In its first budget of June 2010, the new UK government announced changes to Local Housing Allowance (LHA), which are welfare payments that help tenants with low incomes pay their rent. This CCHPR working paper examines the effects of the changes on around one million tenants in private rented housing in Britain whose housing is supported by LHA. The government has already published its own impact assessment of the measures. Its report shows that the measures will reduce payments to virtually all private tenants who claim LHA, with an average cut of £12 a week per claimant. In this paper we argue that the existing study provides an incomplete basis for assessing the policy changes proposed, and offer new evidence to remedy the deficiencies. The changes to LHA will immediately reduce the incomes of households claiming a means-tested benefit and who are thus by definition already at or near minimum income standards. We conduct a simulation of the measures using detailed household survey data, and find that the average reduction of claimants' incomes after rents are paid will be approximately 7%. We show that between 42,000 and 84,000 additional households will be left with less than £100 a week, the lowest income level guaranteed by current welfare arrangements. Those so affected include lowpaid workers and retired people as well as the disabled and unemployed. The households who will be moved into severe poverty contain between 27,000 and 54,000 dependent children. The impact assessment has also not addressed how tenants will absorb reductions in their means. Using the simulation and data from past studies of landlord tenant behaviour, we estimate that between 136,000 and 269,000 households will find their rent payments unmanageable as a result of the measures, and project that half of those will be unable to sustain their tenancy and so will be evicted or will move involuntarily. These include up to 21,000 elderly households and 72,000 families with children. We show that the increased sums available for discretionary payments are unlikely to be sufficient to meet the needs of all those whose housing is at risk. We estimate numbers who may resort to statutory homelessness assistance, and the costs of this to the public. The second part of the paper argues that the changes will diminish the amount of housing available to LHA claimants. A majority of 500 landlords surveyed for the study believes the changes will increase arrears, and a large proportion of those who currently let to LHA claimants intends to reduce the number of such tenancies they offer. There is some scope for landlords to reduce rents, as the government hopes, but this depends on numerous conditions which have not been evaluated. In the longer-term, the changes to the way maximum allowances are uprated over time will anyway progressively take larger sections of the rental market beyond claimants' reach.


The electrical properties of sulphide rocks are observed to be influenced by the scale of investigation. To test this scale-dependence an empirical study of in-situ and laboratory electrical properties was undertaken at three diverse economic sulphide ore deposits: Golden Grove - Scuddles, McArthur River- HYC and North Parkes - E27. Apparent resistivity and chargeability data were collected from decimetre to metre scales at a number of sites within homogenous sections of each deposit. Equivalent laboratory measurements were performed on prismatic samples collected from each site to assess the suitability of laboratory measurements for estimation of bulk-rock properties.

Chargeability can vary significantly but does not display a consistent pattern of scale variability from site to site or between deposits. However, in-situ and laboratory data for all deposits show a consistent trend of decreasing apparent resistivity with increasing scale of investigation. Apparent resistivity variations of up to three orders of magnitude were observed at some sites between small scale measurements (0.1 hl electrode spacing) and bulk rock measurements (2m electrode spacing). Laboratory data generally correlates well with in-situ measurements at small electrode spacing but in some cases displays a bimodal distribution representative of resistive and conductive end members. In these cases the most conductive laboratory measurements lie close to the bulk-rock apparent resistivity.

Although apparent resistivity consistently decreases with increasing observation scale, the degree and detailed pattern of this variation is often difficult to predict even for related sites within a single deposit. No simple generic scaling rule is universally applicable for predicting bulk properties from laboratory or small-scale measurements. However, for all sites surveyed, a pragmatic best estimate of the bulk apparent resistivity from a set of laboratory measurements would be obtained by adopting the minimum sample resistivity value rather than the arithmetic mean, geometric mean or median of the sample population.

Two new laboratory techniques, continuity mapping and current mapping, have been developed and refined to assess the influence of ore texture on sample resistivity. These methods provide detailed maps of electrical continuity on the sample surface and directly map the current path through the sample. Both techniques have been successfully applied to samples from Golden Grove and McArthur River and have highlighted the influence of small proportions of well connected conductive phases on the bulk electrical properties of the rock mass.

The three main factors that appear to control the degree of scale variation of apparent resistivity are the resistivity contrast between mineral phases, the proportion of the most conductive phase and the ore texture. These factors, originally inferred from the empirical measurements, are supported directly by the results of three dimensional numerical modelling that predicts the most pronounced scale-variability for textures that include planar conductive components such as conductive sulphide veins. Scale variation in apparent resistivity will be significant where there is a large resistivity contrast between mineral phases and the conductive component is well connected even if it is present only in very small proportions.


Background Ankyloglossia is a developmental anomaly causing restricted tongue mobility. Posterior types are usually identified latest and least commonly. Currently, there are no standardised national/international guidelines for diagnosis. This case series aims to highlight the importance of early diagnosis to reduce cases identified only following significant morbidity. Methods Over a 2 year period, consecutive patients diagnosed with posterior ankyloglossia were identified. Results Of the 15 patients identified, mean age at diagnosis was 24 days (range 4–42). 8(53%) had regained their birthweight however, for 3(38%) of these, weight gain was slow/inadequate. The remaining 7(47%) had lost weight with a mean weight loss of 8.54% (range 2.56–16.06). 13(86%) were exclusively breastfed, 1(7%) both breast- and formula-fed, and 1(7%) formula-fed. Presenting features included poor latch (60%), weight loss (47%), sore nipples (40%), irritability (40%), poor weight gain (20%), increased feed duration (20%), and lethargy (20%). 9(60%) were diagnosed by breastfeeding co-ordinators, 4(26%) by community midwives, and 1(7%) each by a paediatrician and neonatal nurse. All patients underwent a frenotomy following which both weight gain and feeding improved in 11(73%). Behavioural improvements were noted in 8(53%). 11(73%) mothers felt their baby's symptoms had improved. All of the 6 mothers who initially described symptoms of their own reported improvement. Conclusion For many infants, posterior ankyloglossia is often detected only once feeding has deteriorated enough to result in significantly poor weight gain or weight loss. To prevent this and other morbidities shown in this small case series, a standardised assessment tool may be a useful method to facilitate earlier diagnosis and improve clinical practice.


Security services become crucial to many applications such as e-commerce payment protocols, electronic contract signing, and certified e-mail delivery, with the phenomenal growth of the Internet and open networks. For these applications fair exchange must be assured. A fair protocol allows two parties to exchange digital signatures over the Internet in a fair way, so that either each party gets the other's signature, or neither party does. This paper, gives a survey on the most important fair and optimistic digital signature exchange protocols. Optimistic, means the third trusted party (TTP) is involved only in the situations where one party is cheating or the communication channel is interrupted, i.e., TTP is offline. As more business is conducted over the Internet, the fair-exchange problem is gaining greater importance. This paper also provides an analysis of basic features, security, and efficiency of digital signature exchange protocols. Keywords-Fair-exchange protocols; e-commerce; digital signatures; security.


Tourism statistics are key sources of information for economic planners, tourism researchers and operators. Still, several cases of data inadequacy and inaccuracy are reported in literature. The aim of this paper is to describe Coarsened Exact Matching, a methodology useful to improve tourism statistics. This method provides tourism statisticians and authorities with a tool to improve the reliability of available sample surveys. Data from a Chilean region are used to illustrate the method. This study contributes to the realm of tourism statistics literature in that it offers a new methodological approach to the creation of accurate and adequate tourism data.


Purpose: The study aimed to understand the issues and challenges encountered by various stakeholders (teachers, parents and counsellors) working with children with dyslexia in the inclusive school context. Method: Using purposive and snowball sampling, 20 teachers, 20 counsellors and 20 parents (mothers) of children with specific learning disability (dyslexia) were selected from 8 inclusive schools in Delhi. A qualitative approach was adopted, with a semi-structured interview schedule to elicit responses. Qualitative thematic analysis was used as a framework for data analysis. Results: Parents experienced negative feelings due to lack of awareness and acceptance of dyslexia. Counsellers felt parental ignorance led to delay in assessment and remediation. Parents and counsellors perceived lack of support from schools and lack of empathy among teachers. Teachers confessed they lacked training to deal with dyslexic learners, were unaware of policies and concessions for them, and were currently overburdened with their workload. Conclusion: There is a need to hold psycho-educational workshops for parents in order to increase their awareness, and conduct training workshops (pre-service and in-service) for teachers to increase awareness and build empathy. Schools should provide in-house assistive services such as assessment and remediation, and redefine the goals of education to focus on the holistic skills of children.


This paper develops algorithms for high-dimensional stochastic control problems based on deep learning and dynamic programming (DP). Differently from the classical approximate DP approach, we first approximate the optimal policy by means of neural networks in the spirit of deep reinforcement learning, and then the value function by Monte Carlo regression. This is achieved in the DP recursion by performance or hybrid iteration, and regress now or later/quantization methods from numerical probabilities. We provide a theoretical justification of these algorithms. Consistency and rate of convergence for the control and value function estimates are analyzed and expressed in terms of the universal approximation error of the neural networks. Numerical results on various applications are presented in a companion paper [2] and illustrate the performance of our algorithms.


As landmass of the world is covered by vegetation, taking into account phenology when performing land cover classification may yield more accurate maps. The availability of no-cost Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) NDVI dataset that provides high-quality continuous time series data is representing a potentially significant source of land cover information especially for detection natural forest distribution. This study intends to assess the advantage of MODIS 250 m Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) multi-temporal imagery for detection of densely vegetation cover distribution in Java and then for identification of remaining natural forest in Java from densely vegetation cover distribution. Result of this study successfully demonstrated the contribution of MODIS NDVI 250 m for detection the natural forest distribution in Java Island. Therefore, the approach described herein provided classification accuracy comparable to those of maps derived from higher resolution data and will be a viable alternative for regional or national classifications.


This paper studies the optimal design of corporate taxes when firms have private information about future investment opportunities and face financial constraints. A government whose goal is to efficiently raise a given amount of revenue from its corporate sector should attempt to tax unconstrained firms, which value resources inside the firm less than financially constrained firms. We show that a corporate payout tax (a tax on dividends and share repurchases) can both separate constrained and unconstrained firms and raise revenue, and is therefore optimal. Our quantitative analysis implies that a revenue-neutral switch from profit taxation to payout taxation would increase the overall value of existing firms and new entrants by 7%. This switch could be implemented in the current U.S. tax system by making retained earnings fully deductible.


This paper describes an event dissemination algorithm that implements a topic-based publish/subscribe abstraction in mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs). Our algorithm relies on (1) the mobility of the processes and (2) the validity period of the events to ensure the reliability of the dissemination (under reasonable conditions) with a thrifty usage of the memory. The algorithm is inherently portable and does not assume any specific routing protocol. Old events are collected to save the memory and the energy consumption is, in some sense, related to the size of the event scope a subscriber is interested in. We give simulation results in different mobility models and highlight the advantages/drawbacks of our approach as well as we expose some interesting relations between validity periods and reliability.


(57) ABSTRACT A Fischer-Tropsch catalyst is prepared by impregnat ing a silica carrier with a solution of a zirconium or titanium compound, calcining the composition thus obtained, thereafter impregnating the carrier with a cobalt compound-containing solution and calcining and reducing the composition thus obtained. Catalysts so prepared and containing 5-40 pbw of cobalt and 2-150 pbw of zirconium or titanium per 100 pbw of silica, are used in the preparation of hydrocarbons from a H2/CO mixture.


Influential theories depict politicians as, alternatively, strongly constrained by public opinion, able to shape public opinion with persuasive appeals, or relatively unconstrained by public opinion and able to shape it merely by announcing their positions. To test these theories, we conducted unique field experiments in cooperation with sitting politicians in which U.S. state legislators sent constituents official communications with randomly assigned content. The legislators sometimes stated their issue positions in these letters, sometimes supported by extensive arguments but sometimes minimally justified; in many cases, these issue positions were at odds with voters'. An ostensibly unrelated survey found that voters often adopted the positions legislators took, even when legislators offered little justification. Moreover, voters did not evaluate their legislators more negatively when representatives took positions these voters had previously opposed, again regardless of whether legislators provided justifications. The findings are consistent with theories suggesting voters often defer to politicians' policy judgments.


We use information from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) and supplementary data sources to examine how cognitive performance, measured at approximately the end of secondary schooling, is related to the labor market outcomes of 20 through 50 year olds. Our estimates control for a wide array of individual and family background characteristics, a limited set of non-cognitive attributes, survey year dummy variables and, sometimes, geographic place effects. The analysis reveals five main findings. First, cognitive performance is positively associated with future labor market outcomes at all ages. The relationship is attenuated but not eliminated by the addition of controls for non-cognitive characteristics, while the inclusion of place effects does not change the estimated associations. Second, the returns to cognitive skill increase with age. Third, the effect on total incomes reflects a combination of positive impacts of cognitive performance for both hourly wages and annual work hours. Fourth, the returns to cognitive skill are greater for women than men and for blacks and Hispanics than for non-Hispanic whites, with differential effects on work hours being more important than corresponding changes in hourly wages. Fifth, the average gains in lifetime incomes predicted to result from greater levels of cognitive performance are only slightly above those reported in prior studies but the effects are heterogeneous, with larger relative and absolute increases, in most models, for nonwhites or Hispanics than for non-Hispanic whites, and higher relative but not absolute returns for women than men.


Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Neuro Fuzzy controllers can be used as intelligent controllers to control non-linear dynamic systems through learning, which can easily accommodate the non-linearity's, time dependencies, model uncertainty and external disturbances. Modern power systems are complex and nonlinear and their operating conditions can vary over a wide range. The Nonlinear AutoRegressive Moving Average (NARMA-L2) model system is proposed as an effective neural networks controller model to achieve the desired robust Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) for Synchronous Generator (SG) to maintain constant terminal voltage. The essential part of Neuro-Fuzzy comes from a common framework called adaptive networks, which unifies both neural networks and fuzzy models. The fuzzy models under the framework of adaptive networks are called Adaptive-Network-based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), which possess certain advantages over neural networks. The concerned neural networks and Neuro Fuzzy controllers for AVR is examined on different models of SG and loads. The results show that the Neurocontrollers and Neuro Fuzzy controllers have excellent responses for all SG models and loads in view point of transient response and system stability. Also it shows that the margins of robustness for Neuro Fuzzy controller are greater than Neuro-controller. .


This hands-on introduction to computational electromagnetics (CEM) links theoretical coverage of the three key methods - the FDTD, MoM and FEM - to open source MATLAB codes (freely available online) in 1D, 2D and 3D, together with many practical hints and tips gleaned from the author's 25 years of experience in the field. Updated and extensively revised, this second edition includes a new chapter on 1D FEM analysis, and extended 3D treatments of the FDTD, MoM and FEM, with entirely new 3D MATLAB codes. Coverage of higher-order finite elements in 1D, 2D and 3D is also provided, with supporting code, in addition to a detailed 1D example of the FDTD from a FEM perspective. With running examples through the book and end-of-chapter problems to aid understanding, this is ideal for professional engineers and senior undergraduate/graduate students who need to master CEM and avoid common pitfalls in writing code and using existing software.


It should not surprise us that the artist known as Sapphire (Ramona Lofton) began her career as a performance poet. Sapphire's most famous work, the novel Push (1996), is a startling tribute to the strong, urban voice of the underrepresented and abused. Push tells the brutal story of a young girl, Precious Jones, who suffers sexual, emotional, and physical abuse at the hands of those closest to her and as a result of a systemic oppression pervasive in urban city slums. Although many critics have deemed the novel unrealistic and exaggerated, Sapphire remains unapologetic for the seemingly insurmountable challenges her young protagonist faces: incest, illiteracy, obesity, and finally AIDS. Truth, Sapphire might say, needs no apology. What victims of abuse and illiteracy do need is visibility and voice. Sapphire's greatest achievement as an artist stems from her powerful ability to give a voice to those who have not been heard. Her literary style strikes, and strikes on its own terms. The speakers in Sapphire's poems and the characters in her fiction always explode from their own worlds; what results is art that pulls us into truths and realities completely outside of ourselves. We are uncomfortable in the world that Sapphire creates, even as we share these truths with burning intimacy. Sapphire would be the first to defend the truth if not the historicity in her work. She began as a performance poet. Her work strives to speak for one--someone--many someones--who is much more than a fictitious creation. When discussing the urban, humorous, first-person narrator of Push, Sapphire persistently discusses Precious Jones as a truthful compilation of the women she encountered during her early career while teaching. Perhaps that is the point. These realities are truth. These circumstances exist and have existed around us, unheard and unaddressed, for many years. As both a renowned author and a performance poet, Sapphire uses an acerbic style that demands the attention these thwarted lives deserve, not only because of her style's connectedness and awareness of its role as a voice for those who are so marginalized as to seem unreal to the vast majority of America, but also because of the striking subject matter these realities reveal. Child abuse, homosexuality, urban oppression, illiteracy in twenty-first-century America, and the AIDS epidemic remain among the many poignant topics at the heart of Sapphire's writing. In 2007 at the "PUSHing Boundaries, PUSHing Art" symposium held at Arizona State University in honor of Sapphire's work, scholars from across the country discussed Sapphire's poetry and fiction as each relates to the blues tradition, the abject nutritional and educational conditions of urban environments, and feminism in the twenty-first century. The academic considerations and relevance of her writing were the subject of the one-day symposium, and with the symposium, Sapphire's work made its way into the classrooms and universities of America. As Sapphire sat among the academic chatter at the "PUSHing Boundaries, PUSHing Art" symposium, thick in the excitement and energy of scholarship, she was both humble and proud. Yet her pride resulted not from her own personal accomplishment as an artist, but from the arrival of her work into the world of academia. Sapphire remains passionate about education and its relevance to an escape from societal oppression. What she wanted was a place for her body of work inside the world of academia, to bring new awareness, a new audience, and permanence to her words. The result is perhaps what Sapphire has always wanted since beginning her career on the streets of New York, speaking art to the pulse of humanity and being a voice for the many others. Following the 2007 symposium, the film adaptation of Sapphire's novel, Precious. Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, receiving the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize in the drama category and a Special Jury Prize for the actress Mo'Nique. …


ABSTRACT Objective: While there is a growing body of research focusing on young carers, less is known about young people caring for a parent with a mental illness and their experiences as they move into adult life. Method: This paper reports the findings of a qualitative research project. Using thematic narrative analysis of interview data, insight is gained into the participants' experiences of their parents' mental illness and how they made sense of them. Results: The term young carer implies that the role stops once the child reaches maturity, however, care for parents often continues into adulthood. Key challenges that young adult carers face include: education and employment; managing relationships; becoming a parent; exercising agency and maintaining boundaries. Discussion: This study extends our knowledge of young carers' experiences and support needs during the transition to adulthood and suggests the need for services to support parents so that young adult carers are able to make choices about their own lives. Video Abstract Read the transcript Watch the video on Vimeo


The intentional enhancement of cloud albedo via controlled sea-spray injection from ships (marine cloud brightening) has been proposed as a possible method to control anthropogenic global warming; however, there remains significant uncertainty in the efficacy of this method due to, amongst other factors, uncertainties in aerosol and cloud mi-crophysics. A major assumption used in recent cloud-and climate-modeling studies is that all sea spray was emitted uniformly into some oceanic grid boxes, and thus these studies did not account for subgrid aerosol coagulation within the sea-spray plumes. We explore the evolution of these sea-salt plumes using a multi-shelled Gaussian plume model with size-resolved aerosol coagulation. We determine how the final number of particles depends on meteorological conditions , including wind speed and boundary-layer stability, as well as the emission rate and size distribution of aerosol emitted. Under previously proposed injection rates and typical marine conditions, we find that the number of aerosol particles is reduced by over 50 %, but this reduction varies from under 10 % to over 90 % depending on the conditions. We provide a computationally efficient parameteriza-tion for cloud-resolving and global-scale models to account for subgrid-scale coagulation, and we implement this param-eterization in a global-scale aerosol-climate model. While designed to address subgrid-scale coagulation of sea-salt particles , the parameterization is generally applicable for coag-ulation of subgrid-scale aerosol from point sources. We find that accounting for this subgrid-scale coagulation reduces cloud droplet number concentrations by 46 % over emission regions, and reduces the global mean radiative flux perturbation from −1.5 W m −2 to −0.8 W m −2 .


1. Overview Daily interactions with software are an unavoidable fact of modern life. Some of these interactions are explicit, such as, when you are working at a personal computer reading email, composing documents or finding information from the World Wide Web. In these situations most people would acknowledge that they are dealing with a piece of software. The predominant daily interactions with software are not as explicit however. With these interactions you do not have the perception that you are dealing with a "computer". Rather you perceive that you are using another piece of equipment, such as, a microwave oven to heat your meal, the brake pedal in your car to bring it to a stop at the next intersection, or a pacemaker which generates an imperceptible pulse to keep your heart beating in normal sinus rhythm.


The issue of protecting traditional knowledge and genetic resources is a textbook example of a legal problem in a world of hybrid legal spaces where a single problem, act or actor is regulated by multiple legal regimes. Unmistakingly, the Nagoya Protocol deserves credit for formally recognising community protocols and customary laws but this article argues that this recognition is not the end of the struggle for indigenous peoples to gain rights over their land and culture. Drawing parallels between access and benefit sharing agreements and native title claims allows for identification of the problems that can arise when Western jurisprudence translates customary laws cross-culturally. The challenges that indigenous peoples are facing in native title claims can show how Western law interprets traditional law and customs and can be used as a benchmark to anticipate the problems indigenous peoples and local communities will encounter when Article 12.1 of the Nagoya Protocol will be applied on the ground. From a theoretical point of view, this article argues that the exclusion or misinterpretation of customary law in Western courts is intrinsic to their legal processes and it draws upon the work of Margaret Davies to show that the psycho-analytical distinction between foreclosure and repression can offer a useful lens to further analyse the relationship between Euro-American and indigenous law within the context of the Nagoya Protocol.


A methodology aimed at addressing computational complexity of analyzing delamination in large structural components made of laminated composites is proposed. The classical ply‐by‐ply discretization of individual layers may increase the size of the problem by an order of magnitude in comparison with the laminated shell or plate element meshes. The paper features delamination indicators that pinpoint the onset and propagation of delamination fronts with striking accuracy. Once the location of delamination has been identified, the discrete solution space of the classical laminated plate/shell element is hierarchically enriched by a combination of weak and strong discontinuities to adaptively track the evolution of delamination fronts. The so‐called adaptive s‐method proposed herein is equivalent in terms of approximation space to the extended finite element method but offers sparser matrices and added flexibility in transitioning from weak to strong discontinuities. Numerical examples suggest that despite an overhead that comes with adaptivity, the adaptive s‐method is computationally advantageous over the classical ply‐by‐ply discretization, especially as the problem size increases. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The study of systems for querying data streams, coined Data Stream Management Systems (DSMS), has gained in popularity over the last several years. This new area of research for the database community includes studies in areas such as Sensor Networks, Network Intrusion, and monitoring data such as Medicine, Stock, or Weather feeds. With this new popularity comes increased performance expectations, with increased data sizes and speed and larger more complex query plans as well as high volumes of possibly small queries. Due to the finite resources on a single query processor, future Data Stream Management Systems must distribute their workload to multiple query processors, working together in a synchronized manner. This thesis discusses a new Distributed Continuous Query System (D-CAPE) developed here at WPI that has the ability to distribute query plans over a large cluster of machines. We describe the architecture of the new system, policies for query plan distribution to improve overall performance, as well as techniques for self-tuning query plan re-distribution. D-CAPE is designed to be as flexible as possible for future research. We include a multi-tiered architecture that scales to a large number of query processors. DCAPE has also been designed to minimize the cost of the communications network by bundling synchronization messages, thus minimizing packets sent between query processors. These messages are also incremental at run-time to aid in minimizing the communication cost of D-CAPE. The architecture allows for the flexible incorporation of different distribution algorithms and operator reallocation policies.. D-CAPE provides an operator reallocation algorithm that is able to seamlessly move an operator(s) across any query processors in our computing cluster. We do so by creating "pipes" between query processors to allow the data streams to flow, and then filling these pipes with data streams once execution begins. Operator redistribution is accomplished by systematically reconnecting these pipes as to not interrupt the data flow. Experimental evaluation using our real prototype system (not just simulation) shows that executing a query plan distributed over multiple machines causes no more overhead than processing it on a single centralized query processor; even for rather lightly loaded machines. Further, we find that distributing a query plan among a cluster of query processors can boost performance up to twice that of a centralized DSMS. We conclude that the limitation of each query processor within the distributed network of cooperating processors is not primarily in the volume of the data nor the number of query operators, but rather the number of data connections per processor and the allocation of the stateful and thus most costly operators. We also find that the overhead of distributing query operators is very low, allowing for a potentially frequent dynamic redistribution of query plans during execution.


Business Intelligence (BI) has received wide recognition in the business world as a tool to address 'big' data-related problems, to help managers understand their businesses and to assist them in making effective decisions. To date, however, there have been few studies which have clearly articulated a theoretically grounded model that explains how the use of BI systems provides benefits to organisations, or explains what factors influence the actual use of BI systems. To fully achieve greater decision-making performance and effective use of BI, we contend that BI systems integration with a systems user's work routine (dependence on the systems) is essential. Following this argument, we examine the effects of system dependent use along with effective use (infusion) on individual's decision-making performance with BI. Additionally, we pro-pose that a fact-based decision-making culture, and data quality of source systems are constraints factors that impact on BI system dependence and infusion. We adopt a quantitative method approach. Specifically, we will conduct a two-wave cross-sectional survey targeting 400 North American BI users who describe themselves as both using a BI system and making decision using data from the system. We expect to make an important theoretical contribution to BI literature by providing a model that explains the dimensions of actual BI system use, and makes a practical contribution by providing insights into how organisational external constraints facilitate BI dependence and infusion in the pursuit of BI-enabled performance gain.


This paper focuses on the subject of nanoparticle-based absorbers and fluorophores for numerous high-efficiency absorber and emitter device applications. The latter includes the use of two-photon-absorption-induced fluorescence (TPAF) in such nanoparticles for medical applications such as deep-tissue imaging and deep-tissue photodynamic therapy (PDT). In particular, we propose and elucidate the use of advanced plasmonic quantum dot nanoparticle assemblies for such applications, and specify the design of optimized nanostructures that should result in enhancement of fluorescence signal intensity (and corresponding increases in PDT efficacies) by > 160,000 compared to those obtainable under comparable illumination conditions – from the same fluorescent labels (quantum dots or otherwise) used without plasmonic enhancement.


The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate the feasibility of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials to be used as an alternative material for steel in flexible culver bridges.
Flexible steel culvert bridges have been in use for a long time. The simplicity of manufacturing, installation and rather cheap price of these structures, have made them very popular for short span bridges, especially on waterways. However, there are a number of drawbacks involved such as durability and thus long-term performance of these structures and fatigue issues which necessitate rather thick soil cover on the crown or utilizing thicker steel plates.
FRP materials, having superior mechanical and durability properties look to be a viable alternative for steel plates in this type of structures. Long and successful history of using FRPs in pipelines and underground applications, have proved them as maintenance free materials with low life cycle costs.
This report presents results of analyses on mechanical behavior of FRP culverts and their viability from LCC point of view. The results show that FRP could be a suitable alternative from both strength and durability point of view. A FRP culvert structure could be up to 30% cheaper than an equivalent steel culvert with regard to initial price and 19% cheaper considering the total price. However, to fully develop the concept, further studies on creep, fatigue and connections need to be performed.


The 2-5A/RNase L system is a regulated RNA decay pathway that mediates some of the antiviral and tumor suppressor activities of the interferons. Previously, we demonstrated that RNase L-null mice have increased susceptibility to viral infections and are partially deficient in induced and spontaneous apoptosis. To determine if RNase L functions in cellular, as well as innate, immunity, skin allograft rejection and contact hypersensitivity (CHS) experiments were performed in RNase L+/+ and RNase L-/- mice. Although no consistent alterations in CHS were found, we did observe a delay of 5 days in the acute rejection of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) disparate skin allografts in mice lacking RNase L. Accordingly, histologic examinations of the allografts harvested from RNase L-/- mice revealed a dramatic reduction in inflammatory infiltrates, suggesting a delay in T-cell priming or a deficiency in immune cell trafficking. Results consistent with a proinflammatory role for RNase L extend the known functions of the 2-5A/RNase L system beyond innate immunity into some, but not all, types of cellular immunity.


Recent studies show that all marine bony fish produce mud-sized (<63 mu m) carbonate at rates relevant to carbonate sediment budgets, thus adding to the debate about the often enigmatic origins of fine-grained marine carbonates. However, existing production data are geographically and taxonomically limited, and because different fish families are now known to produce different carbonate polymorphsan issue relevant to predicting their preservation potential-these limitations represent an important knowledge gap. Here we present new data from sites in the Western Pacific Ocean, based on an analysis of 45 fish species. Our data show that previously reported production outputs (in terms of rates and family-specific mineralogies) are applicable across different biogeographic regions. On this basis, we model carbonate production for nine coral reef systems around Australia, with production rates averaging 2.1-9.6 g m(-2) yr(-1), and up to 105 g m(-2) yr(-1) at discrete sites with high fish biomass. With projected production rates on lower-latitude reefs up to two-fold higher, these outputs indicate that carbonate production rates by fish can be comparable with other fine-grained carbonate-producing taxa such as codiacean algae. However, carbonates produced by Australian reef fish assemblages are dominated by a highly unstable amorphous polymorph; a marked contrast to Caribbean assemblages in which Mg calcite dominates. These findings highlight important regional differences in the sedimentary relevance and preservation potential of fish carbonates as a function of historical biogeographic processes that have shaped the world's marine fish faunas.


In the Baltic Sea dense cyanobacterial blooms occur regularly during late summer. Since the dominant bloom-forming cyanobacteria, Nodularia spp. and Apanizomenon spp. are capable of fixing atmospheric dinitrogen, the macronutrient predominantly limiting their growth is phosphorus. The main aim of this thesis was to develop molecular tools for monitoring the cellular P status in bloom-forming cyanobacteria in Baltic Sea. In this thesis I describe the development and the use of competitive RT-PCR, Pyrosequencing and Real-time PCR technology for determination of mRNA levels of two cyanobacterial pstS gene copies, encoding proteins involved in phosphate uptake. I have also studied the expression of three other typical P-stress induced genes involved in assimilation (phoA) and storage (ppk and ppx) of phosphate, using Real-time PCR. The model system used was laboratory cultures of Anabaena 7120 and Nodularia spumigena. The method was then implemented on field samples collected from the Baltic Sea during the summer of 2005.The gene expressions of the two pstS genes showed satisfied response to varied Pi levels and were induced simultaneously while the three other genes investigated did not solely respond to depleting Pi concentration. The two pstS genes are therefore more suitable for indicators of Pi stress. The phoA gene was continuously expressed while the ppk gene and the ppx gene responded to varied Pi levels, but their expressions are dependent on the cell capacity for phosphate storage, which may differ from one cell to another.This thesis also includes method development and analysis of the expression of the nda gene cluster, encoding the toxic compound nodularin, which is produced by Nodularia spumigena. During Pi depletion the gene expression increased while gene expression decreased during N supplementation. The results also suggests that cells keep a certain amount of nodularin inside the cell, and concentrations above this threshold level will either be degraded intracellulary or transported out of the cell.


Mass customization is pointed as a means of improving a company's competitiveness, which is an essential trait in Europe's economic situation of today. This paper reports a mockup implementation of the mass customization paradigm to ceramic tableware design, through the use of shape grammars, parametric modelling and rapid prototyping. Focus is emphasized on the initial development of a parametric shape grammar as a design system, operating on curved surfaces and solids. Mapping operations are suggested for dealing with the formal complexity of these shapes. This initial academic experiment poses as a first step into the development of a mass customization system that is expected to meet industry standards.


Understanding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus in various regions of the world during the Covid19 pandemic is of the utmost importance to help mitigate the effects of this devastating disease. We describe the phylogenomic and population genetic patterns of the virus in Mexico during the pre-vaccination stage, including asymptomatic carriers. Our RT-qPCR screening and phylogenomics directed a sequence/structure analysis of the Spike glycoprotein, revealing mutation of concern E484K in genomes from central Mexico, in addition to the nationwide prevalence of the imported variant 20C/S:452R (B.1.427/9). Overall, the detected variants in Mexico show mutations in the N-terminal domain (i.e., R190M), in the receptor-binding motif (i.e., T478K, E484K), within the S1-S2 subdomains (i.e., P681R/H, T732A), and at the basis of the protein, V1176F, raising concerns about the lack of phenotypic and clinical data available for the postulated variants of interest (VOIs) 20B/478K.V1 and P.3. Moreover, the population patterns of Single Nucleotide Variants (SNVs) from symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers sampled with a self-sampling scheme, revealed a bimodal distribution of polymorphisms in all three sampled localities from central Mexico, and confirmed the presence of several fixed variants, mostly from the 241T-3037T-14408T-23403G haplotype common in Asia. Despite gene flow among Mexican localities, we found differences in both the allelic frequencies among localities and the allelic imbalance of the mutation S194L of the nucleocapsid protein between symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. Our results highlight the dual role of Spike and Nucleocapsid proteins in adaptive evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to their hosts and provide a baseline for specific follow-up of mutations of concern during the vaccination stage in Mexico.


The use of Social Network Sites (SNSs) has grown to become a ubiquitous aspect of daily life in developed countries throughout the world. This rise of social media has resulted in increased public concern regarding the way in which individuals engage with SNSs, and the consequences of frequent SNS use. The Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is an example of a social psychological phenomenon which has recently received attention as a significant factor associated with experiences of SNS engagement. The following study sought to contribute to developing understandings of SNS use and FoMO. This was achieved by assessing the extent to which FoMO mediated the relationships between SNS engagement and four other psychosocial factors (psychological need satisfaction, social capital, public self-consciousness, and public self-monitoring). Quantitative data were collected from a student volunteer sample of 218 New Zealand SNS users and analysed using a series of regression analyses. Relationships between each of the assessed psychosocial variables and rates of SNS engagement were found to be mediated by FoMO. The findings of this study support the view that FoMO plays an important role in understanding the range of complex and interrelated psychosocial factors relating to rates of SNS engagement.


4-Hydroxy-2,3-nonenal (HNE) is an aldehydic end product of lipid peroxidation which has been detected in vivo in clinical and experimental conditions of chronic liver damage. HNE has been shown to stimulate procollagen type I gene expression and synthesis in human hepatic stellate cells (hHSC) which are known to play a key role in liver fibrosis. In this study we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying HNE actions in cultured hHSC. HNE, at doses compatible with those detected in vivo, lead to an early generation of nuclear HNE-protein adducts of 46, 54, and 66 kD, respectively, as revealed by using a monoclonal antibody specific for HNE-histidine adducts. This observation is related to the lack of crucial HNE-metabolizing enzymatic activities in hHSC. Kinetics of appearance of these nuclear adducts suggested translocation of cytosolic proteins. The p46 and p54 isoforms of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNKs) were identified as HNE targets and were activated by this aldehyde. A biphasic increase in AP-1 DNA binding activity, associated with increased mRNA levels of c-jun, was also observed in response to HNE. HNE did not affect the Ras/ERK pathway, c-fos expression, DNA synthesis, or NF-kappaB binding. This study identifies a novel mechanism linking oxidative stress to nuclear signaling in hHSC. This mechanism is not based on redox sensors and is stimulated by concentrations of HNE compatible with those detected in vivo, and thus may be relevant during chronic liver diseases.


Re-description of the left dentary of Chinshakiangosaurus chunghoensis reveals that it possesses an unusual combination of 'prosauropod' and 'sauropod' character states. Cladistic analysis places Chinshakiangosaurus as one of the most basal sauropods known currently. Mapping of dentary and dental characters onto the most parsimonious topologies yields insights into the sequence of acquisition of a number of feeding-related characters. For example, it seems that basal sauropodomorphs (traditional prosauropod taxa) possessed a fleshy cheek that attached to the mandible along a marked ridge, and that the same structure was present in the most basal sauropods. The early sauropod skull developed a lateral plate that reinforced the bases of the tooth crowns labially, and had wrinkled tooth enamel and a concavity on the mesial portion of the lingual part of each crown, while retaining a fleshy cheek and a relatively weak symphysis. More advanced sauropods (eusauropods) lost the cheek, perhaps in order to increase the gape of the jaws in response to a change in feeding style that involved collection of larger quantities of poor quality foliage.


Systematic observations of banner clouds at Mount Zugspitze in the Bavarian Alps are presented and discussed. One set of observations draws on daily time lapse movies, which were taken over several years at this mountain. Identifying banner clouds with the help of these movies and using simultaneous observations of standard variables at the summit of the mountain provides climatological information regarding the banner clouds. In addition, a week-long measurement campaign with an entire suite of instruments was carried through yielding a comprehensive set of data for two specific banner cloud events. The duration of banner cloud events has a long-tailed distribution with a mean of about 40 min. The probability of occurrence has both a distinct diurnal and a distinct seasonal cycle, with a maximum in the afternoon and in the warm season, respectively. These cycles appear to correspond closely to analogous cycles of relative humidity, which maximize in the late afternoon and during the warm season. In addition, the dependence of banner cloud occurrence on wind speed is weak. Both results suggest that moisture conditions are a key factor for banner cloud occurrence. The distribution of wind direction during banner cloud events slightly deviates from climatology, suggesting an influence from the specific Zugspitz orography. The two banner cloud events during the campaign have a number of common features: the windward and the leeward side are characterized by different wind regimes, however, with mean upward flow on both sides; the leeward air is both moister and warmer than the windward air; the background atmosphere has an inversion just above the summit of Mt. Zugspitze; the lifting condensation level increases with altitude. The results are discussed, and it is argued that they are consistent with previous Large Eddy Simulations using idealized orography.


Developed from the authors, combined total of 50 years undergraduate and graduate teaching experience, this book presents the finite element method formulated as a general-purpose numerical procedure for solving engineering problems governed by partial differential equations.
Focusing on the formulation and application of the finite element method through the integration of finite element theory, code development, and software application, the book is both introductory and self-contained, as well as being a hands-on experience for any student. This authoritative text on Finite Elements: Adopts a generic approach to the subject, and is not application specific In conjunction with a web-based chapter, it integrates code development, theory, and application in one book Provides an accompanying Web site that includes ABAQUS Student Edition, Matlab data and programs, and instructor resources Contains a comprehensive set of homework problems at the end of each chapter Produces a practical, meaningful course for both lecturers, planning a finite element module, and for students using the text in private study. Accompanied by a book companion website housing supplementary material that can be found at http://www.wileyeurope.com/college/Fish A First Course in Finite Elements is the ideal practical introductory course for junior and senior undergraduate students from a variety of science and engineering disciplines.  The accompanying advanced topics at the end of each chapter also make it suitable for courses at graduate level, as well as for practitioners who need to attain or refresh their knowledge of finite elements through private study.


The current global energy demand is met by burning the non-renewable fossil fuels. As the demand is escalating, resources and reserves are diminishing. In addition, the environment is threatened by the continuous emission of greenhouse gases; mainly CO2, which is worrying. Therefore, searching for alternatives is inevitable. Biodiesel received a considerable attention to potentially replace petroleum-based fuels. It can be produced from oil-rich feedstocks through several methods using different technologies, including transesterification. Although alkali catalyzed biodiesel process is commercially viable, several challenges were raised. In this chapter, an overview of the current status of biodiesel production approaches is discussed and the emerging technologies are highlighted. The chapter rewards the attention of using green processes, where the effectiveness of using; microalgae biomass as a green feedstock (compared to conventional crop-based seeds), lipases as green catalysts (compared to conventional chemical catalysts), and green and tunable solvents, such as neoteric solvents and supercritical fluids (compared to conventional volatile organic solvents) are addressed.


Although steam pretreatment could efficiently pretreat various lignocellulosic biomass, it generates water-soluble inhibitory components which significantly slow down cellulose hydrolysis. Most of the previous studies have only evaluated the effect of the inhibitors on the traditional cellulase cocktails while the detailed mechanisms of the pretreatment derived inhibitors on the recently developed enzyme cocktails remain unclear. In addition, the previous studies either focused on the inhibition of cellulose hydrolysis or the inhibition of the activities of cellulases, while it is not elucidated how the cellulose hydrolysis performance is associated with the inhibition of major enzyme activities in the presence of pretreatment derived inhibitors. This study looked at how the water-soluble compounds derived from two typical steam pretreated woody biomasses (lodgepole pine and poplar) might affect the cellulose hydrolysis of pretreated biomass by using the state-of-the-art enzyme preparation (CTec3) and also evaluated their influence on the major enzyme activities. The result showed that both enzyme inhibition and deactivation contribute to the overall decrease in the cellulose hydrolysis. Among the water-soluble compounds, the activities of cellobiohydrolases (CBHs) and β-glucosidases (BGs) were strongly inhibited by sugars in the water-soluble fraction while CBH and xylanase activities were deactivated by phenolics, resulting in the overall decrease in cellulose hydrolysis. Although the major enzymes were inhibited/deactivated significantly, it appeared that the initial cellulose hydrolysis rate was only slightly affected. Instead, the extent of cellulose hydrolysis correlated closely with the inhibition/deactivation of the major enzyme activities.


Despite the profound implication of blogs for marketing communications, there are very few theoretical and empirical studies on this emerging social phenomenon. This study is one of the first to investigate how blog users engage with blogs. Specifically it looks at the relationship between perceived interactivity and attitude towards blogs and between perceived interactivity and sponsored posts on blogs. It also looks at how personal factors and blog characteristic factors influences consumers' attitude towards blogs and sponsored posts on blogs.
Key literature was reviewed, following which a conceptual framework was developed which was partly based on the advertising hierarchy of effects model and incorporating adaptations of the concepts of need for cognition, technology acceptance model as well as the concepts of perceived interactivity, perceived credibility, attitude towards Websites and avoidance of advertising.
427 completed responses were received out of which 408 responses were used for the initial analysis. After removal of outliers, 399 responses were used for the final analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to refine the constructs and to test for convergent validity, discriminant validity and construct reliability. Structural equation modelling was used to look at the various fit measures and also to empirically test the proposed hypotheses.
The results indicate that the higher the interactivity of blogs, the more likely it was for blog users to have a more favourable perception of sponsored posts on the blogs. On the other hand, perceived interactivity was found to be a highly significant and important negative predictor of the avoidance of sponsored posts on blogs. This means that a positive attitude towards blogs does not directly translate into a positive attitude towards sponsored posts on blogs.
Using the new typology of mediations and non-mediations as given by Zhao et al. (2010), the importance of the attitude towards blogs construct was also highlighted as it was found to have a mediating effect between perceived interactivity and avoidance of sponsored posts on blogs as well as between perceived credibility and avoidance of sponsored posts on blog constructs.
The study also revealed some serious issues with old and widely accepted constructs, specifically, the need for cognition and the technology acceptance model.
Moreover, the results show that the need for cognition of blog users; the perceived interactivity and perceived credibility of the blog (and the blogger) are positively related to the attitude towards blogs.


Severe lower respiratory tract infection in infants and small children is commonly caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Palivizumab (Synagis®), a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) approved for RSV immunoprophylaxis in at-risk neonates, is highly effective, but pharmacoeconomic analyses suggest its use may not be cost-effective. Previously described potent RSV neutralizers (human Fab R19 and F2–5; human IgG RF-1 and RF-2) were produced in IgG format in a rapid and inexpensive Nicotiana-based manufacturing system for comparison with palivizumab. Both plant-derived (palivizumab-N) and commercial palivizumab, which is produced in a mouse myeloma cell line, showed protection in prophylactic (p < 0.001 for both mAbs) and therapeutic protocols (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 respectively). The additional plant-derived human mAbs directed against alternative epitopes displayed neutralizing activity, but conferred less protection in vivo than palivizumab-N or palivizumab. Palivizumab remains one of the most efficacious RSV mAbs described to date. Production in plants may reduce manufacturing costs and improve the pharmacoeconomics of RSV immunoprophylaxis and therapy.


The resort to discrimination in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region against foreign commercial interests is documented in this paper and compared to aggregate statistics for worldwide policy choice and for a comparator group of developing countries in the Asia Pacific region. LAC protectionism spiked later than in the rest of the world and, on average, the former nations resorted more to traditional protectionist tools than the latter. Within the LAC region, the heavier users of protectionism employed different cocktails of discriminatory policy instruments. An exploratory cross-country analysis of the potential macroeconomic drivers and substitutes for protectionism in LAC was undertaken. During the crisis era, resort to protectionism tended to be greater in nations that cut tariffs more during 2000-7 and that employed less aggressive fiscal stimulus packages once the crisis hit. Exchange rate depreciation appears to have complemented, rather than substituted, for protectionism.


Background/Context Recent educational policy developments have sought to raise the academic rigor of students' high school experiences to increase student preparation for postsecondary education. The expansion of credit-based transition programs (CBTPs), both in number and in the type of student served, represents one such strategy. These programs allow high school students to take college classes and earn college credit while still in high school. Despite policy makers' enthusiasm, there has been little theorizing about why CBTPs might lead to improved student access to, and persistence in, college. Further, because any policy created to support these programs lacks a theoretical foundation, unintended consequences may result. Research Questions/Focus of Study The research question guiding this study was, Through what mechanisms might credit-based transition programs encourage student success in postsecondary education? This article presents a conceptual model hypothesizing why and how CBTPs may lead to their intended outcomes. We then explore five CBTPs in diverse policy contexts. We describe the ways that programs are attempting to meet the needs of a wide range of students, and identify program features that appear to best prepare middle- and low-achieving students for postsecondary education. Research Design Five in-depth qualitative case studies were conducted. Two visits were made to each site, during which we conducted interviews and observations with faculty, staff, and students, and collected supporting documents. Interview transcript and observational data were uploaded into NVivo, a qualitative software program, for coding and analysis. Conclusions/Recommendations The case study data demonstrated that our initial conceptual model oversimplified program structure and the interaction among program components. The model was refined to reflect that complexity and to take student motivation into account. The final model hypothesizes that student participation in college coursework and support services, along with the attendant growth in academic skills, knowledge of the social aspects of college, and motivation, will lead students to matriculate into postsecondary education. Moreover, because of their strong skills, students will be likely to persist in college once there. Future research should seek to test this model. In the meantime, the findings have important implications for policy makers and educators because they suggest that middle- and low-achieving students may benefit from participation in CBTPs if they are properly prepared for, and supported in, their college courses. In addition, the findings stress the importance of collaboration and communication across secondary and postsecondary sectors.


Sucrose, proline, and polyamines are compatible solutes accumulating in plant tissues and increasing cellular osmolarity under environmental stresses. These compatible solutes and hydrogen peroxide can function as signaling molecules in plants. There has been very little evidence how the supply of sucrose changes the biosynthesis of compatible solutes. This study aimed to assess the cross-talk among sucrose, H2O2, and compatible solutes on the expression of genes encoding key enzymes in the pathways of proline and polyamine metabolism in drought stressed maize seedlings. Drought stress (induced by polyethylene glycol solution) increased the expressions of genes encoding pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), arginine decarboxylase (ADC), and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), while decreased proline dehydrogenase (ProDH), diamine oxidase (DAO), and polyamine oxidase (PAO) expressions. Addition of sucrose to the stressed seedlings increased the P5CS, ADC and SAMDC expressions more than drought stress alone and reduced more the ProDH, DAO, and PAO expressions. Moreover, exogenous sucrose increased leaf water potential and the content of proline, polyamines, and total soluble sugars, whereas decreased H2O2 content and membrane damages under the drought stress conditions. Consequently, exogenous sucrose contributed to the preservation of water status and the amelioration of damage in maize seedlings under the drought stress.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Critically ill patients with AKI necessitating renal replacement therapy (RRT) have high in-hospital mortality, and survivors are at risk for kidney dysfunction at hospital discharge. The objective was to evaluate the association between impaired kidney function at hospital discharge with long-term renal and overall survival.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS
Degree of kidney dysfunction in relation to long-term effects on renal survival and patient mortality was investigated in a retrospective cohort study of 1220 adults admitted to an intensive care unit who received continuous RRT between 1994 and 2010.

RESULTS
After hospital discharge, median follow-up of survivors (n=475) was 8.5 years (range, 1-17 years); overall mortality rate was 75%. Only 170 (35%) patients were discharged with an estimated GFR (eGFR) >60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). Multivariate proportional hazards regression analysis demonstrated that age, nonsurgical type of admission, preexisting kidney disease, malignancy, and eGFR of 29-15 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 2.58) and eGFR <15 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (HR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.23 to 3.02) at discharge were independent predictors of increased mortality. Renal survival was significantly associated with degree of kidney dysfunction at discharge. An eGFR of 29-15 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (HR, 26.26; 95% CI, 5.59 to 123.40) and <15 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (HR, 172.28; 95% CI, 37.72 to 786.75) were independent risk factors for initiation of long-term RRT.

CONCLUSIONS
Most critically ill patients surviving AKI necessitating RRT have impaired kidney function at hospital discharge. An eGFR <30 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) is a strong risk factor for decreased long-term survival and poor renal survival.


WORD AND FAITH IN THE FORMATION OF CHRISTIAN EXISTENCE: A STUDY IN GERHARD EBELING'S REJECTION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION Scott A. Celsor, B.B.A, B.A., M.A. Marquette University, 2010 In 1998, the theologian Gerhard Ebeling helped to initiate a rancorous, public debate among theologians in Germany over whether the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification presents "a consensus in the basic truths of the doctrine of justification" by coediting the famous letter of protest. Why would he want to do this? The fact that some argue he held a distinguished position in ecumenical circles during the 1950s and 1960s makes this question somewhat intriguing. Moreover, how will this opposition impact the continuation of ecumenical discussions between Lutherans and Catholics? Through a comparison of the Joint Declaration and the letter of protest with an examination of texts relating Ebeling's hermeneutical anthropology, which highlights how the word of God creates faith in the listener, and makes one to exist in the presence of God (i.e., the word-event), along with his understanding of the purpose of ecumenism and the church, this study argues that Ebeling refused to support the Joint Declaration for two reasons. First, the Joint Declaration allows for an understanding of justification that requires human cooperation in justification, which creates a very different picture of Christian reality in comparison to that of Ebeling, for whom one is justified purely through the action of God's word, without a human contribution, which creates faith in the believer and changes the way that one exists. Second, the Joint Declaration's presentation of the doctrine of justification does not produce an agreement upon the nature and function of the church, which demonstrates not only that there is no consensus on the doctrine of justification, but also that there are fundamental differences over the function of the church in the Christian life, which justifies schism. Finally, by comparing Ebeling's hermeneutical anthropology with the continuing objections of his students and colleagues (Drs. Mark Menacher, Gerhard Forde, and Eberhard Jungel), this study concludes, somewhat paradoxically, that while Ebeling's hermeneutical anthropology itself could serve as a source for deepening the consensus reached in the Joint Declaration, it may well also be the source of objections to the continuing discussions between Lutheran and Catholics for years to come.


Breast cancer patients face challenges to skeletal integrity, both by caused by the disease but also as a side effect of standard endocrine therapy. Bisphosphonates inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, are approved as standard therapy for treating malignant bone disease from advanced cancers, and have shown efficacy for preventing cancer treatment-induced bone loss. Bisphosphonates also have demonstrated anti-cancer activity preclinically and in clinical trials during adjuvant breast cancer therapy. The metastasis-preventing effect of bisphosphonates has been explained by their putative effects on the bone marrow microenvironment, which provides a site for cancer cells to evade immune surveillance and adjuvant systemic anti-cancer therapy. Dormant tumor micrometastases are believed to be the ultimate source of disease persistence and relapse, and it has been suggested that adjuvant bisphosphonate treatment renders the bone marrow microenvironment less conducive to cancer (stem) cell survival. This plenary lecture will provide a brief overview of the numerous preclinical and early clinical studies of bisphosphonates demonstrating a variety of direct and indirect anticancer activities, including the "seed-and-soil" hypothesis, and the proven effects of bisphosphonates on disseminated tumor cells. However, key questions remain surrounding the role of adjuvant bisphosphonates in breast cancer, including selecting patient populations actually deriving benefit and optimal timing/scheduling of therapy. Despite thousands of patients have been included in randomized clinical trials of adjuvant bisphosphonates, significant controversy persists about the usefulness of this therapeutic approach: current clinical data show clear-cut improvements in disease outcomes with bisphosphonates in many studies, although not in all patient subsets: Strongest support for the potential adjuvant anticancer benefits from bisphosphonates has been demonstrated in women with established menopause (i.e., very low circulating estrogen levels). Also, initiating bisphosphonates early and concomitantly with adjuvant therapy generally provided the greatest benefits. In addition to earlier trials using oral bisphosphonates such as clodronate, recent clinical data from large phase 3 trials (e.g. ABCSG-12, ZO-FAST, and AZURE) demonstrate significantly improved disease-free survival with zoledronic acid in some patient populations with early breast cancer. Other bone-targeted treatment approaches such as denosumab are currently evaluated for adjuvant therapy in large clinical trials. This plenary lecture will review the available data and concepts with the ultimate aim of aiding physicians in providing bone-targeted therapy as part of their optimal breast cancer patient counseling and management. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr PL02.


RTI 11162 0717 As a result of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and reform efforts, primary school enrollment in Uganda doubled from 2.9 million in 1995 to 5.8 million by 1998. By 2016, enrollment had reached 8.3 million. Although enrollment gains have been dramatic, the completion rate has stalled for at least a decade, with only about 60% of learners completing primary school. RTI International conducted research that suggests this is due to problems that begin in the first few grades of primary school (and earlier). Primary 1 (P1) repetition is partially attributed to lack of access to early childhood educational opportunities. This brief summarizes these and other key findings of the research, "Repetition of Primary 1 and Pre-Primary Education in Uganda," published in 2017. www.rti.org/idg


To achieve the national objectives of equitable and sustainable social and economic development, strategies and institutional arrangements for water resources management must be developed by water boards. There are also specific requirements in the National Water Act (NWA) for water resources management activities to support the provision of water services. Many challenges face water resource managers in ensuring that these national objectives be met and to be compliant with the requirements set by the NWA. Neither the resources nor the time required to address these objectives should be underestimated. Availability of knowledge on best practices on water transfer between dams and reservoirs is of utmost importance to assure stability in water supply in a water scarce region like the Free State. The growing economy and scarcity of skilled workers contribute negatively to this. To ensure stability in the water supply by the local Water Board, the need for an Operational Management System (OMS), where knowledge can be captured and updated, is essential. The benefits of the Human- Computer Synergy can be implemented to accomplish this (Oz 2000: 14). This project's focus will be to determine the operational rules (knowledge needed) for such a system and the development of a framework to implement the OMS.


The measured results from an X-band electronically scanned array using an overlapped subarray architecture are presented. The 2D architecture uses a 12×12 element subarray with 3 to 1 overlapping. The active electronic scanned array is a receive only implementation consisting of switch, low noise amplifier, phase shifter and attenuator. Measured far-field patterns and excitation at the aperture using near-field scanner demonstrates desired design goals of a 20 degree sector beam with low sidelobes. Finally, the scan performance of the sector subarray beam is measured at 20 and 40 degrees. A three tile implementation is constructed and measured.


Abstract. Thermal infrared (IR) radiances measured near 8 microns contain information about the vertical distribution of water vapor (H2O), the water isotopologue HDO, and methane (CH4), key gases in the water and carbon cycles. Previous versions (Version 4 or less) of the TES profile retrieval algorithm used a "spectral-window" approach to minimize uncertainty from interfering species at the expense of reduced vertical resolution and sensitivity. In this manuscript we document changes to the vertical resolution and uncertainties of the TES version 5 retrieval algorithm. In this version (Version 5), joint estimates of H2O, HDO, CH4 and nitrous oxide (N2O) are made using radiances from almost the entire spectral region between 1100 cm−1 and 1330 cm−1. The TES retrieval constraints are also modified in order to better use this information. The new H2O estimates show improved vertical resolution in the lower troposphere and boundary layer, while the new HDO/H2O estimates can now profile the HDO/H2O ratio between 925 hPa and 450 hPa in the tropics and during summertime at high latitudes. The new retrievals are now sensitive to methane in the free troposphere between 800 and 150 mb with peak sensitivity near 500 hPa; whereas in previous versions the sensitivity peaked at 200 hPa. However, the upper troposphere methane concentrations are biased high relative to the lower troposphere by approximately 4% on average. This bias is likely related to temperature, calibration, and/or methane spectroscopy errors. This bias can be mitigated by normalizing the CH4 estimate by the ratio of the N2O estimate relative to the N2O prior, under the assumption that the same systematic error affects both the N2O and CH4 estimates. We demonstrate that applying this ratio theoretically reduces the CH4 estimate for non-retrieved parameters that jointly affect both the N2O and CH4 estimates. The relative upper troposphere to lower troposphere bias is approximately 2.8% after this bias correction. Quality flags based upon the vertical variability of the methane and N2O estimates can be used to reduce this bias further. While these new CH4, HDO/H2O, and H2O estimates are consistent with previous TES retrievals in the altitude regions where the sensitivities overlap, future comparisons with independent profile measurement will be required to characterize the biases of these new retrievals and determine if the calculated uncertainties using the new constraints are consistent with actual uncertainties.


Behavioral adjustments may occur fast and with less cost than the physiological adaptations. Considering the social behavior is suggestive that the frequency and the intensity of aggressive interactions, the total social cohesion and the extent of vicious attitudes may be used to evaluate welfare. This research presents an analysis of the interactions between the experimental factors such as temperature, genetic and time of the day in the behavior of female broiler breeders under controlled environment in a climatic chamber in order to enhance the different reaction of the birds facing distinct environmental conditions. The results showed significant differences between the behaviors expressed by the studied genetics presenting the need of monitoring them in real-time in order to predict their welfare in commercial housing, due to the complexity of the environmental variables that interfere in the well being process. The research also concluded that the welfare evaluation of female broiler breeders needs to consider the time of the day during the observation of the behaviors.


Analytics or the utilisation of user data to enhance education derives from business intelligence and has received considerable attention over the last view years (Cooper, 2012; Goldstein & Katz, 2005). In the context of institutional research it is argued that data can aid the decision making, implementation and analysis of policy and change (e.g. Saupe, 1990), and that new forms of online data collection makes the incorporation of educational data more accessible and analysable for this purpose (e.g. Campbell & Oblinger, 2007).

A London based HEI recently introduced two educational policies to enhance the student experience which had considerable implications for the use and uptake of technologies to support learning, teaching and assessment (LTA). Longitudinal user data from one of the core technologies the virtual learning environment (VLE) to support LTA has been collected, using customized page tagging and traditional methods, which allows a comparison before and after the introduction of the policies and to visualise its impact.

This presentation/paper will present some of the findings which indicate that the data collection methods used demonstrate the impact of both policies. The implications and various degrees in which this is visual will be explored in more detail together with a discussion on the findings.


Storm surges occur when high winds and low atmospheric pressure raise water levels at the coast, causing sea water to surge onto the land. They are a major threat to low-lying coastal areas and their inhabitants. The largest storm surges are caused by tropical cyclones (also called hurricanes and typhoons in different regions); peak water levels can exceed 7 m in height, and can result in extensive flooding, loss of life and damage to property. Global climate change may result in increased storm surge flooding in some areas, through intensification of the cyclones driving the storm surges and as a result of sea level rise. Mangroves can reduce storm surge water levels by slowing the flow of water and reducing surface waves. Therefore mangroves can potentially play a role in coastal defence and disaster risk reduction, either alone or alongside other risk reduction measures such as early warning systems and engineered coastal defence structures (e.g. sea walls). Measured rates of storm surge reduction through mangroves range from 5 to 50 centimetres water level reduction per kilometre of mangrove width. In addition, surface wind waves are expected to be reduced by more than 75% over one kilometre of mangroves. Few data are available on surge reduction rates through mangroves because of the difficulties associated with measuring water levels during storm surges. All data currently available are from the south-eastern United States, where networks of recorders have been placed in wetland areas. Numerical models and simulations, validated using this data, provide the only means of exploring the importance of different factors in reducing storm surge heights. The numerical model of Zhang et al. (2012; Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 102: 11-23) suggests that mangroves are more effective at reducing the water levels of fast moving surges than those of slow moving surges. The model also indicates that water level reduction through mangroves is non-linear, with the greatest reduction in surge height occurring near the seaward edge of the mangroves. Seaward of mangroves, a bulge of water can form as the water piles up in front of the mangroves; this can increase storm surge levels in this area. Several topics relating to storm surge reduction by mangroves are yet to be explored, such as the effect of mangrove density, species composition and vegetative morphology. Dense mangrove forests, including species with aerial roots, are expected to increase storm surge reduction rates. By reducing water levels and wave energy, mangroves can save lives and reduce storm-surge related damage to infrastructure: during a typhoon in north-east India, mangroves reduced the number of lives lost, as well as reducing damage to houses, crops and possibly coastal defence structures. Mangroves can also help people recover after coastal disasters by providing firewood, building materials and food sources (e.g. fish and shellfish that live among mangrove aerial roots). Cyclones and storm surges also impact mangroves themselves; some trees may be defoliated or uprooted. Extreme events with very high water levels and wind speeds may severely damage or destroy mangrove areas, rendering them less effective at reducing surge heights. Natural recovery can take many years to decades; restoration projects may speed up recovery. Further data on storm surge reduction by mangroves and further refinements to numerical models and simulations will improve our ability to understand and quantify the coastal defence services provided by mangrove forests against storm surges. Such information is needed to ensure that the coastal defence functions of mangroves are utilised appropriately, either alone or in combination with other measures, to reduce risk to people and infrastructure from storm surges.


Messaging platforms, especially those with a mobile focus, have become increasingly ubiquitous in society. These mobile messaging platforms can have deceivingly large user bases, and in addition to being a way for people to stay in touch, are often used to organize social movements, as well as a place for extremists to congregate.In this paper, we present a dataset from one such mobile messaging platform: Telegram. Our dataset is made up of over 27.8K channels and 317M messages from 2.2M unique users. To the best of our knowledge, our dataset comprises the largest and most complete of its kind. In addition to the raw data, we also provide the source code used to collect it, allowing researchers to run their own data collection instance. We believe the Pushshift Telegram dataset can help researchers from a variety of disciplines interested in studying online social movements, protests, political extremism, and disinformation.


We analyze how digital platforms can increase the survival rate of firms during a crisis by providing continuity in access to customers. Using order-level data from Uber Technologies, we study how the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing shutdown of businesses in the United States affected independent, small business restaurant supply and demand on the Uber Eats platform. We find evidence that small restaurants experience significant increases in total activity, orders per day, and orders per hour following the closure of the dine-in channel, and that these increases may be due to both demand-side and supply-side shocks. We document an increase in the intensity of competitive effects following the shock, showing that growth in the number of providers on a platform induces both market expansion and heightened inter-provider competition. Our findings underscore the critical role that digital will play in creating business resilience in the post-COVID economy, and provide new managerial insight into how supply-side and demand-side factors shape business performance on a platform.


In-house research by private companies is fundamental to the technological advancement of the Japanese construction industry. Shortly after World War II several of the largest construction companies established research institutes. These institutes have since grown and become an integral part of Japanese construction. Many have laboratories with highly educated professional research staffs working with large-scale and technologically complex research equipment that makes them among the best construction research facilities in the world. This research transcends all disciplines related to construction and a large fraction is similar to the fundamental and applied research one finds in U.S. universities. This research enjoys strong top-management support and the research institutes are recognized as important resources by the operations personnel in the companies. Benefits and incentives include creation of new markets, solving practical field problems, corporate prestige, gaining a keener competitive edge, substantiating claims, proving compliance with regulations, and advancing Japan to the forefront of world construction technology.


One of the best understood and highly organised synapses is excitatory glutamatergic synapses. These synapses consist of post-synaptic ionotropic glutamate receptors and pre-synaptic glutamate localised inside pre-synaptic vesicles. Glutamate binds to α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid subtype glutamate receptors, giving rise to synaptic transmission. However, N-methyl-d-aspartate subtype glutamate receptors function to induce the change in synaptic transmission, also known as the synaptic plasticity that underlies learning and memory. The subtypes and subunits of glutamate receptors exhibit distinct biophysical properties and play distinct physiological roles critical for synaptic function. The molecular organisation of the synapse includes intracellular scaffolding proteins, intercellular cell adhesion molecules to anchor synaptic architecture and a variety of signalling proteins (kinases, phosphatases, etc.). They function to support and/or mediate the cellular processes critical for synaptic transmission and plasticity, whereas their malfunction leads to diseases where synaptic plasticity is lost, such as Alzheimer disease and mental retardation.

Key Concepts:

Glutamatergic synapses are critical for our brain function.

Synaptic plasticity is critical for proper neuronal circuit formation.

Synaptic plasticity is the cellular model for learning, memory and other experience-dependent brain functions.

History of neuronal activity plays a significant role in synaptic protein composition, which in turn governs synapse-to-nucleus signalling.

Scaffolding proteins, in addition to signalling proteins and receptors, are critical for synaptic plasticity.

Extrasynaptic NMDA receptor signalling plays distinct roles from synaptic NMDA receptor signalling.

Keywords:

glutamate;
synapse;
AMPA receptors;
synaptic plasticity;
LTD;
LTP;
post-synaptic density (PSD);
scaffolding proteins;
synaptic scaling;
extrasynaptic NMDA receptors


A hybrid online unit was built by the researcher and implemented by a host teacher with the purpose of identifying the impacts hybrid methodology has on students and veteran teacher alike. The hybrid unit, which combines traditional classroom instruction with the best-of online course tools and activities, was implemented into a 7 grade science elective classroom located in rural Montana over the course of 16 weeks. The host teacher possessed a doctorate in education and concurrently instructed online graduate courses in Action Research. Neither the host nor students had prior experience with hybrid instruction. The hybrid course topic focused on climate science and was designed congruent to 21 century technology standards. The unit included a wide variety of vibrant online activities coupled with face-to-face classroom interactions and hands-on science labs. All student work, whether online or face-to-face, was completed digitally and uploaded within the online course. Data was collected from a variety classroom assessment techniques including student performance on summative assessments, frequent student surveys, host teacher journaling, host teacher interviews and surveys, researcher observations, and researcher journaling. Partial member checking was utilized for verification of data collection and analysis. In the end, an overwhelming majority of students preferred hybrid instruction to traditional classroom instruction. A majority of students found the course to be fun, easy to navigate, and they felt they remembered more from hybrid than traditional lecture or bookwork. Students showed strong academic gains in climate science topics, especially historically low performing students. The host teacher enjoyed the diverse curricular activities and approved using the unit again in future elective classes. The host also indicated interest in experimenting with creating his own hybrid course in future academic years once technology resources became more readily available. As a result of the hybrid unit implementation, the host teacher also noted secondary observations in students' improved computer literacy, problem solving, and expository writing skills. At the outcome of this study, it was evident that hybrid instruction benefits students in a variety of manors thus instructors should consider this methodology as technology becomes increasingly available within classrooms.


Depression is a serious and prevalent disease among adolescents. Identifying possible factors involved with its genesis and presentation is an important task for researchers and clinical practitioners. The individual's chronotype and social jetlag have been associated with depression in different populations. However, information on this is lacking among adolescents. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between chronotype (midpoint of sleep) and social jetlag with the presence of depression symptoms in young students. We assessed 351 students aged 12–21 years old. They answered a questionnaire on demographic characteristics, the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Demographic characteristics (age, sex and classes' schedule) and circadian rhythmic variables for school and free days (sunlight exposure, sleep duration, midpoint of sleep and social jetlag) were taken as factors and the presence of at least mild depression symptoms as outcome. In univariate analysis, girls (χ2 = 5.01, p ≤ 0.05) and evening students (χ2 = 6.63, p ≤ 0.05) were more frequently present among the depressed. Also, the depression group was significantly delayed for both midpoints of sleep during school (t = 2.84, p ≤ 0.01) and free days (t = 2.20, p ≤ 0.05). The two groups did not differ in relation to their social jetlag hours (t = −0.68, p = 0.501) neither subjects with two or more hours of social jetlag were more frequent among the depressed (χ2 = 1.00, p = 0.317). In multivariate analysis, the model that best explained our outcome (R2 = 0.058, F = 2.318, p ≤ 0.05) included sex (β = −0.12, p ≤ 0.05) and the midpoint of sleep on school days (β = −0.21, p ≤ 0.001) as significant predictor variables. A sleep phase delay (later midpoints of sleep for school and free days) was associated with higher levels of depression. However, we were not able to detect similar relationship with the social jetlag hours. This could be attributed to the fact that our sample showed a smaller amount of social jetlag, possibly because even during free days a social routine, this time parents' rules, limited the observation from what could be a natural tendency to sleep later and over. Yet, even when considering the group with more social jetlag, we did not find an association. Perhaps, this variable will only manifest its effect if it is maintained for longer periods throughout life. Additionally, when considering all the variables together, the midpoint of sleep on school days was pointed as the predictor of greatest weight for depression, together with the factor sex. Young girls, possibly earlier types, who are required to study in the evening have more chances of presenting depression symptoms. This study explicit some peculiar characteristics of the assessment of chronobiological variables in the young, such as the presence of an imposed social routine also during free days. Therefore, the expression of chronotype under the influence of the weekly social schedule (midpoint of sleep on school days) could be a more useful marker to measure the stress produced from the mismatch between external and inner rhythms rather than social jetlag. This also reinforces the importance of reconsidering the weekly routine imposed on young people.


This paper discusses the significance of the cooperation between the United States and Iran for the Middle East region. It will be argued that despite the political and ideological conflicts between the U.S. and Iran, reaching a "point by point" agreement would best help to resolve Middle East predicaments, especially the Islamic terrorism. To achieve this, the following pages examine the historical background of issues such as terrorism in the Middle East. This paper also focuses on two main paths to support the better U.S.-Iran cooperation, if not talking about relations at all. First, the theory of "point by point" approach helps both countries to tackle tough agendas and overcome the predicaments in the Middle East. Second, to reach the desired cooperation between these two countries, both the U.S. and Iran need to overcome their own internal constraints as well as the external constrains imposed by other countries. This paper takes an historical and theoretical approach to reveal the two countries' common interests in the Middle East. The general thesis argues that the Middle East's security requires the United States and Iran to develop a diplomatic and military cooperation.


This thesis is concerned with the information needs of informal carers, or, as they are now increasingly referred to, carers
Within this thesis, the appellation carer is defined in terms chosen by carers themselves. In their words,
• A carer is someone whose life is restricted by the need to assist another person to live independently at home.
Information is similarly defined by reference to the perspective of the carers, whose information needs form the topic of this research. For the purposes of this thesis, therefore, information is defined as follows
• information is all knowledge, ideas, facts and data which are communicated in any format either formally or informally, and
which, for whatever reason, are needful for carers to know. Information has been identified as a key requirement by most of the surveys undertaken of carers since 1988. Most surveys of carers and their needs have noted the absence or deficiency of this critical resource; yet relevant information is prolific, and accessible through a multiplicity of mechanisms and formats.
This thesis set out to answer four important questions:
• Why, when information appears to be so widely accessible, do carers continue to assert that lack of information remains one of their key problems?
• What is the role of workers and other professionals in information provision to carers?
• What changes to current information provision and dissemination would remove the obstacles to carers obtaining the information they need?
• Is there a role for the public library service in either creating or overseeing the provision of an information strategy for carers?
These questions were examined within a Leicester-based study of a group of carers of older people, and carers who were themselves older people, during the period 1994-1996. The study followed a qualitative methodology and used a number of methods. The chief of these entailed the researcher, in her professional role as Community Care Librarian, acting as a critical friend, that is one, who through understanding the context of the presenting situation, is able to offer a helpful critique, a valued judgement and an honest response. This approach elicited a wealth of qualitative data through telephone
contact with carers on a regular and frequent basis during a period of fifteen months. The study also included a sample of workers and potential information providers, already having professional responsibilities in the households of the participating carers and who were involved through a series of focused semi-structured interviews.
The workers represented a range of health, social services and voluntary sector teams and organisations.
The data obtained from this study was particularly rich and subtle, providing unexpected insights into considerably more than information provision, as well as confirmation of certain conjectured findings. For example, the results indicate that the carers in the study were proactive information seekers, rather than passive recipients of information despite having poor formal and informal information networks. As a result, they were almost entirely dependent upon the professional workers as sources of information. Because of restrictive multi-disciplinary and inter-agency working and a lack of systematic and effective information support, workers were unable to fulfill all the carers' expectations in this regard.
The study would indicate a crucial role for an agency able to devise an effective information strategy, suitable to meet not only the needs of carers, but also of others similarly disadvantaged in information provision. Such an agency could itself act as an holistic information provider, or else take responsibility for overseeing such a service. In the perception of the study participants the public library service, in theory uniquely placed to fulfill such a role, held a low profile as an information provider. If such an opinion were to be confirmed amongst the general population, it would seem that this role could not
automatically be assigned to public libraries. However, the availability of insufficient evidence to either corroborate or refute such an opinion resulted in this particular research question remaining unanswered.