SUBJECT AREAS: Banking, Commercial banking, Customer acquisition, Risk management. The "Central Bank" series analyzes the use of information and product design for managing the counterparty risk of newly acquired customers. Central Bank, a mid-sized regional U.S. bank, was attempting to grow its customer base by increasing the number of new checking accounts. Like many banks, Central saw checking accounts as an important tool for customer acquisition and loyalty-building. However, the bank realized that the aggressive pursuit of new accounts could result in an increased number of overdrafts and, ultimately, customer defaults. The first case, "Central Bank: The ChexSystems(SM) QualiFile(R) Decision," analyzes how QualiFile, a debit scoring product commercialized by ChexSystems, can be used to manage this risk.


Nigeria's vociferous media has the potential to be divided along ethnic and religious lines. Given that most Nigerians view political aspirants in terms of their ethnic and religious lineage rather than political ideology, and since most Nigerians rely on the media for information, there is the tendency to fall prey to biased and insensitive reportage, capable of inciting violence which is elicited by prejudiced information often presented as news, features, commentaries, documentaries, etc. This problem is the major motivation behind this research, which aims to build through training, the capacity of the media to report elections in a conflict-sensitive manner. This thesis develops, through the use of a participatory action research design, an alternative method of news reportage using the peace-journalism model. The model, developed by Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick (2005), encourages journalists to report social issues in ways that create opportunities for a society to consider and value nonviolent responses toward conflict by using the insights from conflict analysis and transformation to update concepts of balance, fairness and accuracy in reporting. It also provides a new route map, which traces the connections between journalists, their sources, the stories they cover and the consequences of their reportage. In addition, it builds awareness of nonviolence and brings creativity into the practical job of everyday editing and reporting. This research holds theoretical significance in that it explicitly identifies conditions that encourage journalists to apply conflict-sensitivity to their reportage, thereby promoting societal peace, particularly during elections. The research findings herein offer a unifying multi-dimensional, conceptual framework which can be used to analyse and discuss the role journalists play in ensuring peaceful elections and demonstrates that they have a constructive part to play when covering sensitive social issues. A training manual has been developed from the findings of the study; it is intended to serve as a template and guide for journalists reporting on elections across the African continent.


Abstract. Urban trees offer significant benefits for improving the sustainability and liveability of cities, but its monitoring is a major challenge for urban planners. Remote-sensing based technologies can effectively detect, monitor and quantify urban tree coverage as an alternative to field-based measurements. Automatic extraction of urban land cover features with high accuracy is a challenging task and it demands artificial intelligence workflows for efficiency and thematic quality. In this context, the objective of this research is to map urban tree coverage per cadastral parcel of Sandy Bay, Hobart from very high-resolution aerial orthophoto and LiDAR data using an Object Based Convolution Neural Network (CNN) approach. Instead of manual preparation of a large number of required training samples, automatically classified Object based image analysis (OBIA) output is used as an input samples to train CNN method. Also, CNN output is further refined and segmented using OBIA to assess the accuracy. The result shows 93.2% overall accuracy for refined CNN classification. Similarly, the overlay of improved CNN output with cadastral parcel layer shows that 21.5% of the study area is covered by trees. This research demonstrates that the accuracy of image classification can be improved by using a combination of OBIA and CNN methods. Such a combined method can be used where manual preparation of training samples for CNN is not preferred. Also, our results indicate that the technique can be implemented to calculate parcel level statistics for urban tree coverage that provides meaningful metrics to guide urban planning and land management practices.


This report has been done in collaboration with SCA Skog, Norrbottens Forest Management Area. The purpose of the survey is to try to find out what the forest owners who either live in Norrbottens Forest Management area or outside but has their forest holdings in the administrative area has the vision of SCA Forest and their forest services offered by the administration. But also to find out the presences of other timber buying players who procures timber in the administrative area. This study seeks to determine if there are deficiencies that may need changes or improvements to the prevailing conditions in Norrbottens management area.

The literature study is about how to design a questionnaire based on what you want to know and what to consider in order to eliminate the problem of constructing a questionnaire.

A questionnaire was sent to 400 randomly selected forest owners who have their forest holdings within SCA Forest Norrbotten Management Area. And of the 400, it was 181 respondents with 39 women and 138 men. The response rate was 44%.

Forest owners were asked to answer 17 questions where pieces of the questionnaire was divided into three parts. The first one a demographic part where the respondents indicate their gender, age, whether they live on the property, how many members, how large the acreage property is and how often it is harvested on the property. The second part illustrates the business conditions of the respondents. The final part is a matter of the respondents, who engaged SCA Skog sometime earlier, how satisfied they were with the results. On some issues, there was also room for comments.

Survey responses show that the average landowner is a man of 50-60 years of age and he does not live on his forest property, he is alone owner of the forest holdings and the area of the property is 101-200 hectares. Harvesting is done in every five-year period and the wood is sold it would sell as a timber felling rights. He is delivering to Sveaskog.

68% of respondents had not delivered timber to SCA Forest before. The reason for that is the higher prices from other and better relationship with another actor. The forest owners who have ever engaged SCA Skog are mostly satisfied with the cooperation.


Abstract There are many examples of cryptic species that have been identified through DNA‐barcoding or other genetic techniques. There are, however, very few confirmations of cryptic species being reproductively isolated. This study presents one of the few cases of cryptic species that has been confirmed to be reproductively isolated and therefore true species according to the biological species concept. The cryptic species are of special interest because they were discovered within biological control agent populations. Two geographically isolated populations of Eccritotarsus catarinensis (Carvalho) [Hemiptera: Miridae], a biological control agent for the invasive aquatic macrophyte, water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms [Pontederiaceae], in South Africa, were sampled from the native range of the species in South America. Morphological characteristics indicated that both populations were the same species according to the current taxonomy, but subsequent DNA analysis and breeding experiments revealed that the two populations are reproductively isolated. Crossbreeding experiments resulted in very few hybrid offspring when individuals were forced to interbreed with individuals of the other population, and no hybrid offspring were recorded when a choice of mate from either population was offered. The data indicate that the two populations are cryptic species that are reproductively incompatible. Subtle but reliable diagnostic characteristics were then identified to distinguish between the two species which would have been considered intraspecific variation without the data from the genetics and interbreeding experiments. These findings suggest that all consignments of biological control agents from allopatric populations should be screened for cryptic species using genetic techniques and that the importation of multiple consignments of the same species for biological control should be conducted with caution.


Connectionist models have been criticized for not being able to form compositional representations of recursive data structures such as trees and lists, a matter that has been addressed by models as Elman networks, RAAM and B-RAAM. These architectures seem to have common features with the human short-term memory regarding recall. Both show a strong recency effect; however, the human memory also exhibits a primacy effect due to rehearsal. The problem is that the connectionist models do not have the primacy aspect, which complicates the learning of long-term dependencies. A long-term dependency is when items presented early should affect the behaviour of the model. Learning long-term dependencies is a problem that is hard to address within these architectures. Delay-lines might be used as a mechanism for implementing rehearsal within connectionist models. However, it has not been clarified how the use of delay-lines affects the recency and the primacy aspect. In this thesis, delay-lines are introduced in B-RAAM. This study investigates how the primacy and the recency aspect are affected by the use of delay-lines, aiming to improve the ability to identify long-term dependencies. The results show that by using delay-lines, B-RAAM has both primacy and recency.


Foodborne Diseases, Third Edition, covers the ever-changing complex issues that have emerged in the food industry over the past decade. This exceptional volume continues to offer broad coverage that provides a foundation for a practical understanding of diseases and to help researchers and scientists manage foodborne illnesses and prevent and control outbreaks. It explains recent scientific and industry developments to improve awareness, education, and communication surrounding foodborne disease and food safety.

 Foodborne Diseases, Third Edition, is a comprehensive update with strong new topics of concern from the past decade. Topics include bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral foodborne diseases (including disease mechanism and genetics where appropriate), chemical toxicants (including natural intoxicants and bio-toxins), risk-based control measures, and virulence factors of microbial pathogens that cause disease, as well as epigenetics and foodborne pathogens. Other new topics include nanotechnology, bioterrorism and the use of foodborne pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic resistance, and more.

 Presents principles in disease processes in foodborne illness

 Includes hot-topic discussions such as the impact of nanotechnology on food safety

 Provides in-depth description of our current understanding of the infectious and toxic pathogens associated with food

 Presents cutting-edge research on epigenetics, antimicrobial resistance, and intervention technologies


Incessant electric power failures have forced Nigerian residents into extensive use of electric power generator. This implicates a host of environmental livability glitches. This study therefore appraises the livability implications of domestic usage of electric power generators. The relative incidence of generator use was appraised. Residents' livability was also assessed across the three recognizable residential densities of the city having 20 political wards. Out of the total 561, 56 urban blocks (10%) were sampled. A questionnaire was administered to 511 respondents using a multi stage approach. Noise dosimeter was used to measure the noise level. Likert scaling method was used in the transformation of ordinal data into ratio or interval data. Regression analysis was used to explain the relationship between the relative incidence of electric generator use (GUI) and the relative level of residents' livability (RLI) in the study. A high level incidence of power outage (81%) was observed to have encouraged a high incidence (78.6%) of electric generator use. There was observed a reliable relationship between relative incidence of electric generator use and residents' livability(R = -811, P = .000). Economic, health and social components (in the order of listing) are affected by the use of electric generators. The study thus recommends physical, environmental, legal and administrative resolutions to eliminate the negative effects of electric power generator use.


If individuals are such rational and maximizing agents, why has history demonstrated that government intervention in economics plays a consistently positive role in a developing country's economic performance? This article emphasizes the inevitable link of the political arena with progress of economic success, primarily in the developing world, thereby rejecting the neoclassical view of pure market-driven economics. The author highlights the market-oriented accomplishments of the Asian NICs (Newly Industrialized Countries) and some Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Turkey, pointing out time periods when authoritarian regimes acted as indisputable impetus for economic growth spurts in these countries. Because the poor are afflicted most heavily during transition periods, the author advocates that governments ensure the involvement of the poor not only in the market reforms but most importantly in the policy-making process. Governments must ensure proper allocation of national resources, income distribution, and commitment to poverty alleviation through direct intervention in the economy to stimulate growth and success. Under these circumstances, Haggard concludes, the poor will demonstrate a higher level of success in the emerging economies than many expect.


BACKGROUND
Glycemic control is fundamental to the management of diabetes and maintenance of health. Popular measures of performance in glycemic control include A1c and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). As measures of performance, A1c has perspective, but it fails to recognize hypoglycemia, while SMBG lacking overall perspective finds use mainly by patients to simply evaluate their glycemic status and current response to therapy. An additional, preferably visual, measure of performance in diabetes management in general and glycemic control in particular is needed.

METHODS
To form a visual measure of performance, a graphical method of analysis from the statistician's toolbox (known as the lag plot) was adapted. It can utilize SMBG data sets from any source, including memory meters and registry databases in call centers. Data are retrieved, processed, formatted, and then plotted on a PC screen or printer. The resulting lag plots visually characterize the performance of glucose control achieved over periods (selectable by the user) from days to months. Supporting numerical statistics provide rigorous outcome measures that correlate with glycated hemoglobin.

RESULTS
Clinical use of the lag plot is illustrated in seven case studies spanning the range from no diabetes, through glucose intolerance, early-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus, type 1 diabetes, intensified therapy, pump therapy, and finally islet cell transplantation. Visual comparisons before and after action/referral show impacts of interventions, incidences of hypoglycemia, and changes in the polyglycemia of unstable diabetes. Statistical significance of observed changes are quantified.

CONCLUSIONS
The simple lag plot can empower patients and their providers to identify problems in glycemic control, seek proactive action, adopt beneficial strategies, evaluate outcomes, and, most importantly, rule out interventions with no benefit.


Abstract In the United States, the number of intercountry adoptions has steadily increased in the past 15 years. Healthcare providers should understand the medical aspects of such adoptions in order to better advise families and aid them in making an informed decision when adopting a foreign-born child. Pretravel consultation is addressed, including immunizations, safety issues, and how to create a personalized prophylactic medical travel kit. Review of pictures, videos, and the medical history of the potential adoptive child is also discussed, as is air travel with children. Postemigration medical examinations—including developmental and psychosocial evaluations, general work-up with laboratory studies, and immunizations—are outlined. This article reviews the medical aspects of intercountry adoption for adoptive parents in the United States. The osteopathic approach of caring for the whole family lends itself to advising families on intercountry adoptions.


The integration of Ethernet passive optical networks (EPONs) and broadband wireless access (BWA) networks, such as LTE and WiMAX, provides a promising solution for fixed mobile convergence architectures. The complementary features of these two network systems provide high bandwidth and mobility together with a low deployment cost. However, even though many hardware architectures have been proposed for integrated EPON/BWA networks, the problem of achieving an effective bandwidth division among the EPON and wireless traffic remains unresolved. Accordingly, the present study proposes a novel frame-based dynamic bandwidth allocation (FB-DBA) scheme to accommodate the different protocols of EPON and BWA networks, respectively, in an efficient manner. The proposed scheme adopts a framed approach, in which the time domains of the optical and wireless access networks are partitioned into contiguous frames of a fixed length. Within each frame, wireless traffic is transmitted in a pipeline fashion between the optical and wireless domains, which significantly reduces the delay of wireless traffic. Furthermore, sufficient network resources are provided to ensure the respective quality-of-service requirements of the EPON and wireless traffic. The performance of the proposed FB-DBA scheme is evaluated by means of a series of simulations based on an N-user M/G/1 queuing model. The numerical results confirm the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed scheme.


Comprehensive experimental investigations were conducted to get deeper insight into the physics of stator clocking in turbomachines. Different measurement techniques were used to investigate the influence of varying clocking positions on the highly unsteady flow field in a 1.5-stage axial low-pressure (LP) turbine. A Reynolds number typical for LP turbines as well as a two-dimensional blade design were chosen. Stator 2 was developed as a high-lift profile with a separation bubble on the suction side. This paper presents the results that were obtained by means of unsteady x-wire measurements upstream and downstream of Stator 2 and surface mounted hot-film measurements on the Stator 2 suction side. It was found that for the case when the Stator 1 wakes impinge close to the leading edge of Stator 2 the interaction between the Stator 1 and the rotor vortical structures takes place in proximity of the Stator 2 boundary layer, which leads to a shift of the transition point in the upstream direction. The major loss parameter concerning the Stator 2 aerodynamic performance could be attributed to the strength of the periodic fluctuations within the Stator 2 suction side boundary layer. A phase shift in the quasiwall shear stress signal in the front region of the Stator 2 vane was observed for different clocking positions.


In this study, omeprazole was used as a model compound. Omeprazole and other related sulfoxidebenzimidazolesare used against gastric ulcersand have been extensively studied regarding chromatographic resolution techniques using several different chiral stationary phases.First, AstraZeneca launched Losec, a racemic mixture of RS-omeprazole. Facing loss of patent, the more potent S-enantiomer was developed and marketed as Nexium. Now the patent of Nexium is close expiration why methods for isolation of the pure S-enantiomer will be of importance for the generic pharmaceutical companies.The experimental model separation system represents a system with good selectivity and high solubility of the solute in the eluent. In this investigation the productivity optima for three different particle sizes (5, 10 and 25 µm) at maximum system pressure ranging from 50 to 400 bars are studied. Two different optimizations cases were studied in depth. First,a process optimization with fixed column geometry is studied. The results clearly show that larger packing materials have higher productivity at low pressure drops on the analytical size column.With increasing allowed pressure drops, over 200 bar, the smaller packing materials have substantially higher productivity. The results also show that smaller packing material will always have much lower solvent consumption compared to larger particles.The second process optimization was performed with a fixed column volume, but the column geometry was variable. The results shows that the productivity obtained for the smaller packing particles materials was higher compared to the large for all allowed pressure drops. The productivity obtained for the small particle compared to the large increased by 25-300 % while maintaining 50-300 % less solvent consumption for the purification of the first enantiomer.The addition of TEA seems to be unfavorable for all tested conditions.In conclusion, the optimization of the enantioseparation of omeprazole has been shown to be dependent on column packing particle size as well as column geometry. It has been demonstrated that all parameters need to be simultaneously optimized to reach a global productivity optima.


Institutions have prioritized the development of new residence halls that respond to incoming student classes who expect more privacy, social space, technology and fewer boundaries than any previous generation. To address the difference between student expectations with the current built norm, we have envisioned a new living model that can be implemented in new or existing structures, challenging preconceived notions by creating a flexible and transformable living environment for students. In this space, privacy and communal lines can be easily blurred and re-formed to suit students' group and individual needs. It is a repositionable modular system of parts and reinterpreting the essential program of needs in residential life: a place to socialize, study, store belongings and sleep.


Advances in sensor and computer technology are revolutionizing the way that remote sensing data with hundreds or even thousands of channels for the same area on the surface of the earth is collected, managed and analyzed. In this paper, the classical Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) algorithm, which is fit for parallel and distributed computing, is implemented by using Graphic Processing Units (GPU) and distributed cluster respectively to accelerate the computations. A quantitative performance comparison between Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) and MATLAB platform is given by analyzing result of different parallel architectures' implementation of the same SAM algorithm. Especially for the property of GPU, this paper studied the balance between resource acquirement of each thread and the number of active blocks, and the impact of computational complexity on speedup. In addition, page-locked memory and stream are also introduced to make CPU and GPU work collaboratively. Moreover, we improved the SAM algorithm, in which several training samples are instead of a single one. Experimental results on hyperspectral data have shown that recognition result of the improved SAM algorithm is better than that only using single spectrum. On the other hand, the GPU parallel implementation achieves a higher speedup comparing with the multithread CPU counterpart. And the asynchronous transfer function of CUDA covers the data transmission latency effectively, thus improves the devices' resource occupancy significantly.


The primary goal of pattern recognition is supervised or unsupervised classification. Among the various frameworks in which pattern recognition has been traditionally formulated, the statistical approach has been most intensively studied and used in practice. More recently, neural network techniques and methods imported from statistical learning theory have been receiving increasing attention. The design of a recognition system requires careful attention to the following issues: definition of pattern classes, sensing environment, pattern representation, feature extraction and selection, cluster analysis, classifier design and learning, selection of training and test samples, and performance evaluation. In spite of almost 50 years of research and development in this field, the general problem of recognizing complex patterns with arbitrary orientation, location, and scale remains unsolved. New and emerging applications, such as data mining, web searching, retrieval of multimedia data, face recognition, and cursive handwriting recognition, require robust and efficient pattern recognition techniques. The objective of this review paper is to summarize and compare some of the well-known methods used in various stages of a pattern recognition system and identify research topics and applications which are at the forefront of this exciting and challenging field.


'A serious and notable contribution to racial understanding' - Saturday Review of Literature Standing. Bear's dismay at the condition of his people, when after sixteen years' absence he returned to the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation, may well have served as a catalyst for the writing of this book, first published in 1933. In addition to describing the customs, manners, and traditions of the Teton Sioux, Standing Bear (as Richard N. Ellis notes in the foreword) 'also offered more general comments about the importance of native cultures and values and the status of Indian people in American society'. With the assistance of Melvin R. Gilmore, curator of ethnology at the University of Michigan, and his niece and secretary, Warcaziwin, Standing Bear sought to tell the white man 'just how we lived as Lakotans'.His book, generously interspersed with personal reminiscences and anecdotes, includes chapters on child rearing, social and political organization, the family, religion, and manhood. Standing Bear's views on Indian affairs and his suggestions for the improvement of white-Indian relations are presented in the two closing chapters. Standing Bear's "My People the Sioux" (1928), edited by E. A. Brininstool, also is available in a Bison Books edition, with an introduction by Richard N. Ellis.


The explanation versus understanding debate was important to the philosophy of the social sciences from the time of Dilthey and Weber through the work of Popper and Hempel. In recent years, with the development of interpretive approaches in hermeneutics, phenomenology, and language analysis, the problematic has become absolutely central. The broad literature to which it has given rise, while still split along "analytic" versus "continental" lines, shows increasing signs of a reunification in philosophy. G. H. von Wright's important book, Explanation and Understanding, originally published in 1971, is a good example of this trend.In Understanding and Explanation, Karl-Otto Apel takes von Wright's work as a point of departure for a rigorous, penetrating analysis of the issues involved. After reviewing the failure of earlier discussions to resolve these issues, Apel develops his own approach in light of the turn from logico-semantic to pragmatic analysis of language in post-Wittgensteinian philosophy. In doing so, he constructs bridges that reach back to themes and positions of the German tradition of the Geisteswissenschaften, but from strikingly new angles.Karl-Otto Apel holds the chair for social philosophy at the University of Frankfurt. His book is included in the series Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought, edited by Thomas McCarthy.


Crusader castles and other fortifications in Cyprus, the south-western coast of Turkey and Greece are amongst the best examples of late medieval military architecture to be seen in Europe. These important fortifications, erected by the Hospitallers during the 15th century to face the growing Ottoman Turkish threat, vary considerably from those in the Middle East. Despite there being many visible remains of fortifications in Cyprus, Greece and the Aegean, few studies exist of these areas compared to the fortifications of the Holy Land. Providing numerous architectural plans, maps and colour illustrations, this book seeks to redress this imbalance and complement the previous bestselling treatments of Crusader fortifications in the "Fortress" series.


Graduate supervision at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine Campus has primarily been fashioned after conventional apprenticeship models. Within this framework, supervisors function as founts of disciplinary knowledge and wisdom, made available to 'disciples' in need of hands-on guidance in order to ensure eventual ascension to the guarded ranks of academics. The 'charismatic authority' with which supervision has traditionally been conducted was in part the result of controlled disciplinary borders and a sense of sole propriety over the supervisee and the research (Yeatman 1995). Pedagogical advancements and shifts in student ideologies, however, have forced academics to reconceptualise the practice of supervision. Literature on Supervision best practice highlights the need for a (re)definition of the relationship between supervisor and supervisee as it is believed to underscore what can be loosely described as successful supervision. In this paper we present the reflections of a graduate research supervisor geared toward reflecting on her experiences across various stages of the supervisory relationship as well as improving her students' supervisory experience. We examine how her interpretation of students' perspectives and their stated expectations are conceptualised to inform/modify practice. The research is intended to provide an actionable option for graduate student supervision revision, while also providing a framework for continued dialogue aimed at improving graduate supervision at the UWI, St. Augustine.


Warmer, dryer climate conditions during the past 3 decades are thought to have increased severe fires in the western United States. Severe fires may change food webs due to altered light levels, nutrient concentrations, and hydrology in streams. To measure how wildfire changes stream food webs, we collected aquatic invertebrates before and after a fire, and calculated their density and biomass. To investigate the effects of wildfire on streams, we collected aquatic invertebrates from Cub and Little Cub Creeks on the east side of Yellowstone Lake before and after the East Fire (Figure 1.). The timing of our study was serendipitous with the fire burning after our first year of collecting samples. Therefore, we collected samples prior to the wildfire (2003), and 1 (2004), 2 (2005), and 9 years post fire (2012). The East Fire was a crown fire that set ablaze >17,000 acres and burned ≥95% of the watersheds of these streams. Working in Yellowstone National Park was opportune, because few other perturbations existed and the effects of wildfire can be easily studied. We analyzed the samples to understand how wildfire altered stream invertebrates. Our specific questions were: 1.) What affect did wildfire have on the density and biomass of aquatic invertebrates? 2.) How did the composition of aquatic invertebrates change before and after wildfire? Results from our study will inform managers about how the food base for fish and many birds (i.e., aquatic invertebrates) changes after wildfire. Figure 1. Cub Creek 9 years post wildfire.


Abstract Recent work on liquid-surface-protected plasma facing components has resulted in the establishment of operating windows for candidate liquids, as well as limits on the maximum allowable liquid surface temperature in order to limit plasma impurities from liquid evaporation. In this study, an additional constraint on the maximum allowable surface temperature gradient (i.e., heat flux gradient) has been quantified. Spatial variations in the wall and liquid surface temperatures are expected due to variations in the incident radiation and particle fluxes. Thermocapillary forces created by such temperature gradients can lead to film rupture and dry spot formation in regions of elevated local temperatures. Here, attention has been focused on "non-flowing" thin liquid films similar to those formed on the surface of porous wettedwall components. Future analyses will include the effects of macroscopic fluid motion, and MHD forces. A numerical model using the level contour reconstruction method was used to follow the evolution of the liquid free surface above a non-isothermal solid surface. The model was used to develop generalized charts for the maximum allowable spatial temperature gradients (i.e., the critical Marangoni number) as a function of the governing non-dimensional variables, viz. the Weber, Froude, and Prandtl numbers, and aspect ratio. Attention was focused on the asymptotic limit for thin liquid films (i.e., low aspect ratio) which provides a lower bound for the maximum allowable temperature gradients. Specific examples for lithium, Flibe, lithium-lead, tin, and gallium are presented. The generalized charts developed in this investigation will allow reactor designers to identify design windows for successful operation of liquid-protected plasma facing components for various coolants, film thicknesses, and operating conditions.


This paper argues that Canada's foreign signals intelligence agency's public accountability reporting might be enhanced by drawing on lessons from existing statutory electronic surveillance reporting. Focusing exclusively on Canada's signals intelligence agency, the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), we first outline the relationships between accountability of government agencies to their respective Ministers and Members of Parliament, the role of transparency in enabling governmental accountability to the public, and the link between robust accountability regimes and democratic legitimacy of government action. Next, we feature a contemporary bulk data surveillance practice undertaken by Canada's signals intelligence agency and the deficiencies in how CSE's existing review body makes the Establishment's practices publicly accountable to Parliamentarians and the public alike. We then discuss how proposed changes to CSE oversight and review mechanisms will not clearly rectify the existing public accountability deficits. We conclude by proposing a principle-based framework towards a robust public accountability process that is linked to those underlying domestic and foreign statutory electronic surveillance reports.


How do the economic bene…ts of marriage vary with macroeconomic conditions? One of the major bene…ts of marriage is the ability to dynamically coordinate labor supply decisions in response to shocks. For instance, when one spouse loses a job, the other can work more. This paper argues that dynamic coordination is countercyclical; the innovations to husbands' and wives'labor incomes are more positively correlated when the economy is growing rapidly. As a result, while individuals face substantially more idiosyncratic labor income risk in bad times than in good, households do not. Improved intra-household coordination undoes for couples the increased riskiness that comes to individuals in bad times. Since panel datasets are typically too short to capture more than a few business cycles, I exploit variation in the cross-sectional covariance of husbands'and wives'incomes to infer the covariance of past innovations to their incomes. Couples who have been married through periods of greater economic expansion have more positively correlated labor incomes in the cross-section, after controlling for a time trend in assortative mating. This implies that the correlation of couples'labor incomes falls by roughly 20 percent (e.g., from 10 percent to-10 percent) from booms to busts.


This paper presents a low-complexity MIMO symbol detector with close-Maximum a posteriori performance for the emerging multiantenna enhanced high-speed wireless communications. The VLSI implementation is based on a novel MIMO detection algorithm called Modified Fixed-Complexity Soft-Output (MFCSO) detection, which achieves a good trade-off between performance and implementation cost compared to the referenced prior art. By including a microcode-controlled channel preprocessing unit and a pipelined detection unit, it is flexible enough to cover several different standards and transmission schemes. The flexibility allows adaptive detection to minimize power consumption without degradation in throughput. The VLSI implementation of the detector is presented to show that real-time MIMO symbol detection of 20 MHz bandwidth 3GPP LTE and 10 MHz WiMAX downlink physical channel is achievable at reasonable silicon cost.


Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) is an automatic process of retrieving images according to their visual content. Research in this field mainly follows two directions. The first is concerned with the effectiveness in describing the visual content of images (i.e. features) by a technique that lead to discern similar and dissimilar images, and ultimately the retrieval of the most relevant images to the query image. The second direction focuses on retrieval efficiency by deploying efficient structures in organising images by their features in the database to narrow down the search space. The emphasis of this research is mainly on the effectiveness rather than the efficiency.
There are two types of visual content features. The global feature represents the entire image by a single vector, and hence retrieval by using the global feature is more efficient but often less accurate. On the other hand, the local feature represents the image by a set of vectors, capturing localised visual variations in different parts of an image, promising better results particularly for images with complicated scenes. The first main purpose of this thesis is to study different types of local features. We explore a range of different types of local features from both frequency and spatial domains. Because of the large number of local features generated from an image, clustering methods are used for quantizing and summarising the feature vectors into segments from which a representation of the visual content of the entire image is derived. Since each clustering method has a different way of working and requires settings of different input parameters (e.g. number of clusters), preparations of input data (i.e. normalized or not) and choice of similarity measures, varied performance outcomes by different clustering methods in segmenting the local features are anticipated. We therefore also intend to study and analyse one commonly used clustering algorithm from each of the four main categories of clustering methods, i.e. K-means (partition-based), EM/GMM (model-based), Normalized Laplacian Spectral (graph-based), and Mean Shift (density-based). These algorithms were investigated in two scenarios when the number of clusters is either fixed or adaptively determined. Performances of the clustering algorithms in terms of image classification and retrieval are evaluated using three publically available image databases. The evaluations have revealed that a local DCT colour-texture feature was overall the best due to its robust integration of colour and texture information. In addition, our investigation into the behaviour of different clustering algorithms has shown that each algorithm had its own strengths and limitations in segmenting local features that affect the performance of image retrieval due to variations in visual colour and texture of the images. There is no algorithm that can outperform the others using either an adaptively determined or big fixed number of clusters.
The second focus of this research is to investigate how to combine the positive effects of various local features obtained from different clustering algorithms in a fusion scheme aiming to bring about improved retrieval results over those by using a single clustering algorithm. The proposed fusion scheme integrates effectively the information from different sources, increasing the overall accuracy of retrieval. The proposed multi-evidence fusion scheme regards scores of image retrieval that are obtained from normalizing distances of applying different clustering algorithms to different types of local features as evidence and was presented in three forms: 1) evidence fusion using fixed weights (MEFS) where the weights were determined empirically and fixed a prior; 2) evidence fusion based on adaptive weights (AMEFS) where the fusion weights were adaptively determined using linear regression; 3) evidence fusion using a linear combination (Comb SUM) without weighting the evidences. Overall, all three versions of the multi-evidence fusion scheme have proved the ability to enhance the accuracy of image retrieval by increasing the number of relevant images in the ranked list. However, the improvement varied across different feature-clustering combinations (i.e. image representation) and the image databases used for the evaluation.
This thesis presents an automatic method of image retrieval that can deal with natural world scenes by applying different clustering algorithms to different local features. The method achieves good accuracies of 85% at Top 5 and 80% at Top 10 over the WANG database, which are better when compared to a number of other well-known solutions in the literature. At the same time, the knowledge gained from this research, such as the effects of different types of local features and clustering methods on the retrieval results, enriches the understanding of the field and can be beneficial for the CBIR community.


Due to recent droughts in Iran and other parts of the world and consequently limited water resources, tending to aquaponic system, in which fish and plants grow together, is a logical and practical method. For this reason, in the current experiment, possibility of mint planting in aquaponic system and the effects of applying nano-fertile fertilizer containing 60% humic acid on its growth was investigated. Mint rhizomes were planted in pure-perlite-contained pots and after reaching trnsferable stage, the plants were transferred to course-sand medium of aquaponic system. Nanofertile fertilizer concentrations for foliar spray were 0 (control), 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/L, with 100 mL for each treatment. Foliar application was continued every week, for 6 weeks, and the plants were harvested after 60 days. Results showed that all concentrations of foliar spray of mint plants with nano-fertile fertilizer increased fresh and dry weight of shoot and root as compared to control. Nano-fertile fertilizer increased chlorophyll content, soluble sugars, Fv/Fm, and PI as compared to control plants. Plant growth enhancement and better physiological conditions of nanofertile sprayed plants were correlated with higher potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, manganese and copper content in shoots of the treated plants. Therefore, considering higher concentration of some nutrients and chlorophyll content in the leaves of plants treated with nano-fertile fertilizer and consequently higher photochemical quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and photosynthesis performance index (PI), it is concluded that nano-fertile-treated plants had a better photosynthesis condition and thus carbon fixation was carried out well, dry matter was increased and plant growth was improved.


When cells encounter substantial DNA damage, critical cell cycle events are halted while DNA repair mechanisms are activated to restore genome integrity. Genomic integrity also depends on proper assembly and function of the bipolar mitotic spindle, which is required for equal chromosome segregation. Failure to execute either of these processes leads to genomic instability, aging, and cancer. Here, we show that following DNA damage in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, the centrosome protein centrin2 moves from the cytoplasm and accumulates in the nucleus in a xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C protein (XPC)-dependent manner, reducing the available cytoplasmic pool of this key centriole protein and preventing centrosome amplification. MDA-MB 231 cells do not express XPC and fail to move centrin into the nucleus following DNA damage. Reintroduction of XPC expression in MDA-MB 231 cells rescues nuclear centrin2 sequestration and reestablishes control against centrosome amplification, regardless of mutant p53 status. Importantly, the capacity to repair DNA damage was also dependent on the availability of centrin2 in the nucleus. These observations show that centrin and XPC cooperate in a reciprocal mechanism to coordinate centrosome homeostasis and DNA repair and suggest that this process may provide a tractable target to develop treatments to slow progression of cancer and aging.


The important objective of the traffic engineer is to provide safety and fluency to the traffic regulation. The paper has lighten the provision of the best possible solution for the major intersection. A seven leg intersection has been taken for the study. Due to heavy increment in traffic volume the forecasted data fails to fulfill the requirement of the safer intersection. The intersection itself is regulated on the rotary traffic control system. An attempt is being carried out to provide the best feasible solution for the real time situation.


We present a description of the ModelE2 version of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) General Circulation Model (GCM) and the configurations used in the simulations performed for the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). We use six variations related to the treatment of the atmospheric composition, the calculation of aerosol indirect effects, and ocean model component. Specifically, we test the difference between atmospheric models that have noninteractive composition, where radiatively important aerosols and ozone are prescribed from precomputed decadal averages, and interactive versions where atmospheric chemistry and aerosols are calculated given decadally varying emissions. The impact of the first aerosol indirect effect on clouds is either specified using a simple tuning, or parameterized using a cloud microphysics scheme. We also use two dynamic ocean components: the Russell and HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) which differ significantly in their basic formulations and grid. Results are presented for the climatological means over the satellite era (1980–2004) taken from transient simulations starting from the preindustrial (1850) driven by estimates of appropriate forcings over the 20th Century. Differences in base climate and variability related to the choice of ocean model are large, indicating an important structural uncertainty. The impact of interactive atmospheric composition on the climatology is relatively small except in regions such as the lower stratosphere, where ozone plays an important role, and the tropics, where aerosol changes affect the hydrological cycle and cloud cover. While key improvements over previous versions of the model are evident, these are not uniform across all metrics.


Studies of the fundamental nature of RNA catalysis and the potential mechanism of a shift from the "RNA world" to proteinaceous life lead us to identify a set of ribozymes (flexizymes) capable of promiscuous tRNA acylation. Whilst theoretically and mechanistically interesting in their own right, flexizymes have turned out to have immense practical value for the simple synthesis of tRNAs acylated with unusual amino acids, which in turn can be used for the ribosomal synthesis of peptides containing non-canonical residues. Using this technique, it is possible to synthesise peptides containing a range of structural features (macrocyclic backbones, backbone N-methylation, d-stereochemistry, etc.) commonly observed in natural product secondary metabolites, a chemical class that has historically been a rich source of drug-like molecules. Moreover, when combined with biochemical display screening technologies, this synthetic approach can be used to generate (and screen for target affinity) extremely diverse (in excess of 1012 compound) chemical libraries, making it an extraordinary tool for drug discovery. The current review charts the history of flexizyme technology and its use for non-canonical peptide synthesis and screening.


The Noughties saw the rise of a new generation of Club Kids following in the footsteps of their predecessors - the original Club Kids of New York City, who, in turn, had followed London's Blitz generation. In the early 1980s, the Blitz Club in London's Covent Garden became the focal point for an alternative club scene-frequented by Adam Ant, Boy George, Siouxsie Sioux and Steve Strange-which spawned even more radical clubs such as Leigh Bowery's infamous Taboo club in London's Leicester Square. Bowery famously enjoined, 'Dress as though your life depends on it or don't bother', a mantra the new Club Kids have adopted as their own. They dress outrageously, with a penchant for kitsch and anti-fashion. Often with a mixture of their own self-made outfits and carefully selected labels (predominantly Vivienne Westwood), oversized accessories, excessive amounts of make-up and frequently highly androgynous looks, these flamboyant clubbers have created a vibrant New Club Kids' scene in London's bohemian nightlife underground. Fabulous or trashy, beautiful or scary, glamorous or freaky - meet the New Club Kids in these incredible photographs.


SUMMARY Paenibacillus larvae larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood disease of honey bee larvae occurs throughout the world and is found in all beekeeping areas of Argentina. Microbiological analysis of 394 honey samples obtained from bee hives from Buenos Aires province (Argentina) from three years of sampling (1999–2001) yielded 219 positive cases (55.6%). The incidence of P l. larvae infected honey samples for 1999 was 68.1% (n = 160), for 2000 47.1% (n = 102), and 46.2% for 2001 (n = 132). The mean values of spore contamination for the three-year study showed a continuous reduction, probably due to good practices of disease management by beekeepers by breeding bees for hygienic behaviour and reduction of antibiotic treatments for control of AFB. P. l. larvae populations isolated from honey were characterized on the basis of DNA fingerprints using the repetitive-sequence-based polymerase chain reaction technique (rep-PCR) with BOX- and REP- sequence- specific primers. Four distinctive patterns, named A, B, C, and D, were distinguishable among the isolates. Genotype D was not observed in previous studies; this finding could be correlated with a new introduction of the disease in Argentina since 1997 when only three genotypes (A, B, and C) were confirmed. The rep-PCR fingerprint patterns obtained were compared with the patterns generated by a world-wide collection of P. l. larvae strains. The same 4 genotypes patterns were found within a collection of strains from 18 different countries of the world. It is important to point out that pattern C was only found in Argentina and in one sample from Uruguay located in the border line, suggesting that genotype C could have been derived from genotype A and disseminated to Uruguay from Argentina. These findings support the hypothesis that American foulbrood disease is exposed to a limited selective pressure from climatic and environmental sources.


Background The gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori is extraordinary in its genetic diversity, the differences between strains from well-separated human populations, and the range of diseases that infection promotes. Principal Findings Housekeeping gene sequences from H. pylori from residents of an Amerindian village in the Peruvian Amazon, Shimaa, were related to, but not intermingled with, those from Asia. This suggests descent of Shimaa strains from H. pylori that had infected the people who migrated from Asia into The Americas some 15,000+ years ago. In contrast, European type sequences predominated in strains from Amerindian Lima shantytown residents, but with some 12% Amerindian or East Asian-like admixture, which indicates displacement of ancestral purely Amerindian strains by those of hybrid or European ancestry. The genome of one Shimaa village strain, Shi470, was sequenced completely. Its SNP pattern was more Asian- than European-like genome-wide, indicating a purely Amerind ancestry. Among its unusual features were two cagA virulence genes, each distinct from those known from elsewhere; and a novel allele of gene hp0519, whose encoded protein is postulated to interact with host tissue. More generally, however, the Shi470 genome is similar in gene content and organization to those of strains from industrialized countries. Conclusions Our data indicate that Shimaa village H. pylori descend from Asian strains brought to The Americas many millennia ago; and that Amerind strains are less fit than, and were substantially displaced by, hybrid or European strains in less isolated communities. Genome comparisons of H. pylori from Amerindian and other communities should help elucidate evolutionary forces that have shaped pathogen populations in The Americas and worldwide.


Although Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the yeast species predominantly used for alcoholic fermentation, non-Saccharomyces yeast species are also important because they produce secondary metabolites that can contribute to the final flavour and taste of wines. In this study, 37 strains representing seven non-Saccharomyces species were characterised and evaluated for potential use in wine production, as well as for their effects on malolactic fermentation (MLF). Contour-clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS) were used to verify species identity and to determine intra-species variation. Extracellular enzyme production, malic acid degradation and the fermentation kinetics of the yeasts were also investigated. CHEF karyotyping and MALDI-TOF MS were useful for identifying and typing Hanseniaspora uvarum, Lachancea thermotolerans, Candida zemplinina (synonym: Starmerella bacillaris) and Torulaspora delbrueckii strains. Only H. uvarum and Metschnikowia pulcherrima strains were found to have β-glucosidase activity. M. pulcherrima strains also had protease activity. Most of the strains showed limited malic acid degradation, and only Schizosaccharomyces pombe and the C. zemplinina strains showed mentionable degradation. In synthetic wine fermentations, C. stellata, C. zemplinina, H. uvarum, M. pulcherrima and Sc. pombe strains were shown to be slow to medium fermenters, whereas L. thermotolerans and T. delbrueckii strains were found to be medium to strong fermenters. The effect of the yeasts on MLF varied, but inhibition was strain dependent.


Naive Bayes classifiers have proven to be useful in many prediction problems with complete training data. Here we consider the situation where a naive Bayes classifier is trained with data where the response is right censored. Such prediction problems are for instance encountered in profiling systems used at National Employment Agencies. In this paper we propose the maximum collective conditional likelihood estimator for the prediction and show that it is strongly consistent under the usual identifiability condition.


Wang, Qin. M.S. Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 2009. Constitutive and jasmonate-inducible defenses in phloem of two North American and two Asian ash species grown in the common garden. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is more damaging to North American ashes than Asian ashes. Variation in the resistance of ash species to feeding by larvae of EAB may be related to variation in levels of chemical defenses in the phloem. I compared constitutive and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-inducible levels of several chemical defenses in the phloem of young Manchurian, Chinese, white, and green ashes. Manchurian ash is known to be highly resistant to attack by EAB in the field, while white and green ashes are both susceptible. The hypotheses of this experiment were that: (1) Manchurian (Fraxinus mandshurica) and Chinese ash (Fraxinus chinensis) trees' phloem or bark contains concentrations of unique secondary compounds and higher level of defense protein activities than white and green ash. (2) MeJA treatment will induce increases in content of protein, Peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) content and most of the secondary compounds in all species. Phloem extracts of Manchurian ash showed higher total soluble protein content and significantly faster browning than white and green ash, but lower peroxidase activity and polyphenoloxidase activity. Activities of PPO, POD, phenolic and lignin content, and the rate of browning reactions were not found to exhibit differences between MeJA treated and untreated groups. However, our HPLC results revealed Manchurian ash contained nine unique phenolic compounds: Homovanillic Alcohol, Esculetin, Esculin Related Cmpd, Esculin, Fraxin, Fraxidin hexoside, Pinoresinol dihexoside, Calceolarioside A, Calceolarioside B. We also found obvious increases in specific compounds (of the 20 compounds we reanalyzed in the four ash species) in Green ash, Chinese ash and Manchurian ash in the MeJA treated group. Also, Canonical Discriminant Function Analysis of five common compounds (Tyrosol Hexoside, Mandshurin, Pinoresinol compound, Syringaresinol and Oleuropein) revealed that Manchurian ash was different from the other three ashes, but closer to Green ash and Chinese ash. Green ash and Chinese ash were similar to each other. White ash was very


The effects of malathion on alkaline phosphatase activity in the liver, kidney and small intestine was investigated. Malathion doses of 40 mg kg-1 were injected intreperitonally (I:P) into mice. At 0, 4, 8, 16 and 24 hours after treatment with malathion, mice were decapitated and tissues were removed. Homogenate of the tissues was centrifugated at 48000xg for 30 minutes. The supernatant was used as an enzyme source. It was found that the malathion increased alkaline phosphatase activity in the kidney and decreased alkaline phosphatase activity in the liver and small intestine.


Abstract Background Most studies underline the contribution of heritable factors for psychiatric disorders. However, heritability estimates depend on the population under study, diagnostic instruments, and study designs that each has its inherent assumptions, strengths, and biases. We aim to test the homogeneity in heritability estimates between two powerful, and state of the art study designs for eight psychiatric disorders. Methods We assessed heritability based on data of Swedish siblings (N = 4 408 646 full and maternal half-siblings), and based on summary data of eight samples with measured genotypes (N = 125 533 cases and 208 215 controls). All data were based on standard diagnostic criteria. Eight psychiatric disorders were studied: (1) alcohol dependence (AD), (2) anorexia nervosa, (3) attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), (4) autism spectrum disorder, (5) bipolar disorder, (6) major depressive disorder, (7) obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and (8) schizophrenia. Results Heritability estimates from sibling data varied from 0.30 for Major Depression to 0.80 for ADHD. The estimates based on the measured genotypes were lower, ranging from 0.10 for AD to 0.28 for OCD, but were significant, and correlated positively (0.19) with national sibling-based estimates. When removing OCD from the data the correlation increased to 0.50. Conclusions Given the unique character of each study design, the convergent findings for these eight psychiatric conditions suggest that heritability estimates are robust across different methods. The findings also highlight large differences in genetic and environmental influences between psychiatric disorders, providing future directions for etiological psychiatric research.


From the Publisher:
This is the first book-length presentation and defense of a new theory of human and machine cognition, according to which human persons are superminds. Superminds are capable of processing information not only at and below the level of Turing machines (standard computers), but above that level (the "Turing Limit"), as information processing devices that have not yet been (and perhaps can never be) built, but have been mathematically specified; these devices are known as super-Turing machines or hypercomputers. Superminds, as explained herein, also have properties no machine, whether above or below the Turing Limit, can have. The present book is the third volume in Bringsjord's supermind quartet; the first two books were What Robots Can and Can't Be (Kluwer) and Al and Literary Creativity (Lawrence Erlbaum). The final chapter of this book offers eight prescriptions for the concrete practice of AI and cognitive science in light of the fact that we are superminds.


Abstract. The process-based biogeochemical model Biome-BGC was enhanced to improve its ability to simulate carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles of various terrestrial ecosystems under contrasting management activities. Biome-BGC version 4.1.1 was used as a base model. Improvements included addition of new modules such as the multilayer soil module, implementation of processes related to soil moisture and nitrogen balance, soil-moisture-related plant senescence, and phenological development. Vegetation management modules with annually varying options were also implemented to simulate management practices of grasslands (mowing, grazing), croplands (ploughing, fertilizer application, planting, harvesting), and forests (thinning). New carbon and nitrogen pools have been defined to simulate yield and soft stem development of herbaceous ecosystems. The model version containing all developments is referred to as Biome-BGCMuSo (Biome-BGC with multilayer soil module; in this paper, Biome-BGCMuSo v4.0 is documented). Case studies on a managed forest, cropland, and grassland are presented to demonstrate the effect of model developments on the simulation of plant growth as well as on carbon and water balance.


This essay examines the role A'Lelia Walker played as a fashion and social trendsetter in Harlem during the 1920s. The only daughter of early-twentieth-century hair-care-industry pioneer Madam C. J. Walker, she carved her own niche as a patron of the arts and philanthropist.An heiress with exquisitely decorated homes and chauffeured cars and hostess of music-filled soirees, she personified the spirit and flamboyance of the era. Always stylish, her blend of regal, statuesque African beauty and haute couture served as an inspiration to poets, painters, and novelists. Among those for whom she posed were photographers Berenice Abbott and Addison Scurlock and sculptors Richmond Barthé and Augusta Savage.Her parties were legendary. Whether at Villa Lewaro (her mother's Irvington, New York, mansion), at The Dark Tower (a converted floor of her 136th Street townhouse), or at her 80 Edgecombe Avenue pied-a-terre, she welcomed uptown and downtown artists, musicians, actors, writers, political activists, and socialites.Langston Hughes called her "the joy goddess of Harlem's 1920s" because her memorable gatherings lent such a glamorous, glitzy aura to the social scene above 110th Street.


We demonstrate a multicolor optical filter and isolator based on a double-cavity magneto-optical (MO) photonic crystal. Being grown as a heteroepitaxial all-garnet multilayer, it compromises a strong MO response and high optical transmittance. Low-loss, high Faraday rotation passbands as well as strong light rejection within the stop band were achieved by optimization of distance between cavities and repetition number of distributed Bragg reflectors.


Correspondence: irina Petrache indiana University, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine, van Nuys Medical Science Building, 635 Barnhill Drive, MS224, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5120, USA Tel +1 317 988 3811 Fax +1 317 988 3976 email firstname.lastname@example.com Abstract: Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), also known as alpha1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency, is an autosomal co-dominant condition. The genotypes associated with AATD include null, deficient, and dysfunctional alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) variants, which result in low levels of circulating functional A1AT, unbalanced protease activity, and an increased risk of developing lung emphysema, the leading cause of morbidity in these patients. Furthermore, the most common abnormal genotype, Pi*ZZ may also cause trapping of abnormally folded protein polymers in hepatocytes causing liver dysfunction. A major focus of therapy for patients with lung disease due to AATD is to correct the A1AT deficiency state by augmenting serum levels with intravenous infusions of human plasma-derived A1AT. This strategy has been associated with effective elevations of A1AT levels and function in serum and lung epithelial fluid and observational studies suggest that it may lead to attenuation in lung function decline, particularly in patients with moderate impairment of lung function. In addition, an observational study suggests that augmentation therapy is associated with a reduction of mortality in subjects with AATD and moderate to severe lung impairment. More recent randomized placebo-controlled studies utilizing computer scan densitometry suggest that this therapy attenuates lung tissue loss. Augmentation therapy has a relative paucity of side effects, but it is highly expensive. Therefore, this therapy is recommended for patients with AATD who have a high-risk A1AT genotype with plasma A1AT below protective levels (11 μM) and evidence of obstructive lung disease. In this article, we review the published evidence of A1AT augmentation therapy efficacy, side effects, and safety profile.


This book is about trials, civil and criminal, ecclesiastical and secular, in England and Europe between the thirteenth and the seventeenth centuries. The opening chapter provides a conceptual framework both for this book and for its companion volume on the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Subsequent chapters provide a rounded view of trials conducted according to different procedures within contrasting legal systems, including English common law and Roman canon law. They consider the judges and juries and the amateur and professional advisers involved in legal processes as well as the offenders brought before the courts, with the reasons for prosecuting them and the defences they put forward. The cases examined range from a fourteenth century cause-celebre, the attempted trial of Pope Boniface VIII for heresy, to investigations of obscure people for sexual and religious offences in the city states of Geneva and Venice. Technical terms have been cut to a minimum to ensure accessibility and appeal to lawyers, social, political and legal historians, undergraduate and postgraduates as well as general readers interested in the development of the trial through time. Domestic and international trials, 1700-2000: The trial in history, vol. II edited by Dr Rose Melikan, is also published by Manchester University Press.


The First "Colonial Frontier" Legal Writing Conference, held at Duquesne University School of Law, focused on Engendering Hope in the Legal Writing Classroom: Pedagogy, Curriculum, and Attitude. This conference built on the foundational work of Allison Martin and Kevin Rand in which these scholars call for educators to engender hope in law students to prepare them for practice. Martin and Rand conclude that hope is a predictor of students' academic performance and psychological health during the first semester of law school and recommend that law professors "maintain and creat[e] hope in law students" by embracing five core principles. Martin and Rand's core principles recommend that law faculty "(A) help law students formulate appropriate goals, (B) increase law student's autonomy, (C) model the learning process, (D) help law students understand grading as feedback rather than as pure evaluation, and (E) model and encourage agentic thinking." Martin and Rand's work provides concrete recommendation on how to "engender hope" in the legal writing classroom in particular.Martin and Rand's frame for approaching legal education is both timely and responsive considering the rapidly evolving legal market and the ongoing calls for reform in legal education. As the Carnegie Report highlighted: "Critics of the legal profession, both from within and without, have pointed to a great profession suffering from varying degrees of confusion and demoralization. A reawakening of professional elan must include, in an important way, revitalizing legal preparation." Martin and Rand's work and the Colonial Frontier conference responsively and proactively bring together educators to consider pedagogical approaches centered on engendering hope in our students to prepare them for successful and satisfying legal careers. "Engendering hope" as a pedagogical frame for curricular innovation offers a holistic and success-oriented approach that is a workable and adaptable starting point to strengthening the legal education model. This article uses Martin and Rand's core principles as a lens to examine a synergistic integrated pedagogical approach adopted at the American University Washington College of Law (WCL). In this pedagogical approach, a section of first-year WCL faculty coordinated to lead students through a client simulation woven through all first-year courses in the first semester. This article examines how this simulation engendered hope in law students using Martin and Rand's five principles as a rubric for initial assessment. This article reveals the methodology for this curricular innovation, the desired objectives, and both our initial successes and our preliminary critiques. WCL's approach reveals how synergistic pedagogy can engender hope in today's law students without unduly straining existing models, resources, or personnel. This approach suggests a proactive, not reactive, pedagogical technique capable of replication in institutions of varying curricular specialization, size, composition, and resources. This approach in its early assessment seems to rekindle hope in students and faculty alike, an outcome that is itself a catalyst to change.


Abstract The bentonite deposits in Bașören Kiitahya, W Anatolia, Turkey were formed by alteration of Pliocene perlite and pyroclastic rocks. Two types of bentonites are distinguished in this area on the basis of their physical properties, chemistry and occurrence. Bentonites were examined to determine their mineralogical, chemical and physical properties. Analytical methods include X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), chemical analysis and measurement of cation exchange capacity (CEC), swelling volume, water adsorption, bleaching capacity, and firing shrinkage. Bentonites consist mainly of dioctahedral smectite. They also contain zeolite, opal-CT, cristobalite, quartz, feldspar, dolomite and calcite. The 'Type 2' bentonites had greater CEC, swelling volume, water adsorption and bleaching capacity than 'Type 1'. The variation in the physical properties of the two bentonites is attributed to the differences in the non-clay mineralogy and to the chemical composition and nature of interlayer cation.


Although the mechanisms are largely unidentified, the chronic or intermittent hypoxic patterns occurring with respiratory diseases, such as chronic pulmonary disease or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity, are commonly associated with glucose intolerance. Indeed, hypoxia has been widely implicated in the development of insulin resistance either via the direct action on insulin receptor substrate (IRS) and protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) or indirectly through adipose tissue expansion and systemic inflammation. Yet hypoxia is also known to encourage glucose transport using insulin-dependent mechanisms, largely reliant on the metabolic master switch, 5′ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In addition, hypoxic exposure has been shown to improve glucose control in type 2 diabetics. The literature surrounding hypoxia-induced changes to glycemic control appears to be confusing and conflicting. How is it that the same stress can seemingly cause insulin resistance while increasing glucose uptake? There is little doubt that acute hypoxia increases glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle and does so using the same pathway as muscle contraction. The purpose of this review paper is to provide an insight into the mechanisms underpinning the observed effects and to open up discussions around the conflicting data surrounding hypoxia and glucose control.


The use of social networking websites has become a current international phenomenon. Popular websites include MySpace, Facebook, and Friendster. Their rapid widespread use warrants a better understanding. However, there has been little empirical research studying the factors that determine the use of this hedonic computer-mediated communication technology This study contributes to our understanding of the antecedents that influence adoption and use of social networking websites by examining the effect of the perceptions of playfulness, critical mass, trust, and normative pressure on the use of social networking sites.. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the patterns of inter-correlations among the constructs and to empirically test the hypotheses. Each of the antecedents has a significant direct effect on intent to use social networking websites, with playfulness and critical mass the strongest indicators. Intent to use and playfulness had a significant direct effect on actual usage.


The spread of modern varieties and hybrids of pearl millet and sorghum that began in the mid-1960s has had an important impact on small farmer welfare in India. The success and sustainability of these improved cultivars resulted from three types (or periods) of interventions by the Indian government: (1) increased investments in crop improvement by national and international agricultural systems during the 1970s; (2) development of efficient seed systems, with the gradual inclusion of the private sector in the 1980s; and (3) the liberalization of the Indian seed industry in the late 1990s. In addition to increased overall production levels of sorghum and millet, there have been substantial yield gains in semi-arid regions as well as improved cultivars adopted in some of the poorest areas of India. The innovations of new, hybrid technology have not been limited to the Green Revolution crops; they have also had significant impact on the productivity of small-farmer households growing dryland crops, such as millet and sorghum in India.


Abstract. A cartographic map of Gdańsk in the years of 1918–1939 was very different from the other maps of Polish cities. The reasons for some differences were, among others, the proximity of the sea, the multicultural mindset of the inhabitants of Gdańsk from that period, and some historical events in the interwar period (the founding of the Free City of Gdańsk and the events preceding World War II). Its uniqueness came from the fact that the city of Gdańsk combined the styles of Prussian and Polish housing, as well as form the fact that its inhabitants felt the need for autonomy from the Second Polish Republic. The city aspired to be politically, socially and economically independent.The aim of my presentation is to analyze the cartographic maps of Gdańsk, including the changes that had been made in the years of 1918–1939. I will also comment on the reasons of those changes, on their socio-historical effects on the city, the whole country and Europe.


The primary objective of this paper is to present and analyze key aspects related to next-generation tele-immersion applications, studying the end-to-end chain from 3D capturing of remote users to rendering. The key modules for 3D reconstruction of moving humans and their mesh compression, are presented and discussed. The chain performance is evaluated in terms of frame-rates, delay, and visual quality.


Two short typescripts by G. Lukacs from the archive, dating from 1941/42, shed light on his appraisal of the cultural 'inner reserves' of Germany and the 'moral reserves' of the democracies involved in the Second World War, as well as on Lukacs's political philosophy at that time. The conception of an intrinsic interrelation of a humanist philosophical anthropology and rationalist epistemology elucidates his egalitarian and democratic account. Both texts are located within the intellectual development of the author in an introduction by the editor, which sketches the historical background and indicates relevant contemporaneous theoretical and political debates, such as the controversies over realism and humanism and also a dispute with K. Jaspers on German collective guilt.


Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate possible associations of dietary patterns with high blood pressure (BP) in a nationwide cross-sectional sample of 10–12 years old Greek schoolchildren. Methods: Anthropometric measurements and information on dietary (by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire) and physical activity habits were obtained from the children. BPs was measured in a single occasion using a standard protocol. Data from 2024 normal energy reporting children were included in the analysis. Principal component analysis was applied to identify dietary patterns. Results: Seven dietary components (patterns) were extracted explaining 55% of the total variation in intake. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that predictors of high BP (75th percentile of SBP and/or DBP) were a pattern mainly characterized by the high consumption of cheese and red processed meat [odds ratio (OR) 1.15; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.03–1.30], being overweight (OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.61–2.73) or obese (OR 3.84; 95% CI 2.44–6.06) and breakfast frequency (OR 0.95; 95% CI 0.90–0.99). After controlling for sodium intake levels, the dietary pattern did not remain a significant predictor of high BP, indicating the potential mediating effect of sodium in the association. Conclusion: A dietary pattern that is characterized by high cheese and red processed meat consumption increases the likelihood of having high BP in children, probably through increasing dietary sodium intake. These findings could guide future interventions or public health initiatives to prevent the increasing rates of childhood elevated BP levels.


We reports the damping properties of an Fe-23%Mn alloy with various amounts of thermal or deformation-induced ε martensite. By controlling cooling temperatures and cold rolling degrees, the volume fractions of thermal and deformation-induced ε martensites are changed from 33 to 50% and from 33 to 75%, respectively. The damping capacity of the Fe-23%Mn alloy increases with an increase in thermal ε martensite content, whereas the damping capacity associated with deformation-induced ε martensite shows a peak value at 57% of ε martensite. Transmission electron micrographs on deformed samples reveal that the decay of damping over 57% of deformation-induced ε martensite is caused by an introduction of perfect dislocations, which play a role in suppressing the movement of damping sources. For the same amount of ε martensite, deformation-induced ε martensite exhibits higher level of damping capacity than thermal ε martensite. This may well be owing to relatively greater length of γ/ε interfaces in response to higher number density of ε martensite plates.


Are there elderly lesbians and gay men?1 If we look at contemporary imagery of gay men and lesbians, we are most likely to see images of younger adults (see, e.g., the recent Showtime television series, Queer as Folk); this view parallels the general marginalization of older adults in U.S. culture. Older adult gay men and lesbians may be said to constitute the most invisible of an already invisible minority. Of course there are elderly lesbians and gay men. Some estimates put the number of gay and lesbian older Americans from i million to 2.8 million (Cahill, South, and Spade, 2000). However, little is known about this group relative to what is known about other groups of older adults. In large part, this lack of knowledge is due to some of the inherent difficulties faced in studying lesbians and gay men in general, including problems of definition, differences in selfidentification as gay or lesbian among this cohort of elders in particular, and, historically, a lack of institutional support for research on this population. Making research and understanding even more difficult has been the social devaluation of lesbian and gay citizens and especially lesbian and gay relationships by government and religious institutions (see, e.g., the Defense of Marriage Act and similar state legislation as well as many churches' punctilious stances on gay marriage that favor heterosexual intimacy over gay and lesbian intimacy). Additionally, the research that has been conducted has been biased in favor of gay urban centers like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York, with gay men and lesbians who are "out," middle class, and predominantly European American (Quam, 1993). Expressions of intimacy among older gay men and lesbians counter the negative image of these older adults as alone and lonely. In the few such studies available, there is evidence that a sizable proportion of lesbians and gay men are in long-term relationships (see, e.g., Bell and Weinberg, 1978; McWhirter and Mattison, 1984) or live alone but are not lonely. Cahill, South, and Spade (2000), for example, indicate that although gay men and lesbians may be more likely to live alone and without a life partner than their heterosexual counterparts, they may have stronger nonfamilial social networks than do heterosexuals. According to these authors, "[n]ew forms of relationship in old age can include living independently but continuing close, intimate relationships with one partner or several. Nurturing friendships, not just a long-term relationship with a partner, seem to provide a major source of life satisfaction." Isay (1986) speculated about the dynamics underlying successful gay male relationships. He posited that for some same-gender couples, similarity (i.e., a higher degree of compatibility and mutual understanding) is an enhancing factor, especially early on in a relationship. For others, complementarity contributes to successful relationships in that it "allows for the tension of sexual desire and also the emotional space for the couple to grow in" Other factors that contribute to long-term intimacy include emotional fidelity (more so than sexual fidelity), sexual flexibility, and psychological-sexual attitude flexibility (i.e., greater flexibility in attitudes about sex roles). Kehoe (1988) speculated about the dynamics underlying successful lesbian relationships. She posited that freedom from gender role stereotyping in relationships contributes to a more equitable distribution of power and responsibilities. "[Lesbians] want companionship and affection, together with enduring tenderness and concern.' In addition to intimacy within couplehood, lesbians may rely even more on their circle of friends and family than do gay men (Cahill, South, and Spade, 2000). These characterizations of relationships for older lesbians and gay men have, at least on the surface, much in common with successful relationships for heterosexual women and men; successful relationships in varying forms are constructed on bases of similarity and complementarity and nonstereotyped behaviors. …


Automated pavement performance data collection is a method that uses advanced technology to collect detailed road surface distress information at traffic speed. Agencies are driven to use automated survey techniques to enhance or replace their current manual distress survey because of the advantages of objective measurements, safety benefits, and reduced measurement time. As agencies move toward the transition to fully automated data collection methods, there are common concerns regarding how the output of the new method will match the current manual survey ratings and how they will be adopted into the existing Pavement Management System (PMS). This study evaluates the newly implemented automated distress survey technique and its implementation into the Nebraska Pavement Management System (NPMS). To meet the objectives, a user-friendly program was developed to convert the automated distress ratings into the current manual distress ratings format. Then, a data set that includes more than 7,000 miles of distress data collected by the automated method was converted to the manual data format and compared to the most recent manual rating data of those sections to assess the agreement between the two data formats after the conversion process. The results show that the automated pavement survey slightly overrates bituminous pavement distresses with only a few distress types that could not be properly detected. Finally, a regression analysis of a core pavement performance indicator, Nebraska Serviceability Index (NSI), was conducted to examine how the new automated performance measurement system will ultimately affect NPMS decisions if implemented into Nebraska's pavement management system.


The proliferation of voter identification laws in the American states has spawned a growing literature examining their effects on participation and the factors conditioning their enactment. In this study we move in a different direction, focusing on public opinion toward these laws. Superficially, it appears that voter ID is a valence issue. Public opinion shows broad support, primarily as a way to safeguard the integrity of the ballot box. We explore this supposed consensus on voter ID, probing the rationales and explanations put forth for requiring strict photo ID. Specifically, we draw upon a battery of questions in the 2014 Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES) to determine the degree to which respondents' attitudes toward voter ID laws are influenced by beliefs about the prevalence of voter fraud, knowledge of existing voter ID laws, and opinions regarding the possible intentions and purposes for photo voter ID laws. Our findings make it evident that although large majorities favor strict photo ID laws, the factors associated with support for these laws vary by partisanship. It is not simply that Republicans strongly favor strict photo ID laws and Democrats are split on the matter. Instead, Republican popular support for strict photo ID laws cuts across virtually all demographic groups, while Democratic support is much more likely to vary as a function of factors such as ideology, education, attention to politics, and racial resentment in the case of white respondents. The partisan division in public opinion over voter ID laws strongly suggests an elite-to-mass message transmission reminiscent of the broader state of polarized party politics.


Abstract This article aims to deepen understanding of the trajectories through school and into adulthood of people who did not attain valued qualifications from upper secondary school ('non-completers'), and explore the fruitfulness of careership theory for such analysis. It is based on interviews with 100 young Swedes: 81 non-completers and 19 who had attended special upper secondary schools catering for young people with mild cognitive disability. Their narratives portray sparse socio-economic resources and difficult family situations, learning problems and marginalisation processes in school. They commonly learned to perceive themselves as failures and 'different'. Framed by narrow horizons of action, these young people's careers were mostly characterised by enforced rather than self-initiated turning points. Often leading to unemployment and economic problems, leaving secondary school was less of a turning point than a continuation of failure, even if completing adult education and getting a job were regarded as self-initiated, positive shifts. We conclude that careership theory was useful for analysing and understanding the careers of the young people concerned. However, distinguishing between 'routines' and 'turning points' became especially difficult when studying lives of these young people hemmed in by sparser resources, fewer choices and less stable career trajectories than their peers.


In 1796 the Berliner W. H. Wackenroder wrote Herzensergiesungen einer kunstliebender Klosterbruders (Outpourings of an art-loving friar). A publication, in theory anonymous, that because of its short length, the condition of its author —a humble young civil servant with a great sensibility to contemplate art and admire music — and the subjects discussed —Renaissance's art and masters of the past's works—, can seem, at first sight, not by many experts considered the founding work of German Romanticism. The text is told in first person by a monk, behind whom the real author, Wackenroder, is hidden. He offers through the chapters a very personal view of art, that he considers one of God's languages, being the other one the nature. He takes up again artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael and Durer, pointing out not only their works but also their personalities, emphasizing their being chosen by heaven. He tells in other chapters that for him, art and religion are mixed with confusing limits, approaching mysticism in some parts of the text. His most explicit concern is to recover in his time the ability of art to touch men's heart, so that they look above again, recovering the human sensibility before the mystery of faith, lost by the supremacy of reason as proposed by the Enlightenment. The «author» of this text is, as has already been said, a monk, and if we think about one of the most emblematic works of the romantic German artist of greater impact in the history of the following art, Caspar David Friedrich, the image of that Monch am Meer (The monk by de sea) appears, that the painter from Greifswald finished in 1810. His work has been described as «mystic» due to its intense spirituality, religious profundity that permeates all his texts about art, letters, and poems. His characters, like this monk, usually appear back to the watchers looking at infinity, point with a concrete dimension to Friedrich: the eternal life obtained for us men by Jesus Christ in that Cross so many times painted by him. In this way, his life and work seem to be the answer to what Wackenroder claimed: paintings that lead men to wonder about the crucial questions in life, and that open again the door to the personal God replaced by the philosophers's god.


Abstract This paper presents data that consider ways in which young people experience the curriculum through the lens of subject examination syllabuses (for GCSEs), their associated assessment techniques and structures, and educational policies at national and school level concerning subject choice. Drawing upon an original qualitative dataset from a mixed-methods study of students' views and experiences of GCSE from Northern Ireland (NI) and Wales, the paper explores students' perceptions of choice and fairness in relation to studying various subjects at GCSE. Factors of importance are the subjects available to them through subject option selections at the school level and the ways in which GCSE courses are then administered. In relation to notions of choice and fairness, the paper considers how students see access to the curriculum moderated by national- and school-level decisions regarding the assessment of GCSEs; the extent to which assessment techniques such as tiering, controlled assessment, and modularity, as well as school-level policy decisions about timing of entry to GCSEs (known as early entry) all combine to restrict students' access to the full range of subjects and influence the ways in which they experience these subjects as curricula within their particular school settings.


Sirtuins are enzymes that respond to cellular or organismal stress by activation or inhibition of the activities of proteins via deacetylating or ADP-ribosylating them after translation. Previously, it was shown that sirtuins affect the age-related pathways in the cell via interfering with the metabolism. SIRT4 was also shown to affect the glutamate metabolism both in pancreatic cells and also in brain. The aim of this study is to identify the interacting proteins of mitochondrial SIRT4 in mouse brain. We identified a number of proteins that interact with SIRT4 in mouse brain. We also showed that the ATP levels are lower in SIRT4 KO mouse brain compared to controls. Revealing SIRT4 interacting proteins will help to understand its function better in brain and lead the path for developing therapies for agerelated brain diseases.


Large amounts of energy are wasted due to unnecessary space heating in residential buildings, i.e. by heating rooms (or whole dwellings) even though residents do not occupy them. Several studies have shown that the major reason for this behaviour is the poor usability and understanding of current heating controls. For that reason, most people also prefer to adapt their thermal comfort by changing clothes or opening windows as their principal action, instead of adjusting the heating. Following the recent development of "smart" thermostats, we address the aforementioned challenges by developing an heating IS with better controls and comprehensive heating feedback to empower residents to adapt heating radiators in their rooms to their needs. In this work, we present the requirement analysis, implementation and field test evaluation of a novel smart individual room heating prototype. The system combines an intuitive user interface, supporting feedback and automation capabilities. We demonstrate that such a new generation of heating controls indeed improves usability and understanding and thereby leads to lower setpoints by 2-3° Celsius on average, which could enable significant energy savings.


In October 1995, consortiums of psychiatric and educational professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association and the National Educational Association, submitted amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court asserting that the scientific literature unequivocally supports the following propositions: (a) that homosexuals, including homosexual teachers, do not disproportionately molest children, (b) that children of homosexual parents are not more likely to become homosexuals, (c) that professionals agree that homosexuality is not a pathology, and (d) that homosexual attractions are biologically or genetically predetermined and are therefore beyond the control of the individual. The first two contentions are inconsistent with the scientific literature, and the second two grossly oversimplify a contentious and uncertain literature.


Integrated region-based segmentation using color components and texture features with prior shape knowledge Segmentation is the art of partitioning an image into different regions where each one has some degree of uniformity in its feature space. A number of methods have been proposed and blind segmentation is one of them. It uses intrinsic image features, such as pixel intensity, color components and texture. However, some virtues, like poor contrast, noise and occlusion, can weaken the procedure. To overcome them, prior knowledge of the object of interest has to be incorporated in a top-down procedure for segmentation. Consequently, in this work, a novel integrated algorithm is proposed combining bottom-up (blind) and top-down (including shape prior) techniques. First, a color space transformation is performed. Then, an energy function (based on nonlinear diffusion of color components and directional derivatives) is defined. Next, signeddistance functions are generated from different shapes of the object of interest. Finally, a variational framework (based on the level set) is employed to minimize the energy function. The experimental results demonstrate a good performance of the proposed method compared with others and show its robustness in the presence of noise and occlusion. The proposed algorithm is applicable in outdoor and medical image segmentation and also in optical character recognition (OCR).


Sustainability policies based on the economic rationale of providing incentives to get prices right inevitably place a significant burden on society and often raise distributional concerns. The social acceptability of Germany's energy transition towards more sustainable generation and usage of energy is frequently the subject of such critical appraisals. The discourse centres upon the burden imposed on electricity users as a result of the promotion of renewable energy sources in the electricity sector in accordance with the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). A regressive EEG surcharge is suspected of driving up energy prices unreasonably and of being socially unjust. It is also argued that high-income utility owners profit from the EEG system at the expense of low-income electricity consumers (redistribution from bottom to top). The aim of this paper is to examine the validity of these two hypotheses and to show that both exhibit substantial theoretical and empirical weaknesses, with climate and environmental policy being played off against social policy in a questionable manner. At the same time, the article points out remaining conflicts between energy policy and social policy and makes corresponding policy recommendations for their resolution, thus contributing to reconciling distributional concerns arising in the context of incentive-oriented sustainability governance.