Abstract Balancing human and environmental needs is urgent where food security and sustainability are under pressure from population increases and changing climates. Requirements of food security, social justice and environmental justice exacerbate the impact of agriculture on the supporting ecological environment. Viability of the Australian rural economy is intrinsically linked to food production and food security requiring systematic evaluation of climate change adaptation strategies for agricultural productivity. This food-systems research drew on global climate change literature to identify risks and adaptation. The transdisciplinary team applied specialist experience through collaboration in social science, economics and land-management to provide comprehensive methods to engage researchers and decision-makers making decisions across the food-system. Research focus on the dairy and horticulture sectors in the SW-WA and SEQld provided a comparative context in food-systems and regional economies. Expert knowledge was engaged through a series of panel meetings to test and challenge existing practice applying conceptual and empirical approaches in Structural Equation, Value-Chain, Supply-Chain modelling and Analytical Hierarchy modelling. This iterative action-research process provided immediate generation and transfer of expert knowledge across the involved sectors. The scenarios and adaptive strategies provide evidence-based pathways to strengthen food-systems; account for climate change mitigation and adaptation; and weather-proof regional economies in the face of climate change. Balancing human and environmental needs is urgent where food security and sustainability are under pressure from population increases and changing climates. Requirements of food security, social justice and environmental justice exacerbate the impact of agriculture on the supporting ecological environment. Viability of the Australian rural economy is intrinsically linked to food production and food security requiring systematic evaluation of climate change adaptation strategies for agricultural productivity. This food-systems research drew on global climate change literature to identify risks and adaptation. The transdisciplinary team applied specialist experience through collaboration in social science, economics and land-management to provide comprehensive methods to engage researchers and decision-makers making decisions across the food-system. Research focus on the dairy and horticulture sectors in the SW-WA and SEQld provided a comparative context in food-systems and regional economies. Expert knowledge was engaged through a series of panel meetings to test and challenge existing practice applying conceptual and empirical approaches in Structural Equation, Value-Chain, Supply-Chain modelling and Analytical Hierarchy modelling. This iterative action-research process provided immediate generation and transfer of expert knowledge across the involved sectors. The scenarios and adaptive strategies provide evidence-based pathways to strengthen food-systems; account for climate change mitigation and adaptation; and weather-proof regional economies in the face of climate change. The triple-bottom-line provided a comprehensive means of addressing social, economic and ecological requirements, and the modelling showed the interacting dynamics between these dimensions. In response to climate change, the agricultural sector must now optimise practices to address the interaction between economic, social and environmental investment. Differences in positions between the industry sector, the government and research sectors demonstrate the need for closer relationships between industry and government if climate change interventions are to be effectively targeted. Modelling shows that capacity for adaptation has a significant bearing on the success of implementing intervention strategies. Without intervention strategies to build viability and support, farm businesses are more likely to fail as a consequence of climate change. A framework of capitals that includes social components - cultural, human and social capital-, economic components -economic and physical capital - and ecological components -ecological and environmental capital - should be applied to address capacities. A priority assessment of climate change intervention strategies shows that strategies categorised as 'Technology & Extension' are most important in minimising risk from climate change impacts. To implement interventions to achieve 'Food Business Resilience', 'Business Development' strategies and alternative business models are most effective. 'Research and Development' interventions are essential to achieve enhanced 'Adaptive Capacity'. The individual components of TBL Adaptive Capacity can be achieved through 'Policy and Governance' interventions for building 'Social Capital' capacity, 'Research and Development' will develop 'Economic Capital', and 'Business Development' strategies will build 'Ecological Capital'. These strategic interventions will promote food security and maintain resilience in local food systems, agricultural production communities and markets, global industrial systems, and developing world food systems. Climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions reflect a rich conceptualisation drawing from the Australian context, but also acknowledging the moral context of global association. Please cite this report as: Wardell-Johnson, A, Uddin, N, Islam, N, Nath, T, Stockwell, B, Slade, C 2013 Creating a climate for food security: the businesses, people and landscapes in food production, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 144.Balancing human and environmental needs is urgent where food security and sustainability are under pressure from population increases and changing climates. Requirements of food security, social justice and environmental justice exacerbate the impact of agriculture on the supporting ecological environment. Viability of the Australian rural economy is intrinsically linked to food production and food security requiring systematic evaluation of climate change adaptation strategies for agricultural productivity.This food-systems research drew on global climate change literature to identify risks and adaptation. The transdisciplinary team applied specialist experience through collaboration in social science, economics and land-management to provide comprehensive methods to engage researchers and decision-makers making decisions across the food-system. Research focus on the dairy and horticulture sectors in the SW-WA and SEQld provided a comparative context in food-systems and regional economies. Expert knowledge was engaged through a series of panel meetings to test and challenge existing practice applying conceptual and empirical approaches in Structural Equation, Value-Chain, Supply-Chain modelling and Analytical Hierarchy modelling. This iterative action-research process provided immediate generation and transfer of expert knowledge across the involved sectors. The scenarios and adaptive strategies provide evidence-based pathways to strengthen food-systems; account for climate change mitigation and adaptation; and weather-proof regional economies in the face of climate change. The triple-bottom-line provided a comprehensive means of addressing social, economic and ecological requirements, and the modelling showed the interacting dynamics between these dimensions. In response to climate change, the agricultural sector must now optimise practices to address the interaction between economic, social and environmental investment. Differences in positions between the industry sector, the government and research sectors demonstrate the need for closer relationships between industry and government if climate change interventions are to be effectively targeted. Modelling shows that capacity for adaptation has a significant bearing on the success of implementing intervention strategies. Without intervention strategies to build viability and support, farm businesses are more likely to fail as a consequence of climate change. A framework of capitals that includes social components - cultural, human and social capital-, economic components -economic and physical capital - and ecological components -ecological and environmental capital - should be applied to address capacities. A priority assessment of climate change intervention strategies shows that strategies categorised as 'Technology & Extension' are most important in minimising risk from climate change impacts. To implement interventions to achieve 'Food Business Resilience', 'Business Development' strategies and alternative business models are most effective. 'Research and Development' interventions are essential to achieve enhanced 'Adaptive Capacity'. The individual components of TBL Adaptive Capacity can be achieved through 'Policy and Governance' interventions for building 'Social Capital' capacity, 'Research and Development' will develop 'Economic Capital', and 'Business Development' strategies will build 'Ecological Capital'. These strategic interventions will promote food security and maintain resilience in local food systems, agricultural production communities and markets, global industrial systems, and developing world food systems. Climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions reflect a rich conceptualisation drawing from the Australian context, but also acknowledging the moral context of global association.


NOTE: "The Third Strain Which Has Non-Motile Lines", "Monophasic Nature of Sal[monella] abortus-equi", "Are
 H2 and Phase Controller Separable by Recombination?", "Phase-1 Monophasic Variants of Sal[monella] typhimurium and
 Sal[monella] paratyphi b" and "Recurrent Alternation of Phase in Sal[monella] typhimurium" are parts of a single
 (untitled) report.


Two distinguished New Zealanders pioneered some of the foundations of modern econometrics. Alec Aitken, one of the most famous and well-documented mental arithmeticians of all time, contributed the matrix formulation and projection geometry of linear regression, generalized least squares (GLS) estimation, algorithms for Hodrick Prescott (HP) style data smoothing (six decades before their use in economics), and statistical estimation theory leading to the Cramér Rao bound. Rex Bergstrom constructed and estimated by limited information maximum likelihood (LIML) the largest empirical structural model in the early 1950s, opened up the field of exact distribution theory, developed cyclical growth models in economic theory, and spent nearly 40 years of his life developing the theory of continuous time econometric modeling and its empirical application. We provide an overview of their lives, discuss some of their accomplishments, and develop some new econometric theory that connects with their foundational work.


Aim: To assess the epidemiological situation of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in the municipalities and regions of Colombia in 2018. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with secondary data from the High-Cost Diseases Fund from February 1st, 2018 to January 31st, 2019. We included sociodemographic, clinical variables, and related to geographic location. We calculated incidence, prevalence, and mortality according to the Colombian geographical regions, department and municipality of residence. Crude and age-standardized rates were estimated. Results: By 2018, 10,930 new cases of PLWHA were reported, being more frequent in males, aged between 25 to 49 years. 39.32% were reported with AIDS and 35.27% had undetectable HIV viral load. During 2018, there are 109,056 PLWHA in Colombia. The highest age-standardized incidence and prevalence were reported in Florencia (Cauca) (354.28 per 100,000 and 3.32 per 100people, respectively). The age-standardized incidence rate was 22.12 per 100,000 population (95% CI 21.71- 22.54). Age-standardized prevalence and mortality were 0.23 per 100 population (95% CI 0.22-0.23) and 3.78 per 100,000 population (95% CI 3.61-3.96), respectively. Conclusion: Different strategies should be implemented to improve the identification of risk factors in the population, especially in some regions of Colombia and prevent transmission.


Rutting deformation is one of the most common forms of pavement distress found on bituminous pavements, especially in the hot, tropical climate of Singapore. These deformations are usually found in the wheel track on roads carrying heavy, slow moving, channeled traffic, such as in the city and industrial areas at traffic light junctions. To and our investigation into the nature of pavement rutting, a laboratory wheel-tracking apparatus was used to simulate channeled wheel traffic loading under controlled conditions. It was upgraded with automated temperature and rut profile measurement capability. This article describes the features of the apparatus, which include temperature control of test specimens from ambient (27°C) to 70°C via a water bath with an adjustable weir, speed control of 0 to 80 wheel passes per minute, and variable wheel loading from 18 to 54 kg giving approximate equivalent tire pressures of 175 to 530 kPa. The apparatus can be used to simultaneously test three standard specimens of dimensions 405 mm by 135 mm by 90 mm-thickness. Single tests of two other sizes, which are two or three times the width of the standard specimen, are permissible. The rut depths are monitored by means of three linear variable displacement transducers (LVDTs), which measure the vertical displacements of each of the three wheel axles independently as rutting progresses. Due to errors induced by machine vibrations, accurate rut profile measurements can be made only under static conditions at selected intervals of wheel passes. With the use of a 200-ton-capacity static press, uniform dense asphaltic concrete beam specimens can be made, giving reasonably repeatable rutting test data on the apparatus, thus making it a valuable tool for evaluating the ratting potential of various mixes.


This paper investigates the mediation role of interpreters through modality shifts in Chinese-English diplomatic interpreting. Based on the custom-built corpus of interpreted government press conferences, this article conducts a Systemic Functional Linguistics-informed analysis of modality shifts by examining the ST-TT sentence pairs that present high-frequency Chinese or English modality markers. Results show that: (1) the degree of mediation by the interpreters is fairly high in terms of modality, with 44% of the investigated sentence pairs involving modality shifts; (2) shifts mostly occur in modality value (91%) and orientation (64%) rather than modality type (5%), thus the basic speech function of the clause is minimally changed; (3) shifts within the three dimensions point to general tendencies towards "weakening," "subjectivization" and "de-obligation," which reflect the interpreters' efforts to construct the Chinese officials' image as audience-friendly and proactive, and to adapt the TT to the English communicative norms; (4) "strengthening" and "objectivization" shifts occur frequently around issues concerning the Chinese government's responsibility or ability, which reveals the interpreters' active involvement in presenting the Chinese government as responsible, confident and powerful. The study argues that the press conference interpreters' active mediation is motivated by their institutional identity as "diplomatic workers" and "government representatives" in the Chinese context.


A B S T R A C T Perturbed Quantization (PQ) steganography scheme is almost undetectable with the current steganalysis methods. We present a new steganalysis method for detection of this data hiding algorithm. We show that the PQ method distorts the dependencies of DCT coefficient values; especially changes much lower than significant bitplanes. For steganalysis of PQ, we propose features extraction from the empirical matrix. The proposed features can be exploited within an empirical matrix of DCT coefficients which some most significant bit planes were deleted. We obtain four empirical matrices and fuse resulted features from these matrices which have been employed for steganalysis. This technique can detect PQ embedding on stego images with 77 percent detection accuracy on mixed embedding rates between 0.05 − 0.4 bits per non-zero DCT AC coefficients (BPNZC). Comparing the results, we also show that the detection rates are effectively comparable with respect to current steganalysis techniques for PQ steganography.


Women, Science, and Technology, third edition (2013) Mary Wyer, Mary Barbercheck, Donna Giesman Cookmeyer, Hatice Orun Ozturk, and Marta Wayne Preface Introduction: Feminism, Science and Technology -Why It Still Matters From Margins to Center: Educating Women for Scientific Careers Moss-Racusin, Corinne A., Dovidio, John F., Brescoll, Victoria L., Graham, M. J., & Handelsman, Jo. (2012). Science faculty's subtle gender biases favor male students. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109, 1-6. Subramaniam, Banu (2001). Snow Brown and the Seven Detergents: A metanarrative on science and the scientific method. In M. Wyer, M. Barbercheck, D. Geisman, H. Ozturk, & M. Wayne (Eds.), Women, Science, and Technology: A Feminist Reader (pp. 36-41). New York: Routledge. Bilimoria, Diana, & Liang, Xiangfen (2012). State of knowledge about the workforce participation, equity, and inclusion of women in academic science and engineering. In D. Bilimoria & X. Liang (Eds.), Gender Equity in Science and Engineering (pp. 16-45). New York: Routledge. Wayne, Marta (2000). Walking a tightrope: The feminist life of a drosophila biologist. NWSA Journal, 12, no. 3, 139-150. Light, Jennifer (2009). When computers were women. In M. Layne (Ed.), Women in Engineering: Pioneers and Trailblazers (pp. 179-210). Reston, VA: American Society for Civil Engineers. Mellstrom, Ulf (2009). The intersection of gender, race and cultural boundaries, or why is computer science in Malaysia dominated by women? Social Studies of Science, 39, 885-907. Schiebinger, Londa (2011). Interdisciplinary approaches to achieving gendered innovations in science, medicine, and engineering. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 36, 154-167. Rosser, Sue (2012). The gender gap in patents. In S. Rosser (Ed.), Breaking into the Lab: Engineering Progress for Women in Science (pp. 150-177). New York: New York University Press. Feminist Approaches in/to Science and Technology Cohn, Carol (1987). Sex and death in the rational world of defense intellectuals. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 12, no. 4, 687-718. Maines, Rachel (1989). Socially camouflaged technologies: The case of the electromechanical vibrator. IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology, June, 3-23. Aengst, Jennifer & Layne, Linda L. (2010). The need to bleed? A feminist technology assessment of menstrual-suppressing birth control pills. In L. Layne (Ed.), Feminist Technology (pp. 55-88). Chicago: University of Illinois Press. Jordan-Young, Rebecca M. & Rumiati, Raffaella I. (2012). Hardwired for sexism? Approaches to sex/gender in neuroscience. In R. Bluhm, A. J. Jacobson, & H. L. Maibom (Eds.), Neurofeminism: Issues at the intersection of feminist theory and cognitive science (pp. 105-120). Basingstoke, Hampshire, GBR: Palgrave Macmillan. Milam, Erika L. (2012). Making males aggressive and females coy: Gender across the animal-human boundary. SIGNS: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 37, 935-959. Roy, Deboleena (2008). Asking different questions: Feminist practices for the natural sciences. Hypatia, 23, 134-157. Takeshita, Chikako (2011). "Keep life simple": Body/technology relationships in racialized global contexts. In C. Takeshita (Ed.), The global biopolitics of the IUD: How science constructs contraceptive users and women's bodies (pp.137-162). Boston: MIT Press. Technologies of Sex, Gender, and Difference Hubbard, Ruth (2003). Science, power, gender: How DNA became the book of life. SIGNS: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 28, 791-799. Fausto-Sterling, Anne (2005). The bare bones of sex: Part 1-Sex and gender." Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 30, no. 2, 1491-1527. Bhatia, Rajani (2010). Constructing gender from the inside out: Sex-selection practices in the United States. Feminist Studies, 36, 260-292. Roberts, Dorothy E. (2009). Race, gender, and genetic technologies: A new reproductive dystopia? SIGNS: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 34, 783-804. Richardson, Sarah S. (2012). Sexing the X: How the X became the "female chromosome." SIGNS: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 37, 909-933. Thinking Theoretically Daniels, Jesse (2009). Rethinking cyberfeminism(s): Race, gender, and embodiment. Women's Studies Quarterly, 37, 101-124. Bray, Francesca (2007). Gender and technology. Annual Review of Anthropology, 36, 37-53. Landstrom, Catharina (2007). Queering feminist technology studies. Feminist Theory, 8, 7-26. Nordqvist, Petra (2008). Feminist heterosexual imaginaries of reproduction: Lesbian conception in feminist studies of reproductive technologies. Feminist Theory, 9, 273-292. Waldby, Catherine & Cooper, Melinda. (2010). From reproductive work to regenerative labor: The female body and the stem cell industries. Feminist Theory, 11, 3-22. Harding, Sandra (2011). Beyond postcolonial theory: Two undertheorized perspectives on science and technology. In S. Harding (Ed.), The Postcolonial Science and Technology Reader (pp. 1-31). Durham, NC: Duke University Press. Theoretical Horizons in Feminist Technoscience Studies Haraway, Donna (1991). Situated knowledges: The science question in feminism and the privilege of partial perspective. In D. Haraway (Ed.), Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature (pp. 183-201). New York: Routledge. Barad, Karen (2003). Posthumanist performativity: Toward an understanding of how matter comes to matter. SIGNS: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 28, 801-831. Birke, Lynda, Bryld, Mette, & Lykke, Nina (2004). Animal performances: An exploration of intersections between feminist science studies and studies of human/animal relationships. Feminist Theory, 5, 167-183. Fujimura, Joan (2006). Sex genes: A critical sociomaterial approach to the politics and molecular genetics of sex determination. SIGNS: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 32, 49-82. Ahmed, Sara (2008). Open forum imaginary prohibitions: Some preliminary remarks on the founding gestures of the "new materialism." European Journal of Women's Studies, 15, 23-39. Weber, Jutta (2006). From science and technology to feminist technoscience. In K. Davis, M. S. Evans, & J. Lorber (Eds.), Handbook of Gender and Women's Studies (pp. 397-414). London: SAGE. Moore, Niamh (2011). Eco/feminism and rewriting the ending of feminism: From the Chipko movement to Clayoquot Sound. Feminist Theory, 12, 3-21.


This paper seeks to give an account of what could be involved in interpreting a theory. The aim is to try and provide a robust conception of theory-interpretation which operates in terms internal to the representational architecture of the theory, rather than importing meaning by stipulative correspondence to external terms.


Settlement characteristics, like timing, depth, microhabitat and density of European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas are described for the very first time. Regular SCUBA-diving surveys were conducted from July 1998 to January 2000 on rocky bottoms of three different geologic origins to assess substratum-dependent differences in recruitment density. Settlement of pueruli took place in June-July, a few weeks after sea surface temperature started to rise. The highest density of juveniles was found at 10-15 m depth. Most spiny lobsters settled in limestone rocks, into empty holes of the date mussel Lithophaga lithophaga , which provided daytime refuge. As they grew, individuals were increasingly found in larger holes and crevices of the rock surface. Sizes were estimated from photographs taken at night when the animals were actively foraging. The smallest observed individuals measured 7.5-8 mm carapace length (CL), but they reached 15-18 mm CL at the end of October. The consequences of our results for the management of the spiny lobster populations in the northwestern Mediterranean are summarily discussed.


In the global debates on English as international lingua franca or as 'killer language', the adoption of English as medium of instruction in Higher Education is raising increasing concern. Plurilingualism and multilingualism are embedded in the official policies of the European Union and Council of Europe, and the Bologna Process for harmonizing Higher Education promises 'proper provision for linguistic diversity'. But even enthusiasts acknowledge the problems of implementing such policies in the face of an inexorable increase in the use of English. This survey draws on the most recent and sometimes disparate sources in an attempt to paint a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the spread of English-medium teaching in Europe's universities. The article sets the changes in the context of accelerating globalization and marketization, and analyses the forces which are driving the adoption of English, and some of the problems which accelerating 'Englishization' of European Higher Education might create.


Efforts to improve the business climate in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province are still facing significant obstacles. Moreover, a healthy business climate is needed to create conditions conducive to hastening development, increasing the employment field, and adding to local revenue. In June-August 2006, SMERU conducted a study of the business climate in NTT, concentrating on four districts and one city in West Timor. The study aims to identify various government policies at the central, provincial, and district/city level, which are directly and indirectly related to market structure, the flow of goods, fee structures, and prices received by producers and traders of agricultural products. The study also examines the impact of various agricultural product charges on provincial and district/city local revenue. The information and data was gathered from various respondents, including producers (farmers, livestock producers, fishermen, and home industry operators); traders (intermediate traders to exporters); as well as relevant government offices and agencies. The main finding of the research is that district/city local governments in West Timor are still attempting to increase local revenue by imposing various charges on the trade of agricultural commodities, although the total charges are currently lower than the period prior to 1997. Forestry products and large livestock (mainly cattle) attract the most charges. The study made several other findings. Firstly, in an effort to avoid a central government regulation that limits the total charges, the NTT local government has endeavored to reinvent charges as third party contributions or administration fees. Secondly, although the impact of official charges on the local budget (APBD) is relatively small, it can trigger the emergence of various unofficial charges, or bribes. Thirdly, agricultural producers generally have small-scale enterprises and weak bargaining powers as selling prices are still determined by several big inter-island tradersthus forming a monopsony environment.


Increasing fragmentation of production across borders is changing the nature of international competition. As a result, conventional indicators of competitiveness based on gross exports are becoming less informative and new measures are needed. This paper proposes an ex-post accounting framework of the value added and workers that are directly and indirectly related to the production of final manufacturing goods. The framework focuses on manufactures global value chain income and manufactures global value chain jobs. The paper outlines these concepts and provides trends in European countries based on a recent multi-sector, input-output model of the world economy. The analysis finds that since 1995, revealed comparative advantage of the European Union 27 is shifting to activities related to the production of nonelectrical machinery and transport equipment. The workers involved in manufactures global value chains are increasingly in services, rather than manufacturing industries. The analysis also finds a strong shift toward activities carried out by high-skilled workers, highlighting the uneven distributional effects of fragmentation. The results show that a global value chain perspective is needed to inform the policy debates on competitiveness.


This study was a test of general hypotheses on the significance of resources to risk-only models. Its purpose was to test whether adding resources to models of risk would move some participants from high-risk to lower risk categories. To do this test, the authors used a known-group logistic hierarchical regression analysis composed of 1,311 male and female prison inmates, and two different samples of male and female noninmates totaling 1,703 comparison participants. The authors found through four separate tests that adding resources significantly increased the fit of the model and the percentages of correctly classified inmates and noninmates. The results of the present research provide empirical support for the idea that risk-only models leave out important information related to resources. Assessments that include personal, familial, and community resources and risks will be more accurate and comprehensive than those that focus on risks alone.


Data are available for the years 1970 to 1974 on the reclamation of a heavy, motmorillonitic, clay soil (vertisol) by means of irrigated, submerged, rice crops during three seasons in the experimental area of Chacupe in the arid coastal area of Peru near the city of Chiclayo. The area is under influence of upward seepage of saline groundwater from the uplands, therefore very saline and barren. Despite the difficult soil conditions the experiment has been successful owing to the installation of a subsurface pipe drainage system that intercepted the groundwater flow and drained the leaching water stemming from the irrigation water that percolated slowly downward through the soil to the drains. Thus the inflow of salt water was prevented and the soil was desalinized thanks to the removal of the saline percolation water. An earlier experiment in the Tagus delta, Portugal, revealed that the reclamation of vertisols was a slow process partly owing to the low leaching efficiency and the slow hydraulic conductivity of the soil. To verify this, the reclamation process in Chacupe is described and a salt leaching model, named LeachMod, is applied to explain the phenomena observed. It introduces the concept of leaching efficiency. In the period of the experiment computer software was not yet available, reason why it is used now. The model uses water and salt balances of the root zone of which sufficient data are available to make the model workable. It is found that the desalinization is faster at the start of the experiments than later on. One reason is that at higher salinity the salt concentration of the percolating water is higher in the beginning so that the removal of salts is faster. A second reason is that the leaching efficiency decreases with decreasing soil salinity, a phenomenon that is related to the expansion of the diffuse double layer of clay particles at lower soil salinity levels whereby the soil loses structure and the soil permeability for water reduces. Without the model, this conclusion could not be found. The consequence of the structure loss is that it will take many years before the soil salinity has gone down sufficiently to allow growing "dry foot" crops. However, the "wet foot" rice crops produced satisfactory yields already after one year owing to the good quality of the irrigation water in which the roots were submerged. The presence of the drainage system was important to remove the salty downward percolating water and to maintain a deep water table during fallow periods thus preventing capillary rise of the groundwater and re-salinization of the soil. An example is given of a situation with an inadequate drainage system using LeachMod with a reduced drainage capacity to demonstrate the danger of such re-salinization.


Investigated in this study were the mediators of the effects of preschool intervention on children's school achievement in sixth grade. A confirmatory structural model developed in a previous study of third graders was tested with 360 low-income, mostly black children who were available at the 3-year follow-up. The model incorporated cognitive readiness at kindergarten entry and parent involvement in school (rated by teachers and parents) as primary mediators of preschool effectiveness. In sixth grade (age 12), preschool participation at ages 3 or 4 was significantly associated with higher reading achievement, higher math achievement, and with lower incidence of grade retention. Cognitive readiness and parent involvement in school significantly mediated the estimated effects of preschool participation on school achievement and grade retention 7 years postprogram. Teacher ratings of school adjustment, school mobility, and grade retention also contributed to the transmission of effects. This integrated model fit the data better than several alternative models, including those based on the cognitive-advantage and family-support hypotheses.


The article summarizes 34
years (1980-2014) of the original observations of the genesis and evolution
stages of the Caspian lagoons. A model of the formation and evolution of the
coastal lagoons has been worked out. It can be applied to the modelling of the
global geoecological scenario along all the world's coasts characterized by a
steady transgression of their marine areas. The lagoons had been formed in a "bottleneck",
a narrow migration corridor, traversed by the largest migration route of
trans-Palearctic species in Russia. This route is part of the West Siberian-East African migration range. Year round bird
censuses (n = 746) were taken by the author in 1995-2014 along two key routes
in the regions of Turalinskaya and Sulakskaya lagoons of Daghestan (the western
coast of the Middle Caspian Sea). The meridional orientation of lagoons,
location of the migration trajectory and a wide range of habitats in the study
area contribute to the preservation of 294 Eurasian bird species. After
formation of the lagoons, the breeding avifauna of the Caspian Sea Region of
Central Daghestan has added 32 taxa. Among the species recorded at the lagoons,
50 are included in the IUCN Red List, Red Data Books of Russia and Daghestan.
The reconstruction analysis of the migration trajectory compiled according to
the data of the Russian Bird Ringing Centre allowed us to determine the
population distribution geography for the birds regularly migrating along the
western coast of the Caspian Sea and refine borders of theWest Siberian-East
African migration range.
Thus, according to the information received, the current migratory range should
be greatly extended to cover the area from the British Isles in the West
Palearctic to Lake Baikal in the east, including the extreme west and south of
Africa.


... if the ground determines the subject in itself, there will be no relation of the representation to its object in itself but only in the subject. No quality of the object will be implied by the representation, therefore, since that would be a ground of agreement in the object. The representation will therefore be unsusceptible of truth. An imperfect example of such a representation is a proper name the ground of which is a convention between the persons who use it. Such a representation may be called an index.


Abstract. In the Mediterranean region, climate and land use change are expected to impact on natural and agricultural ecosystems by warming, reduced rainfall, direct degradation of ecosystems and biodiversity loss. Human population growth and socioeconomic changes, notably on the eastern and southern shores, will require increases in food production and put additional pressure on agro-ecosystems and water resources. Coping with these challenges requires informed decisions that, in turn, require assessments by means of a comprehensive agro-ecosystem and hydrological model. This study presents the inclusion of 10 Mediterranean agricultural plants, mainly perennial crops, in an agro-ecosystem model (Lund-Potsdam-Jena managed Land – LPJmL): nut trees, date palms, citrus trees, orchards, olive trees, grapes, cotton, potatoes, vegetables and fodder grasses. The model was successfully tested in three model outputs: agricultural yields, irrigation requirements and soil carbon density. With the development presented in this study, LPJmL is now able to simulate in good detail and mechanistically the functioning of Mediterranean agriculture with a comprehensive representation of ecophysiological processes for all vegetation types (natural and agricultural) and in a consistent framework that produces estimates of carbon, agricultural and hydrological variables for the entire Mediterranean basin. This development paves the way for further model extensions aiming at the representation of alternative agro-ecosystems (e.g. agroforestry), and opens the door for a large number of applications in the Mediterranean region, for example assessments of the consequences of land use transitions, the influence of management practices and climate change impacts.


Deinking remains an important step in environmentally conscious manufacturing of paper. A novel method based on acoustic‐coaxing‐induced microcavitation is presented for deinking of xerographic ink from paper. Microcavitation evolves microimplosions which are effective in deinking. Acoustic coaxing is an acoustic mediation that enables one to control the onset, intensity, and evolution of acoustic microcavitation. Acoustic microcavitation is brought about by low‐megahertz acoustic fields giving rise to micron‐size bubbles that live a few microseconds. Liquid‐borne microparticles when exposed to strong sound fields will not, ordinarily, cause any cavitation. However, if in addition to this sound field there exists even a very weak, high‐frequency auxiliary acoustic field, cavitation by the microparticles is readily facilitated. This technique of facilitating cavitation is referred to as ''acoustic coaxing.'' Acoustic‐coaxing methods for deinking are a chemical‐free, environmentally responsible means of recycling paper. Here, initial experimental results are presented and the technique is elaborated upon in detail for easy implementation. Preliminary results indicate that the paper fibers are entirely undamaged, and the ink separation leaves them immaculately white. The microimplosions appear to occur preferentially at the ink sites.


OBJECTIVE
To measure, for the first time, the performance of the American Diabetes Association-National Committee for Quality Assurance Provider Recognition Program (PRP) survey in assessing patient satisfaction with the provision of diabetes care.

STUDY DESIGN
Postal survey.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
The PRP survey satisfaction questions and the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire were mailed to a random sample of 607 patients with diabetes attending 3 medical practices (63 primary care providers), with an additional mailing to nonresponders.

RESULTS
On face validity, the PRP survey incompletely addressed satisfaction with the provision of diabetes care. The response rate was 67%. The items in the PRP survey were correlated internally (Cronbach alpha coefficient = .89) and with the Overall Satisfaction scale (r = 0.40-0.56; P < .001 for all) of the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (concurrent validity). The instrument was skewed toward satisfaction. After recoding all less-than-totally satisfied responses as expressing dissatisfaction, 25% of the surveys indicated dissatisfaction with diabetes care.

CONCLUSIONS
The PRP patient satisfaction survey is an internally consistent and valid measure of patient satisfaction. However, it is incomplete and skewed toward satisfaction. Development of a patient dissatisfaction metric might play a more significant role in orienting quality improvement efforts and benchmarking.


What if "one simple change "could save you from heart disease, diabetes, and cancer? For decades, that question has fascinated a small circle of impassioned doctors and researchers and now, their life-changing research is making headlines in the hit documentary "Forks Over Knives." Their answer? "Eat a whole-foods, plant-based diet" it could save your life. It may overturn most of the diet advice you ve heard but the experts behind "Forks Over Knives" aren t afraid to make waves. In his book "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease," Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn explained that eating meat, dairy, and oils injures the lining of our blood vessels, causing heart disease, heart attack, or stroke. In "The China Study," Dr. Colin Campbell revealed how cancer and other diseases skyrocket when eating meat and dairy is the norm and plummet when a traditional plant-based diet persists. And more and more experts are adding their voices to the cause: "There is nothing else you can do for your health that can match the benefits of a plant-based diet." Now, as "Forks Over Knives" is introducing more people than ever before to the plant-based way to health, this accessible guide provides the information you need to adopt and maintain a plant-based diet. Features include: Insights from the luminaries behind the film Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. John McDougall, "The Engine 2 Diet "author Rip Esselstyn, and many othersSuccess stories from converts to plant-based eating like San Dera Prude, who no longer needs to medicate her diabetes, has lost weight, and feels great!The many benefits of a whole-foods, plant-based diet for you, for animals and the environment, and for our futureA helpful primer on crafting a healthy diet rich in unprocessed fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, including tips on transitioning and essential kitchen tools125 recipes from 25 champions of plant-based dining from Blueberry Oat Breakfast Muffins and Sunny Orange Yam Bisque to Garlic Rosemary Polenta and Raspberry-Pear Crisp delicious, healthy, and for every meal, every day."


By refusing to fill vacancies in the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Appellate Body—the top body that hears appeals and rules on trade disputes--the Trump administration has paralyzed the key component of the dispute settlement system. No nation or group of nations has more at stake in salvaging this system than the world's big emerging-market economies: Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, and Thailand, among others. These countries have actively and successfully used the dispute settlement system to defend their commercial interests abroad and resolve inevitable trade conflicts. The authors suggest that even though the developing countries did not create the Appellate Body crisis, they may hold a key to unlock it. The Trump administration has also focused its ire on a longstanding WTO practice of giving these economies latitude to seek "special and differential treatment" in trade negotiations because of their developing-country status. The largest developing economies, which have a significant stake in preserving a two-step, rules-based mechanism for resolving trade disputes, could play a role in driving a potential bargain to save the appeals mechanism. They could unite to give up that special status in return for a US commitment to end its boycott of the nomination of Appellate Body members.


Node embedding is a crucial task in graph analysis. Recently, several methods are proposed to embed a node as a distribution rather than a vector to capture more information. Although these methods achieved noticeable improvements, their extra complexity brings new challenges. For example, the learned representations of nodes could be sensitive to external noises on the graph and vulnerable to adversarial behaviors. In this paper, we first derive an upper bound on generalization error for Wasserstein embedding via the PAC-Bayesian theory. Based on this, we propose an algorithm called Adversarial PAC-Bayesian Learning (APBL) in order to minimize the generalization error bound. Furthermore, we provide a model called Regularized Adversarial Wasserstein Embedding Network (RAWEN) as an implementation of APBL. Besides our comprehensive analysis of the robustness of RAWEN, our work for the first time explores more kinds of embedded distributions. For evaluations, we conduct extensive experiments to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our proposed embedding model compared with the state-of-the-art methods.


Cisplatin (cDDP) is a potent chemotherapeutic agent used in the management of a range of
tumours, however its clinical efficacy is limited by tumour cell chemoresistance. Whilst the
major target of the drug is considered to be nuclear DNA, cDDP has been shown to interact
with other organelles, notably the ER and mitochondria, although the importance of these
interactions is not fully understood. The contribution of such extranuclear effects is here
addressed through comparative studies of two lung adenocarcinoma cell lines with differing
sensitivity towards cDDP. Exposure to cDDP induced proliferative arrest and caspasedependent
apoptosis in A549-WT cells, without requirement for caspase-8, calpains, ROS or
Ca2+. Two-fold resistance towards cDDP-induced apoptosis was measured in A549-CR cells,
generated through long term exposure to the drug. A549-CR cells showed marked inhibition
of Ca2+ signalling from the ER due to a 50% reduction of IP3R function. However, cDDP
treatment did not alter cytosolic Ca2+ levels nor deplete the ER Ca2+ store. Further, neither
chelation of intracellular Ca2+ nor pharmacological inhibition of IP3R Ca2+ channel opening
inhibited cDDP-induced A549-WT cell death, thus under the present experimental conditions
Ca2+ flux through the IP3R does not modulate cDDP sensitivity. Basal and maximal cellular
O2 consumption in A549-WT cells significantly increased following cDDP treatment, but
was unaltered in A549-CR cells. Sequencing of mtDNA identified a novel point mutation in
A549-CR mtDNA causing a 50% reduction of complex I activity. Mutations of mtDNA and
reduced respiratory chain activity might inhibit apoptosis. The abundance of complex I was
increased by 50%, potentially an example of pro-survival mitochondrial-nucleus
compensatory retrograde signalling. Thus, key differences in mitochondrial function and
response to cDDP which may alter A549 cell sensitivity to cDDP have been identified for
further investigation.


By and large in the generative framework, syntactic comparisons concern isolated mechanisms within different languages in a typological perspective. However, comparison can provide more if, as dialectologists, we consider that variation between closely genealogically related languages throws light on diachronic reconstruction. Indeed, if diatopic variation represents different stages of a change, then different dialects in a homogeneous area display different stages of the evolution and the speakers' I-language for the earlier stages becomes accessible.
Considering the Null 'Subject' Parameter, we focus on the dialects at the boundaries of Occitania since they display subject clitics for some persons only. Our data illustrate the gradual change between a stage zero (with no subject clitics, e.g. Latin) and a stage n (with subject clitics for all persons, e.g. Standard French). Analyzing clitics as bundles of features, we propose a progression in their emergence, which ties in with a functional 'motivational cycle' of the morpho-syntactic elements.


Many numerical methods have been proposed in the last 30 years for inverse problems. While very successful in many cases, progress has lagged in other areas of applications which are forced to rely on limited-aperture measurements. In this paper, we introduce some techniques to retrieve the other data that can not be measured directly. We consider the inverse acoustic scattering of time harmonic plane waves and take the scattering amplitude to be the measurements. Assume that the scattering amplitude can only be measured with observation directions restricted in $S^{n-1}_0$, which is compactly supported in the unit sphere. Based on the reciprocity relation of the scattering amplitude, we prove a special symmetric structure of the corresponding multi-static response matrix. This will also be verified by numerical examples. Combining this, with the help of the Green's formula for the scattered field, we introduce an iterative scheme to retrieve approximate full-aperture scattering amplitude. As an application, using a recently proposed direct sampling method [LiuIP17], we consider the fast and robust sampling methods with limited-aperture measurements. Some numerical simulations are conducted with noisy data, and the results will further verify the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed data retrieval method and of the sampling method for inverse acoustic scattering problems.


A hand-held electronic nose (e-nose) based on polymer/carbon nanotube (CNT) is presented as a point-of-care clinical instrument. The system was designed to support key requirements such as compact body, lightweight and low cost suitable for home-based diagnostics. This paper is a case study to demonstrate clinical application of an e-nose by investigating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as generated from the armpit area of a volunteer during twelve hours. Six chemical sensors, which can respond to VOCs being available in human skin and sweat such as ammonia, amines, acid, alcohol and acetone, were chosen to collect odor information according to the principle of expansion of polymer volume. Principal component analysis (PCA) based on a statistical pattern analysis was used to classify and analyze the VOCs fingerprint. The experimental results have shown that this device can be a useful instrument for monitoring the health status of patients at home.


This paper addresses an argument offered by John Hawthorne against the propriety of an agent's using propositions she does not know as premises in practical reasoning. I will argue that there are a number of potential structural confounds in Hawthorne's use of his main example, a case of practical reasoning about a lottery. By drawing these confounds out more explicitly, we can get a better sense of how to make appropriate use of such examples in theorizing about norms, knowledge, and practical reasoning. I will conclude by suggesting a prescription for properly using lottery propositions to do the sort of work that Hawthorne wants from them.


Although digital-free tourism is growing in popularity, research in this area has not unpacked the complex power relations between humans and technology through a critical perspective. Building on Foucault's analysis of power and resistance, we theorized technology as disciplinary power and conducted a collaborative autoethnography to explore how individuals resist the dominant discourse. Through a reflexive account, we theorize digital-free travel as a process of negotiating and rejecting the dominant discourse of technology, particularly through effective personal strategies of engaging in full disconnection, redefining punishments and rewards, recalling nostalgic memories, and constantly reflecting on embodied feelings and self-transformations in the power relations. Theoretically, this study contributes to understanding digital-free tourism through the lens of power and resistance; it also contributes to critical studies in technology and tourism. Methodologically, we emphasize the potential of applying collaborative autoethnography in analyzing embodied self-transformations. Practically, this study offers suggestions for digital-free tourism providers.


Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) is an oncogenic transcription factor that is dysregulated in numerous human cancers, making it an attractive therapeutic target. AP-1 forms via interaction of cJun and cFos proteins, which intertwine to generate a 'coiled coil' (CC) structure. Thus, the cJun/cFos α-helical CC domains responsible for dimerisation are appealing targets for inhibiting AP-1 formation and activity. Helical peptide antagonists that sequester cJun can be derived from the cFos CC domain by selection of more optimal amino acids for increased binding affinity. Peptides can then be downsized and modified to improve therapeutic potential. Two approaches aimed to identify novel short peptides against cJun. The first was to covalently cyclise amino acid side chains in existing cFos-derived peptide "FosW", with the aim of constraining FosW into a stable helix to allow downsizing without significant loss of binding structure and affinity. Using circular dichroism spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry, a series of helix constrained peptides were characterised, from which a peptide was identified that retained 88 % of FosW binding affinity whilst being 22 % shorter, and which entered breast cancer cells in vitro, with preliminary data suggesting potential ability to inhibit AP-1 in cellulo. The second approach was to combine two existing high-throughput peptide selection systems, with the aim of benefitting from overlap in their strengths and weaknesses. Combination of in vitro CIS display and in cellulo Protein-fragment Complementation Assay successfully isolated a high affinity peptide from a hugely diverse library, and future refinements to further exploit this approach, particularly for short peptide selection, were formulated. Thus, molecules and techniques derived here may expedite the future development of therapies for cancers featuring AP-1 dysregulation.


There is a substantial gap between the promise and reality of artificial intelligence in human resource (HR) management. This article identifies four challenges in using data science techniques for HR tasks: complexity of HR phenomena, constraints imposed by small data sets, accountability questions associated with fairness and other ethical and legal constraints, and possible adverse employee reactions to management decisions via data-based algorithms. It then proposes practical responses to these challenges based on three overlapping principles—causal reasoning, randomization and experiments, and employee contribution—that would be both economically efficient and socially appropriate for using data science in the management of employees.


Our group has used mainly antigens encoded by gene MAGE-3 to vaccinate metastatic melanoma patients. Most vaccinations were performed with a MAGE-3 peptide presented by HLA-A1 (peptide MAGE-3.A1). The MAGE-3 protein and a recombinant virus containing sequences coding for a MAGE-3.A1 and a MAGE-1.A1 peptide have also been used. To sum up the results of all our trials, we have observed tumor regressions (i.e. regression of at least one metastasis) in 20% of the vaccinated patients and complete or partial clinical responses in 10%.

Until recently, we failed to observe anti-MAGE-3.A1 CTL responses in the blood of vaccinated patients, even in those patients who made a clinical response, indicating that no massive CTL response occurred. This situation is changing: using new approaches we now observe weak CTL responses in some of the patients who show tumor regression. These responses are monoclonal or involve very few clones. The CTL-p frequencies in the blood vary from 3 x 10-5 to 6 x 10-7 of CD8 T cells. Is it reasonable to believe that such low frequencies of CTL could trigger tumor regressions? We believe that this is possible, because in mice large tumors can be rejected following the production of about 20,000 specific CTL. In man, who carries about 3,000 times more T lymphocytes than mice, this number corresponds to a frequency of about 3 x 10-7.

This abstract was published in Cancer Immunity , a [Cancer Research Institute][1] journal that ceased publication in 2013 and is now provided online in association with Cancer Immunology Research .

 [1]: http://cancerresearch.org/


The war in Afghanistan is over ten years old. It has cost countless lives and hundreds of billions of pounds. Politicians talk of progress, but the violence is worse than ever. In this powerful and shocking expose from the front lines in Helmand province, leading journalist and documentary-maker Ben Anderson (HBO, Panorama, and Dispatches) shows just how bad it has got. Detailing battles that last for days, only to be fought again weeks later, Anderson witnesses IED explosions and sniper fire, amid disturbing incompetence and corruption among the Afghan army and police. Also revealing the daily struggle to win over the long-suffering local population, who often express open support for the Taliban, No Worse Enemy is a heartbreaking insight into the chaos at the heart of the region. Raising urgent questions about our supposed achievements and the politicians' desire for a hasty exit, Anderson highlights the vast gulf that exists between what we are told and what is actually happening on the ground. A product of five years' unrivalled access to UK forces and US Marines, this is the most intimate and horrifying account of the Afghan war ever published.


The Evolution of Vertebrate Design is a solid introduction to vertebrate evolution, paleontology, vertebrate biology, and functional, comparative anatomy. Its lucid style also makes it ideal for general readers intrigued by fossil history. Clearly drawn diagrams illustrate biomechanical explanations of the evolution of fins, jaws, joints, and body shapes among vertebrates. A glossary of terms is included. "A luminous text is matched by lucid drawings rationally placed...A great teaching monograph, the book will charm lay readers of fossil history. For virtually every college & public collection."--Scitech Book News


This Article proposes a set of guiding principles for approaching the patent-antitrust interface in developing countries. Based on the notion that antitrust doctrines need to be adjusted to reflect the local economic circumstances, this Article argues that any credible approach to the patent-antitrust interface in developing countries must incorporate development considerations. It proposes a set of guiding principles that takes into account a wide range of factors, including the need to provide innovation incentives, the need to facilitate domestic imitation, the need to protect domestic consumer welfare, and the need to safeguard access to basic necessities. With the support of a considerable body of theoretical and empirical economic literature, this Article challenges the widely held belief that patent protection is necessary for securing innovations. Rather, this Article argues that developing countries need to be skeptical about innovation-based justifications for restrictive patent exploitation practices, as many of them do not possess the capacity to take advantage of innovation incentives and can ill-afford to sacrifice consumer welfare. It concludes by highlighting the implicit challenge this Article poses to the drive for convergence that has dominated international antitrust in the last decade.


Although traces of archaic hominin DNA persist in all human populations outside Africa, these traces have been systematically depleted from the most functionally important regions of the human genome. This depletion suggests that many Neanderthal and Denisovan alleles had harmful effects on the fitness of hybrid individuals, but the nature of these harmful effects is poorly understood. Here, we show that Neanderthal and Denisovan alleles likely dysregulated gene expression in specific human tissues, causing systematic depletion of archaic introgression from enhancer regions annotated by the ENCODE RoadMap project. Highly pleiotropic enhancers that show activity in many tissues are more depleted of introgression than tissue-specific enhancers, and Neanderthal depletion is highly correlated with Denisovan depletion across sets of enhancers active in particular tissues. Fetal brain and fetal muscle are the tissues most depleted of archaic SNPs in their regulatory regions, and by analyzing the site frequency spectra of enhancers compared to control regions, we deduce that brain and muscle enhancers are likely depleted of introgression for different reasons. Brain enhancers appear to accumulate deleterious mutations unusually quickly, which may have caused inbred archaic populations to accumulate disproportionately large amounts of genetic load in these regions. In contrast, fetal muscle enhancers show no evidence of high deleterious mutation rates, and we hypothesize that their depletion of archaic DNA resulted from divergent selection for higher muscle mass in Neanderthals and Denisovans compared to humans.


This paper investigates the effect of export activities on firm performance by taking into account whether or not exporter firms' affiliated companies (i.e., their own subsidiaries and parent companies' branches) are located in the export markets. To single out a causal impact on firm performance running from starting export, we employ propensity-score matching difference-in-differences estimation. Using a unique firm-level panel dataset that allows us to identify firms starting export and firms staying in domestic markets as well as their affiliated firms' overseas activities, we find that firms exhibited better performance than their non-exporter counterparts prior to export, and that the difference in the performance, especially productivity, significantly widened after export. Such improvement in productivity originated from starting export was found to be statistically and economically significant when exporter firms did not have affiliated firms in overseas markets. On the other hand, the performance gain from export was highly heterogeneous and hence statistically insignificant in the case when these affiliated firms were present in overseas market. The former type of firm fits well to test the learning-by-exporting mechanism hypothesis since it accessed the export markets for the first time by exporting.


Body piercings, tattoos, and permanent make-up have become very popular as a fashion statement in recent decades. This book guides the reader through the world of body art. An overview is first provided of the history and epidemiology of tattoos and piercings. Subsequent chapters go on to examine in detail the materials and devices used in various forms of body art, and the techniques employed. All relevant risks and potential complications are clearly described with the aid of color illustrations. Special attention is paid to allergic reactions and the management of complications. The closing chapter examines the techniques and devices used for tattoo removal, with a particular focus on the use of different lasers.


From its origins Islam has been an expansionist religion, understanding itself as a matter of faith to be in a permanent state of war with the non-Muslim world. After the initial consolidation of the Islamic caliphate, however, it soon became apparent that constant military hostilities could not be sustained and that other forms of relationship with non-Muslim nations would be necessary. To reconcile the imperatives of faith with the limits of military power, Islamic scholars developed elaborate legal doctrines. In the second century of the Muslim era (eighth century C.E.), hundreds of years before the codification of international law in Europe by Grotius and others, Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani, an eminent jurist of the Hanafite school in present-day Iraq, wrote the first major Islamic treatise on the law of nations, Kitab al-Siyar al-Kabir. Translated with an extensive commentary by Majid Khadduri, Shaybani's Siyar describes in detail conditions for war (jihad) and for peace, principles for the conduct of military action and of diplomacy, and rules for the treatment of non-Muslims in Muslim lands. A foundational text of the leading school of law in Sunni Islam, it provides essential insights into relations between Islamic nations and the larger world from their earliest days up to the present.


The most used and effective strategy to control fungal diseases in fruit growing is the application of fungicides. The use of fungicides, however, can have a negative impact on the environment and its frequent use enhances the risk of fungicide resistance. Moreover, stronger limits concerning the maximum residue levels (MRLs) on fruits are set up by retailers and the export industry. In the future it will be a great challenge to produce fruits of high quality with a minimal input of pesticides. As such, a search for alternative methods, like biological control agents or physical treatments, which are able to efficiently reduce fruit diseases is required. To this end a physical technique, ultraviolet light in particular, was developed by Clean Light Inc. of The Netherlands. This technology was tested for its capacity to reduce powdery mildew infestation on apple and strawberry leaves. The applied exposure doses ranged from 5 to 60 mJ/cm. The effect of UV-c radiation was tested on the establishment of powdery mildew on leaves of apple seedlings and strawberry plants. For both apple and strawberry the powdery mildew infestation was significantly reduced by exposing the leaves of both plant species to UV-c with a dose of 30 mJ/cm2, without negative effects on plant performance. The obtained efficacy levels were comparable with specific fungicide treatments. A regular application over time was better than using higher dose rates with longer intervals between applications.


Systemic amyloidosis still remains a challenging and probably underdiagnosed disease.1

The three most frequent types of systemic amyloidosis are (i) the acquired monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL), characterised by clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow that produce the immunoglobulin lights chains of the fibrillary deposits; (ii) the hereditary, transthyretin (TTR)-related form (ATTR), which can be caused by 100 mutations of TTR, a transport protein synthesised mainly by the liver; and (iii) the wild-type (non-mutant) TTR-related amyloidosis called systemic 'senile' amyloidosis (SSA), which affects mainly the hearts of elderly men.1 ,2

Pozo et al 3 focus on the problem of LV remodelling and on the type of distribution of the 'hypertrophy' in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA). The concepts of 'LV remodelling' and 'LV geometry' have been elaborated in the last 20 years mainly related to coronary heart disease, hypertensive heart disease4 and valvular heart disease. Regarding hypertensive heart disease, a spectrum of LVH exists ranging from concentric LV hypertrophy (LVH), characterised by increased LV mass and increased ratio of the LV wall thickness to diastolic diameter (relative wall thickness, RWT), …


Intracranial meningeal hemangiopericytoma is a rare vascular tumor with a high rate of both local recurrence and the development of distant metastases. The aim of this report is to present the first case of recurrent meningeal hemangiopericytoma with an isolated femur metastasis and discuss the clinical features and treatment of this rare tumor. A 46-year-old woman was admitted with the complaint of sudden loss of consciousness and subsequently underwent an urgent craniotomy with total excision of the lesion. The diagnosis was meningeal hemangiopericytoma. The patient presented with a painful left hip 51⁄2 years after the initial surgery for the primary tumor. A lytic lesion, which was 4x4.5 cm in diameter, was seen on an X-ray of the proximal left femur. The patient underwent lesion removal surgery and pathological diagnosis was compatible with meningeal hemangiopericytoma. At 69th month, no progression has been observed in follow-up. Long-term follow-up is mandatory for meningeal hemangiopericytoma due to high recurrence rate many years after diagnosis. Further multi-institutional studies are strongly needed to understand the clinical behavior and treatment modalities of this rare disease.


Globally, there has been enhanced media and public interest in tall buildings following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York. In the Arab region, tall buildings have also become an important topic of debate. The Middle East is set to grow significantly over the next two decades. Soaring population and jobs growth will increase demands for the better use of residential and commercial office space. This is a vital issue for the growth in the economy of the region. The number of construction sites for tall buildings in the Arab world is staggering when compared to European developments. A statistical review of tall buildings has shown for example that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the year 2010 will outnumber UK and Germany together in the number of 30+ floors buildings by reaching (446 UAE) compared to [243 UK(130) + Germany(113)]. Today high buildings are considered flagship developments not only in the Arab World but also worldwide that play an important part in regeneration. Tall buildings are likely to continue to be relevant to the master planning of areas with good public transport access and capacity. A successful tall building must adhere to a set of clear urban design guidelines that affect the following areas: edges, use, public space, urban integration and environmental factors. This paper addresses this issue. The challenge for architects, urban designers, and planners in the Arab world is to provide the right type and quality of new space and new place that won't undermine the question of identity. The paper explores the nature of tall buildings in the Arab region and provides examples of the positive and negative transformation of the urban environments in a number of locales. The paper concludes by drawing some guidelines for future development of tall buildings in the Arab World.


What drives motivation in multiphase competitions? Adopting a dynamic approach, this research examines how temporary standing—being ahead of (vs. behind) one's opponent—in a multiphase competition shapes subsequent motivation. Six competitions conducted in the lab and in the field demonstrate that the impact of being ahead on contestants' motivation depends on when (i.e., in which phase of the competition) contestants learn they are in the lead. In the early phase, contestants are concerned about whether they can win; being ahead increases motivation by making winning seem more attainable. In the later phase, however, contestants are instead driven by how much additional effort they believe they need to invest; being ahead decreases motivation by reducing contestants' estimate of the remaining effort needed to win. Temporary standing thus has divergent effects on motivation in multiphase competitions, driven by a shift in contestants' main concern from the early to the later phase and thus the meaning they derive from being ahead of their opponent. By leveraging insights gained from approaching individuals' self-regulation as a dynamic process, this research advances understanding of how motivation evolves in a unique interdependent self-regulatory context.


In the transformation of early modern English food sources from the local to the international are a wide range of questions about the global-sourcing/local-demand conflict that was developing in Shakespeare's time and continues today. Shakespeare's food reveals the complexities of a network of global and local actors and transformations. As a performance, Timon of Athens potentially arouses sometimes intense visceral responses (ones that are peculiarly resonant with contemporary audiences) to Timon's dream that the world is his confectionary. One of the results of performing the transformation of food from the local to the global (the play's explicit representation of the world as Timon's unsustainable confectionary) is that we are better able to see and understand ecological collapse: while anthropogenic ecological collapses in early modern times were relatively isolated, today's collapses are more properly understood as global. We witness the transformative and deterritorializing potentials of food, even while such transformations are in the service of a deeply nationalist agenda that is troubling and unsustainable in its rejection of global connectedness. Performance is vital for excavating the layers and implications of food transformations and potentials in Timon of Athens, a play deeply relevant to food transformation debates current in the 21st century.


CASE DESCRIPTION In this case the authors tell the story of a small business startup and the difficulties faced when environment is not considered. This case would be most suitable for undergraduate courses in Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management. The case is designed to be taught in one fifty to seventy-five minute class period, with about thirty minutes of reading and preparation time on the students part, prior to class. CASE SYNOPSIS This case is based upon an actual experience. The names of the participants and the company have been changed to maintain confidentiality. This case demonstrates problems that can arise from poor investigation of a location prior to going into business. NTA has discovered that they face significant external environmental risks of which they had previously been unaware. INSTRUCTORS' NOTES Discussion Questions 1. Why did David Lee open NTA Executive Retreats? The NTA Martial Art Academy had grown into a successful business, but its profit potential was limited. When Lee first opened the martial art studio, he faced limited competition in the immediate area. Currently, competitors are expanding directly into his territory and competition is becoming fierce. The increase in competition is making his product more commoditized and threatens his margins. Students in part select a martial art studio based upon the quality of the instruction. David Lee is the source of advantage for this business, but he has limited time to devote to the business given his other interests. Further, having classes in a fixed facility limits class size and therefore limits profit potential. David Lee needed to find a business that was seen as offering a unique product where he could increase the amount he could charge for his services. The executive retreat business was a natural extension of his current business. His existing students were an initial customer source for the new venture as well as a source of employees. The established reputation of the NTA Martial Art Academy could be used to provide immediate legitimacy and trust for the new product. David Lee's contacts in the business community, as a result of the other businesses he owned and operated, were a source of referrals for his new venture. Further, the high capital requirements for owning and operating a retreat facility were a significant barrier to entry for other martial art academies. Consequently, the limited competition would allow Lee to charge higher prices and thereby achieve higher margins. 2. Why did David Lee select a location two hours from Silicon Valley for his new venture? The remote location was necessary for several reasons. First, it would not have been economically feasible to purchase such a large tract of land so close to Silicon Valley. Second, the concept of a retreat is to remove the client from their normal surroundings. Third, a location two hours from Silicon Valley reinforced the concept of separation from the normal routine of the customer yet was close enough that the trip would not seem difficult. Finally, a primitive setting would not have felt genuine inside the boundaries of a major metropolitan area. 3. Describe the nature of NTA's industry using a Porter's Five Forces framework. NTA's buyers had considerable power due to low switching costs. It was an industry practice to raise switching costs by requiring Academy members to enroll for twelve months at a time. However, this policy used by both martial art academies and health clubs frequently resulted in conflicts with customers. Suppliers to the business had limited power. While national chains could negotiate better prices due to larger purchase commitments, the cost of supplies was not material to NTA's operations and multiple suppliers were available to the company. …


This article discusses implicit conceptions of reticence in the early philosophical writings of Mikhail Bakhtin. Contrary to the image of Bakhtin as a thinker of dialogue, polyphony, and voice, it finds a strand in Bakhtin's thought that suggests that there might be good reasons for remaining silent and not stepping into the world in speech: in reticence, the human being avoids both judgment and being judged, eludes the risk of the addressee's absence or unreliability, and resists the finality of utterance that shares in the finality of death. This essay makes a case for a Bakhtinian apology for quietism and seeks to contribute to recent work in Common Knowledge on that subject. Bakhtin's conception of reticence is usefully understood with reference to threshold situations: in withholding a future word, a human being hovers on the borders of nonbeing and being, on the borders of the present, future, and past. In this sense, reticence is allied to conceptions of fuzziness and blur that have also been concerns of this journal in recent years. In making these claims, the essay relates Bakhtin's thought to a Russian literary tradition of thinking about silence (Tiutchev's and Mandelstam's Silentium poems), as well as to a more broadly European intellectual context (Arendt and Heidegger, for example), where thinkers understand being in terms of becoming and understand disclosure through speech.


Nodelman's thesis of childhood as a colonized state, with every aspect controlled and mandated by adults, purposes that children and teenagers can be controlled through a variety of pressures.  A colonial reading of a story can be used to determine typical controlling factors and to examine how such colonization subverts childhood, or adolescents.  In Pete Hautman's Young Adult novel Godless , religion is the controlling factor under examination.  While Hautman's novel does not insult or belittle religion, it does showcase how an adult's use of religion is one of the greatest powers he or she has over a teenager.


Nearly two decades after the end of the Cold War, academics, policy makers and commentators continue to be puzzled by the shape, form and content of contemporary world politics. The fluidity of the post-Cold War era has seen the elevation of largely functional explanations for why things are to a more transcendent set of ideas about how social relations can be made afresh. This shift from ideology to utopia is no idle problem, for what it tends to generate are images which often lie outside historical experience and time and place specificities. This article is an attempt to provide a corrective to at least parts of this malady by carrying out a Zeitdiagnose which questions some of the taken-for-granted assumptions about the current period, in particular the schema offered by the prominent cosmopolitan thinker, Nancy Fraser. The article looks in detail at the historical basis of Fraser's current work, comparing it both to similar visions prevalent in the inter-war years and to contemporary programmes based on the theory of the democratic peace and the policy of democracy promotion. The article develops a construct — realistic utopias — which aims to build from history to mid-range abstractions rather than from general abstractions to events on the ground. As a result, it is argued, a more developed link can be made between theory and practice, abstraction and history, normative project and institutional reality.


Bamnet Narong is located in northeastern Thailand (Chaiyaphum Province). It is the largest salt mine in the country and has been mined for decades. The landscape in this part of Thailand is characterised by a low plateau, which is called the Khorat Plateau. The plateau is divided into two basins by the Phu Phan Range, the Sakhon Nakhon Basin in the north and the Khorat Basin in the south. The analysed potashes and rock salts are deposited in the Maha Sarakham Formation, which represents the salt-bearing strata of the Khorat Basin. The stratigraphic age of this deposit has been debated since the late 1960's. The assigned ages range from Mid-Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous and up to the Eocene. In this study different isotopic dating systems (Rb-Sr, Sr-Sr, K-Ar and K-Ca) were applied. The stratigraphic age for the time of deposition was confirmed to be Mid Cretaceous (Cenomanian). Furthermore, the homogeneity of the carnallites was investigated in order to trace a possible redistribution of rubidium.


Research into the impacts of climate change on lakes requires novel experimental methods that enable realistic tests of the effects of increased water temperatures on communities. This article describes the design of a heating system that has been used in situ to study the effects of an increase in lake surface temperatures on littoral communities. Water within four 700‐L enclosures was heated using a propane‐fuelled heat exchange system. Hot water was circulated through a network of heat exchange pipes nested in the bottom of enclosures and temperature within the enclosures was controlled electronically by regulating water flow through a series of valves. The system performed well, with temperatures within warmed enclosures paralleling diurnal fluctuations within control enclosures. The average temperature difference between warm and control enclosures of 4.5°C was close to our target temperature difference of 5°C. Strengths of the experimental system are discussed and potential improvements, including improved heat retention and a design adjustment to facilitate repair in the event of lightning damage are noted. The system is adaptable to larger and smaller volumes, different temperature regimes, and can be adapted for use in pelagic systems.


Since the Australian recession which began in the 1990s, outsourcing has
received considerable attention. Amongst the many benefits that outsourcing is
believed to offer, a key benefit is that it allows organisations to focus on their
competitive strengths while contracting out non-core activities.
While there is currently a considerable amount of studies and evidence on the
costs and benefits of outsourcing, much of this is centred on Information
Technology. There are predictions and some anecdotal evidence indicating
that the outsourcing of typical accounting functions will increase as we
approach the second millennium. The questions left unanswered are many:
• are the trends in the outsourcing of typical accounting functions really on the
increase?
• what are the rationales and perceived benefits associated with the
outsourcing of typical accounting functions?
• does the outsourcing of typical accounting functions raise any concerns?
• what impact will outsourcing have on the service providers in the accounting
services industry?
This study has been designed to answer the above questions. The methodology
undertaken necessitated two separate surveys which were conducted over a
period of 6 months within 1997 and 1998. Both surveys were based on mailed
questionnaires which were forwarded to 300 service-user organisations and 300
service-provider organisations.
Several key findings have emerged from this study:
• the increasing trend to outsource in between 1992 and the period beyond
1997 had only applied to two out of nine accounting functions.
• the outsourcing of typical accounting functions were not undertaken by at
least 75% of responding firms in 1997.
• there were differences between service-buyers' and service-providers'
perception of outsourcing benefits.
• the outstanding number of concerns associated with the management and
control of outsourced functions as well as humans resource, technological
and financial issues was a factor which appear to have deterred firms from
outsourcing typical accounting functions.
The recommendations arising from this study are summarised, as follows:
First, in order to minimise undesired outcomes as a result of outsourcing,
service-user firms need to consider several issues before the decision to
outsource is made. These issues include the strategic importance of, and
existing problems associated with their accounting functions, as well as the risks
and benefits of outsourcing those functions.
Second, service providers' ability to deliver services at pre-determined levels are
more likely to be successful if they are prepared to specialise in the types of
client industries where risks can be measured.
Third, the identification of human resource problems warrants some research
into how organisations can achieve a win-win situation with in-house staff
whose positions are jeopardised as a result of outsourcing arrangements.
Fourth, service-provider firms need to be aware and perhaps become familiar
with the capabilities of commercially available software for the processing of
basic accounting functions.


The circuit performance is increasingly affected by signal integrity as cross-talk becomes more significant with scaling down of feature sizes. Many attempts have been made to improve noise immunity, but all require the sacrifice of speed as a tradeoff. In some circuits, P/G network is used as shielding wires to avoid cross-talk while maintaining the desired speed, but the use of the network is inherently restricted by electromigration, IR drop, Ldi/dt noise, etc. We propose a novel methodology to enhance the noise immunity of domino circuits by reordering transistors as well as interconnects based on the functionality of the circuit. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first attempt to use the functionality of a circuit for the purpose of noise immunity enhancement. The methodology, named "Logic-Aware Layout Methodology" (LALM), is composed of a few sub-techniques and can be used to improve the signal integrity of domino circuits. Experimental results show that LALM is simple to apply yet useful to improve the noise immunity of domino circuits.


The working premise of this thesis is that the book of Ecclesiastes can be studied
with confidence as a narrative text for the purpose of analysis. The first part,
then, seeks to flesh out those qualities of the text that are narrative qualities: the
presence of events, first-person narration (autobiography in particular), plot and
motif.
The second part explores the strategy of the frame narrator, who provides
a structure that both limits and opens up possibilities for readers. That narrator is
in a position of tension in that on the one hand he validates Qoheleth's radicalism
by appearing to find his words worth relating. Even words of praise are offered.
On the other hand, from the summary of the epilogue, I argue at length, it is
clear that the frame narrator did not agree with Qoheleth's approach to wisdom,
God and tradition, bound as they were to his wholly different epistemology.
Further, the strategy of framing occurs on many levels, and one of its
consequences is the bringing into question of the reader's relation to the framed
material, as well as the relation of the framer to the one framed. The interpretive
possibilities arising from the tension in these narratorial relationships are explored
in detail.
The third part explores the strategies of Qoheleth, the disillusioned
rationalist and story-teller. Here is addressed the fact that in reading Ecclesiastes
an interaction seemingly takes place, one in which the reader feels the concern of
identity and of the formation of Qoheleth's character. In the guise of Solomon
that concern is ironic (almost satirical) and somewhat playful. In the
establishment of his self as the central concern of his narrative, Qoheleth shows
that although he passionately observes the world's transience and absurdity he
desires (again with irony) that his image would be fixed and remembered. After
exploring such elements of self-expression, the linguistic characteristics and
ideological categories of Qoheleth's quest are surveyed. Included in this
investigation are the element of physicality in Qoheleth's language and the
identification of the actors in the quest; the Subject, Object and Power (or
Sender) in particular.
Although I do not categorically argue that Ecclesiastes can only be
understood as narrative, the point of the whole is to experiment with what
happens when a text is investigated with confidence in its narrative quality. This
redresses an interpretive imbalance in Qoheleth-studies in that while there are
some scholars who refer vaguely to Ecclesiastes as a story (although usually by
implication), and others who make real assumptions about Ecclesiastes' narrative
quality, virtually none attempt to critically examine that quality or to demonstrate
it with any degree of conclusiveness with the aid of narrative criticism.


In 1983, A Nation at Risk warned America of a major problem affecting its future—the declining quality of its public education system. Over the years that followed, education reform predominantly focused on fixing the system to provide quality education for all students. A number of school district initiated public policy reforms, such as mayoral control, that many thought would improve educational quality. Some school districts also increasingly rely on donations from private organization to help fund failing schools. This study identifies a number of factors that help explain this variation in the amount of philanthropic funding received by school districts. I find that districts with mayoral control raise substantially more private funds than districts with traditional elected school boards. The level of wealth in a district also has a significant effect on the amount of private revenue per student. Interviews with district officials also revealed that districts with a strong vision coupled with competent leadership and efficient processes are more successful in these fundraising efforts. The presence of philanthropy has been solidified in the education sector, as districts move towards obtaining private money to continue providing a public good. Inherent in this shift is the emergence of new actors and stakeholders invested in the educational outcomes of American schools.


This approved study guide helps you master topics on the CompTIA Network+ N10-006 exam, including the following: Computer network fundamentals The OSI model and TCP/IP stack Media types, infrastructure components, and network devices Ethernet technology IPv4 and IPv6 addresses Routing IP traffic with dynamic routing protocols DNAT, SNAT, and PAT Multicast routing Wide Area Networks (WANs) Wireless LANs Network optimization and QoS Windows and UNIX command-line tools for network administration and troubleshooting Network security Troubleshooting common Layer 2, Layer 3, and wireless networking issues CompTIA Network+ N10-006 Cert Guide, Deluxe Edition contains proven study features that enable you to succeed on the exam the first time. Best-selling authors and expert instructors Keith Barker and Kevin Wallace share preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills, essential for successful completion of the performance-based testing items on the exam. This complete, CompTIA-approved study package includes the following: A test-preparation routine proven to help you pass the exams approved by CompTIA Clearly defined chapter learning objectives covering all N10-006 exam topics Chapter-ending review questions and exam preparation exercises, which help you drill on key concepts you must know thoroughly The powerful Pearson IT Certification Practice Test software, complete with hundreds of well reviewed, exam-realistic questions, customization options, and detailed performance reports 40 performance-based practice question exercises to help you prepare for the hands-on exam questions More than 60 minutes of video mentoring from the author A final preparation chapter, which guides you through tools and resources to help you craft your review and test-taking strategies An Exam Essentials appendix that quickly recaps all major chapter topics for easy reference, both in print and interactive digital format A key terms Glossary in both print and on the DVD, which acts as an interactive flash-card application Study plan suggestions and templates to help you organize and optimize your study time A 10% exam discount voucher (a $27 value!) This Deluxe Edition also includes two special features: A free copy of the CompTIA Network+ N10-006 Authorized Cert Guide Premium Edition eBook and Practice Test. This package provides you access to three eBook files (PDF, EPUB, and Mobi/Kindle format), more than 400 exam-realistic practice test questions, and links from all the questions to the specific sections in the PDF eBook file for detailed explanations and review. A free copy of the CompTIA Network+ N10-006 Hands-on Lab Simulator, including 63 hands-on practice labs covering real-world network configuration scenarios in Windows GUI and Cisco router and switch CLI environments, hardware activities, network design exercises, and technology mapping tasks. Companion DVD The DVD contains more than 400 practice questions, 40 performance-based question exercises, glossary flash cards, an exam essentials review tool, memory table exercises and answer keys, a study planner tool, more than 60 minutes of video, and the Network+ Simulator.


Although persuasive messages often alter people's self-reported attitudes and intentions to perform behaviors, these self-reports do not necessarily predict behavior change. We demonstrate that neural responses to persuasive messages can predict variability in behavior change in the subsequent week. Specifically, an a priori region of interest (ROI) in medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) was reliably associated with behavior change (r = 0.49, p < 0.05). Additionally, an iterative cross-validation approach using activity in this MPFC ROI predicted an average 23% of the variance in behavior change beyond the variance predicted by self-reported attitudes and intentions. Thus, neural signals can predict behavioral changes that are not predicted from self-reported attitudes and intentions alone. Additionally, this is the first functional magnetic resonance imaging study to demonstrate that a neural signal can predict complex real world behavior days in advance.


This book is intended to introduce students to the study of politics, and make them aware of their civil rights and responsibilities as responsible citizens. This primer focuses on issues in the hope that the excitement of politics will interest students to learn more about politics. It also examines the nature and purpose of government, in particular the Malaysia government, the responsibility of a citizen, the nature of law, and the prospects of development through elections, political parties and leadership. One of the chapters discusses some of the well-known thinkers which political science beginners would find familiar. This primer shows the relevance of politics to Islam as a way of life. It also examines 14 issues of importance and concludes with a chapter on the various dimensions of the government and politics in Malaysia.


Photo novella is presented as an effective and creative data collection method that has the ability to engage participants in the process of critical thinking and reflection. This reflective practice provides rich insight that can be of great benefit when exploring complex and multi-faceted health issues. In this study, oncology and palliative care nurses were asked to think about what spirituality meant to them and then take photographs that represented these concepts. Once developed, the nurses were asked to select 4–6 photographs that were most meaningful and the most representative of what spirituality meant to them. These photographs then guided the semi-structured interview. The photographs provided great insight into the nurses' perceptions and meanings associated with spirituality and highlight the benefits of utilizing photographs within qualitative nursing research.


This paper proposes an argument that explains incumbency advantage without recurring to the collective irresponsibility of legislatures. For that purpose, we exploit the informational value of incumbency: incumbency confers voters information about governing politicians not available from challengers. Because there are many reasons for high reelection rates different from incumbency status, we propose a measure of incumbency advantage that improves the use of pure reelection success. We also study the relationship between incumbency advantage and ideological and selection biases. An important implication of our analysis is that the literature linking incumbency and legislature irresponsibility most likely provides an overestimation of the latter.


This book demonstrates how some of the fundamental ideas of algebra can be introduced, developed and extended. It focuses on repeating and growing patterns, introduces the concepts of variable and equality and examines relations and functions. Its activities are designed to capture the interest of small children as they investigate growing patterns, use pictures of dogs with varying numbers of spots to solve for missing addends and use spinners to identify and explore functions. The supplemental CD-ROM features interactive electronic activities, master copies of activity pages for students and additional readings for teachers.