Purpose: To determine the immediate endothelial cell loss (ECL) resulting from insertion of a precut donor button using the Neusidl Corneal Inserter (NCI) and compare it with the previously published ECL resulting from insertion of a folded donor button using noncoapting forceps. Methods: Ten corneas were precut for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty and trephinated to a diameter of 8.0 mm (n = 5) or 8.5 mm (n = 5). Each tissue was placed onto the platform of a new NCI spatula and inserted into a cadaveric whole globe through a 5.2 mm incision. The tissue was carefully removed and stained with trypan blue and alizarin red to detect damaged endothelium. ECL was estimated using Adobe Photoshop planimetry. Mean ECL was compared with previously reported studies of forceps insertion with a one-sample t test, using SPSS v. 19. Geographic patterns of ECL were also documented. Results: Mean ECL was 15.6% (95% confidence interval, 13.8–17.4). We were unable to detect a difference in ECL compared with previous insertion methods studied (P , 0.001). The pattern of damage from the NCI was different than that previously seen with forceps insertion. Conclusion: Immediate endothelial damage resulting from use of the NCI for insertion of Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty tissue is comparable with that seen with a standard forceps technique, but with a different damage pattern.


We write, individually and collectively, as Black educators attempting to survive the ravages of schooling. Along with a host of Black people, we too believed our schooling was a means toward liberation – a saving grace and way to honor the resilience of our people and their resistance to national investment in their undoing. We conflated our humanization with matriculation in schools. We now recognize the inextricable link between our social death and the function of schools. We have witnessed and experienced the social reproduction of Black death that schools rely upon for national order. As survivors, we lay to rest the schooling project, engaging Christina Sharpe's (2016) mournful meditation on the Wake to exhume how even critical education work can reinforce the very projects it seeks to fight against.

We hold ceremonial space for prospective and veteran educators across the K-20 continuum to re-conceptualize their curricular posture and join us in a final farewell to schools. From Shujaa (1993), we distinguish schooling from education and propose the Root Work of Apocalyptic Education, a meditation, a posture, an epistemological stance rooted in African ancestral ways of knowing (Ani, 1994; Fu- Kiau, 2014) to help us make sense of our loss and usher us into new ways of existing and being beyond the afterlife of schooling.

*Both authors contributed equally to the preparation of this manuscript. Their names are listed alphabetically. This piece was crafted in September of 2019. The authors submitted this work, as it was originally rendered, in alignment with the aims of Root Work Journal.


The letter from Jose Rodriguez Feo that prompted Stevens's poem was the third in a ten-year correspondence (1944-54) between the poet and the young Cuban, who quickly became Stevens's "most exciting correspondent." The two shared a Harvard education, both were anxious to see Stevens translated for a Cuban audience, and each had an enduring admiration for Santayana, whose awareness of the cultural tensions between the Northern and Southern hemispheres formed a basis for the protracted argument between Stevens as the practical, Protestant father and the passionate Rodriguez Feo. The Cuban's descriptions of his life at the Villa Olga, of his black-and-white cow Lucera and his mule Pompilio, delighted Stevens, as did his wide-ranging questions and pronouncements of literary matters. Unaware of the well-known Stevens reticence, Rodriguz Feo elicited a more informal, playful response than Stevens's other correspondents. Formal salutations soon gave way to "Dear Antillean," "Dear Wallachio." Coyle and Filreis present the entire extant correspondence between the two men. The fifty-one Rodriguez Feo letters and ten of the numerous Stevens letters are printed here for the first time, and the exchange between the two is unusually complete. The work includes a critical introduction and complete annotation of the letters.


By 2003 the first Irish Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects had reached the operational stage. Media reports were emerging of significant differences in the effectiveness of these projects. This research set out to find a means by which effectiveness of PPPs could be increased and to develop a model that would assist PPP
practitioners with this task in the future. Through a literature review, the Irish PPP process was mapped, the changes encountered in the introduction of PPP were investigated and a conceptual model – based on a traditional process model - was proposed. The model was tested by examining the outcomes of two projects and
assessing the effect of participant attitudes on these outcomes. The projects were analysed in terms of Risk, Value and Innovation, and three propositions were offered:
• there were differences in project outcomes;
• there were differences in the attitudes of the project
participants;
• the attitudes influenced the outcomes.
Using a combination of research methods, the data were gathered and analysed. The first two propositions were proven for Risk and Value but not for Innovation. In addressing the third proposition, a pattern matching exercise was undertaken and a number of findings were reached. These findings were further tested to establish their validity, credibility and reliability. The results showed that specific elements of participant attitudes were found to affect some of the project outcomes and that these had a significant effect on the overall success of the project. The findings showed that PPP conducted as outlined by the conceptual model would not maximise effectiveness. The model was revised so that it commenced with analysis of the desired outcomes and proceeded by working back through the PPP process to define the inputs necessary for success. Using this information, the model was refined, making it ready for use by future PPP practitioners.


Storytelling provides an emotional fulfillment both for the narrator and the listener. The paper aims to explore the significance of storytelling and the role of memory in selected works of recent American fiction of Louise Erdrich's Tracks and Toni Morrison's Beloved which speaks about the historical experience of Native Americans in dispossession and the long-term effects of slavery. In literary texts, memory often becomes a starting point for a painful therapeutic process of regeneration of one's roots in order to survive. The painful memories of Afro-Americans and Native Americans as a result of racialized trauma are purged through storytelling and in recounting it as a collective experience between people. Storytelling brings them together engaging them collectively in the events of their lives. As the past and present often overlap with one another it enables them to retrieve their suppressed past. Retrieving the past and sharing their traumatic story gives the opportunity for recovery. Morrison and Erdrich perform the role of a storyteller in narrating the unaccounted through their text since modern communities have no access to the oral narratives of their own past. Storytelling unearths repressed memories in order to find ways of dealing with the pain they cause. Although the writings in the novels of Toni Morrison and Louise Erdrich depict two very different cultures, the Afro-American and the Native American, the trauma which damages the self in their characters is very much similar. This process of narration is essential for the survivors to come to terms with their experience. This narration ultimately creates a sort of emotional distance from the event and makes it less threatening for the characters to reflect upon. It is to be remembered that the authors make use of this technique of storytelling not just to heal the fractures of the readers in the modern psyche but also to rewrite a part of history forgotten by preserving the historical data, their cultural values and the Afro-American and Native American ideas.


This article examines the new Model Act on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), which was approved by the American Bar Association in February, 2008. The authors were the chairs of the A.B.A Family Law Section Committee on Genetics and Reproductive Technologies during the years in which the Act was being drafted leading up to its approval by the Family Law Section, its review by other A.B.A. Sections and its final approval by the House of Delegates. The Article explains the meanings of technical ART terms used in the Act, and provides an analysis of issues such as informed consent, counseling and consultation, privacy, the status of children of ART, payments to donors, heath insurance and professional liability. On the important issue of parentage the Act substantially tracks the Uniform Parentage Act (U.P.A.), but the authors also discuss an alternative proposal embodied in the Model Act which in place of the U.P.A. court-approval model suggests that a legislature could consider enacting a contract-based model for determination of parentage issues. This article is the first publication examining the Model Act.


Funded by the Australian High Tech Crime Centre, this research identifies the spread of mobile and wireless technologies in all aspects of business and private life, but shows the increased risk of infection for both providers and users. Safe and secure use will only come with understanding of the risk factors associated with this use.


Work zones are prone to traffic accidents. They are considered as dangerous parts of expressways not only for drivers but also for highway construction workers, as they face a higher risk of traffic accidents in work zones. In order to identify the driving risks and to provide guidance to detect traffic risks in work zone, a comprehensive risk assessment method based on cloud model is developed to examine the driving risks in work zones. The proposed model relies on three parameters to determine the driving risks in work zones, namely, coefficient of variation of speed, deceleration, and minimum safety distance. VISSIM simulation software is used as a tool to construct the work zone driving conditions and the reverse cloud model is used to divide the concept and concept jump. The maximum activation intensity is considered as the base factor to determine the core risk level. Other activation intensities are used as a basis to optimize the edge level effect and generate a comprehensive function. The reconstruction area in Anhui Province is used as a case study to assess the driving risks in three expressway work zones. The results revealed that the risk scores of the three work zones 1, 2, and 3 are 48.48, 62.49, and 34.33, respectively. The results obtained by the developed driving risk assessment model are in good agreement with the experimental results. Hence, the model proposed in this paper can accurately assess the driving risks in work zones using a more scientific and intuitive approach, which provides an excellent tool to design safe expressway work zones.


1. Origin of the idea of progress. It arose in Greek thought from the changes and processes in nature and life. But the notion of regress was opposed to it These conflicting views result from the different types of minds. 2. Brief historical survey. The views of progress and regress are traced in Greek and Roman thought, throught early Christianity and the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the eighteenth century. The theory of evolution in the nineteenth century made progress a necessary law of nature and gave the doctrine its first conscious scientific form. But criticism shows that it fails like its predecessors. 3. Possibilities and limitations of progress. Only in Psychical nature of man has there been real progress. Intellectual, aesthetic, and ethical progress have been unquestionable. Every science and art have been advanced. 4. The actual progress of human intelligence. This is seen in the improved art of living mechanical inventions, and division of labor. But industrial evolution has brought with it new dangers. Material progress does not necessarily better man's own nature. 5. True progress concerns man himself. Aesthetic betterment is desirable and possible. But the ethical problem is the supreme difficulty. Morality rests in freedom and can be brought under control only by the individual himself. Intelligence simply, magnifies the power for good or evil. Man is both better and worse than ever before. The rationalizing of life is the only road to true progress. 6. Social progress. Forms of government are merely conditions of social opportunity. The Versailles Treaty was a step backward. The United States is drifting on uncharted seas. But civilization is in no danger of relapse. The printing-press has built a storehouse for knowledge that precludes a recrudescence of the Dark Ages. Man has advanced along the lines of his desires and finds happiness in their realization. The whole history of science and philosophy is on the record of a ceaseless progress.


Background A key neuropsychological proposal in schizophrenia is that negative and disorganization symptoms are associated with different patterns of impairment on executive tasks. Method Studies reporting correlations between positive, negative or disorganization symptoms and any type of executive test were meta-analysed. The influence of moderating factors was also examined, including age, treatment and stage of illness and whether symptoms were relapsing or persistent. The magnitudes of the correlations were compared with those for general intellectual impairment. Results Pooled correlations between executive impairment and both negative symptoms and disorganization were significant in the small-to-moderate range. That for positive symptoms ('reality distortion'), however, was close to zero. The pattern of correlations among different executive tests differed significantly for negative symptoms and disorganization. Patients with stable clinical pictures showed significantly higher correlations with executive impairment than those with relapsing and remitting illnesses. Both negative symptoms and disorganization also correlated significantly with general intellectual function as indexed by current IQ. Conclusions Meta-analysis supports the view that negative symptoms and disorganization are associated with partially dissociable patterns of executive impairment. However, co-existent general intellectual impairment has been an important confounding factor in the studies to date.


While the DOM with shadow trees provide the technical basis for defining web components, the DOM standard neither defines the concept of web components nor specifies the safety properties that web components should guarantee. Consequently, the standard also does not discuss how or even if the methods for modifying the DOM respect component boundaries. In AFP entry, we present a formally verified model of web components and define safety properties which ensure that different web components can only interact with each other using well-defined interfaces. Moreover, our verification of the application programming interface (API) of the DOM revealed numerous invariants that implementations of the DOM API need to preserve to ensure the integrity of components.


This study aims to examine how taboo content affects language learner psychology and language learning gains in a multi-modal learning environment by using facial expression analysis. 40 Muslim language learners were initially asked about their opinions on pork and watched a subtitled cooking video including pork visuals and their facial expressions were recorded. Before watching the video, only 20 of them were told it was lamb. The video was followed by a stimulated recall procedure, a cloze test and an output test. The results of the facial data analysis showed that Muslim learners were disgusted by the taboo content, which was in line with their opinions on pork taboo. However, this negative emotion did not significantly affect their test performance. Computer assisted facial expression analysis was also introduced as a biometric research technique for second language research.


Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease that affects 1.8 million people in UK, and more than 194 million worldwide. It is currently ranked amongst the leading causes of chronic disease related death because of the occurrence of its life threatening complications.
This thesis presents the design, implementation and evaluation of a mobile diabetes management and internetworking system (MDMIS). The system is based on Bluetooth and GPRS wireless communication technologies and provides an improved ubiquitous diabetes management service to both the diabetes sufferers and medical doctors.
The MDMIS consists of modular suites of medical control centre, patient stations, physician stations, medical administration stations, and system maintenance stations. A patient station acquires the blood glucose measurement autonomously from a Bluetooth enabled glucose meter and transmits the data to a tailored MDMIS administration system via a GPRS wireless communications link. The medical centre of the system provides the relevant management services to both patients and physicians, such as updating user information and medication plans, side-effects reporting, analysis and alarming of blood glucose measurements, together with medical management procedures. These tasks can be accessible by patients and medics through a simple interface from various devices powered by different operating systems. The security issues of MDMIS are addressed briefly. The prototype of the system has been tested successfully. The system performance analysis of these tests is also presented in this study.
The thesis also addresses the interoperability issues between mobile chronic disease management system and medical devices for universal mobile healthcare applications. An architectural framework to improve interoperability for m-health applications is presented and discussed. This architecture has been initially implemented successfully on the MDMIS system.


Research suggests that the combination of high and rising college prices, stagnant family incomes, and increased enrollment of lower-income students leaves many college students struggling to meet their basic needs, including adequate, regular nutrition. This report explores the lived experiences of students with low food security, how students cope with its challenges, and how these strategies influence academic performance. Students in our study demonstrated commitment to their education through pronounced levels of sacrifice. They were more likely to approach their education aspirations once their basic needs were met.


This paper explores how to facilitate the 'bedding in' and 'becoming of' undergraduate students who come from non-traditional backgrounds and struggle with what is, for them, the often alien world of academic writing and assessment.  To achieve their aims, the authors set up a partnership between the students of a second-year Peer Mentoring module and those of a first-year Becoming an Educationalist one.  By means of this creative partnering, and via reflective blog entries, they worked to harness quasi-academic writing to help such first-year students to become familiar with, and powerful within, the exclusionary practices (in particular, the written conventions of academic essays) of Higher Education.  They argue that this innovative 'teaming-up' of second- and first-year students not only models collaborative learning and writing practice, but also facilitates the 'bedding-in' of newcomers.  The paper itself models the partnership and creative writing methods used to help students find their 'voice' by being 'co-produced' by the people teaching across the two modules concerned.


Abstract. Changes in incoming solar ultraviolet radiation over the 11-year solar cycle affect stratospheric ozone abundances. It is important to quantify the magnitude, structure, and seasonality of the associated solar-ozone response (SOR) to understand the impact of the 11-year solar cycle on climate. Part 1 of this two-part study uses multiple linear regression analysis to extract the SOR in a number of recently updated satellite ozone datasets covering different periods within the epoch 1970 to 2013. The annual mean SOR in the updated version 7.0 (v7.0) Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II number density dataset (1984–2004) is very consistent with that found in the previous v6.2. In contrast, we find a substantial decrease in the magnitude of the SOR in the tropical upper stratosphere in the SAGE II v7.0 mixing ratio dataset (∼ 1 %) compared to the v6.2 (∼ 4 %). This difference is shown to be largely attributable to the change in the independent stratospheric temperature dataset used to convert SAGE II ozone number densities to mixing ratios. Since these temperature records contain substantial uncertainties, we suggest that datasets based on SAGE II number densities are currently most reliable for evaluating the SOR. We further analyse three extended ozone datasets that combine SAGE II v7.0 number densities with more recent GOMOS (Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars) or OSIRIS (Optical Spectrograph and Infrared Imager System) measurements. The extended SAGE–OSIRIS dataset (1984–2013) shows a smaller and less statistically significant SOR across much of the tropical upper stratosphere compared to the SAGE II data alone. In contrast, the two SAGE–GOMOS datasets (1984–2011) show SORs that are in closer agreement with the original SAGE II data and therefore appear to provide a more reliable estimate of the SOR. We also analyse the SOR in the recent Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Instrument (SBUV) Merged Ozone Dataset (SBUVMOD) version 8.6 (VN8.6) (1970–2012) and SBUV Merged Cohesive VN8.6 (1978–2012) datasets and compare them to the previous SBUVMOD VN8.0 (1970–2009). Over their full lengths, the three records generally agree in terms of the broad magnitude and structure of the annual mean SOR. The main difference is that SBUVMOD VN8.6 shows a smaller and less significant SOR in the tropical upper stratosphere and therefore more closely resembles the SAGE II v7.0 mixing ratio data than does the SBUV Merged Cohesive VN8.6, which has a more continuous SOR of ∼ 2 % in this region. The sparse spatial and temporal sampling of limb satellite instruments prohibits the extraction of sub-annual variations in the SOR from SAGE-based datasets. However, the SBUVMOD VN8.6 dataset suggests substantial month-to-month variations in the SOR, particularly in the winter extratropics, which may be important for the proposed high-latitude dynamical response to the solar cycle. Overall, the results highlight substantial uncertainties in the magnitude and structure of the observed SOR from different satellite records. The implications of these uncertainties for understanding and modelling the effects of solar variability on climate should be explored.


Pomegranate ( Punica granatum L.) is an ancient fruit tree traditionally cultivated in the Near and Middle East. Presently, its most important growing regions include Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, USA, Italy and Spain, the latter country the largest European exporter. The pomegranate fruit can be divided into several anatomical compartments: outside peel, inside peel, and arils (pulp and seeds), the last part being usually used for consumption as is or for juice, jams and jellies production. Even though pomegranate seeds are an industrial by-product, recent reports have highlighted their potential use as a source of oil with beneficial chemical attributes. Therefore, the main objective of the present work was to characterize the seed oil of nine European pomegranate varieties, collected in Spain, for their fatty acid and vitamin E compositions. All seed lipid fractions consisted mainly of punicic acid ( c 9, t 11, c 13 C-18:3), ranging between 77.3% and 83.6% of total fatty acids, followed by small amounts of linoleic acid (C18:2n6), oleic acid (C18:1n9) and palmitic acid (C16:0). Regarding vitamin E composition, α-, γ-, δ-tocopherols were found in all pomegranate seed oils, but mainly γ-tocopherol, with total tocopherols ranging from 174.5 to 627.3 mg/100g oil. The richness of these pomegranate varieties seed oils in punicic acid, a conjugated linolenic acid with interesting anti-carcinogenic activity, and the elevated amount of tocopherols on the extracted lipids, of technological and nutritional relevance, make this by-product interesting for further exploitation.


Foundational topics in Computer Science (CS), such as data structures and algorithmic strategies, pose particular challenges to learners and teachers. The difficulty of learning these basic concepts often discourages students from further study, and leads them to lower success. In any discipline, students' interaction with skilled tutors is one of the most effective strategies to address the problem of weak learning. However, human tutors are not always available. Technology can compensate here: Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs) are systems designed to simulate the teaching of human tutors. ITSs use artificial intelligence techniques to guide learners through problem solving exercises using pedagogical strategies similar to those employed by human tutors. ChiQat-Tutor, a novel ITS that we are currently developing, aims at facilitating learning of basic CS data structures (e.g., linked lists, trees, stacks) and algorithmic strategies (e.g., recursion). The system will use a number of effective pedagogical strategies in CS education, including positive and negative feedback, learning from worked-out examples, and learning from analogies. ChiQat will support linked lists, trees, stacks, and recursion. The ChiQat linked list module builds on iList, our previous ITS that provenly helps students learn linked lists. This module provides learners with a simulated environment where linked lists can be seen, constructed, and manipulated. Lists are represented graphically and can be manipulated interactively using programming commands (C++ or Java). The system can currently follow the solution strategy of a student, and provides personalized positive and negative feedback. Our next step is to add support for worked-out examples. The recursion module provides learners with an animated and interactive environment, where they can trace recursion calls of a given recursive problem. This is one of the most challenging tasks students face when learning the concept of recursion. In the near future, students will be aided in breaking down recursive problems into their basic blocks (base case and recursive case) through interactive dialogues. ChiQat employs a flexible, fault-tolerant, distributed plug-in architecture, where each plug-in fulfills a particular role. This configuration allows different system types to be defined, such as all-in-one applications or distributed ones. The system is composed of separate front and back ends. The back-end will house the main logic for heavy computational tasks such as problem knowledge representation and tutor feedback generation. The front-end (user interface) collects users input and sends it to the back-end, while displaying the current state of the problem. Due to this flexible architecture, it will be possible to run the system in two modes; online and offline. Offline mode will run all client and server components on the same machine, allowing the user to use the system in a closed environment. The online mode will allow running the back-end on a server as a web service which can communicate with a front-end running on the client machine. This allows wider and greater reachability for users using lower powered connected devices such as mobile devices, as well as traditional laptops and desktop computers which are connected to the Internet.


The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) is a population-level indicator of diet diversity validated for women aged 15-49 years old. The MDD-W is a dichotomous indicator based on 10 food groups and is considered the standard for measuring population-level dietary diversity in women of reproductive age. The MDD-W was preceded by the Women's Dietary Diversity Score (WDDS), which was a validated continuous indicator based on reported intake of 9 food groups. The MDD-W was developed after additional validation using new data sets was carried out and with the objective of creating a dichotomous (easier to interpret) indicator rather than a continuous one (FAO & FHI 2016 [1]).


In 51 Imperfect Solutions: States and the Making of American Constitutional Law, Judge Jeffrey Sutton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit emphasizes the important role of state constitutions and state courts in protecting individual liberty. Suggesting that plaintiffs usually inexplicably overlook state constitutional claims, Sutton laments that, in his fifteen years on the federal bench, he has heard only a single case involving a state constitutional claim. The book does not recognize, however, the range of procedural and jurisdictional doctrines that either prevent federal judges from adjudicating state constitutional claims, or allow them to avoid doing so. These doctrines likely deter litigants from devoting time and resources to attempting to litigate state constitutional claims in federal court.

This Book Review examines and suggests reforms to these doctrines, including Pullman abstention, Pennhurst sovereign immunity, and district court discretion to decline supplemental jurisdiction over state-law claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c). Though the Supreme Court has yet to articulate a single, coherent theory concerning federal courts' proper role in adjudicating unsettled issues of state law, this Book Review's initial recommendations would reduce friction between federal and state courts, eliminate arbitrary inconsistencies in current doctrine, and facilitate efficient adjudication of litigants' claims.


Kept women, comic clerics, and political schemers enliven the four plays in this volume of the California Dryden. Dryden asserted that The Kind Keeper was a moral play, dedicated to exposing the "crying sin" of keeping a mistress. The production was closed after three nights, but whether because of the play's success in moralizing, or in exposing, is hard to know.


Abstract When Australia went to war in Vietnam, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still faced widespread discrimination at home. Various state laws restricted the rights of Australian Indigenous people living "under the Act", while racist community attitudes reinforced discrimination Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people confronted in everyday life. Yet, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men still enlisted in the armed forces and served their country with distinction. This article canvasses some of the issues surrounding race and the Australian armed forces in Vietnam through analysis of oral history interviews with various Aboriginal veterans. Their testimonies suggest that although they had experienced varying degrees of discrimination in their lives before enlisting, they found life in the armed forces mostly free from racism. Indeed, several testimonies suggest that the only racism they encountered in Vietnam was witnessing racial tensions between white and black American servicemen. Later in life, many of these Aboriginal Vietnam veterans went on to become community leaders. Thus, analysis of Aboriginal Vietnam veterans' experiences suggests that military service represented an alternative social paradigm in which Australian Indigenous service personnel could thrive and learn skills, despite the difficult conditions of the Vietnam War.


Chemical, biological, and radioactive substances purposely, accidentally, or after a natural disaster cause a lot of harmful effects on people and the environment. To prevent this harmful effect or at least minimize it, precautions must be immediately taken. These kinds of incidences have different importance for hospitals as victims apply first to hospitals, and they can decontaminate staff therein. Thus, different decontamination areas should be built in hospitals. Herein we discuss the decontamination that should be applied to victims. We provide information about the effects of nuclear weapons and the first aid rules for treating victims exposed to them. A clinical sign of radiation exposure is more obvious than that for biological and chemical weapons and because it can be detected more easily, fighting the clinical effects of nuclear weapons is easier than fighting the clinical effects of biological and chemical weapons. Biological weapons spread very easily and very rapidly from person-to-person, and the mortality rate can be high. Further, it causes a chaotic effect on society. Considering this feature of biological weapons, we will emphasize a number of precautions. Carrying and hiding toxic chemical weapons is easy. We will explain what should be done in case of exposure. (Eurasian J Emerg Med 2016; 15: 90-3)


Background Classification of study design can help provide a common language for researchers. Within a systematic review, definition of specific study designs can help guide inclusion, assess the risk of bias, pool studies, interpret results, and grade the body of evidence. However, recent research demonstrated poor reliability for an existing classification scheme. Objectives To review tools used to classify study designs; to select a tool for evaluation; to develop instructions for application of the tool to intervention/exposure studies; and to test the tool for accuracy and interrater reliability. Methods We contacted representatives from all AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs), other relevant organizations, and experts in the field to identify tools used to classify study designs. Twenty-three tools were identified; 10 were relevant to our objectives. The Steering Committee ranked the 10 tools using predefined criteria. The highest-ranked tool was a design algorithm for studies of health care interventions developed, but no longer advocated, by the Cochrane Non-Randomised Studies Methods Group. This tool was used as the basis for our classification tool and was revised to encompass more study designs and to incorporate elements of other tools. A sample of 30 studies was used to test the tool. Three members of the Steering Committee developed a reference standard (i.e., the "true" classification for each study); 6 testers applied the revised tool to the studies. Interrater reliability was measured using Fleiss' kappa (κ) and accuracy of the testers' classification was assessed against the reference standard. Based on feedback from the testers and the reference standard committee, the tool was further revised and tested by another 6 testers using 15 studies randomly selected from the original sample. Results In the first round of testing the inter-rater reliability was fair among the testers (κ = 0.26) and the reference standard committee (κ = 0.33). Disagreements occurred at all decision points in the algorithm; revisions were made based on the feedback. The second round of testing showed improved interrater reliability (κ = 0.45, moderate agreement) with improved, but still low, accuracy. The most common disagreements were whether the study was "experimental" (5/15 studies) and whether there was a comparison (4/15 studies). In both rounds of testing, the level of agreement for testers who had completed graduate-level training was higher than for testers who had not completed training. Conclusion Potential reasons for the observed low reliability and accuracy include the lack of clarity and comprehensiveness of the tool, inadequate reporting of the studies, and variability in user characteristics. Application of a tool to classify study designs in the context of a systematic review should be accompanied by adequate training, pilot testing, and documented decision rules.


Punitive damages have been very salient in the media, preoccupied appellate courts, and fascinated scholars for decades. But although their availability seems undisputed in most common law jurisdictions, their measure remains controversial. In particular, it is unclear whether and how courts and juries should take the defendant's financial condition into account in assessing punitive damages. The Article puts forward and defends an innovative yet simple method for incorporating this factor into the calculation. Our proposal is based on an adaptation of a criminal law model, known as "day-fines," which has been primarily used in European and Latin-American legal systems. In brief, if the gravity of the wrong seems to justify an extra-compensatory award, the scope of punitive damages will be determined in several steps. First, the court must determine the gravity of the wrong and translate it into corresponding "severity units." Next, the court must assess the "unit value"—the wrongdoer's daily income, broadly defined, or a particular fraction thereof. The product of these two variables constitutes "total damages." Lastly, if total damages are greater than compensatory damages, the punitive award should equal the difference between total damages and compensatory damages. If total damages are lower than compensatory damages, punitive damages should be nil. We demonstrate that this model is consistent with the twin goals of punitive damages and with the applicable constitutional framework.


The expanded programme of immunisation (EPI) was introduced by the WHO in 1974 with the aim of vaccinating all children below the age of one year against six killer diseases. Since then, new vaccines against other severe vaccine-preventable diseases have been developed. South Africa is in the fortunate position to be able to include many of these new options into the National EPI and adjust the EPI schedule according to the disease epidemiology of the country. The rationale behind some of these additions and changes to the national EPI is discussed.


Abstract. The variation in island arc magma production rates and their influencing mechanisms are of great significance since island arc magma is considered a main source of continental crust growth. The island arc magma directly originates from the molten mantle wedge, and the mantle melting is driven by fluids or melts from the subducted slab. Slab dehydration flux mainly depends on the slab thermal structures, and subducted slab melting requires a sufficiently high temperature. For the Aleutian subduction system, the subducted Pacific Plate has diverse thermal structures due to the existing fracture zones, ridges and slab window, so it is an ideal region for arc magma production rate research. However, the previous estimations are based on seismic profiles that only provide magma production rates at specific regions of the Aleutian arc, and these results are controversial. Here, we design a magma production rate estimation method based on gravity inversion constrained by deep seismic profiles. The first overview map of magma production rates along the Aleutian arc strike demonstrates that the magma production rates have the same trend as the slab dips, and the peaks correspond to the subduction of the fracture zones and ridges. The potential mechanisms for these correlations are as follows: (1) Slab water flux at subarc depths increases with increasing slab dip. More fluid flux would induce more mantle melting, and so the arc magma production rates are increased. (2) Water-rich serpentine is formed by hydrothermal alteration on or near the surface of the subducted slab when there are fracture zones. Serpentine decomposition at a depth of 80–120 km releases fluids in addition to the fluids released during normal slab dehydration. Therefore, more fluids induce more mantle melting and correspond a larger magma production rate. (3) The slab located in the Emperor Seamounts has a relatively high temperature and is also weak, so its melting is easier. Similarly, more slab melt means more mantle melt and a higher island arc magma production rate.


The aim of this research project was to explore and provide some insight concerning the otherwise clandestine, underground, subculture of dogfighting. More specifically, dogmen and dogfighting was examined using cinema, electronic media-outlets, and video websites. Apparently, the dogfighting phenomenon has been identified as a morally depraved subculture by mainstream society and sanctions against individuals identified as engaging in dogfighting is arguably non-utilitarian. It logically follows that the social and legal outcomes associated with the dogfighting phenomenon would force the subculture further underground where it could become a haven for illicit behavior and violence against people, property, and dogs. The results indicate that being a dogman and endorsing dogfighting is related to Pit Bull ownership, relative knowledge of dogfighting, deprivation, and access to the opportunity and willingness to enter the social world of dog-fighting. Additionally, the data suggests that the Pit Bull subculture is far from chaotic. The dogfighting subculture has internal systems and processes designed to regulate how the subculture operates. These systems and processes allow the subculture to not only survive, but to also thrive.


This paper explores new approaches and methods to characterize post and citation dynamics in different blog communities. In particular, evolution of post popularity over time is studied, as well as information spreading cascades. This methodology goes beyond traditional approaches by defining classes of dynamic behaviors based on topological features of the post network, and by investigating the impact of topical communities on post popularity dynamics and on information spreading cascades. This methodology has been applied to a corpus of active French blogs monitored during 4 months.


We present synchronous and asynchronous randomized variants of an algorithm for approximating a single component of the solution to a system of linear equations Ax = b, where A is a positive definite real matrix and b ∈ R. This can equivalently be formulated as solving for xi in x = Gx+ z for some G and z such that the spectral radius of G is less than 1. We consider the setting where n is large, yet G is sparse, i.e., each row has at most d nonzero entries. Our algorithm relies on the Neumann series characterization of the component xi. Both variants of our algorithm produce an estimate x̂i such that |x̂i − xi| ≤ ‖x‖2, and we provide convergence rate guarantees when ‖G‖2 < 1. Our algorithms obtain an approximation for xi in constant time with respect to the size of the matrix when d = O(1) and 1/(1 − ‖G‖2) = O(1). This requires analyzing the product of random matrices which are drawn from distributions that are time and path dependent. We also give general conditions under which the asynchronous algorithm converges asymptotically regardless of the order and frequency of updates.


We report a simple and robust Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier without prepulse stretching. Pulse stretching by positive group-velocity dispersion and negative third-order dispersion are provided by highly dispersive flint glass prisms inside the regenerative amplifier cavity. Using a single-grating compressor, we obtain transform-limited 60-fs Gaussian pulses at up to a 5-kHz repetition rate with energy of 50 μJ/pulse.


Methods for identifying sites with potential for preventing traffic fatalities and injuries have been developed for vehicle-vehicle collisions. This study was funded by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to develop methods for identifying sites where there is potential for significant reductions in pedestrian and bicyclist injury. Data from 1998-2007 from a 16.5-mile section of San Pablo Avenue (SR 123) in the San Francisco East Bay was used as a study area. Several approaches for identifying sites with high potential for reducing pedestrian and bicyclist injury were evaluated and compared, a framework was developed for conducting benefit-cost analyses, and a prototype was developed for a training protocol for conducting analyses of pedestrian and bicyclist safety in a corridor or network. The basic principle followed is that sites with the most potential for reducing injury are those sites where the most injuries can be prevented per dollar spent. Everything else being equal, these sites are the ones with the highest expected number of injuries if nothing is done. Prior history is typically used to make this estimate, but this may not be sufficient, especially if the underlying rates are low. Several approaches to developing statistically stable estimates are explained and compared: (i) extend the number years for both the baseline and follow-up periods, (ii) expand the size of the target sites considered, and (iii) apply Bayesian methods to include a modeled estimate of risk in the calculation. Strengths and weaknesses of each of these approaches are discussed with illustrations from the study area.


Researchers have identified the need for further study of subjective and social influences on personal transportation choices. Set in a workplace-based commute alternative program, this study examines the impact of transportation-related social context and past transportation experience on commute mode choice. Through a purposive, paired sample design with ten individuals, this qualitative study examines influences on commute behavior using narrative interviews and a commute documentation activity. The five pairs of individuals were matched across variables in such a way as to hold constant workplace, basic demographics, and residential location. Social norms found to influence individual use of alternative commute modes involved the commute behavior and attitudes of close social ties and the situational relevance of social ties' commute behavior. These behavior-related social norms, coupled with past transportation experience and mediated by perceptions and feelings, were found to be helpful in explaining commute mode choice. Implications for social interventions that encourage use of alternative transportation modes are discussed.


On July 23, 1972 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched its first Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1), using launch facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, California. From an orbital altitude of nearly 570 miles this unmanned satellite is photographing all cloud-free portions of California every 18 days and will continue to do so for an estimated 12-month period. Scientists of the University of California, in cooperation with those from the California Department of Agriculture and other state agencies, are studying the extent to which information extracted from such photographs can facilitate the management of California's agricultural resources. As illustrated by the cover photo, each "frame" of ERTS-1 photography covers more than 10,000 square miles. Nevertheless, when such a space photograph is enlarged, agricultural features as small as 100 feet across can be discerned (see pages 8 and 12). Many crop types and rangeland conditions can be inventoried, and land use categories can be recognized on such space photos when supplemented with only limited amounts of aerial photography, and direct on-the-ground observation. Results obtained to date indicate that careful interpretation of sequential space photography of the type currently being obtained by ERTS-1 can greatly facilitate the monitoring of crop development and land use change, thereby facilitating the management of California agricultural resources.


National and ethnic minorities are increasingly becoming participants in the quest to protect the Earth. To the Zapatistas in Mexico, the destruction of the jungle for oil extraction and large-scale logging were some of the core issues that motivated their freedom movement. Native Americans in other parts of the Western hemisphere are known for a moral concern for the Earth that provides for more natural management of the environment than any environmental agency could muster. German minority farmers in Denmark have taken the lead in bringing Danish agriculture into the organic realm as well as in creating bio-energy. In Germany, an environmental wing of the Danish minority has created a grass-root organization following the "think globally, act locally" mantra of the new environmental movements. Indeed, in Northern Italy, a member of the Green party has proposed an entirely different type of minority, not defined by ethnicity or allegiance to a nation but by the biosphere that it inhabits, the Alps. In other words, in action and perhaps ontologically, minorities are being redefined along the lines of Green ideas and ecological characteristics.


The existing literature on welfare decentralization has not produced a robust set of measures and properties, and no consensus has emerged on how differences in the protection provided by territorial programs should be aggregated into a composite index. The measurement of the level of protection provided by decentralized minimum income programs has often focused on one of two dimensions: adequacy or coverage. The rankings of regions in terms of the protection provided can be very different depending on the chosen outcome. In this paper, we introduce several properties that should be taken into account when measuring these differences. Based on social welfare functions, we propose a parameterized family of indices that satisfy those properties and combine both dimensions. Our empirical illustration using Spanish data confirms that focusing only on standard measures of adequacy may introduce an important bias, making it difficult to properly identify real differences in terms of social welfare among programs in different jurisdictions.


Abstract This paper presents a two-step approach for modeling delays in Networked Automation and Control Systems (NAS/NCS). The approach combines the two well-known techniques: formal modeling using Colored Petri Nets (CPN) and mathematical modeling using Markov models to achieve this purpose. The first step is to build and simulate a structure-conserving hierarchical timed model for the whole NAS/NCS using (CPN). The step aims to generate extensive sampled time delay data records for detailed time analysis of delays. In the second step, Markov modeling is used to build compact mathematical models for network induced delays of NCS and response time of NAS. In addition, the second step introduces a new concept of mutual Markov modeling to analyze interaction between the two types of induced delays in NCS, namely, the sensor-to-controller time delay and the controller-to-actuator time delay. The proposed approach is new from two points of view: first using formal discrete event models for simulation in the modeling of NCS delays and their interaction, second using Markov models for modeling response time of NAS instead of estimating probability distributions of delays. In this paper a detailed procedure for the modeling steps will be provided in comparison to the overall concept presented in previous works. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed mutual Markov modeling approach in the design of NCS state-feedback control.


This thesis concerns dimensions and projections of sets that could be described as fractals. The background is applied problems regarding analysis of human tissue. One way to characterize such complicated structures is to estimate the dimension. The existence of different types of dimensions makes it important to know about their properties and relations to each other. Furthermore, since medical images often are constructed by x-ray, it is natural to study projections.This thesis consists of an introduction and a summary, followed by three papers.Paper I, Anders Nilsson, Dimensions and Projections: An Overview and Relevant Examples, 2006. Manuscript.Paper II, Anders Nilsson and Peter Wingren, Homogeneity and Non-coincidence of Hausdorff- and Box Dimensions for Subsets of ℝn, 2006. Submitted.Paper III, Anders Nilsson and Fredrik Georgsson, Projective Properties of Fractal Sets, 2006. To be published in Chaos, Solitons and Fractals.The first paper is an overview of dimensions and projections, together with illustrative examples constructed by the author. Some of the most frequently used types of dimensions are defined, i.e. Hausdorff dimension, lower and upper box dimension, and packing dimension. Some of their properties are shown, and how they are related to each other. Furthermore, theoretical results concerning projections are presented, as well as a computer experiment involving projections and estimations of box dimension.The second paper concerns sets for which different types of dimensions give different values. Given three arbitrary and different numbers in (0,n), a compact set in ℝn is constructed with these numbers as its Hausdorff dimension, lower box dimension and upper box dimension. Most important in this construction, is that the resulted set is homogeneous in the sense that these dimension properties also hold for every non-empty and relatively open subset.The third paper is about sets in space and their projections onto planes. Connections between the dimensions of the orthogonal projections and the dimension of the original set are discussed, as well as the connection between orthogonal projection and the type of projection corresponding to realistic x-ray. It is shown that the estimated box dimension of the orthogonal projected set and the realistic projected set can, for all practical purposes, be considered equal.


The 1960s witnessed the emergence of television as a global medium. One way of demonstrating the powers and possibilities of television was the production and airing of transnational broadcast events. In order to produce these, national broadcast organizations had to engage in joint production of such events. The article examines two such events: Gagarin's return to Moscow after orbiting the earth in April 1961 and the more well-known 'Our World' broadcast 6 years later. At the time of their production, these broadcasts were seen as crucial moments in television history, as prototypes of what could be expected of television in the future. They also relied on extensive cooperation between broadcast organizations in socialist and Western countries, organizations that to a large extent shared the same production values but also had to negotiate competing visions of the geography of modern communications networks. The broadcasts discussed in this article thus provide the opportunity to reflect upon the shaping of television history and global media memories. Based on case studies of the planning and production of the broadcasts, the article argues that global power relations have shaped the remembered history of television and therefore must be part of our understanding of it.


A memory consistency model specifies which writes to shared memory a given read may see. Ambiguities or errors in these specifications can lead to bugs in both compilers and applications. Yet architectures usually define their memory models with prose and litmus tests—small concurrent programs that demonstrate allowed and forbidden outcomes. Recent work has formalized the memory models of common architectures through substantial manual effort, but as new architectures emerge, there is a growing need for tools to aid these efforts. This paper presents MemSynth, a synthesis-aided system for reasoning about axiomatic specifications of memory models. MemSynth takes as input a set of litmus tests and a framework sketch that defines a class of memory models. The sketch comprises a set of axioms with missing expressions (or holes). Given these inputs, MemSynth synthesizes a completion of the axioms—i.e., a memory model—that gives the desired outcome on all tests. The MemSynth engine employs a novel embedding of bounded relational logic in a solver-aided programming language, which enables it to tackle complex synthesis queries intractable to existing relational solvers. This design also enables it to solve new kinds of queries, such as checking if a set of litmus tests unambiguously defines a memory model within a framework sketch. We show that MemSynth can synthesize specifications for x86 in under two seconds, and for PowerPC in 12 seconds from 768 litmus tests. Our ambiguity check identifies missing tests from both the Intel x86 documentation and the validation suite of a previous PowerPC formalization. We also used MemSynth to reproduce, debug, and automatically repair a paper on comparing memory models in just two days.


The decades of Western adulation for the Japanese 'economic miracle' failed to notice a key point: that in the pursuit of this miracle the Japanese had turned their country into a degraded, concrete shambles - a wilderness of bad planning, corruption and crowding. Now that the miracle is at an end and Japan seems set to remain in the economic doldrums it must become apparent to everyone that one of the world's greatest cultures has ruined itself almost beyond repair. Alex Kerr's wonderful book conveys vividly and furiously both the dazzling nature of Japanese culture and how the bureaucrats of a country he loves have poisoned and ruined it.


The problem of groundwater pollution can be expected to increase due to rapid development of urbanization, industrialization and intense agricultural activities.
Hydrogeological environmental factors are important parameters to determine the groundwater pollution potential to predict the affected area caused by point source and non point sources of pollutant. In 1985 US Environmental Potential Agency published DRASTIC model to assess groundwater pollution potential. DRASTIC is corresponds to the initials of seven acronym standing for Depth to the water table, Recharge, Aquifer media, Soil media, Topography, Impact of the vadose zone and hydraulic Conductivity of the aquifer. This study describes the results of a groundwater pollution potential using DRASTIC model and GIS based on hydrogeological environmental of Selangor. The modification of ranges and ratings index in DRASTIC were done using Geostatistical Analyst to accommodate hydrogeological settings to implement and adopt data according to Selangor hydrogeological environmental parameters. Results show that DRASTIC Index ranges from 63 to 94. The map of groundwater pollution potential showed that the high risk groundwater pollution potential covered 17% of study area in west side of Selangor. However, only 27% of the east side of Selangor exposed to low risk groundwater pollution potential. Most of the affected area was considered in low land area along the coastal in shallow groundwater table alluvial aquifer. The Pesticide DRASTIC Index ranges from 57 to 110 with highest risk groundwater pollution potential for pesticide covered 5% of study area in northwest side of study area and the lowest risk located at the east side with 25% of study area. The groundwater pollution potential map was successfully developed using hydrogeological parameters for Selangor area. The Pesticide DRASTIC Index is higher than DRASTIC index, it can be concluded that the potential source of groundwater pollution derived from agricultural activities.


There have been many efforts to reconcile judicial review with democratic self-government. Some such efforts attempt to justify judicial review if and to the extent that it promotes self-rule. "Active Liberty," by Justice Stephen Breyer, is in this tradition; but it is also marked by a heavy pragmatic orientation, emphasizing as it does the need for close attention to purposes and to the importance of consequences to legal interpretation. Its distinctiveness lies in its effort to forge close connections among three seemingly disparate ideas: a democratic account of judicial review; a purposive understanding of legal texts; and a neo-pragmatic emphasis on consequences. Breyer's argument is convincing insofar as it challenges "originalist" approach on pragmatic grounds. It is more vulnerable insofar it downplays the inevitable role of judicial discretion in the characterization of purposes and the evaluation of consequences. Those who emphasize consequences, and active liberty, might well end up embracing textualism, or even broad judicial deference to legislative majorities. Moreover, it is not simple to deduce, from the general idea of "active liberty," concrete conclusions on the issues that concern Breyer, such as affirmative action, campaign finance reform, privacy rights, and commercial advertising. Many competing approaches to these issues, and to interpretation as a whole, can also march proudly under the pragmatic banner.


Abstract: The nature and causes of international business risk fall into two categories-macro causes, such as competing political systems, conflict, and social unrest; and micro causes, such as changing market conditions and unstable economies. The mining and minerals sector faces especially high risk in both categories due to increasing exploration and production in developing countries. This paper presents a conceptual model for risk assessment and management integrating traditional financial valuation models and the principles of sustainable development utilizing corporate social responsibility as the strategic focus for decisions to reduce risk exposure. Examples of the model's application are provided from Newmont Mining's worldwide operations. INTRODUCTION In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development issued a report that served as the catalyst for the sustainability movement. Our Common Future (World Commission on Environment and Development 1987) laid out a "global agenda for change" recognizing the need for cooperation, coordinated political action, and the engagement of the private sector as a leader and major driver of innovative solutions for a broad array of environmental, social, economic, and security challenges. Because of stagnant economies, rising debt and a mismanaged environment, the 1980s were referred to as the "lost decade" in Latin America (Holliday, Schmidheiny, and Watts 2002). In the U.S., evidence was mounting that many corporations were experiencing high levels of growth and profitability through a variety of illegal and unethical practices. The subsequent market collapse at the end of the 1980s, referred to in the press as the "decade of greed," was a precursor to the market collapse at the turn of the century when society was witness to a $10 trillion worldwide loss of aggregate market value brought on by the now infamous cases of Enron, WorldCom, Adelphia and many others (Gordon 2002). Today, companies continue to struggle to regain lost trust of customers, employees, shareholders, governments, and communities. Ac response, a growing number of enlightened companies have begun contributing to sustainable development goals by adopting corporate responsibility strategies aimed at aligning the self-interest of the corporation with the greater public good in ways that add to the value of the firm and society. This paper presents a conceptual model for risk assessment and management that utilizes the principles of sustainable development while being true to the finance/economic goal of maximizing firm value within the context and constraints of an increasingly complex and uncertain global environment. Examples are provided from the mining and minerals sector using the experiences of Newmont Mining, one of the world's largest gold mining companies. LINKING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY In 1983, the General Assembly of the United Nations created the World Commission on Environment and Development. While the early focus was on environmental concerns, it was quickly recogitized by the Commission that the environment does not exist independently from human actions, needs, and ambitions. A definition of sustainable development was needed that embraced an integrated interdisciplinary approach to global concerns and recognized the interdependency of economic development, environmental integrity, and social justice. In the past, attention focused on the impacts of economic growth on the environment. The equally important issue recognized by the Commission was the ecological stresses on the ability to maintain and grow economically. Per Lindblom (1985) commented, "The problems of today do not come with a tag marked energy or economy or carbon dioxide or demography, nor with a label indicating a country or a region. The problems are multi-disciplinary and transnational or global. The problems are not primarily scientific and technological. …


In this paper, we examine the stories about philanthropic IT that circulate via product websites, marketing materials, and third-party news articles. Through a series of product-centered case studies, we surface these texts' implicit and explicit visions about the (near) future of philanthropy. We detail their prescriptions about how, why, and in service of what ends nonprofit organizations could, should, and ought to leverage IT. We also examine their underlying assumptions about philanthropy: how social good is accomplished, how philanthropic organizations are - and might be more - effective, to whom organizations and beneficiaries should be accountable, and the terms of that accountability. Analyzing these visions as design fictions, we argue that they help cultivate unrealistic anticipatory relationships to the present and entail concomitantly unrealistic imperatives for the philanthropic sector. We conclude by arguing for the crucial role of HCI scholars in disrupting these impossible futures, and by highlighting areas needing further, re-imagined, research.


Based on unprecedented population growth revealed by the 2010 census, Texas picked up four additional congressional districts. Although minorities made up 89% of the population growth between 2000 and 2010, Texas lawmakers added only one Hispanic opportunity district to the map. Voting-rights groups alleged that this violated § 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which prohibits dilution of minority groups' voting strength via the redistricting process. This Note examines the development of VRA jurisprudence and suggests that the source of the current redistricting controversy in Texas is divergent conceptions of minority representation. While Texas legislators claim that only Hispanic citizens should be counted for purposes of the VRA, voting-rights groups assert that all Hispanics of voting age should be represented under a new redistricting plan. In order to bring more clarity to § 2 case law, courts should articulate which population measure will be used at each point in the analysis.I. IntroductionIn February 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau released the results of the 2010 census.1 The data revealed that, over the past ten years, Texas experienced unprecedented growth: the state's overall population grew to 25.1 million, a 20.6% growth - an increase larger than any other state.2 As mandated by the U.S. Constitution3 and the United States Code,4 the reapportionment of the Federal House of Representatives allocated four additional seats to the state, bringing its total delegation to thirty-six members.5 Texas lawmakers needed to draw a new congressional map to account for these changes.6Almost immediately after the census data was released, controversy erupted over how this new map should look.7 Increases in minority population accounted for 89% of the total population growth, and many worried that this change would not be adequately represented in the redistricting process.8 In Texas, minority groups tend to vote for Democrats over Republicans,9 and, in order to preserve their majority, the Republicans in the state legislature historically have politically gerrymandered districts with high Hispanic populations, often at the expense of the minority's voting power.10When drawing a new district map, state legislatures are constrained by § 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which outlaws discriminatory voting practices, including the dilution of minority power via redisricting.11 One way of measuring minority voting power under the VRA is to count "majority-minority districts" - districts in which a certain minority group is a majority of the voting-age population.12 Tim Storey, Senior Fellow at the National Conference of State Legislatures and an expert on redistricting, has noted the limitations imposed by the VRA on the Texas map-drawing process: "Just because Texas is getting four new seats does not mean the Republicans will get four new Republicans to Congress. . . . You don't have unfettered ability to draw new boundaries."13The Hispanic population represented a majority of the new growth, and now amounts to 37.6% of the overall Texas population.14 Based on the census data alone, State Representative Carol Alvardo speculated that "the Latino community should receive three of the new congressional seats or better." But in the summer of 2011, the Texas legislature enacted a new district map.16 Of the four new districts added to the map, only one was a Hispanic majority-minority district.17Minority advocacy groups were outraged by the disconnect between the demographics of the population growth and the demographics of the four new districts.18 The plan was immediately challenged under § 2 of the VRA by various voting-rights groups.19 At the same time, Texas requested a declaratory judgment from a D.C. federal court stating that the plan was in compliance with §5 of the VRA.20While the two provisions of the VRA have a similar goal, their enforcement mechanisms are slightly different. …


The Portable Life Support System (PLSS) emergency oxygen system is being reexamined for the next generation of suits. These suits will be used for transit to Low Earth Orbit, the Moon and to Mars as well as on the surface of the Moon and Mars. Currently, the plan is that there will be two different sets of suits, but there is a strong desire for commonality between them for construction purposes. The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate what the emergency PLSS requirements are and how they might best be implemented. Options under consideration are enlarging the tanks on the PLSS, finding an alternate method of storage/delivery, or providing additional O2 from an external source. The system that shows the most promise is the cryogenic oxygen system with a composite dewar which uses a buddy system to split the necessary oxygen between two astronauts.


A mobile adhoc network is a network in which nodes are dynamic in nature and has limited bandwidth and minimum battery power. For providing the scalable routing the nodes are divided into clusters, in clusters there should be a cluster head which contains all the information about its nodes, as in the flat routing every node perform the same role therefore network lifetime is less. The different schemes in clustering are based on different criteria. A cluster head is selected according to specific combination or metric such as identity, degree, energy, weight, mobility etc. Here, a new algorithm is proposed based on the existing algorithm "A novel weight based clustering algorithm for routing in MANET" the energy factor is included in the selection of cluster head. If the two nodes in the cluster are the candidates for the selection of cluster head then the energy of every node is calculated to select appropriate cluster head. This algorithm is named as "weighted energy efficient cluster based algorithm". The results of this algorithm are compared with the existing one. The results are calculated on four parameters. These are end to end delay, packet delivery ratio, energy and throughput. The throughput of the newly proposed algorithm is better than the existing WBA algorithm. And the other factors are compared which shows high rate of WBA algorithm


The Myth of the Welfare Stale is a basic and sweeping explanation of the rise and fall of great powers, and of the profound impacts of these megastates on ordinary lives. Its central theme is the rise of bureaucratic collectivization in American society. It is Douglas's conviction, which he supports with a wealth of detail, that statist bureaucracies produce siagnation, often exacerbated by inflation, which in turn produces the waning of state power. Douglas has his own set of "isms" that require concerted attention: mass mediated rationalism, scientism, technologism, credentialism, and expertism. People who make policies have little, if any, awareness of the actual way social processes evolve: agricultural policy is set by people who know little of farming, arid manufacturing policy is set by people who have never set foot on a factory floor. In light of this "soaring average ignorance," it is little wonder that policy-making has Alice-in-Wonderland characteristics and effects. Douglas sees the notion of a welfare state as a contradiction in terms; its widespread insinuation into the culture is made possible by its weak mythological form and benign-sounding characteristics. In fact, welfare states in whatever form they appear have failed in their purpose: to redistribute income or increase real wealth. The megastates are the source of social instability and economic downturn. They grow like a tidal drift. They start out to correct the historical grievances of the laissez-faire states, only to increase the problems they seek to correct. In this, the welfare state is a weakened form of the totalitarian state, producing similarly unhappy results. Professor Douglas has produced a work of "anti-policy" - arguing that freedom leavened by an ordinary sense of self-interest and social concern can overcome the shortfalls of the megastates and their myth-making, self-serving, propensities.


Tunneling times in absorptive and dispersive media are considered, as are the relations between them. Group delay and dwell time are used as the most appropriate tunneling time characterizations. A general expression that relates these two quantities, valid for all linear media (with both positive and negative index of refraction), is derived, but particular attention is given to negative index metamaterials. The example of a nonmagnetic, lossless medium with dispersive surroundings was chosen to illustrate the derivation of self-interference time. Existence of the Hartman effect and negative group delay in a certain range of frequencies, in metamaterials, is numerically verified.


This paper provides an overview of a case study research that investigated the use of Digital Library (DL) resources in two undergraduate classes and explored faculty and students' perceptions of educational digital libraries. This study found that students and faculty use academic DLs primarily for textual resources, but turn to the open Web for visual and multimedia resources. The study participants did not perceive academic libraries as a useful source of digital images and used search engines when searching for visual resources. The limited use of digital library resources for teaching and learning is associated with perceptions of usefulness and ease of use, especially if considered in a broader information landscape, in conjunction with other library information systems, and in the context of Web resources. The limited use of digital libraries is related to the following perceptions: 1) Library systems are not viewed as user-friendly, which in turn discourages potential users from trying DLs provided by academic libraries; 2) Academic libraries are perceived as places of primarily textual resources; perceptions of usefulness, especially in regard to relevance of content, coverage, and currency, seem to have a negative effect on user intention to use DLs, especially when searching for visual materials.


Background: Physical inactivity of the general population is a major public health concern in the US and around the world. Community-based interventions that include evidence-based principles of group dynamics are effective at improving individual-level physical activity behaviors as well as changing social norms for health behaviors. The use of technologies such as smartwatches has a potential to channel and amplify underlying group dynamics principles in such interventions. In order to explore the use of smartwatches for group dynamics-based physical activity interventions, a smartwatch centered system was designed and deployed as part of an eight-week pilot study. Objectives: The primary goal of this study was to explore the degree to which smartwatches effectively channel group dynamics strategies in the context of an eight-week community based physical activity intervention. Methods: In this explanatory mixed-methods study, system usage data were analyzed (e.g., frequency of interaction with smartwatch and smartphone) and participant physical activity (e.g., participant steps tracked by the system). To provide a richer picture of the user experience, use of features, and impact of group dynamics, participants were invited to participate in one-on-one interviews after the pilot program. The group dynamics-based questions centered on the individual's attraction to the group task and socially as well as the individual's perception of group integration around the task and as a social unit (i.e., the four dimensions of cohesion). The interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed via an abbreviated grounded theory approach. The system usage data was visually and numerically summarized. Results: Five of the seven participants completed interviews. The interview analysis resulted in 365 meaning units representing 2 themes (related to user experience with devices and manifestations of group dynamic principles), 4 sub-themes and 23 categories. The participants completed 31.3 (SD=2.91) miles per week and engaged with the smartwatch and the Android app 2.6 and 1.5 times a day, respectively. Analysis of interviews and the system usage logs from five participants, reveal sustained engagement with the smartwatch and the smartphone app. The system facilitated self-reflection and awareness in terms of physical activity levels, encouraged interactions with the team members and helped them to stay aware of the daily goals. Additionally, the participants reported habit formation in terms of wearing and using the smartwatch on the daily basis. Implications: This study provides preliminary support that accessible information via the custom smartwatch watchface can be a viable solution for retaining higher participant engagement during group dynamics-based community interventions. Such devices can help expand group-dynamics interventions by making them less depended on in-person delivery methods. Development and Exploratory Findings of a Smartwatch Interface to Facilitate Group Cohesion in a Statewide Health Promotion Program GENERAL AUDIENCE ABSTRACT Physical inactivity of the general population is a major public health concern in the US and around the world. Community-based interventions, with group dynamics strategies at the core, are effective at improving individual physical activity behaviors. The use of technologies such as smartwatches has potential to channel and amplify the underlying program principles in such interventions. This work presents a smartwatch-centered system to encourage group cohesion in physical activity interventions, exploring it as part of an eight-week study that revealed participant awareness of group performance through smartwatch interactions.


Food fortification is a widely used approach to increase micronutrient intake in the diet. High coverage is essential for achieving impact. Data on coverage is limited in many countries, and tools to assess coverage of fortification programs have not been standardized. In 2013, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition developed the Fortification Assessment Coverage Toolkit (FACT) to carry out coverage assessments in both population-based (i.e., staple foods and/or condiments) and targeted (e.g., infant and young child) fortification programs. The toolkit was designed to generate evidence on program coverage and the use of fortified foods to provide timely and programmatically relevant information for decision making. This supplement presents results from FACT surveys that assessed the coverage of population-based and targeted food fortification programs across 14 countries. It then discusses the policy and program implications of the findings for the potential for impact and program improvement.


This article assesses how the form of the utility function in discrete-choice experiments (DCEs) affects estimates of willingness-to-pay (WTP). The utility function is usually assumed to be linear in its attributes. Non-linearities, in the guise of interactions and higher-order terms, are applied only rather ad hoc. This paper sheds some light on this issue by showing that the linear utility function can be a risky choice in DCEs. For this purpose, a DCE conducted in Switzerland to assess preferences for statutory social health insurance is estimated in two ways: first, using a linear utility function; and second, using a non-linear utility function specified according to model specification rules from the econometrics and statistics literature. The results show that not only does the non-linear function outperform the linear specification with regard to goodness-of-fit, but it also generates significantly different WTP. Hence, the functional form of the utility function may have significant impact on estimated WTP. In order to produce unbiased estimates of preferences and to make adequate decisions based on DCEs, the form of the utility function should become more prominent in future experiments.


We propose a distribution-free entropy-based methodology to calculate the expected value of an uncertainty reduction effort and present our results within the context of reducing demand uncertainty. In contrast to existing techniques, the methodology requires neither sampled observations of demand nor a priori assumptions regarding the underlying demand distribution. Rather, leveraging the maximum entropy principle to assign a probability density over all possible demand distributions enables modeling of both one's present state of uncertainty and one's potential future states of uncertainty. We demonstrate that this probability assignment is intuitively satisfying, theoretically justified, and done in a manner that is completely consistent with a decision maker's current information (or lack thereof). Theoretical and numerical results for valuing uncertainty reductions without knowing an underlying demand distribution are explored and contribute to the existing distribution free literature. We leverage these results to answer an often overlooked question in demand management: "Is there value in further reducing my demand uncertainty or do I act on my currently available information?''


We explore the area of fairness in clustering from the different perspective of modifying clusterings from existing algorithms to make them fairer whilst retaining their quality. We formulate the minimal cluster modification for fairness (MCMF) problem where the input is a given partitional clustering and the goal is to minimally change it so that the clustering is still of good quality and fairer. We show using an intricate case analysis that for a single protected variable, the problem is efficiently solvable (i.e., in the class P) by proving that the constraint matrix for an integer linear programming (ILP) formulation is totally unimodular (TU). Interestingly, we show that even for a single protected variable, the addition of simple pairwise guidance (to say ensure individual level fairness) makes the MCMF problem computationally intractable (i.e., NP-hard). Experimental results on Twitter, Census and NYT data sets show that our methods can modify existing clusterings for data sets in excess of 100,000 instances within minutes on laptops and find as fair but higher quality clusterings than fair by design clustering algorithms.


Sustainable management and conservation of the world's oceans requires effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Despite the growing political and social imperative for these activities, there are some persistent and emerging challenges that marine practitioners face in undertaking these activities. In 2015, a diverse group of marine practitioners came together to discuss the emerging challenges associated with marine monitoring, evaluation and reporting, and potential solutions to address these challenges. Three emerging challenges were identified: (1) the need to incorporate environmental, social and economic dimensions in evaluation and reporting; (2) the implications of big data, creating challenges in data management and interpretation; and, (3) dealing with uncertainty throughout monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities. We point to key solutions to address these challenges across monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities: 1) integrating models into marine management systems to help understand, interpret, and manage the environmental and socio-economic dimensions of uncertain and complex marine systems; 2) utilising big data sources and new technologies to collect, process, store, and analyse data; and 3) applying approaches to evaluate, account for, and report on the multiple sources and types of uncertainty. These solutions point towards a potential for a new wave of evidence-based marine management, through more innovative monitoring, rigorous evaluation and transparent reporting. Effective collaboration and institutional support across the science–management–policy interface will be crucial to deal with emerging challenges, and implement the tools and approaches embedded within these solutions.


The unprecedented growth of competition in the banking technology has raised the importance of retaining current customers and acquires new customers so that is important analyzing Customer behavior, which is base on bank databases. Analyzing bank databases for analyzing customer behavior is difficult since bank databases are multi-dimensional, comprised of monthly account records and daily transaction records. Few works have focused on analyzing of bank databases from the viewpoint of customer behavioral analyze. This study presents a new two-stage frame-work of customer behavior analysis that integrated a K-means algorithm and Apriori association rule inducer. The K-means algorithm was used to identify groups of customers based on recency, frequency, monetary behavioral scoring predicators; it also divides customers into three major profitable groups of customers. Apriori association rule inducer was used to characterize the groups of customers by creating customer profiles. Identifying customers by a customer behavior analysis model is helpful characteristics of customer and facilitates marketing strategy development.


The role played by Cenozoic deformation in denudation and landscape development in Ireland has historically been difficult to assess because of the lack of widespread pre-glacial Cenozoic deposits onshore. Here we combine analysis of apatite fission-track data and geomorphic observations to place constraints on the timing, kinematics and magnitude of onshore deformation in southeastern Ireland. Relationships between apatite fission-track central age and elevation for samples from the Wicklow and Blackstairs Mountains and Tullow Lowland suggest that these rocks record an exhumed apatite partial annealing zone, which after cooling was dismembered by differential vertical displacements of up to several hundred metres. We use inverted models of sample thermal history to show that samples across the region experienced very similar thermal histories up to and including a cooling event in late Paleocene or early Eocene time. This effectively rules out strongly spatially heterogeneous denudation, and implies that differential rock uplift occurred in post-early Eocene time. The central age–elevation relationships define at least three spatial domains with internally consistent apatite fission-track data, separated by known faults or topographic escarpments. Geomorphic analysis of these structures shows that patterns of catchment incision and sinuosity, as well as the presence of antecedent drainage, are best explained by differential vertical displacements at or near the domain boundaries. The kinematics and magnitudes of these displacements are consistent with those implied by the apatite fission-track results, and are compatible with other examples of known Cenozoic deformation from Ireland and the adjacent continental margin.


Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of treatments for patients with binge-eating disorder (BED) and bariatric surgery patients and children with loss-of-control (LOC) eating. Studies of BED therapies include pharmacological interventions, psychological and behavioral interventions, or combinations of approaches. We examined whether treatment effectiveness differed in patient subgroups and described course of illness for BED and LOC eating. Data sources We searched MEDLINE®, EMBASE®, the Cochrane Library, Academic OneFile, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) through January 19, 2015. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), nonrandomized trials, meta-analyses, and, for course of illness, cohort and case-control studies. Review methods Pairs of reviewers independently selected, extracted data from, and rated the risk of bias of relevant studies; they graded the strength of evidence using established criteria. We conducted meta-analysis for some treatment outcomes. Results Of 52 included RCTs of treatment; 48 concerned BED therapy. Course-of-illness evidence came from 15 observational studies. We examined four major outcomes: binge eating and abstinence, eating-related psychopathology, weight, and general psychological and other outcomes. Second-generation antidepressants (as a class), topiramate (an anticonvulsant), and lisdexamfetamine (a stimulant) were superior to placebo in achieving abstinence and reducing binge episodes and/or binge days and eating-related obsessions and compulsions. Second-generation antidepressants decreased depression. Topiramate and lisdexamfetamine produced weight reduction in study populations whose members were virtually all overweight or obese. A few formats of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—therapist led, partially therapist led, and guided self-help—were superior to placebo in achieving abstinence and reducing binge frequency. CBT for BED was generally ineffective for reducing weight or depression in this population. Therapist-led CBT was not superior to either partially therapist-led CBT or structured self-help CBT for binge-eating and weight outcomes. Behavioral weight loss treatment produced greater weight loss than CBT at the end of treatment but not over the longer run. Topiramate, fluvoxamine, and lisdexamfetamine were associated with sleep disturbance, including insomnia; topiramate and lisdexamfetamine were associated with sympathetic nervous system arousal and headache. We found no evidence on bariatric surgery patients. Treatments for LOC eating in children did not achieve superior weight reduction outcomes. Evidence on the course of either illness was limited. Early adolescent BED and LOC eating predicts such behaviors in the future. Conclusions BED patients may benefit from treatment with second-generation antidepressants, lisdexamfetamine, topiramate, and CBT. Additional studies should address other treatments, combinations of treatment, and comparisons between treatments; treatment for postbariatric surgery patients and children; and the course of these illnesses.


This article is one of series which main goal is to develop an historical portrayal of schools for Afro-Caribbean people in Costa Rica during the first half of the 1900s. The focus of the articles is based on an oral history investigation that envolves around four key questions: 1) What were the schools of the Afro-Caribbean people in Costa Rica like during the 1934-48? 2) How were they started? 3) What curriculum was taught in those schools? How was it taught ? 4) What happened to those schools over time? The selected site for the study was Limon, Costa Rica. This city has been the place of arrival and dwelling of most of the country's Afro-Caribbean people since 1872. The qualitative methods used provided evidence to answer the research questions. Among the techniques of data collection were open-ended interviews, recording of the interviews, verbatim transcriptions of those interviews, literature review, and various documents. The interviews followed the guidelines of oral history inquiry (i.e., with consent and agreement forms pre-signed). The data collected revealed that the English Schools(as they were known in Costa Rica) were supported by different church denominations, the railroad company, the United Fruit Company, and the Universal Negro Improvement Association. A description of the general organization and the curriculum and instruction practiced permitted to find similarities between the English Schools and the primary schools designed for the British colonies, particularly Jamaica. This first article of the series talks briefly about the general context of the English Schools and the roll that these entities played supporting the schools.


To explore the potential role of the uncoupling protein (UCP) family in human obesity and diabetes, we have used the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to quantify UCP mRNA expression in human skeletal muscle. Levels of mRNA for UCP2, and for both short (UCP3S) and long (UCP3L) forms of UCP3, were highly correlated in individuals, indicating that gene transcription of these UCPs may be coordinately regulated by common mechanisms. In normal glucose-tolerant individuals, muscle UCP2 mRNA levels were positively correlated with percentage of body fat and with BMI (r = 0.6 and P < 0.05 for both). UCP3S mRNA levels were also positively correlated with percentage of body fat (r = 0.52, P < 0.05), and UCP3L mRNA tended to increase as a function of obesity (0.05 < P < 0.1). UCP mRNA levels, however, were not correlated with resting metabolic rate. UCP3S and UCP3L mRNA levels (P < 0.05) and the UCP2 mRNA level (P = 0.09) were increased by 1.8- to 2.7-fold in type 2 diabetes, an effect that could not be explained by obesity. No significant difference was found for UCP2, UCP3S, or UCP3L mRNA levels between insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant nondiabetic subgroups. We conclude that 1) skeletal muscle mRNA levels encoding UCP2 and UCP3 are correlated among individuals and may be coordinately regulated; 2) UCP3 expression is not regulated by differential effects on UCP3L and UCP3S forms of the mRNA; and 3) UCP mRNA expression tends to increase in muscle as a function of obesity but not of resting metabolic rate or insulin resistance, and is increased in patients with type 2 diabetes.


Neurocognitive and functional outcome deficits have long been acknowledged in schizophrenia and are considered a core feature of the disorder. Neurocognition has been found to account for functional disability to a greater extent than psychopathology however much of the variance in functional outcome still remains unexplained. How functional outcome is measured also requires clarification. By investigating the relationship between neurocognition and functional outcome in First-Episode Psychosis (FEP), much can be learnt about the trajectory of disability and the course of illness in schizophrenia.

Metacognition, or thinking about thinking, has been proposed as a mediating variable between neurocognition and functional outcome. Despite different theoretical backgrounds, authors generally converge on there being higher-order, explicit, conscious metacognitive knowledge and lower-order, implicit metacognitive processes. How these relate to each other requires clarification. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been implicated in higher order thought and metacognitive processing, and deficits have been observed in PFC Grey Matter (GM) volume in schizophrenia. These metacognitive deficits may contribute to the relationship between cognitive ability and community functioning.

A preliminary meta-analysis demonstrated that a moderate effect size is found between neurocognition and metacognition and a moderate effect size exists between metacognition and functional outcome. The present thesis investigated whether metacognition mediates the relationship between neurocognition and functional outcome in FEP (N=80). Path models were created to investigate the different relationships between neurocognition, metacognition and both capacity to perform everyday tasks and objective functioning in the community. A secondary Voxel-based Morphometry (VBM) analysis was also conducted investigating perceptual metacognitive accuracy and its relationship to GM volume in both FEP (N=41) and a matched healthy control sample (N=21).

Current findings support the model that metacognition and negative symptoms mediate the relationship between neurocognition and functional capacity in FEP. Path models also demonstrated a significant mediation effect of metacognition between neorocognition and objective function, and functional capacity and objective function. Significant group differences were found between FEP and controls in perceptual metacognitive accuracy however no significant relationship was found between metacognition and GM volume in the PFC.

The present thesis suggests that metacognitive deficits are present at first episode and may account for the relationship between cognitive ability and functioning in the community. Findings also suggest that cognitive remediation programmes may wish to focus on metacognition to maximise the transfer of cognitive skills to community functioning. The findings also suggest the presence of two metacognitive processing routes; explicit, declarable, higher-order knowledge and implicit, intuition-based, lower-order experience which can be accounted for by Nelson and Narens (1990) metacognitive model.