For Canadians keen on joining the American strategic-range ballistic missile defence system, the Administration of Barack Obama seemed to present the perfect opportunity. Under a president much-admired by Canadians, opposition to signing on to a huge, expensive, and highly controversial Pentagon program would arguably have been considerably muted. Added to that, North Korea's apparently inexorable progress towards mating a credible intercontinental ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead might have been expected to spark more intense Canadian interest in protection efforts. But there has never been a groundswell of public support for Canadian involvement in ballistic missile defence, so the issue only got as far as the new Liberal Government asking Canadians, in the context of the Defence Policy Review, whether this might be the time for Canada to pursue a direct role in North American missile defence. And Canadians seem to have responded with continuing ambivalence, an ambivalence likely to turn into outright rejection with Donald Trump's arrival at the White House. And if that is not enough to close the door on Canada and BMD, last year's report by the American Union of Concerned Scientists on the still unproven strategic missile defence system should do it.


The objective of the present study was to determine serum 25(OH)D and PTH concentrations as well as vitamin D and Ca dietary intake in healthy pregnant (P) (n=48) and non-pregnant (NP) (n=70) Saudi Arabian women who reside in MeccaSaudi Arabia. Age, occupation, skin color, smoking status, use of sunscreen, use of supplements, and sun exposure were correlated to vitamin D status. Dietary and supplement intake was assessed. Among the participants, 50.8% (35% P, 65% NP) women had 25(OH)D concentration that were ≤ 11 ng/mL. PTH concentrations were normal in 60.2% and high in 37% of the participants. Dietary vitamin D intake was normal, whereas dietary Ca intake was extremely low. Positive correlations were shown to exist between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and the use of supplements, avoidance of smoking, and the length of exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D deficiency appears to be prevalent among P and NP Saudi women.


SAR systems take advantage of the longrange propagation characteristics of radar signal and the complex information processing capability of modern digital electronics to provide high resolution imagery. The paper focuses on the differential interferometric SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) technique for the monitoring of terrain surface deformations. A series of ERS (Earth Resources Satellite) 1&2 and ASAR (Advance Synthetic Aperture Radar) images acquired at different dates before and after tsunami were used in this study. Two SAR images are combined to produce a SAR Interferogram to reveal information about the third dimension (elevation) of the object and to measure small displacements of objects between the two image acquisitions. Interferometric processing, the SLC images were accurately co registered and the complex interferograms are formed by multiplying each complex pixel of the first image by the complex conjugate of the same pixel in the second image. Coherence images and interferograms were then derived from pairs of coregistered SLC images. The interferogram thus generated is a complex image itself. A careful observation of the images reveals that closer are the fringes, more are the topographical changes or height variations which represents the main observation for the estimation of the coastal deformations processes.


Studies of causal understanding of tool relationships in captive chimpanzees have yielded disparate findings, particularly those reported by Povinelli & colleagues (2000) for tool tasks by laboratory chimpanzees. The present set of experiments tested nine enculturated chimpanzees on three versions of a support task, as described by Povinelli (2000), during which food rewards were presented in different experimental configurations. In Experiment 1, stimulus pairs included a choice between a cloth with a reward on the upper right corner or with a second reward off the cloth, adjacent to a corner, with the second pair comprised of a cloth with food on the upper right corner, and a second cloth with the reward on the substrate, partially covered. All subjects were successful with both test conditions in Experiment 1. In a second study, the experimental choices included one of two possible correct options, paired with one of three incorrect options, with the three incorrect choices all involving varying degrees of perceptual containment. All nine chimpanzees scored significantly above chance across all six conditions. In Experiment 3, four unique conditions were presented, combining one of two possible correct choices with one of two incorrect choices. Six of the subjects scored significantly above chance across the four conditions, and group performance on individual conditions was also significant. Superior performance was demonstrated by female subjects in Experiment 3, similar to sex differences in tool use previously reported for wild chimpanzees and some tool tasks in captive chimpanzees. The present results for Experiments 2 & 3 were significantly differed from those reported by Povinelli et al. (2000) for laboratory-born, peer-reared chimpanzees. One contribution towards the dramatic differences between the two study populations may be the significant rearing and housing differences of the chimpanzee groups. One explanation is that under conditions of enculturation, rich social interactions with humans and conspecifics, as well as active exploration of artifacts, materials, and other aspects of their physical environment had a significant impact on the animals' ability to recognize the support relationships among the stimulus choices. Overall, the present findings provide strong support for the hypothesis that our chimpanzee subjects based their responses on an understanding of functional support which represented one facet of their folk physics repertoire [Current Zoology 57 (4): 429–440, 2011].


Recently, the development of energy efficient
electrical power management systems has received considerable
interest due to its potential to realize significant energy savings
for the world. With current Si-based power electronics system being
matured, GaN Field-Effect-Transistors have emerged as a disruptive
technology with great potential that arises from the outstanding
material properties of GaN. However, in spite of great progress in
GaN device fabrication, electrical reliability and a number of
unique anomalies of GaN remain key challenges that prevent the wide
deployment of this technology. In particular, the dynamic
ON-resistance (RON), in which the RON of the transistor remains
high for a certain period of time after a high-voltage OFF-ON
switching event, is a critical concern. This phenomenon greatly
affects the efficiency of electrical power management circuits
based on GaN power transistors. This thesis investigates in depth
this important issue. Firstly, we have developed a new dynamic RON
measurement methodology which can observe dynamic RON transients
after OFF-to-ON switching events over many decades in time. We have
experimentally demonstrated this technique on GaN-on-SiC
high-voltage HEMTs (High-Electron- Mobility-Transistors). The
possible origin of the mechanisms responsible for dynamic RON in
these devices has been postulated. Through our new technique, the
impact of high-power stress on dynamic RON has been investigated as
well. The results emphasize the importance of studying dynamic RON
characteristics over very short time scale when conducting
reliability studies of GaN transistors. Secondly, high-voltage
GaN-on-Si MIS (Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor) HEMTs designed for
> 600 V switching operation have been investigated. Excessive
electron trapping leading to total current collapse has been
observed. We have carried out an extensive characterization of this
phenomenon and we have proposed "Zener trapping" as the responsible
mechanism. In this view, electron trapping takes place inside the
AlGaN/GaN heterostructure through a tunneling process under
high-electric-field. The understanding derived here suggests that
this effect can be mitigated through attention to defect control
during epitaxial growth and appropriate design of the field plate
structure of the device. Our findings in this thesis provide a path
to achieve high performance GaN power transistors with minimum
dynamic RON effects.


Botnets are a serious threat to the security of personal computers, businesses and even countries. They can launch attacks on remote systems and infrastructure, perform espionage and once installed they essentially hand over control of the computer to a botnet administrator. It is very difficult to detect their presence in a network as it is hard to distinguish their footprint from normal traffic. By using Internet Relay Chat (IRC)-based botnets as an example for visualizing spatial and temporal dynamics, I will attempt to detect the presence of a bot and visualize the results. Based on previous works for detecting malware, the choice was made to use process-to-port mapping as the base metric for visualization. Investigation into botnets was an integral part of the thesis. Published sources along with research into botnet administrator communities were used to provide a solid information base. A bot application, which is part of a botnet, can be regarded in the same way as any other piece of software, but with added functionality for communication and remote control. As such, it is bound by the same proprietary technologies. The thesis focuses on a method of detection that relies on IP and port pairs with host computer metrics, which can be expanded to a distributed context with the use of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). The software for process-to-port mapping and visualization of a botnet has been developed with focus on geographical location. Use of geography for the Visualization application proved to be a good choice and communicating applications are shown in a distinct and clear way. Experiments conducted, successfully detected and visualized the bot communicating with the command and control server as metrics were collected on a host machine. The developed visualization software also shows general network activity and has potential to be used in a more general context. It is concluded that given some preconditions with regards to a bot's rootkit capabilities, detection of a botnet is successful. Given the availability of certain SNMP OIDs, it is possible to perform botnet detection and general network visualization in a large scale and distributed context.


Introduction I. History and the Future of Gun Regulation: Heller's Legacy II. The Scope of the Right to Bear Arms in the Founding Era III. Gun Regulation in the Founding Era and Early Republic: Myths and Realities IV. The Pistol and the Lash: Slavery and the Permissive Right to Carry V. No Right to Carry: The Emergence and Spread of the Massachusetts Model Conclusion: The Past and Future of the Right to Carry Arms Outside the Home INTRODUCTION Emboldened by their victory in Heller, (1) gun rights advocates are waging a relentless campaign to strike down what little remains of the nation's relatively anemic gun control regime. (2) The Heller opinion itself is also partly responsible for generating a seemingly limitless parade of new lawsuits. (3) Legal scholars from across the ideological spectrum have attacked the controversial five-to-four decision, both for its revisionist rewriting of constitutional history and for its poor judicial craftsmanship. (4) The opinion raised more questions than it answered and left lower courts scrambling to decipher what was prohibited by Heller, if anything, short of a total ban on handguns. (5) The decision articulated no theory of judicial scrutiny, provided no black letter rules, and failed to create any categories of analysis to guide judges. Instead, it left the courts with an incomplete laundry list of presumptively lawful regulations to serve as a model of what remained legal. (6) In United States v. Masciandaro, Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson aptly summarized the problems that Heller's poor judicial craftsmanship wrought: "This case underscores the dilemma faced by lower courts in the post-Heller world: how far to push Heller beyond its undisputed core holding." (7) The first section of this Article examines the continuing relevance of history in the post-Heller era. The second section focuses on conceptions of the right to bear arms and the right to carry in the Founding era. Apart from service in militia, there is little evidence of a broad constitutional consensus on a right to carry arms in public. The third section analyzes some of the myths and realities about early American gun regulation. The fourth section locates the legal ideal of traveling armed in public in a distinctively southern tradition that was a minority strain within Antebellum law. The final section of this Article explores the alternative theory of robust arms regulation that emerged by the era of the Fourteenth Amendment and became the dominant tradition in American law. The existence of this regulatory tradition has remained hidden from modern scholars and courts because support for high levels of gun regulation was so pervasive outside of the South that few of these laws were ever challenged in court. I. HISTORY AND THE FUTURE OF GUN REGULATION: HELLER'S LEGACY Rather than close the book on historical argument, Heller appears to have done the opposite. The court stated this point succinctly in United States v. Masciandaro: "[H]istorical meaning enjoys a privileged interpretative role in the Second Amendment context." (8) Unfortunately, judges are in the unenviable position of evaluating the complex and contradictory historical evidence paraded before them. Separating historical myths from historical realities, distinguishing historical fact from error, and disentangling law office history from rigorous historical scholarship are serious problems for the courts in this area of the law. (9) One of the most controversial issues to arise in the wake of Heller is the right to carry firearms outside of the home. This issue is currently being litigated in the Fourth Circuit and a decision may well be rendered by the time this Article is published. (10) Masciandaro reveals the problems that Heller has created. In Masciandaro, the defendant was arrested for possessing a loaded firearm in a national park. (11) The court applied an intermediate scrutiny test and found that the statute in question, which prohibited loaded firearms in national parks, easily passed constitutional muster. …


This study determined the percentages of individuals who report adverse effects from exposure to fragranced products in the U.S. population and in subpopulations of those with asthma or chemical sensitivity. Data were collected through telephone interviews from two geographically weighted, random samples of the continental U.S. in two surveys during 2002-2003 and 2005-2006 (1,057 and 1,058 cases, respectively). Respondents were asked if they find being next to someone wearing a scented product irritating or appealing; if they have headaches, breathing difficulties, or other problems when exposed to air fresheners or deodorizers; and if they are irritated by the scent from laundry products, fabric softeners, or dryer sheets that are vented outside. Results aggregated from both surveys found that 30.5% of the general population reported scented products on others irritating, 19% reported adverse health effects from air fresheners, and 10.9% reported irritation by scented laundry products vented outside. This study reveals that a considerable percentage of the U.S. population reports adverse health effects or irritation from fragranced products, with higher percentages among those with asthma and chemical sensitivity.


For credit risk management purposes in general, and for allocation of regulatory capital by banks in particular (Basel II), numerical assessments of the credit-worthiness of borrowers are indispensable. These assessments are expressed in terms of probabilities of default (PD) that should incorporate a certain degree of conservatism in order to reflect the prudential risk management style banks are required to apply. In case of credit portfolios that did not at all suffer defaults, or very few defaults only over years, the resulting naive zero or close to zero estimates would clearly not involve such a sufficient conservatism. As an attempt to overcome this issue, we suggest the "most prudent estimation" principle. This means to estimate the PDs by upper confidence bounds while guaranteeing at the same time a PD ordering that respects the differences in credit quality indicated by the rating grades. The methodology is most easily applied under an assumption of independent default events but can be adapted to the case of correlated defaults.


We study time-bounded reachability in continuous-time Markov decision processes for time-abstract scheduler classes. Such reachability problems play a paramount role in dependability analysis and the modelling of manufacturing and queueing systems. Consequently, their analysis has been studied intensively, and techniques for the approximation of optimal control are well understood. From a mathematical point of view, however, the question of approximation is secondary compared to the fundamental question whether or not optimal control exists.
We demonstrate the existence of optimal schedulers for the time-abstract scheduler classes for all CTMDPs. Our proof is constructive: We show how to compute optimal time-abstract strategies with finite memory. It turns out that these optimal schedulers have an amazingly simple structure - they converge to an easy-to-compute memoryless scheduling policy after a finite number of steps.
Finally, we show that our argument can easily be lifted to Markov games: We show that both players have a likewise simple optimal strategy in these more general structures.


The main topic of this thesis is linear optics and the implementation of quantum operations (measurements, quantum channels, and unitary rotations) on optical systems. In the opening chapter the basic notions needed to understand the rest of the thesis will be explained. These notions include defining a quantum state, measurement, quantum channel and the linear optics tool set. The work in this thesis takes both fundamental and practical approaches to studying linear optical networks. For instance in the first chapter a proof is provided that shows that any unitary on a single mode Fock state can be realised with linear optics. The proof is constructive, however the approach to realising the unitary is not suitable for experimental implementation because it requires complicated ancilla states. As in the KLM proposal the procedure works only stochastically however by allowing the size of the ancilla to grow the probability of failure can be made arbitrarly small. Furthermore we investigate the realisation of arbitrary channels in a specific encoding that we call a d-rail encoding. The only ancilla state that we allow is a vacuum ancilliary state and further restrictions were considered (e.g. photon counting). A proof is provided that using these resources only random unitaries can be applied deterministically using linear optics. An expression for the optimal probability of success for realising more general channels with these resources is also discussed. As a final topic we also investigate the realisation of a quantum non-demolition measurement onto the dual rail qubit space. The investigation is a blend of both fundamental and practical approaches. To begin we employ a modified KLM-like procedure and show that the scheme can be realised perfectly but stochastically. The probability that the proper measurement is made can be made arbitrarly close to one using a suitably large ancilla state. In addition we consider an existing scheme [9] which uses practical sources (two single photon sources) to perform the measurement. The scheme does not realise the true measurement but instead has a free parameter in it which is the transmittiviy of a beamsplitter. The measurement will project onto a space that has a vacuum component. By adjusting the transmittivity of this beamsplitter the vacuum component can be made arbitrarly small but only at the expense of the probability of success of the procedure. In this thesis a modification that can be made to eliminate the vacuum component without changing the sources is introduced. The modification is surprisingly simple and only involves the addition of a single beamsplitter. In the proposal for the original amplifier it was used in simulations for DIQKD that included device imperfections. To show the improvement of our modification these DIQKD simulations are reproduced using the modified amplifier and its results are compared to the results of the original amplifier.


Abstract Piglets reared in swine production in the USA undergo painful procedures that include castration, tail docking, teeth clipping, and identification with ear notching or tagging. These procedures are usually performed without pain mitigation. The objective of this project was to develop recommendations for pain mitigation in 1- to 28-day-old piglets undergoing these procedures. The National Pork Board funded project to develop recommendations for pain mitigation in piglets. Recommendation development followed a defined multi-step process that included an evidence summary and estimates of the efficacies of interventions. The results of a systematic review of the interventions were reported in a companion paper. This manuscript describes the recommendation development process and the final recommendations. Recommendations were developed for three interventions (CO2/O2 general anesthesia, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and lidocaine) for use during castration. The ability to make strong recommendations was limited by low-quality evidence and strong certainty about variation in stakeholder values and preferences. The panel strongly recommended against the use of a CO2/O2 general anesthesia mixture, weakly recommended for the use of NSAIDs and weakly recommended against the use of lidocaine for pain mitigation during castration of 1- to 28-day-old piglets.


We investigate the one-dimensional long-range random-field Ising magnet with Gaussian distribution of the random fields. In this model, a ferromagnetic bond between two spins is placed with a probability $p \sim r^{-1-\sigma}$, where $r$ is the distance between these spins and $\sigma$ is a parameter to control the effective dimension of the model. Exact ground states at zero temperature are calculated for system sizes up to $L = 2^{19}$ via graph theoretical algorithms for four different values of $\sigma \in \{0.25,0.4,0.5,1.0\}$ while varying the strength $h$ of the random fields. For each of these values several independent physical observables are calculated, i.e., magnetization, Binder parameter, susceptibility and a specific-heat-like quantity. The ferromagnet-paramagnet transitions at critical values $h_c(\sigma)$ as well as the corresponding critical exponents are obtained. The results agree well with theory and interestingly we find for $\sigma = 1/2$ the data is compatible with a critical random-field strength $h_c > 0$.


Using a proportional hazard model with multiple exits, this paper analyzes whether immigrants' unemployment spells differ from natives', and if so, how the difference vary with time spent in Sweden and across immigrant cohorts. A unique data set taken from the Swedish unemployment registers is used. The data set covers the period 1991 to 1996, a period of substantial increases in both unemployment rates as well as in immigration. The estimates from the hazard model suggests that a substantial proportion of the observed difference in unemployment spells between natives and immigrants can be explained by differences in accumulated human capital and unemployment compensation. This is especially true regarding the difference between natives and refugees.


Background Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a Gram-positive, facultative intracellular pathogen, is the etiologic agent of the disease known as caseous lymphadenitis (CL). CL mainly affects small ruminants, such as goats and sheep; it also causes infections in humans, though rarely. This species is distributed worldwide, but it has the most serious economic impact in Oceania, Africa and South America. Although C. pseudotuberculosis causes major health and productivity problems for livestock, little is known about the molecular basis of its pathogenicity. Methodology and Findings We characterized two C. pseudotuberculosis genomes (Cp1002, isolated from goats; and CpC231, isolated from sheep). Analysis of the predicted genomes showed high similarity in genomic architecture, gene content and genetic order. When C. pseudotuberculosis was compared with other Corynebacterium species, it became evident that this pathogenic species has lost numerous genes, resulting in one of the smallest genomes in the genus. Other differences that could be part of the adaptation to pathogenicity include a lower GC content, of about 52%, and a reduced gene repertoire. The C. pseudotuberculosis genome also includes seven putative pathogenicity islands, which contain several classical virulence factors, including genes for fimbrial subunits, adhesion factors, iron uptake and secreted toxins. Additionally, all of the virulence factors in the islands have characteristics that indicate horizontal transfer. Conclusions These particular genome characteristics of C. pseudotuberculosis, as well as its acquired virulence factors in pathogenicity islands, provide evidence of its lifestyle and of the pathogenicity pathways used by this pathogen in the infection process. All genomes cited in this study are available in the NCBI Genbank database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/) under accession numbers CP001809 and CP001829.


We analyze the propagation stability of dispersion-managed solitons in long-distance fiber optic links, as it is influenced by in-line control elements such as synchronous intensity modulators and filters. The soliton stability analysis permits us to optimize dispersion map design as well as the input optical pulse's energy and prechirp in the presence of periodic all-optical regeneration. Substantial agreement is obtained between the predictions of linear stability analysis and beam propagation simulations. Dispersion mapping and control are optimized for amplification, reshaping, and retiming regeneration of long-haul transmissions at a 40-Gbit/s channel rate.


Jasmonic acid (JA) is an important plant hormone involved in the regulation of plant development and stress responses. A central feature of JA signalling is the repression of JA responses by the JASMONATE ZIM‐DOMAIN (JAZ) protein family. JAZ proteins function to inhibit the activity of transcription factors responsible for driving the expression of JA‐responsive target genes. This is achieved by recruitment of transcriptional repressors and chromatin remodelling proteins. Perception by a COI1‐JAZ coreceptor of the main bioactive molecule in JA signalling, jasmonoyl‐l‐isoleucine, results in JAZ protein degradation and release of JA responses from suppression. Specificity in JA signalling is generated by a combination of JAZ protein diversity, cell specificity of JA‐responsive transcription factors and interactions with other plant hormone signalling pathways.


We report here results of spectropolarimetric observations of the classical T Tauri star (cTTS) GQ Lup carried out with ESPaDOnS at the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) in the framework of the 'Magnetic Protostars and Planets' (MaPP) programme, and obtained at two different epochs (2009 July and 2011 June). From these observations, we first infer that GQ Lup has a photospheric temperature of 4300 ± 50 K and a rotation period of 8.4 ± 0.3 d; it implies that it is a 1.05 ± 0.07 M_⊙ star viewed at an inclination of ≃30°, with an age of 2–5 Myr and a radius of 1.7 ± 0.2 R_⊙, and has just started to develop a radiative core.

Large Zeeman signatures are clearly detected at all times, both in photospheric lines and in accretion-powered emission lines, probing longitudinal fields of up to 6 kG and hence making GQ Lup the cTTS with the strongest large-scale fields known as of today. Rotational modulation of Zeeman signatures, also detected both in photospheric and accretion proxies, is clearly different between our two runs; we take this as further evidence that the large-scale fields of cTTSs are evolving with time and thus that they are produced by non-stationary dynamo processes.

Using tomographic imaging, we reconstruct maps of the large-scale field, of the photospheric brightness and of the accretion-powered emission at the surface of GQ Lup at both epochs. We find that the magnetic topology is mostly poloidal and axisymmetric with respect to the rotation axis of the star; moreover, the octupolar component of the large-scale field (of polar strength 2.4 and 1.6 kG in 2009 and 2011, respectively) dominates the dipolar component (of polar strength ≃1 kG) by a factor of ≃2, consistent with the fact that GQ Lup is no longer fully convective.

GQ Lup also features dominantly poleward magnetospheric accretion at both epochs. The large-scale dipole component of GQ Lup is however not strong enough to disrupt the surrounding accretion disc further than about half-way to the corotation radius (at which the Keplerian period of the disc material equals the stellar rotation period), suggesting that GQ Lup should rapidly spin up like other similar partly convective cTTSs.

We finally report a 0.4 km s−1 radial velocity change for GQ Lup between 2009 and 2011, suggesting that a brown dwarf other than GQ Lup B may be orbiting GQ Lup at a distance of only a few au's.


The purpose of this master's thesis was to produce a national wilderness map of Tanzania by using a Norwegian method for mapping wilderness like areas, called Inngrepsfrie naturomrader i Norge (INON). In English this means Areas without major infrastructure development in Norway. There are currently no national wilderness maps of Tanzania, just maps on regional or global scale. The INON methodology was assessed in relation to Tanzanian conditions, and to some degree compared with Landscan population data, protected areas from World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), as well as the Last of the Wild dataset from the Human Footprint project.The INON methodology is based solely on distance from elements defined as major infrastructure development by the Directorate of Nature Management (DN) in Norway, and its methodology is much simpler than other methods for mapping wilderness, such as for instance GLOBIO and the Human Footprint. Its simplicity makes it easy to use, but also insufficient for decision making. It can be used as a reference map, indicating where to find possible wilderness like areas, but additional information is needed before making a decision.As the INON methodology is based on distance from infrastructure, this raises some issues in a Tanzanian context. This works in Norway because people usually live in close proximity to infrastructure. However, this is not always the case in Tanzania, where the infrastructure is not yet fully developed. Many people live in villages not connected to the road network or other infrastructure defined by DN. These areas will show up in the map as wilderness like areas, when they are actually filled with human settlements. To solve such issues, the INON methodology must be adapted to Tanzanian conditions before it can be used in land use management and planning.


Contemporary philosophical discussion on the nature of the imagination has been influenced by recent empirical work in cognitive science. Our imaginative and emotional engagement with works of fiction has been explained by appealing to the similarities between our ordinary cognitive functioning and the workings of our imagination. Believing and imagining , it is argued, are governed by a "single code." I argue against this claim, and suggest that our imagination – and in particular our literary imagination – in many respects functions very differently from ordinary cognition.


This book challenges mainstream neo-classical perspectives on the firm. John Tomer argues that in the age of globalization and rapid technological change, an understanding of business behaviour and government policy toward business requires an appreciation of the firm's human dimension. The Human Firm integrates economic analysis with sociological, psychological, managerial, ethical and other interdisciplinary perspectives.


How flat slab geometries are generated has been long debated. It has been suggested that trenchward motion of thick cratons in some areas of South America and Cenozoic North America progressively closed the asthenospheric wedge and induced flat subduction. Here we develop time-dependent numerical experiments to explore how trenchward motion of thick cratons may result in flat subduction. We find that as the craton approaches the trench and the wedge closes, two opposite phenomena control slab geometry: the suction between ocean and continent increases, favoring slab flattening, while the mantle confined within the closing wedge dynamically pushes the slab backward and steepens it. When the slab retreats, as in the Peru and Chile flat slabs, the wedge closure rate and dynamic push are small and suction forces generate, in some cases, flat subduction. We model the past 30 m.y. of subduction in the Chilean flat slab area and demonstrate that trenchward motion of thick lithosphere, 200–300 km, currently ∼700–800 km away from the Peru-Chile Trench, reproduces a slab geometry that fits the stress pattern, seismicity distribution, and temporal and spatial evolution of deformation and volcanism in the region. We also suggest that varying trench kinematics may explain some differing slab geometries along South America. When the trench is stationary or advances, the mantle flow within the closing wedge strongly pushes the slab backward and steepens it, possibly explaining the absence of flat subduction in the Bolivian orocline.


: Experimental results of liquid film thickness distribution of an air–water mixture flowing through a vertical 180° return bend are reported. Measurements of liquid film thickness were achieved using flush mounted pin and parallel wire probes. The bend has a diameter of 127 mm and a curvature ratio ( R/D ) of 3. The superficial velocities of air ranged from 3.5 to 16.1 m/s and those for water from 0.02 to 0.2 m/s. At these superficial velocity ranges, the flow pattern investigated in this work focused on churn and annular flows. It was found that at liquid and gas superficial velocities of 0.02 m/s and 6.2 m/s, respectively, the averaged liquid film thickness peak at 90 o . At gas superficial velocity of 16.1 m/s, the relationship between them is linear due to the shear forces overcoming gravity. Additionally, it was found that deposition of entrained droplets keeps the liquid film on the outside of the bend. The results of polar plots of average liquid film thickness in the bend showed that the distribution of the liquid film is not symmetrical with thicker films on the inside of the bend due to the action of gravity. Experimental results on average liquid film thickness showed good agreement with the simulation data reported in the literature.


Why are some terrorist organizations so much more deadly then others? This article examines organizational characteristics such as ideology, size, age, state sponsorship, alliance connections, and control of territory while controlling for factors that may also influence lethality, including the political system and relative wealth of the country in which the organization is based. Using data from the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism's Terrorism Knowledge Base (TKB), we use a negative binomial model of organizational lethality, finding that organizational size, ideology, territorial control, and connectedness are important predictors of lethality while state sponsorship, organizational age, and host country characteristics are not.


BA-41,799, a tetrahydrofuran derivative that at one time attracted considerable interest as an antimalarial agent because of a combination of structural novelty with activities against infections with Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium berghei yoelii in mice, has been evaluated for its capacities to effect prophylaxis and radical cure in rhesus monkeys challenged or already infected with sporozoites of the drug-susceptible Ro strain or the pyrimethamine-resistant Ro/PM strain of Plasmodium cynomolgi, and for its capacity to effect suppressive cure of infections with trophozoites of these strains. At doses up to the maximum tolerated, BA-41,799 had only marginal activity against infections with the Ro strain and none against the Ro/PM strain. On the basis of past experiences, the above results suggest that BA-41,799 would have little to offer for prophylaxis, radical cure, or suppression of human infections with Plasmodium vivax.


This paper aims to shed light on the potential interests of developing countries in reforms to domestic support for agriculture in the OECD economies. In order to accomplish this goal, we begin by reviewing the literature on the impacts of domestic support on key variables, including farm income, in the OECD economies themselves. We then proceed to revise the standard GTAP model of global trade, based on recent work at the OECD, in order to permit it to better capture these impacts. A series of stylized simulations are subsequently offered to illustrate the differential impacts of alternative types of domestic support. These suggest the possibility of policy re-instrumentation, whereby farm income is stabilized in the face of cuts to overall support levels by shifting the mix of subsidies away from the more trade-distorting instruments which also tend to be ineffective tools for boosting farm incomes. We then explore in considerable detail the mechanisms by which OECD agricultural reforms affect developing country welfare. The primary channel for such effects works through the terms of trade which in turn depend in part on whether a country is a net exporter or a net importer of the affected OECD products. Long term support for agricultural program commodities in OECD countries, coupled with relative taxation in many developing countries, has left the latter increasingly dependent on imports of these subsidized products. This has, in turn, made them more vulnerable to agricultural reforms that raise these prices. As a result, we find that an across-the-board, 50% cut in all domestic support for OECD agriculture leads to welfare losses for most of the developing regions, as well as for the combined total group of developing countries. The 50% cut in domestic support also results in large declines in farm incomes in Europe, and, to a lesser degree, North America. This makes such a reform package an unlikely political event. An alternative approach to reforming agricultural policies in the OECD would be to focus on broad-based reductions in market price support. This has already been occurring in the EU, in particular, where domestic support has increasingly replaced border measures. As demonstrated in this paper, the basic economic principles of agricultural support policies suggest that a shift from market price support to land-based payments could generate a "win-win" outcome whereby farm incomes are maintained and world price distortions are reduced. This is the direction charted by the OECD in its recent "Positive Reform Agenda" for agriculture. We formally examine such an agricultural reform scenario, implementing a 50% cut in market price support for OECD agriculture, with a compensating set of land payments designed to maintain farm income in each of the member economies. This comprehensive reform scenario results in increased welfare for most developing countries, with gains on other commodities offsetting the terms of trade losses from higher program crop prices. We conclude that developing countries will be well advised to focus their efforts on improved market access to the OECD economies, while permitting these wealthy economies to continue – indeed even increase – domestic support payments. Provided these increased domestic support payments are not linked to output or variable inputs, the trade-distorting effects are likely to be small, and they can be a rather effective way of offsetting the potential losses that would otherwise be sustained by OECD farmers. This type of policy re-instrumentation will increase the probability that such reforms will be deemed politically acceptable in the OECD member economies, while simultaneously increasing the likelihood that such reforms will also be beneficial to the developing economies. JEL: D58, F13, F14, O19, Q17


It is now widely accepted that glia cells and gamma-aminobutyric acidergic (GABA) interneurons dynamically regulate synaptic transmission and neuronal activity in time and space. This paper presents a biophysical model that captures the interaction between an astrocyte cell, a GABA interneuron and pre/postsynaptic neurons. Specifically, GABA released from a GABA interneuron triggers in astrocytes the release of calcium (Ca2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum via the inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) pathway. This results in gliotransmission which elevates the presynaptic transmission probability rate (PR) causing weight potentiation and a gradual increase in postsynaptic neuronal firing, that eventually stabilizes. However, by capturing the complex interactions between IP3, generated from both GABA and the 2-arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG) pathway, and PR, this paper shows that this interaction not only gives rise to an initial weight potentiation phase but also this phase is followed by postsynaptic bursting behavior. Moreover, the model will show that there is a presynaptic frequency range over which burst firing can occur. The proposed model offers a novel cellular level mechanism that may underpin both seizure-like activity and neuronal synchrony across different brain regions.


As the role of oxidative stress on human diseases, including the cardiovascular system disorders, has accentuated, the ultimate need of reliable markers of oxidative stress becomes more imperative. We aimed to measure: activities of HDL-associated antioxidant enzymes, paraoxonase (PON1) and arylesterase (ARE); total oxidative (TOS) and antioxidative status (TAS), in heart failure (HF) patients, and search for correlations of these markers. The study group consisted of 70 subjects with HF. The patients were classified in three groups according to the suggestions of New York Heart Association. Serum levels of PON1, ARE, TOS, TAS, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), uric acid (UA), creatinine, and lipid parameters were determined. The oxidative status index (OSI) was calculated. Plasma PON1 activity was significantly decreased (p=0.04), while BNP and UA levels were significantly increased(p<0.0001, p= 0.03, respectively), with the severity of the disease. ARE, TAS, TOS, and OSI did not show any statistically significant difference. Statistical analysis showed negative correlation between PON1, ARE activities and BNP; positive correlation between disease duration, UA and BNP. Also, a positive correlation was determined between TAS and UA. We report for the first time a notable relationship between HDL-associated anti-oxidant PON-1 activity and New York Heart Association classification for HF .These prominent results provide further support for the role for oxidative processes in the disease progression of HF and for the anti-oxidant compensatory role of HDL. We believe in the potential of antioxidant medications in HF and promote proper oxidative stress markers in routine use in diagnosis and follow-up.


This dissertation takes a look at the influence both Japanese and American cultures have on their respective marketing practices. First, the historical marketing of products in Japan and America during the coinciding portion of Japan's Edo period and America's colonial period will be examined. In comparing the advertising methods of both countries' antiquated product ads, one can see the cultural roots of marketing. It is from these roots that today's marketing methods have been established. Next, the cultural backgrounds of both Japan and America influence the way they interpret the 4P's of marketing. Product and marketing development, product testing, market share and profitability, pricing,distribution channels, advertising, and customer service will be examined under each of the 4P categories. Three advertising campaigns run in Japan and America for the same products will also be compared and contrasted. Though there are similarities, the ads are also quite distinct from one another culturally. These differences will be explained and there will be discussion as to why the elements used in each advertisement are related to Japanese or American culture. Finally, the findings will be summarized and the idea of whether or not marketing in Japan could be utilized in America and vice versa will be explored. Degree Type Open Access Senior Honors Thesis Department World Languages This open access senior honors thesis is available at DigitalCommons@EMU: http://commons.emich.edu/honors/272


The main aim of this thesis is to investigate how environmental preference for the built environment, either in-situ or based on visual representations (e.g. visualisations of final architectural design), may be affected by three distinct variables. One of them is emotion, operationalised as the mood people are in at the time of the evaluation and the way people feel with regards to the environment. A second variable considers the participants' attention and how they may be influenced by task instructions. The third variable, intrinsically related to the second one, is how environmental preference may be influenced depending on the perspective taken at the time of the evaluation. The main research questions in this thesis are: a) How does emotion influence environmental preference' b) What is the impact of perspective-taking on environmental preference' c) What are the benefits of using emotional reactions to the environment as predictors of preference? These main research questions are addressed using both quantitative and qualitative methods, mainly quantitative, underpinned by a pragmatic approach. The unit of analysis in this thesis is the person who evaluates or judges an environment or a representation of it. Five studies are presented in this thesis. Study 1 (n=10) reports the results from interviews with practising architects in the city of Aberdeen. These results show that when designing architects take two distinct perspectives: a prescriptive inferential perspective and a self, referential perspective. These interviews are used to set the context within which this thesis operates: the presentation of design to people with no expertise in architecture and built environment disciplines. The remaining four studies directly address this thesis' main research questions. In Study 2 (n=133), Study 3 (n=146) and Study 5 (n=64) the effects of perspective-taking on different dependent variables are experimentally tested. The dependent variables are: perceived restorativeness (Study 2), environmental preference as measured via informational variables (Study 3), and the emotional reactions people have to representations of the environment (Study 5). Results of these studies show that perspective-taking carries an interpersonal perception bias whereby taking a perspective other than the self results in different environmental evaluation outcomes, but that this process can also be affected by formal training. The influences of emotion on environmental preference are directly explored in Studies 4 (n=32) and 5 (n=64). The results show that mood can have an influence on environmental preference by influencing the emotional reactions people have to the environment, but that these influences vary over time. Overall the thesis shows that perspective-taking and emotion have a range of influences on environmental preference in a built environment context, that these are important at the point at which architecture and built environment professionals design environments, and that timing of environmental evaluations in longitudinal assessments can make the difference between positive and less positive evaluations. This thesis' results are discussed in light of existing knowledge and some recommendations are made for future research and practitioners in architecture and built environment disciplines.


Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) remains the only level 1A treatment for acute ischemic stroke. The results of several prospective randomized trials comparing tPA with standard treatment and pooled analyses confirm the relationship of treatment success with time from symptom onset to initiation of treatment.1- 6 However, despite 2 decades of efforts to streamline systems of care including formation of designated stroke centers, placement of CT scanners in emergency departments (EDs), in-house 24/7 stroke teams, and recognition that dedicated neurological ED pathways can speed treatment, only approximately 5% of stroke patients are treated, and most are treated beyond 2 hours from symptom onset when tPA is less effective. The main reason is lack of public recognition of stroke symptoms and failure of patients to quickly seek care at a nearby institution or activate emergency medical services, such as by calling 911. Another important reason within the control of physicians and other health care personnel to reduce the time is the inherent delay caused by ED triage, registration, evaluation, testing, and treatment. The median door-to-needle times for tPA administration in stroke center EDs in the United States has exceeded 60 minutes with little improvement since the drug was first approved in the United States in 1996.7


In order to mitigate nutrient pollution in surface runoff more sustainably, the finite capacity for phosphorus (P) sequestration in best management practices (BMP) that rely heavily on sorption processes must be addressed. These BMP include sand filters, bioretention cells, and several types of constructed wetland. This study investigated facilitated microbial reduction of iron-based filtration substrates to promote controlled release of P previously sequestered by the BMP, P harvest for recycling, and rejuvenation of the substrate sorption capacity. Total dissolved P was well correlated with total dissolved iron during the reduction process, indicating that microbial iron reduction was capable of releasing previously sequestered P from substrates. Furthermore, results indicated that a sufficient carbon source was necessary but addition of a microbial culture was not necessary to facilitate iron reduction. While a large percentage of the previously sequestered P was removed, the process was much slower than initial sequestration of P by adsorption, and further research is needed to promote a more rapid release of P in order to optimize the rejuvenation process for field application.


Something puzzling yet profound is occurring in consumer-driven societies: an increasing number of individuals from all walks of life are pursuing lower consumption practices and embracing simpler lifestyles. They are 'getting a life' and 'escaping the rat race'. This growing inclination toward simpler lifestyles or downshifting is part of a larger shift in societal values, attitudes, and the notion of what constitutes success and happiness. This distinctive book constitutes a collection of readings that examines and exposes the various approaches and practices of downshifting. Eleven theoretical and empirical chapters written by prolific writers and distinguished scholars from around the world offer theoretical and practical lenses on the downshifting phenomenon. This book on downshifting is an invaluable resource and instrument for researchers, consultants, executives, and social science students.


Decision-making has evolved recently thanks to the introduction of information and communication technologies in many organizations, which has led to new kinds of decision-making processes, called "collaborative decision-making", at the organizational and cognitive levels. The author will present the development of the decision-making process in organizations. Decision-aiding and its paradigm of problem solving are defined, showing how decision-makers now need to work in a cooperative way. Definitions of cooperation and associated concepts such as collaboration and coordination are given and a framework of cooperative decision support systems is presented, including intelligent DSS, cooperative knowledge-based systems, workflow, group support systems, collaborative engineering, integrating with a collaborative decision-making model in part or being part of global projects. Several models and experimental studies are also included showing that these new processes have to be supported by new types of tools, several of which are described in order to calculate or simulate solutions or global solutions for decision-making modification. Definitions and new trends for these models are given, along with types of systems.


Bone mineral density reflects an athlete's cumulative history of energy availability, physical activity, and menstrual status, as well as nutritional and environmental factors. Although sports with high-impact loading are associated with higher bone mineral density than low-impact or non-impact sports, confounding variables are differences in the athletes' body size and sport-specific training. The purpose of this study was to determine if bone mineral density (BMD) and vitamin D status are different between two groups of female collegiate athletes who have comparable body size/weight requirements, but who engage in qualitatively different training regimens. Full body, spine and dual femur BMD was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in members of a university pep-dance team (n = 10) or cheer team (n = 9), ages 18-22. Plasma vitamin D status was assessed by ELIZA. There was no significant difference between the groups for total body BMD (1.23 g/cm dance vs 1.22 g/cm cheer, P = 0.70), spine BMD (1.39 g/cm dance vs 1.36 g/cm cheer, P = 0.72) or dual femur BMD (1.20 g/cm dance vs 1.11 g/cm, P = 0.23). Insufficient serum vitamin D status (20-32 ng/mL) was found in 74% of the athletes (27 ± 4 ng/mL, dance and 25 ± 8 ng/mL, cheer). In addition, estimated daily vitamin D and calcium intakes were less than the RDA for both dancers and cheerleaders. Despite nutritional insufficiencies, BMD was not significantly different between the low-impact activity pep dance team and high-impact activity cheer team, suggesting that the type of physical activity was not as important for BMD in these athletes as participating in 20+ hours a week of physical activity, which could have counteracted the negative effects of the nutrient insufficiencies on their bone health.


This study investigated the fouling of four polyamide nanofiltration membranes by two surface waters that differed substantially in major properties. The emphasis was on determining the characteristics of the fouling layer on the membranes. The rates of fouling for the two waters differed considerably, with a more rapid flux decline being observed for the water having higher biopolymer and major ion concentrations. Measurements of membrane roughness, contact angle and zeta potential in general showed considerable differences for each of these properties among the virgin membranes. However, values of each of these parameters tended to converge for all membranes after fouling, regardless of which water had been used. This result is very significant (for example for the removal of trace contaminants, which in many cases may depend on membrane properties) because in practice a membrane spends virtually all of its operating life fouled to some degree. Several techniques including transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to conduct detailed investigations of the fouling layer. These results demonstrated the great heterogeneity within that layer, despite the similar overall properties mentioned above. This heterogeneity is significant for quantitative understanding of the relationship between fouling and flux and for strategies to reduce or remove fouling.


Aqueous mixtures of a coumarin-labeled non-ionic thermoresponsive copolymer and a cationic polythiophene exhibit marked changes in their fluorescence properties upon heating. At room temperature, emission from the label is significantly quenched due to energy transfer to the conjugated polyelectrolyte. Heating the mixture reduces the energy-transfer efficiency markedly, resulting in a clearly visible change of the emission color. Although the two macromolecules associate strongly at room temperature, the number of interacting sites is largely reduced upon the phase transition. Crucially, the intermolecular association does not suppress the responsiveness of the smart polymer, meaning that this concept should be applicable to chemo- or bioresponsive polymers with optical read-out, for example, as a sensor device.


Environmental effects on human physiopathology are revisited herein from a chronobiologic viewpoint, with a focus on the cardiovascular system. Physiological variables undergo recurring changes that are predictable in a statistical, albeit not deterministic way. Biological rhythms cover a broad range of frequencies, which are usually shared by the environment as "co-periodisms". Some of these photic and non-photic periodicities shared by the environment and physiopathology are reviewed herein, together with their possible underlying mechanisms. A plausible cascade of events from the long-period cycles found in the cosmic environment to those affecting the Earth's atmosphere and weather conditions is presented, which may shed light on how they may shape the cycles characterizing human health. Maps of important cycles shared between the environment and physiopathology are being catalogued in an atlas of chronomes with the goal of distinguishing between strong and weak associations and providing an estimate of the lag that can be anticipated before observing physiological changes.


Chronic neck pain, a common cause of disability, seems to be the result of several interacting mechanisms. In addition to degenerative and inflammatory changes and trauma, psychological and psychosocial factors are also involved. One common type of trauma associated with chronic neck pain is whiplash injury; this sometimes results in whip-lash-associated disorder (WAD), a controversial condition with largely unknown pathogenetic mechanisms. We studied the prevalence of chronic neck pain of traumatic and non-traumatic origin and compared the prevalence of, sociodemographic data, self-perceived health, workload and chronic lowback pain in these groups. In a ready-made questionnaire (MONICA study), we added questions about cervical spine and low-back complaints. 6,000 (72%) completed a self-administered questionnaire. 43% reported neck pain: 48% of women and 38% of men. Women of working age had more neck pain than retired women, a phenomenon not seen in men. 19% of the studied population suffered from chronic neck pain and it was more frequent in women. A history of neck trauma was common in those with chronic neck pain. Those with a history of neck trauma perceived their health worse and were more often on sick-leave. About 50% of those with traumatic and non-traumatic chronic neck pain also had chronic low-back pain. We assessed the subjective and objective neuropsychological functioning in 42 patients with chronic neck pain, 21 with a whiplash trauma, and 21 without previous neck trauma. Despite cognitive complaints, the WAD patients had normal neuropsychological functioning, but the WAD group especially had deviant MMPI results—indicating impaired coping ability and somatization.WAD patients had no alterations in cerebral blood-flow pattern, as measured by rCBF-SPECT and SPM analysis, compared to healthy controls. This contrasts with the non-traumatic group with chronic neck pain, which showed marked blood-flow changes. The blood-flow changes in the non-trau-matic group were similar to those described earlier in pain patients but— remarkably enough—were different from those in the WAD group. Chronic neck pain of whiplash and non-traumatic origin appears to be unique in some respects. A better understanding of the underlying pathological mechanisms is a prerequisite for prevention of the development of such chronic pain syndromes and for improvement of the treatment of patients with severe symptoms.


Public decision makers are given a vague mandate to regulate industries. Restrictions on their instruments or scope of regulation affect their incentives to identify with interest groups and the effectiveness of supervision by watchdogs. This idea is illustrated in the context of the regulation of a natural monopoly. Much of the theoretical literature has assumed that a benevolent regulator is prohibited from operating transfers to the firm and maximizes social welfare subject to the firm's budget constraint. The tension between the assumptions of benevolence and of restrictions on instruments in such models leads us to investigate the role played by the mistrust of regulators in the development of this institution. We compare two mandates: average cost pricing (associated with the possibility of transfers). The regulator may identify with the industry, but a regulatory hearing offers the advocacy groups (watchdogs) an opportunity to alter the proposed rule making. The comparison between the two mandates hinges on the dead-weight loss associated with collusion and on the effectiveness of watchdog supervision.


A modern presentation of integral methods in low-frequency electromagnetics This book provides state-of-the-art knowledge on integral methods in low-frequency electromagnetics. Blending theory with numerous examples, it introduces key aspects of the integral methods used in engineering as a powerful alternative to PDE-based models. Readers will get complete coverage of: The electromagnetic field and its basic characteristics An overview of solution methods Solutions of electromagnetic fields by integral expressions Integral and integrodifferential methods Indirect solutions of electromagnetic fields by the boundary element method Integral equations in the solution of selected coupled problems Numerical methods for integral equations All computations presented in the book are done by means of the authors' own codes, and a significant amount of their own results is included. At the book's end, they also discuss novel integral techniques of a higher order of accuracy, which are representative of the future of this rapidly advancing field. Integral Methods in Low-Frequency Electromagnetics is of immense interest to members of the electrical engineering and applied mathematics communities, ranging from graduate students and PhD candidates to researchers in academia and practitioners in industry.


The complexity associated to gathering and processing contextual data makes testing mobile context-aware applications and services difficult. Furthermore, the lack of standard data sets and simulation tools makes the evaluation of machine learning algorithms in context-aware settings an even harder task. To ease the situation, we introduce a generic simulator that has been designed with the above mentioned purposes in mind. The simulator has also proven to be a good demonstration tool for mobile services and applications that are aimed at groups. The simulator is highly customizable and it can output context information of individual entities both through an interactive GUI and as data streams consisting of comma separated values. To support a wide range of tasks and scenarios, we have separated the three main information sources: behavior of agents, the scenario being simulated and the used context variable. The simulator has been implemented using Java, and the data streams have been made available through a Web service interface


ABSTRACT This paper investigates the possibility of identifying potential non-graduates, using information obtained before entry to university. Statistical analysis of a sample of the 1979 entry cohort to Lancaster University indicates that the likelihood of non-completion is determined by various characteristics, the main ones being the student's academic ability (reflected by A level results), his work experience prior to coming to university, his school background and the location of his home in relation to the university. An examination of wastage separately amongst males and females identifies striking differences between the two groups in the characteristics associated with non-completion. Further analysis of the sample as a whole reveals that a vast improvement in the prediction of non-completion can be achieved by using the results of first-year examinations at university rather than A level results. The main conclusion is that raising the academic requirements for entry into university may not be...


The transcription factor NF-κB modulates apoptotic responses induced by genotoxic stress. We show that NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO), the regulatory subunit of IκB kinase (IKK) (which phosphorylates the NF-κB inhibitor IκB), associates with activated ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) after the induction of DNA double-strand breaks. ATM phosphorylates serine-85 of NEMO to promote its ubiquitin-dependent nuclear export. ATM is also exported in a NEMO-dependent manner to the cytoplasm, where it associates with and causes the activation of IKK in a manner dependent on another IKK regulator, a protein rich in glutamate, leucine, lysine, and serine (ELKS). Thus, regulated nuclear shuttling of NEMO links two signaling kinases, ATM and IKK, to activate NF-κB by genotoxic signals.


Background The complexity of the preanalytical (PA) phase has precluded standardisation of PA processes, despite its impact on sample quality, laboratory efficiency, or patient & healthcare worker safety. The BD Laboratory Consulting Services™ Preanalytical Review audits PA procedures and practices in hospitals in different countries. Processes were assessed from storage of blood collection materials through specimen collection, transportation, processing of the samples and the resulting sample quality. By following the samples through the complete process, it was possible to link specific PA attributes to sample quality deficiencies. Materials and methods: A consistent method and data collection form were used for audits (N = 48) of all blood collection systems. Data were collected by observation of the PA phase. Sample quality was assessed for laboratory samples of the same type. Results: The PA phase was observed for 3597 blood collection tubes over 1350 collections. Sample quality was assessed for 8016 chemistry and 3532 coagulation tubes. For collections that resulted in hemolysed samples, 48% had prolonged use of tourniquet, 31% used catheters and for 38% the disinfectant was not allowed to dry. For serum samples with fibrin where the PA process had been observed, 26% had less than 30 minutes between collection and centrifugation and 81% had not been mixed. The following list gives the percentage of collections where a particular behaviour was observed, incorrect patient identification procedure, 56%; tubes labelled prior to collection 61%; coagulation tubes filled to less than 90% of tube volume 7%; gloves not worn 37%; incorrect activation of needle safety device 19%. Conclusions: The BD Preanalytical Review standardised audit methodology allows comparison of results between departments and institutions. The prospective nature of the reviews permits identification of issues based on more data than from rejected samples alone and therefore affords a more complete understanding for those involved in the PA phase.


Covering the essentials of analog circuit design, this book takes a unique design approach based on a MOSFET model valid for all operating regions, rather than the standard square-law model. Opening chapters focus on device modeling, integrated circuit technology, and layout, whilst later chapters go on to cover noise and mismatch, and analysis and design of the basic building blocks of analog circuits, such as current mirrors, voltage references, voltage amplifiers, and operational amplifiers. An introduction to continuous-time filters is also provided, as are the basic principles of sampled-data circuits, especially switched-capacitor circuits. The final chapter then reviews MOSFET models and describes techniques to extract design parameters. With numerous design examples and exercises also included, this is ideal for students taking analog CMOS design courses and also for circuit designers who need to shorten the design cycle.


Product configuration can be defined as the task of tailoring a product according to the specific needs of a customer. Due to the inherent complexity of this task, which for example includes the consideration of complex constraints or the automatic completion of partial configurations, various Artificial Intelligence techniques have been explored in the last decades to tackle such configuration problems. Most of the existing approaches adopt a single-site, centralized approach. In modern supply chain settings, however, the components of a customizable product may themselves be configurable, thus requiring a multisite, distributed approach. In this paper, we analyze the challenges of modeling and solving such distributed configuration problems and propose an approach based on Distributed Constraint Satisfaction. In particular, we advocate the use of Generative Constraint Satisfaction for knowledge modeling and show in an experimental evaluation that the use of generic constraints is particularly advantageous also in the distributed problem solving phase.


Lending is the principal business activity for most commercial banks. The loan portfolio is typically the largest asset and the predominate source of revenue. Traditional practices rely too much on trailing indicators of credit quality such as delinquency, nonaccrual, and risk rating trends. Banks have found that these indicators do not provide sufficient lead time for corrective action when there is a systemic increase in risk. At Equity Bank, Nyeri County, management has done all that is within its means to ensure that the clients get credit facilities at ease. However, there have been numerous cases of loan defaulters at the bank. Consequently, this has led to losses in terms of profits to the bank and also provisions in the bank have increased. This study was undertaken to determine strategies to reduce default rates in loan lending institutions in Kenya. The base of the study was Equity Bank, Nyeri County. The objectives of the study were to establish the effect of client account appraisal, collateral appraisal, client loan history and, guarantors' appraisal on loan repayment at the Equity Bank, Nyeri County. The study reviewed literatures in line with the area of study. The study will employed a case study research design so as to carry out an in depth study of the organization in order to come up with the relevant data for analysis. This method was the best suited to systematically give an exhaustive analysis of the situation. The study targeted forty one respondents who are employees of the Equity Bank, Nyeri County. Questionnaires were used as the main tools for the collection of data. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis will be used in data analysis. On account transactions appraisals on loan repayment at Equity Bank, the study found that majority (52.5%) of the study participants felt that account transaction appraisals were slightly high. On the implications of collateral appraisal on loan repayment, the study found that most (37.5%) of the respondents felt that the collateral appraisals of Equity bank were high. On the role of client's loan history appraisals on loan repayment, the study found that most (42.5%) of the study participants felt that the loan history appraisals were very high. On the influences of guarantors' appraisals on loan repayment majority (50%) of the study participants felt that the guarantors' appraisals at Equity bank were high.The study concluded that the account transaction appraisals, collateral appraisals, loan history appraisals as well as guarantor appraisals were tailored to meet attract borrowing in Equity. Among others, the study also recommended that the banks should tailor their appraisals to cover the institution's risk while at the same time attract more borrowers. It was hoped that the findings would be of significance to various loan applicants and management of Equity Bank. By determining factors affecting on the Loan accessibility of entrepreneurs, it would add value to the organization.


This patient information was developed by Via Oncology, LLC © 2019. This information is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. CLIENT acknowledges that the Via Pathways and Via Portal are information management tools only, and that Via Oncology, LLC has not represented the Via Pathways or Via Portal as having the ability to diagnose disease, prescribe treatment, or perform any other tasks that constitute the practice of medicine. The clinical information contained in the Via Pathways and Via Portal are intended as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the knowledge, expertise, skill, and judgment of physicians, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals involved with patient care at CLIENT facilities. About This Drug


Galaxy Mass Assembly (GAMA): Timescales for galaxies crossing the green valley. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical ABSTRACT We explore the constraints that can be placed on the evolutionary timescales for typical low redshift galaxies evolving from the blue cloud through the green valley and onto the red sequence. We utilise galaxies from the GAMA survey with 0 . 1 < z < 0 . 2 and classify them according to the intrinsic ( u ∗ − r ∗ ) colours of their stellar populations, as determined by fits to their multi-wavelength spectral energy distributions. Using these fits to also determine stellar population ages and star formation timescales, we argue that our results are consistent with a green valley population dominated by galaxies that are simply decreasing their star formation (running out of gas) over a timescale of 2-4 Gyr which are seen at a specific epoch in their evolution (approximately 1.6 e-folding times after their peak in star formation). If their fitted star formation histories are extrapolated forwards, the green galaxies will further redden over time, until they attain the colours of a passive population. In this picture, no specific quenching event which cuts-off their star formation is required, though it remains possible that the decline in star formation in green galaxies may be expedited by internal or external forces. However, there is no evidence that green galaxies have recently changed their star formation timescales relative to their previous longer term star formation histories.


ABSTRACT Smart meters and in-home displays (IHDs) have been recently adopted to help give residential users more control over energy consumption, and meet environmental and supply security objectives. The article aims to identify the effectiveness and potential of smart meters and real-time IHDs in reducing Shanghai household energy consumption by affecting occupants' behaviour. A general landscape of the occupant behaviour in residential buildings was briefly painted. A pilot study in Shanghai with an effective sample of 131 respondents was arranged into two groups as IHD and non-IHD households. A dedicated statistical analysis model was developed based on the micro-level empirical data to investigate the characteristics and the regulations of electricity consumption in these two groups, such as check frequency, electricity consumption reduction and shifting, energy bill saving, and standby power. The research results demonstrate that IHDs could lead to around 9.1% reduction in monthly electricity consumption and about 11.0% cut off in monthly electricity bills. A general comparison of the electricity consumption reduction between this research and the average UK case was further made. Barriers at current stage and challenges for further work were finally discussed. The statistical model is expected to 'future proof' smart meter and real-time displays through macro-level designing in modularity and flexibility in China. The overall research initially proves the concept of the feasible impact of smart meter and display technologies in the Chinese context, which is further expected to contribute to the empirical evidence on how IHD feedback could influence household electricity consumption in the Chinese context.


This Essay is about solutions - real solutions that law schools can deploy right now to improve the education we provide. And it is about how to overcome obstacles to implementing those solutions right now. This is how change happens.We have all heard a great deal about the problems facing legal education (and the legal profession more generally). Pundits have gone on for years about how law graduates are ill prepared for practice. More recently, there has been a seemingly endless barrage of commentary about the difficulty recent law graduates face in finding jobs. Often these commentators suggest extreme remedies (such as closing down all United States law schools or completely deregulating law practice so that anyone can offer legal services). Others suggest less extreme, but unrealistic remedies (such as forcing law faculties to change how they teach, stopping them from writing so that they can teach more, or doing away with faculty governance so that they have no say over these matters). My goal here is not to debate the many criticisms that have been leveled at legal education. While these criticisms may be overstated at times, I will start from the premise - which I believe is hard to debate - that most law schools could do a better job than they currently do to prepare their graduates to practice law and to get jobs. I will start by discussing a potential solution to these problems that is non-extreme, well researched, and relatively well accepted within the legal academy: the recommendations contained in the 2007 Carnegie Foundation report on legal education, titled Educating Lawyers (Carnegie Report). I will then explore why the Carnegie Report recommendations are still far from fully implemented in most U.S. law schools. Finally, I will recommend a set of realistic strategies for law schools to more fully implement the Carnegie Report's recommendations, and introduce a nationwide initiative called Educating Tomorrow's Lawyers that is designed to facilitate this process.


Experiments on auditory pattern discrimination generally fall into two categories: those that require the listener to selectively attend to a single element of an acoustic pattern (analytic), and those that require the listener to combine information from multiple elements of the pattern (synthetic). In the present study, numerical estimates were made of the relative efficiency of analytic and synthetic listening strategies in a spectral pattern discrimination task. The stimuli were multitone complexes comprised of the six octave frequencies from 250–8000 Hz. In the analytic listening condition, the signal was an increment in the level of one of the six tones (250, 1000, or 4000 Hz in different trial blocks). In the synthetic listening condition, the signal was an increment in the level of all six tones. The levels of the individual tones were also randomly perturbed from trial to trial to permit efficiency estimates of the listening strategies using a COSS analysis [B. G. Berg, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 88, 149–158 (1990)]. Results from 12 listeners in the 2IFC procedure suggest that analytic listening poses a greater challenge to listeners in spectral pattern discrimination tasks than does synthetic listening. [Work supported by NIDCD.]


Constraint Programming is an attractive approach for solving
AI planning problems by modelling them as Constraint Satisfaction
Problems (CSPs). However, formulating effective
constraint models of complex planning problems is challenging,
and CSPs resulting from standard approaches often require
further enhancement to perform well. Common subexpression
elimination is a computationally cheap and general
technique for improving CSPs, which can lead to a great reduction
in instance size, solving time and search space. In this
work we identify general causes of common subexpressions
from three modelling techniques often used to encode planning
problems into constraints. We present four case studies
of constraint models of AI planning problems. In each, we
describe the constraint model, highlight the sources of common
subexpressions, and present an empirical analysis of the
effects of eliminating common subexpressions


This article offers a theoretical perspective on the reception of new Polish queer literature in the Anglosphere as opposed to an "insider's view". The reception of queer literature is measured against the stereotype of Polish literature called "Pol- ish school of poetry". This stereotype when applied to queer literature interacts with the idea of Poland's "belatedness" in LGBTQ emancipation which is normatively understood as a carbon-copy of Western models, and not as a unique path. Therefore, the Anglosphere reading strategies often rely on "exoticisa-
tion" and a certain "postcolonial gaze". The case studies are two novels, Michał Witkowski's Lovetown and a limitrophe case, a novel about Poland written in English by Tomasz Jędrowski, Swimming in the Dark. While in the former the political content is almost overlooked, in the latter the description of queer lives under communism seems brought to the forefront. I argue, however, that this vision in Swimming in the Dark does not surpass stereotypes and also is full of historical inaccuracies.


Criminal law on hate speech has become a hotly debated topic in the past decade. In the Netherlands and in England and Wales legislative changes and proposals abound, while cases such as the prosecution of MP Geert Wilders have received considerable attention. How to deal with hate speech in an increasingly pluralist society has become a pressing question. Moreover, with the attacks in New York, London and Madrid and the appearance of radical groups and individuals, such as Abu Hamza Al-Masri in England and the Hofstadgroep in the Netherlands, public debate has been dominated by the problems of terrorism and radicalisation. As a result, extreme speech – presumed to encourage radicalisation and terrorism – is a major issue. This comparative study deals with how ideas behind the law on hate speech and extreme speech in the Netherlands and England and Wales – including the influence of European and international law – have developed since 2001 and how this can be explained by reference to their historical origins. The aim of this research is to discover how Dutch, English/Welsh and international law have developed over time, but more importantly: why it has developed in that way.


This paper defines a new type system applied to the fully automatic verification of safety properties of tree-processing higher order functional programs. We use term rewriting systems to model the program and its semantics and tree automata to model algebraic data types. We define the regular abstract interpretation of the input term rewriting system where the abstract domain is a set of regular languages. From the regular abstract interpretation we derive a type system where each type is a regular language. We define an inference procedure for this type system which allows us check the validity of safety properties. The inference mechanism is built on an invariant learning procedure based on the tree automata completion algorithm. This invariant learning procedure is regularly-complete and complete in refutation, meaning that if it is possible to give a regular type to a term then we will eventually find it, and if there is no possible type (regular or not) then we will eventually find a counterexample .


Until relatively recently, 'child labour' remained a pejorative term used primarily by historians to describe the grinding and unremitting work routines and hostile work environments to which nineteenth century children were exposed. The start of the
twentieth century, though, is frequently identified as marking the emergence of a more humanitarian attitude towards children, epitomised by the increasing willingness of the state to intervene in arenas such as child welfare. Historians have cited the intensification of legislation designed to protect the child as evidence to suggest that by the turn of the nineteenth century the vast majority of children were no longer significant workers.
Before the publication of Emrys Davies' government funded 1972 study, which concluded that the employment undertaken by school children was frequently arduous and harmful, such claims were taken at face value in the academic world. As a result, until recently, the labour of school children throughout the twentieth century has not been subject to adequate social research, and the experiences of working school children have been largely ignored.
However, as the recent upsurge in academic and political interest in child employment illustrates, the debate over what is an effective and appropriate level of child labour regulation remains a heated political question. One of the problems, though, is that a lack of information on the period c1900-1973 is hampering our understanding of the forces and interests which have helped shape child labour policy in Britain. Hence, this thesis has two main aims. Firstly, it seeks to provide detailed empirical information on the levels and types of work performed by children. Secondly, and more importantly, it aims to deepen our appreciation of the concerns which have influenced thinking and policy on this subject in the twentieth century. It is hoped that an analysis of these two issues will help us understand the origins and nature of current debates over school child labour, and to evaluate the 'solutions' advanced by politicians and academics in the twenty-first century.
The potential impact of the range of factors and interests which are traditionally seen to be present within the policy-making process, such as ideologies, political parties and pressure groups, are assessed. Particular emphasis, though, is placed on the conservative role played by civil servants within the Home Office, the government department charged with responsibility for the administration of legislation for school children's employment throughout the period under examination. The thesis concludes that of all the agents active in the policy-making process, civil servants were the most influential in shaping the
approach adopted by successive governments towards the question of child labour reform.
It suggests that officials were guided by a pervasive 'departmental view' of the phenomenon, a key element of which emphasised its potential for channeling the potentially 'problematic' leisure hours of working class youths into creative outlets. Finally, the thesis highlights the extent to which the ideas and beliefs which underpinned thinking on child labour regulation between 1900-1973 continue to have an enduring influence on the current policy debate.


Abstract. An adaptation technique based on the synoptic atmospheric circulation to forecast local precipitation, namely the analogue method, has been implemented for the western Swiss Alps. During the calibration procedure, relevance maps were established for the geopotential height data. These maps highlight the locations were the synoptic circulation was found of interest for the precipitation forecasting at two rain gauge stations (Binn and Les Marecottes) that are located both in the alpine Rhone catchment, at a distance of about 100 km from each other. These two stations are sensitive to different atmospheric circulations. We have observed that the most relevant data for the analogue method can be found where specific atmospheric circulation patterns appear concomitantly with heavy precipitation events. Those skilled regions are coherent with the atmospheric flows illustrated, for example, by means of the back trajectories of air masses. Indeed, the circulation recurrently diverges from the climatology during days with strong precipitation on the southern part of the alpine Rhone catchment. We have found that for over 152 days with precipitation amount above 50 mm at the Binn station, only 3 did not show a trajectory of a southerly flow, meaning that such a circulation was present for 98% of the events. Time evolution of the relevance maps confirms that the atmospheric circulation variables have significantly better forecasting skills close to the precipitation period, and that it seems pointless for the analogue method to consider circulation information days before a precipitation event as a primary predictor. Even though the occurrence of some critical circulation patterns leading to heavy precipitation events can be detected by precursors at remote locations and 1 week ahead (Grazzini, 2007; Martius et al., 2008), time extrapolation by the analogue method seems to be rather poor. This would suggest, in accordance with previous studies (Obled et al., 2002; Bontron and Obled, 2005), that time extrapolation should be done by the Global Circulation Model, which can process atmospheric variables that can be used by the adaptation method.


Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is the second most frequent cause of ESRD in the first two decades of life. Effective treatment is lacking. First insights into disease mechanisms came from identification of single-gene causes of SRNS. However, the frequency of single-gene causation and its age distribution in large cohorts are unknown. We performed exon sequencing of NPHS2 and WT1 for 1783 unrelated, international families with SRNS. We then examined all patients by microfluidic multiplex PCR and next-generation sequencing for all 27 genes known to cause SRNS if mutated. We detected a single-gene cause in 29.5% (526 of 1783) of families with SRNS that manifested before 25 years of age. The fraction of families in whom a single-gene cause was identified inversely correlated with age of onset. Within clinically relevant age groups, the fraction of families with detection of the single-gene cause was as follows: onset in the first 3 months of life (69.4%), between 4 and 12 months old (49.7%), between 1 and 6 years old (25.3%), between 7 and 12 years old (17.8%), and between 13 and 18 years old (10.8%). For PLCE1, specific mutations correlated with age of onset. Notably, 1% of individuals carried mutations in genes that function within the coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis pathway, suggesting that SRNS may be treatable in these individuals. Our study results should facilitate molecular genetic diagnostics of SRNS, etiologic classification for therapeutic studies, generation of genotype-phenotype correlations, and the identification of individuals in whom a targeted treatment for SRNS may be available.


SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPMSMS IN THE FOLYLPOLYGAMMAGLUTAMATE SYNTHETASE GENE By Nadine Thompson, B .S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006. Major Director: Richard G. Moran, Ph.D. Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology Folic acid is an essential vitamin utilized in the one-carbon metabolism pathway for the synthesis of purine and thymidine nucleotides, which are necessary for cell growth and proliferation. As a result, the enzymes that participate in the metabolism of folic acid have been good targets for cancer chemotherapy. Folylpoly-y-glutamate synthetase (FPGS) is an enzyme in the folate metabolism pathway that catalyzes the addition of glutamic acid to the naturally occurring folates, thereby allowing the retention of folate cofactors in cells. Similarly, in the case of cancer chemotherapy, antifolates, such as Lometrexol and Tomudex are retained in cells through the activity of FPGS. Consequently, any single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that exist in the f igs gene may decrease or increase the cytotoxicity of antifolates and, ultimately, the clinical response rate to antifolate therapy. The goal of this project is to define the position and frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the mRNA made from the f igs gene from peripheral blood of one hundred normal individuals. Six Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) primers were designed to amplify the gene as three overlapping pieces and four primers were designed for sequencing of the three PCR products. In this study, we found polymorphic sites at nucleotides 64, 123, 253, 423, 1334 and 1781. The majority of the samples (49188) expressed mRNA with point mutations on at least one allele at base 64, while 8 samples had a SNP at base 123. At nucleotide 123, 6 samples expressed the heterozygote GIA genotype, and one sample expressed the homozygote A/A allele at this site. At nucleotide 423, two samples expressed a G allele and also the common C allele. While the SNPs at nucleotide 64, 123, and 423 caused a silent or conservative mutation in the gene, in sample 82, a mutation C253T produced an amino acid change from an arginine to tryptophan, which may cause a functional change in the fpgs protein, due to the significant change in size and charge of the wild type amino acid. Similarly, sample 26 expessed a homozygote TIT allele at nucleotide 1334 instead of the common CIC allele expressed in the remaining samples. This point mutation caused a valine to alanine amino acid change. We also detected a SNP that is expressed after the stop codon in sample 40.


This study explorea and analyse how loneliness and solitude are constructed as problems and how they are explained by "society" in different forms of texts and by people who themselves define their situations as characterized by loneliness or solitude. The latter forms a special focus and my ambition is to understand how they answer to a social situation that in different ways problematize them as persons and construct their life situation as an anomaly. Even if the situation is characterized by loneliness or a search for social distance the task of explaining the situation is not taking place in a social or cultural vacuum; as the situation is viewed as an anomaly society creates it's own interpretations and discourses which influences individuals and groups understanding. Therefore two different kinds of empirical material have been used. First, texts from research and science concerning loneliness and solitude as well as representations from other textual genres. Second, texts written by self defined lonely people and persons who expressly seek solitude and these are collected from two "places" on Internet. From a dating service specialised in lonely people and a community of people who strives towards solitude as a way of life. The main unit of analysis consits of the language in these texts and are interpretated  by an textual analysis influenced by discource analysis. A major problem regarding loneliness and solitude is "the social". Even if solitude are about social inattention, discourses are often occupied by social life in different manifestations; mostly in form of a social dissatisfaction that motivates freedom from society and community. In loneliness discourses lack of social connection, naturally, represents a central theme. Because solitude is understood as motivated by the individual and loneliness as caused by forces that the individual usually doesn't control, the individual in discourses of solitude appears as one of pride and agency while the individual in loneliness discourses appears as a shameful victim. Solitude and loneliness are deviances which are managed with help of explanatory "accounts": 1) Excuses in form of "scapegoats" where other peoples deficiencies is singled out as cause or motive to both loneliness and solitude. 2) Excuses with reference to illness and psychological problems, which to a large extent explains loneliness. 3) Justifications of solitude with reference to freedom to self-realization and communion. Based on my analysis a composed situation appears wherein lonely people and people seeking a private space seems to have a lot in common: social dissatisfaction and alienation, designation of scapegoats, a longing for authenticity etc. It is even possible that they, to a degree, share a life-situation characterized by alienation and despair but "choses" different vocabularies or discourses for rendering the situation as intelligible, which makes a shared situation into different ones.