 Gg CO2 per year with an uncertainty of 22%. Despite a reduction in total forest area, forests continued to store carbon and absorb CO2, owing to differences in the carbon storage capacities of different forest types and tree species. The results of this study will aid estimations of carbon stock changes and CO2 removal by forest type or species, and help to improve the completeness and accuracy of the national greenhouse gas inventory. Furthermore, our results provide important information for developing countries implementing Tier 2, the level national greenhouse gas inventory systems recommended by the IPCC.


Computational vaccine design, also known as computational vaccinology, encompasses epitope mapping, antigen selection and immunogen design using computational tools. The iVAX toolkit is an integrated set of tools that has been in development since 1998 by De Groot and Martin. It comprises a suite of immunoinformatics algorithms for triaging candidate antigens, selecting immunogenic and conserved T cell epitopes, eliminating regulatory T cell epitopes, and optimizing antigens for immunogenicity and protection against disease. iVAX has been applied to vaccine development programs for emerging infectious diseases, cancer antigens and biodefense targets. Several iVAX vaccine design projects have had success in pre-clinical studies in animal models and are progressing toward clinical studies. The toolkit now incorporates a range of immunoinformatics tools for infectious disease and cancer immunotherapy vaccine design. This article will provide a guide to the iVAX approach to computational vaccinology.


Summary Recombinant factor Vila (rFVIIa; NovoSeven®) is a recent addition to the hemostatic alternatives for the treatment of hemophiliacs with inhibitors. A drawback in the use of rFVIIa has been its half-life of only about 2 h, which necessitates very frequent and punctual injections. We evaluated the stability of reconstituted, but not further diluted, rFVIIa in 3 infusion systems (WalkMedTM 350 and CADD®-Plus minipumps and Meddex 2001 syringe pump). The factor VII (F VII) activity was maintained for at least 3 days at room temperature with only a minor and clinically insignificant increase in oxidized forms of rFVIIa and minimal leaching of the plastic softeners di-butylphthalate and di-octylphthalate after 24–48 h. Addition of heparin, 5–10 U/ml, to reconstituted rFVIIa caused a loss of about 50% of the activity within 4 h of storage in the infusion system, whereas low molecular weight heparin had no such effect. Repeated samples showed that the infusion systems maintained sterility. Reconstituted rFVIIa did not support bacterial growth when inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli to any greater extent than did reconstituted factor VIII, lidocaine in saline or heparin in saline. Two patients were treated with continuous infusion of rFVIIa on 4 occasions (total knee arthroplasty, wound revision, and twice straightening of a 90° contracture of the knee under general anaesthesia). A preoperative pharmacokinetic evaluation was performed, and the clearance was used to calculate the maintenance dose, aiming at a FVII level of 10 U/ml, which proved to be a hemostatic level. The first patient had no change in the clearance during the two treatment episodes. He suffered from repeated thrombophlebitis at the infusion site. The second patient had a progressive decrease of the clearance from 86.4 to 24.7 ml/h/kg. He received during the first treatment a parallel infusion with heparin (≈250 U/24 h) to the same venous access and did not develop thrombophlebitis during 3.5 days of therapy. For the second episode low molecular weight heparin was added directly to the infusion bag, and no adverse effects were observed. Continuous infusion with rFVIIa is thus feasible with the minipumps used by us, eliminates the need for 2 h injections and reduces the total dose of rFVIIa by 50–75%, depending on the behaviour of the clearance.


The director of medical and dental education commissioning at London Deanery is to step down in April next year amid plans to split the deanery into three.

Fiona Moss, who is responsible for commissioning, managing, and quality controlling training of around 12 500 doctors in foundation, core, and higher specialty training programmes in the capital, has announced that she will leave the deanery when the government's changes to medical education and the medical workforce come into place in April 2013.

At this point London Deanery will divide into three local education and training boards (LETBs): South London; North West London; and North Central and East London. Each will have its own director of education quality and postgraduate dean.

Moss would not comment on her reasons for leaving but said that she hoped the new structure would be effective. "LETBs are well placed to make strong connections between service and training and thus to use education and training to improve the quality of care for today's and tomorrow's patients," she said.

"My …


Why have ninety million workers around the globe left their homes for employment in other countries? What can be done to ensure that international labour migration is a force for global betterment? This groundbreaking book presents the most comprehensive analysis of the causes and effects of labour migration available, and it recommends sensible, sustainable migration policies that are fair to migrants and to the countries that open their doors to them. The authors survey recent trends in international migration for employment and demonstrate that the flow of authorised and illegal workers over borders presents a formidable challenge in countries and regions throughout the world. They note that not all migration is from undeveloped to developed countries and discuss the murky relations between immigration policies and politics. The book concludes with specific recommendations for justly managing the world's growing migrant workforce.


This paper describes the processes that have started to reform the curriculum and learning landscape at Computer Engineering School of the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (Spain) within the European Higher Education Area framework. In this context, competences and learning outcomes are emerging as a new teaching/learning paradigm, where approaches centered on the learner are increasingly important. In first place, it describes the process followed for the identification of its own core generic competences map explaining its connections between learning outcomes, levels, descriptors, credits, methodology, learning activities and assessment. Finally, it reports some of the results obtained in the implementation of this core competence curriculum realized in a pilot experience the first and second semester, analyzing the degree of institutional impact of the actions undertaken and perspectives for the future.


It is widely believed that computing payments needed to induce truthful bidding is somehow harder than simply computing the allocation. We show that the opposite is true: creating a randomized truthful mechanism is essentially as easy as a single call to a monotone allocation rule. Our main result is a general procedure to take a monotone allocation rule for a single-parameter domain and transform it (via a black-box reduction) into a randomized mechanism that is truthful in expectation and individually rational for every realization. The mechanism implements the same outcome as the original allocation rule with probability arbitrarily close to 1, and requires evaluating that allocation rule only once. We also provide an extension of this result to multiparameter domains and cycle-monotone allocation rules, under mild star-convexity and nonnegativity hypotheses on the type space and allocation rule, respectively. Because our reduction is simple, versatile, and general, it has many applications to mechanism design problems in which re-evaluating the allocation rule is either burdensome or informationally impossible. Applying our result to the multiarmed bandit problem, we obtain truthful randomized mechanisms whose regret matches the information-theoretic lower bound up to logarithmic factors, even though prior work showed this is impossible for truthful deterministic mechanisms. We also present applications to offline mechanism design, showing that randomization can circumvent a communication complexity lower bound for deterministic payments computation, and that it can also be used to create truthful shortest path auctions that approximate the welfare of the VCG allocation arbitrarily well, while having the same running time complexity as Dijkstra's algorithm.


This paper presents a robust segmentation method which is the integration of Template based K-means and modified Fuzzy C-means (TKFCM) clustering algorithm that, reduces operators and equipment error. In this method, the template is selected based on convolution between gray level intensity in small portion of brain image, and brain tumor image. K-means algorithm is to emphasized initial segmentation through the proper selection of template. Updated membership is obtained through distances from cluster centroid to cluster data points, until it reaches to its best. This Euclidian distance depends upon the different features i.e. intensity, entropy, contrast, dissimilarity and homogeneity of coarse image, which was depended only on similarity in conventional FCM. Then, on the basis of updated membership and automatic cluster selection, a sharp segmented image is obtained with red marked tumor from modified FCM technique. The small deviation of gray level intensity of normal and abnormal tissue is detected through TKFCM. The performances of TKFCM method is analyzed through neural network provide a better regression and least error. The performance parameters show relevant results which are effective in detecting tumor in multiple intensity based brain MRI image.


Objective This article will describe a pilot study to explore associations between adult attachment style, resilience, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and adult health. Method A self-report survey was mailed to 180 randomly selected primary care patients and linked to a retrospective chart review. The patients met the following criteria: (1) enrolled for at least the previous year at their primary care clinic, (2) 21 years of age or greater, (3) English as their primary language, and (4) were seen by their provider on selected dates of the study. The survey was made up of three instruments: (1) the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire which consists of 10 questions about the respondent's adverse experiences during their first 18 years of life; (2) the Relationship Scales Questionnaire which measures adult attachment style; and (3) the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, a self-report scale that measures individual's perceptions of their resilience. For each returned questionnaire, we calculated a measure of medical complexity using the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. Results Of the 180 randomly selected patients from four clinic sites, 84 (46.6%) returned completed questionnaires. We found that Adverse Childhood Experience scores were significantly correlated with health and attachment style and trended toward association with resilience. Conclusion This pilot study revealed expected relationships of the complex associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences, attachment style, and resiliency. Further research with more subjects is warranted in order to continue to explore these relationships.


Over the past decade, the digitization of services transformed the healthcare sector leading to a sharp rise in cybersecurity threats. Poor cybersecurity in the healthcare sector, coupled with high value of patient records attracted the attention of hackers. Sophisticated advanced persistent threats and malware have significantly contributed to increasing risks to the health sector. Many recent attacks are attributed to the spread of malicious software, e.g., ransomware or bot malware. Machines infected with bot malware can be used as tools for remote attack or even cryptomining. This paper presents a novel approach, called BotDet, for botnet Command and Control (C&C) traffic detection to defend against malware attacks in critical ultrastructure systems. There are two stages in the development of the proposed system: 1) we have developed four detection modules to detect different possible techniques used in botnet C&C communications and 2) we have designed a correlation framework to reduce the rate of false alarms raised by individual detection modules. Evaluation results show that BotDet balances the true positive rate and the false positive rate with 82.3% and 13.6%, respectively. Furthermore, it proves BotDet capability of real time detection.


In this paper, we consider the transmission coordination among multiple cell sites, namely the Coordinated MultiPoint (CoMP) transmission scheme, where several Base Stations (BSs) cooperate to serve a set of Mobile Stations (MSs) and both BSs and MSs are equipped with multiple antennas. We model this multicell cooperative system under the presence of channel estimation errors that can significantly influence the obtained results. We derive the exact sum rate expression of the multicell cooperative system in the presence of channel estimation errors and we evaluate the performance of the Block-Diagonalization (BD) and Zero-forcing (ZF) beamforming approaches. Furthermore, we investigate a power allocation policy that maximizes the system sum rate in the presence of channel estimation errors. We show that in the multicell cooperative system, the performance of the BD or ZF beamforming approaches in terms of the maximization of the system sum rate, depends essentially on the system configuration parameters (i.e., number of antennas per BS and per MS). Simulation results are given to support our claims.


To the Editors: Lichen nitidus (LN) is an uncommon cutaneous chronic eruption that usually affects children and young adults. It was described by Pinkus in 1907 (1) and is characterized by the presence of 1 to 2 mm, asymptomatic, skin-colored papules with a flat, shiny surface. Cutaneous lesions of LN are most often localized to the upper extremities, penis, abdomen, chest, and buttocks, but in some cases they can be generalized (2–4). The association with other systemic diseases is extremely rare, and to our knowledge LN has never been described in association with juvenile chronic arthritis. We report a 3-year-old girl who suffered from generalized lichen nitidus and developed polyarticular juvenile chronic arthritis months later. At the age of 11 months the infant began to have a generalized eruption consisting of papular lesions which were diagnosed by biopsy as lichen nitidus. At the age of 15 months, 10 days after receiving a triple viral vaccine, she developed a high fever with swelling and pain in the wrists and ankles for 4 days. When she was 24 months old she had a similar episode without previous infectious or vaccination antecedent that recurred at the age of 28 months, 3 days after she received antimeningococcal A+C vaccine. In spite of clinical improvement observed after these episodes, the swelling and impaired function of the affected joints persisted. Physical examination showed numerous small, flesh-colored papules which were generalized but predominated on the right side of the body, symmetrical polyarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joints from the second to the fourth, metacarpusphalangical from the first to the fifth, wrists, knees, and ankles. Laboratory findings including complete serologic studies were normal. Rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies were negative. Histologic examination of a skin biopsy specimen revealed a circumscribed lymphohistiocytic infiltrate in the superficial dermis that was characteristic of LN. After treatment with ibuprofen, methotrexate, and prednisone, a good clinical evolution was observed, with an increase in physical activity and improvement of articular function. Most patients suffering from LN have a spontaneous resolution of the lesions after several years, so treatment is not required. Some authors recommend treatment with topical steroids, astemizole, systemic steroids, or PUVA in generalized LN (4,5). Etretinate and acitretin have also been used in palmoplantar LN (6). In our patient, apart from hydration of the skin, specific treatment was not used, the lesions resolving with a residual hypopigmentation 2 years after onset. Familial cases or association with systemic diseases, aside from Crohn disease and atopic dermatitis, have not been reported (7,8). Kano et al. (7) described a 22-yearold man diagnosed with Crohn disease and erythema nodosum who developed LP and LN 2 years later. The clinical course of his LN and LP was independent of intestinal and erythema nodosum lesions. After evaluating immunohistochemical and gene expression studies, these authors suggest that the lesions of LN and LP are likely to be mediated by T cells with antigen specificity distinct from those that cause erythema nodosum and intestinal lesions. The observed association of generalized LN with juvenile chronic arthritis in our patient is the first description in the literature to our knowledge. In spite of the frequency of cutaneous manifestations in the connective tissue diseases, they are not as evident as in juvenile chronic arthritis, excepting the characteristic exanthem of this disease. Recently the development of skin alterations such as a rash in patients being treated with Dpenicillamine and gold salts has been reported (9). Two women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis who developed lesions of LP while being treated with sulfasalazine were described by Kaplan et al. (10). In our patient, the appearance of LN without administration of some type of antirheumatoid drug only a few months before the development of juvenile chronic arthritis, the coexistence of the lesions, and the occurrence of new outbreaks of LN, coinciding with worsening of the arthritis suggest to us that both diseases could be due to the same mechanism, probably immune. However, additional clinical observations and more complete studies are necessary to establish the possible link between these processes.


textabstractT-ALL is an aggressive T-cell malignancy with an inferior treatment outcome compared to B-lineage ALL. Intensive T-ALL research efforts during the last years lead to the identification of multiple genetic abnormalities that cooperate in the malignant transformation of thymocytes. Currently and in contrast to B-lineage ALL, genetic abnormalities are clinically not used for therapy stratification. Further progress on the treatment of T-ALL will require further genetic characterization, which will provide us with a better understanding of the pathogenesis of T-ALL and hopefully will lead to improved treatment schedules. As the general scope of this thesis, we performed genome-wide copy number analysis using array-CGH for the identification of novel genomic rearrangements in T-ALL that possibly relate to treatment outcome, i.e. prognostic factors, or provide further insight in the pathogenesis of T-cell leukemia.


Long a topic of interest only to Fourth Amendment groupies, the third-party doctrine is now a central concern for citizens of the United States and the world. Much of the impetus for this global awakening is a series of leaked documents proving what many privacy scholars already suspected or knew: the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Administration, their foreign counterparts, and a host of domestic agents are engaged in programs of expansive and invasive surveillance that many have credibly compared to the dark prophesies of George Orwell's 1984. Among the more disturbing features of this burgeoning surveillance state is the increasing access that governments have to information about us and our activities that we entrust to third parties such as our telephone companies, financial institutions, internet service providers, social networks, and commercial partners. Recognizing the privacy implications of governmental access to information gathered or held by third-parties, the American Bar Association recently issued model standards governing law enforcement access to third party records. This invited essay analyzes these standards and ultimately concludes both that they adopt a strategy likely to fail and also promote a regulatory framework that poses serious threats to core interests in individual liberty and functioning democracy.


The illegal gold mining activities prevalent in most part of Ghana have caused substantial havoc to the environment especially water bodies which serve as sources of water for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes. The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) recently shut down their water treatment plant due to the extreme pollution and high cost of treatment. This study focusses on the impact of mining activities on water quality of the affected water bodies, to assess the level of pollution of the river sediments and the extent of dispersion of the heavy metallic pollutants and to map out areas within the Konongo Municipality where illegal mining activities are prevalent. In this regard, both water and sediment samples from two rivers namely; Owerri and Asuokofi in Konongo (in the Asante Akim Central Municipality) were collected at different locations and analysed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) to assess the concentrations and dispersions of metallic pollutants. Geographical Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of these sample locations were also taken for mapping the sampling points and area. Four different metals; mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As) and Cadmium (Cd) were analysed. For sediments, the mean levels of Pb, Hg, As and Cd for the owerri river were found to be 52.2±2, 0.3±0.5, 492±365 and 1.7±2.0 mg kg?1 respectively; whilst those for Asuokofi river were 12±0.7, 2.7±0.4, 21.2±13.5 and 1.6±0.4 mg kg?1 respectively. The mean levels of Pb, Hg, As and Cd for water of the owerri river are respectively 2.5±3.7, 0.20±0.4, 0.28±0.2 and 3.1±0.4 mg L?1; whilst those for Asuokofi river were 8.2±1.3, 2.3±1.8, 25.4±22.2 and 0.45±0.7 mg L?1 respectively. Comparing these levels with the WHO standards for water discharges, these concentrations far exceeded the recommended values. This will impact negatively on the quality of both rivers with dire consequences since they serve as the main raw water resource for drinking water production. Samples of sediments and water from the upstream of these rivers where no activity of alluvial mining is taken place were recorded and they showed lower levels of these metals. It can therefore be concluded that the activities of alluvial gold mining in the study area impacts negatively on both the quality of water in the river and the sediments thereof.


Clustering is a splitting up of data into groups of similar objects called clusters. The objects in a cluster are similar between themselves and dissimilar compared to objects of other clusters. This paper is intended to study and compare different data clustering algorithms. The algorithms in investigation are: hierarchical agglomerative clustering algorithms: Parameter Free Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) clustering algorithm and single link, complete link and average link clustering algorithms. K-means partitional clustering algorithm is used in the results as a reference. Our experimental evaluation shows that Parameter Free Minimum Spanning Tree algorithms are lead to better clustering results than hierarchical agglomerative algorithms, which suggests that Parameter Free Minimum Spanning Tree clustering algorithms are well-suited for clustering. General Terms Data Mining, Clustering.


The presence of the [2,6-(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl-N,C,N]- (pincer) ligand (NCN) in
platinum(II) complexes has been used to generate stable organoplatinum(IV) complexes that
model possible intermediates and reactivity in metal-catalyzed C-O bond formation
processes. The complexes M(O2CPh)(NCN) [M ) Pd (1), Pt (2)] were obtained by metathesis
reactions from the chloro analogues, and although 1 does not react with dibenzoyl peroxide,
2 does so to form Pt(O2CPh)3(NCN) (3) as a model intermediate for the acetoxylation of
arenes by acetic acid in the presence of palladium(II) acetate and an oxidizing agent. The
complex Pt(O2CPh)(NCN) (2) reacts with iodomethane in a complex manner to form PtI-
(NCN) (6) and cis-Pt(O2CPh)2Me(NCN) (7). Complex 7 decomposes to form Pt(O2CPh)(NCN)
(2) and MeO2CPh, probably via benzoate dissociation followed by nucleophilic attack by the
benzoate ion at the PtIV-Me carbon atom. The Pd(II) analogue Pd(O2CPh)(NCN) (1) reacts
with MeI to give PdI(NCN) (8) and MeO2CPh, for which the potential intermediacy of Pd-
(IV) species could not confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The complex PtTol(NCN) (4) (Tol
) 4-tolyl) reacts with (PhCO2)2 to form cis-Pt(O2CPh)2Tol(NCN) (5), but, unlike the PtIVMe
analogue 7, the PtIVTol complex 5 does not undergo facile C-O bond formation. X-ray
structural studies of the isostructural square-planar complexes M(O2CPh)(NCN) (1, 2) and
of the octahedral Pt(IV) complexes as solvates 3.1/2Me2CO, 5.Me2CO, and 7.Me2CO.H2O are reported. Complexes 5 and 7 have cis-PtC2 and cis-Pt(O2CPh)2 configurations.


Adam Kendon has contributed to every facet of gesture studies, from the co-speech gestures that occur with talk, to the silent gestures that replace talk. This chapter describes work I have done that follows in Adam's footsteps. I first examine silent gesture in two groups: (1) children whose hearing losses prevent them from learning spoken language and whose hearing parents have not exposed them to sign language, and (2) hearing speakers asked to abandon their spoken language and use gesture to communicate – gesture when it becomes language. I then examine co-speech gesture, exploring how gesture works together with speech to help hearing children learn language (as well other topics) – gesture when it is part of language.


Researchers have long been interested in understanding why a Strong relationship between family income and educational attainment exists at virtually all levels of schooling. In part due to a recent increase in the disparity between the wages of college graduates and the wages of individuals with less than a college degree, there has been a specific interest in understanding why individuals from low income families are less likely to graduate from college than other students. Using unique new data obtained directly from a liberal arts school that maintains a full tuition subsidy program, this paper provides direct evidence that family environment reasons that are unrelated to the tuition costs of college are very important. The paper pays close attention to the issue of selection bias by deriving a set of seemingly very plausible conditions under which the estimator of interest is "conservative". The findings, which suggest that non-trivial differences in educational attainment would exist even if tuition was zero for all students, have implications for expensive policy programs such as the full tuition subsidy program that was recently approved by the state of California.


The local effective H\"older exponent has been applied to evaluate the variability of heart rate locally at an arbitrary position (time) and resolution (scale). The local effective H\"older exponent [8, 9] used is effectively insensitive to local polynomial trends in heartbeat rate due to the use of the Wavelet Transform Modulus Maxima technique. Also the variability so obtained is compatible in the sense of distribution to the Multifractal Spectra of the analysed heart rate time series. This provides the possibility of standardising the variability estimation for comparison between different patients and between different recordings for one patient. The previously reported global correlation behaviour [1] is captured in the effective H\"older exponent based, local variability estimate. This includes discriminating healthy and sick (congestive heart failure patients) on the basis of both the central (Hurst) exponent and the width of the multifractal spectra. In addition to this, we observed intriguing patterns of individual response in variability records to daily activities. A moving average filtering of H\"older exponent based variability estimates was used to enhance these fluctuations. We find that this way of local presentation of scaling properties may be of clinical importance.


Carotid stenosis is frequent in the general population, especially in elderly people and is associated with a high risk of stroke and vascular events. In patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis the overall annual risk of ipsilateral stroke has dramatically decreased over the past decades, due to improvement in medical management. Asymptomatic carotid stenosis is probably a better indicator of generalized atherosclerotic disease than of stroke risk, with an average risk of nonstroke death (mainly due to ischemic heart disease) generally higher than the risk of ipsilateral stroke. Management of risk factors, antiplatelet therapy, and statins are highly beneficial in these patients. Carotid surgery in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis is associated with a small absolute benefit compared to medical treatment. The prognosis of patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis is dramatically different from that of patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis because the risk of stroke on medical treatment alone is very high and highest during the first few days and weeks. In these patients, endarterectomy is highly beneficial and the absolute benefit of is increased in patients with 70- 99% stenosis, men, patients over 75 years, and in those treated within 2 weeks after the last event. The meta-analysis of the 3 major European trials comparing endarterectomy to stenting in symptomatic stenosis has shown an increased risk of perioperative risk of any stroke or death in the stenting group (74% increase in risk in patients treated with stenting). However, the risk of stroke or death after stenting and surgery were equivalent below the age of 70 whereas there was a two-fold increase in risk of stenting over endarterectomy above this age. Thus, surgery remains the first line method in most cases but stenting is potentially an alternative in young patients.


Abstract In an extended series of papers by M. Leeder, J.R.L. Allen, J.S. Bridge, J. Alexander, and others, the depositional stacking patterns of channel-belt deposits were related to tectonic and other external controls (we refer to these models collectively as LAB models). These models established a basic connection between subsidence, channel avulsion, and the mesoscale (channel-belt) architecture of an alluvial deposit. Two fundamental predictions resulted from this work: (1) channel-belt stacking density and hence connectedness is inversely correlated to temporal (vertical) changes in sedimentation rate; and (2) channel-belt stacking density and hence connectedness is directly correlated to lateral changes in sedimentation rate. In this paper we make use of the Experimental EarthScape (XES) Facility at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory to examine the effects of temporally and laterally variable subsidence rates on mesoscale alluvial architecture. We then compare the experimental results with the main predictions of the early LAB models. Regarding the predictions of the LAB models, under conditions of high sediment supply and a highly active alluvial system, lateral and downstream variation in subsidence geometry and rate have little effect on the details of alluvial architecture. We found that the principal architectural signature of changes in subsidence geometry (i.e., laterally variable subsidence rate) is stratal tilting and that channel belts are not attracted to the subsidence maximum. We hypothesize that the effect of variable subsidence geometry is felt by the fluvial system only if subsidence proceeds faster than the river can adjust to the formation of a topographic low via the deposition of overbank material in the form of splays and sheet sands. Our results lend impetus to the development of more complete three-dimensional numerical models of mesoscale alluvial architecture that couple architecture to broader, allogenic forcing mechanisms.


Spiders of the genus Argyrodes are kleptoparasites that steal prey from other web spiders. Recent studies have shown that in addition to stealing prey, they occasionally eat the silk of the host spider webs. How Argyrodes alters the two foraging tactics in the field is still unknown. The foraging behaviour of Argyrodes flavescens was observed in the south-western part of Japan where prey availability changes greatly with season. Silk-eating behaviour was commonly observed when insect prey availability on host webs was low, but when prey was abundant, only prey-stealing behaviour was observed. Spiders spent more time feeding on silk than on prey when prey was scarce. Moreover, in the season when most individuals fed on silk, only a small portion of individuals consumed prey. These results suggest that silk eating is an important alternative foraging tactic under seasonally changing environments.


Carbon (C) in tropical peatlands over Southeast Asia and Amazonia, if released to the atmosphere, can substantially increase the growth rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Over Southeast Asia, where the most extensive tropical peatlands in the world occur, 11 climate models for the IPCC Fourth Assessment show an overall decrease of rainfall in future dry seasons. Over Amazonia, future rainfall changes in dry seasons are highly uncertain; five models predict increased rainfall, and the remaining models predict the opposite. We have further examined the UKMO‐HadCM3, GISS‐ER, and GFDL‐CM2.1 models. Over Southeast Asia, all three models predict similar decreases of rainfall and evaporative fraction, implying an increase of water table depth and surface dryness during the dry season south of the equator. Such changes would potentially switch peat ecosystems from acting as C sinks to C sources. Over Amazonia, the two models with the best simulations of current rainfall produce conflicting results for the future of peat stability.


The shape of galaxies depends on their orbital populations. These populations change through capture into and escape from resonance. Capture problems fall into distinct cases depending upon the shape of the potential well. To visualise the effective potential well for orbital capture, a diagrammatic approach to the resonant perturbation theory of Born is presented. These diagrams we call equiaction sections. To illustrate their use, we present examples drawn from both galactic and Solar System dynamics. The probability of capture for generic shapes of the potential well is calculated. A number of predictions are made. First, there are barred galaxies that possess two outer rings of gas and stars (type R ′ 1R ′ 2). We show how to relate changes in the pattern speed and amplitude of the bar to the strength of the two rings. Secondly, under certain conditions, small disturbances can lead to dramatic changes in orbital shape. This can be exploited as a mechanism to pump counter-rotating stars and gas into the nuclei of disk galaxies. Tidal resonant forcing of highly inclined orbits around a central mass causes a substantial increase in the likelihood of collision. Thirdly, the angular momentum of a potential well is changed by the passage of stars across or capture into the well. This can lead to the creation of holes, notches and high velocity tails in the stellar distribution function, whose form we explicitly calculate.


Recent research with face-to-face groups found that a measure of general group effectiveness (called "collective intelligence") predicted a group's performance on a wide range of different tasks. The same research also found that collective intelligence was correlated with the individual group members' ability to reason about the mental states of others (an ability called "Theory of Mind" or "ToM"). Since ToM was measured in this work by a test that requires participants to "read" the mental states of others from looking at their eyes (the "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" test), it is uncertain whether the same results would emerge in online groups where these visual cues are not available. Here we find that: (1) a collective intelligence factor characterizes group performance approximately as well for online groups as for face-to-face groups; and (2) surprisingly, the ToM measure is equally predictive of collective intelligence in both face-to-face and online groups, even though the online groups communicate only via text and never see each other at all. This provides strong evidence that ToM abilities are just as important to group performance in online environments with limited nonverbal cues as they are face-to-face. It also suggests that the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test measures a deeper, domain-independent aspect of social reasoning, not merely the ability to recognize facial expressions of mental states.


This study attempts to determine whether entry regulation is more restrictive in unit or branch banking states. ; A model is developed in which entry, defined as the formation of a new bank or branch, is explained as being a response to the general economic climate plus regulation. Using time series data and dating the onset of effective entry regulation with the passage of the banking Act of 1935, it is ascertained that effective entry regulation has caused the aggregate rate of entry into commercial banking to fall by about sixty percent. This analysis included adjustments for changes in economic conditions. The effect of entry regulation, however, has not been uniform. Entry rates in unit banking states is estimated to be seventy percent lower than it would have been in the absence of regulation, while limited branching and statewide branching states have experienced fifty and forty percent declines, respectively. ; This analysis suggests that entry in unit banking states has been more restricted than in branch banking states. Two reasons are cited that may account for this differential impact of regulation. First, regulators may tend to be more pessimistic than potential entrants regarding the profitability of a new banking office. This pessimism may not have a significant effect upon entry when other factors indicate a high probability of success, but may be important in marginal cases. Thus, because branch banking states tend to be more prevalent in the west, and because this has been the area of greatest economic growth in the past forty years, the pessimism of regulators would tend to be less apparent in branch banking areas. Second, regulators apparently prefer to issue charters for new branches rather than for new banks because they have more information on which to base their decisions. In addition, if the market demand is misjudged, a branch bank has retained earnings and other branches from which to carry short-term losses.


Sign languages are the natural way Deafs use to communicate with other people. They have their own formal semantic definitions and syntactic rules and are composed by a large set of gestures involving hands and head. Automatic recognition of sign languages (ARSL) tries to recognize the signs and translate them into a written language. ARSL is a challenging task as it involves background segmentation, hands and head posture modeling, recognition and tracking, temporal analysis and syntactic and semantic interpretation. Moreover, when real-time requirements are considered, this task becomes even more challenging. In this paper, we present a study of real time requirements of automatic sign language recognition of small sets of static and dynamic gestures of the Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS). For the task of static gesture recognition, we implemented a system that is able to work on small sub-sets of the alphabet - like A,E,I,O,U and B,C,F,L,V - reaching very high recognition rates. For the task of dynamic gesture recognition, we tested our system over a small set of LIBRAS words and collected the execution times. The aim was to gather knowledge regarding execution time of all the recognition processes (like segmentation, analysis and recognition itself) to evaluate the feasibility of building a real-time system to recognize small sets of both static and dynamic gestures. Our findings indicate that the bottleneck of our current architecture is the recognition phase.


This report is written for the bachelor assignment of the course Industrial Design at the University of
Twente, conducted for BMA Ergonomics, located at Zwolle. There is worked at the development of
the Smart Chair. This is a monitorchair which observes the sitting behavior of the end user. In an
ongoing project at BMA Ergonomics, called Smart Chair basic, a basic model is being developed. This
chair interacts with the end user through an interface on the chair. During the assignment there is
worked on the follow‐up project, called Smart Chair expert, hereby the basic is expanded so it can
interact on a higher level with the end user.
After analyzing the assignment and the sponsor the computer has been chosen as user interface. Due
to use of the monitorchairs a computer is always present. By means of concepts there is determined
that the RF‐module only plays a role as receiver and all interactions takes place on the computer.
Through analysis of development issues there has been convergated to the final result. A
communicationsystem consisting of three layers has been developed. Also there has been assigned
that feedback takes place through color and visibility.
Among others by looking for similar software products is determined that the expert distincts sitting
posture, movement and pause behavior. In addition, the end user can load applets on the expert,
they can be sitting behavior related or not.
Before the final user interface could be drawn up, first concepts are developed. This supports the
choice for the final design. Also a number of obscure facets are visualized in this proces, so a choice
could be made easier.
Next to this the visualization made clear that the interface folder at first was to complex and
therefore an improvement had to be made.
Besides the software there is also a RF‐module developed. This is most comparable with aUSB key,
only it has more functionalities. The design relates to the design of the user interface and the
branding design of BMA. For the personification a display has been placed in the RF module.
The expert and the RF module are supplied in a packaging, which is also developed. Just like the
design of the RF‐module is it related to the user interface and BMA. Also the packaging plays an
important role in the first impression of the expert. For this reason a package is developed which
presents itself as an important interesting gift.
With the outcome a solid foundation for the development of the expert has been made. This expert
functions as a present part of the workplace, which allows end users to learn about their sitting
behaviour. Due to the presence of the expert, the end user is unconsciously being encouraged to get
down with his sitting behaviour. Therefore sitting changes from a low interest to an interesting
process. This results in an improvement in the sitting behavior of the end user.


Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) appear as some relevant alternatives to mitigate the consequences of climate change. For this reason, they are promoted for the implementation of the national plan for adaptation to climate change (PNACC) in France, in line with the Paris Agreement, the strategy of the European Union for adaptation to climate change and the French national strategy for biodiversity.

Nevertheless, this ambitious goal of democratizing NBS poses some institutional and technical challenges because many obstacles remain to their implementation. Overcoming these shortcomings is the objective of the LIFE integrated project called ARTISAN (Achieving Resiliency by Triggering Implementation of nature-based Solutions for climate Adaptation at a National scale). Coordinated by the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), its consortium regroups several local authorities, technical, research and education institutes.

For this purpose, ARTISAN is creating a framework promoting the implementation of NBS by improving scientific and technical knowledge about them, then by developing and disseminating relevant tools for project leaders (for the design, sizing, implementation and evaluation of ecosystem performance).

To demonstrate that NBS can respond to a diversity of climatic, ecological and institutional contexts, 10 pilot sites will be monitored in metropolitan and overseas France. The concerned issues are for example the reduction of urban heat island by the de-waterproofing of the public space, the limitation of the impact of cyclonic episodes on the urbanized coastline overseas by promoting the restoration of the mangrove, and the decrease of agricultural water stress during the low flow period by the hydromorphological restoration of wetlands. These pilot sites will serve to develop, improve and validate operational tools, methods and trainings devoted to practitioners.


A large-scale guarded hot plate apparatus was designed and constructed for measurement of the thermal conductivity of thick insulation specimens and specimens containing layers and/or complex 3D heat flows (i.e. thermal bridges). The apparatus is capable of accepting specimens measuring 4' (1219mm) by 4' (1219mm) and up to 16" (406mm) thick with good accuracy in measurement. Computer models were developed to estimate heat flow errors important for determining the characteristics and limitations of the apparatus. Other sources of error in measurement were also evaluated. Once constructed, the apparatus was validated against a heat flow meter calibrated to better than 1% using a US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable calibration sample. Good agreement was shown between the heat flow meter and the guarded hot plate; <1% deviation in thermal conductivity measurement was observed for a 3" (76mm) thick stonewool specimen and <3.5% deviation in thermal conductivity measurement was observed for a 9" (229mm) thick stonewool specimen. The capability of the guarded hot plate to measure layered specimens with thermal bridges was demonstrated through the measurement of three specimens resembling typical wall assemblies. Measurements from the apparatus were compared against results from computer models and good agreement was found. Errors normally associated with the measurement of non-homogenous specimens in guarded hot plates were not found to be an issue.


To preoperatively assess the functional outcome of a total joint replacement, finite element analysis can be used for an objective evaluation of individual implant configurations. For large scale studies, where the implant configuration is varied in size, position or design, numerous finite element meshes have to be generated. To improve the planning process we propose a method that outputs a merged tetrahedral mesh of the patient's joint anatomy and an arbitrarily positioned implant geometry suitable for finite element analysis. Our approach has several advantages: (1) it avoids error-prone intermediate stages, e.g. data type conversion, (2) it is able to preserve constraints such as sharp edges and (3) it can be fully automated by initially defining a few parameters that describe the desired geometric accuracy and element quality. Based on the meshing of 100 different patient-specific bone-implant setups at the tibia (shinbone), we show that our approach produces high-quality meshes in all cases automatically.


The second edition of this comprehensive handbook of computer and information security provides the most complete view of computer security and privacy available. It offers in-depth coverage of security theory, technology, and practice as they relate to established technologies as well as recent advances. It explores practical solutions to many security issues. Individual chapters are authored by leading experts in the field and address the immediate and long-term challenges in the authors' respective areas of expertise.

 The book is organized into 10 parts comprised of 70 contributed chapters by leading experts in the areas of networking and systems security, information management, cyber warfare and security, encryption technology, privacy, data storage, physical security, and a host of advanced security topics. New to this edition are chapters on intrusion detection, securing the cloud, securing web apps, ethical hacking, cyber forensics, physical security, disaster recovery, cyber attack deterrence, and more.

 Chapters by leaders in the field on theory and practice of computer and information security technology, allowing the reader to develop a new level of technical expertise

 Comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of security issues allows the reader to remain current and fully informed from multiple viewpoints

 Presents methods of analysis and problem-solving techniques, enhancing the reader's grasp of the material and ability to implement practical solutions


This article analyzes the behavioral effects of unemployment benefits (UB) and it characterizes their optimal level when jobless people only survive if they have access to a minimum or subsistence consumption level in each period. To survive when the level of UB is very low, they carry out a subsistence activity. Our model shows that if the level of UB is very low, increasing its level or providing liquidity to the agent can decrease the duration in unemployment; for higher levels of UB we reencounter the standard properties that increasing UB increases duration and that providing liquidity to the agent increases duration (Chetty, 2008). We also show that the optimal level of UB satisfies the Baily-Chetty formula (Baily, 1978, Chetty, 2006), but contrary to Chetty (2008), in our model the gain from insurance cannot be rewritten using sufficient statistics; we show that such decomposition requires specific modeling assumptions.


Recent developments around the Smart Grid promise more efficient power generation and distribution. In contrast to the current design of the electricity grid, the Smart Grid is heavily based on IT for managing communication flows. Given the large number of market participants, data exchanged should be marked up in a way that facilitates flexible modelling, extension and integration. In addition, since much of the data exchanged is highly sensitive – comprising e.g. consumption data – current organisational means for privacy enforcement are not sufficient. In this paper, we propose a novel framework, which addresses these privacy issues by means of a machine-interpretable representation of the user intent. More precisely, such machineinterpretable specifications enable an automated access control and enforcement of privacy rights on a technical level.


Our research tackles the challenge of milk production resource use efficiency in dairy farms with machine learning methods. Reproduction is a key factor for dairy farm performance since cows milk production begin with the birth of a calf. Therefore, detecting estrus, the only period when the cow is susceptible to pregnancy, is crucial for farm efficiency. Our goal is to enhance estrus detection (performance, interpretability), especially on the currently undetected silent estrus (35% of total estrus), and allow farmers to rely on automatic estrus detection solutions based on affordable data (activity, temperature). In this paper, we first propose a novel approach with real-world data analysis to address both behavioral and silent estrus detection through machine learning methods. Second, we present LCE, a local cascade based algorithm that significantly outperforms a typical commercial solution for estrus detection, driven by its ability to detect silent estrus. Then, our study reveals the pivotal role of activity sensors deployment in estrus detection. Finally, we propose an approach relying on global and local (behavioral versus silent) algorithm interpretability (SHAP) to reduce the mistrust in estrus detection solutions.


Abstract. Singularity is a research project in Microsoft Research that started with the question: what would a software platform look like if it was designed from scratch with the primary goal of dependability? Singularity is working to answer this question by building on advances in programming languages and tools to develop a new system architecture and operating system (named Singularity), with the aim of producing a more robust and dependable software platform. Singularity demonstrates the practicality of new technologies and architectural decisions, which should lead to the construction of more robust and dependable systems.


"See Spot run." With those words, a generation of youngsters began their training in the language arts. While Dick and Jane may have been enough to stimulate those young minds, the technologically aware kids of today want more action. Whether increasing their vocabulary bank, writing creative short stories, or collaborating on multi-author papers, students nowadays have a greater choice than ever when it comes to language arts learning tools. Instead of just hundreds of texts, there are now also hundreds of software programs produced specifically for language arts, reading and writing instruction. Additionally, there are more and more packages coming out for older students, and even some intended for educators and professional writers. This article will cover a range of language arts software, fro pre-K up to professional-level packages. Unless noted, all software is both Windows and Macintosh compatible. * Phonics to the Forefront Phonics has enjoyed a rise in popularity recently, due to good press and various research studies reproving its worth and recommending its inclusion in the curriculum. Consequently, many firms are releasing software that helps young learners relate symbols to sounds. Macmillan/McGraw-Hill has just released 'Tronic Phonics, phonics software for grades 1-2. Comprising 14 CDs, each with three or four short phonics-based stories and related phonics and decoding activities, it features easy-to-use writing, painting and drawing tools, a recorder that lets children hear their own voice, and a reporting utility. Con Ton Y Son is a Spanish-language version that includes ten CDs and all of the same features. As a follow up to Kid Phonics 1, Davidson offers Kid Phonics 2. The new program, aimed at kids ages six to nine (Kid Phonics 1 is for ages four to seven), combines a Western theme with seven phonics activities such as the Word Rodeo, Silent Letter Stagecoach and more. Students learn to sound out over 350 words, differentiate among letter sounds, understand prefixes and suffixes, use words in context sentences, and connect sounds to clusters of letters, building those clusters into words. Focused at grades K-2, Reading Who? Reading You! Something Phonics, Something New is Sunburst Communications' first phonics program. It consists of five separate activities designed to enhance phonemic awareness. In Three Windows, students learn new words in sequential fashion. Success is rewarded with full-motion video, jokes and inspiring comments. Additionally, over 40 original poems teach children common sight words, and The Word Truck activity lets them build their own fun phrases or sentences. Relatively new to the educational software arena, Panasonic Interactive Media offers its Phonics Adventure with Sing-Along Sam, for ages four to six. The software uses 15 original songs in a variety of musical styles to guide students through 12 separate lessons. As young learners complete lessons, they are rewarded with three reinforcing games. A status screen lets teachers and parents monitor progress, and a teacher's guide shows how to design custom reading plans based on the program. * The Next Step Through phonics and other early language arts instruction, youngsters are taught to read. Software that reinforces early language arts curricula is plentiful and better than ever. Far more advanced than simple "animated storybook" packages, today's software adds many elaborate learning exercises to those early products' appealing animation and interactivity. To help three to six year-olds develop decision-making skills while laying a solid foundation in early reading, Theatrix offers Build-A-Book with Roberto, where kids direct the action and outcome of stories starring Roberto the Hippo. Once a story is complete, it can be viewed with accompanying read-along text, animated characters, music and sound effects. Kids can also print read-along books that coincide with their story, create masks and puppets and more. …


The impact of uncontrolled expansion of fishing activities on living marine resources has been a subject of discussion among the world community since 1940s. With a view to preventing over-exploitation of marine living resources, coastal States and other States have concluded a number of treaties, and established several regional fisheries organizations. However, even with these treaties and • organizations in force, fishing activities in the oceans have expanded in an uncontrolled manner leading to depletion of certain fish stocks. Meanwhile the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (UNCLOS) provided a framework for governance of all oceanic affairs including exploitation of living resources. UNCLOS provided for coastal States to manage living resources within 200 nautical-mile exclusive economic zones and thereby brought nearly 90% of the living marine resources under the control of coastal States. UNCLOS also made provisions for managing and conserving living marine resources that occur outside the jurisdiction of coastal States. Under the provisions of UNCLOS a convention has been concluded for the purpose of conserving and managing migratory and straddling fish stocks. The Food and Agriculture Organization also has made several instruments to conserve and manage living marine resources. This paper analyzes these instruments, which are now in force. To achieve the objectives of these instruments the will and active involvement of the fishing nations are essential.


Synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) is a protein that participates in the regulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis through the formation of the soluble NSF attachment protein receptor complex and modulates voltage-gated calcium channels activity. The Snap25 gene has been associated with schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and bipolar disorder, and lower levels of SNAP-25 have been described in patients with schizophrenia. We used SNAP-25 heterozygous (SNAP-25(+/-)) mice to investigate at which extent the reduction of the protein levels affects neuronal network function and mouse behavior. As interactions of genotype with the specific laboratory conditions may impact behavioral results, the study was performed through a multilaboratory study in which behavioral tests were replicated in at least 2 of 3 distinct European laboratories. Reductions of SNAP-25 levels were associated with a moderate hyperactivity, which disappeared in the adult animals, and with impaired associative learning and memory. Electroencephalographic recordings revealed the occurrence of frequent spikes, suggesting a diffuse network hyperexcitability. Consistently, SNAP-25(+/-) mice displayed higher susceptibility to kainate-induced seizures, paralleled by degeneration of hilar neurons. Notably, both EEG profile and cognitive defects were improved by antiepileptic drugs. These results indicate that reduction of SNAP-25 expression is associated to generation of epileptiform discharges and cognitive dysfunctions, which can be effectively treated by antiepileptic drugs.


In 1975, 50 year-old Americans could expect to live slightly longer than their European counterparts. By 2005, American life expectancy at that age has diverged substantially compared to Europe. We find that this growing longevity gap is primarily the symptom of real declines in the health of near-elderly Americans, relative to their European peers. In particular, we use a microsimulation approach to project what US longevity would look like, if US health trends approximated those in Europe. We find that differences in health can explain most of the growing gap in remaining life expectancy. In addition, we quantify the public finance consequences of this deterioration in health. The model predicts that gradually moving American cohorts to the health status enjoyed by Europeans could save up to $1.1 trillion in discounted total health expenditures from 2004 to 2050. Pierre-Carl Michaud The RAND Corporation 1776 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90401 email@example.com Dana Goldman The RAND Corporation 1776 Main Street P.O. Box 2138 Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138 and NBER email@example.com Darius Lakdawalla The RAND Corporation 1776 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138 and NBER email@example.com Adam Gailey The RAND Corporation 1776 Main Street P.O. Box 2138 Santa Monica, CA 90401 firstname.lastname@example.com Yuhui Zheng The RAND Corporation 1776 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90401 email@example.com


Arbitration is an alternative, to litigation, form of private dispute resolution, a judicial determination by an independent third party to whom the disputing parties agree to hand over their power to decide the dispute to the arbitrator(s). The 'core' merit of arbitration is the international enforceability of its awards by virtue of the Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards 1958 ('The New York Convention'). In line with the NY Convention, an arbitral award is 'portable' and can be enforced to the contracting States simply and without formality. The international applicability of commercial arbitration has inevitably raised questions of conflict of laws or even questions of conflicting decisions based on the same law. The most prominent example of conflicting decisions stemming from the application of the same principles is the case of Dallah v Pakistan which has commanded immense attention in the international arbitration community. In a continued astonishing series of events, the English Supreme Court and the French Cour d'Appel reached contrary decisions on the enforcement of an international arbitral award, despite the application of the same law to the same facts. The focus of this article is to examine in-depth the legal proceedings accrued in Dallah, identify the questions raised and the reasoning of the Courts, including the Tribunal's reasoning, and expose the reasons why the Supreme Court and the Cour d'Appel, whilst considering the same facts and applying the same principles, arrived at such antithetical decisions.


Creating and delivering a successful presentation today often means breaking through the noise and allowing your audience to focus on you and your message. You can have a great impact using simple design choices in your presentations but you just need to know where to start. Here to guide you on your journey is best-selling author and popular speaker Garr Reynolds, whose design wisdom and advice will open your eyes and give you new ways to look at your slides. Filled with practical insights and plenty of examples, you'll learn how to design effective presentations that contain text, data, color, images, and video. Once the design guidelines are established, you will benefit from Garr's years of experience as a master presenter and learn how you can achieve an overall harmony and balance using the powerful tenet of simplicity. Not only will you discover how to design your slides for more professional-looking presentations, you'll learn to communicate more clearly and will accomplish the goal of making a stronger, more lasting connection with your audience.


"As an exponent of that "Tyrolean" generation of architects that in the Germanspeaking
central-eastern Alps will be decisive in the specific declination of the
themes of architectural modernity within the mountain context, Lois Welzenbacher
realizes, between the end of the 1920s and the beginning of the 1930s, a series of
houses and villas that reinvent the relationship between architecture and Alpine environment
in completely new and inaugural terms. The Buchroithner house built in
1928-30 in Zell am See, the Rosenbauer house built in 1929-30 in Linz, and the Buchroithner house built in 1932 again in Zell am See establish a new way of relating
to the space and to the Alpine landscape: they incorporate the mountain landscape,
and at the same time they transform and change in relation to the topographic morphology of the site, giving life to an architecture that builds a relational dialectic with its surroundings in a completely new way. In this respect, the works of Lois Welzenbacher represent a decisive threshold in the conceptualization of the construction
in the Alps."


Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are endoparasites which cause severe losses in grapevine. To ensure economically viable grape production, it is important that nurseries produce rooted nursery material free of plant-parasitic nematodes. Hot water treatment (HWT) at 50°C for 45 min to eliminate root-knot nematode (RKN) from rooted nursery material was investigated as a method to ensure nematode free plant material. Rooted grapevine rootstocks known to be susceptible (US 8-7 and 110 Richter), moderately resistant (1103 Paulsen and 143 B) and resistant (Ramsey) to Meloidogyne javanica were artificially infested by inoculating them with RKN eggs and larvae. After one growing season, the vines were lifted, shoots and root systems trimmed and subjected to different HWT regimes viz. 50°C for 45 min and 55°C for 20 min, while some were left as untreated controls. To evaluate plant response, each vine was planted in a pot, together with a three-week old tomato seedling as an indicator of root-knot nematode infestation.  The tomato plants were removed after 12 weeks and their roots examined for the presence of M. javanica galls and egg masses. At the end of the growing season, the effects of the treatments on plant growth were assessed by determining total shoot and root mass. The results demonstrated that HWT at 55°C for 20 min significantly reduced the nematode populations in the rooted stocks, but did not eliminate the nematodes from the roots since indicator plants from HWT vines still supported a small number of galls. HWT at 55°C for 20 min also reduced the level of infestation of RKN in grapevine planting material, but resulted in a significant reduction in growth.


Technical Engineering and Design Guides, as adapted from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, No. 10. This guide presents procedures for the design analysis and criteria of design for improved channels that carry rapid and/or tranquil flows. It presents theories and procedures in the hydraulic design of flood control channels, levees, and floodwalls. Typical calculations are presented to illustrate the principles of design for channels under various conditions of flow. The appendixes provide additional information regarding the standardization of riprap gradations, calculation of stone size, and combination of flow at open channel junctions.


In two Italian sites, multiaxis trees slightly reduced primary axis length and secondary axis length of newly grafted trees, and increased the number of secondary shoots. The total length, node production, and total dry matter gain were proportional to the number of axis. Growth of both primary and secondary shoots, and dry matter accumulation, have been found to be also well related to rootstock vigour.
A great variability in axillary shoot production was recorded among different environments.
Grafted trees had higher primary growth, secondary axis growth, and dry matter gain than chip budded trees.
Stem water potential measured in the second year after grafting was not affected by rootstocks or number of leaders.
Measurements performed in New Zealand (Hawke's Bay) during the second year after grafting revealed that both final length and growth rate of primary and secondary axis were related to the rootstock rather than to the training system.
Dwarfing rootstocks reduced the number of long vegetative shoots and increased the proportion of less vigorous shoots.


Background: Intervention strategies and developmental models of stress have been criticized for failing to integrate social psychological variables. This study investigates both self-referential cognitive mediators (perceived threat and control) and a social psychological moderator (ethnic/religious identity) of the effect of peer-victimization upon depressive symptomatology. Methods: Self-report questionnaires were completed by 924 students (46% female), aged 8 to 12 years. Experiences of discriminatory and non-discriminatory peer-victimization, threat and control appraisals, depressive symptoms, and strength of main identity were assessed. Results: Perceived threat partially mediated the effect of peer-victimization (regardless of whether it was discriminatory or not) upon depressive symptoms. Perceived control partially mediated the effect of non-discriminatory peer-victimization upon depressive symptoms. Strength of ethnic/religious identity buffered the effect of peer-victimization on depressive symptoms. Victimization perceived to be discriminatory in nature was more strongly associated with depressive symptoms than non-discriminatory victimization. Conclusions: Findings support calls for a greater emphasis to be placed on social psychological variables in explaining depressive symptomatology. For clinical, counseling and intervention purposes, it is important to examine whether victims perceive peer-victimization as discriminatory and whether their own strength of identity affects symptomatology.


The main objective of this research is to investigate the principles underlying the dissolution process, study the phenomena of drug release in laminar flow, and better understand the effect of hydrodynamic condition on drug dissolution, in order to predict drug dissolution from a solid dosage form. Two drug models were selected, theophylline (Class I) and naproxen (Class II), and were formulated into conventional tablets containing 105 mg theophylline or 300 mg naproxen using wet granulation method. Additionally theophylline (105 mg) and naproxen (300 mg) matrices containing 30% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) polymer were prepared by direct compression and tested for dissolution using both USP II and IV dissolution apparatus. Tablets were tested for dissolution (USP IV) using different cell diameter, flow rate, and different position of the tablet inside the cell. In general, the drug dissolution at a given time is a direct function of the flow rate, increasing the flow rate increases drug release. The use of a small cell resulted in faster drug dissolution and higher Reynold's Number than using a large cell. Tablet position in the cell, also has an effect on drug dissolution, inserting the tablet in a horizontal position inside the cell gave faster dissolution than a vertical position. The hydrodynamic conditions did not affect the drug dissolution from HPMC controlled release tablets indicating that the drug dissolution is controlled by the matrix. An equation to predict drug dissolution from conventional tablets was established: Sh=-21.36+10.58Re(1/2) where R2=0.98. This study demonstrated that hydrodynamic conditions, and type of dissolution testing apparatus used have an effect on dissolution rate, mass transfer rate, and film thickness underlying dissolution process.


A strong higher education (HE) system plays an important role in a successful nation's economy and society (Browne 2010). The Leitch Report (2006) emphasised the role of HE in developing the world class skills required to achieve prosperity in an increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving global economy. However, literature suggests that HE institutions (HEIs) are not sufficiently preparing their students for the world of work, and that more needs to be done to better equip students for the requirements of employment (Adecco Group 2012, Blair 2006, Gillinson and O'Leary 2006, Nguyen et al. 2005, The Institute of Directors (loD) 2007). Despite the requirements of the government and employers regarding graduate employability being well documented, the perceived needs of students and graduates are less well researched (Bamett 2007, Crebert et al. 2004, Mason et al. 2003, Sleap and Reed 2006, Yorke 2006). The HE employability agenda should understand students' perceptions of their HE experience to better design programmes that adequately prepare them for the requirements of the labour market (Burgess 2007, Denholm 2011, Kay et al. 2007, Nguyen et al. 2005, UKCES 2009). Utilising the perceptions of HE students and graduates, this research programme aimed to identify what more can be done to prepare students for the world of work and diminish the apparent skills gap that exists between HE graduates and the world of work requirements. To do justice to the complexity of these issues an in-depth qualitative research approach was utilised (Johnston 2003, Tod et al. 2007). The research programme broadly consisted of three phases: 1. Phase 1 involved interviewing 17 Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) School of Sport & Exercise Sciences (SSES) alumni about their attitudes regarding the purpose of HE, the impact their HE experience had in preparing them for the requirements of the world of work, and what more can be done to, prepare students for their post HE lives. 2. Phase 2 utilised an ethnographic research approach and was conducted in two parts. Part 1 involved participant observation within the SSES student learning and teaching (L&T) environment and culture, and aimed to determine what the SSES curriculum provides in preparing students for the post HE world. Part 2 involved conducting focus groups with final year SSES undergraduate students regarding their experiences and perceptions of the employability focused L&T opportunities provided. 3. Phase three involved interviewing 11 SSES graduates at the end of their undergraduate university experience about their attitudes regarding the purpose of HE, and their evaluative perceptions of the SSES course from the perspective of L&T and post HE preparation. Phase 2 found that the SSES had responded to the demand of the competitive graduate job market and developed a three stage employability model that involved opportunities to prepare students for post HE. This included personal development planning (PDP), careers sessions, guest speakers, a placement and reflective practice. The SSES were perceived to be proactive in providing opportunities, advice and encouragement to help students develop personally and professionally. However, the research also demonstrated that students are not engaging sufficiently with these aspects of the curriculum. Yorke (2006) notes that the provision of opportunities to develop employment prerequisites does not guarantee that such development occurs, and that it cannot be assumed that students are employable on the basis of curricular provision alone. Students' lack of engagement was explored through phases 1, 2 and 3 by gaining a better understanding of students' attitudes to L&T within their university culture. This understanding and the subsequent recommendations can be utilised to diminish the dissonance between SSES provision and students' engagement, and determine how the SSES can promote effective learning and post HE preparation within the SSES curriculum. Phase 1 and 3 of this research programme demonstrated that students generally envisage that HE will develop them personally and result in them feeling more prepared for their lives post HE. Since students are orientated to pursue their degrees and post HE preparations in different ways, HEIs need to ensure that they understand and meet the aspirations and needs of the broader student population (Barrie 2007, O'Regan 2009). Understanding the individual needs of students and providing them with the post HE nurturing and support they require will result in them being better prepared to meet the requirements of the working world, which will in turn lead to a more skilled workforce that can enhance the economy and society (Barrie 2007, Brennaner al. 2005, Martin et al. 2000, Minten 2010, O'Regan 2009). Critically, such student support needs to be orientated around an enhanced student awareness of the relevance and value of what they are learning and how it relates to the post HE world. Specifically, students need to be engaged with an effective support network that is grounded in the competitive reality of the world of work, the reality and outcome of their degree, the world of work requirements, and the importance of engaging in curriculum interventions that prepare students for the world of work. Alongside enhancing awareness, students need to be supported and guided through the process of determining and appropriately preparing for their individual post HE aspirations. This process should involve gaining an awareness of the wide range of post HE opportunities that are available, consideration of how these options fit students' individual needs, and gaining some experience of those opportunities. To better prepare students for post HE and diminish the gap that exists between the skills graduates gain from the curriculum and the requirements of the world of work, there needs to be a closer fit between the two. In essence, the world of work realities and requirements need to feature more centrally within HE L&T culture and content to enhance the employability relevance and value students attach to their degree programme.


Using three large surveys, we: (1) assess the structure of Ryff's scales of psychological well-being (RPWB) by examining the extent to which the six RPWB dimensions are differentially related to age, and (2) distinguish cohort differences in RPWB observed in a cross-section from true life-course changes associated with the transition from midlife to early old age for a cohort born in 1939. Several RPWB dimensions in our study exhibit distinct age profiles; yet, crosssectional and longitudinal age variations are minor, accounting for less than one percent of the variance. Moreover, heterogeneity among individual scale items should be taken into account because scales comprising different items yield different age patterns. Finally, we suggest that cross-sectional findings do not accurately reflect maturational changes in some RPWB dimensions. We discuss our findings within the frameworks of dynamic equilibrium and emotional regulation.


in order to valorize several feedstock, gasification is one of the technologies developed over the past decades. ECN developed the MILENA gasifier. In order for MILENA to become a commercial success, the gasifier needs to be feedstock flexible, robust and economically sound, operating with high availability. One of the characteristics of MILENA is high efficiency but with a higher tar content, compared to some other Dual Fluidized Bed (DFB) gasifiers. In order to reduce the issues that are associated with high tar levels in the product gas, the effect of a number of primary measures was studied. This paper presents results obtained in the last two years, focused on improving the gasifier availability by conducting experiments in a 25 kWth lab scale MILENA gasifier. Amongst others, gas composition, tar content and calorific value of the product gas were compared. Scanning Electron Microscope analysis were used to investigate bed material changes. Results show that Austrian olivine can be activated by Fuel B as well as by Additive A & B. The water-gas shift reaction is enhanced and the tar content is reduced significantly, especially the heavy tars that dominate the tar dew point. Activated olivine has a calcium-rich layer. The results show that with MILENA, we are able to lower and control the tar dew point, which will possibly increase the availability of a MILENA gasifier.


The HIV-1 gp120-gp41 complex, which mediates viral fusion and cellular entry, undergoes rapid evolution within its external glycan shield to enable escape from neutralizing antibody (NAb). Understanding how conserved protein determinants retain functionality in the context of such evolution is important for their evaluation and exploitation as potential drug and/or vaccine targets. In this study, we examined how the conserved gp120-gp41 association site, formed by the N- and C-terminal segments of gp120 and the disulfide-bonded region (DSR) of gp41, adapts to glycan changes that are linked to neutralization sensitivity. To this end, a DSR mutant virus (K601D) with defective gp120-association was sequentially passaged in peripheral blood mononuclear cells to select suppressor mutations. We reasoned that the locations of suppressors point to structural elements that are functionally linked to the gp120-gp41 association site. In culture 1, gp120 association and viral replication was restored by loss of the conserved glycan at Asn136 in V1 (T138N mutation) in conjunction with the L494I substitution in C5 within the association site. In culture 2, replication was restored with deletion of the N139INN sequence, which ablates the overlapping Asn141-Asn142-Ser-Ser potential N-linked glycosylation sequons in V1, in conjunction with D601N in the DSR. The 136 and 142 glycan mutations appeared to exert their suppressive effects by altering the dependence of gp120-gp41 interactions on the DSR residues, Leu593, Trp596 and Lys601. The 136 and/or 142 glycan mutations increased the sensitivity of HIV-1 pseudovirions to the glycan-dependent NAbs 2G12 and PG16, and also pooled IgG obtained from HIV-1-infected individuals. Thus adjacent V1 glycans allosterically modulate the distal gp120-gp41 association site. We propose that this represents a mechanism for functional adaptation of the gp120-gp41 association site to an evolving glycan shield in a setting of NAb selection.


The social climate of the United States of today is dramatically different from that which gave birth to multicultural children's literature. Conservatism's rise to political ascendancy has sharpened the contentious "culture wars" that surround virtually all aspects of American culture. One important dimension of today's conservative movement is a backlash against the multicultural movement. Conservative defenders of the traditional literary canon, for example, see multicultural literature as a threat to the very fabric of Western civilization. Within children's literature circles, charges abound that advocates of multicultural literature are ignoring traditional literary values and are focusing instead on ill-defined notions of "political correctness." This article explores this complex issue and the challenges it poses to those concerned with the creation, production, distribution, and consumption of children's literature. The discussion addresses questions that speak to the very nature and function of children's literature: its status as art, as entertainment, as a source of role models and ideology for children's "impressionable" minds. Also discussed is the relation between the politically charged question of whether books about African Americans are to be written only by African Americans, books about Native Americans by Native Americans, and so forth, and the freedom of writers to write without restriction.


This thesis critically explores the "difference" of contemporary South Asian American women's fiction and their fictional narratives of women's lives, away from the ethnic postcolonial depictions of diasporic women. The selected novels of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Amulya Malladi, Bharti Kirchner, V.V. Ganeshananthan, Nayomi Munaweera, Nausheen Pasha-Zaidi and Shaila Abdullah studied here interrogate the depiction of South Asian women characters both within diasporic American locations and in South Asian settings. These writers establish individual identities that defy homogeneity assigned to regional identities and establish heterogeneous characters that are influenced through transnational travel. This dissertation's engagement with exotic identities, foodways, ethno-social identities and diasporic and native socio-cultural pressures for women, offers a "different" reading of contemporary South Asian women's fiction. The identities that are being reinvented by the selected Indian, Sri Lankan and Pakistani American women writers destabilise established boundaries for women's identity in South Asian American women's fiction by using old and new tropes such as folkloric myths, nostalgia, food and ethnic relationships. The transnational cosmopolitan locations that enable the re-negotiation of identities enable the women characters to fashion their own uniqueness. I argue that a "difference" in South Asian American women's contemporary writing has emerged in recent times, that looks beyond ethno-social diasporic identities. These changes not only advance the already established tropes in women's literature, but also address important issues of individuality, personal choices and societal pressure affecting self-reinvention and reception of these women within their societies. The analysis of under-researched yet powerful contemporary women writers makes this an important addition to the existing literary debates on varied women's identities in fiction. I identify existing trends and evolving trends which help to map the emerging changes, making it a significant contribution to the understanding of the development of contemporary South Asian American women's literature as a distinct body of work.


Difference of convex functions (DC) programming is an important approach to nonconvex optimization problems because these structures can be encountered in several fields. Effective optimization methods, called DC algorithms, have been developed in deterministic optimization literature. In machine learning, a lot of important learning problems such as the Boltzmann machines (BMs) can be formulated as DC programming. However, there is no DC-like algorithm guaranteed by convergence rate analysis for stochastic problems that are more suitable settings for machine learning tasks. In this paper, we propose a stochastic variant of DC algorithm and give computational complexities to converge to a stationary point under several situations. Moreover, we show our method includes expectation-maximization (EM) and Monte Carlo EM (MCEM) algorithm as special cases on training BMs. In other words, we extend EM/MCEM algorithm to more effective methods from DC viewpoint with theoretical convergence guarantees. Experimental results indicate that our method performs well for training binary restricted Boltzmann machines and deep Boltzmann machines without pre-training.